Chapter 437
## Chapter 437. The Bird That Calls the Typhoon (2)
—
It shifted and altered continuously.
The radiant gold, which had initiated as a minuscule speck of candlelight, refashioned its form to leave a trailing wake amidst the battering tempest. Against the sheer dominance of the roaring gale, there were instances when the illumination seemed on the verge of blinking out dangerously. Yet, in the same manner that a spark clinging to a wick tenaciously returns to life, the fire at the tip of the blade, which had appeared to fade into the distance, flourished radiantly once more.
At last, it occurred precisely as though it had been anticipating this exact instant.
*Fwaaaaah—*
The microscopic spark burst forth like an overflowing bounty, spreading out in every direction. It was unmistakably a mere fraction of a flame that could never compare to the colossal tempest, yet the drifting embers ate away at the gale while leaving streaks of fire in their wake. The tempest, as if its entire framework had been shackled, became enshrouded by those embers and dissipated without a trace.
Witnessing that wondrous display, Namgung Tae-ha let out a soft, awestruck gasp.
“Heh…….”
It was a baffling and extraordinary sight. He had initially resisted with insignificant force, only to soon yield his entire being to the flow. He pulled with immense strength, then allowed himself to be dragged along helplessly. The massive tempest had undeniably displayed its might with enough violence to shake the entire stone arena, but the tiny spark held its ground as though swept up by the current, while simultaneously demonstrating that it would not be overcome by it.
“Hyaaaat!”
A tempestuous surge of power burst from Jong Byeok-gi’s form. The gale that had been swirling wildly in all directions split into two separate currents and lunged toward Jin So-un.
*Rumble—*
Every observer recognized that this wind was far from ordinary weather. It was undeniably the materialization of inner energy. Wherever that wind swept through, it was certain that nothing but a multitude of blade gashes would remain.
*Whooooosh—*
The twin currents of wind, which had risen as high as a building’s roof, surged directly at Jin So-un.
*Clang-clang-clang-clang-clang—*
Like a screeching predator, the sword-wind grated against the solid ground of the arena. It bellowed while tearing savagely with iron talons. Shards of stone ricocheted and rock dust filled the air. Since even the dense masonry was being torn apart, what chance did a human body have?
The focus of the onlookers turned completely toward Jin So-un.
“My goodness…….”
They witnessed Jin So-un calmly executing sword strokes amidst the gale. The tiny spark stretching from the edge of Jin So-un’s blade redirected the path of the wind. The illusion sword, blanketed in a golden aura of inner energy, struck the gale and shattered into fragments. This was not a clash of identical magnitudes of force. Disparate levels of power were colliding, yet neither side could claim the upper hand.
It was not a reliance on superficial insights or an underhanded tactic. That was—
A Frontal Attack (Jeong-gong). It was a Frontal Attack……!
Namgung Tae-ha was left completely open-mouthed. What exactly constitutes a Frontal Attack? It represents the pinnacle of martial theory. The ultimate condition that exists only within conceptual thought. People refer to it as mere hypothesis because, to apply it in actual warfare, alternative techniques and adaptations must be introduced.
Yet, that very phenomenon was occurring right before his eyes. Untainted and magnificent. Flawless and whole. A Frontal Attack (Jeong-gong) was directly confronting a martial art (Mu-gong). Pure theory was answering the chaos of actual combat.
*Crack.*
Namgung Tae-ha, jolted back to reality by a fracturing sound from the adjacent chair, snapped his head around. The support where Moyong-gang had rested his hand was smashed to splinters. The elder was completely oblivious to his own actions, unconcerned with having destroyed someone else’s property.
“This is…… this is the true path of the Tae-eul Sword Emperor!”
Moyong-gang was shivering while rising halfway from his seat, looking as though he wanted to leap down into the arena this very second. Namgung Tae-ha shared that exact sentiment because the spectacle was so staggering. Erring on the side of caution, he took hold of Moyong-gang’s robes while maintaining his gaze on the core discipline of the Tae-eul Sect.
