Chapter 70
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: Huashan Sword Eagle
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Seol Hwa-un warned his companions sternly as they departed from the Dang family stronghold. It was possible the Sa faction might attempt a surprise attack.
Yet even after leaving the city and escaping Sichuan Province, not a single soul approached them, let alone launched an ambush.
*Of course. They wouldn’t dare act recklessly so close to Martial Alliance territory.*
Even so, Seol Hwa-un remained vigilant.
*They might come after the main palace next time with even more thorough preparations.*
They traveled smoothly and soon entered Shaanxi Province.
Upon arriving at Shiqquan, a key stop on the road to Xi’an, they unexpectedly ran into a group of familiar faces.
Warriors clad in red martial robes emblazoned with plum blossom patterns on the sleeves—disciples of the Huashan Sect.
A middle-aged man who appeared to be the eldest among them stepped forward.
“Who among you is the Little Palace Lord of the North Sea Ice Palace?”
Seol Hwa-un stepped up and replied.
“That would be me.”
“Ah, a pleasure. I am Jo Jin-hong, second-generation disciple of the Huashan Sect.”
Eom Mu-hwi, listening from behind, widened his eyes.
“The Gale Swift Sword?”
“Ha ha ha, just an old nickname.”
For a second-generation disciple, Jo Jin-hong was on the older side, with a dignified demeanor and scholarly air. In his youth, however, he had been feared as a grim reaper by the fiends of Shaanxi for his ferocious swordsmanship.
After being summoned back to the sect multiple times for being overly ruthless, he was now said to devote himself solely to training the next generation.
“A pleasure, Brother Jo.”
Jo Jin-hong gave an embarrassed smile at Seol Hwa-un’s greeting.
“Brother? You flatter me.”
His group consisted of six who looked like second-generation disciples and five who seemed third-generation.
Seol Hwa-un glanced around at them and said.
“It seems you were waiting for us.”
“You’ve guessed right. At the Martial Alliance’s request, we’ve come to escort the Little Palace Lord and his party.”
It was a gesture of goodwill. Aware of the friction with the Sa faction, the Martial Alliance had asked the Huashan Sect to protect and escort Seol Hwa-un’s group.
There was no reason to refuse the courtesy.
“My thanks.”
They exchanged greetings. Among the Huashan disciples, however, one stood out in particular.
“I am Ma Seong-gyun.”
He appeared to be around eighteen or nineteen, a third-generation disciple who hadn’t fully shed his boyish features, yet he exuded an aura that drew all eyes.
“Ha ha, he’s the prodigy of our sect, known as the Huashan Sword Eagle.”
Jo Jin-hong’s face beamed with pride as he introduced the young man.
*So Huashan has talents of its own.*
His eyes gleamed with sharp focus, and his presence belied his age. Had he been around the same age as Heavenly Dragon or Sword Dragon, he could have rivaled them.
*But compared to them, he’s still lacking.*
“In truth, I had planned to escort these youngsters to the Huashan Summit and then meet your group...”
The Huashan Summit was an exchange event between the Huashan Sect, Shaanxi’s premier sword sect, and the Zhongnan Sect.
Second- and third-generation disciples from both sects sparred to compare their sword arts.
Though called an exchange, it was a gathering fraught with pride between the longtime rivals, Huashan and Zhongnan.
“But they threw such a fit about wanting to see the Little Palace Lord that I had no choice but to bring them along.”
“I see.”
Seol Hwa-un had wondered why third-generation disciples had joined what seemed like a second-generation escort.
“......”
From the start, Ma Seong-gyun, the so-called Huashan Sword Eagle, had been staring intently at Seol Hwa-un.
The meaning in his gaze was clear, but Seol Hwa-un ignored it.
*No need to indulge a childish brat.*
In truth, Ma Seong-gyun and Seol Hwa-un were only three years apart.
In any case, when Seol Hwa-un continued to ignore his stare, Ma Seong-gyun finally approached.
“Little Palace Lord.”
“......”
“I’ve heard rumors that you’re a prodigy rivaling Heavenly Dragon, called the North Heavenly Dragon.”
