Tangmunjeon - Chapter 408



Only Krnovel

Su-nyeong-i-dae

Hyun-gong held the two arms dripping with blood with a grip that was not quite strong enough.

A wound that is too shallow to be deep, but too deep to be shallow.

It’s not that I couldn’t move my hand at all, but I couldn’t really use my strength, and every time I tried to use my strength I felt a sharp pain.

Hyun-gong is clever and has a good grasp of practicality.

If you were stabbed by someone else, you would feel betrayed and start thinking about ways to get revenge.

However, Youngbo Jinin was one of the few exceptions to Hyungong. Although Hyungong was confused, he thought that Youngbo Jinin had some kind of plan.

“···Teaching?”

“Yes.”

Hyun-gong wanted to understand the intention behind Yeong-bo Jin-in’s actions.

It’s a lesson you can only learn when you can’t use your arms.

Hyun-gong soon muttered softly.

“···I see. That’s what it was.”

Yeongbo Jin-in looked surprised after hearing Hyeon-gong’s story.

“Have you realized this already? I knew you were smart, but I didn’t know it was to this extent…”

Hyun-gong looked at Yeong-bo-jin with a deep gaze.

“Not being able to use your arms means you have to put down your sword and avoid fighting. You are probably thinking of teaching me how hollow the pride that the warriors talk about is. Don’t you think I should give up on Mt. Wudang and retreat to plan for the future?”

Hyun-gong thought of the Gongdongpa. The Gongdongpa who could not leave the Gongdongsan despite suffering all kinds of hardships.

The communal mountain was the pride and history of the communal faction, but at the same time, it was also the chains that bound the communal mountain practitioners.

But the situation was different for the nonpartisan group.

To put it nicely, it was a sect like a rising star, but to put it badly, it had no foundation.

Since the Mudang faction does not have a long history like the Gongdong faction or the Jongnam faction, if absolutely necessary, they could abandon Mudangsan and quietly move their base to try to make a new start. This was a privilege of the new faction.

“Well, Wudangsan isn’t the only mountain. I’ve seen a few good mountains. If you go to a place with less competition, like Anhui, Jiangsu, or Shandong, you can quickly make a name for yourself.”

But Youngbo Jin shook his head.

“···We are not peddlers, so how can we think of leaving so lightly? That is not what I am trying to teach you.”

“It’ll be difficult if I delay any longer… No, I understand for now. Then what is the teaching?”

Yeongbo Jin-in held his sword horizontally and asked Hyeon-gong.

“Hyungong. What do you think is the greatest advantage of the Taegeuk sword?”

“It’s flexibility.”

“Be a little more specific.”

“A solid defense built on flexibility.”

“Then what do you think is the biggest weakness of the Taegeuk sword?”

“There are no shortcomings to the Taegeuk sword. There is only a lack of accomplishment.”

Yeongbo Jin-in smiled and asked back.

“Answer honestly.”

“···Insufficient killing power.”

Hyun-gong found out that the Taegeuk sword was unbalanced.

A dull sword that can block the blows of even the most skilled swordsmen, but is unable to completely eliminate an opponent.

That is why Hyun-gong supplemented his killing power with the Daejong Yeoha he learned from Tu-hee, and achieved balance between offense and defense.

However, that was merely an individual achievement for Hyeon-gong, and it did not mean that Hyeon-gong had overcome the limitations of the Taegeuk sword he had mastered.

Yeongbo Jin-in asked Hyeon-gong.

“Taegeuk symbolizes harmony and balance in all things. The Taegeuk sword is a sword that emphasizes balance. Doesn’t it seem a little strange that such a Taegeuk sword is unbalanced and focused on defense?”

“Names can be wrong. There are countless cases where dreams are grand but reality falls short of them…”

Yeongbo Jin-in laughed when he heard Hyeon-gong’s story.

“A person who is good at offense may be bad at defense. But the reverse is not true. A person who is good at defense cannot be bad at offense.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Hyungong. You have achieved great things over the past few years. If you were to launch an all-out offensive now, do you think you would be able to break through my defenses, the three-step area?”

After hearing that story, Hyun-gong’s thoughts took a slightly more impudent turn.

‘Surely you didn’t cut off my arm in advance because you were afraid I would really break the defense···.’

Hey, no way.

Hyun-gong thought like that and imagined himself unfolding the Great Bell.

The Great King’s Sword is a martial art that requires long preparation and many restrictions, but its power is overwhelming.

