Chapter 12

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Translated by Seoulbound

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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**

Wuchang was located in the south-central part of Hubei, a city counted as the center of logistics in the Hubei region bordering the Yangtze River.

On the other hand, since Wudang Mountain was in the northwest, on the border of Shaanxi and Henan, the distance from Wudang Mountain to Wuchang was considerable. Even assuming an ordinary person walked for half a day, it was a distance that would take ten days of walking to reach. Even for a martial artist, it was a distance that would take three days.

“It will be helpful for your lightness skill training, Junior Brother.”

Myeong-hun looked back at Yeon Baek-jung, who was chasing from his side, as he reduced the speed of his Flowing Cloud Movement Skill lightness skill. The Cloud-Climbing Step was a footwork force specialized in increasing instantaneous speed and hoisting the body into the air, but according to its formulas, it was not suitable for running long distances.

Nevertheless, no exhausted expression was visible on Yeon Baek-jung’s face. Instead, he was closely observing Myeong-hun’s feet.

And soon.

‘Hmm?!’

Myeong-hun could see Yeon Baek-jung moving his feet in a similar manner to himself.

“The Flowing Cloud Movement Skill footwork force needs to be formed by widely spreading the Jin release of the Yongquan acupoint.”

Looking at his junior brother whose eyes shone with interest, Myeong-hun felt absurd, and at the same time, reflected on himself for feeling that absurdity.

‘I keep forgetting that this guy is different.’

It was not simply the ability to optimize existing martial arts such as Tai Chi Chuan.

‘He completed the Four Symbols Wind and Thunder Palm, which even the Won-generation elders could not master.’

The mastery of a difficult skill.

On top of that, he now even had the talent of rapid completion in grasping and learning the profound meanings of martial arts in an instant.

—A talent that blooms in an instant can also wither in an instant. Going out on this mission, you must thoroughly examine Baek-jung’s talent, and as his senior brother, you must also examine his state of mind to ensure that the child does not stray onto another path upon entering the Jianghu.

These were the words Taoist Nun Hye-won had specially advised before they set out on the mission. However, Myeong-hun shook his head as he looked at Yeon Baek-jung, who was running shoulder to shoulder with him.

‘What an absurd worry.’

Even if he was not ignoring Taoist Nun Hye-won’s discernment…

He felt that it was a preposterous worry.

In addition, seeing Yeon Baek-jung gradually moving ahead, Myeong-hun felt once again reassured by the junior brother who had set out on the mission with him.

**

The Flowing Cloud Movement Skill had a different flavor from the Cloud-Climbing Step.

‘Spreading martial power widely and heterogeneously around the Yongquan acupoint. Just like a cloud.’

If the Cloud-Climbing Step operated martial power as if bursting the martial power trapped between the acupoints all at once, the Flowing Cloud Movement Skill continuously sprayed a small amount of martial power, reducing the impact between the ground and the foot and increasing the coefficient of friction.

‘As the coefficient of friction increases, the feet do not slip, and the body moves forward.’

An object with a smooth surface has a smaller coefficient of friction, and an object with a rough surface has a larger coefficient.

Walking or running on smooth ice does not yield speed.

In other words, the unique operation of martial power of the Flowing Cloud Movement Skill, which spread martial power widely and heterogeneously, increased the frictional force with the ground, enabling rapid movement.

‘On top of this, what if the martial power itself is maintained smoothly?’

‘The lumped martial power forms layers.’

I added the mystery of the Four Symbols Wind and Thunder Palm’s laminar flow to the operation of the Flowing Cloud Movement Skill’s martial power.

As the layers of martial power divided, my body, which was advancing over the ground as if sliding on ice, began to accelerate.

‘Since the destination is already clear.’

The path following the official road.

I knew that Senior Brother Myeong-hun was continuously reducing his speed on purpose to match my speed.

Being a burden was out of the question.

My body, which had been lagging slightly behind Senior Brother Myeong-hun until now, soon came shoulder to shoulder and shortly began to pull ahead.

Matching my accelerating speed, Senior Brother Myeong-hun also began to pick up speed.

‘As expected, he was not going at full power.’

The Blood Selling Cult.

It was a heretical cult group widely spread throughout the Hubei area.

‘Was it said to be a shameless unorthodox sect that kidnaps commoners who do not know a single speck of martial arts, and drains and sells their blood?’

