Chapter 262 – Time Changes Many Things (3)

Eun So-cheong followed the Plum Blossom Swordsmen up Mount Hua.

Behind her, Silver Family Castle's warriors and workers followed carrying loads on their backs.

"Huff huff!"

Mount Hua was so steep it naturally made them breathe roughly. The steep mountain paths of Mount Hua represented by Thousand Chi Hall and Hundred Chi Gorge were challenging even for warriors who had learned martial arts.

Silver Family Castle had traded with Mount Hua several times before. But then they just unloaded goods at Mount Hua's entrance, never climbing the mountain directly like this.

Because of this, they didn't know Mount Hua Sect's internal situation, nor realize how steep Mount Hua was.

The Plum Blossom Swordsmen were also climbing the mountain with loads on their backs. But their expressions were calm as if walking on flat ground. This contrasted with Silver Family Castle's merchant caravan's pale faces.

Won Myeong looked back.

"Just a bit further, please keep going. Don't worry, we'll send disciples to get the remaining loads."

"Thank you, Priest Won Myeong."

"Not at all, Miss Eun. Rather, we should thank you. Thanks to Silver Family Castle we can obtain needed supplies on time."

Won Myeong showed a faint smile.

He was barely in his early twenties. Yet his manner of speech and eyes seemed like those of an experienced warrior.

Won Myeong had been just a third generation disciple. Among third generation disciples, he had been unremarkable with ordinary martial talent. Such a Won Myeong had become a completely different person.

'Just what happened during these three years?'

Something was happening at Mount Hua. Eun So-cheong was very curious about this fact.

After passing Dragon's Spine Ridge, Mount Hua Sect's scenery came into view.

"This is Mount Hua Sect?"

Jeok Yong-cheon's pupils wavered.

Unlike Eun So-cheong who was visiting Mount Hua for the first time, Jeok Yong-cheon had been here before. So he vividly remembered Mount Hua Sect's appearance.

Mount Hua Sect wasn't splendid like Wudang Sect with many palace complexes gathered together. Taoist temples were scattered evenly across Mount Hua. So though it might seem shabby at first glance, the temples and halls themselves were very splendid and gave a majestic feeling.

But the Mount Hua Sect halls visible now were extremely shabby. They were small in scale and clearly showed signs of hasty construction.

To think the great Mount Hua Sect had declined like this. It gave a feeling of how times had changed.

As if reading Jeok Yong-cheon's mind, Won Myeong smiled and said:

"Humble, isn't it?"

"Ah, no."

"It's alright. Even we find it shabby. But you know what? Our hearts are actually more at peace than before."

"What?"

"Before it was too splendid, like wearing clothes that didn't suit me, but now it feels comfortable and unburdening like my own clothes."

"That's…"

Won Myeong had an expression like he had attained enlightenment. Jeok Yong-cheon couldn't understand Won Myeong's response.

"When you reach the Upper Palace, you'll understand my words."

As they talked, they arrived at a small training ground in front of the Upper Palace.

Won Myeong pointed to one side of the training ground and said:

"Please put down the loads here."

Silver Family Castle's warriors put down their loads where Won Myeong indicated, with expressions of relief.

"You've returned, Senior Brother?"

Mount Hua Sect disciples came running from inside the Upper Palace. Won Myeong nodded and said:

"Won Gong."

"Yes!"

"Take some disciples and bring up the loads from below. There's quite a lot so you'll need several trips."

"Understood."

Won Gong answered with a smile. He soon led disciples down Mount Hua. Watching this, Jeok Yong-cheon quickly said:

"Since there are many loads, I'll send our merchant caravan warriors too."

"No need. This is also part of training."

"Training?"

"Daily life is training."

"Hmm!"

Jeok Yong-cheon let out a contemplative sound.

Won Myeong's answer that daily life is training was something all warriors knew but found difficult to actually practice.

The Mount Hua Sect disciples following Won Gong could be seen using lightness skills. The still youthful warriors were using lightness skills to descend the mountain as nimbly as mountain goats.

