Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Emerging from Seclusion
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The western archive on the first floor of the Ten Thousand Scriptures Pavilion.
Thud— thud—
In the eerily silent archive, devoid of any human presence, footsteps suddenly echoed out of nowhere.
Thud.
A young man abruptly rose from below.
With snow-white skin and sharp, distinct features.
A strikingly handsome youth over six feet tall, the kind anyone would take a liking to.
It was Cheonhwi, now nineteen years old after five years had passed.
"Is this nonsense finally over?"
He stood straight and glanced at the staircase—the only means to access the hidden chamber—before unwittingly clicking his tongue with a 'tsk'.
His eyebrows shot up in unison.
His expression was laced with clear irritation, but thanks to his handsome looks, even that came across as a unique charm.
"Took longer than I thought."
He grumbled softly.
His initial plan had been two years.
Yet five years had flown by, far exceeding his expectations.
'One of them held me back.'
Cheonhwi recalled the sword manual among the fourteen martial arts scriptures that had given him the most trouble.
The others had taken just over a year, but that final sword art had consumed most of the time.
As he briefly reminisced about the sword art, a chuckle escaped him.
Troublesome as it was, he had succeeded in restoring it, and with today, everything was complete.
"Ahhh, it's done. Finally done."
Stretching as he spoke, Cheonhwi deftly reached out to seal the passage to the hidden chamber before turning around.
Naturally, he surveyed his surroundings.
The interior of the Ten Thousand Scriptures Pavilion hadn't changed since five years ago.
The surrounding archives were packed with books, and the silence was profound.
Of course, there had been times when many disciples crowded in, making it bustling, but that was fleeting. Day by day, their numbers dwindled sharply until it became this quiet.
'No reason to come back here now.'
He took in the sight of the pavilion's interior.
He had spent five years here.
Before he knew it, he had grown attached.
"Stayed quite a while."
Sentimental despite himself, he methodically recalled what he had done during that time.
Restoring martial arts, restoring martial arts, restoring martial arts...
Suddenly, his eyes cooled sharply.
"...Not attached enough for that."
Upon reflection, whenever he came to the pavilion, he would first inform Hyeoncheong of the restored martial arts, then spend the entire day in the hidden chamber restoring more.
Not that he was dissatisfied.
Thanks to it, he had learned the righteous sects' martial arts as well.
"Well, time to go."
He spun on his heel.
Today marked the end of it all.
Both informing Hyeoncheong of the restored arts and visiting the hidden chamber.
Swish—
He strode forward confidently.
Arriving at the pavilion's door in an instant, Cheonhwi tilted his head.
"Hm? Where'd he go?"
As he looked for Hyeoncheong, who usually guarded the door, he remembered something from that morning.
"Ah! He said he was attending the great assembly today? He's getting around more these days."
Gazing at the neatly organized desk, Cheonhwi fell into thought.
Five years ago, Hyeoncheong had avoided external activities, focusing solely on restorations.
But now, with the martial arts scriptures restored, he had more leeway and began engaging outwardly, even attending great assemblies frequently.
"It was a new martial art's turn today. Whatever, if it's urgent, he'll come find me."
Recalling Hyeoncheong, who visited daily to transcribe the restored manuals' formulas, Cheonhwi headed for the door.
Creeeak—
Moments later, Cheonhwi pushed open the firmly shut door of the Ten Thousand Scriptures Pavilion and stepped outside.
The outside was still serene.
And in his unobstructed view, the beautiful scenery of Mount Hua unfolded.
The fifth spring he was welcoming.
Plum blossoms bloomed profusely across the mountain, their thick fragrance mingling with the breeze, tickling his nose.
Whoooosh—
Savoring the familiar landscape and tranquility, Cheonhwi walked toward Falling Goose Peak.
'Then, focusing on the new martial arts I devised in the hidden chamber...'
As he organized the arts he had refined and perfected there while walking,
Clang! Clang!
His thoughts shattered at the sharp clash of metal from afar.
In his wide-open view appeared the familiar wooden hut and courtyard.
The courtyard, much larger than five years ago, hosted a spar between a young man and woman.
A gentle-smiling youth and a beautiful but coldly impassive beauty.
It was the grown Jeokgeom and Seollan.
Mid-spar with the Plum Blossom Sword Art, Seollan sheathed her sword and stepped back.
"Your sword tip's wobbling more than usual today."
"Haha. Guess my focus is off."
Jeokgeom laughed awkwardly.
Seollan, watching him, sheathed her own sword and asked with a worried look.
"...Is it the rumors again?"
Jeokgeom's face darkened instantly.
Unable to hide his anxiety, he sheathed his sword and nodded faintly.
"Seems like it's worrying me."
Jeokgeom recalled the rumors circulating in the martial world, fidgeting restlessly.
"Haa... The Overlord Sect is targeting my family."
"Don't worry too much, Senior Brother."
Seollan approached and comforted him.
"Even the Overlord Sect wouldn't dare a direct clash with our sect."
Perhaps because they had grown close while tending to Cheonhwi, the once cynical girl was now consoling Jeokgeom.
"Plus, the Sect Leader called a great assembly because of it, right?"
Jeokgeom calmed his unease at Seollan's emphatic words.
"Right, you're correct, Junior Sister."
"What Senior Brother and I need to do is train our martial arts, preparing for any possible mission..."
