Chapter 48

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Translated by Seoulbound

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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The meeting broke up with the young Shaolin monk’s report.

It was a natural thing.

Shaolin was the Mount Tai and Beidou of the world’s martial world.

An assassin sect that could penetrate the guard of such a Shaolin and strike was unthinkable, except for the River of Three Crossings of the Six Great Evils.

Moreover, because it was unthinkable that the River of Three Crossings assassins would only harm the child of the Zhenzhou Yan Clan, the leaders of each sect quickly slipped away to their respective lodgings.

As everyone slipped away, Gangwon, who was the last to leave the Mahavira Hall, looked back at Goeng-song.

The flower sermon smile was still there.

However, it no longer looked as gentle as that of a Buddha.

Since the Manjusri Bodhisattva was a high monk renowned for wisdom and strategy, there was no way he had not foreseen this situation. Yet, for him to show such an appearance meant.

‘Did he intend this?’

At the very least, he was standing by and watching this situation.

Immortal Gangwon made that prediction and unleashed his Flowing Cloud Movement Skill to the limit. Because his disciple, Yeon Baek-jung, was also within the Shaolin grounds.

In the Mahavira Hall where everyone had departed, only a quiet silence remained.

The only ones remaining were Goeng-song and the young monk who had entered to report.

The young monk spoke quietly.

“Master of the Courtyard, will this be enough? I am afraid it might crack Shaolin’s reputation.”

The face of Goeng-song, who had been wearing a smile like a Buddha statue in the Mahavira Hall until just now, gradually stiffened. With a small sigh, Goeng-song opened his mouth again.

“If the martial world can unite as one again through this, what does the name of Shaolin matter?”

“Even so…”

To be honest, it was difficult for the young Shaolin monk to understand the reason for carrying things out even while damaging Shaolin’s reputation, but at the same time, he had always believed that Goeng-song made the best decisions for Shaolin and the martial world.

Trailing off his words, the young disciple continued his report.

“Although the injuries of the Third Young Master of the Yan Clan are critical, his life was saved thanks to the martial monks of the Luohan Hall stepping forward in time. In addition, I have informed the martial monks of the Luohan Hall deployed to each lodging that the restrictions on the martial arts they can use have been lifted.”

“Well done. Request the Bodhi Hall to examine the Third Young Master of the Yan Clan immediately, and bring the Lesser Returning Pill. We cannot let the lives of those with critical injuries be lost.”

“…Yes. I understand.”

The night of Shaolin was deepening.

**

Any substance that possessed heat emitted that heat in the form of light. This was the providence and logic of the universe, and wise men named this logic thermal radiation.

Literally, any object with heat emitted electromagnetic waves called light. However, that light might not necessarily be in the visible light range that a human eye could see.

This was especially true for animals like humans.

Since the light emitted by humans was not in the visible light spectrum, but in the infrared spectrum, which had a wavelength longer than red light.

Su-gyo, who had learned that he could see light beyond visible light through upper dantian training, put the sensory training I spoke of into practice through the Qingcheng Sect’s Celestial Master’s Immortal Law.

[Indeed, when I look at light other than visible light through the Peach Garden Force, I can see things that were invisible.]

He transmitted his voice with a gloomy expression.

The reason for his gloomy expression could easily be guessed.

Because the entities that released the killing intent, which silenced the birds at some point and made his skin prickle, were scattering light in the infrared region.

[I absolutely detest those kinds of people, Young Friend Yeon.]

The figure of Su-gyo, whose eyes had become extremely fatigued, began to grow faint. He had hidden his presence according to the Qingcheng Sect’s Concealment Method.

At the same time.

Shadows swayed, and assassins emitting infrared light began to strike, silently slicing through space.

**

No. 13, a mid-rank assassin belonging to the River of Three Crossings’ Sword Tree Hell, almost rubbed his eyes for an instant.

‘What is it?’