Their movements seemed extraordinary. No wonder the merchant caravan warriors were watching them in a daze.

"Everything changed after the Supreme Elder returned."

"Supreme Elder?"

"You'll understand when you meet him. Others please rest here, you two follow me."

Won Myeong indicated Eun So-cheong and Jeok Yong-cheon.

The merchant caravan warriors who had barely climbed the mountain sat down with sighs of relief.

Won Myeong led Eun So-cheong and Jeok Yong-cheon onward. But he headed in the opposite direction from the Upper Palace.

Puzzled expressions appeared on their faces.

As far as they knew, Mount Hua Sect's center was the Upper Palace. Not only was it the sect leader's residence, but where all Mount Hua Sect's affairs were decided. So they thought Mount Hua Sect's Supreme Elder would naturally stay there. But contrary to their expectations, Won Myeong was heading to a secluded place.

Passing through bushes where it seemed doubtful paths even existed, they arrived at a small hut. In front of the extremely shabby hut that looked ready to collapse was a small platform, and sitting there was a Taoist priest with an otherworldly appearance.

He was an elderly Taoist priest with such a clear appearance he could have passed for middle-aged if not for his graying beard. He was busy writing something with a brush.

Won Myeong bowed his head extremely respectfully and said:

"Supreme Elder. Disciple Won Myeong has brought guests."

Only then did the elderly priest raise his head to look at Won Myeong and the others.

"Oh! You've come, Won Myeong?"

"Sorry to disturb your peace."

"Not at all."

The elderly priest shook his head and stood up from the platform. He approached Eun So-cheong and Jeok Yong-cheon with a welcoming expression.

"Welcome. This old Taoist was too busy to greet guests directly."

"Not at all."

"Please speak comfortably."

Eun So-cheong and Jeok Yong-cheon were rather flustered by the elderly priest's informal and unassuming attitude.

The elderly priest made a respectful gesture.

"This old one is called Hyeon-so. I sincerely welcome you to Mount Hua."

"Ah!"

"Sage Hyeon-so."

Eun So-cheong and Jeok Yong-cheon unconsciously exclaimed.

Not many knew Sage Hyeon-so's name. But those who knew were aware. That he was Dam Ho's master.

Just the fact that he was Mount Hua's Fist Demon Dam Ho's master gave Sage Hyeon-so reason to draw attention.

'Sage Hyeon-so is Mount Hua Sect's Supreme Elder?'

This fact had been completely unknown since Mount Hua Sect sealed its gates.

Eun So-cheong and Jeok Yong-cheon quickly greeted him.

"I am Eun So-cheong of Silver Family Castle."

"Silver Family Castle's merchant caravan head Jeok Yong-cheon greets Great Mount Hua Sect's Supreme Elder."

"Amitabha! I only took this position out of necessity due to Mount Hua Sect's urgent situation. No need to be so formal."

Sage Hyeon-so smiled gently.

The moment they heard his voice, Eun So-cheong and Jeok Yong-cheon felt their hearts become strangely comfortable. His appearance was so unassuming it was hard to believe he was Great Mount Hua Sect's Supreme Elder.

Won Myeong's eyes watching Sage Hyeon-so were full of respect. Beyond simply a sect disciple looking at an elder, they contained infinite reverence.

Eun So-cheong wondered just how one could receive such respect. But she didn't dare ask.

Three years had made Sage Hyeon-so's eyes even deeper and more mystical. His eyes full of mystical energy seemed to contain all the world's wisdom.

"Though humble, please sit here."

Sage Hyeon-so offered them seats. Led by his hand, Eun So-cheong and Jeok Yong-cheon sat on the platform.

"You sit too."

"How could I sit together with Supreme Elder?"

Won Myeong waved his hands in shock.

"Why so stiff? That Ho fellow ruined everything. It's fine, please sit."

"Yes!"

Won Myeong had no choice but to sit on the platform. But he was extremely careful. Seeing Won Myeong's attitude, Sage Hyeon-so showed a helpless expression and began brewing tea.

