The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel

Wudang Sect’s Heavenly Palace.

Cheongun, a distinguished third-class disciple of the Wudang Sect, knelt before the sect’s elders.

Before him lay a secret manual, its cover bereft of any inscription.

“Tell us what happened.”

The sect leader, seated centrally, addressed Cheongun.

“While I was practicing light-body techniques on a cliff…”

“Speak honestly.”

Who in their right mind practiced light-body techniques on a cliff? The sect leader interrupted Cheongun’s feeble excuse.

“I apologize. In truth, I was so captivated by ‘The Tale of Martial Heroes’ that I’ve been scouring the cliffs of the Wudang Sect for the past two weeks.”

Cheongun lowered his head as he confessed.

“You believed the novel’s contents might be factual?”

“At first, I was doubtful. But the novel had too many odd details to ignore, so I felt compelled to investigate.”

“Hmm.”

The sect leader scrutinized Cheongun, noting his fingers and toes, which appeared barely whole after his fortnight of exploration.

“I pondered ‘The Tale of Martial Heroes.’ Where would I hide if I were distraught from a dispute with my master? I sought places so secretive that not even a sudden devil’s appearance would alert other Wudang disciples. After pinpointing several locations, I stumbled upon it during my search.”

“You discovered the cave with the 8th generation sect leader’s remains and the secret manual?”

“Yes. It was an elusive place, undetectable unless one knew of the cave’s existence. Only by concentrating intensely enough to survive a fall from the cliff could one spot it. That’s where I found the 8th generation sect leader’s Bihdong (Secret Cave).”

“Indeed, such a place exists.”

“The manual’s content diverged from ‘The Tale of Martial Heroes’; there was no Taiqing Pill or letter. However, the secret manual itself was genuine.”

Cheongun, with his head bowed, held up the secret manual. Although nothing was written on the cover, nobody doubted it was the 8th generation Wudang sect leader’s secret manual.

“How could this be?”

“So, it wasn’t just a miscellaneous book?”

“Was ‘The Tale of Martial Heroes’ actually true?”

The Wudang Sect’s leader and elders, gathered in Jasogung, began to stir.

“Silence! Third disciple Cheongun, bring the secret manual here.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Carefully, Cheongun handed the manual to the sect leader. The leader cautiously unfolded it and began to read.

One page. Two pages. Three pages.

Suspicion turned into dismay.

Dismay turned into shock.

The sect leader’s expression changed with each page he turned.

“This… He really incorporated the mysteries of the Bagua into the sword technique.”

Although the secret manual couldn’t be fully understood at once, it clearly incorporated the concept of Bagua into the sword technique.

“I too was astonished when I saw it. It was definitely the Bagua Sword Technique mentioned in ‘The Tale of Martial Heroes’!”

Cheongun, still looking at the ground, trembled with emotion. He was so overwhelmed that he could barely breathe.

“Yunhyeon was a real person?”

“He took the Taiqing Pill and left for the martial world with the letter.”

Once again, the Heavenly Palace seemed about to stir. The sect leader raised his hand to calm the room.

“Everyone, calm down. From examining my secret manual, it’s clear that the mysteries of Bagua are included. But, unlike what ‘The Tale of Martial Heroes’ suggests, the Bagua mysteries are not the majority. The technique is based on the Wudang Taiji Sword Technique with added Bagua mysteries.”

“Of course, it contains Wudang swordsmanship since it was created by a Wudang sect leader.”

“What obvious things you are stating, sect leader.”

The sect leader’s attempt to calm the situation proved futile. If anything, only sneers could be heard.

“Cough, in light of Cheongun’s news, I urgently reviewed the records of the eighth-generation sect leader. During his time as the Wudang sect leader, he debated whether to actively intervene in worldly affairs. Eventually, he grew disgusted with the situation and stepped down. After that, there are no records. He likely devoted himself to training in the cliff cave of Wudang Mountain.”

“Yes, there were indeed traces of training in the cave.”

Cheongun relayed what he had witnessed.

“Yes, so the issue is the book ‘The Tale of Martial Heroes’… Cheongun, I heard you were the first to bring this book to our attention. Do you know its origin?”

“I heard it was written by a Korean Taoist from Baekdu Mountain and given to the Wudang Sect.”

“A Korean Taoist from Baekdu Mountain? What relation does a foreign Taoist have with our Wudang Sect to write such a book?”

