“Where is the Dark Emperor?”

Mu-hui’s eyes, cold and piercing, bore down on the old man.

The old man groaned as the Simyeong Sword twisted slowly through his left hand, yet his gaze remained defiant, showing no intention of answering.

“Kill me.”

“As you wish.”

Mu-hui’s resolute reply widened the old man’s eyes. He opened his mouth to speak, but the Simyeong Sword had already sliced through his throat.

Mu-hui had never expected much. He didn’t believe that those who weren’t even close confidants of the Dark Emperor would know his whereabouts. Without hesitation, Mu-hui withdrew the sword and beheaded the old man, then lifted his gaze.

He surveyed the scene, where disciples of the Mount Hua Sect were locked in battle with the Dark Society. Most of those catching his eye were ordinary disciples, not the elite Plum Blossom Swordsmen.

The Dark Society’s fighters were a ragtag group, gathered without regard for sect or martial arts style. Yet, their skills were formidable enough not to be underestimated. However, they were retreating in disarray, unable to withstand the Mount Hua disciples’ fierce momentum.

The Dark Society’s plans had crumbled, and their top fighters had been swiftly cut down by Mu-hui, contributing significantly to their current disarray.

Clang!

Two Dark Society fighters were attacking a first-rank disciple, but the flexible Plum Blossom Sword split into dozens of paths, pushing them back.

Each sword stroke cut in a different direction, blossoming like a flower, forcing the two attackers into a defensive stance. It was a display of exquisite swordsmanship.

“Haap!”

With a shout, the first-rank disciple leaned slightly to the right, executing the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Technique, cutting down the Dark Society fighters simultaneously.

“Ah!”

“Ugh!”

The dazzling changes in the technique left the attackers unable to react.

Thunk!

Hearing the heavy clang of metal nearby, Mu-hui turned his head. A Dark Society fighter was swinging an iron staff, which was deftly deflected by a second-rank disciple’s Plum Blossom Sword.

The second-rank disciple twisted his waist and sword in alignment, deflecting the staff’s power, then spun to close in on the fighter.

The Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Technique unfolded right in front of the enemy, slicing through chest and thigh, though not deeply enough. The Dark Society fighter endured the pain and brought the staff down toward the disciple’s head.

It seemed they would both perish together, but then Mu-hui’s robe fluttered.

Swish!

In an instant, Mu-hui closed the distance, splitting the staff and the fighter’s upper body in one swift motion.

The Dark Society fighter fell without a sound, still in the posture of swinging the staff.

Recognizing Mu-hui’s back, the second-rank disciple shouted, “Senior Brother!”

“You deflected the staff well. But you still hesitate to close in on your opponent.”

Mu-hui gestured to the ground, and the disciple saw the shallow footprints he had left while closing in on the enemy.

The depth of the prints was shallower than usual, indicating a lack of force.

“Still, you did well. Experience will solve it.”

“Thank you, Senior Brother.”

The disciple bowed to Mu-hui and quickly moved to assist other comrades. Mu-hui watched as the other Mount Hua disciples fought.

Though not among the elite Plum Blossom Swordsmen, the Mount Hua disciples were far from weak. Their fierce and unwavering swordplay pushed back the Dark Society fighters.

The once dense forest of So-yeong Mountain was now blooming with vibrant plum blossoms, their fragrance spreading through the air.

A single plum blossom absorbed the incoming sword energy and palm strikes, while the scattered petals left countless red lines on the Dark Society fighters’ skin.

“Ugh!”

“Retreat…”

“Where can we retreat? The Plum Blossom Swordsmen and the Beggars’ Sect are behind us!”

Some Dark Society fighters, caught in the Mount Hua disciples’ onslaught, tried to flee, but they couldn’t shake off the disciples who moved swiftly, stepping on the plum blossom marks.

“Press on without rest!”

“Show no mercy to these villains!”

While Mu-hui and the Plum Blossom Swordsmen had been gaining fame in the martial world, the disciples left at Mount Hua had not been idle, as they now proved with their swords.

The training system Mu-hui established at the Plum Blossom Pavilion was open to all Mount Hua disciples, not just the elite, allowing anyone to achieve success through effort.

The result was the overwhelming dominance they now displayed.

It wasn’t a fleeting brilliance but a steady cultivation of disciples into formidable warriors, ensuring the sect’s prosperity.

