105
Chapter 105
Originally, the Dark Monkey could only be seen if one went to Nak-an Peak. So when the Dark Monkey came all the way to Yeonhwa Peak, it was only natural that Mu Hwi found it strange.
"Kkiiik..."
The Dark Monkey, who had been bringing a liquor bottle to its mouth, shook its head and threw the bottle away as if it didn’t suit its taste.
Then, it hopped sideways and slapped Mu Hwi’s thigh with its long tail. It looked almost like a protest.
Listening to the Dark Monkey’s whining as it wagged its tail in annoyance, Mu Hwi nodded.
"Ah, it has been a while since I last saw you."
Myeong San watched the Dark Monkey sniff each of the liquor bottles Mu Hwi had brought, searching for one that suited its taste, and made a puzzled face.
"Master. What is that monkey?"
"The Dark Monkey. A spirit beast of Hwasan. It’s quite an old creature and knows how to wield martial arts. It’s much stronger than you."
"Huh? Stronger than me?"
Myeong San stared at the Dark Monkey in disbelief. Upon closer inspection, he noticed a plum blossom sword hanging from a vine wrapped around its waist like a belt, which was nothing short of fascinating.
"It’s my first time seeing a spirit beast."
Myeong San cautiously reached out to touch the Dark Monkey’s glossy black fur. In response, the Dark Monkey snorted and swiftly whipped its tail, slapping the back of Myeong San’s hand.
"Ow."
Myeong San rubbed the back of his hand where the tail had struck, still unable to take his eyes off the Dark Monkey, as if everything about it was fascinating.
"Kkiik!"
The Dark Monkey glared at Myeong San, then tapped the plum blossom sword at its waist while looking at Mu Hwi. Seeing this, Mu Hwi chuckled and stood up.
"Right. I should show you too."
Mu Hwi walked side by side with the Dark Monkey to the center of the courtyard and signaled to Myeong San.
"Don’t miss a single moment. It’ll be good training."
"Yes!"
Myeong San crossed his legs and straightened his posture, fixing his gaze on Mu Hwi and the Dark Monkey. He was startled when he saw the Dark Monkey’s stance.
‘The opening stance of the Plum Blossom Sword Technique?’
Could it really be a spirit beast?
Despite being performed by a monkey, there wasn’t the slightest hint of clumsiness. It carried the same dignity and spirit as when the elders of Hwasan demonstrated it.
In contrast, Mu Hwi stood lightly, his sword pointing downward, unlike the Dark Monkey.
Yet, to Myeong San, Mu Hwi’s stance felt even more intimidating than the Dark Monkey’s.
"Kkik!"
With a short shout, the Dark Monkey’s figure blurred momentarily. Myeong San’s current level of skill made it impossible for him to fully track the Dark Monkey’s movements.
The elongated black afterimages.
It was like watching the monk perform the Dark Scent Flutter.
The Dark Monkey leaped around, circling Mu Hwi before launching a sudden barrage of sword strikes.
Yet, Mu Hwi blocked every single one of the Dark Monkey’s attacks with slight tilts of his sword, seemingly without any effort.
‘It’s improved since last time.’
The Dark Monkey’s sword was sharper and more unpredictable than before. Watching the Dark Monkey unleash four sword strikes with a piercing sound, Mu Hwi swung his plum blossom sword left and right.
Clang!
"This is dizzying."
Myeong San, whose eyes darted around trying to follow the movements, groaned in frustration as he couldn’t keep up.
After silently enduring about twenty exchanges, a change began to emerge in Mu Hwi’s swordplay.
"A new sword technique of Hwasan."
Hearing this, the Dark Monkey paused momentarily and focused on Mu Hwi’s sword.
The Twenty-Four Hands Plum Blossom Sword Technique.
To the Dark Monkey, who had lived on Hwasan for countless years and experienced numerous martial arts, a new sword of Hwasan was unfolding before its eyes.
Countless sword strikes diverged with the tremors of the wrist. The variations at their tips filled the courtyard in an instant.
Myeong San’s eyes widened as he watched Mu Hwi’s sword extend a purple sword light into the darkness.
Though the speed and variations were too fast for his eyes to properly follow, the purple light flickering in the darkness was indescribably beautiful.
‘Could I ever achieve something like that?’
While Myeong San was entranced by Mu Hwi’s sword, the Dark Monkey’s eyes also gradually widened.
The Dark Monkey had lived through countless years in the valley, seeing sword traces to the point of boredom.
It couldn’t help but notice that the sword traces of the valley were embedded in the new sword art Mu Hwi was displaying.
The Dark Monkey was captivated by the sight of the countless sword traces of the valley being compiled into a single sword technique and demonstrated.
A purple glow began to fill the darkness around the hut, and as plum blossoms bloomed one by one, an elegant sword fragrance enveloped the Dark Monkey.
Plum Blossoms by the Roadside.
Plum Blossoms and Dancing Butterflies.
Plum Blossoms in Full Bloom.
The opening moves of the Twenty-Four Hands Plum Blossom Sword Technique unfolded in sequence.
