Chapter 155: Chapter 155
“Has it already been ten days.”
Cheon-hwi felt bored.
While staying at the Ilhwa Sect, his daily routine was too simple.
Sleeping, waking up, and eating.
And occasionally dealing with those who peeked, and that was it.
However, even that had stopped three days ago.
“Hmm, is it time to leave now?”
The Ilhwa Sect was gradually finding stability.
The Sect Leader of the Ilhwa Sect had recovered from his injuries, and the broken pavilions were repaired.
Furthermore, the biggest problem, teaching martial arts, was almost resolved.
Cheon-hwi looked out the window.
There, Ju Go Yul was diligently practicing martial arts under Seol Ran’s leadership.
He had seen it several times, but he had no talent.
Even Jeok-geom and Seol Ran learned the steps of the Seven Stars Footwork after about ten tries, but he was wandering around, let alone following them properly.
‘Still, he works hard.’
Instead of having talent, Ju Go Yul was putting in more effort than anyone else.
He did physical training twice a day, morning and evening, even before Seol Ran told him to, and he never skipped martial arts training.
It was to the point where Ju Go Yul was the first to catch his eye every time he looked out the window like this.
“Heup! Heup!”
Ju Go Yul slightly rolled up his sweat-soaked sleeves and quickly moved his feet again.
“Move faster!”
Seol Ran spurred the exhausted Ju Go Yul as he tried to follow the footprints of the Seven Stars Footwork.
“If you are that slow, you will be stabbed to death by a blind blade.”
Seol Ran, who was pouring out harsh words, approached Ju Go Yul and corrected his posture.
“Here, widen the distance with your left foot, and pour out your Qi all at once when moving. That way, you will be faster…”
She wanted to help him as much as possible so that his efforts would not be in vain.
“Pouring out Qi blindly does not make you faster. Use the minimum amount of Qi, but use your ankles…”
Seol Ran stopped while explaining as she recalled when she unfolded the Seven Stars Footwork.
“What’s wrong?”
When the explanation suddenly stopped, Ju Go Yul stopped what he was doing and tried to look at her.
“No. Rather than that, try it again.”
Seol Ran hastily changed the subject.
‘Why did I know this but forget it.’
All this time, she had only unconsciously tried to unfold the martial arts, and had never thought about how or in what way she unfolded it.
‘Why is the Seven Stars Footwork seven stars…?’
With the question soaring, she looked at Ju Go Yul unfolding the Seven Stars Footwork.
Seven Stars Footwork was quite different from what she had unfolded.
But it was the same Seven Stars Footwork.
Then where did the difference come from.
Seol Ran’s pupils, who had started contemplating martial arts, gradually unfocused and became distant.
‘Oho, it seems she realized something.’
Cheon-hwi, who was watching Seol Ran half-falling into the realm of enlightenment, yawned and got up.
‘I think I taught martial arts roughly, so I should prepare to return soon.’
He couldn’t stay at the Ilhwa Sect forever.
He had to leave someday.
And as he was contemplating when to do it.
Grrr-
His stomach clamored for food.
“Tsk. Let’s eat first.”
Cheon-hwi, who changed into the gray martial arts uniform hanging on the wall, stepped outside.
As he crossed the manor opposite the rear garden where Jeok-geom and Seol Ran were training.
“Martial Uncle! Where are you going?”
Jeok-geom, who was monitoring the Ilhwa Sect disciples doing the horse stance, asked as he saw Cheon-hwi.
“To eat.”
Jeok-geom nodded.
Currently, meals were impossible at the Ilhwa Sect.
It was partly because the place where they originally ate had collapsed, but also because there was no chef.
“Please have a safe trip.”
As soon as Jeok-geom finished greeting, he glared at the Ilhwa Sect disciples with the eyes of a hawk.
“You there, raise your arms higher. Look at Young Master Ju over there. Doesn’t he practice martial arts right after finishing the horse stance? If you get exhausted like this, even martial arts…”
Jeok-geom badgered the Ilhwa Sect disciples, reciting exactly what he had learned from Cheon-hwi.
‘Hmm, it seems Jeok-geom also gained something.’
He glanced at Jeok-geom, who had become considerably more relaxed than before, and went outside.
* * *
A moment later, Cheon-hwi, who arrived at the streets of Yan’an, looked around.
‘There are some people now.’
The streets, which were cold just three days ago, were slowly regaining their vitality as people came out.
“Phew, I can finally breathe a little.”
“It’s so good that there are no martial artists.”
“It’s all thanks to the Ilhwa Sect and the Soheung Fort.”
Praises could be heard here and there.
Especially, the praise for the Soheung Fort was unique; even though they were an Unorthodox Faction, they were treated better than the government for caring about them.
“Haha, unlike the Guiyu Sect and the Black Tiger Gang, the Soheung Fort doesn’t collect money at all.”
“They are truly thankful people.”
Of course, the words about the Mount Hua Sect could not be left out among the rumors.
“More than that, it’s the Mount Hua Sect as expected! As soon as the secular sect asked for help, they immediately pulled out all the roots.”
