Narration System for the Journey of Martial Arts

Page 6

You handed over your years of accumulated knowledge to Yue Buqun, who was clearly more interested in martial arts. This seemed to help him revive the Huashan Sect, a pathetic display of crude martial arts thinking.

You're trying to reason with Yue Buqun. Do you really think such a crude and uncouth martial artist would understand the keyboard warrior mentality of your later generations? You can give it a try; maybe it will work.

The system's narrator, never missing a moment, scoffed.

………………

Seeing Yue Buqun like this, Yue Yuchen knew that the revival of Mount Hua was hopeless; the martial arts world wasn't played like this.

“Master, Mistress, I have something to say, but please don’t be angry,” Yue Yuchen said.

Seeing the way the two were looking at him, Yue Yuchen said something astonishing...

“Master, mistress, you will never be able to revive Huashan by acting this way. Even if you work hard your whole life, the result will only be that Huashan Sect returns to its former state, which is a hundred and eight thousand miles away from Wudang and Shaolin.”

"Moreover, Master, you also have a bandit nickname in the martial arts world called 'Gentleman Sword.' To put it nicely, it's an honor bestowed upon you by your friends in the martial arts world. To put it bluntly, it's a disgrace to your reputation."

Seeing Yue Buqun's dark face and his barely suppressed anger, Yue Yuchen didn't hold back either...

"Master, are you not convinced?"

"Master, do you think that in its heyday, Mount Hua commanded the Five Sacred Mountains and was comparable to Wudang and Shaolin?"

"Master, do you know that even the Huashan Sect, which was once the leader of the Five Mountains Alliance, was nothing but a joke in the eyes of Wudang and Shaolin?"

"Master, do you know why there are sword qi disputes at Mount Hua? And why Shaolin, which possesses seventy-two martial arts techniques, has never had internal strife?"

"To say something you might not like to hear, Master and Mistress, even at its peak, the Huashan Sect was nothing more than a third-rate bandit force."

With a "bang," Yue Buqun slammed his hand on the pillar next to him, his face filled with purple aura, clearly indicating that he had reached the peak of his internal energy.

Ning Zhongze grabbed Yue Yuchen's hand: "Chen'er, shut up. Don't talk nonsense if you don't understand."

The system narrator said...

[You've given Yue Buqun a taste of your sharp tongue for the first time, and it seems to have had some effect.]

You've broken down Yue Buqun's defenses, who considers himself a master of self-control. Keep trying, and see if he'll slap you to death.

Before the two could speak, Yue Yuchen cupped his hands and said, "Master, Mistress, I really can't bear to see all your hard work go to waste. If Master doesn't want to hear it, just pretend I didn't say anything."

"Let him speak. If he can't give a coherent explanation, I will teach this arrogant and rebellious disciple a lesson in front of all the patriarchs today." Yue Buqun's voice grew colder as he remained hidden in the dim candlelight.

………………

Yue Yuchen patted Ning Zhongze's hand to reassure her, then looked at Yue Buqun and said...

"Master, do you know which is the most powerful force in the martial arts world? Wudang? Shaolin? Or the Demonic Sect?"

"No, the greatest power in the martial arts world is the imperial court, the emperor."

"The emperor sits on the throne, with civil and military officials under his command, numbering in the hundreds of thousands, with a million soldiers, and the Jinyiwei, the Palace Eunuch, the Imperial Horse Administration, and other forces monitoring the entire country."

"As long as the emperor sits on that throne, he will be the most powerful force in the world. What are Wudang, Shaolin, and the Demonic Sect? Which of them can withstand 100,000 elite troops?"

"When it comes to masters, the emperor has the whole country at his feet. What kind of rare treasures and talents can't he gather? Who knows what masters are in the imperial palace?"

"If there weren't top-notch masters, the emperor would have been assassinated long ago. But look at Wudang, Shaolin, and the Demonic Sect, would anyone dare to defy the imperial court?"

