Chapter 7

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Translated by Seoulbound

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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The young disciple who showed himself, Yeon Baek-jung, held his clasped hands toward the seat of honor.

“I apologize. As it was my first time traveling this path, I was unable to make it on time.”

The Purple Yang Hermitage where Yeon Baek-jung stayed was at the western end of Wudang Mountain.

On the other hand, the South Rock Palace was located at the southern end of Wudang Mountain. Since even a Wudang Sect disciple could not be familiar with all the geography of the vast Wudang Mountain, a young disciple being slightly late could be overlooked.

However, Immortal Hae-won, the Master of the South Rock Palace, a strict-looking old man sitting in the seat of honor, did not hide his uncomfortable inner thoughts.

“The young disciples these days! Tsk- tsk tsk tsk!”

Beside Immortal Hae-won, who stroked his silver beard and repeatedly clicked his tongue, Wudang Sect’s key figures who came as observers of this True Martial Pavilion admission sparring, and the squad leaders of the martial units under the True Martial Pavilion, were also looking at Yeon Baek-jung with indifferent eyes.

Although the Cloud-Climbing Step achievement shown upon his appearance was grand, footwork was but a tiny part of martial arts.

‘You?’

‘Indeed?’

‘Would you be at the level of the True Martial Pavilion?’

Gazes of distrust pierced into Yeon Baek-jung.

Because Yeon Baek-jung was too young and still looked raw to enter the True Martial Pavilion, which was called the symbol of Wudang Sect’s martial arts.

At that moment, a large shadow cast beside Yeon Baek-jung.

Yeon Baek-jung looked up at that shadow.

It was Myeong-cheol, who had stepped forward as the notary for Yeon Baek-jung’s admission sparring.

“I apologize. It seems I troubled Senior Brother by being late.”

At Yeon Baek-jung’s polite apology, Myeong-cheol patted his shoulder.

“It is fine. On a first-time path, arriving in this time is coming quickly. And the Cloud-Climbing Step achievement is not bad.”

Myeong-cheol’s words acted as a shield against the eyes of distrust piercing from all directions, allowing Yeon Baek-jung’s expression to become much more comfortable.

At his youngest junior brother’s appearance, Myeong-cheol smirked and instructed, looking at the young man standing crookedly in the center of the True Martial Pavilion training ground.

“He is Myeong-hun, the youngest successful candidate who entered the True Martial Pavilion at capping age. If you defeat that child in a duel today, you will enter the True Martial Pavilion, and if you lose, you will see me again at the Prince Slope training ground.”

At Myeong-cheol’s words, Yeon Baek-jung’s eyes directed toward the disciple named Myeong-hun.

Myeong-cheol, who glanced at such a Yeon Baek-jung, quietly backed away from the spot.

Now, what remained was whether Yeon Baek-jung would show his true skill, or collapse under the burden without doing so.

That was all.

**

I looked at the handsome Taoist standing crookedly while casting a hollow gaze.

‘Myeong-hun.’

He was the senior I had to cross to enter the True Martial Pavilion.

‘He passed at capping age.’

That meant, if I defeated Myeong-hun, I would become the youngest successful candidate in the True Martial Pavilion. Although a disciple of a Taoist sect must not be blinded by selfish desires, my cultivation was not deep.

A subtle greed arose, adding force to my steps.

As I slowly headed to the center of the training ground, Myeong-hun, who was leaning on his sword as a staff, slowly straightened his body.

At that moment, I could tell.

‘It is a well-knit body.’

How much arduous training he had repeated; thin but tough muscles were dense upon his forearm, which was exposed fluttering in the wind.

Selfish desires flew away. Only the anticipation of facing a master who had repeated arduous training filled my chest.

In addition.

‘His limbs and torso are long. Calluses cannot be seen on the back of his hands and knuckles. Only his palms are hard. He mainly mastered the sword.’

I grasped the opponent’s martial arts through their outer appearance.

Judged by his hollow gaze and appearance showing no fighting spirit, he was not someone who had mastered Wudang’s secret Three Absolutes Desolate Sword.

Judged only by his sign of energy, he seemed to have mastered the Four Symbols Flowing Sword, or the Nine Palaces Shadow Sword.

‘What would they be like, the Four Symbols Flowing Sword and the Nine Palaces Shadow Sword?’

I drew in my head Wudang secret sword arts I had only heard of in words but never seen.

