Wudang Sacred Scriptures-Chapter 42

The disciples around the hall stirred in confusion at the completely unexpected result.

But as soon as they noticed the palace lords showed no sign of disturbance, the murmur quickly died down.

Clearly, this had all been decided behind closed doors.

It was still surprising, though, that among the Eight Palaces of Wudang—excluding the often-ignored Three Spirits Palace—the lowest-ranking palace, Wujin Palace, had claimed first pick.

“All six disciples will relocate to the Precepts Hall starting today. Over the next six months, they will train in basic martial arts. Afterward, they will officially enter the palace they’ve been assigned to.”

From that point on, each disciple would form a formal master-disciple bond with a senior member of their palace and receive personal instruction. Only then would they become full second-generation disciples of the Wudang Sect.

Even while learning the secret arts of their respective palaces, all second-generation disciples were still required to attend joint training at the Precepts Hall—that was Wudang’s rule.

The six disciples from Eternal Wudang breathed a sigh of relief, knowing they didn’t have to part ways immediately.

But then their expressions hardened.

Because Kwak Yeon had not yet been called.

Seok Jangsan’s face in particular had gone pale.

Only six names had been announced to move to the Precepts Hall—which meant Kwak Yeon had not been selected as a disciple of Wujin Palace.

“What’s going on?”

Seok Jangsan’s eyes locked onto Instructor Hyeonmun’s face, which was twisted with tension.

“No... it can’t be!”

Seok Jangsan’s heart sank.

He suddenly remembered the first thing they’d been told upon entering Eternal Wudang:

“A trainee who cannot form internal energy pressure must leave Mount Wudang.”

Instructor Hyeonmun had sensed something was wrong the moment Seok Jangsan was assigned to Wujin Palace.

The most prestigious three palaces had long set their sights on Seok Jangsan—yet he had been given to Wujin instead.

“This isn’t right!”

Just as the furious Instructor Hyeonmun started to move toward the platform, someone grabbed his arm.

It was Instructor Hyeonjeong, his senior brother.

“Please... let it go.”

“Senior brother...?”

“There’s nothing you can change now by protesting. If you defy your master in front of everyone, it could be considered a violation worthy of exile.”

“But this is—!”

“Think about it. Would Master have done this if he had any other choice? I’m not asking you to excuse him. I just want you to know... he did everything he could.”

Everything he could?

What was that supposed to mean?

What kind of crisis was it, just deciding on a single disciple?

Just as Instructor Hyeonmun was about to explode with frustration, he saw the deep sorrow in his senior brother’s expression—and a terrible realization dawned on him.

This was the work of Elder Unhak.

“Just wait,” his senior brother said in a heavy voice.

Instructor Hyeonmun could only grit his teeth and fall silent.

From the platform above, Elder Unhak’s voice rang out.

“Eternal Wudang disciple Kwak Yeon, step forward.”

Kwak Yeon had been bracing himself. He walked toward the platform with quiet composure.

Elder Unhak stared at him with a stern gaze and spoke.

“Your talent is meager, and under normal circumstances, you would be ordered to leave the mountain. But your dedication has been commendable. And because Wudang does not consist solely of martial study, you are granted special permission to remain at the main sect.”

Kwak Yeon didn’t understand at first. But when he grasped the words "not solely martial study," his heart crumbled.

“Kwak Yeon will be assigned to the Three Spirits Palace as a Daoist Attendant to continue study along the path of the Immortal Dao.”

Kwak Yeon knew full well: among the Eight Palaces of Wudang, the only one that completely severed ties with martial arts was the Three Spirits Palace.

Some even said the Three Spirits Palace wasn’t truly part of Wudang.

And now, not even as a full disciple—but as a Daoist Attendant?

A devastating sense of collapse overtook Kwak Yeon.

“Is Hyeonsang present?”

Instructor Hyeonsang appeared below the platform, as if already waiting.

“Hyeonsang, master of the Purity Hall at the Immortal Studies Institute, accepts Elder’s order.”

“Escort Kwak Yeon to the Three Spirits Palace.”

“Yes, Elder.”

Kwak Yeon had never imagined he’d be leaving Eternal Wudang this very moment.

But he could see the reasoning behind it.

The elder wanted to get rid of him immediately—before rumors or pity had time to spread.

“Kwak Yeon. Follow me.”

Instructor Hyeonsang’s commanding voice gave Kwak Yeon no choice but to turn away.

Not even a moment to say goodbye to the children he had spent four years training beside.

It tore his heart apart to part like this—especially with Seok Jangsan, who had been like a brother.

And yet, in a way, he felt relief.

For the sake of Seok Jangsan... and the others.

“The shorter the farewell, the better.”

“Kwak Yeon!”

He heard Seok Jangsan call out—but he didn’t turn around.

If he did, the tears would fall.

Not because of parting from them.

But because it would confirm the dream he had clung to for four years had just shattered before his eyes.

His connection to martial arts... was over.

Kwak Yeon stepped forward, each step heavier than the last.

“Kwak Yeon, lift your head!”

Then Seok Jangsan’s voice called out again.

“That’s not like you!”

His heart swelled at Seok Jangsan’s unshakable support, even to the end.

“Kwak Yeon, don’t give up on your dream!”

With that cry, a sharp clap echoed behind him.

Clap!

Even without turning around, he knew Seok Jangsan had clapped.

Clap! Clap!

Another followed.

Clap! Clap! Clap!

Then another joined.

Soon, six synchronized claps rang out at once—

Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!

