Chapter 466

Chapter 466 – When Plum Blossoms Bloom, Guests Arrive (1)

The winter that seemed harsh as if it would never end was finally showing signs of ending. White snow piled on every mountain peak melted from wind carrying warm energy, and valleys overflowed with meltwater.

Spring came to Mount Hua too.

What announced spring first was none other than the white plum blossoms that could be called Mount Hua's symbol. Mount Hua everywhere was dyed white with plum blossoms, and subtle plum fragrance circled carried by wind.

"Haha!"

"Wooah!"

Children's laughter came from under plum blossom trees. Children appearing about six or seven years old were playing using plum blossom trees as playground.

That was when.

"You rascals! Not training the martial arts you should learn, playing here? Hurry and all return to your places!"

A middle-aged Taoist's angry roar burst out.

At his appearance, children scattered in all directions like grasshoppers shouting "Wah!" A smile appeared on the middle-aged Taoist's lips watching such children.

The middle-aged Taoist's title was Won-woong, a first-generation disciple of Mount Hua Sect. And the thoughtless children playing in plum blossom trees were novices accepted last winter.

Last year's great disaster created countless disaster victims and orphans in the Central Plains. Children who'd lost parents in the disaster and wandered streets were uncountable. Though they couldn't rescue all of them, Mount Hua Sect still accepted children within their means. Thanks to that, novices overflowed unexpectedly, and thanks to them, Mount Hua Sect also overflowed with vitality.

Most novices were children who'd lived lives unrelated to the martial world. Therefore they didn't know well about life in martial sects like Mount Hua Sect or martial arts training. Nor what great fortune it was. Because of that, they preferred slacking off playing like this whenever they had gaps.

Won-woong didn't blame such children. Life at Mount Hua was just beginning. From now on they could slowly build foundations.

A faint smile appeared on Won-woong's lips. Even if they were still uncontrolled troublemakers, watching them still improved his mood.

"Good."

Only after confirming all children had returned to the temple did Won-woong move with quick steps.

The place he headed was a small thatched hut in a remote place even on Mount Hua's central peak. Though most of Mount Hua Sect's temples were plain, the thatched hut was shabby to the point of being beyond plain. But before the thatched hut, Won-woong tidied his clothes and made the most respectful expression. And carefully opened his mouth.

"Grand-uncle master, I'm Won-woong."

After a moment, the shabby thatched hut's door opened and an elderly Taoist with a clear face walked out. Then Won-woong deeply bowed his waist.

"Grand-uncle master."

Won-woong's face looking at the elderly Taoist was full of respect. He had no choice. The elderly Taoist now standing before him was precisely Taoist Hyeon-so, Mount Hua Sect's foremost elder.

Taoist Hyeon-so raised the fallen Mount Hua Sect by returning lost absolute techniques. Though his martial arts couldn't match even young novices, he had insight to see through the world's principles and always showed reliable appearance as Mount Hua Sect's spiritual pillar.

Not only Sect Leader Woon Kyung but even Myeong-gyeong, Mount Hua's First Sword, always took utmost courtesy when facing him. So ordinary disciples needn't be mentioned.

"What's the matter, Won-woong?"

"Ah, the Sect Leader told me to bring you, grand-uncle master."

"The Sect Leader?"

"Yes! He said he has things to discuss."

"What discussion would this old one have that he calls me?"

"I don't know well either. I only heard orders to bring you, grand-uncle master."

"I understand. Let's go together."

"Yes! This disciple will guide you."

Won-woong led the way guiding Taoist Hyeon-so.

Taoist Hyeon-so followed Won-woong then suddenly looked around Mount Hua's entire scenery. Because he smelled plum fragrance carried by wind.

"It's spring."

He'd thought this year's winter was particularly long, but spring had arrived before he knew it.

"Yes?"

"Nothing. Just talking to myself. Spring arriving makes this old one feel good, so don't mind."

"Ah, yes! I understand."

"Let's go!"

"Yes!"

The two moved steps again.

They descended the central peak heading toward the west peak called Lotus Peak. Though the process of descending and ascending peaks was cumbersome and hard, Taoist Hyeon-so moved steps without showing any sign of difficulty.

New temples stood everywhere on Mount Hua. Once collapsed during the First Righteous-Demon War, and another bloodshed suffered not long ago. And last year they even suffered the tragedy of the upper palace collapsing. Because of that, hardly any old temples remained in Mount Hua Sect.

Almost all were newly built recently. They could have built splendidly, but Sect Leader Woon Kyung ordered them built as plainly as possible. Therefore newly built temples appeared shabby to the point of being beyond plain. But none among Mount Hua Sect's Taoists thought Mount Hua Sect's temples shameful.

