Narration System for the Journey of Martial Arts

Page 3

(Following the surname Yue, he will be called Yue Yuchen from the first volume onwards.)

Since Yue Buqun took over as sect leader five years ago, he has been even busier. Every morning, he would rise early to cultivate the "Purple Cloud Manual" in the purple glow of the rising sun, then practice swordsmanship, and go to the back mountain to learn and master the Huashan martial arts.

Fortunately, Ning Zhongze helped share the burden, allowing Yue Buqun to focus without distraction and advance to the first-class level when Yue Yuchen was just over three years old.

A top-tier martial arts master in his early thirties is a rare talent even in the martial arts world. This shows that Yue Buqun's aptitude is extraordinary.

Although Yue Yuchen had always wondered why Lao Yue's martial arts skills did not improve further in the later stages, after thinking about it, he could only attribute it to Lao Yue's focus on reviving Mount Hua and his abandonment of martial arts.

Over the past five years, Ning Zhongze has also had a tough time. In the early morning, she has to practice Hunyuan Gong, practice swordsmanship in the morning, and in the afternoon, she has to take care of Yue Yuchen while handling miscellaneous tasks.

As the elders of Mount Hua passed away one by one, they had to teach Yue Yuchen to read and recite the meridian and acupoint diagrams.

Yue Yuchen lived up to expectations, showing intelligence and cuteness from a young age, and making rapid progress in his studies. In just one year, he was already able to read some books on his own.

Later, Yue Yuchen suggested that he go to the Sutra Repository to read books. Yue Buqun thought about it and agreed. In any case, the important martial arts manuals of the Huashan Sect were carried by the couple. The Sutra Repository only contained some old books and ancient texts.

Moreover, as Mount Hua became increasingly desolate after it was closed to the public, the servants on Mount Hua either scattered or left, leaving only Sister Feng and no one else.

Therefore, the library was covered in dust, which gave Yue Yuchen a good opportunity to read and organize the books, preventing the ancient books of our predecessors from being covered in dust.

Once Lao Yue is promoted to a first-class master, he will begin to roam the martial arts world, rebuild the reputation of the Huashan Sect, and at the same time go down the mountain to find his former fellow disciples who had been separated.

He spends most of the year away from the mountain, until this day, Yue Yuchen's sixth birthday, when he will begin to formally teach Huashan martial arts.

………………

Inside the dining hall, there was no one else but the family of four. Aunt Feng, being dutiful, never sat at the table.

As for the family of four, Ning Zhongze was pregnant. Yes, only after the Huashan Sect was finally able to catch its breath did the couple dare to suggest having a child.

Yue Yuchen knew this was Yue Lingshan from the novel, but he wondered if she would ever appear again...

"With me here, it won't happen." Recalling Yue Lingshan's tragic ending in the original novel, Yue Yuchen couldn't help but shake his head.

"Yuchen, what's wrong? Is the food not to your liking?" Ning Zhongze looked at Yue Yuchen, who was shaking his head, and felt even more affectionate.

This child is so easy to take care of. She has been so sensible since she was little, which is heartbreaking. Except when she goes to the library to read, she never cries or makes a fuss. Even her husband thinks that this child is a gift from heaven to the Huashan Sect.

"No, Master's wife. I'm just happy that I'm about to start learning martial arts," Yue Yuchen said with a smile.

"Cough cough..."

"When learning martial arts and cultivating inner energy, the most important thing to avoid is being impatient and restless. The mind must be calm and steady," Old Yue said with a cough.

"I understand, Master," Yue Yuchen said, putting down his bowl and chopsticks.

"Find me at the Sword Qi Hall after you finish eating." With that, Old Yue got up and left.

"Understood, Master." Yue Yuchen had barely finished speaking when the announcement came into his mind...

[Yue Buqun believes that at six years old, you have already mastered enough of the theory of meridians and is ready to teach you martial arts.]

The Huashan Inner Strength Method is characterized by its balanced and peaceful nature, and its mastery of cultivating inner energy, which differs from the Huashan Sword Technique.

Once you've mastered the Huashan Heart Sutra, you've mastered the Quanzhen Heart Sutra. This internal skill emphasizes foundational knowledge; without profound Taoist theories, you can only improve your skill through sheer hard work and time.

When you have mastered enough foundational knowledge, your internal energy will flow naturally, whether you are sitting, lying down, or walking.

