Chapter 181 Hwasan (1)
Who was the Dao King?
Among the countless martial artists shining like stars in the sky, he stood at the pinnacle of those who wielded the dao.
He was an unparalleled figure who had weathered the bloody chaos of turbulent times, not an era of peace.
His life's trajectory was the history of the jianghu itself.
That was the caliber of man known as the Dao King.
The number of martial artists who came seeking to become his disciple was beyond counting.
They were even prepared to abandon their own family names.
Countless warriors treated a single lesson from Paeng Yu-gun as a fateful encounter, turning his brief words of advice into their lifelong creed.
And now, such a man was urging me to become his disciple.
In other words...
...I'm screwed.
Of course, I couldn't become his disciple.
Setting aside whether I was from the Divine Cult or not, I was fundamentally meridian-blocked. The moment I became his disciple, my condition would be exposed, and everything I'd built—every act and performance—would come crashing down.
But bluntly refusing him outright was tricky, precisely because he was the Dao King.
In the jianghu, especially among the righteous sects that prized distribution and justification, rejecting an elder's offer without good reason was a grave discourtesy.
This wasn't just any elder; it was Paeng Yu-gun, a grandmaster of sorts. His proposal demanded an equally compelling justification for refusal.
Even if our relations had been amicable until now, this moment could sour everything irreparably.
Paeng Yu-gun has plenty of leverage to pressure me.
He knew the treasures from the relic site excavated by the Treasure Hunt Group had flowed to me.
He wasn't raising issues now because of our friendly ties, but if he decided to make a fuss?
Losing the treasure supply? Fine, that could happen. I'd been using the Treasure Hunt Group for automated farming anyway, since I knew the site's location.
But if the jianghu suddenly demanded an accounting of those treasures?
The excuse of sending them east wouldn't fly.
The East had an air of alliance or friendly forces, sure, but to the jianghu, it was still an otherworldly power from beyond the borders.
The real problem was...
"I understand you're a descendant of Yao Xian. But as you said, you're not his direct heir, and since it's confirmed that Yao Xian's martial arts and the Three Joys Blade Castle's techniques stem from the same root, we can consider them the same school. No issue there, right?"
This old man from the Paeng family was being far too logical.
Not a single word was wrong in his elaborate reasoning.
No matter how I thought about it, Paeng Yu-gun had to be a Je Gal pretending to be a Paeng.
Wait, Je Gal family?
I racked my brains.
Information a possessor like me would have.
The Five Great Families check each other.
Nangong family, Hebei Paeng family, Sichuan Tang Clan, Je Gal family, Mo Yong family.
These five houses maintained a balance of rivalry while vying for the title of the world's greatest sect.
Paeng Yu-gun is far more cautious than he appears. He hates conflict.
That was the angle to target.
Having sorted my thoughts, I spoke up.
"I appreciate the offer."
"Looks like you're set on refusing."
"Yes."
"Hahaha..."
He let out a hearty laugh, but the emotion beneath it was displeasure.
"No other reason. It's because I'm the Tang Clan's sealed tribute."
I pointed to the green sash draped over my shoulder.
"I've already received Thunder Shadow Saber from you, elder. And you even swore to be my sword. From the perspective of the Je Gal family or other houses, it might look like the 'our' Tang Clan and Paeng family are forming an alliance."
At my use of "our," Paeng Yu-gun's eyes widened in surprise before he burst into laughter again.
This time, it carried a "Look at this cheeky brat" vibe, different from before.
"So, Sword Dragon, you're saying the other families won't stand by idly?"
"It'd look that way on the surface."
The righteous jianghu was a world bound by grand principles and justifications.
If he pressured me with those, I'd counter with the same.
"What can they do if they don't sit still, Sword Dragon?"
"The Je Gal and Mo Yong families would solidify their ties with the Martial Alliance."
"Urgh."
Paeng Yu-gun groaned at my words.
Among the Five Great Families, the pro-Martial Alliance factions were Je Gal and Mo Yong.
Handing justification to those two houses, already steadily expanding since Alliance Leader Hak's reign, was something he couldn't allow—not as an individual, but as the Paeng family's supreme elder.
"That's why you tempt me even more. You can even read the board."
I wasn't clever; I was just drawing from a possessor's knowledge.
Ah, whatever.
"So, I truly appreciate it, but I can't accept."
"You sly fox. You're just saying you won't formalize a master-disciple bond but will keep picking my brain."
"It was the rightful spoils of our bet."
"Tch! No one else dares act so boldly with me except little So-so."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"Ping. Enough. Got any liquor on you?"
"Of course."
"Let's drink this evening."
"Understood."
Fortunately, it worked.
After that, Paeng Yu-gun didn't press me to become his disciple or offer to check my Thunder Shadow Saber progress.
He just eyed me like a tempting fruit, which was burdensome enough.
With his tiger-like face, I nearly flinched each time, borrowing the aura of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art to hold steady.
