869 - I Am This Murim’s Crazy B*tch

The following day. The path to the Absolute Sword Wall of the Zhongnan Sect was, how to put it, hmm, something like a sudden picnic atmosphere—or rather, not quite a picnic. What would you call this? A mountain club gathering? No, more like something else. “Yesterday, I went to the reservoir up ahead and caught a catfish that's likely over a hundred years old. No joke, that thing was surely over a meter long.” “Oh, should we make some catfish soup? My joints have been aching lately, and after drinking some thick, boiled broth, I think I'll feel better.” “Ahem, how could I harm such a majestic creature? I enjoyed the thrill, and so I let it go, thinking it learned its lesson about the dangers of bait.” “That guy's at it again. He always boasts about catching a big fish every time he goes on a fishing trip. Yet, nobody's ever seen that ‘big fish’.” “Ha, you’re clueless. Fishing is all about skill. I've already mastered it to the point I've reached the Nature Realm, catching even the spirits that guard water streams.” “Gee, Senior Brother, they say people get shameless as they get older. Last time I followed you, and you didn’t even catch a small fry. Maybe it's your time to return to nature rather than the Nature Realm?” “That’s because you lack 'fish fortune', and standing next to someone with ill-fortune can get you involved in their disasters.” Ah, yes, this is the atmosphere. Qing thought he finally found the right expression for it. It's like the elderly from a community center on some group tour... something like that. Indeed, the observers from the Zhongnan Sect were white-haired elders, the Grand Elders. Seeing Qing's demonstration might best provide insights to these individuals who have both the ability and experience, as well as discerning eyes. Hence, the Grand Elders stepped in to observe, as they would be more likely to share their insights with the sect, compared to some clumsy disciples. That was the sect master's decision for the Zhongnan Sect. While leisurely climbing the mountain path. Suddenly, strange trees caught his eye. Qing wasn't sure what kind of trees they were, but they were short, young trees. The peculiar point was, the trunks abruptly slimmed down around waist height, like thin trees inserted into a thick stump. What is this? Can trees grow like that? Among them, a slightly slouched old man stood leaning. Ahead of him, stands the Great Celestial Martial Emperor. “Oh, Elder. When did you come out here?” “At my leisure. Do I need to ask a wet-behind-the-ears brat's permission to come out?” Indeed, there's always someone who would say things like that. As Qing scratched his cheek, suddenly, ooh. Seeing such a sudden appearance of the Great Celestial Martial Emperor meant he had already witnessed the traces of the Lone Nine Swords Technique with his own eyes. Then, this place must be... With that thought, Qing realized those trees were not like that naturally; they had sprouts coming from once-cut trees. All around, trees shared a uniformly chopped-off appearance at an even height, as if measured with a ruler. Qing looked around. All he could see were trees that had regrown after a cut. In the far-off distance stood fully-grown trees rising like walls; it was a grand scene of an entire forest felled with a single stroke. “Oh, so you didn’t carve it into a cliff at Zhongnan. This demonstration is a horizontal slash, then?” “Can’t you tell by looking? Why act self-enlightened about what's obvious, clucking your tongue,” “Hmm, why so prickly today?” “Your mind is prickly. This 'Great Celestial Martial Emperor' is your creation, a mental replica made after seeing the sword marks.” It was Qing's assertion that the 'Great Celestial Martial Emperor' was merely a reformed replica created by his mind after observing the sword marks. Qing's eyes narrowed. “Are you sure that's right? It doesn't seem like it.” “If not? Do you think the real Great Celestial Martial Emperor snuck out all spry and ancient, or maybe descended slyly from the celestial realm?” “Wow, were you an immortal?” The Great Celestial Martial Emperor scoffed. “Ha. Where are there any Taoist immortals in this world?” “Eh. Why wouldn't there be immortals? In a world where people gather energy to emit starlight and soar on swords, how could there be no immortals?” From Qing's perspective, even the existence of Qi(氣) was a cosmic mystery, a universal element that