That is why Hyun-gong thought that neither Namgung Jin-cheon nor Sam-an-bul would be able to completely block his great cult leader. Furthermore, he thought that his sword would even reach the cult leader.

However, only Youngbo Jin was an exception.

I never thought that any martial arts could harm Yeongbo Jinin. How could I possibly delve into the realm of Yeongbo Jinin, the Three Treasures Lord, who was called the greatest genius in the Jeongpa martial arts world since Jang Sam-bong?

Hyun-gong thought for a moment and then shook his head.

“No, I’m not sure.”

“Think again. Why do you think you can’t dig into my three steps?”

“It must be because my sword is dull.”

“No. Your sword is sharp enough. Think about it a little more fundamentally, more concretely.”

As he spoke, Youngbo Jin took a defensive stance with his sword laid horizontally.

Hyun-gong sat cross-legged in front of Yeong-bo-jin-in.

And he imagined himself taking three steps closer to Yeongbojinin, and further, swinging his sword at Yeongbojinin.

Numerous attempts in the imagination have ended in the same result.

Before Hyungong’s sword reaches Yeongbojinin, Yeongbojinin’s sword reaches Hyungong. Hyungong’s chest is pierced, his arm falls off, and his neck is cut off.

Youngbo Jin asked again.

“Answer again. Do you think your sword is too dull to reach me?”

“No. My sword is sharp.”

“Then what’s the problem? Are you afraid of me blocking your sword?”

“···I’m not afraid of being blocked. I’m just afraid that if I try to force myself to wait for an opportunity, I’ll definitely get cut first, so I can’t approach.”

Only then did Youngbojin smile.

“Yes. That is a high-level defense. Those who lack enlightenment think that defense is all about being able to block the opponent’s sword like a rock. However, defining your own territory and punishing those who invade your territory is the highest level of defense. You must not let your opponent stretch out his sword freely for fear of being punished.”

Only then did Hyun-gong realize that the defense he was pursuing was different from the defense that Yeong-bo Jin-in was pursuing.

No one flinched in front of Hyun-gong. His opponents always swung their swords confidently, and Hyun-gong withstood all of their attacks like a rock.

However, Youngbojinin was different. When approaching Youngbojinin, it was difficult to swing one’s sword.

When facing the Youngbojin, the instinct to live held the hand holding the sword and the legs that wanted to move forward.

That was the difference between the two.

“It’s not that you’re afraid of being blocked by the sword, but rather that you’re afraid of being cut first, so you don’t come near. In other words, in order to display an excellent defense, you have to be able to display an overwhelming attack more than anyone else within a given space.”

Yeongbo Jin-in took a moment to catch his breath and continued his story.

“The reason I earned the nickname of Sambo Jijon was not because I could block all attacks within three steps. It was just that among those who came within three steps, there was no one who could withstand my sword.”

“···I understand.”

Hyungong thought he was good at defense, but that was arrogant and foolish. Hyungong gained new insight through his dialogue with Yeongbo Jinin.

“Think again. Can the sword of a man who is capable of excellent defense be dull?”

“No, but, Master, I have a question.”

“Tell me.”

“Why didn’t you tell me in advance? I didn’t even know that, and I’ve been so focused on protecting myself up until now.”

“If you skip the process and try to get the result, you will end up making mistakes. In the past, your sword was not sharp enough, so you could not teach it.”

If that’s the case, shouldn’t you teach me how to use a sharp sword first?

However, Hyun-gong could not ask Yeong-bo Jin-in why he did not teach him how to use a sharp sword.

The sharpest sword can only be achieved through the harmony of internal energy, swordsmanship, and protective techniques.

However, Youngbo Jinin was a person who could not walk and had never walked before.

That’s why Yeongbo Jinin couldn’t give a goal to Hyungong who walks on two legs.

He was afraid that if he taught his disciple how to use his sword, he would end up using the sword of a crippled man. He was afraid that he would limit his disciple’s potential.

Hyun-gong asked.

“So is something different now?”

“I have been meditating since the day I became a long-legged person to overcome my limitations. It took me ten years to create two perfect legs in my mind, having never had a single leg. It took me another ten years to move my two legs, and it took me another ten years to fully unfold the method of reverence with the legs in my mind. It took me another ten years to harmonize the legs that had learned the method of reverence with the sword.”

Hyun-gong recalled memories from his childhood.

Youngbo Jinin was always immersed in meditation. He spent much more time with his eyes closed than with them open. At one point, Hyungong mistook Youngbo Jinin for a crippled and blind person.

“What was all that long effort for?”

