Chapter 309: Those Who Set Out

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Northwestern Hubei region, Mount Wudang famous as the sacred mountain of Taoism.

This place was the nest of Wudang Sect, one of the Nine Great Sects and a preeminent school within the Orthodox Jianghu.

It was truly a magnificent landscape.

The thirty-six peaks soaring high while wreathed in white clouds hadn’t lost their deep green color even in winter’s cold wind.

Truly, everywhere the eye landed was a supreme view.

Gazing quietly, one even felt as if one might spontaneously attain enlightenment.

Taoist temple at a sharp peak.

The name engraved on the signboard was Three Purity Temple.

Everyone knew.

That Three Purity Temple was the supreme sanctuary symbolizing Wudang Sect’s history and tradition, prestige and martial fame.

That’s right.

The first Taoist temple within Wudang Sect’s grounds, established by the First Patriarch Zhang Sanfeng in the distant past, was precisely this place.

An old man could be seen in the rear garden of Three Purity Temple.

With pure and refined features like an immortal of the Taoist paradise, he was the current Sect Leader, Taoist Ten Absolute Non-Sacred Mu-hyeon.

HURUK.

Taoist Mu-hyeon, sitting at a natural stone table, drank the light green tea and cast his gaze at the sky.

Today the sunlight was particularly bright.

But his expression was somehow dark.

-I guarantee, the rumor related to the Divine Martial Sword is surely a conspiracy.

Taoist Mu-hyeon, having recalled the words of Cheol Ryu-heun who had visited this place recently, muttered inwardly.

‘The advent of an age of chaos…’

At that moment, the sound of wind brushing through pine needles was heard.

The cold wind of winter.

He withdrew his gaze from the sky and gently stroked his teacup while wearing a hint of a smile.

“Still the same as ever.”

Who was he speaking to?

Suddenly.

SEUSUT…

On the side of the rear garden, before a large pine tree, a blue figure quietly appeared.

As if it had been there from the beginning.

It was a superbly elusive movement that proved his lightness arts cultivation had reached the pinnacle level.

“Ho ho. Sect Leader Mu-hyeon, you are indeed amazing. I deliberately moved while hiding my presence in the wind sound, yet you caught that…”

Having spoken thus, the figure then walked forward.

An old Taoist in his sixties wearing blue robes.

Despite the fine wrinkles, his eyes were alive, and his nose and mouth were as distinct as if drawn with a brush.

Especially the long band-like eyebrows and thin eye shape were impressive.

On his blue Taoist robe, an animal symbolizing his sect and personal rank was embroidered.

A monkey pattern holding a sword.

That embroidery on his chest indicated Mount Huang Sect, the prestigious Taoist school representing one of the Nine Great Sects and the Orthodox Jianghu of the Anhui region.

The sect’s ranks were distinguished according to the monkey’s appearance, and holding a sword meant he was precisely the Sect Leader.

That’s right.

The identity of the old man in blue was the current Mount Huang Sect Leader, Taoist Man-hae.

Also, he was one of the “Three High Lords of Anhui” – the ultra-pinnacle masters at the highest tier among Orthodox and Unorthodox in the Anhui region.

Taoist Man-hae’s Jianghu epithet was Heaven-Deceiving Flying Feet.

It meant his two legs moving as if flying even deceived the heavens.

People commonly said this.

Taoist That Man-hae’s movements could freely pass through even a gap as thin as paper.

He was one who could be discussed as the best under heaven in lightness arts and concealment cultivation.

Taoist Mu-hyeon watched him approach and responded.

“What are you saying? I only sensed it when you came within ten steps.”

It wasn’t a face-saving remark but sincere.

Taoist Soon Man-hae took a seat at the natural stone table.

“It’s been a long time.”

At his greeting, Taoist Mu-hyeon nodded.

“Already a year has passed. I heard various factions in the Anhui region are heading south…”

“Hmm, that’s right. As you can see, this body, no, our sect has stepped back a pace.”

“Has that child departed?”

At Taoist Mu-hyeon’s meaningful question, Taoist Man-hae replied with a smile.

“He left three days ago.”

That child referred to his famed martial talent and direct disciple, Pa-pyeong, from Mount Huang Sect.

