Hwasan Sect’s Genius Swordsman Chapter 20

Chapter 20

The Seonhwa Sect disciples were patrolling the merchant streets, checking on the welfare of civilians.

“Old Wang, how’s business these days?”

“Haha, it’s going well thanks to you. I have no worries now that you personally drove away those evil sect bastards recently.”

“That’s good to hear.”

“You must be hungry from patrolling. Have one each.”

The old man tried to hand them some seasoned grilled skewers, but the Seonhwa Sect disciples waved their hands.

“Our Sect Leader would scold us if we accepted such things. We appreciate the thought though.”

The Seonhwa Sect disciples who were walking down the street with smiles suddenly stopped, their expressions hardening.

Blue-robed martial artists blocking their path.

The Daejeong Sect disciples were deliberately standing in their way.

“Why have the Daejeong Sect disciples gathered here like this!”

The Seonhwa Sect disciple raised his voice at the suddenly gathered Daejeong Sect disciples.

Nevertheless, the Daejeong Sect disciples just smiled and showed no intention of backing down.

Rather, they were looking at the Seonhwa Sect disciples with contempt.

“From now on, this street will be protected by the Daejeong Sect.”

“What nonsense is this suddenly? This place has been under Seonhwa Sect’s protection all along.”

“Shut up. You barely managed to stop the evil sect that infiltrated Winam recently. If you don’t want to be humiliated, quietly back down.”

At this, the Seonhwa Sect disciples’ expressions also turned fierce.

“Ha! I see right through Daejeong Sect’s intentions. I heard you recently doubled your new disciples. Short on funds?”

When the Daejeong Sect disciples flinched, the Seonhwa Sect disciples continued in an even louder voice.

“Just like the rights to Western Winam that our sect handed over two months ago, you plan to suddenly raise protection fees to fund Daejeong Sect’s growth. Does Daejeong Sect not care about the civilians’ circumstances?”

At this, civilians watching the confrontation between Seonhwa Sect and Daejeong Sects from a distance started whispering.

“Raise protection fees? Didn’t they already raise them four months ago?”

“From what I hear from merchants in other streets, protection fees have been gradually increasing.”

“Then it would be better if Seonhwa Sect keeps protecting us, it’s not burdensome and they’re reliable.”

The Daejeong Sect disciples, who were watching the civilians’ reactions, all drew their swords at once.

“Leave before you get hurt! We warned you clearly.”

“How is what you’re doing any different from the evil sect!”

The Seonhwa Sect disciples were about to draw their swords but looked around and suppressed their anger.

It was clear that fighting in such a narrow street would create complete chaos.

“Fighting here would harm civilians, so let’s move locations.”

At this, the Daejeong Sect disciples gave a mocking laugh.

“Ha! Stop pretending to care about civilians. Hasn’t your Seonhwa Sect always avoided fights for fear of losing?”

The Seonhwa Sect disciples could no longer endure the Daejeong Sect’s continued provocations.

“You’re truly without honor!”

Then the Daejeong Sect disciples thrust their swords at Seonhwa Sect as if they had been waiting for this.

Clang!

Finally, Seonhwa Sect and Daejeong Sect clashed.

“Oh my!”

“What’s with this sudden commotion!”

The civilians quickly gathered their stalls and backed away.

Then the Daejeong Sect disciples used the widened space to spread out and launch coordinated attacks against the Seonhwa Sect disciples.

This meant one Seonhwa Sect disciple had to face two Daejeong Sect disciples.

It seemed they had come prepared with this plan.

The Seonhwa Sect disciple calmly deflected swords striking simultaneously from above and below.

It was Seonhwa Sect’s Plum Wind Sword Technique.

After deflecting two swords in succession and attempting to thrust at the Daejeong Sect disciple on the left, a sword immediately pressed in from the right forcing them to step back.

It was the same for other Seonhwa Sect disciples.

Although their martial arts were about one level higher, being attacked by two people meant they couldn’t hold out long and were being pushed back helplessly.

However, the Seonhwa Sect disciples seemed thoroughly angered and were fiercely resisted without showing signs of backing down.

“Ugh!”

This meant that when a Seonhwa Sect disciple was wounded, the Daejeong Sect disciples also had to take a wound each.

“Hah! No need to go easy just because they’re a righteous sect! Push forward!”

“You shameless Daejeong Sect bastards!”

The battle between Daejeong Sect and Seonhwa Sect grew even more intense as they had already built up years of resentment and now drew each other’s blood.

