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0164 ———————————————-

Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors

I thought the Thunder God Lineage was just group training at the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School, but boy, was I mistaken. Each day’s schedule was tighter than I imagined. I had to wake up first every dawn, desperately squeezing out Jang Sam-bong’s insights from my mind to train before everyone else. The others would rise after half a moment, watching me and mimicking my moves.

Strangely enough, they surrounded me in a circular formation, about a distance of a few Zhang, and began their training. Initially, I wondered why they did it this way, but after roughly three days, as Sagong Lin and Jeonghu got accustomed to the form, I understood.

The people forming that circle were so engrossed in their martial arts that, as they pondered the fundamentals and meanings of swordplay, they would gather at noon and start discussing. I participated, and to my surprise, even Sagong Lin and Jeonghu, whose skill levels were clearly lower than mine, made incredibly sharp points during our discussions.

Jin So-cheong, Extreme Tiger, Lee Kwang, Sagong Lin, and Jeonghu.

These were all talents that could be one in a thousand in martial arts, and the sensations they experienced while honing their skills were astonishing. Every time I executed a technique or transformation with the Bowing Sky Slash or Heavenly Contraction Sword, I swallowed my saliva watching them share their insights and discuss.

‘Amazing…’

If it were me, I’d just be scraping by with the basics. But somehow, after one round of discussion, we quickly approached the profound meanings. We even ended up unraveling connections and spinoffs hidden in techniques. My head felt like it was spinning, and I had to keep focusing on the discussions.

But how could it be any different? Martial arts naturally progressed faster when learned together rather than alone, and when gifted individuals shared their results, the efficiency skyrocketed. About seven weeks into my training, I realized I was making progress on martial arts research that would have taken me several years if I’d done it alone.

“Ugh… Ugh…”

By that time, my stamina was in tatters. Despite my endurance being honed by slashing a hundred thousand times, the difference between simply swinging and engaging in actual training was enormous. Using my body drained my mental strength too, leaving me far more exhausted. Eventually, unable to stand it, I took a break under a tree, and Lee Kwang spoke sharply.

“Get a grip! Do you think you have plenty of time?”

“Ugh… I’m sorry.”

“I’ll give you a half moment for rest. Use that time to recover as much stamina as you can through seated meditation.”

“Yes.”

“I warned you this training would be hard. I trust in your perseverance.”

With that, there was nothing I could do but grit my teeth and recover my stamina while pulling out my internal potential. I glanced with weary eyes at Sagong Lin and Jeonghu, who were still training over there.

‘Incredible growth speed…’

They were rapidly advancing while absorbing the Wudang Sect’s insights. Normally, one wouldn’t see a significant increase in martial skills after just seven weeks, but it seemed they had already broken through their shells. They were discovering and developing their own martial arts abilities. Their potential was so far beyond mine that it sent chills down my spine.

It was tough.

Both physically and mentally draining, but the hardest part was mentally. Practicing martial arts among such outstanding talents made me feel more and more inferior and tormented. At least in the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School, there was an atmosphere of open research, but here, they fiercely debated while meticulously saving every moment, which made the comparison of talents even starker.

And a sense of misery I had barely felt in this life washed over me like cold raindrops. I was once again confronted with the inferior talent I had tried to cover up with willpower. It was seven days later that I found myself utterly drained, hiding between rocks in the middle of the night.

“……”

It was true the results were good. I could feel that the research, which would have taken me over five years if done alone, was being cut down significantly thanks to these gifted individuals. It could be said to be dozens of times faster. Yet at the same time, I was so frustrated that I felt like crying.

Why am I so talentless?

It’s not like I hadn’t tried. If I’m lagging behind due to not trying hard enough, it’s self-inflicted. However, even in this life, I had devoted every spare moment to practicing martial arts. But as soon as I entered a phase where I had to lean on the talents of others for research, self-loathing came rushing in like a waterfall. The chaff had been clearly separated from the grain.

I missed Miho.

I wanted to giggle with Miho over silly conversations.

I wanted to live my past life, just following Mangnyang’s words like flowing water.

“… No.”

