Chapter 343: Alliance (3)
That night.
“……?”
Sitting alone on his bed and reviewing the next operation, Yeon Ho-jeong read an extremely stealthy aura shooting toward him.
The stealthiness of that aura was comparable to that of an assassin, but the elegance the aura harbored was more profound than any orthodox divine art under heaven.
‘How?’
It was an aura Yeon Ho-jeong knew. That was why it was even more surprising.
The’person’ he knew would never move this stealthily.
Rustle.
Slipping out the window in a single breath and stepping down into the yard, Yeon Ho-jeong looked to the west.
The elegant aura gradually moved away. It probably meant for him to follow.
‘Why not just send a telepathy?’
He did not know the reason, but Yeon Ho-jeong still moved. Since qi tells of a person’s feelings as well as their character, at least no wicked intention could be seen from ‘this person’.
Rustle.
Yeon Ho-jeong stealthily chased the opponent’s qi. Since he was called in this manner at a late hour, it must definitely be a matter that others should not know.
How long had he moved like that?
After advancing a good twenty ri, a modest training ground suddenly appeared. It was a training ground Yeon Ho-jeong had never seen before.
There were several such places in the Murim Alliance. The Murim Alliance was that big.
And in the center of that training ground.
“Have you arrived?”
Yeon Ho-jeong respectfully cupped his fists.
“It has been a long time.”
“Heo-heo.”
Surprisingly, the person who called Yeon Ho-jeong was none other than the Sect Leader of the Wudang Sect, Immortal Seung-hyeon.
“Since you are the head of the mobile unit, how busy must you have been compared to old men with nothing to do. I should have dropped by once in a while to pat your shoulders, but my hips are heavy so I couldn’t even visit. I’m sorry.”
“How can you say such words?”
“I mean it.”
Of course, Yeon Ho-jeong also knew. That Immortal Seung-hyeon was not saying empty words.
Immortal Seung-hyeon put his hands behind his back and looked up at the sky.
“You are a truly amazing person.”
Yeon Ho-jeong looked at Immortal Seung-hyeon without a word.
Immortal Seung-hyeon, who was looking up at the sky, slowly closed his eyes.
“The first time I saw you was after you returned from touring the Central Plains with the Evil-Annihilating Army and punishing various villains.”
“…….”
“At that time, I recklessly questioned you without considering the circumstances. Heo-heo, I say I questioned you, but in reality, the thought of scolding you was big. Shamefully.”
“No.”
“However, you had your own subjective views, and you cared for the soldiers more than anyone else. We only exchanged a few words, but it was a conversation enough to know your true feelings.”
Immortal Seung-hyeon, opening his eyes again, looked at Yeon Ho-jeong.
In an instant, Yeon Ho-jeong felt his heart become inexplicably lonely.
Immortal Seung-hyeon’s eyes looking at him. Those eyes brought back the purity that he must have been born with, which had rotted away on the battlefield where blood and flesh flew about.
Immortal Seung-hyeon’s eyes were clear and deep like that. They were eyes on a different track from Yeon Ho-jeong’s uniquely clear eyes, the eyes of a true Taoist who had not only realized the Tao of Immortal Martial Arts but also become well-versed in the Tao of the secular world.
“Finding salvation in a life stained with the karma of killing is close to impossible. At least that is what I think.”
“…….”
“But you were different. You were wielding a Killing Sword, but you were full of an unwavering strong mind and worry for the world. It was a risky line, but I knew that line was very thick and solid.”
“You praise me too much.”
“It’s not excessive praise. I’m just honestly saying what I saw and felt.”
Immortal Seung-hyeon smiled.
“I like you.”
It was a remark with a tremendous resonance.
He had never lived to be acknowledged by someone, but Yeon Ho-jeong felt a lump in his throat for no reason.
The head of the Wudang Sect, a true Taoist different from the superficially strong secular experts, liked him. Even though he was a murderer who had lived a life soaked in blood.
