Wudang Sacred Scriptures

At Kwak Yeon’s merciless declaration, Clan Master of the Jegal Family Jegal Jin was plunged into despair.

“My lord, the Cave Hermit Taoist told me to tell you that letting me return alive was his final concession to the Jegal Family.”

Jegal Jin bitterly resented himself for having taken those words from the underhanded agent, who had returned with one arm, too lightly.

As a result, his younger brother, the Fire Dragon of the Jegal Family, was about to die by Kwak Yeon’s hand.

Jegal Jin remembered his younger brother’s sorrowful eyes as their father led him away by the hand.

How much had he regretted not holding back his younger brother when he was leaving for that predetermined, cruel fate?

That day, he had sworn never to let go of his younger brother’s hand again.

—THUMP!

Clan Master of the Jegal Family Jegal Jin collapsed to his knees.

The clan master of a family, and not just any family, but the great prestigious Jegal Family, had gone down on his knees.

Fire Dragon of the Jegal Family Jegal Geon’s eyes flew wide.

“Clan Master......! Cough!”

Because he could not overcome his rage, Jegal Geon’s internal injuries worsened, and blood sprayed from his mouth.

Watching his younger brother collapse in that wretched state, Clan Master Jegal Jin lowered his head and said,

“Chief Secretary Kwak! Please, spare my younger brother’s life.”

Even though the Clan Master of the Jegal Family had disregarded his family’s honor and gone so far as to kneel, Kwak Yeon’s gaze remained cold.

“Please stand, Clan Master Jegal. Even if the entire Jegal Family knelt, it would not stop my sword.”

At Kwak Yeon’s ruthless words, which did not yield a single inch, the assembled heroes of the martial world shuddered in shock. At the same time, they clearly understood why the world called the Cave Hermit Taoist one who killed as he pleased with every step.

And it was not only the assembled heroes in the courtyard who were shocked by those words. Kwak Yeon himself was shocked as well.

Ordinarily, he would have accepted Clan Master Jegal’s apology and brought the situation to an end.

But now, his chest was filled with killing intent that reason could not control. It was because of the black energy surging through the major points of his entire body.

The black energy caused the major points throughout Kwak Yeon’s body to run wild of their own accord at the slightest hint of hesitation. It was as if it were threatening that, if he withdrew his sword, it would flow backward and ruin him.

As if asking why he hesitated when this was nothing more than a rightful act according to the law of the martial world.

Kwak Yeon readily accepted the black energy’s argument.

Because what he was about to cut down now was not one man named Jegal Geon, but the cold cruelty of humanity.

He could not endure without cutting it away.

Kwak Yeon tightened his grip on the Blue-Steel Sword.

“......Chief Secretary Kwak, I ask you not as the Clan Master of the Jegal Family, but as his inadequate elder brother. Even if his martial arts must be completely abolished, please, only let my younger brother’s life remain.”

At Clan Master Jegal Jin’s choked voice, Kwak Yeon stopped short.

The black energies occupying the meridians inside his body rose like frost blades and ran wild.

RUUUUMBLE!

His major points swelled as if they would burst, and his entire body hurt as though it were being torn apart.

At that moment, a majestic voice rang thunderously through the manor courtyard.

“In the name of the Sword of Wudang, I command you. Kwak Yeon, first-generation disciple of Samryeong Palace, withdraw that sword.”

At Uncheon Zhenren’s voice, which rang through his whole body, the rampaging black energy returned to his meridians, and the extreme pain that had been tearing his entire body apart vanished as well.

Kwak Yeon could tell that Uncheon Zhenren had used sound arts infused with pure inner power and true qi.

Tremble, tremble!

At the command of the Sword of Wudang, Kwak Yeon lowered his sword with a trembling hand.

Only then did Kwak Yeon’s field of vision take in Uncheon Zhenren and the Wudang disciples inside the courtyard.

Kwak Yeon realized he had sunk so deeply into killing intent that he had not even noticed them entering in their snow-white Taoist robes.

THOOM!

Kwak Yeon was shocked by this absurd situation he had experienced for the first time.

It felt as though, for a while, he had become someone other than himself.

While Kwak Yeon was in confusion, Uncheon Zhenren walked out into the center of the courtyard and clasped his hands toward Jegal Jin.

“Clan Master Jegal, this sect failed to properly restrain its disciple and has caused you hardship, so I am truly sorry. Please forgive this sect disciple’s discourtesy and rise.”

