Heading to the Ami Sect (1)
Now, only three remained among the Cheon Ha Ojon: Cheollim Seonsa of Shaolin, Seonjong Jin-in of Wudang, and Biyeon Sinn-i of the Ami Sect.
With just three survivors from the five absolute masters who once shook the world, public opinion was swelling that a Sapa supreme figure ought to take the fifth seat among the Heaven's Five Venerables.
'Now, who will be next to die by my hand?'
Hyeon Yucheon pondered calmly as he regulated his breathing, weighing the remaining trio.
The closest among them was Cheollim Seonsa of Shaolin, so he was about to settle on him when—
"Sect Leader!"
So Gwangma Gyeon Jong-o came dashing up, gasping for breath.
Surprisingly, he clutched a neatly folded letter in his hand.
Hyeon Yucheon and his senior brothers first thought it might be another challenge letter, but the envelope's appearance suggested otherwise.
"What is it?"
"An invitation has arrived, summoning you, Sect Leader."
"An invitation?"
Invitations were a rare occurrence for Hyeon Yucheon as well, so he picked up the letter with evident curiosity.
To his astonishment, the sender was none other than...
'No way!'
Hyeon Yucheon exclaimed aloud in shock.
"Ami Sect's head nun, Biyeon Sinn-i?"
It was a figure he had never even imagined.
Ami Sect's leader and a righteous heroine famed in her youth for her stunning beauty: Biyeon Sinn-i, Yeo Unsa-tae.
She was renowned for her just nature, uncompromising stance against injustice, and unyielding commitment to the righteous path, no matter how slow the pace.
Yet there was one thing she regretted to her core.
'I should never have taken part back then.'
It was her role in the death of Demon Sword Ghost Lord Cheon Baeksang, the supreme master and world's greatest of that era.
She had wrestled with it greatly at the time.
She refused during the Nine Great Sects' gatherings and even at luncheons with the Murim Alliance.
But at the assembly of the Cheon Ha Ojon, she had no choice.
"We four have all reached a consensus. Please make your resolve, Biyeon Sinn-i."
When even Shaolin's abbot, Fist Buddha Cheollim Seonsa—known as the living Buddha—pressed his agreement, Biyeon Sinn-i could not refuse.
"Amitabha."
She regretted it endlessly, but spilled water could not be gathered back.
Moreover, in her younger days, Biyeon Sinn-i had harbored a certain fondness for Demon Sword Ghost Lord Cheon Baeksang.
She never dreamed she'd one day drive a blade into his heart.
In the end, that choice became an immense burden on her conscience, and now his disciples were methodically hunting down the Cheon Ha Ojon in revenge.
"Leader, it's not too late even now."
As Yeo Unsa-tae wrestled with turbulent emotions, Yeon Jeong—the leader of the Snow Cloud Seven Fairies, Ami Sect's seven elite masters, and wielder of the Snow Ridge Sword—tried to dissuade her.
If Yeo Unsa-tae were to pass into nirvana, Yeon Jeong was already slated as the next head nun, and she inwardly hoped her leader would bend her stubborn will.
'We should be avoiding Demon Sword Prince Hyeon Yucheon at all costs, yet she's inviting him here instead.'
Yeon Jeong frankly couldn't comprehend it.
No matter how strong the Demon Sword Sect and its prince were, Ami Sect had its own defenses, nestled in treacherous mountains isolated from the secular world. She believed they could hold out here indefinitely.
"No, it's far too late already. I should have gone to the Demon Sword Sect myself before that child Hyeon Yucheon began his rampage..."
Biyeon Sinn-i spoke with utter sincerity.
Had she failed to dissuade the Cheon Ha Ojon?
And why hadn't she stopped the Murim Alliance and Seok Family?
Perhaps it stemmed from fear that intervening might bring harm to Ami Sect.
"Biyeon Sinn-i, please consider Ami Sect's future as well. Actions like this might earn the ire of the Murim Alliance or the other Nine Great Sects."
Yeon Jeong pleaded desperately, her heart aching.
From her perspective, Yeo Unsa-tae was infuriating.
How could she prioritize personal conscience over the sect's future as its elder?
She also dreaded the finger-pointing and pressure from other sects and factions.
'It's just like looking at myself from years ago.'
On the contrary, as Biyeon Sinn-i observed Yeon Jeong, she recalled her own past self—knowing the Cheon Ha Ojon's public stance and the Murim Alliance's directives were wrong, yet yielding out of fear.
"Consider Ami Sect's future? Well said. That's precisely why I've personally invited Demon Sword Prince Hyeon Yucheon."
"Pardon?"
Staring straight into the stunned Yeon Jeong's eyes, Yeo Unsa-tae spoke again.
"If he is the reincarnation of Demon Sword Ghost Lord, or if he's truly surpassed him... then choosing reconciliation over battle with Demon Sword Prince Hyeon Yucheon will be the true path for our future."
With that, Yeo Unsa-tae closed her eyes.
She still remembered how Cheon Baeksang, in his youthful prime, roamed the jianghu, turning it upside down with unmatched prowess.
If Demon Sword Prince had inherited all his master's arts, and if the rumors were true—that he'd even absorbed the Sun Golden Frog's inner core, truly surpassing his master in a case of the student outshining the teacher—then her words rang true.
'No, I've heard that eight parts of jianghu rumors are lies, and even the truth is less than two parts.'
As Yeo Unsa-tae closed her eyes in reminiscence, Yeon Jeong dreamed a different dream.
