Chapter 156: Chapter 156
“You must swing the sword harder from top to bottom.”
“Ah, understood!”
Jeok-geom nodded as he looked at the Ilhwa Sect disciples who followed his words well without a single word of complaint.
The Ilhwa Sect disciples had now not only become proficient at following the footsteps of the Seven Stars Footwork, but also the stance of the Three Immortals Sword.
‘First of all, the basic stance is properly done.’
A long horizontal line was drawn across the corners of Jeok-geom’s mouth as he recalled the Ilhwa Sect disciples who were exhausted while practicing the Seven Stars Footwork until recently.
Perhaps if they continued to repeat their training in this state, their skills would improve by leaps and bounds.
‘Physical stamina is indeed important.’
Around the time Jeok-geom looked on with satisfaction.
Step… Step…
Footsteps were heard.
Jeok-geom turned his head at the sound that was getting closer and discovered Cheon-hwi.
“Martial Uncle, you came early today…”
“Pack your bags.”
“Yes…?”
Jeok-geom, momentarily flustered, let out a sound of empty wind escaping his mouth.
However, Cheon-hwi parted his lips without even looking at him, regardless of whether he did or not.
“We will return now.”
A moment later, at the main gate of the Ilhwa Sect, the Sect Leader Ju Song, the Young Sect Leader, Ju Go Yul, and the Ilhwa Sect disciples exchanged greetings.
“The sweat you shed will become your flesh and blood. So absolutely do not rest.”
At Seol Ran’s request, Ju Go Yul nodded and engraved those words in his heart.
“I will absolutely never forget your words.”
Seol Ran smiled faintly at the sight of Ju Go Yul tightly clenching both fists.
“Then that’s enough.”
Around the time Ju Go Yul was staring blankly at Seol Ran’s smile that he was seeing for the first time.
“You must not skip even a single day.”
Jeok-geom was also earnestly requesting the Ilhwa Sect disciples he had taught.
“Understood!”
“We will definitely not skip it!”
Jeok-geom’s eyes narrowed like threads as he looked at them answering vigorously.
“You were just thinking about resting for just one day, right?”
The Ilhwa Sect disciples flinched.
“That is…”
“I understand your desire to rest for a moment since the training has been difficult all this time.”
Jeok-geom spoke as if he understood.
“But keep this in mind. While you rest for a day, others are training at that time. In order to catch up to that again…”
Since they were Ilhwa Sect disciples who were no different from disciples he was teaching for the first time, around the time Jeok-geom continued to explain the importance of training.
‘Oho, look at it coming out so fluently.’
Cheon-hwi stared intently at Jeok-geom.
Looking at his behavior of speaking right now, it was clear that his words originated from experience.
Otherwise, there was no way he would be so certain.
‘Next time, I’ll have to train him properly so that he won’t even have such thoughts.’
While Cheon-hwi was thinking about how to roll Jeok-geom, the Ilhwa Sect Leader approached.
“If this sect was intact, we would have held a grand farewell party…”
“Then please do it next time.”
As Cheon-hwi spoke casually, the Ilhwa Sect Leader opened his eyes wide and then laughed.
“Hahaha, do not worry about that. If you visit this sect next time, I will prepare an unparalleled festival.”
Cheon-hwi nodded at his hearty words.
“I will look forward to it.”
Cheon-hwi, who finished his conversation with the Ilhwa Sect Leader, spoke to Jeok-geom and Seol Ran who were still chatting.
“Let’s go now.”
Jeok-geom and Seol Ran nodded.
Following that, they stood on both sides of Cheon-hwi and took a polite bow while looking at the Ilhwa Sect Leader.
“If something like this happens again, please send a letter to this sect.”
“Take care of yourselves.”
As the two smiled and offered their greetings.
“Thank you. Have a safe trip.”
The Ilhwa Sect Leader also replied with a greeting.
Afterwards, when the three left the Ilhwa Sect.
“Have a safe trip!”
“Thank you!”
The Ilhwa Sect disciples bowed in unison.
“Take care of yourselves!”
Lastly, as Ju Go Yul shouted vigorously, Jeok-geom and Seol Ran also waved their hands.
A moment later, the three moved far enough away that the Ilhwa Sect could not be seen.
“By the way, Martial Uncle. Why are you in such a hurry?”
Jeok-geom spat out the question he couldn’t bring himself to ask at the Ilhwa Sect.
“Because there are people waiting.”
“Yes? People waiting?”
When not only Jeok-geom but also Seol Ran were curious, Cheon-hwi raised his index finger.
“They are over there.”
The expressions of the two, who turned their heads in the direction Cheon-hwi pointed with his index finger, stiffened.
“Zhongnan Sect…?”
“Why are the Daoists of the Zhongnan Sect…?”
“They said they wanted to go to the Mount Hua Sect.”
As soon as those words ended, Bo-seong approached closely and took a bow.
“Immeasurable Life Buddha. You must be the Plum Blossom Swordsmen of the Mount Hua Sect who came down this time.”
Bo-seong quickly scanned the two.
