Wudang Xuan Shi (Part 2)

  Tan Yu smiled and knew what his master was thinking. He thought: "Master is really knowledgeable, he even reads military books."

  Zhang Heng's theory of the five elements originated from Wu Qi, the god of war.

  Wu Qi pointed out in his famous book "Wu Zi Bing Fa" that there are five reasons for the outbreak of war: 1. Disputes over fame, 2. Disputes over interests, 3. Accumulated hatred, 4. Internal chaos, and 5. Famine. There are also five names for war: 1. Righteous war, 2. Strong war, 3. Unyielding war, 4. Brutal war, and 5. Rebellious war. To banish violence and rescue from chaos is called righteous; to rely on a large army to attack is called strong; to launch an attack due to anger is called unyielding; to abandon etiquette and covet profit is called brutal; when the country is in chaos and the people are exhausted, and all matters are decided by the crowd, it is called rebellious.

  "It's exactly so. The son rises in anger and starts a war, isn't that a clear case of using force?"

  Zhang Xun's mind turned and he suddenly asked: "After you avenge yourself, what will you do?"

  "Disciples have said that to follow the example of predecessors, this life should assist the Han dynasty, establish the people's livelihoods and open up great peace for all eternity!" Quan Yu's expression turned serious, and he replied solemnly.

  "To bring life to the people, and open a peaceful world for all eternity!" Zhang Xun's body shook, his eyes suddenly opened wide, shining brightly, "You're saying you want to build an army of righteousness?"

  Putting down violence and rescuing from chaos is righteousness.

  "Master, why must you be so rigid?" Qin Yu said with a bad tone, "As long as there is justice in one's heart, that's enough. As for methods, in a chaotic world, when it's time to be righteous, be righteous; when it's time to be strong, be strong. Who can truly stick to just one principle?"

  Zhang Xun stared at his apprentice's cunning young face for several seconds before letting out a deep sigh.

  "Not bad, it's just that being a teacher is too restrictive for you. You already have the idea of righteous soldiers, which is far beyond my expectations."

  "Oh, Master originally thought the disciple would think what?" Qin Yu asked with great interest.

  "Hey!" Zhang Xun stretched out his left hand, curled up his thumb and smiled, "I underestimated your magnanimity."

  Fourth? Violent soldier? Quan Yu looked clearly, heh heh, thought: "Master is really insightful, taking advantage of the chaos to rise, abandoning etiquette for profit, I really did think so. It's just that the name 'violent soldier' sounds too bad, how could I not admit it? Hmm, righteous soldier, that's right, we are righteous soldiers! The whole family are righteous soldiers!!"

  "Good boy, you have such great ambitions. As your teacher, I should help you a bit. Building a private army is actually as easy as turning over one's hand."

  Qin Yu shook his head: "Master isn't always saying that a good man should be self-reliant? I want to try it myself."

  "Oh, won't you lend a hand to your master?" Zhang Heng was taken aback.

  "Master, your cultivation is important, how can you bother with my personal matters? Quan Yu's eyes were firm, "I must avenge my family's feud with my own hands."

  "Good! You have spirit!" Zhang Heng praised, then turned around and said, "However, I advise you not to learn from Liu Xuan De. Although he was chivalrous and rose up, roaming the northern regions, he had bravery but no strategy, no fixed plans in his heart. Even if he has some reputation, it's unlikely that he can accomplish anything great."

  Zhang Fei nodded, Master this is a true insight. Liu Bei's mercenary army although brave and powerful, but has always been like a headless fly, today relying on one person, tomorrow surrendering to another, now, it is just a rootless and groundless lone boat drifting in the chaotic world.

  "I've come to ask you, where do you plan to lay your initial foundation?"

  "Disciple is preparing to go to Wuling, where there are my relatives, they will help me."

  "Wuling?" Zhang Huan was slightly stunned, in such a remote mountain? After a moment of contemplation, "Alright! Disciple, you have your own ideas, I'm delighted. However, as your master, I naturally also have a thought, hmm, I have 200 slaves who are skilled in martial arts, take them all with you, and another 300 taels of gold to serve as military expenses."

  "What...what?" Qin Yu was stunned. "Two hundred people? Where did they come from on Wudang Mountain? I've never seen so many people before!"

  "Of course, they are not in Wudang Mountain. Otherwise, do you think I can stay here and recover from my injuries safely? Here is the token." Zhang Xuan took out a short sword with a scabbard from under his cushion and handed it to Qin Yun, "They are all in Yiyang County, Changsha Prefecture. With this sword as proof, they will be loyal to you."

  Qin Yu took it over, and his hand suddenly sank. Then a very cold chill entered the palm of his hand. He casually pulled out a glance, the sword body was grass green, seemingly a wooden sword, don't know what kind of wood was used to make it, the total length is less than two feet, but particularly heavy, estimated to be over ten or twenty kilograms, weight not inferior to the heaviest four-foot iron sword.

