"Well, at least those two are safe."
Chung Myung, who had been looking down from the eaves, lay down on the spot. Beside him was a rice ball.
'Sigh. I didn't think I was this merciful.'
If he went into the dining hall now, his senior brothers would be too wary to eat properly. At the very least, they should be able to eat in peace. Isn't that just human decency?
Chung Myung patted his stomach and sighed.
'It started more noisily than I expected.'
Originally, he had planned to keep a low profile for a while. But those guys didn't just pull the whiskers of a sleeping tiger—they shoved a burning stick into its mouth.
So, what else could he do? In this world, there are things you can endure and things you can't.
"What's done is done."
At least Ungeom was someone he could reason with. When Chung Myung subtly prodded him, Ungeom understood perfectly and supported him. Thanks to that, things went more smoothly than expected.
Of course, he had prepared countermeasures in case Ungeom went in a different direction, but that would have been a bit more troublesome.
'He's smarter than I thought.'
Smart.
"...Smart?"
Ungeom was, of course, Chung Myung's senior instructor. But he was also his senior brother. Calling a senior instructor "smart" might be disrespectful, but calling a senior brother "smart" is a compliment, right?
"Ugh. This is complicated."
It would probably take some time for things to settle down. His position within Mount Hua still felt a bit unclear.
Anyway…
"Those two are definitely smart."
Chung Myung's gaze turned to Yun Jong and Jo Gul, who were entering the dining hall.
When this many people gather, there are always those who stand out. In Chung Myung's eyes, those two were the core of the third-generation disciples.
"They've got their heads on straight."
It's quite admirable, isn't it? Normally, after being pushed this hard, they should be groaning nonstop, but instead of complaining, they're motivated? Even Chung Myung couldn't help but be impressed.
Especially Jo Gul.
For someone who got beaten up to set aside resentment and calmly assess the situation is remarkable. Even more so when he confidently believes that following Chung Myung will make him stronger. If he had any money left, he'd consider investing in him.
"If raised well, they'll be useful."
Chung Myung chuckled and took a bite of his rice ball.
Those guys are important, but what's even more important is Chung Myung himself.
'First, I need to build my body.'
The foundation has been roughly laid. There's still a long way to go, but the most dangerous part is over. Now, it's time to seriously start learning martial arts.
So, what's the most important thing at this point?
A perfect physique.
With all that knowledge and returning to a young body, couldn't he become stronger through meditation or sword theory?
No way.
"Martial arts are honest."
Theory is theory, and reality is reality. No matter how much high-level martial arts you know, if you can't embody them, you can't unleash their full power.
Internal energy training and embodiment can't be done with just your head. You have to sweat and train your body.
And for that, what's most needed is physical strength.
Mount Hua's swordsmanship is fast and flashy, you say?
In other words, Mount Hua's swordsmanship involves swinging a sword infused with internal energy in 108 directions using just your wrist. The sword is flashy, not the body.
To bloom a beautiful and dazzling plum flower, you need strong roots. In martial arts, the roots are the body.
'You can't just look at what you want to see.'
People are captivated by Mount Hua's flashy swordsmanship. But because of that, they don't see the person wielding that sword, swinging it as if their life depends on it.
– Damn these sword techniques! Why are they so complicated? Can't I just stab and kill?
– Why do I have to twist three times just to thrust straight? My wrist's going to break!
The legs of a swan gliding gracefully on water are paddling desperately. If Mount Hua's flashy sword techniques are the swan's body, then the body wielding the sword is the swan's legs.
So, you have to train and train again.
If those kids can handle even a quarter of his training, in about three years, they'll become late-stage martial artists with the strongest bodies in the world.
By then, Mount Hua might not just be the sect with the most dazzling swordsmanship but also a powerful sect that can rival Shaolin.
Chung Myung chuckled and stood up.
'The problem isn't the chicks, but the upper ranks.'
The chicks will fall in line quickly if he handles them, but the upper ranks are beyond his control. So, he needs to make them stronger on their own…
Thinking of Ungeom, Chung Myung sighed.
'His talent isn't bad.'
From the aura emanating from his body, you could tell how hard Ungeom had been working.
It's no easy feat for someone who hasn't been properly taught swordsmanship to reach that level. If he could be taught proper swordsmanship before it's too late, he could definitely become a great swordsman.
'But how do I give it to him?'
Chung Myung scratched his head.
This is tricky.
It would be great if he could just hand it over, but that would cause an uproar. He's not confident he could handle the aftermath. So, he needs to pass it on as naturally as possible without drawing attention. This…
"Ugh."
Chung Myung scratched his head.
He didn't think he was particularly stupid, but since he hadn't lived a life of scheming, finding a solution in situations like this was difficult.
"Should I go back for now?"
To find a solution, he first needed to accurately assess the situation.
He needed to confirm exactly what martial arts had been lost and whether the remaining ones were being properly passed down.
