Chapter 121
“I am Baek Mu-Gun of the Baek Sword Sect.”
“The Baek Sword Sect?” Qiankun Hand Seok Gang tilted his head.
He had not heard any detailed news about murim since he started living in seclusion here. Hence, he did not know anything about the Baek Sword Sect or Baek Mu-Gun.
“It’s a small sword sect in Zhejiang Province.”
“Well, looking at you, I doubt it’s that small.”
“It is compared to the Seven Great Families.”
“Well, let’s say it is. You’re a long way from home. What brings you all the way here?”
“I think it’s better to work things out with the people over there first.”
“We are martial artists from the Nankun Sect, a vassal family of the Guangdong Jin Family. I don’t know what you, the Baek Sword Sect’s Young Patriarch, are doing here, but it will do you good not to intervene in our sect’s matters,” one of the Nankun Sect’s martial artists politely told Mu-Gun.
“Even if I don’t intervene, I highly doubt you can defeat those two.”
“What are you trying to do, then?” The Nankun Sect’s martial artist now sounded displeased.
“I don’t know why you two are fighting, but now that I’m here, why don’t you talk it out?”
“We refuse. Our Young Patriarch lost all functions in his leg because of that bastard’s hands. We will definitely not retreat until they pay that debt back.” The Nankun Sect’s martial artists pointed at the young man whom Kang Chan had assumed was the disciple of the Qiankun Hands and the Daybreak Swordmaster.
“It was better for that scumbag to live as a cripple,” the young man proudly replied. He sounded as if he had done the right thing.
“Shut up! How dare you run your mouth? You’re just a coward who ambushed our Young Patriarch!”
“Ambush? Did that bastard just say ‘ambush’? I guess he knows how to feel ashamed, considering he found the need to lie. Listen carefully. I never attacked him by surprise. I just punished that bastard for trying to rape a woman.”
“Bullshit! Just because the Young Patriarch is not here does not mean anyone would believe your nonsense! He is not the kind of person to do that!”
“Tsk tsk, I pity you for pledging allegiance to him without knowing who he truly is,” the young man responded after clicking his tongue.
“Is everything you have just said the truth?” Daybreak Swordmaster Geom Woo-Saeng asked the young man.
“Yes. That bastard tried to rape a woman in a secluded path deep in the mountain. When I caught him in the act, I punished him for it.”
“If there is even a sliver of a lie in what you have just said, as your master, I will show no mercy.”
“If there is any lie in what I just said, I will gladly give up my own neck,” the young man confidently replied.
Hearing his confident remarks, Woo-Saeng turned to the Nankun Sect martial artists.
“I don’t know what your Young Patriarch said, but I believe my disciple. If the Nankun Sect is truly a righteous sect, you should figure out the truth before asking my disciple to pay for his supposed sins. I will not ask you to pay for the crime of trespassing here today, so take this opportunity to stop what you’re planning and return home. If you still want to keep fighting, then do as you please. However, keep in mind that we will no longer show mercy.”
Woo-Saeng’s words made the Nankun Sect martial artists look perplexed. It was a publicly known secret that their Young Patriarch was known to succumb to carnal desires. According to the rumors circulating around town, he had already raped various common women and covered it up with the authority and money of the Nankun Sect.
They did not believe that rumor, calling it nonsense, but their faith shook when they witnessed the young man speak so confidently. If their Young Patriarch had really tried to rape a woman, then they would not be in the position to question the young man’s crime of crippling him.
Coming to a decision, one of the Nankun Sect martial artists said, “We will retreat for now. However, if we find out that our Young Patriarch did nothing wrong, then the Nankun Sect will definitely not forgive you.”
“If my disciple’s statement turns out to be a lie, the Nankun Sect won’t have to take action. I will punish him myself. ”
“I hope you mark your words. Everyone, retreat.” With that remark, the Nankun Sect martial artists left the Dieyun Valley.
Mu-Gun smiled bitterly. The situation resolved itself without them having to step up or do anything in particular.
“Now that the uninvited guests have left, it’s time to listen to what you have to say. What is the Baek Sword Sect of Zhejiang Province doing here?” Seok Gang asked Mu-Gun.
“I’m here to bring you crucial information.”
“What is it?”
