Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Change (1)
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The Reception Hall was bustling with young Daoists.
This was a highly unusual sight.
Once a Daoist reached adulthood, they would typically leave the mountain to pursue goals they couldn't achieve during their wandering years, or enter seclusion to hone their sword arts.
Of course, not everyone followed this path; there were occasional exceptions like Ouyang Jue or Song Muk.
But they were few and far between.
Most dedicated their lives to cultivating their Daoist nature and refining their swordsmanship.
Even if these young Daoists were just past twenty, aside from being a bit more restless, they were much like the older masters.
For them to gather in one place meant only one thing.
The one who held the support of the vast majority of Daoists.
The man who would one day become the Sect Leader of the Mount Hua Sect had returned.
*Step, step.*
The moment the man with striking dark blue hair set foot in the Mount Hua Sect.
“We greet the Senior-most Brother!”
“We greet you, Senior Uncle!”
A thunderous roar erupted from the young Daoists.
Some among them bowed deeply with clasped hands.
Yet, the man showed little emotion toward the young Daoists.
Instead, he asked with a hint of disappointment.
“Have you made any progress in my absence?”
“Of course!”
“Is that so?”
The man looked at the Daoist who had answered most loudly from the front.
“Then, would you care to show me?”
“...! How could I dare.”
“I will not ask a second time.”
*Draw your sword.*
The man’s powerful gaze relentlessly tormented the Daoist.
An aura so strong that he couldn't resist without drawing his sword pricked at his entire body.
*Hah, as expected of Senior Uncle.*
The Daoist broke into a cold sweat as he drew his sword. However, the man’s interest abruptly vanished.
“Ik Hyeon.”
“...Yes, Senior Uncle.”
“You are no different than you were a year ago. You should have been focusing on your training rather than coming to see me.”
The man was not the gentle type like Liu Zhangming; he was the sort to pursue a direct, orthodox path, even if it meant being called rigid.
To him, Ik Hyeon’s current state was nothing short of disappointing.
“You may go.”
“Yes.”
As Ik Hyeon turned and walked away, his head hanging low, the man watched him silently before adding a word.
“Keep your spirits up.”
A touch of warmth entered the man's voice, which had felt so dry and emotionless.
“You have talent.”
At those words, Ik Hyeon’s shoulders flinched.
*Was that... a compliment?*
But the man wasn't finished.
“So, strive forward. Believe in yourself, and do not think too highly of your opponent. Even if that opponent is me, what’s important is the confidence that you will win, no matter what.”
“...I understand!”
After replying vigorously, Ik Hyeon disappeared beyond the bushes, and the man swept his gaze over the remaining Daoists.
“I suppose I can see if the rest of you have made any progress as well?”
“...Of course.”
*Gulp.*
The young Daoists swallowed hard, their tense gazes fixed on the man.
From the moment they decided to learn the sword arts instead of the Daoist scriptures at Mount Hua, from the instant the plum blossom-shaped tassel was sewn onto their robes, it was the duty of a Mount Hua disciple to grow stronger.
And at the very pinnacle of them all was the Senior-most Brother.
Ha Jin-ak, acknowledged by both the Sect Leader and the Plum Blossom Cave, was the one and only.
“Draw, and show me.”
*Swoosh...*
The characteristic heat of the Heavenly Flow Fire Cloud Sword began to gather at the tip of Ha Jin-ak's blade.
Seeing this, the young Daoists were reminded of a truth.
Just as there were standouts like Ouyang Jue and Liu Zhangming among the rising generation.
Among the disciples, too, there was a heaven beyond the heavens—another sky outside the sky.
As the young Daoists stood there, overwhelmed, Ha Jin-ak was lost in a different thought.
*It seems the junior brothers who've been the talk of the town lately haven't come.*
He was particularly disappointed in Liu Zhangming, which made one of his eyebrows furrow.
He was not pleased.
It was a problem that he didn't stop his junior brother from harassing a commoner, and another that he didn't participate in the Nine Dragons Tournament even after being pushed to do so.
It was fortunate that Ouyang Jue emerged as the victor. Had he not won, one could only imagine how he would have handled the aftermath.
*He doesn't even realize he might be leading his junior brother down a dangerous path...!*
The crime of causing a disturbance in Sangju and then returning defeated from the Nine Dragons Tournament was something not even Bai Duanxian could excuse.
It was an issue that would have most of the elders up in arms.
If he truly cared for his junior brother, he should have guided him toward the righteous path.
First, he would assess everyone's martial arts here.
*Then I'll have to meet with them.*
He had heard many stories about how the junior brother named Ouyang Jue had changed.
