Chapter 54

===================
Translated by Seoulbound

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

**

Immediately after the River of Three Crossings’ Young Spirit Slayer fled.

“Young Spirit Slayer, who defeated the Mount Heng Sect’s elder, fled…”

“We defeated that Young Spirit Slayer…! We did!”

A significant number of the Group Bing-ja members, who had somehow endured the pressure of facing an expert of the Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown, flopped down onto the ground.

“Rather than ‘we’, it was the work of these gentlemen.”

Before we knew it, to our colleagues, Taoist Su-gyo and I had become “these gentlemen.”

“If it were not for the two Taoist masters, we would be dead men!”

“We will surely repay this grace under the name of Diancang.”

“When I return to my clan, I must at least make offerings to Qingcheng and Wudang. Haha.”

Following the promises of gratitude and obligation were matters regarding the martial arts shown when defeating Young Spirit Slayer.

“The move shown by Taoist Yeon… it was indeed thunder energy, correct?”

“Since you have eyes, you must have seen it. It is unmistakable thunder energy.”

“How could someone at that age manage a secret transmission permitted only to those who read the heavenly secret…”

“It is not for nothing that the moniker Wudang of the South is attached in front of the name Wudang Sect.”

“I knew you were outstanding, but to think it was to this extent…!”

I felt proud anew at their words.

It was not only because I had elevated the name of the sect.

It was thanks to the sense of achievement that I had obtained the True Formula of Thunder of the Four Symbols Wind and Thunder Palm.

‘Finally.’

Although it was still not second nature to my body and was merely a temporary realization.

‘Since from now on, all I have to do is pave the way through training.’

Because it was a realization that arrived in the moment of a life-and-death clash, its reproducibility would not be high, but.

It was a realm I had reached once.

If I repeated training and contemplation, there was no way I could not reach it again.

At that moment, Namgung Hyeok approached me.

“Taoist Yeon.”

“Brother Namgung.”

“Thanks to you, I lived. Please surely visit the Namgung Clan someday. I will definitely repay the grace of saving my life.”

At the greeting of gratitude, I shook my head.

This was because the one who drew his sword first and stepped forward right before the center of my palm was pierced and my brow was punctured by Young Spirit Slayer’s sword was Namgung Hyeok. Moreover, it was something done by Namgung Hyeok, who possessed mediocre martial power compared to Young Spirit Slayer.

I was not unaware that he had stepped forward risking his life.

“Thanks to Brother Namgung, I also saved my life. To speak of the grace of saving one’s life is uncalled for.”

At my reply, Namgung Hyeok waved his hands and said.

“If it were not for Taoist Yeon and Taoist Su-gyo, all of us here would have become ghosts who cannot return. To speak of humility is uncalled for.”

Thereupon, he continued speaking in a serious tone.

“Furthermore, the palm technique loaded with thunder energy shown at the end was impressive. The elders of the family will likely also be pleased if they meet Taoist Yeon.”

The correlation between thunder energy and the senior masters of the Namgung Clan was briefly puzzling, but there was no need to ask. It was thanks to Namgung Hyeok’s subsequent words.

“Our family’s sword studies are ultimately martial arts to reach the heavenly thunder. Those who can actually load thunder energy onto their sword blades will not even be ten, even throughout the vast Namgung Clan manor. Since Taoist Yeon handled such thunder energy, if you visit as a guest, you will surely receive a warm reception, even if it is not because of me.”

At his words, I recalled the sword path of the Great Derivation Sword Namgung Hyeok had presented, and.

‘Ah, does it connect in this manner!’

I was able to obtain a small realization.

Retracing the system of the sword path and the force-release formula he had shown, I was able to place one more step on the path to reproducing thunder energy.

In that one could gain inspiration merely by having a conversation with a disciple of a prestigious clan, my master’s words hit home anew.

“Thank you for the words.”

I expressed my gratitude with all my heart.

Although Namgung Hyeok claimed he could not receive thank-you greetings from his savior, to me, he was a savior.

“Since we have both incurred a debt of life to each other, let us consider it as though it never happened then.”

“Would that not be somewhat disappointing? Please understand my greed in wishing to expand my acquaintance with the future number one fist of Wudang.”

“Haha. Then I will visit as a debt collector someday.”

“Come as much as you like. Even if I have to pull up the foundation stones of the Namgung Clan manor, I will repay the debt.”

Between colleagues who had shared life and death, such a tight bond was blooming.

Meanwhile.

“Something is approaching!”

At the shout of Eon Cheol-san from the Eon Clan, who possessed outstanding sensory perception, the string of tension that had relaxed among the Group Bing-ja personnel tightened tensely once more.

The massive wave of energy felt at the end of the battle with Young Spirit Slayer had approached right nearby. However, I did not tense up or raise my internal energy.

It was because the form and frequency of the wave of energy were all familiar.

I stepped forward immediately.

“Taoist Yeon.”

I waved my hand to the colleagues calling me to signal that it was fine.

Thereupon, I clasped my hands.

“I greet Senior Sister.”

