Chapter 135 : Chapter 135
Chapter 135 True Secret of the Mysterious Heaven (1)
Sensations are diverse.
Isn't there a word called the Five Senses?
Even excluding the Sixth Sense, which is the realm of the incomprehensible, it means there are as many as five types of sensations.
As everyone knows, they are the Five Senses called sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch.
Then let's think.
The secret art the Sword Emperor Wuji Jin-in taught me was called the Spiritual Sensory Map.
Although it cannot be called a martial art, since it is a research on the method of sensing the mystery called Spirituality, the fact that it is truly a great secret art cannot be denied.
No, it cannot be said to be unrelated to martial arts either.
In the realm beyond the Five Qis Courting the Origin of the State of Harmony, there is the Peak of Ascending to Perfection, called the realm of Ascent to Immortality and the Realm of Life and Death.
Because I discovered the clue to the Heart Sword, the glimpse of that supreme realm, in the Sword Emperor’s Spiritual Sensory Map.
Anyway...
The teaching the Sword Emperor gave me is not the Spiritual Tactile Map but the Spiritual Sensory Map.
What I mean is, just touching spirituality is not the Spiritual Sensory Map.
Looking back, it is so.
Although I succeeded in touching the Heart Sword of Spirituality through ten days of facing the wall, I saw the Sword Emperor’s Heart Sword much earlier than that.
At that moment when I faced the Sword Emperor on the duel stage.
I guess the enlightenment of finding the Thousand Spirit Fungus while playing the role of a ginseng digger rummaging through nameless mountains might have touched there.
Perhaps it would not be wrong to consider that I possess an exceptional talent for sight even among the senses. Like a descendant of the Healing Sage born with spiritual eyes.
Sight, seeing means perceiving with the eyes.
Here, perception means knowing.
In other words, it is the same as saying one cannot see what one does not know.
Doesn't an ordinary person without a Qi Center neither see nor feel the natural energy overflowing in nature?
Expressing it in Wuji Jin-in’s way, it is because they lack conviction.
This is the place where the Taecheong Pill was stored.
Thank you.
Thanks to Cheonsu Jin-in’s guidance, I was able to walk to the deep place of Youngeun Palace where the Taecheong Pill was stored.
We cannot stay long. Please finish quickly.
Beside me were Cheonsu Jin-in with a still disapproving expression and the Sword Emperor Wuji Jin-in who could not hide his interest.
What do you see?
A moment.
Leaving only that word, I closed my eyes and sank into my inner self.
I discarded prejudice.
I discarded delusion.
I discarded the desire to know.
Closing my eyes, I discarded even sight for a moment.
Just, believing.
That I possess the complete ability to see spirituality.
There will be a solution to uncover the mystery of Shadowless Divine Thief.
-Believing in what cannot be seen, in what is unknown, is exactly conviction.
I just believed in my Spiritual Sensory Map.
Swish-
I opened my eyes again.
In that short interval, the shape of the world I looked at had changed.
I know the whereabouts of the Taecheong Pill.
Before me, a path made of spiritual residue lay vividly.
* * *
Many people call the Jianghu Murim the Wind and Dust Jianghu.
Wind and Dust, meaning not peaceful and messy.
Actually, there is no word quite like it to explain the Jianghu Murim where the Orthodox, Unorthodox, and Demonic mix and struggle, blades and strange weapons dance, and all kinds of conspiracies and bloody affairs run rampant.
Isn't the Jianghu Murim a world where martial power is closer than political power, and fists are closer than laws?
Hey, Myeong-gae.
Why do you call?
One day, Mr. Gwak the gossip called me insinuatingly, and I answered somewhat indifferently.
If we look for the reason, it would be right to evaluate it as thanks to my extraordinary quick wits.
The day Mr. Gwak calls me with an ‘Ahem’ is a day with essential information.
On the other hand, the fact that he calls me insinuatingly means I know the fact that he plans to just boast of his knowledge without nutritious information.
Do you know how the powerless common people live in the Wind and Dust Jianghu of mountains of swords and forests of blades?
They would live suffering persecution.
Even so, responding to the conversation was because I had many experiences of seeking learning from Mr. Gwak’s scholarship, although I hate to admit it.
Your words wouldn't be wrong. Since that is also one aspect of the truth. However, do you know how they can smile like that?
Mm?
Mr. Gwak’s words were indeed not lies.
Since the place we always exchanged banter was the marketplace, finding common people passing by with smiles wasn't difficult.
As you also know, the Jianghu Murim is a world of ruffians.
