A Strange Encounter
That evening, Mookhyang quietly left the headquarters. Since he had plenty of time, he slowly made his way towards Shanxi, where the Jeryeong Sect (led by the Thunderbolt Sword Emperor) was located. His attire was entirely black, and he wore a short-brimmed, sharply sloped bamboo hat that covered his eyes. Although his appearance stood out a bit, the clothes were ones made long ago by Soyeon's mother while he was in Luoyang, so they were quite worn. His sword, Mookhon, appeared to be a cheap, unadorned blade, so people around him regarded him as nothing more than a wandering vagrant warrior and paid him little attention. Moreover, Mookhyang passed through mountains and fields, camping outdoors and traveling in a nearly straight line, so there were few chances to meet people along the way.
Then, one day, as he was roasting two rabbits he had caught for dinner on a desolate plain, he spotted four horses approaching along a path in the distance. One of the riders addressed him as they approached.
"Greetings."
"Greetings."
"By any chance, have you seen a man like this around here?"
The man took out a scroll from his coat. The scroll depicted a reasonably handsome face, and beneath it was written that the bounty was 40 silver coins.
"I don't know him. What did this person do?"
"He's a criminal. The day is ending, so would it be alright if we camped here with you?"
"As you please."
"Thank you."
The group dismounted their horses. Among them was a large man with an imposing build and a woman. The person who had spoken to Mookhyang appeared to be the eldest among them. They hurriedly spread out, hunted down three more rabbits, and began roasting them over the fire. They also took out dumplings, bread, and wine from their saddlebags and began boiling water in a brass kettle over the fire to brew tea.
Mookhyang's rabbits finished cooking first, so, as a courtesy, he offered to share with them. The eldest accepted one rabbit and, in return, offered Mookhyang a sizable dumpling and some wine. As they all began eating, the eldest man started talking.
"We don't know the name of the man we're looking for, but we've heard he's an exceptional fighter. He's a killer who murdered fourteen masters at Cheonilru, and among the dead were the Five Heroes of Wushan. It seems the trouble started because one of the dead was the son of Taejinmun's leader, who had only recently entered Jianghu. From what I hear, the leader of Taejinmun and the leader of Wudang jointly put up the bounty."
Mookhyang listened while chewing on his rabbit meat. After swallowing, he asked, "But isn't that too vague? It seems like you're bounty hunters, but with such limited information, finding your target would be difficult."
The man smiled and replied, "That's why we also spoke to some witnesses. They said the man prefers wearing black clothes and carries a black sword…"
At that moment, the elder stopped speaking. The more he thought about it, the more the man he was speaking to resembled the fugitive he was describing. A brief silence followed, thick with tension so palpable it seemed like one could grab it with both hands. Slowly, Mookhyang took a sip of the wine they had offered him before speaking.
"Thank you for telling me. It's been so long that I had completely forgotten. Looks like I won't be able to wear black anymore… I've grown quite attached to this outfit." At those words, the four men immediately stood up and drew their weapons, preparing for Mookhyang's attack. Seeing this, Mookhyang smiled slightly.
"If I had wanted to kill you, I could have done so hundreds of times by now. Even now, it would be easy for me to take your lives, so put away your weapons. I've never spared anyone who pointed a weapon at me, but since you offered me dumplings and wine, I'll let it slide this time."
His composed demeanor and the way he spoke, without the slightest hint of hesitation, overwhelmed them for a moment. But then the burly man among them, holding a massive ghost-head blade, charged forward. The older man stopped him with a hand and shouted, "Stop, youngest! He's an opponent we can't handle."
The woman beside them looked astonished. "Big brother, is that man really that strong?"
Instead of answering, the older man clasped his hands respectfully toward Mookhyang. "Thank you for sparing our lives. We'll leave now, but with such a high bounty on your head, you should be careful."
"Heh, if the people chasing me are only blinded by a mere 40 silver coins, they can't be that skilled. In exchange, I'll give you some information."
"What is it?"
"I'm on my way to meet the Thunderbolt Sword Emperor. How about joining me? If I lose to him, you can easily take my head and claim your reward."
The four of them exclaimed in shock, "The Thunderbolt Sword Emperor! Do you even know how strong he is?"
