Chapter 212: Cheon Yura, Jin Yeomyung (1)

The duel between Venerable Buddha and Gwan Hyun was approaching its climax.

“There’s a crack forming in the Taiji.”

“Silence!”

Gwan Hyun squeezed out every last bit of strength to press Venerable Buddha.

However, the gap in their fundamental capabilities was simply too vast. From the start, Gwan Hyun never had a chance of winning.

“Hm, looks like things are ready on that side too. I suppose it’s time to bring this to a close.”

“What did you say!?”

“Amitabha…”

The moment Venerable Buddha lightly pressed his palms together—

Boom!

A massive golden fist appeared out of nowhere and crushed Gwan Hyun’s entire body.

“……!”

BOOM!

It was just a single breath, a single sound.

Yet in that fleeting moment, no less than thirty punches struck Gwan Hyun.

He realized that the technique just now was Shaolin’s Hundred Steps Divine Fist, enhanced with the Supreme Grand Art.

‘Damn it! So this is the extent of Shaolin’s martial arts!’

It had the destructive power to shatter cliffs in a single strike—

And the defensive power to easily fend off even Kang Hwan’s attacks.

From Gwan Hyun’s perspective, it appeared to be an invincible martial art—utterly flawless and overwhelming.

As much as it hurt his pride, he doubted even Dao Zun could break through that technique.

Venerable Buddha descended before the Gwan Hyun, who lay embedded in the ground.

“I struck with the intent to take your life, but you’re surprisingly tenacious.”

“Y-You bastard….”

“Had it been her attacking instead, she might’ve pierced the Buddha’s Radiant Qi. A shame, truly.”

At the mention of Dao Zun, Gwan Hyun, who had been on the verge of collapse, immediately convulsed with fury.

“Shut up! Don’t you dare mention that disgraced woman!”

“Even if Wudang abandoned her, one cannot deny that her roots lie within the sect.”

“Shut up… I said shut up…!”

Gwan Hyun, barely clinging to consciousness, wept as he forced himself to stay awake.

Shaolin.

Excluding the abnormal powerhouse that was the Demonic Cult, the only sects that could contend for supremacy in the martial world in terms of influence were the Southern and Northern Heavenly Clans.

No sect among the Nine Orthodox Schools, not even the foremost of the Five Great Noble Clans—Namgung Clan—could surpass the Southern and Northern Heavenly Clans alone.

However.

That evaluation only pertained to influence. In terms of pure sect status alone—

Excluding the ambiguously affiliated Dao Zun, Shaolin was the only righteous sect to have produced a member of the Three Supreme Beings of the Central Plains.

Once hailed as the Mount Tai and Northern Star of the martial world, Shaolin and Wudang—

While Wudang had only recently regained a level of influence equivalent to the Nine Schools, Shaolin, which had produced Venerable Buddha, still shone brilliantly at the pinnacle of the martial world.

That was why one of Gwan Hyun’s goals was to surpass the prestige of Shaolin.

“It’s unfortunate. If you had not repeated your mistakes, forgiven her, and walked alongside her, perhaps your dream could have been realized.”

Venerable Buddha’s words carried sincerity.

If Dao Zun had remained in Wudang, they might have truly reclaimed their place as the Northern Star of the martial world.

But Wudang had shed too much blood to walk beside her again.

“I knew.”

Gwan Hyun, covered in blood, slowly stood up.

“Wudang at the time may have appeared to be in its golden age on the outside, but inside, it was rotten to the core.”

“I know that well.”

“Even so, trying to fix things by staining my hands with my fellow disciples’ blood was, without a doubt, a mistake.”

“……”

“I will lead Wudang to become the strongest under heaven, in my own way.”

“How pitiful.”

Raising his Buddha’s Radiant Qi, Venerable Buddha lightly aimed his palm toward Gwan Hyun.

“To do that, you joined hands with evil?”

“I will gladly use even that evil.”

“I find myself wanting to root for your ambition… but alas, you’ll have no more chances now.”

Just as Venerable Buddha was about to unleash his palm technique—

Suddenly, over ten streaks of blue Qi Projection surged toward him.

“……!”

Surging Great Qi—the symbol of Wudang.

Which could only mean—

“Sect Leader!”

“We’re here!”

“…You all?”

Led by Jeon Seok, who had been seriously wounded and effectively imprisoned, Wudang’s first-generation disciples all appeared before Gwan Hyun.