  "How heavy it is!" The sword hilt thudded and thumped with a dull sound.

  "Don't think it can't kill just because it's a wooden sword." Zhang Xuan said calmly, "It has drunk the neck blood of countless heroes and heroes."

  "Master, what kind of sword is this?" Qin Yu shivered.

  "This is the Heavenly Master's Sword of Law." Zhang Xuan raised his eyebrows, "My master personally forged it and passed it on to me before he ascended. Now, I'm passing this sword on to you."

  "Heavenly Master's Sword?" Quan Yu thought, "Zhang... Heavenly Master? I'm confused, isn't that the Five Grains of Rice Sect?"

  At the end of the Han Dynasty, there were two famous Taoist sects. One was the Taiping Sect, founded by three brothers Zhang Jue, Zhang Bao and Zhang Liang, which triggered the Yellow Turban Rebellion that swept across half of China; another one was the Wudoumi Sect, based in Sichuan Province.

  "We... hehe, Master, is this the legacy of the Five Grains of Rice Sect?"

  "Hmm, you guessed it. Your master's surname is Zhang, and his name is Xiu. Fifteen years ago, he founded the Tian Shi Dao in Hanzhong, also known as the Five Pecks of Rice Sect. The followers respect my master as 'Master of the Five Pecks of Rice'. This oral sword is a ritual sword used exclusively by the successive leaders of our sect. You must keep it safe and not lose it."

  Tan Yun sheathed his sword, stroking the hilt which felt warm and comfortable to the touch. He thought to himself: "I knew it... But why does Master seem so solemn, as if he's making arrangements for after I'm gone?"

  "Master is at the height of his power and all wounds have healed, why is he in such a hurry to pass on the sword?"

  Zhang Wei said: "Zhang Lu is a minor, secretly occupying the foundation of our Tian Shi Dao, widely recruiting believers, altering the teachings, not respecting the previous master, and instead calling his grandfather Zhang Ling a heavenly master by mistake, confusing the original Taoist believers. The old wounds of the master have all healed, and now he wants to return to Hanzhong to take revenge. This time, we will go our separate ways, and it is uncertain when we will meet again. Therefore, I must make arrangements for the sect in advance."

  It's indeed an afterthought.

  "Such a major matter, how can it be rushed? Moreover, there are senior and junior brothers who have followed Master for a long time, they are more devoted than disciples, aren't they better successors? Master, please reconsider."

  He had more than 20 years of education in his previous life, deeply rooted, and after going to work, he was still engaged in publishing planning, knowing the iron principle that religious affairs cannot be touched. Even if this life, he doesn't want to be a cult leader, and in the end, there's no good outcome. Here heroes are everywhere, strategists are numerous, and as a small outsider, having the opportunity to become a mercenary commander is already very satisfying.

  Besides, from the bottom of his heart, he also extremely did not wish for Master to leave and never come back.

  Zhang Xun ground his teeth and thought to himself, "Three thoughts? I've already had six, nine, eighteen thoughts about it. Otherwise, I wouldn't have revealed all our family's secrets to you."

  "You little brat, you don't respect the Tao and don't believe in Huang Lao. To be honest, you're not the most suitable person to inherit my teachings. However, your senior brother is too careless and straightforward, and your junior brother comes from a poor background, they are even less suitable than you. There's no other choice, so I'll just have to settle for you."

  "Can't compromise on this, Master! Besides, the disciple's background is probably not that great either..."

  Tan Yu's heart was grieved for his young junior brother: "Junior brother, ah junior brother, in vain you will be a famous general of the next generation, but because of Master's words that your origin is humble, everything has been denied."

  Zhang Huan couldn't help but stroke his chin again: "Although you are now unrecognizable, it's not necessarily so in the future. I promise you that if I return alive from this trip to Hanzhong, regardless of success or failure, I will come to Jingzhou to help you turn things upside down."

  Tan Yun was secretly delighted in his heart, this condition is not bad. The master would not pass on the legacy if he didn't have a determined mind to die for it.

  "Then, I'll take care of the sword for Master temporarily and wait respectfully for his early return."

  "Alright." Zhang Huan helplessly patted his hand, "You must keep this sword strictly hidden and not let anyone see it easily. Otherwise, Zhang Lu might personally bring ten million followers to hunt you down."

  "This, the disciple isn't afraid. If Zhang Lu can pass through Jingzhou, the sun will definitely rise in the west tomorrow." Qin Yu smiled and pulled out a lollipop from his pocket, "To express my infinite gratitude to Master, the disciple invites Master to have some candy! They're all freshly made by me recently, with the newest cherry flavor."

  Zhang Xun casually took one and skillfully tore off the packaging, putting it in his mouth.

  "Delicious!" He savored a mouthful, nodded in rapture, and glanced at Qin Yu. "However, Master suddenly remembered that the Jade Sword Heart Classic is a secret not passed down by our sect, and only those who wield the law of the sword are taught it. Good disciple, do you really want to learn?"