Chapter 139 : Chapter 139
Chapter 139 Benefactor of Wudang (3)
Personally thinking, Sincerity is dangerous.
It means I think appropriate pretense, white lies, and appropriate silence are exactly the key links that enrich the Jianghu Murim.
Since a being called human cannot be perfect originally, it is because sincerity makes one face the imperfection of a human frontally.
Therefore, in dealing with Wuji Jin-in, I have hidden a little bit of sincerity.
If we look for the reason, it would be right to say it was because I did not want to ruin the goodwill he showed towards me and the smooth relationship I could form with him.
It is so-called social life.
Since I was trained through extreme group life with the Beggar’s Gang beggars, this level of social life was as easy as turning over a hand.
Naturally, there was no such thing as guilt.
One cannot view appropriate social life as a deceptive act against others, can one?
But Wuji Jin-in seemed a little different.
Even as I felt it, Wuji Jin-in always approached me with sincere goodwill. In other words, it could be called favor.
If I, boasting exceptional discernment, fail to notice that fact, it would only amount to having eaten begging food in vain, so it would be right to admit it now.
The fact that Wuji Jin-in is a good person and he cherishes me sincerely.
Furthermore, I can guess the fact that Wuji Jin-in possesses tolerance incomparable to the likes of me.
Actually, not only Wuji Jin-in, but all the Daoists I have seen in Wudang seemed to be so.
Martial Scripture Pavilion Lord Cheonam Jin-in who realized his own fault and went into apology.
Jinsu Jin-in who sincerely protected Cheonam Jin-in.
Mudam Jin-in who looked at me, who was far ahead of him despite being of the same age, with eyes of pure awe without jealousy or envy.
Inspection Squad Leader Cheonsu Jin-in, distinct in public and private matters, who offered a frank apology as soon as my innocence was revealed.
Even Sword Emperor Wuji Jin-in who bestowed favor and goodwill on me for unknown reasons.
Perhaps their conduct is exactly touching the Dao Wudang pursues.
A thought occurred that it would be good to break the prejudice I held against the Nine Sects myself and approach a little more.
‘Let’s be a little more honest.’
It was said that returning as much as received is the duty and shame of human affairs.
Since I learned shame while eating begging food, the value I cannot bear to ignore is exactly shame.
Therefore, it would be right to show sincerity rather than social life filled with pretense before them.
It would also be because now I too have become an Honorary Disciple of Wudang with the name Mubong.
Sword Emperor elder.
Why do you call?
I have something to ask.
Speak.
Did he read the anguish hidden in my heart? Wisdom lingered in the appearance of the Sword Emperor answering readily.
It was a posture lacking nothing to be called a Teacher.
If the Great War of Righteousness and Evil breaks out, will you step forward to the front line?
Mm?
Perhaps my out-of-the-blue question was unexpected, Wuji Jin-in, who was always ambiguous, showed a subtle expression for the first time. He seems slightly flustered too.
It would be right to say my sentiment watching Wuji Jin-in’s expression is tension rather than gratification.
It is difficult to explain exactly, but it was because I felt as if the relationship between him and me would be newly established by Wuji Jin-in’s answer now.
Could you give me an answer?
Actually, it would be right to say it is not a completely random question.
I mentioned it previously, but I did not like the old masters of the Nine Sects.
It disappeared in the timeline turned back by regression, but it would be because I remember intact the behavior shown by the old masters of the Nine Sects during the miserable Great War of Righteousness and Evil.
I know the fact that heavyweights of the elders' generation of the Nine Sects and martial artists of the first, second, and third generations traversed the battlefield of the Great War of Righteousness and Evil freely.
At the same time, I also know the fact that the appearance of the Nine Sects' old masters could not be found on that battlefield.
I had no choice but to always be regretful.
Why did the old masters boasting supreme martial arts not save the sentient beings of the Jianghu? That is what I mean.
That regret turning into resentment and anger towards the old masters with time might have been inevitable.
Wuji Jin-in, who pondered for a long time, gave me an answer.
