Chapter 136 : Wudang
Hubei Province was located in the very center of the Central Plains, a region where many people passed through.
The Yangtze River flowed through the center of Hubei Province, so floods were quite frequent.
Of course, even considering that, it was a good place to live with not only abundant water sources and fertile land but also rich mineral resources.
There were other existences that represented Hubei Province.
The two were the Jegal family, which belonged to the Five Great Families, and the Wudang Sect, which was the leader of the Nine Sects One Union.
Namgung Hui's close friend, Jegal Geon, was also in the Jegal family, and Cheongi-ja, whom he had met a little while ago, also belonged to it.
They were intelligent and had advanced into official positions, so it was difficult to see them as a complete martial arts family.
That was why when the people of Hubei Province thought of martial arts forces, they often thought of the Wudang Sect before the Jegal family.
Excluding the great Mount Tai and Big Dipper, the Shaolin Temple, it could be considered the number one sect in the world.
The Wudang Sect, the best in the sword faction and the Daoist gate.
Just listing the ultimate techniques of the Wudang Sect would be too numerous to mention.
The Ten-Section Brocade, which was comparable to the Sosu Demonic Art.
The Taiji Wisdom Sword, which was called the strongest sword art in the current martial world.
In fact, it was said that the Mount Hua Sect's Plum Blossom Sword Art had fallen from the three great sacred artifacts because of this Taiji Wisdom Sword.
Besides that, there was the Cloud-Riding Stride.
The Two-Principle Heart Method, which allowed one to use two martial arts at the same time.
The Great Clarity Heart Method, which only the head disciples learned, and so on.
Even now, countless martial arts came to Namgung Hui's mind, but among them, the one he coveted the most was the Two-Principle Heart Method.
'If I were to learn that, I could use the Divine Thunder Sword Art with my right hand. And with my left hand, I could use the Explosive Thunder Palm or the Thunder Dragon Palm. The sword seal finger I use with my left hand when performing a sword art is still awkward.'
And the sword seal finger felt like a waste.
Beak Seolhwa had once told him not to ignore the sword seal finger performed with the opposite hand, but that was because she, as Sosu Mahu, was skilled in hand techniques.
To Namgung Hui, it seemed better to just throw a palm technique with that hand than to perform a sword seal finger.
Of course, to achieve that, there was nothing other than the Wudang Sect's Two-Principle Heart Method.
But the reason Namgung Hui thought of the Wudang Sect as soon as he came to Hubei Province was because he saw many disciples of the Wudang Sect even though he was at the East Lake, which was almost on the opposite side of Mount Wudang.
Beak Seolhwa looked at the disciples of the Wudang Sect and asked Namgung Hui.
"Is something wrong with the Wudang Sect? Why are they looking for something with their eyes lit up like that? Could it be us...?"
"That's probably not it. The speed at which we flew must have been as fast as a carrier pigeon, so if you calculate the time it takes to get here from Mount Wudang, it's impossible. Then, as you said before, they must be looking for something else."
Muchi added a word to Namgung Hui and Beak Seolhwa's speculation.
"Chunsam thinks they are probably looking for a martial arts manual."
At Muchi's words, Beak Seolhwa retorted.
"How do you know that? You've been hiding in the mountains all this time."
"I heard it from Jinwu. Didn't he say that the radical faction had dispatched a spy to the Wudang Sect? They probably stole the martial arts manual."
He had heard from Muchi on the way.
There was a factional division within the Blood Cult now.
The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult was divided into the Elder Faction and the Young Cult Leader Faction.
And the Young Cult Leader Faction became the Blood Cult, and within it, it was divided into the radical faction and the moderate faction.
Muchi and the Bukgung family were from the moderate faction, so they had come out to find the sacred artifacts in order to unite the Blood Cult with little noise.
On the contrary, the radical faction was said to be trying to cause chaos in the martial world and use that opportunity to unify the Blood Cult by force.
Namgung Hui had thought it would be better for the two forces to clash and reduce their strength, but if the Blood Cult became too weak, the Demonic Heaven might absorb it, so he judged that a proper balance was important.
