A Monk Rolling In, Huh (4)
"Is it really all right to just leave them be?"
"...What else can we do?"
Nam Ja-myeong's face twisted hard.
If it had been up to him, he would’ve loved to kick up a storm right then and there. Whether their swordsmanship was good or not, the mere fact that Mount Hua’s sword arts were being displayed in the very heart of Xi'an carried symbolic weight.
But there was no way to stop it.
As a branch sect of the Southern Edge Sect, keeping an eye on Mount Hua’s branch in the city wasn’t especially dangerous. Mount Hua still had its pride, and that meant they couldn’t casually interfere in affairs between branch sects. So long as they didn’t make a direct move, intervention from the main sect could be kept to a minimum.
But this wasn’t a Hwayeongmun event. This was a Mount Hua Sect event.
He knew it was a fool’s game, pretending not to see the truth, but the ones who had stepped forward were Mount Hua disciples, and the one hosting the whole thing was a Mount Hua elder. That left him with no excuse to make a fuss.
Damn it. If only the Southern Edge Sect hadn’t closed its gates!
Then those bastards wouldn’t be running wild in Xi'an like this!
"Wouldn't it still be better to try and stop them?"
At someone’s question, Nam Ja-myeong answered in an irritated voice.
"Just how amazing can Mount Hua’s swordsmanship be? These are people who’ve spent their lives looking at the Southern Edge Sect’s sword. They won’t be dazzled so easily. If they embarrass themselves trying this, they should count themselves lucky!"
Nam Ja-myeong glared at the Mount Hua disciples as if daring them to prove him wrong.
Hwa-Jeong Sword?
He had heard that title and name countless times.
The man who had defeated Jin Geum-ryong, the talent expected to become the next Southern Edge Sect Leader, and trampled the Southern Edge Sect’s reputation into the dirt.
But he’s still only a disciple.
He might be exceptional among his peers, but even so, how outstanding could he possibly be? No matter how you sliced it, he was still just a junior disciple.
And yet, when he looked at Baek Cheon with that slight lift of the chin, it was impossible to deny that the man had real presence.
Annoyed for no good reason, Nam Ja-myeong rolled up his sleeves irritably.
"Draw your swords!"
When Baek Cheon shouted from the front, the Mount Hua disciples all drew their swords at once.
The movement was so perfectly synchronized it looked like it had been performed by a single person. Even in that simple action, one could clearly see just how much training the Mount Hua disciples had undergone.
"Oh!"
"Whoa!"
And the reaction came immediately.
Even those who knew nothing about martial arts could feel the grandeur of that tightly coordinated movement.
The Mount Hua disciples took their starting stances all at once. At the very front, Baek Cheon slowly moved his sword.
"Yukhap!"
At the command, the Mount Hua disciples all assumed the starting form of the Yukhap Sword.
"Excellent!"
"Hoho. It does look impressive."
With his white hero’s scarf tied across his forehead, Baek Cheon had a force of presence that made everyone watching nod without even realizing it.
"So that’s the man called the Hwa-Jeong Sword?"
"I hear he’s the great disciple of Mount Hua’s Baek generation."
"Then he must be someone destined to become Sect Leader someday."
Curious eyes.
Expectant eyes.
Receiving all of it, Baek Cheon shouted firmly,
"First Form!"
The Mount Hua disciples stepped forward in unison and swung their swords.
Fwaaaang!
It was only a demonstration, but Mount Hua did nothing halfway. Their swords, wielded with the full force one would expect from actual training, unleashed gusts of wind as their blade qi shoved the surrounding air aside.
The sudden blast startled the spectators, who stumbled backward in surprise.
Even so, the Mount Hua disciples did not waver in the slightest as they continued the form. It was a sight that naturally inspired a sense of, as expected.
"So the late-generation disciples of Mount Hua really are unparalleled."
"No wonder the Southern Edge Sect ended up falling behind."
"Look at them—all of them are impossibly handsome."
The sword formation, moving as flawlessly as if it were one person’s technique, was as lively and pleasing to watch as a dance performance.
Fwaaaang!
The wind pressure from the slashes sent Nam Ja-myeong’s hair, the man who had been watching from the front, shooting upward.
From around him came thunderous reactions.
"Wooooooah!"
"Amazing!"
Nam Ja-myeong looked around in disbelief.
What in the world is there to make such a fuss over?
It was only basic swordsmanship. Nothing worth going mad over like this.
But contrary to his thoughts, most of the onlookers were, quite literally, enthralled.
Nam Ja-myeong’s face twisted sharply.
These ignorant fools... What on earth are they so worked up about?
Meanwhile, Chung Myung, watching from afar, was too busy snickering to care.
Hard to understand, right?
The impressive thing wasn’t the swordsmanship. It was the situation.
In truth, the swordsmanship itself didn’t matter all that much.
The people gathered here were already prepared to be amazed if a Mount Hua disciple held a pickaxe and started digging dirt.
Why?
Because where in the world would you ever see the disciples of a prestigious sect performing a group sword demonstration like this?
