Chapter 25


    Three days before their departure for Nanjing, the martial artists of the Justice Martial Sect arrived at the Baek Sword Sect. The Justice Martial Sect sent one of their three sword squads over.


    In addition, they sent two of the Five Justice Martial Swordsmen together with Jeong Ho-Gun, their young patriarch. The Five Justice Martial Swordsmen were masters in the peak-level realm known as the Justice Martial Sects most outstanding martial artists. The fact that they sent two of them was proof that they werent taking the escort mission of this mercantile journey lightly.


    The Baek Sword Sect treated the Justice Martial Sects martial artists with respect and courtesy to make themfortable. Meanwhile, Mu-Gun practiced his martial arts in the training hall within his residence.


    He steadily trained his martial arts while teaching Cheon-Sang and the squad leaders. As a result, he was able to raise the level of his Iron Blood Vajra Body Cultivation to the 5-star realm. However, it still couldnt be used to block sword qi or saber qi.


    Still, it would be able to deflect a saber attack with no internal energy imbued in it. It would also greatly reduce the attacks impact. Hence, even if a martial artist in the second-rate or third-rate realm were to attack him, hed suffer little to no damage.


    Of course, hed still sustain damage if a bunch of third-rate martial artists ganged up on him. However, considering his abilities, there would be close to no chance of him being ganged up on by martial artists below the second-rate realm.


    Despite his busy schedule, Mu-Gun didnt neglect his martial art cultivation and still found time to study the Flying Golden Shield Scripture.


    The key element of the Flying Golden Shield Scripture, which maneuvered the Flying Golden Shield, was how fast it could rotate the shield. The faster the rotation speed, the more powerful it grew and the longer the throwing distance became. Rotation wouldnt matter if all he wanted was to throw it. He could even throw it as far as hundreds of feet by imbuing his internal energy into it.


    However, the Flying Golden Shield Scripture wasnt a skill that focused on throwing the shield. Rather, it revolved around intercepting the enemy and returning the shield to the user. To do so, high-speed rotation was necessary. Mu-Gun immediately grasped the Flying Golden Shield Scriptures core and trained in a way that emphasized the Flying Golden Shields high-speed rotation.


    As a result, Mu-Gun could now throw the Flying Golden Shield up to fifty feet and make it return to him. uracy and its destructive power were crucial, however. Even if he could throw it up to fifty feet, it would be no use if he couldnt reach his target. Furthermore, even if he did hit them, it would still be meaningless if it didnt do much damage.


    Mu-Gun stood on the far-left end of the training hall, opposite the randomly ced human-modeled logs. Focusing on one of them, he threw the Flying Golden Shield in its direction.


    The Flying Golden Shield left his hand and flew in a smooth curve toward Mu-Guns target. Rotating at high speed, it let off a piercing sound as it flew. It didnt take long for it to urately hit his targets head.


    The log instantly shattered when the Flying Golden Shield crashed into it. The shield then circled around in mid-air and returned to Mu-Gun, rapidly slowing down and stopping smoothly in his hand.


    Ill hit ten targets today without fail.


    With determination, Mu-Gun threw it again, causing it to fly across the training hall with arger curve than before. Despite itsrger trajectory, it was much faster.


    Without slowing down, it crossed fifty feet and shattered the log dummies heads one after another.


    One, two, three, four eight, nine. The Flying Golden Shield flew toward and shattered the head of the tenth and final log dummy. Its fragments scattered in all directions. All Mu-Gun had to do was make the shield return, and hed seed in his task.


    However, its rotational speed decreased noticeably after smashing the tenth log dummy. It eventually dropped to the floor, havingpletely lost power just thirty feet away from Mu-Gun. He kept failing on the tenth consecutive attack, and today was no different. The real power of the Flying Golden Shield Scripture was its ability to one-shot multiple enemies with one throw. However, for that to happen, Mu-Gun had to be able to freely control the shields rotation.


