Chapter 6

Chapter 5: On the Way Home

Having been practically chased out of Wudang Sect, my mood was naturally far from good.

But I couldn't just wallow in resentment.

Blaming something and being held back by that blame, only to look back and live, would leave me with nothing.

I couldn't afford to waste even a speck of time on resentment towards Wudang Sect.

Now was the time to move forward.

I would grow to the point where Wudang Sect would regret expelling me.

I set my immediate goal.

'Maybe it's for the best.'

If I had remained a lay disciple of Wudang Sect, there would have been various restrictions and limitations. Even in terms of martial arts I could learn, there were many things I had to avoid as a lay disciple. If I wanted to reach a higher realm, I would have had to be even more cautious of others' opinions.

What if someone noticed that I had learned advanced martial arts?

'Where did you learn this?'

'Grandmaster Zhang Sanfeng taught me!'

'You're crazy!'

It would be chaos.

But now, expelled from Wudang Sect, I no longer needed to be cautious about learning martial arts.

'Now I just need to absorb it well.'

Grandmaster Zhang Sanfeng would teach me well, and I could grow steadily by absorbing it properly.

The problem was that most people couldn't absorb it well and struggled.

Do I have the talent to absorb Grandmaster Zhang Sanfeng's teachings?

I've been learning well recently, but it's hard to have baseless confidence given my struggles at Wudang Sect. The thought of disappointing him by not keeping up with his teachings troubled my mind.

"Hmm?"

Suddenly, a cool stream of energy rose from my dantian, swirling around my heart and head.

The breathing technique of Qingming Heart Method soothed my mind.

It was a wondrous ability.

I didn't understand what Grandmaster Zhang Sanfeng meant by 'Shangtianzhijili' when he mentioned it in passing, but this ability alone showed that it was far from ordinary.

It was fitting for a martial art passed down by someone who had reached the realm of an immortal.

I was even looking forward to the next martial art he would teach me.

In the midst of this, a voice suddenly echoed in my head.

'...Dao? Go?'

The voice in my head sounded different from usual.

More dignified, perhaps?

'You said you would teach me properly when I got home, and now you're going to act more dignified? You also said you would be away for a while, but you came back quickly?'

"The tone is too different. Just be yourself, be comfortable."

"…Since you can hear me, we are having a conversation, right?"

What is this sense of déjà vu?

I remember a time when he reacted similarly.

Listening to his response, it felt like we were back to the first time we became aware of each other's existence.

'Are you teasing me?'

"You know very well that I was recently expelled from Wudang Sect, so if you keep doing this..."

Do even immortals get dementia?

What kind of reaction is that?

"You are teasing me."

I don't think it's my fault, but I was indeed expelled from Wudang Sect. And I have to tell my family about this bad outcome, which is a heavy burden. It's not a good feeling when someone who offers to be my master teases me about it.

"I failed to understand your great intentions, Master."

You can tease me. It's fine.

If you teach me another martial art like Qingming Heart Method, this is nothing.

After all, this level of teasing is nothing compared to what I endured from Yun Shihou, that bastard, during my time as a lay disciple at Wudang Sect.

Compared to Xian Dao Tang Zhu, it's even less.

Still, the response and voice seem a bit strange.

It's disrespectful to have such thoughts about my master.

But he is my master.

I am on my way home after being expelled from Wudang Sect. Naturally, I am on the road back home. I was surprised by the sudden martial arts lesson, but it doesn't matter where I am when I receive the teaching.

I found a suitable large rock by the side of the road and climbed up.

Sitting cross-legged in a comfortable spot, a soft voice began reciting the incantation.

Following the incantation and adjusting my breathing, I felt the changes in my body, just as I did when learning Qingming Heart Method.

Ugh!

'Ugh!'

For some reason, a brief headache occurred at the top of my head, near the crown.

But the headache quickly disappeared.

I focused more on the changes that followed the passing headache.

A sensation of change spread from the center of my body.

'Mysterious.'

The incantation didn't seem to be made of characters. The sound that reached my body dissolved like salt in water, merging with my blood and flesh.

The sound, as if becoming part of my blood and flesh, settled into my bones.

The breath of the incantation spread through my bones.

The flow of blood, centered around my bones, contained the incantation.

The incantation established a foundation and framework.

Like a solid foundation that holds the earth steady!

Tu Zheng. The essence of earth.

While Qingming Heart Method cleansed my mind like water, Tu Zheng Gong gave me a solid and steady center in my body.

Like the earth that accepts everything without complaint, no matter how hard I play.

"That's a fitting martial art."

"Yes, it felt like a solid center was being established in my body."

After teasing me with 'Oh?' and 'Oh!', now it's 'Hm?'.

It seems Master has developed a peculiar way of speaking.

"Yes?"

I asked, not understanding what he meant.

But there was no response.

"What is this?"

It's strange enough, but now he's saying incomprehensible things.

Open mind?

I unconsciously touched my head.

"It's not like it's bald."

I'm still young, but it's a sensitive topic.

After touching my thick hair, I stood up, and my legs felt quite strong.

It was time to continue walking.

Home was still far away.

***

My hometown, Samyang County, is not a large city.

It's a big village, but slightly lacking to be called a city.

Even in such a place, our family was not the most prominent.

My grandfather, who had retired from official duties, raised the status of our family, but he wasn't greedy, so we didn't have much wealth.

We had enough to live comfortably without working the land. Apart from the various connections my grandfather made, we were just an average family.

That was the position of our family.

Naturally,

"I'm here."

"Oh! My child!"

In Samyang County, the only people who would make a fuss over my return were my family.

My return was noisy within the family but quiet and uneventful in Samyang County itself.

