Chapter 438

Chapter 438 – One's Own Sect's Safety Takes Priority Over the World (1)

"Great Tiger Emerges!"

"Haap!"

"Chyat!"

In a large training ground, numerous children were practicing martial arts under an instructor's guidance. The sight of hundreds performing the same technique in unison was quite spectacular.

"Good. Next is Dragon Ascends to Heaven."

The instructor's vigorous voice echoed resonantly through the training ground, and the children powerfully executed the technique.

The bluestone floor rumbled with thuds, and the children's powerful battle cries made Mount Hua resound.

The place where they practiced was the old site of Taiping Palace.

In Mount Hua's blade-like terrain, the widest flatland was precisely where Taiping Palace stood.

Taiping Palace, modeled after the celestial realm's Thirty-Six Heavens, was immensely grand. All matters great and small of the Mount Hua Sect occurred here, and this was where disciples practiced martial arts.

When the Demon Cult invaded, Taiping Palace was devastatingly destroyed. But with the Eun family's support, Taiping Palace regained its original appearance.

Someone was nodding while watching those practicing martial arts at Taiping Palace's training ground.

"Won-gong surprisingly has a talent for teaching."

The refined-looking elderly Taoist was precisely Master Hyeon-so, who held the highest seniority in the Mount Hua Sect.

"I was surprised too. I thought he was introverted due to shyness, but when teaching, he's more passionate than anyone."

The one answering was Woon Kyung, the sect leader of Mount Hua Sect. Behind him followed Myeong-gyeong, First Sword of Mount Hua.

They were the core figures currently leading the Mount Hua Sect. If Master Hyeon-so was the sect's spiritual pillar, Woon Kyung was the practical commander, and Myeong-gyeong symbolized martial power.

Thanks to these three, the collapsed Mount Hua Sect could be rebuilt to this extent. The sect was rapidly reclaiming its former glory.

The children now learning martial arts at Taiping Palace's training ground were newly recruited disciples. Only children with exceptional talent from the secular world and near Shaanxi Province were secretly selected and accepted.

The instructor teaching them was Won-gong, one of the Thirty-Six Plum Blossom Swordsmen.

Originally Won-gong was a third-generation disciple. Due to his introverted personality, he didn't stand out much as a second-generation disciple, but after experiencing one blood calamity, he practiced martial arts more zealously than anyone. His personality also changed to become passionate, and he rushed forward for Mount Hua Sect's affairs regardless of danger.

He especially devoted himself to teaching young disciples, knowing they were Mount Hua Sect's future.

Under Won-gong's guidance, the children were growing noticeably. Master Hyeon-so and others took great comfort in the children's growth.

After watching the children for a while, Master Hyeon-so suddenly spoke.

"Some children stand out."

"As expected, you noticed. There are exceptionally talented children."

Woon Kyung smiled broadly.

For a sect to develop across generations, disciples with outstanding talent had to continuously flow in. In that respect, Mount Hua Sect was fortunate. Many of the children who entered this time had considerable talent.

Though not as much as Dam Ho or Myeong-gyeong, they were still rarely seen talents. They were pillars who would lead Mount Hua's future.

Normally, second-generation disciples would be assigned as masters to teach them step by step, but now was a chaotic era where one couldn't see even an inch ahead. Without such leisure, everything had to be handled swiftly.

It was already decided that the Thirty-Six Plum Blossom Swordsmen would personally teach them. Considering the swordsmen's young age, it was truly an exceptional measure.

Master Hyeon-so looked at Woon Kyung with a pleased expression.

Woon Kyung was leading Mount Hua Sect unbelievably well. His becoming sect leader was truly a masterstroke.

That's when it happened.

"Sect Leader!"

Suddenly someone came running breathlessly up from the mountain base. The moment they confirmed who it was, deep furrows formed between the three people's brows.

The one running up was second-generation disciple Yu-gong. He was tasked with gathering external information.

His running like that meant something had happened outside.

"What's wrong, Yu-gong?"

"It's, it's serious!"

