Chapter 62

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

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

**

Because I was supporting Eon Baek-san with one arm, I could not properly utilize unarmed strikes and hand-to-hand martial arts.

So, I drew the sword slung on my back.

‘Although I haven’t completed it yet…’

But it was a sword technique I had mastered for moments like this anyway.

Within the slowing sense of time, I captured the movements of the saber-wielder brandishing his saber with a ferocious momentum.

The ghost-head broadsword raised high into the sky fell down, harboring a ferocious momentum.

It was a speed that was felt as fast even in the peak supreme realm of the upper dantian.

At the same time, the movements of the saber-wielder engraved in my eyes passed by, stimulating various intents.

‘The contracting and relaxing muscles are ropes connecting the pulleys, and the joints transmit force like pulleys.’

It meant that brandishing a weapon was identical to the kinetic principles of a mechanical device.

Due to the characteristics of the human body, the transmitted force appeared in the form of rotational force, that was, torque.

Because our bodies are elongated rather than round.

‘Torque can be expressed as the cross product of the distance from the center and the force.’

Therefore, the longer the length of the rotating object and the farther the weight is from the center of rotation, the more the rotational force is enhanced.

That was why the form of the ghost-head broadsword brandished by the saber-wielder in front of my eyes was thick and the tip of the blade was heavy.

It was precisely felt even within the sense of time sliced and perceived by the upper dantian.

It was madness to receive the extending strike of the ghost-head broadsword head-on, let alone with bare hands, even with the sword in hand.

Even if I deflected it, damage was unavoidable.

Another method was needed.

‘The rotational axis of the saber strike penetrates the opponent’s shoulder.’

Only one thing came to mind.

‘Create a new, perpendicular axis of rotation.’

A saber strike packed with a lifetime of cultivated internal energy in the well-developed upper and lower arm muscles could not alter its path in that state.

However, it was possible if the axis of rotation was changed.

Because the action of torque was calculated as a cross product.

Considering the direction, the axis of rotation that would twist the opponent’s force to the maximum was an orthogonal one.

Another reason added to that.

What if rotational inertia was also considered?

‘The closer the weight is to the center of rotation, the lower the rotational inertia becomes.’

Since it could be rotated more easily if the rotational inertia was low.

I extended the sword along the flow of true qi.

The wave of true qi distorted by the saber strike entangled around the sword.

Riding the texture of the flow, the sword blade rotated slightly.

The sword was causing a small whirlpool centered on the axis connecting the sword tip and the opponent’s wrist in a straight line.

At the weak movement of the sword that seemed incapable of exerting any influence on the falling saber strike, a sneer formed on the mouth of the Datong Sect Leader brandishing the saber strike; I did not care.

For rotational angular momentum was conserved.

I moved the sword with conviction.

The moment the line of my sword perpendicularly crossed the rotational center of the opponent’s saber strike,

I circulated the sword qi force wave according to the formula of Stirring —which stirred and scattered—among the five formulas for releasing force in the Tai Chi Sword Manual.

Even though it was my first time using it in actual combat, the sword secrets I had mastered in Shaolin unleashed.

A small wind rotated and overlapped along the spiral sword path; it was a form mixed with the wind formula of the Four Symbols Wind and Thunder Palm.

The moment the rotational axis of the ghost-head broadsword’s saber strike and the rotational axis of the Tai Chi Sword Manual’s Stirring Formula intersected orthogonally,

Even as the sword bent as if it would break, I supported the Yanglao and Yangge acupoints in the wrist area with cultivation power and continued the Stirring Sword Formula that agitated natural qi with the elasticity of the extensor muscles and carpal muscles.

‘Spin.’

The sneering face of the Datong Sect Leader froze in astonishment.

As if deviating from expectations, the saber strike that was slashing down diagonally was swept by the turbulent flow of the sword qi force wave and bent.

The ferocious ghost-head broadsword passed through empty space and shattered the stone floor of the courtyard.

