Journey Through the martial world (7)

91. Journey Through the martial world (7)

Jilin was classified as a region beyond the Great Wall, outside even Ming territory. Liaoning bordered Jilin and clung to the very edge of the Central Plains, yet it was a considerably prosperous land, and no one treated it as a backwater. That was because Beijing, the Ming capital and home of the Forbidden City, lay right beside it. The word 'capital' made it sound as though the city should stand near the center of the country, but Seoul, where I'd lived, was actually crowded far into the north of South Korea's territory—unlike Hanyang, which had stood near the center of Joseon when the kingdom ruled the entire Korean Peninsula.

Then there was Hebei. Just as Gyeonggi Province wrapped around Seoul, Hebei surrounded Beijing. Perhaps the famous Hebei Peng Clan had produced countless military officers as well as martial artists because it lay so close to Beijing. To travel overland from Liaoning to Henan without taking a boat, we had no choice but to pass through Beijing and Hebei, so those became our first destinations. After that, the route split: we could detour through Shanxi or Shandong, or head straight into Henan. Since the Martial Alliance stood in western Henan, we ultimately chose a leisurely sightseeing route—traveling there through Shanxi, then taking a boat from Shandong back to Liaoning on the return journey.

Master and my senior sisters—and even the Four Heroes—happily joined in planning the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠trip. I felt bad for Heosan, but we concluded that accompanying the women on their first journey through the martial world, leaving the sect empty for so long, and going all the way to Mount Wudang in Hubei would be far too much. We therefore decided to stop only briefly at Geo Am's Mount Tai Sect in Shandong, and I promised to visit Wudang alone another time.

The fifteenth century might have sounded primitive, but the Central Plains had countless highways built since Qin Shi Huang unified the realm. This was an age when even the Sichuan Tang Clan, on the far side of the continent from Jilin, could exert influence over the Baek Clan Estate. I placated Heosan by telling him I could make the trip alone and return quickly, then asked the Flame Emperor.

—Master. Where was the Flame Blossom Sect located?—

I was the son of the Baek Clan Estate and a Taoist of the Yeongsan Sect, but I was also the successor who had inherited the orthodox transmission of the Flame Blossom Sect. I had no intention of changing my sect, but to console my master's heart, I asked him about the location of the Flame Blossom Sect.

—It was in Gansu. Don't concern yourself with it. The Flame Blossom Sect was only one of the countless sects that vanished into history because I failed to protect it. Heosan personally brought his martial uncle, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a disciple of Reverend Zhang Sanfeng, and conducted the memorial rite with great care, so you needn't worry. The same is true in this age. Maoshan has already vanished, but just as its roots spread into Wudang, Mount Hua, and Yeongsan, the Flame Blossom Sect's roots have already taken hold in the Yeongsan Sect.

The divine power or whatever it is may make it impossible to pass the Spirit-Binding Art down, but the Flame Blossom Art will become the Yeongsan Sect's signature internal art from now on. I am more than grateful to you and the Yeongsan Sect Leader.—

The grateful ones were us, so hearing the Flame Emperor say this truly made me feel thankful.

—Reverend, I'll say this in advance, but the Moonlit Divine Sword isn't bound to a sect. The current Moon Immortal is Son Yeong, but one day, when someone Son Yeong acknowledges appears, that person will inherit the Moonlit Divine Sword and the name of the Moon Immortal, even if she's not a disciple of the Yeongsan Sect.—

Moon Immortal spoke with unusual seriousness.

—I'm tempted, but it can't be helped. Right now, too many lineages of peerless martial arts remain in the Yeongsan Sect. For now, I'm continuing my achievements under the guidance of you, Master, and many other experts through the Spirit-Binding Art, but once I die, that will be the end of it. So, the Moonlit Divine Sword will have to be returned to the world.—

—The Great Clarity Heart Canon, Taiji Wisdom Sword, and Wuji Divine Sword originated in Wudang, but they don't belong exclusively to Wudang. They're martial arts our ancestral grandmaster left to the world for countless cultivators of the Dao. They should remain among the Yeongsan Sect's unique arts as well. You're all unmistakably Daoists; wouldn't it be strange if the sect retained only the Flame Blossom Art and Vajra Art?—

A story typical of Heosan of Wudang, who had handed out the Taiji Art and the Taiji Sword like free samples at a market. Of course, that was a story from Zhang Sanfeng's era, and now that Wudang had become the pillar of the martial world, openly sharing those profound techniques was an unthinkable act for Wudang. Honestly, a copyright fight with Wudang did worry me a bit.

—All rivers return to the sea. Though the paths differ, the Way is ultimately one. So don't feel burdened. After all, Wudang will also gain Taoist studies.—

Ah... Actually, the one most astonished by the Spirit-Binding Art was none other than Heosan, a fellow Taoist. Setting aside the ritual methods, Heosan had completely fallen for Hwangseong's genuine, unfathomably mysterious Taoist arts. Even if the Spirit-Binding Art was impossible in this half-fantasy world, perhaps mastering Hwangseong's knowledge of Taoist arts could someday give birth to magical Taoist arts like the Yin-Yang Art. At least, for Wudang, which had abundant manpower and resources, it might be possible. As expected, Heosan was a pseudo-Taoist who had been negligent in his Taoist studies. There it was. 'All rivers return to the sea,' my ass. This was quite a fair trade.

