Chapter 197: Red Flag, White Flag (1)

How exactly should the successor who will receive Zhang Sanfeng’s martial arts technique be selected?

This question drove all those who aspired to qualify mad with curiosity.

The Sword Emperor decided everything, so even the sect leader did not know the details.

But Dam Hyun knew the contents of the test?

“Does it seem like I’m lying?”

“…”

“Your expression says it all. Hehe, I really do know. My senior uncle knows too.”

The Golden Needle Phantom was with the Sword Emperor all day for his treatment. Dam Hyun, assisting him, might have heard something.

“But you know what? The contents are so absurd.”

“…!”

“I wonder if this was thought of in a sane moment, or if it came up when he just snapped.”

Cheong Su’s throat twitched. He became so curious that he forgot Dam Hyun’s rude tone.

“If you want, I can tell you in advance. No need for any payment.”

“…”

“As I said, you seem similar to me. It’s just pure kindness.”

It’s wrong to compare someone to a snake, but Cheong Su felt as if a snake was whispering in that moment.

Like a purple viper hissing and tempting him.

“I…”

But Cheong Su was a Taoist from the Wudang Sect.

He took a deep breath and exhaled.

“…I’m fine.”

It would be a lie to say he wasn’t shaken by the temptation.

“Isn’t it cowardly to know and prepare beforehand?”

“Hmm…”

“Great Senior Elder would not want that either.”

But he certainly overcame the temptation.

Cheong Su felt his chest swell with emotion.

Dam Hyun’s expression turned dubious, making it even more so.

“What, how boring…” He clicked his tongue and muttered, “You look as cowardly as one can be.”

“…How do I look cowardly?”

“Isn’t it obvious from your appearance?”

Cheong Su blushed and flared his nostrils.

Even compared to Dam Hyun, Yi-gang, or even Cheong Hye, Cheong Su could be considered unattractive.

But to say such things right to someone’s face.

“For a Taoist, appearance isn’t supposed to be important…”

“Your junior brother is much more interesting.”

“…Cheong Hye?”

“That guy, when I mention this, his face instantly turns sinister.”

“Did you also tell my junior brother?”

Cheong Su felt as if his heart sank.

Hadn’t Dam Hyun clearly said he was only going to tell him?

“You said you would only tell me…”

“I didn’t lie. I didn’t tell.”

“Really?”

“Just teasing you because you look unlucky.”

Then Dam Hyun burst into laughter and stood up.

“If you had asked, I would have really told you.”

It was unclear whether he was serious or not.

Dam Hyun leisurely walked toward the room where Yi-gang was.

Yi-gang was performing a sword dance.

It was the Heaven’s Shadow Sword Technique, which could be considered his forte.

He was displaying the Heaven’s Shadow Sword Technique from the first form in front of an Absolute master.

Yi-gang’s meteorite sword was rippling with blue sword energy. Perhaps because it contained the power of the Heavenly Thunder Bell, the energy was even clearer and bluer than that of the Namgung Noble Clan’s Lightning Sword.

Eventually, blue sparks followed the trajectory of the sword.

Tzzz~

A noise like lightning scattering in the sky erupted.

It was so splendid that everyone nearby was captivated and watched Yi-gang.

Yi-gang’s sword, which had been scattering light all around, stopped at a point in mid-air.

He had entered into the latter three forms of the Heaven’s Shadow Sword Technique.

From here on, the destructive power of the technique reached the level of a supreme art.

“Hmm.”

The Sword Emperor’s eyebrows twitched.

The dispersed sword energy of Yi-gang began to converge at a single point.

This meant that Yi-gang was not merely following the form of the technique but had grasped its essence.

Focusing the energy into a tiny point intensified the destructive and cutting power.

If that level was surpassed, the Qi became substantial, taking on a form. This was known as Sword Aura, and it was called the symbol of a Supreme Peak master.

However, Yi-gang had not yet reached that level.

His sword energy remained just shy of becoming substantial.

Nonetheless, its destructive power would still be considerable.

「Hmm, very good.」

“Excellent.”

The moment Zhang Sanfeng and the Sword Emperor murmured simultaneously, Yi-gang’s sword, which had been paused at one point, descended vertically.