But Ha Jin-ak intended to see and judge for himself.
*...Has he grown, even a little?*
He wondered if he was still feeling inferior, caught between his talented martial brothers.
He felt a pang of pity.
***
Meanwhile, Ouyang Jue was seriously contemplating the tragic news he had heard last night.
*The Two Evils of Shaanxi were trying to target me.*
What kind of carriage had he been riding?
It was the one bearing the wooden plaque of the Steadfast Fist Gate, the ones who had picked a fight with him.
He had left the Golden Ring Merchant Guild's carriage, which he had taken to the Nine Dragons Tournament, behind.
The members of the Steadfast Fist Gate must have taken it.
And they were now dead.
Ouyang Jue reasoned based only on the clearly established facts.
*It's too much to be a simple coincidence.*
The lines on Ouyang Jue's forehead deepened.
No matter how consumed the Two Evils of Shaanxi were by their desire for revenge for their brother, he was still a disciple of the Mount Hua Sect.
If they tried to harm him recklessly, they wouldn't escape the consequences, and they would be traced even if they succeeded.
He didn't think they would act while shouldering such a risk.
Fundamentally, they belonged to the Unorthodox Faction.
From Ouyang Jue's perspective, both the Orthodox and Unorthodox Factions were just martial artists, but those of the Unorthodox Faction were more driven by instinct.
*If those bastards were normal, they wouldn't have resorted to chipping away at their own dantian just to get stronger quickly.*
That was why the minds of Unorthodox martial artists were easily invaded by evil and demonic influences.
Unless they were a master like the Heaven-Bearing Asura, their personalities would become twisted somewhere along the way.
Ouyang Jue was certain they had powerful backing.
Perhaps... Ha Jin-ak had been killed by them.
Ouyang Jue's eyes glinted for a moment.
After his run-in with the Three Evils of Shaanxi, the events that followed were gradually becoming clearer.
However, he couldn't easily reveal these facts to others.
He had to let future events unfold as they were meant to, as that would make them easier to handle.
For that reason, Ouyang Jue had intended to attend the reception for Ha Jin-ak, hoping to join him on a journey outside the sect.
*That was the plan, but...*
Ouyang Jue looked exasperatedly at his seniors, who were gawking at Severing Manifestation with obsessive admiration.
“Jue, what's the name of this sword again?”
“It's Severing Manifestation.”
“Hoh, my. How truly marvelous.”
A senior who looked to be around thirty was showing such great interest in Severing Manifestation that Ouyang Jue couldn't easily get away.
At this rate, it seemed he wouldn't get a chance to meet Ha Jin-ak.
*Normally, I would have just shaken them off, but...*
The problem was that among the bearded men were Song Muk, the Master of the Disciplinary Hall, and Gwak Un-pae, the Master of the Reception Hall.
*Of all the luck, to have two of the five Hall Masters here.*
The Law Enforcement Hall, the Reception Hall, the Disciplinary Hall, the Plum Blossom Hall, and finally, the Plum Blossom Palace where the Sect Leader resided—five in total.
Each was an indispensable part of the sect, and the elders in charge of them were all worthy of being called Great Sword Masters.
They were not people Ouyang Jue, still a mere disciple, could treat lightly.
Then, a sudden thought of the Senior-most Brother, who must have just arrived, made Ouyang Jue shudder with anxiety.
*I haven't already gotten on his bad side, have I?*
“Say, Junior Brother Ouyang. What was the name of the artisan who made this?”
“Blacksmith Peerless One.”
“Blacksmith Peerless One?”
At the question, Ouyang Jue realized his slip-up and quickly corrected himself.
Docheol's fame had not yet reached that level.
“Well, uh, some person named Docheol supposedly goes around calling himself that.”
“Hoh, even so, calling himself Peerless One. What a bold individual.”
“Still, looking at the sword, it seems he has the skill to back it up, don't you think?”
At Ouyang Jue's words, most of the Daoists nodded.
Song Muk, in particular, was glancing at Ouyang Jue with eyes full of envy.
“...Its sharpness alone is enough to send a shiver down my spine.”
With an uncharacteristically serious expression, Song Muk highly praised the value of Severing Manifestation.
“Even an old pine tree, waterlogged and dense, would likely be cut by that sword. If this isn't a masterwork, what is?”
“Looking at that makes even me feel a bit greedy, hahaha!”
Though it sounded like a hearty laugh, it was filled with greed for Severing Manifestation.
Ouyang Jue's gaze shifted to the source of the laughter.
His beard grew sparsely down to his neck, and unlike a typical Mount Hua disciple who specialized in flashy, swift swordsmanship, his belly protruded further than his chest.