Chapter 52
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: Ascent
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The Peak realm was the stage where one completed the Great Circulation and could control their internal energy through sheer will.
This meant they could emit internal energy outside their bodies, and those who reached this realm typically knew several ways to apply it.
Basic manipulations like lightness skills, Thousand Weight Anchor, Striking Air Palm, sound transmission, or Threefold True Fire.
The Wall-Climbing Skill using the Absorption Technique was one such method.
In other words, the three people at the Peak realm could scale even sheer cliffs as if strolling on flat ground—but
"Climbing Mount Wudang's cliffs barehanded... what kind of insane stunt is this!?"
Mount Wudang, one of the Central Plains' famed peaks, wasn't just any ordinary cliff.
Looking down revealed clouds far below, and there was still a long way to climb above.
She had thought so from maps and geography texts, but compared to her previous life's Earth, this Central Plains' terrain was on another scale entirely.
The continent was nearly twice as vast, and the mountains soared to incredible heights.
Mount Wudang was among the loftiest, rivaling the peaks called the Roof of the World back on Earth.
Even for superhuman martial artists, the Wudang Sect that built their home at such altitudes was a peculiar bunch.
And those not following the paved mountain paths but vertically climbing the cliffs were even more so.
Of course, excluding So-hyang, the others weren't doing this voluntarily.
"You all can do it. See? Warrior Kang is starting to get the hang of it."
As So-hyang said, Kang Pyo was sweating profusely like the rest, but unlike the other two, he wasn't gasping as if his lungs were tearing.
"Huuu..."
With deep, steady breaths, faint vibrations hummed through his hands, feet, and joints pressed against the cliff.
He had succeeded in implementing a vibration-based adhesion principle, adding his personal insight of shattering to the conventional Absorption Technique.
A concept borrowed from a tool called a tile suction cup in his previous life.
"Oh, splendid!"
So-hyang flashed a beaming smile and clapped like a seal.
She had taught them various ways to apply vibrations and waves, but she hadn't expected him to independently grasp such a principle.
He had lamented his lack of talent, but this flash of creativity made that self-deprecation seem unfounded. Truly commendable.
Perhaps this one success had cleared his meridians.
"Everyone, breathe slowly and steadily, keep your bodies calm. Just a little control over your center of gravity cuts internal energy consumption in half."
The reason So-hyang suggested climbing Mount Wudang was that she believed they had the capacity to scale this dizzying cliff.
"See? The amount of internal energy I invest in the Absorption Technique isn't much different from yours."
Of course, So-hyang could walk walls just by adjusting her center of gravity, but she didn't expect them to match such advanced skill.
It was a knack they could imitate with a slight epiphany at their level.
She didn't expect them to grasp the principle from words alone or mimic it after a few demonstrations, though...
"As they say, seeing once beats hearing a hundred times, and doing once beats seeing a hundred. I thought this extreme situation was perfect."
Mastering this subtle bodily coordination for center-of-gravity control would vastly improve their overall movement efficiency.
"No, no...! This is trespassing!"
From Song Seol-ryeong's perspective, she couldn't fathom why she was enduring this.
Who sneaks into their own sect by scaling cliffs? Her head spun.
Maybe altitude sickness.
"Come on, we're not doing anything bad. Won't the Wudang folks be lenient?"
"Argh...!"
Song Seol-ryeong felt a strong urge to thump her frustrated chest, but crawling up a cliff made that impossible, so she stewed in frustration.
Midway up Mount Wudang sprawled a vast highland plateau dotted with wooden buildings weathered by time.
Neatly maintained, they looked old but not dilapidated, with the rhythmic footsteps of patrolling Taoists echoing at regular intervals.
Young third- and fourth-generation disciples full of youthful vigor, and first-generation disciples leading with experience—this was the main sect area...
"—That's not our destination."
The dizzying cliff ended at Mount Wudang's imposing summit.
Thin air hard to breathe, bone-chilling cold fiercer than midwinter.
Atop that cramped peak stood a small, shabby hut.
The abode of Wudang's highest elder, who had retired from front-line affairs and no longer meddled in sect matters—the pinnacle martial artist of supreme subtlety.
The former sect leader, True Person Qingxu.
"Oh, he's come out to greet us personally."
"...Who might you be, climbing the perilous path to our main sect?"
Without warning, a figure stood abruptly midway up the cliff, gazing at them.
A boyish voice matching his diminutive, childlike frame clad in simple robes.
But his hair was snow-white, and his translucent nails revealed pink flesh beneath—clear signs of rejuvenation.
Oddly, blue cloth bound his eyes like a blindfold, yet his movements were natural, unhindered by senses.
"If you had business, you should have sought permission from the gatekeeper children..."
His calm, gentle voice carried unmistakable bafflement and absurdity.
Three Peak realm martial artists sweating bullets while crawling up Mount Wudang's cliffs.
"And that girl there seems a disciple of our main sect? What on earth..."
A white-clad girl climbing the cliff like flat ground ahead of them, her realm hard to gauge.
By her palpable presence, definitely a supreme expert.
So what was this situation?
Mount Wudang was vast. Serious intruders would choose better paths.
No cover in the open expanse, risk of death from a slip— no reason to climb this cliff.
Especially since they made no attempt to hide their presence.
