Chapter 323
Chapter 323
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 323
Chapter Title: I Will Fight (2)
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Origin Flower Palace, which oversaw Wudang's daily affairs.
Myeong Han was preparing for the initiation ceremony with his subordinate disciples.
"Place these incense sticks in the Royal Spirit Hall of Jasmine Palace. And Yundeok, go to Jade Crane Palace and double-check the wooden swords to be distributed to the novices for today's initiation ceremony."
Palace Lord Myeong Il of Wugong arrived and spoke up.
"Junior Brother, are you busy?"
"Not particularly. It's just that this is the first initiation ceremony I've overseen since taking charge of Origin Flower Palace, so I'm checking everything two or three times to make sure nothing's lacking."
"Then, how about a cup of tea?"
"My throat was parched anyway. Please sit down. I'll prepare it right away."
Originally, Taheo and Myeong Gyun had been in charge of Origin Flower Palace.
Due to a series of incidents, they had ended up confined in the Repentance Cave, leaving Myeong Han to suddenly take over.
Wudang's elders and senior brothers often visited out of concern, but Myeong Il's visit today seemed to have another purpose.
Pour...
As Myeong Han poured the tea, he voiced the thought that had crossed his mind.
"Did you come because of Jeong Hyeon?"
"You're a mind reader."
"I've spent my life sharing joys and sorrows with my senior brothers. Now I can tell at a glance."
Myeong Il let out a long sigh and said,
"Indeed. I came because of Jeong Hyeon. I can't shake the thought that inviting him to this initiation ceremony might have been a mistake."
"It was necessary."
"...Hm."
"Even when he established the great merit of subduing the Dragon, we couldn't offer a single word of praise. Even when he risked his life and returned alive, we couldn't comfort him with a single 'you've suffered.' Do you think this is the right time for that? Since it's just us two, I'll be frank: Uncle Master Taheo is..."
"Junior Brother."
"...Anyway. Doesn't Senior Brother know Jeong Hyeon's character? Do you really think he acted that way because he couldn't trust his Wudang senior brothers? He's the one who always talked about seeking the Dao. How much of a shock must it have been to face improprieties from his own sect, which he trusted without doubt?"
"Junior Brother. I'm not talking about past events."
"Then what?"
"You made such a fuss, and you even convinced the Grand Senior Brother first, so I gave permission... but upon reflection, the kids from Unja Class and Jeongja Class don't seem ready to accept Jeong Hyeon. That's what I mean."
Myeong Il wet his throat with tea and spoke again.
"Do you think I don't know that the second- and third-generation disciples' mouths were foaming over the Martial Alliance siding with the Rogue Dragon?"
"...You knew?"
"I even know you stepped in to rein them in."
"Ahem."
"The atmosphere among the Jinsan disciples is like that, and I wonder if Jeong Hyeon is ready to face those senior brothers... Maybe it would have been better to let things flow naturally."
"Let things flow naturally..."
"Jeong Hyeon is aware that he's a Wudang disciple, so like a river flowing to the sea, our paths will eventually meet, won't they?"
At Myeong Il's words, Myeong Han shook his head.
"It's straight out of the scriptures, but doesn't Senior Brother know that not everything in the world naturally aligns with the Dao?"
"......"
"Sometimes, we have to open the floodgates. Jeong Hyeon and the other disciples are still young and immature. I believe leaving things as they are will only deepen the rift."
"But when young blood clashes, their immaturity will inevitably lead to conflict. It could be like scratching a boil."
As the two Taoists exchanged thoughts,
one of Wudang's second-generation disciples came running in urgently and spoke.
"Uncle Master Myeong Il! There you are!"
"What's the matter?"
"Jeong Hyeon has arrived at Sword-Releasing Pond."
"You're singling out Jeong Hyeon—does that mean he came alone? Without the Rogue Dragon or his peers?"
"Yes. But the young disciples went out to meet him without permission!"
Myeong Il furrowed his brow and stood up.
