Chapter 578
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 578
Chapter Title: Long Time No See, Huashan
“How was your journey through the martial world?”
Yu Choeun asked her disciple Wi Suyeon, whom she hadn't seen in ages.
“It went well, Master.”
Yu Choeun nodded at Wi Suyeon's reply.
“I suppose so, since you were with Uncle-Master Plum Blossom Sword Sage. Did he resolve your frustrations with the Plum Blossom Sword Technique?”
“Yes!”
There was real strength in her response.
“As expected of Uncle-Master Plum Blossom Sword Sage.”
When the Plum Blossom Sword Sage Gwi Hwi had said he would take Wi Suyeon on a journey through the martial world, he had come to Yu Choeun, explained the situation, and asked for her permission.
She had been surprised once to learn her disciple possessed such exceptional talent, and surprised again to hear that even the Plum Blossom Sword Sage felt limitations in the Plum Blossom Sword Technique.
“Then, let's see what you've got.”
Yu Choeun picked up her sword and stepped out of the Discipline Hall.
The small training ground beside the Discipline Hall.
She took her position in the center.
Wi Suyeon stood opposite her, sword in hand.
Ching.
Yu Choeun drew her sword and assumed the starting stance of the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Forms.
Ching.
Wi Suyeon drew hers as well.
The same starting stance.
Yet the auras they exuded were different.
'Impressive.'
Yu Choeun nodded ever so slightly.
Her disciple's sword had undoubtedly changed.
Before descending the mountain and now, after her return.
It was clearly a different sword.
She could tell just from the starting stance.
Yu Choeun.
A woman who served as an elder of the Huashan Sect and lord of the Discipline Hall, overseeing the sect's rules.
Her mastery of martial arts could not possibly be shallow.
She was the greatest among the women of Huashan, and counting past masters, one of the top five experts in the entire sect.
“Come.”
A short command.
Tahat.
The moment she spoke, Wi Suyeon kicked off the ground.
As the Plum Blossom Falling Petals stance unfolded from her fingertips, Yu Choeun's sword moved in response.
The same Plum Blossom Falling Petals stance.
Ching! Cha-ching! Ching!
The master and disciple's swords intertwined like illusions.
The Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Forms performed by two beautiful women was like a masterpiece painting reaching the pinnacle of beauty.
Though it was the same technique, the two swords with different atmospheres began to emit a thick plum blossom fragrance.
Of course, most of that fragrance came from Yu Choeun's sword.
But...
'Hm?'
Yu Choeun's eyes twitched.
Amid the sword fragrance she herself emitted, she faintly sensed a completely different scent.
She looked at her disciple in surprise.
But Wi Suyeon seemed oblivious, utterly immersed in the Plum Blossom Sword Technique.
Completely focused.
Not quite a trance, but that level of concentration was impressive in itself.
With a pleased heart, Yu Choeun immersed herself in the swordplay as well.
The Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Forms passed the midpoint and entered the latter half.
The eighteenth form.
Plum Shadows Forming a River.
True to its meaning of plum shadows forming a river, the sword path stretched out grandly.
At that point,
Yu Choeun grew flustered.
She feigned composure to hide it from Wi Suyeon, but inwardly, she was genuinely rattled.
Stripping away all factors like internal energy, experience, and adaptability.
Purely in terms of the sword technique itself, she felt Wi Suyeon's Plum Blossom Sword Technique surpassing her own.
'Is this what frustrated her?'
Yu Choeun could now sense the difference between her sword path and Wi Suyeon's.
And thus, she somewhat understood why Wi Suyeon had felt frustrated.
That wasn't all.
In terms of adaptability, Wi Suyeon showed something new.
A flexibility in the sword's movements that hadn't been there before.
She was adjusting the speed of the sword during form transitions.
Faster, or slower.
That alone enriched the sword's variations.
'What experiences did this child gain on her journey down the mountain?'
They called it astonishing growth.
In the short time away from Huashan wandering the martial world, Wi Suyeon had truly advanced at a staggering pace.
If she grew like this every time, perhaps she should keep sending her on journeys through the rivers and lakes.
Soon, all twenty-four forms concluded, and master and disciple stepped back, creating distance.
“Huff... huff... Thank you, Master.”
Wi Suyeon hadn't gained the upper hand even once.
No matter how much her sword technique had advanced or her realm elevated, she wasn't yet a match for Yu Choeun.
“I'm the one who should thank you. It seems we have much to discuss.”
Yu Choeun smiled warmly.
They had gone straight to sparring upon her return greeting.
Now it was time for master and disciple to talk.
“Your sword... felt freer. Like plum blossoms blooming from carefree play, not a sword moving freely just to make them bloom.”
Yu Choeun spoke calmly as she brought her teacup to her lips.
Wi Suyeon was startled.
She had pinpointed the essence after just one spar.
“Yes. I only felt the frustration but couldn't grasp it, until Uncle-Master Plum Blossom Sword Sage revealed its nature.”
“You left Huashan to find a solution and returned with results. But that alone doesn't explain how much your realm has elevated. It's astonishing.”
Praise flowed naturally from her pleased heart.
Wi Suyeon's cheeks flushed slightly.
She hadn't expected such direct compliments from her master.
“Well, that is...”
Wi Suyeon calmly recounted her journey.
From Sangnam to Kaifeng seeking the Beggars' Sect, and the circumstances that brought her back to Sangnam.
And the matter with the Plum Fragrance Sect and Great-Uncle Un.
Finally, obtaining the Yuun Sword Method at the Yuun Martial Hall, and the story ended with her spar against Ha Mu-baek.
Yu Choeun listened intently with great interest until the Plum Fragrance Sect incident, from which point she couldn't contain her anger.
