Wudang Sacred Scriptures-Chapter 70

“Little Uncle, have a safe journey.”

Cheongmu Daoist handed him a bundle, smiling brightly.

“Cheongmu Hyung, aren’t you going to feel sad or disappointed?”

“Why? You said you’d be back soon, didn’t you?”

“Well, yes, but still...”

“I’m super busy these days. I’ve got three new little disciples, you know.”

Three Spirits Palace had become lively with the addition of three new disciples that Cheongmu Daoist had taken in.

No matter the life one leads, one eventually grows accustomed to it. It seemed that Cheongmu Daoist had adjusted well to filling the void left by Kwak Yeon, who had been locked away in the Immortal’s Room for years.

Seeing Cheongmu adapting so well eased Kwak Yeon’s mind somewhat.

“Little Uncle, there’s something inside the bundle. Don’t open it now — check it out later.”

Kwak Yeon’s throat tightened, and he quickly turned away.

“Cheongmu Hyung, I’m going now.”

“Yeah, hurry up and go. You need to find Sage Uncle Hyun-in, right?”

Cheongmu Daoist thought Kwak Yeon was descending the mountain to search for Sage Uncle Hyun-in, who had gone to Mount Wuyi in Fujian Province for training and hadn’t been heard from since.

Daoist Hyehae had suggested that Kwak Yeon might drop by Fujian if he had the chance, but not to go out of his way to search for him. However, Kwak Yeon had already resolved to go to Mount Wuyi no matter what.

But first, he would visit Akyang.

The reason Kwak Yeon chose Akyang as his first destination was because of Akyang Pavilion.

Jang Noya had once told him that the Sword Sovereign had left an inscription on the cornerstone of Akyang Pavilion. The two had promised to go there together someday.

Kwak Yeon wondered if the Sword Sovereign might have left some clue there in case of any unexpected circumstances.

Even if that wasn’t the case, visiting the famed Akyang Pavilion, where all prominent martial artists in Jianghu passed through, would be a significant experience in itself.

“You’re so lucky, Little Uncle. Mount Wuyi is at the southernmost tip of the world, so you’ll get to see the ocean. They say the ocean is just endless water stretching as far as the eye ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ can see.”

“Cheongmu Hyung, have you never seen the ocean before?”

“I don’t know. Maybe I have, maybe I haven’t.”

“When I get back, I’ll tell you all about the ocean. Or better yet, let’s go see it together someday.”

“Really? Little Uncle, you promised!”

“Of course.”

“Wow! That’s awesome. Little Uncle, hurry back.”

Thanks to Cheongmu Daoist’s cheerful expression, Kwak Yeon was able to leave Three Spirits Palace with a somewhat lighter heart.

Daoist Hyehae instructed Kwak Yeon to wear his daoist robes and daoist cap as he descended the mountain, despite having renounced the sect.

“Though our palace follows a different path from the Seven Palaces of Wudang, it’s still best not to draw unnecessary attention. Once you leave Wudang’s territory, change into regular clothes and remove the daoist robe and cap.”

Thus, to the eyes of Wudang disciples, Kwak Yeon appeared to be just another Three Spirits Palace disciple on a pilgrimage.

No one in Wudang knew that their true dragon was descending the mountain and stepping into Jianghu.

Crossing the wooden bridge over Haegeomji, Kwak Yeon was reminded of the time he had once boasted in the practice yard about throwing a stone into the lake.

He looked back at the towering Wudang Mountain.

He wondered how much his fellow disciples, including Seok Jangsan, had grown.

‘I hope everyone is doing well.’

Though he was leaving quietly now, he vowed to return with his head held high.

****

Kwak Yeon was regretting his underestimation of the mountain path.

In truth, he had never really stepped foot outside before.

In his hometown, the only path he knew was the one leading in and out of the village. The only other time he had traveled was when Hadongjo led him to the martial arts academy.

At Wudang Mountain, he had mostly stuck to familiar, well-trodden paths.

So it was no surprise that Kwak Yeon found himself lost in the mountains.

‘I should’ve stuck to the main road, even if it meant a longer journey. Damn it, but this is ridiculously far.’

