Chapter 050
The Sugyeong Hall was a pavilion built to honor Baek Sugyeong, who was practically a benefactor to the Wudang Sect.
Like other important buildings such as the True Martial Pavilion that trained the pillars of Wudang, and the Financial Affairs Pavilion that managed finances, Sugyeong Hall had evolved to become one of the most important buildings at Wudang.
Originally, Wudang Sect's martial arts manuals were stored in the Southern Hermitage Palace, but now only copies remained there while the originals had been moved to Sugyeong Hall.
After circling the Demon Sword Pond where disciples honed their swords and spirits, and passing the Sword Testing Stone that overlooked all who entered, one would reach a large basin called the Thousand Zhang Plain. That's where Sugyeong Hall stood.
"Senior Brother Cheongmyeong!"
"Where are you going?"
"I'm heading to Sugyeong Hall."
He exchanged casual greetings with his fellow disciples as he passed them.
Beyond the disciples sharpening their swords at the Demon Sword Pond, past the steps where the Sword Testing Stone sat, and into the Thousand Zhang Plain, Sugyeong Hall came into view not far away.
Upon entering Sugyeong Hall, one was greeted by a life-sized wooden statue of Baek Sugyeong, carved based on the testimonies of the two brothers Jeong Jin and Jeong U.
The statue depicted him holding an empty book in one hand and a fine brush in the other, looking down with dignified eyes at those who entered the hall.
Cheongmyeong briefly stopped and bowed before the statue, which was carved to be so handsome that Baek Sugyeong himself would have found it ridiculous. This was the customary ritual everyone performed when entering Sugyeong Hall.
Past the statue of Baek Sugyeong at the entrance, a magnificent view unfolded—what could only be described as an enormous library.
"Welcome. Have you come to return Volume 8?"
Cheongmyeong bowed his head at the voice of Master Muhyeon, the keeper of Sugyeong Hall.
"Elder Master Muhyeon."
"It seems you've finished reading the Sword Hero's Cultivation Record."
"Yes."
Cheongmyeong took out Volume 8 of the "Wudang Sword Hero" from his chest and handed it over. Master Muhyeon checked the condition of the book before placing it on a nearby table.
Master Muhyeon said:
"I hear the Chairman of the Heavenly Dragon Trading Company, which supplies goods to our sect, was humiliated by Master Sugyeong."
"Is that so?"
"From what I heard, she was severely scolded by Master Sugyeong. Tsk, she must have tried some underhanded tactics with the upright Master Sugyeong."
"That's something we can't know for certain."
Master Muhyeon nodded at Cheongmyeong's words.
"Amitabha. One cannot know the truth of any matter before hearing both sides, so it's too early to jump to conclusions."
"Has the annotated version of Volume 8 of the Sword Hero's Cultivation Record not been published yet?"
"The book was published barely a week ago. The martial scholars are working hard on creating an annotated version."
The study of the "Wudang Sword Hero" had essentially become a lifelong pursuit in the Wudang Sect.
This was because the Taiji Sword, Wudang's representative sword technique that was thought to have lost its true form after the Old Murim era, had regained its status thanks to the emergence of the "Wudang Sword Hero."
The sword technique that had been called simply "Taiji Sword" instead of "Taiji Wisdom Sword" because it had lost its true form.
With the appearance of the Dark Heaven Limitless Divine Art in Volume 8, which was clearly based on the Three Pure Ones Art that progressed through Supreme Purity, Jade Purity, and Upper Purity, the reverence for the "Wudang Sword Hero" had grown even stronger.
"They're also compiling the essentials of the True Martial Thirteen Swords, so don't worry too much. You are the only successor disciple who will carry on Wudang's sword lineage in this generation."
"The Sword Hero Martial Arts Compendium will continue to grow, I suppose."
"Since we don't know how many volumes Master Sugyeong plans to complete for the Sword Hero's Cultivation Record, we naturally need to leave space."
