Chapter 157
Chapter 157
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 157
Chapter Title: Mount Hua Sect's Succession Struggle
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"...What do you...?"
"It's a fact known only to a select few. It's only natural you wouldn't know. The Divine Venerable, one of the Previous Generation Venerables, afflicted by madness? It's an absurd tale. How could a martial artist who has reached the Profound Realm possibly succumb to madness?"
The Murim Alliance Leader let out a sigh.
"But... since that incident actually happened, things have turned out this way. The Divine Venerable Hyun-seong, former Sect Leader of Mount Hua who perfected the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Swordsmanship, is now gripped by madness. The Plum Blossom Divine Lord himself!"
"......"
"With their Sect Leader lost to madness, Mount Hua is naturally keeping it under wraps to prevent it from leaking out. It's news that could tarnish their reputation. Countless physicians have come and gone, but there's no good news. So, the position of Mount Hua Sect Leader is effectively vacant. Word is that the chances of the mad Divine Venerable returning are next to none... Filling that vacancy quickly would benefit Mount Hua, wouldn't it?"
"That... may be true."
"But here's another problem. The Radiant Flower Sword Force technique passed down through generations of Mount Hua Sect Leaders-the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Swordsmanship-its true transmission has been severed. Of course, there are those who have learned it to some degree... but the issue is that no one has mastered the final stance, Plum Blossom Miles Fragrance."
"...Pardon?"
"A swordsmanship where beginning and end don't perfectly align is as good as incomplete. No one knows the final stance of the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Swordsmanship except the deranged Divine Venerable... So, there's currently no one in Mount Hua who can properly carry on its legacy. As such, Mount Hua is in a state of disarray right now."
"Does that mean... there's a power struggle within Mount Hua to claim the Sect Leader position?"
"Exactly. The elders are maneuvering to seize the empty seat. And innocent disciples are getting caught in the crossfire."
"......."
"Someone has to put a stop to it, don't you think? Go and mediate for them. And while you're at it, do one more thing for me."
"One more... thing?"
"I once mentioned that before the Divine Venerable went mad, he took in a single disciple. She's the one tending to him now in his madness..."
The Murim Alliance Leader patted my shoulder.
"Help her claim her rightful place. Isn't it common for a Sect Leader's disciple to become the next Sect Leader?"
"...But if I'm taking sides, isn't that not mediation?"
"If the Divine Venerable's disciple isn't qualified to be Sect Leader, then who is? He always told me that the only one fit to succeed him was his sole disciple. So protect her. Help her win at the Mount Hua Martial Assembly four months from now-the battle for Mount Hua's leadership. It would be the best outcome for the rightful heir to take that seat."
"......."
"Of course, it won't be easy. The elders will obstruct you. There might even be ambushes. Mount Hua is on edge right now... In the worst case, they might resort to murder to eliminate her. Without her, they can compete among themselves."
The Murim Alliance Leader whispered to me.
"Someone has to do it, right? It's only natural for a disciple to inherit their master's legacy. Help her end the war within Mount Hua Sect. Red Cloud. I believe true mediation is ensuring the rightful successor takes the Plum Blossom Divine Lord's seat."
. . .
Mount Hua Sect internal investigation.
The main task was to halt the power struggle currently unfolding in Mount Hua. Broadly speaking, it was the kind of duty an inspector should handle, so there was nothing particularly objectionable.
The content itself was straightforward. On the surface, it all sounded perfectly reasonable.
But was the full story really as it seemed?
I sought help from the assassin 'Number 1' assigned to me when Suryeon left. Without batting an eye, she gathered a rough overview of the information in half a day.
The contents were brutal.
"......."
The moment Gu Hwa-rin, the current disciple of Mount Hua's Sect Leader, ascends to that position...
Mount Hua would shatter into pieces.
"Daddy. What are you thinking about?"
"...Just a moment, Su-ah."
Though there were many female experts in the martial world, compared to men, they were still a minority.
In an era where it was taken for granted that men carried on the lineage, female Sect Leaders were virtually nonexistent.
Moreover, Gu Hwa-rin wasn't even a formal disciple of Mount Hua. She was a lay disciple brought in from outside by the Plum Blossom Divine Lord one day, not even granted a Taoist name.
She had legitimacy in name only, but she lacked much to represent all of Mount Hua. Rumors even said she herself had no interest in carrying on Mount Hua's lineage.
And they wanted to put someone like that... on Mount Hua's Sect Leader throne?
Even if Gu Hwa-rin became Sect Leader, it would be a problem. The elders would question her legitimacy, and those below wouldn't accept her at all.
It was like an illegitimate child entering the main household and not being treated as family. How could anyone not resent a stranger who suddenly acts like the head of the house without ever having spent time with them?
The moment she seized power, the cracks already fracturing Mount Hua would widen irreparably.
And those widened cracks...
Would soon erupt into infighting, causing Mount Hua to weaken itself from within.
"......."
Preaching justice while scheming like a sly fox.
This was as tough as the Shaolin matter. Were they planning to keep dumping these headaches on me?
But a task accepted was a task to complete, somehow finding a compromise.
The silver lining was that no extras were tagging along this time.
Neither Gu Yang nor the Purple Sword were accompanying my journey. That alone made things less conspicuous and more convenient.
"Su-ah."
"Yes?"
Su-ah, walking ahead, spun around with a twirl. I gazed silently at the sword made specially for her at the Heavenly Martial Academy.
