The Vermilion Bird's Domain
CRAAAAASH—
In that instant, a colossal wave of energy erupted from the summit of Huashan. At the same time, a dense plum-blossom fragrance blanketed the entire mountain.
Yeong-hwa hastily set the woman down from his arms and spread his spiritual sense.
"Why is the Sect Leader here…?"
One of the auras was unmistakably Sect Leader Hyeonsong. The other was saturated with the scent of plum blossoms—clearly a master of the Huashan Sect.
Convinced a battle had broken out, Yeong-hwa seized her hand.
"Can you use light-foot techniques?"
The woman nodded without a word.
Yeong-hwa launched into the Cloud-Riding Art, treading the stone steps as lightly as drifting clouds. She too unfurled Huashan's light-foot skill, the Dark Fragrance Drift, soaring upward like a scattering of petals.
In moments they reached the entrance of the Huashan Sect. The Southern Heaven Gate, emblem of Huashan itself, rose before them. Yet not a single Huashan disciple stood guard.
The sight of the gate made the woman begin to tremble violently.
BOOOOOOM—
"Young lady, wait here!"
At the fierce sound of shattering air, Yeong-hwa dashed desperately into the sect grounds. The closer he drew to the Great Training Ground where the roar originated, the thicker and more metallic the plum fragrance became.
"Senior Snow Plum Sword Venerable, please come to your senses!"
White sword-qi clung to the broken blade of Hyeonsong's Songmun Ancient Sword.
"I told you to bring that bitch here at once!"
Opposite Hyeonsong stood a middle-aged man who looked to be around thirty, gripping a Plum Blossom Sword. Pink sword-qi blazed clearly along its edge.
CLANG— SHIIING— CRAAASH—
From the rear, Hagun—struggling alongside Huashan disciples to hold back the sect's own elders—shouted,
"Sect Leader! The Huashan elders have all lost their minds as well!"
"Senior, you have abandoned the principles of the orthodox path. This is unavoidable, so…"
RUMMMMMBLE—
Behind Hyeonsong a ring of the Limitless appeared and began to spin with ferocious speed. Resolve hardened in Hyeonsong's eyes.
"Do not resent me."
As if refusing to be outdone, the Snow Plum Sword Venerable's sword-qi burst outward in every direction. The qi transformed into pale-pink petals that rode the wind, one by one. A vicious plum fragrance poured from his blade. The petals formed a storm.
The Snow Plum Sword Venerable spoke in a low voice.
Maehwa Manrihyang
SHHHHRRRK—
The Snow Plum Sword Venerable leveled his blade at Hyeonsong. The storm of petals swallowed Hyeonsong's entire body.
SSSSHHHHRRRK—
In that instant a gentle fair wind rose within the plum-blossom tempest. The sword-qi petals were drawn into a single point—the spine of Hyeonsong's sword.
Hyeonsong's blade traced a soft circle. At the same moment he stepped half a pace back and spun. The plum-blossom storm was trapped within his Taegeukhyekeom and lost its force.
Just as Hyeonsong prepared to thrust straight at the Snow Plum Sword Venerable—
"In the North resides the Black Tortoise Deity…"
Yeong-hwa's incantation rang out, and a massive black tortoise shell materialized between the two men.
BOOOOOOM—
The Plum Blossom Fragrance of Ten Thousand Miles that Hyeonsong had reversed with the Taegeukhyekeom slammed into the shell and withered away.
Face flushed with fury, Hyeonsong shouted urgently at Yeong-hwa.
"Yeong-hwa, do not interfere!"
"Sect Leader, you must stop!"
The Black Tortoise pattern on the back of Yeong-hwa's hand blazed with black light.
ZZZT— ZZZZZT— ZZZZZZZT—
Yeong-hwa pressed his palms together and began to chant the scripture.
The moment the words Lust Kill left his lips, the Snow Plum Sword Venerable and the Huashan elders who had been rampaging like madmen let out agonized screams.
"KRAAAAAAAAGH!"
CLATTER—
As though his skull were splitting, the man dropped his sword and writhed on the ground.
"Senior!"
Hyeonsong rushed toward the Snow Plum Sword Venerable the instant he saw it.
SHHHHHHK—
Bloody qi drained from the eyes of the elders and the Snow Plum Sword Venerable alike.
THUD— THUD— THUD— THUD— THUD—
They clutched their heads, eyes rolled white, and collapsed one after another. The bloody qi gathered into a single stream and flew straight toward Yeong-hwa.
