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Chapter 86: Responding to the World with True Energy
Hyun Wol still hesitated as he arrived at the Zhenwu Palace.
The young man named Yeon Jeokha was too young for Hyun Wol to guess his relationship with the Sage of Heaven and Earth.
The Sage of Heaven and Earth had moved to Zhenwu Palace from Taihua Palace after reaching the state of transcendence last year. Officially, the master of Zhenwu Palace was the most important figure after the sect leader.
"Master, it's Hyun Wol."
"What is it?"
The Sage of Heaven and Earth did not look up from his scriptures.
Hyun Wol thought Yeon Jeokha was unlucky. The Sage of Heaven and Earth usually didn't move even when the sect leader called if he was engrossed in his readings.
"Master, a visitor has come to see you."
"......"
The Sage of Heaven and Earth did not respond, as if he hadn't heard.
Hyun Wol spoke again loudly.
"A young man named Yeon Jeokha has come. Should I tell him to come back another time?"
At that moment, the Sage of Heaven and Earth closed his book.
He suddenly got up and hurriedly left.
"Did you say the visitor's name is Yeon Jeokha?"
"Yes, I asked him to wait at Haegumji."
The Sage of Heaven and Earth quickly put on his shoes and ran without looking back, using his lightness skill.
Hyun Wol, surprised by the sudden development, could only blink as he watched the figure receding.
"Young Yeon! Welcome!"
The Sage of Heaven and Earth grabbed Yeon Jeokha's hands and shook them as if meeting an old friend.
At such a warm welcome, Yeon Jeokha smiled shyly.
"Haha, how have you been? I thought I'd drop by while I was in the area."
"Haha, I feared you had forgotten me since I hadn't heard from you. Come, let's go up."
"One moment."
Yeon Jeokha untied the sword from his waist.
"Why the sword?"
"They told me I had to leave my sword to go up Five Peaks Mountain."
The Sage of Heaven and Earth waved his hand dismissively.
"Haha, that's not necessary. That rule is to filter out reckless youngsters who come to challenge. No one would dare keep your sword."
"Really?"
Yeon Jeokha reattached the sheath to his waist.
Thinking about it, a famous sect like Wudang surely attracted many challengers.
Yeon Jeokha glanced at the young Taoist.
Hyun Song, with an uncomfortable expression, avoided his gaze.
Just after the Sage of Heaven and Earth and Yeon Jeokha went up the mountain, Hyun Wol came running hurriedly.
Looking around the empty Haegumji, he asked:
"Has the visitor left?"
"Yes, the master took him personally. Who is that Yeon Jeokha for the master to come to Haegumji? He accompanied him very courteously."
"I don't know. The master was reading scriptures and suddenly rushed when he heard his name."
"I've heard he doesn't respond even if the sect leader calls while he's reading."
"That's right. I have no idea who he could be."
"Could he be his grandson?"
"Haha, nonsense. He has severed all ties with the secular world. How could he have a grandson?"
"If not, it makes no sense."
"I don't know. Maybe he's a descendant of someone important we don't know about."
Disciples Hyun Wol and Hyun Song speculated for a long time about Yeon Jeokha's identity.
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The Sage of Heaven and Earth took Yeon Jeokha to Zhenwu Palace.
Although it was difficult for Wudang's own disciples to access Zhenwu Palace, the Sage of Heaven and Earth did not see it as a problem. That showed the confidence he had in Yeon Jeokha.
Yeon Jeokha let out an exclamation as he observed the shelves full of books.
"Wow! There are so many books!"
"Those books are another part of Wudang's history."
"Are all of those about martial arts?"
"Yes."
Yeon Jeokha's jaw dropped in astonishment.
He couldn't imagine there were so many books about martial arts!
"Sit down. Though there are many books, they are nothing compared to your skills."
If a Wudang disciple heard this, they would faint.
Even a single martial arts book from Zhenwu Palace could cause a bloodbath if it went out to the world.
The Sage of Heaven and Earth personally served a cup of tea to Yeon Jeokha and asked:
"Are your sworn brothers doing well?"
"Only two of us are left on the mountain. The others left to earn a living."
"That's good. I knew the Heroes of Five Peaks Mountain were different from others in Nokrim. Even so, it was a brave decision."
"They haven't returned to the mountain in a month, so it seems they've adapted well."
"Haha. That the Ten Heroes of Five Peaks Mountain have left Nokrim is a blessing for Murim."
The Sage of Heaven and Earth looked at Yeon Jeokha with eyes full of meaning.
Yeon Jeokha had stayed in Nokrim out of loyalty to his sworn brothers. If they left, it was obvious he would also start distancing himself from Nokrim.
Yeon Jeokha smiled as he drank his tea.
He wasn't sure if things would go as the Sage of Heaven and Earth expected, but he didn't mind.
"It's not common for someone like you to come here. What brings you here?"
"Actually..."
Yeon Jeokha began to talk about his recent concerns.
In reality, those questions are only asked between master and disciple, but Yeon Jeokha didn't know that.
The Sage of Heaven and Earth smiled and didn't take his eyes off Yeon Jeokha.
Indeed, this young master seemed like an existence fallen from heaven into the secular world.
"I decided to come to clear my mind and, by the way, receive some advice from you."
When Yeon Jeokha finished speaking, the Sage of Heaven and Earth nodded.
Clearly, he hadn't received systematic education and lacked foundations. That's why he was stuck in the Sword Control Technique.
