The Qi Arts Master Chapter 99
This round of the endless sparring went to Hwaran.
In the beginning, Song Sogeol had dominated the wins with his overwhelming inner power and real combat experience. But lately, the growth of the other Medical Pavilion trainees—and Hwaran in particular—had been nothing short of ferocious. Song Sogeol still led in sheer quantity of inner energy, but in practical combat, the rest had surged ahead thanks to their rigorous training. Hwaran especially was terrifying; she'd gained a full cycle's worth of inner power during her treatment, along with a full-body marrow cleanse and bone transformation.
"Aigo..."
Song Sogeol groaned as he soaked in the medicinal bath. The single-person tub was filled with elixirs and herbs developed through research by Ma Chung and Jin Shinui.
"Aigooh..."
"Aiguu..."
Chu Yeon and the other female trainees groaned from their adjacent tubs. After getting utterly thrashed in spars with Tian Ailang, the trainees always ended up like this—dunked in these baths to heal their bodies and fatigue.
The bathhouse was set up inside a formation, so the vast gathered qi amplified the healing effects dramatically.
"You all okay?"
In the women's bathhouse, Hwaran was the only one unscathed. She scanned the room with a worried frown.
"Heh. I'm fine. But sis, your skills have grown a ton."
"It's all thanks to you, Sogeol."
Hwaran had faced Song Sogeol in the final matchup. His fluid, unpredictable movements were masterful, but Hwaran's innate insight had read his trajectories perfectly, securing her win.
"Who's wasting good medicine on chit-chat?!"
Jin Shinui bellowed from outside the building.
"Lord Tian keeps sending me sound transmissions!" Song Sogeol shouted back with exaggerated innocence, then winked roguishly at the women with one eye. They burst into giggles.
Dumping the blame on the absent Tian Ailang, Song Sogeol promptly closed his eyes and began circulating his qi. The others followed suit.
Since their Qi Circulation Heart Method involved breathing in and harmonizing with qi through every pore, the bath's medicinal effects seeped rapidly into their bodies.
This wasn't the end of their schedule, though. Once they'd absorbed the bath's energy at their own pace, the trainees moved to seats of their choosing. From there, it was self-directed: more qi circulation or catching up on studies. Official free time ran until the end of Chou hour—3 a.m. Most filled every minute with personal training and study. Sleep was permitted only until the end of Yin hour—5 a.m.—before morning physical training assembly.
It was a murderous schedule, but the baths, qi circulation within the formation, and raw human adaptability made it possible.
* * *
"Fourth Uncle! I found traces of Senior Brother Cheongsang here!"
A diligent young man shouted upon discovering something in the forest. His cry drew the eyes of his searching senior brothers. All five wore white robes embroidered with plum blossoms at the cuffs— the symbol of Mount Hua Sect.
Elder Baekjin of Mount Hua dashed to where his first-generation disciple Cheonggong had called out. His grizzled beard whipped in his urgency.
Baekjin examined the spot. A small ornament lay there, knotted with sky-blue silk threads—the waist accessory symbolizing a first-generation disciple, one he'd personally gifted his own student.
"...It's Cheongsang's, all right."
Baekjin's voice cracked as he spoke. His face twisted in anguish. The carelessly discarded, trampled token seemed to scream uncertainty about his disciple's fate.
My disciple...
Baekjin scanned the area around the ornament with a worried frown.
There was a fight.
But the traces were too confined and minor for a fierce battle.
It looks like he was subdued in just a few exchanges.
Baekjin's expression darkened further. His sole disciple was a heaven-sent talent in Mount Hua, second only to Grand Senior Brother Cheongbeon among the first-generation disciples. Known in the world as the Returning Current Three Swords, he was a pride the sect had carefully nurtured.
But who would dare?!
Baekjin ground his teeth in rage.
"Fourth Uncle."
Cheonggong, who'd been watching with pity, tried to console him. The other searching disciples gathered behind, their gazes heavy with concern.
Baekjin took a deep breath to steady himself.
"I must look pathetic."
Cheonggong shook his head at Baekjin's words.
"Nonsense. How could we not understand your feelings for Senior Brother Cheongsang? But seeing these traces... I'm deeply worried about whether Senior Brother Cheongsang is safe.
Baekjin nodded in agreement.
"Indeed. Who would dare abduct a Mount Hua disciple...?"
No matter how he racked his brains, Baekjin couldn't fathom or guess who might have kidnapped a Mount Hua disciple.
That was when it happened.
Two unidentified old men emerged from the trees surrounding Baekjin and the first-generation disciples. Their hunched backs and deeply wrinkled faces betrayed their age.
"We've needed fresh sacrifices lately. Good thing we hustled."
One old man spoke, and the other slowly eyed the Mount Hua members.
"Indeed. More Mount Hua disciples—delightful."
The old man grinned wide, baring his rotten yellow teeth.
"Sun's setting. Let's finish quick and go."
The two nodded to each other and drew their swords.
"Who are you?! Why do you block Mount Hua's path?!"
