Genius Martial Arts Trainer

Plum Blossom Swordsman

A few days ago, in the depths of the Mount Hua Sect, within the Jahe Palace.

In the hall that serves the same function as the main hall of other sects, two men were having a private conversation.

The one seated in the place of honor was an old man with completely white hair, and the other was a middle-aged man transitioning into old age, with his hair starting to turn white.

“The brothels in Daeryeo County were attacked?”

“…Yes, Sir.”

The middle-aged man responded nervously to the old man’s question.

Despite the obvious hierarchy between them, the old man addressed the middle-aged man with a title that didn’t match their relationship.

“What do you think, as the Sect Leader, who could be behind this?”

Indeed, the middle-aged man, bowing his head and yielding the seat of honor to the old man, was none other than the leader of the Mount Hua Sect, Huamyeonggyun Zhenren.

Even though he was the head of one of the Nine Great Sects, he answered cautiously, like a student being scrutinized by his teacher.

“They make it seem like it’s unrelated bandits, but given the incident at the Daegumsangdan branch, it’s clear they are targeting us, Sir.”

“Hm. There were talks of someone using martial arts mimicking a monkey, suggesting they might be bandits from the Southlands?”

“I believe that’s also a trap to deceive us. Only one of them used such techniques, while the other two used entirely different martial arts, so it’s unlikely they are from the Southlands.”

“Then, who do you suspect the most?”

“The most suspicious would naturally be Zhongnan, but they don’t have the capability to carry out something like this. So, it’s most likely Shaolin, Wudang, Beggar Sect, or Sichuan Tang Clan. Especially since some Shaolin disciples recently visited Zhongnan, they seem the most likely.”

“You are indeed wise.”

The old man, called “Sir,” nodded, and the Sect Leader sighed in relief internally.

Even at over fifty years old, he could not escape the shackles.

Since entering Mount Hua at the age of ten and enduring over forty years of torment, he could not break free.

The countless sufferings he endured when he failed to answer the old man’s questions correctly.

As the top disciple of the Huazhe faction, he naturally followed the oppression ingrained in his mind.

Even though he was now the Sect Leader and could potentially suppress others with his authority, reality was different.

It was the old man who made Huamyeonggyun Zhenren the Sect Leader of Mount Hua.

The old man, despite not being the Sect Leader, enjoyed absolute power within Mount Hua. He stroked his beard and asked,

“So, what do you think we should do?”

Having had similar experiences before as the Sect Leader, Huamyeonggyun Zhenren instinctively realized that this question was a trap.

“I am still foolish and cannot make an easy judgment. Please grant me your wisdom to lead Mount Hua correctly as the Sect Leader.”

“Hahaha. What a pity. The leader of the great Mount Hua Sect has such a weak will.”

Though his words were critical, a satisfied smile played on the old man’s lips.

The old man wanted Huamyeonggyun Zhenren to remain his puppet forever.

“It’s obvious what their motive is. Like we did, they think it’s enough if there’s no evidence. So, we just need to catch even the smallest piece of evidence.”

“Evidence, Sir?”

“Yes.”

Contrary to before, the old man answered in a soft tone, addressing him formally as if speaking to the Sect Leader.

“Send out more disciples. There’s no need to capture them, just track their traces.”

Already, numerous disciples had been sent to the frontline with Zhongnan.

Sending more disciples to Daeryeo County and Huayin County would weaken Mount Hua’s defenses.

But Huamyeonggyun Zhenren didn’t dare to mention that, knowing well what the old man’s response would be.

‘Do you not trust this Sect, Sect Leader?’

This question would carry two implications.

First, does the Sect Leader suspect the old man might target him if disciples were sent out?

Second, does the Sect Leader not trust the old man’s capabilities?

In truth, the first implication had nothing to do with Huamyeonggyun Zhenren’s intentions. He didn’t doubt the old man.

Huamyeonggyun Zhenren understood that the old man saw more benefit in controlling him as a puppet than in killing him to become the Sect Leader.

The issue was the old man’s potential suspicion that Huamyeonggyun Zhenren might be doubting him.

Similarly, the second question was also unnecessary, as there was no doubt in Huamyeonggyun Zhenren’s mind. As long as the old man existed, Mount Hua would be safe even if disciples were sent out.

