164
Chapter 164: In the Name of the Hwasan Sect, We Will Issue a Challenge.
Mu Hwi strolled through the Hwasan Sect's grounds, wearing the new plum-blossom-embroidered robe that Im Su-ryeon had sent him.
After the decisive battle in Sacheon, Mu Hwi and the other Plum Blossom Swordsmen had returned to Hwasan to enjoy a long-awaited rest.
By Mu Hwi's side stood Mujin, keeping him company.
"I see. Teaching others truly seems twice as difficult as training alone," Mujin remarked as they walked together, asking Mu Hwi for advice on instructing disciples.
Given that Mu Hwi had played a significant role in nurturing the second-generation disciples to this level, Mujin sought guidance from him rather than the first-generation disciples.
"I pushed my disciples to their limits, but you don’t need to go that far. There’s no definitive right way to teach," Mu Hwi replied.
"But that doesn’t mean you can just be gentle all the time, right?"
"True. But even if you teach everyone the same way, you still need to pay attention to the finer details for each disciple. After all, everyone is different."
For example, among the second-generation disciples, Muryun thrived when praised and encouraged, while Musang needed to be pushed to his limits to keep him from overthinking.
Since each person was different, it was crucial for the teacher to understand their nature and guide them accordingly.
"Your ability to assess your disciples will naturally improve as you teach more of them," Mu Hwi said.
Mujin smiled.
"Thinking about it, even though you suddenly took charge of training, you still taught the disciples properly."
"Of course. I’m the Senior Disciple. So, have you made up your mind?"
"Yes. I’ve already spoken to Elder Baek Chun. I told him I want to learn the duties of the Spring Plum Hall."
Lately, Mujin had been frequenting the Spring Plum Hall, showing interest in teaching and nurturing future disciples. He often sought Mu Hwi’s advice on instructing disciples.
"What do you think of the third-generation disciples?"
"There are many promising talents like Myeong San, Myeong-yeong, and Myeong-am. If raised well, they might surpass us."
"Oh? Is that so?"
Mujin then went on at length about several third-generation disciples he had his eye on, as if he had already mentally marked them.
Seeing this, Mu Hwi sensed Mujin’s genuine dedication to the Spring Plum Hall.
"It seems you don’t plan to take on a personal disciple even when you become a first-generation disciple."
Taking on a personal disciple was at the discretion of a first-generation disciple. However, those who worked in the Spring Plum Hall traditionally did not take personal disciples.
"Probably not. Being in the Spring Plum Hall means I’ll have to pay attention to many disciples rather than just one," Mujin answered without hesitation, as if his mind was already made up.
"I can’t even imagine the others taking on disciples later."
"Haha. I feel the same."
As they conversed, Mu Hwi and Mujin simultaneously turned their heads. The grass in the direction of their gaze rustled, and Muho burst out from within.
Muho had evidently been roaming the mountains—his clothes were stained with dirt and grass.
Mu Hwi looked at his dirt-covered hands and the herb pouch hanging from his waist and asked,
"What’s this? Did you go herb gathering?"
"Elder Baek Jin asked me to collect these herbs," Muho replied, opening the pouch to show the contents.
"Looks like you went deep into the mountains. Be careful. No matter how skilled you are in martial arts, Hwasan’s terrain is treacherous."
"Of course, Senior Mujin."
Mu Hwi examined the variety of herbs and asked,
"Do you know all the herbs you’ve gathered here?"
Muho puffed out his chest confidently.
"Of course, Senior Disciple. I’ve been studying herbology diligently lately."
Recently, Muho had been training in both martial arts and medicine. Having always been interested in medicine, he busily moved between the Plum Blossom Pavilion and the Medical Pavilion.
Fortunately, he showed talent in medicine, and Baek Jin was teaching him with the intention of making him the next Head of the Medical Pavilion.
Come to think of it, Muho had often been the first to tend to the Plum Blossom Swordsmen’ injuries.
"Senior Disciple, Senior Mujin, I should get going now. I only stepped out briefly while the decoction was brewing."
"Alright. Take care."
Mujin gestured for him to go ahead.
As Muho turned to leave, he paused and asked Mu Hwi,
"Senior Disciple, we’re gathering tonight, right?"
"Yes."
"Understood."
With that, Muho swiftly dashed away using the Dark Scent Flutter. Watching his retreating figure, Mu Hwi chuckled.
"The Medical Pavilion huh... That kid who couldn’t even properly execute the Six Harmonies Sword is now finding his own path."
While some second-generation disciples remained solely dedicated to martial arts, many, like Mujin and Muho, had found their calling in different branches, learning from elders and first-generation disciples.
