147
Chapter 147: The Current Hwasan Sect Has No Problems At All.
"Where is the Shadow Emperor?"
Mu Hwi's eyes, glaring down at the old man, emitted a chilling, blue-tinged light.
"Kheuk."
The Sim-myeong Sword piercing the old man's left hand slowly twisted, and the old man let out a groan. Yet, his stubborn gaze showed no intention of answering.
"Kill him."
"Very well."
At Mu Hwi's decisive reply, the old man's eyes widened. The old man opened his mouth to speak, but the Sim-myeong Sword had already sliced through his throat.
Mu Hwi had never expected much from the start.
He didn’t believe that those who weren’t even the Shadow Emperor’s closest subordinates would know his whereabouts. Without hesitation, Mu Hwi pulled out the Sim-myeong Sword and beheaded the old man before raising his head.
Mu Hwi scanned the Hwasan Sect disciples fighting against the Shadow Society around him. Most of those in his sight were not the Plum Blossom Swordsmen but ordinary disciples.
The Shadow Society’s martial artists were a haphazardly assembled group, regardless of their sect or martial arts background. Yet, their skill levels were considerable, not to be underestimated.
But the Shadow Society’s martial artists were stumbling backward, overwhelmed by the Hwasan Sect disciples’ momentum.
The Shadow Society’s prepared schemes had failed, and the rapid slaughter of their experts by Mu Hwi had also played a significant role.
Clang!
Two Shadow Society martial artists were ganging up on a first-generation disciple, but the swirling Plum Blossom Swords rained down in dozens of strikes, pushing them back instead.
Each sword shadow slashed in a different direction, blooming like flowers, forcing the two Shadow Society martial artists onto the defensive. It was an exquisite display of swordsmanship.
"Haap!"
With a shout, the first-generation disciple leaned slightly to the right and unleashed the Twenty-Four Hands Plum Blossom Sword Technique, simultaneously cutting down the Shadow Society martial artists.
"Ah!"
"Kuhk!"
The dazzling swordplay, shifting six times in an instant, left the Shadow Society martial artists unable to react properly.
Crash!
At the heavy metallic sound from the side, Mu Hwi turned his head. It was the sound of a Plum Blossom Sword blocking an iron staff swung by a Shadow Society martial artist.
A second-generation disciple twisted his waist and sword in perfect alignment to deflect the staff’s force, then smoothly rotated his body to the left, closing the distance into the martial artist’s guard.
The Twenty-Four Hands Plum Blossom Sword Technique unfolded right before the enemy’s eyes. In an instant, the chest and thigh were slashed, but the cuts were shallow—the Shadow Society martial artist endured the pain and swung his iron staff down toward the disciple’s head.
It seemed like both would perish together. Then, Mu Hwi’s robe fluttered.
Swoosh!
In an instant, Mu Hwi crossed the space and cleaved the iron staff, aiming for the disciple’s head, simultaneously splitting the martial artist’s upper body in half.
The Shadow Society martial artist collapsed without even a scream, still in his attacking stance.
Recognizing Mu Hwi’s back, which had appeared as if from the ground, the second-generation disciple shouted.
"Senior Disciple!"
"You deflected the staff well. But you still hesitated when closing the distance."
Mu Hwi nodded toward the ground, and the disciple checked the footprints he had left while stepping into the enemy’s guard.
The depth of the footprints in the dirt was shallower than usual, meaning he hadn’t committed fully.
"Still, you did well. Experience will solve that."
"Thank you, Senior Disciple."
The disciple bowed to Mu Hwi before immediately darting off to aid his fellow disciples. Mu Hwi watched him go, observing the other Hwasan Sect disciples in battle.
The Hwasan Sect disciples who weren’t Plum Blossom Swordsmen.
Though inferior to the Plum Blossom Swordsmen, they were far from weak. As if to prove it, their Plum Blossom Swords were fierce and unhesitating as they pushed back the Shadow Society martial artists.
Vibrant plum blossoms bloomed across the once-dense forest of Soyeong Mountain, their fresh fragrance spreading.
A cluster of plum blossoms swallowed the incoming sword energy and palm strikes, while scattered petals of sword energy painted countless red lines on the Shadow Society martial artists’ skin.
"Keuuk!"
"Fall back—"
"Behind us are the Plum Blossom Swordsmen and those beggars from the Beggar Sect! Where can we retreat?!"