“They are not called the Nine Great Sects and One Gang for nothing. With them helping like this, who would now think of touching the Ilhwa Sect, no. The secular sect of the Mount Hua Sect.”
Cheon-hwi let their words praising the Mount Hua Sect go in one ear and out the other, and entered the inn he was now familiar with.
Swish-
As he passed through the beaded curtain and entered.
“Welcome… Ah! Great Hero. You came again today!”
The waiter welcomed him gladly.
To him, Cheon-hwi was a big spender.
Not only did he throw large sums of money every time he ate, but the crumbs that fell to him were also big!
The waiter immediately guided him to the second floor.
The waiter, who guided him to a very good seat in the inn, rubbed his hands and asked.
“What would you like to eat today?”
“Just give me anything appropriate.”
As Cheon-hwi said it as if he was annoyed.
“I will prepare it right away.”
The waiter retreated with quick steps.
Cheon-hwi, who watched him walk away, poured tea into the teacup next to him and sipped it.
‘Should I buy some liquor separately later.’
Around the time he thought of alcohol, which he hadn’t been able to drink at all lately.
‘Who is it?’
Cheon-hwi’s eyes narrowed.
He could feel the auras of those getting closer to the inn right now.
Especially, the aura of the one leading the way was haughty and strong, as if he had reached the Limitless Realm.
‘It’s similar to the elders of the Mount Hua Sect.’
At that moment, the beaded curtain shook.
Swish-
Soon, Cheon-hwi’s glabella narrowed as he looked down at those who entered the inn.
“Why did the Zhongnan Sect come all the way here.”
Cheon-hwi scanned the five Daoists wearing familiar Daoist robes.
Except for the middle-aged Daoist who seemed to be the leader at the front, they were all young.
Still, three of them were around the age of crown, but the young Daoist following at the end looked very young…
The moment Cheon-hwi saw the young Daoist, his glabella narrowed.
‘Jong-hyeon?’
At that moment, the young Daoist, Jong-hyeon, seemed to have noticed him too, and his eyes widened.
Soon, Jong-hyeon smiled brightly and waved his hand widely.
“Brother!”
Jong-hyeon, who shouted loudly enough to shake the inn, scurried up the stairs.
Soon after arriving at the table where Cheon-hwi was sitting, his eyes sparkled as he spoke.
“I didn’t expect to see you here, Brother!”
“Me too.”
As Cheon-hwi agreed and spoke.
“Where are you running so hastily.”
The remaining Daoists of the Zhongnan Sect also came up.
‘Huh? I think I’ve seen him somewhere…’
Cheon-hwi’s eyes narrowed for a moment.
The middle-aged Daoist at the front looked familiar.
While looking for a long time like that.
‘Ah! It’s the Daoist I saw when I went to the Zhongnan Sect.’
He realized who it was.
It was Ha Woo-jin’s senior martial brother who had appeared leading the young Daoists at the Zhongnan Sect.
‘He carried his disciples around back then too, and is it the same when he comes out to the Jianghu.’
While looking like that.
“Are you…”
The middle-aged Daoist also discovered Cheon-hwi and cupped his fists with surprised eyes.
“Immeasurable Life Buddha. You are the Daoist friend who visited our sect at the invitation of my junior martial brother.”
“You recognize me.”
“Haha, how could I not know.”
The middle-aged Daoist, who recognized Cheon-hwi at once, burst into a hearty laugh.
“If it’s not a breach of etiquette, may we share the table?”
“If it’s sharing a table…”
Cheon-hwi stopped as he was about to refuse.
It was because before he knew it, Jong-hyeon was sitting on the chair next to him with shining eyes.
“Brother, let’s eat together!”
Jong-hyeon, who met Cheon-hwi again after parting suddenly, stuck close to Cheon-hwi’s side with shining eyes like a puppy.
‘It doesn’t matter. I’m also curious about why the Zhongnan Sect came to Yan’an.’
Finishing his thoughts, he nodded and moved his lips.
“Do as you please.”
“Then excuse us.”
As the middle-aged Daoist sat down, the young Daoists of the Zhongnan Sect who were lined up behind him also sat down hesitantly.
“Um, Brother.”
At that time, Jong-hyeon looked straight up at Cheon-hwi and asked as if his mouth was itching.
“Why did you suddenly leave our sect that day?”
“Because it was time to go.”
“I see!”
Jong-hyeon nodded his head up and down.
“Still, it would have been nice if you had said at least one word to this little brother…”
By the time Jong-hyeon made a sullen expression as he recalled that time.
“Haha, he must have had urgent business. Isn’t that right, Daoist friend?”
The middle-aged Daoist changed the subject with a smile.
“That’s right.”
“Ah, right! Come to think of it, we haven’t exchanged names.”
His eyes curved like crescent moons.
“This Daoist is called Bo-seong.”
The identity of the middle-aged Daoist was surprising.
Thunderbolt Sword Bo-seong!
He was an elder of the Zhongnan Sect, and a master who had once made a great name for himself in the Jianghu.
‘No wonder his momentum was strong.’
Following him, the young Daoists also got up from their chairs and politely cupped their fists.
“I am Su-ran.”
“I am Ho-yeong.”
