Chapter 9 Reunion (2)

Chapter 9 Reunion (2)

Kwaaak.

As the tendons bulged on Song Mu’s knuckles, Gu Yangji also had to draw up his energy.

‘This feels like he really wants to fight.’

Gu Yangjie knew quite a lot about the Clear Sky Sword, Song Muk.

And for good reason—he’d clashed with him many times in his past life.

Just as Yu Zhangming had looked at him like he’d lost his mind when he returned, he had never been a good Taoist.

In fact, right up until he descended the mountain, he had never once received a good evaluation.

An underachiever, or a moral wreck.

Despite these two flaws, Huashan Sect had simply looked favorably upon him.

Just as Baidanxian hesitated to punish him, seeing the brotherly affection between senior and junior disciples.

Huashan Sect was particularly weak to sentiment and had strong Taoist tendencies.

That’s why, in his previous life, he’d caused all sorts of trouble right up until he descended the mountain.

There were times he’d agonized over his shortcomings compared to his senior brother, Yu Jang-myeong.

‘I practically lived in the Discipline Hall like it was my own bedroom.’

Had it been just over ten days since he’d shared that story with Song-muk?

Gu Yang-jeok scanned Song-muk with a calm gaze.

In terms of ‘closeness,’ he surpassed even his master, Baek Dan-hyeon, or Yu Jang-myeong.

‘…Why did such a warm-hearted gentleman pick a fight from the start?’

Even when he got drunk and caused trouble at Huashan Sect, Song Mu would just tell him not to do it again next time. Who would’ve thought he’d suddenly hurl a teacup?

There must be a reason for this.

So Gu Yangjie decided to play along with Song Mu for now.

Swish.

Gu Yangjie spread his feet shoulder-width apart and assumed a fighting stance.

“Let’s have a go, Master.”

“Ha ha, sounds good!”

Song Muk’s voice carried a cheerful tone that made people smile, but the fist that actually approached was merciless.

POW-!

The fist strike Song Mok unleashed sent a massive cracking sound reverberating around the Discipline Hall.

The force contained within that sound felt like it was tearing at his eardrums.

Had Gu Yang-jeok not braced himself in advance, a trickle of blood would have already run down below his earlobe.

‘So he’s not going to show any mercy.’

Click.

Gu Yangji lightly ground his teeth. Only now did he grasp Song Muk’s true intent.

He recalled Song Muk once saying:

“To see a man’s true depths, you must press down hard on the back of his head.”

Gu Yangji had agreed with that sentiment to some extent.

Placing a blade to the throat of one who preaches righteousness quickly revealed whether they were a hypocrite or a true virtuous person.

The same applied to the path any cultivator must eventually walk.

How could someone who studied Laozi’s philosophy on Huashan, mastered sword techniques, and contemplated the Dao possibly adapt to the treacherous martial world without a single coin?

Only then would a person’s true nature be revealed.

“Kill and take it.”

“Or, building upon what they’ve learned, study under someone else and accumulate good deeds.”

Murder or evil deeds could enrich a person in a single stroke, but with learned knowledge or good deeds, it was fortunate if they didn’t rot twice over.

Thus, the Taoist who left the sect faced a choice.

Along with the delusion that no one but themselves would ever know their choice.

‘That’s what the Discipline Master primarily does.’

Meticulously analyzing the actions of a Taoist who has left the sect, reporting directly to the Sect Leader.

It was only natural that one needed a sharp mind, and one’s martial prowess had to be strong enough to rival anyone.

That’s why the Discipline Hall could speak with a louder voice than the other Halls.

The center of such a group.

The one destined to become the master of the Discipline Hall.

That man was none other than Song Mok, the legendary Clear Sky Sword, famed as the Evil Man Who Slays a Hundred.

“Your mind wanders.”

At Song Muk’s words, Gu Yangjeok gave a sly smile.

“You, Master, are the one.”

With a fist closing in before his eyes, Gu Yangjeok swallowed the rest of his words.

Soon, Gu Yangjeok’s pupils sank endlessly, becoming still.

The Eye of Perception.

It had once been used to intimidate Jomsoi, but that was not its only purpose.

For instance, the right to see first (權利).

It granted the ability to see ‘first’—exclusively for attacks that distorted the wind.

Even if Song Mok altered his swing angle, as long as he maintained the Zhen Hui An, he could detect it before the fist’s tip made contact.

His mental energy, now reduced to the level of a plant, and his eyes fixed directly on Song Mok.