    It required a very detailed and refined application of qi, which was difficult to attain even for Mu-Gun, who was skilled in qi control. However, sessfullyunching nine consecutive attacks in less than a month since he started practicing was already a great achievement on its own.


    That was made possible by his acquisition of the enlightenment needed to control swords with qi, which he gained through his previous reincarnations umted experience. Once Mu-Gun had advanced to the absolute realm and gathered sufficient internal energy, he would be able to freely wield the Flying Golden Shield just as how he could control swords with qi.


    However, until then, he had no choice but to rely on the Flying Golden Shield Scripture to use the Flying Golden Shield. Mu-Gun threw the shield repeatedly with the resolve to execute ten sessful strikes in one throw.


    After smashing more than a hundred log dummies over the course of two hours, he eventually seeded in destroying ten of them in one throw. Satisfied, Mu-Gun left the training hall and headed to his residence, which was right beside it. There, he found someone waiting for him.


    It was Ho-Gun, the young patriarch of the Justice Martial Sect.


    Ho-Gun was chubby and had a round face. Although he wasnt handsome, he had a cute impression that women would like. A smile formed on Mu-Guns face upon seeing him. Mu-Gun and Ho-Gun were the same age. Due to the Baek Sword Sect and Justice Martial Sects good rtionship, they had been ymates since childhood. That created a close bond between them.


    In short, they were best friends. However, their rtionship became estranged when Mu-Gun suffered from qi deviation. No, it would be more urate to say that Mu-Gun avoided Ho-Gun.


    Jeong Ho-Gun!


    Mu-Gun called out to his friend, whom he hadnt seen in such a long time, with a weing voice.


    Ive been waiting for you forever. Did you hide your lover in the training hall or something? How could you stay there for two hours? Ho-Gun grumbled when he saw Mu-Gun. There was no sign of their rtionship turning distant despite theirck of meeting over the past three years. Mu-Gun felt grateful for how Ho-Gun treated him as if nothing had happened. In return, Mu-Gun also treated him without reserve, just like how he did before he developed qi deviation.


    Have you forgotten? My martial arts and sword are my lovers.


    Youre still saying that, you madman? How could you note to greet me when I arrived? Do I have toe to find you myself? Im a guest, you know.


    I was actually going to visit you after my training.


    Are you implying that your training is more important than me?


    Isnt that obvious? Mu-Gun retorted.


    Never mind. I shouldnt have asked. Even so, Im happy. Youre back to the annoying Baek Mu-Gun I know.


    Ive shown you an ugly side of me, havent I?


    Thats not it. Rather, I was upset with myself. I felt pathetic. I couldnt do anything for you despite being a friend.


    Dont act so warm-hearted. It doesnt suit you. Mu-Gun threw a jab at his friend, trying to lighten the mood.


    You jackass!


    Keke, can you drink?


    I cant because theres nothing to drink.


    Then lets get wasted today.


    Fine by me.


    Wait for me a for a bit more. Im going to go wash up.


    Okay.


    Mu-Gun called the servants to prepare a table of drinks and snacks, then washed up. While he was taking a bath, the servants quickly did as instructed. When Mu-Gun came out, they immediately sent in the table.


    Tch, you said you wanted to get wasted today, so I thought we were going to a nice brothel or something, Ho-Gun grumbled as Mu-Gun prepared a drinking session in his residence.


    Brothel? Arent you still a brat wet behind your ears?


    I dont think I want to hear that from someone who used to frequent simr ces day in and day out.


    Well, theres nothing special there anyway, so lets just drink here. Doing so will save us some money, too. How great is that?


    Tch, thats no different from saying youve been there so many times that youve grown sick of it.


    Ho-Guns grumbling made Mu-Gun chuckle. Thetter poured him a drink.


    Just ept the drink.


    Fine. Its not often we get to drink together like this.


    Ho-Gun quickly picked up his cup and epted the drink that Mu-Gun poured him. Afterward, he also poured Mu-Gun some alcohol.


    Itste, but congrattions on recovering your martial arts and returning to being the obnoxious bastard I knew.


    Thank you, Mu-Gun expressed his thanks.


