Wudang Sacred Scriptures-Chapter 43

“Who dares make such a racket in a sanctuary where Daoist Immortals train? Huh?”

A pale-faced Daoist widened his eyes.

“Well now, who do we have here? It’s Instructor Hyeonsang from the Immortal Studies Institute.”

The Daoist who came rushing out beamed as he called out to Instructor Hyeonsang.

“I was just thinking of visiting you sometime soon. It’s good to see you!”

“Instructor Hyeonin, what business brings you all the way down to Jade Void Palace? There’s no one here who’ll be happy to see you.”

“Still, we’re all fellow disciples under one roof. It’s good to see familiar faces now and then.”

“Let’s set that aside. I’ve brought a Daoist Attendant for your palace. Take him in.”

“A Daoist Attendant...?”

Only then did the pale Daoist, Hyeonin, turn his gaze toward Kwak Yeon.

His brow furrowed slightly.

“What’s wrong with him this time?”

“There’s no particular issue.”

“Then...?”

“No need to know the details. It’s a decision from the Elder Council, so just accept him. Also, clean up the place a bit. At this rate, it’s going to turn into a bear den.”

“Come now, Instructor Hyeonsang, as if a bear would crawl into a place where people live.”

Daoist Hyeonin chuckled awkwardly and rubbed the back of his hand.

“Well, with a new hand around, I’ll tidy up properly. That said...”

He tugged at Instructor Hyeonsang’s sleeve and led him to one side of the courtyard before continuing in a lower voice.

“Now that we’ve got another mouth to feed, how about increasing our budget? We need to fix the leaky hall roof, and buy a few rolls of paper for the sliding doors. Bears might not come in, but the busted window frames are letting sparrows in and out like they own the place.”

“You can talk to me all day long, but what good would it do? You know the budget isn’t under our Immortal Studies Institute’s jurisdiction.”

“Still, you’re the only one who ever sets foot in our palace.”

“I’ll mention it to the Grand Elder, but don’t expect much. Times are tough for Wudang these days.”

As Instructor Hyeonsang walked off coldly into the distance, Hyeonin’s face twisted with irritation.

“Damn bastard! I’m still technically his senior, and he can’t even pretend to be polite.”

Kwak Yeon blinked in shock—he hadn’t expected the pale Daoist to curse so crudely.

“What are you so surprised about?”

Hyeonin stared at him coldly.

“Whatever’s broken, I hope it’s not your limbs.”

“...?”

“Don’t just stand there. Go around to the back of the lower quarters. You’ll find a twig broom. Bring it out and sweep all the fallen leaves in the courtyard.”

“...”

This chapter is updated by freēwēbnovel.com.

“What, are you deaf?”

Kwak Yeon shook his head.

“No, sir.”

“Then why are you standing there like a stump? Did you expect some grand welcome ceremony just because you arrived?”

“Where exactly is the lower quarters?”

Hyeonin’s brow twitched.

“Use your damn head. Do you think this palace has hundreds of buildings or something?”

From the context, Kwak Yeon figured out the lower quarters must be the building below and hurried off. But before moving, he turned to Hyeonin and spoke.

“Daoist Hyeonin, my name is Kwak Yeon.”

Then he bowed politely.

Watching Kwak Yeon rush off toward the back, Hyeonin tilted his head.

“Strange. Doesn’t seem like anything’s wrong with him.”

—Swoosh, swoosh—

The leaves were piled so thick it took serious effort to sweep them all away.

Still, this was the first task he’d been given.

From the grim atmosphere of the Three Spirits Palace and Hyeonin’s cold attitude, it was clear life here wouldn’t be easy—but Kwak Yeon wasn’t discouraged.

After all, he was still within Wudang’s walls. He hadn’t been cast out. And he still hadn’t lost his right to train in the martial arts of the Wudang Sect.

As he swept, he began circulating his breath using Taiji Internal Arts, combining it with Moving Meditation.

Status doesn’t matter.

His dream had always been to master the Internal Energy Pressure.

—Swoosh, swoosh—

He was fully absorbed in sweeping when—

“Ah!”

A voice rang out.

“You’re really weird.”

When Kwak Yeon turned around, a big young man stood there with a bundle of firewood strapped to his back.

Though his robe was worn and frayed, it was clearly the garb of an official Daoist—someone who had received a Daoist name.

He looked to be in his mid-twenties, with deep eye sockets and a high nose bridge that gave him a slightly stern impression.

The fact that Kwak Yeon hadn’t heard his footsteps meant the man had been standing there watching him for a while.

Kwak Yeon politely bowed.

“I’m Kwak Yeon, newly appointed Daoist Attendant. I greet you, Daoist-nim.”

The young man’s stern face lit up at once, his expression softening into something warm and sincere.

“I’m Cheongmu. Nice to meet you! Hehe.”

Just as expected, the “Cheong” in his name showed he was a second-generation disciple.

Cheongmu strode over in a few steps and said,

“Hey, don’t bow to me like that from now on. Especially when I’ve got a load of firewood on my back. I’ll have to return the greeting, and then the whole bundle might tumble onto my head.”

“Then wouldn’t it work if you put the firewood down before accepting my greeting?”

“Oh! That could work.”

His awkward tone made it clear to Kwak Yeon—this Cheongmu was a bit of an airhead.

Suddenly, Hyeonin’s earlier words to Instructor Hyeonsang echoed in his mind:

“What’s broken this time?”

