Chapter 90

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Translated by Seoulbound

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

On the way out of the branch after packing our bags.

The Alliance members of the Guizhou branch came out to see us off.

“I pray that good fortune in martial arts is with the Wudang Sect.”

Starting with the Emei Sect heroine.

“I will pray that the disciples are safe.”

“If it weren’t for the hidden Blood Cult factions, I would have liked to support you, but…”

“Still, if they are the disciples of the True Martial Pavilion, could there be a big trouble? Do not worry too much.”

“That is correct.”

Even the people of the Zhenzhou Yan Clan, the Qingcheng Sect, the Mount Heng Sect, and the Sichuan Tang Clan.

All of those who had helped us while executing missions together prayed for our safety.

And finally.

“If you happen to need hands, send a message to the Tang Clan. This is my token, so if you enclose it in the letter, there will surely be a response.”

Third Young Master Tang Jong-hyeok also erased his usual smile that was like Yue Lao (Old Man Under the Moon) and handed a small jade plaque to me.

It was a jade plaque with nine snakes exquisitely engraved on a green shade.

“Thank you.”

When I packed and put away Tang Jong-hyeok’s jade plaque, Immortal Mang-won came, and.

“Good fortune in battle!”

We set out on our way while receiving the send-off of the Alliance members.

Since the letter was received through a carrier pigeon.

A spiritual creature with spirituality raised by the technique studies disciples peeked its head out from Senior Martial Uncle Mang-won’s bosom.

The carrier pigeon was not actually a carrier pigeon, and.

Since it was a swallow with glossy feathers.

Strictly speaking, it would be more appropriate to call it a carrier swallow.

That carrier swallow was tapping its folded wings over its chest thrusted forward as if to tell us to just trust it.

“Since the Sea Fog Pavilion is exerting all its strength to find the missing children. This fellow will become a guide and lead us to the Sea Fog Pavilion children.”

As the carrier swallow carrying spirituality flew up from Senior Martial Uncle’s hand.

Flapping its wings with a flutter, the carrier swallow began to fly slowly as if telling us to follow.

“That fellow flies matching our speed of accompanying, you see.”

“Unless they are the elders of the Nine Swords of Wudang, or the elders of the Eight Disciples, it would be hard to be faster than that fellow.”

Although it flew slowly, it was a spiritual creature and a bird flying in the sky.

Since it was a speed that surpassed the running of a master of martial arts lightness skills.

We immediately deployed the Cloud-Climbing Step and pursued the bird’s tail.

If we had to travel a long distance, the Flowing Cloud Movement Skill would have been more suitable, but right now was a situation of pressing urgency.

We had to make speed even at the cost of consuming internal energy.

Along the three acupoints connecting from the calf to the ankle, the Zhubin, Jiaoxin, and Zhaohai acupoints, dense internal energy gathered and gathered, and as it erupted from the Yongquan acupoint.

!

Along with a dirt wind, my body rose into the air.

The leap of the Cloud-Climbing Step lightness skill brought my body up to the top of a cedar tree, and we stepped on the cedar branches as we moved forward.

It was the fastest way to break through the forest areas of Guizhou.

Like that, for one day.

Although we made speed by exhausting all of our internal energy, we still had to camp in the tall cedar forest.

It was because the entirety of Guizhou was woven with mountains and rivers like this.

Furthermore, Guizhou was a single province.

Since a province was a territory comparable to a decent foreign country.

“It will likely take two more days.”

It takes about that much time just to get out of Guizhou.

‘The place where the incident broke out must be the Hubei region.’

Which meant that we had to travel the distance of getting out of Guizhou two more times to reach Hubei. In addition, the missing disciples of the Greedy Wolf Unit were all the senior brothers and senior sisters whom my master had drafted for the post-processing of the Yeo Family Clan’s work.

My mind could not help but become urgent.

Whether he saw my eyes like that, Immortal Mang-won calmly lowered his voice.