Their intent rang clear: goodwill, amusement, a touch of playfulness...
Incredibly, they seemed to have come purely for fun, no ulterior motive.
Still, rules were rules. As a Wudang member, he had to address uninvited guests.
"Tell me. What business brings you to our main sect?"
If it was important, fine; if mere curiosity, a mild scolding and escort to the gate—
"I have inquiries regarding the goodwill gift your sect sent to the Zhuge Clan recently."
So-hyang smiled brightly, pulling a silver medallion stamped with the Zhuge emblem and the character for "grace" from her sleeve.
"I'm a proxy authorized by the clan's grace-receiving guest chef. I'd like your sect's stance on this matter."
"...What?"
Her playful expression clashed with the sudden professional tone.
The medallion matched her appearance—no forgery.
So, an official envoy from the Zhuge Clan on formal business—
"...Are you mad?"
Though his eyes hid behind blue cloth, emotions shone clear; the boy's face twisted oddly, as if beholding something grotesque.
Trespassing on Mount Wudang for fun was odd, but not outrageously so.
The martial world teemed with eccentrics; free-roaming swordsmen were common.
Infiltrating for a scenic drink wasn't rare.
Personal whims could be laughed off as "the jianghu being the jianghu"—but
"...Who conducts official visits like this?"
A representative of a faction doing such a thing was pure lunacy.
"How about we finish talking up top? The ones behind look exhausted..."
"Arrrrgh..."
"Ku, kuaak..."
"Huuu..."
They had been gaining momentum crawling upward.
But halting for So-hyang's chat with True Person Qingxu pushed them to their limits.
Fingers clinging to the wall trembled; internal energy around their toes grew hazy.
"...What a spectacle."
True Person Qingxu had questions aplenty, but seeing their deathly pallor, he held back.
So-hyang grabbed Jeon Gal-hansang and Kang Pyo's collars, then glanced at Song Seol-ryeong with an "oh" expression.
"Oops, only two hands, can't carry Seol-ryeong too...?"
"D-don't you da-dare screw around!!!"
"Haha, just kidding."
She laughed playfully at the quaking Song Seol-ryeong—as if the world crumbled—then gently hugged and secured her against her body.
"H-huuuk..."
Sweat-soaked Song Seol-ryeong clung desperately with all limbs, refusing to fall.
Relief from escaping death, sorrow from inexplicable ordeal.
"Hwaaaang...!"
Overwhelmed, Song Seol-ryeong buried her face in So-hyang's chest, sobbing.
"Haha, was I too much...? Sorry, no more pranks like that...?"
So-hyang looked slightly flustered at the childlike weeping.
Caught up in teasing fun, she'd gone overboard—must moderate next time, she thought.
"Hic, hiiik...!"
"Um, really sorry...?"
Mount Wudang's summit, at a staggering altitude wrapped in thin air and flesh-cutting cold.
An inhospitable land unfit for habitation hosted a single modest hut.
The dwelling of Wudang's foremost elder, True Person Qingxu.
"...Hic."
Song Seol-ryeong couldn't even wipe her tear-streaked eyes from her bawling, limbs still quivering from exhaustion.
"Heok, huerk...!"
"Hoo, huuu..."
The other two were similar. Kang Pyo's breathing was relatively steady, but barely.
"...Have some tea, all of you."
Steaming hot green tea.
Retired from duties, he kept no servants for chores, brewing it himself.
"Oh, thank you for the kindness."
So-hyang accepted the cup gracefully with both hands, lifting it leisurely without a ripple.
Shoulders relaxed, back straight, she inhaled deeply.
Savoring the tea leaves' faint aroma first, then sipping to appreciate warmth and flavor.
Movements embodying tea ceremony to perfection—natural, dignified, refined.
"...Truly enigmatic."
It suited her striking beauty, but hard to reconcile with the mad cliff-climber.
"The leaves are exceptional. Fresh flavor suggests you grew them yourself?"
Tea trees in the hut's outer garden.
Glanced en route, glossy leaves brimming with vitality—fine crop.
No fancy techniques, but thriving in this harsh clime made the raw material extraordinary.
Absorbing the mountain's vital essence, nearly spiritual herb efficacy.
"Everyone, try some? It'll aid recovery."
The white-haired, blindfolded boy, True Person Qingxu, seized the moment to question So-hyang.
"...So, explain the issue with the gift to the Zhuge Clan. Why this abnormal route?"
"Showing beats telling."
So-hyang finished her tea leisurely, loosened her collar slightly, and extracted a brush from her ample bosom.
With her garb slack, the massive, heavy, elastic yet soft presence emerged naturally.
A shocking sight to seize any gaze—man or otherwise.
"Pffft!"
True Person Qingxu spat his tea at the abrupt indecency.
A Taoist who spent life honing mind per doctrine, reaching supreme realm, rejuvenated, guarding for over a century.
"Wh-what madness is this...!"
He had zero resistance to feminine form; the boy's face flushed crimson in dismay.
"Haha, even blindfolded, you see the world clearly?"
"I said state your business, not this indecorous—"
"But can you see this properly?"
So-hyang twirled the brush on her finger, voice soft.
"—What? What's that... wait."
His flustered blush drained to icy calm.
"Your sect sent the Blood Cult's divine object as a goodwill gift. Care to explain?"