Chapter 26 : Chapter 26

Chapter 26. This Is Somewhat Unfair (4)

Wudang Mountain, where the bitter cold has arrived.

In a place where human traces were rare, a young man in his mid-20s was swinging a spear in a state of selflessness.

The heat rising from his body evaporated the snow the moment it touched him, and smoke rose thickly from the young man’s body.

Han Cheong-un, twenty-five years old.

It was a time not long after the First Great War of Orthodox and Unorthodox had ended.

At this time, Han Cheong-un had submitted a leave of absence to the Murim Alliance and was secluded in Wudang Mountain, refining his martial arts.

Paaang!

Finally, after unfolding all the spear forms…….

“How is it?”

Han Cheong-un, with a slightly flushed expression, spoke with a face full of anticipation.

The person he spoke to was an old Taoist wearing the uniform of the Wudang Sect.

A shabby uniform and a single old sword hanging from his waist.

However, unlike his attire, he was a legend of the Murim and a figure like the symbol of Wudang.

Supreme Polarity Sword Emperor, Cheonggong.

The Supreme Elder of Wudang and the supreme master of the Orthodox Faction.

That was before the last Great War of Orthodox and Unorthodox, and now people of the world express him in one word.

World’s Best Person.

That is correct.

The cruel history called war is bound to always birth heroes.

And the hero born from the last war was this very person.

The moment he stood aloof after forcing four of the Sect Leaders of the Eight Gates of the Evil Way to their knees by himself.

The world could not help but acknowledge him as the World’s Best Person.

And now, such a person spoke towards Han Cheong-un.

“It is excellent.”

“It is thanks to Elder’s teachings.”

“Hmm, of course, it is thanks to my teachings.”

He was the World’s Best Person who did not particularly decline the compliment.

And he continued to speak.

“However, your effort was also excellent. Though not as much as my teachings.”

“…….”

“Keuhmm, the Martial Theory of Eight Trigrams I devised was made with sword forms. Despite the fact that it is not easy to use with a spear, you have excellently made it your own.”

“Thank you, Elder.”

Han Cheong-un bowed his head while clasping his hands with a moved face.

His heart was overwhelmed by the fact that he was acknowledged by someone who was like an idol.

‘This fellow, this is really…….’

Looking at such Han Cheong-un, a mixture of gratification and pity brushed past Cheonggong’s face.

At first, he had only heard it through rumors.

He became curious at the words that a low-ranking warrior belonging to the Seven Swords Squad of the Murim Alliance had established quite the merit.

Starting from the anecdote that he remained in the rear alone to buy time to save his comrades, to the story that he fought against a bandit group alone to help a civilian woman in crisis…….

Since there were so many absurd stories, he was curious to see what kind of guy he was, so he went to visit him once.

And the result of seeing him in person…….

‘He is quite the character…….’

The rumors actually tended to be downplayed.

His martial arts skills were not comparable to the prodigies of the prestigious Orthodox Sects, but that was because he had not learned any high-level martial arts at all.

It was phenomenal that he had built that level of skill with only the basic martial arts taught at the Murim Alliance’s training facility.

So he watched him a little more.

And he realized two facts.

One was…….

‘He’s a damn lucky guy. Why do women cling to him like magnets like that?’

It was clear he had romance luck sent from the heavens.

How does the woman next to him change if he takes his eyes off for just a moment?

He doesn’t seem to be seducing them himself, but women just cling to him.

And the second was…….

‘He is upright. Very much like a bamboo stalk.’

In fact, he was a bit excessively like a bamboo stalk.

Watching his actions, it was to the point where one would think, ‘Does that guy die if he doesn’t live righteously? Does he have a few extra spare lives?’

At some point, he thought it was a waste for him to die, so he saved his life a few times and formed a connection, and eventually…….

“We ended up here.”

“Yes?”

“No, just talking to myself.”

Anyway, Cheonggong called Han Cheong-un to Wudang Mountain to properly instruct him.

And the result of teaching him…….

‘This is even more of a find than I thought?’

Honestly, he thought there would be some martial talent.

But you see.

Original geniuses are scattered all over the Jianghu.