“The Nine Celestial Demons Sect has launched a full-scale assassination mission on the hidden masters who used to be active during earlier generations. They have already killed many of the hidden masters. I was worried that their assassins would also target you two, so I came here to warn you.”
“The Nine Celestial Demons Sect has reappeared?” Woo-Saeng asked in surprise.
“That’s right. Their devious plans have already caused several disturbances in murim.”
“It hasn’t even been that long since we drove away the Hell-Blood Demon Sect, yet the Nine Celestial Demons Sect has already dared to resurface,” Woo-Saeng said with a sigh.
“So you came here to tell us to be careful?” Seok Gang clarified.
“Yes.” Mu-Gun nodded.
“Please accept our gratitude for going through all that trouble. However, you have a more important reason, do you not?”
“That’s correct. With all due respect, I would like to invite the two of you to join the Baek Sword Sect.”
“Hahaha! I assume you’re recruiting us despite knowing who we are?” Seok-Gang snickered.
“I am fully aware of your identities. That is precisely why I am trying to scout you both.”
“Then you must already be aware that we now live in seclusion here, which means we no longer want to intervene in affairs of murim.”
“The Nine Celestial Demons Sect is threatening the peace of murim. Many people will die if masters like the two of you do nothing,” Mu-Gun reasoned.
“Even so, I find that reason insufficient for us to join the Baek Sword Sect.”
“With all due respect, I doubt our sect’s capabilities are not enough to recruit the two of you.”
“Such arrogance.” Seok Gang sounded displeased.
“Would you like to test whether I am being arrogant or not?” Mu-Gun confidently asked.
“How do you suggest we test you?” Seok Gang asked curiously.
“How about a bout with the both of you esteemed masters?”
“Too much confidence only leads to conceit. That ego of yours might end up taking your life as well,” Seok Gang warned Mu-Gun.
“Why don’t you find out for yourself whether I am confident or conceited? However, if I win against you two, please join our sect as venerable elders.”
“Hoh, do you really think you can beat the both of us?” Woo-Saeng sounded baffled.
“Shouldn’t I be at least that strong to recruit you both?”
“I cannot even call this crazy. This is pure madness. Fine, then. We will join the Baek Sword Sect as its venerable elders if we lose. However, what if we win? What can you offer us?” Seok Gang asked.
“I will give you the Heavenly Sea God Sect’s martial arts.”
“The Heavenly Sea God Sect’s martial arts?” Seok Gang’s eyes beamed.
“Yes. That should be valuable enough to even out this deal.”
“How can you prove that you really have the Heavenly Sea God Sect’s martial arts?”
“The Heavenly Seafarer left this behind as a legacy. Taking a look at this should be enough for you to believe me.”
Mu-Gun showed the two men the manuscript that the Heavenly Seafarer had left behind and the Flying Golden Shield. The items made the hidden masters realize that Mu-Gun was telling the truth.
“How na?ve. Have you never heard of the saying, ‘Opportunity makes the thief’? You have thought that showing us the Heavenly Sea God Sect’s martial arts could tempt us to take those items by force, have you not?” Woo-Saeng commented.
Mu-Gun smiled widely. “I believe you two aren’t so wicked. Even if you were, stealing the Heavenly Sea God Sect’s martial arts from me is simply impossible.”
“Haha, I can’t help but acknowledge your confidence.” Woo-Saeng gave up.
“I doubt that’s the case. It’s highly likely that he simply has faith in the martial arts master standing behind him.” Seok Gang pointed to Jin Yoo-Sung, who was watching the situation with interest from behind Mu-Gun.
“You’re no ordinary person. May I know what your esteemed name is?” Woo-Saeng politely asked Yoo-Sung.
“I’m Jin Yoo-Sung. The Sunset Sword.”
“The Sunset Sword of the Four Peerless Wanderers?”
“Yes.”
“Did the Four Peerless Wanderers join the Baek Sword Sect?”
“That’s correct. As someone who has experienced it first-hand, you will definitely not regret becoming the Baek Sword Sect’s venerable elders.”
“That’s incredible. I can’t believe you were able to recruit the Four Peerless Wanderers. Even the Emperor could not have brought them under his wing,” Seok Gang said in surprise.
“Do you feel like joining our sect now?” Mu-Gun asked.
“Fine. I’ll take you up on your offer.”
“Are you being serious?” Woo-Saeng asked, surprised by Seok Gang’s decision.