While putting water on the brazier and selecting tea leaves, he said:

"Thank you. Thanks to Silver Family Castle, Mount Hua Sect could endure these difficult times well."

"N-no. It's only natural. Mount Hua Sect where Brother Ho and Jin-bo are isn't strangers to us."

"I've heard much about Miss Eun from Jin-bo."

"Really?"

Eun So-cheong unconsciously asked back then blushed. Because it felt like her true feelings were exposed.

Sage Hyeon-so smiled benevolently. This made Eun So-cheong blush even more. Her wavering eyes were searching for Bang Jin-bo. But Bang Jin-bo's shadow was nowhere to be seen around the hut.

"Jin-bo went into the mountains saying he needed to gather something. He'll return soon after we have some tea."

"What? Ah, I… yes!"

Eun So-cheong unconsciously stammered. At this, Sage Hyeon-so showed a warm smile and poured tea.

Pour!

Clear tea filled the teacups.

Sage Hyeon-so offered teacups to the three.

"Ah!"

"Hmm!"

Exclamations burst out simultaneously. Because the tea's fragrance was so good. Just smelling it seemed to clear their minds.

"It's plum blossom tea. I hope you like it."

"It's d-delicious."

"Very good."

Eun So-cheong and Jeok Yong-cheon answered simultaneously.

Eun So-cheong was a merchant to her bones, and Jeok Yong-cheon was born a warrior. They were not people easily swayed by others. Yet they were so easily revealing their emotions at Sage Hyeon-so's single word.

Seeing them like this, Won Myeong smiled with deep meaning. Because he understood their reactions.

A person's true worth is revealed in truly difficult times.

When Mount Hua Sect was at its peak of fame in the Central Plains, even disciples who knew of Sage Hyeon-so's existence were few. At that time Mount Hua had many talents, and they were all beings worthy of being called dragons among men.

But in the end they couldn't overcome the massive wave called the Demon Cult and were swept away. What remained in place of those swept away was just miserable ruins and young disciples.

Everyone despaired. They thought Mount Hua Sect could never rise again. Even Mount Hua Sect's disciples thought so.

But Sage Hyeon-so shattered everyone's fixed notions.

The world would be shocked to know how Mount Hua Sect had changed because of that one person.

Won Myeong's respect for Sage Hyeon-so wasn't simply because he was a sect elder. It was because he had shown behavior worthy of it.

That's when it happened.

Suddenly rustling sounds came from the bushes. Just as Eun So-cheong and Jeok Yong-cheon tensed, someone emerged from the forest.

"I've returned."

It was a boy with sun-tanned brown skin, a slender body flexible like a deer's, and an impressive fresh smile.

On his back was a large basket, and at his waist hung a kitchen knife.

Sage Hyeon-so said to the boy:

"You've come."

"Haha! Did you wait long? It took longer than expected to find these fellows."

The boy showed the basket. The basket was full of unknown medicinal herbs.

"Did you go into Three Peaks Mountain again? The terrain there is dangerous."

"I'm used to it now so it's fine. Hehe!"

The boy laughed good-naturedly. At this, Sage Hyeon-so showed a helpless expression and said:

"Good timing. We have guests."

"Guests?"

The boy looked at Eun So-cheong and Jeok Yong-cheon with a puzzled expression. His gaze passed Jeok Yong-cheon and stopped on Eun So-cheong, his eyes widening.

"So-cheong?"

"Could it be Jin-bo?"

Eun So-cheong showed an unbelieving expression.

The Bang Jin-bo she remembered was a very chubby boy. He was far different from the flexible boy before her eyes now.

The boy strode over.

"Haha! Long time no see."

"Is it really Jin-bo?"

"Yes! I'm Bang Jin-bo."

The boy, Bang Jin-bo, smiled brightly.

Eun So-cheong's pupils shook as if an earthquake had occurred.

"N-no way!"

Baek Li-gwon knelt several times before finally standing up. His legs were trembling.

His expression clearly showed disbelief.

This was completely different from the Jin Ja-gang he had known before. Even more than expected.

