Hwasan Sect’s Genius Swordsman Chapter 27

Chapter 27

“Senior Disciple, I can see Yeosan ahead.”

Mu-cheol, who was at the front, reported to Mu Hwi.

Yeosan (驪山)

It is the location of the last affiliated martial arts sect that Mu Hwi’s group needed to visit. Once they finished their business at Yeosan, all that remained was returning to Hwasan.

“Whew. Finally the last one.”

“When we first left the mountain, I was a bit worried, but we made it here safely.”

The sight of Mu Hwi and Mujin walking side by side looked quite natural. At first, they had been awkward with each other.

While spending considerable time together was part of it, Mujin had been greatly influenced by Mu Hwi’s conduct in the martial arts world.

Mujin glanced sideways at Mu Hwi’s profile.

Originally, he couldn’t see this side view.

After all, he used to walk slightly behind, keeping his distance from Mu Hwi’s side.

‘At first, I planned to demonstrate my abilities to Hwasan Sect elders naturally by showing my prowess during this journey through the martial arts world.’

Until then, Mujin had still been aiming for the position of head disciple. This journey through the martial arts world seemed like it would be full of intense competition and mind games.

But the reality was different.

Senior Disciple’s actions were too rough like a storm to be called those of a sage, but his footsteps left deep impressions that helped the following disciples learn many things.

And they received teachings many times while crossing swords and bodies. Those teachings were sharp like a sword but absorbed well into their bodies just as quickly.

Direct teachings that cut to the core.

Like the other three disciples, Mujin’s martial arts had improved significantly compared to when they left the mountain. His master Hyeon Baek would certainly be surprised when he met him. That’s how remarkable Mujin’s growth had been.

While various experiences contributed to this, Senior Disciple’s seemingly casual advice was key.

It was amazing that the Senior Disciple gave the same teachings to all disciples even though he must have known that Mujin was aiming for the head disciple position.

‘Could I have done the same if I were in his position?’

Mujin would never do something like deliberately making potential rivals stronger.

‘In martial arts, I’m completely outmatched, and in terms of character, I seem to have lost as well.’

Mujin had almost let go of his attachment to becoming head disciple. Just staying by Mu Hwi’s side and growing was enough.

Rather than saying he gave up the position of head disciple, it would be more fitting to say he acknowledged Mu Hwi.

‘It would be better for the Disciple hood, Hwasan Sect, and myself if the Senior Disciple becomes head disciple instead of me.’

As Mujin kept staring at him with a blank expression, Mu Hwi couldn’t hold back and asked.

“What is it, why do you keep staring blankly at someone?”

“Ah, it’s nothing, Senior Disciple.”

“How bland.”

Mujin finally snapped out of his thoughts and turned his gaze forward.

Mu-hwa suddenly squeezed between the bickering Mu Hwi and Mujin.

“Senior Disciple…”

When Mu-hwa suddenly spoke in a nasal voice with sparkling eyes, Mu Hwi took a step sideways with a disgusted expression.

“Stop that nasally voice, it’s creepy, youngest.”

But Mu-hwa didn’t give up and grabbed Mu Hwi’s sleeve while saying,

“Senior Disciple, let’s go to the hot springs when we reach Yeosan!”

“Hot springs?”

When Mu Hwi asked back, Mujin seemed to remember something and answered instead.

“Yeosan has been famous for its hot springs since ancient times. Many people visit the hot springs for therapy.”

“Hot springs… Going once wouldn’t be bad.”

“Yay!”

At Mu Hwi’s answer, Mu-hwa jumped up with both arms spread out.

While Mu-hwa was chattering about hot springs beside them, Mu Hwi’s eyes sparkled seeing the quiet treacherous mountain path ahead.

“This would be good for lightness training, keep up well and don’t fall behind.”

As Mu Hwi sprang forward first, the disciples immediately followed.

“Why so suddenly!”

Mu-hwa, who had been distracted by thoughts of hot springs, deployed her lightness technique a breath later and followed behind her seniors.

* * *

Yeosan has been famous for its hot springs since ancient times.

The surrounding scenery was also quite nice, making it good for warming up in the hot springs while feasting your eyes.

Thanks to this, people seeking hot springs constantly came from all over the martial arts world, so Yeosan was always bustling with crowds.

Mu-hwa observed the expressions of the common people and asked.

“There were reports of Assassin Demons appearing in this area, but the atmosphere seems peaceful.”

“Two of the five Assassin Demons are dead and the remaining three are being chased by Jongnam Sect disciples, so they must have let go of some worry.”

After briefly looking around Yeosan, Mu Hwi and the disciples headed straight for Hwahon Sect (華琿門) of Yeosan.

The sect guards watching Hwahon Sect’s main entrance widened their eyes upon spotting Mu Hwi’s group walking straight toward them.