Just as the swords of Daejeong Sect and Seonhwa Sect were about to clash again after a brief lull, Mu Hwi dove between them like a flying bird.

As he unleashed the Fragrant Step Technique against the wind, his sleeves which had been fluttering like flags suddenly stiffened.

After injecting internal energy to make his sleeves straight, Mu Hwi unleashed the Bamboo Leaf Hand technique with both arms.

Then his straightened sleeves began to flow fluidly.

Mu Hwi’s sleeves fluttered like waves as he rotated his whole body with both arms extended.

Clash!

His sleeves wrapped around the swords – Daejeong Sect’s on the left, Seonhwa Sect’s on the right. Yet the injected internal energy remained, preventing the sleeves from tearing.

“Ugh!”

“Hah!”

Every time the sleeves met the swords, the warriors from both Seonhwa Sect and Daejeong Sects couldn’t withstand the impact and lost their grip on their swords.

After two rotations, all the swords from both sects were collected in Mu Hwi’s rolled-up sleeves.

Having lost their swords in the blink of an eye, warriors from both sects stood frozen in their stances, greatly bewildered.

Clang!

When he released the internal energy from his sleeves, the wrapped swords fell to the ground with a clatter.

As his sleeves unfurled, only the embroidered plum blossoms remained, swaying nobly.

The warriors stared helplessly at their swords lying before Mu Hwi’s feet.

To have their swords taken so easily by someone who appeared to have just passed twenty in age?

Moreover, they weren’t even disarmed one by one through sword techniques or hand techniques, but had two or three swords taken at once by fluttering sleeves – some felt beyond powerless, reaching a state of emptiness.

It was martial arts they could never hope to imitate.

The Seonhwa Sect disciples looked at Mu Hwi with eyes full of reverence, while the Daejeong disciples couldn’t hide their shock.

“You call yourselves righteous sects yet draw swords in broad daylight before civilians, truly…”

None of the warriors could meet Mu Hwi’s sharp gaze as he glared at both sides alternately.

The Seonhwa Sect disciples bowed to Mu Hwi with clasped hands.

“Master Mu Hwi. We apologize.”

However, the Daejeong disciples, while wary of Mu Hwi, couldn’t keep their tongues still.

“How dare you interfere with Daejeong Sect’s affairs!”

“Seonhwa Sect is affiliated with Hwasan, isn’t this natural?”

Mu Hwi’s left foot took a step forward.

His entire body emanated an aura that pressed down on the Daejeong disciples’ shoulders.

The Daejeong disciples were startled.

It was surprising enough that such a young martial artist could project his aura, but the aura itself was extraordinary.

“And ‘how dare’? Even your sect leader wouldn’t speak such words – do you look down on Hwasan?”

“Ahem. Those words slipped out.”

“They didn’t slip out – you spoke according to your usual conduct.”

For the past three days, he had sent disciples to assess the situation in Winam. Daejeong Sect was barely maintaining minimum standards as a righteous sect.

Within those boundaries, they used any means necessary for the sect’s expansion.

Having built up their power this way, Daejeong Sect was trying to drive out Seonhwa Sect and monopolize Winam.

Though even monopolizing Winam seemed to be just one step in their Sect Leader’s plans.

“Vermin…”

Mu Hwi, hands behind his back, ground his extended left foot.

Crack!

With internal energy in his foot stomp, all the Daejeong Sect’s swords shattered into halves simultaneously.

As the broken sword pieces flew up like flower petals, the Daejeong disciples’ faces turned red.

They had never experienced such humiliation as having to stand by helplessly watching their swords break before their eyes.

“Tell your Sect Leader: Don’t act like evil sect members, come to Seonhwa Sect in person.”

“Urgh, we’ll make sure to deliver the message.”

The red-faced Daejeong disciples fled with their tails between their legs, not even thinking about retrieving their broken swords.

After glaring at the retreating Daejeong disciples, Mu Hwi released his hands from behind his back and made a respectful gesture toward the civilians watching from afar.

“I am Mu Hwi, a second-generation disciple of Hwasan Sect. I apologize to those who felt threatened.”

As Mu Hwi bowed in several directions with his hands clasped, the surrounding civilians didn’t hold back their praise.

“As expected, disciples of renowned righteous sects are different.”

“Even at his young age, you can see the qualities of a true warrior.”