"I've barely been in the martial world, so this is the first time I've heard that title. If you don't mind, why don't you guide me there? I could find him on my own, but it'll take much longer without your help. Doesn't seem like a bad deal for either of us."
The older man thought for a moment before replying, "Alright, let's go together."
And so, Mookhyang began a peculiar journey with them. The older man's name was Jeongryang, and the rest were bounty hunters who had met along the way, swearing brotherhood and traveling together since then. One of them, a young man named Minok, had a way with words and made the journey less tiring with his jokes and stories. While they likely hid certain truths, they became quite friendly as they shared stories and laughter during the journey.
Twenty-five days later, they reached their destination. Mookhyang confidently approached the guards at the gate and asked, "I wish to meet the Sword Emperor. Can you either guide me or send word to him?"
"My lord has retired from the affairs of the sect and has entrusted all matters to the chief steward. If you have business, it's best to meet with the steward."
"This is a matter that only the old master can handle."
"My lord is currently staying at that cottage over there, attended by only a few servants. But even if you go, it will be difficult to meet him."
"Thank you for letting me know." Mookhyang's group rode up the mountain. As they traveled along the mountain path, Mookhyang suddenly stopped and shouted, "Show yourselves!"
At his command, four masked men dressed in black appeared. Seeing them, his companions were startled and readied their weapons. But Mookhyang ignored their reaction and asked the masked men, "Who sent you?"
One of them replied, "Elder Hyuk Moosang has sent us. He ordered us to support the captain."
"Go back."
"We cannot. We cannot return."
"Hmm… very well. You may follow me, but do not take any action unless I give the order. Can you promise that?"
"We will obey."
"Good, follow me."
Mookhyang's companions realized that the four masked men following them were highly trained experts. They stopped joking and continued quietly along the path. From the way these men moved silently, it was clear that they weren't ordinary martial artists, something Mookhyang and the bounty hunters sensed instinctively. Neither Mookhyang nor the masked men spoke as they hurried along the road until they reached the cottage just before evening, around the time hunger began to set in.
In the garden of the cottage, a handsome young man, appearing just over thirty, was tending to a plum tree, with a boy dressed in blue attending to him. Seeing the group approach, the young man greeted them warmly.
"Welcome! Have you eaten yet? Boy, quickly go and summon all the masters from Munhyangju. Tell them it's urgent."
"Yes, sir." The boy replied and sprinted off using lightfoot technique. The masked men flinched, but Mookhyang silently gestured for them to stay put, and they simply watched the boy as he disappeared into the distance.
"Ryeong! We have guests, bring tea. Everyone, please come in."
The Sword Emperor led the guests to sit on one side of the porch, but the masked men remained standing in the yard, not coming closer. Mookhyang noticed this and spoke to the young man, "Don't worry about them."
"Very well, I won't. Now, come sit with me for a chat?"
"Yes, of course."
Everyone except the masked men sat down, and a girl called Ryeong, dressed in red, brought out tea and simple refreshments. As Mookhyang drank his tea, the young man watched him with curiosity and remarked, "By the way you're drinking tea, you must truly be a man of the wilderness. It seems you've never received any formal education in etiquette."
"I've hardly received any formal education since I was born. I did learn various things from my last master recently, but after living that way for so long, it's become a habit that's hard to break."
"It's not that it's hard to break, you just haven't tried to change it."
"Haha, whether it's that or the other, it's about the same. I don't like to be bound by trivial matters."
"You don't seem like the type to covet the world. Why, then...?"
"It's because of loyalty. Nothing more. One day…"
"How's the tea?"
"It's good. But I still don't understand the subtleties of tea. I just know if it suits my taste or not, nothing more."
"I'm glad it suits your taste. Have you eaten yet?"
"No."
"Ryeong, prepare some food and drinks."
"Yes."
"Since we're in the mountains, I'm afraid the meal will be modest. I hope you don't mind."
"Not at all."
Everyone was intently listening to the conversation between the young man and Mookhyang. At first, they were puzzled that Mookhyang was chatting so casually with this young man instead of the Thunder Sword Emperor, but as they eavesdropped on the conversation, they began to piece together the young man's identity. Surprisingly, this young man, who looked just over thirty, was none other than the Thunder Sword Emperor, one of the three pillars of the orthodox martial world.
