Against the Murim Tide

Ahmad and Yi stepped out of the inn, its wooden door creaking as it opened and then closed behind them. It was a quiet farewell to the place she had called home for nearly a month.

Ahmad adjusted the pouch strapped to his belt and glanced over his shoulder at Yi. "Alright, time to move."

Yi stood with her gaze lingering on the inn. "It feels strange to leave," she admitted softly.

"Strange? I thought you'd be eager to leave after the first week," Ahmad said, raising an eyebrow.

"I thought so too," she replied with a thoughtful tone. "But this town… it's not like other places I've been, not that i've been to many others in all fairness. It's smaller than my hometown, but it feels genuine. Strangers, like us, are treated with curious smiles rather than hostility and suspicion. Just... life. The inn as well, even if not as comfortable as my room, had its charm."

Ahmad gave a slight nod. "It has its charms, i suppose. But mostly it's a place like any other."

"I know," she said, her voice wistful. "But it felt safe here, peaceful. Even the imperfections, the sometimes burnt soup at the inn that was somehow still delicious, the noisy market that screamed through my window every day. None of it felt unpleasant."

He chuckled faintly. "That's the problem with places like this. Stay too long, and you start to think the rest of the world isn't so awful."

After a short pause Yi responded. "Is that such a bad thing?"

"Not if you plan to stay. But we're not staying, are we now?" Ahmad said.

Yi followed him after stealing one last glance at the inn. "I suppose not."

The town was modest but lively, with cobblestone streets on which wooden stalls opened every day, there were also more permanent, small shops selling everything from dried herbs to polished trinkets displayed themselves through various signs hanging above their doors. Lanterns dangled from the sides of these buildings, swaying gently as the breeze passed through the narrow streets. It was peaceful here.

As Yi walked beside Ahmad she found herself glancing around more often than she was willing to admit. She had spent nearly a month here, longer than anywhere else except her home, even if the entirety of it was spent in her room. The Wind Flower sect didn't feel as distant anymore. 

It's essential to keep in mind that Yi was only 15 at this point in her life, with plenty to spare until she would celebrate her 16th birthday. While a month may not appear to be significant, the reality is that for someone as young as Yi, it can seem like an eternity.

As they finally reached the outskirts of the town, the noise of humanity faded into the gentle rustle of trees and the occasional animal call. When suddenly, Ahmad began walking off the cobblestone road, and started heading towards the forest.

"Why are we going this way?" Yi asked while looking at the thickening canopy overhead.

"Because the last thing we need is an audience when you show me that fancy technique you've been cooking up," Ahmad replied without looking back.

"Makes sense, wait what? How do you know about that!?" she asked with confusion plastered all over her face.

Ahmad chuckled, his tone light but teasing. "I remember my first martial art. It was a piece of shit, don't ask about it. Anyway, that excitement on your face is way too obvious. You've been itching to try something new."

Yi frowned, her lips tightening. "I didn't realize i was being so transparent, should probably work on that."

"Subtlety doesn't come naturally to most at your age, nor should it. It means you're eager to learn." Ahmad said. "It's not a bad thing, a stone face will only do you good in battle or right before it. Or in politics but trust me you don't want to go there."

The pair walked in relative silence for a few more minutes, the dense trees around them cutting off much of the daylight. Ahmad suddenly halted, almost making Yi bump into him. He then scanned the area and pointed to a small clearing up ahead.

"This'll do," Ahmad said before stretching his arms. "Show me what you've got."

Instead of moving immediately, Yi hesitated, gripping the guan dao tightly. "Before I do… I've been thinking about what you said. About how martial arts matter and how they improve over time."

Ahmad glanced at her. "Go on."

"Doesn't that mean I should be learning techniques? My sect didn't have any for the guan dao, so I've been figuring it out on my own, like you told me to. But shouldn't I be training in something already developed, changing it or creating my own based on it?"

Ahmad sighed and sat down on the grass. "You already did."

She frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Let me give you an example," Ahmad said. "If in your life you've ever only read a single book and decided to write your own, whether you wanted to or not, you were inspired or straight up copied the book. How could you not? So whatever you're about to show me is something you created on your own, you were inspired by the sword techniques of your sect. A guan dao is basically a spear with a single edge sword at its end"

Yi nodded as she considered his words.

Ahmad continued, "If we ever come across guan dao, sword or spear techniques, learn them. Find the flaws, find the parts that don't fit your style, and compress them into something you can use. Like you did now, hopefully. Please tell it's not just a normal attack you gave a name to."

Yi ignored the last remark and let out a slow breath before unstrapping her weapon. As she stepped into the clearing, her grip tightened on the guan dao, the polished blade gleaming faintly in the sunlight.

Right as she was about to begin Ahmad raised a hand. "Wait."

"What?"

"What's it called?" he asked.

"What's what called?"

"The technique. It has to have a name."

