Chapter 178
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 178
Chapter Title: Temptations and the Mount Hua Journey
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Mun Ichun was at his wits' end. Countless people had come to offer congratulations laced with subtle enticements.
"Can't say for sure how you'll take this... but have you ever thought about joining a new sect?"
"I'll pledge my full support. Just give it some thought."
"It's your talent I'm worried about going to waste. Any real man should harbor grand ambitions, no?"
Even representatives from the Nine Great Sects and Eight Great Families didn't hesitate to approach him. Their intentions were all the same.
They wanted to take Mun Ichun as a disciple of their own sect.
"I'll pass."
"I'm content with my current sect."
"Declined."
They all dismissed Mun Ichun's original sect, the Swordless Sect.
They believed his entry into the top four was solely due to his own shining talent.
Finally unable to endure it, Mun Ichun bolted from his inn and raced to a secluded spot devoid of people.
"Haa, haa, haa."
Mun Ichun was furious.
"Why... why do they have to look down on my sect like that!"
The reason he had entered the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament wasn't just personal ambition—it was also to spread the name of the Swordless Sect far and wide.
'Grandfather was right. Even if I achieved results at the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament, nothing would change for my sect...'
The wound from Ma Seong-gyun paled in comparison to the hurt in his heart.
"Damn it."
He slumped down right there.
"......"
As he sat there in a daze, a voice suddenly rang out.
"Amitabha."
"......!"
Startled, Mun Ichun sprang to his feet and scanned his surroundings.
'No presence at all?'
Yet somehow, a figure had appeared right before his eyes.
"Gasp!"
"Benefactor Mun, has your mind eased a bit now?"
"W-Who are you?"
"Hahaha, I'm just a monk with a keen interest in you, Benefactor Mun. Might we have a brief chat?"
The Immortal Holy Monk gazed at Mun Ichun with a gentle smile.
* * *
The day after all Dragon-Phoenix Tournament events concluded.
Seol Hwa-un's group headed to Mount Hua alongside Eung Cheon-ri.
Since the Martial Alliance and Mount Hua were both in Shaanxi Province, it wasn't far.
At a martial artist's pace, they could arrive in a single day.
Yet Eung Cheon-ri, who had volunteered as their guide, showed no sign of rushing.
"It's definitely chillier than yesterday. Don't you think?"
"......"
"Ah, compared to North Sea weather, this is nothing, I suppose."
"Doesn't Elder Eung practice Yin Cold Arts as well? You shouldn't feel the cold at this temperature."
"Haha, true enough. But sometimes, I miss the chill."
Eung Cheon-ri's gaze turned distant.
"As a child, sneaking away from the sect elders to roast rabbit over a brazier... I miss those days. So much fun... but now, even if I try, it doesn't taste the same."
"The circumstances are completely different. Hard to recapture that feeling."
"Figured as much?"
Despite his position as Grand Elder, he was remarkably chatty. Still, Seol Hwa-un humored him every step of the way.
'As Grand Elder, he probably rarely had anyone to talk to.'
Given Eung Cheon-ri's temperament, he likely spent his days in quiet cultivation.
He might have been content with that, but loneliness surely lingered in a corner of his heart.
"This way..."
"That's the path to Ye Mountain. We need this road for Mount Hua."
"Ah, right! This is the one."
He even confused the way to his own sect. Seol Hwa-un knew it better.
And for good reason—Eung Cheon-ri had spent nearly his entire life holed up on Mount Hua, so he was clueless about the outside geography.
Seol Hwa-un gave a wry smile.
'And yet he volunteered as guide.'
Eung Cheon-ri somehow seemed thrilled.
"You don't come out much, do you?"
"Hahaha, too busy cultivating the Cold Heaven Frost Moon Art to wander around like this."
"Even so, a little fresh air now and then clears the mind, doesn't it?"
Eung Cheon-ri flashed an awkward smile.
"W-Well, yes."
Seol Hwa-un could gauge his personality.
'He enjoys it once he's out, but hates taking the first step.'
He seemed eager to savor this rare trip away from Mount Hua, short as it was.
"Oh, there's an inn over there. How about we stay there tonight?"
"......It's only the You hour (5-7 PM)..."
Even if stopping for dinner, they could travel at least another hour.
"Haha, a bit early? Shall we push on and find one later?"
"No, let's do as Elder Eung says."
"Good! That inn's food looks promising at a glance. Let's hurry. A cup of tea, then it'll be dinnertime."
The inn's tea was decent enough, but the food was abysmal.
Feeling awkward, Eung Cheon-ri cleared his throat.
"Ahem, far better than the food back at the main sect. Good call coming out."
"......"
The North Dragon Brigade members left over half their meals untouched.
Their stomachs weren't full, but they planned to hunt and eat separately that night.
Only Seol Hwa-un, seated across from Eung Cheon-ri, stayed till the end and finished his.
"......Thanks."
Seol Hwa-un replied nonchalantly to Eung Cheon-ri's words.
"Hm? For what?"
"Just... thanks."
As the meal wound down, someone entered the inn.
"There you are."
Surprisingly, it was Bang Mu-jin, one of the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament main draw participants. He approached Seol Hwa-un.
"North Heaven Fortress Lord."
"What brings you here?"
Bang Mu-jin said with a stern expression.
"I've been tracking you. Lucky you didn't go far."
"Business with me?"
"The verdict on the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament rules violation is in. Lion Gate Sect is permanently banned from participating and fined a hundred taels."
Bang Mu-jin's face flushed red.
"This is all your fault! Without you, I would've been selected for Dragon-Phoenix!"
