Hwasan Sect’s Genius Swordsman Chapter 5

Chapter 5

“Senior Disciple, are you serious?”

Musan asked back with an unbelieving face.

In Musan’s memory, Mu Hwi’s martial arts were below the average of the second-generation disciples. In contrast, he was at a level that easily exceeded that average.

Mu Hwi should know this well too, so Musan couldn’t understand why he was proposing a martial arts match.

“For reference, I will only use the Six Harmonies Sword. That way you’ll properly feel the difference in our levels.”

“Six Harmonies Sword?”

When Mu Hwi spoke while resting the wooden sword on his shoulder, Musan’s brow twitched.

Musan’s hesitation about the match due to Mu Hwi’s provocation completely disappeared. Musan slowly moved his hand to his waist.

“Don’t regret it, Senior Disciple.”

“Hurry up and come, since I’m your Senior Disciple, I’ll give you three moves.”

As Mu Hwi swung his wooden sword while mockingly saying he’d give three moves, Musan gritted his teeth.

“Haah!”

Thick veins rose on the back of Musan’s hand gripping the wooden sword. With that, Musan swung the wooden sword with all his might. He planned to break Mu Hwi’s pride by pushing from the first move.

Musan’s wooden sword, which closed the seven-step gap in one breath using the Fragrant Step Technique, aimed for the chest.

Tak

A crisp impact sound rang out as the wooden swords collided. Mu Hwi lightly received the sword while simultaneously twisting his blade cunningly.

This caused Musan’s wooden sword to slide diagonally, naturally creating an opening in his chest. Though Musan, startled greatly, hurriedly pulled his sword, but there was no follow-up attack.

Mu Hwi just wore a sardonic smile while looking at his startled face.

“I said I’d give you three moves. Why are you so scared?”

“Ugh.”

Musan, who had retreated back alone in surprise, became red not just in the face but down to his neck.

As if trying to make up for his recent mistake, Musan drew up his internal energy. As internal energy raced through his meridians, Musan’s footwork became lighter and power filled his wooden sword.

The sword technique Musan mainly practiced is the Ten Thousand Fragrances Sword.

If one learns the art of illusion through the Falling Plum Sword, then one learns the art of change through the Ten Thousand Fragrances Sword.

It was a sword technique difficult for second-generation disciples who had just moved beyond the Six Harmonies Sword to learn because it had so many variations in its moves.

Swoosh

Just as he seemed to thrust it down diagonally, seeing Mu Hwi’s response, the path instantly changed. The wooden sword that was aiming for the side suddenly aimed for the ankle, but Mu Hwi’s wooden sword was already there.

Taak

A heavier impact sound than the first collision.

‘How?’

It was surprising that Mu Hwi immediately responded to the Ten Thousand Fragrances Sword’s changes and positioned his sword first, but what was incomprehensible was that even after drawing up internal energy, he couldn’t shake Mu Hwi’s defense at all.

“One move left, brother.”

“Eek!”

When Mu Hwi opened his mouth after lightly deflecting the wooden sword, a wooden sword split into three paths was extending toward him.

However, Mu Hwi simply drew his wooden sword vertically with a light motion. Musan’s wooden sword was lightly deflected and Mu Hwi’s eyes gleamed coldly.

The promised three moves had ended.

As if waiting for this, Mu Hwi’s feet, which hadn’t moved at all, left the ground for the first time.

With a light stomp, Mu Hwi’s form stretched forward. It was the Fragrant Step Technique that Musan had displayed at the start of the match, but the difference in their movements was huge.

‘Not bad.’

While fighting, Mu Hwi was testing the internal energy usage of the Nine Skies Mind Method he had modified today.

He moved his internal energy according to the Fragrant Step Technique’s energy usage, but sent less internal energy to the Yongcheon point in his foot.

Nevertheless, he was showing more explosive movement compared to the Fragrant Step Technique that Musan had displayed.

In an instant, Mu Hwi dove into Musan’s embrace with his robe fluttering and thrust his sword forward.

“Kheuk.”

When Mu Hwi lightly struck his chest with the sword handle, Musan’s face twisted in pain.

“Oh my, you shouldn’t retreat at this level.”

As Musan stepped back one step, Mu Hwi stepped forward one step and swung his wooden sword.

Simple horizontal cuts, vertical cuts, and thrusts.

They just extended in different directions for each position.

Just the Six Harmonies Sword.

‘But the Six Harmonies Sword is just an entry-level martial art!’

Even though he created multiple sword shadows with the Ten Thousand Fragrances Sword, the simple sword strikes of the Six Harmonies Sword were breaking through all of them and pushing forward.

Tadak

No matter what changes he made, no matter how many sword shadows he created, Mu Hwi’s Six Harmonies Sword was solid.

This reality of the Six Harmonies Sword overwhelming the Ten Thousand Fragrances Sword was simply unbelievable. He wished it were a dream, but the pain throughout his body told him it was reality.

Meanwhile, Mu Hwi’s wooden sword, which had extended from above, thrust down diagonally.

“Ugh.”

Musan staggered as his shoulder and thigh were struck almost simultaneously.

Though Musan endured the pain and swung his wooden sword with all his might, Mu Hwi’s wooden sword had already preempted the direction and position it would extend to.

As if he had completely seen through all the moves of the Ten Thousand Fragrances Sword.

Naturally, Musan lost his flow, and Mu Hwi relentlessly dove into the openings and beat Musan.

