Chapter 69

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Translated by Seoulbound

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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All things with mass attract each other.

It was a fact realized by the Grandmaster Newton who saw a falling apple.

We call this ‘universal gravitation’ or ‘gravity.’

‘In addition, the heavier the mass is, the greater the magnitude of gravity becomes.’

Swing-by was a kind of space navigation that utilized this gravity. Therefore, it was also called ‘gravity-assist navigation.’

The flow of meteors moves in an arc.

A heavy planet redirects the flow of meteors.

Utilizing the gravity of a heavy star as centripetal force to add rotational force was the core of swing-by.

It was the same as adding rotation when throwing a stone with a sling or throwing a shot put.

The only difference was whether that rotation was held and thrown by hand, or whether the rotational force was added under the influence of gravity.

For that reason.

‘The rotational overlapping of the Four Symbols Wind and Thunder Palm.’

It was essentially a kind of swing-by.

In a way, it was a matter of course.

‘Since it was said to share its martial principles with the Four Symbols Flowing Sword.’

The Four Symbols were ultimately the sun, the moon, the stars, and the constellations.

It meant containing the movements of the stars.

For Taoist disciples, reading the heavenly principles was none other than the act of observing the movements of the stars.

‘Even if they could not calculate it mathematically, they might have interpreted it through intuition obtained from observation.’

Since historically, there were also many scholars who approached truth through such intuition and insight.

In any case, what was certain.

‘Utilizing gravity through sword force. That is the core of the Four Symbols Flowing Sword.’

The moment of the duel with Senior Brother Myeong-hun came to mind.

The net of sword qi that weighed down my entire body through true qi.

‘That was why it was heavy.’

Because it was a sword technique that utilized gravity.

‘If so?’

Admiring the principles of martial studies that seemed to transcend the limits of this era, I could soon predict the contents of the oral formula that would come out of Immortal Im-won’s mouth in the future.

‘Deflecting the opponent’s attack through gravity and utilizing that force in reverse.’

If gravity-assist navigation was about using the power of gravity to obtain propulsion toward a destination.

‘This, on the contrary, is about making it impossible to reach the destination.’

In that process, accumulating the overlapping of sword force through rotation to create a ‘true qi gravity.’

And finally weighing down the opponent with that weight.

The moment I realized that this was the core essence of the Four Symbols Flowing Sword.

The stance of the Four Symbols Wind and Thunder Palm and the sword path following the flow of true qi learned through the Tai Chi Sword Manual were connected as one.

I immediately lifted the wooden sword and began to swing the sword.

Although it was a movement that seemed slightly deviated from the Four Symbols Flowing Sword that Senior Brother Myeong-hun had first showed me.

‘Drawing qi into the mysterious pass, circulating qi through the extraordinary meridians, governing through inaction, and transforming in accordance with momentum.’

The oral formula of the Tai Chi Sword Manual that I had learned in the Shaolin Temple’s mountain temple naturally guided the sword path.

As if the Grandmaster who created the Tai Chi Sword Manual were leading me.

**

Immortal Im-won was lost for words.

In addition, the disciples of the Prosperity Star Unit were as well.

‘What is with him?’

‘He is scary.’

‘Why does he know?’

‘They said it was his first time!’

Yeon Baek-jung had entered the Four Symbols Flowing Sword today.

Of course, even if he did not completely ignore the form of the Four Symbols Flowing Sword, Yeon Baek-jung had never formally entered the Four Symbols Flowing Sword before.

Yet.

‘How did he even achieve force release?’

The sword wind rising from the wooden sword, the net of true qi stretching out strand by strand to dominate the space, and its gravity spoke.

It was the swordsmanship demonstration of a disciple who had properly mastered the sword force of the Four Symbols Flowing Sword.

Then suddenly, Immortal Im-won murmured in a low voice.

“That? That is not the Four Symbols Flowing Sword.”

Hearing those words, the disciples of the Prosperity Star Unit closely scanned the sword path of their youngest junior brother who was frantically performing a sword dance.

And they also realized.

‘It is different!’

Although it was different.

‘It also resembles it?’

It was a sword technique that resembled it like twin brothers.

However, it smelled a bit rougher and a bit raw compared to the soft and well-structured Four Symbols Flowing Sword.

Because the sword path of the Four Symbols Flowing Sword did not flow so fiercely.

Only then did Immortal Im-won speak as if he had realized something.

“Is that sword… the original form?”

The sword techniques of prestigious orthodox sects.

Sword techniques handed down through manuals deviate from their original forms.

It could not be helped.

Since everyone’s body is different, and disciples each possess their own individuality.

A martial art tailored to all disciples cannot exist.

Therefore, the martial arts of prestigious orthodox sects must find a compromise.

Reducing the raw taste, they are handed down in a slightly more refined form. Repeating revisions after revisions in a direction that makes them easier to learn.

Thus, even disciples with lacking talents can learn the sword.

