Chapter 71
Chapter 71
White Plum
'I have to stop him—!'
Along with Peng Taishan, the elders of the Alliance Leader's faction all lunged forward without hesitation.
Like Jegal Hoon, they were trying to stop Daoist Master Myeong-il from rushing in.
It wasn't because they valued Se-woon's sudden rise in status.
It was closer to instinct—an urge to prevent a horrific tragedy from unfolding before their eyes.
But then—
Whoosh!
'What is he doing now...?'
'...Why is he over there?'
'Is he hugging him??'
The atmosphere abruptly shifted into a tearful reunion between the two men.
In the end, the elders could only skid to awkward halts in various spots.
"I'm fine, Daoist Master. I merely did what I had to do."
"Thank you... Thank you..."
To the elders, the two looked as close as grandfather and grandson.
Hwangbo Geon, in particular, gaped at the scene so wide that his jaw might as well have dislocated.
A fly could have flown in and out of his mouth unnoticed.
Amid the renewed chaos in the hall,
Se-woon discreetly sent Daoist Master Myeong-il a Sound Transmission.
[Sect Leader. How is Do Yecheon doing? Has his condition stabilized somewhat?]
Since Do Yecheon had been sent to the Heavenly Doctor's Pavilion for treatment, Se-woon's question was perfectly ordinary.
But—
'This... this...'
For some reason, Daoist Master Myeong-il snapped back to his senses.
Then, with eyes full of concern, he began scrutinizing Se-woon's expression.
Daoist Master Myeong-il felt boundless gratitude and indebtedness toward Se-woon, but at the same time, he was also gripped by unease and worry.
He had been on his way here after confirming that Do Yecheon had overcome the rampage of the Heavenly Killing Star—thanks to Se-woon's intervention.
The Heavenly Killing Star's rampage released a malevolent stellar energy akin to demonic qi, making it impossible not to detect the abnormality.
'...And yet, incredibly, this young fellow did not report it to the Alliance.'
Despite enduring all manner of humiliation at the hands of the Enforcement Hall's warriors, Se-woon had never once breathed a word about Do Yecheon's condition.
Even though the Martial Alliance's strict laws clearly stated:
—Those who witness the Heavenly Killing Star must be executed immediately. Those who know of it but fail to report it shall suffer the same fate.
Even though those words were carved into the Alliance's code.
Even though Se-woon himself had been suspected of being a spy for the Unorthodox Faction and had his life threatened—why had he not reported his disciple's condition?
After decades of experience in the martial world, Daoist Master Myeong-il knew one thing for certain:
No act of kindness comes without a price.
'Even if he asks for the Plum Blossom Sword Technique, I will gladly hand it over.'
Shockingly, he was referring to the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Technique—a secret art passed down only to the sect leader and the chief disciple.
But it wasn't truly surprising.
From the start, Daoist Master Myeong-il had come here prepared to give Se-woon whatever he asked for.
Though it would mean committing an unforgivable crime against Mount Hua Sect, he was willing to bear the punishment of severing his own dantian.
That was how much Se-woon's actions meant to him—it was akin to a life-saving grace.
Had Se-woon not stabilized his disciple's condition, Do Yecheon would have undoubtedly harmed countless people in his rampage.
And he would have been branded an enemy of the martial world, forced to live as a fugitive before meeting a miserable end.
'But my only concern is...'
Daoist Master Myeong-il had one worry.
That this wouldn't be the end of it.
He could only pray that his disciple's tragic fate wouldn't become shackles that bound him for the rest of his life.
Just then, Se-woon sent him another Sound Transmission.
[...Indeed. With a little more rest, he should recover fully. All thanks to you.]
[I'm just glad to have helped. I imbued the sword I gave Do Yecheon with a 'Tranquility' effect—if he keeps it with him at all times, it should significantly suppress future rampages of the Heavenly Killing Star.]
[...Thank you.]
So Se-woon did know that his disciple was the Heavenly Killing Star.
Daoist Master Myeong-il didn't bother denying it and simply acknowledged the truth.
But then, Se-woon said something utterly unexpected.
[Hmm, though it's not yet perfected. I'll gradually refine it and provide an improved version.]
[Y-You're serious??]
[Yes. Combining it with my medical skills should yield even better results.]
"Thank you! Truly, thank you!"
Unable to contain himself at the promise of further assistance, Daoist Master Myeong-il burst out loud.
People around them stared at him strangely again, but he paid them no mind.
[So. What do you want? Speak freely.]
[Ah, really? Then next time, please bring a sword made of at least Mystic Iron-grade materials. Honestly, the practice sword's quality was too poor—I couldn't refine it properly.]
'??'
[Oh, is Mystic Iron too difficult? Hmm, then even Hundredfold Refined Steel would...]
'???'
What in the world is this fellow saying?
Just like when Jang Se-pyeong had been stunned by Se-woon's visit to the Outer Hall, Daoist Master Myeong-il now wore the same bewildered expression.
As he stared blankly at Se-woon,
'Hmm, was that too much? Feels like pretending to be naive is getting easier.'
Se-woon mused inwardly.
Truthfully, he did want the Plum Blossom Sword Technique—one of the martial world's supreme arts.
But he didn't ask for it.
Because if he did, he would lose the Purple Mist Sword Saint.
Knowing Daoist Master Myeong-il, he would hand over the sect's secret technique and then willingly cripple his own martial arts.
That couldn't be allowed.
In the coming war against the Blood Cult, the Purple Mist Sword Saint's role would be indispensable.
But truthfully, that wasn't the only reason.