Yet despite their arrival, Gwan Hyun only grew more desperate.

“You… you are no match for him! Venerable Buddha now has no hesitation in his strikes—flee immediately!”

“We’re sorry, but we can’t obey that order, Sect Leader.”

“W-What did you say?”

Jeon Seok answered on behalf of the first-generation disciples.

“Jeonmu. Carry the Sect Leader and escape. We’ll buy you time.”

“……Senior Brother?”

When Jeon Seok specifically pointed out Jeonmu, the latter’s expression subtly shifted.

But Jeon Seok continued without hesitation.

“You are the most talented among the first-generation disciples, and I know the Sect Leader chose you for a reason. So protect him.”

“……”

“Go!”

At Jeon Seok’s shout, Jeonmu grit his teeth and hoisted Gwan Hyun onto his back.

“No… No….”

Gwan Hyun, his consciousness fading fast, desperately tried to speak with the last of his strength.

But he couldn’t stop the resolve of the first-generation disciples.

“Our opponent is one of the Three Supreme Beings of the Central Plains. Fight with the resolve to die!”

“Yes, Senior Brother!”

“Form the Nine Palace Heavenly Sword Formation!”

The nine remaining first-generation disciples moved in unison to form the Nine Palace Formation, raising their energy—

“Hmph…”

Yet, for some reason, Venerable Buddha didn’t seem the least bit interested in Wudang’s first-generation disciples.

That attitude caused Jeon Seok to mutter angrily under his breath.

“Venerable Buddha! No matter how high your status in Shaolin may be, to treat us with such disdain is highly disrespectful!”

“Ah, I didn’t mean to look down on you.”

Venerable Buddha gazed in the opposite direction with a curious expression.

“It’s simply that a more pressing enemy has appeared than you lot, so I have no choice but to focus on that instead.”

“…Did you say a more pressing enemy?”

Even nine first-generation disciples on the verge of reaching the Master Level forming the Nine Palace Formation would force even a Flower Realm master to risk their life.

But now, in front of such strength, he was saying there was a “more pressing enemy”?

“I didn’t expect Wudang dogs to try and snatch our prey first.”

A masked man and woman appeared before them.

“Mo-Moonlit Sword Flower? And that one is….”

Cheon Yura might not have had much presence, but she had mingled enough with members of prestigious clans to be somewhat known. However—

“That’s Black Elder of the Four Deaths! The First Strategist of Black Lotus Union!”

Hmm, even someone like me, who had barely acted publicly, was recognized.

“Since when were Moonlit Sword Flower and Black Elder of the Four Deaths acquainted?”

“Why are those two together?”

“What the hell is going on…?”

Hmm…

Would it have been better if I’d just removed the mask?

No, Gwan Hyun aside, these people think of me as Jin Myeong, the Heavenly Divine Dragon, so hiding my identity is still a smart move.

Cheon Yura spoke toward the first-generation disciples of Wudang.

“We’ll take care of things here. You lot should tend to your injured Sect Leader.”

“A brat dares to bark orders at us!”

One of the disciples glared fiercely at Cheon Yura, but—

“Brat, you say?”

“Gah?!”

He was immediately crushed by the murderous aura that Cheon Yura exuded.

“W-What kind of killing intent is this…?”

The Wudang first-generation disciples were clearly shaken.

They had sensed the presence of an absolute master from someone who looked like a junior. It was only natural they’d react this way.

“In the martial world, is there any need to defer to a senior who’s weaker?”

“Guh!”

“Or should I deal with you first before we fight?”

It was already overwhelming just dealing with Venerable Buddha, and now another master of unknown skill stood against them?

Realizing that, the Wudang disciples hesitated at once.

I stepped forward in Cheon Yura’s stead.

“Considering Gwan Hyun’s injuries, you’ll need multiple masters who can help him recover his qi.”

“…And who are you?”

“Well, as you know. I’m here to clean up the aftermath of this incident.”

Just as someone was about to respond—

“Let’s not drag this out. The best way you can help is by stepping aside.”

The prideful expressions of the Wudang disciples twisted.

“I’m someone who has made a pact with Gwan Hyun. If the first-generation disciples die in vain during a pointless clash, I’ll lose face.”

“A… a pact?”

“This matter will be handled by us, the Black Lotus Union. If you want to challenge someone like Venerable Buddha, wait until you earn the title of Elder. Don’t throw your lives away meaninglessly.”