Black martial arts uniforms, plum blossoms embroidered on the sleeves.

And the clear spiritual light reflected in their eyes.

Plus the rumors about Hwasan Sect’s second-generation disciple that were stirring up Shaanxi these days.

There was no room for doubt.

“Are you from Hwasan Sect?”

“I am Mu Hwi of the Hwasan Sect. These are my fellow disciples.”

After exchanging greetings with the disciples as well, the sect guards immediately opened Hwahon Sect’s main entrance.

“We heard news that the main sect’s disciples were visiting affiliated sects. Please come in.”

Not long after the sect guards sent word inside, a middle-aged man came running out from the hall.

“Welcome. I am the chief administrator of Hwahon Sect. The Sect Leader is in training, but he will come shortly after tidying up his attire.”

Hwahon Sect is definitely larger in scale compared to the affiliate sects visited so far, and the level of disciples encountered while passing through also seemed higher at a glance.

The chief administrator guided Mu Hwi’s group to a reception room and personally served refreshments and tea.

“Young masters, we’ve heard well of Seonhwa Sect’s achievements.”

The chief administrator looked at Mu Hwi’s group with eyes full of approval.

As an affiliate sect of the same Hwasan Sect, he couldn’t have been more delighted when hearing news of Seonhwa Sect.

While the activities of Hwasan Sect’s second-generation disciples were amazing, the chief administrator focused on how Hwasan Sect had begun to take action.

He was simply moved that Hwasan Sect, which had been laying low as if sealed off since the Shaanxi Bloodshed Incident, was finally beginning to stretch its wings.

“Chief Administrator. Do you happen to know where good hot springs are?”

“Haha, if you’ve come to Yeosan, you must experience the hot springs. If you go to the place I recommend, you’ll be able to wash away all your travel fatigue.”

“Wow, I’m excited. They said the hot spring water is so subtle.”

While Mu-hwa and the chief administrator were chatting about various things, a middle-aged man entered the reception room.

A strong impression with solid muscles is visible over his martial arts uniform. He had an appearance that immediately identified him as a martial artist.

“Sorry for being late, I am Kang Bo-eum, leader of Hwahon Sect.”

At this, Mu Hwi and his fellow disciples also stood up and made a fist-palm salute.

“I am Mu Hwi, a second-generation disciple of Hwasan Sect.”

Kang Bo-eum seemed to have lost his right arm, as his right sleeve swayed slightly with each step. Unable to make a fist-palm salute, Kang Bo-eum bowed his head instead.

“I lost my right arm in the Shaanxi Bloodshed Incident, please understand that I cannot properly perform the courtesy.”

While it’s common for martial artists to lose one of their limbs, hearing that he lost his arm during the Shaanxi Bloodshed Incident naturally drew Mu Hwi’s attention.

“So Sect Leader also participated in the Shaanxi Bloodshed Incident.”

“Of course. Not just me, but most affiliate Sect Leaders participated. Except for those without successors, almost all Sect Leaders gathered – even I was surprised then.”

“That many gathered?”

At Mu-hwa’s question, Kang Bo-eum showed a faint smile as if recalling that time.

When Kang Bo-eum arrived at Hwasan Sect, the gathering point, leading his disciples, he couldn’t help but be surprised.

Numerous affiliate Sect flags were planted in a circle around the large ‘Hwasan (華山)’ banner as if protecting it.

There were more flags of sects he’d never seen before than ones he recognized.

And the numerous red and white plum blossoms positioned under Hwasan Sect’s banner.

Whether red or white plum blossoms were embroidered on their sleeves, they were all plum blossoms.

They were all disciples of Hwasan Sect.

From the main sect, almost all disciples participated except for the minimum personnel and disciples too young to fight, and the same was true for affiliate sects.

The Sect Leader’s command came down from Hwasan Sect.

They were people who responded without looking back, driven by righteousness alone, but how could they be without fear?

But the disciples gathered at Hwasan Sect were amazed seeing so many others gathered, marveled, and eventually burst into laughter.

“Looking back, we were all Hwasan Sect then.”

It was to the point where Immortal Baek Yu, who issued the Sect Leader’s command, insisted on passing the Sect Leader position to the first disciple so he could personally enter the battlefield.

Among Hwasan Sect, Jongnam, their affiliate sects below, and Shaanxi’s small sects, with the Guyu Sect helping belatedly, Hwasan Sect had the most martial artists participating.

That also meant Hwasan Sect and its affiliate sects suffered the greatest losses.

While the disciples were listening to Kang Bo-eum’s story as if entranced, only Mu Hwi showed a subtle smile.

‘Yes, all sorts of people gathered, but they were definitely Hwasan Sect itself.’

He himself was there too, as the Sword Devil.

