Yun Qingping, former record keeper of Yan, responsible for documenting martial arts for use by Yanese soldiers. Currently stationed at Rhodes Island as a representative of the Sui Regulator at Operator Zuo Le's recommendation. He participates in the observation and documentation of the Sui Proxies while also assisting Rhodes Island with its logistics work.
The next heal is increased to 155% of ATK and heals an additional target Can store 3 charge(s)
Mastery 3 · SP cost 7 · Initial SP 0ATK +80%; after healing an Operator, grants them a buff for 10s that recovers 150 HP whenever they take damage
Mastery 3 · SP cost 35 · Initial SP 25 · Duration 25sWhen Operators within Attack Range activate a skill, Record Keeper recovers 1 SP and gains ASPD +16 for 10 s
Were you looking for these papers, Doctor? And here is a pen. You may also dictate to me, if you're tired—Oh, I'm sorry, did I spook you? I see. You're not yet used to having me around. Rest assured, I'm always by your desk, and you need only speak what you need.
I understand that everyone is curious about the Grandmaster's life, but I was only his record keeper, not his aide. Even when he was busy, he never asked me to help him with everyday tasks. Indeed, he kept reminding me to take my medicine on time. When I share this with others, they look simultaneously interested and disappointed.
Good morning, Doctor. You're up early. Me? Hmm... One develops certain habits after spending a decade with the army. I feel strange if I fail to take my daily trip to the Training Room. These records, you say? Please rest assured, they are a matter of personal interest, or shall I say learning? I won't share them.
When traveling with the Grandmaster, we would often encounter challengers. Sometimes, he instructs me to engage them first. I can only speak plainly, asking whether they would concede if I could indicate their vulnerabilities. Most readily agree. And so, I've somehow claimed a slate of victories to my name, without throwing a single punch.
Zuo Le and I have always been somewhat frightened of Qiubai, even though she's never put on airs. People say she was lucky to have a great master, but it is the path she walked on her own that was the true cultivation. Now that I've left the nest myself, I think of her whenever there is doubt in my heart.
Is there any meaning to one who is unable to practice martial arts pouring his entire heart and soul into martial studies? Or is there any meaning to martial arts at all, you ask? Life is like drifting pond weeds; one can find true anchorage only by deeply nurturing something. Why do I care? I suppose it's because I've found an anchor that is precious.
Zuo Le was not always as he is. When we were little, and my poor health shut me away in my boring room, he tried to take me outside. He could leap over Yumen's walls on the way out with his Qinggong, but could not get back in. After we got scolded together, he slipped me some buckthorn fruits from his pocket. They were green and very sour.
The Grandmaster had many students. He took them in from all walks of life, teaching what he knew to anyone who would learn the martial arts. Sometimes, I wonder if I might have become his greatest student, were it not for my poor health... keep this between you and I, won't you?
[Field Mission Application Assessment Report] Applicant: Yun Qingping Assessment: While Yun Qingping is not afflicted with Oripathy, the injuries he suffered during childhood have taken their toll in their own ways, hindering his participation in activities with a high risk of fatigue or injuries. His physical examination results during his field internship were highly concerning, with barely adequate figures in most areas, and well-below adequate in strength and reaction times. Considering even the safest field missions involve significant travel and physical exertion, he is not an ideal candidate for fieldwork. We have reserved decision on his application, however, due to his unique traits. As a matter of fact, his results far exceed reasonable expectations based on his physical condition, and he possesses certain abilities far beyond that of ordinary people: He has an incredible sense of balance, able to stand on one foot on top of a walnut; he is able to hold his breath for longer than experienced fishermen; and he possesses remarkable dynamic vision. His abilities can be traced to his daily habits: improving core strength through balance training, improving his health through breathing studies, and obviously training his dynamic vision through his work in documenting martial arts. Interviews with Yun have revealed that he is well aware of his own physical condition, developing training methods specifically designed for himself and committing to them day after day, pushing simplicity to its extremes. While his constitution remains frail, he can play an irreplaceable role in certain special field missions. He shows strong interest in fieldwork and wants to see new places and new things without being hindered by his health. As a result, he is hereby approved for limited field deployment, so long as care is taken to ensure that he is not overexerted.
