Hwasan Sect’s Genius Swordsman Chapter 64

Chapter 64

Although the Small Hwasan Manor had clearly seized the advantage, the opponents were still martial artists of the Seven Evil Heaven.

Despite being attacked from both front and rear, and the morale greatly diminished as their top masters fell one after another, only a few attempted to flee.

“Kill as many as you can to take them with us!”

“Hypocrites of the righteous sect!”

Even though they were severely injured from the combined attacks, the evil sect’s martial artists went berserk, trying to swing their swords at the righteous sect martial artists at least once more.

“Ugh! Don’t let your guard down! These bastards are vicious.”

Most of them clung desperately to their opponents, forcing the righteous sect martial artists to endure significant losses.

As a result, the Small Hwasan Manor had no choice but to open an escape route, letting some of the Seven Evil Heaven go.

If they tried to kill all the martial artists, it was clear that those cornered would fight to the death.

They chose to reduce the losses of their own disciples rather than increase the casualties of the Seven Killers.

Only after concluding the battle could the righteous sect martial artists return to Small Hwasan Manor.

At Small Hwasan Manor, they held a memorial service for the fallen and then gathered for a modest drinking session among the survivors.

“Disciple Mu Hwi, can I follow you when you return to Hwasan?”

At Xian Zhu’s question while they were drinking together, Mu Hwi’s lips twitched.

“Why Hwasan?”

“After the Six Harmonies Sword Assembly, the Paewangseong started moving, so I couldn’t even think of traveling the martial arts world. But now that I suddenly have the chance, I want to visit Hwasan and think about where to go next.”

“Well… Do as you please.”

“Yay!”

As Xian Zhu rejoiced and Mu Hwi chuckled, Mujin, who had just entered through the door, sat next to Mu Hwi and spoke.

“Senior Disciple. I just heard some news. The Janryonghoe Sect and Guyu Sect martial artists who fled ended up fighting each other.”

Instantly, the gazes of the second-generation disciples, who had been exchanging drinks, focused on Mujin.

“Huh? Why?”

When a startled Mu-hwa asked, Mujin slowly recounted what he had heard.

“While fleeing, the Janryonghoe Sect princess’s body was discovered, and traces of the Guyu Sect’s sword techniques were found. The two sects argued and eventually ended up fighting.”

Mu Hwi nodded calmly, but his eyes, as he drank, were slightly curved.

‘If they not only discovered it but also fought, emotions must have flared, and the scene would have been chaotic. The best outcome.’

The reports from the surviving martial artists would naturally be exaggerated with emotions.

Since they had only joined forces out of convenience, it was highly likely that the two sects would go to war again over this incident.

Mu Hwi filled a cup of wine and lightly shook it towards the air.

‘Since you’ve helped bring peace to Hwasan, I’ll offer this cup to you. Jeok Sa-hye.’

If Jeok Sa-hye’s spirit had heard this, she would have gone mad, but Mu Hwi didn’t care about that.

Xian Zhu, who had been listening to Mujin, looked at Mu Hwi.

“Disciple Mu Hwi, you said you chased Jeok Sa-hye but lost her, right?”

“That’s right. I regretted not being able to deal with her directly like the Hell Sword Dragon, but it turned out well.”

Mu Hwi hadn’t informed Hwasan that he had killed Jeok Sa-hye.

The goal was to create a misunderstanding between the two sects and divert their attention away from southern Shaanxi, so it was better if no one knew.

“I heard Jeok Sa-hye’s martial arts were quite strong, so I came to face her myself, but I didn’t even get to see her. It’s such a shame.”

As Xian Zhu’s eyes drooped in disappointment, Mu Hwi shook his head.

“Don’t worry about it. You’re stronger than Jeok Sa-hye.”

Even though Mu Hwi said it casually, Xian Zhu’s eyes lit up, and a beautiful smile formed.

“Hah! Really? I’ve definitely gotten much stronger since the Six Harmonies Sword Assembly, right? I’ve been clashing with the Paewangseong almost every day. I even faced death twice.”

As Xian Zhu spoke, flicking the rim of her wine cup, Mu Hwi nodded.

