Chapter 64: The Nine Yin Manual Is Useful!

It was already November, and the cold still ran deep; especially as Qiu Chujii sat by the edge of a pond, where the water shimmered and mist curled faintly, lending him an air of celestial grace and casting his face in icy chill.

A Daoist disciple was going to Shaolin Temple to pray for deliverance and blessings, yet claimed Daoist scriptures were useless.

This truly did not please Qiu Chujii.

“Grandmaster.”

Gu Qing bowed respectfully upon seeing Qiu Chujii.

Gu Qing had risen within the Quanzhen Sect; though he did not agree with its rules, he still recognized the sect as a whole, so before Qiu Chujii, he tempered his temper.

“If the Supreme Mystery Scripture for Dispelling Calamity and Protecting Life is useless, then what scripture is useful?”

Qiu Chujii demanded.

He had never seen a disciple as blasphemous and lawless as Gu Qing, who slandered Daoist scriptures!

…… Why not explain to me what use these scriptures for dispelling calamity and seeking blessings really have?

Gu Qing did not dwell on this, but said: “Disciple has recently acquired a set of Daoist classics, of great utility—its text reads: ‘The Dao of Heaven diminishes what is excessive and supplements what is lacking…’”

Gu Qing recited the overarching outline of the Nine Yin Manual directly to Qiu Chujii.

This scripture is useful!

Qiu Chujii’s martial skill, in The Return of the Condor Heroes, was drastically downplayed in narration—mainly because figures like Xiao Xiangzi and Ni Mo Xing emerged from the Mongol side; Jin Yong’s narration depicted every one of their martial arts as superior to those of the Seven Masters of Quanzhen, and even Xiao Xiangzi, when faced with Yang Guo or Huang Yaoshi at the Five Greats’ level, became a mere plaything, used to amuse them over wine.

Even if Qiu Chujii’s strength fell short of the Five Greats, he had always remained in the top tier; yet he had never suffered such a pitiful record. Moreover, Quanzhen martial arts grew purer with age, and though Qiu Chujii had not reached the Five Greats’ realm, his internal energy was already formidable.

At this moment, upon hearing Gu Qing recite the overarching outline of the Nine Yin Manual, Qiu Chujii felt as if Zhao Zhengji, who had long yearned to enter the imperial council, had finally stepped into its hall—his lifelong aspiration fulfilled in a single moment; all past martial obstacles were now clarified by the outline of the Nine Yin Manual.

The principles of Quanzhen martial arts were like the stream beside Qiu Chujii’s cold pond—thin yet continuous, flowing without end; all his confusion was resolved in that instant.

Suddenly, Qiu Chujii’s breath grew inwardly contained, and a radiant light emerged from his body.

“All filth and impurity cast aside, true purity is attained.”

Qiu Chujii looked at Gu Qing and asked: “What scripture is this?”

“The Nine Yin Manual!”

Gu Qing replied—not merely the Nine Yin Manual, but also the Yin-Yang Harmonization insights he had recently developed were all contained within it.

The previously serene and detached Qiu Chujii felt as if his mind had exploded—the Quanzhen Sect’s rules forbade disciples from practicing the Nine Yin Manual; he had never seen its contents, so when Gu Qing recited the outline, Qiu Chujii had not doubted it for a moment. Now, after this internal reflection, the cultivation of the Nine Yin Manual had already taken root in him—he could no longer forget it or refuse to practice.

“You’ve truly ruined me!”

Qiu Chujii’s hands trembled as he cried out: “You’ve truly ruined me!”

Qiu Chujii, who had obeyed Wang Chongyang’s rules his entire life, never imagined he would commit such a grave error in old age.

“It’s fine.”

Gu Qing said calmly: “Isn’t the Quanzhen Sect supposed to split apart? You could found your own sect, as its Patriarch, and then study the Nine Yin Manual freely.”

That made perfect sense.

Qiu Chujii sighed deeply and said: “I’ve already founded the Longmen Sect—Yin Zhiping and Li Zhichang are handling it… sigh…”

Qiu Chujii still felt shaken, looked at Gu Qing, and said: “Given you reclaimed Dengzhou, I’ll let this go—for now. But killing so many is ultimately wrong.”

