Chapter 20: Azure River Sect (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 20: Azure River Sect (3)
Throughout the duel, Cheong-un watched with pride as his Sect Leader overwhelmed the arrogant Black Path thug.
‘Arrogant bastard. That’s the price for running your mouth!’
Every time the Sect Leader’s sword swung, achieving a perfect harmony of softness and strength, a refreshing breeze followed in its wake.
That was the Clear Stream Blue Heaven Sword—a signature martial art passed down exclusively to the leaders of the Azure River Sect.
Cheong-un’s eyes burned with resolve, vowing that he would one day inherit that very sword.
‘But that guy… didn’t he say he was from the Black Tiger Sect?’
How could a dreg of the Black Path exude such pure, clean energy?
Even when the duel paused and the Sect Leader sheathed his sword, Cheong-un couldn’t shake his suspicion.
But then, the man talking to the Sect Leader suddenly lunged forward!
And this was after the Sect Leader had already put his sword away!
“You…!”
As Cheong-un leaned forward, ready to charge in, a small figure blocked his path.
“Don’t interfere. This is an important moment.”
“You’re…”
It was the child traveling with that arrogant jerk. Unable to bring himself to strike a kid, Cheong-un tried to reason with her.
“Listen, kid. Look at what that man is doing. Nothing good comes from associating with someone like him. Why not take refuge in the Azure River Sect instead? If you work hard, you might even become a disciple of our sect—”
Cheong-un froze. Before he even realized it, a blade was pressed against his throat.
The girl’s eyes held a chilling glint as she stared him down.
“Quiet. Just shut up and watch.”
Clicking her tongue, Chun-bong sheathed her sword.
Honestly, these Righteous Faction types were just as annoying as the rest.
Nothing good comes from associating with him? Who does this guy think he is, spouting nonsense when he knows nothing?
Watching the resumed duel, Chun-bong couldn’t help but smile.
‘That’s it.’
Seeing Seo-jun press the Sect Leader, as if he had reached a sudden enlightenment, made her heart swell with excitement.
Before she knew it, her clenched fists were slick with sweat.
Concentrating on the duel without so much as a blink, Chun-bong’s eyes suddenly widened.
“…Huh?”
Seo-jun’s sword was being enveloped in a thick, viscous energy.
What is that? I definitely never taught him anything like that.
As a bewildered Chun-bong blinked, a single word escaped Seo-jun’s lips.
“Primordial Unity.”
The name sparked a memory.
The Primordial Unity Divine Art.
He had clearly said it was a martial art created by mixing the Yellow Cloud Divine Art, the Azure Cloud Divine Art, and the Clear Flow Sword…
‘But I can’t find a single trace of them anymore.’
This wasn't the clumsy Primordial Unity Divine Art from this morning.
It wasn't just a hodgepodge of random techniques thrown together; it was a singular, fully realized martial art.
At least, that was how the Primordial Unity Divine Art appeared in Chun-bong’s eyes.
‘Maybe, just maybe…’
Could a martial art truly worthy of the name "Divine Art" be born?
A spark of heat flickered in Chun-bong’s eyes.
*
Primordial Unity.
It was the first form of the Primordial Unity Divine Art.
In truth, it was less of a formal technique and more of a skill without a fixed shape.
A single technique that would serve as the foundation and cornerstone for the Primordial Unity Divine Art he would build from here on out.
“Watch closely. And don’t tell a soul.”
The dozens of disciples watching looked bewildered, but Seo-jun didn't care.
The jokes were over. It was time to get serious.
“Hup…!”
Seo-jun swung his sword. The shape of the murky Sword Qi enveloping the blade began to shift.
Boom!
The Sect Leader, having barely blocked the strike, recoiled in shock and quickly twisted his body away.
Swish—
A thorn of Sword Qi sprouted from the blade, grazing the Sect Leader’s cheek.
“Where did such a martial art come from…!”
The Sect Leader dragged his feet back, pulling his sword into a defensive stance.
The Sword Qi on his blade intensified, flowing rapidly to capture the violent surge of a river.
Stormy Flow.
