Chapter 145
Chapter 145
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 145
Chapter Title: The Completed Plum Blossom Seven Pavilions
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Jeokun, who had been guarding the mountain gate of Mount Hua Sect, widened his eyes as he saw the people descending from the carriage.
"Senior Brother? Junior Sister?"
Jeokgeom and Seollan staggered.
"You've completed your mission!"
He ran toward them welcomingly but suddenly halted.
Their expressions were far from normal.
Their faces were pale and yellowish, and for some reason, they were clutching their mouths as they stumbled.
"A-are you alright?"
As Jeokun looked at them with worry,
"Just leave them be."
A familiar voice came from above.
Jeokun belatedly noticed Cheonhwi descending from the carriage and straightened his posture.
"You've arrived! Martial Uncle!"
Recalling the training he had received from Cheonhwi in the past at the Northwest Merchant Group, a bead of cold sweat trickled down his forehead.
At the same time, his gaze turned toward the two.
'What on earth did Martial Uncle do to them?'
At that moment, Shinui descended from the carriage.
"Tch, I told you to rest along the way."
"But you said you wanted to get to Mount Hua Sect quickly."
"Ahem."
Shinui let out a dry cough at Cheonhwi's voice from the side.
Having already consumed a spirit medicine once, it was proper to travel slowly and circulate his qi to adjust, but to increase speed, there was no other choice.
And Shinui had chosen the latter.
"Ahem, ahem. Be that as it may."
Shinui subtly turned his head.
With that, he spoke to the coachman.
"Will you be going now?"
"I've finished my task."
"Then go carefully."
"Until next time."
The smiling coachman bowed and led the carriage back down the mountain path.
Cheonhwi looked at Jeokun and asked,
"Is the Sect Leader inside?"
"Y-yes! He is."
"Good."
Cheonhwi lightly pushed off the ground.
Advancing ten zhang in a single step, he soon arrived at Purple Cloud Pavilion.
"I'm here."
At that moment, the door burst open.
The Sect Leader, who had opened the door and seen him, broke into a bright smile.
"You've returned safely."
"Well, yeah."
As Cheonhwi replied nonchalantly,
"Haha, come inside."
The Sect Leader led him in.
The two sat facing each other at the table for a moment before the Sect Leader quietly asked,
"So, how did it go?"
"Everything was resolved well. The Blue Sea Castle Lord has recovered, and everyone arrived safely."
Cheonhwi answered based on what Shinui had chattered about excitedly in the carriage.
"That's fortunate."
"Oh, the Blue Sea Castle Lord said he'll offer tribute later, so make sure to receive it properly."
The corners of the Sect Leader's mouth loosened.
It had been something he reluctantly accepted when the Little Sovereign visited, but with it resolved well, there was no greater blessing.
"Nothing special happened in the meantime, right?"
The Sect Leader's eyes widened.
"......What did you just say?"
"I asked if anything special happened."
"Hahaha."
The Sect Leader burst into laughter.
"What's so funny?"
"It's the first time you've asked such a thing, so I'm moved."
"Hm, was it?"
Cheonhwi stroked his chin.
Thinking it over, that seemed to be the case.
"Well, I was just curious."
"Is that so?"
The Sect Leader, who had been smiling happily anew, turned serious and spoke.
"Nothing major, but there are a few things in progress."
The Sect Leader began quietly.
"Thanks to the Dark Fragrance Pills you gave, the disciples' skills have improved greatly."
"Hm, yeah, that's true."
"So, we're planning to gather the second-generation disciples into a separate unit."
"That sounds good."
Cheonhwi nodded.
One of the things Mount Hua Sect lacked was precisely such a combat unit.
"While we're at it, make units with the Plum Blossom Sword Guards as leaders."
"The Martial Training Pavilion Lord said something similar."
Cheonhwi nodded in satisfaction.
'As expected, the Martial Training Pavilion Lord is the best.'
Most of the Wise Generation Taoists were dissatisfied with the Sect Leader's pursuit of change, but the Martial Training Pavilion Lord was different.
He actively sought change.
And not only that.
He even asked his martial nephew, Cheonhwi, how to train in martial arts.
He was someone who fit perfectly.
"Who do you plan to make the overall unit leader?"
"......"
The Sect Leader looked steadily at Cheonhwi.
His gaze furrowed Cheonhwi's brows.
"......Me?"
"I'd like you to do it."
"No thanks."
Cheonhwi refused flatly.
Unit leader? What unit leader.
Having already been the leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, he knew better than anyone how annoying it was to handle people.
"You're the only suitable one."
"What do you mean no one suitable? There's Martial Uncle Hyeonyang besides me."
"As you know, the Martial Training Pavilion Lord oversees the Plum Blossom Sword Guards."
"That's why he's suitable. If you're dividing the Plum Blossom Sword Guards into units and appointing leaders, naturally Martial Uncle Hyeonyang, who's been handling it all along, should do it, right?"
"That's true, but......"
The Sect Leader looked regretful.