Through the stone fragments scattering with a loud roar, the flustered face of the Datong Sect Leader was visible.

“What kind of sorcery is this!”

“Sorcery, you say.”

Watching the saber-wielder who referred to the Sword Immortal Jin-cheon-jin-in’s Tai Chi Sword Manual as sorcery, my brow furrowed.

I felt wronged.

‘It’s rotational force (torque), though.’

At the moment when I felt bad as if the name of my respected Grandmaster and the names of the ancient sages who organized mechanics had been tarnished,

The thick blade that had shattered the floor extended once again.

However, the momentum from earlier was not loaded onto it.

This was because the force wave was not properly loaded onto the saber strike due to the inertia of the natural qi that had subsided along with the diagonally slashed saber strike.

Simultaneously with perception, the formula of the Tai Chi Sword Manual came to mind.

‘Riding the wind and flowing with water, without stagnation or blockage. Just as riding the wind and conforming to the flow, there shall be no obstruction.’

The flow of natural qi was still pointing downward as an aftermath of the saber strike; assimilating with the surrounding true qi, the sword path was formed naturally.

Rather than me unfolding the sword, the sword led me.

Among the five formulas for releasing force in the Tai Chi Sword Manual,

The Pressing Formula unfolded naturally and pressed down on the rising blade.

It was not being pressed down by my sword strike.

Rather, he was being pressed down by the saber strike force wave he himself had utilized.

As the saber routine fell apart through the wonder of borrowing force to fill energy, the opponent’s chest was left wide open.

I immediately used the opponent’s force in reverse and thrust the sword.

However, I had not yet organized the force-release for thrusting and emitting; relying on intuitive sense, I manifested the force.

With a cracking sound, the sensation of the opponent’s chest breastplate shattering and his ribs crushing was transmitted to my hand along the blade.

“Keuak!”

‘Rather than cutting, I smashed it.’

It was due to being more accustomed to boxing force-release than sword techniques.

At the moment the scream rang out, dozens of Datong Sect warriors rushed along the courtyard corridor. It seemed the limit of Namgung Hyeok and Jeon Uk drawing their attention from the front had also been reached.

“Sect Leader!”

The number of warriors shouting and breaking in was substantial.

It was not for nothing that they were called Xining’s three major sects.

Beyond the pass.

Moreover, they were martial artists belonging to the sect that held hegemony in Xining, which was close to a garrison city.

It was a number and momentum burdensome to deal with while carrying an injured person who was practically a commoner.

At that moment,

Thwack-!

With a single palm strike flying over the wall and extending in a surprise attack, a Datong Sect warrior who had been running at the front was knocked flat.

“Senior Sister!”

It was Senior Sister Yi Chae-yang, who belonged to Group Jia and whose whereabouts had been unknown. Just as I had thought at first, it seemed she, who had been watching for an opportunity to rescue the prisoners, had infiltrated upon the commotion in the Datong Sect.

She seemed surprised for a moment upon seeing me. It was natural, for Senior Sister would have thought that I was either performing a mission around Guangxi or had returned to Shaolin.

However, she soon pulled herself together and shouted.

“This way!”

Following behind Senior Sister, I immediately sheathed my sword and carried Eon Baek-san on my shoulders.

Eon Baek-san’s face was devoid of blood.

Since there seemed to be no benefit in dragging out time to fight the charging Datong Sect warriors,

Rather than confronting them, we leaped over the backyard wall we had infiltrated.

“As expected! You found them!”

The ones who welcomed us.

They were Namgung Hyeok and Jeon Uk, who had been causing a commotion at the main gate.

However, there was no time to be glad.

“Over there!”

“They are intruders!”

“They are smuggling the prisoners out! Chase them!”

Avoiding the shouting Datong Sect martial artists, we immediately unfolded our lightfoot skills. Since they came from unorthodox black paths, they were indeed not very skilled in lightfoot skills.

We were able to shake off the pursuit without difficulty.

