Chung-woon didn’t head towards Mount Changbai for the investigation of the Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes. Instead, he took the opposite direction, heading south, with no particular reason behind it.
Traveling from Hubei Province to Mount Changbai is a daunting distance, even for someone in the Martial Arts World. Just to make a round trip would require years of time.
Since Chung-woon was given permission to set out for the investigation of the Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes, he needed to consider a quicker route to his destination.
Splash “Let’s take a boat down the Yangtze River to the east.”
Heading south from Mount Wu leads to the Yangtze River, which connects to the Yellow Sea.
After taking a boat to the Yellow Sea, if he could either travel overland along the coast or find a boat heading towards Yodong Province, it would significantly shorten the travel time to Mount Changbai.
On top of that, there was one more reason why Chung-woon wanted to go south.
Ping “I want to see if I can find the whereabouts of the author of the Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes.”
The place where the Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes was discovered is Wuhan, the capital of Hubei Province. Although a search together with the disciples of Wu had failed to locate the author, there might still be a chance if fate allows.
Chung-woon was currently heading towards Wuhan to search for the last whereabouts of the Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes, and if that proved fruitless, to catch a boat on the Yangtze.
Woosh “Thank you, Taoist Master!”
Snap “No matter how much we plead with the government, the bandits just won’t be dealt with, and you go through all this trouble for humble folks like us. Truly, thank you!”
Clap “You defeated the brothers of the Green and Red Masks! They were going around robbing local shops mercilessly. Taoist Master, we owe you our gratitude!”
Of course, even while carrying out his mission, Chung-woon didn’t forget his goal of becoming a hero.
His feet were headed towards Wuhan, but he knew how to pause for a moment and not turn away from the tears of the common folk.
Panic “Taoist Master! Taoist Master! Our father has gone over the mountain to trade and hasn’t returned!”
Whimper “He was traveling with a merchant caravan that passed through town, but there’s been no sign of him since.”
Tang Geoh had set a trap to catch Lady Tang. The would-be hero had climbed the mountain to chase after the whereabouts of the unfortunate victims of that trap.
“Chung-woon, they call me.”
The journey to find the author of the Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes and his actions to become a hero were inevitably intertwining.
——————–
“W-wait, Mount Wu?”
“Why is the third disciple of Mount Wu here?”
In Hubei Province, any martial artist is not free before the name of Mount Wu. The name of Mount Wu weighs heavily, especially for those clad in black.
“Who dares to commit such a heinous act in front of the great Mount Wu?!”
Chung-woon glared at the corpses whose warmth had yet to fade, speaking in a voice full of rage. Some black-clad men nearby instinctively took a step back from the fierce anger of the hero.
“Please, we are members of the Guard Unit from the Sichuan Tang Family! We have been ambushed by the cruel Demonic Cult!”
One of the guard members unexpectedly informed Chung-woon of the situation.
“The lackeys of the Demonic Cult?!”
With the people from the Sichuan Tang Family and the dubious black-clad men present, Chung-woon wasn’t entirely sure how things had escalated, but he was certain about who needed help.
“I don’t see any other Taoists around.”
Not seeing any other Taoist masters from Mount Wu, the black-clad men sighed in relief before watching Chung-woon assess the situation.
With a lovely face and striking blue hair, he seemed like a naive Taoist in his youth. He probably just stumbled upon this place during his travels.
“Walking into the lion’s den by yourself? Just gives me one more body to deal with today!”
While they feared Mount Wu, a mere rookie Taoist was nothing to them. One black-clad man swung a sword at Chung-woon before he could even draw his own blade.
“Not so fast!”
Seeing the incoming weapon, Chung-woon shouted in disbelief. Clearly, the black-clad man’s sword was fast. However, he had faced swords faster than that countless times. In a flash, a sword was drawn from Chung-woon’s hand.
Thud
He deflected the incoming sword and swiftly cut through the opponent’s throat.
“You bastard!”
“Graaah!”
As one black-clad man fell in an instant, the others rushed him. They were as fast as the previous swords. But fate would not be different.
