Chapter 184: Azure Pine Garden
The moment Sect Leader Cheon Gwangcheon entered Azure Pine Garden, the Righteous Alliance members nearby began murmuring among themselves.
It was only natural.
Master Gonghyeon of Shaolin.
Sect Leader Wonmyeong of Mount Hua.
And now Sect Leader Cheon Gwangcheon of Kunlun.
The leaders of three of the Nine Great Sects had gathered in one place.
Moyong Cheonhwi and Heo Seongbaek's expressions were particularly worth seeing.
Looks like they're pretty shaken.
Cheon Gwangcheon approached Moyong Cheonhwi with Kunlun's First Elders following behind him.
He normally carried himself like a gentle old man.
But right now, he possessed the dignity befitting the Sect Leader of Kunlun.
“Cheon Gwangcheon of Kunlun greets the Alliance Leader.”
Moyong Cheonhwi returned the greeting with a martial salute.
“I did not expect the Sect Leader to visit the Alliance so suddenly.”
“One of my sect's disciples has taken on the heavy responsibility of Commander of the Demon Expulsion Unit, yet I, as Sect Leader, have not even properly greeted you.”
Cheon Gwangcheon smiled faintly.
“It had been weighing on my mind.”
Moyong Cheonhwi replied,
“There was hardly any need for you to travel such a long distance merely for that....”
“Besides, I have remained behind Kunlun's gates for far too long.”
Cheon Gwangcheon's gaze swept across the Alliance.
“I thought it was time I personally took another look at the state of the Central Plains.”
Moyong Cheonhwi glanced toward the Kunlun First Elders standing behind him.
“But Kunlun is an important barrier against the movements of the Demonic Cult.”
His eyes narrowed.
“Are you certain it is wise for not only the Sect Leader, but even your First Elders, to leave the mountain gate?”
Cheon Gwangcheon answered with a smile.
“You need not worry.”
“We left more than enough people behind to defend the sect.”
Then—
“We also made preparations for any unexpected situation before leaving.”
Moyong Cheonhwi nodded slowly.
“...If that is so, then I suppose there is no issue.”
He didn't question Cheon Gwangcheon any further.
Still...
he didn't look completely convinced.
A strange silence settled between them.
I used that moment to step forward.
“Han Mujin of Kunlun greets the Sect Leader.”
A familiar smile appeared on Cheon Gwangcheon's face.
“Mujin.”
Then he chuckled.
“No, perhaps I should call you Commander now.”
I quickly waved my hands.
“Please just call me Mujin.”
“Hahaha. Very well.”
“If that is what you prefer.”
As the Sect Leader smiled and patted my shoulder, I secretly sent him a sound transmission.
Sect Leader. Since you've come all the way here... I assume you received word from ‘that place.’
I did.
His reply came immediately.
And as you instructed, I have told no one else anything about ‘that place.’ You need not worry.
Thank you, Sect Leader.
Good.
One concern had been resolved without any problems.
It's only because the Sect Leader trusted me this much.
After our silent exchange ended, Cheon Gwangcheon looked around as though nothing had happened.
“By the way, I heard something strange on my way here.”
I tilted my head.
“Something strange?”
“That a great fire broke out inside the Alliance.”
His gaze moved across the blackened Azure Pine Garden.
“I even heard rumors that it may have been arson.”
He studied the ruins.
“Judging by this place, it seems those weren't merely idle rumors.”
Then he looked at me.
“I also heard there may have been deliberate wrongdoing. Is that true?”
“I'm investigating that now.”
Cheon Gwangcheon blinked.
“You are?”
Then—
“Why?”
Before I could answer, a rough voice came from the side.
“Why else?”
I turned.
Jin Gwangung was approaching with Hyeongwon, Myeongjeon, and Yu Seola.
“That brat saw trouble and decided to jump straight into the middle of it, saying he'd solve it himself.”
The three younger disciples greeted Cheon Gwangcheon and the Kunlun First Elders one by one.
Yu Seola also went over to her grandfather, Yu Gwangcheol.
“Grandfather.”
“Yes.”
He looked over her carefully.
“Nothing happened to you?”
“No. Fortunately, nothing you need to worry about.”
A warm exchange passed between grandfather and granddaughter.
