Chapter 31
Translator: uly
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: The Black-Haired Writer - 5
Zisao Hall of the Mount Hua Sect.
The third-generation disciple Cheong-un of Mount Hua was kneeling before the sect's respected elders.
Before him lay a secret manual with nothing written on its cover.
"Tell us what happened," said the Sect Leader, seated in the center, addressing Cheong-un.
"While I was practicing my lightness skill on a cliff..."
"Speak plainly."
What kind of lunatic practices lightness skill on a cliff? The Sect Leader cut off Cheong-un's clumsy excuse.
"I apologize. The truth is, I was too preoccupied with the contents of 'Record of the Gallant Wind and Cloud,' so I spent the past half-month exploring the cliffs of the Mount Hua Sect."
Cheong-un spoke with his head bowed.
"You explored based on the belief that the novel's contents were true?"
"I was half-convinced, half-doubtful. However, there were too many suspicious points to simply dismiss it as fictional content, so I made that decision and began my exploration."
"Hmm."
The Sect Leader examined Cheong-un's appearance. Cheong-un's fingers and toes showed signs of the arduous half-month exploration, looking quite battered.
"I pondered the contents of 'Record of the Gallant Wind and Cloud.' Where would I wander if my heart were troubled after a dispute with my master? And if a demonic person suddenly appeared, I reconsidered whether there could be a place within Mount Hua where others wouldn't discover it. I narrowed down several locations like that and discovered it during my half-month exploration."
"You mean the cave containing the remains and secret manual of the 8th-generation Sect Leader."
"Yes. A place you could never find unless you knew a cave was there. A place only visible when you must focus your concentration to survive while falling down a cliff. The secret cave of the 8th-generation Sect Leader was there."
"To think such a place truly existed..."
"Unlike the 'Record of the Gallant Wind and Cloud,' there was no Supreme Purity Pill or letter. However, this secret manual was indeed real."
Cheong-un lifted the secret manual while keeping his head bowed. Although nothing was written on the cover, no one doubted it was the secret manual of the Mount Hua Sect's 8th-generation Sect Leader.
"How could this be?"
"Was it not merely a miscellaneous book?"
"Was the 'Record of the Gallant Wind and Cloud' truly factual?"
Zisao Hall, where the Mount Hua Sect's Sect Leader and elders were gathered, began to stir.
"Quiet! Third-generation disciple Cheong-un, bring the secret manual here."
"Yes. Understood."
Cheong-un carefully picked up the manual and approached the Sect Leader to hand it over. The Sect Leader carefully opened it and began to read its contents.
One page. Two pages. Three pages.
Doubt turned to bewilderment.
Bewilderment turned to astonishment.
The Sect Leader's expression changed with each page he turned.
"This... He truly embodied the mysteries of the Eight Trigrams in his swordplay."
Though he couldn't comprehend the entire manual at once, it was clear the concepts of the Eight Trigrams were fused within the subtleties of the sword art.
"I too was unable to contain my astonishment when I saw it. That was undoubtedly the Eight Trigrams Sword Art mentioned in the 'Record of the Gallant Wind and Cloud'!"
Cheong-un's chest trembled as he spoke to the ground. Overwhelmed with emotion, he could barely breathe properly.
"So Un-hyeon was a real person?"
"Did he take the Supreme Purity Pill, pack the letter, and venture into the martial world?"
Once again, Zisao Hall showed signs of stirring. The Sect Leader raised his hand to calm the hall.
"Everyone, settle down. Looking at this manual, it's correct that the mysteries of the Eight Trigrams are contained within. However, it's not as the 'Record of the Gallant Wind and Cloud' says, with the Eight Trigrams mysteries being the majority. It merely added the mysteries of the Eight Trigrams upon the foundation of Mount Hua's Plum Blossom Sword Art."
"Of course, since it was created by a Mount Hua Sect Leader, Mount Hua's sword art would be infused within."
"Sect Leader, what kind of obvious statement is that?"
The Sect Leader's words to calm the situation were useless. Instead, only sarcastic remarks could be heard, though their source was unclear.
"Ahem. Upon hearing Cheong-un's news, I hastily looked at the records of the 8th-generation Sect Leader. It is written that during his time as Sect Leader, there was discussion about actively intervening in secular interests. Eventually, he grew weary of the situation and stepped down. There are no records after that. He probably devoted himself to training in the cliffside cave on Mount Hua."
"Yes. There were clear traces of training inside the cave."
Cheong-un mentioned what he had seen.
"Good. Then the problem is the book 'Record of the Gallant Wind and Cloud'... Cheong-un, I heard you were the first to bring that book. Have you heard anything about its origin?"
"I heard it was a book written by a Joseon Taoist from Changbai Mountain, containing words for the Mount Hua Sect."
