Chapter 9: Chapter 9
“Was that just now…….”
Hyeon-do, who snapped back to his senses at Cheon-hwi’s low words, opened his hands with a surprised expression.
He had stopped swinging his sword a while ago, but the sensation he felt when performing the Six Harmonies Sword Art still remained on his palms.
“Six Harmonies Sword Art?”
He whispered softly in a questioning tone, but in fact, he subconsciously realized it.
That the sword art he just performed was the true Six Harmonies Sword Art.
Whoosh…
He turned his head and looked at Cheon-hwi.
Cheon-hwi, looking at him, had a wooden sword resting on his shoulder with an indifferent expression.
It was an extremely arrogant appearance, completely opposite to his purely polite image in the past.
However, it suited the current Cheon-hwi perfectly.
“Isn’t that right?”
At Cheon-hwi’s subsequent confident voice, Hyeon-do couldn’t say a word and trembled his hand holding the sword.
After a brief moment.
“Yes, you are right.”
Hyeon-do unexpectedly acknowledged it readily.
No, he had no choice but to acknowledge it.
The Six Harmonies Sword Art he tried performing while following Cheon-hwi did not fall behind at all even when compared to other high-tier sword arts of the main sect.
‘No, perhaps…….’
Hyeon-do gulped his saliva and asked.
“How did you think of swinging the Six Harmonies Sword Art in this way?”
Cheon-hwi looked at him.
The image of him shouting and getting angry just a moment ago had completely disappeared.
All that remained was a serious gaze.
This is unexpected?
Cheon-hwi’s mouth subtly curled up.
Normally, even if the words of someone younger or weaker were right, it was not easy to admit it so obediently.
Especially more so if it was a child who was only fourteen and lacked internal energy like him.
He thought there would only be inflexible guys because it was a Daoist sect.
He let out a chuckle.
He liked Hyeon-do’s eyes.
The eyes he saw every day in the mirror in the past.
‘It’s the eyes of a person crazy for martial arts.’
Cheon-hwi lifted the wooden sword he had resting on his shoulder and asked Hyeon-do back.
“Martial Uncle, why did you tell me to take a different starting stance each time I performed a technique?”
Hyeon-do looked at Cheon-hwi, who asked instead of answering, and replied in a low voice.
“The foundation of all martial arts is posture. If one cannot even properly take a stance, they cannot draw out the correct power.”
Cheon-hwi’s brow furrowed.
The moment he saw the martial arts manuals in the Ten Thousand Scenery Pavilion, he had expected it.
They entirely believed the martial arts manuals.
Because of that, there was no progress for three hundred years.
‘What an old-fashioned statement.’
Of course, in a state of knowing nothing, one could show fast achievement just by following along.
However, if one blindly believed only what they were told, they could not display proper power.
‘If you think it’s strange, you have to change it.’
He looked at Hyeon-do with a pathetic expression.
But Cheon-hwi did not know.
That the Heavenly Demon Cult and the Orthodox Faction were different.
In the Heavenly Demon Cult, it only mattered if results came out whether one changed the martial arts or not.
However, recklessly changing a sect’s martial arts in the Orthodox Faction was a sin of deceiving one’s master and destroying the ancestors, a crime heavy enough to risk one’s life.
Furthermore, Hyeon-do was someone who was proud of the Mount Hua Sect; he merely engrossed himself in learning martial arts and never even thought that the learned martial arts were strange.
But such a Hyeon-do saying that the martial arts passed down for generations were strange and changing them arbitrarily?
Unless Hyeon-do fell into qi deviation one day and went crazy, it was an impossible act.
However, Cheon-hwi, who had no way of knowing such things, stared at Hyeon-do and spoke.
“None of the martial arts I know performed techniques completely separately without any connection to each other. Yet this Six Harmonies Sword Art acts independently as if they are techniques of entirely different sword arts.”
“The Six Harmonies in the Six Harmonies Sword Art mean front and back, left and right, up and down, that is, the six directions, and it is a sword art that put them into one. As a result, the techniques are isolated from each other and didn’t connect smoothly, but…….”
Hyeon-do, who paused his words for a moment, had his eyes sink heavily.
After a while, he observed Cheon-hwi with sharp eyes and opened his mouth.
