Chapter 113: An Intentional Guide
Sect Leader Wonmyeong smiled at Jin Gwangung.
“These are copies of the True Five-Step Sword Art we finalized this time.”
Jin Gwangung's eyebrow twitched slightly.
“Why are you giving these to us?”
Wonmyeong continued.
“The True Five-Step Sword Art was completed through an exchange between our two sects.”
“I believe it is only right that we share the results as well.”
The Sect Leader had prepared several other rewards too.
There were wound medicines made from Mount Hua's herbs, pills used to treat internal injuries, and even ornaments and silver coins that looked fairly valuable.
“It may not be much, but it carries Mount Hua's sincerity. I hope you will accept it.”
Jin Gwangung gave an awkward display of modesty.
“Hmm. This seems like an overly generous gift.”
Of course...
despite what he said, he didn't look like he had any intention of refusing.
I smiled inwardly.
Things turned out much better than I expected.
This exchange held great meaning for Kunlun.
Even though Kunlun was one of the Nine Great Sects...
it had always been isolated within the martial world, almost like an island unto itself.
Mount Hua, on the other hand, was a powerful sect standing close to the center of the martial world.
If word spread that the two sects had held an official exchange...
and had even produced a tangible result together...
the martial world would begin paying far more attention to Kunlun.
It was exactly what Sect Leader Cheon Gwangcheon had wanted so badly.
For Kunlun to stop being treated like a sect on the outskirts of the martial world...
and be properly recognized as one of the Nine Great Sects.
And this benefits me too.
The True Five-Step Sword Art had been born from the exchange between our two sects.
And I had stood at the center of its creation.
Once I returned to Kunlun...
my position within the sect would become even more secure.
In the end...
both Kunlun and I had gained something worthwhile.
Amid the warm atmosphere...
we began exchanging farewells with the people of Mount Hua.
“Taoist Mujin.”
Cheongbaek looked at me earnestly.
“If the opportunity ever arises, please visit Mount Hua again.”
“Next time, I'd like to continue the discussions on martial scholarship that we weren't able to finish.”
I could feel how sincere he was about martial arts.
I gave a small smile.
“If the opportunity comes, I certainly will.”
Only then did Cheongbaek's expression ease slightly.
“You promised.”
“I'll look forward to the day Taoist Mujin returns.”
Then Jinwon stepped forward.
He gave me a proper martial salute.
“Taoist Mujin.”
“I truly learned a great deal this time.”
I returned his salute.
“You give me too much credit.”
“No.”
Jinwon shook his head.
“Watching your demonstrations gave me many insights.”
A faint smile appeared on his face.
“It made me realize that I need to devote myself even more seriously to martial arts.”
His gaze sharpened with healthy fighting spirit.
“If we meet again someday...”
“I'd like to cross swords with you once more.”
There was no envy or resentment in his eyes.
It was completely different from the competitive jealousy Hyeongwon usually showed me.
I answered with equal courtesy.
“I'll look forward to that day too, Taoist Jinwon.”
After our brief exchange...
everyone's attention naturally shifted toward Elder Hyeoneom.
He stood leaning on his staff with the same grumpy expression as always.
Then he said something that, to anyone else, probably sounded like nothing more than a blunt piece of advice.
“Don't waste your strength on pointless things.”
“Focus on what you need to do.”
The mysterious flame.
The thing True Immortal Cheongun and Immortal Yeonha had supposedly encountered.
Something that might be a clue to the next Flow.
He was telling me to uncover its identity.
I nodded.
“Yes. I'll keep that in mind.”
“Good.”
Hyeoneom snorted.
“It's cold, so I'm going back to rest.”
With that...
he immediately used his movement technique and disappeared somewhere.
The Mount Hua members looked awkward at his completely arbitrary departure.
Watching his back as he vanished...
I thought,
That's unexpected.
Hyeoneom had declared that now that he'd gained a young, healthy junior brother who wasn't about to die...
he would finally end his seclusion.
I'd been slightly worried he might insist on following me all the way back to Kunlun.
Well, at least I avoided that headache.
Just as I was feeling relieved—
A sudden sound transmission entered my ears.
What are you grinning about like an idiot? This old man will stay at Mount Hua and search for any other records left by Immortal Yeonha. Once I'm done, I'll come find you.
It was Hyeoneom.
...You really don't have to.
Of course...
I kept that thought to myself.
If I actually replied like that...
that foul-tempered old man would probably explode.
Then Jin Gwangung spoke.
“If everyone's done saying goodbye, let's get moving.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Understood, Elder Jin Gwangung.”
We offered our final farewells to the people of Mount Hua...
then turned away.
“Travel safely.”
“I hope the day we meet again comes soon.”
“Taoist Mujin! You must visit the Martial Training Institute again!”
We continued walking as the regretful farewell voices followed us.
The mountain gate of Mount Hua slowly receded into the distance.
This trip had given me far more than I expected.
The True Five-Step Sword Art.
Immortal Yeonha's Flow.
And the mysterious line she'd left behind...
the mysterious flame.
I continued forward...
turning that clue over in my mind.
“I'll lead the way.”
After leaving Mount Hua...
I volunteered to guide the group.
At first, everyone looked puzzled.
As far as they knew...
I'd spent my whole life inside Kunlun.
Jin Gwangung had even openly questioned me.
“How the hell would you know the road all the way back to Kunlun?”
But that was only because they didn't know about my life before regression.
After being abandoned by Kunlun...
I'd wandered through countless places.
And during the Righteous Alliance's campaign against the Demonic Cult...
I'd marched desperately across nearly the entire martial world.
If they knew that...
they wouldn't dare ask me something like that.
I silently continued leading the way.
Once I kept finding the right roads without difficulty...
the others stopped questioning me.
But there was actually another reason I'd gone out of my way to become the guide.
The road back to Kunlun.
I needed to steer our journey...
in the direction I wanted.
Two days had passed since we left Mount Hua.
As we descended along a rough mountain path...
an old wooden sign beside the road came into view.
Cheongsu Village
Myeongjeon's face immediately brightened.
“Oh? Look over there. There's a village.”
In the direction he pointed...
dozens of small houses were gathered together.
He looked toward the horses.
“The horses seem tired too. Why don't we rest here for a while?”
Jin Gwangung scanned the village...
then nodded.
“Fine.”
“We need to stop at least once today anyway.”
“Let's rest here for a bit.”
And so...
we entered Cheongsu Village.
It was small and quiet.
Old thatched-roof houses were scattered along the road...
and there weren't many people outside.
Despite the village's small size...
an inn stood right in the middle of the main road.
It was a shabby two-story wooden building.
The ends of the roof looked weathered enough to creak in the wind...
and the doors showed clear signs of age.
Since the village wasn't too far from Mount Hua...
the place probably survived by serving the occasional travelers passing through.
“Let's fill our stomachs and get some rest.”
Jin Gwangung jerked his chin toward the inn.
“Yes!”
When we stepped inside...
a middle-aged man immediately brightened and bowed.
“Welcome.”
Behind him...
a woman who seemed to be his wife and a boy around ten years old moved busily about.
It looked like the whole family ran the inn together.
“Guests, please sit over here.”
The boy quickly guided us to a nearby table.
He was sharp and quick-witted for his age.
Myeongjeon smiled at him for no particular reason...
and Jin Gwangung snorted when he saw it.
Once we sat down...
the innkeeper brought out alcohol, tea, and some simple side dishes.
Jin Gwangung immediately reached for the liquor...
while Hyeongwon and Myeongjeon ordered a few more dishes to fill their stomachs.
I lifted my teacup and quietly looked around.
