Chapter 106: Another Flowing Flower Kunlun Sword
“Hyeoneom learned the Flowing Flower Kunlun Sword? What the hell are you talking about?”
Jin Gwangung shot back sharply.
His face showed complete disbelief.
I explained everything that had happened the previous night in detail.
The meeting arranged through Elder Hyeoneom's sudden sound transmission.
The Flowing Flower Kunlun Sword he had demonstrated at Clear Wind Pavilion.
And even the fact that Elder Hyeoneom claimed the Flowing Flower Kunlun Sword belonged to Mount Hua.
After hearing everything, Jin Gwangung spoke with a grave expression.
“You're certain that old man really learned the Flowing Flower Kunlun Sword....”
“Yes. But... there was something strange.”
His eyes sharpened.
“Strange?”
I answered carefully.
“The martial art Elder Hyeoneom demonstrated definitely contained the sword intent of the Flowing Flower Kunlun Sword.”
I paused.
“But... it felt slightly different from the version I learned.”
Jin Gwangung frowned.
“Different how?”
“If my Flowing Flower Kunlun Sword pours out power like a raging torrent flowing down Kunlun's snowy mountain range...”
I thought back to Hyeoneom's movements.
“then Elder Hyeoneom's version was softer.”
“More flexible.”
Jin Gwangung furrowed his brow.
“...Are you sure you didn't mistake some other martial art for it?”
“No.”
I shook my head.
“The energy and flow were definitely those of the Flowing Flower Kunlun Sword.”
"..."
A brief silence followed.
After a moment, Jin Gwangung pressed a hand to his forehead.
“Hmm. The more I think about it, the less sense it makes....”
I looked at him.
“What part?”
He frowned.
“You know better than anyone.”
“The Flowing Flower Kunlun Sword was an incomplete martial art that could drive someone into qi deviation and kill them.”
His voice was full of doubt.
“So if that old man really learned it...”
“how the hell is he still alive and perfectly fine?”
That had been bothering me too.
I looked directly at Jin Gwangung.
“That's exactly why I need to confirm it.”
“How he learned the Flowing Flower Kunlun Sword...”
I continued,
“and the only person who can answer that question is Elder Hyeoneom himself.”
Jin Gwangung stared at me for a long moment.
Then finally nodded.
“...Fine.”
His voice lowered.
“Dig into it properly.”
He continued,
“If Hyeoneom truly learned the Flowing Flower Kunlun Sword...”
“then we absolutely need to know how True Immortal Cheongun's only remaining sword art reached Mount Hua.”
I nodded.
“I'll keep that in mind.”
Jin Gwangung's expression grew even more serious.
“Until everything is clear...”
“this stays between you and me.”
He narrowed his eyes.
“If handled carelessly, this could become a major dispute between Kunlun and Mount Hua.”
For once...
Jin Gwangung was speaking with the caution expected of a First Elder of Kunlun.
I immediately nodded.
“...Understood.”
He folded his arms and turned away.
“Then go back.”
It looked like he wanted time to整理 his thoughts about everything I'd told him.
I gave him a martial salute and left the room.
After finishing my conversation with Jin Gwangung...
I returned straight to my room.
Once I was alone...
thought after thought began crashing through my head.
And the one that confused me most was...
...the Flowing Flower Kunlun Sword.
Ever since the moment I learned it...
a certain sense of dissatisfaction had always remained in one corner of my mind.
The Flowing Flower Kunlun Sword was unquestionably a superior martial art.
But if it truly was the final martial art left behind by True Immortal Cheongun...
the strongest under heaven...
...shouldn't it have been something even more transcendent?
That doubt had always remained.
And now...
I had encountered Elder Hyeoneom's version of the Flowing Flower Kunlun Sword.
Perhaps the version he had learned...
would become the key to answering the questions I'd carried all this time.
And the moment when I would finally reach that key...
was approaching.
I quietly sank into thought...
and waited for tomorrow.
The next morning.
A Mount Hua Taoist came to the guest residence where we were staying.
He had been sent by the head of the Martial Training Institute.
“I've come to escort the guests from Kunlun to the Martial Training Institute.”
He had come because of the True Five-Step Sword Art manual we'd agreed to complete yesterday.
Hyeongwon, Myeongjeon, and I decided to go.
Jin Gwangung refused.
“Forget it.”
He waved a hand.
“Talking with that head of the Martial Training Institute yesterday nearly tore my ears apart.”
Then he pointed at us.
“Besides, organizing martial arts manuals is your job anyway.”
So the three of us followed the Mount Hua Taoist toward the Martial Training Institute.
It wasn't far from our lodging.
Before long...
we arrived.
Beyond the entrance was a wide courtyard.
Several young Taoists around our age were already standing there.
One of them was familiar.
Jinwon.
“Taoist Mujin! We meet again!”
The moment he saw me, he smiled brightly and gave a martial salute.
The other young Taoists around him began greeting me one after another.
“Kunlun's Young Hero, it's an honor to meet you.”
“The True Five-Step Sword Art you demonstrated yesterday was... truly incredible.”
Compliments started pouring in the moment I arrived.
Apparently what I'd done yesterday really had impressed them.
I could feel Hyeongwon beside me staring with envy...
but I ignored it.
Then—
“Taoist Mujin! You've finally arrived!”
A loud voice rang through the Martial Training Institute.
I turned.
A middle-aged Taoist was running straight toward me.
Cheongbaek.
The head of the Martial Training Institute.
He clasped both my hands and smiled broadly.
“Hahaha! You have no idea how long I've been waiting!”
“Ah... I see....”
I instinctively leaned back slightly.
I still remembered the crazed look in his eyes yesterday.
Cheongbaek beamed.
“It's morning. Have you eaten?”
Then he leaned closer.
“If not, perhaps you and I could have breakfast together. Just the two of us?”
His sudden friendliness was honestly uncomfortable.
I quickly pulled my hands free.
“Head Cheongbaek.”
“We don't have that much time, so I think it'd be better to finish the work first.”
I wanted to get the Martial Training Institute work over with as quickly as possible.
So I went straight to the point.
Cheongbaek burst into laughter.
“Hahaha! As expected, your passion for martial scholarship is extraordinary!”
He nodded eagerly.
“Very well. Wait here for a moment.”
Then he disappeared somewhere.
A short while later...
he returned carrying dozens of scrolls.
“These contain the mnemonic formulas and forms of the True Five-Step Sword Art.”
Cheongbaek distributed them among us and the Mount Hua Taoists.
Once every scroll had been handed out...
he looked at me.
“Taoist Mujin.”
