WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
Chapter 119: When Young, I Knew Not Sorrow's Taste (24)
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To be honest, Won Huiseung was moved.
"Learning Through Teaching. Learning Through Teaching..."
It meant learning and teaching while growing together.
Strictly speaking, the saying did not quite fit the situation.
Yeon Sowol had not so much taught Na Seok as argued that what he had learned held value, and Na Seok alone, not both of them, had gained enlightenment.
Still, that was how Won Huiseung saw it.
'Sowol learned something too.'
A master who had already reached the peak realm had gained enlightenment and taken another step forward.
How often did one get to witness something like that?
Surely, today's experience would remain with Yeon Sowol as well, nurturing his own enlightenment someday.
That was why it was Learning Through Teaching.
Tremble.
Won Huiseung's shoulders shook.
'To gain something, one must first offer something...'
Enlightenment.
It could seem trivial, yet it could also change the very way one lived.
Won Huiseung slowly closed his eyes.
When he opened them again, he was subtly different from before.
* * *
Some won, and some lost.
Some proved themselves, while others began to doubt themselves.
Kang In-su and Shin Si-ye belonged to the former.
"Haah!"
A thirty-four-year-old master saber wielder, already two years into late first-rate.
They charged at Kang In-su.
'This is my chance!'
Resentful memories flashed through their mind.
'I'm late first-rate too, and so are those bastards. Why am I the only one? Why has it always been just me?'
That bastard with a spear.
That guy with a sword.
Even that asshole who used fist-and-kick arts.
All of them were famous.
They had impressive epithets, and everyone recognized them and gave them due respect.
But the saber wielder had none of that.
Few people even knew their epithet, and even those who did did not treat them as someone formidable.
Underrated.
It had always felt unfair.
'I'm late first-rate too!'
They even treated them as inferior to that bastard who did not carry a weapon!
That was why they had chosen Kang In-su.
A late first-rate master with the greatest reputation in Yuezhou for fist-and-kick arts. If they defeated the master of that strange martial art, barehanded fighting, which was inexplicably overrated despite lacking real combat value...
No one would be able to look down on them any longer.
At the very least, that bastard who used fist-and-kick arts would have to lower his eyes before them.
Even among late first-rate martial artists, Kang In-su was praised as being one or two levels above the rest. If they defeated Kang In-su, that was only natural.
'And he'll howl in regret.'
He would regret spending all those years learning something as ridiculous as barehanded fighting and calling it martial arts.
"Chaah!"
The saber danced.
It was a heavy blade.
An ox-tail saber, broad and heavy toward the tip.
It was completely different from slender, long blades such as goose-feather sabers, shaped like goose feathers, or Japanese-style sabers modeled after Japanese swords.
It was far larger and heavier than even a willow-leaf saber, whose tip grew thicker and more curved.
Yet they wielded that saber with the spring of their wrist, unleashing nine slashes in a single breath.
Even a late first-rate master would have their breathing badly thrown off by such a move.
'I've never seen anyone block all nine slashes.'
Before that could happen, opponents were always either cut apart or forced into a hasty retreat.
There was no better move for seizing the initiative.
'Like a bull shaking its hea... Huh?'
Clang!
The saber stopped in midair before they could even complete a single swing, let alone nine.
"What...?"
Their eyes went wide.
Kang In-su had caught the huge, heavy blade with his bare hand.
"You think Iron Sand Palm is some dog's balls?"
With Kang In-su's growling words,
Craaaack!
The thick ox-tail saber crumpled and shattered in his grip.
"!!!"
Kang In-su's blackened fist shot toward the stunned man's face.
Crack!
His nose collapsed, and broken teeth flew out.
If he had guarded against Kang In-su's hands from the start, he would not have been defeated so helplessly.
Thud!
The man lost consciousness completely and sprawled out with all four limbs stretched wide.
The martial artists who had challenged Kang In-su broke into a cold sweat at the sight.
"Next!"
Kang In-su defeated three challengers one after another. After that, no one else stepped forward, allowing him to secure his place among the Thirty-Six Heavenly Spirits.
Shin Si-ye was much the same.
"You people. What the hell made you think you could challenge someone in the peak realm? Hm?"
"Aah! Aaagh!"
One exchange.
As though determined to show them the difference in standing, Shin Si-ye defeated each of the two challengers in a single exchange.
She deliberately stabbed her sword below their collarbones, going out of her way to leave sword marks.
Many blood vessels and nerves ran through that area. A misplaced stab could kill someone outright, or leave them crippled if they were lucky.
Yet Shin Si-ye had pierced them cleanly, leaving no lasting damage. It was her way of flaunting her swordsmanship.
