Wudang Sacred Scriptures

For Danmok Seong, it was a decision made because he truly had no other choice.
Through just a few exchanges, he realized that White-Haired Demon Queen’s realm could not be suppressed with his own strength.
He could not bring himself to unleash a killing blow on her, nor could he bear to watch the Young Lord die. Thus, he intended to bring this tragedy to an end by resolving the knot he had tied—with his own hand.
“So you’re running away again, is that it?”
With a biting shout, White-Haired Demon Queen continued coldly.
“Fine. Do as you please. I’ll do as I wish too.”
“......”
“There will be no mercy from me for a coward like you.”
Unable to bear the growing misery, Danmok Seong spoke with quiet sorrow.
“Hong-nui... I am sorry.”
Just as he began to tighten his grip around the sword’s hilt—
Fweeeee!
A sharp whistle broke the stillness of Lotus Valley.
A resonant whistle imbued with deep internal energy rapidly approached, and soon a young man leapt up onto the mound where the shrine stood.
Fwit!
The youth who stepped between Danmok Seong and White-Haired Demon Queen was Kwak Yeon.
“Daoist Kwak... how did you come to be here...?”
Danmok Seong, startled by the unexpected appearance, asked. Kwak Yeon replied calmly:
“Noble Senior Danmok, first, I ask that you lower your sword.”
“......”
“You promised to instruct me through martial exchange, did you not?”
Seeing Danmok Seong lower his sword, Kwak Yeon turned to White-Haired Demon Queen and offered a deep bow.
“This humble reclusive Daoist, Kwak Yeon of Wudang Mountain’s Samnyeong Palace, greets the Honored Great Aunt.”
From the moment the uninvited guest appeared, White-Haired Demon Queen had already recognized Kwak Yeon and immediately questioned him.
“Hermit Taoist... how did you come to know of this place?”
Knowing well the old woman’s temper, Kwak Yeon replied with courtesy despite her sharp tone.
“Honored Great Aunt, when wind blows, it leaves traces. I followed the traces of that wind and arrived here.”
At those words, White-Haired Demon Queen cast a scolding glare at Danmok Seong.
“Hmph! So you’ve become even more petty with age instead of learning remorse.”
“......!”
Seeing Danmok Seong’s face flush red, Kwak Yeon quickly interjected.
“Honored Great Aunt, Noble Senior Danmok did not know. In haste, he simply dropped the letter at the inn.”
White-Haired Demon Queen snapped.
“You brat! Do you think I don’t know that old man left it on purpose?”
“I have no idea why Honored Great Aunt would think that.”
At Kwak Yeon’s feigned innocence, she shouted in outrage.
“The letter was far too brief to make one come rushing here! So he must have left a separate message.”
“That is not the case.”
Shaking his head firmly, Kwak Yeon continued:
“Noble Senior Danmok and I had agreed to a martial exchange. Yet, he left the inn without a word. For a martial artist to avoid such a match must mean something serious has occurred. So I followed the address written in the letter out of concern and came here.”
Since Kwak Yeon’s words were quite reasonable, White-Haired Demon Queen shifted to nitpicking.
“I’m not even your great-aunt, so why do you keep calling me ‘Honored Great Aunt’?”
Kwak Yeon replied:
“I do not know your background or formal status, so I used a conventional title. If you would kindly assign me a proper form of address, I will use it.”
Kwak Yeon had a plan. Though he knew she was Ju Yeoryeong’s grandmother, he avoided stating it directly. After all, it was also true he didn’t know her full lineage—so it wasn’t a lie.
“There’s no need for you to determine how to address me! This is a personal matter between me and the Danmok Clan. You should simply go your own way.”
Even after she effectively expelled him, Kwak Yeon stood unmoving. White-Haired Demon Queen spoke again:
“As a disciple of Wudang, do you not know the martial world’s principle that one should not meddle in personal matters?”
“How could I not know?”
“Then go at once. I do not wish to make needless enemies of Wudang Mountain.”
Danmok Seong, watching in torment, also spoke:
“Daoist Kwak, heed Lady Hong’s words. This is a deeply personal matter.”
Kwak Yeon turned to White-Haired Demon Queen and said:
“I am deeply grateful, as a disciple of Wudang, for your consideration toward our sect. However, I have circumstances that do not allow me to overlook what I have seen.”
Surprised, White-Haired Demon Queen could not help but ask:
“What reason could you possibly have to involve yourself in this?”
“Because this is a family matter to me.”
“What? A family matter?”
Startled, she questioned further:
“You’re a Kwak, not a Danmok, are you not?”
“As you already know, my surname is Kwak.”
“Then your mother must be from the Danmok Clan?”
“My mother’s surname is not Danmok either.”
“Then how can you claim the Danmok Clan’s business as your own family’s matter?”
“Because the Young Lord of the Danmok Clan, whom you brought here, is my sworn nephew. That makes it family business, does it not?”
“You scoundrel!”
White-Haired Demon Queen exploded in fury.
“To dare toy with an elder of the martial world with your sly tongue! What charlatan in Wudang taught you such trickery?”
“The Taoist elders of Wudang always instructed me to act with truth. I am following that teaching even now.”
