165
Chapter 165: Welcome in Your Own Way
The Three Great Sects of the World (天下三大劍門).
Among the countless sword sects in the world, these three stood above the rest. Merely having one's name listed among them was an immense honor.
Before this honor, the distinction between righteousness and evil held no meaning—only the sword decided the outcome.
Countless sword sects drew their blades to claim this honor, and over time, a tradition took root in the martial arts world.
Swordsmen vying for the prestige of their sects would engage in duels, with each sect selecting a set number of participants to compete. The victors were decided under the watchful eyes of numerous sword sects.
This gathering came to be known as the World Sword Discourse Tournament (天下論劍大會), where the world's greatest swordsmen convened to discuss the sword.
Through this tradition, the Three Great Sects saw many names rise and fall.
Currently, they are the Wudang Sect, the Hwasan Sect, and the Namgung Family.
These three were now recognized as the Three Great Sects.
"Hmm. The World Sword Discourse Tournament... It's been a while."
Namgung Heo, the head of the Namgung Family, stroked his chin as he read the invitation sent by the Hwasan Sect.
Namgung Gak, who had been silently observing from the side, asked,
"Father, we will attend, of course?"
"Indeed. As one of the Three Great Sects, it would be absurd for our family not to participate."
Whenever the World Sword Discourse Tournament was held in the past, the other Great Sects had always attended without fail. This time would be no different.
"It’s been so long since the world’s finest swordsmen last gathered."
"I’m truly looking forward to it. Will it be held at the Hwasan Sect?"
Namgung Gak was excited at the thought of seeing the Hwasan disciples, including Mu Hwi, after so long.
After the Heavenly Martial Competition, Namgung Gak, having been greatly inspired, immediately went into seclusion for training and had only recently emerged.
"No. It’s the Guyu Sect. Between the Hwasan Sect and the Guyu Sect, the latter has the highest-ranked master, so they will host."
The World Sword Discourse Tournament was held at the sect with the highest-ranked master, regardless of who issued the challenge.
Namgung Heo’s eyes lingered on the title Guyu Sword Emperor written on the invitation.
‘I thought he had passed away like my father after all these years without news, but it seems not. I wonder how much stronger that old monster has become.’
Setting down the invitation, Namgung Heo turned to Namgung Gak.
"Gak. Will you go as well?"
"Of course."
"Our family is one of the Three Great Sects. As the young master of the Namgung Family, you will face countless challenges. Can you handle it? If you’re careless, your reputation may suffer."
While some swordsmen attended simply to observe duels and broaden their horizons, many others saw this as an opportunity to challenge the Hwasan Sect and the other Great Sects separately.
After all, chances to challenge the Three Great Sects were rare.
Seeing Namgung Heo’s serious expression, Namgung Gak pondered for a moment before nodding firmly.
"While I was in seclusion, my friends, including the Six Dragons, made names for themselves with the Small Righteous Assembly. I will prove that I, too, have not been idle."
"Good. Go forth and uphold the name of the Namgung Family with pride."
Having accepted the invitation, the Namgung Family immediately began preparations to depart for the Guyu Sect. The journey from Anhui to Shaanxi, where the Guyu Sect was located, was quite long.
"Come at me!"
"Haaap!"
The sharp clang of steel erupted repeatedly across the Hwasan Sect’s grand training grounds.
Every time two Plum Blossom Swords clashed, petals of sword energy scattered around them.
With each exchange, the intense shockwaves prevented the petals from settling, sending them swirling endlessly into the air.
Kwaaaang!
Baek Soon, who had blocked Mu-cheol’s Plum Blossom Sword, let out an admiring sigh as he felt the numbing force of the Iron Plum Sword Technique.
It was no longer as easy as during the qualification test to deflect Mu-cheol’s strikes.
Baek Soon bent his knees to stabilize his stance and extended his sword to redirect Mu-cheol’s slash.
