Chapter 21: Chapter 21
‘Is this something to be so surprised about?’
Cheon-hwi stared for a long time at Hyeon-cheong, who had his mouth wide open and his eyes round.
To him, the reaction Hyeon-cheong showed was absolutely difficult to understand.
To think he would show such a shocked appearance just from restoring that trivial martial art.
‘Most of them were just things that couldn’t even properly interpret the oral formulas of the martial arts manuals.’
To him, who had stepped into the supreme realm, all the martial arts in the Ten Thousand Scenery Pavilion were clearly visible, as if they were in the palm of his hand.
Especially among the high-level martial arts, there were also martial arts he had directly faced in the past, such as the Jade Ring Wondrous Steps or the Plum Blossom Sword Art, so restoring them was too easy a task.
However, that was only his standard.
For non-martial artists… No, for people other than him, it was different.
In order to restore martial arts, one had to reach the supreme realm like him, or achieve great success and become proficient.
No, even so, it was something one couldn’t be sure if it was even possible.
It was then.
“M-Most of them, you say?”
Hyeon-cheong, who had come to his senses while hastily shaking his head, opened his mouth and asked.
“Yes.”
Cheon-hwi answered nonchalantly.
And at that, Hyeon-cheong realized that Cheon-hwi wasn’t bluffing, but telling the truth.
‘Not just one, but most of them?’
Hyeon-cheong, who had received a huge shock from Cheon-hwi’s answer, asked once again.
“T-That means you read all the martial arts manuals in the Ten Thousand Scenery Pavilion?”
“Not all of them yet, though.”
“Heoheo.”
Hyeon-cheong let out an absurd laugh.
That statement was more trustworthy.
‘Does that mean he read all of those?’
Were there only one or two martial arts manuals present in the Ten Thousand Scenery Pavilion?
There were at least well over hundreds of martial arts manuals. It had taken him at least four years to read all the martial arts manuals as well.
‘But he read most of them.’
Cheon-hwi nonchalantly looked at Hyeon-cheong, who completely couldn’t hide his shock.
It’s that face again.
Hyeon-cheong’s expression was very familiar.
Since most of the gazes he always felt were eyes that either couldn’t hide their shock like Hyeon-cheong, or were consumed by awe or fear.
‘To be surprised by just this much.’
Cheon-hwi was unimpressed.
‘I even read all the martial arts manuals in the Heavenly Demon Archives in less than six years.’
His standard was the Heavenly Demon Archives.
However, he didn’t know.
That the Heavenly Demon Archives was a massive repository of martial arts manuals with no equal in the world.
Not only were all the demonic arts manuals present in the world there, but there were even martial arts manuals plundered from the Central Plains when the Heavenly Demon Cult achieved demonic domination of the world in the past.
Around the time Cheon-hwi remained nonchalant.
‘I-Is that statement true?’
Hyeon-cheong, who didn’t know Cheon-hwi’s thoughts at all, was still confused.
Then, a method to confirm whether Cheon-hwi’s answer was correct suddenly came to mind.
‘If I compare it with the oral formula of the recently restored martial art, I should be able to know if it’s true.’
He immediately moved his trembling lips.
“Then, do you know the oral formula of the Great Net Sword?”
“The Great Net Sword?”
As soon as Cheon-hwi heard the name of the martial art, the oral formula for the Great Net Sword floated in his head.
The Great Net Sword was a sword art that had made a name for itself in the Mount Hua Sect in the ancient past, but it was a sword art that had been lost five hundred years ago and became nominal.
“Ah, that one? I know it.”
“Then can you show it to me?”
“…”
Cheon-hwi displeasedly looked at Hyeon-cheong, who asked as if trying to test him.
‘How annoying.’
If it was him in the past, it would have been a matter of heavily reprimanding him, saying, ‘Are you trying to test me!’ but.
What could he do?
He was a martial nephew, and the other party was a martial uncle.
“Haa, understood.”
He stood up from his seat with a sigh.
Hyeon-cheong, who saw Cheon-hwi suddenly springing up, was slightly surprised and smacked his lips.
“Why are you getting up?”
“Didn’t you ask me to show you the Great Net Sword?”
“…!”
Hyeon-cheong glared his two eyes.
“Could it be you’re going to show me directly?”
“Is there another way then?”
Hyeon-cheong, who was looking at the calmly answering Cheon-hwi, opened his eyes round.
He had thought he would only inform him of the oral formula, but to think he would directly unfold the martial art.
‘Reciting the oral formula and unfolding it to show are strictly at different levels…’
Cheon-hwi looked down at Hyeon-cheong, who could no longer hide his surprise.
Unlike his thoughts, unfolding it was more comfortable for Cheon-hwi than reciting the oral formula.
‘When will I recite all the oral formulas.’
The oral formula of the Great Net Sword was needlessly long.
Even at a rough guess, it was to the extent that one would have to speak for about two quarters of an hour.
