Hyeonjilmusin - Chapter 51



Only Krnovel

51. Kick the torch (2)

If the Hwasan faction has the Plum Blossom Swordsman, and the Shaolin Temple has the Eighteen Arhats, then the Wudang faction has the Tai Chi Swordsman.

What they all have in common is that they are all elites representing their sects. The fact that they are given corresponding tests is a bonus.

The test was known to be vicious, but no one gave up the Taegeuk exam out of fear of the test. Who would give up the opportunity to win the honor of representing a shaman?

Therefore, in reality, the Taegeuk exam was like testing all of the shaman’s main disciples. However, since it was a ten-year cycle and they could not take it twice, it was only applicable to the second and third major disciples.

“But if you compare the second and third disciples, isn’t the third disciple at an overwhelming disadvantage?”

“Taegeuk Swordsmanship is not simply about physical strength. It also looks at your age, how much you’ve learned martial arts, how you’ve behaved in the Mudang faction so far, how strong your sense of justice is, and how strong your mental strength is. The only thing it looks at for you is your mental strength.”

“I see. That’s fortunate. I don’t have much sense of justice.”

“You are not a candidate for the Taegeuk Inspection Test anyway. You will just be taking part of the test. Only the main disciples can become Taegeuk Inspectors.”

“Then can I just take a quick look?”

“If you don’t want to learn Yang-i-sim-gong, then do it like that.”

Cheonghwa boasted that it was an opportunity she had gained by hitting her head on the ground. To be honest, she was grateful. I don’t know why she hit her head, but it’s not easy to express regret for someone else.

“How do you do a mental test?”

“If you tell me that, it’s not a test of mental strength.”

Cheonghwa’s smile was somehow like that of a Sapa thug. It seemed like it was a violation of dignity for a Taoist to have such a mean smile.

“Since there’s no one to teach you anyway, I’ll just practice the Yuun Sword Technique. I showed you last time, didn’t I?”

“yes.”

I followed Cheonghwa’s words without saying a word. In fact, training in swordsmanship was a refreshing experience for me, who had spent my entire life just sitting and drawing.

Even if it’s the same swordsmanship, the way you fight changes depending on the life you’ve lived. It was a truly amazing experience.

I thought I was swinging it properly, but the priests kept saying things like why the sword was so sharp and cold.

That would be because I had repeatedly experienced trampling on others to rise up in the ruthless world of business. In that sense, the black one was a window that allowed me to rediscover myself, a person I had forgotten.

“The Yuun Sword Technique is a sword technique that has a high level of difficulty, so you shouldn’t rely on your talent alone.”

“I’m trying hard.”

“Yeah. I think it’s a bit better than before.”

In reality, the Yuun Sword Technique was too much for the lowest level of sword talent to fully display. Now was the time to purchase a higher level talent. However, the seed of the top that I had sown would have to wait until next spring at the latest to bear fruit.

Until then, is there a way to make some money, even if it’s just a little? That was a problem that needed to be thought about. For now, passing the mental test was the priority.

“And if possible, try not to touch the death row inmates. I don’t know if this applies to you, but I think the test for them is very important.”

“Master, I have that much insight.”

“Then that’s fortunate.”

Only after hearing my answer did Cheonghwa leave with a relieved expression.

The second and third great disciples are now facing the Taegeuk exam. It was a test that they could only take once in their lives, so they couldn’t help but be nervous.

I went to the backyard of the palace. In the backyard of the palace, the death sentences were already practicing with serious expressions.

I also quietly sat behind him and practiced. Even if my lowest level of swordsmanship was not enough to penetrate the Yuun Sword Technique, and even if my original talent was the worst, it was better than not swinging it.

I was going to just do my own training and then leave. Qinghua told me to do so, and I didn’t want to mess with someone who was about to take an important exam.

“Excuse me, priest.”

“yes?”

But the one who approached first was Myungkyung. Myungkyung kept opening and closing her mouth, but didn’t say anything. It seemed like she was thinking about whether or not to speak. For some reason, her hands were behind her.

“What is it?”

“I don’t have any requests as a death row inmate… … .”

“Then don’t do it.”

“No. I want to.”

Myeonggyeong took out her hand that had been behind her back. In her hand was an old book.

“Ah. It’s a scripture.”

“Yeah. There’s something here that I don’t understand.”

“Oh, yes.”

As a merchant, I thought that academic knowledge was almost essential, so I read all the scriptures of a certain genre. I think I came to Myeonggyeong just because he was an adult close to me, but I think it was a good thing I came to him.

“It is a saint, after his body comes first, outside his body exists, it does not have its own selfishness, so it can achieve its own selfishness. I don’t understand this part.”

“Even if the adult leaves the body behind, he goes forward, and even if he ignores the body, he is preserved. This is because he does not assert himself privately, and because he does not assert himself, he can achieve himself.”

“I can interpret it too. It’s hard to say that you can achieve me because you don’t assert yourself.”

“You have to distinguish between the front and the back. The me in front is the real me that we normally use, and the me in the back is the complete me. We use the same word, but they have completely different meanings.”

The scriptures seemed confusing. After all, the scriptures were books written by ancient sages. It would have been difficult for someone this young to understand them all.

“To explain more precisely, the me in front is the small self, and the me in back is the great self.”

“It’s more difficult?”

“Okay. Among the shamanist sect leaders, are there any who are known to have ascended to immortality?”

“huh.”

“You have to be a great child to achieve the Great Self. You can’t achieve the Great Self as a child.”

“What differentiates between infants and children?”

As we were talking about the scriptures and the scriptures, Myeongseong and Myeongjin also stopped their swords and pricked up their ears. It seemed like they also didn’t understand.

