Chapter 7: Six principles of the Blind dragon

Jerry remained in silence while Master Mang Long appeared to be in an attacking stance, waiting for the right moment to strike. When Jerry began reciting the book's contents, he came to the conclusion that Mang Long would make it harder the more accurately he could spell the words.

 Jerry took a breath, causing a sigh to escape his mouth, when his senses detected an intent aiming at his midsection. Without hesitation, Jerry parried the strike.

 "I guess sighing is considered talking, huh?"

Mang Long used his Jian to send a barrage of slashes to Jerry's arms, head, and legs, and all he could do was parry them rather than block them because the Rapier's thin blade could break if he didn't reinforce it with his inner energy, which this space crippled him with because he couldn't use the power without the blindfold.

 Jerry had to parry while avoiding the blows such that his blade would shatter the instant, he blocked roughly three of them. He repeated what he had studied years ago like he was about to write an exam:

"The first principle is that the loss of sight does not quench the fire within. The methods that aren't supposed to be noticed are ingrained in the memory via the body and muscles rather than by sight. The sword was forged by fire, but the steel hungers for the source element in the same way as a child hungers for mother's milk.

 The principle holds that the will to persevere is burned into the body, just as fire leaves a mark on wood; being flawed makes you human, and flaws are meant to be confronted rather than rejected.

 There are three methods:

 The purifying of existence

 The sight of nature

 burden of not having a weapon.

Jerry whirled after gracefully parrying the Jian, focusing his might on a single place and thrusting the weapon into the chest area. The strike erupted into a whirlwind of force, pushing Mang Long back.

 The old man laughed as he adjusted his straw hat and shifted his stance, which appeared to be centered on strong attacks and stagger-inducing blows with his feet planted on the ground.

 He pursued Jerry with the same pace he demonstrated, and Jerry altered posture as well. His stance emphasized quick footing and precise attacks like stabs and fence parries.

Jerry proceeded to the second principle as Master Mang Long and Jerry dueled.

 "Principle two, the flavor of the peach, creates a vivid recollection that imagination can only command to exist. Taste is all the same, but it varies according to the individual's tongue; those who see react, while those who do not see surrender to the difference in taste and relish the flavor.

 The principles indicate that we perceive things differently, but we will feel the same way if we share an unchanging ideal. Martial arts are a collection of styles and techniques; my style allows the imperfect to be the same as the fruit, which tastes the same when seen and unseen by taste alone.

The techniques are as follows.

 Mist mirage

 Mist presence

 Nature's Presence

 The will to remain the same."

 With that said, Jerry unleashed a flurry of stabs while his hand was poised for a surprise. Jerry instantly sidestepped Mang Long's attack, creating a small hole. Jerry used his quick footwork to get close to the undefended man, and with his free hand poised for a counter, he pounded the old man's stomach with a focused blow.

Mang Long was pushed aside again, but this time he didn't wait or adapt his style, instead going for the hand with an upward slash. With no time to spare, Jerry did his best by utilizing his Rapier to block in a way that could pull him up, using the sword as leverage.

The rapier got chipped, and there are only two strikes remaining before it breaks. Jerry retained that count in his brain as he rapidly thought of what to say when explaining the third principle; he blocked Mang's violent and destructive strikes as he launched techniques powerful enough to break his weapon. However, as the master demonstrated, Jerry discovered delays that allowed him to better escape assaults by parrying and pushing the weapon and combatant away to get breathing space.

 With droplets of sweat on his face, he spoke confidently:

"The principle that loves the smell of the blue peck ma flower soothes the mind; the principle suggests that we should always enjoy activities that provide clarity to the mind. As they grow into something that brings calm and admiration to people who admire your accomplishments and strive to be like you.

 This principle's strategy for achieving mindfulness is simply meditation.

 Mang retreated as he shifted his stance, smiled, and removed his hat, displaying his bald, shaven head. Mang's closed eyelids opened, Jerry noticed that the old man's eyes were as white as snow, with a touch of gray in a bubble-like pupil.

Mang had been battling with one hand on his sword before pointing it forward in a slashing motion and holding it with two hands as if he was preparing to utilize a fundamental technique, something beneath his caliber of mastery. He took a breath and said:

 "Now I will show you clarity from smelling my favorite flower" A buildup of clear liquid-like aura streamed from the ground and attached Mang's blade, which glowed with silver; the clarity of the mind produces pure energy to the fighter who battles with the right goal.

Mang attacked with a slew of cuts, thanks to the aura surrounding his sword. Jerry could only evade as he continued to recite the next principles, which he would not explain this time because he wanted to get out of here as quickly as possible. His body was less defendable in the actual world.

 "The idea of presence that nature creates is a godsend; touch is the eyes of the blind. Touch allows you to locate beauty in feeling rather than pondering what you are missing in the world. The fifth principle is the symphony of emotions; why feel anger if you can't see what you're upset about? And why feel so much if you can't see what's bothering you?

"Final Principle: See no dread, feel no fear; becoming nothing is a blessing in disguise. I can't see what I have to be afraid of, so I have to be courageous when told or when it is necessary.

After saying that Jerry put his rapier on the frame of his nose as if he was going to do a final attack. But it never came as the mist begun to cover his whole body, Mang Long released his built-up energy into a downward slash that could have killed someone if they were there.

Jerry had accomplished his goal and left. Mang Long snapped his fingers, his straw hat drifted to his hand as he put it on, his eyes closed, and with a pout on his face, he said:

 "I genuinely didn't care about the principle; I wanted to fight as well. Damn, I detest death, and the crones don't want to fight me any more."

 As he stated this, he vanished into the mist that engulfed his body as he walked away, seemingly out of thin air.