"The Great Dao Heavenly Tundun Sword Technique?"
Now that I think about it, there was a legendary anecdote related to the Sword Immortal.
It was said that, during the Sword Immortal's travels across the world, he had slain a jiao dragon at Mount Lu using the Heavenly Tundun Sword Technique that he had realized there.
Since it sounded so absurd, I had thought it was just an exaggerated tale to deify the Sword Immortal—but it turns out it's an actual sword technique.
—Didn't you learn that before?
"No."
The older version of the Sword Immortal I had met in my inner world had claimed to have lost the form of swordsmanship, and had instead further developed the Life-Naming Sword Technique for me.
"…Ah…"
A sword technique that still retains the form of the Sword Immortal…
As someone who walks the path of the sword, it was an irresistible temptation.
"A proxy, not even a disciple, being taught the Great Dao Heavenly Tundun Sword Technique? That's way too obvious a move, Senior Brother," said the woman wearing only one shoe, shaking her head.
To that, the Sword Immortal replied nonchalantly.
"He'll be facing a deeply cultivated Daoist who possesses all four Dharma Artifacts despite lacking the strength of the Dharma Body. How could I not teach him at least that level of technique?"
"Even so, it's too much."
"Better too much than too little. At the very least, this young man mustn't die because of my past karma."
The Sword Immortal was resolute.
Seeing this, the woman sighed.
Then, a middle-aged Daoist with a flute at his waist spoke up.
"If Senior Brother Ye is even passing down the Great Dao Heavenly Tundun Sword Technique, then I can't afford to hold back either. As the one who managed the Dharma Artifacts, I will pass down the Wood-Origin Harmonizing Pine Melody to this young man."
"What! Senior Brother Han, you really…" said the woman holding a lotus flower in disbelief.
She probably hadn't intended to teach any techniques from the start.
To her, the middle-aged Daoist smiled gently and said,
"If you truly have nothing suitable to pass down, then you don't need to force yourself, Senior Sister."
His words drew a 川-shaped wrinkle on her brow.
Clearly, her pride was wounded.
With a displeased tone, she said,
"Nothing to pass down, you say?"
"You possess the ability to divine fortunes, but that's not something one can learn in three or four years, is it? That's why I said you needn't overextend yourself."
That was the final blow.
The hand holding the lotus flower trembled slightly, and with a forceful voice, she declared:
"Are you saying that pursuing the Dao and walking the path of immortality counts for nothing? Fine. Then I shall pass down Jungyo Hwan-Euian to this young man."
"Jungyo Hwan-Euian?"
Her words startled me.
Though the first two characters were different, could it really be the Hwan-Euian I knew?
While I was wondering, a Daoist in tattered clothes holding a gourd burst into hearty laughter.
"Hahaha! Junior Brother Han provoked Senior Sister with a sharp tongue and ended up wringing a technique out of her!"
"I merely meant not to strain herself."
"Whatever the case, you've made her pass down an incredible skill. So, what technique should I, Bin-Do, teach this young man?"
As Bin-Do stroked his chin in contemplation, the lotus-holding Daoist woman spoke sharply.
"With the Great Dao Heavenly Tundun Sword Technique and Jungyo Hwan-Euian already being passed down, don't tell me you're planning to hold back. How about passing down the Nine-Cloud Flame Palm you always bragged about?"
"That's…"
"What? Were you planning to hand down some trivial technique?"
"Tch."
Slapping his forehead with his palm, Bin-Do said,
"I shouldn't have said anything. Fine."
To that, the Sword Immortal clasped his hands in thanks.
Bin-Do then turned to the remaining Daoists who had not yet spoken and said,
"What about the rest of you, Senior Brothers and Sisters? At this rate, shouldn't you all share your skills as well?"
Sigh.
The Daoist sitting in front of the white mule shook his head.
Then, he looked straight at me and said,
"If you ever pass on the technique I give you to someone else, I will never forgive you."
…Excuse me.
I haven't even agreed to any of this yet.
They're just beating their own drums here—what am I even supposed to do?
"Hmph. You don't even know how to be grateful," the Daoist snorted, clicking his tongue, and then said to me:
"I will teach you the Golden Spear True Classic, the essence of my spear technique. I'll be strict, so be prepared."
Hearing this, the flute-wielding Daoist laughed heartily.
"Ahahaha! You pretend to be reluctant, but now you're handing over the famed spear technique that made you a Spear King in the mortal world!"
"I just want to show that swordsmanship isn't everything."
The blunt reply came as he turned to look at the Sword Immortal, as if asking, "Is that enough?"
The Sword Immortal gave a deep nod of thanks.
Then he looked at the two remaining Daoists.
