Chapter 171
Chapter 171
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 171
Chapter Title: Plum Blossom Token
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The next day, Hyeok Mulin, who had been staying at his lodgings, headed toward the entrance to descend Mount Hua.
A middle-aged man followed behind him.
"Leaving already?"
Sangseo saw him off with a reluctant expression, as if he still had lingering regrets.
"I invited you to our main sect to repay our benefactor, yet all we did was receive your help. I have no face left."
The purpose of Sangseo's invitation to Hyeok Mulin had been clear.
To bring the hero of the Shaanxi Sword Cloud Assembly into the Huashan Sect and treat him with utmost respect.
But in the end, he had only shown the sect leader's disappearance and the presence of traitors swarming within.
Moreover, without his help, the sect leader would have undoubtedly fallen into the hands of those unorthodox scum. He felt grateful, yet ashamed at exposing Huashan's ugly underbelly.
"It was an entertaining experience, rather."
Even with all the unexpected events, Hyeok Mulin was pleased instead.
To think he would personally dig right into the heart of the Shaanxi Bloodbath.
To him, that had been a gain.
Had he met the sect leader without any hurdles in a mundane fashion, he never would have seen the sword himself, and it would have ended with simply facing the ancient martial master.
But in searching for the disappeared leader, he had forged a connection, allowing him to witness the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Swordsmanship firsthand and deepen his own swordsmanship.
'Huashan's sword is also rooted in the Illusion Sword.'
It shared the same goal as the Nine Heavens Honeymoon Sword he wielded.
Thus, confirming the direction of the Illusion Sword as interpreted by Huashan had been a fine opportunity to advance his own swordsmanship.
'Shaanxi will be quiet for a while.'
The Four Black Alliances' rampage in Shaanxi had failed.
Given that they had completely vanished afterward, even the Twin Brains seemed to have stepped back, planning to observe the situation for the time being.
However, with the Shaanxi Sword Cloud Assembly attack followed by the Huashan Sect leader's disappearance, the orthodox factions would heighten their vigilance even more.
The tension between orthodox and unorthodox would intensify, freezing the atmosphere without a doubt.
With nothing more to see at Huashan amid such developments, Hyeok Mulin could leave without regret.
But Sangseo still regretted not treating him better, so he asked in a voice full of reluctance.
"What on earth was written in that letter to make you decide to leave without a second thought?"
Hyeok Mulin answered without hesitation.
"I left home for a bit, and now wolves are sniffing around nearby."
"Ha ha. Then it's certainly worth returning for."
The contents of the letter delivered to Hyeok Mulin had been straightforward.
The Man Clan... and rebellion.
No one who had risen to lead a group could ignore the weight of the word that followed.
However, after confirming it to the end, Hyeok Mulin had faintly lifted the corner of his mouth.
The name at the letter's close was none other than Man Clan Patriarch Man Ho.
Who in the world would send a letter preemptively announcing their own rebellion?
Had Man Ho's name not been under the passage, anyone would have suspected it was forged.
But the handwriting was unmistakably his, and Man Ho's unpredictable nature only confirmed he had written it himself.
'He even reached out to Jeok Mu-gun before.'
Jeok Mu-gun, now in the Divine Demon Blood Death Squad, had confessed that the Man Clan had previously offered him a position.
He was the one who had slain the Man Clan's great captain and vice-captain in the Martial Demon Tournament, shattering their prestige. Few in the world would casually extend a hand to that culprit.
Yes. Man Ho was that kind of man.
Thud. Thud.
As Hyeok Mulin pondered for a moment, an elderly man approached the entrance.
Sangseo hurriedly bowed upon seeing him.
"Sect Leader! What brings you all the way here...!"
Baek Hyeon-gyeong, smiling, looked at Hyeok Mulin and said,
"Shouldn't I at least show my face to see off the benefactor of our sect?"
Hyeok Mulin nodded to him, conveying his gratitude.
