Chapter 113: Divine Thief (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 113: Divine Thief (1)
Mount Wudang.
It was a spiritual mountain located south of Jun County in Hubei Province, defined by countless overlapping valleys and a dense forest of sharp, rising peaks. The landscape was a veritable sea of ten thousand valleys and a thousand peaks, yet its overall shape remained rounded and convex.
With clouds clinging to the ends of the sprawling mountain range and thick fog blanketing its mid-slopes, Mount Wudang resembled a colossal incense burner from a distance.
Gazing at the mystical scenery, Namgung Jun lightly brushed the dust from his sleeves.
"I'm glad we arrived relatively quickly."
"We pushed ourselves with our Lightness Skill the entire way. Arriving this quickly was to be expected."
Lee Se-ha glanced back at the First Clouds, whose chests were heaving from the exertion. Rapidly traversing Hubei Province from east to west was no easy feat, even for seasoned martial artists who had mastered the art of Lightness Movement. For the First Clouds, whose martial cultivation was still relatively low, it had been a grueling march.
Lee Se-ha’s eyes deepened as she assessed their condition.
"Come to think of it, Jun, your stamina has improved a great deal. Your mastery of the Lightness Movement Art has also grown steadily."
"I am a Third Cloud now, Master. I'm not the same person I was when I first set foot on the martial path."
Heo Il, who was strolling leisurely beside them, smiled faintly.
"This brings me back to when I accompanied Young Hero Namgung on his first mission. In some ways, it feels like a lifetime ago, but in others, no time has passed at all. Your achievements never cease to amaze me."
"I heard about that, too. It was so surprising to hear there was actually something Namgung Jun wasn't good at."
"Hearing stories about Senior Namgung's days as a First Cloud is fascinating."
As Heo Il began to spin tales of the past, Man Ye-won and Yu Geun-su, who had been eavesdropping, naturally joined the conversation. The other swordsmen chimed in with occasional chuckles, but Gong Jun-am remained silent, leading the way up the mountain path.
Perhaps because they had entered from the south, the slope was quite gentle. Had they approached from the north, they would have been forced to scale steep cliffs.
After admiring the occasional maple and ginkgo trees that dotted the landscape, along with the pines that were most abundant on Mount Wudang, the Heavenly Sword Hall soon reached the mid-slopes.
"I see it," Gong Jun-am said, his first words since they began their ascent.
The members of the Heavenly Sword Hall following behind him fell silent and looked ahead.
The first thing that caught their eye was a small pond where sunlight scattered like gold dust. Beside it stood a giant pine tree that seemed to have weathered hundreds of years of wind and rain. Its trunk was so thick that it dwarfed the main beams of an ordinary pavilion. Its branches, stretching incredibly long and high, cast a massive shadow over the area. Just tilting one's head back to take in the sheer scale of the pine tree was enough to fill one with a sense of grandeur.
"It's the largest pine tree I've seen on Mount Wudang."
"Look over there. There are so many swords hanging from the branches."
As the Heavenly Sword Hall members marveled at the passage of time reflected in the ancient pine, their eyes drifted to the dozens of weapons tied to it. Various types of weaponry were suspended from the branches, secured with colorful cords. There was a spear that seemed to have been hung relatively recently, as well as an ancient sword whose age was impossible to guess.
Namgung Jun also found himself unable to look away. If the pine's extraordinary size was a testament to its survival against the forces of nature, then the weapons were the footprints of the Wudang Sect weathering the storms of the Jianghu.
The Sword Unbinding Pond.
To pass through the mountain gate of the Wudang Sect, one had to unbind their weapons and leave them here, regardless of status, reputation, or martial prowess. Of course, there were rare cases where individuals were granted permission by the Sect Master to enter armed, but such instances were few and far between.
"Welcome, Daoist friends of the Azure Heaven Association."
A middle-aged Daoist emerged from the Sword Unbinding Pavilion, which was situated just behind the pond. Recognizing him, Lee Se-ha stepped forward and bowed politely.
"Daoist Master Hyeonsa."
"Hero Lee. It has been a long time."
"I don't see Daoist Master Hyeon-pung."
