Wudang Sacred Scriptures-Chapter 45

"Cheongmu, why do we gather herbs?"

Kwak Yeon asked as they climbed the mountain path.

"To sell them, of course."

"You sell herbs?"

"Master said our palace has no money. The scraps we get from Jasogung can’t even cover our meals. We’ve got broken tiles to replace, too."

"So you've been doing this every year?"

"Of course. From spring to late autumn, non-stop!"

The state of the palace made more sense now. When he first arrived, everything had been in disarray. It wasn’t neglect, but the fact that their time was being consumed gathering herbs instead.

Ah.

Three Spirits Palace was in worse shape than it seemed.

Instead of training disciples, they were being used as herbal gatherers.

Kwak Yeon had at least assumed that, as a Daoist Attendant, he’d be allowed to study the sacred scriptures.

He had always believed that studying the mind was a form of martial cultivation and had been prepared to devote himself to it.

Now it all felt hopeless.

When he’d first climbed the mountain to the palace, he’d promised himself that he would persist, no matter what.

But he was reaching his limits.

Daoist Hyeonin hadn’t given him a moment's rest.

Even today, he’d be spending the entire day roaming the mountains gathering herbs. No time for seated meditation. And Moving Meditation was pointless unless the motion was repetitive.

Sigh... Am I just going to let time slip away like this?

Perhaps sensing Kwak Yeon’s gloom, Cheongmu turned to him and asked suddenly:

"Kwak Yeon, do you not like coming to the mountains?"

"It’s not that I don’t like it... but I can’t say I enjoy it ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) either."

"Why not?"

Maybe because of how he was feeling, Kwak Yeon spoke honestly.

"The truth is... I want to study martial arts. But I can’t build up any internal energy."

"Internal energy? You mean that stuff that flows around inside you?"

"Exactly."

"Ohh! So that’s why you’re always doing those weird movements."

"It’s called energy circulation."

"Why bother with that? It’s just annoying."

"...?"

"Sure, it’s nice when you’re climbing or doing something strenuous, but other than that, what’s the point?"

"You can use it for martial arts."

"Martial arts? Like, hitting people? What’s the good in that?"

Kwak Yeon didn’t know how to respond.

It felt like he was having the same conversation again—like the one he’d once had with Elder Jang.

"At the very least, you won’t get hit yourself."

"Then just don’t fight. If you stay here, there’s no reason you’d ever get into a fight."

"..."

"You want to leave, don’t you?"

Kwak Yeon flinched.

"That’s not it."

If only I could build internal energy.

"I wish I could give you all of mine, since you need it so badly."

As if that were possible.

"Why is it annoying for you, Cheongmu?"

"Because it howls sometimes. Like it’s trying to rip its way out of me. It hurts so bad, like my head’s going to split open."

It was clear—Cheongmu had suffered a serious Qi Deviation.

"Oh! You said those weird movements were for that, right? Then you’re doing them wrong."

Kwak Yeon startled.

"You know about Moving Meditation, Cheongmu?"

It was a foolish question. Of course someone who had once practiced advanced martial arts would know.

"I don’t remember the name, but I’ve been doing it for a long time. I can tell you’re not doing it right."

Kwak Yeon admitted it readily.

He hadn’t learned Moving Meditation from anyone—he’d just made it up on his own.

So that’s why it never worked. Neither Standing nor Moving.

Of course. If martial arts could be improvised, there’d be no need for sects or masters.

"I can help you fix your posture, at least. Then... you won’t leave, right?"

He had no reason to refuse. Even if it was just posture, it was better than nothing. And Cheongmu’s offer was pure, without any selfishness.

He’d learned back at Byunggeup School from Maejangso that rejecting someone’s kindness could hurt them.

"Of course. As long as you don’t kick me out, Cheongmu."

"You idiot. Why would I kick you out?"

Cheongmu’s innocent smile made Kwak Yeon nod before he even realized it.

