Hidden moth

Chapter 38: Yinniang and the Woodcutter's Rebellion

Only elders have the authority to view certain records in the sect.

A thousand years ago, the martial arts sect experienced two serious internal conflicts, about a hundred years apart. A large number of masters died, and many ancient books were lost or destroyed.

As a result, later generations can only piece together the truth of the incident based on memories, or even some unofficial historical records and legends.

This turmoil began with the "Yinniang Rebellion" about 1,200 years ago and ended with the "Woodcutter Rebellion" about 1,100 years ago.

The earliest sects were not what they are today, but were like the great sects of immortal cultivation described in many novels, with a tight organization and strict rules and regulations.

Telepathy, observing qi, penetrating subtleties, heart plate, alchemy cauldron, observing the body, and invigorating the spirit were the seven secret methods of the art passed down by the sect at that time, just like the departments and faculties in universities today.

In addition to these seven branches of the art, there is also a secret lineage, the hidden art. The so-called secret transmission can be understood as not being open to the public for enrollment.

This lineage has very few disciples, and most are carefully selected and trained from a young age. Disciples must master the Hidden Moth Technique to at least the fourth level before they are released on missions. Male disciples are called "Kong'er" and female disciples are called "Yinniang."

They are good at hiding their tracks and are masters of tracking, stealth and assassination.

The leaders of these eight traditions are also called heads. Above the eight heads are the clan masters and the various executive bodies at the sect headquarters. The head of the Hidden Moth tradition, also known as the Hidden Moth, is said to wield an incredible immortal artifact.

Even Gu Chun and Jiang Daozhen didn't know what the so-called immortal weapon was. It might be a fictitious name passed down orally. It should be a certain inherited artifact, which is what later generations called the hidden moth.

There is no record in existing books about where the hidden moth came from, or even whether it exists. It is speculated that it was left by the ancestor who first founded the art.

The founder also created the secret art of Yin Mo, whose purpose was to monitor the behavior of sorcerers. In modern terms, it is equivalent to an internal supervisory body within the art.

With the characteristics of the stealth moth technique, it is most suitable for this job.

About 1,200 years ago, the head of the Yin'e sect was a nun known as the Divine Nun. Besides the head, the Yin'e sect had three other disciples: one Yinniang and two Kong'ers.

One day, the sect leader sent Yinniang to investigate a disciple of Lingxi Sect, who was said to have violated the sect rules and killed innocent people.

The disciple of Lingxi Sect is named Liu. In the secular world, he is a general who holds local military and political power. In terms of cultivation, he has reached the fifth level of "asker".

General Liu actually anticipated Yinniang's arrival, so he dismissed his attendants and waited there alone without setting any traps or ambushes.

Yinniang felt that the general was honest and not a wicked person. As for the so-called indiscriminate killing of innocent people, after investigation, it was just a false accusation.

At that time, the country was in turmoil. Although the emperor was in power in the capital, the local areas had become semi-separatist. The various powerful families had their own armies and often attacked each other. When two armies fought, there would certainly be casualties. To say that this violated the rules of the Shu sect was far-fetched.

Yinniang reported the results of the investigation to Shumen, but Shumen still ordered Yinniang to assassinate General Liu.

The reasons why the sect's leaders acted this way are unknown to later generations due to lost records. Even the above story was pieced together by later sect elders based on various scattered records and rumors.

There is an unconfirmed speculation that there may have been other high-ranking members of the Shu Sect who secretly supported the hostile forces of General Liu and wanted to use the power of the Shu Sect to eliminate their opponents.

It is very likely that Yinniang found out the truth and reported it to the sect, but it had no effect. Later, she simply left the sect, gave up the mission and did not return to report.

This was an act of treason, and under normal circumstances, it would have been punished. However, during these turbulent times, chaos was already brewing within the Jianshu Sect, and Yinniang herself was an expert in assassination, so the Jianshu Sect remained silent on the matter for a while.

Yinniang was offline, but the mission had to be carried out. The Shumen sent two Kong'er to assassinate General Liu. Yinniang protected General Liu in secret. She killed the first Kong'er, and the second Kong'er fled away after being injured.

