Hearing this, Ye Qiu’s expression darkened.
His purpose for coming to Wudang Mountain this time was to enter the Scripture Pavilion and read martial arts manuals, but who knew it would turn out like this.
Damn it, I’ve been tricked!
Ye Qiu cursed inwardly. This old Taoist looked kind and benevolent, but he was full of schemes, truly a…
cunning old fox!
Feeling quite depressed, Ye Qiu said:
“Senior, you overestimate me. The manuals have been stolen for so many years without being found. How could I possibly locate them?”
“Besides, it’s been over sixty years. The person who stole the manuals has probably long passed away.”
“Even if I wanted to help find them, I’m powerless!”
Taoist Chongxu said: “Actually, since the manuals were stolen, Wudang Mountain has been secretly investigating.”
“For a whole cycle of sixty years, we never gave up.”
“After all, it wasn’t just one or two manuals lost, but the entire Scripture Pavilion’s collection.”
“Master Ye, you may not know, but before my master ascended, he went thirteen days without eating a grain of rice or drinking a drop of water, refusing to pass on, because he felt he had no face to meet Wudang’s ancestors, as the pavilion was stolen during his tenure as head.”
“Only when I told my master I would spend my life searching for the manuals did he finally close his eyes.”
“Over these years, this old Taoist has put in great effort and finally found a clue.”
Oh?
Ye Qiu’s eyes flashed with interest, and he quickly asked: “What did you find, Senior?”
Taoist Chongxu said gravely: “I suspect the masked thieves who stole the manuals back then were experts from the Forbidden City.”
Ye Qiu asked: “Why do you say that, Senior?”
Taoist Chongxu replied: “I’ve investigated for years and never saw outsiders using Wudang techniques in the martial world, meaning those thieves didn’t scatter the manuals after stealing them.”
“They likely hid the manuals somewhere else.”
“Considering their terrifying skills, I thought long and hard, and only one force in the martial world has such strength: the Forbidden City.”
Ye Qiu asked again: “Any evidence?”
Taoist Chongxu shook his head: “The Forbidden City’s people are peerless experts. If it was them, they wouldn’t let me find evidence.”
“Even if I found proof, this old Taoist could do nothing against them.”
“Those people are all unparalleled powerhouses!”
Ye Qiu gave a bitter smile: “Senior, even if the Forbidden City did steal the manuals, I can’t help you retrieve them.”
“You just said they’re all unparalleled powerhouses.”
“How could I be their match?”
“Master Ye, don’t underestimate yourself. I’ve seen countless people, and you definitely have the ability to help Wudang recover the manuals,” Taoist Chongxu said, seemingly confident in Ye Qiu, continuing: “Your martial talent is the best among the younger generation. I believe in a few years, those old monsters in the Forbidden City won’t be your match.”
“Actually, years ago, I sought someone else to help recover the manuals.”
“That person agreed, but later, alas…”
Taoist Chongxu sighed deeply, his face showing sorrow.
“What happened later?” Ye Qiu pressed.
“Later, something unexpected happened, and that person’s fate became unknown,” Taoist Chongxu said: “Coincidentally, that person shared your surname.”
Also surnamed Ye?
Ye Qiu’s heart jolted, thinking of someone. Could it be…
“That person was the former number one expert, Ye Wushuang!”
Taoist Chongxu said: “Ye Wushuang agreed to help me recover the manuals. He investigated the Forbidden City in secret and seemed to find some clues, but unexpectedly, something happened.”
“Over twenty years ago, Ye Wushuang was ambushed by many and has since been missing, dead or alive.”
Ye Qiu was somewhat surprised. He hadn’t expected his father to have such a connection with Wudang.
“Senior, if even Ye Wushuang couldn’t do it, I certainly can’t. Please find someone else!”
Though Ye Qiu and the Forbidden City were mortal enemies, he gained no benefit from this. Agreeing to help Taoist Chongxu would be foolish, wouldn’t it?
As if anticipating Ye Qiu’s reaction, Taoist Chongxu said: “Master Ye, rest assured, you can agree to help this old Taoist.”
Ye Qiu rolled his eyes: “Can I take it back if I agree?”
Taoist Chongxu: “…”
After a moment of silence.
Taoist Chongxu added: “Master Ye, if you agree to help Wudang recover the manuals, I won’t let you suffer.”
“Though I live secluded in the mountains, I understand worldly ways.”
“Back then, Ye Wushuang agreed to help because I gave him an incomplete treasure map.”
What?
Ye Qiu was shocked inwardly, thinking: “Could the treasure map Ghost Servant gave me be the one Father got from Taoist Chongxu?”
Taoist Chongxu continued: “Though the Scripture Pavilion’s theft led to the loss of many manuals, Wudang, with centuries of history, still has some foundation.”
“If Master Ye agrees to help recover the manuals, I can let you read the peerless divine skill left by our founder, Zhang Sanfeng.”
Ye Qiu asked curiously: “Senior, what divine skill are you referring to…”
Taoist Chongxu smiled faintly and uttered five words: “Pure Yang Limitless Skill!”
Instantly, Ye Qiu’s face was full of shock.
As far as he knew, the Pure Yang Limitless Skill, created by Zhang Sanfeng, was Wudang’s highest internal cultivation method.
This method trained the internal organs and external muscles, bones, and skin, combining inner and outer practice, motion and stillness.
Moreover, it had the effect of prolonging life.
Zhang Sanfeng lived to a great age precisely because he cultivated this skill.
As for how old Zhang Sanfeng lived, it’s unverifiable now, but according to the “Ming History, Biographies, Chapter 187, Fangji,” Zhang Sanfeng was born in 1247 and died in 1464, living over two hundred years.
Zhang nearlyfeng was active throughout most of the nation, so much so that from the first to fifteen fifteenth Ming emperors, all sixteen sought this legendary figure.
There were even a rumor that Zhang Sanfeng appeared during the Qing Dynasty.
Such a legendary figure’s peerless divine skill—across the world, who wouldn’t be tempted?
Ye Qiu was no exception.
“Senior, if I agree to help Wudang recover the stolen manuals, will you let me read the Pure Yang Limitless Skill?” Ye Qiu asked.
“Yes,” Taoist Chongxu said to ease Ye Qiu’s concerns: “The Pure Yang skill has always been stored in the head master’s residence, so it was spared during the theft.”
“Good, I agree,” Ye Qiu said. “As long as you show me the Pure Yang Limitless skill, I’ll help Wudang find the stolen manuals.”
Taoist Chongxu said: “Master Ye, think carefully. A gentleman’s promise is worth a thousand gold. Once you agree, you can’t go back.”
“Senior yourself, I may not a gentleman, but I understand the principle of keeping my word,” Ye Qiu said solemnly.
“With your words of Master Ye, I’m at ease.”
Taoist Chongxu beamed, like a sly old fox whose scheme had succeeded.
