Sovereign of Chaos

Chapter 8: Pleasant Surprise: Three Paintings

Ethan fetched a bowl of clean water and, with a puzzled expression, dropped the Dark Token into it.

With a soft "ding," the token slipped into the bowl, and the clear water immediately turned black at a visible rate, as if a piece of graphite had been thrown in. In the blink of an eye, the water in the bowl transformed into a pool of ink.

Startled, Ethan's face paled, and he quickly retreated several steps before returning with another bowl filled with water.

He used a stick to carefully hold the Dark Token and dipped it into the fresh water, repeating the process dozens of times until the water in the bowl finally became clear.

The Dark Token was a pure black wooden plaque about the size of a child's palm and half a finger thick. On its surface were faint traces of dark red, a residue of coagulated blood, and numerous tiny silver-white points that appeared to have been etched into it.

"These silver dots are quite peculiar!" Ethan muttered, his face close to the surface of the water as he examined the plaque.

"Are there words engraved on this Dark Token?" Suddenly, as if discovering something, Ethan quickly moved the candle closer for better illumination.

"Swift Shadow...Blade Technique. This plaque is a Blade Technique?" Ethan's eyes widened in delight. After squinting at it for a while, he could only make out four slightly larger characters, so he hurriedly fetched his late grandfather's reading glasses from inside the house.

The reading glasses, crafted from pure crystal and white bronze, were designed to magnify and focus light. His grandfather had been an avid collector of rare and unusual items, particularly paintings and books. Though these glasses were unique, they held no significant value, and his grandfather often took them out to pass the time. Now, they would prove useful.

With the reading glasses on, Ethan could finally see the words on the plaque more clearly.

"Swift Shadow Blade Technique... The only unbeatable Blade Technique in the world is speed," Ethan murmured. "People seek sophisticated moves, but such complexity often lacks substance, and is laughable. In my opinion, the essence of Blade Technique lies in two words: speed and deception! I will leave this Swift Shadow Blade Technique for the destined. Remember, those without great determination should not practice, and those without great comprehension should be cautious..."

On the back of the plaque were several tiny illustrations, while the front contained a few hundred words describing the Heart Method. Moments later, Ethan had committed the Heart Method to memory. As for the illustrations, he couldn't remember them as clearly, so he fetched paper and pen to sketch them, based on the plaque's original design.

There were three illustrations in total. The first depicted a young man standing casually, a long blade sheathed at his waist. His gaze was downcast, and his right hand rested naturally on the hilt. Above the image were three small characters: Draw Blade Technique.

Quick-witted Ethan, who had spent years working at the Blue Cloud Forge, was no stranger to blades. He quickly grasped the essence of the Draw Blade illustration. Two words came to mind: speed and stealth.

The natural placement of the hand on the hilt ensured constant vigilance and the shortest distance to draw the blade. The difference between having a hand on the hilt or not was significant. In a duel between masters of the same level, just a few inches and a fraction of a second could determine life or death.

The young man's seemingly careless stance, his gaze lowered and his guard seemingly down, was a ploy to lull the enemy into complacency. It conveyed a sense of outward relaxation while maintaining inner tension, lowering the opponent's guard to a minimum. When still, he seemed unassuming; when in motion, he would be astonishing.

The second illustration depicted a young man with a knife held in a reverse grip, his gaze fixed intently on the opponent before him. The blade seemed to pierce upward from his left side at an unfathomable angle, a mystifying strike aimed at the adversary. The technique was called Reverse Hand Blind Spot Blade.

"Impossible! That angle, and a reverse grip?" Ethan furrowed his brow, mimicking the move with a wooden branch in hand, only to abandon the attempt shortly after. "No way this technique exists. I'd probably break my own hand before landing a hit on my opponent!"

Blind Spot? A blind spot in the technique? Was there truly such a thing? If so, how could one identify the blind spots in their own or their opponent's moves, or was it about catching them off guard?

"What even is a Blind Spot? And why the reverse grip?" Ethan's expression alternated between perplexed and elated, swinging the wooden branch relentlessly. After a while, he let out a yelp of pain and crouched down, clutching his arm.

A brief practice session had resulted in a fractured arm. Grimacing in pain, Ethan cursed, "What a lousy Blade Technique. It's not even suitable for humans!"

Gritting his teeth, he realigned the bones in his right arm and continued to the final illustration.

The third image brought more headaches for Ethan. It depicted a single person, a young man with shoulder-length hair, hands behind his back, expressionless, with a calm gaze like still water. Above the picture were the words: Heart Blade Technique.

"Heart Blade Technique? What is the Heart Blade Technique?" A look of bewilderment spread across Ethan's youthful face. "Can a person's heart become a blade? Wouldn't that mean they could kill anyone they wished, as easily as slaughtering a chicken? Isn't that nonsense?"

Could a unity of blade and heart truly be achieved, where wielding a blade surpassed not wielding one? Was it really that miraculous?

Draw Blade Technique, Reverse Hand Blind Spot Blade, Heart Blade Technique! Except for Draw Blade, the others seemed unreliable. Ethan muttered to himself.

"However, according to the Swift Shadow Blade Technique, at the highest level of the Draw Blade Technique, one can unsheathe their blade more than 13 times within a single breath (about six seconds)! With such speed, who could resist? How could one not avenge their enemies?"

What did it mean to draw a blade more than 13 times within a single breath? It would be like a streak of lightning!

Calm as a maiden, swift as thunder, a single stroke like a startled swan!

Ethan had never ventured beyond Stone Town and knew nothing of the world outside. As far as he knew, there were skilled blade users in Stone Town as well. Some had fast blades, others used wicked and ruthless techniques, while others had impenetrable defenses. Each Blade Technique required a corresponding Heart Method; without it, the technique would be nothing but empty words. Everyone could see the technique and pass on the Heart Method, but a matching, harmonious Blade Technique was priceless.

Ethan had witnessed Blade Technique masters in Stone Town, and those who could draw their blades five times within a single breath were already considered masters. Those who could do it eight times were grandmasters.

The Swift Shadow Blade Technique that Ethan had acquired, which allowed for more than 13 draws within a single breath at its peak, was likely unparalleled even in Mistwood County, let alone Stone Town.

In truth, being able to draw one's blade five or six times in a single breath was already a terrifyingly swift feat. Without a corresponding Heart Method, an ordinary person could only reach this level after decades of sword training, and any progress beyond that would be unattainable for most. The art of swordsmanship demanded exceptional comprehension and perseverance.

There was a Rapid Edge Dojo in Stone Town, and its reputed owner, Alexander Storm, was a renowned master of swift blades. Having dedicated over thirty years to the art, his hands bore thick callouses from countless hours of practice. Ethan had tried to sneak in and learn from Alexander a few times with his friends, such as WhiskerSpike, but they were always caught and sent away. Unable to afford the steep tuition fees, they were too ashamed to attempt it again.

"I need to buy a good combat knife..." Ethan licked his lips, his face expressionless, his gaze clear and distant. With his current income having increased tenfold, he earned nearly twenty silver taels a month, enough to feed a family of three for a year. Purchasing a quality sword would not be an issue.

"Tidy up and make use of the remaining two hours before sunrise. Consolidate your skills!" Focusing his thoughts, Ethan swiftly skinned the snake and cleaned up everything. He then leaped onto the stone bed and sat cross-legged.

The night was tranquil.

Little did anyone know that in a corner of Storm Clan's Village, a child who had never drawn attention was awakening like a fierce tiger.