Five Immortal Sects

Chapter 13: Wood Shadow Gate

Early Morning

Li Yan woke up from his dream. At this time, the sky was already slightly bright. Li Yan, still dazed, slowly opened his eyes to find himself in an unfamiliar environment. The ceiling was no longer the familiar dark brown wooden beam, but a flat, dark blue roof.

For a moment, he was bewildered, and slowly turned his head to look around the room, only to realize that he was no longer in his old home, where he had lived for over a decade. A sense of unfamiliarity and loneliness arose in his heart.

He took a deep breath, sat up expressionlessly, and walked to the desk to open the window. A refreshing cool breeze blew in from outside, invigorating him.

As he looked out the window, he saw three towering peaks surrounding him, with a dark blue sky above, and a few stars twinkling in the morning light.

In the valley, black-green vines and shrubs crawled up from the bottom, forming a majestic, undulating landscape, like a giant beast stirring in the morning. Birds chirped in the valley, filling the air with a sense of clarity and freshness.

Nearby, there was a pond outside the window, with a thin layer of mist swirling above it, like a delicate silk veil. The cool air rose gently from the surface of the pond.

Li Yan stood at the window, lost in thought for a long time, until the scenery outside finally dispelled the loneliness in his heart.

After dressing, he opened the door and walked out. As he left the house, Li Yan looked to his left and saw that several doors were still closed, so he lightened his footsteps and walked towards the pond.

The pond was about four or five meters wide, elliptical in shape, with one side leaning against the mountain wall. Two or three streams flowed down from the top of the mountain, moistening the stone wall and making it shine.

The roots of the vines were exposed where the streams flowed, and the roots swayed gently in the clear water. The water flowed on both sides, and green moss grew lushly, forming several clear streams that flowed down from the top of the mountain.

The surface of the pond rippled slightly, reflecting the many stones on the shore, creating a wavy pattern on the water’s surface.

A thin layer of white mist swirled above the pond, like several transparent white silk threads floating in the air. The water was clear, but its depth was unknown, and it seemed to become darker and colder as one gazed into its depths.

Li Yan squatted down, scooped up a handful of water, and washed his face. The cool water refreshed his skin, and his skin couldn’t help but tremble, but it felt wonderful.

He stood up, and looked towards the south of the pond, where there was a large area that resembled a vegetable garden or a flower garden.

Just as Li Yan was about to take a closer look, a sudden voice sounded in his ear.

“That’s just a few vegetables and wildflowers I planted in my free time,” the voice said.

The sudden voice in the quiet morning valley startled Li Yan, and he quickly turned around to see a person in black robes standing in front of a row of houses, smiling at him.

“Master!”

Li Yan’s eyes cleared, and he hurriedly bowed, then said, “I’ve disturbed Master’s rest, please punish me.”

The person in black robes was Military Advisor Ji, who waved his hand slightly.

“No need to apologize, I was already up and practicing my skills inside. This valley is not that big, and you’ll have plenty of time to get familiar with it. Soon, someone will bring you breakfast, and after you’re done eating, come to my room.”

Li Yan hastily replied, “Yes, Master.”

Military Advisor Ji smiled warmly and turned to leave. Li Yan watched his teacher’s back, feeling a warmth in his heart, reminiscent of the love and care his parents had shown him in his old home.

Not long after, the woman from last night brought breakfast. The meal was simple but delicious, with several steamed buns, a few small dishes, and a large bowl of egg drop soup. Li Yan ate with relish, even though these were ordinary foods that he rarely had at home. He was thinking about the Master’s instructions and didn’t savor the food as much as he should have.

After finishing breakfast, Li Yan immediately headed towards the first stone house on the east side of the valley.

Outside the door, Li Yan bowed respectfully.

“Master, disciple pays respects.”

“Ah, you’re here. Come in,” a warm, middle-aged voice replied from inside.

Li Yan didn’t dare to delay and quickly entered the room.

Inside, there was a large wooden bed on the north side, a four-to-five-foot-tall bookshelf on the west side, filled with books. A low table was placed on a large rug in the center of the room.