If he took the main road, it would take ten more days to reach the great road to Akyang.

But now, a massive mountain range stood in his way.

‘Where did I go wrong?’

Had he made the wrong turn at the fork near the mountain entrance?

‘The innkeeper said it was hard to get lost on this path, though.’

But once he entered the so-called shortcut through the mountains, it became a constant guessing game.

Which path was the main trail? Which was a side path used by herb gatherers? It was a series of endless choices.

Kwak Yeon’s suspicions were confirmed when the path narrowed and finally disappeared altogether.

Not only had the path vanished — the world itself seemed to have disappeared, swallowed by the gathering darkness.

Of course, his heightened senses still functioned well enough to keep him from danger. However, the exhaustion to his stamina and mental strength was undeniable.

Unless absolutely necessary, he needed to find a safe place to rest. But the problem was the countless bugs crawling over the ground.

‘I should try to find some human settlement.’

Even in the mountains, there might be a slash-and-burn village, a hunter’s hut, or a herbalist’s shack.

Kwak Yeon climbed to a ridge where his field of vision expanded.

It turned out to be the right decision.

In the distance, he saw a faint light.

Heading toward the light, Kwak Yeon discovered a group of people camping in the woods.

From the pot hanging over the campfire, the smell of food wafted through the air.

Having not eaten since the afternoon, Kwak Yeon found himself drawn to the camp as if in a trance.

“Excuse me.”

A man dozing by the fire jolted awake.

“W-Who are you?”

The man immediately drew his sword.

The others lying around the campfire awoke with a start.

“What’s going on, Hong Guard?”

“Did a bandit show up?”

The man named Hong Guard, still holding his sword, said,

“Don’t worry, everyone. I sensed someone approaching long before he got close and lured him into our trap using the empty camp as bait. It’s best to confront a threat in the open.”

‘Lured me? He was just dozing off, wasn’t he?’

Kwak Yeon was slightly dumbfounded but decided to observe the man named Hong Guard.

It didn’t take long to realize that they weren’t a bad group of people. Judging by the large bundles of goods nearby, they seemed to be merchants.

Hong Guard was likely a bodyguard protecting them.

Since Kwak Yeon remained silent and stood still, the merchants, now fully awake, began to take a closer look at him.

“Huh? He’s alone. And he’s wearing daoist robes?”

“Does that mean he’s just a lost daoist?”

“Hong Guard, then why are you pulling your sword on him...?”

Only then did Hong Guard, looking somewhat embarrassed, speak up.

“I had already figured that out. But you see, there are times when ruffians disguise themselves in daoist robes or monk robes. Better to be safe than sorry, so I drew my sword.”

“Oh! As expected of the illustrious Azure Dragon Swordsman!”

At the merchants’ praise, Hong Guard puffed out his chest proudly before turning to Kwak Yeon.

“Now then, reveal your true identity.”

Since he was about to ask for shelter, Kwak Yeon clasped his hands together respectfully and said,

“Boundless Life, Primordial Celestial Venerable. I am Kwak Yeon, a secular daoist disciple of Three Spirits Palace on Wudang Mountain.”

“Wudang Mountain? Isn’t that Wudang Sect? But what’s a secular daoist disciple?”

The merchants looked puzzled, but Hong Guard seemed to know the answer.

“My master’s master was a secular disciple from Wudang, so I know about it. There’s a palace in Wudang where secluded daoist practitioners focus solely on their cultivation. That place is called Three Spirits Palace. A secular daoist is basically a disciple who doesn’t renounce the world. In other words, he’s a secular disciple from Three Spirits Palace.”

Then, Hong Guard looked at Kwak Yeon.

“Am I right?”

“Yes, that’s essentially correct.”

Hong Guard finally sheathed his sword and said, ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm

“Pleasure to meet you, Daoist Kwak. It was the middle of the night in the mountains, so I had to be cautious and drew my sword.”

“No, it was my fault for approaching without making my presence known.”

“Haha! Very humble, as expected from someone who cultivates the Dao. Come, come, sit by the fire. Your robes are soaked with dew.”