❀ ❀ ❀
Jo Gul swallowed dryly as he looked at Chung Myung, who was sitting cross-legged in front of him.
'Did I make a mistake in my thinking?'
Getting stronger? Training?
That's all good. It's all good.
But that means I have to keep living like this with this guy.
'Can I endure this?'
The more I think about it, the more I feel something's wrong.
"So…"
"Yes."
"Speak casually, Senior Brother."
"...Okay."
"So, this is it?"
"Yes."
"I said speak casually."
"Okay."
Chung Myung frowned as he looked at what Jo Gul had written down.
"Is this really all there is?"
"That's it… yeah."
"Casual… never mind, do as you like."
He'll get used to it and start speaking casually on his own. That's not important right now.
Chung Myung grabbed his head as he looked at the paper, the ink still wet.
"So, the martial arts in the library are just this?"
Jo Gul silently nodded.
"Ugh, this is driving me crazy."
"..."
Chung Myung slumped in his chair. As always, Jo Gul couldn't even begin to guess why he was acting like this.
'Why is he like this?'
He suddenly told me to go to the library and write down all the titles of the martial arts books, and now he's fuming as he looks at the list.
"This is it?"
And then he repeats the same words like a parrot.
'He's definitely not in his right mind.'
The senior instructor said it. To become stronger, you have to give up a lot.
But hasn't this guy given up too much? Shouldn't he at least maintain some basic humanity…?
"Senior Brother."
"Hmm?"
"Is there really nothing else? There must be places you can't access, right?"
"Reading isn't allowed, but looking is fine. That's all there is."
"...No."
Chung Myung's eyes scanned the list again.
When he heard that the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Techniques were lost and they were learning something like the Taeeul Miri Sword, he had some idea of the situation. But this is too much.
"No, how did half of them disappear?"
And it's the important sword techniques that are missing.
Who could have done this if not someone deliberately trying to ruin Mount Hua?
"So, the first-generation disciples are mainly learning the Taeeul Miri Sword and the Bokho Cheongyang Sword?"
"That's what I know."
"...Oh, for heaven's sake."
Chung Myung scratched his head.
'The situation is more serious than I thought.'
This won't do.
Of course, people are more important than martial arts. But there's a limit, right? If the enemy is charging at you with a finely forged sword, and you're handed a stick to fight with, you'll get slapped before you can even swing the stick.
At the very least, you need something.
But in Chung Myung's standards, the Taeeul Miri Sword and the Bokho Cheongyang Sword don't meet that minimum.
'If only we had the Seven Plum Sword.'
Mount Hua wouldn't be in this state. The more he thinks about it, the angrier he gets.
Chung Myung was trying to calm his boiling anger when Jo Gul suddenly spoke.
"From what I've heard…"
"Hmm?"
He didn't even ask, but Jo Gul started talking.
"When the Demonic Cult invaded, the western library caught fire."
"...The western library caught fire? No, wait, the Demonic Cult invaded?"
Why would the Demonic Cult invade Mount Hua? Didn't the Heavenly Demon die and the cult fall apart?
Before answering, Jo Gul asked another question.
"Do you know the Plum Blossom Sword Saint?"
"Of course."
I know very well. No one knows me better than myself. I know very well.
"The senior instructors said that the Plum Blossom Sword Saint played a part in killing the Heavenly Demon."
"...Played a part?"
I cut that bastard's head off, what do you mean, played a part?
Chung Myung's face flushed slightly. To belittle an achievement that cost him his life like this!
"But who knows."
"What do you mean, who knows! The Plum Blossom Sword Saint cut off the Heavenly Demon's head!"
"Huh? Who said that?"
"Who said that? It was…"
Huh?
Chung Myung's head tilted slightly.
'Wait a minute.'
"No one can say for sure because everyone who went up the mountain that day died. So, no one knows how the Heavenly Demon died."
"..."
That's right. They all died. Chung Myung was the last one standing and cut off the Heavenly Demon's head.
So, no one saw it… Right. No one saw it.
Right.
Chung Myung realized.
'Wait, so…'
I gave my life for Mount Hua's honor to defeat the Heavenly Demon, and no one even acknowledges it?
What kind of nonsense is this?
"Anyway, when the Heavenly Demon fell on the mountain, the remaining Demonic Cult followers went mad and charged into the Central Plains. They suffered heavy losses but eventually made it to Mount Hua, burning everything and causing chaos."
"..."
Cold sweat began to drip down Chung Myung's body.
But Jo Gul, unaware of Chung Myung's reaction, continued calmly.
"No one knows why they did it. They shouldn't have had any grudge against Mount Hua."
"Uh… well, that's…"
You don't know why? I think I know.
"Haha."
So, putting it all together.
The reason Mount Hua was destroyed.
'Is because of me?'
Huh?
Because of me?
"Hahahahaha."
"Why are you laughing all of a sudden?"
"Hahahahahahaha."
Oh, life, really.
Haha. Hahahaha.