Chapter 126 : Chapter 126
Chapter 126: Wudang’s True Appearance (2)
Mudam did not roll around flat on his back or have his weapon shatter into pieces like Yeonghak Jin-in of Zhongnan.
But everyone thought Mudam had lost.
The reason was that Mudam’s body, bounced off by the fist strike, flew through the air with a ‘woosh’ and landed far outside the sparring stage.
Since these people were also martial artists of some repute, they knew the fact that Mudam did not roll around unsightly due to incompetence.
“Ahem.”
Even so, perhaps trying to hide his embarrassment, he turned his gaze to the ground.
At that moment, Mudam, who quickly composed himself, climbed back onto the sparring stage.
“I dare to request of the seniors and fellow Daoists of the Jianghu present here. Although this one presented an unsightly appearance due to my lack of ability, I wish to request one more chance.”
Turning my body, I saw Mudam bowing his head towards me there.
“Young Master Myeong, this one was arrogant. Could you give me one more chance? Though shameless, I request your teaching.”
He lowered himself but was not servile.
Truly a chaste heart.
If it is such a martial artist, it would be okay to accompany him once more.
Since Mudam thought he could not defeat me himself, he must have spoken of ‘teaching’.
Nevertheless, challenging again without retreating could be called the spirit of a true martial artist.
Glancing at Cheon-am Jin-in, he nodded with a serious expression.
Although it was an expression quite different from the chaste and upright Mudam, I realized the fact that he was also a martial artist of Wudang.
At least he did not deprive a martial artist of his sect of an opportunity to learn for the sake of keeping the sect’s face or such.
“Good.”
Schling—
“Thank you.”
When I nodded, Mudam drew the Songmun Ancient Sword from his waist as if in return.
Although it was a Songmun Ancient Sword with nothing special, the scent of a devoted martial artist was felt from the faded scabbard.
Genius of the ages, Azure Dragon Squad Captain Mudam.
Perhaps he was a martial artist who truly made efforts.
Looking at the appearance resembling the scabbard of Dancheon Hak, whom I acknowledge as a genius, maybe that is the true characteristic of a genius.
“Please come once again.”
Mudam, holding the sword, took a proper starting stance.
It was similar yet different from Musang Jin-in’s I saw the other day.
Both would be the Supreme Ultimate Wisdom Sword, which can be called the true body supreme technique of Wudang, but changing the aspect according to the caster’s temperament was also martial arts.
It could be called a perfectly natural appearance.
Rather, I could feel the essence of Wudang from the fact that it was not a stereotyped appearance despite being the same martial art.
Swish—
Mudam’s sword began to move.
Continuous and incessant, what the elegantly moving sword was drawing was Supreme Ultimate.
“Indeed.”
Since he formed a defensive formation by operating the sword alone with human strength, it was the true dignity of the Supreme Ultimate Wisdom Sword.
If the opponent is that sincere, it would be right for me to deal with him sincerely as well.
In my imagery, my fist strike transformed into a sword.
—Supreme Ultimate is not lacking, but what this Daoist pursues is Wuji (Limitless).
I decided not to take out the Formless Sword.
It is not to hide my capability specifically, but the competitive spirit to properly compare Wudang’s Supreme Ultimate and the Healing Sage’s Wuji.
Boom—!
Along with a loud sound, a fierce fist strike containing Wuji knocked on the Supreme Ultimate Wisdom Sword.
“Huh…….”
And there, Supreme Ultimate no longer remained.
The sword form of the Supreme Ultimate Wisdom Sword, which took continuity as its essence, had stopped abruptly.
“Thank you for the teaching.”
Mudam left a plain fist and palm salute and left the sparring stage with staggering steps.
“…….”
Mudam is an excellent martial artist.
Regardless of whether there is a Great War of Righteousness and Evil in the future or not, I think he is an excellent martial artist even now and will become an even greater martial artist in the future.
Then it would be right to consider that a certain amount of ordeal would be okay.
Just as a broken bone hardens more solidly, ordeals make a hero strong.
“……The winner is Myeong of the Dancheon Clan.”
Perhaps due to the shock of his sect’s supreme technique being nullified, Cheon-am Jin-in’s declaration, drained of much strength, rang through the venue.
Just then, as I was about to leave the sparring stage after showing a polite fist and palm salute since it was a place where all the famous figures of the Jianghu were watching.
“This one is also of the Mu character generation of Wudang, may I request an exchange?”
Startled by the unexpected voice, my gaze naturally turned to the center of the sparring stage.