“It says that you are not claiming me.”

“What do you mean by claiming me? I don’t claim to be me.”

“To assert is not to reveal something. It means that I am conscious of my existence. Even the death penalty is conscious of my existence.”

“Oh. I see.”

Myeong-gyeong let out an exclamation of understanding.

“I think I know what it is. I can’t explain it exactly though.”

“Then I won’t do it properly.”

“As expected, the priest is smart. I could tell from the moment he started talking to people.”

“The executioner is smarter. I didn’t read these scriptures when I was that age.”

When I lightly gilded it, Myeong-gyeong’s face lightened up and she smiled. As expected, dealing with children was easy.

As Myeong-gyeong left with a relieved face, Myeong-seong looked at her back with an expression of envy.

Myung-kyung, who happened to make eye contact with me, quickly looked away as if something was bothering her.

I wanted to ask you about my concerns last time, but somehow I didn’t, so I felt a bit awkward asking you now. It might have a negative effect on your ability to focus on the test.

“……excuse me.”

At that moment, someone whispered next to me. I jumped up in surprise and looked to the side to see Myeongjin with a blank expression.

“When did you come?”

“Since a while ago.”

“Please make some noise.”

“I did it.”

“I’m sorry. Why?”

“Could you please show me some swordsmanship?”

“yes?”

“Priest, your swordsmanship is far superior to mine.”

That’s true. But can a priest teach about the death penalty? But since Myungjin didn’t seem to care, I didn’t think I needed to care either.

Myungjin unfolded his sword without saying a word. Although he certainly had talent with the sword, his shortcomings were evident.

I helped Myeongjin take each pose, and Myeongjin followed along without a word.

After that, Myung-kyung and Myung-jin came to me to ask me questions, and I taught them with all my heart. It seemed like they wanted to show me a better side of themselves since they had exams coming up.

Meanwhile, Myeongseong did not make eye contact with me. He seemed to be deliberately avoiding my gaze and practicing swordsmanship, but it seemed like he was not practicing well. I watched from behind and saw Myeongseong lose his temper and slam his sword on the ground.

If I were just an adult, I would have taken care of Myungseong, but in the Shamanist sect, I was a priest of Myungseong. There was no priest who took care of the death penalty. If I approached Myungseong out of concern, his pride would have been hurt.

Time passed by so quickly that it was time for the Taegeuk exam.

The second and third great disciples gathered at the Great Dance Hall. Usually, when young disciples gather, they tend to be noisy, but today, it was extremely quiet. Everyone looked obviously nervous.

“But how many people are selected for the Taegeuk Inspection?”

“On average, about three people per class. Of course, if the elders judge that none of them are qualified, they may not be selected.”

“It’s grim.”

“So stop talking.”

“yes.”

Unlike the disciples who gathered at the Great Training Center, I stayed next to Cheonghwa. Although my mental strength was evaluated, I did not take the Taegeuk Swordsmanship Test.

I found the three brothers looking ahead with nervous expressions. Myeongseong, Myeonggyeong, and Myeongjin. I hoped for good results for these three. But, as they say, the arm bends inward, wouldn’t it be good if my brothers did well? Cheonghwa seemed to think so too, looking nervous.

On the platform in front of the Great Dance Hall, a long man in blue clothing stood with a solemn look.

“Everyone has nice eyes.”

Cheong-ui looked at the crowd with a proud look.

“As you know, the Taegeuk Sword Master is an honor that represents the Shamanist faction. However, you don’t have to be too disappointed if you don’t succeed in the Taegeuk Sword Master. Just being a Shamanist disciple is a great honor.”

The second disciples are at most my age, and the third disciples are still children. Cheongyi comforted them with a loving voice.

“The most important thing to become a Taegeuk inspector is the spirit. The Taegeuk inspector must overcome any difficulties that seem insurmountable.”

Mental strength test. I asked some of the disciples I know, and they said that most people fail this mental strength test. Of course, they didn’t tell me the content of the test. You’ll find out now.

At that moment, the ground of the Great Dance Hall where the disciples were standing began to glow and purple smoke rose up. As it rose up from an empty space, it felt strange.

‘That’s the formula.’

Having experienced the system several times, I recognized it at a glance.

“This is a small re-implementation of the formation used by the Demonic Cult in the past. The name of the formation is Nine Palaces Illusion Demonic Cult. The previous Taegeuk Swordsmen surpassed this Demonic Cult formation and invaded the Ten Thousand Great Mountains.”

The disciples’ eyes changed when the name of the Demonic Cult was mentioned. The Demonic Cult’s methods were notorious for destroying the mind and creating madmen.

“Of course, I will not go mad just by changing the formation a few times. However, the experience within the formation will be more terrifying than anything else, so be prepared.”

I followed Cheonghwa’s gesture and quietly slipped into the corner of the large dance hall. This was how I was participating in the test.

“Let’s get started right away.”

As the words of the Qing dynasty swept through the purple mist, it covered us.

At the same time, the disciples standing nearby fell to their knees and began vomiting.

“Ugh, ugh… … .”

Looking at the children around me, they all had red eyes and painful expressions.

But surprisingly, I didn’t mind. I felt like I knew how this system worked.

The pure internal energy and magic energy gathered by the shamans are in conflict. Such magic energy invades the mind and causes pain and illusions. However, I am a person who has been filled with magic energy. Rather, I feel more comfortable breathing as if I am back home.

“Ugh, euaaaah!”

But even so, if you act like nothing happened, you’re sure to arouse suspicion.

I immediately started screaming, clutching my chest and twisting my body.