What was important wasn't external appearance like temples or halls. The people living inside were most important.

Currently Mount Hua Sect devoted full effort to raising new disciples, and results were actually gradually appearing.

Taoist Hyeon-so also saw those results. Young Taoists and young novices harmonized together overflowing with vitality. Taoist Hyeon-so saw Mount Hua's bright future in their appearance.

"Hmm?"

Suddenly his gaze went toward a corner of the wall. Because a small child was crouching there.

A boy appearing far too small compared to other children his age. His appearance embracing his knees looked particularly lonely.

Taoist Hyeon-so changed direction approaching the boy. Then Won-woong made an embarrassed expression hurriedly following behind.

Taoist Hyeon-so knelt matching eye level with the boy.

"Why are you alone here like this? Won't other children play with you?"

"N-no."

The boy was startled raising his head. His eyes appearing bright and sparkling.

The boy was surprised seeing Taoist Hyeon-so, unable to continue words well. Then Won-woong hurriedly said.

"What are you doing? Hurry and show respect to our sect's highest elder."

"No. What's important about formality?"

Taoist Hyeon-so stopped Won-woong smiling. At his warm smile, the shadow heavily cast on the boy's face somewhat disappeared.

"What's your name?"

"I-I'm Nam Seo-il."

"A good name. Why is our Seo-il feeling so unhappy?"

"Well…"

Instantly Nam Seo-il's face turned bright red at a loss. Then Taoist Hyeon-so gently stroked Nam Seo-il's head.

Nam Seo-il gathered courage speaking.

"I'm just scared of learning martial arts."

"Why scared?"

"If I learn martial arts, I have to hit people, right?"

"Who says that? That if you learn martial arts you have to hit people?"

"Everyone says so. That I must learn martial arts to fight that place called the Demon Cult."

"Does our Seo-il dislike fighting with others?"

"Yes!"

Nam Seo-il nodded his head hard. Taoist Hyeon-so tilted his head.

"Then just don't fight. Who said anything?"

"B-but if I don't fight, I might get expelled from Mount Hua Sect."

"Expelled? Why?"

"B-because I'd be useless."

Nam Seo-il deeply lowered his head. On such a face, chicken-droppings-like tears already flowed down dripping.

Taoist Hyeon-so tightly embraced Nam Seo-il's small body.

"Why cry?"

"If I get expelled from Mount Hua Sect, I have nowhere to go. Mom died too, and Dad… sob!"

Eventually Nam Seo-il wailed loudly embraced in Taoist Hyeon-so's arms. Taoist Hyeon-so patted tightly embraced Nam Seo-il's back.

"Uh, uh?"

Watching Taoist Hyeon-so's chest get wet with Nam Seo-il's tears, Won-woong didn't know what to do. From his position, Nam Seo-il appeared to be committing irreverence. But seeing Taoist Hyeon-so's face, he realized he was thinking wrongly. Because he truly appeared to empathize with Nam Seo-il's concerns.

Mount Hua Sect was a Taoist sect but also a martial sect. Taoists also had to basically learn martial arts, and Taoists who didn't learn martial arts were useless according to common perception. Especially in the current war era, Taoists who didn't learn martial arts weren't greatly needed by the sect.

Because of that, rumors circulated among novices that they might get expelled from Mount Hua Sect if they didn't learn martial arts.

Taoist Hyeon-so who'd heard the whole story smiled faintly.

"It's okay. Even without learning martial arts, Seo-il can stay here."

"R-really? I can continue staying here?"

"Of course!"

"Ah!"

Only then did Nam Seo-il let out a sigh of relief. Perhaps finding that appearance cute, Taoist Hyeon-so couldn't take his eyes away.

"If you dislike hitting people, what does Seo-il like?"

"I like reading books."

"Books?"

"Yes!"

"Really? That worked out well. I was just looking for a child who likes books too."

"Really?"

Nam Seo-il opened his eyes wide.

"Really indeed. Seo-il, follow this grandfather."

Taoist Hyeon-so extended his hand, and Nam Seo-il grasped that hand without hesitation. Seeing that, Won-woong's body flinched. Because he knew well the meaning of Taoist Hyeon-so extending his hand.

"Grand-uncle master has taken Seo-il as true successor."

Because Taoist Hyeon-so was Mount Hua Sect's highest elder and the fact he was Mount Hua Fist Demon Dam Ho's master, people were forgetting one fact. That was precisely that Taoist Hyeon-so was Mount Hua Sect's Scholar Taoist.

