Chapter 212

　However, many of the wedding guests were on edge, fearing that Yue Lianxing might suddenly appear and turn the joyous occasion into a tragedy.

　　Fortunately, after the couple exchanged vows and the formal ceremony was completed, nothing went wrong, which relieved everyone. Even Ye Gucheng didn’t want to face Yaoyue Lianxing at this time.

　　Despite the large number of experts present today, there are only Innate Grandmasters, and the strongest among them is only at the Unity of Heaven and Man. There isn’t a single Innate Grandmaster. So, if an Innate Grandmaster were to make a move, especially if it were two sisters, both Grandmasters, joining forces, no one would dare say they could truly survive under such a Grandmaster. This is also why Zhu Wushi didn’t appear.

　　Because only the woman’s mother, Ning Zhongze, attended, while her father, Yue Buqun, did not. The same was true for the Zhang family; Zhang Weihai’s mother was present, but his father, Zhang Erhe, did not.

　　Zhang Weihao was mainly in charge of greeting the guests. After Yue Lingshan was sent to the bridal chamber, Zhang Weihao personally went down to eat and drink with Lu Xiaofeng and other relatives and friends, watched some talent shows and opera performances, and stayed with them until the evening. Then came the wedding night pranks, which were a traditional custom in ancient times and were indispensable.

　　The custom of teasing the newlyweds to ward off evil spirits exists in both northern and southern regions.

　　In the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, before the newlyweds enter the bridal chamber, the groom must sleep in the bridal chamber the night before, and two girls are asked to hold red candles and illuminate the bridal chamber beforehand; in Tianjin, a band of musicians is invited to play music in the bridal chamber for good luck.

　　Even after the newlyweds enter the room, it remains very important to expel any evil spirits from the room.

　　For example, in Dongzhang, after the groom enters the house, he should symbolically shoot an arrow at each of the four corners of the bridal chamber, or hold a single knife and make a slash at each corner, while singing: “First slash the demon, second slash the monster, third slash the devil’s bad head, fourth slash the evil spirit to leave quickly, and laugh as the Qilin brings a child.”

　　A more common custom is to place a lamp that stays lit in the new house.

　　The phrase “wedding night” refers to this.

　　Some scholars have suggested that the custom of “listening to the bridal chamber” was actually a protective measure to prevent ghosts from entering the bridal chamber.

　　Today’s program features many performances, including traditional opera, ancient magic tricks, musical performances such as folk tunes, Gongsun Da Niang’s sword dance, and a talent competition specially prepared by Xiao Yu’er to see who is the smartest person in the world. In a way, this can also be considered part of the wedding night pranks.

　　Xiaoyuer came with Hua Wuque. He had previously been to the Number One Manor in the World to be certified as the “Most Intelligent Person in the World,” and he had indeed defeated the original Number One Intelligent Person. He had eaten and stayed at the Number One Manor for free for a few days, but he was not convinced because Xue Bing and the others always said that Zhang Lingyu was the real Number One Intelligent Person in the World. So he wanted to challenge Zhang Lingyu and defend his identity as the “Most Intelligent Person in the World.”

　　The person performing at this moment is Gongsun Lan, and what she is performing is naturally the sword dance of General Pei, one of the three wonders of the Tang Dynasty. It is also the sword dance of Gongsun Da Niang. In fact, it is said that the performance by a woman is more beautiful and charming.

　　The great ruler governs the six directions, and the fierce generals pacify the nine realms.

　　Warhorses are like dragons and tigers, how magnificent their leaps are!

　　The general surveys the vast land, his illustrious talents shining brightly.

　　The sword dance is like lightning, swirling and returning with the wind.

　　Climbing high to gaze upon the Tianshan Mountains, the white clouds stand majestically.

　　He charged into battle and annihilated the arrogant enemy; his mighty name resounded like thunder.

　　One shot fells a hundred horses, a second shot opens up ten thousand men.

　　The Xiongnu dared not fight back and called to each other to return home.

　　If you achieve your goal and report to the Emperor, you can have your portrait painted on the Imperial Terrace.

　　This was written by Yan Zhenqing, a 26-year-old newly appointed scholar who had just passed the imperial examination during the prosperous Tang Dynasty, after watching General Pei perform a sword dance.

　　The sword’s cry, like a dragon’s roar, pierced everyone’s ears.

　　As the seventy-two forms of “Yunhui Sword Technique” slowly unfolded, Lu Xiaofeng and the others couldn’t help but exclaim in amazement. Even Ximen Chuixue, who was always stern and cold as ice, forgot his aloof persona for a moment and was instantly attracted by this stunning sword dance. He couldn’t forget the beautiful Gongsun Lan in her red dress.

　　Yunhui was an ancient general’s title. It was established during the Liang Dynasty of the Southern Dynasties and continued by the Chen Dynasty. During the Tang Dynasty, it was designated as a military rank, upper third grade. This was precisely Pei Min’s official rank, which, simply put, represented Pei Min’s swordsmanship.

　　There are two sets of this sword technique. One is the original version, which is the real Pei Min sword technique, and it is a one-handed sword technique. The other is the two-handed sword dance that Gongsun Lan is currently using. The reason is that women are not as strong as men, and they are also lacking in height and physique. Therefore, it is best to use a two-handed sword to make up for their shortcomings when fighting, which can greatly improve their combat ability.

　　Similar to the original story, Ye Gucheng was clearly attracted by Gongsun Lan’s unparalleled charm and, quite unusually, his heart was moved. He asked Zhang Weihai with great concern, “Lingyu, what do you think of this sword dance?”

　　”Not bad, the dance was very beautiful.”

　　”Just because it looks good?”

　　”Well, it’s just for looks. As for two-handed swords, well, it’s not that there aren’t any masters, but they’re very rare, and there aren’t any truly top-tier sword masters. Top masters all use one-handed swords, do you know why?”

　　Ye Gucheng, who had initially asked casually, was now even more curious and asked with great interest, “What’s the difference?”

　　”The art of swordsmanship emphasizes that the weapon is oneself. Even without a sword in hand, one has a sword in mind, achieving oneness with the sword. The weapon is an extension of the body, so at this stage, a good weapon and swordsmanship have a great advantage. Two-handed swords may be more powerful in actual combat than one-handed swords.”

　　The key to swordsmanship lies in the technique, which is the intent of the sword: “Without a sword in hand, there is no sword in mind.”

　　At this point, one has transcended the sword itself. The so-called unity of man and sword no longer exists. The sword becomes a vessel, carrying one’s understanding of martial arts and swordsmanship. What is powerful is the true meaning of martial arts, not the techniques and skills. This is why, when masters of the same level compete, those who comprehend the sword intent or go further in the realm of intent will have greater combat power.

　　Swordsmanship is the fusion of the true meaning of martial arts with the Way of Heaven. It allows one to communicate with the Way of Heaven, comprehend one’s own swordsmanship and martial arts, and master the power of heaven and earth. “Without a sword in hand, there is no sword in heart. When sword and self are forgotten, I am the Way of Heaven.”

　　For example, you originally only grasped the sword intent of “speed,” and your sword strikes were very fast. But at this point, you can borrow different laws of heaven and earth, such as wind, fire, thunder, and lightning. In addition to speed, you can also unleash flames and lightning. In the face of such moves, does it make a difference whether you use one hand or two?

　　Since there’s little difference, the deciding factor in victory no longer lies in the weapon itself, but rather in whichever is more convenient to use. This is why, in the end, most top masters use one-handed swords.