Chapter 319: The One Who Lights the Sacred Fire (1)
Whoosh!
A sharp sword wind clove the empty air.
The sword wind was sharp, but the actual movement that unleashed that one sword was slow and soft. It was the martial art of the Wudang Sect, specializing in the sword arts of Later and Softness, Striking Later to Control First, and using Four Taels to Deflect a Thousand Catties.
‘Hmm.’
Ok-cheong shook her head.
‘As expected, it only looks plausible, but it would be hard to use in actual combat.’
To the eyes of someone who could read qi, it would look amazing, but to Ok-cheong, the caster, it was a disappointing sword strike.
If Ok-cheong had not joined the Evil-Annihilating Army and had instead still devoted herself to training in the mountains, he would have also been satisfied and moved on. However, to Ok-cheong, who had come to know actual combat, the current sword strike only looked plausible on the outside, but it lacked practicality.
‘Wudang’s sword differs in its path from worldly sword techniques. The main mountain’s sword developed strictly as a tool to realize the Tao. Regarding sword intent, it is more profound and mysterious than any sword technique in the Central Plains, but it is actually difficult to use in actual combat.’
That did not mean that Wudang’s sword technique was wrong.
So to speak, it was a matter of enlightenment. High-level martial arts all had such aspects, but Wudang’s martial arts in particular varied in sword power depending on enlightenment and mindset.
It was not a martial art that any dog or cow could use just by learning it moderately. However, as expected of an outstanding orthodox martial art, once one entered a realm above a certain level, the power manifested by that enlightenment overwhelmed actual combat.
That was the reason why the martial arts shown by the elders of the Wudang Sect, the masters of the elder level or higher, shook the world. Because they were already well-versed in Wudang’s martial arts, they had no particular problems with their perilous Jianghu activities even without experiencing actual combat separately.
‘Not me.’
Ok-cheong acknowledged his limits.
‘Perhaps my master also wished for me to walk the same path as the elder martial brothers. But I will not walk that path.’
Only now could Ok-cheong understand. The reason why his master, Taoist Tak-mu, the strongest master of the Wudang Sect, said that he was born with the talent of a Martial God.
That was because Ok-cheong’s nature and bone structure were specialized for Wudang martial arts. In other words, if he had continued his training as is without joining the Evil-Annihilating Army, Ok-cheong would have been able to manifest all of Wudang’s martial arts in actual combat within a few years.
However, his master’s wish and Ok-cheong’s eyes were looking at entirely different places.
‘I do not want to become an immortal. Since I was already born into this world, I want to travel all over the world and experience many things.’
Such a desire also played a part in his training hovering in place for several years.
His master’s expectations, the pats of his martial siblings, the envy of his martial nephews and nieces, Ok-cheong’s own wishes, and many other factors had put the brakes on his achievement.
‘Only now do I feel alive.’
He joined the Evil-Annihilating Army and fought against villains.
Calling it a struggle against villains was just words; in the end, it was a matter of seeing blood. Ok-cheong was still not used to seeing blood.
However, he realized that he should have no hesitation when facing an enemy with his sword. Just by realizing that one thing, Ok-cheong’s martial arts grew as if they had gained wings.
“Phew.”
Ok-cheong smacked his lips.
“But as a disciple of the Taoist sect, to always only think of the Killing Sword, this is also not the right path.”
Recently, after finishing training with the soldiers, no matter how tired he was, he swung Wudang’s Immortal Sword alone. It was to prevent his mind from becoming clouded as a disciple of Wudang.
Still, it seemed he had held the Killing Sword for a long time. Seeing that he was already recalling the profound principles of the practical combat sword even while training in the Immortal Sword.
“I must reflect on this.”
Just as Ok-cheong sheathed his sword and was about to enter his residence like that.
‘Hm?’
Ok-cheong turned his body.
From far away, a swordsman with a sharp yet heavy aura was walking toward him.
‘That person is…?’
It was a young man that Yeon Ho-jeong had once brought to the training grounds of the Evil-Annihilating Army before.
