Instead of answering directly, Master Chongxu asked, “Sect Leader Ye, do you know the true purpose of those masked men who raided the Scripture Pavilion back then?”
Ye Qiu said, “They were after martial arts manuals.”
Chongxu gave him a thumbs-up, “Sect Leader Ye, you’re sharp, nailed it in one.”
Ye Qiu was speechless.
Such an obvious question, who wouldn’t guess it?
What irked him most was Chongxu’s thumbs-up and praise.
So fake.
“Senior, what are you really getting at?” Ye Qiu asked.
Chongxu smiled faintly, “Since you guessed their purpose, take another guess, what specific martial arts manual was worth emptying the entire Scripture Pavilion for?”
Ye Qiu thought for a moment, “Could it be a technique left by Master Zhang?”
“Exactly,” Chongxu said. “Those men were after our founder’s martial arts.”
“As everyone knows, our founder, Master Zhang, was a martial arts grandmaster.”
“He created Pure Yang Limitless, Cloud Ladder, Wudang True Martial Swordsmanship, and many other peerless techniques.”
“But his greatest creation was the Taiji Thirteen Forms.”
Taiji Thirteen Forms?
Ye Qiu’s heart stirred.
From ancient times to now, when Wudang’s martial arts come up, Taiji is unavoidable.
Whether in old tales or modern films and novels, Wudang is synonymous with Taiji.
There’s a saying in the martial world, “No Taiji, no Wudang.”
That shows Taiji’s immense influence.
Chongxu said, “The Taiji Thirteen Forms is an internal martial art.”
“This fist technique encompasses the five organs and eight meridians internally, with five steps and eight methods externally, blending Taoist health-preserving alchemy, totaling thirteen forms, hence the name.”
“Before creating it, Master Zhang visited dozens of sects, studying tens of thousands of martial arts manuals.”
“Ultimately, he drew from the strengths of countless schools to create the Taiji Thirteen Forms.”
“This technique is firm yet yielding, yielding yet firm, blending firmness and softness.”
“At its highest level, it achieves yin-yang balance, harmony with the heavens.”
“Without exaggeration, it’s a treasure of martial arts, the essence of Taiji.”
“Since Wudang’s founding, it’s been our sect’s cornerstone.”
Ye Qiu got the gist.
“Senior, so the masked men’s true goal in raiding the Scripture Pavilion was the Taiji Thirteen Forms?”
Chongxu nodded, “Yes.”
Ye Qiu asked, “Did they steal it?”
Chongxu shook his head, “No.”
Ye Qiu’s eyes lit up, “So the Taiji Thirteen Forms is still with Wudang?”
“Precisely,” Chongxu smiled. “If you share the Cloud Ladder’s cultivation method, I’ll let you see the Taiji Thirteen Forms’ manual.”
“My grandmaster once told me it holds the secret to immortality.”
“Sect Leader Ye, want to become immortal?”
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance, seize it~”
Ye Qiu stared at Chongxu.
For some reason, that smiling face made him feel this old schemer was up to another trick.
But Ye Qiu couldn’t care less, any chance to boost his cultivation was one he couldn’t miss.
“Senior, I want to see the manual first,” Ye Qiu said.
“No way,” Chongxu replied. “You must share the Cloud Ladder’s method first.”
“Senior, what if I tell you and you don’t show me the manual?”
“Sect Leader Ye, I’d never deceive you, trust my character.”
“Sorry, I haven’t seen a shred of character in you.”
Chongxu: “???”
The air fell silent.
An eerie atmosphere settled over them.
A moment later, Chongxu said, “Sect Leader Ye, are you saying I have no character?”
“Yes.”
Chongxu: “…”
“Senior, I’ll share the Cloud Ladder’s method after seeing the manual. No manual, no deal,” Ye Qiu said firmly.
Chongxu was beyond frustrated.
As Wudang’s sect leader and a Taoist authority, who dared negotiate with him?
Yet Ye Qiu was haggling like it was nothing.
After hesitating, Chongxu gritted his teeth, “Fine, you can see the manual first.”
“But after you do, you must share the Cloud Ladder’s method.”
“Let’s be clear, if you trick me, don’t blame me for getting rough.”
“I know you’re powerful, with ten thousand Dragon Gate disciples, but if you play me, Wudang will spare no effort to keep you here.”
Ye Qiu laughed, “Relax, Senior, I don’t monkey with monkeys, I keep my word.”
“Good…” Chongxu’s smile froze, “Wait, who’re you calling a monkey?”
“Not important. Senior, let’s see the manual.”
“Sect Leader Ye, follow me.”
Chongxu led Ye Qiu back to the Scripture Pavilion, digging up a bluestone tile from the entrance.
The tile was ten inches thick, three feet wide.
Its underside was engraved with a single form’s manual.
“Sect Leader Ye, take a look,” Chongxu pointed at it.
“This is the Taiji Thirteen Forms?” Ye Qiu asked.
“Yes,” Chongxu nodded with a smile. “Those raiders thought emptying the pavilion would get them the Taiji Thirteen Forms, unaware it was right under their feet.”
Ye Qiu asked, “Isn’t it thirteen forms? Why’s only one form engraved?”
Chongxu said, “The other twelve are lost.”
Damn!
Ye Qiu wanted to smack the old Taoist, thankful he’d insisted on seeing the manual first, or he’d have been duped again.
“Senior, that’s low.”
“Thirteen forms, and now you tell me twelve are lost?”
“You’re scamming me, aren’t you?”
Ye Qiu was ticked off.
Chongxu laughed, “Sect Leader Ye, calm down.”
“Though twelve forms are lost, my grandmaster said with enough martial talent, even one form can unlock Taiji’s true essence.”
“Sect Leader Ye, want to give it a shot?”
At this point, Ye Qiu had no choice but to try.
“Sect Leader Ye, we agreed, whether you grasp Taiji’s essence or not, you’ll share the Cloud Ladder’s method afterward,” Chongxu said with a smile.
“I know,” Ye Qiu waved impatiently.
“Then I won’t disturb you,” Chongxu said, turning to leave.
Ye Qiu focused, eyes locked on the bluestone’s manual, and began practicing.
