Zhao Huazhen

Heart of Freedom

Overview

He was born in bustling Chang'an, with his father serving as a deputy priest in the Hongdu Temple. From a young age, he would often see envoys from various lands passing through, listening to their tales of places beyond Chang'an. Xiao Huaijin dreamt of becoming an ambassador like them, traveling and exploring the world. But life's course can change suddenly. One day, as Xiao Huaijin ran to the Xuandu Viewpoint outside, he felt a sudden surge of two contrasting energies entering his body—one cold, one hot. He didn't notice anything unusual at the time, but after returning home, he developed a high fever that wouldn't subside. His father called in numerous doctors, but none could find a cure. It was only when the final doctor, an expert in Yin and Yang, diagnosed him with ancient Yin and Yang energy entering his body, that they realized there was no remedy with medicinal herbs. The prognosis was dire—he might not live past 24 years old. The Zhao family fell into darkness, but under his father's influence, Huaijin never became pessimistic. He believed in the vastness of the world and its potential to heal. He pored over ancient texts, studied Yin and Yang, and finally found a book among the dusty tomes that spoke of "the Way of Yin and Yang." It detailed Taiji techniques for balancing Yin and Yang, as well as the Two-Yin Gate, which could extract the ancient energy. This became Huaijin's hope for recovery. From then on, he dedicated himself to practicing Taiji every day and night at home, losing interest in other matters and rarely leaving his house. This routine was disrupted by a neighbor living across from him—YING.Two families, old acquaintances, had known each other since childhood. Even at a young age, they often bickered over trivial matters, causing friction between their adults—a constant "trouble" for both households. One day, during a feast hosted by the Zhao family, little Ying led the children in a game of hide-and-seek in the backyard. Amidst the play, he encountered Xiaou Huajin, who had been practicing Tai Chi for some time and hadn't been seen in a while. Ying forcibly dragged him into the game and later often pulled him along when leaving. From then on, Zhao Huajin returned to Chang'an, immersing himself in the hustle and bustle of everyday life. It was then that he realized, even with illness, he shouldn't neglect his concerns for others. During his Tai Chi practice, many doubts arose, prompting Huajin to seek enlightenment at Xuandu Guan. Along the way, he received subtle guidance from mysterious masters who helped him understand the secrets of his practice. As the day when the Two-Instrument Gate appeared drew nearer, Zhao Huajin accelerated his preparations to cure his illness. Ying assisted him in climbing mountains and rivers, gathering materials needed for setting up the formation. However, on the day of healing, an unexpected event occurred. Someone broke open the Two-Instrument Gate, releasing an ancient spirit trapped within. Chang'an fell into peril, and only Huajin's internal Yin and Yang energy could restore the gate and end the crisis. The cost was that his illness would never heal, and he couldn't leave Xuandu Guan for the rest of his life. Zhao Huajin faced a choice but ultimately decided to save Chang'an. He reversed the formation designed to separate Yin and Yang energies, choosing instead to fully merge with his internal Yin and Yang. Guided by this energy, the chaotic spirits were sealed back into the Two-Instrument Gate, and the damaged gate was temporarily stabilized due to the Yin and Yang energies.Since then, he had to remain in the Xuandu Guan, constantly using Yin and Yang energies to maintain balance, becoming the guardian of the door that couldn't be left. "Even if trapped in one place, there can still be vast realms." Following his heart's choice, he found inner peace and understood the path of freedom. Yet, when the urgent knocking at the door echoed outside, and the red string in his hand snapped and fell to the ground, Zhao Huazhen, the path of freedom, couldn't help but feel a lingering sense of regret. On this day, the servant girl of the Yun family turned one year old, and three-year-old Xiao Huazhen was also taken by his father to visit the Yun family. Amidst a gathering of guests, Xiao Huazhen only saw the little servant girl, carelessly stepping over coins, books, and hairpins, pausing briefly in front of snacks before grabbing a gleaming white wooden spear from among various objects and holding it in her arms, grinning ear to