Chapter 171. Even If I Have to Paint Myself with Lacquer or Swallow Charcoal (17)
Spirit beasts and the likes cultivated by creating a neidan within their body, fostering it over the years just like how a martial artist cultivated qi in their dantian.
As the neidan grew, the spirituality of the beast grew stronger, and eventually, the beast would gain the opportunity to realize the Dao and become an immortal just like humans could.
Thus, spirit beasts were invariably reluctant to exert their neidan during battle. The more the power within a neidan was used, the longer it would take for a beast to reach the opportunity to ascend to immortality. Most would only do so when facing imminent death.
However, not only was the Golden-Horned Poison Serpent filled with rage and sorrow at losing one of its mates, but it also realized that it was facing a moment of life and death. Thus, with a feeling of desperation, it put everything on the line and used the power within its neidan to the fullest.
The Golden-Horned Poison Serpent's horn glowed brilliantly and slammed into Woo-Moon with a speed and force that was completely different from before.
BANG!
A terrifying explosion rang out as a deluge of blood fell to the ground.
Thud.
The Golden-Horned Poison Serpent's massive head crashed into the ground, severed from its body.
Woo-Moon had defended himself, casting the Impenetrable Golden Wall in the air with Lightflash before immediately switching to Golden Wall Severing Void to cut off the serpent’s head.
"Whew."
As he let out a sigh, Woo-Moon also tossed an ember of Samadhi True Flame, which spread and covered the Golden-Horned Poison Serpent's entire body.
Woosh!
The tremendous blaze incinerated the Golden-Horned Poison Serpent's body entirely, with only its golden horn remaining.
After cleaning things up, Woo-Moon quickly set off to catch up with Yu-Yu and Eun-Ah.
***
Du So-Heung and the other Kunlun Sect disciples silently followed Woo-Moon.
As it happened, Woo-Moon was also heading toward Mount Kunlun, so there was no need to worry about going their separate ways.
When they finally arrived in front of the mountain, Du So-Heung turned to Woo-Moon.
“Young Hero... do you mind if I ask you for your name?”
Du So-Heung felt very grateful to Woo-Moon.
There were many Kunlun Daoists who lived on the mountain, far away from the Central Plains and the secular world, detached from fame and fortune.
Characters like Ki Yeon-Oh and Yu Mun-Gwang were like the dregs that existed at the bottom of every barrel, and people like them who worried about reputation and power weren’t common in a detached place like the Kunlun Sect. That was precisely the reason they were so grateful to Woo-Moon and did not blame him in the slightest about the disgrace that would mar the sect’s reputation due to Ki Yeon-Oh's heinous actions.
Woo-Moon looked into Du So-Heung's eyes for a moment and then spoke calmly.
“My name is Song Woo-Moon.”
“I see, so it’s Song Woo... Hey, did you just say Song Woo-Moon?!”
“Wait, Song Woo-Moon? No, there’s no way...”
“The Undefeatable Sword Hero Song Woo-Moon!”[1]
The Undefeatable Sword Hero.
News had spread of the consecutive spars against the Hegemon Clan and his incredible feats in the war against the Black Bull Gang. The title of Undefeatable Sword Hero was given to Woo-Moon after the greatest of his known feats—decapitating the Lust Emperor.
Just like the other disciples, Du So-Heung also couldn't hide his surprise.
“Are you really the Undefeatable Sword Hero Song Woo-Moon? We all heard he was killed by the Heavenly Demon Cult at the Heavenly Demon Mound...”
There wasn't enough time right now to explain the entire idea of Martial Heaven to Du So-Heung. Moreover, this wasn’t something that these third-generation Kunlun Sect disciples, who were looking at him with bright eyes, needed to know at this point.
It was best to inform only the sect master and the elders of the Kunlun Sect about Martial Heaven and his plan to attack the Cruel Sandstorm Riders. The rest of the sect members could learn about it on the day of battle.
Thus, Woo-Moon just responded with a calm smile, “Yes, it’s true that I fell into the Heavenly Demon Cult’s trap and was on the verge of death. However, thanks to my grandfather’s sacrifice, I was able to survive, and after healing my wounds, I’m now back in the murim.”
At Woo-Moon's words, Du So-Heung burst out in anger.
“Hmph! Those demons of the wicked Heavenly Demon Cult! They’ve become even more sinister than before. In the past, they only tried to conquer through force and refused to use such trickery.”
It made perfect sense for Du So-Heung to respond in this manner.