In the first place, people of Mount Hua’s or Southern Edge’s standing didn’t mix with ordinary folks. Given the location, some people might have seen the Southern Edge Sect’s sword before, but most of them had never had the chance to watch the disciples of the Gupailbang perform swordsmanship in person.
Besides, who could possibly order the Southern Edge Sect to go up the mountain and put on a group sword display for them?
So the sight of Mount Hua, a sect currently burning bright with fame, coming out into the streets and unleashing their sword techniques in unison was the kind of rare experience one might only see once in a lifetime.
No wonder the reaction was so explosive.
And if you actually show them proper swordsmanship, that’s the end of the story.
What?
Southern Edge can do it too?
Then open your gates and come down here, why don’t you?
"Hehehehehe."
Chung Myung grinned wickedly.
Just then, Mount Hua’s Yukhap Sword demonstration came to an end. And as prearranged, the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Art began.
Dragging the demonstration out too long only weakened the impact.
Once the Yukhap Sword had pulled in their attention, the best move was to strike hard and fast.
"Plum Blossom Enduring Winter!"
With Baek Cheon’s booming shout, plum blossoms began to bloom from the sword tips of the Mount Hua disciples.
"Wow..."
"P-p-plum blossoms! It’s plum blossoms!"
Everyone stared in astonishment at the plum blossoms painted by the Mount Hua disciples. The sword qi trailing from their blades looked just like flowers blooming in midair.
Of course, unlike the disciples in front, those in the back hadn’t quite managed to bloom real plum blossoms yet. But what did that matter to the spectators?
Here were people making flowers bloom with swords.
"Falling Plum Blossom, in Disarray!"
Riding that momentum, Baek Cheon unleashed an even more brilliant sword form.
If one were talking purely about splendor, was there anywhere in the world that could surpass Mount Hua’s sword?
Skill, talent—whatever. If the goal was to captivate people, nothing beat the Plum Blossom Sword Art. Even someone who knew nothing could tell at a glance that it was beautiful and dangerous.
"It’s completely different from the Southern Edge Sect’s sword..."
"So this is why Mount Hua’s been rising so fast lately. I’ve never seen swordsmanship like this before. What kind of sword art is this?"
At just the right moment, someone in the crowd raised their voice.
"I-it’s the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Art!"
"I heard Mount Hua swept the martial arts tournament at Shaolin with the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Art! Truly unrivaled in the world!"
"They say all the Gupailbang got a beating from that sword."
"Ah!"
"I see!"
With so many people packed together, there was no way to tell who had shouted. Everyone simply went along with it.
The Mount Hua disciples from Hwayeongmun, having flawlessly carried out their task among the public, cast a subtle glance toward Chung Myung. Chung Myung nodded with satisfaction.
That’s it! Well done.
Hm?
A scam?
Come on. At a time like this, you need hype men to liven up the mood.
Scam, my ass! What do you take me for? I’m a taoist, for crying out loud!
Scam or not, the effect was excellent.
Martial arts tournament. Gupailbang. And the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Art.
Short, simple phrases were perfect for burrowing into people’s minds. Add to that a sword art that looked dazzling even to the eye, along with real accomplishments to back it up, and the spectators had no choice but to marvel at the technique without interference.
"Amazing."
"So this is Mount Hua Sect?"
And then came an unexpected supporting barrage.
"Tsk, tsk. Back before the old Mount Hua Sect was ruined by those Demonic Sect bastards, Southern Edge wouldn’t even have dared compare itself to Mount Hua!"
"Hey now! You youngsters don’t know anything! When I was young—"
"Southern Edge? Hah! Now I have to bring up the old days. I don’t know whether you’ve heard of the name Plum Blossom Sword Saint, but let me tell you..."
White-haired old men had begun excitedly spinning old tales. Even those who usually avoided such people had their ears pricked up now, caught by the atmosphere and unable to help themselves.
In that festival-like scene, Baek Cheon drew every last eye to himself.
"Plum Blossom in Full Bloom!"
Mount Hua’s plum blossoms bloomed in all their splendor.
Everyone present, even the branch sect leaders of the Southern Edge Sect, stood transfixed before those magnificent blossoms.
In the center of Xi'an, plum blossoms were in full bloom.
As though a long-dried old tree had suddenly burst into flower once more.
"Huu."
Baek Cheon slowly withdrew his sword and slid it back into its scabbard. Then he lifted his head and looked around.
Dead silence.
Even with so many people gathered here, the surroundings were utterly quiet.
But only for a moment.
"Wooooooah!"
Once someone let out a cry and started clapping, everyone else followed suit and applauded until their hands hurt.
"Hahahahahaha! Truly amazing."
"This is Mount Hua Sect! As expected!"
"So the disciples of the main sect really are on another level! They're nothing like the Southern Edge Sect!"
Applause and admiration poured in nonstop.
Meanwhile, Nam Ja-myeong’s complexion turned dark as soot.
Damn it...
He wanted to belittle them.
He wanted to shout that this was nothing special.
But in the end, he too was a martial artist. Having seen such swordsmanship with his own eyes, those words simply would not come out of his mouth.
