“Martial arts is weird.”
Chung Myung murmured as he looked at the sparring stage as if possessed.
“Even if you build it day by day, it doesn’t necessarily make you strong. That’s why training is painful. It’s like climbing to climb a wall that can’t be climbed.”
“……Chung Myung.”
“But if you put up with it and endure it, the time will surely come. The moment when the shell that surrounds you breaks. If you don’t see the moment, you can’t bloom. And an unbroken bud will never become a flower. Only when it blooms can it be called a flower at last.”
That is a flower.
It is the beginning of life.
Chung Myung is aware.
How much time has Baek Chun spent?
Chung Myung is Baek Chun’s Sajil, no matter how strong he is. Going through each day while being beaten and cursed by his Sajil requires more patience than one might think.
But Baek Chun went the entire time without saying anything.
The man known as Mount Hua’s best disciple threw away his pride and didn’t mind rolling on the ground to be strong.
Chung Myung had faith in Baek Chun’s determination.
‘Prove it to me.’
How far has Mount Hua progressed?
What kind of flowers bloom on Mount Hua after a hundred years?
Chung Myung’s gaze was fixed on all of Baek Chun’s images at all times.
It’s strange.
His mind relaxes.
His body was moving at breakneck speed, and even though his entire body was scorching hot, his mind was sinking lower and lower.
I believe the scene has changed here.
‘Dongjungjeong.’
He’s heard it a million times.
And countless times engraved.
Nonetheless, he appears to understand what he didn’t know before.
It’s strange.
He assumed he knew.
He is not in any pain. As his heart beats, so does his sword.
He notices it.
No.
He can sense it.
Swaeaek!
Jin Geum Ryong’s sword grazed him on the brow.
Sararak.
His hair is snipped at the ends and scattered in the wind. But, without blinking, Baek Chun had clearly captured the sword in his eyes.
He is aware.
The distance separates him from Jin Geum Ryong.
The space between the sword’s energy is contained at the sword’s edge.
When Jin Geum Ryong’s internal strength is restored and what he is aiming for is the time between.
Everything in this space was now under Baek Chun’s awareness.
– Knowing oneself isn’t everything.
‘That’s correct.’
– In the end, the sword is about fighting. You don’t require an adversary to complete yourself. But no one in history has ever finished themselves by being trapped in a mountain with only a sword.
‘That is also correct.’
– His body is focused on the sword, but his eyes are on the opponent. If neither you nor your opponent exists, the sword is nothing more than a dance swung into the air. Understand the enemy if you truly want to understand the sword.
‘Do you understand Jin Geum Ryong?’
That’s not so difficult.
He notices it.
Jin Geum Ryong’s entire life.
Surprisingly, Baek Chun understood Jin Geum Ryong better than ever at this point.
He didn’t give him a proper look.
Despite his desire to overtake Jin Geum Ryong, Baek Chun had no idea who he was up against. He vaguely imagined that if he simply sharpened himself, he would one day surpass Jin Geum Ryong.
It’s amusing.
How can you surpass someone when you don’t even know who they are?
Recognize them.
Accept their offer.
They will all live in his sword.
Baek Chun knew where Jin Geum Ryong was aiming as soon as his shoulders moved.
Baek Chun stepped forward and hit Jin Geum Ryong’s empty chest with his shoulder even before the sword stretched out.
Thud!
A strong shock pushed Jin Geum Ryong’s body back. Baek Chun noticed the puzzlement in his eyes.
Jin Geum Ryong straightened his back and stared in disbelief at Baek Chun.
“…what?”
Something has undoubtedly changed.
The sword swing became faster, and the irregularity in the series of flows vanished.
‘How can you change so drastically in an instant?’
Jin Geum Ryong’s teeth were clenched.
‘This can’t be right,’ I think.
Doesn’t he seem to be being pushed back now? That comes from the injured Baek Chun as well.
“No way!”
Jin Geum Ryong charges at Baek Chun with great force. His sword’s edge sprouted a white snow flower.
Baek Chun took a deep breath as he stared at the white petals flying at him.
‘Definitely.’
It is more sophisticated than Jong Seohan’s sword, which he faced the other day. Each flower petal appears to be alive and moving.
