The Heavenly Demon Establishes Mount Hua (2)
Originally, I thought that by hanging up a signboard and inheriting the name of Mount Hua, it would become Mount Hua. However, when I gave separate teachings, Harin’s father said that was the way of Murim NPCs, and users had to go directly to establish a sect. I couldn’t understand it, but when he said that doing so would bring systemic benefits, I came to Hanzhong to establish a sect as he suggested.
At that time, I still thought there wouldn’t be anything particularly complicated about creating a sect. I thought it was just a matter of entering the sect’s name and who the sect leader would be.
“Therefore… I intend to use the former Mount Hua Sect’s site as is.”
That was my grand misconception.
There were more than one or two conditions required to register a user sect.
“Does the ownership of the site belong to MintChocoPineapplePizza-nim?”
“Ownership?”
“Just a moment. I’ll check. It seems the ownership transferred when you defeated the Mount Hua Sect leader. You can use it.”
So ownership had been granted without my knowledge. It must have been buried in the messages I dismissed as bothersome last time. It was truly fortunate. If I hadn’t owned the place, I might have had to hand over the site I’d painstakingly rebuilt to someone else.
It seems the day has come to actually check my messages. There are probably more than one or two pieces of information I’ve missed this way.
“And also…”
The receptionist handling user sect establishment in Hanzhong was more suited to being called a game NPC than a person of Murim. This woman, who didn’t hesitate to use various systems and spoke in ways only users would understand, looked like a user at first glance. Looking at her like this, I could feel that this place was infinitely similar to where I used to live, yet completely different.
“Please write down the names of those who will participate in founding the sect here.”
Receiving the paper, I was glad I’d decided on the Mount Hua sect members beforehand. If I hadn’t prepared anything, I’d have had to rack my brains here for a long time.
When I tested for Mount Hua previously, what I focused on was whether that person was suited for Mount Hua’s martial arts. Martial arts also have affinities. For example, users of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art that I’m currently using need to possess a certain level of arrogance. Otherwise, it’s difficult to draw out the original form of the art. Those who learn the Namgung clan’s martial arts require perfectionism. Without finely controlling everything, one cannot display all of Namgung’s aspects. And what those who wield Mount Hua’s martial arts need is cunning.
As I mentioned before, the foundation of Mount Hua’s martial arts is technique and cunning. There are cases where only one of the two exists, but most of the superior martial arts in Mount Hua are a mix of both. Therefore, to learn Mount Hua’s martial arts, one must know how to handle both technique and cunning sufficiently. To use these two in proper harmony, cunning is absolutely necessary.
Based on that criterion, after discussing with Sitan-gyeon and gathering opinions to select people, it came to exactly ten people. So, since there was one person I particularly wanted to keep by my side and torment, I decided to start the sect with eleven people by adding one more.
After writing down the names of those I’d decided on in advance and handing it over, the receptionist tapped the system window while looking at the paper.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m sending messages to these people asking if they intend to join the sect. If five or more agree, we’ll proceed to the next stage.”
Eh. Hmm? You’re sending messages right now? This is troublesome. I was planning to send separate messages tomorrow, but this way they’ll know in advance. Since it’s a necessary procedure, I can’t stop it. Hmm. I suppose I should send them messages saying they’ve passed even now.
As soon as I opened the system window to write messages to send to them, a reply flew in from one person. It was Seol-ah. It hadn’t even been 30 seconds since the receptionist sent the messages, but what was this long text? Had she been waiting, knowing I would send a message?
Following that, at intervals of several tens of seconds, messages came back from those whose names I’d written as Mount Hua members. I guess there’s no need to separately inform them that they’ve passed. Just telling them to gather by what time tomorrow would be enough.
“Five or more agreements have been confirmed. Now for the final stage. Would you like to provide the funds for establishing the sect?”
“How much is it?”
“Roughly…”
Upon hearing the amount needed for establishment from the receptionist, I felt my mind go blank. Where would I prepare such a large sum? Well, I could prepare it if I wanted. It would be enough to raid a few bandit strongholds or extort money from the unorthodox faction guys. But right now, it’s impossible. Currently, I’m a penniless beggar. It can’t be helped. I’ll have to come back next time. It’s not like problems will arise just because I don’t establish the sect right away.
Seeing me with a troubled expression, the receptionist smiled and casually brought it up.
“If you don’t have money, we can lend you some for a while.”
“Is that allowed?”
“Yes! Coincidentally, a new product was added this time. This is…”
When the topic of loans came up, the receptionist’s words suddenly became lively. As if she’d been waiting for this moment. As with all merchant talk, it sounded plausible if you listened with one ear. But I know. You shouldn’t fall for it at times like this. The more plausible something sounds when you hear it, the more you need to double-check. Having once used such words to pull off something similar to a scam, I couldn’t not know.
To confirm, while listening to what the receptionist was saying, I sent a message to Harin explaining the current situation. Soon after, a reply came.
