The dining hall shared by the disciples of the Mount Hua Sect was unusually lively.

Mu-hwa, the youngest and only female among the second-generation disciples, with her delicate charm, poked her head in and spoke up.

“What’s up with the senior brother today?”

“I almost didn’t recognize him.”

“Now that you mention it, he didn’t stutter at all today, did he?”

With Mu-hwa breaking the ice, the second-generation disciples began discussing the changes in Mu-hwi.

“I’m curious to see what path the senior brother will take. He’s always been in the background.”

“He was a bit impressive today. For the first time, he actually felt like our senior brother.”

Mu-hwa’s large eyes sparkled with excitement as she spoke, then she turned to Mu-cheol, who was quietly eating.

“Mu-cheol, did you two talk about anything when you went to fetch the senior brother today?”

All eyes turned to Mu-cheol at Mu-hwa’s question, but he simply continued to reach for his chopsticks in silence.

“Mu-cheol…”

Mu-hwa pouted, her expression turning sulky, until Mu-cheol finally spoke.

“We didn’t.”

His curt reply made the other disciples struggle to suppress their laughter, trying not to spit out their food.

“Mu-hwa, you should know who to ask.”

“True, asking Mu-cheol, who barely says ten words a day, was a bit much.”

Mu-hwa gave a self-deprecating smile, and the others joined in with laughter.

“What’s so amusing to them?”

“Indeed.”

While some disciples were intrigued by Mu-hwi’s transformation, others were less pleased. These were the disciples who usually followed Mu-jin.

Their table was somber compared to the lively chatter at the other end of the room.

“Mu-jin didn’t even come for dinner.”

“He must be quite shocked.”

“It’s understandable, with the senior brother suddenly stepping up like this.”

Mu-ryun, who had been listening to the complaints, set down his chopsticks and spoke.

“Even if the senior brother is taking on his role again, can he really manage with his skills and personality?”

“Ah, that’s true.”

The disciples, understanding his implication, chuckled along with Mu-ryun.

“Still, we should at least talk to the senior brother first.”

Mu-ryun’s sly smile was met with nods from the disciples.

“We’ll go.”

“Do that.”

* * *

Around Mu-hwi’s small cottage, plum blossoms playfully shed their petals one by one. In the midst of the swirling petals, Mu-hwi held a wooden sword.

His hands had itched to train the moment he regained consciousness, but he had to be cautious due to the sword wound on his chest. He had focused solely on recovery until now.

As he gripped the wooden sword, it fit snugly in his hands.

“This is the feeling.”

Holding a sword always exhilarated Mu-hwi.

His lips curled into a smile as he felt the weight of the wooden sword. Though it wasn’t a real sword, it was still a sword in essence.

Made of ironwood, the wooden sword was as strong and heavy as a real one, with a satisfying balance.

Recalling his past life, where he trained with blunt wooden sticks, Mu-hwi chuckled and brought the wooden sword to the center.

As he bent his knees, his center of gravity shifted downward, and his feet rooted firmly to the ground.

In contrast, his upper body remained relaxed, ready to strike in any direction.

Mu-hwi’s eyes, fixed on the air, were calm yet carried a sharp intensity.

The wooden sword sliced vertically through the air.

Drawing a graceful line, the sword then swept from left to right, cutting through the void.

Mu-hwi slowly unfolded the Six Harmonies Sword technique.

The continuous flow of the sword created a subtle current in the air.

The falling petals began to gather around Mu-hwi, carried by the flow.

‘Six Harmonies…’

Front and back, left and right, up and down.

Together, they formed the Six Harmonies.

The Six Harmonies Sword encapsulated heaven and earth, east, west, south, and north in a single blade. It was the foundation of Mount Hua’s martial arts.

Though Mount Hua was famous for its plum blossoms, its true roots lay in the Six Harmonies.

The wooden sword thrust in various directions, and the petals danced, floating up in response.

