Chapter 112

Kaaaaaaang!
A burst of air waves.
A scraping sound.
And at the same time,
“Waaaaaaaaaaaah!”
“Here we go! Finally!”
“The wind just grazed my side!”
“It’s hot! Do it like this!”
A resounding roar.
The roar of the crowd was nothing compared to the roar of the sword club.
As I pushed forward on my tiptoes with the roar in my ears, it was like a military song I had heard on the battlefield. There was a sense of grandeur and majesty that enveloped me that made it impossible to back away.
I couldn’t help but smile, and the one looking at me smiled back.
“Namu Amitabha, the Lord of the South Palace, it seems that your sword has grown sharper in the interim.”
The man in front of me shouted out his name and showed his eagerness to fight.
“Monk Gak Mun, that’s what I want to say.”
We met in Kunlun and stood shoulder to shoulder against the great evil that is Sima, and he has been a trusted ally who has allowed me to focus on slaying the great evil rather than the well-being of others, and now I can tell the story of the Fengyun Branch just by looking at him.
He was the head of the Eighteen Nahans, one of the pillars of Shaolin, and the manifestation of Arahan.
“The monk’s unshakable immobility has deepened.”
It was true. Gakmun’s eyes had deepened and his wisdom had grown stronger, as if he had gained little from our time together.
“For example, I’m still impressed by the Southern Palace Master I saw on Mount Kunlun. You have awakened the spirit within me.”
Tukkaaaaah!
A brilliant radiance, the image of a golden Buddha, flashed into existence. His entire body was ablaze with golden flesh, and his eyes, which had been so benevolent and compassionate, flashed with golden light.
I couldn’t help but admire his tingling aura. It was my pure homage to another contemporary genius.
“A scholar answers with his enlightenment, and a martial artist like us answers with the martial arts we have practiced all our lives. If I have ignited a spark in the heart of such a great man, I would be honored.”
And I admitted it. I was both honored and flattered.
Kaaaaaah!
My footsteps led to the tip of my sword.
In one swift motion, the sword moved like an ovum through the air. The blade was azure in color, and the tip was lifeless but resolute.
The tip of the blade slashed across his chest, slicing through his steel arm at an angle, crushing it.
At that moment,
“Namu Amitabha!”
A brilliance burst forth with an incantation, and the sword’s tip was stopped from advancing any further by the auspicious energy. The moment the auspicious energy gathered, the fist moved without delay and shot searing toward me. It was a pillar of brilliance.
“Alas! Is it not the Arahan priesthood!”
“Oooh, I never thought I would see the Arahan Priesthood in my lifetime! I will live long enough to see it.”
“I’ve heard that it’s the most difficult of all the Shaolin’s seventy-seven disciplines to cultivate, but you’re so skillful!”
This is the Arahan priesthood under the 72 martial arts of Shaolin, or rather, the 72 martial arts that represent Shaolin. It was so famous that even the passersby had heard of it before, and at the same time, the crowd’s enthusiasm was rising.
I could feel the admiration of the uninitiated and the awe of the simple people.
However, I had already seen this fist and knew that it was not a pretty fist, but a tricky and powerful one.
So I didn’t hide it and let my energy radiate out. It would have been more efficient to use the Heavenly Wind Divine Technique to dodge the punch, but for some reason, it tickled my heart.
This led me to the conclusion that I should release the overflowing energy at the tip of my sword rather than simply dodge it.
Kaaaaaaaah!
The aura, blue and clear, washed over the golden pillar like a wave.
Tada, tada, tada.
Tadadak.
The gate took four steps back, and I took three.
The crowd’s jaws dropped, and a low voice rang out.
“No, then the sword of the young man who faced the Arahan priesthood and was defeated is the sword of the Arahan gods.”
Of course, there is no such sword. However, the way he faced the sword without backing down and displayed his immense majesty at the same time made the story jump out at me.
“Look, it’s not the Arahan Divine Sword, it’s the mark of the Namgung Clan! It must be the Cha, Changgung Muae Sword!”
The large number of students means that there are many third-rate, first-rate, and even higher ranked martial artists scattered throughout.
It was surprising that some of them even recognized the sword of the Southern Palace, but they were overwhelmed with admiration.
“The Southern Palace Sword?!”
“If that’s the case, then that young man can’t be!”
Everyone was stunned when they heard the age of Yong Yang, who had just passed the age of twenty-three.
“Thunder Sword Saint!”
Someone shouted, and all eyes turned to his star sign.
The excitement was palpable, and the crowd began to lose their minds. Not just any swordsman was making his first appearance, but the number one ranked Late Exponent in the Southern Palace World, and now even more so.
With a name that was worthy of the highest rank of Shaolin, and even higher.
I smiled at the sight of it.
I wanted this, even if it was just interest and enthusiasm now.
It would be different in the future.
To see the clans unite from afar.
To see the strength of the Great Sect of the Zheng Sect that they had only heard of in name only.
Let them know that their lives will not be spared from the Black Road.
