Wudang Sacred Scriptures

At the report from the captain of the gate guards, Jegal Choryang, Grand Envoy of the Jegal Family to the Martial Alliance, started in alarm.

“Someone is waiting outside the gates?”

“Cave Hermit Taoist—no, Chief Secretary Kwak of the Alliance Leader’s Office—is here.”

“Why would he...?”

“He says he has come to see the Clan Master.”

“...!”

“The Clan Master is away, so I did not know what to do. I came to ask your instructions, Grand Envoy. Shall I simply send him away?”

At the gate captain’s question, Jegal Choryang said,

“Wait a moment.”

A throbbing headache came over him, and he pressed a hand to his forehead.

Why has that Cave Hermit Taoist come here out of nowhere? And of all times, the Clan Master happens to be away...

Jegal Choryang knew Kwak Yeon must have arrived without knowing that the Clan Master had gone to visit the Sword of Wudang in return for his courtesy. He fell into deep thought.

“Did anyone come with him?”

He asked because, if Kwak had come on business from the Alliance Leader’s Office, he might have brought an escort.

“He came alone, Grand Envoy.”

Jegal Choryang’s expression darkened at the gate captain’s answer. If Kwak Yeon had come alone, then it likely was not Alliance Leader’s Office business.

Could that Cave Hermit Taoist still be nursing his grudge and planning to cause trouble?

At the Martial Alliance’s Grand Envoy council, Jegal Choryang himself had led the effort to prevent Wudang Sect from protecting the Cave Hermit Taoist.

Because of that, he knew better than anyone that the Cave Hermit Taoist had earned the sobriquet Kills as He Pleases with Every Step for his obsessive fixation on grudges.

The martial world had been in an uproar for some time after he had tracked down the Alliance of the Demonic Path’s Black Assassin Squad alone and slaughtered every last one of them.

Seeing Jegal Choryang’s face stiffen, the gate captain said,

“Grand Envoy, would it not be better to send him away?”

“No.”

Jegal Choryang rose sharply from his seat.

“I will go see him myself.”

Whatever the case, Kwak Yeon had come to see the Clan Master. As the person responsible for the Grand Envoy manor, Jegal Choryang needed to learn why he had come.

The thought that Kwak would not be waiting quietly outside the gates if he truly intended to make trouble also played a part in making him rise.

*****

Jegal Choryang met Kwak Yeon before the gates of the Jegal Family Grand Envoy manor.

“I am Jegal Choryang, Grand Envoy of the Jegal Family to the Martial Alliance.”

“I am Kwak Yeon, Chief Secretary of the Alliance Leader’s Office.”

Kwak Yeon was dressed in clean martial robes, and his manner was more courteous than Jegal Choryang had expected. That put him somewhat at ease.

He came dressed so neatly. It seems he made a point of observing proper form before meeting the Clan Master.

Having drawn his own conclusion from Kwak Yeon’s new martial robes, Jegal Choryang subtly straightened his back and asked,

“For what purpose has Chief Secretary Kwak come to see the Clan Master?”

“I would prefer to explain it directly to the Clan Master.”

“The Clan Master is currently away.”

“I see. Then I will return another time.”

As Kwak Yeon turned to leave without protest, Jegal Choryang abruptly said,

“Chief Secretary Kwak, should you not at least state the purpose of your visit before you go?”

“...”

Jegal Choryang did not want to appear intimidated before Kwak Yeon, who was so much younger than himself. So he pressed on in a rush.

“Chief Secretary Kwak is also of Wudang’s lineage. Surely you understand that one must observe courtesy among the orthodox sects. And that such courtesy must be even more exacting when dealing with the heads of other sects and families.”

As the words poured from him, Jegal Choryang grew quietly agitated. The humiliations suffered by the Jegal Family rose in his mind as well.

“Chief Secretary Kwak, no matter how strong your martial arts may be, surely you do not mean to treat the head of a family with such contempt for everyone around you.”

The moment the words left his mouth, Jegal Choryang regretted them.

No matter how unsettled he was, no matter how heated his emotions had become, accusing Kwak Yeon of such arrogance had gone too far.

The Cave Hermit Taoist could easily seize on it, claiming that Jegal Choryang had provoked him first.

What is done is done!

Jegal Choryang tensed for the briefest moment, then squared his shoulders with the thought that whatever happened would happen.

If Kwak Yeon beat a man so much older than himself to death, his name and reputation would plunge straight into the mud. It would be a small revenge for the Jegal Family’s humiliation.

