Chapter 24: Chapter 24
The day after the grand meeting ended, during the time of the Tiger.
At this early hour before dawn even broke, Cheon-hwi emerged from his thatched cottage.
He had woken up earlier than usual, but a distinct smile lingered on his face.
His appearance was quite different from usual.
His pupils, beneath his sharply upturned eyes, were filled with anticipation, and the hair that he usually left untied every day was neatly tied into one and swaying.
But what stood out even more than those was the Taoist uniform he was wearing and the sword dangling and swaying at his waist.
“It’s not a very good sword, but this is enough.”
Tapping the sword, he then slightly lifted his Taoist uniform to examine it, and smiled quite with satisfaction.
“I like the Taoist uniform too, good.”
The Taoist uniform Hyeon-ryeo had separately prepared last night was a mixture of black and red, giving off quite a different feel from the red and white Taoist uniforms of the Mount Hua Sect.
In particular, red plum blossoms were engraved on the dark background, exuding a unique atmosphere.
“Hmm.”
Walking while examining his body like that, he suddenly stood on a hill and looked around.
Perhaps because it was still an early hour, it was dark outside, and the chilly night air that blew was gently stroking his cheeks.
But even that felt good.
It was because today was the day he would leave the Mount Hua Sect and look around the Central Plains.
“Then…….”
Tap.
As he spoke, he lightly stamped his foot.
However, what happened because of it was an astonishing event.
The darkness split in half, and Cheon-hwi shot through it.
Leaving only a streak of a flash of light.
Arriving at the main gate of the Mount Hua Sect from the thatched cottage in a single breath, he looked ahead.
There were four men and one woman.
They were the Plum Blossom Swordsmen chosen just yesterday to carry out the mission heading to the Flying Wind Merchant Guild.
“You gathered early.”
They opened their eyes wide looking at Cheon-hwi, who suddenly appeared like a mirage.
That was also only for a moment.
“Martial Uncle!”
“You’re here.”
As soon as the surprised Jeok-geom and Seol Ran realized it was Cheon-hwi, they immediately welcomed him.
In particular, Jeok-geom, who knew this mission was intertwined with the Flying Wind Merchant Guild, looked at Cheon-hwi and held a full smile on his lips.
‘I’m glad Martial Uncle is accompanying us.’
He heavily swept his chest down in relief.
No matter how eccentric he was, his martial prowess and skills were not false.
“Your martial nephew greets Martial Uncle Cheon-hwi.”
“We greet Martial Uncle.”
By the time the rest of the Plum Blossom Swordsmen, who belatedly came to their senses, followed Jeok-geom and Seol Ran to greet Cheon-hwi.
‘It’s good to see.’
The Sect Leader, who had been watching all of that from above with a pleased face, let out a voice full of dignity.
“Everyone has gathered.”
The six of them raised their heads upward.
The Sect Leader, who had gathered their gazes in one place, stared at the faces of each and every one of them.
Jeok-geom and Seol Ran, as well as Jeok-jae and Jeok-un.
And even Jeok-bi.
They were all trustworthy disciples.
However, there was a little bit of anxiety.
Not only had they never traveled to the Central Plains before, but they had also never experienced the Jianghu full of harsh winds and waves.
‘I am slightly worried…….’
Then, as he made eye contact with Cheon-hwi at the end, his anxiety was cleanly washed away.
‘Haha, Cheon-hwi is here, so it is a needless worry.’
The Sect Leader, whose heart had become much lighter, leaked a stern voice.
“Your first departure into the Jianghu will be a difficult task.”
The faces of the Plum Blossom Swordsmen stiffened slightly.
The expectation of their first departure into the Jianghu, along with the weight of being Plum Blossom Swordsmen.
They made complex expressions mixed with anticipation, excitement, and a little worry about leaving the Mount Hua Sect soon.
“But do not worry too much. Aren’t you all Plum Blossom Swordsmen?”
The Sect Leader spat out words of encouragement to relax their tension.
Perhaps that intention worked, as strength entered the eyes of the Plum Blossom Swordsmen.
To them, a Plum Blossom Swordsman was their pride and dignity. Nodding their heads for a moment with shining eyes, they shouted vigorously.
“Yes!”
At their vigorous answer, the smile lingering on the Sect Leader’s lips spread greatly.
No more words were needed.
