Chapter 97
Mu Hwi moved to the main hall and served tea to Im Su-ryeon.
Though, to be precise, Mu Hwi—who knew nothing about tea ceremony—merely poured the tea that Xian Zhu had brewed into cups.
“You mentioned a request… Has something happened?”
Im Su-ryeon took a sip of tea and parted her small lips.
“Hmm. ‘Happened’ might indeed be the right word.”
“Was the merchant convoy attacked? Or were rare goods stolen?”
Such incidents were common when problems arose in merchant circles.
“Fortunately, it’s neither of those.”
Im Su-ryeon placed an ornately decorated golden invitation on the table.
“Would you care to read it?”
Even at a glance, the invitation was extraordinary. It must have cost a fortune to produce.
As Mu Hwi unfolded it and read the contents, he understood why.
The Cheonryu Merchant Group was hosting a banquet to commemorate its 150th anniversary—a special occasion.
“150 years… I had no idea the Cheonryu Merchant Group had such a long history. Or rather, is that actually short for one of the Three Great Merchant Groups?”
At Mu Hwi’s muttering, Im Su-ryeon’s expression softened slightly.
“Yes. My father is currently the fourth leader.”
“So your request is for me to attend this banquet?”
“That’s correct. My siblings will also bring their own supporters.”
Mu Hwi nodded.
Though it was ostensibly just a banquet, for those competing for succession, it was another battleground. Each would showcase their supporters to prove their discernment and connections.
‘Might as well get my money’s worth after all those free meals.’
No matter who the others brought, Mu Hwi was confident he wouldn’t be outshone.
“If it’s just attending a banquet, there’s no need to call it a request. Of course, I’ll go.”
When Mu Hwi readily agreed, Im Su-ryeon bowed her head.
“Thank you, Disciple Mu Hwi.”
“So we’re heading to Henan?”
“Yes. The banquet will be held at the Cheonryu Merchant Group’s headquarters in Henan.”
Mu Hwi mentally calculated the schedule and nodded.
“It’ll take some time, so after Henan, we can return directly to Hwasan.”
He planned to leave the Hwasan Four Flowers and the other second-generation disciples at the Martial Alliance. Compared to attending a merchant banquet, facing off against various disciples and completing Martial Alliance missions would be far more beneficial for them.
“When do we need to depart?”
“We have about two months to spare.”
“Good.”
That was enough time to finish reading the remaining books in the archives. If he wrapped up his studies and then headed to Henan, the timing would be perfect.
“Then, may I come along too?”
“Of course, Lady Xian Zhu.”
“Wow! I’ve never been to Henan before—this is perfect!”
Since their first meeting in Shaanxi and their subsequent interactions at the Martial Alliance, the two women seemed to have grown closer.
***
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Amidst the crisp clashing of steel, Mujin and Mu-hwa’s figures crossed paths, leaving a flurry of red and white petals between them.
The swords of the two disciples, both trained in the Twenty-Four Hands Plum Blossom Sword Technique, collided fiercely, each trying to overpower the other’s movements.
The plum blossom reveals its splendor in the wind, three blossoms blocking three directions as sword energy and petals scattered. But Mujin’s Falling Plum Blossoms swept down from above, filling the air with drifting petals.
Plum blossoms intertwined, dyeing the surroundings in even stronger hues of red and white.
Mu Hwi watched as the two disciples used the Dark Scent Flutter to evade each other’s strikes while countering with the Twenty-Four Hands Plum Blossom Sword Technique.
Clang!
Their swords collided mid-air and rebounded.
Mu-hwa, superior in footwork, blurred into afterimages with the Dark Scent Flutter, seeking an opening in Mujin’s defense.
“Not yet!”
Mujin twisted his waist and unleashed his classic sword skills, attempting to ensnare Mu-hwa with a storm of plum blossom energy.
“I heard Muryun and Musang have now bloomed plum blossoms?”
“Yes. Faintly, but they’ve definitely succeeded.”
At Mu-cheol’s report, Mu Hwi chuckled in amusement.
“Impressive. I expected Muryun, but Musang progressing this fast is surprising.”
“Thanks to recent missions, Musang’s growth has been the most remarkable.”
Among the second-generation disciples, excluding the youngest Mu-hwa, Musang had the lowest aptitude. He was also a habitual slacker, making him one of Mu Hwi’s usual concerns.
Yet, he had surpassed his seniors and bloomed Plum blossoms ahead of them—Mu Hwi couldn’t help but laugh.
