Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 15

White Tiger Training Sword Twelve Forms (1)

Patter.

The page turned with a soft rustle from Instructor Il Chung-hyun’s hand.

With hands clasped respectfully, Un-hyun stood poised, his heart pounding as he scrutinized Instructor Il Chung-hyun’s expression.

Instructor Il Chung-hyun’s sharp eyes scanned the book Un-hyun had brought, ‘A Comprehensive Approach to the Origins of Martial Arts Schools’ Techniques,’ or as Un-hyun simply called it, ‘Report,’ page by page.

Thud.

Finally, the last page was turned.

Instructor Il Chung-hyun raised his head and stared at Un-hyun with a stern face.

Un-hyun swallowed nervously.

“Is this the only sword form Scholar Un has been practicing alone?”

At Instructor Il Chung-hyun’s question, Un-hyun nodded.

“Yes, that’s all.”

“Are you sure there’s nothing else?”

To Il Chung-hyun’s repeated question, Un-hyun nodded firmly.

“There is nothing else.”

“Hmm.”

Instructor Il Chung-hyun seemed to ponder something, then sighed briefly.

“Haa, it’s a relief. This sword form is…”

Instructor Il Chung-hyun looked up at Un-hyun.

His face was much brighter.

“It seems to be a type of training sword form.”

As Il Chung-hyun’s face brightened, Un-hyun’s face also lit up.

But the most relieved person was Instructor Il Chung-hyun.

He had been worried that Un-hyun might have picked up a dangerous secret manual from among the miscellaneous books in Munyeon Hall and was practicing it without knowing the danger.

However, after examining the ‘Report’ that Un-hyun had brought, it was not as worrisome as he had feared.

At Instructor Il Chung-hyun’s words, Un-hyun breathed a sigh of relief.

Then, tilting his head in confusion, he asked.

“A training sword form?”

Il Chung-hyun nodded.

“Not all sword forms are necessarily divided like this, but if I had to say, there are two types of sword forms. One is a training sword for practice, and the other is a practical sword for defeating enemies.”

“Training sword and practical sword…”

Un-hyun repeated Il Chung-hyun’s words, murmuring to himself.

“Sometimes, a single sword form can have both meanings depending on how it is used. So, calling it a training sword or a practical sword is just a matter of convenience.”

“Then, the fact that this sword form is a training sword means…”

Un-hyun asked, but instead, Instructor Il Chung-hyun asked a question.

“Scholar Un, what was your condition after practicing this sword form?”

“Condition, you mean…”

Un-hyun tilted his head, pondered for a moment, and then answered.

“After practicing this sword form, my mind feels clearer and my mood feels refreshed. I sweated a bit, but I didn’t feel severely tired or unpleasant.”

Instructor Il Chung-hyun nodded.

“That’s why it’s a training sword. Training swords activate your Qi [vital energy] and strengthen your body, so after training, you feel more energized. However, practical swords are like exploding your Qi all at once, leaving you exhausted afterward.”

Il Chung-hyun lowered his gaze to the book in his hand. Un-hyun’s gaze followed his to the book.

“And this seems to be a training sword form aimed at increasing internal energy.”

“Increasing internal energy…”

Un-hyun, who was repeating Il Chung-hyun’s words, suddenly tilted his head and asked.

“No, can you increase internal energy with a sword form?”

“The Taoists have something called Dao Yin exercises [a series of breathing and physical exercises]. Do you know about Master Hua Tuo’s Five Animal Frolics?”

At Il Chung-hyun’s words, Un-hyun nodded.

‘Five Animal Frolics’ is a gymnastics method created by the famous physician Hua Tuo, imitating the movements of five animals, and is known to cultivate vital energy and treat diseases.

As Un-hyun nodded, Il Chung-hyun picked up the book, flipped through a few pages, and continued.

“This training sword form seems to use the principles of Dao Yin exercises, like those Five Animal Frolics. The sword form is simple, but it emphasizes precise postures without any internal energy formulas that almost always accompany sword forms. Moreover, the author wrote that practicing this sword form would allow you to feel the Qi filling the heavens and earth, didn’t he?”

“Ah!”

Un-hyun let out a soft exclamation. Something clicked in his mind at Il Chung-hyun’s words.

