The villagers gathered in the clearing, their expressions filled with curiosity and anticipation as they awaited Yun Jin’s next lesson.

  “Now…” Yun Jin began, his voice calm and clear. “Has anyone here heard of the Wudang Sword Technique?”

  They exchanged puzzled glances. A few chuckled nervously.

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

  Yun Jin blinked, a slight smile forming. They’ve never even heard of a sword technique? This might be trickier than I thought.

  He stepped forward, smoothly drawing his blade. Sunlight caught on the polished steel, making it gleam. “Watch closely.”

  With a swift motion, Yun Jin demonstrated Flowing Wind, the first form of Wudang Swordsmanship. The sword traced an elegant arc, the movement so seamless it appeared effortless because the blade itself guided his hand.

  The villagers stared, entranced.

  “This,” Yun Jin said, sheathing his sword, “is the core of Wudang. It’s not brute force; it’s about harnessing force and flow.”

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

  Yun Jin nodded, acknowledging the concern. “Not a problem. Grab your farming tools—hoes, shovels, sticks, anything. Merlin, use your staff.”

  They hurried to gather their makeshift weapons. Yun Jin himself picked up a sturdy branch. He lifted it in one hand, studying its rough bark.

  A young villager frowned. “A stick? How can that compare to a sword?”

  Yun Jin smirked, holding the branch horizontally. “Someone try to break it.”

  They took turns striking it, but the branch didn’t even crack. Anxious murmurs rippled among them.

  Yun Jin tapped the wood against the ground. “Infuse something with qi, and anything can become dangerous. As the Sword Saint once taught: A sword is but an illusion. In the right hands, even a stick can be the finest weapon.”

  Weapon Mind is amazing, Yun Jin mused privately as he gave the branch a quick twirl. I can feel every inch of this wood as if it’s part of me. I wonder what its limits are.

  Clearing his thoughts, he faced the crowd again. “Let’s start. Watch carefully.”

  He began with Merlin, who already had some mana control with his staff. “Because you can channel magic, you have a slight advantage,” Yun Jin noted. “Focus on smooth movement. Don’t force anything; let momentum lead you.”

  Merlin nodded, imitating Yun Jin’s demonstration with surprising grace.

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  Next, Yun Jin moved to Elder Harun, walking him through the stance and the arcs of Flowing Wind.

  Years of hard labor gave the old man steady strength and natural rhythm, letting him pick it up quickly.

  All morning, Yun Jin cycled through each villager, correcting stances and offering encouragement. By noon, everyone could execute basic attacks and defenses using their improvised “weapons.”

  With that foundation laid, Yun Jin introduced Redirecting Water, the second Wudang form. It centered on deflecting incoming blows with minimal effort and turning the attacker’s own momentum against them.

  On the second day, he shifted to physical conditioning, leading them on laps around the village to build stamina. “Stay mindful of your breathing,” he reminded them. “If you lose your breath, you lose your power.”

  The villagers ran in a ragged line, but their resolve was iron. Years of farm work had honed their bodies, giving them a natural endurance.

  Merlin, however, was a different story.

  Partway through the first set of laps, Merlin stumbled and collapsed, drenched in sweat. Lying flat on the ground, he panted like he’d just run a marathon.

  Yun Jin approached with a wry smile. “Merlin, you’re not a farmer. You don’t need to match them. Go rest in the shade.”

  Merlin opened his mouth to protest, but Yun Jin raised a hand. “Pushing beyond your limit isn’t helpful. Focus on controlling your breath. That alone will help.”

  Reluctantly, Merlin dragged himself under a tree, chest still heaving, and tried to practice the breathing exercises Yun Jin had taught him.

  By the end of the second day, the villagers had improved their stamina significantly. They’d also grown more aware of their breath and posture, moving more fluidly than before.

  By day three, Yun Jin found himself genuinely impressed. The villagers had adapted to the sword forms with surprising speed, their familiarity with farming tools translating seamlessly into basic weapon techniques.

  “They’re about on par with entry-level Wudang disciples,” he murmured, watching them practice Flowing Wind and Redirecting Water in rhythmic unison.

  Merlin stood off to the side, arms dangling limply. With an embarrassed grimace, he approached Yun Jin. “I… I can’t feel my arms,” he admitted, sheepishly. “They’ve been numb since the first day, but I was too embarrassed to say anything…”

  Yun Jin chuckled, resting a hand on the boy’s head. Merlin stiffened but relaxed as Yun Jin spoke kindly. “You’ve worked hard, and you’ve kept up. That’s impressive in itself. If you want, we can do more strength training daily.”

  Merlin’s eyes sparkled with renewed determination. “Yes, let’s do it!”

  After they wrapped up practice, Elder Harun approached, carrying a small medallion. Its intricate design glinted under the sun, bearing a horse emblem.

  “This is the crest of a dear friend’s house, House Altheron, near the city of Terrilstead,” Harun explained, bowing as he presented it. “When you arrive, show it to Lord Ardent. He’ll accommodate you and help you reach the Imperial City faster.”

  Yun Jin returned the bow, and Merlin followed suit. “Thank you,” Yun Jin said quietly.

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

  Yun Jin straightened, expression placid. “Use your new strength to protect what’s important. That’s all I need.”

  Harun’s lips curved into a smile as he whispered, “He really is a hero after all.”

  From a few paces away, Yun Jin raised his voice, a hint of humor coloring his tone. “I heard that!”

  [Encounter Complete]

  [Completion Level: Excellent]

  [You have been awarded 10 Completion Points.]