Chapter 83
83
After days of sleeping in the open, the land of Hubei under my feet was sprouting with green shoots.
The harsh General Winter seemed to have retreated, and spring was approaching.
I stepped on the softly melted earth and raised my head.
Distant, towering mountain peaks surrounded the horizon in layers, undulating like waves.
It was truly mountains beyond mountains; this continent was blocked by mountain ranges wherever I went.
It was as if the terrain was designed to make me realize why Grandpa made me climb mountains and scale cliffs every day.
Don't tell me I have to cross those mountains too.
As I stared at the mountain peaks with a blank face, Yeon-ryang said,
"That's Wudang Mountain, Sister. Soon we'll reach Jun County, so you can rest."
"Oh. Is there a town?"
"Yes. From there, we might be able to take a carriage."
"Really?"
I won't have to cross those rugged mountains on foot?
Realizing that the life-threatening climb was over, the annoying mist on the mountainside suddenly looked picturesque.
With a lighter heart, I admired the scenery of Wudang Mountain.
So that's the Wudang Sect I've only heard about. Are those red dots the Taoist temple buildings?
Yeon-ryang, who had been watching my changing expressions, burst into laughter.
"Hahaha, snap out of it, Sister. Your soul's flown away! We'd better get you to an inn to rest."
"I want to wash with hot water. And eat meat."
"Yes. Soak in hot water and get some sleep. But it's best not to go outside the inn in Jun County, Sister."
"Why?"
"This place is where self-proclaimed chivalrous individuals from all over the Central Plains gather, admiring Wudang's reputation. It's a very unsettling place for a Unorthodox guy like me."
Yeon-ryang chuckled and stroked his chin.
The prickly stubble covered his cheeks and chin entirely.
...Do I look like that too?
I tried to ignore Yeon-ryang's grimy appearance, which still bore the marks of sleeping in the open, and asked,
"Does that mean accidents happen often?"
"How can it be quiet when there are so many hot-blooded Rookie of Jianghu hicks? It's best to avoid trouble. Let's not stand out."
Yeon-ryang, who instantly turned the people from all over the Central Plains into turds, whistled with his hands behind his head.
He clearly didn't realize how conspicuous a man with a long scar near his eye, as big as a door, was while whistling.
You stand out just by walking around.
I slowly distanced myself from Yeon-ryang, pretending not to be with him. I didn't want to stand out too.
As we approached Jun County, well-paved roads and people passing by came into view.
As Yeon-ryang said, several carriages passed by, and there were quite a few merchant groups as well.
"There are a lot of people now."
"Indeed. And there are many people who aren't Martial Artists?"
"It's Wudang, after all. It's a historically significant Taoist School, so people are bound to visit."
Why?
Yeon-ryang winked at my puzzled expression.
"Wudang is a Taoist temple before it's a Martial Sect, Sister. It's a place for worship. Of course, there will be many pilgrims, right?"
"Oh..."
Come to think of it, it's a religious institution. Is it like visiting a famous temple or cathedral?
I tilted my head and asked,
"What do they do at the Taoist temple?"
"You can listen to the Taoists reciting scriptures, or receive a prayer. I've heard many people ask for help naming their children."
They name children at the Taoist temple too? Write prayers and get paid? Is it like donating and receiving a blessing? It's not a pure sanctuary, it's a major corporation.
"They name children and get paid?"
"Of course."
"People pay to get a name? Why?"
"Because it's the easiest way to create a connection between the child and Wudang."
A connection?
When I blinked blankly, not understanding, Yeon-ryang chuckled and began to explain step by step.
"High-nosed Martial Sects like Shaolin or Wudang don't accept donations from just anyone. It would be troublesome if they accepted money from just anyone, right? So they don't give any leeway from the start."
He shrugged and continued,
"But donations through naming are different. Anyone can ask, and there's no limit to the amount, so you can donate a large sum. They say a name determines a person's life, so you can't put a price on it..."
"It means they want you to donate a lot appropriately."
"Haha, that's right. So the nouveau riche often come with their children. It's the only way to get a connection to the prestigious Orthodox Faction."
"Wow..."
It was a surprisingly secular structure.
So they're subtly taking money in a way that won't cause any problems.
If you donate like that, will Wudang remember you?
As if reading my thoughts, Yeon-ryang spoke again.
"There's no harm in getting a name. It'll be easier for the child to make a name for themselves in the future."
"Why will it be easier?"
"If a child comes wanting to become a disciple and they're the child whose name they gave a long time ago, wouldn't anyone be concerned?"
"Oh. That makes sense."
"The donors probably don't expect much. They'll be satisfied with bragging, 'My son is a Wudang Sect disciple.' Wudang gets money, and the donor gets a connection to Wudang to show off. It's a win-win. That's the effortless skill of a great School. There's a reason why they're so historically significant."
This cronyism is the same everywhere in the world.
Well, you can't live on just swinging a sword. Taoists need money too.
"You know a lot about it. Have you been to Wudang Mountain, Brother?"
"Of course not. Sister, it would be a disaster if a Unorthodox guy like me went to Wudang Mountain. I just overheard it."