Once his master, who became the old man after Huamyeonggyun Zhenren was chosen as the top disciple of the Huazhe faction, making him the disciple of the previous Sect Leader.

No matter what others said, the old man, Huamyeonggyun Zhenren’s master, was the best swordsman of Mount Hua. No, he was the best swordsman in Shaanxi Province.

One of the current Seven Kings, known as the Sword King, with the nickname Plum Blossom Sword Immortal.

That was his master, Yunsun Zhenren.

* * *

About ten days after the attack on Daeryeo County.

Three men left Zhongnan Mountain as usual and headed for Mount Hua.

A tense atmosphere different from before surrounded the three as they approached Mount Hua.

They were going to attack one of the Nine Great Sects. Moreover, they had to conceal their Shaolin martial arts while doing so with only three people.

Naturally, Hye-geol tried to stop Mu-jin, but it was futile.

Mu-jin insisted that Mount Hua was practically defenseless and added a near-threatening remark.

‘If it’s too difficult, I can go alone.’

When Hye-geol heard that, he felt his mind go blank.

The main reason was that he realized he couldn’t stop Mu-jin if he decided to go alone.

After two chaotic incidents with Mu-jin, Hye-geol realized it.

Mu-jin had become stronger than him.

So, Hye-geol eventually decided to accompany Mu-jin and Mu-gyeong.

If stopping him was useless, he thought it better to accompany them and, if necessary, sacrifice himself to protect the two future pillars of Shaolin.

In this tense atmosphere, they traveled for a while.

Eventually, they reached Seoak, which boasted rugged mountains resembling a sword, and arrived at Mount Hua.

But no matter how rugged the mountains, they were no obstacle for the three who had reached a certain level.

They quickly climbed Mount Hua.

As they began to see the high towers of the Mount Hua Sect in the distance, Mu-jin signaled.

Pat.

Receiving the signal, Mu-gyeong moved alone in a different direction.

‘Don’t make any mistakes, Mu-gyeong.’

In a way, Mu-gyeong had a role just as crucial as Mu-jin’s in this mission to Mount Hua.

Originally, Mu-jin had no intention of coming directly to the Mount Hua.

At first, when he caused a commotion in Huayin County, his goal was merely revenge against the Zhongnan Sect.

His plan was to injure a few disciples of Mount Hua and force the sect to pull back their front line to defend against thieves.

However, they never recalled their disciples to Huayin County; instead, they repeatedly sent more disciples from their main mountain.

‘An opportunity like this won’t come again.’

Thus, now was the perfect chance to shake the Mount Hua.

Nevertheless, Mu-jin didn’t intend to massacre the Mount Hua disciples or rob them as he had done at the Daegum Sangdan branch.

Mu-jin’s plan was simply to release a poison that would disturb the Mount Hua.

And that poison was currently asleep in Mu-gyeong’s possession, who had moved separately.

Mu-jin and Hye-geol’s roles were to distract the Mount Hua Taoists so that Mu-gyeong could release the poison without interruption.

To ensure Mu-gyeong’s success, they needed to attract as much attention as possible.

As soon as they saw the gate of the Mount Hua and the two Taoists guarding it in the distance,

“Receive your guest!”

Mu-jin shouted, channeling his internal energy, and charged at the two Taoists.

“It’s an attack!”

“Stop them!”

The two Taoists, startled by the sudden situation, drew their swords, but Mu-jin was already upon them, throwing punches.

Knocking down the two Mount Hua disciples instantly, Mu-jin then directed his internal energy towards the closed gate of the Mount Hua and struck.

“Dae-do Mu-mun!”

Boom!

To a great thief, a gate is as good as nonexistent.

True to his reputation, Mu-jin boldly smashed the gate to maintain his guise as a great thief.

Though the term “Dae-do Mu-mun” originally had no relation to him, Mu-jin didn’t care.

“Who dares?”

“How dare you attack Mount Hua! Kill those villains!”

The immediate response to the gate being smashed down was fierce.

Shouts erupted from all around as swordsmen in robes adorned with plum blossoms rushed towards the entrance.

The term “rushed” might not be quite accurate, as it was more like they appeared sporadically.

Dozens of swordsmen quickly appeared, charging towards the entrance, and additional Mount Hua Taoists began appearing one by one between the halls in the distance.

