Hwasan Sect’s Genius Swordsman Chapter 52

Chapter 52

As if to make their presence known, the blatant aura of hostility and killing intent filled the air.

The once serene atmosphere of Luoyan Peak gradually began to deteriorate.

There were two paths leading from the foot of the mountain to the mountain lodge on the mountainside: one from the west and one from the south.

Both paths were now fluttering with the Paewangseong Flags.

Beneath the Paewangseong Flags, warriors of Paewangseong were making their way up towards the lodge.

Fifty warriors from each path were marching in formation, led by what appeared to be high-ranking officers of the Paewangseong Army, mixed with veteran experts.

“Is that the Paewangseong Army? And those veteran experts at the front are…?”

“Two of the Five Martial Lords have come out? They’re serious this time.”

The Five Martial Lords.

The top five experts directly under Paewangseong Lord.

They were the sharpest blades of Paewangseong and one of the driving forces that allowed the city to simultaneously contend with three of the four great sects of Sacheon.

Even though Paewangseong had declared a truce with the Sacheon Alliance, they still had other enemies.

But sending two of the Five Martial Lords showed just how much effort they had put into this matter.

“I don’t see anyone from the Jia Hua Sect or the Mo Yu Sect. They must know something.”

“They probably left some forces at the foot of the mountain as well. We’ll have to resolve this ourselves.”

The two Sect Leaders exchanged words while looking in different directions.

Just as the Sect Leaders had recognized the Five Martial Lords, the veteran experts were also looking at the Sect Leaders.

“Sect Leaders! How have you been?”

“It’s an honor to see the esteemed leaders of the Nine Sects!”

The shouts of the Five Martial Lords, infused with profound internal energy, echoed through the air.

The buildings of the mountain lodge, as well as the nearby trees, shook violently.

“Ugh!”

“Ah!”

The deafening roar, like thunder, caused the second-generation disciples to quickly cover their ears.

Whoosh!

Baek Yu’s sleeve, embroidered with purple plum blossoms, fluttered as he shielded Mu Hwi, who was still circulating his energy.

Baek Yu frowned as he protected Mu Hwi from the energy waves of the Five Martial Lords. Meanwhile, Hong Xian questioned the Paewangseong’s forces.

“You couldn’t have quietly made it this deep into Shaanxi without Jongnam Sect noticing. How did you get here?”

“We’re well aware of the Jongnam Sect Leader’s caution. That’s why we’ve been preparing for months.”

At the sneer of the Red Flame Army, dressed in a crimson robes, Hong Xian narrowed his eyes.

From the sound of it, the Paewangseong had been targeting the Six Harmonies Sword Assembly for months.

The provocations that had been ongoing for months were likely part of their plan for today.

“The Castle Lord sent us to congratulate the Hwasan and Jongnam Sects on their deep relationship and to celebrate the Six Harmonies Sword Assembly in grand style. Of course, in the Paewangseong’s way.”

The Red Flame Army and the Yellow Gold Army openly released their violent auras, causing the surrounding atmosphere to ripple.

“Tsk, tsk. To reveal their ambitions so quickly after declaring a truce. Were we too complacent?”

Hong Xian clicked his tongue but didn’t ask further. Now wasn’t the time to dwell on minor details or reflect on mistakes. It was time to draw their swords.

“We’re outnumbered.”

This year’s Six Harmonies Sword Assembly had been scaled down due to various considerations, so the number of participants had naturally decreased.

Ten third and second-generation disciples from each sect were participating, along with four first-generation disciples to manage the younger disciples, and two elders to assist the Sect Leaders.

This was the total number of participants from each sect.

Originally, Luoyan Peak was only a two-day journey from Hwasan and Jongnam, so there was no need to bring a large number of people.

In contrast, Paewangseong had brought two groups of fifty warriors each, putting them at a significant disadvantage.

“First, let’s send the third-generation disciples inside the lodge.”

“Should Hwasan and Jongnam each take one of the paths? Given our numerical disadvantage, we’ll have to fight while blocking the narrow paths.”

Xian Zhu, who had been listening to the Sect Leaders’ conversation, quickly spoke up.

“Sect Leaders, that won’t work!”

When the two Sect Leaders turned their gazes toward her, Xian Zhu quickly bowed her head.

“I apologize for interrupting your conversation. But if we divide our already limited forces, we’ll be picked off one by one.”

