Pay‑to‑Win King of Martial Arts (Novel) - Chapter 44 - Fame (3)

Chapter 44 – Fame (3)

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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They said the schedule for going to the Zhuge Clan would be set by mutual discussion. So for the time being, I would remain at Wudang and recover from the fatigue of travel.

Of course, remaining there did not mean resting. I was showing the Taiji Fist and Three Calamities Sword Art I had trained in front of my senior brothers.

“You’ve improved a lot, haven’t you?”

Myeong-seong tilted his head. Among Immortal Cheong-hwa’s disciples, he had entered the mountain first, so from my point of view he was the eldest senior brother. Of course, I did not call him that. He did not seem to want that particularly either.

“It’s decent, right?”

“I know, right. Weren’t you just half-assing it before?”

Myeong-seong looked at me suspiciously. The one who cut across that gaze was Myeong-gyeong with a triumphant expression.

“Senior Brother. I’m the one who made him into a proper person. I woke him up every dawn and trained him.”

“No wonder. Good work.”

Myeong-seong gave Myeong-gyeong’s shoulder a few pats. Myeong-gyeong immediately broke into a huge grin. They say in an organization, the real power is not the eldest but the second. The eldest only watches. It is the second’s role to deal with things directly.

It suddenly occurred to me that besides Myeong-seong and Myeong-gyeong, there had been another senior brother. He had so little presence that I barely remembered his name, but ah, now I remembered.

“By the way, where is Senior Brother Myeong-jin?”

“He’s right behind you.”

“Whoa, that scared me!”

The moment I turned around, I nearly fell over. Myeong-seong and Myeong-gyeong snickered.

“Ah, right. You don’t have internal energy. Then it makes sense that you couldn’t feel his presence.”

“How long has he been standing here?”

“He was there from the start.”

“You could’ve made some noise.”

“Myeong-jin is hard to find in the first place.”

To be precise, I did have internal energy. It was just demonic qi, so I couldn’t say so. I laughed awkwardly. Myeong-jin seemed to have little interest in whether I noticed him or not. Unlike the other children, he had something of a blank expression, you could say. He was quiet too.

Myeong-gyeong was one thing, but even Myeong-seong, the eldest here, radiated childishness, while Myeong-jin, the youngest, had none of that at all, which was strange.

“At this level of completion, you could start learning the Five Elements Sword, couldn’t you?”

“The Five Elements Sword?”

“Yeah. Starting from that one, you’re finally dealing with a martial art that truly contains Wudang’s subtle principles.”

My eyes lit up. The Three Calamities Sword Art I had used until now had no fixed principle in it. That was why it had the advantage of being able to contain every sort of principle.

But the Five Elements Sword was a sword made by directly embodying Wudang’s principle. A sword with no principle and a sword with principle were different in difficulty from the outset. It was like taking my first real step as a martial artist of Wudang.

“Good.”

“The Five Elements Sword is made up of five forms. You may not be good at fist and leg work, but you do handle a sword well, so memorizing the forms won’t be difficult for you.”

Myeong-seong slowly drew his sword and took the opening stance. Unlike the upright middle stance that served as the opening posture of the Three Calamities Sword Art, even the stance itself was slanted in a way that felt as if it were diverting something.

“First, I’ll show the first through fifth forms once.”

Myeong-seong moved his sword slowly. Now that I had learned a little swordsmanship too, I could tell. Even if it was the same form, the ability to trace it that slowly without a single tremor proved a level of skill that could only come from tremendous training.

“First form. Green Wood Blooms.”

I immediately immersed myself in Myeong-seong’s sword. Green Wood Blooms was a quick sword as light as leaves being brushed by a spring breeze.

“The second form is Blazing Fire Overturns the Heavens.”

Myeong-seong’s sword gained even more speed. Earlier it had been a fast sword tracing curves, but now the focus on speed left no room to draw curves. The sword cut and thrust through empty air in brutally direct lines.

“Third form. Houtu Breaks the Earth.”

The third form began together with a stamping step forward. The stomp carrying internal energy turned up the dirt floor and kicked up sand and dust. Bit by bit, the fast sword was losing speed and becoming a heavy sword.

“Fourth form. Golden Dragon Returns to Heaven.”

It was astonishing anew, but even though Myeong-seong was unfolding it that slowly and even speaking at the same time, not once did his breathing falter. That had to mean he had trained with utter seriousness.

Now the heavy sword had become so weighty that it was close to a blunt sword. The speed had slowed, but the sword that cut through all eight directions centered on the body wielding it had not the slightest error.

