Chapter 44
Chapter 44
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: A Brief Rest (2)
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Song Muk’s eyes lingered on Ouyang Jue, who was standing among the other practitioners.
His gaze suddenly deepened.
Amidst his busy days, he had heard news that Ouyang Jue was training his body with a reckless intensity.
However, not even Song Muk could view all of Ouyang Jue’s actions favorably.
‘To think he would openly declare that he’s targeting the Black Dragon Gang…’
That was undoubtedly his main objective.
But one couldn't say there wasn't another intention behind it.
Perhaps he was trying to adjust the Mount Hua Sect’s training regimen itself.
Or maybe it was to announce to the outside world that he was still targeting the Black Dragon Gang?
As his thoughts reached that point, Song Muk let out a sudden, wry laugh.
‘I suppose I’ve been overestimating Junior Nephew Ouyang.’
No matter how deep Ouyang Jue’s thoughts ran or how brilliant his schemes were, it couldn’t be to that extent.
As Song Muk thought this and passed by, Ouyang Jue’s gaze flickered in his direction.
“Uncle-master, is something the matter?”
“No.”
At Ik Hyeon’s words, Ouyang Jue turned his attention back to him.
His brow furrowed slightly.
“Twist your waist more to put power into it!”
“Thank you!”
This was the junior nephew who had steadfastly followed him through the grueling ordeal of training.
Although they served different masters and learned different martial arts, as long as Ik Hyeon showed such effort, Ouyang Jue would repay it in kind.
“…Aren’t you ashamed at your age?”
A voice from somewhere made Ik Hyeon’s shoulders flinch.
He was twenty-three this year.
But even after being reprimanded by Ha Jin-ak for his complete lack of progress, he was still stuck at the second-rate level.
In such a situation, being taught by Ouyang Jue—the Sect Leader’s direct disciple and his uncle-master, at only eighteen years of age—was not a good look.
‘At this rate, I won’t be able to face Senior Uncle Ha, who is sick in bed…’
“Ignore it, Junior Nephew Ik.”
“…?”
Ouyang Jue said in an indifferent tone.
“There is nothing more pathetic than chiding someone for their age. If Senior-most Brother saw this, he would have delivered a harsh punishment.”
So you are not in the wrong.
As Ouyang Jue said this, Ik Hyeon’s face lit up.
“I am only grateful that you would say so, Uncle-master.”
“No, it shouldn’t end there.”
Immediately after saying that, Ouyang Jue swiftly wove through the crowd of practitioners and approached a young Daoist.
The young practitioner, who seemed not to have expected him to go this far, had goosebumps on the back of his hand, a clear sign of his displeasure.
A subtle smile bloomed on Ouyang Jue’s face.
“I was wondering who it was. Junior Nephew Yeong, let’s see… was it Yeong Mo-yun?”
At his words, the young Daoist quickly bowed her head.
“It is Yeong Mo-yeon.”
“Well, the name isn’t that important.”
Ouyang Jue shrugged lightly.
He acted as if he didn’t know, but in truth, he had already memorized every member of the Mount Hua Sect.
‘I heard they are both grand-disciples of Elder Cheol…’
To leave them to their internal strife, he must be a poor master.
Ouyang Jue recalled the somewhat gloomy face of Cheol Geum-san and looked back at Ik Hyeon.
“Why don’t you take this opportunity to spar with Junior Nephew Yeong, Junior Nephew Ik?”
“U-Uncle-master!”
Ik Hyeon stammered in shock, but with so many eyes on them, he couldn't bring himself to wave his hands in refusal.
Who was Yeong Mo-yeon?
From the moment she first learned martial arts, her outstanding perception made her stand out among the numerous disciples.
Because of this, she sometimes received direct instruction from Cheol Geum-san himself.
Her perception and martial talent were worlds apart from Ik Hyeon’s.
While Ik Hyeon’s eyes were still wavering, Yeong Mo-yeon answered swiftly.
“I will follow your words, Uncle-master.”
“Good!”
Ouyang Jue let out a small whistle, patting Ik Hyeon’s shoulder as he asked.
“What, you don’t have confidence?”
“That is… to be honest, yes.”
“Why?”
Ik Hyeon mumbled, his voice low enough for only Ouyang Jue to hear.
“Because I’ve only ever lost to my junior sister.”
“Is that so?”
Ouyang Jue smiled slightly and infused a sliver of internal energy into his voice.
“Then you just have to win this time!”
At the sound of his voice, even the practitioners who were training paused and looked their way.
The same was true for Liu Zhangming and the other elders’ disciples.
To lose here would be a public humiliation.
The future of being so ashamed he wouldn't be able to hold his head high flashed through his mind.
—Have confidence in yourself.
At the sound transmission, Ik Hyeon’s eyes widened in surprise.
Ouyang Jue was smiling.
—Did you not stay by my side and train to the very end, while the other senior and junior brothers gave up?
