Book 5 Chapter 4

"Who can perform sound techniques?"

"What! That child!"

When Biryu-yeon first stepped onto the martial arts stage,

Hong Ran, the Celestial Sound Nun who sat at the judges' table,

had to widen her eyes.

She recognized Biryu-yeon, and she also recognized the ink-black zither (묵금) hanging on his back. Thus, she couldn't help but utter a word.

"How reckless!"

Celestial Sound Nun Hong Ran recognized Biryu-yeon as soon as he stepped onto the martial arts stage. Moreover, the ink-black zither (묵금), a divine instrument he carried, was something Hong Ran couldn't forget, even if she tried. Even if she forgot Biryu-yeon's face…

"Do you know the child?"

An old Taoist next to her asked. Hong Ran nodded. She didn't bother to hide the surprise on her face.

"That's strange. Given the child's current level, it's impossible for him to use sound techniques in actual combat… Such a reckless act!"

How long has it been since he learned, yet he shows up at a high-level martial arts competition filled with formidable masters, carrying only an ink-black zither (묵금)! Seeing as he has no other weapons, it was clear he intended to use the ink-black zither (묵금) on his back as his weapon. Therefore, she could only call it reckless.

No matter how much she thought about it, or how much she pondered, considering Biryu-yeon's inattentive attitude during her lessons, it was impossible for him to have reached a level where he could apply sound techniques in actual combat. It was true that his talent and skill in basic melodies surprised Hong Ran, which was unexpected given his initial impression. The occasional displays of skill showed that it wasn't something he had learned in just a year or two. Currently, among the first-year Heavenly Disciples, he would be considered one of the best in terms of melody (not sound techniques), along with Moyong Hwi. She reluctantly admitted it…

Still, that's that, and this is this.

No matter how well one plays the zither, it doesn't mean they can properly perform sound techniques.

Melody is music, and sound techniques are martial arts. They are as different as the sky and the earth. So what could he accomplish by learning for only a year!

Sound techniques are not for anyone.

At this point, Hong Ran had no idea that the outcome would be as it was.

"Ah! I can't believe something like that would happen. Who would have dared to imagine!"

Thinking about the terrible atrocity Biryu-yeon had committed today, she had to let out a deep sigh of despair. If he were her direct disciple, she would have immediately expelled him from the sect. However, this was the Celestial Martial Academy, and that brat wasn't her direct disciple. The sea of countless shining stars lost its light in her worries. At least, that's how it appeared to Mun Il-gi.

There's no need for beautiful sounds to kill people, but that being said, the sound sect (음문) has virtues to uphold. Style, romance, and dignity are the three great virtues that musicians belonging to the sound sect (음문) must uphold. A sound technique master (음공사) is a proud and upright warrior, not a street thug. Furthermore, not a murderer. They are romantic wanderers seeking style, grace, and romance.

This afternoon, Hong Ran almost couldn't use her jade flute due to the distortion. Musical instruments are delicate, so even a small shock can cause their sound to go off. If the sound goes off, it means the instrument's life has ended. It was also partly because she had gripped it too tightly, but if her beloved instrument had met its end, the Celestial Sound Nun might have rushed out to kill Biryu-yeon.

Just as a swordsman's sword is their life, a musician's instrument is their life.

It was even more unbelievable that this life had almost ended thanks to an absurd disciple. Moreover, what Biryu-yeon had done was even more shocking.

Given this, who could remain indifferent, and how could she calm down?

To think she had to stand by and watch such a disgraceful match. It would have been better if he had lost cleanly… Then she could have laughed it off as the rashness of someone who hadn't even trained for a year.

A sigh filled with disappointment escaped her lips. Today, she fully understood what it felt like for her vision to go dark.

So, did Biryu-yeon lose terribly? No, he didn't. In fact, he won. But this time, winning was the problem.

Biryu-yeon's first opponent was Dan Pyeong from the Hae Nam Sect.

Dan Pyeong was a figure whose internal sword changes were highly praised by the old Taoists.

Therefore, people called him the Swift Illusion Sword (쾌환검). This meant his sword changes were swift and fearsome. His dark blue martial uniform, embroidered with silver threads reminiscent of the foam of crashing waves, was the symbol of the Hae Nam Sect, and only disciples of the Hae Nam Sect could wear it. Swift Illusion Sword Dan Pyeong, the Hae Nam Sect (海南派) he belonged to, was both one of the Nine Great Sects and not one of the Nine Great Sects. What does this wordplay mean? It means the Nine Great Sects are nine, yet they are also not nine. The reason is simple.

With the exception of the Four Great Sects—Shaolin (少林), Wudang (武當), Huashan (華山), and Emei (峨嵋)—the remaining seven sects have always changed positions.

Out of the nine positions in the Nine Great Sects, the other five positions, excluding the four of the Four Great Sects, were always competed for. And the competitors were always seven sects.

These were the Qingcheng Sect (靑城派), Kunlun Sect (崑崙), Zhongnan Sect (終南), Kongtong Sect, Hengshan Sect (衡山), Diancang Sect (點蒼), and Hae Nam Sect (海南派). These seven sects always took turns entering and exiting the Nine Great Sects. As a result, an invisible thread of connection inevitably bound them together.

It was somewhat absurd that these eleven sects in total called themselves the Nine Great Sects. And indeed, they were bound together like that.

Excluding the absolutely immovable Four Great Sects, the fact that they always changed positions did not diminish their pride to the point where they would easily associate with other sects. The fact that they always changed positions meant that their skills were comparable, and often the outcome was decided by luck. In such cases, it was even harder to accept the results.