"It was a good experience."
"Heh heh. Glad if it helped. Come step on this land again sometime. Next time, I'd love to see your sword in turn."
Baek Hyeon-gyeong hadn't hidden his astonishment at Hyeok Mulin blooming plum blossoms from a mere moment of insight.
It meant he was already a swordsman who could infuse meaning into his blade.
To reach such a realm at that age.
Baek Hyeon-gyeong wanted to ask to see his sword in reverse, but since he had decided to leave upon checking the letter, there was no helping it.
"I too look forward to the day we meet again."
He didn't know when, where, or in what form he might encounter the Huashan Sword Immortal again.
The swordsmanship demonstrated in the air might one day be aimed at Hyeok Mulin.
But Hyeok Mulin had a hunch.
Someday, when the heavens and earth shook, he would meet this Huashan Taoist once more.
As Hyeok Mulin exchanged final farewells, Baek Hyeon-gyeong handed him something.
"Take this."
Hyeok Mulin looked down at what was placed in his palm and opened his mouth.
"Plum blossom?"
What Baek Hyeon-gyeong gave him was a small silver piece engraved with a plum blossom pattern.
Sangseo, watching from the side, had his pupils tremble violently.
"Sect Leader! That is...!"
"It's already decided, so say no more. Considering he saved our sect, he more than qualifies."
Sangseo could say nothing more to Baek Hyeon-gyeong's firm voice.
The Plum Blossom Badge.
It was Huashan's greatest token of gratitude, one only the sect leader could bestow.
"If you ever face a crisis and use this, no matter where you are in the Central Plains, we'll come to your aid."
Baek Hyeon-gyeong explained how to use the Plum Blossom Badge with a pleased expression.
In contrast, Sangseo stared at them in shock, as if he had seen a ghost.
'I could understand if it were the Self-Immolation Pill.'
This generation's sect leader had never given so much as a token of gratitude to anyone in his life, let alone the Plum Blossom Badge.
Yet here he was, giving away his first one ever. No matter how great a benefactor Hyeok Mulin was to Huashan, Sangseo couldn't comprehend it.
But Baek Hyeon-gyeong's gaze differed.
He had given it as repayment, true, but not solely for gratitude's sake.
'Inscrutable to the end.'
He was a man whose true nature Baek Hyeon-gyeong could never fully grasp.
Thus, it was a gift laced with the intent to track the badge's use one day and uncover his origins.
"......"
Hyeok Mulin silently gazed at the Plum Blossom Badge. Then, tucking it into his bosom, he spoke.
"Then I'll gratefully accept it."
"Use it freely whenever you need our sect's help. We've already received more from you than we could repay."
"I shall."
Having received even this final gift, Hyeok Mulin turned.
"Then I'll be off."
"Go forth in strength."
"May fortune follow your path."
Baek Hyeon-gyeong and Sangseo watched his back as he descended the mountain.
Hyeok Mulin never looked back once, silently receding until he vanished completely.
Then Sangseo spoke in a wistful voice.
"Mount Hua will feel unusually quiet for a while."
"One cannot block the flow of a river."
Baek Hyeon-gyeong, hands behind his back, gazed at the sky and continued.
"But as time passes and fates align, we'll meet again, like waters curving through the river."
Having left the Huashan Sect, Hyeok Mulin headed straight back to the Danri Clan.
"......You've returned."
Upon his arrival, Clan Patriarch Danri Mae greeted him with a feigned bright expression, though a deep shadow hung over his heart.
And soon enough, the reason appeared.
"We've prepared to depart."
While Hyeok Mulin was away, the Danri Clan had pulled out all stops to win back Danri Hyang's heart.
They had opened the clan archives to him, shown him sword techniques only the patriarch could learn ahead of time, even mobilized locals to beg with tears to keep him.
But all those efforts proved futile in the end.
