Chapter 279: Mujin
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 279: Mujin
Northern Revered Shaolin, Southern Honored Wudang.
If Shaolin is in the north, Wudang is in the south.
The Wudang Sect is one of the five great Daoist sects of the Central Plains, located on Mount Wudang in Jun County, Hubei Province. Alongside the Shaolin Temple, it is a colossal sect known as the Mount Tai and Big Dipper of the Orthodox Faction's martial world.
While it may fall short of the Mount Hua and Zhongnan Sects in terms of historical depth, its underlying power was undoubtedly the greatest in the Orthodox martial world, alongside the Shaolin Temple.
As such, the Daoist priests of the Wudang Sect were met with looks of respect wherever they went.
But this place, Seoyu County, was an exception.
Half a year had already passed since the merchants had sought the Wudang Sect's help.
During that time, the sect had ignored the merchants' pleas. Moreover, the common folk had also suffered from the Iron Snake Gang's atrocities, so in truth, the entirety of Seoyu County held a poor view of the Wudang Sect.
Of course, the Wudang Sect had its own grievances.
Their opponents were the Ghost Hand Twin Swords, known to be capable of killing even one of the Top 100 Experts of the World. Seoyu County was not under the Wudang Sect's protection, making it difficult to dispatch an elder. Yet, if they sent only disciples and something went wrong, the Wudang Sect would have to bear the full responsibility.
Thus, they had no choice but to be cautious.
However, the common folk, who only had a superficial understanding of the martial world, could hardly be expected to comprehend such internal affairs. Besides, the death of the Ghost Hand Twin Swords wouldn't bring back those who had died by their hands, so the people of Seoyu County needed someone to blame.
Logically, it made sense to blame the bastards from the Iron Snake Gang, but whether they were third-rate or second-rate, they were still martial artists.
And evil ones at that, from the Evil Faction, who had committed atrocities alongside the Ghost Hand Twin Swords.
Protesting against them was a perfect way to get stabbed.
On the other hand, the Wudang Sect was a Daoist sect, hailed as the Mount Tai and Big Dipper of the Orthodox martial world alongside Shaolin. They were not about to draw their swords just because some commoners complained.
In other words, the real culprits were the bullies, but since no one had the courage to stand up to them, they were instead complaining to the good-natured student council president, asking why he hadn't helped sooner.
It was an incredibly selfish way of thinking.
But what could be done? That was the way of the powerless weak.
As soon as he entered the inn, resentful gazes poured in from all directions, but the Wudang martial artist calmly looked around and continued walking.
Then, he stopped in front of a man who was cautiously sipping from his cup.
“Wh-what is it?”
The man looked clearly flustered.
Even if he was a Daoist, he was still undeniably a martial artist. It wouldn't be strange if he drew the sword at his waist at any moment.
Furthermore, Seoyu County had no proper sects or dojos, so prejudice against martial artists was stronger here than in other regions.
However, contrary to the man's expectations, the Wudang martial artist's expression was endlessly bright.
He offered the man a cupped fist salute.
“Pardon the intrusion.”
“...G-greetings.”
Seeing a polite demeanor he had never witnessed from the Iron Snake Gang's members, the man was able to relax a little.
But he couldn't help but be shocked again by the words that followed.
“I am Mujin, a second-generation disciple of the Wudang Sect.”
“Mujin... D-don't tell me, the Blue Dragon?!”
“What?! The Blue Dragon?!”
“Isn't the Blue Dragon the disciple of the Meteor Sword?!”
The moment the Wudang martial artist revealed his name, the inn erupted in a clamor.
“Haha, that is too grand a title for me.”
The Five Dragons and Three Phoenixes.
It was a title referring to the eight outstanding rising stars of the Orthodox martial world, comprised of five dragons and three phoenixes.
The second-generation disciple from the Mount Hua Sect who had hit on Cheon Yeo-hwa before was also a member of the Five Dragons and Three Phoenixes, the Sword Dragon.
'Blue Dragon, is it because his eyes are blue?'
Surprisingly, the Wudang martial artist's eyes were blue.
He didn't seem to be a foreigner, though.
He must have learned a martial art that affects the body, just as Cheon Yeo-hwa's hair turns pure white when she unleashes her demonic energy.
-Yeo-hwa, do you know who he is?
-No. I might know the masters of the Orthodox Faction, but I haven't kept track of the rising stars.