"......"
"Now I'm hunted by my own sect too. Lion Gate doesn't tolerate failure."
Seol Hwa-un asked coldly.
"How long must I indulge your tantrums?"
"......What?"
"It's getting hard to put up with you. Get lost."
"Y-You...!"
As Bang Mu-jin bristled, Seol Hwa-un added.
"This is your last warning."
"......!"
Feeling the overwhelming pressure, Bang Mu-jin shuddered.
'Monster...'
He didn't seem like a warrior younger than himself at all. Yet unwilling to back down, Bang Mu-jin suddenly bowed his head.
"Take me in, North Heaven Fortress Lord."
"Take you in?"
"As I said, I've nowhere to go. Accept me into the North Heaven Fortress. My talent holds up against anyone's, I assure you!"
"......"
"I'll devote myself to making North Heaven Fortress the world's greatest sect!"
"No need."
"W-What?"
"Why would I think to accept you?"
"You took in that evil faction's Bonebreaker Ghost Blade! Why not me!"
Seol Hwa-un's eyes turned icy.
"Don't presume to judge on your own. It's not just about orthodox and evil factions."
"But—!"
"Rules aside, in fair martial contests, you resorted to卑鄙 acts twice just to win. Cowards like you have no place in my fortress."
"......!"
Bang Mu-jin's face darkened rapidly. Desperately, he said.
"H-How about this! The craftsman who installed the mechanism in my staff!"
"......"
"Don't you need an expert in mechanical arts? You know who I am! Accept me, and I'll bring him to the North Heaven Fortress, guaranteed!"
Interest flickered in Seol Hwa-un's eyes. He had indeed taken note of the mechanism in Bang Mu-jin's staff.
'Sharp instincts. It was only for a split second, yet he noticed.'
Experts in mechanical arts were rare in the martial world. And the craftsmanship in that staff was no ordinary feat.
Having such a person under his command would greatly benefit the North Heaven Fortress. But Seol Hwa-un wasn't one to waver so easily.
"No need. Desperate ploys like that only make me more repulsed."
"N-North Heaven Fortress Lord!"
Seol Hwa-un rose from his seat.
"I'd rather not see you again."
With that, he turned and headed straight to his room.
"......"
Soon after, the dejected Bang Mu-jin left the inn, leaving only a bewildered Eung Cheon-ri behind.
"......Good grief, such spirited young men."
* * *
The next day, Seol Hwa-un's group resumed their journey to Mount Hua.
Eung Cheon-ri moved at a leisurely pace, but they still reached the Mount Hua Sect's mountain gate around the Shen hour (3-5 PM).
Eung Cheon-ri smacked his lips regretfully.
"Here already."
The two disciples guarding the gate spotted him and bowed deeply.
"We greet the Elder!"
Judging by their age, they were third-generation disciples.
"You've worked hard. Tell the main sect I've brought the North Heaven Dragon."
"North Heaven Dragon?!"
They noticed Seol Hwa-un and hurriedly clasped their hands in salute.
"We see the Fortress Lord!"
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Seol Hwa-un."
Their faces held subtle awe and reverence.
"Then I'll be off."
One disciple dashed up the stairs.
After about two gaks,
The disciple returned with a warrior in tow.
He immediately greeted Eung Cheon-ri.
"We see the Grand Elder."
"Ah, it's Jin-hong."
It was Cho Jin-hong, whom Seol Hwa-un had reunited with alongside Ma Seong-gyun on the way to the Martial Alliance.
After a brief exchange with Eung Cheon-ri, he spotted Seol Hwa-un and let out a hearty laugh.
"Haha. We meet again, North Heaven Fortress Lord."
"Seems we do."
"The Sect Leader sent me since we know each other."
"You mean..."
"Let's head up. The Sect Leader awaits."
"......!"
Anticipation lit Seol Hwa-un's eyes.
'The Mount Hua Sect Leader, for me?'
No reason to refuse.
Seol Hwa-un followed Cho Jin-hong up the mountain.
Mount Hua, also called Great Splendor Mountain, consists of Immortal Peak to the east, Lotus Peak to the west, and Falling Goose Peak to the south.
The Mount Hua Sect was situated on Lotus Peak.
Famed for its treacherous terrain, Mount Hua was relatively gentler on Lotus Peak, allowing the sect to establish itself there.
After climbing about ten li, the elegant buildings of the Mount Hua Sect came into view.
Due to the sloped terrain, the structures were scattered here and there.
No walls, yet arranged perfectly to repel invaders.
Seol Hwa-un left Yu Gong-seon and the North Dragon Brigade at the sect's guest hall, then headed to the Sect Leader's quarters to meet him.
Upon arriving at the Sect Leader's chamber under Cho Jin-hong's guidance, Eung Cheon-ri stepped back.
"If I go in too, it'll make the Sect Leader uncomfortable. Go alone."
"Understood."
Cho Jin-hong called out at the door.
"Sect Leader, the North Heaven Fortress Lord has arrived."
A voice promptly replied from within.
"Let him enter."
Cho Jin-hong nodded, and Seol Hwa-un slowly opened the door to the Sect Leader's chamber.
In the simply furnished small room sat a middle-aged man clad in a red robe symbolizing Mount Hua.
"Come in. I am Yu Mo-il, the one bearing the mantle of Mount Hua Sect Leader."
Seol Hwa-un clasped his hands in a respectful salute.
"Pleased to meet you. I am North Heaven Fortress Lord Seol Hwa-un."
He had finally come face-to-face with Yu Byung-gun, the Sect Leader leading Mount Hua into its golden age.