Swords from The Tang Dynasty

"Only seven days into spring, yet two years have passed since I left home. People return after the wild geese have flown south, but my thoughts arise before the flowers bloom." At the Taiping Taoist temple in Yongqiu, Zhou Yi lay half-reclined on a bamboo couch, his face covered by an ancient book with five large characters on the cover: "Laozi Xiang'er Commentary". With the scriptures covering him, others naturally couldn't see that he was feeling depressed. Beside the bamboo couch was a kang table, about five feet long, with a Hunyuan towel and two stacks of talisman paper in the middle. At each end was a young Taoist boy and girl, about twelve or thirteen years old. They held a bamboo slip in their hands, examining the talisman for warding off disasters drawn on it with cinnabar. The girl glanced at Zhou Yi sideways and said in amazement: “Master’s talisman water is truly effective. Five days ago, my senior brother was a living dead man, but now he is full of energy.” “It must be that Master’s Taoist magic is superior,” the boy said, looking up with a mysterious expression. "That night I was awakened by the sound of chains. I saw the candlelight flickering in my senior brother's room, and two dark shadows were reflected on the window paper. I thought it was the oxen and horses from the underworld coming to take people away." Fortunately, Master took out the Five Sacred Mountains True Form Mirror, which connected Yin and Yang, and illuminated the area for a full hour, finally managing to retrieve Senior Brother's soul, which then brought him back to consciousness... "Ouch! Ouch!" Erwa clutched his head and cried out in pain, while Zhou Yi, holding the "Laozi Xiang'er Commentary," tapped it left and right. "If you don't focus on your studies and instead try to communicate with the spirit world, how can your master possibly have that kind of job?" Yan Qiu covered her forehead and protested, "There are quite a few mediums in the martial arts world who are skilled in witchcraft. For example, there's the Tongtian Shenmu of the Heyi Sect in Sichuan, who can communicate with the spirit world. Xia Shu, don't you think so?" “Yes.” The little girl shrank her neck. “But the Tongtian Divine Granny is a senior master of the Heyi Sect. It is too disrespectful of you to call her a spirit medium.” "Furthermore, since my senior brother was poisoned, it was naturally the talisman water that cured him." Seeing the two naive fellows, Zhou Yi's sullen expression eased slightly, and he smiled gently. They argued for a while, but when their senior brother ignored them, they came over again. Xia Shu cupped his chubby face in her hands, her eyes filled with curiosity: "You've changed so much since you recovered from your serious illness. Lately, you've been feeling melancholic and often inspired to write poetry." “Yes, yes,” Yan Qiu imitated Zhou Yi, shaking his head and reciting, “No trace of footsteps in the houses, the grass in the courtyard is lush and green. Green moss clings to the empty walls, spider webs cover the four rooms.” "I went to ask my master, and my senior brother implied that we should clean the temple and remove the cobwebs and moss." My master said I was foolish, and replied with something like, "Feelings about many things evoke many emotions, and deep sorrows bind my heart." Yan Qiu was rather naive and did not understand his meaning. “You seem to have something on your mind,” Xia Shu said, quick-wittedly pressing for more information. “Was what you were reciting just now a new work?” "no." Zhou Yi shook his head. After the time travel, he felt that his mind had become sharper, but it always ached slightly. He rubbed his forehead. "It was written by Xue Daoheng from Hedong. I heard about it by chance." The two children muttered about the name, frowning as they pondered. It's like you've heard it somewhere before, but you can't quite remember where. That feeling is the most frustrating. Just as they were about to search for the exit, a faint, aged voice drifted into the courtyard. "It's a pity about Xue Daoheng. He failed to see through Yang Guang's ambition and stubbornness. He wrote the 'Ode to Emperor Gaozu Wen', which displeased Yang Guang. Even with his talent, he could not escape punishment." An old Taoist priest, dressed in a gray-white robe, slowly walked out from around the corner of the Moon Cave. He had a thin face, slightly prominent cheekbones, and his eyebrows were already gray, with long eyebrow tips drooping to the corners of his eyes. As he stroked his beard, he exuded the demeanor of a Taoist master. This old Taoist priest was none other than the leader of the Taiping Dao, whose Taoist name was Jiao Wuzi. "Master." Zhou Yi, Xia Shu, and Yan Qiu, three true disciples of the Taiping Sect, all paid their respects. The two young Taoist boys immediately straightened their hats and robes, stood at attention with their hands at their sides, and put away their previous liveliness. The kind and gentle Kakugoko was extremely authoritative to them. "Go and guard the altar and serve the worshippers." “Yes,” Xia Shu and Yan Qiu immediately agreed. After they left, the old Taoist priest led Zhou Yi into a quiet room and carefully took his pulse. A short while later, he opened his drooping eyes. "His pulse is steady; he is out of danger." Jiao Wuzi breathed a sigh of relief. He no longer put on airs and lost his otherworldly demeanor, looking like an ordinary old man. It's not surprising that Zhou Yi knew his master's background. The Taiping Taoist Temple is located in the western suburbs of Yongqiu, standing on a solitary mountain. Including the altar and drum tower, it covers no more than seven or eight acres. Besides Jiao Wuzi and the three true disciples, there were some novice disciples in the sect who