The one holding the Yin-Yang plate chuckled and said,
"I shall pass down Snow-Blossom Flame Yin Dance. It will greatly help this young man understand the principles of Yin and Yang."
"Thank you, Brother Cho."
Naturally, the Sword Immortal's gaze then turned to the last one among them—except for Master Jeongyang at the seat of honor.
"Phew…"
The one-shoed woman sighed.
She looked at me with a complex expression, then said,
"If everyone is passing down a technique for the greater good, I can't be the only one who doesn't. That would look ridiculous."
As she said this, something astonishing happened.
Her facial muscles began to ripple, and then wrinkles appeared—until her face looked exactly like the Sword Immortal's.
With the exact same face and voice as the Sword Immortal, she said,
"I will teach you the Metamorphic Ten-Thousand Faces Technique."
Even her voice was identical.
Looking closely, her body shape had changed too—almost identical to the Sword Immortal's.
I'd heard there were eccentric martial artists who could mimic others by altering their facial muscles, like wearing a human mask—but this technique seemed even more profound.
She even appeared to change gender.
Swish—!
She returned to her original form and spoke:
"This will be useful when approaching that man, Ja-Gyeongjeong. However, I must also warn you. Never pass this technique on to anyone else. Swear that, and I'll teach it to you."
She gave the same warning as the Daoist in front of the white mule.
Then, someone else added:
"Not just that—any technique you learn here on Do-Hwa-Seon must never be taught to anyone. That is the condition for receiving them."
It was Master Jeongyang, seated at the head.
The Sword Immortal replied in his stead:
"Of course."
"If, after learning all the techniques from the Daoists here, you still lack something, I shall fill that void myself."
At his words, the other Daoists looked at me with subtle envy.
It might be because he's the leader of all the Daoists here.
Should I call it luck?
—Isn't this insanely good? Where else could you get this kind of opportunity? You're learning from Daoists who are practically inhuman!
There's not a single ordinary person among the Daoists here.
So, it's no surprise that every technique they mentioned is extraordinary.
That also means that only with these techniques can I hope to face him.
But… what if I fail?
If that happens, I might never return to where I came from.
Then the Sword Immortal offered a bow of gratitude to each Daoist and said,
"Thank you all for accepting my difficult request."
"This is all for the sake of restoring what's been broken—how could we refuse? Now, the rest is up to the young man's choice."
All eyes, including Master Jeongyang's, turned toward me.
The Sword Immortal approached me and spoke:
"While the damaged scriptures are being restored, you can take this time to learn their techniques."
"...I understand. But… if I fail, can I return to where I was?"
"That is…"
Before the Sword Immortal could answer, the woman with the lotus leaf cut in.
"If things go according to your plan, isn't returning impossible?"
'!?'
For a moment, I looked at the Sword Immortal (검선) in confusion.
The Sword Immortal let out a long breath and said,
"I will make sure you can return."
"How, exactly?"
I needed more than just reassurance—I needed a concrete plan.
At that moment, the Daoist sitting in front of the white donkey interjected.
"Considering how long it might take to track down the Dharma Tool and capture that man, returning to the Fuse Line (도화선) won't be easy. How can you make such a promise?"
The Daoist holding the gourd added,
"I too had the same doubt. If we don't capture that foolish disciple of Senior Brother soon after he fled, it will become even harder later. Surely you're not suggesting this young man return to where he came from and capture him himself?"
I was dumbfounded.
If that were the case, how would it be any different from asking me to throw away the life I had lived until now just to capture that man?
"Are they correct?"
In response to my question, the Sword Immortal silently pointed out the window.
He pointed to a hill, the very core of the Fuse Line, where the chamber lay.
"When the scripture was damaged, the Fuse Line got trapped in the middle of the flow. But once the scripture is restored, it will move again."
"And then?"
"If that happens, the time point will be close to when my unworthy disciple escaped the Fuse Line. You'll be able to subdue Ja Gyeong-jeong and retrieve the Dharma Tool then."
"And what if, during that time, the entrance to the Fuse Line closes? How will I return?"
The Sword Immortal had once told me that the Fuse Line moves with the flow and cannot be predicted from the outside.
If the entrance closes, I'll be trapped in this unknown time period.
And if this time is later than the one I originally came from, it'll be the worst possible outcome.
With resolve in his voice, the Sword Immortal said,
"I will return you to your original time."
"How?"
"Even if it costs me all my internal energy, I will hold the flow of the Thirty-Six Celestial Scripture Coordinates."
At that, the Daoist with the flute shouted in shock,
"Senior Brother! That's too reckless!"
The other Daoists responded similarly, each trying to dissuade him.
I couldn't understand why until Master Jeongyang explained,
"You know that if you exhaust all your energy, even your body will wither. Are you really prepared for that?"