“You’re still a youth, yet this little Hermit Taoist dares to call the heir of a noble family his nephew? You dare expect me to believe such nonsense?”
“How could a humble reclusive Daoist fabricate such things under the gaze of Primordial Celestial Honored One? Especially in the presence of the Danmok Clan’s elder.”
When Kwak Yeon went so far as to invoke Danmok Seong’s name, White-Haired Demon Queen turned to him with a questioning gaze.
Danmok Seong, troubled, spoke:
“Lady Hong, it is true that Daoist Kwak and the Young Lord of our house have entered into a sworn uncle-nephew bond.”
“......!”
Turning to Kwak Yeon, Danmok Seong added:
“Daoist Kwak, I appreciate your heart in upholding your vow. But please, do not interfere in this matter. I said so before, did I not? That you need not involve yourself in our clan’s affairs.”
Kwak Yeon said:
“I cannot obey that command. In the martial world, sworn bonds are considered no less than blood ties. Moreover, this matter arose while you were aiding me with my own affairs. I cannot stand idle.”
Danmok Seong, face pained, said:
“Daoist Kwak, at another time, I would not stop you. But now...”
“Noble Senior.”
Kwak Yeon cut him off.
“First, we must save the Young Lord.”
Having listened to their exchange, White-Haired Demon Queen snapped in anger at Kwak Yeon’s words.
“So that’s your purpose, Hermit Taoist! Then come—join the Danmok Clan and face me together!”
Shhhiiing!
As if waiting for that very moment, Kwak Yeon drew his Cheonggang Sword.
“As you command, I shall not decline.”
“Good! I’ve been eager to see whether your spirit matches your skill.”
“To be noted by you, Honored Elder, is truly an honor. But this spot is too cramped to show my full ability. Shall we move to the wide clearing below?”
At Kwak Yeon’s bold provocation, White-Haired Demon Queen nodded without hesitation.
“Very well! Let me see how wondrous Wudang’s famed body technique truly is.”
Fwiririk!
Without even finishing her words, White-Haired Demon Queen leapt down the hill to the open ground.
Kwak Yeon turned to Danmok Seong and said:
“Noble Senior, you may reprimand my presumptuous conduct afterward.”
After offering his apology, Kwak Yeon dashed down the hill.
Fwirik!
With things come to this, Danmok Seong could no longer hold back. He could not let Daoist Kwak face White-Haired Demon Queen alone.
As shameful as it was, Daoist Kwak was right—first, they had to save the Young Lord.
‘With a joint attack from Daoist Kwak and myself, we may subdue Hong-nui. I’ll seek her forgiveness afterward.’
After one final glance at the shrine, Danmok Seong leapt down the hill.
Standing before White-Haired Demon Queen on the wide plain, Kwak Yeon was tense.
He already knew she was in the Flame Realm, but now, facing her directly, he could hardly breathe.
It was the first time he’d met a master of the Flame Realm, and her aura was overwhelming.
The energy field of his own External Spirit Boundary dissipated before it could even enter her range.
‘She’s occupying the entire radius of one palm ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) with her spiritual boundary.’
Kwak Yeon realized the vast gap in depth between their respective Flame Realm levels.
Of course, that was only natural.
White-Haired Demon Queen was a grand master who had stepped into the Flame Realm long ago.
He had only just crossed into the realm recently. No matter how intensely he’d trained, the gulf of years could not be ignored.
Still, he was not intimidated.
He had the insight of Wudang’s perfected cultivation, the Honwonmusang Technique.
He could harmonize inner and outer energies and now even command the External Spirit Boundary.
Moreover, thanks to So Cheong, he had expelled the remnants of Fear, advancing the technique even further.
Since Honwonmusang was based on the mind, a single advancement elevated all abilities.
Like inflating a leather pouch, everything grew in proportion.
His dantian expanded, inner qi and true energy increased, and his senses became far sharper. Even the techniques he practiced became more powerful.
His speed, using Wudang’s fundamental cloud-movement body technique, had astonished the others just moments ago.
Soon, he would be able to match the Cloud-Traversing Bell Movement used by Daoist Cheongmu.
Above all, Kwak Yeon was overjoyed that his Insight had blossomed.
Insight was the very foundation of the wisdom needed to reach the Mugeuk Realm.
These thoughts passed through him in an instant.
That his earlier anxiety had eased so quickly was also due to his strengthened courage from the Honwonmusang breakthrough.
As Kwak Yeon stood firm against her pressure, Danmok Seong joined him.
Fwiririk! Tok!
Danmok Seong whispered with transmitted sound:
—Daoist Kwak, I know it’s difficult, but please refrain from killing her if you can.
Kwak Yeon, already informed of the general situation from Ju Yeoryeong, nodded in understanding.
‘I never intended to.’
Danmok Seong turned to face White-Haired Demon Queen and said:
“Lady Hong, I alone could not subdue you. Thus, I must borrow Daoist Kwak’s strength.”
She gazed at Danmok Seong with a composed expression and said:
“No more words. Come at me. I grow stronger the more opponents I face.”
A temperamental woman—but truly a grand master’s composure. Such confidence was no bluff.
Wuuuuung...
As expected, white qi-force rose from her two hands.
‘Hand-force...!’
Kwak Yeon’s eyes widened in surprise.