Genghis Khan had once slaughtered indiscriminately; Qiu Chujii had once spoken a single word to stop the bloodshed and saved countless lives. Recently arriving in Henan, he heard of Gu Qing’s indiscriminate killings and came to persuade him.

As for the Nine Yin Manual—he had already learned it, so Qiu Chujii had nothing more to say.

“The Mongols shot me with an arrow—I can’t just swallow the insult silently.”

Gu Qing rolled up his sleeve; the arrow scar still remained on his arm.

The Tartars could be killed however one wished—Gu Qing used his bow and arrow partly to demonstrate, so that martial heroes could watch and learn, and partly for revenge.

“Which Daoist is as petty-minded as you?”

Qiu Chujii snapped angrily.

Gu Qing smiled and asked why Qiu Chujii had come to Henan.

“To pursue Huo Du.”

Qiu Chujii said: “You didn’t finish the job—Huo Du led the Mongols to burn down our Chongyang Palace. Fortunately, we received word early, moved the scriptures, and suffered no disciple casualties.”

Mentioning Huo Du, Qiu Chujii’s voice brimmed with anger.

Aren’t you holding a grudge too?

Gu Qing did not voice this, but said: “I’ve always said the Chongyang Palace hinders Quanzhen’s development.”

The Quanzhen Sect lay within Mongol-controlled territory, yet it was the leader of the Jianghu, actively resisting the Mongols and protecting the Song—of course the Mongols would never let it survive.

Whether or not Huo Du existed, the Chongyang Palace would still be burned.

As for Gu Qing mistaking the Jade Bee Needle for a Life-and-Death Mark, believing one prick would poison for life, only for Huo Du to recover—Gu Qing believed he bore only one ten-thousandth of the blame; the remaining nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine belonged to Huo Du.

Qiu Chujii sighed, acknowledging Gu Qing’s logic—but for him, every blade of grass and tree within the Chongyang Palace carried decades of emotion; to let go was easy to say, hard to do.

Between them, Xiaolongnu and Cheng Ying had already emerged; now seeing Gu Qing and Qiu Chujii’s conversation end, they stepped forward to pay their respects.

“Lady Long, we’ve been neighbors for years—I once thought we’d never speak again. Yet my disciple’s disciple has such fortune, to form a bond with you.”

Qiu Chujii was delighted by Xiaolongnu’s marriage to Gu Qing.

Xiaolongnu had been raised under Qiu Chujii’s watchful eye; though she refused Quanzhen’s aid, the sect had observed her deeds closely. Seeing this fairy of the Gushan, who lived on wind and dew, marry Gu Qing, the long-standing feud between Quanzhen and the Ancient Tomb Sect had finally ended.

As for whether this violated Quanzhen’s rules…

Gu Qing had broken far too many rules already; Qiu Chujii no longer insisted.

Xiaolongnu smiled softly, radiant and warm, her gaze falling upon Gu Qing.

Qiu Chujii turned to Cheng Ying and asked about her origins.

“She is Huang Yaoshi’s disciple.”

Gu Qing said: “I liked her, so I married her too.”

“….”

Qiu Chujii had nothing more to say to this rebellious Quanzhen disciple—he swept his sleeve and rose, saying three words to Gu Qing.

“Treasure her well.”

“Mind your ways.”

With that, Qiu Chujii rose and departed, his steps hurried.

I hope you too will attain Yin-Yang Harmonization, and extend your years…

Gu Qing watched Qiu Chujii depart; in The Return of the Condor Heroes, the only person who truly achieved Yin-Yang Harmonization might have been Zhou Botong, who had studied the Nine Yin Manual intensely—when he met Yang Guo over a decade later, his white hair had turned half-black, and he appeared younger than ever.

Only when Qiu Chujii’s figure vanished did Gu Qing turn, drawing Xiaolongnu and Cheng Ying close, and say: “Let’s continue to Shaolin Temple to apologize!”

Too many lives taken—only the original handwritten copy of the Lankavatara Sutra, penned by Bodhidharma himself, can save you!

(End of Chapter)