At the demonic arts of Huashan Sword Fragrance Un Se-hyeok, she even let out an angry shout.
To her, the Discipline Hall Lord, Un Se-hyeok was merely a criminal of a sect who had committed crimes, no longer a grand-uncle.
“Hah... truly... that... hah...”
Having heard everything, Yu Choeun was at a loss for words.
Before crossing Huashan Sect's gates upon return, Wi Suyeon had finished discussing with Gwi Hwi by telling her master Yu Choeun all the facts.
Because Yu Choeun was Huashan's Discipline Hall Lord.
She needed to know anyway.
“This matter will be thoroughly investigated, and proper punishment meted out.”
Yu Choeun's eyes gleamed fiercely.
Though Un Se-hyeok was dead and gone, she suspected the source of those demonic arts might still lurk somewhere in Huashan.
“More importantly, you say Hocheon Corps Leader Ha Mu-baek was that strong?”
She knew he was powerful.
Yu Choeun herself had first told Wi Suyeon of his existence, as he was the strongest warrior she had ever seen.
However, the level her disciple described today surpassed her imagination.
She had inwardly thought him one of the top five in the world.
But from what she heard today, he could be called the world's greatest.
Matching the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Forms with the Three Talents Sword Technique and overwhelming her?
No matter the gap in realms between Wi Suyeon and Ha Mu-baek.
Moreover, Wi Suyeon had realized how to create variations by adjusting her sword speed during that spar.
Of course, she had known about speed control before, but learning such extreme adjustments and changes came from sparring Ha Mu-baek.
“Uncle-Master Plum Blossom Sword Sage was quite shocked too. He said it far exceeded his expectations.”
Yu Choeun nodded at Wi Suyeon's reply.
“In any case, it was a tremendous stroke of fortune for you. Dedicate yourself even more from now on.”
“Yes.”
Wi Suyeon gave a short but firm reply to her master's exhortation.
“Discipline Hall Lord. The Sect Leader summons you.”
At that moment, the voice of Yu Choeun's second disciple, who attended her outside the office, rang out.
Yu Choeun and Wi Suyeon exchanged glances.
“It must be about that matter.”
Having already heard the full story from Wi Suyeon, Yu Choeun rose immediately and headed to the Sect Leader.
“Hm. Long time no see, Huashan.”
Before ascending Huashan, at the foot of the mountain.
Huayin County.
Ha Mu-baek had arrived here.
Exactly two days since leaving Sangnam.
A journey that could take less than a day, but he hadn't rushed.
He had headed to Huashan while calmly sorting his thoughts.
And there were matters to handle along the way.
On top of that, he intended to give the Plum Blossom Sword Sage some time.
No matter the reason, Ha Mu-baek felt indebted to him.
The topic of happiness had resonated deeply with him.
“About four days, roughly? No idea how much he's figured out.”
Ha Mu-baek muttered while eating.
It was around lunchtime.
The side effect of lingering long at that traveler's inn was showing.
The alcohol tasted off.
When staying in Luoyang, he hadn't drunk as often, so it was less noticeable, but this time it was clear.
After experiencing the perfect harmony of dishes and liquor.
Meals at other inns no longer satisfied.
The food wasn't bad, but no liquor paired well.
The dishes had been perfected by Gong Yeop-myeong to mesh exquisitely with alcohol, and such inns were nowhere to be found.
Foods and drinks he once enjoyed adequately no longer sufficed.
In the end, Ha Mu-baek ate only the food or drank only the liquor separately.
Eaten apart, they were at least tolerable.
Liquor especially shone when drunk alone.
“Tch.”
Ha Mu-baek clicked his tongue after finishing the food.
His face full of regret.
“I never knew my tongue could be so picky.”
A low grumble directed at no one in particular.
“Pardon? Was something unsatisfactory, sir?”
A passing waiter overheard and asked cautiously.
This was Huayin County.
A large village at the base of Huashan.
Meaning it was at the entrance to Huashan Sect, and thus a place frequented by countless martial artists.
That was why Huayin County had prospered into such a big village, but it had downsides.
Many martial artists meant security could be good or extremely poor depending on them.
If one with a foul temper caused trouble...
Thus, the waiter's demeanor was exceedingly careful.
“It's nothing.”
Ha Mu-baek said and handed him a silver coin.
“Th-thank you, sir.”
The waiter bowed deeply and left.
“Just one more day to endure.”
Ha Mu-baek muttered while gazing up at Huashan.
He wanted to wrap this up quickly and return to Sangnam for a drink with Gong Yeop-myeong's cooking.
Ha Mu-baek shook his head.
'Me, of all people... What a thing.'
For a supreme expert of Ha Mu-baek's caliber to be so bound by mere food and drink.
It was truly bizarre.
Though he could have ascended Huashan right away, Ha Mu-baek stayed the night in Huayin County.
Early morning.
After a simple bowl of noodles for breakfast, Ha Mu-baek began slowly climbing Huashan.
“Hm. Did giving time change nothing after all?”
Ha Mu-baek's senses already extended beyond Huayin County to Huashan itself.
Yet no demonic energy was felt.
If Huashan Sect had resolved the issue and found the source in that time, his senses would have detected it.
But with not a trace of demonic energy, he concluded they hadn't.
There was the possibility they solved it before he arrived in Huayin.
'If so, Old Man Un would've been stopped before ending up like that.'
Thinking of Un Se-hyeok's case, Ha Mu-baek dismissed that option entirely.
Ha Mu-baek thought he moved slowly, but with each step, his figure advanced swiftly.
Before long, he passed the midpoint of Lotus Flower Peak.
“Shall I announce my arrival?”
A massive aura erupted from Ha Mu-baek's body for a brief moment before vanishing.