The One Who Lights the Sacred Fire (1)
Shiiik!
A sharp sword wind sliced through the air. The wind was razor-keen, but the motion that unleashed the strike was slow and fluid.
It was a Wudang Sect technique, specialized in the sword principles of the yielding soft and gentle, the later strike first and four ounces to move a thousand pounds.
Hmm.
Ok Cheong shook his head.
It looks convincing enough on the surface, but it wouldn't hold up in a real fight.
To eyes attuned to reading qi, it might seem impressive, but to Ok Cheong—the one executing it—it was a disappointing strike.
If he hadn't joined the Myeol Sa Army and had continued his secluded mountain training, he might have been satisfied and moved on. But Ok Cheong, who had tasted real combat, found the current sword strike flashy but utterly impractical.
Wudang swordsmanship follows a different path from the ways of the secular world. The mountain arts evolved purely as tools for comprehending the Dao. Their grasp of sword intent is more profound than any sword art in the Central Plains, but that very subtlety makes them hard to apply in battle.
This didn't mean Wudang swordsmanship was flawed. It was a matter of enlightenment.
Advanced martial arts all shared this trait to some degree, but Wudang techniques were especially sensitive to one's level of realization and mindset—their sword force shifted accordingly.
They weren't something any half-trained hack could wield effectively.
Yet, as befitting supreme orthodox arts, once one reached a certain realm, the power born of enlightenment overwhelmed practical combat.
That was why the Wudang elders and elder-level masters displayed techniques that dominated the world. Having fully mastered Wudang arts, they faced no issues navigating the brutal rivers and lakes even without direct battle experience.
But not me.
Ok Cheong acknowledged his own limits.
Maybe even Master hoped I'd follow the same path as the elder brothers. But I won't.
Only now did Ok Cheong understand why his master, the Wudang Sect's strongest expert Tak Muja, had said he was born with the talent of a martial god.
It was because his temperament and build were perfectly suited to Wudang arts.
In other words, if he hadn't joined the Myeol Sa Army and had kept training in seclusion, Ok Cheong could have manifested all of Wudang's techniques in real combat within a few years.
But his master's aspirations and Ok Cheong's gaze were aimed in entirely different directions.
I don't want to become an immortal. Since I've been born into this world, I want to wander its corners and experience as much as I can.
His training had stagnated for years partly due to that desire. His master's expectations, the encouragement from his senior brothers, the envy from his junior disciples, and his own wishes had all held back his progress.
Now, for the first time, I feel truly alive.
He had joined the Myeol Sa Army and fought villains. It was a struggle against evil, but in the end, it meant spilling blood.
Ok Cheong still wasn't used to bloodshed. But he had realized that when facing an enemy with his sword, hesitation had no place.
That single insight had propelled his martial arts forward like sprouting wings.
"Hoo."
Ok Cheong smacked his lips.
"But as a disciple of the Daoist school, it's not right to dwell only on killing swords."
These days, after training with the troops no matter how exhausted, he would swing Wudang's immortal sword alone. It was to keep his heart pure as a Wudang disciple.
Yet it seemed he had gripped the killing sword too long. Even while practicing the immortal sword, his mind wandered to the subtleties of the practical battle sword.
"I need to reflect on this."
As Ok Cheong sheathed his sword and turned toward his quarters—
Hm?
He spun around. In the distance, a swordsman approached, radiating a sharp yet weighty aura.
That man...?
It was the young man Yeon Hojeong had once brought to the Myeol Sa Army's training grounds. His name was Gang Ryang—a rough-around-the-edges youth with considerable presence.
Moments later, Gang Ryang stood before Ok Cheong.
"Greetings."
Ok Cheong returned the courtesy.
"Yes. What brings you here at this late hour...?"
"The night is deep, but I have a request for you, Dao-friend."
"For me?"
Gang Ryang cut straight to the point.
"Might we have a sword spar?"
Ok Cheong's eyes widened.
"With me?"
"Yes."
"Why me...?"
He knew Yeon Hojeong thought highly of Gang Ryang. In private, they called each other brother. If it was about sword progress, why not ask Yeon Hojeong directly instead of coming to him out of the blue?
Gang Ryang smiled faintly.
"I want to exchange swords with various people. That's all."
Ok Cheong smiled back. The first time he'd seen him, Gang Ryang's eyes had seemed somehow unstable. But not now.
Those eyes, brimming with unyielding resolve, proved his spirit was as strong as any.
Ok Cheong clasped his hands in a fist salute.
"May we both learn much from each other."
"Thank you."
Chaaang!
The two drew their swords in unison, without precedence.
Ok Cheong eyed Gang Ryang cautiously, then tilted his head at a sudden thought.
"By the way, Young Master Gang."
"Yes?"
"Out of nowhere, but may I ask one question?"
"Of course."
"Has the Army Lord been very busy lately? He hasn't shown his face around here much."
If Gang Ryang's aura had been overwhelmingly fierce, Ok Cheong wouldn't have dared ask. It must be because Gang Ryang still had room to grow.
