Chapter 144
Chapter 144
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 144
Chapter Title: An Unexpected Acquaintance
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*Swoosh!*
It was a precise horizontal strike.
The dagger, drawn in a clean line without the slightest waver, was too concise and swift.
"Hyang-i!"
Neung Un-bi urgently tried to step between them, but Hyang-i's movements were too fast for him to block.
But despite the perfect strike, her dagger failed to slice Dokgo Seong's neck.
Though she had aimed and struck with precision, Dokgo Seong neutralized the attack simply by leaning his upper body back slightly and pushing her away with an outstretched hand.
"You bastard!"
But his action seemed to enrage her further, and her aura grew even more murderous.
"Hyang-i! Stop!"
"No!"
"I said you can't!"
"Damn old man! I'm going to kill you! You almost fell off a cliff and died because of him!"
"I didn't die, so it's fine. Calm down."
"That's that, and this is this! This is a matter of my pride!"
"..."
Neung Un-bi, who was standing in front of Hyang-i and trying to stop her as she glared at Dokgo Seong, gritting her teeth, let out a sigh.
*Is that something to say in front of the person involved?*
*So in the end, your pride is more important than my life, you brat.*
"Anyway, stop it. He's the highest elder of Mount Hua."
"What does that have to do with anything!"
"Just pulling a blade on him without warning could start a major conflict between the Demonic Cult and the Orthodox Faction."
"I don't care!"
"Hey!"
Neung Un-bi tried to stop her, but Hyang-i paid him no mind, her killing intent flaring.
But Dokgo Seong, who had been watching them with an amused expression, suddenly showed a peculiar look.
"Child, could the name of that object in your hand be Dancheok?"
"...Huh?"
At Dokgo Seong's question, Hyang-i, who had been furious, suddenly widened her eyes.
"Huhu, from your expression, it seems I'm right."
"How do you know that name?"
"If Dancheok is in your hand, you must be a child related to Hwayeong."
"Huh?"
"What is your relationship with Hwayeong?"
At the name Hwayeong, Hyang-i's eyes grew even wider.
She seemed quite surprised, retracting her killing intent as if she'd never been angry and staring intently at Dokgo Seong.
*Dancheok must be the name of Hyang-i's dagger, but who on earth is Hwayeong?*
*Seeing Hyang-i so surprised...*
"Do you know my grandmother?"
"..."
*G-Grandmother!?*
*And what's with Hyang-i's polite attitude and tone?*
When Dokgo Seong acted so familiar, she even seemed to hesitate.
"Huhu, of course I do. We have a very deep connection."
"R-Really?"
"Indeed. Huhu, to think I'd meet her granddaughter here. What a pleasant surprise."
"..."
As Dokgo Seong openly displayed their connection, Hyang-i blinked. Her demeanor suddenly seemed to shrink.
"But why is Hwayeong's granddaughter with Dam Un-cheon's disciple? Judging by your movements, and the fact that you inherited Dancheok, you must have succeeded Hwayeong's legacy."
"Ah, that's... to protect him..."
"Protect? You? Dam Un-cheon's disciple?"
"Well..."
"Hah, did Hwayeong permit such a thing?"
"That is..."
Seeing Hyang-i hesitate to even speak, breaking out in a cold sweat, Neung Un-bi's confusion deepened.
*Hwayeong, Hyang-i's grandmother.*
*Alright, he's lived for a hundred years, so it's possible he knows her.*
*From what I've gathered, it must have been that grandmother who raised Hyang-i to be a monster.*
*But why is Hyang-i being so cautious just because he has a connection to her grandmother?*
*And doesn't she look terrified?*
*Just a moment ago, she was ready to kill him for making me fall off a cliff... why the change?*
"Hwayeong's granddaughter protecting Dam Un-cheon's disciple... My, my, what an incomprehensible turn of events."
"..."
"Well, so much time has passed. The Demonic Cult must have had its own share of happenings."
As Dokgo Seong muttered to himself and nodded, Neung Un-bi cautiously asked.
"Elder, what do you mean by that?"
"...You don't seem to know, do you?"
"Wouldn't I be asking if I knew?"
"Huhu! Is that so? Dam Un-cheon didn't explain it to you?"
"..."
Dokgo Seong just laughed and didn't explain the reason.
"Elder."
"Why do you keep calling me?"
"Could you please explain it so I can understand?"
As Neung Un-bi scowled, Dokgo Seong smiled faintly.