"They're not going to greet him—they're going to block him. See? This is what happens. Let's go down."
Myeong Han grabbed his senior brother's sleeve and spoke.
"Just leave it be."
"What do you mean?"
"You just said the river flows to the sea. But is the river's journey always smooth? It crashes against rocks, gets turned back, mixes with muddy water."
"...You mean it's a necessary ordeal?"
"Jeong Hyeon sang songs from childhood about becoming a Supreme Pure Sword Hand. The second-generation disciples cherished him. Do you think only hatred fills the hearts of those who ran out? There are other emotions too. Some boils need to be lanced to heal."
"But... how Jeong Hyeon takes it is another matter."
"Senior Brother saw Jeong Hyeon at the Martial Alliance. What did you think?"
"......"
"The Jeong Hyeon I saw had changed a lot from his time in Wudang. He seemed to have absorbed many paths while wandering the world. You said you weren't sure if he was ready to face his senior brothers, but..."
With that, Myeong Han gazed toward Sword-Releasing Pond and concluded.
"He saw you in Luoyang, bid farewell, and now returns to Wudang like this. Doesn't that mean he's prepared in his own way?"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ To enter the main Taoist temple where Wudang's headquarters was located, one had to pass through Sword-Releasing Pond.
As Jeong Hyeon approached, Wudang's young disciples swarmed out and blocked his path.
Jeong Hyeon cupped his fists in greeting.
"...Uncles, senior brothers. It's been a long time."
The Wudang disciples sneered at his greeting.
"Yes, it's been quite a while, nephew."
"The Sword Dragon, whose fame echoes throughout the land, has graced us."
"What brings our lofty nephew to humble Wudang?"
"He climbs Mount Wudang every other day but never sets foot in the main palace. What's the reason for showing up today, of all days, when the novices are holding their initiation ceremony?"
"He practically forced Wudang into de facto seclusion, and now he wants senior brother treatment too."
The Wudang disciples hurled sharp words and advanced threateningly.
Step by step.
Jeong Hyeon retreated while organizing his thoughts.
The first thought in Jeong Hyeon's mind was, 'I came at the invitation of my uncles.'
But he quickly erased it.
'I'm not here just to formally attend the initiation ceremony like a scarecrow.'
Jeong Hyeon closed his eyes.
It felt like the trials he had faced in Shaolin's Avici Hell were unfolding before him again.
'The seven hells of Avici Cave.'
In the fifth trial, he had to point his sword at those he cherished.
His hands trembled, his heart tore.
Among the illusions he faced were his Eon family brothers, but also his Wudang senior brothers.
'If the Eon brothers are family, then Wudang is home.'
As painful as cutting them down had been the fact of facing their hostility.
'The Wudang senior brothers must have felt the same.'
It had been the right thing to do.
But he hadn't considered those caught in the aftermath.
He hadn't tried to understand his senior brothers himself, just assuming they would eventually understand since it was right.
'...I ran away. I threw a tantrum at Wudang, so Uncle Unhyeok is right. It's not wrong to say I pushed them away first.'
They should have bonded, gotten upset sometimes.
Whined when feeling neglected, gotten a flick on the forehead.
But in the end, gathered to eat together.
That's how it should have been.
It wasn't.
'If it had been Young Master Eon...'
Then, what he wanted to say became clear in his mind.
At that moment, Unhyeok, mixed in the crowd, spoke up.
"Jeong Hyeon. You picked the wrong time. This isn't a place for you. Go back to the academy."
Jeong Hyeon halted his backward steps and let out a shallow breath.
"Ha."
And opened his eyes.
"I am a disciple of Wudang. The Songmun Sword bestowed by the Sect Leader, the dharma name Jeong Hyeon given alongside my senior brothers, and the Wudang heart arts rooted within me prove it."
"......"
"There is no reason I cannot attend the initiation ceremony."
"...What if we can't stand the sight of you? What if we block you?"
"I will fight."
"What?"
"And then we will reconcile. Every time I came to Sword-Releasing Pond, I turned back thinking it would be burdensome for my senior brothers to see me."
