The focus, the calmness, the ultimate pursuit of lines and light and shadow is something no language can teach; it's a talent inscribed in the soul.
The final step is sharpening the blade.
Lin Yu'an replaced a brand new 1000-grit sanding belt, adjusting the angle of the sanding belt machine's workbench, allowing him to polish the thick false edge he had previously reserved with greater precision.
He took a deep breath, concentrating all his attention on the area less than two millimeters wide at the blade edge.
His hands, steady as mechanical arms mounted on a precision machine, guided the blade blank so that the bevel of the blade passed smoothly over the fast-moving sanding belt at an angle of about 20 degrees.
"Sizzle—"
This time, there were fewer flying sparks and the sound was more delicate.
Silvery steel debris was gradually ground away from the edge, and a cold, sharp white line was visible to the naked eye, extending slowly from the root to the tip of the blade.
