Chapter 315
Chapter 315
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 315
Chapter Title: The Sparring Incident
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Seolgeom found the current situation utterly bewildering.
He had deliberately gathered the key figures from the Murim Alliance who had shown interest in Cheonhwi, the leader of the Annihilation Squadron, and personally escorted them all the way here.
It was meant to expand Cheonhwi's connections to match his skyrocketing reputation.
But his plan had gone completely off the rails from the start.
'This is a mess.'
A deep furrow formed between Seolgeom's brows.
He had intended to show these people the best sides of Cheonhwi and the Annihilation Squadron.
But what was this mess?
The first sight that greeted them was Cheonhwi standing alone, surrounded by fallen later-generation disciples.
And among those sprawled on the ground were a few disciples from the very sects he had brought here.
"Segon!"
Gokpyeong spotted Yuk Segon, a Kunlun disciple, collapsed on the ground and rushed over to support him.
"A-Are you alright?"
Yuk Segon, who had just barely regained consciousness from near-unconsciousness, met Gokpyeong's eyes and groaned as he spoke.
"S-Si... Senior Uncle?"
"What in the world happened to you?"
At the question, Yuk Segon bit his lip hard and shook his head.
"N-Nothing... at all."
Gokpyeong's brows furrowed.
It was hard to believe.
Yuk Segon's condition was far too severe for it to be "nothing."
And there, beside him, was Cheolho, lying spread-eagled on the floor, foaming at the mouth.
"You can tell the truth. What happened?"
"We just sparred, that's all."
"Sparred?"
Meanwhile, seeing the situation unfold, Seolgeom felt his stomach churn.
It was mortifying.
Soon, he gripped the whip in his hand tightly and strode up to Cheonhwi, who was eyeing him askance, his lips moving.
"What is the meaning of this?"
Cheonhwi met the anxious Seolgeom's gaze and slung his wooden sword over his shoulder.
"What do you mean?"
Cheonhwi lowered his eyes as he spoke.
He was utterly calm and confident.
At that sight, Seolgeom felt a surge of anger but suppressed it and spoke again.
"Why are the Annihilation Squadron members and Mount Hua Taoists lying on the ground...?"
"Oh, that?"
As he glanced at the fallen later-generation disciples, Cheonhwi finally seemed to understand and immediately replied.
In a casual tone.
"We just did some sparring."
Hearing Cheonhwi's response, Seolgeom pressed the deepening furrow between his brows with his whip.
The word "sparring" made the situation immediately clear.
Cheonhwi was on a completely different level.
That's why he could create this scene even against so many opponents.
But still.
"How do you spar to cause this...?"
He muttered in disbelief.
It was warranted—the fallen ones were in bad shape for a typical spar.
Some were foaming at the mouth, others trembling while face-down.
Moreover, with Cheonhwi's skill, he could have held back. But from the looks of it, he had shown off instead.
That was when it happened.
"Amitabha."
A nun approached with a Buddhist chant.
It was Soyeon Nun, an elder of the Ami Sect.
She drew close to Cheonhwi, clasped her hands politely, and bowed.
"It's a pleasure to meet you like this. This poor nun is Soyeon of Ami."
Her eyes gleamed.
"Thank you for saving our sect."
She then offered deep gratitude.
She had been startled at first sight of the scene, but only briefly.
For her, there was only gratitude.
And who was Cheonhwi?
The benefactor who had saved the Ami Sect.
At Soyeon Nun's sincere thanks, Cheonhwi shrugged his shoulders and said,
"I was just doing my duty."
It was a plain statement.
But hearing it, waves of emotion rippled in Soyeon Nun's eyes.
She had heard through Murim Alliance channels, and even the sect leader had once relayed via messenger pigeon that Cheonhwi's aid accounted for over eighty percent of why Ami Sect had survived intact.
Yet the benefactor before her dismissed it as no big deal.
His vessel was on another level.
'A true hero.'
Soyeon Nun unclasped her hands and stepped back.
Then she dropped a bombshell.
"If you ever need this poor nun's or our sect's help, just say the word. Even our sect leader fully supports you."