The distance between Wudang Mountain and Baekdu Mountain baffled the sect leader. Moreover, why would a Korean, instead of a Central Plains person, be involved? He couldn’t fathom what this implied.

“I have a speculation about this; may I share it?”

Cheongun was eager to disclose a hypothesis he had harbored.

“Go ahead, speak.”

“I can’t be certain about who Yunhyeon was. However, I am convinced he was one of our Wudang disciples. For some reason, he must have discovered the cave where the eighth-generation, no, at that time, the fifth-generation sect leader’s corpse was resting.”

“If he was a Wudang disciple, there should be records. There’s never been a case of a devil infiltrating the Wudang Sect like in the novel. It’s preposterous!”

The sect leader had conducted his own investigations, but no records supported the notion of a devil infiltrating Wudang Mountain alone and meeting the same fate as a Wudang disciple.

“I think the author wrote about the devil’s infiltration based on a distorted story. Perhaps the disciple fell off the cliff due to another accident and coincidentally found the cave. After reading the letter inside, he might have taken the Taiqing Pill and learned the Bagua Sword Technique before embarking on a life as a martial hero.”

“Hmm. If such a Wudang martial hero existed, there would definitely be records.”

“The sword technique he practiced wasn’t the Taiji Sword Technique but the Bagua Sword Technique. No one would have associated him with a Wudang disciple. And perhaps, instead of returning to Wudang Mountain in his later years, he went elsewhere.”

“To Baekdu Mountain in Korea?”

“Yes. I think he might have spent his later years there. Perhaps the person who wrote ‘The Tale of Martial Heroes’ was a disciple or descendant of Yunhyeon, writing this book to return the Bagua Sword Technique to the Wudang Sect.”

Hypotheses upon hypotheses. Speculations upon speculations. Nothing but implausible ideas from start to finish.

A Wudang disciple ending his days on Baekdu Mountain and accepting Korean disciples. Yet the clear evidence turned these speculations into facts.

No one could refute Cheongun’s reasoning.

“Is the author’s name written in ‘The Tale of Martial Heroes’?”

If a Wudang member deliberately left the book, surely there would be a pseudonym. With this thought, the sect leader asked Cheongun.

“The book was in such poor condition that only the character ‘Mo’ (某, meaning ‘someone’) from the author’s name was legible.”

Kang Yun-ho wrote ‘The Tale of Martial Heroes’ on very low-quality paper.

The book was sold to a peddler traveling from Chilgok County to Wuhan. In Wuhan, it passed through many shops and merchants’ hands. It was not handled with care as it traveled northwest towards Hubei Province.

The title was legible because of the large writing, but the author’s name, written small in a corner, was not.

“Hmm. ‘Mo’ as in ‘someone’? Sent by a member of Wudang Mountain, yet the author remains unknown.”

“Perhaps that was intentional.”

Someone wanted a Wudang member to read it but deliberately kept their identity hidden.

“That’s uncertain. We should have people investigate the book’s origin.”

“Yes, I will look into it as well.”

The book was a discovery of Cheongun’s. How he wished he could rush to the bookstore owner at that very moment.

“Proceed with that. And elders, listen.”

“Yes!”

“Today, Cheongun discovered the eighth generation sect leader’s sword technique secret manual, nameless as it is. However, I believe its name has already been determined.”

The sect leader lifted the secret manual high.

No name adorned its cover, yet the name of the sword technique appeared to be quite obvious.

“Bagua Sword Technique! I think I will teach this technique to Cheongun, who discovered ‘The Tale of Martial Heroes’, no, ‘The Secret Records of the Wind and Cloud’ (풍운비록), and located the eighth generation sect leader’s body. Any objections?”

“……”

There were no objections to be had.

“Good. Also, ‘The Secret Records of the Wind and Cloud’ is a rare book containing the secret history of the Wudang Sect. Until the related events are resolved, all copies of ‘The Secret Records of the Wind and Cloud’ within the Wudang Sect will be retrieved, and copying will be forbidden. Anyone caught taking it out will face severe punishment.”

“Sect leader, many disciples will wish to read ‘The Secret Records of the Wind and Cloud’.”

An elder raised an objection to the sect leader’s declaration.

“It’s not forbidden to read. We will manage it strictly to prevent its removal. Approved disciples may read ‘The Secret Records of the Wind and Cloud’ in the Wudang Sect’s historical archive .”

“That should be acceptable.”

