Chronicles of the Mad Demon - Chapter 194
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Chapter 194. Connecting Chains (2)
The second-generation disciples of the Unja generation were competing to see who could open their mouth the widest.
The first-generation disciples were in a similar situation. While their junior disciples compared mouth sizes, they were competing to see who could open their eyes the widest.
Clang! Clang! Claaaang!
The sound of sword clashing against sword was both clear and rough.
The resonance alone was enough to make the observers’ internal organs vibrate. Though both fighters perfectly controlled the condensed and explosive shockwaves, the intensity of the sound remained in everyone’s hearts, shaking their souls.
Gu Geom Ja felt wonder beyond admiration.
‘How can this be possible.’
The martial artists of Jianghu commonly say that Wudang’s swordsmanship is soft and slow martial studies of striking second to strike first.
It was half right and half wrong.
The basic principle of Taiji Sword was certainly in striking second to strike first, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t fast or strong.
Just as destructive power increases when speed is added to centrifugal force, Wudang Taiji Sword was extremely excellent at creating natural flow to generate tremendous power.
A swordsman who grasped this principle could pull down an opponent’s great force with small force, and also become proficient in methods of unleashing great power from the start to pressure opponents like a typhoon in an instant.
Such was Gu Geom Ja’s Taiji Sword.
His Taiji Sword, having reached a realm beyond mastery, appropriately demonstrated almost all the martial principles that swordsmanship could show.
He was even abundant in practical combat experience, allowing no openings, and was rather a master skilled in methods of inducing openings in opponents.
But his opponent was even more so.
Swish! Claaaang!
He neutralized the Taiji Sword’s Circular Harmony technique with a single diagonal downward slash.
‘How can this be possible.’
Gu Geom Ja was not unaware of the nature of the sword principles that Moyong Bi employed.
His opponent had neutralized Circular Harmony with a single move that suppressed complexity with simplicity – too ideal yet difficult to achieve.
What was truly amazing was how a young man in his twenties could naturally employ such remarkable swordsmanship as easily as breathing.
Moreover, it was the swordsmanship of a true master who had once achieved a realm surpassing the four hundred uncles and masters.
Swish! Swish!
Deflecting the pressing sword at an angle, he drew a circle.
Gu Geom Ja was startled.
‘Taiji Sword?!’
No.
What Moyong Bi was employing was Nine Wheel Golden Shadow Blade. He had simply adapted it into swordsmanship.
Clang!
Between the sparking swords, Moyong Bi’s Songmun Ancient Sword curved like lightning and shot forth.
It wasn’t a great technique, but its speed alone was sufficient to call it a supreme technique under heaven.
Gu Geom Ja hurriedly retreated.
Tap tap tap tap.
Even while retreating frantically, his movements were graceful.
Maximum efficiency with minimum movement. Wudang’s Seven Star Steps were proving their supreme utility beneath Gu Geom Ja’s feet.
A smile spread across Moyong Bi’s face.
‘Quite impressive indeed.’
Though his power was incomparable to his prime, it was an attack that retained all his previous enlightenment.
While responding to each such attack, he didn’t stubbornly endure out of pride.
It was the ideal mindset that Moyong Bi envisioned. Gu Geom Ja neither looked down on his opponent for being a young man, nor dealt with him carelessly, but approached cautiously with the mind not to be defeated.
‘But it’s inadequate. Though his overall level has greatly improved, his finishing is more disappointing than before.’
From that alone, he could sense what kind of mindset Gu Geom Ja had lived with.
Clang clang clang!
Moyong Bi’s sword rotated.
Like spinning a spear shaft in place, the sword rotated while remaining straight. It seemed as if it would create a whirlwind.
Gu Geom Ja was greatly surprised inwardly.
‘He uses such techniques?!’
A human wrist can only rotate halfway, so rotating a sword so straight like that should be impossible.
However, it was possible using qi. By dropping it to a barely touching state and rotating true energy at ultra-high speed, the weapon would rotate accordingly, maximizing penetrating power.
Naturally, it was a technique difficult to even imitate without considerable enlightenment.
Boom!
An explosive sound unimaginable for a sword clash echoed.
Gu Geom Ja’s robes were torn and cut in various places. Though no blood was seen, sharp energy had penetrated even the clothing protected by Taiji True Energy.