"If I don't even accept the risk of this young man sacrificing himself because of me and my foolish disciple, how can I call myself a man of the Dao?"
I was speechless at the Sword Immortal's words.
He was prepared to sacrifice himself as well.
He said to me,
"I don't believe any of this is coincidence. Everything is both natural and fated. If you fail to capture my unworthy disciple, even your original time may fall into danger."
"..."
I closed my eyes and let out a sigh.
Is this really fate?
No one here in the Fuse Line can capture Ja Gyeong-jeong, who ran away with the Dharma Tool.
If that's the case, and he cultivates with that immense power, who knows what chaos he might unleash?
—But nothing happened in your original timeline.
At that, the Sword Immortal smiled gently and said,
"That might be the answer."
"Huh?"
"Perhaps nothing happened because you caught my unworthy disciple."
His voice was filled with conviction.
Oddly enough, hearing that brought peace to my heart.
Maybe he was right.
Maybe by fulfilling my mission as their agent, I prevent disaster in the future...
'Huh?'
Something suddenly flashed through my mind.
It was something Iron Heart Papa Cheol Su-ryeon had said:
[That man was defeated by the Sword Immortal's heir.]
Wait.
There are two true heirs of the Sword Immortal—Ja Gyeong-jeong and Yeo Yang-seon.
Yeo Yang-seon was kidnapped, so if we exclude her... then could the fugitive Ja Gyeong-jeong have actually defeated that so-called "Master Jonju"?
If so, then this might be the very time period when Jonju has actively revealed himself.
—Oh? You're right!
If I catch Ja Gyeong-jeong now, I might uncover Jonju's identity.
This might be my golden opportunity.
What if I use Ja Gyeong-jeong to take down Jonju at the same time?
—That's a great idea!
Sodamgeom agreed, but then Namcheon Iron Sword's voice rang in my head.
—But Yunhui. If this really is the past, wouldn't capturing Jonju also cause major problems?
'Huh?'
—You said you returned to the past. And you said that every action you take changes the future you once knew.
'Ah!'
I understood what he meant.
He was right.
If I kill Jonju here, the future will change completely.
For example, because of Jonju, the Namcheon Swordmaster ends up in a dire situation, and leaves the Namcheon Iron Sword in a cliffside cave. If Jonju dies, none of that will happen.
That means I'd never meet Namcheon Iron Sword, and I'd lose the opportunity to regain my martial arts.
'...So even if I uncover his identity, I can't kill him.'
For the sake of what's to come, I must let him live.
In the end, all I can do is find out who he really is.
—Even that much would help once you return to your time, right?
I agreed.
To do that, I had to catch Ja Gyeong-jeong.
But not right away—I had to wait until he made a move on Jonju.
That would take time. Would it be alright?
I looked toward the Sword Immortal.
The longer he held the Fuse Line in place, the more his energy would be drained.
As I watched him with concern, the flute-wielding Daoist spoke up.
"How can we let Senior Brother take on all the burden alone? I'll help as well."
The Sword Immortal protested.
"This isn't something for you to get involved in."
"What do you mean? How long can you realistically hold the Fuse Line alone? Even with your deep energy, a day or two at most."
"Still..."
"If I help, we could hold it for three to four days."
"Junior Brother..."
They looked at each other with deep affection.
Then, the ragged Daoist with the gourd raised his hand and said,
"I'll help too. Then we could hold out for five or six days."
Was that the spark?
The female Daoist holding a lotus raised her hand and said nonchalantly,
"We can't lose our senior brothers to a foolish act. I'll lend a hand too."
"If even you're joining, I can't just sit by."
A one-shoed female Daoist added firmly.
Master Jeongyang looked at them with a satisfied expression.
Then, the Daoist holding the Yin-Yang board hesitantly spoke.
"Um... sorry to interrupt, but... there is a way to return to the Fuse Line."
The Sword Immortal furrowed his brow.
"What do you mean?"
The Daoist explained,
"It's unorthodox, but if this young man becomes a temporary member of the Fuse Line, then regardless of how much time passes, he'll always know where and when it appears. Then he could capture Ja Gyeong-jeong at his leisure."
'!!!'
Everyone suddenly felt awkward.
They had just been boldly swearing to sacrifice themselves, yet this kind of shortcut existed all along.
Even Master Jeongyang burst out laughing.
The Sword Immortal let out a relieved sigh and asked me,
"So that method exists. Now that we know how to send you back, what will you do?"
There was no reason to refuse.
I offered a martial salute toward the Sword Immortal and the other Daoists.
"I, Jin Yunhui, pay my respects to all my masters."
---
...And so, three years and eight months passed.