Spring Also Comes to Mount Hua 3

It was long after sunset when Dam-ho finally stepped out of the Spirit Treasure Palace. Darkness had fallen over Mount Hua, and lanterns had been hung all throughout the mountain.

The plum blossoms glittered like snowflakes in the lantern light. Dam-ho stopped in place and gazed at the sight for a long while.

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew, sending plum petals fluttering through the air. . For some strange reason, that sight was deeply engraved in his mind.

Even though night had fallen, Mount Hua Sect’s day was not over. The Taoist temples scattered across the mountain were brightly lit, and the Taoists were still moving about busily.

Just then, a group of people approached Dam-ho.

They were Taoists dressed in Taoist robes. An extraordinary aura flowed from their bodies.

Dam-ho bowed his head to them.

They were the first-generation disciples of the Mount Hua Sect. The Taoist leading the group was Mu-gyeong, a man in his mid-thirties and the disciple of sage Hyun-cheon, the Sect Leader of Mount Hua.

From a young age, Mu-gyeong had possessed exceptional martial talent and was a prodigy who carried the expectations of the entire Mount Hua Sect.

His achievements in martial arts were equally impressive. Rumour had it that he had already begun learning the Supreme Clear Heart Art, a technique said to be reserved only for elders.

His character was as outstanding as his martial arts, and there was not a single disciple of Mount Hua who did not respect him.

Beside Mu-gyeong stood Un-gyeong and Han So-yu, who could be called his
closest aides.

Un-gyeong was Mu-gyeong’s junior martial brother and leader of the Thirty-Six Plum Blossom Swordsmen — the pride of the Mount Hua Sect. His cold, sunken eyes spoke volumes about his personality.

Han So-yu was a rare female disciple in the Mount Hua Sect. She, too, had achieved enough to be counted among the Thirty-Six Plum Blossom Swordsmen.

Mu-gyeong smiled.

“It’s Cheon-gyeong.”

“Senior Brother.”

“Are you returning to your quarters?”

“Yes.”

“Is Elder Hyeon-so doing well?”

“He is in good health.”

“That is good to hear. I keep meaning to visit him, but I have been so busy that I can never seem to find the time.”

“Master will understand.”

At Dam-ho’s answer, Mu-gyeong’s smile deepened. However, Un-gyeong, who stood beside him, looked at Dam-ho with cold eyes, clearly displeased by something.

His cold, emotionless gaze swept over Dam-ho’s entire body.

“How is your leg?”

“It is the same as always.”

“And yet you are still clinging to martial arts? Even though your limits are so clear? Would it not be better for you to devote yourself to Taoist studies like Martial Uncle Hyeon-so, rather than martial arts?”

“Junior Brother!”

Mu-gyeong shouted in surprise at Un-gyeong’s venomous words. Yet, not a single ripple of emotion crossed Un-gyeong’s face.

‘There is nothing more foolish than wasting time on something futile. Remember my words well.”

“Thank you for your advice, Senior Brother. I will carve it deep into my bones.”

Dam-ho bowed his head deeply.

Un-gyeong looked at Dam-ho with a chilling gaze. At his attitude, Mu-gyeong shrugged helplessly and looked at Han So-yu.

Han Soyu stepped lightly toward Damho. As she got closer, a faint, subtle fragrance wafted into his nose.

Dam-ho raised his head and looked at her. Before him was an elegant face, as delicate as Mount Hua’s plum blossoms.

“Don’t take Senior Brother Ungyeong’s words to heart, Junior Brother.
He does not say those things because he has ill will toward you.”

“I know.”

“If you ever hit a wall in your martial arts, come to me. I will do everything I can to help you.”

“Thank you.”

“I believe in you, Junior Brother.”

Han So-yu showed him a bright, fresh smile. It was an enchanting smile, enough to melt the hearts of countless men.

“Then I will take my leave.”

Dam-ho cupped his fist to the three of them and began walking away.

The trio quietly watched Dam-ho’s receding figure. Seeing his limp, pity washed over Mu-gyeong’s face. He snapped his head towards Un-gyeong.

“You know, sometimes the things you say make me completely lose respect for you. How could you say something like that directly to his face?”

“I only said it for Cheon-gyeong’s sake.”

“How on earth is that for his sake? The boy already suffers enough from a crippled leg; imagine how disheartened he must feel.”

“What Cheon-gyeong needs isn’t empty consolation and encouragement, but cold, hard reality.”

“You…!”

“Honestly, what are the chances of Cheon-gyeong properly mastering the martial arts of the Mount Hua Sect? A martial artist who cannot execute footwork is nothing more than a half-baked fighter. And currently, Mount Hua has no room for half-baked fighters.”

“Wow… You really are cold-blooded.”

“It cannot be helped. It is my role to think and judge rationally under any circumstance.”

“Seriously…”

Mu-gyeong shook his head. But he didn’t look truly offended.