At her words, those around her couldn't hide their shock.
The Ami Sect had long avoided deep ties with anyone in the Nine Great Sects except Shaolin, fellow Buddhists.
Yet here was Ami Sect declaring full support for Cheonhwi.
It was no small matter.
It was tantamount to declaring they would aid Mount Hua in the future.
But unlike the stunned onlookers, Cheonhwi responded with a matter-of-fact expression.
"I'll let you know if I need anything later."
Soyeon Nun smiled faintly.
"Please do."
With that, she turned away cleanly, without lingering.
She had come solely to convey this, so there was nothing more to say.
For her, this sufficed.
As she walked away.
"Annihilation Squadron Leader!"
A vigorous shout rang out suddenly.
Turning his head, he saw Gokpyeong charging over like a bull, face flushed with anger.
"Elder Gokpyeong. Please calm..."
Startled, Seolgeom tried to intervene.
"Out of my way."
But it was futile.
Gokpyeong shoved him aside, stood before Cheonhwi, and pointed at Yuk Segon with his index finger.
His voice sharpened behind him.
"Did you do that to him?"
"Senior Uncle!"
Yuk Segon cried out urgently.
His face had turned red as a ripe persimmon.
It felt like the embarrassment of a child whose parents had jumped into a playground fight.
Then a calm voice flowed out.
From Cheonhwi's mouth.
"That's right."
"Isn't that a bit excessive?"
"Pardon?"
Cheonhwi asked back in disbelief.
Excessive?
Ridiculous.
At Cheonhwi's reaction, Gokpyeong wrinkled his nose bridge and quickly added,
"These are cherished disciples from each sect. With your skill, couldn't you have gone easier on them?"
"Gone easier..."
Cheonhwi tilted his head oddly and asked Yuk Segon, who had approached fidgeting with embarrassment.
"What do you think? Should I hold back?"
Cheonhwi's eyes cooled coldly.
"Gasp...!"
At that gaze, Yuk Segon sensed something and hurriedly shook his head.
"N-No, it's fine."
Hearing Yuk Segon's answer, Cheonhwi erased the cold look and turned back to Gokpyeong.
"He says it's fine, doesn't he?"
Gokpyeong's brows furrowed.
"But in this wartime situation, leaving them injured like this is..."
"What? You know that full well."
Cheonhwi cut him off sharply.
"It's war, so we should spar even more intensely, like real combat, right?"
As he spoke, Cheonhwi grinned.
"If you're worried about those two, shouldn't you welcome this real-combat-style sparring instead?"
"......"
Gokpyeong shut his mouth.
It was irrefutable logic.
And at that moment.
"Amitabha. The young hero is correct."
Wonjong Grandmaster, who had approached nearby, spoke up.
"Sparring like real combat will be of great help in actual battles later."
"At least you get it."
At Cheonhwi's light remark, Seolgeom panicked once more.
Wonjong Grandmaster was a Shaolin elder.
Once a pillar of the righteous sects, a man of immense prestige.
Yet that tone.
But unlike Seolgeom's worry, Wonjong Grandmaster smiled benevolently even at Cheonhwi's casual speech.
"Glad we see eye to eye."
Wonjong Grandmaster regarded Cheonhwi properly and spoke.
"This monk is Wonjong."
"Cheonhwi."
At Cheonhwi's curt reply, Wonjong Grandmaster's smile faded as he spoke softly.
"You're a bit different from the rumors, young hero."
"Rumors aren't everything."
Cheonhwi dismissed it casually.
Rumors were just rumors.
To truly know someone, you had to meet them, see them, feel them.
But at Cheonhwi's obvious words, Wonjong Grandmaster's eyes widened slightly in surprise.
'Impressive for one so young.'
Dismissing rumors as mere rumors wasn't easy for most.
People were easily swayed by hearsay.
Yet Cheonhwi truly treated them as such.
"I heard you visited Shaolin before."
"Had some connections back then."
"My junior monks told me all about it."
Wonjong Grandmaster nodded.
