115
Chapter 115
No one dared to challenge him.
Even though he was merely holding the hilt of his sword, those standing before Mu Hwi could feel an insurmountable distance growing between them.
It wasn’t due to the energy emanating from his body.
The energy was merely incidental. The true gap lay in the sight of Mu Hwi standing still, his Plum Blossom robe fluttering over his shoulders as he gripped his sword—a sight that made it clear no one could approach him.
Even if the difference in martial prowess was vast, martial artists were, by nature, prideful beings who thrived on competition.
Yet, despite that pride, not a single person stepped forward to challenge him, even knowing they would lose.
The martial artists present could sense the disparity in their levels.
‘I don’t even think I could draw my sword against him.’
‘So this is the prodigy that emerged from Hwasan.’
There were those who trampled upon the fiery pride of martial artists, extinguishing it effortlessly—those who oppressed them with mere presence and reigned supreme above all.
Those who climbed to heights nearing the heavens.
In the martial arts world, such individuals were revered as Supreme Masters.
Though no one spoke it aloud, the martial artists instinctively knew: a new Supreme Master had just revealed himself to the world.
Mu Hwi observed the dazed crowd staring at him and finally spoke.
“If none of you have the will to challenge me, then disperse. There is no purpose in gathering here. Hwasan will hold its ground until every last one of you is gone.”
With those words, Mu Hwi completely shut down any possibility of further conflict from the assembled martial artists.
Regardless of distance, his voice pierced their ears as if spoken right beside them, prompting murmurs of awe. One by one, the martial artists turned to leave.
But as the crowd dispersed, a lone old man moved against the flow.
The eyes of those who recognized him widened.
“Sword King?”
“But his right arm…”
Those who knew him instinctively made way. Baekri Gok walked silently through the parted crowd, his empty right sleeve fluttering as he approached Mu Hwi.
The Plum Blossom Swordsmen tensed at his approach, but Mu Hwi remained calm. Unlike in the secret cave, the Sword King’s gaze was different now.
Though all eyes were on him, Baekri Gok paid no mind.
“Junior.”
At his composed call, Mu Hwi nodded.
“Senior.”
Seeing the look in Baekri Gok’s eyes, Mu Hwi treated him with the respect befitting a senior, unlike before.
“Your advice was sound. Thank you for breaking this old man’s stubbornness.”
“Then I am glad.”
“Watching your Twenty-Four Hands Plum Blossom Sword Technique made me realize something. The Heavenly Wing Sword Technique cannot be called the culmination of the Baekri Family’s martial arts.”
Baekri Gok sighed deeply.
The Heavenly Wing Sword Technique had been nothing more than a product of obsession, crafted solely to counter Hwasan’s techniques.
In doing so, he had discarded all other aspects of the Baekri Family’s heritage.
“I am ashamed to have forced my grandson to learn such a flawed sword art. Now, I intend to correct my own mistakes.”
Thinking of Baekri Sang, Mu Hwi slowly nodded.
“The Cloud River Sword Dragon would have been pleased to hear that.”
“And in my remaining years, I shall devote myself to creating a new Heavenly Wing Sword Technique—one that truly embodies the essence of the Baekri Family.”
“That is something to look forward to.”
It seemed Baekri Gok had found his path.
“Though I lost my right arm to you, I gained something far greater. For that, I came to express my gratitude. I doubt we will meet again.”
The surrounding martial artists’ eyes bulged at his words.
‘The Hwasan Sword Devil cut off the Sword King’s arm?!’
‘After seeing that display earlier, I suspected as much, but still!’
‘A new Supreme Master has risen in the martial arts world!’
Though none dared to speak aloud out of respect for the Sword King, their shocked glances conveyed everything.
Baekri Gok looked up at the Hwasan banner in Mu Hwi’s grip.
He didn’t need to say this here. He could have quietly sought Mu Hwi out after the crowd dispersed.
But by revealing his shame publicly, he was atoning for his past—and repaying the junior who had shown him the way.
‘It may disgrace me, but it will bring glory to that child.’
Having said his piece, Baekri Gok wore a relieved expression.
