Hwasan Sect’s Genius Swordsman Chapter 82

Chapter 82

From the Taiji, Yin and Yang are born, and from Yin and Yang, the Four Symbols and Eight Trigrams form all things in the universe.

All things in the universe circulate harmoniously according to the principles of Taiji, which is the unchanging truth that upholds the world.

This unchanging truth is infinity.

Infinity is another Taiji.

Transcending endless continuity, the Wudang Sect’s supreme martial art embodies infinity in its swordplay.

Taiji Wisdom Sword (太極慧劍)

The Sword Immortal’s Songwen Ancient Sword slowly descended from above.

Pure white Yang energy flowed gently in an arc, while pitch-black Yin energy surged violently, slashing through the arc.

The black and white arcs, starting from above and below, met in the middle, rotating and harmonizing to form a single circle.

Taiji (太極)

Crack!

The summit of Tianzhu Peak, where Mu Hwi stood, shook violently, as if the entire peak itself was trembling.

“Kuk.”

Mu Hwi, observing the black and white Taiji, let out a short laugh. A single sword movement had caused the surrounding nature to tremble.

Was this truly the result of a martial artist’s sword?

No, the term martial artist didn’t seem fitting. Even the term martial god wouldn’t be enough.

‘Is this the realm beyond transcendence?’

A world of swordsmanship that was beyond reach.

For the first time, the Sword Devil’s experience and instincts, which had always urged him to move forward, were now retreating, demanding escape.

The difference was too vast.

Thud!

Starting by forcing his stiff knees to move, Mu Hwi began to awaken the muscles that had turned to stone.

Boom!

He stomped the ground, channeling his peak internal energy, but the sword energy of the Taiji Wisdom Sword, which had assimilated—no, become—the surrounding atmosphere, didn’t even tremble.

Yet, Mu Hwi advanced.

The Plum Blossom Sword erupted with a dazzling purple light.

From its tip, petals began to scatter.

Crackle!

In an instant, countless purple dots filled the air, transforming into sword shadows that rained down on the Sword Immortal.

Like a summer downpour, the sword shadows fell, but the Sword Immortal, with his hands behind his back, calmly swung the Songwen Ancient Sword.

A white arc was drawn.

The sword shadows, which had been extending straight, were drawn into the flow of the Taiji Wisdom Sword.

Like raindrops seeping into the ground, the sword shadows quietly and naturally disappeared.

When Mu Hwi tried to move his sword again, this time, a black arc was drawn.

Boom!

A fierce sword strike, like a black dragon leaping, surged violently. It split the ground in two, aiming to tear through Mu Hwi’s brow.

‘Plum Blossom Endurance, Iron Plum Sword… No, no technique can block this.’

Unable to even think of blocking or deflecting, Mu Hwi quickly twisted his ankle and dodged to the side.

The sword strike, which had swallowed the faint afterimage left by the Dark Scent Flutter, extended far into the sky above Mount Wudang before finally dissipating.

Seeing this, Mu Hwi let out a hollow laugh.

‘I would’ve died.’

If he had recklessly tried to face the Sword Immortal’s strike, he surely would have.

Mu Hwi felt sweat dripping down his jawline as he tightened his grip on the Plum Blossom Sword.

Just as nature isn’t always gentle and warm, the Sword Immortal’s Taiji Wisdom Sword didn’t show only its endlessly gentle side.

The Sword Immortal was pushing relentlessly, without holding back.

As the Sword Immortal had said before drawing his sword, Mu Hwi would gain as much as he could withstand.

The Plum Blossom Sword, which had been trembling violently, now split into dozens of sword energies, transforming into a tree branch that bloomed countless plum blossoms.

Purple plum blossoms filled Tianzhu Peak.

The rich fragrance of plum blossoms began to fill the peak, where only a refreshing breeze had blown before.

“How long has it been since I last smelled plum blossoms? It’s wonderful.”

Mu Hwi observed the Sword Immortal, who was smiling contentedly with wide eyes.

The Sword Immortal’s breathing, the twists of his sword, the tremors of his sword energy.

Mu Hwi reflected on every minute detail in his pupils.

Every tiny movement of the Sword Immortal was utterly natural as if he had become one with nature.

Even the motion of the Songwen Ancient Sword moving up and down seemed to Mu Hwi like a pine branch trembling in the wind.

“Hmm…”

Over thirty plum blossoms bloomed around the Sword Immortal. Even a supreme master would struggle to withstand them and would likely be reduced to a bloody mess.

But the Sword Immortal, with a half-drawn arc, effortlessly returned the plum blossoms to their natural state.

Swish!

The more this happened, the more Mu Hwi clung to the Sword Immortal, unleashing his sword. Mu Hwi, pouring out purple sword energy, was more desperate than ever.

Plum Blossom’s Allure (梅花吐艶)

The enchanting purple light of the plum blossoms scattered petals, tempting the Sword Immortal’s eyes.

Plum Blossom Blood Rain (梅花血雨)

Above the Sword Immortal’s head, purple petals revealed sharp serrated edges, thirsting for blood.

