Chapter 62
Chapter 62
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: Cheongmu's Legend
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Jinmu immediately headed up to Oro Peak, where the construction of the Five Dragons Palace was in full swing.
With funding secured and the Wudang Sect paying close attention, the foundation work was progressing remarkably quickly.
"Master."
"Oh, Jinmu?"
Myeongjin, who had been gazing wistfully at the construction site, broke into a pleased smile at Jinmu's visit.
What a commendable disciple.
Just watching him was a source of pride, as his achievements in such a short time had restored Wudang's prestige across the martial world.
"The wind is biting cold."
And on top of that, he even worried about his master's health.
"Don't worry. I know my own body well."
He knew it all too well.
If he fell ill like this, Jinmu would be the one suffering, and his own plans to depart would be delayed even further.
"With disciples from Origin Harmony Hall here, how can you stay out here every day?"
"Haha, how can I just sit idle now that I'm the palace lord?"
His sense of responsibility only made Jinmu more anxious.
Why was he so enthusiastic? He wasn't wielding a shovel himself.
"By the way, have you finished sorting the books in the Scripture Repository?"
"...Yeah, more or less."
"Good. Those will be used to teach our Five Dragons Palace disciples from now on, so sort them carefully."
"Yes."
Jinmu nodded at Myeongjin's words.
"Also, from now on, pay Elder Ungong a visit now and then. Chat with him a bit."
"Why?"
Why would I bother playing companion to a senile old man?
"Hm?"
"Ah, nothing."
"You rascal. Always so irreverent. Anyway, visit him often. Though he committed the grave sin of the master-disciple annihilation precept and had his martial arts crippled, he's lived the longest in this martial world. You'll gain something from talking with him."
Huh? What? Master-disciple annihilation precept?
Jinmu's face twisted in confusion for a moment.
Come to think of it, hadn't that guy called Cheongmu said it was Jinmu himself who beheaded him?
Wasn't that a lie?
Don't tell me...
"Master, by any chance..."
"Hm?"
"Was there someone named Cheongmu among the previous sect leaders?"
He was just hoping against hope.
"Cheongmu?"
Myeongjin looked puzzled.
It was because Jinmu had never shown any interest in Wudang's history before.
"There was. Ancestor Cheongmu led Wudang through its greatest era of prosperity."
Huh? He really existed?
He wasn't just a figment from a crazy old man's ravings?
"Really? I've never heard rumors of such a figure in Wudang."
"Of course not. The records only cover about a decade of his activities. Even that decade was only because he stepped out at the court's request, so there are just a few lines. You've spent more time as a Taoist boy than most and missed out on proper history lessons, so it's understandable."
That made no sense. How could someone so extraordinary remain unknown in the martial world?
"But Elder Ungong said he possessed the world's greatest martial arts."
"Hm, it's exaggerated, but it might not be far off. I hear it was Wudang's most powerful era. There's even a rumor that he established the precept of no Taoist interference in worldly affairs."
Come to think of it, Jinmu vaguely recalled hearing something like that.
Wasn't the no-interference precept an imperial edict issued by the founding emperor Taejo after receiving aid from a martial artist?
The timelines roughly matched.
And that martial artist was Wudang's sect leader, Cheongmu?
"Just a rumor?"
"Yes. The few remaining records are so fantastical. But how do you know of him?"
"I heard it from Elder Ungong when I stopped by the Scripture Repository."
"Elder Ungong? That's unusual. For him to even mention Ancestor Cheongmu. Then again, Elder Ungong was a first-generation disciple when Cheongmu was sect leader."
What? It was true?
"So the stories about Ancestor Cheongmu aren't lies?"
"Lies? Haha, exaggerated, yes, but not lies since records exist."
"Like what?"
"Slicing mountain peaks with a single sword stroke, cleaving rivers..."
Myeongjin chuckled, as if even he found it absurd as he said it.
"Sounds unbelievable, right? Like some legend of crossing the Yangtze on a single reed."
One Reed Crossing the River.
The legendary tale of Shaolin's founder Bodhidharma crossing the Yangtze on a single reed leaf.
These days, anyone could walk on water or tread the air, but that was still nonsense.
For short distances, maybe, but the Yangtze? He'd probably run out of qi mid-way and swim the rest.
Those Shaolin monks really idolized Bodhidharma too much.
But he couldn't fully agree it was fantastical.
After all, wasn't Jinmu's own existence fantastical?
"Then, Master, what was Ancestor Cheongmu's end? Did he perhaps turn demonic and get killed by a sect disciple?"
"Tch! You brat."
"..."
"Watch your words. That's the crime of crippling one's cultivation and severing the limbs' meridians."
"Ah, yes..."
"Strangely, no records of his final days remain, but he surely ascended. To think he died at a disciple's hand? Absurd."
Yeah, right, dressing up your ancestors.
Anyway, this lent credibility to Elder Ungong's words.
Slicing mountain peaks and cleaving rivers.
As fantastical as it sounded, one thing nagged at him.
The existence of the Taiji Origin, the second volume and latter half of the Two Forms Heart Art, said to be divided among the other four great Taoist sects.
Hope began to well up again.
