A massive black serpent with horns, more fittingly described as an imugi than a mere snake due to its size. Muhwi knew the name of this monstrous creature.

Dokgak Hwamang.

A troublesome serpent said to spew both venom and fire. Its fiery red eyes were fixed greedily on the golden fruit at the center of the lake, a desire so intense that even the other disciples could immediately discern its intent.

Muhwi glanced sideways at the enormous turtle floating on the lake. Its smooth, golden skin bore old scars, likely left by the Dokgak Hwamang.

It seemed that the turtle, known as Geumgui or the Millennial Golden Turtle, was guarding the golden fruit from the serpent.

“To see such mythical creatures in one place, something you might not witness even in a hundred years.”

The Millennial Golden Turtle gazed at Muhwi with its clear, drooping eyes.

“Are you telling me to run from that serpent?”

In response to Muhwi’s words, the turtle let out a short cry. As if to buy him time to escape, a golden radiance began to rise from the turtle’s shell like mist.

Seeing this, Muhwi instead gripped the hilt of his plum blossom sword.

“I’ll take that serpent’s head, and in return, I’ll take the lake’s water.”

“Uo.”

The turtle let out a cry, and the golden light surrounding it flowed across the lake to envelop Muhwi.

“Hmm.”

As Muhwi felt the turtle’s energy, Mujin asked, “Senior Brother, should we just stand by?”

Though eager to join the fight, Mujin sensed the deadly aura of the Dokgak Hwamang and knew they would be of little help.

Despite the perilous situation, Mujin’s clear judgment made Muhwi smile and nod.

“Yes. Unfortunately, your swords wouldn’t even pierce it.”

“If it gets dangerous, we’ll jump in right away,” Muha chirped, placing a hand on her hip, while Mucheol shook his head firmly.

“That won’t be necessary for Senior Brother.”

With a light step, Muhwi pushed off the ground, propelling himself forward as if folding space, landing right in front of the Dokgak Hwamang.

The serpent, sensing Muhwi’s formidable speed, lowered its head slightly, aiming its horn, which gleamed like the night sky, like a sword.

Boom!

When the plum blossom sword clashed with the horn, a heavy resonance shook the cliffs. The sword trembled violently under the weight of the serpent’s horn.

Muhwi used this momentum to thrust his sword diagonally. The vibration from his wrist and the internal energy added to the sword’s technique, making it blur with countless tremors.

Amidst the blur, petals of sword energy scattered chaotically, creating hundreds of variations.

The vivid scene of branches growing and flowers blooming in an instant made even the Dokgak Hwamang hesitate momentarily.

Thud!

Dozens of sword strikes rained down on the serpent’s head, but the sound was dull, far from the sharpness of a cut.

“Gasp!”

“Seems it’s quite tough.”

Though surprised, Muhwi was not, knowing the serpent’s hide was as tough as steel. He merely gauged how much force would be needed to cut through.

With a sense of measure, Muhwi raised his sword high, his eyes flashing with a purple glow. The plum blossom sword, lifted high, captured the fading purple twilight, shining brightly.

As the purple light reflected in the serpent’s eyes, it stretched into a flash.

“Shhh!”

Facing the threatening sword light sweeping from left to right, the serpent flinched and quickly pulled its head back.

Slash!

As the serpent retracted its head, its hide split open, spilling dark red blood. Had it not instinctively sensed the danger and retreated, its head would have been severed.

“Shhh!”

The serpent’s tongue flicked twice as fast as usual, eyeing Muhwi.

Since growing a small horn on its head, the serpent had never faced a threat to its life. Even the tiger, king of the mountains, was merely a meal, and the only rival, the Millennial Golden Turtle, was too gentle and never left the lake.

After countless years, the serpent, reminded of death by Muhwi, let out a shriek.

“Kiaaak!”

The serpent’s scream shook the canyon, forcing Dokgoyul and the disciples to crouch and cover their ears.

“Silence.”

Only Muhwi, with an unchanged expression, launched himself at the serpent, aiming to drive his sword into its noisy mouth.