The moment Hyeok Mulin returned, Danri Hyang went to his side without a hint of hesitation.
You can't hold onto a heart that's already gone.
The patriarch swallowed his tears and had no choice but to let him go.
Before Hyeok Mulin's group, fully prepared to leave in short order, departed the Danri Clan, Danri Mae asked him,
"Well then, tell me what you want. Hyang said you'd decide."
Come to think of it, that was right.
He had said they'd grant anything in exchange for not using the Danri Clan's name at the Shaanxi Sword Cloud Assembly.
Recalling the past promise, Hyeok Mulin spoke.
"What I want is..."
Gulp.
Danri Mae swallowed hard, eyes fixed on Hyeok Mulin's lips.
Whatever he asked, the Danri Clan had no choice but to comply.
Especially since, amid that huge fiasco at the Shaanxi Sword Cloud Assembly, Hyeok Mulin and Danri Hyang's exploits had kept the clan's family safe.
As Danri Mae tensed in anticipation of his demand, Hyeok Mulin slowly opened his mouth.
"Grow stronger."
"...That's all?"
At the utterly unexpected response, Danri Mae looked puzzled. Hyeok Mulin nodded and said,
"Yes. That's the only thing I can ask for right now."
"I see."
"Grow stronger" was mere lip service, not a real demand.
It meant he had nothing to ask for now, but would use the debt later.
It was like giving a poisoned date after three, but even so, the patriarch's heart eased.
He didn't know what Hyeok Mulin might demand of the Danri Clan in the future, but at least he didn't have to worry immediately.
"Understood. Call upon the main clan whenever you need."
"I will."
"Until we meet again."
First Huashan, now the Danri Clan.
Two gains in a row.
Nodding, Hyeok Mulin promptly turned and departed.
His group, leaving the Danri Clan, soon linked up with the Divine Demon Blood Death Squad waiting nearby.
From there, they began their journey straight back to Shinkang.
"Shall we pick up the pace?"
"No need. Even if we hurry, it won't make much difference."
On the return path, Hyeok Mulin proceeded at a leisurely pace.
After leaving the Central Plains and entering Shinkang, he reached Heavenly Mountain without issue and returned to the Heavenly Demon Palace.
The demonic cultivators, led by Sima Jin, stood in formation to welcome Hyeok Mulin's return.
"We congratulate the Cult Leader on your return."
Unlike the ominous contents of the letter, the atmosphere at the Heavenly Demon Palace upon his return was utterly peaceful.
Even Sima Jin tilted his head, surprised that the one who had gone to the Central Plains had returned sooner than expected.
'Just as I thought.'
There was no trace of urgency related to the letter anywhere in the Heavenly Demon Palace or on Heavenly Mountain.
And that matched exactly what Hyeok Mulin had anticipated.
With a smirk, Hyeok Mulin, without even shaking off the fatigue of travel, immediately issued orders to Ji Wolhon.
"Captain Ji."
"Yes, Cult Leader."
"I permit the mobilization of the Heavenly Demon Troops. Arrest Man Clan Patriarch Man Ho on charges of treason and bring him to the palace."
"Understood."
Ji Wolhon nodded promptly to Hyeok Mulin's command.
Sima Jin, overhearing beside him, had his pupils widen like a goldfish's.
"W-Wait a moment! Cult Leader, what on earth do you mean?!"
But Hyeok Mulin lightly ignored Sima Jin's frantic voice.
And continued to Ji Wolhon.
"If they show any sign of disloyalty."
Hyeok Mulin gazed at the inner fortress with impassive eyes.
Staring at the Man Clan's grand estate within, he murmured in a sunken tone.
"You may use force."
"......!"
Permitting the Heavenly Demon Troops to use force.
Sima Jin, knowing the implications, froze as if his five viscera and six bowels had turned to ice.
In contrast, Ji Wolhon remained utterly calm.
Yet from his lips came a voice as cold as winter frost.
"I shall obey."