199
Chapter 199: Disciple, Thank You.
The Hwasan Sect's Council of Elders.
This was the first meeting held after the generational transition. The Hwasan Sect elders of the ‘Mu’ generation, who now held key positions, had gathered in one place.
Spring Plum Hall Master, Mujin, opened his mouth.
"Sect Leader. Everyone has gathered."
The Hwasan Sect Leader, Mu Hwi, took his seat at the head. Noticing an empty spot, Mu Hwi spoke.
"Where’s Mu-cheol? Has he still not caught those bastards?"
Mu-cheol had left the mountain to hunt down the Blood Twin Elders, evil martial artists who had fled from Shanxi to Shaanxi to escape the Baekri Family’s pursuit.
Musang answered.
"A letter arrived stating that Elder Mu-cheol has beheaded those two and is on his way back. He should arrive the day after tomorrow."
Mu Hwi nodded and looked at the elders.
"Let’s begin the meeting."
As if waiting for this, Finance Pavilion Hall Master Muryun spoke up.
"Donations from secular families, incense money from commoners, support from various merchant groups—especially the Cheonryu Merchant Group—have significantly increased, so this year’s budget has also grown. All expected allocations have been made."
Mu Hwi nodded as he reviewed the ledger Muryun had summarized.
"Thanks to Young Lady Im becoming the head of the merchant group, I suppose. Compared to the past, the scale is incomparable."
Im Su-ryeon had ultimately surpassed her siblings to become the owner of the Cheonryu Merchant Group. Since then, the relationship between the Hwasan Sect and the Cheonryu Merchant Group had remained strong.
"Yes. This time, when selecting the third-generation disciples, the Cheonryu Merchant Group’s children will also be participating as secular disciples, so they likely mean to ask for even more attention."
When the topic of third-generation disciples came up, Mu Hwi looked at Mujin.
"Mujin. How are the preparations at Spring Plum Hall progressing?"
"Everything is proceeding smoothly as planned. With the expansion of Spring Plum Hall and other pavilions, we can accommodate more people than before without issue."
"Focus more on identifying true talents rather than just increasing numbers. Weed out anyone who shows even a hint of rotten potential early on. Don’t pay attention to Wealth, background, or status."
"Of course."
After that, the elders continued their reports. Mu Hwi swiftly handled each matter as if executing martial techniques.
"So, are you planning to create more Jaha and Jasoo units?"
"Yes, Sect Leader. While the sect’s finances are stable, stocking up on elixirs will benefit future generations."
Medical Pavilion Hall Master, Muho, spoke while glancing at Mu Hwi and Muryun. Though he managed all affairs of Medical Pavilion Hall as he saw fit, matters concerning elixir production were not his sole decision.
After a moment of thought, Mu Hwi looked at Muryun.
"We’ll need to allocate more funds to Medical Pavilion Hall. Will that be alright?"
Muryun flipped through the ledger and nodded.
"Yes. There’s no issue, Sect Leader. However, the exact costs will need to be discussed with the Medical Pavilion Hall Master."
Though it seemed straightforward, Muryun maintained the meticulous attitude expected of a Finance Pavilion Hall Master.
‘Elder Muryun has become even more fastidious with age.’
Muho let out a short sigh. Securing the necessary budget from Finance Pavilion Hall would require at least an hour of back-and-forth.
Mu Hwi reviewed the reports and narrowed his eyes.
"Musan. Why is the compilation of secret manuals progressing so slowly?"
Scripture Pavilion Hall Master, Musan, flinched.
"Sect Leader. The process of interpreting martial principles and creating annotations is taking some time."
"Is it really that difficult?"
Mu Hwi’s puzzled expression made Musan’s head spin.
"No, it’s not that. The Five Petals Plum Blossom Sword, Falling Flower Chasing Shadow Palm, Scattered Blossoms Without Trace—Sect Leader keeps creating new techniques, and the work at Scripture Pavilion Hall keeps piling up. Sigh."
Musan let out a deep sigh after his long complaint.
Among the elders, Musan suffered the most under Mu Hwi’s whims. Whenever Mu Hwi felt bored, he would create a new martial technique and task Musan with compiling it into a manual for other disciples to learn.
For Musan and the disciples under Scripture Pavilion, all-nighters had become routine.
Seeing the fiery glare in Musan’s eyes, Mu Hwi nodded and turned his gaze elsewhere.
"Hmm. I’ll come help occasionally after my duties are done."
"You say that, but we all know you’ll just go train instead."
"This time, I mean it."
The council meeting was nearing its end.
The final report came from Bihwa Hall Master, Musang.
