Book 4, Chapter 221: We Are Not Entirely Separated From The World Around Us
Book 4, Chapter 221: We Are Not Entirely Separated From The World Around Us
When Fang Zhuoying heard that Chen Chuan was going to tell her about the weaknesses of her martial art, she didn’t deny his claim or show any sign of being embarrassed. Instead, she asked for guidance, “Please tell me, Mr. Chen!”
Martial arts masters had extraordinary understanding and observation.
One special feature about the seamless faction was that it required its members to find their weaknesses on their own. They could find it through discussions, daily training, or fights. No matter which stage they were at, they had to carry out this principle. That was why she loved it when other people pointed out her weakness.
“It’s good that you observe your own weakness and keep on correcting what is lacking in your technique, but you need to use these moves repeatedly in real fights to be able to carry out that principle fully. The problem lies in whether or not you are able to truly correct your own weakness. For that to happen, your ability to identify and make judgments plays a crucial role,” Chen Chuan said.
Fang Zhuoying nodded. She could understand what Chen Chuan said. Usually, when a martial artist got stronger, they would naturally assume that they had fixed their weaknesses and problems.
This might seem fine, but there was a flaw, and it wasn’t something that could be detected through the naked eye. It would lead to a martial artist thinking that they managed to fix a flaw, but it was just feedback their bodies gave them because they were eager for improvement and wanted to cut corners instead of working on something that would provide future growth.
In truth, the predecessors of the seamless faction had discussed it, but they weren’t martial arts masters, so they only had theories, not specific ways to master this art of judgment. That was why even Fang Zhuoying couldn’t figure out how to truly find and fix her mistakes. All she could do was sense it.
This could be said to be a flaw, but after listening to what Chen Chuan said, she had a strong feeling this was a chance to fix this flaw.
“What exactly is beneficial to you, and what isn’t? If you have different goals, you’ll have different views and answers. There is no one method that fits all. I’m sure that you understand this better than I do. But there is a way to make sure everyone knows what sort of impact certain changes will have on them during their training,” Chen Chuan said.
As Fang Zhuoying stared at Chen Chuan, she asked earnestly, “How should I do that, Mr. Chen?”
“It’s simple. Use flaws to respond to flaws, and use structured intervals to examine seamlessness,” Chen Chuan said and showed her an introspective breathing technique modified from the Respiration Node Breathing Technique.
Fang Zhuoying could immediately tell that this was a breathing technique that could let a martial artist inspect their weaknesses in depth.
When a body’s mutated tissue started developing in one area, it would provide feedback to the other parts of the body to tell the martial artist that what they were doing would affect those parts of the body. Hence, there was really no elimination of flaws, only the consistent change of them.
Once they learned about this, they could ask their teachers for guidance or figure out by themselves the path they wanted to take based on their needs instead of blindly patching up the flaws.
There was no martial art that could provide true seamlessness. After patching up one flaw, another would appear, but Chen Chuan’s breathing technique filled up the missing details in the seamless faction’s theory.
Fang Zhuoying would even go as far as to say that Chen Chuan developed a completely new path for them.
She was absolutely impressed. Just by watching her students spar and inheriting the memories from Yu Zhen, he had deduced so much. He truly deserved the title of a martial arts master.
Not all martial arts masters could do this.
Chen Chuan had experienced the martial arts from Yu Zhen when she demonstrated them in her memories, so he knew their special characteristics. Also, he practiced the All-Encompassing Force, which allowed him to experience and observe other martial arts’ weaknesses and strengths.
Other people might be able to fix the flaws, but they would introduce new ones by doing that. They wouldn’t be able to fix all of them with a simple breathing technique, while Chen Chuan’s breathing technique even perfectly fitted the martial art’s techniques and theories.
Since Fang Zhuoying had given him the notebook his mother had left for her, he gave her this breathing technique as thanks.
“How long are you going to stay in Veshahan, Mr. Chen? I’d like to host you for a little longer,” Fang Zhuoying said.
“I’ll stay in Veshahan for a few days, but not much longer,” Chen Chuan said and put the notebook carefully away. He stood up and bowed to her.
“Thank you for everything you’ve told me, Senior Fang. I’ll be taking my leave now.”
Fang Zhuoying also got up and returned the bow.
Since Chen Chuan didn’t want his status exposed, he rejected Fang Zhuoying’s offer to see him off. Instead, he walked out of the tent alone. When he was outside, he headed to the security guards.
The moment he met up with them, some people from the crowd suddenly cried out, and Chen Chuan saw a large group of people falling forward with their foreheads touching the ground. Even the hired security guards did the same.
All of these people were Veshahanese.
Then, he saw a small airship resembling an oval-shaped hot air balloon flying over from the distance while releasing colorful smoke. Underneath it was a blue pod. As it flew over, the people prostrating on the ground didn’t move an inch.