But, looking at the sword, he realized what Chung Myung meant.
– Don’t chase the glitz! The sword will only sway you if you are captivated by the splendor of the sword you unfold.
‘It’s simply stunning.’
Sophisticated.
Magnificent.
So, how about it?
Sophistication and splendor are merely a means to an end. The sword is simply empty, as I have forgotten what to put in it.
Then,
What does his sword hold?
Baek Chun’s sword started moving slowly.
Softly. And with care.
The calm at the sword’s edge wrapped around Baek Chun’s body like a warm breeze.
‘My sword does not have to be the most powerful on Mount Hua.’
Not the fastest, the most glamorous, or the most articulate.
It makes no difference.
His sword seeks the soul of the Mount Hua Sect.
Chung Myung’s sword should set an example for the disciples if it leads Mount Hua.
An unbiased Mount Hua sword.
That’s the sword of Baek Chun.
A single plum blossom blooms from the edge of Baek Chun’s sword.
The gentle breeze blows away the flowers that bloom quietly.
‘As the plum blossoms on Yeonhwa-bong (/ Flower Peak/ Lotus Flower Peak) bloom.’
Mount Hua is completely red.
It isn’t even flashy enough to catch the eye. It is not as sophisticated as Jin Geum Ryong’s.
Nonetheless, the plum blossoms of Baek Chun engulfed the onlookers.
“He…!”
Heo Do-jin, Sect Leader of Wudang, jumped up from his seat.
‘How could a child that age!’
His eyes are wide with surprise.
“Amitabha Buddha.”
Bop Jeong chanted as well, as if to hide his surprise.
The most powerful response came from Southern Edge Sect’s Sect Leader, Jong Nigok.
He clenched his fists and shook his body. His lips were also trembling to the point of pathetic trembling.
‘It’s not possible. How could this be… … !’
The Twelve-Movement Snow Flower Sword was created by distilling the essence of the Plum Blossom Sword technique. Now that the essence of the Southern Edge Sect has met the essence of plum blossoms, it should naturally be superior to simple Plum Blossom Swordsmanship.
But why can’t he take his gaze away from Baek Chun’s plum blossoms right now?
‘It’s not possible! D*mn it! ‘
It grows.
It disperses.
Plum blossoms in the spring.
The plum leaves spread across the mountains with a warm breeze, as if to announce the end of winter.
The flower covers the entire globe.
It was like a cry to announce that the Mount Hua Sect’s Plum Blossom Sword method, which once dominated the world, had returned to Kangho.
“Ah…….”
Hyun Jong let out a groan with his mouth wide open.
“Aah…….”
Both eyes begin to water.
‘Are you watching now, my forefathers?’
What he had lost.
What Mount Hua gave up.
But Mount Hua’s soul should never be lost.
Everything is returning to the world now.
It is Baek Chun who has the ability to fit in with any sect but has never wanted to leave the ruined Mount Hua.
Hyun Jong had to feel unrelenting gratitude, affection, and warmth every time he saw Baek Chun.
He was now making a scene that Hyun Jong would never see again.
‘Baek Chun.’
He wants to stand up and yell.
This is the sword of Mount Hua.
That’s the sword you forgot about!
With wet eyes, Hyun Jong gazed at the plum blossoms.
‘He entrusted his will to the sword.’
It resembles a floating cloud.
After all, the sword moves at the tips of the fingers. If that’s the case, isn’t will already contain in the first place?
‘It’s not a matter of putting willpower to the sword.’
The will must be carried in one’s own heart. The sword will naturally follow his heart if he can keep his center steady.
A positive step.
A world that appeared to far away approach him.
Beyond the sword he wished to spread, he enters unknown territory.
It’s strange.
It feels strangely warm as he sharply spreads his sword.
His sword appears to be stroking his entire body.
‘This is what it means when you say the sword contains Mount Hua.’
The more you spread the sword, the stronger it becomes.
What were the ancestors attempting to incorporate into this sword? What were they attempting to say?
It eventually leads to the sword.
The creator’s will for the Plum Blossom Sword. And the will of those who created the sword.
This sword contained everything they attempted to convey to future generations.
It’s still going on.
