125
Chapter 125
"Sacheon Alliance. Step aside and clear the path."
At Mu Hwi’s brief command, not only the Ten Thousand Blood Unit but even the Righteous Heaven Unit Scout stared at him in shock. The same went for the late-stage foundation level disciples standing at the rear of the procession. Zhuge Myung dropped the fan he was holding, and Seong Hwi’s lips trembled slightly as he muttered repetitions of the Immeasurable Life Buddha mantra.
Only the Hwasan Three Flowers who knew Mu Hwi well remained composed. In fact, Mu-cheol silently restrained Mu-hwa, who was about to draw her sword and charge forward.
"Why are you stopping me, Disciple Mu-cheol? A fight’s about to break out!"
Mujin shook his head as he watched Mu-hwa turn around to speak while Mu-cheol held her shoulder.
"Don’t jump to conclusions. Let’s observe the situation first."
The other late-stage foundation level disciples looked at the Hwasan Three Flowers with amazement.
"Hah..."
A rough exhale escaped the slightly parted lips of the Ten Thousand Blood Unit leader. That breath carried an intense, scorching killing intent. He wanted to tear Mu Hwi apart on the spot, but without orders, he restrained himself.
Instead of drawing their swords, the entire Ten Thousand Blood Unit unleashed a gale-like killing intent directed solely at Mu Hwi.
Even as the killing intent of the Ten Thousand Blood Unit—Sacheon’s strongest martial force—converged entirely upon him, Mu Hwi didn’t so much as blink. From the beginning, his focus had been solely on the Sacheon Alliance Leader.
KWAANG!
Suddenly, a long spear shattered the carriage wall and shot out. The spear tore through the air with a sharp, piercing sound as it flew toward Mu Hwi, its trajectory locked onto him with precision.
The distance between the Ten Thousand Blood Unit and the Righteous Heaven Unit Scout was ten paces.
The Sacheon Alliance Leader’s carriage was slightly behind them, placing him roughly twenty paces from Mu Hwi.
For a master trained in internal energy, this was an extremely short distance. And if the spear crossing that distance was thrown by the Sacheon Alliance Leader, its speed was beyond words.
PABABENG!
A series of explosive sounds, as if the very air were being torn apart, emanated from the spear. Each time the atmosphere split, the spear accelerated further.
After five consecutive accelerations, the spear transformed into a streak of light, carving a single dark-brown arc through the air. This was the Piercing Night Throw, a favored spear technique of the Spear Sovereign of the Night. The end of that arc was aimed straight at Mu Hwi’s heart.
A single misstep, and his heart would be pierced by a gaping hole. Yet Mu Hwi remained serene as he raised the Sim-myeong Sword.
"Back then, barely deflecting it was all I could manage."
The battle that had earned him the title of First Sword of the Evil Path in the eyes of the Spear Sovereign flashed through his mind. At the time, even with the Dokgo Sword Technique, all he could do was barely redirect the spear’s trajectory.
The veins in Mu Hwi’s pupils bulged as they dilated. The moment the dark-brown light reflected in those pupils, the hem of his robe fluttered as he stepped into True Enlightenment. Purple sword light scattered like ink along the spear’s path.
The Sim-myeong Sword, writhing like a serpent, coiled around the spear’s shaft as it extended forward. The blade trembled, giving rise to dozens of afterimages—like branches sprouting from the spear’s shaft. Mu Hwi had compressed the range of Plum Blossoms Gradual Bloom, concentrating its full power onto the spear.
KAKAKAK!
In an instant, the Sim-myeong Sword struck the spear’s shaft over thirty times, altering its course. Before anyone could react, the sword had already returned to Mu Hwi’s hand, only to shoot out again in a lightning-fast slash.
The Sim-myeong Sword clashed head-on with the spear tip hurtling toward his face. Just before impact, Mu Hwi twisted his wrist. The sword’s blade rotated, generating a swirling vortex—a modified final stance of Plum Blossoms Radiance.
KWAAANG!
A deafening crash, like a massive boulder plummeting from a cliff, erupted as a tremendous shockwave rippled outward in concentric circles.
"Kuhk!"
The Ten Thousand Blood Unit and Righteous Heaven Unit Scouts staggered back violently as the shockwave exploded like a storm. Though they hastily circulated their internal energy, some still suffered internal injuries.
As the shockwave dissipated and the dust settled—
The Spear Sovereign’s spear, instead of piercing Mu Hwi’s heart, was now soaring high into the sky. Mu Hwi, meanwhile, was slowly lowering his still-trembling Sim-myeong Sword.