“......And?”
“Heavenly Dragon of the Namgung family is my first goal. With that in mind, may I request some guidance?”
Seol Hwa-un frowned and glanced at Jo Jin-hong. The man, who should have intervened, wore a strange expression and merely watched.
*What is this...?*
At that moment, Jo Jin-hong’s transmission voice pierced his ear.
[My apologies, Little Palace Lord. Seong-gyun is a fine lad otherwise, but his early achievements have made him arrogant. Could you open his eyes for him?]
It made sense. Even among Huashan’s third-generation disciples, none could match Ma Seong-gyun.
Even some second-generation disciples struggled against him, so his sky-high confidence was understandable.
The bigger issue was that his attitude had infected the other third-generation disciples, who now followed him devotedly.
They were already convinced he would win the next Dragon-Phoenix Conference.
[I had hoped the Zhongnan third-generation disciples at the Huashan Summit might challenge him, but sadly, none measure up in my eyes. If you give him a stern lesson, I’ll reward you handsomely.]
Seol Hwa-un sighed involuntarily.
*To make such a request, even knowing I might ruin a promising junior out of malice.*
They must have investigated him thoroughly.
[Very well. But you’d better make the reward worth it.]
Jo Jin-hong’s face lit up at Seol Hwa-un’s transmission.
[Thank you, Little Palace Lord.]
The gap in skill was clear, so he had initially considered sending Eom Mu-hwi or Dong Ho-won.
But after hearing Jo Jin-hong’s plea, that wouldn’t suffice.
They were significantly older than Ma Seong-gyun; even a loss might not humble him.
*Annoying, but I’ll handle it myself.*
In his past life, plenty had arrogantly challenged him without knowing their place. He had always enlightened them.
Never with violence, of course.
*I’ll crush him properly.*
Seol Hwa-un turned to Ma Seong-gyun.
“Very well, Young Master Ma. I’ll give you a lesson myself.”
A furrow creased Ma Seong-gyun’s brow.
*What? This guy...?*
He had said “request guidance” as the customary phrase for a spar, not literally asking to be taught.
For Seol Hwa-un to take it at face value infuriated him.
“Hmph! Let’s see how impressive you really are!”
Lately, he’d heard Seol Hwa-un’s name nonstop.
The famed prodigies of the Dragon-Phoenix Conference were deemed a step below him, with everyone buzzing about a great talent from the outer realms.
But Ma Seong-gyun dismissed it as exaggeration.
*He must have had help from those Ice Palace experts. It’s absurd for a mere youth in his twenties to achieve that.*
The Dragon-Phoenix prodigies were temporary milestones he’d surpass in time. The North Heavenly Dragon was no different.
Seol Hwa-un’s group and the Huashan disciples cleared space for the spar.
Seol Hwa-un and Ma Seong-gyun faced off at a set distance.
*Shing!*
Ma Seong-gyun drew his sword with a resolute expression.
*This spar will make my name known across the land.*
Seol Hwa-un remarked at the sight.
“Huashan lives up to its name with the sword. So you’re a swordsman too, Young Master Ma?”
“That’s right.”
“Good. Then I’ll face you with swordsmanship as well.”
Seol Hwa-un drew something from his waist.
To everyone’s surprise, a flexible chain sword uncoiled. It had been cleverly hidden in his belt.
Seol Wi-myeong, who had taught him swordsmanship, had forced him to carry it.
They had originally planned for a standard sword, but when the fist master Seol Hwa-un refused, they compromised on the more convenient chain sword.
*Snap!*
Infused with his inner energy, the chain sword stiffened straight.
“......!”
Ma Seong-gyun’s eyes widened. It was widely known that Seol Hwa-un was a fist master.
He bristled.
“Are you mocking me?”
“Why do you say that?”
“A fist master with a sword!”
A smile tugged at Seol Hwa-un’s lips.
“You’re right, Young Master Ma. I am a fist master. Care to test a fist master’s swordsmanship?”
Ma Seong-gyun’s face flushed red.
“If you don’t want to be humiliated, put it away now!”
“Whether you or I end up humiliated remains to be seen.”
