Looking at Jing Ke's resolute gaze, Yanyan couldn't help but suspect that the Six Arts of the Gentleman of the Confucian School very likely contained a set of profound martial arts.
"Man models himself after Earth, Earth models itself after Heaven, Heaven models itself after the Dao, and the Dao models itself after nature!" Yanyan murmured softly, unconsciously slipping once again into a state of mind free from external distractions.
"An epiphany?" Jing Ke watched Yanyan zone out, his eyes filled with shock, yet tinged with a hint of envy.
An epiphany was a state desired by all cultivators, many of whom went through their entire lives without experiencing a single one.
Yet there were also monstrous geniuses who could attain an epiphany anytime and anywhere, as easily as eating a daily meal.
Jing Ke considered himself a genius, but apart from a few epiphanies he had experienced under the guidance of the Six-Fingered Black Knight and other seniors, he had almost never had one spontaneously.
This highlighted the importance of a good teacher.
An excellent teacher or master could easily point out a disciple's shortcomings, thereby leading the disciple into an epiphany, breaking through personal limits, and making up for deficiencies.
However, envy aside, Jing Ke still stood guard beside Yanyan to prevent anyone from disturbing his epiphany.
Within the realm of Yanyan's mind free from external distractions, only he himself remained between heaven and earth. The surroundings were utterly silent, devoid of even a single object.
Gradually, however, the sun, moon, stars, mountains, rivers, and peaks began to appear. The cold gave way to summer, and day alternated with night, spinning and repeating endlessly, while only the single figure sitting at the center remained steadfast and motionless.
"So that's how it is!" Though it took a long time to tell, it happened in an instant.
In the world of absolute mental detachment, the changing of the four seasons seemed to last for a very long time, yet in reality, it was just a fleeting moment.
Yanyan opened his eyes once more, smiled at Jing Ke who was guarding him, stood up, and bowed with cupped hands.
"Did I interrupt you?" Jing Ke hadn't expected Yanyan to wake up so quickly. Just as he finished giving orders that no one was to be disturbed, he saw that Yanyan was already awake, taking less time than it took to brew a cup of tea.
Because of this, Jing Ke felt a twinge of guilt, mistakenly believing that his voice had interrupted Yanyan's epiphany!
"No, the comprehension has already ended!" Yanyan said with a smile.
"So fast?" Jing Ke felt a sense of regret; the longer the epiphany lasted, the greater the harvest.
With Yanyan spending such a short time, he probably hadn't gained anything at all!
"Court dancers, Confucian scholars, and the sacrificial priests of the Hundred Schools of Thought can all perform the *Yunmen Daquan*. But have you ever heard of anyone comprehending movement techniques and martial arts from it?" Yanyan asked with a gentle smile.
Jing Ke shook his head. As a large-scale dance music dedicated to sacrificial rituals, quite a few people knew how to perform the *Yunmen Daquan*. However, it seemed that no one had ever comprehended movement techniques or martial arts from it—not even the great Confucian scholars of the Confucian School.
"So, this is for you!" Yanyan smiled, taking off his long Confucian robe so that his legs were no longer obscured.
Once more, he performed the *Yunmen Daquan* in front of Jing Ke, deliberately slowing down his pace.
"The same thing has different meanings in different eyes. If you can see movement techniques and martial arts in the *Yunmen Daquan*, it means this is a set of techniques and movement skills that only you can see and learn." Yanyan's voice drifted over, urging Jing Ke to watch closely and comprehend deeply.
Listening to Yanyan's words, Jing Ke also watched his footsteps intently. Slowly following Yanyan's pace, he carefully finished watching the *Yunmen Daquan*—a dance he had once looked at once and never dared to look at again.
To ensure that Jing Ke completely mastered this movement technique and martial art, Yanyan repeated it over and over again until Jing Ke withdrew his gaze and sat cross-legged. Only then did Yanyan collapse onto the ground in exhaustion, his entire body soaked in sweat.
It wasn't until early the next morning that Jing Ke opened his eyes. Looking at Yanyan guarding by his side, he was deeply moved.
Here was a pure scholar, a true gentleman free from the sectarian biases of the Hundred Schools of Thought. Even though he clearly knew Jing Ke was a disciple of the Mohist School, Yanyan was still willing to let him comprehend Confucian martial arts.
If it were any other Confucian scholar, driven by sectarian prejudice, they would likely rather see the knowledge lost than let someone else obtain it.
"Jing Ke pays respects to the Master!" Jing Ke bowed respectfully.
In learning, there is no distinction of seniority; those who achieve mastery first are the masters.
Based solely on the movement technique he had comprehended today, Yanyan was worthy of this bow and this title of Master.
A teacher is one who imparts the Dao, teaches professional knowledge, and resolves doubts!
Yanyan had bestowed upon him an unprecedented movement technique and martial art, which was infinitely precious!
"The *Yunmen Daquan* has never belonged to the Confucian School; it was the sacrificial dance music of the Yellow Emperor's era from the time of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors. If there truly are martial arts and movement techniques hidden within it, they were passed down to future generations by the Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan himself. If you want to thank someone, thank the Yellow Emperor!" Yanyan refused to claim credit or show arrogance.
The *Yunmen Daquan* had been passed down for thousands of years. If it contained martial arts and movement techniques, the fact that no one had ever comprehended them proved that this was Jing Ke's destiny—he was merely using Yanyan's body to transmit the teachings across generations to Jing Ke.
To put it simply, this martial art was transmitted to Jing Ke by the Yellow Emperor, and Yanyan was nothing more than a courier!
Jing Ke had not expected the origins of the *Yunmen Daquan* to be so ancient, which meant that this movement technique and martial art was very likely from the ancient times.
"You are a disciple of the Mohist School, so calling me Master is inappropriate. Besides, we are of similar age, and I have never thought of opening a hall to teach students!" Yanyan continued.
Jing Ke had wanted to say something more, but in the end, he didn't argue.
As for whether he was a Mohist or not, he didn't really care. If the Leader found out that he had acquired a set of martial arts for free yet refused to call the person Master, word would get out, and he truly wouldn't be able to survive in the Mohist School anymore.
What he cared about was the second half of Yanyan's sentence—being of similar age—which made it somewhat difficult for him to speak up, as they were both young people after all.
"How about I pass the martial arts of the *Yunmen Daquan* on to you?" Jing Ke suddenly suggested.
Yanyan shook his head. "I don't know the Confucian internal cultivation methods, so even if you pass it on to me, I won't be able to learn it!"
"I'm very curious. With your talent, why must you stubbornly insist on pursuing that Noble Qi of the Confucian School that no one has ever successfully cultivated?" Jing Ke truly couldn't understand.
Although he hadn't known Yanyan for long, one shocking event after another had followed in rapid succession, confirming to him that Yanyan was undoubtedly a monstrous genius.
With such talent, why learn anything else? Why insist on pursuing that Noble Qi which existed only in legends?
"Everyone has their own destined fate. If I myself believe I cannot cultivate Noble Qi, how could I ever cultivate it?" Yanyan smiled without explaining further.
Although he didn't know what Noble Qi truly was, he had a feeling that one day, he would cultivate it.
The Yan Family had also thought about having him switch to another path, but Yanyan had refused.
Because he felt that he could—perhaps he might—possess an inexplicable sense of confidence!
And the epiphany from a short while ago had only made him firmer in his heart: the same thing appeared differently in everyone's eyes, and as long as he persisted in being himself, he would surely succeed!