Chapter 353
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## Chapter 353: The Shadow Over Dawn
After the question-and-answer session, the practitioners of the Baxian Pavilion returned to their daily routine.
They woke up at dawn to recite texts, attended lectures in the morning, and studied in the afternoon.
Some practitioners had left the mountain for personal reasons, but their places were quickly filled by new practitioners.
Yeon Jeokha’s day was also as before.
He repeated the routine of “recitation,” “lectures,” and “searching for people in Namamgung” like a squirrel on a wheel.
Amidst all this, a small change arrived.
From some point, Cheongbulno began to approach and talk to him for no apparent reason.
Just as Yeon Jeokha was about to leave the Five Dragons Palace after lunch, Cheongbulno stopped him.
“Where are you going every day?”
“To Namamgung.”
“For what?”
“There’s someone I need to find.”
“Who?”
Although he was annoyed, Yeon Jeokha answered obediently, as it was a relationship where he had to give an explanation at least once.
“A doctor named Baek Ilun, the Medicine Buddha.”
“Oh! To fix your face?”
“Yes.”
Yeon Jeokha looked at Cheongbulno as if asking if he had anything else to say.
Although it wasn’t just to fix his face, he wasn’t wrong, so he said “yes.”
Now, if Cheongbulno left, he would run to Namamgung.
But today, Cheongbulno’s words lingered.
“Have you studied Taoism before?”
“Why?”
“Because I feel an immortal aura in you from time to time. Have you, or haven’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Then why did you do so poorly in the question-and-answer session?”
“Because that energy is one of my abilities.”
“Mu Ohja said you didn’t know anything about Taoism. Did you say you had studied Taoism?”
“I only practiced mental methods and swordsmanship.”
“Ah, I see. If your method is good enough to feel an immortal aura, it must be a fairly advanced study. Why didn’t you settle for that and want to learn mystical arts?”
“Isn’t the heart of people like that? When you are standing, you want to sit down, and when you are sitting, you want to lie down.”
“You… Isn’t that desiring comfort? The study of mystical arts is not comfortable.”
“Ah, yes? I just wanted to say that ‘I desire something better’.”
“Tsk! I understand what you’re saying. What do you want to learn mystical arts for?”
“It’s not to use it anywhere in particular, but to prevent myself from being attacked from behind.”
“Attack from behind?”
“I was once a victim of mystical arts, and it was terrifying. I couldn’t see anything, and thanks to a shaman from the Kunlun Sect, I survived. If it weren’t for him, I would have died without being able to move.”
“Oh! That happened. Was it related to the Yooming Cult?”
“Yes.”
“I also know that the Three Immortals of Kunlun are famous. They say that the mystical arts of the Kunlun Sect are incredible.”
“Yes, I saw something called ‘Shenantong,’ and it was incredible.”
When Yeon Jeokha praised the Kunlun Sect, Cheongbulno muttered:
“In our Five Dragons Palace, there is also a secret technique called ‘Yingansul’.”
“With ‘Shenantong,’ you can see divine power, and I really can’t help but admire it.”
“With ‘Yingansul,’ you can do that too.”
“Eh? What did you say?”
Yeon Jeokha, who was busy praising ‘Shenantong,’ did not hear what Cheongbulno said.
Cheongbulno, with an awkward expression, said:
“You want to become a disciple of the Wudang Sect, but you only praise the Kunlun Sect?”
Yeon Jeokha looked around and whispered:
“I’ll only tell you this, sir. Honestly, if the Kunlun Sect were nearby, I would have gone there. I came to the Wudang Sect because the Kunlun Sect is too far away.”
“Oh! That…”
Cheongbulno had nothing to say.
His indifferent expression showed that he had no particular attachment to either the Wudang Sect or the Five Dragons Palace.
‘No matter how much you say it, you came because it was close.’
If the leader of the Wudang Sect or the Master of the Five Dragons Palace knew this, they would grab their necks and faint.