'He knows it all, but he still doesn't realize...'
The Sword Control Technique involves controlling energy with the mind.
With his ability to handle sword energy with the mind, it shouldn't be difficult.
But he didn't know.
That's true insight.
It seems to be the greatest secret in the world, but in reality, it's simple.
That simple secret is polished and taught secretly within sects.
And it is not shared outside their doors (門外不出).
'What should I do now?'
The Sage of Heaven and Earth recalled his relationship with Yeon Jeokha.
He had shared the logic of sword ascension with someone who had come to kill him.
That is the true path (大道).
How can there be a sect in the true path?
The true path has no doors (大道無門).
Suddenly, a mischievous smile appeared on the lips of the Sage of Heaven and Earth.
With his eyes half-closed, he looked at the tip of his nose and murmured to himself.
"Where the eyes reach, the heart reaches; where the heart reaches, the energy reaches. Energy is the result of the heart's change, and when the heart moves, the energy also moves."
The Sword Control Technique is at the pinnacle of the sword path.
The Sage of Heaven and Earth explained the secret of the celestial sword art he knew. That was the only thing that could guide Yeon Jeokha in the right direction.
Still, he couldn't convey the sect's vision without the necessary permission, so he hoped Yeon Jeokha would understand while he spoke to himself.
"Ascend [昇], descend [降], separate [離], join [合], everything follows the heart, and the heart is the energy. Thus, true energy responds to everything, and gradually one learns to control the sword [眞氣應物 漸入御劍]."
Yeon Jeokha's eyes became glassy.
The Sage of Heaven and Earth left Yeon Jeokha thinking and quietly exited.
He sat on the stone steps in front of Zhenwu Palace and looked at the distant sky.
Today the sky seemed higher and the mountains greener.
It felt strange, as if he had nothing and had everything at the same time when he let out a laugh.
The Leader of the Wudang Sect, Enlightened Grand Master, approached.
"You had a young guest, why are you outside?"
"I didn't want to disturb his purity (淸淨), so I gave him space."
The tone of the Sage of Heaven and Earth when mentioning purity was uncommon.
The experienced Enlightened Grand Master did not overlook it.
"You don't mean the purity that leads to the 'true path,' do you?"
The "true path" refers to the Wudang Sect's vision.
That the guest is alone in Zhenwu Palace evidently concerns him.
"Haha, heaven and earth have no owner."
The tension on the Enlightened Grand Master's face slowly eased upon hearing about the Celestial Sword Technique.
The Celestial Sword Technique was a sword technique that the legendary Immortal Swordsman Lu Dongbin learned from the Immortal Hualong.
Then, it was transmitted to the Wudang, Mount Hua, and Quanzhen sects by Lu Dongbin's disciples.
After that, the Celestial Sword Technique became a non-secret vision.
There is a little-known secret about this technique.
Many Taoists tried to master it, but no one succeeded.
That's why Wudang is famous for Tai Chi Swordsmanship, Mount Hua for Plum Blossom Swordsmanship, and Quanzhen for Supreme Infinite Swordsmanship.
For that reason, the Enlightened Grand Master did not mention any sect rules.
"I suppose you judged well. But what kind of guest is he for the Master of Zhenwu Palace to teach him the essence of the Celestial Sword Technique? I've heard he's young."
"Do you remember the matter you entrusted to me last year?"
"Ah, Mansu Chamber of Commerce? Don't tell me?"
The Enlightened Grand Master's eyes widened.
Last year, the Sage of Heaven and Earth had received the order to eradicate the Five Peaks Mountain camp.
"Yes, he is the Young Hero Yeon of the Ten Heroes of Five Peaks Mountain."
"Yeon Jeokha!"
The Enlightened Grand Master remembered the name because the story was shocking. He had defeated the Sage of Heaven and Earth, a bandit from Nokrim.
"Correct."
"Haha."
A Nokrim bandit had set foot in Murim's sanctuary, Wudang. Not only that, he had received the essence of the Celestial Sword Technique in Zhenwu Palace. If Murim's fellows found out, it would be a scandal.
The Enlightened Grand Master, who had laughed bitterly, spoke in a grave tone.
"Hmm, he is still young, so guide him well."
He had nothing more to say.
Although the Sage of Heaven and Earth was a grade lower, they were not close enough to complain.
"Grand Master, don't worry too much. Young Hero Yeon has learned martial arts of the Tao. He will not follow the path of evil."
"Understood. I'll trust your judgment on that. Now, I take my leave."
The Sage of Heaven and Earth bowed his head in gratitude.
If the Enlightened Grand Master had insisted on sect rules, it would have been a problem.
After an hour, Yeon Jeokha came out.
"Why are you outside, Taoist Master?"
"Haha, the wind is pleasant. Have you resolved your doubts?"
"Yes, I didn't know that energy arises from the heart's change. Knowing that, everything was resolved."
"Hahaha!"
The Sage of Heaven and Earth burst into laughter.
This young prodigy really had an unexpected weak point. He was very different from prestigious sect disciples. How had he become so strong?
After laughing for a while, the Sage of Heaven and Earth felt curious.
"Have you encountered any difficulty with the secret?"
Impossible, right?
No one had mastered the Celestial Sword Technique since Lu Dongbin, so how could he do it with just the secret?
In sword arts, the secret is the essence, and the form is the structure.
Without the structure, no one can master the art with just the secret. It's impossible unless one is at the highest level of the sword.