Chapter 136 : Chapter 136
Chapter 136 True Secret of the Mysterious Heaven (2)
I knew the fact that the beast in the shape of a Squirrel before my eyes was extraordinary.
Setting aside the fact that I could only fully discern its form by concentrating my mind, it was because the aspects constituting that existence did not appear to be of the material world.
If I were to express it with my short knowledge, that beast had the appearance of an aggregate of spirituality.
However, the reason it was hard to judge it as a ghost was that even amidst that, I could sense a peaceful and whole life force from the Squirrel.
Swish.
Without realizing it, I reached out my hand towards the Hon.
-Kkyu-it!
Perhaps having felt a familiar scent from me, the Hon ran with short legs, patter-patter, and climbed onto my fingertip.
Perhaps my conduct was strange; everyone observed me with puzzled expressions.
-Kkyu-it?
The Hon fellow on my fingertip likewise tilted its head.
It is a Spirit Beast.
Only one person, Wuji Jin-in, seemed to see the same thing as me.
Simultaneous with Wuji Jin-in’s words...
Gasp!
Brother Dancheon Hak was startled, Cheonsu Jin-in adjusted his posture, and Lee Chun-baek brought his hand to his sword hilt.
Although showing various aspects, there was a common point among them, which was the fact that all their gazes were directed towards my fingertip.
It seems they have only now captured the existence of the Divine Immortal Squirrel.
Ha, it is an amazing fellow.
Since it seems this Spirit Beast has materialized, it would be correct to say the Spirit Beast revealed its form rather than saying they captured it.
.
.
.
It is a Divine Immortal Squirrel.
The fellow that sat on my finger had moved its dwelling to Wuji Jin-in’s shoulder before I knew it.
I guess it might be because it felt a more familiar scent of spirituality from Wuji Jin-in, who carried on the lineage of Wudang.
Do you mean Divine Immortal Squirrel?
Admiration dwelt on Cheonsu Jin-in’s expression.
It would be right to say it was an expression unimaginable from him, who possessed a fierce brow and firm mouth.
...Surely, Sambong Jin-in’s?
That is so.
When Lee Chun-baek muttered, Wuji Jin-in received the words.
Divine Immortal Squirrel...
Divine Immortal Squirrel is a name I also know well.
Although not a very famous story, according to unofficial history, there was a spiritual creature Sambong Jin-in kept, and it was called Divine Immortal Squirrel.
Seeing that Lee Chun-baek also knew information that even the informant Myeong-gae barely knew, I realized anew the fact that his knowledge was wide.
Actually, a more surprising fact would be that this tiny Divine Immortal Squirrel is probably a fellow that has existed for over a thousand years.
Since the Jianghu Murim is a place where even spiritual creatures are extremely rarely found, it is right to view that we witnessed an existence no different from an immortal to see a Spirit Beast.
-Kkyu-it!
Running patter-patter with short legs, the Divine Immortal Squirrel came down from Wuji Jin-in’s shoulder to the floor and made a sound.
Whether it was telepathy or not, although it was clearly the speech of a beast, the will to ‘follow inside’ was felt.
The Divine Immortal Squirrel ran fleetly and went swoosh inside the rocky mountain.
Mm?
Since the current Divine Immortal Squirrel was an entity everyone could see, it was a marvelous event that everyone had no choice but to be surprised at.
At the same time, the entrance to a cave appeared like an illusion where the Divine Immortal Squirrel had passed.
Ha. Was it a barrier?
Wuji Jin-in’s words would be correct.
It would be correct to view it not as the cave entrance appearing as an illusion, but as the illusion barrier hiding the cave entrance being released.
What should we do?
Wuji Jin-in asked me.
Naturally, the decision-making power of this group came into my hands.
We should enter.
Judging by the Divine Immortal Squirrel’s spirituality, since there was absolutely no evil energy, it would be trustworthy.
I made eye contact with Lee Chun-baek.
Please wait a little.
I will do so.
Hmph.
Lee Chun-baek and Brother Dancheon Hak decided to guard the entrance.
Let us go.
Let us do so.
I will follow.
I entered inside the cave together with the two Daoists of Wudang.
.
.
.
Ha.
The exclamation Cheonsu Jin-in spat out unable to hold back resonated in the cave.
I understand his sentiment.
The cave we stepped into was a place where the word ‘another world’ was not colorless.
