Chapter 198: Red Flag, White Flag (2)

Chapter 198: Red Flag, White Flag (2)

Myung Won once again glanced over the list of questions.

Some of them were understandable. Questions that could somewhat reveal the intentions of the Sword Emperor.

However, many more questions were absurd.

If they intended to judge qualifications based on this, there would be few who could accept it.

“It’s not important whether you accept it or not,” the Sword Emperor stated firmly.

“...Then?”

“You speak incomprehensibly, Sect Leader.”

The eyes of the Sword Emperor shone with a cold rationality.

Right now, he was indeed in his right mind.

“It’s about transmitting Founder Zhang’s divine art. It’s about determining the qualifications for that, who dares to argue about the process?”

“...”

“Such a lax person is not light enough to be worthy of transmission. If someone expresses dissatisfaction, let the Sect Leader himself expel them.”

Indeed.

The transmission of the divine art was such a matter, and the decision-making in a great sect was inherently like that.

It was a decision made by the esteemed elder of the sect, who was also the top master of Wudang and highly respected, the Sword Emperor.

Even if one dared to have complaints, there would be no one without the circumstances to express them.

However, despite the Sword Emperor’s explanation, Myung Won still had an unconvinced expression.

There was still something suspicious.

“However... does this have anything to do with learning the martial arts of Founder Zhang Sanfeng?”

“I think it does.”

“Please teach this ignorant disciple, Senior Uncle.”

The Sword Emperor had so far refrained from giving detailed explanations.

But even so, as Sect Leader Myung Won continued to humble himself, the Sword Emperor could not remain silent any longer.

“Founder Zhang’s divine art is not something anyone can learn; it’s not a matter of talent or sincerity in swordsmanship.”

“The Senior Uncle means...”

“I had acquired that divine art up to a point and then was blocked by a wall.”

A wall.

A wall that even the Sword Emperor, a master of the Absolute realm and a genius in swordsmanship, could not overcome.

It seemed unlikely that among the 500 applicants, there was anyone better than the Sword Emperor.

“I pondered the reason and concluded that I had climbed a different mountain than Founder Zhang.”

Climbing a different mountain.

He understood what that metaphor meant.

Martial artists each found their own mountain to climb.

Only after climbing could one know how high the peak of the mountain was.

Most martial artists faced their own peaks at not so high places.

Only there can they finally look around.

From their position, there were countless peaks whose heights they could not fathom.

The mountain the Sword Emperor climbed was probably one of the highest in the Central Plains.

“All my life I admired Founder Zhang and wanted to emulate his swordsmanship, but... the path I walked was too far apart.”

It was no secret that the Sword Emperor had always been an ardent follower of Founder Zhang Sanfeng.

“A martial artist who has not yet reached the summit of the mountain is needed.”

“What is the relation between that and these questions...”

“And, only those who resemble Founder Zhang Sanfeng can learn his divine art.”

Finally, Myung Won felt like all the pieces of the puzzle were fitting together.

What the Sword Emperor was looking for was ‘someone like Founder Zhang Sanfeng.’

“So...”

“I understand these questions may seem absurd. Trust me, Sect Leader. It is not my intention to play meaningless pranks.”

Myung Won eventually nodded.

No one was more eager than the Sword Emperor himself to properly transmit Founder Zhang Sanfeng’s supreme teachings.

“I will do so.”

Myung Won stood up first, holding the questionnaire.

The Sword Emperor remained seated, saying he would leave a bit later.

Alone in the conference room, he finally let out a long sigh.

“Hoo...”

His expression showed his depleted energy.

The Sword Emperor had not told the sect leader everything.

“A different mountain...”

He smiled wryly. To the sect leader, he had said his swordsmanship was too different from Founder Zhang Sanfeng’s to learn the divine art, mentioning that the mountain he climbed was too far from the one Founder Zhang had climbed.

But that explanation was somewhat inadequate.

It was the Six-Harmony Transmitted Voice used by Namgung Yu-baek at the inauguration of the Seven Stars Conference and the Dragon-Phoenix Conference.

Beside Myung Won were the Sword Emperor and the elders, all seated.

The 500 people all looked up at the Sect Leader with tense faces.

“The method is simple. Just choose between the red flag or the white flag based on the given question and stand under it.”

There were no unnecessary ceremonies.

“It’s not about right or wrong; just make an honest choice. You only get one chance...”

And the first question.

“There are elements of strength and softness in martial arts philosophy. Those who aspire to ‘softness controls strength’ stand under the red flag, those who believe ‘strength breaks softness’ under the white flag.”

‘Softness controls strength’ means softness overpowers strength, and ‘Strength breaks softness’ means strength cuts through softness.

There was no right answer in martial arts philosophy.

To what was a fairly simple question, the 500 participants divided this way and that.

Myung Won himself rang the bell indicating time limits.

When the bell rings three times, the time to move also ends.

「What does the young priest think is the correct answer?」

‘Is there such a thing as a correct answer...’

Yi-gang headed towards the area on the left where the red flag was planted.

‘I prefer that side.’

Being born not naturally strong, Yi-gang pursued ‘softness’ over ‘strength.’

「Haha, I feel the same.」

Zhang Sanfeng seemed pleased with Yi-gang’s choice.

Most of Wudang’s disciples gathered under the red flag.

Only about thirty people gathered under the white flag on the right.

“Those under the white flag, you are eliminated. Those eliminated, move out of the area.”

Among those who had gathered under the white flag, there was someone close to Yi-gang.

“No waaay!”

Peng Gu-in, absurdly eliminated, clutched his shaved head and wailed.

If his hair hadn’t been burnt off due to White Monkey Demonic Hand, it looked like he would have been tearing it out.

“Tsk tsk.”

Yi-gang clicked his tongue.

Even if Peng Clan’s martial arts aimed for dominance and strength, what was it that straightforwardly directed them towards the white flag?

The 470 or so qualifiers gathered around Yi-gang smiled warmly.

But the test had just begun.

“The meaning of Taiji originates from the union of Yin and Yang. It gives rise to the Two Extremes, the Four Symbols, and the Eight Trigrams...”

The content and difficulty of the questions fluctuated wildly.

Those who had neglected their studies of the classics turned pale.

As the complicated discussion unfolded, a question was posed.

“...Thus, if the essence of Taiji is seen as the vital energy of Yin-Yang harmony, stand under the red flag; if it is seen as the opposition of Yin and Yang, stand under the white flag.”

Ding—

The first bell indicating the time limit rang, and everyone panicked.

This time, no clear majority emerged. Nearly equal numbers split to each side.

Yi-gang remained calm and still.

Zhang Sanfeng looked intently at such a Yi-gang.

「Haha, do you get the feel of it?」

Among the Taoist sects, respected even more than Kunlun, was the Azure Forest.

Among them, the one known for the quantity and quality of its stored scriptures was the Grand Library.

Yi-gang was a disciple of the Grand Library Master and a third-flower honor flower disciple.

Ding—

After the second bell rang, Yi-gang gave Zhang Sanfeng a slight smile.

Zhang Sanfeng also looked pleased.

「Haha, indeed, the young priest knows...」

‘What is the answer?’

For Yi-gang, it was a question whose answer he couldn’t guess.

Zhang Sanfeng hesitated for a moment, then said awkwardly, 「Go to the white flag...」

Ding!

“Stop—!”

At the same time as the third bell, the assisting masters stopped any late movements.

“Those gathered under the red flag are eliminated!”

Yi-gang sighed with relief under the white flag.