Chapter 72
Chapter 72
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: Setting Out (2)
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* * *
“Well, that went smoothly enough.”
Watching the Divine Demon Fist return to the training grounds, Ouyang Jue let out a sigh of relief.
It had certainly been a risky endeavor.
Before coming to Mount Hua, he'd run into a beggar from the Beggars' Sect and fought him—beating him one-sidedly, at that.
The Beggars' Sect would never let something like that slide.
Furthermore, given the nature of the Divine Demon Fist's martial arts, the repercussions could spread like a wildfire on a mountain.
However, the advantage of bringing the Divine Demon Fist into the Mount Hua Sect and strengthening their forces was far greater.
The reward outweighed the risk. Thus, Ouyang Jue had no choice but to accept it.
And there was a personal reason, too.
‘…There's also the matter of that old man.’
In his past life, he might have taught the previous Divine Demon Fist the first half of the Moon-Stepping Shadowless Steps, but that wasn't the case in this life.
In the end, Ouyang Jue was the only one who had benefited, having learned the Heaven-Shaking Single Thunder Strike.
On top of that, his disciple now belonged to the Mount Hua Sect, not the Divine Demon Fist.
From the moment he received a Taoist name at Mount Hua, there would be no reason to mistake him for the Divine Demon Fist.
‘If I modify the Purple Mist True Energy a bit, it can even accommodate lightning energy.’
This would just take a little time to alter the incantations. Ouyang Jue looked up at the sunset painting the sky orange.
“Is it evening already?”
There was so much to think about, so much to do.
The half-year he had spent training in a small hermitage after returning to this life now felt like a vacation.
Knowing what was to come, knowing that Mount Hua would fade into the shadows of history, Ouyang Jue always felt like he was carrying a heavy burden.
At times, he also found himself wondering about the whereabouts of those he had been close to in his past life.
Especially the Omniscient One, who had given the Severing Manifestation to the Wudang Sect…
‘Is he still on Mount Mao, I wonder.’
Ouyang Jue shook his head lightly. For now, it was a needless worry.
‘The Mount Hua Sect is now effectively the strongest in the northern region after the Wudang and Kongtong Sects. Besides my brothers and me, there are many talented individuals like Heon-yang and Ik Hyeon, so we should be able to catch up within five years.’
The problem now was how the Martial Alliance would judge the rapidly growing Mount Hua Sect.
And what would become of their relationship with the Beggars' Sect after this incident.
To put it simply, the Beggars' Sect had made a mistake against the Mount Hua Sect. They would have to apologize and offer compensation for this fact.
‘But a debt remains.’
The truth that a disciple who had tried to harm a member of the Beggars' Sect was here would linger in their minds.
This was unavoidable, having brought the Divine Demon Fist into Mount Hua. He had no regrets. In fact, it was a good thing.
If he could bring in *the* Divine Demon Fist's disciple with only a minor dispute remaining, Ouyang Jue was willing to clash as many times as it took.
Whether it was with the Martial Alliance or anyone else.
“Now, even the martial arts of the Divine Demon Fist will seep into the roots of Mount Hua's plum blossoms.”
Ouyang Jue wore a relieved smile.
He would try to train in the Divine Demon Fist's arts without revealing them, but how easy could that be?
Especially since the martial art the Divine Demon Fist brought with him was incomplete, not yet at the stage of great mastery.
An incomplete aura is bound to reveal itself eventually, and the longer he stays at Mount Hua, the more the ultimate arts of the Divine Demon Fist will naturally be absorbed by the sect.
‘It hasn't even been a year since I returned to the past, yet it feels more valuable than five years of my previous life.’
The thought amused him, and he chuckled.
Recalling his actions since his return, Ouyang Jue was once again reminded that he was no saint.
But that was all there was to it.
After all, no one knew how long a person named Ouyang Jue would survive in this martial world.
At most, it wouldn't even be a hundred years. In the end, a person is but a single firefly in the vast river of thousands of years.
Having reached the brink of death once, Ouyang Jue had realized to his very core how futile something like honor truly was.
