Wudang Sacred Scriptures

Chapter 6

Kwak Yeon clenched his lips and began walking through the group of trainees.

Swish—

The trainees parted like a receding tide, stepping aside to make way.

The instructors’ gazes turned toward Kwak Yeon.

Before long, every eye in the training hall was fixed on him.

“What’s the matter?”

Kwak Yeon held out the broken incense stick toward the head instructor.

“My incense stick is broken.”

“That’s truly unfortunate. Didn’t I tell you to take proper care of it? There are no spare incense sticks, so take the test with that one, as per the rules. Of course, if you choose to forfeit, I’ll allow you to rest early.”

“I have no such intention. Furthermore, I was not negligent. This incense stick already had a crack in it.”

“What nonsense is that? All incense sticks were inspected, and no defects were found. If you’re not forfeiting, return to your position.”

“I think it’s no coincidence that this defective incense stick ended up in my hands. Naturally, this means there was a mistake during the inspection process.”

“What exactly are you implying?”

“If there was no mistake, then it means someone tampered with it intentionally.”

The head instructor frowned deeply.

“Kwak Yeon, not only are you disobeying an instructor’s order, but you’ve also just insulted the instructors. As of this moment, I revoke your status as a trainee. Instructor Song! Remove this boy from the hall immediately.”

Following the head instructor’s orders, Instructor Song stepped toward Kwak Yeon.

“You should’ve known your place and kept quiet.”

“Don’t touch me. I’ll walk out myself, but let me say one more thing.”

Momentarily thrown off by Kwak Yeon’s words, Instructor Song paused as Kwak Yeon turned to address the head instructor.

“There’s only one place for me to go once I leave this hall.”

“Where do you think you’re going?”

When Kwak Yeon lifted his gaze toward the rocky peaks of Mount Wudang, the head instructor’s expression twisted menacingly.

“Hah! Do you really think anyone in the Main Sect will bother with the likes of you?”

“Probably not. I’ll likely be stopped before I even pass the Sword-Shedding Pond. But I trust that the Daoist masters of the Wudang Sect won’t stand idly by and let a child starve to death at their gates.”

The head instructor’s face darkened further, turning red with anger.

“Are you threatening me? Do you think this will change anything?”

“I’m not expecting change. I’m merely preparing to throw a pebble into the pond.”

The head instructor glared at him and said,

“I understand your frustration, but the rules cannot be changed. Go ahead and throw as many pebbles as you like.”

Kwak Yeon felt the crushing weight of despair as the head instructor’s firm stance left no room for compromise.

Yet, he straightened his back, suppressing the anger and bitterness that threatened to overflow.

He refused to give the schemers even a sliver of satisfaction.

Just as Kwak Yeon was about to step toward the hall’s exit—

“Oh no! Head Instructor, my incense stick is broken too.”

Seok Jangsan stepped forward, holding up an incense stick that had snapped nearly in half.@@@@

“It was perfectly fine until just now, but it suddenly snapped!”

The head instructor’s face contorted again.

“There are no exceptions to the rules. Either take the test with that stick or forfeit.”

“I won’t accept this unfair treatment either. I’ll go with Trainee Kwak to the Sword-Shedding Pond to throw pebbles.”

Seok Jangsan tossed the broken incense stick to the ground and moved to stand beside Kwak Yeon.

Stunned, Kwak Yeon asked,

“Do you realize what you’re doing?”

“Of course. Two stones are more likely to hit than one, aren’t they?”

“But you’re supposed to become a Main Sect Disciple.”

Raising his voice so everyone could hear, Seok Jangsan declared,

“I refuse to become a Main Sect Disciple by ignoring this injustice! I’d rather carry manure than train under such unfair conditions.”

He swept his gaze over the trainees, whose heads hung low.

“Seeing how you can’t even look up means you still have some semblance of shame. Good luck to you all.”

“Stop it!”

“Kwak Yeon, make sure you pass all the way up to the Gap rank and become a Main Sect Disciple for us.”

“Yeah, you can definitely do it.”

“We’ll all be cheering for you.”

Their words of encouragement, following their earlier congratulations, filled Kwak Yeon with warmth and determination.

“I’ll give it everything I have. No, I’ll make sure it happens.”

The eliminated trainees packed their belongings and left the hall.

It was said they’d be sent to work as laborers for the Taoist temples on Mount Wudang, the secular clans, or the trading companies operated by those clans.

Thanks to their training, which included literacy and physical conditioning, they’d receive better treatment than ordinary laborers.

Some might even rise to positions like managers or clerks with enough effort.

Still, they’d have to live with a sense of deprivation for the rest of their lives.

Kwak Yeon knew he might see them again someday, as long as they remained within the boundaries of Wudang.

When that time came, he vowed to meet them not as a failed trainee but as a proud disciple of Wudang, ready to share the bonds of friendship they hadn’t had the chance to fully build.

*****

Before leaving Byeongpal Dormitory, Kwak Yeon approached Instructor So Jin-sam. The dormitory was already empty, as the other trainees had departed.

“What is it?”

Seated at the edge of his bed, So Jin-sam looked at Kwak Yeon with an uneasy expression.

Kwak Yeon bowed his head.

“Thank you for taking care of me all this time.”

So Jin-sam’s eyes widened.

It was the first time he had ever received a farewell greeting from a trainee. Given his notorious reputation as one of the strictest instructors, he hadn’t expected it.

“You’re mocking me, aren’t you?”

“No, sir. Not a single child in our dormitory fell ill during my time here. There wasn’t a single bedbug or louse to be found, either.”

So Jin-sam’s obsession with cleanliness and his relentless discipline had served a purpose. With dozens of young trainees crammed into a small dormitory, strict hygiene was essential.

While So Jin-sam stared blankly, Kwak Yeon took out a folded note from his sleeve.

“...What’s this?”

“I found an old medical text in the library. It mentioned a prescription that, when taken over time, could help loosen stiff joints. I wrote it down for you.”

“Hah! I’ve tried dozens of prescriptions like that already. Do you seriously think your pitiful studies can compare to the skills of the Wudang Sect’s apothecaries?”

“I wouldn’t dare. I only thought it might help because it’s aligned with the principles of the Jianche Yangsheng Method.”

So Jin-sam knew that Kwak Yeon had spent all three days of their rest period buried in the library.

‘Could it be that he was doing this for me...?’

Hesitating for a moment, So Jin-sam reached out and took the note.

“I’ll take it, just to humor you.”

As Kwak Yeon handed it over, he said,

“Along with the prescription, you should practice the Jianche Yangsheng Method regularly. It worked for me, so I’m sure it’ll work for you too.”

“You’d better hope it does, or I’ll make sure you regret this.”

“Feel free to come and scold me anytime. Well then, I’ll be going.”

Kwak Yeon turned and began walking through the now-empty dormitory.

Watching his retreating figure, So Jin-sam suddenly called out.

“Kwak Yeon.”

Kwak Yeon stopped and looked back.

“From the Eul rank onward, things will be completely different. And in the Gap rank...” So Jin-sam hesitated before continuing, “...you’ll need to be most wary of those closest to you.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“There’s no point in knowing more right now. Just get out of here!”

After Kwak Yeon left, So Jin-sam stood alone, gazing around the deserted dormitory.

“...Sigh.”

A faint sigh escaped his lips.

Every time he started to grow attached to a trainee, they ended up leaving.

His strictness toward rule-breakers stemmed from his own past scars.

But that kid, Kwak Yeon...

So Jin-sam gave a bitter smile as his eyes lingered on the folded note in his hand.