While Mu-gyeong represented the raw martial might of the first-generation disciples, Un-gyeong’s duty was to act as the voice of cold reason, constantly offering objective counsel.

He had been raised that way from the beginning, and it was believed to be the best thing for Mount Hua.

Han So-yu smiled and joined their conversation.

“Now, now. Let us stop talking about Cheon-gyeong. There are many more important matters to deal with.”

“That is true…”

Mu-gyeong nodded.

 

The Mount Hua Sect was now at a very important crossroads.

They had to select capable people from among the outer disciples and accept them as main sect disciples. And it did not end with merely accepting them. They had to turn them into proper martial artists.

The present-day Mount Hua desperately needed new strength. For that reason, first-generation disciples like Mu-gyeong and Un-gyeong had to work diligently.

“Come, let us go.”

Mu-gyeong took the lead and walked away. By then, Dam-ho’s figure had already faded from his mind.

Dam-ho walked along the night path, relying on the moonlight. His destination was a small valley beneath Cloud Terrace Peak.

At the bottom of the valley was a fairly large pool. Since the path leading there was difficult to find, even the Taoists of Mount Hua rarely visited it. It was Dam-ho’s hiding place, a place he came to whenever his heart felt stifled.

He stripped off his clothes and entered the pool.

Although it was spring, the valley water still carried a chill. The moment the icy cold water touched him, his mind snapped awake.

‘It’s fine. This much is nothing…’

Dam-ho clenched his teeth.

The bitter cold seeped not only into his skin, but even into his bones. Even so, Dam-ho did not come out of the water. Instead, he submerged himself completely, even dipping his head beneath the surface.

Dam-ho sat cross-legged underwater.

Countless thoughts passed through his mind.

His once peaceful life. The peace shattered in an instant by a bandit attack. Then came his unexpected salvation and his new life at Mount Hua.

With his limbs completely shattered, he was unable to move on his own for the first few months. It was his master, Sage Hyeon-so, who cared for him and treated his injuries.

Without Sage Hyeon-so’s devoted care, he would not have been able to walk unaided. Although one of his legs was left crippled, he was still alive.

To Dam-ho, the fact that he was alive was what mattered. As long as he still had his life, he could look toward the future.

‘Father. Mother. Ga-ryeong.’

Their faces appeared vividly in Dam-ho’s mind.

Dam-ho had failed to protect them.

 

Being twelve years old and powerless was just an excuse. They were no longer part of this world while he was still alive.

Because he was alive, there were things he had to do. And in order to do them, he needed strength.

Splash!

Dam-ho rose, sending water spraying in every direction.

“Haaah…! Haaah…!”

Dam-ho panted heavily, gasping for air.

His gaze fell to his left leg. Compared to his healthy right leg, it looked pitifully frail. No matter how many times he climbed up and down the mountain, the muscles there simply refused to develop properly.

With a leg like this, it was impossible to execute the fluid, dazzling footwork of the Mount Hua Sect.

“Mount Hua’s footwork doesn’t suit me. I need something else.”

Over the past five years, Dam-ho had learned this truth through bitter experience.

The problem was, he had no idea how to solve it.

If only he had had an enlightened mentor to guide him, things might have been different. Unfortunately, the only person by his side was his master, Sage Hyun-so.

In the end, he had to break through this wall entirely on his own.

“For now, I do what I can.”

Dam-ho moved his left foot back and forth through the water. Perhaps because of the depth, he felt a heavy, dense resistance against each movement.

From the thigh up, it was perfectly normal. The real problem lay in the knee.

The cartilage and muscles had been crushed, leaving him unable to move it freely. This was an injury that no miraculous medicine could heal.

The only option would be to undergo the legendary Bone Rebirth procedure. But that was impossible; it was something one could only dream of.

“I’ll strengthen and train my left leg even more. I’ll think about what comes next after that.”

Dam-ho came out of the water.

He roughly dried himself off and put on his clothes.

He could feel the chill, but his mind was clear. The memory of being looked down on by his fellow disciples no longer remained in his head.

Starting the next day, there was a sandbag tied to Dam-ho’s left ankle as he climbed up and down the mountain.

“Huff, huff!”

Although he had only added a little extra weight, the physical toll he felt was beyond imagination. It felt as though a massive block of iron had been chained to his ankle.

Gritting his teeth, Dam-ho forced himself to take another step. Thick beads of sweat poured ceaselessly down his spine.

“Phew…”

There was someone watching Dam-ho in secret, letting out a quiet sigh. It was Dam-ho’s master, Sage Hyeon-so.

“The boy’s obsession with martial arts truly knows no bounds. What am I to do with him?”

Sage Hyun-so’s sigh scattered into the wind.

It was a day that made him deeply miss his own master, the Heavenly Sky Sage, who had ascended to the heavens long ago.

 

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