“I’ll have to teach Muryun and Musang the Twenty-Four Hands Plum Blossom Sword Technique too.”
Mu Hwi had set the prerequisite for learning the technique as blooming a plum blossom.
“I heard you’ll soon be leaving for the Cheonryu Merchant Group with Lady Im.”
“You’ll likely have to return to Hwasan without me. I’ll go straight from Henan to Shaanxi.”
“Understood. Senior Disciple Mujin has already scheduled our departure from the Martial Alliance to align with your plans.”
“Already? Truly Mujin-like.”
If things went smoothly, they’d arrive at Hwasan around the same time.
Unlike their first journey into the martial arts world, Mu Hwi now had no worries about sending his disciples out on their own. Otherwise, he would have either refused Im Su-ryeon’s request or taken all his disciples to Henan.
As time passed, Mu Hwi could truly feel how much his disciples had grown. Their experiences in the martial arts world and the Martial Alliance, along with numerous missions and real battles, had forged them into proper martial artists.
‘If I’d paid that guy more attention, he’d be even stronger by now.’
Mu Hwi smirked wryly, thinking of Dokgo Yul, who was likely struggling somewhere.
In his past life, Mu Hwi had taken Dokgo Yul as a disciple purely out of interest in his martial arts but had barely taught him. After imparting only the basics, he’d mostly left him to his own devices—Dokgo Yul had received almost no guidance from his master.
Mu Hwi resolved to put him through the wringer the next time they met. Just as he was force-feeding his current disciples, he’d pry open Dokgo Yul’s mouth and shove knowledge down his throat.
‘And…’
Dokgo Yul aside, there was still much to do in Mu Hwi’s eyes.
“Things will get busy again once we return to Hwasan.”
Currently, Mu Hwi is compiling the secret manual for the Twenty-Four Hands Plum Blossom Sword Technique and writing an annotated interpretation. Once back at Hwasan, he planned to teach the technique to the first-generation disciples and elders, followed by the Twenty-Four Hands Plum Blossom Sword Formation.
‘Only then can we establish a new organization.’
Under Mu Hwi’s guidance, the second-generation disciples had grown rapidly, narrowing the gap with the first-generation disciples. The Hwasan Four Flowers, in particular, could now rival most of the first-generation disciples.
Yet, the core of Hwasan Sect’s strength still lay with the first-generation disciples. If they were to form an elite force representing the sect’s martial prowess—like the Wudang Seven Swords—the first-generation disciples would naturally form its backbone.
Mu Hwi had similar plans. This would be his first major reform as Hwasan’s Sect Leader.
“Mu-cheol, how’s the task I gave you coming along?”
“The annotated manual, you mean?”
Though usually reticent, Mu-cheol hesitated before answering.
“Seems like you’re hitting a wall.”
“Yes. Putting vague insights into words isn’t easy.”
Mu-cheol was compiling an annotated manual for the Iron Plum Sword Technique under Mu Hwi’s orders, but he’d only managed to fill a single page so far.
“Moreover, I’m not sure if annotating the Iron Plum Sword Technique is appropriate when my mastery is still lacking.”
Mu Hwi smiled and nodded.
“It’ll change. Even the same technique might warrant entirely different annotations later.”
“Then isn’t this futile?”
“Not at all. Document the process as it is, and the changes can become annotations. Future disciples might face the same hurdles or at least be better prepared.”
Mu-cheol nodded in understanding. There were often multiple interpretations of a single martial art, and disciples’ approaches varied widely.
“You’re the first Hwasan disciple to properly master the Iron Plum Sword Technique. Whether it fades into obscurity or endures depends on you.”
“Hmm…”
Mu-cheol had thought Mu Hwi simply wanted the manual to preserve the technique. Realizing there was deeper intent, he exhaled thoughtfully.
Indeed, few Hwasan disciples were likely to take up the Iron Plum Sword Technique compared to other sword techniques.
‘I’ve been entrusted with a more important role than I realized.’
A flower’s beauty and fragrance matter, but so does its role in nurturing the next bloom.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
As if steeling his resolve, Mu-cheol’s voice grew firm again.
Clang!
With a sharp sound, Mu-hwa was forced back.
“Tch!”
Knowing she’d lost, Mu-hwa snorted in frustration.
“Ah! Just a little more…”
While Mu-hwa ruefully reviewed the match, Mujin wiped his sweat and approached Mu Hwi.
