Chapter 49

“Qingwu, go to the Plum Blossom Pavilion in the Shang Palace immediately.”
“What? What’s the matter…….”
Why is he suddenly talking to me?
“Hurry, it’s urgent.”
A stern face and a serious tone.
I stiffen, realizing it’s serious, and head outside to deploy my shadow marker.
The trees disappeared from view like they were being sucked in behind me.
It’s a different pace than before.
I didn’t realize how much of a change of heart it would be.
It wasn’t long before I arrived at the plum blossom angle.
I could feel a huge, sky-piercing energy inside.
‘Sword Line…….’
He’s a master of the Great Volcano Sect.
A gigantic presence that I hadn’t realized when we met before stretched out from the outside of the plum pavilion.
‘And…….’
I could feel a sinister aura inside, unlike Zhang Wenyin.
Those who have heard of the Master, the Shadows of the Plum Blossom.
The Shadows of Plum Blossom, the Volcanic Sect that only listens to Zhang Wenyin’s orders.
He knocked on the door to the hall.
A knock!
After a moment, a voice like a gentle wave rang out.
“Who is it?”
“It’s Qingwu, the swordsman.”
“Come in.”
I opened the door and walked in to see a white-white-haired man.
He could sense the shadows lurking nearby, though he couldn’t say exactly where.
“You’re here, sit down.”
The room was different.
There were no piles of papers, just a stony face staring at me.
As I sat down, the long man said to me.
“First, don’t be surprised.”
I nodded, and he continued.
“Your master, Elder Mu Jin, was attacked and is unconscious.”
“……?”
I asked.
Why is he suddenly talking about Master Mujin?
“Don’t you understand? He was on his way to the Sword Sect to fulfill a mission to support the Sword Sect when he was attacked and fell. Yu Hyuk and Zhang Il were also mortally wounded, but they’re better than Mu Zhen, so the news came from off the record.”
“…….”
I don’t hear anything.
Something deep inside me settled with a thud.
My surroundings grow cold, and my heart slows to a crawl.
My head feels hot, and the blood drains from my head.
Master Mu Jin has lost?
Master Mu Zhen, the tremendous master who makes me feel heavenly, was attacked by someone and fell?
My other father, my father, he’s unconscious?
I jumped up and shouted.
“What are you talking about!”
I was too embarrassed to remember my courtesy to the elderly master.
No matter how many stops I made, no matter how much I trained my mind, I could not maintain my composure.
All I can feel is a fiery rage and a sense of desolation.
Zhang Wenyin frowned and said.
“I repeat, Mu Jin was attacked and fell.”
“Why…… why…….”
My legs go weak and I slump in my seat.
His hands trembled.
“Iron Sword Sect, you must have been tough. To be able to defeat a Volcano Sect elder like this. I don’t know exactly who the attacking beast is, but I’m guessing it’s the Iron Sword Sect.”
“The beast is…… the Iron Sword Sect?”
“That’s how I see it.”
“Send me …….”
“Send him? Your master has fallen. You think you can defeat him? You should send the Five Elements Qin Yin or Elder Dao Yan.”
“No, I’m not…… I’m…….”
I know.
I’m still weaker than the Elders.
And the master who was the strongest in my eyes has fallen.
I know I won’t win.
But…… but…… I can’t stay still like this.
“I was only trying to give you news. Don’t take it that way.”
His words pierce my heart as if he could see right through me.
“But he is my master, and I must avenge him!”
“A soldier’s revenge is never too late. If you can’t do it, you’ll have to cut yourself, that’s the way it is.”
“…….”
“If you take up the sword unarmed, you may fall to the sword. I’m sorry, but you’re lucky to be in a volcano. It also helps your master.”
“No…… will…….”
You can’t do that. You can’t stay still like this…….
“Your master wouldn’t want that. He’s been training the swordsmen since yesterday, so you should get out of here and go cut your heart out in the drunken rocks.”
“…….”
“Go ahead and leave. I have a lot of work to do, too, and this is no longer a battle between the Sword Sect and the Iron Sword Sect. This is a battle between the volcano and the Iron Sword Sect, and we must decide what to do next.”
“I was there…….”
“I said no. If you want to be there, you’ll have to improve your skills.”
“…….”
I have nothing to say.
Just work on your skills.
It’s because I’m not good enough.
I’m too weak to avenge my master. I am…….
“What should I do?
“Come on.”
The congratulations continued, and I went outside.
What am I to do, to stay like this, unable to avenge my master?
Am I weak and incapable, and should I remain in the drunken rocks?
I…….
“There is a way. As I’ve been saying all along, you just need to get stronger.”
A voice echoed loudly from the inside of the plum blossom crystal to the outside.
“Get stronger……?
My head lights up.
That’s it, that’s what I have to do.
Zhang Wenyin said this for the sake of Hua Shan.
He didn’t say it so coldly because he didn’t understand my heart.
I spoke so calmly because I don’t want to do that, even though I want to run right away.
I don’t want to let either the master or the disciple suffer.
The old man who gave me direction.
I turned around and headed for the Quyun Mountain.
On my way, I passed by the Hall of the Swordsmen.