“Even if you are anxious, nothing changes. You must manage your body to perfection so that when you must fight, you can fight. Supply internal energy while resting. The Supreme Clarity Mind Art and the Primal Chaos Tai Chi Art are both not lacking even as reclining cultivation.”

“Yes.”

“Although that fellow will find the location of the Sea Fog Pavilion disciples well, I am worried whether the Sea Fog Pavilion disciples will be safe until we arrive.”

The carrier swallow, which had been eating feed from Immortal Mang-won’s bosom, blinked its eyes for a moment at the words calling it, and then turned its head back toward the feed placed in Immortal Mang-won’s hand.

Looking down at such a carrier swallow, Immortal Mang-won continued in a flowing manner.

“It will be fine. Because the Sea Fog Pavilion children are children who received training in evasion rather than engaging in battle. Of course, if it is an unavoidable situation, they will engage in combat. Our arriving as quickly as possible so that such a thing does not happen will also be the way to protect those children.”

As if agreeing with Senior Martial Uncle Mang-won’s words, the swallow tilted and nodded its head.

Putting such a carrier swallow into his bosom, Senior Martial Uncle said.

“So you all go to sleep quickly as well. Since we will have to wake up early and set out.”

The senior brothers who had become exhausted from spending their internal energy quickly fell asleep, and I looked at the sky, thinking of the wingbeats of the spiritual creature that was currently dozing off in Senior Martial Uncle Mang-won’s bosom.

‘A way to go faster. If only I could float my body as if flying.’

Fallen into such thoughts, when I closed and opened my eyes.

Before I knew it, it was morning, and.

We set out on the route again.

Like that, looking at the widely spread wings of the spiritual creature, the carrier swallow, I thought again.

‘Could I not weave it into a formula?’

The things I had kept thinking about last night.

Even when pursuing the Green Forest bandits in Zhushan.

And in the fierce battle with the Young Spirit Slayer during this mission, it was a movement skill that was utilized usefully.

The study of riding the wind and gliding in midair by utilizing Wudang Sect’s characteristic long robe hem to the maximum was not different from the way the carrier swallow spread its wings straight and entrusted its body to the flow of the wind.

‘Right. If I decrease the angle of attack against the wind blowing directly in the direction of flight, the drag rises and the lift ascends. If I add the formulas of the Slender Willow Flutter to actively react to the flow of air and true qi here?’

The Cloud-Climbing Step is a footwork force that consumes a considerable amount of internal energy.

To set out on a long journey, it was necessary to reduce the amount of internal energy consumption. And since wind was an excellent alternative resource to replace internal energy.

I began to concretize the study I had utilized as an improvisation upon seeing the spiritual creature’s appearance.

**

Born as the third of seven siblings in Mount Huang of Huizhou, I was living the most blessed life among my siblings.

My eldest brother was caught by a hawk and died, my second elder sister became prey to a snake before growing up fully, and my younger siblings died to hunters.

I also almost died to that hunter, but having had the most outstanding flying skills among my siblings, only my leg was broken by the hunter’s arrow, and I was able to save my life.

However, a broken leg was a separate matter from saving my life immediately, and remained a major obstacle to leading a life as a swallow in the future, so.

In the midst of continuing a difficult life, what saved me was an old Taoist who fluttered a wide robe hem.

There was such a circumstance behind my volunteering to be a guide.

However, dragging along poor humans who could not fly in the sky was a rather troublesome task.

In the first place, it was because the speed didn’t come out.

But.

‘Uh?’

Even among the inferior Taoists, the child who looked the youngest was locking eyes with me.

At first, briefly.

Next, gradually a bit longer.

Going down and coming back up again.

And then finally.

‘Why is he not going down?’

Was he not staying in midair for quite a while!

An inferior human who didn’t even have wings!

Only then did the fellow’s actions come into view.