"Time has flown by so quickly."
"It has."
When Mu Hwi first met the second-generation disciples, they were all still young and immature. But now, time had passed, and many had matured, showing the demeanor of adults.
"Shall we head out as well?"
"Yes, Senior Disciple."
Mu Hwi and Mujin flew deep into Hwasan’s forests to prepare for the feast that would come after sunset.
When Mu Hwi returned with a wild boar slung over his shoulder and Mujin carrying two deer, all the second-generation disciples had already gathered.
Tonight, they had agreed to meet for a light drinking party.
"Wow! A wild boar! It’s huge!"
"Most creatures living in Hwasan tend to be big."
Meanwhile, Muho examined the antlers on the deer Mujin had brought with keen interest.
"These would make great medicinal ingredients. Senior Mujin, may I take these antlers to the Medical Pavilion?"
"Hmm. Go ahead."
"Elder Baek Jin will be pleased."
Thud!
Mu Hwi dropped the boar to the ground and looked at the disciples.
"You’ve prepared the alcohol, right?"
"Of course! We scoured the taverns in Hwaeum for the best stuff. But please call it grain tea, not alcohol, Senior Disciple."
Musang, who was in charge of procuring alcohol along with Mu-hwa, showed the bottles they had gathered under the shade of a tree.
"Alcohol or grain tea, it’s all the same."
Mu Hwi’s eyes narrowed as he surveyed the second-generation disciples gathered in the courtyard.
"That guy isn’t even a disciple of Hwasan. Why is he here? Who invited him?"
At Mu Hwi’s words, all eyes turned to one person—Dokgo Yul.
Dokgo Yul let out an awkward laugh. Seeing this, Mu-hwa subtly stepped in front of him, placing her hands on her hips.
"I invited him. Since it’s a fun gathering, I thought it’d be nice to have brother Dokgo here too."
Mu Hwi shook his head.
"Do as you please."
"Hehe. Brother Dokgo, just enjoy yourself now."
"Haha... Thank you."
Dokgo Yul glanced at Mu Hwi’s expression before nodding at Mu-hwa. The two seemed to be in perfect sync already.
Mu Hwi found Mu-hwa’s clinginess toward Dokgo Yul irritating but chose to ignore it.
Mu Hwi glared at the boar and two deer in front of him, then gripped his sword control device.
Whoosh!
A brief sword hum later, three pre-prepared skinning daggers floated in the air.
"Whoa!"
"It’s moving!"
"So this is how the Sword Flight looks!"
The second-generation disciples, who had been chatting among themselves, focused intently as Mu Hwi activated the Sword Flight by Qi.
As Mu Hwi’s sword control device moved slightly, the three daggers flew toward their targets, slicing through hides and preparing the meat.
‘Three swords are still difficult.’
Mu Hwi had been training diligently to master the Sword Flight.
He practiced both refining the precision of a single Sword Flight by Qi and increasing the number of swords he could control simultaneously.
Controlling three daggers at once was part of that training.
Slice!
The disciples watched in awe as the daggers, guided by the Sword Flight by Qi, cleanly skinned and prepared the meat.
"Wow... I never thought I’d see the Sword Flight used for butchering."
"You won’t see this anywhere else in the world."
For now, it was still too much to split his internal energy into three ways to emit sword energy or execute sword techniques while controlling three Sword Flight.
His current goal was simply to move the swords swiftly and cleanly, as if wielding them by hand.
Just then, Muryun took charge.
"The Senior Disciple will finish soon, so everyone, get ready to start the fire."
At Muryun’s direction, the disciples, who had been staring blankly at the Sword Flight by Qi, began bustling about.
Meanwhile, the boar and deer were quickly dismantled under the Sword Flight by Qi’s guidance.
Mu Hwi stared at the extended sword control device, lost in thought.
‘I’ve already achieved Divine Sword Unity. Now that my will naturally flows with my sword energy, do I even need the sword control device to use the Sword Flight by Qi?’
He pondered deeply about the Sword Flight by Qi.
‘What exactly is the difference between Hand-Guided Sword and Mind-Guided Sword? Originally, swords are meant to be wielded by hand. Does the Hand-Guided Sword realm exist as a bridge to close the gap for beginners learning the Sword Flight by Qi?’
Perhaps it was a matter of mindset.
It might have been a perceptual issue for swordsmen accustomed to relying on their hands.
"Hmm."
Suddenly, Mu Hwi wondered if the boundary between Hand-Guided Sword and Mind-Guided Sword wasn’t an insurmountable wall but rather a nonexistent one.