“And the final fifth form, Water Current’s Brave Flash.”

Using his right foot as an axis, Myeong-seong spun and cut out with his sword. If there had been a circular wall there, it would likely have borne sword marks in a wave pattern. As expected, the final form was Water among the Five Elements.

Water held an important place in Daoism. That was because it was the symbolic substance that was the highest virtue, so indispensable that nothing could do without it, and yet dwelled in the lowest places.

Water Current’s Brave Flash likewise cut out as it spun fiercely, but it loosened strength in the wrist and gave rise to graceful change, looking capable of deflecting any sword.

At the end, Myeong-seong returned to the opening stance and then sheathed his sword. He was a child only about ten years younger than me, but absurdly enough, I found him cool.

“Did you watch well?”

“The subtle principles are endlessly changing.”

“That’s what the Five Elements are.”

“You really are a Daoist, aren’t you. Hearing you say things like that.”

I laughed. When I lived as a merchant, I had no leisure to contemplate the Five Elements. The only difference had been that on rainy days I sold umbrellas, and on blazing sunny days I sold fans.

Certainly, seeing the roots of nature expressed through swordsmanship made swordsmanship seem like an appealing discipline. Perhaps a little less than the art of commerce, but still.

“I’ll try it once.”

I quietly steadied my breathing and drew my sword. It was my turn to swing it.

The sword flowed gracefully. My senior brothers’ gazes gathered at my sword tip. Holding all of those gazes, I slowly began to unfold the form.

***

Cheong-hwa was the one put in charge of selecting the people who would go to the Zhuge Clan. He would lead them as well.

The Zhuge Clan was more famous for formations, but if that were all, they could never have risen to the seat of one of the Five Great Families. The Zhuge Clan also possessed excellent sword arts and supreme martial arts using the magistrate’s brush.

‘The experience at the Zhuge Clan will likely help a great deal. Consider carefully and choose.’

Cheong-hwa hid his presence as he recalled the words of Cheong-ui, his Senior Brother Sect Leader. If he revealed his presence for no reason, he would not be able to see the third-generation disciples training naturally.

When a transcendent master like Cheong-hwa intentionally concealed his presence, there was no third-generation disciple who could detect him.

Even in a matter like this, blood still bent inward. Cheong-hwa looked for his own disciples first. Usually, Cheong-hwa’s disciples trained in the back yard behind the Hall of Exhausting the Way.

Cheong-hwa walked toward the back yard. By now he should have been hearing either the clashing of swords or the noisy chatter of children, yet he heard nothing at all. When he spread out his sense, it was not that the children were absent.

When he only stuck his head out slightly to look, Muk Hui-yeong was swinging his sword with a more serious expression than expected. A single stroke of that sword was enough to show it was the Five Elements Sword.

‘Did Myeong-gyeong teach it to him outside?’

He had indeed told the disciples beforehand. If Muk Hui-yeong seemed to have caught up to a certain degree, they were to let him learn the Five Elements Sword as well. Since even the children could unfold the Five Elements Sword perfectly, there was no great problem in teaching it.

The children were all absorbed in Muk Hui-yeong’s sword dance as if bewitched. Cheong-hwa, who had been peeking from around the corner, stepped out fully and watched with folded arms. It was Muk Hui-yeong’s sword dance that drew Cheong-hwa’s feet onward.

At that moment, unbelievable words flowed out from among the disciples gathered together.

“…Myeong-gyeong. Did you teach him the Five Elements Sword outside?”

“No. This is the first time he’s ever unfolded it.”

It was a conversation between Myeong-seong and Myeong-gyeong, who had both been watching.

Hearing that, Cheong-hwa’s brow twisted in a peculiar way. But that distortion held not denial but admiration. That was because Cheong-hwa was seeing something far deeper than what those disciples were seeing.

Even with the same martial art and the same principle, if understanding and realization were deeper, an entirely different martial art came out. In that sense, Muk Hui-yeong’s Five Elements Sword was showing a deep realization unlike what the other third-generation disciples unfolded.

Even if Muk Hui-yeong himself thought he had never contemplated the Five Elements, as a merchant living many long years he had internalized all kinds of realizations and philosophies. It was as though the previous life that had curled up and died like a caterpillar was now blossoming through the medium of the sword.

Cheong-hwa, who had no way of knowing that fact, could only marvel. The completion of one sword art meant the completion of one philosophy.

To have awakened to the philosophy of the Five Elements at such a young age, barely in his youth, could only be called tremendous talent.