With that, I swung my sword toward the gates that stood firmly before me.
A flash!
A thunderbolt fell.
* * *
“It’s an honor to face so many heroic hobgoblins and mighty men and women. I am honored that you have all come to untangle the threads that we have been unable to do so easily for so long. Will you join us as we heal the tangled cobwebs and unravel the stories we tell about each other and the things that have built up?”
As if waiting in anticipation, the group, now numbering in the thousands, took their seats, and the Feng Yun Branch’s counselor called the circle to order.
“I’m afraid we’re short-handed, but I, Mr. Huang Mo, would like to begin, so please bear with me.”
It was the monkfish troupe leader Huang Tianhou.
He was a famous figure that everyone in the Zhongyuan Martial Forest had heard of at least once.
The elite of the Huang Clan.
The best troop in the Huang Clan.
The best general in the Huang Clan.
The Aguidan and Aguidan Leader Huang Tianhou.
And most importantly.
Bandits, enemies, demons, and even the enemy of the state are said to be asuras sent from hell, but when it comes to all things related to peace and stability, he is considered to be the most compassionate and tenacious of all.
With such a person directly leading the Fengyun Branch, how could anyone not pay attention?
Pa, pa, pa, pa!
And then, there were those who recognized him from afar and welcomed him.
“Thank you, General Huang!”
“You’re here, we can put our feet up and sleep easy!”
“Thank you, thank you, black black black!”
These were people who had received help directly from Shandong Province. After being persecuted by the bandits of the Green Forest and shunned by Huang Bao, their lives and security were threatened at the drop of a hat, and they expressed their gratitude to the Southern Palace for bringing them peace.
Three years had passed, but thanks to him, they had hope, the nourishment that allows them to live happily and normally, and they welcomed Huang Tianhou’s appearance with two hands.
Pairs! Pairs! Pairs! Pairs!
And their gratitude spread, causing thousands of fellow students to applaud.
“This is the best!”
“Long live Aguidan! Long live Aguidan!”
“Long live the Huang family! Long live the Huang family!”
Huang Tianhou was a little taken aback by the scene, but he didn’t show it, and turned his head to see the Grand Duke of the Southern Palace Family standing there, and Princess Zhu Yingyong sitting a little ways away.
The Grand Duke nodded as if it was a matter of course. In that attitude of naturalness, Huang Tianhou suddenly realized that he cared about him.
About the Huang family.
For the Aguidan.
And for Huang Tianhou, the leader of the Aguidan.
Everyone deserves to be applauded, so it’s only right that you stand there, the Grand Duke of the Southern Palace said with his eyes.
Huang Tianhou smiled wryly, but could not exchange more than a glance with the Grand Duke. Princess Zhu Yingyong’s gaze was cold.
And in the end, Huang Tianhou’s protestations were rewarded.
“I, Huang Mo, once again express my gratitude to you for having the courage to grace this occasion.”
Rather than speak with authority, telling them of the greatness of Tianzhi and asking them to trust him with their cause, he simply bowed his head lightly. It was entirely the princess’s opinion.
Then, once again, applause erupted. It had been a long time since Huang Tianhou, the representative of the Huang family and the face of the Heavenly Kingdom, had bowed his head. It was not long before Huang Tianhou, who had become the representative of the Huang family and the face of the Heavenly Emperor, bowed his head.
But in reality, Huang Tianhu only turned and looked at one person.
Frowning.
The flower of the Huang Clan, the beautiful princess Zhu Yingyoung, frowned and closed one eye, then gave Huang Tianhou a thumbs up.
With this simple gesture, the difficult and distant distance of the Huang family was instantly shortened, and a sense of trust and expectation was created.
Zhu Yingyong had thought long and hard about the significance of the Pungwoonjihoe to the martial arts tournament, and had come to this conclusion with Huang Tianhou. And it was a conclusion that was successfully answered.
Then, as the applause faded, Huang Tianhou began to introduce the various schools.
“There are six guardians, nine plus one, and a pillar guarding the center, so I will introduce them all. I apologize for not being able to introduce all of them, so I will only introduce the heads of each family and their masters.”
Huang Tianhou led skillfully.
As Gu Feifang and the Six Great Elders were introduced, cheers erupted and renewed enthusiasm as each member of the Wu Nai Fifty Zones was introduced.
The Grand Duke’s words that they would fulfill their responsibilities and duties as honored guests were spot on.
Introductions, introductions, and more introductions.
At every moment that could have easily become boring, Kang Ho kept the audience’s attention by introducing specific people.
Who, who, who.
It was fun to see with your own eyes the people you’d only heard about, the people you’d only heard rumors about.
“Oh, by the way, I’m sure you’re curious about the participants of the Fengyun Branch.”
At that, everyone tensed up. What were the restrictions on who could join and who could leave the Fengyun Branch?
Huang Tianhou thought he had everyone’s attention.
“Only three people, three people from each family and sect. There are no rules.”
Everyone was stunned by his words.