Similar to me, in a shape as if imitating me, he was skillfully entrusting his body to the wind. That a young Taoist made a thought that even the Taoist who had tended to my broken leg had never achieved was rather praiseworthy, so.

‘Then this too.’

I began to raise the speed by moving my wings little by little, and.

‘!’

As my newly obtained disciple excellently absorbed my teaching.

Among the history of flight I had done so far, the most satisfying flight was beginning.

**

The saying ‘running as if flying’ was commonly used as an idiom, but this time, the case was different.

‘My junior brother… is flying.’

Myeong-jin shook his head at his past self who had been confident that he would no longer be surprised by the youngest junior brother’s appearance.

How could one not be surprised upon seeing such a sight?

Of course, he was not flying like a real bird.

Since he descended from midair once in a while to step on the treetops.

However, since it was a speed as fast as a flying bird, it was practically no different from flying.

Using his long experience of accumulating martial studies, Myeong-jin analyzed the movement skill study his junior brother showed in his own way.

‘He did not utilize only the propulsion through internal energy. He made speed by utilizing the flow of the wind.’

Although he did not know how he dealt with the wind facing him so skillfully, at any rate, his junior brother was displaying another amazing movement skill study, so.

Myeong-jin, who had tried to briefly imitate his youngest junior brother, soon gave up and moved his feet.

‘If I hear the concretely woven martial art formula, it might be different.’

It was not a study that could be imitated just by looking with the eyes.

Instead, what he could do.

Was to shut his mouth and concentrate his internal energy on his lower body with all his might.

Similarly, Myeong-hun, who was deploying lightness skills by his side, was also seen moving his feet with a stiffened face.

Although Immortal Mang-won was skillfully pursuing the youngest junior brother, Yeon Baek-jung, the leisurely attitude characteristic of a Wudang Sect elder was not felt. It was close to a shape of exerting his full strength.

However, they did not stop Yeon Baek-jung.

Because rapid travel was what they also wished for.

Even if a bit of strain followed, the situation where their fellow disciples had gone missing. They needed to reach the destination as quickly as possible.

At that moment, breaking through the rough sound of the wind, a young sound transmission voice was heard, so.

[Senior Martial Uncle Mang-won, and senior brothers. I have added a new formula to the Cloud-Climbing Step study. If you do not mind, could we polish it together?]

My junior brother’s words meant.

That he had woven that appearance, which seemed to imitate a bird’s flight, into a concrete formula, so.

Myeong-hun, Myeong-jin, and even Immortal Mang-won immediately expressed their agreement.

Soon, the youngest junior brother, Yeon Baek-jung’s sound transmission tickled their ears like a poem.

[Wear the feathered robe and ride the wind.

Spread the sleeves following the wingbeats of a flying bird.]

Myeong-jin, Myeong-hun, and Immortal Mang-won immediately spread their sleeves wide and accepted the flow of air. Their sleeve hems fluttered, and they felt as if their bodies would fall at any moment due to the strong resistance.

At that moment, my junior brother’s sound transmission continued.

[Yield to the air and you will float.

Lay your body on the wind, and you will be stable.]

‘Lay the body on the wind?’

At that moment, my junior brother’s appearance came into view.

As he was in a prone posture like a bird, adjusting his sleeve hems according to the flow of the wind through internal energy from moment to moment.

I tried to follow exactly in that way.

Of course, it did not happen easily.

Because it was an unfamiliar posture, and at the same time, the principle was not understood.

However.

‘Uh?’

When I completely lay prone and spread my sleeve hems wide, a floating sensation of the wind lifting my body was felt.

Although it was said that when the Cloud-Climbing Step study reaches the peak, one could easily step on midair like stairs and rise, this was completely different from that.

Because it was a movement skill that glided in midair by adding a movement skill imitating a bird’s movement to the leaping power of the Cloud-Climbing Step.

Of course, because their bodies were not light like birds, they quickly fell down from midair, but.

At each time, my junior brother’s sound transmission continued, and.

[…

…

If you govern the flow, you can change direction.