The wooden sword and petals intertwined, creating a small harmony. As the sword weaved through the petals, it executed the final move of the Six Harmonies Sword.

Pivoting on his right foot, Mu-hwi drew a large circle, scattering the petals in all directions.

Though he hadn’t used sword energy, the scene resembled the Plum Blossom Sword technique.

To an outsider, not a disciple of Mount Hua, it wouldn’t have seemed like the basic Six Harmonies Sword.

The Plum Blossom Sword was rooted in the Six Harmonies, and Mu-hwi’s deep understanding of it allowed him to create such a spectacle.

“Hmm…”

Despite showcasing a scene that would have astonished any elder or first-generation disciple, Mu-hwi looked dissatisfied.

The previous Mu-hwi hadn’t neglected his training, but it wasn’t to a satisfactory level.

Even with the Sword Demon’s experience and memories, they were useless if his body, the vessel for martial arts, wasn’t properly prepared.

As he swung the sword, Mu-hwi assessed his physical condition and began to plan his training.

‘Incorporating some unorthodox martial arts into my training might be beneficial.’

As he organized his thoughts, a smile played on Mu-hwi’s lips.

“I’ll have to push myself.”

Starting from scratch again, Mu-hwi was more motivated than ever.

Having walked the martial path once before, Mu-hwi knew the most efficient and precise methods. By leveraging his past life’s experiences, he could achieve even more concentrated growth.

The Unrivaled Sword of the Unorthodox. The Sword Demon.

It was a proud achievement, yet also a limit, reached from the very bottom.

The Sword Demon’s blade couldn’t claim the title of the world’s greatest sword.

Thus, Mu-hwi resolved.

To hone a new blade, sharper than ever, to cut down what he couldn’t in his past life.

Among those he would face with this blade was, of course, the masked man.

With renewed determination, Mu-hwi steadied his breath and began swinging the wooden sword again. This time, a clear energy rose from his dantian, coursing through his meridians.

Whoosh.

As the wooden sword sliced through the air with vigor, a sound of air being split echoed.

By channeling his internal energy through the Six Harmonies Sword technique, the wooden sword began to carry a different power.

Mu-hwi continued to swing the wooden sword tirelessly.

Like a ghost possessed by the sword.

* * *

‘Instead of channeling through Jungbu, Janchung, and Geogweol, it’s better to use Cheonjeong, Gimon, and Cheonchu. Then, using the Hongyugong’s formula in this section will allow for faster and more explosive energy flow.’

Hongyugong was one of the many unorthodox martial arts Mu-hwi knew.

After finishing his training during the day, Mu-hwi had a small epiphany while meditating, leading him to tweak the Guso Heart Method.

The Guso Heart Method, being a Taoist martial art, excelled in the purity and stability of internal energy.

Its downside was the slow accumulation and lower power, which Mu-hwi was addressing by integrating formulas from unorthodox methods, modifying the formulas and energy pathways.

It was a risky endeavor that could easily lead to inner demons if a single step went wrong, but Mu-hwi delved into the heart method without hesitation.

In his past life, the Sword Demon, unable to obtain high-level martial arts, had elevated his realm by restructuring various martial arts in this manner.

Mu-hwi was doing it naturally, but it was an impossible feat without innate talent. Even Hyeonjo hadn’t dared to attempt it.

-If you had been a disciple of a prestigious sect, you could have fully realized this talent. It’s truly a pity.

These were the words of Hyeonjo, who had been amazed by Dokgoheon’s creation of a new heart method by combining three different ones.

‘But I’ve really become a disciple of a prestigious sect.’

Mu-hwi boldly modified the Guso Heart Method.

Since he wouldn’t be passing this martial art to others and would only use it until he obtained the Jahwa Heart Method, he focused solely on efficiently restructuring the heart method to suit his needs.

As the warm sunlight, red sunset, and finally the cold moonlight embraced his shoulders, Mu-hwi finally opened his eyes.

