Chapter 177: Mount Baeksu (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 177: Mount Baeksu (2)
The Azure Heaven Association and the North Hengshan Sect stood divided, facing each other.
With the decisive duel about to begin, the atmosphere was bleak and heavy with tension.
Tsk. A clash between the Azure Heaven Association and the North Hengshan Sect… Still, I suppose it's a relief that things didn't escalate too far.
Caught in the middle, the members of the Beggars' Sect could only watch the situation unfold quietly. These were the men Samyeop had brought from a nearby branch to serve as official witnesses for the duel.
The North Hengshan Sect is letting their greed get the better of them.
Though they stood as impartial, neutral observers, the beggars knew all too well that the North Hengshan Sect was being unreasonable.
Until recently, they had been focused solely on defending their own territory. But now, taking advantage of the Great-Axe Green Forest’s collapse to aggressively expand their domain, their intentions were far too transparent.
The beggars held no particular fondness for the North Hengshan Sect, which had long neglected the people of Shanxi Province to focus on lining its own pockets. However, they couldn't openly side with the Azure Heaven Association either.
But can they even win? The Azure Star Sword doesn't look to be in very good shape.
Glancing at Namgung Jun, the Beggars' Sect member shook his head. The Azure Firmament Hall Master must have proposed this duel because he had an ace up his sleeve. For now, the best they could do was ensure the duel was officiated as fairly as possible.
The Beggars' Sect member pushed himself up, using his Dog Beating Staff as a cane.
"I am Mun Du-gae, a Four-Knot Disciple of the Beggars' Sect! I stand here on behalf of the Beggars' Sect to notarize this decisive duel between the Azure Heaven Association and the North Hengshan Sect. If either side refuses to accept the outcome, or if disputes arise regarding this matter in the future, the Beggars' Sect will actively intervene. Do you both agree?"
When Namgung Jun and On Seong nodded, Mun Du-gae thumped his Dog Beating Staff against the ground.
"Then, let those participating in the first duel step forward."
At Mun Du-gae's shout, Baekri Cheong slowly walked forward. His slightly lowered eyes were exceptionally dark and somber.
While they were fetching the Beggars' Sect members to witness the duel, Baekri Cheong had managed to calm his heavily shaken mind. The Qi Wave of the Eldest Young Master of the fallen Baekri Clan was as clean and orderly as ever.
However, a faint, sharp edge was now mixed within it. This alone was enough to reveal the state of his mind.
"It has been a while since the Mount Song Gathering. You have grown truly strong."
The first-generation disciple who stepped forward from the North Hengshan Sect smiled bitterly upon seeing Baekri Cheong.
Baekri Cheong, who had been looking at the ground, raised his head.
"Senior..."
Baekri Cheong remembered the middle-aged swordsman before him perfectly. He was the man who had acted as a proctor during the Iron Token battle at the Mount Song Gathering, the one who had apologized via Voice Transmission while subduing Jin Gyeong for refusing to accept defeat.
Recalling that memory, Baekri Cheong also let out a faint, weak smile.
"To think we would face each other like this."
"The bonds of the Jianghu are often tangled and complex."
Seeing Baekri Cheong's expression, the middle-aged man’s brow furrowed with a complicated mix of emotions.
"I regret that we must cross swords. I am On Myeong, a first-generation disciple of the North Hengshan Sect."
"I am… of the Azure Heaven Association. No. I am Baekri Cheong, Eldest Young Master of the Baekri Clan."
Ever since joining the association, Baekri Cheong had always introduced himself as a Cloud of the Azure Heaven Association. His words now made it abundantly clear what kind of mindset he was bringing to this duel.
Clang!
The two swords, unsheathed, immediately clashed in a fierce tangle. As if their prior conversation had never occurred, the two swordsmen pushed against each other without yielding an inch.
A harsh sword strike plunged down from an upper stance, pressing mercilessly on Baekri Cheong's blade. Relying on his solid footwork, Baekri Cheong calmly parried On Myeong's forms.
