Hwasan Sect’s Genius Swordsman Chapter 55

Chapter 55

The Dark Monkey’s movements were as if it were stepping on invisible stairs, kicking off the air. It was reminiscent of the legendary skill of a supreme master, treading on air.

Even while carrying the Plum Blossom Sword and a bundle in both hands, the monkey displayed such ethereal agility that Mu Hwi was left speechless.

“Huu.”

As Mu Hwi fell from the cliff, he exhaled lightly and twisted his body.

Changing his posture, Mu Hwi began to accelerate as he descended.

Crack!

Mu Hwi stepped on an old pine tree growing from a crevice in the cliff. Though it didn’t break, unlike the monkey’s movements, the pine tree shook violently.

With Mu Hwi’s current level of lightness skill, it was still impossible to descend the cliff with the same grace as the monkey.

Mu Hwi decided not to mimic the monkey’s movements and instead relied on his own method.

Opening his eyes wide, Mu Hwi took in the terrain of the cliff and all the potential footholds, mapping them out in his mind.

‘Twelve spots.’

Mu Hwi connected the movement paths in his mind as if drawing a route. In an instant, a path down the cliff was formed.

Twisting his waist to adjust his angle, Mu Hwi descended toward a rock visible diagonally below.

By now, Mu Hwi had drawn the Plum Blossom Sword in his right hand and gathered red energy in his left.

Crash!

Mu Hwi’s movements were direct and rough, using the Plum Blossom Sword and his hands to control his speed and change direction as he descended the cliff.

He was like a swallow diving to catch an insect.

The trajectory of his straight and swift movements was strangely difficult to follow with the eye.

Though crude, his practical movements allowed him to traverse the cliff as intended.

The movements Mu Hwi displayed were similar to the Dokgo Divine Steps he had used in his past life with a heavy sword.

Before his feet touched the ground, Mu Hwi flipped his body once to reduce the impact.

Crash!

As Mu Hwi’s feet landed, the ground around him cracked, and the surrounding vegetation trembled.

Having channeled the impact of his entire body into the ground, Mu Hwi exhaled lightly. Meanwhile, the Dark Monkey, perched on a nearby tree, looked at him with pity.

“Squeak!”

It seemed to mock Mu Hwi, as if descending such a cliff was no big deal.

“That damn monkey…”

As the monkey’s faint figure disappeared into the forest, Mu Hwi let out a cold laugh and kicked off the ground.

The Dokgo Divine Steps combined both footwork and lightness skills, but it was more suited for combat than movement.

As soon as Mu Hwi began using the Phantom Mirage Steps, his sleeves flapped like wings.

Entering the forest, Mu Hwi’s entire body was swallowed by the shadows.

The forest behind Luoyan Peak was untouched by human footsteps, with dense trees stretching endlessly.

Thickly packed trees.

Above, dense branches blocked even the sunlight, while below, the roots of the trees protruded unevenly.

This forest was an inconvenient environment for practicing lightness skills.

Nevertheless, Mu Hwi quickly demonstrated movements that avoided the obstacles around him.

However, compared to the monkey, Mu Hwi’s movements were lacking.

The monkey didn’t even make a sound as it stepped on branches or roots.

Its movements were light, as if sliding through the air, unhindered by anything, flowing naturally like a passing breeze.

Its steps, or perhaps its entire body, seemed to carry the wind, moving freely. Occasionally, the monkey’s movements surprised Mu Hwi.

It felt as if the monkey had become formless, like a cloud or a scent, flowing through the forest.

‘Even seeing it again, that movement is astonishing.’

Twisting his shoulders to avoid branches, Mu Hwi continued to chase the monkey’s movements.

He didn’t want to miss even a single moment of its movements.

The monkey seemed to be considerate, maintaining a consistent distance as Mu Hwi followed.

Realizing this, Mu Hwi let out a bitter smile.

‘Even though it’s a spiritual creature, I can’t catch up.’

Though his pride was slightly hurt, Mu Hwi was actually pleased.

If there was something better than him, it meant there was room for improvement. He could learn from it and catch up later.

‘Show me more. I’ll take everything you’ve got.’

As Mu Hwi’s focused eyes gleamed, the monkey, which had seemed impossible to catch, finally stopped.

A small cave at the base of the cliff.

The monkey, wagging its tail, looked at Mu Hwi and entered the cave. After scanning the surroundings, Mu Hwi followed it into the cave.

The cave wasn’t very deep, and as soon as he entered, a beam of light was visible from the other side.

After about twenty steps, the darkness lifted, and Mu Hwi was once again bathed in bright sunlight.

What greeted Mu Hwi as he exited the cave was a circular basin rising high.

Inside, a vast flower garden bloomed with dozens of types of flowers, with plum blossom trees and old pine trees taking root here and there.

