Chapter 73 : Sect Leader
While eating Tanghulu and exploring the market street.
“…Aren't those Mount Hua disciples?”
From far away, n wearing Mount Hua martial uniforms appeared.
“Wait, aren't they coming this way?”
The Divine Physician also discovered them and his expression hardened.
“Why are they coming to us?”
Seol Ye-rin, who was eating Tanghulu, also turned her gaze to the Mount Hua martial artists.
“We ca because a scent of flowers drifted our way.”
As if elegant young masters had appeared, two people stood in front of Seol Ye-rin.
Cheon Deung-jin observed for a fleeting mont and then stood in front of Seol Ye-rin.
Because she thought others would recognize her as a man right now.
As a result, naturally,
“Who are you?”
“Who is it?”
It looked like I and Cheon Deung-jin were stepping forward to protect Seol Ye-rin.
“…I am Mount Hua’s Cheong Geol.”
“I am Cheong Pung.”
Those wearing Mount Hua martial uniforms introduced themselves politely.
“We introduced our sect, so how about your sect?”
Sharp gazes passed by and Cheon Deung-jin.
Cheon Deung-jin looked back at .
In fact, neither of us was from the Ice Palace.
At the mont when we were stuck for words.
“Nice to et you. I am Seol Ye-rin, the Young Palace Head of the North Sea Ice Palace. Do the young masters of Mount Hua have any business with ?”
Flinch.
“North Sea… Ice Palace?”
“What business does the North Sea Ice Palace’s Young Palace Head have in Huayin County...”
The faces of the Mount Hua second-generation disciples who heard Seol Ye-rin’s words beca serious.
-Senior brother, what do we do?
-Calm down. We have spoken to quite a few beauties, but isn't this the first ti we've heard such an answer?
-If it's the Ice Palace… rumor has it they freeze people alive.
-Hey, there is no way such a beauty would do such a thing.
“The Young Palace Head asked what business you have.”
Whoosh-
Killing intent enough to give goosebumps on their backs was conveyed to the two people.
At the sudden killing intent, the two people’s expressions hardened.
“For barbarians, you are confident, aren't you?”
“You seem to think this is the Ice Palace?”
The two were seen placing their hands on their sword hilts.
An explosive situation.
“We are here at Mount Hua’s invitation, but it seems it hasn't been conveyed to you two.”
Cheon Deung-jin spoke.
“Invitation?”
“Elder Baek San has gone up to Mount Hua. I don't think your seniority is higher than the Elder, so I hope we don't cause unnecessary friction.”
At that one word, Cheong Pung and Cheong Geol clasped their hands.
“We apologize for not recognizing Mount Hua’s guests!”
From the mont Baek San was ntioned, the gazes of the two began to change.
Baek San’s status felt great anew.
-Ho, is it because it is certainly a huge sect? The discipline is better established than other sects.
-It feels completely different from the third-generation disciples.
Perhaps sensing the difference too, the Sword Venerable and the Demon Queen each spat out a word.
“Then we will see you at Mount Hua!!”
Dash.
Seeing the three people running away quickly, the girl selling Tanghulu spoke.
“For so reason… the Plum Blossom gluttons are running away.”
“Plum Blossom gluttons?”
“They are guys who often co down and covet free als in the market street like gluttons, claiming they are Mount Hua disciples.”
“Coveting free als, are you talking about Mount Hua?”
“Everyone keeps it quiet, but Mount Hua is no longer the Mount Hua of the past. Cultivating the Dao is good, but wouldn't one need to be able to make a living to maintain the status of a prestigious Orthodox sect? Right now, Mount Hua is lacking too, too, too much in that part.”
We were able to acquire surprisingly much information about the Mount Hua Sect in the market street.
***
The Mount Hua Sect Leader, Hyeon Cheon-jin-in (Taoist Hyeon Cheon), stroked his beard at Baek San’s report.
“You brought the North Sea Ice Palace’s Young Palace Head to Mount Hua...”
He also conveyed the story about the third-generation disciples who almost died in Yulin City.
“Did you say the Zhongnan Elder, Byeok Ra-jung, died?”
“Yes, I confird his death.”
“Don't you know well what will happen if Zhongnan finds out about this fact?”
“That is why I brought them, Sect Leader.”
“Are you saying you will use the Ice Palace as a shield?”
Baek San shook his head.
“That is not it. Let's strike Zhongnan together.”
“Together?”
“The Divine Physician is with them.”
At the word Divine Physician, Hyeon Cheon-jin-in’s eyes flashed.
“The Divine Physician...?”
“Yes.”
“Why is the Divine Physician moving with the Ice Palace?”
“I do not know that well either.”
“Good. Then let's say we join forces with the Ice Palace and fight Zhongnan and win. How will you handle the Alliance’s reaction?”
Consolidating power in Shaanxi Province by borrowing the power of the Outer Regions.
And by striking out the Zhongnan Sect, which is also part of the Nine Sects One Gang.