But I steadied myself.

Because I trust Mangnyang.

Why would Mangnyang push me into this hellish environment knowing everything?

It was because he believed I could overcome this inferiority complex and suffering to endure for the greater good. If Mangnyang believes in me, then I too must repay him. And it was evident that if I didn’t quickly grow stronger, fiercer challenges lay ahead.

I clenched my fists and wiped away the tears that had just barely come out. My throat was dry, so I gulped down some stream water and stood up. Then I muttered the words that Jin So-cheong had said to me in the past.

“A man should strengthen himself.”

A man should naturally become strong on his own.

Good times cannot be the only thing in store for me.

Sometimes there will be tough times. If I wish to do great things, that’s natural.

If this is the trial imposed upon me, then I’ll overcome it.

And about two months later, Mangnyang visited the temple.

It was when the sun was high and we were training together that Mangnyang approached Lee Kwang and said,

“Lee Kwang, a messenger from the White Lotus Sect has come and gone.”

Lee Kwang, who was deeply contemplating the Bowing Sky Slash at the time, perked up and exclaimed,

“What did they say?”

“They said to meet at Huangshan Sect in four days at the hour of Shin.”

“Huangshan Sect? Why are they dragging the Nine Great Sects into this?”

When Lee Kwang expressed his doubts, Mangnyang replied with a bitter smile,

“Huangshan Sect is the Central Plains branch of the Wind Spirit Sect. You didn’t know that?”

“……!!”

Lee Kwang’s eyes widened. He shouted fiercely,

“Why didn’t you tell me that!”

An intense killing intent radiated from him, but Mangnyang, who had not been idle during this time, calmly exuded potent internal pressure. Then he spoke gently,

“What do you think I would have done if I had told you? Would you have gone to destroy the Wind Spirit Sect’s stronghold at such a critical time when negotiating with the White Lotus Sect?”

“Well…”

“What’s important is the Dharma Guardians, not the small fries, so I thought it wasn’t necessary to mention it.”

Lee Kwang seemed speechless, tightly closing his mouth. However, his subtle gaze at Mangnyang suggested some signs of distrust. I was a bit worried about Lee Kwang, but the matter concerning the White Lotus Sect took precedence.

After a moment, Lee Kwang said,

“Fine. Who are they sending as a delegate?”

“The Master of the White Lotus Sect will be accompanied by all three Dharma Guardians.”

“……!!”

“All the forces capable of wiping out the Central Plains Martial World will be there.”

Mangnyang muttered in a weakened voice, but everyone’s expression turned stiff at his words.

The Master of the White Lotus Sect and the Dharma Guardians!

Currently, if those four were to appear in the Central Plains, no one could stop them. In fact, one of them alone could overturn the entire Nine Great Sects. It was unimaginable what the Master of the White Lotus Sect could do if all three Dharma Guardians attacked simultaneously.

Lee Kwang chuckled,

“Wow, that old hag sure knows how to do her job. Who would have thought the enemies would gather in one place?”

“Are you planning to strike the Master of the White Lotus Sect?”

“… No. I understand my place. It’s likely impossible to confront them directly.”

Surprisingly, Lee Kwang calmly acknowledged the reality. He continued coolly,

“However, thanks to Baek Woong, I’ve trained hard in the Peerless Sword Slash, and if things go wrong, I think I could take one shot at the Master of the White Lotus Sect before I die.”

“That’s good. That eases my mind.”

Mangnyang responded lightly and continued,

“However, we won’t be using force that day. I don’t think the Master of the White Lotus Sect would handle things so petty. I believe he’s genuinely coming to acknowledge the Thunder God Lineage.”

“So you want me to show some joy or something?”

Lee Kwang replied bluntly, and Mangnyang pressed his fingers against his temples.

“You should be happy; we’ll be able to gain something during that time.”

“Gain what?”

“First, we’ll secure the promise of allegiance from the Thunder God Lineage and find an opportunity to spar. Of course, either you or Jin So-cheong will compete with the Dharma Guardians.”

“……!!”

“Of course, it’ll be a friendly competition.”

A friendly competition with the Dharma Guardians!

