Leader Jin Mu’s head was filled with complicated thoughts as he ran into the hall.
Step step step flinch!
“Uh… uh…”
The young Taoists who came across him were all shocked when they encountered him.
“Hey, hey. Shh. Hurry up.”
“Uh? Yes, right…”
Flutter
Fifteen days ago, even before the incident happened, these people would run over and say hello as soon as they saw him from afar.
But now in their eyes, they saw a lot of fear, discomfort, and regret.
How many days did Leader Jin Mu have left now?
They sighed.
The huge trouble had not even started, yet he felt like he was on the verge of collapse.
Shhh. Skkkk.
Washing his face with both hands, he tried to calm himself.
Do not be shaken. Are you trying to covet the name now?
It was hard to be born as a kid and find a place to die.
Leader Jin Mu decided to throw everything he had into the revival of the Wudang Sect, his own sect.
In return, he promised not to care about any bad reputation that would come onto him. The day he overthrew the elders in the spar, he showed himself overwhelming Taoist Hye Jin in front of Wudang leaders.
Everything was decided then.
Just like one cannot bring back spilled water.
Step step.
“Isn’t that Leader Jin Mu… over there?”
“Umm. They said lightning came out of his hand…?”
“I heard he defeated Taoist Hye Jin in just four seconds?”
The young Taoists with just their heads behind the wall spoke. Most of them had reluctant eyes, but there were some who looked at Jin Mu with envious eyes.
Although the number was small, surely jealous ones existed, and Jin Mu could feel their gaze too.
Every time, he had both joy and despair to feel.
It shouldn’t be like this.
The strength of words in Wudang.
Everyone realized how scary and strong he was.
If the grand plan of theirs went wrong today, their presence would vanish from there.
And contrary to their thoughts, Wudang would get eaten by the third ability…
No, no. There have to be results either way.
Leader Jin Mu shook his head to shake off the sad thoughts.
First, a person should do their best, and the heavens will move to give the result.
Did that mean to wait for the decision?
As said, he had done all he could do until now.
No matter which direction fate went in, it could not go any better than it already was.
The preparations are complete. Wudang will no longer be held back…
“With the steps I took today, the horn will sound so that Wudang cannot be ignored again.”
The current state of Taoist sects was in chaos.
Mount Hua, one of those fighting with Taoist sects.
Their status was growing with each day. Punishing the demons who were terrorizing the powerless people and holding the small medium-sized factions.
The influence they held was expanding.
Unlike Wudang, which had so far settled in the mountains and only lived on the name of ancestors, they were active in all parts of the central plains and became the hope of people regardless of whether they were powerful or not.
Some even said that the world’s first Taoist sect was actually Mount Hua.
“Pheww…”
Step. Step.
The heavy steps soon led to the great hall. A huge gate like that of a castle was within. In the center, there was a large circle with the shape of Taiji divided into black and white.
Taiji…
When he was young, this path had guided him on the right path and brought growth, and whenever he got lost, there were countless sahyungs and masters who supported him by his side.
Wudang, which showed him the path to take, sometimes kind, sometimes cold, was now here.
The heart trembled as he wondered what kind of decision would be made today.
Would he be scolded for the decision to abandon Taiji and choose a different path? Or will they support his thoughts that he considered as reality?
Perhaps, the results would come directly from the spar.
“You are here?”
As Leader Jin Mu came to the door, a Taoist who appeared to be the instructor bowed.
Leader Jin Mu bowed to him and said,
“Can I enter?”
“Of course.”
Dudududu
When the huge door opened, this vast space unfolded before their eyes.
The Great Hall was built separately behind the Purple Cloud Palace. It was a space accessible only to people of honor and class, mainly used by elders, scholars, and sometimes by former leaders.
He took each step calmly, one at a time, into this space where many shouts and criticisms would come, even if he did not expect them.
Swishhh—
Many Taoists were gathered in the hall, built at the back of the Purple Cloud Palace.
It seemed like everyone, except for the bare minimum personnel to manage the place, was there, and those of higher positions all came.
It might be a day that decided the future of Wudang, so it was expected.
In relatively small numbers, there were Myung disciples seated in the same row at the bottom. Although they could see Leader Jin Mu, they did not try to look at him.
They pretended like they did not even know him.
“You are here?”
“…?”
This old man spoke to him as if he knew nothing.
Elder Hye Ja. He was the master of the Purple Cloud Palace and one of the most experienced in the sect.
When Jin Mu saw him, his face stiffened right then.
Ah…
He noticed it.
He too was learning the third ability.
Already touched.
Recently, he had been able to glance at a person and tell if they had mastered the third ability or not. He did not know exactly what this was, but there was a unique flow of internal energy around them.
This is a lot more serious than I thought.
They were famous people and ones he learned from, and this pained his heart.
And it gave him a sense of relief that he was not the only one at fault, and yet sadness came too. He happened to be able to use the third ability more skillfully than Wudang’s martial arts.
Had it changed? Had the sect changed? Just where did it all go wrong? It was complicated.
