Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: The Value of a Word - 2
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All things possess multiple layers of meaning.
It's only natural. Consider the word "spring" in the letter Sayoon sent.
She took it literally as the season of spring, but others might interpret it as something "new."
Is spring nothing but good for ordinary commoners? It could be, sure.
But there are those who dread it, haunted by memories of stretching autumn's harvest through the winter, with barley still unripe and food shortages biting hard.
Just like that, everything holds dual values. What appears ordinary and simple on the surface can harbor tremendous worth.
Enlightenment is precisely that.
Realizing the true value hidden within the trivialities of everyday life.
It's one way to grow stronger in the world of Celestial Moon—a milestone every character experiences at least once.
The only pity is that Sayoon had to face her first enlightenment event entirely alone, without a shred of help.
The others were different. They had masters and fellow disciples from their sects at their sides.
Solitary pondering easily slips into blind obsession, and obsession summons heart demons.
In the needle-in-a-haystack search of a sand dune, having someone beside you makes all the difference to the seeker's state of mind.
That's why I had no choice but to think.
Damn it.
How the hell do I help her with this?
"Uhmm..."
Enlightenment usually comes in a flash of insight.
Like grinding away at complex code, then muttering "Ah? Shit?" and solving it with some absurdly simple trick. Sending her the koan from when Sayoon first gained enlightenment might not even trigger it for her.
And me going there in person to teach her? That's even more ridiculous.
"Uhmm..."
Ponder. Ponder.
Those who don't think might as well be dead. So don't stop thinking.
The thoughts dragged on until the next day. But with no answers in sight, my worries mounted. As I cleared the inn tables, one customer approached me hesitantly.
"Um. Are you the owner of this inn?"
"That's me."
He was an old man in threadbare clothes. A striking Taoist with his white beard and hair, the picture of a wandering immortal.
I glanced at him and chuckled softly.
"Ready to settle up?"
"No, not that. I swear I had my money pouch when I arrived in the village..."
He looked utterly perplexed, at a loss, before letting out a deep sigh.
"For some reason, it's gone no matter how I search. So... any chance I could get credit?"
"No way, old timer! You think we'd extend credit to just anyone?!"
The waiter nearby scowled, growling like he was about to fetch a club.
I eyed the Taoist. He was so mortified it secondhand embarrassed me.
"What did this gentleman have?"
"A bowl of thin noodles and a plate of dumplings... er, he ate."
"Hmm..."
The Taoist flushed deeper, and I nodded to him.
"You don't strike me as a common beggar—more like a Taoist sect member. Recite a blessing verse, and we're square."
"Oh? Really? You'd allow that?"
"Of course."
No sense shaking down a broke guy—you'd get dust. A bowl of noodles and dumplings? Pennies. Better take the blessing and send him on his way than bicker.
The Taoist lit up and bowed repeatedly.
"Infinite mercies. Infinite mercies. May the Primeval Heavenly Worthy bless this meeting. Please, bear with me a moment."
He fumbled open his bundle. Inside: worn incense sticks, a few talismans, and a couple of coverless booklets. Grabbing talismans and incense, he led me outside.
In front of the inn, he burned a talisman, lit the incense, and began praying with utmost sincerity.
"A prayer for pennies..."
"It's fine. Back to work."
"Yes, master."
The waiter bowed and retreated inside. How long did he pray?
Until the incense burned to ash, he prayed devotedly. Only then did his face relax into a grin.
"I've recited the blessing, but it hardly repays a meal's kindness. Since it's credit, I'll settle this debt one day."
"Forget it. You look like a wanderer—just hit the road."
"Hmm... Then there's one thing I'd like to teach the innkeeper."
Huh? Hold on.
This rings a bell.
There was definitely an event like this—buy a meal at an inn, and they teach you a martial art.
Not on par with character-specific techniques, but useful ones all the same.
"Practice daily, and it'll aid your longevity and health. Please don't refuse."
Refuse here, and he smiles and leaves, event over.
Accept, and...?
I smiled back at him.
"If you put it that way, how can I say no? What is it?"
"Nothing impressive. The art this humble Taoist will impart to you."
He fixed me with his deep, dark eyes and spoke.
"It's called Five Animals Frolic."
The origins of Five Animals Frolic trace back to the health exercises of Hua Tuo.
In Celestial Moon, it's akin to a recovery art.
The Taoist called it an art for longevity, but master it deeply, and it restores stamina, boosts vitality.
You can even share your stamina to heal others' wounds.
Thanks to these effects, it earned high regard in Celestial Moon.
Among recovery arts wielded by masters, the most famed belongs to the Divine Physician of the Martial Alliance. A healer who can revive the near-dead, a top-tier expert—and even he praised Five Animals Frolic as rivaling his own Medicine King Universal Mercy Divine Art.
