Chapter 75
Chapter 75
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: An Excursion (1)
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The scent of plum blossoms is not for sale.
At those words, Bai Duanxian was seized by an irresistible emotion.
What were the plum blossoms?
They were the symbol and pride of the Mount Hua Sect. That was why countless warriors attached 'Plum Blossom' to their titles.
“The scent... is not for sale.”
Bai Duanxian muttered in a self-deprecating voice.
The Unselling Scent. It wasn't the first time he had heard that name.
In fact, the title of one of the Two Great Protectors, the White Elephant Master, Jeong Jung-san, was the Unselling Scent.
“……”
Jin Mu-wol’s eyes slowly closed. Bai Duanxian, too, recalled an event from the past.
The reason he came to be called the Unselling Scent.
It happened during the time when the old Demonic Cult, the Sacred Flame Cult, was rampant.
When the Orthodox Faction Alliance, the predecessor to the Martial Alliance, was regrouping to prepare for the final battle.
“Trust in me and fall back.”
A Daoist had said this.
Of course, not everyone in the Orthodox Faction Alliance trusted him. It wasn't for any political reason.
His fellow disciples from the Mount Hua Sect had suffered losses that nearly halved their numbers, and the Daoist himself was not in good condition.
Even a Daoist from the Maoshan Sect shook his head.
“If you fight even one more time, you'll have to have your arm completely amputated.”
Despite those words, the Daoist gripped his sword with an arm that had turned a ghastly blue.
That was his pride, and his justice.
Seeing it was a fool's errand, the Daoist's senior brother tried to stop him.
“It's impossible. You're already an invalid!”
“Go. I will buy you time.”
But he was immovable.
The Daoist waited for the Sacred Flame Cult alone. His sharp spirit, above all else, made further persuasion meaningless.
And so, the Orthodox Faction Alliance retreated, leaving the Daoist behind by himself.
Three days passed.
Everyone in the Orthodox Faction Alliance foresaw the Daoist's death.
But…
The Daoist rejoined the alliance, his steps barely a crawl. His wounds were so severe it was doubtful he could even move, let alone function as a person again.
Half his liver was sliced, and his torn lung was bound. The physician who treated him warned his fellow disciples to prepare for the worst.
They were cruel words, but it couldn't be helped.
He lay sick in bed for ten days.
Miraculously, the Daoist rose from his sickbed. Though his body was too weak to wield a sword, his spirit was second to none.
“I held off the demonic followers alone for three days, and now my body will need a full year to recover.”
The Daoist, Jeong Jung-san, stood on the platform of the Orthodox Faction Alliance and proclaimed,
“But even if my flesh is torn and my soul cries out, I did not sell the scent of the plum blossoms. In this vast world of Zhongyuan, in this martial world, I cannot allow the seeds of evil to sprout...!”
With that declaration, the Orthodox Faction Alliance grew even larger.
Wandering warriors who roamed the martial world and even some from the Unorthodox Faction, who had sneered at it as a pointless endeavor, joined the alliance.
The alliance could no longer simply be called the 'Orthodox Faction Alliance.' So, just before the final battle, its name was changed.
The Martial World Blood Alliance.
They, the progenitors of the Martial Alliance, bestowed upon Jeong Jung-san a title filled with the highest respect.
That was the Unselling Scent.
It was a time when the Mount Hua Sect left a great footprint in the history of the martial world. Unlike now, it was an era when they commanded the respect of all.
But what about now?
“...You say some fine things.”
Jin Mu-wol let out a subtle smile. He seemed slightly surprised, as if he had heard an answer he hadn't quite expected.
Presently, Jin Mu-wol raised the tree branch.
“The Unselling Scent... I'd like to see for myself if you have the skill to utter those words.”
At that moment, Bai Duanxian sensed something and stretched out his hand.
“Grandmaster!”
But it was already too late.
*Swish.*
An artificial wind stirred. It felt as though a taut bowstring had been released in an instant.
*Clang!*
The sound erupted, and a wave of pressure crashed down. Ouyang Jue's cheeks turned crimson.
