Gazing into the mirror to observe one’s own heart

The crowd quickly parted to clear a space. Zhang Ling, who had previously paid no mind to the conversation between the two, was reading a book. Seeing everyone else retreat, he closed his book and stepped aside as well. Song Linjie and the young man with the saber each took a position at opposite corners, standing to the left and right before the library.

The young man unfastened his saber, drawing it smoothly; the blade gleamed with a silvery luster. He announced, “I am Xiao Yihan, eldest son of the Xiao family from the northern city. Please grant me your guidance.”

Song Linjie looked nonchalant, a hint of mockery in his voice. “You speak so formally—clearly suited to reading books, not wielding a blade. With your posture, I could take your saber in a single move.”

Xiao Yihan still gripped his saber with one hand, anger flashing in his eyes. “Then I’d like to see you try.”

Song Linjie gave him a brief warning, then dashed forward. Xiao Yihan, sensing danger, instinctively tried to retreat, but Song Linjie moved with lightning speed, stepping to the side of the hand gripping the saber. He seized Xiao Yihan’s wrist with an iron grip, and with a slight twist, forced him to release the saber unconsciously. Song Linjie easily caught the falling blade with his other hand and withdrew to the side.

Standing solemnly, Song Linjie inspected the weapon. “A fine blade—pity you don’t know how to use it.”

With a flick of his wrist, he tossed the silver saber back and asked with a smirk, “Care to continue?”

Catching his saber, Xiao Yihan sheathed it and offered a respectful bow. “Your technique in taking my saber is far beyond me, and I accept my defeat. Should I ever master my blade, I will surely seek you out for another bout. May I ask your name?”

“Song Linjie,” came the flat reply.

Not satisfied, Xiao Yihan pressed, “May I ask where you reside? I would like to visit you someday.”

Song Linjie, growing impatient, replied, “The Song family in Liufeng City. For now, I’m staying at the home of Yu Chang, the Commandant of the Ministry of War.”

Xiao Yihan bowed again. “Thank you for telling me.”

He turned and left, and the onlookers slowly dispersed as well, leaving only Zhang Ling and Song Linjie behind.

Song Linjie turned to Zhang Ling and asked, “Why did we come here in the first place?”

Zhang Ling walked ahead, Song Linjie following behind. Zhang Ling chuckled, “To me, the martial arts in here aren’t particularly useful, but there are still things to learn. As for you, the Song family’s sword techniques far surpass anything here. I asked Commandant Yu yesterday where the Sunset Grotto is; I wanted to come myself. If you chose to follow, don’t ask me if it’s pointless.”

Song Linjie asked, “Where are you going now?”

Zhang Ling waved a book in his hand and replied calmly, “To find a quiet place to read. If you have nothing to do, you can head back first.”

Song Linjie said nothing and wandered off into the Sunset Grotto, while Zhang Ling found a spot by a cascading stream and sat on a large rock. The tranquil beauty of the place, with mist drifting gently above the falls and sparse trees blending seamlessly into the scene, was perfect for quiet cultivation.

Zhang Ling opened a book and, following the methods within, began to practice breathing and forming hand seals, striving for inner calm. Energy flowed slowly and steadily through his meridians, and compared to usual, his progress was much faster.

After completing one cycle, Zhang Ling turned to the next page and started anew. Before long, he had finished the entire book, and though the gains were modest, he did not let any progress slip by.

By late afternoon, he had finished all his books. He walked to the stream, scooped up water in his hands to quench his thirst, and happened to look up. To his surprise, he saw an old man lying on the cliff face above. When thirsty, the old man would scoop water with a bowl; at leisure, he cooled his feet in the waterfall’s spray.

Zhang Ling returned to his stone seat, opened another book, and sat upright, reciting with a thoughtful air: “A gentleman’s virtue belongs to both the young and the old; do not indulge the young in mischief, nor excuse the old in wrongdoing. Virtue is not measured by deeds or divided by age; to harm others is to lack virtue, and abstaining from evil is itself a good.”

Suddenly, the old man leapt down from above, amusement in his tone. “Young man, your indirect rebuke is quite skillful—reading a manual on cultivating energy and yet discoursing on virtue. I’m impressed.”

Zhang Ling looked at the old man, a faint golden ring flickering in his eyes. The old man smiled as if nothing was amiss, and Zhang Ling was instantly alert.

First rank?

Zhang Ling immediately stood and bowed respectfully. “I am Zhang Ling. Forgive me if I disturbed you, senior. My words were not meant as criticism—merely thoughts inspired by the moment. Please do not take offense.”

The old man smiled slightly, stroking his beard. He raised his hand as if to strike, but instead walked past Zhang Ling and sat on the stone. “I am Lü Qingci, master of the Sunset Grotto. Tang Yong spoke to me about you two; you are both promising talents. What surprises me most is that you possess such rare secret arts. To be both flexible and determined is truly exceptional!”

Zhang Ling bowed again. “So you are the master of the grotto. If I have offended you, I apologize.”

Lü Qingci waved his hand. “Enough with the formalities. I saw you practicing inner cultivation—your temperament must be suited to nurturing inner energy. I have little else to boast of, but I have spent many years cultivating in this immortal grotto and have some insights into internal martial arts. Would you care to learn from me?”

Zhang Ling straightened. “Senior, this is our first meeting. Why would you teach me? Even if you wanted something in return, I doubt I could do much for you right now.”

Lü Qingci stood, now radiating an aura of wisdom and serenity. With hands behind his back, he smiled. “Those of us who devote ourselves to self-cultivation pay little heed to virtue or etiquette—if someone pleases us, that’s all that matters. If you must have a reason, I simply believe you may reach the pinnacle of martial arts one day. To be part of that story would be worthwhile.”

“I will not take a master,” Zhang Ling replied, shaking his head.

Lü Qingci laughed heartily. “No need to become a disciple. If you wish to learn, I will teach you everything I know. The energy cultivation techniques you just read may still serve you for a while, but in a few days their effects will fade. I have a method called ‘Mirroring the Heart’ that would benefit you greatly.”

Zhang Ling bowed deeply. “Please instruct me, Master of the Grotto.”

Lü Qingci had Zhang Ling sit on the large rock, legs crossed and hands on his knees. Standing beside him, Lü Qingci placed his palm over Zhang Ling’s, and a thread of transparent true energy seeped silently into his meridians. Zhang Ling directed his own inner force away from the pathways, allowing the energy to circulate unimpeded.

If Lü Qingci had intended him harm, there would be no need for such subtlety—his strength alone could have ended Zhang Ling’s life with a single blow. So Zhang Ling set aside any suspicion.

The gentle true energy drifted through Zhang Ling’s body like a swimming fish, transmitting a message through its unique method. Zhang Ling calmed his mind completely, focusing on Lü Qingci’s insights and making them his own. After about half an hour, the swimming true energy had made two circuits through Zhang Ling’s body before Lü Qingci withdrew it.

Zhang Ling separated a strand of his own true energy, imitating the process. As the energy coursed through him, he entered a state of self-reflection, observing his entire being through the mind’s eye. The sound of the flowing stream faded into silence. After completing one cycle, he found that the strand of energy could no longer integrate and had to be expelled from his body. Yet with this sacrifice came great gain—his breath grew longer and steadier, his inner strength improved. When the time was right, he would be able to break through to the third rank at any moment.