Chapter 71
Translator: penny
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: Many Changes in a Year
[EP.71] In the span of a year, many things had changed.
Mount Hua, where red plum blossoms blended together.
Among them, the training cave situated in the middle of a sheer cliff.
Originally, the training cave was a cavern prepared for the younger disciples to enter secluded training. Senior disciples of the first generation or elders and the like, being older, were provided with private rooms where they could undergo secluded cultivation.
Thus, high-ranking figures of Mount Hua at the elder level or above rarely set foot in the training cave.
However, today... unusually, the Mount Hua Sect Leader and all the elders who could make time had gathered, waiting only for the entrance to the training cave to open.
Rumble...
Soon, a faint tremor was detected in the rock blocking the training cave...
"It seems it's done."
The words of the Mount Hua Sect Leader, Myeonghwa, infused with profound immortal aura, continued as the rock began to move.
The door to the training cave was opening.
Rumble...
The house-sized boulder slid aside completely, revealing the figure inside.
Ha Jin-seong, the second-generation disciple of Mount Hua Sect.
He had entered seclusion with permission from Mount Hua's elders to fully assimilate the newfound opportunity he had obtained.
And now... exactly one year later as promised, he finally stepped out of the training cave.
Rumble...
Seeing this, Sect Leader Myeonghwa personally strode forward to the entrance of the training cave.
Since the Sect Leader had moved, the elders behind him had no choice but to follow.
It might seem ridiculous for everyone to see off the end of seclusion for merely a second-generation disciple, but no one said as much.
Ha Jin-seong bowed his head deeply toward them, showing his respects.
"Second-generation disciple Ha Jin-seong pays respects to the Sect Leader and elders."
"Jin-ah."
Ha Jin-seong was an orphan who had grown up in Mount Hua.
Even though he was now well past his early twenties, seeing the Sect Leader still call him by his childhood nickname brought a smile to his face.
Gazing at that smile, Sect Leader Myeonghwa continued softly.
"Have you attained enlightenment?"
"I was able to obtain a modest enlightenment."
"A modest enlightenment, you say... Ah..."
At that moment, Sect Leader Myeonghwa sensed something subtly different about Ha Jin-seong from usual.
And he realized it immediately.
His disciple... was viewing the world through the same eyes as himself.
"...Impossible. Jin-ah, surely you don't mean..."
"Yes, I have stepped into a new realm."
"...Amitabha."
There was only one meaning to a new realm.
The Transformation Realm.
Even those renowned as geniuses and prodigies could only reach it after accumulating years, attaining enlightenment, and cultivating their internal energy to a certain level.
An ordinary person might never glimpse it even for a moment before death, yet Ha Jin-seong had achieved it at the mere age of twenty-five.
It was the youngest in Mount Hua's history. Even looking across the world, there was likely no one who had reached the Transformation Realm faster.
Amid this unbelievable fact, the Sect Leader exclaimed in shock, and cheers erupted afterward.
"Sect Leader...! This is Mount Hua's great fortune, Mount Hua's great fortune!"
"Boldly speaking, even Great Elder Investigator Tong was not at the Transformation Realm at that age...!"
"Mount Hua's future is brighter than ever...!"
With the child all but confirmed to become the world's greatest martial artist hailing from Mount Hua, their joy knew no bounds.
Sect Leader Myeonghwa, who had been dazed and merely chanting, quickly regained his composure and placed a hand on Ha Jin-seong's shoulder.
"Well done, Jin-ah. I am so proud that you are a disciple of the Great Mount Hua Sect..."
"Sect Leader..."
"However... let this not lead to arrogance. Always hold humility as your virtue and strive diligently."
"Yes, Sect Leader..."
'Arrogance is out of the question...'
Ha Jin-seong knew. Reaching the Transformation Realm now meant nothing.
Monsters far beyond even glimpsing that level at younger ages would emerge in just a few years.
Ha Jin-seong slowly surveyed the Mount Hua scenery filling his surroundings.
In a few years, Mount Hua would burn. The world would plunge into chaos.
'But this time, no matter what...'
Ha Jin-seong clenched his fist tightly. There were still a few years left.
In that time, he would raise his martial prowess even higher, gather comrades, unite the corrupt Murim Alliance, and stand proudly against the brutal Demonic Cult.
It was something he could not do alone.
But...
"Come along now, Jin-ah. The first- and third-generation disciples... are waiting for you."
"...Yes, Sect Leader."
...Mount Hua Sect was by his side.
With his sect's comrades and elders together, he believed they could overcome any trial, no matter how great.
Ha Jin-seong moved forward with that conviction.
"While I was away, were there no major incidents in the world?"
In truth, this was mere formality. Living his second life, he knew exactly what would happen in the coming years.
There would be no major news in the world until the Demonic Cult rose in a few years. So Ha Jin-seong waited for the Sect Leader's words with a somewhat complacent mind.
But...
"Hmm..."
"...?"
...From the Sect Leader's mouth came not assurance of peace, but an inexplicable groan.