Heaven’s Shadow Sword Technique, 6th form.

With one stroke, he cleaved the moon, ‘Moon-Splitting Single Strike.’

The Sword Emperor intervened in what would be inadequately described as merely swift—the lightning-fast, precise strike.

He threw an old wooden sword into Yi-gang’s trajectory.

Of course, the wooden sword should have been cleanly split in two.

Kaang—

With a noise as if ears were tearing, Yi-gang’s sword was deflected.

“Here.”

How he managed this with an unadorned wooden sword was a mystery.

However, the Sword Emperor spoke seriously, “The point where the flow of the sword technique you were performing was interrupted.”

「There was a gap in the flow of the sword technique at that part.」

Yi-gang was enjoying a luxury that any swordsman would dream of.

In front, the Sword Emperor was observing Yi-gang’s sword techniques, and behind, Zhang Sanfeng was offering timely advice.

“By saying the flow was interrupted, you mean…”

Yi-gang cautiously asked for an explanation.

“No matter how unconventional the swordsmanship, there exists a flow. To flow means not to be stagnant; the sword of a distinguished swordsman should flow like water.”

「That is the Way in water. There’s a reason I used observing water as a method of practice in the past.」

“The sword of a novice stagnates, while the sword of an adept flows like a stream. However, the sword of the most outstanding swordsman must always…”

「Be like a river that does not dry up even in drought.」

“…Like the waves of the Yangtze, it should never stop.”

Every swordsman held a different perspective on the sword.

But the views of the Sword Emperor and Zhang Sanfeng were remarkably similar.

It’s only natural. The Sword Emperor’s sword was of Wudang, and Wudang’s sword was indeed Zhang Sanfeng’s.

「Hehe, it’s very satisfying that the perspective of the junior is not different from mine. Even among Wudang swordsmen, finding one’s own path is expected…」

However, judging by Zhang Sanfeng’s reaction, it seemed rare to find a sword so similar in this respect.

The Sword Emperor concluded his explanation in a low voice, “The technique called ‘Moon-Splitting Single Strike’ clearly requires a high level of concentration. However, if the flow is interrupted, it means you still can’t handle the sword as part of your body.”

He spoke about the unity of body and sword.

“Strive harder. The creator of that technique would not have intended it this way.”

Yi-gang had now reached a level where he could understand the Sword Emperor’s advice.

“Thank you for your teachings.”

Yi-gang bowed in respect.

This was clearly a lesson.

Perhaps other venerable members of Wudang or Sage Myung Won would have felt slighted.

While Cheong Su and Cheong Hye were still focusing on basics due to their lesser level, the instruction Yi-gang received was clearly from the Sword Emperor’s profound understanding.

“…May I ask one thing?”

“Speak.”

“Why do you show me such kindness, a foreigner to you?”

He had thought about this before, when the Sword Emperor strongly urged him to challenge Zhang Sanfeng’s martial arts. The kindness seemed too great to be simply because of talent.

“…”

The Sword Emperor neither answered nor avoided the question.

He remained silent for a long time, as if pondering whether it was something he could speak about.

“…Because I felt the presence of Founder Zhang in you.”

Yi-gang’s expression was calm.

However, Zhang Sanfeng was greatly surprised.

「Do I…. appear to you?」

Zhang Sanfeng said this and leaned forward, but the Sword Emperor was clearly looking past him at Yi-gang.

“I felt it in the sword too… No, it became so.”

The Sword Emperor paused.

“Think of it as the ramblings of an old man.”

He too seemed uncertain.

However, Yi-gang was inwardly very surprised. Although he had not known Zhang Sanfeng for long, Yi-gang was definitely influenced by him.

The divine posture that Zhang Sanfeng had shown while possessing him remained in his mind, and he had been training according to the advice given.

Perhaps the Sword Emperor saw that trace in Yi-gang. If so, it was certainly a remarkable discernment.

「You seem to be a fervent follower.」

‘…’

「Why so? Even in my lifetime, there were not one or two Taoists and commoners who followed me.」

Or maybe he really was a fervent fan of Zhang Sanfeng, as he said. That thought occurred.

