Chapter 295: Heaven-Defying (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 295: Heaven-Defying (1)
Looking thoroughly deflated, Geum Chun-bong darted her eyes around, cautiously reading the room.
Now, this was a rare sight.
Seo-jun shot a sideways glance at Ju Won-jang before stepping up to Chun-bong and scooping her into his arms.
"What’s wrong with our Chun-bu-i? Did he bully you? Should I slit his throat?"
Ju Won-jang let out a dry chuckle from the sidelines.
"That’s quite the bloodthirsty joke."
"I’m not joking."
Ju Won-jang flinched at the genuine murderous intent in Seo-jun’s eyes. The brat was dead serious.
"Hey, I told you, I didn't do a thing! Why are you trying to take my head?!"
No matter how much Ju Won-jang loved a good spectacle, he didn't exactly have a death wish.
If any ordinary martial artist of the Transcendent Realm had said such a thing, he would have snorted at their arrogance. But this boy was no ordinary Transcendent.
Having witnessed the battle against the Leader of the Black Lotus Union firsthand, Ju Won-jang had absolutely zero desire to engage in a life-or-death duel with this walking anomaly.
"It’s not that anyone bullied me..."
Chun-bong muttered, her head hanging low as she spoke up in Ju Won-jang’s defense.
Seo-jun glared at Ju Won-jang.
"You dare make Chun-bu-i defend you?"
"Wow, you're actually driving me crazy."
Deciding he’d tormented Ju Won-jang enough, Seo-jun turned to Namgung Su-ah while still cradling Chun-bong.
"So, what happened, Noona?"
"Um... well, you see..."
Namgung Su-ah explained the situation to Seo-jun via Voice Transmission.
The Emperor was likely already certain of Seo-jun’s abilities, but even so, there was no harm in being cautious.
After hearing the whole story, Seo-jun blinked.
"I mean, it’s not even that big of a deal. Why is she acting so deflated over this?"
He tucked his hands under her armpits and gave the 'Long-Chun-bong' a good shake, her hair fluttering wildly. Seo-jun then pulled her back into a hug and patted her back.
"You don't have to worry about it. It doesn't really matter if anyone knows."
"But still..."
"Hmm, I guess it can't be helped."
Seo-jun slowly turned his gaze to Ju Won-jang.
"I’ll just have to silence the witness..."
"Why do you keep doing this to me?!"
Ju Won-jang burst into a hollow laugh.
Instead of replying, Seo-jun spread his Qi Sensing to scan the surroundings. Aside from his party and the Taiji Sword Immortal, no one else was within range.
It was virtually impossible to evade Seo-jun’s Qi Sensing, and the Taiji Sword Immortal was currently in a state of selfless trance, organizing his recent enlightenments.
In other words, no one could spy on whatever they did here.
"Here."
Seo-jun spread his right hand wide.
Above his five fingertips, flickers of multi-colored energy began to bloom.
Above his thumb, the internal energy of the Namgung Clan; above his index finger, the Imperial internal energy; above his middle finger, the Geum Family’s internal energy; above his ring finger, the Ice Palace’s internal energy; and above his pinky, the Demonic Qi of the Demonic Cult wavered.
Previously, such a feat would have been impossible. However, as he grew accustomed to Primordial Unity and touched upon the enlightenments of the Mythical Realm, the restrictions on operating multiple types of internal energy simultaneously had almost vanished.
Naturally, this completely defied common sense. Ju Won-jang’s jaw dropped so low it looked ready to unhinge.
"What... no, I mean... how is that..."
Ju Won-jang had expected that Seo-jun might be able to alter the properties of his internal energy to some extent. Even that would have shattered the common sense of the Central Plains, but wasn't this going too far?
The Wudang’s Divine Art of Two Forms?
Of course, it was a supreme divine art, but it wasn't some logic-defying technique that allowed a martial artist to switch internal energies at will, let alone use several simultaneously like this.
To begin with, the Divine Art of Two Forms was meant for Wudang techniques that shared the same lineage. It was primarily used to execute different techniques with each hand, rather than manipulating the foundational heart method itself.
The Taiji Divine Art might be the closest thing to this bizarre display—but that technique was originally created on the premise of operating the Pure Yang Small Art and the Pure Yin Mysterious Art at the same time.