“It’s fine.”

“Then would it be better to fight together?”

At Hong Xian’s question, Xian Zhu pointed to the martial arts stage.

“The Six Harmonies Sword Formation.”

“I see.”

Baek Yu, who immediately understood Xian Zhu’s words, nodded.

Just as the basic martial arts of the two sects were the same, the first sword formation they learned was also the Six Harmonies Sword Formation. Both Hwasan and Jongnam’s second-generation disciples could execute the Six Harmonies Sword Formation.

“We’ll deploy the Six Harmonies Sword Formation in the center, and the remaining elders and first-generation disciples will form a protective circle around it.”

Hong Xian, who had been muttering to himself, immediately gave instructions to the disciples. Baek Yu, looking at Mu Hwi who was still circulating his energy, spoke to Xian Zhu.

“Since Mu Hwi is still circulating his energy, you’ll have to protect him.”

“Yes, Sect Leader.”

Baek Yu glanced at Mu Hwi’s condition once more before following Hong Xian.

“Brother Mujin, may I take command of the sword formation?”

Mujin, who had been looking at Xian Mei as she asked with her gaze lowered, turned his head to look at Mu Hwi, who was still circulating his energy.

“Let’s do that.”

The eighteen second-generation disciples from Hwasan and Jongnam, excluding Mu Hwi and Xian Zhu, were forming the Six Harmonies Sword Formation.

Originally, the Six Harmonies Sword Formation was composed of nine people, but it could also be formed with eighteen or thirty-six people.

“Elders, take positions in the four directions. The remaining first-generation disciples will fill the other eight directions.”

As the disciples took their positions under Hong Xian’s orders, Paewangseong forces fully entered the mountain lodge.

“Sect Leaders, are you going to fight here with the children?”

“It’s too crowded. Let’s play separately.”

The Red Flame Army and the Yellow Gold Army walked off into the forest in different directions, and the Sect Leaders followed.

If four top-tier experts were to fight in such a narrow space, who knows what kind of disaster could occur.

For now, they could only trust that the disciples would hold out until they returned.

“Baek Yu, I heard that the Yellow Gold Army cut off the Cheongseong Sect Leader’s arm.”

“I know. Be careful.”

As the Sect Leaders and the Five Martial Lords paired off and disappeared, the officers immediately gave orders.

“Kill all the second-generation disciples. Leave the elders and first-generation disciples alive, but it’s fine to cut off their limbs.”

At the officers’ command, the hundred Paewangseong warriors’ eyes gleamed as they exuded killing intent.

As the killing intent rose from all directions, the faces of the elders and first-generation disciples turned grim.

“How dare you!”

“Do you think we’ll let you lay a hand on the children?”

The elders roared, but their voices were drowned out by the shouts and footsteps of the Paewangseong warriors pouring in from all sides.

The elders and first-generation disciples were furious, but they calmly held their positions.

However, the sheer number of Paewangseong warriors meant that many might break through to the inner Six Harmonies Sword Formation.

“Deploy the formation!”

Thud!

At Xian Zhu’s command, the eighteen disciples simultaneously stepped into formation. The Six Harmonies Sword Formation, composed of Hwasan and Jongnam disciples, began to move.

“Useless effort!”

The Paewangseong warriors, exuding killing intent, unleashed their weapons without hesitation.

The Jongnam disciples blocked the incoming killing strikes and stepped back. The Hwasan disciples immediately filled the gaps and launched counterattacks.

Although it was their first time deploying the formation together, Hwasan and Jongnam disciples moved as if they had been training together for years.

“Huff!”

Muho, who had severed his opponent’s arm and waist with a double-sided sword strike, exhaled roughly.

The dense killing intent emanating from dozens of warriors.

Unlike ordinary martial arts competitions, the sharp killing strikes aimed at every vital point and acupressure point.

It was threatening, but not overwhelming.

‘Compared to the Senior Disciple’s killing intent, this is nothing.’

Although he felt a chill from the killing intent, Muho’s body remained flexible, and he extended his sword without stiffness.

It wasn’t just Muho. The other Hwasan Sect disciples were also thinking of Mu Hwi.

‘Our training wasn’t in vain.’

‘Compared to the Senior Disciple, this is easy!’

The excessive tension in their bodies eased, and their stiff swords came alive. A sharp light erupted from the swords of the Hwasan disciples.

