Chapter 94
Chapter 94
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 94
Chapter Title: Pillar (2)
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‘He’s going to be taught by the Plum Immortal…?’
Ouyang Jue was stunned as he listened to their conversation.
Just who was Jeong Paro?
Also known as the Perfected Person of a Hundred Mercies, he was once an absolute master who fought bloody battles against the old Demonic Cult, second only to Jin Mu-wol among the Orthodox Faction.
His seniority was higher than that of the current Sect Leader, Bai Duanxian, and he was a sect brother to the Heaven-Reaching Old Man, Dan U-ryeong, whom they had met before.
If word got out that Jeong Paro was teaching Liu Zhangming, it would spread not only throughout Mount Hua but to other Daoist sects as well.
After all, Jeong Paro, along with Jeong Jung-san, had been a master and a heroic swordsman who represented the Mount Hua of the past.
Knowing Jeong Paro’s usual temperament, Ouyang Jue felt something was amiss about his actions.
‘Even so, Senior Brother is the Sect Leader’s disciple. He should know that teaching him would diminish the Sect Leader’s honor…’
Ouyang Jue narrowed his eyes, watching Jeong Paro and Liu Zhangming.
There had to be a reason for Jeong Paro’s behavior.
But he didn’t think it was a negative one.
‘Besides, Elder Jeong Paro would be able to grasp Senior Brother’s condition and teach him accordingly.’
Was that why he wanted to teach him, or was this the Plum Blossom Cave’s interference again?
He was suddenly reminded of how Jin Mu-wol would evade the topic whenever Liu Zhangming was mentioned.
‘It might be both.’
Just as Ouyang Jue was organizing his thoughts, Jeong Paro let out a deep sigh.
“…Hoo.”
After a moment, Jeong Paro looked at Liu Zhangming with a sense of regret before turning his gaze to Ouyang Jue.
“Is it because of that child?”
“…?!”
At those words, Ouyang Jue’s expression grew grave.
‘Because of me? What does he mean?’
Before Ouyang Jue could even ponder it, Liu Zhangming bowed his head deeply to Jeong Paro, looking genuinely apologetic.
“I apologize. But this isn’t simple petulance; I have several reasons.”
“Explain.”
Jeong Paro wore a solemn expression he had never shown anyone before.
Still, as the man known as the Plum Immortal, whose name had once shaken the world, it was possible that anger was simmering beneath the surface at being refused.
…The air grew tense.
Even though spring was gradually approaching, the wind that touched their skin turned bitingly cold. Even the sunlight shining from afar seemed to lose its strength.
Despite this, Liu Zhangming maintained a calm demeanor. He even appeared unfazed.
“First, I am currently the Second Senior Brother, acting in place of the Senior-most Brother, Ha Jin-ak. Until he recovers from his illness, I cannot learn martial arts from you, Protector.”
Liu Zhangming met Jeong Paro’s gaze.
“If I may venture a guess… to receive your teachings, I would surely have to learn in some deep, secluded mountain valley, would I not?”
“…”
Jeong Paro couldn’t give a direct answer to that. For a brief moment, he even showed a look of admiration.
He hadn’t said a single word, yet it seemed Liu Zhangming had faintly grasped the nature of his martial arts just from the aura he had released.
“You felt it?”
“Yes.”
“…Good. But that’s not your only reason, is it?”
Before answering, Liu Zhangming clenched and unclenched his fist.
The cold sweat in his palm felt unusually sticky. This was the result of Jeong Paro feeling displeased for just a moment.
He truly must possess skills befitting the pinnacle of the supreme realm, a peerless master. Liu Zhangming’s tongue licked his dry lips.
Liu Zhangming gave a slight nod.
“As you are surely aware, Protector, the Mount Hua Sect has recently suffered a series of attacks. Junior Brother Ouyang here dealt with them wisely and prevented major damage, but old wounds remain, and new ones have appeared.”
Liu Zhangming glanced up at the Plum Blossom Clinic. The action was particularly deliberate.
In truth, Jeong Paro was in a position where he needed to stay by Ha Jin-ak’s side at all times to care for him.
