Chapter 61: Heavenly Strength Big Dipper Formation (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 61: Heavenly Strength Big Dipper Formation (3)
“A Martial Challenge Letter?”
Cheon Wi-seol’s face contorted. Just thinking about that cursed letter made his blood boil all over again.
“It was about fifteen days ago. I went to open the gates in the morning, and there it was, wedged in the crack of the main door.”
“So, you weren't able to confirm who delivered it?”
“That’s right.”
“Hmm…”
As Cheon Wi-hyeon fell into a brief silence, Cheon Wi-seol raised his voice.
“Are you suggesting someone else sent it? Isn't that a bit of a stretch? Who would dare deceive a prestigious Orthodox sect and sow discord like this? Maybe they’d try it with us, but against the Qingcheng Sect?”
Cheon Wi-hyeon continued calmly.
“I am of the same mind. However… there are a few things that strike me as odd.”
“Odd? Like what?”
The eyes of both Cheon Wi-seol and Cheon Wi-jin turned toward Cheon Wi-hyeon once more. He spoke slowly, weighing every word.
“First, the man who came to see us is far too reasonable. Second, the points he raised weren't mere provocations; they were genuine issues. And finally, what bothers me most is that despite having no intention to fight, he readily accepted our proposal.”
“No intention to fight? What do you mean by that?”
Cheon Wi-jin blurted out the question. He could follow the earlier points, but he couldn't grasp the meaning behind that last statement.
“Do you still not realize?”
“Pardon?”
“You call yourself a martial artist, yet you know so little about the ways of the Qingcheng Sect?”
“……”
Cheon Wi-jin still looked bewildered. Cheon Wi-hyeon met his younger brother’s gaze and explained.
“Did he ever draw his sword? He didn't even place a hand on the hilt. No Sword No Person. If there is no sword, there is no person. For a disciple of the Qingcheng Sect, who lives by those words, not drawing their blade is a clear sign that they harbor no ill will.”
“...!”
“In other words, he had no intention of fighting from the very beginning. On the other hand, we treated him with blatant killing intent. In the end, he came for a friendly spar but ended up facing our lethal techniques.”
It was only a possibility, but it was a highly persuasive one. The two brothers only then realized that Seok Myeong had never once reached for his weapon.
“You could argue that he acted that way because he lacks martial skill and his arrogance pierces the heavens. But I see it differently. His conduct was exactly what one would expect from a disciple of a prestigious sect. He accepted all our terms and endured the duel in the arena—where everyone was watching—until he collapsed. Unless he’s a complete fool, he must have felt the killing intent radiating from the entire formation.”
“That’s…”
“And I believe he realized something was wrong with the Martial Challenge Letter based on our attitude. That is likely why he acted to clear the misunderstanding, even if the situation was unreasonable.”
After Cheon Wi-hyeon finished sharing his thoughts, a long silence hung over the room. Their lack of rebuttal was proof that they were tacitly acknowledging his words.
The way the Taoist had spoken so gently despite their killing intent, and how he had endured the sword formation without ever drawing his own blade—it all pointed to one conclusion. Though he had collapsed because he couldn't withstand the powerful inner qi, he hadn't even looked like he was trying to fight back.
After a moment, Cheon Wi-seol finally spoke.
“Regardless, he is a man who came for a duel.”
“……”
“We will hold the match tomorrow morning. Then we shall see—whether he truly showed us consideration, or if he was merely bluffing to hide his lack of skill.”
Cheon Wi-jin nodded. He still leaned toward the latter theory; all he had to do was reveal the truth during the duel. Either way, he was certain that he would be the victor.
What is your story, Taoist…
Cheon Wi-hyeon hoped inwardly. He hoped that, as he suspected, the Martial Challenge Letter was a fabrication, and that the man who had come to them truly possessed the upright spirit of Qingcheng.
*
That night.
Seok Myeong lay on the stairs, staring up at the sky in reflection.
“That was truly a great experience.”
At the final moment, when the External Qi entered his body and began to manifest an unknown power, he had witnessed their true qi evaporating the moment it touched him, even if only for a brief second. The possibility of using External Styles like internal energy, even while under the Golden Restraint, had finally opened up.
Thanks to that, he had suffered almost none of the internal injuries he had feared. However, it was still regrettable that he could only maintain that state for a few breaths.
Come to think of it, this might not even be External Gate Qigong anymore. Seeing as I can control External Qi like internal energy… How exactly were External Qi and internal energy distinguished in the first place?
Various thoughts crossed his mind, but without any reference materials and relying solely on his memory, he couldn't find a proper answer. The world of External Styles was something that felt within reach, yet remained entirely mysterious.
“Life is truly profound. Would I have ever pondered such things if I hadn't been placed under this restraint?”
Enlightenment can be found in many places. Such realizations made the direction of his life feel even more precious. Seok Myeong looked back up at the sky with a satisfied smile. At the very least, he had firmly grasped a clue to a great mystery. Now, all he had to do was follow it with persistence.
*
The next day, Hyeok-jin came looking for Seok Myeong. Word had arrived that the duel would take place in the same arena where he had faced the sword formation yesterday.
The place where he found Seok Myeong was entirely unexpected. He was standing inside a large shrine on one side of the estate, next to an altar. His eyes were fixed on a phrase written beside a spirit tablet.
“H-here you are?”
“Lower your voice.”
Seok Myeong spoke while placing a finger to his lips. Perhaps because he was a Taoist striving for immortality, he placed great importance on showing respect before an altar. In contrast, Hyeok-jin was ignorant of such matters.