Search the Nine Sects One Gang or the Five Great Families.

Is there a place without a genius?

Every generation, kids called dragons or phoenixes are bound to pop out.

He thought Han Cheong-un’s martial talent was about that level.

But it was a miscalculation.

He was testing how far he could digest while teaching one by one, but when he came to his senses, he was digesting even the incomplete Martial Theory of Eight Trigrams as his own.

‘This guy is not a genius.’

He was a monster.

Of the same kind as himself.

Naturally, Cheonggong tried to accept this child as a disciple.

However…….

[You cannot. Junior Uncle!]

[How can we accept such a person as a disciple of the Great Wudang Sect?]

[Please consider the hierarchy and status. If he becomes Junior Uncle’s disciple, it means that child becomes our Junior Brother. How deprived would the young ones feel?]

But the so-called Elders of the sect all rose up and opposed it.

Even the Sect Leader stepped forward…….

[Junior Uncle, this alone cannot be done.]

He opposed like that.

The excuses were lengthy, but the reason was one.

They disliked giving such a high position to a young man who was merely a low-ranking warrior of the Murim Alliance.

“Tsk, these guys called Taoists have hearts the size of an anchovy's soy sauce dish. I really need to pick a day to break all these old fogies’ heads…….”

“…….”

Han Cheong-un smiled bitterly.

Although he could not formally become a disciple, what he learned from this person was a grace he had to repay for the rest of his life.

“I am fine. Please do not mind it.”

“No, no. Even if just because these unfilial disciple nephews are cheeky, I cannot endure this as is.”

“Yes?”

“Are these guys rebelling just because their heads have grown a bit? I might just flip everything over.”

“…….”

Laughter does not come out.

Because this person possesses the skill to actually do it and the temper to possibly do it.

“Since it has come to this, I will teach the Martial Theory of Eight Trigrams only to you.”

“Yes?”

“I will not teach a single move to those disciple nephews.”

“Isn’t that leaking the sect’s martial arts?”

“It is fine. This is not the sect’s martial art, but my unique martial art that I created, so I can do whatever I want.”

I feel like we need to hear the Wudang Sect Leader’s position on that?

“I have a good idea. I will teach you all of my unique martial arts.”

“Um, Elder?”

“Let’s see……. Since you are unfolding sword forms with a spear, the opening in close combat has inevitably become larger.”

“No, excuse me.”

“I will teach you the Palm Strike.”

“You cannot! Elder!”

Han Cheong-un was greatly shocked.

Wudang Palm Strike.

Even when discussed as a pure palm technique, it is a palm technique that falls within the top ten in the world.

To pass on a martial art that is like the symbol of Wudang along with the Wudang Supreme Polarity Sword Arts to him?

Han Cheong-un spoke with a serious face.

“Elder, how can you try to pass on Wudang’s secret martial arts to an outsider? There is no way Wudang’s precepts will tolerate it.”

“It is done. Then, instead of the Wudang Palm Strike, I will teach you the Heaven and Earth Divine Palm. It is a new palm strike I created.”

“A new palm strike, you say?”

“That is right.”

“For reference, what is different about it?”

“The name is different. Can’t you tell just by looking?”

“…….”

Is this allowed?

I feel like it’s not?

One way or another, Han Cheong-un could not break Cheonggong’s stubbornness.

Thanks to the teachings from that time, Han Cheong-un was able to learn high-level martial arts, and due to that, it was a great help in becoming the later World's Best Spear.

‘I dared not call him Master. But…….’

Excluding the basic martial arts learned at the Murim Alliance’s training institution, the only existence Han Cheong-un received teachings from was only the Supreme Polarity Sword Emperor.

In fact, even looking at Han Cheong-un’s martial arts using spear arts, there would be no one who could connect him with the Supreme Polarity Sword Emperor.

Unless one was a possessor of considerable discernment, that is.

* * *

“I ask again. What is your relationship with the Sword Emperor Elder?”

‘Tsk, I guess he really is an Elder of Mount Hua.’

Seeing Hyun Myeong’s pressing gaze, he seemed convinced that there must be some connection between Han Cheong-un and the Supreme Polarity Sword Emperor.

