Chapter 157
Chapter 157
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 157
Chapter Title: Seclusion (3)
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As Nameless flared his nostrils as if to take in the scent of the martial world, Wi Jin-cheon stared at him with a pathetic expression.
“What are you, a dog? What was that for?”
“Hoho, calling your master a dog? Do you want to get beaten to a pulp by this dog?”
*Swoosh—*
As Nameless subtly raised his fist, Wi Jin-cheon forced a smile.
“Haha… Of course, I was joking.”
“For a joke, it had some bite. But considering how foul your mouth usually is, I’ll let it slide.”
Look who’s talking about a foul mouth.
Wi Jin-cheon pouted and asked.
“So, Master, you were so eager to return to the martial world, and the first place we’re going is the Mount Hua Sect?”
“Why, did you think we were going somewhere fun?”
As Nameless pressed him with a suggestive gaze, Wi Jin-cheon turned his head to avoid his eyes.
“No, well, it’s not like I asked with such selfish intentions.”
At those words, Nameless laughed heartily.
“You’ve come of age and learned a fair bit of martial arts, so it’s natural to be full of confidence. I understand.”
“…Hehe.”
“But the world is full of strange and extraordinary people, and it’s common for seemingly lacking fools to possess profound internal energy. So you must never let your guard down. Understand?”
“Considering a man like you is such a great master, that must be true.”
“Well, you could say that!”
With a cheerful laugh, Nameless immediately used his movement technique and headed toward the center of the martial world.
It took only a week to reach the Mount Hua Sect.
Nameless stirred up the martial world, making no effort to hide his belligerence.
As a result, many martial artists tried to fight him, and rumors spread just as quickly.
Among them were even members of Jeok Sa-goeng’s Black Wind Unit, which drew the interest of gossipmongers.
By the time they arrived at the Mount Hua Sect.
A storyteller who had been watching Nameless’s journey spoke in admiration.
“In a time of chaos in the martial world, a new star calling himself Nameless appeared! Unable to stand by, martial artists challenged him in droves, but none could defeat him! So how can he be called Nameless!”
Therefore, Nameless was to be called the Fist Star.
And his journey, the Undefeated Path of the Fist Star!
When Nameless arrived at the gates of the Mount Hua Sect, the question of who he would challenge became the biggest topic of discussion in the northern martial world.
“Finally, the Profound and Limitless Sword will be revealed to the world again.”
“Nonsense, man! It must be Great Hero Gwak, who has made his name known throughout the lands!”
“You know nothing! The Clear Sky Sword, Song Muk, is the true hidden gem of the Mount Hua Sect!”
As people who loved to debate the hierarchy of martial arts went back and forth.
Nameless stood proudly before the Mount Hua Sect’s gates and shouted.
“Ouyang Jue, you bastard! What are you doing, not showing yourself immediately!”
“…Your manners are the same as ever.”
Ouyang Jue, appearing belatedly, saw Nameless and let out a smirk.
***
When the Fist Star, Nameless, suddenly named Ouyang Jue as his opponent, some of the gossipmongers were disappointed.
“I don’t understand why he chose a junior after passing over so many masters.”
“Isn’t the age gap too wide for them to have a personal connection?”
“It’s an incomprehensible move.”
Some even sharply criticized Nameless, accusing him of seeking an easy opponent.
However, the few who were paying close attention to the relationship between the Beggars' Sect and the Mount Hua Sect thought differently.
“I had a feeling the Plum Blossom Divine Dragon’s skills might be greater than expected… but for the Fist Star to seek him out?”
Amidst the arguments of unrelated parties, the number of people wanting to see the duel between the Fist Star and the Plum Blossom Divine Dragon began to grow.
Moreover, wasn't the Mount Hua Sect famous for not shying away from duels with outsiders?
As the rumor spread from the northern martial world to the rest of the lands, even renowned masters requested to observe.
The Wudang Sect's Master of the Profound Sword.
The Zhongnan Sect's Master of the Deep Origin.
And even Shaolin's Grand Master Jeokwon. For a duel between a mere junior and a newly emerged star, the scale had become far too large.
