Chapter 157: Chapter 157
Mount Hua Sect and Zhongnan Sect.
Even though they were Daoist sects located in Shaanxi and part of the Nine Great Sects and One Gang, the times they had formed a joint operation could be counted on one hand.
Of course, there were many reasons.
Like the different natures of their Daoism.
Or the distance between them despite being in the same Shaanxi.
However, the main reason was one thing.
Pride.
The Zhongnan Sect and the Mount Hua Sect did not take kindly to receiving help from each other.
Tak.
The Sect Leader placed the letter down and asked.
“What is the intention?”
The current reputation and pride of the Zhongnan Sect was piercing the sky.
Enough to look down on the Mount Hua Sect.
And yet, they requested a joint operation first.
At the Sect Leader’s suspicious question, Bo-seong replied with a calm expression.
“It is exactly as written.”
The Sect Leader’s eyebrows twitched.
“Are you saying we should join forces to drive out the Demonic Path in Shaanxi to stabilize the disturbed public sentiment?”
“That is correct.”
Bo-seong answered calmly.
“Currently, Shaanxi is in its worst condition. Unorthodox sects coveting the position of White Ghost Castle are swarming in from all over.”
“This Daoist also knows that.”
The Sect Leader wore a bitter smile.
Just as he said, Shaanxi was in pandemonium.
With White Ghost Castle, which controlled the Unorthodox Factions, gone, the underworld and Unorthodox Factions were running rampant.
Sword fights breaking out to somehow submit opponents had become a daily occurrence.
The collapse of the giant Unorthodox Faction known as White Ghost Castle meant that, if done well, one could fully claim what was theirs.
“However, wouldn’t the Zhongnan Sect be completely capable of doing it alone?”
The Sect Leader narrowed his eyes.
Although he disliked the Zhongnan Sect, he had to acknowledge what needed to be acknowledged.
The current Zhongnan Sect was at the top among the Nine Great Sects and One Gang, far superior to the current Mount Hua Sect.
No matter how much the Unorthodox Factions ran wild, the Zhongnan Sect had enough combat power to handle them.
“The opponents are not easy.”
As Bo-seong’s expression turned serious, the Sect Leader’s expression also followed suit.
“Where are they for you to be like this?”
“Just the currently confirmed ones are the Ten Nights Sect of the Five Imperial Sects, Blood Ghost Palace, and there is information that the Green Forest has also moved. And even unidentified sects…”
The Sect Leader’s expression stiffened slightly.
“…Are they planning to wage a war?”
Ten Nights Sect, Blood Ghost Palace, and Green Forest.
Each one was a great sect that wouldn’t fall behind even when compared to the Mount Hua Sect or the Zhongnan Sect.
“That is why we requested a joint operation with the Mount Hua Sect.”
“But will it be possible?”
The Sect Leader raised an eyebrow and spoke.
“Didn’t the Zhongnan Sect join hands with Wudang, and our sect with the Beggars’ Sect? Wudang and the Beggars’ Sect will not just sit and watch.”
“You don’t have to worry about that.”
As if he had anticipated that question, Bo-seong smiled and answered.
“All preparations are finished.”
While the Sect Leader and Bo-seong conversed for a long time, Cheon-hwi, who arrived at the thatched cottage, narrowed his brows at the presence felt inside.
“Why are you in here?”
As he violently threw open the door of the thatched cottage.
Flinch!
Danmok Rin, who was inside, startled as if caught stealing, and then opened her eyes wide upon discovering Cheon-hwi.
“Senior Martial Brother?”
She then ran over in a single breath.
“You’re here?”
She smiled brightly.
However, Cheon-hwi looked down at her indifferently and opened his mouth.
“Why are you here? Instead of being where you stay.”
“T-That is, I was cleaning.”
“Cleaning? You?”
“Yes, it was a little messy…”
Gradually trailing off, she twiddled her fingers.
“…Did I do something unnecessary?”
Cheon-hwi looked around.
The inside, which definitely should have gathered dust from being empty for a long time, was quite clean.
It was going to be annoying anyway.
Recalling the state of the thatched cottage when he had gone to Qinghai last time, Cheon-hwi put down his sword and spoke.
“No, it’s fine. If you’re going to do it, do more. It’s better if it’s clean anyway.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
Danmok Rin quickly raised her head.
Looking at Cheon-hwi with shining eyes, she tightly gripped the small broom in her hand.
“Then I will do it next time too.”
Danmok Rin, who spoke energetically, let her eyes sparkle for a moment.
