A large number of people flocked in front of the Wudang sect’s gates.
The rumor that a grand birthday feast would be held for the sect leader of the Wudang sect had already spread throughout Hubei Province.
All of the warriors who had learned of this started going to the Wudang sect. It was not common for a Wudang sect to open their gates, and it was impossible to know when they would open their doors again.
“Huh?”
“Oh my!”
The Wudang sect taoists were astonished at the number of warriors gathered in front of their gates. Those people were like a swarm of ants.
They expected that quite a few people would come, but they never dreamed that it would be this many. It was as if warriors from all over Hubei Province had gathered in front of the Wudang sect gates.
They were clamoring against each other in hopes of entering the Wudang sect.
“Everyone line up!”
“Those who have received an invitation go to the left, and those who have not received an invitation to go to the right!”
Woo-il, a great disciple of the Wudang sect, stepped in and sorted out the situation.
Woo-il gave priority to those who have invitations. Those who came to him recklessly expressed their dissatisfaction, but when the Wudang sect taoist glared at them, their complaint went away.
Woo-il said to the warriors who did not receive an invitation.
“Thank you very much for coming to celebrate the long-awaited birthday of the sect leader. However, please understand that the sect is too small and narrow to accept everyone. We will first bring in the people who have received an invitation. And among the rest, only those who have a clear identity will be let in next. Also, for all those who will enter the sect, you must all release your weapons to the Sword Pond.”
“No. How could you tell a warrior to disarm themselves?”
Someone protested against Woo-il. However, Woo-il simply ignored his protests.
“It’s a tradition of our sect. If you don’t want to leave your weapons, you don’t have to go in.”
“That’s—”
The man who initially blurted out protests, stuttered.
The legend of the Wudang sect’s Sword Pond1 was famous.
The tradition of entrusting weapons to the Sword Pond to pay respect to Jang Sam-bong, the past leader of the Wudang sect, has long since become obsolete.
This was also the reason why the prestige of the Wudang sect was weaker than in its heyday, because there was a change in perception that this tradition did not have any good influence on the Wudang sect.
Weapons were like a lifeline to a warrior so no one liked leaving their weapons in the hands of others. So, from some time ago, the custom of leaving the opponent’s weapon in the Sword Pond has almost disappeared. However, the practice could be resurrected as much as the Wudang sect wanted.
He said he would keep Jaffa’s tradition, but others couldn’t say anything.
The warriors who did not receive the invitation did not dare to complain at Woo-il’s words.
Woo-il is a great disciple of the Wudang sect.
He might just be a second-generation disciple, but he had a status higher than that of a long-time sect leader of a considerable clan in Hubei Province. At least in Hubei Province, there is no one who dares to let go or hide from the Wudang sect movement.
Those who were not invited kept their mouths shut and watched as those who had been invited went into the Wudang sect.
There was pride on the faces of those who received an invitation and officially passed through the gates. It was because they felt as if their identity and presence was recognized by the Wudang sect.
The faces of those who received the invitation were also splendid.
“It’s the Gunma clan and the Great Dragon Room.”
People burst into exclamations when they saw the young warrior with a handsome appearance.
Gunma clan2 is a manor based in Hubei Province.
They own a large horse ranch. They monopolized the horse market to such an extent that there was a saying that half of the horses traded in Hubei came from them.
Thanks to this, the Gunma clan was able to accumulate enormous wealth.
Sang Hang-yeok is the head of the Gunma clan and he is famous for his handsome appearance and outstanding martial arts.
If there was a groom any woman in Hubei province wanted to have then it would be, Sang Hang-yeok.
The one who crossed the Wudang sect gates after Sang Hang-yeok was Bang Jusan, the young leader of Great Dragon Room.3
Bang Jusan is a talented person who took over the Great Dragon Room at a young age and raised it more than three times. He was good at martial arts, but what made him stand out was his skill.
When he took over, the Great Dragon Room was on the verge of collapse.
His ability to triple the growth of the Great Dragon Room, which was on the brink of bankruptcy due to excessive debt, made even the merchants admire him.
Bang Jusan was short and had a bulging belly. His face was ugly, but he was imbued with the unique confidence that only successful people can have.
Bang Jusan looked around at the warriors outside the mountain gate for a while, then snorted.
‘Even though I have an ugly face, I succeeded and received an official invitation from the Wudang sect.’
He walked beyond gates, enjoying a sense of superiority.
After Bang Jusan, the person who crossed the Wudang sect’s gates was a man named Ju Gong-pil of the Zhangxian Pavilion.4 It was followed by the lord of the Golden Dragon Room. 5
Those who received the invitation crossed the gates with confidence, and those who did not looked at them with envious eyes. People also wondered who else was given an invitation to enter the Wudang sect.
At that time, as many as 30 warriors approached the gates.
At their appearance, tension could be seen on the faces of the Wudang sect taoist.
A lot of warriors crossed the gates of the Wudang sect today, but it was the first time such a large number of people came at once.
Woo-il, who had been quiet until now, stepped forward.
It was because the aura of the newly arrived warriors felt unusual. Since disciples below him were not able to handle them, he came out himself.
Woo-il asked politely,
“Where are you from?”
From among the warriors, a particularly young warrior stepped forward,
The eyes of the warrior who looked like he was in his early to mid-twenties, were as cold as ice.
He greeted Woo-il by throwing one of his fist against his other hand,
“I am Jang Muyeon of Rain Mountain Manor. I was actually just passing by for work nearby and then I heard the news that the sect leader of the Wudang sect is holding a birthday party. I have always respected taoist Chongjin, so I came to visit even without an invitation.”
“Ah! Master Jang of the Rain Mountain Manor!”
Woo-il burst into exclamations.
The Rain Mountain Manor is located far away in Chengshan, Anhui Province.
Since it was a thousand li away from Hubei Province, where Mt. Wudang is located, there was little contact between them. That’s why the Wudang sect didn’t even send an invitation. However, since they already came here like this, they couldn’t ask them to wait like everyone else.
As a member of the Three Manors, the Rain Mountain Manor possessed as much power and influence as a Wudang sect.
Jang Muyeon was the second son of Jang Pyeongsan, the sect leader of Rain Mountain Manor. What made him famous was his outstanding talent for the sword as well as his outstanding appearance.
His swordsmanship was brutal and terrifying enough to earn him the nickname of Soul Spirit Killing Swordsman.6
Not one of those who had ever dealt with him had a healthy body. It was because part of their body was cut off or they all died under his cruel hands.
Because of that, Jang Muyeon is notorious in Anhui Province. But no one dared to say anything to Jang Muyeon.
It was because they were all scared of the Rain Mountain Manor.
Woo-il was also familiar with Jang Moo-yeon’s notoriety. But he had no reason to stop him.
If Jang Muyeon, a member of the Three Manors, was treated the same as the other visitors who did not receive an invitation, then the Wudang sect’s relationship with the Rain Mountain Manor could possibly be strained.
Woo-il headed for the warriors standing behind Jang Muyeon.
“Who are they?”
“They are members of the White Tiger Sword Corps.”7
“If it’s the White Tiger Sword Corps, then aren’t they the elite warriors of the Rain Mountain Manor?”
“That’s right.”
“Um!”
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