Yi blinked in confusion. "It doesn't have one. I'm still polishing it... depending on what you say, i might have to change it extensively, why would it need a name already?"

Ahmad sighed like he'd just heard the most ridiculous thing in the world. "Of course a name is important, it makes you more familiar with the art. You can even use them as faints, scream the name of one technique and then use a different one. But most importantly! It spreads your names round"

"Really?"

"Trust me," He smirked. "People fear names more than the techniques themselves, i dare you to name anyone from the mount Hua sect. You can't, but you have heard of the Plum blossom sword technique haven't you?"

Yi rolled her eyes. "I get what you're saying, but can we focus on the technique? I don't really care about being known and even if i did it would take a while."

"Fine fine, but we're naming it after." He waved her on. "Go on."

Yi took a deep breath and stepped into the center of the clearing. She carefully unstrapped her guan dao, its polished blade gleaming faintly in the dappled light. Her fingers tightened around the shaft as she took her stance, solid, grounded, ready.

The guan dao roared through the air in a violent arc as Yi unleashed her attack. The blade carved a path that swept through the space in front of her, the sheer force of the swing making it impossible to dismiss for wherever was standing in the way. Its purpose was clear, anyone in its path would face either retreat or the risk of serious injury.

Stepping back wasn't a decision to be made without thought. Against a weapon as long as hers, retreating often meant forfeiting ground, handing control of the fight to the opponent executing this technique. This split second of indecision was exactly what Yi aimed to exploit.

Her feet planted firmly, she absorbed the guan dao's recoil as she channeled the energy into her next attack. As her, imaginary in this case, opponent had just finished stepping backwards, Yi made good on the opportunity which she had created. 

She shifted her grip, her arms tensing with coiled strength as she launched her follow up strike. The guan dao shot forward with lethal precision, its full reach extending toward the imagined target. This time, it came down in the form of a powerful overhead swing, though a thrust or sweeping slash from either side could have been just as devastating. This was the purpose behind the second attack, flexibility, speed, and power above all else.

The blade cut through the air with a sharp, rising howl, its movement carrying a furious whisper as it descended in a powerful arc. The force behind it was enough to crush through any defenses or cleave cleanly through an unprepared foe who had just barely finished retreating.

The power of the attack wasn't just in its raw force, it was in its timing and reach. The second strike was delivered from the furthest away possible. The difference in speed from the point where Yi was holding the weapon, and it's tip, which would collide with the opponent, was substantial. If it hit, the damage would be devastating, but if the opponent dodged, they would find themselves outside of her striking range, which meant they would have to enter it to resume their fight. 

This martial art had three possible outcomes. First, the opponent would be struck by the initial swipe, which would give an immediate advantage to Yi. 

Second, if the first strike was dodged as intended, the follow up attack, which was more powerful, would strike the opponent from the direction Yi decided they were the least likely to respond. This strike was designed to be the finishing blow if it connects. 

Third, even if the opponent evaded both strikes, they would be forced out of range, granting Yi the initiative to attack, time to think, or the space she needed in order to retreat.

Her breath was ragged as she came to a halt, the weapon quivering slightly in her hands from the exertion.

Ahmad stood off to the side, his expression unreadable as his eyes flicked over her stance, the precision of her strikes, and the way she carried the weapon's weight. His silence lingered, a reminder that in this world, perfection was as much a goal as it was an illusion. 

But the flaws were glaring. The initial horizontal sweep was too slow, her follow up downward slash lacked determination and, while visually impressive, wobbled slightly as her arms strained to hold the guan dao steady at full extension. Her footwork was sloppy, leaving her center of gravity unstable. But above all else she was open to an attack the entire time, forget fighting multiple, a single opponent could burst forward or even jump over the initial swing and be in her face before she could even blink.

Ahmad watched her in silence as she completed the technique, his gaze noting every misstep within it. He didn't speak immediately, and the silenced felt far longer than it truly was.

Her breaths were fast and shallow as she waited for his evaluation. While she knew breathing techniques that would prevent this, at that moment, she ignored them, those were techniques she would need to reforge for herself, to fit her own martial art. The excitement in her eyes was almost overshadowed by the nervousness within her.

Finally, Ahmad pushed himself off the ground and gestured at her. "I like the idea, but you've made too many mistakes."

Yi stepped back, her breaths still coming in quick bursts as she wiped the sweat from her forehead, her gaze was fixed on him as she waited for the coming criticism.

He took a few steps toward her, his eyes narrowing as he looked at her weapon. "The first swing," he began with a steady voice, "It was too slow. It should be fast enough to not give your opponent the time to think about anything except oh shit or i'm dead, not only that but because of this you leave yourself exposed for a counterattack."