And that was how he felt.
“Stand for a moment. After briefly explaining the situation to those here, your sparring opponents will be called.”
“…You are speaking about a sparring partner?”
Leader Jin Mu tilted his head at the words he heard. The day he defeated Elder Hye Jin, it was a sparring match with the sect leader.
He had been promised that.
But now, things had changed so much.
Even though the sect leader was standing right there, he did not get involved.
“Now. As you all know, today is the day to learn martial arts and challenge yourself as those of Wudang. This is a fight between Leader Jin Mu and Wudang trying to subdue his strength.”
Ugh
The voice that filled the entire land. Elder Hye Jin raised his voice entirely on a different matter from what Jin Mu had expected.
“The first person to spar with Leader Jin Mu is one who can perform the sword circle of Wudang. Then come up on stage, warriors.”
…Sword circle?
This was an entirely different situation!
Swish!
At that moment, there were people circling and approaching. Although there was no particular oddness, the people who came within the line drawn in the center seemed familiar to him.
Sajaes? And is that the Three Basics Circle?
The Three Basics Circle is the most basic of the formations: heavens, land, and humans.
It was one of those that represented Wudang, and it was used by warriors when they fought against those who were stronger.
Elder Jin Mu looked at Hye Jin and spoke in a stern tone,
“Do we have to go this far…?”
He knew that this formation was effective. There was also the advantage of using the people as cogs which interlock to stop the opponent. But that alone was not enough to cause much damage to him. And it was not as if this was that strong.
He had already reached a great level of growth at a young age, and now, even more so with the third ability, this formation would not be much to him.
The reality of having to fight as if he were excluded from Wudang was what was heartbreaking to him.
“They say they want to proceed according to the procedure. This too will be a fight with no regrets left.”
“I understand.”
Jin Mu, who thought about what was said, smiled and nodded.
Fine. If it was for the future of Wudang, he was fine with being the villain.
If the future of Wudang was going to be revealed through him, then not just a villain, he did not mind being the devil too.
Tuk. Tuk. Tuk.
They stood in a triangular formation. All sajaes of the Myung disciples. Fortunate or unfortunate, among them, there was the third ability used.
To this level…
They must have trained a lot for their formation to feel this solid. He could feel it.
But that was all. Jin Mu looked at all of them and then waved his hand.
Now.
“Then let us start.”
Along with the words of Hye Ja, the Taoists all bowed and said,
“Please look after us.”
Chak. Chak.
And they stepped into the formation.
By taking different stances, they were increasing their strength.
A great formation. But…
Leader Jin Mu knew the weakness of it. A large formation meant huge strength. And as they stepped further, the power got stronger too.
Intentionally showing a weak point and baiting an attack. Counterattacking swiftly. It might be the intention, but it was actually a weakness.
If the one at the starting point was overpowered, then the formation would fall apart.
“Ahh!”
Leader Jin Mu glanced at the face of the Myung disciple who was running towards him in an instant, and quickly took a step ahead.
Euk!
The formation was destroyed at the same time. It was shocking and swift. No, it was too fast.
“Eukk…!?”
Step
The Myung disciple was hit, and he fell back without even being able to.
And the other two people hesitated. When one was in danger, the other two would stand in the way and return to the formation. But at that moment, even the formation seemed meaningless.
Leader Jin Mu attacked the destroyed formation. The connection, which should have flowed smoothly like water, was broken.
“One hit.”
At Jin Mu’s unexpected words, silence fell. The shocking formation collapsed without being able to properly deal with the first attack. The faces of those watching turned stiff.
“N-next one, come back up.”
Hye Ja, unable to hide their shivering voice, called the next one.
Tak. Tak. Grrrr.
Five people stepped up,having been waiting for this moment. Jin Mu, seeing this, became serious.
He shook his head with an expression on his face.
“Enough. All this sparring is meaningless.”
“Still, follow the procedure. In a way, all of this is for the next step.”
“…”
Jin Mu just sighed at that.
After a formation, now five people were being sent. These five would start from five different directions. It was known to be a way to break down a formation. And it was not much stronger than the previous one.
It could also be called an important formation.
But Jin Mu was not pleased. Those who came out now were sasuks. And they would be better than the sajaes who came up before.
But he was still sure of his victory, and if they were just stepping into the master level, they were no match for him.
Because he was a person who had reached the Supreme Master level.
Just by intervening in the change of the Five Directional Sword Formation, and altering the flow, the strength could be increased or decreased.
If one suppressed it with light footwork, through the Illusion technique, they could easily destroy it.
One of the five elders stepped forward and said,
“Do you want to get some instructions?”
He expressed his gratitude and said, “I shall receive your teachings well.”
“Start!”
Chachachachang!
These people took the five directions. Unlike those before them, they drew their swords, adjusted their formation, and surrounded Jin Mu.
“If you really want this…”
Jin Mu did not intend to take much time.
In any case, the important things would come as time passed. He thought that he would be recognized once and for all.
