Chapter 11
A few hours before Mu-hwa went to Mu Hwi’s cottage.
An elder meeting was being held at the Upper Palace.
Baek San, the Financial Affairs Elder, unfolded a letter and asked Baek Yu.
“Sect Leader, a letter has come from Hwaga Iron Workshop. They’re asking about the types and numbers of weapons to be produced this time.”
Hwaga Iron Workshop is one of Hwasan Sect’s major affiliated families and is exclusively responsible for Hwasan Sect’s weapons.
In terms of pure metalworking skill, they are rated as good as Sacheon Sect that produces precise hidden weapons, and they always make it onto the list of the Three Great Iron Workshops of the Central Plains.
“For regular weapons, Elder Baek San can adjust the quantities as appropriate, but add Plum Blossom Swords. Hmm. Five should be enough.”
“Did you say Plum Blossom Swords?”
The only possible owners of newly crafted Plum Blossom Swords would be the current second-generation disciples. However, the question was whether these second-generation disciples had the skill to wield them.
“It’s only been just over two years since they became second-generation disciples. Isn’t it too early?”
The Plum Blossom Sword is a sword used for life.
The time and materials invested are no less than other famous swords, and with Hwaga Iron Workshop’s secret forging method added, the production cost skyrockets.
With Hwasan Sect currently staggering from the damage of the Shaanxi Bloodshed, Baek San, who is in charge of finances, wanted to avoid unnecessary expenditure.
“I understand Elder Baek San’s thoughts. However, these current second-generation disciples somehow give me expectations.”
Originally, Baek Yu wouldn’t have proposed making Plum Blossom Swords first either.
The perceptive elders knew which disciple had swayed Baek Yu’s heart.
“Sect Leader. You must be thinking of Mu Hwi.”
“Ah. I’ve also heard that he’s completely changed. I hear he’s been leading his fellow disciples since two months ago?”
“Hoho. I heard that timid child has been acting quite boldly.”
“The training ground’s battle cries have been lasting longer and occurring more frequently than before. That’s a good thing.”
Starting with Mu Hwi, the elders were busy praising disciples they had been keeping an eye on. Many names came up, but Mu Hwi is at the center of these praises.
Baek Yu quietly drank his tea while watching the elders talk with spittle flying.
Until recently, the atmosphere had been heavy during meetings due to Hwasan Sect’s difficult circumstances, but not today.
This made the plum blossom tea, which had only tasted bitter lately, taste sweet and fragrant today.
“With so many promising youngsters, wouldn’t five Plum Blossom Swords be reasonable?”
“That’s right, Elder Baek San.”
When other elders joined in, Baek San let out a laugh-tinged sigh. There was no reason for Baek San not to welcome the second-generation disciples’ progress.
Rather, he was pleased that the second-generation disciples were refreshing Hwasan Sect’s atmosphere that had been down since the Shaanxi Bloodshed.
“People who just swing swords to death in the mountains don’t know how scary money is. Sigh. Fine. But know that I’ll have to tighten the belts of each organization.”
“Tsk tsk, you’d look more dependable without that last part.”
“Haha. That’s right.”
But Baek San thoroughly ignored the other elder’s tongue-clicking.
“The next agenda is about the third-generation disciples.”
As Baek Yu proceeded with the meeting, Spring Plum Hall Master Baek Chun opened his mouth with a serious face.
“We’re already very late, so we should prepare right away.”
Originally, they should have selected third-generation disciples long ago according to the timeline, but they were too preoccupied with the Shaanxi Bloodshed.
“This time, it would be good to accept affiliated family disciples as well to show Hwasan Sect’s stability.”
“Hmm. Elder Baek Chun’s words are right.”
The main participants in this Shaanxi Bloodshed were the elders and first-generation disciples. The second-generation disciples of the Wu (武) character class weren’t even allowed to participate.
That’s how great the damage was to the high-level experts, and current Hwasan Sect had a large gap in its fighting force.
To make matters worse, they had lost Hyeon Jo who was a representative master of Hwasan, so the affiliated martial arts sects that were centered around Hwasan Sect couldn’t help but feel anxious.
After all, the power of affiliated sects naturally comes from the main sect’s martial might and reputation.
