Chapter 073
It was truly like a bolt from the blue. Teacher? Baek Sugyeong taking on the renowned Cheongmyeong, the hope of the Wudang Sect, as his disciple? How could that make any sense?
"Did I hear that wrong?"
"No, you didn't."
Baek Sugyeong cursed his unnecessarily good hearing.
"I'm supposed to take Cheongmyeong..."
"Please just call me Cheongmyeong, sir."
"No, I've heard you're the successor disciple who will inherit Wudang's sword legacy. Are you sure this is acceptable? Usually, taking another master would result in expulsion..."
In martial arts novels, sects are like family relationships. It's no coincidence that masters are called "fathers" and fellow disciples address each other as brothers and sisters. With Confucian concepts deeply embedded, taking another master essentially means declaring one's intention to leave that family relationship.
Unless Cheongmyeong was abandoning Wudang's martial arts to study under Baek Sugyeong, this wouldn't be tolerated.
That was clearly the martial arts common sense that Baek Sugyeong remembered. That's why he brought up expulsion, but...
'Even expulsion might be acceptable...'
That hope was shattered by Cheongmyeong's clear answer.
"I've already received permission from the Five Immortals and the Sect Leader. They said that serving as disciple to Teacher Sugyeong, who is respected throughout the Central Plains, would provide sufficient learning opportunities."
Baek Sugyeong's face, frozen like stone, trembled as if it were a statue about to crack and crumble.
What were these crazy Wudang elders thinking?
Struggling to keep that expression from showing on his face, Baek Sugyeong sighed.
"I can't guarantee your martial arts will improve just by staying at my side."
"That's fine."
"Are you sure? Really? Aren't you the successor disciple who must lead the next generation of Wudang?"
"I'm not the only person at Wudang."
The position of successor disciple to inherit Wudang's sword legacy was both unique and special. It was a position created to preserve Wudang's old secret techniques—which had nearly been lost with their true forms forgotten—and pass them down to future generations.
Master Muhyeon, who managed Sugyeong Hall, had been the successor disciple of the previous generation, and after that, there had been no one with the talent to fill that position until Cheongmyeong's generation.
"Moreover, since you've helped our sect in many ways through 'Wudang Sword Hero,' the Five Immortals and the Sect Leader granted their permission."
"No, that's... hah."
The timing of Cheongmyeong joining Wudang and Baek Sugyeong beginning to write "Wudang Sword Hero" had coincided perfectly, resulting in the Three Pure Ones Limitless Sword becoming part of Wudang's martial arts, and even providing clues to restore the lost True Martial Thirteen Swords.
Beyond that, the Taiji Sword had been restored to the Taiji Wisdom Sword, and Wudang's entire martial arts system, including the Jade Void Divine Art, had been completely renewed.
It was no exaggeration to say that a single book had completely transformed Wudang, one of the Nine Major Sects.
No wonder Wudang revered "Wudang Sword Hero" as "Sword Hero's Cultivation Record," treating it like scripture.
'What am I supposed to do with this?'
Helped Wudang in many ways? What nonsense. Baek Sugyeong had merely projected his memory of Wudang's image into his book; he hadn't specifically intended to help them.
He had simply written whatever he wanted out of disgust with the orthodox sects, which were no better than vagabonds, and the state of the Central Plains he had fallen into.
That it had been interpreted so positively was the problem.
'Why are they doing this to me, really?'
It's making me dizzy.
Just when I thought things were going peacefully, a massive boulder comes crashing down as soon as the new year begins, as if it had been waiting for this moment.
Swallowing a sigh, Baek Sugyeong took a short deep breath and looked at Cheongmyeong.
"I regret to say that taking you as my disciple is impossible. I'm just an ordinary scholar, and you're Wudang's promising talent. There's nothing someone as ordinary as me can offer you."
"Sir."
"Of course, I do regret that Wudang hasn't provided me with guards. But that's a separate issue. Besides, becoming the disciple of someone who once kept a woman from the Hao Sect would tarnish Wudang's reputation."
He brought up the Hao Sect hoping it would help, but...
Cheongmyeong's eyes showed no sign of wavering.
"That's fine. Heroes are known for their attraction to beauty—having three wives and four concubines is no blemish. Having kept a woman from the Hao Sect only proves that you, Teacher Sugyeong, are a man of character. It means even someone from an unorthodox sect like the Hao Sect was moved by your character..."
He's twisting the interpretation like this?
The dizziness doubled, returning like a boomerang.
'This is just pure stubbornness!'
It's not even like a tank—it's just mindless persistence.
Yet Baek Sugyeong couldn't keep refusing indefinitely because of the Wudang background supporting Cheongmyeong.
He was already carrying a mental burden regarding Wudang, and Cheongmyeong's insistence made things difficult.
His head was throbbing.
*"Moreover, in the recent battle with the Blood Cult, I gained insights into the martial arts from *'Sword Hero's Cultivation Record'..."
What?
Baek Sugyeong looked at Cheongmyeong with an incredulous expression.
"Cheongmyeong, what are you saying..."
"Actually, I've found clues leading to the True Martial Thirteen Swords, and I wanted to seek your advice about it."
What?
Baek Sugyeong's face showed deep bewilderment.
"Did you just say 'True Martial Thirteen Swords'?"
"Yes. Master Muhyeon told me it was a lost martial art from the Old Murim's foundation. He said that since you wrote about it in 'Sword Hero's Cultivation Record,' we might at least be able to restore its form, so I've been practicing using your book as a secret manual..."