On the low table, there was an ancient guqin, with a simple and rustic design. The instrument had several scratches on its surface, but it was very smooth, showing signs of being played for a long time. In front of the guqin, there was a small, exquisite incense burner, with three incense sticks inserted, emitting a faint fragrance of sandalwood. The smoke from the incense sticks rose slowly, filling the room with a calming scent that soothed the mind.

Behind the table, a person in black robes sat with their hands clasped together, their eyes smiling at Li Yan. It was Military Advisor Ji.

“Come, sit in front of the table,” Military Advisor Ji said, lifting his right hand from his sleeve to point to the rug in front of the table.

Li Yan quickly walked to the rug, took off his shoes, and sat down in a kneeling position, facing Military Advisor Ji. This was a ritual he had learned from his old teacher, and Military Advisor Ji couldn’t help but smile when he saw Li Yan’s proper etiquette.

“Li Yan, today I will tell you some things about our sect,” Military Advisor Ji said, his voice calm and gentle.

Li Yan’s expression was respectful. “Yes, Master, I’m all ears.”

Military Advisor Ji saw that Li Yan was settled and began to speak. “Our sect is called ‘Wood Shadow Gate’, founded six hundred years ago. However, we have always kept a low profile, hiding in the deep mountains, unknown to the world. Our martial arts are a closely guarded secret, and the requirements for cultivation are extremely strict. Finding a suitable disciple is like searching for a needle in a haystack. Throughout the generations, there have only been two or three disciples, and in my generation, I am the only one.”

Li Yan listened intently, his eyes wide with wonder.

“Yes, I’ve heard that Master’s martial arts are unparalleled, and your skills in battle are like a god’s,” Li Yan said, his voice filled with admiration.

Military Advisor Ji smiled faintly. “If you practice diligently, you may one day surpass me.”

Li Yan quickly replied, “Master’s words are too kind, I’m not worthy to be compared to Master, no matter how hard I practice.”

Military Advisor Ji smiled. “You should have the ambition to surpass me, don’t think like that.”

Li Yan didn’t dare to say anything more.

Military Advisor Ji continued, 

“My departure from the mountains this time is not without reason. Our Wood Shadow Sect, aside from its exceptional martial arts, has also delved deeply into the study of herbal medicine. For generations, our ancestors have devoted themselves to the study of herbalism, even though they didn’t venture out into the world. However, they did travel and help those in need, saving lives and curing illnesses.”

“This is a tradition passed down through our sect, where knowledge is useless if not put into practice. Martial arts are merely a means of self-defense for us as we travel the world.”

Li Yan listened to these words, and his heart couldn’t help but feel a sense of reverence. He thought to himself, ‘So, our sect not only excels in martial arts, but also has a benevolent side, this is truly a righteous path.’

“I, too, have followed this path, but unfortunately, about five or six years ago, I was bitten by an unknown poisonous insect while collecting herbs in the deep mountains. After several months of treatment, my condition didn’t improve, and instead, it worsened. I sought help from many friends and renowned doctors, although their medical skills may not be superior to mine. But who knows if they might have knowledge about the origin of this poison?”

“If I could understand the source of this poison, it’s possible to find an antidote. However, despite my efforts, no one has been able to identify the poison. As time passed, the poison slowly invaded my internal organs, and I could only temporarily suppress it with my inner strength.”

“However, I can only use my inner strength to suppress the poison for about seven or eight years, and it’s already been six years. If I still can’t find an antidote, then it seems fate has other plans.”

Li Yan was shocked by this revelation and looked at Military Advisor Ji, whose pale face seemed to be shrouded in a dark aura. He asked, “Have you found an antidote, master?”

“Not yet, but that’s not a big deal. Life and death are predetermined.”

Li Yan anxiously asked, “What can be done?”

Military Advisor Ji stretched out his hand and gestured to him. “Haha… Don’t worry, this is the reason I’ve come out of seclusion. I want to find a disciple to inherit our sect’s traditions.”

“Otherwise, if our lineage is cut off with me, how can I face our ancestors and predecessors in the afterlife? The problem is that our sect’s cultivation method is too demanding, and only those with a special physique can practice it. If one forces themselves to cultivate, their meridians will be reversed, and they will surely die.”

