Chapter 9

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

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

After Senior Brother Myeong-hun withdrew, only Martial Aunt Hye-won and I remained in the training ground.

“Sit cross-legged. Relax your strength and concentrate your mind in accordance with the mnemonic of the first form of Tai Chi Chuan, the Great Emptiness Form.”

Following her words, I composed my Lower Dantian with a deep breath.

The Tai Chi Diagram Exposition was a study of feeling and measuring the flow of true energy between heaven and earth. Ultimately, the conclusion was that awakening the senses was the core.

As the qi circulation of Wudang’s Nine Achievements Primal Chaos Light Skill resonated with the mnemonic of the Great Emptiness Form, the internal energy of the Lower Dantian formed a gentle stream of water and spread to the limbs along the Conception Vessel and Governing Vessel.

In accordance with the flow of internal energy, my body grew light as if floating, and at the moment when the flow of internal energy became so clear as if it could be grasped in my hand, Martial Aunt Hye-won’s voice was heard.

“…Good. Now, engrave the flow of internal energy entering the Gate of Life acupoint into your body.”

It was said that there was no fixed mnemonic in the Tai Chi Diagram Exposition. This was because it required an operation of internal energy that was not limited to the meridians and major acupoints, but permeated even into the fine meridians.

“You must realize for yourself how internal energy permeates the fine meridians, and thereby how it awakens the senses.”

Martial Aunt spoke while maintaining her profound internal energy. Even though her breathing was scattered by her words, her internal energy did not waver in the slightest.

The moment that profound internal strength came into contact with the internal energy I had accumulated, it naturally wrapped around my body, creating a new flow, and began to gather at the Gate of Life acupoint where Martial Aunt had placed her hand.

The gathered internal energy began to clump together. As the clumped internal energy rubbed against each other and slowly began to take on a hot yang energy, it grew light. The excited internal energy began to ascend the Governing Vessel along the spine.

Passing through the Central Pivot acupoint, it permeated the lungs, and as it passed through the Great Hammer acupoint, it spread to the extremities of the body through the fine meridians formed over both shoulder blades.

Even so, the great flow ascending the Governing Vessel advanced without losing strength. When it passed through the Wind Mansion and Mute Gate acupoints, major acupoints of the Governing Vessel, and reached the Hundred Convergences acupoint at the crown of the head—

‘Wow!’

Like raindrops falling on land parched by a long drought, the internal energy that reached the Hundred Convergences acupoint spread to the thin qi vessels formed around the crown of the head, and the sensory organs connected to the fine meridians began to awaken one by one.

At the same time that the complex flow was engraved on my body like a tattoo, I heard sounds I had not heard before and smelled scents I had not smelled before.

The sound of natural energy rubbing against objects and the fragrance containing the mountain’s essence resonated with my sensory organs.

And finally, when I opened my eyes,

As if a unique film had been overlaid on my corneas, the landscape of the world had changed.

‘Is this the flow of natural energy?!’

The world had changed.

Just as the iron filings sprinkled on magnetite I had seen in my dream in the Library Pavilion formed a unique pattern, the flow of true energy was clearly visible.

The earth qi rising from the floor of the training ground, the sharp qi emitting from the weapons displayed everywhere, and furthermore, the breathing of the senior and junior brothers belonging to the Greedy Wolf Unit staying inside the building, along with the true energy wavering in accordance with that breathing, all entered my sight.

‘Five.’

Until then, I had only guessed how many people were left in the quarters, but now it began to be felt as a clear human presence.

In that state, I slowly raised my body.

Watching the surrounding flow of true energy distort and twist every time I moved, I tried wiggling my fingers and waving my arms.

It was fascinating and fun to see the flow of true energy around my body undergo tens of thousands of changes in response to those movements.

‘In this state?’

The routine of the nine forms of Tai Chi Chuan. The incomplete Release of Force mnemonic seemed within grasp.

I slowly took the posture of the Great Emptiness Form.

**

Hye-won watched her young martial nephew, forgetting to even breathe.

‘How on earth…’

It was the first day he had initiated himself into the Tai Chi Diagram Exposition.

Normally, it was enough to just master the rough flow of internal energy during the first day.

To reach the operation of internal energy in the fine meridians, it was normal to take a year, no matter how outstanding the disciple’s comprehension was.

If their comprehension was not sufficient? Half of those operating internal energy in the fine meridians touched the fine meridians connected to the sensory organs or the brain incorrectly, becoming idiots if they were lucky, or meeting death if they were unlucky.