“Not bad.”

The Guso Heart Method now residing in Mu-hwi’s dantian had significantly diverged from its original form.

He had maximized its strengths while compensating for its weaknesses with unorthodox martial arts. This alone meant Mu-hwi’s growth would accelerate.

Of course, he hadn’t altered the core of the Guso Heart Method, so there was no need to worry about anyone noticing.

“It’s already night. It took much longer than expected.”

When he began meditating, the sun was still overhead, but now a yellow crescent moon had taken its place.

Even though it was a basic martial art, modifying a heart method in less than a day was nothing short of miraculous.

What martial artist in the world would believe such a feat possible? Mu-hwi had accomplished something unbelievable with ease.

‘Combining orthodox and unorthodox martial arts indeed leads to many inconsistencies and clashes. Still, it was a valuable experience.’

Otherwise, it wouldn’t have consumed so much time. But the rewards were as great as the challenges, leaving Mu-hwi with a satisfied smile.

Today’s experience would be invaluable when combining even higher-level martial arts in the future.

As he dusted himself off and stood up, Mu-hwi sensed a presence and turned his gaze toward the forest.

Seeing two figures approaching, Mu-hwi narrowed his eyes.

“What brings you here at this hour?”

Two men stepped into the courtyard of the house.

They were Musan and Muho, disciples who had been grumbling about Muhwi’s actions with Muryun at the restaurant earlier that day.

“Senior Brother, I’m glad to see you’re still awake.”

“We have something to discuss with you.”

“A conversation that needs to happen under the cover of night… I’m intrigued.”

Muhwi saw right through their late-night visit, and the two men exchanged uneasy glances before regaining their composure.

“Senior Brother, we ask you to retract your words from today.”

“Senior Brother Mujin only stepped back out of respect for your position.”

“Interesting. Did Mujin send you?”

It was actually Muryun who had sent them, but Musan shook his head. There was no advantage in bringing up the names of their senior brothers.

“No, we came on our own.”

“Regardless, this isn’t your place to interfere. I’ll pretend I didn’t hear any of this, so go back. And stop being puppets.”

“Puppets, you say…”

Musan’s face flushed as he raised his voice at Muhwi’s retreating back.

“If we’re puppets, then what are you, Senior Brother? You have no real skills, yet you overreach. Aren’t you ashamed?”

“I refuse to be led by someone less capable than myself.”

Muho chimed in, and Muhwi halted, casting a dry gaze at the two disciples.

“The hierarchy of Hwasan has truly fallen.”

Musan and Muho flinched. They realized they had crossed a line. Such thoughts might be harbored privately, but they should never be spoken aloud.

Especially not to Muhwi, the senior disciple of the second generation. If the elders of Hwasan found out, there would be consequences.

But the words were already out. Musan, resigned to the situation, pressed on.

“With your skills, could you guide us in martial arts like Senior Brother Mujin? All you do is recite basic forms during morning practice.”

“Just continue living quietly without making any waves, as you always have, Senior Brother.”

Muhwi listened silently to their heated words.

‘If I want to live smoothly, I need to change the perception that’s built up around me.’

He often felt frustrated and pathetic when he glimpsed his life through dreams, so he could somewhat understand their feelings.

Though the Hwasan sect operated on a strict hierarchical system, these boys were only seventeen or eighteen. At such a young, passionate age, it was hard to suppress their dissatisfaction.

Even Hyunjo, the youngest of the wise elders, had frequently argued and fought with his senior brothers in his twenties.

‘Still, it’s infuriating. These brats.’

Muhwi understood their sentiments but had no intention of showing mercy. He needed to set an example.

‘You two will be the first.’

Without a word, Muhwi drew the wooden sword from his waist. Musan and Muho looked at him in bewilderment.

“Draw your swords. Since you talk so much about skill, let’s see for ourselves. You damn disciples.”