“Take care of yourselves.”
At the Sect Leader’s concluding words, Jeok-geom, who was in the middle of the five Plum Blossom Swordsmen, raised his head and politely answered.
“Understood.”
Looking at Jeok-geom answering as the representative, Cheon-hwi momentarily twisted the corners of his mouth.
‘Is Jeok-geom the representative?’
Cheon-hwi thought this was right.
In fact, he had said he would lead them with the purpose of departing into the Jianghu, but he was feeling bothered at the moment.
But right on time, seeing Jeok-geom acting like the representative of the Plum Blossom Swordsmen, how convenient was this for him?
‘If bothersome things happen, I can just pass them all onto Jeok-geom.’
Thinking that Jeok-geom would foam at the mouth if he heard this, Cheon-hwi turned his head.
“Cheon-hwi.”
“Hwi.”
While the Sect Leader was speaking, Hyeon-do and Hyeon-ryeo, who had been standing still in the back, approached.
“Hmm? You’re here.”
Cheon-hwi welcomed them as they approached.
Having been close for five years, his relationship with the two was in a considerably close state.
“Will you really be okay?”
When Hyeon-ryeo was making a fuss.
“Of course he will be okay, won’t he?”
Hyeon-do intervened.
Hyeon-ryeo raised her eyebrows fiercely at Hyeon-do answering on behalf of Cheon-hwi.
“Martial Senior Brother!”
Her voice was sharp and clear.
To prevent Cheon-hwi from becoming the leader of the journey, she had opposed it.
However, unlike her, Hyeon-do and Hyeon-cheong had agreed, and eventually, at the end, the Sect Leader raised the hands of the two and Cheon-hwi.
Hyeon-do smirked as he looked at Hyeon-ryeo glaring fiercely at him, and spoke.
“Are you worried?”
“Of course I’m worried.”
“Even though it is Cheon-hwi? If it is Cheon-hwi, no matter who appears…”
Hyeon-ryeo frowned and spoke.
“Martial Senior Brother knows too. That the Jianghu is a place where all sorts of schemes and tricks run rampant.”
“That is true.”
Hyeon-do agreed with those words.
As she said, the Jianghu was a cold-hearted and merciless place, and a place where rules different from the laws of the world were applied.
But because of that, Hyeon-do, who had watched Cheon-hwi closely, found him trustworthy rather than worrying about his departure into the Jianghu.
“But isn’t it Cheon-hwi.”
“…….”
Hyeon-ryeo lost her words.
She also knew about Cheon-hwi just as well as Hyeon-do did.
That Cheon-hwi possessed outstanding martial arts and his skills were hard to even guess.
But knowing it with her head and feeling it with her heart were completely different.
To Hyeon-ryeo, Cheon-hwi was forever like a weak young child.
Swoosh…
“Forget it!”
Hyeon-ryeo, who spoke sharply while glaring at Hyeon-do, quickly turned her gaze away.
Then, she rummaged through her bosom, took out a leather pouch, and pressed it into Cheon-hwi’s hand.
“Use this if anything happens.”
Cheon-hwi, who was watching the two bicker, put the pouch he held in his hand straight into his sleeve.
“I will use it well.”
While Cheon-hwi was being seen off by the two and receiving items needed for the journey.
Step… Step…
The Plum Blossom Swordsmen, who had finished preparing to leave, were also exchanging farewells.
“No matter where you go, or who you meet, do not lose your pride as Plum Blossom Swordsmen.”
The Martial Training Pavilion Master, who was standing with the two, spoke while earnestly requesting the Plum Blossom Swordsmen.
At that, the Plum Blossom Swordsmen’s bodies stiffened.
The Martial Training Pavilion Master was known in the Mount Hua Sect as a cold-hearted figure who wouldn’t bleed even if pricked by a needle, and was someone who ordered harsh training every day.
At that moment, the Martial Training Pavilion Master’s expression changed.
“But if a life-threatening situation arises, run away unconditionally.”
The Plum Blossom Swordsmen were surprised by the Martial Training Pavilion Master speaking with a worried expression.
The worried appearance and words of the Martial Training Pavilion Master, who had usually only ordered training cold-heartedly, came to them as a different kind of shock.
“The most important thing under the heavens is exactly your lives.”