Yi's brow furrowed slightly, but she nodded without protest. She had felt the first strike was fine and that using too much strength would be an even bigger mistake. But after hearing Ahmads explanation, she understood it was the right thing to do, though she hadn't known how to fix it yet. She would have to work on her breathing and footwork to maintain more power from the first to the second strike.

"Then there's the next move," Ahmad continued. "That downward slash lacked resolve. You're not trying to look flashy which is already better than most, but it doesn't have the weight it needs. When you extend that guan dao, you need to put everything into it. If you don't, it wobbles, and you give your opponent the chance to exploit that weakness. If it's meant as a final attack that will finish the fight, then think of it like it's the last one you will ever make in your life. Because when they deflect it or dodge not away but towards you, it will be your last."

Yi grimaced slightly. She had felt the wobble herself, her arms trembling as they fought to control the weight of the weapon at full extension. Once again she didn't put her entire strength into the strike, leaving just a bit so in case of emergency she would have something. For example, she could let go of her guan dao and attack or defend with the remaining qi. Yet another thing to work on.

"Your footwork is another issue," Ahmad went on, pacing around her in circles as he spoke. "Sloppy. If you can't keep your center of gravity steady everything else will fall apart. You can't hold the ground you're standing on, and considering your entire strategy is about gaining ground as the worst possible outcome, you can imagine how that's not a good thing." He paused, then added with a slight shake of his head, "You can't afford to have an unstable foundation, it is the most basic part of all martial arts, even more important than breathing."

Yi opened her mouth to respond, thinking the scolding was over, but Ahmad held up a hand to silence her.

"And above all else," he said as his voice took on a more serious edge, "you're open to attack the entire time. I don't care if you're fighting one opponent or ten. Any skilled fighter could charge in the moment your first swing misses, or they dodge it. A single step forward, a leap over your blade, and you'd be dead before you could blink."

Her heart sank at his words, the previous things she had already considered how to fix, even if some of the solutions would take months. Like creating her own movement arts to shape her footwork and a breathing technique to go along with it. But such a fundamental flaw required her to possibly rethink or even throw away the technique entirely. But she didn't despair, even if Ahmad was the one who suggested it, she wanted it. She had to learn, no matter how harsh the truth was.

Ahmad met her gaze, and as his narrowed eyes locked onto hers, all thoughts of his previous jokes and drunken demeanor vanished. In that moment, standing before her was a martial master, one whose presence made her realize how far out of reach he truly was, someone she couldn't even begin to challenge. His constant jokes and casual behavior made her forget the conversation he had with her father, he was the strongest person her father had ever met. What she felt wasn't fear, it was the same thing she had felt in front of her grandfather all those years ago, awe of the power he exuded.

"You've got potential," Ahmad said snapping Yi out of her thoughts. "But as you are now, using that in battle against anyone with real skill would be an instant loss. You need to close those openings. All of them."

Yi stood still, absorbing every word, her mind already working on how to improve. She would fix them, she had to.

"Anyway," Ahmad said suddenly with a childish cheer in his voice, as if an exciting idea had just popped into his head. "How about that name, huh? I've got a few ideas, but I'll let you go first!"

Yi blinked in surprise, her thoughts momentarily scattered by Ahmad's uncharacteristic enthusiasm, he was usually relaxed but the only word that came to mind when she saw his excitement was childish, but in a good way. It was such a shift from his usual demeanor that she couldn't help but laugh lightly, the tension easing from her shoulders. She couldn't help but let out a giggle.

"How about Whirlwind slash? No, not enough spinning. Maybe Iron Edge? No, too simple, not catchy enough." He scratched his chin, lost in thought. "What about Thunder strike? It's got that power to it, a bit simple but i mean it has thunder in the name giving it awesomeness points, don't you think?"

Yi laughed again. "Didn't you say i'd go first?"

Ahmad leaned forward while grinning. "Well yes, but you weren't saying anything were you now? So i went ahead. But seeing as you're interrupting me, what's your suggestion?"

"I think…" she said after a moment of silence, slowly testing the words as they formed in her head, "I think… Chrysanthemums Fall sounds nice. It just feels right."

Ahmad's grin faltered for a moment, his brow furrowing as he processed the name. Then, his eyes lit up with understanding, and with a humorous flair he broke into a fit of laughter. "I knew you had it in you! That sounds way better than all my shitty suggestions put together! Although it does hurt my self esteem a bit. Hmm, flowers is the theme ey? Guess it makes sense give the whole wind flower thing. Alright it's settled, i'll be the one to name your next one, not because i'm calling dibs but because it will be better than anything you come up with, mark my words!"

Yi couldn't help but smile at his reaction, a silent satisfaction bloomed within her as the name resonated in her mind. It felt right, as if it had always been meant for her. "Yes," she murmured with a calm and steady voice, "Chrysanthemums Fall, the first of the techniques I'll make in my own name. The first of many to come."

"Chrysanthemums Fall, i like it." Ahmad said with a playfulness in his voice.