Moyong Bi smiled.
“Indeed, Wudang Taiji Sword. Perfect defense.”
“The defense was perfect, but an even stronger force made that defense meaningless.”
“Such is the way of the world.”
A strange expression appeared on Gu Geom Ja’s face.
“Before we fight again, may I ask just one thing?”
“Fine by me. I can rest too.”
Though his momentum was hot enough to blow away all of Wudang’s buildings, his internal energy consumption was great and he was gradually tiring.
“That martial art – no matter how I look at it, it seems closer to blade techniques rather than swordsmanship.”
“You observed well.”
“It’s blade techniques that seem familiar to my eyes.”
It had to be so.
Any Murim Warrior would remember impressive martial arts after seeing them just once. It was similar to how master Go players could replay countless stones.
Moreover, Gu Geom Ja had seen Golden Shadow Blade several times.
Moyong Bi adjusted his sword grip and said.
“The name of this blade technique is Nine Wheel Golden Shadow Blade.”
“Nine Wheel Golden Shadow Blade?”
“That’s right.”
“I feel like I’ve heard that somewhere…”
Unable to finish his words, Gu Geom Ja widened his eyes and joined his disciples in their battle.
“Don’t tell me it’s the Alliance Leader’s?!”
Moyong Bi smiled and raised his sword.
“Done asking?”
“Wait!”
Whoosh!
Terrifying momentum rose from Moyong Bi’s charging body.
Gu Geom Ja was surprised once again. The footwork he had been showing moment by moment had seemed familiar, but seeing him charge so openly, he could finally recall the martial art he had forgotten.
‘Jin San Ho Bo!’
Thud!
In that movement of stepping on the ground as if crushing it, the dynamism of a tiger charging toward prey was revealed.
The Songmun Ancient Sword breathed fire.
Clang! Claaaang! Cling!
It was a light but tremendously fast and sharp thrusting attack.
If this had been a heavy iron spear, he wouldn’t have even thought of receiving it.
‘Don’t tell me it’s Dragon Slaying Spear?!’
The exclusive ultimate technique of Martial Alliance Leader Gwangmyeong Mujon Moyong Cheon.
Golden Shadow Blade was a martial art possessed by the Moyong Clan, but the One Hundred Eight Style Dragon Slaying Spear Technique was solely the Alliance Leader’s spear technique. A practical battlefield martial art that would slaughter opponents in any situation, at any time.
Hiss.
Smoke rose from Gu Geom Ja’s sword.
Whoosh!
Moyong Bi’s body moved smoothly in an arc.
It was movement that accurately predicted the direction Gu Geom Ja would retreat. Though not stealthy, it was completely different from his previous aggressive approach.
‘It’s Chung Hak Yu Su Haeng!’
Several legendary martial arts of the Moyong Clan burst forth in an instant.
Even in his confusion, Gu Geom Ja’s sword was smooth and fast.
Clang clang clang clang!
It was like a battle between fire and water.
Gu Geom Ja, who had thought it might be another Golden Shadow Taoist, was once again surprised to see that his opponent’s swordsmanship was packed with merciless strength.
‘This is definitely…!’
It was the ascending supreme technique that the Alliance Leader’s nephew, Moyong Dae Ho, had used against the demons.
‘Even the Flame Dragon Blade?!’
Gu Geom Ja’s eyes deepened.
From the Song Moon Ancient Sword swept back to his spine, an invisible flame seemed to rise.
‘Here it comes!’
Flash!
The sword that struck down burning through the air was nothing like the Song Moon Ancient Sword that was supposedly made for cultivation.
Gu Geom Ja’s body moved like a beam of light.
Claaaaaang!
Between the two people who crossed paths in a grazing motion, an endless vibrating sound spread in all directions.
Moyong Bi slowly turned around.
Gu Geom Ja, who had already turned to look at Moyong Bi first, said calmly.
“I lost.”
The Disciples of the Second Generation, who had been mesmerized by the fight between true masters, looked at Gu Geom Ja in shock.
On the other hand, the Disciples of the First Generation looked at Moyong Bi with admiring eyes as if they had expected the result.
“That was truly remarkable martial arts. The martial arts itself was impressive, but I cannot help but marvel at your enlightenment in executing it to this extent.”