Jong Byeok-gi’s blade work was grand and piercing. It was overwhelming and ruinous. It could strike down the heavens and command the gale to blot out the sun. By now, the onlookers had backed away several paces from the arena boundary, unable to withstand the shockwaves generated by a single combatant.
In the center of it all, within the heart of the gale, Jin So-un did not budge. At times he stood immovable like a boulder, and at times he bent flexibly like grass. He drifted like water, then flared like timber. Though it was undeniably Jeom-chang that was pressing the offensive, a look of profound dread was evident only on Jong Byeok-gi’s features. Jin So-un merely adapted his form relentlessly within his foe’s space.
“Ah…….”
Moyong-gang exhaled a soft breath. It was not because a clash between youngsters filled him with astonishment. What this duel exhibited was something far greater: the core essence (Bon-jil) of the Tae-eul Sect. Its root foundation (Geun-bon). The mythical legacy that had vanished from the world half a millennium ago.
“Is this what the Tae-eul Sword Emperor meant…….”
That legacy had traversed five hundred years of history.
“Is this Change (Byeon-hwa)!”
He was transmitting his revelation.
“Haha…….”
Moyong-gang was utterly captivated by that magnificent display. The Tae-eul Sword Emperor, who had been unable to hand down his teachings for five centuries, was broadcasting his discipline to the world through Jin So-un. Proving that he had once walked the earth, and that his legacy endured.
Superimposed over Jin So-un’s movements, the silhouette of a transcendent sage seemed to appear. Not just Moyong-gang, but Namgung Tae-ha, Hyeok Mu-gang, and Jegal So-myeong as well—not a single soul could avert their gaze from this duel.
—
Jong Byeok-gi held a deep affection for it: the raptor that soared unhindered through the open sky, and the Jeom-chang Sect that mirrored that raptor. A bird of prey that occasionally consumed the sun to transform into a creature of fire, and at other times became a lone squall to summon a tempest. Jong Byeok-gi could not help but revere it. To him, Jeom-chang was the raptor itself. That bird, which he adored with every fiber of his being, was a cause for which he would gladly surrender his life.
Yet he carried a heavy burden of remorse—the fact that the ultimate worth of his beloved and esteemed raptor was failing to show itself to the world, and that it could not radiate its true brilliance. If only this raptor could claim dominion over the vast sky. If only it could be revered by the martial world, he would have felt no sorrow even if his body turned to ash like kindling.
However, he could not even serve as that kindling.
The plum blossoms of Mount Hua obstructed the raptor’s path. The Taiji of Wudang impeded its flight. The Vajra of Shaolin loomed like a Great Mountain to block its advance. Even so, Jong Byeok-gi had not succumbed to total despair, because he discerned a glimmer of hope before those monumental barriers. The raptor was unquestionably the absolute pinnacle (Choe-go); it had simply been born into an unfavorable era. Like a creature of fire rising renewed from the embers, it would one day command the boundless heavens.
‘Surely, it was meant to be that way…….’
Jong Byeok-gi’s expression grew distant. His eyes, filled with a creeping sense of hopelessness and dread, searched the sky that refused to become his territory. The vulnerable spark kept returning to life regardless of how fiercely the wind raged, as if it had transformed into a firebird itself, slicing through the firmament without a moment’s hesitation.
‘Why! What is the reason……!’
No matter how desperately he attempted to summon a tempest with his sweeping wings, the opposing force fluidly shifted its form and erupted into brilliant light once more. It dodged and slipped away with perfect poise, utilizing force to suppress his advances. It generated illusions to deplete his stamina and initiated variations to alter his trajectory. A minor flame that refused to die even when on the verge of extinction. That cursed ember had expanded its presence monumentally before he even realized it. It was no longer an insignificant spark.
‘Again! As I feared, are you also one of those anomalies!!’
Yong So-ah, Il-myeong, Dang Seo-hui, and Hwa Jeong-san—they were anomalies. Beings who went far beyond the boundaries of mere talent. Those anomalies wielded weapons, and those weapons were called ‘Foundation’ (Geun-bon). That was precisely why they stood unyielding.