“Brother Baek Li!”

Yang Jeon gripped his spear and rushed at Jin Ja-gang.

The Yang family spear was much shorter than ordinary spears but much longer than swords. When stood upright, it was typically similar to one’s own height.

Clatter clatter!

Yang Jeon held the spear shaft with both hands and skillfully shook the tip like a snake, aiming at Jin Ja-gang’s eyes and neck. Jin Ja-gang shook his head to dodge. Though this was his first time facing such precise spearmanship, his previous experience dealing with Tang Ha-ran’s whip was helpful.

Jin Ja-gang used Golden Thread Hand to grab just behind the spear blade.

At that moment, Yang Jeon gripped the spear shaft tightly and shook it.

Clatter!

The spear shaft undulated like waves. Small waves arose from where Yang Jeon was holding, but by the time they reached the end where Jin Ja-gang was holding, they became large waves.

When Jin Ja-gang tried not to let go, the spear shaft thrashed wildly in his hands like a living snake. The spear shaft had thorny protrusions that kept creating wounds in Jin Ja-gang’s hands. Jin Ja-gang endured for a while before releasing the spear shaft.

Swish.

The rebounding spear tip grazed Jin Ja-gang’s cheek, creating a small scratch. Jin Ja-gang stepped back one step. Simultaneously, Yang Jeon released his front hand and spun his body once while pushing forward with his back hand. He was in a posture of gripping and pushing the spear tip. Suddenly the spear became twice as long as it stabbed toward Jin Ja-gang’s neck. Jin Ja-gang leaned his waist backward to avoid the spear tip.

“Got you!”

Yang Jeon leaped up powerfully and pressed down on the spear shaft with the forearm of his released hand. With his body weight added, the spear fell as if striking downward. Since Jin Ja-gang was leaning backward, there was no way to avoid it. He blocked the spear shaft with his left palm.

The spear shaft undulated and struck Jin Ja-gang’s palm hard.

Thud!

However, Yang Jeon’s expression was not good.

“Huh?”

Jin Ja-gang didn’t fall. In the iron bridge position leaning backward, his back didn’t touch the ground as he supported his body with bent knees. He remained blocking his face with his palm.

This was due to the dike created in his left palm and the vortex swirling in the dike. The heavy turbid energy didn’t waver and absorbed the force flowing from the spear shaft, decomposing it.

This was the suction characteristic possessed by the Jade Void Nine Lights Five Thunder Toad Art. This was also why he had been able to block Golden Fortune Merchant’s iron abacus before.

Jin Ja-gang immediately extended his thumb toward Yang Jeon.

Fountain Bullet!

Yang Jeon pulled the spear shaft while backflipping to avoid Jin Ja-gang’s finger wind. A hole was punched in the fluttering hem of Yang Jeon’s clothes at his waist. Jin Ja-gang continuously threw poison needles.

Yang Jeon gripped the end and middle of the spear shaft and swept the head portion to deflect the poison needles.

Yang Jeon was flustered. Having attacked first with a weapon that had reach yet inflicting no damage and immediately being pushed into defense was troubling.

“Agh!”

Yang Jeon retreated and planted his spear while taking out leather gloves from his breast to put on. The left hand was a hard glove made from dragon leather with steel scales, while the right hand was made of soft leather, making them a mismatched pair.

“I’ll show you real Yang family spearmanship.”

He gripped the back of the spear shaft with his right hand while pressing the middle of the shaft with his left hand, lightly hooking it between his fingers to grip it. Yang Jeon faced Jin Ja-gang in this position.

Yang family spearmanship had advantages at long range, but due to the characteristic gripping method of spreading the arms to hold the spear, its maximum effective distance was longer than bare hands but shorter than swords. Of course, because it could instantly become longer than swords, it was more troublesome to face.

As Jin Ja-gang slowly closed the distance, Yang Jeon pushed with his back hand to extend the spear.

Clang clang!

The protruding thorns on the spear shaft caught on the dragon scales, sending sparks flying. From Jin Ja-gang’s perspective, it was like a spear blade suddenly popping out from between the sparks.

