TPM 21

chapter 21

People are always competing.

Even the most renowned martial artists would laugh at the idea, but Hao Men also had internal rivalries to see who was stronger.

A prime example was the rivalry between the Xian Sect and the A Sect.

You might think that a boatman and a human trafficker wouldn’t have anything to compete over—but they did.

Hao Men’s famous masters used either the Bailiu Dao Technique or the Qishang Dao Technique. Naturally, debates arose over which was stronger, and the Xian Sect and the A Sect constantly argued over it.

It was like the relationship between light and shadow.

For instance, if the Xian Sect’s Bailiu Dao Technique, which leaned closer to the righteous path, was the light, then the A Sect’s Qishang Dao Technique, leaning toward the unorthodox path, was the shadow.

The competition between the Xian and A Sects continued even in the Martial Arts Hall.

― “Bailiu Dao Technique is the best.”
― “No, Qishang Dao Technique is the best.”

At the forefront of these disputes were Masters Soyugang and Dan Buwei.

But one day, Dan Buwei’s rumored “stone-headed” adopted son, Dan Ye, came to Soyugang, saying he wanted to learn the Bailiu Dao Technique.

“You?”
“Yes…”

Dan Ye subtly avoided Soyugang’s intense gaze.

“Aren’t you practicing the Tiandi Dao Technique? Bailiu Dao is based on the flow of water; it’s complex and difficult to master.”
“I have mastered the Tiandi Dao Technique. That’s why…”
“You want to learn the Bailiu Dao Technique?”
“Yes.”

“Have you discussed this with Master Dan?”
“No.”

Soyugang, observing Dan Ye with a hint of skepticism, reluctantly said,

“I’ll teach you if you insist, but I am different from Master Gomu. I don’t hold back for those who can’t keep up. Being Master Dan’s adopted son won’t earn you special treatment. Understand?”
“…Yes.”

Of course, it was unnecessary to make such a fuss. Even the direct disciples of the Six Gates quietly went about their training, so there was no need to speak so sternly to the adopted son of a martial master.

“Go to the back, watch the seniors—or rather, the juniors—and learn by imitating them.”
“Yes.”

Dan Ye bowed and took a place behind the other trainees.

Soyugang, seemingly lost in thought, stepped forward with his Straight Sword, ready to demonstrate the essence of Bailiu Dao Technique.

“I will show the Bailiu Dao Technique from beginning to end. Watch carefully and understand. Once again, the Xian Sect’s Bailiu Dao Technique is based on the realization that ‘water is the highest virtue [Shang Shan Ruo Shui].’”

Then Soyugang began moving, reciting the forms almost like poetry.

“First Form: Shu Qianqiu (Water Falls from the Sky)! Water rises to the heavens and becomes rain.”
“Second Form: Shui Leidun (Water Holds Thunder)! Thunder resides in the water.”
“Third Form: Shui Fengmang (Water and Wind Entwine)! Water meets wind, boundless and vast.”
“Fourth Form: Shui Yunhui (Water and Clouds Swirl)! Water and clouds intertwine into a vortex.”

The forms and accompanying phrases felt almost like watching a Taoist martial art.

However, despite the naturalistic names, the movements appeared chaotic.

The transformations were so intricate that Dan Ye’s head spun just from observing.

After finishing the demonstration, Soyugang straightened his chin and returned to his spot.

Among the trainees, the most talented, fourth-year student Gao Yue, shouted,

“Shu Qianqiu!”

Immediately, over fifty trainees swung their swords in perfect unison.

Following Gao Yue’s lead, they executed all four forms of Bailiu Dao Technique consecutively.

Dan Ye, standing at the back, could only imitate them clumsily.

After the heated session, the first part of Bailiu Dao training ended.

As the trainees caught their breath, Soyugang beckoned Gao Yue.

“Yes, Master.”

Being from the Xian Sect, Gao Yue referred to Soyugang as Master.

“Teach Dan Ye the Bailiu Dao Technique. Don’t overdo it; just go as far as you can.”
“Yes.”

Gao Yue immediately approached Dan Ye and began instructing him from the very basics.

Contrary to the rumors of him being a “stone monkey,” Dan Ye followed along well. Gao Yue asked politely,

“Dan, have you learned the Bailiu Dao Technique before?”

Gao Yue’s tone was respectful. The relationship between the fourth-year students and Dan Ye was ambiguous.

They did look down on him, but not openly—there wasn’t enough time spent together for a full judgment.

Dan Ye’s nickname in the Martial Arts Hall was “Stone Monkey.”

The old nickname, “Monkey Defeated in Battle [Dou Zhan Bai Yuan],” had long vanished since Master Dan adopted him, and no one dared provoke him.

“No, it’s my first time.”
“I see.”

Gao Yue regarded Dan Ye anew. He had taught the first form, and Dan Ye had followed reasonably well.

He wasn’t brilliant, but he wasn’t so foolish as to deserve the nickname “stone monkey” either.

After breaking down the first form once more, Gao Yue suggested,

“Now try it on your own.”
“Uh? Uh…”

Dan Ye hesitated but swung his sword.

Gao Yue smiled wryly. If the trainees were ranked top, middle, and bottom, Dan Ye was unquestionably at the bottom.

‘Why did people call him a fool?’

Gao Yue, puzzled, left him with some words of encouragement and returned to his position.

After dinner, Dan Ye was summoned by Dan Buwei to his room.