ear. The guests were astonished but then loudly praised. Her father raised his hand to his forehead, awkwardly bowing to the guests. Everyone was laughing, but Xiao Yunkan noticed a child who remained indifferent, none other than the one wrapped in a neat and complex dress, Xiao Huazhen. He was pulled by his father, staring blankly at himself, and Xiao Yunkan defiantly glared and waved her wooden spear. Xiao Huazhen jumped back, Xiao Yunkan nodded with satisfaction, pulling her father's hand to have him lift her high, ready to look down on Xiao Huazhen from above. But turning around, she found that Xiao Huazhen had already let go of his father's hand, with a perplexed expression, and walked away. He then picked up the book Yunkan hadn't grabbed and began flipping through it.YING was extremely angry; that person had touched her belongings, so she quickly patted her father, trying to get him to let her down. But her father went out the door with Zhao Huaijin's father, leaving YING only able to glare at Zhao Huaijin while waving her small wooden spear frantically. All the guests witnessed this scene and only praised YING even more, saying she was a woman who didn't need to rely on anyone. Both YING and Zhao Huaijin were students of officials from Chang'an, though they were different ages, studying in the same school. However, after drawing straws, the two had been at odds since childhood. On this day, as the school let out, Zhao Huaijin saw several large geese on his way home; he was blocking a half-grown puppy in a corner with them. The puppy was shivering and looking at Zhao Huaijin with pitiful eyes. Zhao Huaijin's heart went soft, so he used his right hand to summon a gentle breeze to scare away the geese. Suddenly, a girl dressed in red appeared; she carried a wooden spear taller than herself, which was also from her trip back from school—it was YING. They were neighbors, sharing the same route to and from school, though they never exchanged kind words. Yet, they always acknowledged each other with a nod when passing by. "You white bullies! What are you doing? Don't bully that good dog! If there's an issue, come at me!" She spoke in a youthful voice, mimicking the heroic and chivalrous tone from her playbooks, though she stumbled over her words, her enthusiasm was still evident. The geese were drawn to this loud noise and turned their heads.Upon seeing someone taunting them, they all proudly raised their heads, spread their wings, and leaped forward, charging at the red-clad girl. The girl's eyes flickered with evasion, but she still gritted her teeth and grabbed her wooden staff to block. There were four large geese in total; she injured two facing her directly, and another two jumped from the side, about to land on the girl's face. Zhao Huizhen released two trails of pale blue gas, saved up for a long time, hitting both geese's feet simultaneously, causing them to cry out in pain and hobble away. Ying turned her head back, only seeing the comical silhouettes of the geese, without understanding the reason, assuming it was due to her aura. She stood tall with her staff, addressing the geese sternly: "This time, I'll let you off... but don't make this a habit!" Finishing her threat, she quickly patted herself on the back and bent down to comfort the small dog: "Don't be afraid, little one. With me here, no one will bully you." Her gentle tone contrasted with her previous demeanor. The dog slowly calmed down, and Ying finally raised her head, noticing Zhao Huizhen, who had always been at odds with her, was still present. She appraised him from top to bottom, surprisingly saying: "Never would I've thought... you have a sense of justice after all." Before Zhao could respond, she continued: "But as a sickly person, don't pretend to be a hero. Let me handle this." She puffed out her chest proudly. Zhao observed that Ying was still caught up in the fantasy of "General Cloud saving the little dog," unsure of his next move, so he gently reminded her: "Ask around who the dog belongs to and bring it back together." "Oh yes, absolutely! Let me order you to investigate with me," she replied enthusiastically."Two people held the puppy, knocking on each door as they inquired, before they knew it, the sun had set and the moon had risen high. They found their way home thanks to the puppy's keen sense of smell, only to discover it was the temple of Dali. This was a lost investigation puppy from the Dali Temple, and they were given a good compliment by its officers. However, as they turned around, they were taken back home one by one by their