Chapter 815 – Side Story – Finisher

An iron sword stuck in the ruins.

Just one.

Whether by its own will or not, the Winter Dream had upheld the meaning of Sword Disarming Pool.

From now on, common people would continue to pray for blessings on Mount Wudang without spears or blades. Just as Taoist High Sword valued Taoist Mount Wudang more than jianghu’s Wudang Sect.

‘That’s good enough.’

Jeong Yeon-shin glanced at the rusted hilt.

Then he raised his gaze.

He saw Yong Hye-myeong snoring while standing. His eyes were even closed. It meant he’d exchanged swords in his sleep.

Rumble.

Formless energy flowed from his middle dantian, supporting his body. Surprising if surprising, astonishing if astonishing.

Even after being so overworked by the Winter Dream, he was clean as if he’d just had a brief sleep talking.

“He’s not even Elder Golden Thunder…”

When Jeong Yeon-shin muttered, there was a presence nearby.

Seven people. Hyeon Won-chang, Lazy Flame Dragon, Immortal Profound Void, Wudang’s Sect Leader Jade Cliff, Jeok Yu-ha, Helian Feng-yue, Hwangbo Geon-ryun… all had arrived when Jeong Yeon-shin was exchanging swords with Yong Hye-myeong.

After watching from afar, this was now.

Each expression was different because they’d witnessed many things at once. The scene the Winter Dream showed, Yong Hye-myeong’s body, Jeong Yeon-shin’s footwork, and so on.

Jeong Yeon-shin asked Taoist Jade Cliff,

“Did Wudang open the way until Wan Hui reached the gate?”

“How could that be?”

Taoist Jade Cliff shook his head and continued.

“That fellow leaped over the Seven Location Cloud Heaven Formation of one hundred main sect disciples, and even passed through the Supreme Harmony Seven Honor Stars’ Seven Star Sword Formation. Climbing the mountain like a purposeless mirage, we couldn’t stop him at all… If he’d charged at us instead, we would have struck him down.”

Plain talk.

Wudang could naturally speak easily of the Unorthodox Finest Sword’s death, and because he was the Unorthodox Finest Sword, he climbed Mount Wudang without permission.

Jeong Yeon-shin’s lips rose faintly.

He spoke calmly.

“Would a sword strike an absolute master determined to flee? Then you didn’t know Wan Hui was heading for the gate.”

“Primordial Beginning, Peaceful Truth… we didn’t know he intended to flee to a place where we could never catch him.”

Taoist Jade Cliff’s answer was peaceful. There was no resentful look at all. The face of someone who realized that if even one more gate had remained, Jeong Yeon-shin might have failed at tree felling.

Befitting Wudang’s Sect Leader. He understood many things.

‘It must have been so six years ago already.’

Jeong Yeon-shin thought.

Wudang’s study was said to be the martial arts of Heaven’s Way—literally, the study of pursuing the one unobstructed path with sword extremes. Before it, complex principles and worries, as well as fiercely approaching strikes, were bound to dissolve like water.

Was that why?

Right now, when Jeong Yeon-shin glanced at Immortal Profound Void, who’d already stood before the Winter Dream, Immortal Profound Void was moving his lips softly.

“High Sword Hyeon-ryeo, among our senior and junior brothers, weren’t you the only one who didn’t achieve rejuvenation? Only today did I learn the reason.”

What wrinkled in the old Taoist’s eyes was finally not anger. In this moment, in Immortal Profound Void’s pupils, along with the Winter Dream stuck in the ground, Taoist High Sword’s hand that had gripped its hilt passed by.

“Because you are someone who can even grip this wicked thing…”

Gripping the Winter Dream meant he could freely obtain even forgiveness and peace. Because he was such an immortal, he was a Taoist. Jeong Yeon-shin felt that Immortal Profound Void had also reached the same realm as his disciple.

Crunch.

Damp dirt ground was stepped on.

It was beside Jeong Yeon-shin. A soft touch almost grazed his shoulder, because Jeok Yu-ha right next to him had moved her lips slightly.

“Fortunate the old punk didn’t grip the blind man’s sword.”

“Yu-ha.”

“I lost my senses… my Greater Circulation study reaching the Baihui point was shallow.”

“It’s enough that you learned. When the body is bad, the head suffers.”

