Genius Martial Arts Trainer

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.”

“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.

Hyun-gwang, who had been walking ahead, turned around with his hands behind his back and looked at Yunheo Zhenren.

“Shall we begin?”

At Hyun-gwang’s question, Yunheo Zhenren pondered briefly before opening his mouth.

“Before that, I’d like to hear your answer. Have you truly recovered?”

“I won’t be lacking in facing the old Taoist. Hahaha.”

As if making up his mind at Hyun-gwang’s reply, Yunheo Zhenren drew out the Songmun Antique Sword and spoke to the young man beside him.

“It could be dangerous, so step back a little and watch.”

“Yes, great master.”

Hyun-gwang also glanced at Mu-jin, who was beside him, and Mu-jin tactfully stepped back.

Perhaps because the stage was all set.

“Let’s begin.”

As soon as Yunheo Zhenren spoke, he swung his sword.

No, he must have swung it.

For Mu-jin’s eyes couldn’t properly follow Yunheo Zhenren’s movement.

At some point, Yunheo Zhenren’s Songmun Antique Sword had traced from right to left.

The sword energy, leaving a faint trajectory in the air, burst forth right in front of Hyun-gwang.

And similarly, at some point, a barrier formed of natural energy had manifested in front of Hyun-gwang.

“Huh.”

Yunheo Zhenren let out a short laugh, surprised at the barrier that had formed without even sensing the energy gathering for it.

“Then, try blocking this one as well.”

With that shout, Yunheo Zhenren’s sword began to draw countless circles in the air.

Countless sword energies poured out from the circles his sword had drawn in the air, only to be blocked by Hyun-gwang’s barrier and dissipate without exception.

Boom!!!

However, among the sword energies that burst forth without any trouble, there were some that created particularly loud explosions.

‘Sword Force!’

It was only then that Mu-jin realized those were not mere sword energies but Sword Force.

‘To shoot out so many sword energies and mix in Sword Force intermittently.’

The past duel between Hye-gwan and Paedobangju naturally came to Mu-jin’s mind.

Both Hye-gwan and Paedobangju had reached the level where they could create Strong Force but did not use it recklessly.

This was because there would inevitably be a gap created while generating Strong Force.

But Yunheo Zhenren, not only did he create Sword Force as if pulling out sword energies, but he also mixed them to enhance the effect.

Indeed, the Sword Force was such a powerful attack that even a barrier formed from natural energy had difficulty blocking it. Hyun-gwang, letting out a hollow laugh, moved his feet for the first time.

“Hahaha.”

Avoiding the sword energies and Sword Force sent by Yunheo Zhenren, Hyun-gwang assumed the most basic stance of the Shaolin martial arts, the fundamental straight punch posture.

At the same time, massive natural energy was drawn into Hyun-gwang’s fist.

From the point of Hyun-gwang’s fist, which was thrust so quickly that Mu-jin’s eyes couldn’t follow, a vast amount of energy burst forth.

It was not Strong Force.

Calling it Fist Energy would be laughable.

If one had to describe it, it was a tidal wave of energy.

A flood of energy surged forward, seeming to engulf Yunheo Zhenren.

Despite the overwhelming scene, Yunheo Zhenren’s eyes remained calm.

Just as before, Yunheo Zhenren began drawing countless circles in the air with his Songmun Antique Sword.

And at the moment when the vast tidal wave of energy touched Yunheo Zhenren’s seemingly tiny Songmun Antique Sword,

“!!!”

There was neither a massive explosion nor any explosive noise.

The Songmun Antique Sword did not block the path of the tidal wave. Instead, it guided the wave by drawing countless circles, directing it forward.

Swish.

Under Yunheo Zhenren’s guidance, the tidal wave of energy twisted and turned, colliding and neutralizing itself, disappearing completely.

“Hahaha. It seems your skills have greatly improved since I last saw you, old Taoist.”

“You too, bald monk. I heard you had recovered, but it seems you’ve even surpassed your previous limits.”

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?’