The Taoist priest who has accumulated cultivation becomes like a Peng bird.]

Finally, the four fellow disciples were able to continue their route as if flying while keeping their bodies floated in midair, like the Peng bird that flies ninety thousand li in midair all at once.

The consumption of internal energy was extremely small.

**

“You say that men in the style of scholars holding folding fans entered the city?”

“Yes. Their attire was unique. On a blue silk background, cloud patterns were faintly embroidered, and black dragon patterns were drawn on the sleeves.”

On a blue silk background, dragon patterns on the sleeves.

Since those who dressed in such attire in the Jianghu were only a single group.

Myeong-ok, a Wudang Sect disciple of the Sea Fog Pavilion, spoke in a low shout at the words of the new disciple, Yi Won-yu.

“Crouching Dragon Scholars?!”

Yi Won-yu, who had visited the Wudang Sect’s Yichang branch some time ago with a golden sore container issued only to the True Martial Pavilion disciples, was in the process of taking formal entry procedures having his excellent bones and muscles acknowledged. In addition, having good eyes, he was already playing the role of the Sea Fog Pavilion’s informant thoroughly, and was receiving trust.

“If they are Crouching Dragon Scholars, they are the elites of the Zhuge Clan. Then, could it be…”

“Yes. The Zhuge Clan has finally joined hands with the Blood Cult!”

Although the Wudang Sect had had suspicion until now, they had not been able to find material evidence. Since the Greedy Wolf Unit disciple Yi Chae-yang had had her news cut off for a long time after going out saying that she suspected the connection between the Yungzhong Merchant Association and the Zhuge Clan, the Yichang branch was already in a state of suspecting the connection between the Blood Cult and the Zhuge Clan.

But this time, the Crouching Dragon Scholars suddenly revealed their appearance here in Yichang, where mummy-like corpses had been discovered.

In a split second, Myeong-ok rolled her head.

Although the location of the Wudang Sect’s Yichang branch was widely known, because the safe house used by the Sea Fog Pavilion was an extremely secret security matter.

“Won-yu. Follow me.”

First, it was necessary to evacuate non-combat personnel.

Because the Crouching Dragon Scholars revealing their appearance meant they would exercise martial force.

At that moment.

Hwareureuk!

Flames soared from one side of the branch building.

At that sight, Myeong-ok’s voice became urgent.

“Won-yu, quickly!”

“Yes!”

Because the safe house and the branch building were not directly connected, they immediately came outside and headed toward the back door.

In a split second.

Jjaek-!

Along with a sharp sound like a bird’s chirp, a wild wind arose over the branch building where the flames had soared, and the roof collapsed.

It was not a naturally occurred wind.

‘A true qi wind raised by technique studies spells!’

Since the suspicion became a firm conviction.

‘We must hurry to the safe house.’

And like that, they had to inform the sect of this news.

They moved their steps busily and headed toward the back door of the branch.

As the sun went down, firelight soared over the sky dyed in black.

And beyond that.

At the door they had to pass, an early guest was standing, so.

From the red eyes to the largely revealed fangs.

It was unmistakably a blood ghoul.

“Hooh? They said if I wait here, you will crawl out on your own.”

Leaving those words, the blood ghoul disappeared in a split second.

And the place where it appeared again was right before their eyes, and.

“I will drink well.”

When the guy’s fangs aimed at Myeong-ok’s neck, she deployed the Supreme Clarity Free Hand and retreated.

Papang-!

However, the feel transmitted to her hands was heavy, as if she had struck a lump of iron. As if the strike had not gone in, the blood ghoul twisted its neck and grinned.

“Haha. Yes, yes. A resisting prey is indeed bound to be more delicious.”

The moment he left those words.

A wild wind arose from somewhere again, and.

Kukwang!

The wall collapsed and the blood ghoul was rammed into it.

And the boy who revealed his appearance between the debris opened his mouth slightly.

“Oops.”