The young Taoist who had been looking tired just a moment ago had vanished from right in front of his eyes. Even if it was a dark night, No. 13 was someone who had trained in eye techniques as an assassin. Although he could not compare to the high-rank assassins of the Sword Tree Hell who came with him, losing sight of the target was impossible.

It was not that Assassin No. 13 did not know the Qingcheng Sect’s martial arts, but the training of the Concealment Method stealth that he knew was not at a level to surpass an assassin’s stealth method to this extent, so it felt like he had seen a phantom.

Nevertheless, No. 13 did not lose his composure.

Because he was an assassin who had passed through the River of Three Crossings’ Sword Tree Hell.

Because there was not just one, but two disciples of the Nine Sects and One Association staying in the shade of the Shaolin Temple’s Guest Hall. Since it was a situation where both had to be killed anyway.

Thinking that the higher-level Qingcheng Sect disciple would be handled by the high-rank assassins still holding their breath in the shadows, No. 13 immediately switched his target.

‘Without fail.’

He drew up his lower dantian internal force as much as possible, concentrating it in his legs and arms, and thrust forward the narrow-bladed sword hidden inside his sleeve.

It was aimed toward the space between the brows of the young boy, who did not even seem to have reached adulthood.

‘Got him!’

From the shadow concealment to the explosive release of internal force throughout his entire body.

At the moment when the perfect strike of the River of Three Crossings’ Life-Piercing Thrust —which meant that by the time you noticed the assassin who erased his presence and even controlled the flow of air, you would already be bidding farewell to the world—was about to pierce the boy’s brow.

‘Huh?!’

A sudden gust of wind blew above the assassin’s elbow, and his arm lifted minutely.

However, as that minute change reached the tip of the sword, it drastically altered the trajectory, so the tip of the narrow-bladed sword that had been aiming for the brow ultimately passed above the boy’s forehead.

The young boy Taoist had naturally drawn close beneath No. 13’s chest. It was not that the boy had approached, but that No. 13 had approached him. Therefore, the straight punch that the boy lightly extended was not fast either, but it swiftly contacted his chest. The idea that quickly extending a fist and bringing one’s chest toward an extended fist at the same speed produced the same effect was both intuitive and yet difficult to think of immediately.

The moment the straight punch laden with enormous relative velocity momentum contacted his chest.

Crack—!

The sound of breastbones breaking could be heard.

That was the last sound No. 13 heard before crossing the River of Three Crossings.

**

The level of the assassins was not low.

They were at least on a similar level to the Changyou mask he had met in Juksan.

Yet, dealing with them was strangely easy.

It was because Su-gyo swung his sword while hiding his presence.

Slash—!

Along with a small sound of the sword, the sight of one side of the assassins’ encirclement collapsing came into view.

However, the assassins were well-trained and did not lose their composure. They seemed better than the Mount Hua disciples.

Nevertheless, I did not lose my composure despite the attacks following such an encirclement.

It was because the practical experience accumulated so far coupled with my increased internal energy caused my body to move on its own.

Furthermore, the characteristics of the assassins’ martial arts also contributed to this composure.

‘To aim for a single deadly strike while specialized in stealth.’

It was completely incompatible with me.

The training of concealment was rendered useless by looking at the infrared region, and the training of a single deadly strike was resolved by deflecting and counterattacking through Tai Chi Chuan routines.

Since the assassin’s martial arts, which required hiding presence and movements through stealth and shadow concealment to load the internal force of the entire body into a single strike aiming at vital acupoints, were not put together properly from the very first step, their power could not be unleashed.

Moreover, the inspiration obtained through the conversation with Su-gyo also played a part in this composure.

—Qingcheng Sect’s Nine Rivers Celestial Wind Sword distorts the opponent’s routine through the sword-wind force, taking away the completeness of their martial arts.

It was a similar principle to how the Wudang Sect’s secret transmission, the Four Symbols Flowing Sword’s sword-Qi force wave, restricted the enemy’s movement.

The only difference was that it drew the maximum benefit with the minimum investment.

Inspired by those words, I adjusted the formula of Tai Chi Chuan’s force release.

The effect was certain.

