Chapter 69
Then she found it hard to understand the recipe's instruction to add a spoonful.
After all, it didn’t specify how big the spoon should be.
So she added for ten seconds.
Not tasty?
Ying Bing picked up a piece of spicy stir-fried meat.
........
Half an hour later.
A new spread of dishes was laid out on the table.
Looking at Ying Bing's already rosy lips, now even more red and tempting, Li Mo sighed:
“Honestly, I didn’t help you that much. You didn’t need to go through all this trouble cooking yourself.”
“Mm.”
“Let’s eat.”
Li Mo rinsed his mouth and took a couple of hearty bites of the stir-fried greens he made, feeling more alive.
Ying Bing’s gaze flickered, and she asked:
“How is she... now?”
“I left some healing supplements for Chu Chong. The place she’s staying has been bought, so she doesn’t need to worry about daily life. I’ve instructed the Murong family to send her supplies regularly.”
“Mm?”
A hint of surprise flashed across Ying Bing’s delicate features.
She understood Chu Chong’s personality; she was a girl who kept her heart tightly closed, struggling to express herself.
The fact that Chu Chong was willing to tell Li Mo her name indicated they had gotten along well.
Watching Li Mo eat heartily, Ying Bing’s expression softened.
If it were him, it wouldn’t be that surprising.
“Thank you.”
“Just a small favor.”
Li Mo cleared his throat and said seriously, “We’re familiar enough now; there’s no need to make a big deal out of such little things.”
After learning about Ying Bing’s journey in cooking, Li Mo felt...
Being serious is good, but sometimes it’s just unnecessary.
Considering Ying Bing’s personality, he added:
“If you really want to thank me, just do me a favor.”
“What kind of favor?”
“For example... discuss swordsmanship with me?”
There was no one else around to ask.
After thinking it over, only Ying Bing came to mind.
What could he do? He genuinely didn’t know how to help Chu Chong.
He had no idea what was going on in that girl’s head.
“Discuss swordsmanship with me?”
Ying Bing raised her eyes, her delicate brows slightly arching.
Teaching and discussing are two different things.
In all the realms, there are only a handful of people qualified to discuss swordsmanship with her.
She had once mastered a path of swordsmanship, which meant her understanding of the sword had touched its essence, standing at the pinnacle of all realms.
At least based on Li Mo’s previous talent in swordsmanship, he wasn’t qualified to discuss it with her.
A deep discussion would be more harmful than beneficial for him.
“Let’s hear your questions first.”
“I made a list.”
Li Mo grinned and pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket.
He was afraid he’d forget, so he wrote down all his questions.
Ying Bing glanced over.
Her clear eyes suddenly focused, narrowing slightly.
These questions...
Seemingly pointed directly at the essence of swordsmanship?
Of course, she could answer them.
But how could Li Mo ask such questions?
Asking questions requires a certain level of understanding; the doubts of a genius and those of a mediocre mind are entirely different.
Uh...
It’s like someone getting hit on the head by an apple, wondering why today is so unlucky.
A genius would ask why the apple falls down instead of flying up...
Ying Bing stared at Li Mo, her icy eyes reflecting the young man, as if trying to see through him.
His previous talent could only be described as peculiar, far from being a genius.
To call it peculiar was because Li Mo was sometimes dull and sometimes insightful; he could only be said to have an unusual ease in reaching insights, not an extraordinary talent in swordsmanship itself.
Did she underestimate him before?
The exact reason was hard for Ying Bing to pin down:
“Is that all?”
Li Mo instinctively tapped his cheek and nodded:
“Yeah, for now, that’s it.”
**Chapter 65: The Value of His Talent Increases**
Though Ying Bing was puzzled, she began to answer the questions on the paper, starting from the basics.
“Sword techniques and sword arts are essentially the same thing; they boil down to precision, flexibility, and making them your own. If you practice a superior sword technique to perfection, you can be considered competent.”
“However, for those who truly possess sword energy, sword intent, and the way of the sword, sword techniques are merely experiences they’ve summarized on their path to the sword.”
