The Calamity of Cheonun
As though the Myriad Phenomena themselves were answering the call of spring, Hwa Cheonpung, driven back by Yeop Pung's sword, had no choice but to unleash his killing art.
Wood-attribute Profound Qi gathered in both palms and blossomed into vivid green leaves so lifelike they seemed plucked from a living tree. Dark emerald waves rippled across their surfaces. When Hwa Cheonpung swept his hands, the leaves were drawn into the painting — and the giant tree underwent a wondrous transformation.
Beautiful flowers began to bloom on every branch. The already enormous blossoms were overlaid with newly unfurled petals, and as the wind stirred, countless flower petals whirled into the sky. Everyone stood transfixed by the breathtaking sight, as if tens of thousands of butterflies were dancing upon the air.
Yet within that beautiful spectacle, the world-ending meteor born of Yeop Pung's sword qi slowly faded. At last the meteor vanished completely, leaving only flower petals filling the heavens. The two men's fierce assault had transformed into a single romantic painting of spring. Those watching erupted in cheers.
"Magnificent!"
"It's truly beautiful!"
The praise came freely and without stint. They lauded Yeop Pung's powerful swordsmanship, Hwa Cheonpung's exceptional palm arts, and the skill with which Hwa Cheonpung had transmuted Yeop Pung's killing technique into a scene of such beauty.
"Senior Brother Hwa, I concede."
Yeop Pung set his chopsticks lightly upon the table and courteously acknowledged his defeat.
"Haha. The match was already decided."
Hwa Cheonpung received the greeting with proper courtesy. Cold sweat, however, ran down his back.
Damn it. That monster Yeop Pung really shouldn't be provoked.
How long has it even been since he entered the Profound Realm, and he's already taken Thunder Roaring Palm this far? And he's mastered the Meteor Sword Technique on top of that? What's going to happen from here on?
Even Yi Hwawu might not be able to break his momentum… And where the hell is that Yi Hwawu anyway? He hasn't even shown his face today. What's he plotting?
The spectacular duel between Yeop Pung and Hwa Cheonpung carried the banquet to its peak.
Gangun Peak overflowed with joy. More young prodigies stepped forward to display their martial arts and their painting, giving full expression to the spirit and talent of Cheonun Sect's younger generation. The sight of the youths competing with one another even as they shared a close-knit camaraderie warmed the hearts of everyone watching.
Yeop Pung liked this atmosphere. It would have been even better, of course, if that ice-cold fellow weren't sitting right beside him.
But just as everyone was at the height of their excitement, a voice as cold and sharp as a drawn blade shattered the festive mood.
"Disciple Yi Hwawu, seeking to attend the banquet with an honored guest. I pay my respects to the Peak Master!"
Everyone was bewildered. Yi Hwawu had finally appeared? An honored guest? Who on earth had he brought?
Never once had an outside visitor attended a banquet that, until now, had been exclusively for the youth of Cheonun Sect. Every gaze turned toward the stairs below the plaza.
At the front stood a young man in the snow-white disciple robes of Cheonun. His lean face, star-bright eyes, tightly pressed lips, and sharp gaze possessed a dignity that overwhelmed those who looked upon him. This was Yi Hwawu, regarded as the most outstanding among Cheonun's current third-generation disciples.
That bastard hasn't changed a bit.
Seeing Yi Hwawu's arrogant bearing, Yeop Pung recalled the boy from years ago. Back then, Yi Hwawu had approached him with a cold expression and said:
Yi Hwawu had been a sore loser since childhood. Now he had risen to the highest seat among Cheonun Sect's young experts, and he had grown all the more arrogant for it. As he walked slowly forward, it seemed as though not a single person on Gangun Peak was worthy of his notice.
Yi Hwawu cast Yeop Pung a single cold glance, then looked away. His contemptuous gaze seemed to say, You're already beneath my notice, Yeop Pung.
Yeop Pung paid no mind to Yi Hwawu's contempt. What hardened his face instead were those standing behind him.
They were soldiers in white armor. The phoenix-with-spread-wings emblem engraved upon their chests was all too familiar to Yeop Pung.
The Cheonbong Legion of the Military Supply Bureau had come.
And what weighed even more heavily on Yeop Pung's heart was the one standing behind Yi Hwawu in that same white armor. It was none other than Sa Cheonseong, whom he had encountered at the Ascent Battle.
What's that bastard doing here?
In an instant, every face at the banquet went rigid. Everyone recognized the Cheonbong Legion's insignia. For armed soldiers of the Cheonbong Legion to appear on Cheonun Mountain during the Mid-Autumn Festival — when the entire Cheonun family had gathered in harmony — was itself a breach of courtesy. And what did their murderous bearing mean?
Shock swept the gathering. In the midst of it, Yi Hwawu walked to the center of the banquet hall with Sa Cheonseong, leading some ten Cheonbong Legion soldiers.
Sa Cheonseong surveyed his surroundings with an expressionless face, then finally fixed his gaze on Yeop Pung and spoke in a voice of ice.
"So these are Cheonun Sect's young experts — wasting their time on such trivial games. Pathetic. Utterly pathetic."
"What did you say!"
At that single remark, every Cheonun Sect disciple's face burned.
At the same hour, inside Wangcheon Hall, Han Buri stood with a face of cold stone. Behind him stood hundreds of Cheonbong Legion soldiers. Commander Naeng Chu, one of the Military Supply Bureau's foremost experts, was leading the troops.
Cheonun Sect's Peak Masters and the elders, Han Un among them, all stared at Han Buri with expressions of utter disbelief.
Naeng Chu's icy voice rang through the hall.
