The afterglow of the setting sun cast his shadow on the wall, its silhouette seemingly faintly overlapping with the shadow of that frying pan.
The path of cultivation is different for each person. Who says... there can't be a legend of a pan?
He solemnly placed the frying pan back in the corner, as if treating a comrade with tacit understanding. Though the road ahead was unknown, even filled with uncertainty, he had already decided: while continuing to diligently cultivate the "Breeze Brushing Willow Sword Art," he would also consciously begin exploring this seemingly absurd "Way of the Pan."
He deeply knew this was by no means orthodox; it might even be regarded by others as an unorthodox path, inviting ridicule. But he didn't care. This pan had accompanied him growing up, saved him multiple times, and shared a special connection with him. Being able to combine the orthodox sword art principles taught by his Eldest Senior Brother with this mysterious frying pan, to forge a unique combat style of his own—this thought itself filled him with immense excitement.
"Perhaps... this really is a viable path?" That vague notion in his heart became clearer. "A path of my own, a 'Way of the Pan'?"
But Xiao Qi wasn't discouraged. He stopped, panting slightly, looking at this still dark and unremarkable frying pan in his hand, but his eyes grew brighter.
Of course, true mastery and integration was still far away. Many of the sword art's subtle variations simply couldn't be directly realized with a frying pan; forcefully imitating would only appear more ridiculous. Moreover, wielding this heavy iron pan for extended periods consumed far more physical stamina and spiritual energy than using the lightweight branch.
"Huff-huff" whooshing sounds continued without end, far more imposing than when practicing the sword art. That frying pan in his hand seemed no longer just kitchenware, but an exotic weapon. Though its external form was peculiar, when swung, it carried its own imposing and domineering, great skill appears clumsy momentum.
He either used the pan in place of a sword, fiercely slapping straight ahead, stirring up gusts of fierce wind; or utilized the pan's edge to execute techniques similar to "lifting," with cunning angles; even attempted integrating that "force dispersion,""pulling"意境 into blocking actions. As the black pan was wielded, it actually gained a hint of impenetrable feeling.
He tried again. This time, he focused more on integrating that "intent" of finely controlling force, harmonious and smooth from "Willow Catkins Drifting with the Wind," rather than its external "form," into the frying pan's application. He no longer sought the gracefulness of sword techniques, but exploited the pan's inherent "slapping,""smashing," and "oscillating" characteristics.
Although the movement still looked incongruous—a person holding a black pan, performing a turning strike similar to sword dancing, the visual style was uniquely charming. But the effect was unexpectedly powerful!
"This..." His eyes flashed with astonishment.
Xiao Qi himself was startled by this effect. He stopped his movement, feeling that instant of force burst bringing a sense of exhilaration, as well as the immensely heavy force of the frying pan's swing.
A whooshing sound far more violent and dull than when swinging the branch abruptly erupted! The sound was resonant, carrying a kind of heart-palpitating sense of pressure. Where the pan passed, the air seemed to be compressed apart, forming a faintly visible air ripple.
"Whoosh—!"
Unlike pursuing the light trajectory when wielding the branch, he integrated that "rotation,""conduction," and "going with the flow" force application techniques into swinging the frying pan. His waist suddenly twisted, full body strength instantly burst forth, pouring through his arms into the pan handle, driving that black pan in a heavy and swift arc!
Then, he moved.
He took a deep breath, recalling the essence of "Willow Catkins Drifting with the Wind"—center of gravity sinks, force originates from the ground, passes through waist-hip rotation, transmits to shoulders and arms, finally reaching the wrist. It emphasized a continuous, harmonious force application process, as well as that "intent" of going with the flow, unconventional.
"Good!" Xiao Qi exclaimed softly, no longer hesitating.
Encouraged by his own bold thought, he even felt a hint of excitement. He walked to the corner, grasped the heavy frying pan in his hand. A cool sensation transmitted; the handle seemed to fit the curve of his palm exceptionally well. He attempted to inject a wisp of spiritual energy into it. The pan's body imperceptibly trembled slightly, and that faint resonance seemed to become clearer for an instant.
"But..." Xiao Qi's gaze grew firm. "Whether it's a pan or a sword, in the end they're extensions of power, carriers for executing techniques. The key lies in how to use the power, not the external form of the carrier itself!"
Once this idea emerged, it grew like wild weeds in his heart. He knew it sounded utterly absurd, even somewhat ridiculous. The sword, the gentleman of all weapons, is light, agile, swift, and nimble, specializing in thrusting, slashing, pointing, and lifting. As for the frying pan... this thing seemed completely unrelated to "lightness" or "swiftness"; it appeared more suited for slapping, smashing, and blocking.
"What if... I apply the force application methods and spiritual energy circulation techniques I've comprehended from the sword art to wielding this frying pan... what would happen?"
"The 'Breeze Brushing Willow Sword Art' emphasizes force application techniques, body movement coordination, and the utilization of 'momentum.' These principles are universal methods, not necessarily confined to the form of a 'sword,' right?"
A whimsical thought, like a meteor streaking through darkness, suddenly flashed through his mind:
This pan held extraordinary meaning for him. It was not only a memento left by his mother but also an extraordinary "companion" that had demonstrated its remarkable capabilities in several crises. The pan's body was exceptionally sturdy, able to withstand demon beast claws without damage. The bottom seemed to contain some peculiar oscillating force that produced notable effects when striking objects. As his cultivation advanced to mid-stage Qi Refining, his perception of spiritual energy grew sharper. He increasingly felt that within this frying pan, there seemed to slumber a faint yet tenacious spirituality, producing a vague resonance with his own spiritual energy.
On this day, during a break in his practice, he habitually rubbed the smooth branch in his hand, but his gaze involuntarily drifted toward the dark, unremarkable frying pan in the corner that had accompanied him for years.
Over the next few days, his handling of the green steelwood tree branch grew increasingly proficient. Although still far from true "sword follows the heart's intent," at least when he swung it, he now had some semblance of proper form, no longer as clumsy and comical as at the beginning. The coordination between spiritual energy circulation and techniques also became much smoother. When executing "Willow Catkins Drifting with the Wind," his body movement techniques noticeably became lighter, and the sound of the branch cutting through the air carried a hint of soft sharpness.
Having grasped the superficial aspects of the first stance "Willow Catkins Drifting with the Wind" from the "Breeze Brushing Willow Sword Art," Xiao Qi did not rush to delve into the subsequent moves. His Eldest Senior Brother's teachings still echoed in his ears—"greed for too much leads to indigestion." He decided to invest more time in deepening his understanding and repeatedly tempering this first stance, striving to integrate the essence of "agility" and "going with the flow" into his instincts.