Correct words.
Lowlives filled with those who don't care about breaking the Imperial laws.
That is also correct.
Having lived the life of a Beggar’s Gang disciple for several years, there was indeed no error in Mr. Gwak’s words.
But even such ruffians usually keep a law.
What is that?
It is called Ownership Rights.
Although I grew up in a renowned family and became knowledgeable by encountering much information living the life of a Beggar’s Gang disciple, I have to admit the fact that I am not proficient in Law or Administration.
I know what ownership rights means, but I mean my research on it was lacking.
Please explain a bit more simply.
Originally, the human type called gossips are beings filled with a desire for recognition.
When I asked for teaching, Mr. Gwak continued his words with a smile all over his face.
Ownership means the wallet in my bosom is mine, and the wallet in another’s bosom is another’s. It can be called a commonsensical and correct law of the Jianghu Murim.
Who doesn't know that?
Then, how does ownership come into existence?
That I do not know. Continue explaining.
Objective discernment, flexible thinking, and quick acknowledgment would be called Myeong-gae’s special strong points.
Ownership originates from Possession. It means it is mine because I have it.
Indeed.
Then how would the transfer of ownership happen?
Moving the possession would do.
As expected, you are clever.
Hahahaha... Mm...
My haughtiness at Mr. Gwak’s praise was short-lived; I had no choice but to withdraw my laughter.
It was because I realized the uncomfortable truth that there is nothing like violence, theft, and extortion for the transfer of possession.
I guess you understood. Don't make such a face. Did I not say earlier that one of the few cases where Imperial law applies to the Jianghu Murim is ownership rights?
Why is that so?
Because if one breaks it, one becomes a Public Enemy of the Murim.
Indeed, that is so.
Intellectual.
In other words, they are called ink-stained wretches.
Mr. Gwak was a gossip who knew how to add flavor to a story even among ink-stained wretches.
Hey, Myeong-gae. Since you are a proud Beggar’s Gang disciple, you must know the importance of the common people well.
Natural words.
The Beggar’s Gang’s righteousness and chivalry are always directed towards the common people.
In Mr. Gwak’s way of expression, it would be the reason Beggar’s Gang disciples gave up ownership rights and headed to the lowest place wearing only rags.
Generally, the tribe called martial artists are like that. It means there is no tribe as unproductive as martial artists. Just because they gain enlightenment through meditation, breathe out natural energy, scatter blades, and float in the air, food or equipment is not created, is it? But since they are also human, they consume food and need equipment.
Food or equipment is made by the common people.
That is so. Therefore, martial artists must protect the common people. That is the reason I respect the Beggar’s Gang.
What Mr. Gwak showed me should be evaluated as Insight.
It was also a day when a new epoch opened for Myeong-gae who only collected and classified information.
Anyway, that is why even in the Murim, the law called ownership is respected. It should be viewed as a self-purification action for survival.
.
.
.
Originally, isn't a gossip a species that makes speech their profession and amusement?
To condense Mr. Gwak’s words that continued for a long time after this, it would be as follows.
Transferring possession ‘coercively’ or ‘using martial power’ is a serious crime.
Mr. Gwak said that, at least in the Jianghu Murim, it is a matter handled more strictly than murder.
Because, murder occurring in the Jianghu Murim is often not a crime.
Anyway.
Since one who commits a serious crime becomes the target of mob sanctions under the name of Public Enemy of the Murim, he said even those lowlives of the Unorthodox Faction usually do not break the rule of ownership.
Of course, they use all kinds of expedients, but wouldn't it be better than just persecuting and taking by force?
I, who listened to Mr. Gwak’s explanation for a long time, suddenly had a question.
Let's say there is a legacy of a secluded master. Whose ownership is that?
Ho-
Mr. Gwak’s eyes shone.
Judging by my discernment, Mr. Gwak must have admired this Myeong-gae’s cleverness once again.
According to Imperial law, that is called ‘lost property’ (possession-departed object).
He nodded his head meaning for me to continue speaking.
According to the law, if a person without authority takes it, it becomes ‘embezzlement of lost property’, but in the Jianghu Murim, they only recognize ownership.
In short, it meant finders keepers.
Indeed, it is so.
Responding to that, I could smile. It was because I had just confirmed the legality of my arrangement.
Correct.
Since the Taecheong Pill stolen by Shadowless Divine Thief corresponds to lost property, it would be right to view it as meaning the finder is the owner. The culture of the Jianghu Murim is so, and the perception is so.
