Mu-hwi reached for the sword wrapped in red leather. Despite it being his first time holding it, it felt as if it had always belonged in his hand.

The sword’s hilt and guard were crafted to resemble a fully bloomed plum blossom, with the blade rising from its center. This design gave the Plum Blossom Sword its name, as if the blade itself was a part of the flower.

With a smooth, swift motion, Mu-hwi drew the sword. The shimmering light along the blade brought a subtle brightness to his face.

The scabbard was engraved with a single plum blossom, harmonizing with the wave patterns on the blade, evoking the image of a lone blossom floating on the Yangtze River.

The sword’s elegance was understated, not overly ornate, which made it all the more captivating. It was no wonder that the artisans had poured their hearts into crafting this one sword.

“Receiving the Plum Blossom Sword means you are recognized as a true swordsman of Mount Hua. We look forward to the day your blossoms enrich our sect.”

“Thank you, Master.”

Mu-hwi and the other disciples of Mount Hua bowed respectfully to Baek-yu and Seong-ju-tae. With the presentation of the Plum Blossom Sword, the ceremony concluded successfully.

This was the first such ceremony since the Bloodshed of Shaanxi.

The young disciples of Chunmae Pavilion found inspiration in the senior disciples, while the elders and first-generation disciples looked to the future of Mount Hua with hope rather than concern.

Today’s ceremony was more meaningful than ever.

Watching the bright faces of the Mount Hua disciples, Baek-yu smiled as well.

“The spirit is returning.”

The changing atmosphere of Mount Hua was largely due to the second-generation disciples, especially Mu-hwi.

Baek-yu glanced at Mu-hwi among the second-generation disciples.

“You’re achieving what I couldn’t.”

He turned his gaze to the plum tree in the Jade Maiden Garden. Despite the harsh winter winds, the plum blossoms were preparing to bloom, their colors deepening.

* * *

That night, a grand feast was held at Mount Hua. Baek-yu provided plenty of food and drink for the disciples.

Even Mu-hwi, who usually trained in the afternoons, allowed the second-generation disciples to relax and enjoy themselves.

“Fill your cups, everyone!”

“Hehe, Senior Brother, this is great. It’s been so tough lately.”

“The wine we had when we became second-generation disciples didn’t taste this good. It’s different now.”

As Mu-sang sipped his drink and muttered, Mu-ho, listening nearby, chuckled.

“You were just too young back then.”

“Senior Brother Mu-ho, we’re only a year apart!”

“Only a year? The number of meals I’ve had over you makes a big difference.”

“Senior Brother, if you put it that way… Ouch!”

In the midst of their banter, someone smacked the back of their heads, making them groan and clutch their heads.

“Stop with the childish talk at such a good gathering. You’re ruining the mood.”

Mu-hwi, holding several bottles of wine, had lightly tapped their heads with one.

Whether Mu-sang and Mu-ho were hit or not, the other disciples’ eyes sparkled at the sight of the bottles in Mu-hwi’s hands.

“Senior Brother, where did you get those?”

Mu-hwa asked as he took a bottle from Mu-hwi.

“The wine from the storage was too bland, so I went down to the village.”

The wine from Mount Hua’s storage was too weak for Mu-hwi, so he had gone down to the inn in Hwaeum and brought back some stronger stuff.

He had used the silver he’d taken from the secret treasury, so he didn’t hesitate to share it with the first-generation disciples and elders.

“Senior Brother, you could have sent us instead of going yourself.”

Mu-jin said as he filled Mu-hwi’s cup, but Mu-hwi just smiled.

“It’s faster if I go myself.”

Looking at the gathered disciples, Mu-hwi spoke.

“I didn’t know what you’d like, so I brought a bit of everything. Help yourselves.”

“Yes, Senior Brother!”

Their enthusiastic response echoed in Mu-hwi’s ears.

“What’s this wine? It’s good. Try it, everyone.”

“Ugh, this one burns going down.”

The second-generation disciples opened the bottles, sniffed the aroma, and cautiously tasted the wine.

As Mu-hwi quietly drank, watching the disciples enjoy themselves, Mu-cheol approached him.

“Thank you, Senior Brother.”

“For what?”

“I never expected to receive the Plum Blossom Sword as a middle sword.”

On the day Mu-cheol switched to a middle sword, Mu-hwi had sent a letter to Mount Hua.

The letter detailed Mu-cheol and the Iron Plum Sword technique, complete with drawings of the sword’s width, length, and weight.

It was a proposal for a new Plum Blossom Sword for Mu-cheol.

“I only made the suggestion. It was thanks to the Master’s approval.”

Mu-cheol quietly filled Mu-hwi’s cup. Mu-hwi took a sip and continued.

“Start with the Plum Blossom Sword Technique. I’ll give you the Iron Plum Sword manual soon.”

