Chapter 43: Iron Ridge Fire Bright Sword (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 43: Iron Ridge Fire Bright Sword (1)
The Hidden Form Heaven Evasion Formation.
It was a formation that created a domain entirely severed from the natural flow of the heavens.
In a spacious clearing that looked no different from any other, the formation had been erected to prevent even a trace of internal energy from leaking out. This made it both an extraordinary and a dangerous space. Because it was not bound by the constraints of physical geography, the formation could be deployed anywhere.
Cheol Gun sat cross-legged in the center of the Hidden Form Heaven Evasion Formation.
The Iron Ridge Fire Bright Sword rested across his knees. His lips moved incessantly, chanting a mantra under his breath.
In the past, there lived a heterodox master named Gyeok Du-mun.
While he was not one of the Ten Great Masters who ruled the world, he was certainly ranked among the top ten of the Unorthodox Faction. He had been virtually peerless until he suffered a defeat at the hands of an Orthodox master. Curiously, he hadn't lost due to a lack of skill, but because his sword had shattered during the duel.
Following that event, he retired from the Jianghu and dedicated himself to forging a blade so sturdy that no amount of internal energy could break it.
Twenty years passed.
He eventually succeeded in creating a sword capable of withstanding any level of power, earning the admiration of all. Yet, his thirst remained unquenched. He desired to stand among the Ten Great Masters of the world, but his vitality had waned, and his strength was fading.
Thus, he began to imbue the sword with his own essence. He threw everything he was into the blade to create a masterpiece beyond compare.
That essence was the "Iron Ridge" energy.
It was the spirit of Gyeok Du-mun dwelling within the steel.
Upon reaching a certain level of mastery, the energy emanating from the wielder’s body would manifest as a distinct, physical entity through the sword. For instance, if one knew how to use Sword Aura, a secondary energy resembling the aura would reveal itself at the tip of the blade.
Of course, this was not a feat anyone could achieve.
There were two strict requirements: one had to be proficient enough in martial arts to wield Sword Aura at will, and one had to possess the internal energy necessary to maintain absolute control over that power.
Zzzzzzt.
The Iron Ridge Fire Bright Sword began to hum.
Then, even though Cheol Gun had not yet reached for it, the sword moved on its own as if it were a living thing.
Snap.
Cheol Gun gripped the hilt.
In that instant, Sword Aura flickered around the blade like a swarm of fireflies. At the edges of these sparks, threads of energy flowed down like woven silk—a power clearly distinct from ordinary Sword Aura.
Whoosh.
Cheol Gun swung the sword once.
A foot-long blade of Sword Aura manifested and flew forward. Simultaneously, the energies tangled within the aura scattered in all directions, enveloping the surroundings.
Whirrrrr.
There was no sound of the Sword Aura striking anything.
This was because they were inside the Hidden Form Heaven Evasion Formation, where everything was reduced to an illusion.
Cheol Gun stood up.
The flickering energies around him were growing more numerous by the second.
“I will show you what happens when you make me angry.”
With his shout, the aura surrounding him surged even higher.
*
The moment the Hidden Fire Hall was opened, the Golden Martial Association began to buzz with excitement.
“Who on earth has arrived?”
“I haven't heard any news about a guest.”
The men of the Golden Martial Association were filled with questions as they loitered near the entrance.
“Does no one know what is going on here?!”
A tall old man with a long white beard emerged from the crowd and shouted.
He was Wol Pung, known as the Gale Crazy Demon Sword. As the General Commander of the Ten-Unit Group of the Golden Martial Association, he was a man who exerted direct influence whenever a conflict of interest arose.
“We do not know, sir,” a man beside him replied, shaking his head.
No reports had been issued.
“The Hidden Fire Hall only opens once or twice a year. Has some smelly monk from the Shaolin Sect arrived?”
“If that were the case, the Snow Pavilion would have given us advance notice.”
“I suppose so.”