Our family isn't poor. We have a history of holding official positions, and we own enough land to live comfortably without working the land.

Naturally, we have about ten servants.

Excluding the servants, there were four main family members in the household.

"Well, since the kid who wanted to become a martial artist has returned in one piece, that's good enough."

Father, Yan Jingying. He appears a bit stern and dignified, a typical figure of authority.

...Or he pretends to be.

When I say I'm going somewhere, he acts indifferent and brief, but he slips me some pocket money.

He pretends not to care but his eyes move actively, scanning my entire body. I was worried about his eye health.

"I'm sorry, Father."

"It's fine. If what you say is true, then Wudang Sect is the one lacking."

He speaks calmly, but his clenched fists are trembling. Considering his temperament, he might soon drink alone to vent his frustration.

"My child! Oh! My child!"

And this person, who has been periodically slapping my back since we met, is my mother.

Mother, Han Shuxi.

As you can see, a typical mother.

She worries more about her children than herself.

At meals, she tells me to eat more vegetables but puts meat dishes in front of me before herself.

She keeps slapping my back, looking sad.

"Ha ha."

I gave her a clumsy smile.

And then,

"Brother!"

Just as Mother was about to stop slapping my back, a small child ran up and hugged me.

A cute little boy, burying his face in my body and rubbing it.

"You're eight years old, and your tongue is still short."

"Hehe."

He finally lifted his face from my body and laughed brightly. His large, round eyes curved softly, making him even cuter.

My younger brother, Yan Qingwu.

He has unusually large, clear eyes. He's so clear that I worry about his future.

It's not strange for a child to be innocent, but this kid is exceptionally clear.

Even with an eight-year age gap, my brother stuck to me without any distance.

Feeling his warmth, I hugged him tightly with both arms. I had to hug and pat him over thirty times to finally let go.

I met my father, mother, and brother one by one, relieving my longing.

"Go on."

Father said to me.

The last family member.

He was talking about Grandfather.

Nodding once, my steps naturally followed the familiar path. Just as the path became familiar, I arrived at the annex and called out strongly.

"I'm here, Grandfather."

"Come in."

A prompt response to my long-absent voice.

I steadied my heart, hearing Grandfather's voice after a long time.

'He's a good person, not just a kind one.'

There's a clear difference.

Knowing this difference, I steadied my heart even more and entered.

Inside, a calm old man was sitting.

An old man with his back to the window. The sunlight coming in from the window seemed to slow down time around him as he smiled leisurely.

Grandfather, Yan Ziyen.

The person closest to the reason I admired martial artists.

"If you were still progressing without issues, it wouldn't be time to return yet. Were you expelled?"

"Yes, that's what happened."

I admitted it straightforwardly, with no intention to lie.

"Was it your fault?"

"I did something, but it wasn't my fault."

"Is that so?"

Yan Ziyen's eyes formed a long, gentle curve, as if satisfied with my answer.

"Then that's fine."

Grandfather Yan Ziyen seemed satisfied with that and didn't ask further. He only firmly accepted that it wasn't my fault.

I told him the rest.

"I plan to stay at home for a while."

"Hmm?"

By saying I wouldn't go elsewhere after being expelled from Wudang Sect, it was as good as giving up on becoming a martial artist.

"Are you giving up on becoming a martial artist?"

He asked quietly and leisurely, just as before.

Though it seemed casual, I felt the heavy weight of his question.

The center of that weight was in his eyes, visible between his wrinkled eyelids. Despite his age, his eyes were clear, but their center was deep, looking straight at me.

Seeing the essence of Grandfather after a long time, I smiled quietly.

Grandfather cared for me a lot. He often took me with him and taught me.

A man should have principles. It's fine not to live a grand life. If it's truly what you want, I'll support you even if you hold a sword instead of a brush.

Live according to what you believe in.

Grandfather always taught me this and lived by it himself.

His eyes were proof.

Since he retired, many people, especially those in higher positions, disliked him because of his eyes. His eyes, which seemed to embody his unwavering principles, made people feel as if they were being shown their ugly sides in a mirror. Corrupt officials disliked making eye contact with him.

On the other hand, clean officials liked him.

Grandfather could maintain good relationships with many people in the martial world because many were drawn to his integrity.

I was the same.

"I have a purpose. I ended up turning back, but I will continue."

"Hmm."

I met his gaze without flinching, my expression unwavering.

Grandfather's smile deepened, his back to the sunlight.

"When did our grandson grow so much?"

It seemed to be a satisfactory answer.

Grandfather's proud smile spread brightly in the sunlight, clearer than his age suggested.

***

"Alright, the big things are done."

Leaving Grandfather's residence, the warm sunlight shone on my body.

I felt the warmth.

It's natural for sunlight to be warm, but I felt it anew. It might seem trivial, but such trivial thoughts require a sense of ease.

Seeing how I feel now, it seems that being expelled from Wudang Sect and returning home was indeed a burden.

I was worried that my family would look at me strangely for coming back in such a state. I knew it was unlikely, but such thoughts lingered in my mind.

Though I have a promising future with Grandmaster Zhang Sanfeng's teachings, in reality, I have achieved nothing. I can't even say that my new master is Zhang Sanfeng.

It seems the effects of being too restrained during my time at Wudang Sect are still lingering.

Having a critical perspective can be a strength, but if it leads to self-deprecation, it becomes a problem.

A critical perspective allows you to see your flaws, but self-deprecation turns you into a flaw.

These are things I need to shed.

I knew the most efficient way to shed these things.

Elevating my own character.

Despite returning home on the same day, I decided to focus on training immediately.

A voice that had been silent for a while echoed in my head.