WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

Chapter 164: If I Hear the Dao in the Morning, I Can Die by Evening (4)

──────

Sword-Relinquishing Pool.

It was a pond before Wudang's mountain gate.

Its water was remarkably clear and strangely still. At dawn or sunset, a face reflected on its surface looked clearer than it would in a polished bronze mirror.

Small stone cairns made of piled pebbles stood around it, thick with moss. Rusted weapons lay or leaned against them here and there.

The Daoists of Wudang required visitors to lay down their weapons before it.

"No, Daoist temple master. Does it make any sense to forbid even a little blade like this? What could I possibly do with it? At most, I'd peel fruit."

A martial artist thumped his chest in frustration.

The Daoist before him kept a faint smile and answered without wavering.

"This blade isn't for peeling fruit. It is a dagger meant for stabbing someone in secret. You know it, and so do I. We will hold it at the mountain gate."

"No, this is frustrating. I already handed over my longsword, didn't I? It's the first time I've been separated from my cherished weapon, which I always carry, so I wanted to keep even a small dagger close. Are you saying I can't do that either?"

"You cannot. If you wish to ascend Wudang, you must lay down everything."

"Please, make an exception just this once. You know what a weapon means to a martial artist, don't you? Can't there be an exception?"

At that, the Wudang Daoist silently turned his gaze to the side, his expression unchanged.

Sword-Relinquishing Pool.

Rusted weapons stood among the moss-covered stone cairns.

"That is the sword of Supreme Tyrant Sword Sado Myeong, who was called the greatest martial artist under Heaven fifty years ago."

"...What?"

"The weapon beside it is the great saber of Lord Paeng Junam, who was enfeoffed by the Emperor as a Grand General under Heaven one hundred and fifty years ago."

"..."

"They were left behind willingly, or made to be left behind, after their owners were moved by Wudang's teachings."

In other words, they were the weapons of those who had lost after trying to cross Wudang's mountain gate while armed.

Some had left them behind to acknowledge defeat. Others had died and left them behind.

There were no exceptions.

"..."

What more could he say?

The martial artist finally removed the dagger without a word and handed it to the Daoist.

"Hyeoncheon Josun Celestial Worthy..."

The Daoist accepted it respectfully and recited a Daoist invocation.

"..."

The martial artist trudged through the mountain gate, looking somehow empty.

Standing farther back in line, Yeon Sowol listened closely to the exchange and fiddled with the hilt of Clear Mirror.

'So I have to leave this behind before going up?'

There really did not seem to be any exceptions.

Even someone called the greatest martial artist under Heaven, and the most honored general ever enfeoffed as Grand General under Heaven, had offered up their weapons and withdrawn...

'I can understand it.'

Yeon Sowol looked at the long line before the mountain gate.

What would happen if outsiders were allowed to carry weapons however they pleased in a place where this many people gathered every day?

It was understandable. Even in the twenty-first century, special places like airports conducted security screenings.

Accepting it, Yeon Sowol removed his sword from his waist.

Yet why did it bother him so much?

"...Hmm."

It felt far emptier than he had imagined.

He was not about to sleep in his room. He was outdoors, surrounded by countless people, and he had to part with his sword?

Would that really be all right?

The emptiness became unease, the unease became a little frightening, and it was even embarrassing. Was this what taking off one's pants in public felt like...?

"Um..."

Still, someone climbing Wudang could not break Wudang's rules.

Suppressing the horrible discomfort, Yeon Sowol completely removed Clear Mirror and held it in his hand.

Perhaps he was not the only one feeling this way. Another commotion rose at Sword-Relinquishing Pool ahead.

"I'd heard the rumors, but they were true. Aren't you looking down on me too much? You invited me to Wudang Mountain today. You called me here because you needed me, yet now you're telling me to lay down my weapon? What kind of oppression is this?"

Yeon Sowol nodded inwardly.

If someone called him over and then told him to put down his weapon, he thought he'd be annoyed too.

Still...

'What can you do? Those are the rules.'

Yeon Sowol had grown up even more upright and reasonable than most people in rule-abiding South Korea.

He believed one had to accept what needed accepting.

Besides, Wudang's Daoists had a way with words.

"Hyeoncheon Josun Celestial Worthy... Absolutely not. We are neither looking down on our guest nor oppressing you."

"Then what is it? You don't trust me? You invited me here, but you're worried I'll do something bad with this sword, so you're treating me like this? Is that why you're restricting me?"

"It is neither distrust nor a restriction. Rather, this is Wudang's welcome and gift."

A derisive snort rang out.

"A welcome? A gift? Since when has putting out a bunch of rotting weapons to scare people been a welcome or a gift?"

"That is precisely why it is a welcome and a gift. Sword-Relinquishing Pool is a promise Wudang makes to every guest who visits. Once you cross this mountain gate, Wudang promises to protect you no matter what happens."

