"Please, Layman Qin, make a copy for me by hand!" Zhiyuan said solemnly with a deep bow.
"You flatter me, Daoist Master. It was nothing more than a small favor. Please prepare some writing materials." Qin Mu quickly stepped aside to support Zhiyuan.
"It was a small favor for Layman Qin, but for me it is an immense kindness. I will remember this and repay it in the future. Chunfeng, prepare pen, ink, paper and inkstone." Zhiyuan took a deep breath and said calmly.
“It’s getting late, and Layman Qin hasn’t had his meal yet. Why don’t we wait until he’s finished eating before he goes to his room to write?” suggested the young Taoist named Chunfeng.
“Yes! Yes! It was my oversight.” Zhiyuan nodded repeatedly.
Just then, Wang Ma came to find him, and Qin Mu didn't delay. It was just a hot bowl of coarse grain rice, and although the taste was terrible, he was used to it, so he ate it quickly.
"The Way of the Prophecy"
To observe the Way of Heaven and act accordingly is the ultimate goal. Heaven has five thieves; those who perceive them prosper. The five thieves reside in the heart and manifest in Heaven. The universe is in one's hand, and all transformations arise from within. Heavenly nature is inherent in humanity. The human heart is the mechanism. Establish the Way of Heaven to determine humanity. When Heaven unleashes its killing intent, stars shift and constellations change. When Earth unleashes its killing intent, dragons and snakes rise from the land. When humanity unleashes its killing intent, Heaven and Earth are overturned. When Heaven and humanity act in unison, the foundation of all transformations is established. …This is called a sage. Heaven gives birth and Heaven takes its killing; this is the principle of the Way.
The Art of Acting
Heaven and earth are the thieves of all things. All things are the thieves of man. Man is the thief of all things. When these three thefts are in harmony, the three realms (heaven, earth, and man) are at peace. ... The virtuous man, having obtained this, endures poverty; the petty man, having obtained this, takes his life lightly.
The Art of Acting
The blind are good at hearing, the deaf are good at seeing. Cut off one source of profit, and your military strength will increase tenfold. Three rounds of continuous effort, day and night, will increase your military strength ten thousandfold. ………………
The three Taoist scriptures, totaling just over three hundred characters, were completed by Qin Mu in one stroke. It should be noted that Qin Mu often did copying before his transmigration; he could write not only clerical script but also seal script.
As Qin Mu continued writing, Zhi Yuan couldn't help but tremble at the corners of his mouth, excitedly muttering to himself, "That's right, that's right, exactly the same as the general outline."
As soon as Qin Mu put down his pen and stepped aside, Zhi Yuan couldn't wait any longer. He stood over and almost pounced on the Xuan paper to examine it closely.
"What do you think, Daoist Master? Is there anything wrong with it?" After waiting for a while, seeing Zhiyuan reluctantly raise his head, Qin Mu asked with a smile.
Zhiyuan gestured for his disciple to look, and he said with a wry smile, "To be honest, the Heavenly Secrets Scripture has long been lost. Now only the general outline is passed down, which is the first chapter written by Layman Qin."
Qin Mu then understood why Zhiyuan was so agitated. However, he remembered that the Yin Fu Jing shouldn't have been lost. But it was probably in someone else's hands.
"Brother Qin, do you know the current situation of Taoism?"
Seeing Qin Mu shake his head, Zhiyuan was not surprised and continued speaking.
"The Taoists regard the Heavenly Secrets Scripture as their classic text because it is the first Taoist classic, said to have been passed down to the Yellow Emperor by the immortal Guangchengzi. It has been passed down orally from generation to generation, and because of this, different people have different memories and interpretations. What is circulating today is not an authentic version. Our lineage only has the general outline."
The *Tao Te Ching* is one of the mainstream texts of Taoist cultivation today, while the *Zhuangzi* and the *I Ching* represent two other major schools. As for the last two volumes of the *Tianji Jing*, although I only skimmed through them, every word is precious and absolutely correct; even if it was written by a later author, it is the closest to the first edition.