This was the reason why the Tai Chi Diagram Exposition was called a difficult art.

Yeon Baek-jung was different.

As if a map had been engraved in his body from the start, he mastered the internal energy operation of the Tai Chi Diagram Exposition at once.

On top of that, the new Greedy Wolf Unit member, Yeon Baek-jung, began to go a step further.

‘Hahaha.’

Now, he even performed martial arts.

He was even good at it.

‘That… is that child’s Tai Chi Chuan!’

She had not seen incorrectly.

The routine was different from the general Wudang’s Nine Achievements Tai Chi Chuan.

‘Did they say it was called the Cycloid?’

It was what she had heard from the disciple Myeong-cheol.

The mnemonic, which combined the teachings of Taoist studies with the essence of martial studies, made Wudang’s Tai Chi Chuan much faster and brisker. Even so,

‘Silk Reeling is properly loaded.’

It did not compromise the profound meaning of the existing Tai Chi Chuan.

It was exquisite.

On top of that, now,

‘Even the Release of Force wave?!’

With each and every form extended from the rapid Tai Chi Chuan, the air layer compressed and burst with a bang, and a Release of Force wave arose.

‘Indeed.’

It was only that a profound internal strength did not yet support it, but just looking at the routine and internal energy operation, it touched upon the ranks of the supreme.

To the extent that even Hye-won herself wanted to learn Tai Chi Chuan anew.

That day, before midnight passed, Yeon Baek-jung completed the Tai Chi Chuan Release of Force mnemonic.

**

Myeong-hun, a disciple of the True Martial Pavilion’s Greedy Wolf Unit, was in a state of anxiety.

“Myeong-hun, why can’t you stay still like that?”

At the question of the Greedy Wolf Unit senior, Myeong-hun could not even answer and kept glancing at his junior, Yeon Baek-jung, who was continuing to train.

At Myeong-hun’s behavior, the senior looked back and forth between Myeong-hun and Yeon Baek-jung, and then nodded.

As a Greedy Wolf Unit member who knew Myeong-hun well, the symptom Myeong-hun was currently showing was a ‘withdrawal symptom.’

A sparring withdrawal symptom.

‘The young fellow has become pitiful.’

It was so.

The Wudang Sect disciple Myeong-hun was a sparring fanatic who could only be satisfied by sparring until he once again beat the opponent who had defeated him. The new disciple, Yeon Baek-jung, would be pestered by Myeong-hun for a while.

At the restless appearance of his junior, Myeong-hun, the senior clicked his tongue and spoke.

“If you are going to fret like that, go quickly and ask for a match. After all, isn’t this the True Martial Pavilion?”

Although sparring between senior and junior brothers in a typical orthodox sect was not that commonplace of an activity, Wudang Sect’s True Martial Pavilion was an exception.

Because the True Martial Pavilion was the symbol of Wudang Sect’s martial power and also the first sword drawn when Wudang Sect exercised force externally, real combat was a daily routine for the True Martial Pavilion’s disciples, and as such, the disciples of the True Martial Pavilion aimed for sparring that was like real combat.

At the senior’s suggestion, Myeong-hun, who had been restless, stood up as if possessed, but then shook his head and sat down again.

“No, it is fine. Junior Yeon only entered yesterday. Furthermore, they said he just initiated himself into the Tai Chi Diagram Exposition, so I do not want to disturb his training.”

Contrary to his words, judging by his fidgeting buttocks, Myeong-hun expressed with his entire body that he wanted to spar with Yeon Baek-jung right away, which made the senior chuckle, and the other Greedy Wolf Unit members who were watching also began to quietly bet coins.

—One double-hour?

—What do you mean one double-hour? One mealtime.

—Still, I believe in our Myeong-hun. One tea-drinking time.

Those who whispered quietly gathered their coins on the table.

Soon, as Myeong-hun kicked back his seat and rose, heading toward the training Yeon Baek-jung,

—T-That impatient fellow!

—If he was going to do that, why didn’t he go ask for a match earlier?

Those who had bet on one double-hour and one mealtime had no choice but to lose their coins to the Greedy Wolf Unit member who had shouted one tea-drinking time.

**

I organized the routine of the nine forms of Tai Chi Chuan that was gradually moving toward completion once again, and thought.

‘Inertia, and action and reaction. For Tai Chi Chuan to be properly utilized in real combat, the subtlety of Striking Second to Control First must be properly utilized.’

