Chapter 11: Chapter 11
In the early dawn, the eyelids of Cheon-hwi, who was performing breathing exercises on a large rock as usual, twitched before revealing two eyes with distinct black and white.
“Huu.”
He exhaled deeply the air that filled his lungs, then undid his cross-legged position and stood up.
At that moment.
“Have you finished your breathing exercises?”
a familiar voice was heard.
“Hm? Senior Martial Uncle?”
He looked at Hyeon-do with a questioning gaze.
The time he came to visit was every day at the hour of the Dog.
Yet for some reason, Hyeon-do came visiting in the early dawn before it was even the Hour of the Dragon.
Perhaps feeling the questioning gaze, Hyeon-do smiled and spoke.
“I have something to do this afternoon so I meant to tell you before I left yesterday that I would be coming early in the morning, but I forgot. Hahaha.”
He slowly approached.
Looking at Hyeon-do who approached without hesitation, Cheon-hwi shook his head.
Hyeon-do had been treating him much more amiably lately.
‘Is it since that day?’
He recalled the day he performed the Plum Blossom Sword Art.
As soon as he finished his state of selflessness and opened his eyes, what he saw were Hyeon-do and the Sect Leader.
‘You really are a genius just as he said.’
‘Hahaha! Didn’t I tell you!’
At that time, the two had made a great fuss.
However, that was only for a moment, as the Sect Leader’s face hardened and he repeatedly warned Cheon-hwi.
‘Never perform the Plum Blossom Sword Art in front of other people.’
He couldn’t understand why he had to do that, but since it was bothersome, he just said he understood for now.
Anyway, when he performed the Plum Blossom Sword Art last time, he gained an enlightenment and was planning to change it.
‘The sword forms in the Plum Blossom Sword Art implicitly overlap a lot, and there is a great unnecessary consumption of internal energy every time it is swung. It would rather decrease internal energy consumption if I concisely organize the stances of the Plum Blossom Sword Art…’
Around the time he was thinking about a way to efficiently perform the stances of the Plum Blossom Sword Art by reducing them.
“Then today, as I said yesterday, I will teach you our sect’s footwork.”
Hyeon-do spoke with a beaming smile.
Recently, training martial arts with Cheon-hwi like this was his joy.
A genius who acquires martial arts just by looking once.
It was his first time feeling that teaching was this enjoyable.
‘Moreover, there’s a lot I’ve learned while teaching him.’
The smile lingering on his lips did not cease.
Every time he taught a martial art, Cheon-hwi interpreted it in a completely unexpected way.
Thanks to that, his eye for viewing martial arts broadened, and he gained a lot.
‘I wonder what extraordinary sight he will show me today.’
He parted his lips with swelling anticipation.
“First of all, it is the Seven Stars Footwork that all disciples of our sect learn first after entering the sect.”
Hyeon-do immediately raised his internal energy as usual and demonstrated.
Hwik- Hwik-
His footwork seemed to speed up, then Hyeon-do’s figure blurred and left afterimages.
Just when the afterimages gradually increased like that.
Hwaek!
Cheon-hwi turned his head backward.
“Well done.”
A proud Hyeon-do was looking down at him from behind his back.
“Did you see the way I stepped forward just now?”
“Yes.”
Cheon-hwi answered nonchalantly.
“Then try it.”
Hyeon-do crossed his arms and stepped back.
His training method was simple.
Show the martial art, and tell him to follow along.
It was quite an ignorant method.
Originally, Hyeon-do didn’t plan on teaching like this either.
He intended to teach the mnemonic chants and give help, just like when he first taught the Plum Blossom Qi Art or the Six Harmonies Sword Art.
However, he changed his mind in three days.
‘It’s a talent where common sense does not apply.’
As if saying he went to the Ten Thousand Scenery Pavilion every day was not a lie, Cheon-hwi knew most of the martial arts Hyeon-do taught.
No, it wasn’t just knowing, he completely understood the principles and theories contained within the mnemonic chants.
Thus, he omitted explanations.
And the result was satisfactory.
He had already mastered most of the Mount Hua Sect’s basic arts, and now only the footwork was left.
And Cheon-hwi, the person in question, was also fully satisfied with the current method.
‘It’s certainly comfortable since the bothersome things are omitted. Of course, this method is only possible because it’s me.’
It wasn’t empty words.
For this training method to work, one had to have outstanding comprehension to figure out how the martial art was performed just by seeing it, and at the same time, possess enough abundant knowledge to know the mnemonic chants for that martial art.
But would such a person exist?
‘Other than me, there would be none.’
If this training was not for him but another person, it was certain they would not have properly learned the martial art, let alone achieve anything.
‘He moved his feet like this.’
Recalling the Seven Stars Footwork from just now.
