Chapter 48: Mount Hua (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 48: Mount Hua (2)
I felt the need to reiterate my point, but time has never been my ally. Instead, I was always the one forced to adapt to its relentless march and whatever it brought with it.
I was reemphasizing that statement because the ten days I’d been granted flew by far too quickly.
In that short span, I had to squeeze in as much training as possible while also dredging up every memory I had of future events. On top of that, I was constantly interrupted by visits from the Second Elder and Gu Huibi.
The only real entertainment I found was teasing Wi Seol-Ah after she finished her chores. The look of utter despair on her face when I snatched and ate her yakgwa—as if her world were collapsing—never failed to amuse me.
Besides, when you think about it, it’s my money anyway, right?
Sure, the servants occasionally bought her snacks with their own coin, but most of her treats came from me. Well, to be precise, it was the clan’s money—but that’s practically the same thing.
It’s my money until I leave the clan.
I’d always planned to leave for good, but that was a concern for the future. For now, I needed to leech off the clan for at least another five years.
Thud! Thud!
I released the sandbags after a grueling training session. The heavy sound they made as they hit the floor spoke volumes about their weight.
“Not yet,” I muttered.
Ten days was nowhere near enough time to break through to the Fourth Star of the Gu Flame Wheel Art. I was perched at the peak of the Third Star, but the final wall separating me from the fourth was deceptively high.
To wield this destructive Gu Flame Wheel Art with any fluidity, I first needed to temper my physique. The Gu Clan’s flame martial art may have been easy to learn, but balancing the required Qi flow was another matter entirely. The wild flames that wreathed the user’s body devoured Qi voraciously, and to withstand their fury, one needed a robust physical foundation.
Speaking from the experience of my past life, I knew better than anyone how crucial a strong body was.
“…It’s also why I never reached the highest realm.”
The highest realm—the ultimate form of the destructive Gu Flame Wheel Art, the level at which one could truly claim to have mastered it. Some said mastering the art was akin to mastering one’s own will. But since I’d never reached that height, I couldn’t say for sure.
The Demonic Sword of my previous life had reached a state of unity with her blade. In terms of realm alone, I believed she surpassed me. When I asked her what it felt like to attain such a state, her reply was simple:
Nothing.
I wasn’t even disappointed; I’d expected her to be vague.
If I had to decipher her answer, it probably meant she had transcended to a new level.
Such things are difficult to put into words. As one ascends, they grow accustomed to that elevated state, perceiving it with greater clarity. I was still stuck at a level so pathetic I couldn’t even sense such nuances—but if I were in the shoes of the martial artist standing before me, it would be a different story entirely.
“I am great at driving carriages, Young Master!”
“…There’s no need, Elder. We’ve already hired drivers.”
So why was this man living like this? It was a question that always nagged at me.
* * *
Ten days had passed in the blink of an eye. It felt like I hadn’t rested nearly enough, yet the day of my departure for Mount Hua arrived regardless.
For fuck’s sake… I still can’t believe I’m heading to Shaanxi right after returning from Sichuan.
I wondered how long the journey would take. By the time I returned, autumn would probably have settled in.
“…How long do you think this trip will take?” I asked.
“I suspect it will take longer than you expect.”
“How can you say something like that? Are you still upset with me?”
It seemed Muyeon was still sore from the last time I teased him with that silver coin.
Well… I never did pay him back.
Maybe that was why he was irritated. I planned to reimburse him after receiving payment for this mission.
Setting Muyeon aside, I turned my attention to the carriage being prepared for the journey. A small mountain of supplies was being loaded aboard—significantly more than what we’d taken to Sichuan. I assumed this was special treatment, since the carriage had been sent by the Lord himself.
Amid the flurry of activity, I spotted Wi Seol-Ah struggling under the weight of a massive bundle that blocked her view. She was hauling loads that would give grown men pause.
…Does she already possess some level of Qi?
Her monstrous strength left me with no other explanation.
Neigh!
My eyes drifted toward the sound. Wi Seol-Ah carrying impossible weights was one thing, but the Sword Venerable casually chatting with the horse…
…What am I supposed to make of this?
…How did they end up coming with me?