Although he heard it from Cheon-hwi, he was inwardly quite surprised that there were really only two Plum Blossom Swordsmen.
‘Are you saying the three of them cleaned up the Unorthodox Faction?’
Along with his thought, he parted his lips.
“This poor Daoist is called Bo-seong.”
“Ke, kek! Thunderbolt Sword Great Hero?!”
For a moment, Jeok-geom choked.
He said he didn’t look ordinary, but he never thought he would be the Thunderbolt Sword.
Jeok-geom hurriedly took a bow.
“I, I am Jeok-geom of Mount Hua.”
“I am Seol Ran.”
Following that, as Seol Ran also greeted him.
“Haha, nice to meet you.”
Bo-seong smiled gently.
“We accidentally ended up accompanying you this time, so please take care of us until Mount Hua.”
Jeok-geom and Seol Ran smiled awkwardly.
It was something they didn’t know until just a moment ago.
But what could they do?
Since all the decision-making power belonged to Cheon-hwi, their opinions were not reflected.
In the current situation, there was only exactly one thing the two could say.
“We look forward to your care.”
“We look forward to your care.”
Following that, the remaining Daoists of the Zhongnan Sect naturally joined, but…
An awkward atmosphere flowed.
Although they exchanged names, they hesitated to approach each other, perhaps unable to narrow the gap between the Zhongnan Sect and the Mount Hua Sect.
It must be a matter of course.
Because the relationship between them had not been very good for a long time.
However, even in the midst of that, there was an exception.
“Big Brother! What kind of mountain is Mount Hua?”
Jong-hyeon, who was stuck close to Cheon-hwi’s side, asked with his two eyes sparkling.
“It’s just a rocky mountain.”
“Ay, Big Brother really. I know a little bit too. Master said that one must definitely see Mount Hua once in their lifetime.”
Despite Cheon-hwi’s indifferent answer, Jong-hyeon was full of all kinds of expectations.
‘It will be a great place!’
Meanwhile, Jeok-geom and Seol Ran, who were listening to the conversation between the two, were going crazy with curiosity.
“To think that Martial Uncle would have a sworn brother.”
“…Are you sure he’s really a sworn brother?”
“Perhaps he is?”
Eventually, unable to hold back their curiosity, the two quietly approached Jong-hyeon and started a conversation.
“Daoist Friend. What kind of… with Martial Uncle…”
Cheon-hwi, watching the three starting a conversation, thought it was good and stepped aside.
‘Now some annoying things will fall off.’
Starting with the conversation of the three that began like that, the atmosphere began to change.
The two also began to open up to the Daoists of the Zhongnan Sect, and before they knew it, the awkward atmosphere was quickly resolved.
As Cheon-hwi was looking at them.
“It’s good to see. Isn’t it?”
Bo-seong, who had been standing apart, approached.
“It’s only for a moment anyway.”
Cheon-hwi indifferently spat out his words.
Recalling the relationship between the Zhongnan Sect and Mount Hua, this was something that would end shortly.
‘It’s not a relationship that will last long.’
As Cheon-hwi cut off his interest in them, Bo-seong smiled and parted his lips.
“Haha, that is something no one knows. Isn’t there a saying like ‘people of Wu and Yue in the same boat’?”
He, who uttered meaningful words, looked up at the sky and whispered softly.
“The world is a place where yesterday’s enemy might become today’s friend.”
* * *
Four days later, the group arrived at Mount Hua.
“Is this Mount Hua…?”
“It looks more rugged than Mount Zhongnan.”
The eyes of the Zhongnan Sect Daoists, who witnessed Mount Hua that they had only heard of through words, widened.
Rugged, strangely shaped cliffs that looked as if they had been carved with a knife.
And the high peaks visible between them.
“That peak looks like a flower.”
“Is this why it is called Mount Hua?”
Although it looked similar to Mount Zhongnan at first glance, the Daoists of the Zhongnan Sect were busy sightseeing the somewhat different scenery.
“Wow!”
In particular, Jong-hyeon jumped around.
Just as his Master had said, the scenery of Mount Hua was too dazzling in his eyes.
“It’s as cool as I thought!”
Bo-seong also whispered while appreciating Mount Hua.
“It is beautiful now just as it was in the past.”
It was an outstanding landscape that was completely no different from when he visited decades ago.
At the sight of them admiring it, Jeok-geom and Seol Ran became excited and added explanations.
“It is beautiful even now, but it is even more outstanding during the season when the plum blossoms bloom.”
“That is truly when you can appreciate the proper scenery of Mount Hua.”
At the explanation of the two, who thought this was the right time, the Daoists of the Zhongnan Sect spread the wings of their imagination.
To think that plum blossoms would bloom in this beautiful sight of Mount Hua.
Before long, when their eyes became hazy.
“Let’s just hurry up and go up.”
A voice breaking the mood was heard.
Cheon-hwi, who had no inspiration because he had already seen Mount Hua hundreds of times, spoke indifferently.
“Didn’t you say you have an urgent letter to deliver?”
A short while after Cheon-hwi took the lead and walked.
