Chapter 253
Chapter 253
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 253
Chapter Title: The Path Mount Hua Sect Must Take
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Boom!
Yi Hwan's words wrapped the room in a silence so suffocating it felt like the air itself had frozen.
"As long as this Mount Hua stands within the territory of Yeon Kingdom, you are all subjects of Yeon Kingdom. Do you think you'll receive special treatment just because you're martial artists?"
"Please don't misunderstand. Mount Hua simply believes it is right to separate the affairs of the court and the martial world to avoid the problems that arise when martial artists meddle in politics."
"How absurd. Does that mean the court's business and the martial world's business are separate when it comes to subduing bandits who prey on the powerless common folk? Besides, bandits are ultimately part of the martial world. By your logic, shouldn't Mount Hua have taken the lead in wiping them out first?"
Shwaaa...
A chill spread around Yi Hwan. It was so intense that frost formed on the Sect Leader's beard across from him.
Yet no one could even twitch.
Yi Hwan continued.
"Rights come only after fulfilling one's duties. You possess powers that ordinary people couldn't dream of, yet you shirk your duties and demand rights? How am I supposed to accept that?"
Yi Hwan was truly furious.
The Non-Aggression between Court and Martial World he sought was not just for the benefit of martial artists.
It was about the court and the martial world recognizing each other and coexisting. It was about joining forces to strive for a world where they could live together.
That was the true spirit of Non-Aggression between Court and Martial World that he desired. It was why his era enjoyed peace and prosperity.
Yi Hwan raised his hand toward the back.
"Bring the sword."
"Yes."
Go Mi brought a sword wrapped in silk. Yi Hwan tossed it to the Sect Leader.
Clang!
The Sect Leader caught it reflexively, his face flushing with bewilderment.
"Unwrap it."
"Yes, Great Prince."
The Sect Leader slowly pulled off the silk. A scabbard engraved with plum blossom patterns gradually came into view.
The Sect Leader and the watching elders all widened their eyes in shock.
"The Azure Heaven Sword!"
Someone cried out.
Azure Heaven Sword.
The divine treasure passed down to Mount Hua Sect Leaders through the generations.
No one in the current Mount Hua had ever seen the real thing, but it had been handed down through the sect's secret records, so they all recognized it at a glance.
Tremble...
The Sect Leader's entire body shook.
His hands gripping the Azure Heaven Sword bulged with veins, as if terrified of letting it slip.
Everyone else bowed their heads toward the Azure Heaven Sword. Only one person, Myeong Seon, remained seated upright with his eyes closed.
Yi Hwan stared at Myeong Seon. He had taken note of him from the start.
Yi Hwan turned his gaze back to the Sect Leader.
"No more words. By tomorrow morning, redefine the path Mount Hua must take and come find me."
Yi Hwan rose abruptly and headed straight outside.
Ju Tae asked via transmission.
[Shall we retrieve the sword?]
[Leave it.]
[...]
* * *
[You seem really angry.]
[Yes.]
[Mount Hua doesn't feel like the old Mount Hua anymore. Listening to that nonsense from the Sect Leader earlier made even me exasperated.]
[It's the frog in the well's nature not to venture out if there's plenty of food inside. That's exactly what Mount Hua has become.]
Cheol Mu-ok stared at Yi Hwan's back. Even without seeing his face, he could tell how furious he was.
Ju Tae's transmission continued.
[I'm worried you might actually declare the Non-Aggression between Court and Martial World null and void. You're the type who would.]
[Hmm...]
It was then. A presence approached from behind. Turning, they saw one person rapidly descending the mountain path.
It was Myeong Seon.
"Great Prince!"
Yi Hwan stopped and turned.
Myeong Seon reached him and bowed.
"I have one question, so I hurried here."
Yi Hwan silently regarded Myeong Seon. He clearly remembered Myeong Seon sighing and closing his eyes when the Sect Leader spouted his twisted logic.
"If you permit, I dare to ask."
Yi Hwan nodded silently.
Myeong Seon asked immediately.
"What does the Great Prince seek through the Non-Aggression between Court and Martial World?"
"Coexistence."
The answer was exceedingly brief. Yet it contained everything.
Yi Hwan added one more word.
"If martial artists fail to realize what they must do for that coexistence, Non-Aggression between Court and Martial World is nothing but an illusion. Does that answer you?"
"Yes, Great Prince."
Myeong Seon bowed deeply again. When he raised his head, Yi Hwan and his group were already walking far ahead.
Myeong Seon gazed at Yi Hwan's back and let out a quiet sigh.
"Haa..."
Non-aggression and coexistence.
They seemed like opposites, yet Yi Hwan had said he hoped to achieve coexistence through non-aggression.
It wasn't easy to grasp, but he vaguely understood what he meant.
'I wonder what answer the Sect Leader will give...'
If the sect failed to provide the answer Yi Hwan wanted, he couldn't even imagine the backlash.
He had no choice but to retract Non-Aggression between Court and Martial World.
Yi Hwan's mutter still lingered deeply in his mind.
He had heard the rumors too.
That the emperor's declaration of Non-Aggression between Court and Martial World was the work of Great Prince Yi Hwan.
An old question resurfaced.
Why did Yi Hwan want Non-Aggression between Court and Martial World? At the pinnacle of power, he should need the strength of martial artists more than any previous ruler.
And one more thing.
'Where did he get the Azure Heaven Sword, how, and for what purpose did he give it to us?'
That was Myeong Seon's greatest puzzle.
The weight of the Azure Heaven Sword itself defined Mount Hua Sect. Surely Yi Hwan hadn't brought it unknowingly.
