Chapter 124 : Chapter 124
Chapter 124: Compatibility, Counter-Compatibility (2)
Dancheon Hak’s opponent was a martial artist of Zhongnan.
“Dancheon Clan’s eldest son, Hak.”
“Zhongnan’s Yeonghak.”
Outwardly, Yeonghak Jin-in was a martial artist with an appearance that looked much older than Dancheon Hak.
It doesn’t mean he looked old for his age, but because the Yeong character generation of Zhongnan signifies the second-generation disciples.
Unlike Dancheon Hak who hadn’t even reached thirty, it means Yeonghak Jin-in is a martial artist who has long passed thirty and is approaching forty.
Although time is not everything in martial arts, since they are in the position of having learned the martial arts of a famous sect and clan respectively, one cannot ignore the training time exceeding ten years.
They say a talent of the ages transcends time, but Yeonghak, the second-generation disciple of the great Nine Sects’ Zhongnan, wouldn’t be an ordinary person who hasn’t heard the word genius once somewhere, would he?
Although there is no regulation that second-generation disciples cannot participate, I felt like laughing in vain at the fact that Dancheon Hak met a second-generation disciple, and a swordsman of Zhongnan at that.
The supreme art of the Dancheon Clan is the Dancheon Sword Art.
If I were to classify it specifically, the Dancheon Sword Art could be said to resemble the sword of Mount Hua.
It is because it centers on the profundities of speed and change.
Originally, the profundity is more important than the form of the sword style, so if I were to express it specifically, that is what it means.
For reference, knowing the fact that the place possessing extreme compatibility against the sword of Mount Hua is Zhongnan is common sense known to anyone holding a sword.
Dancheon Hak had met such an opponent.
“Come.”
Yeonghak Jin-in spoke arrogantly.
Outwardly, it could be seen as a senior yielding the first attack to a junior, but this would not be true.
In the first place, what is the supreme art of Zhongnan?
Isn’t it the Thirty-Six Swords of the World, the extreme of defensive sword that thoroughly blocks all directions of the thirty-six directions?
The standard to break Zhongnan’s sword would be Namgung’s Heavy Sword or Peng Clan’s Power Blade, so with the Dancheon Sword Art, it would be evaluated as a not easy fight.
“Be careful.”
Saying so, Dancheon Hak raised the Dancheon Sword.
Rumble—
Suddenly, star clusters began to shimmer on the Dancheon Sword.
“Hmm?”
“……That is!”
If one has even a bit of expertise in martial learning, they cannot not know.
The fact that what dwelt on Dancheon Hak’s sword was not Sword Qi, but Sword Flux, the proof of the State of Harmony.
Along with that brilliant Sword Flux, finally, a smile settled on my face too.
I realize the fact that the person who made the match schedule is smart.
Wouldn’t it mean that he also analyzed the supreme techniques of each sect and conducted firm research on compatibility?
But there would be a point he missed.
The fact that overwhelming power lightly ignores things like compatibility.
Isn’t it the principle of the world that while water extinguishes fire, intense fire evaporates water?
Whoosh—
“Wai…… Wait.”
It would be right to evaluate Yeonghak Jin-in’s reaction as late. Because before he could even bring up words, Dancheon Hak’s sword was already being swung.
Bang—!
“Keoheuk!”
Zhongnan’s sword, called the extreme of defense, was disintegrated by a single move.
Because Dancheon Hak surely aimed only for Yeonghak Jin-in’s sword, despite the single move of immense force, not a single scar was engraved on Yeonghak’s body. It could be evaluated as a truly clean single move.
However, Yeonghak Jin-in, unable to withstand the shock, showed the unavoidable appearance of rolling on the floor flat on his back.
Yeonghak Jin-in rolled his body, which was flipped flat on its back, and sprang up as if even that was part of the art.
But Yeonghak Jin-in’s suffering was not over.
Crack—
Cracks began to appear on Yeonghak Jin-in’s sword, and then…….
Clatter.
It shattered into pieces.
“You worked hard.”
Declaring his victory, Dancheon Hak turned his body with a lofty posture.
“…….”
The audience kept silent.
New Star Exchange Meeting.
In the middle of the Nine Sects.
The legitimate son of the Dancheon Clan, who hadn’t even reached thirty, made known the fact that he was a martial artist of the State of Harmony.
* * *
The Jianghu Murim is a complex place.
The world called Jianghu Murim is a place where difficulties follow in evaluating with a uniform standard.
Even setting aside the Righteous, Unorthodox, and Demonic paths, it is because the Jianghu Murim is a world where people with respective beliefs traverse.
Usually, there is an order commonly accepted even in such a Jianghu Murim.
People full of common sense would think it is the law based on Imperial Orders, but they are wrong.