Baekjin bellowed at the aggressive old men's movements. His thunderous shout, laced with profound inner power, shook the forest.
The other first-generation disciples drew courage from Baekjin's realm and glared at the old men.
The old men's lips curled higher at the sight.
"Cute."
One old man swung his sword at Baekjin—from nearly a hundred paces away. To the Mount Hua disciples, it seemed bafflingly reckless.
But Baekjin widened his eyes in alarm and hastily swung back.
Claaang!
The clash of tremendous sword qi furrowed Baekjin's brow. The impact nearly tore the sword from his grip.
What inner power is this...?
Chaaang!
Regardless of Baekjin's shock, the first-generation disciples drew their swords. Mount Hua was under attack, backstory be damned—they had to respond.
"Fourth Uncle, you okay?!"
Cheonggong pressed close to Baekjin.
Baekjin replied with a grave expression.
"Don't underestimate them."
Cheonggong's eyes blazed as he responded.
"We're all Plum Blossom Swordsmen here."
Baekjin glanced at his disciples. Seeing them rally their auras without fear, he nodded instinctively. These were Mount Hua's elite, forged through bitter trials as Plum Blossom Swordsmen.
"Right. We are Mount Hua. And I suspect these old monsters are tied to Cheongsang's abduction."
"I think so too."
Then the old men's forms blurred into motion. One charged Baekjin; the other, the first-generation disciples.
Two old men against five Mount Hua elites. Thus, an unexpected clash erupted in the forest.
The old man targeting the disciples didn't even draw his sword—he simply swayed. Their blades missed him as if choreographed. He handled the Plum Blossom Swordsmen, who wielded not just sword qi but sword formations, with effortless poise.
"Not bad."
Confusion flooded the disciples' faces at his words. It felt like the old man was reading their attacks perfectly in advance.
Baekjin felt the same bewilderment. Every strike was effortlessly blocked.
He gritted his teeth and poured more power into his sword.
Klang!
Their blades wove through the air, sparking tiny fire fragments.
Shieeeek!
Sword force erupted from Baekjin's transcendent pinnacle blade—like petals drifting in a stream, scattering in multiples. It was Falling Petals Flowing Water, one of Mount Hua's signature forms. True to his moniker Plum Blossom Sword, plum petals materialized wherever his sword force lingered.
As the floral barrage closed in, Baekjin was certain of victory. He'd subdue this old man and interrogate him about his disciple.
But Baekjin's eyes flew wide. The old man's sword rippled, mirroring his Falling Petals Flowing Water exactly. At its tip bloomed sword force plums—but pitch black. And more numerous than Baekjin's own.
"Wh-what?! Urk!"
Baekjin's sword wavered in shock as he clutched his wound and staggered back. No need to check; the damage was severe. His white robe around the abdomen stained crimson in seconds.
"Fourth Uncle! Ngh!"
Cheonggong tried to break away at Baekjin's peril, but the old man's thrusting blade forced him back.
Cheonggong's face grew grim. They had the numbers, yet they couldn't handle these decrepit, hunched old men.
Baekjin lowered his sword, glaring at the old man. He'd forgotten his defenseless state amid the incomprehensible scene.
"How do you know Mount Hua techniques?!"
He roared at the old man.
The old man smirked.
"What was your Dao name again?"
Baekjin's eye twitched at the baffling question. Endless guesses swirled as he slowly replied.
"Baekjin."
The old man stroked his scraggly goatee.
"A junior of Baek generation, eh? I'm Hyeon Seong. Ring a bell?"
The word "junior" and the old man's name—echoing Mount Hua's Dao naming—left Baekjin stunned.
"Hyeon... Hyeon...?"
Baekjin pondered the name frantically while stemming his bleeding and regulating his breath. If this Hyeon was senior to his own Baek generation, he must be from the generation before last. Back when Baekjin was a second-generation disciple, the Hyeon elders had been Mount Hua's great seniors—now ascended, secluded, and exceedingly few.
"...A senior of Mount Hua Sect?"
Baekjin asked, half-disbelieving.
"What'd you hear? Just trained your martial arts and let your brain rot? Nah, your skills ain't even that great..."
Baekjin reeled in confusion at Hyeon Seong's words.
Then Hyeon Seong continued.
"Why do you think I told you my name?"
Baekjin's face soured at the old man's sinister grin. The raised sword and expression said it all.
Feeling his staunched abdominal wound, Baekjin raised his own sword. He glanced at his disciples. Their robes were stained red like his, yet none had fallen—not from their resolve, but the old man's whim, it seemed. The unscathed foe could crush them anytime.
The other old man, who'd been pressing the disciples, also paused to catch his breath amid the lull.
Four peak Plum Blossom Swordsmen can't handle one old man. Could he be as strong as this one before me...?!
A sudden piece of intel flashed through Baekjin's mind. He whipped his head toward the self-proclaimed Hyeon Seong.
"No way—Black Transformation?!"
Baekjin's outburst drew admiration from Hyeon Seong.
"Surprising a junior knows that term. Mount Hua must've kept our existence top secret."
Baekjin's face darkened at the old man's confirmation.