Mount Wu’s Jasper Palace.
The third disciple of Mount Wu, Cheongun, was kneeling before the leaders of the sect.
In front of him lay a secret manual with nothing written on the cover.
“What happened? Explain yourself.”
The sect leader, seated in the middle, addressed Cheongun.
“I was practicing Light Body Movement on a cliff when…”
“Speak honestly.”
Who on Earth practices Light Body Movement on a cliff? The sect leader interrupted Cheongun’s weak excuse.
“I apologize. Truthfully, I’ve been preoccupied by the events of Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes, and I’ve spent the last fifteen days exploring the cliffs of Mount Wu.”
Cheongun bowed his head and spoke.
“You thought the content of the novel was real, so you went exploring?”
“I wasn’t entirely convinced. However, there were too many suspicious points to dismiss it as mere fiction, so I made up my mind to investigate.”
“Hmph.”
The sect leader looked over Cheongun’s appearance. After fifteen days of exploration, his fingers and toes seemed to bear the bruises of his efforts.
“I recalled the plot of Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes. Indeed, after arguing with my master, I wondered where I’d wander if my heart was troubled. I pondered if there could be a place where a Demon suddenly appeared without anyone from Mount Wu noticing. I narrowed down a few locations and managed to discover one of them during my exploration.”
“You mean the cave where the corpse of the 8th generation sect leader and the secret manual are found?”
“Yes. If you don’t know whether there’s a cave there, you’d never find it. You’d only see it if you focused on survival while falling from the cliff. There was indeed the hidden cave of the 8th generation sect leader.”
“Truly, such a place existed.”
“Unlike what was mentioned in Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes, there wasn’t a Taichung Pill or a letter. However, this secret manual is definitely real.”
Cheongun lifted the manual while keeping his head bowed. Although the cover was blank, no one doubted that it was the secret manual of the 8th generation sect leader of Mount Wu.
“How can this be?”
“Was it not just a random collection of writings?”
“Are you saying that Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes was real?”
The Jasper Palace of Mount Wu started to buzz with chatter among the sect leader and the elders.
“Silence! Third disciple Cheongun, bring forth the secret manual.”
“Yes, understood.”
Cheongun carefully approached the sect leader with the manual in hand and presented it. The sect leader unfolded the manual with caution and began to read.
Page one. Page two. Page three.
Doubt turned to bewilderment.
Bewilderment morphed into shock.
With each turn of the page, the sect leader’s expression changed.
“Goodness… Are you saying that the aura of the Eight Trigrams was truly embedded in the sword technique?”
While he couldn’t comprehend it all at once, it was clear that the concepts of the Eight Trigrams were interwoven with the sword techniques.
“I couldn’t help but be astonished myself. That was undoubtedly the Eight Trigrams Swordplay mentioned in Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes!”
With his gaze fixed on the ground, Cheongun’s heart trembled. He was overwhelmed with excitement and struggled to catch his breath.
“Was Un-hyeon a real person?”
“Did he go out into the Jianghu with the Taichung Pill and the letter in hand?”
Once again, the Jasper Palace began to stir with murmurs. The sect leader raised his hand to calm the room.
“Everyone, settle down. Upon viewing this manual, it’s clear that it contains the essence of the Eight Trigrams. However, as stated in Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes, the essence isn’t predominant. It was merely added to the foundational Taiji Sword Technique of Mount Wu.”
“Naturally, since the sect leader of Mount Wu created it, it must contain the techniques of Mount Wu.”
“What kind of obvious statement is that, sect leader?”
The sect leader’s attempt to calm things down was in vain. The snide remarks from elsewhere were audible.
“Ahem, I hastily reviewed the records of the 8th generation sect leader. It states that during the time the 8th generation sect leader was in charge, discussions were held on whether to actively intervene in worldly affairs. Ultimately, feeling fed up with the situation, he stepped down. No records exist thereafter. He must have fervently practiced in one of the mountain caves.”
“Yes. There were surely signs of training inside the cave.”
Cheongun mentioned his findings.
“Indeed. Then the issue lies with the book, Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes… Cheongun, I’ve heard you were the first to bring that book. Have you learned of its origin?”
