Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors
The journey towards Sichuan was quite long and arduous. Since I started near Luoyang, I had already traveled well over a thousand li, and above all, the excitement of heading into uncharted territory I had never been to before gripped my heart.
Sichuan was also known as Ba Shu. Since ancient times, the land of Ba Shu has been famous for its steep mountains and difficult terrain, making it impossible to traverse like one could in flatter regions. That fact became immediately clear when I reached a gate.
“Wow… this is something else…”
I couldn’t help but let out a sound of disbelief. Usually, gates are artificially constructed, but this one was different. It had been built to block a rugged mountain path, and to pass through it, I had to climb like I was scaling a giant mountain. Even horses would struggle to get through.
Even someone who had trained extensively in martial arts would feel quite fatigued merely arriving at the gate! Looking at the narrow canyon blocking the way, it was indeed a natural fortress.
Originally, I had planned to sneak past the gate inspection and call it a day, but I had to abandon that idea. Sneaking through such a fortress at night would be too risky; one mistake, and I’d completely mess up my plans.
“… So you’re on your way to the Sichuan Tang Clan as part of your martial arts training under your master’s orders?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Hmmm… a child without proper documentation traveling as a martial artist.”
The Captain of the Gate scrutinized me suspiciously, and I politely bowed while subtly approaching him with a handful of coins.
“I really need to cross, is there any way I can?”
“Well, there’s no reason to refuse! Hehe.”
With that bribe, I was allowed through. Unlike what I had been so tense about, it was surprisingly easy, making me realize the sheer power of bribery.
After passing the gate, I immediately headed toward the provincial capital. The Sichuan Tang Clan was originally located near Shaanxi, but after several historical upheavals, they had gradually moved out and established a stronghold in the provincial capital. Although Shaanxi and Sichuan are adjacent, Sichuan is quite expansive, so reaching the provincial capital would be an endeavor in itself.
Clop clop clop
I decided to rely on my internal power and agility to cross the rugged mountains of Ba Shu. Riding a horse would mean winding along small mountain paths, wasting ten times the distance and time. I had already studied how to chart my way toward the horizon through map reading methods and could navigate confidently from countless experiences.
“Ooooh!!”
I’m falling!
I screamed. I had ascended over six hundred peaks, but during a leap over a precipice, I miscalculated and found myself plummeting through the air. As the river nestled between the canyons rushed toward me, I gritted my teeth and gathered my internal power to release it.
Splash!
With a massive splash, my body was propelled back into the air. I clung to the edge of the cliff and climbed back up. Honestly, I probably wouldn’t have been hurt falling, but getting swept away by the river would have wasted too much time.
It took a full six days and nights to cross those treacherous mountains. At this pace, I would have traversed Shaanxi once already, but I was starting to doubt if I was even on the right path. The average height and steepness of these mountains were leagues beyond Shaanxi‘s terrain.
‘Looks like there’s not a soul around anymore…’
I found myself sitting on a nameless hill, sighing. I was still distinguishing directions but was struggling to make progress westward. Though I was moving several tens of times faster than on a horse, it was still grueling. If I hadn’t reached the level of a Dharma Protector, even the greatest martial artist wouldn’t attempt such a feat.
Along the way, feeling hungry, I caught a wild boar and had it for dinner. Grilled wild boar was quite delicious. After I filled my belly, I began sprinting madly through the mountains again.
Clop clop clop
‘Huh?’
While racing through the rugged mountains, I unexpectedly spotted a Martial Gate building standing prominently among the hills. In this lonely spot, I felt curious and looked at its sign, which read Baek Li Clan.
I hadn’t heard much about the Baek Li Clan being particularly famous in the martial world. Having spent several nights crossing the mountain, and feeling weary, I knocked on the Baek Li Clan’s door, hoping to gather some information.
“Excuse me.”
Since there seemed to be no doorkeeper, it took quite a while before anyone responded. After some time, a person carefully opened the door and walked out.
“Who are you?”
“I’m Baek Woong, just a passerby. Would it be alright if I rested for a bit?”
“Hmmm.”
The person who came out looked to be in his mid-twenties and hesitated before nodding.
“Alright, stay for a day, little hero.”
“Thank you.”
I followed the young man inside the Martial Gate. While walking in, there were no other signs of life, and the entire place felt eerily quiet. When I tilted my head in confusion, the young man responded with a bitter smile.
