Chapter 21
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: If You're Not Friends, Then I Have No Friends
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“Liquor…! You gave liquor to disciples from another sect…! Oh dear!”
“It wasn’t just him—I took a sip too.”
I desperately made my case in front of the Sect Leader, who was clutching the back of his neck as if he might faint.
Behind me, Uihyeon was glaring at me with eyes sharp as blades. It had only been five hours since he’d warned me not to cause any trouble, and here I was, already in hot water.
Do-un, the owner of that plum liquor, had been dragged in too and was kneeling right beside me.
“Do-un Sasuk, how about painting some wax on the jar lids? One drop wasn’t enough to tell the difference.”
“Hahaha, I should’ve done that ages ago…”
Watching Do-un let out that enlightened laugh made my conscience twinge, so I averted my eyes.
“…The Dragon-Tiger Assembly four years ago was truly peaceful. Infinite Buddhas.”
Well, sure, because there were no mischievous kids causing chaos back then.
“From today onward, you must behave yourself. Understood?”
“Yeees.”
“If you keep causing trouble, I’ll issue a ban on going outside.”
“No way! There’s sparring today!”
Today’s highlight was the flower of the Dragon-Tiger Assembly: the matches.
* * *
While watching the disciples clash swords and display their martial arts on the stages set up in the vast training grounds, a sudden realization slipped from my lips.
“So Mount Hua doesn’t settle every fight just with plum blossoms?”
“Mount Hua’s sword arts aren’t limited to Plum Blossom Swordsmanship. Each person has their own signature ultimate technique suited to them.”
A signature ultimate technique was basically your personal ace move—your trump card, your finisher.
Since all the Outer and Secular Disciples had to participate in the matches, Jinyul was handling the explanations today.
“Jinyul, you’re not sparring?”
“My position’s a bit awkward, so I’ve never done it once.”
She was around the same age as the Third-Generation Disciples, but her skills and seniority put her among the First-Generation.
She couldn’t carelessly match with Third-Generation due to the skill gap, nor with First-Generation due to the age difference.
Moon-jumping sure was a hassle. I watched the endless rotation of opponents with half-lidded eyes until a familiar face stepped onto the stage, making mine light up.
“It’s Uiseong Sasuk! And in front of him…”
His opponent was that guy who’d greeted Uiseong on the first day.
Unlike Uiseong, who held his sword in a sloppy stance, the man’s posture was ramrod straight.
“That’s Cheonghwi of Wudang. He’s the one who stripped Uiseong of his nickname ‘Can’t-Endure-Three-Moves’—you know, the one where you can’t even watch an opponent execute three full techniques.”
“Why?”
“He endured a full ten.”
Hmm, no wonder Uiseong, with his sky-high pride, held a grudge.
Swords slid from their sheathes in unison.
They circled the stage slowly, swords pointed at each other, then charged simultaneously.
Claaang—! The clash rang out with a heavy metallic thud.
They flowed through techniques honed thousands of times, stepping through footwork patterns. Eyes locked on each other’s blades, they swung their own. They unleashed sword forms aimed at overpowering the foe.
Plum blossoms bloomed brilliantly from the tip of Uiseong’s sword.
Mount Hua’s sword was all about speed and illusion.
“And Wudang’s sword is the unending flowing blade.”
Jinyul whispered to me as I watched their match, entranced.
Wudang’s flowing sword parried every assault with seamless, unbroken grace, while Mount Hua’s swift blade dazzled with ghostly feints before thrusting home.
By now, they’d exchanged well over ten moves.
Could I ever reach that level? Could I put on a show like that in front of everyone?
My heart pounded.
In that fierce exchange, Uiseong emerged victorious.
The scattering plum blossoms finally exposed a gap in the ceaseless flow.
He didn’t miss it, driving in with a swift thrust.
The moment Mount Hua’s sword triumphed over Wudang’s.
Uihyeon followed with a textbook match against another second-generation Wudang disciple, but my mind kept replaying Uiseong and Cheonghwi’s bout.
“Someday, I’ll spar like that too.”
Jinyul stroked my head with a smile at my murmur.
“You’ll have to hope Wudang has another guy like Cheonghwi.”
* * *
“Uiseong Sasuk’s match today was so cool! Mount Hua’s sword is the coolest, of course, but Wudang’s is pretty awesome too!”
Baek Geon nodded gloomily at my excited shout. What was with him after watching such an epic match?
“Is your senior bullying you again? Want me to go beat him up?”
“N-No, it’s not that… It’s just, I have to enter the matches at the next Dragon-Tiger Assembly, and I’m not confident…”
The type to borrow trouble. But these were the guys who’d always awaken some insane talent later on.
Who knew? This kid might end up as my rival vying for the title of greatest swordsman under heaven.
I stretched with a yawn, humming idly.
