vncnus Chapter 1966 (11965): The Three Styles of Gentle Breeze
Chapter 1966 (11965): The Three Styles of Gentle Breeze
Chapter 1966, Part 1.1965: The Thirteen Styles of Qingfeng
Wu Chen's seasoned intuition, solidified by experience, was still correct.
Chang Le Fang would never repeatedly use a small force against a large one.
In the second round, it was nine against six. Chang Le Fang had the advantage in numbers.
"Beat the drums to cheer them on!" Su Wuniang, the owner of Changlefang, shouted.
"Dong dong dong—" The booming drumbeats echoed for the second time through the Grand Flower Building.
The spectators upstairs were filled with rage. On the stage, both sides were burning with fighting spirit.
After the third drumbeat, figures flickered.
Master Kumei, Gao Yanan, Liu Wumei, Jin Lingzhi, Qiu Lingsu, and Yue Lingshan, the six masters and disciples, performed sword techniques and danced the opening move of the Huashan martial arts manual "The Thirteen Styles of Gentle Breeze," titled "Gentle Breeze Comes."
The Thirteen Styles of Gentle Breeze: "Gentle Breeze Comes Gently", "Gentle Breeze Points to Willow", "Gentle Breeze Reflects the Sunset", "Gentle Breeze Floats on Clouds", "Wind Raises Green Waves", "Wind Sends the Fragrance of Flowers", "Wind Helps Butterflies Fly", "Wind Moves a Thousand Bells", "Gentle Breeze and Fine Rain", "Returning Wind Dances with Snow", "Gentle Breeze and Bright Moon", "Wind Passes Silently", "Wind Stops and Trees Remain Still". The Thirteen Styles of Qingfeng (清风十三式) is based on the sword technique "Qingfeng Wuhen" (清风无痕), and is divided into four sections: "Introduction, Development, Transition, and Conclusion" (起承转合). It progresses layer by layer, from the concrete to the abstract, from the surface to the core, depicting the wind of the four seasons. It incorporates classical literature, mythology, and other imagery such as "Three Immortals (clouds, rosy clouds, and rain)," "Four Elegances (wind, flowers, snow, and moon)," and "Five Elements (metal, wood, water, fire, and earth)." The only living creature is designated as the "butterfly" and placed in the center of the first style, drawing on the story of "Zhuangzi's dream of a butterfly" and the concept of "humanity as the center," which subtly governs the entire piece. It is a concrete manifestation of the "unity of heaven and man" that Gu Long has always pursued in his martial arts worldview in terms of martial arts moves.
As the signature sword technique of the Huashan Sword Sect, the *Thirteen Forms of Qingfeng* is described as "the most profound sword technique of the Huashan Sect." Its essence lies in "lightness and subtlety," presenting a sword path characterized by "seeming presence and absence, reality and illusion," using the imagery of "a gazelle hanging its horns, leaving no trace" to highlight its unpredictable combat characteristics. In Gu Long's original setting, this sword technique held a significantly higher status than mainstream sword techniques such as the Wudang *Two Elements Sword Technique* and the Kunlun *Nine Forms of Flying Dragon*. Together with the *Yue Maiden Sword Technique* and the *Nameless Dugu Sword Technique*, it formed a three-way balance of top-tier sword techniques, surpassed only by the swordsmanship attainments of "Sword Immortal" level figures.
However, there is controversy among martial arts practitioners regarding his actual combat strength. Ximen Chuixue once cited the story of Yan Nantian defeating Master Kumei with ordinary sword techniques, implying that his actual combat strength might be overestimated. This is why there is a saying in the martial arts world that he has the "greatest reputation," which is a veiled compliment. The implication is: "His great reputation is not commensurate with his actual abilities."
However, this "most famous" set of "Thirteen Styles of Qingfeng" shone brightly in the hands of Master Kumei.
It turns out that the secret to mastering the "Thirteen Styles of Qingfeng" is not, as the Huashan School masters of all generations have passed down, that only by "purifying the mind and reducing desires" can one comprehend the essence of "lightness" in the sword moves and present a sword path that is "seemingly there and not there, seemingly real and seemingly illusory".
Instead, one must be "deeply emotional and genuine," going against the grain. By taking the idea that "when emotions are intense, they become shallow," and achieving a state of mind where "all things return to their essence, and vibrations and transformations occur," one can truly grasp the essence of "tranquility" in swordplay.
So, in the original novel, the extraordinary friendship between Master Kumei and the Bat Prince, despite their age difference, was the prelude to his enlightenment of the "Thirteen Styles of Qingfeng." Unfortunately, before it could unfold, the passion subsided, and the Bat Island storyline abruptly ended.
Now, the enlightened Master Kumei, along with his five disciples, has astonished everyone with their skills.
The sword's momentum stretched endlessly, swift as the wind. The sword's shadow danced to its peak, its sharpness completely dissipating. The crisscrossing sword energy, like a winding path, receded into a gentle breeze.
