The Nine Cauldrons

Chapter 6 Skill Progressing into Dao

On the official road, the company of merchants were staring at those corpses. All of them were extremely surprised.

“Look at their attires. All these people were horse bandits. Each one of them was killed with a single slash!” The experienced guards checked the corpses and explained to the surrounding merchants, “One by one, all the thirty-seven horse bandits were killed with one strike. Based on the marks on the ground and the wounds, the killer should be just be a single person!”

Teng Qingshan casted a glance and also agreed with the guard.

“It is good that they are dead. These horse bandits eats a lot but they never worked and always wanted to rob and steal. Finally, they encountered a tough one.” Hei Zi cursed and said. The merchants and the horse bandits were enemies. In the eyes of the robbers and horse bandits, the merchants were like sheep.

“This person’s saber skill is so powerful. He alone fought against thirty-seven horse bandits and he only used a single strike to kill an enemy. He probably has the ability can be compared to people in 《Earthly Ranking》. If he could be our guard, then that would be good.” Old Zhang remarked emotionally.

A shout came from in front. “Everyone, quick keep moving!”

The merchants who were trying to join the bustle immediately mounted their horses and started to advance forward.

As the caravan advanced,Teng Qingshan mounted on his horse and tried to recall the sensation he felt before.

“In the past, if I wanted the horse to accelerate, I would have to hit the horse’s belly softly. The sensation before…..was as if the Scarlet Flame Horse was a part of my body. “If someone wanted to walk, they would naturally transmit energy from their waist to the thigh. The feet would then move one step forward.

Very natural!

And just now, Teng Qingshan naturally transmitted the muscle strength of his thigh to the Scarlet Flame Horse, causing the Scarlet Flame Horse to accelerate.

“This is the feeling I was searching for.. The state of ‘One with the Horse’ was a method to control the horse perfectly. However, control was not what I wanted when I was training on horseback……I wanted to harmonize the body of the war horse with my own body.. What I wanted was this state to be like a reflex, and that I can naturally control it with my thoughts.

……

Teng Qingshan immersed himself in the research of how he could naturally control the war horse. As time passed, Teng Qingshan’s skill was improving.

Soon, Teng Qingshan entered a mystical realm.

It was as if he himself had become a horse which was galloping. He could feel all four legs of the horse and he could even feel the heavens and earth in the surrounding through its four legs. Teng Qingshan was fascinated by this harmonious and congenial realm. The sensation was similar to the sensation he felt when he was practicing the Three Postures.

Although it wasn’t as obvious as the Three Postures, but it wasn’t rare for him to enter to this state anymore.

“Stop!” A voice resonated.

Immediately, the numerous horses stopped and Teng Qingshan naturally stopped as well. When he opened his eyes and a smile appeared on his face. He mumbled, “The Skill is progressing into Dao! Skill progressing into Dao! I see…..I had already touched ‘Dao,’ but I had no idea.”

TLN: In this case, Dao(道) is the state of enlightenment

Teng Qingshan finally understood the essence of drawing, writing, his own practice of the Three Postures, etc. and why these skills could assist his mind and heart to be in sync with the heavens and earth.

The essence was——Skill Progressing into Dao.

When someone had mastered a skill to its peak. Like the historical story in his previous life which talked about Pao Ding dissecting a cow. In Pao Ding’s eyes, the cow was not a cow. It was just bones,meat and other body parts. He could easily dissect a cow. He didn’t need to ponder about the strength of the knife or where he should cut. There was no need for anything! Because everything was natural like a river that formed naturally. In Pao Ding’s hand, the dissection of the cow was ‘Dao.’

As a skill improved, it would become Dao. Skill progressing into Dao!

Like drawing, one must at least had the foundation of drawing and the skill would improve, reaching a higher level. In the end,while drawing, one wouldn’t even need to pay attention to the drawing brush, paper, or ink. One would just need to immerse oneself into the drawing and express the anger, joy, or sadness in one’s heart.