parents, who had been looking for them for hours. Ying made a mischievous face at Zhao Huazhen while his father wasn't looking, causing Zhao to furrow his brows in silence. From then on, the tense atmosphere between them gradually eased, but their playful banter continued as always. Three springs and autumns passed, several cold winters came and went, and before they knew it, they had grown into young men. One day, with snow covering the streets outside Chang'an City, Zhao Huazhen and Ying were making their way up the mountain through the flurrying snow. "A cultivator, to heal your illness, we'll need to find countless rare materials, right? This cold weather makes you wonder if there's really such a thing as snow lotus." The always energetic red-clad girl couldn't help but shiver in the snow. "Snow lotuses grow on high, cold mountains; locals say they can be found on Heqing Mountain, not too far away." The blue-clad boy, bundled up in a much thicker coat than the red-clad girl, had already turned red with cold, yet he said nothing, only blinking his frosted eyelashes as he looked towards the distance, carefully estimating. "Let's go early and come back early!" The red-clad girl seemed to have endless energy; she quickly pulled ahead of the blue-clad boy, taking a path up the mountain in the distance, "Hey, Zhao Huazhen, you're walking so fast!" She shouted from afar. The blue-clad boy caught up with his breath and turned around, only to find the red-clad girl squatting at the foot of the mountain, observing an unusual flower."I'll handle gathering the materials for this formation myself.""With the snow falling heavier by the minute, after just a brief pause, the red-clad maiden was already covered head to toe. Zhao Huizhen couldn't help but exclaim: 'Hmph, do you think I'm here to accompany you? I'm here to gather material for my book, otherwise, how could I write 'General Yun Rescues the Sick Child'?" "Don't stand there! Look, isn't this also a type of material you've been looking for?" The two cleared away the snow and climbed the mountain, eventually reaching the summit and finding the lotus flower growing halfway up the hill. The red-clad maiden was eager to pick it, but the blue-clad youth stopped her with a gesture. He circulated his internal yin and yang energies, allowing two currents to flow through his body, gradually restoring his complexion. Then, he ordered the maiden to lower her rope, and himself ventured into the treacherous half-mountain cliff, securing the lotus flower. On their descent, the snow grew lighter, eventually stopping altogether. They each carried some of the flowers, herbs, and strange stones they'd found on their way down. In the distance, the lights of Chang'an began to glow one by one at the foot of the mountain. Along the cold trail, the joyful voice of the red-clad maiden continued to echo. The day for the opening of the Four Directions Gate was drawing near, and Zhao Huizhen spent each day arranging troops at Xuandu Temple. That day, as the grand gathering had just ended, Yun Ying, having protected Chang'an and earned a reward, arrived with a pile of honors, beaming with joy as she brought them to Zhao Huizhen to show off. She also casually gave him several small trinkets. Zhao Huizhen listened quietly as she recounted her experiences, occasionally interjecting to clarify the identities of the guests. Although he hadn't participated, as a child of the Hongdu Temple's Minor Official family, he knew some of the foreign guests. That day, their conversation flowed freely, and Yun Ying spoke for several hours before finishing her tale of the past few days' adventures." "Hey, cultivator, General Mulan has also come to Chang'an this time, and I heard her talk about many border affairs, even mentioning the Northern Wasteland. Next year, I plan to visit as well. Would you like to come with me?""Finally, Ying spoke of the woman who had left a lasting impression on her. 'Go to the North Wilds, you troublemaker,' Zhao Huizhen said, 'I'll reluctantly accompany you.' Ying remembered admiring Li Dangsu from childhood and dreaming of becoming a great general like him, while also aspiring to travel and explore the world one day. 'Then it's settled,' Ying declared, looking towards the north with determination. 