“How remarkable.”

Without realizing it, Cheong-hwa let the words escape. The disciples whipped their heads around at the sudden voice behind them.

“M-Master!”

“Quiet. Observe that sword art carefully. It seems you should be learning the Five Elements Sword from Hui-yeong.”

Myeong-seong gave a laugh of disbelief. It was he who had just taught it to him. Yet now he was immediately in the position of needing to learn from him instead.

What was even more absurd was that their master’s words felt persuasive. Myeong-seong had not seen as deeply as Cheong-hwa had, but even at a glance, Muk Hui-yeong’s Five Elements Sword had far greater completion than Myeong-seong’s.

“…”

Myeong-seong clenched his fist tightly. It felt like he had once again run into the wall of talent.

If the walls he had encountered until now had felt so high they made him suffocate, then the wall Muk Hui-yeong showed him was so distant and rose so far above the clouds that it was difficult even to judge its true shape.

“Myeong-seong.”

“Yes.”

“Do not break.”

“…Yes.”

Cheong-hwa looked at Myeong-seong as if he pitied him. Among the third-generation disciples, Myeong-seong was one of those who trained the hardest. Confronted with talent like this, his heart could not help but waver.

Before anyone knew it, Muk Hui-yeong finished the final form and returned to the opening stance of the sword. He shook his head as if awakening from a trance and turned to the side.

“Master. When did you arrive?”

“You need not know.”

“You’re prickly.”

Muk Hui-yeong smiled as if he had no idea what he had just done. The disciples, meanwhile, were still unable to escape the afterimage drawn by his swordsmanship.

“Hm.”

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

Cheong-hwa looked at Muk Hui-yeong. He had known the boy possessed genius-level talent, but he had not expected him to bring a surprise that surpassed even that.

“It is nothing.”

He had enjoyed a good spectacle, but that was not why Cheong-hwa had come to watch Muk Hui-yeong’s martial arts. He had come to choose the child he would bring to the Zhuge Clan.

Muk Hui-yeong, who had just displayed astonishing swordsmanship, was already decided on, so he was not a subject of consideration.

Cheong-hwa glanced at Myeong-seong. Even despondency had fallen over Myeong-seong’s eyes.

“Myeong-seong.”

“Yes.”

“Prepare to leave for the Zhuge Clan with us.”

“Pardon?”

Leaving only those words behind, Cheong-hwa turned away. Overcoming it would have to be Myeong-seong’s own task, but creating the opportunity was a master’s responsibility.

***

The people going to the Zhuge Clan were set at three. Myeong-il, called the finest genius among the Myeong generation’s third-generation disciples, then Myeong-seong, and me.

“It has been a while since I’ve gone out with disciples.”

Cheong-hwa too seemed rather refreshed. Since Myeong-seong and I shared the same master, it seemed like Myeong-il might find things awkward, but Myeong-il did not seem to care very much. If anything, Myeong-il was the type most similar to Myeong-jin.

Myeong-jin was not conspicuous, but Myeong-il stood out easily. That was because he practiced sword techniques every day and sought out Cheong-hwa whenever he had something he wanted to ask.

And now I knew this too: Myeong-seong was no less of a training maniac than Myeong-il. I clicked my tongue.

“How do they do that every day?”

“How do you manage not to and still do what you do?”

“Do what?”

“Forget it.”

Cheong-hwa shook his head. I did train too. It was just that I could feel it instinctively. I could already use the Five Elements Sword immediately in real combat.

Swinging it only to keep the feel from going dull was one thing, but training with the aim of improving my skill was meaningless.

“At the Zhuge Clan, since they are a famous house equal to ours, you will have to mind your manners more than usual. I worry about you more than the others.”

“But I’m the oldest, aren’t I?”

“Not the most of a martial artist.”

There was no room to deny that. I did not argue.

“But by any chance.”

“What is it.”

“What if the Zhuge Clan picks a fight?”

“Would such a thing happen? Among the Five Great Families, the Zhuge Clan is one of the most restrained.”

“Even so.”

“In that case…”

Cheong-hwa paused for a breath, then smiled faintly.

“We would have to show them what Wudang is.”

“Good.”

Jun County, where Wudang stood, and Xiangyang, where the Zhuge Clan stood, were not far apart.

It was not long before we arrived in Xiangyang.

“Ah, aren’t you the Divine Physician of Hubei?”

“The Divine Physician of Hubei?”

…And the moment we arrived, someone recognized me. People immediately began gathering like clouds.