“Master Dan…”
“Oh, you’re here? Sit for a while.”

Dan Ye sat across the table, and Dan Buwei smiled.

“You decided to learn the Bailiu Dao Technique?”
“Yes…”
“Good choice. It suits you better than Qishang Dao Technique. That one is too brutal; it’s easy to be mistaken for the unorthodox path.”

In truth, the A Sect straddled the line, but they were not truly unorthodox. Even so, A Sect members disliked being labeled as such.

“So, do I not need to learn the Qishang Dao Technique?”

Dan Ye glanced at Master Dan cautiously.

Honestly, he didn’t like the ruthless Qishang Dao Technique. But he was wary that his adoptive father might disapprove.

“If you’re not going to become an A Sect disciple, you don’t need to learn it.”
“I am aiming for the secret sect…”
“Then even more so, avoid the Qishang Dao Technique. Using it recklessly could lead to misunderstandings, and you might be expelled from the secret sect.”
“…Yes.”

Dan Buwei studied him carefully and asked casually,

“Did you have any difficulty learning Bailiu Dao Technique?”
“No.”
“I hear Master Soyugang gave you unnecessary lectures. Don’t take them to heart. They’re due to old grudges between the Xian and A Sects.”
“Yes…”

Dan Ye bowed his head, unused to such concern.

He was also amazed that Master Dan knew so much about the Xian Sect training hall.

“By the way, have you completed the Tiandi Dao Technique?”
“Yes.”
“Really? I heard it would take forty-one days, but you were quite fast.”
“Well… after cultivating inner strength, my mind becomes strangely sharper.”

Dan Ye scratched his forehead reluctantly. He hadn’t actually been able to cultivate due to personality conflicts, yet his martial skills had advanced dramatically.

“Anything else come to mind?”
“Come to mind?”
“You know your other personality possesses extraordinary talent, right?”
“Yes, you told me before.”
“He has already mastered the Six Gates martial arts. It seems you’ve been influenced. I wondered if there’s anything new besides martial skills.”
“No. I can only keep up with what I learn; I know nothing else.”
“You only know Tiandi Dao and Bailiu Dao?”
“Yes, only to the extent I can follow along.”

“I see. Focus more on inner strength cultivation. I sense that the more interaction between the two personalities, the more you benefit.”
“But…”

Dan Ye hesitated. Master Dan asked softly,

“Why? Are you worried about something?”
“It feels like another personality is stealing my life.”
“Stealing?”
“Every time I lose consciousness, three days disappear. If I train inner strength more often, I’ll lose even more days. I wonder if that’s how I should live.”

“I understand your concern, but haven’t I said you benefit from it?”
“Benefit? I’m losing days of my life!”

Master Dan replied nonchalantly,

“You know one thing but not the other. Think back over the past fourteen years in the A Sect and the secret sect training hall. You spent over five thousand days in the hall but only mastered one form of Tiandi Dao Technique. Now, after investing six days, you’ve perfected it.”

Dan Buwei’s words persuaded Dan Ye smoothly.

“What about Bailiu Dao Technique? Think of it as an investment, not a loss. Who truly benefits? If three days of investment yields a thousand days of training results, I’d give thirty days instead of three.”

Dan Ye was intrigued.

Giving another personality thirty days to gain ten years of training—he realized that was a fair trade.

Seeing Dan Ye’s expression soften, Master Dan inwardly rejoiced.

‘Yes! He’s come around!’

Frankly, he liked both the “foolish” and “genius” Dan Ye. The foolish one evoked pity, while the genius one was someone he could trust and rely on.

“What do you think?”
“…I think you’re right. Looking back at the time I wasted on training, it feels futile.”
“No need to blame yourself. Now that you realize it, live wisely moving forward.”
“Yes…”

“If you think that way, cultivate the Prajna Mind Method more frequently.”
“I will.”

Dan Ye accepted it readily, and Master Dan changed the topic.

“It’s about time you consider leaving the hall. Feels like I just met you yesterday, yet fourteen years have passed. Time flies.”
“….”
“I remember when I first found you lost. Your neck had so many wounds… Fourteen years later, the scars remain.”

Dan Ye unconsciously touched his neck. The skin was broken but not as frightening as before.

“I always wondered, who did this to you?”

“….”

Master Dan spoke tentatively as Dan Ye remained silent.

“Your parents, I suppose. Tch! Horrible people. If they didn’t want you, they should have thrown you away instead of harming a healthy child.”

“Um, if there’s nothing more, may I leave?”
“Ah, yes, go rest.”

Dan Ye stood, bowed, and left.

Left alone, Master Dan thought curiously,

‘Strange… Genius Dan Ye seems to learn about Foolish Dan Ye’s past, but why doesn’t Foolish Dan Ye remember anything about Genius Dan Ye?’

Unable to find an answer, he shook off the thought.

Back in his room, Dan Ye mulled over Master Dan’s words:

“Think of it not as being taken away, but as an investment. Who benefits? If three days of investment yields a thousand days of training, I’d give thirty days.”

He had always thought the Heart Demon had stolen his life.

He had avoided cultivating inner strength for that reason.

But Master Dan’s words made him realize it wasn’t necessarily so.

Mastering the Tiandi Dao Technique, which he’d held onto for fourteen years, in one day was miraculous.

Could he really create such miracles himself?

To reject such a miracle knowingly would be foolish.

‘That’s right.’

If one day Bai Youhua saw his changed self…

The thought alone made his heart race.