When she asked about the absence of Hyeon-pung, the Master of the Sword Unbinding Pavilion and the leader of the Wudang Seven Swords, Hyeonsa shook his head with a bitter expression.
"Senior Brother Hyeon-pung has descended the mountain with the Wudang Seven Swords. Currently, this humble Daoist is the only one guarding the Sword Unbinding Pavilion."
"For the Wudang Seven Swords to leave the pavilion vacant… the war must be more difficult than I thought."
The Wudang Seven Swords were the face of the Wudang Sect, and they always guarded the Sword Unbinding Pavilion. Hearing that all of them had left their post caused several of the Third Clouds with extensive experience in the Jianghu to look quite surprised.
"Perhaps because it is their first major offensive in years, the forces brought by the Sun-Moon Demonic Cult are extraordinary."
Hyeonsa looked over the members of the Heavenly Sword Hall and clasped his hands. "We are severely shorthanded, so we are truly grateful to the Azure Heaven Association for willingly lending us their strength."
"Even without the covenant made at the Mount Song Gathering, it is only natural that we help. Wudang and our association have a long history of mutual aid."
Hyeonsa expressed his gratitude once more by chanting a Daoist mantra, then gestured toward the path beyond the Sword Unbinding Pavilion.
"Please, go on up." He then added, looking at the swords worn by the Heavenly Sword Hall. "There is no need to unbind your swords. It is a time of war, and the Sect Master has sent word to treat our esteemed guests, who have come all this way to help our sect, with the utmost respect."
With Hyeonsa's permission, the Heavenly Sword Hall immediately moved on. Even as he walked, Namgung Jun couldn't take his eyes off the Sword Unbinding Pond.
It's a pity, but given the circumstances, it can't be helped.
He had desperately wanted to exchange blows with the Wudang Seven Swords of the Sword Unbinding Pavilion. If the Shaolin Temple had its Four Great Vajras, the Wudang Sect had the Wudang Seven Swords. They were representative swordsmen of Wudang, second to none in the Jianghu. A competitive fire naturally flared within him, but Namgung Jun suppressed it and followed Lee Se-ha up the narrow mountain path.
* * *
Having passed the mountain gate, the Heavenly Sword Hall arrived directly within the main grounds of the Wudang Sect. After sending the other swordsmen to their assigned quarters, Lee Se-ha and Namgung Jun headed to the Supreme Harmony Palace.
The Supreme Harmony Palace was the residence of the Wudang Sect Master. However, it was not the Sect Master who awaited them. Instead, Daoist Master Hyeonmang, the Head Disciple of the Wudang Sect, was holding the fort in his master's stead.
"It has been a long time, Black Cloud Wandering Maiden."
"Indeed. Has it been two years?"
"Greetings, Daoist Master Hyeonmang."
After exchanging pleasantries with Lee Se-ha, Hyeonmang turned to Namgung Jun, his beard trembling slightly.
"So you are the Righteous Path's Number One Rising Star, Namgung Jun. The rumors were not exaggerated. You have not even reached twenty, yet you are already peering into the realm of a supreme expert."
Namgung Jun merely bowed with humility. Sensing the modesty radiating from his demeanor, Hyeonmang let out a soft sigh.
So there was a reason Sam-gyeong has been so lost.
Hyeonmang recalled Sam-gyeong, a second-generation disciple who had represented Mount Wudang at the recent Mount Song Gathering. Sam-gyeong was an undeniable genius. If he continued to cultivate his character while training in martial arts, the future of the Wudang Sect could safely be entrusted to him.
However, since returning from the Mount Song Gathering, Sam-gyeong had changed. He distanced himself from his sword and Daoist scriptures, often lost in deep thought. Although the elders of Mount Wudang did not scold him, choosing instead to watch from a distance, they were undeniably worried.
Seeing Namgung Jun in person now, Hyeonmang felt he understood what was tormenting Sam-gyeong.
Sam-gyeong has realized the vastness of the world.
In cases like this, there was nothing anyone else could do. One could only pray that he would shake off his doubts and find his footing on his own.
"Primordial Heavenly Venerable."