'Look at that white fowlbeast and note the way it hunts. Can you do it?' 'Yes, master. I'll hand in my notes tomorrow.' Day 1 'Sorry, master, I was overconfident... it was too quick, and moved in the blink of an eye. I won't blink next time.' Day 5 'This water isn't for drinking. Warm your eyes with the cup. They were dry and teary last night, weren't they?' 'I... I understand why you picked that fowlbeast now. It's agile and cunning, never diving the same way twice, just as how the same move in martial arts can take a thousand forms in actual combat.' Day 10 'I think my eyes are finally able to follow its motions, but I'm always just one second slow... why?' 'Think about it.' Day 15 ... Day 21 'Tea.' 'Thank you, master, but my eyes are not dry.' 'No, it's not for rubbing your eyes. It's good tea.' 'Wait, isn't this from General Zuo's private collection?' 'Shh. Well? Did you find the answer?' 'It's coming, master. Listen, the fowlbeast is crying in the woods to the west, the musbeast beneath the wall looking up in its direction. Watch. It spirals, dives, avoids the wall, dives again, and reaches out with its talons! 'I had been troubled that my eyes could not follow it. But then I understood. To observe the fowlbeast with human eyes is to be limited by its look. Observe the fowlbeast through its own eyes, and one might perhaps see the spirit. Observe it through the musbeast's eyes, and one finally sees every detail.' —The first page of Record of Martial Combat, documented at Chongyue's behest
Reed5★ · Vanguard
Reed the Flame Shadow6★ · Medic
Reserve Operator - Caster3★ · Caster
Reserve Operator - Caster4★ · Caster
Reserve Operator - Defender3★ · Defender
Reserve Operator - Defender4★ · Defender
Reserve Operator - Guard4★ · Guard
Reserve Operator - Logistics3★ · Medic
Reserve Operator - Medic4★ · Medic
Reserve Operator - Melee3★ · Vanguard
Reserve Operator - Sniper3★ · Sniper
Reserve Operator - Sniper4★ · Sniper
Reserve Operator - Specialist4★ · Specialist
Reserve Operator - Supporter4★ · Supporter
Reserve Operator - Vanguard4★ · Vanguard
Ripresa5★ · Caster
Roberta4★ · Supporter
Robin5★ · Specialist
Rockrock5★ · Caster
Rope4★ · Specialist
Rosa6★ · Sniper
Rose Salt5★ · Medic
Rosmontis6★ · Sniper
Saga6★ · Vanguard
Saileach6★ · Vanguard
Sakiko Togawa6★ · Guard
Sand Reckoner5★ · Supporter
Sankta Miksaparato6★ · Defender
Santalla5★ · Caster
Saria6★ · Defender
Savage5★ · Guard
Scavenger4★ · Vanguard
Scene5★ · Supporter
Schwarz6★ · Sniper
Senshi5★ · Defender
Sesa5★ · Sniper
Shalem5★ · Defender
Shalem5★ · Defender
Shamare5★ · Supporter
Sharp5★ · Guard
Sharp6★ · Guard
Shaw4★ · Specialist
Shining6★ · Medic
Shirayuki4★ · Sniper
Shu6★ · Defender
Sideroca5★ · Guard
Siege6★ · Vanguard
Silence5★ · Medic
Silence the Paradigmatic6★ · Supporter
SilverAsh6★ · Guard
SilverAsh the Reignfrost6★ · Vanguard
Skadi6★ · Guard
