Chapter 23: Chapter 23
The western archive on the first floor of the Ten Thousand Scenery Pavilion.
Step… Step…
Just as an unexpected set of footsteps was heard in the quiet archive where not a single presence could be felt.
Step.
A young man suddenly popped up from below.
Pure white skin and distinct facial features.
A handsome young man standing six chi tall with a beautiful appearance that anyone would find favorable.
It was none other than Cheon-hwi, who had now become a nineteen-year-old young man after five years had passed.
“Is this chore finally over too?”
Standing up straight, he looked at the stairs, which were the only means of heading to the Dark Fragrance Hidden Cave, and clicked his tongue ‘Tsk’ without realizing it.
Along with that, Cheon-hwi’s eyebrows raised all the way up.
It was an expression heavily mixed with annoyance, but perhaps thanks to his beautiful appearance, even that was made to look like a unique charm.
“It ate up more time than I thought.”
He grumbled softly.
The initial deadline he had in mind was two years.
However, since five years had already flown by, it was a result that far exceeded his expectations.
‘Although one of them took some time.’
Cheon-hwi recalled the sword art that had given him a hard time among the fourteen martial arts manuals.
While a little over a year was enough for the other martial arts, the single remaining sword art had eaten up most of the time.
While briefly recalling the sword art, a small chuckle leaked out.
Although it gave him a hard time, he ultimately succeeded in restoring it, and as of today, it was all over.
“Nghhh, it’s over, it’s over.”
Cheon-hwi, who spoke while stretching, skillfully reached out his hand to close the passageway leading to the hidden cave and then turned his body around.
Naturally, he observed his surroundings.
The inside of the Ten Thousand Scenery Pavilion had not changed since five years ago.
The archives on all sides were filled with books, and it was incomparably quiet.
Of course, there was a time when many disciples flocked and it was crowded, but that was only temporary, and the numbers dropped drastically day by day until it became this quiet.
‘Since I don’t have any reason to come here anymore.’
He took in the interior of the Ten Thousand Scenery Pavilion with his eyes.
It had been five years since he started staying here.
Before he knew it, he had grown attached to it.
“I’ve stayed here quite a long time.”
Naturally steeped in emotion, he carefully recalled the things he had been doing all this while.
Martial arts restoration, martial arts restoration, martial arts restoration…….
At that moment, his eyes grew cold.
“……It wasn’t to the extent of giving it affection.”
Come to think of it, whenever he came to the Ten Thousand Scenery Pavilion, he would first teach Hyeon-cheong the martial arts he had restored, and then he poured all his effort solely into restoring the martial arts in the Dark Fragrance Hidden Cave all day long.
Even so, he wasn’t dissatisfied.
Because thanks to that, he had also learned the martial arts of the Righteous Faction.
“Then shall I go.”
He swiftly turned his body.
As of today, it was all over.
Both teaching Hyeon-cheong the restored martial arts and visiting the Dark Fragrance Hidden Cave.
Swish…
He took large strides forward.
Cheon-hwi, who arrived at the place where the doors of the Ten Thousand Scenery Pavilion were in an instant, tilted his head.
“Huh? Where did he go?”
While looking for Hyeon-cheong, who would normally be guarding the door, he remembered what happened this morning.
“Ah! Did he say he was attending the Grand Meeting today? He gets around quite well now.”
Looking at the desk where the books were neatly organized, Cheon-hwi fell into thought.
Just five years ago, Hyeon-cheong had refrained from external activities and only focused his efforts on restoring martial arts.
However, perhaps he had gained some breathing room thanks to him restoring the martial arts manuals, but he began external activities and had now changed to the point where he frequently attended the Grand Meetings.
“Today was the turn for a new martial art. Well, he’ll come find me on his own if he’s in a hurry.”
Cheon-hwi, who was thinking of Hyeon-cheong, who came to find him every single day in order to write down the oral formulas of the restored martial arts manuals, walked towards the door.
Creaak…
A moment later, Cheon-hwi opened the firmly closed doors of the Ten Thousand Scenery Pavilion and stepped outside.
Outside was still deserted.
And in his wide-open field of vision, the beautiful unexplored scenery of Mount Hua was captured in his sights.
The spring he was welcoming for the fifth time already.
Plum blossoms were blooming everywhere on Mount Hua, and the thick scent of plum blossoms mixed with the blowing wind, tickling the tip of his nose.
Whooosh…
Cheon-hwi, who was fully enjoying the usual scenery and silence, walked towards the Falling Goose Peak.
‘Then focusing on the martial arts I newly created in the Dark Fragrance Hidden Cave…….’
While walking as he sorted out the martial arts he had refined and completed in the Dark Fragrance Hidden Cave all this time.
