Chapter v12c17: The Realm of the Mount Hua Sect

The Realm of the Mount Hua Sect

– Plum Blossom Sword Saint Yu Hwan-gwon

Shanxi Province, Huayin County.

This was the region where Mount Hua, one of the Five Great Mountains of China, stood tall.

Within its embrace lay a bustling city, a place where the shadow of Mount Hua stretched across the streets every morning and evening. It was the largest town before reaching Mount Hua, practically a city in its own right, lacking only walls, having grown under the protection of the Mount Hua Sect.

After the fierce battle at Thunderbolt Valley, they had reached this town without any further obstacles. Their progress had been slightly delayed due to the injured, but not enough to disrupt their schedule. From this point onward, they were practically in the Mount Hua Sect’s backyard, a place where the sect’s eyes and ears were everywhere, making it impossible for any forces of the Heavenly Tribulation or the Demonic Path to operate.

The Cheonmu Academy delegation, led by Jo Cheon Woo, arrived at the largest inn in town, marked by a sign that read “Plum Blossom Inn.”

“This is the place.”

“Hmm, good work.”

Binggeom nodded in satisfaction. Thanks to Jo Cheon Woo, who knew the area like the back of his hand, they had reached their destination without any trouble.

Who would own the largest inn in the town right outside the Mount Hua Sect? It was almost certain to be owned by a Mount Hua disciple, or someone closely connected to them.

This wasn’t unique to this place. It was the same in any town near a major sect. The most profitable businesses in the nearest town were almost always affiliated with the sect. This included not only inns, but also courier stations, taverns, and even brothels.

They thrived under the sect’s protection, expanding their influence and wealth. No petty thugs or gangs would dare to extort or demand protection money from them. Unless they had several spare lives, it was unthinkable.

A closer look at the corner of the elegantly crafted sign revealed a small engraving of a plum blossom, the Mount Hua Sect’s symbol. It was a sign that this establishment was under their protection. Well, the name “Plum Blossom Inn” itself was a blatant advertisement of their connection to the Mount Hua Sect.

As expected, the owner of the inn was a lay disciple of the Mount Hua Sect, indebted to them for their patronage. It was a prime example of the importance of connections and background in life.

“Let’s go in!”

Binggeom said. They were planning to stay here for a few days.

“Welcome! Welcome to the Plum Blossom Inn, the finest establishment in Mount Hua. We strive to provide our guests with the best possible service.”

As they stepped inside, the manager, noticing their extraordinary aura, rushed out to greet them. Perhaps due to his strong work ethic, his introduction was a bit lengthy.

“Where are you coming from?”

He finally remembered to invite them inside after his long introduction.

“From the land where the sword and dragon dance!”

The Sword Dragon was the symbol of the Cheonmu Academy. The manager’s eyes widened at Binggeom’s answer. He asked in a trembling voice,

“And where are you headed?”

Binggeom replied without hesitation,

“To the place where the plum blossoms never wither!”

“P-Please wait a moment. I’ll inform the owner. Please come in.”

The manager hurried inside after their exchange. He shouted loudly enough for them to hear,

“We’re closed for the day! All remaining guests, please leave!”

He then rushed up the stairs to the second floor, shouting,

“Light all the lanterns! We have distinguished guests! Everyone, come out and welcome them!”

The delegation, led by Binggeom, entered the inn, receiving a grand welcome fit for royalty. The guests who were dining inside were ushered out, confused but politely apologized to. Complaints arose here and there, but they quickly subsided when they were told they didn’t have to pay for their meals. The same went for the guests staying in the rooms. They were quickly relocated to nearby inns, their luggage efficiently transferred. But they too swallowed their complaints when they were told they didn’t have to pay for their stay.

The doors were closed, and a sign that read “Closed” was hung outside. Passersby tilted their heads in confusion. It was strange to see the Plum Blossom Inn, which was open day and night, seven days a week, closed.

A few curious individuals approached the inn, but they were politely turned away without any explanation.

While the other Cheonmu Academy representatives headed to the dining hall, Mo Yong Hwi made a beeline for the bathhouse. He couldn’t stand the dirt that had accumulated on his body. But even he, who was usually impeccably clean, looked surprisingly clean for someone who had been traveling for so long. His favorite white clothes seemed to repel dirt, a mystery that no one bothered to investigate.

A feast of delicacies was soon laid out before them. Wine was also served. Binggeom and Yeomdo allowed them to drink tonight. Yeomdo’s eyes gleamed with delight at the sight of the various fine wines. The wine worm in his belly must have been wriggling with anticipation.

The grand celebration, marking their arrival at Mount Hua, continued late into the night.

The delegation, including Bi Ryu-yeon, finally had a chance to fill their bellies with rich food, wash away the grime of their journey in a warm bath, and sleep soundly in comfortable beds. As the night deepened and the moon waned, their accumulated fatigue melted away under the soft blankets.

The next day!

Bi Ryu-yeon decided to go sightseeing. He had heard that they wouldn’t be leaving until the day after tomorrow, so he decided to explore the town. He successfully persuaded Na Yerin to join him. Perhaps feeling indebted to him, the beauty readily accepted his offer, much to the envy of all the male disciples. Upon hearing Na Yerin’s decision, Dokgo Ryeong, feeling responsible for her safety, joined them as well. Intrigued, Eun Seol-ran also decided to tag along. The three beauties, gathered together, seemed to illuminate their surroundings with a golden aura.

In addition to them, Jang Hong, Mo Yong Hwi, Namgung Sang, and Yoon Jun-ho joined this fortunate outing. And Hyo-ryong was also there. But he had become unusually quiet since that day. He seemed to be functioning normally, but he was no longer a suitable conversation partner. His hair was still unkempt, and his beard was growing wild and untrimmed. He looked disheveled and unkempt, a far cry from his former cheerful self. The only noticeable change was a new, sharp, lightning-shaped scar on his forehead.