Swish
With a technique as swift as the wind, Chung-woon countered their strikes, drawing on the essence of the Mount Wu swordsmanship, calmly observing their attacks and effortlessly putting them down.
“Charge from both sides!”
“Just a rookie Taoist! If we rush him at the same time, he won’t be able to handle it!”
That was true. Mount Wu swordsmanship fundamentally relies on defense. Even if one yielded the first strike, they still had the advantage. But Chung-woon seemed just a little more than a youth.
No matter how skilled a disciple of Mount Wu’s defensive artistry might be, there are limits to what one can counter.
They would not be able to counter swords coming from all directions. The black-clad men narrowed the distance, preparing to rush him at once.
Dash “The Eight Trigrams leads the way!”
However, it was Chung-woon who broke from their encirclement with speed that defied defense.
Whoosh
“Uck!”
“Ugh!”
The rookie Taoist would take a defensive stance. In but a moment, his sudden break had shattered their small encirclement.
——————–
“Was he someone who could handle this?”
He thought he was just a moth to the flame, but that wasn’t it. The strongest among the pursuers tossed aside a guard member he had just killed.
“Isn’t it disgraceful to cowardly take the lives of the injured? Come, join me!”
“Arrogant. Indeed, I was going to come anyway.”
The black-clad figure confidently approached Chung-woon like he was entering his own home.
Using the essence of Mount Wu’s martial arts, he abandoned the advantages of defense and initiated the assault. Was he a martial artist from Mount Wu who had reached a level where such distinctions were irrelevant?
While it looked like the Taiji Sword Technique, he employed a technique Chung-woon had never heard of. Was it a deception? Whatever it was, it demanded caution.
The black-clad figure scanned his surroundings. The stalemate was about to turn slightly due to an unexpected presence.
If there were more of them, that would have been great. However, the forces had split due to chasing the other party.
Additionally, continuous pursuits and fights had depleted the stamina and numbers of the pursuing party. If this dragged on, he might lose them altogether.
Think fast!
For the sake of the larger plan, some risks had to be taken. The black-clad man didn’t mind the flames of life burning out inside him and unleashed the demonic energy within.
——————–
Gloom “A terrific burst of energy.”
Chung-woon looked at the black-clad man, whose dark energy was flickering. A terrifying feeling chilled his skin.
Run away!
Was it the power of the demonic energy? Or was this an instinctual fear of the unknown? Chung-woon felt an urge to retreat from unfamiliar demonic energy.
He didn’t know these people. They were not his seniors or disciples. They had no connection except for being from the same sect.
Chung-woon felt as if he were hearing a voice that resembled his own.
It’s okay to run away.
His opponent had decades more experience than him. He could still run. It was an enemy he could not face. He could face them another day when he was stronger. He could simply flee and feign excuses.
But Chung-woon didn’t do that.
This feels like Un-hyeon’s situation.
At the end of volume one of the Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes, a carriage was attacked by a mysterious assailant, and the woman inside was threatened. Did Un-hyeon run away in that moment?
It was a book he had read dozens of times. Just because he didn’t know the contents of volume two didn’t mean he was unaware of the scenes of volume one.
I’ve decided to become a hero.
He vowed to protect the weak against injustice. He stepped into this world determined to be a hero deserving of the name of Mount Wu.
If I turn my head once, I will keep turning. Chung-woon steadied his grip on the sword to reinforce his resolve.
“Will you endure? How amusing.”
The black-clad figure smirked at him.
Ding
With a hint of hope, Chung-woon focused his energy to his head, and the clarity of his Taoist energy swept away the murky demonic energy clouding his thoughts. Was it the ability of the demonic energy he felt?
His mind cleared. To be bewitched takes but a moment.
Chung-woon raised his sword to confront the injustice.
——————–
The first move was made by the black-clad figure.
Chung-woon tried to employ the principle of “softness restraining hardness” to subdue the formidable sword with gentleness.
“Ugh!”
Chung-woon frowned at the knife piercing through his attempt of gentleness.
The softness of Mount Wu wasn’t lacking, but Chung-woon’s softness was insufficient. The strength of the attack was enough to break his defenses.
“Is this all you’ve got?!”