had not yet been formally accepted but were only considered believers. They had received the Taiping Talisman from Jiao Wuzi and were just one step away from becoming members. The rest were just helpers and odd jobs. Jiao Wuzi used talismans to cure diseases and spread the teachings of goodness, thus bringing about peace. He gained some fame among the common people, and later, through word of mouth and hearsay, he gradually became a renowned master in Yongqiu. With such a formidable reputation, petty thieves dared not provoke them, and they had tasted the sweetness of success. Although some martial arts practitioners came because of his reputation, he would just fool them and that would be the end of it. Over time, it has become what it is today. but... Zhou Yi looked at Jiao Wuzi and expressed his concerns: "Master, the world is in turmoil right now, and there is no peaceful world. You should know that during the reign of Emperor Ling of Han, the Great Teacher of Goodness founded the Taiping Sect and established the Thirty-Six Directions to fight against the world." History serves as a lesson. Now, with the imperial court raising troops to suppress the rebels, if we continue to use the name 'Way of Peace,' I fear... I'm afraid Zhang Xutuo will march all the way from Changbai Mountain to the foot of our Fuzi Mountain.” He pointed towards the altar. The master and disciple looked up and saw thick smoke billowing above the altar of the Taiping Taoist Temple, with incense burning brightly. The more chaotic the world becomes, the more popular the Taiping Dao (Taiping Dao) becomes. Jiao Wuzi's face darkened, and he couldn't help but curse, "Yang Guang, that tyrant!" “Even if he lived peacefully in the Ziwei Palace, ignored court affairs, and just waited to die, the world wouldn’t be in such chaos.” Zhou Yi blinked. Guang Shen needed to use micro-management; what could you do? "It's all about timing and fate..." Hearing his soft sigh, Zhou Yi felt a sense of relief. It seems Master has heeded my advice; we can no longer bear the name 'Taiping Dao'. However... Suddenly, the old Taoist priest's eyes gleamed, and he stroked his beard, saying in a loud voice: "The Azure Heaven is dead, the Yellow Heaven shall rise; in the year of Jiazi, great fortune will come to the world." The sixteen words he uttered were profound and thought-provoking. If one were not in the know and lived in a chaotic world, one would probably not be able to ascertain his true nature. Zhou Yi was taken aback. This... does Master also want to dance? "Are you going to emulate Chiseiro?" "It's not me, it's you." "I?" Zhou Yi pointed to himself and immediately shook his head vigorously, "Don't joke around, I'm not even twenty yet, and I still want to live a few more years." Five days ago, as an art student who couldn't find a way out, I received the news that I had failed the civil service exam. Heartbroken, I drank some alcohol. When I woke up, I was completely dazed. Where did this come from? After making a few inquiries, I realized that this was the chaotic Tang Dynasty under the Yellow Emperor. A world teeming with experts and geniuses. If we raise an uprising under the banner of the Way of Peace, wouldn't that mean we're fighting for both the orthodox tradition and the world? What can we rely on to compete? Only the sixteen-character verbal sparring technique of "Heaven is dead" can work. Kakuzu had anticipated this reaction. "You were poisoned deep in your lungs and should have died without a doubt. It is truly a miracle that you have survived." Furthermore, you are a disciple of my Taiping Sect, and to live through such chaotic times, is this not ordained by Heaven? Zhou Yi let it go in one ear and out the other, refusing to believe his master's nonsense. Seeing that he couldn't be fooled, the old Taoist priest suddenly smiled and said, "When I established the Taiping Taoist Temple, it was not to imitate the Great Virtuous Master, but because there is a lineage of Taoist tradition." Zhou Yi responded with an "oh," showing some interest. Jiao Wuzi said, "Our sect treats illnesses and saves people by using talismanic water as a cover. The medicines that patients drink all come from the Taiping Danfang formula. I obtained this formula and studied it diligently, which gave me medical skills. I am grateful for the kindness of being taught, and that is why I established this sect." Besides the Taiping Elixir Formula, there is another volume containing profound martial arts secrets. "This method inherits from Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching, the ancestor of Taoism, and integrates the great achievements of Taoism in the Han Dynasty. It originates from Huang-Lao and is taught by both Heaven and Man. It is beyond the reach of ordinary martial arts." After finishing his words, the old Taoist priest calmly stroked his beard and observed his disciple's reaction. Upon hearing this, Zhou Yi's breath hitched. 'So, if that's the case, then Master's Way of Peace wasn't just a charlatan, but rather inherited from the Southern School of Taoism after the Yellow Turban Rebellion was destroyed. Then this martial art is practically inevitable...' The Great Yellow Heaven Law!! This is no less impressive than the Four Great Classical Novels! Kakuzu asked with a smile, "Want to learn?" Zhou Yi's mind raced, and his attitude changed drastically. Following his master's wishes, he recited with a spirited air: "A young man, clad in pure red silk brocade, knows the ways of the world before Changbai Mountain..." “Since Master has such a wonderful method, what is there to be afraid of? Zhi Shilang established the Changbai Mountain Holy Land, so let’s build a Fuzi Mountain Holy Land.” A foolish and inhumane ruler, a chaotic world awaits peace. "Master, we've rebelled! We've rebelled!"