He was thankful for that fact, and also ashamed. Because he thought he was not a person worthy of the acknowledgment of such an outstanding Taoist.
“However, no matter how thick the line you possess is, the muddy water poured by the karma of killing is always fearsome. I’m sure you’ll take care of it well, but this old Taoist with many worries couldn’t help but be deeply concerned about your future.”
“I am thankful even for the words.”
“Therefore, I want to give you a small help.”
“Yes?”
Yeon Ho-jeong tilted his head.
“What do you mean by help?”
Immortal Seung-hyeon suddenly burst into hearty laughter.
“Around noon today, the Abbot visited this person.”
“……!”
“He didn’t tell me exactly what the circumstances were. However, he said that you are fighting a difficult battle, and asked if there was anything he could do for you.”
“The Abbot…”
“I heard there are a few people moving together with you. But they are the heads of the Six Great Clans, people who already have completion before their eyes. Whether it’s martial arts, their own subjective views, or the purpose of life.”
The north wind of late winter died down, and the warm wind of early spring blew.
Facing that wind, Immortal Seung-hyeon’s eyes deepened even more.
“I know that you are no less than the heads of the Nine Sects One Gang, let alone the heads of the Six Great Clans.”
“Those are words hard to bear.”
“I’m not talking about martial arts. I’m talking about your will and solid character.”
“I still lack a lot.”
Immortal Seung-hyeon shook his head.
“However, you are still young. You are scarier because you are young. I don’t know for sure, but among the leading figures of the next generation Jianghu, there won’t be many juniors who will cast a shining reputation as much as your name.”
“…….”
“A person with power cannot be free from the responsibility given by its weight. The moment they forget that responsibility, the world will fall into misery. One might wonder if such a thing is possible through the madness of one person, but it is completely possible. That is the Murim and also the world.”
I know.
Yeon Ho-jeong almost answered like that without realizing it.
Whether it is martial or literary arts, those who have a great influence on the world are not easy to control just by that fact. A single word of theirs shakes the hearts of the public, and when the hearts of the public shake, the foundation of the country also shakes.
Those sitting in high positions, those who have gained peerless reputations.
That is why such people must have a sense of responsibility. Even if it is a life they didn’t want, they have to show a dignity fitting for it.
Only then will the world not fall into chaos. If they don’t have the confidence to do so, leaving the secular world and entering the mountains is the best.
It’s cold, but that was the truth.
“Politicians or great merchants with power have always been like that. It’s not easy to find people who overindulge in their rights while taking corresponding responsibilities.”
Immortal Seung-hyeon naturally swung his hand.
Huuuoong.
A warm wind hovered around his elderly fingertips, peacefully warming the air of the training ground.
“Come up.”
Yeon Ho-jeong went up to the training ground.
Immortal Seung-hyeon slowly lowered his posture.
“Watch carefully. At your level, once will be enough.”
From that moment on.
From that moment on, Immortal Seung-hyeon’s beautiful dance-like movements began.
Huuuoong.
His smoothly stepping footsteps were so light that they seemed to have no weight.
Huoong. Huuuoong.
Clear and profound true qi was contained in his swinging both hands.
Even though his baggy sleeves crossed the empty air here and there, no sound could be heard. Only the sound of the wind flowing along his hand movements tickled Yeon Ho-jeong’s ears.
Soft and soft again. Immortal Seung-hyeon’s both hands, moving endlessly smoothly, drew lines more beautiful than any dancer under heaven.
However, on the face of Yeon Ho-jeong watching it, astonishment was cast rather than admiration.
‘This is?!’
Huoong!
The sound of the wind grew even stronger.
The beautiful dance lines gradually, little by little, became sharper. The softness created by the curves remained the same, but the forms that drew perfect circles gradually became flatter and faster.
Eventually.
Pang!
A swift punch bursting the empty air.
The supply and demand of true qi is perfect. That is why it was an even more surprising fist technique.