It was truly an unintended coincidence.
The background for the name "True Martial Thirteen Swords" was naturally derived from the True Martial Dark Heaven Emperor who wielded the Dragon Turtle Seal.
This deity and immortal, also known as the True Martial Emperor, was a Taoist god worshipped by the Wudang Sect, which is why he had used that setting.
But it was a lost martial art of Wudang?
'What kind of coincidence is this...'
The dizziness was layering so much that he no longer even felt dizzy anymore.
"I almost reached the Dark Heaven Limitless Divine Art, but lost the thread, so I wanted to seek your advice."
This is getting worse.
Baek Sugyeong's face twisted into a strange expression, somewhere between crying and laughing.
'Oh heavens...'
Please.
'Just kill me now!!'
Baek Sugyeong's silent scream echoed through the reception room.
...
The conversation with Cheongmyeong had left Baek Sugyeong's mind and body in tatters.
Perhaps because there were so many shocking revelations, by the time he finished talking with Cheongmyeong, Baek Sugyeong was completely exhausted.
The conversation was so shocking it made him sigh.
Cheongmyeong had actually demonstrated the first form of the True Martial Thirteen Swords called "Creation" before him, and even showed how the Twin Spirit Limitless True Qi, when reaching its extreme state, could split into yin and yang energies like a dual cultivation technique and manifest through separate swords.
After seeing this with his own eyes, Baek Sugyeong was speechless.
This actually works?
That was all he could think.
"The Dark Heaven Limitless Divine Art is merely based on the Three Pure Ones technique. While it shares a foundation with the Twin Spirit Limitless True Qi, it must be utilized in a completely different way, so you must be especially careful."
"I'm grateful for your advice, which is as precious as gold and jade."
Baek Sugyeong cleared his throat and continued.
"The essence of Twin Spirit Limitless True Qi is separation. It specializes in creating powerful offensive strikes by clashing opposing true qi. Of course, Jin Un doesn't show this usage in the story, but if you intend to cultivate Dark Heaven Limitless Divine Art to its extreme, you must understand that it only shares roots with Twin Spirit Limitless True Qi."
"Yes."
"The essence of Dark Heaven Limitless Divine Art is embracing. Like the dark sky, it encompasses everything. Despite True Martial Thirteen Swords being a fusion of dozens or hundreds of Wudang's sword techniques with only their essence extracted, it harmonizes with the internal cultivation method for this reason. In other words, it can be seen as a martial art meant to be passed down through Wudang since Jin Un's era."
After rapidly explaining all this, Baek Sugyeong paused.
"Of course, I hope you understand that the content of 'Wudang Sword Hero' is purely fictional."
"Thanks to your words, I feel I can pick up the thread that had me lost in a maze."
He's not listening at all.
This is why he hated getting involved with martial artists.
It wasn't for nothing that he had resolved to live quietly and die normally.
He had managed well for eight years before things fell apart.
Cheongmyeong expressed his gratitude again.
"I will engrave your words in my bones and heart."
Please don't come looking for me again—I hope you become a master who's busy protecting the Central Plains, Master Cheongmyeong.
Hiding these inner thoughts, Baek Sugyeong ended the conversation with Cheongmyeong with a martial salute.
He had barely managed to convince Cheongmyeong not to become his disciple, but it would be troublesome if more people like him showed up.
Cold sweat trickled down Baek Sugyeong's forehead.
'Hmm?'
A pleasant scent tickled his nose.
Baek Sugyeong's face took on a strange expression as he looked toward the source of the clear, pure fragrance reminiscent of a clear sky.
The scent was coming from where Cheongmyeong had been.
"Surely not..."
A crack appeared on Baek Sugyeong's forehead as he stared at the spot Cheongmyeong had vacated.
Please don't tell me he's a woman in disguise.
"Sir, Young Hero Huangbo is waiting," said Namgung Somin.
Baek Sugyeong snapped back to reality and looked at her.
"Tell him he may enter."
"Yes."
...
"I am Huangbo Jun of the Huangbo Clan, Teacher Sugyeong."
Looking at the martial artist from the Huangbo Clan who had come to see him, Baek Sugyeong closed his eyes.
The Namgung Clan situation had somewhat passed thanks to Namgung Somin's presence, but hadn't he foreseen that something like this would happen?
As he tried to calm himself, Huangbo Jun spoke.
"I came to ask about the portrayal of our clan in Volume 7."
Baek Sugyeong silently lifted his teacup.
After taking a sip, he bowed his head.
"First, I must apologize. Despite knowing it could damage the reputation of an existing clan, and despite having nearly gone through this ordeal once before, I proceeded with the same action again. I have no defense if the Huangbo Clan demands I take responsibility."
"Ahem, ahem."
Huangbo Jun seemed to have expected Baek Sugyeong to hold his head high and be defiant.
When Baek Sugyeong bowed his head instead, his expression showed clear confusion.
"It was my fault for not seeking cooperation in advance, so I will gladly accept your criticism, Master Huangbo."
"Hmm, ahem. As long as you understand."
After clearing his throat several times, Huangbo Jun continued.
His eyes burned with desire for an answer to his next question.
"I heard that the White Cat Fairy called you Grandmaster. Did you teach martial arts to the White Cat Fairy?"
How could I be a Grandmaster when I never taught her anything?
Baek Sugyeong's face wrinkled slightly.