Chapter 27 — Evaluation
The moment the words “Abandoned Martial Hall” left my mouth, the atmosphere inside the training ground erupted into commotion.
“…Abandoned Martial Hall? How is that possible!”
“The manuals left in the Abandoned Martial Hall are all incomplete, aren’t they?”
“Those dangerous arts that lead practitioners to qi deviation?”
Murmurs spread through the crowd like waves.
Their faces were filled with disbelief and bewilderment.
‘Of course they’d react this way.’
The martial arts manuals left in the Abandoned Martial Hall had long been deemed useless.
Fragments of incomplete techniques and broken remnants of mental cultivation methods.
They were nothing more than flawed arts that damaged the practitioner’s mind and body.
They should have been discarded long ago.
However, under the pretext of being “research records left by past masters,” they had lingered like a useless asset until now.
‘Research records, my ass. They’re just traces of failure.’
The original purpose behind establishing the Abandoned Martial Hall had been noble.
To inherit the footsteps of past masters and elevate Kunlun’s martial arts to greater heights.
But despite the lifelong efforts of countless geniuses, not a single manual had ever reached true completion.
Later generations with ambition had attempted it, but the result was the same.
The stories of those who fell into qi deviation and lost their lives only made the name “Abandoned Martial Hall” even more ominous.
‘So it’s natural they can’t believe it. That an Affairs Hall laborer like me would demonstrate Abandoned Martial Hall techniques here.’
At that moment, Sect Leader Cheon Gwang-cheon slowly straightened his posture, lifting his hand from the armrest.
His low but firm voice resonated throughout the training ground.
“Han Mujin.”
I raised my head and looked straight at the Sect Leader.
“The martial arts of the Abandoned Martial Hall are inherently incomplete. Even a little training is enough to lead one to qi deviation. Yet I see no such signs in you.”
“….”
“Moreover, the techniques you displayed possessed perfect balance. They were on a completely different level from the incomplete arts of the Abandoned Martial Hall. Is the martial art you displayed truly the Flowing Flower Sword? How exactly were you able to learn it?”
All eyes turned toward me.
I took a short breath and spoke slowly.
“I… am not entirely sure of the reason myself.”
“You don’t know the reason?”
“Yes. While cleaning the Abandoned Martial Hall, I happened to come across the Flowing Flower Sword manual. Strangely, the moment I read it, I understood its contents. It felt as natural as practicing a martial art I had already learned long ago.”
My answer caused another wave of commotion in the training ground.
“That’s impossible!”
“The Abandoned Martial Hall arts were understood that easily?”
“How could such a flawed manual produce a display of that level!”
The crowd’s faces showed a mix of different emotions.
Some sneered, while others looked on with clear suspicion.
However, the murmurs didn’t last long.
“Everyone, be silent!”
At a single short command from the Sect Leader, the training ground fell quiet once more.
“Not all the arts of the Abandoned Martial Hall are worthless.”
Sect Leader Cheon Gwang-cheon’s clear voice rang out powerfully.
“According to Kunlun’s secret records, accessible only to the Sect Leader and First Generation Elders, there have been occasional cases of individuals who attained enlightenment within the Abandoned Martial Hall. Though few in number, they reached new realms of martial insight through those realizations.”
The First Generation Elders nodded calmly, but everyone else’s eyes widened in shock.
I, too, was surprised, though I didn’t show it outwardly.
‘There were actually people who gained enlightenment in the Abandoned Martial Hall?’
To win the Great Assembly of Elders, I had to display proper Kunlun martial arts.
The only Kunlun martial arts I knew were the ones I had learned in the Abandoned Martial Hall.
Since I couldn’t hide it anyway, I had decided to charge forward boldly.
But to think there really had been people who achieved something there?
I held my breath and continued listening to the Sect Leader.
“Although it was not a path open to everyone, it is clear that some did achieve success in the Abandoned Martial Hall.”
The crowd’s eyes wavered.