"Kkiik..."
The Dark Monkey lowered the plum blossom sword it had held at mid-level to the ground and stared blankly at the spectacle.
A spring day’s plum blossoms summoned by a single sword.
The vibrant plum blossoms and profound sword fragrance seemed as if they had bloomed in nature itself. The only ones who had ever reached such a level of plum blossoms and sword fragrance were the past Sword Saints of Hwasan who had played with the Dark Monkey in the valley.
And now, the Dark Monkey instinctively realized that Mu Hwi was just one step away from the realm those Sword Saints had once tread.
The plum blossoms Mu Hwi had conjured faded like a midnight dream, and the Dark Monkey sniffed the gradually dissipating sword fragrance, its nose twitching in regret.
"Think you can mimic this too?"
After demonstrating the Twenty-Four Hands Plum Blossom Sword Technique, Mu Hwi sheathed his sword as the Dark Monkey stood dazed, lost in the sword technique.
After standing blankly for a while, the Dark Monkey stared intently at Mu Hwi, then tugged at his sleeve and began to pout.
"Are you telling me to come to the valley later?"
Even though it was just pouting, Mu Hwi found it strange that he could infer its meaning. Fortunately, his guess seemed correct as the Dark Monkey nodded and disappeared among the trees.
Watching this, Myeong San blinked in amazement.
"It really is a spirit beast. It understands human speech."
"That thing might have lived longer than us."
***
When Mu Hwi headed toward the cliffs of Nak-an Peak, the Dark Monkey was waiting for him. Upon seeing Mu Hwi, the Dark Monkey immediately jumped off the cliff.
Mu Hwi followed right after. The movements of his Dark Scent Flutter were markedly different from the first time he had descended the cliff.
The first time, he couldn’t close the distance with the Dark Monkey, but now, he overtook it in just five steps.
"I’ll go first."
Mu Hwi lightly tapped the Dark Monkey’s head as he descended the cliff and disappeared into the dense forest.
"Kkiiik!"
Provoked by Mu Hwi, the Dark Monkey let out a screech and chased at full speed, but it could only watch Mu Hwi’s back as he executed the Dark Scent Flutter.
In the end, the Dark Monkey arrived at the valley without catching up to Mu Hwi, vented its frustration alone, and then dashed deeper into the valley.
Mu Hwi followed slowly behind. Upon reaching the inner part of the valley, the Dark Monkey pointed its finger toward a cave.
"Didn’t you say not to enter here?"
"Kkiik!"
Previously, Mu Hwi had tried to enter, but the Dark Monkey had desperately blocked him. So, Mu Hwi had no idea what was inside the cave. But now, the Dark Monkey was telling him to go in, which was puzzling.
‘Did it call me here because of this cave?’
Following the Dark Monkey’s lead, Mu Hwi entered the cave. As he went deeper, a faint light became visible ahead.
Upon entering the cavern at the end of the cave, sunlight streamed in through small holes in the ceiling.
The sunlight illuminated the inner wall of the cavern, which was the first thing Mu Hwi noticed.
Mu Hwi’s eyes narrowed as he looked at the wall.
There were words carved into it.
"All scenery and the myriad things unfold upon Hwasan."
"Countless plum blossoms and their fragrance reach their zenith at the sunset."
"Upon Hwasan’s sword peaks, the purple sunsetflows and fills."
"The purple sunset is the Six Harmonies, and the Six Harmonies are the world."
It resembled poetry, yet also seemed like a martial verses.
After staring at the words on the wall for a long time, Mu Hwi realized who had left them.
"The Six Harmonies Sword God."
These words were left by the Six Harmonies Sword God, the founder of Hwasan. Having studied the sword traces left in the valley, Mu Hwi was certain.
"Hmm."
It wasn’t the verses of the Purple Sunset Heart Method.
Perhaps it was the Sword God’s late-life realization?
Mu Hwi crossed his arms and recited the words left by the Six Harmonies Sword God. There seemed to be some profound principle embedded in them, but it was too subtle to grasp immediately.
Just as Mu Hwi was about to focus, the Dark Monkey tapped his waist. It tugged at Mu Hwi’s sleeve and guided him to the opposite side of the wall with the writing.
"Huh?"
Then, Mu Hwi caught a whiff of a refreshing yet rich fragrance, unlike anything he had ever smelled in his life.
At the far end of the opposite wall was a hollowed-out rock, from which an intense aroma wafted.
"Kkiik!"
The Dark Monkey pointed at the rock, and when Mu Hwi looked inside, he saw a small pool of pale pink liquid.
Bringing his nose closer, he felt his mind and body relax, and his spirits lifted. Amid the sweet fragrance, he also detected the sharp, distinct scent of alcohol.
"Could this be... Houaiju?"
Houaiju refers to a type of wine made from fruits hidden by monkeys and left to ferment over a long time.
"Is this alcohol?"
"Kkiik!"
When Mu Hwi turned his head and asked, the Dark Monkey nodded and held out something. It was a flat, hollowed-out stone about the size of a palm—perfect for use as a cup.