Clang! Clang!
His thoughts were shattered by the sharp clashing sounds coming from afar.
The thatched cottage and courtyard he saw every day appeared in his wide-open view.
A man and a woman were engaged in a spar in the courtyard, which had become much wider compared to five years ago.
A handsome man wearing a soft smile and a beauty with a stunning but cold impression.
They were exactly the grown-up Jeok-geom and Seol Ran.
While sparring and unfolding the Plum Blossom Sword Art, Seol Ran withdrew her sword and stepped back.
“The tip of your sword is wavering unusually today.”
“Haha. It seems my mind has been distracted.”
Jeok-geom laughed awkwardly.
Seol Ran, who was watching that sight, sheathed her sword and asked with a worried expression.
“……Is it because of the rumors after all?”
In an instant, Jeok-geom’s expression darkened.
Unable to hide his anxiety, he sheathed the sword in his hand and gave a small nod.
“I can’t help but be worried.”
Jeok-geom was restless as he recalled the rumors floating around Jianghu.
“Haa……. To think that the Supreme King Sect is targeting my family.”
“Please do not worry too much, Senior Brother.”
Seol Ran approached Jeok-geom and comforted him.
“No matter if it’s the Supreme King Sect, they will avoid a head-on clash with our sect.”
Perhaps because she had become much closer to him while waiting on Cheon-hwi, she, who used to be cynical about everything, was comforting Jeok-geom.
“Moreover, didn’t the Sect Leader even open a Grand Meeting because of that matter?”
Jeok-geom calmed his anxious heart at Seol Ran’s words, which were deliberately spoken vigorously.
“Yeah, Junior Sister’s words are right.”
“What Senior Brother and I have to do is train in martial arts in preparation for a potential mission…….”
Soon, around the time the two were having a conversation about the Grand Meeting that was going to unfold this time.
‘Huh? The Grand Meeting?’
Cheon-hwi, who was approaching, perked up his ears. Just in time, a single word within the conversation going back and forth between the two lingered in his ears.
‘What? Emergence into Jianghu?’
* * *
Cloud Ascending Pavilion, where the Grand Meeting was being held.
The Pavilion within the Clouds remained unchanged even after a long time had passed, but a considerably sharp atmosphere was circulating inside.
“Everyone has gathered.”
The Sect Leader, who was sitting at the seat of honor, opened his mouth.
In an instant, those sitting all around the massive table revealed serious expressions.
The Sect Leader, who was looking at the stiffened audience, signaled to Hyeon-ryeo with his eyes.
“A few days ago, the Flying Wind Merchant Guild requested our help.”
Hyeon-ryeo spoke as if she had been waiting.
“What kind of help is it?”
“……It is a request asking for protection from the attacks of the Supreme King Sect.”
A cold silence flowed.
Following that, a fierce momentum that was incredibly hard to believe belonged to a Taoist sect bloomed and completely filled the Pavilion within the Clouds.
Around the time that momentum was trying to grow increasingly stronger.
“The Flying Wind Merchant Guild is the family of Jeok-geom, a disciple of our sect.”
Hyeon-ryeo added her words.
“Are you saying that we must help them?”
“That is correct.”
“Is it your thought as Hyeon-ryeo? Or is it your thought as the Pavilion Master of the Wealth Governing Pavilion?”
“It is both.”
Hyeon-ryeo answered resolutely.
“Good.”
Along with his answer, the Sect Leader moved his head and spoke as he swept his gaze across the audience once.
“What does everyone think?”
“I agree.”
“When the Flying Wind Merchant Guild, which had helped our sect, is being threatened by the Unorthodox Faction group known as the Supreme King Sect, how could we stay still?”
“Of course we must help them.”
They began to answer as if they had been waiting.
Hyeon-cheong, who was sitting at the edge of the seats and watching, felt the same way.
“Refusing the help of the Flying Wind Merchant Guild is an act of smearing mud on the face of our sect.”
The Sect Leader, who heard answering in agreement without missing a single person, immediately changed the topic.
“Then who do you think is good among those to be dispatched to the Flying Wind Merchant Guild this time?”
At that time, Hyeon Heo abruptly raised his hand.
At the hand gesture of Hyeon Heo, who had grown his beard even more stylishly than five years ago, the Sect Leader and the others turned their gazes and looked at him.
Hyeon Heo opened his mouth after waiting for everyone’s gaze to be concentrated on him.
“In my opinion, I think we should send the Plum Blossom Swordsmen who were chosen this time.”
“Hmm…….”
“That’s right.”
“There’s no one else but the Plum Blossom Swordsmen.”