The moment he felt Daoist Master Myeong-il's hunched shoulders as the man embraced him, Se-woon's chest had tightened.
Seeing someone who had spent seven years in constant worry over his disciple, living in fear and holding his breath—
It was like looking at his past self before the regression.
Do Yecheon, born with the Heavenly Killing Star, was a being who could bring ruin to Mount Hua Sect by his mere existence.
In his past life, the Sword Demon had ultimately run rampant, slaughtering countless lives.
And for hiding the Heavenly Killing Star, Mount Hua Sect had been punished with a ten-year seclusion by the Martial Alliance.
Everyone cursed the Purple Mist Sword Saint.
They said he had doomed Mount Hua Sect for the sake of a single disciple.
...But Se-woon couldn't bring himself to blame him.
'Because I was the same...'
He, too, had abandoned the Orthodox Faction to protect his kin.
Yes—he had once been an accomplice of the Blood Cult.
To this old man, Do Yecheon was more than just a disciple—he was family.
And so, looking at Daoist Master Myeong-il, Se-woon felt as though he were staring at his past self—a tangled mess of emotions.
After their gazes lingered in the air for a long moment—
'Ah... So chivalry still exists in this martial world.'
Daoist Master Myeong-il's heart pounded violently, and tears threatened to spill, but he barely managed to steady himself.
Then, taking a step back, he looked at Se-woon with gentle eyes and slowly spoke.
"You helped my disciple overcome the Heart Demon that had tormented him for seven years."
"It was merely a stroke of luck with my meager skills..."
"Excessive humility is discourtesy. How could mere 'meager skills' elevate someone to the Transcendent Realm?"
"!!"
At Daoist Master Myeong-il's words, the eyes of every elder in the hall—regardless of faction—widened in shock.
The Transcendent Realm?
Could it be that Mount Hua's fallen disciple, Do Yecheon, had scaled that towering peak?
"T-The Transcendent Realm?"
"That... that fallen one broke through to the Pinnacle?"
"Impossible! How could someone so young...!"
If Daoist Master Myeong-il's words were true, Do Yecheon's reputation and worth would undergo a heaven-and-earth reversal—just like Se-woon's.
It wouldn't matter that he had wasted seven years in stagnation.
Reaching the Transcendent Realm would more than compensate for all his past struggles.
Even among the previous generation's Nine Dragon Tournament participants, the most accomplished had only reached the peak of the Pinnacle Realm.
Once this news spread, the name 'Fallen Dragon' would vanish, replaced by the 'Soaring Dragon' once more.
But right now, Daoist Master Myeong-il couldn't care less about his disciple's breakthrough.
He had only mentioned it to elevate Se-woon's standing.
"Had you not intervened, my disciple would have met a tragic end in a Demon Qi Deviation. Truly... truly, I thank you from the bottom of my heart."
"!!"
Bow.
The leader of Mount Hua Sect bowed deeply, offering Se-woon the utmost respect.
Even Se-woon was taken aback and hurriedly tried to stop him.
"Please, don't do this. I'm not even worthy of being called your junior."
"What does age or status matter when expressing gratitude?"
"Ah, really, this is too much."
No matter how much Se-woon protested, Daoist Master Myeong-il only raised his head after completing the formal bow.
"And I have something for you."
"...Huh?"
As Se-woon tilted his head in confusion, Daoist Master Myeong-il pulled something from his sleeve.
A small wooden plaque, engraved with a pure white plum blossom at its center.
'...What is that?'
Se-woon had no idea what it was—he had never seen it before in his life.
But even with his regression, it was only natural he wouldn't recognize it.
'W-Wait!'
'That's—!'
In stark contrast, the elders' reactions were the complete opposite.
Every one of them who saw the White Plum Plaque gaped just like Hwangbo Geon had earlier.
When the Martial Alliance was founded, Mount Hua Sect had declared it would maintain absolute neutrality within the Alliance.
They vowed not to involve themselves in any conflicts between orthodox factions and ceased issuing the White Plum Plaque.
'...Is it like the Alliance Leader's Token?'
The White Plum Plaque held the same authority and power as the token Sword Emperor Yoo Jin-hak had given Se-woon—the one that granted him the right to request aid from Wudang Sect.
And just like that, Se-woon had secured Mount Hua as a steadfast ally.
Smiling faintly at the bewildered Se-woon, Daoist Master Myeong-il continued.
"Anyone connected to Mount Hua will stand at your back."
—And if you show them this plaque, they will follow you willingly, even at the cost of their lives.
"...!!"
Daoist Master Myeong-il had entrusted Se-woon with a pledge worth his own life.
And so—
After a moment of hesitation, Se-woon accepted the White Plum Plaque with solemn reverence.
"I will use it with the utmost care."
The entire hall was beyond shocked—they were horrified.
Because Daoist Master Myeong-il's gift carried far greater implications than met the eye.
'T-This means...!'
'The Tang Clan has gained Mount Hua as a shield??'
'The neutral faction has collapsed...!'
It was as if one of the three neutral factions had withdrawn its neutrality since the Alliance's founding.
This would completely overturn the political landscape Namgung Myeong's elder faction had been shaping.
Namgung Myeong's icy gaze locked onto Se-woon.
When the Sword Emperor had given Se-woon the Alliance Leader's Token, he had dismissed it as luck.
But this was different.
The boy had won Mount Hua's allegiance through his own ability and strength.
And with that, one thing became certain.
The decisive player capable of overturning the current Martial Alliance's power balance was none other than—
'That brat—'
—the bloodstained youth standing before them: Tang Se-woon, the Sichuan Overlord.