"Speak calmly. What happened?"

At Woon Kyung's words, Yu-gong caught his breath briefly before continuing.

"Large-scale Demon Cult movements have been detected."

"The Demon Cult?"

"Yes! Large forces have been spotted advancing from the Yueyang main base."

"Is that true?"

"It's information from Hao Sect. It should be accurate."

"Mmm!"

At Yu-gong's words, the three people groaned.

Hao Sect was providing information to Mount Hua Sect due to its special relationship with Dam Ho. They knew well from past experience how accurate Hao Sect's information was.

"What happened? Why would the Demon Cult suddenly move after being quiet?"

"The Martial Alliance dispatched a suicide squad to assassinate the Demon Cult's key figures. It seems the stimulated Demon Cult is moving in retaliation."

"That foolish… Did they think a method used decades ago would work again?"

Master Hyeon-so shook his head.

Humans by nature tend to repeat previously successful methods when situations become difficult. But when crises reach their peak, utmost caution is needed. Because the enemy with brains will certainly prepare to avoid falling for the same method.

"So how many forces came out?"

"Not precisely determined yet, but it appears most of their combat power has been mobilized."

"Mmm!"

Finally Master Hyeon-so groaned.

Woon Kyung and Myeong-gyeong's expressions were no different from Master Hyeon-so's.

Though they knew this day would come, facing it was utterly disheartening.

Master Hyeon-so looked at Woon Kyung in silence.

Though by seniority he was the elder, Woon Kyung was Mount Hua Sect's leader. For the sect's discipline, he believed Woon Kyung's decisions must be respected and followed.

Woon Kyung closed his eyes thinking deeply. Master Hyeon-so and Myeong-gyeong waited in silence until his thinking finished.

After organizing his thoughts, Woon Kyung opened his eyes.

"Myeong-gyeong."

"Command me, Sect Leader martial brother."

"You need to go to Zhongnan Mountain."

"Zhongnan Sect?"

Myeong-gyeong looked questioningly.

Zhongnan Sect, like Mount Hua Sect, had suffered great damage three years ago and was in seclusion. They too were doing their utmost to reorganize while secluded. But they had no external activities, so internal conditions couldn't be known in detail.

Both based in Shaanxi Province, Mount Hua Sect and Zhongnan Sect had repeated cooperation and conflict for hundreds of years. In peacetime they competed and conflicted; in chaos they cooperated to defeat common enemies.

Woon Kyung thought now was the time to join hands with Zhongnan Sect again. Since he as sect leader couldn't leave Mount Hua Sect, he would send Myeong-gyeong as First Sword of Mount Hua to match their standing.

"Will they open their seclusion and receive me?"

"If it's you, Zhongnan Sect won't neglect you carelessly. The weight carried by First Sword of Mount Hua is never small."

"Understood. I'll go to Zhongnan Sect."

"You must definitely secure their cooperation."

"Of course."

"While you're gone, I'll recheck Mount Hua Sect's internal forces."

"Understood. Then I'll go to Zhongnan Sect immediately."

"Mm!"

Once Woon Kyung's permission fell, Myeong-gyeong also greeted Master Hyeon-so and left Mount Hua Sect immediately.

"Is there anything I can help with?"

"Please remain within Mount Hua Sect, Grand Master Uncle, and monitor well lest the Heavenly Evil Cult invade. Currently only you can repel their sorcery."

"Understood. I'll do so."

Master Hyeon-so nodded.

Woon Kyung's expression darkened.

With the Demon Cult moving in earnest, countless people would surely die. Many martial artists would die, but ordinary people unrelated to the martial world would also lose their lives swept up in war.

"Infinite Buddha!"

"Don't worry too much. Though the Demon Cult's momentum is tremendous now, it cannot be maintained forever. All things flow according to natural order."

"I understand with my head, but my cultivation isn't deep enough to accept it with my heart."

"I understand."

"By the way, has there been contact from Ho?"

"None!"

"Aren't you worried?"

"Isn't no news good news?"