Jeok Yu-ha didn’t answer. At the same time, Jeong Yeon-shin, feeling somewhat awkward, began climbing the mountain together with Taoist Jade Cliff.

“Primordial Beginning, Peaceful Truth, I understand Desolate Fortress’s concerns. It would be difficult to completely entrust the Winter Dream, which escaped once, to the main sect.”

“Sect Leader Taoist’s words are correct.”

“…But since the Winter Dream’s whereabouts are a major matter, the main sect still has something to say. Let’s have at least a cup of tea at the Three Purity Temple.”

Step.

Those who’d been at Sword Disarming Pool followed with their respective strides.

Meanwhile, he felt the presence of Lazy Flame Dragon and his son from behind. Along with a very awkward atmosphere. Jeong Yeon-shin deliberately didn’t look back. Because it seemed he could torment Lazy Flame Dragon in the most effective way.

“…Is your mother well?”

Though he almost turned to look at the Hwangbo fellow for calling his own wife in the first sentence, Hwangbo Geon-ryun was surprisingly dignified.

“Yes. The Great Palace Lord is safe and doesn’t associate with old concubines. Even now, I think she’d be more powerful than Father.”

“Mm…”

“Yes.”

“You seem a bit bigger. Thanks to Jeong Family Dynamic Technique?”

“Originally, children at this age change day by day. Of course, Jeong Family Dynamic Technique doesn’t particularly increase height, but it’s a divine art that caresses this one’s frame and standing like a sturdy father…”

“It sounds like you’re better at martial arts than this father.”

“…….”

“What’s that protective energy? Terrifying.”

“Crucible.”

“…To abbreviate the secrets of Brilliant River that sharply—our fortress lord should reflect too. Your cleverness resembles your mother.”

“Are you insulting my teacher?”

“Hm?”

“You must read the book this one wrote. You’ll be able to see the loftiness of the World’s Northern Emperor that even Father didn’t know. The title is Martial Arts Records…”

Jeong Yeon-shin, who’d been listening contentedly, immediately disappeared with retreating footwork, then reappeared while patting Hwangbo Geon-ryun’s small head.

“Your father also did his best. I already heard the reason he tried to take the Winter Dream—it was to see both your mother and you more often.”

“Really…?”

“It was commendable that you came with short steps to see your father’s succession ceremony. Sit on my lap during the ceremony. You’ll be able to see your father kneeling at the fortress lord’s seat right before your eyes.”

Hwangbo Geon-ryun’s face was greatly moved. Of course, Lazy Flame Dragon asked back with dubious eyes.

“What are you hiding?”

“…Brats with good upper dantians die young.”

They walked the steep mountain path chatting like spring wind. Until Wudang Sect’s Taoist temples revealed their heads beyond the ridges.

—

Hwangbo Geon-ryun’s head kept nodding repeatedly. The inner chamber where Wudang’s Sect Leader conducted business. Fragrant smoke rose from many teacups. Adults’ tea and snack tables were what pushed children into dreams.

“I’ll put him to sleep.”

Lazy Flame Dragon carried the child out.

Jeong Yeon-shin found it strangely unfamiliar to face Taoist Jade Cliff through white smoke.

Until the day before Jeong Family Manor’s annihilation, he too could have fallen asleep to tea fragrance. The tea water brewed by the Administrator was vivid.

‘But.’

Now to Jeong Yeon-shin, tea water was the flower water of spring blossoms that Sword Saint Hyeon So-baek mentioned, and also the firewood of life that Monk Beom-heo spoke of. The common people’s lives that could be kindled anytime if one mustered courage. What the Desolate Fortress Lord should properly protect…

Suddenly, a clear voice broke his thoughts.

“What should be done about the Winter Dream’s whereabouts?”

It was Wudang’s Peak Leader Ju Se-hwa.

Just as Jeong Yeon-shin and Hyeon Won-chang were attending, Taoist Jade Cliff had invited her as well.

As prestigious great sects with deep history did, he said it was to broaden disciples’ knowledge and promote friendship.

—The pretext is plausible, but it seems the Peak Leader is Wudang’s Yi Chun-gap. She seems to manage all major and minor matters.

It was Hyeon Won-chang’s mental transmission. Jeong Yeon-shin responded casually.

—You’re saying she’s not Grand Administrator Lim. If she’s about Failed Scholar, she should be manageable with Hyeon Won hyung’s eloquence.

