Hwasan Sect’s Genius Swordsman Chapter 71

Chapter 71

Mu Hwi’s entire body was crushed under Kang Tae-hyeok’s grip. Mujin and Mu-hwa, who were watching Mu Hwi’s back crumble so easily, widened their eyes in shock.

“Senior Disciple!”

Kang Tae-hyeok, however, couldn’t feel the sensation of crushing a human body.

“You know how to move.”

What had been crushed was the afterimage of the Dark Scent Flutter.

Mu Hwi’s pupils, which had narrowly avoided Kang Tae-hyeok’s strike, moved rapidly.

‘He really came alone.’

Not even the King’s Guards, the escort of the Paewangseong, was visible. Kang Tae-hyeok didn’t like to use petty tricks.

If he could end the situation by moving his own hands, that was enough.

The probability of the King’s Guard hiding elsewhere was zero. If there was no one around Kang Tae-hyeok, it meant he had truly come alone.

Mu Hwi didn’t bother to think about why Kang Tae-hyeok had climbed the Hwasan alone.

There were only two reasons Kang Tae-hyeok moved.

Either his heart moved, or he felt like it.

Kang Tae-hyeok didn’t look several steps ahead like others. He simply decided where to extend his hand in the immediate moment.

A destructive move that could shake the board.

Right now, that move was directed toward the Hwasan. And Mu Hwi also extended a move toward Kang Tae-hyeok.

The straight thrust of the Plum Blossom Sword.

It seemed like a simple straight sword strike, but countless changes were occurring within it.

Though it was thrust in a straight line, it was impossible to tell where it would end.

Naturally, Kang Tae-hyeok, who didn’t miss the subtle changes, swung his hand through the air as if writing calligraphy, drawing rough lines.

“Good.”

Kang Tae-hyeok’s eyes curved menacingly as he saw the blazing look in Mu Hwi’s eyes.

How many martial artists in this world would dare to close the distance on the Paewangseong Lord himself?

Even the few emperors in the martial arts world wouldn’t easily step forward.

Yet, the young blood in front of him was thrusting his sword without hesitation.

“Impressive.”

Despite his pleased voice, his rough hand extended without hesitation, trying to crush both the Plum Blossom Sword and Mu Hwi. The air tore roughly as his fingers bent. Facing this, the fine hairs on Mu Hwi’s body stood on end.

It wasn’t a large movement, just a slight twitch of his fingers, but Mu Hwi felt death as if standing on the edge of a cliff.

Yet, Mu Hwi didn’t stop advancing.

A Sword Devil doesn’t retreat from the edge of death but finds a way forward by advancing.

The answer for a Sword Devil always lies beyond the edge of death.

From Mu Hwi’s Plum Blossom Sword, a waterfall-like sword energy surged. Just as the space around Kang Tae-hyeok’s gesture seemed to distort, a single plum blossom bloomed pitifully at the tip of the Plum Blossom Sword.

Despite being pressed down by the crimson edge of the Broken Heavenly Sword, the plum blossom fully embraced its distant purple twilight.

Kung!

However, the purple light and sword energy of the plum blossom were blocked by an invisible wall, unable to advance further.

As Kang Tae-hyeok made a grasping motion, the plum blossom shattered into pieces, scattering in all directions. Seizing the opportunity, Mu Hwi’s sleeves fluttered violently.

Using the Plum Blossom Mountain Technique, he dispersed the pressure of the Broken Heavenly Sword, creating a tiny gap.

The Plum Blossom Sword, digging into the gap as small as a grain, was followed by the scattering sword energy like a shadow.

The purple flash that had split the air in half fell silent against Kang Tae-hyeok’s vertically descending palm.

The destructive force was as if a part of the sky had fallen.

Kwaaaang!

As the Plum Blossom Sword bent almost to the point of breaking, Mu Hwi’s body was flung backward as if about to collapse.

Mu Hwi, flipping in mid-air and being pushed back, had a red line of blood forming on his lips.

Even as he spat out blood-tinged saliva, Mu Hwi never took his eyes off Kang Tae-hyeok, who let out a faint laugh.