By forming the trajectory of the straight punch from Advancing into emptiness, leaving the temple above the arm the assassin was extending and causing a fist-wind force release, the trajectory of the assassin’s arm swayed.

It shook the thrust trajectory based on fluid dynamics.

There was no need to shake it greatly.

Just as force cannot be properly transmitted to the point of action if the fulcrum of a lever shakes, making a small gap was enough. In that way, I added my strength to the approaching opponent’s strength and crushed the assassin’s chest.

In Wudang Sect martial arts terminology, it was Borrowing Force to Fill Energy.

In physics terms, it was the principle of action and reaction.

As my understanding of mechanics and martial arts deepened, fighting one against many felt easy.

After slaying the first assassin and bringing down the third assassin in a similar manner, the remaining ones could not easily approach me.

Because I had slain the opponents using the opponents’ own strength, almost no internal energy was consumed, and even that was replenished according to the dynamic cultivation formula of the Primal Chaos Tai Chi Art.

Nevertheless, I could not feel relieved or let my guard down.

‘There are more.’

Because in addition to the assassins who had revealed themselves, those showing an even more sinister presence, holding their breath in the shadows, were biding their time.

The assassins brought down so far were on a similar level to the Changyou mask, but those who hid their bodies in the shadows had only faint infrared light emitting from their bodies. They were those who had mastered assassin martial arts to an even deeper level.

Furthermore, I could guess the reason why they did not step forward all at once.

‘To drain my strength through their subordinates and grasp my martial arts and tendencies.’

It was typical assassin behavior.

Wanting a fair duel of martial arts while dealing with assassins was a luxury. Since they were shameless people who traded human lives solely for silver coins, martial arts was merely a means to earn silver coins.

The two intentions that such people had in mind.

One of them was completely missed, but the remaining intention would have been met.

As expected, those who had been hiding in the shadows soon began to move their bodies stealthily.

I instinctively turned my head at the motion, which was so stealthy and rapid that I momentarily lost their position.

With a swishing sound, a strand of hair was sliced off.

“You avoided this?”

It was puzzling that an assassin would make a sound, but I soon realized the reason.

A sword flew in once again from the opposite direction of where the sound came from. A simple but effective deception technique.

I immediately rolled on the ground.

My sleeve was sliced off silently.

“You are like a lazy donkey. For someone who is a disciple of the prestigious Wudang Sect.”

“Hehehe. They said a young, not yet fully grown bringer of chaos has appeared in the Wudang Sect, and indeed you are half-baked. If you have given up your clothes, is the arm next?”

The place where the mocking voices were heard and the directions of the flying sword strikes were all separate.

The formula of a sound art that disrupted the sensory organs of the upper dantian could be felt in the assassin’s voice. Even the sense of time, which had been slowing down, seemed to gradually accelerate.

‘Brought disruption to the sensory system?’

A part that recalled the spell formations of the Ghost Immortal Valley fools I had faced in Yunxi County.

I immediately twisted and formed the internal force flowing between my acupoints and fine meridians like threads.

Just as a twisted wire blocks external noise, the twisted flow of internal force blocked the sound art waves of the assassins.

The flow of scenery, which had been accelerating, slowed down once again.

Above the space that until just now felt like passing through the legendary Sword Tree Hell —where leaves were supposedly made of blades—the figures of three assassins who had stealthily hidden their presence were revealed.

I grasped the path drawn by the finely twisted flow of natural Qi and the vibration of air molecules between the assassins, and stepped onto it.

Just as I had deflected Senior Brother Myeong-jin’s sword strike along the first step of the Slender Willow Flutter, the assassins’ sword strikes flowed past over my clothing.

The pupils of the assassins inside their exposed eyeholes dilated minutely.

A small mental disturbance had been revealed.

That mental disturbance manifested as the assassin’s breath, and the breath was soon reflected as a wave of internal force.

The moment the wave of the assassin’s internal force, which had only been stealthy, was felt, the Tai Chi Diagram Exposition in my upper dantian calculated the natural frequency of the internal strength trained by the assassin.