“We are Hwasan!”

“Don’t underestimate us!”

Whoosh!

The Paewangseong warriors, barely blocking the barrage of sword shadows, hesitated.

“Have all these kids experienced real combat?”

“They’re used to killing intent. And with the sword formation…”

They had thought they could easily break the formation and slaughter the disciples, but instead, their comrades were falling.

The Paewangseong warriors now took the battle seriously. As a result, the second-generation disciples maintaining the formation began to struggle.

“Hoo.”

Mu Hwi opened his eyes, having finished circulating his energy.

The killing intent emanating from Mu Hwi’s gaze was thick. He had been aware of the situation outside even while circulating his energy.

“Disciple Mu Hwi, you finished circulating your energy quickly?”

Her braided hair had come undone, and Xian Zhu’s long hair swayed in front of Mu Hwi.

Around them, a dozen Paewangseong warriors lay scattered.

“I’m in your debt, disciple Xian Zhu.”

“Don’t mention it.”

Xian Zhu, who had been playfully making a fist with one eye squinted, once again exuded a fiery gaze.

“What will you do?”

Mu Hwi looked down at the martial arts stage.

The Paewangseong warriors swarmed around the stage like ants. The two sword formations were rotating and holding out, but it was precarious.

“Hold on a little longer! The Sect Leaders will be here soon!”

“Disciple Jinho! Don’t push yourself, fall back!”

“But disciple Jinak is seriously injured!”

The numerical disadvantage was significant, and the elders, whose martial arts were highly advanced, were tied up dealing with the officers and deputy officers who were using combined attacks. The second-generation disciples maintaining the formation were holding out, but most were injured, bleeding, and still swinging their swords.

It wouldn’t be surprising if they collapsed at any moment.

Mu Hwi brushed his disheveled bangs back and added.

“What else can we do? We’ll have to cut them all down. Will you join me?”

Xian Zhu tilted her head slightly and smiled at Mu Hwi.

“You’ll save me if I’m in danger, right?”

At Xian Zhu’s playful question, Mu Hwi also chuckled.

“If I had that kind of ability, I wouldn’t have suggested we fight together.”

“Alright.”

The two, smiling, simultaneously kicked off the ground and leaped down from the platform.

Whoosh!

Xian Zhu, a step ahead of Mu Hwi, unleashed the Thirty-Six Swords of the World, cutting down five warriors in one go and creating space.

“Disciple Mu Hwi, I’ll make sure to protect you!”

Meanwhile, Mu Hwi, having taken the Snake Poison Pill, used the internal energy of the Heavenly Containment Heart Technique, which had reached the seventh stage, to continuously draw out Plum Blossom Sword energy.

Mu Hwi swung his sword horizontally and vertically without hesitation.

The petals of sword energy followed the sword’s trajectory.

It was as if a strong gust of wind had blown, causing the plum blossoms to fall all at once.

Splat!

Fountains of blood erupted from all directions. It was impossible to tell whether the red streaks in the air were the petals of sword energy or droplets of blood.

The Paewangseong warriors, who had died without even screaming, fell like scarecrows, and the attention that had been focused solely on the sword formation turned to Mu Hwi and Xian Zhu.

“What the!”

When they turned their heads, they saw red and white flashes. The sword strikes that extended from the thrusts pierced three necks in an instant.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

As Mu Hwi’s figure, using the Phantom Mirage Step, continuously rotated, heads fell like ripe fruit.

“What is that! That kid!”

“Kill that brat first!”

All sorts of weapons were thrust toward Mu Hwi.

But despite their ferocious momentum, not a single one touched Mu Hwi’s robe.

“Where do you think you’re going!”

A golden light spread in front of Mu Hwi, drawing a line as if to say, ‘Don’t cross’.

Xian Zhu swept her sword upward, protecting Mu Hwi’s front.

Xian Zhu deflected dozens of incoming weapons and unleashed a wide sword wind, cutting down the Paewangseong warriors.

“Comfortable with me in front, right?”

“You seem quite at ease.”

“It’s because disciple Mu Hwi is behind me. Ah, don’t worry, I won’t let my guard down. Go wild.”

As Xian Zhu said, she was spreading her energy sense widely and aware of all the surrounding situations, though not as much as Mu Hwi.