Now that he could learn the Plum Blossom Sword Technique, he could properly develop the Iron Plum Sword technique. And not just that.

Once he mastered the Plum Blossom Sword Technique and deepened his understanding of Mount Hua’s martial arts, he could begin studying the secret manuals left by the ancestors.

“It’s time to really get going.”

Receiving the Plum Blossom Sword was just the beginning.

“I won’t disappoint you, Senior Brother.”

“Of course not.”

Mu-hwi clinked glasses with Mu-cheol and glanced towards the main hall.

He had seen a monk from Shaolin in Hwaeum earlier. If a Shaolin monk was in Hwaeum, they likely had business with Mount Hua.

As Mu-hwi looked towards the main hall, Baek-yu was meeting with Gong-ji, the Arhat Hall Master of Shaolin.

“It seems there was an event at Mount Hua today. I apologize for the sudden visit, Master.”

“No need, Master Gong-ji. What brings you from Henan?”

Gong-ji rolled his prayer beads in silence.

“I’m here regarding the Orthodox Martial Arts Gathering.”

“The Orthodox Martial Arts Gathering…”

The Orthodox Martial Arts Gathering was an event held every five years, where numerous sects, including the Nine Great Schools and the Three Great Families, gathered to discuss the affairs of the martial world. Without a formal alliance, the hosting of the gathering rotated among the sects.

“The next gathering is to be held at Mount Hua, is it not?”

“Yes, but it’s still over two years away.”

Gong-ji stopped rolling his beads.

“The Baekri Family has raised an objection. Here is a letter from the Baekri Family Head.”

At the mention of the Baekri Family, Baek-yu’s eyebrows furrowed.

“The Baekri Family is concerned about whether Mount Hua, having suffered from the Bloodshed of Shaanxi, can successfully host the gathering.”

The letter proposed switching the hosting order with the Baekri Family, who were next in line after Mount Hua.

Baek-yu’s fingers tightened, crumpling the letter slightly.

“The Baekri Family is not simply after the hosting opportunity, are they? The gathering is just a convenient excuse.”

“Amitabha.”

Gong-ji, anticipating Baek-yu’s response, simply chanted a Buddhist prayer.

“The Sword King of Baekri still cannot accept his past defeat and covets the title of one of the Three Great Sword Sects.”

In the past, the Baekri Family had challenged Mount Hua.

They aimed to seize the title of one of the Three Great Sword Sects.

Fifteen of the best from each sect fought in succession, and ultimately, the Sword Saint defeated the Sword King, allowing Mount Hua to retain its title.

“Initially, the Abbot rejected the Baekri Family’s proposal outright, but they insisted on visiting Mount Hua directly, so the Abbot sent me to mediate.”

Mount Hua was one of the Nine Great Schools, and the Baekri Family was one of the Three Great Families.

Both were prestigious sects claiming to be pillars of the orthodox martial world, so the Shaolin Abbot wished to prevent any conflict between them.

“Shaolin has done nothing wrong. We appreciate the Abbot’s concern for Mount Hua. However!”

Baek-yu’s voice, which had been gentle, grew stronger, filling the hall with its presence.

“Mount Hua has no intention of backing down. Accepting the Baekri Family’s proposal would be admitting our own weakness. It would be like smearing dirt on the faces of our ancestors.”

Gong-ji nodded. Shaolin would never accept such a proposal either. But the Baekri Family was likely counting on this.

“The Baekri Family will use this as an excuse to seek revenge for their past defeat. The loss to Mount Hua still lingers like a shadow over the Sword King and the Baekri Family.”

The Sword King, who had walked a path of undefeated martial arts, suffered his first defeat at the hands of the Sword Saint in his later years.

This first defeat left an invisible scar on the Sword King’s heart.

Perhaps that’s why, after the sect duel, the Sword King and the Baekri Family had almost completely withdrawn from the martial world. Now, they were reemerging with the issue of the Orthodox Martial Arts Gathering.

“You’re right, Master Gong-ji.”

Baek-yu nodded at Gong-ji’s concern.

The fact that Mount Hua had lost its top masters, including the Sword Saint, was known throughout the martial world.

Challenging the Three Great Sword Schools of the martial world again in this situation would surely invite criticism from the entire martial arts community. It seems their plan is to use the pretext of the righteous assembly to avenge their previous defeat.

The Baekri family must have anticipated that the Mount Hua Sect might reject their proposal.

In their quest to reclaim their faded glory, the Baekri family will undoubtedly try to clash with the Mount Hua Sect.

“Though many masters, including the Sword Saint of Mount Hua, fell at the Blood Battle of Shaanxi, Mount Hua remains Mount Hua. It will not bow to the mere external pressure of the Baekri family.”