Besides...
It’s not exactly a situation where the crowd would listen to criticism, is it?
No matter how much one might try to point out flaws, those who had seen it with their own eyes would not be swayed. Maybe after some time had passed, but right now, keeping his mouth shut was the better option.
However...
And this was truly unfortunate for him, but Mount Hua had someone who had no intention of letting time pass quietly.
"Now, now!"
Chung Myung, who had been watching the situation without joining the performance, decided the time had come and darted forward.
Then he stood in front of Baek Cheon and raised his voice.
"The plum blossoms you just saw are something you can learn and blossom yourselves if you enroll in the newly opened Hwayeongmun!"
Of course, the sword art allowed to the branch sect only went as far as the Seven Plum Blossoms Sword...
But whatever. You can still make plum blossoms bloom with the Seven Plum Blossoms Sword.
He wasn’t lying! He wasn’t!
"And!"
Seeing every eye turn toward him at once, Chung Myung shouted decisively.
"For those who join Hwayeongmun now, we’re waiving tuition for the next three months! So!"
Then he stomped his foot hard.
"It’s free! Free for the next three months! Sign up first, and if you hate it, you can quit without paying a thing!"
"Oh!"
"Free!"
Who in all of history, east or west, could resist the word free?
Those who had already been enchanted by the swordsmanship they had just seen now pricked up their ears even more at the promise of no cost.
"Lastly!"
Chung Myung yanked Baek Cheon, who had been standing behind him, forward.
"Disciples who enroll in Hwayeongmun will also be able to receive instruction from the famous Hwa-Jeong Sword, Baek Cheon, who’s making a name for himself across the land!"
"Ooooh! The Hwa-Jeong Sword!"
"Wait, so the disciple of the main sect will really teach us personally?"
Sometimes.
Very, very occasionally, he didn’t lie.
This kind of reputation exists to be used.
At least in Xi'an, the name Baek Cheon, the Hwa-Jeong Sword, had more pull than the Mount Hua Sect Leader himself.
So of course he had to use it when the chance arose.
Then someone shouted from the crowd.
"But who are you? Why should we believe what you’re saying?"
Chung Myung grinned as if someone had just scratched an itch for him.
"I’m Chung Myung, a third-generation disciple of Mount Hua."
"Ch-Chung Myung?"
"Mount Hua Divine Dragon!"
"That’s the Mount Hua Divine Dragon!"
A roar even louder than any that had come before exploded all at once.
"Mother of—"
Even Chung Myung himself flinched and took a step back at the reaction.
"W-what the hell? Why are they so happy?"
"...Because you’re the Mount Hua Divine Dragon."
Baek Cheon looked at him silently, utterly speechless.
What on earth did this bastard think he was?
He was the de facto winner of the martial arts tournament, the number one late-generation disciple in the world, and the man people now called the strongest martial artist of the next era.
No matter how much Baek Cheon had beaten Jin Geum-ryong, how could that reputation possibly compare to Chung Myung’s?
"The Mount Hua Divine Dragon came in person?"
"Then if we enroll there, will the Mount Hua Divine Dragon teach us swordsmanship?"
"My goodness! Where is my second son right now?"
The reaction was explosive.
"H-how do we enroll in Hwayeongmun!"
"Can we sign up right here and now?"
As if he had never been flustered at all, Chung Myung grinned.
When iron is hot, strike it, as the saying goes. There was no way he could let the expectations of these already-riled people cool down.
"Sohaeng!"
"Yes, sir!"
"What are you doing? Start taking names!"
"Yes! This way, please!"
The Mount Hua disciples of Hwayeongmun, who had long since become experts at writing up ledgers while running gambling tables at Shaolin, sprang into action.
In no time at all, several tables had been set up, with ledgers, brushes, and inksticks laid out on top.
"We’re accepting applications here!"
No sooner had the words left his mouth than a few people rushed forward in a panic. Seeing that, the rest of the crowd, who had been hesitating on the sidelines, began scrambling forward as well.
"Me first! Please, take my son first!"
"Hey, if it’s not you, step aside! I’m enrolling myself!"
"Even cold water flows from top to bottom, so move! I want to enroll too!"
The branch sect leaders of the Southern Edge Sect looked on blankly as the crowd surged toward them. Seeing Chung Myung smile smugly, Nam Ja-myeong finally couldn’t hold back and shouted,
"...What shameless nonsense is this? How can the main sect interfere this much in a branch sect’s affairs!"
His face was full of frustration. Chung Myung snorted and shrugged.
"What’s the problem with that?"
"...What did you say?"
"The problem is not doing it. Why would doing it be a problem? If the main sect steps up and helps the branch sect’s affairs, that’s a good thing, isn’t it?"
"... "
Nam Ja-myeong shut his mouth like someone stuffed with rice cake.
Chung Myung chuckled and drove the nail in deeper.
"If you’re upset, you should go ask Southern Edge to do it too."
Ah, but you’re closed off, aren’t you?
How tragic. How very unfortunate.
Heh heh heh heh heh.