Master Muhyeon smiled.
The Sword Hero Martial Arts Compendium was, as its name suggested, a book created to record all of Wudang Sect's supreme arts that appeared in the Wudang Sword Hero.
As long as Baek Sugyeong continued writing, there would never be a shortage of blank spaces in the compendium.
Even if the "Wudang Sword Hero" were to be completed, it would likely become a new historical record of Wudang, leaving blank spaces to commemorate the birth of new martial arts.
"Lost supreme arts from the Old Murim era are being restored thanks to the Sword Hero's Cultivation Record. Perhaps Master Sugyeong is a hidden sage from the Old Murim. To help restore Wudang's martial arts while remaining anonymous—he truly deserves to be called a great man."
Old Murim.
Although the current martial world was called the New Murim, Cheongmyeong didn't know much about the Old Murim. He only knew that the powers that had existed in the Old Murim were decimated, and the New Murim was established during the process of their resurrection.
"True Martial Thirteen Swords. You have no idea how many tears I shed when I first saw that name."
The elder generation of the current Wudang Sect grew up hearing legends of the Old Murim era directly from those who lived through it.
Most who knew the legends of the Old Murim had ascended and left this world.
But people like Master Muhyeon, who grew up hearing about that era's legends, still remained.
After being lost in deep sentiment for a moment, Master Muhyeon cleared his throat with a cough.
"Anyway, it's unusual for you to visit Sugyeong Hall immediately after coming down from Heavenly Pillar Hermitage. Do you have business other than returning the book?"
"I was thinking of leaving Mount Wudang for a while..."
"Hmm?"
Master Muhyeon's forehead wrinkled slightly.
"I don't believe the Sect Leader has ordered anything of the sort."
"Now that Martial Uncle Jeong Jin and Martial Uncle Jeong U have returned, wouldn't someone be needed to stay by his side?"
"Hmm."
Master Muhyeon stroked his chin.
It was true that after the martial arts tournament at the Murim Alliance ended inconclusively, the two brothers Jeong Jin and Jeong U had been recalled from Wuhan.
This was because the Wudang Sect's pride had been hurt when their disciple wasn't selected to guard Baek Sugyeong, with that position going to the Namgung Clan.
But for Cheongmyeong, of all people, to bring this up directly...
"You want to go?"
"I thought the fastest way to access the Sword Hero's Cultivation Record would be to stay by Master Sugyeong's side..."
Master Muhyeon stroked his beard.
"Cheongmyeong. Are you truly alright with this?"
Everyone who had set foot in Wudang knew that Cheongmyeong received special treatment.
This was deeply related to Cheongmyeong's unique status.
He was the only successor to Wudang's sword lineage, which had been practically discontinued since the Old Murim era.
Though his master was officially Elder Master Mucheon, if one traced his lineage, he was the only martial artist connected to the already retired Wudang Five Immortals.
The joint disciple of the Wudang Five Immortals who had already retired from the front lines.
That fact alone made him a recognized figure within Wudang.
"You are the child who will inherit all of Wudang's sword arts. You are the successor disciple. Even so, you still want to go to Master Sugyeong's side?"
"I believe walking by his side will bring me new insights."
"Hmm..."
"Also, I wish to elevate our sect's name at the Dragon Gate Gathering."
Master Muhyeon made a slight groaning sound. Finally, a sigh.
He looked at Cheongmyeong, who stood silently.
"Have you paid your respects to your Five Immortal Martial Grand-uncles?"
"I plan to do so soon."
"If you've made up your mind, this old Taoist has no way to stop you. Speak to the Sect Leader and seek permission. I'm not sure if your Five Immortal Martial Grand-uncles will allow it."
Cheongmyeong bowed his head to Master Muhyeon.
"...Well then."
"When you go out into the world, don't forget Senior Brother Mujin's advice. Be wary of women, children, and the elderly. Understand?"
"Yes."
"You may go. This old Taoist has kept you too long. Amitabha."