Realizing something, she opened her mouth.
“Ah right, Senior Martial Brother. Martial Uncle Hyeon-yang said to definitely visit him when you arrived.”
“Senior Martial Uncle Hyeon-yang did?”
Cheon-hwi, who was about to lie down, paused.
He wasn’t someone who would call him for no reason.
Cheon-hwi raised his body, turned around, and asked her.
“Where is he right now? Plum Blossom Pavilion? Or Dorimpyeong?”
“Right now at Dorimpyeong…”
Before she could even finish her words, Cheon-hwi ran towards Dorimpyeong.
And as he gradually got closer to his destination.
“Grrr, yeah! Let’s see who wins, me or you!”
“Hehehe, internal energy is building up! It’s building up!”
Madness-filled voices were heard.
The second-generation disciples, who looked as if they were drunk, were welcoming Cheon-hwi.
Seeing them, Cheon-hwi smiled.
“They finally took a step.”
At that moment, a voice was heard from the side.
“What do you mean by that?”
Cheon-hwi explained without even turning his head.
“They’re like that because they’ve gotten used to the Dark Fragrance Pill.”
“To the Dark Fragrance Pill…?”
At the questioning voice that seemingly didn’t understand at all, Cheon-hwi added an explanation.
“No matter if it’s poison, if you consume it that frequently, something like resistance builds up. They are excited like that right now because they took in energy they can’t handle.”
“So that was it.”
The owner of the voice, who spoke as if he just realized, Pavilion Lord of the Martial Training Pavilion Hyeon-yang, stared straight at Cheon-hwi and smacked his lips.
“However, no matter if they took in excessive energy, that appearance is…”
The Pavilion Lord of the Martial Training Pavilion couldn’t bring himself to say what he wanted to say out loud.
However, Cheon-hwi was different from him.
“Wow, they’re no different from drunks. If you just put a liquor bottle next to them, no one would know.”
He chuckled while speaking scathingly.
It was reaping what they sowed.
It wouldn’t have mattered if they gathered energy like usual.
But as the pain of the poison faded, they thought it was an opportunity and took in energy that far exceeded the standard, ending up like that.
“They should have just taken in an appropriate amount.”
“Is there a way to solve that?”
The Pavilion Lord of the Martial Training Pavilion asked with a bitter smile.
It was already the second day.
He had tried all sorts of methods, but they were still intoxicated like that…
It was truly baffling.
“There is.”
The expression of the Pavilion Lord of the Martial Training Pavilion brightened.
“What method is it?”
“You just have to make them continuously execute martial arts.”
One corner of Cheon-hwi’s mouth twisted.
“Continuously until they collapse from exhaustion so that not a single bit of energy remains in their bodies.”
* * *
Meanwhile, not far from Dorimpyeong, the Daoists of the Zhongnan Sect were touring the Mount Hua Sect under Jeok Wun’s guidance.
“And this place is Dorimpyeong.”
Jeok Wun spoke while pointing at Dorimpyeong.
“Where the second-generation disciples train…”
Just as he was about to lay out an explanation.
Hap!
Everyone’s heads turned at the resounding shout that burst out from Dorimpyeong.
Numerous Daoists of the Mount Hua Sect on Dorimpyeong were all standing in the exact same posture.
Around the time everyone was staring blankly at that sight, their swords slowly rose.
The moment the tips of the swords pointed at the sky.
Hap!
As the Daoists of the Mount Hua Sect swung their swords in unison along with a shout, a wind blew.
Hwoooong!
The waves of wind that undulated widely like the ocean soon swept them all at once.
Hair soared up mercilessly, and it was hard for them to even open their eyes.
Was there ever such a spectacle?
At the incredibly intense sight, their hearts pounded crazily.
But that was only for a moment.
The wind scattered and disappeared.
“…”
It was a very short storm.
So short it wouldn’t even be a single breath.
However, everyone who watched was overwhelmed.
“What tremendous momentum…”
“…”
Gulp.
In particular, the Daoists of the Zhongnan Sect, excluding Jong-hyeon, found it difficult to hide their surprise.
They hadn’t expressed it outwardly, but everyone had been inwardly underestimating the Mount Hua Sect.
It made sense, given what kind of place they had heard the Mount Hua Sect to be all this time.
A Daoist sect walking the path of ruin.
That was why they thought it was a place barely maintaining its position among the Nine Great Sects and One Gang by borrowing its past reputation…
Seeing it in person, it wasn’t like that at all.
The pavilions being old and worn?