“I intended to crush your chest, but it ended with internal injuries? Interesting.”

A brief exchange that lasted only a blink of an eye.

Kang Tae-hyeok’s sinister smile deepened as he noticed the tip of his sleeve, which had unleashed the Broken Heavenly Sword, was torn by half a finger’s length.

“So, it was you who killed Huang Jin-gun.”

When the Red Flame Army returned from the Six Harmonies Sword Assembly and reported that Mu Hwi had slain Huang Jin-gun, no one believed them.

But only Kang Tae-hyeok accepted that it could have happened.

Even if he were to return to his late-stage self, he was confident he could have killed Huang Jin-gun.

“I was disappointed not to experience the Sword Saint’s sword, but it seems I didn’t need to. I look forward to ten, no, five years from now.”

As Kang Tae-hyeok’s hand reached out toward Mu Hwi again, a sudden gust of wind from behind pulled Mu Hwi back.

Whoosh!

At the same time, a fierce wind rushed toward Kang Tae-hyeok.

Hong Sa-myeong, stepping using the Extreme Drunken Immortal Steps (醉仙八步), was even faster than the wind playing on the Hwasan.

From Hong Sa-myeong’s hands, yellow tails stretched out like meteors, gradually thickening until they resembled two yellow dragons.

The swirling light gathered the dust and stone fragments around, circling Hong Sa-myeong like tails.

The moment the two yellow dragons were tamed by Hong Sa-myeong’s outstretched hands.

“Paewangseong!”

As Hong Sa-myeong’s shout echoed, the two yellow energy streams in his hands struck down on Kang Tae-hyeok’s head.

The Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms (亢龍十八掌).

Flying Dragon in the Sky (飛龍在天).

The supreme palm technique that only the leader of the Beggar Sect could master revealed its majesty on Hwasan.

Kurung!

The energy erupted, resonating like the roar of a dragon.

“Tsk.”

Mu Hwi, clicking his tongue, protected the two unconscious disciples by releasing a thick aura as the Wind King and the Paewangseong Lord clashed.

The two yellow dragons playing in the sky bared their fangs at the arrogant gesture that seemed to shatter the heavens.

At the same time, the energy waves of the absolute masters collided, surging like a tidal wave in all directions.

Chwaruk!

The plum blossoms blooming extravagantly in the air and the sword energy petals filling the space covered the entrance of the Hwasan Sect.

Kwaaaang!

Even though it was just swept by the energy wave, the entrance of the Hwasan Sect collapsed as if hit by a storm.

Only the direction where Mu Hwi had cut through the energy wave remained intact.

‘Still far behind.’

Mu Hwi, with wide eyes, chased the exchange of the absolute masters, which even top-tier experts found hard to follow. Although he had grown rapidly recently, Mu Hwi didn’t consider himself strong.

The opponents Mu Hwi had to face were not the late-stage foundation level disciple or the mediocre experts of the martial arts world, but the absolute masters above the heavens.

‘Right now, I’m just at a level where I won’t die in the martial arts world.’

As Mu Hwi assessed himself, every time the Paewangseong Lord and the Wind King’s hands clashed, the surrounding plum trees trembled weakly, scattering petals.

Before they knew it, the stone-carved stairs had disappeared, and the trees and bushes around had long been torn apart by the energy waves.

Literally, the terrain was changing. The clash of absolute masters was like a natural disaster.

Jjeong!

As Hong Sa-myeong and Kang Tae-hyeok exchanged dozens of blows in an instant and simultaneously stepped back, the martial arts masters who had been conducting the Righteous Path Grand Assembly began to appear at the entrance.

Baek Yu glanced at the unconscious Mujin and Mu-hwa in front of the collapsed entrance and then took a stance toward Kang Tae-hyeok.

“What brings the Lord to this place?”

His attitude was respectful, but anger could be felt in Baek Yu’s eyes and voice.

Baek Yu managed to suppress his anger and asked politely, but the other martial arts masters did not.

“Paewangseong Lord! What is the meaning of using such rough hands on the younger generation!”

“It seems the Lord has come personally to ruin the Righteous Path Grand Assembly.”

