Imperial Academy
According to the rules of the martial arts world, one is obligated to continue the lineage of a particular school. Sima Yao initially thought that the Sima family's heavy sword was nothing special. As the top swordsman of the royal family, she believed that the Sima heavy sword technique had reached its limit, so she switched to the Shangguan school and devoted the rest of her life to the Shangguan sword technique. She never thought of continuing the Sima heavy sword technique's legacy.
Now that she feels a sense of superiority over all others thanks to the Sima Heavy Sword, her first thought is to find a successor to continue the sword's legacy.
A Qiu asked, "Then, can't it be passed on to Miss Shangguan, or to other members of the Shangguan clan?"
Sima Yao shook her head and said, "This is the Sima family's martial arts, how can it be passed on to the Shangguan clan? Besides, the Shangguan clan has its own family's sword techniques, why should I confuse them?"
Ah Qiu thought to himself, "You are now a member of the Shangguan family, yet you still consider everyone in the Shangguan family to be outsiders. Wouldn't I be an even more distant outsider, and even less suitable to inherit the Sima Heavy Sword?"
Sima Yao guessed what she was thinking and said with a mix of amusement and exasperation, "Alright, to be honest, even if I were willing to teach it, apart from Yuqi, I'm afraid no one in the Shangguan clan would be able to master this sword technique. Rather than teaching it in a messy and disorganized way, it's better not to teach it at all."
He added, "As for Yuqi, her philosophy on martial arts is the same as yours: skill is valued for its refinement, not its specialization. For those seeking the Dao, mastering one lineage of swordsmanship is sufficient." He then glanced at Aqiu and said, "I suspect she'll be harder to persuade than you. You still have a practical mindset and might not mind learning another martial art as long as it's useful. But Yuqi's Daoist heart is pure; she would never be willing to learn Sima's sword just because of its domineering power in combat."
She thought of something and sighed again, saying, "Besides, she is already trying to integrate the Yin and Yang sword techniques of the Shangguan family, making them wax and wane, and life and death alternate. This is an unprecedented challenge in the history of the Shangguan family, and I don't want to add any more burden to her."
At first, A Qiu was very wary of her, but seeing her listless appearance, her guard dropped considerably.
She could only offer half-consolation: "Throughout history, countless martial arts schools have declined or been lost. You... the Sima family is now down to just you, so there's probably not much point in passing it down."
Ah Qiu's words were tactful, but his meaning was clear. The heavy sword technique was originally a martial art passed down in the Sima family. Now that even the Sima family has been erased from history, what is the point of leaving only a lineage of swordsmanship? Can future generations still use heavy swords to contend for the world?
Upon hearing her words, Sima Yao's eyes suddenly lit up, then dimmed again.
She said dejectedly, "That's precisely why this sword technique should be passed down. You may not know this, but this sword technique is not just the Sima family's martial art. To be precise, it is the sword technique used by emperors of all dynasties. It is the sword of emperors. During the reign of Emperor Huan, this sword technique was passed down by the Sima family."
Upon hearing this, A Qiu also said in surprise, "I have only heard of the swordsmanship styles of the present day, such as the swordsmanship of commoners, the swordsmanship of scholars, and the swordsmanship of hermits, but I have never heard of the swordsmanship of emperors."
Upon hearing the mention of swords, Sima Yao's martial arts fanatic nature came to the fore, and she asked with great enthusiasm, "How are they distinguished?"
A Qiu, formerly the head of the Divine Weapon Hall, was extremely familiar with these techniques and recounted them in great detail: "The swordsmanship of commoners focuses on practical combat and killing, not on elegant posture or style. This is the type of swordsmanship used by assassins and ordinary martial artists. The swordsmanship of scholars refers to the swordsmanship used by aristocratic families, which involves etiquette and proper conduct. Master Gu Yi's Carved Moon Sword Technique belongs to this category. The swordsmanship of hermits is mostly for self-cultivation and the practice of harmonizing the sword with the Dao. The swordsmanship of the Shangguan family belongs to this category."
