Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: The Flower Blooming in Wudang
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Han Ibi poured every ounce of strength he had from suckling at his mother's breast into unleashing the palm strikes along the path of the imaginary form.
A precise and clean movement.
One of the elders forgot the situation entirely and let out an involuntary exclamation.
"A splendid yet elegant Stars Draped, Moon Crowned! Excellent..."
Yun Seo-o and Ji Seung-rip shot him glares that could kill. The elder made an awkward face and muttered,
"...G-Good... such fine martial arts, and you can only perform it like this..."
Han Ibi infused his soul into every single stance, one by one. The vast assembly hall was filled only with the sound of sleeves fluttering in rhythm with the palm movements.
Starving Tiger's Might.
The domineering aura of a hungry tiger emerging at dawn—it demanded blood this day.
Fierce Tiger Crouching in Grass.
A savage tiger lurking in the underbrush, biding its time.
A tiger encountering prey never charges recklessly.
Riding the Tiger's Back.
Once you've mounted the tiger, there's no stopping midway. When launching an attack, show no mercy.
No turning back...
The stances, composed of metaphorical terms from ancient tales, matched their motions perfectly, beyond words.
And Han Ibi's desperate, heartfelt devotion in every single strike.
It transcended mere admiration, venturing into the realm of true感動.
Of course, the foundation wasn't admiration or resolve for the Qingcheng Sect, but the simplistic desires of 'I have to get home' and 'I can't die'...
At last, the twelve stances of the Fierce Tiger Palm Technique came to an end.
Han Ibi stood in the center of the hall, steadying his ragged breaths.
The interior was filled with a silence thick with tension.
Someone shattered it.
"Splendid."
It was Jeong Suk-ryong, the Qingcheng Sect Taoist overseeing their martial arts.
These men were warriors first, before they were disciplinary committee members.
His words opened the floodgates, and they all forgot the gravity of the occasion, blurting out their impressions one after another.
Then Bok Yeong-jeon grinned and spoke.
"Did you truly learn it on your own?"
Han Ibi's eyes widened as he replied,
"Y-Yes... yes, Sect Leader."
Bok Yeong-jeon bellowed,
"You wretch! With such talent, all you did was steal?!"
Gasp. Th-That's not it...
"You should have waited! Your impatience ruined everything. Elder U spent nearly a year trying to formally induct you—convincing me, convincing your senior brothers. But you couldn't wait and botched it yourself."
Ah... so that's how it went down.
Damn it, then why didn't you signal the old man sooner? Why drag it out?
Shit. In that case...
Han Ibi dropped to his knees and said,
"I apologize. My greed led me astray from the proper path. I have no excuses, even a hundred mouths. I only await your judgment."
It sounded like begging forgiveness, but he'd cleverly downgraded it from 'botching the matter' to merely 'skipping procedure.'
A simple trick, but fortunately, no one seemed to catch it.
Bok Yeong-jeon snorted derisively and turned to Jeong Suk-ryong.
"What say you, Elder Jeong?"
Jeong Suk-ryong replied calmly,
"Judging right and wrong is not my domain. But based solely on the martial feat demonstrated here... and self-taught, no less... it transcends ordinary genius—true martial prodigy material."
The Qingcheng Sect was in decline. Initiates dwindled by the day.
The legendary exploits of old were just that—legends.
They desperately needed talent they could use right here, right now.
Bok Yeong-jeon declared loudly,
"Song Myeong-cheon!"
Han Ibi answered in surprise,
"Yes, Sect Leader."
"In recognition of your resolve, talent, and Elder U's devotion in bringing you here, I shall formally induct you as a disciple."
Yes! Score!
Murmurs rippled through the crowded hall. Words like 'Impossible' seemed to bubble up in their throats.
"However..."
Bok Yeong-jeon continued.
Hmm... here comes the catch. Not good.
"...you dared violate our core precepts before even initiation. The Qingcheng Sect has always upheld justice as our supreme honor. Your crime is a betrayal of the 'justice' our ancestors forged—a grave sin we cannot overlook. Failing to uphold justice is unrighteous, and stealing others' martial arts is utterly unrighteous. Thus, upon initiation, you are sentenced to one year of secluded meditation."
Eek. S-Secluded meditation?!
That was when it happened.
[Sudden Quest: Splendidly Performed Qingcheng Sect's Fierce Tiger Palm Technique]
At the same moment, he felt his connection to Song Myeong-cheon's body sever.
The scenes began flashing by once more.
Song Myeong-cheon safely completes his year of secluded meditation.
Thanks to Jeong Suk-ryong's consideration for his wasted talent, he learns basic heart method essentials beforehand...
This yields an effect akin to closed-door training, skyrocketing his internal energy after one year.
A mere servant no longer. Once formally ranked among disciples, his peers rebelled fiercely.
But though starting late, Song Myeong-cheon's pace far outstripped theirs.
The jianghu speaks through martial prowess. As his talent and excellence bared their teeth, even his fellow disciples accepted him.