That was about the extent of the information regarding the Blood Selling Cult that I had familiarized myself with before setting out on the mission. I too had spent my childhood as a pickpocket in the alleys of Xiangyang Castle. What if I had not caught Immortal Gangwon’s eye, failed to enter the Wudang Sect, and lived in the back alleys all along?

‘The one having blood drained could have been me.’

I was a disciple of the prestigious Taoist sect, the Wudang Sect.

It was only natural to uphold the way of chivalry and righteousness.

Even though the leadership and major executives of the Blood Selling Cult had mostly been wiped out, there was no knowing what kind of atrocities the remaining remnants might be committing.

‘Even faster.’

Thoughts moved my body.

I increased my speed even further.

As the harsh wind brushed violently against my ears, I dampened the sensitivity of the Tai Chi Diagram Exposition to close my ears.

Thanks to that, we were able to arrive at the small city of Zhongxiang before the day darkened.

**

After washing ourselves in a small inn in Zhongxiang, we simply chewed on dumplings for dinner and washed it down with tea.

“It was faster than expected.”

Looking at Senior Brother’s face, which was whiter than usual, perhaps because he had just washed, I nodded.

“We will arrive in Wuchang tomorrow. It is thanks to Senior Brother passing down the Flowing Cloud Movement Skill.”

“…Right.”

Senior Brother moistened his throat with tea and asked.

“Do you have anything you are curious about regarding the mission?”

I did not have many questions about the mission itself.

For the substantial main force of the Blood Selling Cult had been wiped out.

What I was curious about was something else.

“Why is our Greedy Wolf Unit taking on this mission? Normally, isn’t it common for the disciples of the Sea Fog Pavilion or the True Martial Pavilion’s Integrity Star Unit or Army Breaker Unit to handle such matters?”

The Sea Fog Pavilion was an organization that oversaw the sect’s intelligence and espionage, and the Integrity Star Unit and Army Breaker Unit of the True Martial Pavilion were famous for their disciples’ footwork mobility and concealment arts. It was a question asked because I thought they were more suitable for finding hidden remnants and quickly pursuing and subjugating them.

At that, Senior Brother Myeong-hun stared at me intently for a moment before opening his mouth again.

“That is probably because of the Tai Chi Diagram Exposition that Junior Brother learned.”

“Pardon?”

“They thought the sensitivity of the Tai Chi Diagram Exposition would be helpful in finding the remnants of the Blood Selling Cult.”

“Uh, while that is true as the reason for our dispatch, wasn’t it said that the one who went out to Wuchang in the first place was also our senior from the Greedy Wolf Unit?”

At my words, Senior Brother nodded.

“Yes. Senior Sister Yi Chae-yang, Taoist Nun Baek-song, went out.”

“Why was she dispatched to this mission?”

“Senior Sister Yi Chae-yang is Martial Aunt Hye-won’s disciple.”

“Ah.”

Hye-won was the very person who had transmitted the Tai Chi Diagram Exposition to Yeon Baek-jung. If she was Martial Aunt Hye-won’s disciple, she too must have learned the Tai Chi Diagram Exposition.

“We will have to meet Senior Sister Yi tomorrow to know the detailed situation, but it seems that because the remnants hid deep inside the Blood Selling Cult’s hideout prepared in Wuchang, it is not easy for Senior Sister Yi to search alone.”

“You are worried about committing the folly of beating the grass to startle the snake.”

“Right.”

Senior Brother Myeong-hun continued as he emptied his teacup.

“For now, we agreed via carrier pigeon to meet at Wuchang’s Wudang Sect affiliate sect tomorrow evening at the Hour of the Rooster, so we will discuss the details then. Let’s rest well today. Since we will have to leave early tomorrow morning.”

“Yes.”

I nodded and stood up from my seat. Just then, Senior Brother caught my sleeve and continued speaking.

“…Since we are starting in the morning, to make it in time for the Hour of the Rooster, it seems better to go a bit slower than today.”

Indeed, even if we arrived early for no good reason, we would only have to wait.

“Ah, indeed. Then let’s eat breakfast and set off a bit late tomorrow.”

With those words, I got up from my seat.

I was pleased with the fact that I had bought time to practice.