**

“What happened, Junior Brother?”

To Senior Sister’s question asked while running, I answered calmly.

“It seems our mission finished a bit early. They told me to go to work since I was playing around.”

“…Surely you didn’t come with just this many?”

“Of course not. All of Group Bing came. Along with Martial Aunt Hye-won too.”

At my words, her face brightened.

“Master?”

“Yes. She worried a lot.”

In reality, she had never shown worry.

“No way.”

Just as it was the graduate student who knew the professor well, it was the disciple who knew the master best.

“Actually, it seems she didn’t worry that much. She probably figured Senior Sister would be safe.”

At my words, Senior Sister let out a small smile, then glanced at the sword hilt protruding from my back once again.

“Many things happened during the performance of the mission.”

I substituted the explanation with those words.

“Right. Let’s hear the detailed circumstances later. Where is the assembly point?”

“It is the forest beyond the north gate of Xining Castle.”

It was the assembly point that Martial Aunt Hye-won had tipped off when assigning the roles.

For Senior Sister, it meant returning to the place where they were first raided.

Since she knew the way, it was easy to find.

At the assembly point we reached like that, Martial Aunt Hye-won had arrived first. She was also with two pale young men.

“Master!”

“You are safe.”

After a brief reunion between the master and disciple,

Taoist Priest Su-gyo and the Group Bing members who had gone to search the Huangzhong Association approached, supporting two pale-faced Group Jia members.

“As suspected, they were imprisoned divided into twos.”

The person who stepped forward as he spoke.

He was a face I had seen in the portraits before setting out on the Group Jia rescue mission.

‘The Affectionate Swordsman, Namgung Hyo-sin.’

He was the leader of Group Jia.

After his gaze brushed past me, it directed straight to Martial Aunt Hye-won.

“Namgung Hyo-sin, a junior of the Namgung Clan, greets Wudang Sect’s Greedy Wolf Unit Leader.”

“You have worked hard. I heard you cut down the practitioners of the Dark Shadow Bloodline.”

“I was merely an incompetent leader who fell short and put his group members in danger. Above all, they said the Blood Cult’s Dark Shadow Bloodline has severe internal strife after the death of the Blood Lord.”

In the brief exchange of greetings, I read the energy waves radiating from Namgung Hyo-sin’s body.

Even though his voice was soft, he did not give off a weak impression. This was because the momentum of the cultivation power felt in his breath was quite domineering. The feeling of two extremely disparate qualities tangling together was unique yet also harmonious.

‘At least the Nascent Soul Stage.’

‘A level similar to Taoist Priest Su-gyo when he released the restriction placed on his body.’

‘As expected of the Eight Talents of the Rising Wave.’

In an appearance different from Taoist Priest Su-gyo who always hid his own presence, I felt anew the value of the name of the Eight Talents of the Rising Wave.

And I made a calculation.

‘Ten years.’

Roughly that much of a difference.

Although there was a difference in years, seeing Namgung Hyo-sin, who possessed a level of internal strength similar to the elders of the mountain at the age of Senior Brother Myeong-hun, I felt a strange stimulation.

It was a different feeling from when I met the Young Spirit Slayer.

If the Young Spirit Slayer was an opponent to be crushed, Namgung Hyo-sin strongly felt like someone I wanted to keep by my side and learn from.

“Since we have achieved our original goal of rescuing Group Jia, we will retreat to Ak-do.”

Since we were not the only mobile unit dispatched for the rescue of Group Jia, we also had to contact them.

While the afternoon sun of Xining passed the highest point and gradually sank toward the west, we ran toward Ak-do carrying the injured who were suffering from anemia.

For in Ak-do, there were those who were skilled in local information and unconditionally cooperative with the Murim Alliance.

Even in the midst of that, what kept stimulating my head was…

The true heaven I had felt upon meeting Grandmaster Jin-cheon.

It was regarding the efforts to reach that heaven.

