Chapter 321
Chapter 321
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 321
Chapter Title: Taiji Insight Sword
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Cheonhwi's eyes cooled coldly.
The waves of blossoming inner energy wove together like fine threads, meticulously closing his eyes.
In an instant, his field of vision widened.
His two pupils, transparent like a sheet of ice, took in the scene ahead at a glance.
The sight of Ok Girin swinging his sword in the middle of the vast reed field.
Cheonhwi focused his mind to not miss even the slightest movement of his.
"Taiji Insight Sword, the Wudang Sect's absolute sword art."
Cheonhwi suddenly whispered.
It was a very faint voice.
So faint that it was swept away and vanished by the dry wind that blew lightly.
Immediately after, Cheonhwi's eyes deepened even further.
His pupils, sunk deep like the abyss, swallowed even the moon and stars in the night sky, reflecting only Ok Girin.
The slow swing of his sword felt less like dancing a sword dance and more like using the night sky as paper and his sword as a brush to draw a long, single stroke.
He seemed to stand alone in the vast expanse of the world.
'He's deeply immersed.'
Cheonhwi's consciousness calmly analyzed the situation.
He was delving even deeper into understanding Ok Girin.
Right now, he had his eyes closed, lost in a trance.
It seemed he had properly comprehended the advice and entrusted everything to the sword.
And that was calling forth the Taiji Insight Sword remembered throughout his body, as Ok Girin was unconsciously manifesting it from deep within.
His Daoist robe sleeves fluttered.
From the sword blade that had been drawing a single long stroke under the night sky, inner energy blossomed.
Black and white energy.
It was yin and yang.
The opposing energies rose hazily, caressing the blade.
It was quite a mystical sight.
Black and white, yin and yang, harmonizing without invading each other.
While forming a single circle.
It was the Taiji.
"The Wudang Sect is the Wudang Sect, after all."
The Wudang Sect's martial arts had always been like this.
The harmony of Taiji and yin-yang.
They were those who trained to pursue and perfect it.
After all, wasn't the sect founder of the Wudang Sect, the Three Peaks Immortal, one who pursued the Taiji?
As a Wudang Sect that followed his teachings, it was only natural.
And what the Wudang Sect pursued was felt very strongly in the Taiji Insight Sword that Ok Girin was now displaying.
Probably because that sword art was the one created by the Three Peaks Immortal in his later years.
In other words, the vast Taiji martial arts of the Three Peaks Immortal, said to have lived for hundreds of years, were contained in that sword art.
The corner of Cheonhwi's mouth twitched.
He couldn't hide his joy.
He had encountered the Taiji Insight Sword, which he hadn't seen even in his previous life, by an unexpected opportunity.
How could he let this chance slip away?
Whoosh!
The Baihui acupoint opened, and the three dantians connected.
'I won't miss a single thing.'
The inner energy of the Plum Blossom Divine Art writhed.
It obeyed Cheonhwi's consciousness.
'Until the Taiji Insight Sword becomes completely mine...'
At that moment, the utterly pure inner energy of the Plum Blossom Divine Art surged forth.
It was in an instant.
The Plum Blossom Divine Art's inner energy, embracing the entire world, reached Cheonhwi's upper dantian in one breath.
Whoosh―
His consciousness instantly expanded boundlessly.
Countless martial arts swam through Cheonhwi's mind.
He couldn't even count their number.
Mind arts, sword arts, Dao arts, hand arts, and more...
The martial arts swirled, swiftly brushing past Cheonhwi's consciousness.
In that rapidly accelerating stream of thought.
Flash!
A blue streak shot from Cheonhwi's eyes in all directions, emitting sharp gaze.
It was as if lightning had struck.
In that instant, as if the boundary between vision and consciousness blurred, Cheonhwi, who embraced everything as one, stared at Ok Girin.
It was intense insight.