Xian Zhu often speaks to Mu Hwi, seemingly her way of relieving tension.

The two late-stage foundation level disciples exchanged words while cutting down enemies and advancing.

With Xian Zhu clearing the way, Mu Hwi simply scattered Plum Blossom Sword energy, reaping the lives of the Paewangseong warriors.

Splat!

The ground, already stained red, was now pooling with blood.

Xian Zhu could feel through her energy sense that the presence behind them was rapidly diminishing.

‘Was it because it was a martial arts competition when we fought? If it were a life-and-death battle, I would have died quickly.’

Clang!

Xian Zhu, who had blocked a blade aiming for her knees and ankles and split a falling blunt weapon, felt a chill run down her spine.

The sound of air being cut and fabric being torn, along with the sharp energy waves, reached her from behind.

Even without looking, Xian Zhu knew.

Mu Hwi never swung his sword in vain. Every time he swung his sword, at least two or three lives were extinguished.

A sword most suited for killing.

‘Grim Reaper… No, Sword Devil seems more fitting.’

Crack!

Mu Hwi, who had broken a neck with the Plum Blossom Scattering Hand, glanced at Xian Zhu, who was clearing the path.

‘Good eyes.’

Xian Zhu wasn’t charging forward recklessly. Even though the warriors seemed to be densely packed, there was a certain flow.

Xian Zhu’s broad vision took in the battlefield, finding and exploiting weak points.

So she took two or three steps for every one step forward.

“Disciple Mu Hwi, I’ll pick up the pace. Can you keep up?”

“Go ahead.”

“Hehe, let’s see.”

Xian Zhu’s sword and footsteps quickened by about two breaths, and Mu Hwi began to match her pace.

Whoosh!

“Argh!”

“Fall back!”

Thanks to Xian Zhu, who was handling the enemies that would have otherwise required attention, Mu Hwi’s sword became even more deadly.

The two moved in sync, changing positions based on each other’s steps and the direction of their swords, cutting down the Paewangseong warriors.

‘It’s been a while since I’ve felt like this.’

Even though it was their first time fighting together, their coordination is surprisingly good.

Mu Hwi remembered. The moments when he had fought side by side with Hyeon Jo, breaking through the battlefield of the Black Night Palace.

With a smile on his lips, Mu Hwi scattered petals in all directions.

Boom!

The Paewangseong’s army, which had shaken the Sacheon martial world, was being halved by just two late-stage foundation level disciples.

The deputy officer, who had been fighting alongside the officer against the Hwasan elders, momentarily stepped back and turned his head at the commotion behind him.

“What the!”

A red light fell like lightning vertically above the deputy officer’s head.

The deputy officer was split in two, unable to finish his sentence.

Mu Hwi, who had arrived at the martial arts stage, immediately cut down a middle-aged man who appeared to be an officer and charged forward.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The Jongnam elder, who had been blocking five swords in succession, saw a faint black afterimage.

‘Huh?’

Behind the Paewangseong warriors surrounding him, a blurry black afterimage appeared.

‘Phantom Mirage Step?’

At that moment, the black afterimage solidified, and blood blossoms bloomed in the air.

Three of the four warriors overlapped by the Plum Blossom Sword’s trajectory fell forward, but the last one, the officer, managed to hold on, staggering as he turned around.

Perhaps he wanted to see the face of the one who took his life.

“You…”

“Good perseverance.”

Thud!

Mu Hwi thrust his palm into the officer’s face, ending his life. A merciless move.

“Elders, are you alright?”

“Yes!”

“I’ve already killed the officer and deputy officer from the other Paewangseong Army group on my way here. We’ll have some breathing room now. Please hold out a little longer.”

It wasn’t just the officer and deputy officer. The number of warriors Mu Hwi and Xian Zhu had cut down on their way to the martial arts stage might have been more than those killed in the sword formation.

As Mu Hwi turned to leave, the elder shouted.

“What are you planning?”

“To end the battle, we need to cut off the head.”

“What? You can’t mean!”

Mu Hwi was looking into the forest where Baek Yu had disappeared.

From within the forest, the intense energy waves of top-tier experts clashing were pouring out.

Mu Hwi lowered the Plum Blossom Sword and stepped into the forest.

He intended to end the situation quickly.

< You’re comfortable with me in front, right? > End

< Hwasan Sword Devil. >