Chung-woon gritted his teeth at the sneering of the black-clad warrior. He managed to barely deflect the continuous attacks.
At this rate, he’d lose. He was compelled to step back, unable to redirect the forceful strikes.
He had to embody the essence of “softness restraining hardness,” yet the reality was “hardness breaks softness.” The swordsmanship of Mount Wu was lacking, but it was his own lack that brought him down.
I’m insufficient at my current level. So…
His recognition and resolution came quickly.
Chung-woon stepped forward with a swift half-step. Just a half-step, but it was inside the black-clad man’s domain. Only someone ready to risk it all for the sake of upholding righteousness dared to step into this space.
“That’s just a trick! No offense can stand before a true blade!”
His courage was not blind recklessness. The half-step accelerated his attack, successfully disrupting the black-clad figure’s focus.
Not enough. I’m insufficient at my rank. I still can’t fully grasp Mount Wu’s gentleness.
Should he give up? Chung-woon struggled internally.
No, if that were the case, he would just wield another sword.
The martial arts he had desperately studied over the last six months began to unfold from his fingertips.
The Eight Trigrams change in one transformation.
Chung-woon’s sword, parrying the black-clad man’s weapon, now exuded a potent force.
“Suddenly turning to a heavy sword? Pathetic!”
Heavy against heavy—who would be stronger was evident. The weaker side would shatter mercilessly. The black-clad figure infused even more demonic energy into his blade.
The Eight Trigrams change in one transformation and does not cease.
“What is this?”
From light sword to heavy sword, and back again. The powerful force wielded by Chung-woon threw the balance of the black-clad man’s sword off.
“How dare you, you trickster!”
The black-clad figure was flustered, pouring even more demonic energy into his sword and swung it directly at Chung-woon.
This was a one-time opportunity. If he faltered and lost this moment, the black-clad man would regain the upper hand.
Stand firm like a mountain, and view the opponent with a tranquil heart akin to a clear well.
As Chung-woon stood his ground and made a slight adjustment, the overexerted strike merely swept by his clothing.
The black-clad man’s strike had gone astray. A clear opening appeared.
The Eight Trigrams transform and transform endlessly; even if it has not yet reached a myriad of changes…
“What the hell do you think you’re doing—”
The black-clad figure scrambled to recover his sword, but—
In this world, it would be enough to perfect Mount Wu’s swordsmanship.
At that instant, the culmination of the sword arts crafted by the Grandmaster of the Eight Trigrams penetrated the black-clad man’s chest.
“Gah!”
When it came to strength versus finesse, it surely required considerable time to refine. But the decision to execute justice required no such lengthy considerations. A fraction of an instant is all it takes to decide life or death.
“Ha! This isn’t the sword of Mount Wu! You, are you perhaps not a member of Mount Wu?!”
The black-clad man staggered backward, clutching his chest. A hole had been pierced through. Though his martial energy sustained him, he seemed grim at best.
“This too is the sword of Mount Wu.”
“Mount Wu has released a tremendous beast into the world… how tragic it is not to see the great task through… Wretched…”
The black-clad figure could not finish his words, collapsing to the ground.
——————–
The situation turned around in an instant.
With Chung-woon, the Taoist, and the members of the Guard Unit driving back the black-clad figures, the threat of those in black had ceased.
Was the first wave thwarted? With unexpected reinforcements, there weren’t many casualties, and Lady Tang seemed safe too.
“Can you stand?”
The charmingly handsome Taoist named Chung-woon approached me, extending his hand.
“…”
I stared blankly at the Taoist, not responding. A hero offering help in when most needed – it’s amazing as seeing a mythical girlfriend come to life. Wow. It seems that even in this world, martial arts remain martial arts. This is a bit moving.
“Are you alright?”
“Ah?! Yes, I’m fine! I can stand. Ah!”
I tried to push myself up, but stumbled once more.
“I can help.”
With Chung-woon’s support, I stood up.
“Is there something you’d like to say?”
Why does he keep looking at me? Does he have a thing? Is there something he wants to ask? After staring at me for a while, Chung-woon posed an unexpected question.
“May I ask, are you by any chance Joseon?”