His sword strikes, flowing as smoothly as woven silk, repeatedly deflected and redirected the practical, lethal attacks of the North Hengshan Sect that aimed blatantly for his vitals.
The Baekseon Sword Technique and the High-Cliff Sword Technique.
The two sword arts that had once represented Shanxi Province met once again.
Swish!
The arc of the High-Cliff Sword Technique seemed to split a sheer cliff diagonally. Meeting it head-on, Baekri Cheong's sword did not waver in the slightest.
Following a clean thrust, he used the Floating Wing Fresh River form to block both the middle and lower guards, halting On Myeong, who was trying to close the distance.
His brown robe fluttering wildly, On Myeong took two steps back. He seemed slightly startled by Baekri Cheong's incredibly solid defense.
The North Hengshan Sect disciples watching the exchange lowered their voices to whisper among themselves.
"Baekri Cheong's talent was always extraordinary, but this is unexpected."
"Hmm. When did he become so strong?"
"To think he can trade blows on equal terms with Martial Uncle On Myeong. He has already surpassed the martial prowess of a Rising Star."
"When did that bastard get so…?"
The last voice belonged to Jin Gyeong, who was watching the duel from the very front. Since his defeat at the Mount Song Gathering, Jin Gyeong had spared no effort to hone his skills, yet Baekri Cheong remained far out of his reach.
Baekri Cheong. You are always an eyesore.
The man had handed him his very first defeat. It had been an incredibly humiliating and unpleasant experience. Not long after, when he heard the news that the Baekri Clan had been destroyed, he had felt a sense of vindication. Had it not been for the clan’s destruction, he would still be stewing over that day's loss.
By watching Baekri Cheong's life plunge into the abyss, Jin Gyeong had been able to move on with a clear conscience.
Even though your clan was destroyed, how can you still…!
Jin Gyeong's hands, crossed over his chest, trembled slightly. If possible, he wanted to defeat Baekri Cheong with his own two hands. However, this matter was so important that the first-generation disciples had stepped up, leaving no place for him to intervene.
Thus, he had desperately hoped that the first-generation disciples would crush Baekri Cheong. But even that was not looking easy.
Despite still being young enough to be considered a Rising Star, Baekri Cheong displayed martial prowess that rivaled—no, surpassed—that of a first-generation disciple. It seemed he would soon set foot into the realm of Three Flowers Gather at the Crown.
If even Jin Gyeong, blinded by jealousy, could see it, the other martial artists present certainly couldn't miss it.
Brother Baekri?
Watching Baekri Cheong's duel, Namgung Jun's eyes gradually began to sparkle.
His sword's momentum is changing.
Baekri Cheong had always maintained a clean and orderly demeanor. This was true not only of his martial arts but also of his daily life and conduct. As if advocating the Middle Path, he never crossed the line or leaned too far to one side, no matter the situation.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The atmosphere of the duel, which had been relatively calm and static, began to shift rapidly. The catalyst was Baekri Cheong, who started to showcase a swordsmanship entirely different from before.
Whoosh!
With the shift, the pure white Qi Wave surrounding Baekri Cheong began to vibrate powerfully, expanding in size.
It wasn't just a transformation in the nature of his martial arts. Namgung Jun could tell with certainty.
The will, the thoughts—the very Mindscape—that Baekri Cheong harbored were changing.
Baekri Cheong's eyes, once like a tranquil lake, were now boiling. At the same time, his Spirit began to surge explosively.
*
Even now, as he swung his sword, he could clearly feel the obstacles lingering in his Mindscape.
— Control your emotions thoroughly under any circumstances. You must always maintain the dignity of a prestigious clan.
— You must never show signs of wavering. Those of the Baekri bloodline must always stand firm as an exemplar.
— Do not think lightly, and do not move in vain. Dignity is revealed in a single word, a single gesture.
These were the teachings of his clan, words he had heard countless times since childhood. Naturally, they had influenced his daily attitude, his thoughts, and by extension, his martial arts.
