Chapter 176: Chapter 176
Samong Plaza was an utter chaos.
The disciples of the Mount Hua Sect were fighting anyone they made eye contact with, almost like fighting dogs.
And among them were the Plum Blossom Swordsmen, the pride of the Mount Hua Sect.
Some of the elders let out a groan.
“……Sect Leader. Is this right?”
The Secret Pavilion Lord, who had agreed with the grand cause of creating the Armed Unit, furrowed his brows.
Since they were breaking the tradition of the Mount Hua Sect to create the Armed Unit, he thought they would select the unit leader and members in an elegant manner.
But what was this?
To think they would appoint the one who survived until the very end as the unit leader without any rhyme or reason.
And that wasn’t all.
Didn’t Cheon-hwi throw a stone in the middle, turning an otherwise decent fight into a complete mess?
No matter how much it was an Armed Unit for actual combat, this was just a dogfight.
“…….”
The Sect Leader also remained silent, seemingly troubled.
He didn’t think he would do something ordinary since he asked for full authority, but he never imagined it would be done in this way.
“Shouldn’t we stop them?”
Hyeon Heo, who was watching the current situation while furrowing his brows like the Secret Pavilion Lord, said.
“We cannot properly gauge their skills with this method.”
“Hmm.”
The Sect Leader let out a groan.
He was right.
Even if someone chosen from such a messy fight was strong, they might have shallow martial arts or a volatile temper that could easily be swept up.
But right then.
“I think this is right.”
The Pavilion Lord of the Martial Training Pavilion interjected.
Covered in sweat as if he had been training until just a moment ago, he could not take his eyes off Samong Plaza.
“Enemies do not face us one-on-one. One-on-many is the basics, and they occasionally do sneak attacks like that. One must endure such things to survive.”
His gaze headed towards Cheon-hwi.
If it were him in the past, he naturally would have furrowed his brows at this unconventional method.
However, after experiencing the joint operation, he changed his mind.
“What use is it even if you are a master, if you are struck by a stray blade.”
The elders shut their mouths.
Because everyone knew that the person the Pavilion Lord of the Martial Training Pavilion was talking about was none other than himself.
“That is right.”
At that moment, Cheon-hwi, the party concerned and the source of all these events, suddenly appeared.
‘Wh-When?!’
‘I didn’t even sense his presence!’
The elders’ eyes widened.
In particular, shock dyed the eyes of some who had only heard rumors and never properly seen Cheon-hwi’s martial prowess.
“I have no intention of making someone a unit leader just because their martial arts are high. Of course, it’s good if they are high, but situational judgment is a priority over that.”
He felt bothered to explain until his mouth hurt, but it was for the future.
“And if you don’t like my method, I’ll quit right now.”
“No, there is no need for that. In my eyes, I think your decision is right.”
The Pavilion Lord of the Martial Training Pavilion spoke with a proud expression.
Right now, he was fully supporting and trusting Cheon-hwi.
“However, who do you think will remain until the end?”
At the question of the Pavilion Lord of the Martial Training Pavilion, the Sect Leader and the elders perked up their ears.
“Probably Senior Martial Sister Cheon-hyang, Seol Ran, and Jeok-geom. These three will remain until the end.”
“Do you mean Jeok-geom and Seol Ran?”
“Still, there are the First-Generation Disciples…….”
Some elders wondered.
No matter how much Jeok-geom and Seol Ran had been showing prominence recently, there were still about ten First-Generation Disciples among the Plum Blossom Swordsmen.
But Cheon-hwi was resolute.
“Among the First-Generation Disciples currently in the Mount Hua Sect, the only person who is superior to Jeok-geom and Seol Ran is Senior Martial Sister Cheon-hyang, just one.”
Cheon-hwi added quietly.
“If you even add situational judgment into the mix, they would be on par with Senior Martial Sister Cheon-hyang.”
“Are they at that level?”
At Cheon-hwi’s words, the elders held their breath and focused on Samong Plaza.
The fight that was burning fiercely like fire was gradually dying down as time passed.
Because they were fighting everyone while being wary of their surroundings, their stamina bottomed out faster than usual.
Like that, about a quarter of an hour passed.
“Ugh……”
Thud!
Most of the disciples were lying flat on the ground, or receiving treatment at the place the Hall of Medicine Lord had prepared.
