The Wudang

The villagers gathered in the clearing, their expressions filled with curiosity and eagerness as they waited for Yun Jin to explain his next lesson.

“Now...” Yun Jin began, his voice calm and steady. “Have any of you ever heard of the Wudang Sword Technique?”

The villagers exchanged puzzled glances, murmuring among themselves. Some even chuckled nervously.

“Sword technique?” one finally asked. “What’s that?”

Yun Jin blinked, a faint smile tugging at his lips. They don’t even know what a sword technique is? This will be a challenge.

He stepped forward, unsheathing his blade with a smooth motion. The polished steel gleamed faintly in the sunlight as he raised it. “Allow me to demonstrate.”

Yun Jin shifted into a stance, his movements flowing seamlessly. Then, with a single, elegant motion, he executed the Flowing Wind, the first form of the Wudang Sword Technique. The blade arced gracefully, the motion so smooth it seemed effortless, as though the sword itself was guiding his hand.

The villagers watched, mesmerized.

“This,” Yun Jin said, sheathing his blade, “is the essence of Wudang swordsmanship. It’s not about brute force but about understanding momentum and flow.”

“But we don’t have swords,” a villager pointed out hesitantly.

Yun Jin nodded thoughtfully. “That’s not an issue. Go and pick up your farming tools—hoes, shovels, sticks, whatever you can find. Merlin, your staff will work fine too.”

As the villagers scrambled to gather their makeshift weapons, Yun Jin bent down and picked up a sturdy stick. He held it aloft, examining its rough surface.

One of the younger villagers frowned. “A stick? How can you fight with that?”

Yun Jin smirked, holding the stick horizontally. “Come. Try to break it.”

The challenge sparked murmurs of doubt, but one by one, villagers stepped forward to strike the stick. No matter how hard they swung, it didn’t budge.

“How?” one of them asked, baffled.

Yun Jin tapped the stick lightly against the ground. “Infuse qi into an object, and anything can become lethal. As the Sword Saint once said: ‘A sword is but an illusion. Even a stick can be the best weapon in the right hands.’”

His inner thoughts stirred as he twirled the stick in his hand. Weapon Mind is incredible. I can feel this stick as though it’s part of me. What are the limits of this skill? Could I turn anything into a weapon?

Shaking off the thought, Yun Jin turned to the group. “Now, let’s begin. Watch closely.”

Yun Jin started with Merlin, who had some experience channeling mana through his staff. “Your magic control gives you a head start,” Yun Jin said. “Focus on the flow of your movements. Don’t force it—let the momentum guide you.”

Merlin nodded, imitating Yun Jin’s movements with surprising precision.

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Next, Yun Jin moved to the elder, guiding him through the stance and the arcs of the Flowing Wind. The older man’s years of farming had given him strength and a natural rhythm, allowing him to pick up the technique quickly.

As the sun climbed higher, Yun Jin continued working his way through the group, correcting postures, demonstrating motions, and encouraging those who struggled. By noon, every villager had mastered the basics of wielding their improvised weapons.

With their foundation set, Yun Jin introduced the Redirecting Water, the second form of the Wudang Sword Technique. This defensive move emphasized deflecting an opponent’s attack with minimal effort, turning their force against them.

On the second day, Yun Jin shifted the focus to physical conditioning. He led the villagers in running laps around the village, pushing them to their limits. His goal was simple: to teach them to maintain control of their breathing, even when their bodies were exhausted.

“Keep your rhythm steady!” Yun Jin called out, his voice clear and commanding. “No matter how tired you are, focus on your breath. If you lose that, you lose your strength!”

The villagers followed his instructions with grim determination, their feet pounding against the dirt in unison. Despite their lack of formal training, their years of physical labor had conditioned their bodies, making them surprisingly resilient.

But Merlin... was a different story.

Halfway through the first set of laps, Merlin staggered to a halt, his face pale and drenched with sweat. He collapsed onto the ground, gasping like a fish out of water.

Yun Jin walked over, crouching beside the boy with a faint smile. “Merlin, you’re not a farmer. You don’t have to keep up with them. Go find some shade and lay down for a while.”

Merlin groaned in protest, but Yun Jin raised a hand to stop him. “Don’t push yourself past your limits. Just focus on controlling your breath. That alone will help you improve.”

Reluctantly, Merlin dragged himself to the shade of a nearby tree, his chest heaving as he lay flat on the ground. He closed his eyes and tried to steady his breathing, following Yun Jin’s earlier instructions.

By the end of the second day, the villagers had not only improved their physical stamina but also developed a newfound awareness of their breathing and rhythm. Their endurance had increased, and their movements had grown smoother and more coordinated.

And by the end of the third day, Yun Jin was impressed. The villagers had adapted to the techniques with remarkable speed, their familiarity with farming tools translating seamlessly into swordsmanship.

“They’re as good as standard Wudang disciples,” Yun Jin murmured to himself, watching as they practiced the two forms in synchronized movements.

Merlin, however, stood off to the side, his arms limp at his sides. He approached Yun Jin with a sheepish expression. “I, uh... I can’t feel my arms,” he admitted, his voice tinged with embarrassment. “It’s been like this since the first day, but I was too ashamed to say anything...”

Yun Jin chuckled, placing a reassuring hand on the boy’s head. Merlin flinched slightly but relaxed under the gesture. “You did great,” Yun Jin said sincerely. “The fact that you pushed through and kept up is admirable. If you want, we can keep working on your physical training every day.”

Merlin’s eyes lit up with determination. “Really? Let’s do it!”

As Yun Jin and Merlin prepared to leave, Elder Harun approached, holding a small medal in his hands. The intricate design gleamed faintly, its surface etched with the emblem of a noble house of that of a horse.

“This is the crest of a dear friend’s house in the nearest city,” Harun explained, bowing deeply as he offered the medal. “When you arrive, show it to the house of Lord Ardent. He will accommodate you and help you reach the imperial city faster.”

Yun Jin bowed, and Merlin followed suit, their gestures humble and respectful. “Thank you,” Yun Jin said.

Harun bowed even deeper, his voice trembling. “No. What you’ve given us is far more valuable than anything I could ever repay. I only wish I could do more for you.”

Yun Jin straightened, his expression calm. “Use the strength you’ve gained to protect what matters. That’s all I ask.”

Harun’s lips trembled into a smile as he echoed Yun Jin’s words softly. “That man... is truly a hero after all.”

“I heard that!” Yun Jin called out as he and Merlin turned to leave, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.

[Encounter Complete]

[Completion Level: Excellent]

[You have been awarded 10 Completion Points.]