"Even the most arrogant and domineering demonic sects are just holed up on Blackwood Cliff, entertaining themselves. Do you think any of them would dare to attack and seize territory?"

"Even Dongfang Bubai, who claims to be the best in the world, is just holed up on Blackwood Cliff, entertaining himself. He's so ambitious, why doesn't he try to assassinate the emperor? Doesn't he want to sit on the emperor's throne?"

"Besides our Five Mountains Sword Sect, Wudang, and Shaolin, Master and Mistress, look at the Emperor, the Six Ministries, and the hereditary noble families of military generals—who among them puts the Demonic Sect in their eyes?"

"If the Demonic Sect were truly that powerful, it wouldn't need many troops. A hundred thousand soldiers besieging Blackwood Cliff and cutting off their supplies would be enough to keep the Demonic Sect in the game for more than a month."

After these words were spoken, the entire Ancestral Hall fell silent. Neither Ning Zhongze, who was worried, nor Yue Buqun, who was angry, could refute them.

"Continue," Yue Buqun said with a grim expression.

[Your opening is captivating, but you have clearly underestimated Dongfang Bubai. She doesn't rebel simply because she doesn't care.] Looking at the system notification, Yue Yuchen was slightly taken aback. He had underestimated Dongfang Bubai. What did that mean?

Chapter 12 Yu Chen analyzes the pros and cons 2

"Then this disciple will dare to presume."

However, he couldn't worry about Dongfang Bubai now; persuading Yue Buqun was more important. Yue Yuchen cupped his hands in greeting and continued...

"If the emperor is the most powerful force in the martial arts world, then the second most powerful are the families and military nobles who have been established for generations."

"These aristocratic families have survived for a few hundred years, and some for nearly a thousand years. Not to mention others, the Cui family of Hedong, the Li family of Longxi, and the Wang family of Taiyuan are three aristocratic families that have survived from the Sui and Tang dynasties to the present day."

"These powerful families have countless civil and military officials, and their tenants, shops, and forests are countless. They can be said to control nearly half of the world's resources."

"Moreover, they intermarried to protect themselves, each with their own interests intertwined with the other. This has continued for thousands of years, and even changes in dynasties have not affected their existence."

"And these aristocratic families, in turn, cultivate their own protégés. With all those resources poured in, how many masters could they have produced throughout history?"

"Master, even a top-tier expert like you is just a guest of honor in someone else's home. And how many loyal and skilled servants are hidden away?"

"Furthermore, let's talk about the noble families of this dynasty. These people were ruthless figures who fought to establish the new dynasty. How many rare and precious treasures did they plunder back then?"

"Over the centuries, these people have spread their influence throughout the military. Not to mention anything else, just look at the border troops—how many experts do they have? And how many experts can they mobilize?"

“Master, mistress, what do we have to compare with such power? In their eyes, they can wipe us out with a wave of their hand.”

………………

"Thirdly, there are the civil service groups. These people are linked together by their teachers, classmates, or those who passed the same examination, and they share the same interests."

“They used the power of the imperial court to seek their own personal gain. Not to mention anything else, just in the two counties of Huayin and Huayang at the foot of Mount Hua, a single magistrate could plunder tens of thousands of taels of silver every year.”

As the saying goes: "A clean prefect can earn 100,000 taels of silver a year."

"The daily expenses of these people can equal half a year's expenses for our Huashan Mountain. Even so, they can still use the yamen runners and constables at will, and even apply for the army."

"Master, mistress, look at them! Even the arrogant Shaolin Temple, would they dare to defy the government?"

"These civil officials are physically weak, but they know best how to protect themselves. If you offend one, you offend a whole group. And the six ministers behind them are even more untouchable."

"If you dare to offend them today, those six ministers will dare to declare you a traitor tomorrow, and the army will besiege the city in an instant."

………………

“But Master, you always thought that Wudang, Shaolin and the Demonic Sect, which were your targets, could only be ranked fourth.”

"And forces like ours, whether it's the Five Mountains Sword Sect or those small sects and martial arts schools, are just insignificant forces."

