Volume 1: Wind Rises in the Mountains and Swamps Chapter 2: Xuan Yuan Jue
Xiaoyi lay on his back, watching the moon gradually move to the top of his head. He sat up and stretched his body, feeling bored.
It's time to practice Xuanyuan Jue.
Xiaoyi is thirteen years old this year. He has been taught the "Xuanyuan Jue" by his master since he was five years old. At the beginning of his practice, he was warned by his master to practice it with perseverance. The master also said that this is the ancestral precepts of Xuanyuan Temple, and the "Xuanyuan Jue" can only be taught by the head and the head's disciples. Although he practiced diligently, he did not find any wonders in this method, but Xiaoyi still followed the master's instructions and has been practicing until today.
It's been eight years, eight years! The master often said that perseverance can lead to the great way! Xiaoyi shook his head. He was afraid that the great way would not be seen, but perseverance had achieved it, which was enough to be proud of!
Before going to bed every night, practicing the Xuanyuan Kou Jue is his must-do homework.
Following the breathing method taught by the master, Xiaoyi sat quietly for a while, then turned his five hearts to the sky, folded his hands in front of his abdomen, formed a hand seal, and began to practice.
"... When the nature of wood and the emotion of gold come together, water rises and fire tends to stop. What is the true form of living in the world? You must hold the Yin Fu to retreat completely..."
Xiaoyi silently recited the formula. "Xuanyuan Jue" has more than a thousand words, and he memorized it thoroughly. The formula is difficult to understand. Even Qingyunzi didn't understand it when he asked his master, not to mention that he had been reciting it in this muddled way for his whole life. The ancestral precepts say that this is the only way to become an immortal and it is a compulsory course for disciples of Xuanyuan Temple. There is no other way, just keep reciting!
For eight years, day after day, year after year, he persisted like this. Xiaoyi didn't feel that he was floating in the air or anything else, but he rarely got sick. Although he looked thin, Xiaoyi knew that his arms still had the strength of two or three hundred pounds. Among children of his age, he is quite strong, isn't he?
I wonder if this has anything to do with meditation! Maybe it's because the master soaked him in medicine when he was a child!
From the master, Xiaoyi also learned a set of Xuanyuan sword techniques and some light body training techniques. He thought he was good at martial arts!
The master also has a very old book about talismans. It is full of some difficult formulas and pictures like Xuanyuan Jue, which are used as copies of Xiaoyi's enlightenment when he was young. Other children are enlightened with books such as Thousand Characters and Shuowen Jiezi, but poor Xiaoyi has been accompanied by these ghostly talismans since he learned to read.
When Xiaoyi was bored, the master admonished him, saying that this was a thing passed down by the ancestors and was a token of the masters of the past generations. The implication is that Taoist Qingyun has treated Xiaoyi as the 21st generation master of Xuanyuan Temple.
For the sake of his master and the future of Xuanyuan Temple, Xiaoyi learned the various formulas and drawing methods of the Xuanyuan Talisman, and naturally learned to read and write. Under the earnest care of Taoist Qingyun, he became a little Taoist priest.
The Xuanyuan Talisman is also a means for the master and apprentice to make a living. Master Qingyun is often asked to draw some talismans to exorcise evil spirits and pray for blessings, and it is unknown whether they are effective. However, every time I see the master drawing talismans, Xiaoyi believes that these talismans should be very effective!
The Xuanyuan Talisman is just one of the tokens of the head of Xuanyuan Temple. The other is the jade pendant that the master never leaves. He has shown it to Xiaoyi countless times, letting Xiaoyi know that it will be his treasure in the future. This seems to be a spur! It seems that every time Taoist Qingyun shows Xiaoyi, the jade pendant can give him and Xiaoyi unlimited expectations, which is a belief in becoming an immortal!
Or perhaps it is to appreciate the good intentions of the master, and the sensible Xiaoyi always shows his filial side. Although he didn't understand why his master was so persistent, he still remembered the old man's teachings. However, when he looked at the jade pendant with cloud carvings and the word Xuanyuan, he still didn't agree with it. He was just worried that when his master was gone, what was the point of being the lonely master of this temple!
Maybe it was because the master and his apprentice had a hard life, maybe it was because the life on the top of the immortal was leisurely, maybe it was because of all the things he had seen in the secular world with his master, maybe he only had a relative like his master. For these reasons, Xiaoyi's temperament was lively but not without tranquility, smart but not without cunning, and a little mature.
Xiaoyi recited the Xuanyuan formula and practiced the exercises in the formula, and felt that there was no movement in his body as always. He looked up at the sky, estimated that the time of Xu had passed, and turned over and jumped off the lying cow stone. Under the moonlight, as light as a monkey, he quietly slipped back to Xuanyuan Temple, and then tiptoed to the main hall.