—I'm half-and-half. The Vajra Art is a signature internal art that added my enlightenment to Shaolin's martial arts. I passed it on to Cho-ryeong, but because it's an art requiring innate talent, if the transmission is cut off, it must be accepted as the will of heaven. However, the Mount Tai Strike is the Mount Tai Sect's precious legacy. It torments me that I failed to fulfill my duty to leave it to a disciple. So, when we stop by the Mount Tai Sect this time, I'd like to return the Mount Tai Strike. Of course, even if it isn't Cho-ryeong, a Yeongsan Sect disciple will eventually learn the Mount Tai Strike, so the Mount Tai Sect and the Yeongsan Sect will become brother sects that use the same martial arts.—

Geo Am cautiously broached the subject. Come to think of it, had Gyeong Su-yeon entered as a disciple of Mount Tai? If she had failed there too, should I secretly ask for her admission to the Yeongsan Sect, the White Tiger Sect, or perhaps the Murong Clan?

—But I'm curious, Moon Immortal. You said the Moonlit Divine Sword transcended sects, didn't you? What kind of martial artist were you originally? You certainly weren't from Sword Empress Pavilion. Were you perhaps from Mount Hua, with its flashy sword forms?—

At the question I suddenly posed, Geo Am giggled.

—Heh heh. Mount Hua, my foot. The trouble she caused this time should tell you that Moon Immortal was much like me. You can't even imagine it, can you? That woman was originally a bald Buddhist nun of the Emei Sect.—

—Huh?—

I truly couldn't imagine it. Moon Immortal was from the Emei Sect? Not even a lay disciple, but a fully ordained, shaven-headed direct disciple?

—I had no choice. I was greedy for martial arts. Mount Hua's sword arts were respectable, but its Plum Blossom Sword Art had fundamentally been created with men in mind. From the beginning, I had little choice but to select Emei's martial arts, which assumed women would be the ones learning them.—

Unlike Son Yeong, Moon Immortal had fully utilized her talents. Even that prestigious Mount Hua had been rejected by her. Perhaps she had been of quite high status, aside from her innate talent?

—But why did you go as far as to become a Buddhist nun? No matter how I look at it, you're a woman who doesn't have even a speck of connection to Buddhist compassion.—

—Because lay disciples can't learn the true secret arts. Besides, it was the Yuan Dynasty era. The year I turned twelve, if I wasn't a Buddhist nun, I had to marry. In the end, I even shaved my head and received the ordained name Hyeseung, but I got kicked out after five years, so even that was useless. Still, I think it wasn't a loss, because I definitely learned the foundations I needed to master the Moonlit Divine Sword.—

—Expelled? Why? Don't tell me you stripped some senior or junior sister you disliked naked and made her bleed from all seven orifices.—

—Dammit. You just made me remember it again. That was impossible, since it was before I'd learned the Moonlit Divine Sword. Even now that I've truly become a ghost, I can't forget that grudge.—

Moon Immortal spoke through gritted teeth.

—Reverend, you have no idea how dreadful a group composed entirely of women can become. The Yeongsan Sect was so desperately poor that everyone supported one another, but if it continues growing and accepts only female disciples, it'll become the worst kind of organization. You may be a reverend who lusts after women, but I sincerely advise you to accept male and female disciples alike and judge them only by talent.—

—No, we shouldn't accept them looking only at talent. And I asked why you got kicked out?—

—I got caught eating meat. About five times? At first, they thought my talent was too precious and just scolded me, but then they eventually locked me in the repentance cave, and finally, I was expelled from the sect.

Does that even make sense? When women are already born physically weaker than men, and they even forbid meat? Then why become martial artists? Humans who polish their swordsmanship to kill people anyway, talking about mercy and non-killing—don't you think it's truly laughable? The only thing I like about you, Reverend, is that you actively include meat in your diet. Since Medicine Immortal's disciple provides this much quality meat every day, Son Yeong will grow quickly.—

She wasn't nun-like, but as a martial artist, Moon Immortal was actually righteous enough to be respected. Perhaps martial arts that had originated at Shaolin had become overwhelmingly Taoist because their practitioners recognized that contradiction.

—[And Moon Immortal's infamy began spreading throughout the world. She sought out famous female masters and inflicted terrible humiliation on them. She restrained herself toward Emei out of regard for her former sect, but female Mount Hua disciples and children of the Nangong Clan became victims, and she even left the Sword Empress of Sword Empress Pavilion naked on top of a city gate. Sword Empress Pavilion ultimately sealed its gates for fifty years.]—

Medicine Immortal interjected into the nostalgic tale.