“That tells us that the purpose of this sword form is to train Qi.”

Un-hyun nodded.

After listening to Instructor Il Chung-hyun’s explanation, everything made sense, and it matched his own guess.

Il Chung-hyun looked at the book for a moment and then asked Un-hyun.

“Does this sword form have a separate name?”

Un-hyun shook his head.

Instructor Il Chung-hyun looked at the cover of the book, hoping for a name, but instead frowned.

“This is too long for a sword form’s name.”

Un-hyun felt somehow responsible and bowed his head.

“I just called it ‘Report Sword Form’…”

At those words, Instructor Il Chung-hyun was dumbfounded.

Even third-rate martial arts usually have grandiose names, but the name he gave it was ‘Report Sword Form’.

‘A very Un-hyun-like naming.’

Before he knew it, a smile was forming on Instructor Il Chung-hyun’s lips.

“Can’t have a sword form named like that, can we? Then who is the author of this book?”

“I don’t know the exact name, but he was just called a scholar from the White Tiger Hall.”

Instructor Il Chung-hyun’s eyebrows furrowed slightly.

‘He doesn’t even know the name, and he’s a scholar, not a martial artist…’

If he was a scholar, he probably had never even held a sword properly.

Il Chung-hyun spoke to Un-hyun, who was looking at him with sparkling eyes, with a gentle expression.

“Since the author is a scholar from the White Tiger Hall, let’s call this sword form the White Tiger Training Sword Form from now on.”

At those words, Un-hyun’s expression brightened.

The fact that Il Chung-hyun had given it a name meant that he acknowledged the sword form and that he would not question him for practicing martial arts without permission.

Perhaps he would even help him practice the White Tiger Training Sword in the future.

“That’s a good name. It sounds really good. White Tiger Training Sword… White Tiger Training Sword, White Tiger Training Sword…”

Un-hyun repeated the name Il Chung-hyun had given him several times in a small voice.

Compared to calling it ‘Report Sword Form’ or ‘Waving a Branch,’ the name itself seemed to have something special about it.

‘Well, if it’s something he spent his whole life creating, the name should be cool.’

More than that, he was probably happier that Instructor Il Chung-hyun had acknowledged the sword form he had practiced for five years.

Un-hyun was happy that it was a good name, but Instructor Il Chung-hyun was looking somewhere far away and muttering to himself.

“I learned that form is just a shell and that the content is what’s really important, but it doesn’t seem to be the case these days. When I see things that I thought were just shells being treated more importantly.”

Instructor Il Chung-hyun’s face was filled with mixed emotions as he spoke.

However, Un-hyun did not see Instructor Il Chung-hyun’s expression and was tilting his head back and forth, lost in thought.

“Huh?”

As if something had occurred to him, Un-hyun suddenly raised his hand. His old habit from his days as a student had unconsciously resurfaced.

“Instructor!”

It was Instructor Il Chung-hyun who was surprised by Un-hyun’s sudden action.

Thanks to Un-hyun, who suddenly raised his hand right in front of him, Instructor Il Chung-hyun even stuttered a little.

“Wh-why, what is it, Scholar Un?”

“The author said that the conclusion and core of this book is the White Tiger Training Sword Form, so does that mean the author’s conclusion about the origin of martial arts is ultimately internal energy?”

Instructor Il Chung-hyun was momentarily taken aback by Un-hyun’s sudden action and the long-winded question that followed.

However, that was only for a moment. Instructor Il Chung-hyun, who had frowned slightly, cleared his throat once and then answered Un-hyun’s question.

“Ahem, I’m not sure what Scholar Un is asking… but there are two ways to convey enlightenment.”

“Two ways?”

As Un-hyun spoke as if questioning, Il Chung-hyun nodded.

“That’s right. It’s like giving someone a fish versus teaching them how to fish. One is to directly pass on what you have realized in the form of formulas or stances, and the other is to only pass on the training method so that the person being taught can realize it on their own.”

Un-hyun repeated Il Chung-hyun’s words.

“So that they can realize it on their own…”

“That’s right. In fact, enlightenment is too deep and delicate to be conveyed in words. That’s why there are countless cases where only the form is passed on while claiming to convey truth or the Dao [the Way], isn’t there?”