Tap.
They arrived at the mountain gate of the Mount Hua Sect.
“Martial Uncle! You have come!”
Jeok-un, who was guarding the mountain gate, ran over but belatedly discovered the Daoist of the Zhongnan Sect behind Cheon-hwi and froze in place.
“These people are…”
“Can’t you tell by looking? It’s the Zhongnan Sect.”
“I, I know that, but… why are these people at the Mount Hua Sect…”
When Jeok-un, flustered, rolled his eyes here and there, Bo-seong approached and took a bow.
“Immeasurable Life Buddha. This poor Daoist is called Bo-seong of the Zhongnan Sect.”
Jeok-un glared with his two eyes and took a bow.
“I apologize for my late greeting. I am Jeok-un of Mount Hua.”
Following that, he asked carefully.
“For what matter has the Thunderbolt Sword Great Hero visited this sect?”
His throat became dry from nervousness.
An elder of the Zhongnan Sect, and the Thunderbolt Sword at that, visiting the Mount Hua Sect?
It was by no means an ordinary matter.
‘Is it because of what happened at the Murim Alliance?’
Jeok-un swallowed his saliva as he recalled the recent falling out with the Zhongnan Sect.
Bo-seong, watching the nervous Jeok-un, answered with a gentle smile.
“I came to see the Sect Leader.”
“Please wait a moment. I will deliver the message to the Sect Leader…”
“Shall I deliver it?”
Cheon-hwi interrupted in the middle.
“Ma, Martial Uncle, you mean?”
“Why? Is it not allowed?”
“No!”
Jeok-un, who shouted in surprise, shook his hands vigorously.
“It’s just that passing such a troublesome task to Martial Uncle is a bit…”
“I have to report completing the mission anyway, so I can just deliver it at the same time.”
“Then I will leave it to you.”
Cheon-hwi, who heard the answer, kicked off the ground.
As he, who unfolded the Azure Cloud Footwork which would be second to none in terms of speed, darted up the rugged mountain path like an arrow.
“Heup!”
“S, such a fast light footwork…”
“Does that make sense…”
“As expected of Big Brother…!”
The Daoists of the Zhongnan Sect marveled.
It was an amazingly fast footwork.
It seemed to become a dot and distance itself, but then it disappeared and vanished in the blink of an eye.
“I thought he wouldn’t be ordinary, but… to think it was to this extent.”
Bo-seong also burst into exclamation.
Since they said three people cleaned up the Unorthodox Faction, he thought it wouldn’t be an ordinary skill level.
But right now, that footwork is…
‘It far exceeded my expectations.’
His eyes half-opened.
‘They said the Mount Hua Sect has soared again.’
Until just a few years ago, the Mount Hua Sect was a place close to ruin.
But now, to have raised such an outstanding rising star along with the Mount Hua Divine Sword.
‘Is their underlying strength something that cannot be ignored?’
Around the time Bo-seong looked up at Mount Hua.
Tap.
Cheon-hwi arrived at the Purple Mist Pavilion.
“May I come in?”
“Yes, come in.”
As Cheon-hwi opened the door and entered.
“You worked hard.”
The Sect Leader welcomed him while closing the book.
“I received and confirmed everything you accomplished at the Ilhwa Sect through a letter.”
“It was good that you did so. There’s no need to unnecessarily make my mouth hurt talking.”
Cheon-hwi wore a satisfied smile at having lessened his bothersome matters.
“Ah right. And there is one more thing to deliver.”
“Did something happen at the Ilhwa Sect?”
“No.”
“Then what…”
“The Zhongnan Sect came to visit.”
“The Zhongnan Sect…?”
The Sect Leader’s brow narrowed.
“Do you know for what matter they came to visit?”
“They said they have a letter to deliver…”
Cheon-hwi, who trailed off the end of his sentence, shrugged his shoulders.
“I don’t know for sure either.”
“Hmm, a letter you say…”
The Sect Leader stroked his beard.
After thinking deeply for a moment, he nodded and spoke softly.
“Understood. Call him in.”
“Then I will deliver it like that.”
With those words, Cheon-hwi left.
And a short while later, the Sect Leader and Bo-seong sat facing each other and looked at each other.
“It’s been a long time. Sect Leader.”
“It has been a long time.”
Whether they were already acquainted, after the two exchanged reunion greetings for a moment, the Sect Leader observed Bo-seong and parted his lips first.
“I heard you have something to deliver.”
At the question, Bo-seong took out a scroll from his bosom and placed it in front of the Sect Leader.
“It is this.”
The Sect Leader unrolled the scroll.
As he read down the written words, his eyes narrowed like threads.
Because the letter contained contents that would make anyone who saw it freak out.
“…Is this really true?”
Bo-seong nodded.
“That is so.”
“Haha, it is truly hard to believe.”
The Sect Leader shook his head from side to side.
“To think that you would come to recommend a joint operation.”
Enjoyed the chapter?
If you like our work, consider supporting us on Ko-fi. This site solely runs on donations. Every donation helps us keep translating!
Support on Ko-fi