“Ah, yes.”
Hyeok-jin suppressed his urgency and paused. Stepping back, he turned his gaze to where Seok Myeong had been staring for so long.
以守爲勝 (Yi Shou Wei Sheng)
To defend is to win.
“I can feel a profound meaning in this.”
Seok Myeong had been looking around, curious about the nature of the Cheon family. The moment he saw this phrase next to the spirit tablet, he had found himself unable to move. It felt as if something had struck him deep in his chest.
Winning might be a simple concept, but defending is far from it. The depth of that meaning varies for every individual.
The Heavenly Strength Big Dipper Formation…
Upon seeing that inscription, Seok Myeong understood their martial arts. The sword formation he had experienced was terrifyingly strong, but that couldn't be all there was to it. Its true power would manifest not when trying to harm an opponent, but when trying to protect family and kin from an enemy. The teachings of the Cheon family contained that very spirit.
“So, what is it?” Seok Myeong asked as he walked out of the shrine.
Only then did Hyeok-jin snap out of his daze and speak urgently. “Haven't you heard?”
“Heard what?”
“The news about the duel.”
Seok Myeong nodded. “What time is it?”
“Everyone is already gathered!” Hyeok-jin spoke with a frustrated expression, but Seok Myeong remained as relaxed as ever.
“Then let us go.”
*
“Make way!”
At a man’s shout, the crowd gathered at the arena split to both sides. Today was the day of an important battle. The duel between the Taoist of Qingcheng and Cheon Wi-jin was about to begin.
Two young men stood in the vast arena. On one side was Seok Myeong, and on the other was Cheon Wi-jin.
“I am Seok Myeong.” Seok Myeong offered his greetings with a bright face.
“I am Cheon Wi-jin.”
Cheon Wi-jin returned the gesture, but his expression told a different story. Though he was slightly calmer than on the first day, he still couldn't hide his dissatisfaction.
“I heard you turned away the physician I sent,” Cheon Wi-jin spoke first.
“I did.”
“I thought that meant you were planning to run away, but I suppose I was wrong.” Having thrown a light provocation, he narrowed his eyes and watched Seok Myeong’s reaction.
Seok Myeong replied with a faint smile. “I came here to win.”
“...?”
“Why would I run away when my opponent is right here for me to defeat?”
Grit.
Cheon Wi-jin’s eyes changed. At that moment, he became certain: his brother’s intuition was wrong. He realized that only a fellow like this could have sent such a Martial Challenge Letter.
“...You’d better stay sharp. Even if this is a duel between Orthodox sects, I won't be holding back.”
“I always keep that in mind. The sword has no eyes.”
Their brief exchange ended. Cheon Wi-jin had already taken his qi-gathering stance. His mind was filled with the single thought of winning this duel perfectly.
One of the Seven Well Heroes, was it? His momentum is quite something.
Being close to him felt somewhat uncomfortable. Seok Myeong felt as though the man was hiding an incredible level of skill. However, Seok Myeong was neither afraid nor intimidated. In fact, he felt like he could win more easily than expected. A feeling that he wouldn't lose—that sensation was incredibly strong.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
As the drum signaled the start, Cheon Wi-jin moved first to seize the initiative. He thrust his sword horizontally in a threatening feint before launching a rapid assault.
Clang—!
Seok Myeong parried the sword that came lunging at him with extreme speed. In that instant—
“Ugh!”
He let out a sharp breath. He had parried a sword infused with powerful cultivation without activating his External Qi. He had momentarily forgotten that his opponent was using internal strength.
“Ha!” Cheon Wi-jin snorted and lunged forward with his left foot, thrusting his blade.
Even though the Taoist had shown pathetic martial prowess yesterday, Wi-jin had wondered if there was a hidden trump card. Seeing him pushed back so easily now made him feel almost empty.
However, the second attack was blocked with surprising ease. Seok Myeong had focused to rouse his External Qi and pushed the sword away.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
Four successive metallic rings followed. As their swords continued to clash, beads of sweat formed on Seok Myeong’s forehead. While it had become easier to move his External Styles than before, it caused his focus to scatter, preventing him from executing his sword techniques with precision.
Due to the nature of External Styles, he had to pull the flow from his body, but having to focus on drawing that energy every time he swung his sword caused his posture to break. Ultimately, he failed to balance his strength and was forced to stagger back.
To the onlookers, it looked as though he was being completely overwhelmed.
“Good grief.” Watching from the sidelines, Cheon Wi-seol shook his head. His expression showed he couldn't understand how the man was being pushed back so much when the fight had barely begun.
But despite his appearance, Seok Myeong’s sword was becoming faster and stronger. Perhaps fueled by the passion to take down a pillar of the Nine Great Sects, his sword became even more domineering.
It was while Seok Myeong was parrying the sword amidst his staggering that his eyes suddenly flashed. He had captured the exact moment the opponent’s sword flew toward his thigh.
Swish.
In that moment, Seok Myeong spun his body in the opposite direction of the incoming thrust. Cheon Wi-jin’s sword, aimed at his right thigh, sliced through empty air. Without missing that split second, Seok Myeong’s sword struck the back of Cheon Wi-jin’s hand.
Clatter!
“...!”
As if witnessing a disaster that leaves one speechless, a sudden silence fell over the arena. Some were bewildered, even after seeing what had happened with their own eyes. But the object thrown onto the ground—a single sword—explained the situation more clearly than anything else.