The Scholar Taoist had the grave mission of learning, remembering, researching everything of Mount Hua Sect and transmitting all that to future generations. That Mount Hua Sect could rapidly recover its former prosperity was actually thanks to knowledge Taoist Hyeon-so had as Scholar Taoist.

Until now, Taoist Hyeon-so had no leisure to raise successors while raising the fallen Mount Hua Sect again. But since everything entered a stable period, he absolutely had to raise a future Scholar Taoist.

Taoist Hyeon-so chose Nam Seo-il as his future Scholar Taoist successor. And Won-woong was the only person who witnessed that. Won-woong thought it an honor.

The sight of Taoist Hyeon-so and Nam Seo-il moving steps with shoulders together even appeared heartwarming.

After a while they arrived at the new upper palace built on Lotus Peak's summit. Before the upper palace, Mount Hua Sect's disciples were gathered chatting. Upon discovering Taoist Hyeon-so, they variously bowed their waists.

"Grand-uncle master, have you come?"

"Great-uncle!"

Light of doubt appeared on their faces. Because of Nam Seo-il following beside Taoist Hyeon-so. They couldn't understand with their heads why a mere novice was following Taoist Hyeon-so.

Won-woong whispered to them what had just happened.

"Then?"

"New Scholar Taoist?"

Instantly light of envy appeared on their faces.

Previously, Scholar Taoist was an object of alienation. But due to Taoist Hyeon-so, perception of Scholar Taoist changed greatly, now rather becoming an object of awe. The perception arose that Mount Hua Sect's wisest one becomes Scholar Taoist.

Taoist Hyeon-so acknowledged them then entered the upper palace together with Nam Seo-il.

Inside the upper palace were familiar faces.

Sect Leader Woon Kyung now exuding mature authority, and Myeong-gyeong emanating sharp atmosphere like a well-honed blade, plus others who'd newly become elders.

"Please come in, grand-uncle."

First, Sect Leader Woon Kyung and Mount Hua's First Sword Myeong-gyeong stood greeting. Then other elders variously greeted too.

"Greetings are done. What's between us. Everyone sit."

Taoist Hyeon-so declined their greetings sitting down.

Woon Kyung's gaze went toward Nam Seo-il beside Taoist Hyeon-so.

"That child?"

"Says he likes books, so I'm thinking of teaching him that direction."

"Ah!"

Woon Kyung instantly grasped the meaning in Taoist Hyeon-so's words.

"Congratulations on receiving a disciple to transmit insight and knowledge, grand-uncle."

"Congratulations, grand-uncle."

Myeong-gyeong and elders consecutively offered congratulations. Taoist Hyeon-so just smiled calmly, but Nam Seo-il who'd followed unexpectedly made a dumbfounded expression.

Thanks to that, the hall's atmosphere became much softer.

Then an unfamiliar voice was heard.

"That Taoist Hyeon-so, whose prestige under heaven is lofty, has newly received a disciple is great fortune not only for Mount Hua but for the martial world. I offer congratulations, Taoist Hyeon-so."

Only then did Taoist Hyeon-so's gaze go toward the unfamiliar person.

An elder appearing to be in early sixties sat opposite. An elder with a stubborn impression and sharp eyes standing out. On the elder's left and right, middle-aged martial artists emanating similar atmosphere were together.

Woon Kyung belatedly introduced them to Taoist Hyeon-so.

"These are Zhongnan Sect's new Sect Leader Great Hero Go Il-won and his disciples."

Taoist Hyeon-so made a surprised expression saluting Go Il-won.

"Pleased to meet you, Sect Leader Go. My greetings are late."

"Not at all. It's an honor to finally meet Taoist Hyeon-so."

"I heard you suffered much during that time."

"Thank you for worrying. Thanks to that, I could manage well."

"Fortunate."

At Taoist Hyeon-so's sincere expression, Go Il-won smiled.

Zhongnan Sect had long been at odds with Mount Hua Sect since they were in the same Shaanxi Province. But when Mount Hua Sect suffered bloodshed, Zhongnan Sect also suffered damage close to annihilation by the Demon Cult, so now they had feelings of sympathy for each other.

Zhongnan Sect had lost not only Sect Leader Seol Mun-cheon and elders but even Zhongnan's First Sword, True Sword of Zhongnan Yeom Jung-hwa. Go Il-won was precisely the one who'd managed Zhongnan Sect after losing leadership and countless disciples, falling into the abyss overnight.

Go Il-won said.

"Now that Taoist Hyeon-so has also arrived, let's proceed with the meeting. Our Zhongnan Sect is ready to fight the Demon Cult anytime."

A chilling coldness circulated in Go Il-won's voice.