Chapter 52: Chapter 52
Eleven days later.
The party, who arrived at the Mount Hua Sect’s mountain gate faster than when they departed, had their mouths drop open at the spectacular sight unfolding before their eyes.
“What is this…….”
“Am I dreaming right now?”
The party rubbed their eyes.
The narrow and rugged mountain path, which no one climbed except for herb gatherers, was lined with a long procession of people.
“What kind of people…….”
“Why is there such a procession at the mountain gate of our sect?”
The disciples of the Mount Hua Sect, who witnessed such a situation for the first time, pinched their cheeks with blank faces, not knowing if it was a dream or reality.
“Ouch!”
“I-it’s not a dream.”
“I-it seems the rumor that the Elder defeated the White Snake God has spread to this vicinity.”
Jeok-geom, who came to his senses first, let out a voice full of excitement.
“Heo-heo. As expected!”
“I thought that would be the case.”
Everyone unconsciously nodded their heads.
Jeok-geom brought it up first, but everyone vaguely felt it.
During the journey back to the Mount Hua Sect, hadn’t the eyes and attitudes of the people, especially martial artists, looking at them been completely different from before?
“It is all thanks to the help of the Elder and the Primordial Heavenly Lord.”
“Immeasurable Life Buddha.”
Seeing the procession climbing up the rugged mountain path, the party couldn’t hide their pride.
In particular, Hyeon-do and Hyeon-ryeo were drenched in extraordinary emotion.
“It has been a long time since I saw this.”
“It really has been a long time.”
As if the emotions they had suppressed until now overwhelmed them, their gazes were fixed on those standing in line and didn’t move.
It was a sight they saw every day before the Mount Hua Sect’s reputation plummeted in the past.
And it was also a sight they thought they might never see again.
“I didn’t know this day would come again.”
“I didn’t know I would get to see this scenery again in my lifetime.”
Hyeon-ryeo’s pupils moved rapidly.
“At this rate, we will recover our finances.”
Her eyes, looking at those standing in line and the offerings, were sparkling like stars.
Around the time the party was drenched in extraordinary emotion.
‘It’s a scenery I haven’t seen in five years.’
Cheon-hwi also looked at the procession with wonder.
It was an unfamiliar sight that he hadn’t seen while staying at the Mount Hua Sect.
Until now, even if there were visitors, it was like beans sprouting in a drought, and most of them didn’t even come once every two days.
Even if they did come, didn’t most of them make offerings the size of rat droppings?
But to see a sight where people were visiting to make offerings in a rush.
It almost felt awkward.
‘Is reputation important after all?’
It was then.
“T-those people are…….”
“T-they are the Daoists of the Mount Hua Sect!”
“Really?!”
“W-where are they? I-I also…….”
Suddenly, a commotion started to rise.
At someone’s shout, those standing in line all turned their heads at once, and soon their faces were dyed with surprise.
“They aren’t the Mount Hua Sect for nothing. Look at that vigorous spirit and noble elegance.”
“Despite climbing such a rugged mountain path, not a single breath is disturbed; they are practically immortals.”
“To think that even those young Daoists exude such a reverent and warm aura. The Mount Hua Sect’s reputation will rise greatly.”
A feast of embarrassing compliments.
Their voices were not low.
Rather, it felt slightly loud, as if they wanted the Mount Hua Sect party to hear.
Peeking back, the corners of the disciples’ mouths who were following them were twitching.
‘To be happy over blatant compliments.’
When Cheon-hwi was about to look forward again.
“That person is the great hero, the Mount Hua Divine Sword…….”
“As rumored, what a scary- a-no. What a solemn appearance.”
Cheon-hwi, who heard the moniker ‘Mount Hua Divine Sword’, turned his head and stared at Hyeon-do.
“What is it?”
“You have become quite famous.”
“Keu-heum.”
Just as Hyeon-do let out a dry cough, perhaps feeling embarrassed by his current situation.