—[Isn't she a complete lunatic? Why did she go around picking only on women?]—

—[Women were not her only victims, but they made up the majority. She must have accumulated a great deal of resentment toward women during her years as an Emei disciple. Moon Immortal was a pretty child, but unlike Hyang, she wasn't good at winning people over, so she must have been an easy target for her senior sisters.]—

—Hmph. That wasn't all. I disliked everything about them. Those women of the martial world knew that once you called yourself a martial artist, there was no distinction between man and woman, yet instead of correcting their weaknesses, they were satisfied to remain beneath men. I hated that. And the Sword Empress—you know what that bitch was like. If the Martial Alliance hadn't been falling apart, she deserved to be branded an unorthodox martial artist—no, a public enemy of the entire martial world.—

—Oh my! Moon Immortal! You've learned our words, too!—

—You were being so frustrating that I learned it from your disciple. Honestly, for an old hag, you're more narrow-minded than Cho-ryeong. What kind of Medicine Immortal are you?

And sealing the gates? How was that my fault? You were the one who sealed them after treating the Sword Empress! You smashed everything—the training grounds, the pavilions, all of it!—

—That was because after I went to the trouble of treating her, she called me a whore who sold her body to a man. And on top of that, she spat on my husband.—

—And Emei? Why did you rampage at the Emei Sect?—

—They started it there. They told me to get lost to the frontier like a barbarian, since I was a barbarian. I'm not even from Goryeo; I'm a Balhae refugee. Did she think that was something to say to someone who had lost their homeland? And they ended up losing their own country to the Mongols too.—

—Hyeseon. That bitch had a filthy mouth from the beginning. If Nun Eungwang hadn't been murdered by Goshifa Lama, a woman like her could never even have dreamed of becoming sect leader. Fine, you should have taught that bitch a lesson and come back. Why did you smash Emei's innocent Great Hero Hall to pieces too? Aren't you afraid ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of the Buddha?—

—Hmph. Even as a ghost, I've never met the Buddha. After I died, I saw Yeongmok's Taoist arts, but I've ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠never once seen the Buddha's divine power.—

Medicine Immortal's gentle and noble image shattered into pieces.

Moon Immortal. Medicine Immortal. Sword Empress. The Emei Sect's accusations. What on earth had the Central Plains been like a hundred years ago, when these crazy women ran wild?

"Here, I prepared it with all my heart. Please, Junior Brother."

Lee Eun-ha spoke cheerfully as she brought out a large platter. Ahead of our expedition to Henan, we had planned to hold an ordinary expedition ceremony, but Hwangseong, sick of self-service rituals, proposed a different idea. Hwangseong said that since it was an event to give thanks to the deceased and pray for safe travels, we should just scrap the ritual and let them simply enjoy the food. In the end, we prepared a modest expedition ceremony: we let the spirits dwell in the bodies of the disciples who owed them a debt of gratitude, so they could taste the sumptuous feast firsthand.

"Oho! Medicine Immortal! This is excellent! I still know nothing of your Shennong Art, but your disciple's cooking truly is first-rate!"

Moon Immortal, while possessing Son Yeong's body, reached her hand toward a meat skewer. Son Yeong's face, which I'd seen countless times, felt intensely foreign. A person could make such different expressions just from a single spirit dwelling inside them.

"Of course. Eun-ha is a splendid disciple. Finding a successor for the Shennong Art is harder than finding a successor for the Moonlit Divine Sword. At first, you endure and cultivate your inner power in front of the furnace, but once you achieve a certain level, you leave the furnace and head out into the martial world. So I'm truly delighted to meet a child like Eun-ha who genuinely loves the furnace.

"Although, I think this might have been just a little better if seasoned with fish sauce rather than salt."

Medicine Immortal, possessing Lee Eun-ha. Unlike the others, who were moving their hands busily like people possessed by starving ghosts, she leisurely savored the taste. Despite her words, a proud, boastful look was visible on her face.

"I don't know about fish sauce or salt, but this is definitely a remarkable dish. Education is important, of course, but for now, just happily enjoy the sincerity of your disciple."

Heosan was possessing Master. Perhaps because their genders differed, this pair gave an entirely different impression. Master, whose youthful looks were one of her defining features, was already draining her cup with the hearty expression of an old man. Geo Am, meanwhile, reached only for sweet confections like candy. Moon Immortal snatched away the candy he was eating and asked in surprise.

"Geo Am. You enjoy this taste too? You're a surprisingly discerning eater, aren't you?"

"No. I hate sweets. But even if I'm the one tasting it, this body belongs to Ryeong. I have to feed it the candy Ryeong likes. How could I possibly put alcohol into her body?"

Geo Am, possessing Cho-ryeong. The afterimage of a giant warrior seemed to flicker behind her cute, charming figure, making my head spin. Unexpectedly, the Flame Emperor, possessing Jeong-hyang, was enjoying the ritual table calmly, handling his chopsticks even more demurely and politely than Jeong-hyang. It seemed that unlike the original Spirit Possession Art used on my own body, when performing the Spirit Possession Art on another person, it was too much for the body's owner to move the body, so the women who owned those bodies weren't saying a word.

So in the end, I too gave my body to Hwangseong, and we began the expedition ceremony for this journey to Henan solely in the Yeongsan Sect's way.