‘Is it just prejudice?’
The purple glow at the tip of his sword control device faded. Mu Hwi lowered his hand onto his lap.
The three daggers controlled by the Sword Flight by Qi hesitated for a moment but soon resumed their smooth movements.
Mu Hwi’s hand remained on his lap.
‘I see. The Mind-Guided Sword truly is a matter of the heart. It changes based on how I think.’
The Sword Flight by Qi was such an advanced technique that he had mistakenly assumed it required some profound realization or special reason.
‘It seems simple and easy at first glance, but a single misstep could leave you stuck for life. It’s difficult. When your thoughts become confined, your mind naturally follows.’
With this shift in mindset, Mu Hwi’s Sword Flight by Qi began moving with even greater vitality, as if an invisible hand were guiding the daggers.
‘Now I’ve truly stepped into the realm of the Sword Flight.’
By the time Mu Hwi gained this insight, the meat had already been perfectly prepared.
He then sprinkled various spices he had hidden in the cottage and began roasting the meat in sections.
"Wow! This is delicious!"
"Senior Disciple, have you been keeping this to yourself all this time?"
"Hehe. I was lucky enough to taste it once before."
Mu-hwa puffed up proudly as she chewed on the meat.
"Oh? There was such a time?"
As Dokgo Yul showed interest, Mu-hwa chattered away, recounting the story. The surrounding second-generation disciples also listened intently.
Mu Hwi drank and ate alongside his gathered disciples.
"Muryun, I haven’t seen you much at the training grounds lately."
At Mu Hwi’s question, Muryun smiled wryly.
"Ah. I’ve been stuck in the Finance Pavilion these days. Elder Baek San and Elder Disciple Hyeon Baek keep dragging me there, saying I belong in finance."
"Money and numbers must be tough. Are you managing?"
"Yes. It’s alright. My meticulous personality actually shines in the Finance Pavilion."
The other disciples laughed at Muryun’s joke.
"Senior Disciple, my wrist feels like it’s about to fall off."
Musan groaned while holding his right wrist after drinking.
"And why is that?"
"I got tricked by Elder Disciple Hyeon Baek into going to the Scripture Pavilion, where I’ve been copying martial manuals all day."
"You always loved reading manuals. Isn’t this perfect for you?"
Musan shook his head with a disgusted expression.
"No way. Reading and writing manuals are completely different."
Starting with Muryun and Musan, the disciples began competitively sharing their grievances.
Such conversations were inevitable at drinking gatherings. Listening quietly, Mu Hwi finally spoke.
"You’re not using exhaustion or lack of time as excuses to slack off in training, are you?"
His sharp gaze swept over the disciples, causing some to choke on their drinks and wave their hands frantically.
"W-what? Of course not, Senior Disciple!"
"Absolutely not!"
Even the usually silent Mu-cheol chimed in.
"Many of the disciples have been waking up earlier than usual to train."
"As they should."
Mu Hwi looked at the disciples before him and smiled faintly.
"Somehow, I can picture the future elder council with us at its core decades from now."
The other disciples laughed along.
"That’s true. Senior Disciple Muryun as the Master of Finance Pavilion, Senior Disciple Musan as the Master of Scripture Pavilion... It’s amusing to imagine."
"And the Sect Leader will be the Senior Disciple. Ugh."
As Musang groaned at the end of his sentence, Mu Hwi’s gaze turned toward him.
"Musang, what was that last part supposed to mean?"
"N-nothing, Senior Disciple. Your cup is empty."
"Hahaha!"
The second-generation disciples burst into laughter at Musang’s antics. Their drinking party lasted well into the night.
A warm breeze rustled through the trees around the cottage.
***
Baek Yu folded the letter and looked at the middle-aged man before him.
One of the Three Pillars of the Guyu Sect, the Narak Division Head. The Narak Division Head stood with his arms crossed, calmly waiting for Baek Yu to speak.
"I found it strange that the Narak Division Head of the Guyu Sect would personally visit our main sect, but now you bring such news."
The Narak Division Head met Baek Yu’s gaze squarely.
"Surely the Hwasan Sect does not intend to refuse."
Just as Baek Yu was about to respond, a clamor erupted outside—the sounds of first and second-generation disciples training. Loud shouts and occasional laughter could be heard.
Hearing this, Baek Yu smirked and looked at the Narak Division Head.
He nodded and spoke.
"Very well. The Hwasan Sect accepts the Guyu Sect’s challenge as one of the Three Great Sects of the martial arts world. In the name of the Hwasan Sect, we will issue a challenge to the martial arts world."