Chapter 158
Chapter 158
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 158
Chapter Title: The Sword Saint Keeps His Promise
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Even as full winter arrived, the Mount Hua Sect was buzzing with excitement.
It was all because of the three visitors who had come today.
Each one's name carried weight that was far from light.
The Beggar Clan's elder known as the Heavenly Ear Beggar, who was said to know all the information in the world!
One of the Wudang Three Heroes who had once supported the Wudang Sect, the Tai Chi Gentleman renowned for his righteousness and intellect that pierced the heavens.
And finally, Ko Hyun, the Jongnam Sword Saint, whose fame eclipsed even the two before him—the greatest of Jongnam and an absolute master!
The Sect Leader gazed at the three seated across from him.
'Jongnam has drawn their sword.'
Not only the Jongnam Sword Saint, but all of them held higher seniority than him.
If these men moved, even Wudang and the Beggar Clan wouldn't dare utter a peep.
"We welcome you to our sect."
"Thank you for the warm reception."
The Jongnam Sword Saint smiled softly.
"It's been a long time since I've climbed Mount Hua."
The Tai Chi Gentleman also smiled in greeting.
"What a damn rough path. This is why I hate coming to Mount Hua."
The Heavenly Ear Beggar grumbled.
"No manners at all."
The Tai Chi Gentleman frowned and scolded him, but the Heavenly Ear Beggar ignored it.
"Since when did beggars care about manners? More importantly, we've got guests here—aren't you going to serve some tea?"
The Tai Chi Gentleman pressed his temple.
"You thunderbolt-headed old fool."
"Please wait a moment."
The Sect Leader poured tea for them.
"Mm, smells good."
The Heavenly Ear Beggar, who had been digging in his ear, sipped the tea and suddenly widened his eyes.
"What kind of tea is this?"
"It's brewed from tea leaves I dried myself."
The Heavenly Ear Beggar looked at him in surprise.
"Wow, you've got some real skill. Drying tea leaves with such a rich aroma yourself."
"I'll pack plenty for you to take."
The Heavenly Ear Beggar's lips curved up.
"Heh heh, now that's music to my ears."
The Heavenly Ear Beggar drank the tea with glee.
"Haa. My apologies, Sect Leader."
The Tai Chi Gentleman bowed his head.
"That damn beggar still hasn't gotten his head on straight..."
"Don't knock it—try it yourself. The aroma and taste are on another level."
As a vein throbbed on the Tai Chi Gentleman's forehead...
"I hear the Sect Leader has accepted our sect's proposal."
The Jongnam Sword Saint spoke up, and the room fell silent.
The Sect Leader was impressed that he could silence the two with a single word.
'...As expected of a Sword Saint.'
In the history of the martial world, only one person per era earned the title of Sword Saint.
And the Sword Saint of this era...
'Is that man.'
The Sect Leader met the Jongnam Sword Saint's eyes.
"That's correct."
"We are grateful."
The Jongnam Sword Saint bowed his head.
As the Sect Leader looked on in surprise, the Jongnam Sword Saint smiled gently.
"Then let us begin."
No sooner had he spoken...
"Let's see here."
The Heavenly Ear Beggar rummaged in his bosom and unfolded a crumpled sheet of paper.
At the bottom of the paper, densely filled with details of the joint operation between Jongnam and Mount Hua Sects, was a vivid red fingerprint.
At that moment, the Heavenly Ear Beggar bit his thumb.
Drip—
Looking at his bleeding thumb, the Heavenly Ear Beggar pressed it firmly onto the paper.
The Tai Chi Gentleman followed suit.
"I'll go first."
The Jongnam Sword Saint stamped his as well.
The Sect Leader looked at the four fingerprints on the paper, then bit his own thumb.
Five fingerprints now marked the paper.
The Heavenly Ear Beggar handed the paper to the Sect Leader and pulled out three more sheets.
"Then let's stamp these too and each take one."
A moment later, each of the four took one sheet.
Swish—
The Jongnam Sword Saint rose from his seat.
"Where are you off to?"