“You don’t need to look around; I’m the only one living here.”
“Really? How come you’re all alone in such a remote area…”
“……”
The young man, seemingly uncomfortable, looked back at me and said,
“Ah, I forgot to introduce myself. I’m Baek Li Jeong-woon, currently serving as the head of the Baek Li Clan.”
“My name is Baek Woong. I’m undergoing martial arts training.”
“So a young one like you is practicing martial arts… impressive.”
Baek Li Jeong-woon seemed astonished that I was moving around alone. I mean, it’s pretty rare for a teenager to wander around the treacherous mountains of Sichuan. He showed me a room to rest and headed off to prepare a meal. Not wanting to just sit around, I went to help him out in the kitchen.
But when I got there, there was hardly any food. All there was, was a handful of rice and some greens, and it seemed like he was trying to make a meal with that. I stared at Baek Li Jeong-woon in disbelief, and he sighed, saying,
“I’m sorry. I don’t have any money or rice right now…”
“……”
How could a well-known martial clan be this poor? Upon further inspection, Baek Li Jeong-woon looked rather undernourished, likely from years of eating so little. Luckily, his internal power seemed deep for his age, allowing him to survive on little food. I said to him,
“You seem to possess considerable martial skill, shouldn’t you be able to earn some money easily?”
“Haha… that’s true. But I’d rather not get caught up in the affairs of the world, so I prefer to live quietly.”
“Hmmm. Just wait a moment.”
I let out an inaudible sound before darting out of the Baek Li Clan. After about half an hour of wandering around the mountains, I managed to catch a large wild boar. I tossed it into the kitchen, causing Baek Li Jeong-woon to exclaim in surprise.
“Impressive martial skill! How could you at such a young age…?”
“This one should provide plenty of food.”
Together, we worked hard to skin and roast the wild boar. It was a big one, so as we grilled it, there was more than enough for us both to eat. After enjoying the feast, Baek Li Jeong-woon wiped away his tears and said,
“Ugh… I feel like I’ve eaten properly for the first time in nearly a year. Thank you, little hero.”
I came here to find a resting place, and through a stroke of luck, I ended up with a wild boar. I waved my hands at Baek Li Jeong-woon and said,
“By the way, wouldn’t it be better to head down the mountain? Living in such poverty alone…”
From my observations, Baek Li Jeong-woon‘s martial skill was quite outstanding, even among the top-tier experts. Of course, he seemed weaker compared to me now, but that was relative. Considering his youth, he was a remarkable talent. With his martial skills, earning a living should not be a problem.
“I can’t do that. I have to train more to uphold my father’s legacy.”
“What kind of training?”
Baek Li Jeong-woon tore into a boar’s leg while speaking.
“Our Baek Li Clan was once counted among the top sects in Sichuan. But as our martial skills declined, our disciples began to leave one by one, and a few years ago, even the Baek Li Clan’s bloodline left to fend for themselves… to restore the clan, I need to improve and fully develop our martial arts.”
“I see.”
I was intrigued. Baek Li Jeong-woon possessed considerable martial skill for his age, yet the foundational martial skills were not up to par? Curiosity sparked within me, and I asked, “If you don’t mind, could we have a sparring match?”
“Haha… Guess I sparked your curiosity. That’s fine.”
With wooden swords in hand, we faced each other in the courtyard of the Baek Li Clan. Baek Li Jeong-woon said,
“Since your skills are constant, I’ll be gracious and give you a three-second head start.”
“Of course.”
Swish!
As the skirmish began, Baek Li Jeong-woon’s sword darted forth like a flash. I could tell his sword was infused with impressive sharpness and a strong presence. In those three seconds, he struck at me with precision, undoubtedly at a first-class expert’s level.
But that was all. I could see all the weaknesses in his strikes without needing to rely on my superior internal power. I lazily twisted my sword and targeted his openings. My body moved smoothly in accordance with the Shadow Stance, and as I struck at his blind spots, Baek Li Jeong-woon appeared quite flustered.
In about thirty seconds, the outcome was clear, and my sword was touching his throat. With a sigh, Baek Li Jeong-woon admitted,
“I lost.”
“That was a good spar.”
As I withdrew my wooden sword, Baek Li Jeong-woon remarked,
“You have extraordinary skills for your age. You rival the elders of top sects…”
“Not at all. It seems that your weakness lies in the straightforwardness of your sword technique.”