He was one of the young dragons cultivated by the Nine Great Sects to prepare for the future.

Following that, Taoist Man-hae asked.

“What about Wudang Sect…?”

“Hmm, he departed yesterday morning.”

Taoist Mu-hyeon briefly recalled his beloved disciple’s face along with those words.

Chang-woon.

The youngest chief swordsman of Tai Chi Sword Squad, the so-called ultra-first-rate swordsmen representing Wudang Sect.

He had not participated in the Sun Moon Demon Cult battle.

At that time, he had been conducting special training in a secret cave of Mount Wudang by Taoist Mu-hyeon’s arrangement.

Now he had finished that and set off on the journey to the Shiwan Mountains.

Previously, Cheol Ryu-heun had requested through personal letters to Wudang Sect, Mount Huang Sect and others regarding the expedition.

That he would lead the young dragons of the Nine Great Sects raised to meet the new era and uncover the truth.

So he hoped for each sect’s understanding and cooperation.

Also, he had written a separate pledge and left a sworn covenant.

The safe return of the young dragons who would be responsible for the Nine Great Sects’ future.

The Nine Great Sects including Shaolin Temple, Wudang Sect, and Mount Hua Sect had actively responded.

So each had opened their treasuries, had their young dragons consume precious elixirs, and urgently dispatched them to the destination Cheol Ryu-heun had set.

All had made such a decision without a moment’s hesitation.

Because they already had great awe and trust toward Cheol Ryu-heun due to the Sun Moon Demon Cult incident.

Taoist Man-hae nodded and spoke again.

“They’ll meet each other soon. But… how was Sect Master Cheol’s martial prowess? I haven’t seen it with my own eyes yet, which I very much regret.”

“Ho ho, are you very curious?”

“Hearing only through words, honestly it doesn’t feel real… ah, that doesn’t mean I don’t believe it. If I harbored disbelief in my heart, would I have responded in the first place?”

“Dharma Master Won-gong affirmed after that battle ended. That Sect Master Cheol was in fact the greatest martial god of this era… though of course that wasn’t a public statement.”

“My! That’s surprising. The Head Abbot of Shaolin Temple under heaven…”

It was something that couldn’t help but be surprising.

Dharma Master Won-gong was the supreme martial monk at the very peak of Buddhism, who had mastered dozens of Shaolin Temple supreme arts to the extreme.

His one body’s martial fame was considered top-tier throughout all regions including Henan as the era’s strongest level.

People commonly said this.

Only those whose martial prowess was equal to or surpassed Dharma Master Won-gong had the qualification to discuss being the Jianghu’s strongest in this era.

Yet such a person had uttered words acknowledging the new White Peak Sword Sect Master Cheol Ryu-heun.

He had even called him the era’s greatest martial god…

Taoist Man-hae, having clicked his tongue, said softly.

“Well, it’s no wonder. Sect Master Cheol has inherited the authentic transmissions of the five considered the strongest in history… it’s truly fortunate that such a person is on our side. Oh ho.”

“I feel the same. And to add one more thing, those who have formed connections with Sect Master Cheol have also surpassed us. Each and every one is a brilliantly shining light.”

“Ah… the executive staff and guests of White Peak Sword Sect…”

“On top of that, the strength of the Mount Heng Sect Leader and Green Forest Alliance’s Alliance Leader was also amazing.”

“Hmm… I wonder if our children won’t be intimidated going there… all the young guests of White Peak Sword Sect will be accompanying them, I heard.”

“Don’t think that way. It will rather be good cultivation. They’ll learn a lot by seeing and observing while mingling with each other. Though it is a dangerous place…”

“Yes, you’re right.”

“There’s one talent I’m particularly curious about. I heard that child will also be moving.”

“Who is it?”

“The young family head of Zhejiang Son Family.”

“Ah! Son Ja-ryong…”

“I heard he has finally risen to the tier of Zhejiang region’s strongest.”

“Hmm, such… and he’s only twenty-five years old…”

“It warrants great attention, but it’s not that surprising.”

“What…?”

“Sect Master Cheol is not yet twenty. Ho ho.”

