Return of Mount Hua Sect - Chapter 627

He started to get short of breath. His fingertips trembled a little, and his heart beat rapidly.

But this wasn’t exactly a bad sign. It was unthinkable for someone facing a challenge not to be nervous.

At least if as a swordsman, as someone who proves themselves with a sword, one should be prepared to take the match seriously regardless of what’s at stake.

It is the most basic attitude that someone who holds a sword should have.

“Huu.”

Yoon Jong took a short deep breath and looked at Mu Yon standing across him.

The emotion he felt now could probably be called intimidation. That’s understandable.

First-class disciple of Wudang Sect.

One of the three swordsmen of Wudang’s Three Swords.

None of the modifiers were light. Objectively speaking, Mu Yon was still a tough opponent for Yoon Jong.

But….

‘Have it ever been not too much?’

It’s amusing to think about it.

The Hwajong Conference was also too much for him. There is no need to mention the Murim Competition. He had to risk his life in the fight against Myriad Man House, and he realized his limitations in the North Sea.

It wasn’t his own choice, but he always had to fight the toughest to handle, and he was thrown to face difficult tasks that he had to win.

‘When a crow tries to chase a stork, its crotch gets torn.’

He knew himself well. The fact that he’s not a genius.

Just because he was called Five Swords along with others did not mean he was the same as them. Baek Cheon is undoubtedly a genius who doesn’t need any modifier, and Yoo Iseol is a monster that sometimes outperforms even Baek Cheon.

Chung Myung?

Talking about that guy hurts his mouth.

Even Jo-Gol’s talent felt dazzlingly great to him.

He don’t know what others think, but Yoon Jong knew for sure. His talent can’t be compared to theirs. He is nothing more than an ox running in the dust beneath soaring hawks and eagles.

A little carelessness and everyone will overtake him in the blink of an eye. Not only Jo-Gol, but also the other third-class disciples.

He knows. He knows himself best.

“You look nervous.”

Then Mu Yon spoke in a low voice.

Yoon Jong looked up and faced Mu Yon. Come to think of it, this was just a place of fellowship to see each other’s swords. Therefore, it was not necessary to bare his teeth because it was a sparring opponent. He nodded his head gently.

“Actually, quite a bit.”

“Hm?”

Then Mu Yon looked at him with an interested gaze.

When an opponent to compete with says something like this, it’s normal to pretend that nothing is wrong, even if it’s a bluff. But this young Taoist admits he was nervous in a calm tone.

It’s not something to put much meaning on, but it somehow caught his attention.

“There is nothing to be so nervous about. If I can fully demonstrate my skills, won’t winning or losing come naturally?”

“Certainly. I think you are right. But….”

There was a glow in Yoon Jong’s calm eyes.

“I am not in a position to take only what comes naturally.”

“Hoo?”

He was calm yet unyielding. The atmosphere was completely different from Jo-Gol, who turned their stomach upside down a while ago.

‘It’s strange that the same martial brothers have such different feelings.’

How can people be all the same? But the temperament of those who live together for many years, learn the same martial arts, and go through the same thing is bound to become similar.

But in the eyes of Mu Yon, these Mount Hua disciples were strangely different in temperament.

“If you were so worried, you wouldn’t have to choose me.”

“What’s the difference?”

“Hm?”

Mu Yon smiled strangely and opened his mouth.

“It sounds like there is no difference between me, the so-called Wudang’s Three Swords, and the other disciples of Wudang Sect and you. Is it right?”

Yoon Jong shook his head calmly.

“I just wanted to tell you that every one of you is a formidable person.”

Mu Yon stared at him before slowly drawing his sword.

Although he was interested, this was not the appropriate place for a long conversation. The goodwill gesture shown through their brief exchange was genuine, but it would have to wait another day.

“Draw your sword.”

“Yes.”

“Let me tell you beforehand, I’m not someone to be taken lightly. Do your best.”

“You don’t have to tell me that.”

Seureureung.

The Plum Blossom Sword was pulled out of Yoon Jong’s scabbard.

“In recent years, I haven’t had a single moment where I didn’t give my all.”

He was always desperate.

To not fall behind, to not be eliminated.

Before exchanging blows in earnest, Yoon Jong briefly glanced toward Mount Hua’s disciples.

Not Baek Cheon and Five Swords, but Mount Hua’s disciples. Especially, where the third-class disciples are located. Yoon Jong sighed quietly after checking the eyes of the third-class disciples who were fixed on his side.

‘It’s too much for me.’

The eldest of the third-class disciples.

It wasn’t a position that Yoon Jong particularly wanted. It was merely given to him naturally because he was older and had entered earlier.

Of course, there was a time when he was intoxicated and enjoyed the fact that he was the Great Sahyung of the third-class disciples. But now, that fact has weighed on the shoulders occasionally.

Fighting with a gifted Saje and a monster-like Saje who fell from heaven was an excessive burden on him, who was merely an ordinary person.

Nevertheless…

Nevertheless, there was only one reason why Yoon Jong could not give up comfortably.

“Let’s get started.”

“Yes.”

Mu Yon performed Wudang’s swordsmanship salute (기수식(起手式)). Yoon Jong also pulled himself together with Mount Hua’s swordsmanship salute. A short tension flowed between the two who gripped their swords.

It was Mu Yon who moved first.

Pat! Mu Yon, who had made a short step forward, instantly pierced Yoon Jong’s front.