The Thunder God Lineage disciples gathered were startled by the unexpected news. However, unlike the others, Lee Kwang didn’t react but instead calmly closed his eyes to think. After some time, he spoke,

“Is this an opportunity to evaluate the Dharma Guardians’ skills?”

“Exactly. You also don’t fully understand the power of the Dharma Guardians and the Heavenly Spirit Pill they possess, do you? Knowing or not knowing the level of your opponent makes an immense difference the further you advance in martial arts.”

“You’re right. If we can gauge the Dharma Guardians’ abilities and techniques, it’ll be a huge help moving forward.”

“Thanks for understanding.”

Lee Kwang said,

“But let’s avoid the Su Shin Lineage. If possible, I want to battle against the Wind Spirit Sect.”

“I understand. The Dharma Guardian of the Su Shin Lineage is extremely dangerous.”

“Okay, then Baek Woong…”

Lee Kwang looked back at me and I nodded.

“I’ve been to Huangshan before. We can reach it in no time using the Golden Lamp technique.”

“Then keep improving your martial arts until the day before.”

“Yes.”

After the conversation wrapped up, Mangnyang called me aside. I spoke with him in front of the hut.

“Baek Woong. How’s your training going? I didn’t seek you out for fear it would distract you, but have you made any progress?”

I managed a bitter smile at Mangnyang’s question.

“It’s been quite tough.”

“Hmm… I’m sorry. I expected this, but it couldn’t be helped.”

“No, if it’s a process I must go through, I have to endure it.”

I replied and continued speaking.

“Until now, I’ve only been using the Bowing Sky Slash and Heavenly Contraction Sword as they are, but now I’m beginning to understand the derivatives and transformations, establishing it as a unified technique. Jin So-cheong has already developed a new form and seems to have combined it with the Thunder God Lineage’s secret technique.”

“Amazing… to develop that much in just two months?”

“Must be because there are five geniuses gathered.”

At that moment, all the hardships and frustrations I had faced flashed through my mind. The group of five didn’t exactly shun or look down on me, but each time they showed care for me, it made me feel uncomfortable. I was struggling to overcome the feeling of inadequacy, often staying up all night to withstand it. Thus, it was fair to say I had an intensely productive two months of training.

I said,

“And now I seem to have reached the stage where I can delve into the True Martial Seven Cuts Classic, Heavenly Five Divine Decisions, Tai Chi Yau Ji Willow Sword, Seven Stars Shadow, and Peerless Technique.”

“……”

Hearing the names of these martial arts, Mangnyang seemed taken aback.

“What are those? Each one is an extraordinary martial skill?”

“It seems so.”

“The Master Jang Sam-bong truly must have been a monstrous Taoist… if you can properly master all of those, you could become an unmatched expert in the world.”

“The issue is mastering even one is incredibly difficult.”

Mastering each one properly would take at least a hundred years of dedicated training if done alone, as they were insights left by the best martial artist of the orthodox sect. Of course, Yeodong-bin may have absorbed them as easily as exhaling, but he too was an immense figure in the realm of immortals and should not be compared to someone like me.

I rubbed my sleepy eyes and said,

“In any case, I’m sure there will be remarkable results with the Bowing Sky Slash and Heavenly Contraction Sword within a year. You can count on it.”

“… Baek Woong.”

“What is it?”

“Do you think I often make unreasonable requests?”

I shook my head at Mangnyang’s words.

“I trust in your wisdom; that’s enough for me.”

“Thank you.”

And the promised day came. Four days later, we comfortably rested until the hour of Jin, and when noon arrived, we took the Golden Lamp technique and Wooden Armor to soar towards Huangshan. When we arrived at the mountain peak close to the Huangshan Sect, fog filled the air.

Including myself, the masters of the Thunder God Lineage, Mangnyang, and Miho began to disperse the fog as we headed towards the Huangshan Sect. Although we still had plenty of time until the appointed hour of Shin, we wanted to arrive early and scout the enemy’s base at Huangshan Sect.

