Chapter 85
“Hmm.”
As Mu Hwi, who had been entranced by the sunset over the Yangtze River, stepped away from the railing, Zhuge Myung quietly approached him.
Zhuge Myung was carrying a wine bottle and a wine cup in each hand. He seemed to have drunk quite a bit, as the smell of alcohol wafted over with every movement.
“Disciple Mu Hwi. Thank you for accepting the role of chairman.”
Zhuge Myung handed the wine cup to Mu Hwi, but Mu Hwi took the wine bottle from Zhuge Myung’s other hand instead.
Mu Hwi tilted the bottle and filled his mouth with wine.
“Ah.”
Feeling the burn in his throat, Mu Hwi slightly grimaced and then spoke.
“It seems like you set up the stage well for me to accept the role of chairman.”
As Mu Hwi narrowed his eyes, Zhuge Myung smiled.
“I knew you’d figure it out.”
Zhuge Myung brought the wine cup he had offered to Mu Hwi to his own lips and then pulled out an iron fan from his sleeve.
The coolness of the iron fan seemed to dispel Zhuge Myung’s drunkenness.
“It’s not entirely accurate to say I set it up. Most of it was your doing.”
“What do you mean?”
“Originally, I planned to have three of the Six Dragons as chairmen.”
Cloud River Sword Dragon flatly refused Zhuge Myung’s proposal. Instead, he mentioned Mu Hwi, and even Jeun Bi-ryeong, who had little interest in the role, recommended Mu Hwi after hearing Cloud River Sword Dragon’s words.
Though they hadn’t met yet, Jeun Bi-ryeong admired Mu Hwi for single-handedly defeating the Jeonjin mysterious swordsman, which even the Wudang Sect had failed to capture.
Moreover, hearing about Mu Hwi from the Hwasan Sect disciples and the Martial Alliance further deepened Jeun Bi-ryeong’s favor towards him.
“Additionally, Namgung and other late-stage foundation level disciples at the gathering also recommended you. They said they saw your worth at the Righteous Path Grand Assembly.”
“Hmm.”
Later, when they met Xian Zhu of Golden River Sword and Woo Tae-gang, the disciple of the Iron Mountain Fist King, they felt the same.
This made Peng Ho-yeon and Zhuge Myung curious.
What kind of person was this Mu Hwi, whom all the orthodox sect’s late-stage foundation level disciples spoke of?
“It was unexpected that Peng Ho-yeon, who was eager to spar with you, didn’t do anything and instead recommended you as chairman.”
Mu Hwi merely raised the corner of his mouth.
He had noticed the subdued fighting spirit and competitive drive in Peng Ho-yeon’s eyes the moment they met.
Nevertheless, Mu Hwi appreciated Peng Ho-yeon’s quick judgment and appropriate actions.
“We’ll make sure the Small Righteous Assembly doesn’t bother you. Mujin also subtly warned us. He said that if you decide to do something, you’ll do it, and if we change our words later, it’ll be a big problem.”
Realizing that Mujin had been subtly working behind the scenes, Mu Hwi smiled.
“Anyway, do well. I don’t want to have to personally dismantle the Small Righteous Assembly.”
“Of course. With like-minded people gathered like this, we must ensure it doesn’t go to waste.”
The first meeting of the Small Righteous Assembly continued late into the night.
***
Mu Hwi was reading a letter from someone when Mu-hwa came bouncing in. Mu Hwi folded the letter and put it in his pocket.
“Senior Disciple. Aren’t you going out today? The other disciples want to explore the Martial Alliance.”
“I’ll stay quiet today.”
“Then we’ll go by ourselves.”
As Mu Hwi nodded, Mu-hwa and the other disciples left the hall.
Thanks to the Hwasan Sect arriving at the Martial Alliance with time to spare, there were still a few days left before the official opening ceremony.
The sects that arrived first were meeting among themselves to build camaraderie.
Moreover, the Martial Alliance’s main base had everything, so there was no need to go outside the walls.
Thus, people were either visiting the gardens and pavilions within the Martial Alliance or going to inns and taverns, naturally building connections.
The disciples were also sticking together, enjoying sightseeing around the Martial Alliance and meeting other martial artists.
Of course, since training was their top priority, Mu Hwi didn’t try to stop them.
“Senior Disciple, aren’t you going sightseeing?”
Mu-cheol, who had just finished training, had his upper body bare, with heat rising from his muscles.
His rugged, angular muscles, as if carved roughly into a massive rock, showed that his external skills were improving daily.
Combined with his Iron Plum Sword Technique, Mu-cheol has been shining even more lately.
“Never mind. What’s so interesting?”
“Senior Disciple. After washing up, I plan to visit the Namgung Family’s hall.”