Its length was short to suit her small frame. It was a longsword for her level, but to me, it was no different from a standard blade.
Since I planned to teach her the Nine Heavens Blood Demon Sword, I had at least fitted her with a proper sword...
But before teaching martial arts, there was one thing I wanted to try.
The Nine Heavens Blood Demon Sword was a technique that grew stronger the closer one came to death.
To practice it properly, even ten lives wouldn't be enough...
But perhaps I could share some with her.
My Heavenly Tribulation.
"......"
But first, confirmation. I faced Su-ah as she approached.
We were far from any settlements. No prying eyes.
This spot would do for the task.
"Su-ah. I have something I want to give you."
"What is it?"
"This."
I deliberately summoned Heavenly Tribulation onto my palm. It writhed and danced lightly along my qi.
Su-ah gasped in admiration.
"It's amazing..."
"This is called Heavenly Tribulation. It heals wounds and purges impurities from the body."
"...That's great!"
"Yes. But it's not entirely good. It brings excruciating pain when healing wounds."
"......."
"The Nine Heavens Blood Demon Sword's training pushes the body to its absolute limits-like you might die any moment. That's the only way to progress. Of course, you're smart, so you might advance much faster... but you'll still need this. It speeds recovery and lets your body endure more."
"...Does it hurt a lot?"
"Yes."
Su-ah lightly touched Heavenly Tribulation.
It shuddered but strangely rubbed against her finger.
"......?"
This wasn't the reaction I expected...
When I first encountered this thing, didn't it tear me apart in agony?
"It's cute. It takes after Daddy."
"...After me?"
"Yes."
Had its nature changed as it adapted to my body?
I had no idea. But first, I'd test it.
The First Demon had said Heavenly Tribulation inflicts horrific pain on those not innately compatible. And I had experienced it firsthand.
But I had no intention of letting her suffer that. I'd check only her physical compatibility...
And if rejection occurred, remove it immediately.
That was the plan.
"I'm going to test this in your body now."
"......"
"Tell me right away if it hurts. I'll extract it instantly."
"...Okay."
I carefully infused Heavenly Tribulation into Su-ah's body. Even as it entered her, the Heavenly Tribulation within me didn't diminish or weaken.
This qi-devouring entity that proliferated wildly recovered the next moment even if most of it vanished. As long as it didn't detach from its host, it never fully disappeared or weakened-a bizarre substance.
I implanted a small seed of it into her body.
...But...
No side effects occurred.
Not a single one.
"Hmm?"
"Does it hurt?"
"No. It just feels a bit weird."
I monitored her condition in real time. Heavenly Tribulation quickly took root, claiming her body as if it were coming home.
It ballooned in an instant, overtaking her entire body in a flash.
"Hmmmmm...?"
The slight wriggling settled quickly. Su-ah sprang up and examined her body all over.
"It doesn't hurt. It tickled for a second... but that went away fast."
"...Hmm..."
"And... I feel like I understand something..."
"Understand what?"
"Wait a sec."
Su-ah drew her sword. She glanced at me, then without hesitation slashed her palm.
Tears welled up instantly. But Heavenly Tribulation surged out, enveloping the wound.
"...Ow..."
Su-ah groaned, peering at her now-healed palm. Then she beamed at me.
"It's like Daddy's!"
"...Yes."
Had I called her a once-in-a-century martial prodigy?
Whether due to that or some other reason, one thing was clear.
She was a genius.
Even at handling Heavenly Tribulation.
. . .
I taught Su-ah the sword. The forms of the Nine Heavens Blood Demon Sword, points of caution, and body-tempering methods.
She mimicked me adeptly. Her fluid sword movements felt like fleeing from a swift beast.
Daily progress. Her aptitude for the Nine Heavens Blood Demon Art was remarkable. The pure energy of the Great Return Pill had fully transformed into blood qi, faintly leaking crimson sword qi from her fingertips.
Just half a month after properly starting the Nine Heavens Blood Demon Art...
She shattered the wall to peak mastery.
Even with the Great Return Pill's power, it was absurd growth. And not just that-her body looked smaller than her peers outwardly, but its foundation was entirely different.
Her muscles were thin yet dense. The quality of those muscles was completely unlike others.
As deep and refined as the ones I'd forged through relentless effort and time. She lifted a boulder effortlessly with her small frame, no sign of strain-it felt surreal.
It upended everything I knew about the martial world.
But I was glad for it. Teaching her was enjoyable.
Every lesson absorbed instantly, advancing two steps beyond...
I understood why Mo Yong-hwi had coveted her.
"Daddy... Did I do well?"
"Of course. You did great."
I moved with Su-ah. Demonstrating Nine Heavens Blood Demon Sword forms, striving to impart even one more insight.
It took just ten days to master the First Form, Ghost Hand One Demon.
Another ten days to complete the Second Form, Soul-Pulling Thrust.
Variations were a given. She was already acquiring the third form.
By the time the rippling Third Form, Tyrant Demon Wave, faintly enveloped her body, we finally arrived in Shaanxi.
Our lightfoot practice shortened the journey.
I booked lodging in Huayin County at the foot of Mount Hua. To wash off travel fatigue before ascending, and to indulge her cravings with a feast.
"Daddyyy... I love you."
"Eat up."
"Yes!"
I ate while surveying the surroundings.
The village buzzed with unrest. And not just that-Mount Hua uniforms dotted everywhere, as if searching for something.