“There’s a reason Hwasan Sect is Hwasan Sect. Look at that humility.”

Mu Hwi beckoned to the bewildered Seonhwa Sect disciples.

“What are you staring at? Apologize and compensate all merchants who suffered damage from the recent fight.”

“Of course, Master.”

“Compensate generously. We’ll extract several times the amount from Daejeong Sect later.”

The Seonhwa Sect disciples hesitated momentarily at Mu Hwi’s last words before bowing.

“Understood, Master.”

The disciples watching Mu Hwi command the Seonhwa Sect members clicked their tongues.

“We thought we’d have to step in, but Senior Disciple resolved it instantly.”

Mu-hwa, who had been ready to intervene, removed her hand from her sword.

Mujin, who had his arms crossed, nodded at Mu-hwa’s words.

“Haven’t you noticed? Senior Disciple is rough with his fellow disciples but maintains a perfectly typical sage-like appearance with sect elders and outsiders.”

Mu-hwa had accurately captured Mu Hwi’s behavior, and Mu-cheol nodded in agreement.

“This must be what they call worldly wisdom. The more I see of Senior Brother, the more mysterious he becomes.”

Mujin, while responding, took in every gesture and glance of Mu Hwi’s, as if trying to learn from him.

* * *

The atmosphere in Seonhwa Sect’s reception room was heavy.

As Mu Hwi had said, the Daejeong Sect leader had come in person.

“Haha, Hwasan Sect’s authority is truly impressive? Who would have thought I’d set foot in Seonhwa Sect like this? I thought if I ever did, it would be to change the Sect’s nameplate.”

“Sect Leader of Daejeong, you truly never change.”

Im Muguk’s beard trembled at the Daejeong Sect leader’s outrageous words, but after glancing at Mu Hwi sitting beside him, he suppressed his anger.

The Daejeong Sect leader, watching this, turned his gaze from Im Muguk to Mu Hwi.

“So you’re the junior who summoned me.”

Mu Hwi just slightly raised his eyes to look at the Daejeong Sect leader.

This made the Daejeong Sect leader’s upper lip twitch.

Normally in such situations, one would introduce themselves and say something, but the young man before him showed no such courtesy.

“I already found it presumptuous that a junior summoned a senior, but it seems you learned martial arts at Hwasan but not etiquette?”

At this, Mu Hwi smiled while lightly brushing under his chin with his finger.

“Senior. It seems my behavior has greatly irritated you. I apologize.”

Though his words were apologetic, neither his actions nor expression showed any sign of remorse. This made the Daejeong Sect leader tilt his head in displeasure.

“You see, my master taught me to show courtesy only to those who deserve it.”

The Daejeong Sect leader quietly gripped his pants under the table, while Im Muguk stared in surprise at this unfamiliar side of Mu Hwi.

‘Hmm, though slightly embarrassing, this is quite satisfying.’

When the Daejeong Sect leader lost his words, silence briefly filled the reception room.

Then Mu Hwi picked up the teacup in front of him and set it down lightly.

Tap!

At that sound, everyone’s attention in the reception room turned to Mu Hwi.

“Seonhwa Sect, Daejeong Sect. It seems neither sect has any intention of reconciling and getting along peacefully in Winam, so let’s stop this pointless argument.”

“You’re right. So what do you propose?”

The Daejeong Sect leader’s response was heavy with irritation. This deepened Mu Hwi’s smile.

“Since we’re supposed to be righteous sects, we can’t have a bloody battle to the death like evil sects…”

This was also Mu Hwi speaking to himself. It would be simple to rush to Daejeong Sect and wipe them out cleanly, but he was Hwasan Sect’s Senior Disciple, not the Sword Devil.

Mu Hwi continued speaking while looking at the Daejeong Sect leader who was glaring at him.

“How about selecting representatives from each sect for a martial arts contest?”

At this, the Daejeong Sect leader smiled while tilting his head to the side, and Im Muguk’s face darkened again.

Though he had already heard from Mu Hwi, Im Muguk’s worries hadn’t ceased.

Finally, Im Muguk sent a sound transmission to Mu Hwi.

[Master Mu Hwi. Are you sure this is alright?]

[It’s alright because I’m here.]

Mu Hwi curved his eyes while maintaining eye contact with the Daejeong Sect leader before him.

Seeing that confident, refreshing smile, the Daejeong Sect leader’s own smile gradually faded.

< It’s alright because I’m here. > End

< I’ll train you properly. >