This is because Jianghu Murim people are mostly breeds lacking common sense.
The order commonly accepted in the Jianghu Murim, it would be right to see it as Power.
However, even this order called power, which seems established, has various variables existing if looked at in detail.
For the reason, one can cite that there are various types of ‘power’.
Since it means one must survive in the ceaseless mud-slinging fight to grow a famous clan properly, it would be right to see understanding power as an essential virtue.
Before coming to the New Star Exchange Meeting.
The memory of sharing a discourse with Dancheon Hak came to mind.
.
.
.
“Big brother.”
“Why?”
As the number of times I crossed swords with Dancheon Hak under the pretext of training increased, the conversations with him also increased.
In the first place, weren’t we having a ceaseless conversation through each other’s martial arts?
“How do you want to build the clan, Big brother?”
Although not officially announced, one must see that Dancheon Hak had long become the Young Clan Head.
It was thanks to me expressing my resignation long ago and Dancheon Hak entering the State of Harmony and proving himself completely.
—You, will you become the Guard Captain of the Dancheon Clan?
—That is my dream.
—You are under me.
—That wouldn’t be so bad either.
Since Dancheon Hak will become the Clan Head following the Young Clan Head and I will become the Guard Captain of the Dancheon Clan, it also meant that discussing the future of the clan together became ordinary.
“I have to make it into a strong clan.”
It was a plain answer as much as Dancheon Hak’s nature.
“What is a strong clan?”
At my following question, Dancheon Hak’s expression crumpled instantly.
Dancheon Hak’s imagery read by my discernment could be abbreviated to the extent of ‘That guy again……’.
“Being strong would mean martial power. Since the Murim is a place where those who revere martial arts are gathered closely, isn’t it like the principle of nature?”
Still, since he gave an answer, Dancheon Hak will surely become an excellent Clan Head.
That doesn’t mean my questions are over, though.
“Martial power isn’t everything, is it?”
“There is the teaching of the wise who said if something arises that cannot be solved by martial power, ponder whether martial power is insufficient.”
“Indeed.”
I should admit it to some extent.
Because the part I put the most effort into while arranging the regression was exactly the Healing Sage’s Mind Cultivation Art, that is, martial power.
Even so, I think it is an insufficient answer.
“But wouldn’t it be insufficient with just martial power?”
“Why do you think so?”
Curiosity dwelt in Dancheon Hak’s expression.
“Because there are various types of power.”
“……?”
Dancheon Hak seemed not to understand immediately.
Since one cannot expect the experience like Myeong-gae from him, it wouldn’t be something to be disappointed about.
“Tell me your thoughts.”
This would also be Dancheon Hak’s merit.
Just as Myeong-gae boasted flexible thinking, Dancheon Hak also had the vessel to accept others’ thoughts.
“Although the best among powers would be called martial power, it cannot be called everything of power. As said before, it is because there are types of power.”
“Types?”
“If we weigh those faces, we can substitute them with Force, Financial Power, and Intelligence Power. Originally, they said Authority is the root of power, but…….”
“The Jianghu Murim is a place where authority does not work.”
“Big brother’s words are right.”
However, since Dancheon Hak’s brilliance was worthy of its reputation, he immediately followed my discourse.
“Force is a power as mighty as martial power. It was not because their martial power was insufficient that the Demonic Path was expelled from the Murim of the past which was a scramble of Righteous, Unorthodox, and Demonic. It must be that their force composed of a single group could not overcome the Righteous and Unorthodox paths.”
“Hmm.”
“There are countless examples. Look at the status of the ruffians responsible for numbers in the Rogues’ Guild or the influence the Beggar’s Gang spreads throughout the Central Plains. You probably cannot claim to be a strong clan just because your martial power is strong.”
“Your words are right.”
Dancheon Hak’s reaction was truly satisfying.
“Financial power is also a power no less than martial power. Can’t you see just by looking at the case of the Yang Clan?”
“Hmm.”
The Yang Clan is a clan with a short history.
But the Yang Clan rose to be counted as the third clan in Anhui in an instant.
It was thanks to their financial power starting as great merchants.
“Financial power has the power to employ people. That is not the end. Manuals, divine weapons, and spiritual elixirs can also be easily reached if financial power is sufficient.”
“Indeed.”
If one pursues the life of a wanderer like Brother Chun-baek, maybe not, but for a strong clan, the point one must surely investigate would be financial power.
“And there is Intelligence Power.”
Dancheon Hak stared at me who finished speaking like that.
“Why do you look like that?”
“Why is there no explanation for this?”
“Information is power. I said there is no learned man who denies the above proposition even if he is not an informant.”
“……?”
“Big brother, weren’t you a learned man?”
“…….”
I couldn’t understand Dancheon Hak.
Why attach an explanation to an obvious truth specifically?
