The Trials of the Master and Disciple

“There’s no other choice for now. Let’s make the most of what we can gain.”

With a resolute heart, Hyun-gong hoisted Youngbo Jin-in onto his back and headed deep into the bamboo forest of Mount Wudang.

Youngbo Jin-in inquired, “Why have you brought me here instead of training in front of Hyuncheon Hall?”

“I believe training is best done quietly, away from prying eyes.”

Many martial artists prefer to train in secret, concealing their achievements and the weaknesses of their martial arts. But Hyun-gong’s reasons were slightly different. He simply didn’t want others to see him carrying Youngbo Jin-in on his back during training.

“My master has lived a long life, but I have many years ahead of me. I can’t let others see me like this.”

Hyun-gong felt it was necessary for the sake of the Wudang Sect as well. How could any disciple truly respect a sect leader who displayed such a spectacle? A sect leader should be someone who commands respect effortlessly.

“Let’s begin.”

Hyun-gong started his training with Youngbo Jin-in on his back. It was an awkward sight, moving his legs this way and that with someone on his back.

“This way, this way! Stretch your left foot towards the Kan trigram.”

“Ah, yes.”

Despite the awkwardness, there weren’t as many missteps as one might expect. Out of ten steps, eight or nine were in sync with Youngbo Jin-in, with only a step or two out of alignment. This was possible because they practiced the same martial arts and shared a master-disciple relationship.

“To start off this well is impressive, but…”

Of course, neither Youngbo Jin-in nor Hyun-gong intended to settle for just this.

“Don’t be satisfied with merely matching my steps. You must understand the techniques I’m about to execute and make them your own.”

“Understood.”

As Hyun-gong continued to leap around with Youngbo Jin-in on his back, he occasionally found himself in a peculiar state of mind. Moments when he could clearly perceive Youngbo Jin-in’s intentions without any explanation or instruction.

Moments when he could vividly foresee the next move Youngbo Jin-in would make, and how the imaginary battle would unfold.

In those moments, Hyun-gong’s legs would reach their destination faster than his mind could process. And those steps never deviated from Youngbo Jin-in’s true intentions.

“Excellent!”

It felt as if they were not a master and disciple, but a single entity with a complete body. It wasn’t just about reading each other’s minds and executing footwork; it felt as if Hyun-gong had become Youngbo Jin-in himself, wielding a sword.

Hyun-gong wasn’t the only one executing the footwork. In a way, Youngbo Jin-in was also wielding the sword on Hyun-gong’s behalf.

Hyun-gong was absorbing Youngbo Jin-in’s insights and achievements. It felt as if enlightenment and mastery were approaching with giant strides. How could one describe this exhilarating feeling?

“Being a porter isn’t so bad after all…”

Hyun-gong wasn’t the only one excited. Youngbo Jin-in was enjoying the training like a child.

“Haha! Run!”

Others thought Youngbo Jin-in was a man without desires, but they were mistaken. How could he not have regrets about a life where he couldn’t fully express his overwhelming talent?

Feeling the wind on his face as he wielded a sword. It was a sensation he had longed for all his life, something others might take for granted.

After training until they were nearly exhausted, Youngbo Jin-in and Hyun-gong leaned against the bamboo, panting heavily.

Once their breathing calmed a bit, Youngbo Jin-in spoke.

“I wonder if I’ve been wrong all along.”

“What do you mean, Master?”

“As I mentioned, I’ve been able to execute footwork and techniques in my mind for the past ten years. Instead of delving into the harmony of sword and footwork in my imagination, perhaps I should have had you carry me from the start.”

It was a dizzying thought. If they had started this ten years ago, they might have achieved even greater mastery by now. But if the sect leader and his disciple had displayed such antics for a decade, the Wudang Sect’s reputation would have plummeted.

Hyun-gong would have been known not as the esteemed Jeong-eon or Seung-ryong Sword, but as the Wudang Mountain Porter.

“Master, please respect your disciple’s life choices.”

Youngbo Jin-in chuckled softly. Whether he was serious or not, Hyun-gong couldn’t tell.

One day, as the two were busy training and aligning their intentions, numerous martial artists appeared on Mount Wudang.

Among them were righteous sect warriors like Namgung Jin-cheon, Namgung Myung, and Manryeok Seung, as well as some from the demonic sect, including Sam-an Bul and members of the Tang family.

Sam-an Bul, eager to eliminate the cult leader as soon as possible, joined forces with the righteous martial artists instead of defending the Tang family.

While the weary warriors scattered across the Wudang Sect grounds to rest, the more accomplished ones sought out Hyuncheon Hall.

Among the righteous sect warriors who visited Hyuncheon Hall, Namgung Jin-cheon approached Hyun-gong and Youngbo Jin-in to explain the situation.

“Before coming to Mount Wudang, we launched a surprise attack on the Huashan Sect. We managed to rescue some of their members.”