Skadi the Corrupting Heart6★ · Supporter
Skybox5★ · Sniper
Skyfire5★ · Caster
Snegurochka4★ · Vanguard
Snow Hunter5★ · Sniper
Snowsant5★ · Specialist
Sora5★ · Supporter
Specter5★ · Guard
Specter the Unchained6★ · Specialist
Spot3★ · Defender
Spuria5★ · Specialist
Stainless6★ · Supporter
Steward3★ · Caster
Stormeye5★ · Sniper
Stormeye6★ · Sniper
Surfer5★ · Vanguard
Surtr6★ · Guard
Sussurro4★ · Medic
Suzuran6★ · Supporter
Swire5★ · Guard
Swire the Elegant Wit6★ · Specialist
Tachanka5★ · Guard
Taraxacum5★ · Medic
Tecno5★ · Caster
Tequila5★ · Guard
Terra Research Commission1★ · Sniper
Texas5★ · Vanguard
Texas the Omertosa6★ · Specialist
Thorns6★ · Guard
Thorns the Lodestar6★ · Specialist
THRM-EX1★ · Specialist
Tin Man5★ · Specialist
Tippi5★ · Specialist
Titi6★ · Medic
Toddifons5★ · Sniper
Tomimi5★ · Caster
Totter4★ · Sniper
Touch5★ · Medic
Touch6★ · Medic
Tragodia6★ · Supporter
Tsukinogi5★ · Supporter
Tulip5★ · Vanguard
Tulip6★ · Vanguard
Tuye5★ · Medic
Typhon6★ · Sniper
U-Official1★ · Supporter
Uika Misumi5★ · Supporter
Ukusik5★ · Medic
Ulpianus6★ · Guard
Umiri Yahata5★ · Specialist
Underflow5★ · Defender
Utage4★ · Guard
Valarqvin5★ · Supporter
Vanilla3★ · Vanguard
Varkáris5★ · Guard
Vendela5★ · Medic
Verdant4★ · Specialist
Vermeil4★ · Sniper
Vetochki5★ · Defender
Vigil6★ · Vanguard
Vigna4★ · Vanguard
Vina Victoria6★ · Guard
Virtuosa6★ · Supporter
Viviana6★ · Guard
Viy6★ · Caster
Vulcan5★ · Defender
Vulpisfoglia6★ · Vanguard
W6★ · Sniper
Waai Fu5★ · Specialist
Wang6★ · Specialist
Wanqing5★ · Vanguard
Warfarin5★ · Medic
Warmy5★ · Caster
Weedy6★ · Specialist
Whislash5★ · Guard
Whisperain5★ · Medic
Wild Mane5★ · Vanguard
Wind Chimes5★ · Guard
Windflit5★ · Supporter
Windscoot4★ · Guard
Wiš'adel6★ · Sniper
Wulfenite5★ · Specialist
Xingzhu5★ · Supporter
Yato2★ · Vanguard
Yu6★ · Defender
Zima5★ · Vanguard
Zima the Raging Tide6★ · Guard
Zuo Le6★ · Guard
'Justice Knight'1★ · Sniper
12F2★ · Caster
Aak6★ · Specialist
Absinthe5★ · Caster
Aciddrop4★ · Sniper
Adnachiel3★ · Sniper
Akafuyu5★ · Guard
Akkord4★ · Caster
Alanna5★ · Supporter
Alliance/Supportive Operator4★ · Supporter
Almond5★ · Specialist
Ambriel4★ · Sniper
Amiya5★ · Caster
Andreana5★ · Sniper
Angelina6★ · Supporter
Ansel3★ · Medic
Aosta5★ · Sniper
April5★ · Sniper
Archetto6★ · Sniper
Arene4★ · Guard
Aroma5★ · Caster
Asbestos5★ · Defender
Ascalon6★ · Specialist
Ash6★ · Sniper
Ashlock5★ · Defender
Astesia5★ · Guard
Astgenne5★ · Caster
Astgenne the Lightchaser6★ · Supporter
Aurora5★ · Defender
Ayerscarpe5★ · Guard
Bagpipe6★ · Vanguard
Bassline5★ · Defender
Beagle3★ · Defender
Beanstalk4★ · Vanguard
Beehunter4★ · Guard
Beeswax5★ · Caster
Bellone6★ · Guard
Bena5★ · Specialist
Bibeak5★ · Guard
Bison5★ · Defender
Blacknight5★ · Vanguard
Blaze6★ · Guard
Blaze the Igniting Spark6★ · Caster
Blemishine6★ · Defender
Blitz5★ · Defender
Blue Poison5★ · Sniper
Bobbing5★ · Supporter