Mu-cheol had been sparring with Namgung Gak almost every day.
Since the Namgung Family’s residence housed not only Namgung Gak but also many other martial artists skilled in heavy swords, Mu-cheol’s visits never ceased.
“Do as you please.”
With Mu-cheol also leaving, the hall where the second-generation disciples stayed became quiet, leaving only Mu Hwi.
The sound of birds chirping reached Mu Hwi’s ears.
‘It’s been a while since I felt like this.’
In his past life, most of his life was like this, but in this life, it was always bustling around him.
Mu Hwi, feeling leisurely for the first time in a while, slowly closed his eyes.
He had memorized every word of the Taixu Wuling Xinfa Technique.
The Taixu Wuling Xinfa Technique.
The flow of internal energy was excellent in both concentration and dispersion, making the circulation of energy extremely natural.
The open-ended principles, which placed no restrictions on the use of internal energy, were similar to the Purple Sunset Heart Method but distinctly different.
Additionally, the speed of energy accumulation was not inferior to any unorthodox sect’s techniques, making it feel like no matter how much internal energy was drawn from the dantian, it would quickly replenish.
‘Especially the quality of the internal energy is astonishing.’
The internal energy of the Taixu Wuling Xinfa Technique seemed to carry a spiritual quality, akin to spiritual energy, beyond mere purity.
This spiritual energy made the internal energy’s purity akin to natural energy, imbuing it with the power to dispel evil and manifest righteousness.
‘How could a sect with such martial arts be destroyed?’
The Taixu Wuling Xinfa Technique was a martial art with no flaws.
Mu Hwi was dissecting the principles of the Taixu Wuling Xinfa Technique one by one, studying their meanings and hidden insights.
‘Taixu is an immeasurably vast space, the void. It is the principle that forms all things in heaven and earth, seemingly empty yet fully filled.’
If Purple Sunset is ink, then Taixu is paper.
Could he use the endless expanse of Taixu as paper to color with Purple Sunset as ink?
Both Taixu and Purple Sunset are boundless.
‘There’s no need to forcibly insert something new like Purple Sunset into what is already filled. Or is it new? After all, Six Harmonies and Taixu are ultimately…’
A vague, indistinct thought and insight tickled Mu Hwi’s mind.
The feeling of being on the verge of grasping something, only for enlightenment to slip away.
As Mu Hwi meditated, immersed in the Taixu Wuling Xinfa Technique, his eyes half-opened.
Shortly after, a maid managing the hall cautiously entered and bowed.
“Master. A guest has arrived.”
“A guest? Who is it now?”
Mu Hwi was enjoying almost the highest popularity among the late-stage foundation level disciples gathered at the Martial Alliance.
Even after the Small Righteous Assembly meeting, three of the Six Dragons had come to visit, and Xian Zhu and Woo Tae-gang also frequently visited to spar.
“They said they’re from the Peach Blossom Mountain Villa.”
“Peach Blossom? Peach Blossom Mountain Villa…”
Frowning, Mu Hwi pondered for a moment before nodding.
“Let them in.”
After Mu Hwi’s permission, a group of people soon appeared.
Men in various attire filed in, and Mu Hwi leaned forward as he watched them.
“What’s this?”
Over fifteen men entered, encircling Mu Hwi, and finally, a woman walked in gracefully.
Her half-closed eyes displayed a soft arc like a crescent moon, and within her luxurious eyelashes, a strange charm flowed.
Her high nose and fruit-like lips harmonized with her eye shape.
Beneath her splendid red attire, her voluptuous figure was revealed, making her overall appearance like that of a flower and the moon.
“I am Hwa Yu-in of the Peach Blossom Mountain Villa.”
Every gesture, expression, and word from Hwa Yu-in elicited reactions from the men around her, their faces reddening.
‘Sigh.’
Rather than admiring Hwa Yu-in’s beauty, Mu Hwi was holding back laughter at the pitiful behavior of the men around her.
Hwa Yu-in, more accustomed to men’s gazes than anyone, immediately noticed Mu Hwi’s indifferent look and slightly raised an eyebrow.
“I’ve heard much about the Hwasan Sword Devil. It puts the false reputation of the so-called most beautiful girl in Hubei to shame.”
Hwa Yu-in covered her mouth and let out a light laugh.
Though she seemed to be praising Mu Hwi, her underlying intention was to flaunt herself.
Seeing through this, Mu Hwi smirked and finally looked directly at Hwa Yu-in.
“Miss Hwa. What brings you here?”
“At the YongDong Meeting held at the end of the opening ceremony, would you be my partner, Disciple Mu Hwi?”
Hwa Yu-in tilted her head slightly, blinking her eyes and looking at Mu Hwi pitifully.