Not entirely true, of course.
Come on— if it were that great, he'd have learned it first.
Still, Five Animals Frolic isn't bad by any means.
Longevity aside, boosting natural healing for yourself and others is no small perk.
Gallery guides urged Taoist characters without sect recovery arts to grab it whenever the chance arose.
Max it to five stars, and it's like carrying an extra life.
Plus, reaching five stars wasn't time-consuming or hard—most could manage it.
"Yes, just like that."
Maybe that's why—even in this simple event, with the Taoist just demonstrating poses beside me, I internalized Five Animals Frolic after a handful of tries.
Even as an outsider in this world, I benefited from its systems. No complaints there.
Easy to learn? What's not to like?
And unlike other arts, no need to grasp profound truths.
Might as well snag every event art I can, right?
Could even help Sayoon.
I considered it briefly, then shook my head.
Celestial Moon had no shortage of event arts. Right now, the priority was thwarting the Iron Blood Clan's sect destruction of Crimson Star Sect—nailing that first button.
After that? Who knows how the story unfolds.
Then I could take it easy, but no wandering the land for arts now. No time.
So focus on mastering this one. Five Animals Frolic might come in handy.
"Now, exhale, and for the finale..."
I lowered my left hand slowly, like a swaying dance.
"As it is said, the superior benefits the waters. Water precedes all, blocks no flow, and thus connects the five elements."
I deflected the Taoist's slowly extended fist with my left hand. Very slowly, yet surely.
Unlike the other forms—metal, wood, fire, earth—the water form was absurdly slow and soft.
But veterans of Celestial Moon know: this is the all-in-one offense-defense stance of Five Animals Frolic.
How terrifying it becomes at mastery.
Though almost no one reaches that peak.
The resources, time, effort? Better invest elsewhere.
Plenty of superior arts exist.
"Do it once each morning and once before bed daily, and you'll never catch a cold."
"Sounds like good advice."
"But you're still unfamiliar, so some movements are awkward..."
The Taoist grinned and pulled a worn booklet from his robe. A manual for Five Animals Frolic.
"Practice diligently. It's a pure Taoist art. Steady training builds essence slowly, enough to form your dantian."
No need for breathing exercises like other arts—just moving stimulates meridians and awakens the dantian.
The Taoist beamed, explaining kindly.
"If anything stumps you, ask at Crimson Star Sect. They're Taoist-aligned too, and some there know Five Animals Frolic..."
...Huh? That's a solid idea.
I looked at the Taoist. He still wore that serene smile.
"A few pennies in food, and I get all this."
"Hahaha. To the hungry, a bowl of thin noodles is no trifle. Besides, you upheld this poor Taoist's honor. For one who safeguards pride and reputation, this is but a token."
"For one who safeguards my health, this is no trifle."
I pulled out my pouch and offered it. Twenty taels of silver inside. The startled Taoist tried shoving it back, but I shook my head.
Do this event, slip him some coin, and he returns later with more gifts. Better now.
"Ah... well. I didn't do it for this, but... gratefully accepted."
No travel fare means rough roads.
Twenty taels, spent frugally, covers a month without starving.
"Until next time."
"Infinite mercies. May the innkeeper's wishes come true."
He bowed and departed. I returned to the inn. Lunch rush over, break time hit, and the waiters grumbled.
"Master, about that guy—beggars peddle fake arts sometimes. Watch out."
"No worries."
To me, Five Animals Frolic was the real deal.
Back in my room, I skimmed the manual.
Matched what I'd gathered pre-transmigration, or gallery screenshots from no-miss researchers.
No need for deep study—I tossed it in a drawer.
"Back to work. Oh, first..."
I pulled out paper.
If learning the new art proves tough, time for my own advice.
Whether it'd help Sayoon much? Debatable.
By the time I summoned a Postal Gate disciple, sent the letter, and handled chores, the sun was setting.
The falling sun painted the sky blood-red.
Something about it reminded me of Hongryeon.
I wonder if she's finding those spirit herbs okay.
"Master, where to?"
"Just blowing off steam. Nonstop work's giving me a headache."
I stepped out for a stroll and unwittingly headed to the market.
Why zone out and end up here? What was worth seeing?
I mulled it over and burst out laughing.
Expecting another event like last time.
Yeah. Like when I met Cunning Wolf Kajun.
Ran into Sayoon by chance, and my body remembered, dragging me here.
I chuckled and shook my head.
Nah, lightning won't strike twice...
"Ah? Hello!"
I spotted Sayoon standing with Yuhee, a Crimson Star Sect disciple, and thought:
Well, damn. Easy.
It worked.