“At first, for the future of the non-partisan faction and my honor. And at some point, for my precious disciple.”

Yeongbo Jin-in smiled at Hyeon-gong as he spoke like that.

Hyungong had no father, and Yeongbojin had no children. However, the two did not feel empty. Even if they were not related by blood, they could still be father and son.

“Forty years passed like that. At last, my sword, my inner strength method, and my secret method were in harmony.”

Yeongbo Jin-in drew his sword and placed it on his thigh.

The cool and sharp aura I felt when I encountered Youngbo Jinin a little while ago filled the wide space in front of Hyeoncheon Hall.

It was unfamiliar, but it wasn’t the first time I felt it.

The momentum was somewhat similar to the momentum Shin Seung had shown just before he died.

That’s why Hyun-gong realized.

Through long training, Youngbo Jinin has achieved great accomplishments.

“···No way. Have you reached a new level?”

“I had some small accomplishments.”

Clear affirmation. Hyun-gong asked Yeong-bo Jin-in.

“What is the name of that realm?”

“Since Master Dharma and the true man Jang Sam-bong did not give it a name, I have no intention of hastily giving it a name. I simply think of it as a realm of creation that has achieved harmony.”

His heart was pounding. Hyun-gong was speechless and trembled as if he were a warrior.

But after a while, realistic worries began to creep into Hyun-gong.

‘Surely you’re not asking me to give back my seat, Jang Moon-in?’

It was an unprecedented situation, but at the same time, it was not completely impossible.

Even now that Youngbo Jin-in has stepped down from his position as Jang Moon-in, isn’t he still staying at Hyeoncheon-dang, the residence of Jang Moon-in?

Hyun-gong felt a little uneasy.

‘I should have arranged for you to live somewhere else in time… I was complacent.’

However, Hyun-gong decided not to think too much about the long-term position.

It’s not because he doesn’t want to be in the senior position, but because the decision-making power actually lies with Yeongbo Jin.

‘Even if it gets stolen by chance, I just need to get it back.’

Hyun-gong looked at Yeong-bo-jin with a much more humble and gentle expression than before.

“I congratulate you on your accomplishments, Master. However… I have a question.”

“What is it?”

“Why did you cut my arm?”

When I think about it calmly, the most likely guess is that Yeongbo Jin-in was trying to eliminate his competitor.

However, Yeongbo Jinin was not a wise man.

“I wish to convey to you the enlightenment I have attained. However, that enlightenment must be combined with the Dharma, and since I have no legs outside of the mental image, I cannot fully show you the accomplishments I have made within the mental image.”

Fortunately, it doesn’t appear to be a plan to eliminate competitors.

Hyun-gong nodded with a pretended serious expression.

“Is there a connection between enlightenment and my forearm?”

“Do you see that cart?”

Yeongbo Jin-in pointed to a carrying pole placed in a corner of Hyeoncheon-dang.

The carriage had a carrying board so that a person could sit on it, and the pillars of the carriage had sturdy leather straps attached to them.

“···Why are you suddenly carrying a carrier?”

“First of all, Megara.”

It is inevitable that superiors dislike situations where subordinates keep asking for reasons.

Hyun-gong returned carrying the load without any hesitation.

“Ugh!”

Yeongbo Jinin put both arms on the ground, and then skillfully bounced off the ground with both arms to fly his body. Yeongbo Jinin’s light body sat on the carrying pole quite skillfully.

Yeongbo Jin-in tied his upper body with the leather strap attached to the carrying pole and spoke to Hyeon-gong.

“You know that the Jongnam faction has collapsed.”

“yes.”

“The masters of Jongnampa say that there was a leader among the martial artists of the Demonic Cult. The martial artists and leader of the Demonic Cult will soon invade the Shamanist Cult. We don’t have much time left.”

“Us···. Yes.”

Yeongbo Jin-in leaned his upper body forward and pressed his body against Hyun-gong’s back as he spoke.

“Okay. Now our gazes are at similar heights.”

“I see. But does that matter?”

“Of course it’s important. No matter how much I thought about how to convey my experience in my mind to you, I couldn’t think of a better way.”

“If this method is used···”

There was a hint of worry in Hyun-gong’s voice. However, Yeong-bo Jin-in had already made up his mind.

“Your sword is not dull. What you need now is a harmony between swordsmanship and armor.”

“···yes.”

“Look at the world with the same eyes as I do. And align your movements with the movements in my mind. Just as I have achieved harmony between the law of protection and the law of swordsmanship, you too should follow me and achieve harmony between the law of protection and the law of swordsmanship. This will surely be the clue to your advancement to the next level.”

