Chapter 9
Chapter 9
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Section 3. The Disciple Looks at the Master, and the Master Consoles the Disciple (3)
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Emerald Cloud Palace.
It was the name of the Daoist temple atop Mount Hua's Lotus Peak. What made this red-tinged temple special was that it served as the residence of the Mount Hua Sect's leader, the sect master.
From Emerald Cloud Palace, one could take in the entirety of the Mount Hua Sect at a glance. Towering peaks were visible, as was the distant Huayin County. But the true spectacles were the starry banquet that unfolded at night and the sunrise that arrived each morning.
The current sect master of Mount Hua was True Person Hyeoncheon. For the leader of one of the Nine Great Sects, the Great Mount Hua Sect, he was relatively young, in his early fifties.
True Person Hyeoncheon had taken on the role of sect master in his thirties without any preparation, and twenty years had already passed. He had led the sect better than anyone during that time, earning high praise.
Seated across from True Person Hyeoncheon at a small table was a middle-aged Daoist emanating a blade-like aura. It was none other than True Person Hyeongeom.
True Person Hyeoncheon set down his teacup and spoke.
"Your achievements are remarkable, junior brother. At last, our Mount Hua Sect has an unparalleled master that others can envy. This senior brother can finally rest easy."
"I still have a long way to go. To restore the sect's former glory, I must train even harder."
"You're reliable."
True Person Hyeoncheon smiled at the curt True Person Hyeongeom.
‘Junior brother's progress is truly extraordinary. Restoring Mount Hua's splendor is not far off.’
Martial prowess defined a sect's prosperity.
For a sect to revive, one absolute master was worth more than a hundred mediocre ones. That was exactly what Mount Hua needed now: one absolute master.
"You've worked hard. The path you tread will become Mount Hua's path. Don't forget that this senior brother is always cheering you on."
"It's thanks to your sacrifices, senior brother. Without you, we couldn't have rebuilt the ruined Mount Hua Sect so quickly."
"We've both suffered greatly."
A shadow fell over True Person Hyeoncheon's eyes.
Twenty years ago, when he became sect master, everything had been bleak. The previous generation's masters, who should have guided the next, had all perished, and the sect's lineage was on the verge of extinction.
He hadn't known how to salvage anything. His chest had felt heavy, tears flowing uncontrollably.
Something had to be done. True Person Hyeoncheon poured everything he had into reviving Mount Hua. In doing so, he had no time left to cultivate his own martial arts.
True Person Hyeoncheon had faced a choice. He abandoned martial arts. Instead, he entrusted everything to True Person Hyeongeom, the most talented among his fellow disciples: the sect's manuals, the few remaining spirit elixirs.
He couldn't pass on the Violet Haze Divine Art due to the restriction that only the sect master could learn it, but True Person Hyeongeom had gained insights nearly as profound.
While True Person Hyeongeom trained, True Person Hyeoncheon ran around for the sect's revival. He sought aid from lay disciples and cooperation from other sects.
He had lived like a madman for twenty years, and thus created the current Mount Hua Sect. True Person Hyeongeom knew this well, which was why he respected True Person Hyeoncheon more than anyone.
"Now that you've emerged from seclusion, we have some leeway to act."
"Now I will assist you, senior brother."
"Just hearing that makes me feel secure. All that's left is to raise a disciple to inherit your achievements. Only then can the Second Mount Hua's Supreme Sword emerge, allowing me to lead the sect with peace of mind. The disciple selection is going well, I trust?"
"It is progressing smoothly."
"That's fortunate. I'll bestow a Plum Blossom Divine Pill especially to your disciple."
"Thank you, Sect Master."
The Plum Blossom Divine Pill was Mount Hua's greatest spirit elixir, given only to those destined to become sect master.
Its crafting method was lost, making more impossible, and only two remained. Offering such a treasure to True Person Hyeongeom's future disciple showed the depth of his expectations.
True Person Hyeoncheon smiled.