Though the teachings were restrictive, they had never caused him aversion or exerted a negative influence. Baekri Cheong, too, had wanted to fully inherit his clan's legacy and become a person worthy of the Baekri name, and these teachings were highly compatible with the Baekri Clan's martial arts.
He had lived his life embodying the teachings of the Baekri Clan with his entire being.
But now, a doubt arose.
Is it truly right to blindly suppress one's emotions, no matter the situation?
In truth, this was only the second time such a doubt had crossed his mind. The first, of course, was when his clan was destroyed.
At the time, he had been returning from a visit to the Shaolin Temple and had luckily survived. When he rushed back after belatedly hearing the news, all that awaited him was his clan home, turned to ash, and the brutally mutilated corpses of his family.
A vast, dizzying despair washed over him, as if the heavens themselves had flipped upside down. A sickening nausea welled up, as if his organs were twisting inside him.
Yet, Baekri Cheong had stubbornly maintained his usual expression and demeanor. The commoners who had come to help clean up the ruins of the Baekri Clan were watching. Gritting his teeth, his eyes wide, he had suppressed his emotions by any means necessary.
According to his clan's teachings, the Eldest Young Master of the Baekri Clan was not permitted to show any wavering or agitation. Back then, he had believed that was the correct way to act, but now, he wasn't so sure.
When my clan has been destroyed and our home is on the verge of being stolen, is maintaining a calm dignity really what matters?
Regret, disappointment, resentment, and anger toward the North Hengshan Sect welled up within him. Had they not once claimed to be pillars of Shanxi Province together, maintaining steady relations?
Thud!
Stomping with immense force, Baekri Cheong executed an Earth-Trembling Stomp that tore up the ground. It was a movement starkly different from his usual concise and quiet steps.
Whoosh!
Baekri Cheong's sword sliced through the air with overflowing power. As if carrying his pent-up grief, the Sword Force flowing along the perfectly straight blade erupted like lava.
"Hup!"
Astonished by the altered nature of the Baekseon Sword Technique, On Myeong hastily raised his sword. Baekri Cheong, who had previously focused on defense to block the High-Cliff Sword Technique, had aggressively shifted to the offensive.
Of course, On Myeong did not back down, unleashing the forms of the High-Cliff Sword Technique, but with every clash of their blades, he found himself at a disadvantage.
What had at first seemed like an evenly matched duel began to tilt as Baekri Cheong's sword momentum shifted. While tracing an extremely precise sword path, Baekri Cheong poured the intense emotions from his chest into his blade.
It felt as though the strict teachings of his clan and the emotions accumulated through the trials of the Jianghu were coexisting on a knife's edge. Experiencing heat and cold simultaneously, Baekri Cheong felt an indescribable thrill.
In the past, when I could not escape the embrace of my clan, I did not know. But now, I can see clearly.
The teachings of his clan were not wrong, but they weren't something to be blindly followed, forcing his life to fit their mold.
The master of his own life was, without a doubt, Baekri Cheong himself.
Unlike the boy he was when his clan was destroyed, he no longer felt the need to hide his true self. He didn't much care what the North Hengshan Sect thought of him. The Baekri Cheong of the past would have, of course, but not now.
Though they did not share blood, he had a brother. He had comrades with whom he had shared life and death. Feeling the trust that filled his heart, Baekri Cheong's expression softened slightly.
I, too, have changed without realizing it.
He had met countless comrades after joining the Azure Heaven Association. Perhaps he had been gradually influenced by them, or perhaps his mindset had slowly shifted as he traveled the Jianghu. Now, he felt less need to suppress his emotions.
Wasn't it fine to let himself go a little?
My brother.
After countless connections flashed through his mind, the last person he thought of was him. A mysterious younger brother who, despite being much younger, always showed the maturity of an adult.
Namgung Jun was always calm, and his words and actions carried weight. Yet, he did not stubbornly present himself as an immovable rock; he would honestly reveal his emotions when the occasion called for it. He smiled surprisingly often, expressed anger toward evil without hesitation, and showed a vulnerable side before comrades who had passed away.