Sssshhh…

Gu Yangjeok began pushing Songmuk’s fist away with his right forearm.

No, more accurately, he tried to.

It was simply that Songmuk’s reaction was faster.

“…Ugh!”

Shiver!

Feeling an instinctive threat, Songmuk withdrew his fist and spun around to kick Gu Yangjeok with his other foot.

Thwack!

A crisp striking sound echoed between the two cultivators, yet Song Muk’s expression remained rigidly frozen.

He felt nothing.

No sensation of flesh meeting flesh, not even the heat felt when skin grazed skin.

It was as if he had struck something akin to rock.

‘Indeed, his skill has increased tremendously. Seems you trained your external skills during your wall-facing period too.“

Just as Song Mok was deeply impressed, a voice slipped out from Gu Yangjeok.

”How about we stop here?“

”Hmm. I was just thinking of unleashing my Two-Tier cultivation now.“

”……Isn’t that Three-Tier?“

”K-khm……. “

Though he’d spoken with feigned bravado, Song Muk felt embarrassed that Gu Yangjeok had seen through his bluff and cleared his throat awkwardly.

”How did you know that?“

”Well, this kick hurt more than I expected.“

”……My apologies.”

He had clearly overheated himself against Gu Yangjeok, who hadn’t even reached the age of majority.

The whispers within the Discipline Hall weren’t kind to Song Mok either.

-Aren’t you being too harsh?

-Essentially, Ji Yi just did the Discipline Hall’s job for them!

-And you call yourself an elder? Can’t even spare a little mercy for a young sprout? Tsk tsk.

Song Muk unleashed a powerful telepathic blast at them all.

-Enough!

Song Muk’s cultivation was so immense that even Gu Yangji, standing directly opposite him, flinched momentarily.

Gu Yangji didn’t know the details, but it was clear Song Muk had unleashed his true essence power.

‘A senior is a senior after all.’

Gu Yangji swung his numb arm once, still reeling from the shock.

“Is that all?”

“…What?”

“I asked if the order to go learn from the master is over now.”

At those words, Song Mook quickly shook his head.

“There’s still as much left to teach you as there are mountain peaks over there!”

“That flying wine cup nearly split my skull… no, my head, and that punch just now made my mind go completely blank.”

Hearing this, Song Muk was utterly dumbfounded, for Gu Yangjeok’s expression was utterly shameless.

‘To say something like that, you’d normally have to at least pretend to be afraid for it to be believable.’

Song Muk countered with a hollow smile.

“You certainly didn’t look like it.”

That smile, implying he must have been quite capable given his current calm demeanor, was instantly crushed by Gu Yangjeok.

“What do you think would happen if I reported this matter to the Sect Leader now?”

“……Hmph!”

The very thought made Song Mook’s head throb.

He was maintaining his dignity as the Sect Leader now, but back when he was a senior disciple, he’d been more stubborn than anyone, making things incredibly difficult.

But what if news of him suddenly attacking his own disciple reached Baek Dan-hyeon’s ears?

‘Damn it.’

He was certain he’d be subjected to Baek Dan-hyeon’s nagging for at least three days.

Better to apologize cleanly.

Resolved, the words flowed smoothly.

“Hmm, ahem. I may have overreacted. I’m sorry about this incident. Could you please forget about it?”

“You mean without any compensation?”

“Heh heh, my friend, how could a disciple of Mount Huashan be swayed by mere material desires…”

“I don’t drink without food or snacks.”

“…Get out!”

At those words, which a cultivator couldn’t simply ignore, Song Mu shouted, causing Gu Yangji to flash a playful smile.

“Did you just tell me to leave?”

“Ah, no, that’s not it…”

“Then what is it? I heard you say ‘go’.”

At Gu Yangji’s sly remark, Song Muk finally exploded.

“What exactly are you trying to say?!”

“Could you please send me to a hermitage?”

What on earth was he talking about now?

Song Muk asked Gu Yangji, just in case.

“So you’re saying… you want to be sent to a hermitage near Mount Hua?”

“Yes! For as long as possible!”

While the other disciples were desperate to stay near Mount Hua, Gu Yangji wanted to go elsewhere.

He even seemed to find it a joyful prospect.

Song Mu’s expression twisted as if he’d seen a rare creature.

“Did you smear honey on that hermitage or something?”

“No, I simply wish to meditate. There are matters I must attend to outside as well.”

At those words, Songmuk thought of Johoon.

“…If that’s the case, why not just handle it yourself like Hoone did?”