But Jin So-un stood apart. That individual was ‘merely’ an anomaly, a prodigy lacking the heritage of an established foundation. For that reason, Jong Byeok-gi had refused to readily accept it—refused to believe the Tae-eul Sect possessed a foundation comparable to Jeom-chang.
Yet, the more their blades struck, the more their inner energies mingled, the more the truth forced its way into his awareness.
“Is it this…… is it truly this…….”
The wings of the raptor cruising through the heavens were snapping. The gale summoned by the bird ceased to blow. And that straight yet pliant spark remained utterly undisturbed by the tempests deployed in every direction.
“Is this…… your true foundation!”
Amidst a myriad of transformations, the youth himself was transforming. Unceasing Change (Byeon-hwa) flourished like blossoms across the arena. He was exhibiting it: his heritage. He was validating it: his foundation.
It was impossible to look away. Just how many paths that boundless transformation possessed, he could not even begin to calculate. It was no longer a matter of his crippled leg or his ruined dantian.
“Hehe…….”
From Jong Byeok-gi’s mouth, a sound resembling a weeping laugh escaped. His own lineage…… could not match the legacy wielded by Jin So-un.
‘Just a moment longer…….’
He yearned to observe just a bit more to see how far these variations would go, but he simply lacked the capacity to track the sequence. He remained oblivious to the fact that the duel he had once dominated was now entirely under So-un’s control. He was merely trailing Jin So-un’s lead.
‘A bit more…… just a fraction more…….’
He needed to witness more. To see how deep the roots of Tae-eul truly ran. To see the vast gulf between the raptor of Jeom-chang and the fluid change of Tae-eul. Because his broken body could never elevate Jeom-chang to the pinnacle of the world, identifying the enemy’s ultimate strength was his final obligation—even if he had to burn to cinders in the process. By stepping upon his remains, Jeom-chang would eventually emerge as the raptor that devoured the sun and dominated the sky.
*Whooooosh—*
He desperately ignited his devastated dantian. The warning of the healer who had tended to him echoed like a phantom voice.
‘Priest Jong, you must absolutely never push your body to the limit again.’
Yet retreat was not an option. This was his solemn oath to Jeom-chang. The turbulent wind currents and the raging vortex all broke apart and vanished. Sensing the shift, Jin So-un, who had maintained absolute silence until now, spoke with a mocking edge.
“Now, have you finally resolved to approach this with true intent?”
“…….”
Jong Byeok-gi, having hardened his heart, was beyond shaking. Now was the moment to strictly witness the foundation (Geun-bon) of the Tae-eul Sect. He drew back his blade, locking it into position like a drawn projectile. Jin So-un likewise reduced the expanded flame back to its basic form.
“If I fall here…….”
Channeling every ounce of his remaining strength into his mangled leg.
“It means only that I am inadequate. Jeom-chang itself is by no means…….”
“Good grief, you waste too many words.”
Though his statement was cut short, he felt little resentment. Jin So-un simply grasped the truth better than he did: that a lone, absolute clash (Gyeol-jeon) serves as a far more absolute validation (Jeung-myeong) than a thousand speeches.
*Wooooom—*
The Bi-un-geom erupted like a beam of pure light through an air pressure wave compressed to the absolute limit. The Hawk Piercing the Sun. The Alpha and Omega of Jeom-chang. The Sun-shooting Sword Law (Sa-il-geom-beop). Jong Byeok-gi infused the entire concentration of his existence into the tip of the Bi-un-geom.
*Whoosh—*
A strike that cleaved the atmosphere in two.
*Clang-clang-clang-clang—*
The speed was so immense that countless metallic echoes chimed within a single heartbeat of the strike. As though thousands of projectiles were raining down simultaneously, the blade tips blanketed Jin So-un completely.
However,
“It’s a remarkably precious blade; to think you held it back until the final moment.”
