LEGENDS OF OGRE GATE CHAPTER 63: THE RIDDLE OF SUN MAI

At Wuxia World, you can follow the story of Sunan and Bao in the Legends of Ogre Gate series by Deathblade. The latest chapter is available HERE. If you want to start from the beginning, check out the INDEX.

THE DIALOGUES OF SHAN JI
Shan Ji was believed to be one of Sun Mai's disciples and the Dialogues of Shan Ji are are discussion about the nature of reality and the perfect realm, addressing points made in Sun Mai's 12 scriptures. The dialogues themselves are not regarded as one of his scriptures but simply as commentary. However toward the end, Shan Ji grows fearful the world will not understand the scriptures one day, that their meaning will be lost over time even if the text themselves are preserved because, according to Shan Ji, they require living explanation and experience under a skilled teacher. He asks Sun Mai what will be done then and Sun Mai says: They should come to Chrysanthemum Lake where I still sit and speak with the moon. 

This passage puzzled many for ages. But 100 years ago, a scholar from Xuanlu had an idea. He sent men into the waters of Chrysanthemum Lake, as deep as they could go, and unearthed a bronze statue of Sun Mai. When he saw the statue (see below), it puzzled him, but he came to believe that it indicated there was in fact a hidden, 13th scripture, somewhere. Over time his belief spread, but the statue was lost somewhere in Chen, and no one knows where it ended up. 

BRONZE STATUE OF SUN MAI AT CHRYSANTHEMUM LAKE
This is an ancient hollow bronze statue of Sun Mai, that depicts him soon after he cut his hair at Chrysanthemum Lake. He has twelve bamboo scrolls bundled in his arms, and a single bamboo scroll hidden beneath his foot. His head is shaved, and there are many tiny holes to emulate the effect of stubble. But if one looks closely these holes are make odd patterns, are not always circular (some are square or even elongated). Perhaps even more strange are the reflective metal and gemstone that coats the interior of the statue. If one takes the statue to Chrysanthemum Lake and positions him to look north east to the rising moon, as the hours pass the light of the moon, shines through his stubble and reflects outward from his mouth, projecting Feishu characters on his scroll bundle, which shift with each passing hour. In the hour of the Bixie, one can see the characters for Scripture Thirteen. Over the next four hours, the four characters meaning "The Four Corners" appear. 

THE ANSWER 
There is indeed a thirteenth scripture, but it is divided into four individual scrolls and scattered at the 4 corners of the continent (where each scroll is hidden and protected). Sun Mai believed the scrolls to be too dangerous. So he hid them.