The Heavenly Demon Cult had been enough of a disaster for the murim back when they had ignorantly only focused on strength. However, if they had started to use such strategies... it was clear that they would become an even more fearsome foe.
Although he knew it was only for a moment, Woo-Moon felt a twinge of guilt for practically helping Martial Heaven frame the Heavenly Demon Cult. However, he quickly dismissed it. Whether they were protecting Si-Hyeon or trying to kill her, he still did not doubt in his mind that they had been involved in what had happened to her.
“Then, is there something you need with our sect, Young Master Song?”
“I’m going to meet someone who helped me a lot a long time ago.”
It was at this point that Du So-Heung remembered a story he had heard before about Woo-Moon.
‘Young Hero Song knows our Divine Phantasm Steps.’
That was why, even though Woo-Moon didn’t have a direct relationship with the Kunlun Sect they were still related in a sense.
“It seems like we’ve moved a little too quickly to get to this point. I think it would be good for us to take a short break,” Woo-Moon commented.
It was something that all of the Kunlun Sect disciples wanted to ask but never dared to do. They had all used their movement techniques to the fullest in order to match Woo-Moon and Eun-Ah’s incredible speed and were delighted to be able to take a break.
Well aware of their hardships, Du So-Heung also nodded in agreement.
“Thank you for your consideration.”
Woo-Moon took the chance while everyone was resting to secretly climb up Mount Kunlun’s rough paths, avoiding all people along the way. He climbed over the fence without any of the disciples noticing, eventually arriving at his most important destination, the sect master’s office.
His figure slowly materialized in front of Na Ban, the sect master of the Kunlun Sect, catching him completely by surprise.
Na Ban had wrinkled skin and white hair, yet the playful expression on his face didn’t quite match his sagely appearance. Although Woo-Moon’s sudden appearance was undoubtedly shocking, he didn’t give off even the slightest hint.
He simply nodded and said in a calm voice, “And who might you be, young man?”
Woo-Moon cupped his fist.
“I apologize for not being able to go through the proper channels for my visit. My name is Song Woo-Moon.”
“Song Woo-Moon? Weren’t you supposed to have died at the Heavenly Demon Mound?”
Woo-Moon nodded, then proceeded to explain himself. He revealed everything that happened, explaining the existence of Martial Heaven and the Cruel Sandstorm Riders being one of Martial Heaven’s subordinate organizations. Then, he requested Na Ban and the Kunlun Sect’s aid in subduing the Cruel Sandstorm Riders.
Although it was Na Ban’s first time meeting Woo-Moon, he had no doubts that the person standing before him was actually Song Woo-Moon. Considering his incredible cultivation at such a young age, it was hard to think about anyone else. Yet after hearing Woo-Moon’s explanation, the sect master finally showed a hint of surprise on his face.
“I understand that there wouldn’t be any reason for you to lie to me about some fake organization or another, Young Hero. However... it’s still difficult for me to believe in the existence of the organization you call Martial Heaven, considering I’ve never heard of it before. Hmm... of course, the Cruel Sandstorm Riders have always been a problem, so I see no reason to refuse to destroy them. It’s just that having to join hands with the government is quite a hassle.”
It was an entirely predictable answer, and Woo-Moon had been prepared for it. Thus, he took out an item from his pocket and handed it to Na Ban.
“I received this from Master Jin Won-Myeong a long time ago. Maybe you’ll recognize it.”
Na Ban’s eyes narrowed a little, but he nodded.
“Well, in that case... if you’re willing to exchange the Kunlun Friendship Medallion for it, then I will take that as an order. We will do as you ask, Young Hero.”
There was only one Kunlun Friendship Medallion. It was a token held by the greatest elder of the Kunlun Sect and was only given to someone whom they recognized as a friend of the sect. By sect law, the sect and its disciples had to comply with whatever request was given by the person who returned the medallion to the sect.
Woo-Moon had been told by Jin Won-Myeong that this was an important token, but he hadn’t expected that the mere sight of it would get the sect master to simply agree to his request without a moment of hesitation.
“Actually, I have a way to make you aware of Martial Heaven’s existence, Sect Master.”
“And how would that work?”
“Once I officially arrive at the Kunlun Sect and my arrival becomes well known, the moles of Martial Heaven who have infiltrated the Kunlun Sect will definitely send homing pigeons and other such to inform their leaders. When they do, I’ll make sure to catch them all. Then, they’ll...”
“They’ll what?”
“They’ll bite the poison pill hidden in their mouths and choose to commit suicide. Because that’s the Martial Heaven way.”