For him to teach Liu Zhangming meant not only would Ha Jin-ak’s position be affected, but his treatment would also become more difficult.
Ouyang Jue blinked without realizing it.
‘That pure-hearted Senior Brother of mine is using his head to prick his opponent’s conscience?’
But his opponent was not an easy one. Jeong Paro pressed him with an icy voice.
“Just continue with what you were saying!”
“…In any case, because of this, many are watching and waiting for the Mount Hua Sect to show a moment of weakness. If I were to suddenly disappear in this situation, things would not go well.”
“That is not for you to worry about.”
Jeong Paro beat his chest and boasted.
“On the contrary, wouldn’t it be a chance to weed out the forces targeting Mount Hua? Besides, I, your master, and my younger brother, Jeong Jung-san, will step forward. It’s no boast, but most sects wouldn’t even dare to approach.”
Ouyang Jue scoffed inwardly at those words.
‘That’s only if it’s a matter of martial arts, and if the enemy plays fair.’
I thought he’d be a brilliant strategist since he fought the old Demonic Cult, but I guess not.
Ouyang Jue lowered his assessment of the two Grand Protectors.
‘The isolation attempted by the Beggars’ Sect, the provocation and encirclement almost carried out by the Zhenzhou Yan Clan. Not to mention cutting off our funds, something only a great clan could do. If the enemy plays dirty, the situation can change at any moment.’
Yet Jeong Paro spoke as if it were a simple one-on-one duel.
Ouyang Jue’s expression turned frigid.
‘It was just a guess, something I didn’t want to believe…’
Ouyang Jue looked at Jeong Paro and formed a vague hypothesis.
‘What if, during the war with the old Demonic Cult, the Mount Hua Sect wasn’t wiped out because of their sense of justice, but because they were sacrificed?’
The basis for this hypothesis was quite simple.
What if Jeong Paro had ever stood at the rear of the battlefield, even once?
He would never have said such a thing in the first place.
While the front lines fought fiercely, the rear guard had to maintain a broad view of the ever-changing battlefield.
And that position usually went to the larger sects.
Then… why did the Mount Hua Sect have to struggle alone at the very front?
Why was that remembered as the justice of the Mount Hua Sect?
*Grit.*
Ouyang Jue clenched his jaw tightly.
He hadn’t seen it himself, nor had he asked Jeong Paro, but if by some chance that hypothesis was correct…
‘Then there must have been someone in the Orthodox Faction’s leadership at the time who wanted to whittle away Mount Hua’s strength.’
While Ouyang Jue was sorting through these thoughts, Liu Zhangming was firmly countering Jeong Paro.
“I do not doubt the strength of the Protectors. However, as you know, once you show weakness, there are more than a few jackals who will rush in to tear off even a piece of flesh from your toe.”
“…Hmm.”
“Furthermore, when Mount Hua was in danger, which of the Daoist sects came to our aid? Wudang? Kongtong? What about our neighbor, Zhongnan…”
Liu Zhangming's demeanor turned as cold as ice.
“So I do not wish to invite danger. Thanks to the Black Dragon Gang incident, gunpowder will no longer circulate in the world, but there are still many in the underworld who would do such things. That is why the Sect Leader has also created an atmosphere that discourages taking on escort missions.”
“Then all the more reason you should learn from me!”
Jeong Paro said, pointing at Divine Demon Fist and Ouyang Jue.
“I saw you sparring with those children. You sometimes reveal an incomplete state of mastery. I’m sure you’re aware of it yourself.”
“…”
“If you don’t stabilize it now, you don’t know what kind of disaster it will bring later. As a martial artist, you should know that better than anyone, shouldn’t you?”
Liu Zhangming hesitated at those words. It was an undeniable truth, and it was advice from a senior who had already reached the realm he was trying to walk.
‘But, but…’
Liu Zhangming’s gaze fell to the ground for a moment.
Even now, a higher class of martial arts would sometimes stir in his mind.
When that happened, he would feel a sense of familiarity, as if he had performed it somewhere before.