“If you have nothing else to say…”
“What do you plan to do when you find someone in Namamgung?”
“Learn mystical arts.”
“Do you think you can pass the question-and-answer session?”
“I’m not sure.”
“What would you do if you could learn even without passing the question-and-answer session?”
“Mystical arts?”
“Yes, Mystical arts. Do you think the Five Dragons Palace would teach martial arts?”
“I would definitely have to learn.”
When Yeon Jeokha replied enthusiastically, Cheongbulno stroked his white beard and asked:
“Do you know what position the Mystical Arts of the Five Dragons Palace hold in the martial world?”
“It must be high, since it’s the Wudang Sect?”
“Correct. As a shaman or mystic, it is the highest. But with that comes great responsibility. If you learn the Mystical Arts of the Five Dragons Palace, you must also take on that responsibility. Are you prepared for that?”
When he mentioned “responsibility,” Yeon Jeokha frowned.
“What kind of responsibility is that?”
“For example, if you see an evil spirit, you must expel it in the name of the Five Dragons Palace. If you ignore it because it’s annoying or you’re busy, you’re better off leaving now.”
“That’s not a big deal. I thought the Wudang Sect would make me do a lot of work. If it’s just that, I can handle it. Sir, what is the way to learn without passing the question-and-answer session?”
“Tonight, when you hear the midnight bell, come to the Five Dragons Palace alone, without telling anyone. Then I will personally teach you the method.”
“Tonight?”
“Why? Are you busy? Then tomorrow…”
“I’ll go.”
“Will you come tonight?”
“Yes. As they say, ‘strike the iron while it’s hot.’ If an opportunity arises, you must seize it.”
“Yes, yes. You are a very determined boy. You remind me of myself when I was young.”
“Sir, did you also have this face when you were young?”
“What kind of insult is that? I was talking about my personality. Then we’ll see each other tonight. You seem busy, so go.”
“Ah, yes. Then I’ll go.”
Yeon Jeokha bowed to Cheongbulno and quickly ran towards the mountain.
***
Wudang Mountain.
Shangqing Palace.
Master Yeong Gyeolsang wrote a letter.
The recipient was, of course, the leader of the Namgung Family, the Sword Emperor Namgung Byeok.
The letter was full of jargon that was difficult for others to understand. It was a precaution in case there was an accident during delivery.
For example, it said: “The shadow has fallen upon the dawn, what is happening? On such a day, the dawn entered the Five Dragons Palace.”
Deciphering the meaning, “dawn” refers to Yeon Jeokha, and “the shadow has fallen” means he is sick.
Master Yeong Gyeolsang sealed the letter and sent it to the Namgung Family through a subordinate.
Then, he called the Master of the Jinwu Palace, the Sage of Heaven and Earth.
When the Sage of Heaven and Earth arrived at the Shangqing Palace, Master Yeong Gyeolsang served tea.
“I’m sorry to bother you, but there’s something to discuss about Master Yeon’s matter.”
“What’s up?”
“A few days ago, there was a question-and-answer session, and the results were not good. Mu Ohja, who led the session, said that he is far from achieving the Tao.”
“Well.”
The Sage of Heaven and Earth shook his head.
‘Tsk! If the Seven Masters of the Five Dragons Palace knew who Yeon Jeokha is, they wouldn’t have said that.’
Master Yeong Gyeolsang said with a worried expression:
“This way, there’s no way to know when Master Yeon will learn the Mystical Techniques of the Wudang Sect. The Masters of the Five Dragons Palace are so stubborn that they only want to teach those who pass the question-and-answer session.”
“That’s true.”
The Sage of Heaven and Earth nodded in agreement.
Mystics have a unique sense of community and don’t accept just anyone.
That’s why the Baxian Pavilion is full of practitioners.
In any other sect, they would have accepted him immediately.