Cheon Yeo-hwa sipped her drink, watching the Blue Dragon with indifferent eyes. She was probably sensing the same thing I was.
Although his current realm was that of a seasoned Peak Realm master, the man who called himself Mujin was on the verge of reaching the pinnacle of that realm.
That meant he was half a step ahead of Mount Hua's Sword Dragon, who was called the foremost rising star of the Orthodox Faction.
'He looks to be in his late twenties? The Sword Dragon was in his mid-twenties, so their talents must be similar.'
But that was all. He wasn't a particularly interesting opponent.
I called the innkeeper over and ordered more alcohol. It was like spending over ten silver nyang on a single meal, but thanks to taking all the loot piled up at the bandit stronghold, my finances were more than plentiful.
“It's nothing much, but I was wondering if you know anything about the martial artist who defeated the Ghost Hand Twin Swords?”
“Pardon?”
The man's eyes trembled slightly at Mujin's question. He then began glancing furtively somewhere, testing the waters.
Should I tell him, or not?
Thanks to Kang Hyun-woo taking care of the Ghost Hand Twin Swords, most of the people living in Seoyu County were indebted to him.
Even if they couldn't repay him in any grand way, they at least wanted to help him avoid getting entangled in troublesome matters.
But glancing at Kang Hyun-woo, even for a moment, was the man's mistake.
“Thank you!”
“Huh? N-no, that's not what I—!”
Having confirmed where the man's gaze was directed, Mujin immediately went up to the second floor.
Everyone in the inn glared at the man reproachfully.
Soon, Mujin reached Kang Hyun-woo, who was sipping his drink, and offered a cupped fist salute with a resolute expression.
“Pardon the intrusion. I am from the Wudang Sect—?”
But as Mujin looked at Kang Hyun-woo, his expression grew strange, like a detective who had a hunch but no solid evidence to back it up.
This was due to the effect of the Tai Chi Qi Gong he had mastered.
It was a high-level martial art of the Wudang Sect that allowed him to clearly see the flow of his opponent's qi, and he had faintly sensed the demonic energy dormant in the two's dantians.
However, having never encountered a martial artist who practiced demonic arts, Mujin could only assume the two were simply martial artists from the Evil Faction.
“What is it?”
Mujin flinched at Kang Hyun-woo's cold voice.
He clearly looked younger than him, yet he showed not a single opening.
Mujin broke into a cold sweat, realizing that even if he drew his sword first, he couldn't guarantee victory.
'D-don't tell me... a Transcendent master...?
Gulp.
Considering that only a few of the Wudang Sect's first-generation disciples had reached that realm, the man before him had to be one of two things.
Either a prodigy of the age, born with a Heavenly Martial Physique.
Or a great senior of the martial world who had reached an even higher realm and achieved rejuvenation.
Either way, he was not an opponent to be taken lightly.
Mujin forced a smile as he swallowed dryly.
“A-ahem. It's nothing much, but I have something I'd like to ask. Do you have a moment?”
“A Daoist from the Wudang Sect?”
“Haha, a Daoist? My training is still insufficient to be called that.”
“I know. I was just being polite. Don't mind me.”
“...?”
Mujin was momentarily dumbfounded by Kang Hyun-woo's reply, but he didn't let it show.
“So, what are you curious about?”
“Ah, that... Were you perhaps the one who defeated the individuals known as the Ghost Hand Twin Swords...?”
“I was.”
A reply without a hint of hesitation.
Mujin fell silent.
And the people watching the scene had to sweat nervously at the tense atmosphere.
After all, sword fights breaking out between martial artists for trivial reasons was as natural as smoke rising from a lit chimney.
No matter how much of a Daoist he was, it didn't change the fact that he was, at his core, a martial artist.
However, Mujin's following reaction completely overturned everyone's expectations.
“Thank you!”
Mujin bowed his head to Kang Hyun-woo.
His long robe, embroidered with a taiji symbol and a pine tree, fluttered.
“...No matter how I think about it, I don't believe I've done anything to deserve thanks from a Daoist of the Wudang Sect?”
And Kang Hyun-woo was just as surprised by Mujin's actions.
His expression alone was enough to reveal his inner thought: 'What the hell is with this guy...?'