"So they had their manual stolen like the Mount Hua Sect. But seeing as there was no word from the Martial Alliance, they must be hiding it. Indeed, if that were to be known, all sorts of riffraff would flock to them, so it would be better to keep it a secret. The Mount Hua Sect did the same."
However, the Mount Hua Sect did not hide the fact that there was something wrong within the sect.
That was why they had recalled all the Plum Blossom Swordsmen and conducted an internal inspection.
Except for Ju Hwayeong, who called herself the Anti-Heaven Alliance, no disciples of the Mount Hua Sect could be found in the current martial world.
Well, still, Namgung Hui had recovered the manual for the Mount Hua Sect and returned it.
It seemed the Wudang Sect had not yet recovered their manual.
That manual was probably in the hands of the Blood Cult now.
Beak Seolhwa asked Muchi.
"Then you don't know what manual it is?"
"I'm not from that faction, so I don't know. I'm sorry."
"You don't have to be sorry. Still, I secretly hope it was the Ten-Section Brocade that was leaked. I'd like to see the incantations once."
Namgung Hui also nodded slightly.
'The Ten-Section Brocade is also a type of hand technique, so there must be parts that can be applied to fist and palm arts.'
And so, when someone's misfortune became someone else's entertainment, the disciples of the Wudang Sect approached Namgung Hui's party and asked.
"Excuse me for the first meeting, but have you by any chance seen a person who looks like this?"
The Wudang Sect disciple held out a portrait, but it was a man that Namgung Hui and Beak Seolhwa had never seen before.
But Muchi seemed to be different, as he showed a startled expression.
At that sight, the Wudang Sect disciple bombarded Muchi with a series of questions.
"Do you know him? What is your relationship? This person's name..."
"Chunsam knows nothing. I was just surprised because the person is so ugly."
"Hmm... I believe he is quite handsome."
The Wudang Sect disciple looked at Muchi suspiciously.
Then, Beak Seolhwa stepped forward and said.
"I also think he's an ugly person. To the point where if you put my friend next to him, he would look like a miserable puppy."
"Hmm. Since you say so, miss, I understand for now. Thank you for your cooperation."
As befitting a prestigious orthodox sect, they did not show a rude attitude.
If it had been another sect, they would have tried to interrogate Muchi to the end because of his flustered appearance.
But the Wudang Sect was a place that knew etiquette.
'But I'll have to see if they really think so inwardly. They've even secretly attached a tail.'
And it was a person who had even taken off the Wudang Sect's Daoist robes to disguise themselves.
But there was one thing they couldn't get rid of in the end.
The Pine-Patterned Ancient Sword, the symbol of the Wudang Sect.
Perhaps they hadn't thought of replacing it, as it was dangling from their waist and following Namgung Hui's party.
-Seolhwa. You know we're being tailed, right?
-Yes. He's a disciple of the Wudang Sect, so we can't do anything, can we? Let's let them follow us and shake them off at night.
-Hmm... Yes. That would be better.
To deal with them somehow, the Wudang Sect was not only innocent, but the disciple was also pitiful.
On top of that, they had fully considered this kind of situation on their journey to Guangdong Province.
It was better not to stir up trouble unnecessarily.
Grumble.
Perhaps because it was lunchtime, a loud noise came from Muchi's stomach.
Namgung Hui, who was walking through the marketplace, pointed to a decent-looking inn and said.
"Chunsam. Okwol. Shall we eat at that inn before we go?"
"Chunsam is all for it."
"I'm fine with it too."
The Wudang Sect disciple who was tailing them also seemed to be fine with it, as he swallowed his saliva and nodded.
Seeing that attitude, it seemed the inn in front of them was a restaurant recognized even by the locals.
And so, Namgung Hui's party entered the inn that had been verified by the Wudang Sect disciple.
"Welcome. Are there three of you?"
"Yes. Please guide us to a suitable seat. A four-person table would be nice."
"It seems you have another companion joining you. Then please follow me. There's a good seat available just in time."