Hwaaak-
He raised the internal energy of the Plum Blossom Divine Art.
When about one double-hour had passed since he started treading footworks including the Seven Stars Footwork like that.
Waaaa!
Cheon-hwi’s brow narrowed at the cheering sounds that continued to be heard from a while ago.
“It’s unusually bustling today.”
“Hahaha, isn’t the Five Great Mountains Assembly starting soon?”
“The Five Great Mountains Assembly?”
Hyeon-do showed bewilderment.
“Don’t tell me… You don’t know?”
“It’s the first time I’ve heard of it.”
“How can you not know the Five Great Mountains Assembly… Ah!”
As he spoke, he let out a short sigh.
He had forgotten, but until just a while ago, this was a child who had been sickly and bedridden, let alone practicing martial arts.
Moreover, since he had only been training with him recently, how could he know about the Five Great Mountains Assembly?
Hyeon-do turned his head and let out a fake cough.
“Ahem. It seems you didn’t know since you only stayed at the Ten Thousand Scenery Pavilion and the thatched cottage. Didn’t I say I had something to do in the afternoon? That matter is to help select the disciples who will participate in the Five Great Mountains Assembly.”
He slightly tilted his head to look at Cheon-hwi.
However, there was no reaction at all.
‘So what do you want me to do?’
Cheon-hwi was not interested in whether Hyeon-do had something to do in the afternoon.
He was interested in only one thing.
“So what is the Five Great Mountains Assembly?”
“Ahem, ahem.”
Hyeon-do repeatedly coughed in embarrassment, then cleared his throat and spoke.
“The Five Great Mountains Assembly is a grand gathering hosted by the Five Great Mountains Sword Sects every four years in turn at their respective sects for mutual exchange.”
“A grand gathering?”
“To be exact, the purpose is martial arts exchange among the Five Great Mountains Sword Sects. The four previously selected disciples engage in one-on-one spars with disciples of other sects…”
‘Hm?’
Cheon-hwi tilted his head as he heard an explanation that sounded like something he had heard before somewhere.
‘It’s similar to the Five Clans Great War?’
In the distant past, the five clans that revered the Heavenly Demon Cult had a bad relationship and engaged in fights to kill each other every day.
Then eventually, when the Cheon Clan and the Gang Clan faced the crisis of mutual destruction, the Cult Leader at the time who was watching stepped forward.
The Cult Leader ended the war and proclaimed that each clan should select five experts to fight.
That was precisely the Five Clans Great War, the bloody war that decided the ranking of the Five Great Clans.
If there was a difference from the Five Great Mountains Assembly, it was that the number of participants in the spars was five instead of four, and it was held only once every ten years instead of once every four years.
Lastly, it was a life-and-death duel where dying did not matter, not a simple spar.
‘They say extremes meet.’
Even while Cheon-hwi was briefly thinking of other things like that, Hyeon-do continued his explanation.
“The Five Great Mountains Assembly exerts a rather great influence. Because disciples who stand out in it, which is held once every four years, gain fame and obtain nicknames even before they make their debut in the murim.”
Hyeon-do’s expression as he spoke gradually distorted.
Cheon-hwi looked at the impression that was getting increasingly grim, and spoke.
“You don’t look very pleased with it.”
“As I said, it was originally a grand gathering to build friendship among the Five Great Mountains Sword Sects. However, since the last Five Great Mountains Assembly, the behavior of the other sects has been strange.”
Hyeon-do’s face hardened for a moment.
Losing the youngest martial brother and the majority of the Plum Blossom Swordsmen, as their prestige gradually diminished, those sects increasingly showed a tendency to disregard this sect.
Especially after the Five Great Mountains Assembly held at the Mount Tai Sect four years ago, it was noticeable that the treatment towards this sect had changed.
‘To the point where three sword sects ignored this sect’s opinion and forced through a majority to put this sect’s competition order at the very front.’
While he was recalling what a disciple who had participated in the Five Great Mountains Assembly at the time lamented about.
“Perhaps they are vigilantly eyeing the shaky position of this sect.”
He muttered the thoughts inside him without realizing, then flinched.
‘I said something unnecessary.’
Realizing his slip-up, Hyeon-do quickly added words to reassure Cheon-hwi.
“However, there is no need to worry about such things anymore. Because as long as I have reached the stage of Heavenly Martial Realm, there will absolutely be no instances of this sect being shaken.”
Hyeon-do, who spoke while puffing his chest, glanced at Cheon-hwi. Fortunately, Cheon-hwi’s expression was the same as usual.
At that, Hyeon-do breathed a sigh of relief.
But he didn’t know.
That his thoughts were wrong from the start.
Cheon-hwi had never worried at all.
Let alone worry, he was laughing inwardly.
‘It’s no different from the Cult.’