Then, the Golden Needle Phantom approached, wiping his hands with a towel.

“You have been here for quite some time now. You should go in and rest.”

“I will do that…”

The Sword Emperor quietly followed the Golden Needle Phantom to the straw hut.

Then he stopped and turned back to look at Yi-gang.

“Take a day off tomorrow. The day after is important.”

Yi-gang nodded.

The day after tomorrow was the day to determine who would learn Zhang Sanfeng’s martial arts. It seemed intended to initially eliminate most of the applicants.

Even Yi-gang didn’t know what the test involved.

Dam Hyun seemed to know something he had picked up somewhere.

“Hehe, I’m definitely not going to tell.”

Yi-gang knew how to handle Dam Hyun at times like this.

As he coldly ignored Dam Hyun and walked past, Dam Hyun scrunched up his face in displeasure.

And time passed.

The Grand Purity Palace Master sweated as he counted the number of applicants.

More than 500 Wudang Taoists had applied.

It was well over half of the sect members staying within the sect mountain.

If it weren’t for the sect being closed, even more disciples would have applied, and the number could easily have surpassed a thousand.

Upon seeing the list organized by the Grand Purity Palace Master, Myung Won clicked his tongue.

“No matter what, it’s a bit much for the elders to apply…”

“Cough cough.”

Then the elders of the same generation as the Sword Emperor coughed loudly.

Though younger than the Sword Emperor, the Jang line elders were already old masters of the previous generation.

Such individuals had now come to compete alongside the greenest of disciples.

“I’m sorry, Sect Leader, but really, even the disciples of the Myung line went too far. Does it make sense for the True Martial Hall Head, who has retired from the front lines, to apply?”

“Cough cough cough!”

True Martial Hall Head Myung Cho coughed as if he were about to vomit blood.

An elder added to the attack, sensing the shameful demeanor.

“The True Martial Hall Head, responsible for the training of disciples. For him to stand alongside disciples receiving teachings is… Eh!”

Myung Cho didn’t just sit and listen quietly.

“Chuckle, it doesn’t seem like something a senior should say. The person who, until last year, claimed to retreat into the secluded valleys out of worldly desire…”

“Wh-what!”

It was a moment when a fight nearly broke out.

“Stop!” Sect Leader Myung Won commanded in a commanding tone.

Both the elder and the True Martial Hall Head froze in their tracks.

“Along with the Sword Emperor, we will discuss the contents of the test. All applicants please leave. Elders who are concerned, please leave as well!”

At the command of the sect leader, everyone bowed their heads.

“…Yes.”

“We will do so.”

About one-third of those gathered in the hall left.

They would join the already assembled applicants and wait.

Once the number of people in the hall was approximately settled, Myung Won sighed deeply.

“Senior Uncle.”

“You called?”

There, the Sword Emperor was sitting cross-legged in a composed state.

Unconcerned by the commotion in front, he appeared detached.

Normally, Myung Won would have respected him, but he was troubled now.

“Is this how you intend to determine who will learn the divine arts of Founder Zhang?”

What troubled Myung Won was the method of the test set by the Sword Emperor.

“With over 500 applicants, I was worried about how to determine their qualifications. It would take a long time.”

“That’s true.”

“However, I trusted and waited because the Sword Emperor said he would establish a good method.”

“That he did.”

Myung Won eventually couldn’t hold back and burst out shouting, “How can you determine qualifications with this!”

The method of the test was written on the fluttering paper he held.

It was not a test to judge the talent in swordsmanship or the depth of enlightenment.

“In my view, it is the best way.”

“This isn’t a joke, is it?”

The problem was stated, and the applicants had to choose between two possible answers.

It was more akin to assessing scholarly knowledge.

“But the question that was posed…”

However, the contents of that question were utterly incomprehensible.

“If Founder Zhang Sanfeng’s favorite tea was West Lake Longjing tea, then please stand under the Red Flag, for Baihao Yinzhen tea, please stand under the White Flag.”

“…”

“Does this make any sense!”

Myung Won vented his frustration.

“Who would accept this!”

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