Chapter 49 — A Crimson Heart Shines Through Ten Thousand Layers of Mist

admiration. To have such boldness, to set aside sectarian bias, ignore the differences between schools, gather the world's wisdom, and bring all the sword masters of the world to Yanning to create a sword art together—such a person could not but be admired. "I won't learn," Shen Mu said, shaking his head. Gu Lihan wished he could smash through the mystic ice, rush out, hang the boy up, and spank him hard. For all his cajoling and reasoning, the boy still refused—he really deserved a beating. After a moment, Gu Lihan suddenly laughed. "Fine. I won't teach you swordplay; I'll teach you sword control. Sword control is not swordplay. Once you learn it, it will not prevent you from learning other people's swordplay." Shen Mu's heart stirred slightly, and he reluctantly nodded. "It seems you are not rotten wood that cannot be carved; you know what is good for you. This sword-control art is called the Crimson Heart Art. It teaches you how to control a sword, not swordplay." Gu Lihan's spirits roused, and he said, "What is the crimson heart? Dan means red—it is flawless jade, it is the nine-turn numinous elixir. The crimson heart is a heart of utter sincerity, a flawless and crystal-clear heart, a heart pure through nine refinements with no trace of a stray thought. This sword-control art values a pure mind, a heart like a newborn child. With a newborn's heart to control the sword, the sword goes where the heart goes, and nothing can obstruct it! No sword-control method under heaven stands above it! The first step in refining the crimson heart: Mind is fire, furnace in the field; heart-fire refines the true essence; plow the furnace-field into furrows; plant the fire-seed between the ridges! Let the yang spirit emerge in ten days, the proud sun's holy flame shine and burn the heart..." Shen Mu hurriedly memorized it. The Crimson Heart Art held profound meaning in subtle words; though it had an oral formula, without a master explaining its mysteries one could not know how to practice it. Gu Lihan recited the entire Crimson Heart Art once, then explained the mysteries of its practice line by line, until Shen Mu's heart felt like a nimble ape scratching its ears and cheeks, leaping up and down. After a long while, Gu Lihan finished explaining the Crimson Heart Art. "First practice, then control the sword. In at most ten days, in as few as two, you will be able to command a flying sword with qi and use the Chubao Sword to slay the Dragon Mother's soul! That little fox in your arms will also have received a boon from you—she has learned the finest sword-control art under heaven. Count it as a stroke of fortune."