Of course, he only watched from a distance with Hyeon Jo.

Even now, the laughter that Hwasan Sect’s disciples burst into together then was vivid in his ears, filled with all kinds of emotions.

Someone’s laughter held pride in Hwasan Sect.

Someone’s laughter held fear of the demon path.

When that laughter that made Hwasan Sect tremble for a moment stopped, the men who shook off all emotions while laughing advanced to the battlefield with light steps.

Though the Sword Devil wasn’t from Hwasan Sect, it was a scene that remained long in his memory as he was slightly influenced by the emotions of Hwasan Sect’s disciples.

Having finished his story, Kang Bo-eum looked at Mu Hwi and his fellow disciples with a rough smile.

“I lost my right arm, but I’ve never regretted participating that day. But seeing young masters today, I think I would have felt it was worth it even if I’d lost both arms.”

While many red and white plum blossoms including the Hwasan Sect Sword Saint had withered, there were new plum blossoms blooming like this.

Those who gathered at Hwasan Sect then fought for the plum blossoms that would bloom next spring.

“Keep progressing as you have until now.”

Kang Bo-eum had been keeping track of Mu Hwi group’s activities without missing anything. Not just Kang Bo-eum, but most of Hwasan Sect’s affiliate sects probably did the same.

Hwasan Sect’s affiliate sects were waiting.

For the scent of plum blossoms to waft through the martial arts world again.

At Kang Bo-eum’s sincere words, Mu Hwi’s group could only quietly nod.

“Hwahon Sect has no particular issues, so stay comfortable. If you get stiff from just resting, let the disciples witness Hwasan Sect’s Sword Techniques.”

“Thank you, Sect Leader.”

At Mu Hwi’s fist-palm salute, the other disciples also followed with their courtesies.

* * *

Perhaps because the moon was waning, the moonlight seeping through the darkness was merely faint.

This made the flashes of sword light that occasionally glinted when the sword was swung appear even brighter.

Mu Hwi was swinging his sword alone in the training ground.

The sword techniques he displayed changed with time, all of them being techniques that the Sword Devil had learned in his past life.

Swish!

Swoosh!

Most were killing techniques heavy with murderous intent, with fierce moves and forms.

Rather than containing profound principles, they focused on power and practical deception of the opponent’s eyes.

Evil sect sword techniques tended to pursue optimal forms and moves that could cut down opponents easily and definitively.

Most were evil sect techniques so this was natural, but that didn’t mean there was nothing worth taking from them.

Looking deeply, they still followed the essence of the sword – cutting down an enemy in one strike.

Mu Hwi tore through the air, thrusting his sword dozens of times in one breath.

In this way, Mu Hwi was displaying each sword technique he knew one by one, filtering and collecting the useful ones.

There was a subtle difference between viewing the techniques in his mind from the Sword Devil’s perspective versus Mu Hwi’s perspective.

‘Is it because the sword I want to display is different?’

Thanks to the Sword Devil’s experience, Mu Hwi didn’t have such prejudices about evaluating martial arts by orthodox standards.

If it could contribute to his sword and martial way, that alone would be sufficient.

Just as he was about to display the fifteenth sword technique, Mu Hwi withdrew his sword. After all, displaying evil sect martial arts might become troublesome if someone saw.

That’s why he had been training while spreading his qi sense widely to sharpen his senses.

Something caught Mu Hwi’s awareness.

A moment later, Kang Bo-eum entered the training ground with his right sleeve fluttering.

“Young Master Mu Hwi, you’re training until this late hour? It seems you’ve been swinging your sword almost all day.”

“It’s become a habit now. I can’t sleep unless I do.”

“Haha… Seeing Young Master Mu Hwi reminds me of someone.”

Before they knew it, Kang Bo-eum was standing beside Mu Hwi as he continued speaking.

“There was a martial artist during the Shaanxi Bloodshed Incident too. A man who would swing his sword instead of resting even after cutting down countless demon sect members during the day. He was unique among those gathered on the battlefield.”

Mu Hwi’s expression became subtle at Kang Bo-eum’s words.

Somehow, Mu Hwi felt he knew who it was.

“A man truly mad for the sword, a man worthy of the title Sword Devil. That sight still leaves a strong impression on me.”

At Kang Bo-eum’s words, Mu Hwi just listened while pretending not to know.

Since he had fought alongside Hwasan Sect disciples the most during the Shaanxi Blood Incident, it wasn’t too surprising that Kang Bo-eum had seen the Sword Devil.

“Was it memorable enough to remain that way?”

“Even if not for that, I could never forget. I received a life-saving favor from the Sword Devil.”

At those final words, Mu Hwi looked at Kang Bo-eum.

< Back then, we were all Hwasan Sect.> End

<The taste of the wine has gone sour.>