Taoist When Mu-hyeon let out a laugh, Taoist Man-hae laughed along.

“Oh ho. That’s true as well. He’s a figure one is newly impressed by. Like the saying, a heaven above the heavens.”

“Anyway, that capable Jianghu talents are emerging in various regions means…”

“The harbinger of chaos.”

“…Indeed. Therefore, I hope the protagonists of the coming new era will distinguish themselves in the Shiwan Mountains.”

“It would be a lie to say I’m not worried, but I believe everyone will return safely. Since Sect Master Cheol, who is more outstanding than anyone, will be by the children’s side.”

“Now we just need to follow Sect Master Cheol’s plan while the world’s attention is focused on the Shiwan Mountains. In preparation for the unidentified group’s diversionary tactics…”

“Indeed… if not us, who would do it? It is the Nine Sects that exist to protect justice.”

* * *

Within Murong Family’s grounds, in the inner room of a certain hall.

Inside sat Family Head Autumn Sword Harvester Murong Gang and eldest daughter Stone-Piercing Sword Lady Murong Seol, and second daughter Embroidery-Piercing Sword Lady Murong Song, facing each other.

“Have you finished preparing for departure?”

When Murong Gang set down his teacup and asked softly, Murong Seol and Murong Song nodded in unison.

“Yes, Father.”

“We just met Mother and told her.”

The look in their eyes somehow felt quite different from before.

There was one reason.

It was the effect of consuming the once-in-a-lifetime elixir that Cheol Ryu-heun had come to give them the evening after the enemy attack occurred.

At that time, he had said this.

-This is the inner core of the legendary spiritual creature, the Jade Sand Fish. It’s an elixir that has special efficacy for improving the subtleties of Murong Family’s internal power mental technique.

After that, he had informed them of his plan to soon head to the Shiwan Mountains with martial talents in tow.

-If you have thoughts of coming too, come. I take full responsibility for your safe return. Well, it will still be somewhat dangerous though.

Murong Seol and Murong Song, after each consuming the Jade Sand Fish’s inner core, had their martial prowess improve.

It wasn’t just that it got higher.

It improved to an astonishing degree.

Of course, the series of processes had been extremely painful.

As a result, Murong Seol and Murong Song had made up their minds.

To accompany Cheol Ryu-heun’s party and head to the Shiwan Mountains.

Today, Murong Gang had permitted his two daughters’ request.

It hadn’t been an easy decision, but he had trusted his benefactor Cheol Ryu-heun.

He had already seen it.

The scene of Cheol Ryu-heun crushing the enemy with fearsome martial prowess.

He had even witnessed Sword Steel, the supreme art that only Sword Emperor was said to have wielded in Jianghu history.

To not have trust after seeing that would be unreasonable.

Murong Gang requested with a solemn expression.

“Go and repay the grace.”

He mentioned repaying favor before saying not to get hurt.

It was indeed an attitude befitting the family head of Murong Family, a preeminent household of the Orthodox faction.

He deliberately kept his words short.

To hide his worried heart.

Because he knew that if he unnecessarily said this and that, his two daughters would rather become worried.

It was consideration done to lighten the burden as much as possible.

Murong Seol and Murong Song, having grasped that heart, likewise kept their words short.

“Yes.”

A brief answer in unison.

Murong Gang nodded and gestured.

“Now, go ahead. I too will be doing what I should do separately. Following Sect Master Cheol’s advice.”

Thus Murong Seol and Murong Song came outside the grounds.

The two women, having mounted their horses, held the reins and exchanged glances.

“Shall we ride fast now?”

“Yes, sister. Hyah!”

Simultaneously, the horses galloped.

DUDUDUDU, DUDUDUDU-

Murong Seol, hearing the wind passing by her ears, thought of what Cheol Ryu-heun had said at that time.

-Sang-rin will also be accompanying.

It had been words that perked her ears.

She pictured the figure of Namgung Sang-rin, the object of her unrequited love, in her mind.

Her cheeks slightly flushed.

Already her heart was pounding.

‘I finally get to see him again!’

A smile hung on Murong Seol’s lips.

Though the fierce wind scraped her face, that bright smile only grew deeper.