The Battle for the Heavenly Sword - Chapter 72

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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72
Woo Geom Battle for Supremacy
Early in the morning, Baek Ho-yang opened his eyes.
Usually, he would wake up upon sensing Woo Geom-san stirring, but today his eyes opened naturally even in the boy’s absence.
Having lived together in the same house for fifteen years, their lifestyles and daily rhythms had come to mirror each other.
“It’s a problem when you get too used to something.”
Baek Ho-yang shook his head with a chuckle and stepped outside.
The outside world was still shrouded in deep darkness.
Looking up at the sky, a sea of stars shone mysteriously.
Baek Ho-yang stared up at the heavens for a long time.
“……Is it today?”
Muttering softly under his breath, Baek Ho-yang headed toward the well.
Taking off all his clothes, he poured cold water over his head.
He drew water from the well several times to thoroughly wash his entire body.
The place Baek Ho-yang headed next was his own room.
When he opened a small wardrobe, a neatly folded Taoist robe came into view.
It was a Taoist robe that Woo Geom-san had made for Baek Ho-yang some time ago.
Though the old man had said it was unnecessary, the boy had forced it into his hands, claiming he made it for sewing practice.
Baek Ho-yang had treasured the garment containing his grandson’s sincerity, storing it safely inside the wardrobe.
The Taoist robe was so delicately and well-crafted that it was hard to believe it was a man’s workmanship.
“I made him sew for his rehabilitation, and now his skills are better than most village wives. He won’t starve to death even if he goes out into the Jianghu. Haha!”
Baek Ho-yang burst into a hearty laugh as he unfolded the Taoist robe.
The pure white Taoist robe was embroidered with sky-blue cloud patterns.
Usually, the Taiji or Bagua patterns were inscribed, but knowing that Baek Ho-yang disliked such empty formalities, the boy had plainly embroidered only cloud patterns.
Not only the robe, but also his Taoist cap and shoes were embroidered with cloud patterns.
After admiring his grandson’s handiwork for a moment, Baek Ho-yang stripped off his old clothes and put on the pants and Taoist robe.
After fastening the belt, neatly combing his hair, and putting on the Taoist cap, he felt like a true Taoist.
“It feels awkward acting like a Taoist after all this time.”
Putting on the shoes Woo Geom-san had prepared and stepping outside, Baek Ho-yang looked around the house with a momentary look of nostalgia.
The house, where he had stayed with Woo Geom-san for fifteen years, was well-organized.
This was because Woo Geom-san and the village people managed it meticulously.
To repay the favor of their children learning letters from Baek Ho-yang, the parents frequently came and went from this house to fill whatever was lacking.
Thanks to them, Baek Ho-yang was able to live without any scarcity while teaching the children.
Baek Ho-yang gently caressed the withered tree where Woo Geom-san used to cultivate the Choyeon Simgyeol.
In the meantime, the new sprouts that had come out of the withered tree had grown larger.
Baek Ho-yang smiled and caressed the sprouts.
“Grow well.”
As if understanding his words, the sprouts shook bashfully.
Baek Ho-yang quietly watched the sight before stepping out.
“Ah, grandfather! Where are you going?”
Baek Do-gyeong, who was preparing for farming work early in the morning, showed a puzzled expression upon seeing Baek Ho-yang.
Baek Ho-yang spoke with a casual expression.
“I intend to climb Houyi Peak.”
“At this dawn? Oh, come to think of it, you’re wearing a Taoist robe?”
“How does it look, does it suit me well?”
“You look magnificent.”
Without even having time to feel a sense of incongruity, Baek Do-gyeong answered blankly.
“Is that so? Geom-san made this for me.”
“Geom-san’s skills are great.”
“Haha! Indeed they are. Well, go about your business.”
“Yes! Grandfather.”
Baek Do-gyeong bowed his head politely.
Baek Ho-yang patted Baek Do-gyeong’s shoulder and walked away with long strides.
Baek Do-gyeong could not take his eyes off the receding Baek Ho-yang and stared blankly.
For some reason, a corner of his chest throbbed.
“What is this?”
Leaving behind Baek Do-gyeong, who was bewildered because he didn’t know the identity of the emotion he felt, Baek Ho-yang went up to the tea plantation.
Upon arriving at the tea plantation, the panoramic view of the village came into sight at a glance.
Yunjung Village, which the sun was beginning to shine upon, was dazzlingly beautiful.
Having spent his final years in such a place, it was quite a blessed life.