When I first learned that the Sword Venerable and Wi Seol-Ah would be accompanying me, I was stunned. To make matters worse, the Sword Venerable insisted on being the one to drive the carriage. I thought we already had a driver, but when I asked, I was told he’d taken a vacation right after being paid from our Sichuan trip.
…Now, of all times? Right when I’m supposed to leave for Mount Hua?
Something smells fishy.
I had a strong suspicion the Lord had a hand in this. And caught in the middle of these shady machinations was me, walking straight into the storm.
Was this really okay?
“Little brother.”
It was Gu Huibi. I turned to see her holding a familiar plate of dumplings.
“Why are you holding that?”
“I heard you skipped your meal again.”
“Uh… I ate, just not much.”
“Little brother, have you lost your mind? How can you skip meals during your growth phase?”
“As you can see, I’m perfectly fi—Ough!”
Before I could finish, she shoved a dumpling into my mouth. As much as I wanted to spit it out, I couldn’t bring myself to waste good food. I forced it down and gulped the water she handed me afterward.
“…”
Gu Huibi watched me with a satisfied, almost gleeful expression—which only irritated me more.
“Sister, when are you leaving?”
“Why? Do you want me to stay longer?”
“No, I want you to get out of here alre—Woah!”
I dodged the punch she threw without warning.
This crazy woman resorts to violence first now!
“Hey! Let’s use words, please!”
“I knew you’d dodge it anyway. Honestly, the way you talk to me…”
As she shook out her hand, a faint red Qi flickered around her knuckles.
Wow, she even infused Qi into that punch?
Shocking as it was, Gu Huibi simply smiled.
“I’ll be leaving the clan in ten days.”
Ten days? So she’d have stayed a full twenty days in total. That was an unusually long break for a swordsman. Maybe it was because they’d just completed a lengthy mission. The fifth swordsmen squad was always assigned long-term operations, so their last assignment must have been particularly demanding.
“Where are you headed after your rest?”
“Oh? Are you worried about me?”
Annoying. I should’ve kept my mouth shut.
Gu Huibi chuckled at my reaction.
“It’s a bit disappointing, only getting to see you for this long.”
She ruffled my hair with her hand. My head wobbled with each motion, reminding me of the Second Elder. Unfortunate, that resemblance…
“The next mission will be a long one. I’ve been assigned to the Abyss.”
“The Abyss?”
The Abyss was a region where demon gates frequently appeared. It fell under the direct supervision of the Murim Alliance, and the orthodox factions had an agreement to take turns stationing troops there. It seemed it was now the Gu Clan’s turn.
“That’ll be a long assignment for you.”
“Won’t it be fun? I hear demons appear there constantly… I’m already excited.”
“…I hope you enjoy yourself.”
My worries were for nothing—she was actually looking forward to it.
The Mad Flaming Sword… She was truly insane.
As we spoke, Muyeon approached and said, “Young Master, we are ready to depart.”
“Are we leaving now?”
“Not immediately, but within the next five to fifteen minutes. The Second Elder mentioned he has something to give you…”
“…I wonder what it’ll be this time.”
Anything involving the Second Elder put me on edge. It wouldn’t surprise me if he told me to “Give this to the Lord of the Sect” or something equally troublesome.
“Give this to the Lord of the Sect.”
…I hadn’t expected him to actually say it.
“…What did you say?”
I asked again, hoping I’d misheard, as the Second Elder had appeared out of nowhere and spoken those words casually.
The Second Elder responded as if it were nothing. “Hmm? Oh, just give this to that Dohwa bastard—”
“No—! Wait, wait, I wasn’t asking about the nickname you gave the Sect Lord.”
“Huh? Then what were you asking?”
This madman—did he just call the Lord of Mount Hua a bastard? How was he so fearless?
“Anyway, they’ll let you meet him if you mention my name, so hand this over.”
“What is it, anyway?”
“Nothing important. I was supposed to give it to him a while ago, but this old man forgot.”
The item he handed me was wrapped loosely in a cloth, so it really didn’t seem like anything special. It felt pleasant to the touch, so I fiddled with it absently. A moment later, the Second Elder spoke again.
“It’s called the Great Plum Blossom Stone. One of the four great treasures of Mount Hua.”
My fingers froze the instant I heard his words. Beside me, I heard Muyeon choke on a hiccup.
…What did he just say? Surely I must have heard wrong, right?