"A Joseon Taoist from Changbai Mountain? What relationship could a foreign Taoist have with the Mount Hua Sect to write such a book?"
Mount Hua and Changbai Mountain are separated by a vast distance. And not even from the Central Plains, but a Joseon person? The Sect Leader couldn't fathom the reason.
"I have one speculation I've held during this time. Would you hear it?"
Cheong-un wanted to present one deduction he held in his heart.
"Alright. Speak."
"We cannot know exactly what kind of person Un-hyeon was. However, it's certain he was one of the Mount Hua Sect's disciples. For some reason, he must have discovered the cave where the 8th-generation Sect Leader—no, the 5th-generation Sect Leader at that time—was laid to rest."
"If he was a Mount Hua person, there would be records. As the novel says, there has never been an invasion of Mount Hua by a demonic person. Nonsense!"
The Sect Leader hadn't neglected to investigate either. However, no record existed of a demonic person invading Mount Hua alone and perishing together with a Mount Hua disciple.
"I think the demonic person's invasion was written by the author after hearing a distorted story. He probably fell off the cliff due to some other accident. A Mount Hua disciple who discovered the cave by chance. After reading the letter inside, he took the miraculous medicine, the Supreme Purity Pill, mastered the Eight Trigrams Sword Art, and set out on a chivalrous journey."
"Hmm. If there was such a chivalrous Mount Hua person, he would certainly be recorded."
"The sword art he used was not the Plum Blossom Sword Art but the Eight Trigrams Sword Art. No one would have thought he was a Mount Hua disciple. And I think he didn't return to Mount Hua in his later years but went elsewhere."
"That place being Joseon's Changbai Mountain?"
"Yes. I think he might have spent his later years there. Perhaps the person who wrote the 'Record of the Gallant Wind and Cloud' is a disciple or grand-disciple of Un-hyeon. He wrote this book to return the Eight Trigrams Sword Art to the Mount Hua Sect."
Suspicion upon suspicion. Assumption upon assumption. From start to finish, it was all unbelievable talk.
A Mount Hua disciple going to Changbai Mountain in his later years? Taking on a Joseon disciple there? Yet, clear evidence made that assumption fact.
No one could refute Cheong-un's deduction.
"Isn't the writer of 'Record of the Gallant Wind and Cloud' written in the book?"
If it was a book deliberately left by a Mount Hua descendant, surely a pen name would remain. With that thought, the Sect Leader asked Cheong-un.
"That is... The quality of the book was too poor. The part where the pen name was written was damaged, and only the character for 'anonymous' could be discerned."
Kang Yun-ho had written 'Record of the Gallant Wind and Cloud' on very poor-quality paper.
That 'Record of the Gallant Wind and Cloud' was sold to a merchant traveling from Chilgok County to Wuchang. In Wuchang, it passed through the hands of numerous shops and merchants. Even while heading to the northwest of Hubei Province, it wasn't transported with care.
The title was written large enough to be recognizable, but the pen name written small in one corner was not.
"Hmm. 'Anonymous'? Doesn't that just mean 'somebody'? A Mount Hua descendant sent it, yet we don't know who wrote it."
"Perhaps that too is part of the arrangement."
Someone who wanted it read by someone from Mount Hua but didn't reveal themselves.
"That's an unknowable matter. It would be good to have people investigate the origin of this book once."
"Yes. I will also try to find out."
It was a book he discovered. Cheong-un wanted to run to the bookstore owner right then.
"Do so. And listen, elders."
"Yes!"
"Today, the sword art secret manual of the 8th-generation Sect Leader discovered by Cheong-un has no name. However, I believe its name is already decided."
The Sect Leader lifted the secret manual high to show.
Though no name was written on the cover, the name of that sword art seemed all too clear.
"The Eight Trigrams Sword Art! I intend to teach this sword art to Cheong-un, who discovered the 'Record of the Gallant Wind and Cloud'—no, the 'Secret Record of Wind and Cloud'—and found the remains of the 8th-generation Sect Leader. Does anyone have a different opinion?"
"..."
There couldn't possibly be a different opinion.
"Good. Also, the 'Secret Record of Wind and Cloud' is a rare book containing the secret history of the Mount Hua Sect. Until matters related to this secret history are resolved, I will order the collection of all copies of the 'Secret Record of Wind and Cloud' and strictly prohibit its transcription. Anyone who removes a copy will face severe punishment."
"Sect Leader, many disciples will want to read the 'Secret Record of Wind and Cloud.'"
One of the elders voiced a different opinion to the Sect Leader's words.
"I'm not forbidding reading it. I mean to manage it strictly to prohibit removal. Authorized disciples will be able to read the 'Secret Record of Wind and Cloud' in the sect's historical archive."