His name was Gang-ryang. He was a very rough but quite a young master holding a considerable aura.
A moment later, Gang-ryang stood in front of Ok-cheong.
“Hello.”At Gang-ryang’s greeting, Ok-cheong also replied with a greeting.
“Yes. But for what matter have you come here at this late hour…?”
“It is late at night, but I have a favor to ask of you, Taoist Friend.”
“To me?”
Gang-ryang spoke straight to the point.
“By any chance, would a sword spar be possible?”
Ok-cheong’s eyes widened.
“With me, you mean?”
“That is right.”
“Why with me…?”
He knew that Yeon Ho-jeong cherished Gang-ryang a lot. He heard that in private, they called each other older brother and younger brother.
If he lacked achievement in the sword, he could just ask Yeon Ho-jeong, so why did he come looking for him out of the blue?
Gang-ryang smiled faintly.
“I wish to exchange swords with various people. That is simply all.”
Ok-cheong also smiled.
When he first saw him, his eyes looked somewhat unstable.
But not anymore. His two eyes, full of firm will, proved that his heart and soul were as strong as anyone else’s.
Ok-cheong took a fist-palm salute.
“I hope we can learn many things from each other.”
“Thank you.”
Cha-ah-ang!
Without deciding who went first, the two of them drew their swords.
Ok-cheong, who was looking at Gang-ryang cautiously, tilted his head at a sudden thought that came to mind.
“By the way, Young Hero Gang.”
“Yes?”
“It is out of the blue, but may I ask you one question?”
“Of course.”
“Is the Army Commander very busy these days? He has not shown his face at all recently.”
If Gang-ryang’s aura had been fierce enough to not be ignored, Ok-cheong would not have dared to have other thoughts. That was how much Gang-ryang was lacking.
However, Gang-ryang did not feel offended at all. He himself knew his own shortcomings better than anyone else.
Gang-ryang smiled and answered.
“I do not know well, but he is working day and night for the peace of the Alliance.”
“For the peace of the Alliance…”
“Then, may we begin now?”
“Ah! I am sorry. Please begin.”
Paaak!
The two of them dashed toward each other at the same time.
* * *
Gi Wu-hui’s eyes deepened.
Srrrk.
Muk Bi entered her room.
“What about Army Commander Yeon?”
“He tailed them. I came to prepare for any unforeseen situations. I will protect you, Physician.”
Gi Wu-hui smiled.
“That is reassuring.”
Muk Bi put down the Red Lotus Bow and observed her surroundings. It was a room blocked on all sides except for one window, but her eyes scanned the unseen places.
Gi Wu-hui did not say that she didn’t need to be so sharply on edge. She did not bother trying to explain that with her innately born senses, she could catch any assassin.
“By the way, Vice Commander Muk.”
“Yes, please speak.”
Even as she answered, Muk Bi’s eyes were shining sharply.
“Do you know well about the Three Cults, Vice Commander Muk?”
“Not at all.”
“I see.”
“Why do you ask?”
“No. I was just wondering.”
“About what part?”
“If one is a person of the Central Plains, it is normal not to know about the Three Cults, right? Like you, Vice Commander Muk.”
“That is right. Since they did not reveal themselves, there is no way to know unless you are among the very few who made contact with them.”
“However, Army Commander Yeon knows extremely well about the Three Cults. In some ways, it seems he knows even more than I do.”
Muk Bi smiled.
“There is a saying that the one who knows sheep well is not another sheep, but a wolf.”
“Are you saying he knows well because he is a hunter?”
“I am just saying it is like that. No matter how much of a hunter he is, what could he know about prey he has never seen before?”
Muk Bi did not explain about Yeon Ho-jeong’s regression. She wouldn’t believe it anyway, and even if a moment came when it had to be told, the speaker shouldn’t be herself.
Gi Wu-hui, who had been tilting her head, smiled at a thought that suddenly came to mind.
“You trust Army Commander Yeon really deeply, Vice Commander Muk.”