This was the foundation of a prestigious sect.

Mount Hua, with its well-structured system, was now firmly on that path.

“Impressive.”

Until now, the Mount Hua Sword Saint Mu-hui and the Plum Blossom Swordsmen had been the sect’s pinnacle. Now, it was time to confirm the strength of the middle ranks, who would support the sect’s future.

In many ways, this middle layer was the most crucial. Without a strong backbone, no matter how many top fighters there were, the sect couldn’t maintain its strength and prosperity.

Watching Mount Hua’s clear superiority over the Dark Society, Mu-hui was confident.

Even against the forces of the Tyrant Star rising from the west of Shaanxi, Mount Hua would not falter.

“Mount Hua is in excellent shape.”

Mu-hui murmured to himself, raising the Simyeong Sword once more.

* * *

Whoosh!

An arrow whizzed past Mu-jin’s face, its sound chilling the air. Some arrows flew straight, while others twisted unpredictably, riding the wind.

Yet Mu-jin didn’t flinch, his sword moving ceaselessly, painting flowers in the air.

Thud, thud, thud!

Mu-jin deflected four arrows aimed at his chest, then swung his Plum Blossom Sword wide, executing the Plum Blossom Path technique.

From the tip of the Iron Plum Blossom Sword, a wave of sword energy surged, blooming with plum blossoms.

The arrows lost their power against the blossoms, some splitting in half, others veering off course amidst the swirling petals.

No matter the trajectory, the arrows were useless against the ever-blooming sword energy.

Only Mu-jin’s Plum Blossom Sword advanced steadily along the path of the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Technique.

“Now!”

Clearing a path by deflecting dozens of arrows with the Plum Blossom Path, Mu-jin shouted, and Mu-hwa and Mu-jin leaped forward together.

More arrows flew, but Mu-jin, behind them, unleashed sword winds and energy to shield them perfectly. Thanks to this, Mu-jin and Mu-hwa closed the distance significantly with the archers of the Guan Yu Sect.

Whoosh!

A blue streak shot toward them, an arrow imbued with internal energy and spinning fiercely, emitting a terrifying sound.

The mere sound of the arrow sent shivers down one’s spine.

Mu-jin blocked Mu-hwa’s path with his massive frame, raising the Iron Plum Blossom Sword high, drawing a thick purple line in the air. Three layers of sword strikes overlapped, unleashing a powerful sword wind.

Iron Plum Sword Technique. Iron Middle Line.

Boom!

The sword and arrow collided with a thunderous explosion, toppling nearby trees.

“Hmm!”

Despite deflecting the arrow head-on, the impact felt like striking a solid rock, forcing Mu-jin to brace his legs even more.

Crack, crack, crack!

Above Mu-jin, a different kind of sound erupted, like the chirping of countless birds.

Somehow, a rain of countless arrows poured down.

Mu-jin tried to block with the broad side of his Iron Plum Blossom Sword, but Mu-hwa was already leaping off his shoulder into the sky.

“I’ll handle this!”

Mu-hwa’s Plum Blossom Sword, glowing with purple light, bent as if about to break, then snapped back, unleashing dozens of sword strikes in a circular bloom.

Slash!

Based on the thirty-six directions of the Six Harmonies, purple dots filled the air, each a precise sword strike. As new dots appeared between them, the sky was densely packed with Mu-hwa’s sword points.

The sharp sword strikes pierced through the rain of arrows, accompanied by the petals of the Purple Plum Blossom Technique. With the Plum Blossom Rain technique, Mu-hwa created a purple downpour, splitting every arrow perfectly.

Amidst the halved arrows, Mu-hwa soared, her robe sleeves fluttering.

Flipping in mid-air, Mu-hwa called out to Mu-jin.

“Mu-cheol, senior brother!”

At the call, Mu-cheol lowered his stance, channeling all his strength into his right thigh and calf, and launched himself forward with his left foot.

Boom!

The full force of his technique surged toward Mu-hwa, who landed lightly on Mu-cheol’s foot as if he were a bird.

The combination of Mu-cheol’s powerful kick and Mu-hwa’s agility created a perfect synergy, propelling Mu-hwa through the air like a swift arrow, disappearing into the forest.

“What the—!”

The disciples of Gwan-yu Palace, who had been targeting the Hwasan disciples from a distance, were taken aback by Mu-hwa’s sudden, missile-like approach.