—But…
As a faint sound seemed to leak from Ik Hyeon’s attempted sound transmission, Ouyang Jue covered his own mouth with his palm.
A sad expression appeared on Ik Hyeon’s face.
It was a look that clearly conveyed his despair—what could he, who couldn't even properly use sound transmission and had no talent, possibly do?
Even so, Ouyang Jue shook his head.
When he moved his hand away, his face still held a smile.
—A person is not judged by their innate qualities.
“…?”
Honestly, he wanted to say out loud that Ik Hyeon just needed to do as he was taught.
However, that wouldn’t allow Ik Hyeon to grow on his own. Knowing this, Ouyang Jue stopped his advice there.
Ik Hyeon listened intently.
Finally, he drew his sword.
“I understand, Uncle-master.”
Ik Hyeon’s cold eyes scanned the blade of his sword.
In an instant, his seething mind focused to a single point, as if the entire world had gathered at the tip of his sword.
Only then did he realize.
The sword he had wielded until now was nothing more than empty form.
“I will return victorious.”
Along with his words, which seemed to solidify his resolve and will, Ouyang Jue felt a change in the aura emanating from Ik Hyeon.
Even Liu Zhangming, who had been watching him silently, let out a brief sound of surprise.
Liu Zhangming sent a sound transmission to Ouyang Jue.
—What did you say to him?
—I just said something that sounded profound.
—What on earth did you say…?
Liu Zhangming let out a hollow laugh as he watched Ik Hyeon kick off the ground and soar into the air.
—For something like that, he’s changed too much.
Ouyang Jue chuckled.
—When one’s mind is cluttered with thoughts, it’s best to work up a good sweat. Besides, you should look forward to what Junior Nephew Ik will show us.
If he could properly execute what he had been taught, he would surely be able to defeat Yeong Mo-yeon.
Ouyang Jue watched Ik Hyeon’s back, cheering for him inwardly.
*Clang!*
The first exchange flashed by.
Between the two swords, in the briefest of moments, sparks bloomed like plum blossoms.
A look of surprise crossed Yeong Mo-yeon’s face.
It had only been a moment, yet she had the illusion that he had become a different person.
Then she quickly corrected her thought.
‘No, it’s not an illusion.’
Her thoughts were cut short by the immediate follow-up strike.
Yeong Mo-yeon watched the figure of Ik Hyeon before her, greatly impressed.
‘How could he… like that…’
How had he become able to execute such a serene strike?
*Crrrack!*
As Ik Hyeon’s sword swung in a long arc, Yeong Mo-yeon’s body staggered.
But she was not one to be finished there.
Yeong Mo-yeon bent her knees for a moment, and in the next, the offense and defense were reversed.
Sword met sword, and sparks flew as they intertwined.
Ik Hyeon’s sword went low, while Yeong Mo-yeon’s soared high.
At that moment.
Ik Hyeon’s gaze briefly turned to the past.
When he was training beside Ouyang Jue, he had said.
“A sword has dozens of variations and feints, but that’s too much for you, Junior Nephew. One is your limit.”
They were painful words.
They were words that precisely pierced the limits of Ik Hyeon as a martial artist, and he had nearly burst into tears.
But Ouyang Jue’s words didn’t end there.
“But if you can perfectly execute that one thing, you will have a weapon that can work on anyone. Do you understand what I mean?”
They were still bitter words, but Ik Hyeon understood.
If his vessel was too small, then all he had to do was increase the quality of what he put in it.
From then on, Ik Hyeon devoted himself to just one thing.
Only one.
The single variation permitted to Ik Hyeon was…
“Flexion.”
As Ouyang Jue spoke calmly, the sword in Ik Hyeon’s hand bent strangely.
It was like the life he had come to know while learning the sword at Mount Hua.
Tossed about among his fellow practitioners, he begged for teachings to the point of seeming spineless, all to gain some recognition.
The reason he had endured alone by Ouyang Jue’s side was the same.
But now, it was time to cast off his stained inferiority complex.
Seeing the confidence etched on Ik Hyeon’s face, Ouyang Jue turned his head away.
“It’s over.”
* * *
From that day on, the number of followers Ouyang Jue had, both known and unknown, began to increase.
Just seven months ago, Ouyang Jue, who had been scorned and ignored by all the practitioners, was completely different.
He had now established himself not just as a respectable practitioner of Mount Hua, but as a rising star whose mere presence was reassuring.
As usual, the training ground was filled with practitioners diligently training, following Ouyang Jue’s lead.
Among them, Ouyang Jue was recalling the events related to the duel from a few days ago.
‘Is he discriminating between his disciples based on their martial skill?’
The unusually gloomy impression Cheol Geum-san gave off.
And Song Muk’s words that he had opposed the bestowal of the Small Purple Spirit Elixir upon him.
There was definitely something unsettling about Cheol Geum-san.
He had an unusually large number of disciples under him, and those disciples had also become masters at a young age.