"There’s nothing unusual regarding Shaanxi’s Sect's movements or the secular sects. We’re keeping an eye on the three newly established secular sects."
Bihwa Hall was an organization Mu Hwi had created during his time as a first-generation disciple.
Until then, the Hwasan Sect had mostly relied on open information or borrowed the eyes and ears of secular sects.
Thus, Mu Hwi created a dedicated organization to systematically manage secular sects, supplement the sect’s weak intelligence network, and focus on external activities.
And Musang, who enjoyed traveling, was appointed as its head. Musang roamed Shaanxi and the rest of the martial arts world, overseeing secular sects and intelligence.
"Several invitations have arrived for the Sect Leader, but their dates overlap. You’ll need to choose one. Where will you go?"
Mu Hwi glanced at the three invitations Musang handed him and raised the corner of his mouth.
"Of course, I’ll go here."
Musang nodded as if he had expected Mu Hwi’s choice.
"Then I’ll make the arrangements."
***
Sword Peak Mountain (劍峯山).
The place where the Sword Devil and the Sword Saint Sage once built a hut and trained together. The once-lonely Sword Peak Mountain, with only a single dilapidated hut, had changed greatly.
Pavilions now stretched along the mountain’s ridges, forming a natural fortress, and martial artists bustled between them.
A family establishing itself on Sword Peak Mountain was holding its founding ceremony.
"What’s going on?"
"Why is it suddenly so noisy behind us?"
Martial artists climbing the mountain turned their heads at the sudden commotion and were startled.
Hwasan Sect disciples, clad in black robes embroidered with plum blossoms, were ascending the mountain with dignified bearing. At their forefront was a young man.
"The Hwasan Sect’s elders!"
"For so many elders to appear in public like this..."
"But who’s that young man leading them?"
At someone’s question, the surrounding martial artists gasped and hushed the speaker.
"Young man? Have you been secluded in a mountain cave? That’s the Hwasan Sect Leader!"
"The Divine Sword of the Azure Sky! To think he’s so young..."
"It’s not that he’s young—he’s just ageless. He’s held the title of the Greatest Under Heaven since his youth."
The martial artists muttered as they watched the Hwasan Sect disciples disappear into the distance.
"The Sword Devil is truly remarkable. For the leaders of major sects to appear like this..."
"When the Sword Devil was young, he traveled all over the martial arts world. He must have built many connections."
As the Hwasan Sect group passed the main gate, familiar faces greeted them.
"Oh! Sect Leader! You’ve finally arrived!"
Seeing those welcoming him, Mu Hwi chuckled.
"Family Heads."
Baekri Sang, Namgung Gak, and Peng Ho-yeon greeted Mu Hwi. Just as Mu Hwi had become the Sect Leader, they had risen from young masters to family heads, leading their respective families.
"Sect Leader, you still haven’t aged a day."
"Seeing you makes me feel like I’ve returned to my youth."
Mu Hwi laughed at their words and looked at Peng Ho-yeon.
"Peng Family Head. Late as it is, congratulations."
"Thank you. My grandfather would surely be pleased."
The martial arts world now spoke of the Four Great Families, not the Three. And the newly established fourth seat belonged to the Hebei Peng Family.
"My, everyone’s gathered. It’s been a while."
At the voice from afar, Mu Hwi and the family heads turned and smiled, offering greetings.
The former family head of the Sacheon Tang Family, Tang Qihu, approached with a smile.
"Being among you youngsters makes me feel awkward."
"Honored Former Family Head, you’ve come as well. I heard the current Family Head Tang is also here."
At Mu Hwi’s words, Tang Qihu laughed and shook his head.
"How could I not come when the Sword Devil himself invited me? Sacheon owes the Dokgo Association so much. If only the Dokgo Association had settled in Sacheon instead of here..."
More and more people gathered around Mu Hwi. As the Greatest Under Heaven and the leader of the world’s top sword sect, many sought to leave an impression.
Only after meeting countless people could Mu Hwi finally greet the one who had brought him and the Hwasan elders to Sword Peak Mountain.
"Sect Leader! And elders. Welcome."
Dokgo Yul smiled warmly at Mu Hwi and the elders.
"I should call you Family Head now."
Mu Hwi smiled at Dokgo Yul, who returned the expression.
"Senior Disciple!"
While exchanging greetings with Dokgo Yul, the elders turned at a familiar voice. From afar, Mu-hwa unfurled her Dark Scent Flutter and landed beside Dokgo Yul in an instant.
Mu-hwa was dressed not in Hwasan Sect robes but in a red-brown martial attire matching Dokgo Yul’s.
"You look well."
Mujin smiled at Dokgo Yul and Mu-hwa standing side by side, and Mu-cheol nodded beside him.