As he approached, a black mist of poison spewed from the serpent’s body, but Muhwi did not retreat. The poison had no effect on him.

Though he had taken an antidote from the Six Harmonies Sword Sect, it was the turtle’s power that shielded him from the serpent’s poison.

Thanks to the turtle, Muhwi could fight the serpent with ease, unleashing his full potential.

Whack!

With a kick to the head, the serpent’s body jerked violently. In that instant, the tip of Muhwi’s sword scattered countless petals of sword energy.

Plum Blossom Blood Rain.

The petals, blooming and scattering, fell upon the serpent, drawing blood.

“Kiaaak!”

The serpent thrashed to avoid the attack, but Muhwi’s sword strikes, marking hundreds of points, were overwhelmingly fast.

As Muhwi’s plum blossom robe fluttered, small streams of blood erupted from the serpent’s body, its hide stained red as if caught in a rain of blood.

The minor wounds would heal in less than half a day, but the serpent, sensitive to the pain it hadn’t felt in ages, bared its horn and fangs.

Boom!

The serpent’s tail crashed down like a mace, but Muhwi lightly evaded by stepping on a nearby rock wall.

Yet, the serpent, anticipating this, fixed its smooth pupils on Muhwi, its killing intent intensifying.

As Muhwi momentarily hovered in the air, the serpent opened its mouth wide.

Whoosh!

A massive blue flame erupted from the serpent’s mouth, large enough to engulf four or five men at once.

Dokgoyul and the disciples watching were horrified.

“Senior Brother!”

“It really breathes fire?”

Feeling the heat dry his skin and singe his hair, Muhwi grinned.

“So it really does breathe fire. Interesting.”

Muhwi’s left hand swept the space before him, his fingers spreading wide. His wrist, back of the hand, and fingers rotated in sequence, creating hand shadows.

Dozens of hand shadows layered densely, and over them, large, thick petals of plum blossom energy fell.

A massive plum blossom bloomed at Muhwi’s fingertips.

Celestial Flower Curtain.

As the plum blossom spun rapidly, guided by the subtle movements of Muhwi’s fingers, it formed a circular purple barrier.

Like a sword forming a protective barrier.

While the Plum Blossom Sword Technique blocked and shattered the enemy’s attack, the Celestial Flower Curtain dispersed and deflected it.

Under Muhwi’s command, the serpent’s blue flame split into dozens of streams, scattering harmlessly into the air.

As the serpent reeled in surprise, Muhwi’s plum blossom sword, descending through the flames, transformed into a purple lightning bolt and struck down.

Crash!

With a sound like splitting rock, the serpent’s head fell to the ground.

“Phew.”

Landing softly, Muhwi exhaled lightly, glancing at his left hand, which had formed the Celestial Flower Curtain. Though he couldn’t completely deflect the heat, the burn was minor.

For a wound sustained in defeating the Dokgak Hwamang, it was a small price to pay. At Muhwi’s gesture, Dokgoyul and Muha, who had been watching from afar, rushed over.

“That strike just now was incredible.”

“Senior Brother! That was amazing! My heart sank when you were engulfed in flames!”

Mujin and Mucheol followed, checking on Muhwi.

“Are you alright, Senior Brother?”

As Mujin inquired, Muha was already pulling out a medicine bottle from her sleeve.

After treating the burn with Muha’s medicine, Muhwi tapped various parts of the serpent’s body before stopping.

“Here.”

Mu-hwi drove the plum blossom sword deep, slicing through the hide. Rolling up his sleeves, he reached in with his hand.

When Mu-hwi’s hand emerged again, it held something that resembled a dark red orb.

“Oh, is that the inner core of the Venomous Horned Spider?”

Dokgo Yul exclaimed in awe, and Mu-hwi nodded. The core was visibly toxic. Consuming it as it was would be impossible.

“Should I entrust this to the Sichuan Tang Clan?”

Mu-hwi placed the core into a prepared container and instructed his disciples.

“Fill the canteens with the Venomous Horned Spider’s blood. It might come in handy.”

“Yes, senior brother!”