"Pretty words..."

"It is true. Even if every Black Path faction in the world gathers here, even if Strange Ghosts and fiendish demons swarm forth, even if the imperial army comes charging in, as long as you are our guest, we promise to protect you within these gates. That is why we dare ask you to lay down your sword. Even without it, Wudang will stake everything to protect you."

"...Ha. You can't know that. If trouble comes and Wudang decides not to protect me, I'll be the fool."

"We will protect you."

"How am I supposed to know that...?"

"It has been over a thousand years. Since our founder laid down the first sword at this Sword-Relinquishing Pool. A thousand years. Wudang has never broken that promise even once."

"..."

The man arguing fell silent.

A thousand years carried weight.

So did the passage of those years.

In the end, he too quietly removed his weapon and crossed the mountain gate.

"Mm..."

So there really were no exceptions.

Yeon Sowol absentmindedly touched Clear Mirror.

"Wait, is that...?"

"Solitary Night Awakening. Isn't that Hero Yeon Sowol, Solitary Night Awakening?"

"Solitary Night Awakening? Awake alone at night? Who is... Ah! Don't tell me. The man who wiped out the water raiders of Dongting Lake in a single night?"

"What? He's that young? Unbelievable!"

"It's definitely him. How could I mistake him? I saw him several times at the martial arts tournament... I could tell just by the way he dresses."

"What? You watched that martial arts tournament?"

"How lucky..."

"Huh? Who is that handsome young man?"

The whispers from people who recognized Yeon Sowol steadily grew louder.

* * *

"Martial Uncle! It's Solitary Night Awakening!"

A third-generation Wudang disciple was hurrying through the crowd to manage the line when he stopped in shock.

The disciple was in the mid-to-late teens. He ran to a second-generation disciple standing before the mountain gate. The older disciple was relatively senior among the second generation, an adult in his early thirties.

"What is it?"

"I'm telling you, it's Hero Solitary Night Awakening, Martial Uncle!"

"Solitary Night Awakening?"

"Yes, yes! Hero Yeon Sowol, Solitary Night Awakening!"

"Ah. The hero who made a name for himself in Yuezhou?"

"Yes! The Hero Solitary Night Awakening all the incense pilgrims keep talking about these days!"

"Yes, but what about him?"

"He's a famous figure in the Jianghu and a righteous hero. Shouldn't we show him some consideration? We do that sometimes, don't we? Move someone forward in line, for example."

"Hehe. Enough. Stay where you are."

"What? It's Hero Yeon Sowol! Last time, we moved Hero Seok of the Gangwoo Sect ahead in line... Someone like Hero Yeon should be more than worthy..."

"Hey, you. Hero is not a title you attach to just anyone."

The third-generation disciple's eyes went wide.

"What? Martial Uncle, what do you mean, just anyone? These days, Hero Yeon Sowol, Solitary Night Awakening, is so..."

"In any case, there is no need for us to show respect first. The real thing makes people respect him even if they do not intend to. That is what makes him real. Remember that."

"Yes..."

"Your dissatisfaction is written all over your face. When do you plan to reach Clear Heart?"

"I'll work at it..."

The second-generation disciple called Martial Uncle chuckled and began walking.

"Still, I should at least ask why he has come. If he has an appointment with one of the sect elders, we can make some accommodations for him. As far as I know, he has no particular connection to our sect."

With a calm expression and a faint smile, the second-generation disciple approached Yeon Sowol.

When their eyes met, the Daoist clasped his hands and bowed slightly.

"Hyeoncheon Josun Celestial Worthy. If it is not an imposition, may I ask what brings you to Wudang?"

"Ah."

At those words, Yeon Sowol looked around.

The Wudang disciple tilted his head at the uneasy-looking response.

'I'd heard his conduct was exceptionally proper. But he seems rather restless right now.'

Perhaps rumors really could not be trusted so easily.

As he thought that, a silk-wrapped book was suddenly held out before him.

"I came to deliver this to Wudang."

Unable to use voice transmission, Yeon Sowol had thought it over and decided to show him the real thing.

It would have been awkward to openly say in front of everyone that Wudang's Cotton Palm Art had been stolen by the Demonic Cult.

"This is...?"

Before the puzzled Wudang disciple, Yeon Sowol lifted the silk just enough to reveal its title.

!!!

The second-generation disciple froze on the spot.

He had also heard what the sect had recently lost, and to whom. He knew that the Sect Leader and elders had been deeply worried over it.

It was not something an outsider could have known, so it was difficult to doubt the authenticity of the Cotton Palm Art Yeon Sowol had brought.

As a mere second-generation disciple, he had no standing to judge its authenticity.

After quickly looking around, he bowed deeply to Yeon Sowol.