It was enough to make the victims and spectators alike shudder.
The two she had defeated could not issue further challenges because of their injuries. Trembling, they left the martial arts tournament platform to find a physician. Seeing that, the final challenger quietly withdrew and searched for a different opponent.
Shin Si-ye gave a cold snort.
"Waaaaah!"
It was a frightening fight, and that made it all the more thrilling.
The atmosphere of the martial arts tournament grew hotter and hotter.
In the midst of that fervor, Won Huiseung stepped onto the platform.
'Learning Through Teaching... To gain something greater, I must first offer something.'
He was still turning over the enlightenment he had received earlier.
It was not directly connected to martial arts, but it would influence how he lived from now on.
Clang!
Facing him was a late first-rate master born and raised in Yuezhou.
'They really are a master!'
Won Huiseung was impressed.
Yuezhou was a scenic place famous throughout the land, but it did not have any sect renowned enough to make a name for itself across the world.
Unless one counted the Hengshan Sect down in Hengyang.
Considering that, it was certainly remarkable for a martial artist raised in Yuezhou to wield swordsmanship of such a high level.
'Water qi? No. It's murkier than that. This is... moisture? No. The energy of mist. Mist qi would be a better name for it. It isn't complete yet, though.'
Was it because of Dongting Lake?
Martial artists born and raised in Yuezhou seemed inclined to develop their own martial arts with water qi as their foundation.
'Impressive.'
They all drew from the same source, Dongting Lake, yet searched for different paths.
'Could this be the very essence of martial arts?'
Like an imugi enduring a thousand years beneath deep water, steadily refining itself.
Look at these martial artists, each honing their own martial path.
Won Huiseung was deeply moved.
"An astonishing sword. It seems you have been contemplating mist."
His opponent's eyes lit up at Won Huiseung's words.
Unconcealed pride appeared on their face.
"As expected of a Zhongnan Sect disciple! Today, I see that the prestige of the Nine Great Sects and One Gang is no empty boast. You are correct. The mist that rises over Dongting Lake. I have spent my entire life contemplating it as I wielded my sword. My sword may not be the greatest under heaven, but when it comes to understanding mist, I may be the greatest. People have recognized that, and I have earned some fame in Yuezhou as the Mist-Flash Guest."
In truth, they had earned far more than some fame.
They had claimed one of the Thirty-Six Heavenly Spirits personally selected by Yeon Sowol.
A master whose martial reputation was known by everyone throughout Yuezhou. Wherever they went, people called them a great hero. They were unquestionably among the foremost late first-rate masters, recognized as being near the peak realm.
"As expected..."
Won Huiseung's heart swelled.
Thanks to Sowol, he had been given the chance to meet masters like this, share learning with them, and grow together.
That was why he now wanted to freely share with his opponent everything he had felt and realized.
Just as Yeon Sowol had done with Stopless Sword Na Seok.
"Mist... Mist, is it? What an excellent contemplative question."
Won Huiseung's sword began to change.
The Zhongnan Sect's ultimate art, the Thirty-Six Swords Under Heaven, embodied the Thirty-Six Heavenly Spirits, symbols of heaven's power and order, through a human sword.
At that moment, Won Huiseung sought to interpret mist through the Thirty-Six Heavenly Spirits.
By showing his own interpretation of mist, his opponent might gain enlightenment. It would also give Won Huiseung an opportunity to move beyond what he had always done and understand the Thirty-Six Swords Under Heaven more deeply.
"Mist. What is mist?"
He murmured to himself.
"Mist is not the Heavenly Chief Star. A leader and mist do not suit one another. Nor is it the Heavenly Spirit Star. Clear strength and mist do not suit one another. But perhaps the Heavenly Strategist Star, wisdom, shares something with mist..."
He considered them one by one.
The leisurely Heavenly Leisure Star could connect with mist.
The dark Heavenly Darkness Star also had something in common with mist.
So did the Heavenly Void Star, which represented the emptiness of heaven.
The subtle Heavenly Subtle Star.
The probing Heavenly Inquiry Star.
The prison-like Heavenly Prison Star.
The wailing Heavenly Cry Star.
The ingenious Heavenly Skill Star.
All of them, in Won Huiseung's eyes, were powers and orders that resonated with the harmony called mist.
He gathered them all and painted a mist of his own.
Whooooom!
Won Huiseung's sword cried.
It trembled.
It flowed.
At times subtle, at times ingenious.
Like it was relentlessly investigating.
Like it was covering and imprisoning the opponent.
Like it was wailing from every direction.
Like it was empty and endless.
Dark enough to obscure all sight.
Yet endlessly leisurely at the same time.
Clang! Clang! Claaang!