Baek Ho-yang caressed the tea trees where the sweat of Woo Geom-san and the village people was melted.
“Thank you for everything.”
Baek Ho-yang said goodbye to the tea trees that had been a great help to the lives of the village people, and officially climbed up Houyi Peak.
Thud! Thud!
With every step he took, his body propelled forward by dozens of Zhang.
Even though it had been a long time since he had washed his hands of martial arts, his achievements had actually risen higher.
By letting go of his lingering attachments, he had paradoxically realized much more.
That was why worldly affairs were amusing, Baek Ho-yang thought.
Thanks to his elevated achievements, he was able to arrive at Houyi Peak in an instant.
Houyi Peak had changed significantly compared to when he last ascended it.
The size itself hadn’t changed, but the ground had turned as flat as if it had been painstakingly leveled.
It was the trace of Woo Geom-san mastering the Flowing Void Steps.
Just by looking at the ground, one could tell how much the boy had shed blood and sweat in bitter training.
Looking at the traces left by his grandson, Baek Ho-yang smiled.
“Good. Excellent!”
He sat down on the rock where Woo Geom-san used to take a break after training.
The wind blew and gently caressed Baek Ho-yang’s entire body.
Baek Ho-yang closed his eyes while seated.
Now, only the time of waiting remained.
***
A middle-aged man wearing a blue scholar’s robe and a man wearing a black martial arts uniform were climbing the plank road of Cheonbaeksan together.
The man clad in the scholar’s robe was none other than Zha Shanha, and the man walking with him was his confidant, Yeon So-myeong.
Zha Shanha admired as he looked around the plank road.
“Ha! For such a plank road to exist on this rocky mountain. It’s truly hard to believe this was made by human power.”
The carved rock surface was clean, making it look as though the plank road had been completed not long ago.
“Was this plank road truly made solely by the power of the village people?”
“That is correct.”
“Amazing. For those who haven’t learned martial arts to accomplish such a grand undertaking.”
The village youths who went down to Guangu County had gotten drunk at Cha Hyeong-o’s bride’s house and babbled that they had created a plank road leading to Guangu County.
The stories they babbled spread to the outside through other people who were at the bride’s house, and eventually entered Yeon So-myeong’s ears.
Thanks to that, they were able to easily find the plank road and climb Cheonbaeksan.
Yeon So-myeong spoke cautiously.
“While it seems certain that an old Taoist lives in Yunjung Village, it is not clear whether he is the same person the Association Chief is looking for.”
“No, it is him!”
“Pardon?”
At Zha Shanha’s unexpected answer, Yeon So-myeong blinked his eyes.
Zha Shanha didn’t even cast a glance at Yeon So-myeong and looked at the high mountain peak visible faintly in the distance.
The mountain peak was so high that pure white clouds were hung over its mountainside.
Zha Shanha did not know that the mountain peak’s name was Houyi Peak, nor was he interested.
However, he glared at the mountain peak with terrifying eyes, as if he were facing a fatal archenemy.
At such an appearance of Zha Shanha, Yeon So-myeong gasped.
He had already been serving Zha Shanha for twenty years, but this was the first time he had seen him show such an appearance.
The corners of Zha Shanha’s mouth curled up slightly.
“Isn’t he waiting for me like this over there?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Wait here. From now on, I will go alone.”
Zha Shanha walked along the plank road without even listening to Yeon So-myeong’s reply.
The thumping sound of his heart felt as if it could be heard in his ears.
He had lived forty-eight years, but it was the first time his heart’s sound had been heard so clearly.
His blood seemed to circulate through his entire body faster than ever before.
Thanks to that, his whole body heated up fiercely.
His body was reacting to the presence of the one at the summit of that distant mountain peak.
The other party was doing nothing and merely existing, but that alone caused Zha Shanha’s blood to boil.
In his heart, he wanted to release the heat inside his body right away.
He wanted to slash everything in sight.
However, he desperately managed to calm his excitement.
The person on that mountain peak was no ordinary man.
If he was definitely the one he had spent his whole life searching for, he might have to risk his life today.
In front of a fight involving one’s life, one had to maintain composure as much as possible.
Swish!
Zha Shanha kicked off the plank road.
In an instant, his body soared lightly into the air like a bird.
Having flown dozens of Zhang, he kicked off the ground once more and soared. In that manner, he kicked off the earth and headed toward the mountain peak.
In an instant, the surrounding scenery receded.
A beautiful village surrounded by rice paddies and fields looked small under his feet.