Just because one mastered the Divine Art of Two Forms didn't mean a practitioner of the Taiji Divine Art could suddenly handle entirely alien internal energy heart methods.
"Are you sure you're even human?"
"I can make it so you're not human anymore, if you'd like."
"I can't say a damn thing to you, can I? Good grief."
With a smirk, Seo-jun gave Chun-bong a light pat on the rear.
"Anyway, we're good now, right? He already knew to some extent anyway."
"...This isn't something that can be brushed off so easily. What if I accidentally leak other truly important information?"
"So what? Your brother will handle everything."
Lee Seo-jun, the elder brother of Geum Chun-bong, was a martial artist of the Transcendent Realm who was slowly grasping the clues to the Profound Realm.
His will took precedence over any law in the Central Plains. Even if someone had clearly committed a crime, he could absolve them with a single word.
It was absurd, but what could anyone do? This was the Murim, a place where one cultivated martial power to impose their will upon the world.
"...No. I can't accept that."
However, Chun-bong refused to lean on her brother’s prestige. She knew she had become complacent, and she recognized her own mistake.
As a martial artist of the Super Peak Realm, Geum Chun-bong was capable of looking clearly into her own honest heart.
As punishment for her slip-up, she forbade the thing she loved most.
"I won't stay with Brother for a whole month."
Seo-jun’s world came crashing down.
"...I’m going to kill you, Ju Won-jang."
Terrified, Ju Won-jang couldn't help but let out a high-pitched shriek.
* * *
Due to Ju Won-jang’s earnest persuasion—and to prevent Seo-jun from falling into Qi Deviation out of sheer despair—Chun-bong eventually settled on banning Tanghulu for a month as her self-imposed punishment.
It was nothing short of a miracle.
For that Geum Chun-bong to quit Tanghulu?
One had to wonder if the sun would rise in the west tomorrow.
Furthermore, Namgung Su-ah, claiming she was also at fault for not restraining Chun-bong in time, announced she would take charge of Chun-bong’s education from now on. Apparently, she intended to teach her things like social conduct and worldly wisdom.
"Isn't the fault with the people who arrogantly try to pry information out of Chun-bong, rather than Chun-bong herself? So instead of educating Chun-bong, shouldn't we just educate the rest of the world...?"
Seo-jun made the suggestion, but unfortunately, his opinion was swiftly rejected.
It was a very fortunate turn of events for the rest of the world.
After some time passed, the Taiji Sword Immortal finished digesting his enlightenments and emerged from his trance.
Upon regaining his senses, he immediately offered Seo-jun a formal fist-and-palm salute.
"Thank you. Thanks to you, I believe I can finally complete the Sword of Seeking Non-Action."
"I learned a lot thanks to you as well."
The Taiji Sword Immortal wasn't flustered by Seo-jun’s sudden shift to a more casual tone. He simply offered a faint smile.
"The Tao of Wudang was also learned by observing nature. If you have learned by observing the Tao of Wudang, then that is a joyful thing indeed."
Would he still say the same if he knew that the entire secret heritage of Wudang had just been plundered? Somehow, it felt like the Taiji Sword Immortal standing before him would simply nod without much of a reaction.
He really is a strange man.
Seo-jun let out a small laugh, then suddenly remembered something.
"Ah, right. There’s one thing I need to tell you."
"What is it?"
"Memorize this: The Ice Palace is part of the Righteous Faction."
At those words, the Taiji Sword Immortal let out a carefree laugh.
"What meaning is there in the distinction between Righteous and Evil? That, too, is merely a classification forcibly imposed by humans. In the Tao, there is no Righteous Path or Evil Path."
"What about the Demonic?"
"The Demonic... Do you know what the 'Mara' referred to by those who walk the Demonic Blade truly is?"
After a moment of thought, Seo-jun replied.
"Even if it's called Demonic Qi, it's just a slightly unusual type of Qi. Isn't it just a similar concept to the Demonic Path?"
"One cannot deny that 'Demonic' is also just a name, but the problem lies with the very concept that was named 'Demonic' in the first place."
The Taiji Sword Immortal reached out and pointed toward the sky.
"In our world, living under the heavens, there is something called the natural order. It is the proper logic, the path where the Tao flows, the correct current."