The elders consented to the sect leader’s suggestion with nods.

“Good. That concludes the meeting. Dispatch people to retrieve the eighth generation sect leader’s body.”

“Understood.”

Members of the Wudang Sect in the Heavenly Palace started moving about busily.

The investigation to find the author of “The Secret Records of the Wind and Cloud,” led by Cheongun and the disciples of the first and third generations, began.

It started at the bookstore where Cheongun discovered “The Secret Records of the Wind and Cloud,” moved to the merchant who sold it there, and extended as far as Wuhan.

The search for the author of “The Tale of Martial Heroes” took more time than anticipated.

“Did you end up not finding anything?”

The Wudang Sect’s leader asked Cheongun, who stood before him.

“Yes. We confirmed its origin from a bookstore in Wuhan, but the trail was lost after passing through too many merchants’ hands.”

“Hmm. Where on earth did ‘The Secret Records of the Wind and Cloud’ come from?”

The Wudang Sect’s leader sighed, gazing up at the sky.

“The bookstores that purchased ‘The Secret Records of the Wind and Cloud’ had slightly different accounts, but they all mentioned that a Taoist from Baekdu Mountain sold it.”

“If he was a member of our Wudang Sect, why would he take such an indirect route instead of coming directly to Wudang Mountain?”

“Third-generation disciple Cheongun of the Wudang Sect. I have a serious request to make of the sect leader.”

Cheongun knelt on one knee and looked up at the leader.

“What is it?”

“Please allow me to embark on a journey as a martial hero.”

“A journey as a martial hero? Do you think you’re Yunhyeon or something?”

“The Bagua Sword Technique was developed by the 8th generation sect leader for people to use in their defense. I believe it should be perfected by venturing into the martial world.”

“That’s not possible. The path of a martial hero has been strictly prohibited recently. Your personal grievances could come back to harm your brothers and mentors.”

“I will always consider whether my actions are truly personal or if they serve the greater good (善業) when I wield my sword.”

Cheongun’s voice was more solemn than ever.

The sect leader scrutinized Cheongun.

Wudang disciples were not forbidden from entering the martial world.

It wasn’t that they should ignore injustice. If commoners were under attack by bandits, drawing the sword was acceptable, and saving a woman from an evil man was allowed.

However, setting out solely to become a martial hero was against the rules.

Allowing Cheongun to embark on a journey as a martial hero was out of the question. Yet, ‘The Secret Records of the Wind and Cloud’ stated that to complete the Bagua Sword Technique, one must undertake the journey of a martial hero.

The sect leader had never met Yunhyeon, but perhaps Cheongun could emulate him. He gazed into Cheongun’s clear eyes and decided.

“Alright. I will allow it.”

“Thank you!!”

“But there is a condition.”

“What condition?”

“Your ultimate goal should be Baekdu Mountain.”

“To search for the author of ‘The Secret Records of the Wind and Cloud’?”

The sect leader nodded and addressed Cheongun’s query.

“We can’t be sure if the author is there. But, there may be traces of our Wudang Sect. Investigate this. Officially, I cannot sanction a martial hero’s journey, but you may enter the martial world to seek ‘The Secret Records of the Wind and Cloud’ and proceed with the journey you described.”

“Yes. I will prepare immediately and depart for Baekdu Mountain as a martial hero.”

Cheongun rose swiftly, ready to leave.

“And…”

The sect leader called out, halting Cheongun.

“Yes?”

“Cough, should you find a subsequent volume of ‘The Secret Records of the Wind and Cloud,’ ensure its return.”

Unbeknownst to others, the sect leader was an ardent admirer of Yunhyeon.

“I will bear that in mind!”

With a smile and a bow to the sect leader, Cheongun set off for Baekdu Mountain, leaving the Heavenly Palace with buoyant steps.

The one to unearth ‘The Secret Records of the Wind and Cloud.’

The successor of the Bagua Sword Technique,

Cheongun of the great Wudang Sect,

Cheongun, who held ‘The Tale of Martial Heroes’ closest to his heart.

“I’ll be back!”

With those words, Cheongun set off from Wudang Mountain to become a martial hero of the future.

Rewinding to the day after ‘The Tale of Martial Heroes’ was sold to a peddler heading to Muhan,

“Eventually, it was a huge failure.”

A man with black hair, a frequent visitor to the bookstore, lamented in front of a bookstore in Chilgok County.

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