The weight of the Sect Leader’s words was suppressing their doubts.
After looking around once, the Sect Leader turned his gaze back to me.
“Han Mujin.”
“Yes, Sect Leader.”
“Do you know who left behind the Flowing Flower Sword you just displayed?”
I shook my head.
The moment the name left the Sect Leader’s mouth, the training ground stirred once again.
“The creator of the Flowing Flower Sword is the Azure Cloud True Person.”
“The Azure Cloud True Person?!”
My mouth fell open involuntarily.
[Azure Cloud True Person]
A legendary hero whose name every Kunlun disciple had heard at least once.
The absolute expert born from Kunlun two hundred years ago, recognized as the strongest under heaven in his era.
The legends surrounding him were still told endlessly to this day.
The tale of how, on his first venture into the Jianghu, he slaughtered hundreds of Heavenly Demon Cult warriors with a single sword.
The hard-fought victory against the Heavenly Demon Cult Leader after seven days and nights of bloody combat that solidified his title as the strongest under heaven.
And finally, the unbelievable story of how he transcended the limits of martial arts, ascended to immortality, and vanished from the mortal world.
The very name Azure Cloud True Person was both Kunlun’s myth and its greatest source of pride.
And yet, one of his martial arts had been left behind in the Abandoned Martial Hall — the graveyard of discarded techniques.
‘…And that art is the Flowing Flower Sword that I learned.’
If Sect Leader Cheon Gwang-cheon hadn’t said it himself, I would never have believed it.
Others seemed to share my shock, as doubtful voices erupted from all around.
“If it’s a sword art left by the Azure Cloud True Person, shouldn’t it be a supreme technique?”
“Still, the fact that it remained in the Abandoned Martial Hall means… it must be incomplete, right?”
“How could an Affairs Hall member so easily learn a sword art that even past masters couldn’t master?”
Suspicious glares poured down on me from every direction.
It was a natural reaction. If I were in their position, I would have thought the same.
However, the Sect Leader’s next words quickly silenced the murmurs.
“Although it is not widely known, the Azure Cloud True Person was not originally a formal disciple of Kunlun. His first connection to Kunlun was also through the Affairs Hall. Just like Han Mujin, who stands before us today.”
The Sect Leader’s gaze turned toward me.
“Despite starting in the Affairs Hall, the Azure Cloud True Person pursued his own path of martial learning. Later, those who recognized his talent accepted him as a formal disciple. Because his starting point differed from that of ordinary Kunlun disciples, his perspective on martial arts was also unique.”
The training ground fell so silent that even breathing could barely be heard.
Everyone focused intently, waiting for the Sect Leader’s next words.
“It is said that the Azure Cloud True Person found flow within the fragmented, incomplete techniques that others had discarded, and discovered paths within the broken remnants of mental cultivation methods. Perhaps because he refused to be bound by the established framework and sought to understand martial arts through his own eyes.”
The Sect Leader’s voice resonated deeply throughout the training ground.
“And just before his ascension, the Azure Cloud True Person left behind these words for future generations.”
Everyone’s eyes widened.
The final words left behind in the mortal world by the strongest under heaven.
It was a message that demanded everyone’s full attention.
All those present held their breath and focused solely on the Sect Leader’s words.
“The traces I leave behind will not reach those who only follow Kunlun’s path. Only those who can see other paths will be able to find the footsteps I have taken.”
A short silence followed.
The Sect Leader nodded once and continued in a quiet, almost recitative tone.
“The martial arts left by the Azure Cloud True Person may have appeared as incomplete fragments to those who only knew Kunlun’s ways. However, to someone starting from a different place, the hidden flows of martial arts that others could not see may have been visible…”
The Sect Leader’s gaze fixed directly on me.
His eyes were as deep and calm as a still lake.
“Han Mujin, the reason you were able to comprehend the Flowing Flower Sword… may very well be because your fate has touched upon one of the threads of connection left behind by the Azure Cloud True Person.”
The training ground fell into silence once again.
