Chapter 189
Chapter 189
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 189
Chapter Title: Piercing the Sun
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From ancient times, Point Cang had always been a place with an unclear identity.
Even the sect leader of Point Cang himself didn't truly know its origins.
Did it originate from a Daoist temple that revered Hou Yi?
Judging from its core absolute art, the Sunshot Swordsmanship, that much was true.
Or was it closer to a Buddhist temple, given its close ties to the Dali Kingdom, which had made Buddhism its state religion?
During the kingdom's heyday, Point Cang's leaders had always been from the Duan royal family of Dali, so that was true as well.
"Master. Is Point Cang Daoist or Buddhist?"
The master answered young Nung-o's question like this.
"Nung-o, the Yun'nan mountain where our sect resides was originally called Cang Mountain."
What is "cang"? As the term "cang sky" suggests, cang is synonymous with the heavens.
Add a "point" to it, and you get Point Cang.
True to its name, Point Cang Sect is a gathering of swordsmen aspiring to become a single, pure point in the sky—that is, to reach the sun.
"Thus, the path we pursue is neither the Dao of Daoism nor the path of Buddhism. Our path is the Sword Path."
The image of his master stroking young Nung-o's head while answering was still vividly etched in his mind.
"Therefore, Nung-o. Dan Nung-o, heir to the Duan name. You must follow in this master's footsteps and walk the Sword Path of Sunshot. Can you do that?"
Though he was young, Nung-o felt a fate and destiny beyond words.
The world calls their union destiny.
"Yes! This disciple will surely see the path's end!"
His master, smiling all the while as he stroked Nung-o's head, gripped a sword in that hand and thrust it at him.
"Then die."
Nung-o couldn't even groan.
The blade had pierced below his Adam's apple, through his windpipe.
Only the dead don't breathe.
Thus, breath is akin to life itself.
The sword extreme that pierced life.
The blade's sharp form. The cold touch of steel.
Feeling the sword through his own life, accepting its essence.
Nung-o lost consciousness and wandered the brink between life and death for over three days.
"Awake? How was it, your sword?"
Those were the first words Nung-o heard upon reviving from near death.
His master wasn't concerned for young Nung-o's well-being but asked about the Sword Path.
Any ordinary child would have burst into tears from resentment.
But young Nung-o's eyes sparkled as he replied.
"It was a ray of light!"
Though young, his talent transcended generations.
Thanks to that, he could discern the essence from his master's thrust at his throat.
It was a sword, yet a ray of light.
Like an arrow loosed from a bowstring.
Swifter than anything, akin to light itself.
"Excellent. That is Sunshot."
A ray of light piercing life—that is Sunshot.
The hand that had gripped the sword thrust through his windpipe now stroked his head again.
"Dan Nung-o, Dan Nung-o. From now on, you shall be called simply Nung-o."
Point Cang does not bestow Daoist names upon its disciples.
Instead, to signify devoting everything to the sword, they discard their surnames.
Thus, Dan Nung-o became Nung-o.
And a disciple of Point Cang's Foremost Sword.
"Nung-o, we are Daoists."
Members of Point Cang call themselves Daoists.
"To walk the path, one must be ready to discard anything."
Thus, Point Cang's training involved severing many things.
At seven, Nung-o spent ten days atop Point Cang Mountain's highest peak, staring at the sun without food or water.
At eight, three years after first gripping a sword, he completed a hundred thousand thrusts.
And at ten, he was cut by his sword over a hundred times in his sleep.
Because he had to sleep surrounded by dozens of blades on his bed.
"Is it hard? Endure it. Nung-o, you are a Daoist."
The first form of Sunshot Swordsmanship is Hou Yi Shooting the Sun.
Its ultimate pinnacle form is also Hou Yi Shooting the Sun.
To pierce the sun as a human requires enduring unbearable training.
A supreme swordsmanship unattainable without such endurance.
That was Sunshot Swordsmanship.
The path Point Cang pursued.
"It's fine to die during training. Approach it with that mindset."
"Yearn for it. Fight to the death gladly, and accept any life-or-death duel with the strong."
"Devote everything to the path you walk."
"Hear the Dao in the morning, and death in the evening is acceptable."
If you comprehend the Dao in the morning, dying that evening is fine.
The sword is the Dao itself, worth devoting everything to attain.
But.
Cultivation. Self-discipline. The Dao's pursuit.
Why is refinement praised?
Because it's excessively difficult for mortals.
"A Wudang disciple wishes to witness Point Cang's sword."
The trigger was the Wind and Cloud Assembly, where the Nine Great Sects' ten factions gathered.
Martial artists always compete when they meet, making it a stage to determine each sect's foremost expert.
"Well seen. Excellent."
Excellent. The word implies praise and respect.
But from victor to vanquished, it's mere consolation.
"A thrust that draws involuntary admiration."
"Wow, Sunshot Swordsmanship truly is peerless under heaven!"
"Eye-opening. I learned much."
Point Cang lost to Wudang.
For six Wind and Cloud Assemblies, a full cycle of sixty years.
"Sunshot Swordsmanship. A fitting art for the world's foremost sword sect."