With half his heart hoping for that revenge and the other half terrified of death, Jegal Choryang stared at Kwak Yeon.

Then Kwak Yeon assumed a formal posture and gave a silent bow.

“I am grateful for Grand Envoy Jegal’s instruction.”

“...?”

“Kwak Yeon, resident Taoist of Samryeong Palace on Mount Wudang, offers his apology for the discourtesy of appearing suddenly before the Clan Master of the Jegal Family without even submitting a calling card.”

Jegal Choryang was startled by Kwak Yeon’s thoroughly respectful apology.

It was the bearing and dignity one would expect from a disciple of a foremost orthodox sect.

He could scarcely believe that the Cave Hermit Taoist he had heard so much about was the same imposing young man standing before him.

Still, since the other man had apologized, Jegal Choryang felt somewhat ashamed.

“Chief Secretary Kwak, there is no need to apologize so deeply. Still, since you have come all this way, please tell me why. I will make certain the Clan Master receives your message.”

“That will be difficult.”

What could Jegal Choryang do when the man concerned refused to say?

He was intensely curious about why Kwak Yeon had come to see the Clan Master. He also feared being rebuked by the Clan Master if he simply sent him away, so he cautiously said,

“Chief Secretary Kwak, if you are not pressed for time, how about waiting a while? The Clan Master should return before long. Since you have already come, would it not be better to see him before you go?”

Kwak Yeon’s neat appearance and unfailingly polite manner led Jegal Choryang to believe that his purpose in visiting the Clan Master could not be malicious.

Kwak Yeon considered for a moment, then gave a respectful clasped-hands bow.

“If Grand Envoy Jegal would offer me a cup of tea, I would gratefully accept.”

A short while later, Jegal Choryang and Kwak Yeon sat facing one another with teacups before them in the Grand Envoy’s office within the manor’s Inner Court.

After taking a sip and setting down his cup, Kwak Yeon heard Jegal Choryang ask,

“Chief Secretary Kwak, I wonder whether the tea suits your palate?”

Kwak Yeon had no knowledge of tea, nor did he particularly enjoy it. To him, it was nothing more than a cup of bitter water.

He had merely asked for tea because Escort Captain Hong Sucheon had taught him that, once a host served tea and a visitor drank it, the visitor was considered a guest.

Thanks to that, he had entered deep into the manor, all the way into the Inner Court, exactly as he had intended. So he answered politely.

“It suits my palate very well.”

“...?”

Jegal Choryang looked at Kwak Yeon in bafflement as he simply lifted his cup again. Then he said,

“It seems Chief Secretary Kwak has devoted himself to martial training to the exclusion of all else.”

CLINK!

Kwak Yeon set down his teacup.

“I seem to have committed some breach of etiquette. If Grand Envoy Jegal would point it out, I will correct it.”

“...!”

He had lowered himself before an elder, treated him with respect, and readily asked for instruction so that he could correct his shortcomings.

Jegal Choryang could no longer believe that the Cave Hermit Taoist he knew by reputation and this dignified young man before him were the same person.

Still, Jegal Choryang had raised the subject of tea etiquette for a reason. He opened his mouth calmly.

“There is no need to become so serious. It is not as though Chief Secretary Kwak committed some great offense. I only said it because you appear to know nothing of the art of tea.”

“I never had the opportunity to learn about tea etiquette. If Grand Envoy Jegal is willing to teach me, I will listen carefully.”

Kwak Yeon’s impeccable humility left Jegal Choryang even more confused about who he truly was.

In any case, Jegal Choryang had a purpose in bringing up the subject of tea. He spoke in an even tone.

“Chief Secretary Kwak, there are several customs concerning tea in the martial world. When a host asks whether the tea suits a guest’s palate, as I did just now, it means the host is asking the guest to judge the tea. Once the guest gives that judgment, the host reveals what tea it is, thereby showing the heart with which he receives that guest.”

In other words, etiquette required a guest to give the host an opportunity to express what intentions lay behind the hospitality.

“Ah, I see. In that case, if Grand Envoy Jegal tells me now what tea you have served, I will savor the meaning behind it.”

It was a response Jegal Choryang had effectively drawn out of him, but it had created the situation he intended. He brought out the words he had prepared.