Naturally, solidarity was bound to decrease.
Perhaps the Ice Palace was aiming for that and visiting Mount Hua.
Baek San, who pondered for a mont at the Sect Leader’s reaction, opened his mouth.
“If we do not receive the Ice Palace’s help, what do you plan to do about the attack that half-destroyed the Yulin Inn?”
From a while ago, businesses that maintained Mount Hua’s protection were directly attacked.
Although they were said to be those wearing black clothes, anyone could see their techniques were of the Zhongnan Sect.
But no one could speak it out loud. Because Mount Hua didn't have as much power as before.
They knew Zhongnan was continuously expanding its territory, but this was the first ti they had attacked directly like this.
Furthermore, they intended to completely destroy the inn run by So-dong, an expelled disciple.
Mount Hua’s precious third-generation disciples might have all lost their lives on the spot.
Everyone knows it is sothing an Orthodox sect should absolutely never do.
“We must respond.”
“Even if we respond, I think there is a high possibility that Mount Hua will not achieve what it wants.”
“…San-ah, don't you also know that everyone is staking their life and death for survival in this era?”
Just keeping the Saphaeryeon in check as they expanded their territory was taking all the Murim Alliance’s strength.
And Mount Hua had to be in pain until recently.
The people involved in this were the Sect Leader, Baek San, and Yu So-dong.
“Even so, you should have embraced Un-so. It is Mount Hua, isn't it?”
“He was a child better suited for comrce than martial arts. We couldn't guide that child.”
“That child almost died.”
“.......”
Hyeon Cheon-jin-in sighed.
How did it co to this?
‘It is clear that the tension has decreased.’
In the era of great peace where external pressure completely disappeared, they were trying to kill each other.
‘Ice Palace...’
History inford us that the Ice Palace revealed itself in the Central Plains in a hundred-year cycle.
The fact that Ice Palace people are roaming the Central Plains again ans clearly a hundred years have passed.
The Sect Leader, who had heard about the North Sea Martial Gods of a hundred years ago, asked Baek San again.
“Who did you say the Young Palace Head was?”
“Seol Ye-rin. The North Sea Ice Palace Lord’s only daughter.”
“Only daughter?”
“That is correct.”
“Hmm, then how about this thod?”
Listening to Baek San, the North Sea Ice Palace’s Young Palace Head said she ca to tour the Central Plains.
Originally, isn't it better to travel with a man than for a woman to travel alone, and doesn't affection grow if a man and a woman travel together?
Yin and Yang are always aningful when they are one.
“What… thod is it?”
“Instead of resolving the Zhongnan matter together, let's assign one Mount Hua martial artist who can stick around with the Young Palace Head.”
Baek San read the Sect Leader’s thoughts but couldn't firmly oppose it.
Because they weren't in a position to be picky.
He also felt how much their prestige could rise if Mount Hua carried the Ice Palace on its back.
Winter, where one couldn't even think of blooming plum blossom scent.
They were suffering from a cold winter where the plum blossoms withered.
***
The next day.
The group, who enjoyed the market street well and returned to their lodging to fully relieve their travel fatigue, began to climb Mount Hua.
I heard the Mount Hua Sect is located around the middle of Mount Hua.
Mount Hua, where five peaks soar, was very difficult to climb.
Enjoying the scenery lined with strange rocks and bizarre stones along with cliffs that seed to be cut sheer between the five peaks shrouded in a sea of clouds, the group was able to climb to the middle of Mount Hua.
[Mount Hua Sect]
A signboard with a flashing brushstroke written in one stroke welcod the group.
“…It has been a long ti.”
Yu So-dong, who climbed Mount Hua together, examined various aspects of Mount Hua.
Seeing Yu So-dong’s appearance, I asked.
“What kind of person is the Mount Hua Sect Leader?”
“Pardon?”
“We will face the Sect Leader once we enter Mount Hua now, so I thought it would be good to know even a little more about the Mount Hua Sect Leader.”
“The Sect Leader is a Taoist to the bone.”
“Taoist?”
“Yes. Shall I call him a hopeful optimist who thinks that whether the disciples are dying or living because they have no living expenses, they will be able to live well if they cultivate the Dao and learn martial arts?”
Living a life cut off from the secular world would not be easy in reality.
“You an he is an upright person?”
The feeling I got from hearing Yu So-dong was like that.
“Ah, I am not too sure about that either.”
“The conclusion is we have to et him to know.”
Confird.
Still, there was a big difference between eting him knowing the circumstances and eting him without knowing.
“Anyway, it is a magnificent view.”
Seol Ye-rin admired quietly.
It was a completely different feeling from the snowy mountains seen in the Ice Palace.
Thinking it was good to have co seeing that appearance, we entered the Mount Hua Sect.
Then,
“Nice to et you.”
There was a person waiting for us as soon as we crossed the main gate.