You'll find unexpected treasures in the library: the 16th volume on the second shelf of the seventh row, the 9th volume on the third shelf of the ninth row, and the 1st volume on the second shelf of the tenth row.

"The Quanzhen Internal Energy Technique is the foundation of the Quanzhen School. Hao Datong is a successor of Quanzhen, so of course he would leave behind this internal energy technique. I remember that Ma Yu passed on this internal energy technique to Guo Jing," Yue Yuchen thought.

Thinking of this, Yue Yuchen could no longer sit still: "Master's wife, I've finished eating."

After saying that, he threw down his chopsticks and left in a hurry. Ning Zhongze couldn't help but smile. She thought the little guy was eager to run away, but she didn't expect him to wait so long. This time, her senior brother miscalculated.

Inside the Sword Qi Hall, Yue Buqun, who had already drunk a cup of tea, couldn't help but stroke his newly grown beard when he saw Yue Yuchen rushing over...

"This child is still very steady and has the demeanor of a gentleman."

………………

"Master, I'm here." Yue Yuchen said respectfully, having regulated his breathing.

Yue Buqun's expression turned serious, and he said...

"Let me remind you once again, the most important thing to avoid when cultivating internal energy is to be impatient and eager for quick success. Fortunately, our sect's internal energy is the most balanced and peaceful, so there is no risk of going astray or becoming possessed by evil spirits."

“Repeat the following sentences to me, one by one…”

"The Great Dao is initially cultivated to open the nine orifices, which originally reside in the coccyx. First, it flows from the sole of the foot (Yongquan point), then gradually down to the knee. From the knee, it slowly reaches the coccyx, then rapidly circulates at the crown of the head (Niwan point). The secret words are transmitted by the master to comprehend the original nature; coming without residue, going without trace. Over the years, the dust and grime are wiped away, and the body becomes bright and radiant throughout the vast emptiness. What is the basis for this living record of cultivation? When the heart is dead, worldly emotions cease to arise. When essence and energy are abundant and practice is complete, spiritual light illuminates the entire capital. Passing through the Golden Lock Gate, one descends the Magpie Bridge, and the twelve-tiered palace descends."

Once Yue Yuchen had recited the poem perfectly, Yue Buqun began to explain the key points to him, sentence by sentence: how to breathe, how to move through the acupoints, and how to stimulate the flow of Qi.

Just as Yue Yuchen was listening intently, the voice in his mind rang out again...

[Yue Buqun's interpretation of Daoist scriptures, which incorporates elements of both Confucianism and Daoism, while not entirely wrong, deviates significantly from the original meaning.]

This passage states: When thoughts are settled, emotions are forgotten; when the body is weak, vital energy circulates; when the mind is dead, the spirit lives; when yang is abundant, yin diminishes.

When the mind is calm, emotions fade; when the body is empty, vital energy circulates; when the mind is still, the spirit lives; when yang is abundant, yin diminishes. These are natural principles, but the ignorant do not understand them, yet they only consider them for the sake of their descendants, and conversely, they think that those who study the Tao are of no benefit. Why do they not think this through?

[The Danyang Sayings in Volume 2, Third Row of the Sutra Repository can be used for reference.]

"Danyang Sayings? Danyangzi? Isn't that Ma Yu's Taoist name? Is it Ma Yu's commentary on the Complete Perfection Great Dao Song?" Yue Yuchen's mind wandered.

Seeing Yue Yuchen's wandering thoughts, Yue Buqun, sitting at the head of the table, assumed that the child's memory was limited and immediately stopped talking: "Alright, that's enough for today. From now on, every morning at sunrise, you will come with me to the back mountain to practice your Qi."

"Yes, Master. I'm going to read some books now." With that, Yue Yuchen took off running towards the Sutra Repository.

Inside the Sword Qi Hall, Yue Buqun watched his retreating figure and couldn't help but shake his head. It's not good for a child to be too well-behaved; he's neglecting exercise.

Chapter 6: The Sword Qi of Mount Hua Has Primary and Secondary Elements; Having Lost Its Foundation, It Starts afresh.

Seeing her husband return, Ning Zhongze raised an eyebrow. Yue Buqun already understood his wife's meaning and said...

“Yu Chen is exceptionally intelligent. He could recite the entire mental cultivation method after only one explanation. However, he is still a child at heart. He couldn’t sit still after only the first two sentences were explained.”

“I will explain the key points to him separately during my time on the mountain. It’s not too late for him to start practicing after he has fully understood them.”