However, whether he knew their thoughts or not, the Martial Training Pavilion Master encouraged them by touching their shoulders with a gentle gesture.
After everyone exchanged greetings like that.
“Then we will get going.”
As soon as it was time, Cheon-hwi threw the main gates open and stepped outside. The Plum Blossom Swordsmen, who were lined up behind him, followed, and eventually, they began to descend the mountain.
Step… Step…
Watching the backs of the six descending vigorously, the Sect Leader and the elders took a bowing posture with both hands clasped together with worried expressions.
“Immeasurable Life Buddha.”
“May everyone be safe.”
* * *
A fortnight had already passed on the journey.
Xianyang County, the destination that had felt so far away when they departed, was already right in front of their noses.
It was thanks to Jeok-geom, whose mind was in a hurry, not sparing the money he had in order to arrive quickly somehow.
Jeok-geom, excited about arriving at the Flying Wind Merchant Guild soon, opened his mouth in high spirits.
“Hahaha, fortunately we moved quickly by riding a ship, so the time was shortened.”
Perhaps because he had come to his familiar hometown, Jeok-geom revealed an utmost elated expression.
Then he approached Cheon-hwi, who was walking next to him, and began to chatter.
“Martial Uncle, did you know? Our Flying Wind Merchant Guild is counted among the top merchant guilds encompassing Shaanxi. Over the recent twenty years, through the roads connecting Shaanxi and Shanxi, many trades…….”
Jeok-geom was explaining in detail about the Flying Wind Merchant Guild to Cheon-hwi.
And right next to him, Seol Ran was following, having finished preparations to move immediately if Cheon-hwi gave any orders.
Watching the sight of the three from behind, Jeok-un, Jeok-jae, and Jeok-bi revealed expressions showing they could not understand at all and frowned.
‘Why are Martial Senior Brother Jeok-geom and Martial Junior Sister Seol Ran walking on eggshells around Martial Uncle?’
It was their common question.
During the journey, Jeok-geom and Seol Ran were walking on eggshells around Cheon-hwi and finding him difficult to deal with.
Just like treating the Sect Leader.
Of course, they knew that Cheon-hwi had shown astonishing divine might at the Five Mountains Gathering five years ago and protected the reputation that Jeok-geom had almost ruined.
But that was already five years ago.
At the Five Mountains Gathering recently held again, the Mount Hua Sect regained its original majesty and was spreading its prestige resoundingly.
Not only that, Jeok-geom and Seol Ran showed an astonishing growth rate and displayed skills close to the top among the Plum Blossom Swordsmen staying in the Mount Hua Sect.
On the contrary, Cheon-hwi was quiet.
So quiet that they didn’t even know how he was doing, let alone his current martial prowess, since the incident five years ago.
‘The incident from five years ago should have faded by now.’
‘Just what kind of relationship is it?’
‘Do they know something about Martial Uncle Cheon-hwi?’
When they were finding it difficult to understand the profound relationship between the three.
“They greatly expanded their influence within the recent twenty years, and this time they even built a two-story annex. In addition, they released food midway to distribute to the commoners…….”
Cheon-hwi, who had been listening to the pouring explanations continuously, raised his index finger and pointed to the west.
“It’s over there, right?”
Jeok-geom opened his eyes wide.
“How did you know?”
“Because I can see it.”
“……!”
The Plum Blossom Swordsmen, seeing Cheon-hwi speak as if he had seen through the Flying Wind Merchant Guild located at a distance of two hundred zhang, were astonished.
But Cheon-hwi didn’t think much of it.
Since it was a natural thing for him.
“Hmm?”
At that moment, Cheon-hwi’s eyebrows frowned.
“We’ll have to hurry a bit.”
“Pardon?”
“A fight has broken out.”
Jeok-geom’s complexion turned stark white.
“I, I will go first!”
Jeok-geom, who had raised his internal energy, urgently unfolded the Five Elements Plum Blossom Footwork.
“……I will go too.”
Seol Ran, who was watching Jeok-geom run in a hurry, quickly chased after him.
Watching even the remaining Plum Blossom Swordsmen moving following the two, Cheon-hwi twisted his lips at the energy wafting from the Flying Wind Merchant Guild far away.
“Murderous intent…….”
At the energy he was feeling for the very first time in a long while, Cheon-hwi kicked off the ground with a smiling face.
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