As the two began discussing the upcoming great assembly,
'Hm? Great assembly?'
Cheonhwi, approaching, perked up his ears. One word from their conversation caught his attention.
'What? Martial world debut?'
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The Cloud Amidst Pavilion, where the great assembly was held.
Though ages had passed, the pavilion remained unchanged, but inside, a tense atmosphere hung heavy.
"Everyone's gathered."
The Sect Leader, seated at the head, spoke.
Instantly, those seated around the massive table wore grave expressions.
Surveying the stiff assembly, the Sect Leader nodded to Hyeonryeo.
"A few days ago, the North Wind Merchant Group requested our aid."
Hyeonryeo spoke as if she had been waiting.
"What aid?"
"...Protection from the Overlord Sect's attacks."
A chill silence fell.
Soon after, a ferocious aura unfitting for a Daoist sect filled the pavilion, impossible to believe.
As the aura intensified,
"The North Wind Merchant Group is the family of our disciple, Jeokgeom."
Hyeonryeo added.
"Are you saying we must help?"
"Yes."
"Is that your personal opinion, or as Finance Hall Leader?"
"Both."
Hyeonryeo answered firmly.
"Very well."
The Sect Leader nodded, scanning the room before speaking.
"What do the rest of you think?"
"I agree."
"How can we stand by while the North Wind Merchant Group, who aided our sect, is threatened by the Overlord Sect's unorthodox rabble?"
"We must help, of course."
Affirmations came swiftly, as if anticipated.
Hyeoncheong, watching from the end, felt the same.
"Refusing the North Wind Merchant Group's aid would tarnish our sect's name."
Hearing unanimous agreement, the Sect Leader shifted topics.
"Then, who should we dispatch to the North Wind Merchant Group?"
Then Hyeonheo raised his hand high.
All eyes, including the Sect Leader's, turned to Hyeonheo, whose beard was even more stylishly grown than five years prior.
Waiting for the attention, Hyeonheo spoke.
"I believe we should send the newly selected Plum Blossom Sword Guards."
"Hmm..."
"Indeed."
"Who else but the Plum Blossom Sword Guards."
Most nodded in agreement.
But not all shared the view; some opposed.
One was the Martial Training Pavilion Leader.
"But they're too young for a martial world debut. It's only been a little over a year since they became Plum Blossom Sword Guards, and they can't wield the Plum Blossom Sword Art properly yet."
"Junior Brother still sees the Plum Blossom Sword Guards as children."
Hyeonheo said coldly.
"Young and inexperienced they may be, but as Plum Blossom Sword Guards, they represent our sect's face. If we deem them inadequate, who in the world will trust us?"
"That's..."
Stung by the direct words, the Martial Training Pavilion Leader swallowed his retort and closed his eyes.
He knew it too.
That Hyeonheo was right.
But he was anxious.
Worried that, by some chance, the debuting guards might suffer a mishap like Hyeon-gang.
Then Hyeonheo's voice came.
"We must trust them first."
The Martial Training Pavilion Leader opened his eyes.
As the words implied, it was time to let them go and have faith in his disciples.
"Senior Brother is right."
Hyeonheo smiled softly at the unexpectedly compliant Martial Training Pavilion Leader and addressed the Sect Leader.
"Moreover, Jeokgeom is among this batch of Plum Blossom Sword Guards. It would serve as both a worldly experience and a visit to his family—perfectly suitable."
Right on cue, the Plum Fragrance Hall Leader chimed in.
"As said, mobilizing the Plum Blossom Sword Guards is most appropriate."
As even the dissenters gradually agreed,
"Any other opinions?"
The Sect Leader scanned the room.
No opposition this time.
"Then it's decided: the Plum Blossom Sword Guards will go. Now..."
The Sect Leader's eyes gleamed as he spoke.
Their deployment was all but confirmed. But what he asked next was truly crucial.
"Who should lead the Plum Blossom Sword Guards?"
All groaned softly.
The Wise Generation Daoists had to guard Mount Hua and couldn't go.
Thus, it had to be from the Heavenly Generation, but most held key positions, making it hard to spare them.
As they pondered those without duties, Hyeonheo suggested first.
"What about Cheonsu?"
"No."
Hyeonryeo immediately objected.
Cheonsu, deputy leader of Finance Hall, possessed a brilliant mind and was indispensable.
"Can't detach him from the ongoing financial management issues."
No one could argue.
Everyone knew the sect's finances had grown dire lately.
Then the Plum Fragrance Hall Leader clapped, recalling someone.
"How about Cheonhyang? Didn't he just return after family matters? He has experience wandering the martial world—ideal for this."
This time, the Martial Training Pavilion Leader shook his head.
"Cheonhyang's condition isn't good. I don't know what happened at his family, but he returned with internal injuries."
All groaned again.
Excluding those two, no one from the Heavenly Generation was suitable.
"Our numbers have dwindled far from the past."
The watching Sect Leader smiled bitterly.
Once overflowing with talent, they had picked and chosen for missions.
Now, there weren't even enough to send.
"Can't recall Cheonyu from the Murim Alliance either..."
As he mentioned the senior disciple dispatched to the Murim Alliance amid recent events, looking troubled,
"I'll take that mission."
A low voice interjected, and as the elders turned, Cheonhwi strode in confidently, entering their view.