Botani5★ · Supporter
Breeze5★ · Medic
Brigid5★ · Sniper
Broca5★ · Guard
Bryophyta5★ · Guard
Bubble4★ · Defender
Cairn5★ · Defender
Cantabile5★ · Vanguard
Caper4★ · Sniper
Cardigan3★ · Defender
Carnelian6★ · Caster
Castle-31★ · Guard
Catapult3★ · Sniper
Catherine5★ · Supporter
Cement5★ · Defender
Ceobe6★ · Caster
Ceylon5★ · Medic
Ch'en6★ · Guard
Ch'en the Dawnstreak6★ · Guard
Ch'en the Holungday6★ · Sniper
Chestnut4★ · Medic
Chiave5★ · Vanguard
Chilchuck5★ · Vanguard
Chongyue6★ · Guard
Civilight Eterna6★ · Supporter
Click4★ · Caster
Cliffheart5★ · Specialist
Closure6★ · Vanguard
Coldshot5★ · Sniper
CONFESS-471★ · Vanguard
Contrail4★ · Specialist
Conviction4★ · Guard
Corroserum5★ · Caster
Courier4★ · Vanguard
Crackborne5★ · Defender
Croissant5★ · Defender
Crownslayer6★ · Specialist
Cuora4★ · Defender
Cutter4★ · Guard
Czerny5★ · Defender
Dagda5★ · Guard
Deepcolor4★ · Supporter
Degenbrecher6★ · Guard
Delphine5★ · Caster
Diamante5★ · Caster
Dobermann4★ · Guard
Doc5★ · Guard
Dorothy6★ · Specialist
Dur-nar4★ · Defender
Durin2★ · Caster
Dusk6★ · Caster
Earthspirit4★ · Supporter
Ebenholz6★ · Caster
Ela6★ · Specialist
Elysium5★ · Vanguard
Enforcer5★ · Specialist
Entelechia6★ · Guard
Erato5★ · Sniper
Estelle4★ · Guard
Ethan4★ · Specialist
Eunectes6★ · Defender
Executor5★ · Sniper
Executor the Ex Foedere6★ · Guard
Exusiai6★ · Sniper
Exusiai the New Covenant6★ · Specialist
Eyjafjalla6★ · Caster
Eyjafjalla the Hvít Aska6★ · Medic
Fang3★ · Vanguard
Fang the Fire-Sharpened5★ · Vanguard
Fartooth6★ · Sniper
FEater5★ · Specialist
Fiammetta6★ · Sniper
Figurino5★ · Specialist
Firewatch5★ · Sniper
Firewhistle5★ · Defender
Flamebringer5★ · Guard
Flametail6★ · Vanguard
Flint5★ · Guard
Folinic5★ · Medic
Franka5★ · Guard
Friston-31★ · Defender
Frost5★ · Specialist
Frostleaf4★ · Guard
Fuze5★ · Guard
GALLUS²1★ · Caster
Gavial4★ · Medic
Gavial the Invincible6★ · Guard
Gitano4★ · Caster
Gladiia6★ · Specialist
Glaucus5★ · Supporter
Gnosis6★ · Supporter
Goldenglow6★ · Caster
Gracebearer5★ · Guard
Grain Buds5★ · Supporter
Grani5★ · Vanguard
Gravel4★ · Specialist
GreyThroat5★ · Sniper
Greyy4★ · Caster
Greyy the Lightningbearer5★ · Sniper
Gummy4★ · Defender
Hadiya5★ · Guard
Harmonie5★ · Caster
Harold5★ · Medic
Haruka6★ · Supporter
Haze4★ · Caster
Heavyrain5★ · Defender
Heidi5★ · Supporter
Hellagur6★ · Guard
Hibiscus3★ · Medic
Hibiscus the Purifier5★ · Medic
Highmore5★ · Guard
Ho'olheyak6★ · Caster
Hoederer6★ · Guard
Honeyberry5★ · Medic
Horn6★ · Defender
Hoshiguma6★ · Defender
Hoshiguma the Breacher6★ · Defender
Humus4★ · Guard
Hung5★ · Defender
Iana5★ · Specialist
Ifrit6★ · Caster
Indigo4★ · Caster
Indra5★ · Guard
Ines6★ · Vanguard
Insider5★ · Sniper
Irene6★ · Guard
Iris5★ · Caster
Istina5★ · Supporter
Jackie4★ · Guard
Jaye4★ · Specialist
Jessica4★ · Sniper
Jessica the Liberated6★ · Defender
Jieyun5★ · Sniper
Ju5★ · Sniper
Kafka5★ · Specialist
