Chapter 89

The Path of the Divine (89)

"Once, Master told me something. If you lose your way with the sword, put it down and ask your heart. When that heart points to a single direction, it means you have earned the right to hold the sword."

Seeing the disciple ponder these words solemnly, Fengxian smiled quietly.

"Such a stingy fellow."

"Me?"

Confused, Mingjian looked at Fengxian, who teased him.

"Isn't it true that sometimes showing your struggles and difficulties can make teaching more rewarding for a master like me?"

Fengxian continued.

"To be honest, I haven't found it very interesting so far. You've walked the path you should take without needing much guidance."

With a kind smile and gentle voice, Fengxian encouraged Mingjian.

"Finally, you seem more human."

Though it was a joke, there was a hint of sincerity in his words.

Mingjian's talent in martial arts was extraordinary.

To the point where, by talent alone, he might surpass Faliang, one of the Five Greats of Shaolin.

His innate patience and diligence were also exceptional, supporting his outstanding talent.

"Think about it calmly. It's just that the time has come for you to be shaken. When the time comes to move forward, you will do so again."

"..."

"The time has also come for you to put down the sword and feel."

"What do you mean?"

"Dao ke dao fei chang dao (道可道非常道)."

The moment it is spoken, the Dao is no longer the Dao. Gaining insight is that difficult.

"You will understand it naturally when the time comes."

Mingjian let out a soft sigh.

The more he engaged in this Zen dialogue with his master, the heavier his heart became.

"You will do well."

Fengxian smiled.

"If I were to pick the best thing I've done since my name was listed in the Huashan Sword Canon, it would undoubtedly be admitting you as a disciple of Huashan."

"Master..."

"Why are you asking this?"

"I still can't believe it. That the Grandmaster, the First Sword under Heaven, could be swayed by mere beauty and leave Huashan..."

Because he had always looked up to him and aimed to be like him, the shock was immense.

Fengxian chuckled and said.

"Surely, you don't think your master never had a passionate youth?"

"However..."

"Did you think he fell from the sky fully formed? He went through the same process of being swayed and becoming stronger, just like you."

"..."

"And you are wrong."

"Me? But according to the conversation between Master and the Immortal that day..."

Fengxian shook his head, cutting off Mingjian's words.

"While it's true that she is exceptionally beautiful, that's not the only reason your master was swayed."

To the flustered Mingjian, Fengxian said.

"There are realms that cannot be understood unless you experience them yourself. No matter how much I explain, you won't understand because I have seen it and you haven't."

"What haven't I seen?"

"Hmm..."

While Fengxian pondered whether to explain or not, one of the third-generation disciples hurriedly ran up.

"A guest has visited our sect."

"Guest?"

In response to Mingjian's question, the young disciple, Mingzheng, nodded hastily.

"The Immortal Bingyue and the son of Xin are requesting an audience with the Grandmaster."

Fengxian and Mingjian were both surprised.

'Of all times...'

Fengxian looked at Mingjian, who couldn't hide his agitation, with a worried expression.

'This might be a good opportunity.'

If a small fire can prevent a big one, this could be a useful method. Because the heart's fire can grow uncontrollably if left unchecked.

Finally, Fengxian nodded.

"I will greet the guest myself. Mingjian, inform the Grandmaster of this news."

Then he smiled.

"Perhaps the heavens are helping you."

"Me?"

Leaving the puzzled Mingjian behind, Fengxian darted towards the sect entrance.

* * *

Danyue Xian and Hanyuehua ascended the mountain path leading to the sect entrance, guided by one of the third-generation disciples.

The four majestic peaks, surpassing mere splendor, made Hanyuehua's lips curve into a faint smile.

Noticing this, Danyue Xian smiled and asked.

"Does this place hold many memories for you?"

"Memories? Memories..."

Hanyuehua vaguely trailed off, shaking her head with a light smile.

"Just fragments of memory, I suppose."

Curious about the meaning behind her words, Danyue Xian tilted her head.

At this moment, a person ran up from the sect entrance and bowed respectfully to Hanyuehua.

"I, Fengxian, the first-generation disciple of Huashan, greet you, Immortal."

Hanyuehua nodded silently. Fengxian turned to Danyue Xian and greeted her.

"Nice to meet you, Danyue."

Danyue Xian was puzzled.

"Do you know me?"

"I heard about you from Mingjian."

Fengxian added.

"Mingjian, that boy, is my disciple."

"Ah!"

Danyue Xian, realizing this late, bowed to Fengxian.

"Nice to meet you. I am Danyue Xian."

Suddenly, Danyue Xian felt a strange sensation and looked up. Fengxian was staring at her with a somewhat surprised expression.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

Danyue Xian's question made Fengxian give a soft cough.

"It's nothing."