The first-generation disciples exchanged confused glances.

Jeon Seok stepped forward to speak on their behalf.

“Is it true you made a pact with the Sect Leader?”

“Of course. Do you think I have a reason to lie to you here?”

“That’s…”

“Take your brothers and fall back. From this point on, we’ll ignore your presence and fight. Don’t blame us if you get caught up in it.”

“……”

Jeon Seok hesitated, but not for long.

No matter how he looked at it, joining this fight would be like a shrimp caught in a whale’s battle.

“We’ll retreat to where Jeonmu went. Brothers, follow me.”

“…Yes, Senior Brother.”

The Wudang first-generation disciples, who had been burning with resolve, withdrew without even drawing their swords once.

“Hmph…”

Once the Wudang disciples were gone—

“You are quite merciful, Benefactor Jin.”

“It’s nothing like that. It’s just that letting them live makes it easier for Black Lotus Union to make a name for itself.”

“Hahaha!”

Venerable Buddha let out a satisfied laugh and continued.

“To you, the lives of Wudang’s disciples are less than flies. Avoiding needless sacrifice was a wise choice.”

“I’d appreciate it if you avoided needless sacrifice as well, Master.”

“That would not be a needless sacrifice.”

The previously compassionate expression of Venerable Buddha began to distort, resembling the face of a wrathful king.

“It is the sacrifice of the few for the many—to prevent a future calamity.”

“Does turning the world into hell in preparation for some unknown future tragedy make any sense?”

“As a member of the Heavenly Demon Cult, you must not realize how rotten the roots of the righteous sects have become.”

“No—I do.”

I firmly shook my head and pulled out the secret ledger of the Colorful Flower Lord from my robe and waved it.

“How could I not, when I have this in my hands?”

“……That is…”

Venerable Buddha’s eyes flickered with surprise.

“My apologies, but I’ll have to defeat you and retrieve that ledger.”

If Venerable Buddha got his hands on this ledger, it would save him time and prevent needless sacrifices in the future.

However—

“I’m sorry, but that won’t be possible, Master.”

As the ones who had to stop Venerable Buddha, there was no way we could hand the ledger over to him.

And then—

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“Cheon So—no, Yura?”

Cheon Yura threw off her mask and glared at Venerable Buddha.

Their gazes locked.

“You talk about sacrifice and the greater good, but at the core of your emotions, all I see is vengeance.”

Venerable Buddha’s expression froze.

“Is your conscience really at ease, wrapping that emotion in the guise of righteousness? How long are you going to keep hiding behind a hypocrite’s mask, someone like you?”

“…A hypocrite’s mask, huh.”

Venerable Buddha remained silent for a while.

Then let out a soft, deep sigh.

With a slightly defeated tone, he spoke.

“Benefactor Cheon. Even hypocrisy… is still a form of virtue.”

“……”

“If I didn’t wear this mask, I would have truly become an uncontrollable monster—a Blood Demon who drenches the world in carnage.”

Cheon Yura’s belief in expressing emotion freely was valid.

But I could also sympathize with Venerable Buddha’s words to some extent.

“That’s why I don’t particularly want to fight you two.”

Venerable Buddha’s gaze turned far into the past.

“When I see the two of you, I’m reminded of myself and her… seventy years ago.”

“What happened seventy years ago?”

Judging by what kind of man Venerable Buddha had become, it was clear he’d suffered a tragic end.

But what exactly had happened to make him so hostile toward the Heaven-Defying Society?

Releasing his prayer gesture, Venerable Buddha let his arms hang as he began to recount the past.

“Seventy years ago, my lover was known as one of the Ten Heavenly Lords of the Heaven-Defying Society.”

…What?!

“Gu Cheon-gun Jang Yo-yeon. Head of the Akyang Jang Clan, and a rising heroine once known in the martial world as the Great Solar Sword. Like Benefactor Cheon standing beside you, she was more beautiful and prouder than anyone.”

To Venerable Buddha, Cheon Yura’s image overlapped strongly with that of his former lover.

“I was happy. She was far too good for someone like me. I swore to grow old with her, even if it meant turning my back on the Central Plains.”

However—

The two were never able to be together.

“She and her clan were falsely accused of betraying the organization. Dozens of factions united and annihilated her clan.”

For a moment, Venerable Buddha failed to contain his emotions, and a terrifying killing intent and fury burst out from him.

“And all of it was under the orders of that Grand Heavenly Lord!”

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