Chapter 52
Chapter 52
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: The Bustling Mountain Gate
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Eleven days later.
The group arrived at the Mount Hua Sect's mountain gate even faster than when they had departed, only to stand slack-jawed at the spectacle unfolding before them.
"What is...?"
"Am I dreaming right now?"
The group rubbed their eyes.
The treacherous, narrow mountain path, which only herbalists had climbed before, was now lined with a long procession of people.
"What are all these people...?"
"Why is there such a line at our sect's gate?"
The Mount Hua Sect disciples, witnessing this for the first time, pinched their cheeks with dazed expressions, unsure if it was a dream or reality.
"Ow!"
"I-It's not a dream."
"Ah, it seems the rumor that the elders defeated the White Four Gods has spread to the surrounding areas."
Jeokgeom was the first to regain his senses, his voice brimming with excitement.
"Haha. As expected!"
"I figured as much."
Everyone nodded unconsciously.
Though Jeokgeom had voiced it first, they had all vaguely sensed it.
During their journey back to Mount Hua, the way people—especially the martial artists—looked at them and treated them had been entirely different from before.
"It's all thanks to the elders and Lord Yuanshi Tianzun."
"Amitabha."
Seeing the procession climbing the rugged mountain path, the group couldn't hide their pride.
Hyeondo and Hyeonryeo, in particular, were overcome with a special sentiment.
"It's been so long since we've seen a sight like this."
"Truly, it's been ages."
Emotions they had suppressed for so long welled up, fixing their gazes unwaveringly on the lined-up visitors.
It was a scene they had witnessed daily before Mount Hua's reputation had plummeted.
And one they had thought they might never see again.
"I never imagined this day would return."
"I never thought I'd live to see this scenery again."
Hyeonryeo's eyes darted about rapidly.
"At this rate, our finances will recover."
Her eyes sparkled like stars as she gazed at the queue and the offerings.
As the group immersed themselves in their emotions,
'A sight I haven't seen in five years.'
Cheonhwi also gazed at the procession with curiosity.
It was unfamiliar, something he hadn't seen during his time at Mount Hua.
Visitors had been rarer than beans in a drought, coming maybe once every two days.
And even then, their offerings were usually meager as mouse droppings.
Yet here they were, clamoring to make offerings.
It felt strangely awkward.
'Reputation really is everything, huh.'
At that moment,
"Th-Those people over there...?"
"M-Mount Hua Taoists!"
"Really?!"
"Wh-where? I, I want to... too."
A commotion suddenly erupted.
At someone's shout, the queued visitors whipped their heads around in unison, their faces soon lighting up with astonishment.
"No wonder it's Mount Hua. Look at that spirited demeanor and lofty elegance."
"Climbing such a perilous path without a single ragged breath—truly like immortals."
"Even their young Taoists exude such solemn and warm auras. Mount Hua's fame is sure to soar."
A barrage of effusive praise.
Their voices weren't low.
If anything, they seemed deliberately loud enough for the Mount Hua group to hear.
Glancing back, Cheonhwi saw the trailing disciples' mouths twitching in delight.
'Grinning at such blatant flattery.'
As Cheonhwi turned forward again,
"That must be the Mount Hua Divine Sword, the great hero...?"
"Just as rumored, a fearsome—er, dignified appearance."
Hearing the moniker "Mount Hua Divine Sword," Cheonhwi tilted his head to eye Hyeondo.
"What's that look for?"
"You've gotten pretty famous."
"Ahem."
Hyeondo let out a awkward cough, seemingly embarrassed by the situation.
Meanwhile,
"Amitabha. Greetings, esteemed guests."
Greetings poured in from all around.
Hyeondo and Hyeonryeo didn't ignore them, bowing politely in return.
"Amitabha. We thank you for traveling far to visit our sect."
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
"N-No, not at all!"
"No need to bow like that...!"
The queued visitors waved their hands frantically.
Mount Hua's reputation was soaring to the heavens day by day.
Yet the center of that fame, the Mount Hua Divine Sword, was thanking them for their visit? And the female Taoist, who seemed of equal standing, was bowing too?
To mere merchants, no less?
It was hard to believe even seeing it.
'They're true Taoists, unlike the Jongnam Sect that just demanded tribute and chased people away.'
'Different from other sects.'
The atmosphere softened in that instant.
"Hahaha. This is nothing."
"Of course, there's a line to follow."
Hyeondo and Hyeonryeo smiled.
Their smiles were as soft as clouds drifting in the sky.