Thus, there wasn't even enough time to focus on what he wanted to do while he was alive.
“Shall I head over?”
Ouyang Jue brushed the sand from his shoes and headed for the training grounds.
Not a speck of weight remained in his stride.
* * *
“Alright. Follow me closely.”
“Yes, Martial Uncle!”
Watching them, Ouyang Jue smiled warmly.
Cheong Pung and Jo Hun, who had joined the Mount Hua Sect only a few days ago, were practicing their martial arts together.
Being of similar age and having difficult pasts, it seemed they had quickly become friends.
Besides, didn't Bai Duanxian's disciples pursue swordsmanship that was faithful to the basics?
Jo Hun, who had fully absorbed Liu Zhangming's teachings, would be able to teach Cheong Pung properly.
Though they were close in age, the martial prowess they had learned and mastered was different.
Ouyang Jue was impressed, noticing that Jo Hun's movements had become more refined in just a few months.
“The kid's got some…”
It was a sword path that could not have been achieved without long training and contemplation.
Sometimes long, sometimes close, and at other times, he would dance with the clashing blade, drawing nearer.
The steps Jo Hun took were neither talent nor effort.
They were steps that purely followed the sword's desired path, moving the instant the thought arose, creating a constant transformation.
Ouyang Jue realized that something was gradually growing within Jo Hun.
Zen.
He first drew a line in his mind before swinging, so his movements were unobstructed. He instantly envisioned the eighteen directions to counter the swung sword—was this what they called the mind's eye?
‘Isn't this the very cornerstone of the Path of Zen Scripture?’
This was not a realm that Jo Hun, who was just ten years old, should have reached. As a result, Ouyang Jue was staring blankly at them when…
“Whoops!”
Jo Hun's feet got tangled, and he fell right where he stood.
Cheong Pung, startled, reached out a hand, but Jo Hun put on a stern expression.
“Ahem! You are not to carelessly touch your Martial Uncle's body!”
Even the way he said it revealed a child's characteristic bravado, making Ouyang Jue chuckle.
Jo Hun's face was flushed, perhaps because he was secretly embarrassed about tripping over his own feet.
“So, did you watch carefully?”
“Yes!”
Presently, Cheong Pung took out his wooden sword, assumed a left-handed sword stance, and performed the Plum Blossom Sword Arts.
Although it looked a little awkward, it was quite excellent for a first attempt.
Whether that would translate directly into talent and learning, he didn't know. Ouyang Jue observed Cheong Pung's entire body with a profound gaze.
Just then, Jo Hun spoke in a flustered voice.
“Uh, um… you're pretty good.”
“Thank you, Martial Uncle!”
It seemed he had assumed Cheong Pung's aptitude would be low.
Ouyang Jue stopped watching the young disciples and shifted his gaze elsewhere.
In a way, they were the very reason Ouyang Jue had come here.
“Disciple, Mount Hua's movements are not so frivolous.”
“Ugh, agh!”
As Liu Zhangming's stern corrections continued, the Divine Demon Fist, drenched in sweat, scrambled to follow the footprints marked on the ground.
He sometimes had to forcibly restrain the urge to use the Path Towards the Extreme of Light, relying purely on his physical strength and abilities.
Watching this, Ouyang Jue tilted his head, wondering if Liu Zhangming had noticed anything.
But he showed no particular signs of suspicion.
He was simply teaching because the man had come here.
It felt like he was personally guiding a savage who had beaten up a member of the Beggars' Sect without any particular provocation.
Of course, he had also sent a questioning telepathic message.
-Who in the world is he to possess such strength at the age of thirty?
-...I also brought him here because it seemed a waste to let his abilities go to rot.
-Indeed. From a martial artist's perspective, I suppose it would seem that way. However.
At those words, Ouyang Jue's face stiffened. He was tense, wondering what would come next.
However, the words that followed made Ouyang Jue let out a dry laugh.