Exactly three people were standing on Samong Plaza.
They were the ones Cheon-hwi had expected.
“Pant, pant.”
“As expected of Senior Martial Brother.”
“The same goes for you, Junior Martial Sister.”
Cheon-hyang, Jeok-geom, and Seol Ran were aiming their swords at each other, remaining wary without even looking at the disciples who had collapsed on the ground.
“To think my martial nephews and nieces were this strong. It seems the training you received from Junior Martial Brother Cheon-hwi was good?”
At that moment, the two shuddered.
Upon hearing the name ‘Cheon-hwi’ and the word ‘training’, the experience and pain they had accumulated so far struck their minds and bodies.
“……That is right, Senior Martial Aunt.”
“……It is all thanks to Martial Uncle Cheon-hwi.”
They spat out words with difficulty.
At that, Cheon-hyang wondered.
“What’s wrong?”
Jeok-geom and Seol Ran tried hard to speak calmly, but Cheon-hyang somehow felt like the two were crying.
At that moment.
Tap.
Cheon-hwi dropped down in the middle of them.
“You’re weaker than I thought. I can understand why you were defeated by those nameless unorthodox bastards with this.”
Cheon-hwi criticized them harshly.
The fallen Second-Generation Disciples trembled at Cheon-hwi’s words, perhaps not having lost consciousness, but they could not move at all.
Soon, he looked at the three.
“Then these three will be the unit leaders…….”
“By the way, Junior Martial Brother.”
Cheon-hyang cut Cheon-hwi off mid-sentence and raised her sword high.
“If we’re selecting unit leaders this way, shouldn’t the general unit leader be the same?”
Her eyes flashed.
Cheon-hwi chuckled.
The intention behind her words was obvious.
“So you mean I should fight too?”
“Right.”
Cheon-hyang burned with fighting spirit.
Cheon-hwi, who was looking at her, turned to Jeok-geom and Seol Ran next to him and spoke.
“Hmm, what do you guys think?”
Facing Cheon-hwi’s gaze, Jeok-geom and Seol Ran flinched, but soon regained their senses.
“I think Senior Martial Aunt’s words are right.”
“I feel the same.”
“Oho, look at these guys.”
Cheon-hwi wore a smile.
Normally, these two would have been busy avoiding a spar like this, but they were different now.
They were rather even provoking him.
“I guess I’ve become a bit of a pushover to you?”
Cheon-hwi lifted his scabbard whole.
And he laughed as he rested it on his shoulder.
“I had actually forgotten about your training today, but this works out well.”
The moment a smile surfaced on Cheon-hwi’s lips, Jeok-geom and Seol Ran’s expressions stiffened.
The smile was no different from usual.
However, their long experience and intuition were warning them. That he would not let it slide easily this time.
“Then I guess I should clearly establish the hierarchy before giving you proper training.”
At Cheon-hwi’s words, Jeok-geom and Seol Ran felt their vision fading.
Still, they regained their senses.
‘Why did I say such a thing…!’
‘I got too drunk on the excitement!’
Around the time the two were feeling regret.
“I’ll go first!”
Cheon-hyang walked out confidently as if she had been waiting, and stood facing Cheon-hwi.
She was wearing a pleasant smile even under Cheon-hwi’s intense momentum.
“Finally, with Junior Martial Brother again…….”
Smack!
“Why are you just standing there blankly?”
“……I let my guard down for a moment. But it won’t work twice.”
Cheon-hyang looked at her red and swollen left forearm before lunging at Cheon-hwi.
Closing the distance in a single breath by executing the Dark Clouds Spewing Thunder, she thrust her sword.
Not the Plum Blossom Sword Art, but the Great Luo Sword Art?
She forcefully executed the Great Luo Sword Art she had secretly practiced to catch Cheon-hwi, who easily blocked the Plum Blossom Sword Art last time, off guard.
However, that was her blunder.
‘Oho, she did open the Ten Thousand Scenery Pavilion, but it’s my first time seeing her execute it directly.’
Because the one who restored the Great Luo Sword Art was none other than Cheon-hwi himself.
The Great Luo Sword, harboring sharp sword qi, thrust towards Cheon-hwi’s shoulder joint.
As if she didn’t care even if he was her junior martial brother!