However.

“I cannot display my genuine martial power against a junior, either.”

Wudang disciple Myeong-hun displayed a smile while tossing the sword he held in his hand aside.

“You said you are Yeon Baek-jung, right? Although I heard your Tai Chi Chuan achievement is not bad, I heard you have not even entered the Supreme Clarity Free Hand yet. Face-saving would not be maintained if I used my genuine full power against such a junior.”

Saying so, he placed his left hand behind his back and flipped and beckoned with his right hand. Just as when my master, Immortal Gangwon, deployed the Supreme Clarity Free Hand.

In an instant, I grew dazed.

Because the disappointment of not being able to see the sword art came first.

In addition, that disappointment became a small spark.

It was like the heart of a child who learned that the rice cake, which seemed obtainable if they stretched out their hand, was but a drawing.

Regardless of that, Myeong-hun continued to speak.

“I am Myeong-hun, a Wudang Sect True Martial Pavilion disciple. I studied under Immortal Hae-won, the Master of the South Rock Palace. I have stepped forward as the admission sparring opponent of the True Martial Pavilion applicant, Yeon Baek-jung. Defeat me, and it is a pass.”

At Myeong-hun’s words, I regained my senses and clasped my hands.

However, the dissatisfaction cast inside my chest did not disappear.

“I am Yeon Baek-jung, a formal disciple of Wudang Sect. I studied under Immortal Gangwon, Wudang Sect’s Sea Fog Pavilion Master. I ask for your guidance.”

When the greetings ended, Myeong-cheol, acting as the notary, shouted in a loud voice.

“Then, begin the duel!”

As soon as the words fell.

I pulled out the lower dantian internal force and deployed the Cloud-Climbing Step footwork. Instead of bursting it through the Gushing Spring acupoint, I supported the Hangu acupoint on the top of the foot and exploded the internal force at the tips of the toes—the Lidui, Zhiyin, and Taibai acupoints.

Along with a stamp of the foot, my figure rapidly brushed over the ground.

The footwork of advancing, not leaping.

Myeong-hun’s smiling, handsome face approached close.

However, the ease on his face did not disappear.

Rather, Myeong-hun raised one leg along with an expression saying, “look at this fellow?” A familiar stance.

Wudang Sect Tai Chi Chuan’s Whirlwind Kick blade-kick strike flew like a sharp sword strike.

The first stance shown after deploying the Supreme Clarity Free Hand opening stance was a stance of Tai Chi Chuan. It was deception as well as strategy.

However, since I was someone confident in not losing to anyone within Wudang Sect when it came to Tai Chi Chuan.

With Tai Chi Chuan double Push Hands, Pressing Palm, I smoothly pressed down the foot-edge strike.

The trajectory that extended in a curve twisted.

With a whoosh sound, the hem of my sleeve was cut off.

A strike that would have sent my arm flying if I had not twisted the trajectory.

My mind became alert with a jerk.

The True Martial Pavilion admission sparring.

Although it was called a duel, Myeong-hun’s posture in engaging in the duel was not that of a person engaging in a simple duel.

‘It is real combat.’

The sharp aura, opposite to his hollow sign of energy, boiled my blood.

My mind, which was disappointed by not seeing the sword art, was swept clean.

I smirked without even knowing it myself, and Myeong-hun, who saw that expression of mine, also smiled.

“Splendid.”

This time, he extended his hand.

The Supreme Clarity Free Hand hand-sword chop flew toward my face.

It was a killing strike.

Yet my mood rose instead.

Because it was a stance I had already parsed once during the special training with Master.

I inserted my fist into the gap of the Supreme Clarity Free Hand hand-sword chop with the strike of Advancing into Emptiness, Leaving the Temple.

And it changed.

The word ease, which had floated on Myeong-hun’s face all along, was dying out.

“Look at that!”

**

The Wudang Sect senior masters who were observing shifted their hips.

From Myeong-hun’s deceptive tactics through the opening stance, to Yeon Baek-jung’s skill in smoothly receiving the foot-edge strike without yielding to it.

It was because of Myeong-hun’s sudden killing strike in the midst of their eyes being pleased by the young disciples’ deployment of martial arts.

‘That fellow!’

Wudang elder Hae-won pressed his forehead.

Although he had tried admonishing his disciple’s violent disposition several times, it simply could not be corrected when it came to engaging in martial arts.