“In the past, our sect would search for suitable candidates while traveling the world and helping those in need. Although it’s difficult to find such individuals, it’s not impossible. However, I don’t have the time to search for a disciple in the same way. That’s why I came to the military, where there are many young men with strong physiques, increasing the chances of finding a suitable candidate.”

Li Yan thought to himself, ‘So, the teacher came to the military to find a disciple, and the strange silver needle technique he used yesterday was to test for this special physique.’

However, as he thought about the painful sensation in his abdomen, Li Yan couldn’t help but feel a sense of trepidation.

Military Advisor Ji seemed to see through his thoughts.

“This special physique is an invisible physique, and it cannot be activated without our sect’s techniques. Although it’s painful to activate, it’s a necessary condition for cultivating our sect’s mental method.”

“I’ve been in the military for five or six years, and it’s taken me this long to find two people with this physique. One was found last year, and the other is you.”

Li Yan was taken aback by this revelation and thought to himself, ‘Two people? But aren’t there only two of us in this valley, including the teacher? I didn’t hear Chen An or Li Ying mention anything about it yesterday.’

As he thought about this, a memory seemed to resurface in his mind, and he suddenly remembered what General Hong had said yesterday.

‘About the person you recruited last time…’

When Master Ji said this, he saw Li Yan was stunned and couldn’t help but feel strange.

‘Yesterday, Hong Linying had already mentioned this matter, but why does he still have a puzzled expression?’

He didn’t know that Li Yan was lost in thought and hadn’t heard General Hong’s words clearly.

“Are you surprised that I mentioned another person? This is actually something I need to tell you.”

He took a deep breath before continuing.

“That person is your senior brother, whom I found at the beginning of last year. Do you remember when I asked you if you had read any books after testing your physique?”

Li Yan nodded, remembering the conversation.

“Your senior brother, however, had not read any books. I thought that with my personal guidance, he could cultivate our sect’s mental method.”

“But I underestimated the demanding nature of our sect’s method!”

“Your senior brother practiced for over a month, and during one of my trips to the city to discuss matters with the general, he attempted to use the incomplete technique he had just learned. Unfortunately, he didn’t understand it well, and it caused his qi and blood to rebel. By the time I returned, he had… Ah!”

Military Advisor Ji’s face was filled with regret and sorrow as he spoke.

“I’m also to blame for being too anxious. The poison in my body has been unable to be removed, and my condition has been getting worse. I’m worried about the future of our sect’s traditions.”

“Our sect’s cultivation method requires not only the personal guidance of our master but also self-reflection and gradual comprehension of the mysteries within. It’s a slow and gradual process that requires patience.”

“But I was too confident and tried to teach myself, which led to an irreversible mistake.”

As he spoke of this, Military Advisor Ji’s eyes were already welling up with tears.

Li Yan was shocked to hear this.

‘So, the person who came earlier had already passed away. Yesterday, General Hong seemed to be talking about comparing talents or something. So it seems that he was talking about my talent. How is it compared to that senior brother who died earlier? If that senior brother had better talent than me and ended up like this, then I am even more miserable.’

Thinking of this, Li Yan’s back was already drenched in cold sweat.

He looked up at Military Advisor Ji, wanting to say something about his fears, but seeing the tears and expectation in his teacher’s eyes, he hesitated.

This was a matter of life and death, and Li Yan’s heart was in turmoil. After a long while, he steeled himself.

‘If I were to give up now, I’d probably be sent back to my village. How could I face my parents?’

‘Even if I were lucky, I’d have to start from the bottom in the military, and who knows if I’d survive the battles? Both outcomes are unacceptable to me.’

‘I’d rather take a risk. Besides, I’ve studied hard in private school, and if I can’t comprehend the mysteries, I won’t continue to cultivate recklessly.’

‘Moreover, our sect’s powerful martial arts are unmatched, and it’s not like I can get something for nothing.’

Thinking of this, Li Yan’s gaze at Military Advisor Ji gradually became more resolute.

Military Advisor Ji looked at Li Yan’s determined eyes and understood his thoughts, revealing a comforting smile.

“Since that incident, I haven’t had much hope, and searched for a suitable person. Time is running out, and it’s been a struggle. Who knew that just before I was about to give up, a new opportunity would arise?”