“If you manage to win against the two of us at such a young age, I would be able to guarantee that you would soon compete for the best in the world. If you are truly that strong of a martial arts master, then wouldn’t that mean you have enough qualifications to have us at your service? On the other hand, if you’re proven wrong, then we will simply acquire the Heavenly Sea God Sect’s martial arts,” Seok Gang reasoned.
Woo-Saeng chuckled, then said, “As that old man said, I think it would be great to witness you become the best martial artist in the world from beside you. I also accept your offer.”
“You won’t go back on your words later on, will you?”
“A man never goes back on his word. We should be the ones saying that to you.”
“That won’t happen, so don’t worry.”
“That establishes our bet, then.”
“Shall we begin?”
“Yes. I see no reason to delay this any further.”
Striking while the iron is hot, the three immediately proceeded with their sparring match. Mu-Gun stood on the left side of the mountain stream while Seok Gang and Woo-Saeng stood on the right side. Amid the tension, Seok Gang and Woo-Saeng exchanged glances.
Seok Gang approached Mu-Gun first. He kicked off the ground and dashed toward Mu-Gun like a cannon. Jumping across the mountain stream in one fell swoop, he immediately extended his hands.
The Qiankun qi that emerged from his hands burrowed toward Mu-Gun’s chest like a thunderbolt. In response, Mu-Gun immediately unleashed the Heavenly Descent Thunder Strike with his left hand, clumping together a wave of golden lightning until he had created a huge hand. With it, he blocked the Qiankun qi, which boasted an extremely destructive power by harmonizing the energy of heaven and earth.
When the Quankun qi collided with the golden hand, a thunderous roar erupted.
Not long after, Seok Gang was pushed back, his Qiankun qi shattering. He looked as if he could not believe what just happened. Although he did not give that attack his all, it should still have been impossible for the Qiankun qi to be shattered so effortlessly.
After blocking Seok Gang’s attack and pushing him back, Mu-Gun immediately thrust the sword in his right hand toward Daybreak Swordmaster Woo-Saeng.
Woo-Saeng attacked at the same time Mu-Gun and Seok Gang clashed, but Mu-Gun did not let that slip past him. Mu-Gun’s sword sent forth a Thunderbolt Sword, blocking Woo-Saeng’s advances. Woo-Saeng hurriedly swung his sword and sent vajra qi toward the Thunderbolt Sword violently flying toward him. The collision shook up the entire space itself. When he noticed his vajra qi helplessly being shattered, Woo-Saeng swung his sword again. However, the resulting shockwave still pushed him back quite a distance.
As the two fought, Seok Gang, who had been blasted away, flew toward Mu-Gun and extended his hand again. The violent collision a moment ago made him conclude that he would not be able to defeat Mu-Gun unless he gave it his all. Hence, this time, he executed the Qiankun Infinite Hands Art with all his might. A series of sword-shaped Qiankun qi darted toward Mu-Gun like arrows.
Rather than confronting Seok Gang’s attack head-on, Mu-Gun activated the Thunder God's Aerial Steps and soared into the air. When the Quankun qi narrowly passed by under his feet, he swung his sword toward the ground, covering the sky with countless moonlight qi for a brief moment. The moonlight qi simultaneously poured down on Seok Gang and Woo-Saeng from all directions before they could launch another attack.
Mu-Gun had just unleashed the Celestial Moonlight Sword Art’s final and ultimate technique: the Moonlight Shower.
Seok Gang and Woo-Saeng’s expressions hardened. They extended their hand and sword respectively and unleashed vajra qi toward the incoming attack. The collision resulted in a chaotic explosion, but more moonlight sword qi remained than the two masters had blocked.
Seok Gang and Woo-Saeng let loose a series of vajra qi to block the waves of moonlight sword qi that endlessly rained down on them. With each collision, a thunderous roar resonated and shook the entire Dieyun Valley. Nevertheless, their defense remained impenetrable.
However, before they realized it, Mu-Gun had descended behind them while they were still busy blocking the moonlight sword qi. Wasting not even a single second, he unleashed the Celestial Moonlight Sword. The fan-shaped moonlight sword qi burrowed into Seok Gang and Woo-Saeng’s backs.
Mu-Gun was just beginning. Having seized the upper hand, Mu-Gun let loose another wave of moonlight sword qi before the two could even get the chance to counterattack.
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