Han Li's mind whirled as he recalled the peculiar conditions for practicing the "Blinking Sword Technique"—an ancient, almost mythical martial art he had recently discovered. The conditions for mastering it were so extreme that it seemed almost designed to ensure no one could succeed.
The other voice he had overheard belonged to a person Han Li had never encountered before. From the sound of it, this person was likely in his twenties, though Han Li couldn't be sure. He had wanted to peek at them, but caution prevailed; he feared their profound cultivation might allow them to sense his presence, which would have been disastrous. The last thing he needed was to be caught by these spies, especially after hearing such valuable information.
After this narrow escape, the journey back to his residence was uneventful. The familiar sight of his quarters greeted him, and as always, Mo Dafu showed no curiosity about his late return. The old doctor continued his indifferent routine, sending over carefully prepared medicine without any questions. Han Li had long since stopped wondering about Mo Dafu's strange behavior. If not for the precious herbs used in the medicines, he might have suspected that Mo Dafu had some ulterior motive, but for now, the doctor seemed to be playing his own game, too.
Though Han Li had stopped fearing the medicines Mo Dafu gave him, he continued taking them—more out of necessity than trust. He wasn't worried about poison. After all, if Mo Dafu were to harm him, it would mean he was also harming himself.
The discovery of the Wild Wolf Gang spies had occupied Han Li's thoughts on the way back. As much as he wasn't deeply attached to the Seven Xuemen sect, he was still a half-member of its inner circle. It wasn't in his nature to ignore threats that might endanger the sect, especially now that he had an ideal candidate to handle the situation—Li Feiyu, his senior brother.
Li Feiyu, in Han Li's estimation, was the perfect person to take care of this issue. Since taking the "Essence Extracting Pill," Li Feiyu's ambition had grown significantly. He had long dreamed of joining the upper echelons of the Seven Xuemen sect, wanting to stand out and gain more influence. Han Li suspected that Li Feiyu had been trying to push him toward more extreme actions in the hope of reaping the rewards when they succeeded.
Han Li figured that by handing this critical information to Li Feiyu, he would undoubtedly be pleased. Not only would it further Li Feiyu's ambitions, but it would also serve as a thank-you for helping Han Li obtain the "Blinking Sword Technique." Han Li's mind raced with excitement at the thought of it—the "Blinking Sword Technique" was still a fresh obsession for him, its potential thrilling him to his core.
The truth was, Han Li had told Li Feiyu only a portion of what he knew about the "Blinking Sword Technique." While he had admitted that the sword technique was unsuitable for someone like Li Feiyu, Han Li had omitted many important details. He had learned the value of keeping secrets, especially when it came to such powerful arts. No matter how close one was to him, there were always things better left unsaid.
The "Blinking Sword Technique" was unlike any martial art Han Li had ever encountered. It wasn't just a sword skill; it was more of a killing technique that relied on timing, positioning, and manipulating one's surroundings to create fatal openings. The technique utilized environmental factors, lighting, and even the subtle perception errors of the opponent to strike a fatal blow.
To say it was complex would be an understatement. In fact, Han Li felt it was less about swordplay and more about assassination. Each technique was designed to exploit an opponent's weaknesses in a split second. Only those with exceptional senses—far beyond the ordinary—could hope to understand it, and even then, only those with rare talent could master it.
The techniques described in the manuals were meticulous, requiring the practitioner to understand a vast array of factors. For example, the user would need to understand how to use the environment, lighting, and the angle of shadows to create confusion in their opponent's perception, allowing them to strike when their enemy was most vulnerable.
Yet, this was not all. The technique had even more severe conditions—conditions that would deter all but a few would-be practitioners. The most critical and insurmountable barrier was that the practitioner could not have a strong internal energy. Otherwise, the internal force would conflict with the technique's subtle methods, making it impossible to learn. The martial world was full of people obsessed with cultivating inner power; the idea of abandoning it for an unproven technique was enough to deter most.
Even if someone managed to overcome this obstacle, the technique's complexity was enough to stop them in their tracks. Each manual was thick, detailing hundreds of different sword movements and their variations depending on the circumstances. Each move had a multitude of intricate sub-techniques that depended on environmental conditions—whether the practitioner was standing on a hill, under the sunlight, or in a forest with shifting shadows. The sheer volume of the material alone was enough to dishearten anyone.
It was no wonder, then, that the "Blinking Sword Technique" had largely been ignored by the sect. The disciples of the Seven Xuemen had long since dismissed it as a fruitless pursuit, believing that it had been concocted by a dying elder as a means to leave behind something that could never be mastered. With such demanding conditions and an overwhelming number of techniques to learn, it was little wonder that it was eventually forgotten, gathering dust in the corners of the sect's archives.
For Han Li, however, the allure of the "Blinking Sword Technique" had not diminished. It was a deadly, unpredictable art—precisely the kind of weapon he could use to ensure his survival in the turbulent world ahead.