‘With a slip, he might lose even an eye.’

No matter how displeasing it was that he was late for the scheduled time, they were members of the same Wudang family. He could not leave the young disciple to lose an eye.

Thinking so, he was about to halt the duel, but

‘Mmh?!’

Yeon Baek-jung’s body tilted and deflected the Supreme Clarity Free Hand hand-sword chop. At the same time, he straightened his center like a roly-poly toy. The force formed by the center shifting was loaded entirely onto his fist.

Following the curve.

Smoothly.

Yet quickly.

The stance of Advancing into Emptiness, Leaving the Temple, which any Wudang disciple knew but was slightly unfamiliar due to adding the speed mnemonic formula seen for the first time, was deployed from the young disciple’s hand with tremendous velocity, and

with a popping sound of leather bursting, it exploded upon Myeong-hun’s chest.

What was felt through Qi sensitivity.

Even though grand internal force was not loaded.

‘What kind of strange strength is that!’

Only then did it come to mind.

The rumors regarding Yeon Baek-jung.

‘Heaven-born Divine Strength!’

Myeong-hun, struck by the straight punch of Tai Chi Chuan loaded with Heaven-born Divine Strength, lost consciousness and floated his body into midair.

The blood flowing from Myeong-hun’s mouth embroidered midair in dots, and his figure drew a smooth parabola.

In an instant, silence settled upon the entire South Rock Palace.

Although Myeong-hun’s figure fell to the training ground floor with a thud and made a sound, the silence persisted.

In just two exchanges.

A Wudang Sect True Martial Pavilion disciple was defeated in the duel.

Everyone watching the duel lost their words.

Then, they regained their senses.

Immortal Mang-won, the oldest among the observers, shouted in a loud voice.

“Formal disciple Yeon Baek-jung, Victory!”

Yeon Baek-jung became a True Martial Pavilion disciple on that day.

The squad leaders of the martial units under the True Martial Pavilion called an emergency meeting on that day.

**

A gathering where everyone except those who vacated their posts on missions gathered.

Among the seven martial units under the True Martial Pavilion, the Martial Star Squad Leader, famous for the most practical martial studies, spoke first.

“That child Yeon Baek-jung. He is naturally a child who will belong to our Martial Star.”

Then, the Literary Star Squad Leader sitting opposite immediately protested.

“To think of mastering the Desolate Sword as a main with such talent. It is right that he learns the Patterned Sword in our Literary Star.”

The Literary Star Squad Leader’s long straight hair fluttered in the wind.

Because of the snort of the Army Breaker Squad Leader sitting opposite.

“At the age of fifteen, his Cloud-Climbing Step footwork achievement is unusual. Judged by his footwork talent, is he not the most suitable talent for our Army Breaker unit?”

The squad leaders each asserted that Yeon Baek-jung was suitable for their own units, and those words all possessed valid grounds.

Therefore, the discussion among the squad leaders was not easily concluded, and

the high-class horseshoe-back chairs made of red sandalwood rolled on the floor due to the squad leaders kicking back their seats.

“Listen here, Literary Star! Do you mean to start a sword fight or what?”

“Do you think I cannot?”

A time when the world’s martial forest was passing the stable period and gradually becoming turbid again.

Since the martial units of great sects were truly spending busy days, no squad leader wished to miss an excellent talent.

“Junior sister, isn’t that too much? You must know the fact that we lost two disciples in our Army Breaker during the previous Blood Selling Cult subjugation!”

“Why must it be that child to supplement that?”

“Who else is there then?”

“I will give you Literary Star’s Myeong-jing and Seup Yeo-bun.”

“……”

Even at the Literary Star Squad Leader’s words that she would even give away members of the unit she led, the Army Breaker Squad Leader became a mute who ate honey.

But the other squad leaders were not like the Army Breaker Squad Leader.

“Even so, that child Yeon Baek-jung will belong to our Martial Star. His disposition is Martial Star. How can Literary Star embrace that rough spirit and fierce energy?”

“If he belongs to Martial Star, you will ruin the child. Honestly, if we call Martial Star’s children orthodox sect disciples, won’t other sects snort in derision?”

“Watch your words!”

“Look who’s talking!”

The atmosphere inside the meeting room repeated a path of worsening.

Thus, at the moment when even swords were drawn and decorated the meeting room space.