“Leaving aside Wudang, Shaolin has existed for a thousand years and has never been interrupted. Huashan almost fell apart because of a single battle between swords and qi.”

"Master, mistress, do you know how we differ from forces like Wudang, Shaolin, and the Demonic Sect?"

"The difference is that they have a program, doctrines, a system, and a ladder for talent cultivation. We, on the other hand, are just a disorganized mess."

"First, let's talk about the principles. Wudang worships Zhenwu the Great as its patriarch, and its founding patriarch is Zhang Zhenren. With Taoism as its core, the Wudang School has been formed as it is today."

"Shaolin worships the Chan (Zen) school of Buddhism, and reveres Bodhidharma as its patriarch. Later, the Sixth Patriarch passed down Buddhist scriptures, and they took Buddhism as their foundation."

"The Demonic Cult has been involved in rebellions for generations, dating back to the time of Chi You, including the Yellow Turban Rebellion in the Eastern Han Dynasty and the White Lotus Sect. They each have their own beliefs, and Buddhism and Taoism have merged, but their fundamental core ideology is rebellion, which is what they call the Great Harmony of the World."

"Master, Mistress, what is our guiding principle? Reviving Mount Hua is the goal, but not the core!"

"Furthermore, regarding the systems, Wudang, Shaolin, and the Demonic Sect all have their own specific divisions."

“Scholars, monks, and so on, including shamans and deities within the religion, compiled scriptures, annotated their meanings, unified thought, and determined core objectives.”

“Those martial arts practitioners, martial monks, and Dharma protectors specialize in martial arts to protect the Dharma.”

"There are also those fire-working Taoist priests and administrative monks who specialize in handling miscellaneous tasks; begging monks who spread their doctrines; chanting Taoist priests; and followers of demonic cults who use talismans to cure diseases and save people, etc."

"It can be said that the division of labor is clear and everyone performs their duties. May I ask, Master and Mistress, what do we have?"

"Furthermore, regarding talent cultivation, whether it's Wudang, Shaolin, or the Demonic Sect, they all have countless tenant farmers and believers at the foot of the mountain, and they collect countless amounts of gold, silver, grain, and supplies every year."

“These people not only provide them with a continuous supply of various materials, but also provide them with talented people who share the same beliefs.”

"Leaving aside other things, just at the foot of Shaolin Temple on Mount Song, how much land belongs to Shaolin? Those tenant farmers are all supporters of Shaolin. Their children, who cannot support themselves, are instilled with the concept of Shaolin from a young age."

"And once these children are sent to Shaolin, with a little training, they become Shaolin's loyal followers."

"Similarly, aren't forces like Wudang and the Demonic Sect also like this? May I ask, Master and Mistress, do we have these?"

………………

Your lengthy discourse was insightful, unique, and presented a fresh perspective; you have successfully caught Yue Buqun's attention.

You broadened the horizons of the rough and uncouth Yue Buqun, preventing him from being confined to the world of outlaws, but Yue Buqun clearly lacks sufficient knowledge. You need to give him some ideas.

Killing without burying is not a good habit, young man.

The system's narration gave Yue Yuchen a mental thumbs-up, which made him feel more confident.

Ning Zhongze was speechless, and Yue Buqun's face was ashen. Yue Yuchen, not content with that, continued his attack…

"Furthermore, Master and Mistress, not to mention the Demonic Sect, just Wudang and Shaolin, they have been bestowed titles by the imperial court for generations, and are recognized by the people of the world as models of justice."

"Their doctrines are recognized by the imperial court and the people. They naturally stand on the high ground of justice."

"What about Mount Hua? And the other sword sects of the Five Sacred Mountains? Have we ever gained the recognition of the imperial court and the people?"

"If Wudang and Shaolin are like the emperor, the leaders put forward by the court to maintain order, then we are just henchmen to maintain order."

“Powers like Shaolin and Wudang are too difficult to abandon. But we can abandon them at will.”