—Now that you mention it, do you really think he’ll pass? I heard when he left the fortress, he declared very sternly.

—Literary Star? What did he say?

—This year is different…

Jeong Yeon-shin felt deep skepticism.

Suddenly Peak Leader Ju Se-hwa politely tapped the tea table.

“I know the main sect disappointed you. However, the Winter Dream is a dharma treasure the main sect recovered, and above all, it’s a sword made into ‘Wudang High Sword’s’ memorial stone. Please understand this…”

Then Hyeon Won-chang abruptly interrupted.

“Is Taoist High Sword the only one who died to Heavenly Soaring Guest’s sword?”

“Blood Guardian Leader, your words are excessive.”

“I have absolutely no intention of disgracing the deceased, but in any case, Taoist High Sword would likely speak as I do.”

Ju Se-hwa couldn’t deny anything. Only Wudang Cultivation Technique’s characteristically long breathing mixed into the teacup’s smoke. Proof that her heart was also fair and upright like any Wudang Taoist.

Hyeon Won-chang tenaciously pursued.

“Why must the Winter Dream remain as Taoist High Sword’s memorial stone? Would you say the same to common people who lost family to the Winter Dream? If that’s possible, it means their skin is tougher than Shaolin senior monks who learned Iron Cloth Shirt. At least their faces… If that’s the case, I’d have no choice but to concede.”

…….

While the gathering proceeded.

Jeong Yeon-shin realized what a true Finisher was. Someone surrounded by people who could be used like divine swords in the right places. Someone who didn’t need to work himself.

That was himself.

Difficult tasks lined up for those who falsely claimed to be Finishers.

In the near future, a jiangshi was permitted to climb Mount Wudang, and like Namgung Hwa-shin, tremendous military power was to temporarily station at Sword Disarming Pool, and of course, it was decided he wouldn’t be interfered with however he wielded the Winter Dream.

Taoist Jade Cliff nodded with a face like he’d ascended to immortality.

“Heavenly Soaring Guest’s demonic sword won’t let Obeying Heaven Wing Leader sleep. Moreover, if he has the qualities to covet purple robes at a young age, he might be able to hold that state like enlightenment. Like Great Hero Yong or Hwangbo Je-yul, who maintain Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown despite having unimaginable energy accumulation.”

Wudang’s Sect Leader had seen through everything.

Hyeon Won-chang’s coughing continued.

“I just want those who died to all vent their grudges thoroughly…”

“Primordial Beginning, Peaceful Truth.”

Taoist Jade Cliff continued with a smile.

“This would have been difficult to permit before the Winter Dream Blood Incident… but thank you for pointing out Wudang’s stubbornness. After everything is settled, the main sect will invite Zhuge Family and seal it deep within Sword Disarming Pool.”

Jeong Yeon-shin quietly asked back.

“The Winter Dream, you mean?”

“Yes.”

“It’s fine to break it.”

“That cannot be done. Didn’t we confirm Desolate Divine Hero’s spirit today? It was a pleasant conversation after a long time.”

Taoist Jade Cliff gave his gaze to Hyeon Won-chang. Eyes representing Mount Wudang. They were clear like Taoist High Sword in life.

“When your non-action someday reaches the same level as that eloquence, stop by Sword Disarming Pool and pull it out.”

The tea fragrance had become refreshing.

Hyeon Won-chang slowly nodded.

—

[To the Desolate Fortress Lord – To be opened personally, From Eunuch Ming Yu

—From distant foreign island nation’s jianghu, envoys holding a sacred sword dharma treasure entered the palace. His Majesty declared them ‘those who wield providence.’

—Those who came together claim they are the origin of Wish for Peace Sword Hall. Demand to find Ming Cult Leader Yelu Zhen.

—Great desert jianghu people from the Silk Road direction actively supporting. Among Northern Kings, ‘Great King Vajra’ says they learned cold sand’s studies, a realm where thunder is ineffective.

—Calmed by failed Yi Chun-gap’s response to this civil examination, but His Majesty’s Thunder and Lightning Energy Technique is useless against cold sand study, a situation where blades are at close range.]

“The world, really.”

Jeong Yeon-shin burned the letter.

And walking quickly so the burnt smell and tea fragrance wouldn’t disappear from his mind, he was already in Beijing. He immediately set foot on the walls lined with golden roofs.