The old man shook his head. He couldn't understand why a building that shouldn't be open at this time of year was suddenly welcoming guests.
“Well, look who it is. If it isn't the elder who oversees the Ten-Unit Group?”
“Is that you, Dok-sukgong?”
While lost in thought, Wol Pung turned to find an old man smiling at him from behind. Though similar in stature, this man was gaunt, his bones practically sticking out.
He was Dok Misu, the Double-Headed Snake. As the leader of those who practiced poison arts, he held a vital position within the Golden Martial Association. He was commonly referred to as Dok-sukgong.
“It is good to see you.”
“I trust you’ve been well?”
“As long as I’m not dead, I’m well enough.”
“Heh heh. Seeing as you still have some spirit in you, you seem quite lively.”
“Even if I lack strength, I could still drag three or four of those nuns from Mount Emei to the underworld with me.”
“By your words alone, you’ve already unified the world.”
“Kehehe.”
Dok Misu chuckled softly. “But tell me, Dok-sukgong, do you know why those doors are open?”
“I went to the Snow Pavilion specifically to find out.”
“And what did they say?”
“They said they haven't been told anything either.”
“Does that mean no famous masters of the Jianghu have been invited?”
“That’s what they claim.”
“Hmm.” Wol Pung scratched his head. No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn't find an answer.
“So this is where you were.”
A man dressed in black appeared. In the Golden Martial Association, anyone wearing a mask and black robes was a close subordinate serving the Association Leader.
“Are you not the one who attends to the Association Leader?”
“I am.”
“What is the matter?”
“I have been instructed to escort all the elders to the Hidden Fire Hall.”
“Has someone important arrived?” Dok Misu asked.
“No.”
“Then why?”
“I do not know the details, so it is difficult for me to say.”
Everyone tilted their heads in confusion at his words.
“Since those were the orders, I must ask you to come with me. The others are already there.”
“The others?”
“Yes.”
At that, Dok Misu spoke up. “Let us go for now. We need to find out what this is about.”
Wol Pung nodded. Regardless of the reason, the Hidden Fire Hall was open, and they had to attend. Traditionally, attendance was mandatory whenever the hall's doors were opened. Though it was strange that they hadn't been forced to attend earlier today, the obligation remained.
*
In the center of the Hidden Fire Hall stood a massive, towering pavilion.
It offered a perfect vantage point of the grounds below, but its dizzying height and lack of railings made it a place few dared to approach. At the center of this pavilion, an old man and a middle-aged man were looking down at the scene below.
“Everyone is wondering what is happening,” Cheol Jung said to Cheol Mu-jin.
The members were questioning why only the internal leadership had been summoned under these circumstances.
“And why is that?”
“Would it not have been better to give them some notice?”
“If I had given them notice, there would have been an uproar. The opponent is an Orthodox martial artist—and from the Qingcheng Sect, no less.”
“That may be true, but...”
“Discarding empty formalities and focusing on the fight is what matters. This duel was created for that very purpose.”
Cheol Jung’s mouth twitched with the urge to argue, but he remained silent.
“So, is Cheol Gun ready?”
“He has been there since this morning. He wouldn't even answer when I spoke to him.”
“Heh, I expect as much. His pride must be deeply wounded.”
“I believe this is good for Cheol Gun’s future. He is a child with such extraordinary talent that he rarely finds interest in anything.”
“You saw it too, then. If he can take just one more step forward through this duel, our Golden Martial Association will soon hold the Central Plains in its grasp.”
At Cheol Mu-jin’s words, Cheol Jung looked down with a profound gaze. He was one of those who desperately hoped for exactly what his father had just described.
“By the way, what has that Qingcheng Taoist been doing?” Cheol Mu-jin changed the subject.
“I am told he hasn't left his room.”
“Is he training?”
“It would seem so.”
“Hmm.” Cheol Mu-jin paused for a moment before continuing. “In any case, it will be an entertaining fight for everyone. We need only enjoy it.”