Xian Zhu, who wasn’t just being boastful, had indeed become much stronger. Now, she wouldn’t be far behind the Cloud River Sword Dragon.

“Lady Xian Zhu, when we go to Hwasan, can we spar once?”

“I’d be delighted, Lady Mu-hwa. Your swift sword at the Six Harmonies Sword Assembly was impressive.”

As the two women clinked their cups lightly, a fire ignited in their eyes.

Facing each other, these two women, similar yet different, would greatly benefit from the experience.

Thud!

A large wine jar landed in front of Mu Hwi. Dokgo Yul, who had placed the jar, stared intently at Mu Hwi.

“I’m going to Hwasan this time too!”

“Do as you please.”

“Let’s have a proper match when we get to Hwasan!”

At Dokgo Yul’s hearty voice, Mu Hwi let out a sinister smile.

“You lost to the Iron Mountain Fist King’s disciple, right? I won, so isn’t the result already decided?”

At Mu Hwi’s sarcasm, Dokgo Yul pretended not to hear and filled his cup, coughing awkwardly.

“Ahem! A man experiences all sorts of things in life.”

“If it were me, I’d be too ashamed to show my face before the Sword Devil’s memorial tablet.”

Dokgo Yul’s shoulders slumped as if deflated.

‘Ah, this is really strange.’

Originally, he wouldn’t have been so affected by the words of a mere late-stage foundation level disciple.

But seeing Mu Hwi, the Sword Saint’s disciple, somehow made him feel psychologically intimidated.

Unlike his master, Mu Hwi had a very delicate face, but those fierce eyes seemed to have been directly copied from his master’s. So, every time their eyes met, it felt like his deceased master had returned.

Mujin, who had been watching Dokgo Yul drinking alone, asked.

“Disciple Dokgo, you share the same surname as the Sword Devil. Are you related by blood?”

At the same time, Mu Hwi’s expression soured.

In Mu Hwi’s eyes, Dokgo Yul’s face was scrunched up just like his own.

‘This disciple, why is he making that face?’

As Mu Hwi glared at Dokgo Yul as if to kill him, Dokgo Yul, unaware, answered Mujin.

“I’m an orphan. I just took my master’s surname. My master was also an orphan. He gave me his surname and name because I was a nameless orphan like him.”

“I see. My apologies.”

“It’s fine.”

As Mujin bowed his head, Dokgo Yul nodded lightly and filled Mujin’s cup.

“The name of the group I lead, the Dokgo Association, is also related to that.”

Mu Hwi, who hadn’t known about this, also listened attentively to Dokgo Yul’s words.

“The Dokgo Association is made up of people just like me. There are orphans, those whose families have fallen, and wandering drifters with no place to go.”

The members of the Dokgo Association were all people who had lived lonely lives.

“To be precise, they are people who live lonely lives but seek a place to settle and rely on. The Dokgo Association is a place where such people come together to become each other’s home and support.”

Mu Hwi silently watched Dokgo Yul.

When the Dokgo Association was just a small group of about ten people, Dokgo Yul had brushed it off as just using his surname when asked about its meaning.

‘So, this was the meaning.’

In this battle, Dokgo Yul led two hundred martial artists from the Dokgo Association to participate.

Considering that this wasn’t even the full force, the Dokgo Association’s size was expected to be much larger.

Although he was just a young man not yet past thirty, Dokgo Yul had the ability to lead people.

In the future, as time passed and his experience grew, this ability of Dokgo Yul would shine even brighter.

‘Damn disciple. He’s doing well on his own.’

Feeling a sense of pride, Mu Hwi slightly raised the corner of his mouth and brought the wine cup to his lips.

Xian Zhu, who had been listening to Dokgo Yul, asked casually.

“Listening to Disciple Dokgo, it seems like this won’t just end as a single group. Perhaps…”

At Xian Zhu’s words, Dokgo Yul nodded.

“When the time comes, I will give the Dokgo surname to all members of the Dokgo Association and create a family. Though not related by blood, a family united under the Dokgo surname will be born.”

Mu Hwi, who had been silently listening, quietly spoke up.