Along with the reply, money arrived via the system’s mail. It was the same amount as the large sum needed for sect establishment. To readily give such a large amount… Harin, you must be quite wealthy in this world.
Seeing that amount, I thought about returning it as is, but decided to establish the sect first and repay it gradually later. If I don’t use the money she gave, wouldn’t she feel disappointed?
“Thanks for the explanation, but I was mistaken. I had money.”
“…Yes? Is that so? That’s good then.”
The receptionist’s voice saying it was good was strangely gloomy. Is it your duty to make users take out loans?
After finishing the sect establishment and coming outside, several message windows appeared again. Thinking I’d dismiss them as usual, but worried I wouldn’t check them again, I checked each message one by one.
Congratulations! You have established a sect! From now on, you must lead the sect as its leader!
The Sect Menu has opened. Please check the various functions inside!
You have become the leader of a sect! Your fame has risen even higher!
Quest Clear: Rebuilding Mount Hua
Mount Hua fell in a dishonorable manner, but its legacy had not completely vanished. Today, Mount Hua has been reborn at the hands of the one who ended the corrupted Mount Hua. We hope you will strive until the day Mount Hua regains its former glory.
Reward: One of Mount Hua’s martial arts manuals
As soon as I checked the window, a book fell from the air. The writing on the cover indicated it was the manual for the Six Harmonies Sword Technique. It wasn’t among the most outstanding of Mount Hua’s martial arts, but so what? What mattered was that the empty library, gathering nothing but dust, now had something to put inside. Han Min-jun would be truly pleased.
*
The day after Hwaryeong established Mount Hua, Siyugeom logged into Hwaryong Muin much earlier than the time Hwaryeong had called him. He still had something to take care of before heading to Mount Hua.
“You’re leaving?”
“Yes.”
“To join the Mount Hua that Hwaryeong created?”
“That’s right.”
When Siyugeom nodded, the guild leader of the user Murim Alliance frowned.
“Siyugeom. Do you really have to do this? If an executive like you leaves to join Mount Hua, what happens to my face?”
Well, I doubt he’d care. After all, this is just a game. Would people really care who joins or leaves?
Siyugeom thought this but didn’t show it outwardly. If he did, the guild leader would obviously fly into a rage.
“Hey. I’ll treat you well. I’ve got some new elixirs this time. Quite a few, actually.”
“I’m sorry. I’ve already made up my mind.”
“Ha. Seriously. That damned Hwaryeong. Hwaryeong. It’s true she’s strong, but do you really think the benefits she gives are greater than what the Murim Alliance gives?!”
The guild leader grew increasingly heated as he spoke, then slammed the desk and roared so loudly the room shook.
“In Apis, it was enough for her to be strong alone, but not here! This is Hwaryong Muin! Do you understand?! Here, Hwaryeong is nothing more than a strong individual! She can’t crush me like she did in Apis!”
In the past, when the concept characters of Apis gathered for a grand tournament, the guild leader had gone around declaring he would defeat Hwaryeong in a way that matched his concept. But the result had been disastrous. He was eliminated without even encountering Hwaryeong. Furthermore, in the subsequent 13-versus-1 match, the guild leader failed to land even a single proper attack on Hwaryeong.
If it had ended there, it might have been fine. Since he hadn’t even faced her, he wouldn’t have had to personally experience what kind of existence Hwaryeong was. But the 13-versus-1 match that followed was the problem. As one of the selected participants, the guild leader once again failed to land a single proper attack on Hwaryeong. Instead, he was sent flying far away with just one of Hwaryeong’s strikes.
After that spar ended, Hwaryeong said this to the guild leader:
‘The martial art you’re currently using doesn’t suit you. I recommend finding a different one.’
Those words, spoken by someone infinitely above him in realm, struck the guild leader—who had taken pride in his martial art—as a tremendous shock.
After that incident, the guild leader reacted sensitively to anything involving Hwaryeong. The most fitting description would be that he became Hwaryeong’s anti-fan. No matter what she did, he responded negatively and was busy belittling her. The reason the user Murim Alliance poured all their efforts into producing a disciple of Geomseon was also because of this. Half of it was for practical reasons, but the other half was due to the guild leader’s pride—Hwaryeong did it, so why couldn’t we?
He stubbornly insisted on proving that while Hwaryeong was strong as an individual, he was strong as a group. Even now, after the plan to produce Geomseon’s disciple ended in miserable failure, the guild leader still harbored animosity toward Hwaryeong. That was why he couldn’t simply laugh off Siyugeom’s words about joining under Hwaryeong.
To Siyugeom, who didn’t fully understand these circumstances, the guild leader’s behavior simply looked like ugly jealousy.
“You’re still going?”
“I am.”
“Just know this. I won’t leave Hwaryeong alone. I’ll definitely go destroy the Mount Hua she built. Don’t regret it when that time comes.”
“Do as you please.”
Destroy Mount Hua? Defeat Hwaryeong? As if that’s possible, Guild Leader.