Kal'tsit6★ · Medic
Kal'tsit Esperanta6★ · Medic
Kazemaru5★ · Specialist
Kestrel5★ · Vanguard
Kichisei5★ · Sniper
Kirara5★ · Specialist
Kirin R Yato6★ · Specialist
Kjera5★ · Caster
Kroos3★ · Sniper
Kroos the Keen Glint5★ · Sniper
La Pluma5★ · Guard
Laios5★ · Guard
Lancet-21★ · Medic
Lappland5★ · Guard
Lappland the Decadenza6★ · Caster
Lava3★ · Caster
Lava the Purgatory5★ · Caster
Lee6★ · Specialist
Leizi5★ · Caster
Leizi the Thunderbringer6★ · Guard
Lemuen6★ · Sniper
Leonhardt5★ · Caster
Lessing6★ · Guard
Leto5★ · Guard
Lin6★ · Caster
Ling6★ · Supporter
Liskarm5★ · Defender
Logos6★ · Caster
Lord/Sharp6★ · Guard
Lucilla5★ · Supporter
Lumen6★ · Medic
Lunacub5★ · Sniper
Luo Xiaohei4★ · Guard
Lutonada4★ · Defender
Magallan6★ · Supporter
Manticore5★ · Specialist
Mantra6★ · Caster
Marcille6★ · Caster
Matoimaru4★ · Guard
Matsukiri5★ · Vanguard
Matterhorn4★ · Defender
May4★ · Sniper
Mayer5★ · Supporter
Mechanist6★ · Defender
Melanite5★ · Sniper
Melantha3★ · Guard
Meteor4★ · Sniper
Meteorite5★ · Sniper
Midnight3★ · Guard
Minimalist5★ · Caster
Mint5★ · Caster
Misery6★ · Specialist
Miss.Christine5★ · Caster
Mitm5★ · Vanguard
Mizuki6★ · Specialist
Młynar6★ · Guard
Mon3tr6★ · Medic
Morgan5★ · Guard
Mostima6★ · Caster
Mountain6★ · Guard
Mousse4★ · Guard
Mr. Nothing5★ · Specialist
Mudrock6★ · Defender
Muelsyse6★ · Vanguard
Mulberry5★ · Medic
Mutsumi Wakaba5★ · Specialist
Myrrh4★ · Medic
Myrtle4★ · Vanguard
Narantuya6★ · Sniper
Nasti6★ · Supporter
Nearl5★ · Defender
Nearl the Radiant Knight6★ · Guard
Necrass6★ · Caster
Nian6★ · Defender
Nightingale6★ · Medic
Nightmare5★ · Caster
Nine-Colored Deer5★ · Supporter
Noir Corne2★ · Defender
Nowell5★ · Medic
Nyamu Yūtenji5★ · Guard
Nymph6★ · Caster
Odda5★ · Guard
Orchid3★ · Supporter
Pallas6★ · Guard
Paprika5★ · Medic
Papyrus5★ · Medic
Passenger6★ · Caster
Penance6★ · Defender
Pepe6★ · Guard
Perfumer4★ · Medic
Perfumer the Distilled5★ · Supporter
Phantom6★ · Specialist
Philae5★ · Defender
PhonoR-01★ · Supporter
Pinecone4★ · Sniper
Pith5★ · Caster
Pith6★ · Caster
Platinum5★ · Sniper
Plume3★ · Vanguard
Podenco4★ · Supporter
Poncirus5★ · Vanguard
Popukar3★ · Guard
Pozëmka6★ · Sniper
Pramanix5★ · Supporter
Pramanix the Prerita6★ · Caster
Projekt Red5★ · Specialist
Provence5★ · Sniper
Proviso5★ · Supporter
Ptilopsis5★ · Medic
Pudding4★ · Caster
Purestream4★ · Medic
Puzzle5★ · Vanguard
Qanipalaat5★ · Caster
Qiubai6★ · Guard
Quartz4★ · Guard
Quercus5★ · Supporter
Raidian6★ · Supporter
Raidian6★ · Supporter
Rangers2★ · Sniper
Rathalos S Noir Corne5★ · Guard
Ray6★ · SniperWant to hear a story from the Jianghu? There was a generous and altruistic family that fell victim to villainy. The only survivor was a boy, saved by a wandering hero. The hero asked the boy whether he wanted revenge, but the boy said all he wanted was to prevent such tragedies from ever happening again... just a story. Of course.
