Chapter 27. Not going home?

In front of the destructive scene left by Yongjo Halji, Cheonjisangin was dazed.

Having lost the will to fight, Cheonjisangin slowly lowered the sword tip he had been holding up firmly. The confidence that had been brimming just moments ago had vanished without a trace.

I thought he was a boy with outstanding inner strength, but the subtlety of his sword technique is beyond imagination. He must be the first in the history of the Wudang Sect to shatter the Taiji Wisdom Sword head-on.

However, Yeonjeokha had no intention of ending it here.

It was time to return the favor.

His knees slightly bent, and then he pushed off the ground, soaring up powerfully.

The third form of the Guchunsebeop, Yunryongpungho.

Startled by Yeonjeokha's sudden counterattack, Cheonjisangin quickly returned to a combat stance.

The energy emitted from the sword distorted the flow of air.

As the sword swept past, the wind seemed to rise, quickly turning into a massive tornado.

Kwakwakwak.

Surprisingly, the vague shape of a blue dragon appeared within the tornado.

Cheonjisangin immediately realized that, like the Taiji Wisdom Sword, the sword qi had taken a form. The dragon-shaped sword qi was hiding within the tornado.

Whoooom.

The dragon-shaped sword qi, contained within the tornado, surged toward Cheonjisangin.

Gritting his teeth, Cheonjisangin summoned the Sunyangmogong.

Having used the Taiji Wisdom Sword twice already, his inner strength was nearly depleted. If he were to unleash the Taiji Wisdom Sword with this level of power, his qi and blood would reverse, leading to demonic transformation.

Cheonjisangin decided to perform the Taiji Sword, which he could execute with a small amount of inner strength.

The Songmungo sword drew a circle in front of the tornado.

The last word Cheonjisangin thought of was "Jeongjeogjeok."

Kuuu-.

The tornado lightly pressed down on Cheonjisangin.

The dragon-shaped sword qi, as if caressing him, spiraled around his torso and disappeared upon touching the ground.

Sssss.

Clumps of cut hair and fabric lay scattered at Cheonjisangin's feet.

Among his possessions, only the Songmungo sword retained its form.

Yeonjeokha muttered to himself,

"I didn't intend to kill him since he doesn't seem like a bad person. I wonder if it was the right thing to do."

If he hadn't retracted the killing intent, the flesh would have been sliced along with the clothes.

"Thank you."

Cheonjisangin, who had experienced overwhelming power, felt no shame in his defeat.

The martial artists of the Mansu Shangfang did not even dare to breathe heavily.

A person who could create a deep furrow and a tornado with a single sword slash was their enemy!

The number of the extermination force was meaningless in front of him. A person who could plow through ten zhang (about 30 meters) of earth with a single sword slash. Imagine if he were to fall upon the extermination force. They would vanish without a trace.

Cheonjisangin walked unsteadily to Guangfeng Jianke Sang Wuchien.

Sang Wuchien hurriedly took off his outer robe to cover his master.

Cheonjisangin, who had been chuckling, muttered,

"Did you see that?"

"Yes."

"You must have heard of the 'Heaven Beyond Heaven.' Extermination? It's impossible unless the emperor raises an army. Don't even think of challenging him."

Sang Wuchien replied respectfully.

Honestly, he had no intention of doing so even without Cheonjisangin's warning.

"Go back now."

Sang Wuchien looked up at his master. Something felt off.

"Master, what about you?"

"I will stay here for a while."

"Really?"

But Cheonjisangin did not explain further.

Sang Wuchien dared not ask more and had to lead the extermination force down the mountain.

As soon as they descended, Sang Wuchien ordered the extermination force not to speak of what they had seen today. It was necessary for the reputation of the Mansu Shangfang and the Wudang Sect.

***

Despite Sang Wuchien's efforts to keep it quiet, the failure of the Mansu Shangfang spread throughout southern Henan Province. The Wufengshanchai, once known as "unknown ruffians," became known as "tough guys." The story of Cheonjisangin had been distorted.

Another name became famous alongside the Wufengshanchai.

Through the martial artists of the Mansu Shangfang, the rumor of the "ten heroes who protected the Wufengshanchai" quietly spread. People called them the "Wufeng Ten Heroes." Of course, this was only in Bofeng County and a few nearby counties.

Late May.

Yeonjeokha lay on a bench in front of a shack, enjoying a rare afternoon nap.

Cheonjisangin plopped down next to him.

Waking up to the sound, Yeonjeokha asked, somewhat annoyed,

"Not going home?"

Cheonjisangin had been staying at the mountain camp for half a month.

During this time, he had been lingering around, talking about fate and destiny. Unlike the bandits, he felt refreshed and invigorated when with the old Taoist, so he wasn't annoyed.

But why was the Taoist wandering around the mountain camp?

"Hehe, have you already forgotten my nickname, 'Bindo'? Bindo takes the sky as a roof and the earth as a floor..."

"Oh, yes, yes."

Yeonjeokha, now fully awake, sat up.

Watching the children running and screaming in the courtyard, Cheonjisangin muttered,

"What a peaceful place. I never thought the mountain camp would be like this. Bindo never imagined it."

"Master, I'm really curious. Why are you here? Everyone is wondering."

Cheonjisangin looked at Yeonjeokha with a strange expression.

Over the past half month, he had stayed at the mountain camp and talked a lot with him.

He now realized how absurd it was to think he was a disciple of a demon. This boy had learned the secret techniques of the Xianmen.

His eyes and the aura he exuded were clear and transparent. Of course, his rough manners and crude behavior were due to living with bandits.