“Immeasurable Life Buddha. We greet the immortals.”
Greetings were heard from here and there.
Hyeon-do and Hyeon-ryeo did not ignore their greetings and politely cupped their fists in salute.
“Immeasurable Life Buddha. Thank you for following the long path to visit our sect.”
“We are sorry for keeping you waiting.”
“N-no!”
“There is no need for you to bow your heads…….”
Those standing in line waved their hands in denial.
Right now, the reputation of the Mount Hua Sect was soaring sky-high day by day.
But the center of that reputation, the Mount Hua Divine Sword, was thankful for their visit, and a female Daoist who seemed to be of the same generation was also bowing her head?
To mere merchants?
It was a sight hard to believe even while seeing it.
‘They are different from the Zhongnan Sect, who only demanded tributes and chased us away under the guise of being Daoists.’
‘They are different from other sects.’
At that moment, the atmosphere softened.
“Hahaha. This much is nothing.”
“Indeed, isn’t there an order to things?”
Hyeon-do and Hyeon-ryeo smiled.
Their smiles were as soft as clouds floating in the sky.
‘They seem quite like true Daoists?’
Cheon-hwi gazed at the two.
It was completely different from their usual foolish appearance.
After exchanging greetings and climbing up for a while.
“We have arrived.”
The party was able to arrive at the mountain gate.
‘It’s been a while.’
Cheon-hwi stared intently at the unchanged mountain gate before going inside.
It was a return that took place only after about sixty days since he emerged into the Jianghu.
* * *
The Sect Leader looked at the long procession visible outside the window of the Purple Mist Pavilion.
“……A long-cherished wish has come true.”
In an instant, his expression softened.
Who could have expected it?
That the fallen reputation and prestige of the Mount Hua Sect would rebound like this.
It was hard to believe just a few days ago. But now it had become reality.
Heo-heo. The reason that could happen was…….
Clack…
“Sect Leader martial brother!”
His thoughts were cut off.
Nevertheless, a wider smile lingered on the corners of his mouth.
“You have come.”
The Sect Leader looked at Hyeon-do and Cheon-hwi, who appeared after opening the door of the Purple Mist Pavilion.
It was all thanks to those two.
“We finally did it!”
The Sect Leader smiled softly as he looked at Hyeon-do, who shouted as if the sky would fall.
“Heo-heo-heo, I know. Calm down and take a seat first. More than anything, shouldn’t I hear the proper situation from you?”
Hyeon-do took a seat, and following him, Cheon-hwi also sat in the seat next to him.
“Then I want to hear the detailed progress from the beginning to see what happened.”
Cheon-hwi, who was looking at the Sect Leader’s gaze, squinted his eyes and pointed at himself with his index finger.
“Do I speak first?”
At the Sect Leader’s nodding gesture, Cheon-hwi sighed, calmly recalled the journey so far, and opened his mouth.
“I don’t need to explain the journey there, right?”
“If there wasn’t anything important, it doesn’t matter.”
“Then I’ll skip it.”
Cheon-hwi spoke with an expression that said it was a relief.
“So when we arrived at the Flying Wind Merchant Guild, we were already attacked and caught in a fire…….”
The report continued.
The incident of the Flying Wind Merchant Guild being attacked.
Destroying the Supreme King Sect, and that the White Ghost Castle existed behind them, and even defeating the Soul Slaying Squad.
“And a few days later, Martial Uncle Hyeon-do came and…….”
“I will tell the story from then on.”
While stumbling to recall his memories and continuing the story, Hyeon-do cut in.
“Then that’s good for me.”
Cheon-hwi, who already found it annoying to talk, immediately passed it over, thinking, ‘That’s right’.
“When I arrived at the Flying Wind Merchant Guild, I met the Flying Swallow Sword Lord at the entrance.”
The Sect Leader’s eyes half-opened.
“So you met him then.”
“That’s right. While being together with the Flying Swallow Sword Lord…….”