It was truly a swift attack.

Kakang! Yoon Jong hurriedly raised his sword and struck at the Pine Pattern Ancient Sword. Despite putting quite a bit of force into the strike, Mu Yon’s sword easily brushed off the power and stabbed Yoon Jong once again.

‘It’s fast.’

No, it’s not just fast. Although it was a light exchange, countless hidden techniques were hidden in it. It’s not easy for a long sword to withstand a horizontal strike. But when the swords clashed, Mu Yon gently let out the power that Yoon Jong had put in, and, using that power, stabbed his sword again.

Transplanting Flowers and Joining Trees (이화접목(移花接木)) and Softness Overcomes Strength (능유제강(能柔制强)).

The advanced martial art, which is hard to unfold at once, overlapped at the same time.

‘This is Wudang!’

A sword that cannot be seen on Mount Hua. Therefore, it was difficult to deal with and not easy to block.

However, Yoon Jong cut off the sword briefly and struck out, avoided, and deflect the flying sword energy.

‘Lower!’

Dodging the sharp sword once again, Yoon Jong lowered his stance. His firmly anchored legs allowed his upper body to move nimbly, enabling him to avoid the swords coming at him at an incredible speed that he couldn’t even see.

The lightness of his moves impressed Mu Yon.

“Not bad.”

Swaeaeaek! At the same time, his sword became even faster.

Swaeaeaek! However, Yoon Jong’s sword didn’t falter this time either.

A sword without any waste.

It’s not all about swinging fast. Even if the speed was incredible, if the sword’s path was incorrect, it would ultimately waste time.

Yoon Jong’s sword perfectly traced the fastest path to reach the opponent’s sword.

‘It’s hard.’

Mu Yon’s complexion changed a little. The earlier Jo-Gol’s swordplay was lively, fast, and bizarre. However, the sword Yoon Jong is now showing was solid and faithful.

‘It would be more like Wudang’s sword.’

It couldn’t be called Soft Sword (유검(柔劍)), but what was underlying it was not so different.

If Mu Yon’s sword was like the wind, Yoon Jong was like a giant tree receiving the wind.

‘At this age….’

Build a solid foundation and lighten the upper body based on the solid lower body. It was easy to say but difficult to achieve. To reach this level, how much training did he have to do?

But in order to achieve that, basic training must be accompanied to death. Even a brief strenuous effort doesn’t complete it.

The basics are that you have to practice the same training without resting for countless hours and days so that you can only see the effect noticeably.

How much training did you have to do to achieve this firmness at this age?

10,000 swings a day? Anyone who aims for martial arts can do it.

But how many people in the world can do that 10,000 swings for ten days, a hundred days, a thousand days?

Mu Yon’s eyes glanced at Yoon Jong’s hand. The palm of the hand, which was slightly exposed in contact with the handle of the sword, was unsurprisingly filled with calluses.

“Not bad!”

The excited Mu Yon swung his sword vigorously.

Swooosh! A blue sword energy like water flowed out like a river at the edge of his sword. The blue sword energy rushed toward Yoon Jong like a wave.

The rapid transition from the Swift Sword to Soft Sword, to the Heavy sword in time.

But Yoon Jong’s eyes did not waver at all.

Chwaaak.

Leaning diagonally, Yoon Jong’s sword deflected Mu Yon’s sword energy to the side.

Chwaaaaaak! It was the move to shed strength as much as possible without resisting with force. However, he could not direct all of the strength.

Kwadeudeuk! Yoon Jong’s feet dug into the solid blue stone. The hand holding the sword was shaking like an aspen tree.

The force of flowing water breaks rocks and changes terrain. The explosive power ends in a moment, but the power that continued incessantly was not the end just because it was received once.

“Keuk!”

With a clenched jaw, Yoon Jong pushed his sword forward and moved his body to the side.

But at that moment, Mu Yon rushed forward as if he knew and hit Yoon Jong with his shoulder.

Tuuung! With a sound like a leather drum being hit hard, Yoon Jong bounced helplessly backward.

Kung! Kung! Yoon Jong, who had bounced to the floor several times, spun his body around and drove his sword into the blue stone before he was again doomed.

Kagagak! Despite being pushed back a considerable distance, he quickly regained his posture. A new stream of blood trickled from his lips, but his eyes remained just as resolute as before.

“… Excellent.”

A pure admiration leaked out of Mu Yon’s mouth.

Wudang is Righteous Sect. It is a place to pursue the long-lasting sword.

As such, Wudang emphasizes fundamentals above all else in pursuit of the highest level of swordsmanship, more than any other sect in the world. Wudang Sect is a place where one does not commit the foolishness of neglecting the basics for immediate enlightenment.

However, the swordsmanship of the young Yoon Jong before him felt much more substantial than the fundamental teachings of Wudang that it feels shabby.

“I apologize for looking down on you a little bit.”

“….”

“From now on, I will go with all my might, so try your best to receive it.”

“Yes!”

“Here I go!”

Tak! With another slam to the ground, Mu Yon flew lightly toward Yoon Jong like a butterfly. His sword drew dozens of sword energy, and at the same time, white energy flowed like a stream from his left hand, which drew a circle, and pushed toward Yoon Jong.

Yoon Jong, who had maintained his composure all along, widened his eyes at this sight.

‘Two, two martial arts at once?’

Numerous swords energy and force swept toward Yoon Jong.