There is another saying that the first Kong'er was bribed by General Liu's opponents and was willing to be their tool to eliminate dissidents, so Yinniang did not show mercy to him.

As for the second Kong'er, his methods may not be inferior to Yinniang's, but he did not carry out the mission with his full strength. He pretended to be seriously injured and fled, taking the opportunity to leave the sect and disappeared since then.

The only three disciples all encountered problems, so the only one left in the Yin Mo lineage was the leader, the Yin Mo nun.

There is no written record of what happened afterwards. It is said that the higher-ups of the sect used this as an excuse to force the nun to hand over the Hidden Moth's belongings, or at least to reveal the secret of the Hidden Moth's power.

The Hidden Moth lineage has been a secret tradition since ancient times. Others in the sect have only guessed about the Hidden Moth, but no one has ever publicly acknowledged its existence. However, there are traces of the Hidden Moth's power.

The hidden moth once appeared thousands of miles away in an instant. Amidst the strict security, he inexplicably rushed out from behind the hall, killed a villain of the Shumen, then went back into the back hall and disappeared. In the blink of an eye, he returned to the Shumen headquarters thousands of miles away.

Such a skill is beyond the reach of even the most accomplished sect masters throughout history. Yin E's cultivation level was no higher than that of previous sect masters, so how could he possess such a skill? Thus, the legend of the immortal weapon began to spread.

The exact circumstances of this conflict are unknown, but even the sect leader was killed in the melee, and the sect also lost a number of elders. Ultimately, the Hidden Moth Divine Nun was jointly slain, but no magical artifact was recovered.

The remaining high-level members of the Shu Sect who were cleaning up the battlefield suspected that someone had taken the opportunity to hide the Hidden Moth's belongings. They were suspicious of each other, and the Shu Sect, which had been passed down for thousands of years, finally entered a state of division. The seven branches each went their own way, and the Hidden Moth branch officially died out.

This is known as the "Yinniang Rebellion" in the history of the art. Most of the relevant records have been lost, but there are many folk legends about it.

For example, later generations of literati wrote "The Legend of the Assassin Yinniang" based on the rumors, which was later adapted into a stage piece and has even been made into a movie.

However, the practice of various techniques was once closely related, and there were many aspects of mutual complementation that could not be avoided. Even if they were split into seven sects, they would inevitably have to trade and deal with each other.

Afterwards, the elders also met privately to review the "Yinniang Rebellion". A mathematician speculated that this might be a conspiracy arranged by some high-level members of the magic sect against the Yin E lineage, which eventually led to the situation getting out of control.

About a hundred years later, a woodcutter once again entered the public consciousness. His story is unnecessary to recount; it is well documented in historical records, and Peng Xian even recounted it to Meng Ya in a coffee shop.

The records that the elders of the sect could see were more detailed. The woodcutter's surname was Gong, and his given name was Dafang. He was so simple. Gong Dafang had never been to school, but he was able to sneak into the enemy camp and quietly bring back the head of the enemy commander.

At first, the magic sect suspected that he had inherited the legacy from Yinniang or Konger who had disappeared a hundred years ago, but later confirmed that the woodcutter was just an ordinary person who had never practiced any magic but had innate supernatural powers.

The so-called innate supernatural powers may be an exaggeration or rumour in ancient times. The person was simply born with a strong physique, often climbed mountains and chopped wood, so he could use a knife well and had great strength.

Judging from the woodcutter's deeds, even if Yinniang or Kong'er came in person, it would probably be difficult to accomplish the task, unless Yin'e took action.

The most important thing is that the woodcutter's hometown, which is the mountainous area where he often chops wood, is the battlefield where the masters of the magic sect surrounded and suppressed the Hidden Moth Goddess.

There is no need for a fortune teller to tell the truth. Anyone can guess that the woodcutter picked up the remains of the hidden moth in the mountains, which is the legendary magic weapon.

The thing that could make an ordinary person invisible could actually allow him to possess the ability to become a moth without learning any magic. This was a new situation that the various schools of magic at that time had never grasped, so of course they would be crazy about it!
All the sects took action upon hearing the news, and the Xingshen Sect was the first to succeed. They brought the woodcutter to their old lair, the so-called blessed land of the sect that had been newly created after the sect split.

