Chapter 87:

Chapter 87:

Unfinished Duel (2)

Mu-jin, who had returned to Shaolin, resumed his rigorous martial arts training at Hyun-gwang’s residence. A few days later, a first-class disciple from the Ji-guest Hall visited Hyun-gwang’s quarters.

“Master Uncle Hyun-gwang, a guest has arrived from Wudang.”

Along with the guest were two individuals, one old and one young.

The elder had the appearance of an immortal, while the youth had a clear and fresh impression.

As if familiar with the elder, Hyun-gwang greeted them warmly with a gentle smile.

“Hahaha. It’s been a long time, Daoist Malko.”

At Hyun-gwang’s unexpected greeting, a vein stood out on the old man’s forehead. The youth beside him seemed startled and unsure of how to react.

“You seem to have changed while we were apart, you bald monk.”

The old man, refusing to be outdone, responded, but Hyun-gwang simply laughed it off.

“Hahaha. Judging by the atmosphere, it doesn’t seem like you came just to chat.”

“We need to settle the match we couldn’t finish because you were bedridden.”

“Hmm.”

At the old man’s words, Hyun-gwang stroked his beard for a moment.

“It seems if we had the match here, the pavilion wouldn’t survive. Shall we move to another location?”

“From the way you speak, it seems the rumors weren’t false.”

After a brief exchange of words and a stare-off between Hyun-gwang and the old man.

“Mu-jin, follow me.”

“Yes, Grandfather.”

Rising from his seat, Hyun-gwang beckoned Mu-jin to join them.

With Hyun-gwang leading the way, the old man and the youth followed without a word.

As they walked along with Hyun-gwang, Mu-jin, now skilled enough in Qi manipulation to use sound transmission, asked a question that had been nagging at him.

– Grandfather, who is that old man to be challenging you to a match?

– Hahaha. He is Yunheo Zhenren from Wudang, known as Malko.

At Hyun-gwang’s answer, Mu-jin couldn’t help but be astonished. The only relief was that he did not make the mistake of turning around.

Yunheo Zhenren.

A name mentioned multiple times in the novel as one of the Three Swords of the World.

People have a penchant for ranking things, and this habit extends to the world of martial arts novels as well.

Typically, if there was a singularly outstanding master, they would be called the Supreme Martial Artist, but such cases were rare.

Therefore, people usually selected the ten most renowned masters and discussed them as the Ten Great Masters of the World.

However, in their era, there were three exceptionally distinguished masters among those ten, all skilled with the sword, and they were referred to as the Three Swords of the World.

The Taiji Sword Immortal of Wudang.

The Namgung Sword Emperor of the Namgung family.

The Heavenly Sword Emperor of the Pa-gyeom Sect.

In the current martial arts world, the three strongest individuals stood at the top, with the Seven Kings below them.

But why would one of the Three Swords of the World, known as the Taiji Sword Immortal, seek out Hyun-gwang?

“Grandfather, were you originally acquainted with the Taiji Sword Immortal?”

“Hahaha, we merely discussed martial arts a few times in our younger days.”

After answering up to that point with Hyegwang Sim-eon, Hyun-gwang suddenly spoke up.

“And there’s no need to use telepathy, Mu-jin. If it’s that old Taoist, he could easily eavesdrop on our telepathic conversation.”

“Ahem.”

The Yunheo Zhenren, who had indeed been eavesdropping on Mu-jin’s telepathic conversation, gave an awkward cough.

But even in that moment, he was thinking something else in his mind.

‘The young monk’s voice was heard, but not Hyun-gwang’s.’

A method he couldn’t hear.

‘There’s no doubt he used Hyegwang Sim-eon.’

If he used Hyegwang Sim-eon to that extent, it was highly likely that the rumors about Hyun-gwang recovering his martial arts were true.

After that, the four of them walked along the mountain path of Songshan in awkward silence.

“This place seems suitable.”

Before long, they arrived at a suitably spacious mountain mid-slope.

After exchanging a single blow, Hyun-gwang and Yunheo Zhenren conversed with peculiar expressions.

“Today, we can finally settle the promised duel.”

“Hahaha. Isn’t it strange to talk about a duel now after losing five times already? Old Taoist.”

