Heaven’s Pillar Peak.
One of the tallest peaks of Wu Dang Mountain.
As one must traverse a dangerous mountain path and scale cliffs to reach Heaven’s Pillar Peak, it is said that no one ever approaches it.
“Hmm…why do you inquire about Heaven’s Pillar Peak?”
“Truthfully…a celestial sage appeared in my dream and told me to come here.”
At my words, Hak-un Daewon slightly bowed his head as if lost in thought. He then suddenly looked surprised and said to me,
“You met Grandmaster Taeheo?!”
“Grandmaster Taeheo?”
It’s hard to pretend I don’t know.
I asked back as naturally as possible, and to my surprise, Hak-un Daewon began speaking passionately in a way that was uncharacteristic of him.
“He was an outstanding martial artist from two generations ago! Once he was known as the Greatest Swordsman in all the land! He disappeared after taking the golden elixir to become a celestial immortal, and his whereabouts have been unknown ever since… but I didn’t think he’d still be alive!”
“Two generations ago…seems distant.”
I don’t know much about his personal details since he only made a fleeting appearance in the original story, but if he’s from two generations ago, how old could he possibly be?
He must be nearing a hundred at the very least.
Thinking about it this way, he really does resemble an immortal.
Even for a martial artist, reaching nearly a hundred years old in this era is extremely difficult.
Martial artists, with or without choice, always accumulate karmic ties.
To retire in good health and enjoy a peaceful old age in such a world—there’s no greater success than that.
“Grandmaster Taeheo appearing in your dream…perhaps he wishes to impart some teaching?”
Hak-un Daewon looked at me with envy.
If he was the greatest swordsman two generations ago, he must have been among the top martial artists in the entire realm. Given that he reached exceedingly high levels in the original story, it’s understandable why a Wu Dang Daoist would admire him.
“…Eun-gong. We’re ready.”
“I am as well.”
While I was talking to Hak-un Daewon, two people who had finished their preparations approached me. They were both dressed more lightly than usual. Climbing a mountain certainly called for more suitable attire.
We stood in front of the trail leading to Heaven’s Pillar Peak and bowed to Hak-un Daewon.
“Then, we’ll see you later.”
“I hope you find what you’re looking for. Please convey that Sect Leader would like to meet you if possible.”
“I’ll pass the message along.”
Heaven’s Pillar Peak…then.
I wonder how long it will take.
We began our journey to meet the recluse.
—
“…Is there really a person living in a place like this?”
“He’s a recluse!”
Hye-ryeong looked at me, puzzled, as if asking why I was questioning something so obvious.
…Is this common knowledge?
“There’s no place as full of natural essence as the places untouched by human feet. Isn’t it normal? Especially hermits, they love such environments, don’t they?”
Hermits do indeed love such places.
But do we really have to climb this?
I tilted my head as far back as possible to look up at the peak of Heaven’s Pillar.
I can’t see it because of the fog. Not even an estimate of how tall this mountain is. We might have to climb all day.
“Eun-gong. It looks like there’s a path over here.”
“…It looks like an animal trail.”
“Ajusshi, what’s an animal trail?”
“Exactly as the name implies: a path where animals walk. Basically, it means the probability of running into some creatures is higher.”
Look at the big paw prints.
What kind of creatures live on this mountain to leave such enormous tracks?
Is there a tiger or something?
“No matter what comes, we aren’t the type to fall easily. Let’s ascend via the animal trail.”
I took the lead and entered the animal trail. The path made only of soil and rock was in relatively decent condition, so it didn’t seem like it would require too much effort to climb.
After climbing for several si-jin,
I looked up at the twilight peeking through the foggy skies and took a deep breath.
“Indeed, if you live in a place like this, you can enjoy the view of the sky every day.”
“Hehe, just looking at the sky from such a high place makes me feel like I’ve become an immortal!”
“Watching this scenery every day might make one lose interest in the world below.”
We each exchanged our thoughts as we rested on nearby rocks. Even for martial artists, climbing a steep peak for nearly two si-jin was no easy feat.
Still, now we’ve covered about a third, so this hardship won’t last much longer.
“Let’s push forward. The celestial sage waiting for us probably keeps glaring at us with his eyes, wondering why we aren’t moving faster.”
“…You’re right.”
“And me?”