If it were his usual self, he would have painstakingly admired the beautiful scenery. But it wasn’t the case now.
His nerves were entirely focused on the mountain peak.
Zha Shanha’s figure broke through the clouds and ascended.
After kicking off protruding parts and soaring a few more times, his figure arrived at the summit of Houyi Peak before he knew it.
As soon as he landed, a warm voice drifted over.
“Have you come?”
The owner of the voice was none other than Baek Ho-yang.
Even at Zha Shanha’s sudden appearance, Baek Ho-yang was not surprised and greeted him calmly.
Zha Shanha cupped his hands to Baek Ho-yang and greeted him.
“Junior Zha Shanha pays respects to the Zhenren.”
“What Zhenren? I stopped acting like a Taoist a long time ago.”
“Even so, you are wearing a Taoist robe.”
“My grandson made it for me. I couldn’t prepare a shroud, so I wore this instead, is it alright?”
“It is excellent. By the way, did you know that I would come today?”
“The heavenly secrets told me. That a guest would come around today.”
“Then, you must also know who I am.”
“Among those I know, there was only one person who exuded a terrifying momentum like yours. It was none other than Great Hero Zha Mu-wol of the Cheonmyeong Association. My guess is that you are his son.”
Looking at Zha Shanha, countless emotions were crossing Baek Ho-yang’s face.
Zha Mu-wol was the strongest martial artist he had ever met.
Even if they fought again, the outcome could not be guaranteed.
Not only did he perfectly master twenty-two Shaolin Temple techniques, but he was also a genius who synthesized them to create a new martial art—that was Zha Mu-wol.
It was not very difficult to recall Zha Mu-wol from the appearance of the man who suddenly appeared at the summit of Houyi Peak.
Their appearances might be slightly different, but the atmosphere and momentum like a tiger, the king of beasts, were identical.
Zha Shanha spoke.
“Then, you must also know why I came.”
“Aren’t you trying to avenge the grudge of your father’s killer?”
“No. It is to move forward without any lingering attachments.”
“I was your lingering attachment, then.”
“It is also a fear.”
“You probably say that to make it sound good, but it still doesn’t feel bad.”
“I do not speak empty words. My father was the strongest martial artist of his generation. He was a person stronger than anyone else.”
At Zha Shanha’s words, Baek Ho-yang nodded his head. Because he also agreed with that.
“Zhenren defeated such a father of mine.”
“It would have been impossible if I were alone.”
“Even so, the fact that my father died by Zhenren’s hand does not change. If it weren’t for Zhenren, my late father wouldn’t have passed away so vainly.”
“I suppose so.”
Baek Ho-yang closed his eyes gently.
It was his own karma.
Past karma becomes present retribution.
Zha Shanha was Baek Ho-yang’s retribution.
After a moment, Baek Ho-yang opened his eyes and asked.
“Let me ask just one thing. Has the Cheonmyeong Association been revived?”
“I do not know if I can dare to use the word revival, but we intend to make a fresh start.”
“You must have needed a sacrifice to announce the new beginning of the Cheonmyeong Association?”
“Because one cannot make a new beginning while carrying lingering attachments and fears.”
“I understand.”
“Would it be possible for you to die obediently?”
“I also have my own circumstances, you see.”
“I understand.”
Zha Shanha nodded his head.
His eyes were shining colder than ever before.
Although old and decrepit, the opponent was an existence stronger than any martial artist he knew.
Only by surpassing him could the Cheonmyeong Association move forward toward a new future.
Rumble!
As he raised his martial cultivation force, the atmosphere fluctuated around Zha Shanha.
The Eight Asura Cuts.
It was a martial art created by his father, Zha Mu-wol, by reinterpreting Shaolin’s martial arts, and completed by his son, Zha Shanha.
When he operated the Reverse Prajna Heart Art, which was the most core part among them, the atmosphere at the summit of Houyi Peak fluctuated crazily.
It was as if a heavenly god had grown angry and summoned a storm.
Zha Shanha raised his fist and spoke.
“Your life, I will take it.”
“Take my life, which doesn’t have much left, as much as you want.”
Standing in the middle of the storm, Baek Ho-yang’s eyes sank deeply.
If it is ferocious, leave it as it is, and if it shakes, allow yourself to be shaken.
As long as I keep my center, even if the world turns upside down, I alone will be serene.
Baek Ho-yang cut through the storm and walked toward Zha Shanha.
“Instead, your five years, I shall take them.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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