It was like a small utopia hidden within Hwasan. The monkey, seemingly living in this basin, climbed onto a plum blossom tree and opened the bundle.

“A fitting place for a spiritual creature.”

The basin was filled with natural energy, more than anywhere else on Hwasan. It felt as if the energy of all things had gathered here, as if it were a ley line.

Even without actively circulating his energy, Mu Hwi could feel it through his energy sense. Practicing mental techniques here would likely lead to significant progress.

Taking his eyes off the monkey chewing on the candy, Mu Hwi looked around.

The towering white cliffs surrounding the basin felt like an impregnable fortress protecting the utopia within.

As Mu Hwi slowly scanned the cliffs, his eyes gradually widened.

Using the Phantom Mirage Steps, Mu Hwi quickly approached and looked up at the cliff.

“As expected, sword marks.”

Sword marks stretched out boldly in all directions, using the vast cliff as their canvas.

Despite the considerable time that had passed, the sharpness of the sword marks was still vividly preserved.

Mu Hwi muttered as he placed his hand on the cliff, unable to take his eyes off the sword marks.

“No sword energy was used. Only pure sword techniques were used to carve these marks.”

The depth and texture were still so clear that it felt as if his hand might be cut just by touching the marks.

Mu Hwi examined the sword marks from top to bottom.

At the bottom of the marks were two characters carved into the cliff.

Hyeon Gu (趜賢)

“Hyeon Gu… Wasn’t he the Hwasan Sword Saint when the Sect Leader was a second-generation disciple?”

It seemed Hyeon Gu had also entered this basin in the past, guided by the monkey.

After staring at the sword marks for a long time, Mu Hwi regained his composure and examined the other side of the cliff.

The basin was large enough to hold thirty buildings.

The cliffs surrounding the basin were also vast, and half of them were densely covered with sword marks.

“They’re different.”

At first, Mu Hwi thought Hyeon Gu had carved all these marks, but after walking about ten steps, the texture of the marks changed.

These marks were more chaotic and complex than Hyeon Gu’s, with occasional holes of varying sizes punched into the cliff. The holes had spiral patterns inside, as if they had been pierced by a sword.

“Jin Seon (震宣).”

Beneath these marks were also two characters carved into the cliff. Mu Hwi continued walking while examining the marks.

Every few steps, the marks changed, and without fail, a new name appeared.

Each person who left their marks had different insights, so the texture and form of the marks varied.

There were marks from the Three Layer Plum Blossom Sword, the Ten Thousand Fragrances Sword, and even sword techniques that seemed to belong to Hwasan but had since disappeared.

“Amazing.”

The countless sword marks filling half the basin’s cliffs had one thing in common.

They were marks left by swordsmen of a level rarely seen in the current martial arts world.

Despite the considerable time that had passed, the marks still exuded a chilling sharpness and hinted at the insights the swordsmen had sought to convey.

“These are the past Sword Saints of Hwasan.”

All that remained were their names, but Mu Hwi was certain.

Only the top-tier swordsmen, worthy of the title Sword Saint in their era, could have left such marks.

The number of names Mu Hwi saw now exceeded ten.

Some marks seemed to have been carved over three hundred years ago. It was unclear whether this basin had been secretly passed down through generations of Hwasan Sword Saints or if the monkey had lived for over three hundred years.

“Hmm?”

While examining the marks, Mu Hwi stopped at one point.

Judging by the order of the marks, this one at the very end seemed to be the first mark carved into the cliff.

The first mark was extremely simple.

Two straight lines, one horizontal and one vertical.

A large hole pierced through the center.

Beneath this mark, only two characters were carved: ‘Six Harmonies’ (六合).

The moment Mu Hwi saw this mark, he froze like a stone.

After staring blankly at the mark for a while, Mu Hwi finally took a step back and let out a sigh.

“I don’t understand.”

With the other marks, even if he couldn’t fully grasp their meaning at a glance, he could roughly understand the sword intent behind them.

But this first mark, despite its simplicity, was completely incomprehensible.

“Six Harmonies…”

Throughout its long history, Hwasan had produced many Sword Saints, but only one had been revered as a Sword God, surpassing even the title of Sword Saint.

The founder of Hwasan, Six Harmonies Sword God (六合劍神).

No matter how much Mu Hwi thought about it, the only person who would carve “Six Harmonies” instead of their own name was the Six Harmonies Sword God.

Though there was no definitive evidence, Mu Hwi was certain after seeing the mark. This was the mark of the Six Harmonies Sword God.

“This is the paradise of Hwasan.”

As Mu Hwi surveyed the basin, he felt a lightning bolt pierce through his mind.

The new sword technique Mu Hwi would create for Hwasan.

The ten unnamed techniques left by Hyeon Jo.