Even though he did not use Force Emission, the shockwave spreading into the air was incomparably abundant. He loaded the force gathered by drawing circles into each punch, and that alone seemed capable of smashing a peak martial art head-on.
What was even more surprising was that Yeon Ho-jeong already knew that fist technique.
Rustle.
Immortal Seung-hyeon, who corrected his posture, laughed awkwardly.
“How is it?”
“…It’s amazing.”
“There’s no need to say that. This poor Taoist also still lacks cultivation. Therefore, excessive force was applied in between.”
Yeon Ho-jeong genuinely admired him.
“You shouldn’t say that. Who else would show such power with the endlessly soft Wudang Tai Chi Fist?”
That’s right. What Immortal Seung-hyeon showed was Tai Chi Fist, which Yeon Ho-jeong also knew.
However, just because the movements are similar, it couldn’t be said to be the same Tai Chi Fist.
Immortal Seung-hyeon’s Tai Chi Fist was accompanied by enlightenment that couldn’t be described in words, a perfected supply and demand of force, and emission.
It was not a martial art that could be used just by knowing the movements. The form is easy, but it is difficult to imitate even one-hundredth of the enlightenment contained within.
That was precisely Immortal Seung-hyeon’s martial arts. The underlying strength of the Wudang Sect Leader, who had become complete on his own based on pure enlightenment and the teachings of past masters, despite not experiencing many real battles.
And the moment he saw it, Yeon Ho-jeong could be sure.
‘I’ll lose.’
If he had the power of the Dark Emperor, he could win. No, not just at the level of the Dark Emperor, even if he went up just one more step from now, he could achieve a close match with Immortal Seung-hyeon with his extreme combat ability.
But Yeon Ho-jeong would lose. There was no other way.
‘I’ve already lost in my mind.’
Martial arts is not something that can only be unleashed with fists, feet, and weapons.
Yeon Ho-jeong felt a depth that was hard to dare reach in Immortal Seung-hyeon’s Tai Chi Fist. And he felt awe at that depth.
Perhaps even if Yeon Ho-jeong regained his power from his days as the Dark Emperor, he would not be able to win against Immortal Seung-hyeon.
Why? Because he wouldn’t even try to fight in the first place.
If Immortal Seung-hyeon pointed a sword at him, Yeon Ho-jeong would immediately put down his axe and declare defeat.
That was the extreme of Taoist martial arts, the ultimate enlightenment that cultivators of Daoism and Buddhism should rightfully reach.
Immortal Seung-hyeon burst into hearty laughter.
“It’s truly like you. To think of victory or defeat first after seeing my Tai Chi Fist.”
“Ah…”
“As expected, you are a born warrior. In ten years, those who can defeat you with secular martial arts will be counted on one hand.”
“I’m ashamed.”
“Looking at my Tai Chi Fist, you thought of victory or defeat rather than wanting to emulate it, and soon saw yourself losing. It’s the difference between you and me. However, I want to try narrowing that difference a bit.”
“Yes?”
“I heard that you and some of the heads of the Six Great Clans are doing strenuous work for the Jianghu. I didn’t ask separately, but looking at the Abbot’s face, I thought it wasn’t an ordinary matter.”
“…….”
“I don’t know what kind of killing karma will dye your future red, but I earnestly want to plant at least a ray of warmth in that exhausted mind. That is just all.”
Right after those words, Immortal Seung-hyeon called out unknown mnemonic chants.
Yeon Ho-jeong immediately knelt and memorized Immortal Seung-hyeon’s mnemonic chants as they were.
It was not the martial arts of the Wudang Sect. It was Immortal Seung-hyeon’s enlightenment melted into Tai Chi Fist.
His voice was surprisingly calm, and it had a strange rhythm as if listening to a song. It also had a strong resonance that anyone could memorize just by listening to it once.
Like that, Yeon Ho-jeong received a great gift before his departure.
Perhaps the supreme enlightenment of the Wudang Immortal Mountain’s Primordial Martial God, which would protect his mind for the rest of his life.