“Are you not going to watch?”
As Cheon-hwi looked down with a hurrying gaze, Hyeon-cheong reached out his hand to push against the floor, stood up from his seat, and asked.
“Are you really able to unfold it?”
At the continuous questioning, Cheon-hwi now spoke with a blatantly annoyed expression.
“You’ll know when you see it.”
Cheon-hwi immediately left the thatched hut.
After a while, the two who came outside stood blankly in the yard and faced each other.
The yard draped in thick darkness was so dark that one couldn’t even see an inch ahead, but it wasn’t any hindrance to Cheon-hwi and Hyeon-cheong.
“I’ll do it.”
Cheon-hwi spoke as if tossing it out, and Hyeon-cheong swallowed his saliva and waited.
Sseueuk-
Cheon-hwi immediately lifted the wooden sword he had brought.
Following that, he spread both feet to shoulder width and aligned the tip of the sword with his eye level.
In an instant, Hyeon-cheong’s pupils shook.
‘T-This is! It’s exactly the same!’
He was shocked on the inside.
It was a posture completely different from what was written in the martial arts manual, but that posture was exactly the posture that perfectly matched the starting stance of the Great Net Sword he had restored.
Dry saliva pooled in Hyeon-cheong’s throat.
At that moment, the wooden sword moved greatly.
Hwiiik!
The wooden sword that was thrust while piercing the darkness aimed toward the full moon that had risen resplendently.
In an instant, dozens of sword lights were created.
Flash!
The sword lights that flashed like lightning in the darkness divided into multiple branches, then split the full moon into several pieces, and completely snatched it.
Great Net, like a gigantic net.
‘M-More intense and perfect than the Great Net Sword I restored…’
Around the time he was losing his mind and staring at the Great Net Sword Cheon-hwi unfolded toward the moon.
Jjeojeojeok!
The fragments of the full moon split into dozens of pieces escaped the net and fell like meteors.
Around the time Hyeon-cheong was staring blankly.
“That’s enough, right?”
Heumchit!
Hyeon-cheong, who had lost his mind while looking at the meteors in the sky, came to his senses.
‘A-An illusion?’
The meteors that filled the sky, which he had been staring at absentmindedly until just a moment ago, were not there.
No, they weren’t there from the beginning.
“…It was the truth.”
Perhaps because he had witnessed a Great Net Sword so outstanding that it lacked a sense of reality, he spoke powerlessly.
“…!”
Then he raised his eyebrows high.
After that, his beard suddenly trembled, and he sharply turned his head to look at Cheon-hwi.
‘To think the Great Net Sword I mentioned first is at this level, then the other martial arts too…’
Ggulp-
His Adam’s apple moved greatly.
Soon, he asked carefully.
“D-Did you really restore most of the martial arts manuals you read like the Great Net Sword?”
“Do you still not believe me?”
Hyeon-cheong, who heard Cheon-hwi’s nonchalant answer, unknowingly clenched his fists tightly.
Feeling his grip drenched in sweat, he nodded his head.
Then, he let out a low voice.
“…Hwi-ya.”
“Yes?”
Around the time Cheon-hwi looked at Hyeon-cheong calling him, he carefully requested.
“Could you help me restore the martial arts?”
“Restoring martial arts?”
“That’s right.”
In an instant, Cheon-hwi’s expression distorted.
‘So this was the goal in the end.’
In an instant, Cheon-hwi’s expression distorted.
Restoring martial arts was easy, but helping with it was a different situation.
Just holding it in his head wasn’t enough, so he had to write it down separately, and he also had to write annotations interpreting the oral formulas separately.
Just how annoying of a task was that.
“I’m sorry. I have to learn martial arts, so.”
Rather than flatly refusing, Cheon-hwi expressed his intention to refuse by beating around the bush.
‘Since I don’t have any reason to go to the Ten Thousand Scenery Pavilion anymore anyway.’
Hyeon-cheong, who heard Cheon-hwi’s words, rolled his head while being restless.
‘If I only have Cheon-hwi, I can quickly restore the martial arts manuals whose oral formulas of our sect have been lost. I have to hold onto him no matter what. If I tempt him with something he might be interested in…’
How urgent was he, that around the time Hyeon-cheong, who even came up with the word ‘temptation’ which a Daoist shouldn’t think of, fell into thought.
Flash!
A thunderbolt struck his head.
‘That’s it!’
If there was something Cheon-hwi might be interested in, there was naturally only one thing.
He put the thought that came to mind into his mouth.
“Do you not want to see new martial arts manuals you haven’t seen in the Ten Thousand Scenery Pavilion?”
In an instant, Cheon-hwi’s body heaved.
Following that, his two pupils sparkled radiantly like stars floating in the sky, and a low voice flowed out.
“New martial arts manuals…?”
