The White Phoenix

Chapter 34 - Suibian

Lan Wangji has had Wei Ying's sword since his rebirth. He had to ask his father to reconnect it to Wei Ying but apparently, it will always recognize him no matter how many rebirths he would go through. Wei Ying was now thirteen and he was doing to well with his sword skills with the basic training swords. Lan Wangji decided it was time to give Wei Ying his sword back.

"A'Zhan, I beat you here today," Wei Ying said playfully.

"That's because you had a training session with Jilpa here," Wangji told him, "how did that go?"

"It was good, can I show you what I learned today?" He asked.

Lan Wangji nodded, "of course."

Wei Ying took a few steps back before he showed what he could do. Wei Ying jumped and used fire to push himself off the ground and did a flying kick in the air before landing back on his feet, "Jilpa has been teaching me basic forms like this and showing how to use fire as a guide to help me move around. She said to always be careful and be sure that I know my environment. Also, she taught me how to extinguish the fire better and quicker. Even told me I can use fire and it not burn my clothes."

Lan Wangji was happy to see that Wei Ying was doing well with his fire cultivation. He was also not as afraid of it anymore which was actually a really good thing, "I'm proud of you, A'Ying. You're doing well," Wangji told him, "if you do well with your sword training today, I will reward. But it will be a surprise on what that is."

"Okay, I am ready," Wei Ying said.

"I actually wanted to also give you this," Wangji said holding out Wei Ying's sword, "your sword. Your parents left it for you for when you were old enough to wield it. The sword has a spirit and only recognizes you as it's owner. No one else can unsheathe it."

"My own sword?" Wei Ying asked holding it, "do you know why it's  named is Suibian?"

Lan Wangji smiled, "you never told me, but you can always give it a reason to call it Suibian."

Wei Ying thought for a minute before speaking, "Whatever will be, or whatever may be. Whatever the outcome."

"Those are good reasons," Wangji said, "are you ready to train?"

Wei Ying nodded, "am I able to use Suibian?"

"You can, but be careful. It is a lot sharper than a training sword," Wangji told him.

"Okay," Wei Ying said, "Before we start, I have been meaning to ask you a question."

"Go ahead," Wangji nodded.

"Gusu Lan has their own sword style, do other sects have their own?" Wei Ying asked.

"They do. You can tell which sect they are from just based off their fighting style," Wangji answered.

"Is it okay to make up your own style?" Wei Ying asked, "not that I do not mind learning the Gusu Lan style, I was just curious if you can make a new one?"

"You can, it is very hard to achieve though. You need to know the basic structure of sword fighting, and the basic techniques as well. Once you understand them, you can start trying to making a style most suitable for you," Wangji explained.

"Do you have your own, or do you just follow the Gusu Lan style?" Wei Ying asked.

"I have both my own and the Gusu Lan style," Wangji answered.

"Can I learn yours?" Wei Ying asked.

Lan Wangji smiled and knelt down to be face to face with him, "I will teach you sword style if you first learn Gusu's style. Just so you have a sturdy sword technique while you learn my personal style."

"Okay, haven't we been learning Gusu's style?" Wei Ying asked.

"We have, so why don't you show me what you remember and we can go from there," Wangji said as he stood up.

"Okay," Wei Ying said.

As Wei Ying performed what he remembered, Lan Wangji corrected him only when needed. There was only once when Wangji had to help him adjust his stance but he was impressed with how quickly Wei Ying was learning. Lan Wangji new that Wei Ying was smart in his past life, and he was now starting to see that his ability to learn quickly followed him through to this life. Once Wei Ying caught up to where they left off in their lessons, Wangji started teaching him the motions, and standing positions.

Wei Ying loved learning how to use his sword. Using Suibian for the first time, he was starting to understand what it was like to be connected to a spiritual weapon. It was like he could feel a soul within the sword, and whenever Wei Ying made a successful move, the sword thrummed in his hand, as if it was congratulating him.

"A'Zhan," Wei Ying said as they finished for today.

"Hmm?" Wangji asked.

"Can a sword spirit connect to you?" Wei Ying asked, "like can you tell if it is trying to say something to you?"

"It can," Wangji replied, "cultivators take a long time to develop a sword spirit. To gain a sword that already has a spirit is actually a very special weapon. My sword, Bichen, did not have a spirit when I first got it, but when I practiced enough, the sword created a spirit and it connect more to me. It's rare but when it happens, it means that you are working hard with your training."

"When I was training, it felt like Suibian was telling me I was doing a good job. I could feel it vibrating every now and then," Wei Ying explained.

"It's just telling you it is happy to be with you," Wangji said.

"Oh," Wei Ying said as they entered the Jingshi. Lan Xichen entered shortly after and had a basket in his hand, "what is that?" Wei Ying asked,

"I said you were going to get a reward for your hard work," Wangji said.

Lan Xichen pulled a a frozen treat that he picked up from town, "a frozen treat for you."

"Really?" Wei Ying asked.

"Mnn, eat up. You did well," Wangji said.

Wei Ying smiled happily at him before taking a bite of his treat, "Mmm!" Wei Ying hummed.

Lan Wangji smiled, "remember, no talking while eating."

Wei Ying nodded and just happily ate his treat. Lan Wangji patted his head to tell him he is being a good boy.