Chapter 80
Chapter 80
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: Jongnam Sect's Provocation
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'Hm?'
Returning to the Mount Hua Sect's lodging after a long absence, Cheonhwi was met with an unexpected sight.
"Just twenty minutes left! Hang in there!"
"Huff... huff... Senior Brother, please... don't tell me how much time is left. It just drains me more."
"Ah. Got it."
In the center of the courtyard, not a single one of the Plum Blossom Sword Guards was missing as they sweated profusely in horse stance.
'What's this about?'
He approached them and spoke.
"Long time no see."
At that moment, the exhausted group snapped their heads up as if their necks might break off.
"Junior Brother!"
"Cheonhwi!"
"You're finally here?"
All of them broke into bright smiles, looking ready to end the horse stance right then and there.
"There's still twenty minutes left, right?"
Cheonhwi's voice pierced like a thorn.
"Y-Yeah."
"......You're right."
"We'll catch up later."
The Plum Blossom Sword Guards' faces darkened, but they soon shook their heads vigorously to refocus.
"Just wait a bit."
"We'll finish up quick."
Watching them concentrate once more brought a satisfied smile to his face.
'Their skills are still lacking, but at least their mindset is straight.'
As he scanned them,
"Long time no see."
Hyeonjin approached.
Seeing him fresh and dry, without a drop of sweat as if he hadn't trained at all, Cheonhwi asked quietly.
"Martial Uncle, you're not doing horse stance?"
"Ha, haha. I've already finished mine."
"Hm. Is that so?"
Cheonhwi looked Hyeonjin up and down.
'Looks like he did... but...'
Under that gaze, Hyeonjin broke into a cold sweat before catching himself and speaking up.
"More importantly, did everything go well on your trip?"
"It got sorted out."
"That's a relief."
Hyeonjin patted his chest.
A few days ago, when Cheonhwi had suddenly said he had to leave for something urgent, he'd tried to stop him, but the boy had already taken off.
'And he even left his uniform behind, wearing those strange martial robes instead...'
He itched to ask what it had been about, even now.
'But he's not a kid anymore.'
He forced it down.
Then Cheonhwi spoke up.
"Oh, and we're switching lodgings this time, so I need to prepare for the move."
"How did you know that?"
Hyeonjin was startled by the sudden comment.
The move was a secret deal known only to him and the Deputy Military Strategist.
"That should've been known only to the Deputy Military Strategist and me."
"What?"
Cheonhwi's brow furrowed.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Weren't you already aware? The Deputy Military Strategist is giving us a new pavilion..."
"Hold on."
Cheonhwi locked eyes with Hyeonjin.
"Tell me the details."
Hyeonjin flinched at Cheonhwi's cold gaze but nodded.
"Understood."
A moment later, after hearing the full story, Cheonhwi's eyes turned icy.
'The move was already decided between the two of them?'
He whipped his head up and glared toward where the Deputy Military Strategist was.
'Daring to use me?'
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The next morning.
Thud thud.
"We have a guest, and no one's coming out?"
Startled by the noise after finishing his morning meditation, Cheonhwi looked out the window.
Beyond the main gate of the pavilion, Taoists in pure white uniforms were pounding on the door and shouting loudly.
Bang! Bang!
"Come out already!"
As the anger-filled voice echoed repeatedly,
Creeeak—
Hyeonjin and the Plum Blossom Sword Guards, who had hurried out at the commotion, opened the door.
"Amitabha. What brings the Jongnam Sect Taoists to our sect's lodging so early in the morning?"
"What brings us? You ask that?!"
"Hah. Such brazen faces."
"Doing something like that and then playing innocent with a straight face."
Hyeonjin and the Plum Blossom Sword Guards frowned at the Jongnam Taoists who skipped greetings and hurled abuse.
"Isn't that a bit harsh?"
"You're saying it's harsh after doing what you did?!"
The middle-aged Taoist at the front bellowed.
His voice was so powerful that Cheonhwi's ears hurt even through the window.
Seeing the raging Cheongu, Hyeonjin realized this was no ordinary matter and spoke lowly.