Any other late-stage master would have agreed without thinking, but unfortunately, Mu Hwi was not one of them.
Mu Hwi shook his head with the same cold expression as before.
“No.”
“Huh?”
As Mu Hwi firmly refused, Hwa Yu-in widened her eyes in surprise and blinked rapidly.
At Mu Hwi’s dismissive attitude, the gazes of the men who had come with Hwa Yu-in changed.
Glaring was the least of it; some even looked ready to draw their swords, their expressions turning fierce. Others clumsily exuded killing intent.
What was more amusing was that Hwa Yu-in noticed the men’s changes but pretended not to, maintaining an innocent expression.
As if she had wanted this all along.
After watching this for a moment, Mu Hwi twisted the corner of his mouth.
“They say in the martial arts world to be wary of women, and it seems they’re not wrong. Isn’t that so?”
“Huh? What are you talking about…”
As Hwa Yu-in looked puzzled, the man right next to her collapsed with his eyes rolling back.
“Ugh.”
“What’s…”
Some clutched their throats as if suffocating, while others, their legs giving out, collapsed to the ground, trembling.
Though their appearances varied, none remained standing.
“You worms, have you lost your senses over a woman? Or are you feeling safe because we’re inside the Martial Alliance’s main base?”
The oppressive aura Mu Hwi exuded.
Though he had only slightly mixed in killing intent, the late-stage foundation level disciples were suffering as if on the verge of death.
Hwa Yu-in was unaffected, but that only made her more terrified as she looked at Mu Hwi.
Mu Hwi leaned forward, closing the distance to Hwa Yu-in. Hwa Yu-in, who had been trembling, flinched.
“YongDong Banquet, my foot. I know you approached me because of the succession competition in the Cheonryu Merchant Group.”
At the mention of the Cheonryu Merchant Group, Hwa Yu-in tried to get up quickly, but for some reason, she couldn’t move.
“Cheonryu Merchant Group… I had almost forgotten about it.”
The letter Mu Hwi had been reading before Hwa Yu-in arrived was from Im Su-ryeon, the third daughter of the Cheonryu Merchant Group.
Im Su-ryeon had written in the letter to be cautious, and coincidentally, Hwa Yu-in had arrived right after.
Mu Hwi gently stroked Hwa Yu-in’s peach-like cheek.
“Ah!”
A red line was drawn on Hwa Yu-in’s cheek.
“My face… Ah! What are you doing!”
Hwa Yu-in, who had been putting on a pitiful and delicate expression, now glared at Mu Hwi with a venomous look.
“You! Do you know who my future husband is?”
“Shut up.”
Slap!
Mu Hwi slapped Hwa Yu-in’s cheek and then flexed his fingers.
“Do I need to draw a thicker line on your cheek to make you come to your senses?”
At Mu Hwi’s muttering, Hwa Yu-in, her face pale, suddenly bowed her head as if in a deep bow.
“Disciple! Please forgive me! It was my father’s order, I had no choice…”
“Fine. I understand. You had no choice.”
At Mu Hwi’s soft voice, Hwa Yu-in quickly raised her head.
But Mu Hwi’s sharp, purple-tinged gaze made her heart race.
“If something like this happens again, I’ll have no choice but to head to the Peach Blossom Mountain Villa. What happens after that, I don’t know.
Hwa Yu-in felt as if her heart was beating so fast it might burst.
The man before her, known as the Hwasan Sword Devil, now seemed to her only as the Devil, the two words swirling in her mind.
***
When Hwa Yu-in and her group fled, it wasn’t long before Im Su-ryeon arrived.
IIm Su-ryeon exuded the same cold and elegant charm as when they had first met.
“I ran into Hwa Yu-in on the way here. She was covering her face…”
“I gave her a bit of a lesson for relying too much on her looks.”
Hearing that he had deliberately scarred a woman’s face, even Im Su-ryeon was slightly taken aback.
“You’re really decisive, Disciple.”
“So, what brings you here? Coming all this way.”
At Mu Hwi’s question, Im Su-ryeon nodded and continued.
“I heard you’re participating in the Heavenly Martial Competition.”
“That’s right.”
“It seems likely that you’ll clash with the martial artist my Disciple is sponsoring.”
Im Su-ryeon spoke with a serious expression, but Mu Hwi looked at her indifferently.
“Is that why you came all the way here?”
At Mu Hwi’s unexpected reaction, Im Su-ryeon blinked rapidly and pursed her lips.
“Yes.”
Im Su-ryeon’s voice was slightly softer than before.
< Do I need to draw a thicker line on your cheek to make you come to your senses? > End
< The Martial Alliance Leader, Jianghu Bai. >
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