Dao Qi Wu Zang Guan Guan: I became a Daoist Master in the 1990s

Chapter 59 Passing on the Sword
Master Xuanqing stood still, and the turbulent air currents and invisible sharpness in the courtyard gradually subsided, leaving only a few leaves swirling down.

Qi Yun was captivated by what he saw, a surge of energy coursing through his chest.

“This sword technique,” ​​Master Xuanqing’s voice was clear and melodious as he stroked his short beard, “is rooted in the Five Internal Organs Fist.”

When the five internal organs are in full bloom, the sword intent is abundant; when the five internal organs are weak, forcing oneself to practice will only damage one's own foundation.

The five swords correspond to the five elements and the five internal organs. The sword moves are merely superficial; the essence lies in the activation and flourishing of the internal organs' energy.

Holding a sword is swordsmanship, capable of cutting through metal and splitting stone; having no sword is finger technique, which is also a sharp blade.

Once you cultivate true essence and can channel your energy outwards, striking objects from a distance will not be difficult.

He paused, a profound meaning in his eyes, "This sword has transcended the boundaries of ordinary martial arts and entered the realm of 'Taoist Sword'."

Although it is not as profound as the fundamental law I observe, it is still a core inheritance and a powerful tool for protecting one's path and oneself.

He paced back and forth, gazing at the deep night, his tone tinged with a sense of desolation: "Yun'er, the Five Viscera Temple lineage is divided into two branches: Daoist Dharma and Daoist Martial Arts."

Daoist practices focus on cultivating the inner spirit and soul, communicating with heaven and earth, drawing talismans and setting up formations to exorcise evil and avert disasters; Daoist martial arts focus on cultivating the outer muscles and bones, harmonizing the five elements, entering the Dao through martial arts, protecting the Dharma and subduing demons.

Only when the two are combined can we find the right path.

Unfortunately, Emperor Wuzong of the previous dynasty destroyed the mountain and temple, and the Five Organs Temple was almost extinct. Although it was barely continued, most of its inheritance was destroyed.

The Qianyun Rebellion only made matters worse.

Now, the lineage has dwindled, and this once grand temple is now reduced to just your master and I struggling to keep it afloat.

Xuanqing turned around and looked intently at Qiyun: "According to the old rules of the temple, the position of abbot must be a combination of Taoist magic and martial arts."

But now only this one lineage of Daoist martial arts remains.

Your grandmaster disliked fighting and devoted himself to cultivating Taoist arts. Your master, Xuanji, was the same way. He inherited the essence of Taoist arts, stayed in the mountains, maintained the incense offerings, and protected the lineage from extinction.

I, a humble Taoist, have inherited the lineage of Taoist martial arts. I descend from the mountain to travel, slay demons and monsters, accumulate merit, and gather that sliver of fleeting fortune for the temple.

This encounter at the foot of the mountain seems to be guided by some unseen force; perhaps the patriarch sensed it. I observe that fortune is about to be restored, and the opportunity for revival has arrived!

His voice lowered, carrying a heavy expectation, "Today I pass on the 'Five Elements Thunderclap Sword' to you, hoping that you can inherit the essence of both lineages and master it."

The day when the Dharma lineage is revived and the Five Organs Observation Daoist tradition shines again, it will be in your hands!

Qi Yun felt a jolt in his heart, as if a thousand-pound burden had silently pressed down on him.

Meeting Xuan Qing's gaze, he solemnly bowed deeply: "Disciple Qi Yun will certainly live up to Uncle-Master's high expectations and the legacy of our sect!"

A look of satisfaction flashed in Xuanqing's eyes. He said no more, only, "Good! Watch carefully."

He then began to meticulously dissect the "Geng Metal Sword" from the Five Elements Swords, move by move.

This sword is based on lung metal, and its sword momentum is like a golden spear cutting through the sky, with the most important features being its sharpness and speed.

Furthermore, because swordsmanship and the lungs are most compatible, the transmission of swordsmanship always begins with this sword!
With the Five Internal Organs Fist as a foundation, Qi Yun's lungs were already open, and his metal energy was sharp. As his mental techniques circulated, he felt the metal energy in his lungs, guided by his sword moves, gathering in strands at his fingertips, with a faint sense of sharpness about to be unleashed.

Although he was a beginner and his moves were still a bit clumsy, the smooth flow of his internal energy had already made Xuanqing nod in approval.

Teaching and learning went on so far that we didn't realize how late it was.

By the time Xuanqing had thoroughly explained the essence of the Gengjin Sword, all was quiet.

Qi Yun felt excited and his internal energy was surging, but he also knew that he couldn't bite off more than he could chew, so he thanked her and went to rest on the kang (a heated brick bed).

Xuanqing sat cross-legged beside the only old wooden table in the room, closing his eyes to regulate his breathing.

The next morning, the rooster crowed three times.

When Qi Yun woke up, Xuan Qing was no longer in the room.

Pushing open the door, in the dim morning light, I saw Master Xuanqing with his sleeves rolled up, using a wooden ladle to scoop water from a basin and carefully brush the donkey's fur.

The donkey squinted comfortably and swished its tail.

"Uncle-Master, let me do this rough work." Qi Yun, seeing the opportunity, quickly stepped forward and took the wooden ladle and bristle brush.

The cool water splashed onto the donkey's glossy fur, creating tiny droplets.

Xuan Qing did not refuse, but stepped back, put his hands behind his back and looked at him with a slight smile on his lips.