Plum Fragrance Seeps into Bone (梅香浸骨)

Ten streaks of purple light quietly surged toward the Sword Immortal, covered in plum blossoms and petals.

Mu Hwi unleashed three techniques in succession, pressing the Sword Immortal.

‘Hmm. All techniques I’ve never seen before. His movements earlier were the same. Has the Hwasan Sect developed new martial arts?’

The Sword Immortal, leisurely observing Mu Hwi’s techniques, twisted his sword to create a small circle.

Whoosh!

But again, nothing changed.

Following the principles of Taiji, the plum blossoms withered, and the petals that had filled the surroundings scattered beyond Tianzhu Peak, across all of Mount Wudang.

The Sword Immortal simply stood proudly in the same posture as before, enjoying the fragrance of plum blossoms.

Even though his three techniques were neutralized in an instant, Mu Hwi paid no heed and began recalling the sword movements the Sword Immortal had shown.

‘It’s clearly a technique of the Taiji Wisdom Sword, but I caught glimpses of other Wudang sword techniques. No, perhaps that’s natural.’

As Mu Hwi was lost in thought, the Sword Immortal released his hands from behind his back and stroked his beard.

“Hoho.”

After letting out a deep laugh, the Sword Immortal drew a complete Taiji.

Except for the initial display, the Sword Immortal had been using Yin and Yang energies separately, not forming a proper Taiji.

Now, the Taiji Wisdom Sword was fully unleashed.

Gentle Yang energy and violent Yin energy.

These two opposed and depended on each other, seemingly discordant yet harmonious.

The principles of Yin and Yang became the foundation of the Taiji Wisdom Sword’s techniques, striking toward Mu Hwi.

It felt like facing not a person’s sword energy, but a part of nature itself—vast and distant.

It wasn’t like confronting a great wall, but rather like crossing swords with the expansive earth, sea, and sky.

‘There’s no way. I’ll pour out everything I have.’

Mu Hwi abandoned the thought of clashing swords.

He abandoned the thought of closing the distance.

He abandoned the thought of finding a flaw in the Sword Immortal.

Mu Hwi’s thoughts gradually faded, and he began to strike with his sword based on the experience and instincts he had accumulated.

The sharp light in Mu Hwi’s eyes dimmed, and his pupils grew hazy.

The Sword Immortal immediately recognized Mu Hwi’s state.

‘He’s entered the state of No-Self (無我).’

No-Self is a state where one sheds all attachments, including to oneself, and breaks through fixed boundaries.

It is a state where one transcends everything and focuses solely on the essence of martial arts.

This is No-Self (無我).

No-Self is like a rare opportunity; even those who train diligently their entire lives may never experience it.

Mu Hwi’s Plum Blossom Sword, freed from distracting thoughts, became a plum blossom tree, scattering its fragrance.

Plum Blossom Nine Transformations (梅花九變)

Full Bloom of Plum Blossom (梅花滿開)

Plum Blossom’s Radiance (梅花爛漫)

Mu Hwi’s Plum Blossom Sword, having shed all worldly concerns, began to unleash the new techniques he had created one after another.

Each time the shimmering Purple Sword Energy fell, it became a seed from which plum blossoms surged.

The luxuriantly blooming plum blossoms filled Tianzhu Peak, and the rotating Taiji once again emptied it.

It was as if spring had come to Tianzhu Peak, with countless petals pouring down, while the black and white Yin and Yang energies intertwined and swam through them.

Mu Hwi, who had been unleashing newly created techniques, now deployed the Three Ridges, Seven Nodes, and Ethereal techniques.

Nothing changed, but the Plum Blossom Sword did not stop.

Starting from this, the Plum Blossom Sword Technique, Iron Plum Sword Technique, Falling Plum, Dense Wind, and Full Fragrance—countless Hwasan Sect sword techniques Mu Hwi had learned—reappeared at the tip of the Plum Blossom Sword.

Thus, all the Hwasan Sect sword techniques were traced back and returned.

From the branches back to the roots.

To the Six Harmonies.

Six Harmonies Sword (六合劍)

The simple vertical and horizontal sword strokes clashed with the myriad phenomena the Sword Immortal had created.

There were no dazzling petals or eye-catching plum blossoms, but the rugged Six Harmonies Sword raced freely through the Sword Immortal’s myriad phenomena.

At that moment, a faint sword mark appeared before Mu Hwi, who was in the state of No-Self. It was the sword mark left by the Six Harmonies Sword within the Sword Saint’s legacy.

A mysterious sword mark that had yielded nothing until Mu Hwi analyzed other sword marks and gained enlightenment.

‘The directionality of the Six Harmonies. This is just one part of the process. Did the founding patriarch intend to fully embody the Six Harmonies in his sword?’

The Six Harmonies are east, west, south, north, heaven, and earth.

In other words, the world.

Just as the Wudang Sect’s Taiji Wisdom Sword embodied the circulation and principles of all things in the universe, if the Hwasan Sect’s founding patriarch sought to embody the world itself in a single sword…

‘I only interpreted it at a superficial level.’