Their swords crossed.
Mist collided with mist.
"Urgh! Ngh!"
The one being pushed back was Yuezhou's famed master.
Won Huiseung steadily eroded his opponent's sword and footwork as he spoke calmly.
"You must not contemplate mist only through what appears before your eyes. When it is subtle, become subtler. When it is dark, become darker. Leisurely. Beyond what is seen, you must see what possibilities may dwell within the harmony called mist..."
Clangclangclangclang!
As Won Huiseung's sword flowed like mist, his opponent's stance finally collapsed completely.
"Only then can one finally touch the true meaning of mist."
Won Huiseung's sword tip stopped before his opponent's throat.
Won Huiseung smiled.
His sword had clearly grown another step just now.
Surely his opponent had as well.
'Learning Through Teaching...'
Satisfaction swelled in his chest.
Across from him, his opponent...
"Kh... Ngh..."
With reddened eyes, they barely swallowed back their tears.
"What I... What I have contemplated my entire life..."
Yuezhou's famed master.
A swordsman recognized by all.
They could not hide their devastation.
To lose because their understanding of mist was inferior.
And to someone who had begun contemplating mist for the first time only today.
To someone younger than them.
If they had simply lost because their skill was lacking...
Everything they had built over a lifetime came crashing down.
"So this is... the Nine Great Sects and One Gang... What have I been doing all this time... Kh..."
With their head bowed low, they did not even exchange a fist-palm salute. They hurried off the platform and vanished as though fleeing.
"Waaaaah!"
The spectators went wild at the sharp contrast between the two, while Won Huiseung smiled gently.
"It seems they have gone to consolidate their enlightenment. Heh."
Every martial artist watching was left speechless.
"Learning Through Teaching..."
Yeon Sowol, standing below the platform, was speechless as he watched Won Huiseung murmur softly and step down.
'That, that guy...'
What was wrong with the personalities of Jianghu people?
Yeon Sowol shook his head.
* * *
It was the occasion for selecting the true Thirty-Six Heavenly Spirits from among the one hundred and eight Malefic Stars.
Moyong Ha lightly claimed a place as well.
She challenged one of the late first-rate masters who had drawn the fewest challengers and easily took the position.
Many people could not hide their admiration for her movements, free and swift as a bird's.
As expected of one of the Five Great Families.
Ha Jeop also claimed one of the Thirty-Six Heavenly Spirits.
After exchanging a hundred moves, he defeated one of the existing Thirty-Six Heavenly Spirits and took the position. Since he had won with such difficulty, two more challengers assumed he was exhausted and came after him.
Ha Jeop fought each of them for exactly one hundred moves and defeated them both.
As soon as Namgung Ujin stepped onto the platform and claimed a place among the Thirty-Six Heavenly Spirits, he called out names one by one.
"After I lost to Yeon Sowol, you laughed at me behind my back, didn't you? Get out here, all of you. Let's see whether you're qualified to laugh!"
It might have seemed petty.
"Waaaaah!"
The spectators went wild once again.
Their cheers grew even louder whenever Namgung Ujin defeated challengers one after another.
When the martial artists who had mocked him tucked their tails and could not bring themselves to challenge him, the crowd's excitement reached its peak.
The martial arts tournament continued to heat up.
Once Hwangbo Hwi claimed a place among the Thirty-Six Heavenly Spirits, countless challengers came forward.
They all had different, yet similar, stories.
"You... Hwangbo Hwi. You must have dishonored Miss Kang...!"
"Dishonored her? It was a pleasant memory."
"You...!"
"How dare you make moves on my lover?"
"You mean Miss Miye? Get your facts straight. I wasn't the one making moves. Miss Miye was the one who came after me."
"You bastard!!!"
"I won't say it twice. Marry our young lady."
"What are you talking about? If you mean Miss Wi, that matter was already agreed upon. She begged me to hold her, saying it would be enough if I just held her for one night, so I did."
"Aaaaargh!"
Hwangbo Hwi defeated them all and proved himself worthy, while the spectators burned like oil.
"Ah! He can't be beaten!"
"How can this be? Has the Jianghu's way fallen to the ground?"
"Someone stop that villain..."
Even the martial officials watching stirred.
"That, that bastard..."
"If I had only entered the martial arts tournament, I would have taken him down with one thrust..."
"The world is ending. It truly is."
And so, the martial arts tournament grew hotter by the day.
After the matches ended, people remained so excited that they brawled in the streets, argued, and caused drunken scenes.
Moyong Ha sensed it.
'Thank you, Sowol. I'll never forget this favor.'
Soon, she would likely be able to search even the deepest parts of the government office.
Footnotes:
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