'One day, I will become the hero who guards this river and loch.'" "Yes, I'm looking forward to it," replied the older man, gesturing to a lake named Tianchi nestled among swirling clouds on a mountain peak, its surface as calm as a mirror. A blue-clad youth sat beneath a peach tree, while an elderly figure with snow-white hair slowly stroked his beard, watching a white crane fly by in the sky. "Why are we fighting?" the old man asked, looking at the crane. "You shattered the gateway between worlds, causing harm to one side," Ying explained, "I happened to be here for treatment and intervened." "Why would I dream of fighting my teacher?" the old man turned to face the youth. "Because it's what I believe is right," the young man answered confidently. "Then there's no need to hesitate, follow your heart," the old man said, turning away. "What happened in the dream?" he asked again. "My teacher seemed to have urgent business and left the chaotic scene, while I became the guardian of the broken gate, missing my chance for healing and unable to leave." The youth's expression fell. "Why can't you leave?" The old man gestured with his hand, catching a feather from the crane. "If I leave, the dual-symbol gate will lose its balance and reopen," Ying explained. "Then why can't you heal?""It's not that it can't heal, but that it won't. The Yin and Yang energies are the foundation of the Two-Instrument Gate. If we remove them, my illness will naturally heal, but I'll also lose the ability to maintain the gate." The dream scene became clearer, and the young man remembered more. "So, you're not trapped by the Two-Instrument Gate; you made that choice yourself." The elder placed a feather in front of him, examining its color closely. "No major issues, it seems." He muttered to himself. "So, do you have any regrets?" The elder threw the feather, and it landed on a cliff face in the cloud sea, sending ripples through the clouds. "I have many regrets." "Have you ever regretted it?" "Never." The young man replied firmly. "Since you understand that, there's no need to doubt. Just be resolute and do as you wish." The elder turned and left the rocky terrain, stepping onto a calm lake surface, walking away into the distance. Zhao Huizhen watched the elder's retreating figure, gaining insight: "Thank you, teacher for your guidance." He then closed his eyes again, continuing his meditation. ... A moment later, everything spun, and when Zhao Huizhen opened his eyes again, he found himself sitting under a peach tree at Xuandu Temple, the previous scene seeming like a dream. But that dream felt so real, and it seemed to portend something significant. The old man in the dream, who called himself my teacher, was identical to the mysterious voice that had guided him in his youth; the person who broke through the Two-Instrument Gate? Was this dream true or false? Zhao Huizhen wasn't sure. However, because of this dream, he remembered leaving home. That day, and every day before it, was no different; the road from home to Xuandu Temple, walked countless times from childhood on.Recalling the chronic ailment that had plagued him for years, now on the verge of being cured, his steps were even lighter than before. However, he could not have anticipated that after that day, he would never return home again. In his house, there was a pair of newly adopted goldfish; in the courtyard, an ancient peony tree he had tended to for years; on the table, an unread ancient book; distances once just a few blocks away are now unattainable. As they say, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do," though he cannot return home, his mother often visits, and Ying occasionally brings some snacks from home and agrees to take care of the peony tree. Yet, those days that seemed ordinary then, now seem like distant memories. "Master Zhao, someone has come to seek an oracle at the temple again, this time asking you by name to interpret it. Come quickly!" A young errand runner from the Xuandu Temple rushed over hurriedly. Zhao Huajin gently tapped his head, "I've said this many times, don't call me 'master,' the temple master hasn't taken me as a disciple; just call me 'Huajin' brother." "But Master said that from now on, you'll be living at the temple permanently. Everyone who lives at the temple is my brother, so you're also my brother," the young errand runner's expression was very serious. "Alright, it's up to you, but tell me first, who's coming to seek an oracle from me again this time?" Zhao Huajin stood up and took the young errand runner to the Hall of鹤鸣 (Hèmíng), where the image of Fu Xi was worshipped. "This time, it's Old Aunt Zhang from next door..." As the two walked away, only a few peach petals fell, and beneath the peach tree, Zhao Huajin read half of an ancient book; it seemed to be about the Two-Instrument World and records related to spirit travel.