Chapter 167
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 167
Chapter Title: Tomorrow
A messenger pigeon flew into a different part of the Zhongnan Sect.
Both birds had come from Wuchang.
One landed with the sect leader, the other at the Discipline Hall.
Separate messages delivered to Joo Jae-seung and So Jung-san.
Joo Jae-seung trembled with rage.
"That damned bastard dares?!"
The message contained Ha Mu-baek's exact words and actions, fueling Joo Jae-seung's fury.
How dare such a mongrel tarnish the Zhongnan Sect's honor?
His anger boiled over.
But as he read the sparring conditions, he quickly cooled down.
"Is this guy insane?"
It was practically begging to be killed.
A sparring match between Baek Ri-pyeong and his son?
Even if that punk had made a name for himself at the Summer Combat Festival, it was just a childish tournament for kids in their early twenties.
Against Zhongnan's first-generation disciple—no, his own son, a top prodigy.
And this so-called instructor from the Dragon Training Pavilion demanded to spar with whoever Zhongnan chose?
Sparring was a clash of martial arts between sects, but accidents happened all too often.
People even died from mishaps during matches.
"Right, blades have no eyes."
That thought satisfied him with his son's response.
It seemed worth sending the reluctant boy to the Dragon Training Pavilion after all.
So Jung-san's face darkened as he read a similar message.
A letter from Nam Hwa-ryong.
Its contents were nothing but worrisome.
Ha Mu-baek.
The hidden hero of the last war.
So Jung-san didn't know the details.
He had stayed to guard Zhongnan instead of joining the fight.
But his senior brother Baek Ri-dan's letters often mentioned him.
"He said he was a warrior who surpassed even you, Senior Brother..."
Back then, he'd dismissed it as exaggeration.
But considering his senior brother's temperament, it probably wasn't embellished.
And Nam Hwa-ryong agreed.
Nam Hwa-ryong, who had fought in the war and earned the moniker Galaxy Sword.
If even he praised Ha Mu-baek as an extraordinary martial artist...
He needed to look into this more.
So Jung-san thought of his old friend, now an elder in the Beggars' Sect.
***
The message also flew to the Righteous Heaven Alliance's Heavenly Eye Pavilion.
Even amid Ki Yu-chan's nagging, Goo Yang Myeong-won learned of the matter between Ha Mu-baek and the Zhongnan Sect.
Thanks to Ki Yu-chan, of course.
He'd gone to Pavilion Lord Pang Do-yul, heard the story, and reported back.
Pang Do-yul had served as witness in the document.
Ki Yu-chan had drafted the initial version, making it possible.
Gong Son Dan-gyeong examined the full message.
"Tch. Zhongnan's sect leader is about to get replaced."
Ha Mu-baek's intentions were glaringly obvious.
Zhongnan had fallen right into his trap, sloppily.
"Still, I hope he doesn't kill him."
Gong Son Dan-gyeong muttered softly.
Zhongnan's swords weren't the only blind ones. Ha Mu-baek's blade had no eyes either.
"What to do..."
Gong Son Dan-gyeong's dilemma stretched on.
***
Yesterday's commotion didn't change today's schedule.
The Fierce Dragon Corps' seventh squad cadets gathered at the training grounds, immersed in practice as always.
Ha Seol-ran and Joo Woo-myeong trained alongside them, with Han Seol-bing watching.
And then.
Ha Mu-baek appeared.
He simply observed the cadets' training calmly.
His eyes naturally lingered most on Ha Seol-ran.
Han Seol-bing approached him.
"What on earth are you thinking?"
Ha Mu-baek briefly recounted recent events.
Very few knew of Baek Ri-pyeong's recall order.
They could only guess something happened from yesterday's claim by Zhongnan's top disciple to take him away.
"You're planning to oust Zhongnan's sect leader."
Han Seol-bing grasped his intent immediately.
"That's for Zhongnan to decide."
His tone suggested it was none of his concern.
From that, Han Seol-bing gleaned one thing.
"You don't plan to kill him."
If the sect leader died in a sparring accident, he'd naturally be replaced.
But Ha Mu-baek said replacement was Zhongnan's call.
"Who do you take me for, a murderer?"
At his incredulous question, Han Seol-bing eyed him with disbelief.
"Aren't you?"
On the battlefield against the Blood Cult and Demonic Cult, he was a demon incarnate.
"Not Blood Cult or Demonic Cult. And..."
His gaze shifted to Ha Seol-ran.
"Good grief..."
Han Seol-bing followed his eyes and chuckled.
Ha Seol-ran sweated through her sword forms, fully focused.
She'd learned the Infinite Sword Sect's beginner sword art from her master, but always started with the Three Talents Sword Method.
"Your forms have improved a lot."
Ha Mu-baek said calmly.
"I'm working hard."
Han Seol-bing replied.
"That's a relief."
"Pardon?"
She blinked at the sudden words.
"After the Summer Combat Festival ended, I've been leaving you alone too much."
Of course, Han Seol-bing and her master were there.
But as her only family, it gnawed at him that he kept being absent.
Seeing her so focused without needing constant attention eased his mind a bit.
Dedication to martial arts training didn't erase loneliness.
But focus made time fly.
Better than her just waiting endlessly for him.
