Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Hundred Battles Hundred Defeats (4)

The elder who woke at dawn sat on a rock and endlessly gazed at the sunrise.

And only after a long while when the sun had fully risen did he open his mouth.

“If there is something learned while wandering for several decades it is that there are truly many things in the world that cannot be done anything about.”

“Is that so.”

“No matter how much one prays until the hands wear out whether the sun will rise tomorrow or rain will come is heaven’s will. Even if offering alms to a stone Buddha whether good things will come or bad things will come must be left to fate.”

In the late winter cold wind the dry sand, the palm thickened from swinging a sword for a long time grasps.

“Past time is also like that. Even if wanting to turn it back, regretting and struggling to hold on and suffering the already past matter does not change.”

The coldly dry sand slips out between the grip.

“If not letting go it is only suffering, so like this sand it must be left to flow as it goes.”

Extending the hand that shook off the sand toward me.

Leading the cold and lifeless hand I raised the elder.

“I want to eat warm and energy-rising food after a long time.”

“I will carry you.”

After finishing the meal at the inn we wandered the village.

Whether there is a festival, splendid decorations were hung throughout the village.

“Soon a martial demonstration gathering will be held.”

“What is that?”

“Every year, around the end of the first lunar month the sects and families of Imcheong County demonstrate martial arts and present them to people as a festival. Not necessarily people of this place, but any martial artist can participate.”

“Has the elder participated before?”

“Everyone seems to fear my Invincible Sword, so they do not give permission.”

Walking the road gazes and whispers toward the elder are heard.

Someone looks with a pathetic gaze, someone openly wears a sneer.

Someone used him as a negative example to their child saying one must not resemble such a human, someone makes a contemptuous expression and then ignores.

“By the way, for what reason are you wandering the world?”

“...There is nothing greatly decided, and the thought is only to find fellows I do not like and beat them to my heart’s content.”

“Truly a chivalrous hero.”

“It is only a fellow living as he pleases so what chivalrous hero?”

“Even living as he pleases he did not lose a piece of righteousness harbored in the heart so he dealt with bandits, and even possessing great martial strength living as he pleases is punishing evil people so if this is not a chivalrous hero what is it?”

“It is only that I am born with much anger, and when seeing things that do not know the way that anger bursts as a disease.”

“That is also chivalry.”

“It is much different from the chivalry I know.”

On the way back, I carried the elder again.

“Even if the Great Ming Code is strict it is something people made, and even if Confucianism is great it is only one ideology. If there are a thousand people in the world there are ten thousand thoughts and twice that many circumstances, so even the country’s law and the wisdom of sages cannot define righteousness as one thing so would chivalry be different?”

“I understand so please stop a bit. I do not do martial arts.”

“It is regrettable. Unlike me, do you not have the qualities for both mind and body to achieve great success as a martial artist?”

“...”

Too light as if about to fly away at any moment.

“When we return won’t you look at my martial arts?”

“Yes, I will look.”

Unlike such lightness the elder was energetic, and more lively than any day seen during the ten days.

“My Invincible Sword consists of only three techniques. Because with three techniques one can fully dominate under heaven.”

Like a candle just before going out.

Thus while swinging the sword he spoke of the meaning of the techniques and the names of the techniques.

“The energy of the heavenly dragon is strong, so everyone knelt before it.”

First technique, Heavenly Dragon Descending to the World.

“When the heavenly dragon swung its claws, the world was torn apart.”

Second technique, Heavenly Dragon Rending Space.

“When such a heavenly dragon spread its body, there is nothing that can block and no place that cannot be reached.”

Third technique, Heavenly Dragon Unhindered.

“How is it? My martial arts?”

“First, the martial art name is Invincible Sword but why are the technique names Heavenly Dragon?”

“A dragon is an auspicious and strong beast from ancient times so does it not suit invincible.”

It is merely the Three Talents Sword Technique.

From the first technique in order consisting of vertical slash, horizontal slash, thrust, movements that cannot even be called martial arts were so clumsy that the Three Talents Sword Technique felt somewhat great at a glance.

‘Probably this is the best.’

Even testing countless techniques none formed a form and in the end it is a result that came out as if compromising.

“Excellent.”

“Thank you, that is enough.”

The elder lowered the sword.

“That is enough.”

That night he went to bed early and never opened his eyes again.

I buried him in a sunny spot of Bokryong Mountain, but did not make a burial mound or tombstone.

“Do not feel too sad. If the neighborhood people know it is the elder’s grave, one does not know what harm they might do?”

What remained was one sword and a mat.

Leaving the mat as is I took only one old sword and descended the mountain.

‘Not even one chip. It means there has never been a proper exchange of moves.’

Imcheong County was noisy with the festival.

Children’s laughter was heard from all sides and busy merchants were joyful and people of all ages and genders enjoyed the festival without distinction.

‘What sin do these people have. Even if it were me if I did not know the circumstances I would have laughed the same saying a pathetic human.’

Nevertheless anger surges in the chest.

Look at this, elder, what kind of chivalrous hero is a fellow like this?

“Ah! Young hero! You came to the festival!”

“Yes, I came to sightsee since it is a famous festival.”

“Haha! Good! We will show our martial arts! It will surely please you!”

“I will have a good viewing.”

So I will do as I please.

“By the way where do I apply for participation?”

* * *

The martial demonstration gathering of Imcheong County is a historic festival that has already continued for 50 years this year.