Such a thing was rare not just in the Mount Hua Sect, but in the entire Orthodox Faction.
‘Also, it’s not something you’d call befitting of a Daoist. Rather…’
It was like the Unorthodox Factions, who built up their skills in a short period.
The moment the thought occurred to him, Ouyang Jue dismissed it.
It was too much of a leap in logic.
Frowning, Ouyang Jue looked around.
Besides Ik Hyeon and Yeong Mo-yeon, who had dueled before, there were quite a few disciples from Cheol Geum-san’s faction.
Then, Ouyang Jue spotted Ik Hyeon training and walked over.
“I have something to ask you…”
“Just say the word, Uncle-master!”
As Ik Hyeon’s eyes lit up, Ouyang Jue smiled bitterly.
‘Am I not just using this child’s goodwill?’
The time was short, but the depth of his deliberation was deeper than Dongting Lake. It was possible that Cheol Geum-san had already won Ik Hyeon over.
But he quickly steeled his resolve and asked cautiously.
“Can you tell me in detail about Cheol Geum-san’s faction?”
At his words, Ik Hyeon nodded without a moment’s hesitation.
Ouyang Jue felt like a fool for having hesitated, and he couldn’t hide his sense of futility.
“Haha. Well, I’ll be.”
“…?”
“It’s nothing. Will you tell me?”
“Yes, Uncle-master!”
Ik Hyeon’s story continued for over two hours.
Ouyang Jue skillfully guided the conversation, making it seem as if he wasn't asking about anything particularly important.
After parting with Ik Hyeon, Ouyang Jue sorted through the suspicious points.
‘Sometimes, Cheol Geum-san and his first-generation disciples go out to train somewhere, and he cautiously recommends something to gifted disciples like Yeong Mo-yeon.’
As a second-generation disciple, Ik Hyeon hadn't seen much and didn't know much either.
But if he had asked another disciple, word would have quickly gotten out.
Obtaining even this much information was only possible because of Ik Hyeon, who trusted him.
Even so.
‘Something is strange.’
Ouyang Jue did not let go of his suspicion.
There was something unsettling about it that he couldn't just accept.
He had no decisive evidence or clues, but it felt like there was grit grinding in his mouth.
‘I have no choice but to investigate this thoroughly through Cheol Pung-gae.’
Besides, he had only taken down a single branch of the Black Dragon Gang; their headquarters still remained.
Ouyang Jue turned his gaze toward Mount Zhongnan.
To completely crush the Black Dragon Gang, not only did the martial arts of the entire Mount Hua Sect need to become stronger, but they also needed to join forces with other Daoist sects.
The next morning.
Ouyang Jue carefully retrieved a letter from the leg of a carrier pigeon perched on his windowsill.
Rumors spread below Mount Hua: none.
Contact with the Beggars’ Sect: lost.
—Written by Bai Chuan, Master of the Golden Ring Merchant Guild.
*Crumple!*
With a blank expression, Ouyang Jue crushed the letter in his hand.
“Useless beggar bastards…”
So, in the end, protecting their own positions was what mattered.
Ouyang Jue thought of Cheol Pung-gae’s smirking face and twisted his lips.
* * *
“Branch Leader! Why! With what confidence do you plan to turn your back on Mount Hua!”
Despite Cheol Pung-gae’s outcry, the Wine-Viewing Beggar only indulged in his drink.
Then, after letting out a belch, he shoved his alcohol-reddened nose forward.
“And what about your arbitrary decision to distort that major incident as you saw fit? Heh heh.”
The Wine-Viewing Beggar’s mouth spewed gluttonous words.
“Don’t tell me you made a secret pact to make a move while the Gang Leader was away?”
“Of course not. What can a mere Three-Knot Beggar like me possibly do!”
Unable to contain his anger, Cheol Pung-gae suddenly roared.
“You crazy drunk beggar bastard!”
“You’re not wrong about that.”
*Gulp, gulp—*
“Khaaaah!”
Wiping the lukewarm alcohol from his lips with the back of his hand, the Wine-Viewing Beggar narrowed his eyes.
“But you wouldn’t know. What true terror is… Later, you might even thank me.”
The Wine-Viewing Beggar’s eyes deepened, as if looking somewhere far away.
He recalled the time he was abducted near Dongting Lake about fourteen days ago.
How startled he had been then.
He had been stripped naked and tortured, so disoriented that at the time, he didn't even know where he was.
Then, after a long while, he realized he had been poisoned and was seized by terror.
Then he met Bai Wun-hwan, the Leader of the Black Dragon Gang.
He, too, seemed to feel an intense animosity toward the man with the bewitching eyes.
‘That bastard must also be gripped by the fear of what that rotten-eyed bastard will do to him, rather than the grief of losing his child, heh heh.’
The Wine-Viewing Beggar drank continuously.
“The answer is to simply yield to the times, you beggar.”
The Wine-Viewing Beggar once again recalled the man with the bewitching eyes and shuddered.