Stalactites of all kinds of colors illuminated the cave, so even without the eye technique of a supreme master, there was no difficulty in checking the interior.
Seeing that it was mysterious as if reminiscent of a fairyland yet traces of artifice remained, it seemed clear that we were not the first humans to find this place.
-Kkyu-it!
The Divine Immortal Squirrel continuously urged us.
Because the cave we thought was a rocky mountain was deeper than expected, we continued to walk inside, and further inside.
And finally, we were able to arrive at a certain place located in a corner of the cave.
Patter-patter-patter.
The Divine Immortal Squirrel ran with fleet steps, then stood tall on top of a pile bulging like a burial mound.
-Kkyu-it!
The Divine Immortal Squirrel fellow stood on two legs as if it were a person and placed its front paws on its waist.
No matter how one looked at it, it could be seen as a posture boasting of its achievements.
Below such a Divine Immortal Squirrel, a spirituality as intense as the Divine Immortal Squirrel was emitting light.
If I were to compare, it had the appearance of mixing the natural spirituality seen in the Garden of Joy with the spirituality of the Heart Sword seen from the Sword Emperor.
...Senior Uncle.
Yes.
Wuji Jin-in and Cheonsu Jin-in made eye contact.
It is the Taecheong Pill.
The thing placed at the peak of that mound must be the Taecheong Pill.
It is not that I know the appearance of the Taecheong Pill, but because the pill emitting the most intense spirituality was captured too vividly in my vision.
Seeing the spirituality hovering over the ordinary brown pill, I know why that rare object is not lacking to be called a secret treasure of the ages.
It was said that Divine Immortal Squirrel originally has a habit of collecting spirituality.
It was Wuji Jin-in’s additional comment.
I guess for the fellow who has a habit of collecting things imbued with spirituality, the Taecheong Pill might have been prey it just couldn't pass by.
-Kkyu-it!
Perhaps excited to boast of its spoils, the Divine Immortal Squirrel ran quickly and stood tall on the Sword Emperor’s shoulder again.
You bastard were Shadowless Divine Thief.
The Sword Emperor’s words would be correct.
Since the existence whose tracks even decent martial artists could not capture was the Divine Immortal Squirrel, it would have had enough ability to call itself the king of beam-walking gentlemen.
Taking advantage of the gap when the Divine Immortal Squirrel vacated its spot, Cheonsu Jin-in examined the pile.
There are Socheong Pills too.
Was there a theft of Socheong Pills recently too?
As this humble grandson guesses, they seem to be Socheong Pills aged at least several hundred years.
They might be fellows stolen from the Ancestors sometime in the past.
The Divine Immortal Squirrel’s spoils were not to be viewed lightly.
It was because the aspects forming the pile themselves all harbored spirituality. It means all of those are a cluster of natural spiritual medicines and elixirs.
That looks like a Yin-Yang Immortal Fruit.
...Amazing.
When I, who have knowledge in spiritual medicines, added a comment, admiration dwelt on Cheonsu Jin-in’s face.
Speaking of Yin-Yang Immortal Fruit, it was a rare object known as one of the core ingredients of the Taecheong Pill, a spiritual medicine harboring the principle of Supreme Ultimate.
-Kkyu-it!
Right now, the Divine Immortal Squirrel seemed clearly to be saying, ‘Ahem, how is my ability.’
As the Divine Immortal Squirrel, ignorant of its crime, acted haughtily, seriousness returned to Cheonsu Jin-in’s expression.
Should we arrest it?
In the Daoist Sect Wudang, since the authority of arrest to restrict one's person lies only with the Inspection Squad, it was right to view that judgment lying with the Inspection Squad Leader Cheonsu Jin-in.
However, Cheonsu Jin-in sought advice in the current unusual situation, and the object was naturally Wuji Jin-in.
It would be right to view the laws of the mundane world as regulating only humans.
Still, the crime remains.
Cheonsu Jin-in presented a counterargument to his Grand Senior Uncle’s opinion.
Perhaps the stubbornness and principles not to bow easily to authority and hierarchy are the true strength of the Wudang Inspection Squad.
Stop it, you rascal. As I guess, that Spirit Beast is indeed the successor of Patriarch Sambong. From our position, it would not be unreasonable to call it a Grand Ancestor. Shouldn't we view it not as an existence to arrest for merely a Taecheong Pill?
...I understand.