The faces of the Ten Thousand Blood Unit and Righteous Heaven Unit Scouts darkened at the sight. None of them could fully comprehend what had just happened.
‘What just happened? Did that Hwasan brat really block the Leader’s spear?’
‘I didn’t even see him draw his sword. It was like time skipped forward, omitting the earlier movements.’
All they perceived was the Sacheon Alliance Leader’s carriage shattering with a thunderous explosion, followed by another deafening crash as Mu Hwi, already with his sword drawn, stood before them.
The entire sequence of Mu Hwi countering the Piercing Night Throw with two consecutive techniques had taken less time than the blink of an eye.
This was a single exchange between two absolute masters—the Spear Sovereign of the Night and the Hwasan Sword Saint—who perceived time in a realm beyond ordinary humans. Thus, even the elite forces of the two most powerful factions could not fully grasp the details.
"Your ghostly swordplay remains as formidable as ever."
In the silence, only Kang Ho-baek’s murmur echoed softly. He was the only one present who could fully witness that exchange.
Mu Hwi lowered the Sim-myeong Sword to a low stance and raised his head slightly.
The spear, spinning wildly in the sky, suddenly halted mid-air before plunging back toward the ground, not at Mu Hwi, but toward the carriage.
SWOOSH!
Like a swallow diving, the spear traced a sharp arc before being caught by a hand emerging from the wreckage. The Spear Sovereign of the Night, Sima Gang, retrieved the spear with a display of Void Grasping and slung it over his shoulder. He stared intently at Mu Hwi, his brow furrowing.
His gaze was as sharp as a finely honed sword. Looking into Mu Hwi’s eyes, Sima Gang was reminded of someone.
"You... Are you the Sword Devil’s hidden son or something?"
Mu Hwi’s eyebrow twitched at Sima Gang’s absurd question.
"Don’t talk nonsense."
The Ten Thousand Blood Unit leader’s face turned as red as an apple at Mu Hwi’s repeated insolence. Sima Gang, however, curled his lips, holding back laughter. The Ten Thousand Blood Unit leader was stunned. Sima Gang’s usual expression was one of perpetual boredom.
"This is amusing. I haven’t heard such words to my face since I was a child."
"Leader! Give the order, and I will slaughter these hypocrites of the orthodox sects immediately!"
As the Ten Thousand Blood Unit leader prostrated himself and shouted, the Righteous Heaven Unit Scout’s expressions turned icy. But Sima Gang merely tapped his shoulder with his spear.
"A man must take responsibility for his words. This young Sword Saint has done so boldly, has he not?"
Sima Gang was referring to Mu Hwi blocking his Piercing Night Throw. Understanding this, the Ten Thousand Blood Unit leader fell silent and bowed deeply.
"Though the distance was too short for the full power to manifest."
Mu Hwi agreed with Sima Gang’s remark.
Had Sima Gang executed the Piercing Night Throw from an optimal distance, the spear would have accelerated not five, but at least ten times.
Sima Gang’s spear, which had been tapping his shoulder, suddenly stilled. His deliberation had ended.
"This is a bit unsatisfying. Shall we taste a bit more?"
"Enough."
Kang Ho-baek appeared suddenly, shielding Mu Hwi. Sima Gang looked him up and down before bursting into laughter.
"Alliance Leader Kang! Even after ascending to the lofty position of Martial Alliance Leader, you still wear that old bamboo hat?"
"That old bamboo hat is the symbol of a chivalrous hero."
Sima Gang smirked at Kang Ho-baek’s serious tone.
"I knew you’d come. The Paewangseong will naturally arrive as well. So the leaders of all three sects have gathered. The trip from Guangdong to Guizhou was worth it."
From Sima Gang’s words, it seemed he had anticipated the other leaders would personally appear at the Black Night Palace.
"You didn’t come just to see the Paewangseong and me, did you? What are you planning?"
"Planning? I’m merely curious about the audacious leader of the Demonic Cult who dared to invite me."
Sima Gang stroked the spear’s tip with his finger as he continued.
"If he’s mediocre, putting a hole through him right there wouldn’t be bad. Then again, the entire Black Night Palace might come at me. That’d be fun too."
His laughter carried a chilling killing intent. It seemed the Sacheon Alliance Sect intended to test the Black Night Palace even more aggressively than the Martial Alliance.
