He changed Tiwat

As if he could read minds, Xingqiu strolled a few steps leisurely and pointed out the doubt in his heart.

“I’ve sparred with you before, Brother Han, and just now I watched you practice your marksmanship. I can roughly tell your condition – with your current strength, hand-eye coordination, and reaction time, you’ve already reached a high level in marksmanship. Even if your proficiency in the moves is slightly inferior to mine, the difference isn’t that big.”

"But even if I were to fight you again right now, and we strictly stipulated that neither of us would use any supernatural powers or underhanded tactics, you would still lose to me... Do you know why?"

Han Fulai was pondering Xingqiu's words and was slightly distracted, so his reaction was a few beats slower. After a while, he asked, "...Why?"

"Because you don't have a gun in your heart, but I do. That's the difference between us."

Xingqiu then took a few more steps and held up the book in her hand in front of Han Fulai, who was frowning and deep in thought.

"Brother Han, have you ever read this book, 'The Record of Washing Ink'?"

"No." Han Fulai shook his head honestly. He had been entrusted by Zhongli to conduct an in-depth investigation into the history and customs of Liyue. He had also read many books. Ji Fang, the owner of "Wanwen Jishe", treated him as a major customer. But this book, "Ximo Lu", was indeed something he had never heard of before.

However, just looking at the three characters "Xi Mo Lu" on the book cover, he already felt that this book probably contained hidden secrets and was definitely not an ordinary novel - not only because of its elegant title, but also because the three characters were strong and powerful, and faintly exuded a dignified aura.

He recalled the scene of Jiang Xue leaving a message on the stone wall of the deep abyss.

These three words seem to contain... sword intent?

“This is a calligraphy copybook,” Xingqiu said.

"...You can actually read calligraphy models?" Han Fulai was genuinely surprised.

If it weren't for the book signing event, Xingqiu would never have practiced calligraphy; Han Fu even had to write the calligraphy templates for him on the spot to teach him.

Today she told him that she always carries a calligraphy practice book with her and often takes it out to look at and study.

Has the sun risen in the west?

Xingqiu chuckled and shoved the book "The Record of Washing Ink" into his hands, then introduced it, saying, "Speaking of this 'The Record of Washing Ink,' it's quite a remarkable book."

"It was written by Xi Fan, a great calligrapher from hundreds of years ago. It is said that he entered swordsmanship through calligraphy and thus mastered both calligraphy and swordsmanship. After mastering swordsmanship, Xi Fan did not keep it to himself. He engraved his swordsmanship on a stone tablet and named it 'The Record of Washing Ink,' allowing all the talents in the world to come and see it."

"The copy of 'Xi Mo Lu' that you have in your hand is a rare 'original annotated copy'. The text is all copied from the original stone tablet. It's my elder brother's treasured collection. I had to beg him until I was hoarse to borrow the book from him..."

Han Fulai finally understood and couldn't help but laugh: "So you're using this calligraphy book to learn swordsmanship?"

“Exactly!” Xingqiu straightened his back and said, “Although I don’t know much about calligraphy, I do know swordsmanship. Xi Fan’s stone tablet was carved with a sword, and every stroke contains sword techniques and intent. Look…”

She touched the ink marks on the calligraphy with her finger and gestured gently: "The 'regular script' here is 'split,' the 'plain script' is 'cut,' and the one with the ink still connected is 'running script'..."

"Formal Script" and "Simple Script" are the names of the calligraphic styles in Liyue. In Chinese terms, they are regular script and cursive script.

Han Fulai nodded. He had worked hard on calligraphy and of course he could understand these calligraphic styles.

He didn't know much about swordsmanship, but this Mr. Xi Fan's calligraphy was truly remarkable. He was proficient in three different calligraphic styles, and each style was masterful. Especially his running script, which captured the essence of the "Preface to the Poems Composed at the Orchid Pavilion"... Perhaps this man was actually "King You of Teyvat"?

Leaving aside the sword techniques and intent hidden between the lines, the calligraphy itself is priceless.

Xingqiu glanced at Han Fulai discreetly, noticing that his gaze lingered longest on the "running script," and she felt somewhat pleased—running script was also her favorite style, not only because it contained the character "xing" from her name, but also because the calligraphy copybook her brother Han had personally written for her was in running script.

She was holding this book, "The Record of Washing Ink," on the sidelines just now, but she wasn't actually looking at the sword techniques in the book; she was looking at the running script calligraphy.

The only style of calligraphy she was willing to practice diligently was the running script that he liked...

Thinking of this, Xingqiu felt his ears burning and quickly made an excuse to change the subject: "Brother Han, have you ever thought about why 'calligraphy' can be included in 'swordsmanship'?"

"Because both are hand skills, they have something in common..." Han Fulai casually answered, using a common saying in martial arts novels, but he suddenly paused as soon as he said it.