“Ah! Then…”

As Un-hyun spoke with an expression of realization, Instructor Il Chung-hyun nodded.

“That’s right. I believe that what the author was trying to convey through this training sword form cannot be determined without directly practicing it. ‘Qi fills the heavens and earth’ is actually too vague of an expression. What I have explained is also just the most likely guess.”

Un-hyun nodded at Il Chung-hyun’s words.

The White Tiger Hall scholar said that the conclusion of this book, which he had dedicated his life to writing, was the twelve forms of the sword form.

He now understood why the conclusion was not a specific statement or argument, but a ‘sword form’.

‘So, the conclusion is to check it yourself…’

As Un-hyun nodded, Il Chung-hyun asked casually.

“By the way, how long have you been practicing this sword form?”

“Ah, it’s been a little less than five years in total.”

“Five years… Then would you like to try it now?”

Instructor Il Chung-hyun was wearing a gentle smile, but Un-hyun’s face was gradually distorting.

“Ah. Th-that is…”

“Why is that? Scholar Un should be able to…”

Scholar Un should be able to do it. Il Chung-hyun naturally thought so.

The sword form seemed to require slightly difficult postures, but if it was Scholar Un, he was always excellent at posture, if nothing else.

Un-hyun, who had been hesitating, answered in a small voice.

“Actually… this is my first time practicing with a sword…”

Only then did Instructor Il Chung-hyun nod.

Indeed, who in the Forbidden City, other than the Embroidered Uniform Guard [secret police], would dare to practice sword forms with a sword?

“Then what have you been practicing with all this time?”

“Th-that’s… I-I used a branch…”

Instructor Il Chung-hyun smiled involuntarily at Un-hyun’s voice, which was now barely audible.

‘Haha, I’ve seen experts who use branches as swords, but this is the first time I’ve seen someone who trains with a branch as a sword.’

“You must have suffered a lot.”

Un-hyun’s eyes sparkled as he raised his head at the warm voice.

His eyes were filled with anticipation.

“I’ll get you a wooden sword that I can use instead, so please use that from now on.”

Un-hyun’s face lit up brightly. But Il Chung-hyun’s words continued.

“Dao Yin exercises are not something that can be done just by imitating. Moreover, if it is a training sword form, it is right to learn it with a sword. From now on, follow the instructions of the sword form more thoroughly.”

Un-hyun nodded vigorously. If he could just get one, what couldn’t he do?

“Then this will be the first time you’re performing the White Tiger Training Sword with a sword.”

At those words, Un-hyun’s heart raced.

Un-hyun nodded greatly and grabbed the sword.

Instructor Il Chung-hyun stepped back, and Un-hyun, having secured a suitable space, slowly adjusted his breathing and took a stance.

“Hoo.”

It was a sword form performed in front of Instructor Il Chung-hyun, who had taught him martial arts and was, in a way, like a master.

It was only natural that Un-hyun was nervous.

But the tension didn’t last long.

Swish.

Un-hyun’s sword, standing straight, began to move slowly like flowing water.

With that, Un-hyun forgot everything and fell into the sword form.

He forgot where he was and who was watching.

Un-hyun was only focused on the sword form.

He had no choice.

The White Tiger Training Sword was like a proud and self-respecting young lady who did not allow even a moment of carelessness.

Whoosh.

As Un-hyun’s sword gently cut through the space, a small sound flowed into Instructor Il Chung-hyun’s senses.

‘So the sword’s cry from Scholar Un’s sword form was due to this training sword.’

Instructor Il Chung-hyun confirmed the identity of the sword’s cry and nodded.

His expression as he looked at Un-hyun was gentle, but his eyes were shining sharply.

‘A sword’s cry from a scholar’s sword… it’s a decent training sword. It seems Scholar Un hasn’t just been buried in books for five years.’

Instructor Il Chung-hyun smiled as he watched Un-hyun’s sword form, which continued smoothly.

Now that internal energy had begun to be infused into the sword form, the sword would soon become more familiar than his own hand, and the tip of the sword would feel like his fingertips, or rather, more like a part of himself than his hand.

Il Chung-hyun muttered softly with a pleased expression.

“Congratulations on entering the Way of the Sword, Scholar Un.”