“…Hmm.”
Since Tai-heo Grandmaster took an interest in me and Mok-kyeong, there’s not much we can do about that.
Hye-ryeong is talented in her own right, but compared to Mok-kyeong, she does pale in comparison.
…I, though it’s a bit embarrassing to admit even to myself, but if I consider how I reached the rank of Straightener within just about two years, I might indeed have the talent worthy of a protagonist.
The environment forced me to reach new levels for over a year, so naturally, my growth rate relative to my experience would be fast. But…
Even when I first reincarnated into this body, it wasn’t one completely inexperienced in martial arts.
“Now it’s a steep cliff…”
“Ajusshi, what if we fall?”
“We can only hope for some stroke of luck in our next life.”
“We’d likely not even be able to gather our bones if we fall from here.”
As we exchanged idle chatter, we resumed our ascent. Now we faced the cliff.
If I had a proficient lightness art, I could’ve climbed this quickly, but unfortunately, my connection to such skills is minimal.
Even if I had learned lightness art, climbing this cliff without effort would’ve been impossible with ordinary martial skills, so it likely wouldn’t have mattered much.
“Mo-kyeong, Hye-ryeong, ascend first.”
“No, we should go together.”
“I’m going with Ajusshi!”
“…Are you sure you’ll be okay?”
With your physique, climbing this cliff won’t be easy. I tried dissuading her once more, but Hye-ryeong insisted on climbing with me.
“…I will also ascend together. Isn’t this the time to rely on humanity’s raw strength? Isn’t it part of cultivation?”
“…Do as you wish.”
I don’t care anymore.
With a sigh, I extended my hand toward the protruding rock.
To where does this cliff lead? Gazing up at the fog-covered summit, I began climbing.
—
“…Hoho. Where did you put your legs and climbed with just your hands?”
“I’ve never learned lightness art.”
“Not learning lightness art…yeah. A person can live without lightness art. Walking and running on flat land is not a bad life at all.”
Saying this to someone who just climbed the cliff seems a bit…offensive.
I shook off the dirt from my clothes after climbing the cliff and glanced at Hye-ryeong sprawled behind me.
…Then I quickly shifted my gaze to Mo-kyeong, who didn’t appear to have struggled much.
Did we both climb the same cliff? Why is she so spotless?
She noticed I was staring too intently and shyly avoided my gaze before explaining,
“…I trained in climbing cliffs like these when I was young.”
…Well, if you say so, that’s probably true.
I turned my gaze back to Master Tae-heo, who looked the same as in the dream and was now stroking his beard while extending his hand toward me.
“Did you bring any alcohol?”
“…I have it here.”
“It’s been a while since last drinking.”
“…Isn’t it possible for someone of Master Taeheo’s standing to simply descend and buy alcohol yourself?”
“Preposterous, how could someone who lives as one with nature like me even possess money?”
“Just go to the Wu Dang Sect…”
“I cannot, as there would be far too many troublesome people if I descended.”
Fair enough. Being one of the sect’s grand elders, there’d certainly be a commotion.
“…Indeed, someone of Grandmaster Taeheo’s stature would surely be like that.”
“This tastes good. Very nice indeed…yes, very good…”
Watching this dignified-looking elder gulping down alcohol straight from the bottle shattered my image of a hermit in mere seconds.
Of course, there are very few hermits in martial fiction who aren’t eccentrics.
Shall we slowly progress to the main topic then?
“Grandmaster Taeheo, may I inquire into the reason you summoned us?”
“I didn’t summon you. The heavens have brought you here. I merely appeared in a dream to relay that fact.”
The heavens brought us here?
I looked up at the sky as he spoke, and numerous stars embedded in the night sky were now visible.
Heavens…are we to take it literally? Or is there some hidden meaning?
“Do not overthink it. All things happen as they should.”
“…I understand that deep contemplation may not yield meaning.”
“Hmm. How can mere ants like us grasp the will of the heavens?”
“…Then, do you have any particular purpose for us?”
“The young one, if given a slight guidance, will surely find her own path. But you… Hmm.”
He stared hard at my face for a long time.
As if searching for the right words for me.
I waited in silence, looking at his face, filled with deliberation, until a smile played on his lips.
“Would you like to learn the Supreme Ultimate Fist?”
—
