The Genius Youngest Disciple of the Wudang Sect

Chapter 254

To be honest, making myself known to the Martial Alliance Leader and being recognized as an independent martial artist to receive solo missions wasn't all good.

The missions of the Martial Alliance are mostly about correcting the security, justice, and order of the martial world, which, simply put, means punishing the evil groups causing trouble somewhere in the martial world.

But there are almost no villains who are openly out in places like the marketplace.

Most of them build their base and hide in some inconspicuous rural area or in a mountain valley.

So, to punish them, I have to go there myself, fight, and then come back.

'Simply put, it means hiring a martial artist cheaply under the name of a righteous hero.'

Of course, the Martial Alliance also gives rewards and allowances for completing missions or catching villains.

But the amount is, in most cases, ridiculously insufficient.

Because the Martial Alliance itself is not a very wealthy group.

The finances of the Martial Alliance are mostly operated with donations received from large clans or sects, and naturally, the donations are always insufficient, and there are many places to spend money.

'In my past life, I rolled around in such a place for over ten years.'

From being a low-level warrior to later becoming a top-level warrior, I barely climbed up, enduring low pay and heavy work, but I had almost no money saved up during that time.

Still, there was a reason why I was so interested now.

Because if I am recognized as an independent warrior of the Martial Alliance, I will have more justification to go out into the Central Plains.

Of course, even now, as a proud martial artist who has received an entry pass, no one can say anything to me for going outside the Wudang Sect.

But, even so, it is true that it is a burden to come and go from the Wudang Sect as I please.

'Because I have to report where I went and what I did.'

Since I can't just go out and come back for no reason, I have to make up some reason and report it, and that's not an easy task either.

Because there is no evidence that I went out and did something.

But what if I receive a mission from the Martial Alliance, not the Wudang Sect? Then I will have a reason to leave the Wudang Sect every time I receive a mission.

I can handle the Martial Alliance mission and also take care of my personal business.

If I investigate matters related to the Four Evils Alliance or the Demonic Cult every time I go out and solve the problems that arise there, won't I be able to get closer to them someday?

"Why is there no answer? Do you perhaps not want to become an independent warrior of the Martial Alliance?"

"Ah, no. I was just thinking for a moment. Alright. Please take me to the Martial Alliance."

"Yes. Even for you, it won't be an easy task to win this martial arts tournament with only the Three Talents Sword Art and the Taeguk Sword Art. But I believe you can do it. Because your internal energy is fundamentally much more outstanding than your senior brothers, and your basics are also outstanding."

"I'll try my best, master."

I can guess why my master made such a bet with me.

Me too, but especially my master, always emphasizes the basics.

The basics of the body, the basics of internal energy, and the basics of the forms for handling the sword.

Even if you build a castle in the air, if you build it on a sandcastle, it won't last long, but even if you build a thatched-roof house, if you build it on solid ground, it will last a long time.

On top of that, the Three Talents Sword Art and the Taeguk Sword Art are the basics of the basics of the Wudang Sect's sword arts, so he must have made such a condition.

"Yes. And apart from the tournament, don't forget to concentrate on training the Pure Yang Supreme Art."

"Of course. That's a matter of course."

"Why should I worry about you? I'm already worried about falling behind you."

My master, as if something was so amusing, burst into a hearty laugh.

These days, I seem to see my master laughing like that often.

The cynical and taciturn appearance he had when I first met him is now hard to find.

And then, after talking with my master a little more, I returned to my room.

When I returned to the room, the other four senior brothers were talking with serious faces.

"Senior brothers. What's so serious?"

"Unhwi-ya. You're here."

"We were just talking about the rules of this martial arts tournament."

"The rules of the martial arts tournament? Is there something special?"

"Yeah. You know that this time it's not the winner-takes-all rule like before, right?"

"Yes. I know. You said they weren't doing it that way this time because two people worthy of being in the Five Swords of Wudang might meet in the preliminaries and one might be eliminated, right?"

Senior Brother Un Cheol nodded his head and said, "They say a new method has come out this time."

"What kind of method?"

"This time, it's a bit of a peculiar method. It's a method where one person nominates up to three people and has to fight three duels."

"Aha... then whether you like it or not, you can only fight three duels?"

"Haha, that's a thought worthy of you, Unhwi. That's right. Conversely, you could say you can only do it three times."

At that time, Senior Brother Un Jeong took over Senior Brother Un Cheol's words and began to speak naturally.

"But the important thing is that winning or losing is not that important this time."

"Really?"

"Yeah. This time, all the grand-elders will be judges and will review the content of our duels. And they said they will pick the five with the most outstanding abilities. So in theory, even if you lose three times in a row, if you show a good performance, you can be chosen as one of the Five Swords of Wudang."

I nodded my head automatically.

Because it was a surprisingly rational method.

A rational method that I never thought a rigid group like the Wudang Sect could come up with.

"Then there won't be anyone who is unfairly eliminated in the early stages."

"Right. But according to the rumors, the reason they had to make such a rule was because of you."