"KRAAAAAANG!"
The Black Tortoise manifested before Yeong-hwa and greedily devoured the bloody qi.
THUD—
"It is done."
Yeong-hwa sank to the ground and spoke weakly.
Hagun sprinted over and examined him at once.
"Yeong-hwa, are you all right?"
A thin trail of blood ran from the corner of Yeong-hwa's mouth.
"Senior Brother, help me stand."
"Understood!"
Hagun took Yeong-hwa's arm and supported him. Trembling violently, Yeong-hwa fixed his gaze on one place—the ancestral shrine of the Huashan Sect.
"How… the Vermilion Bird Deity…"
At those words the plum petals swirling throughout Huashan gathered into one place. They formed the shape of a colossal bird and blazed fiercely.
"An interesting little thing."
"Why have you done this?"
"This concerns the Huashan Sect under my protection."
The Vermilion Bird Deity regarded Yeong-hwa with a cold smile.
"A Taoist of Wudang has no business interfering."
"Is that not bloody qi?"
"And if it is, what of it?"
"Do you not know that the Jade Emperor was enraged because of the Blood Jade?"
"I know."
The Vermilion Bird's mad laughter sent chills down the spines of all who heard it.
"I myself am managing a fragment of the Blood Jade. Fifty years from now, at the Heavenly Assembly, I need only present it to the Jade Emperor. There will be no problem."
"Surely you have not fallen for the schemes of the Blood Cult remnants…"
WHOOOOSH—
The Vermilion Bird swept one wing, and flames roared up around Yeong-hwa.
"Yeong-hwa!"
Hyeonsong lunged to save him, but the wall of fire swelled enormous.
BOOOOOM—
Hagun was hurled out of the flames. Hyeonsong caught him in his arms.
"Hagun, are you unharmed? Yeong-hwa—!"
"Someone… forced me out."
Then Yeong-hwa's furious shout rang from within the fire.
"If that is not the case, how can a guardian deity do such a thing to Huashan?!"
"However favored you may be by the Black Tortoise…"
At Yeong-hwa's rebuke the Vermilion Bird Deity's voice turned icy.
"You have crossed the line."
"Damn it…"
Having already summoned the Black Tortoise, Yeong-hwa had no divine power left.
WHOOOOSH—
Just as the wall of flame was about to swallow him—
"GRRRRRRRRRR—"
The roar of the Mountain King thundered forth. White lightning qi howled in every direction.
CRAAAAASH—
White lightning slammed into the heart of the fire pillar that sought Yeong-hwa's life. The Vermilion Bird's flames were neutralized and scattered.
The Vermilion Bird Deity spoke with an intrigued expression.
"White Tiger!"
The White Tiger Deity appeared before Yeong-hwa.
Yeong-hwa stared in shock.
"White Tiger Deity!"
"From the moment I heard you were going to Huashan, I knew something like this would happen."
The White Tiger Deity smiled at him.
"When you performed the Heavenly Dao Rite, I secretly sealed a portion of my divine power into your fan."
With a flick of his tail the White Tiger lifted Yeong-hwa and set him gently beside Hyeonsong. Then he snarled fiercely at the Vermilion Bird.
"This is the child who saved the family under my protection. I cannot tolerate your actions."
The Vermilion Bird answered in a heated voice.
"White Tiger! Have you forgotten the heavenly ordinance that no other deity may interfere with a sect or clan under a guardian's protection?"
The White Tiger Deity grinned.
"This child belongs to Wudang, not to the Huashan you watch over…"
"Do not play word games!"
The Vermilion Bird looked ready to leap at the White Tiger that very instant. Yet the White Tiger remained utterly composed.
"Did you know?"
He continued slowly.
"Before I came here, I already spoke with both the Azure Dragon and the Black Tortoise."
"As cunning as ever…"
"Take it as a compliment for thorough preparation."
The Vermilion Bird soared into the sky and cried,
"I withdraw for today."
He headed for the ancestral shrine at the very peak of Huashan. Looking back at Yeong-hwa, he said,
"Interfere further in Huashan and not a scrap of your lifespan will remain."
WHOOOOSH—
The Vermilion Bird dissolved into a handful of flame and vanished.
"Haaaaah…"
Watching the vanished deity, Yeong-hwa let out a long breath.
"Thank you, White Tiger Deity!"
"No need for thanks."
The White Tiger stroked Yeong-hwa with a forepaw. White lightning qi flowed into the boy's body, and the blood at the corner of his mouth ceased.