Not only the county’s sects and martial families but also outsiders if martial artists can participate, and accordingly those who want to boast their martial power and affiliation formed a crowd.

“Did you hear that news? This time a promising talent from some great sect or renowned family is participating.”

However, great sects and renowned families have never applied for participation.

“Really? Where?”

“Why, that young hero who subdued the bandits, that person is participating.”

They say, they display tremendous martial strength with legendary elixirs and heart methods.

They say, their martial arts have profundity reaching the heavens and display bizarre and strange powers.

They say, one expert is at a level that can erase one sect.

“It is all false rumor. I saw them a few times when young, and they were not greatly different from other martial artists.”

“Didn’t the palace declare non-aggression between officials and martial artists because of them? Doesn’t that mean they possess that much tremendous martial power?”

“You need to study history a bit. The reason non-aggression between officials and martial artists arose is...”

Already Lee Shin was confirmed as from a great sect or renowned family, and numerous people headed to the martial demonstration ground to confirm the rumor.

“There he is!”

“Isn’t it a female hero dressed as a man?”

“They say if one eats a lot of elixirs the skin becomes fair and white, so that saying is true.”

Soon Lee Shin stepped onto the martial demonstration ground.

Several with good eyesight saw the sword hanging at his waist and shouted.

“Hundred Battles Hundred Defeats’s sword?”

“Looking at the shape or appearance of that scabbard it is certain!”

“They said he went around with Hundred Battles Hundred Defeats, and he even received the sword?”

Then the one who cupped his fist introduced himself.

“I am Lee Shin. The martial art to be presented is the sword technique learned from teacher Hundred Battles Hundred Defeats Jang Unryong who ascended yesterday.”

That old man who seemed like he would not die even if dead died yesterday?

What martial art did he learn from that idiot-like old man?

I heard he goes around hiding his identity, so is he using Hundred Battles Hundred Defeats as an excuse?

“...”

Amid everyone’s expectations Lee Shin drew the sword.

Unlike expectations, he did not move for a long while.

Despite the surrounding murmuring he concentrated on the memories, emotions, and senses felt from the moment he drew the sword.

『Heavenly Dragon Descending to the World!』

It was Jang Unryong’s past.

The memory of the time when swinging the sword until the hands blistered, not despairing and creating his own martial art and training.

『Heavenly Dragon Rending Space!』

The boy chasing a vain dream while having his talent sucked by a strange force and turbulent spirit became a youth and soon middle-aged.

『Heavenly Dragon Unhindered!』

And even after becoming an old man the smile hanging at the mouth was the same, and he did not let go of the sword he held for even a moment.

‘Intention has settled in the sword swung for a lifetime.’

When first drawn I did not feel it.

When trying to use his martial art, only then did the intention continue as if responding.

‘Are you asking me to fulfill your dream instead?’

I was merely going to show a fast and strong Three Talents Sword Technique with martial strength.

At this rate I cannot betray expectations, can I?

‘This too is affinity.’

The mind that has become a level lighter than before accepts the intention settled in the sword.

What dream was dreamed and what meaning was contained in creating the techniques, Jang Unryong’s dreams and illusions were earnestly felt.

‘Energy is the source that forms form, then based on the intention I can overlay my internal energy and form the form.’

Lee Shin’s mind that realized the principles of the world through Jang Unryong’s teaching melts into the energy.

The internal energy that has now become the same as one’s own will beyond limbs responds to that will and moves.

“Heavenly Dragon Descending to the World.”

Overflowing energy rides the sword and extends to the world.

When the raised sword was driven down, people were intimidated by the invisible energy and trembled.

Some weak-hearted ones said they saw the form of a dragon and wet themselves or foamed at the mouth and fainted.

“Heavenly Dragon Rending Space.”

Then he cut the world horizontally.

The sword tip blurred and tore the air apart.

The path that cannot come out with one horizontal slash vibrated the world as if thunderbolts burst from the ground and accordingly the ground shook as if a weak earthquake occurred.

“Heavenly Dragon Unhindered.”

Lee Shin’s gaze headed toward Bokryong Mountain.

When thrusting the sword toward the white cliff, the faint sword qi that had somehow been generated unraveled like a thread, and soon coiled like a snake and extended long.

‘Thinking again, there should be at least one tombstone, right?’

Long.

Very long.

When Lee Shin’s internal energy that seemed like it would not dry up bottomed out the tip touched the cliff of Bokryong Mountain that was beyond a hundred zhang.

‘If erecting a very large and splendid tombstone that no one can touch there would be no problem, right?’

He swung the sword as is.

The skill as if swinging not a sword but a brush captured even the eyes of those who were fearing the bizarre phenomenon.

[Jang Unryong withdrew the sword and returned to heaven]

Jang Unryong withdrew the sword and returned to heaven.

Lee Shin who had engraved all the text lowered the sword and gave a bitter smile at the fishy blood scent lingering at the mouth.

‘I thought there would be no matter of internal energy being insufficient for a lifetime, but it was overconfidence.’

Descending from the martial demonstration ground and looking around, it was a mess with those who fainted, fled, trembled, and were stunned.

“Y-young hero! No, g-great hero! What on earth is that martial art! I cannot believe my eyes what I saw!”

To one martial artist’s question Lee Shin answered.

“Invincible Sword, no...”

Then he changed the words.

“Cloud Dragon Aspiration Sword.”

And quietly left the village.