makes the impossible possible. There's Qi, and people emit sword energy and sword force. Is that all? Speaking of my own experience, there's my status window, martial arts windows, and learning martial arts through brain-infusion, my master flying on a sword, and that Yeon-Yang making Jiangshi, and those bizarre Buddhist monks from Tianzhu performing some rituals to drag spirits from the other world—if this isn't an ancient, primitive Central Plains theater of the absurd, what is it? In such a world, is it conceivable there are no Taoist immortals? However, that was Qing's standard. The Great Celestial Martial Emperor’s brows furrowed. He looked at Qing with a gaze as if looking at a pitiable creature and clicked his tongue. “How can that be the same? The circulation of Qi in heaven and earth is as natural as breathing, and 'immortals' are stories made up by people. What's the relation between Qi and that?” For the people of Zhongyuan, 'Taoist immortals' were akin to unicorns spoken of in Qing's homeland. In a world where long-necked animals exist, long-nosed animals exist, and even creatures that can regenerate into two when cut apart exist. Yet, a horned horse supposedly doesn’t exist? As incredible and incomprehensible as it seems, what's nonexistent can't be argued for. That's how the concept of Taoist immortals was to the people of Zhongyuan. But Qing was not one of them. And most of all, isn’t it highly suspicious? Are you sure it's the Great Celestial Martial Emperor? Not someone else? “Hmm.” “Enough. The technique is called Sever Bonds, Cut Away Love.” 'Sever Bonds, Cut Away Love' confirmed. This was unfortunate news for the Zhongnan Sect, but... 'Severing bonds(斷緣)' is a term used in Buddhism that refers to severing ties. The bonds referred to here signify worldly attachments, specifically referring to leaving home, or symbolizing a practitioner's mindset focused on shedding distractions or attachments to devote themselves to spiritual practice. Conversely, 'Cut Away Love(切愛)' carries a similar meaning. In Buddhism, the concept of 'love' (愛) refers to greed and attachment (탐애, tan-ai). This greed for attachment is considered the root cause of samsara—thus, severing it is the practitioner's mindset in pursuit of reaching nirvana. “To be honest, aren’t the Zhongnan folks a bit embarrassing to call Taoists? One can't tell if they are Taoists or servants of the Dali court.” Zhongnan Sect is the most worldly of Taoist sects, as it has historically served as the primary Taoist temple for the Dali Kingdom, firmly maintaining the roots of the Bai ethnic people. Of course, this does not mean that the Zhongnan Sect rejects or discriminates against ethnicities other than the Bai. But ten out of ten, the cities and villages around Mount Zhongnan were all originally towns of the Bai people from the Dali Kingdom, and so most of their disciples inevitably end up being Bai too. Even other ethnic peoples, like Han or Miao, after joining Zhongnan, end up considering themselves honorary Bai, having absorbed into the culture. “Previously, during the Dali Kingdom's era, Zhongnan Sect was tied with the Dali army, so it was inevitable. But they can’t keep maintaining such ties forever.” “Hmm. Isn’t that not really a problem?” “Why wouldn’t it be a problem? The Dali court is practically using the Zhongnan Sect as their soldiers. Even when they should be focusing on rigorous training, they are constantly dragged back to roam around. Are they still doing that now?” Hmm, so that’s the history behind the Zhongnan Sect. Indeed, considering the Zhongnan Sect seems quiet now, it’s because their disciples are scattered across Yunnan due to the Bai epidemic. Like the Jong Moon-Woon and Jong Moon-Gan brothers, taking measures to protect innocent people from potential harm due to the rumors of plague. Well, can't they consider such activities part of being an upright sect? “And you, young one, this is directed at you.” “Huh? Me?” “Starting at such a young, unbearably young, age, you’ve already reached the Transformation Realm—do you think martial arts are easy? Do you think, ‘I’m young, time is plenty, if I train leisurely someday I'll reach the Profound Realm’? Is martial practice nowhere in your concern?” This, Qing couldn’t hold it in. “Why are you saying it like that? I’m quite serious about it, you know?” “Pah. Serious, are you? At your age, I had built a thatched cottage deep in the mountain, trained