It combines one’s will with the will of those who have gone before.
This is the sword of Mount Hua.
Something is growing within Baek Chun.
The roots penetrate the soil, and the stem that emerges firmly establishes the will. The branch that eventually spreads out into the world quickly spreads throughout the world.
Blossoming. (개화(開花)/ to bloom; to blossom; to flower; fig. to burst open; to feel happy or elated; new development grows out. idk)
The plum blossoming from the tip of the branch called the sword embraced something different from what he had ever drawn and began to cover Jin Geum Ryong.
The white Jin Geum Ryong’s and the red Baek Chun’s flowers began to entangle and harmonize.
Jin Geum Ryong opened his eyes wide.
Baek Chun’s plum blossoms were gently pushing his flowers in all directions.
Never be strong. But firmly!
“How?”
In Jin Geum Ryong’s mind, the scene of the past began to come back to life.
The scene that he has never forgotten, is stuck like a fire. It was when Chung Myung’s plum blossoms erased his flower.
‘Why?’
Why on earth is this happening again?
He trained.
He trained and trained again to the point of breaking his body. To beat that devil Chung Myung.
But, let alone Chung Myung, he was now blocked by Baek Chun’s sword, which he didn’t care about.
“What the hell is different!”
Inside Jin Geum Ryong, something huge began to crumble.
“Aaaarghh!”
He let out a maddened scream and swung his sword with bloodshot eyes.
Snow flower bloomed and bloomed again.
A cold and terrifying snow flower sets the leaves sharper than ever. With a ferocious momentum that seemed to tear everything it encountered.
Then, with the momentum of a typhoon trying to break foams, it hits Baek Chun’s plum blossoms.
But.
No matter how strong the waves are, it can’t push the rocks away.
The firmly rooted Baek Chun’s plum blossoms did not falter from Jin Geum Ryong’s snow flower and just advanced.
The sharpness and splendor are just pushed away.
Jin Geum Ryong, who knew his sword could not bring down Baek Chun’s plum blossoms, looked at the plum blossom in front of his eyes with trembling eyes.
“I…….”
The plum blossoms, which were gently pushed away from the snow flower (화우(花雨)), soared like an illusion and rained down in the spring breeze.
Hwaak!
The plum blossoms swept through Jin Geum Ryong’s body.
Scatter and scatter again.
And…….
The plum blossoms, which seemed to fill the stage, disappeared at some point as if everything had been an illusion.
“…….”
The surrounding was enveloped in silence.
No one could open their mouth.
They just focused all their attention on the stage with astonished eyes.
And on the stage, two people stood looking at each other.
“Ha… ha…….”
Baek Chun grabbed the red-colored wrist with one hand and exhaled his breath.
“…….”
Jin Geum Ryong looked at him silently.
The silent confrontation between the two continued for a while.
“You…….”
It was Jin Geum Ryong who opened his mouth first.
But as he was about to say something, he closed his mouth again and looked quitetly at Baek Chun. And only after a while did he ask.
“……What was that?”
Baek Chun’s mouth opened, staring at him with a pale face.
“The Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword.”
Low but firm.
“Plum Blossom in Full Bloom.” (매화만개(梅花滿開))
Jin Geum Ryong smiled at Baek Chun, who was staggering as if he were about to collapse but held on to the end.
“Plum Blossoms in Full… Bloom.”
Is it admiration?
Or what?
“What a dirty name.”
Jin Geum Ryong’s body collapses.
Thud.
Looking down at Jin Geum Ryong, who collapsed unconscious, Baek Chun closed his eyes quietly.
‘Hyung.’
There was only one thing that made the difference between victory and defeat.
It is to triumph over. Don’t you think so?
Baek Chun didn’t beat Jin Geum Ryong. But Mount Hua’s sword beat Southern Edge Sect’s sword.
‘Now…’
He smiled wonderfully.
‘That’s enough for now.’
The sun poured down on him as he turned around.
As if to bless him for showing the true Mount Hua sword beyond himself.
“The winner is Baek Chun from Mount Hua!”
Amid the thunderous roar, Baek Chun slowly moved on.
Towards Mount Hua’s disciples ran to him with cheers and tears.