The nine unnamed techniques left by the Sword Devil.

Adding the insights gained from the marks in this basin, Mu Hwi realized he needed to create a new sword technique.

A sword technique that synthesized the insights of past Sword Saints.

In such a situation, ordinary people would feel burdened or overwhelmed, but Mu Hwi’s eyes sparkled like a child who had found a new toy.

“I don’t even know what kind of sword technique will come out of this.”

Mu Hwi raised the corner of his mouth as he took in the sword marks carved into the cliff.

***

Rustle, rustle!

The sound of grass blades brushing against each other was incessant.

Mu Hwi was running across the flower garden in the basin, with the monkey chasing behind him.

“Squeak!”

With a short cry, the monkey’s body stretched out long. Like ink splattering in the air, the monkey instantly reached right in front of Mu Hwi.

The monkey reached for the candy in Mu Hwi’s hand. Its movements were like those of a master swordsman.

Mu Hwi’s foot, placed on a flower, twisted lightly. As if sliding on ice, Mu Hwi’s footsteps swept through the air.

The flower Mu Hwi had stepped on didn’t break but merely swayed gently as if touched by the wind.

Mu Hwi’s movements, drawing soft lines like a butterfly, resembled the monkey’s as he retreated.

“Squeak!”

Having missed in the air, the monkey let out an angry cry and began moving even faster.

With its fur bristling irritably, the monkey swiftly reached out for the candy.

The monkey’s hands created dozens of hand shadows, resembling the Plum Blossom Hand Technique.

If Mu Hwi was stealing the monkey’s movements to incorporate into his lightness skills, the monkey was mimicking the Plum Blossom Hand Technique, scattering its hands in a peculiar manner.

Tap!

Mu Hwi, flipping his hand in a circular motion to deflect the monkey’s hand, remembered the movement the monkey had just shown.

‘I can use this.’

Mu Hwi was even stealing the Plum Blossom Hand Technique that the monkey was mimicking and adapting to its own taste.

The Plum Blossom Hand Technique, the monkey displayed was constantly giving Mu Hwi new inspiration.

Thanks to the monkey, five techniques of the Plum Blossom Hand Technique had been revised, and three new techniques had been added.

“Squeak!”

“Monkey, is it getting harder to get the candy?”

“Squeak!”

Though Mu Hwi and the monkey were running wildly across the flower garden, the flowers and grass beneath their feet only swayed roughly without breaking.

Mu Hwi and the monkey, showing the realm of ‘Flying Over Grass’, had circled the basin several times without any intention of stopping.

Three months ago, Mu Hwi would have had the candy snatched by the monkey before taking twenty steps.

Sometimes, when the monkey ate too much candy and got tired of it, Mu Hwi had to tempt it with other things.

Because of this, Mu Hwi had swept through Huayin’s candies, alcohol, and pastries, spreading rumors that the Hwasan Sword Devil had a sweet tooth.

“Squeak!”

Now, he wasn’t helplessly caught by the monkey.

Over the past three months, Mu Hwi had not only mastered the Phantom Mirage Steps and the Fragrant Steps but also the Five Elements Plum Blossom Steps, Flying Stream Steps, and Floating Cloud Leap Steps, among other Hwasan lightness techniques.

By blending the Dokgo Divine Steps into them, Mu Hwi’s mastery of Hwasan’s lightness techniques had skyrocketed.

Now, Mu Hwi’s movements were completely different from three months ago.

“Squeak! Squeak!”

Unable to catch Mu Hwi no matter how hard it tried, the frustrated monkey stopped and angrily slapped the ground with its tail.

“Three months… It took less time than I expected.”

Mu Hwi tossed the candy to the irritated monkey. The monkey grinned and licked the candy.

Mu Hwi began to recall and organize the monkey’s movements he had observed today.

“Squeak…”

After finishing the candy and licking its lips, the monkey saw Mu Hwi deep in meditation and sat down, watching him for a long time.

With its long experience, the monkey knew this was an important moment.

The monkey dragged the Plum Blossom Sword it had thrown into the flower garden and lay down next to Mu Hwi.

As if standing guard.

***

“Elder Gong Ji, we’ve just crossed into Shaanxi. We’ll rest for a while before continuing.”

Gong Ji, who had been rolling prayer beads with his eyes closed, nodded at the voice of the martial artist outside the carriage.

“Understood.”

Gong Ji was returning to Hwasan alongside the Baekri Family’s procession.

He had been invited as an observer for a martial contest between representatives from Hwasan and the Baekri Family.

“Hopefully, it will end without incident…”

Gong Ji stepped out of the carriage and began reciting Buddhist scriptures.

“Amitabha.”

< This is the paradise of Hwasan. > End

< This time, the name was well chosen. >