The Disciple Looks to His Master, and the Master Comforts His Disciple (3)

Choiun Palace

This was the name of the Taoist hall located at the summit of Mount Hua’s Lotus Peak. What made this predominantly crimson-hued temple special was that it served as the residence of the Sect Leader, the head of the Mount Hua Sect.

From Choiun Palace, one could take in the entirety of Mount Hua at a glance. Not only the towering peaks, but even Huayin County in the far distance could be seen from there.

The views were especially spectacular at night, under an endless canopy of stars, and in the morning, as the sun rose.

The current leader of the Mount Hua Sect was Sage Hyeon-cheon. For the leader of one of the Nine Great Sects, he was relatively young, only in his early fifties.

Twenty years had passed since Hyeon Cheon took over as Sect Leader in his thirties. During that time, he had earned a reputation for leading the Mount Hua Sect better than anyone else.

Across a small table from Sage Hyeon-cheon sat a middle-aged Taoist. The Taoist, who radiated an aura as sharp as a blade, was none other than Sage Hyeon-geom.

Sage Hyeon-cheon set down the teacup in his hand and spoke.

“Your accomplishments are truly remarkable, Junior Brother. At last, the Mount Hua Sect has gained an expert it need not be ashamed of. This senior brother of yours can finally feel at ease.”

“I still have a long way to go. If we are to restore Mount Hua’s former glory, I must devote myself even further.”

“How reassuring.”

Sage Hyeon-cheon smiled as he looked at the blunt and stoic Hyeon-geom.

‘Junior Brother’s achievement is truly extraordinary. The day Mount Hua regains its glory is not so far away.’

Martial strength was what proved the prosperity of a sect.

For a sect to rise again, it needed one absolute master more than a hundred mediocre experts. What Mount Hua needed now was precisely such an absolute master.

“You have worked hard. The path you walk will become the path Mount Hua walks as well. Do not forget that this senior brother of yours is always supporting you.”

“It is all thanks to your sacrifices, Senior Brother. If not for you, we would never have been able to rebuild the ruined Mount Hua Sect so quickly.”

“You and I have both suffered greatly.”

A shadow fell over Sage Hyeon-cheon’s eyes.

When he became sect leader of Mount Hua twenty years ago, the future looked bleak. The experts of the previous generation, who should have guided the next generation, had all died, and the sect had been on the verge of extinction.

He didn’t know what to do or how to fix things. His heart felt heavy, and he spent days crying.

He knew he had to do something. Sage Hyeoncheon poured his whole life into saving Mount Hua. Because of this, he didn’t even have time to practice martial arts himself.

He had to make a choice. And so, he gave up on martial arts. Instead, he pushed everything toward Sage Hyeongeom, the most talented among his fellow disciples. The secret manuals of the Mount Hua Sect, and even the few remaining spiritual medicines, were all given to him.

Although he could not pass on the Violet Mist Divine Art due to the restriction that only the sect leader could learn it, Sage Hyeon-geom still became incredibly strong.

While Sage Hyeon-geom trained, Sage Hyeon-cheon worked tirelessly for the revival of Mount Hua. He met with outside disciples to request their support and visited other sects to seek cooperation. For twenty years, he worked like crazy, and he finally built the Mount Hua Sect into what it is today. Hyeon-geom knew this better than anyone, which is why he respected the Sect Leader so much.

“Now that you have finished your closed-door training, we can finally make our move.”

“From now on, I will help you, Senior Brother.”

“Just hearing that makes me happy. Now, all that remains is to raise a disciple who can inherit your accomplishments. Another great sword master of Mount Hua must appear so that I can manage the sect with peace of mind. Is the matter of selecting a disciple going well?”

“It is going well.”

“That is a relief. I will personally bestow the Plum Blossom Pill upon your disciple.”

“Thank you, Sect Leader.”

The Plum Blossom Pill was the Mount Hua Sect’s greatest elixir, an item bestowed only upon the future sect leader.

Even the method of creating it had been lost, meaning no more could be made. Only two pills remained. The fact that he was willing to give such a precious item to the person who would become Sage Hyeon-geom’s disciple showed just how great his expectations were.

Sage Hyeoncheon smiled.

They were searching for someone who would inherit the accomplishments of Mount Hua’s Greatest Sword. It was an important matter that couldn’t be taken lightly.

“Is there any child among the first-generation disciples who stands out?”

Hyeon-geom frowned slightly as he recalled what had happened earlier that afternoon. He couldn’t forget the intense, piercing look that the boy had given him.

Sage Hyeon-geom shook his head.

“The first-generation disciples are already more or less complete. It will not be easy for them to inherit my martial arts in that state.”

“Then will you look at the second-generation and outside disciples?”

“Talent does not need to be divided by rank or generation. To become the sword that represents the prestigious Mount Hua Sect, one needs perfect talent and blood-soaked effort to match it.”

“I suppose so.”

Sage Hyeon-cheon nodded.

It was just as the two of them were smiling.

Bang!

The doors of the Choiun Palace flew open as if they were about to break. Stepping through them was Sage Hyeon-so, his face bright red with anger.

“Senior Brother Hyeon-geom!” he roared, glaring straight at him.

Sage Hyeon-geom looked surprisingly calm. Sage Hyeon-cheon, however, reacted differently.

“What is the meaning of this, Junior Brother Hyeon-so? Surely you know where you are. I trust you are not raising your voice because you have forgotten.”

“I heard Senior Brother Hyeon-geom was here, Sect Leader,” Sage Hyeon-so replied sharply.

At this fierce reaction, Sage Hyeon-cheon looked at Sage Hyeon-geom. His eyes asked for an explanation.

Sage Hyeon-geom opened his mouth.

“Have you come because of your disciple?”