"Me?"

"Yeah. I heard from Senior Brother Un Hwang that if they followed the winner-takes-all rule as they originally did, anyone who meets you in the tournament is automatically eliminated. Of course, for those who meet in the semifinals or finals, they can be in the top five, so that's one thing, but if you meet in the lower stages, you'll be eliminated."

"Haha... it's not like they'll be defeated unconditionally just because they meet me..."

"No? They'll be defeated unconditionally. To be honest, you don't have the slightest intention of losing to anyone, do you?"

"Hmm... right. You could say I have none at all."

"See? If you're not going to lose, who among us can beat you?"

A chuckle escaped me.

Of course, the skill gap between me and the other senior brothers is huge, but for some reason, it was funny that everyone just accepted it as it is without being envious or jealous.

"Then can you fight the same opponent twice?"

"How?"

"If the person who was nominated nominates the person who nominated them when it's their turn to nominate, they can end up fighting twice, right?"

"Ah! I haven't told you that yet? The person who is nominated also consumes their opportunity to duel in the same way."

"Really? Then a person who is nominated a lot might not be able to fight with the opponent they want?"

"So the person who is nominated can also choose. Whether to accept the duel or not when they are nominated."

"I see."

I thought it was a pretty interesting rule.

Even with the winner-takes-all rule, if you assume you keep winning, you have to fight at least three times.

And there is a high possibility that you won't be able to fight with the opponent you want, that is, the person with whom you can display your strength to the fullest.

"What we were seriously talking about earlier was thinking about which opponent to nominate to be most advantageous."

"Right. It doesn't seem like it would be that good to just pick opponents you can definitely beat and duel. In any case, I have to show my abilities to the fullest."

"Then it might be best to nominate a strong person and duel, even if you have to be prepared to lose?"

"Right, we were just talking about that."

At that time, the four senior brothers stared at me at the same time.

At the subtle expectation in their eyes, I let out a chuckle.

"Are all four of you wanting to fight me right now?"

"To be honest, yes. Because you can fully receive the martial arts I perform with all my strength."

"That's true, but... then how do I display my skills?"

"Is there even an opponent among our senior brothers for you to properly display your skills anyway?"

"Ugh..."

That's also true.

Then a thought suddenly occurred to me.

"Ah! Then is there no winner in this tournament? Since it's not winner-takes-all, it would be ambiguous to pick a winner, right? That can't be."

"Why?"

"Ah... there's something. I made a bet with my master..."

"If it's that, you don't have to worry. Although it's not the winner-takes-all rule, they said they will pick the most outstanding one among the Five Swords of Wudang and award the best martial artist. In the end, being chosen as the best martial artist is no different from winning, right?"

"That's probably true."

I'll have to go back to my master tomorrow and adjust the terms of the bet a little.

To be chosen as the best martial artist.

"Unhwi-ya. If many people want to duel with you, in the end, the choice will be yours."

"I guess so."

"Do you want to duel with someone among the four of us?"

"You want me to pick three out of the four?"

"Yes. If we make an agreement like this before the senior brothers from other rooms aim for you, in the end, we will have you all to ourselves..."

As Senior Brother Un Cheol was saying that to me, the door suddenly opened.

Startled, I looked at the door, and there were quite a few people standing in front of our room.

Most of them were familiar faces.

"Un Cheol. It's disappointing if you say that. We also have the right to nominate Unhwi, but you're trying to quietly take care of it in Room Eight?"

The one who stepped forward and spoke was Senior Brother Un Jihak.

And Senior Brother Un Jo, who was next to him, took over.

"That's right. You should let Unhwi make that decision, it's not for you to decide, Senior Brother Un Cheol."

"Un Jo. You bastard..."

"Don't say anything to Un Jo. It's true that you were trying to sneakily get a head start."

"Senior Brother Un Hwang..."

They were senior brothers like Un Jihak, Un Jo, and Un Hwang, who were among the best of our third-generation disciples.

And a person who was hidden behind their large and tall figures, who barely squeezed out and showed his small but present existence.

"Unhwi-ya. Let's have one match. I'm not that interested in the Five Swords of Wudang, but I want to have a formal duel with you once."

"Even Grand Senior Brother Un Gwang came?"

I shook my head as I looked at them staring at me with expressions full of desire.

This is an explosion of popularity.

Not from women, but from men. And Taoists at that. I didn't want to be this popular with them.

"Yeah. I came in case Un Cheol tried to monopolize you... and sure enough, he was doing this. It would have been a big problem if I had been a little late."

Un Gwang, who usually has kind eyes, for some reason, glared at Un Cheol.

That makes Senior Brother Un Cheol feel like a really bad person.

"Unhwi-ya. You don't have to decide right away. For now, just say that you won't make a decision right away here."

"Ah, alright. So everyone, please go back."

Even though I said I would, the senior brothers didn't seem to believe me and didn't go back for a long time.

Somehow... I felt like I had become public property.

(End of Chapter)