Had they said everywhere people lived was all the same?
No matter how much they were Daoists and Righteous Factions, they were still people after all.
Just then, Hyeon-do’s eyes widened.
“If you’re curious about the Five Great Mountains Assembly, go to Dorimpyeong on the day. Since any disciple of the Mount Hua Sect can observe the Five Great Mountains Assembly.”
“Observe?”
Cheon-hwi’s brow furrowed.
A chance to see the martial arts of the Five Great Mountains Sword Sects.
Besides, if it was historic and important enough for Hyeon-do to speak like that, it was obvious they would properly show each other’s skills at this Five Great Mountains Assembly.
‘The Daoist bastards’ talent show…’
* * *
Mount Hua, renowned as the Western Great Mountain.
Anyone would inevitably be overwhelmed by its rugged, bizarre cliffs that looked as if they were carved by a sword.
If one overcame the pressure and took their first step onto Mount Hua, they could realize that the rumors floating around the world were true.
The only people who could freely come and go on Mount Hua were the Daoists of the Mount Hua Sect.
As the rumors said, it was a mountain path that was too narrow and rugged.
To the extent that it was difficult to climb unless one was a Mount Hua Sect Daoist who had learned martial arts.
For that reason, most people gave up climbing from here.
However, didn’t they say joy comes at the end of hardship?
As one continued climbing the mountain path, they could encounter scenery that was hard to see in a lifetime.
Hwaaa-
Beautiful plum blossoms blooming all over the mountain.
The red plum blossoms contrasting with the clear blue sky lightly wrapped around the mountain ridges, as if clothing Mount Hua in a silk robe.
In addition, the giant rock peaks soaring up into the sky were just like flowers in full bloom.
The moment they saw that, people would recall the stories about Mount Hua.
‘The “Hua” in Mount Hua is not the plum blossoms, but the giant peaks blooming above the mountain.’
It was a saying passed down like a joke since long ago.
However, if one came all the way here, they could realize that the saying was not a lie.
Because no matter who looked, the peaks far away were like flowers in full bloom.
As one kept climbing the mountain path while admiring the scenery absent-mindedly like that.
Tak-
There was a section where one had no choice but to stop their footsteps.
A giant gate blocking the path.
Anyone would be flustered when they first faced it, but looking at the old signboard hanging above the gate, they understood why this gate was standing right there.
[Mount Hua Sect]
Because it was precisely the gate entering the Mount Hua Sect, one of the Nine Great Sects and One Gang.
Hweee-
Shortly, the gate opened and a hot wind rushed over.
The wind thickly imbued with the scent of plum blossoms passed by tickling the tip of the nose, and the clear, wide-open view contained the inside of the Mount Hua Sect.
Plum blossoms blooming along the path.
Antique pavilions.
It was a spectacle that induced the illusion of having come to a completely different world just by crossing the gate.
And the massive scale training ground that came into sight, that place was none other than Dorimpyeong, where the direct disciples trained their martial arts.
Normally, the training ground would have been full of disciples, but today the training ground was completely empty.
Instead, the surroundings of the training ground were packed with Daoists of the Mount Hua Sect.
And understandably so, because today was the day the Five Great Mountains Assembly was held at the Mount Hua Sect for the first time in twenty years.
“Waaaa!”
“Eldest Senior Martial Brother will win, right?”
“Of course! Not just Eldest Senior Martial Brother, but Senior Martial Sister will win too!”
When Dorimpyeong was buried under the boisterous conversation sounds and shouts filled with anticipation.
Duung!
The air vibrated along with the sound of a drum.
For an instant, a heavy silence fell upon Dorimpyeong as if cold water was poured over it.
At that moment.
Jeobeok- Jeobeok-
Footsteps broke the silence.
Everyone’s gazes headed toward that place.
Five Daoists were walking over from the entrance of Dorimpyeong.
The Elder of the Mount Heng Sect, Jeok U-ja.
The Elder of the Mount Hang Sect, Go Gyeong-ja.
The Elder of the Mount Tai Sect, Mu Yeong-ja.
The Elder of the Mount Song Sect, Tae Gyeong-ja.
The four were the Elders of each sword sect who had led their disciples to the Mount Hua Sect here.
And the remaining one Daoist was the Sect Leader of the Mount Hua Sect, Immortal Hyeon-sang.
Walking with long strides, they came up onto the training ground and stood straight.
The Sect Leader scanned the surroundings that had become quiet.
After a moment of doing so, he smiled gently and opened his mouth.
“The Five Great Mountains Assembly begins.”
The moment the low voice of the Sect Leader pierced clearly into everyone’s ears.
Waaaaaaa!
A huge cheer echoed through the Mount Hua Sect, and the Five Great Mountains Assembly began.
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