185
Chapter 185: Let’s Call It the Hwasan Sword Debate(華山論劍).
Following Zhuge Jin’s strategy, the Martial Alliance succeeded in minimizing casualties and shrinking the frontlines. Meanwhile, the Alliance’s forces gathered in Changsha.
The Black Night Palace advanced northward along the retreating frontlines. As a result, the Sacheon Alliance and the Paewangseong also entered Changsha.
Like an unspoken agreement, the four great sects converged on the Yuelu Plains. Countless martial artists gathered in such numbers that the vast, seemingly endless plains now felt cramped.
Mu Hwi, sensing the endlessly multiplying auras, turned to Zhuge Jin beside him and asked,
“Advisor. What will happen if we clash like this?”
“I’ve prepared several plans, but the Martial Alliance will suffer damage that won’t be easily recovered. And the same goes for the other sects. It’s uncertain whether any one sect will emerge as the clear victor.”
In short, Zhuge Jin’s words meant that no matter the outcome, the entire martial world would suffer immense losses.
Mu Hwi turned his head and looked at the assembled forces of the Martial Alliance.
Among the densely packed martial artists were the disciples of Hwasan, including Baek Yu. The disciples of Mount Shu and Jongnam, Dokgo Yul and Dokgo Hui, and even the Small Righteous Assembly came into view.
The Martial Alliance was clearly outnumbered by their enemies, and with the other two sects’ unpredictable movements, there was a real risk that the Alliance’s fate could end today.
As Mu Hwi observed the crowd, Kang Ho-baek, standing beside him, spoke up.
“Mu Hwi. I will stand at the forefront of the Martial Alliance.”
“You mean to lead the charge, Alliance Leader?”
“It may not be the wisest move for a faction leader. But with you and Senior Sword Immortal here, I can trust the rear to you. If I take the front and rally the Alliance’s morale, we might save even one more life.”
Kang Ho-baek, fiddling with his bamboo hat, couldn’t tear his eyes away from the Yuelu Plains.
Finally turning his gaze, Kang Ho-baek took Mu Hwi’s hand.
“The Paewangseong Lord and the Sacheon Alliance Leader—I’ll handle one of them.”
Mu Hwi felt Kang Ho-baek’s grip tighten on the back of his hand.
It wasn’t just Mu Hwi who had grown.
Perhaps to fulfill his role as Alliance Leader, Kang Ho-baek had also broken through a barrier and reached a higher realm.
Mu Hwi clasped Kang Ho-baek’s hand in return.
“Senior. To prevent meaningless deaths, stopping this demonic conflict would be the best course, wouldn’t it?”
When Mu Hwi’s answer defied expectations, Kang Ho-baek’s eyelids lifted.
“What are you thinking?”
“I’m not sure if it’ll work, but it’s worth a try.”
“Hmm?”
From behind, the Sword Immortal, who had been listening, spoke up.
“Let’s hear it.”
***
Sword Saint. Kang Ho-baek. Sword Immortal.
The three supreme masters overtook the advancing Martial Alliance forces and soared toward the Yuelu Plains.
“Let’s begin.”
“Agreed.”
Whoosh—!
The three supreme masters unleashed powerful waves of energy from their entire bodies, spreading outward in all directions. The surrounding vegetation trembled as if struck by a typhoon, swaying violently.
As the energy waves reached every corner of the Yuelu Plains, the advancing forces of each sect came to a halt one by one.
“They’ve stopped for now.”
Mu Hwi, sensing the shift in the plains’ energy, spoke, and Kang Ho-baek and the Sword Immortal nodded.
“Hmm.”
“Let’s wait and see.”
The energy waves the three had just released were detectable only by supreme masters of the same level. By sending out these waves, they had summoned the supreme masters of each faction.
The fact that each faction’s movements had halted suggested they had all reacted to the energy.
“Old man Sword Immortal. It’s been a while. You didn’t call us here just to exchange greetings before the battle, did you?”
“Sword Immortal. And… Sword Saint.”
The Sacheon Alliance Leader and the Paewangseong Lord were the first to appear, followed by the Palace Lord, who stepped forward leisurely.
“This is the first time we’ve all gathered since the Palace’s founding ceremony. I trust you’ve all been well?”
Kang Ho-baek’s gaze turned icy as he looked at the Palace Lord.
