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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Teottry
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In the secluded courtyard of his lodgings,
Zi Lu, the Martial Alliance leader, who had delegated his “trivial matters” to his assistant, as his impudent junior brother had suggested…
“Alright, I’ll teach you the essence of Daoist martial arts, Tai Chi Chuan.”
…stepped forward, stretching his stiff body from all the paperwork.
“No! I want to learn the Nine Yin Manual! What’s with this Tai Chi Chuan?!”
“Hmm… Tai Chi Chuan being the essence of Daoist martial arts when the Emei Sect exists… I’m offended.”
Mancheon and Wang Meiyang grumbled, each for their own reasons.
“Hey! Tai Chi Chuan is good too! You brats are too picky!”
“And if you’re here to watch someone else’s martial arts, just watch quietly.”
Zi Lu frowned, exasperated by their absurd behavior.
He had been bothered so much that he decided to teach them a martial art and get them to quiet down, partly to fulfill his responsibility as a senior brother to his master’s other disciples.
But now, the little master was here too, making even more noise.
He looked at Mancheon, the arrogant brat who lived in his own little world, his eyes filled with weariness.
“So, you don’t want to learn?”
“No, I always welcome new martial arts. Please teach me.”
He was more interested in the Nine Yin Manual, a divine technique, but…
He knew he wouldn’t get anything if he kept complaining, and he was also quite interested in Tai Chi Chuan, the signature martial art of the Wudang Sect, so he quickly asked for instruction.
“Master, is it okay if I learn this? It’ll be helpful for the revival of the Emei Sect.”
“If you think of it as learning Daoist teachings… I suppose it’s fine…”
Wang Meiyang also nodded, secretly interested in the martial art of the Wudang Sect, the sect that had become the leader of the Daoist factions.
With his little master’s permission, there was no longer any problem.
All he had to do was master Tai Chi Chuan and…
Become Sima Mancheon, the genius who deceived even the heavens, the chosen protector of the martial world, the master of Tai Chi, whose name would be etched on the tablet of the Immovable King.
“……”
Even he thought it was a bit too long. When did it get so long? Was he some kind of benevolent Persian emperor?
He would have to shorten his title later.
Before starting his martial arts training, he stretched and let his mind wander, trying to relax.
“So you’ve decided to learn. But there’s a condition.”
Zi Lu spoke, his face tired, as if he was finally getting to the main point.
“A condition?”
“Yes, until you master Tai Chi Chuan, no more ‘troublemaking.’ Just focus on your training here.”
His eyebrow twitched at the emphasized word.
His senior brother wasn’t just being nice by agreeing to teach him.
There was a reason.
“Xiaoshao’s condition will have fully recovered by the time the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering is over.”
“She doesn’t need your help. If Xiaoshao fights seriously, Mudan has no chance of winning against her.”
He wasn’t overestimating her just because she was his deceased disciple’s child, a child he cared for.
Xiaoshao didn’t like to show off, but her skills were already beyond the level of an aspiring martial artist.
Among the current generation of aspiring martial artists in the Righteous Sects, the only one who could defeat Xiaoshao was that little girl from the Jegal Family, Gwahae.
Anyway, from Zi Lu’s perspective, it was like this: He was giving Mancheon, a child who wanted to eat cake (beat Xue Mudan to a pulp), a lollipop (Tai Chi Chuan) to keep him occupied and prevent him from causing trouble during the festival, where all the important figures of the righteous martial world would be gathered.
He had to laugh. He was being underestimated, severely underestimated.
“Understood, Senior Brother. I’ll focus on my training here ‘until’ I master Tai Chi Chuan.”
So he agreed readily, preparing to learn Tai Chi Chuan.
There was no need for further discussion.
After all, those words meant he was allowed to cause trouble once he had mastered Tai Chi Chuan and could use it as he pleased, before the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering ended.
He was sorry, Senior Brother, but he was a greedy child.
He wanted both the lollipop and the cake.
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Moments later, not even a quarter of an hour after his bold declaration,
his eyes blinked rapidly at the “Tai Chi Chuan” techniques being performed before him.