Probably, I cannot do so.
Ah...
Because that answer was truly disappointing, I let out a groan without realizing it.
Why is that?
Nevertheless, the reason I ask again is because now I have thrown away prejudice and am looking at the person called Wuji Jin-in wholly.
Thanks to being able to look at Wuji Jin-in not relying on fragmentary information to judge, but with my experience and my emotions.
Because if my discernment is not wrong, the old masters of Wudang including Wuji Jin-in were absolutely not figures who would ignore the tribulations of the mundane world.
It is right to consider that the current me has a perspective quite different from Myeong-gae.
Myeong-ah.
Yes.
Wuji Jin-in called me with the voice of a benevolent old man.
How was my Heart Sword that you saw?
I know the fact that he is not changing the subject, but it is a speech style unique to old Daoists. At the end of this question and answer, there might be the answer I wanted.
It would be right to ponder diligently and answer.
I recalled the Sword Emperor’s Heart Sword.
I could evaluate it as a realm I dared not even imagine previously.
That technique, which molded spirituality with the power of a mere human to shape the image of a sword, clearly touched the peak of existence.
I saw it as a glimpse of a great realm I have not yet reached.
Plainly, I spoke the impression exactly as I felt.
Wrong.
...
Originally, there should be no correct answer to a question asking for another’s subjective view.
Nevertheless, it would be right to listen attentively to Wuji Jin-in’s words discussing right and wrong firmly.
It was because that word ‘Wrong’ sounded not like a denial of my answer, but a denial of the realm he achieved.
My Heart Sword cannot reach greatness. It is because there is an Image, but no Substance.
It was a statement similar yet different to the teaching the Sword Emperor gave me previously that the Will is straight but there is no Image.
I know what he means, but I don't know what he means.
Please enlighten me.
I know how precious an existence one can ask for teaching is when there is something one does not know. Because I am the successor of the Healing Sage.
In the Jianghu Murim, the Heart Sword is known as a realm equivalent to the Peak of Ascending to Perfection. If it is a true Heart Sword, it should achieve Will and Image simultaneously, and the Image should be realized into Substance. Will and simultaneously Cutting, it could be called the Ultimate Meaning of martial arts indeed.
Simultaneous with that, the Heart Sword took shape in front of the Sword Emperor.
I know how proficient he is in this technique.
Whoosh-
Perhaps responding to the Sword Emperor’s will, the Heart Sword cut the Sword Emperor’s arm.
And there was no change.
However, I could cut nothing with this Heart Sword.
Are you saying it is lacking?
It could be so.
I understand even less.
Isn't filling the lack exactly training and enlightenment?
The Sword Emperor shook his head.
It is not a problem of training or enlightenment. It is not that training is lacking, but because I have only reached the realm of Half-Immortal. This Heart Sword achieved only halfway would be the proof, and failing to reach Ascent to Immortality and stopping at Rejuvenation should be viewed as the proof. Just a half-wit.
Mm.
At a glance, I did not understand.
I understand the Sword Emperor’s word Half-Immortal. Since he, who achieved Rejuvenation and handles spirituality, would be an existence closer to an immortal than a human.
The point I cannot understand was the Sword Emperor’s attitude disparaging that Half-Immortal State.
Because I know the fact that he is not of such a pessimistic nature.
The point I understand a little lies in the fact that he has already mastered the True Secret of the Mysterious Heaven.
I presume Sword Emperor Wuji Jin-in might not have found his answer even in the True Secret of the Mysterious Heaven.
Look.
As if to resolve my question, the Sword Emperor unfastened the front of his martial arts uniform.
...!
A dark red scar was engraved near Wuji Jin-in’s heart.
No matter how I looked at it, it is a scar not more than three days old.
I knew the fact that it was a palm print because the shape was vivid.
The reason that mark feels truly gruesome originates from the vivid Demonic Qi wholly congealed in that mark.
Wuji Jin-in fastened his clothes again without explaining pro or con.
But I could know the identity clearly.