All the way to Ak-do, thoughts about the Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown aligning the upper, middle, and lower dantians, the path to advance to the Nascent Soul Stage, and the Tai Chi Sword Manual in which I felt deficiencies after experiencing its first actual combat never ceased.

Around the time sunset arrived,

At the Hao Sect’s Ak-do sub-branch disguised as an inn, we were able to meet the members of Group Ding and Group Geng who had arrived from the Murim Alliance.

**

The Datong Sect Leader, Jin Baek-lim, knit his brows at the painful sensation every time he breathed, then suddenly burst into anger.

“Is the alcohol still not here!”

The reason he was angry was not only because of the pain.

It was because of the painful memory that the pain recalled.

‘Just what on earth was that sword strike…!’

To Jin Baek-lim, the leader of a black path sect at the westernmost end of the Central Plains, the Nine Sects and One Association was not a name that really resonated with him.

Rather, the Dawn Sky Blood Cult ruling over Tubo and the Great Desert, or the Northern Emperor’s Fortress governing the demonic realm beyond the Great Wall, were names that felt much larger.

However, it changed as of today.

‘The Wudang Sect!’

The sword swung precariously as if it would bend had distorted the trajectory of his saber strike. That moment would not leave his head.

The Heaven Mountain Split strike that he had spent his entire life grinding and tempering was neutralized by a single sword.

And that too from the hand of a young rising star.

He felt as if he was facing a massive mountain that could not be crossed.

Martial artists who met such a massive mountain were usually divided into two.

Whether to climb that mountain again despite the helplessness,

Or to be completely broken and collapse.

At least the current Datong Sect Leader was closer to the latter.

“Are you bastards ignoring me too!”

The Datong Sect Leader, Jin Baek-lim, sought alcohol to forget the painful sensation every time he breathed, and that sword strike that had turned a lifetime of effort recalled by the pain into bubbles.

However, in the deep night, despite his calls, no additional alcohol was served.

‘What is this?’

No answers from his subordinates came either.

Only then did the Datong Sect Leader feel his drunkenness fading.

A chill ran down his spine.

But was it already too late?

Along with the feeling of a cold chill settling in the room, the door opened slowly,

And a dark shadow cast over his room.

**

Late at night, leaving the Hao Sect guest room in Ak-do, I headed toward the backyard. It was for the dynamic cultivation of the Primal Chaos Tai Chi Art.

‘I must pay more attention to accumulating qi.’

The pleasant stimulation brought by the energy waves of the Affectionate Swordsman, one of the Eight Talents of the Rising Wave, would not let my body stay still.

I calmly circulated the cultivation power of the Primal Chaos Tai Chi Art according to the routines of Tai Chi Chuan.

‘Cultivation’s origin is qi, qi’s origin is emptiness; vortex flow is like minute qi, vortex qi is like a flow field…’

Absorb natural qi and receive it into the body, as the cultivation power whirled and moved the natural qi, a force field was formed.

Just as moving electrons created a magnetic field, the moving cultivation power formed a force field of natural qi.

More natural qi was sucked into my body, and with the exhaled breath, the fatigue and turbid qi accumulated in the body were released.

Within the flow of true qi that entered and left like splashing waves, pure cultivation power rapidly accumulated in my body.

Along with the accumulating cultivation power, the insect crawling beneath the grass three Zhang away was captured by the sharpened sensitivity of the Tai Chi Diagram Exposition,

‘Good.’

I felt that my physical condition was exceptionally good.

Taking this opportunity, I recalled the martial arts I needed to check.

The Four Symbols Wind and Thunder Palm. The Cloud-Dispelling Palm, the Cotton Palm, and so forth.

However, prior to that, I drew the sword slung on my back.

‘The Namgung Clan’s sword art is also in touch with the Wind and Thunder Palm formula, huh.’

Recalling the words Master had said in passing some time ago, I closed my eyes and calculated the formulas of cultivation power contained in Namgung Hyo-sin’s breath.