“Did you confirm the cult leader’s presence?”

When Youngbo Jin-in asked, Namgung Jin-cheon shook his head.

“We struck while the leader was away.”

“I see. A wise decision, though unfortunate. Greed can ruin everything.”

As Youngbo Jin-in and Namgung Jin-cheon conversed, Namgung Myung approached Hyun-gong.

“What happened to your arm?”

“It’s a long story.”

While Hyun-gong and Namgung Myung whispered to each other, Youngbo Jin-in spoke to Namgung Jin-cheon.

“Namgung Jin-cheon, I know the situation is urgent, but may I request a spar?”

At Youngbo Jin-in’s words, the surrounding martial artists fell silent. Youngbo Jin-in rarely refused a sparring request from those who visited Mount Wudang. However, as far as anyone knew, this was the first time Youngbo Jin-in had requested a spar himself.

Hyun-gong, of course, had no desire for this spar, but he was merely the legs, without a voice.

Namgung Jin-cheon readily accepted the proposal.

“Of course. I’ll face you with all my strength.”

“It won’t be a one-on-one duel.”

“Then what?”

“It will be me and Hyun-gong, two against one.”

Namgung Jin-cheon’s eyes gleamed with interest. How would Hyun-gong, who wielded a defensive sword, and Youngbo Jin-in, who couldn’t move, combine their strengths? Especially when Hyun-gong’s arm was visibly not in good condition.

“In that case, I’ll team up with Myung. A duel between master and disciple, father and son. It should be an interesting match.”

Those listening believed Namgung Jin-cheon and Namgung Myung had the upper hand. While the title of “Three Treasures Supreme” was well-known, Namgung Jin-cheon seemed more suited for combined attacks.

But Youngbo Jin-in wasn’t finished.

“No, that’s not what I meant.”

“Do you want me to team up with someone else?”

“I propose adding more people. Manryeok Seung and Sam-an Bul as well.”

“Then we’ll take Manryeok Seung.”

“No, Manryeok Seung and Sam-an Bul will both be on your side. Hyun-gong and I will face all four of you.”

Manryeok Seung chuckled incredulously.

“I know Youngbo Jin-in’s achievements are high, but this is absurd.”

However, Namgung Jin-cheon and Sam-an Bul reacted differently.

Namgung Jin-cheon gazed at Youngbo Jin-in for a long time before speaking softly.

“Youngbo Jin-in, it seems you’ve reached the next level.”

Youngbo Jin-in smiled lightly, a smile filled with many meanings.

Sam-an Bul burst into laughter.

“Haha, excellent! The renowned Youngbo Jin-in from the demonic sect has achieved new mastery? This is a great opportunity. It will surely help when we face the cult leader. But don’t expect us to go easy on you.”

There was no need to waste time on formalities.

Manryeok Seung seemed uneasy about facing two injured individuals with four people, but the other three didn’t hesitate to take their stances.

Namgung Jin-cheon, Namgung Myung, Sam-an Bul, and Manryeok Seung all focused their gaze on Hyun-gong.

Breaking through the defense of Youngbo Jin-in, who had reached the next level, wouldn’t be easy, so they planned to subdue Hyun-gong first.

Youngbo Jin-in drew his Songmun Gogeom and set the scabbard aside. The others waited for Hyun-gong to draw his sword as well. But Hyun-gong didn’t have a sword.

Instead, he carried a backpack.

“What on earth is this?”

Hyun-gong couldn’t bring himself to answer Manryeok Seung’s question and lowered his gaze. His ears were burning red.

But Youngbo Jin-in, securing himself tightly with leather straps, replied.

“This is how we’ll fight. With the former and current leaders of the Wudang Sect joining forces, you’d better be prepared.”

Whether it was a joke or a taunt was unclear, but Youngbo Jin-in’s face was full of confidence.

“Let’s begin.”

“Fighting from someone’s back? This is too much.”

Manryeok Seung said as he stepped forward, intending to subdue Hyun-gong, who couldn’t move freely, and send a warning to Youngbo Jin-in. He executed the Hapbanjang, one of the Seventy-two Arts of Shaolin, aiming at Hyun-gong’s lower body.

Manryeok Seung expected Hyun-gong to retreat, but instead, Hyun-gong stepped forward. At the same time, Youngbo Jin-in extended his arm under Hyun-gong’s armpit and unfolded the Taiji Sword.

”···!”

In a situation where hesitation could lead to a severe injury, Manryeokseung quickly retreated, pushing off the ground. Yet, Hyeongong was relentless, pursuing him with determination.

Despite the lingering embarrassment that left his ears and face flushed, Hyeongong moved without hesitation.

With each step Hyeongong took, Yeongbojin-in’s sword swung as if it were an extension of his own body.