Because I saw the existence of death I had felt previously and could not resist, in Wuji Jin-in’s scar.
I cannot step forward to the front line of the Great War of Righteousness and Evil.
Wuji Jin-in spoke calmly, as if reciting his calling.
Heavenly Demon. It is because that Demigod should not step forward to the front line of the war.
Mm.
Only then did I know the fact that there was an error in my question.
I premised ‘If the Great War of Righteousness and Evil breaks out’, but for Wuji Jin-in, the Great War of Righteousness and Evil was something happening even now.
Therefore, he cannot step forward to the front line of the Great War of Righteousness and Evil.
The deep place or the top of the Jianghu Murim.
Because in a place no one knows, in a place no one recognizes, the old masters of the Nine Sects were already waging a fierce struggle with the Heavenly Demon.
...I apologize.
For what?
I could not give an answer to Wuji Jin-in’s counter-question.
However, I realize how narrow my world had been meanwhile, and what a wrong misunderstanding I had been harboring.
I was not fighting alone.
I realized only now the fact that the old masters of the Nine Sects were already walking the path I intend to walk.
-You are Wudang’s benefactor.
The masters of Wudang holding my hand and thanking me repeatedly for finding Sambong Jin-in’s legacy came to mind.
But only now I know the truth.
They were indeed the benefactors of the Jianghu Murim.
.
.
.
Wuji Jin-in said he is lacking because he is a Half-Immortal, and Heavenly Demon Seol Cheon-sang is dangerous because he is a Demigod.
I felt that evaluation was not simply due to the difference between Immortal and God.
Actually, it would be right to view Immortal and God as equal rank. However, the problem is that I finally reached Half-Immortal, and the Heavenly Demon has now risen to Demigod.
Ah.
I seem to have fully understood Wuji Jin-in’s words after a long time.
That is, so to speak...
Is it a story about positive thinking?
I, who lived the life of a Beggar’s Gang disciple, know.
Although I learned the essence of begging straight away from Chwipung-gae, an ordinary Beggar’s Gang disciple learns from the mindset.
[I filled only half the begging gourd.]
[I filled half the begging gourd.]
Same result, but it was said the happy beggar is the latter. Perspective is this important.
As if understanding my words, Wuji Jin-in smiled slightly.
Your words are not wrong, but the result would not be that light.
With those words as the end, Wuji Jin-in did not open his mouth any further.
...
I do not know Wuji Jin-in’s capability. The reason being, he resides in a realm far higher than me.
However...
I know the fact that his destination is the same as mine.
Peak of Ascending to Perfection.
It is a legendary realm called Realm of Life and Death, Realm of Immortality, Transcendence Realm, Ascent Realm, etc.
The reason it cannot be treated as just a legend lies in the fact that there is a history of verification.
Aren't both the True Secret of the Mysterious Heaven left as a legacy by Sambong Jin-in and the Healing Sage's Mind Cultivation Art martial arts proving the verification of the Peak of Ascending to Perfection?
Although I do not intend to learn the True Secret of the Mysterious Heaven, I will reach the Peak of Ascending to Perfection through the Healing Sage's Mind Cultivation Art.
Because there would be no other way to defeat the Heavenly Demon who has already reached Demigod and looks beyond that.
I presume Wuji Jin-in thinks he cannot ascend to Immortal in the end, and the Heavenly Demon will soon touch God.
But I am different.
Following the Beggar’s Gang’s Emerald Rescue Pill, I acquired Wudang’s Taecheong Pill.
I am now sailing smoothly on the journey towards the Peak of Ascending to Perfection; it would be right to judge so.
-If you achieve the Sixth Stage: Pacifying the World, you will naturally come to touch the Peak of Ascending to Perfection.
Since it is the content that Healing Sage guaranteed, it cannot be wrong.
I will teach you.
Mm?
Please wait four years.
That would not be a bad thing either.
Didn't they say originally, the student surpassing the master is the greatest joy of a teacher?
Wuji Jin-in smiled satisfactorily.