In short, it meant that Hyun-gong would have to take Yeong-bo-jin’s place as a bridge for the time being.

Hyun-gong felt a little dizzy.

“But why did you cut my arm?”

“Originally, there were no arms on the legs.”

“···.”

“If you want to focus purely on the role of your legs and achieve quick enlightenment, it’s much better to not use your arms at all.”

The radical idea that if you can’t use your arms, you don’t need to worry about them.

Since he is a person whose limbs are not sound, does he not hesitate to make other people’s limbs sound? Hyun-gong was overcome by complex emotions as if something was boiling inside his stomach.

“I see… I see! But, Master. Even if I achieve success with my arm like this, I don’t think I’ll be able to fight the cult leader properly.”

“You don’t have to worry about that.”

“Why is that?”

“Even if the cult leader appears, we will fight like this.”

As he spoke, Yeongbo Jinin stretched his arm over Hyeon-gong’s shoulder and under his armpit and skillfully swung his sword.

It was a very strange feeling, as if a new arm had sprouted from my armpit and was moving around on its own.

“How is it? It’s great, isn’t it?”

“···.”

Hyun-gong almost blurted out harsh words to Yeong-bo Jin-in for the first time in his life, but he held back by taking a deep breath.

Yeongbo Jin-in asked Hyeon-gong.

“You said you came back a little ahead of the other drones. Then where are the drones of the other factions?”

“Some went to Sichuan Province, some went to Hwasan, but a significant number will come here, to Mt. Wudang, within a few days.”

Yeongbo Jin-in thought for a moment, then gave instructions to Hyeon-gong.

“The less damage, the better. Let only the few who are absolutely necessary remain in Mt. Wudang, and tell the rest to head east… to the Shaolin Temple.”

“···yes?”

“Ultimately, the core of the Demonic Cult is its leader. You and I will join forces and behead the leader at Mt. Wudang.”

Hyun-gong turned his head back. He saw Yeong-bo Jin-in’s face.

“···.”

Hyun-gong spoke to Yeong-bo-jin with an unnatural smile.

“Master, please wait a moment.”

“You seem to want to go to the back room, right? Come back quickly.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Hyun-gong put down his carrying pole respectfully.

And he used his full power to spread his lightness and jumped out of the Mudangpa’s Haegeomji.

“Where are you going?”

The Taoists guarding Haegeomji asked Hyeon-gong, but Hyeon-gong did not answer and ran for a while longer.

How long did he move like that? Hyungong arrived at the deepest part of Mt. Wudang.

There was a fairly dense bamboo forest there.

Hyun-gong bent his upper body, rested his hands on his knees with his arms that were not strong enough, and took a long time to catch his breath.

I couldn’t tell exactly if I was out of breath because I was running at full speed or if it was for psychological reasons. But no matter how much I thought about it, it seemed closer to the latter.

Finally, Hyun-gong straightened his upper body.

And then, enduring the pain, he clenched his fists and shouted.

“Shit, shit, shit!”

Hyungong shouted with all his might several times. He shouted until his throat burst. A beautiful echo echoed throughout Mt. Mudang.

Finally, Hyun-gong collapsed on the ground, exhausted. He saw the clear blue sky.

Since Hyun-gong was rational, he did not want to participate in Yeong-bo-jin-in’s crazy plan.

‘···But the situation is not good.’

Right now, it’s the middle of the Jeongma War, so I can’t just reject Yeongbo Jinin’s offer and run away to the Demonic Cult.

Moreover, it is true that if Youngbo Jinin’s plan succeeds, the results will be very desirable.

You can take revenge on Seolhwa, solidify your position as a long-term leader, and even reach the next level beyond the peak.

If you can just beat your friends and reach the next level, you can be in the spotlight for the rest of your life.

‘A state of harmony···.’

Hyun-gong got up from his seat and walked back to Mt. Mudang with a limp.

The Youngbojin man who had been on the carrier had disappeared somewhere.

“···.”

Hyun-gong entered Hyun-cheon-dang carrying an empty carrier.

As expected, Yeongbo Jin-in was sitting in the middle of Hyeoncheon Hall as if nothing had happened.

“It took quite a while to come back from the back room.”

“yes.”

Hyun-gong answered briefly, crouched down in front of Yeong-bo-jin, and held out his carrying pole to Yeong-bo-jin.

“Please take a ride.”

Yeongbo Jinin realized that Hyungong’s speech had become a little harsh.