“But even if I # Nоvеlight # have to put it down each time, it’s still a pain. So just don’t greet me at all.”

“But Cheongmu Daoist-nim, you’re a second-generation disciple of the Three Spirits Palace, and I’m just a Daoist Attendant. I must greet you.”

“Only when Master Hyeonin is around. Our master and the palace lord won’t say a thing either way. And you don’t have to bow that low, seriously.”

Kwak Yeon’s eyes widened as he asked,

“Then... are there only four people in the Three Spirits Palace?”

“Nope.”

“...?”

“You make five now, Kwak Yeon.”

“...”

"Anyway, it’s good to meet you. But hey, how did you just sweep like that?"

"Did I seem strange?"

"Yeah! I honestly thought you were some kind of wooden puppet. You were so stiff and precise, and the leaves just... whoosh, whoosh—whoa!"

As the firewood bundle swayed and tilted, Cheongmu gasped.

Only when Kwak Yeon rushed in to steady the load did it regain its balance.

"Hey! Thanks, man."

Just then, the door to the lower quarters swung open with a bang.

"What’s all the noise out here?"

Cheongmu flinched and answered with a sheepish voice.

"Master Hyeonin... I was just happy to see Kwak Yeon arrive..."

"Didn’t I tell you not to cause a commotion in the palace?"

"...I’m sorry."

"Well, now that you’ve seen each other, that’s enough. From today, let him stay in your room, and make sure you teach him what needs doing."

"...Yes. Um, but—"

"What is it?"

"What should I call Kwak Yeon?"

"Just call him by his name. He’s a Daoist Attendant."

"But he keeps calling me ‘Daoist-nim’... You’re ‘Daoist’, so is the master, and even the palace lord is called ‘Daoist’. It’s so confusing."

Hyeonin pressed a finger to his forehead for a moment, then spoke.

"Kwak Yeon. Call Cheongmu ‘hyung’."

"...?"

"The title of 'Daoist' is not something you use carelessly."

Looking displeased, Hyeonin slammed the door shut with a loud thud.

Kwak Yeon stood there momentarily bewildered.

To use such a personal term like "hyung"—elder brother—inside a Daoist sect?

Of course, as just a Daoist Attendant, he had no right to address a second-generation disciple with such familiarity.

Still, that’s a strange custom...

He realized then that in the Three Spirits Palace, the title ‘Daoist’ was treated with particular reverence.

The other six palaces in Wudang don’t even use that term. They go by 'Master' or 'Instructor,' not ‘Daoist’.

It must be because the lineage of this palace prioritizes spiritual cultivation.

While Kwak Yeon stood there awkwardly in silence, lost in thought, Cheongmu grinned and said:

"It’s an order from Master Hyeonin, so just call me ‘hyung.’ Come on, try it."

Kwak Yeon hesitated.

"But even so, Cheongmu Daoist-nim, you’re a second-generation disciple..."

"Shhh!"

Cheongmu glanced toward the lower quarters and whispered.

"Master Hyeonin is terrifying. If you don’t follow orders, you're in trouble. So just call me ‘hyung,’ quick."

Left with no choice, Kwak Yeon opened his mouth.

"Cheongmu... hyung."

Cheongmu’s face lit up instantly.

"Wow, that’s great!"

He bounced slightly with joy—causing the bundle of firewood to wobble dangerously again.

"...Cheongmu hyung, maybe you should put that load down first? It looks heavy."

"Ah! Right. I’ll drop it off in the back garden real quick."

As he hurried off, Cheongmu still beaming, Kwak Yeon felt a sharp pang in his chest.

Hyung. Dongsaeng. Father. Mother...

He realized just how long it had been since he’d used words like those.

Just calling someone "hyung"...

It made this place feel like a real home. Like a family.

****

"Hey, Kwak Yeon. Today we’re making spiritual fasting pills."

"Cheongmu hyung, you make the pills yourself?"

The term “hyung” now rolled naturally off his tongue.

"Yup! In the Three Spirits Palace, we do everything ourselves. Especially since our master and the palace lord only eat spiritual food, we have to prepare the fasting pills with real care. Come on, let’s go pick some fresh pine needles first."

Kwak Yeon picked up a basket woven from wild vines and followed Cheongmu as he stood up.

"Why doesn’t Master Hyeonin eat spiritual food?"

"I don’t know either. He just stopped one day. But hey—don’t ever ask about it."

"Why not?"

"Master and Master Hyeonin had a huge fight over it. That was the first time I ever saw Master get angry. Man, it was terrifying."

"Okay, I’ll pretend I never heard anything."

"Thanks, hehe."

"So, when will I get to meet Master Hyehae and the palace lord?"

"You’ll meet Master soon. His hundred-day seated meditation is about to finish. But the palace lord... that’s hard to say. Once she starts meditation, there's no telling when she’ll come out. Last time, she was in there for over a year."

"Whoa! She meditates for that long?"

"Sure! She’s half-immortal now, so it’s no big deal for her. Anyway, that’s why we need to make a ton of fasting pills."

Kwak Yeon felt half in awe, half in disbelief.

Is it really possible for someone to become an immortal?

Who knows? Even the martial arts of the Wudang Sect already defied belief.

Before long, a thick pine forest came into view. But even as they entered it, Cheongmu just kept walking forward.

"Cheongmu hyung, there are plenty of pine needles right here."

"We’re not supposed to pick from these trees."

"Huh? Why not?"