“Then, the family’s name will be the Dokgo Family.”

Dokgo Yul smiled and nodded.

“Recently, thanks to the Hebei Peng Family, whose momentum is soaring, there’s a lot of talk in the martial arts world that the Three Great Families will soon become the Four Great Families. I will nurture the Dokgo Family and turn the Four Great Families into the Five Great Families!”

As Dokgo Yul laughed heartily while holding his wine cup, the late-stage foundation level disciples around him looked at him with new eyes.

When he was being scolded by Mu Hwi, he seemed somewhat foolish, but now, seeing him confidently reveal his ambitions, he appeared as a different person.

Seeing a peer so boldly declare his intention to create a new family, some disciples admired him, while others looked at him with envy.

‘Though each feels differently, it seems they’ve been stimulated.’

As Mu Hwi observed his disciples, his eyes narrowed at a certain point.

Mu-hwa was staring at Dokgo Yul’s profile with her mouth slightly open.

Her eyes had a dreamy, entranced look.

“Ah!”

Mu-hwa, who had been blankly staring at Dokgo Yul, suddenly screamed as Mu Hwi pinched her cheek.

“Senior Disciple! What’s wrong with you!”

“You seemed to be losing your mind, so I thought I’d bring you back.”

“Ah, really!”

Only after Mu-hwa struggled for a while did Mu Hwi release her cheek.

***

Since it was still unclear how the Seven Evil Heaven would move, the first-generation disciples stayed a bit longer at Small Hwasan Manor, while the second-generation disciples returned.

With Xian Zhu and Dokgo Yul joining them to ascend Hwasan, it seemed even more bustling.

As soon as Dokgo Yul arrived at Hwasan and paid his respects to Baek Yu, he headed to the shrine to bow before the Sword Devil’s memorial tablet.

Even after raising his head, Dokgo Yul stood still for a long time before the Sword Devil’s memorial tablet. Seeing this, Mu Hwi, who had been waiting outside the shrine, quietly walked away.

As Mu Hwi was meditating cross-legged in the training ground, he sensed Dokgo Yul’s approach and opened his eyes.

“You said you wanted to spar, but you kept me waiting like this.”

Dokgo Yul had stood before the Sword Devil’s memorial tablet for a full hour before finally appearing at the training ground.

Seeing Dokgo Yul’s usual hearty smile, Mu Hwi said nothing and stood up.

The second-generation disciples, who had been scattered around, stopped their training and stepped back to prepare to watch the match.

After briefly looking at Dokgo Yul, Mu Hwi glanced at Mu-cheol beside him.

“Mu-cheol, I’ll need the Plum Blossom Sword.”

“Yes, Senior Disciple.”

Mu-cheol untied the giant Plum Blossom Sword from his back and handed it to Mu Hwi.

Whoosh!

As Mu Hwi swung the Plum Blossom Sword lightly with one hand, a dull sound of splitting air echoed.

Seeing this, Dokgo Yul’s eyes sparkled as he watched Mu Hwi’s movements.

‘What’s this? He doesn’t seem to usually use a heavy sword, but his movements look familiar.’

Feeling that the match would be more interesting than expected, Dokgo Yul smiled.

“You’re going to use that heavy sword?”

“Yes.”

Mu Hwi gripped the giant Plum Blossom Sword with both hands and took a stance.

“I’ll face you with the Iron Plum Sword Technique.”

Dokgo Yul also drew the heavy sword from his back and pointed it at Mu Hwi.

“The Dokgo Sword Technique.”

As the two heavy swords pointed at each other, the atmosphere around them grew heavier.

Meanwhile, Mu-cheol watched the two with his mouth tightly shut.

He was curious about the Iron Plum Sword Technique that the Senior Disciple would display and how the Dokgo Sword Technique, said to rival the Imperial Sword Form of the Nangong Family, would perform.

As the two heavy swords, which had been facing each other, moved simultaneously, the surrounding atmosphere began to ripple.

The moment the two heavy swords crossed, a storm-like energy swept through the training ground.

Boom!

A massive roar signaled the start of the match.

< I will create a family. > End

< There’s an order to coming, but not to leaving, don’t you know? >