Chapter 73- There is no regret, there is no regret (6)
The martial arts secret of the Wudang sect is exactly the mystery of the Taegeuk, which is the unity of yin and yang. In a word, it could be seen as the teaching of moderation that emphasizes balance.
In fact, emphasizing balance is similar everywhere. Nevertheless, the reason the Wudang sect is known as a representative is only one. Because they possess one of the most formidable martial prowess among the Nine Schools.
Of course, on the surface, the Nine Schools emphasize equal relationships close to a friendly association. But no matter what, when men among men, martial artists, are bound together as one.
Even ordinary citizens ask childish questions about who is stronger during drinking sessions. How could a martial artist belonging to the Nine Schools not harbor such thoughts?
However, because there was still the matter of saving face, all the martial contests merely ended in draws after both sides had shown off just enough.
That’s why determining the hierarchy among the Nine Great Sects was extremely difficult.
Nevertheless, the reason the Wudang sect is evaluated as the best of the Nine Schools is only one. It is because there is a definite record that the legendary Sword God of the Righteous sect Martial Arts alliance began with the Wudang sect.
In his youth, the Sword God, with his generous spirit and intolerance for injustice, would not forgive anyone who committed wrongdoing, regardless of who they were. Even with just one sword, he burned down the Green Forest.
Indeed, the Green Forest, which once swarmed throughout the country, has still not properly recovered from the damage even after decades. Of course, it’s partly because the Sword God destroyed so much.
There are also quite a few martial artists who claim to follow the Sword God’s will and frequently raid the Green Forest. Thanks to this, the Green Forest has become the most vulnerable place, and it gets raided easily.
No, anyway, that’s beside the point. Because the Wudang sect is the origin and starting point of such a Sword God. Cheongwol’s pride in the Wudang sect was quite high.
‘So the unorthodox sect is still the unorthodox sect. No matter how much my martial prowess rivals that of the Sword God, I cannot do anything about that barbaric temperament.’
The way he inwardly clicked his tongue was truly lacking nothing to be called a young old-fashioned person, but unfortunately, no one could read his mind.
‘I feel quite displeased, but I hope you’re not harboring strange thoughts inside?’
However, just one person, Sua alone, was glaring at Cheongwol with fierce eyes. On the surface, there was no strange sign to be felt. But somehow it oddly bothered her.
“No matter what, overworking your disciples too much is not very good, Great warrior. I am concerned that the disciples’ bodies might be seriously injured.”
“Finally, a normal person appears.”
Surprisingly, it was none other than Namgung Yeon who nodded vigorously and agreed with Cheongwol’s words. It was a behavior that couldn’t be seen from his former self who had devoted his life to worldly wisdom.
But now he wasn’t caring about it at all. After all, worldly wisdom is something you can do only if you’re alive. In the current situation, if left unattended, he might be beaten to death.
Worldly wisdom my ass.
I’m about to die right now.
And these seniors are no help at all.
Without even realizing it himself, Yeon’s personality was gradually becoming distorted. However, even he quietly closed his mouth and lowered his head when his eyes met with Mu-myung’s.
And of course, Cheongwol wouldn’t miss that part. Belonging to the Righteous sect Martial Arts alliance means being able to spot an opponent’s flaw at a glance and use it against them.
“If you glare so frighteningly, how can your disciple grow? Even when stepping on a sprout to raise it, it can only survive if you step on it moderately.”
‘I was just looking.’
From Mu-myung’s perspective, it felt quite unfair. No, he had only looked because the disciple had said something and he intended to simply listen. And yet, after just a few words, he had somehow become a mortal enemy, glared at as if someone wanted to kill him.
Just as Mu-myung was about to explain himself, at that very moment. Someone stepped forward before Mu-myung, and it was none other than Murong Sua. To her, her master is literally heaven.
Someone who saved not only her family but even her own life. A person to follow for life and a master. Now someone is openly challenging such a master in front of her?
“You’ve got one filthy long tongue. Well, I guess all talkers are like that.”
Sua chose to openly use derogatory words against the Wudang disciples, causing even Ma Kang to sharply inhale. To this, Cheongwol smiled and opened his mouth.
“I apologize, I’ve been hearing things lately. What did you just say?”