Clan Master Jegal Jin bowed with clasped hands while still kneeling and said,

“Uncheon Zhenren, Chief Secretary Kwak has done no wrong. Today’s matter was brought about by my family and by me, the Clan Master, so I will remain like this and wait until Chief Secretary Kwak’s anger has been eased.”

“If the Clan Master insists on that, then this poor Taoist shall also kneel and ask forgiveness.”

“Zhenren......?”

Uncheon Zhenren spoke gently to Jegal Jin.

“Clan Master, please rise. The longer you remain like this, the heavier this sect’s guilt becomes.”

With no choice, Clan Master Jegal Jin rose from his place, and Uncheon Zhenren said,

“Clan Master, today we are all too unsettled, so I will offer formal greetings on another occasion. Please return with the Fire Dragon of the Jegal Family.”

Uncheon Zhenren’s courteous dismissal of guests was for the urgent treatment and rest of the blood-soaked Jegal Geon.

“Ashamed though I am, I will return under the grace of the zhenren’s sea-like favor.”

Clan Master Jegal Jin hurriedly left with Jegal Geon, who was almost half-unconscious.

Kwak Yeon stood blankly watching that scene, then gave Uncheon Zhenren a silent bow and said,

“Martial Uncle Uncheon, my heart is troubled at the moment, so this nephew will withdraw. Later, I will come to see you and receive your teaching.”

For a disciple to ask to leave first before a senior of his own sect who had just arrived was truly insolent behavior.

Moreover, Kwak Yeon was the very person who had caused this entire uproar, so he even had an obligation to explain it to the senior of his sect.

“Junior Brother Kwak, what disrespectful conduct is this?”

The instant Taoist Hyeonam, Lord of the Precepts Hall, could not overlook it and pointed it out, Uncheon Zhenren’s clear voice was heard.

“Hall Lord Hyeonam, step back.”

Taoist Hyeonam bowed with clasped hands in frustration and closed his mouth.

The assembled heroes in the courtyard and the Wudang disciples held their breath and watched to see what thunderous rebuke Uncheon Zhenren would give this disrespectful disciple.

In the courtyard, silent enough that the sound of a falling needle could be heard, Uncheon Zhenren gazed steadily at Kwak Yeon.

As if a shadow had fallen across it, Uncheon Zhenren’s face darkened. Then he nodded.

“Martial Nephew Kwak, do so.”

The assembled heroes, who had been full of expectation, instantly lost their steam.

Only Hu Gae, who had been watching the two men from the nearest spot, let out a sigh of relief inwardly.

It was because he had been on edge at Kwak Yeon’s uncharacteristic state.

But his relieved heart soon turned to worry.

Even as Kwak Yeon bowed to Uncheon Zhenren and left, a sharp force could still be felt from him.

Hu Gae had a vague guess as to what had caused that change in Kwak Yeon.

“There is an unwelcome guest that inevitably comes to those who train in martial arts. That fellow is called the inner demon. And the faster one tries to climb, the greater the inner demon that descends. A hasty bastard like you is perfect prey for an inner demon.”

Those were the words his master had added, along with a beating by cudgel, when Hu Gae had demanded to know why he transmitted superior martial arts in tiny dribbles like rat piss.

While getting beaten for a good while, a question had occurred to him, so he had asked.

What happens if you get eaten by an inner demon?

“You stone-headed bastard. You call that a question? If your humanity gets eaten by an inner demon, what else would you become but a blood-crazed demon?”

Hu Gae noticed that Uncheon Zhenren’s expression was dark as he watched Kwak Yeon’s back, and his heart sank.

*****

Clan Master of the Jegal Family Jegal Jin set down the letters with a devastated heart.

“Hoo! They say the world warms and chills according to advantage, and you people are exactly that.”

The contents of the letters sent at once by the clan masters of the Hebei Peng Family and the Shandong Yue Family were all but identical.

They had dressed up the typical conduct of a world that moved in pursuit of profit with elaborate flowery excuses.

When the two clan masters, who had personally visited him almost every day, sent letters today, he had already guessed their contents.

It was no one’s fault, so Clan Master Jegal Jin shook his head and cast off his disappointment.

The path the Jegal Family had walked until now was only fifty steps apart from those two families’ hundred. Criticizing them now would be like a dog covered in dung scolding a dog covered in chaff.