He knew that too, but in his heart, he wanted to entrust it to Cheonhwi.
Cheonhwi's prowess wasn't yet known in the martial world, but to prepare for any possibilities, he wanted to give him a position.
Anyone would hesitate to touch a unit leader of Mount Hua Sect carelessly.
But to think he'd refuse so adamantly.
The Sect Leader shook his head.
"Oh, and Young Master Zhuge said to come see him as soon as you arrive."
Cheonhwi's eyes curved.
There was only one reason someone immersed daily in the Plum Blossom Seven Pavilions would call him.
'Looks like it's almost complete?'
Cheonhwi hurriedly finished his tea.
His heart raced at the thought of seeing how the Plum Blossom Seven Pavilions had turned out.
Cheonhwi immediately rose from his seat.
"Then I'll be going."
He promptly left Purple Cloud Pavilion.
"Already leaving......"
He heard the Sect Leader say something from behind, but Cheonhwi ignored it.
His view shifted rapidly.
Moments later, arriving at Geonwon Cave, Cheonhwi's eyes rounded at the sight.
"One! Two! Heave-ho!"
Around Geonwon Cave were bandits.
The swarthy-skinned bandits with scruffy beards were energetically carrying stones and wood, moving busily.
"Where have I seen them before?"
As he looked at the somehow familiar faces,
"Huh?!"
Then, one of the bandits spotted Cheonhwi and shouted in a booming voice.
"Young Hero Cheonhwi!"
Looking at the bandit charging toward him with earth-shaking steps amid the deafening cry,
The bandit with a striking bushy beard covering most of his face due to his disheveled hair.
But he knew immediately who it was.
'Zhuge Seonghyeon?'
The bandit—no, Zhuge Seonghyeon—rushed over.
He had shown some signs before, but his appearance had changed a lot.
'Doesn't he have more aptitude for martial arts than formations?'
His once pale skin was now tanned, and his previously scrawny arms and legs were now bulging with muscle.
Almost none of his initial appearance when first visiting Mount Hua Sect remained.
"Young Hero! You've returned!"
Zhuge Seonghyeon, who had approached, welcomed Cheonhwi.
"The Plum Blossom Seven Pavilions are complete?"
"Haha, yes."
Zhuge Seonghyeon laughed heartily.
"Shall I show you?"
"That's why I came."
"Haha, is that so?"
Zhuge Seonghyeon scratched his thickened hand through his hair and grinned broadly.
"Then follow me."
The two moved to the entrance of Geonwon Cave.
[Plum Blossom Seven Pavilions] As Cheonhwi looked at the inscription on the giant stone, Zhuge Seonghyeon hesitantly spoke.
"Ah, right! It's a bit different from your initial plan......"
"How so?"
"I adjusted it so that a maximum of five people can enter at once. More than that, and the formation can't handle it......"
Cheonhwi stroked his chin.
The original purpose of the Plum Blossom Seven Pavilions was to produce many experts.
But only five at a time?
Reading Cheonhwi's disappointed expression, Zhuge Seonghyeon added,
"But I greatly increased the difficulty."
Through his hair, Zhuge Seonghyeon's eyes gleamed sharply.
"If one can pass through all the Plum Blossom Seven Pavilions, they'll be among the top experts in the martial world."
Cheonhwi's interest deepened further.
Zhuge Seonghyeon was extremely meticulous about formations.
For him to boast like this?
It proved it had turned out quite well.
"Did you test it?"
"Of course, I've confirmed everything."
Zhuge Seonghyeon answered vigorously.
The moment the Plum Blossom Seven Pavilions were complete, the first thing he did was test if it worked properly.
Having made a mistake before, it was to prepare for any contingencies.
"Hm, alright?"
Cheonhwi walked toward the entrance.
"Young Hero? Where are you—"
"I need to check it myself."
"W-wait a moment. Young Hero! At least hear the details......"
Zhuge Seonghyeon tried to stop him, but
Whoosh—
Cheonhwi had already vanished.
"Other things have changed too......"
Zhuge Seonghyeon shook his head.
Who was worrying about whom right now?
"......Young Hero will handle it himself."
As Zhuge Seonghyeon scratched his head while looking at the dark tunnel entrance,
"Well done with the changes."
Arriving at the first trial of the Plum Blossom Seven Pavilions, Plum Blossom First Pavilion, Cheonhwi twisted the corner of his mouth.
It was modeled after the first gate of the Heavenly Demon Ten Gates, the Body Demon Gate of the eyes.
See and dodge.
In the original Body Demon Gate, arrows and hidden weapons flew endlessly in the darkness.
But Plum Blossom First Pavilion was a bit different.
"They used their heads."
Cheonhwi opened his fist.
The small iron balls in his palm fell to the ground and bounced.
The fingernail-sized iron balls were even harder to dodge mixed with the flickering light.
And that wasn't all.
Wooden arrows could break if unlucky, but iron balls had the advantage of being reusable anytime.
Roll—
The iron balls moved toward the sloped area.
There was a large hole there, and the iron balls slipped neatly inside.