Tadak tak beok

As the power of the wooden sword gradually increased, the impact sound became heavier accordingly. When the wooden sword deeply struck his waist, Musan momentarily felt his consciousness fading.

“Kuhek. Senior Disciple. I’ve lost…”

“Of course you lost, and today I’m going to fix your attitude.”

Soon Musan could no longer endure and fell backward, but Mu Hwi’s wooden sword did not stop.

‘Senior Disciple has completely become a monster.’

The sound of Mu Hwi beating Musan did not stop, and Muho, who was trembling, tried to quietly slip away.

Thwack

At that moment, Musan’s wooden sword flew and stuck into the ground in front of Muho’s feet.

“Junior Disciple Muho. Where are you going?”

“Ah… Senior Disciple.”

“If you don’t want to get beaten, stay still with your head down.”

“Yes… Senior Disciple.”

Whimpering, Muho put his head down right there, and Mu Hwi went back to dealing with Musan.

* * *

Leaning against the plum tree, Mu Hwi looked at the Junior Disciples in front of him.

Musan, who had been thoroughly beaten, was kneeling, and Muho still had his head down to the ground.

“Muho, you seemed quite dissatisfied too, would you like to spar?”

“No, I would not!”

At Mu Hwi’s question, Muho’s body, which had been gradually tilting, suddenly straightened up with tension.

“Damn Junior Disciples, sit comfortably.”

Even when the Junior Disciples didn’t move an inch, Mu Hwi’s eyebrows twitched.

“I said sit.”

Only then did the two Junior Disciples hurriedly sit cross-legged and lower their heads to avoid Mu Hwi’s gaze.

“Junior Disciple Musan. Did it hurt a lot?”

“I’m fine.”

“Oh, you’ve got guts.”

When Mu Hwi reached for his wooden sword, Musan quickly stretched out and grabbed Mu Hwi’s sleeve.

“Actually, it hurt a lot, I thought I was going to die.”

“Alright, let go.”

Mu Hwi asked while dusting off Muho’s dirt-covered hair.

“In your view, between me and Junior Disciple Musan, who was stronger?”

“Of course, it is you, Senior Disciple.”

This was sincere. Honestly, he doubted whether the Mu Hwi before his eyes was the same person as the Senior Disciple in his memories.

“Do you still think my martial arts are lacking?”

Mu Hwi turned his head and asked Musan.

“Not at all. Having lost completely in the sparring match, what more could I say?”

Seeing how docile Musan had become, the effect of beating him with the wooden sword had worked quite well. However, since just whipping him wouldn’t be good in the long run, Mu Hwi decided to offer some carrots as well.

“Musan. Right now, your swordsmanship and footwork are disconnected.”

At the sudden advice, Musan carefully raised his head to look at Mu Hwi.

“You’re using footwork simply for quick movement and evasion. At this rate, you’ll soon hit a wall.”

“Then what should I do?”

“Don’t try to create changes using only the forms of the Ten Thousand Fragrance Sword. If you connect it with footwork, you can create more diverse changes than now. Think of moving the sword with your entire body, not just your hands.”

Musan recalled how a few days ago, the private instructor who was watching his training had mentioned that he should pay more attention to footwork.

At that time, he had simply understood it as a criticism that his achievement in the Ten Thousand Fragrance Sword was insufficient, thinking he just needed to spend more time training footwork.

However hearing specific points that needed correction made the direction of his training clear.

“Ah… Thank you, Senior Disciple.”

Musan, showing a slightly brighter expression as if he had found a clue, hesitantly expressed his gratitude.

His face reddened again, as he felt embarrassed having come to confront his Senior Disciple only to get beaten and even receive teaching.

The same is true for Muho.

After confirming the Junior Disciples’ reactions, Mu Hwi waved his hand dismissively.

“I’ll forget about today’s incident. People can make mistakes in life.”

Mu Hwi’s relaxed eyes gradually narrowed as he spoke. A chilling light flowed from between his narrowed eyes.

“However, if something like this happens again, you should be prepared to lose one of your limbs.”

This was a warning not just for the two Junior Disciples before him but for all martial siblings who would hear about today’s events.

It meant that facing him head-on was fine, but don’t cross the line.

The two Junior Disciples who met Mu Hwi’s gaze had to swallow dry saliva and nod.

“We’ll keep it in mind.”

“Yes, Senior Disciple.”

“There must be others who are dissatisfied besides you two. Tell them to come forward if they dare. I’ll prove myself through actions like today.”

At Mu Hwi’s declaration, Musan and Muho unconsciously stared at his face.

That voice full of confidence sounded truly powerful. Had their Senior Disciple of the past ever uttered such a resonant voice even once?

No, forget about speaking, his gaze was always directed at the ground, making it difficult to even meet his eyes.

He was just a pathetic Senior Disciple who happened to enter the sect first and only held the position of Senior Disciple.

Far from having aspects worth learning from as a senior, hadn’t they rather taken him as an example of what not to be?

‘If Senior Disciple had been like this all along, we would never have crossed the line like this. Please remain as you are now.’

Musan and Muho, sensing the complete transformation in Mu Hwi, voluntarily reflected and lowered their heads.

“Thank you for overlooking our great mistake.”

“We apologize again, Senior Disciple.”

“Alright. Go.”

After sending the two Junior Disciples away, Mu Hwi quietly looked up at the moon before speaking.

“How long are you going to hide? Come out.”

At Mu Hwi’s words, a man emerged from the shadow of the plum tree.

< Senior Disciple has completely become a monster. > End

< Since when has the foundation of the Hwasan Sect been the plum blossom? >