“You changed that. As if they were connected as one.”
Cheon-hwi’s eyes, who was listening, sparkled.
‘He has a straight conviction.’
He liked him more and more.
His thoughts and martial arts perspective were old-fashioned, but he had perseverance.
And passion for martial arts too.
“Six directions……. That is probably right too. But I thought of the Six Harmonies contained in the Six Harmonies Sword Art differently.”
“What do you mean?”
Hyeon-do’s eyes became serious.
Swish…
Cheon-hwi raised the wooden sword.
“There would have been many methods to teach swinging a sword in six directions. Without needing to think complicatedly, one could just repeat swinging the sword like this.”
The wooden sword moved in six directions.
That was the original Six Harmonies Sword Art.
“But why did they specifically create the Six Harmonies Sword Art? It is quite an unnecessary thing to say it was created just to teach postures for swinging in six directions.”
At Cheon-hwi’s words, Hyeon-do furrowed his brows, pondered for a moment, and opened his mouth.
“It is probably because it is a foundational sword art. Since ancient times, it was said that to properly perform a sword art, one must realize the unity of matter and principle. Even if one knows the theory and principle, if they don’t know how to swing a sword, or conversely, if they know how to swing a sword but don’t know the principle and theory, they cannot properly perform it even if they are learning a high-tier sword art.”
Hyeon-do’s voice became much lower.
“The Six Harmonies Sword Art is a foundational sword art to solve that problem, preparing for when one realizes the principle or theory contained in a high-tier sword art, making one awaken to how to swing a sword.”
“Then are you saying there are no principles contained in the Six Harmonies Sword Art?”
“That is…….”
Hyeon-do’s face scrunched up.
Principles in the Six Harmonies Sword Art?
He had never thought about it at all.
It was natural as the Six Harmonies Sword Art was a foundational sword art learned before learning high-tier sword arts.
By the time one realized the principles or theories and could properly perform sword arts, it was time to focus solely on high-tier sword arts, not the Six Harmonies Sword Art.
Cheon-hwi spat out words towards Hyeon-do, who had a rather complicated face.
“The Six Harmonies Sword Art I saw has principles. Who in the world would call just swinging a sword without any principle a sword art?”
Hyeon-do, who was arguing back and forth with Cheon-hwi, had a complicated mind.
“I performed it thinking that the Six Harmonies Sword Art was complete from the beginning. However, when I performed it, the connection between techniques wasn’t smooth because I was focusing on the starting stances. So, I first thought about how to make the connection, and during that, I came up with a method.”
Hyeon-do opened his mouth with an elated face.
“What method?”
Cheon-hwi smiled brightly.
“Didn’t I tell you earlier.”
“What…….”
“I told you I thought of the Six Harmonies differently.”
In an instant, Cheon-hwi’s wooden sword changed.
The wooden sword that had been stiffly disjointed suddenly swayed like a soft reed, and before long, the six sword techniques merged into one.
“By combining all six techniques into one like this.”
“……!”
Hyeon-do’s eyes widened like lanterns.
Six Harmonies had a dual meaning.
Six yet one.
One yet six.
And it was directions as well as techniques.
Since he divided them again after combining them into one, the connection couldn’t help but be natural.
‘To think there was such a principle in the Six Harmonies!’
He stared at Cheon-hwi with surprised eyes.
It was a sword art learned by over hundreds of thousands of people during hundreds of years of history.
However, no one had thought of the meaning of Six Harmonies differently like Cheon-hwi.
Of course, it might have been because most moved on to high-tier sword arts.
But.
‘Even so, to figure out the meaning of Six Harmonies that no one knew until now.’
His whole body trembled violently.
Only fourteen.
And Cheon-hwi, who hadn’t even been initiated into martial arts for three days, accomplished that.
No, not only did he figure it out, but he even properly performed it.
Admiration poured out naturally.
“Amazing.”
Hyeon-do, who was bursting with admiration quite a bit, pushed his face forward with his two eyes sparkling.
“Exactly since when did you know the meaning of Six Harmonies? When you performed the first technique? Or when you swung the sword? Or perhaps when you moved onto the second technique…….”
