Chapter 154
Chapter 154
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 154
Chapter Title: Training at Ilhwa Sect
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The situation was quickly brought under control.
The survivors from the collapsed Black Tiger Gang and Ghost Wanderer Sect had mostly fled Yeonan or joined Sohung Stronghold's ranks.
Sohung Stronghold's forces swelled in an instant.
In contrast, Ilhwa Sect had suffered the greatest blow and was left in a pitiful state.
Its shattered main gate and halls.
Disciples groaning in pain, and even the sect leader wrapped in bandages around his chest from severe wounds.
It couldn't get any worse.
The one silver lining was that no one had died.
Jugo deeply bowed to Cheonhwi, Jeokgeom, and Seollan standing before him.
"Thank you for your help."
This was the only way he could express his deepest gratitude right now.
"We only did what needed to be done."
"Senior Brother is right."
As Jeokgeom and Seollan waved their hands bashfully, Cheonhwi surveyed the surroundings.
'This place won't be back to normal anytime soon.'
Ilhwa Sect's interior was a wreck.
Partly due to age and wear, but the recent assault had been so fierce that the walls and pillars looked ready to collapse at any moment.
And that was just the start.
The sect leader lay bedridden in a room, surrounded by disciples.
The only ones relatively unscathed were Jugo and the two disciples guarding the hall.
"Are there no other disciples?"
At Cheonhwi's question, Jugo gave a bitter smile and nodded.
"This is everyone we have left."
Cheonhwi's brows furrowed.
Not only were there no uninjured people, but there were barely ten left.
"Was it always this small?"
"......We used to have nearly fifty disciples."
Jugo spoke, reminiscing about the past.
It was few compared to Mount Hua Sect, but among mid-to-small sects, it was respectable.
But now...
"Most disciples succumbed to bribery or threats and left."
"So these are the ones who stayed till the end."
"Yes."
"Hmm."
Cheonhwi fell into thought.
Leaving Ilhwa Sect like this made him uneasy, even with Sohung Stronghold around.
'Tricky.'
At that moment, Jugo shot to his feet.
He bowed deeply.
"Would you stay until our sect stabilizes?"
"I was planning to anyway."
"Thank you."
As he expressed his gratitude, his eyes gleamed.
"And, if it's not too much trouble, could you teach me and the disciples some martial arts while you're here?"
"Martial arts?"
Jeokgeom and Seollan looked flustered.
"I'm begging you."
But Jugo was utterly serious.
'I can't rely on Father forever. I have to support Ilhwa Sect myself.'
His eyes burned with fervor.
A long-forgotten passion for martial arts, mixed with newfound responsibility.
'Hmm, martial arts? That might actually be better.'
Instead of chasing down those who left half-heartedly, teaching Ilhwa Sect's disciples would be more productive.
If results were good, word would spread, attracting new recruits.
"Sure."
"Really?"
Jugo's face lit up.
"Thank you."
Cheonhwi turned to the side.
"You two teach them."
"Pardon? With you here, Martial Uncle, how could we..."
"We're not qualified to teach martial arts."
The two couldn't hide their bewilderment.
Wasn't this like lecturing in front of a master?
"Don't you want to break through your wall?"
Their eyes widened instantly.
The 'wall' Cheonhwi mentioned meant the barrier to the Peak Realm.
They swallowed dryly.
"You think this will get us there?"
Jeokgeom asked, and Cheonhwi grinned.
"You'll learn while teaching. And don't you need to try everything right now?"
Seeing them waver, Cheonhwi drove the point home.
"Or you'll get weeded out."
The two bit their lips.
Ever since entering the Plum Blossom Seven Pavilions a few days ago, their mindset had completely changed.
"At this rate, we can't even chase after Cheonhyang."
"Dam Mokrin will catch up to us."
Until recently, they had been brimming with confidence.
Training under Cheonhwi made them unmatched among second-generation disciples and top among the Plum Blossom Sword Guards.
But witnessing Cheonhyang's true prowess and Dam Mokrin's incredible talent shattered that.
'She was holding back all this time.'
'......We were the fools.'
Watching Cheonhyang dodge and counter iron orbs, they smiled bitterly.
She hadn't shown her real skills before.
Not just her internal energy, but her swordsmanship too.
Everything was leagues beyond them.
And what about Dam Mokrin?
They thought she needed protection after discarding her old heart method to learn Plum Blossom Qi Art.
'But that was arrogant.'
'We shouldn't worry about others.'
Recalling that, they smiled bitterly.
Even Cheonhyang offered help, but...
'This is my trial. I'll handle it.'
She refused everyone's aid.
And her performance amazed not just them, but Cheonhyang and the Martial Training Pavilion Lord too.
Though her internal energy was gone, her lifetime of experience remained.
But what captivated everyone was her tenacity.
No, it went beyond tenacity—it was a demonic persistence.
Even struck by iron orbs or facing any trial, she didn't groan or hesitate to advance.
Not even when Cheonhyang faltered!
Watching from nearby, Jeokgeom and Seollan felt a sense of doubt.
About their satisfaction with the status quo.
"Understood."
"Alright."
At their affirmative replies, Jugo swallowed his regret and bowed.
"I leave them in your hands."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Three days passed since they stayed at Ilhwa Sect.
Jeokgeom and Seollan devoted themselves fully to training Jugo and the disciples, but...
Their methods were quite unique.
"Huff, huff. C-can we rest a bit?"
Jugo pleaded desperately after endlessly circling the grounds on Jeokgeom and Seollan's orders.