"With this I have repaid the grace you showed my house."
Yeong-hwa smiled faintly at those words.
"Is that why you came all this way in person?"
The White Tiger returned a gentle smile.
"We gods simply cannot bear to remain in debt."
He crouched low.
"Be careful. The Vermilion Bird's temperament is vicious."
"So it seems."
The White Tiger Deity leapt down the mountain and vanished like a bolt of lightning.
Hyeonsong and Hagun hurried over and examined Yeong-hwa's body.
Hagun spoke first.
"No injuries."
Hyeonsong added,
"Not even a burn. Heaven itself must have protected you."
Restored by the White Tiger's power, Yeong-hwa spoke in a vigorous voice.
"Sect Leader, Senior Brother—I have found it!"
Hyeonsong asked,
"Found what?"
"It stopped precisely at the Lust Kill."
Hagun shook his head, puzzled.
"The Lust Kill?"
"The scripture I just chanted is the Hundred Kills Exorcism Sutra."
Hyeonsong looked astonished.
"A scripture that extinguishes the kills, you say?"
"Yes, Sect Leader."
Yeong-hwa requested of them both,
"First let us move the fallen Huashan Sect Leader and the elders."
"Let us do so."
"Understood, Yeong-hwa."
Yeong-hwa launched into the Cloud-Riding Art as he spoke.
"I must go somewhere for a moment!"
As soon as he vanished, Hyeonsong addressed the wounded Huashan disciples, who were still reeling from the shock of what had just occurred.
"This humble Taoist is Hyeonsong, Sect Leader of Wudang!"
At his cry the Huashan disciples murmured among themselves.
"The Cloud Darkness Sword!"
"Why has the Wudang Sect Leader come to Huashan?"
"Was Sect Leader Hyeonsong always so young…?"
"For now, let us carry the Huashan Sect Leader and the elders inside!"
At Hyeonsong's words one Huashan disciple stepped forward, offered a respectful martial salute, and said,
"I am Myeongjeong, first-generation disciple of Huashan."
He hoisted the fallen Snow Plum Sword Venerable onto his back.
"I shall take him to the Hundred-Plum Tranquil Pavilion Palace, the Sect Leader's residence."
Myeongjeong looked to the other disciples.
"All of you, carry the elders and follow me!"
"Yes, Senior Brother!"
Myeongjeong unfurled the Dark Fragrance Drift and headed for the Hundred-Plum Tranquil Pavilion Palace. Hyeonsong and Hagun likewise employed the Cloud-Riding Art and followed close behind.
At that same moment Yeong-hwa was racing back toward the Southern Heaven Gate where he had left the young woman. As he neared the gate he saw her still hesitating, unable to enter.
"Young lady!"
Yeong-hwa waved as he called out.
"Taoist!"
The woman still clutched a sword from which blood dripped steadily.
TAP—
Yeong-hwa stopped before her and offered a martial salute.
"You are a Taoist of Huashan as well, are you not?"
"I am…"
"May I ask your name?"
"I am…"
The girl hesitated, then gave her Taoist name.
"I am Wol-yeon, second-generation disciple of Huashan."
Yeong-hwa stared intently into her eyes.
"Taoist, why do you look at me so…?"
Fear spread through Wol-yeon's gaze. Yet Yeong-hwa continued to observe her.
"Surely you too…"
TAP—
She retreated with Huashan's unique footwork, the Jade Ring Marvelous Steps. Wherever her foot landed, plum blossoms bloomed upon the ground. From a distance she assumed a ready stance and wept bitterly.
"Why… why only me?!"
Suddenly Yeong-hwa drew a handful of rice from the pouch at his waist.
SHHHHHRK—
He scattered the grains across the ground and studied the pattern they formed.
"Ah…"
Yeong-hwa let out a deep sigh.
"Taoist Wol-yeon."
"Yes?"
Still holding her sword and on guard, Wol-yeon seemed startled by the perfectly normal tone of his voice.
"From birth you have carried the Peach Blossom Kill…"
"That is…"
"The problem is this."
Yeong-hwa glared toward the ancestral shrine of Huashan.
"Someone has forcibly inserted into your fate the Crimson Flame Kill—something that was never part of your destiny."
He moved the rice grains this way and that as he continued.
"Ugh… Even if the two kills have been combined, it should not be this severe."
He rubbed his throbbing forehead.
"For now, come with me."
In a trembling voice Wol-yeon asked,
"Are you truly unharmed?"