The leaders of the Nine Sects and the Three Great Families, who were calmly observing the situation, were also ready to step in at any moment, raising their internal energy.

Kang Tae-hyeok, with his hands behind his back, looked at Hong Sa-myeong and then at the martial arts masters behind him, clicking his tongue.

“The evil sects lack manners, and the orthodox are too rigid… How boring, how boring.”

Hong Sa-myeong laughed and flicked a stone fragment at his feet.

The stone fragment flying toward Kang Tae-hyeok was caught in the swirling energy waves and turned to dust, disappearing.

“Paewangseong Lord, why have you come to Hwasan alone without your subordinates?”

“I heard a beggar who had been stuck in Kaifeng came to Shaanxi, so I wanted to spar after a long time, and there was something I wanted to check personally.”

Kang Tae-hyeok spoke while looking at Hong Sa-myeong and then at Mu Hwi.

Hearing this, the leader of the Cheongseong Sect, Go Hoon, fluttered his empty sleeve and stepped forward.

“Truly, the Paewangseong Lord who fears nothing. How lightly you must have thought of us to come to Hwasan so comfortably.

“Don’t flatter me, Sect Leader. If I truly looked down on you, your sect would already be ashes.”

Kang Tae-hyeok’s laughter made Go Hoon grip his sword tightly, but he didn’t draw it, only calming his breathing.

Kang Tae-hyeok, with a raised corner of his mouth, scanned the martial arts elders and spoke.

“Or were you planning to gang up on me? Unlike the evil sects, you have at least some dignity. Though I wouldn’t mind if you all attacked at once.”

Thud!

As if daring them to try, Kang Tae-hyeok’s overwhelming aura made the martial arts elders eyebrows twitch.

At that moment, the Shaolin Abbot, Gong Hyeon, struck the ground with his Green Jade Buddha Staff (綠玉佛杖), emitting a clear resonance that spread around like the sound of a bell.

Ziiing!

Everyone’s gaze turned to Gong Hyeon.

“If the Paewangseong Lord has not come to spar, there is no need to shed blood, Amitabha.”

“The Abbot is right.”

Even though the Paewangseong Lord had caused a disturbance at the Hwasan Sect, Baek Yu’s calm voice made the other martial arts elders lower their momentum.

Then, Baek Yu looked directly at Kang Tae-hyeok and spoke.

“But, Lord. Besides the reason mentioned earlier, it seems there is another reason for coming to the Hwasan. Is it just my speculation?”

At this question, Kang Tae-hyeok stroked his beard.

“Sect Leader, you have a good sense. I haven’t decided whether to share this information yet. I left it to my whims.”

At the mention of information, Hong Sa-myeong’s eyes narrowed.

“What information?”

Despite Hong Sa-myeong’s question, Kang Tae-hyeok looked at Baek Yu and asked.

“You’ve formed a new alliance this time, what is its name?”

Since it wasn’t information to hide, Baek Yu answered immediately.

“The Martial Alliance.”

“Is that so? The evil sects call themselves the Four Paths Alliance.”

Kang Tae-hyeok spoke lightly, but Baek Yu and the other martial world seniors were momentarily speechless.

‘The evil sects? Could it be that the Seven Evil Heaven Sects have united?’

Even Mu Hwi, who was tending to his disciples, furrowed his brow and turned his head.

“Suddenly, what is this!”

“Are you saying the evil sects have formed an alliance?”

Hong Sa-myeong stroked his chin and glared at Kang Tae-hyeok.

“There was no sign of this, how could the Seven Evil Heaven Sects unite under one name?”

“Beggar. Even if the Beggar Sect is spread across the world, can you catch all the Sect Leaders of the Seven Evil Heaven Sects if they move alone?”

“The Sect Leaders of the Seven Evil Heaven Sects have come together for a meeting?”

“Is that really possible?”

The martial arts elders muttered in disbelief, and Hong Sa-myeong only sighed.

“Those guys don’t need to hold multiple meetings like us. They just need to confirm their unity under the alliance’s name and decide the details through force.”

After finishing his thoughts, Hong Sa-myeong spoke belatedly, and Kang Tae-hyeok just smiled.