The other six major sects surrounded the Xingshen Sect's lair, and not even a bird could fly out.

There are still many things that remain unclear about the civil war that happened a hundred years ago. The secret of the hidden moth is the most important one. How could the Xingshen Sect keep it to itself?

The six major sects demanded that the Xingshen Sect hand over the woodcutter so they could all figure out what was going on. Of course, the Xingshen Sect was unwilling. Now, they were all living their own lives, so why would they? They relied on their sect's formation to hold their ground, while the opposing geomancers attempted to break the formation. The two sides engaged in a series of back-and-forth exchanges, resulting in casualties on both sides.

Later, the Xingshen Sect surrendered on their own initiative, not only because they could no longer hold on, but also because they had lost the woodcutter.

Although Gong Dafang was just an illiterate woodcutter, it did not mean that he was stupid, otherwise it would have been difficult for him to accomplish the feat of breaking into the enemy camp at night and returning with the enemy's head.

At first he didn't understand what the sorcerers were saying at all. Later he seemed to understand, but he continued to pretend to be confused.

The Xingshenmen sorcerer was not so easy to fool. He saw the flaw in the words and used some tricks to get the result.

They asked the woodcutter if he had found any treasure. The woodcutter replied that the treasure was the hatchet. He could not explain how it came about, but he knew how to use it once he got it.

This answer is indeed credible, because the woodcutter had only a pair of hemp shoes and a set of tattered clothes when he went to war. He had nothing else on him except a few copper coins and a hatchet, and it was with that hatchet that he chopped off the enemy chief's head.

All the things, including the pair of worn-out hemp shoes, were taken away by the leaders of Xingshen Sect. They focused on studying the hatchet, but after a long time of struggling, they still couldn't figure it out. Then they went to interrogate the woodcutter.

The woodcutter said, "You don't know how to use it. Bring me your hatchet so I can show you how to use it." He claimed he could split wood from a wall through a tree.

In a heavily guarded secret room with all exits blocked, the Xingshen Sect leaders handed the hatchet to the woodcutter. There was a low wall in the center of the room, and the woodcutter placed a piece of wood on one side and a piece of wood on the other.

The woodcutter tried many chopping motions but failed for a long time. Finally he said, "You're all staring at me. I can't seem to find the right feeling. Turn away a little and I'll try again."

Everyone turned around, but the woodcutter still didn't feel anything. Finally, the leader seemed to have thought of something and secretly used his spiritual sense to notify everyone present, asking them to withdraw their spiritual sense for the time being and stop locking onto the woodcutter.

As soon as he sent out his divine thought, he felt something was wrong. When he turned around, the wood was indeed split, but the woodcutter was nowhere to be found.

This is the story of the six major sects besieging the Xingshen Sect, which is known in the history of the sects as the "Woodcutter's Rebellion."

There are also relevant records of the woodcutter's deeds in historical materials. Although there are not as many unofficial historical stories and legends as Yinniang, there is also an article called "Shan Ke Ji".

Because of this incident, the six major sects reunited, partially restored ancient traditions, and established a centralized management organization, which is today's Zongfa Hall.

With the Yin E technique now extinct, the task of monitoring the behavior of sorcerers across the world falls primarily to the Earth Master, the elder of the Xin Pan Sect. This isn't a formal rule, but rather an unspoken one that everyone accepts.

Because practicing the Heart Plate Technique also requires traveling around the world, and now that there are no hidden moths, the Earth Master is the most suitable person to perform this task... In short, the Earth Master is the main person, and the elders of other sects provide necessary assistance.

The Xingshen Sect opened the formation, admitted defeat, and explained what had happened. The other six major sects were initially skeptical, as their explanation sounded like something made up by a three-year-old.

But precisely because it is so bizarre, it might be true!
It wasn't until thirty years later that the misunderstanding was resolved, and Xingshen Sect was finally accepted back into the other six sects. The new era of the "Skill Sect Union" was successfully established, marking the end of a century of internal strife and division.

How was the misunderstanding resolved? Because the Woodcutter Palace's eldest wife had finally been found! The relevant records were very detailed, and ordinary disciples were not allowed to access them, but the elders of each sect knew them all.