Cheon-hwi’s eyebrows scrunched up.
Since his already fierce-looking face was positioned right in front of his nose, it was burdensome. Hyeon-do belatedly saw that expression change, let out a fake cough, and muttered.
“Ahem, I got excited for a moment.”
Soon, he put on a pleasant smile.
‘He is a true genius, a genius!’
The evaluation from just earlier that his sword art was immature had been flipped.
Cheon-hwi was also extremely outstanding in sword arts, to the point where he wanted to smack his past self’s head for giving such an evaluation a while ago.
“When did you realize the meaning of Six Harmonies?”
“From the beginning.”
“……!”
Hyeon-do glared his two eyes.
‘You realized it from the beginning?’
Around the time he was dazed as if he got hit in the back of his head with a stone, Cheon-hwi opened his mouth.
“It was quite unnatural when it connected to the technique right after.”
Cheon-hwi’s voice knocked on his ears.
“Martial Uncle probably didn’t know well about the unnatural points because you continuously performed the Six Harmonies Sword Art as you initially learned it, but whether it was because today was my first time, I could immediately tell.”
“You mean I was tainted by familiarity.”
“Because the answer is unexpectedly in a close place, there are times you miss it.”
“Unexpectedly close……!”
Rumble!
Lightning struck Hyeon-do’s head.
The days he had no time to look to the side.
He should have looked to the side and looked back at least once, but he blindly ran forward.
Therefore, his field of vision narrowed.
To the point he couldn’t properly see things right nearby.
‘I was blinded by impatience.’
Swish…
Hyeon-do, who carefully put down the sword he held in his hand, sat down on the spot right away.
‘I thought the Taiyi Illusory Art had to achieve major completion to reach the Heavenly Martial Realm. But is it something I can only reach by definitely achieving major completion? Perhaps I have already reached the realm, but I might just not have realized it because I was focusing on that…….’
Cheon-hwi stared at Hyeon-do who suddenly sat cross-legged, and frowned.
Unusual energy stretched out in all directions from Hyeon-do, who took a meditative breathing posture while entirely falling into a state of selflessness.
“……I only let someone else do well.”
Cheon-hwi muttered and stroked his chin.
His chin, which would have been full of a beard in the past, was merely smooth.
Then, he soon scrunched his eyes and turned his head.
“Looking at his condition, it seems it will take some time to finish. Shall I perform the sword arts I saw at the Ten Thousand Scenery Pavilion for a bit until he wakes up?”
Since it turned out like this anyway, Cheon-hwi, who decided to stand guard while waiting until he woke up, gripped the wooden sword in his hand again.
Squeeze…
Along with that, he recalled the sword arts representing the Mount Hua Sect and the sword arts that were lost in the past and only recorded in the Mount Hua True Records.
Whoosh… Whoosh…
The wooden sword moved following him.
Two quarters later.
Flash!
The eye light of Hyeon-do, who opened his eyes, emitted light. The light radiating brilliantly by the internal energy he couldn’t quite contain gradually became murky.
Soon, his blurred focus caught on, and he returned to his original eyes.
“Finally…….”
Hyeon-do clenched his two fists tightly.
He stepped into the realm he seemed to reach but couldn’t reach for two years.
At that time, Cheon-hwi entered his sight.
Cheon-hwi, holding the wooden sword with a tiny hand, was making a bored expression.
“How much time has passed?”
“About two quarters have passed.”
Cheon-hwi answered in an annoyed tone.
It was only natural as Hyeon-do’s state of selflessness was longer than the time he expected.
Despite such a reaction from Cheon-hwi, Hyeon-do smiled and stood up from his spot.
“Hahaha. It’s all thanks to you.”
Cheon-hwi, harboring a soft smile around his mouth, looked at him approaching.
Smiling with that appearance is a bit weird.
Hyeon-do’s intention seemed to be a good meaning, but what was visible was different.
The scar wriggled due to the raised corners of his mouth, and the wrinkles deepened.
It was as if it was the smile of killing intent that Ghost Eye Demonic Blade put on before committing murder.
However, Hyeon-do, who completely didn’t know what kind of appearance he had right now, leaked a voice that was softened to the max, differently from usual.
“Thank you.”