'They actually seem like proper Taoists.'
Cheonhwi regarded them steadily.
Utterly unlike their usual showy behavior.
After a brief exchange of greetings as they ascended,
"We're here."
The group reached the mountain gate.
'It's been a while.'
Cheonhwi gazed for a moment at the unchanged gate before stepping inside.
It was his return after about sixty days since venturing into the martial world.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The Sect Leader gazed at the endless line visible from the window of the Purple霞 Pavilion.
"...Our long-cherished wish has come true."
His expression softened instantly.
Who could have foreseen it?
That Mount Hua's fallen reputation and status would rebound like this.
Just days ago, it had seemed unbelievable. Yet now it was reality.
Haha. And it had come to pass because...
Bang—
"Sect Leader Senior Brother!"
His thoughts were interrupted.
Even so, an even broader smile spread across his lips.
"You've arrived."
The Sect Leader looked at Hyeondo and Cheonhwi, who had entered through the open door of the Purple霞 Pavilion.
It was all thanks to those two.
"We've finally done it!"
The Sect Leader smiled gently at Hyeondo's triumphant shout that seemed to shake the heavens.
"Hahaha, I know. Calm down and take a seat first. Above all, I need to hear the full story from you."
Hyeondo sat, and Cheonhwi followed suit beside him.
"Then tell me from the beginning, in detail, what happened."
Meeting the Sect Leader's gaze, Cheonhwi furrowed his brow and pointed at himself with his index finger.
"Me first?"
At the Sect Leader's nod, Cheonhwi sighed and began recounting the journey step by step.
"No need to explain the trip there, right?"
"If nothing important happened, it's fine."
"Then I'll skip it."
Cheonhwi said it with evident relief.
"So, when we arrived at the North Wind Merchant Company, they'd already been attacked and were engulfed in flames..."
The report continued.
The raid on the North Wind Merchant Company.
Destroying the Paewang Sect and discovering White Ghost Castle as their backer.
And crushing the Ghost Slaughter Squad.
"Then a few days later, Senior Brother Hyeondo arrived..."
"I'll take it from there."
As Cheonhwi fumbled to recall details, Hyeondo interjected.
"Suits me fine."
Cheonhwi, already tired of talking, happily handed it off.
"When we arrived at the North Wind Merchant Company, I encountered the Storm Sword Lord at the entrance."
The Sect Leader's eyes narrowed slightly.
"So that's who you met then."
"Yes. While with the Storm Sword Lord..."
Hyeondo began eagerly recounting the events with an excited face.
'This is gonna drag on.'
Sensing Hyeondo's tale growing lengthy, Cheonhwi leaned back and sipped the tea the Sect Leader had prepared.
By the time he'd taken a few sips,
"Cheonhwi?!"
Turning at the shocked voice uttering his name, he saw the Sect Leader staring at him gravely.
"You were the one who first suggested raiding White Ghost Castle?"
'What, over that?'
Cheonhwi responded indifferently.
"Yeah."
The Sect Leader's eye twitched.
"Why would you do such a thing?"
"They kept picking fights."
"J-Just for that?"
"And they're enemies. Couldn't leave them forever, so I handled it while at it."
The Sect Leader was at a loss for words.
"Even so, raiding White Ghost Castle...?"
"Timing was perfect. They were off guard anyway."
"But that's... Haa. Never mind."
To Cheonhwi's nonchalant reply, the Sect Leader rubbed his forehead and shook his head.
"We'll let this slide. But never do it again. I'm worried you might get hurt."
"Depends on the situation."
With that, Cheonhwi sipped his tea.
The Sect Leader's head throbbed at the attitude, but he couldn't reprimand him.
'With Cheonhwi's personality, he'll do as he pleases...'
"Haa..."
A deep sigh rose from his dantian.
'How did he change so much?'
Was it rebellion against his frail past? Ever since learning martial arts, he'd become utterly unrestrained.
As if he'd become a different person.
"So, contrary to the rumors, it wasn't just you and the Storm Sword Lord who attacked White Ghost Castle—it was all three of you."
"Yes."
The Sect Leader closed his eyes briefly.
Tapping the table with his index finger as if pondering, he nodded and asked Hyeondo softly,
"What happened after that?"
"First, to gather intel on White Ghost Castle, we met a Beggar Clan constable."
"A Beggar Clan constable...?"
At the unexpected figure, the Sect Leader's eyes flashed.
"Which one?"
"Not sure now, but ninth at the time, I heard."