Recalling Sam-gyeong, Hyeonmang softly chanted the Daoist title and offered them seats.
"I didn't expect the Sect Master to be away," Lee Se-ha said as she and her disciple sat down.
"The one leading the forces currently invading Hubei Province is the Sun-Exhaustion Demon King."
One of the Four Demon Kings of Bright Heaven, the Sun-Exhaustion Demon King. Since a peerless expert of the Sun-Moon Demonic Cult had appeared in person, it was only natural that the Wudang Sect Master had to take the field himself.
"Your internal injuries seem severe, Daoist Master," Lee Se-ha observed, examining Hyeonmang's complexion and energy. He wasn't staying behind simply to fill the Sect Master's empty seat; his condition was clearly serious.
"I was on the front lines until four days ago. I sustained severe injuries and had to return to the main sect."
Namgung Jun subtly examined Hyeonmang's body. His internal injuries were indeed grave, and seeing his arms wrapped in bandages, it was clear that even simple movements were difficult for him.
The Wudang Sect's situation is more serious than we expected.
Hyeonmang was the Head Disciple, chosen to be the next Sect Master of Wudang. The faint Qi Wave radiating from him was enough to show that he was a cut above ordinary supreme experts. For a master of his caliber to suffer such injuries meant the fighting on the front lines had reached a terrifying intensity.
"Is the Heavenly Sword Hall heading to the front lines as well?" Namgung Jun asked.
"For now, please focus on guarding the main sect. The current defensive forces were arranged with the Heavenly Sword Hall's support in mind."
Lee Se-ha nodded. She understood their determination to handle the direct conflict themselves; they were borrowing the Heavenly Sword Hall's strength solely to guard the main sect, which had been left with a massive void in its defenses.
Hyeonmang moved his trembling hand and pulled a simply decorated calling card from his sleeve.
"And a warning letter from the Divine Thief has arrived."
"The Divine Thief?"
"The main sect is in disarray due to the war with the Sun-Moon Demonic Cult. From the Divine Thief's perspective, this must be a golden opportunity."
Lee Se-ha's expression sharpened. "How typical of a thief who is nothing but fast on his feet."
Listening to the conversation, Namgung Jun pondered the moniker.
The Divine Thief.
He was the current number one thief in the Jianghu. Although his martial prowess was said to be that of a supreme expert who had achieved the Three Flowers Gather at the Crown, the consensus was that his movement—specifically, his Lightness Movement Art—had reached the peerless realm. Since he had occasionally aided the Sun-Moon Demonic Cult, he was one of the key figures the Azure Heaven Association kept a close eye on.
"This sudden warning letter from the Divine Thief... It seems like a ploy by the Sun-Moon Demonic Cult to sow chaos among our forces," Namgung Jun assessed.
Hyeonmang agreed. "That is why we must stop him using only the remaining forces here and the Heavenly Sword Hall. In particular, the Black Cloud Wandering Maiden is likely the only one at the main sect who can properly react to him."
Hyeonmang's bandaged hand trembled. Since he was severely injured and struggled even to move, he had to consider himself out of commission. The helplessness he felt, being unable to do anything while the Wudang Sect's honor was at risk, made his heart ache.
In the end, all Hyeonmang could do was pray that Lee Se-ha would succeed. He bowed his head to her once more.
"Black Cloud Wandering Maiden. I beg of you."
"I will do my absolute best."
* * *
"Did you say a warning letter from the Divine Thief has arrived?"
Hearing what had transpired at the Supreme Harmony Palace, Heo Il's face stiffened. Namgung Jun looked at Heo Il's scar-covered right hand. It normally had a slight tremor, but now, it was shaking twice as violently.
Namgung Jun's eyes darkened as he watched Heo Il tightly grip his scarred right hand with his left.
"Yes. Do you have a history with the Divine Thief?"
Despite Namgung Jun's question, Heo Il only bit his lip, saying nothing. Namgung Jun didn't press him and waited patiently.
Only when the moonlight filtering through the window began to wane did Heo Il take a deep swig of liquor from his gourd and finally speak.
"The Divine Thief is my former master."
Hearing this, Namgung Jun's eyes slowly widened.