In the first place, isn’t it clear as day that information is power since the Beggar’s Gang and the Rogues’ Guild have finished the actual proof?
Anyway, when my explanation finished, Dancheon Hak let out a deep sigh.
“Huu— There is a lot to think about.”
It wouldn’t be right to accept Dancheon Hak’s words as mere whining.
In reality, it was because most famous clans project their capabilities only on martial power. It doesn’t mean Dancheon Hak is lacking, but that my eyes are high.
Of course, I have no intention of taking this eye level only as mine.
“Big brother. I don’t want just a strong clan.”
“Then?”
“The First Clan Under Heaven.”
“……!”
It was the first time I shared the words I had only kept in my heart meanwhile with Dancheon Hak.
As if responding to it, at my one word, Dancheon Hak’s spirit became serious.
I realize the fact that at this moment, he also came to dream the same dream as me.
“Of course martial power is important. So there must be a prerequisite task.”
“What is that?”
“It would be right to show our martial power in Wudang.”
“Hmph. That was originally decided.”
Dancheon Hak snorted, but competitive spirit was already burning in his eyes.
* * *
Dancheon Hak’s gaze, which suppressed Yeonghak Jin-in in one move, was not directed towards Yeonghak Jin-in. Nor was he strutting towards the crowd arrogantly.
Dancheon Hak’s gaze was looking accurately at me.
‘Did you see?’
‘Excellent.’
We shared such a conversation with our eyes.
The Nine Sects are great.
Their martial power possessing many divine arts originating from the Grandmaster would be called worthy of their reputation.
The force is also magnificent.
Even the number of disciples of the main mountain alone is enough to call it a great sect, but if you combine the secular branch and collateral branches, it would be faster to find a place in the Righteous Murim where the hands of the Nine Sects do not reach.
Financial power would also be sufficient.
In the first place, aren’t the Five Elixirs of Murim the proof?
Just looking at the fact that alchemy, which costs astronomical expenses, developed centered on the Nine Sects, one could not doubt their financial power.
If there is a unique weakness of the Nine Sects, I think it is intelligence power.
It is because the Nine Sects are located in deep mountains and secluded valleys, and because information has the nature of gathering downwards like water.
Isn’t that why beggar bastards and the Low Five became the incarnations of intelligence power? Usually, there would also be the reason that the Nine Sects entrusted all intelligence power to the Beggar’s Gang.
Anyway.
Didn’t they say it is dark under the lamp?
The lofty Nine Sects lacked intelligence power and failed to fully grasp the capability of the martial artist called Dancheon Hak.
It also meant that the existence of Dancheon Hak, who emitted the brilliant light of the State of Harmony and Sword Flux from beneath the Nine Sects, was sufficient to shine the dignity of the Clans brilliantly.
“To be the State of Harmony at that age…….”
“Primordial Heavenly Worthy…….”
“Did the martial arts of the Clans…… develop this quickly?”
“It would be right to see it as that child of the Dancheon Clan being born with the talent of the ages rather than the virtue of martial arts.”
“It is the great fortune of the Jianghu Murim.”
“……Such a child should have entered the mountain.”
Voices of the Nine Sects’ martial artists murmuring were heard from here and there.
On the other hand, the fact that the martial artists of the Clans were quiet could be guessed to be because they had encountered even a fragment of the information that Dancheon Hak entered the State of Harmony.
It should be evaluated as an information gap.
Seeing Namgung Tan unable to close his wide-open mouth, it seems the information gap exists even among the Clans, though.
Anyway, it seems there was no one in the Nine Sects who possessed the information that Dancheon Hak, who was merely twenty-five, was a martial artist who stepped into the State of Harmony.
In the first place, although it is not that there were absolutely no martial artists of the State of Harmony in the New Star Exchange Meeting where martial artists under forty participate, since it would be enough to be expressed as a strange matter, their admiration is understandable.
“You worked hard.”
“Hmph.”
Although Dancheon Hak responded as usual to my praise, he couldn’t hide the fact that the corners of his mouth went up subtly.
It was an appearance of enjoying the gazes of the martial artists of the Nine Sects, who could be called the apex of the Jianghu Murim, looking at him with wonder.
Looking back, it is so.
Recalling the people Dancheon Hak, who entered the State of Harmony, has dealt with, it was only me, Brother Chun-baek, Uncle Yeo Baek, and Clan Head Dancheon Gang.
Maybe Dancheon Hak experienced a complete victory for the first time after entering the State of Harmony.
“Work hard in the future too.”
Thinking he might have a hard time experiencing victory for a while when we return home, I spoke as consolation.
Since Dancheon Hak looked at me with a gaze of ‘Is he a crazy bastard?’ at my sudden remark, I decided to ignore his gaze.