After alternating glances between Kang Ho-baek and Mu Hwi, Sima Gang grinned and lowered his spear.
"Best save the delicacies for later."
Sima Gang turned and reentered the shattered carriage. The Ten Thousand Blood Unit leader rose, glared at Mu Hwi once more, then turned away.
"Move out."
As the Sacheon Alliance Sect’s procession retreated, Kang Ho-baek turned to Mu Hwi.
"Are you alright?"
"Yes. I’m fine."
Though his right hand, which had gripped the Sim-myeong Sword to block the Piercing Night Throw, trembled slightly, it wasn’t serious.
"I didn’t expect you to provoke the Sacheon Alliance Leader like this. The boldness of youth is something else."
Kang Ho-baek patted Mu Hwi’s shoulder, then asked with a smile,
"What’s your assessment?"
"I’ve confirmed that the heavens of the martial arts world are vast and high indeed."
Though he had ascended to the Transcendent Realm and earned the title of Hwasan Sword Saint, this was not the end.
The current martial world was said to have an unusually high number of supreme masters compared to past eras.
The Nine Sects, the Three Great Families, the Seven Evil Heavens, and the Paewangseong.
And now, the Black Night Palace. To dominate all the absolute masters reigning at the pinnacle of this flourishing martial world, Mu Hwi still had much to improve.
Having just exchanged a single move with the Spear Sovereign—one of the Three Seats among the absolute masters—Mu Hwi realized that the Spear Sovereign, too, had progressed beyond his past self. There was no room for complacency.
"Indeed. Just as martial arts have no end, so too does this martial arts world. That’s why I can never leave it."
Kang Ho-baek nodded, recalling his first meeting with Mu Hwi. Though the young man had achieved astonishing growth since then, not a trace of arrogance could be found in his eyes.
Seeing this junior, despite his accomplishments, remain unsatisfied and strive ever upward, filled Kang Ho-baek with pride.
His gaze shifted to the late-stage foundation level disciples at the rear. Though shocked by Mu Hwi’s sudden provocation of the Sacheon Alliance Leader, they seemed inwardly stimulated.
"Having a goal is good."
Hadn’t he himself, in his youth, admired the exploits of the Sword Immortal, his senior, and sought to emulate him?
Moreover, Mu Hwi was of the same generation as them, making his actions all the more inspiring.
Though each of the late-stage foundation level disciples stood at different levels and perspectives, none wished to remain stagnant. Kang Ho-baek was deeply satisfied.
Watching them, he felt the weight of his responsibility as Alliance Leader even more heavily—to guide the Martial Alliance until these juniors matured and led the next generation of the martial arts world.
Yet, with a lighthearted tone, he gave the order:
"Let’s move out."
***
Black Night Palace
The terrain of Onya Valley was as treacherous as if the raging waves of the southern sea had taken the form of a canyon. Behind the towering main valley lay two or three smaller hidden valleys, where one could easily lose their way forever.
Onya Valley itself was vast enough to conceal an entire sect. Moreover, thick fog clung to the canyon like clouds, though it didn’t seem entirely natural.
There were over ten known entrances to Onya Valley. As the group approached one, they found demonic warriors waiting.
"We greet the honored guests of the Martial Alliance."
Mu Hwi was taken aback by the demonic warriors’ respectful bows. These were the same beings who usually radiated demonic energy and killing intent, yet here they were, behaving so meekly. It was hard to adjust.
The demonic warriors began guiding the Martial Alliance’s procession into the valley.
"This fog doesn’t seem entirely natural."
At Kang Ho-baek’s question, a demonic warrior bowed and replied,
"Onya Valley naturally produces much fog. Additionally, formations have been set up throughout the canyon, mixing artificial fog with the natural."
"I see."
Kang Ho-baek circulated his internal energy, using his enhanced vision to survey the terrain. The formations set up by the Black Night Palace surely had purposes beyond just creating fog and obscuring vision.
Given that outsiders were entering Onya Valley, it was likely that some of the formation’s functions had been deactivated.
"Even if their base is exposed, launching a direct attack would incur heavy losses."
Not just Kang Ho-baek, but the Righteous Heaven Unit Scout and late-stage foundation level disciples also strove to memorize Onya Valley’s layout.
As they proceeded, the thick fog gradually lifted until it disappeared entirely. The demonic warriors guiding them finally stopped.
"This is the Black Night Palace."
< Just as martial arts have no end, so too does this martial arts world. > End
< Come down here. >