Cheol Jung’s expression soured at his father’s repeated remarks. He was displeased by the constant praise directed at Seok Myeong.
“Father, why are you so obsessed with that Qingcheng Taoist? In the end, is he not just a mere priest?”
“Do you wish to know?”
“Yes, I am truly curious.”
“Then watch for yourself. See what kind of martial arts he uses, and see the direction we must take.”
“...”
“If my intuition is correct, that boy will become a leading figure representing the Orthodox Faction in the future.”
Cheol Jung was struck with shock. He knew Cheol Mu-jin was fond of the boy, but this felt excessive. The more Cheol Mu-jin praised him, the more Cheol Jung’s resolve hardened. An inexplicable hostility was blooming in his chest.
At the same time, the thought that he needed to eliminate Seok Myeong began to take root.
*
“Brother Seok Myeong, do your best!”
As Seok Myeong walked toward the martial arts training ground, Hyeok-jin waved his hand. He had followed Seok Myeong on his martial journey, only to end up witnessing a duel with Cheol Gun, the top rising star of the Unorthodox Faction.
Fate had led them to a strange place.
However, he didn't lose his smile, especially since Seok Myeong was smiling brightly back at him.
“Don't worry.”
Seok Myeong waved his hand and turned around. That was when he saw a familiar face.
It was Cheol So-yeon.
“I didn't come here because I wanted to see you,” she said, looking somewhat haggard, as if she hadn't slept well.
“I just... I can't understand it.” She locked eyes with Seok Myeong. “Why did you give such a reckless answer?”
“About what?”
“About accepting the proposal.”
“Ah, that.” Seok Myeong spoke dismissively, as if he had just remembered. But unlike him, she was deadly serious.
“Listen. You are making a huge mistake. My brother’s martial arts aren't limited to what you saw back then. Did you honestly think you could win just because of how he performed then?”
Seok Myeong listened thoughtfully and then nodded. “Well, perhaps.”
This only made her angrier. “That’s why I call you stupid. You came here just to chase fame, yet you’re willing to throw your life away.”
Seok Myeong said nothing. He simply listened in silence.
“Why aren't you answering?”
“...”
“Are you ignoring me?”
At her repeated questioning, Seok Myeong finally shook his head. “No.”
“Then what is it? Why do you just listen without saying anything?”
“Because I think everything you said is probably right.”
“What?!”
To her, Seok Myeong was an incomprehensible being. He would show an uncompromising side if someone even slightly insulted his sect, yet here he was, appearing spineless enough to surrender easily.
Moreover, he was foolishly generous to everyone. Even when someone scolded him, he never seemed agitated or angry.
“Anyway, the more I see you, the less I understand. How do you live in this world with that kind of mindset? First of all, the brother you’ve challenged is a terrifying man...”
“Don't worry.”
“...”
“I won't lose.”
Seok Myeong continued, addressing Cheol So-yeon, who clearly didn't understand him. “You see, for a long time now, I haven't fought a single battle I was going to lose. Do you know why?”
“How should I know?”
“Because I knew whether I would win or not before the fight even started.”
“...”
“If you watch, you’ll understand what I mean.”
With those final words, Seok Myeong walked out onto the training ground.
Cheol So-yeon stood there with a dazed expression, staring at his retreating back, before suddenly screaming, “I never said I was worried about you!”
*
“At this point, it’s certain that he is inside the Golden Martial Association.”
The man with the goatee scratched his head, acting cautiously. This was because an exceptionally beautiful woman was sitting before him.
“And?”
“And... there is no way to get inside. As you know, the Golden Martial Association is the premier Unorthodox power in the Sichuan region.”
Slam!
As she toyed with her sword, the tools displayed on one side were smashed to pieces. Despite her delicate face, the woman’s hands were fierce. The watching beggars of the Beggar Sect trembled in fear.