Cheon-hwi wore a pleased smile at the sight of Cheon-hyang, who had separately learned the Great Luo Sword Art just to defeat him.
“But to think you’d execute that in front of me.”
Clang!
Cheon-hwi struck the Great Luo Sword away.
And he lightly stepped on the Seven Stars Footwork while beating her entire body with his scabbard.
Smack! Smack!
“It’s a little regrettable, though. The Great Luo Sword Art is not a fast and heavy sword art, but a light one. If you put strength into it like that, the power will actually drop.”
Cheon-hwi continued to spit out explanations.
All the while, the hand holding the scabbard unceasingly battered her body.
“……We’re doomed.”
“Should we surrender even now?”
Jeok-geom and Seol Ran let out hollow laughs as they tossed light jokes.
Cheon-hyang was showing a sword art superior to theirs. Yet, it was useless in front of Cheon-hwi.
Not only was Cheon-hwi lightly dodging her sword, but he was also beating her up.
At that moment.
“To hell with it!”
Cheon-hyang poured out all her internal energy and swung her sword, as if saying she didn’t care anymore.
“Then shall I end this now?”
Cheon-hwi’s figure blurred, then appeared right in front of Cheon-hyang’s nose.
Bababat!
Cheon-hwi, who had unleashed dozens of consecutive strikes in an instant, passed Cheon-hyang and turned his head.
And as he looked straight at Jeok-geom and Seol Ran.
Thud…
Cheon-hyang collapsed to the ground a step late.
Gulp…
Jeok-geom and Seol Ran swallowed their saliva.
“What are you doing? Why aren’t you coming.”
At Cheon-hwi’s words, the two glared with widened eyes.
For a brief moment.
“Senior Martial Brother, please take the left.”
“Don’t worry.”
As soon as the words ended, the two dashed.
Cheon-hwi, who was watching that, smirked.
This was what he wanted.
For these guys to execute their martial arts with a desperate resolve to die.
“Right. Show your proper skills this time. That way, those stubborn elders and disciples will accept you as unit leaders.”
As soon as those words ended.
Swaeek!
A sharp sword wind dug in.
Cheon-hwi moved his scabbard as he looked at the Plum Blossom Sword Art the two were executing, and.
Kwaaaang!
An ear-splitting explosion burst forth.
* * *
“Heo…….”
The elders, who were looking at Jeok-geom and Seol Ran clashing with Cheon-hwi, gasped for breath.
“We already knew Cheon-hwi’s skills, but were Jeok-geom and Seol Ran this outstanding?”
The Secret Pavilion Lord’s pupils trembled.
While Cheon-hwi’s skills were amazing, they were not that shocking.
They had already heard words from the Sect Leader, and had been predicting it through rumors.
However, Jeok-geom and Seol Ran were different.
Their skills were so superior that they could be compared to the First-Generation Disciples right now.
At that moment, the Sect Leader opened his mouth.
“There might be some who are displeased about Cheon-hwi becoming the general unit leader. Because he acts unconventionally.”
Some of the elders flinched.
Just as he said, there was no other reason for not welcoming Cheon-hwi.
It was just that his unconventional moves that broke the traditions of the Mount Hua Sect made them reluctant about him.
The Sect Leader wore a smile on his lips as he looked at the flinching elders.
“However, Jeok-geom and Seol Ran’s skills have grown like that thanks to Cheon-hwi. What do you think will happen if Cheon-hwi leads the Armed Unit and grows everyone?”
The elders’ hearts pounded wildly.
Other disciples growing like Jeok-geom and Seol Ran?
For a moment, the phrase ‘Best in the World’ surfaced in their minds before disappearing.
The Sect Leader smiled as he looked at the elders whose eyes were gradually becoming dreamy.
‘Heoheo. He did say showing it is faster.’
All of this was Cheon-hwi’s plan.
To obtain full authority over the Armed Unit.
And it definitely succeeded.
Smack!
Just in time, a cheerful sound echoed as if celebrating that success.
Thud…
Jeok-geom and Seol Ran collapsed to the ground.
Cheon-hwi, who had knocked the two out by striking their foreheads with his scabbard, twisted his lips and said.
“For now, the unit leaders have been decided, so all that is left is your training.”
Cheon-hwi said as he looked over the disciples.
“I’ll teach you very properly this time.”
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