"When do you leave?"
"Tomorrow."
"Have you arranged with the Zhongnan people?"
"As long as we meet at Zhongnan."
He'd depart tomorrow on his own terms.
Classic Ha Mu-baek.
"Can we come with—"
As Han Seol-bing started, he shook his head.
"Too dangerous."
She stared at his absurd words.
"Righteous faction folks go feral when their pride's wounded. You might see sides of me I don't want Rani witnessing. That's the danger."
Exactly.
Not like slaughtering jiangshi in the Mountain-Crossing Demonic Forest or facing a massive weapon-wielder.
Mowing down countless foes...
He didn't want her seeing that.
"Got it."
Han Seol-bing acquiesced easily.
"Zhongnan's sect leader has my pity."
He wouldn't kill, but Zhongnan might snap—and if Ha Mu-baek decided to crush them...
The outcome was easy to imagine.
"Might be better off dead..."
She shook her head faintly.
"Brother!"
Ha Seol-ran approached then.
Rest time had come naturally—a one-hour break the cadets took every hour.
She'd sensed his arrival via qi sense but stayed focused on training.
Ha Mu-baek smiled warmly, welcoming his sister.
"Your sword is getting better and better."
His voice was gentle.
A smile bloomed on her face at the praise.
"I'm practicing hard."
Confidence filled her voice.
"How's the Five Extreme Forms?"
Five Extreme Forms.
The foundational art compiling all basics of the Infinite Sword Sect.
With sword, it was sword method; with fists, fist method; footwork became lightness skill.
Ha Seol-ran trained it with sword now—so nearly Five Extreme Sword.
"I'll show you."
She beamed.
An hour passed, and cadets resumed practice.
Ha Seol-ran drew her sword with a serious face, moving slowly.
Slow at first, then faster, ending extremely slow.
The method her master taught.
Ha Mu-baek nodded.
Traces of diligent, proper practice everywhere.
More complex than Three Talents Sword, but not by much.
Beginner and basic art.
He'd moved to the next stage after a month.
Back then, revenge-mad, desperate to grow fast.
It had been ages since he'd seen Five Extreme Forms.
"Nearly twenty years?"
Recalling his brutal past—not quite nostalgia—he watched his sister's forms.
Ha Seol-ran executed each faithfully.
Once.
Twice.
Thrice.
As her Five Extreme Forms repeated...
Ha Mu-baek's expression shifted.
At first, warm pride watching her train.
But with each repetition, it grew solemn.
"Was Five Extreme Forms like this?"
Things unseen at his own beginner stage now visible.
His mind tingled faintly.
But that was it.
Until darkness fell and training ended, nothing more.
***
"We're heading to Zhongnan now. Bring those mongrels."
Joo Si-woon said early morning.
"Pardon?"
Nam Hwa-ryong had to ask at the suddenness.
He was only now telling them of departure.
"Leaving now."
"A heads-up and time to prepare would be..."
Nam Hwa-ryong said, flustered.
The Three Swords and Six Swords looked equally stunned.
They were midway through breakfast, unprepared.
"We decide when to go to Zhongnan. They follow."
Joo Si-woon stated matter-of-factly, eyeing Nam Hwa-ryong.
"What are you waiting for? Hurry back. I refuse to set foot in that dump again."
Despite Three and Six Swords, he singled out Galaxy Sword Nam Hwa-ryong.
No choice but to obey the senior brother's order.
Zhongnan's Eight Swords' first became an errand boy here.
Middle-aged, he left the inn annex for the Dragon Training Pavilion.
Nam Hwa-ryong returned quickly.
Alone.
"Huh? Where are those mongrels?"
No sign of the ones to fetch.
Joo Si-woon, Three Swords, and Six Swords were ready to leave.
Plan was to depart immediately upon arrival.
"Well..."
Nam Hwa-ryong opened awkwardly.
"They left yesterday."
Grinding teeth.
Joo Si-woon's gleaming eyes betrayed his rage.
"How dare they..."
No more words.
"We leave now. Push hard for a day's travel—we can catch them. Gotta grab those mongrels."
The four departed hastily.
Nam Hwa-ryong, unprepared, grabbed his things and followed.
His sharp glare pierced the Three and Six Swords' backs, but they stuck to Joo Si-woon.
***
The river wind chilled.
No surprise. Still midwinter.
And upstream on the Yangtze, it'd grow colder.
Ha Mu-baek leaned on the deck railing, gazing at the flowing water, Baek Ri-pyeong beside him.
Baek Ri-pyeong chewed his lip, words unspoken.
"Spit it out if you have something to say. What's with you since yesterday?"
Ha Mu-baek prompted. Baek Ri-pyeong spoke.
"The land route to Zhongnan Mountain is faster, so why take the river...?"
From Three Gorges to Wuchang, downstream was swift and easy.
But reverse? Upstream dragged.
"More comfortable than killing ourselves running. No rush anyway."
"Then why leave in such haste?"
"Go when I want, how I want. Don't sweat it. I'd meditate or cultivate in the cabin instead."
"Ah, yes. Understood."
Baek Ri-pyeong headed below deck.
Ha Mu-baek smiled at the river flow.
"Bet they're running themselves ragged by now?"