Chapter 185
185
I wrote and wrote until the paper piled up.
I pondered the meaning of the characters Grandfather had chosen, recalling every conversation I had with him, thinking and thinking again.
‘To be able to accept the Qi of the entire universe and melt it into your Dantian, is that not profound? There is a microcosm within your body as well.’
Words that I had found strange at the time felt like a clue left by Grandfather.
What was Grandfather thinking when he created his Unique mental cultivation technique? What thoughts led him to begin melting the Qi of the world into Poison?
The Myriad Streams Returning to One Divine Art, passed down only to the direct line of the Tang Clan, was also a mental cultivation technique that combined various Qi, so it must contain the same essence.
I wanted to know what heights the two mental cultivation techniques were aiming for.
‘The form is different, but the root is the same. It is merely a method of expressing the mysteries of Taegeuk.’
Jin-sung’s words that all Martial art moves were merely methods of expressing the mysteries of Taegeuk also lingered in my ears.
Then, what is the mystery of the Tang Clan Martial Arts Technique?
Until now, I had been too busy imitating Grandfather's forms to think deeply about it.
However, all the forms I had seen were traces etched into Grandfather's body over more than a hundred years. It was his Fighting Style and his life. Even his smallest gestures, though he may not be aware of it, would contain deep contemplation.
It was no wonder the world called Grandfather one of the Ten Supreme Masters and respected him, and I could only laugh at myself for realizing this obvious fact so late.
I pondered deeply.
Grandfather habitually said that our ultimate goal was to control variables secretly, but accurately and delicately.
But that was the goal, not the mystery.
What heights did the ancestors of the family want to achieve?
Once the question arose, it did not subside until the sky began to brighten with the dawn.
I was so focused on retracing Grandfather's teachings that I did not feel hunger or drowsiness.
The chirping of birds announcing the morning faded into the distance, and the sensation of the brush I was holding tightly became dull.
My senses became languid as if my body was floating, and my five senses were erased, and all around was dyed in pure white light.
It was an unfamiliar situation, but I laughed instead. When I slowly blinked, the time I spent with Grandfather unfolded before my eyes as if someone had sent me back to the past.
“You rascal. Don’t doze off.”
Grandfather's face was full of smiles as he flicked my forehead as I nodded off. I smiled after him and listened to his voice, which was explaining things step by step in his own way.
It was still a concise explanation that I could only understand half of, but unlike before, there were passages that I understood.
“The important thing is harmony. This old man, and the so-called Nine Sects and Five Great Families Martial Artist, are all the same. Martial Artist can only achieve greatness by achieving the harmony of heaven and earth.”
“Harmony?”
“That's right. What did I say my mental cultivation technique was?”
“You said it was about melting different Qi into Poison and making it my own.”
“You remember it well. There is no need to think hard. That's all there is to it, so So-hye, you can do the same. We don't need to strive for the harmony of Yin and Yang like other Martial Artist. Accepting the world into ourselves is harmony itself.”
“Hmm... Accepting the world?”
“Hahaha, it will be difficult for you yet. I will explain it again when you can understand it, So-hye.”
Grandfather, who burst into laughter at my bewildered face, lightly pinched my nose and let go.
I stared at Grandfather's face, which was gradually fading, and widened my eyes.
Accepting the world into myself is harmony?
At that moment, a sudden realization flashed through my mind.
Even though the Poisonous Qi becomes diluted and turbid each time I accept other Qi, the essence of my Inner Energy is Poison.
No matter what Qi I melt down, the Poisonous Qi does not disappear. Like the Qi waxing like the moon, the Poisonous Qi fills up over time and takes on its original dark blue color.
It's the same. A field ravaged by a storm may look like a land of death, but it quickly sprouts new shoots and regains its lush green appearance.
Even stars that have lost their light, obscured by dark clouds, shine brightly again after a while, as if nothing had happened.
Things that change but do not change. Accepting change but not losing essence. That too was harmony.
Even if I am entangled in the flow of the world and roll on the dirt floor, even if I am staggered and shaken by the storm, I must not extinguish the small flame within me.
If I endure and endure until I regain my color, I will eventually be able to clear away the darkness that has rushed in and stand up again.
Like this dark blue Qi that wraps around my body and flows.
My heart beat rapidly as I realized what kind of harmony Grandfather was pursuing.
I slowly recited the Incantation of the mental cultivation technique, suppressing my overwhelming emotions.
The sentences that had always been difficult to understand came into my head easily.
The Incantation contained Grandfather's profound understanding of the world. At the same time, it encompassed the foundation of all mental cultivation techniques so that the form could be changed according to the existing mental cultivation technique of the person who used it.
Now I understood Grandfather's pride in saying that it was an Esoteric Skill that no one could imitate.
The mental cultivation technique I had learned was an Ascendant Martial Arts Technique that any Martial Artist would covet.