A woman standing on the slope of the valley along with the footwork force of the Cloud-Climbing Step that seemed to fly through the empty air.

It was the Greedy Wolf Unit Leader, Martial Aunt Hye-won.

**

Senior Sister’s eyes glanced over the surroundings, then turned toward me.

And curved gently.

It was a smile of relief.

“I felt an unusual wave of energy from afar. What a relief. That you are safe.”

“But how did you know to come all the way here?”

“My senior brother ordered it. As the Lord of the Sea Fog Pavilion of the Wudang Sect before being your master. He must have sensed some sign.”

At her words, a feeling of respect for my master surged anew, but my master with his grumpy face seemed likely to speak like this.

-Why? Did a feeling of respect surge? Then from now on, all the laundry coming out of the Purple Yang Hermitage will be done by you…

‘Hmm.’

Thanks to that, I was able to shake off the feeling of respect for my master that was about to weigh me down.

Martial Aunt Hye-won, who was looking at me in that state, smirked and continued speaking.

“Your injuries do not seem to be severe.”

Recalling my experience of my broken bones knitting thanks to taking the Tang Family’s Flesh-Generating Tendon-Connecting Pill and the Supreme Clarity Pill recently, I spoke as if it were no big deal.

“Ah. It seems it will heal if I apply medicine.”

At my reply, Senior Sister’s eyebrows twitched.

“Is it right for a martial artist to treat the wounds sustained on their own body so lightly?”

“···I am sorry.”

However, I was soon able to lift my head.

Not long after Tang Si-hyeok of Group Bing-ja, who was watching my expression, immediately brought ointment and applied it to my hand.

“Huh? It is really completely healed?”

In the middle of wrapping a clean cloth around my hand after applying the ointment, new flesh had grown over the pierced hand.

“···.”

“···.”

After a brief, awkward silence flowed.

“···If you have tended to your wounds, let us go now.”

Senior Sister spoke softly, then muttered in a barely audible voice.

“Inborn divine strength…!”

**

The way back.

We went up by land from Hapfo to Guilin.

And when we stood before the Xiang River leading from Guilin to Hunan.

“Has the security regarding the operation not ended by now?”

Eon Cheol-san, from the Zhenzhou Yan Clan—the number one family in Hunan—pulled out a heavy pouch from his breast and showed it.

“Let us go by water.”

Eon Cheol-san, who spoke, looked at Su-gyo for a moment, and.

“I will rent the entire boat.”

Along with the brightened Su-gyo, we were able to board a boat traveling back and forth between the Xiang River and the Yangtze River.

“We will be able to go up by water to Hubei.”

Since even Martial Aunt Hye-won had a satisfied face.

It was a decision that made everyone happy.

As my body became comfortable, sleep did not come easily.

Because falling asleep while floating on river water was not an easy task in the first place, I left the cabin and stood on the deck.

I was not the only one there.

“Taoist Su-gyo.”

“Young Brother Yeon. It is late at night?”

“Sleep does not come easily.”

Although Su-gyo was someone who could not mingle well with people, his expression appeared relaxed whenever he was with me, so I sat beside him without hesitation.

While no noise was heard other than the sound of flowing water above the Xiang River.

“Thank you.”

I turned my head toward Su-gyo with surprised eyes.

Because it was extremely rare for him to open his mouth first.

Before I could add any words, Su-gyo hastily opened his mouth.

“Thanks to Young Brother Yeon’s advice, in addition to the Blue Cloud Sword, I obtained great help in restoring the Sunset Sword. Furthermore, even the unification of the Blue Cloud Sword and the Sunset Sword which had only been passed down in legend. I do not know if I can do it again, but… Since I know the path, it has become easier to walk. Thank you. I mean it.”

At his words, I turned my head and cast my gaze on the river water.

It was a consideration for him, who felt uncomfortable even with someone’s gaze. And I opened my mouth, recalling that day, that moment.

“Taoist Su-gyo is the one who is amazing. I merely delivered what occurred to my mind upon seeing the Blue Cloud Sword and the Sunset Sword presented by Taoist Su-gyo. The one who actually implemented it was Taoist Su-gyo.”

A single thought associated from the Blue Cloud Sword and the Sunset Sword.

It was the structure of an atom and the two forces that compose that structure.

The two forces called the so-called ‘strong interaction’ (strong force) and ‘electromagnetic force’. The inspiration regarding those forces led me to the True Formula of Thunder of the Four Symbols Wind and Thunder Palm in the split-second of life and death.

“Thanks to obtaining insights in the moment of a life-and-death struggle, I was also able to save my life.”

It comes to mind once more.

The words my master had left behind before leaving Shaolin.

-It is a good thing to gain learning by meeting people. I wish you martial fortune.

Since we met person to person, shared life and death, and moved forward, the emotion spreading over the waves of the Xiang River containing the deep night was something felt for the first time in my life.

If I were to compare it, it was similar to the emotion of the moment I lectured the senior and junior brothers of the Greedy Wolf Unit after creating the Primal Chaos Tai Chi Art.