"What misdeed do you claim we've committed?"
"Hmph. Pretending not to know, even though you do?"
Cheongu glared fiercely as he spoke.
"You're trying to take the pavilion where our sect is staying!"
"What, that's why you're here?"
Cheonhwi, who had been listening, was dumbfounded.
Take it? Who took it first?
But unlike Cheonhwi, Cheongu exploded in fury.
"Why target our pavilion instead of a new one?!"
Meanwhile, Hyeonjin was utterly bewildered.
The Jongnam Sect's lodging.
Of course, it had originally been Mount Hua Sect's, and he desperately wanted it back, but realistically, it was impossible.
So they'd settled for the newly renovated pavilion.
"We're going to a different pavilion..."
"Didn't you take ours first?"
Cheonhwi appeared in the middle.
Everyone flinched as if he'd popped out of the ground.
"The pavilion you're using now was originally ours, as far as I know."
"Cheonhwi."
Ignoring Hyeonjin who tried to stop him, Cheonhwi stared straight at Cheongu.
"Isn't that right?"
"That was in the past."
"So you're admitting you took it."
Cheongu's face crumpled.
"No, I'm not admitting that."
"Didn't you just admit it?"
"We didn't take it; we earned it."
"Same difference."
Cheonhwi didn't yield an inch.
"It's completely different!"
Cheongu shouted furiously.
"We earned our pavilion through long-standing recognition and prestige. You ignorant brat, spouting nonsense without knowing anything!"
Cheonhwi sneered at the trembling, shouting man.
It was obvious he was just trying to shout his way through it.
"We're moving there on the same basis."
Cheongu snorted.
"Hmph. You think that paltry prestige is enough to claim our pavilion?"
As he opened his mouth to retort,
'Is this what you mentioned yesterday?'
Hyeonjin's transmission reached him.
'Yes.'
'The place we discussed with the Deputy Military Strategist was a different pavilion...'
'You want to reclaim Mount Hua Sect's lodging.'
'That's...'
Hyeonjin's eyes wavered at Cheonhwi's transmission, as if asking what that meant.
He did want it back.
Mount Hua Sect's past prestige.
Its rightful place.
And one of those was precisely the pavilion Jongnam Sect had seized.
'...You're right.'
Hyeonjin snapped his head up.
"That's rather harsh language."
His rebuking eyes were cold.
"Are you insulting our sect right now?"
Cheongu was slightly taken aback by Hyeonjin's sharp response, unlike his usual yielding demeanor.
'Finally showing some backbone.'
Cheonhwi was pleased watching Hyeonjin.
He would've backed off immediately in the past, but now he was different.
"Does it bother you that much that we're reclaiming our pavilion?"
At that, the Jongnam Taoists stirred.
"What? Reclaim?"
"That's our pavilion!"
"Exactly! It's been ours for ages—trying to take it back is outrageous!"
The Jongnam Taoists shouted one after another, and Cheongu added at the end.
"Getting all arrogant after scraping together a bit of fame. Pulling off such nonsense."
This time, the Plum Blossom Sword Guards couldn't hold back.
"Isn't that too much?!"
"Are you dismissing all we've built?"
As they rebelled against the tone that completely ignored their efforts,
"Efforts? You mean those trivial missions? Ah! You mean recently taking down that Black Killer Demon?"
Cheongu mocked them further.
"I know you're thrilled about some weird nickname like Mount Hua Seven Swords or whatever, but you think that's enough for our lodging?"
As some Plum Blossom Sword Guards finally lost their temper and moved to act,
"What about toppling White Ghost Castle?"
Cheonhwi cut in.
Cheongu frowned.
"Hmph. That was with our sect's lower disciples involved too."
"Ah! Right, that happened."
Cheonhwi recalled the one he'd briefly forgotten and shook his head.
"This isn't getting through by talking."
Looking at the brazen Jongnam Taoists, Cheonhwi turned his head back.
"Time to come out and sort this."
He murmured lowly.
"What?"
"What did you just say..."
As everyone stared at Cheonhwi in disbelief at the out-of-place remark,
"Hahaha. I've come."