Chen Chuan kept his eyes trained upward. It was only when the airship was gone that he heard shouts around him. The people stood up, and the airship captain approached him. “It’s their guardian guard, the only martial arts master in Vakrahn Central City.”
A security guard said something.
“What did he say?” Chen Chuan asked.
“He said that you were able to see their guardian god the moment you came here, so you must have good luck,” the captain said, but he scoffed at that. Chen Chuan himself was a martial arts master. He didn’t need this good luck.
Chen Chuan turned to thank the security guard. The man clearly understood what he meant, and he happily waved his gun in Chen Chuan’s direction.
Chen Chuan cast another glance at the airship flying away. He knew that this wasn’t a coincidence that the martial arts master showed up. The Great Shun Republic had spoken with Veshahan’s leaders about Chen Chuan’s arrival, so it was impossible for Veshahan’s martial arts master to not get ready for him.
This martial arts master knew that he had arrived and came to say hi.
Since Chen Chuan had finished with his personal stuff, he could get on with his official business. He asked the captain to send a telegram to the liaison officer. He had no need to hide anything from the captain. After all, by coming here with him, the captain was practically screaming at the top of his lungs that he was part of the National General Affairs Bureau.
The captain worked fast. After half an hour, the liaison officer rushed over. With respect clear in his voice, he said, “Mr. Chen, I came on orders to tell you everything.”
“I’ve heard of the general situation. Apparently, Norland was supposed to send something to us, but when the goods arrived here, Veshahan’s resistance group seized them. Is that right?” Chen Chuan asked.
The liaison officer replied, “Yes. Due to the special nature of the goods, we didn’t have them transported via air but on land. Things went smoothly in the beginning, but once they reached Veshahan, trouble arose.
“While Veshahan seems big, it has a small population. Since the new era, only three martial arts masters have come out of it. It’s all thanks to our support that it hasn’t been annexed by Palanio.
“One of the three martial arts masters sides with the Western Continent and has been ostracized by the other two. One of them is loyal to Veshahan and is displeased with the country being too reliant on the Great Shun Republic. He has a lot to say about us.
“The martial arts master siding with us was in charge of guarding the goods, but the one loyal to Veshahan seized them and demanded that the Great Shun Republic agrees to some of his demands before he’ll return them. The martial arts master siding with us doesn’t want to fight him, so he’s trying to negotiate this matter. He asked us to give him some time, which is why this matter has been at a stalemate for two months.”
Chen Chuan could understand it. Martial arts masters were a group that wasn’t willing to resort to violence at the drop of a hat. Besides, both of the martial arts masters were Veshahanese. If the one siding with the Great Shun Republic attacked, not only would he be using up his energy, his reputation would also get ruined.
However, the Great Shun Republic’s patience was limited. Even if Chen Chuan hadn’t come, they would have sent someone to solve this matter in the near future.
“What are the goods?” he asked.
“A fragment of a jade tablet. A member of a royal family from some dynasty in the past took it with him as a treasure from the Eastern Continent. It was placed in the hall of offerings of the Western Continent emperor,” the liaison officer replied.
Chen Chuan thought of something.
“Is it part of the Ninefold Jade Tablet?”
The liaison officer nodded. “It is.”
Chen Chuan immediately understood. It was no wonder why the Great Shun Republic wanted it back. During the age of the first dynasty of the Eastern Continent, the emperor had unified nine lands and brought peace to the continent. When he made offerings to the gods, a white jade appeared in the sky. Lightning struck and carved words onto it, and golden fire descended to embellish them. This was the story of the jade tablet representing power.
However, a mere three centuries later, the jade tablet was shattered during an insurrection. Apparently, it was shattered into six pieces. Any family who got a piece of the jade tablet declared themselves as the legitimate ruling power and formed a new dynasty.
It was generally believed that this was a high-ranking, unique artifact and would switch between states of activity and dormancy between eras of change and dormancy. When it was shattered, it marked the start of a long era of dormancy.
“After the Great Shun Republic was formed, the government negotiated with Norland a few times and offered several benefits in order to get the piece back. The back and forth went on for more than thirty years, and we faced a lot of obstacles until last year Norland finally agreed to give it back,” the liaison officer said.
As Chen Chuan listened, he learned that many within Norland were against sending the piece back and countless people had attacked the transport group. In any case, the situation was really complicated. Getting stuck here was just another one of the obstacles it had to go through on its way home.
“Where is it now?” he asked.
The liaison officer produced a map and tapped a few times at a circled section. “Right here. Our informants report that the martial arts master is right here at Sarland, the land of wind and sand.”
Chen Chuan gave it a look. Considering his status, staying around for an extra day would increase the risk of his arrival being leaked, so he couldn’t drag this out. The sooner he got it settled, the better. He made up his mind. “Alright. I’ll get it back right now.”