198 - The Heaven-Slaying Sword

**EP.198 Chapter Twenty - Collision, Torrent (4)** --- There was nothing uncommon about dying at such a moment. A mortal wound, incomparable to mere bleeding or fractures, weighed down his entire being. The heaviest were his eyelids. Taeheo Jinin (太虛真人) of the Wudang Sect gazed beyond his gradually blurring vision at Hyun Gong (玄空)... No, the infiltrator of the Demonic Sect. "You there…." "I suppose I should introduce myself properly again." The man, sporting an unprecedented expression, approached. "I am Sama Gong (司馬公) of the Divine Religion. Would that suffice as an introduction?" His smile when he spoke held his true name. Sama Gong. Sama Gong. Taeheo Jinin understood. He knew what the Sima surname in the Divine Religion signified. "…Were you of the Six Gates?" The Demonic Six Gates, the Heavenly Thunder Gate (天雷門). It was a widely known fact in Zhongyuan that those of the direct line bore the Sima surname. "Oh, you know, do you? How should I regard that, as an honor?" "Why…." “This isn’t the time for such questions.” Sama Gong’s face remained composed. “Rather than ‘why’, you should be asking ‘how’.” Sama Gong grabbed Taeheo Jinin by the collar and slammed him to the ground. “Gah!” Blood spewed forth. Ringing in his ears was the laughter-filled voice of Sama Gong. "And why did I waste away my years playing the farcical role of a Taoist? That’s what you should be asking!" “...” "I needed the martial arts of Wudang. Martial arts that take softness as their model to create a constant flow — those very arts you have failed to fully grasp." Was that really the reason? "You don’t understand, do you? Why Taiji Swordsmanship is called divine art (神功). You became victims because you didn’t know. Like pigs with a pearl necklace around their necks." Sama Gong’s eyes sank deep. As he looked down with disdain, his gaze conveyed contempt. Taeheo Jinin met that gaze, breath heaving out lightly. What arose in his mind was a distant past, the day he first met Sama Gong before becoming the Head Disciple. * It was a cold winter day when the whole world turned into snowy fields. Mount Wudang also displayed a different charm with the piling snow. On that day, for some unknown reason, Taeheo Jinin descended the mountain and strolled through the streets. Hyun Gong was the child he met there. “Hmm? Why are you here?” Could he have been only five years old? Hyun Gong was trembling in a corner, wearing just a tattered piece of clothing in this harsh winter. The moment their eyes met as he lifted his head, Taeheo Jinin felt something unmistakable. ‘Clear.’ His eyes were truly clear. Like looking at the surface of a transparent lake. “I was watching the falling snow.” “The snow?” “Yes, and I imagined.” “What did you imagine?” “I imagined the warm earth that would return once all the snow melted.” Taeheo Jinin felt curiosity. “What prompted such a thought?” “Because I need to believe my pain is temporary.” “Hmm?” “Once the snow melts, the earth will warm again, will it not? Though winter will return, until then, I won’t have to tremble in cold without sleeping. For example, that would be a cycle.” Taeheo Jinin was greatly amazed. Even more so that this young child, one who bore no signs of education, had the intuitive wisdom to grasp the cycles of the world. What he uttered next was motivated by a hint of greed layered over his curiosity. “What do you think of this cycle?” Having the child respond to even this, maybe it was worth taking him in. Could this child even possibly lead Wudang’s future? That expectation was, “I have no thoughts on it. I just entrust myself to the flow.” Answered. “Child.” “Yes?” “Would you come with me?” “Where to?” “To Wudang.” The child blinked. It was something about his vague and hollow eyes that made Taeheo Jinin tense. Yet, it was an unwarranted concern. “If I go, will I be able to eat? Embarrassingly, I am very hungry.” The young Hyun Gong laughed as he spoke. It was this juxtaposition of discussing the flow and yet exhibiting such childlike behavior that Taeheo Jinin cherished in Hyun Gong most. * “From the beginning….” It was all planned from the start. A deep sense of futility gnawed at him painfully from within. The twisted smile on Sama Gong’s face seemed so unfamiliar. The eyes filled with contempt held such strangeness. The Sama Gong Taeheo Jinin knew, Wudang’s Pacific Dragon Hyun Gong, was always calm and never one to express negative emotions, so it was only natural. Taeheo Jinin’s lips moved silently. What was the curiosity on your first day in Wudang? What was that smile you wore when you held the sword? What about the humility you displayed as you endeavored not to accept the Taiji Swordsmanship even when selected as the top of the promising candidates? You truly were a child befitting Wudang, were you not? He wanted to voice these aloud, but now, even words could hardly escape him. "You have worked so hard. Do not worry too much. The Taiji Sword will continue. As a sword of the Divine Religion." He heard those words amidst ragged breaths. And he uttered but a single phrase. “You there.” “Is that your last will?” “You there, you….” A twisted smile, eyes filled with contempt, the true identity finally revealed. All of this screamed betrayal. Yet, Taeheo Jinin could hardly bring himself to hate him. Perhaps it was because he had grown far too old. “…Do you love the Taiji Swordsmanship?” Sama Gong’s expression momentarily hardened. What emotion was it? Unimpressed with those final words, filled with disappointment, or perhaps perplexed into stiffness? It was a regret for eternity that he lacked the energy to think deeply. Thus, he simply continued. “Was Wudang a warm home for you?” He smiled. Perhaps, just perhaps, he wished to believe in the possibility that this child had loved Wudang. Hoping that amidst the life they shared, some authenticity was mixed into the moments. “Even if anyone says otherwise, in my eyes, you were a proud child of Wudang.” Ah, he could say no more. In his fading vision, Taeheo Jinin saw Sama Gong rise. His sword lifted high toward the sky. And he closed his eyes. ‘Infinite Light and Life (無量壽佛).’ The only hope was that the Heavenly Immortal would guide this child well. * The blade wavered. --- **Terms and Explanations:** 1. **Taeheo Jinin (太虛真人)** - A title for the head of the Wudang Sect, referring to the character by his role and name. An alternate translation might be "Taeheo True Man" or simply "Taeheo." 2. **Hyun Gong (玄空)** - Known as the Pacific Dragon of Wudang, maintains the original phonetic translation with his real role revealed later as Sama Gong. 3. **Sama Gong (司馬公)** - Maintains original phonetic with the context of his true identity. Alternate could be "Sima Gong." 4. **Demonic Six Gates (마도육문)** and **Heavenly Thunder Gate (天雷門)** - Referring to factions within the story, translated contextually based on the original terms. 5. **Taiji Swordsmanship (태극혜검)** - Martial art from Wudang, keeping the term consistent with its cultural significance. An alternate could be "Taiji Divine Sword." 7. **Infinite Light and Life (無量壽佛)** - Refers to the Buddhist Amitabha, translated contextually for clarity. 8. **Pacific Dragon (선룡)** - Refers to a title or designation within Wudang, suggesting peace or spirituality, translated as "Pacific Dragon." Each term was carefully chosen to maintain the cultural and thematic resonance of the original text while providing clarity in an English context. The passage explores themes of betrayal, cycles, and the search for warmth and belonging, integral to understanding the characters' complex relationships and the narrative’s depth. In the final moment, he failed to sever the neck in a single strike, causing the sword to catch on the neck bone. Consequently, he had to swing down twice. “Is it over?” Spoke the Fifth Elder. Sama Gong nodded. “Yes, let us return.” “What about the secret manual?” "It’s all in my mind. I plan to transcribe it into a book once the war is over." "I see." The Fifth Elder walked away with slow steps. Hyun Gong couldn’t follow him immediately. The decapitated Taeheo Jinin and the Taoists who formed Wudang’s main force: He needed to take in the final moments of those he had spent his life with. 'Fools.' And the foolish head disciple. To die being swayed by sentiment until the very end—he wanted to laugh as much as he could at that. Yet, his lips wouldn’t curve upward, and it was because of the head disciple’s words, resembling a final will. ‘That old man truly knows how to strike at human emotions.’ Sama Gong acknowledged it. He knew that the words from that moment indeed struck at his emotions. But there were no feelings beyond that. ‘Don’t expect too much.’ At Heavenly Thunder Gate, they're not taught to let emotions lead them. Sama Gong turned and departed from the ruins of the camp. --- At the villa of the Zhuge Family. In the room of the head, Zhuge Byeok, gathered Ma Ilsuk, Mok Liwon, Zhuge San, and Tang Hwaseo. “You have all heard the news, I presume.” “Yes, Wudang…” Ma Ilsuk's expression darkened. Seeing his face full of regret, Mok Liwon also mirrored that expression. Zhuge Byeok exhaled long and spoke. “The situation on the battlefield has become dire. With the defense that Wudang was holding breached, the enemies will aim to dig in.” It was the inevitable consequence. Breaching the Azure Strait was the supreme task for the Divine Religion. Once that was accomplished, the battlefield situation would overturn incredibly. “Could you advance to the front?” Ma Ilsuk answered Zhuge Byeok’s query without hesitation. “Yes, I will head directly there to block their path.” “The Venom King is reportedly already on the move. We do not know how much elder-level strength they will deploy from their side, but with the King of Beggars joining, you should not face significant difficulty.” “What about you?” To that question, Zhuge Byeok responded with a bitter smile. “I plan to remain here. Although I cannot physically move, I can still observe the battlefield and devise strategies.” Zhuge Byeok was no longer capable of walking on his own accord. Moreover, he could no longer release even a measure of inner strength. This reality seemed to bring pain to Zhuge San as well. Zhuge San’s gaze sank. “I will strive in place of you, the head.” At his words, Zhuge Byeok smiled faintly. “I entrust it to you.” “Is the discussion concluded?” Ma Ilsuk rose from his seat. With a resolute face, he said, “Let’s depart immediately. There's no time to hesitate.” “Yes!” Mok Liwon, who responded and quickly stood up, momentarily hesitated, casting a glance at Tang Hwaseo. “What does Lady intend to do?” “I will go with you.” “Hmm? Sister, you were supposed to handle logistics...” “Even without me, Hyang is there as the person in charge. As the head of one of the Five Great Families, I cannot use logistics as an excuse to stay in the rear, can I?” Indeed, it was a reasonable point. “Alright, it seems the decision is made.” With that, Ma Ilsuk spoke and exited the room. Mok Liwon, Tang Hwaseo, and Zhuge San followed behind him. --- **Terms and Explanations:** 1. **Hyang (향이)** - An implied character who is in charge of logistics. Not provided with much context here, translated based on the role mentioned. 2. **Azure Strait (청해)** - The translated name of a location significant to the battlefield strategy in the context, possibly an area under Wudang’s defense. 3. **The Fifth Elder (5장로) & The Five Great Families (오대세가)** - Preserved as understood hierarchical and organizational naming conventions within the story. The passage reflects tense strategic decisions and emotional undercurrents amid war, capturing the significance of loyalty, leadership, and the gravity of duty in martial society.