Feeling something amiss from the Sect Leader's grave expression, just as Ha Jin-seong was about to ask...
"For now... let's discuss it on the way down. This is not something to speak of lightly here."
"...Yes."
...Sect Leader Myeonghwa, unwilling to spoil the good mood, furrowed his brow slightly and started walking.
Ha Jin-seong, seeing the change in his gentle Sect Leader's expression, could only follow with unease.
**
"...In the south, the unorthodox sects are rising, and in the north, the Demonic Cult has breached the borders and severed the right arm of the Kunlun Sect Leader...?"
"That's right."
"...Ah, no, how...?"
In the Sect Leader's office, having heard of the past year's events, Ha Jin-seong felt as if he had been struck on the head.
'What in the world happened during the year I was in seclusion...'
The future had changed. And drastically, in a way he could not tolerate.
'Why...'
The point at which he had returned to life was his childhood when he first picked up a sword. Since then, the future had never shifted this drastically even once.
Of course, he had claimed opportunities unknown to the world, altering things slightly...
'But I haven't done anything that would affect the unorthodox sects or Demonic Cult...'
As he remained dazed in confusion, Sect Leader Myeonghwa continued.
"Yes, it's surprising. I'll explain in detail, one by one. For now, the matter in the south has been concluded."
"How... did it conclude?"
"The Righteous Sword Hero of the U Clan in Shaanxi descended south and, after negotiations with the bandits, guaranteed Hunan Province as their territory."
"Yes...? The Righteous Sword Hero did...?"
"I don't know the details either... but that's how it turned out."
The Righteous Sword Hero he knew was someone who would never compromise with villains. In his previous life, hadn't he met a tragic end fighting the Demonic Cult?
And now, that man had acknowledged the territorial rights of the bandits, who could be seen as villains?
Moreover, Hunan Province was barren and located in the south, so it had avoided great disaster even during the righteous-demonic great war.
For such a place to suddenly see the unorthodox sects rise...
Perhaps...
'In my previous life, I might not have been the only one who returned...'
Ha Jin-seong gazed at Hunan Province on the map with slightly sunken eyes.
If his prediction was correct, he might need to visit the unscheduled Hunan Province.
Uniting with another regressor... would certainly help fend off the Demonic Cult's invasion.
'Though the chance it's someone from the unorthodox is concerning... I'll have to look into it someday.'
It was undoubtedly important. But there was something even more pressing now.
Ha Jin-seong steadied his mind to maintain composure and cautiously asked the Sect Leader.
"Then, Sect Leader... what happened with the Demonic Cult in Qinghai?"
"......"
The most crucial matter was the Demonic Cult.
Even if the unorthodox caused trouble, bandits could be suppressed by the Murim Alliance's power or his own.
But the Demonic Cult was different.
If they changed plans and invaded the Central Plains earlier than scheduled... at his current level, they absolutely could not be stopped.
Thus, he waited tensely for the Sect Leader's words.
"The matter in Qinghai..."
With an indescribable expression, the Sect Leader slowly began...
"...!"
Hearing the fact, Ha Jin-seong's eyes widened in shock.
**
"You're back—! Boss—!!"
"Whoa, you startled me..."
Returning to the stronghold after so long, my subordinates, led by Dong-ryong, bowed their waists to greet me.
Geez... seeing dozens of rough-looking thugs greeting me boisterously really made me feel like the boss of a nationwide gang.
'Ah, being the Chief of the Bandit Main Stronghold is even worse than that, isn't it?'
Anyway, I quickly figured out why they were greeting me so formally.
"You little punks... that desperate to learn saber arts?"
"......"
...They wanted to learn saber arts even a moment sooner.
Seeing them unable to answer easily when I asked, it seemed I was right.
For martial artists, learning superior martial arts was invaluable.
Thinking about it, their bodies must have heated up.
'Anyway, each of those actions is proof they're becoming true martial artists bit by bit.'
Feeling some complicated emotions, I shouted toward them.
"Alright, the executives, right now..."
That was when it happened.
"Chief!"
"Hm?"
My subordinates call me Boss, Big Boss, or Big Bro. Who was calling me by the still-unfamiliar title of Chief? Looking aside, some guy was panting as he ran toward us.
From his appearance and energy, he didn't seem like an enemy. If he knew the location of our stronghold, he was probably one of ours anyway.
I asked the guy who had approached right up to me, without caution.
"Who are you?"
"Huff... huff... I was sent by the Hao Sect Honam Branch Chief."
"Uncle Moon-seok? Why?"
It's only been a day since we parted?
"I don't know the details, but he said to deliver this letter urgently...!"
"...Hand it over."
If he's sending a letter so urgently less than a day after parting, something must be up.
I took the letter from the messenger and opened it to read.
And then...
"Hmm..."
...I could only sink into thought.
"What's it say...?"
Seeing my serious expression persist, Dong-ryong asked curiously.
Instead of answering, I handed the letter to Dong-ryong.
And Dong-ryong's reaction upon reading it was...
"...Huh?"
...A bit lighter than mine.