“The one who wins in the end is the true victor.”

Saying so, Yunheo Zhenren, with veins bulging on his forehead, resumed his stance.

Yunheo Zhenren, known as one of the Three Swords of the World, had not made a name for himself in his youth.

To be precise, he had always been the eternal second.

From his childhood, Yunheo Zhenren was called a prodigy born of Wudang, but soon after, Hyun-gwang, three years younger than him, began to make a name for himself.

Naturally, the two prodigies had to clash eventually.

And during their youth, Hyun-gwang’s nickname was ‘The Greatest Prodigy in the World,’ so every time, it was Yunheo Zhenren who ended up defeated.

Starting from their youth, over the span of ten years, Yunheo Zhenren was defeated by Hyun-gwang five times. After the last duel, he made a promise.

“I acknowledge that you are superior now. But Wudang’s martial arts are not weak. I will refine my skills for ten years and then challenge you again!”

Hyun-gwang had accepted Yunheo Zhenren’s outcry with his characteristic compassionate smile.

But before the promised ten years had passed,

News arrived for Yunheo Zhenren, who was secluded and training endlessly on Wudang Mountain.

It was the news that Hyun-gwang had become a cripple.

Hearing that the man who had been his most formidable rival and the wall he could not surpass for over a decade had fallen, Yunheo Zhenren felt emptiness rather than joy.

“The world is indeed futile.”

On the day he realized that no matter how hard humans tried and became strong, they couldn’t resist the flow of the world,

Yunheo Zhenren comprehended the true meaning of the Taiji Sword Technique, which he had been practicing only with his five senses.

And when he emerged from his ten-year seclusion, as promised to Hyun-gwang,

He was just past forty, and the world bestowed upon him the title of one of the Ten Great Masters of the World.

Nearly thirty years had passed since that day. Now, he was known as one of the Three Swords of the World.

“I will show you what I have gained in my later years. Try blocking this as well.”

Yunheo Zhenren threw the Songmun Antique Sword, which he had been holding, into the air.

Whish.

The Songmun Antique Sword, which had soared into the air, suddenly stopped and flew towards Hyun-gwang.

The Qi Control Sword Technique.

It was a miraculous skill that seemed to come out of ancient tales.

The Songmun Antique Sword, flying through the air at an incredible speed, reached right in front of Hyun-gwang.

But Hyun-gwang had already formed a barrier, and soon, the Songmun Antique Sword collided with the barrier, creating a loud explosion.

A Sword Force had been overlaid on the sword tip of the Songmun Antique Sword, which was floating in the air through the Qi Control Sword Technique.

Even after that, the Songmun Antique Sword glided smoothly through the air, drawing circles as if Yunheo Zhenren himself was wielding it.

It was the Taiji Sword Technique performed with the Qi Control Sword Technique.

However, Hyun-gwang calmly blocked it with his barrier or struck it down with natural energy-enhanced Striking Bone Technique.

Focusing on the spar to not miss a single move, Mu-jin saw Yunheo Zhenren’s figure.

‘He has reached the level of Hand-Controlled Sword.’

The realm of using one’s hands to perform the Qi Control Sword Technique.

Yunheo Zhenren was raising his left index and middle fingers as if they were a sword, moving them here and there to perform the Taiji Sword Technique.

Matching his finger movements, the Songmun Antique Sword danced towards Hyun-gwang.

But as Hyun-gwang blocked all the sword techniques, perhaps feeling frustrated,

“Ha!”

Yunheo Zhenren suddenly let out a shout and extended his right hand. His right hand reached out to the young Taoist standing beside him, and the young Taoist’s sword flew straight into Yunheo Zhenren’s hand.

Surprisingly, Yunheo Zhenren, while performing the Qi Control Sword Technique with his left hand,

“Ha!”

At the same time, swung the sword in his right hand, scattering sword energy and Sword Force.

“Hahaha. It seems you’ve mastered the Liangyi Divine Technique as well.”

It was Wudang’s secret technique, which allowed one to divide their mind in two.

Watching Yunheo Zhenren and Hyun-gwang’s duel, with Yunheo Zhenren using the Liangyi Divine Technique, Mu-jin thought,

‘What is this... a battle of monsters?’