“Haa!”
The first to attack was the one on the right.
Woong
One move filled with great strength. It was surely a lot faster than the sword formation before.
Shhh
Jin Mu easily realized that the sword energy held there was the Taiji Energy arts. He noticed it and managed to avoid it by leaning his upper body back.
Tat!
As he showed a defenseless side by dodging, he was attacked from the left this time. But that was all.
Jin Mu, who seemed like he would collapse at the slightest touch, held back with the strength of his back and sprang up.
Wheik. Wheik.
Instead of dodging the attack, he lunged ahead before the opponent could reach out to him.
After hitting the shoulder, Bang! He hit the ground and then pulled the flow of air to him.
“Uh!?”
Rumble!
There was a strange occurrence where people remaining in the formation were sucked in.
And—
Wukk!
The scene of being thrown out again against Jin Mu continued.
Someone shouted at that,
“Such a fierce attack!”
“Isn’t that like a ten-level attack?”
With the shocked voices from the crowd, the situation ended there. And Hye Ja looked shocked for a bit at this strength.
“Thank you all for doing this,”
Jin Mu responded, expressing his courtesy and saying that the other person had helped him.
“…”
Silence once again fell in the audience. Those who had fallen struggled to get up, and then went back to their place. The difference in strength was clear, so much so that it was difficult for people to speak of that anymore.
Hye Ja was drooling and then said,
“Then…”
“Enough.”
And this time the person who silenced him was Sect Leader Hye Woo.
“Sect Leader…”
“That should be enough. It is no longer polite to do that.”
He calmly got up and walked ahead.
“But Sect Leader…”
“Enough. Do you not realize it yet? Anything more is pointless now.”
The sect leader pointed to the surroundings. Hye Ja didn’t say anything more but quietly left the scene. Then, only Jin Mu and the sect leader remained in the center of the circle.
When Jin Mu took the bow, Hye Woo waved his hand.
“No. I apologize.”
The sect leader held a position where he assumed responsibility for everything that happened in the sect, and he was not the kind to shirk burdens because they felt too heavy.
“I wasn’t directly involved, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t know of it. Everything that happened is due to my inability to respond correctly at the right time.”
Jin Mu’s heart pounded.
Right.
It was because of such a sect leader that he could not raise his voice. Because of the sect leader’s kindness, he decided to endure it until the end, and then decided to break the path rather than confront the man.
Hye Woo’s burden was too much to ask for recognition of their nature.
The family tradition of the clan had to be upheld, and the fear of sects from the outside took form. He also had to understand the disciples who could not help but feel lost.
“Several sasuks, senior sauks, and my sahyungs. Please listen, including the first-class disciples.”
The sect leader looked around and shouted.
His voice was deep and clear, and the sound was soothing.
“The spar between me and leader Jin Mu isn’t for the purpose of seeing who wins and who loses. There is today’s Wudang, which acquired strength from unknown external sources. We are in a situation where we don’t know how far it goes.”
He continued to speak normally to the crowd around him, and even when he saw them being shocked, he pretended not to notice.
“As the sect leader of Wudang, I am a must-have for those who have learned martial arts from some external source. I came because I had something to show you.”
His need to say something spread all around, and the sect leader paused for a moment.
If there was anything unpleasant about this incident, then it was the fault of Hye Woo.
Did he rise to the position of sect leader, represent Wudang, and lead them well?
“I am a fool, and I have made the future of Wudang uncertain.”
“It isn’t like that!”
“No, Sect Leader!”
When Hye Woo spoke about taking responsibility, there were cries of disapproval from all corners of the audience.
Right.
“Listen! Now, I am speaking as a warrior of Wudang!”
Swish!
After suppressing the voices supporting him, Elder Hye Woo spoke out,
“What a sect leader who leads the sect must do.”
“…”
There was silence in the audience. What does a sect leader do? There are so many things, from one to another.
To spread the name of the sect, to reach and raise disciples and turn them into warriors, to restore the lost name and martial arts.
As a sect of the Justice Faction and one with history, it served as an important example for Kangho and more.
Some succeeded, some failed, and it was inevitable since they were all human.
This was reality.
“I couldn’t carry this burden, and I failed at the things I was supposed to do with my title.”
“…”
That was why it was thought. This was why it touched the hearts of Taoists.
At the gathering of all disciples of the Wudang Sect, Hye Woo showed his presence. Instead of raising it up, he was showing it down.
As a result, the spirit of theirs might not be high, but the hearts of everyone gathered were supportive.
“I just picked someone with talent and left everything to chance and luck. I interpreted the sect based on the time, the principles of the ancestors, and focused solely on them. I should have paid attention to the kids, but I didn’t. When numerous disciples of Wudang complained of despair and things getting tough, I considered it a matter of the individual. I pushed the responsibility onto them and told them to overcome it. There are people within Wudang who try to gain strength from external sources, but they are unaware of it. It’s foolishness for not even trying to understand what it is. And yet, in the end, the fault is mine alone. I am not a someone of Wudang who is good enough to come alive through something like this. And so, it is done. I am speaking here and now with the right of the sect leader!”
All he had said until now were his own faults. Lastly, the sect leader of Wudang said again,
“Blame me. It is all my fault. In order to add even a little more goodwill, I will never criticize the disciples for their need to delve into something which you realized was filth. Everyone is Wudang just like you. You made a mistake at the wrong time, that is all.”
Next, a voice like a friendly grandpa came, and then noises followed.
“Huh.”
“Eup.”
People were covering their mouths. One with red eyes.
People coughing for no reason and holding back tears, shoulders shaking.
Their appearance naturally attracted the attention of those around, and as a result, everything was revealed.