Some Shadow Society martial artists tried to flee the Hwasan Sect’s onslaught, but there was no escaping the disciples who dashed forward with the Dark Scent Flutter.
"Press them without rest!"
"They’re evil bastards! Show no mercy."
While Mu Hwi and the Plum Blossom Swordsmen had ventured into the martial arts world, building their reputations, the disciples who remained on the Hwasan hadn’t been idle—they proved it with their swords.
The new training methods Mu Hwi established, centered on the Meihui Pavilion, were open not just to the Plum Blossom Swordsmen but to all Hwasan Sect disciples. With effort, anyone could achieve mastery.
The result was this overwhelming dominance in battle.
Not a fleeting moment of brilliance, but steady training that nurtured disciples into true masters. This was how a sect’s prosperity grew without decline.
This was the fundamental condition of a renowned sect.
The Hwasan Sect, now with a solid system, had just begun its ascent.
"Not bad at all."
Until now, the likes of Mu Hwi, the Hwasan Sword Saint, and the Plum Blossom Swordsmen had proven the sect’s peak strength. Now, it was time to confirm the backbone—the middle ranks.
In some ways, this middle layer was the most crucial. Without a solid foundation, no sect could maintain its strength and prosperity, no matter how many top experts it had.
Watching the Hwasan Sect’s complete dominance over the Shadow Society, Mu Hwi was certain.
Even if they clashed head-on with the Paewangseon’s forces advancing from western Shaanxi, the Hwasan Sect wouldn’t yield an inch.
"The current Hwasan Sect has no problems at all."
Mu Hwi muttered to himself and raised the Sim-myeong Sword again.
***
Swish!
A skin-prickling sound of splitting air accompanied arrows flying past Mujin’s face. Some flew straight, while others twisted unnaturally mid-air, their trajectories constantly shifting.
Yet Mujin didn’t even blink, swinging his sword relentlessly. His eyes and legs didn’t move—only the Plum Blossom Sword trembled ceaselessly, blooming flowers in the air.
Thud-thud-thud!
After deflecting four arrows aimed at his chest in succession, Mujin swung his sword wide, unleashing the Plum Blossom Guides the Way technique.
Sword shadows surged like waves from the tip of the Winter Plum Sword. Amidst the icy sword energy, plum blossoms began blooming one by one.
The arrows flying from all directions lost their momentum. Some were split in half by the blossoms, while others veered off course from the scattered petals.
No matter how varied the arrows’ trajectories, they were useless against the ever-blooming sword shadows.
Only Mujin’s Plum Blossom Sword advanced unerringly along the path of the Twenty-Four Hands.
"Now!"
As Mujin shouted, having cleared a path by deflecting dozens of arrows, Mu-cheol and Mu-hwa behind him sprang forward.
More arrows flew, but Mu-cheol unleashed sword winds and energy, perfectly covering Mujin and Mu-hwa. Thanks to this, the two closed the distance to the Black Night Palace archers significantly.
Whoosh!
A streak of blue light shot toward them.
The arrow, infused with internal energy and spinning fiercely, emitted a terrifying sound as it split the air. Just hearing it was enough to send shivers down one’s spine.
Seeing the arrow’s monstrous destructive power, Mujin stepped forward, his massive frame shielding Mu-hwa.
Raising his colossal Winter Plum Sword, Mujin drew a thick purple line in the air. Three overlapping sword slashes released a massive sword wind.
Iron Plum Sword Technique: Iron Companion’s Line.
Boom!
The sword and arrow collided, a deafening explosion toppling nearby trees.
"Hmm!"
Despite cleanly deflecting the arrow head-on, the impact felt like cleaving solid rock. Mujin’s calves bulged with strain.
Tszzt-tzzt!
Overhead, a different kind of splitting sound erupted—like dozens of birds chirping at once.
Countless arrows rained down like a storm.
Mujin flipped his sword to block with its broad surface, but by then, Mu-hwa had already stepped on his shoulder and soared into the sky.
"I’ll handle it!"
Mu-hwa’s Plum Blossom Sword, glowing purple, bent as if about to break before rebounding, unleashing dozens of slashes in a circular bloom.
Slash-slash-slash!
Based on the Six Harmonies’ Thirty-Six Directions, countless purple dots pierced the air. Between these dots, new ones appeared, filling the sky.
The sword’s sharp energy, combined with the Purple Sunset Mind Technique’s petals, began piercing the arrow rain. With the Falling Plum Becomes technique, Mu-hwa created a purple downpour with her sword, perfectly splitting every single arrow.