Of course...
not every conversation was so pleasant.
Jin Gwangung looked over Kunlun's First Elders and grumbled.
“Anyway, Sect Leader, what were you thinking bringing every one of those old fossils from the back rooms with you?”
Yu Gwangcheol glared at him.
“Elder Jin Gwangung.”
His voice hardened.
“You are standing before the Sect Leader. Show some decorum.”
Jin Gwangung clicked his tongue.
“Again with the damned etiquette.”
He answered irritably,
“It's not like this is the first time you've seen me act like this.”
Then he gestured toward the others.
“I'm saying the Demonic Cult bastards could try something again at any time, yet everyone has left the mountain gate.”
And for no reason whatsoever...
he dragged me into it too.
“The Sect Leader and that brat over there.”
Jin Gwangung snorted.
“I don't know why everyone has become so damn confident lately.”
Then Moyong Cheonhwi interrupted.
“We cannot continue making such honored guests stand in a burned garden.”
His gaze moved toward me.
“Commander.”
“Yes.”
He looked around Azure Pine Garden.
“Is there still more you need to inspect?”
Then—
“You appear to have searched quite thoroughly already, yet you still haven't found anything noteworthy.”
I could tell exactly where he was going.
“Now that respected elders from several sects have arrived...”
Moyong Cheonhwi smiled faintly.
“wouldn't it be best to end today's investigation here?”
His meaning was obvious.
Leave Azure Pine Garden.
But I had no reason to listen.
“The promised one sijin has not passed yet.”
"..."
“I intend to keep searching until the time you granted me runs out.”
Moyong Cheonhwi's eyes sharpened for a moment.
Just as he was about to speak again—
Cheon Gwangcheon stepped in first.
“Alliance Leader.”
He smiled calmly.
“There is no need to stop work already in progress merely because we have arrived.”
Moyong Cheonhwi hesitated.
“However—”
“I'll wait here too.”
Someone else cut him off.
“I'm curious what that impudent brat thinks he's going to find after making such a fuss.”
It was Hyeoneom.
My one and only senior brother.
He smirked at me.
“I don't know what you're planning, but go ahead and show us properly.”
Once Hyeoneom spoke, Mount Hua's Sect Leader Wonmyeong nodded as well.
“In that case, I will wait too.”
Master Gonghyeon joined them with his palms clasped.
“If that is everyone's intention, then this poor monk will remain as well.”
With the leaders of all three sects agreeing to wait...
Moyong Cheonhwi could no longer easily force the investigation to end.
Even so...
his sharp gaze never left me.
Disappointed, aren't you?
He had tried to use the guests as an excuse to push me out.
Unfortunately for him, it hadn't worked.
Pretending not to notice his eyes, I offered a respectful salute.
“I'll finish as quickly as possible.”
In the end, Moyong Cheonhwi nodded.
“Very well.”
Then he added,
“I only hope you do not waste the valuable time of those who came all this way.”
“I hope so too.”
As soon as I answered...
Moyong Cheonhwi moved with the Alliance elders toward an open area in one corner of Azure Pine Garden.
Most of the trees and structures around it had burned away.
But several broad flat stones laid across the ground had survived, merely blackened by smoke.
They settled there and watched me.
Master Gonghyeon, Cheon Gwangcheon, Wonmyeong, and the others gathered nearby as well.
I turned back toward the deeper part of Azure Pine Garden.
The collapsed walkways.
The area around the pond.
The piles of ash nearby.
I began inspecting everything carefully again.
Nearly half a sijin passed after Mujin resumed his search.
And yet...
he still appeared to have found nothing.
He walked around the interior of Azure Pine Garden several times, carefully inspecting the ruined walkways and the area surrounding the pond.
But no meaningful trace emerged.
Eventually, concern began to appear on the faces of those who had initially waited quietly.
Myeongjeon leaned toward Hyeongwon and whispered,
“Martial Uncle Han really knows something, right?”
Hyeongwon frowned.
“I don't know.”
Myeongjeon blinked.
“Even you don't know, Martial Uncle Hyeongwon?”
“When has that bastard ever told us everything going through his head?”
Myeongjeon paused.
“...That's true.”
He looked back toward Mujin with worried eyes.
In contrast...