Hyeon-do started to tell the story of what happened during that time with an excited face.
‘It’s going to take a while?’
When Cheon-hwi saw signs that Hyeon-do’s story would drag on, he leaned his body against the backrest and drank the tea prepared by the Sect Leader.
Around the time he sipped the tea a few times like that.
“Was it Cheon-hwi?!”
Hearing his own name mixed in the startled voice, he turned his head and saw the Sect Leader looking at him with a serious face.
“Was it you who suggested ambushing the White Ghost Castle first?”
‘What, making a fuss over that?’
Cheon-hwi answered nonchalantly.
“Yes, though.”
The area around the Sect Leader’s eyes twitched.
“Why did you do such a thing?”
“They kept picking fights with us.”
“W-was it just because of that?”
“And they are enemies. Since we couldn’t just leave them be forever, we did it while we were at it.”
The Sect Leader lost his words.
“Even so, to try and ambush the White Ghost Castle…….”
“The timing was just right too. They were off their guard anyway, so it was good.”
“But that is……. Haa. No.”
At Cheon-hwi’s nonchalant words, the Sect Leader pressed his forehead and shook his head side to side.
“I will let it go this time. But never do that from now on. I am worried in case something goes wrong with you.”
“Well, depending on the situation.”
With those words, Cheon-hwi sipped his tea.
At that attitude, the Sect Leader’s head throbbed, but he couldn’t say anything.
‘Given Cheon-hwi’s personality, it’s obvious he will do as he pleases so…….’
“Haa…….”
A deep sigh flowed out from his Dantian.
‘Why has he changed like this.’
Was it a rebellion against his past sickly days, he had become insolent since he learned martial arts.
As if he had become a different person.
“If that’s the case, contrary to the rumors spread in the world, the attack on the White Ghost Castle was not done by Hyeon-do and the Flying Swallow Sword Lord alone, but the three of you did it together.”
“Yes.”
The Sect Leader closed his eyes for a moment.
Tapping the table with his index finger, wondering about something, he nodded his head and softly asked towards Hyeon-do.
“What did you do after that?”
“First, to obtain information about the White Ghost Castle, we met a Future Beggar of the Beggars’ Sect.”
“A Future Beggar of the Beggars’ Sect……?”
The Sect Leader’s eyes flashed as an unexpected person appeared.
“Which Future Beggar are you talking about?”
“I don’t know about now, but at the time, I heard he was the Ninth.”
“The Ninth, huh…….”
The Sect Leader shook his head.
There were a total of twenty Future Beggars in the Beggars’ Sect.
He didn’t remember them one by one.
“I cut off the words pointlessly. Continue talking.”
As Hyeon-do continued his explanation, Cheon-hwi tried to pour tea into his teacup.
‘It’s already empty?’
Frowning, Cheon-hwi put down the teacup and stared blankly at the two who were chatting.
‘When will it end.’
Their conversation was very monotonous.
For the most part, Hyeon-do spoke, and the Sect Leader agreed a few times or asked about what he was curious about.
As he listened with one ear while letting it out the other, before he knew it, their conversation was gradually ripening.
“Then…….”
The Sect Leader’s eyes half-opened.
He looked at Hyeon-do, who was smiling beamingly, and then shifted his gaze to Cheon-hwi.
“How did the White Snake God fall?”
“Cheon-hwi knows that better than me.”
“……!”
“Cheon-hwi defeated that person.”
The arrow of the conversation turned to Cheon-hwi.
Cheon-hwi made eye contact with the Sect Leader, who was looking at him with a stiff face, and nodded his head.
“He just died, though.”
“Heo-eo…….”
The Sect Leader could not hide his astonishment at Cheon-hwi’s affirmation.
When he heard the rumor that the White Snake God had been defeated, he had thought that the three of them had attacked together.
But it wasn’t.
Cheon-hwi had defeated him alone.