all day long, circulated Qi for three shichen a day, and when it was done, picked up the sword again.” Though Qi circulation could somewhat substitute sleep, it never truly replaces it. Which meant he trained relentlessly without sleep. If anyone else had claimed it, it’d elicit a polite “Oh, is that so?” and be left at that. Somehow, the Great Celestial Martial Emperor seemed like he might actually have done it. “So sever bonds, cut away love. To perfect a single martial art, human life is too short. Why waste precious time clinging to futile connections during the most critical training period?” “Hey, waste time?” “Is it not a waste? Even the closest friend can’t train martial arts for you, can they? Again, no matter how long a person lives, they scarcely exceed over a hundred years, perhaps a hundred and fifty years with regressive rejuvenation during the late Profound Realm.” “Still, a hundred and fifty years—” “Oh boy. Listen to yourself.” The Great Celestial Martial Emperor let out a long sigh, evidently weary. “Oh, young one, it’s just a hundred and fifty years. Just, only that. About a thousand years ago, Bodhidharma came from the West realizing the truth about martial arts and began spreading it throughout Zhongyuan.” It took three hundred years for the first martial artist of the Transformation Realm to emerge, none other than Wang Chongyang, patriarch of the Zhen-Zhong Sect. Wang Chongyang's disciple founded the Huashan Sect, and his successors established the Wudang Sect. After the fall of the Zhen-Zhong Sect, the remnants formed the Zhongnan Sect. The first Transformation Realm martial artist essentially laid out the groundwork for these three of the Nine Great Sects. And it was another four hundred years until the first individual transcending the demon, the Heavenly Demon, emerged, whose prowess could singlehandedly contend with all of Zhongyuan. Luckily, during the conflict with him, the righteous sects managed to produce their first Profound Realm martial artist, thwarting the unification attempt by the Heavenly Demon Sect. “Thus, reaching the Profound Realm with martial arts took seven hundred years. Seven hundred years, seven hundred years! And upon reaching the Profound Realm is the realization that the end of martial arts is still far distant, far beyond sight. Yet human life, no matter how long, is barely a mere hundred and fifty years. Just, only that.” “Hm.” “And yet here you are, starved for affection, clinging to connections, wasting your precious, gold-like time. Sever bonds, cut away love. Your time is too precious to spend it on memories that will inevitably fade.” The act of training in martial arts is called 'study,' and when pronounced in Zhongyuan style, becomes ‘kung fu’, or 工夫. In other words, it was a nag to study instead of idling. And naturally, a nag often provokes an irritated retort after hearing it. Qing, likewise, felt a sudden surge of indignation. --- **Terms and Translations:** 1. **Dali Kingdom (대리국) & Bai people (백족)**: Historic references, where the Dali Kingdom was a medieval kingdom, the Bai people being its natives. 2. **Dali Court's Servants (대리왕부의 하인들)**: The Dali court was compared with servants, indicating how Zhongnan Sect was being exploited or utilized in a militaristic manner. 3. **Means/Techniques & Realms**: - **Transformation Realm (화경), Profound Realm (현경)**: Martial arts levels akin to a grander understanding beyond physical prowess. 4. **Shichen (시진)**: A time measure, when the day is divided into different periods. 5. **Bodhidharma (달마)**: Refers to an historical Buddhist monk known for bringing Zen Buddhism to China and reputedly introducing martial arts to Shaolin Temple. 6. **Rejuvenation (반로환동)**: A term denoting extended youthfulness or age extension associated with profound martial techniques. 7. **Zhen-Zhong Sect (전진파)** & **Wang Chongyang (왕중양)**: Historic martial founders and sects recognized in martial arts lore. 8. **Kung Fu (쿵푸)**: Refers to one's work or effort in martial training, colloquially appropriated from its deeper cultural meaning. 9. **Western Realms (서역)**: Hints at the lands and cultures west of Zhongyuan or China Proper, often occasionally referred to for historical interactions. This passage emphasizes the philosophical burden of time in martial arts advancement, echoing both historical references and legendary martial arts narratives intertwined within vivid cultural textures.