Just as the Wind and Thunder Palm, the path of moving the wind to reach lightning naturally came to mind.

‘Move the atmosphere and the wind.’

This also communicated with the Tai Chi Sword Manual.

‘Since one side tries to dominate, and the other side tries to assimilate.’

Instead of the domineering breath of the Namgung Clan, a long breath that seemed as if it would cut off but continued naturally melted into the flow of natural qi, and the sword path also moved slowly and leisurely.

In the midst of that, I stopped my sword and opened my eyes.

“Oh. My apologies, young hero. I did not know there was someone here first. I apologize once again.”

The Affectionate Swordsman, Namgung Hyo-sin, was looking at me with an awkward face.

True to his nickname of Affectionate Swordsman, his expression was one of genuine apology. Of course, while peeping at another person’s practice was taboo in the Jianghu, this was the backyard of an inn; as it was not a place I used alone, it was not a location to fully practice the secret transmissions of one’s sect.

In other words, it meant that even if he had seen my practice, he had not committed a major discourtesy.

And yet, he apologized first.

And that to a disciple of another sect who was much younger.

Thinking that it was indeed a personality worthy of his nickname, and through the anecdotes I had occasionally heard from Namgung Hyeok, I naturally opened my mouth.

“By any chance, could I ask for your advice?”

“I will leave you to… Huh? What did you say?”

“I heard from Young Hero Namgung Hyeok. That the Affectionate Swordsman has an outstanding eye for observing martial arts.”

Since I did not yet have deep knowledge in sword techniques,

There was no way that the advice of a master like the Affectionate Swordsman would do anything but help; above all, the Tai Chi Sword Manual I was unfolding now was a sword art of intent where even the routine had not been established, meaning there was no secret transmission for Namgung Hyo-sin to take.

At my words, Namgung Hyo-sin, who had been awkwardly hesitant, corrected his posture and even glanced at my expression.

“Can I really give advice on your practice?”

“The advice of a master is always welcome. I was just in need of advice as I am not yet familiar with the sword.”

“They said the Wudang Sect’s Bringer of Chaos has the style of a great hero despite his young age, and indeed it was not an empty word! It is my first time seeing such a grand spirit in a Taoist disciple! Excellent!”

Approaching with a bright expression, Namgung Hyo-sin quickly poured out words from then on.

“I felt it when I first saw you, but the basics are already well established, so there is not much to point out. However, if you utilize your thumb and ring finger a bit more, you can add more diverse changes to the sword. Like this.”

Getting excited, Namgung Hyo-sin even drew his own sword and demonstrated. Even in the movement of his arm that seemed to stretch out straight, five variations were added solely through the movement of his fingers. Although it could be seen as basic in some ways, it was a delicate technique difficult to use easily in actual combat.

While immediately copying what Namgung Hyo-sin had shown, I thought.

‘By circulating cultivation power through the Shaoshang acupoint at the tip of the thumb and the Shaoze acupoint of the ring finger, I can maintain the sword path a bit more firmly.’

Simultaneously with forming the sword path, the cultivation power moved on its own.

While practicing together with Namgung Hyo-sin until the time crossed from midnight to the hour of Chuk (1:00 AM to 3:00 AM) like that,

Over the dark night air, the flow of true qi that had been flowing smoothly began to change completely,

‘Hmm?’

I was able to see with my eyes the sight of a faint wave passing back and forth around the inn. Solely thanks to my vision which had brightened as my achievements in the Tai Chi Diagram Exposition rose, I was able to guess what the identity of that wave was.

‘Sound transmission?!’

The problem was that despite my senses being honed enough to detect even the movement of an insect’s leg three Zhang away, the presence of those exchanging sound transmissions was not felt, and…

The moment goosebumps broke out along my spine, I immediately loaded cultivation power and shouted.

“It’s an enemy!”

At the same time, from the top of a tree in the backyard, something fell down toward me harboring a fierce momentum.