Following the waiter's guidance, they were assigned a spacious table.
"What would you like to eat?"
"Just bring us four of the best dishes from this inn."
"Yes! Then please wait a moment~"
As the waiter rushed off, the Wudang Sect disciple who had been tailing them stealthily came in, stopped the waiter, and said.
"Ahem! It seems there aren't many seats, so would it be alright if I joined that table?"
"Huh? I think they said they have another companion joining them..."
"No, it's fine. Tell him to sit."
When Namgung Hui stopped the waiter, the waiter, as if he had noticed something, bowed his head and disappeared into the kitchen.
The Wudang Sect disciple approached Namgung Hui and asked.
"Beautiful ladies. Excuse me, but would it be alright if I joined you? I'll pay for the meal."
"Go ahead."
The Wudang Sect disciple joined them, pretending to be interested in the women, but he was busy glancing at Muchi.
Namgung Hui shook his head at the clumsy tailing and opened his mouth.
"If you stare so openly, your intentions will be revealed quickly."
"Haha. I was so captivated by the young lady's beauty that I was embarrassed..."
"That's not it. You were following Chunsam over there. And no matter how precious the Pine-Patterned Ancient Sword is, you should at least change the scabbard. Don't you think?"
"Ah!"
As his voice broke, a youthful voice came out.
Since he was a young disciple, such a tailing was bound to be clumsy.
Even his flustered and helpless appearance was cute.
"The food is here, so let's eat and talk."
"Ah. Yes..."
Perhaps because his tailing had been discovered, the Wudang Sect disciple's shoulders slumped.
Namgung Hui had been planning to shake him off at night, but it seemed easier to have a showdown now than to have such a clumsy disciple following them.
A moment later, after the meal was over, Namgung Hui asked the Wudang Sect disciple.
"What on earth is going on that you would even attach a tail just because someone was surprised to see a portrait?"
"I... that is... The truth is, there's something wrong with the Wudang Sect. I can't dare to tell you the details. Just know that there is a lost item."
"And the person in that portrait is the culprit?"
"Yes. If you happen to see him later, please be sure to contact the Wudang Sect. We will reward you handsomely."
"I'll be sure to do that."
"Thank you. Such kind-hearted people wouldn't be acquainted with that spy. Then I'll pay for the meal. I've been very rude."
As the Wudang Sect disciple finished paying and disappeared, Namgung Hui quietly asked Muchi.
"Chunsam. You knew that person from before, right?"
"That's right. Hyeokryeon Socheon, a person from the Hyeokryeon family. A member of the radical faction."
"Do you think he has returned to the cult?"
"Probably not. I'm also out here like this."
"And the Wudang Sect disciples wouldn't have set up a siege for no reason. I think he's somewhere in this vicinity. Okwol, Chunsam. Let's catch him."
Beak Seolhwa continued with a displeased expression.
"I want to catch him too, but how can the three of us do what even the Wudang Sect couldn't?"
Namgung Hui, who had taken it out at some point, shook the gourd bottle hidden in his sleeve and said.
"Just in case, I applied the Thousand-Li Tracking Scent to the Wudang Sect disciple. When this scent runs far away, we can follow then. It must mean that he's heading somewhere in a hurry, which means he's found something."
"What if we follow and it's a wild goose chase?"
"To prepare for that, I have to go to the Hao Faction now. There, I might be able to find out the identity of the stolen manual or the location of that Hyeokryeon-something."
"Hyeokryeon Socheon. Hyeokryeon Socheon."
"Yes. Hyeokryeon Socheon. What will you do? Okwol."
"Right now, you're the one leading the group, so I have to do as you say. But I'm not very hopeful. Well, it's better than just sitting around and doing nothing."
"Alright. Then let's go to the Hao Faction right away."
And so, Namgung Hui moved to a tavern with the mark of the Hao Faction with his companions.
And there, an unexpected person.
"Oh. Who is this. Isn't it the youngest junior brother?"
He had met the third disciple of the Hao Faction Leader, Dam Gihae.
(End of Chapter)