The master was still snoring evenly, and the clothes he was wearing had fallen to the ground. Xiaoyi covered the master with the clothes again, made a face, and turned to walk towards his room. Taoist Qingyun behind him opened his sleepy eyes and looked at Xiaoyi's leaving figure. There was a faint smile on his old face, his eyes were closed, and the snoring continued.
The three main halls of Xuanyuan Temple are divided into two wings, inner and outer. In the center of the outer wing is the statue of the ancestor, and the three inner rooms are the living place of the headmaster. Now that the master and apprentice are in such a difficult situation, Master Qingyunzi can rest anywhere in the main hall as long as he is drunk. Xiaoyi has long been accustomed to this.
Outside the main hall, there is another intact wing in the west wing, which is the kitchen of the master and apprentice. There are two more rooms in the east wing, one of which is Xiaoyi's residence.
Xiaoyi returned to his hut and lit the oil lamp by rubbing the flint. The lamp oil was made of badger oil from the back mountain, which came from the hunter Lao Lu at the foot of the mountain. The wick was made of rush grass from the back mountain. The two were combined to make an oil lamp that was smokeless and bright. The hut was not big, with only a wooden couch placed against the east wall, a bamboo mat, a bamboo pillow, and a thin mattress on it. There was also a wooden box next to the couch, and a sword hung on the south wall very eye-catchingly. It was given to Xiaoyi by the master, and the sword was named Qingyun. This sword has been with Taoist Qingyun for decades, and it is usually not used, so it is kept for Xiaoyi to practice sword. When the master and apprentice went out, it didn't look good for the old Taoist to carry the sword, so Xiaoyi carried it, and he also looked like a Taoist boy.
After kicking off his shoes and throwing his coat on the wooden box, Xiaoyi lay down. Maybe I have to go down the mountain tomorrow to see if there is anything delicious at Uncle Lu's place at the foot of the mountain. And the master's wine is almost gone, should I go to Taiping Town ten miles away to get some wine for the master. After thinking about it for a while, he became confused, pulled the mattress over and fell asleep.
The next day, at dawn, Xiaoyi was still in a dream, and a familiar voice rang in his ears.
"Xiaoyi! It's time to practice sword."
"I know, Master!"
Hearing that it was the master's voice, Xiaoyi agreed, rubbed his sleepy eyes, and got up. He put on his clothes quickly, took down the sword hanging on the wall, and saw that the oil lamp was still flickering, so he hurried forward to blow it out, yawning and walked out of the house.
"Stinky boy, you always wake up late when I call you. You must know that diligence is the foundation of human survival, and you must not slack off in martial arts."
Xiaoyi came to the yard and saw that the master was standing in the courtyard with a refreshed spirit, with a long beard fluttering under his chin, and he had a fairy-like demeanor. It was just that the master pretended to be angry, which made him not afraid, but more intimate.
After rubbing his eyes again, Xiaoyi smiled and said, "With Master here, how can I be lazy!"
"Hmph! You are so slick, you are asking for a beating!" Taoist Qingyun reprimanded, and his expression was also warmer.
"Practice swordsmanship!"
"Disciple obeys!"
Xiaoyi bowed and replied with a serious face.
When teaching, both the master and the disciple looked solemn, which was also a kind of respect for the inheritance of the master.
In the morning light, Xiaoyi discarded the scabbard, held the sword in his right hand, and stroked the hilt with the sword finger of his left hand. After the opening gesture saluted the master, the courtyard was filled with sword lights.
Xiaoyi has been practicing this set of swordsmanship for seven or eight years. The first three moves of "Xuanyuan Swordsmanship" are defensive swordsmanship. The middle five moves are defense in defense and attack in defense. The last five moves are said to be immortal swordsmanship, but no one has ever practiced it.
From the first move, No Wind, to the second move, No Water, the third move, No Peak, the fourth move, White Ape Jumping over a Stream, the fifth move, Turning Rhinoceros to Look at the Moon, the sixth move, Strange Python Turning Over, the seventh move, Azure Dragon Entering the Sea, the eighth move, Upside Down Galaxy, Xiaoyi's swordsmanship was smooth and seamless. Then, he put away his sword with a smug look on his face and jumped out of the circle.
Taoist Qingyun held his long beard with his hand, nodded slightly, and said in a deep voice: "The thirteen moves of "Xuanyuan Sword Technique" were created by the founder of Xuanyuan, and have been the sword techniques of Xuanyuan Temple for generations. The sword technique is vigorous and unique, and it is never passed on easily. Each move has five to nine variations. You have practiced these eight moves quite skillfully. You must know that the first thing about sword technique is to truly achieve the unity of body and sword, sword and spirit, and man and sword. Without hard work, it will not work. In the martial arts of the rivers and lakes, there is a saying that the hundred-day stick, the thousand-day knife, and the ten-thousand-day sword make sense. But my Xuanyuan Sword Technique is not enough with hard work, it must have the formula to complement each other. It's a pity that no one has been able to understand the mystery of "Xuanyuan Formula" for thousands of years, which makes my "Xuanyuan Sword Technique" 》It is just a show, like a beast without spirit, with only a terrifying appearance. My master, your master, saw the decline of the sect, and had no choice but to combine the secular martial arts skills to create a set of internal skills that can bless the Xuanyuan swordsmanship. I wanted to pass it on to you, but..."