“It’s a shame we won’t cross swords again. I would have liked to show you the Baekri Family’s true sword.”
“Senior, Hwasan will always stand firm.”
Mu Hwi’s words carried an implicit invitation—come anytime. Baekri Gok nodded.
“Thank you.”
The Sword King, his wings clipped, thought of the Baekri Family in Shaanxi. He longed to return in a single stride and conclude the affairs of his past.
With that, he turned and strode away.
To mend his broken wings and pass them on to the next generation.
Following the Sword King’s departure, the martial artists who had gathered at Bongwon Mountain began to scatter. Among them, the Paewangseong and the Bloodshed Clan were the quickest to leave—they had urgent news to deliver.
As the crowd dispersed, rumors began to spread like wildfire across the martial arts world.
Hwasan had birthed a new Sword Saint.
***
Even after the martial artists had left, the Hwasan disciples remained for a while longer, waiting for Mu Hwi to regulate his breathing and recover from his internal injuries.
Only after several hours of meditation did Mu Hwi finally open his eyes.
Though his injuries weren’t fully healed, they no longer hindered his martial arts. The rest could be treated gradually on the journey back.
As the Plum Blossom Swordsmen prepared to return to Hwasan, Dokgo Yul sat beside Mu Hwi. In his hands was the broken Black Iron Greatsword.
“I can’t accept this.”
At his abrupt words, Mu Hwi’s eyebrow twitched.
“What nonsense are you spouting now?”
“You were the one who defeated the Hundred-Faced Old Demon. Without you, I wouldn’t have reclaimed my master’s beloved sword.”
“So you’re saying I should keep it?”
“No. I’m saying you should hold onto it until I’ve proven myself worthy.”
Mu Hwi frowned and kicked Dokgo Yul in the side.
“Worthy, my ass. Just take the damn thing, you stubborn fool.”
Dokgo Yul flinched at Mu Hwi’s glare but stood his ground.
“But you risked your life to retrieve it. It doesn’t sit right with me to just take it.”
Mu Hwi sighed.
“Then hand it all over!”
“......”
Unwilling to do that, Dokgo Yul pressed his lips shut. Mu Hwi raised his hand to hit him again but paused, lost in thought.
After a moment, an idea struck him.
“Then how about this?”
“What?”
“We melt down the Black Iron Greatsword and forge a new one.”
The Three Great Iron Workshop still had some of the Hancheol gifted by the Cheonryu Merchant Group.
Though it had been used to craft the Hancheol Plum Blossom Swords, there was still plenty left in stock.
Combined with the recovered Black Iron Greatsword and the Black Iron chains retrieved from the stone gate, there was more than enough material.
Dokgo Yul’s eyes widened in surprise.
“You want to blend Black Iron and Hancheol to make a new sword?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm…”
As Dokgo Yul pondered, Mu Hwi added,
“And we’ll commission it at the same place where the Sword Devil originally forged the Black Iron Greatsword.”
“You know where my master had his sword made? How?”
“Of course, the Sword Devil sought my master’s help to craft it at the Three Great Iron Workshop.”
Three Great Iron Workshop.
As a subsidiary of Hwasan and one of the most renowned forges in the martial arts world, Dokgo Yul immediately understood. He smacked his palm and nodded.
“I see. If it’s the Three Great Iron Workshop…”
“And while we’re at it, we could forge a sword to honor our masters.”
Mu Hwi’s persuasion worked. Dokgo Yul nodded firmly.
“That’s a great idea!”
Satisfied, Mu Hwi nodded.
“Then, before returning to Hwasan, we’ll make a stop at the Three Great Iron Workshop.”
***
Shiquan County, Shaanxi.
Located in southern Shaanxi, this region was rich in high-quality ores and veins, making it the perfect home for the Three Great Iron Workshop.
The terrain was mountainous, with peaks of varying sizes scattered across the landscape.
As they took in the scenery, Mu-hwa remarked,
“It’s been a while since we’ve traveled the martial arts world as the Hwasan Four Flowers. Well, including Brother Dokgo, of course.”
