Chapter 62
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: The Top Sword is a Weakling (2)
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"…."
"Yu-hwa."
"…."
"Yu-hwa?"
"…."
From the moment they left the inn and began climbing Mount Hua, Yu-hwa wore a sulky expression and hadn't said a single word to Moo-jin.
"Are you mad?"
"No? I'm just not in the mood to talk because the weather's so nice."
"…?"
Moo-jin tilted his head at her words.
Normally, didn't good weather make people chattier?
"Must be nice having all those admirers."
"I was just answering their questions."
"You sure smiled a lot for 'just that,' though."
"It was simple courtesy."
"You only smile like that at rich merchants, Brother."
"…."
Kang Moo-jin was at a loss for words.
"N-not always. Want a pancake?"
Moo-jin hurriedly pulled out a pancake and offered it to her.
"No thanks. I'm not a kid."
Despite her words, Yu-hwa popped it into her mouth and chewed contentedly.
"Sigh. It's fine, Brother. I'm not mad at you."
"Oh, that's a relief."
"Those women were just weird. Coming out of nowhere and saying all those nice things."
"Yeah. It was a bit odd."
He said it partly to soothe her, but he genuinely agreed.
With his keen senses, Moo-jin had picked up that their friendliness masked some ulterior motive.
"It felt like they wanted something from me."
"Right? I got that vibe too. Wasn't pure at all."
"Exactly."
Moo-jin nodded as he took a bite of his own pancake. The sweet flavor pleasantly filled his mouth.
"But they were really pretty, weren't they? I don't think I've ever seen anyone that beautiful."
"Hm. Yeah, they were attractive."
"…."
A chill swept over him again. The same icy sensation from yesterday at the inn—no, the Taepyeong Inn.
"…."
He turned to see Yu-hwa glaring at him with eyes colder than a northern gale.
"Oh! We've already reached Mount Hua."
Moo-jin bolted toward the distant main gate of the Mount Hua Sect.
For the first time, he understood why Ma Du-gwang always fled so desperately.
"Welcome. Golden Ghost Indestructible, Great Hero Kang. We've been expecting you."
The Daoist at the Mount Hua Sect entrance greeted Moo-jin with a formal salute.
"I am Myeong-chan, one of the three great disciples of Mount Hua. I've been waiting to escort you in."
"Pleased to meet you. Kang Moo-jin."
Moo-jin returned the salute.
"Shall we go inside? Everyone's waiting."
"Lead the way."
Moo-jin and Won Yu-hwa followed him straight to the reception hall.
The Mount Hua reception hall, with its red ceiling and white walls in perfect harmony, exuded strict elegance.
A folding screen emblazoned with the sect's plum blossom emblem stood at the center, flanked by neat wooden tables for receiving guests.
Teacups sat on the tables, filled with tea that filled the air with a subtle, refreshing plum fragrance.
"There you are. Welcome to Mount Hua."
The middle-aged men already seated greeted Moo-jin warmly.
"Thank you for the invitation. I am Kang Moo-jin, known as Golden Ghost Indestructible."
Moo-jin lightly bowed and saluted the Mount Hua elders.
"Pleased to meet you. I am the sect leader of Mount Hua."
"…Cloud Sword Immortal?!"
Yu-hwa couldn't hide her shock.
She'd expected a bigwig since they'd formally invited him for a spar, but the sect leader himself? Unthinkable.
"Hoho. The rumors were impressive enough, but seeing you in person is even more astonishing."
A glint of interest flashed in the Cloud Sword Immortal's eyes as he regarded Moo-jin.
Rumors were usually exaggerated, yet this man exceeded them.
"Sit. This is tea made from our finest dried plum blossoms."
Moo-jin sat with Yu-hwa and sipped the tea.
The rich plum aroma flowed down his throat, filling his body warmly.
"…?"
Moo-jin's eyes widened slightly.
He sensed pure sword energy emanating from the teacup—somehow infused into the brew.
"Tsk tsk. I hear you smashed those eighteen punks… er, the Eighteen Arhats."
"…? Ah, yes. I got lucky."
"Tsk tsk. What did their faces look like? Like they were chewing shit?"
Moo-jin tilted his head at the grinning Cloud Sword Immortal.
Did Shaolin and Mount Hua have bad blood?
"Brother. The Cloud Sword Immortal once challenged the Eighteen Arhats and failed."
"Ah, I see."
Moo-jin nodded, understanding thanks to Yu-hwa's whisper.
"Yes. They looked like they'd swallowed a massive turd. Especially the Arhat Hall Leader—priceless."
"Tsk tsk tsk. Right? I should've been there. What a shame."
The Immortal slapped his thigh in genuine regret, clicking his tongue.
"If you ever smash those eighteen again, let me know ahead of time? I'd love to watch."
"…."
'Even if it happens again, never invite the Mount Hua sect leader.'
Moo-jin resolved inwardly and nodded.
"Of course. I'll tell you."
"Hahaha! What a straightforward guy. Skip the tea—let's have some liquor!"
As the Immortal half-rose, eager for a bottle, a nearby elder hurriedly restrained him.
"Sect Leader. Great Hero Kang is here for a spar, not drinks. Calm down."