The Heavenly Ear Beggar asked, and the Jongnam Sword Saint smiled.
"I have a promise to keep."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ At the edge of Falling Goose Peak.
Atop a precariously jutting crag, Cheonhwi sat cross-legged.
Soon, his eyelids lifted.
"You've come?"
As soon as he spoke...
"I've come to keep my promise."
The Jongnam Sword Saint appeared.
"I was worried you might have forgotten that day's promise, but it's good you haven't."
"Haha, how could I forget?"
"Haha."
Cheonhwi unfolded his legs and stood.
"Then, as we discussed last time, it's a spar today?"
"Haha, indeed."
"Alright then."
With those words, Cheonhwi lightly kicked off the ground and positioned himself before the Jongnam Sword Saint.
"I'm already looking forward to it."
The Jongnam Sword Saint's eyebrows arched.
He then drew his sword.
The blade emerging from the shabby scabbard was so clear it reflected the eyes.
"This companion has been with me since I entered Jongnam—its name is Jade Dew."
Cheonhwi grinned.
Those words were identical, not a syllable different, from what he had said during his bout with Hyeondo.
Cheonhwi drew his sword as well.
"What is the name of your sword?"
"A name? It doesn't have one. Why would a sword need a name? A sword is just a sword."
"Still, to a swordsman, isn't a sword a companion?"
"That depends on the person."
"Fair enough."
The Jongnam Sword Saint nodded.
Then, glancing at the other scabbard at Cheonhwi's waist, he spoke.
"But you're not drawing the other sword?"
"I'll draw it if this one breaks."
"Haha."
The Jongnam Sword Saint let out a chuckle.
"You make me want to test that."
"If it's a challenge..."
Even as Cheonhwi provoked him, he maintained his smile and spoke.
"I'll yield the first move."
"I won't refuse."
Cheonhwi raised his sword high.
Then slashed down from above.
Mount Tai Crush.
A simple sword form that even a third-rate warrior wouldn't open with.
But the Jongnam Sword Saint instantly grasped why Cheonhwi had chosen Mount Tai Crush.
'The Debate Sword from back then.'
The Jongnam Sword Saint circulated his internal energy.
His robes billowed, shattering the snowflakes swirling around him.
Swish—
At the same time, his sword lightly deflected the Mount Tai Crush sideways, seeking a change.
"Then show me."
The Jongnam Sword Saint whispered lowly.
"Your Debate Sword that withstood the All-Encompassing Veil..."
At that instant, something astonishing occurred.
As if claiming all eight directions, the Jade Dew Sword birthed dozens, hundreds of sword shadows in an instant, sweeping the surroundings.
Screee—
Its speed was so great that the snow on the ground evaporated rapidly.
'He's truly attacking and defending simultaneously.'
Cheonhwi closely observed the All-Encompassing Veil.
The defensive technique he had seen long ago differed from the one the Jongnam Sword Saint now displayed.
This one was superior.
'Then, as I said back then.'
Cheonhwi withdrew his Mount Tai Crush.
But the Jongnam Sword Saint swung his sword even faster, unwilling to let Cheonhwi retract it easily.
Sneer—
Cheonhwi smirked and kicked off the ground.
Executing Dark Fragrance Step, he slipped through the gap as the All-Encompassing Veil swept upward to the right.
Whoosh—
"..."
Their eyes met for a moment.
Yet the Jongnam Sword Saint made no move to swing further, simply watching.
'Oh ho. You're waiting, are you?'
His gaze, as if urging Cheonhwi to show the next move, prompted Cheonhwi to infuse his Plum Blossom Divine Art into his sword and swing.
Meteor Fall!
The sword slashing down like a meteor clashed with the All-Encompassing Veil.
Clang!
The All-Encompassing Veil scattered sparks in all directions upon impact with Meteor Fall.
The clashes didn't end with one.
Once, twice, three times...
As the exchanges multiplied...
The weight of Meteor Fall, heavy even among heavy swords, began to disrupt the balance of the All-Encompassing Veil.
"Impossible...!"