At that moment, the luminous jewels flickered.
Whoosh!
The iron balls shot out again.
"To think of doing it this way."
Cheonhwi exclaimed in admiration.
It didn't stop after one time but reused the iron balls continuously.
Flickering lights.
And continuously firing iron balls on top of that.
If the designer of the Heavenly Demon Ten Gates saw this, they would clap.
'Of course, that guy would have added sharp thorns to these iron balls.'
He recalled the viciousness of the Heavenly Demon Ten Gates.
Even now, it was a gate not for creating demonic experts, but seemingly made to kill.
Over eighty percent of those who entered died.
'Of course, those who passed became experts in one leap.'
"This can stay as is."
Cheonhwi caught the shooting iron balls in one go with Gold Crow Hand, then lightly pushed off the ground to reach the end.
Placing his hand on the closed door,
Groan—
The door opened, revealing the next area.
"I wonder if Plum Blossom Second Pavilion changed a bit too?"
Perhaps because the Plum Blossom First Pavilion had turned out better than expected, Cheonhwi entered Plum Blossom Second Pavilion expectantly and looked around.
His pupils reflected nothing.
There was only an iron gate blocking the front, engraved with complex patterns.
But that was the essence of this Plum Blossom Second Pavilion.
The gate of qi circulation control!
Seeing a method similar to what he'd seen in the Heavenly Demon Ten Gates before, a nostalgic feeling rose in Cheonhwi.
"It's mostly similar, but......"
He slowly approached the iron gate.
These seemingly unrelated complex patterns actually traced a single path.
The natural flow.
It represented the life path of this gate.
Cheonhwi's hand slowly channeled internal energy along the line drawn on the far left.
In that instant, the line began to glow.
Cheonhwi circulated his energy.
The light advanced like lightning, instantly coloring the lines engraved on the iron gate.
And soon the light spread,
Groan—
The iron gate opened, revealing a passage.
"This is a bit disappointing."
Cheonhwi smacked his lips.
Though it claimed to emulate the Heavenly Demon Ten Gates, being made in the orthodox way, its viciousness didn't even reach the toes.
'If it were the Initiation Demon Gate, you'd fall into qi deviation the moment you failed......'
The original gate of Plum Blossom Second Pavilion, Initiation Demon Gate.
It was the deadliest gate even among the Heavenly Demon Ten Gates.
The reason was simple.
Only one chance was given. Failure meant instant qi deviation or death.
"This defeats the purpose of making Plum Blossom Second Pavilion."
Cheonhwi pointed out the flaw.
Why was the Initiation Demon Gate made?
To familiarize with qi circulation?
That too, but more importantly, to engrave how crucial qi circulation was for a martial artist.
For those with internal energy, it was more important than anything in the world.
Think about it.
If an opponent ambushed you and your circulation was too slow to block?
You'd die immediately.
And such incidents were everyday occurrences in the martial world.
Not only that.
Good qi control gave a huge advantage in prolonged battles.
It was essential for any martial artist.
"Only with life on the line would they realize its importance. Tch. But we can't do that."
Cheonhwi shook his head.
"To instill at least some sense of urgency......"
After pondering briefly, he came up with a solution.
"Maybe make it so failure brings intense pain and internal injuries."
Cheonhwi calmly stated what would horrify others, withdrew his hand from the wall, and walked forward.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Zhuge Seonghyeon entered a small cave in a secluded corner of Geonwon Cave.
The cave entrance was quite short, so he quickly reached the inner chamber.
"It was tough, but I did well."
Zhuge Seonghyeon scanned the interior with a proud expression.
There was a chair in the center, and seven lamps on the wall.
This place had been artificially created from the cave under his direction.
"I should tell someone about this place later......"
Zhuge Seonghyeon sat in the chair.
When Jeokgeom and Seollan had been caught in the gates before, feeling the danger, Zhuge Seonghyeon had immediately created this space separately.
A place where one could enter the gates of the Plum Blossom Seven Pavilions anytime, anywhere at will.
In other words, it was a mechanism control room to confirm passage through the gates and provide aid if someone fell into danger.
"I'll discuss that with Young Hero later."
Putting off the troublesome matter, he looked at the seven lamps on the wall.
These lamps were the core of this place.
The way to know how far someone inside had progressed through the Plum Blossom Seven Pavilions.
A lamp would light from the left one by one with each gate passed.
Moreover, if something went wrong, all lamps would light at once.
"Then, let's wait and see......"
Fwoosh—
In that instant, the leftmost lamp lit up.
"Al-already?"
He couldn't hide his shock.
The Plum Blossom Seven Pavilions were at a level even he, who had tested it himself, and Zhuge family experts couldn't fully pass.
Yet what was this?
He had passed the Plum Blossom First Pavilion just in the time it took to walk those dozens of steps here.
As Zhuge Seonghyeon stared in disbelief,
"Wh-what is......"
He stuck out his tongue in bewilderment.
And rightly so.
Fwoosh—
The second lamp had just lit up.
"......Is this possible?"