    Mu-Gun and Ho-Gun clinked their cups and gulped them down in one go.


    Kuhkkk, this is great.


    I know, right? Its nice to finally get a drink with you after so long.


    They drank one cup after another.


    Oh, how did you defeat the Sea Dragon Gangs leader? Ho-Gun asked out of curiosity.


    What do you mean how? I defeated him with my skills.


    Have you really reached the peak-level realm?


    Well, sort of.


    Sort of? If you are, then say you are.


    My internal energy is still insufficient.


    Still, if you can execute your martial arts, then youre already at the peak-level realm. At any rate, reaching that realm at the tender age of twenty-three years old is really amazing. If Byeok Jin-Woon and Tae Mu-Gang find out, theyd probably be furious, Ho-Gun said, seemingly pleased just thinking about it.


    Byeok Jin-Woon and Tae Mu-Gang were the young patriarchs of the Byeok Sword Manor and the Wind Saber Sect respectively. The Byeok Sword Manor and the Wind Saber Sect were one of the Ten Great Families of the Zhejiang Martial Alliance, and they were some of the greatest forces among other simr families and sects.


    Do they still go around acting arrogantly? Mu-Gun asked, recalling those two. The Ten Great Families held regr meetings to strengthen harmony. During those events, Jin-Woon and Mu-Gang, who believed in the rtively powerful Byeok Sword Manor and Wind Saber Sect, would go around bragging about their power.


    Isnt that obvious? After you suffered from qi deviation, they thought of themselves as the best among our generation. I really couldnt stand the sight of them. Ho-Gun sounded annoyed.


    Mu-Gun was the most talented among the heirs of the Ten Great Families in the Zhejiang Martial Alliance. Befitting that talent, his martial arts aplishments were also the greatest.


    Jin-Woon and Mu-Gang were jealous of Mu-Gun, whom they couldnt ovee no matter how much effort they put in. Hence, they always picked a fight with him. The problem was that Mu-Gun wasnt an easy opponent. In every attempt they made, Mu-Gun made sure to humiliate them. In doing so, Jin-Woon and Mu-Gang no longer dared brag about their authority and power in front of Mu-Gun. To those two, Mu-Gun was an inevitable pain in the neck.


    When Mu-Gun suffered from qi deviation, they ridiculed his misfortune and found enjoyment in it. With him crippled, nobody could interfere with them anymore. Hence, they began to act up like a horse without reins. However, Mu-Gun had recovered his martial arts and even reached the peak-level realm. Ho-Gun was delighted just thinking about how envious and angry those two would be once they learned of this.


    What about the others?


    Theyre the same. Except for me and Won-Yee, theyre busy sticking to and ttering those two.


    At Ho-Guns words, Jo Won-Yee came across Mu-Guns mind. He was the young patriarch of the Flying Lance Sect, which was one of the Ten Great Families. Mu-Gun and Ho-Gun often hung out with him until Mu-Gun suffered from qi deviation.


    Hows Won-Yee doing?


    Well, so-so.


    Id like to see him.


    Really? Why dont we go meet him together after wee back from Nanjing? I bet Won-Yee, too, would be happy to see your current state now.


    Itll have to wait. I have something else I need to do first.


    ying hard to get, huh, Ho-Gun teased, but he didnt insist on meeting Jo Won-Yee any further. He knew Mu-Gun wasnt avoiding their friend on purpose. Rather, he truly had something to do.


    The two drank alcohol with the memories of the past as a side dish. It wasnt until dawn that their drinking session ended.


    Mu-Gun had finally let some weight off his shoulders with his best friend. However, he suffered from a hangover all morning the following day in return. As soon as he woke up, he experienced difficulties despite circting his qi. Mu-Gun vowed never to drink too much next time. However, anyone who had drunk before would know that his pledge wouldntst. It was not until the afternoon that he finally got out of his hangover and prepared to leave for Nanjing.


    The next day, Mu-Gun left the Baek Sword Sect and boarded a ship bound for Nanjing.