“Since we’re talking about affiliated sects, even if other regions are difficult, wouldn’t it be good to at least send disciples to check on the Shaanxi affiliated sects?”
Even though the Shaanxi Bloodshed had ended, its aftermath still remained in Shaanxi’s martial arts world. Public safety was in shambles, and evil sects and black path practitioners were starting to eye the vacancies left by empty sects.
Given the not-so-good situation, they thought sending disciples from the main sect to check would greatly help calm anxieties and strengthen unity.
“Hmm. But don’t we lack the manpower for that? Even the elders and first-generation disciples are swamped with work.”
When someone brought this up, the elders took in the empty seats around them. They were the seats of those sacrificed in the Shaanxi Bloodshed.
As the elders let out sighs, Baek Yu seemed to have already thought about this and immediately provided an answer.
“Regarding this matter, I was thinking of entrusting it to the second-generation disciples. What do you all think?”
“Hmm, certainly it’s about time those youngsters experience the martial world.”
“It’s not a difficult task, and there shouldn’t be big problems just looking around a few affiliated sects.”
Some elders showed worried expressions.
“I’m concerned. The outside must still be chaotic.”
Baek Yu thought for a moment before continuing.
“Then, since it’s their first journey into the martial world, let’s select outstanding disciples to send. Based on their results, we’ll consider sending other second-generation disciples sequentially.”
“Let’s do that.”
“Then we need to select which disciples to send…”
Selecting second-generation disciples to send out into the martial world didn’t take long.
Among the second-generation disciples, there were talented individuals called the Three Flowers. And now Mu Hwi, the Senior Disciple of the second-generation disciples who had shown remarkable changes recently, was added.
No one opposed sending Mu Hwi outside.
Originally, Mu Hwi wouldn’t have been included in this list, but it was thanks to how he had definitely changed people’s perceptions over the past two months.
“Let’s have Senior Disciple Mu Hwi lead them.”
“Good. It’s reassuring to see Mu Hwi showing his proper self.”
“In the end, it seems Hyeon Jo did select his disciple properly. Our eyes were lacking.”
And so Mu Hwi’s first descent from the mountain was decided.
* * *
Pocheng.
A small county located north of Hwaeum where Hwasan is. This was the first destination for Mu Hwi’s group.
“It feels nice to come down from the mountain after so long.”
Mu-hwa was busy stretching her neck to look at various goods and foods laid out on the stalls.
“Be mindful of your behavior since you’re wearing Hwasan Sect’s uniform.”
Mujin, who was watching Mu-hwa’s distracted behavior from behind as she turned her gaze here and there, quietly cautioned her.
Mu Hwi walked behind while leading his fellow disciples in front, observing the street.
‘The secular world is indeed nice.’
Even though it was just people bustling about and various items laid out everywhere, watching this scene naturally made him feel energized.
Hwasan’s sharp and towering mountain terrain, like a sword planted upside down.
While looking at Hwasan’s peak proudly revealing its presence through the clouds into the endless sky naturally aroused a magnificent spirit, the feeling the secular world gave wasn’t bad either.
“Let’s get rooms there.”
“Yes! Senior Disciple.”
“Yes.”
Mu-hwa answered cheerfully while raising her hand, and Mujin looked at Mu Hwi’s expression before nodding. And Mu-cheol stood silently as usual.
As they entered the inn, the attendant saw the plum blossoms embroidered on their uniform sleeves and deeply bowed.
“Oh, masters from Hwasan Sect have arrived.”
When the words ‘Hwasan Sect’ came out, people in the inn slightly turned their heads to observe Mu Hwi and his fellow disciples.
“Looks like Hwasan is slowly starting to move again.”
“Seeing the two plum blossoms embroidered, they must be second-generation disciples? Seems like their first time in the martial world.”
As the disciples sat in the seats the attendant guided them to, Mu Hwi looked at the menu on the wall and ordered.
“One noodle bowl each, and one serving each of stir-fried vegetables and braised pork belly.”
“Yes, master. Please wait a moment.”
Watching this, Mu-hwa opened her lips slightly in admiration.