“Senior Disciple, how was the match?”
“Your confidence is showing. Is it because you recently bloomed your sixth plum blossom?”
“Haha.”
Seeing Mujin’s awkward laugh, Mu Hwi stood up.
“Before heading to Henan, I should test your skills.”
“Eh? Then after Senior Disciple Mujin, it’s my turn!”
Hearing this, Mu-hwa raised her hand and bounded over. Mu Hwi smirked and rested his hand on his sword hilt.
***
Kaifeng, Henan Province
A bustling metropolis teeming with people and a hub of transportation thanks to its network of waterways.
It was here that the Cheonryu Merchant Group had established its headquarters.
After leaving the Martial Alliance, Mu Hwi and Xian Zhu traveled by carriage with Im Su-ryeon and finally arrived in Kaifeng.
“So this is Kaifeng.”
The moment Mu Hwi stepped out of the carriage, his eyes landed on the beggars lining the streets. Despite his gaze sweeping over them, the beggars continued begging or sleeping undisturbed.
Xian Zhu, noticing his attention, asked,
“They’re disciples of the Beggars’ Sect, right?”
“Correct.”
Kaifeng was not only home to the Beggars’ Sect’s main branch but also to the Extreme Heaven Sect, one of the Seven Evil Heavens.
“Kaifeng is vast, but given martial artists’ mobility, the distance between sects isn’t much. Yet there’s no tension in the air.”
“It can’t stay that way forever. They’re just keeping it under wraps.”
As Mu Hwi and Xian Zhu crossed the threshold of the Cheonryu Merchant Group’s estate, a few beggars’ eyes gleamed.
“You’ve had a long journey. Please rest in the guesthouse first.”
Im Su-ryeon summoned a maid to escort Mu Hwi and Xian Zhu to the guesthouse so they could recuperate.
“Thank you.”
While Xian Zhu had enjoyed the carriage ride—comfortable and leisurely—Mu Hwi hadn’t. Sitting idle for so long had left him stiff. He was eager to swing his sword at the guesthouse.
“Brother Mu Hwi, you seem restless.”
“How could you tell? Once we’re at the guesthouse, how about a spar?”
“Sure!”
As they chatted and followed the maid, the group suddenly stopped.
“What’s this?”
Ahead, two factions stood blocking the path, locked in a standoff. The maid hesitated, unsure what to do.
“How dare you—”
“Hoho. Care for a match?”
At the forefront of the two groups, two men were engaged in a battle of auras, their presence formidable. They appeared to be scions of prestigious sects—likely guests invited to the Cheonryu Merchant Group’s banquet, much like Mu Hwi.
“Tch.”
Mu Hwi clicked his tongue and strode forward.
Waiting idly for the fight to end, taking a detour, or mediating—none of these options suited his temperament.
The two men, on the verge of clashing, suddenly turned their attention to Mu Hwi as he walked between them.
“Move. If you’re going to fight, do it quickly. This is tedious.”
Mu Hwi’s indifferent remark, accompanied by a slight frown, made both men’s eyebrows twitch simultaneously.
“What?”
“You insolent—”
Their glares bore into him, and their auras surged aggressively. But Mu Hwi merely smiled and brushed it off effortlessly.
Whoosh!
Instead, his own aura flared, pressing down not only on the two men but also the martial artists behind them.
“Guh! Do you know who I—”
“Not bad…”
The man in blue robes, startled, trailed off mid-sentence. The man in black robes gritted his teeth but eyed Mu Hwi with interest.
“Judging by your attire, you’re from the Extreme Heaven Sect and the Paewangseong.”
“You dare act like this knowing my background? I’m the Young Sect Leader of the Extreme Heaven Sect!”
As the blue-robed man—the Extreme Heaven Sect’s Young Leader—snarled, Mu Hwi’s lips curled.
“And what am I supposed to do about that? Bow my head just because you’re the Extreme Heaven Sect’s Young Leader?”
“You—! Who the hell are you?”
“I am the Hwasan Sect Senior Disciple.”
Mu Hwi’s unwavering voice brimmed with pride for his sect. As he flicked his sleeve, a red plum blossom emblem became visible.
Only then did the Extreme Heaven Sect’s Young Leader notice the plum blossom embroidery on Mu Hwi’s sleeve. His eyes widened.
< I am the Hwasan Sect Senior Disciple. > End
< This is the gap between you and me. >
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