Am I bothering you? This is a breathing exercise that the Grandmaster taught me, which concentrates your qi to strengthen the body. I perform it whenever I have free time. I'll try to be quiet and avoid disturbing you.
I am Yun Qingping, here to assist with the Sui Regulator's work. I'm not a Candleholder, merely accompanying Zuo Le to broaden my horizons. Wherever I might be of assistance, I shall certainly do my utmost.
Advance or retreat, offence or defense; there exists a rhythm of ebb and flow much like with kung fu.
A promotion? I never thought of such things when I served as record keeper. Same goes for my predecessors, who usually stayed in the role for their entire careers. The greatest reward is for our records to help refine the martial skills of our soldiers.
The Grandmaster often says that the most precious relationships are the ones built on the brink of life and death. I suppose that makes us the best of friends.
When to perceive with the eyes; when to see with the mind's eye—
Observations of live combat are invaluable. I'll do my best.
Is violence the only option?
Rest assured, their fear is as easy to read as their moves.
This report is ready for your comment.
I only record... it is not my place to give suggestions.
We've reached the observation point.
Ahh... So this is what the soldiers see.
That which is overly hard becomes brittle. Stay still; I have medicine.
Impressive. You are like the cloudbeast darting from tree to tree, disturbing neither branch nor leaf.
Amazing. You are like the evergreen pine by the bottomless lake, eternally steadfast against the storm.
Thought precedes form. Do not let yourself be bound to specific moves.
With enough patience, even dripping water can bore through a rock; with subtle strength, a minute force can shred steel. You have reached a new level of understanding in the art of war, Doctor.
To derive trend from trivia; to foresee consequence from causation. Ah... No wonder the Grandmaster asked me to study your methods.
You see the forest rather than just the trees. I have much to learn from you.
There is no such thing as a move that cannot be countered. Perhaps we could review the battle, for the possibility of victory must lie within.
Allow me to pay respect to the Grandmaster first.
Repeating the same move dooms one to predictability, Doctor. Of course, it would suffice against me.
The war drums are quiet. There is only the sound of the wind. The wormwood upon the sand is green again.
Arknights.
I looked forward to those few days of celebration during my Yumen days too. The people would bring wine and food to camp for the soldiers, and everyone partook in competitions of kung fu and drinking. It's a time to, shall we say, 'let our hair down'. Whatever you plan on doing today, I won't tell Amiya.
Forgive me, Doctor! Just can't shake the habit of writing as I walk.
My first taste of alcohol was on a birthday. I just couldn't turn the soldiers down... I know they were worried that I would be lonely, with no family to join in celebration. We all got a good talking-to from the Grandmaster afterwards. In any case, nothing warms the heart like good spirits, and I just happen to have some Yumen Liedaozi here. Would you like a quaff?
Kazimierzian knightsports, Leithanian Originium Arts... I've seen many new things here at Rhodes Island. I hope you'll bear with me and provide your kind instruction going forward. Ravioli? They're like Siracusan dumplings? Well, that sounds a bit... you say the Grandmaster likes them? I suppose I should try some, then.
