Volume One: The Soul-drawing Gourd, The Soul-burning Lantern Chapter Thirty-six: Movements and Footwork
Page 1 of 3
Before dawn had broken, Gu Mo’s heart filled with loathing at the mention of cultivation once again.
“What is this nonsense? Can’t a person get some sleep? I’ve only just returned for a few days!”
Hades, Jiang Jingxue, promptly grabbed Gu Mo’s ear, sending a sharp pain straight to his core.
“Little follower, do you think you can achieve anything with your current strength? You can’t even handle a wandering ghost—how will you ever change your fate...”
At this point, Hades, the silly girl, frowned, clearly realizing she had let something slip.
Gu Mo looked up at her, questioning, “Your Majesty, what did you just say?”
Her grip tightened, and Gu Mo grimaced in pain.
“Ow—Your Majesty, you’re ruthless!”
Jiang Jingxue gazed down at him, every inch the imposing queen.
“Don’t meddle in matters beyond your reach.”
Gu Mo was left speechless, stunned into silence.
It hadn’t been long, yet even Hades’ way of speaking had changed. Had some rascal been teaching her internet slang?
...
With no other choice, Gu Mo muttered to himself with a darkened expression.
“I am the fish on the chopping block. Fine, I’ll cultivate, alright?”
At that, Hades waved her hand, and an ancient book floated from the black bundle to land before Gu Mo.
Resigned, Gu Mo peered at it and asked in puzzlement, “Isn’t this Grandfather’s ‘Cloud Ascension Hidden True Art’? I can’t make any sense of it—how am I supposed to train with this?”
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yulou, who was sitting cross-legged, smiled gently.
“Brother Gu, you are truly blessed! These ancient tomes are things others would give anything to lay eyes on, but never could.”
Gu Mo grew even more perplexed.
“Is there something unusual about this?”
Xiao Yulou made a hand seal and explained calmly.
“‘Cloud Ascension Hidden True Art’ encompasses the martial wisdom of a hundred schools. Each chapter is a complete and powerful technique.”
Gu Mo, utterly confused, found himself growing more curious about the many mysteries surrounding his grandfather.
“Daoist Xiao, just what kind of man was my grandfather Gu Yanzhi? Why did I never discover these secrets when I was a child?”
Xiao Yulou smiled bitterly.
“That I cannot say, Brother Gu. But your grandfather must have been an extraordinary figure. Otherwise, this ‘Cloud Ascension Hidden True Art’ would never contain secret techniques from Five Peaks Monastery!”
“What... Secret techniques from Five Peaks? Aren’t you a Daoist from Five Peaks?”
Gu Mo eyed him with suspicion, but Xiao Yulou merely nodded serenely.
“Indeed, these are the monastery’s secrets. Even though I have read widely since childhood, this is my first time seeing such a method.”
Gu Mo’s curiosity was piqued.
“What kind of technique is it?”
Xiao Yulou took a deep breath and answered with a calm air.
“The Seven Stars Heavenly Gang Step!”
A storm of memories whirled through Gu Mo’s mind. He had indeed seen mention of this technique before. Fixing Xiao Yulou with a stare, he asked,
“Daoist Xiao, what is this technique for? I saw it in the book, but it’s just words—I can’t understand a thing!”
Xiao Yulou smiled gently.
“The Seven Stars Heavenly Gang Step is derived from the shifting constellations. Do you know the Seven Stars, Brother Gu?”
With a scowl, Gu Mo rolled his eyes at him.
“Are you mocking me? I’m not a fool—it’s the Big Dipper, right?”
Xiao Yulou scratched his head awkwardly.
“I only meant well, Brother Gu.”
Page 2 of 3
Clearing his throat to cover the awkwardness, Xiao Yulou produced a brush from his sleeve, dipped it in cinnabar, and quickly drew seven circles on the ground.
With a flick of his sleeve, he stood in front of the circles, radiating an air of transcendence.
“The Big Dipper appears in different parts of the sky depending on the season and time of night. Thus, the ancients determined the seasons by the direction of the Dipper’s handle at dusk.
When the handle points east, all under heaven is spring;
When it points south, all is summer;
When it points west, all is autumn;
When it points north, all is winter.”
He smiled, clearly about to launch into a lengthy discourse. Gu Mo, already tired, sensed trouble ahead. Hades, Jiang Jingxue, noticing this, merged into Gu Mo’s body.
A bell-like voice sounded in his mind.
“Little follower, I’m going to rest now. You must train well!”
Gu Mo frowned, retorting, “Your Majesty, you possess me every day. Remember to pay rent!”
“Hmph! Want some hell money?”
Gu Mo rolled his eyes, took a deep breath, and waited for Xiao Yulou’s lesson.
Seeing their antics, Xiao Yulou could only shake his head with a smile.
“Since ancient times, people have revered the stars and practiced astrology. The ancients used celestial changes to predict fortune and misfortune, especially as the Southern and Northern Dippers govern life and death. The Dipper, together with the Pole Star, formed the ‘Pivot of Heaven’—the center around which all stars revolve, regarded as the ruler of the heavens. The Dipper’s handle was used to mark the seasons. The Dipper itself was seen as the regulator of cosmic order, the source of creation, the center from which all things arise.”
He sipped his tea before continuing.