In three days, they hadn't learned a single martial art.
Running, horse stance, running, horse stance...
They insisted stamina came before techniques and made them run nonstop.
And it wasn't just him.
The lightly injured disciples were horse-stancing under the blazing sun, faces pale as death.
Yet Jeokgeom and Seollan, arms crossed, didn't blink.
"What, trying to rest already?"
"You're far from ready."
They didn't stop disciplining.
"Hey! If you can't handle this, how will you learn martial arts?"
"You need to temper your body first. If you can't endure this... Sigh."
Seollan shook her head.
This training was barely a fraction of what Cheonhwi had put them through.
Yet they struggled with this.
Pathetic, in her eyes.
"Don't you want to get stronger?"
"I-I do, but..."
Jugo mumbled hesitantly.
"Running like this endlessly... wouldn't it be better to just..."
'Learn martial arts directly. That'd be more effective.'
He swallowed the rest.
"You want to learn martial arts instead?"
But Seollan had already guessed his unspoken words.
It was obvious.
She'd thought the same daily under Cheonhwi's training.
However.
"How can you learn martial arts if you can't endure this much?"
She criticized sharply.
"Practicing martial arts consumes massive stamina. Trying without building that base?"
"That's..."
Jugo broke out in cold sweat.
"Are you asking a child who can't even stand to run?"
"......"
Seollan's icy words left him speechless.
"Less talking, more running."
Bowing his head, Jugo gritted his teeth and resumed circling the grounds.
"Junior Sister, aren't you being too harsh?"
Jeokgeom asked with an awkward smile.
"Huh? This?"
Seollan blinked in surprise.
"They need this to stay sharp. Half-hearted teaching is pointless."
"True, but..."
"And this is kind. Really."
She said proudly, truly believing it.
'......She's been corrupted by Martial Uncle.'
Jeokgeom sighed, shaking his head at the oblivious Seollan.
'No helping it.'
He told her,
"Have Young Master Joo. I'll take that group."
"Okay."
After her reply, he stepped back.
Approaching the horse-stancing disciples, he smiled.
"Tough, right? Let's rest a moment."
Their faces brightened.
As they moved to collapse on the ground,
"But don't sit."
Jeokgeom said coldly.
"Even sitting is..."
"Just a bit..."
"Then don't train."
Jeokgeom stated flatly.
"If you can't endure this, how will you learn Mount Hua Sect's arts?"
"......"
Shadows fell over their faces.
"The jianghu strikes anytime, anywhere. How can you relax? Do you want to die now?"
He spoke fluidly.
'Good thing I remembered.'
Quoting Cheonhwi exactly, he added sympathetically,
"I'll give you a gyeong's rest. Go drink water."
It was generous.
Under Cheonhwi, no breaks—not even for water—only more training or errands.
A whole gyeong?
'Paradise!'
Jeokgeom looked satisfied.
"O-only one gyeong?"
But the disciples recoiled in horror, contrary to his thoughts.
'Just one gyeong?'
'They're trying to kill us.'
No sect made them stance for an hour then rest one gyeong.
It was torture, not training.
'They like longer rests? Great.'
Misreading them, Jeokgeom nodded approvingly.
"Starting now, one gyeong."
Jeokgeom didn't realize.
He too had been influenced by Cheonhwi, not just Seollan.
"Ugh!"
"Huff, huff... mercy..."
The grounds filled with Jugo and the disciples' ragged breaths and groans.
"Yawn."
Cheonhwi, the root of it all, yawned lying on his bed.
'Hmm. Need to whip them into shape before leaving, but it'll take more days.'
Ilhwa Sect's state was dire.
Sect Leader Josong was still healing, and there were too few disciples.
They needed at least some baseline competence, which would take time.
"Eh, if it doesn't work, just toss a manual and go."
Cheonhwi said nonchalantly.
He was helping, but it wasn't obligatory.
Having planned an exit, he scratched his head and rose.
'They're here.'
Glancing out the window, Cheonhwi grabbed his two swords and stepped outside.
"Plum Blossom Sword Guards, huh..."
A young man spying from afar on Ilhwa Sect, suppressing his presence, narrowed his eyes sharply.
'Mount Hua Sect allied with Sohung Stronghold to crush Ghost Wanderer Sect and Black Tiger Gang.'
The youth, a Ten Nights Sect disciple, could hardly believe the situation.
Ghost Wanderer Sect had expanded rapidly with Ten Nights Sect's backing.
And Black Tiger Gang?
Not just funds from the bandits, but even experts dispatched.
He thought Yeonan would erupt into their war...
'Didn't expect both to crumble.'
An unforeseen outcome.
"The plan's completely derailed. We were going to seize Yeonan via Ghost Wanderer Sect and expand..."
"And then what?"
"Naturally, Shaanxi... Gasp!"
The Ten Nights Sect disciple startled at the voice, leaping back.
A young Daoist stood where he'd been, hands behind his back.
"Wh-who are you?"
The young Daoist—Cheonhwi—chuckled.
"What if you knew?"
"Do you know where we..."
As the disciple barked,
Pfuk!
A chilling sound rang out.
Startled, he looked down to see a sword in his chest.
"......Wh-when... Cough!"
Vomiting blood, his body slowly lost strength, tilting toward Cheonhwi.
"Such a hassle."
Grabbing the falling corpse, Cheonhwi tossed it casually toward the riverbank.
Splash—
Watching it float away, Cheonhwi turned.
"Won't they all come at once?"