It is not particularly that I thought of secretly seizing the Taecheong Pill after subduing Shadowless Divine Thief because I am an unconscionable person.
Of course, even so, it would be right to weigh morality and conscience, but perhaps I implicitly put forward the Great Cause of stopping the Great War of Righteousness and Evil.
.
.
.
I know the whereabouts of the Taecheong Pill.
Oh.
Wuji Jin-in did not treat my words lightly.
Perhaps assimilated by Wuji Jin-in’s attitude, Cheonsu Jin-in also had a serious look.
Is there something you see?
Wuji Jin-in asked.
Yes.
I do not know the reason, but seemingly the path made of spiritual residue is not visible to Wuji Jin-in.
I guess regarding the Spiritual Sensory Map, perhaps I am ahead of the Sword Emperor in sight.
Leaving behind the sentiment on the mystery of incomprehensible spirituality, it is right to organize the current situation first.
I think I can follow the traces of the Taecheong Pill.
I ask of you, Great Hero.
Cheonsu Jin-in spoke in a serious voice and bowed his head.
There was no Cheonsu Jin-in looking at me with disapproving eyes like before.
Actually, since the fact that he regarded me disapprovingly was prudence originating from his own duty, not personal emotion or sentiment, it should be viewed as flawless conduct.
Follow me.
As my steps chased the spiritual residue, Wuji Jin-in and Cheonsu Jin-in followed behind me.
Actually, the reason I could think of secretly taking the lost property, the Taecheong Pill, was also because I had no particular connection with Wudang.
But since I have already received grace like the sea from Wuji Jin-in, I cannot be called a martial artist walking the Righteous Path if I breach trust regarding morality and conscience.
For now, it is the order of nature to retrieve the Taecheong Pill together with Wudang and return that secret treasure to Wudang’s bosom.
Of course, absolutely, I have not given up on the Taecheong Pill.
While fulfilling morality, I will find a method to acquire the Taecheong Pill.
* * *
Is this way correct?
That is so.
I understand Cheonsu Jin-in’s doubt.
It was because my steps leading the party were not leaving Wudang, but going up against the rugged mountain terrain of Wudang more and more.
I also do not know the reason, but since the visible path of spirituality is so, I was just following it.
Since Myeong-i does not speak nonsense, trusting and following will be the thing to do.
Lee Chun-baek, who followed closely before I knew it, was sending me eyes of trust.
Since Lee Chun-baek is the one who witnessed my eccentricities the most meanwhile, perhaps it is a matter of having developed immunity now.
Hmm...
On the other hand, I could see Brother Dancheon Hak observing me with an expression asking ‘What the hell is that bastard doing?’.
Actually, if Cheonsu Jin-in and Wuji Jin-in were not there, those thoughts would have been uttered out of Dancheon Hak’s mouth.
Because originally, he was a figure who didn't care about my mood.
‘Mm.’
I decided to ignore it.
We unfolded movement arts for a long time, and finally arrived at the highest place in Wudang.
Although we haven't arrived at the destination yet, there was a place that particularly caught the eye.
That is...
It is the Upper Purity Shrine.
When Wuji Jin-in trailed off, Cheonsu Jin-in received the words tactfully.
Ah, I see.
Wuji Jin-in seemed to have noticed, but to me and my two brothers, it was still a complete fog.
What is the Upper Purity Shrine?
It is a small shrine located on the highest peak in Wudang.
Befitting the name Shrine, a small shrine was built.
Wuji Jin-in added an explanation.
It is a place enshrining Sambong Jin-in. It is a place built because it is said in Wudang that Sambong Jin-in Ascended to Immortality on top of the Upper Purity Rock.
I see.
Passing the Upper Purity Shrine which attracted eyes for some reason, we advanced towards the deep place of Mount Wudang for a long time more.
Chasing the spiritual residue that became thicker and thicker, in that place, only a huge rocky mountain existed.
I think it is here.
Finally, when my steps stopped, Wuji Jin-in and Cheonsu Jin-in looked around the surroundings.
Was there such a rocky mountain in Wudang?
I also knew it for the first time.
Even though it is called Mount Wudang, since it was truly a deep mountain and dark valley where human traces did not reach, it would be a sufficiently possible matter.
At that moment.
-Kkyu-it?
A mysterious existence, bright yet whitish, was captured in my gaze.
It was an existence containing the spiritual residue I had seen so far intact.
Mm?
When I concentrated my mind, that existence took shape.
Soul?
Squirrel.
It was the shape of a beast called a squirrel of the rodent family, as said in civilian households.