At the feeling of an emotion with a slightly more intense and sticky texture swirling above my middle dantian, a smile naturally formed on my face.

I felt like I knew anew what kind of thing it was to go out into the Jianghu and form acquaintances. If it were this kind of acquaintance, I would gladly share it even if training time were reduced slightly.

While thinking in that manner.

The smile that was being formed on my face gradually faded.

I was not the only one.

Taoist Su-gyo, who was comfortably lying down on the deck, stood up holding his sword.

My eyes locked with his.

I immediately loaded internal energy and shouted loudly.

“Enemy raid!”

Simultaneously, along with a thumping sound, the hull shook violently, and above the dark Xiang River became bright as broad daylight.

Five sailing ships boasting massive and tall hulls were surrounding our boat.

In addition, the exquisite carving engraved on the bows was in the shape of a black flood dragon, and on top of them were dozens of warriors wearing black snake-shaped masks.

Eon Cheol-san, who hastily stepped out of the cabin, looked at that sight and spat out a single name as if chewing it.

“It is the fleet of the Great Sage Who Overturns Seas!”

The one who held the moniker of the monster said to overturn the sea among the seven monster brothers in the ‘Legend of the Tang Monk’, which adapted the story of the high monk Xuanzang.

True to their reputation, the subordinates of the bandit among the seven Great Sages of the Chaotic Heaven Green Forest who had dedicated his life to water piracy were proficient in water combat.

“The boat is!”

“Sinking!”

“We must first balance it!”

Even while they were out of it after waking up from sleep, all the members of Group Bing-ja were quick in judging the situation.

The shaking of the hull accompanied by an unknown noise just before was likely the cause.

While the Group Bing-ja members raised their voices as they grasped the situation, sharp energy flew in from the water.

What Jeon Uk blocked along with a clanking sound was an iron rod about five feet long with one end sharpened to a point. It was a strange weapon called the water-parting Emei daggers.

What flew in next was a harpoon commonly used by fishermen.

While holding us in check with throwing weapons, the widely spread tall-hulled ships simultaneously began to close their encirclement.

That appearance was quite threatening.

Above all, the numbers were the problem.

‘More than thirty people per ship.’

It was a fleet composed entirely of masked warriors.

There was no one who did not wear a mask, like the Green Monkey masked warriors.

‘If you know yourself and know your enemy, you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles.’

As a passage from chapter three of the Art of War, the Plan of Attack chapter, flashed through my mind, I immediately raised the sensitivity of the Tai Chi Diagram Exposition.

The unfolding net of senses analyzed the wave of energy of each passing enemy. It was to find the enemy’s weak points. Even if Martial Aunt Hye-won was on our side, because the other side possessed an overwhelmingly large number, a countermeasure would be necessary.

Although the level of the enemies reflected in the passing net was generally uniform, just like the Green Forest bandits with the green monkey masks previously, the more gorgeously decorated the mask shape, the higher their level.

And among the bandits wearing gorgeously decorated masks, the guy who was emitting a truly outstanding aura stood at the very front of the hull and pointed at me.

“It’s that fellow! The young Wudang Sect Taoist prick that the Great Sage Who Drives Spirits was looking for!”

“They say if you eat the flesh of a Taoist prick, you grow gills, hehe.”

“Today my water combat skills will rise a level. Keke.”

Since a nauseating sound and smell drifted from the lower jaw exposed beneath the mask.

As soon as I grasped their level, I sent a wink to Martial Aunt Hye-won.

Straight away she nodded to me, and.

Soon, the propulsive force wave of the Cloud-Climbing Step burst lightly beneath my feet.

Dung.

With only a small noise and a slight shaking of the sinking hull, I was able to float my body in the air.

This was because I delayed the sinking of our boat as much as possible by dispersing the impact due to action and reaction widely.

“The fellow floated in the air!”

Simultaneously, shouts were heard, and.

As the harpoon and the water-parting Emei daggers cut through the empty air.

‘Thank you.’

I was able to move forward while stepping on the flying strange weapons, and.

“Huh?!”

The gorgeously decorated black snake mask standing at the very front of the hull drew closer.

“Eeeek!”

The fellow’s lower jaw closed tightly, and dark energy swirled above his palm. He was a bandit who had some skill.

However, compared to Young Spirit Slayer whom I had faced recently, he fell far short. Let alone the Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown, judging by the clump of internal energy loosely assembled in his middle dantian, he was a rookie who had only just reached the Elixir Condensation Stage.

Within my slowed sense of time, I lightly brushed aside the rookie bandit’s hand gesture filled with dark energy using the Single Whip stance of Tai Chi Chuan, and then.

I grabbed the collar of the black snake head.

“Young Master!”

From the shouts of the similarly gorgeously decorated snake heads around the gorgeously decorated black snake head, I was able to know that the status of the bandit who had entered my grasp was not ordinary, and.

I concentrated internal energy in my hand and shouted threateningly on purpose.

“If you move, you die. Everyone, hands—no, masks off!”