The Dark Monkey dipped the stone cup into the Houaiju in the rock, then handed it to Mu Hwi.
The cup was filled to the brim with Houaiju. Then, the Dark Monkey took another stone cup and filled it as well.
The Dark Monkey raised its cup toward Mu Hwi, who laughed in response.
"After all the times you drank my liquor, you’re finally treating me."
"Kkigik!"
The Dark Monkey and Mu Hwi smiled at each other, lightly clinked their cups, and downed the Houaiju in one go.
"Kuhm."
Mu Hwi let out a sigh of admiration at the taste.
It was as if the essence of hundreds of fruits had been condensed into a single drop of Houaiju, exploding in his mouth with an incredible burst of flavor.
It felt like tiny explosions were going off in his mouth and head. Just one cup was enough to make his head spin.
"This is amazing."
"Kkigik!"
The Dark Monkey laughed at Mu Hwi’s astonishment and dipped its cup back into the Houaiju. Not to be outdone, Mu Hwi did the same.
They clinked cups again and quickly emptied them.
For this moment, Mu Hwi forgot everything else and focused solely on the Houaiju before him.
After about ten cups, the Dark Monkey’s face turned completely red, and it collapsed backward, beginning to snore.
"No matter how much of a spirit beast you are, you’re no match for me."
Mu Hwi laughed alone and poured another cup of Houaiju down his throat. Then, his eyebrows twitched.
"Hmm?"
Mu Hwi’s voice, slurred from intoxication, expressed confusion as his eyes blinked.
Something was wrong with his body.
His entire body was burning, but it wasn’t just from the alcohol. It felt like flames had ignited in his meridians, and an insane heat was surging upward.
Especially around his dantian, it felt as if molten lava had been poured inside, creating an immense sensation of heat.
This didn’t feel like the effects of alcohol. It was more like consuming a divine pill.
Dazed for a moment, Mu Hwi suddenly turned his head sharply toward the rock where the Houaiju had been stored.
The Houaiju, which had been full earlier, was now completely gone, consumed by Mu Hwi and the Dark Monkey.
"Could it be... Not just Houaiju, but a divine pill infused with energy?"
Given that the valley itself was a convergence point of Hwasan’s divine energy and natural energies, and that the Dark Monkey was a spirit beast, this wasn’t a baseless assumption.
It was a natural principle that where spirit beasts resided, divine pills existed to balance the natural energies.
Mu Hwi became certain that all of Hwasan’s divine and natural energies had been concentrated and infused into the Houaiju the Dark Monkey had created.
"It might be comparable to Cong Qing Shi You."
Cong Qing Shi You was a liquid formed when continuously circulating natural energies gathered in an extremely narrow space within a special ley line or terrain.
If Mu Hwi’s guess was correct, the Houaiju he had just consumed wasn’t much different from Cong Qing Shi You.
"Whew..."
Staggering from intoxication, Mu Hwi assumed the lotus position. The overwhelming heat in his dantian made it difficult to circulate his internal energy.
His hands and feet trembled violently as he moved. Consuming a divine pill wasn’t always beneficial. If the body couldn’t handle it, the pill could be more fatal than any poison.
"Damn, how many cups did I drink?"
Struggling to maintain the lotus position, Mu Hwi steadied his breathing and tried to clear his mind to begin energy circulation.
A little more time had passed since drinking the Houaiju, and as he focused on observing his body, he realized the truth.
What he had consumed wasn’t just alcohol—it was a divine pill. A legendary pill beyond comparison with anything from his past or present life.
"I might really die from this."
Mu Hwi muttered in disbelief.
An enormous surge of energy was raging through every meridian in his body. It was so intense that he worried his meridians might burst, taking his body along with them.
Mu Hwi instinctively knew he was standing on the brink of life and death.
"Kehaha."
Suddenly, Mu Hwi burst into laughter. Blood trickled from the corners of his mouth.
Even as he laughed, he could feel some of his meridians tearing under the unbearable pressure of the energy. Yet, he found this situation strangely exhilarating.
To think he’d encounter such an opportunity.
If he endured, he would achieve tremendous growth. If not, he would die.
It was almost laughable that a divine pill could bring such a life-or-death crisis.
For a moment, he felt the transience of life, but then dismissed such thoughts as a luxury.
His masters came to mind, as did the elders of Hwasan. Disciples from his past and present lives flashed before him, along with new connections he’d made in the martial arts world, like Xian Zhu and Kang Ho-baek.
And finally, Hyeon Jo appeared in his thoughts.
Unlike his past life, where he had struggled in solitude, his current life was filled with unexpected luxuries.
‘This isn’t a life to be cut short by mere pills.’
"Who dares to be stopped by a pill? I’ll devour it whole."
With a voice full of delight, Mu Hwi steadied his posture toward the direction of the Six Harmonies Sword God’s inscription and began circulating his energy.
Sunlight streaming through the ceiling began to illuminate Mu Hwi.
< I might really die from this. > End.
< Through the Purple Sunset, I shall cast off solitude. >