The mad ramblings of a senile old man might all be true.
What else could it be?
He couldn't obtain the first half of the Two Forms Heart Art remaining in Wudang anyway.
No help for it with the damn rule that only great disciples could learn it. Even if he wanted to steal it, Myeongjin wouldn't allow it.
But now it didn't matter.
He had already resolved to leave.
And just suppose.
Cheongmu, Wudang's greatest master.
If, as Elder Ungong said, he had surpassed the Two Forms Heart Art to achieve Taiji but fell to heart demons.
And because of that, the Taiji Origin—the latter half of the Two Forms Heart Art—was sealed and divided among the four other Taoist sects excluding Wudang?
Elder Ungong had clearly said that those four portions of the Taiji Origin contained not only annotations for the Two Forms Heart Art but also the formulas to achieve Taiji.
His vanished goal reformed.
"Master!"
"Hm?"
"I wish to go on a journey."
"What? A journey?"
"Yes."
Myeongjin looked slightly flustered at Jinmu's sudden declaration.
"Out of the blue like this?"
"Please allow it. Having resolved to become Wudang's true sword, I now seek to venture into the jianghu, gain experience, and hone my skills further."
"Ha, you rascal."
It was truly out of nowhere.
He comes asking about Cheongmu, then suddenly requests permission for a journey.
'Hm, this kid. Does he want to see the wider world? Well, it's about time.'
Myeongjin gazed steadily at Jinmu.
His disciple, who had shown him countless impossibilities.
Cheongmu was fantastical, but so was Jinmu.
If he hadn't seen it himself, he wouldn't believe a mere thirty-something martial artist had reached 'strength'.
And perhaps, just maybe, Jinmu could recreate Ancestor Cheongmu's fantastical legends recorded in history.
For a martial artist, experience was as vital as martial arts themselves.
If Jinmu, already Wudang's top master, gained that experience, it would be like giving wings to a tiger.
Moreover, Wudang's situation had improved vastly.
Since the dispute with the Zhuge Family, merchant groups from across Hubei Province had lined up to ally with Wudang, disciples flocked from everywhere, and the palace halls were bustling.
The Five Dragons Palace reconstruction had just finished its foundations. Completion would take at least a year.
Jinmu leaving on a journey wouldn't strain things. He had to go someday anyway.
But it was too sudden.
"Are you serious?"
"Yes!"
"Hm."
Myeongjin thought his disciple truly had an unpredictable personality.
Just days ago, sunk in despair, then suddenly unveiling sword aura.
Now demanding a journey.
"Very well. If that's your will, I'll request permission from the Sect Leader."
"What? Isn't your permission enough, Master? Last time, it was."
"You brat. Feeling bold now, eh?"
"Well..."
"That's different from a short trip. A journey is a wandering that can last years."
"I see."
"So wait. I'll visit the Sect Leader tomorrow morning."
"Please do it now."
"Hm?"
Myeongjin looked baffled at Jinmu's bold insistence.
"Now?"
"Yes."
"Right now?"
"Yes."
"Ha!"
It was truly absurd.
But Jinmu had never pressed him so strongly, always considering his master's will first.
It slightly breached etiquette toward a master, but to Myeongjin, Jinmu was a treasured pride and joy.
"Haha, fine. I'll go hurry it along."
"Thank you."
As Myeongjin's back hurried toward the Purple Empyrean Palace, Jinmu flashed a sly smile.
Permission was as good as granted.
No more shackles on his ankles.
Even if the Sect Leader opposed, he'd force it through.
In the meantime, while his master got approval, he needed to visit the Scripture Repository.
It was time to heed the mad—no, golden words of Elder Ungong.
In the grand hall of the Purple Empyrean Palace.
Sect Leader Myeonghyeon's brow furrowed slightly upon receiving a messenger pigeon letter.
The sender was the Righteous Alliance. Written by Alliance Leader Cheol Ji-ryang himself.
"Ha, for Elder Mupung-gae to be so reckless. This is troubling."
The letter's content was regarding the hosting of the Dragon-Phoenix Conference.
But that was just an excuse. The real intent was to summon Jinmu to the alliance, as they wished to see him.
Despite stating they'd respect Jinmu's will, sending a formal letter meant Elder Mupung-gae's influence was at play.
"A letter from the Alliance Leader himself. I can't very well refuse."
A courtesy visit was one thing, but the issue was that Jinmu had been designated Wudang's Ground Sword.
He now represented Wudang.
He could no longer be treated as an equal to the later-generation talents.
Naturally, he couldn't attend the Dragon-Phoenix Conference.
Equating a master acknowledged by the sect leader, elders, and all of Wudang with them would undermine Wudang's prestige.
Moreover, one duty-bound to guard Wudang as its sword shouldn't belong to any alliance faction.
It wasn't just for greetings; they'd surely try to recruit him, as a disciple or affiliated warrior.
But he had to refuse, yet lacked a proper excuse.
"Ha, what to do?"
As Myeonghyeon pondered, unable to look away from the letter...
"Sect Leader, Five Dragons Palace Lord Myeongjin requests an audience."
To seek permission for Jinmu's journey.