A technique of the Clear Stream Blue Heaven Sword unfolded.
Seo-jun’s eyes tracked the movement. He had seen this martial art before. Any technique derived from it was well within his range of prediction.
“Ssshh…”
Inhaling deeply, he held his sword at an angle.
Then, as if two great rivers were merging into one, Seo-jun smoothly parried the Sect Leader’s blade downward.
“What…!”
The Sect Leader’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. The very sword technique he had used at the start of the duel was being mirrored perfectly by his opponent.
But he didn't have the luxury of being offended by the provocation. Seo-jun’s sword had turned a deep blue.
There might be a difference in clarity, but had his golden internal energy completely changed color?
It made no sense. It defied common sense.
A single person could not operate two different Heart Methods.
Why was the Wudang’s Divine Art of Two Forms called a "Divine Art"? Because it achieved the miracle of allowing one body to operate two Heart Methods.
But how?
Even the Divine Art of Two Forms required one to be at the Absolute Peak Realm to operate it properly!
“Better block this well.”
Seo-jun’s eyes momentarily flashed blue. Frost began to form around his blue-tinted sword.
Crackle!
The intense Yin energy sent goosebumps crawling up the Sect Leader’s arms.
Then, Seo-jun’s sword plummeted, as if the tip were dragging the very heavens down with it. It was the Mount Tai Pressure Peak of the Three Talents Sword Art.
The Sect Leader swung his sword upward with everything he had.
BOOOOOM!!
The impact of the clashing blades sent a violent gale screaming through the area.
The Sect Leader’s face contorted. His half-frozen hands were completely numb.
“What… what kind of sorcery is this…!”
“Sorcery? This is a Divine Art.”
Seo-jun pressed down on the locked blades. Screeeech! The eyes of the two swordsmen, locked in a contest of strength, grew cold and focused.
“Getting used to it yet?”
The frost on the Sect Leader’s hands began to melt and drip away. He was resisting the Yin energy through some means.
At that, the corners of Seo-jun’s mouth curled up into a wide, jagged grin.
The Sect Leader froze for a moment at the sight of that smile—one that looked like it belonged to a wicked demonic overlord.
He remained on high alert, ready for whatever trick Seo-jun might pull, but Seo-jun’s next move was far beyond anything he could have imagined.
Yin-Yang Reversal.
Yin energy transformed into Yang energy. The blue Sword Qi erupted into golden flames, radiating a blistering heat.
Sizzle!
“Guh!”
His skin scorched, the Sect Leader hastily retreated. Seo-jun pursued him, flicking a Finger Pellet.
Pop-pop-pop!
The Sect Leader hurriedly swung his sword to block.
“This is impossible…!”
A chilling cold traveled up the sword that had blocked the Finger Pellet. It had been infused with Yin energy.
“The Sun-Moon Demonic Art!?”
The demonic art of the Demonic Cult, also known as the Sun-Moon Divine Art. Nothing else could allow such free manipulation of Yin and Yang energy.
“You’re gonna run through every martial art name you know at this rate, pal.”
Having closed the distance in an instant, Seo-jun gripped his sword tight.
The Sect Leader moved to defend himself in desperation, but his movements, slowed by the infiltration of Yin and Yang energy, were far too sluggish.
Certain of his victory, Seo-jun smirked and dropped his sword to the ground. Simultaneously, he balled his right hand into a tight fist.
“Chun-bong…! Your big brother won…!”
Thwack!
“Kehoak…!”
The punch buried itself in the Sect Leader’s solar plexus, leaving him staggering and clutching his stomach.
Standing before him, Seo-jun beamed.
“Testing the Clear Flow Sword was one thing, but if you’re gonna be a prick, you’ve gotta get hit, right?”
His fists had been itching for this.
*
“Oh, Sect Leader…!”
“Sect Leader! Are you alright?!”
“Look at this… this absolute villain! We must kill this man immediately!”
The disciples wailed in grief as they looked at their Sect Leader, whose eyes were swollen and bruised a deep purple.
Well, if nothing else, he certainly took care of his sect members, Chun-bong thought, pouting as she glared at Seo-jun.