As they were washing, footsteps came from outside the courtyard gate, followed by Song Laoshuan's cautious voice: "Master Dao, Brother Qi, this old man has brought some porridge over. It's very simple, please don't mind it."

Qi Yun put down the wooden ladle and quickly went to open the door.

Old Song, his back hunched, held a heavy wooden tray in both hands. On it were several large bowls of steaming white porridge, a dish of finely chopped pickled vegetables, and a few freshly steamed, soft, and plump white steamed buns. The aroma, mixed with the cool morning air, wafted straight into one's nostrils.

"Old man, how could I trouble you to deliver this in person!" Qi Yun hurriedly took the tray, which was warm and heavy in his hands.

"Oh! You've made me feel so bad!" Old Man Song waved his hands repeatedly, his deeply lined face full of gratitude. "If it weren't for Master Dao and Brother Qi, how could our Song Family Village have such a hot meal this morning?"

I'm afraid even the bones were dug up by wild dogs! This is such a small matter, not worth mentioning at all, but I'm afraid I've slighted my two benefactors..."

As he spoke, his cloudy old eyes kept glancing at Xuan Qing in the courtyard. His lips moved a few times, but he didn't dare to speak again. He just bowed deeply and walked away, looking back every few steps.

Qi Yun carried the tray back into the house and placed it on the table.

Xuanqing had washed his hands and sat down, picked up a bowl of white porridge, and ate it slowly with some pickled vegetables.

The porridge was cooked until thick and had a rich aroma of rice.

Halfway through the meal, Xuan Qing suddenly spoke, his voice calm: "Yun'er, what do you think of what Wang Dashan asked for yesterday?"

Qi Yun was taking a bite of his steamed bun when he heard this and stopped chewing. He knew that his martial uncle was testing him.

After swallowing the food in his mouth and thinking for a moment, he said, "Uncle-Master, from a common-sense perspective, what Wang Dashan wants is perfectly reasonable. It's better to teach a man to fish than to give him a fish. You can save them once, but you can't save them forever. It's a good thing that they want to gather local militia to strengthen themselves and protect themselves."

Xuanqing nodded slightly, took a sip of porridge, and gestured for him to continue.

Qi Yun put down the steamed bun and looked at the white porridge in front of him, its surface calm and still: "But... people's hearts are like water, easy to let go but hard to hold back. Weren't those henchmen of Black Wind Stronghold originally farmers?"
The young men from the two villages, having witnessed bloodshed and killed people, had their fear dispelled.

The world is in chaos now. From my observation, Wang Dashan acts with method and decisiveness, and is shrewd and calculating.

Such a person, if not advised and guided, will acquire martial arts skills and gather around young men and strong men.

I fear it may become a disaster someday!

And according to cause and effect, my uncle will likely also bear a share of the karma!

Upon hearing this, Xuan Qing was slightly taken aback, and then he burst into laughter.

"You little rascal, you've got some deep thoughts. You even know about cause and effect and karma. Did your master teach you that?"
"But you've already told me both the good and the bad, so tell me specifically, should I teach this martial art or not?"

Qi Yun pondered for a moment: "In my opinion, Wang Dashan's request is commendable and is based on the facts."

What I am concerned about is a future illusion.

We must not neglect the real for the sake of the superficial!
If my master teaches me his skills, the future is unpredictable, and I will be held responsible for the consequences.

To avoid getting involved in this karmic consequence, it would be better to... compromise.

"Oh? How can we compromise?" Xuan Qing asked with great interest.

“Uncle-Master can explicitly refuse Wang Dashan,” Qi Yun said slowly, “but say that Song Laosan is quite pleasing to the eye, and that he is willing to teach him a set of martial arts for self-defense, and strictly order him to swear an oath not to teach it to others privately.”

Given Song Laosan's temperament, after we leave, if Wang Dashan pleads or provokes him a little, he will definitely be unable to resist passing on his knowledge.

Wang Dashan will inevitably carry out his plan.

In this way, the villagers' desire for self-reliance can be achieved, and since you, Uncle, neither personally taught Wang Dashan nor strictly forbade Song Laosan to pass it on, then whatever happens next, good or bad, will not affect you.

After he finished speaking, the room fell silent for a moment.

Xuan Qing stared at Qi Yun for a long while before letting out a long sigh and lightly tapping his finger on the table: "Good! What a 'compromise'! Meticulous and watertight."

Xuanqing's eyes were full of surprise: "Good! What a fine Qi Yun! Senior brother has truly taken on a good disciple!"

Your master, that old-fashioned fellow, has been teaching you about cause and effect on the mountain. Although this principle sounds simple, I, a humble Taoist, have been down the mountain for many years and have experienced much of the world's affairs before I have slowly come to understand its meaning.

For someone so young to have grasped this level of understanding is truly remarkable!

He put down his bowl of porridge, looked at Qi Yun with a complex expression, a mixture of admiration and a touch of unspoken emotion.

Qi Yun quickly bowed and said, "This disciple is foolish and has made unfounded assumptions. Uncle-Master is too kind."

Xuanqing waved his hand: "It is not an undeserved compliment. What you are worried about is exactly what I am worried about."

"The matter will be as you say!"

The two had just finished breakfast when they heard a commotion outside the courtyard gate.

Pushing open the door, one could see Wang Dashan and Song Laosan kneeling on the muddy ground at the entrance, waiting expectantly.

Xuan Qing walked out calmly.

(End of this chapter)