Yet, Bai Duanxian simply nodded in permission, unfazed.
“There will be no restrictions on who may attend this duel. However, you must promise me one thing.”
At his words, a gossipmonger raised his voice and asked.
“And what is that?”
“Whatever the outcome, do not speak ill of the loser.”
Was it an unexpected statement?
As looks of doubt spread across the faces of those who heard, Bai Duanxian continued in a calm voice.
“A duel is not merely a place to compare strength. It is a place to clash with another’s martial path, to receive enlightenment and teachings.”
“…”
“But as the martial world has grown more chaotic, the persecution of the weak has intensified, becoming so cruel that one can no longer distinguish between the righteous and the unorthodox. I hope that this duel will be an occasion to put an end to such things.”
Most assumed he was scolding them in anticipation of Ouyang Jue's defeat.
But the three masters who had seen Ouyang Jue in person knew better.
‘Sect Leader Bai finally intends to reveal the Plum Blossom Divine Dragon to the world!’
‘Is this to protect the Fist Star’s honor even if he loses…!’
While the Master of the Profound Sword and the Master of the Deep Origin expressed their different forms of admiration, Grand Master Jeokwon let out a deep sigh.
‘His past of sneaking into Shaolin will be forgotten, and he will be shrouded in great light. Amitabha.’
Grand Master Jeokwon, still unable to forget the humiliation of being deceived by Ouyang Jue, gripped his prayer beads so tightly that his skin threatened to break.
But no martial artist witnessed this, and even if they had, it would have been meaningless.
The next day.
Nameless, having rested comfortably in his quarters, lightly warmed up his body.
Just then, Wi Jin-cheon, who had brought a basin of water, asked.
“Master, are you sure about this?”
“Hm?”
“As the old sorcerer said, if you’re going to fight those enemies called the Eight Evils in the future… you shouldn’t make an enemy of Young Master Ouyang.”
At those words, Nameless wore an expression of disbelief.
“Does Ouyang Jue look like such a petty man to you?”
“Master, watch your mouth!”
“Ah, enough. The Ouyang Jue I know is not that kind of person. On the contrary, he’ll use this opportunity to see how much he’s grown.”
Nameless’s lips twitched as if in anticipation of the thought alone.
“He boasted such martial prowess at eighteen. So what do you think he’s like at twenty?”
“…Strong, I suppose.”
Wi Jin-cheon muttered in a candid tone.
“Probably thousands of times stronger than me.”
“Haha. But there’s no need to be discouraged.”
*Thump, thump.*
Nameless slapped Wi Jin-cheon’s back hard and looked up at the gradually rising sun.
“You are the successor to the Art of the Heavenly Escape Heart, and the disciple of a master known as the Fist Star. So how could you be weak?”
“…”
“Believe.”
Nameless clenched his fist tightly.
“I am invincible.”
“Yes, Master.”
Wi Jin-cheon’s expression was now filled with faith.
***
Late in the afternoon.
“Haaaam…”
Nameless appeared, yawning and scratching the back of his head.
He had meant to take a short nap, but he had overslept by a quarter of an hour past the promised time.
It was the duel the Heavenly Martial Peak had been so eagerly awaiting, but perhaps his tension had dissipated upon arrival.
Nameless dismissed it as a useless thought and shook his head.
“Sorry for being late.”
“I expected as much.”
“…Huh?”
At those words, Nameless turned his gaze and saw that the time written on the duel grounds’ placard was already half an hour later than they had agreed upon.
Ouyang Jue sneered faintly.
“If you were going to be late anyway, you could have at least washed your face and wiped the sleep from your eyes.”
“That mouth of yours is as sharp as ever!”
To Nameless’s admiration, Ouyang Jue retorted nonchalantly.
“Isn’t it better than someone who breaks a promise?”
“Haha, hahaha!”
As Nameless roared with laughter, the internal energy contained within it vibrated throughout the entire duel grounds.
“…Hk.”
“What incredible internal energy!”
The representative observers, the three masters, and the disciples of the prestigious orthodox sects merely grimaced.