“……!!”
Baek Li Jeong-woon trembled slightly. He was astonished, exclaiming,
“You figured that out so quickly?!”
“Well, we were just sparring, so it’s only natural.”
“That’s not true. Very few can figure it out in one glance.”
As I set the wooden sword back on its rack, I continued,
“It’s a strong sword style, but there isn’t much variation, and it’s lacking, preventing you from maximizing its strengths.”
“That’s the flaw of our Baek Li Clan’s Heavenly Sword Technique… Hah…”
Baek Li Jeong-woon sighed deeply.
Looking at him, I began to grasp the current issue.
‘Baek Li Jeong-woon has remarkable martial talent. However, his foundational internal cultivation is not extraordinary, and although his sword technique is strong, it’s riddled with flaws. Hence he becomes stuck at the first-class level.’
Simultaneously, I felt a sense of wonder. I used to struggle painfully whenever I practiced my technique, feeling like a dull-witted fool without talent, yet here I was able to identify the flaws in another sect’s martial arts. It showcased that the hardships of the past several decades were not in vain.
Observing him thoughtfully, I said,
“So, is that why you’ve been secluded up in the mountains, researching your sword technique?”
“Exactly. If I can improve the Heavenly Sword Technique and elevate the Baek Li Clan’s martial arts, the disciples who left will surely return.”
“I believe that’s misguided.”
“What do you mean?”
I said firmly,
“The world is vast, and masters are plentiful. If you remain isolated like a frog in a well, focusing solely on your research without encountering any rivals, it’s against the principles of martial arts. You should meet others and learn the strengths and weaknesses of their martial arts to develop your own.”
“……!!”
Baek Li Jeong-woon looked as if he had been struck by a new revelation. I continued,
“The interaction of martial arts must create synergy. The flaws of the Heavenly Sword Technique might find solutions in other sword styles.”
What I asserted was rooted in the example of Baek Woong-gyeol, where the Mystic Heavenly Skill from Mount Wudang was combined with Hwa Seong Clan‘s Hwa Seong Eight Blades, refined with Lee Kwang’s genius! In the martial arts world, unexpected combinations can exist.
“I had considered that, but since I must protect the foundation of the Baek Li Clan, I hesitate to act recklessly.”
“People are what matter, not buildings.”
“Don’t speak so rashly.”
“If you are the head of the Baek Li Clan, then everything revolves around you.”
“……!!”
In that instant, Baek Li Jeong-woon appeared to have realized something. He stood still for a while, then tearfully said,
“… Thank you for awakening my foolish self.”
“It’s nothing.”
That night, after cleaning up the place with Baek Li Jeong-woon once again, I went to sleep. It was clear that the Baek Li Clan had once thrived, as the building was more than decent for resting. I understood his dedication to protecting it, but without proper martial skills, one could not survive in the martial world. The key was focusing on martial arts, not on buildings.
The next day, I washed myself in a nearby stream and set out from the Baek Li Clan. Baek Li Jeong-woon took my hand firmly and said,
“Though I cannot impart the clan’s ultimate martial techniques to you, I do have information that might help you with your martial arts training.”
“Really? What kind of…?”
“I’ve heard rumors of a hidden master with outstanding martial skills located at a place called Dragon King’s Valley. I also learned this from my late father, so although I don’t know the details, I’m certain this is genuine information that has yet to spread widely. Only a few masters in Sichuan have made contact with him.”
“A hidden master, huh…”
Curiosity piqued within me. With a grin, Baek Li Jeong-woon continued,
“I also plan to organize my clan’s matters soon and make my way into the world of martial artists. You’ve been a great benefactor to me.”
“I wish you success.”
“Safe travels to you too.”
After parting with Baek Li Jeong-woon, I dashed through the mountain valleys once again. It still seemed like I had a long way to go before reaching my destination, the Sichuan Tang Clan. I climbed to the peak of a nameless mountain and crossed my arms, pondering.
‘Dongbang Mu-gyeol’s last known whereabouts were indeed at the Sichuan Tang Clan…’
I needed to gather information about Dongbang Mu-gyeol at the Sichuan Tang Clan. To do that, I had to reach the provincial capital where the Sichuan Tang Clan was based. With my eyes shining, I resumed my mad dash forward.