Therefore, they created an unspoken rule among themselves. Even if a sect did not win the prestige of the Nine Great Sects in the Five-Year Grand Sect Tournament, they would be treated as members of the Nine Great Sects. This had become a tradition.

When there were gatherings of the Nine Great Sects, it was always these eleven sects that gathered. It was never exactly nine sects that gathered. Yet, they always called it the Nine Great Sects Gathering. At first glance, it's difficult to understand. However, looking at the underlying reasons, they had no choice but to act this way. Because they never knew when they might be pushed out of that position. That's what they feared.

Even if they were sometimes pushed out of the Nine Great Sects, they couldn't abandon their affiliation. The Nine Great Sects also couldn't abandon them. Who knew when they themselves might fall into the same situation! Because they were in a position where they couldn't leave the Nine Great Sects, and they were too proud to associate with other minor sects, they used the justification of calling themselves the Nine Great Sects for the sake of appearances.

For the sake of their pride, they couldn't associate with sects other than the Nine Great Sects. Or rather, they didn't. The reason was that their standings didn't match. In that context, the number of sects belonging to the Nine Orthodox Council (九正會) was also eleven, not nine.

Therefore, these eleven sects all seem to call themselves the Nine Great Sects. Both when referring to themselves and when others refer to them! This was a situation that even the martial world had to acknowledge.

The martial world is full of such pretenses. They quarrel over absurd things and deliberately create formality for trivial matters.

The Nine Great Sects decided by the tournament held every five years were Shaolin (少林), Wudang (武當), Huashan (華山), Emei (峨嵋), Qingcheng (靑城), Hengshan (衡山), Kunlun (崑崙), Zhongnan (終南), and Kongtong. Unfortunately, the Hae Nam Sect (海南派) and Diancang Sect (點蒼派) were excluded. However, even though they were excluded, they were still descendants of the Nine Great Sects, hailed as the pillars of the martial world. And they possessed the capability to be so.

Swift Illusion Sword (快幻劍) Dan Pyeong was a direct disciple of the Hae Nam Sect, which was both one of the Nine Great Sects and not one of them. As a disciple of a prestigious orthodox sect, it was unlikely that his skills were mediocre. To go against such a person carrying an unfamiliar zither… Biryu-yeon's actions were incomprehensible from a common-sense perspective.

This was, in a word, an act of disrespecting sound techniques. And it was also an act of completely looking down on Dan Pyeong.

Sound techniques are not for just anyone. Bringing forth a melody as a weapon was acceptable. Who could object to that? But the problem was what came next.

Biryu-yeon was in a position where he should have kept his mouth shut, even if he were criticized for his lack of insight.

Although Biryu-yeon confidently ascended the martial arts stage with his ink-black zither (묵금), sound techniques are truly inefficient and unproductive, and so complex and profound that they shake the very core, making them something not just anyone can learn. Currently, in the martial world, the number of people who can protect themselves and display their martial prowess using only sound techniques can be counted on ten fingers, with fingers left over.

Why is there the saying "Hundred Days Blade, Thousand Days Spear, Ten Thousand Days Sword"? It's because swords are inefficient and difficult to learn. That's why there are few swordsmen in the dark arts. One could say there are none at all. It takes too long to learn, and it takes even longer to use it in actual combat. A master swordsman in the demonic path is truly a master among masters. Otherwise, they are just a facade showing off.

Sound techniques are not a matter of ten thousand days. Even generously estimating, one would need about twenty thousand days of practice to wield them effectively. In fact, twenty thousand days is close to sixty years. One can't spend all that time learning only sound techniques! That's how difficult it is.

Of course, this applies when one begins with sound techniques and learns only sound techniques. This is because, in addition to melody, sound techniques fundamentally require an indispensable element called internal energy (내공) to reach their full potential.

As is widely known, this internal energy (내공) is incredibly difficult and demanding to cultivate, which makes the cultivation of sound techniques even harder. Of course, if one already possesses a certain level of internal energy (내공) before starting, they would achieve results much faster. Even so, isn't two hundred days, less than half a year, too short? Even with Biryu-yeon's prior study of melodies, it feels that way.

In fact, regarding the study of melodies, Biryu-yeon had been doing it for nearly eight years. He had also been practicing with his ink-black zither (묵금) for almost seven years. His master, while not knowledgeable about sound techniques, had an understanding of melodies. Since he had plenty of time, he probably learned it as a pastime. He himself didn't know exactly how old his master was. He only knew that he was incredibly, mind-bogglingly old.

In fact, sound techniques were completely unnecessary for his master. Even without them, his master had more than enough means to kill people.

It seems the truth that practice and actual combat are as different as heaven and earth is an unchanging truth. Learning sound techniques is difficult, but using them in actual combat is even more so.

Hmm, indeed, the biggest miscalculation in this martial arts match was overlooking the fact that his opponent was not an immobile plant. Of course, this is a very common-sense and absurdly obvious point, but because of it, his opponent wouldn't fight as elegantly as expected. Furthermore, the calculation error due to distance was greater than expected. Biryu-yeon once again felt that sound techniques are quite inefficient.

Complaints end with complaints, and now is the time to face the enemy who is rushing like lightning to attack with his sword.

Although not clearly visible through the fringe of his hair, Biryu-yeon's eyes began to glow green.

Biryu-yeon no longer had the luxury of time to play a melody.