In an instant, several thin lines of blood appeared on Manryeokseung’s forearm. The brief chase between the Wudang disciple and Manryeokseung only halted when Namgung Jinchun and Sam Anbul intervened to defend against Yeongbojin-in’s sword.

Manryeokseung exhaled deeply, speaking with a mix of awe and disbelief.

“It’s strange, but… beyond what I imagined.”

“The situation demands we fight like this,” Yeongbojin-in replied calmly, as Hyeongong stepped forward once more, matching his movements to Yeongbojin-in’s swordplay.

It was a ridiculous sight.

Yet, both Manryeokseung and the others, including Namgung Jinchun and Namgung Myeong, found the situation daunting. They realized too late what it meant for Yeongbojin-in’s skills to be enhanced by Hyeongong’s footwork.

The Three-Step Supreme, who could subdue anyone within three steps, was now unbound by that limitation with Hyeongong’s aid. It was as if the Three-Step Supreme had become simply supreme.

What sounded like a joke was becoming reality.

’…How do we counter this?’

The three-step space, impenetrable by any means, was now moving at full speed.

Yeongbojin-in’s prowess was less martial arts and more akin to a natural disaster or phenomenon, leaving even four top masters struggling to find a way to counter it.

The most bewildered of all was Namgung Jinchun.

‘What is Myeong up to?’

The bizarre collaboration between Yeongbojin-in and Hyeongong—if it could even be called a collaboration—was perplexing.

But what truly unsettled Namgung Jinchun was Namgung Myeong’s occasional attempts to stealthily target Yeongbojin-in from behind.

It was suspicious. It wasn’t the martial arts of the Namgung family, nor did it feel like the techniques of orthodox martial artists. It resembled the skills of an assassin or a petty thief.

While Namgung Jinchun’s attention was diverted to Namgung Myeong, Hyeongong had already reached him. Namgung Jinchun hastily raised his sword to deflect the attack.

“Hup!”

Hyeongong, half-immersed in a trance, matched his footwork to Namgung Jinchun’s movements.

‘The story Master told me… I think I understand what it means to align one’s gaze.’

Though it was Hyeongong’s legs moving, they were also Yeongbojin-in’s.

The arm wielding the sword was Yeongbojin-in’s, yet it was also Hyeongong’s.

The eyes assessing the battlefield belonged to both, yet they were one.

Hyeongong and Yeongbojin-in’s judgments were becoming increasingly synchronized.

Yeongbojin-in’s sword followed the path Hyeongong anticipated, drawing a smooth arc that pressured their opponent. Hyeongong moved in harmony with that arc.

Their overwhelming offense and defense blended seamlessly, with Yeongbojin-in and Hyeongong’s coordination leaving no room for error.

Hyeongong’s internal energy flow mirrored Yeongbojin-in’s almost perfectly, even without moving his sword.

Hyeongong’s internal energy techniques, swordsmanship, and footwork were gradually harmonizing. If he could move both arms, he felt he could replicate Yeongbojin-in’s sword path exactly.

Yet, Hyeongong couldn’t reach a state of perfect selflessness.

Every time he neared that state, the sensation of Yeongbojin-in’s arm brushing under his armpit jarred his focus.

’…Damn it.’

The opportunity would come again. Swallowing his frustration, Hyeongong refocused on the fight.

Even without reaching a state of perfect selflessness, the two of them fought as if they were one, pushing back the four opponents.

It was like watching a single tiger chase four wolves. The four top masters were on the defensive, struggling to fend off Yeongbojin-in’s sword.

Suddenly, Hyeongong felt a wave of confusion.

‘Why is this possible, and why is it so powerful? I still don’t fully understand…’

Despite his thoughts, Hyeongong diligently continued his footwork.

Seizing a moment when Manryeokseung failed to evade him, Hyeongong executed the Jeweonjong technique. With Yeongbojin-in in tow, Hyeongong’s form seemed to stretch, and Yeongbojin-in’s sword left a shallow cut on Manryeokseung’s chest.

Blood droplets scattered along the edge of the Songmungogeom sword.

Everyone involved in the duel understood.

Yeongbojin-in hadn’t inflicted a deeper wound not because he couldn’t, but because he remembered this was a duel and was satisfied with a shallow cut.

The six martial artists simultaneously straightened their stances.

“You were a great help.”

Yeongbojin-in expressed his gratitude. Namgung Myeong and Sam Anbul followed with their own remarks.

“Strange, but undeniably powerful.”

“To see two people move as one without a practiced technique… I’ve never witnessed anything like it.”

All eyes turned to Namgung Jinchun, awaiting his assessment.

The decisive factor in this battle against the demonic cult was whether there was someone capable of defeating the cult leader.

And Namgung Jinchun was the only one who had crossed swords with him.

The Sword Demon Namgung Jinchun understood the weight of his words.

After a long contemplation, he spoke firmly.

“We have a chance.”