"Right... That was a dumb thing to say."

"Let’s fix your walking posture today, then. We’ve got herbs to gather too, remember."

But Kwak Yeon saw a flicker of fear in Cheongmu’s face.

"Wait... if we don’t gather the herbs, will Master scold you?"

"How’d you know that?"

He’d only been guessing.

But he’d seen Cheongmu stammer in front of Daoist Hyeonin before.

For someone as bright and cheerful as Cheongmu to fear someone that much—it meant he was deeply intimidated.

"Does Daoist Hyeonin... ever hit you?"

"Not me. I’m stronger than him."

Which meant he’d hit the other attendants.

To strike a Daoist Attendant in the temple—Three Spirits Palace was becoming more disappointing by the moment.

"Doesn’t Daoist Hyehae or the Palace Lord know about this?"

"When Master and the Palace Lord are around, he’s completely different. So kind, you wouldn’t believe it."

The problem was, Daoist Hyehae and the Palace Lord vanished for half the year at a time.

"Then how does he punish you?"

"He locks me in the cave."

So even Three Spirits Palace had a place like a repentance cell. If he claimed it was “discipline,” there was no way to argue.

"Ughhh!"

Cheongmu suddenly grabbed his head.

"Cheongmu, what’s wrong?"

"I don’t ever want to go back in there. It’s freezing cold, then boiling hot. Feels like I’ll go insane. And there’s a ghost."

What?

How could a cave like that even exist?

Was he having a hallucination?

That seemed likely.

Locking someone as gentle as Cheongmu in a dark cave—of course it would cause mental breakdowns.

"Cheongmu, there’s no such thing as ghosts."

"No! There’s a ghost in there. The cave is even called the Immortal’s Room. That’s where it lives!"

But "Immortal’s Room" meant a place where sages lived.

To someone like Cheongmu, whether it was a ghost or an immortal, both were non-human. Probably the same thing to him.

"It’s probably not a real ghost. Maybe a statue of the Martial God or something."

"I saw it move! With my own eyes!"

"...?"

"And I saw one before too. A long time ago. I never told anyone ‘cause they’d say I was crazy. But it’s true!"

Kwak Yeon decided—at the very least, I’ll believe him.

"I see. That must’ve been terrifying. I’ll be careful too."

"Yeah. Just don’t give Master any reason to send you into the Immortal’s Room. Just do as you're told. Oh!"

Cheongmu suddenly gasped.

"I’m in trouble! We’re supposed to fill two baskets today."

"..."

"Let’s fix your posture starting tomorrow, okay?"

And off he dashed.

Cheongmu recognized medicinal herbs just by glancing at the fresh sprouts.

It was proof of his keen eyesight—and perhaps, of the level of cultivation he once reached.

“If he used that vision and agility with the Heaven-Earth Nine Steps, it would be unbelievable.”

By dusk, they’d finally managed to fill both baskets—barely. And even that was mostly mushrooms, just to bulk up the volume.

Cheongmu was drenched in sweat, head to toe.

“Sorry, Cheongmu. I wasn’t any help.”

“It’s fine. You’ll learn with time. I didn’t know much about herbs at first, either.”

Kwak Yeon had read the basics in the school library, but finding herbs in the wild was an entirely different skill.

Especially now, with only new buds just starting to sprout, everything looked the same.

That evening, when Daoist Hyeonin saw the baskets, his face immediately twisted into a scowl.

“All mushrooms. What a surprise.”

As Cheongmu flinched and trembled, Kwak Yeon stepped in.

“The mountain hasn’t fully sprouted yet. It was hard to find anything else.”

“Did I ask you to speak?”

“......”

“Cheongmu.”

“...Yes, Master.”

“If the sprouts haven’t emerged yet, then start gathering tuckahoe from tomorrow.”

“...Understood.”

“You’re both responsible for the usual amount. No exceptions.”