"Ninth..."
The Sect Leader shook his head.
There were twenty Beggar Clan constables in total.
Not someone he remembered offhand.
"Sorry for interrupting. Continue."
As Hyeondo resumed, Cheonhwi reached for the teapot.
'Already empty?'
Frowning, he set down the cup and stared blankly at the chattering pair.
'When will this end?'
Their conversation was dreadfully monotonous.
Mostly Hyeondo talking, with the Sect Leader chiming in or asking questions repeatedly.
Half-listening, Cheonhwi noticed their talk deepening before long.
"Then..."
The Sect Leader's eyes narrowed again.
He glanced at the beaming Hyeondo, then shifted to Cheonhwi.
"How did the White Four Gods fall?"
"Cheonhwi knows better than I."
"...!"
"Cheonhwi took him down."
The topic turned to Cheonhwi.
He met the Sect Leader's stern gaze and nodded.
"He just died."
"Hoo..."
The Sect Leader couldn't hide his shock at Cheonhwi's affirmation.
When he'd heard the rumor of defeating the White Four Gods, he'd assumed the three had teamed up.
But no.
Cheonhwi had done it alone.
'Incredible. I knew Cheonhwi's skills were extraordinary, but to solo the White Four Gods...'
He couldn't conceal his admiration.
Cheonhwi was barely in his early thirties.
Yet he'd not only reached the Heavenly Martial Realm but felled one of the absolute masters dominating the martial world.
It was like gazing upon the Heaven Beyond Heaven.
'Even they wouldn't have... at his age.'
His admiration swiftly turned to worry.
In the current peaceful martial world, someone as outstandingly strong as Cheonhwi could become a target of wariness from the Nine Provinces' Three Evils and Six Tyrants.
Like his youngest junior brother Hyeon-gang.
"That's why you erased Cheonhwi's information."
"Yes. We altered it when passing to the Beggar Clan constable. Lying is a grave sin, but for Cheonhwi's sake..."
"Well done."
Instead of rebuke, the Sect Leader praised Hyeondo, who had trailed off expecting criticism.
"We must hide Cheonhwi's current level as much as possible. Even if it's exposed later, delay it as long as we can."
The Sect Leader glanced at Cheonhwi.
Despite the discussion about him, Cheonhwi lounged leisurely.
As if uninterested.
They say a needle in a bag will pierce through.
Cheonhwi was too exceptional; his true worth would inevitably show someday.
But that didn't mean giving up!
He'd failed to protect his youngest junior.
Was he to fail his disciple Cheonhwi too?
Unthinkable.
'No matter what!'
The Sect Leader's eyes deepened.
Suddenly aware of Cheonhwi, he spoke cautiously.
"I'm truly sorry to you. To miss a chance at great fame..."
"Nah, I don't care. What's some puny fame? It doesn't feed me."
Cheonhwi dismissed it casually to the Sect Leader who had abruptly addressed him.
No, he truly didn't care.
'What good is that level of fame?'
To him, who had once shaken not just the martial world but the Eight Sovereigns of the Nine Provinces, it was barely worth a snort.
But the Sect Leader mistook Cheonhwi's indifference for hidden emotions and smiled bitterly.
"I'm really sorry."
Then Hyeondo thrust his face forward toward the Sect Leader, lips trembling.
"More importantly, Senior Brother, we've finally... finally avenged our youngest junior brother."
Hearing Hyeondo's voice laden with deep emotion, the Sect Leader closed his eyes gently.
"Yes."
He had maintained composure as Sect Leader, but since the rumors arrived, his emotions had surged.
Even now.
"...You've done it."
The Sect Leader suppressed emotions threatening to burst like a waterfall.
He wanted to cheer, but decorum held him back.
Soon, composing himself, he said,
"Truly... you worked hard."
A short phrase.
But it was enough for Hyeondo.
He knew what thoughts had crossed the Sect Leader's mind in that brief moment.
"Hahaha. Hard work? It was all thanks to our Cheonhwi."
Hyeondo laughed heartily, beaming proudly at Cheonhwi.
As he said, it was all Cheonhwi's doing.
Cheonhwi had proposed striking White Ghost Castle first, and Cheonhwi had felled the White Four Gods.
Without Cheonhwi, vengeance would have been impossible.
"Hahaha. Our youngest junior left a precious treasure for the sect before departing."
Cheonhwi eyed the two elders—whose expressions hovered between tears and laughter—for a moment, then spoke.
"Seems like we've covered everything. Can I go now?"