Wudang Sacred Scriptures

Early in the morning, inside the main hall of the Sang Gwan estate, Military Officer So Ha-seok set down his teacup and spoke.
"Let me see the documents, Clan Chief."
So Ha-seok quietly watched Sang Gwan Jin-ho, the Clan Chief of the Sang Gwan family, as he sipped his tea with a dull, disinterested look.
A heavy silence settled between them.
— Clatter.
Sang Gwan Jin-ho set down his teacup roughly, nearly throwing it, and said,
"What would you do by looking at the documents, Military Officer?"
So Ha-seok could hear the old resentment layered in Sang Gwan Jin-ho’s bitter tone, but he hid his reaction and replied calmly,
"I want to review them before the Clan Lord comes out."
"You still don’t trust me, do you?"
"I only want to be thorough. The Clan Lord left everything behind to come here — we can’t afford mistakes."
"That sounds like you’re hoping for me to make mistakes."
"Clan Chief, I’m simply doing my duty as the one overseeing the family’s affairs."
"Well, it doesn’t sound that way to me."
"……"
Sang Gwan Jin-ho leisurely lifted his teacup again and continued,
"I did serve under you once as a subordinate captain, but I’d like to remind you that those days are over."
He bit back the words threatening to rise to his lips — that he would soon be officially declared the branch family head.
Military Officer So Ha-seok furrowed his brow slightly and spoke,
"Think what you will, Clan Chief. But as long as your branch isn’t independent, it’s my right and duty to oversee operations."
Sang Gwan Jin-ho took a sip of tea and answered,
"Either way, I can’t show you the documents."
"Clan Chief—"
"The safe holding the documents is jammed."
"Are you really going to do this?"
"I’m not lying."
Once again, Sang Gwan Jin-ho set down his teacup with force.
— Clang! Crack!
The faint sound of cracks forming on the cup’s surface broke the silence again.
So Ha-seok steadied his expression and asked,
"What happened to the safe?"
Satisfied that So Ha-seok had averted his eyes first, Sang Gwan Jin-ho answered with ease,
"The Grand Elder of the Danmok family visited unexpectedly yesterday, so I locked the safe in a hurry. After that, the latch malfunctioned. The key won’t catch. And the frame’s misaligned — the whole thing’s jammed tight."
"Then break open the door."
"Do you really think I’d use such a weak safe?"
"……"
"It’s reinforced steel. Custom-made."
At the mention of a safe forged from reinforced steel, as hard as diamond, So Ha-seok had no choice but to back down.
"So what now?"
"There’s no need to show you the documents right this second. The whole matter’s already public knowledge — Sangjeon Village must be in chaos by now."
"Still, having the documents in hand and not having them — that’s a big difference."
Annoyance flared visibly across Sang Gwan Jin-ho’s face.
His head had been pounding all night over this very safe problem.
"So what do you expect me to do? Light a blast furnace and melt the door? And when the documents burn, will you take responsibility?"
"Hah! You’re unbelievable, Clan Chief. You’re the one who neglected the safe’s maintenance."
"Military Officer, I’m not some subordinate like Deung Jin-ho — I’m Sang Gwan Jin-ho, direct heir of the Clan Lord. I don’t think this scolding is justified."
At that moment, the doors of the hall burst open.
— Clack.
"What’s all this noise so early in the morning?"
Clan Lord Sang Gwan Eung entered, and both men immediately rose.
"Clan Lord, you’re here."
"Father, welcome."

Sang Gwan Eung sat in the master’s chair and asked,
"What’s going on?"
Military Officer So Ha-seok answered first,
"I wanted to review the documents concerning Sangjeon Village, but there’s been an issue."
Sang Gwan Jin-ho quickly added,
"The safe holding the documents is jammed. I was explaining that to him."
After hearing the situation, Sang Gwan Eung chuckled and said,
"If the documents are safely inside, there’s no problem. In fact, that’s better. It’ll make the Grand Scholar squirm a little more."
A victorious smile crept onto Sang Gwan Jin-ho’s face.
"You speak wisely, Father."
"No one can open the safe for now — at least that’s one less thing to worry about while we’re in Sangjeon Village."
"Father, I’ll call a craftsman tomorrow to open it properly."
"Good. Let’s head to Sangjeon Village soon. I heard Danmok In-ryong will attend as well — I’m looking forward to it. As the host, it’s only proper to arrive early and wait."
 