A subtle grin crossed Jin So-un’s features. At long last,
*Chrrrrr—*
Countless shifting swords, countless phantom blades. Hundreds of permutations brought forth by this display. The genuine core disciplines of Tae-eul and Jeom-chang slammed together.
*Flash—*
In a heartbeat, the falling rain was blasted away two *jang* in every direction by the two conflicting energies. The forces compressed once more, and then—
*Boom—*
They detonated.
*Crash-crash-crash—*
The resulting shockwave that rippled outward caused the downpour over the Tae-eul Sect area to freeze for a split second. By the time the observers collected themselves as the rain resumed its descent, only a single combatant remained standing on the arena floor.
“Th-this is…… the Tae-eul Sect.”
It belonged completely to the Tae-eul Sect.
—
The downpour steadily dwindled. Was it merely a brief sunshower, or had the storm clouds simply drifted away? I could not tell. White vapor drifted upward from my entire form. Though my reserve of internal energy had not been heavily depleted, executing a Frontal Attack (Jeong-gong) extracts a heavy toll on one’s psychological and physical endurance.
I cast my eyes down at Jong Byeok-gi, who lay broken on the stone floor. Judging by the total absence of residual force, his dantian was not merely damaged—it was utterly obliterated. He would never again walk the path of a martial artist for the rest of his days.
A conflict where one wagers their very existence. I questioned whether this tournament truly held that much significance for him. He could have enjoyed a respectable life as a standard martial artist, so why did he pigheadedly destroy himself to this degree?
‘It certainly wasn’t out of benevolence for the Tae-eul Sect…… though that is the outcome it produced.’
The bitter memories and dark phantoms of the past that I associated with him began to lose their sharp edges. If nothing else, he played his part in demonstrating the righteous justice of the Tae-eul Sect to the masses.
At my silent permission, the disciples of the Tae-eul Sect stepped forward with great care, lifting Jong Byeok-gi and carrying him away from the arena floor. I stood waiting for whoever would challenge me next.
*Drip— drop—*
The scattering drops falling here and there eventually ceased entirely. I directed my damp frame toward the gathering of dissenters.
“Next.”
“…….”
The individuals who had been staring at me with murderous intent just moments prior began to look away one after another.
“Next.”
I voiced the call while locking eyes with a man who was attempting to draw his weapon and step forward, but those surrounding him forcefully held him back.
“No, what is the meaning of this?”
“Remain where you are. This isn’t an arena where you stand a chance.”
“But our collective strength is far superior…….”
“Mass numbers have already lost all relevance.”
“No, what do you mean by that…….”
“Just stay back.”
It became evident that not a single soul among the dissenters possessed the courage to step forward.
“I designated this an Infinite Competition, but that does not imply my willingness to accommodate you indefinitely. If you refuse to step forward at this moment.”
Because they could no longer even meet my gaze directly.
“Abandon any thought of ever challenging me again.”
“…….”
I had received in excess of four hundred formal challenges. And the Tae-eul Sect had systematically broken nearly half of that number.
“Is this display sufficient for the Tae-eul Sect to be recognized as having validated its righteousness?”
“…….”
The remaining challengers averted their faces whenever our paths crossed. Any further dialogue was entirely pointless.
“I shall interpret your silence as your consensus. I extend my appreciation as the First Disciple of the Tae-eul Sect to all who gathered for this grand occasion.”
Offering a formal martial gesture, I turned my back on them without a single glance. Gang Chae-seok’s booming announcement resonated behind me.
“Jin So-un of the Tae-eul Sect claims victory!”
At that exact moment, beams of sunlight pierced through the parting clouds, forming a radiant walkway that guided me back to the Tae-eul Sect’s pavilion. I envisioned my ancient Founder, whom I had encountered within the Invincible Spirit-Destroying Formation of Infinite Measurement, and directed a thought to him.
‘Was this not a grand enough spectacle for a revival ceremony?’
The Founder offered a radiant beam in my direction, displaying a look of pure warmth I had never previously witnessed from him.
