I Can Replicate Martial Arts

He couldn’t help but close his eyes.

Instantly, the world around him dissolved into nothingness.

In the formless void, only a downward force guided his body.

’Am I afraid of this mountain, or its bottom?’

’Of going against the current, or of following its flow?’

Daoist Yu didn’t rush him, merely gazing quietly at the distant mountain peaks.

A moment later, Zhao Rui suddenly opened his eyes. Though no sharp glint flashed within them, they were brighter and more spirited than before.

"My apologies for making you wait, Daoist Yu."

"It’s no trouble. No wonder Elder Ge thinks so highly of you! This is a blessing for our Qingcheng Sect as well."

Daoist Yu smiled. He didn’t ask what Zhao Rui had comprehended; he simply turned and resumed the climb.

Zhao Rui followed at a steady, unhurried pace.

After walking for the better part of a day, the mountain path suddenly opened up, leading them to a flat area on the mountainside.

"Another five or six li to the west is the Qingcheng Sect. We took a small path; we don’t usually have to come this way."

Daoist Yu pointed to the faint outlines of Daoist temple buildings in the distance as he spoke.

"Right."

Zhao Rui nodded.

The two continued forward and soon arrived before a gray granite wall built of blue bricks.

The stone wall was covered in moss and stood no more than nine feet tall, its sections slanted into the ground according to the arrangement of Fu Xi’s sixty-four hexagrams.

Rounding a bend in the wall, a door lintel with a hanging cypress plaque appeared before Zhao Rui’s eyes.

Carved into it were the four large words "Qingcheng Xuanmen Sword Sect." The lacquer was cracked like a tortoise shell, and the rivets in the corners of the plaque were faded.

Compared to the Emei Sect, its appearance was a far cry.

’Maybe their Incense Money isn’t as good as the Emei Sect’s!’

Two sword-wielding Daoists stood on either side of the entrance. Seeing Daoist Yu approach with Zhao Rui, they looked slightly surprised. After bowing, they couldn’t help but give Zhao Rui a couple of extra glances.

Just then, a middle-aged Daoist with foot-long hair and beard and triangular eyes walked out from the gate.

"Junior Brother Yu, recruited another disciple?"

The man asked, his brow furrowing slightly as he sized up Zhao Rui.

"No."

Yu Zhengnan didn’t respond with the same warmth he had shown the Little Daoist Child at the foot of the mountain. He gave a concise reply and led Zhao Rui straight past the man.

’Something’s fishy! Looks like this Sect isn’t all peace and harmony either!’

Zhao Rui thought to himself as he kept pace.

Although the main gate of the Qingcheng Sect wasn’t as grand and magnificent as Emei’s, the inside was by no means small.

Several Daoist temple halls rose from the ground in a spacious courtyard, their presence solemn and imposing.

Daoist Yu led him to the entrance of a side hall. After briefly announcing their presence and asking for permission, he brought Zhao Rui inside.

"Reporting to the Sect Leader, the Sword Guardian sent by Elder Ge has arrived."

Daoist Yu bowed, looking toward the ancient Daoist sitting cross-legged on a couch directly in front of him.

The old Daoist’s face was a forest of deep-set wrinkles. He looked ancient, his complexion slightly pale, and his voice trembled a little when he spoke.

He seemed to be several decades older than even Elder Ge.

"Thirty years. I finally see a Sword Guardian again. A pity that today’s Qingcheng Sect is a far cry from what it once was. Such is time, such is fate!"

The old Daoist glanced at Zhao Rui, and a faint light flickered in his cloudy eyes.

"Um, Senior, I’m not any Sword Guardian. If my coming to the Qingcheng Sect is causing you trouble, please don’t force it..."

Zhao Rui was completely confused, worried this would be like the Emei Sect, with all sorts of messy complications.

He hurriedly spoke his mind.

"’Sword Guardian’ is just a title. Whether you are one or not is up to fate. The Qingcheng Sect will not restrain you."

The old Daoist said with a faint smile.

Zhao Rui nodded and said no more, content to listen to their arrangements.

’Since Elder Ge arranged this, I might as well see what happens.’

"Go. Join Xulingzi."

After speaking, the old Daoist’s withered hand trembled twice, signaling for the two of them to leave.

Seeing this, Daoist Yu quickly bowed again, then took his leave with Zhao Rui.

"What’s a Sword Guardian?"

Zhao Rui asked curiously after they left the side hall.

"I don’t know either. I’ve only heard my master mention that every thirty years, Elder Ge sends someone to the mountain, called a Sword Guardian, to practice our Qingcheng Sword Technique. According to the records, you are the third."

Daoist Yu explained.

Zhao Rui’s face twitched. ’Making things so mysterious... this definitely can’t be anything good.’

’What did Elder Ge say before?’