Words from the current world's foremost sword—the former foremost sword of what became the past world's foremost sword sect.
Point Cang splintered.
Immersed in anger from frustration, plunged into doubt about their path.
The Sword Path is worth total devotion.
But is Sunshot truly the answer?
"It is the answer. Our path is Sunshot."
Nung-o's master, Point Cang's Foremost Sword, declared.
Yet it rang like the bravado of the defeated.
For he had lost to Wudang's Foremost Sword for a full sixty years.
That was when.
Spectral Swordsmanship appeared.
"A sword art reinterpreting the Path of Sunshot. I name it Spectral. It embodies splitting even light."
Myeong-wol. A senior disciple of the same generation as Point Cang's Foremost Sword, the eldest among them.
Known for decades of secluded sword refinement, he presented Spectral Swordsmanship to the sect.
"Impossible! A peerless absolute art!"
"Like Sunshot in principle, yet different! A brilliant evolution!"
"And its training is easier and more convenient than Sunshot!"
Sunshot's sword is profoundly abstruse, its realm arduous to attain.
Spectral's sword, by contrast, even young disciples could learn easily and grow stronger swiftly.
Point Cang's choice was Spectral.
"Bestow Spectral Swordsmanship upon all disciples. This is the sect leader's command."
"Spectral Swordsmanship will be Point Cang's new core absolute art."
Of course, there was opposition. Those upholding tradition and their forebears' will refused to abandon Sunshot.
But the tide was unstoppable.
Humans prefer the easy and convenient.
All the more if the peak they can reach is just as high.
"Senior brother, stop learning Spectral Swordsmanship now."
Ten years later, when Nung-o reached thirty. Words from Myeong-wol upon visiting his master's abode.
Myeong-wol smiled victoriously at his much younger senior brother, Point Cang's Foremost Sword.
"Junior brother, Point Cang's path is Sunshot."
"Why so archaic? Sunshot is outdated."
"No. The root is everything. Sunshot Swordsmanship is the world's finest."
"Yes. The world's finest. It was the world's finest. Who in our sect has attained Sunshot's path? No one. Even looking back through generations, it's a hundred years."
True. Undeniable.
Sunshot Swordsmanship brought Point Cang glory as the world's foremost sword sect, but it was also the culprit of its decline.
"Senior brother. Point Cang must be the world's foremost sword sect. With your talent as Foremost Sword learning Spectral Swordsmanship, Point Cang can reclaim supremacy."
Silent, Nung-o's master posed one question.
"Junior brother. Did you truly create Spectral Swordsmanship yourself?"
"......"
This time, Myeong-wol fell silent. His eventual words weren't an answer.
"Will you truly refuse Spectral Swordsmanship? Then this junior brother must claim the title of Point Cang's Foremost Sword."
What they discussed next, Nung-o couldn't know.
But surely, after moving elsewhere, they dueled to test their skills.
"Nung-o. Take up your sword. I'll impart my final lesson."
Returning gravely wounded, his master ordered a disciple-master spar.
"Master! You must rest!"
"No! Nung-o! Sword up! This is my command!"
Perhaps he already knew his time was short.
"Show me. Your path. The way you walk!"
Just two exchanges.
A thrust like a ray of light.
Sunshot Swordsmanship's first form: Hou Yi Shooting the Sun.
Sunshot Swordsmanship's final form: Hou Yi Shooting the Sun.
"Nung-o."
"Master......"
"Did you see?"
"......I saw......"
Every Point Cang disciple bore a scar pierced by a sword below the Adam's apple.
Long and vertical, called the Eagle Eye Mark.
The sword extreme had pierced the Eagle Eye Mark.
"Excellent. Truly excellent. You and I are finally true fellow Daoists."
"Master, please......"
"Listen calmly. It wasn't Spectral (分光), but Chaotic Light (紛光)."
Not the "split" of division, but the "disordered" of chaos.
"Spectral Swordsmanship is mere light that disorders Point Cang. So do not abandon Sunshot's path."
His master's words slowed.
"Thus, Nung-o. You must...... show it. Awaken Point Cang to Sunshot's path...... once more."
Make them realize what Sunshot is.
"Yes, Master! This disciple will surely do so! Master! So please! Please!"
Days later, his master passed. Smiling to the end.
Thus, Nung-o didn't cry.
Instead, he laughed. Desperately laughed.
Until that smiling face was etched into his features.
'Master. This disciple will surely fulfill your command.'
Now, Nung-o was the only disciple in Point Cang not practicing Spectral Swordsmanship.
And he took on all the outer sect duties.
For martial artists, training is paramount.
Thus, prestigious sects like the Nine Greats don't burden core disciples with chores.
Time for training is scarce enough.
"Disciple Nung-o of our sect, hear this. Your stubborn adherence to Sunshot makes ascension unlikely. At least serve as fertilizer for the other disciples."
Despite his generational talent and status as Foremost Sword's disciple, assigning Nung-o outer duties was improper.
But it was the sect leader's command, advised by current Foremost Sword Myeong-wol.
"Disciple Nung-o accepts the sect leader's command."
Thus, years flowed like water.
Nung-o became a first-generation disciple, still handling outer duties.