“Of course.”
“Is there a story behind it?”
How could she simply tell that long story?
Muk Bi smiled slightly and spoke.
“It is fun when we travel together. It will probably be quite sweet and bloody this time too.”
Gi Wu-hui’s smile became a little bitter.
“I see.”
“By the way, what kind of fake information did you pass over? Young Master Yeon did not tell me.”
Gi Wu-hui’s eyes widened.
“You did not hear?”
“No.”
“Oh my…”
“Why? Is it information that could cause a problem?”
“Ah, no. To say it is information that could cause a problem… o-of course, in some ways, it could become a problem.”
Muk Bi’s gaze turned to Gi Wu-hui for the first time.
Gi Wu-hui opened her mouth with a face as if wondering whether she should say it.
“It was none other than information about Army Commander Yeon.”
“…!!”
***
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes shone.
‘It’s here.’
The liaison’s residence was right at the Sogangdan of the Murim Alliance’s outer castle.
Sogangdan was a place that managed food ingredients brought in from the outside. As it was the food ingredient warehouse that oversaw the entirety of the Murim Alliance’s inner and outer castles, its size was extremely large.
‘What an amazing sense of smell.’
As a place that stores and manages various food ingredients, the smell of dried food ingredients was quite strong.
To think they could smell the tracking scent wafting from the inner castle while residing in such a place. No matter how much they were trained, it was an unbelievable sense of smell. Considering the distance and environment, it was better than a dog’s nose.
‘That is why they could receive less suspicion instead.’
In the unlikely event that Gi Wu-hui’s espionage acts were discovered, she would also have to reveal how she delivered the information.
If she said she used a tracking scent at that time, people would immediately withdraw their eyes of suspicion from Sogangdan. For a liaison, it could be called a simple yet effective workplace.
Srrrk.
Yeon Ho-jeong hid himself in a tree.
A moment later.
Flap.
A small bird flew up.
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes flashed.
‘It’s not that.’
At first, he thought it was a carrier pigeon, but it was not. On the ankle of the bird caught by Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes, which had pushed his eyesight to the limit, nothing was tied.
‘They flew it first in preparation for any unforeseen situations.’
Indeed, Yeon Ho-jeong’s judgment was correct.
Half a shichen later, another bird flew up from the liaison’s residence.
Flap flap!
The sound of the wings was quieter than before, but the speed was faster.
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes shone.
‘That’s it.’
Paaak!
Yeon Ho-jeong chased after the bird in a single breath.
The bird’s speed was fast. It wouldn’t be impossible to catch it if he made up his mind to do so, but the problem was that he couldn’t use Blood Wing Sweeping Heavens or Heaven-Sent Moving Flight since he had to leave the outer castle without anyone knowing.
Vwoong!
Even so, Yeon Ho-jeong’s movement technique was fast and stealthy.
By forming the Yeon Clan Divine Elixir, the density of his internal energy was in a state much higher than before. He could cover ten li in a single breath with just a fingernail’s worth of internal energy.
In addition, his speed had also become much faster. He couldn’t overtake the bird, but he could easily tail it closely.
Vwoong.
Yeon Ho-jeong’s body, clad in black clothes, went over the wall of the outer castle without anyone knowing.
He went over the wall of an immense height without making a single sound. His movements and true qi operation had reached a divine skill.
Paaak!
After crossing the outer castle, Yeon Ho-jeong’s speed became even faster. It was quite an explosive movement, but his endurance had also drastically increased since forming the Yeon Clan Divine Elixir.
Elasticity, explosive power, and endurance had all improved. Yeon Ho-jeong chased after the bird with confidence.
Just how long had he run like that?
‘…!!’
Only then did he see the bird slowly descending.
The place where the bird that had been descending little by little finally hid its figure was a certain thatched cottage in a mountain valley a little away from the private houses.
Yeon Ho-jeong smiled palely.
Hwook!
His figure approached the vicinity of the thatched cottage in a single breath.