Amidst the bisected arrows, Mu-hwa fluttered her sleeves alone.
Flipping mid-air, Mu-hwa called out.
"Senior Disciple Mujin!"
At the call, Mujin lowered his stance, channeling power into his right thigh and calf before stomping with his left foot.
Crash!
The kick, infused with his full strength, launched toward Mu-hwa, who landed lightly on Mujin’s foot like a bird.
The combined force of Mujin’s kick and Mu-hwa’s rebound created a perfect synergy, sending Mu-hwa shooting through the air like an arrow into the forest.
"Gasp!"
The Black Night Palace archers, who had been sniping from afar, were stunned to see Mu-hwa flying toward them like a cannonball.
They scrambled to retreat, but Mu-hwa’s speed was overwhelming—the distance closed in an instant.
Thud!
Turning into a streak of light, Mu-hwa cut down one archer. The archer tried blocking with her bow, but it was futile.
The bow split in half, and so did the archer’s chest.
"Damn it!"
"Fall back!"
The remaining two archers panicked and tried fleeing with their movement techniques.
Black Night Palace archers excelled at creating distance—their survival and victory depended on it. But their opponent was Mu-hwa.
Mu-hwa stepped on a branch as if with full force, yet the branch didn’t even tremble. Meanwhile, she fluttered through the air like a butterfly.
Among the Plum Blossom Swordsmen, none could match Mu-hwa’s movement techniques. Escaping her was hopeless.
Unlike the Black Night Palace archers, who flailed wildly to dodge branches, Mu-hwa drifted through the forest like the scent of plum blossoms.
"Annoying me from afar with endless arrows—where do you think you’re going?"
Mu-hwa’s voice, cheerful yet merciless, came from right behind them. The archers froze in terror.
With the Dark Scent Flutter, Mu-hwa stabbed the second archer in the back on her second step and slashed the last one’s chest on her fifth.
"Mu-hwa, did you get them all?"
As Mu-hwa descended from the trees after killing the three archers, Mujin and Mu-cheol caught up.
"Yes, Mujin, Senior Disciple. The others won’t be hit by arrows now."
"Well done."
As Mujin nodded, three trees across from them toppled simultaneously.
A Black Night Palace archer burst through. His white uniform’s shoulder was stained red, as if slashed.
Unlike the archer, who fled in panic, Hyeon Baek followed leisurely, flicking blood off his Plum Blossom Sword.
"Phew. With the Hwasan Sword Saint’s rising fame lately, I didn’t realize the Hwasan Sect had more than just him."
"You underestimated the Hwasan Sect, Senior."
The archer forced a bitter smile, seeing Hyeon Baek’s unshaken breathing despite the shoulder slash.
When the middle-aged first-generation disciple had tried to block him, he’d laughed and drawn his bowstring, never expecting this.
The archer shook his head, noticing the Hwasan Sect’s Four Flowers behind him.
"Your disciples got ahead of me? They shouldn’t be at the level to lose to late-stage foundation level disciple."
"Those kids have long surpassed that stage. Don’t underestimate them."
Hyeon Baek’s voice brimmed with pride as he raised his sword resolutely.
"Hmm."
The archer sighed, looking at his bow, split in half by Hyeon Baek. Abandoning it, he charged with palm techniques.
For a peak expert of Black Night Palace, his palm skills were formidable, but no match for Hyeon Baek’s swordsmanship.
In under twenty exchanges, the archer’s body was riddled with fresh cuts.
The Hwasan Four Flowers didn’t interfere, only positioning themselves to block escape routes as they watched.
***
While the Hwasan Sect swiftly advanced toward Jongnam Sect after countering the Shadow Society’s ambush, the Paewangseong forces also broke through Jongnam’s defenses and reached the mountain.
Ghost Whip King, surveying Jongnam’s terrain from afar, smirked.
"Reminds me of Mount Ami. Burning Ami was fun—Jongnam will be just as satisfying."
Before coming to Shaanxi, he had killed the Ami Sect Leader and burned their mountain, forcing them into seclusion.
"Deployment is complete."
At his subordinate’s report, Ghost Whip King nodded. After sweeping aside the annoying Martial Alliance and Jongnam’s outer forces, only destroying the sect remained.
"Let the men rest with meat and wine. We ascend Jongnam in four hours."
"Yes!"
Ghost Whip King’s murderous eyes gleamed as they reflected Jongnam’s majestic peaks.