Thwack!

The sound of wooden swords clashing echoed through the air, a weighty noise unlike any heard before in the countless sparring matches between the third-generation disciples.

The two wooden swords crossed in an X-shape, each fighter pushing against the other in a test of strength.

Jinho, a third-generation disciple of the Jongnam Sect, suddenly relaxed his grip, letting Im Sanha’s sword slide off to the side. It was a calculated move to disrupt Sanha’s stance by changing the direction of force. But Sanha quickly stabilized his balance with a slight bend of his knees.

In response, Sanha deftly twisted his wrist, launching a powerful upward strike from below.

“Ugh!”

Jinho staggered back, his plan thwarted by Sanha’s unexpected counterattack. Yet, despite being on the defensive, Jinho’s eyes gleamed with excitement, like a fish in water.

Blocking attacks from any direction with precision—this was the fundamental skill of a Jongnam disciple.

Sanha’s swift strikes were met with Jinho’s adept parries. Though both wielded the same Six Harmonies Sword technique, their styles were distinctly different.

This sparring match clearly demonstrated the divergent martial arts philosophies of the Hwasan and Jongnam sects.

Thwack, thwack!

‘It’s the same Six Harmonies Sword, yet the application of techniques and forms changes the nature of the swordplay so much.’

Before stepping into the ring, Sanha had thought of this event as merely a friendly exchange between Hwasan and Jongnam. But through the match, he came to understand the true essence of the Six Harmonies Sword Gathering.

‘Unrestricted by direction, moving freely.’

Sanha widened his eyes, trying to break through the defense by expanding his field of vision. His wooden sword swung from left to right, striking from all directions as if touring the compass.

Watching Sanha, Hongseon’s eyes sparkled.

“Ho, that kid has a solid foundation. Seems like he’s been practicing martial arts longer than the others.”

“Indeed, Sanha comes from a secular background, so he’s progressed faster than the others.”

Hongyu nodded, stroking his beard, and lowered his voice slightly.

“I feel for Jinho, but I hope that kid Sanha wins.”

“Why is that?”

“Our kids have realized that the third-generation disciples of Hwasan are younger and started martial arts later than they did. The tension has noticeably decreased since the beginning.”

“That happens sometimes. Then they get scolded by the elders at night.”

Recalling past memories, Baekyu reached for his teacup.

“But once the second-generation disciples start their matches, that kind of talk will disappear.”

“Haha, the Hwasan-Sanhwa match, right? I’m looking forward to it too. A match between Jongnam’s flowers and Hwasan’s flowers will be a great learning experience for the kids. Just that makes this Six Harmonies Sword Gathering a success.”

As the elders chatted happily, another loud clash drew their attention back to the match.

Sanha’s vertical strike came down hard. Jinho managed to block it with his sword held horizontally, but he was too slow to counter the powerful follow-up, failing to fully extend his sword.

Unable to absorb the impact properly, Jinho felt a sharp pain in his wrist. Noticing Jinho’s hesitation, Sanha boldly stepped in, using the Nine Palace Steps.

Sanha narrowly dodged Jinho’s sword aimed at his forehead and pushed off the ground with force.

‘This is it!’

A rare opening appeared in Jinho’s previously unshakable defense. Sanha’s eyes gleamed as he thrust his wooden sword into the gap without hesitation.

“Ugh!”

Sanha’s sword struck Jinho’s wrist, causing him to drop his weapon.

At that moment, Hongyun appeared beside the two fighters.

“That’s enough. The winner is Hwasan’s third-generation disciple, Im Sanha!”

Sanha picked up Jinho’s fallen sword and handed it back to him.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, thank you.”

Jinho forced a smile, enduring the pain, and Sanha responded with a respectful bow.

Though Sanha had broken the losing streak and secured Hwasan’s first victory, the third-generation disciples didn’t shout or cheer.

“Well done, Sanha.”

“You did great.”

They calmly congratulated Sanha on his victory. They had been taught not to be swayed by victory or defeat, and they had seen how the Jongnam disciples quietly celebrated their own winning streak earlier.

Though still young, the third-generation disciples of both sects showed maturity beyond their years.

Watching this scene in silence, Hongseon smiled with satisfaction.

“Good.”

Baekyu nodded in agreement with Hongseon’s murmur.

The atmosphere on the sparring stage remained calm, yet the excitement had risen with Sanha’s victory.

“Hwasan’s third-generation disciple, Yeongyeong.”

“Jongnam’s third-generation disciple, Jinmun.”

Following Sanha, Yeongyeong and Seong Suam stepped into the ring, and after a fierce battle, they managed to secure a narrow victory.

After the tenth match concluded, all the third-generation disciples from both sects gathered on the stage.