**

The New Tai Chi Chuan, Cloud-Climbing Step, Flowing Cloud Movement Skill, the dynamic cultivation which I had not yet completed, the Four Symbols Wind and Thunder Palm, and so on.

Although there were many martial arts to practice, my choice was the Tai Chi Diagram Exposition.

Since the reason for being deployed on the mission was the sensitivity through the Tai Chi Diagram Exposition, it was my judgment that I needed to forge it a bit sharper.

‘Sensitivity.’

I began to awaken my senses through my scorching Yang martial power. Soon, the flow of natural Qi stretching out in veins began to appear in my vision as if within grasp.

The true Qi swayed according to the Primal Chaos Light Skill breathing I exhaled, and the flow of true Qi was also twisted according to the bodily movements that had mastered internal energy.

The flow of true Qi was not greatly constrained by walls blocked with wood or bricks. As it seeped and flowed through the cracks of solid walls, I could perceive the existence of the wall while simultaneously penetrating the material to survey the space.

At the same time, I aligned the domain of the five senses awakened by the scorching Yang Qi with my Qi-sensing.

As I began to expand the domain of my senses in that manner, I could hear Senior Brother Myeong-hun’s weary breathing from the next room even though it was still an early hour. By the time it was forged enough to feel even the ratio of turbid Qi and true Qi mixed in the breathing, I tried expanding the domain of my senses one level further.

The sound of the cook spinning his wok, the voice of the waiter soliciting customers at the entrance, the sound of dominoes clacking against each other, the squeaking sounds of rats crawling under the eaves, and various other noises rang in my ears.

Among them, what caught my attention was the conversation of peddlers sharing drinks.

“They say the Zhuge Clan is looking for famous physicians under heaven this time.”

“Ah, I heard that too. They say the eldest young master of the Zhuge Clan has fallen ill with an illness of unknown cause.”

“Thanks to that, it is said that the price of medicinal herbs in the Longzhong area has skyrocketed. If we use this well, we can make a huge profit…”

The Zhuge Clan was the only power in Hubei’s martial forest that could compare to the Wudang Sect, and was one of the Seven Great Martial Clans that had received a death-exemption decree from the imperial family.

‘The heir of such a clan fell ill with an unknown cause?’

It was not a common occurrence for a Jianghu figure who practiced internal energy to fall seriously ill. This happened at a time when unorthodox giant sects represented by the Six Great Evils were already writhing in activity.

‘Seeing that the senior brothers of the True Martial Pavilion said that the peace of the martial forest is coming to an end.’

There was no telling what would happen in the future.

And in Wuchang as well, it was a situation where one could not know what would unfold. Therefore…

‘Let’s focus on practicing the Tai Chi Diagram Exposition.’

Focusing once again on the flow of martial power in my upper Dantian, I increased my sensitivity. The information of the entire inn entered my head thoroughly.

After about the time it takes to eat a meal passed…

My thin fine meridians grew hot, and my head began to throb.

I stopped the operation of martial power and opened my eyes.

The interior of the inn’s room where darkness had fallen again appeared.

‘One meal’s time with this level of sensitivity. If the fine meridians are damaged, my senses could become duller instead, so let’s not overdo it.’

Since this alone meant I had seen significant progress.

Having finished my practice, I closed my eyes.

**

Perhaps because I had practiced the Tai Chi Diagram Exposition, I could feel senses that had become slightly sharper than before.

‘It was seasoned with only chives, tofu, and salt. It is an exquisite harmony.’

To the extent that I could feel all the ratios and combinations of the filling ingredients of the dumpling, which I had previously eaten while simply thinking it was delicious.

“Let’s go, Junior Brother.”

“Yes.”

With Senior Brother, whose under-eyes had somehow darkened, I began to unfold the Flowing Cloud Movement Skill once again.

Around the Hour of the Rooster when the sun began to set like that, we were able to arrive at Wuchang’s Wudang Sect affiliate sect.

—Mysterious Sword Sect

While thinking that the characters written in neat regular script on the simple wooden plaque were splendid…

“Have you arrived?”

Recognizing the Black Pine patterned robe which signified a disciple of the True Martial Pavilion, a warrior of the Mysterious Sword Sect took the initiative to greet us.

“I am Myeong-hun, who descended from the mountain. This side is my junior brother, Yeon Baek-jung.”

“Heavy Cloud Sword!”