Due to the vastness of the Mount Hua, their numbers seemed particularly sparse.

‘Still, it seems the information wasn’t wrong.’

If all the Mount Hua Taoists were present, hundreds would have swarmed them.

However, according to the information from the Cheonryu Sangdan, many Mount Hua disciples seemed to have left the sect.

If they had been deceived, they were ready to flee immediately, but the accuracy of the information removed any hesitation.

Mu-jin didn’t delay and charged at the Taoists trying to surround him. Hye-geol followed closely behind.

The simplest way to avoid being surrounded is to break through a single point.

“Stop them!”

“Ha!”

The Mount Hua Taoists swung their swords at the rapidly approaching Mu-jin, but he countered them without a hint of defense, swinging his arms and legs wildly.

His fists, wrapped in golden energy, not only deflected the swords but also sent the Mount Hua disciples flying far away.

Just as he had knocked away Elder Hwa Sun-gyeong not long ago, the Mount Hua disciples couldn’t get up after colliding with Mu-jin.

This was due to both Mu-jin’s overwhelming strength and the low skill level of the disciples.

The current head of Mount Hua, Hua-ja-bae, was considerably younger than the leaders of other prestigious sects like Shaolin or Wudang.

With the previous head, Yun-ja-bae, passing away early, Hua-ja-bae assumed control of the Mount Hua at a relatively young age.

As Hua-ja-bae was young, so were the first and second-generation disciples, and most of the third-generation disciples were still teenagers.

Furthermore, most of the skilled first-generation disciples and elders had left Mount Hua.

Therefore, there were hardly any experts among the remaining young disciples who could withstand Mu-jin’s attacks.

Mu-jin led the charge, with Hye-geol cleaning up those attacking from the sides or behind.

In no time, over twenty Mount Hua disciples were downed.

“Stand back!”

Finally, elderly Taoists with completely white hair began to appear.

They were not the current head of Mount Hua, Hua-ja-bae.

They were the elders of the previous generation, the retired elders of Yun-ja-bae.

Though their number was only about twelve, they were vastly different from the young Taoists faced earlier.

As the young Taoists stepped back at the elder’s shout,

The elders swung their swords, and red sword energy formed plum blossoms in the air.

The plum blossoms moved as if caught in a gust of wind, flying towards Mu-jin and Hye-geol.

The combined petals created by the twelve elders numbered over a hundred, a scene reminiscent of a thousand blossoms.

“Haah!”

“Hup!”

Back to back, Mu-jin and Hye-geol swung their limbs like madmen, managing to tear apart the approaching flowers.

Meanwhile, the elders didn’t remain idle.

After stopping Mu-jin and Hye-geol with their first attack, they quickly approached and surrounded them, launching a combined assault.

The elders were highly skilled, and Hye-geol, who couldn’t reveal his true martial arts, naturally struggled.

Despite this, Hye-geol managed to hold on, thanks to Mu-jin.

The 23-year-old youth fought ferociously as if he had experienced countless real battles.

Mu-jin wasn’t distracted by the plum blossoms created by the elders. He only blocked those aiming for vital points.

Slash!

His black robe was torn and blood sprayed, but,

Boom!

In exchange for taking injuries, he closed in on an elder and delivered a powerful punch, knocking him down.

“These are just hollow shells with a lot of internal energy!”

Having already taken down three elders, Mu-jin shouted with his internal energy, even as blood stained his clothes.

Despite their considerable internal energy, the elders’ external martial arts were poor.

It was expected that the elders, given their age, would have weaker physical bodies, but their condition was worse than anticipated.

‘No wonder these greedy bastards don’t bother training at their age.’

With that thought, Mu-jin aimed for his next target.

One of the elders, furious, shouted,

“To use such murderous techniques! You must be a wicked demonic practitioner!”

All the elders Mu-jin had dealt with had gaping holes in their abdomens or hearts.

This was a stark contrast to the minor injuries Mu-jin and Hye-geol had inflicted on the Mount Hua disciples earlier.

But Mu-jin only gave a sly smile at the elder’s provocation.

“Who in this world could be more wicked than you lot?”

Mu-jin knew. The current heads of Mount Hua, Hua-ja-bae, and the surviving Yun-ja-bae had committed crimes that deserved the utmost condemnation.