Chapter 72- There is no regret, there is no regret (5)
Originally, when a weapon and bare hands collide, the weapon is of much greater advantage. That’s beyond common sense or talk, it’s a fact close to an absolute, unchanging truth. It’s the same now as it was in the past.
However, at the moment when Mu-myung’s fist and Sua’s sword collided at full force, with a loud explosion, Sua’s sword shattered into pieces. Sua was dumbfounded.
It wasn’t just a casual swing of the sword. It was a technique executed with her true full power. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say it was a strike using her full strength, even employing her internal energy, yet it was destroyed?
And by nothing but a bare fist? Could he perhaps have reached the legendary indestructible state she had only heard about? Thinking this, Sua’s respect for him grew once again.
But Mu-myung’s merciless fist didn’t stop just because her respect was growing. All Sua could do after losing her weapon was to raise her two arms like a shield.
Kwaaaaang!!!
The heavy impact felt as though she had been hit by a hammer. Despite pulling up her internal energy to block, Sua felt as if her arms would fall off.
However, the other disciples couldn’t just stand by watching this. The second one to move was Ma Kang. Ma Kang swung his large sword, fitting for his build.
The great sword cut through the air with a chilling sound as it struck down hard on Mu-myung’s shoulder. Despite a force more like swinging an iron mace than cutting, Mu-myung was far too unaffected.
“……??”
“Excellent.”
Pfft!!!
“Kuaaak!!”
He expected a fist would be swung. In that brief moment, Ma Kang had no difficulty reading Mu-myung’s thoughts. No kicks, no weapons, he’s facing us with just his fists.
So Ma Kang summoned all his strength and drew up his internal energy, but the moment Mu-myung’s fist struck him, Ma Kang was hit with an indescribable shock.
The only reason he didn’t cough up blood was because this was, strictly speaking, just a sparring match,not a life-or-death duel. Had it been otherwise, Mu-myung’s fist would have pierced straight through his abdomen without a hint of hesitation. Is this truly the Sword Demon?
Newly realizing Mu-myung’s strength, Ma Kang eventually fell to his knees. Since the two strongest disciples were defeated instantly, what else could they do now?
“Ha, that’s why I told you not to mess around.”
Yeon was watching the entire situation from behind with a bewildered expression. Unable to withstand even a single strike, who was worrying about whom? Damn it, they might as well all go and die.
“Aren’t you coming?”
“How could I possibly be a match?”
“Running away like that again?”
“……What do you mean?”
“If that’s how you want to behave, I won’t stop you.”
Originally, he was just going to surrender properly. After all, he clearly knew he was no match. But the moment he heard those words, that feeling instantly vanished.
‘Am I running away?’
Thinking about it, that was true. Always using proper conduct as a pretext, he took a step back and observed. Then, if things went badly, he would praise himself.
Indeed, my conduct is excellent.
I shouldn’t get involved unnecessarily.
I’ll live my life my way.
He had lived that way until now. And even he realized that wasn’t the right way to live. But what other option did he have? He knew himself.
He’s not a genius. At least, he could never be like the senior disciples or fellow disciples. If defeat is clearly visible, there’s no reason to fight. Comforting himself that way, he kept avoiding challenges.
Until now, there had been no problem. Because no one cared about someone without talent like him. But this master definitely sees him.
Could that be why? Yeon unconsciously took a stance. He no longer wanted to run away. Even if it was futile, he wanted to face it at full strength with dignity. That’s what he thought.
Bang!!
“Still not possible, I see.”
Of course, rushing in with all his might, he was predictably defeated in one strike. However, regardless of the result, Mu-myung did not evaluate Namgung Yeon’s action too badly.
“It’s something that you didn’t run away from immediately.”
“Master.”
“Beginnings are always difficult, but afterward it gets easier. Don’t run away anymore and fight. I will give you the strength to do so.”
“……Thank you.”
Receiving proper recognition for the first time, Yeon’s voice began to tremble with emotion. Perhaps what he needed wasn’t proper conduct, but a warm word of acknowledgment.
“M-Master. Are you going to hit me too?”
“Hmm, I’ll let Seolhwa pass. You’ve only reached the second-class realm yet.”
“…………”
That day, Namgung Yeon learned life’s bitter taste.