“I heard it was a book written by a Joseon Taoist who came from the Changbai Mountains for Mount Wu.”
“A Joseon Taoist from the Changbai Mountains? Why on earth would a foreign Taoist write such a book for Mount Wu?”
Mount Wu and the Changbai Mountains were quite far apart. And to think that it involved a Joseon person, the sect leader couldn’t make heads or tails of it.
“I have a hypothesis I’ve been forming, would you hear it?”
Cheongun wished to share a theory he had harbored within himself.
“Go ahead. Speak.”
“I can’t say for sure who Un-hyeon was. However, he was definitely one of the disciples of Mount Wu. For some reason, he must have discovered the cave where the corpse of the 8th generation sect leader, or rather, the 5th generation sect leader at that time, was laid to rest.”
“If he was a disciple of Mount Wu, there should be records. Also, as stated in the novel, a Demon never invaded Mount Wu. That’s pure nonsense!”
The sect leader had looked into it himself. Yet there were no records indicating a Demon had invaded Mount Wu and met their end with a disciple of Mount Wu.
“I believe the discussion of a demon invasion was simply a misreported tale based on what the author heard. Perhaps a disciple of Mount Wu fell by accident while exploring the cliff, discovered the cave, read the letters inside, consumed the elixir known as the Taichung Pill, and learned the Eight Trigrams Swordplay before embarking on a heroic journey.”
“Hmph. If such a hero of Mount Wu existed, there would have been records left behind.”
“The sword technique he wielded wasn’t Taiji Swordplay, but rather the Eight Trigrams Swordplay. No one would have considered him a disciple of Mount Wu. Furthermore, I suspect he didn’t return to Mount Wu in his later years, but instead went elsewhere.”
“That place being the Changbai Mountains of Joseon?”
“Yes. I wouldn’t be surprised if he spent his final days there. The author of Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes must have been a disciple or descendant of Un-hyeon, writing this book in order to return the Eight Trigrams Swordplay to Mount Wu.”
A series of speculations upon speculations. From the start to the finish, it was nothing but delusion.
A disciple of Mount Wu going to the Changbai Mountains in his later years, and taking on a Joseon disciple? Yet undeniable evidence turned that assumption into reality.
No one could refute Cheongun’s deduction.
“Do you happen to know who wrote Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes? Was there no author’s name inscribed in it?”
If it was a book deliberately left by someone from Mount Wu, it surely should have included a pseudonym. With that thought in mind, the sect leader inquired of Cheongun.
“That… The quality of the paper was so poor that the portion with the pseudonym was damaged, leaving only the character ‘Mo’ decipherable.”
Kang Yoon-ho wrote Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes on very low-quality paper.
That Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes was sold to a merchant traveling from Chilgok County to Wuhan. It wasn’t treated carefully as it was passed through numerous shops and merchants. Even in the journey to Hubei Province’s northwest, it was not treated with care.
The title was written in large letters, making it legible, but the pseudonym and its conditions were written small in a corner.
“Hmph. Mo? Isn’t that just another way of saying ‘someone’? If a writer from Mount Wu sent it, how can we not know who wrote it?”
“Perhaps that was intentional as well.”
Someone from Mount Wu may have wanted it read but hid their identity.
“That’s something we can’t know. It would be wise to send people to investigate the source of this book.”
“Yes. I will also look into it.”
It was a book he had discovered. Cheongun felt an urge to rush to the bookstore owner right away.
“Then proceed. And elders, listen closely.”
“Yes!”
“The secret manual of the 8th generation sect leader discovered by Cheongun doesn’t have a name. However, I believe that name has already been decided.”
The sect leader lifted the manual high.
Though nothing was written on the cover, the name of the sword technique was glaringly obvious.
“Eight Trigrams Swordplay! I shall teach this technique to Cheongun, who has discovered Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes and found the corpse of the 8th generation sect leader. Is there any dissent?”
“…….”
There was no way anyone could disagree.
“Very well. Furthermore, Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes is a strange book containing the secret history of Mount Wu. Until the events related to this secret history are resolved, all copies of Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes must be confiscated and their reproduction prohibited. Whoever attempts to take it outside will face severe punishment.”