The woman seated in the highest seat of the Eight Immortals Table rose.

“Cease.”

In an instant, the Literary Star Squad Leader who was about to extend her sword withdrew it, and the Martial Star Squad Leader who was concentrating internal force at the center of his fist gathered his internal force.

The one who rose was neither tall nor broad-shouldered.

However, no one in the room could open their mouths once the female Taoist rose from her seat.

Because a heavy wave of internal force dominated the room.

The one who rose.

Hye-won, who held the post of the Greedy Wolf Squad Leader as well as the Master of the True Martial Pavilion, spoke toward the silenced squad leaders.

“You people who wish to take him so badly, did you actually fathom the intentions of the person concerned?”

At the Greedy Wolf Squad Leader’s question, no one in the room could reply.

Because just as the Greedy Wolf Squad Leader, Taoist Hye-won, said, no one in the room had first checked Yeon Baek-jung’s intentions.

“How can face be maintained as elders of the sect if we treat a child like a commodity. Tsk, tsk.”

At Hye-won’s words as she clicked her tongue, the rest of the squad leaders bowed their heads.

The conclusion that emerged was.

“Let us follow that child’s choice. Any objections?”

To hand the hilt of the sword to Yeon Baek-jung.

I looked at Myeong-hun who lay in the True Martial Pavilion medicine hall with a pale face.

**

‘It was excessive.’

He was a senior brother of the same sect.

Moreover, it was a duel. Not real combat.

The story I had heard until my ears bled from Master.

-Wudang martial studies are not martial arts meant to harm people. Since it is martial studies to protect the body and protect the surroundings.

As a result of not listening properly to what Master said, I injured my senior brother.

Of course, it was Myeong-hun who launched the killing strike first, but that was not an important matter now. That I reacted excessively to a stance I was confident in parsing perfectly. That was what was important.

‘I could have released the force at the last moment. I did not handle my own strength properly. On the other hand, Senior Brother must have deployed the last killing strike because he was confident in gathering the internal force.’

Although I won the duel, practically I felt like I lost.

Even though Myeong-hun had not even deployed his genuine ultimate sword art.

I bowed my head in defeat and self-reproach.

At that moment.

“Junior brother, why do you wear such an expression?”

Myeong-hun, who had a pale face, opened his eyes and was looking at me. Although we met for the first time in the duel, and now was the second, I even felt a sense of familiarity.

Because competing in martial arts was not a simple clash of strength, but an experience of sharing each other’s time and thoughts.

Therefore, I worried sincerely.

“Senior Brother, are you alright?”

“To hit me that hard and ask if I am alright.”

Even though he surely would not feel comfortable about losing to a young junior brother, he cleared the air with a joke first. Senior Brother rose with a smile, and I immediately supported his back. Myeong-hun, who showed a sheepish smile, raised his body with my help.

“The title of the youngest True Martial Pavilion disciple has passed to Junior Brother Yeon. Congratulations on drawing attention from those cranky old folks.”

“Senior Brother…”

At Myeong-hun’s words, I felt sorry.

We exchanged killing strikes without hesitation, and he even lost to a young junior brother.

Damage would be done to the reputation and position in the sect he had accumulated.

Even so, Senior Brother’s figure consoling me as if it were no big deal felt mature.

Since I was someone who knew from events like the one with Je Un-seong that drawing attention was adjacent to conflict, I had essentially stolen the attention heading to Senior Brother. Because of that, I worried that the relationship between senior and junior brothers might go awry, but Myeong-hun was reacting in the opposite manner.

“I do not know what you thought of me, but did you think of me as a petty fellow who sulks because he lost in a duel?”

“No, Senior Brother. I was just worried.”

At my reaction, Myeong-hun replied with a laugh.

“Haha. It is fine. By the way, to think there is a junior displaying such outstanding martial arts. I truly hope you enter our unit.”

“A unit…?”

“Ah, you do not know well? Indeed, since the True Martial Pavilion itself is not a space open to young disciples, it is natural you do not know. In our True Martial Pavilion, there are a total of seven subordinate units. All True Martial Pavilion martial studies disciples belong to those seven units. Since you defeated me and passed, by now the squad leaders will be conducting a meeting regarding your unit assignment…”

As soon as Myeong-hun’s words ended, the door to the True Martial Pavilion medicine hall opened, and a group of Taoists scattering giant signs of energy showed themselves.