Cheongmyeong bowed to Master Muhyeon, who was reciting a Buddhist invocation, and left Sugyeong Hall.
Watching Cheongmyeong's retreating figure, Master Muhyeon smiled bitterly.
"It seems Master Mucheon's words when we brought that child into our sect are coming true."
"He is not a child who will be bound to Mount Wudang."
That's what Master Mucheon had said when Cheongmyeong was admitted to Wudang.
And now it seemed to be coming true.
"Dragon Gate Gathering. What a nostalgic name."
Perhaps reminiscing about distant memories, tears of remembrance formed in the old Taoist's eyes.
...
"Does the Master always write in such cold weather?"
Jin Agyeong, who had become familiar with the place after several visits, had even changed her guard and now came and went from the Auspicious Cloud Trading Company as if it were her own home.
At her question, Baek Sugyeong paused briefly from writing down an inspiration that had suddenly come to him.
"I find it difficult to concentrate without the cold air. If the air is too warm, I get sleepy, and sleep inevitably weakens the hand. If even one character is written incorrectly, the entire content could be distorted, so the cold air is essential for me. Though it is cold, of course."
"Do you still have no intention of contracting with our company?"
"As I've said before, I have no such intention at all."
"Another rejection..."
Jin Agyeong looked disappointed, but she showed no signs of giving up.
This was already her umpteenth rejection.
It would be faster to count how many times she had visited the Auspicious Cloud Trading Company than to count the number of rejections.
Even Baek Sugyeong, the one doing the rejecting, had come to admire her persistence.
Erasing her disappointed expression, Jin Agyeong spoke energetically:
"But I have no intention of giving up!"
"Chairman Jin seems to have a persistent side. I heard the Cloud Flower Fairy of the Heavenly Dragon Trading Company rarely shows herself like a divine dragon in the clouds, but these days it seems she's revealing her face everywhere?"
When Baek Sugyeong joked, Jin Agyeong's face reddened slightly.
"Well, there are circumstances..."
"Master, were you here?"
A voice cut in between Jin Agyeong and Baek Sugyeong.
It was Yi Jonhwi.
Having just returned from Mount Mang with Namgung Somin, Yi Jonhwi's body was steaming, making him look like a steamed bun.
Baek Sugyeong laughed at Yi Jonhwi's attitude, which seemed completely different from before.
"Did you go to Mount Mang?"
"I went running with Master. These days I don't get tired easily when running, so it seems the training is working."
"I don't give ineffective training, Young Master Yi."
"I apologize, Master."
Yi Jonhwi bowed respectfully to Namgung Somin.
Namgung Somin seemed accustomed to this.
"Lady Namgung. I entrust Young Master Ahwi to you again today."
"Yes, Teacher."
She bowed politely, but for a moment, a lightning-quick glance rested on Jin Agyeong before returning to its place.
Baek Sugyeong didn't seem to notice, but Jin Agyeong clearly felt it.
'Do they think I'll give up because of that?'
The descendant of the Heavenly Dragon never gives up.
No matter what opposition she faces.
"Then I'll take my leave, Teacher."
"The weather is cold, so don't stay outside too long, Master!"
"Indeed. Young Master Ahwi, don't overexert yourself either."
"Yes!"
Yi Jonhwi responded energetically before leaving with Namgung Somin.
Jin Agyeong, watching the space they had vacated, said:
"It seems many connections gather around you, Master Baek. Perhaps it's fate guided by the Sword Hero?"
Baek Sugyeong smiled faintly.
"I think so. Chairman Jin should go inside too, as it's cold. If you catch a cold, you'll have to suffer through ginger tea."
"Do you dislike ginger tea, Master?"
To Jin Agyeong's question, Baek Sugyeong answered firmly:
"-Very much."
Baek Sugyeong greatly dislikes ginger tea.
Another piece of information about Baek Sugyeong was recorded in Jin Agyeong's mental notebook.