“I am Se Woo-yeong.”
After they all finished greeting, Cheon-hwi also revealed his Daoist name as if tossing it.
“I’m Cheon-hwi.”
At that moment, the three Daoists, excluding Bo-seong, opened their eyes wide.
“If it’s Cheon-hwi…”
“The one who came before…”
Around the time they were whispering.
“Did the Daoist friend come all the way to Yan’a to help the Ilhwa Sect?”
Bo-seong struck up a conversation.
“Well, that’s right.”
“Our goals are the same.”
Cheon-hwi looked at him questioningly.
The Ilhwa Sect was a secular sect of the Mount Hua Sect, and had absolutely nothing to do with the Zhongnan Sect.
Perhaps feeling Cheon-hwi’s gaze, Bo-seong added an explanation.
“Recently, merchant guilds coming in and out of our sect visited us, saying that the Unorthodox Faction was running wild in Yan’an and they needed help.”
Ah, so that was it?
Cheon-hwi immediately understood.
Currently, the Zhongnan Sect was dividing Shaanxi with the Mount Hua Sect.
So when they heard that the Unorthodox Faction was swarming in Yan’an, of course they would be sensitive.
As Cheon-hwi was nodding in understanding.
“But it happens that the Mount Hua Sect came too.”
Bo-seong met eyes with Cheon-hwi.
“Since our goals are the same, how about it. Would you like to join forces and try doing it together?”
“Doing what?”
“I mean defeating the Unorthodox Factions.”
Cheon-hwi let out a laugh.
What kind of belated talk is this.
“I already cleaned them all up.”
“You cleaned them up…”
His eyes widened as he was speaking.
“Are you saying you took care of all of them?”
“That’s right.”
Bo-seong shook his head from side to side.
Before coming to Yan’an, they had grasped the masters of the Unorthodox Faction.
Sect Leader of the Guiyu Sect, Blood Ghost Blade.
Gang Leader of the Black Tiger Gang, Black Tiger Fist Bear.
Lord of the Soheung Fort, Wind Earl Sword Evil.
They were people who had been making a name for themselves as peak masters since a few years ago.
“The Mount Hua Sect drew their swords.”
No matter if it was the Unorthodox Faction that threw Yan’an into chaos, how could they compare to the Mount Hua Sect.
“Still, if it’s to the extent of cleaning up those three sects, the Mount Hua Sect must have sent a considerable master… Did Flowing Cloud Sword Son Hyeon-yang-ja come to Yan’an?”
Bo-seong mentioned the master who came to mind first among the Daoists of the Mount Hua Sect.
“No.”
“Then who came? The Mount Hua Divine Sword and Hyeon-jin-ja are currently at the Murim Alliance, and the other Daoists of the Hyeon generation rarely come out of the Mount Hua Sect…”
At that time, when he was mentioning the masters of the Mount Hua Sect that came to mind, an unexpected answer came to his ears.
“I took care of them though?”
At those words, Bo-seong, as well as the Daoists of the Zhongnan Sect, were mostly engulfed in shock.
“How could you defeat those guys…”
“Is that possible?”
“In just a few days…”
Around the time the three Daoists murmured while looking at Cheon-hwi with suspicious eyes.
“As expected of my Brother!”
Jong-hyeon shouted with a loud voice.
“You punished all of them!”
His eyes sparkled like stars.
He was different from the other Daoists of the Zhongnan Sect.
Far from doubting Cheon-hwi, he completely trusted him.
To him, Cheon-hwi was a sky-like person, just like his master.
At Jong-hyeon’s reaction, the Daoists of the Zhongnan Sect fell into confusion.
This was the first time they had seen such a reaction from Jong-hyeon, who had been silently doing his work until now.
On top of that, to the point of saying words dripping with trust like that…
“If the junior martial brother says it to that extent…”
“…Then does it mean it’s true?”
“Still, to deal with them, a master on the level of a martial uncle would have to come…”
As the three of them were looking back and forth between Jong-hyeon and Cheon-hwi.
Trickle-
Meanwhile, Bo-seong poured tea.
Thanks to smelling the rising thick tea fragrance, he, who had become much calmer, stared at Cheon-hwi and moved his lips.
“…Anyway, I’m glad the affairs in Yan’a were resolved.”
What did it matter who did it.
Ultimately, it was enough that the Unorthodox Faction was cleaned up and chased out of Yan’an.
After looking at Cheon-hwi for a moment like that, he asked, recalling his future plans.
“Then since all the affairs are over, you will probably return to the Mount Hua Sect soon.”
“That’s right.”
“When do you plan to return?”
“Why do you ask?”
When Cheon-hwi rather asked back while looking at the sudden question.
“Haha, I asked too abruptly.”
Bo-seong continued calmly.
“After this, we also plan to go to the Mount Hua Sect, so I asked you once.”
It was a sudden statement out of the blue.
To think the Zhongnan Sect, which had no exchanges until now, was visiting the Mount Hua Sect.
“Why are you coming?”
When Cheon-hwi asked, Bo-seong fell into thought for a moment before nodding and speaking.
“We have a letter to deliver to the Mount Hua Sect.”
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