Having given his orders, Mu-hwi walked toward the creature’s head. His target was the horn of the Venomous Horned Spider.

Even in death, the horn emitted a mysterious indigo glow.

“This might be useful too.”

Sensing the concentrated energy within the horn, Mu-hwi carefully collected it. Watching him, Mu-hwa called out.

“Senior brother, shouldn’t we take the hide too?”

“We’ll come back for it another time. Let’s just take what we need today. Right now, the lake water is our priority.”

“Wow, there’s nothing wasted with a mystical creature, is there? That’s why they’re called mystical.”

The simple eyes of Man-nyeon Geum-gu trembled as he watched the meticulous disassembly of the Venomous Horned Spider.

* * *

While they were dismantling the creature, Man-nyeon Geum-gu had disappeared. Mu-jin, who was filling containers with lake water, looked at the golden fruit by the lake and asked.

“Senior brother, what do you think that is?”

“Not sure. It looks like some kind of elixir.”

Dokgo Yul, observing Mu-hwi’s indifferent reaction, asked, “Aren’t you going to take that elixir?”

“It’s best not to be greedy.”

The Venomous Horned Spider alone had provided them with plenty, including potential elixirs. Besides, the moment Mu-hwi saw the golden fruit, he felt it wasn’t meant for him.

A sudden thought crossed his mind that someday, someone else might find their destiny here.

“Senior brother, we’ve filled everything.”

Mu-hwi, who had been staring at the golden fruit, nodded at Mu-cheol’s words.

“Let’s head back.”

Just as they were about to turn away, ripples formed on the lake. Man-nyeon Geum-gu reappeared, swimming toward them.

“Whoa.”

With a low cry, Man-nyeon Geum-gu opened its mouth and spat out something—a bundle of seaweed.

“How beautiful.”

Mu-hwa admired the sight, as the seaweed shimmered with a green glow.

Unlike Mu-hwa, who was captivated, Mu-jin squinted and asked Mu-hwi, “What is this, senior brother?”

Listening to Man-nyeon Geum-gu’s cries, Mu-hwi replied, “I don’t know either, but it seems like a gift of gratitude. It looks like some kind of elixir.”

“Unlike that black snake, it’s quite kind.”

Mu-hwa poked at the seaweed and waved at Man-nyeon Geum-gu, who quietly sank back into the lake.

Watching this, Mu-hwi turned away.

“Let’s go back too.”

As they moved away from the lake, Dokgo Yul suddenly asked, “But how are we going to climb back up?”

“How else? We’ll scale the cliff.”

Mu-hwi’s casual remark left Dokgo Yul and the disciples pale.

“Climb that height?”

“Didn’t you all learn the Wall Climbing Technique? Of course, I’ll use the Shadow Step to ascend.”

Among them, only Mu-hwi had mastered the art of scaling the steep cliff as if it were a staircase.

The rest would have to climb using the Wall Climbing Technique, relying on their hands and feet.

“I thought you’d carry us up, senior brother,” Mu-hwa said, half-joking.

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

Mu-hwi grinned at the dismayed faces of Dokgo Yul and the disciples.

“We’ve gained elixirs, so training by climbing the cliff isn’t a bad idea. Strengthening your body will help you absorb the elixirs better.”

No one dared to argue with Mu-hwi’s reasoning.

Seeing no one move, Mu-hwi gestured toward the cliff.

“What are you waiting for? We need to get up there today.”

* * *

“Wow, truly remarkable. The horn of the Venomous Horned Spider.”

Seong Ju-tae marveled at the items Mu-hwi’s group had brought back.

He felt a growing anticipation that an extraordinary sword would be forged.

“You’ve done well. But where are the others?”

“They’re all exhausted from climbing the cliff.”

“I see. That’s understandable.”

Seong Ju-tae chuckled, setting down the horn, and turned to Mu-hwi with a serious expression.

“There are some crucial questions I must ask before crafting the sword.”

Mu-hwi nodded, meeting Seong Ju-tae’s solemn gaze.

“Go ahead.”

“What kind of sword do you envision for the legacy of the Volcano Sword Saint?”