They remembered that when one reaches the stage of enlightenment, they could reverse their aging and appear younger, so it wasn't completely unexpected. Yet, they were still entirely absorbed in the exchange between Mookhyang and the Thunder Sword Emperor, listening in silence.
It was clear that the young man held goodwill toward them for now, but there was no guarantee that his attitude wouldn't change, and Mookhyang had come here with the intent to harm him. How things would unfold from here remained uncertain. The group was puzzled by the Thunder Sword Emperor's warm hospitality but chose to remain quiet while staying alert. They were also concerned about the boy in blue who had gone to gather the martial artists. If he returned with many masters, the situation could quickly escalate. But since Mookhyang remained calm, there was nothing they could do.
As they continued their conversation, the red-clad girl, Ryeong, brought out food, and they ate while chatting. Meanwhile, the masked men in black remained standing at a distance, not participating in the meal or conversation.
Just as they were finishing their meal, about fifteen martial artists rushed up the mountain using their lightfoot technique at full speed. Judging by their movements, it was clear that they were well-trained. The situation everyone had been worried about was now becoming a reality, and they all tensed up, preparing for the worst. Though Mookhyang's group hadn't come here with the intent to fight, they knew that if these new arrivals attacked without asking questions, they would also be in danger, and the tense atmosphere chilled further.
Despite the sudden arrival of the martial artists, Mookhyang's expression remained unchanged. He glanced at the approaching group and spoke to the young man, "They're quite well-trained."
"Heh… It's all just for show. Only a few of them are actually useful."
One of the arriving disciples respectfully cupped his hands and greeted the young man, though the disciple looked older than the young man himself, making the situation appear somewhat awkward. But now, everyone was sure of it. They had confirmed the young man's identity.
"Did you call for me, Father?"
"Yes, sit down and listen to this old man's conversation. I thought it might be helpful, so I called you."
"Yes."
They sat behind the young man. Since there wasn't enough seating, the girl in red brought out mats, and most of them sat in the yard. Tea was also served to them.
"Have you learned anything other than martial arts?"
"I've learned a few things. They were all taught by my last master—some music and ink painting. My master also loved gardening, so I picked up a bit of that as well. But I wasn't very talented, so I didn't learn much."
"Music, you say? Do you happen to know how to play the guqin?"
"A little."
"Ryeong, bring the guqin."
"Yes…"
The girl in red brought the guqin, which the Thunder Sword Emperor handed over.
"It's not a great instrument, but I'd appreciate it if you could play a song."
"Then…"
Without hesitation, Mookhyang took the guqin, tuned the strings, and began to play. He infused the music with a touch of his inner energy, causing the sound to deeply resonate with the listeners. This was a technique inspired by the musical arts of the demonic sect, a skill that could evoke powerful emotions, and if infused with more inner energy, it could even bring death to the listener. Although Mookhyang had learned this from Yoo Baek, he firmly believed that using music to kill was unthinkable, so he used inner energy only as a tool to stir emotion, like seasoning for the soul.
As the music played, the boy in blue sitting nearby began to tear up, and the girl in red couldn't hold back and let her tears flow. Seeing this, Mookhyang stopped playing.
"Thank you for listening to such a humble piece."
"Hmm, your playing skills aren't particularly impressive, but your subtle control of inner energy is truly remarkable. It's enough to make Ryeong cry… If you seriously trained in music, you could become unparalleled just with sound alone. What do you think?"
"Music is meant to stir emotions and bring joy, not to kill. There are countless ways to take a life, so why would I choose that method?"
"You're quite an unusual fellow. For those with strong inner energy, using music can be a great advantage. The Sound Emperor, Mantong, for example, killed many with his murderous melodies. It seems to be the best way to take out large numbers of people effortlessly."
"It may be more difficult, but I have no intention of using sound as a means to kill."
"What do you think a sword is?"
"What? You still don't understand the sword?"
"..."
"Aren't those swords hanging by their waists? Beautiful tools designed for killing, with a double-edged blade, usually about 2 feet and 8 inches long..."