It was a kind of final warning, a chance to back off. A signal that, I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that, so you should stop here and step down. Calling someone a ‘talker’ was about as insulting as calling a cop a pig right to their face.
In response, Sua spoke up with a beautiful smile.
“It seems the fake talker Taoist has finally had his ears eaten away.”
And then a heavy silence settled between Cheongwol and Sua.
â—‡
There’s a saying about spitting toward the sky.
In the end, the spit directed at the sky will fall back and hit one’s own face. Far from being beneficial, it’s actually karma that comes back to oneself.
In the martial world, cursing one’s master was no different from spitting at the sky. If you dishonor your master, eventually all disciples learning under him will also be insulted.
Naturally, Namgung Yeon couldn’t have been unaware of this fact. That’s why even Namgung Yeon was greatly taken aback when this person called Cheongwol from the Wudang sect suddenly insulted his master.
After all, Yeon’s intention was not to dishonor his master. He just wanted this hellish training to stop. Or at least lower the intensity a bit.
So Yeon tried to resolve it himself. Because Righteous sects have their own ways. Of course, there was no need to show that way. It is because the master had already drawn his sword.
Although it was metaphorical, it was no different from drawing a sword in strict terms. How dare she openly use the word ‘talker Taoist’ to insult Wudang in front of a Wudang disciple?
Occasionally, elderly masters exchange words like ‘monk’ or ‘talker’ with each other, but that’s only possible when they are acquainted with each other. Or at least have that kind of relationship.
Using the word ‘talker’ upon first meeting is no different from saying ‘let’s fight.’ Even from the standpoint of Righteous sects that value face, it can never be overlooked.
However, from Cheongwol’s perspective, there’s a lot he wants to say too. Because he suddenly heard the word ‘talker’ out of nowhere. He was trying to speak indirectly rather than giving direct advice.
He even gave her one chance. A chance to take back the words she had uttered herself. Murong Sua of the Murong family? To be honest, he had never heard of her name.
‘Being a daughter of one of the Five Great Families, she probably has learned some martial arts, but how much martial art can a woman’s body display?’
Indeed, it was very typical of Central Plains with its fundamentally male-dominated ideology. The fact that there weren’t many female masters also played a role. Cheongwol smiled and opened his mouth.
Although it wasn’t an intended situation, he judged that he could take the initiative. Of course, Cheongwol attacked first. However, this is absolutely not an insult.
In contrast, Murong Sua, the disciple of the Sword Demon, openly spoke insulting words against the Wudang sect. That alone is enough justification. But before that, should he correct her manners first?
“I can’t just let this go.”
“Neither can I.”
“Then the conversation is quick. How about having a light sparring match?”
“Do you think I’m going to avoid it?”
“No, that’s not it. I can feel a considerable fighting spirit from you, Sajeo.”
It would be troublesome if the other side gave up first. The only reason Cheongwol deliberately sought out the Sword Demon of the unorthodox sect was one thing: to assess the character of the Sword Demon on behalf of the Wudang sect.
However, judging by the behavior of the disciples, he seemed to already know to some extent. A disciple who can’t control her anger and a disciple who easily reveals openings. Are the disciples stupid?
Or did the master teach them wrong? I’m not sure which one it is, but anyway, thanks to this, things have become quite easy. Because now he can directly observe Sua’s skills and judge her level.
The important thing here is that it’s a sparring match, not a martial contest. One might say they’re similar, but they’re clearly different. To explain it in a way that modern people can understand.
If a martial contest is closer to WWE where participants accommodate each other’s techniques, conversely, a sparring match is like a serious UFC fight where everything is at stake.
And Cheongwol was confident. No matter if the opponent was a disciple of the legendary Sword Demon of the unorthodox sect, it was the Sword Demon who had strong martial prowess. Not the Sword Demon’s disciple.
‘No matter if the opponent is the Sword Demon, the Righteous sect is unmatched in disciplining and teaching disciples. This is rather a fight I can’t help but win.’
That’s what Cheongwol thought at first. Certainly, it’s not a wrong judgment. Often, those called geniuses are surprisingly weak at teaching. Such types existed in the Wudang sect as well.
However, that thought didn’t last long.
Because he was subdued in just 2 exchanges as soon as the sparring began.
And it was Cheongwol himself, not Sua.