They tried to widen the gap between them, but Mu-hwa’s speed was overwhelming, closing the distance in an instant.

Slash!

Mu-hwa, now a streak of light, cut down one of the Gwan-yu disciples in a flash. The disciple attempted to block with his bow, but it was futile.

The bow split in half, and the disciple’s chest was cleaved open simultaneously.

“Damn it!”

“Retreat!”

The remaining two disciples, shocked by the scene, attempted to flee using their own movement techniques.

For the archers of Gwan-yu Palace, maintaining distance was both their survival and victory strategy, and they possessed exceptional movement skills.

But their opponent was Mu-hwa.

Mu-hwa seemed to step on a branch with force, yet the branch didn’t even tremble. Meanwhile, he soared gracefully like a butterfly.

Outrunning Mu-hwa, whose movement technique was unmatched even among the Plum Blossom Sword Masters, was a distant dream.

While the Gwan-yu disciples flailed through the dense branches in a desperate escape, Mu-hwa glided through the forest as if the scent of plum blossoms was spreading.

“Where do you think you’re going after bombarding us with arrows from afar?”

Mu-hwa’s voice, light and airy, came from right behind them, causing the Gwan-yu disciples to panic. Despite the cheerful tone, there was no mercy in Mu-hwa’s sword.

With two steps, Mu-hwa drove his sword into the back of the second disciple, and with five steps, he slashed the chest of the last one.

“Mu-hwa, did you get them all?”

As Mu-hwa descended from the trees after dispatching the three Gwan-yu disciples, Mu-jin and Mu-cheol, who had been following, appeared.

“Yes, senior brother Mu-jin. Now our other disciples won’t have to worry about arrows.”

“Well done.”

Mu-jin nodded approvingly, just as three trees across from them fell simultaneously.

From the gap emerged a Gwan-yu archer, his white robe stained red from a shoulder wound.

Unlike the fleeing archer, Hyun-baek, who had pursued him, approached leisurely, flicking the blood from his Plum Blossom Sword.

“Ha, the name of the Hwasan Sword Saint has been rising lately, but it seems the Hwasan Sect has more than just the Sword Saint.”

“You underestimated the Hwasan Sect, senior.”

The Gwan-yu archer gave a bitter smile, looking at Hyun-baek, who had cut his shoulder without breaking a sweat.

When he first aimed his arrow at the middle-aged disciple trying to block him, he hadn’t expected things to turn out this way.

The archer shook his head, glancing at the Hwasan disciples who had surrounded him.

“Did my disciples go ahead? They shouldn’t have been defeated by mere juniors.”

“Those kids have surpassed the level of juniors. Underestimating them would be a mistake.”

Hyun-baek’s voice was filled with pride as he raised his Plum Blossom Sword with a determined expression.

“Hmm.”

The Gwan-yu archer sighed, looking at his bow, now split in two by Hyun-baek. He abandoned it and charged at Hyun-baek with his bare hands.

Though skilled in hand-to-hand combat, the archer’s techniques were no match for Hyun-baek’s swordsmanship.

In less than twenty exchanges, the archer’s body was covered in new sword wounds.

The Hwasan disciples watched the battle without interfering, ensuring the archer had no escape route.

* * *

While the Hwasan Sect, having turned the tables on the ambush, advanced swiftly toward Zhongnan Mountain, the Tyrant’s Castle also broke through the defenses and reached the mountain.

Gui-ryeong Pyeon-wang, observing the mountain’s terrain from afar, chuckled.

“It reminds me of Mount Emei. Burning Emei was quite satisfying; Zhongnan should be just as rewarding.”

Before arriving in Shaanxi, Gui-ryeong Pyeon-wang had killed the head of the Emei Sect and set Mount Emei ablaze, forcing the sect to close its doors.

“The formation is complete.”

At his subordinate’s report, Gui-ryeong Pyeon-wang nodded. Having swept aside the obstructive forces of the Martial Alliance and the Zhongnan Sect, they had finally reached Zhongnan Mountain. Now, only the destruction of the Zhongnan Sect remained.

“Feed the men meat and wine, and let them rest. We will ascend Zhongnan Mountain in four hours.”

“Yes, sir!”

Gui-ryeong Pyeon-wang’s eyes, gleaming with murderous intent, took in the majestic landscape of Zhongnan Mountain.