Thirty years later, Gong Dafang was no longer a woodcutter, but an old country gentleman who had bought an official position. He also changed his name to a more elegant one and lived in a large manor with beautiful mountains and rivers. He had a beautiful wife and concubines and many children and grandchildren.

An elder of the Xingshen Sect discovered him and notified the clan halls of the six major sects. Then a large number of masters of the sects arrived and they also found the hatchet.

The hatchet was still the same old one, but it had been carefully wiped and maintained. It was usually wrapped in red silk and placed in an exquisite sandalwood box. It was obviously the favorite treasure of Master Gong.

But the strange thing is that this Mr. Gong has completely forgotten anything related to the Yin Moth, and has even forgotten that he was once the Yin Moth.

Mr. Gong explained why he treasured the hatchet so much. He said that he was a woodcutter in his early years. The hatchet was not only his livelihood, but also brought him good luck... For example, he once sneaked into the enemy camp and chopped off the commander's head with the hatchet.

As for how he got in? He sneaked in in the middle of the night!

Thirty years ago, a group of robbers wanted to rob his treasure, but he cleverly tricked them into returning the hatchet, chopped open the door, and hacked his way out of the robbers' den.

As long as he has the hatchet in his hand, he will always have good luck. This is his stubborn and inexplicable belief. People should not forget their roots, so he treasured this hatchet.

It was impossible for an ordinary person to lie to the top leaders of the major sects. Everyone was dumbfounded because they discovered that what Master Gong said was actually the truth!

This was very wrong, like something was wrong with the world. Of course, they didn't give up, so they captured Master Gong and locked him in the same secret room, leaving behind the hatchet.

But it was no use, Master Gong was almost starving to death and couldn't leave. So everyone had to give up and sent Gong Dafang back home.

The hatchet theory is absurd because it is impossible for that hatchet to have a history of a hundred years.

There are still some elderly people who personally experienced the "Yinniang Rebellion" and are still alive at that time, such as a seventh-level great physician from Guanshenmen who is over a hundred years old.

According to his recollection, the Yin Moth Goddess had never used a hatchet, let alone carried one when fighting.

What happened to the woodcutter, or what happened to the hidden moth? The Shumen did not give up their secret surveillance of Gong Dafang, and Gong Dafang died shortly after returning home, probably because of the shock.

This was an ignominious act, and the outcome was not good, so ordinary disciples have no right to access relevant records.

But what happened next was even more bizarre. Someone discovered that Yin E might have been replaced by another person, who turned out to be a maid who had run away from Gong Dafang's family.

When the maid ran away, she was only 28 years old and very pretty. She was very much liked by Master Gong, who had originally planned to take her as a concubine. But the maid actually ran away, and this happened two years before Shumen found Master Gong's wife.

In the closed environment of ancient times, a runaway maid would most likely elope with a servant, but no servant had gone missing from Master Gong's household. Where could a young woman with a questionable identity go?
Whether she eloped or was abducted, the Gong family reported the matter to the authorities. A few years later, the authorities actually found this person, who had become the proprietress of a business in the provincial capital.

The proprietress would also come out to do business, mainly to receive female relatives who needed to shop, and on that day she happened to run into an acquaintance from the past. When the authorities went to verify, the proprietress had disappeared, and with her, all the valuables in the business were gone.

No one knows who, when, and how these things were transported away, which is an important clue to determine the identity of the hidden moth.

If this maid is Yin Mo, what is the Yin Mo thing she got? It is definitely not the hatchet. The hatchet is still in Master Gong's house, being treasured by his eldest son!
This is the secret record that can be accessed by the elders of each sect, and it is now kept in the clan law hall.

In the following thousand years, there were continuous clues about the appearance of the hidden moth, but the magic sect did not catch a real hidden moth, or just like the woodcutter, the man was eventually found, but he was no longer a hidden moth.

As for the hidden moth, it is even more difficult to understand. It cannot be said that there are no clues, but the various clues are contradictory to each other, as if there is something wrong with the logic of this world.

Today, the Yin Moth incident resurfaced, and Gu Chun found Jiang Daozhen, wanting him to answer these questions.

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PS: This chapter has a lot of content, so it took me a long time to write.

(End of this chapter)