It was the search for one to inherit the Mount Hua Supreme Sword's legacy. It was a vital matter that could not be taken lightly.
"Is there any standout first-generation disciple?"
For a moment, a faint furrow creased True Person Hyeongeom's brow. He recalled the events from earlier that day.
That intense gaze directed at him was not easily forgotten.
True Person Hyeoncheon shook his head.
"The first-generation disciples are already somewhat complete. Inheriting my martial arts in that state isn't easy."
"Then you're considering second-generation and even lay disciples?"
"Talent knows no generational bounds. To represent the prestigious Mount Hua Sect as its supreme sword, one needs flawless talent and sweat-soaked effort."
"I suppose so."
True Person Hyeoncheon nodded in agreement.
It was then, as both men smiled.
Boom!
The doors to Emerald Cloud Palace burst open as if about to shatter. The one who appeared was True Person Hyeonso, his face flushed red with anger.
"Senior Brother Hyeongeom."
He glared at True Person Hyeongeom.
True Person Hyeongeom remained surprisingly calm. But True Person Hyeoncheon's reaction differed.
"What is this? Junior Brother Hyeonso. Surely you know where you are and aren't raising your voice because you've forgotten?"
"I came because Senior Brother Hyeongeom is here, Sect Master."
True Person Hyeoncheon glanced at True Person Hyeongeom amid True Person Hyeonso's intense reaction, his eyes questioning the reason.
True Person Hyeongeom spoke.
"Have you come because of your disciple?"
"Yes! What on earth did you do to that child? What harm did that child ever do to you?"
"No, nothing like that."
"Then why?"
True Person Hyeonso glared at True Person Hyeongeom as if he would devour him.
Until now, True Person Hyeonso had never shown any emotional turbulence in Mount Hua. This was the first time he had revealed such fervor.
Wounded by his beloved disciple's pain, True Person Hyeonso had lost his reason and come seeking the culprit.
Even in the face of True Person Hyeonso's fury, True Person Hyeongeom didn't flinch.
"Because it's the path that's best for that child."
"You call turning him into a battered wreck the path for him?"
"No, abandoning martial arts is the path that's best for that child."
"What nonsense is that?"
True Person Hyeonso slammed his fist on the table. The teacups atop it fell to the floor from the impact.
"Junior brother, calm yourself."
True Person Hyeoncheon raised his voice, frowning. But True Person Hyeonso ignored him and stared at True Person Hyeongeom.
"Why is abandoning martial arts best for that child?"
"Are you asking because you don't know?"
"I don't know. Truly. I don't understand."
"He's lame, isn't he? How could a limping child achieve great attainment in Mount Hua's martial arts? I regret wasting his talent too, but there's no helping it."
"Does a limp mean he can't learn martial arts?"
"Other sects might allow it, but Mount Hua's arts are not so lenient that a lame person can master them."
"Senior brother! I'm truly disappointed in you. How can Mount Hua's Supreme Sword utter such words?"
"Why can't Mount Hua's Supreme Sword say such things?"
Until now expressionless, anger rose on True Person Hyeongeom's face.
He approached True Person Hyeonso.
"I'll say this: for Mount Hua's revival, I would do anything."
"What does that have to do with ruining my disciple?"
"I told you. It's for that child's sake. It's better for him not to chase vain dreams."
"That's sophistry."
"Why is it sophistry? You know how arduous and grueling the path of martial arts is. Why else would Ancestor Cheon-gung-ja have you, his disciple, walk the path of a scholar instead of teaching you martial arts?"
True Person Hyeonso's face twisted at that moment.
"Senior brother!"
"I still don't understand Ancestor Cheon-gung-ja's choice. Why pick you, lacking talent, as his disciple? Why deny talented ones the opportunity? I truly can't comprehend it."
"That's..."
True Person Hyeongeom's face flushed red. Seeing it, True Person Hyeonso closed his eyes.
‘Senior brother still harbors that incident from back then?’
It was over forty years ago.