The spear blade flew in with a sharp cutting sound.

Jin Ja-gang twisted his body sideways to avoid the spear blade flying toward his face.

Whoosh!

Yang Jeon retrieved his spear and immediately stabbed continuously. When the glove scales caught in reverse, they scraped while sparking, but when retrieving the spear, it was recovered faster following the grain of the scales. The spear blade emerged faster than Jin Ja-gang expected.

The left hand was fixed while the right hand’s role was to stab, pull, and retrieve the spear. Jin Ja-gang concentrated on the left hand’s movement. However, Yang Jeon’s spearmanship was also formidable. He cleverly changed trajectories by switching the fingers supporting the spear shaft. The sparks concealed the finger movements. It was difficult to see and avoid.

“I’ll put holes all over your body!”

Yang Jeon pressed more fiercely.

The length of the emerging spear blade became irregular. Then occasionally he would push out long, creating the illusion that the spear blade had lengthened. With feints mixed in, it became even harder to avoid.

Clang, clang!

In an instant, several stab marks appeared on Jin Ja-gang’s body. They were shallow wounds because he was stepping backward to avoid deep penetration. However, if this continued, eventually his heart would have a hole in it.

Jin Ja-gang’s hands and feet became disordered.

Yang Jeon’s eyes flashed brilliantly.

‘Now!’

Yang Jeon held his breath, then used two feints to deceive Jin Ja-gang while gathering strength with breath control, and on the third time stabbed at Jin Ja-gang’s nape with maximum force.

Black Snake Swift Wind!

This was the technique that had elevated Yang Jeon to one of the Three Dragons. Because he gripped the left hand supporting the spear shaft tightly and stabbed with great force, the spear tip didn’t advance in a straight line. Caught on the scales, it shook greatly and bounced left and right like a snake coiling its body as it moved. From the blocker’s perspective, it was impossible to tell where Yang Jeon was aiming.

Moreover, because he gripped only the end of the spear shaft with his right thumb and index finger to push and stab the spear as long as possible, it was impossible to retreat and avoid it.

This could truly be called Yang Jeon’s confident killing move.

Jin Ja-gang knew he couldn’t avoid it and instead extended his arm while leaning his upper body diagonally forward.

The moment the spear emerged, he used the “stick” technique from Golden Thread Hand methods to attach the back of his hand to the spear shaft. Through “listening,” he felt the spear shaft coming up along the back of his hand. Then he rotated his body to naturally let the spear blade graze past his shoulder.

This happened in the blink of an eye. The spear blade that had aimed for Jin Ja-gang’s neck missed below his earlobe.

Slash!

The clothes from the back of his hand to his shoulder tore, and the rough spear shaft scraped his forearm, leaving a long wound. The bloody wound curved like a snake had crawled across it.

When his confident move failed, Yang Jeon panicked.

Yang Jeon didn’t exhale his held breath and consecutively deployed Venomous Snake Advance. He switched the front and back of the hands gripping the spear shaft, putting the soft leather hand forward to slide the spear shaft between his fingers. The spear’s speed increased along the soft leather.

In an instant, the spear blade flew four times like lightning. It was speed befitting the nickname Swift Dragon.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh!

Jin Ja-gang spun his body like a top while alternately attaching both backs of his hands to the spear shaft with the stick technique. Following the rotating Jin Ja-gang, the spear blade continuously emerged toward his armpits, between his legs, his ribs, and other places. Though it seemed like his body would be pierced with the slightest mistake, Yang Jeon couldn’t quite hit Jin Ja-gang. The spear shaft slid along Jin Ja-gang’s body and kept missing to places other than where Yang Jeon intended.

“Kugh!”

Yang Jeon was out of breath from forcibly deploying two consecutive techniques. His movements became sluggish. Jin Ja-gang felt Yang Jeon’s hands trembling minutely through the listening technique on the back of his hand. Jin Ja-gang didn’t miss that opportunity and rotated larger while extending his hand.