"Hoo..."
Frustrated, Myeong Seon sighed deeply once more.
It was then.
Kakang!
"Ugh!"
"Argh!"
Suddenly, metallic clashes and dying screams erupted from below the mountain.
It was the direction Yi Hwan's group had gone.
'No way, bandits...'
Boom!
Kicking off the ground, Myeong Seon shot downward like an arrow from a bowstring.
* * *
A black-robed man knelt before Yi Hwan, blood pouring from him. Three corpses lay scattered around.
Myeong Seon, who had leaped into the area, first checked on Yi Hwan. Fortunately, he appeared unharmed.
Myeong Seon stared at the black-robed man. Then his eyes widened slightly.
'That guy...'
He was one of the bandits they had let slip away last night. He remembered his face clearly since they had missed him right by the fire.
'Then those guys who escaped then...'
Myeong Seon was inwardly shocked.
They were experts even the sect's elders couldn't capture. Yet in this short time, one was caught and the rest killed. It was astonishing.
It was then. Yi Hwan turned to Myeong Seon.
"You'll have to head back up to Mount Hua."
"...Yes!"
* * *
Dark Heaven Cult, and the Ten Thousand Great Mountains.
Those two pieces of information came from the black-robed man's mouth. The interrogation continued, and he confessed a few more facts before breathing his last.
Yi Hwan summoned Mount Hua's elders.
He informed the Sect Leader and the elders of the information obtained through torture.
Everyone was greatly surprised.
Yi Hwan continued.
"According to him, Dark Heaven Cult has already begun activities across Yeon Kingdom. We couldn't uncover their goal, but no one knows when or where another incident like yesterday might occur. So I ask you."
Everyone swallowed hard.
"Will you still cling to Mount Hua's stance?"
Myeong Seon and all of Mount Hua stared at the Sect Leader.
The Sect Leader pondered deeply for a moment, then met Yi Hwan's eyes.
"Shunning duties while claiming rights... I mulled over your words carefully, Great Prince. What duties we Mount Hua bear, and what rights we've claimed. In doing so, I realized we've misunderstood our ancestors' will all this time."
The Sect Leader's expression as he spoke was a complex mix—like one who had attained enlightenment after meditation, or was repenting.
"The Non-Aggression between Court and Martial World declared by the Martial Emperor two hundred years ago did not mean severing the court and martial world. He merely wished for the martial world to handle its own affairs autonomously, not to cut ties entirely. Yet we've twisted that intent. It may be too late, but... from now on, Mount Hua will truly uphold the spirit of Non-Aggression between Court and Martial World."
Yi Hwan, listening to the Sect Leader, nodded silently.
In a way, the responsibility for Mount Hua's current state lay with the previous generations who failed to pass down the true intent properly, and with Yi Hwan himself for over-trusting they would grasp it on their own.
Thus, if Mount Hua turned back and reflected on its own, he had no intention of rebuking their past mistakes.
With a faint smile, Yi Hwan spoke.
"Does the current Mount Hua permit alcohol and meat?"
"Yes, Great Prince."
"Then let's all have a drink together."
* * *
Imperial Palace of Yeon Kingdom.
A single letter arrived for Emperor Yi So. It was from Yi Hwan.
Yi So narrowed his brows slightly upon reading it.
"Hmm..."
"What does it say, Your Majesty?"
"My brother stopped by Mount Hua Sect, it seems."
Yi So handed the letter to Gwan Ji-baek. Reading it, Gwan Ji-baek tilted his head.
"Why would the Great Prince visit Mount Hua Sect?"
"There must be a reason. Anyway, if my brother asks for help, we should grant it, shouldn't we?"
"Two million taels of silver is no small amount considering the current state of the national treasury. We'll need to get the approval of the six ministries, won't we?"
"We will. Hurry and summon everyone to the throne room."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Gwan Ji-baek smiled faintly as he headed out.
Recently, following Yi Hwan's advice, massive funds from the treasury had been poured into disaster relief for flood victims, leaving the nation's finances with little slack.
In that context, two million taels of silver was quite a burden.
Yet Yi So hadn't hesitated for a moment. It must be due to his absolute trust in Yi Hwan.
'Mount Hua Sect has always refused communication with the court, but could the Great Prince have won them over?'
It somehow felt like he had.
'If it's the Great Prince, it's entirely possible.'
* * *
Go Mi and Hwa Ryeong sat side by side overlooking a spot where Mount Hua's sublime scenery unfolded at a glance.
"You wrapped them up in one shot."
"Thanks to the timely appearance of those bandits—no, Dark Heaven Cultists. And the Great Prince's flexibility played a big part too. Honestly, I didn't expect things to go this smoothly."
"You were born for it, weren't you?"
"Born for what?"
"Politics. You can't do this with martial prowess alone, right?"
Hwa Ryeong's words made Go Mi nod. In truth, she was newly impressed by Yi Hwan.
She hadn't imagined things turning out this well when they left Mount Hua amid a tense atmosphere. Then the Dark Heaven Cultists attacked out of nowhere, and they captured one.
Afterward, Yi Hwan used the information from the captive and a drinking session to win over Mount Hua's hearts.
Easy to explain, but looking back, it was far from simple.
Of course, luck had played a role.
Extinguish selfishness and serve the public. Never forget that this is the greatest virtue martial artists must hold in the era of Non-Aggression between Court and Martial World.
Yi Hwan saying that before Mount Hua's elders had been so captivating it shook her heart.
Go Mi gazed at the snow-covered Mount Hua. A starkly different emotion surged compared to when they arrived.
'This place really is beautiful.'