"I don't want to."
"What?"
"Why would I tell you that?"
"..."
"Besides, if Dam Un-cheon didn't tell you... there must be a reason. If you're curious, find out for yourself."
At the harsh reply, Neung Un-bi's face crumpled.
*What an eccentric old man!*
*Then he shouldn't have brought it up in the first place! Making a person curious like this...*
"Child, what is your name?"
"It's Hyang-i."
"Hyang-i... A name that suits you well. So, is Chungsan well?"
"You know my grandfather too?"
"Of course. I used to drink with them often."
"Y-You were close enough to drink together?"
"Naturally... Though our paths were different, our wills aligned, so we did."
"Perhaps..."
Hyang-i moved her lips as if trying to hide something and sent a telepathic message, and Dokgo Seong nodded.
*They're getting along just fine.*
*And you call yourself a great elder of Mount Hua? She's from the Demonic Cult, so why are you acting so friendly!*
"...I-I see. I apologize for recklessly drawing my blade on one of my grandmother's comrades."
"Apologize for what? Sharing the same will doesn't make everyone a comrade, so don't worry about it."
"..."
*What does he mean by comrade, and what does it mean to share the same will?*
Watching them gaze at each other warmly like a grandparent and grandchild, Neung Un-bi felt like he would die of frustration.
*Doesn't it feel like I'm the only one being left out?*
"Master!"
And just then, a voice called out, accompanied by the sound of a group's footsteps.
"Oh, is that you, Cheong Jin?"
"Yes."
The ones who had just appeared were the Mount Hua Sword Saint, Cheong Jin, and Jin San.
"Young Master Neung! Are you alright?"
"...Yes, I'm fine."
Jin San, who had come with them, ignored everything else to check on Neung Un-bi first.
"Phew, what a relief. I was so worried after hearing what Un Hak hastily came and told me."
"Thank you for your concern."
He meant it.
To have at least one person worried about him while he was being ostracized by the old and the young.
"Jin San, you brat. Do you not see me?"
"Aigoo, Martial Uncle. How could I possibly not have seen you? I was just checking on Young Master Neung first since he is our guest."
"Hmph, guest my foot!"
"..."
Dokgo Seong glared irritably, and Jin San looked embarrassed.
But it was truly a relief that nothing had happened.
How shocked they had been when they heard the story from Un Hak.
They had thought he was heading to Lotus Peak, but he had suddenly appeared at Hagewon and fallen off the cliff with Neung Un-bi, so they had rushed over with Cheong Jin.
Was that all?
According to Un Hak, the maid had drawn a dagger and chased after him murderously, so they couldn't shake their worry the entire way.
What if a fight broke out... what if Dokgo Seong killed Neung Un-bi...
In their minds, they had already prepared to face an all-out war with the Demonic Cult.
But thankfully, Neung Un-bi was unharmed.
And for some reason, the maid, Hyang-i, also seemed calm...
"Because of my obsession, you all have suffered needlessly."
"Not at all, Master."
Cheong Jin shook his head at Dokgo Seong's words.
He meant it. He was grateful enough that his master had stayed instead of leaving.
***
After the brief commotion, everyone else was dismissed, and Dokgo Seong, his disciple Cheong Jin, and Cheong Jin's disciple, Un Hak, gathered at Hagewon.
As it was an internal matter of Mount Hua, Neung Un-bi and Jin San had temporarily stepped outside.
"Cheong Jin."
"Yes, Master."
Cheong Jin answered softly at Dokgo Seong's call.
He was already sixty years old, and his name as the Mount Hua Sword Saint was renowned throughout the world, but before Dokgo Seong, he was nothing more than a disciple.
"I... have decided to forget it now."
"What?"
"I was being needlessly stubborn about something already past."
"M-Master."
At Dokgo Seong's words, tears welled up in Cheong Jin's aged eyes.
He had been so worried. All that turmoil seemed to vanish in an instant.
"Dam Un-cheon's disciple told me. He asked if there was any need to make a fallen plum blossom bloom again, suggesting it would be better to become fertilizer for Mount Hua. The audacity of him."
"..."
Dokgo Seong's words were mischievous, but Cheong Jin's eyes were filled with gratitude toward Neung Un-bi.
He didn't know what the two had discussed in the gorge below the mountain.
But thanks to him, hadn't his master changed his mind?
"I will have to express my gratitude to Young Master Neung separately."