When Ning Zhongze heard her husband say this, she couldn't help but laugh and said, "Back then, when our master taught us to practice Qi cultivation, none of my fellow disciples could sit still. We had to have our master threaten us with a bamboo stick to keep them in line."

“Yu Chen has always preferred quiet to activity, which suits the requirements for cultivating internal energy. Don’t push him too hard.”

"I know," Yue Buqun nodded, then added, "This child is just too quiet, which worries me. He'll need to learn some swordsmanship for self-defense in the future. With his temperament, I'm more worried that he won't be willing to study hard."

After saying that, Yue Buqun shook his head again: "Forget it, wait two years until Yu Chen has a solid foundation in internal strength, then I'll talk to him again. You should also give him more encouragement then."

………………

Hearing her husband's words, Ning Zhongze hesitated for a moment before asking, "Have you made up your mind?"

Yue Buqun looked around at the somewhat desolate cluster of buildings and sighed...

"Back then, this place was so prosperous, and the fellow disciples were so harmonious, which led to the Huashan Sect's century-long prosperity."

"However, because of a dispute over swords and qi, the sect fell into chaos, and the elders fought each other in a bloodthirsty manner, which led to the decline of Mount Hua. This situation must never be repeated."

"Preparation is the key to success, and lack of preparation leads to failure. Letting the Huashan Sect distinguish between primary and secondary matters can also serve as a way to prevent such a thing from happening again in the future."

"Besides, it's not like we're abandoning the swordsmanship and hard work of our predecessors. It's just about cultivating internal energy first, and then learning the sword. This will reduce the fighting among younger disciples and prevent future conflicts between swords and internal energy."

"The Huashan Sect can't withstand another internal strife. Alas..."

Hearing this, Ning Zhongze couldn't help but sigh. In the past, her fellow disciples had each chosen their preferred path of cultivation based on their own interests. In the end, however, they ended up killing each other because of their differing ideologies…

"Since you've made up your mind, then so be it! I'll keep an eye on Yuchen from now on."

………………

"There's one more thing. Why have you been looking so worried these past two years when you went down the mountain to search for your lost fellow disciples? Have you lost contact with many of them?" Ning Zhongze asked, changing the subject.

These days, she could sense her husband's weariness and anxiety. She had planned to ask him about it later, but since the topic had come up today, she decided not to hold back any longer.

Yue Buqun nodded, staring blankly for a moment. Seeing that Ning Zhongze could no longer sit still, he said bitterly, "It's not that we've lost contact with many people, but... we haven't found a single one."

“Following the coded message left by my master, I traveled all over Gansu, Shaanxi, Shanxi and Tianjin, but none of my seventeen fellow disciples who were supposed to live in seclusion here were there.”

“I’ve inquired and found that those shops that were secretly left behind haven’t been managed by anyone in the past two years, and they’ve all changed owners long ago.”

"How could that be? Back then, Uncle Yu secretly escorted them and watched them leave Mount Hua safely," Ning Zhongze exclaimed.

"Back then, Mount Hua was in turmoil, and no one knew how many ghosts and demons were lurking in the shadows. These fellow disciples were traveling alone, and if a master were secretly following them and then made a move after leaving the Mount Hua territory..." Yue Buqun shook his head, not daring to imagine it.

"I originally thought that these fellow disciples could focus on training a few successors while they were away, so that the Huashan Sect could preserve its vitality. But now it seems that... we have to start all over again!" Yue Buqun said with a wry smile to his wife.

"Someone is trying to destroy the foundation of Mount Hua. Who is it? Who has such a deep grudge against us?" Ning Zhongze asked, puzzled.

Yue Buqun understood that this matter was of great importance. Putting aside everything else, when the Huashan Sect was at its peak, it was above the other five sects. Who among these people wouldn't want to sit in the position of leader of the Five Mountains Alliance?

Seeing Mount Hua in decline, they would definitely take a kick to the ground, such as the Songshan Sect, which now holds the Five Mountains Alliance Command.

And those martial arts schools, security escort agencies, etc. at the foot of the mountain, they all swallowed up the interests of the Huashan Sect back then. Aren't they afraid that the Huashan Sect will settle accounts again after it prospers?

There were just too many possibilities, so Yue Buqun didn't dare to make any big moves. The Huashan Sect was really just a handful of small fry; even a fierce tiger is afraid of a pack of wolves.

Hearing her husband's analysis, Ning Zhongze said, "Let's start over. We've survived the most difficult times, so what's there to be afraid of now?"