Hancheol, the female thief, said she had saved the dying Yeonjeokha. After that, he became a member of the mountain camp and remained there.

Just learning this was worth staying at the mountain camp. He had even blamed the Jade Emperor for thinking a unprecedented demon had been born.

He hadn't told Sang Wuchien, but he had stayed to guide him in a positive direction. Even after realizing it wasn't necessary, he stayed out of his own desire.

The final stage of the Taiji Wisdom Sword, the Three Extremes Linked.

He thought he could find the key to it by staying close to a master like Yeonjeokha.

"Once, you said something about drawing pictures with sword qi. Do you remember?"

"Yes, I do."

"Bindo has been practicing the Taiji Wisdom Sword for exactly thirty years. But no matter how hard I try, the three extremes won't link."

"What about it?"

Yeonjeokha couldn't understand why Cheonjisangin was saying this.

"You must be wondering why I'm telling this to someone unrelated to the Wudang Sect."

"You know me well."

"To be honest, I want to hear your advice on the Three Extremes Linked."

Cheonjisangin had been open about his intentions as they had become close.

"Eh? I don't even know what the Three Extremes or Linked mean."

"Isn't it said that all rivers flow to the sea? The end of martial arts is ultimately the same. When you said you 'draw pictures with sword qi,' Bindo felt something special. I might be mistaken, but it seems our martial arts are similar."

"Ah, I see."

Yeonjeokha understood what Cheonjisangin was saying.

He had felt something similar at the time.

The forms of the Taiji Sword and the dragon-shaped sword qi were different, but their essence was similar!

"Of course, I can't just benefit one-sidedly. If you give me advice, I will help you with your shortcomings."

"Shortcomings?"

A smile appeared on Cheonjisangin's face.

For some reason, this excellent boy lacked a comprehensive understanding of martial arts. That's why he had countered the Taiji Wisdom Sword with a demon-subduing technique. Cheonjisangin intended to fill in these gaps during their time together.

"From what I see, you need a better understanding of the basics of martial arts. You know almost nothing outside of the techniques you've learned, right?"

"I do have that tendency."

"If you understand the basics of martial arts, your skills will deepen even further."

After a moment's thought, Yeonjeokha nodded readily.

This was definitely a mutually beneficial arrangement.

***

East of Luoyang, Yanshi.

Walong Hall.

A large training ground on one side of the compound was filled with the Yan family for the first time in a long while. It was an event for the Yan family before the opening of the Walong Hall.

The purpose of the event was, of course, to demonstrate the Guchun Sword Technique.

The Yan family elders, seated in a specially prepared area, looked at the training ground with slightly excited expressions.

In the center of the training ground stood Yan Wubai and Yan Shengbai.

The elders had high hopes for Yan Wubai, who had returned from training at the Nangong family. He had cultivated the Guchun Sword Technique to the highest level among the Yan family.

Shortly after, Yan Wubai, the second master and young master of the Walong Hall, bowed to the elders.

A pleased smile spread across Bai Meizhu's face, who was sitting alongside the elders.

Tomorrow, the Walong Hall would open its doors to accept external disciples. It was the first step toward becoming a renowned martial arts family, a long-held dream.

Yan Wubai's current achievement was a remarkable seven stars.

Although he hadn't reached the level of her deceased husband, it was enough to be called a master.

Yan Wubai and Yan Shengbai stood side by side and quickly demonstrated the first to ninth forms of the Guchun Sword Technique.

The elders nodded in approval at the seamless demonstration of the two brothers.

After the demonstration of the Guchun Sword Technique, the brothers entered a pre-arranged sparring match.

Based on the movements of the Guchun Sword Technique, a splendid exchange of attacks and defenses unfolded.

The two swords clashed and separated dozens of times.

It looked like a choreographed dance, as if the two brothers were performing a sword dance.

As time passed, the difference in their power became apparent.

Unlike Yan Wubai, whose breathing remained steady, Yan Shengbai was panting heavily, his shoulders heaving.

Fortunately, the sparring match ended soon after.

Yan Shengbai's role ended there.

As Yan Shengbai moved into the audience, Yan Wubai stood tall in the center of the training ground.

"I have gained some insights recently. I would like to demonstrate them to the elders today."

Yan Wubai then drew his sword with a cautious expression.

The sword tip pointed toward the ground.

Among the elders, a low murmur of "Yongzhaohalji" could be heard.

Yan Wubai calmly summoned the power of the Tianlong Wushang Gong.

The Tianlong Wushang Gong is a cultivation method that the Yan family ancestors recovered from a foreign land after losing the Xiannüjing. Fortunately, the power of the Tianlong Wushang Gong and the Guchun Sword Technique complement each other well, and it is now treated as a family technique.

Zzzing-.

As the power of the Tianlong Wushang Gong was infused, the sword blade trembled slightly.

Yan Wubai recalled the seventh form of the Guchun Sword Technique, "Yongzhaohalji."

The recent insight he had gained during his cultivation was called "heart image."

He visualized a giant dragon's claw tearing through the earth.

Where the mind goes, the energy flows.

The sword tip, drawing a crescent arc above his head, fell like a bolt of lightning.

Kwakwakwak.

Three streams of sword wind split from the sword tip, cutting deep into the training ground floor.

"Ooooh!"

The elders, forgetting their dignity, leaped to their feet and cheered.

The faint traces of the sword wind left on the training ground floor sent shivers down their spines.

Ambition burned brightly in Bai Meizhu's eyes.

This event took place the day before the opening of the Walong Hall, a renowned family in Yanshi.