In truth, the First Corps commander position and the campaign against the Demonic Eight Divisions were no longer important.

When he thought of his wounded younger brother, his chest hurt as if it were being torn apart.

He was worried that Jegal Geon had suffered grave internal injuries, but more than anything, he was worried about the wound in his heart from defeat.

For his younger brother, this was the first frustration he had ever experienced. Humiliation had been added on top of it, so the depth of that wound must have been impossible to measure.

It had seemed as though he had finally escaped his dark fate, only to be shoved straight into a pit of darkness.

Moreover, that pit of darkness was a bottomless abyss.

Jegal Jin’s heart hurt as if it would rupture at his younger brother’s cruel fate.

The fact that his younger brother had been thrown into such a cruel yoke for the sake of the family’s revival and honor made his heart ache all the more.

“Clan Master, a guest has arrived.”

At Jegal Choryang’s voice from outside the office, Jegal Jin spoke heavily.

“Grand Envoy, did I not say that I would not receive guests for the time being?”

Jegal Jin had strictly forbidden entry to the Jegal Family manor and made it almost as if the family had half-closed its gates.

It was partly out of caution against useless rumors leaking out, but above all, it was to block anything that might hinder his younger brother’s treatment.

“You know the situation inside the manor better than anyone, Grand Envoy. How could you act so rashly?”

By rebuking Grand Envoy Jegal Choryang, Jegal Jin was refusing the meeting in a way that would not embarrass the guest, in case the guest happened to hear.

“Clan Master, how could I, the Grand Envoy here, not know that? I brought this guest because it is someone you absolutely must meet.”

Clan Master Jegal Jin could not help asking, curious as to why Grand Envoy Jegal Choryang was being so insistent.

“Who is it, and where has he come from?”

“Taoist Hyeonam, Lord of Wudang Sect’s Precepts Hall, has come on an errand from the Sword of Wudang.”

Clan Master Jegal Jin flinched.

“Grand Envoy, show the guest to the reception room.”

A short while later, in the reception room, Clan Master Jegal Jin exchanged greetings with Taoist Hyeonam and said,

“Taoist Hyeonam, I am sorry to have kept you waiting so long. There were urgent matters that had to be handled immediately.”

“Not at all. The one who should be sorry is this uninvited guest, who came calling so abruptly without sending a calling card first.”

“Taoist, what need is there for a calling card between neighbors? I am grateful enough that you have come like this.”

“Thank you for your understanding, Clan Master. Martial Uncle Uncheon intended to come in person, but the Alliance Leader summoned him, so he sent me instead. He told me to convey his apologies to you, Clan Master.”

“That is unreasonable. I am not unaware that the Sword of Wudang has no time to spare.”

Jegal Jin could tell without seeing it for himself that Wudang Sect’s manor must be crowded like a mountain and sea of people trying to meet the Sword of Wudang.

“I, too, had been meaning to go see the Sword of Wudang within the next few days, yet you have come to me first, Taoist.”

Jegal Jin opened with those words in order to enter the main matter, then asked,

“So, what teaching does the Sword of Wudang have for this Clan Master that he has sent you here?”

Taoist Hyeonam firmly shook his head.

“Teaching? Martial Uncle Uncheon has no such intention at all. Rather, he even told me to be sure to convey his gratitude that you, Clan Master, had the courage to reveal the jade dust.”

Jegal Jin’s face reddened slightly.

“For the Sword of Wudang to look lightly upon such evil deeds as mere dust in jade leaves me truly not knowing where to put myself.”

“Martial Uncle Uncheon said such faults are not found only in the Jegal Family. Even so, he lamented that it is difficult to find leaders who reflect upon them as painfully as you have, Clan Master.”

“To hear such words from the Sword of Wudang shames me.”

“This poor Taoist is also personally grateful to you, Clan Master.”

He meant that he was grateful Clan Master Jegal had personally explained the matter and cleared Kwak Yeon’s false accusation.

Naturally, Jegal Jin had no way of knowing why Taoist Hyeonam was personally grateful, so he simply took it as a polite compliment and let it pass.

“Ah, Taoist, you make this Clan Master even more ashamed.”

“It is not something you need be ashamed of, Clan Master. In truth, this Wudang also has much dust.”

“......!”

“In any case, the reason I came on this errand was to deliver this.”

Taoist Hyeonam took a small jade box from his robe and set it down on the tea table.

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