“It’s fine. When the Dragon-Tiger Assembly rolls around in four years, just spar with me. Losing to the future greatest sword of Mount Hua isn’t embarrassing. No one’ll laugh at you for it.”
But in the dragon-tiger duo, who was the dragon and who the tiger? Both Wudang and Mount Hua were mountains, so it was hard to pin down.
Still, I’d prefer Mount Hua as the dragon. The character comes first, after all.
“Though I’d kinda like to face stronger guys too… I’ll spar with you at least once.”
Guilt over the liquor thing. Seeing a seven-year-old suffer a hangover did make me feel bad.
I clapped Baek Geon on the shoulder in encouragement. By then, he’d bulk up some.
As we chatted away, the sun had set, and darkness settled in.
The upper palace had lanterns here and there, but they weren’t as bright as streetlights. The dim paths would be even more confusing for newcomers.
Tonight was the last night Wudang disciples stayed at Mount Hua. They’d head back to Mount Wudang tomorrow.
On their final night, a little escort wouldn’t hurt. I patted Baek Geon’s back.
“Come on. I’ll walk you to Jade Purity Pavilion.”
“It’s dark—aren’t you scared to go back to your quarters alone…? I can go by myself…”
“I could navigate the upper palace blindfolded.”
Baek Geon nodded slowly at my cocky words.
The path to Jade Purity Pavilion wasn’t far.
As we hustled along on short legs, a familiar voice made us halt.
We crept toward the sound and spotted two figures.
“…no other choice.”
One showed only his back, the other’s face half-hidden.
“I’ve pretty much caught up to you now.”
“Caught up my ass. You’re not mistaking a dream spar with me for today’s match, are you?”
Uiseong was snarking at someone.
“Caught up with what?”
I popped out and asked, startling Uiseong into a jump.
“Kid! What’re you doing wandering around at night?”
“Escorting Baek Geon to Jade Purity Pavilion.”
“Baek Geon who? This kid?”
The man he’d been talking to stepped forward at Uiseong’s question, pointing at Baek Geon.
“My disciple.”
“Sasuk?”
“Y-Yeah…! The one who sparred with Uiseong Sasuk today!”
What was his name again? Cheong… Cheong-something.
“Cheonghwi of Wudang.”
Up close, he looked like he’d stepped out of an ink painting—long-haired and strikingly handsome.
His gentle smile made me shy, so I ducked behind Uiseong.
“Brat, since when do you get shy?”
At Uiseong’s scolding, Cheonghwi smiled warmly and chimed in.
“Looks like you two have gotten close.”
“Hmm, is this close? Not sure if we’re friends or not.”
No matter how I thought about it, I’d just counseled him—not made a friend. Should I charge a consultation fee?
A master was like a parent, so maybe I could bill Cheonghwi.
Oblivious to my scheming, Cheonghwi patted my head.
“I was worried Geon was struggling to fit in and drifting apart, but it’s a relief he’s made a friend from another sect.”
“It’s all thanks to our kid here. This one was crawling all over the place just days after arriving at Mount Hua.”
Hey, that’s old news. And don’t brag about it with that proud grin.
Afraid all my dark history would spill out, I grabbed Baek Geon’s wrist and bolted toward Jade Purity Pavilion.
“Then I’ll drop him off and head back! Keep chatting with your friend, Uiseong Sasuk!”
“We’re not friends, you punk! Who’s friends?!”
“Denying it so openly kinda hurts, you know?”
What was this? Bickering like total besties.
Finally at Jade Purity Pavilion, I shoved Baek Geon’s back.
“Get in already.”
As the hunched Baek Geon turned to enter, I impulsively spoke up.
“Want me to tell you how to stop getting called a backdoor entry… er, parachute kid?”
His big, gentle calf-like eyes turned to me. I smirked crookedly under that gaze.
Whether he took the advice and changed was up to him. Curious to see what he’d do.
“Just surpass all those guys who look down on you with ‘parachute.’ Do it with skill.”
“But I don’t have any talent…”
“Genius isn’t born. The ones who build a solid foundation brick by brick and achieve greatness later? They’re the real geniuses.”
I flashed a grin, echoing words Jinyul had once said to me.
Baek Geon stood dazed, mulling it over, then smiled faintly and bowed.
“See you tomorrow.”
“I’m not seeing you off tomorrow. It’s my sleep-in day—one of the rare ones I won’t skip.”
They’re leaving in the morning—why would I give up late sleep for that?
Baek Geon froze mid-step into the pavilion, then dashed back and thrust out his hand.
“Then let’s meet again in four years on Mount Wudang.”
“Sure.”
I shook the offered hand casually. That light handshake was our farewell at Mount Hua.
As I turned toward my quarters, Uiseong fell in step beside me—had he been waiting?—and asked,
“Say goodbye to your friend okay?”
“Huh? He’s not my friend.”
He slapped his forehead at my reply.
“…You don’t have to copy even this crap.”