Most of them were agreeing.
However, perhaps not everyone had the same thought, as there were some who opposed it.
One of them was the Pavilion Master of the Martial Training Pavilion.
“However, they are children who are too early to emerge into Jianghu. It’s only been a little over a year since they became Plum Blossom Swordsmen, and they are not able to handle the Plum Blossom Sword Art properly.”
“Junior Brother still sees the Plum Blossom Swordsmen as children.”
Hyeon Heo spoke coldly.
“No matter how young and lacking in experience they are, since they became Plum Blossom Swordsmen, they are individuals who have become the face of our sect. But if we say that the Plum Blossom Swordsmen are lacking, then who in the world would trust them?”
“That’s…….”
At the words that hit the nail on the head, the Pavilion Master of the Martial Training Pavilion swallowed the rest of the words he was going to say and closed his eyes.
In truth, he also knew.
That Hyeon Heo’s words were correct.
But he was anxious.
Lest by some one in ten thousand chance the Plum Blossom Swordsmen who emerged into Jianghu might suffer a mishap like Hyeon-gang did.
At that moment, Hyeon Heo’s voice was heard.
“We must be the first ones to trust them.”
The Pavilion Master of the Martial Training Pavilion opened his closed eyes.
Just as those words said, it was now time to let them go from his embrace, and it was time to trust the disciples.
“Senior Brother’s words are correct.”
Hyeon Heo, who was looking at the Pavilion Master of the Martial Training Pavilion backing down more readily than expected, put on a soft smile and spoke towards the Sect Leader.
“In addition, Jeok-geom is included among the Plum Blossom Swordsmen of this generation. Since he can visit his family while simultaneously letting him experience Jianghu this time, I believe he is the most qualified.”
Just in time, the Pavilion Master of the Secret Pavilion chimed in.
“As those words say, it would be the most appropriate for the Plum Blossom Swordsmen to move.”
By the time the atmosphere ripened into one where even those who had opposed it were agreeing one by one.
“Does anyone have another opinion?”
The Sect Leader asked as he observed his surroundings.
This time, there was no one who opposed it.
“Then we shall decide on sending the Plum Blossom Swordsmen. Then…….”
The Sect Leader, who was speaking, made his eyes shine.
The Plum Blossom Swordsmen going was no different from an established fact. However, what he was asking right now was the most important thing.
“Then who do you think would be good to send as the one to lead the Plum Blossom Swordsmen?”
Everyone let out a groan.
It was a situation where the Taoists of the Hyeon character generation could not step forward because they had to protect the Mount Hua Sect.
Because of that, they had to choose from among the Taoists of the Cheon character generation, but since most of them also occupied crucial positions, it was a situation where it was hard for them to go outside.
While thinking of those who at least did not have a position, Hyeon Heo suggested first.
“How about Cheon-su?”
“That cannot be.”
Immediately, Hyeon-ryeo expressed her refusal.
Cheon-su was the Vice Pavilion Master of the Wealth Spirit Pavilion and possessed a brilliant mind, making him an absolutely necessary existence.
“Due to the financial management issue he is currently working on, it is difficult for him to step away.”
No one could refute those words.
It was because they were already in a reality where everyone realized that the Mount Hua Sect’s finances had become a serious situation lately, so they couldn’t say anything to those words.
At that moment, perhaps the Pavilion Master of the Secret Pavilion thought of someone, as he clapped his hands and moved his lips.
“Then how about Cheon-hyang? Didn’t he return recently after finishing his family’s matters? Since he also has experience roaming around Jianghu, wouldn’t he be qualified for this matter?”
This time, the Pavilion Master of the Martial Training Pavilion shook his head.
“Right now, Cheon-hyang’s physical condition is not good. I do not know what kind of matter he experienced at his family, but he was already in a state of having suffered internal injuries when he returned to the main mountain.”
In an instant, everyone let out a groan.
Excluding those two, there was no one they could entrust it to among the individuals of the Cheon character generation.
“The personnel of our sect have decreased a lot compared to the past.”
The Sect Leader, who was watching, smiled bitterly.
In the past, talents overflowed, so they got to pick and choose the person to send on a mission.
But now, let alone choosing, it was to the extent that there were absolutely no individuals to send on a mission.
“Even so, it’s not like we can call Cheon Yu, who went to the Murim Alliance…….”
At the brief moment they were feeling troubled while bringing up the name of Cheon Yu, the Head Disciple of the Mount Hua Sect who had been dispatched due to a matter that occurred at the Murim Alliance recently.
“That mission, I will do it.”
As the crowd turned their heads at the low voice that had interjected in the middle, Cheon-hwi walking over confidently was captured in their eyes.
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