Chapter 71 – There is no regret, there is no regret (4)
With his old robe and bamboo hat pulled down, along with the way he immediately asked for food as soon as the gate opened, he was a figure that one couldn’t help but form prejudices about, even if one didn’t want to.
The reason why Mu-myung let the young man in without turning him away was because he sensed an extraordinary aura from him. How should this be described?
If Ma Kang had a fierce, beast-like aura, the young man emanated a clear, refreshing energy like flowing water. He appeared to be an extraordinary person at first glance.
And at the very least, Mu-myung judged that he was not from the Evil Sect. That’s why Mu-myung let him in without comment. Thanks to this, the young man privately elevated his assessment of the Sword Demon.
‘He doesn’t judge by appearances alone. Indeed, a vessel worthy of being called the Sword Demon.’
For better or worse, the Sword Demon was a figure who had created enormous reverberations throughout the martial arts world. While most martial artists, past and present, fear the Sword Demon and call him a murderer…
Surprisingly, there were not a few martial artists who didn’t think badly of the Sword Demon. This was probably because young martial artists, tired of the immobility of the Righteous sects, were captivated by his power.
The only person who could single-handedly confront the Righteous Sect martial arts alliance. And the hope that someone of humble origins could become so strong. He fit the conditions perfectly.
From that perspective, if asked what the young man thought of the Sword Demon, surprisingly, he held no opinion at all. Because he had never met him in person.
The Mount Wudang sect is founded on Taoist teachings, valuing the unity of yin and yang which is balance above all else. Therefore, he does not believe in rumors.
He only believes what he sees with his own eyes. He thinks this is the best way to approach balance. That’s why the head of the Mount Wudang sect sent the young man.
Because they needed a martial artist with the firmness to maintain his own convictions without being swayed by unfounded rumors. From what he could see, the Sword Demon wasn’t as bad as people thought.
At least, not until he saw the chaos unfolding inside with his own eyes. He had heard there were disciples, but he never imagined such a scene would be taking place inside.
Where should the explanation begin?
It’s not a long story. Let’s go back to this morning. After about two months of training, they had become as strong as they could possibly get for now. That was Mu-myung’s assessment.
‘Impressive, they’ve grown much faster than I expected.’
He had expected it to take at least half a year, but they had reached his target in just two months. This was because the disciples’ talents were more outstanding than he had thought.
Well, setting aside the grand genius of the Murong family, Ma Kang had already earned a place among the hundred great masters at a young age, and Yeon and Seolhwa’s talents were gradually blossoming as well.
Thanks to this pleasant miscalculation, Mu-myung had no choice but to add a new method. Personally, the best approach would be to pass down martial arts techniques that suited each individual the best.
But that method couldn’t be used yet. Because Mu-myung himself knew only a handful of martial arts techniques. Besides the Three Disasters Sword Technique and the Righteous Dragon Flying Stream Sword Technique…
He couldn’t find any suitable martial arts to teach Ma Kang and Yeon. But if he were to confess this? His dignity as a master would probably collapse instantly.
‘There’s no choice, I’ll have to use that method here.’
That was why he gathered his disciples in the early dawn when the winter cold was at its peak. The best news for Yeon was that he no longer had to live with weights attached to him.
“Wow, now I can finally live.”
“Really? I’m a bit disappointed.”
“That’s right. It wouldn’t be bad to wear them on your own after this training is over.”
“Could you please not compare me to monsters like you??”
Yeon showed his true colors for the first time. For him, diplomacy was not a choice but a necessity. He wasn’t without talent, but it wasn’t particularly strong either.
With such ambiguous strength, it wasn’t easy to survive in the Namgung family. Especially during the time when Yeon was in the Namgung family, when the family head and Dark Sword wielded tremendous power.
It was a time when one could disappear without a trace if one didn’t practice proper diplomacy. For Yeon, who had to rely on such diplomacy, to abandon it and show his true colors was very rare.
Not only Seolhwa but even Sua and Ma Kang who were standing nearby looked at Yeon with blank expressions before quickly apologizing. When a kind person gets angry, it’s more frightening.
