Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Five Mountains Assembly
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In the early dawn, atop a large boulder where he meditated as usual, Cheonhwi's eyelids twitched. Moments later, his sharp black pupils, clearly distinct from the whites, were revealed.
"Hoo."
He exhaled the air deeply filling his lungs, then unbound his crossed legs and rose to his feet.
At that moment.
"Finished meditating?"
A familiar voice rang out.
"Hm? Martial Uncle?"
Cheonhwi looked at Hyeondo with puzzled eyes.
He always visited at the hour of the horse.
Yet today, unusually, Hyeondo had come before the hour of the dragon, in the early dawn.
Sensing the curious gaze, Hyeondo smiled and spoke.
"I had business this afternoon, so I came early in the morning. I meant to mention it before leaving yesterday but forgot. Hahaha."
He approached slowly.
Watching Hyeondo draw near without hesitation, Cheonhwi shook his head.
Lately, Hyeondo had been treating him with growing familiarity.
'Since that day, huh.'
He recalled the day he had unleashed the Plum Blossom Sword Art.
Upon ending his trance and opening his eyes, the first sights were Hyeondo and the Sect Leader.
'Just as you said, he's truly a genius.'
'Hahaha! Didn't I tell you!'
Back then, the two had made a huge fuss.
But that lasted only a moment. The Sect Leader had hardened his expression and earnestly warned Cheonhwi.
'Never perform the Plum Blossom Sword Art in front of others.'
He hadn't understood why, but to avoid the hassle, he'd agreed.
Anyway, when he'd performed it before, he'd gained insight and planned to refine it.
'The Plum Blossom Sword Art's forms have subtle overlaps, and each swing wastes a ton of internal energy. Better to streamline the forms for less consumption...'
As he pondered simplifying the Plum Blossom Sword Art's forms for efficiency.
"Then today, as I mentioned yesterday, I'll teach you our sect's footwork."
Hyeondo said with a beaming smile.
Lately, training martial arts with Cheonhwi like this had become his greatest joy.
A genius who mastered techniques after seeing them once.
It was the first time teaching felt this rewarding.
'And I've learned so much while instructing him.'
The smile lingered on his lips.
Cheonhwi interpreted every technique in utterly unexpected ways.
Thanks to that, his own insight into martial arts had broadened, and he'd gained much.
'I wonder what astonishing display he'll show today.'
With swelling anticipation, he spoke.
"First, the Seven Stars Step, which all our sect's disciples learn upon entry."
Immediately, Hyeondo gathered his internal energy and demonstrated as usual.
Whoosh—whoosh—
His footwork quickened, his form blurring with afterimages.
As the afterimages multiplied.
Snap!
Cheonhwi whipped his head back.
"Well done."
Hyeondo, beaming with pride, looked down at him from behind.
"Did you see how I stepped just now?"
"Yes."
Cheonhwi answered flatly.
"Then show me."
Hyeondo crossed his arms and stepped back.
His training method was simple.
Show the technique, have him replicate it.
A rather brutish approach.
Originally, Hyeondo hadn't intended to teach this way.
He'd planned to explain the incantations and offer guidance, as when first teaching the Plum Blossom Qi Art or Six Harmonies Sword Art.
But after three days, he'd changed his mind.
'His talent defies common sense.'
True to his daily visits to the Ten Thousand Scriptures Pavilion, Cheonhwi already knew most of the martial arts Hyeondo taught.
No, not just knew—he fully grasped the principles and theories in their incantations.
So he skipped explanations.
And the results were satisfying.
He'd already mastered most of the Mount Hua Sect's foundational arts; only footwork remained.
And Cheonhwi himself was plenty satisfied with the method.
'Skipping the tedious parts is convenient. Of course, only possible because it's me.'
No exaggeration.
For this to work, one needed genius insight to grasp a technique from sight alone, plus vast knowledge of its incantations.
How many such people existed?
'Probably none but me.'
Had it been anyone else, they wouldn't have even learned properly, let alone achieved mastery.
'The feet moved like this.'
Recalling the Seven Stars Step moments ago.
Whoosh—
He circulated the Plum Blossom Divine Art's internal energy.
About an hour after beginning the Seven Stars Step and other footwork.
Waaaaah!
Cheonhwi's brows furrowed at the cheers echoing nonstop.
"It's noisier than usual today."
"Hahaha, isn't the Five Mountains Assembly upon us?"
"Five Mountains Assembly?"
Hyeondo looked taken aback.
"You don't know...?"
"First I've heard of it."
"How do you not know the Five Mountains— Ah!"
Mid-sentence, he let out a short sigh.
He'd forgotten: until recently, this child hadn't even trained in martial arts, bedridden with illness.
And lately, he'd only trained with him, so of course he wouldn't know about the Assembly.
Hyeondo turned his head and cleared his throat.
"Ahem. You've only been in the Ten Thousand Scriptures Pavilion and Medical Hall, so that explains it. Remember I said I had afternoon business? It was to help select disciples for the Five Mountains Assembly."
He glanced sideways at Cheonhwi.
No reaction.
'So what?'
Cheonhwi had zero interest in Hyeondo's afternoon plans.
Just one thing mattered.
"So what's the Five Mountains Assembly?"
"Ahem, ahem."
Embarrassed, Hyeondo cleared his throat repeatedly, then composed himself.