If things really happened as Woo-Moon said they would, the Kunlun Sect would have no choice but to believe him.
Na Ban nodded his head.
“Understood. If things really do happen as you say, we will help you wholeheartedly, and you can keep the Kunlun Friendship Medallion as well. This is a major problem.”
“Thank you in advance.”
Woo-Moon had never expected that the medallion he had received from Jin Won-Myeong a long time ago would be so helpful. The discussion here had gone far more smoothly than the one he had with the Otherworldly Ice Fairy.
With their conversation over, Woo-Moon left Na Ban’s office and descended the mountain like the wind. Fortunately, the group was still where he had left them, and none of them had any idea what he had just done.
Pretending that nothing had happened, Woo-Moon spent the rest of the time calmly teaching Yu Yu martial arts.
Although Yu Yu wasn’t very talented originally, her intellect grew and her body became more suitable for martial training after Woo-Moon reformed her body. She was learning martial arts as quickly as cotton absorbed water.
Woo-Moon was teaching her the Swordplay of the Carefree Goddess, the sword art that Sang-Woon had taught Si-Hyeon. Now that the only two other people who knew the art were gone, if Woo-Moon didn’t find a proper heir for it, the art would completely disappear from this world.
It was poetic, almost like fate, that the sole inheritor of the Swordplay of the Carefree Goddess would be named Yu Yu.[2]
After some time had passed, Du So-Heung approached Woo-Moon.
“We’re ready to keep going now. Would that be okay?”
Woo-Moon nodded.
“Yes, let’s go.”
“The road to the Kunlun Sect is steep and has many forks. Please allow me to take the lead.”
“Understood.
After trekking up the mountain for a while, the group finally arrived at the Kunlun Sect.
“Junior Sect Uncle! You’re back!”
“Hey, why do you all seem... what?! Isn’t that Junior Sect Uncle Ki Yeon-Oh? How was he injured so severely?”
The disciples on the main mountain were still unaware of what Ki Yeon-Oh had done.
Du So-Heung looked coldly at the disciples floundering about and gossiping without bothering to read the room.
“Don’t concern yourselves with this. Just go and announce that a very important guest has arrived. Moreover, call the sect elders over, as I have something to say about Yeon-Oh.”
“Understood.”
From Du So-Heung’s tone, even the dullest of the disciples understood that something major had happened. They immediately shut up and dispersed.
Du So-Heung no longer called Ki Yeon-Oh “senior brother” anymore.
The two disciples guarding the main gate quickly rushed inside. Woo-Moon waited with Du So-Heung for a moment before crossing through the gate into the Kunlun Sect.
Within just a few moments, almost all of the Kunlun Sect’s disciples gathered, their eyes focused on Woo-Moon and Du So-Heung, as well as Ki Yeon-Oh, who was being carried behind them like a dead fish.
As the Kunlun Sect disciples murmured among themselves, one of the elders came forward. He was Du So-Heung and Ki Yeon-Oh’s junior sect uncle.
“So-Heung, what happened?”
Without the slightest hesitation, Du So-Heung explained everything about Ki Yeon-Oh’s deeds.
“WHAT?! Just how!”
“How could this happen to our Kunlun Sect?!”
The sighs of the elders echoed endlessly as the disciples all forgot their previous gossip and were now just staring in utter shock.
“So that’s what happened, So-Heung. Okay, there’s no reason for you to lie. But, who is that young man standing over there?”
Before Du So-Heung could explain, Woo-Moon stepped forward and cupped his fist.
“My name is Song Woo-Moon.”
The murmurs returned with even more impetus at Woo-Moon’s introduction.
“The Undefeatable Sword Hero? Is he really that Song Woo-Moon?”
This time, Du So-Heung responded to the question.
“Yes, that’s right. This young man is the famed Undefeated Sword Hero, who was rumored to be dead. He is the one who stopped Ki Yeon-Oh’s despicable plan and made it known to us.”
What Ki Yeon-Oh had done could only be described in one word: abominable. And given that he was a high-ranking member of the Kunlun Sect, a first-generation disciple, the shock felt by all of the disciples was even more significant.
As he stood to the side, Woo-Moon looked for Jin Won-Myeong and Do-Ah. However, to his disappointment, they were nowhere to be seen.
Meanwhile, the sect master summoned the elders for a meeting.
1. No, this is not the title. It’s just one word off though. ☜
2. The word Carefree is read as Yu Yu. So, the sword technique could also be read as the Swordplay of the Goddess Yu Yu. ☜