After a brief silence, he gazed at Cheonhwi and smiled.
"Heh heh, I'd love to have a detailed talk with you later, young hero."
"A detailed talk?"
"Why? Don't want to?"
"Yes."
For a moment, everyone except Wonjong Grandmaster—Seolgeom, Cheol Su-bi Geom, even Gokpyeong—paled and glanced nervously at him.
Wonjong Grandmaster held one of the highest positions in the current Murim Alliance.
That tone toward him.
As all held their breath fearing his anger.
"Heh heh."
Contrary to their thoughts, Wonjong Grandmaster burst into amused laughter.
"What an interesting young hero."
He felt a fresh emotion.
Who had ever spoken to him like that?
Smiling faintly, he asked,
"Then what would it take for you to chat with this monk?"
"If you come next time not empty-handed but with something, sure."
Wonjong Grandmaster's eyes crinkled.
"Looks like you have a request."
Cheonhwi grinned.
"Yep."
"What is it?"
At the question, Cheonhwi's gaze deepened.
Opening eyes tinged with a faint red glow, Cheonhwi scanned Wonjong Grandmaster's dantian.
A tiny gold mine buried in darkness.
And Cheonhwi knew.
That tiny gold mine's power shone brighter and more brilliantly than those of the Arhat monks he had met during his Shaolin visit.
"I'd like to see Shaolin's divine art, the Supreme Great Ability."
Wonjong Grandmaster let out a hollow laugh.
The implication was clear.
"You want to spar with this monk."
"Exactly."
Wonjong Grandmaster pondered briefly.
It was a spar with much to lose.
Defeat could tarnish Shaolin's honor.
But the deliberation didn't last long.
"Very well."
Wonjong Grandmaster said softly.
"But can we keep the spar a secret from everyone?"
Cheonhwi smirked.
He had seen through his intent immediately.
'He wants to hide the outcome.'
Cheonhwi nodded and replied.
"Sure."
He didn't care about hiding win or loss.
He just needed to see the Supreme Great Ability.
"Heh heh, straightforward."
Wonjong Grandmaster smiled in satisfaction.
"Then I'll await your visit."
With that, he turned away.
As even Wonjong Grandmaster left the hall, Cheol Su-bi Geom and Gokpyeong watched his back, shook their heads, and spoke.
"I am Cheol Su-bi Geom."
"Gokpyeong of Kunlun Sect."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Three days passed.
In that time, Cheonhwi continued sparring relentlessly against the Annihilation Squadron and Flame Spirit Unit.
"Gah!"
"Get it together?"
And accordingly, Cheonhwi swung his wooden sword without rest.
It wasn't just the sword.
He ceaselessly advised his opponents with his words.
"Circulate your internal energy properly to the Yongcheon acupoint. Step one more pace from there."
At first, the Annihilation Squadron members had questioned Cheonhwi's advice.
How could he know their techniques so precisely and read their flows?
But as the sparring continued, they had no room for doubts.
Their minds held only one thought.
'Block it!'
As Cheonhwi relentlessly battered the Annihilation Squadron and Flame Spirit Unit with his wooden sword.
Bang!
Suddenly, the hall's large doors flew open.
And through the open doors appeared a handsome young man in pristine robes.
At the sight of the youth in taiji-inspired cyan-and-white Taoist robes, several Annihilation Squadron members reacted immediately.
"Jade Qilin...?"
"Why is Ilgwang here...?"
Then, Ok Girin, who had opened the door and scanned the surroundings, spotted Cheonhwi in the center of the training ground and broke into a bright smile.
"Young Hero Cheonhwi!"
Calling out gladly, he rushed over like a sprint and stood before Cheonhwi.
He then clasped his hands politely.
"Amitabha. Long time no see."
Watching Ok Girin bow with a smile, Cheonhwi tilted his head and spoke.
"What's up?"
At the direct question without greeting, Ok Girin seemed slightly flustered but soon maintained his smile.
"You haven't heard yet, I see."
Ok Girin caught his breath and said,
"We've been assigned to the same mission this time, so I came to greet you."