Facing their opponents, the disciples exchanged glances. Though they had been told not to dwell on victory or defeat, a few still showed signs of frustration over their losses.

But as they continued to meet each other’s eyes, the resentment and competitiveness faded, replaced by smiles.

Seeing the disciples exchange looks, Hongyun nodded.

“Show your respect.”

At Hongyun’s gesture, the third-generation disciples, their expressions relaxed, bowed to each other, marking the end of their matches.

Those watching felt a sense of pride as they observed the young disciples’ respectful gestures.

And so, the first day of the Six Harmonies Sword Gathering came to a close.

***

As evening fell, the disciples of both sects gathered once more for dinner. However, seating was arranged according to rank.

The elders and first-generation disciples sat together, while the second and third-generation disciples had their own separate areas.

This arrangement was a thoughtful gesture from the elders, allowing the younger disciples to interact freely without feeling self-conscious.

“Laughter filled the air!”

“You fought well earlier.”

“What’s your name?”

The third-generation disciples, still young and having just sparred together, mingled easily and played without reservations.

In contrast, the table where the second-generation disciples sat was enveloped in silence.

On the left side of the long table sat the Hwasan disciples, while the Jongnam disciples occupied the right, neither side speaking.

They hadn’t yet familiarized themselves with each other’s faces or names.

‘Should I be the one to break the ice?’

Mu-hwi realized that as the senior disciple of the Muja group, it was his responsibility to initiate conversation in such settings.

‘Tsk, if only I had more experience with these kinds of gatherings.’

In his past life, Mu-hwi, known as the Sword Demon, had been consumed by collecting and refining martial arts manuals, focusing solely on his training. He could count on one hand the number of times he had participated in social gatherings with other martial artists.

The only other times he had encountered martial artists from other sects en masse were when they came to kill him or when he went to kill them.

As Mu-hwi clicked his tongue inwardly and prepared to raise his cup, two women from the Jongnam side stood up first.

Both women were strikingly beautiful, their appearances nearly identical. The only difference was the direction of their braided hair and a small mole beneath the eye of the woman with her hair braided to the left.

‘Twins?’

As Mu-hwi took in the sight of the twins, the woman with the mole addressed him with a respectful bow.

“Mu-hwi, if it’s alright with you, may I say a few words to the Hwasan disciples?”

“Of course.”

The woman smiled brightly and introduced herself with a graceful bow.

“I am Seonju, a second-generation disciple of the Jongnam Sect. It’s an honor to meet the disciples of Hwasan.”

The woman beside her mirrored Seonju’s bow, her half-closed eyes slightly lowered.

“I am Seonmi, also a second-generation disciple of Jongnam.”

The disciples responded swiftly to the women’s introductions.

“Jongnam’s Twin Flowers!”

“The honor is ours!”

“Wow!”

Watching his fellow disciples’ enthusiastic reactions, Mu-hwa’s eyebrows twitched. Seeing his seniors act this way made him feel a bit embarrassed.

“Ah, really, seniors…”

Surprised by the disciples’ fervent response, Mu-hwi discreetly asked Mu-jin beside him.

“Are the Jongnam Twin Flowers famous?”

“You didn’t know, senior? Those ladies are the representative prodigies of Jongnam’s second generation.”

“Really? No wonder they have such a strong presence. This could be interesting.”

Mu-jin chuckled at Mu-hwi’s reaction.

The nickname “Jongnam’s Twin Flowers” included the word “flower” due to Seonju and Seonmi’s beauty. They were also known as the most beautiful women in Shaanxi, a rare sight even across the martial world.

Even now, the disciples were visibly excited, charmed by the smiling Jongnam Twin Flowers.

Some, like Mu-ho, had flushed faces despite not having touched a drop of alcohol.

To Mu-jin, it seemed that Mu-hwi was more interested in the upcoming matches than in the beautiful women before him.

‘As expected of our senior.’

“Mu-san of the Hwasan Sect.”

“Seon-gun of the Jongnam Sect.”

With the Jongnam Twin Flowers’ charming presence and eloquence easing the tension, the disciples began introducing themselves to those around them.

Initially, they exchanged stories about Jongnam and Hwasan, which naturally led to discussions about martial arts.

The disciples of the two martial sects shared a common interest, and if there was one thing that united them, it was martial arts.

“So, does the Zhongnan Sect also teach the Six Harmonies Mind Technique, Six Harmonies Sword, and Nine Palaces Step as their basic martial arts?”

“Yes, I was surprised too when my master told me that the Huashan Sect has the same foundational techniques.”

“But it’s fascinating how different martial arts have evolved from the Six Harmonies Sword.”

As Mu Hui watched the disciples mingling well, he took a sip of his drink, noticing two shadows flickering before him.

