“Oh my, you’re late, aren’t you?”

Sitting comfortably, Jeok Sa-hye greeted the newcomer with a smile as he entered the tent. Despite her warm welcome, the man who had just arrived took a seat with a blank expression, ignoring her completely. Yet, Jeok Sa-hye’s smile remained unwavering.

“Congratulations. It seems almost certain you’ll be the next leader of the Gu Yu Sword Sect.”

The mention of the leadership position finally elicited a reaction from the otherwise stone-faced man.

“What are you talking about?”

“The heir of the Narak Clan conveniently died at the Soha Mountain Villa, and the heir of the Gucheon Clan was too incompetent to even participate in this matter, wasn’t he?”

Guk Sa-mun, the heir of the Jiok Clan, who had been listening with his arms crossed, let out a cold chuckle.

“What nonsense. The position was always mine. The others were just pests in the way.”

“Oh, I see.”

Jeok Sa-hye’s drawn-out response made Guk Sa-mun’s eyebrow twitch slightly.

“I heard you suffered quite a bit?”

“I underestimated them, thinking they were just a bunch of scattered sects, but they put up a decent fight. It’s no wonder they managed to end the Xianxi Blood Massacre.”

“They’re just obsessed with plum blossoms. If they were that easy, our main sect would have swallowed Xianxi long ago.”

“Still, they’re just scattered sects.”

Jeok Sa-hye’s deadly smile lingered as she clasped her hands together. Guk Sa-mun nodded in agreement.

With the main forces of the Huashan and Zhongnan sects tied up at the Overlord Fortress, the scattered sects alone couldn’t withstand the combined assault of the Zhanlong Society and the Gu Yu Sword Sect.

This unusual alliance was formed to seize this opportunity.

“You remember our agreement, right?”

“Of course.”

Once they brought down the Soha Mountain Villa, there would be no sects left to hinder the Zhanlong Society and the Gu Yu Sword Sect.

The plan was to burn the villa to the ground, eliminate any threats from behind, and then advance southward. After the villa’s fall, the two sects would part ways again, with the Zhanlong Society moving southwest and the Gu Yu Sword Sect heading southeast.

Though the southern regions, home to the Huashan and Zhongnan sects, were out of reach, their goal was to push as far north as Xi’an.

“You and I both know how crucial this is, don’t we?”

Jeok Sa-hye’s eyes, once filled with laughter, turned cold and serious.

Both were contenders for leadership within their respective sects, and this campaign was their chance to prove their worth. Failure was not an option.

They had brought along their sect’s warriors and all their forces, making this a do-or-die moment.

“Let’s not mess this up like that fool from the Narak Clan.”

“Hmph. Just make sure you do your part.”

The two locked eyes in a silent battle of wills until Jeok Sa-hye finally broke into a smile.

“By the way, it seems the Huashan Sword Ghost is stronger than expected. I heard the Narak Clan’s heir brought along two elders.”

“The two elders who died were the lowest-ranked among them. Compared to the higher-ranked elders, they were just half-dead old men.”

Guk Sa-mun’s words dripped with confidence, as if he could easily take down two elders just like the Huashan Sword Ghost.

“As expected of the Jiok Sword Dragon. Impressive.”

“The Huashan Sword Ghost? Ghosts belong in hell.”

Guk Sa-mun’s eyes glinted with a murderous intent as he thought of the Huashan Sword Ghost.

***

The second disciples were having a light drink inside the pavilion. Given the circumstances, they made sure not to exceed three cups each.

The gathering was partly to celebrate Mujin’s first successful execution of the plum blossom technique, but also to hear his story.

“So, Mujin’s name comes from his family, the Yeonan Jin Clan.”

Learning that Mujin was from the Yeonan Jin Clan, Mu-hui recalled the clan’s influence in the region, though it wasn’t as renowned as the Three Great Families.

“The Yeonan Jin Clan, right?”

“Yes, senior brother. It was burned down by the Narak Clan when I was a child.”

Young Mujin had narrowly escaped death thanks to the clan’s chief steward, who fled south with him, away from the reach of the Gu Yu Sword Sect.

“The steward was injured and couldn’t receive treatment in time, so he passed away. I continued south alone.”

All young Mujin could do was dig a humble grave with a sharp stone for the steward who had saved him.

As Mujin recounted his dark past, the other disciples listened intently, even sipping their drinks cautiously.

“To join the Huashan Sect?”

“No, the steward’s last words were to head south. So I just kept walking in that direction.”

But the martial world was unforgiving for a child alone. Mujin survived by doing odd jobs at inns and begging with a group of vagrants.

“That’s when you met Master Hyunbaek.”

Mu-ryun, who knew how Mujin had joined Huashan, spoke up, and Mujin nodded.

“If Master hadn’t taken me in, I wonder what I’d be doing now…”

Mu-hui quietly poured Mujin another drink, which he immediately downed.

“Joining Huashan, I vowed to grow stronger and seek revenge, even if it meant abandoning my family’s martial arts.”

“So that’s why you aimed to become the head disciple.”

Mu-hui’s words made Mujin smile bitterly and nod. The head disciple could learn the Zihua Heart Technique, a powerful martial art essential for Mujin’s revenge.

“Thanks to you, senior brother, I could let go without regret. Without you, I wouldn’t have reached my current level.”

Mujin had just successfully executed the plum blossom technique for the first time.

Reflecting on his recent victory over Wi Se-heon, Mujin realized that without Mu-hui’s guidance, he wouldn’t have won, even with the Zihua Heart Technique.

“I had no idea you were hiding such a fierce determination. You’ve improved a lot, especially during the fight with the Narak Clan.”

“Ha ha, thank you, senior brother.”

