Chapter 98: Arrival at Mount Hua
On the morning we were set to leave for Mount Hua...
I woke before dawn and simply stared down at the sword.
The sword left behind by True Immortal Cheongun.
I drew it from its sheath and brought the hilt closer.
The section that had once been heavily corroded had clearly faded.
There was a noticeable difference compared to when Kunlun's craftsman had repaired it.
Of course, the rust hadn't completely disappeared.
It was more like one layer of that dark corrosion had been peeled away...
making the stain look slightly lighter than before.
I checked the single character engraved on the hilt again.
火.
Fire.
There had to be other characters carved into the hilt as well.
They were simply hidden beneath the corrosion.
I was curious.
Once all the rust disappeared...
what words would finally be revealed?
I slowly rubbed the remaining corrosion with my thumb.
Naturally...
nothing came off.
“What the hell... happened?”
Why had the rust suddenly faded?
There had to be a reason.
Was it because I used Mirror Flower Straight Flash?
Yesterday...
when I cut down Gu Mun...
I had used a form of the Flowing Flower Kunlun Sword with this blade.
Maybe the sword had reacted at that moment.
Since it had once belonged to True Immortal Cheongun...
perhaps it responded to the sword art he'd left behind.
But I soon shook my head.
No.
It has nothing to do with the Flowing Flower Kunlun Sword.
Ever since obtaining the sword from the Righteous Alliance treasury...
I'd continued training.
I'd used the Flowing Flower Kunlun Sword countless times.
And nothing had changed.
The moment I first noticed the rust had faded was...
...right after I killed Gu Mun.
Then a thought flashed through my mind.
Killing intent.
Death.
Blood.
Could it be...?
Before I could even hold onto the thought...
I rejected it myself.
...No way.
This was a sword left behind by True Immortal Cheongun.
The sword of the greatest martial artist under heaven...
a man surrounded by legends saying he'd reached the pinnacle of swordsmanship and ascended beyond mortality.
The thought that had just crossed my mind was absurd.
I slowly exhaled.
...I still have plenty of time.
There had to be some other reason I hadn't considered.
Someday...
I'd find the answer.
Definitely.
I slid the sword back into its sheath.
The time to depart for Mount Hua was approaching.
I left the detached residence and headed toward the meeting point we'd agreed on.
Jin Gwangung.
Hyeongwon.
Myeongjeon.
The others had already gathered.
Several unfamiliar horses stood beside them.
Their manes were glossy.
Their legs were thick and powerful.
Even at a glance...
they were clearly exceptional steeds.
Bundles of luggage had been tied behind their saddles.
And there were more than a few.
Merchant Group Head Myeong Chiwon stood beside the horses with Qin Yueshu.
He still hadn't fully recovered.
Even so...
he had insisted on seeing us off personally.
Jin Gwangung looked at him.
“You should've stayed inside and rested.”
“Why come all the way out here?”
Myeong Chiwon bowed.
“How could I remain lying in my room when the people who saved our merchant group are leaving?”
He turned toward the horses.
“You said you wouldn't need a carriage...”
“so I prepared the finest horses our merchant group could obtain.”
Then he gestured toward the luggage tied behind them.
“I couldn't bring myself to send you off empty-handed...”
“so I've packed a few small tokens of gratitude as well.”
Jin Gwangung glanced toward the bundles.
“You prepared quite a lot for ‘a few small tokens.’”
Myeong Chiwon smiled.
“I also packed some liquor that First Elder Jin Gwangung might enjoy.”
Jin Gwangung's face immediately lit up.
“Oh, you really didn't need to go that far.”
He sighed dramatically.
“Now I feel guilty for making you go through all that trouble.”
He said that...
but his grin couldn't have been wider.
Myeong Chiwon smiled back before turning toward me.
“Taoist Mujin.”
His expression became sincere.
“I will never forget what you did for the Myeong Family Merchant Group.”
I gave a modest bow.
“Merchant Group Head, you're giving me too much credit.”
“Not at all.”
He shook his head.
“If you ever have the opportunity...”
“please visit us again.”
He smiled.
“The doors of the Myeong Family Merchant Group will always be open to you.”
I gave him a martial salute.
“If the opportunity arises, I'll definitely visit.”
Myeong Chiwon returned the salute.
“You promised.”
“Please do come again.”
Beside him...
Qin Yueshu looked toward Myeongjeon.
She hesitated briefly.
Then seemed to make up her mind.
“...Myeongjeon.”
Myeongjeon turned toward her.
Her voice trembled.
“Thank you...”
She swallowed.
“And I hope...”
“you'll visit the Myeong Family Merchant Group more often.”
"..."
She continued carefully.
“I know it's far too late...”
“but could you give me a chance...”
Her voice nearly broke.
“to do something for you as a mother?”
Myeongjeon's eyes trembled slightly.
After a brief silence...
he answered quietly.
“Understood...”
Then...
“Mother.”
It was a short exchange.
But those few words alone were enough.
Their relationship would probably be very different from now on.
Hyeongwon spoke from beside me.
“I think it's about time we left.”
Jin Gwangung nodded.
“Then let's go.”
After exchanging our final farewells with Myeong Chiwon and Qin Yueshu...
we left the Myeong Family Merchant Group.
Myeong Chiwon quietly watched the figures of the Kunlun group disappear into the distance.
Standing beside him, Qin Yueshu asked curiously,
“...Even considering how much Taoist Mujin contributed...”
“I never imagined you would give him the Blue-Gold Token.”
Myeong Chiwon closed his eyes for a moment.
Then slowly opened them.
“Do you think I gave him the Blue-Gold Token simply to repay a debt?”
Qin Yueshu looked at him.
“If not... then why?”
The corner of Myeong Chiwon's mouth rose.
“I merely made an investment in the future.”
Qin Yueshu's eyes widened.
“An investment?”
Myeong Chiwon continued slowly.
“You know that Taoist Mujin inherited True Immortal Cheongun's sword path.”
“He's still merely a promising member of the younger generation.”
Qin Yueshu hesitated.
“Isn't it too early to value him so highly—”
“I heard he hasn't even trained in Kunlun for a full year.”
Myeong Chiwon cut her off firmly.
“Think about what Taoist Mujin accomplished in that short period.”
He opened his left hand.