It became clear just how many people had been involved with this third ability until now.
“I am glad that Leader Jin Mu is here.”
Whisper
The crowd was talking. In a way, the external source of power meant there were rebels within the sect.
The sect leader, though, had praised this man for bringing this issue to light.
“He must have been concerned too. He had a lot to worry about until now. Until a proud disciple of Wudang reached out for this unknown strength, it wouldn’t have been a problem known to us.”
Nod
A star of Wudang with a bright future ahead, a man who reached enlightenment at just the age of 30. He must have known he would be criticized.
“You could have taken the easy way out by being silent.”
Nod
Everyone on the left agreed. Actually, Elder Hye Woo was the current Wudang sect leader, and he stepped down.
After that, the most likely candidate to succeed him was none other than Jin Mu.
If only he had stayed still and kept quiet, he could have taken the position some years later.
“But he showed wisdom, and this should be understood by everyone. He took the path with much courage.”
Ugh. Cough.
Jin Mu coughed.
“In the shadow of Wudang, which appeared fine on the outside, how many people were going through tough times? Thanks to him taking the initiative, I, as a sect leader, got to know of this. For this courage, I salute him as the sect leader.”
Chak
Hye Woo stopped talking and clasped his hands together to show a gesture of thanks.
Jin Mu was flustered and looked on, responding.
Is this it…?
If the externally learned martial arts skill defeats Taiji, he will not be able to use Wudang’s teachings. Nor could he be one who declared something was wrong. And so, Jin Mu had to be the villain here.
But the sect leader actually held him in such high esteem.
When he wondered what was happening from now on and if this was right—
“But this is why I will fight against my sajil, the one I am most proud of in this place.”
Jin Mu felt his mouth lose the ability to speak and goosebumps rise.
Whisper
All the disciples felt their bodies shiver at this. The sect leader praised Jin Mu, who rebelled, and blamed those who learned the third ability.
But he was going to tell them not to do it. He was showing what was lacking and gently telling the people to strive for harmony instead of dividing things.
After getting all their attention, he was saying that despite lacking in the skills as a warrior who learned Taiji, he would fight.
And there was no one better than Hye Woo who knew Taiji better.
“I am proud that I have put in effort and you all have put in effort to learn what you found.”
And he said, “The third ability. Whatever this is, it is enough to suppress the deep-rooted feelings of Wudang. I will show you right here that that isn’t strength.”
And he looked away as he said, “Myung Woo sajil. No, leader Jin Mu. Come and show me your skills, and I will show you that there is always a sky above the sky too.”
Declared in front of all—
Wudang was by no means a shallow tree that fell to some wind called the third ability.
Flinch!
Jin Mu was not the only one who felt the hair rise on his body. In this place where everyone was present.
Woooong!
There was a subtle change.
Forgetting the status of Taoists, everyone in Wudang was enthusiastically watching the spar between these two warriors.
“Haa… seriously.”
Tak. Tak. Tak.
The sect leader walked to the center. In the eyes of Jin Mu, his form turned blurry.
“You are really one who deserves to be the sect leader. Truly amazing.”
He was prepared to take damage then to change everything.
Hye Woo gulped.
Whether this battle is won or not, all the damage would fall on Jin Mu.
“What good am I if I cannot even do this? I am the sect leader, right.”
“Well… what can be done if you talk like this and lose? Hye Woo sasuk?”
“Uh? Look at him now. Why are you so confident? Because of the lightning you used last time?”
Shhh. Wheeing.
With a lot of determination, Elder Hye Woo, the best Taiji warrior of the Wudang Sect, raised one hand.
He spun around and took a step back.
A distinct Taiji symbol rose along with it.
“It has been around 50 years since this happened. If you don’t want to get in trouble, you can leave Myung Woo. But you will have to use all your strength against me.”
“…Truly, your words are the best in this world.”
Swish
Jin Mu put his hands together to bow and show honor to the elder.
Wheeik
Although he held the strength of an outside world, it was also Taiji which spoke of outside things.
Wudang versus Wudang.
A fight to determine the strongest.
“Hehehe. When you get old, you only live with your mouth. Even if you fall into water, you won’t die, you bastard….”
“Right! Let’s start then! Let’s try our best!”
Wheik!
In an instant, the force of Hye Woo, the sect leader, flowed through the land and changed.
At the same time, it marked the start of a real spar.
Jitter
“Hmm..”
This frustrating feeling of intimidation. A heavy force like a typhoon. Jin Mu gulped and took a stance with his hands stretched out.
The distance between the two of them was around three meters.
Shhh
Their hands moved, paying attention to one another.
Sak. Sask.
Jin Mu moved his hand several times and changed his form. It did not mean much. It was because his martial arts was something other than Taiji.
Slow.
Now that he had gained extreme strength with lightning, he could see the movement of Hye Woo.
The Taiji was slow and loose.
But… I cannot even make a rough estimate.
And yet, he could not rush in. The moment he entered the land, the typhoon would come up, and he would not be able to handle it.
By the time they each looked in the air.
“Will you not come?”
“Then I will come.”
Shhhh
The sect leader moved first.
Kuuung!
The slow-moving wind turned into a typhoon.
Poisonous snakes appeared. Like a snake in a burrow, everything changed in the blink of an eye.
The Nine Palace Palm Arts, which focused on swiftness.
“Huh!”
Pak! Pak!
But Jin Mu barely managed to step back and blocked it. As their arms naturally touched each other, people thought it was shocking.
Their strength was at a state of lightly touching hands, but even that brought in shocking waves.
“…Fine, I will handle it this time.”
It was Jin Mu who started to attack back.