At the same time, a loneliness like watching raindrops fall from the eaves while sitting on a wooden porch on a dark day would tear at his heart.
No one knew the reason why.
He had consulted his master, Bai Duanxian, but he had only shaken his head.
In the end, this was a problem he had to find the answer to himself.
And for a moment, he thought that receiving Jeong Paro’s teachings at this point would shorten the time it would take to find that answer.
“…”
In the midst of that endless deliberation, Liu Zhangming finally came to a decision and raised his gaze again.
“Protector Jeong.”
“Hm? Speak.”
As he said this, Jeong Paro secretly hoped Liu Zhangming would accept his teachings.
After all, any martial artist would constantly yearn for and seek out answers that would allow them to advance.
‘I may not know for now, but if I put my head together with Jung-san…’
They might be able to unravel the secret that had made Jin Mu-wol suspicious, which would help Mount Hua’s future.
That thing harbored by the Plum Blossom Cave would also stop seething and settle into its proper place.
Jeong Paro wore a gentle smile.
But Liu Zhangming chose a gentle refusal.
“Among my junior brothers, there is one called Divine Demon Fist. I have just taken him in as a disciple. These days, I am focused on turning him into a proper person.”
“…Zhangming, you.”
“Also, a new disciple named Cheong Pung relies on me. You have no idea how amusing and proud it makes me feel to see him follow a senior brother so much older than him as if he were one of the Three Pure Ones.”
Hearing this, Jeong Paro understood Liu Zhangming’s true intention and frowned.
Meanwhile, Liu Zhangming continued speaking with a calm expression.
“And there is one more reason why I cannot go into a secluded mountain valley.”
At that, Jeong Paro couldn’t help but burst out in irritation.
“What is it!”
“When the Senior-most Brother fell ill, and Jue was wandering the martial world, the young Daoists were deeply troubled.”
Liu Zhangming murmured in a low voice, briefly recalling the past.
“Our most dependable Senior-most Brother was in that state, and a feeling spread that the Mount Hua Sect was in serious trouble. Of course, I am not bringing this up to pressure you, Protector. It’s just that a rift began to form among the young Daoists.”
“…”
Jeong Paro pressed his lips together and lowered his head. He had nothing to say to that.
As a Protector meant to guard the Mount Hua Sect, he had been unaware of the sect’s decline, leaving it all to the Sect Leader and elders below him.
And to think Elder Cheol Geum-san was actually a remnant who had practiced demonic arts.
He had even abetted the draining of their funds. When Jeong Paro heard that, he felt a severe pang of guilt.
What had Liu Zhangming been doing at that time?
Liu Zhangming’s lips parted to explain.
“So, the young Daoists naturally gathered around me. I am a disciple of the Sect Leader, and my martial prowess isn’t bad. I personally believe my reputation among them isn’t poor.”
Liu Zhangming’s lips twitched once.
“At that time, I worked hard to ensure the young Daoists would not waver. I wanted to become a pillar to take the Senior-most Brother’s place.”
A faint, ambiguous smile spread across Liu Zhangming’s face.
“What would they think if I, who have stayed as close and familiar to them as possible, were to learn martial arts from you, Protector?”
Jeong Paro closed his eyes for a moment.
As Ouyang Jue had predicted, Jeong Paro did not have the eye to grasp the intricacies of major and minor affairs. That was why he had adamantly refused the position of Sect Leader and had taken the role of Protector instead.
However, because he never hesitated to fight in every battle, because he always stood at the forefront, there were things he knew.
It was the process of how a martial artist’s admiration slowly changes.
“At first, they will think it’s amazing.”
He answered after a brief thought. But that wasn’t the end of it.
“Then, gradually, respect is bound to transform into a different emotion, and they will fall into a murky swamp. Like a crow feeling inferior as it watches a white heron soar higher and higher.”
And what if that heron had always treated the crows kindly?
“…Hoo, do as you wish.”
Jeong Paro decided to respect Liu Zhangming’s judgment.
Watching this, Divine Demon Fist fidgeted, uncomfortable standing in such a situation… while Ouyang Jue’s eyes quietly gleamed.