‘It’s surprising. Surprising. I thought Cheon-hwi’s skills were extraordinary, but to think he would defeat the White Snake God alone.’
He couldn’t hide his admiration.
He was only at the age of twenty.
But not only had he reached the Heavenly Martial Realm, he even defeated the White Snake God, one of the absolute masters dominating the Jianghu.
It felt like looking at those called the Heaven Beyond Heaven.
‘No, even they at the age of twenty…….’
In an instant, his admiration turned into worry.
The appearance of an exceptionally strong person like Cheon-hwi in the currently peaceful Jianghu could become a person of caution for the Nine Provinces Three Hegemony Factions.
Just like his youngest martial brother, Hyeon-gang.
“So that’s why Junior Brother erased the information about Cheon-hwi.”
“That’s right. When passing it to the Future Beggar of the Beggars’ Sect, I changed the information. A lie is a great sin, but for Cheon-hwi’s sake…….”
“You did well.”
The Sect Leader praised Hyeon-do, who trailed off fearing he might be reprimanded.
“As you thought, we must hide the current Cheon-hwi as much as possible. Even if he gets found out later, we must delay that time as much as possible.”
The Sect Leader slyly looked at Cheon-hwi.
Even though they were talking about his story, Cheon-hwi was leisurely and free.
As if he wasn’t interested.
Did they say an awl in a pocket?
Cheon-hwi was too outstanding, so his true worth was bound to be revealed someday.
But would he give up just because of that!
He couldn’t protect his youngest martial brother.
But he couldn’t protect his disciple, Cheon-hwi, too?
That was something that shouldn’t happen.
‘Unconditionally!’
The Sect Leader’s eyes deepened.
Then, as if he was conscious of Cheon-hwi, the Sect Leader carefully spoke to him.
“But I am truly sorry to you. The opportunity to gain great fame…….”
“No. I don’t really care. It’s not like that kind of petty fame feeds me.”
Cheon-hwi, who was looking at the Sect Leader talking to him out of nowhere, spoke casually.
No, it really didn’t matter to him.
‘What to do with just that level of fame.’
To him, who had made a name for himself not only in the Jianghu of the past but also in the Nine Provinces and Eight Wilds, this level of fame was nothing to sneeze at.
However, thinking that Cheon-hwi’s nonchalant words and attitude were an attempt to hide his emotions, the Sect Leader smiled bitterly and said,
“I am truly sorry.”
At that time, Hyeon-do suddenly stuck his face out toward the Sect Leader and trembled his lips.
“More importantly, Senior Brother, finally, finally…… we have achieved vengeance for youngest Junior Brother.”
Hearing Hyeon-do’s voice filled with deep emotion, the Sect Leader closed his eyes softly.
“Yes.”
Because he was also in the position of Sect Leader, he was acting nonchalantly, but his emotions had been surging since the rumors were heard.
Even now.
“……You did it.”
The Sect Leader spoke while suppressing the emotions that seemed like they would burst out like a waterfall.
He felt like cheering right away, but he had to save his face.
Soon, he controlled his emotions and said,
“You really…… worked hard.”
It was a short word.
But for Hyeon-do, it was enough.
Because he knew what the Sect Leader had thought in that short moment.
“Hahaha. What hardship is there. It’s all thanks to our Cheon-hwi.”
Hyeon-do, who spoke while laughing heartily, looked at Cheon-hwi with a proud expression.
As he said, it was thanks to Cheon-hwi.
It was Cheon-hwi who suggested attacking the White Ghost Castle first, and it was also Cheon-hwi who defeated the White Snake God.
If it weren’t for Cheon-hwi, they would never have been able to get revenge.
“Heo-heo-heo. Our youngest Junior Brother left a precious treasure in our sect before he left.”
Cheon-hwi looked at the two old men, who he couldn’t tell whether they were crying or laughing, for a while before moving his lips.
“Then it seems all the stories to tell are finished now, so can I go now?”
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