The jianghu judges by strength alone—a lesson reaffirmed.
Five years later, Song Myeong-cheon rises to lead the Qingcheng Sect's younger generation. All from bone-grinding hardship.
The scenes flashed faster.
The Sect Leader and key Qingcheng figures lined up at the sect's main gate.
They looked a bit casual, but it seemed they were receiving guests.
Song Myeong-cheon was there too. And soon, Han Ibi reconnected to his body.
'Agh, this endless system...'
Then the man beside him bared yellowed teeth in a grin. Gu Gab-hwi, Song Myeong-cheon's close senior brother and friend.
"It's been ten years."
Han Ibi, clueless, tilted his head.
"What's been ten years?"
"What else? Yeon-hwa."
"Yeon-hwa?"
"You idiot. What are we doing right now?"
"Right now? Uh... welcoming guests...?"
"Exactly. Yeon-hwa. Yeon-hwa. The Sect Leader's only daughter, that wild tomboy. First time home in nearly ten years since being sent to Wudang for training."
"Oh? I wouldn't know. I joined late, remember."
Gu Gab-hwi smacked his forehead.
"Right, right. I keep forgetting. You're not like us. Heh heh. So you've never seen Yeon-hwa. That girl was such a fighter, a total spitfire—adults teased her as a heroine. Made plenty of junior disciples cry. Wonder how she's changed after ten years..."
Then a disciple shouted,
"Here they come!"
All eyes turned that way.
Thick dust clouds rose, and amid the hush, hoofbeats echoed.
Han Ibi glanced at Bok Yeong-jeon. A father's smile bloomed on his face—an unprecedented sight.
Gu Gab-hwi noted,
"Huh? Two extras."
Indeed, three horses total.
Senior Brother Won Geon-suk's voice rang out.
"You didn't know? Idiots. Clueless about the world... tsk tsk. Wudang's top young talent, the dragon among dragons 'Tak Bu-yong,' and his master Elder Yeon Tae-nam are visiting together. Spouting off like that here."
Ah! Tak Bu-yong finally appears. In his youthful prime...
Han Ibi's heart raced inexplicably.
Gu Gab-hwi scratched his head.
"No one told me..."
By then, the three horses reached the Qingcheng group. The lead middle-aged man reined in.
"Whoa. Whoa."
The horse neighed, reared briefly, then halted. Clearly, this was Tak Bu-yong's master, Yeon Tae-nam.
He exuded more scholar than Taoist.
His long chin beard bespoke unyielding character.
He dismounted with bold yet unflashy lightness skill, offering a fist salute.
To Qingcheng's Sect Leader Bok Yeong-jeon, of course.
"Yeon Tae-nam greets the Sect Leader after far too long."
Bok Yeong-jeon laughed heartily.
"Hahaha. Come in, come in. It's been ages. How fares your Sect Leader?"
"Well, thank you. He sends his regards—and asks when you'll visit."
Bok Yeong-jeon chuckled again.
"Qingcheng must thrive before I can visit leisurely. How can I rest easy otherwise..."
That was when it happened.
The woman dismounting from the following horse.
"Father."
A collective gasp—every Qingcheng disciple held their breath.
A beauty rivaling courtesans from the finest brothels smiled brightly their way.
Gu Gab-hwi whispered to Han Ibi,
"What the...? That's gotta be Yeon-hwa... What happened? How'd she turn into a fairy?"
Han Ibi was equally stunned.
How could any woman look like she'd leaped from a classical beauty scroll?
"Wasn't she always like that?"
"No idea. She was a kid back then. She's stunning now. 'Pretty' doesn't cut it."
Indeed, disciples gawked wide-eyed.
She finally spoke.
"I'm home, Father."
Her voice rang clear and melodious.
Bok Yeong-jeon beamed.
"Yes. If Wudang's so great, why not visit even once?"
"Tch. You pushed me out saying if I didn't learn properly, don't set foot on Qingcheng Mountain. To a crying kid..."
"Hahaha. Did I?"
A clear male voice followed.
"Tak Bu-yong of Wudang greets the Sect Leader."
Another collective 'wow.'
If she sprang from a beauty portrait, he looked birthed from a heroic painting.
'He looks like a wuxia game protagonist!'
Han Ibi thought to himself.
He really did.
Straight, thick brows like caterpillars. Sharp, handsome features.
Yet refined and balanced.
Born modern, he'd be a shoo-in for weekend drama leads.
'Tak Bu-yong's this handsome?!'
Bok Yeong-jeon said,
"Hm. So you're Wudang's pride, Tak Bu-yong."
Tak Bu-yong shook his head modestly, flustered.
"No, no. Mere jianghu rumors."
"Hahaha. Where there's smoke, there's fire."
"Not at all. Distorted tales—please overlook it, Sect Leader."
"Hahaha. A famed young hero, yet so humble. Your Sect Leader must've accrued much karma in past lives."
"Oh, Sect Leader, too kind."
"Enough for now... Come in, everyone. I've specially prepared fine food and wine today."
(To be continued)