Jin Ja-gang’s left hand covered Yang Jeon’s front hand. Then he put strength into his hand and gripped tightly.

There was a fourth dike in his left palm center.

Crack crack.

“Ahhhhh!”

Yang Jeon screamed. His hand felt like it was being crushed. Jin Ja-gang raised his right hand. He struck Yang Jeon’s front forearm with Drilling Dragon Claw.

“W-wait!”

Despite Yang Jeon’s urgent cry, Jin Ja-gang didn’t stop his hand.

Thud!

Jin Ja-gang’s fingers embedded in Yang Jeon’s forearm.

Only then did Jin Ja-gang ask.

“What did you say?”

Yang Jeon screamed once more.

“Ahhhhh! You bastard, this is too much! I told you to wait a moment!”

Baek Li-gwon, who had been dazed, came to his senses hearing Yang Jeon’s scream. He popped his dislocated shoulder back into place.

Whether fortunately or unfortunately, getting hit hard once had brought back his reason.

Baek Li-gwon saw Tang Ha-ran holding her stomach with a grimacing face. Though he didn’t know the reason, he had a feeling. Baek Li-gwon tried to go toward Yang Jeon, who was being overwhelmed by Jin Ja-gang rather than Tang Ha-ran.

Tang Ha-ran blocked Baek Li-gwon’s path.

“Wasn’t I your enemy?”

Tang Ha-ran raised her internal energy while sweating profusely. Her stomach hurt as if tearing. Any more sudden movements would be too much. Early pregnancy was the most dangerous period. If she overexerted herself, who knew what might happen to the baby.

But she couldn’t burden Jin Ja-gang. That wasn’t Tang Ha-ran’s character.

Baek Li-gwon agreed.

“That’s right. I’ll kill you as painfully as possible.”

Jin Ja-gang said to Tang Ha-ran.

“Don’t overexert yourself. I’ll kill this one and go.”

Tang Ha-ran, her face drenched in sweat, chuckled softly.

“Did I look like such a weak woman to you?”

However, it was Yang Jeon who stopped Baek Li-gwon. Yang Jeon shouted.

“Wait, hold on! Everyone stop! Brother Baek Li, you stop too. And Poison Dragon, please let me go!”

Yang Jeon looked at Jin Ja-gang with a desperate expression that he had something to say.

Jin Ja-gang replied.

“No.”

Jin Ja-gang didn’t release Yang Jeon’s hand as if it wasn’t worth considering. Yang Jeon urgently shouted.

“I was merely heading to the Guizhou branch for investigation. The Yang family has never been involved in the Medicine Sect affair, so you Poison Dragon have no grudge against me. Let’s do this: people with grudges against each other settle it. Then I’ll just confirm the results and quietly withdraw.”

“Who are the people with grudges?”

“Well…”

After thinking briefly, Yang Jeon said.

“Brother Baek Li! If it was something done by Tang family assassins, then we absolutely cannot harm Tang family blood. We must formally protest to the Martial Alliance to hold the entire Tang family responsible, not just one person!”

When Baek Li-gwon seemed to ponder, Yang Jeon persuaded again.

“So right now, the priority is eliminating Poison Dragon who contributed to harming Sister Yon!”

Baek Li-gwon looked at Jin Ja-gang with killing intent.

“Brother Yang’s words make sense. After all, you and I had matters to settle anyway.”

Yang Jeon looked at Jin Ja-gang and said.

“So please release me. If you touch me, you’ll have to make an enemy of our Yang family too.”

Jin Ja-gang slowly released his hand in response to Baek Li-gwon’s killing intent. Yang Jeon looked at the five holes in his forearm and gritted his teeth. The tendons were deeply pierced so no strength entered his right hand at all. However, he didn’t show it outwardly and retreated.

Tang Ha-ran sighed shallowly and stepped back. Though she greatly wanted to fight in Jin Ja-gang’s place, thinking of the baby in her womb, this standoff might be best for now.

“Be careful.”

“I understand.”

Jin Ja-gang stood facing Baek Li-gwon.