But Gang Ryang took no offense. He knew his own shortcomings better than anyone.
Gang Ryang smiled as he replied.
"I'm not sure, but he's working tirelessly day and night for the Alliance's peace."
"For the Alliance's peace..."
"Shall we begin, then?"
"Ah! My apologies. Let's start."
Paak!
The two leaped toward each other simultaneously.
* * *
Gi U-hui's eyes deepened.
Slipping silently inside came Muk Bi.
"Where's Army Lord Yeon?"
"He's tailing them. I'm here to guard against any surprises. I'll protect you, Physician."
Gi U-hui smiled.
"That's reassuring."
Muk Bi set down her Hong Ryeon Palace bow and scanned the room. It was sealed on all sides save one window, but her eyes pierced even the unseen corners.
Gi U-hui didn't tell her it was unnecessary. She didn't bother explaining that her innate senses could detect any assassin.
"By the way, Deputy Muk."
"Yes, speak."
Even as she answered, Muk Bi's eyes gleamed sharply.
"Do you know much about the Three Sects?"
"Not at all."
"I see."
"Why do you ask?"
"No reason. Just curious."
"About what?"
"It's normal for Central Plains folk not to know about the Three Sects, right? Like you, Deputy Muk."
"True. They never revealed themselves, so unless you're one of the tiny few who crossed paths with them, there's no way to know."
"But Army Lord Yeon knows so much about them. In some ways, even more than I do."
Muk Bi smiled faintly.
"There's a saying: those who know sheep best aren't fellow sheep, but wolves."
"Meaning he knows them because he's a hunter?"
"Just a figure of speech. No hunter knows a prey they've never even seen."
Muk Bi didn't mention Yeon Hojeong's regression. Gi U-hui wouldn't believe it anyway—and if the time came to explain, it wouldn't be her doing the talking.
Gi U-hui tilted her head, then smiled at a sudden realization.
"You trust Army Lord Yeon deeply, don't you, Deputy Muk?"
"Of course."
"Is there a story behind it?"
How could she sum up that long tale in a few words?
Muk Bi chuckled softly.
"He's fun to tag along with. This time'll be sweet and savage too, I bet."
Gi U-hui's smile turned slightly bitter.
"I see."
"What fake info did you pass on, anyway? Young Master Yeon wouldn't tell me."
Gi U-hui's eyes widened.
"You didn't hear?"
"No."
"Oh..."
"Why? Is it problematic?"
"N-no. It's not exactly problematic... w-well, it could be in some ways."
Muk Bi's gaze finally turned to Gi U-hui.
Gi U-hui hesitated, then spoke.
"It was information about Army Lord Yeon himself."
"...!!"
Yeon Hojeong's eyes gleamed.
Here it is.
The contact point's hideout was none other than the Sogangdan in the outer castle of the Martial Alliance.
The Sogangdan managed ingredients brought in from outside. As the warehouse supplying the entire inner and outer castles, it was enormous.
Impressive nose.
With all sorts of dried ingredients stored and processed, the smell was overpowering. Yet he lived there and sniffed out the tracking incense from the inner castle.
Incredible senses, even for someone trained.
Considering the distance and environment, it surpassed a bloodhound's.
That's why it draws less suspicion.
If Gi U-hui's spy activities were ever exposed, she'd have to reveal how she passed info. Mentioning tracking incense would shift suspicion away from the Sogangdan.
For a contact, it was a simple yet effective workplace.
Slipping onto a tree branch, Yeon Hojeong concealed himself.
Moments later.
Flutter.
A small bird took flight.
Yeon Hojeong's eyes flashed.
Not it.
He'd thought it a messenger pigeon at first, but no.
Sharpening his gaze to the limit, he saw nothing tied to the bird's ankle.
A test fly to check for threats.
His judgment proved spot-on. Half a shichen later, another bird rose from the contact's lair.
Flap flap!
Smaller wingbeats, but faster.
Yeon Hojeong's eyes lit up.
That's the one.
Paak!
He shot after it in a burst.
The bird was swift. He could catch it if he tried, but he had to exit the outer castle undetected—no Blood Wing Swing Heaven or Heavenly Footwork.
Whoosh!
Still, his movement was swift and silent. With the Yeon Family Divine Pellet formed, his internal energy density had soared. He could cover ten li on a fingernail's worth of power.
His speed had quickened too. He couldn't overtake the bird, but keeping pace was effortless.
Whoosh.
Clad in black, Yeon Hojeong slipped over the outer castle walls unnoticed. Scaling such heights without a sound—his body control and qi mastery bordered on the divine.
Paak!
Once outside, his speed surged further. Explosive motion, but the Divine Pellet boosted his stamina immensely. Resilience, burst, endurance—all enhanced.
Confident, he pursued the bird.
How long had he run?
...!!
At last, the bird began descending slowly.
It vanished into a thatched hut in a secluded mountain hollow, away from villages.
Yeon Hojeong grinned whitely.
Whoosh!
His form closed in on the hut in an instant.