Unfortunately, Namgung-yeon’s ordeal was not yet over. Yeon saw it. The malicious smile on the Master’s face. Come on, surely not. You wouldn’t go further, would you?
“Now for the next stage.”
Malice with sufficient reason descended upon Yeon!!
â—‡
The method Mu-myung thought of afterward was very simple. It was sparring. And not just any sparring, but one close to actual combat. Of course, if Mu-myung were to use his full power, it would definitely be dangerous.
Mu-myung himself would impose certain restrictions during the sparring. Specifically, Mu-myung would not use any sword techniques and would only engage in unarmed combat. He wouldn’t even use weapons.
Naturally, Sua and Ma Kang objected. This was because they were confident in their own abilities. Sua was the youngest first-class master, and Ma Kang was undoubtedly a member of the hundred great masters.
“Isn’t that too restrictive?”
“That’s right. I’m concerned that you might get hurt, Master.”
“Um, I don’t think we’re in a position to say such things.”
In the midst of this, the only person who had their wits about them was none other than Yeon. Yeon was only a second-class martial artist, but because of that, he could see reality more coldly.
To put it bluntly, Sua and Ma Kang’s concerns looked to Yeon like a mouse worrying about a cat. No, a tiger. Even if they didn’t use techniques or weapons…
The opponent was a supreme master. And not just any supreme master, but the legendary martial artist, the Sword Demon, who had once shaken both the Righteous and Unorthodox sects. And they were worried about him?
‘Please stop this nonsense… Huh!!’
For a moment, Yeon almost blurted out his true thoughts. However, he quickly swallowed those words. If there was one thing he was confident in, it was diplomacy.
Just as each martial artist has their own pride, Yeon thought that his diplomacy was something he wouldn’t lose to anyone else. Starting with her disguise as a woman and his acting…
The diplomacy that had somehow survived in the Namgung family was enough to give his pride. But that prideful diplomacy was about to be shattered right now.
There’s no defense against hard work, after all. In other words, Mu-myung’s training was so difficult that even a second-class martial artist directly trained in the Namgung family would find it very hard to endure.
But Sua also had her own grievances. No one knew the master’s strength better than Sua herself. Because she had witnessed it firsthand.
That day, the day when the Murong family almost fell into the hands of the Evil Sect. Sua witnessed the master split the sky. And she was the only one who saw it.
But setting aside his strength, isn’t it natural to worry about someone precious? Moreover, these were not just anyone, but two first-class masters.
Ma Kang had similar thoughts to Sua, but his pride was a bit greater than his concern for the Sword Demon. Even so, I’m one of the hundred great masters, this kind of treatment is a bit…
“Let me be clear.”
With those words, the atmosphere changed. Sua and Ma Kang instinctively stepped back. The ferocious aura rising from Mu-myung’s body was pressing against their chests, making them feel like they might suffocate.
Mu-myung was no longer smiling. The emotion felt from his coldly frozen expression was literally hostility. Yes, a declaration of war saying he considered them enemies.
Of course, Mu-myung himself had many concerns. Is this really the right way, isn’t there a gentler method? But each time, what emerged was literally a terrible ending.
The Evil Sect is no joke. One wrong move could really lead to death. Hadn’t he seen it himself at the Sichuan Tanga family before? They’re trash who even revive corpses as jiangshi and use them.
No, you don’t even have to go far to find out if you look at the story. The trash of trash who locked himself in a cave for over ten years in order to destroy the Martial Arts Alliance.
‘Yes, if I show weakness here, my disciples might be in danger later. I need to be ruthless here.’
In the end, the most important thing in actual combat is experience. Experience fighting against masters several levels above oneself becomes blood and flesh later on. It’s not Mu-myung’s own memory.
It’s influenced by the Sword Demon’s memory existing in Mu-myung’s unconscious. But he can’t bring in real enemies for them to fight. So, he takes on the role of the enemy instead.
That’s the conclusion Mu-myung reached.
“Ah, shit!!!!”
And simultaneously, Namgung-yeon’s pitiful curse echoed.