She grinned at Dokgo Yul, who blinked in confusion, unaware of the inside joke.
“This reminds me of our first journey. So much happened back then.”
Mujin chuckled, recalling their early days. Even the usually stoic Mu-cheol’s expression softened slightly.
“Back then, I was worried about how to handle these troublesome juniors.”
“Hey! Senior Disciple, it wasn’t that bad!”
Mu-hwa protested, but Mu Hwi cut in.
“With the other senior disciples guarding the mountain, we don’t have to worry.”
At Bongwon Mountain, Mu Hwi had split the Plum Blossom Swordsmen into groups.
Originally, after completing their mission in the secret cave, they were to return to Hwasan while inspecting affiliated sects in central Shaanxi.
But now, with their detour to the Three Great Iron Workshop in southern Shaanxi, they had divided their forces to cover both regions.
“So this is the Three Great Iron Workshop. It’s huge.”
“Definitely the largest subsidiary sect we’ve seen so far.”
Mu-hwa and Mujin were stunned by the sprawling complex before them.
As both a forge and a martial sect, the Three Great Iron Workshop couldn’t compare to major sects or prestigious families, but it was larger than most mid-sized factions.
“Welcome!”
“Quick, inform the workshop master!”
The arrival of the Hwasan Four Flowers (plus Dokgo Yul) caused a stir.
“Those white robes—they’re the symbol of the Plum Blossom Swordsmen, right?”
“All of them are wearing Heavenly Silkworm Fabric… Incredible.”
“Seeing them makes me want to finish forging their swords faster. Break time’s over!”
As they were led to the workshop master’s office, disciples gathered to catch a glimpse of them.
Thanks to the events at the secret cave, the name Plum Blossom Swordsmen had spread rapidly.
No one knew how, but rumors had already circulated that they had held off the combined assault of the Four Kings Unit and the Giant Dragon Unit with their sword formation.
Before long, the workshop master, Seong Ju-tae, appeared.
His entire body was flushed red, as if he had just been hammering metal.
“It’s been a while.”
“Indeed, since the Righteous Path Grand Assembly.”
After exchanging greetings, Seong Ju-tae’s eyes gleamed with pride as he observed the Plum Blossom Swords at their waists.
“You’ve all been using them well.”
Sitting down, he took a sip of tea and got straight to the point.
“Rumors about the secret cave at Bongwon Mountain have been spreading. About the Plum Blossom Swordsmen… And the new Hwasan Sword Saint. Are they true?”
His eyes sparkled like a child’s, fixed intently on Mu Hwi.
“They are.”
Knowing how quickly news traveled, Mu Hwi nodded calmly.
“Hahaha!”
Seong Ju-tae burst into laughter, his energy belying his age.
“Hwasan Sword Saint… To think Hwasan would finally produce another Sword Saint…”
Clenching his fist, he nodded fervently.
The rumor that the Hwasan Sword Devil had severed the Sword King’s arm had already spread beyond Shaanxi, reaching every corner of the martial arts world. Seong Ju-tae couldn’t help but shudder upon hearing it.
“I suppose I should start calling you the Hwasan Sword Saint now.”
Though he wanted to hear the details of the secret cave, he set that aside and asked about their purpose for visiting.
“We wish to forge a new sword.”
At Mu Hwi’s gesture, Dokgo Yul unwrapped the broken Black Iron Greatsword from its cloth and presented it.
Seong Ju-tae recognized it instantly.
“The Sword Devil’s sword. I forged this myself.”
A bitter smile crossed his face as he gently touched the broken blade.
“You plan to melt it down and reforge it?”
Mu Hwi nodded.
“We’ll use the remaining Hancheol at the Three Great Iron Workshop, along with this Black Iron, to craft two new swords.”
“Hmm. One will be a new heavy sword for Young Master Dokgo. And the other?”
“A legendary sword worthy of being wielded by the Hwasan Sword Saint for generations to come.”
Seong Ju-tae fell silent at Mu Hwi’s request.
< Hwasan will always stand firm. > End.
< Kids, let’s get some elixir. >