“Moreover, they have a clear center in Guan Yachangtian.”

Guan Yachangtian (貫夜槍天).

Another title for the number one evil sect.

“The number one evil sect has moved the Seven Evil Heaven Sects. No, now the leader of the Four Paths Alliance.”

In the silence, Mu Hwi, who had stepped forward, asked Kang Tae-hyeok.

“Since you know this information, it seems you’ve received some proposal from the Four Paths Alliance?”

Mu Hwi’s tone was cheeky for a late-stage foundation level disciple, but Kang Tae-hyeok didn’t mind.

“I did. They suggested joining forces to crush the orthodox sects.”

Kang Tae-hyeok spoke lightly, but the martial arts elders couldn’t take it lightly.

Hong Sa-myeong, who usually handled information, quickly made a judgment.

“Since you’re telling us, it seems you have no intention of joining hands with them.”

“It’s better to play both sides than to immediately join the evil sects and kill you all.”

Kang Tae-hyeok looked at the stiff-faced martial arts elders and continued.

“They said they would target the main sect first if they formed an alliance. I hope you handle yourselves well.”

Somehow, Kang Tae-hyeok knew the Martial Alliance’s first move clearly.

But since Paewangseong already knew and the Four Paths Alliance existed, it was now impossible.

One of the martial arts elders spoke to Kang Tae-hyeok.

“Ultimately, it seems Paewangseong is using the Four Paths Alliance to block the Martial Alliance. Are you afraid of the Martial Alliance’s advance?”

Kang Tae-hyeok snorted and looked at the elder who spoke.

“Afraid? I fear neither the Sword Immortal nor Changcheon. What I fear is the delay of the main sect’s great work. Do you think I would be afraid even if you all united?”

The overwhelming aura emanating from Kang Tae-hyeok silenced everyone. Kang Tae-hyeok, surrounded by a thick aura, didn’t look human.

It was as if a massive being in human form was exuding immense pressure.

As no one spoke, Kang Tae-hyeok just twitched his lips and dispersed his aura.

“Sect Leader of the Hwasan Sect, I apologize for destroying your entrance.”

Having said his piece, Kang Tae-hyeok turned to leave without hesitation, but Mu Hwi stopped him.

“I will come to collect the price for destroying the entrance.”

The martial arts elders, who had been silent under the Paewangseong Lord’s aura, were surprised when the late-stage foundation level disciple spoke.

Kang Tae-hyeok, turning halfway, looked into Mu Hwi’s eyes.

It wasn’t a thoughtless remark driven by youthful vigor or recklessness.

It was deeply calculated and sharp.

The cold, piercing gaze reminded him of a lone swordsman he had faced in the past.

‘They call him the Hwasan Sword Devil. That gaze truly resembles a Sword Devil.’

Kang Tae-hyeok’s lips curled as he recalled the Sword Devil.

“Come and collect it if you wish. But the moment you tore my sleeve, you were placed on the main sect’s kill list. Can you handle that?”

Shocked gazes swept over Mu Hwi.

‘The Paewangseong Lord’s sleeve?’

‘Just wielding a sword in front of the Paewangseong Lord is astonishing enough. How could he dare?’

Despite everyone’s eyes on him, Mu Hwi ignored them and glared at Kang Tae-hyeok.

“Don’t worry. When you oppressed my disciples and destroyed the entrance, your name was already on my kill list.”

Kang Tae-hyeok’s fierce eyes narrowed.

Some martial arts elders turned pale at Mu Hwi’s bold words.

“Kill list? Hahaha!”

It was unexpected to hear such a threatening warning from a late-stage foundation level disciple with such an age gap, but it was a somewhat enjoyable experience.

Genuinely amused, Kang Tae-hyeok let out a sinister laugh.

“I’ll be waiting. I’m always at the Paewangseong’s Castle’s Taesaye.”

The Paewangseong Lord turned his back without hesitation, hands behind his back, and walked down the steps.

Kang Tae-hyeok, who had suddenly appeared at the Righteous Path Grand Assembly and caused a stir, disappeared like a wave in an instant.

< Can you handle it? > End

< A change that hides change. >