Chapter 251: Chapter 251

Did they say a footless horse travels a thousand li?
The news that the Green Forest attacked the Mount Hua Sect struck the world with astonishing speed.
Perhaps it was a natural occurrence.
The two sects were currently the most talked-about places in the Jianghu.
The Mount Hua Sect, one of the Nine Great Sects and One Gang.
It was a place walking the path of decline, but its momentum had been tremendous recently.
Didn’t they destroy the White Ghost Castle and reclaim hegemony over Shaanxi for the Righteous Faction?
In addition, with their various chivalrous deeds and the activities of the Mount Hua Divine Sword, Plum Blossom Sword Hero, and the Seven Plum Blossom Swords, they were no longer suited to the word decline.
Rather, some gossips even said that the current Mount Hua Sect could be placed at the top of the Nine Great Sects and One Gang.
And what about the Green Forest?
The current Green Forest was not a place to be taken lightly.
For tens, no, hundreds of years, the place considered only a group of bandits had been expanding its power frighteningly since the appearance of the peerless master, the Green Forest Great Emperor.
Moreover, by recently joining the Evil Black Lotus, weren’t they growing into a massive sect standing shoulder to shoulder with the Five Imperial Sects!
Everyone paid attention to the clash between the massive faction of the Righteous Faction rising as a new powerhouse and the massive faction of the Unorthodox Faction.
And shortly after, everyone was shocked by the rumors that followed.

– The Green Forest retreated!

It was a surprise attack with the Green Forest Great Emperor at the forefront and all Four Green Forest Kings participating.
In addition, the advance of over a hundred masters was no different from dragging over half of the Green Forest’s combat power.
Was that all?
The meticulous surprise attack of the Green Forest was perfect enough that the Beggars’ Sect, which was keeping an eye out, didn’t notice until they arrived in Shaanxi Province.
On the other hand, what about the Mount Hua Sect?
The Mount Hua Divine Sword and the Seven Plum Blossom Swords, who could be considered strong masters in the Mount Hua Sect, were staying at the Martial Alliance and could not prepare for the attack.
The situation where the Martial Alliance’s support was also delayed by a step due to the belated understanding of the movements.
In the end, the remaining disciples of the Mount Hua Sect had to block their surprise attack.
Although it was a defending position, the difference in combat power could be clearly felt.
That’s why almost everyone was certain that the Green Forest would win.
However, the result was the exact opposite.

“T… Then, does that mean the Green Forest Great Emperor retreated?”
“Did he only retreat? I heard the Green Forest Great Emperor abandoned his subordinates and fled with his tail between his legs.”
“Huh, it’s hard to believe. The Green Forest Great Emperor abandoning his subordinates and fleeing.”
“Isn’t life important?”
“More than that, I’m curious about one thing. How exactly did they defeat the Green Forest Great Emperor? I heard the Mount Hua Divine Sword was at the Martial Alliance. Even if they attacked together, the Four Green Forest Kings and the Green Forest bandits wouldn’t have stayed still.”

Everyone focused on the answer that would follow the question.
The Green Forest Great Emperor was an absolute master whose skills were recognized in the current Jianghu.
Unless it was the Mount Hua Divine Sword who defeated the White Snake God, he was a strong person of a different class for other Taoists of the Mount Hua Sect to defeat.
But.

“I heard he was defeated by a single person.”

Shocking words followed.

“B-By one person?”
“Exactly who…”

When everyone found it hard to believe, mouths opened in succession.

“It was the Plum Blossom Sword Hero.”
“Plum Blossom Sword Hero!”
“Plum Blossom Sword Hero…”

Around the time the nickname Plum Blossom Sword Hero went up and down the mouths of many in the Jianghu.

“I-It is finished now.”

Gwak Cheol-ho, a long-time resident who had been running a clinic for a long time in Sanyang, Shaanxi, swallowed his saliva after finishing his words to the giant man whose right eye and entire body were tightly wrapped in bandages.
He was by no means an ordinary person.
Now that the treatment was finished, the wounds couldn’t be seen, but he was miserable when he first came here.
His right eye had a gaping hole, and pieces of iron were embedded in his entire body.
It was a severe injury that an ordinary person would faint while screaming instead of moving.
However, he calmly entered the clinic and entrusted his treatment to him.

‘Perhaps people like this are called masters in the Martial World.’

Gwak Cheol-ho muttered inwardly, recalling the time of treatment.
Muscles trained so hard that needles could hardly enter, and the violently raging qi.
They were things he had felt for the first time in his long life.
It was then.

“…It stings.”

With those words, the man opened his one eye.

‘Gasp!’

Gwak Cheol-ho instantly shrank his neck.

‘To think such deep green eyes existed.’