When he looked up, he saw the face of Zhongnan Yihua, illuminated by the torchlight, her features tinged with a warm glow.

Her eyes were fox-like, with slightly drooping corners that softened any sharpness or mischief.

Her nose rose gently like a crescent moon, and her slender jawline harmonized with her eyes, creating a mysterious allure.

She was both elegant and vibrant, a beauty worthy of being called the finest in Shaanxi.

Zhongnan Yihua took the empty seat in front of Mu Hui.

‘Ah, the one with the mole is Seonju, and the one without is Seonmi.’

As Mu Hui recalled their names, Seonju tilted her head, looking at him curiously.

“Mu Hui, why are you drinking alone?”

“I got a bit too focused on the drink.”

“Pour us a glass too.”

Seonju smiled brightly, extending her cup, and Seonmi, beside her, shyly pushed her cup forward, her eyes cast downward.

“But how did you know my name? I don’t recall mentioning it.”

“Well, you seemed like the strongest among the Huashan disciples.”

Mu Hui’s interest was piqued.

His aura was completely concealed, yet Zhongnan Yihua had somehow seen through it.

“Among the second-generation disciples of Huashan, only Mu Hui’s aura was unreadable.”

Seonmi spoke softly, her gaze fixed below Mu Hui’s face, as if avoiding eye contact.

With Seonmi’s explanation, Mu Hui understood.

“I heard you’re twins, but your personalities seem quite different.”

“Hehe, right? That’s why even our seniors rarely mix us up.”

“I’m just a bit more shy than my sister.”

Seonju was lively, while Seonmi seemed more reserved.

“I was looking forward to meeting you at the Six Harmonies Sword Gathering.”

“And why is that?”

At Mu Hui’s question, Zhongnan Yihua exchanged glances before clasping her hands together towards him.

“Disciple of Master Ilseon, Seonju, thanks you for your kindness.”

“Disciple of Master Ilhun, Seonmi, thanks you for your kindness.”

Seeing Zhongnan Yihua bow her head, Mu Hui suddenly found the drink in his mouth bitter.

He recalled subduing the demon impersonators of Ilseon and Ilhun in a fierce battle.

‘So, they lost their masters at the same time.’

Mu Hui filled their cups to the brim.

“Let’s drink.”

He offered no further consolation.

Yet, Zhongnan Yihua’s face brightened, sensing the sincerity in Mu Hui’s silent gesture more than any words could convey.

As the mood turned somber, Mu Hui sought to change the subject but found himself at a loss.

‘Damn it, all I know is swordplay.’

Unsure of what to discuss with the women, Mu Hui reverted to martial arts.

“I heard from the disciples that Seonju has already mastered the Thirty-Six Swords of the World.”

It was a last resort for Mu Hui, but Zhongnan Yihua’s eyes lit up with interest.

Seonju became more talkative, and Seonmi slowly lifted her gaze from the ground.

Moreover, Zhongnan Yihua’s insights were impressive, and she seemed to enjoy exchanging views on martial arts.

“Blocking all directions of the Six Harmonies, it doesn’t seem easy.”

“That’s why the Zhongnan sword follows a strict middle path to handle any situation. Huashan is about change, isn’t it?”

When the conversation turned to martial philosophy, Seonmi looked directly at Mu Hui, though her cheeks still held a slight blush.

“I heard the founder had an epiphany watching lightning strike from sky to earth, realizing the need for adaptability.”

Seonju nodded in agreement.

“If I saw such a sight, I doubt I’d have such thoughts. It must be a difference in capacity.”

Mu Hui shook his head firmly.

“It’s a difference in mindset. What you hold in your heart changes how you perceive the same thing.”

“That’s a wise answer.”

Seonju twirled a strand of hair by her ear, smiling at Mu Hui.

“Mu Hui, you don’t seem like someone our age.”

They had talked for about half an hour, losing track of time.

Despite being young, Mu Hui’s profound answers often left Zhongnan Yihua deep in thought.

“Indeed.”

Seonmi nodded, studying Mu Hui intently. Feeling a bit self-conscious, Mu Hui could only chuckle awkwardly.

Intrigued by Mu Hui, Zhongnan Yihua stayed by his side until the gathering ended.

‘I’m exhausted.’

Even though the discussion was about martial arts, the sheer amount of conversation left him feeling drained.

As he headed back to his quarters, a voice echoed in his mind.

[Child, come here for a moment.]

Looking towards the source, Mu Hui saw the pavilion where Baekyu resided alone.

Entering the pavilion, he found Baekyu, Hongseon, and other Huashan elders seated.

“Come in.”

The head of the Zhongnan Sect, Hongseon, smiled at Mu Hui.