However, he was genuinely surprised. The Danyue Xian he saw was very different from what he had heard.

Her posture was impeccable, and her eyes were clear.

Beyond that, he could sense her well-controlled internal energy.

'I was told she hadn't learned martial arts...'

Despite her young age, Mingjian was skilled enough to lead the Plum Blossom Sword Hand. His keen eye was no less than that of any other expert.

Yet, Mingjian reported that Danyue Xian had not learned martial arts.

'Furthermore...'

The leader of the escort team heading to Hubei was Zhenxian Zhenren, his junior master brother and the Grandmaster's disciple.

One of the top three experts in Huashan.

Even Zhenxian Zhenren couldn't have been deceived.

Yet, he also described Danyue Xian in the same way as Mingjian.

'What is this...?'

He was perplexed.

If what the two of them said was true, the child in front of him had only started learning martial arts about half a year ago. How could she achieve such a level in such a short time?

It was beyond his comprehension.

"Has the law of Huashan changed since then?"

The cold voice made Fengxian snap back to reality and turn to Hanyuehua.

"What do you mean?"

"How long are we going to stand here?"

"Oh! I apologize."

Fengxian bowed deeply and met Hanyuehua's gaze.

"It's just that this is unexpected. I didn't know you would visit our sect."

Fengxian stepped aside.

"Please come inside. I will guide you."

The third-generation disciple who had been leading them bowed and stepped back.

"Let's go."

Fengxian walked a few steps ahead, guiding Hanyuehua and Danyue Xian.

After about a quarter of an hour, an old stone building with a solitary and refined atmosphere appeared.

It was the Yuchuan Temple, a relic of the now-defunct Quanzhen Sect.

The signboard, inscribed with the two characters 'Huashan' in an incomparably majestic calligraphy, made Hanyuehua's eyes momentarily wistful.

Passing through the open Yuchuan Temple and walking for another quarter of an hour, they arrived at the entrance of the Huashan Sect.

Inside, numerous Huashan disciples were already lined up.

At the forefront stood a person.

With his hair neatly tied under a Daoist cap, he was an old Daoist with a completely white beard and a demeanor of a sage.

The current Grandmaster of Huashan Sect, known as the Divine Sword of Huashan.

Zhenming Zhenren personally greeted Hanyuehua.

"It's been a long time."

Hanyuehua, who had been staring at Zhenming Zhenren, smiled faintly.

"Indeed, a lot of time has passed."

Zhenming Zhenren slowly nodded.

Hanyuehua silently gazed at the old Daoist before her.

The young Daoist who had once relied on a single sword to temper himself with the spirit of bravery. The moment his devoted image overlapped with the old Daoist, she couldn't help but feel the impermanence of time.

Thus, the two stood silently, staring at each other without a word.

The silence that enveloped them was profound.

After a long while, Hanyuehua broke the silence.

"You seem to have a lot to say."

"I don't know where to begin."

"Then why don't you show me instead of speaking?"

Zhenming Zhenren smiled slightly at this.

At that moment, Hanyuehua's eyes sparkled.

'Now that I think about it...'

There was one thing that time had not touched in him.

His eyes.

For a moment, Hanyuehua felt as if she was facing the young him.

"Draw your sword."

At Zhenming Zhenren's command, Mingjian presented his sword with both hands. Unlike the Wudang Sect, the Huashan Sect did not have a special symbol like the Songmen Sword to represent the Grandmaster's authority.

The unique technique Zihua Zhenqi and the Plum Blossom Sword Technique were sufficient.

Hanyuehua stepped back, away from Danyue Xian.

"Take this to heart. It will be of great help to you."

At Hanyuehua's mental message, Danyue Xian nodded.

Hanyuehua and Zhenming Zhenren.

The two stood facing each other, three paces apart, and stared at each other.

But only for a moment.

Without waiting for the other to make the first move, they both darted towards each other.

Zhi!

The deafening sound of impact made the Huashan disciples change their expressions.

The sky filled with a red sunset.

The Huashan disciples were stunned to realize that this was the divine aura of Zihua Zhenqi, which had transcended its limits.

They knew their Grandmaster was called the First Sword under Heaven, but this was the first time they had witnessed his true prowess.

Among them was Mingjian.

'The Grandmaster's prowess is this level!'

Mingjian's gaze was fixed on the two, unable to look away.

At that moment.

Amidst the purple aura that filled the surroundings, an even more vivid sword flower appeared.

The red plum blossoms, visible only when the Plum Blossom Sword Technique reached its peak.

And not just one or two.

"Unbelievable!"

One of the Huashan disciples stared at the sky in shock. Countless red plum blossoms were falling like stars.

The sixteenth move of the Twenty-Four Hands Plum Blossom Sword Technique.

The move named 'Falling Plum Blossoms Forming Rain' (落梅成雨).