196
Chapter 196: A Challenge to the Sword God
A man and a woman, both dressed in pure white robes, walked side by side. Each held a candied fruit in their hand, chewing as they strolled.
Xian Zhu glanced up and down at Mu Hwi and nodded in satisfaction.
“I never realized it before since you always wore black, but white suits you too. It makes you look even more dashing, don’t you think?”
“You think so?”
Mu Hwi looked back at Xian Zhu. She was not wearing her usual indigo Jongnam Sect robes but a pristine white palace dress.
Mu Hwi, the undisputed Greatest Under Heaven, and Xian Zhu, who had earned the title of Sword Empress a year ago and ascended to the ranks of the absolute masters.
If these two were to walk around openly in their Hwasan and Jongnam Sect attire, they would undoubtedly draw attention.
Wanting to spend their time quietly, they had changed their clothes. Xian Zhu wore a white palace dress adorned with sky-blue embroidery, while Mu Hwi donned a white robe she had picked out for him.
Mu Hwi’s robe was also embroidered with sky-blue threads, much like Xian Zhu’s dress, making the pair look like a young married couple.
They were a perfect match.
“It’s nice walking together like this. I was surprised when you suddenly suggested we go on a trip.”
“We should do things like this sometimes too.”
At his calm reply, a faint smile spread across Xian Zhu’s face.
She had initially thought they would meet in Xi’an, spend a lighthearted day together, and then part ways. But Mu Hwi had suddenly taken her hand and pulled her along, suggesting they go on a trip.
They had already sent letters to the Hwasan and Jongnam Sects. Following Hyeon Jo last words, Mu Hwi intended to enjoy this life without regrets.
“There are so many fascinating things.”
Xian Zhu held onto Mu Hwi’s arm as she gazed at the street vendors lining the road.
“But why did you want to come to Sichuan?”
“I’ve traveled all over the martial world, but I’ve never set foot in Sichuan before.”
At her bitter smile, Mu Hwi immediately understood the reason.
Sichuan was the territory of the Paewangseong Lord, and the Jongnam Sect had long been in conflict with them. It was only after the Hwasan Sword Debate that the clashes between the Jongnam Sect and the Paewangseong subsided.
Moreover, with the Martial Alliance, the Sacheon Alliance, and the Paewangseong keeping to their respective domains without major movements, the martial arts world had been relatively peaceful lately.
‘Did the Black Night Palace retreat back into the shadows?’
When Mu Hwi and the Martial Alliance’s experts stormed the Black Night Palace territory, they found it already deserted.
Only ashes from the fires and crumbling buildings remained.
After the Hwasan Sword Debate, once it was confirmed that both Heukcheon and the Palace Lord had died, it seemed they had taken precautions in advance.
The three sects had pursued the Black Night Palace but had yet to find even a single lead. By now, the prevailing opinion was that tracking them down would be nearly impossible.
‘No wonder demonic sects keep popping up endlessly.’
And it wasn’t just one type of demonic sect—there were many sects, so it was no surprise that the martial world was always plagued by demonic influences.
As Mu Hwi pondered the demonic sects, his thoughts naturally drifted to the Heavenly Demon (天魔), said to be the founder of the demonic path.
‘The Heavenly Demon…’
The origin of the demonic path. The Great Grandmaster of the Demonic Path. The Heavenly Demon.
To demonic practitioners, regardless of sect, the Heavenly Demon was revered as a god. Throughout martial history, many demonic sects had caused chaos simply to earn recognition as the next Heavenly Demon.
Of course, since the first Heavenly Demon, no one had ever earned that title again.
‘It’s a shame I’ll never get to see what kind of person they were.’
He was curious whether the Heavenly Demon was someone who transcended even Heukcheon’s absurdity.
Suddenly, Xian Zhu tugged at his sleeve, pulling him out of his thoughts.
“Look at that!”
Bang!
Following her gaze, Mu Hwi heard what sounded like an explosion. It turned out to be the sound of a large dough being thrown onto a copper plate.
Drawn by the noise, they approached and were greeted by a rich, sweet aroma.
“It’s Sandapao,” Xian Zhu said, looking at the glutinous rice cakes on the stall.
Sandapao (三大炮), or Three Cannons, got its name from the explosive sound the dough made when thrown against the copper plate. It was a popular Sichuan snack.
Seeing Xian Zhu’s eyes sparkle, Mu Hwi silently opened his coin pouch.
“Hehe.”
Xian Zhu stuffed an entire Sandapao into her mouth, puffing her cheeks as she chewed. Mu Hwi chuckled and took a bite himself.
The chewy texture was complemented by the sweetness of brown sugar and the nutty aroma of sesame and glutinous rice.
After devouring three Sandapao in an instant, Xian Zhu grabbed Mu Hwi’s thick arm and pulled him along.
“Come on. I found a famous inn here. Since we’re in Sichuan, we should enjoy authentic Sichuan cuisine.”
“Hmm.”
“We’ve only had sweets so far—shouldn’t we cleanse our palates?”
Noticing Mu Hwi’s reluctance, Xian Zhu’s fox-like eyes curved into a soft arc.
“What’s wrong? Can’t handle spicy food? Does your face turn red or do you cry when you eat something really spicy?”
At her teasing, Mu Hwi’s smile turned frosty.
“Nonsense. Lead the way.”
“Great!”
The inn Xian Zhu took them to was clearly popular, packed with people on the first and second floors.
“Waiter! The highest floor!”
But Xian Zhu boldly chose the most expensive seating on the top floor. The fifth floor was empty when they arrived.