Hearing the master say this, Xiaoyi also put away his smug look and asked curiously: "But what, Master?"
Taoist Qingyun said: "Xiaoyi, you know that I taught you a total of thirteen swordsmanships, why not only you can't practice the last five styles, even I can't practice them, do you know why?"
"Disciple does not know, please help me, Master." Xiaoyi leaned over and said.
"Alas!"
After sighing, Taoist Qingyun pondered for a moment and then said, "This Xuanyuan Sword Technique is a set of immortal sword techniques passed down by the founder of the sect. With the help of the Xuanyuan Formula, it is said that one can use a flying sword to defend against enemies and take people's heads from a thousand miles away. And according to the master's teachings, the last five moves can only be performed with the Xuanyuan Formula. Therefore, not only you, but also the disciples of Xuanyuan Temple in all generations, including your master, I, can only memorize the sword moves by heart, and cannot perform them even with the skills of your master's master, Taoist Taiyi!"
"Master! Could this Xuanyuan Sword Technique really be the sword technique of immortals?"
Blinking his eyes, Xiaoyi's face was full of doubts. No wonder Xiaoyi was full of doubts. The master had mentioned the origin of Xuanyuan Temple countless times, and had often talked about immortals, but he always thought that the so-called immortals were too ethereal and he didn't believe them from the bottom of his heart. But today, the master stated with certainty that what he practiced every day was actually the swordsmanship of an immortal, and the current predicament of Xuanyuan Temple...
As if he had seen through Xiaoyi's thoughts, Taoist Qingyun continued, "So what if it's the Immortal Sword Technique? Even if I give you the treasure of the Immortal Family, what can you do? Can you use it? When the sect was weak, the sword technique was coveted by people in the martial arts world and was spread out. But without the corresponding skills, the sword technique was just a facade, and gradually no one cared about this sword technique. My master, Taoist Taiyi, spent thirty years to create a set of internal skills to prevent the sect from falling and for the sake of future generations to settle down. This made this Xuanyuan Sword Technique barely have one-tenth or one-twelfth of its power."
Hearing this, Xiaoyi lowered his head in disappointment. What's the use of one-tenth or one-twelfth of its power? It can't be compared with the masters in the martial arts world!
"Humph, don't underestimate this sword technique. Even if it is one-tenth of the power of the original sword technique, it is not something that secular martial arts can underestimate."
Seeing Xiaoyi's absent-minded look, Taoist Qingyun was angry and scolded in a deep voice.
Master is going to be angry! Xiaoyi hurriedly handed the sword to his left hand, scratched his head and smiled: "Master, what you said is very true! Don't worry, I will practice this set of swordsmanship well and practice it to 20%. No! Master, I will practice it to 100%."
"Stinky boy, I will be satisfied if you practice it to 10%."
The expression of Taoist Qingyun eased, and he said in a gentle voice: "This is also a reason why I have not taught you other skills. I just want you to gain something from practicing Xuanyuan Koujue, but over the years, I guess it is also..."
Looking at the frustrated look of the master, Xiaoyi lowered his head and murmured in panic: "It's all Xiaoyi's incompetence. It's been eight years, and I still haven't practiced the "Xuanyuan Jue" at all."
After that, he walked closer, pulled the master's sleeve, raised his little face to the master's shoulder, and said with a firm look: "Master, Xiaoyi will always be by your side, and one day I will practice this Koujue for you to see."
Alas! Maybe I was too paranoid. Why should I impose my lifelong obsession and loss on such a young child? Looking at the childish face of his disciple, he could see the beginning of heroic spirit between his eyebrows. Taoist Qingyun caressed Xiaoyi's head lovingly and smiled gently: "Silly child, Master is almost a hundred years old. You are still young. How can you accompany Master forever?"
"Master will live forever."
"Hahahaha!"
"A hundred years of time is spent with fate, and everything is just a dream! I have been seeking the way for my master all my life, but unfortunately I don't have enough opportunities. However, I have lived a carefree life and have Xiaoyi accompany me in my old age. How happy! How happy!"
The laughter of understanding and unruly sounded in Xuanyuan Temple under the morning light.
"Xiaoyi, pack up and go down the mountain with me later. The granddaughter of Wu, the shopkeeper in Taiping Town, is one month old today. Let's go and ask for a drink."
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