Chapter 250
Chapter 250
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 250
Chapter Title: The First Generation Disciples Return
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“Sect Leader Senior Brother!”
“Look, Sect Leader Senior Brother! You’re safe!”
“Master!”
“Sect Leader!”
Hyeonsang looked at those calling out to him urgently, chasing after him as if their lives depended on it.
It was Hyeondo, Hyeonjin, and Cheonyu leading the first-generation disciples. Their appearances were utterly wretched.
Their robes were soaked through with sweat, and the leather shoes they wore were so worn and torn that their filthy bare soles were plainly visible.
If they hadn’t been wearing Mount Hua Sect robes, they might have been mistaken for Beggar Clan members and greeted as such.
And among them, one figure who exuded an overwhelming presence even at a glance strode forward ahead of the rest.
“Hmmm……”
Hyeonsang let out a low groan for a moment.
Was it because it had been so long since they’d last met?
Or was it because of his current state?
Even knowing this approaching man was his junior brother, seeing his face up close made Hyeonsang feel overwhelmed by his ferocity.
‘He’s even more impressive than before.’
Hyeondo’s appearance was utterly wild.
He seemed more like a bandit than even the Bandit King.
And rightly so, just look at him now.
His disheveled hair and thick, unkempt beard sprouting wildly in all directions.
His savage face, which made one shrink back at first sight, was filled with fury.
On top of that, his sweat-soaked robe clung tightly to his body, accentuating his massive muscles even more.
Hyeonsang gave an awkward smile toward his intimidating junior brother.
“It’s been a while.”
“H-how did the attack go?”
At Hyeondo’s urgent words, Hyeonsang tilted his head and smacked his lips.
“The bandits were routed. The news has already spread far and wide—didn’t you hear?”
“Really?! Thank goodness……”
Hyeondo, about to sigh in relief, snapped back to his senses.
A rout didn’t end the matter.
“Then, were there any injured or……perhaps dead……”
Hyeondo couldn’t finish his sentence.
He didn’t want to voice the worst-case scenario.
“No need for needless worry.”
Hyeonsang, understanding his junior’s feelings, spoke with a gentle smile.
“There were no disciples who died.”
The moment those words ended.
Thud—
Hyeonjin and the first-generation disciples collapsed straight onto the ground.
The tension had drained from them all at once.
“Th-that’s……a relief.”
“Phew, what did I tell you?”
As they broke into relieved smiles.
“But you arrived awfully quickly.”
Hyeonsang said, looking at them.
The Murim Alliance was located in Wuhuan, Hubei Province. It was quite a distance from Mount Hua, making it nearly impossible to arrive in just four days……
“How could we be late when things were so dire?”
At Hyeondo’s words, Hyeonjin and the disciples sitting on the ground nodded weakly in agreement.
They had truly pushed their movement techniques to the limit.
Abstaining from food and sleep, driven solely by the resolve to reach Mount Hua as fast as possible.
They hadn’t slept a wink, just kept running.
Thanks to that, they’d covered what should have taken over ten days in a mere four.
Tap. Tap.
Hyeonsang patted the shoulder of the only one still standing, Hyeondo, and said softly.
“……You’ve worked hard.”
“No, it’s nothing. Hyeonjin Junior Brother and the kids suffered more than I did.”
Hyeonsang nodded at those words.
“Everyone worked hard.”
As the disciples formed tired smiles at Hyeonsang’s words.
“It’s been a while.”
A voice cut in.
“Cheonhwi!”
Hyeondo flashed a bright smile.
Not just him.
Hyeonjin and the first-generation disciples, who had been sitting on the ground, struggled to their feet and approached Cheonhwi to greet him.
“It’s been a while, Junior Brother.”
“You’re not hurt anywhere, right?”
“Come on, Senior Brother. Do you think I’d get hurt? If anything, those who fought me are the ones to pity.”
“Haha, true enough.”
As the first-generation disciples exchanged warm words.
Cheonhwi’s eyes sparkled.
“Huh? But everyone’s internal energy is completely depleted.”
“We kept running nonstop……”
“We ran out of qi.”
Cheonyu and the disciples answered with sheepish grins.
Just their internal energy depleted?
Their entire bodies felt like mush right now.
“Want some spirit pills then? They’d be perfect in this situation.”
“What? Spirit pills?”
“You have spirit pills?”