He had truly envied that. Expressing his emotions honestly didn't make Namgung Jun seem weak; on the contrary, it made him appear vast and immense, as if he could naturally embrace and accept any turbulent emotion.
In a way, it was clear that Namgung Jun was the one who had brought about the greatest change in his heart.
Now I know for sure.
He no longer believed that blindly suppressing everything was the correct answer. It was best to simply follow where the heart led.
Hummmmm!
The resonance erupting around Baekri Cheong was extraordinary. His movements grew progressively faster. Even while maintaining his neatness, his overflowing power became vividly pronounced.
Boom!
On Myeong's entire body shook violently under the domineering Qi Wave bursting from the Baekseon Sword Technique. Baekri Cheong now naturally wielded both the Baekseon Sword Technique and the Martial Conquest Grand Selection Formula.
Baekri Cheong, whose Achievement in the Martial Conquest Grand Selection Formula had lingered at the eighth stage, reached grand completion in that very moment. He had finally accepted the domineering principles of the formula, which he had always consciously suppressed.
And all it took was choosing to follow his heart.
Hummmmm!
Grandfather, Father. I have endured until now, but from this moment on, I shall live as my heart desires.
Choosing to cast off his clan's teachings and move forward, Baekri Cheong at last decided to walk his own Martial Path—a life belonging solely to himself.
The small wall built by the teachings of the Baekri Clan.
An enlightenment born from a simple resolution tore down the wall surrounding his Mindscape.
An intent to act honestly and truthfully, just as his heart desired.
The Essence, Qi, and Spirit began to weave together around the new intent that filled his Mindscape.
Finally, as Baekri Cheong thrust his sword forward, three flowers bloomed above his head.
Three Flowers Gather at the Crown!
Has he achieved the Unity of Essence, Qi, and Spirit?!
Those watching the duel with bated breath widened their eyes in shock.
"Haha."
On Myeong, who was barely supporting his weight on his back foot in a precarious stance, let out a deep chuckle.
Baekri Cheong's emotions were now carried lightly atop his still-orderly sword strikes. It was a minuscule difference, yet it created a massive impact. From the sword strikes where the boundary between the Baekseon Sword Technique and the Martial Conquest Grand Selection Formula blurred, Baekri Cheong's complex emotions swept forth like a mountain wind.
As their blades clashed, those emotions grew increasingly vivid, leaving On Myeong with no choice but to let out a bitter smile.
I hope you grow even stronger.
Thud! Crack!
It became increasingly difficult to withstand Baekri Cheong's sword. Even so, On Myeong gritted his teeth and met the blade. The youth was in the middle of gaining enlightenment during a duel and stepping into the next realm. To avoid disrupting this process, On Myeong had to give it his absolute best.
I am merely a weed, bending to the wind even when I know it's wrong. But I hope you become a great tree, one that stands firm even against a gale.
Clang!
Unleashing the ultimate technique of the High-Cliff Sword Technique, On Myeong's sword veered off its path and shook violently. He had failed to withstand Baekri Cheong's sword, which struck from the middle guard toward his flank.
While tracing a fierce sword path with even greater power, the characteristic neatness of the Baekseon Sword Technique was still clearly evident. Against a sword strike that was so wild yet carried such profound depth, On Myeong was utterly helpless.
Yet, he wore a refreshed expression as he swung his sword with all his might.
Yes. If anything, you resemble Hengshan more than I do.
Clang!
Gritting his teeth and enduring again and again, On Myeong finally lost his grip. His sword clattered to the ground.
With that, Baekri Cheong's movements also came to a halt.
Catching his ragged breath, Baekri Cheong’s expression slowly shifted as he finally realized the change that had come over him.
Gazing slowly at Baekri Cheong's face, On Myeong nodded.
"Your expression looks truly wonderful."
On Myeong withdrew his hands, conceding defeat.