"Gratitude? There's no need for that."
"Pardon?"
"As an apology for overstepping my bounds without knowing his situation, I showed him the enlightenment I gained through forty years of wall-gazing."
"Your enlightenment, Master?"
"Yes."
"...That was more than a simple expression of gratitude."
"You think so?"
"Of course. To some, it is more precious than a thousand pieces of gold..."
"A thousand pieces of gold? If one cannot recognize it, it is nothing but useless swordplay."
"That's not true at all."
"Haha, you brat. That too is a useless obsession."
"Master."
"Of course, he may have seen it, but he cannot yet perform it. But is he not Dam Un-cheon's disciple? It is a realm he will one day reach."
"Still, how could you give away such a precious enlightenment..."
"It's fine. I have passed it on to a good talent. If it helps him walk the right path, isn't that a good thing?"
"..."
"Haha, perhaps because he's a Demonic Cult brat, dark to the core like a seed leaf, he saw the essence, not the surface. I only showed him the plum blossom, but that child saw the plum blossom bloom and fall."
At Dokgo Seong's words, Cheong Jin couldn't help but smile.
*A dark seed leaf.*
How could that be an insult?
For a seed of the Demonic Cult, what greater praise could there be?
He had taken a liking to him.
Even though he was from the Demonic Cult, even though he was the disciple of Dam Un-cheon, the man he had yearned to defeat his entire life.
"It seems he saw the true meaning of the Plum Blossom Sword."
"I even felt jealous. Of that man, Dam Un-cheon... He is a boy who will surely cause quite a stir in the world if he succeeds Dam Un-cheon and takes control of the Demonic Cult."
"I've heard the rumors. Jin San praised him until his lips were dry."
"Haha, Jin San... did he?"
"Yes. He said the same thing as you, Master."
"He's a talent that can't be hidden."
"Yes."
"But he is not sharp-edged, so his path is unlikely to be stained with blood."
"...But we must be wary."
"I know."
"As a martial artist, his talent is to be cherished, but for the martial artists of the Orthodox Faction, there could be no more fearsome talent."
"That may be so."
"Unless the boy named Neung Un-bi becomes as strong as Dam Un-cheon and can suppress those who overflow with power... if his talent grows in the wrong direction and he aims for the Central Plains, he will surely become a great disaster."
"We must pray that does not happen."
"I believe so as well. Young Master Neung's actions since coming to the Central Plains have not been evil."
"True. But we must be prepared."
"Yes."
"Therefore, from this day forward, I will once again take up the Taoist name Hyeon Cheon."
"M-Master! Is that truly so? What joyous news!"
Cheong Jin's expression instantly brightened, and his eyes were filled with deep emotion.
He was the one who had abandoned his own Taoist name and declared himself excommunicated after kneeling at Dam Un-cheon's feet, despite representing Mount Hua.
For him to reclaim his name meant he was returning to Mount Hua.
"I heard Un Hak, who has inherited your will, is exceptionally talented."
"He is a child as outstanding as Young Master Neung."
As Dokgo Seong's gaze fell on Un Hak, Cheong Jin smiled with satisfaction.
"Hmph, from what I see, he has a long way to go."
"Pardon?"
"He is lacking, very lacking."
At Dokgo Seong's words, a bitter smile touched Cheong Jin's lips.
How could he not know that he was being compared to Neung Un-bi?
"If that child is to one day carry Mount Hua on his shoulders, he must become much stronger than he is now. We cannot have him kneeling before the Demonic Cult again, as I did, can we?"
"That is true, but..."
"I will help you and teach the boy myself. I intend to pass on all my enlightenment to prepare for the distant future."
"...What? You will teach him yourself, Master?"
"Yes! After seeing the boy named Neung Un-bi, I became determined that I must do so. Although I lost to Dam Un-cheon, I will never let our disciples lose."
As he spoke, a fiery passion blazed in Dokgo Seong's eyes, and Cheong Jin's expression turned awkward.
*Master Hyeon Cheon.*
*And himself, who had been his disciple.*
The memory of the days he trained under him made his body flinch.
His master's eyes were exactly the same as back then, when he had trained him relentlessly, as if taking out his frustration after losing to Dam Un-cheon.
Thanks to that, he had earned the title of Sword Saint, but...
*That painful training... Un Hak has to go through it?*
Cheong Jin felt sorry for Un Hak, who was blinking, completely oblivious to what was happening.