“Uh… aren’t they all the same Tai Chi Chuan?”
“Sigh… this is why amateurs are…”
Zi Lu sighed deeply and repeated the seemingly identical Tai Chi Chuan movements.
“This is Chen-style Tai Chi Chuan, created by Emperor Qin Shi Huang, known for his mastery of fist techniques.”
-Whoosh Whoosh Swish Bam!!
“And this is Yang-style Tai Chi Chuan, a modified version of Chen-style created by Yang Luchan, a master of martial arts.”
-Flowing Floating Gentle Swaying!!
Wang Meiyang also nodded in agreement, as if she could see something.
“Each one is… high-level.”
‘Is that it? They’re high-level?!’
He had always associated Tai Chi Chuan with the Wudang Sect, so he hadn’t realized there were so many variations.
Since Tai Chi was an important concept in Daoism, each practitioner’s understanding and interpretation of its principles were different, and
just like the factionalism that arose during the Joseon Dynasty, various styles of Tai Chi Chuan were created.
They had seemed identical at first glance, but now that he looked closely, he could see the differences.
Chen-style was fast.
Like yin transforming into yang, and yang into yin, offense and defense switched seamlessly, leaving no openings.
Yang-style, on the other hand, was relaxed.
It felt more like stretching exercises than martial arts, but the movements were simple, gentle, and gradually built up like layers, forming a solid, impenetrable wall.
If Chen-style was a spear and shield, Yang-style was a dual shield.
As he was analyzing the different styles,
“Carry Tai Chi above your head, embrace the Eight Trigrams in your chest, and tread the Five Elements with your feet.”
Zi Lu slightly bent his knees, extended his arms forward, and demonstrated the final Tai Chi Chuan style.
Calm yet fluid movements unfolded before his eyes. Circles were drawn on the ground with each step.
It was neither a spear nor a shield. The movements flowed naturally, like a river, overwhelming the opponent.
“Zhang-style Tai Chi Chuan.”
As the saying went, the protagonist always appeared last.
The masterpiece of Zhang Sanfeng, the founder of the Wudang Sect, was revealed.
“……”
“Chen-style, Yang-style, Zhang-style, while seemingly similar, each has its own unique characteristics. Which one do you want to learn?”
Zi Lu asked, his demonstration finished, looking at Mancheon, who had fallen silent in concentration. Without hesitation, he chose.
“Zhang-style Tai Chi Chuan.”
“Ha! You chose the most difficult one. Are you sure you don’t want to reconsider?”
His foolish senior brother scoffed, and he smiled back.
“That’s why I chose it. It’ll look the coolest when I show it off.”
“You brat… you’re truly the best in the world when it comes to talking big. Assume the stance.”
Yi Jing Zhuang Shui – Let your mind flow like water.
Yi Jing Zhi Dong – Control movement with stillness.
Rou Neng Zhi Gang – Softness overcomes hardness.
“These are the three most important principles of Tai Chi Chuan.”
Zi Lu was certain that with this, Mancheon would quietly practice martial arts with Wang Meiyang until the end of the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.
After all, Tai Chi Chuan wasn’t a martial art you could master just by memorizing the movements.
It was said that peonies were beautiful, but they had no fragrance.
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And so, Xue Mudan, the eleven-year-old young master of the North Sea Ice Palace, hated his name.
He didn’t know why his deceased mother had given him such a name, but…
“Did you hear? Young Lady Yuehua has already reached the realm where she can create ice.”
“She’s only nine, that’s amazing. …What about the Young Master?”
He could hear the maids whispering.
“You know. He’s just pretty.”
“Sigh~ what a waste of a handsome face. It would have been nice if he had even half the talent for martial arts.”
It felt like they were branding him as a beauty, but empty shell, like a fragrance-less ornamental flower.
As he was feeling dejected and about to return to his room, a fluffy ball of white, her chubby cheeks and hair tied up in buns, came running towards him.
“Brother! Brother!”
His younger sister, Xue Yuehua, her eyes sparkling, showed off her latest creation.
“Look! It’s a baby seal made of ice!”
“Yes… it’s well-made.”