Before long, the blue light faded, and his two pupils tinged with red pierced through everything about Ok Girin.
Every element entering his vision appeared with crystal clarity.
Perhaps because of that.
Ok Girin's already slow movements felt as if they had come to a complete stop.
The pine patterns unique to the Pine-patterned Ancient Sword were visible as if alive.
"Dull Sword, Rear Action Supremacy, Formless."
Cheonhwi murmured lowly.
He was reciting what was being manifested before his eyes in the Taiji Insight Sword.
"And harmony."
The corners of Cheonhwi's mouth slowly rose.
Even as he did, his eyes gathered much information.
The irregular sequence of techniques, muscle movements, the yin and yang energies emanating from Ok Girin, even the sword's intent seeking to form the Taiji.
They imprinted on Cheonhwi's mind, steadily stacking up martial knowledge.
Deep and profound martial arts.
Even as this happened, time continued to flow.
About an hour passed like that.
Smoothly.
Ok Girin, who had stopped his sword, raised his head.
While murmuring softly.
"...Is it morning already?"
Before he knew it, the pitch-black night sky was pushed away, and dawn light was shining from afar.
He had stayed up all night.
Whoosh―
The chilly wind unique to early morning blew, brushing his cheek.
Even in the cold wind, he smiled.
His mind felt much lighter.
The sword dance he had performed without thought had calmed his troubled heart.
It had been a long time since he felt like this.
As Ok Girin savored the refreshment of body and mind, he suddenly remembered something and widened his eyes.
"Ah! Young Daoist, you..."
The moment he urgently tried to turn his head to find Cheonhwi.
"How was it? It works well even if you forget, right?"
Cheonhwi was standing right in front of him.
Ok Girin, seeing Cheonhwi who had appeared like a mirage, cupped his fists in salute.
"Thank you, young hero. Thanks to you, I gained enlightenment."
He bowed his head deeply.
It contained deeper emotion than his usual courtesy.
It wasn't just the Taiji Insight Sword.
It had also changed his mindset.
Cheonhwi looked at the crown of Ok Girin's bowed head and felt regret inwardly.
'Just a bit more, and it would have been enough.'
It was worthy of being called an absolute sword art for a reason.
Despite sustaining extreme concentration to grasp the Taiji Insight Sword, it was still a little short of complete understanding.
'Then...'
Cheonhwi twisted the corner of his mouth.
A good idea had come to him.
"You're not going to end it with just words of thanks, right?"
At Cheonhwi's question, Ok Girin flinched slightly in surprise, then raised his head.
"How could I?"
Ok Girin said solemnly.
He was a Daoist of the Wudang Sect.
How could he repay a favor carelessly?
Seeing Ok Girin's expression, Cheonhwi added words as if he had been waiting.
"Then, on the way to this mission, I'd like to see the Wudang Sect's martial arts like this every night. That okay?"
Ok Girin's eyes widened.
There was no difficulty at all.
No, it was actually a good suggestion.
He had gained enlightenment from a brief piece of advice from Cheonhwi. If he showed martial arts again, he might hear new insights.
"I'd be happy to, but... is that enough for you? With this..."
Ok Girin said with an apologetic expression.
It was a deep, profound favor.
So it felt insufficient to end it with just showing a few martial arts demonstrations.
"That's enough for now. Well, if you feel it's lacking, you can tell me separately later when I need something."
Only then did Ok Girin nod.
"Understood."
"Then it's settled. The sun's up now, so let's head back for now."
Cheonhwi grinned and concluded the conversation.
This was sufficient.
He didn't need to see much.
Two or three times.
That much observation would do.
Cheonhwi watched Ok Girin sheathe his Pine-patterned Ancient Sword and raised the corner of his mouth high.
It was a satisfied smile.
'I'll gain a lot.'
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The Annihilation Squad and Heavenly Purity Squad arrived near their destination, Mubyeol, after six days.
At some point, Ok Girin pulled on the reins and stopped.