Sima Yao, invigorated, said, “So it’s a good thing to have people exchange and learn from each other, as it can broaden one’s knowledge. You are the Divine Weapon Master of Lanling Hall, so you are well aware of the characteristics of various sword schools, but you have never heard of the Emperor’s Sword. I grew up in the royal family and learned the Emperor’s Sword, but I didn’t know that there were so many schools in the martial arts world.”
A Qiu asked, "You just said that the heavy sword technique is the sword of emperors, practiced by emperors throughout history. But you are neither an emperor nor the heir designated by the royal family. How can you learn this emperor's sword technique?"
Sima Yao smiled bitterly, “Our Langya Wang branch has always been the eldest branch of the Sima family. My great-grandfather was Emperor Daozong, the biological father of Emperor Dezong. My grandfather was also once made crown prince, but he was killed in the Rebellion of the Seven States. However, this sword technique has been passed down. Even my elder brother, Emperor Wu, did not know it at first. It was my father who taught him. It was because of this achievement that my father was favored and allowed to stay in Jianzhang Palace.”
A Qiu finally glimpsed part of the reason why the Langya King's branch was so favored and appointed in the Great Huan Dynasty.
Sima Yan was fond of martial arts and ambitious. When Sima Jun presented him with the "Emperor's Sword Technique," a set of swords passed down in his family, it not only suited his tastes but also demonstrated the recognition and submission of the eldest branch of the Sima clan to his imperial throne. How could he not be overjoyed?
After all, even his father, Emperor Dezong, had never received instruction in this imperial swordsmanship. Everyone viewed his father as someone chosen in the chaos of war, a survivor among the dwindling imperial lineage, someone with all his limbs intact, and declared him emperor. It was all hasty and hasty, with little genuine respect for the legitimacy of the imperial line.
But Sima Yan not only inherited the Emperor's Sword, but also gained recognition from within his family, which strengthened his sense of legitimacy as the legitimate heir to the throne. This was precisely what Sima Yan, who had just ascended the throne and was being openly and subtly mocked by his ministers, lacked most.
Having already understood most of it, she said, "Since you are the only daughter of the Prince of Langya, His Majesty the Emperor Wu will not mind that you have learned this sword technique, and will regard it as a unique favor to you."
Sima Yao paused for a moment, then said, "I didn't think that much about it at the time. When my father was teaching my elder brother, I watched from the side. When my elder brother saw that I, a girl, was actually interested, he invited me to learn as well. So, my father ended up with two apprentices. Later, my brother and I both learned quite a bit, and we could compare ourselves... As a result, I got many more opportunities to enter the palace, and thus became the one among the imperial family who was closest to my elder brother."
She stroked the sword and sighed, “Whether you believe it or not, the reason I want to pass on this sword technique is not only out of reverence for the imperial lineage, but also because… Looking back now, the experience of learning swordsmanship with my brother was a rare time for our royal family to truly enjoy kinship and freedom.”
Her father, Sima Jun, may have harbored grand ambitions and long harbored a desire to be inferior to others, but whenever he held a heavy sword, he was nothing but a strict and stern teacher, meticulously instructing her in every detail. Her elder brother, Sima Yan, was the kind of person who could not tolerate criticism, but only when wielding a heavy sword did he display the curiosity and humility of an ordinary student, and he was also willing to practice diligently without ceasing.
The Emperor's Sword, wielded by the emperor, probably requires him to put on a show to justify his actions.
Sima Yao herself, needless to say, became completely absorbed in martial arts once she entered the path, studying tirelessly day and night.
Sima Yao suddenly said, "Father rarely showed me any real affection, but he was different when teaching me swordsmanship, showing both patience and love. I used to think it was because he was happy to see my brother and me playing together. Now I think there was more to it than that, because he would miss the time when my great-grandfather taught him this sword."
Both being sons of the Sima family, Sima Jun, the Prince of Langya, was intelligent and handsome, and must have been a son favored by his father, who was the crown prince.