“The Ghost Hand Twin Swords you punished, Young Hero, were vile villains who fed on the blood of the common people. I should have been the one to step forward, but due to internal matters within my sect, I was delayed. Since you punished them in my stead, how could I not offer my gratitude?”
“Even so, it was only a day's difference, wasn't it?”
“To some, a moment can feel like an eternity.”
Mujin's blue eyes shone with a soft light.
It was the gaze of a Daoist filled with a sagely aura.
“On behalf of the Wudang Sect, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you once again.”
At Mujin's display, the people in the inn couldn't hide their astonishment.
To think that a Daoist from the notoriously proud Wudang Sect would act so humbly.
Furthermore, they were even more shocked by the fact that he was the Blue Dragon, known as the Second Prodigy of the Orthodox Faction after the Sword Dragon, and one of the Five Dragons and Three Phoenixes destined to lead the future of the martial world.
However, Kang Hyun-woo's own reaction was lukewarm.
“Ah, yes... well.”
If his counterpart had been one of the Three Phoenixes instead of a Dragon, his reaction might have been a little better.
It was naturally awkward to have a man he'd never met suddenly bow his head and offer thanks.
But aside from that, the man himself seemed like a good person, which was why he wasn't kicking him out.
Just then, Mujin, who had been watching Kang Hyun-woo's expression, spoke cautiously.
“Um... If it's not too much trouble, may I ask a favor of you?”
“A favor?”
“Yes, well...”
Mujin glanced around warily.
Then he took a step closer to Kang Hyun-woo and lowered his voice.
“Could we perhaps move to another location? There are too many listening ears here... I have travel expenses from my sect, so if you two are amenable, I can escort you to an inn with a private room.”
From Mujin's cautious attitude, Kang Hyun-woo instinctively sensed that it was going to be a troublesome request.
Normally, he would have politely refused and sent him away, but today was different.
Snap.
When Kang Hyun-woo lightly snapped his fingers, the surrounding noise vanished.
It was a Qi Barrier, a technique that could only be used by masters at or above the Transcendent realm who could control the emission of their qi.
Mujin stared with trembling eyes at the bluish barrier that now surrounded them.
It was the moment he became certain that his opponent was a master who had reached the Transcendent realm.
“There's no need to go elsewhere. Speak here.”
Mujin nodded and sat down.
Just then, as Cheon Yeo-hwa was tilting her cup, her veil lifted slightly, and her eyes met Mujin's.
'G-gasp?!'
In that instant, Mujin frantically clutched his chest. For a moment, he thought his heart had exploded, but thankfully, it was just his imagination.
Still, his mind was half-gone.
'How can a celestial maiden be on earth...'
Even though he had spent his entire life in the Wudang Sect, practicing martial arts and cultivating the Dao, he had met the current Three Phoenixes and the daughters of various noble families at the last Dragon Phoenix Gathering.
Of course, he had been momentarily surprised by their beauty, but at least his heart had not been swayed.
Therefore, he had always thought that being unmoved by a woman's beauty was nothing difficult.
But the woman before him was clearly beyond the realm of mortals.
So much so that he, who had lived his entire life as a Daoist, had his gaze stolen away without realizing it.
“Is staring at another man's woman the favor you mentioned, Daoist?”
“...Ah!”
Mujin hastily stood up and bowed his head.
“M-my apologies! Your wife is so beautiful that I lost myself for a moment!”
Kang Hyun-woo acknowledged that fact, but reason and emotion were two different domains.
Just because one accepted something with their head didn't mean they could accept it with their heart.
Just as Kang Hyun-woo's opinion of Mujin was about to hit rock bottom.
“I am fine, so please don't worry about it.”
Click.
Cheon Yeo-hwa, who hadn't said a single word until now, set down her cup and spoke in a soft voice.
Kang Hyun-woo gave her a quizzical look, seeing that she seemed somewhat excited, but he didn't say anything.
It would be strange for him to make a fuss when she herself said it was fine.
Only then did Mujin let out a sigh of relief inwardly. He didn't forget to offer a light cupped fist salute to Cheon Yeo-hwa before sitting down.
“A-ahem... Then, I will continue.”
As if his throat was dry, Mujin gulped down the leaf tea the innkeeper had brought and continued the conversation.
“...The favor I wish to ask of you, Young Hero, is your cooperation in subjugating the organization formed by the Ghost Hand Twin Swords, the Iron Snake Gang.”