"That's true, but…"

"He's a strong child."

"Come to think of it, I said something unnecessary. Rather than worrying, I'm growing Mount Hua Sect by relying on the Fist Demon's prestige."

"You say strange things."

"We must acknowledge what should be acknowledged. Though Ho is called Mount Hua Fist Demon, no one in the world thinks Ho is beneath Mount Hua. Rather, they think Mount Hua Sect is under Ho's umbrella. Most children who entered to learn martial arts at Mount Hua Sect now came because they admire Ho."

"Is that so?"

"I'm truly grateful to Ho. Even more so that he hasn't abandoned Mount Hua Sect."

Woon Kyung's words contained sincerity. Master Hyeon-so merely smiled, knowing his heart.

Master Hyeon-so looked at the distant sky.

'Are you well?'

***

'Master!'

Dam Ho suddenly raised his head to look at the sky. Because it seemed he heard Master Hyeon-so's voice.

Dam Ho silently gazed at the sky for a long time. What returned him to reality was the sound of cutting wind and children's fierce battle cries.

"Haap!"

"Yup!"

Turning his head, he saw the Namgung brothers attacking Bang Jin-bo together. Their fight was so fierce it couldn't be seen as young children sparring.

The Namgung brothers truly attacked Bang Jin-bo with their utmost. But Bang Jin-bo received and deflected their attacks easily while counterattacking.

Swish!

The sound of Bang Jin-bo's short saber cutting air rang out menacingly. Though not using internal energy, Bang Jin-bo was doing his best.

Clang!

The short saber and Namgung brothers' swords clashed fiercely, erupting metallic sounds. The fight was fierce enough that it couldn't be called sparring.

Bang Jin-bo unfolded Plum Blossom Saber. His saber technique was so elegant it couldn't be believed he wielded a short saber.

Whenever the short saber moved, plum blossoms bloomed and fell repeatedly. The Namgung brothers facing him were mesmerized by the brilliant plum blossoms flickering before their eyes.

Bang Jin-bo was deeply immersed in Plum Blossom Saber. Though he'd practiced and displayed martial arts countless times, this was the first time he'd been so deeply immersed.

Coming here, he'd sparred with the Namgung brothers daily.

At first he was careful lest they get hurt, but as their skills rapidly improved, that became unnecessary.

Not only Namgung Seon-hwi, but Namgung Yeong-hwi's development was also dazzling.

Perhaps because Great Expansion Cultivation Technique was taking effect, Namgung Yeong-hwi's body gradually changed into a form suitable for learning martial arts. Though not yet remarkable, compared to the beginning, much development had been achieved.

Sparring with the Namgung brothers made Bang Jin-bo think much.

Until now, those Bang Jin-bo fought were all famous in the martial world. They were martial artists who couldn't be called weak. While facing them, he had no leisure to check his own martial arts. But the Namgung brothers were different.

They were much weaker than him. He had to consider them. Even deploying the same technique, he had to control his strength.

Originally swinging a sword with full power isn't difficult. Because one just needs to use full strength. But reducing power was twice as difficult.

Therefore Bang Jin-bo had to reconsider his martial arts from the beginning while thinking about strength distribution. Restarting from basics, he gained unexpected enlightenment and perspective.

At some point, the Namgung brothers' sword paths entered his eyes. Though the two brothers' achievements were still meager, they still contained Namgung family's hundreds of years of essence.

Bang Jin-bo rapidly absorbed the strengths of Namgung family swordsmanship. But the Namgung brothers didn't just benefit Bang Jin-bo. They too could dramatically improve their skills while encountering Mount Hua Sect's martial arts.

Thus they grew while absorbing each other's strengths. Eventually they came to resemble each other.

Dam Ho silently watched that scene.

It was a chaotic age.

In this turbulent world, the only thing that could protect oneself was one's own ability.

Bang Jin-bo was still just a young bird, but someday he would gain large sturdy wings to fly the blue sky alone. And Dam Ho felt that time wasn't far off.