When Gwak Cheol-ho trembled at the eerie glint, the man slowly stood up from where he was sitting.
Soon, the man, roughly wearing a tattered martial arts uniform, tried to leave the clinic just like that.

“The, the treatment fee…”

Gwak Cheol-ho opened his mouth without realizing it.
Gwak Cheol-ho’s face turned pale as he belatedly realized his mistake.

“Treatment fee, you say.”

The stopped man stared fixedly at Gwak Cheol-ho.
It was when the eyes of Gwak Cheol-ho, facing the cold green eyes, were being terrified.

“I had forgotten for a moment.”

The man said in a low voice.
At that, Gwak Cheol-ho’s expression brightened.

“Haha, that’s right… Keuk!”

At the moment he was relieved, the man grabbed Gwak Cheol-ho’s neck.
And soon.

Crack!

With his neck bone broken, Gwak Cheol-ho died on the spot.
The man, the Green Forest Great Emperor, stuck out his tongue and tossed the dead corpse as if it were annoying.
The moment he was about to turn around.

Throb-

At the intense pain that suddenly surged, he raised his hand and stroked his right eye.
However, only bandages could be felt.

“I lost many things because of that bastard.”

His face, whispering as if chewing, began to distort like an evil spirit.
It was a great plan that was fully prepared.
However, everything was ruined because of just one person.
And he was overwhelmed in martial prowess.

“I should crouch down for a while.”

Murderous intent dripped from the now single green eye of the Green Forest Great Emperor.
Freezing cold.

“Until I raise the skills to kill that bastard…”

The Green Forest Great Emperor muttered and left the clinic.
Soon, he walked slowly into the mountains where the sun was beginning to faintly rise.
Looking like a wounded beast.

* * *

Three days had passed since Hyeon-do, Hyeon-jin, and the first-generation disciples returned to Mount Hua.
During that time, Mount Hua, which had been a mess, gradually regained its old appearance.
The martial artists of the Beggars’ Sect and the Martial Alliance branch.
In addition, the help of those from the secular sects and Soheung Fortress was also great.
But the biggest reason was something else.
It was because Cheon-hwi scanned all directions with piercing eyes and fiercely approached and constantly nagged anyone who rested even a little.

“Hey, what are you doing? Your hands are idle?”

The Lord of Soheung Fortress felt a surge of anger for a moment, but at his following words, he shook his head and quickly moved his hands.

“Do you want to do that too?”

His gaze stealthily moved and headed toward those filling the ground. They were the first-generation disciples including Cheon Yu.
They looked half dead.
It was a natural thing.
Heavy iron rings were fastened to their hands and feet. Moreover, the poison of the Dark Fragrance Pill that occasionally rose tormented them.
When Cheon-hwi was keeping an eye on the surroundings like that.

“Big Brother!”

Jong-hyeon ran over from a distance.
At the moment Jong-hyeon was about to speed up to dig into Cheon-hwi’s arms.

“Don’t run too much.”

The Flying Swallow Sword Lord Ha Woo-jin blocked Jong-hyeon, who was running out, and grabbed his shoulder.
Then he approached Cheon-hwi.

“I’m sorry for being late.”

At the apology that came before a greeting, Cheon-hwi shrugged.

“That’s not something to say to me.”

Ha Woo-jin nodded.
Whether it was an apology or comfort, it was something to say to the Sect Leader of the Mount Hua Sect, not Cheon-hwi.

“However, there are few people.”

When Cheon-hwi spoke as if scolding at the sight of only Ha Woo-jin and Jong-hyeon,

“…Something happened in our sect, so only Jong-hyeon and I could come out.”

Ha Woo-jin smiled bitterly and said.

“Something?”

Cheon-hwi asked as if curious.
At that, Ha Woo-jin shook his head side to side, showing his will not to tell.

I guess it’s a circumstance he can’t speak of.
When Cheon-hwi thought of it as no big deal.

“I heard Big Brother defeated the Green Forest Great Emperor?!”

Jong-hyeon asked with sparkling eyes.

“Well, yes.”
“As expected of Big Brother!”

Jong-hyeon brought his hands together and jumped up.

“If it’s the Green Forest Great Emperor, he is a person with high reputation in the current Jianghu…”

Ha Woo-jin also said with admiration.

“…You’re amazing.”

In fact, when he heard the rumor that Cheon-hwi defeated the Green Forest Great Emperor, Ha Woo-jin had naturally accepted it.
He roughly knew what level Cheon-hwi’s martial prowess had reached, didn’t he?
At that time, the first-generation disciples including Cheon Yu flocked over.

“We greet the Flying Swallow Sword Lord Great Hero.”

When Cheon Yu politely took a fist-and-palm salute and greeted him, Ha Woo-jin looked at him with surprised eyes.

“It’s been a long time.”
“You remembered.”

