Yu En was curious about where these two famous swords are today. Yu Menglong said that to tell this story, one must begin with the time when Ou Ye Zi went looking for apprentices.
Ou Ye Zi was a renowned master swordsmith of the ancient Chinese state of Yue, living during the late Spring and Autumn period. Well-versed in the properties of bronze and iron, he forged the most celebrated of all blades — the Longquan sword.
In ancient times, especially before the Spring and Autumn period, the smelting of bronze and iron to forge swords was not merely a trade — it was also a Taoist path of cultivation.
The Taoist path differs from the Buddhist one. In Taoism, it is typically one master guiding one or two disciples in their practice, whereas Buddhism involves many practitioners cultivating together in a monastery, and one may even practice at home without taking monastic vows.
In the Taoist path, it is always the master who seeks out the disciple. Some lineages pass knowledge down through a single successor in each generation; others take on only a handful of disciples to carry on the craft.
In earlier years, Ou Ye Zi had taught several apprentices. After completing their training, some stayed on to assist their master, while others went out to make their way in the world.
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