“The, the expelled disciple of the Mount Hua Sect, Yu So-dong, greets the Mount Hua Sect Leader, Hyeon Cheon-jin-in.”
Yu So-dong, who entered the Mount Hua Sect first, discovered the Sect Leader and bowed.
Behind the Sect Leader, the disciples of Mount Hua were lined up.
“It has been a long ti.”
“For the Divine Physician to visit Mount Hua like this, it is an earth-shattering event.”
“Haha, is that so?”
“This person is...?”
“I am Seol Ye-rin, the Young Palace Head of the North Sea Ice Palace.”
“I am Hyeokryeon Yeom, the Small Snow Squad Captain in charge of escorting the Young Palace Head.”
Hyeon Cheon-jin-in’s expression hardened upon confirming the Young Palace Head’s escorts flocking in.
Because the martial prowess of each mber of the group was as powerful as the masters of Mount Hua.
“This… it seems the Ice Palace’s status has beco great while we haven't seen each other.”
“You flatter us.”
“I heard the news that you saved the third-generation disciples from Zhongnan. Let say thank you first.”
“No, it was sothing we naturally had to save.”
“Thank you for thinking so. Ah, anyway, let's go inside first.”
Hyeon Cheon-jin-in stretched his arm forward to guide us as if telling the direction to my group.
While they walked forward, Hyeon Cheon-jin-in stayed in that spot for a mont.
Hyeon Cheon-jin-in, who stood while everyone went forward, spoke to Yu So-dong, who did not get up while clasping his hands.
“And So-dong-ah, you follow too. Either way, you are my martial nephew, so wouldn't it be okay to accept at least a cup of tea from your martial uncle?”
***
Following Hyeon Cheon-jin-in’s guidance, we arrived at the Sect Leader's office and took our seats.
Seol Ye-rin checked here and there in the Mount Hua Sect with her two eyes as if fascinated.
“Why are you doing that?”
“I was surprised that the Sect Leader's office is more frugal than I thought.”
It certainly is an atmosphere that looks a bit poorer than the Palace Lord’s Hall.
“It seems the Ice Palace has good financial circumstances?”
“It improved a bit this ti.”
“Did you discover gold, silver, and treasures or sothing?”
“Since we sold North Sea Cold Iron to the Central Plains, you will probably soon be able to see martial artists carrying Cold Iron swords.”
I slipped in as the atmosphere of the Sect Leader asking and Seol Ye-rin answering continued.
“I hope you will now talk in earnest about the reason why Elder Baek wanted to invite us to Mount Hua.”
At my question piercing the essence, Hyeon Cheon-jin-in pondered for a mont and then brought up the story.
The mont the Ice Palace group, including , focused on the Sect Leader’s mouth to see what story would co out of the mouth of a Taoist far from the secular world.
“In our Mount Hua, there was a Taoist who realized the true Dao.”
It is a story out of nowhere.
“He didn't know how to learn martial arts and had no talent, but he knew the heavenly secrets, fortune, and all paths of the Dao, and was a person who knew everything about Mount Hua.”
Yu So-dong, who ca in late at the Sect Leader’s words, paused.
The Sect Leader continued speaking.
“Then, eight years ago, soone set fire to the pavilion where all of Mount Hua’s secret manuals were stored. Nothing remained and it beca a pile of ashes. The secret manuals Mount Hua had realized until now, and above all, the precious Daoist scriptures of the ancestors. It was truly despair. At that ti, that person stepped forward.”
“It was Taoist Un-hae (Un-hae-jin-in), who was a Scholar Taoist.”
Baek San took over the speech.
“He is the Eldest Senior Brother to and the Sect Leader. You could say he was a person who knew everything in the world.”
“And for three years, he restored the scriptures without rest and revived the secret manuals. Because it was all in his head. And five years ago. He finally finished that work. And he went outside with his disciple and collapsed just like that. Carrying him on a small body, he cried loudly. That was Un-so, no, that child So-dong.”
Our group’s gaze turned to So-dong.
“From then on, his health rapidly deteriorated. We searched everywhere and emptied everything we had to save him, buying all kinds of dicinal herbs. But he only got worse. Then suddenly that child disappeared. Everyone couldn't pay attention, and then soon... he passed away. And just two days later, that child brought one item, do you know what it was?”
The Sect Leader said with a smile.
“It was none other than a Great Cycle Pill. To save his master, after searching everywhere, he stole what a certain rchant guild had. And we are still paying back that debt.”
Having spoken up to here, the Sect Leader caught his breath for a mont and continued.
“Do you know why I am telling this story?”
“I do not know.”
I said honestly.
“It ans it was a tragedy that would not have happened if the Zhongnan Sect hadn't touched us. We even suspected that it might be them who burned the pavilion. So I ask.”
Hyeon Cheon-jin-in looked at with eyes full of light.
“Can you join forces with Mount Hua and drive away the Zhongnan Sect?”
A very secular story popped out.
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