"The Five Mountains Assembly is a grand gathering the Five Mountains Sword Sects hold every four years in rotation at each sect to foster exchange."
"Grand gathering?"
"More precisely, it's for exchanging martial arts among the Five Mountains Sword Sects. Four pre-selected disciples from each sect spar one-on-one with those from the others..."
'Hm?'
Cheonhwi tilted his head at the familiar-sounding explanation.
'Sounds like the Five Families Great War.'
Long ago, the five families upholding the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult had fallen out, fighting and killing daily.
Eventually, the Heaven and Strong families faced mutual destruction. The era's Cult Leader intervened.
To end the war, he decreed each family select five experts to battle.
Thus began the bloody war determining the five families' hierarchy: the Five Families Great War.
Differences from the Five Mountains Assembly: five participants instead of four, held decennially rather than quadrennially, and lethal deathmatches rather than spars.
'Extremes meet, they say.'
While Cheonhwi pondered that, Hyeondo continued.
"The Assembly wields great influence. Disciples who shine there gain fame and nicknames before even debuting in the martial world."
Hyeondo's expression soured progressively.
Seeing his darkening face, Cheonhwi spoke.
"You don't seem thrilled."
"As I said, it was originally for building camaraderie among the Five Mountains Sword Sects. But starting from the last Assembly, the other sects' behavior grew odd."
Hyeondo's face hardened momentarily.
Having lost his youngest martial brother and most Plum Blossom Sword Guards, the sect's prestige waned, and they began slighting Mount Hua.
Especially after the Assembly four years ago at Mount Tai Sect, treatment had noticeably worsened.
'They ignored our opinions, the three sects outvoting us to schedule our matches first.'
Recalling a attendee's lament.
"They're probably eyeing our shaky position."
He muttered unwittingly, then flinched.
'I said too much.'
Realizing his slip, Hyeondo quickly reassured Cheonhwi.
"But no need to worry anymore. With me reaching the Realm of Heavenly Martial Might, our sect won't falter."
He puffed out his chest, glancing at Cheonhwi. Fortunately, his expression was normal.
Hyeondo sighed in relief.
But he didn't know.
His assumption had been wrong from the start.
Cheonhwi had never worried.
Far from it—he was inwardly amused.
'No different from my cult.'
Where there were people, things were the same.
No matter daoists or righteous faction, they were human too.
Then Hyeondo's eyes widened.
"If you're curious about the Assembly, come to Peach Grove Plain on the day. Any Mount Hua disciple can observe."
"Observe?"
Cheonhwi's brows furrowed.
A chance to see the Five Mountains Sword Sects' martial arts.
And if Hyeondo spoke of it so, it was historic and vital—they'd surely display true prowess.
'A daoist clown show...'
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Mount Hua, famed as the Western Peaks.
Anyone beholding its sheer cliffs, carved like by a blade, felt overwhelmed.
Overcoming that pressure to set foot on Mount Hua revealed the rumors true.
Only Mount Hua Sect daoists roamed freely.
The paths were perilously narrow and steep, as rumored.
Impossible without martial arts.
Thus, most gave up.
But hardship brings reward.
Press on, and breathtaking vistas awaited.
Whoosh—
Beautiful plum blossoms bloomed across the mountains.
Red against the clear blue sky, they draped the ridges like silken robes.
Gigantic rock peaks thrust skyward like blooming flowers.
Viewing them, people recalled the old jest.
'Mount Hua's "hua" isn't plum blossoms—it's the peaks blooming atop the mountain.'
A long-standing quip.
But reaching here proved it no lie.
To any eye, those distant summits resembled full blossoms.
Thus entranced by the scenery, climbing onward.
Thud—
A massive gate blocked the path.
First-timers panicked, but the weathered plaque atop explained.
[Mount Hua Sect]
The grand entrance to one of the Nine Great Sects.
Whoosh—
The gates swung open, hot wind rushing forth.
Plum-scented breeze tickled noses, revealing the sect's interior.
Plum trees lined the paths.
Ancient halls stood majestic.
Crossing felt like entering another world.
And there: a vast training ground, Peach Grove Plain, where direct disciples trained.
Normally teeming with disciples, today it lay empty.
Instead, daoists packed the surroundings.
For today marked Mount Hua's first Five Mountains Assembly in twenty years.
"Waaaaah!"
"Eldest senior brother will win, right?"
"Of course! Not just him—even the fourth will!"
As Peach Grove Plain buzzed with chatter and excited shouts.
Thoom!
Drumbeats vibrated the air.
Silence fell like poured water.
Then.
Step—step—
Footsteps shattered the quiet.
All eyes turned.
Five daoists entered from Peach Grove Plain's mouth.
Mount Heng Sect Elder, Jeokwoo Immortal.
Mount Heng North Sect Elder, Gogyoung Immortal.
Mount Tai Sect Elder, Muyeong Immortal.
Mount Song Sect Elder, Taegyong Immortal.
The four elders had led their sects' disciples here.
The fifth: Mount Hua Sect Leader, Hyeonsang Immortal.
Striding forth, they mounted the training ground and stood tall.
The Sect Leader scanned the hushed crowd.
Moments later, he smiled softly and spoke.
"The Five Mountains Assembly begins."
His quiet voice pierced every ear.
WAAAAAAAAAH!
Tremendous cheers echoed through Mount Hua Sect, heralding the Assembly's start.