Inspired by the Taiji Wisdom Sword, Mu Hwi realized.

His previous understanding of the Six Harmonies as mere directionality was a shallow, half-correct answer.

The Hwasan Sect, which sought to extend the sword in all directions of the Six Harmonies to create a sword that could cut through anything in the world.

All directions mean all paths (道).

All paths (道) are the principles of the world.

The principles of the world are one Tao (道).

If one could embody this Tao in a sword and cut through the world, what in the world could not be cut?

This is the true meaning of the Six Harmonies.

“Whew.”

A breath rising from deep within.

Purple light filled Mu Hwi’s empty pupils, and a sharp energy emanated from his previously dazed gaze.

“Have you arrived?”

Seeing Mu Hwi awaken from the state of No-Self, the Sword Immortal waved his hand, and Mu Hwi raised the corner of his mouth.

“I’ll go again.”

Strength filled his right hand gripping the sword hilt, and the Plum Blossom Sword began to scatter Purple Sword Energy as it unleashed the Six Harmonies Sword.

From the Six Harmonies to Dense Wind, Full Fragrance, and Falling Plum.

From the Plum Blossom Sword Technique to the Three Ridges, Ethereal, and Seven Nodes.

Mu Hwi, climbing back from the roots to the branches.

As Mu Hwi unleashed all the Hwasan sword techniques again, his sword was the same as before, yet different.

Having grasped the true meaning of the Six Harmonies, Mu Hwi began to redefine his sword techniques in accordance with his newfound sword intent.

And with it, enlightenment poured forth.

Not only the existing Hwasan sword techniques but also the newly created techniques began to transform under the true meaning of the Six Harmonies.

The new techniques left by Hyeon Jo and the Sword Devil.

The insights of past Hwasan Sword Saints.

The sword mark of the Six Harmonies Sword Saint.

And now, the newly redefined Hwasan sword techniques began to harmonize.

Thick veins throbbed in Mu Hwi’s eyes, and steam rose from the Baihui point at the top of his head.

Yet, Mu Hwi continued to madly thrust the Plum Blossom Sword. He looked like a ghost possessed by the sword.

As the number of sword strokes increased, the techniques became more refined and precise.

Like scattered pieces fitting together.

‘His erratic sword movements are finding their center.’

The Sword Immortal nodded as he carefully observed Mu Hwi, whose Plum Blossom Sword was gradually calming.

Mu Hwi, watching the straight thrusts of the Plum Blossom Sword, thought.

‘The techniques are converging into one path.’

Until now, Mu Hwi had created and refined many new techniques but hadn’t been able to weave them into a single sword style.

He didn’t know why, but he had a strong sense that the techniques were operating independently.

This was why Mu Hwi had been selecting and using the techniques he needed one by one.

But now, it was different.

The techniques were converging under the Six Harmonies.

The over thirty new techniques merged and disappeared repeatedly.

The remaining twenty-four techniques.

Snap!

An insight pierced Mu Hwi’s mind.

With this insight, the twenty-four techniques transformed into a single sword style.

Feeling the change, the Sword Immortal stopped his sword, and Mu Hwi slowly lowered his sword.

“Have you gained enlightenment?”

“Yes. And I’ve also gained a new sword technique.”

“A new sword technique?”

At Mu Hwi’s claim of creating a new martial art, the Sword Immortal stroked his beard and smiled.

“What is the name of this sword technique?”

Mu Hwi closed his eyes and delved into the insight swirling in his mind like the fragrance of plum blossoms.

This insight felt so extraordinary that it didn’t seem like something Mu Hwi had achieved alone.

In truth, he had received help from countless others.

Hyeon Jo, the Sword Devil, the Six Harmonies Sword Saint, past Hwasan Sword Saints, the Shadow Queen, the Sword Immortal, and all of Hwasan.

If even one of these had been missing, he wouldn’t have reached this insight.

When unleashing the twenty-four techniques that formed this sword style, it felt as if twenty-four invisible hands were supporting the Plum Blossom Sword together.

It was as if the will and insights of those who had helped him achieve this had taken the form of hands.

‘It feels like shaking off loneliness.’

This insight was completely different from the insights the Sword Devil had gained through solitary contemplation in his past life.

In a way, this sword style might be the closest to the ideal the Sword Devil had sought—a sword that could cut through loneliness.

A sword born from the insights formed by the hands of many, a sword most suited to cutting through the loneliness that pursued him.

Lost in thought, Mu Hwi opened his eyes.

‘Hyeon Jo. Is this our sword style?’

Twenty-four techniques.

Twenty-four hands, and their will.

Could there be a more fitting name?

“The Twenty-Four Hands Plum Blossom Sword Technique.”

Twenty-Four Hands Plum Blossom Sword Technique (二十四手梅花劍法).

The moment a supreme sword technique, destined to be called Hwasan’s greatest martial art, revealed itself to the martial arts world.

< Is this our sword technique? > End

< It was good to come to Mount Wudang. >