Is this the joy of knowing?
I could not stop Energy circulation because of the joy of encountering a new world. My mind tingled with the sensation of the Fine meridians in my whole body widening.
The moment the Qi drawn from the Dantian surged like a wave and formed the Lesser Heavenly Cycle, I saw something.
It was like a wall that had to be overcome, or like the principle of Martial Arts Technique that had to be understood on one's own. It was a realm that could not be expressed in words.
What was that just now?
I was startled and tried to confirm what I had just seen, but the wall had already disappeared like a mirage.
I frowned in disappointment, wondering how I could see the wall again, when I heard someone laughing heartily.
With that laughter, my senses, which had been as hazy as if I were wandering in a fog, returned vividly, and my eyes snapped open.
Surprised by the ash-gray eyes staring straight at me, I tilted my head.
“Supreme Sword Master of Taegeuk, Elder?”
Interest flashed in the eyes of the Supreme Sword Master of Taegeuk, who asked with a smile. I answered calmly.
“Yes. I saw it.”
“Do not resent this old Taoist for interrupting the flow. It is dangerous because it is not a training room, and it seems that Young lady is still too early to go further, so I had no choice. There will be another opportunity.”
“Ah… Yes. Thank you, Elder.”
As I tried to hide my disappointment and offered my thanks, the Supreme Sword Master of Taegeuk added playfully.
“Still, this old Taoist cleared the surroundings and stood Guardian for two days.”
“Yes? Y-You did, Elder? Ugh!”
Startled, I looked around, and a scream burst out involuntarily at the sight of the ruined Guest quarters.
What is this? How did all the furniture get broken? Did I break it?
“I’m sorry, Elder. I will pay for the repairs to the Guest quarters…”
“Don’t worry about it. Shall we take a walk for a while, old Taoist and you?”
“Yes? Just a moment, Elder. My appearance…”
As I hurriedly covered my body, the Supreme Sword Master of Taegeuk, who had been smiling mischievously, snapped his fingers as if he had just remembered.
“Ah, that’s right. A young Young lady is a delicate being, but this old Taoist was short-sighted. Madam Ma said she would prepare a bath, but I don’t know if it has cooled down. I will call Madam of the House, so stay inside. This old Taoist will wait outside.”
“Yes, Elder. Thank you.”
I bowed my head to the back of the Supreme Sword Master of Taegeuk, who was walking away, and awkwardly rolled my eyes.
The Supreme Sword Master of Taegeuk told me to wait inside, but the Guest quarters, with its windows and doors torn off, hardly needed to be divided into inside and outside.
When I stealthily touched the only remaining table, the table with its legs broken collapsed forward with a crash.
I hurriedly hid both hands behind my back.
…This is a disaster. This is going to cost a lot to repair, isn’t it? I need to write a letter to Uncle Geun-myeong right away.
\ \ *
By the time I was scrubbed clean by Madam Ma, rinsed thoroughly, and came outside, the moon was in the center of the sky.
The Supreme Sword Master of Taegeuk, seeing my neat appearance, smiled kindly and led me to the outer garden.
It was a miraculous gait that left no footprints.
The Supreme Sword Master of Taegeuk, who was walking slowly with his hands behind his back to match my pace, asked.
“So, how is it living in Wudang? Everyone is stuffy, so it’s not very fun, is it? I don’t know if you’ve come to hate the mountain.”
“No, Elder. Everyone takes good care of me, so I’m having a good time.”
“That can’t be. This old Taoist is sometimes fed up with this mountain. You must have been very frustrated, even if you didn’t say it.”
He clicked his tongue and grumbled for a long time, saying that living with boring people was turning even him into a boring old man.
When I chuckled at the words that Jin-sung would have twitched his eyebrows at if he had heard them, the Supreme Sword Master of Taegeuk smiled and asked.
“Is it so funny that this old Taoist is the opposite of Jin-sung?”
“To be honest, a little.”
“He is a kind child who does not express it outwardly. He was very cute when he was young.”
“I guess he’s not cute now.”
“It was fun to tease him when he was young. Now, no matter how much I tease him, his expression doesn’t change, so it’s a pity.”
The Supreme Sword Master of Taegeuk, who had replied, smacked his lips with a regretful look, then changed his gaze and looked straight at me.
“This old Taoist has done all he can do.”
I paused and stopped in my tracks. It was about Yeon-ryang.
Is the Qi flow completely attached? Can he now control the Demonic Energy?
I was full of questions, but I couldn't ask them in a space that was open on all sides. I swallowed my questions and respectfully clasped my hands.
“Thank you so much, Elder.”
“So, it would be good for you to leave now.”
“Yes?”
“When the Lower Yuan Festival is over, slip out among the Pilgrims. You must leave now to be safe.”
