The Silent Path of the Swordsman

Chapter 3 - Tranquility Training

“Alright, Master. I’m ready!” Luo Yi replied enthusiastically. Inwardly, he murmured, 'I will restore my family’s honor, and I will become strong enough that everyone will acknowledge me!'

Hua Lianyi gently held both of Luo Yi’s arms. “Sit in the lotus position,” she said calmly as she guided him into a perfect cross-legged posture.

“Now close your eyes!” Hua Lianyi instructed.

Luo Yi immediately obeyed and shut his eyes.

Hua Lianyi continued, “The first thing you must learn is tranquility. Cast away all your emotions and strive to remain calm at all times, because becoming one with nature requires an exceptionally high level of tranquility.”

“Yes, Master!” Luo Yi replied. He now understood why the woman who had become his master was always so calm.

The fourteen-year-old youth tried to calm himself, attempting to cast aside all his emotions. However, it was far more difficult than he expected. Memories of the people who had mocked him at the Sky Sword Sect, along with his father’s cruel treatment, shattered his concentration.

Hua Lianyi watched Luo Yi as though she could read his thoughts through the expressions on his face. “If you harbor resentment toward someone, let it go. Thoughts of vengeance filling your mind will only make it harder for you to remain calm and focused,” she said quietly.

Luo Yi immediately opened his eyes and responded, “I have no intention of taking revenge on those who mocked me. I only want to show them my strength one day, so they will never look down on or ridicule me again.”

“Thoughts like that will only disrupt your tranquility, Yi’er,” Hua Lianyi said calmly. “The weakness of the Nature Breathing Technique lies in the moment your tranquility is broken. When your tranquility shatters, your connection to nature will be severed, and you will be unable to draw upon nature’s energy until you regain your calm. That is why I said that tranquility is the very first thing you must learn.”

“And one more thing,” she continued. “After you master this technique, there will be no need to prove your strength to anyone, except when helping others or defending yourself from those who wish to harm you.”

“Yes, Master,” Luo Yi said. “I will do my best to remain calm.”

“Close your eyes, and do not open them until I tell you to!” Hua Lianyi instructed. Luo Yi immediately shut his eyes again, and the woman continued, “Take a deep breath through your nose...”

Luo Yi inhaled deeply through his nose, following Hua Lianyi’s instructions.

“Hold your breath for a moment...”

Luo Yi held his breath for several moments.

“Now exhale slowly through your mouth.”

Luo Yi slowly released his breath through his mouth exactly as his master had instructed.

“Continue this exercise until you truly feel calm,” Hua Lianyi said quietly. Then she gracefully leaped into the lake. She did not sink; instead, she stood upon the water’s surface as though standing on solid ground.

Luo Yi kept his eyes shut because Hua Lianyi had forbidden him from opening them before receiving permission. Though he could see nothing, he could sense that his master’s presence had moved farther away. Even so, he continued repeating the breathing exercise over and over.

Meanwhile, Hua Lianyi left the lake. She went to find Long Yanbi, the giant serpent that had frightened Luo Yi half to death when they first met.

After arriving at the serpent’s location, Hua Lianyi asked it to help her test Luo Yi’s tranquility.

---

After Luo Yi had repeated the breathing exercise for the time it took half an incense stick to burn, Hua Lianyi calmly said, “Enough.”

Luo Yi stopped his breathing exercise, though his eyes remained closed.

“Do you feel calm now, Yi’er?” Hua Lianyi asked.

“Yes, Master,” Luo Yi replied. “I feel calm now.”

“Before you open your eyes, I want to warn you. Whatever you see next, maintain your tranquility.”

“Yes, Master!” Luo Yi answered.

“Now open your eyes,” Hua Lianyi instructed.

Luo Yi obeyed, but the moment he opened his eyes, he was startled by the giant serpent directly in front of him with its jaws stretched wide open. Instinctively, he jerked backward, nearly losing his balance.

Both hands slammed against the lotus petal to keep himself from slipping into the lake. His breathing became ragged, and his heart pounded wildly. His tranquility shattered instantly.

Hua Lianyi let out a sigh. “It seems it will take a hundred years to train your tranquility.”

Long Yanbi closed its mouth and moved away from Luo Yi so the youth would not be frightened any further. It had merely tried to scare him to test his composure under Hua Lianyi’s orders. Earlier, the woman had also concealed the serpent’s aura, which was why Luo Yi had been shocked when he failed to sense its presence while his eyes were closed. “It seems this child is rather timid, Miss,” the serpent said. Hua Lianyi responded with a small nod.

Luo Yi froze when he heard the giant serpent speak. Its voice was deep, like that of a middle-aged man. Despite the lingering fear within him, he turned toward the serpent and then looked at his master. “It can talk?”

“All the animals in this forest can speak,” Hua Lianyi replied. Then, without turning toward the serpent, she calmly added, “Thank you for your help, Long Yanbi. You may go now.”

“You’re welcome, Miss!” Long Yanbi replied before swimming through the lake and returning to its territory.

Hua Lianyi leaped from the lake’s surface and landed gracefully beside Luo Yi atop the Blue Lotus.

“So Master left earlier to ask that serpent to help test my tranquility?” Luo Yi guessed as he settled himself back into a cross-legged position.

“Yes,” Hua Lianyi answered briefly. Then she calmly extended her hand and said, “It’s already late afternoon. Let us rest at my pavilion for now.”

“I still want to train, Master,” Luo Yi said, feeling that he had gained nothing from today’s lesson.

“Resting is also part of training. Come.” Hua Lianyi kept her right hand extended.

In the end, Luo Yi accepted her hand. “Alright,” he said as he rose to his feet.

Hua Lianyi once again channeled energy into Luo Yi’s body, allowing him to experience the effects of her lightness skill.

The woman then brought Luo Yi to the Peach Blossom Pavilion, located not far from the lake.

After several dozen breaths, they finally arrived. Hua Lianyi and Luo Yi landed exactly ten zhang away from the building before them.

The Peach Blossom Pavilion stood serenely amidst a grove of towering peach blossom trees. Pink petals drifted gently through the air, forming a natural carpet around the structure.

The pavilion itself had been built from the colossal trees of Lianhua Forest, making it extraordinarily sturdy, while its design remained simple yet elegant.

Its roof curved gracefully upward, adorned with peach blossom carvings at each corner. The delicate fragrance of peach blossoms lingered in the air whenever the wind blew, making the place feel like a small paradise created solely to soothe the soul.

“Follow me,” Hua Lianyi said calmly as she walked gracefully toward the pavilion.

Luo Yi followed behind her and entered the building.

Inside, everything was neat and spotless. There was a spacious main hall, along with several bedrooms, a bath chamber, and a kitchen.

Hua Lianyi stopped in the main hall, causing Luo Yi to do the same. Then, the woman calmly turned around to face the youth standing behind her.

“Sit on that chair for now. I’ll prepare some food for you.” Hua Lianyi pointed toward a set of wooden chairs and a table not far from where she stood.

“Yes, Master,” Luo Yi replied, watching his master walk toward the kitchen.

As he stepped toward the chair, he suddenly remembered something.