Cheon Yu scratched his head awkwardly.

“Haha, how could I not remember the grand disciple of the Mount Hua Sect.”

Ha Woo-jin answered with a smile, then scanned Cheon Yu and said with a worried face.

“By the way, your complexion doesn’t look good. Did you get injured in the Green Forest’s attack?”

Cheon Yu smiled awkwardly.

“That’s not it.”
“Then why…”

At that time, Cheon-hwi interjected.

“It’s training. Training.”
“Training…?”

Cheon-hwi, who was looking at Ha Woo-jin asking in puzzlement, unfastened the iron ring he was wearing on his wrist with a face that said it was annoying to explain and lightly tossed it.

“Hmm?”

The moment Ha Woo-jin widened his eyes and received the iron ring, his hand fell downward.

“…This is!”
“It’s because of that. I told him to keep wearing that and walk around.”
“Hmm.”

Ha Woo-jin let out a groan.
The weight was considerable.
Because it looked to be about thirty geun.

‘It will certainly be tiring to wear this and live. However…’

Ha Woo-jin asked Cheon-hwi.

“…Does this become training?”
“Can’t you tell just by looking?”

Cheon-hwi answered while looking at Cheon Yu.
At that, Ha Woo-jin could immediately understand.
Compared to the past, Cheon Yu’s body had become more sturdy, and although he looked tired, on the other hand, he looked full of vitality.

“Hmm, I did hear that physical training is also important, but this kind of method…”

Ha Woo-jin muttered while stroking the iron ring.
A short while after that.

“Take it back.”

He returned the iron ring again.
Cheon-hwi lightly received the iron ring and put it on his left wrist.

‘I tried wearing it to train my external arts a bit, but it’s too light. Should I ask to change it to a heavier one?’

Around the time Cheon-hwi had such a thought.

“I’ll go see the Sect Leader.”

Ha Woo-jin turned around with his words.
He wanted to continue talking with Cheon-hwi here, but he clearly had a purpose for coming.

“Please do.”

When Ha Woo-jin moved his steps after hearing Cheon-hwi’s answer, Jong-hyeon waved his hand and chased after him.

“Big Brother! See you later!”

Meanwhile, Hyeon-sang, Hyeon-do, and Hyeon-jin were looking down at Mount Hua through the window of the Purple Mist Pavilion.

“…It has changed a lot.”

Hyeon-do said with a complex expression.
While he was staying at the Martial Alliance, the Mount Hua Sect was attempting many changes.
The creation of three martial squads.
The sight of Hyeon-cheong leading the third-generation disciples.
Everything felt foreign.

“We are moving forward.”

Hyeon-sang said quietly from the side.
And together with that, he patted the shoulder of Hyeon-jin, who was similarly feeling unfamiliar, and continued his words.

“And isn’t it thanks to you guys that our sect has achieved such development?”
“No.”
“What could we have done.”

Hyeon-do and Hyeon-jin shook their heads.

“Ahem! Don’t say such things!”

Toward the two speaking in a bitter tone, Hyeon-sang put strength in his eyes and said.

“If it weren’t for you guys, the current Mount Hua Sect wouldn’t exist. Do you know how much strength Hyeon-do’s reputation gave us?”

Only then did Hyeon-do’s expression relax a little.
Seeing that, Hyeon-sang smiled softly and this time met eyes with Hyeon-jin and continued his words.

“And Hyeon-jin, the words ‘thank you’ are not enough for you. When Mount Hua was walking the path of decline, if you hadn’t been active in the Martial Alliance, let alone the current Mount Hua Sect, there would have been nothing.”
“Sect Leader Sahyung…”

At those words, Hyeon-jin couldn’t suppress his overwhelming emotions.
Although he hadn’t spoken of it until now, staying in the Martial Alliance was incredibly painful.
The contempt pouring from everywhere.
On top of that, he would sometimes suffer from nightmares at the reality that seemed to be plunging downward.
Hyeon-sang signaled Hyeon-do with his eyes at such a sight of Hyeon-jin.
Hyeon-do also seemed surprised to see Hyeon-jin’s weak appearance, but soon smiled a little.
Soon, the two patted Hyeon-jin’s back.

“Now, look. Thanks to you, the Mount Hua Sect has grown like this now.”
“You worked hard.”

At the words of the two, Hyeon-jin gathered his mind and smiled.
Having dusted off all sorts of emotions after a long time.
A beautiful smile.
When the three were looking down at the Mount Hua Sect like that.

“…Those martial arts uniforms are?”

Hyeon-do discovered a series of groups coming up the mountain gate and slightly widened his eyes in surprise.

“Are they people you know?”

Hyeon-do nodded and answered with a bewildered face.

“They are the Chivalric Escort Unit of the Martial Alliance.”