-Perhaps because he started martial arts late in life, he lacks persistence and tries to rest at every opportunity. He's also quite foul-mouthed. I wonder if he can truly endure the training of the righteous path…
-Well, once we fix his eccentric personality, won't he be fine?
Although he said this, Ouyang Jue was still wary of the Divine Demon Fist.
In the end, his coming to Mount Hua had been unavoidable.
He was also drawn to Ouyang Jue's current martial prowess and strength. For now, one could even call it awe.
That meant he was the type of person who could change his attitude as easily as flipping his palm.
He was different from the brothers Ouyang Jue currently kept by his side.
Ouyang Jue said with a cold expression.
-If it really doesn't work out, we'll have to hide him somewhere deep.
-Hmm.
The Liu Zhangming of the past would have vehemently objected, but he didn't now.
This was because he had seen that the world was not made up solely of what was right, and that other people were not always righteous.
It was overwhelming enough just to protect what was within his immediate grasp. Liu Zhangming tacitly agreed.
-By the way, Jue.
-Yes, Senior Brother.
-Does your disciple have some kind of scar on his body?
-...Ah.
‘Could it be because of the Mount Mao Sect talisman stuck to his chest?’
To avoid showing it, the Divine Demon Fist must have been avoiding taking off his upper garments.
Ouyang Jue casually made a joke.
-Having lived as a savage for so long, it seems he's developed a severe rash on his body.
-He must have lived a... rather squalid life.
As soon as those words were said, Liu Zhangming subtly put some distance between himself and the Divine Demon Fist.
Considering their future training, it was better to plant the impression that he was dirty so Liu Zhangming wouldn't see it at all.
Ouyang Jue glanced at the Divine Demon Fist for a moment, a look of pity on his face.
“Are you learning well from your Senior Brother?”
“I don't like learning from the basics… sir.”
Ouyang Jue answered without pretending to have heard him.
“Good, don't slack off.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the Divine Demon Fist shot a glare at Liu Zhangming.
Judging by his natural intuition, he was certainly no fool. He seemed eccentric, but he had a sharp side to him.
But Liu Zhangming was not the type to miss such a look.
“How dare you harbor ill will towards your Martial Uncle…”
“No, Master! That's not it!”
“Silence! Start again from the horse stance!”
“...Kugh!”
Plumes of white vapor rose into the chilly air.
This was because not only Ouyang Jue's close brothers but also the other Taoists were concentrating on their training, raising the heat.
‘Good.’
Ouyang Jue recalled this time of year from his past life.
The autumn and winter that arrived around the time he had just managed to overcome his grief after Ha Jin-ak's death.
The desolation he felt then was chillingly cold to an Ouyang Jue who harbored lofty dreams.
He had agonized, wondering if perhaps there was no path for Mount Hua.
But it was only after truly going out into the world, after facing countless good and bad fates, that Ouyang Jue realized.
That there is no righteousness in hardship, but that for a person to try and live righteously is extremely difficult.
The Ouyang Jue of his past life only realized this just before he died.
Leaving the training grounds, Ouyang Jue brewed some warm tea with familiar motions.
*Sip.*
The scent of the tea, full of verdure, tickled his nose, and its warmth spread through his insides.
It was different from his past life, which had been filled with the stench of blood and a biting chill.
It was unmistakable tranquility.
“Jue.”
Ouyang Jue turned his head at the sudden voice.
The Sect Leader, Bai Duanxian, who always wore clean robes and wanted to present a proper image to the other Taoists, was standing at the door.
Ouyang Jue quickly rose to his feet.
“Sect Leader, what brings you here at this late hour…”
And he was alone, without even the elders who usually accompanied him.
There was no sign of any other living presence.
Seeing Ouyang Jue's face full of doubt, Bai Duanxian answered in a quiet voice.
“The Plum Blossom Cave Dweller summons you.”
“Do you mean the one who gave me the Small Purple Spirit Elixir?”
“Yes.”
Bai Duanxian's face hardened.
“We are going to meet the Grand Ancestor, so straighten your attire.”
In that moment, Ouyang Jue felt an immense presence.