As the mastery of the sword technique learned in this way deepens, they transform the sword to fit their own bodies.

Establishing a family in martial arts carried such a meaning.

And for a single sword technique, especially one containing the essence of a prestigious orthodox sect like the Four Symbols Flowing Sword, no matter how easy the martial art was.

‘It takes over ten years to establish a family. If it is an ordinary talent.’

If it is a brilliant talent? It would be possible in five years.

If it is a genius? Sometimes there are talents who can do it in a year, or perhaps even in about a month. They say such geniuses emerge very occasionally.

However.

‘One day. No, one double-hour is…’

Had there ever been such a talent?

The sword felt like a dance.

The realm of martial dance.

A realm shown only by those who had established a family.

Reaching this in less than a double-hour since entering?

‘That is not a human. It is a Bringer of Chaos.’

Why such a moniker was attached to Yeon Baek-jung.

Immortal Im-won and the Prosperity Star Unit disciples were able to realize it so clearly on that day.

What they saw.

Something that a human could not display.

It was the appearance of a Bringer of Chaos.

Yet that Bringer of Chaos was right beside them.

With an innocent face.

Harmlessly.

At that moment, Immortal Im-won and the Prosperity Star Unit disciples realized.

That perhaps they were witnessing a new golden age of the Wudang Sect.

**

After swinging the sword in accordance with my realization.

I lowered the wooden sword, reflecting on the dreamlike moment.

And I looked at Immortal Im-won.

“This is the Four Symbols Flowing Sword, right?”

Was the sword swung in accordance with the suddenly arrived realization truly the Four Symbols Flowing Sword? I did not feel certain. Although it was definitely similar.

‘It seems to be slightly different from the Four Symbols Flowing Sword that Senior Brother Myeong-hun first showed me, though.’

Well, if it was different, it would have its own value, so it was a question to verify for now. However, surprisingly.

“Have you learned the stances of the Four Symbols Flowing Sword before?”

“I have witnessed it when I dueled with Senior Brother Myeong-hun.”

“All of the Four Symbols Flowing Sword stances?”

“No. Just a part of the sword force leading from the Immortal Pointing the Way.”

At my reply, the faces of the Prosperity Star Unit’s senior brothers and sisters, including Immortal Im-won, turned into bizarre shapes.

An atmosphere where even if they wanted to ask something, it was hard to ask.

Actually, it was not of great importance.

‘In any case, it means that what I practiced is indeed the Four Symbols Flowing Sword.’

Since it was natural for there to be slight differences in the forms or styles of martial arts for each person as their mastery deepened.

I greeted them brightly and left the Prosperity Star Unit’s training ground.

As soon as I came out, the sword path unfolded along the flow of true qi and the oral formula danced in my head once again.

‘The Four Symbols Flowing Sword. It is fun.’

When the repeated sword formulas in my head were completely engraved in my upper dantian, a single thought naturally arose.

‘The oral formula of the Tai Chi Sword Manual naturally slipped in.’

The oral formula of the Tai Chi Sword Manual that suddenly burst in while interpreting the oral formula of the Four Symbols Flowing Sword.

The sword formula completed as a result of swinging the sword in accordance with that oral formula and teachings. That this sword formula is the Four Symbols Flowing Sword means?

‘The Four Symbols Flowing Sword. Perhaps it is a sword study derived from the Tai Chi Sword Manual?’

I could carefully make such an assumption.

Although it was logically nonsensical how an incomplete martial study that was not yet completed could give birth to a completed martial art.

My intuition was saying so.

That the Four Symbols Flowing Sword was derived from the Tai Chi Sword Manual.

Maybe it was due to the realization obtained while listening to the oral formula of the Four Symbols Flowing Sword, but in any case.

‘That means, conversely, the Four Symbols Flowing Sword can be helpful in completing the Tai Chi Sword Manual.’

Above all, the basics of the sword resembled each other.

Deflecting the opponent’s attack without contact with the opponent.

Accumulating sword force through rotation.

Utilizing the opponent’s force in reverse to drive the opponent onto the defensive.

Summarizing only the core from the entire oral formula of the Four Symbols Flowing Sword was as above. A form that shared a basic framework with the Tai Chi Sword Manual, which defended against the opponent’s attack through transforming in accordance with momentum.

Such a Tai Chi Sword Manual.

‘Adjusts the opponent’s force with various sword formulas, but.’

The Four Symbols Flowing Sword is only one force.

Utilizing gravity as a focus to twist the opponent’s force.

In other words, it means that the Four Symbols Flowing Sword can also be compressed into a single oral formula within the Tai Chi Sword Manual.

‘Although it will take some time to get there.’

When I reach the core essence of the Four Symbols Flowing Sword, the Five-Character Sword Formula of the Tai Chi Sword Manual will expand to six characters.

I felt certain.

And if it was a Tai Chi Sword Manual supplemented in that way?