And Yi Jin-seol was always by his side, as she was now. Her devotion was truly remarkable.

Eun Seol-ran was worried about her, but she didn’t show it. She decided to forget about it and enjoy the day. It would be a good change of pace for Hyo-ryong as well. They had been rushing towards Mount Hua since Thunderbolt Valley, so this bustling city was a welcome change.

Eun Seol-ran and Na Yerin covered half their faces with silk veils to avoid unwanted attention. But their innate elegance couldn’t be concealed by such thin pieces of cloth. Still, it was better than nothing.

And even without the veils, Dokgo Ryeong and Yi Jin-seol were beautiful enough to attract attention. So, they couldn’t avoid being stared at as they walked through the streets. It seemed to be their fate.

Many people stopped and turned around to steal glances at the beauties, but none dared to harbor any ill intentions, intimidated by the fierce, chilling aura emanating from the one-eyed beauty.

**The Mount Hua Regional Chapter Eye Appraisal Convention**

Whether it was their sharp business sense or their curiosity, the area in front of the peak where the Mount Hua convention, the biggest event in the martial world, was to be held was already packed with people, buzzing like a beehive.

It was amazing how so many people had gathered in one place.

The largest square in the city was crowded with people from all walks of life, dressed in various attire, creating a cacophony of noise.

It seemed that humans, by nature, couldn’t resist talking when they were gathered together. So, with countless people gathered in one place, it was only natural for it to be noisy. It could be considered lively, but if it got any louder, it would become unbearable.

The eastern side of the square was particularly noisy. The crowd was densest there, and the noise, chatter, and shouts were deafening. What was drawing so many people to this spot?

Bi Ryu-yeon, feeling no need to suppress his curiosity, headed straight for the source of the commotion. His companions followed, their curiosity piqued as well.

“step up, step right up! Right is heaven, wrong is hell! Test your luck!”

A host stood on a platform, shouting at the top of his lungs. He held a stack of papers in his hand. It was a grand Eye Appraisal Convention, on a scale far exceeding the one held by the Cheonmu Twin Eccentrics.

The blackboard was massive, large enough for the entire crowd to see. The right side seemed to be for the Cheonmu Academy, and the left side for the Heavenly Demon’s Pavilion. Several names were written from the top. There were also blank spaces, of course. But they would soon be filled. The reason some spaces were still blank was that they hadn’t received confirmation on all the participants.

The names currently listed were those of prominent figures who were guaranteed to participate in the Mount Hua convention. Their participation was a given for the gamblers. It wouldn’t be a proper convention without them. In other words, the individuals whose names were on the board were all renowned figures in the martial world. The odds for each participant were written next to their names.

Names like Yong Cheon Myeong, Maha Ryeong, Cheong Heun, Shin Yu-seong, and Mo Yong Hwi were already listed. It was impressive to see Mo Yong Hwi, the Seven Star Divine Sword, listed alongside his seniors, despite being the youngest.

Perhaps due to his past achievements, Shin Yu-seong, the Drunken Shadow Sword, had the highest approval rating. He was currently the most popular choice. Yong Cheon Myeong was a close second.

After glancing at the Cheonmu Academy side, Bi Ryu-yeon turned his attention to the left. Several names were listed on the Heavenly Demon’s Pavilion side as well. He scrutinized them. His gaze naturally fell on the name with the highest approval rating (and the lowest odds). It was Oh Bi-wan.

“Oh Bi-wan? Who is he?”

“You don’t know Oh Bi-wan, the Iron Arm Saber?”

Jang Hong asked in surprise.

“No, I don’t.”

A simple, almost deflating answer came back.

“He’s the most famous saber expert among the younger generation of the Heavenly Demon’s Pavilion. His strength is said to be so immense that he can bend thick iron bars like taffy on a hot summer day. They say, ‘Don’t be foolish enough to block Oh Bi-wan’s first strike head-on unless you want your hand crushed or be killed by your own weapon!’ He achieved fame in the martial world over ten years ago, he has not even turned thirty. And he was one of the top four in the previous Mount Hua convention.”

In other words, he had a high chance of winning.

Below his name were other names like “An Nak-gin” and “Ji-du.” Of course, Bi Ryu-yeon had never heard of them before, but it seemed others had.

Jang Hong sighed and explained that An Nak-gin was a famous young swordsman currently known as the “Wind-Cutting Sword” in the martial world. A considerable amount of money had been bet on him. And above them was one more name. Only one character was written there: “Bi.”

‘Who could it be?’

He felt a flicker of curiosity, but he quickly dismissed it. After observing for a while, Bi Ryu-yeon approached one of the clerks and whispered something, handing him a leather pouch. The clerk’s eyes widened as he checked the contents. He looked back and forth between the pouch and Bi Ryu-yeon, his expression still shocked, and then hurriedly wrote something down and handed it to him. He then called over one of the hosts. The host’s expression, upon hearing the clerk’s words, was also one of astonishment.

Bi Ryu-yeon tucked the paper he had received from the clerk into his pocket and returned to his companions as if nothing had happened.

“What was that about?”

Na Yerin asked, approaching him. Bi Ryu-yeon smiled faintly and replied,

“It’s a kind of investment.”

One of the hosts then wrote Bi Ryu-yeon’s name on the blank space on the right side of the odds board, under the Cheonmu Academy section. And the number written next to his name was astonishing. A murmur rippled through the crowd. Bi Ryu-yeon simply smiled, watching the scene unfold.