When faced with the simple and rugged heavy sword technique, only the refinement of skills and the tempering of the sword heart can be effective. All thoughts of reading between the lines and being cunning and flattering will naturally disappear.
In the end, all that remains are the natural bonds of uncles and nieces, fathers and daughters, and the karmic connections of blood ties.
And as elders, they have the mission of passing on the legacy of their ancestors to the next generation.
Seeing that A Qiu was still lost in thought and silent, Sima Yao couldn't help but say angrily, "Did you understand? Under normal circumstances, this sword technique can only be learned by emperors and supreme rulers. Even after two hundred years, it will not be your turn, you wild girl from the martial world. If this sword technique is lost because of me, it would not only be a disservice to my ancestors in the Sima family, but also to all the emperors since Qin Shi Huang. It is precisely because of this that I have gone to great lengths to ask you to learn it here."
A Qiu asked in surprise, "The emperors from the First Emperor onwards?"
Sima Yao replied matter-of-factly, "That's for sure. It's said that the creator of this sword technique was none other than Qin Shi Huang, Ying Zheng."
A Qiu thought for a moment and said with a mixture of amusement and exasperation, "I only remember that the historical records state that when Jing Ke, the ancestor of Lanling Hall, attempted to assassinate the King of Qin in the palace, the King of Qin, though he had a sword, could not draw it for a moment because it was too long. He had to hurriedly circle around a pillar to avoid it. Fortunately, a physician threw out a medicine bag, which stopped Jing Ke for a moment. Only then did the King of Qin have a chance to carry the sword behind him, and he drew it from his shoulder and stabbed Jing Ke, causing the assassination attempt to fail."
As she spoke of this, she couldn't help but gaze intently at the "Qilin Hundred Slashes" held by Sima Yao, and said with a bit of a laugh, "I used to think it was just a legend, but now I understand why the King of Qin couldn't draw his sword in such a hurry."
An ordinary sword is no more than four feet long and is hung at the waist, ready to be drawn at any time.
However, if an emperor wore a sword to signify his noble status, it would be more than five or six feet long and heavy. Wearing it at the waist would only serve as decoration, and it would be absolutely impossible for him to draw it with a simple gesture.
The King of Qin was hosting a banquet at the time, and it was impossible for him to be like a wandering knight-errant, carrying a sword behind his back with the hilt protruding from his shoulder.
Seeing A Qiu laugh, Sima Yao said sullenly, "After that assassination attempt, the First Emperor, deeply saddened by the experience, ordered dozens of renowned martial arts masters to exhaust their ingenuity and design this powerful heavy sword technique specifically for his imperial status. He also issued an order that all emperors after him must learn this technique to deal with assassins as a way to save their lives in a hurry. Since this sword technique is only used within the palace, it will not spread to the martial arts world and is therefore unknown to your Divine Weapon Hall."
Upon hearing this, A-Qiu couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Sima Yao said sullenly, "What are you laughing at!" But she knew perfectly well that Sima Yao had the right to laugh. After all, with just a wave of her hand, Sima Yao had broken the supposedly invincible heavy sword technique created by the Qin Emperor.
A Qiu suppressed a laugh and said, "I just think that the First Emperor was really arrogant when it came to martial arts. The sword is clearly a weapon, but he insisted on using it as a ceremonial object, making it too long and too heavy, so that it could not be drawn in times of emergency. And after encountering danger, instead of reflecting on the problem with the sword, he wanted people to create a set of sword techniques suitable for this heavy sword for him to use for self-defense. It can be said that he was inflexible and did not know how to adapt."
Sima Yao said with a stern face, "What do you think he should do?"
Ah Qiu said matter-of-factly, "Why go to all this trouble when you can just use an ordinary sword?"
Sima Yao paused for a moment, then shook her head and said, "That's just your idea as a member of the martial arts family. The emperor, being of such high status, would not be equipped with a sword of the same specifications as an ordinary swordsman. That would be tantamount to announcing to the world that any ordinary swordsman is welcome to challenge him."
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