Having formed a soft rotating force wave at the end of the step of the Slender Willow Flutter’s second step, the Actionless Walk, I did not miss the opportunity, spreading my palm and gently pushing it forward.

Woong. Woong. Woo-woong—!

The moment the Wudang secret transmission internal heavy strikes method, the Cloud-Dispelling Divine Palm’s palm-force vibration, matched the vibration of the internal force flowing through the extraordinary meridians of the River of Three Crossings assassin.

“Cough!”

Blood spewed from the mouth of the assassin, which had not opened even at the moment of death.

**

The Qingcheng Sect disciple, Su-gyo, aimed for the backs of the assassins after erasing his presence with the Concealment Method.

‘Let’s finish this quickly and rest.’

It was the best decision that could be made by Su-gyo, who found it unbearable to see the natural Qi disrupted by the killing intent emitted by the assassins.

The only thing that weighed on his mind was that the target of the assassins had become fixed on Yeon Baek-jung as he concealed himself.

However.

‘Oh.’

Looking at Yeon Baek-jung, who shattered the chest of the River of Three Crossings assassin with a single punch containing the logic of offense and defense as one, he set aside his worries.

Yeon Baek-jung’s martial arts, which precisely conformed to the principles of martial arts they had been sharing until just now, delighted both his eyes and mind.

‘I wish Su-byeok could see Young Friend Yeon and learn a lot.’

Watching Yeon Baek-jung, who showed achievements that would be embarrassing to compare with the youngest junior brother of the Pacifying Sword Unit, Su-gyo cut away the source of environmental pollution.

Meanwhile.

‘Hup?!’

Clang!

For the first time, his sword turned to a defensive posture.

“How can a disciple of the Nine Sects use assassin martial arts?!”

At the same time, emotion was revealed in the low murmuring voice of the assassin, who seemed surprised.

Su-gyo frowned at that assassin’s reaction.

Being noticed by anyone was the absolute worst.

It was only human nature to dislike it even more if it was the attention of an assassin.

Su-gyo firmed his resolve to bring out the martial arts of his sect that was being newly restored.

It was an action originating from his true intention to conceal his own appearance, alongside the excuse that it was a good opportunity to test its effectiveness in actual combat.

Su-gyo scattered deep blue sword Qi with the blade while pushing away the assassin’s sword strike.

“Huh?!”

The assassin felt for an instant as if he were trapped in a blue cloud.

At the same time, his five senses, including sight, began to grow dull.

‘What on earth is this!’

The River of Three Crossings assassin recalled the moment he had failed the test to rise to a special-rank assassin. But this was actual combat, not a test.

Slice.

Without even the realization that his neck had been severed, the assassin lost his life.

**

After handling both of the remaining assassins through the palm-force of the Cloud-Dispelling Divine Palm.

Yeon Baek-jung looked around.

Su-gyo was walking out from the deep shade of the trees. A strange moisture could be felt on his clothing. Like someone who had been walking through fog or clouds.

At the same time, the blade was stained red, as if he had fought a fierce battle with the assassins.

Looking down at his own blade, Su-gyo let out a small sigh and swung his sword heavily. While the bodily fluids and blood smeared on the sword scattered onto the ground, the blade disappeared into Su-gyo’s scabbard.

“Let’s go back, Young Friend Yeon.”

At Su-gyo’s words, which carried a sense of fatigue, Yeon Baek-jung nodded quietly.

At that moment, a light wind blew.

“Baek-jung!”

Immortal Gangwon appeared.

He was accompanied by members of the Wudang Sect, the Qingcheng Sect, and even Shaolin martial monks.

“Are you alright?! Are you hurt anywhere?”

Yeon Baek-jung was slightly taken aback by the overreaction, which was unlike the usually emotionless Immortal Gangwon.

‘Well, since assassins invaded the Shaolin grounds.’

This kind of reaction was also natural.

He nodded lightly and spoke while pointing toward Su-gyo of the Qingcheng Sect.