Having spent many years as a record keeper in Yan, we expected Yun Qingping's work to be more or less like the archiving of battle records, but his description was much livelier in his interview. 'I helped choreograph Yan's standard calisthenics program for students. Do you know how many children absolutely hate my guts?' he said jokingly as he took out several books. 'Here is the summary of my work over the past several years.' The first book he took out was Introduction to Martial Arts (Revised Edition)' 'Working on the revision of this book was one of the most important things in my life. Martial arts may seem like a traditional concept, but they are also constantly changing, and it is the job of the record keepers to observe and record such changes. Yet the moves themselves are only the form: to know the substance entails understanding why the moves change—' The second book he took out was Knowledge of the East and West. 'I wrote down my thoughts in this book as I traveled with my mentor. For example, it was the rise of the crafts industry that led to the decline of concealed weapon making in the south, while the conflict between traditional and emerging schools of martial arts in the north has its origins in burgeoning trade. Jianghu is about the people in it, and it is only when I saw these things that I realized martial arts change because people's lives change.' Yun Qingping may be an introvert, but his eyes light up when he talks about his work as a record keeper. We found his unique perspective of viewing things through the lens of martial arts to be worthy of note.
Yun Qingping's Record of Martial Combat never leaves his side. It is more than just a notebook of martial arts to him. Sometimes, Yun would tell us funny stories about it. Once, when General Zuo Xuanliao was checking Zuo Le's homework, he picked up the Record of Martial Combat, where all of Zuo Le's wrong moves and every instance that he slacked off were clearly recorded, much to Zuo Le's embarrassment. After that, Yun Qingping began to intentionally left a few things out of his records, while focusing more on observation and discussing with Zuo Le his own weaknesses and ways to mitigate them. Soon, Zuo Le became one of his very few friends around his own age. Soldiers often rely on the Record of Martial Combat for their wagers, trusting in Yun Qingping's judgment as to who made a quicker strike, and whose arrow found the target better. They take him along when the loser buys a round of drinks or meals, and he is treated like a member of the soldiers' fraternity. We recently received a letter from Yan, addressed to him. After reading the letter, he quickly retrieved his record, made a copy of several pages, and asked the messenger to deliver it back to the sender. Since it all seemed very important and urgent, we were curious what kind of technique were in those papers, only for him to give us a poignant smile. 'Just some memories. Not every soldier gets to go home, and such records are important to their loved ones.' We did not expect the conversation to take such a sorrowful turn. Turns out that he has been keeping a record of the memories he shared with those close to him, such as the practical jokes amongst the troops that earned the Grandmaster's ire, and the stupid sword-skiing competition that we started... to Yun Qingping, it is indeed far more than just a notebook.
Yun Qingping has two swords on file: the sword he normally wears on his belt, and a rusty, broken sword which he never carries or submits for repair, though he spoke of it when discussing his physical condition. His home was attacked by villains when he was ten years old, and he nearly died when one of them struck him in the chest. He only survived because he was holding the sword in his arms, which absorbed part of the impact. That sword has been with him ever since. The case of the Yun family was a topic of much discussion back in the day. Looking up old newspaper archives, we found that they were an upstanding family residing in a Yanese village. They had taken a stand when bandits colluded with corrupt officials to harass the villagers, and so they became the bandits' target. Later reports claimed that the bandits were wiped out and the corrupt officials punished, achieving some justice for him. We were surprised to find that a sword of the bandits, seen in the newspaper photos, had the same patterns on it as Yun Qingping's rusty, broken sword. Did his sword belong to one of the bandits? Or did someone take his sword and use it to kill the bandits? We believed the latter was more likely, that someone had taken revenge for him. Otherwise, how could a ten-year-old have overcome the trauma and hatred of losing everything overnight? But if that was the case, why did he have to retrieve the sword? We never put the question to Yun Qingping directly, but the answer was revealed by accident. When we asked which department he wanted to join, Chongyue suggested that he pick Medical. 'You've always had a kind heart.' Yun Qingping looked a little embarrassed, and asked his mentor why he still remembered that day. Chongyue replied, 'You still keep that sword at your side, because you don't want to lose that kind heart of a child, do you?' Chongyue's words made us realize that our speculation was likely incorrect. Yun Qingping's sword was never used for revenge; he had picked up his foe's sword in an attempt to protect his own family. Of course, this too is speculation; it is not our place to force a confession.