Yes, why can "calligraphy" be included in "swordsmanship"?

Most martial arts novels on Earth are just fictional creations by novelists, and the explanations in the books shouldn't be taken seriously. But Teyvat is a real place where swordsmen who are "skilled in both books and swords" truly exist.

Besides Xi Fan, Jiang Xue, whom he also knew, was a person who was "skilled in both calligraphy and swordsmanship" and had written many couplets for the powerful and influential people of Yujingtai back then.

Although Jiang Xue did not incorporate "calligraphy into swordsmanship," it is no problem to say that he incorporated "swordsmanship into calligraphy." His writings are all imbued with a chilling sword intent.

He suddenly recalled the scene when Jiang Xue taught him the "Wind-Slaying Sword" at the "Wangshu Inn":

"What I'm going to teach you now is the 'method of practice'. Actually, many laymen have a stereotypical impression of martial arts practice. They always think that to practice martial arts, you have to go to a dojo and hit wooden dummy or something. But in fact, everything has its own principle. If you understand one method, you can understand all methods. If you want to practice martial arts, you can practice everywhere in life. You can practice carrying water, chopping wood, mining, and forging iron. Of course, you can also practice while cooking."

"Everything has its own principle; if one method is understood, all methods will be understood"—in fact, Jiang Xue had once told him this principle in another way.

He simply applied this principle to cooking, which prevented him from gaining a deeper understanding of it. Looking back now, he realizes that the concept of "investigating things to approach the Tao" has actually been repeatedly appearing in his life... Unfortunately, seemingly universal principles are often overlooked, and he was no exception.

Where exactly do calligraphy and swordsmanship have in common?

Why can their "Tao" be transformed into each other?

What is the underlying principle?

What is its essence?

Han Fulai's hand holding the book suddenly trembled, as if something had flashed through his mind.

He lowered his head, closed his eyes, and furrowed his brows, trying hard to grasp that fleeting inspiration.

What is it?

what exactly is it?

Xingqiu just said that he has no "gun" in his heart, but she has a "sword" in her heart. What does that mean?

A jumble of chaotic thoughts piled up deep within his mind, like a giant rock blocking the source of water, leaving him unable to resolve his many questions.

A voice drifted into his ears: "It is 'intention'. Calligraphy has 'brush intention', swordsmanship has 'sword intention'—whether or not one possesses this 'intention' is the key to 'approaching the Dao'."

Han Fulai suddenly looked up and met Xingqiu's smiling eyes.

He saw Xingqiu turn around, brandish his long sword, and murmur, "Jade falls overnight, spring rains bloom again and again..."

Her sword, like a spring breeze in February, was both knife-like and scissor-like, brushing across the bamboo forest.

Bamboo leaves fluttered down like raindrops, quickly accumulating on the ground.

"...The leaves, covered in frost for a thousand autumns, linger and rustle."

During the autumn harvest ceremony, he gestured with his eyes for Han Fulai to look at the fallen leaves.

Upon closer inspection, Han Fulai was astonished to discover that every fallen leaf had been cleaved open by the longsword, and the cuts even showed a faint pattern.

“Look at the fallen leaves around here, they are all my calligraphy practice books. The ones cut in the middle are regular script, those cut along the veins are plain script, and those shattered are running script… This is the sword intent in the ‘Ink Washing Record’.”

The words she was just reciting were from the calligraphy book "Xi Mo Lu".

Xingqiu's steps never stopped, and he passed by a few more old bamboo stalks.

Han Fulai heard her poignant and heroic song:

"For ten years I have toiled on the cold sea, and here I stand, a lonely minister, gazing upon the imperial palace."

The heavy frost is all the blood of my heart, scattered on the crimson autumn leaves of a thousand peaks.

Although both poems are about "autumn leaves," their artistic conceptions are completely different.

As a result, Xingqiu's sword intent was also completely different.

Those old bamboo stalks were split in the middle, and the cut of each stalk was as smooth as a mirror, with a faint, watery, cold light condensing and not dissipating at the cut surface.

"Brother Han, can you see the sword in my chest?"

Chapter 366 My Martial Arts is My "Way" [4k5]

Han Fulai certainly saw it.

He not only saw Xingqiu's sword, but also Xingqiu's "way of the sword".

Why do Xingqiu use completely different moves when both of his sword techniques are adapted from poems about "autumn leaves"?

Because the artistic conception is different.

Different "intentions" shaped different "swords" in Xingqiu's heart.

Xingqiu turned around and smiled, lightly waving his long sword, creating a sound of wind breaking through the air.

"Brother Han, did you hear what it said just now?"

The "it" that Xingqiu mentioned naturally refers to the sword.

Perhaps some "demon swords" and "magic blades" forged with the remnants of demons can actually speak, but the sacrificial sword in Xingqiu's hand is not a demon sword and does not have the ability to speak.