"Close to the first version? If that's the case, wouldn't it mean we can't cultivate it?"
"No! Of course you can cultivate! This is not only because it was written by a Taoist master, but also because the second chapter is about cultivation methods! Methods and Tao are completely two different things."
The good path is the right path! It allows cultivators to enter the path more quickly; the path is the foundation, and the method is the basis. The Heavenly Secrets Scripture uses the five elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth for cultivation. The five elements generate and restrain each other. Everyone has a different affinity with the five elements, so they can choose the most suitable direction to cultivate.
The next section is on techniques, which are various secret arts that cannot be comprehended or understood by those who are not Taoists.” Zhiyuan explained in detail.
After listening to Zhiyuan's explanation, Qin Mu finally understood the difference. He was surprised that Zhiyuan could see so much from just over three hundred words.
Although profound meanings can be conveyed in concise sentences, sometimes summed up in hundreds of words, Qin Mu couldn't decipher them. He understood the general meaning of the sentences, but as Zhiyuan had suggested, he had no clue how to discern the underlying techniques or secret arts. Perhaps this was what Zhiyuan meant when he said only cultivators could understand them.
"I have a request to make, and I hope Brother Qin will grant it."
"Please speak, Daoist Master." Qin Mu's heart stirred, but he said with a calm expression.
"I would like to ask Brother Qin not to tell anyone about the Heavenly Secrets Scripture. Of course, if anyone in the Qin family practices Taoism, they are free to learn it, and I can even teach them if they don't understand," Zhiyuan said apologetically.
Qin Mu had already guessed Zhiyuan's meaning. After all, this was a classic text of his school, and it was normal for him not to allow it to circulate.
"No problem, I promise I will never reveal it to anyone." Qin Mu readily agreed. Since he knew the importance of the Yin Fu Jing, he certainly wouldn't reveal it casually; that would be asking for trouble.
The power of Taoism is considerable. Just think of all the Taoist temples and priests in the world. If they all try to take advantage of him, it will be more than just troublesome. Qin Mu made up his mind that not only the Yin Fu Jing, but also other Taoist and Buddhist scriptures, would never be revealed in the future. He would let them rot in his belly. Perhaps when he became powerful in the future, he could write down everything he remembered and pass it down as a family heirloom.
"Thank you, Brother Qin. If it weren't for your extensive knowledge of literature, I would have advised you to cultivate Taoism." Zhiyuan said admiringly upon seeing Qin Mu make such a decisive decision.
After instructing his disciple to slowly study the Yin Fu Jing, Zhi Yuan invited Qin Mu to sit down and said again, "I won't say much more about Taoist cultivation; Brother Qin will naturally have the opportunity to learn about it in the future."
I know little about Confucianism, so I will not elaborate further to avoid causing you any trouble and hindering your future practice. I will instead introduce other matters to Brother Qin. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask; I will answer them to the best of my knowledge.”
"Thank you, Daoist Zhiyuan. When we were in the courtyard, you suddenly appeared beside me. Is that the effect of cultivation?" Qin Mu nodded gratefully and asked.
"That's just the basic ability of cultivators. Taoism is about integrating oneself into nature and living in harmony with it, which is how one achieves this. Taoism is secretive, martial arts are courageous, and Confucianism is divine. That's the difference between the three."
In addition to those not in the mainstream, there are Buddhism, Mohism, and the School of Military Strategists; though they are considered mainstream, the majority are martial artists, and there are also many Taoists. Confucianism is listed alongside them because great Confucian scholars are a different kind of entity,” Zhiyuan explained.
"Is this great Confucian scholar really that amazing?" Qin Mu asked in surprise.
“That’s right. If it weren’t for the great Confucian scholar, the Central Plains would have been destroyed by the wolf clan long ago!” Zhiyuan nodded.
"Wolf clan? What's that?" Qin Mu thought he had misheard and stared at Zhiyuan with wide eyes.
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