Daoist Hyeonin shot a sharp glance at Kwak Yeon.

“Kwak Yeon, prepare all these mushrooms—refine and powder them before you rest.”

“Yes, Master.”

“Cheongmu will do seated meditation tonight. It’s been a while.”

“...Seated meditation, Master?”

“If you don’t meditate from time to time, those goblins in your head won’t stay quiet.”

“...Yes, Master.”

Kwak Yeon looked at the towering pile of mushrooms and sighed. Sorting and refining them all would take until morning.

He knew why Daoist Hyeonin had given him so much work. Adults didn’t like being corrected—he’d long since realized that.

Still, that didn’t mean he was going to keep his mouth shut and pretend he didn’t see what was happening.

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He knew now: that’s why people disliked him.

But he didn’t want to give in. Because if he did, he’d become one of those adults too.

Staying silent wasn’t any different from being complicit. That was the lesson he’d learned from old wounds.

And one more thing: if you don’t have power, you just have to swallow your resentment.

Just like now.

By dawn, Kwak Yeon was still flipping mushrooms in the pot. His eyes drooping, he stepped outside to gather firewood and shake off the drowsiness.

The sharp smoke from the kitchen clung to him, but the crisp morning air outside cleared his lungs like cold water.

The air’s nice... Maybe I should try a full energy cycle using Standing Cultivation? No—better to sit and do it properly.

He wanted to expel every last trace of stale air from his body.

It was cold out, but he didn’t mind. Lately, he’d gotten stronger. The cold didn’t bite the way it used to.

Come to think of it, he hadn’t even owned a proper winter coat this whole time.

Cheongmu also only wore thin robes. Maybe that’s why he hadn’t noticed.

Still... not feeling the winter chill at all? That’s strange.

Kwak Yeon sat down in a corner of the backyard and entered Seated Cultivation.

There was still no sign of internal energy manifesting, but he focused his mind and entered Moving Meditation regardless.

Ever since coming to Three Spirits Palace, doing Moving Meditation had always left him feeling lighter afterward.

Maybe that’s why winter had passed without him even noticing the cold.

If I keep at it like this... I’ll be able to sense internal energy one day.

Especially now that Cheongmu had offered to correct his posture for Moving Meditation, he felt more hopeful than ever.

As he slipped into the trance, his breathing slowed.

—Hoo-wooo... Hoo-wooo...

Only the sound of night birds crying out through the still air. But then, cutting through those cries, came a voice—faint but unmistakably human.

“Ah, Master Myung. Welcome.”

It was Daoist Hyeonin’s voice.

“Oh, goodness! The snow’s melted and made the mountain trail slick as oil. I thought I’d break my neck climbing up!”

Master Myung—Kwak Yeon recognized him. He was a courier from the Immortal Studies Institute.

Ah... today’s the day they deliver rations.

But why so early? It wasn’t even dawn yet.

“Check it, Master.”

“It’s the same boring food. What’s there to check? Did you bring the other thing?”

“A promissory note from the village pharmacy. Five silver liang. Drawn under Daehwa Trading House.”

“Much appreciated.”

“Oh, think nothing of it. I walk this trail twice a month anyway. Helps me make some pocket change. Works out well for me.”

“Still, it’s not nothing. Climbing this mountain at dawn, hiding from prying eyes—that’s no easy task.”

“Then how about you raise my delivery fee?”

“Mm, sorry about that. A stray brat showed up out of nowhere. Been bleeding money ever since.”

“Wait, you spent money? That can’t be right. I’ve never even had to cash in a single note from you.”

“Hmph. Just a figure of speech. Anyway, make sure this delivery reaches the pharmacy.”

“No worries there. I’ve been coming up and down Mount Wudang for thirty years. Who’s gonna question my load? But didn’t you say the amount of herbs was increasing this time?”

Kwak Yeon’s chest tightened.

So that was the reason Cheongmu had been ordered to gather twice the herbs.