“Look, you people are responsible for this.”
“Young lady, how can you hold us responsible?”
“You’re the ones who gave me the wrong information in the first place! If you hadn't told me he was in the Sichuan mountains, I wouldn't have wasted all that time wandering around. If I hadn't, I wouldn't have missed my senior brother entering the Golden Martial Association!”
The woman was Yeon-hui.
She had been staying at Mount Qingcheng until she found an opportunity to sneak away and search for Seok Myeong. Her stated goal was a journey through the Jianghu, but her real purpose was to find him.
Upon entering the martial world, she had tracked down a Branch Leader of the Beggar Sect and had been gathering information from him to find Seok Myeong.
“That is unfair. The timing between you and that gentleman simply didn't align. He left the mountains while you were heading there, and then other things happened. It was truly a coincidence.”
“A coincidence that birthed another coincidence? Is that what you’re saying?”
“Pardon? Well, something like that...”
“This is a serious problem. I suppose that’s how it goes when you gather information on wars or other matters. You miss everything because 'coincidence birthed another coincidence.'”
“Sigh.”
“I suppose I’ll have to find the Young Beggar. I’ll have to ask him. I came here because I heard the Beggar Sect owed a debt to Qingcheng, but these branch beggars were uncooperative and kept talking about coincidences birthing coincidences...”
“Oh, heavens, young lady!”
The goatee-wearing man prostrated himself once more. “Please, have mercy on me. I’ve been stuck on the promotion exam for over ten years. If I fail again this year, I won't even become a Guardian, let alone a Hall Master.”
“That is none of my concern.”
“Young lady, please, once more...”
“Don't push him too hard. He says it was just bad luck.”
It was then.
Someone opened the door and spoke to Yeon-hui. Her nerves on edge, Yeon-hui immediately spun around.
To her surprise, an unexpected person stood there.
“Martial Uncle?”
“It is good to see you here.”
“Ah...”
Yeon-hui’s face flushed as she turned away. This was bad. She had left the mountain without her master’s permission.
“It is alright. I didn't come here to hold you accountable. It seems you came down for a specific reason.”
“Ah, well, that is...”
Yeon-hui tried to explain why she had come. But Song Hak spoke as if he already understood.
“You’re looking for Seok Myeong, aren't you?”
“Yes.”
She lowered her head and nodded, her voice barely a whisper.
“Actually, I am looking for the boy as well.”
“You too, Martial Uncle?”
“Yes. There have been some rather unpleasant rumors circulating in this area.”
Yeon-hui nodded. She had also heard various rumors about him recently. They ranged from him being an outstanding warrior to flowery descriptions of him as a local hero. There was even a ridiculous rumor that Seok Myeong was the 'Heaven of the Unorthodox Faction,' which made no sense to her.
“Let me ask you one thing.”
At Song Hak’s words, the man with the goatee sensed the old man’s status and quickly bowed.
“Yes, please speak.”
“Is the boy named Seok Myeong truly inside the Golden Martial Association?”
“Yes, that is what we have confirmed. Just yesterday, one of our One-Knot Disciples verified it with his own eyes.”
As they continued their conversation, a beggar carrying something came rushing into the room.
“Branch Leader!”
“We have guests from the Qingcheng Sect here! What is the meaning of this reckless behavior?” the goatee-wearing man shouted, trying to be extra cautious after the previous incident.
But the reporting beggar had no intention of stopping.
“Something big has happened!”
“What is it?”
“A duel! A duel has broken out!”
“Ha, you... honestly. Duels and killings happen every day in the Jianghu. Why are you making such a fuss?”
“It’s not just any duel! It’s a duel between major powers! It’s the Qingcheng Sect and the Golden Martial Association!”
“...!”
All eyes snapped toward the beggar. Both Song Hak and Yeon-hui stared at him.
“Where is it?”
“It’s at a place called Hidden Fire Hall, inside the Golden Martial Association!”