* * *
After the Five Mountains Gathering ended, the Cloud Pavilion, which had continued to be completely empty, was filled with Daoists as a grand conference was held after a long time.
“Are there any rumors circulating in the Jianghu recently about our sect?”
At the sect leader’s low words that were spat out first, everyone shook their heads.
“It is quiet.”
“The atmosphere among the other sword sects is also one of showing restraint regarding the results of the Five Mountains Gathering.”
At the answer that immediately followed, the sect leader harbored a satisfied smile on his lips.
“The rumors didn’t spread as much as I was worried about.”
“It is all thanks to Cheon-hwi.”
Hyeon-ryeo, who had been listening quietly, answered with a bright smile, and everyone agreed with those words.
Just as those words said, it was thanks to Cheon-hwi.
They had won the Five Mountains Gathering, but they could by no means brag about it.
Since Cheon-hwi had overwhelmed the rising star considered the strongest at the Five Mountains Gathering.
In such a situation, spreading rumors that they had won the Five Mountains Gathering was no different from smearing mud on their own faces.
At that time, the sect leader opened his mouth.
“It turned out well.”
He stroked his beard with a much more relaxed expression, and quietly added words.
“Since he shouldn’t end up like Hyeon-gang.”
“Hmm…”
In an instant, everyone swept down their chests.
Why did Hyeon-gang have so many enemies.
It was because those who were jealous of his extraordinary talent and skills targeted Hyeon-gang.
Around the time everyone was relieved like that.
“There’s a rumor that smoke has been rising from Falling Goose Peak recently.”
To ventilate the slightly sinking atmosphere, the Martial Training Pavilion Master changed the topic, and.
‘Oh my, Cheon-hwi.’
Because of that, Hyeon-do was dumbfounded.
Hyeon-do, who had discovered the smoke before anyone else while going back and forth to Falling Goose Peak about a month ago, had already figured out what Cheon-hwi had done.
Cheon-hwi’s meat-eating.
Having witnessed the nonsensical situation, he was startled and tried to stop the meat-eating, but Cheon-hwi was stubborn.
‘Meat-eating is something that must be forbidden.’
‘Why?’
‘Daoists must forbid taking lives…’
‘Is that so? Then I just have to not be a Daoist, right?’
‘W-What does that mean?’
At Cheon-hwi’s appearance showing an attitude as if he would suddenly leave the moment meat-eating was forbidden, Hyeon-do was startled.
In the end, he raised his hands first.
‘Don’t get caught instead.’
Hyeon-do’s throat burned dryly.
‘Since this is something I can’t inform others about either.’
However, the others, who didn’t know Hyeon-do’s situation like that, tilted their heads.
“Smoke?”
“Did you see smoke?”
“No, I haven’t seen it.”
“Did someone light a fire?”
Around the time Hyeon-do’s two eyes were tightly shut at the reactions of those who didn’t know the hidden truth.
“Recently, perhaps Cheon-hwi is cold, there are times when he boils water.”
“Cheon-hwi?”
“Do you mean Cheon-hwi?”
“Yes.”
Hyeon-ryeo, who was uniquely aware along with Hyeon-do, intervened in the middle and spoke.
Along with that, she gave a glance to Hyeon-do.
“Come to think of it, Cheon-hwi did say he was chilly recently.”
Hyeon-do, who read her hurrying gaze, immediately chimed in, for fear of missing the helping hand she extended.
“His treatment is still…”
“…It seems he is still cold.”
The crowd made pitiful expressions.
They said Cheon-hwi had displayed astonishing martial prowess recently, but the appearance of Cheon-hwi they had seen was mostly him lying sick in bed.
“Senior Brother Hyeon-do, is Cheon-hwi alright?”
At the worried question of the Martial Training Pavilion Master, who had continuously maintained a cold-headed appearance, Hyeon-do answered while harboring a soft smile.
“It wasn’t that severe.”
“That’s a relief.”
Anything regarding the smoke had already disappeared from the heads of the Daoists who were thinking of Cheon-hwi.
‘Huu.’
Hyeon-do stealthily looked at Hyeon-ryeo, and the two nodded their heads in satisfaction.
‘That was good, Junior Sister.’
‘It’s Cheon-hwi’s matter, after all.’
After smoothing over the situation like that, the sect leader looked at Hyeon-il and asked.
“…What is the reason you wanted to hold this grand conference?”
The gazes of the crowd focused on Hyeon-il.
It was because he was the very person in charge of all the Mount Hua Sect’s intelligence, the Secret Pavilion Master.
The faces of those looking at the Secret Pavilion Master, who had been silent with a serious expression since the grand conference started, were engulfed in tension.
This grand conference was held at the strong request of the Secret Pavilion Master.
The Secret Pavilion Master, who had obtained the right to speak, nodded his head and half-closed his eyes.
Following that, his mouth opened, and the air cooled down coldly.
“The White Ghost Castle is moving.”
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