Then, a cracking sound came from the sword Gu Geom Ja was holding.
Thud.
The sword blade that had broken off from the middle fell and stuck into the ground.
The Disciples of the Second Generation gulped. They knew well how tremendous a master their Uncle Gu Geom Ja was.
What was the identity of this young man who had broken such an uncle’s sword head-on?
“Thanks to you, I survived.”
Moyong Bi held up his sword before his eyes.
His Song Moon Ancient Sword was intact without a single chip missing, but there was a blackened mark in the center of the blade. It was a mark created by tremendous frictional heat in the final sword strike exchange.
“If I had put in full strength until the end, blood would have flowed freely.”
Gu Geom Ja said bitterly.
“I apologize. This old fool still lacks cultivation.”
The moment he saw Moyong’s secret supreme techniques, Gu Geom Ja couldn’t stop the competitive spirit that surged up fiercely.
In the end, he unconsciously unleashed the killing sword obtained on the battlefield, the sword strike of Taiji Flash. It was a sword that would definitely kill the opponent even if he died, not a sword that a Taoist priest of the Mu Dang Faction should wield.
Gu Geom Ja, who was surprised at himself the moment he unleashed it, immediately withdrew his sword power. If he had deployed his sword power to the end, as Moyong Bi said, both would have seen blood.
Gu Geom Ja let out a sigh.
“I thought I had ground it down and ground it down again to finally dull the sword blade, but I will have difficulty properly executing Mu Dang’s sword for my entire lifetime.”
It was a statement filled with regret.
At those words, the Disciples of the First Generation hung their heads. Gu Geom Ja’s heart was no different from their own hearts.
Then, Moyong Bi opened his mouth.
“Why did you grind it down?”
“…?”
“It’s an excellent sword, so why did you grind it down? You should think about refining it further.”
Gu Geom Ja said with a bitter face.
“Mu Dang’s sword is the sword of the immortal way. Such a sword full of killing intent is not something a Taoist priest of Mu Dang should pursue.”
“Why did you take up the sword?”
“…?”
“Does dulling the blade make it not a sword? Then why does the Mu Dang Faction call swordsmanship swordsmanship?”
“What do you mean…?”
“If the living sword gives life, then the killing sword is bound to bring death. Were the Taoist priests of Mu Dang narrow-minded people who wouldn’t acknowledge death and only acknowledged brilliant life?”
“…!!”
“A sword has a sword spine, a sword edge, and a sword hilt. If you only want to acknowledge the sword spine, carry around an iron plate. If you only acknowledge the sword edge, carry around a sharp thread that won’t break. If you only acknowledge the sword hilt, don’t wrap it with a blade, and if you don’t need the hilt, try gripping and swinging the bare blade with your hands.”
Gu Geom Ja made an expression as if he had been struck on the back of the head.
Moyong Bi shook his head.
“While I understand a hundred times over your worry about your own demons, when people live, there are times when demons settle in their hearts and times when anguish comes.”
“That, that is…”
“I wanted to tell the previous sect leader too, but that man was such a remarkable person that there was no need to say it. But you all are different, aren’t you?”
“…”
“Acknowledge and accept the demons. Stop trying to constantly reject something of such terrible nature. Even after seeing so much bloodshed from Moodang Mountain’s excessive spiritual energy, don’t you know what you’re doing?”
“But… if we make a mistake, great disaster could…”
“If that’s the case, put down your swords and close the sect.”
“…!!”
“Even blacksmiths and cooks, knowing that fire is frightening, boldly hammer iron and swing iron pots around. As time passes, they come to learn how to handle fire.”
Gu Geom Ja’s face turned pale.
Moyong Bi smiled and put down his Song Moon Ancient Sword.
“Don’t throw away clothes stained with filth, but try jumping into a mud puddle once. Having already wandered through a filth container full of stench, why are you afraid to enter a mud puddle that’s cleaner than that?”
“…Who are you?”
Gu Geom Ja asked with a trembling voice.
“Who are you to not only use Moyong Clan’s secret martial arts but also execute the Alliance Leader’s exclusive martial arts, and even pass on such enlightenment?”
Moyong Bi looked up at the sky.
It was a clear day.
“I am Moyong Bi.”
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————