NOVEL NEXT Chapter 372: Huashan Sect
Huashan.
Siguoya is a term used in the worldly society in recent years. Actually, Siguoya is also called Sun and Moon Cliff.
This name easily reminds Xu Qing of things like the Sun Moon Divine Sect.
Actually, there is no Sun Moon Divine Sect on Sun and Moon Cliff.
There are two entities referred to as Huashan Sect in the worldly society.
One is Yuquan Academy, which also has the Quanzhen Seven Sons Hall built within, and the kung fu currently cultivated comes mostly from one of the Quanzhen Seven Sons, Hao Datong, the Guangning Zishi.
The other is the Queen Mother Palace built on Sun and Moon Cliff.
The current Sect Leader of Queen Mother Palace is Master Kumei.
In her youth, she bowed in the snow for four days and nights at Huashan Peak in order to be accepted into the Queen Mother Palace sect under the Huashan, which touched the then Sect Leader Master Yin Yu, allowing her to be admitted into the sect.
Seven years later, her master, Master Yin Yu, traveled far to South Sea, leaving her to guard Huashan.
The "Taiyin Four Swords" came seeking revenge, claiming they would burn down Queen Mother Palace and annihilate Huashan Sect, Master Kumei fought a bloody battle, sustaining thirty-nine minor and major injuries, eventually leaving none of the Taiyin Four Swords alive, leading to her being known in Martial Arts as the "Iron Fairy."
Five years later, Qinghai's "Cold-faced Rakshasa" sent a battle challenge, demanding a final duel with Master Yin Yu, stating if Huashan Sect lost, they must join the Rakshasa Gang. However, Master Yin Yu went into madness, and Master Kumei had to fight on behalf of her master.
Knowing she was no match for "Cold-faced Rakshasa," she calmly placed a hand into a boiling pot of oil, stating that if the "Cold-faced Rakshasa" could do the same, Huashan would admit defeat and surrender.
The "Cold-faced Rakshasa" retreated with a changed face, never setting foot in Central Earth again, but Master Kumei's left hand was burned to a crisp by the boiling oil, which is also how she got the name "Kumei."
At the age of twenty-nine, Master Kumei took over the Huashan sect.
She was known for being strict with her disciples, who revered her greatly.
After passing forty, Master Kumei's martial arts had reached Great Success, and her cultivated "Thirteen Forms of Qingfeng" swordsmanship was exquisite beyond compare, with moves as elusive as they were profound, ranking alongside the "Flying Dragon Nine Forms" created by He Zudao of the Kunlun Sect as the two major swordsmanships of the Taoist sects at the time. One Yin, one Yang, marvelously profound.
According to worldly society rumors, He Zudao entered the Central Plains again previous year and exchanged sword skills with Master Kumei, gaining much and planning to further advance the Flying Dragon Nine Forms to create a swordsmanship blending Yin and Yang.
Xu Qing and Zhang Junbao arrived outside Queen Mother Palace.
The welcoming Daoist stopped him, inquiring his origin. Thus Xu Qing showed the token of the Six Gates chief arrest officer.
This item works better than announcing one's affiliation with Chongyang Palace.
No matter how renowned Queen Mother Palace is in worldly society, it dares not offend the Mongol Yuan Court, which is at the height of its power.
Seeing it was the Court's hound, the welcoming Daoist dared not obstruct them, and had to invite them in, notifying the Sect Leader.
Xu Qing and Zhang Junbao followed the welcoming Daoist into the main hall of Queen Mother Palace, where the statue of Queen Mother is tributed in the center, flanked by statues of Nine Heavens Profound Lady and the Bodhisattva Guanyin.
This is also related to the Mongolian Yuan occupying the Mandate of Heaven and greatly promoting Buddhism.
Even Taoist sects like Queen Mother Palace have no choice but to tribute a statue of the Bodhisattva Guanyin to keep themselves safe.
Fortunately, quite a few literati are intimate with Taoist sects, and compiled a biography for the Bodhisattva Guanyin, claiming she was originally the Taoist Golden Immortal, Cihang Daoist.
Moreover, with the spread of Laozi's Huahujing, it at least brought some face back to Taoist sects.
Xu Qing and Zhang Junbao first paid respects to the statues.
Soon, Master Kumei led a group over.
"May I ask which of you is the arrest officer from Six Gates?" Master Kumei looked at the two clad in Taoist robes, puzzled. However, someone daring to fake a Six Gates token was highly unlikely.
Xu Qing coughed lightly, first paying respects, then explained the general situation.
There is no need to lie to an old hand like Master Kumei.
The token is a door opener, not a badge of intimidation for Xu Qing.
Master Kumei: "It turns out that you are Xu Daoist from Quanzhen Sect, but why do you come to find us at Queen Mother Palace due to the Sun Family's missing person?"
"Master is a person who commands in the Huashan territory, I speculate that that Xiongnian could likely be hiding in Huashan, and thus wanted you to lend a hand." Xu Qing explained.
Master Kumei's expression was indifferent: "Xu Daoist, on what basis should I help you, is it because of your Six Gates token?"
Xu Qing smiled: "Because I can first help the Master with a problem, to be precise, I can resolve the Master's urgent worries."
"Oh, what trouble do you think I have now?"
"I assume the Officials currently have an interest in your sect's property."
"How do you know?" Master Kumei was somewhat surprised.
Xu Qing chuckled: "I have some knowledge of Yi Shu. Moreover, I also know that the Master tributes the Bodhisattva Guanyin to curry favor with the Officials, but the root of the problem is not here."
Master Kumei was intrigued by Xu Qing's insight, she said: "Xu Daoist, what does your sect think should be done?"
Xu Qing: "The name of Queen Mother Palace is too grandiose, it needs to be changed."
"You mean for me to change our temple's name?" Master Kumei had actually been considering this recently. The Mongols worship Buddhism, and the name of Queen Mother Palace easily attracts attention given that the Queen Mother is a Taoist Heavenly Empress, representing the highest deity and having significant influence among the common folk.
Look at Yuquan Academy, they have no such worries.
In fact, in recent years, Yuquan Academy has been considering merging with Queen Mother Palace.
First, both sects are Taoist; second, Yuquan Academy provoked a great demon a few years ago, and all of the sect's seven swordsmen perished at the opponent's hand, leaving them in decline ever since.
Moreover, Chongyang Palace, where Yuquan Academy's ancestor Guangning Zishi originated, has lost favor under the Mongol Yuan, hence Yuquan Academy has naturally had thoughts of banding together with Queen Mother Palace for mutual support.