“Senior Disciple. You seem quite skilled at this. This is my first time at an inn so I’m a bit nervous. Master told me to be careful at inns since you never know what might happen.”
Mu-hwa spoke while glancing at the people sitting in the inn with rounded eyes.
“Well, that’s true. Adding some exaggeration, half of the disturbances in the martial world probably start at inns.”
Mu-cheol and Mujin were also looking at Mu Hwi as if finding this strange.
It was surprising to see Mu Hwi acting so naturally when he supposedly had never come down from the mountain since joining Hwasan Sect.
Meanwhile, Mu Hwi had a blank expression.
‘Why are these rookies acting like this, making such a fuss just over ordering food.’
This is why martial world experience is important.
Even if you become a master by swinging a sword for decades while being cooped up in the mountains claiming to accumulate the Way, the martial world is a place where you might die unexpectedly without experience.
As Mu Hwi was internally sighing, the attendant brought out the food.
“Here, eat.”
When Mu Hwi gave permission, Mujin lightly moistened his throat with the noodle soup, while Mu-hwa and Mu-cheol immediately reached their chopsticks toward the braised pork belly.
Although Hwasan Sect is a Taoist sect, it had strong secular influences, and since meat consumption was essential for martial artists, meat was served in their dining hall too.
However, since it wasn’t this stimulating in taste and aroma, their chopsticks naturally reached for it first.
Mu Hwi was watching his fellow disciples eating deliciously with satisfaction when he smirked.
“What would you do if there was poison in it, eating so deliciously?”
“Pffft!”
Mujin choked and coughed, while Mu-hwa and Mu-cheol instantly stopped their jaws that had been chewing the braised pork.
“You all should have received one of these. You should have learned how to use it at Spring Plum Hall.”
Mu Hwi took out a long silver needle from his sleeve.
Seeing this, the disciples’ faces hardened. Only now did they remember the advice they had received from Spring Plum Hall and their masters.
Mu Hwi continued speaking while poking each dish with the silver needle.
“Of course, there wouldn’t be cases of trying to poison and kill novice second-generation disciples like us at an inn so close to Hwasan Sect.”
While this silver needle couldn’t detect any poisons, it was better than not checking at all.
After confirming that the needle’s color didn’t change, Mu Hwi wiped off the food stuck to the needle.
“The martial world is a place where you might die any moment from having such complacent thoughts.”
At Mu Hwi’s voice, which was lower than usual, Mu-hwa flinched and lowered her eyes, and the other disciples bowed their heads.
“Sorry, Senior Disciple.”
“Senior Disciple, we were short-sighted.”
“I’m sorry.”
Seeing his fellow disciples, Mu Hwi dropped his expressionless face and slightly curved up the corners of his mouth.
“Just don’t make the same mistake. Let’s eat.”
Only then did the frozen atmosphere thaw a bit, and the sound of chopsticks hitting bowls could be heard again.
When they had emptied about half their food, Mujin asked.
“Senior Disciple, what are your thoughts on what to do in Pocheng?”
Hwasan Sect had only told Mu Hwi’s group which regions and sects to visit, without providing specific mission details.
This was because they left all judgment to the second-generation disciples on whether to simply assess the public safety situation and public sentiment of those places and return, or to take some action.
‘Is this also some kind of test?’
Hwasan Sect would want to see how disciples on their first journey into the martial world experience and act in unfamiliar environments and situations.
If they had expected specific results, they would have provided clear mission contents and objectives.
“Was this place where the black path took over the vacancy left by an affiliated sect?”
While all the regions Mu Hwi’s group was to visit had Hwasan’s affiliated sects established, Pocheng did not.
Originally, Pocheng had an affiliated sect called the Flower Stream Gate, but they were completely destroyed during the Shaanxi Bloodshed. The black path had latched onto the interests left vacant in that situation.
Mu Hwi, who had been lost in thought with his hand on his chin, saw his fellow disciples staring at him intently.
Suddenly he became curious.
“What do you all want to do?”
At Mu Hwi’s question, the disciples looked at each other.
After pondering for a moment, Mu-hwa spoke up first.
“I want to beat them all up.”
<I want to smash everything to pieces> End
<Do you think I came here to do you guys a favor>
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