Mu-hwa had ultimately married Dokgo Yul.
Thus, she had to change from an inner disciple to a secular one, but the Hwasan Sect’s boundaries between the mountain and secular world were not strict. With the Sect Leader’s permission, the transition proceeded smoothly.
"So, the Flash Sword Hero, who once roamed the martial arts world, will now quietly reside on Sword Peak Mountain."
"That’s right. Mu-hwa, support Dokgo Family Head properly as the lady of the house. A newly established family needs your role to be fulfilled well."
At the nagging of Musan and Muho, Mu-hwa chuckled.
"Senior Discipls, you don’t need to tell me. I already know."
Mu-hwa grinned at Mu Hwi and the elders.
"Senior Disciples, thank you all so much for coming."
"Mu-hwa’s finally matured after marriage."
"Indeed. To hear thank you from our youngest..."
Muryun and Musang laughed heartily.
Mu Hwi spoke to Dokgo Yul and Mu-hwa.
"Bring your child to Hwasan when they turn ten. I’ll personally oversee their initiation."
"That’s our Sect Leader for you!"
The atmosphere among the long-separated siblings was harmonious.
The founding ceremony proceeded smoothly.
After all events concluded, the honored guests gathered at the main gate. Dokgo Yul addressed them.
"As you all know, our family began with the Dokgo Association—a gathering of lonely souls without homes, hometowns, family, or friends. Though not bound by blood, they united under one name to protect their new home, family, and future."
Dokgo Yul looked at Mu Hwi.
"Thus, our family’s name is taken from the Dokgo Association. Gratefully, the Hwasan Sect Leader has gifted us the plaque bearing that name."
At Dokgo Yul’s signal, servants blushed as they carried the plaque forward. They hung it on the main gate and unveiled it.
The martial artists’ eyes narrowed.
"Huh?"
"The plaque is blank?"
"Was there a mistake?"
As murmurs spread, Mu Hwi stepped forward.
"This plaque is made of pure refined steel. It won’t be easily damaged."
The martial artists gasped in admiration.
Mu Hwi drew Sim-myeong Sword from his waist. The moment the Divine Sword of the Azure Sky—the Greatest Under Heaven Sword—was unsheathed, silence fell.
"May this family, like this plaque, remain unbroken and unchanging, upholding the meaning of its name for generations."
Sim-myeong Sword moved gracefully.
Though no sword energy was emitted, under Mu Hwi’s hand, smooth sword marks began appearing on the plaque. The martial artists watched wide-eyed.
Despite carving into steel, no harsh metallic screech was heard—as if the plaque were mere wood.
The martial artists silently marveled.
Mu Hwi poured his heart into each stroke.
Soon, the sword marks formed bold, majestic characters,
The Dokgo Family (獨孤世家).
As the four characters gleamed, Dokgo Yul bowed to the crowd.
"As the first family head of the Dokgo Family, I express my deepest gratitude to all martial arts world comrades who have witnessed our beginning."
The martial artists returned the gesture.
***
"How much of the Dokgo Nine Swords have you mastered?"
"I’m currently practicing the final form, but I’m still lacking."
Mu Hwi nodded.
"The final form isn’t one to be mastered easily. You must refine your insights and pass them down well in the Dokgo Family."
"Yes, Master."
Mu Hwi gazed at the Dokgo Family’s estate on Sword Peak Mountain.
"It’s quite impressive."
Mu Hwi and Dokgo Yul were touring the estate alone.
"If you’re going to do something, do it properly. Establishing a family is no small feat—it took me this long to achieve it."
Even in peaceful times, the Dokgo Association never rested. There was no place in the martial world they hadn’t tread. After wandering rootlessly, Dokgo Yul had finally succeeded in settling them.
Dokgo Yul pointed to a small pavilion in the quiet garden.
"Master. Let’s go there."
Mu Hwi and Dokgo Yul followed the pond’s path and stood before the pavilion.
"Ancestral Shrine? You built this even though you’re not dead yet?"
Entering the shrine, Mu Hwi saw a single memorial tablet.
Dokgo Heon (獨孤䞿).
"The highest seat in the Dokgo Family’s ancestral shrine shouldn’t be mine—it should be yours, Master."
A name now forgotten.
Only Dokgo Yul remembered it.
"Without realizing it, I’ve become part of the family you built."
"Of course. It’s the Dokgo Family, isn’t it?"
"Indeed."
Mu Hwi stared intently at the tablet.
Then he spoke softly.
"Disciple. Thank you."
"Don’t mention it."
Master and disciple stood shoulder to shoulder, gazing at the tablet.