On the road leading from Purple Yang Hermitage to South Rock Palace for the admission sparring, the physics I had shared with my martial nephews was completely integrated into the new Tai Chi Chuan.

As the routine to break a villain’s joints and deflect attacks at any moment was organized, the mnemonic for the Release of Force wave, which had not been completed until now, naturally integrated into the routine.

The mastery of the Tai Chi Diagram Exposition.

It was possible because, thanks to that, I could see the flow of natural energy to my heart’s content.

I visualized the nine forms of Tai Chi Chuan completed in that manner in my head. My desire to test them properly in real combat against a strong enemy was burning.

But this place was Wudang Sect.

‘Right. I can just test them when I go out on a mission.’

At the moment I was trying to refine the forms again while trying to calm my mind,

“Junior Yeon. Do you happen to have a moment?”

“Ah, Senior Brother Myeong-hun.”

Myeong-hun was staring at me with burning eyes, his usual easygoing gaze nowhere to be seen.

Although I had not known him for long, I tilted my head inwardly at this side of Myeong-hun that I was seeing for the first time, while expectations welled up from an unknown intuition.

“What is the matter?”

“Well, you see.”

Senior Brother Myeong-hun, who seemed to hesitate for a moment, spoke as he presented his sword.

“Sparring. How about we have a match with our true strength?”

At Senior Brother Myeong-hun’s words, my heart also began to pound for a moment. I immediately nodded.

“Of course.”

It was regrettable that I could not see Senior Brother Myeong-hun’s sword technique, his true ultimate skill, during the admission sparring. Furthermore, since he came to find me first like this just when I had completed the new Tai Chi Chuan and wanted to test it, there was no reason to refuse.

We immediately stood in the center of the training ground.

Three seniors of the Greedy Wolf Unit also took their places and spoke.

“If a problem arises, we will step in quickly. Have at it to your heart’s content.”

At the words of the easygoing senior, the other seniors, whose expressions were not very good, also opened their mouths.

“Sparring like real combat, real combat like sparring. Even killing moves do not matter. The unorthodox sects will not go easy on you just because you are from Wudang Sect.”

“Under no circumstances should you hurt each other’s feelings due to what happens during sparring. Even if it is sparring like real combat, sparring is just sparring.”

After the words of advice ended,

I looked at Senior Brother Myeong-hun and began to view the world through the eyes of the Tai Chi Diagram Exposition.

Natural energy flowed in and out, bordering on the place where Myeong-hun stood and his physical form.

In addition to the information coming in from reflected sunlight, the information coming in through the waves of natural energy was synthesized.

The appearance of Senior Brother Myeong-hun holding a sword was a world of difference from when he laid it down. It was to the extent that a difference in level of one, no, two steps could be felt compared to the admission sparring.

In addition, the impression felt was,

‘Quiet.’

The flow of true energy that flowed along the air settled heavily and quietly around Myeong-hun.

It was as if the true energy spread in the space flowed centered around Myeong-hun.

At that moment, Myeong-hun opened his mouth.

“The martial art I learned is the Four Symbols Flowing Sword created by the Sword Immortal.”

At the answer that was as I had expected, I nodded and replied.

“I modified the Tai Chi Chuan routine a bit in my own way.”

Unlike typical prestigious orthodox sects, it was not that rare an occurrence in Wudang Sect for disciples to modify the sect’s ultimate skills to fit their own individuality. However, tailoring martial arts to oneself was a task for the renowned masters of the sect who had established their own schools, not something for a fifteen-year-old young disciple to undertake.

“So that Tai Chi Chuan which knocked me down was a Tai Chi Chuan you modified yourself? Interesting.”

Myeong-hun showed interest, and the remaining three senior brothers also paid attention.

“They said he sent Myeong-hun packing in just two exchanges during the admission sparring.”

“He already obtained enough insight to modify martial arts to fit his own body?”

“Although he faced him without a sword, it is a fist method that sent Myeong-hun packing in two exchanges. Watch closely. He created something interesting.”

The senior who had seen the previous admission sparring and those who had not watched me with their respective gazes.

However, I erased their gazes from my senses.

Then, only Senior Brother Myeong-hun remained.

The moment my concentration rose as if it would pierce the Hundred Convergences acupoint and ascend to heaven, the sword was silently drawn from my senior brother’s scabbard. Despite the movement, the surrounding true energy did not distort or tremble, but naturally enveloped him. At the same time, the true energy gradually condensed around the sword blade, trembling rapidly.

The resonance between internal energy and true energy, and the heat created by the vibration, formed a small shimmer.