Meaning a sword like a heavy cloud.

Senior Brother Myeong-hun’s moniker resembled Senior Brother Myeong-hun’s martial arts. I felt a secret sense of envy.

“I see the youngest member of the True Martial Pavilion. It is an honor.”

It seemed that Senior Brother’s fame was high enough to be known even to those of the affiliate sect.

This was because even though the Mysterious Sword Sect warrior looked older than Senior Brother Myeong-hun, he clasped his hands even more politely than before. Senior Brother Myeong-hun accepted such a warrior’s cupped-hand salute very naturally.

He was Senior Brother Myeong-hun, the disciple of Immortal Hae-won, the Master of the South Rock Palace where the True Martial Pavilion was located. It was an attitude in which a high pride of belonging to the True Martial Pavilion was felt.

As a newcomer to the martial forest, I captured Senior Brother’s appearance in my eyes without missing anything.

Raising his head, the Mysterious Sword Sect warrior looked at me this time. With an attitude quite different from when looking at Senior Brother Myeong-hun, the warrior opened his mouth.

“However, is it alright for you to bring along such a young disciple? No matter if they are remnants of the Blood Selling Cult, if he faces them at the level of a formal disciple, he might get hurt.”

At the tone that implicitly ignored me, I twitched my eyebrows.

At that moment, Senior Brother Myeong-hun looked back and forth between me and the Mysterious Sword Sect warrior and chuckled. It was a chuckle that seemed quite refreshing.

“Even if he looks like this, he is a disciple of the True Martial Pavilion. The thing you worry about, warrior of the Mysterious Sword Sect, will not happen.”

At Senior Brother Myeong-hun’s words, the Mysterious Sword Sect warrior’s eyes widened.

“Pardon? You mean he is already a disciple of the True Martial Pavilion at that age! Certainly… he is wearing the Black Pine patterned robe.”

“Yes. Now the youngest to pass into the True Martial Pavilion is not me, but Junior Brother Yeon.”

With Senior Brother’s words, and the reaction of the Mysterious Sword Sect warrior alone, the majesty that the Wudang Sect’s True Martial Pavilion held over the Wudang Sect’s affiliate sects required no explanation.

“I have committed a rudeness! Please come this way. Taoist Nun Baek-song is waiting inside.”

The warrior, who hastily bowed his head, straightaway opened the main gate and guided us. His shoulders trembling slightly made his nervousness obvious.

In the courtyard of the Mysterious Sword Sect’s outer hall where we entered like that, a huge tree was standing. And on top of that tree, a young female Taoist who looked to be about the same age as Senior Brother Myeong-hun was dozing off while resting her arm. Then, the moment we set foot in the outer hall, she opened her eyes, rubbed them with her hand, and waved.

“Oh, Junior Brother! You came!”

“Senior Sister Yi, it has been a long time.”

Senior Brother Myeong-hun clasped his hands politely to the female Taoist, Yi Chae-yang, who sat in the seat of honor.

“Ugh. Thanks for coming. Do you know how lonely and hard it was for me to go around catching weird kids all by myself? Kids with their hair dyed red and lips caked in blood chasing after me.”

“Weren’t you the one chasing them, Senior Sister?”

Senior Sister Yi Chae-yang continued speaking like someone who could not hear Senior Brother Myeong-hun’s words.

“Knocking those kids down and handing them over to the government. And all by myself! Ah. I must at least beg Master not to give me solo missions from now on. You think so too, right, Junior Brother?”

“……”

“You. Do. Think. So. Right?”

“Yes. I think so too.”

“Can’t you empathize with a bit more soul?”

“Yes. I think so too.”

“Right. What would I expect from you.”

Senior Sister Yi Chae-yang, who was glaring at Senior Brother Myeong-hun, turned her head to me this time and spoke.

“By the way, who is this side? Myeong-hun, you should introduce him.”

“He is Junior Brother Yeon Baek-jung, who recently entered the True Martial Pavilion.”

At Senior Brother Myeong-hun’s words, Senior Sister Yi Chae-yang’s eyes widened.

As her eyes, which were already large, grew even larger, it was as if half of her face had become eyes.

And from those large eyes, an eye-light flashed momentarily.

Soon, she tilted her head and stared at me intently, and then… “Huh? Did Master take in a new disciple other than me?”