The Jongnam Sword Saint's eyes wavered.
'That ethereal lightness with such a heavy sword...'
Havng seen with his own eyes the technique he had found hard to believe during the Debate Sword, the Jongnam Sword Saint couldn't hide his shock.
But only for a moment.
He withdrew the All-Encompassing Veil and executed Cloud Dragon Steps, aiming for Cheonhwi's side.
Cheonhwi twisted his sword aside to deflect it.
Kiiing—
As the Jade Dew Sword slid along his blade and soared skyward as if by design...
Swish!
The Jongnam Sword Saint's sword momentum shifted drastically, targeting Cheonhwi.
"The third form of the Thirty-Six Swords of the World: Universal Wind."
As the Jongnam Sword Saint spoke calmly, space tore, and a sword appeared.
'...There it is.'
Cheonhwi's lips twisted.
How long had he craved this?
A spar with an absolute master who had refined his arts beyond his previous life!
His heart pounded hotly.
But his mind cooled coldly.
'Let's see what you've got.'
Cheonhwi lowered his stance, dodging the Universal Wind and closing in toward the chest.
At the same time, his sword wavered.
The wavering was bizarre.
Not undulating like waves, nor swaying side to side.
It fluttered like a butterfly.
Yet as the sword moved, the snowflakes split in half at the energy.
The Jongnam Sword Saint narrowed his eyes.
"Plum Fragrance Intoxicating Butterfly."
Having pierced Cheonhwi's technique at a glance, he swung his sword fiercely.
Whoooosh!
Snowflakes scattered like a storm, soaring into the sky.
And within that storm, beautiful sword flowers bloomed in all directions.
The flowers blooming amid the falling snow were not swept away by the fierce, twisting storm of the Jongnam Sword Saint.
Meanwhile, two men watched from a distance.
The Heavenly Ear Beggar and the Tai Chi Gentleman.
"...A monster."
The Tai Chi Gentleman clicked his tongue.
Even if the Jongnam Sword Saint wasn't at full power, that level was elder-class among the Nine Great Sects.
"The Clan Leader told us to check him out."
The Heavenly Ear Beggar let out a hollow laugh.
The Beggar Clan Leader had insisted on seeing this kid named Cheonhwi if they visited Mount Hua.
"Peak realm at that age? It's so absurd I can't even laugh."
As he spoke, he glanced at the Tai Chi Gentleman.
"How does he stack up against your Wudang's precious Jade Kirin?"
"..."
The Tai Chi Gentleman shook his head.
The Jade Kirin was outstanding among later-generation disciples.
But that was among later-generation disciples.
This one...
Was on another level.
Even compared to experts across the world, rivals could be counted on one hand.
Boom! Boom!
The shockwaves from their clashes reached even this distant spot.
Blue sparks continued to fly.
Sword flowers bloomed endlessly, matched by the unrelenting storm.
The gently falling snowflakes shattered and scattered before touching the ground, caught in their shockwaves.
The sight was truly beautiful.
But only on the surface.
"...Vicious."
"Is there anyone like that in the world?"
The sharp energy bursting from the clashes sliced their skin despite the cold, chilling to the bone.
The next moment, they clashed again.
Kaaaaang!
Space trembled as if unable to withstand the impact.
Kiiiiing—
A piercing screech erupted.
"Those guys!"
"Ugh!"
The Heavenly Ear Beggar and Tai Chi Gentleman clutched their ears.
Yet even then, the two never ceased swinging their swords.
At that moment.
Step—
The Jongnam Sword Saint took a step back.
"Let's end the probing now."
The Heavenly Ear Beggar and Tai Chi Gentleman exchanged bewildered glances at his words.
"Probing?"
"That was just now?"
Unlike the surprised pair, Cheonhwi rested his sword on his shoulder as he looked at the Jongnam Sword Saint.
"Perfect timing—I was getting bored anyway."
Cheonhwi's eyes curved up.
Soon, he circulated the internal energy of the Plum Blossom Divine Art, baring his pearly whites.
"Then let's get serious from now on."