Soon, his skin grew hot. Patches of blood and bruises stained it.
It was just a clash with a branch.
Ouyang Jue gritted his teeth and held on. A mere club made of wood was pushing back Severing Manifestation.
And without even a shred of internal energy imbued in it.
Just as Ouyang Jue was debating whether to channel his internal energy into the Diamond Fist-Seal Armor, Jin Mu-wol's lips moved.
“More.”
Jin Mu-wol said in a cold voice.
“What if you pushed harder?”
“...Hk.”
As Jin Mu-wol pressed his attack relentlessly, Ouyang Jue let out a faint groan.
Fast. And above all, sharp.
The swordsmanship he displayed was utterly focused on the fundamentals.
Thrusting. And slashing.
The very basic movements one started learning in early childhood were pressing down on Ouyang Jue.
He had thought Liu Zhangming was a master of incredible swordsmanship, but compared to Jin Mu-wol, he was a drop in the ocean.
At the very least, you would need to bring the Liu Zhangming of the future to be a worthy opponent.
*Kaaang!*
Lightly pushing back Severing Manifestation, Jin Mu-wol twisted one side of his lips into a smirk.
“Don't hide it, bring it out. Isn't that arrogant of you?”
As Jin Mu-wol stepped forward, the corners of his eyes curved like crescent moons.
His eyes couldn't follow the movement. There was only a vague sensation of someone brushing past.
Jin Mu-wol sneered softly.
“How dare you try to hide your cards in front of me, young disciple.”
A flash of light streaked by, and a black line was drawn through it. The smell of dirt assaulted his nose.
‘Can he really swing a branch at this speed? It shouldn't have that kind of hardness.’
Ouyang Jue forcibly suppressed the question that arose in his mind. The incoming attack was too powerful to let his attention wander.
*Zzzzzk...!*
Having consumed his internal energy, the Diamond Fist-Seal Armor enveloped Ouyang Jue's entire body, scattering a mystical aura.
Demon-Breaking. The power to erase forces originating from demonic arts and convert the user's internal energy into motive force.
Seeing this, Jin Mu-wol's eyes flashed with a peculiar light for a moment.
He had never imagined that a young disciple would possess such a treasure.
But they were on the verge of clashing.
The question he now held could be answered later. And so, Jin Mu-wol also suppressed his curiosity.
The two Daoists' weapons clashed.
*Kaaaang-!*
Severing Manifestation let out a long cry. As if lamenting its inability to cut a mere tree branch, the prolonged ring of the sword persistently vexed Jin Mu-wol.
Simultaneously, Jin Mu-wol and Ouyang Jue each took half a step back.
“...!”
“...!”
They recognized each other's strength and shared a subtle smile. But Ouyang Jue alone could not afford to be at ease.
After all, wasn't Jin Mu-wol still facing him without using a single speck of internal energy?
‘What kind of monster is this...’
Ouyang Jue wore a tight smile.
He tightened his grip on Severing Manifestation, which threatened to slip from his sweaty palm.
‘A little faster.’
Ouyang Jue's body accelerated. The incantations of the Path Towards the Extreme of Light, which he had grasped from observing the Divine Demon Fist for several days, instantly transported him to another realm.
*Crackle, kakagagang!*
In an instant, lightning energy erupted, swallowing Jin Mu-wol's branch and invading both his arms.
At the same time, Ouyang Jue's knees bent.
*Crunch.*
Though it was merely preparation before lunging forward, the ground beneath his feet was pushed back. The seeds of weeds growing deep within were scorched black and died.
“...Heh.”
Seeing this, Jin Mu-wol let out a small sigh. It was a sigh born of admiration and pure joy.
‘Did Mount Hua have such a domineering footwork technique? How...’
*Paaang!*
In Jin Mu-wol's vision, Ouyang Jue closed the distance in a single breath.
It was so fast it felt as if the world had stopped and then started flowing again.
But, despite this, Jin Mu-wol's expression was utterly relaxed.
‘...Is it a martial art that is even beautiful?’