“The seven stars of the Dipper, from the top of the bowl to the end of the handle, are: Tian Shu, Tian Xuan, Tian Ji, Tian Quan, Yu Heng, Kai Yang, Yao Guang.
Taoism calls them the Seven Star Lords, each presiding over a palace: Tian Shu Palace (Greedy Wolf), Tian Xuan Palace (Giant Gate), Tian Ji Palace (Prosperity Keeper), Tian Quan Palace (Literary Elegance), Yu Heng Palace (Integrity), Kai Yang Palace (Martial Prowess), and Yao Guang Palace (Breaker of Armies).”
He paused deliberately, allowing Gu Mo time to digest the information.
“In traditional astrology, the ‘Purple Star Astrology’ draws five of its fourteen main stars from the Big Dipper.
As the ‘Classic of the Northern Dipper’ says: ‘The Nine Celestials of the Dipper, great deities of the mid-heaven, ascend to the golden palace above, cover Kunlun below, regulate all, rule the universe, with Greedy Wolf as the chief, followed by Giant Gate and Prosperity Keeper. Literary Elegance, Integrity, Martial Prowess, and Breaker of Armies. The Supreme Jade Emperor, the Purple Star Sovereign.’ These correspond to: Tian Shu (Greedy Wolf), Tian Xuan (Giant Gate), Tian Ji (Prosperity Keeper), Tian Quan (Literary Elegance), Yu Heng (Integrity), Kai Yang (Martial Prowess), and Yao Guang (Breaker of Armies).”
...
Gu Mo frowned in distress.
First, he’d barely slept these past days, constantly plagued by demons and evil spirits.
Second, he was a complete novice; cultivation was a struggle for him.
Third, everything Xiao Yulou said was steeped in classical references. Even reading them was difficult, let alone just listening.
All he could do was force a complaint.
“Daoist Xiao, can’t you put it in plain language? I’m totally lost!”
Xiao Yulou sighed, somewhat disdainfully.
“Brother Gu, just tell me how much you remember.”
Gu Mo tensed, mumbling, “Tian Shu, Tian Xuan, Tian Ji, Tian Quan, Yu Heng, Kai Yang, Yao Guang...”
Xiao Yulou nodded along, then raised an eyebrow and asked quietly, “And then?”
Gu Mo flushed and whispered, “That’s... that’s it.”
Xiao Yulou was left speechless, petrified on the spot.
“Forget it! There’s no point telling you more about the ‘Purple Star Astrology.’ I can handle the calculations for you.”
With a sigh, Xiao Yulou paced the floor. At length, he looked at Gu Mo with a grave expression.
“Brother Gu, watch closely!”
He sank down, and began striding within the seven circles.
Page 3 of 3
Swish, swish, swish.
His black robe swept before Gu Mo’s eyes.
His steps—sometimes swift, sometimes slow, like a soaring serpent or a giant python; sometimes dodging, sometimes weaving, reminiscent of an ancient tortoise. Yet each footfall landed precisely within the seven circles.
At first, the Seven Stars Heavenly Gang Step followed the order of the stars. But after a few cycles, the pattern dissolved into seeming chaos.
Gu Mo watched intently, finding the technique ever more mysterious, its variations endless.
Growing more confused, he finally interrupted.
“Wait...”
Xiao Yulou stopped. “Brother Gu... what is it?”
Gu Mo, face dark, blurted, “Can you spare a thought for others? Do you think I’m as amazing as you?”
Seeing Xiao Yulou freeze, Gu Mo realized he’d been too harsh. After all, he’d only met this eccentric Daoist a day ago, and yet the man had helped him so much.
Gu Mo lowered his head and apologized.
“Sorry, Daoist Xiao, I shouldn’t have been so impatient...”
Xiao Yulou, serene as ever, sighed lightly.
“Indeed—cultivation is a journey of hardship and trial. How can you afford impatience?”
Gu Mo felt something was off. He looked up.
“Daoist Xiao, aren’t you angry at my rudeness? My loose tongue?”
Xiao Yulou stared at him in genuine confusion.
“Not at all!... Why would you say that, Brother Gu?”
Now it was Gu Mo’s turn to be bewildered.
Was this what they called a transcendent spirit, as gentle and untroubled as flowing water? Compared to Xiao Yulou, the difference wasn’t just age or looks—it was a difference in realm altogether!
Curiosity gnawed at him. He asked,
“Daoist Xiao, why do you keep helping and tolerating me? I’m really curious.”
With a flick of his sleeve, Xiao Yulou answered calmly,
“Simply because fate has brought us together, Brother Gu. Is that not reason enough?”
Gu Mo was left speechless. Such ambiguous words sounded both unbelievable and utterly absurd.
He sighed, then stood in front of the seven circles, imitating Xiao Yulou’s movements and practicing...
After thirty-odd repetitions, Gu Mo looked as if he’d just stepped out of a sauna, sweat pouring from his brow as sunlight streamed into the shop.
At that moment, a wonderful sense of comfort filled him, as if every cell and nerve had been renewed.
Xiao Yulou, seeing Gu Mo’s state, nodded in satisfaction.
“Brother Gu, it’s getting late. Rest for a bit.”
Gu Mo waved a hand, meeting his eyes.
“Daoist Xiao, please watch the shop for me. I’m going home to change.”
Xiao Yulou smiled serenely, letting Gu Mo vanish from sight...