"That degree seems acceptable."
The elders nodded at the Sect Leader's opinion.
"Good. The meeting ends here. Send people to recover the remains of the 8th-generation Sect Leader."
"Understood."
The Mount Hua people in Zisao Hall began to move busily.
The search for the author of the 'Secret Record of Wind and Cloud,' led by second-generation disciples and third-generation disciple Cheong-un, began.
From the bookstore where Cheong-un discovered the 'Secret Record of Wind and Cloud,' to the merchant who sold it to the bookstore, and all the way to Wuchang.
The search for the author of 'Record of the Gallant Wind and Cloud' proceeded longer than expected.
"In the end, we couldn't find it?"
The Mount Hua Sect Leader asked Cheong-un standing before him.
"Yes. We confirmed it came from a Wuchang bookstore, but it passed through too many merchants' hands, making it impossible to trace its origin."
"Hmm. Where on earth did the 'Secret Record of Wind and Cloud' come from?"
The Mount Hua Sect Leader lamented while looking at the sky.
"The bookstores that purchased the 'Secret Record of Wind and Cloud' gave slightly different accounts, but they all commonly said a Taoist from Changbai Mountain sold it."
"If it's a Mount Hua descendant, they could just come to Mount Hua. Why choose such a roundabout method?"
"Mount Hua Sect's 3rd-generation disciple Cheong-un. I have an urgent request for the Sect Leader."
Cheong-un knelt on one knee on the ground and looked at the Sect Leader.
"What is it?"
"Please permit me to go on a chivalrous journey."
"Chivalrous journey? Do you think you're Un-hyeon or something?"
"The Eight Trigrams Sword Art is a sword art created by the 8th-generation Sect Leader to be wielded for the people. I believe the Eight Trigrams Sword Art must be perfected by venturing into the martial world."
"Denied. Chivalrous journeys have been strictly prohibited recently. Personal grudges you create could rebound onto your senior brothers and fellow disciples."
"I will always think when wielding my sword. Is this truly for personal reasons? Or is it an act for virtuous deeds?"
Cheong-un's voice carried a gravity greater than ever before.
The Sect Leader observed Cheong-un intently.
It wasn't that Mount Hua disciples were forbidden from venturing into the martial world.
It wasn't that they were told to endure when seeing injustice in the martial world. If commoners were being harmed by bandits before their eyes, they could wield their sword; if a woman was being victimized by a lecher, they could save her.
Only aiming to become a chivalrous person itself and venturing into the martial world for that purpose was prohibited.
Cheong-un's chivalrous journey should not be permitted. Yet, according to the words of the 'Secret Record of Wind and Cloud,' the Eight Trigrams Sword Art must be perfected through chivalrous deeds in the martial world.
He had never actually seen Un-hyeon, but wouldn't Cheong-un surely act like Un-hyeon? The Sect Leader thought while looking into Cheong-un's clear eyes.
"Alright. I will permit it."
"Thank you!!"
"However, there is a condition."
"What condition do you mean?"
"Make your final destination Changbai Mountain."
"Are you telling me to find the author of the 'Secret Record of Wind and Cloud'?"
The Sect Leader nodded and opened his mouth to answer Cheong-un's question.
"We cannot know if the author of the 'Secret Record of Wind and Cloud' is there. However, traces of Mount Hua could be there. Go and check. I won't officially authorize the chivalrous journey, but venture into the martial world to find the 'Secret Record of Wind and Cloud' and try the chivalrous journey you spoke of."
"Yes. I will prepare and set out on a chivalrous journey to Changbai Mountain."
Cheong-un hastily rose to leave.
"And..."
The Sect Leader stopped Cheong-un.
"Yes?"
"Ahem. If there is a next volume of the 'Secret Record of Wind and Cloud,' bring it."
It was a secret he told no one, but the Sect Leader was also a fan of Un-hyeon.
"I will remember!"
Cheong-un smiled and bowed to the Sect Leader. He would head to Changbai Mountain. Cheong-un left Zisao Hall with light footsteps.
The discoverer of the 'Secret Record of Wind and Cloud.'
The successor of the Eight Trigrams Sword Art.
Mount Hua's Cheong-un.
Cheong-un, who engraved the 'Record of the Gallant Wind and Cloud' in his heart more than anyone.
"Then I'll be off!"
That Cheong-un was leaving Mount Hua to become a chivalrous person of the future.
Going back in time again, the day after 'Record of the Gallant Wind and Cloud' was sold to a merchant heading to Wuchang.
"In the end, it was a colossal failure."
A black-haired man wearing a bamboo hat was lamenting in front of a bookstore in Chilgok County.