“Of course we’ll take them!”
“You’re giving them, right?”
“Obviously!”
Starting with Cheonyu, the first-generation disciples spoke up urgently, afraid he might take them back.
“Why would we refuse spirit pills?”
“We’re desperate for them but can’t find any.”
“Here, take them.”
Cheonhwi immediately pulled out Dark Fragrance Pills from his bosom and distributed them to the first-generation disciples.
“They look unusual.”
“Did our sect have spirit pills like this?”
Everyone tilted their heads.
It was their first time seeing such glossy black pills.
“If you don’t want them, I’ll take them back……”
“You gave them, so they’re mine now.”
As Cheonhwi pretended to take it back, Cheonyu quickly popped the Dark Fragrance Pill into his mouth and swallowed.
The others followed suit.
Smirk—
Cheonhwi grinned slyly, like a fisherman who’d hooked a big one.
“Huh? Why are you smiling like th…… Urk!”
Cheonyu, sensing something off in Cheonhwi’s odd smile, asked uneasily, only to suddenly clutch his stomach as abdominal pain surged up, his eyes bulging.
‘N-no way……’
His gaze swept around.
Then he was horrified.
It wasn’t just him.
All his fellow disciples who’d taken the pills had gone pale.
And soon.
Gurgle— Gurgle—
Loud rumbles echoed from their stomachs.
They hadn’t eaten for four days, so there was nothing to expel, yet their bellies kept growling relentlessly.
Unable to endure it, Cheonyu forced out words.
“Ugh, urk, Hwi. What the hell did you……”
“Spirit pills, of course.”
Cheonhwi answered nonchalantly.
“They have a bit of toxin, though.”
“T-toxin?”
“Eh, it’s not that strong. Just enough to cause some stomach cramps……?”
Cheonyu and the first-generation disciples’ visions darkened.
It had been so long since returning to Mount Hua.
And this was how it turned out.
They frantically scanned their surroundings.
And saw.
The second-generation disciples looking at them pitifully from afar.
‘If they knew, they should’ve warned us!’
Then Cheonhwi’s voice rang out.
“Oh, right. Do you remember what I said before leaving the Murim Alliance?”
‘What I said before leaving the Murim Alliance……?’
As Cheonyu and the first-generation disciples’ faces visibly stiffened.
“Your skills haven’t improved as much as I expected.”
“Th-that’s……”
Cheonyu gave an awkward laugh at Cheonhwi’s follow-up.
They’d trained diligently for a few days after Cheonhwi left, but old habits die hard.
“I said I’d ramp up the training intensity if your skills hadn’t improved, right?”
With those words, Cheonhwi grinned. He glanced over Cheonyu and the disciples, shrugged, and added.
“We’ll talk details later. For now, circulate your qi and meditate. If you don’t get it under control soon, it’ll get ugly.”
“……!”
Cheonyu and the disciples flinched.
Ugly……
They gulped.
“What, not gonna? Should I fetch some spare robes then?”
At the chilling follow-up, without a word, Cheonyu and the disciples all assumed the lotus position.
‘H-huff! We’ll be the laughingstock for life!’
‘Not that!’
Once they all began meditating, Cheonhwi turned his gaze.
“Martial Uncles, want some too?”
Cheonhwi offered Dark Fragrance Pills to Hyeondo and Hyeonjin, who stood awkwardly, but.
“No, I’m good.”
“Ahem, I’ll pass.”
The two refused, breaking into cold sweats.
“It builds up a ton of internal energy.”
At those words, the two perked up momentarily but soon shook their heads.
“Quantity alone doesn’t make a warrior.”
“Excess is as bad as deficiency.”
No matter how much internal energy one had, if they couldn’t wield it properly, it was just a waste.
“Hmm, alright?”
Cheonhwi smacked his lips regretfully at their firm refusal and said.
“Tell me if you need any later.”
As Cheonhwi pocketed the Dark Fragrance Pills, he paused as if remembering something.
“Perfect timing, actually. I was short on hands anyway. We can train while putting you to work—ideal.”
At that moment, Cheonyu and the disciples shuddered with foreboding, while Cheonhwi looked around and muttered.
“Where did I put those iron rings and iron swords I released before the attack……”
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Deep in the heart of the Murim Alliance.
Two men sat across a table in a serene chamber.