Yeon-ryang chuckled and crossed his arms.
"Oh, and if you ever go up Wudang Mountain, don't forget the incense. They value face the most, so visitors should pay respects to Wudang's founder first."
"Do you have to pay when you burn incense?"
"Probably."
They charge a good admission fee too.
I hadn't imagined a lofty immortal cultivating the Tao at the top of the mountain, but thinking of it as a tourist attraction where you pay an entrance fee made me feel drained.
I had been listening to Yeon-ryang quietly, but suddenly I became curious.
"But don't you have to leave your weapons at the gate to climb Wudang Mountain?"
There was always a place where the protagonist refused to leave their weapon and ended up fighting. Namgung Hwi also fought after refusing.
Are you talking about the Sword-Unsheathing Pond? I've heard of it. Well, I've heard that it means you should leave your worldly attachments and worries at the Sword-Unsheathing Pond before ascending to Wudang."
I smacked my lips awkwardly.
It seems to me that the Wudang Sect Taoists live a life more attached to worldly possessions than anyone else.
"Isn't that just an excuse for preventing accidents? They can't have fights in the Taoist temple, right?"
"Haha, that's right. That's probably what they really think. It's troublesome if a commotion breaks out."
As I chatted with Yeon-ryang, a bustling town came into view in the distance.
No, it was a bit too big to be called a town.
The bustling downtown area with its dense high-rise buildings was as complicated as the streets of Chengdu.
"It's not a town, is it?"
"Indeed. It's bigger than I thought."
Yeon-ryang also widened his eyes in surprise. It seemed he hadn't realized Wudang's power was this great.
"Northern Shaolin, Southern Wudang, they say, and they've built a city at the foot of the mountain." Sister, we need to be more careful. At this point, every inn and shop owner in Jun County is probably related to Wudang by the eighth degree."
"Northern Shaolin, Southern Wudang?"
"It's a common saying that Shaolin and Wudang are the two great pillars of the Orthodox Faction Martial Arts World... Haven't you heard of it? Sister, are you really from the Orthodox Faction? Even a Unorthodox guy like me knows that, but a Young Miss from a prestigious family doesn't?"
I pouted at Yeon-ryang's playful teasing.
"You keep saying Orthodox Faction, Orthodox Faction, but I'm a bastard, okay? Who would teach a bastard that kind of thing?"
"Haha, that's why you were kicked out."
Wow, should I hit him?
When I glared at Yeon-ryang, he pretended to be scared.
"Eek. You're going to hit me, Sister."
"Brother, do you hear that you're annoying a lot?"
I bickered with Yeon-ryang and entered a nearby inn.
After soaking in hot water for seven days and nights and changing into fresh, fluffy new clothes, I couldn't help but hum with refreshment.
"Hoo..."
Ju-ryeong, who had also done the laundry together, drooped lazily on my head with a languid expression.
As I slowly came down to the first floor of the inn, I saw Yeon-ryang, who had shaved his beard and looked neat.
"Sister, come here. I've already ordered the meal."
In front of Yeon-ryang, who was waving his hand, were large lamb ribs and steamed fish.
The moment I approached Yeon-ryang, people wearing Taoist robes with the Taijitu symbol entered the inn.
The sword scabbards hanging from their waists were engraved with pine tree patterns.
They were undoubtedly the Wudang's Taiqing Swordsmen.
I glanced at the Taoist group and sat down on a chair.
The group all seemed to be quite old. They all had long beards, and the wrinkles around their eyes were deep.
But one person was different.
One swordsman with a particularly youthful face was among them. He looked no older than his late teens at best.
Their robes were the same, so they seemed to be of the same rank, but did that person also Reverting to Childhood?
As I stared intently at the young Taoist, Yeon-ryang nudged me and asked quietly,
"Aren't you staring too much, Sister? Do you like that virtuous Taoist?"
"No. You shouldn't get involved with boys who are suspiciously handsome like that. They're either old masters who have Reverting to Childhood, or they're likely Young Master from a noble family."
Yeon-ryang shrugged as if I was talking nonsense again.
"Old masters who have Reverting to Childhood? Young Master from a noble family? Our sister has a good imagination."
I'm serious.
I shook my head and reached for the steamed fish with my chopsticks.
I was going to ignore the Taoist group and fill my stomach.
"Junior Brother Jin-sung. Are you not sad to be returning to Wudang Mountain?"
"No, Senior Brother. As a disciple of the main mountain, I should stay at the main mountain."
"Senior Brother Jin-gok, why do you ask such a thing? Have you ever seen Junior Brother complain?"
"Haha, Jin-sung. You can speak comfortably in front of us. Aren't we brothers?"
"Would you want to talk comfortably with old geezers like us at Jin-sung's age, Senior Brother? You'd probably want to hang out with the Song-ja generation kids."
However, the conversation I heard from behind made it impossible for me to concentrate on my meal.
Jin-sung?
That Jin-sung who is Namgung Hwi's rival? That Jin-sung who will be Wudang's best swordsman in the future?
The moment I widened my eyes and turned my head towards Jin-sung, one of the Taoists made eye contact with me and asked,
"Young lady. Is there something you need from us?"