As Mu-hui praised Mujin, Mu-hwa, who had been listening, chimed in.

“Senior brother, what about us? Haven’t the other disciples grown too?”

“I didn’t get injured this time.”

Mu-sang’s agreement with Mu-hwa’s comment made the other disciples laugh.

Mu-hui nodded as he looked at the gathered disciples.

“We’ve fought twice already, and no one’s died or suffered serious injuries. That’s commendable.”

The disciples were not only adapting to real combat but also rapidly improving their martial skills through the experience.

Having trained on the mountain, they were now seeing things they hadn’t noticed before, thanks to the diverse opponents and unpredictable situations.

With the basics Mu-hui had emphasized and their broadened perspectives, the disciples were identifying flaws in their techniques and adapting their moves.

By the end of the battle at Soha Mountain, the disciples would have grown significantly.

“Experiencing real combat, I understand why senior brothers become so much stronger after venturing into the martial world.”

“Yes, I feel different from yesterday.”

Mu-san and Mu-ho chatted among themselves, while the other disciples drank and exchanged smiles.

Mu-hui waited until the disciples had nearly finished their three cups and the room grew quieter.

“With the Gu Yu Sword Sect and the Zhanlong Society joining forces, this is just the beginning.”

As Mu-hui spoke, the second disciples focused their attention on him.

“The twenty-four of us here must focus on returning to Huashan safely.”

“Yes, senior brother.”

Starting with Mu-cheol, the other disciples responded to Mu-hui.

Mu-hui quietly raised his cup.

“Surely, no one has already emptied their three cups.”

The disciples chuckled softly and followed Mu-hui’s lead, raising their cups.

As Mu-hui brought his cup to his lips, the other disciples did the same.

When everyone had emptied their third cup, Mu-sang, in the corner, wiped the sweat from his brow.

‘Phew. They didn’t notice.’

Mu-sang’s cup had been empty the whole time, yet he had mimicked drinking so convincingly that none of his fellow disciples caught on.

***

The invasion by the two sects had begun.

Outnumbered from the start, the Huashan’s scattered sects avoided open battles on the plains.

The master of Soha Mountain, who had lived there all his life, used the terrain to strategically position his forces.

With fewer troops, the only way to hold off the two sects was to leverage the geographical advantage.

The Huashan’s scattered sects, with their superior understanding of the terrain, moved like a separate unit, assisting where needed, alongside the first and second disciples of Huashan.

Despite the growing casualties, their efforts weren’t in vain.

The Zhanlong Society and the Gu Yu Sword Sect were slowly taking over Soha Mountain, but their progress was much slower than planned.

On the fourth day of the assault…

On one of the peaks of Mount Sohwa, Geuk Samun infused his voice with inner strength and shouted, “I am Geuk Samun of the Hell Sect’s Guiyugeom Clan!”

His voice echoed throughout the mountain.

“Volcanic Sword Demon! It’s been three days, and I haven’t seen your face. If you’re not a coward, come out! I’ll be waiting at the foot of the mountain.”

Mu Hui, frowning at the echoing voice, turned to Mu Cheol and asked, “Who is that loudmouth?”

“I believe he’s a prince of the Hell Sect.”

“Ah, the Hell Dragon? Seems like I have a knack for running into dragons.”

“Mu Hui!”

As Mu Hui turned, he saw Hyun Baek and the other first disciples rushing over.

“Did you hear that shout?”

“Yes, Master.”

“What do you plan to do?”

“He wants to see my face, so it’s only polite to show him, isn’t it?”

Hyun Baek sighed at Mu Hui’s words. “I don’t doubt you’ll win. But those despicable sects might have set a trap. Why would they suddenly want a fair duel?”

Mu Hui smirked. “Either the Hell Dragon is confident he can kill me, or, as you said, they’ve set a trap targeting me and our disciples.”

“You understand well.”

“Master Hyun Baek, I have confidence not only in defeating the Hell Dragon but also in dismantling any trap they might have set.”

“Hmm… this kid.”

Hyun Baek, swayed by Mu Hui’s confident grin, finally gave his approval.

Accompanied by the main sect’s disciples and the elite members of various clans, Mu Hui descended to the entrance of Mount Sohwa.

In the distance, they saw the forces of the rival sects, with a lone man in red standing at the forefront.

Mu Hui lightly leaped and landed in front of Geuk Samun.

“Are you the Volcanic Sword Demon?”

“That’s right.”

As soon as Geuk Samun saw Mu Hui, he exuded a murderous aura and drew his sword.

“No need for words. I hope the rumors aren’t exaggerated.”

“Hmph.”

Mu Hui scoffed and suddenly turned his head. Geuk Samun, narrowing his eyes, followed Mu Hui’s gaze.

But all Geuk Samun saw was a vast plain, empty and barren.

“Do you have a death wish? What are you staring at?”

Without breaking his gaze, Mu Hui replied, “Look closely.”

Geuk Samun looked again, and soon something dark appeared at the edge of the plain.

As the shape grew larger, Geuk Samun focused his inner strength on his eyes. Finally, he realized what it was.

“A flag?”

Though something was embroidered on the black flag, Geuk Samun couldn’t make it out clearly.

Unlike Geuk Samun, Mu Hui could see the flag clearly.

It wasn’t a pattern but letters.

Two familiar characters.

Dokgo (獨孤).

There was only one group in the martial world that used a flag with the word Dokgo.

‘Why is he here all of a sudden?’

The Dokgo Association, led by that disciple.

“Hmm.”

With a hint of amusement, Mu Hui reached for his sword and looked at Geuk Samun.

“I was going to toy with you a bit, but now, I think I’ll just kill you outright.”

End