“I do this to strengthen my own resolve. Please look upon me kindly, Master.”

“Huh, this is something.”

‘How on earth should I send this one back?’

To Song Mook, Gu Yangjeok was a troublesome disciple in many ways.

It was obvious he would continue acting without regard for the precepts.

But, looking at it the other way.

‘Where could there be a cultivator who adapts to the martial world as quickly as an enemy?’

There was no guarantee he wouldn’t commit evil deeds, but Song Muk had sensed something in their recent exchange.

Gu Yangji’s passion.

And his cultivation, purer than anyone else’s.

‘What monastery?’

Song Muk’s resolve hardened. As his thoughts shifted, a hollow laugh escaped him.

‘This lad is precisely suited for the Nine Dragons Tournament.’

He resolved once more to actively recommend Gu Yang-jeok for the Nine Dragon Tournament to be held in two weeks.

Just then, Zhao Hun’s voice reached him from afar.

“Senior Brother Gu Yang!”

“……?”

“A cart has arrived from the Golden Ring Trading Company!”

He had expected it would take at least five days for the Golden Ring Trading Company to arrive.

‘Surprisingly quick on their feet?’

Gu Yang-jeok immediately brushed the dust off his robe.

* * *

Baek Cheon, who had instructed to park three carts beside the Guest Hall, wiped the beads of sweat from his forehead.

“This should satisfy you.”

Even now, Gu Yang-jeok remained etched in Baek Cheon’s mind like an afterimage.

He was truly a savior.

Not only had he brought down the corrupt Golden Ring Trading House, but he had handed it over to him and given him an opportunity.

But what was that opportunity?

The financial management of the Huashan Sect, one of the Three Great Taoist Sects of the martial world!

For a trading house, this was the highest honor, the most prestigious position to pass down from generation to generation.

And now.

Having actually arrived at the Huashan Sect, Baekcheon’s anticipation swelled even more.

“They say Huashan is truly a famous mountain. That saying is certainly not wrong!”

As Baekcheon looked around in deep admiration,

Gu Yangjeok was inspecting the carts alone.

He intended to secure a share for himself before the high-ranking elders arrived.

‘He really is a perceptive man.’

Gu Yang-jeok’s gaze settled contentedly on the three carts.

In terms of sheer numbers, it was undeniably a paltry amount compared to the scale of the Huashan Sect.

If the carts had been filled with food, they should have brought at least five times this much.

But what Baekcheon had brought were weapons—and better ones than the Huashan Sect already possessed.

Swish!

Gu Yangjeok drew a sword that seemed forged from high-quality iron.

‘The blade name isn’t bad, and the temper is passable.’

Compared to the famed Three Great Swords of the Jianghu, like the Chameon, it would inevitably fall short in every way. Yet, this particular sword was quite to his liking.

While not quite a masterpiece, it bore the hallmarks of a skilled craftsman, someone with a name.

“This is mine.”

Just as Gu Yangji was secretly stashing the sword, Baidan Xian suddenly appeared and spoke to him.

“Young man.”

“Whoa, you scared me!”

“Why so startled?”

“Ah, it’s you, Sect Leader. …Hm? But what brings you all the way down here?”

“I heard you came to this place.”

“You sought me out? Why…?”

“One of the elders recommended sending you to the Nine Dragons Tournament.”

“The Nine Dragons Tournament?”

At those words, Gu Yangji recalled the various hermitages near the volcano.

“Was there a hermitage by that name?”

“Hermitage? What are you talking about?”

Bai Danxian spoke, arms crossed.

“The Nine Dragons Tournament is a competition held among late-stage cultivators near the Yuequan.”

“Ah, a competition, was it?”

Gu Yangji responded indifferently.

He had absolutely no intention of participating in a spectacle for such greenhorns.

“Yes, I hear a treasure sword is at stake this time, so it will likely be a tough competition.”

“A treasure sword?”

“Yes, it’s called the ‘True Spirit’ sword. I hear it was crafted by the master swordsmith, Master Docheol, this time. I don’t know how good it really is, but if they call it a treasure sword, it must be quite something…”

Before he could finish, Gu Yangjeok blurted out first.

“I will definitely go!”

Ah, Chamhyun.

What a resonant name!

A ray of light-like smile spread across Gu Yangjeok’s face.

Thinking of Chamhyun, the sword he currently held in his hand somehow felt like a wooden sword.

‘With that alone, even a sword made by a master craftsman is nothing but scrap metal in broad daylight.’

A deep smile stood out on Gu Yangjeok’s face.