“Sect leader, many disciples will surely want to read Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes.”
One elder voiced dissent against the sect leader’s declaration.
“I’m not prohibiting reading it. I simply mean to manage it strictly to prevent it from being taken outside. If authorized disciples wish, they can read Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes from Mount Wu’s archives.”
“That seems agreeable.”
The elders nodded in agreement with the sect leader’s suggestion.
“Good. Let this meeting conclude and send people to recover the remains of the 8th generation sect leader.”
“Understood.”
The members of Mount Wu in the Jasper Palace began to bustle with activity.
———————————————————-
The search for the author of Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes, led by the second and third disciples including Cheongun, began.
From the bookstore where Cheongun found the book to the merchant who sold it and up to Wuhan.
The search for the author of Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes took longer than expected.
“In the end, have we found nothing?”
The sect leader of Mount Wu asked Cheongun standing before him.
“Yes. We confirmed it came from a bookstore in Wuhan, but it has passed through too many merchants to trace its source.”
“Alas. Where on earth did Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes come from?”
The sect leader lamented while looking up at the sky.
“The bookstores that purchased Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes had slightly different accounts, but they all mentioned that a Taoist from Changbai Mountain sold it.”
“If the author came from Mount Wu, then why take that roundabout route?”
“Third disciple Cheongun. I have an urgent request for you.”
Cheongun knelt with one knee on the ground and looked up at the sect leader.
“What is it?”
“Please allow me to embark on a heroic journey.”
“A heroic journey? Do you think you’re some Un-hyeon?”
“The Eight Trigrams Swordplay was created by the 8th generation sect leader for the people. I believe it must be completed in the Jianghu.”
“That is not allowed. Heroic journeys have been strictly prohibited in recent times. Your personal grievances could affect your senior and fellow disciples.”
“I will always reflect upon this whenever I wield my sword. Whether it’s for personal reasons or for good deeds.”
There was a seriousness in Cheongun’s voice that had not been there before.
The sect leader observed Cheongun carefully.
The prohibition against disciples of Mount Wu entering the Jianghu wasn’t absolute.
It wasn’t to say they should ignore injustice, either. If ordinary folks were being troubled by bandits right before their eyes, they could wield their blades to protect them, and if a woman was suffering at the hands of color demons, they could rescue her.
It was strictly that pursuing a path of heroism itself was forbidden.
The sect leader knew he couldn’t permit Cheongun’s heroic journey. However, if the Eight Trigrams Swordplay were to be completed as stated in Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes, it needed to be done out in the Jianghu.
Though he had never seen Un-hyeon himself, the thought crossed the sect leader’s mind that Cheongun might very well act like him. He gazed into Cheongun’s clear eyes.
“Very well. I grant you permission.”
“Thank you!!”
“However, there are conditions.”
“Conditions?”
“Your final destination must be the Changbai Mountains.”
“You mean to seek out the author of Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes?”
The sect leader nodded in affirmation, preparing to open his mouth to answer Cheongun’s question.
“I don’t know if the author of Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes is there. However, there may be traces of Mount Wu remaining. Go and investigate. Though I won’t formally permit the heroic journey, I encourage you to engage in it in search of the book.”
“Yes. I will prepare myself and head to the Changbai Mountains.”
Cheongun quickly rose to leave.
“And….”
The sect leader stopped Cheongun in his tracks.
“Yes?”
“Ahem, If there’s another volume of Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes, be sure to bring it back.”
It was a secret known to no one, but the sect leader was also a fan of Un-hyeon.
“I will remember that!”
With a smile, Cheongun greeted the sect leader. Off to the Changbai Mountains he went. Cheongun exited the Jasper Palace with a light step.
The discoverer of Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes.
The successor of the Eight Trigrams Swordplay.
The great disciple of Mount Wu.
Cheongun, who deeply engraved Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes in his heart, set forth.
“Then I shall take my leave!”
That very Cheongun was stepping out of Mount Wu to become the future hero.
—————————-
Rewinding time to the next day after Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes was sold to the merchant bound for Wuhan.
“In the end, I totally flopped.”
A black-haired man stood in front of the bookstore in Chilgok County, lamenting.