“When you go down the mountain, Senior Brother, why not select some orphans with decent potential? We can train them from scratch,” Ning Zhongze suggested.

Yue Buqun nodded: "I will keep an eye on it. Junior sister, don't worry. The most important thing now is to give birth to the child. With Yuchen and the child, we will at least have some options."

He also instructed her to avoid going down the mountain to prevent others from taking advantage of her, so that he could first lay a foundation for Yu Chen: "It may not be safe down the mountain, so don't worry about it. I will take care of those three hundred acres of fertile land."

"Fortunately, we've made some money over the years, enough to lay a foundation for Yuchen. Once he's mastered the basics, I'll select a few more children to bring back."

Ning Zhongze also knew that practicing martial arts was extremely taxing. Thinking of this, she couldn't sit still and decided to take stock of the inventory to make arrangements.

………………

After leaving the Sword Qi Hall, Yue Yuchen headed straight for the Scripture Pavilion.

Pushing open the door, sunlight streamed in through the window cracks, making the dust motes dancing in the air clearly visible. Although Yue Yuchen had diligently tidied up the place over the past two years.

However, the library was too large and contained numerous scriptures and books. How many could a weak little kid like him possibly organize?

However, I was just following the system's prompts, reading and organizing one book at a time, and as a result, I was doing things piecemeal and only managed to organize less than one percent of the content.

Around the meditation cushion where he usually sat, there were dozens of books densely packed together.

Looking at the dusty bookshelves, Yue Yuchen couldn't help but sigh at the prosperity of the Quanzhen School in its heyday. He wondered who had compiled so many classics, covering Buddhist, Taoist, and Confucian classics, totaling over a thousand titles.

But going here probably isn't all. After all, according to the novel, the Quanzhen Sect dispersed back then, with each of the Seven Masters of Quanzhen taking a portion of their resources with them when they escaped. Hao Datong certainly didn't get much of it.

These elements have formed the foundation of Mount Hua, and Yue Yuchen couldn't help but yearn for it for a moment!

The greatest thing in the world is the 'Tao'. Where is the Tao? The Tao is in the books.

It's lamentable that the hard work of our predecessors has been neglected; you will discover a treasure trove of wisdom here.

A voice rang in his mind, startling Yue Yuchen awake. He shook his head, recalled the system's previous prompts, and began searching...

Chapter 7 Understanding the True Meaning and Building a Foundation

After a long while, Yue Yuchen, covered in dust, rummaged through the pile of old papers on the bookshelf and found the ancient book he needed.

He carefully wiped it clean, moved it to the table, and looked at the thick stack of books. Yue Yuchen couldn't help but smile bitterly. This was how he had spent the past two years.

[You have obtained Danyangzi's Qi Refining Commentary, but the content is profound and difficult to understand. You have only a basic understanding of the Taoist terminology and are far from mastering it.]

[You have grasped the essence of Wang Chongyang's creation of the Quanzhen Daodao Song, but the content is too scattered and you need to reorganize it yourself.]

[You have obtained the Golden Guanzhao Divine Technique left by Wang Chongyang, which can cleanse the marrow, enhance physical constitution, and enlighten the mind. Unfortunately, you cannot understand it.]

[You recited what you didn't understand to Yue Buqun through rote memorization, making him marvel at your extraordinary talent, but he was also exasperated by your endless stream of questions.]

[You're asking more and more questions. Yue Buqun encourages you to become self-taught because he wants to revive Mount Hua and find you a junior brother. Actually, it's because he can no longer answer your questions.]

You ask too many questions; you've fallen out of favor, young man.

Yue Yuchen rolled his eyes, extracted the information he needed from the system's prompts, and after confirming it, began to read Danyangzi's annotations, which were the interpretations of the Huashan Heart Sutra. He could ask Lao Yue about anything he didn't understand.

Soon, the only sounds in the library were the rustling of pages turning and occasional murmurs.

………………

The next morning, Yue Yuchen got up early and, as instructed by his father, went to the place on the mountaintop where he practiced Qi cultivation.

He just didn't expect that Lao Yue had arrived earlier than him. When he saw Yue Yuchen, he simply gestured for him to sit down next to him.

As the sun rose over the mountain and revealed a sliver of its true form, Old Yue, who had been meditating peacefully, took a deep breath. In that instant, Yue Yuchen seemed to see a wisp of purple flash past Old Yue's nostrils.

Then a purple hue flashed across Lao Yue's face, flickering with each breath.