In Sichuan's rugged mountains, Ami Mountain stood particularly deep and perilous, severed from the secular world, leaving them relatively blind to murim intelligence.
Ami Sect's culture discouraged venturing into the jianghu unless necessary, with a strong Taoist bent pursuing the Dao through martial arts.
Thus, Yeon Jeong remained naive to worldly affairs.
'The leader's judgment has clouded with age. This won't do.'
Yeon Jeong resolved herself.
For the first time since joining Ami Sect, she would defy Biyeon Sinn-i's command.
"...Understood. I shall obey your order, Leader."
Of course, it was a blatant lie.
'Why on earth did she invite me?'
Hyeon Yucheon pondered deeply as he set off on the long, arduous journey to Sichuan Province.
He had received many letters from various foes before.
Some nominal invitations or polite missives, but all shared one intent.
They wanted to fight—and defeat—Demon Sword Prince Hyeon Yucheon.
Yet Biyeon Sinn-i's handwritten letter, penned by the sect leader herself, brimmed with sincerity.
"I deeply regret and repent the events of that day."
"If the Demon Sword Sect Leader deems fit to judge me, I shall accept it gladly."
Omitting the preamble, that was the essence of Biyeon Sinn-i's invitation.
Aware of his vengeance against the Cheon Ha Ojon for killing Demon Sword Ghost Lord, she offered her neck willingly if desired.
"Could it be a trap?"
So Jaun—now indistinguishable as Haomen leader or Demon Sword Sect member—voiced her opinion.
She had insisted on accompanying him this time as well.
"I see it differently. Among the Cheon Ha Ojon, Biyeon Sinn-i is the only one with true sincerity."
Unable to bring a large entourage due to the invitation's formality, Hyeon Yucheon had brought both senior brothers. Jin Gwangma Geom Ga Jinuk stated his view.
With Demon Sword Ghost Lord's three disciples departing for Ami Sect, the elders' hall and Flash Demon Sword Unit would manage the sect, so there were no worries.
"According to Master's memories... Biyeon Sinn-i was untainted by worldly dust, unlike Shaolin's monks who became warriors rather than true Buddhists."
Hyeon Yucheon backed his eldest senior brother's opinion.
Cheon Baeksang had held Biyeon Sinn-i in high regard.
Of course, her betrayal had wounded him all the more deeply for it.
"We'll arrive soon... so we'll see for ourselves."
As Eum Ji-myeong said, a thousand-ri journey began with a single step. Their relentless pace brought them to the famed sacred mountain, Ami Mountain.
The small group—Demon Sword Ghost Lord's three disciples and So Jaun—moved at an absurd speed.
"Halt!"
As expected?
Before even reaching the marker at Ami's entrance, a sharp voice rang out.
Ami Mountain astonishingly lacked even a resting spot for travelers, and the voice dripped with exclusivity—a perfect reflection of the current Ami Sect, cut off from the world.
Splat!
While spring approached elsewhere, snow still blanketed Ami Mountain's high peaks.
Seven nuns emerged atop a mix of snow and earth.
'Experts.'
True could recognize true; masters spotted masters.
Hyeon Yucheon discerned them at a glance, before they even sensed him.
Rumors might understate them, but they far exceeded worldly acclaim.
"Could you be... the Snow Cloud Seven Fairies?"
Eum Ji-myeong easily inferred from their graceful forms and uniformly profound inner power.
"Snow Cloud Seven Fairies!"
So Jaun startled and looked again.
Isolated from the outside, Ami Sect bred many rumors and fantasies in the jianghu. The Snow Cloud Seven Fairies, personally raised by Yeo Unsa-tae, were said to be Ami Sect's core—ethereally beautiful like heavenly nymphs, all possessing peak-level or higher martial arts.
But what was this?
'Seeing them in person, the rumors are true.'
Even two of the Snow Cloud Seven Fairies would overwhelm So Jaun.
Reading that aura, perhaps?
Sneer!
Yeon Jeong, leader and eldest of the Snow Cloud Seven Fairies, Snow Ridge Sword, flashed a faint smile.
'Of course.'
The turbid secular world brimmed with exaggerations and tall tales; even its famed figures paled before the Snow Cloud Seven Fairies. Such was her delusion.
"What brings you here?"
Yeon Jeong stepped forward, her tone curt and cold.
Hyeon Yucheon faltered briefly at the question.
What brought him here?
"Didn't... the Ami Sect send an invitation?"
He replied, incredulous.
"We know nothing of it. And Ami Mountain is a forbidden zone for men by ancient rule. Descend at once."
Yeon Jeong declared firmly, her face icy.
Opposing Yeo Unsa-tae's decision to invite Hyeon Yucheon for atonement, she had persuaded the Snow Cloud Seven Fairies during the leader's brief nap and come out like this.
'What in the world is going on?'
Hyeon Yucheon hesitated, still baffled, but glimpsing Yeon Jeong's resolute eyes, he understood the situation fully.
"Oh ho, it seems communication between Biyeon Sinn-i and you all has broken down."
No issue regardless.
Hyeon Yucheon had the invitation, stamped with her personal seal.
Swish!
He held up the letter boldly and declared.
"Whether this is Ami Mountain or a men's forbidden zone means nothing to me. Nor do I care what intent Biyeon Sinn-i had in inviting me. I have no mind to forgive her."
With each word, Hyeon Yucheon's gaze grew icier, revealing exactly why he transcended Sapa to become the world's supreme.
"I came here for one reason alone."
He assumed the stance for Formless Flash Quick Sword and continued.
"To exact revenge on Biyeon Sinn-i, Yeo Unsa-tae."