“What’s the best way for me to become stronger? Psychic arts? Herbivory? Yes, herbivory. I need to train my body through the Plum Blossom Sword Path. I must train in the ratio of six to four. Six for herbivory, four for martial arts. I must become stronger in a short time.
As I was walking along, someone stopped in front of me.
“Qingwu, what’s wrong?”
“It’s Yeonhwa………….”
It was Yanhua.
“That’s…….”
I was about to say, when someone else stepped in front of me.
“What’s with the gloomy face? What’s going on?”
It was Geum Jung-il.
He was followed by two other people, Learned Jung and Paek Kyung-wook.
Tada, tada, tada.
And the others who followed behind him, the ones they called Do-moon.
“You didn’t fight when the Five Elements Master was here, but not now. Come on!”
Eunuch shouts.
Pfft!
That broke the dam in my mind that I had been holding back from thinking about cultivation.
“You guys now…….”
Geum Jung-il stood in front of me.
But I grabbed his shoulder and flipped him backwards, stepping forward.
“You…….”
This time, Yeonhwa blocked me.
“Cheong-woo, just wait a bit. Calm down, okay?”
Yan Hua’s words were impossible to ignore.
As I closed my eyes and tried to calm down, I heard Eunwoo’s voice.
“What, you’re going to hide behind a woman to fight? Are you that scared of me?”
“That guy…….
Something stirred in the pit of my stomach.
It spread out to the surroundings.
“Qingwu, wait a minute…….”
“Don’t stop me. I can’t take it anymore.”
He drew his sword.
Fists, Jiang Chenxu doesn’t use them.
He drew his sword with the intention of killing.
And life sprang to life in response.
It was the same as when he first opened the Plum Blossom Sword.
The life force boiled uncontrollably from deep within.
“Wait, hold on.”
“I said, “Don’t stop me. Get out of the way before I cut you.”
“You…….”
I only met him yesterday, but I do like him.
I don’t want to cut him down either.
My enemy is that guy, Eunuch, and the guys behind him, the ones who call themselves Dormen.
I can’t stand the way they insult the Qin people, and I can’t stand how they don’t understand people’s feelings.
And I can’t stand that they provoke me when I’m upset about Master ……’s work.
It’s a feeling that needs to be released anyway.
It’s not bad to take it out on others like this.
“Chit…….”
Eunuch stiffened his face.
As if he realizes I’m really trying to kill him, he quickly draws his sword and points it at me.
My life force recoils a little as he raises his energy.
But only a little.
Hwaahhhhhh.
In an instant, it rises again, pressing heavier and heavier against his body.
“Ugh…….”
“I told you to be tough, I’ll give you your wish.”
Boom!
The creature’s face contorted as he raised his sword upward as I lunged at him.
Teng! Paa-kaa-kaa!
The plum blade cut through the air for a second.
His sword was knocked backward by the bursting foot sword.
He spun his body around and thrust his fist forward.
Pfft!
A line of blood formed on his cheek.
“Kk…….”
Eunuch unfolded the Plum Blossom Sword.
But it was a sword technique I had also learned.
As long as you know the plant, it’s easy to cut through it.
I slash to the right and bend at the waist.
Evil!
A sword slashed forward.
Plum blade.
Kaang!
A purple plum blossom ascended and collided with his sword.
It spun around, gaining momentum and falling.
Taang!
“…….”
Eunuch’s hand trembled along with his sword.
No wonder, she’s been blocking attacks that strain her wrists.
He bounced back and slammed his sword downward.
Kwaaang!
“Crunch!”
I blocked it this time, but the damage will be great.
He struck with all his might.
There’s a difference in skill, and there’s a difference in technique.
Even if you block it, it won’t be a block.
Eunuch flies backwards, coughing up blood.
Faster than he could fly, I rushed forward and grabbed his back.
“You’re the one who told me to fight.”
Swoosh!
The sword slashed into his back.
He then kicked it with his foot.
“Thud!”
I kicked him where the sword had cut him.
The pain would be great.
But it shouldn’t be that much.
I can’t take it anymore than that, especially since the bank has been blown up by the creature.
He rushed to the plum blossom stance and brought his sword down to bisect the creature’s body.
If I hit it, it will really die.
KANG!
Someone blocked my sword.
I looked up and saw the distorted face of Yixiao.
“Yes, it was you guys yesterday.”
The two guys from yesterday have gathered.
Since I cut Eunwoo, I’m already enemies with those impersonating this gate.
They’re going to have to fight anyway, and it’s not bad to do it in this mood.
“You…… ugh!”
I don’t want to hear it.
Without giving them a chance to speak, I lunge at them and thrust my sword out.
As he raised his Qi to its peak, the sword’s blade turned purple.
The Blue Cloud Sword was imbued with purple energy.
Boom! Boom! Pow!
“Kuk!”
They were no match for him.
They’re stronger now, and unlike yesterday, it’s one-on-one, so it’s just plastic.
At first, I unleashed my plum blossom sword, but as we fought, I realized I didn’t need it.
I can win just by moving my sword.
And it will be more painful.
You weren’t killed by herbivores, you were killed by a sword.