At that moment, Seolgeom, who had been hiding behind the wall watching, walked out with an awkward laugh.
Cheonhwi glared coldly at him.
"I heard you'd handle everything yesterday, so what's this mess?"
"I did explain..."
Seolgeom trailed off and met eyes with Cheongu, who had his brows raised high.
"But you didn't believe me."
"So we're supposed to believe that?!"
Cheongu exploded.
"We haven't even heard reports of Water Dragon Stronghold collapsing, let alone that Mount Hua did it. Why should we believe you?"
Cheongu's following words were shocking.
The collapse of Water Dragon Stronghold.
By Mount Hua Sect, no less.
Hyeonjin and the Plum Blossom Sword Guards were confused, but one person quickly came to mind.
'No way!'
They all turned to look at Cheonhwi simultaneously.
Hyeonjin sent a transmission.
'Did you do it?'
'Yes. He said we needed fame to move pavilions, so I took care of it quick.'
Hyeonjin was dumbfounded for a moment.
He'd left without a word just to topple Water Dragon Stronghold?
'Why do something so dangerous alone...'
Worry and anger welled up belatedly.
'But it's already done...'
He could only shake his head.
'I'll ask for details later.'
Ending the transmission, Hyeonjin faced the imposing Cheongu.
"No, our sect did it."
Cheongu's face twisted at Hyeonjin's sudden admission.
"I'm not lying. Do I look foolish enough to tell an obvious lie?"
Seolgeom piled on.
Gone was his lighthearted demeanor; with narrowed eyes, he spoke in an icy tone.
"Wouldn't it be best to admit it now?"
"So that's how it is?"
Cheongu gritted his teeth.
"The Deputy Military Strategist and Mount Hua are colluding to frame Jongnam Sect and drive us out?"
Seolgeom sighed at Cheongu's wild speculation.
"What would I gain from such scheming?"
"Hmph! What? You're scheming to ally with Mount Hua!"
Cheongu glared.
Then he shoved his face toward Hyeonjin.
"We absolutely won't yield the pavilion!"
"That pavilion is ours now."
Hyeonjin didn't back down either.
They had the fame and justification.
Plus a solid ally in the Deputy Military Strategist. No need to retreat.
Cheongu's brow twitched.
He must have been displeased with Hyeonjin's changed attitude from his usual avoidance.
"Is Mount Hua declaring enmity with our sect?"
Hyeonjin flinched momentarily.
Cheongu felt triumphant at the reaction.
'Yes, that's the Mount Hua of now.'
The arrogant Mount Hua that once looked down on Jongnam was gone.
Hyeonjin hardened his expression and asked.
"Does it have to come to that?"
"It does."
Creases formed deeply on Hyeonjin's forehead at the reply.
Jongnam was massive, and by his original temperament, he would've yielded.
But.
'How long do we keep retreating?'
It was time to advance.
"Is that Jongnam Sect's stance? Or yours alone, Cheongu?"
Cheongu's lip twisted.
"Jongnam Sect's stance."
"......"
As Cheongu puffed out his chest, Hyeonjin let out a deep breath before speaking.
"......Unlike you, I can't represent Mount Hua Sect alone."
Cheongu smirked.
"Then give up and..."
"However."
Hyeonjin widened his eyes.
"If it comes to that, I'll stand against Jongnam Sect alone if I must."
"......!"
Cheongu feigned surprise.
But that wasn't the end.
The Plum Blossom Sword Guards poured out.
They lined up beside Hyeonjin and declared firmly.
"I'll follow you."
"Martial Uncle, me too."
As the Jongnam Taoists tensed and went on guard at their actions,
"What is the meaning of this?!"
A thunderous lion's roar crashed down.
Under the mind-numbing roar, everyone from Jongnam and Mount Hua turned with dazed expressions.
At the roar's origin stood a massive, burly man.
If not for his Taoist robes, he'd be mistaken for a bandit, wearing a ferocious scowl like a wrathful deity.
"S-Senior Brother!"
"Martial Uncle!"
"M-Mount Hua Divine Sword?!"
He was Mount Hua Divine Sword Hyeondo.