He reached out and patted his younger sister’s head, praising her in place of their busy father.
But he unconsciously avoided looking directly at Yuehua’s ice sculpture.
He should be genuinely happy for her, but he was jealous of her talent.
Unaware of his feelings, his younger sister smiled brightly at his touch, making him feel guilty.
“Heehee~ Brother! Let’s go see the baby seals!!”
He had once snuck out of the palace with Yuehua to show her some seals when she was upset that their father wouldn’t play with her, and she seemed to have enjoyed it.
“Alright.”
He smiled weakly and indulged his younger sister’s request. It was the only thing a useless person like him could do.
They watched the baby seals playing in the snow near the frozen lake.
“Oo- Oo- Oophoo-!!”
“Wow~ Wow~ Wowoo!!”
“Awoo~ It’s Wowoo! They’re so cute, just like me!!”
He felt a sense of accomplishment and pride, seeing Yuehua happily imitating the seals’ cries. He was glad he had brought her.
“Awoo-!!”
But his satisfaction was short-lived. A different kind of animal cry echoed through the air.
A pack of wolves had appeared, drawn by the scent of the young, vulnerable seals.
Mudan’s mind went blank at the unexpected sight. Just as his legs were about to give way,
“B-brother…”
he heard his younger sister’s trembling voice and managed to keep himself from collapsing. He hid Yuehua behind him.
Mudan was proud. His pride wouldn’t allow him to abandon his sister and run away.
That would be worse than death. It would be like killing himself.
So he pulled out a carving knife from his waist and stepped forward.
“Yuehua, when the wolves attack me, run.”
“……?!”
His father, and everyone else, would rather have Yuehua survive than a talentless person like him.
He wanted to face death with more resolve, but tears welled up in his eyes. His body trembled as he felt the wolves’ hot breath on his face.
Perhaps that was why, he saw a hallucination amidst the swirling snow.
A monstrous figure, over eight feet tall, wearing a worn gray cloak and holding a white sword, walked confidently towards the pack of wolves.
And as the figure swung its sword, he witnessed a sight he had never seen before.
Plum Blossom Sword Technique – Plum Blossoms in Full Bloom.
Red plum blossoms bloomed in the barren, snow-covered North Sea.
The wolves scattered instantly, and as the technique ended, the figure’s white sword disintegrated into the wind.
It hadn’t been a real sword, just snow shaped into a blade with qi.
Even to a child who hadn’t learned proper martial arts, it was clearly a technique of a transcendent realm.
Mudan stared at the approaching figure with wide, trembling eyes.
The figure was an old man, and his appearance was far from handsome. But…
“Are you alright?”
He was the most impressive person Mudan had ever seen.
That was his first encounter with his master.
Mudan woke up and opened the window, looking at the dark night sky, the moon hidden behind clouds.
‘Mancheon… a fateful encounter.’
His master sometimes talked about Mancheon, who had become his disciple earlier.
He hadn’t compared their talents or anything, but his master’s joyful expression whenever he spoke of Mancheon made young Mudan jealous.
Even when he had begged his master to take him along on his next journey,
“Mudan, you’re still young. See more of the world, learn more. Go to the Central Plains.”
“What’s in the Central Plains?”
his master had smiled proudly and said,
“Sima Mancheon, the genius who can deceive even the heavens.”
He had been nowhere to be found, and now he appeared at a time like this.
Mudan looked up at the night sky and muttered.
“Master… are you scolding me?”
But if I don’t do this, I can’t win.
I can’t become the Martial Alliance leader using the title of True Dragon and restore your honor.
Mudan shook his head weakly.
“No… these are all excuses…”
He was simply afraid of losing, afraid of facing those who possessed true talent, unlike a fake like him.
That was why he had abandoned his master’s teachings and resorted to despicable tactics to secure victory.
He had betrayed his family, his younger sister’s expectations.
A jade dice, a childhood toy, shimmered on the table.
He picked it up and rolled it. It tumbled across the table and landed on six.
Seeing the result, Mudan no longer hesitated and began his preparations for the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering the next day.
The dice was cast. There was no turning back.
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Yooo can’t wait for the battle!