Having already received reports about his disciple, he wanted to draw his sword immediately, but Kang Ho-baek suppressed his killing intent.
“We meet at last. Sword Immortal.”
The Palace Lord smiled amiably and clasped his hands in greeting. The Sword Immortal nodded in return.
“I won’t say it’s a pleasure. Palace Lord.”
“Sword Immortal. Why have you called us here?”
“It wasn’t me who summoned you. It was the Hwasan Sword Saint.”
At the Sword Immortal’s words, the gathered supreme masters turned their attention to Mu Hwi.
“Sword Saint. What reason do you have for summoning us, including myself?”
“No. One person hasn’t arrived yet.”
“Who are you referring to?”
In response to the Paewangseong’s question, Mu Hwi looked toward Mount Yuelu.
“Heukcheon.”
At the mention of Heukcheon, the Palace Lord’s lips twitched. The expressions of the other supreme masters also grew increasingly tense.
“Is my master here?”
“At first, I wasn’t sure. But now, I can sense him clearly.”
“What?”
Ignoring the Palace Lord’s question, Mu Hwi infused his voice with internal energy.
“Heukcheon. Show yourself.”
Mu Hwi’s voice, laden with formidable energy, spread across the Yuelu Plains. Every martial artist on the plains could hear it.
His voice echoed in all directions, overlapping and amplifying into a thunderous resonance.
The technique of Six Harmonies Sound Transmission (六合傳聲).
The reverberations of the Six Harmonies reached even the distant Mount Yuelu at the edge of the plains. When the echoes finally faded—
A rustling sound came from above. As the supreme masters looked up, Heukcheon descended slowly from the sky, his hands clasped behind his back.
The sound of his robes fluttering in the wind.
A sound so ordinary, yet now as threatening as the cold ring of a drawn sword.
The Paewangseong Lord, the Sacheon Alliance Leader, and Kang Ho-baek, who were seeing Heukcheon for the first time, instinctively raised their internal energy. Their entire bodies screamed warnings.
With Heukcheon’s appearance, the atmosphere grew tense, as if they had stepped into the snowy plains of the North Sea.
The air was sharp and cold, as if each breath carried tiny blades.
‘This man…’
Kang Ho-baek felt his skin prickle just from looking at Heukcheon. Realizing his hand had moved toward his sword, he steadied his mind.
“Heukcheon, you’ve come.”
Only the Sword Immortal greeted Heukcheon with ease. Heukcheon tilted his head slightly and looked at Mu Hwi.
“Impressive. You’ve progressed enough to sense my presence.”
The supreme masters’ attention returned to Mu Hwi. They hadn’t even detected Heukcheon’s presence.
That Mu Hwi alone had sensed and summoned Heukcheon left them no choice but to marvel.
“Is this the stage you spoke of?”
At Mu Hwi’s question, Heukcheon surveyed the Yuelu Plains. His eyes took in the four banners.
“If you all fall to me here, it’d be convenient to deal with the rest while they’re gathered in one place.”
No one misunderstood Heukcheon’s meaning.
The Sacheon Alliance Leader’s eyes gleamed with interest, the Paewangseong Lord’s head tilted slightly, and Kang Ho-baek’s grip on his sword tightened.
“Master. Does this dealing with include this disciple?”
Though the Palace Lord smiled faintly as he asked, Heukcheon remained silent. The Palace Lord’s smile twisted further.
Heukcheon observed the gathered supreme masters and spoke.
“But this isn’t what I wanted to see. The Sword Saint has overturned the board entirely.”
“Four sects. Countless martial artists and supreme masters entangled in a chaotic battle to the death—that’s what you wanted, isn’t it?”
As Mu Hwi answered, Heukcheon’s lips curled.
Heukcheon stared at each supreme master one by one.
“Deals. Games. The world. I wanted you to forget the trivialities and clash with nothing but killing intent. Fiercely. Violently. Mercilessly.”
The Sacheon Alliance Leader and the Sword Immortal responded.
“Calling games trivial? Sounds like someone who’s never enjoyed life.”
“The ways of demonic path. The stage you sought to create was a hellish battleground for the martial arts world.”
As Heukcheon’s facial muscles twitched, the Paewangseong Lord spoke.
“And you think you have the right to stand at the end of that hell?”