By order of the Governor!
Sect Master Lee Sujol has neglected the administration of the sect and led Cheonun Sect down the path of decline. To restore Cheonun Sect's former glory, Peak Master Han Buri of Nowoon Peak is hereby appointed Acting Sect Master of Cheonun Sect, and shall temporarily take command!
Former Sect Master Lee Sujol shall reflect upon his errors and await the Governor's disposition!
"What?"
A wine cup shattered against the floor. Beside them, Ha Chung, Peak Master of Hwaun Peak, had hurled it down with all his strength. His red hair stood on end as if it might burst into flame at any moment.
"You dare issue orders to imprison Senior Brother — in front of whom, exactly?! And you, Han Buri!"
He thrust a finger at Han Buri, trembling with rage.
"You ungrateful bastard! Do you even know what you're doing?! Was the Sect Master's seat so tempting? You sold yourself as the Governor's dog, blinded by that paltry position!"
"Silence!"
Yet even under Ha Chung's roar, Han Buri did not so much as blink. As if he had become a different man, he looked at Naeng Chu with a face that revealed no emotion whatsoever.
"Commander Naeng, Ha Chung is defying the Governor's orders. How shall we proceed?"
"Hmph."
Murderous intent flickered in Naeng Chu's eyes. It seemed they had already prepared for the worst tonight. When Naeng Chu swept his hand, the Cheonbong Legion soldiers drew gleaming crossbows from their waists in unison.
Poison-smeared arrowheads aimed without hesitation at every soul inside Wangcheon Hall. The infamous military crossbows of the Cheonbong Legion — a graze was enough to put a life in doubt.
"Those who defy orders shall be treated as rebels! We will not spare you!"
"Cut the crap and try it!"
Ha Chung exploded. Fierce flame Profound Qi erupted from his body like a volcanic blast. In an instant the entirety of Wangcheon Hall was searingly heated, and a massive wall of fire crashed toward Han Buri's party with terrifying force.
"How dare you! Ha Chung — do you mean to drive Cheonun to ruin?!"
Han Buri roared in a voice of ice and exploded with metallic Profound Qi no less powerful than Ha Chung's. A giant blade radiating a killing edge took form in an instant and came crashing down upon the wall of flame.
The massive flame barrier was cleaved in two by Han Buri's Profound Qi sword. Unable to withstand that fierce momentum, Ha Chung was forced back three full steps.
"Han Buri, you bastard!"
Ha Chung trembled from head to toe with rage. Inwardly, however, he could not help but be stunned by Han Buri's terrifying skill. The fact that he was no longer Han Buri's match galled him to the bone.
Damn it!
Ha Chung clenched his teeth. The crossbows lurking ahead already had their strings drawn taut. These were surely the infamous Spirit Extinguishing Crossbows of the Cheonbong Legion. Though they posed no great threat to a Spirit Realm expert, they were smeared with a poison that brought extreme agony — even a graze could put one's life in doubt.
"Han Buri, how could you betray Cheonun Sect! Have you no conscience? How will you ever face Master again!"
Beside him, Gu Jeoryang condemned Han Buri in anguish.
"Hmph. So I'm supposed to sit and watch Cheonun Sect wither away in your hands? When that day comes, the ones who won't be able to face Master are you. Isn't that right, Senior Brother Lee!"
At that moment, every gaze turned to Lee Sujol — Cheonun's last hope.
Naeng Chu, as if he already held Lee Sujol's weakness in a clenched fist, spoke with cold precision.
"Sect Master Lee, you'd do well to take my advice to heart. Ten li from here, ten thousand elite troops of our Cheonbong Legion stand ready. If you dare resist today, I will turn Cheonun into a sea of blood."
"How dare you!"
"Enough!!!"
At last Lee Sujol raised his hand, checking Ha Chung's enraged cry.
In that moment, Lee Sujol seemed to have lost all his strength. He looked decades older.
"Senior Brother, you cannot!"
Ha Chung and Gu Jeoryang cried out, trembling with fury.
"Sect Master, you absolutely must not!"
The elders, Han Un among them, ground their teeth and dropped to their knees.
Lee Sujol could do nothing about any of it. He drew a deep breath and let out a long, weary sigh.
"Sect Master!"
Han Un and the others wailed, tears streaming down their faces. No one had imagined that a harmonious, joyful Mid-Autumn Festival banquet would transform into Cheonun Sect's catastrophe.
"Good! His Excellency the Governor said that Sect Master Lee would follow the edict for the greater good. In that case, I must trouble you and the other two Peak Masters to come this way."
"We have prepared this for the three of you. It greatly replenishes vitality — so please take it here and now."
Vitality replenishment? Please.
Anyone in that hall could have told you with their toes that this was a poison designed to hold a man's life in its grip. The moment they swallowed it, the three leaders would lose all power to resist and become playthings in the hands of Han Buri's faction.
And yet… Lee Sujol walked forward without the slightest change in expression, and swallowed that terrifying medicine.
"Junior Brother Han — no. Grand Sect Master. I ask that you take good care of the people of Cheonun Sect…"
"Hahaha!"
Han Buri finally burst into laughter, as if a great weight had been lifted from his chest.
That ear-splitting laughter bored into the ears of everyone in Wangcheon Hall like a venomous snake, gnawing at their hearts.
At the very moment this tremendous upheaval was unfolding inside Wangcheon Hall, on Gangun Peak, Sa Cheonseong's cold gaze swept over the enraged crowd. He curled the corners of his mouth in a thin, icy smile and spread both hands.
"If you've got complaints — I'll take you on."
He looked at Yeop Pung and Hwa Cheonpung.