“Then, as the host, I shall explain the heart with which I offer it. The tea before Chief Secretary Kwak is Iron Goddess of Mercy. It was given that name because, like the spreading compassion of the Bodhisattva of Mercy, its deep, subtle fragrance carries for a thousand miles, and its lingering aroma is said to endure longer than that of any other tea.”

Having said that, Jegal Choryang grew slightly tense.

He had used tea etiquette as an excuse to ask why Kwak Yeon had come to see the Clan Master.

If Kwak had come with compassion and tolerance in his heart, he should drink the tea. Otherwise, he should not.

“Ah, so that was the meaning.”

Without hesitation, Kwak Yeon lifted the cup and drank.

Then he said,

“Perhaps because I heard your explanation before drinking it, the fragrance seems exceptionally deep and subtle. Thank you for offering me such fine tea.”

Haah.

Jegal Choryang’s tension drained away completely.

Kwak Yeon was a disciple of Wudang Sect, one of the martial world’s foremost authorities. He could not fail to understand the weight of his own words.

“Now that I have met Chief Secretary Kwak in person, I see that the ancients were right when they said that seven parts of worldly rumor are false. And they say that Samryeong Palace alone carries on the Taoist-immortal line among Wudang’s Eight Palaces. It seems that is indeed true.”

Seeing Jegal Choryang’s brightened expression, Kwak Yeon quietly said,

“Since Grand Envoy Jegal thinks so highly of me, I feel very glad that I came.”

“Of course. When misunderstandings arise between orthodox martial gates, should not the first priority be to speak openly and learn the circumstances? In any case, I am grateful that Chief Secretary Kwak took the first step and came here.”

Kwak Yeon took another sip of tea, then asked as though the thought had merely occurred to him,

“How is the Fire Dragon of the Jegal Family?”

“...?”

Jegal Choryang flinched. Kwak Yeon spoke with a bitter expression.

“The Fire Dragon of the Jegal Family suffered misfortune because of me. How could I not be concerned?”

“That is true enough.”

Jegal Choryang nodded.

“He has remained in qi-circulation meditation in an inner room at the rear garden.”

“I see. He is in an inner room at the rear garden.”

CLINK!

Kwak Yeon set down his teacup and continued.

“There is one matter for which I hope Grand Envoy Jegal will grant me your understanding.”

The sudden words brought a puzzled look to Jegal Choryang’s face.

“Your understanding? When have you ever committed any breach of etiquette toward me, Chief Secretary Kwak? As far as I can recall, this is our first meeting.”

“That is correct. Since this is our first meeting, how could I have committed any breach of etiquette toward you?”

“Then why do you say such things?”

“Because I am about to commit one now.”

“What do you—? Kgh!”

Kwak Yeon moved like lightning and struck Jegal Choryang’s paralysis point and mute point in an instant.

A chill ran down Jegal Choryang’s spine.

He remembered the Grand Envoy council meeting at the Martial Alliance, where he had led the effort to force a conclusion to the conflict between the Alliance of the Demonic Path and Wudang Sect.

By doing so, he had left Kwak Yeon isolated and defenseless while the Alliance of the Demonic Path pursued him.

Had Kwak Yeon learned of that and come for revenge?

He could not think of any other reason why Kwak Yeon would treat him this way.

His paralysis point had left him unable to move even a finger, and his mute point prevented him from opening his mouth. Jegal Choryang could only roll his eyes frantically.

Kwak Yeon looked at the wide-eyed Jegal Choryang and said,

“Your points will all release in an hour.”

At those words, Jegal Choryang realized that Kwak Yeon had not subdued him over what had happened at the Martial Alliance’s Grand Envoy council. He struggled desperately.

Mmph! Mmph! Mmmph!

Jegal Choryang’s eyes bulged as he rolled them wildly, trying to ask what this was about. Kwak Yeon continued.

“If the Clan Master had been here, I intended to follow the proper procedure and seek permission. But the Clan Master happens to be away, and I did not think permission would be easy to obtain. That is why I have committed this discourtesy against Grand Envoy Jegal.”

After speaking, Kwak Yeon opened the window and shot away.

Jegal Choryang nearly jumped out of his skin when he saw the direction in which he was headed.

It was toward the rear garden, where the Fire Dragon of the Jegal Family was currently in qi-circulation meditation.

Surely not...?

Remembering that the Cave Hermit Taoist bore the sobriquet Kills as He Pleases with Every Step, and recalling his words about intending to do something for which permission would be difficult to obtain, Jegal Choryang’s heart dropped.

That was why he had been so courteous all along!

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