But Han Fulai seemed to really hear it speaking.

It asks, why does it cut down bamboo and trees in this cramped place, instead of drinking the blood of its enemies in the vast open world?

It says it should have been a chivalrous figure, traversing thousands of miles with its sword, its light chilling nineteen provinces, but why is it never given a chance to show its skills?

“I once taught swordsmanship to the disciples of the Guhua School. I taught them the ‘Rain Curtain Sword’, and they all learned the ‘Rain Curtain Sword’. But even though it was the same sword technique, different people used it in completely different ways, and the sounds I heard from their swords were also different.”

Xingqiu lightly flicked the blade with his fingertips, and the longsword hummed and vibrated, as if responding softly.

"Some people's swords can speak. They simply thrust out a sword, yet you can feel their sword roaring, arguing, as if it wants to burst out of its chest, unable to hold back its words..."

"But some people's swords are born mute. They practice diligently, following the sword manual in every move, striving for perfection, yet their swords are lifeless and utterly silent..."

"In a few months, the two types of people will be separated by a huge gap—those who have something to say on their swords will surely make a name for themselves once they have accumulated enough knowledge; while those silent swords will remain silent forever, just like a person who has not spoken to anyone for too long will eventually forget how to speak."

She looked at Han Fulai: "Brother Han, in the 'Pure Land of One Heart,' I once heard your spear emit a dragon's roar, saying, 'A man's heart is as firm as iron until death. Let's see if you can mend the crack in the sky.'"

"I have always believed that you, Brother Han, have the power to change the world."

"Why would a man with such power confine himself to mere 'techniques'? What is 'Thrusting the Brightness Technique'? You are someone who can 'create' a new world!"

"To create...a new world..."

Han Fulai muttered to himself, a strange light seeming to emanate from his eyes.

Xingqiu spun around again, his hands forming a sword incantation, holding his longsword horizontally to his chest, aiming at a giant rock.

The giant rock stood in the center of the pool, originally intended as a decoration for an artificial mountain, and was surrounded by a circle of plum blossom stakes.

In the past, the disciples of the Guhua School trained their lower body skills by hanging sandbags on their feet in this pool, stepping on stakes and leaping around rocks—that's how the sedan chair bearer whose leg was broken by Maocai Gong developed his leg strength.

But Xingqiu did not climb the plum blossom stakes.

She simply stood there in a "golden rooster stands on one leg" stance, her long sword pointing at the giant rock, and chanted softly:

"Countless heretical mountains rise and fall, but a single utterance of true words can shatter them all!"

With a flash of light, the longsword reached the giant rock in the center of the lake and disappeared into its hilt.

Han Fulai stared at the trembling sword hilt, as if realizing something: "This is... a gun?"

Xingqiu smiled: "Exactly."

This "True Words Destroy the Peak" technique is taken from a poem she recited when she and Han Fulai were traveling together on Qingce. It is a spear technique she created herself.

She had just used a sword to mimic a spear, employing spear techniques.

The sacrificial sword is not known for its sharpness, and it would have been impossible for it to pierce into a giant rock like this... Let alone piercing into the rock, even a normal collision with the rock would likely have broken the thin blade.

However, Xingqiu's sword strike was like a white rainbow piercing the sun, easily breaking through the hard rock.

What she just threw wasn't a sword, it was a gun.

It wasn't the sword that pierced the giant rock, but the spear intent within her heart that could "destroy any peak with a single utterance of truth"!

"I see."

A relieved smile appeared on Han Fulai's face.

He already knew how to "create" his own "Spiritual Illumination Technique".

He understood.

Or rather... he attained enlightenment.

Why can calligraphy be incorporated into swordsmanship?

Why can poetry be incorporated into gun techniques?

The way of calligraphy is "the way", the way of swordsmanship is "the way", and poetry and songs are also "the way" - martial arts, of course, is also "the way".

His previous understanding of how to "disassemble" and "assemble" spear techniques was merely superficial; it was simply breaking down and recombining different basic movements. Even if he used different combinations of movements to create a new spear technique, it couldn't be considered "creation."

Because simply "disassembling" and "aggregating" does not create anything new.

No matter how many protein membrane structures are "dissected" using cryo-electron microscopy, or how many top-tier journal papers are published, it cannot be considered a "creation"—the true "creation" is the creation of a cryo-electron microscope that can visualize protein membranes. That's why the inventor of cryo-electron microscopy received the Nobel Prize, while the female worker operating it did not.

Putting LEGO bricks together to build cars, boats, and various other shapes is just "different forms of LEGO bricks," not a form of "creation." True "creation" is creating LEGO bricks that can be assembled into all sorts of shapes. So, the people who invented LEGO bricks are creating, while children who buy the bricks and build them are just playing.

"Creation" is not about breaking down and combining old things, but about creating new things.

However, there are some exceptions to this definition.

For example, novels.