“Thanks to the help of Taoist Priest Su-gyo, safely…”

“Su-gyo?”

In response to Immortal Gangwon’s questioning query, only a light wind remained in the place he suddenly turned to look at. Far away, the back of Su-gyo, who was scattering infrared light beyond the stealth of the Concealment Method, entered Yeon Baek-jung’s view.

“Ah, it is nothing.”

Yeon Baek-jung lightly shook his head.

Thanks to this, Yeon Baek-jung’s reputation spread beyond the Wudang Sect to the disciples of Qingcheng and Shaolin.

As the rising star of the Wudang Sect who had slain dozens of River of Three Crossings assassins.

**

Early in the morning, the famous figures of the martial world who had assembled at Shaolin gathered once again in the Mahavira Hall. It was to hold them accountable for the fact that several young disciples had been injured due to the River of Three Crossings assassins who invaded the Shaolin grounds.

“How will you take responsibility for this?”

“Was Shaolin’s security only at this level? I am disappointed!”

“How can Shaolin, the Mount Tai and Beidou of the martial world, be ravaged by assassins!”

However, since no one was seriously injured thanks to the Shaolin Temple’s Luohan Hall martial monks stepping forward swiftly.

“We are deeply sorry. We apologize in the name of Shaolin.”

In addition to Goeng-song’s apology, when he presented the Wound-Healing Elixir, the Treasure Tranquility Pills manufactured at the Shaolin Temple’s Bodhi Hall, the dissatisfaction subsided.

But the Zhenzhou Yan Clan was different.

Yan Jong-hak, the younger brother of the family head who came representing the Yan Clan, demanded loudly.

“My nephew was seriously injured in this incident! How will you take responsibility, Great Master Goeng-song!”

The injuries of the Third Young Master of the Yan Clan were in a critical state.

Fortunately, although his life was saved thanks to the medical monks of the Bodhi Hall being dispatched quickly, he was in a state where he had to recuperate for a while.

At this, Goeng-song bowed deeply and spoke.

“I sincerely apologize in the name of the Shaolin Temple. This is a small token from our temple wishing for the Third Young Master’s recovery, so please accept it.”

The excited Yan Jong-hak roughly took the wooden box extended by Goeng-song and flung the lid open.

“Hmph, how can such a small external possession…”

At that moment, a refreshing fragrance stimulated his nose, and a faint radiance shone from the wooden box.

“Is that…?”

“The Lesser Returning Pill?!”

The Lesser Returning Pill, famous as the world’s finest Wound-Healing Elixir, was inside the wooden box.

Even if his life were truly in critical danger, it would have been an excessive spiritual medicine for the Third Young Master of the Yan Clan, who had already escaped the danger of death. However.

“I truly hope the Yan Family Head’s son recovers quickly.”

Those words of Goeng-song gained definite strength by bestowing the Lesser Returning Pill, and Yan Jong-hak calmed his excitement and replied.

“Ahem. The martial monks of the Shaolin Temple’s Guest Hall were also injured, were they not? It seems I was overly excited in front of the famous figures of the martial world due to my nephew’s affair.”

The Shaolin Temple’s Lesser Returning Pill was worth that much.

Once the situation was settled, the dissatisfaction toward Shaolin soon spread to the entities behind the attack, the Six Great Evils spearheaded by the River of Three Crossings.

“We cannot just take this lying down. We from Hainan will also roll up our sleeves and step forward!”

“Since they dared to harm a disciple of Mount Hua, they must be punished.”

The sects that had been relatively lukewarm toward the current situation raised their voices in particular. It was because they also realized they could be targeted by the Six Great Evils.

Seeing the atmosphere ripen like that, Goeng-song spoke with a feigned stiff expression.

“In that case, will all the sects gathered here now dispatch their disciples?”

In response to his question, the famous figures of each sect nodded their heads in unison.

Watching that sight, Immortal Gangwon looked at Goeng-song with slightly weary eyes.

‘He is not the Manjusri Bodhisattva, but the Manjusri Fox.’