The tea in Baekyu and Gongji’s cups rippled. Even Gongji, the master of the Arhat Hall, was taken aback by Baekyu’s determination.

“I understand the headmaster’s intentions. I will convey this to the Baekri family.”

“There is no need for Master Gongji to intervene. Our sect will send a letter directly to the Baekri family.”

“No, reading words in a letter is different from hearing them spoken. Besides, the abbot has entrusted me with mediating between Mount Hua and Baekri, so it is my duty.”

When Gongji stood firm, Baekyu nodded in agreement.

“Mount Hua is indebted to Shaolin.”

“Not at all. It’s not a matter of debt. The abbot simply wishes to prevent division among the righteous sects as the Seven Killers grow stronger and the martial world becomes chaotic. I hope the headmaster will also reconsider the purpose of the righteous sects.”

Gongji clasped his hands in a respectful gesture, and Baekyu responded in kind.

“Amitabha.”

“May the Primordial Lord bless us.”

After Gongji left, Baekyu, now alone in the hall, silently sipped his plum blossom tea.

Stepping outside, Baekyu gazed at the moon reflected in the pond. His once turbulent heart calmed, like the serene waters of the Jade Maiden Pond.

Had he not witnessed today’s ceremony, he might not have been able to shake off his worries about the Baekri family so easily.

“Your absence is deeply felt. Or perhaps it’s my inadequacy as the headmaster?”

The top masters of the Mount Hua Sect who participated in the Baekri family’s martial arts competition were now less than half of what they once were, having perished heroically at the Blood Battle of Shaanxi.

Baekyu still felt the weight of their absence, especially on days like today. Yet he was confident that this void would soon be filled with even greater strength.

Faces came to mind as he listened to Gongji speak of the Baekri family—not those of the deceased elders, but of Mu-hui, the young disciples of Mount Hua, and the second-generation students.

Baekyu had no doubt that these disciples would be the ones to revive the Mount Hua Sect.

As he strolled around the Jade Maiden Pond, a plum tree caught Baekyu’s eye.

Its branches were bare, seemingly stripped of all leaves, yet upon closer inspection, buds were tightly curled, waiting to bloom.

To Baekyu, this plum tree resembled the current state of the Mount Hua Sect. A faint smile graced his lips.

“Endure the snow and biting wind, and bloom proudly. That is the plum blossom, and that is Mount Hua.”

Baekyu’s voice, filled with conviction, resonated softly across the Jade Maiden Pond.

* * *

Mu-hui opened his eyes, a red and white glow flickering within them as he practiced his breathing exercises in the courtyard of the humble house.

Having received the Plum Blossom Sword, Mu-hui immediately delved into two manuals at the Plum Blossom Pavilion.

The Celestial Heart Method.

The Plum Blossom Sword Technique.

The Celestial Heart Method was a superior technique to the Nine Small Heart Method.

Thanks to this, he could easily settle the Celestial Heart Method in his dantian, and the improvements made to the Nine Small Heart Method could be applied seamlessly.

Though he needed to adjust the intricate details and energy pathways, after three days of meditation, he successfully integrated the Celestial Heart Method with the improved Nine Small Heart Method.

Through this process, Mu-hui’s internal energy became more refined and increased in strength.

Rising from his seated position, Mu-hui looked up at the plum trees growing around the courtyard.

Some buds were beginning to bloom, while others still gathered strength.

It was still too early for the plum blossoms to be in full bloom.

With a gentle wave of his hand, a plum blossom fell onto his palm.

The petals, having struggled to bloom under the weight of the snow, were tinged with a faint frost. As Mu-hui inhaled the scent of the snow-covered plum, the essence of the Plum Blossom Sword Technique surged through him like the fragrance of the blossoms.

As if struck by lightning, Mu-hui trembled momentarily, then smiled.

“Now I understand why the sword of Mount Hua is embodied in the plum blossom.”

Mu-hui had finally found the answer to the riddle Baekyu had once posed.

He carefully sent the plum blossom from his palm to the base of a tree, then grasped the Plum Blossom Sword at his waist.

Now, he could do it.

He could make the plum blossoms bloom among those bare branches.

Woong!

As the Plum Blossom Sword was drawn, the internal energy of the Celestial Heart Method infused it, producing a brief, resonant hum.

The sword began to emit a unique fragrance that only Mu-hui could produce, and with this fragrant aura, the Plum Blossom Sword moved toward the plum tree before him.

Mu-hui began to express his newfound understanding through the sword.

A graceful trajectory painted across the sky.

The sword’s fragrance spread among the plum trees, and the Plum Blossom Sword began to emit a gentle, radiant light.

As Mu-hui executed the Plum Blossom Sword Technique, light gathered at the sword’s tip, intertwining and pulsating.