“You’ll regret this!”
Unable to hold back any longer, Ma Seong-gyun charged at Seol Hwa-un.
“Yaap!”
*Shwaaak!*
His sword strike descended toward Seol Hwa-un’s head. It was a fierce attack, but Seol Hwa-un easily parried with the chain sword.
*Clang!*
Ma Seong-gyun’s strike was perfectly blocked. Feeling stronger resistance than expected, he flinched in surprise.
*He’s actually skilled with a sword?*
Not just anyone could wield a thin chain sword like a rigid blade, no matter their inner strength.
*Fine. I’ll fight you seriously!*
Ma Seong-gyun swiftly withdrew and thrust again.
*Shushu-shuk!!*
Exclamations erupted from the Huashan group.
“Whoa!”
His sword multiplied endlessly, raining down on Seol Hwa-un.
It was the Five Elements Plum Peak Sword, a supreme art nearly as flashy as the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Techniques.
*Pa-pa-pa-pa!*
Gorgeous sword shadows filled Seol Hwa-un’s vision.
*Impressive. A talent Huashan can boast about. Not bad.*
Seol Hwa-un observed calmly before casually thrusting his chain sword.
*Cha-cha-clang!!*
Incredibly, three clashes scattered Ma Seong-gyun’s sword shadows entirely.
He had completely seen through the sword path.
*Impossible!*
“You’re too fixated on the number of shadows, making your path too predictable. Fewer shadows with more focus on speed would serve you better.”
“Save your advice until you win!”
Ma Seong-gyun poured more inner energy into his blade. A clear sword qi soon formed.
“Sword qi!”
“As expected of Seong-gyun!”
Buoyed by his peers’ awe, Ma Seong-gyun swung with full force.
*Shushu-shuk!*
The qi-clad sword targeted Seol Hwa-un’s vital points, striking three spots with one thrust—a remarkable technique.
However.
*Cha-cha-clang!*
Seol Hwa-un’s chain sword traced a perfect circle, deflecting every strike. It was the Taiji Sword, one of the basic forms.
His sword qi was so faint it was barely visible unless scrutinized, yet it matched the vivid qi of Ma Seong-gyun without yielding.
Ma Seong-gyun, lost in his flurry, didn’t notice, but Jo Jin-hong saw clearly.
*His sword qi control has reached mastery. Far above Seong-gyun. ...Is he really a fist master?*
Even Jo Jin-hong was baffled.
*Cha-cha-cha-clang!*
Their swords clashed dazzlingly, but neither gained the upper hand.
More precisely, Seol Hwa-un was effortlessly parrying Ma Seong-gyun’s onslaught.
Failing to dominate despite his efforts, Ma Seong-gyun grew anxious.
*No choice. Try this!*
His swordsmanship shifted.
*Paaat!*
The trajectory grew intricate, and a vivid plum blossom bloomed from his blade.
“......!”
Even Jo Jin-hong couldn’t hide his shock.
“That kid’s already using Plum Blossom Sword?”
The Plum Blossom Sword—Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Techniques—was Huashan’s signature art, on par with Wudang’s Taiji Radiant Sword and Namgung’s Azure Sky Endless Sword.
“Plum Blossom by the Roadside!”
Faint but distinctly plum-shaped qi flew toward Seol Hwa-un.
*Hoo.*
Seol Hwa-un was impressed inwardly. Ma Seong-gyun truly understood Huashan swordsmanship.
*Amateur techniques won’t cut it now.*
Pure white sword qi gathered on Seol Hwa-un’s chain sword.
*Snow Ridge Divine Sword, Third Stance.*
Moisture in the air froze instantly, converging on the blade.
*Whoooosh!*
*Snow in Clouds and Mist!*
The chain sword shot forth amid a barrage of ice pellets.
*Paaaa!*
*Boom!*
Ma Seong-gyun’s plum blossom shattered in an instant.
“......!”
*No, this can’t be!*
*Clack!*
The chain sword halted right before Ma Seong-gyun’s frozen brow.
“Care for more?”
Ma Seong-gyun’s pupils trembled violently.