As Kwak Yeon sat down by the fire, Hong Guard addressed the merchants.

“Everyone, go back to sleep. We have a thirty-li journey ahead of us tomorrow.”

The merchants wrapped themselves in their cloaks and lay back down. Once they settled, Hong Guard spoke in a lower voice.

“My name is Hong Suchun, the Azure Dragon Swordsman. As you can see, I’m leading this trade caravan.”

“Oh, so you’re the famous Azure Dragon Swordsman, Hong Dae-hyeop. It’s an honor to meet you.”

Kwak Yeon gave a polite bow and addressed him as “Dae-hyeop,” a term of respect for martial heroes. Hong Suchun’s chest swelled with pride at that.

“First, have some tea.”

Hong Suchun picked up a blackened kettle that had been sitting by the fire and, with his other hand, held a similarly blackened ceramic cup.

“No, thank you. I’m fine.”

Kwak Yeon had never really had tea before, and the sight of the soot-covered kettle and cup didn’t exactly appeal to him, so he declined.

Hong Suchun gave him a knowing look.

“No matter how secluded a daoist you are, you’re showing your inexperience in Jianghu too blatantly.”

Kwak Yeon didn’t particularly like how Hong Suchun kept referring to him as a secluded daoist, but he knew how people viewed Three Spirits Palace, so he let it slide and asked what was on his mind.

“Did I do something wrong?”

“Of course, you did something wrong.”

Hong Suchun nodded and continued.

“In Jianghu, offering tea to someone means treating them as a guest. Refusing it outright is a big mistake.”

“......”

“Didn’t your master teach you such a basic custom before letting you descend the mountain?”

Kwak Yeon’s true master, Daoist Hyehae, had spent his entire life meditating in Three Spirits Palace and knew little about Jianghu customs. Meanwhile, Kwak Yeon himself had been in seclusion for most of his life, so he had virtually no practical knowledge of Jianghu etiquette.

In the martial arts academy and Yeongmudang, he had learned about martial factions and prominent warriors, but that was the extent of it.

“Living secluded in a cave, just focusing on cultivation... well, I suppose it makes sense,” Hong Suchun said, nodding sagely.

“Anyway, from now on, if someone offers you tea, don’t refuse it. Drinking the tea signifies that you are officially a guest, and you’ll be treated accordingly. If you refuse, some people might feel insulted and look down on you. If you run into someone ruthless, they might even draw their sword and attack you.”

“All that just for refusing a cup of tea?”

“Hah, the more I talk, the more I realize how much you have to learn.”

“......”

“Martial artists are more sensitive to their honor than anyone else. There’s a saying that half of the grudges in Jianghu arise from feeling slighted. Some people will chase you for ten thousand li just because they feel you disrespected them. And then they’ll kill you.”

“Are there really such vicious demons in the world?”

“Demons? The person who did that was actually a well-known martial hero of the righteous faction. He even gained the title of a great hero because of it.”

“......?”

“In fact, the more righteous a person is, the more obsessed they are with their reputation. The orthodox sects, for example, are all about protecting their names and reputations. On the other hand, the unorthodox sects prioritize profit and practicality. If they calculate that chasing you down for a slight is not worth it, they’ll just drop it.”

“Does that mean they don’t hold grudges?”

“Absolutely not. If they decide not to do it themselves, they’ll just hire someone to do it.”

“Hire someone?”

“Like the assassins from the Death Hall. That’s why unorthodox sects are so nasty. If you offend someone from the orthodox sects, you only have to deal with that one person. But if you offend someone from the unorthodox sects, you might end up facing an entire network of hired killers.”

“Wouldn’t that end up costing them more than the original grievance was worth?”

“No, it’s actually cheaper. You only need to pay a little more than the cost of a belly button compared to a whole belly. There are plenty of small-time assassins who’ll take care of it for a few taels of silver. And once a hit is placed, it stays in the books of that organization. Even if the two parties reconcile and the grudge is resolved, if they forget to retract the hit, the assassin could still come for you years later.”

Kwak Yeon was beginning to realize that the world of martial arts was far more complex than he had ever imagined.