â—‡
Anyway, after such hell, the young man from the Wudang sect arrived. It wasn’t strange for him to misunderstand upon seeing the disciples’ condition. The young man clicked his tongue inwardly.
‘As expected of an Unorthodox sect, their way of handling disciples is truly outrageous.’
Was he directly beating his disciples under the pretext of sparring? No matter how strictly one teaches, completely destroying them without giving them a chance to counterattack…
The young man couldn’t help but be shocked at witnessing something that would never even be imagined in a renowned Righteous sect so nonchalantly committed. But thinking differently, couldn’t that also be an advantage?
‘Thinking again, the opponent is not an ordinary warrior. He’s the monster called the Sword Demon, a legend of the Unorthodox sects who ravaged the Righteous Sect Martial Arts Alliance.’
The young man was also well familiar with the Sword Demon’s infamy since childhood. Some Righteous sects even used the Sword Demon’s name to scold children.
Since he was the Sword Demon who had completely trampled the pride of the Righteous Sect Martial Arts Alliance. Naturally, it wasn’t unreasonable that his training methods would be unconventional. From the Evil sect’s perspective, it was somewhat understandable.
The history of the Righteous Sect Martial Arts Alliance is not something an Unorthodox sect can catch up to in a short time. This meant that the Unorthodox sects would resort to any means necessary to catch up to the Righteous sects.
‘This might actually be an opportunity. A chance to discover how the Sword Demon became so powerful.’
Of course, discovering secrets of martial techniques or training methods could lead to a life-or-death battle, so he needed to find out carefully. Thinking this, the young man bowed to the Sword Demon.
“Pleased to meet you, great master. I am Cheongwol, a Taoist cultivating at the Wudang sect.”
“I see, but why has Wudang come from such a distant place?”
“Actually, the Wudang sect wishes to hear the Sword Demon’s story directly.”
“I see, then please come inside first.”
“Thank you.”
Mu-myung also had no reason to turn him away. With the current situation of hostility between the Five Great Families and the Namgung Family being troublesome enough, there was no reason to make enemies of the Nine Schools as well.
Moreover, he had heard that Muwol of the Sadoryeon was making every effort to expose the evil of the Evil Sect. This meant that the Nine Schools had also heard from Muwol.
Thinking that way, it wasn’t strange that someone had come all the way from the distant Mount Wudang to Hanam. After all, the current situation was nothing short of the greatest crisis in martial arts history.
“I see you’re personally teaching your disciples?”
“It’s nothing short of a crisis now. And time is short.”
“No matter what, isn’t that too violent a method?”
“I understand why you would say that. But isn’t this better than dying like dogs outside?”
Come to think of it, didn’t they say they needed to settle things with the Evil Sect operating in the darkness of the martial world? Cheongwol had heard that story too. But honestly, it was hard to believe.
Ultimately, the reason the Sword Demon went mad and attacked the Righteous sects was because of the Evil Sect. In other words, not only the Righteous Sect Martial Arts Alliance but even the Namgung Family was being manipulated by the shadowy Evil Sect?
Although the Namgung Family was said to have become more aggressive compared to the past, was it really possible for someone to manipulate the leading family of the Righteous Sect Martial Arts Alliance so freely?
‘What if it’s just an excuse to attack the Righteous sects?’
He couldn’t help but think that way. After all, the opponent was the Sword Demon. But Cheongwol deliberately didn’t voice these thoughts. He didn’t want to die by carelessly speaking out.
Now he needed to focus on something more important. The one reason Cheongwol had come down representing the Wudang sect was to observe the Sword Demon’s actions and make his own judgment.
If, by any chance, the Evil Sect truly existed as the Sword Demon claimed, and if its existence was deeply rooted in the martial world, then it absolutely couldn’t be overlooked.
‘But there’s definitely a possibility that the Sword Demon’s claims are false. That’s why I need to proceed more cautiously here.’
The current goal was simple, to see the Sword Demon’s martial prowess directly and confirm whether he was the real Sword Demon. At least in appearance, he definitely seemed to be the Sword Demon, but his skills were still unknown.
‘For some reason, I feel uneasy.’
For some reason, Mu-myung was feeling uncomfortable.