Li Mo understood only partially.
He could only relate it to his understanding of mathematics and physics from his past life.
If swordsmanship were like mathematics, then sword techniques would be the formulas.
For most people, solving a problem means applying the formula.
Where do formulas come from?
They are derived from those true geniuses who reach the essence directly.
Li Mo nodded and took out his pen and paper.
“Are you there?”
“Mm, I’m taking notes.”
Li Mo smiled and quickly wrote down his thoughts.
It was still shallow now; he feared he wouldn’t remember if it got deeper later.
Ying Bing felt a bit confused.
In her past and present, it was the first time someone discussed while taking notes.
After all, these weren’t things to be memorized; understanding even a little would lead to comprehension.
After a moment, she spoke again:
“Sword energy, sword intent, and the way of the sword are indeed three different paths, yet they all lead to the same destination.”
“First, let’s talk about sword energy. In the past, during the Great Yu, there was a great scholar who studied for sixty years without practicing martial arts or swordplay, only writing poetry and classics. After sixty years, when he entered the imperial court, he used his eloquence to critique the dragon scales and cut down the fate of the Great Shang.”
“This is transforming the passion of a scholar into sword energy.”
“And sword intent emphasizes acting in accordance with the situation. The rising sun and setting moon represent the forces of nature; the blooming and wilting of flowers reflect the natural flow; the hearts of people represent human intent...”
Ying Bing gently poured herself a cup of tea to moisten her throat.
Her demeanor reminded Li Mo of a young, beautiful teacher from his past life.
Usually quiet, but when she taught, she exuded a sacred aura of confidence, as if she held the truth.
Of course.
Li Mo wasn’t just taking notes; he was writing continuously.
Half an hour later.
Several sheets of paper, still wet with ink, were spread out on the table, and Li Mo, satisfied, licked the tip of his pen.
If he could memorize all this...
He would be incredibly strong!
That little Princess Jiang would surely be taken down!
Just as Li Mo was feeling pleased with himself, Ying Bing’s voice came:
“Did you understand what I just said?”
As someone who could ask such questions, she expected him to have grasped most of it by now.
“I got it!”
Li Mo nodded confidently.
“Then share your insights.”
Ying Bing’s eyes, like snow and ice, locked onto Li Mo’s, waiting for his response.
Uh...
Li Mo’s expression froze, his smile gradually fading as he fell into deep thought.
Did I just get a bit... carried away? How did I forget that Ying Bing would want to test me?
Oh right, it’s a discussion.
Ying Bing had talked for so long; he couldn’t just sit there in silence.
But to be honest...
He was utterly confused.
Practicing hammering and practicing swordsmanship were worlds apart...
After all, have you ever heard of a blacksmith who hammered iron for sixty years and then went to the court to take down a tyrant with a single blow?
Noticing a hint of doubt growing in Ying Bing’s eyes, Li Mo’s mind raced.
Ying Bing really didn’t seem to understand.
She was just asking him to share his insights; it shouldn’t be that hard, right?
Or was it...
Finally, after a moment of contemplation, Li Mo spoke up, smiling apologetically:
“Sorry, I was thinking a bit too deeply just now.”
“In my view, Ying Bing, you don’t need to make it so complicated. The so-called sword practitioner can be categorized into three realms.”
“First, the one who stops at technique, holding a sword in hand but not in heart; a common man in anger can spill blood within five steps.”
“Second, one who holds no sword but contains the sword in their heart, practicing the unity of man and sword, able to use all things as a sword.”
“Third, one who holds no sword and has no sword in their heart; at that point, your very existence becomes the way of the sword.”
As his calm words fell, the young man spoke as if he didn’t care about others’ evaluations, simply expressing his understanding of the way of the sword.
Across from him, the jade-like figure sipping tea seemed to thaw, a hint of emotion flickering in her eyes.
After a long pause, she finally parted her lips:
“Good.”
“You teach well.”
“No, you’re right; the path is simple, and simplifying the complex is the true principle.”
“Not at all.”
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