‘What do I do? I could try to deny it until the end, but……. Ah!’

At that moment, there was a single thought that brushed past Han Cheong-un’s mind.

Although it was an impromptu thought, there was still sufficient possibility.

“I am sorry, but I cannot tell you that.”

“You cannot say? Why?”

“Before True Master Cheongheo’s permission is given, I cannot speak with my own mouth.”

“Cheongheo……. Hmm……. Are you related to that friend?”

“……I am sorry. I cannot say.”

“Right. I see.”

Hyun Myeong’s gaze, which had been glaring fiercely, softened somewhat.

The atmosphere changed the moment Han Cheong-un mentioned the connection with True Master Cheongheo.

‘As expected, it works.’

Han Cheong-un smirked.

Hyun Myeong is an Elder of Mount Hua.

However, despite being an Elder, he is a figure who prioritizes the Murim Alliance more than his own sect.

And the person whom such Hyun Myeong strongly pushed to become the Murim Alliance Leader is exactly…….

‘It was True Master Cheongheo.’

The man who stabbed Han Cheong-un’s body with a sword.

The Sect Leader of Wudang and the next Murim Alliance Leader.

It is said that the support of the Taoist sword sects such as Mount Hua, Zhongnan, and Qingcheng, in addition to Wudang, was absolute for him to rise to the position of Alliance Leader.

And among them, this man must have been one of the closest aides who strongly supported True Master Cheongheo.

Selling True Master Cheongheo’s name to such a person worked immediately.

“Then you are……. No. It is done. If you cannot speak, you do not need to answer.”

Perhaps there are complex thoughts in his head.

Right now, inside Hyun Myeong’s head, Han Cheong-un might be regarded as a hidden talent secretly raised by True Master Cheongheo, Hyun Won.

“Hmm…… Hmhm……. Indeed, it is so.”

What is so?

“I understand well.”

So what?

He didn't know what kind of scheme was being formed in his head, but he seemed to have established a quite positive hypothesis and was convinced.

“I will ask just one thing. Is the Secret Cave of the Shadowless Divine Thief that you are guiding us to real?”

“Of course.”

“Can you swear on True Master Cheongheo’s name?”

“Yes. Of course.”

Han Cheong-un answered without an inch of hesitation.

Those eyes looked extremely truthful.

“I understand. Then, I will pretend I saw nothing. It is not bad to have one debt owed…….”

“…….”

Han Cheong-un nodded his head silently.

‘Seems like it passed over well.’

* * *

After crossing the Yangtze River and coming down to Hunan.

The group secretly parted ways with the Wi Clan Escort Agency and began independent action.

The destination was Mount Nokrok.

It is a rocky mountain where green deer are said to live, but it is not such a famous place.

However…….

“The Secret Cave is somewhere in this mountain.”

“Do you not know the exact location?”

“Yes. From here on, a search is needed.”

“Hmm……. I see.”

Hyun Myeong nodded at Han Cheong-un’s words and spoke.

“Good. Let us divide the people. Everyone, move widely and scour this mountain.”

“Yes.”

“Yes.”

The disciples of Mount Hua scattered all at once.

Han Cheong-un also moved separately with Dang Jin.

Like that, after falling behind by some distance…….

“Do you really not know the exact location of the Secret Cave?”

“No way.”

Han Cheong-un knew the exact location of the Secret Cave well.

At that time, the Secret Cave of the Shadowless Divine Thief was a huge incident that made even the Murim factions, exhausted from the Great War of Orthodox and Unorthodox, lift their buttocks.

There was no one who didn't know when, where, who discovered it, and how the result turned out.

Naturally, Han Cheong-un knows it all too.

“And Young Mistress Baek knows it well too. Isn't that right?”

At Han Cheong-un’s words, the one who revealed herself with a swish from behind was Baek Sua.

She approached Han Cheong-un and Dang Jin and spoke.

“Are you intending to hide the Secret Cave?”

“The Sect Leader of Mount Hua said he would give me half of the remaining treasures excluding the Purple Mist Divine Sword among the treasures inside the Secret Cave.”