It may seem ordinary, but it is actually invincible.
"Watch out!" Even Su Wuniang, the owner of Changlefang, who was unable to turn back in time, couldn't help but exclaim in surprise upon seeing this.
Fortunately, the nine courtesans of the White Rose Nightclub, each wielding a dual SR-2MP submachine gun, immediately raised their guns and returned fire.
The bursts of fire, like golden arrows, clashed head-on with the gentle breeze. In an instant, a torrential rain of fire poured down. Armor-piercing bullets were shredded by the sword energy, and the sword formation was shattered by the barrage. Just as the sword energy struck and the bullets entered their bodies, a loud explosion rang out, and the sword energy and bullets exploded, forcing both sides back. In a brief exchange of close combat, Master Kumei and his disciple had exhausted their techniques, and the White Rose Nine Flower Queen emptied her magazine.
They almost met face to face, risking their lives.
With the help of the Demon Hunter Sect's informants, Wu Chen discovered that the bullets fired by the White Rose Nine Flower Queen were not simply armor-piercing bullets, but bullets activated by true qi. The true qi even surpassed the power of gunpowder.
"Be careful, they also possess unparalleled martial arts skills!" Wu Chen warned telepathically from afar.
"My lord, what is the name of this divine skill?" Princess's strategist, Li Huixin, asked hurriedly.
"It's a skill in the fingers." Wu Chen saw it clearly: "Using superb finger skills to pull the trigger and fire the bullet. The power far exceeds that of ordinary firearms."
"Finger skills..." Elder Gu Xianniang, who had just returned to Yonghua Village, said, "Could it be the 'Finger Flicking Divine Skill'?"
"Yes." Wu Chen nodded slightly. In the entire martial arts world, only this skill allows one to pull the trigger with the speed of the wind.
The Finger Flicking Skill, also known as the Finger Flicking Divine Skill, is mastered by top-tier martial artists, such as Huang Yaoshi, the "Eastern Heretic," and Chu Liuxiang, the "Thief King." Different versions of the martial arts manuals related to this skill exist throughout the martial arts world. It's unknown which version the White Rose Nine Flower Queen practiced. However, the energy flow path is largely the same. For example, in "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils," the unique martial art of the Lingjiu Palace of the Xiaoyao Sect, the Finger Flicking Skill, involves first circulating the true energy in the dantian to the Jugu acupoint on the shoulder, then to the Tianjing acupoint on the elbow, and then to the Yangchi acupoint on the wrist. This energy circulates three times between the Yanghuo, Yanggu, and Yangchi acupoints before reaching the Guanchong acupoint on the ring finger. Finally, it is flicked out with the ring finger, its power unparalleled. However, this skill requires extremely high internal strength as a foundation to learn, and only Tianshan Tonglao and Xuzhu possess this ability.
The White Rose Queen takes a different approach. Her inner energy doesn't enter the ring finger, but instead travels through the Yangxi, Hegu, Sanjian, Erjian, and Shangyang acupoints to the index finger. Pulling the trigger transmits the inner energy to the bullet via the firing pin, igniting it together with the primer with astonishing power.
It's like injecting the power of a finger-flicking technique into the instant a bullet is fired, creating a gun-fu version of martial arts.
Wu Chen even felt that the combined power of gunpowder and true energy surpassed that of a Gauss rifle. In other words, even with only an armor-piercing bullet and no primer, White Rose Queen could pull the trigger and fire the bullet. Its power would still far exceed that of ordinary armor-piercing bullets.
Some of the onlookers upstairs had also seen through the secret and were discussing it animatedly.
"May I ask, sir, where did you come from with the 'Finger Flicking Divine Skill'?"
“Those who excel in internal strength must come from the Lingjiu Palace of the Xiaoyao Sect.” The man replied, “Those who excel in external strength should be Hua Yucang, the ‘Finger-Flicking Old Man’ of Shanyang.”
"What's the difference between the two?" someone else asked for details.
"The former can shoot out invisible true energy, while the latter is good at using small, fragmented external objects." The man continued, "It is said that the 'Finger Flicker Master's' 'Finger Flicker Divine Skill' requires, at the beginning, cultivating qi and concentrating the mind, focusing the intention on the dantian. When the qi sensation is full, then use the intention to guide the qi, allowing the internal force to travel along the arm to the palm. Bend the middle finger, press it down with the thumb, hold the two fingers together, focus the intention on the fingertip, and when the soreness becomes unbearable, release the force. Repeat this process until the middle finger is strong, then slip it off the thumb and flick the middle finger. After half a year, one can flick pebbles while holding them, gradually increasing its power and accuracy. Finally, with a flick of the finger, one can pierce through a wooden board and injure an enemy from ten feet away."
"I see." The audience members suddenly realized.
The world's most unparalleled skills entered Beibao.
Unexpectedly, the battle of courtesans turned out to be so spectacular.