“This one requests a spar with Myeong of the Dancheon Clan.”
A young man around the Weak Crown age, who seemed to have no intention of hiding his mischievous smile, was there.
The truly surprising fact was that I did not sense his existence until he positioned himself in the center of the training ground.
.
.
.
In an event of a famous great sect, procedures and etiquette are originally emphasized.
As someone born in a famous clan but having lived the life of a Beggar’s Gang disciple, I would say my attitude is neither affirmation nor negation.
Although there would be some who ignore etiquette and procedures calling them empty formalities, I know the fact that in most cases, they are created out of necessity.
“Do have a spar with this one. Well, you can even call it revenge. Since I am the one who intruded abruptly, I should endure that much gaze. Ah, this one is So-and-so of the Mu character generation.”
The young man who introduced himself as the Mu character generation was acting quite confidently as if denying the necessity of those etiquettes and procedures.
Although several elders of the Nine Sects crumpled their faces at the young man’s audacious behavior, no one stepped forward directly.
Because this is Wudang’s Great Training Ground, and the Daoist robe the young man is wearing is clearly Wudang’s.
“It seems you also don’t need a sword, so we can just fight. That would be fine, right?”
The point to note would be that the Daoists of Wudang also seem to have no intention of stopping the young man.
Rather, it would be correct to express that their complexions turned pale and they were restless.
I stood in front of the young man.
Since he is a figure not in Myeong-gae’s information network, it would be right for me not to know him, but I know who he is.
“If I can cross swords with Senior Sword Emperor, what would be the problem?”
There was no way a martial artist shining with spirituality more brilliant than the Garden of Joy would be separate in Wudang.
The audience, unable to understand my words, still wore bewildered expressions.
.
.
.
Like ripples hitting a calm sea, Wudang’s Great Training Ground began to stir simultaneously.
“What did that child of the Dancheon Clan say?”
“If my ears are not blocked, he clearly said Sword Emperor.”
“If it is Sword Emperor…….”
“That is correct. It is that person.”
Sword Emperor.
Because that name, which is like a legend, became a reality and manifested.
In reality, it was even more so because the current Nine Sects place the alias Sword Emperor above Emperor Breaker or Supreme Strength Martial Emperor.
—This one is So-and-so of the Mu character generation.
There would be no lie in the words of the Sword Emperor who introduced himself so.
Swordsman of the Mu character generation, Wuji.
Because that was the Daoist name the Sword Emperor used during his secular days.
Since the generation rank of the Daoist sect takes circulation following nature as its essence, the generation above the Hyeon character generation occupying the current core uses the Daoist name of the Mu character generation like the third-generation disciples.
It means the Sword Emperor is a master of the previous generation who rightfully should have already retired.
“Ho. You, did you recognize me?”
I showed a fist and palm salute to the young man, no, the supernatural phenomenon presumed to have achieved Rejuvenation.
“Junior of the Murim, Myeong of the Dancheon Clan greets Senior Sword Emperor Wuji.”
“Hmm.”
The Sword Emperor leisurely furrowed his brow. Although he clearly had the appearance of a young man, my discernment could read the traces of time that could not be hidden in his demeanor and speech.
Of course, the fact that I recognized the Sword Emperor originated from his brilliantly shining spirituality rather than his attitude or the current situation.
“It seems you are the real deal.”
Saying so, the Sword Emperor smiled mischievously.
At the same time…….
“……!”
Behind his back, the spirituality that was emitting intact presence gathered and began to take the shape of a sword.
I am not talking about the Counterflow Formless Sword that typifies the energy of heaven, earth, and all things into Sword Flux.
Truly, he handled spirituality to construct a Form.
If I were to name it specifically, the name Mind Sword would be more suitable than Formless Sword.
I wouldn’t have known if I hadn’t realized spirituality, but the current me has no choice but to have my gaze stolen by that miraculous feat.
“How……?”
I have no choice but to be truly surprised because even though I have seen numerous peerless masters commanding the Jianghu, it is the first time I see someone handling spirituality directly.
“Hmm. As expected, you can see it.”
A smile with unknown reason rose on the Sword Emperor’s young face.
Since no one in the audience was astonished but only harbored doubts, I must have been the only one who witnessed the Sword Emperor’s Mind Sword.
* * *
I said sometime ago that the current Murim adopts the Five Dragons Five Phoenixes System.