“…….”

“Actually, I don’t care if I can secure just one thing, but this friend here stopped me.”

At Han Cheong-un’s words, Dang Jin frowned and spoke.

“Does it make sense for someone who wants to create a sect to look down on money? Is it even possible to create a sect without money?”

“Isn’t there the case of the Beggar’s Gang?”

“Really? Then shall we become beggars too?”

“……Is that a bit off?”

“It’s not just a bit off, it’s completely off.”

“Umm…….”

“And the Beggar’s Gang has a lot of money. They probably have more than our Tang Clan.”

Anyway, funds were also an essential element to create a sect.

And…….

“Also, looking at Elder Hyun Myeong’s actions, it doesn’t seem like he will give half. Thirty percent? No, he might not even give ten percent properly.”

At Dang Jin’s decisive words, Han Cheong-un shrugged his shoulders and spoke.

“Is there any other way when you say it like that? I also have no choice but to inevitably stab them in the back.”

He is brazen to the point where one’s jaw would drop.

Was he originally this kind of person?

No?

He was definitely a person who was upright to the point of being frustrating and transparent inside.

Baek Sua spoke in a bewildered voice.

“You have changed quite a lot. You weren’t originally a person who used such petty tricks.”

“I had no choice but to change.”

If one rots for over ten years in a prison where not a single ray of light enters while being a cripple stabbed by a blade of betrayal, it would be more difficult for a person not to change.

Han Cheong-un glanced at Baek Sua.

Beautiful beauty and a mysterious atmosphere.

It is an appearance almost no different from her in the past.

Perhaps she might be the only person in this world right now who can understand Han Cheong-un.

Since they share the same memories.

However…….

‘This person probably doesn’t know, right?’

There is something decisively different.

So she won't know.

She won't know at all what Han Cheong-un suffered after she died.

Can I tell her that?

Can I tell her the fact that some of the Elders of her sect betrayed me and locked me in prison?

‘I don’t know.’

Judgment did not come easily.

While walking with such thoughts, the group finally arrived at the destination.

“I think it’s around here……?”

“Here?”

Dang Jin was bewildered looking at the scene in front of his eyes.

What was in front of his eyes was just an ordinary rock face.

It was a wall with some ivy growing, but other than that, there was nothing particularly special.

“It’s invisible to our eyes because there is a barrier.”

“A barrier, you say?”

“The peerless great thief called Shadowless Divine Thief had quite a lot of tricks. Naturally, he didn’t just leave his Secret Cave alone.”

“Ah……. Then what do we do? Sect Leader, do you know how to undo the barrier?”

“I could do it if I tried. But…….”

Han Cheong-un hesitated.

There was only one way for him to undo the barrier.

‘If I smash everything, the barrier will also be destroyed.’

Then it will be undone.

But if I do that, a disturbance will arise in the area.

If the disciples of Mount Hua approach at the noise of the boundary breaking, we cannot monopolize the Secret Cave.

If so…….

“Young Mistress Baek.”

“…….”

“Since you’ve come this far, won’t you help a little?”

At Han Cheong-un’s words, Baek Sua thought for a moment, then nodded slightly and spoke.

“Please promise one thing.”

“Speak.”

“Once this matter is over, please do not associate with me anymore. I do not want to get entangled with you…….”

“I understand.”

Han Cheong-un answered without hesitation.

Then Baek Sua walked forward.

“Can she undo the barrier?”

“Even if the Clan Head of the Jaegal Clan comes, there is no person who can undo the barrier better than her.”

“Yes?”

And Baek Sua, who went forward…….

“Hold my hand.”

And Han Cheong-un held Baek Sua’s hand, and Dang Jin tried to hold Baek Sua’s other hand…….

“Why are you avoiding it?”

He tried to hold it, but Baek Sua avoided his hand.

And she spoke…….

“To undo the barrier, it is comfortable for one hand to be free.”

“…….”

Then Han Cheong-un, who was next to her, spoke.

“Dang Jin, you hold my hand.”

“…….”

Oh, then that works.

It works, but…….

‘Something feels unfair.’

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