The eyes of the crowd no longer held mockery or ridicule toward me.
Instead, each person was quietly reflecting on the teachings left behind by the Azure Cloud True Person in their own way.
Sect Leader Cheon Gwang-cheon was the one who broke the solemn silence.
“All proxies, step forward.”
Myeong-jeon, Yu Seol-ah, and Hyun-kwon, who had demonstrated earlier, rose from their seats and walked down to the training ground.
All the proxies, including myself, lined up and stood facing the Sect Leader.
The Sect Leader looked at each proxy with warm eyes before slowly speaking.
“Myeong-jeon.”
First Generation Elder Na Gwang-do’s proxy, Myeong-jeon, stepped forward.
His face was filled with tension.
“The Kunlun Cloud Step you displayed should be as free as clouds, yet also carry the majestic presence of Kunlun’s mountain range.”
“Yes, Sect Leader.”
“However, while your footwork contained strong momentum, the flow was not smooth. There was precision in the forms, but unfortunately, you have not yet shown the naturalness and adaptability that clouds should possess.”
Myeong-jeon’s face flushed red, but he soon lowered his head deeply in acceptance.
The Sect Leader nodded once and shifted his gaze to the next proxy.
“And Seol-ah.”
“Yes, Sect Leader.”
Looking at Yu Seol-ah, who answered with a spirited voice, the Sect Leader smiled gently and said,
“The Snowflower Sword Art you displayed is a beautiful and delicate sword technique, like snowflakes dancing in the wind. Yet within it should be a sharp edge like winter frost. Your sword path certainly showed that keen sharpness.”
At the Sect Leader’s praise, confidence bloomed on Yu Seol-ah’s face.
But that confidence did not last long.
“However, your sword contained only sharpness. The balance and delicacy that the Snowflower Sword Art should possess were missing. It is a shame that you pursued only excessive sharpness and missed the most important flow of the sword.”
At the Sect Leader’s precise criticism, Yu Seol-ah’s confidence vanished instantly.
Like snowflakes evaporating in the heat.
She bit her lip for a brief moment before calmly lowering her head.
“I will engrave the Sect Leader’s teachings deep in my heart.”
The Sect Leader gave a benevolent smile and nodded, then turned his gaze to the next proxy — Hyun-kwon.
“Hyun-kwon.”
“Yes, Sect Leader.”
Hyun-kwon cupped his fists and bowed deeply to Sect Leader Cheon Gwang-cheon.
The Sect Leader looked at him for a moment before speaking slowly.
“The Decree Spear Art you demonstrated today was truly excellent. Now I understand why you became the youngest Junior Hall Master in the history of the Hall of Martial Law.”
“You flatter me, Sect Leader.”
“Your martial prowess was outstanding. It was comparable to what your master displayed at your age. Isn’t that right, First Generation Elder Gwang-heon?”
The Sect Leader’s gaze turned toward Iron Lion Gwang-heon.
Gwang-heon gave a short nod, as if agreeing.
At the acknowledgment from both the Sect Leader and First Generation Elder Gwang-heon, low murmurs spread through the training ground.
“To receive recognition from both the Sect Leader and Elder Gwang-heon…”
“Hyun-kwon’s spear was truly impressive.”
Ignoring the murmurs, the Sect Leader continued speaking to Hyun-kwon.
“The Decree Spear Art is one of Kunlun’s spear techniques that possesses the most upright and unyielding power. Your spear lacked no strength, and the flow of your inner energy was stable. Every thrust carried unbroken momentum. Among today’s proxies, you were undoubtedly the best.”
“Thank you.”
“However, being too upright can also make one rigid and unable to adapt. Keep this in mind as you continue your martial training.”
“I will engrave it in my heart, Sect Leader.”
The Sect Leader nodded with a pleased smile.
Then, he finally turned his gaze to the last remaining proxy.
“Han Mujin.”
The decisive moment had finally arrived.
The moment that would determine whether I would win the Great Assembly of Elders or not.