Hyeon-do spat out a greeting containing sincerity, but Cheon-hwi was indifferent whether he did so or not.
It was an impolite attitude, but Hyeon-do, who already was blinded by favor, felt that appearance as him being burdened.
Hyeon-do, who looked warmly at Cheon-hwi for a moment like that, soon tilted his head back and burst into loud laughter towards the sky.
“Hahahaha. To think He sent a treasure like you, the Heavenly Venerable has not yet abandoned the main sect.”
Hyeon-do could not hide his joy.
But that was also for a moment.
“Now is not the time for this. I must quickly inform the Sect Leader Senior Martial Brother of this auspicious event!”
Hyeon-do, who shouted as if he remembered something he had completely forgotten, looked at Cheon-hwi.
Afterwards, he smiled with his eyes and spoke.
“I will speak well to my Senior Martial Brother!”
“Pardon?”
Cheon-hwi made a blank expression.
However, before that, Hyeon-do suddenly kicked the ground and disappeared in an instant.
Cheon-hwi, who was looking at the front where only dust remained, muttered with a face that could not understand.
“What is he talking about?”
* * *
Purple Cloud Pavilion.
In the residence where the Sect Leader of the Mount Hua Sect stayed for generations, the Sect Leader of the current generation, Hyeon-sang, was lightly sipping tea from which pure white steam was blooming out.
‘How the main sect will be perceived in the Central Plains for four years depends on this Five Great Mountains Gathering.’
Because it was a Five Great Mountains Gathering held for the first time in twenty years, he paid special attention.
To the extent that he persuaded the Pavilion Master of the Wealth Spirit Pavilion to spend a lot of money to expand the Plum Fragrance Hall, and repaired and decorated various places.
All preparations were finished.
The only regretful point was that the majority of the Plum Blossom Swordsmen were not present.
After the worst bloodbath eight years ago, the Mount Hua Sect’s position within the Murim Alliance was gradually narrowing.
Because of that, other sects watched for an opportunity to aim for the main sect’s position, and inevitably sent the Plum Blossom Swordsmen, who were no different from the main sect’s elites, and his Junior Martial Brother, Hyeon-jin, to the Murim Alliance.
To show off that the Mount Hua Sect was alive and well.
Therefore, no matter if it was the Five Great Mountains Gathering, he couldn’t call them to return to the main sect.
‘No, perhaps it might rather become an opportunity. If the main sect shows its skills at the Five Great Mountains Gathering even without the Plum Blossom Swordsmen…….’
At that time when he was locked in thought.
Slam!
Suddenly, the door of the Purple Cloud Pavilion opened, and the setting sun dyed yellow seeped in.
“Senior Martial Brother!”
Following that, Hyeon-do appeared between the setting sun. Hyeon-sang soon stared at Hyeon-do standing nicely in front of him and opened his mouth.
“What is the matter sudden……!”
While speaking, he was astonished.
Hyeon-do was in front of his eyes.
However, he couldn’t feel his presence.
What those words meant was just one thing.
“R-Return to True Origin?!”
Hyeon-do smiled broadly.
Hyeon-sang, looking at his meaningful smile, urgently opened his mouth and asked.
“Did you overcome the wall?”
At the question, Hyeon-do nodded.
“Finally…….”
Hyeon-sang, overwhelmed with emotion, stood up.
“This is not the time for this. I must inform everyone that you have overcome the wall.”
As expected of Martial Brothers, Hyeon-sang spat out the exact same words as Hyeon-do. Right after, when he was about to dash out of the Purple Cloud Pavilion to deliver this good news.
“Senior Martial Brother.”
Hyeon-do stood in his way.
“There is something even more important than that.”
“What do you mean? Now that you have reached the Heavenly Martial Realm, how could there be anything more important than that?”
“No. There is.”
Hyeon-sang stiffened his face at Hyeon-do’s resolute eyes speaking firmly, and asked.
“What is…….”
“Cheon-hwi was a genius!”
“……What?”
Around the time Hyeon-sang momentarily lost his words at Hyeon-do’s words cutting in midway.
“And not just a genius, but the best in the world, no, the greatest genius of all time!”
Hyeon-do’s shout shook the Purple Cloud Pavilion.
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