Mountains Multiply: A Thunderbolt from the Blue
It was news like a thunderbolt from a clear sky. A master? Baek Su-gyeong was taking on Cheongmyeong—the famed hope of the Wudang Sect—as his disciple? Did that even make sense?
"Did I hear that wrong?"
"No, you didn't."
Baek Su-gyeong cursed his annoyingly sharp ears.
"Me, taking on Cheongmyeong the Great Hero..."
"Please call me Cheongmyeong, Master."
"No, I've heard you're the direct disciple set to inherit the Wudang sword lineage. Is that really okay with you? Normally, taking another master gets you excommunicated..."
In wuxia novels, a sect was like family. They weren't called sabu for nothing, nor brothers and sisters as hyungnim, dongsaeng for show. Influenced by Confucian ideals, taking another master was tantamount to declaring you'd cut ties with that family yourself.
Unless he was abandoning Wudang martial arts to join Baek Su-gyeong, it would be an unforgivable act. That was the common knowledge Baek Su-gyeong vaguely recalled from novels, which was why he'd brought up excommunication.
'Excommunication wouldn't be so bad...'
That faint hope shattered with Cheongmyeong's clear reply.
"I've already received permission from Elder Mujin and Sect Leader Hyeonseongja. They said that serving the revered Teacher Su-gyeong, whom the entire Central Plains admires, would surely yield profound learning."
Baek Su-gyeong's stone-like face cracked and trembled like a crumbling statue.
What the hell were these crazy Wudang elders thinking?
He forcibly schooled his expression and let out a sigh.
"I can't guarantee your martial arts will improve just by staying by my side."
"That's fine."
"It's fine? Really? Cheongmyeong the Great Hero is the next-generation talent meant to lead Wudang."
"Wudang has more than just me."
The position of direct disciple inheriting the sword lineage was unique and special. It had been created to preserve Wudang's ancient secret arts—now nearly lost or incomplete—and pass them to future generations. Elder Muhyeonja of the Su-gyeong Hall had been the previous one generations ago, and no suitable successor had appeared until Cheongmyeong's generation revived the role.
"Moreover, Teacher, through Wudang Sword Hero, you've helped our sect in ways seen and unseen. That's why the elders and sect leader permitted it."
"No, that's... sigh."
Cheongmyeong's entry into Wudang coincided perfectly with Baek Su-gyeong starting Wudang Sword Hero, turning the Samcheong Mugeuk Sword into a Wudang art and even uncovering clues to restore the long-lost Jinmu Thirteen Swords. It didn't stop there—the Taiji Sword reverted to Taiji Hye Sword, and Wudang's entire martial system, including the Okheo Divine Art, was revolutionized. A single book had transformed one of the Nine Great Sects; no wonder Wudang revered Wudang Sword Hero as a sacred text like scripture or the Koran.
What am I supposed to do with this?
Helping Wudang knowingly or not? Ridiculous. Baek Su-gyeong had merely projected his memory of the sect onto the page, fed up with the fallen state of the righteous Murim and the Central Plains. It had just been interpreted too positively, leading here. Nicely put, it was high praise; bluntly, it was hype.
Why me, of all people?
His head spun. He'd thought things were settling peacefully lately, but the new year brought a boulder crashing down, as if it had been lying in wait.
Swallowing a sigh, Baek Su-gyeong took a short breath and looked at Cheongmyeong.
"Regrettably, taking on Cheongmyeong the Great Hero as a disciple is impossible. I'm just an ordinary scholar, while you're Wudang's promising prodigy. There's nothing for you to gain from someone like me."
"Master."
"Of course, I regret that Wudang hasn't provided my escort. But that's one thing—this is another. Besides, becoming the disciple of a man who's taken a Haomen woman would tarnish Wudang's reputation."
He even dragged Haomen into it, but Cheongmyeong's eyes showed no flicker.
"It's fine. Heroes are allowed to be womanizers; three wives and four concubines aren't a flaw. Taking a Haomen woman just proves your virtue as Master Su-gyeong. Even a fiend from Haomen was moved by your character..."
That's how you interpret it?
The dizziness doubled, boomeranging back at him.
This is just blind stubbornness!
Not a tank charge, but mindless bull-rushing. Yet Baek Su-gyeong couldn't refuse indefinitely—not with Wudang's backing behind Cheongmyeong. He already carried a mental burden toward the sect; this made it worse. His head throbbed.
"Moreover, in the recent battle with the Blood Cult, I gained insight into the Sword Hero Chronicles' martial arts..."
What?
Baek Su-gyeong stared at him in disbelief.
"Cheongmyeong the Great Hero, what do you...?"
"Truth be told, I sought you partly for advice on the clue to Jinmu Thirteen Swords."
Huh?
Disbelief deepened on Baek Su-gyeong's face.
"Did you just say Jinmu Thirteen Swords?"