At the time, Cheon-gung-ja, Mount Hua's top master and a famed swordsman of the world, selecting a disciple was the sect's utmost concern. Every disciple yearned to become his personal student.
True Person Hyeongeom had been the foremost prodigy then. He had been certain he would be chosen.
But Cheon-gung-ja selected True Person Hyeonso, and instead of teaching him martial arts, set him on the scholar's path.
It inflicted an indelible wound on the prodigies who craved to be his disciple, and True Person Hyeongeom had been the most devastated.
‘If I had received instruction from Ancestor Cheon-gung-ja, Mount Hua wouldn't be struggling like this now.’
True Person Hyeongeom clenched his fist.
He had taken a far longer road to reach his current level. A shorter path had been right before him.
"I didn't want your disciple to take that long detour to face reality. I wanted to show him quickly that the martial world isn't kind enough for a lame person to survive. So I used a rather harsh method. I'm sorry for that. But I don't regret the decision."
True Person Hyeongeom's resolute gaze and tone wounded True Person Hyeonso deeply. His bloodshot eyes proved it.
True Person Hyeonso turned to True Person Hyeoncheon.
"What do you think, Sect Master? Do you agree with Senior Brother Hyeongeom?"
True Person Hyeoncheon closed his eyes at his junior brother's question. He could tell from both sides' accounts how thorny the situation was.
The Mount Hua Sect master could not side with one party. It was that delicate.
True Person Hyeoncheon asked True Person Hyeonso.
"If it's your disciple, are you referring to that boy you picked up five years ago?"
"Yes. Didn't you permit bringing him in, Sect Master? Then he's a proper member of Mount Hua. Is it so wrong for such a child to learn martial arts? Tell me."
"......"
True Person Hyeoncheon fell into deep thought.
He realized the moment of choice had arrived.
Mount Hua's future would depend on which side he took.
‘The Mount Hua I desire is a perfect Mount Hua. A flawless sect unshaken by any external winds.’
In that instant, True Person Hyeoncheon made his decision.
"Accepting that boy five years ago was my mistake. If you hadn't pleaded, I never would have taken him as a Mount Hua disciple."
"Senior brother?"
True Person Hyeonso cried out in shock. But True Person Hyeoncheon continued undeterred.
"On the day Cheon-gyeong awakened, I saw the vengeance and killing intent in that child's eyes. It was not something a child should possess."
True Person Hyeoncheon shuddered slightly, the memory vivid.
The eyes of one who had killed.
Eyes that could kill without hesitation, in a twelve-year-old child.
"If that child masters proper martial arts, he will surely bring disaster to Mount Hua."
"What nonsense..."
"I support Junior Brother Hyeongeom's decision. Let us never speak of this again, Junior Brother Hyeonso."
"Sect Master!"
"My decision is final. Understand that."
"How can you?"
"I won't interfere with how you care for your disciple, but I forbid teaching him any more Mount Hua martial arts."
The words struck True Person Hyeonso like a thunderbolt.
"Sect Master!"
"This is the decree of the Great Mount Hua's sect master. It will not be reversed."
True Person Hyeonso collapsed to the floor. His shoulders trembled with spasms.
True Person Hyeongeom's gaze was cold, True Person Hyeoncheon's eyes held pity. But he had no intention of revoking it.
After a long silence, True Person Hyeonso rose unsteadily.
"Understood! I will abide by the sect master's will."
In that short time, his face had grown haggard from torment.
He looked at the two men alternately.
"You'll see. Cheon-gyeong won't give up like this. One day, that child will prove how wrong your prejudices are."
"I hope it turns out that way."
"Guide that child well to become an excellent scholar. It'll be best for him too."
True Person Hyeonso offered a forlorn smile instead of a reply.
He turned and walked out of Emerald Cloud Palace. True Person Hyeoncheon and True Person Hyeongeom watched his receding figure.
True Person Hyeonso's form looked as if it might topple any moment. Yet he endured steadfastly.
He now had a reason he absolutely could not fall.
‘Hoya, I will never give up on you.’