Jin So-cheong barely interacted beyond everyday chatter, since I hadn't sought her out. I even forgot about her presence at times.
In terms of acting, Jin So-cheong might be the superior one.
Hiding a fanatic beneath that elegant demeanor.
For me, it was convenient—she handled herself without my input.
Thus passed a few peaceful(?) days.
Back in reality, I hiked often.
While big corporations preached "corporate culture improvement" and left employees alone, our Kim Director's Siksu Industries was bizarrely obsessed with hiking.
"You need stamina to thrive in the company!"
Of course, exhausting it all on weekend hikes left us useless at work on Monday.
But skipping meant it hit our performance reviews, that insane policy forcing us out.
Why mention this?
Kim Director would lose his mind seeing Mount Hua.
The mountains twisted in ways that made it miraculous a carriage path existed.
I'd said "could go," not "smoothly."
We'd dismounted to walk, sparing the horses.
Hiking was familiar anyway, and this body's specs meant no sweat without lightness skill— no strain.
From a high ridge, a refreshing, majestic mountain path stretched like the sea.
Tak Horak, under orders not to speak unless necessary, couldn't hold back his awe.
"Truly beautiful. As expected of one of the Central Plains' Five Great Mountains. Ah, though our homeland is more stunning, of course."
"Quite right."
"Still, seeing it dyed red with fallen leaves is novel."
I nodded.
The mountains were patchily carpeted in crimson leaves, shyly peeking through.
Hold on.
Then I recalled the Muhonjibyeok on Jan Hon Do.
Hwasan had one too.
From 300 years ago, before the Hwasan Sect existed.
Somewhere in this vast Hwasan territory.
Finding it now would be tough.
The First Heavenly Demon came here seeking the Hwasan Sect's future site, so the Muhonjibyeok was likely nearby.
It held clues to boost my specs, but barging into the Hwasan Sect was iffy.
Elven Hwasan.
In Murim Returner, Hwasan was likened to elves.
Elves shunned uninvited guests.
I could leverage Paeng Yu-gun's fame, but touring the Muhonjibyeok? Forget it.
It's confirmed here, so I must find it eventually.
The others' locations were unknown.
Being acknowledged as Blood Cult Leader might reveal the cult's, but that wasn't set.
As I pondered, staring afar, Paeng Yu-gun approached.
"You sense it too, Sword Dragon."
Playing dumb with "What?" was amateur hour.
I nodded naturally.
"Yes."
"Something's coming."
Pa Cheon murmured.
What is it?
I echoed Pa Cheon.
"Clear and bright auras—Hwasan Taoists, I think."
"Aye. Knew you'd sense it with your sharp perception. Odd, though. Those heavy-arsed Hwasan folk, out and about?"
"Shall we wait?"
"Yes. Coming with such presence means they want us. Respecting territory is jianghu way."
We halted and waited.
Soon, a group of just under ten appeared.
Solid concept.
Coming to this world, I'd built immunity to handsome and pretty faces. Protagonists and supports were all like that.
But a sect where even regular disciples looked like models? Hwasan alone.
They wore pale pink-tinged white uniforms, backs embroidered with large red plum blossoms.
Men in hero buns, women with ribbons—neat and tidy.
Overall, calm and expressionless.
Leading was a strikingly handsome man, face glowing with radiance.
His sword sheath bore plum ornaments.
The man stepped forward, cupped fists, and bowed.
"Greetings, Dao King elder. I am Hwasan's disciple, Gwang-yeon."
Gwang-yeon.
No wonder he stood out.
Hwasan Sect's senior disciple and one of the Plum Blossom Sword Masters.
Later, part of the Heavenly Demon pursuit squad.
The special force to chase the Heavenly Demon who left the Cult alone for the jianghu.
No need to explain the outcome.
"Ah, a face I recall. Welcome. This is Eastern Sword Dragon Kim Dong Yun, and Seongsu Bong's Jin So-cheong."
"Pleased to meet you."
"Nice to meet you."
At Paeng Yu-gun's introduction, Gwang-yeon's eyes lit up.
"Pleased, Miss Jin So-cheong. And Tang Clan's sealed tribute. We couldn't send envoys due to Hwasan matters, but we meet like this."
More amicable than expected.
Why? I wondered.
"You're Yao Xian's descendant, Eastern Sword Dragon?"
"...Yes."
"Could you help Hwasan?"
Perfect timing, lucky break. But if it truly needed "Yao Xian," I was out.
Someone sick? Poison? Elixir?
Poison, I could use Avoid Poison Jade to muddle through.
"May I hear the issue?"
"See those trees?"
"Yes. Beautifully autumnal leaves."
"Didn't it strike you as odd?"
What was odd? Then it hit me.
It wasn't autumn.
"The trees are dyed... with blood. We call them blood trees."
My head involuntarily turned to Jin So-cheong.
Blood trees.
Anyone could see it was the Blood Cult's doing.
Pretending to be the Heavenly Demon