"Yes. Elder Muhyeonja said it was a martial art lost from ancient Murim's roots. You wrote it in the Sword Hero Chronicles, allowing us to at least restore its forms. I've been practicing it as a manual..."
It was pure coincidence, unintended. The name Jinmu Thirteen Swords came from the Dragon Sovereign Emperor Jinmu Hyeoncheon Sangje. This heavenly god and immortal—also called Great Sovereign Jinmu—was a Taoist deity Wudang revered, so he'd set it that way.
And it turns out that's a lost Wudang art?
What kind of coincidence is this...?
The dizziness piled so high it numbed him.
"I neared Hyeoncheon Mugeuk Divine Art but lost the thread, so I seek your guidance, Master Su-gyeong."
Mountains upon mountains. Baek Su-gyeong's face twisted into a bizarre half-smile, half-grimace.
Heaven help me...
Please, just...
Let me die already!!
His silent scream echoed in the reception hall.
The conversation with Cheongmyeong left Baek Su-gyeong's mind and body in tatters. The shocking revelations piled up, leaving him utterly exhausted by the end.
It was a barrage of jaw-droppers, enough to draw sighs. Cheongmyeong had even demonstrated the first form of Jinmu Thirteen Swords, Kaibyok, right before him, and the dual-wield extreme polarity of Twin Spirit Mugeuk Formation—splitting yin-yang energies like Yang's Heart Art into separate swords. What could he say?
It actually works?
That was all that came to mind.
"Hyeoncheon Mugeuk Divine Art is based on the Three Pure Ones Art. It shares a foundation with Twin Spirit Mugeuk Formation but operates differently, so take care."
"My deepest thanks for your golden words of wisdom, Master."
Baek Su-gyeong cleared his throat awkwardly before continuing.
"The subtlety of Twin Spirit Mugeuk Formation is separation and reversal. It specializes in clashing opposing energies for devastating power. Though Jin-un never used it that way in the story, if you're mastering Hyeoncheon Mugeuk Divine Art to its peak, understand they share the same roots."
"Yes."
"The subtlety of Hyeoncheon Mugeuk Divine Art is inclusion. Like the vast Hyeoncheon sky, embracing all. Jinmu Thirteen Swords fuses dozens, hundreds of Wudang ancestral sword forms, extracting their essence—and it harmonizes with the inner art because of that. You could say it's the martial art meant to be passed down in Wudang after Jin-un's era."
Baek Su-gyeong paused after the rapid explanation.
"Of course, remember Wudang Sword Hero is all fiction."
"Your words feel like they've rekindled the lost thread in my maze."
Not listening at all.
This was why he hated tangling with martial artists. He hadn't decided to live like a dead man and die ordinarily for nothing. Eight years of success, then this snag.
Cheongmyeong expressed thanks again.
"I'll engrave your words on my bones."
Please don't come back—become a busy supreme expert protecting the Central Plains, Cheongmyeong the Great Hero.
Hiding his inner plea, Baek Su-gyeong ended the talk with mutual clasped-hand bows.
He'd barely persuaded Cheongmyeong against discipleship, but more like him would be trouble.
Cold sweat beaded on Baek Su-gyeong's forehead.
Hm?
A pleasant scent tickled his nose. Clear and sky-like, it lingered where Cheongmyeong had been. Baek Su-gyeong's face took on a subtle hue.
"No way..."
Staring at the spot Cheongmyeong had left, a vein throbbed on his forehead.
Please don't tell me he's a woman in disguise.
"Teacher, Young Hero Hwangbo is waiting."
Namgung Som-in's words snapped him back. He turned to her.
"Tell him to come in."
"Yes."
"I'm Hwangbo Jun of the Hwangbo Clan, Teacher Su-gyeong."
Baek Su-gyeong closed his eyes at the Hwangbo warrior who'd come calling. The Namgung visit had Namgung Som-in to smooth it over, but he'd half-expected this.
Steeling himself calmly, Hwangbo Jun spoke.
"I've come to ask about our clan's portrayal in volume 7."
Baek Su-gyeong silently lifted his teacup. After a sip, he bowed his head.
"First, my apologies. It could tarnish a real clan's prestige—we nearly had that scandal before, yet I did it again. The Hwangbo Clan has every right to hold me accountable."
"Ahem, khm."
Hwangbo Jun had expected defiance, it seemed. Baek Su-gyeong's bow flustered him.
"It was my fault for not seeking prior cooperation, so accept my punishment gladly, Great Hero Hwangbo."
"Hm, khm. As long as you understand."
Hwangbo Jun cleared his throat a few times, then pressed on, eyes burning with eagerness for an answer.
"I heard White Cat Immortal Lang called you Grandmaster. Did you teach her martial arts?"
Teach her? What Grandmaster?
Baek Su-gyeong's face twitched.