The one with hair half white and half black, impossible to tell if elder or middle-aged, spoke.
“The bandits have been routed.”
At the words of the Alliance’s Military Strategist, Zhuge Gong, the eyes of the man opposite him—the Murim Alliance Leader, Sword Hero of Benevolent Justice—narrowed to slits.
“Remarkable.”
The Leader let out a voice of admiration.
“White Ghost Castle after, now the bandits fall to Mount Hua as well.”
“The bandits haven’t been completely crushed yet.”
Zhuge Gong corrected him.
“Reports say the Bandit King escaped after tending his wounds.”
“Haha, same difference.”
The Leader stroked his neatly styled hair and continued.
“They attacked and ended up fleeing instead.”
“He’s still alive. As long as he lives, the bandits can rebuild their strength anytime.”
“No need for concern.”
The Leader’s voice was icy.
Sharp as a sword’s edge.
“As a warrior, he’s already dead.”
The Strategist fell silent at the resolute words.
“But who routed the Bandit King? The Mount Hua Divine Sword is at the Alliance.”
“We haven’t confirmed exactly who yet, but……I have a suspect.”
“Who?”
“The Plum Blossom Divine Knight.”
The Leader’s eyes darkened instantly.
“Plum Blossom Divine Knight…… The kid who made a name during the struggle for Shaanxi’s hegemony.”
“Yes.”
“What makes you think so?”
“When the Mount Hua Divine Sword and Non-Attachment Sword Army attacked White Ghost Castle, the Plum Blossom Divine Knight was there too.”
The Leader’s beard twitched at the Strategist’s words.
“Hahaha, I thought he might have had help from behind the scenes. Has Mount Hua raised yet another expert……”
With those words, the Leader closed his eyes briefly, then opened them.
“I’m curious who it is.”
“He bears the Taoist name Cheonhwi and is a first-generation disciple of Mount Hua.”
The Strategist rattled off the answer as if he’d been waiting.
“He’s in his early twenties, and I hear he also serves as the overall leader of the newly established Third Division.”
“Whose disciple?”
“……Hyeon-gang.”
“Plum Blossom Sword Knight?”
“Yes.”
The Leader’s eyes widened slightly.
It was a completely unexpected name.
“Haha, intriguing information. Anything else?”
“That’s all the known details.”
“That’s all……”
The Leader’s voice sank.
“Dragon Head Beggar must have intervened.”
The Strategist nodded.
“Since Mount Hua and the Beggar Clan joined hands, they’ve likely blocked all info on him already.”
“I see.”
The Leader asked no more.
With the Beggar Clan’s Chief Dragon Head Beggar involved, obtaining more was impossible.
“What of the Evil-Black Alliance?”
“They’re a bit shaken.”
The Leader burst into laughter.
“Kekeke, even the Evil-Black Leader can’t stomach this.”
“How could they?”
The Strategist’s lips twisted.
“They pulled in the bandits—whom they’d scorned for so long to balance the Nine Provinces Three Evils and Seven Powers—and it backfired.”
“Mount Hua is helping us.”
As the Leader smirked and spoke, the Strategist furrowed his brow.
“But there’s a slight problem.”
“Problem……?”
“As the bandit attacks intensified recently, voices among the Alliance’s young warriors are rising that we should step in. Some radicals even claim we must fight the Evil-Black Alliance.”
The Leader’s eyebrow twitched.
“That’ll disrupt the plan.”
What he wanted was division among the Nine Great Sects.
But a common enemy would unite them.
As the Leader pondered this unforeseen issue, the Strategist whispered.
“Something’s off about this.”
Pausing briefly, he took a breath and continued what he hadn’t finished.
“There were no such voices until recently. Then suddenly, from one day, it got noisy—like someone’s deliberately spreading it.”
The Leader reacted immediately.
“Spies.”
The Strategist nodded silently.
Seeing it, the Leader’s eyes gleamed as a cold smile formed on his lips.
“They want war with the Evil-Black Alliance. They’ve finally shown their tail.”
The Leader glared at the Strategist and asked.
“Any way to catch them?”
“One method.”
“Speak.”
“Hold a murim conference on whether to go to war with the Evil-Black Alliance.”
The Strategist’s eyes narrowed slyly.
“Those who want the Nine Provinces Three Evils and Seven Powers to crumble won’t miss this golden opportunity.”