'Honestly...... I didn't fully understand back then, Master.'
Why did Master reject Spectral and cling only to Sunshot?
What's wrong with a sword that's easy, convenient, and reaches great heights?
Now he understood.
'Master. Things are changing greatly.'
Point Cang pursued only the sword.
Like Shaolin, cherishing benevolence and righteousness.
But no longer.
Point Cang wanted more.
'No need for total devotion, so they crave more. That's what they think. But it's different.'
Point Cang never scrupled over means to attain the Dao.
But the direction was shifting clearly.
"Henceforth, our sect will aid the Divine Healer's endeavors."
They began escorting a man claiming to be the world's foremost healer's disciple around wealthy houses.
He offered no proof of identity, but his massive donations made it irrelevant.
"Subjugate nearby sects. Disciples, act for our sect's benefit."
Point Cang had pursued the sword, not power.
Now, it saw worldly authority as rightful.
"Daoism debates the Dao. We build Daoist temples and research Point Cang's path."
Bearing hues of both Buddhism and Daoism, Point Cang's path was the sword.
No longer.
Sunshot, and the Spectral derived from it.
They began to believe light—their common thread, illumination—was the path to pursue.
'Master. You were right. This disciple will fulfill your final command.'
"Command to disciple Nung-o."
"Disciple accepts the sect leader's command."
Nung-o carried out every order without resistance.
Silently, faithfully, leaving no room for objection.
Occasionally, the sect leader, pitying him, would ask.
"Still refusing to yield?"
Each time, Nung-o smiled wordlessly.
Ten years ostracized by the entire sect, living alone.
Sunshot's spirit still blazed within him.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Swords hold many things.
Thus, swordsmen say this.
That swordsmen converse through the sword.
Tang!
The sound of torn air exploding.
Hard to believe a single thrust could produce such noise.
'A thrust like literal lightning.'
"Eek, thought I was dead."
"......Not words for someone who didn't dodge."
Nung-o's sword tip rested at Yang-hui's throat.
Yang-hui hadn't dodged the all-piercing thrust, and Nung-o hadn't expected him to stop midway yet left not even a shallow scratch on his skin.
Both displayed rare divine skill.
"As expected. It's different."
"Is it? The root principle is the same."
Sunshot seeks to pierce light.
Spectral seeks to split light.
If we call Sunshot's light and Spectral's light the same, one could say so.
But.
"No self-mastery."
To shoot and pierce the sun, one must become the arrow leaving the bowstring.
That is Point Cang's self-mastery.
Nung-o, body trembling faintly, asked.
"Why didn't you dodge?"
"No reason to. I ask back. Why did you stop?"
"Because you didn't dodge."
A Zen exchange, yet enough for mutual understanding.
One form only, but they were swordsmen.
"There's a demonic cult called the Sun-Moon Holy Cult. Their stench reeks strongly from Spectral Swordsmanship."
"Is that so? As I thought, not your own creation."
"Brother Nung. I bear deep grudge against the Holy Cult bastards. Seems they're scheming in Point Cang Sect. Brother Nung, won't you help with my revenge?"
"Rather, I'd ask for young hero's aid. Tell me more about the Holy Cult? And my surname isn't Nung."
"What is it then?"
"Discarded it."
"Then just Brother Nung it is."
"Agreed."
The two briefly shared what they knew.
"Stinks of Holy Cult filth, yet the energy's pure. They must've just taken the principles."
"Recently, Senior Uncle Myeong-wol entered seclusion. To create a new ultimate technique."
"Ah. Gradually corrupting them, eh."
"Any guess why Holy Cult lackeys pull these strings?"
"Their goal's obvious. They want all under heaven to believe as they do."
"Doesn't matter if the wrapper's Point Cang. Just the start anyway."
Yang-hui had probed suspecting Point Cang as Holy Cult puppets. Fortunately, not yet.
Precisely, not quite yet.
'In my past life, I had oddly little connection to Point Cang. Never even heard rumors of Brother Nung.'
Now it made sense.
Being eroded by Holy Cult schemes, Point Cang would start controlling external rumors more tightly.
The sole resistor, Nung-o, must have died soon after.
No doubt.
Someone this exceptional wouldn't have died unknown.
"Brother Nung. Truth is, I'm not a disciple of the Divine Physician Seong-su."
"That so? Thought he was real since True Family Head sobered up."
"Instead, I'm a disciple of one of the Heavenly Martial Ten Supremes."
"What?!"
"My master is currently pursuing traces of the demonic cult. Inform him of Point Cang's anomaly, and he'll surely intervene."
A fact unknown save to Je-gal Seol-ha, yet he trusted Nung-o enough to reveal it.
Nung-o seemed slightly flustered at the casual secret-sharing.
"How can you trust and tell me this?"
"Swords hold the heart."
"......"
One form only, but the swordsmen had conversed through swords.
At least Yang-hui thought, believed, and deemed it sufficient.
As martial artists, swordsmen, sword and martial arts were vessels holding what words could not.
"I'll ask again, Brother Nung."
Meeting Nung-o's silent gaze, he continued.
"What do you want to do?"