"You know that's not what I'm asking…"
"It's all the same. Martial arts are martial arts, a sword is a sword, and a saber is a saber. Why confuse martial arts with the sword?"
"Impressive. You've reached such a level of understanding... But still, many fools continue to confuse the two. Even my own son over there is confused by it. The sword is nothing special, just an extension of the hand, really. I feel like I could talk to you all night about this. What do you think?"
"I'd like that."
The Result of the Discussion - 1
Mookhyang and the Thunder Sword Emperor talked throughout the night. Most of their conversation was about martial arts, but they also discussed many other topics. However, their dialogue contained no personal matters or stories about their surroundings. They sipped drinks while talking until dawn. Everyone nearby listened intently to their conversation. The topics they discussed were of an exceptionally high level of martial arts, and most were too difficult for the others to understand. However, the Thunder Sword Emperor and Mookhyang were excited, agreeing and debating each other's theories as they continued to converse.
It was rare to see the sunset from where the Thunder Sword Emperor lived, but they could enjoy the expansive view of the sunrise ahead. As the sun rose, everyone stopped talking and seemed entranced by the scene. Once the sun was fully up, the Thunder Sword Emperor asked again, "What kind of mindset do you think is necessary to create a good sword?"
Suddenly, Mookhyang's expression tightened a bit. "It's hard to answer that question. But I can give you a secondary answer: you must forget everything. If you completely forget, a good sword will be made."
"Forget everything? That's an impossible answer for an ordinary person. Then what is the best answer?"
"That is the preface of a sword technique I'm conceiving, so I cannot tell you. I don't intend to reveal that technique to anyone."
"Not even to your future disciple?"
"I don't plan on taking a disciple. I just want to know where the end of martial arts is. I intend to continue training until I die of old age."
"You're quite a remarkable friend. Then can you tell me the name of the sword technique you are conceiving? I'm really curious."
"It's called the Supreme Sword Technique."
"That's a very ambitious name. Supreme means there is no higher sword technique... I'm even more curious about what it is."
"You will see it shortly."
"How many basic forms does the Supreme Sword Technique consist of?"
"There are no fixed basic forms."
"No basic forms? How can it be called a sword technique then?"
"It contains the essence of formless basic forms. If there were basic forms, counter techniques would emerge that would exploit them. However, since there are no basic forms, it can be considered supreme."
"Then what form does this sword technique take?"
"So far, I have created four chapters. I plan to expand it later."
"Can you briefly tell me about them?"
"It's no trouble at all. Chapter 1 is Sword Qi, Chapter 2 is Sword Wind, Chapter 3 is Sword Control, and Chapter 4 is Sword Intensity. Essentially, it's just using a sword; it's not a sword technique in the traditional sense. But I simply wanted to name it that way."
"All the legendary martial arts are included here. It's even more enticing. You must have been exhausted waiting until now... Lyeong-ah, bring me my sword."
At that, the girl in red asked with a surprised expression, "You mean the sword?"
"Yes."
The girl in red went inside and returned with an ancient, weathered sword, presenting it to the Thunder Sword Emperor. He slowly drew the sword and showed it to Mookhyang.
"I happened to rescue this over thirty years ago, and I still cherish it dearly. It's a truly remarkable sword. I'm still grateful that it came into my hands. What do you think?"
"It's a very excellent sword. The straight blade embodies the essence of the mountains, so I believe it to be a great treasure. What is its name?"
"It's called the Overlord Sword. It lacks the aura typical of a treasure sword and looks more like an ordinary sword, so I didn't recognize its true value at first. But the more I use it, the more I like it, which is why I named it that. What about your sword?"
"Mine is just an ordinary sword made of refined steel. I've just grown attached to it over a long period, so I use it, but it's nothing special. However, it's a well-crafted sword that I truly like."
Mookhyang pulled out Mookhon to show and said, "It seems you prefer shorter swords."
"Not necessarily. In the past, I enjoyed using a sword with a length of one foot to confuse my opponents, but now I find that cumbersome, so I cut it down to just slightly longer than an ordinary sword."
"One foot, that's impressive. If the handle is indeed one foot long, it would be hard for anyone but a skilled master to gauge the distance. Now, I want to see your skills. Follow me."