****
Joo Yeo-ryeong, who had been glancing at Kwak Yeon repeatedly, finally opened her mouth.
"Can I ask you one thing?"
The two were seated in the dining hall of the Sangjeon Village inn, waiting for breakfast.
"It’s been driving me crazy with curiosity."
"……"
"You were doing that for So-cheong every night, weren’t you?"
Since Kwak Yeon had revealed the Primordial Harmonious Art in front of everyone yesterday, he had anticipated this question.
"I was."
Surprisingly, Kwak Yeon nodded without hesitation, and Joo Yeo-ryeong narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"What exactly is that? It’s not some Daoist incantation. And it wasn’t internal energy circulation either."
"……"
"To be honest, yesterday, I was just standing outside the door, but I felt my mind and body relax. That made me even more curious."
Kwak Yeon looked at her quietly.
He expected her to feel some effects from the Primordial Harmonious Art, but not to this extent.
She had fully absorbed the true essence of his energy — meaning she had great potential.
"It’s a meditation technique to calm the heart, passed down by the Daoist Immortal Line."
As a disciple of Wudang, Kwak Yeon couldn’t reveal their core techniques carelessly, so he spoke vaguely.
"I knew you’d say something like that."
Joo Yeo-ryeong made a disappointed face.
"Then answer this one properly instead."
"……?"
"Among the things you brought yesterday — what is that cleaver? It’s just black, ugly iron."
"I brought it for a reason."
"Why? One Cheonggang Sword isn’t enough? Of course it is."
"……"
"I’m not clueless. I can guess where you went yesterday. That’s why I’m really looking forward to today. But I still can’t figure out what that cleaver is for."
"Still no word from your grandmother?"
"Stop changing the subject."
"I’m genuinely asking. We’ll be leaving here soon."
Joo Yeo-ryeong’s eyes widened.
"Leaving? Soon?"
"You saw that child finding courage yesterday, didn’t you?"
"But she still can’t speak."
"She will."
"How can you be so sure? Don’t give me some mystical Daoist nonsense."
"Her heart has strengthened — she’ll overcome it herself."
There was no other way Kwak Yeon could explain the mental connection he had with the child.
Seeing disappointment in her eyes, Kwak Yeon quietly added,
"I’m truly grateful to you. You played a big part in giving her that courage."
"Words alone don’t mean much."
"I’ll repay the debt one day."
The frown on Joo Yeo-ryeong’s face eased instantly.
"That’s a promise?"
"……It is."
"Hmph, don’t think you can repay it with some cheap trinket."
At that moment, two men entered the dining hall.
"Ah, Master Kwak."
Kwak Yeon stood to greet Danmok Seong, Grand Elder of the Danmok family, and Danmok Cheong, the Young Lord.
"You’ve arrived."
"I saw the changes along the way. Thanks to you, it was a spectacular sight."
"It’s your first time in Sangjeon Village. Sorry I didn’t greet you properly."
"No need for that. And finding the place wasn’t hard {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} — a whole crowd was heading this way. Some kind of big project, apparently."
"If you haven’t eaten, why don’t you join us?"
"I haven’t, but I’d hate to intrude…"
Danmok Seong trailed off, glancing at Joo Yeo-ryeong.
"It’s fine. Miss Joo is only accompanying me for now due to circumstances."
Joo Yeo-ryeong stood and introduced herself.
"Master Danmok, I’m Joo Yeo-ryeong."
"I’m Danmok Seong."
Her eyes widened in recognition.
"Danmok Seong… from the Danmok family…"
"Ah, thank you for knowing this old man’s name. Yes, I’m that Danmok Seong. And this young man here is my grandnephew, the Young Lord of our family."
Danmok Cheong, wearing his conical hat low, gave a slight bow.
"I’m Danmok Cheong of the Danmok family."
Joo Yeo-ryeong replied curtly,
"Joo Yeo-ryeong."
"Well now, let’s all sit. A meal’s the perfect time for young people to mingle. Isn’t that one of life’s joys on the martial road?"
But contrary to Danmok Seong’s intentions, there was hardly any mingling.
Kwak Yeon was naturally quiet. Joo Yeo-ryeong, perhaps out of caution toward the senior martial figure, barely spoke. Danmok Cheong, face hidden under his hat, was equally silent.
Danmok Seong ended up talking alone.
When breakfast was nearly over, Joo Yeo-ryeong stood.
"Master Danmok, I’ll be going now."
"Oh dear, I talked too much, didn’t I?"
Kwak Yeon also stood.
"You two take your time. Deokseonjang isn’t hard to find — I’ll see you there later."
"Go ahead. You must have a lot on your mind."
The two left the inn and walked toward Wangcheolgo Village.
After a while, Joo Yeo-ryeong abruptly asked,
"When and how did you meet that old man Danmok?"
"I ran into him on the road yesterday."
"Doesn’t seem like your first meeting."
"I briefly saw him once before. But… why are you calling Senior Danmok so harshly?"
"That’s none of your business."
"……"
"And that Young Lord — wouldn’t even take off his hat. Typical Danmok family — so rude."
"I’m sure they have their reasons."
"Oh, defending him just because you’re both from the Baekdo?"
"Joo So-cheong, why so sharp today?"
"Who said I’m sharp? Anyway, I don’t like those two."
Kwak Yeon figured she had some grudge against the Baekdo faction.
And once again, he confirmed her sect wasn’t part of the Baekdo.
As they entered Wangcheolgo Village, Joo Yeo-ryeong was startled.
— Bang! Bang! Bang!
— Scrape! Scrape! Scrape!
Hammering and sawing echoed all around.
Workers were rebuilding collapsed barns across the village.
"What… happened here?"