“Right… If you’re curious, come at me all at once. I’ll accept it.”
Even surrounded by six supreme masters, Heukcheon showed no hesitation.
At his suggestion of a joint attack, a cold glint appeared in the eyes of some.
As the Paewangseong Lord’s manifested internal energy surged violently, Mu Hwi stepped between him and Heukcheon.
“Heukcheon. From my perspective, even your so-called killing intent is trivial. Pure martial prowess alone should suffice—there’s no need to gather the martial world like this.”
“And so?”
At Heukcheon’s question, Mu Hwi looked at the assembled supreme masters.
“Righteous, Demonic, Devilish, and Paewangseong. The supreme masters representing the four sects are gathered here. I propose we create a separate stage where these masters can compete without interference, focusing solely on one thing.”
“And what is that one thing?”
Heukcheon’s lips, now twitching with something resembling emotion, curled further.
“The Greatest Under Heaven (天下第一).”
Silence fell at Mu Hwi’s words. Only Mu Hwi continued, looking around at the supreme masters.
“The one who earns the title of Greatest Under Heaven will gain the right to claim anything they desire. Whatever it may be. As the Hwasan Sword Saint, I propose this to the martial arts world’s supreme masters: gather at Hwasan and compete in the ultimate martial contest. Let us call this gathering the Hwasan Sword Debate (華山論劍).”
The supreme masters fell silent.
The first to break the silence was the Sacheon Alliance Leader.
“Hwasan Sword Debate. Interesting. But why Hwasan?”
“I proposed it, so it’s Hwasan. If you’re dissatisfied, you should’ve suggested it first, Sacheon Alliance Leader.”
“Hmph.”
Aside from the Sacheon Alliance Leader, the others showed little reaction, generally accepting the idea.
A contest to determine the Greatest Under Heaven—every martial artist dreamed of it at least once.
Moreover, a battle between supreme masters was preferable to a chaotic free-for-all involving countless martial artists.
As Mu Hwi gauged their reactions, he turned his head. The most critical figure was Heukcheon. Even if the others agreed, it would be meaningless if Heukcheon refused.
‘What’s this?’
Mu Hwi frowned as he observed Heukcheon’s face. The usually emotionless man was now wearing a faint, amused smile.
“If it began at Hwasan, it’s fitting to end it there as well.”
Muttering to himself, Heukcheon nodded at Mu Hwi.
“Hwasan Sword Debate. I accept. When shall it be?”
Though Mu Hwi couldn’t decipher Heukcheon’s muttering, he answered promptly.
“On the coming Spring Festival.”
The Spring Festival (春節) was the first day of the new year—the martial arts world’s grandest celebration.
“Heh. Splendid. It’ll be the greatest festival of my life.”
The Sacheon Alliance Leader, laughing, was the first to turn away.
“Three months from now, then. See you then.”
As the Sacheon Alliance Leader departed, the Palace Lord bowed to Heukcheon, his smile still twisted.
“Master. Until then. I pray for your health.”
The Palace Lord also left, and the Paewangseong Lord stared at Mu Hwi for a long moment before silently turning away.
Heukcheon, too, seemed ready to leave, darkness creeping up from his feet.
After a moment of staring at Mu Hwi, Heukcheon asked,
“Why propose this?”
“What do you mean?”
“Given your actions until now, I thought you’d seize this chance to eliminate the Sacheon Alliance, Black Night Palace, and Paewangseong at once.”
The Sword Devil of his past life would have thought so. But that Sword Devil was now living as Mu Hwi—and in doing so, had changed.
Because now, he wasn’t the Sword Devil. He was Mu Hwi.
“I prioritized saving lives over taking them.”
As the darkness slowly swallowed him, Heukcheon parted his lips.
“You haven’t saved them yet. You’ve only delayed their deaths.”
His tone was calm, but the unshakable resolve to end the martial world when he chose was palpable.
Once Heukcheon vanished completely into the darkness, Mu Hwi finally let out a deep sigh.
“It’s done.”
Kang Ho-baek also exhaled heavily, then clapped Mu Hwi on the shoulder.
“You’ve accomplished what even the Alliance Leader couldn’t.”
“Now the real work begins.”
At the Sword Immortal’s words, Mu Hwi and Kang Ho-baek nodded.