Of course, if we were to be pedantic since I obtained the alias Divine Dragon of Dancheon, it would be right to say Six Dragons, but anyway, officially, the Five Dragons Five Phoenixes System is correct.
It means that among the vast Central Plains and numerous prodigies, only ten prodigies acquire the qualification to take the aliases of Dragon and Phoenix.
If we seek the reason, it is because intangible values like honor can be truly respected only through control.
If every guy who struts around swinging a sword a bit uses aliases claiming to be Dragon or Phoenix, who would want to become a Dragon or Phoenix, that is what I mean.
Of course, the words Dragon and Phoenix themselves might be great words, but ultimately, it means scarcity determines their value.
The phrase ‘adopts’ the Five Dragons Five Phoenixes System is the same as saying that if someone carelessly impersonates a Dragon or Phoenix, consequences follow.
It is because this thing called alias is a more sensitive part than thought.
So to speak, the Jianghu Murim is a place where there are those who impersonate names but no one who impersonates aliases.
If impersonating a name is a crime of fraud, it would be easy to understand if you think impersonating an alias is treated as something like the enemy of one’s parents, a sinner deceiving one’s master and destroying ancestors, or a sworn enemy under the same sky.
For reference, I don’t know why it is so either. It’s just that the physiology of the Jianghu is like that.
Anyway…….
In the same sense, similar to Dragon and Phoenix, no, there are aliases much grander than that.
One Emperor Three Sovereigns is exactly that.
If Dragon and Phoenix are hope for a brilliant future, since Emperor and Sovereign are praises for great achievements already accomplished, in reality, their values are incomparable.
One Emperor.
The apex of the current Murim is definitely Emperor Breaker Yeom Gi-ha.
He can be called a hero who defeated the Evil Faction Alliance Leader, who once reigned as the best master of the Jianghu with the alias Martial Emperor, and reclaimed the alias of Emperor for the Righteous Murim.
Three Sovereigns.
It can be called the aliases of supernatural phenomena residing below the One Emperor, who in fact might aim for the alias of Emperor at any time.
The Martial Emperor, who had the alias of Emperor usurped by Yeom Gi-ha, became the Martial Sovereign.
However, out of respect for him who once held the alias of Emperor, the myriad people of the world added the modifier Supreme Strength, so that would be the Supreme Strength Martial Sovereign Wiji Han, the Supreme Lord of the Unorthodox Path of the current Murim.
And…….
Before the Emperor Breaker, in the days when the Martial Emperor reigned.
No, there is a person who has held the alias of Sovereign continuously from even before that.
He is exactly the Sword Emperor Wuji.
Many people of the world could not help but be curious.
It was because Wuji, who occupied the alias of Sword Emperor even before the Martial Emperor appeared in the Jianghu Murim, did not aim for the alias of Emperor even once.
—Since I myself have not seen the end of the sword, the alias Sword Emperor would not be right.
It was so.
The reason Sword Emperor Wuji remained a Sword Emperor all his life was because he himself did not desire the alias of Emperor.
This was also the reason why the Daoists of the current Nine Sects believed that Sword Emperor Wuji must have achieved higher accomplishments than Emperor Breaker Yeom Gi-ha.
—I want to continue the footprints of Sambong Jin-in.
Leaving those words, the absolute master of the previous generation who secluded himself in the deep mountains and secluded valleys of Wudang was exactly Wuji.
Such a person achieved Rejuvenation and revealed his appearance to the world.
Sword Emperor Wuji approached Cheon-am Jin-in.
“Cheon-am.”
“Yes, Martial Granduncle.”
The Daoist well over forty showed a bow of respect to the young man who looked around the Weak Crown age.
“You are the referee.”
“……Are you serious?”
“Have I ever spoken empty words?”
“I will obey.”
In reality, the occasion called the New Star Exchange Meeting was not a stage for the Sword Emperor to participate. It is because it goes against propriety.
But Cheon-am Jin-in could not refuse the request of Wuji, whom even the Sect Leader Taecheong Jin-in looks up to in the current Wudang.
Not only Cheon-am Jin-in, but none of the elders of the Nine Sects and masters of the Clans present in the venue could raise an objection.
Although it might be because of the supreme prestige of Sword Emperor, it would be right to say it is because Sword Emperor Wuji’s generation rank was extreme.
For in the Righteous Murim, generation rank was an heirloom sword used synonymously with justification.
Sword Emperor Wuji, who smiled satisfactorily, positioned himself in front of me.
“You must show everything without holding back.”
In Wuji’s hand saying so, a Formless Sword was held.