At the same time, his twisted blade rose diagonally, unleashing fourteen consecutive variations.
Mu-cheol quickly retreated, took a deep breath, and then swung his sword down vertically with immense force.
Rather than countering each variation individually, he chose to shatter them all at once.
In that instant, Mu-cheol’s eyes saw the optimal sword path—and as his blade aligned with it, he felt his sword extend smoother and faster than ever before.
Baek Soon’s eyes crinkled slightly at the sight of that slash.
The Iron Plum Sword Technique’s bold strike disrupted the chain of the Tri-Petal Plum Blossom Sword’s techniques. Baek Soon, who had intended to press Mu-cheol with another move, had to steady his breath and take a step back.
‘Impressive!’
That slash had transcended perfection, stepping into another realm.
Mu-cheol himself seemed to sense the unusual resonance of his technique, his face momentarily blank.
To help him maintain this newfound sensation, Baek Soon sent a sword wind toward his solar plexus.
Snapping back to focus, Mu-cheol countered with his own sword wind.
Paang!
The gust twisted Baek Soon’s beard, but within that disarray, a faint smile could be seen.
‘If this continues, he’ll soon break through the wall of perfection.’
Baek Soon had been astonished when he heard Mujin had reached the pinnacle of mastery.
But now, Mu-cheol and Mu-hwa were fiercely chasing Mujin’s footsteps.
The three disciples, who had been called the Three Flowers since childhood for their exceptional talent, had grown to this extent without anyone realizing.
‘Now I truly have nothing to worry about. The Hwasan Sect, led by these children, will shine even brighter.’
While Baek Soon fiercely sparred with Mu-cheol, the other elders were also engaged in duels with Plum Blossom Swordsmen.
The reputation of the Plum Blossom Swordsmen now soared to the heavens.
Their exploits across countless battlefields had showcased their might to the entire world.
The swordsmen who represented Hwasan—the Plum Blossom Swordsmen.
Now, the martial arts world knows their glorious name.
‘These kids!’
‘I can tell how much they’ve struggled since descending the mountain.’
The elders, now crossing blades with the Plum Blossom Swordsmen, realized that even first- and second-generation disciples were no easy opponents.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
As if to emphasize this, the metallic clashes and sword cries echoing across the training grounds were both exhilarating and thrilling.
The World Sword Discourse Tournament, born from the Guyu Sect’s challenge, was a clash of the strongest from each sect.
Not just one or two masters representing their sects—this was a gathering where the elites of each sect collided.
Now, the Plum Blossom Swordsmen, the undisputed representatives of Hwasan’s might, along with some elders, would step onto this stage.
Thus, the entire Hwasan Sect poured their efforts into training.
Even the sect leader, Baek Yu, devoted only the bare minimum time to administrative duties, focusing instead on cultivation.
‘Six months from now.’
Mu Hwi watched the Hwasan disciples training.
Considering the time it would take for the invitations to spread across the martial arts world and for swordsmen to arrive at the Guyu Sect, six months was the earliest possible date.
Baek Yu had initially thought a year would be needed, but the Guyu Sect stubbornly insisted on six months, suggesting they were already fired up. Thus, Hwasan agreed.
‘We must draw out our full potential.’
Not only Mu-cheol and Mu-hwa, who were on the verge of the pinnacle, but many other Plum Blossom Swordsmen—and even some elders—showed room for growth.
Perhaps inspired by the younger disciples’ progress, the elders trained with unprecedented fervor.
Though they had yielded many responsibilities to the younger generation due to sect affairs, the elders proved that, despite their age, they were still martial artists at heart.
Mu Hwi rotated among them, ensuring Hwasan’s strength grew greater with each passing day.
"Mu Hwi. Are you ready?"
"Of course, Sect Leader."
As he spoke, two Plum Blossom Swords floated into the air beside him. A vivid purple sword energy coalesced around the blades, shimmering in the air.
Yet, Mu Hwi kept his back turned, his attention fixed on the disciples’ duels.