Only when he mentioned the distant seniority the Divine Immortal Squirrel would possess did Cheonsu Jin-in back down.
While thinking isn't the phrase ‘merely a Taecheong Pill’ an oxymoron, considering the position Sambong Jin-in holds in Wudang, it was also understandable.
Actually, perhaps Cheonsu Jin-in needed a justifiable cause.
Let's pack those and go.
Yes.
Cheonsu Jin-in gathered the Taecheong Pill and Socheong Pills from the Divine Immortal Squirrel’s spoils.
Since they were originally Wudang’s, Wudang is taking them.
It would be right not to touch other spiritual herbs or spiritual fruits. Didn't that Divine Immortal Squirrel collect them diligently?
Yes.
Furthermore, since they did not show indiscriminate greed even with countless natural spiritual medicines before them, it would be right to evaluate them as true Daoists.
-Kkyu-it?
Fortunately, perhaps the Divine Immortal Squirrel has a habit of collecting spiritual pills but no greed for them, it did not block this.
Let's go back.
Yes.
Since we fully gathered the Taecheong Pill which was the original purpose, Wuji Jin-in and Cheonsu Jin-in’s steps had become light.
Mm.
It could be called a mysterious phenomenon and a mysterious experience.
We saw a Spirit Beast connected to Sambong Jin-in, explored a cave of fairyland hidden by an illusion barrier, and safely retrieved the Taecheong Pill.
However...
I must go to that place.
Do you mean that place?
Yes.
I intend to go a little further inside.
The reason being, a spirituality more brilliant than the Divine Immortal Squirrel’s spoils was emitting light from there.
.
.
.
Is it here?
Yes.
The place we finally reached was a cave within a cave.
To put it a bit more intuitively, it would be correct to express that it looks like a human dwelling.
Thud.
I moved my steps carefully.
Wuji Jin-in and Cheonsu Jin-in followed carefully behind me.
Thud.
Although it is a much more ordinary place because there are no stalactites shining in various colors like the outer cave, it was not so for me.
It was because the pressure created by spirituality continuously stimulated my mental imagery.
Enduring the barrier of spirituality and arriving inside the cave, only then did my vision open up fully.
This is...
An ancient pine-patterned sword, of which it was difficult even to guess how much time it had weathered, was stuck in the ground standing obliquely.
A faint glimpse of spirituality lay dormant in the incredibly old sword.
Beside it were neatly folded clothes. Although they were very old and slightly different from current ones, judging by the characteristics of the attire, it was certainly Wudang’s.
And beside that, a book reminiscent of the scent of the Healing Sage's Mind Cultivation Art lay neatly.
The radiance of spirituality far exceeding spiritual medicines was imbued right in that book.
Swish-
With a truly careful touch, fearing the book might be damaged, I brushed off the dust piled on the cover.
And finally, the book revealed its identity.
[True Secret of the Mysterious Heaven]
...Mm.
I had previously mentioned that the origin of Wudang came from the aphorism ‘Bi Jinmu Bujok Idang’ (Without True Martial Arts, It Cannot Be Withstood).
Here, since Jinmu means True Warrior Great Emperor, that is, Emperor of the Mysterious Heaven, I know the fact that Mysterious Heaven touches the very root of Wudang.
Therefore, it was not difficult to guess the origin of the True Secret of the Mysterious Heaven.
...By all means.
Unable to hold back, Wuji Jin-in opened his heavy mouth.
It seems to be Sambong Jin-in’s legacy.
Sambong Jin-in.
Considering the nostalgia of Wudang Daoists for that name, Wuji Jin-in’s inability to hold back can be called inevitable.
...
Cheonsu Jin-in, who always boasted a firm mouth, had his mouth open wide enough for a fist to enter.
It seems so.
True Secret of the Mysterious Heaven.
It was said to be the final understanding Sambong Jin-in researched in his later years.
That understanding, thought to have failed to be established because Sambong ascended to immortality early, was situated as a complete book.
The fact that it was organized into a book is synonymous with saying it was established.
I suspect Sambong Jin-in did not ascend while establishing the True Secret of the Mysterious Heaven, but ascended after completing the True Secret of the Mysterious Heaven.
...The legend really existed.
The essence of Wudang, which failed to be transmitted to Wudang, was discovered now.
-Kkyu-it!
The Divine Immortal Squirrel acted haughtily, placing its two paws on its waist.
Why that fellow is acting conceited, I do not know the reason.