"Can't it wait till tomorrow?"
"No. You know the situation."
"Aww…."
The Immortal sat back with a pout, glaring sullenly at his teacup.
"Ahem. Great Hero Kang, I hear you made quite a name for yourself at the Sichuan Yun Family too. Everyone in Sichuan Province knows your reputation now."
Elder Un-mok smiled faintly, lavishing praise on Moo-jin.
It was righteous sect etiquette: compliment a guest's feats to show interest.
"And slaying an imugi to boot. Truly remarkable. Hoho. Through you, Great Hero Kang, we see the bright future of our righteous factions."
"…You're too kind."
Moo-jin scratched his stiff cheek awkwardly.
He still wasn't used to such flattery.
"Hm… I hear Mount Hua makes a fortune from tea leaves too. Impressive."
"…?"
The elders stared blankly.
'What the hell is this madman saying?'
'Isn't he a Shaolin lay disciple?'
Proper etiquette involved exchanging praise for each other's achievements.
But complimenting Mount Hua… for profiting off tea?
Sincere? Joke? Mockery? Hard to tell.
His expression seemed genuine, though….
"Brother!"
Yu-hwa leaned in close, whispering urgently.
"Don't say that—you need to praise the sect's accomplishments."
"This is praise."
"Huh?"
"What better compliment than making a killing selling tea to Yunnan?"
"…."
Yu-hwa stared dumbfounded, then hurriedly addressed the elders.
"I heard Mount Hua recently crushed the Green Forest stronghold on Mount Taebaek, bringing peace to the common folk. As a junior, I've learned much from such exemplary righteousness only a great sect can achieve."
"Hoho. It's nothing."
"Hohoho. Only natural."
The elders' tense faces relaxed into comfortable smiles.
"But who might you be? Your aura is extraordinary. Do you have a title?"
"My skills and experience are still lacking, so no title yet. My name is Won Yu-hwa."
"Lacking skills? Your presence is anything but ordinary."
A spark of interest lit the elders' eyes.
Unlike Moo-jin, whom they couldn't gauge, they could estimate Yu-hwa's level.
"Ho… Transcendent realm at that age? Impressive."
"Hoho. Same age as the Dragon-Phoenix Top Ten, but on another level."
"Such pure, lofty energy—it's been ages. Who's your master?"
The elders assumed a hidden expert, since she hailed from neither the Nine Great Sects nor the Eight Great Families.
No matter the talent, such growth required a great teacher.
"My master is Great Hero Kang right here."
"…?!"
"What?!"
The elders' eyes bulged, mouths agape.
"I already knew some martial arts, but my skills were mediocre. Thanks to Great Hero Kang's—no, my brother's guidance, I reached the Transcendent realm."
"Ho…?!"
"Impossible…!"
They couldn't believe her.
Her clear eyes rang true, or they'd have called it a lie.
"He nurtured a Transcendent expert?"
"A young one, at that…?"
Common wisdom held that teaching required two realms above the student.
Thus, nurturing a Transcendent meant one's own power was at the Profound realm or higher.
"Truly remarkable. Beyond words."
"A blessing to our righteous factions."
Their praise was heartfelt admiration, not mere courtesy.
"Pfft."
Not everyone was impressed, though.
"…?"
All eyes turned to the sudden scoff from the left corner.
A middle-aged man lounged sloppily in the most remote seat, one leg bent. He downed his hot tea in one gulp and slammed the cup down.
Clang!
"Nurtured a Transcendent? By a kid not even thirty?"
The ashen-haired man smirked thinly, his hair tied haphazardly.
"I'd sooner believe a dog that lived three years in a schoolhouse started speaking human."
"Un-cheon! Mind your tongue!"
"Watch yourself!"
Before Moo-jin could react, the Mount Hua elders rebuked him.
Insulting a guest violated sect etiquette.
"Did I lie? Speak sense! What? Tore apart an imugi? Broke the Yun Family formations? For all we know, he colluded with those Yun bastards!"
Elder Un-cheon's voice, laced with deep inner power, boomed and shook the hall.
"Even the Mount Hua Sword Demon couldn't do it—yet this brat did? You elders actually believe that?"
"…."
The elders fell silent, honey-mouthed.
They'd been impressed but suspected exaggeration too.
"M-Mount Hua Sword Demon?!"
Won Yu-hwa's pupils trembled faintly at the gray-haired man.
"You know him?"
"About two years ago. Reached the Flower Realm at just fifty—the undisputed strongest in Mount Hua."
The Mount Hua Sword Demon wasn't merely the sect's top swordsman.
His title bore "demon," rare for a righteous Daoist sect, famed for his brutal hands and savage temper.
He'd sever evil-doers' limbs, then slice their bodies inch by inch—instilling terror in unorthodox foes.
"Hm."
Moo-jin eyed the Sword Demon again.
His aura was extraordinary—stronger than the elders, sect leader, even the Food Demon Baek Rin-hu from Shaolin.
'The strongest warrior I've seen since returning to the martial world.'
A glint sparked in Moo-jin's eyes. Meeting it, the Sword Demon smirked viciously.
"On your feet, brat. This old man will expose your lies and teach you a lesson."