’Teach me Martial Arts, and have me protect Mingcan Courtyard!’

’Now there’s this Sword Guardian business?’

’Could it be that Mingcan Courtyard houses some kind of incredible "happy ending massage"... er, I mean, Treasure Sword!’

Zhao Rui’s thoughts raced. Ever since witnessing Nun Jing’s Flying Sword Skill, his understanding had risen to a new level.

’It’s not wrong to think of something outrageous.’

"Alright! Since I’m here, I’ll make the best of it. I’ll have to trouble you then, Daoist Yu!"

"Of course. It’s my duty."

Afterward, Daoist Yu took Zhao Rui to a guest room, arranged his accommodations, and then brought him to the dining hall for a meal.

In the dining hall, the Daoists and disciples in lay clothes saw Daoist Yu with a stranger and looked over, their curiosity piqued.

But when Daoist Yu’s gaze swept over them, they all quickly turned their heads away.

"Are they really that curious about you being with me?"

Zhao Rui mumbled awkwardly.

"My last disciple just underwent corporeal dissolution."

"What’s corporeal dissolution?"

"It means he died."

"..."

Zhao Rui’s eyes shifted, and he asked apprehensively, "May I ask how many disciples you’ve had?"

Daoist Yu glanced at him, a bitter, self-deprecating smile on his lips. "Seven. Now, only I remain, all alone."

Hearing this, Zhao Rui’s mind went blank.

’I’m not his disciple, I’m not his disciple!’

Zhao Rui wanted to clarify things in front of all these Qingcheng Disciples, but then he looked at Daoist Yu’s scruffy, unshaven face.

He decided to be a decent human being instead.

After the meal, Daoist Yu walked Zhao Rui back to his room, telling him he could wander around nearby but not to go too far.

Being new here, Zhao Rui wasn’t in the mood to wander aimlessly anyway.

He did a few simple stretches at his door, then returned to his room to sit and begin his Cultivation.

The night passed uneventfully. The next day, Daoist Yu came over early.

He called for Zhao Rui to attend the Qingcheng Sect’s morning lessons with him.

They practiced Martial Arts and swordplay, read books, and chanted scriptures.

There was a rather tranquil and natural feel to it all.

It felt much more heartfelt than the morning reading sessions at school.

After the morning lessons, there were many other things to do, such as practicing Daoist Techniques and listening to senior Daoists explain the Taoist Scriptures.

Besides matters related to Daoism, there were also martial practice and lecture courses related to the Sword Sect.

It felt similar to the curriculum at the Martial Arts Academy, with both cultural and Martial Dao classes proceeding side-by-side.

After accompanying him for the entire day, Daoist Yu instructed him to follow that day’s routine for his cultivation in the temple.

Zhao Rui nodded in agreement.

’Since I’m here, I’ll calm my mind and try to be a disciple of the Qingcheng Sect.’

That night, he recalled the Taoist Scriptures and Techniques he had heard during the day and felt that they complemented the Martial Dao quite well.

His interest grew immensely.

The next day, Zhao Rui woke up early, silently reviewed the lessons he had learned the day before, put on his newly issued Daoist Robe, and, with his buzz cut, sauntered over to the main hall for morning lessons.

This time, without Daoist Yu by his side, the young disciples around him were finally "willing" to talk to him.

"Are you the secular disciple Uncle Yu took in?"

During a break, a young Daoist wearing his hair in a Mixed Element Bun tilted his head slightly, looked at Zhao Rui’s attire, and asked curiously.

"No, I was introduced by Elder Ge."

Zhao Rui said coolly.

"Who’s Elder Ge?"

"..."

Zhao Rui felt like he’d punched a fistful of cotton. ’Little Daoist friend, you’re playing with fire. I’m trying to act cool here, and you’re not cooperating!’

"You don’t know?"

Zhao Rui figured the kid must be new here too.

But the young Daoist turned and asked the others around them, and they all shook their heads, indicating they didn’t know either.

Now Zhao Rui was dumbfounded.

’Great. So much for "Great-Uncle Master" and "Uncle Master." It was all just a dream.’

"He’s just an acquaintance who introduced me!"

Zhao Rui said awkwardly.

"Well, your acquaintance doesn’t sound very reliable!"

The young Daoist pouted, shook his head, and gave him a look of disdain.

Zhao Rui was starting to not want to talk to him anymore.

"You don’t look that young. Are you a high school student?"

"I’m a college freshman!"

"Oh, same as me then. I’m a freshman too."

"You Daoists go to college?"

"We do. We major in Daoism. I’m a freshman at Sichuan University Daoist College, majoring in the Zhengyi Sect."

Hearing this opened up a whole new world for Zhao Rui. He started chatting enthusiastically with the young Daoist and the few people next to him.