‘There will be no lack even if it is presented at the Sword Debate next year.’

However, I had to undergo the stage of gradual cultivation that follows the moment of sudden realization.

Yet, the sword did not stretch out immediately.

It was because of an unresolved doubt.

The subtle sense of incompatibility I felt after first unfolding the Four Symbols Flowing Sword.

The fact that it was different from Senior Brother Myeong-hun’s sword formula strangely weighed on my mind.

‘If there is something bothering me, I must resolve it.’

And I also knew how to resolve that.

‘Training. Before that, organization first.’

An act of gathering the realization was needed.

To know how the difference is different, I only need to know the original form.

Just like when I first re-established Tai Chi Chuan.

For that purpose, since I needed to see the existing Four Symbols Flowing Sword manual first.

I headed straight for the Mysterious Heaven Pavilion.

**

The first elders’ meeting was held since Immortal Gangwon returned to Mount Wudang.

It was a gathering to report the events in the Murim Alliance to the Sect Leader and the elders, and to discuss the direction the Wudang Sect would take in the future.

However.

“Has Im-won not arrived yet?”

“Hehe. For a person who is the Lord of the True Martial Pavilion’s Prosperity Star Unit to be late to one of the few meetings held in a year.”

While words of light scolding went back and forth over the empty seat of Immortal Im-won, the Prosperity Star Unit Leader.

Immortal Gangwon looked at Immortal Im-won’s empty seat and thought.

‘Could it be… because of Baek-jung?’

Although he had asked him to briefly grasp the basics of the Four Symbols Flowing Sword, in fact, that was something that could be easily done through the older disciples of the Prosperity Star Unit.

However, since no other reason for being late came to mind.

“It seems he is late because I made a request regarding my disciple child.”

“If you mean your disciple, that child named Yeon Baek-jung?”

“Lately, my disciple also does nothing but talk about your disciple!”

“Is the Bringer of Chaos entering the Four Symbols Flowing Sword? In that case, let us proceed without Senior Brother Im-won.”

“Mhm. Let us do that. Rather than this meeting, is helping the Bringer of Chaos with his martial arts training not a more important matter? Hehe.”

After Yeon Baek-jung’s deeds in the Murim Alliance became known.

Naturally, the leaders of the Wudang Sect were also paying attention to Yeon Baek-jung.

In a way, it was a natural reaction.

Immortal Gangwon looked at the Sect Leader, Hyeon-won, in the seat of honor.

“Let us begin the meeting for now.”

At Immortal Hyeon-won’s words, the meeting began without Immortal Im-won.

Immortal Gangwon shared the information obtained from the Murim Alliance with the attending elders.

“…Additionally, although it is not yet certain.”

“Mhm?”

Immortal Gangwon prior to leaving the Shaolin Temple.

Immortal Gangwon revealed the information he had heard from Yi Chae-yang, the disciple of Hye-won.

“It is the information that the condition of the Zhuge Clan’s First Young Master has improved. The source is from Zhuge Yun, a member of the Murim Alliance’s Group Jiazi.”

“If it is a story heard from a member of the Zhuge Clan, it is highly reliable.”

“Hehe. If it is news of that level, should it not have already spread widely?”

Since many elders only stayed on the mountain, they were not well-informed about the news of the world. Because they could misunderstand due to this, Immortal Gangwon transmitted the information more clearly.

“It seems it is not yet a story widely spread in the Jianghu. It was information that had not even been caught by the information network of our secular disciples.”

“If so?”

“It seems they are controlling the information inside the Zhuge Clan.”

“Why would they do that to such glad tidings?”

“He may not be fully recovered yet, or the rumor of improvement may be false. Or… there could be a certain reason separately.”

At Immortal Gangwon’s words, the elders nodded.

“In the future, I will invest the personnel of the Sea Fog Pavilion toward the Zhuge Clan.”

“That would be good.”

Around the time the meeting was wrapping up.

“I am sorry, I am late.”

Immortal Im-won hurriedly entered the meeting room.

However, instead of words scolding him for being late, other words flew toward Immortal Im-won.

“No, how are you here already?”

“The Bringer of Chaos is entering the Four Symbols Flowing Sword, shouldn’t you look over him closely so that his foundation is properly set?”

“Is Im-won not still young? It is only natural that he does not know the relative importance of matters.”

“??”

Immortal Im-won was bewildered by the reaction that differed from his expectation.

“Since the meeting is over, hurry and go to where the Bringer of Chaos is training and give him some advice.”

“If he says he wants to train in the Desolate Sword, bring him.”

As the elders left in that manner, Immortal Im-won spoke in a low voice.

“Well… he has already mastered all of it.”

“Huh?”

“You mean he has already mastered all the forms of the stances? As expected!”

“No.”

“??”

“The Four Symbols Flowing Sword. I mean he mastered all of it. From stances to sword force.”

“???”