As Seo-jun followed his finger and looked up at the sky, the Taiji Sword Immortal turned his gaze back to Seo-jun.
"However, the 'Demonic' refers to the will to defy that natural order and shatter it. Petty demons do not even realize this logic, but the true Demonic seeks to defy the natural order of the heavens and stand above it."
Seo-jun lowered his head, his eyes meeting the Taiji Sword Immortal’s.
The Immortal’s profound gaze reflected Seo-jun's figure.
"Thus, another name for the Demonic is 'Heaven-Defying.' The power you wield is exactly that."
A heavy tension settled over the area.
Seo-jun and the Taiji Sword Immortal locked eyes in silence, while Chun-bong and Namgung Su-ah instinctively placed their hands on their sword hilts.
Soon, the Taiji Sword Immortal broke into a bright smile.
"But that, too, is merely one form of logic. Could it not be said that defying the heavens and distorting the Tao is also a form of the Tao?"
"Aha... Is that the Wudang Sect’s perspective?"
"There is no single 'Tao of Man,' so it is merely my own perspective."
Chun-bong and Namgung Su-ah relaxed their guard, breathing sighs of relief. Bi-yeon, whose face had turned pale, darted her eyes around before quietly hiding behind Chun-bong.
The Taiji Sword Immortal continued.
"However... it is rare for logic to stop at just being logic. Even if one handles the principle of Heaven-Defying, there is no problem as long as there is no transgression in one's actions. But usually, those who handle Demonic Qi accumulate transgressions without a second thought, whether for the sake of their training or because their minds have been warped by it."
"Aha?"
"Yet, while you handle the principle of Heaven-Defying, you wield a clean energy without a single trace of Demonic Qi. Therefore, I believe there is no problem at all."
"Aha...?"
Seo-jun laughed awkwardly.
* * *
The Taiji Sword Immortal formally treated Seo-jun and his party as esteemed guests of the Wudang Sect.
Seo-jun was also interested in the atmosphere of Wudang, which felt distinctly different from the Namgung Clan, so he accepted the Immortal’s hospitality and decided to stay for a few days.
The Taiji Sword Immortal happily laughed and gave them an entire pavilion to themselves. For the room assignments, Seo-jun took one, Ju Won-jang took another, and the three women shared the largest remaining room.
That night, before going to sleep, Seo-jun visited the women’s room and shared the dilemma that had been bothering him since his spar with the Taiji Sword Immortal.
"Heaven-Defying and Primordial Unity? Hmm... based on what you said, they definitely seem like different powers..."
"You said Primordial Unity felt like it was dwelling within you from the start, right? Then isn't Heaven-Defying the same?"
Chun-bong and Namgung Su-ah seriously pondered the issue alongside Seo-jun.
"It just feels like something is slightly different. To begin with, all that talk about being the 'Seed of the Lord of Ten Thousand Demons' must be referring to Heaven-Defying. If so, then Primordial Unity is..."
The conversation stretched on as the night deepened.
Bi-yeon, who had been sitting quietly and listening, tentatively raised her hand.
"Um..."
"Yeah?"
When Seo-jun looked at her, Bi-yeon shrank back.
Her eyes darted around as if she regretted speaking up, but after a moment of hesitation, she opened her mouth.
"You said Heaven-Defying is a power that defies the heavens... Then, if you shoot it toward the sky, wouldn't something... Ah, I-I’m sorry..."
Bi-yeon quickly clamped her mouth shut mid-sentence.
The moment the words left her lips, she felt like she had just blurted out something incredibly stupid with far too much confidence.
To give martial arts advice to the Evil-Annihilating Heavenly Lord, of all people?
Bi-yeon’s face turned beet red with embarrassment.
However, Seo-jun raised his eyebrows as if he’d just heard something entirely unexpected.
"Oh...?"
Wasn't that actually quite persuasive?
Certainly, if it was a power that defied the heavens, shooting it directly at the sky might reveal something.
Of course, simply blasting Heaven-Defying at the sky above his head wouldn't change anything. He’d already tried that a few times.
But if it were done in a different way...
"Good job, Chun-bong’s Disciple Number Two."
Seo-jun ruffled Bi-yeon’s hair and sprang up from his seat.
"Let’s try it right now!"