What did that matter right now.
The most important thing was them!
Every single one of the Daoists of the Mount Hua Sect swinging their swords over there was outstanding.
To the point of being comparable even when matched against themselves.
Tat!
At that moment, Jong-hyeon suddenly kicked off the ground.
“Big brother!”
Discovering Cheon-hwi in one corner of Dorimpyeong, he even executed a footwork technique.
Subsequently, as he approached Cheon-hwi.
“…!”
“W-What is that?”
“Martial Uncle’s sworn brother?”
The second-generation disciples, who had been executing martial arts while intoxicated by the energy of the Dark Fragrance Pill, suddenly snapped to their senses as if they had been struck by a water bomb.
Who was Cheon-hwi.
He was a cold-blooded person with no blood or tears.
But for him to have a sworn younger brother!
Even after seeing it, it was hard to believe.
Some even rubbed their eyes.
The Pavilion Lord of the Martial Training Pavilion also stared down intently at Jong-hyeon, who called Cheon-hwi his big brother.
‘Did Cheon-hwi have a sworn younger brother…?’
When Jong-hyeon made eye contact with the Pavilion Lord of the Martial Training Pavilion, he gathered his two small hands and gave a polite bow.
“Immeasurable Life Buddha. I am Jong-hyeon of the Zhongnan Sect.”
At the young boy’s polite greeting, the Pavilion Lord of the Martial Training Pavilion smiled gently and clasped his hands in return.
“Immeasurable Life Buddha. This Daoist is Hyeon-yang.”
At that moment, Jong-hyeon’s eyes widened.
“Flowing Cloud Swordsman Great Hero…?”
“That’s a title I haven’t heard in a long time.”
“Wow! I’ve heard a lot about you from my master, Great Hero!”
Jong-hyeon chattered excitedly.
“In the past, you went alone to a Green Forest stronghold and…”
It was then.
Bo-seong, with an urgent expression, appeared by coming down while even executing a lightfoot technique.
“Is everyone here?”
“We are all here.”
“What is the matter?”
Hastily counting the number of Daoists from the Zhongnan Sect, he nodded and spoke.
“Let us return right now.”
Afterwards, Bo-seong and the Daoists of the Zhongnan Sect hurriedly left the Mount Hua Sect after exchanging short farewells.
* * *
Over half a month had passed since the Daoists of the Zhongnan Sect, who had visited the Mount Hua Sect, left.
The wind, which had only felt chilly back then, had already wrapped around Mount Hua while accompanied by a bone-chilling cold energy.
“Achoo! Ugh, it’s cold.”
Jeok Wun, who was guarding the mountain gate, shivered from the cutting wind digging through the gaps, despite wearing layers upon layers of clothes.
“I wish the shift change would come quickly… Hooo, hooo.”
Just as he was blowing hot breath into his hands.
Step… Step…
There were people climbing the mountain path, trampling on the frost that had grown overnight on Mount Hua.
Seeing them, Jeok Wun trembled.
There were three people coming up, and all of them had extraordinary appearances.
One was wearing a ragged mat, and one was wearing a Daoist robe stitched in multiple layers.
And the last one was…
‘W-Wudang Sect?’
His eyes turned round.
At that time, the three stood in front of Jeok Wun.
“For what business have you visited our sect?”
The old man with white hair and white eyebrows wearing the multi-layered stitched Daoist robe smiled softly.
“We have come to see the Sect Leader.”
Jeok Wun flinched for a moment.
The fact that this person answered, rather than the one wearing the Daoist robe of the Wudang Sect, meant that he was the representative of the group.
“May I perhaps know your honorable name, Great Hero?”
At that question, the old man wearing the ragged mat burst into uproarious laughter.
“Puhahaha! You are washed up too.”
The old Daoist of the Wudang Sect frowned.
“You’re noisy.”
“Hmph, what does it matter that I chatter with my own mouth.”
“Do you not care about my ears that have to listen?”
“Look at the mouth of this horse-nosed bastard still being alive. He used to keep his mouth shut tight in the past.”
“That was because you weren’t worth dealing with then.”
“Then I guess I am now?”
“No. It’s just that we’re in front of others now, so I’m telling you to shut up a bit.”
As the two bickered, Jeok Wun looked at them with quite a flustered face.
At that time, the old man smiled and spoke.
“I am called Go Hyeon.”
“Go Hyeon…? From somewhere…”
Jeok Wun, who muttered the name he had heard somewhere, tilted his head before lightning belatedly struck his mind.
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