Lightning scattered before his eyes. It was as if a thunderbolt had intentionally struck at Jin Mu-wol.
At this point, Ouyang Jue had consumed half of his internal energy.
Of course, he could have used the True God Martial Arts or the Heavenly Escape Sword Arts he had learned in his past life. There was no reason to needlessly force himself to use the techniques of the Divine Demon Fist.
But he judged that it would be difficult to convince him later if he did.
In cases like this, Ouyang Jue's intuition was usually correct.
Indeed, Jin Mu-wol gave a pleased smile.
“Is this the martial art of the boy who joined a few days ago? It has quite a sting. But that's as far as it goes.”
Is he really going to fight more?
The moment Ouyang Jue steeled his resolve and raised Severing Manifestation straight up.
Jin Mu-wol calmed the aura that had been pressing down on Ouyang Jue. Instead, he pulled something from his waist and threw it.
“Here, catch.”
“...?”
“It seems... you possess a martial art with a similar type of internal energy as the boy who just joined. Taking this will be better for you.”
“What is this, that you say so?”
“It's true now as well, but in the past, there were many warriors like the Divine Demon Fist or the Peerless Tyrant who passed down their arts to a single successor. I received this from them back then.”
Jin Mu-wol grinned.
“It's called a Lightning Spirit Pill. Have you heard of it?”
At those words, Ouyang Jue lightly shook his head.
In the first place, his connection with the previous Divine Demon Fist was merely the sharing of a single martial art; he didn't know the detailed circumstances.
“Thank you.”
As Ouyang Jue expressed his thanks and accepted the Lightning Spirit Pill, Jin Mu-wol looked at Bai Duanxian and gave an order.
“Did you see?”
“...Yes.”
“Does he not possess the spirit to not be pushed back even against me, and the skill to stand against a sword form that no one has ever defeated?”
As the conversation seemed to be wrapping up, Ouyang Jue cautiously asked Jin Mu-wol,
“Grandmaster, I have one request.”
“Hmm? Speak.”
“Would it be possible for you to bestow your teachings upon my martial brothers as well?”
At those words, Bai Duanxian desperately shook his head.
Aside from Jin Mu-wol's personality, the Celestial Being protecting the Plum Blossom Cave was absolutely forbidden from leaving his post.
But Jin Mu-wol didn't seem to think so.
“Once every ten days! If Jo Hun comes here.”
“What about Senior Brother Liu?”
Jin Mu-wol remained silent for a moment at Ouyang Jue's question.
Then, realizing he hadn't answered, he added,
“That boy will not need my teachings.”
He didn't say why.
***
The next day.
Having finished his preparations, Ouyang Jue started down the narrow path leading away from Mount Hua.
He gave a light wave of his hand.
“I'll be off now.”
The gazes watching Ouyang Jue were mostly uneasy.
It hadn't been long since the battle with the Black Dragon Gang ended, and now it was the Martial Alliance.
Only Jo Hun and Cheong Pung, who didn't know the full story, were grinning foolishly.
Seeing them, Ouyang Jue let out a bitter chuckle, "Heh."
“You've put on quite a bit of weight.”
The Golden Ring Merchant Guild must have worked hard; their once-emaciated bodies finally looked human.
He had finally been relieved of a heavy burden.
They'll be fine, even if I don't worry. Mount Hua now had that much breathing room.
‘Still, it's a long way to go.’
Nevertheless, Ouyang Jue maintained his ambition and guarded against complacency.
For now, he had only managed to remove the threats because of his own abilities.
The goal was self-reliance.
Mount Hua needed to become strong enough to be called the greatest of sects, even without Ouyang Jue. Only then could they seize hegemony in the future.
Hegemony meant survival.
I will rebuild Mount Hua to be the strongest and greatest in history, one that even the Martial Alliance cannot ignore.
Ouyang Jue adjusted the bundle tied to his shoulder and muttered to himself.
“Shall I go see that beggar after so long?”
He was bothered by the lack of news since the incident with the Divine Demon Fist.