It was the stage just before sword qi materialized.

“Hoo.”

While facing my senior brother directly, I slowly exhaled and relaxed my body.

In a perfect Great Emptiness Form, force condensed in my knees, calves, thighs’ quadriceps, and gluteus maximus.

The muscles around my senior brother’s mouth moved, drawing an arc.

At the same time, along with a soft footwork, his sword extended.

With a single step and a single sword form, the distance of one zhang collapsed.

The net of true energy spread along the sword, taking control of my surroundings.

Strangely, my arms and legs grew heavy.

It was the efficacy of the Four Symbols Flowing Sword’s sword qi force wave.

If I had not mastered the sensitivity of the Tai Chi Diagram Exposition, I might have been flustered, but I naturally read the flow of true energy and the geometric shape created by the net.

‘I release it.’

Bouncing my knees, I released the force stored in my lower body to the entire body.

At the same time, gently spraying true energy toward the Shoulder Well acupoint around my shoulder, I cut the mesh made of true energy. The pressure applied to my upper body was swept away.

I gently extended my freed hands.

A single strike of Tai Chi Chuan Double Push Hands, the Pushing Palm, compressed the true energy.

I utilized the force contained in Senior Brother Myeong-hun’s extending Four Symbols Flowing Sword stance, Immortal Pointing the Way, in reverse.

‘Action and reaction.’

Just as the force contained in the tip of the sword pushed against the palm force of the Double Push Hands, the Double Push Hands palm force pushed against the tip of the Immortal Pointing the Way sword.

In that moment, as if supporting Senior Brother Myeong-hun’s sword, I lightly twisted my wrist.

Just as rolling balls collide and deflect each other’s path, the path of Senior Brother Myeong-hun’s extending sword was also distorted, and—

Swish!

The hair around my earlobe was cut off.

If the routine had not been distorted, the sword path that would have pierced the Heaven’s Projection acupoint near the chest had missed.

At the same time, I also stepped back with a side step to disperse the sword force.

‘Both internal energy and the refinement of the forms are still lacking.’

Using Myeong-hun as a mirror, I felt my own shortcomings.

If only my internal energy had been sufficient.

If I had read the opponent’s force a little more and utilized it in reverse, a counterattack might have been possible.

However, now was a situation where I had to worry about the opponent’s counterattack instead.

‘If an oblique slash follows here.’

Drawing Myeong-hun’s subsequent attack in my head, I calculated the radius I needed to escape.

‘Deficient internal energy will be replaced with muscular strength.’

Just as I was about to deploy the Cloud-Climbing Step’s Body Protection Force, Senior Brother Myeong-hun’s blank face caught my eye.

Although Senior Brother Myeong-hun had plenty of time to withdraw his extended sword, he was only looking at me with trembling eyes.

In this bizarre situation, I turned my head and looked back at the observing senior brothers of the Greedy Wolf Unit.

Everyone was looking at me with dazed eyes, their mouths wide open.

“Um… senior brothers?”

Even though I called out to them, no answer returned.

Sensing that it was not a situation to continue sparring, I settled my internal energy.

In this kind of situation, the observers should have made some decision, but since those senior brothers were spacing out,

While waiting for the judgment for a moment, a thought suddenly occurred to me.

‘Is victory or defeat… important?’

I had obtained everything I needed to obtain anyway.

I actually displayed the Tai Chi Chuan I completed in my head, and even confirmed that there was no problem operating the true energy force wave.

‘Now, if I organize the efficiency of true energy operation and the minor routines a little more…’

The next things to do came to mind on their own.

Deep in thought, I began to walk.

The victory or defeat of the sparring had long been erased from my head.

**

Watching the back of the youngest junior brother who slowly walked out of the arena, the three Greedy Wolf Unit warriors muttered, not even thinking of closing their open mouths.

“He deflected the sword path without even touching it? He operates a true energy force wave at that age?”

“He instantly transformed from the Pushing Palm to the Supporting Palm. His utilization of forms is already at a level where it would not be strange to put him straight into real combat.”

“So that means he is fifteen? Fifteen. What was I doing back then?”

Although they were all talents recognized within Wudang Sect in their own right, witnessing the existence of an overwhelming talent made them feel infinitely small.

Myeong-hun, with a blank face, summarized that feeling in a single word.

“Bringer of Chaos…”

From that day on, among the Greedy Wolf Unit disciples, Yeon Baek-jung’s moniker became Bringer of Chaos.