And looking at Cheonhwi, he said.
"We'll move separately from here."
Cheonhwi nodded.
They had already established the plan through prior discussion.
"Then, see you later, young hero."
Ok Girin said softly, smiled while meeting Cheonhwi's eyes, then turned his horse.
"Heavenly Purity Squad, follow me!"
Shouting that, he immediately galloped off in the pre-discussed direction.
Clop-clop― Clop-clop―
And the Heavenly Purity Squad followed behind him, disappearing from sight.
Once they had all vanished.
"They've been going off together every night, and it seems you've gotten quite close."
Cheonhyang, who was beside Cheonhwi, looked at the departing Ok Girin and spoke.
"Not really."
Cheonhwi cut it off cleanly.
He didn't think they had become close just because he had seen the Wudang Sect's martial arts in exchange for granting enlightenment.
Cheonhyang shook her head at Cheonhwi's attitude.
"Hmm, but he seems to think you're close..."
Recalling the six-day journey, Cheonhyang murmured.
Ok Girin would approach Cheonhwi whenever he had a chance to talk.
Of course, Cheonhwi would give curt replies and cut off the conversation each time.
'...A one-sided friendship, huh.'
Cheonhyang shrugged her shoulders.
"More importantly, what now?"
Dismissing her thoughts, Cheonhyang hardened her face and asked in a serious tone.
"Should we proceed with the plan as is?"
Her gaze turned forward.
Mubyeol was right in front of them.
Meaning it was time to execute the mission.
And in response to her words.
"Yes."
Cheonhwi nodded and replied.
"Whew, this one won't be easy either."
Hearing that reply, Ho Gwanggae stuck close to Cheonhwi and took a deep breath.
He wasn't the only one.
The entire Annihilation Squad had heard Cheonhwi's words and was awakening their tension.
After a moment.
"Squad leader. Shall we head out right away?"
Ho Gwanggae hardened his eyes and asked.
He had inner energy wrapped around his entire body, ready for battle at any moment.
"No."
Cheonhwi looked at him and answered firmly, then added.
"We'll gather information first. We're not even sure if they're still in Mubyeol."
Cheonhwi said, stroking his chin.
The fact that Feng Li and the Black Ghost Troupe were in Mubyeol was information received via messenger pigeon before they departed on the mission.
However, after arriving at Mubyeol, they had instead gone into hiding and shown no signs.
That was already ten days ago.
"For information, we have our Beggar Clan."
Ho Gwanggae said confidently.
When it came to information, he prided himself that few in the jianghu could match the Beggar Clan.
"I'll contact the branch right away..."
"No."
Cheonhwi cut off Ho Gwanggae's words.
He knew well how excellent the Beggar Clan was.
But what was crucial for this mission was moving without them noticing.
"Contacting the Beggar Clan now is no different from announcing 'I'm here' to Feng Li and the Black Ghost Troupe."
"...My mistake."
Ho Gwanggae scratched the back of his head sheepishly.
As a Beggar Clan disciple who prioritized information, he immediately understood Cheonhwi's point.
"Then what do you plan to do?"
"We commission someone else. The Beggar Clan isn't the only information sect."
"The Hao Gate, then."
Ho Gwanggae said with a grin.
The Hao Gate had built an information network as excellent as the Beggar Clan's.
"Yes."
Cheonhwi acknowledged calmly.
The Hao Gate would know the information.
"Then, how do you plan to commission them?"
Ho Gwanggae asked cautiously.
If word got out that they were entering Mubyeol, they would surely hide.
At that question, Cheonhwi smiled and said.
"How? Quietly and secretly, of course. So they can't notice us and flee."
As he spoke, Cheonhwi looked straight ahead.
The method was quite simple.
Soon, Cheonhwi withdrew his gaze from straight ahead and issued an order to the Annihilation Squad.
"For now, everyone change your clothes."