Only the two Plum Blossom Swords, contrary to his gaze, were aimed at Baek Yu.
"Hmm."
Though it was merely the swords’ intent directed at him, Baek Yu felt a suffocating pressure.
‘It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this.’
Having spent most of his time on Hwasan since becoming Sect Leader, this combat-like sensation felt almost foreign now.
‘But it’s good.’
The sharp sword energy stung his skin, and the faint killing intent sharpened his senses.
He had deliberately asked Mu Hwi for this to reawaken his old instincts—and it was thoroughly satisfying.
It felt like his blood was boiling, just like when he roamed the martial arts world in his youth.
‘With the disciples working so hard, I can’t afford to embarrass myself as the Sect Leader.’
As Baek Yu slowly drew his sword, the two floating swords shot toward him like lightning.
One followed the Twenty-Four Hands Plum Blossom Sword Technique, while the other moved with the Seven Petals Plum Blossom Sword’s path.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Baek Yu’s robes fluttered violently as he stepped into the Dark Scent Flutter.
He deflected the Twenty-Four Hands Plum Blossom Sword Technique with his Radiant Plum Blossom Sword and used his left hand to execute the Plum Blossom Scattering Hand, redirecting the Seven Petals Sword’s rapid strikes in the six directions.
Baek Yu’s mastery of the Plum Blossom Scattering Hand appeared to be at the peak level, proving that even as Sect Leader, he had never neglected his martial training.
"Ha!"
With a short shout, Baek Yu repelled both floating swords simultaneously and began to bloom a delicate plum blossom in the air.
---
Zichang, Shaanxi
Located at the northern edge of Shaanxi, this was where the Guyu Sect resided. The sect’s gates, usually tightly shut, now stood wide open.
A long line of people waited to enter, all of them carrying swords at their waists or on their backs.
"I wonder if the Three Great Sects will change this time."
"Wouldn’t that be difficult? The Hwasan Sect’s reputation is sky-high now. The old Hwasan Sect might have been different, but not the current one."
"But the Guyu Sect must know that. Besides, the Guyu Sword Emperor, who’s been in seclusion for so long, suddenly reappeared. They must be confident."
"Imagine how sharp his swordsmanship must be after all those years of dedicated training."
As the swordsmen waited their turn to sign the guest register, they exchanged opinions about the upcoming tournament.
Just as the tedium began to set in, the arrival of new swordsmen drew everyone’s attention.
Black robes embroidered with red plum blossoms.
Among them, some wore white cloaks adorned with the same floral motif.
The swordsmen recognized them immediately.
"Plum Blossom Swordsmen!"
"Finally, the Hwasan Sect has arrived."
Their gazes naturally turned toward the elderly man leading the group.
Though he didn’t wear a plum blossom cloak like the others, his robe’s sleeves were embroidered with five plum blossoms.
In the Hwasan Sect, only one person could wear five blossoms on their sleeves—the Sect Leader.
"The Plum Blossom Sword Spirit! So Baek Yu himself has come."
"And the Plum Blossom Sword Sage, Baek Soon, is here too. The Hwasan Sect came prepared."
"This is going to be exciting. The Guyu Sect is arguably the strongest sword sect in the world."
As the crowd murmured the elders’ titles in awe, the Hwasan delegation bypassed the line and strode through the main gate.
"Allow me to guide you."
As a Guyu Sect disciple led them inside, Mu Hwi scanned his surroundings before suddenly looking up.
Atop the tallest eight-story pavilion in the sect, a faint figure stood, barely visible.
But to Mu Hwi, who had reached the Absolute Realm, the figure might as well have been right beside him.
‘Did you come out to welcome us in your own way, Guyu Sword Emperor?’
Despite the distance, Mu Hwi felt their eyes meet.
The Guyu Sword Emperor, sensing this, smiled deeply, his wrinkles creasing. Mu Hwi smirked in return.