Moreover, the fifth floor was open on all sides like a watchtower, allowing them to enjoy Sichuan’s scenery while dining. It was worth the price.
After the waiter took their order and left, Mu Hwi and Xian Zhu quietly admired the view.
“This is relaxing.”
“It is.”
Mu Hwi’s gaze lingered on the distant, colorful lights before turning away. The waiter soon returned with their food and wine.
As the dishes were laid out, Mu Hwi momentarily held his breath—the pungent, spicy aroma assaulted his nose.
Xian Zhu stifled a laugh and served him a portion.
“Try this first. It’s not too spicy.”
She gave him Gongbao Jiding (宫保鸡丁), diced chicken with peanuts and chili. Mu Hwi cautiously took a bite and nodded.
The chicken, flavored with peanuts and chili, was red but not overwhelmingly spicy.
Seeing him eat, Xian Zhu began picking her own favorites.
Her first choice was Lengguoyu (冷锅鱼), a cold fish hotpot said to have been created by Su Dongpo.
“Wow!”
After a bite of the fish in the fiery-red broth, Xian Zhu fanned her mouth. The tender, flaky texture of the fish and the numbing, spicy flavor exploded in her mouth.
But she savored the mala spice, experiencing Sichuan’s cuisine one dish at a time. Mu Hwi frowned.
“You really can handle it.”
“Of course. I think I’d do just fine living in Sichuan.”
Mu Hwi avoided the reddest dishes and instead ate slices of Zhangcha Ya (樟茶鸭), a smoked duck with a unique aroma from camphor wood and tea leaves. He then picked up a cup of wine.
The fragrance of the duck paired perfectly with the mellow, rich aroma of Jiannanchun (剑南春) wine.
“Let’s drink together.”
Xian Zhu filled Mu Hwi’s cup and raised her own. Smiling, Mu Hwi clinked his cup against hers.
The clear sound of porcelain echoed between them.
After the meal, Mu Hwi took Xian Zhu to a place he had noticed earlier.
“Wow!”
Xian Zhu’s eyes widened at the sight before her. A small stream was surrounded by hibiscus flowers in full bloom, their round petals a vivid pink.
The entire area seemed to be a hibiscus garden, with the flowers’ colors filling every direction. The locals called this place Wanhuaxi (浣花溪), the Flower Washing Stream.
The two walked along the babbling stream, admiring the hibiscus.
“These hibiscus are beautiful, but I still think the plum blossoms you create are the most stunning.”
Mu Hwi smirked and drew his sword, slashing through the air. Plum blossoms bloomed along the sword’s trajectory, releasing a subtle fragrance.
The plum blossoms in the air intertwined with the hibiscus below, creating a world of flowers—hibiscus on the ground, plum blossoms in the sky.
Xian Zhu, her braided hair swaying happily, scattered golden light from her hands, enveloping the flowers in a radiant glow.
“Beautiful.”
“It really is.”
Petals of plum blossoms and hibiscus swirled around the pair.
As they finished their stroll, an old beggar approached. When Mu Hwi’s gaze fell on him, the beggar bowed respectfully.
“I am Ho Cheon-gae, head of the Sichuan branch of the Beggars’ Sect. It is an honor to meet the Sword God.”
Mu Hwi returned the bow.
“What brings you here in person?”
Ho Cheon-gae pulled out a letter and handed it to Mu Hwi.
“A message from the Martial Alliance.”
Mu Hwi took it. It was from Zhuge Jin, the Martial Alliance’s Advisor. As he read, interest flickered in his eyes.
“The Number One Beyond the Great Wall...”
At the mention of this title, Xian Zhu’s eyes narrowed. Mu Hwi folded the letter and asked Ho Cheon-gae:
“What’s the current situation?”
“The Number One Beyond the Great Wall and his subordinates from the Ten Thousand Heavens Alliance have entered Qinghai. The Kunlun Sect has urgently requested reinforcements.”
Xian Zhu interjected,
“Is it war?”
“Officially, he has come to challenge the new Greatest Under Heaven, the Sword God. But bringing such a large force suggests...”
“If I lose, they’ll sweep through the martial arts world?”
Mu Hwi’s casual remark made Xian Zhu and Ho Cheon-gae tense.
“The Advisor requests your aid. Since Sichuan and Qinghai are close...”
Mu Hwi nodded.
“I’ll move separately from the Martial Alliance’s forces. I should meet this Number One Beyond the Great Wall directly.”
Ho Cheon-gae bowed and swiftly left to relay the news.
“Three years of peace, and now this. The martial arts world never rests.”
“Indeed. So, we’re heading straight to Qinghai?”
“Yes. It’s best to intercept him before he clashes with the Kunlun Sect. Running would take too long—we’ll fly.”
At his words, the Sim-myeong Sword unsheathed itself and hovered in the air. Xian Zhu pouted.
“You know I can’t do sword flight, right?”
“I know.”
“How are two people supposed to ride one sword? There’s no space.”
“Like this.”
Mu Hwi suddenly lifted Xian Zhu into his arms, one hand under her shoulders, the other under her knees. Caught off guard, she could only blush.
“W-Wait! What are you doing?!”
Mu Hwi looked down at her.
“If you don’t like it, you can run after me.”
“Hmph. That’s not happening.”
With that, the Sim-myeong Sword soared into the sky, carrying them both.
“Let’s go.”
Xian Zhu clung tightly to Mu Hwi’s robes.
Whoosh!
The sword shot northwest toward Qinghai.