Eventually, arriving at the peak where the Huangshan Sect was located, we saw a large gate leading to it. The disciples of Huangshan Sect standing at the front politely bowed to us.

“Masters of the Thunder God Lineage! Please come this way.”

We were taken aback. The Wind Spirit Sect and Thunder God Lineage were sworn enemies, yet here were the disciples of Huangshan Sect, the Central Plains branch of the Wind Spirit Sect, treating us so courteously. Yet, conversely, knowing the Thunder God Lineage’s impulsive nature, it could be viewed as the Wind Spirit Sect trying to avoid provocations from the get-go.

As we followed the Huangshan Sect’s disciples, a grand reception hall appeared. It was so spacious and magnificent that it didn’t resemble a martial sect hidden within mountains, and at the opposite end of this hall sat middle-aged man in a chair.

A moment later, the man stood up and walked over to Lee Kwang, bowing.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Yong Junil, the Master of the Huangshan Sect, also known as the Azure Dragon Sword.”

Azure Dragon Sword Yong Junil!

He was a peak expert who emerged like a comet, the master of the Huangshan Sect among the Nine Great Sects, known for his sword Qi capable of slashing even a dragon in half, and all the heretical sects within the Huangshan area had been eradicated by his hand. He was also one of the renowned swordsmen acknowledged within the Nine Great Sects.

After receiving Yong Junil’s greeting, Lee Kwang replied thoughtfully,

“Hmm… I’ve heard a lot about your reputation.”

“There is a hidden grudge from my predecessors, but let’s set that aside for today. It’s a moment of celebration, and the sect leader is personally visiting us.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

Surprisingly, Lee Kwang didn’t provoke Yong Junil and instead smoothly accepted his greeting. However, I could sense a chilling hostility lurking within his indifferent expression. I guessed that Yong Junil would somewhat grasp Lee Kwang’s underlying feelings too.

Following that, light snacks were laid out, and the disciples of the Thunder God Lineage took their seats. The snacks and food were as excellent as if crafted by the finest chefs, but none among us had the folly to touch a single bite while trapped in enemy territory.

Mangnyang, who sat next to me, whispered,

“Today will be a significant turning point.”

“I can see that.”

I agreed with him.

After a moment, musicians emerged, initially playing light melodies to liven the atmosphere, but the tune gradually grew dreary and somber. Eventually, all music came to a halt, and only a slow drumbeat echoed through the hall.

Thud.

Thud.

After some time, when the drumming steadied, an elder from Huangshan Sect stepped forward and announced,

“Master of the White Lotus Sect is here.”

Swoosh…

At that moment, my eyes locked on the entrance beyond.

The greatest expert in the world, the Master of the White Lotus Sect, was about to emerge.

Boom, boom.

First, Dharma Guardians wearing a black tiger, silver fox, and golden dragon masks slowly walked out. Then, someone seemed to settle into a position behind them. There didn’t particularly seem to be a powerful aura about them, but in that instant, everyone present could feel it.

Someone beyond their feet.

That person was indeed the Master of the White Lotus Sect.

In the silence of the hall, the Master of the White Lotus Sect’s voice reverberated loudly with unity of six harmonies.

[It’s been a long time, Thunder God Lineage.]

That voice, it was impossible to tell whether it belonged to a man or a woman. What was certain, though, was that they possessed profound internal power enough to wield six harmonies. Lee Kwang, trying to analyze the voice in hopes of grasping a bit more about the Master, slowly replied.

“Indeed, Master.”

[Do you wish for independence?]

The Master asked directly without sugarcoating anything. Lee Kwang seemed surprised, but he responded without showing much change in expression.

“Of course. Our Thunder God Lineage wishes to declare independence as a true sect rather than remain as subordinate forces of the White Lotus Sect.”

[Is the price the clue to the healing of the strange disease?]

“No changes.”

A moment of silence fell.

After half a beat, the Master of the White Lotus Sect responded.

[I will acknowledge the Thunder God Lineage’s independence and its declaration of a sect.]

Yet, every Thunder God Lineage master’s face turned rigid at the conditions that followed.

[However, you must possess the ultimate technique of the Thunder God Lineage.]

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