"The mountains where Wudang and Shaolin are located were officially designated by the imperial court. Huashan is something we have occupied privately. To put it bluntly, we are nothing more than bandits who have taken over the mountain."

"The imperial court needs to crack down on the evil cult and maintain peace in the world; Wudang and Shaolin need to set an example and become role models for the righteous people in the world."

"The reason why the imperial court did not annihilate us, and why Wudang and Shaolin protected us, is because they needed us to charge into battle and fight the evil cult to the death."

"If we become restless, fail to restrain our ambitions, and dream of becoming the leader of the Five Mountains Alliance, or of becoming another power after Wudang and Shaolin."

"Then we will be attacked by the emperor, the imperial court, Wudang, Shaolin and others. In their eyes, we are just henchmen. Once we become too powerful, we will be suppressed immediately."

………………

Yue Buqun's expression turned solemn. He let out a long breath and looked at his eldest disciple with a strange expression: "How did you know all this?"

Yue Yuchen pointed in the direction of the Scripture Pavilion: "Read a book a hundred times, and its meaning will become clear. Master, the more than eight hundred books in the Scripture Pavilion are the true treasures of the Huashan Sect."

"These principles, if you read enough books and understand them deeply enough, you will understand some of them."

"In books there are houses of gold, in books there are beauties like jade, in books there are thousands of bushels of grain, in books there is the way of the world."

“Master, the martial world isn’t just about fighting and killing; it’s all about human relationships and social interactions. By giving yourself the bandit title of ‘Gentleman Sword,’ you’ve already lowered your own standards.”

"Whether it's the leaders of Wudang or Shaolin, have these people ever given themselves a bandit title? Those titles were all officially recognized and conferred by the imperial court, or they were just called Taoist priests or masters. They never lowered their status."

“Master, your bandit-like title of ‘Gentleman Sword’ already puts you on the same level as some low-level forces. Chongxu and Fangzheng don’t know how they can laugh at you.”

Chapter 13 Yu Chen analyzes the pros and cons 3

[Your sharp tongue did not discourage Yue Buqun; on the contrary, it further fueled his fighting spirit. He truly deserves to be called a ruthless person who would castrate himself.]

The system's narration made Yue Yuchen's eye twitch involuntarily. Seriously, can't we be serious for once?!

"Shut up! How dare you speak ill of the martial arts elders?" Yue Buqun reprimanded.

Yue Yuchen said solemnly, "Master, Mistress, do you really think that the conflict between the Huashan Sect's sword and qi is just a dispute among its own people? Are Shaolin and Wudang really so righteous and noble?"

"Oh? What do you want to say?" Yue Buqun said leisurely.

“It seems you’ve had your suspicions, Master! I was being reckless,” Yue Yuchen said.

"Senior brother?" Ning Zhongze looked at Yue Buqun, not quite understanding what the master and disciple had said at the end.

………………

Yue Buqun turned to look at the ancestral tablet at the head of the table, and after a long while, he spoke slowly...

"Just as Yu Chen said, is the conflict between Huashan Sword and Qi really just a dispute among their own people?"

"Back then, I couldn't understand this problem. After all, from the beginning, all the fellow disciples preferred to practice qi cultivation or swordsmanship. Everyone had their own preferences in what they learned."

"But why couldn't they be compatible later? Why did they have to be ranked? Why were they at peace in the beginning?"

"Whether it's fellow disciples or senior uncles, we all practice swordsmanship and internal energy cultivation together. No one is abandoning any of them completely."

"Before his death, Master said that after the two patriarchs, Cai and Yue, obtained the Sunflower Manual from the Shaolin Temple in Putian, they discovered that sword and qi were incompatible."

"But Mount Hua is full of talented people. All the famous sword masters in the martial arts world cannot bypass Mount Hua. Why is it that so many patriarchs cannot decipher the Sunflower Manual?"

Why did the two patriarchs, Cai and Yue, become impulsive and easily angered after practicing the Sunflower Manual, even to the point of drawing their swords against each other?