"Celestial Worthy, Incarnation of the Golden Palace Who Subdues Demons... Please come this way. I will take you to the Sect Leader at once."

The Daoist's steps quickened.

Yeon Sowol hurried after him.

The two passed Sword-Relinquishing Pool.

"Uh...?"

Yeon Sowol flinched.

He had not laid down his weapon.

Had the disciple noticed?

Walking ahead, the second-generation disciple smiled and sent a voice transmission.

⌜How could we commit the discourtesy of asking a benefactor of our sect to lay down his weapon? Please, come right in.⌟

Yeon Sowol was left somewhat dazed.

'...Didn't he say earlier that it was a welcome and a gift...?'

Jin Geol's voice suddenly came to mind.

- It is open to everyone, yet it is also the most closed-off place in the world. It does not show its true worth to just anyone.

Could that have meant...

'That they say one thing and mean another?'

Just then, someone who had witnessed the scene called out.

"Daoist temple master! Why is that young man passing through the mountain gate with a weapon?"

The second-generation disciple turned back and answered calmly.

"This person is not an outsider, so it is only natural. Only outsiders remove their swords at Sword-Relinquishing Pool. Wudang disciples do not."

It was a fairly plausible explanation.

Yet the other person did not seem willing to back down.

"Why isn't he an outsider? They looked like they had never met before! How do we know you're not just saying whatever you want?"

The second-generation disciple replied, still wearing a calm, faint smile.

"Celestial Worthy of Great Yin Transformation... One must see what flows as it flows. The more one tries to pry into it by force, the farther one strays from its meaning."

As the second-generation disciple stared silently at him, the person who had pressed the issue turned pale and looked away.

"Mm... That is true. Thank you for enlightening me."

"Hyeoncheon Josun Celestial Worthy."

The second-generation disciple quietly recited the Daoist invocation again, then led Yeon Sowol through the mountain gate.

They went deeper into the mountain, and behind them the mountain gate receded, along with the commotion.

Yeon Sowol suddenly thought,

'He backed down more quickly than I expected.'

He was thinking of the man who had protested about why Yeon Sowol had not removed his sword.

'He looked ready to keep arguing.'

Something about it felt strange.

Yeon Sowol tilted his head, then remembered something he wanted to ask.

"May I ask you something? I have learned martial arts from the Daoist tradition too, but this is my first time visiting a formal Daoist sect."

"Please, ask."

"What are those phrases you insert from time to time? I mean things like Hyeoncheon Josun Celestial Worthy. Earlier, you also said Celestial Worthy of Great Yin Transformation."

The second-generation disciple smiled brightly.

"Those are Daoist invocations."

"May I ask what they mean?"

"The Celestial Worthy of Great Yin Transformation is an invocation used when one feels regret. That man likely understood through my invocation that I felt regret for him, and withdrew."

"Ah..."

Yeon Sowol thought,

'Wasn't that a warning that you were angry and he should not provoke you...?'

This was completely...

Then another memory suddenly surfaced.

"Come to think of it, when you first saw me, you said Hyeoncheon Josun Celestial Worthy. Then after seeing what I carried, you said Celestial Worthy, Incarnation of the Golden Palace Who Subdues Demons. Do those two invocations have meanings too?"

He was asking indirectly because the second-generation disciple's attitude had changed completely between those two invocations.

The disciple simply smiled serenely.

"Hehe. They are only sounds that come from the mouth. How could they carry such great meaning? We treat every guest seeking our sect with the same heart. We only act differently according to the urgency of the matter. Hyeoncheon Josun Celestial Worthy..."

Was that so?

It did not seem like it.

Yeon Sowol tilted his head and said,

"...Actually, I fought an elite expert of the Demonic Cult, killed him, and only barely obtained this."

The second-generation disciple was startled.

"T-The Demonic Cult? You fought one? Personally?"

"Yes."

Seeing the sincerity in Yeon Sowol's unwavering eyes, the disciple bowed his head.

His attitude was far more respectful than before.

"If that is true... I sincerely offer my respect and gratitude for your uprightness and resolve. Celestial Worthy, Incarnation of the Golden Palace Who Subdues Demons... Ah."

The second-generation disciple flinched.

He had realized it.

By saying that, he had practically confessed the difference in rank between Hyeoncheon Josun Celestial Worthy and Celestial Worthy, Incarnation of the Golden Palace Who Subdues Demons.

"..."

"..."

For a moment, the two silently looked at each other.

"...Let's go."

"...Yes."

The second-generation disciple's expression remained serene, but his steps somehow seemed hurried.

'Jin Geol really does not talk nonsense.'

A place open to everyone, yet also the most closed-off place.

This place was certainly...

'Quite different on the inside and outside...'

Yeon Sowol narrowed his eyes.

Footnotes:

Join our discord at https://dsc.gg/wetried