The six Eternal Wudang disciples were clapping in rhythm together.

Kwak Yeon’s chest tightened.

And swelled.

There was no one to blame.

Kwak Yeon hadn’t built up internal energy pressure. That was the truth.

In the end, he’d placed his hopes in something futile.

Even if he had been chosen for Wujin Palace, it wasn’t a body that could guarantee internal energy refinement.

Kwak Yeon squared his slumped shoulders.

Then he raised his head.

“Still... at least I wasn’t thrown away this time.”

Those children still clapping for him. Instructor Hyeonmun, who had never hesitated to speak up for him. The instructors and aides at the training hall who always looked out for him.

Thanks to them, he was still here.

Kwak Yeon lifted his chin and looked proudly to the sky.

There, in the clear blue sky, Elder Jang smiled faintly.

“You’ve managed to let the wound scar over instead of festering.”

“That’s thanks to what you taught me.”

“And here I thought you’d be thrown out without even delivering what I left with you. You better start working harder, boy.”

Kwak Yeon smiled quietly.

“Even without that promise, I would never walk away on my own. Mount Wudang is my home.”

Back in the Eternal Wudang training grounds, six pairs of hands clapped in steady rhythm.

“Senior Brother... that right there is the reason I recommended that boy.”

Instructor Hyeonjeong flinched. Instructor Hyeonmun’s eyes had turned red.

“Today, Wujin Palace has let go of a treasure it will never see again. A treasure that could’ve made it the greatest of all Wudang’s palaces.”

“I think Wujin still received a treasure of equal worth,” Hyeonjeong said softly.

Instructor Hyeonmun’s voice turned cold.

“If even you believe that, Senior Brother, then Wujin Palace will never climb out from the bottom in the next generation.”

“Watch your words, Junior Brother.”

“I’m holding back from saying worse.”

Instructor Hyeonjeong bit his lip, then finally said:

“Either way, don’t hold any more resentment toward Master. He gave up Wujin Palace’s long-held dream of rebuilding Hwanggyeong Hall just to keep that child on the mountain.”

“Even if every one of Wujin’s halls had to be uprooted, Master should have stood his ground. Do you know ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) why I constantly clash with him? It’s because, like today, Master only ever looks one step ahead.”

“Enough. Let go of your grudge.”

“Do I seem like someone holding a grudge, Senior Brother?”

“......”

“I respect Master more than anyone. That’s exactly why it pains me to see him only looking one step ahead.”

Even though Kwak Yeon had already passed beyond the gates of Eternal Wudang and was no longer in sight, the clapping continued.

Clap. Clap. Clap. Clap.

Instructor Hyeonjeong felt a chill in his chest.

“These children... this much loyalty?”

It wasn’t just the formality of a farewell. He could feel their sincerity in every beat.

Perhaps his junior brother was right. Maybe they had let go of a treasure unmatched anywhere in the world.

From the platform, Elder Unhak’s brow furrowed deeply.

He found the Eternal Wudang disciples’ spontaneous clapping disgraceful.

How dare they carry on like this in front of the assembled elders and palace lords of Wudang?

Part of him wanted to revoke their selection as full disciples and demote them to outer students.

But since the palace lords had already set their sights on them, it was a difficult decision to make. And reprimanding the children too harshly would damage his dignity as an elder.

He hoped the head of Eternal Wudang would have the sense to step in and correct things.

“That stubborn mule? As if he would.”

Well, at least he’d managed to remove the troublesome little mudfish that kept stirring things up.

Now that Kwak Yeon was tucked away in the Three Spirits Palace, he wouldn’t be an eyesore any longer.

Elder Unhak closed his eyes in silence.

Why does that boy still bother me?

Reading through the training reports, it was something in his behavior—something irritatingly familiar. He acted just like Master.

That habit of poking into everyone’s business had caused no end of trouble for the sect while Master was the Sect Leader. Especially among disciples involved in business in the outside world, the dissatisfaction had been considerable.

Chivalrous Deed, Righteous Action—sure, a noble phrase. It was a principle a righteous sect like Wudang should aspire to.

But Wudang’s Daoist disciples were human too. They couldn’t survive on virtue alone.

Unless it went against principle, their independence had to be respected if Wudang wanted to remain the greatest martial sect under heaven.

****

Kwak Yeon followed Instructor Hyeonsang, head of the Purity Hall at the Immortal Studies Institute, up the steep mountain path of Three Spirits Peak.

Standing tall above the rest, the peak was crowned with thick clouds, as if proudly showing off its height.

Snow or rain might be falling up there—who could tell?

“We’ve arrived.”

Fortunately, the Three Spirits Palace was located midway up the peak, so they wouldn’t have to worry about getting drenched by the clouds.

“This is where you’ll live for the rest of your life.”

Unlike the other seven palaces, the Three Spirits Palace had no red brick walls, no green-tiled roofs.

It consisted of five modest halls, built staggered along the sloped ridge.

It was even smaller than some of the ancestral shrines Kwak Yeon had passed on his training routes.

“Tch. Still in this sorry state, I see.”

The decrepit, crumbling buildings looked like they could collapse at any moment. The courtyard and stone stairs were scattered with brittle, dried weeds poking through. Piles of dead autumn leaves, carried by the wind, were strewn everywhere in disarray.

It looked like an abandoned estate.

Instructor Hyeonsang frowned deeply at the sight.

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“And after all the noise I made, no one’s even come out to greet us?”

Only when Instructor Hyeonsang raised his voice with a booming call did the wooden door of the lowest hall finally creak open.