Jeong Hyeon continued without hesitation.
"But reflecting on it, I was afraid too. I won't retreat anymore. I will face you. Starting today, I will come every day."
He drew his Songmun Sword and thrust it into the ground.
"If you have any grudges against me, vent them with words or fists as much as you like. I'll endure until your anger subsides."
He clenched his fist.
"But clear the path."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ While Jeong Hyeon retreated under the onslaught from his senior brothers, I couldn't count how many times my and my Eon brothers' bottoms fidgeted.
But Jeong Hyeon asserted himself so thoroughly that the time hiding in the bushes felt well spent.
"Our Jeong Hyeon has changed."
- ...What's with that weird tone?
As I felt a momentary cringe,
"Oh!"
"Soreng, shh."
"...Ah. Yes. But Jeong Hyeon and the other Taoists... they're fighting?"
Some Wudang disciples flushed red,
Whoosh! Whoosh!
They too thrust their Songmun Swords into the ground and charged at Jeong Hyeon.
Swoosh!!
Screeech!!!
They seemed driven by uncontrollable temper, but a famed sect was a famed sect.
Swish! Swish!
Whirl! Swish!!!
The Wudang disciples' fist and leg techniques carried their signature softness and precision.
Amid the barrage, Jeong Hyeon's defensive movements showed composure.
Wu Soreng's rabbit-wide eyes and voice regained calm in surprise.
"But I thought they were all swordsmen, yet they're fighting with fists with swords stuck in the ground?"
"It's Sword-Releasing Pond."
"Oh? Isn't the rule about releasing swords at Sword-Releasing Pond only for outsiders?"
Jeonggal Seolji answered Wu Soreng's question.
"Releasing swords at Sword-Releasing Pond is less a rule and more a courtesy to the founding ancestor, Master Jang Jin. Since Jeong Hyeon and the other Wudang disciples aren't sparring in good faith but quarreling... they must be ashamed to show their swords."
As Jeonggal Seolji spoke, Dang Okgi chimed in.
"Are they idiots? If they're ashamed, they shouldn't fight."
Jeong Hyeon twisted his body acrobatically, perfectly deflecting the successive attacks.
Then, drawing a Taiji with his clenched fist, he unleashed palm strikes.
Bam!
Thud!
Two Wudang disciples flew back like fluttering leaves.
Watching Jeong Hyeon's prowess, Yin Xia Lian spoke as if entranced.
"I noticed his aura had changed when he returned, but seeing it in person makes me want to rub my eyes."
"He has clearly made a breakthrough."
"Yes. His movements were always fluid, but now it's like he's swimming. He seems to precisely read and deflect opponents' moves. Defending only with fists to that degree... with a sword, he'd be terrifying."
At Yin Xia Lian's words,
Namgung Yun cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Ahem."
I soothed Yin Xia Lian and said,
"No need to be impatient. Considering years with a sword, Silver Lady's growth is the truly astonishing one. We've agreed to ongoing exchanges with Shaolin, so others can receive instruction from Divine Victory when ready."
We watched Jeong Hyeon and the Wudang disciples fight for quite a while.
Jeong Hyeon was starting to tire.
It was inevitable.
Jeong Hyeon stubbornly focused on defense, lightly striking to retire fatigued senior brothers as they appeared.
There seemed to be at least forty who had swarmed out,
and more Wudang disciples were gathering upon hearing the news.
'Among them, those in uniforms with Pine Pattern embroidered on the collar seem to be Wudang's pride, the Supreme Pure Sword Hands.'
This shouldn't have happened.
As that thought crossed my mind,
Jeong Hyeon took a palm strike and rolled on the ground.
Crash!
I straightened my crouched legs and signaled my Eon brothers with my eyes.
'No more. Let's go.'
The Eon brothers nodded, and we pushed through the bushes together.
"No. I was training, got thirsty, came to Wudang for a sip of water, and co-in-ci-den-tal-ly stumbled upon this scene?"