However, the gossipmongers couldn't control their churning insides and had to retreat five steps.
Watching them, Ouyang Jue’s voice turned sharp.
“That’s enough showing off.”
“It’s a bit difficult after being in Zhangjiajie. Well, seeing you so changed at the Mount Hua Sect is disgusting, too.”
Shrugging, Nameless wore a deep smile.
“Now, shall we begin?”
The moment he finished speaking, the robe Nameless wore billowed in the wind.
Nameless’s internal energy was even more profound than that of the Shaolin orthodoxy, causing Grand Master Jeokwon’s hands to tighten.
Just then, Nameless’s knees bent.
*Thud!*
In an instant, his body shot forward like a beam of light, pushing off the ground from heel to toe.
“!”
Ouyang Jue heightened his senses just by tightening his grip on Severing Manifestation.
Mind, Ki, and Body.
Ouyang Jue’s sword, which had grown through countless duels, experiences, and bloody battles with the strong since his past life, danced without rest.
*Clang! Clang-clang-clang!*
When a fist filled with sword ki drew a straight line, Severing Manifestation would cut it off midway, following the elegant path of the Plum Blossom Sword Arts.
Whenever Nameless’s elbow swung like a scythe, Ouyang Jue would neatly take half a step back to widen the distance.
When the subsequent technique of the Plum Blossom Sword Arts, Scattering Plum Blossoms, pressed down on Nameless’s entire body, the Master of the Deep Origin expressed pure admiration.
“The movement displayed by fellow Daoist Ouyang was the very essence of the ethereal grace that Daoist martial arts aim for!”
“…Hmm.”
Grand Master Jeokwon wanted to deny it, but the movements Ouyang Jue displayed felt like a single martial arts form.
However, all the masters present knew.
The only arts Ouyang Jue had used were the Plum Blossom Footwork, the Plum Blossom Sword Arts, and the basic Crane Palm he had learned.
‘Is he being this relaxed against such a master?’
Just as the Master of the Profound Sword was marveling at Ouyang Jue’s growth, Nameless was boiling with overwhelming emotion.
“Hah, hahaha! You bastard, you’ve finally brought it all together!”
“…”
At those words, Ouyang Jue simply smiled faintly without a word.
The Plum Blossom Sword Arts he had learned imperfectly.
The Heavenly Escape Sword Arts he could only perform in form.
The Path Towards the Extreme of Light, the Thunderclap Palm, and the Heaven-Shaking Single Thunder Strike he learned from the previous Divine Demon Fist were used only as the situation demanded.
They were all just empty shells without a shred of true intent.
And what of the Profound and Limitless Sword or the Mount Tai Sword Gate?
He had never mastered any of them to their limits, only using them hastily according to the situation.
But now, it was different.
Nameless’s face contorted in ecstasy.
“You’ve finally succeeded in gathering the fragments, you bastard!”
At those words, the spectators were startled and lost in thought.
‘Gathering the fragments? What does that mean?’
‘Even for the Fist Star, to call the Plum Blossom Divine Dragon a bastard?’
Soon, a single sword strike shattered their thoughts.
*Kwakwakwakwa!*
It was just a single swing of the sword.
The ten-foot-long trail of sword ki that Severing Manifestation left behind tore through space and carved a deep scar on the floor of the duel grounds.
A gossipmonger with no knowledge of martial arts might call it incredible power, but the three masters watching the duel knew better.
‘What is this… Incredible!’
‘To think he has trained all one thousand of his meridians to perfectly master the Grand Circulation at the mere age of twenty?’
Grand Master Jeokwon, in particular, was struggling to keep his face from flushing red.
“Amitabha!”
Seeing this, Nameless smirked and spoke to Ouyang Jue.
“If your sword ki is enough to impress even Shaolin, then you’ve barely earned the right to face me.”
“How arrogant.”
Ouyang Jue raised Severing Manifestation straight up.
“Then I’ll have to break that pride of yours.”
*Kang!*
The great clash that occurred as the two martial artists’ forms intersected seemed to make all of Mount Hua tremble.