“Hey, you idiot. If you hit everyone who talks like a prick, you’re going to get beaten to death yourself one day, you know?”
“Ahem, Geum Chun-bong. Why are you pretending to be annoyed when you’re clearly happy?”
Seo-jun poked Chun-bong in the ribs. At that, the smile she had been trying to hide behind her pout blossomed across her face.
“W-what! Whatever…. Anyway, good job. I didn't actually think you'd win.”
“Of course I did. Look who was cheering for me. I had to win.”
“There he goes again with the bullshit.”
She acts all prickly even though she loves it. Seo-jun chuckled.
The Sect Leader approached them. After staring at Seo-jun for a moment, he let out a long sigh and spoke.
“…It is late, but I am Cheong Mu-won, the 13th Sect Leader of the Azure River Sect. I apologize for my earlier rudeness.”
“Ah, I’ve let it all out, so it’s fine.”
Beating him up had certainly cleared the air.
As Seo-jun waved his hand with a grin, the Sect Leader sighed again.
“Whew…. Regardless, that was an incredible martial art. You called it the Primordial Unity Divine Art? Though I have never heard of it, it is truly worthy of being called a Divine Art.”
“I think so too.”
“Haha… I suppose so.”
The Sect Leader let out a hollow laugh and quietly observed Seo-jun.
Despite speech and behavior that resembled a common street thug, his aura was pure and refined. Yet, the imagery within that aura was aggressive and worldly.
He didn't seem like someone from the Nine Great Sects; that would mean he was from one of the Great Clans…
After a moment of deliberation, the Sect Leader decided to just ask.
“I’ll just be blunt. Which sect do you truly belong to?”
“I don’t know.”
“…Fine, if you don’t want to tell me, so be it.”
“If you’re that curious, ask her. She’s the master.”
“What?”
The Sect Leader’s eyes widened. Seo-jun looked uncomfortable under a gaze so intense it felt like it might shoot beams of light.
“What?”
“How can you speak to your master like that! Do you not know that the King, the Teacher, and the Father are one?!”
The grace of the sovereign, the teacher, and the father are equal. It basically meant one should treat their teacher with the reverence of a king or a father.
Seo-jun knew that much.
As Seo-jun nodded with a proud expression, a vein throbbed in the Sect Leader’s temple.
“No matter how young she is, a master is a master! Show some respect immediately!”
“What.”
His eyes wide, Seo-jun turned to Chun-bong.
“Uh… Mom?”
“Sigh… what am I going to do with this guy, seriously?”
Chun-bong pressed a hand to her forehead and addressed the Sect Leader.
“There is no need to say such things, as I am not his master. He treats everything like a joke, so please just try to understand.”
“…But still.”
“I’d rather not be called 'Mom' by this jerk, so please, just let it go.”
At her words—which were polite yet blunt—the Sect Leader gave a hesitant nod.
“…If you say so.”
*
“…Please, rest comfortably.”
“Are you sure it’s okay? He seems pretty pissed off.”
“…What can a loser say? I was the one who was rude first, so I have no right to complain.”
The Sect Leader, having summoned Cheong-un to attend to the guests, offered a final greeting and headed toward the Sect Leader’s Hall.
His retreating back looked incredibly weary as he trudged away.
‘Ah, I had one thing I wanted to ask him.’
He’d have to go find him later.
Seo-jun smacked his lips and looked at Cheong-un.
“Um… hello?”
“…Forget it. Why start being polite now? I will show you to the guest rooms.”
He seemed to be in a terrible mood, likely because his Sect Leader had just been thrashed.
Seo-jun decided to employ the social skills he had honed in the modern world.
“So, that was the Clear Flow Sword, right? It’s a pretty decent martial art.”
“Is it… even comparable to the Young Hero’s martial art? The Clear Flow Sword is merely the foundational martial art of the Azure River Sect.”
“Ah, the classic 'sucks-at-it-but-blames-the-art' art.”
“What did you say…?”
“Oops. No, I just meant the Clear Flow Sword is a fine technique.”
He definitely wasn't saying it was only because Cheong-un was a scrub.