But the Five Dragons Palace has strict standards for accepting disciples, so even for someone from the Wudang Sect, it is difficult to overcome the barriers.
“If Master Yeon hadn’t been poisoned, the Masters of the Five Dragons Palace would have noticed his immortal aura. Then he would have passed the question-and-answer session at once… Either way, it will be difficult until he cures his poisoning.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“What if we secretly inform the Seven Masters about Master Yeon’s identity? Then they might let him pass the question-and-answer session.”
But the Sage of Heaven and Earth shook his head.
“Even if the Seven Masters knew Master Yeon’s identity, it’s not clear if they would teach him. The leader and I have seen his immortal aura up close and know it. But for the Seven Masters, Master Yeon is just an expert from Nokrim. No matter what the leader says, they will take it as ‘his background is impressive, so let him pass.’ If that happens, he won’t pass the question-and-answer session, and only the rumor that Master Yeon is poisoned will spread.”
“Hmm! You’re right. I think it was good to ask you today. I almost got Master Yeon into trouble by trying to help.”
Master Yeong Gyeolsang did not insist on his opinion.
He also knows well the unique stubbornness of the mystics and shamans of the sect.
Definitely, even if they knew Yeon Jeokha’s identity, they would be arrogant.
“Leader, don’t worry too much. Isn’t it Heaven’s will that Master Yeon has come to the Wudang Sect? I think he will find a good connection in the Five Dragons Palace.”
“I hope so. It’s a shame he’s in Nokrim. If he had followed the legacy of the Mysterious Woman of the Nine Heavens, wouldn’t he be a person of our way?”
Master Yeong Gyeolsang and the Sage of Heaven and Earth smiled at each other.
Both hoped that this was an opportunity for Yeon Jeokha to connect with the Wudang Sect.
Although, honestly, they were still unsure about the Mysterious Woman of the Nine Heavens.
***
Namamgung in August was so hot that you would sweat just by breathing.
Yeon Jeokha climbed up and down the cliffs like a mountain goat under the scorching sun.
It’s not that he hadn’t met anyone during this time.
A few days ago, he was lucky enough to find a doctor practicing in a cave.
But he was only interested in immortality pills and knew nothing about poisons.
Still, he gained something.
Seeing with his own eyes that there were doctors in Namamgung was enough.
At sunset.
Yeon Jeokha sat in the middle of a cliff to rest for a moment.
It seemed like today would end after climbing this cliff.
As he looked at the red setting sun, his heart felt heavy.
Maybe because he was tired and exhausted, he missed Namgung Yeon, the Incomparable Among Ten, especially today.
But he tried to shake off the nostalgia.
No matter how much he missed her, he didn’t want to see her in her current state.
‘She would also lose affection if she saw my current appearance.’
Even rugged men avoid getting close, how much more a delicate woman?
Yeon Jeokha stroked his face without thinking.
When his fingers touched the swollen, ulcerated skin, he couldn’t help but sigh.
“Ah! Damn old man. Why did you do something so unpleasant?”
Was it the “Fallen Moon Poison” or what it was?
While he muttered, Yeon Jeokha got up and climbed the cliff.
Had about a quarter of an hour passed?
Suddenly, a whitish fog began to rise from all around, and he couldn’t see a step ahead.
“Ah! What is this?”
Just a moment ago there was nothing, and suddenly this fog appeared!
“Is it an illusion?”
That was the only thing he could think of.
Remembering, the change in the Formation of the Eight Gates and Eight Appearances was similar.
“Person up there! It’s difficult if you do this suddenly! I can’t see where to step!”
Frustrated, Yeon Jeokha shouted at the top of his lungs, but the fog did not disperse.
“Doctor! If you speak well, dissolve the illusion! Someone will get hurt if you continue like this!”
Although he said it half as a threat, the fog thickened even more.
Every time he inhaled, a cold, damp energy filled his lungs.
“Do you want me to die here? I can’t see below my feet, so I can’t get down! Damn!”