“That is right! Just why did you destroy that child like that? Did that child do anything to harm you, Senior Brother?”

“No, he did not.”

“Then why did you do it?”

Sage Hyeon-so glared at Sage Hyeon-geom as if he wanted to devour him.

Until now, Sage Hyeon-so had never once shown any emotional disturbance within the Mount Hua Sect. This was the first time he had revealed his feelings so violently.

Faced with the wounds of his beloved disciple, Sage Hyeon-so had lost his reason. He had come all the way here to find the person responsible for doing that to his disciple.

Even in the face of Sage Hyeon-so’s anger, Sage Hyeon-geom did not move an inch.

“Because that is the path for that child’s sake.”

“You are saying that beating him to a pulp was for his sake?”

“No. I am saying that giving up martial arts is the path for his sake.”

“What kind of nonsense is that?”

Sage Hyeon-so slammed his fist onto the table. The force of it sent the teacups on the table falling to the floor.

“Junior Brother, calm yourself.”

Sage Hyeon-cheon frowned and raised his voice. But Sage Hyeon-so ignored him and kept his eyes fixed on Sage Hyeon-geom.

“Why is giving up martial arts for that child’s sake?”

“Are you asking because you truly do not know?”

“I do not know. I truly do not. I do not understand.”

“Is he not crippled? How can a child who limps ever master the martial arts of the Mount Hua Sect? I also find that child’s talent regrettable, but it cannot be helped.”

“Are you saying that if one limps, one should not even learn martial arts?”

“I do not know about other sects, but at the very least, the martial arts of the Mount Hua Sect are not so easy that a cripple can master them.”

“Senior Brother! I am truly disappointed in you. How can none other than Mount Hua’s Greatest Sword say such a thing?”

“Why should Mount Hua’s Greatest Sword be unable to say such a thing?”

For the first time, anger appeared on Sage Hyeon-geom’s expressionless face.

He approached Sage Hyeonso.

“I, for one, can do anything if it is for the revival of the Mount Hua Sect.”

“What does that have to do with destroying my disciple?”

“I told you, did I not? It was for that child’s sake. It would be better for him not to dream useless dreams.”

“That is sophistry.”

“Why is it sophistry? You know as well, do you not? Just how difficult and arduous the path of martial arts is. Why do you think Senior Uncle Heavenly Sky Sage made you walk the path of a scholar-Taoist instead of teaching you martial arts?”

At that moment, Sage Hyeonso’s face twisted.

“Senior Brother!”

“Even now, I still cannot understand Senior Uncle’s choice. Why did he choose you, who lacked martial talent, as his disciple? Why did he not give that chance to other talented disciples because of that? I truly cannot understand it.”

“That is……”

Sage Hyeon-geom’s face had turned bright red. Seeing that face, Sage Hyeon-so finally closed his eyes.

‘So Senior Brother still holds that matter in his heart, even now?’

It was something that had happened more than forty years ago.

At the time, Heavenly Sky Sage—the greatest master of the Mount Hua Sect and a swordsman renowned throughout the land—was about to choose a disciple. It was a matter of utmost importance within the sect. Naturally, every disciple hoped to be the one chosen.

Back then, the most outstanding talent among them had been Hyun-geom. Sage Hyun-geom had been certain that Heavenly Sky Sage would take him as his disciple.

However, the one Heavenly Sky Sage chose was none other than Hyun-so.

And rather than teaching Hyun-so martial arts, he guided him down the path of scholarship.

For the promising talents who had yearned to become Heavenly Sky Sage’s disciple, it was an unforgettable blow. And the one who felt that disappointment most deeply was Sage Hyun-geom.

If only I had been taught by Senior Uncle Heavenly Sky Sage, the Mount Hua Sect would not be facing such hardship now.

Sage Hyun-geom clenched his fist tightly.

He had been forced to take a long and winding road to reach his current level. The shorter path had been right before him, yet he had never been allowed to set foot on it.

“I did not want your disciple to take a long detour just to confirm reality. I wanted to show him quickly that the Jianghu is not so forgiving a place that a cripple can survive in it. That is why I used a somewhat excessive method. For that, I am sorry. However, even now, I do not regret that decision.”

Sage Hyeon-geom’s firm gaze and tone deeply wounded Sage Hyeon-so’s heart. Sage Hyeon-so’s bloodshot eyes proved that fact.

Sage Hyeon-so looked at Sage Hyeon-cheon.

“What do you think, Sect Leader? Do you believe Senior Brother Hyeon-geom’s words are correct?”

At his junior brother’s question, Sage Hyeon-cheon quietly closed his eyes. Just from hearing both sides, he could tell how troublesome the situation was.

The sect leader of the Mount Hua Sect could never make a decision that leaned too heavily toward one side. That was what made the situation so difficult.

Sage Hyeon-cheon asked Sage Hyeonso,

“When you say your disciple, are you referring to the child you picked up five years ago?”

“That is correct. Did you not also permit me to bring that child in, Sect Leader? Then that child is also a rightful member of the Mount Hua Sect. Is it so wrong for such a child to learn martial arts? Please tell me.”

“……”

Sage Hyeoncheon fell into deep thought.

He realized that the moment of choice had come.

Depending on whose side he took now, the future of the Mount Hua Sect would change.

‘The Mount Hua I desire is a perfect Mount Hua. A perfect sect that will not waver no matter what outside winds may blow.’

At that moment, Sage Hyeon-cheon made his decision.

“It was my mistake to accept that child five years ago. If you had not begged me so earnestly, Junior Brother, I would never have accepted that child as a disciple of the Mount Hua Sect.”

“Senior Brother?”

Sage Hyeon-so cried out in shock. However, Sage Hyeon-cheon paid him no attention and continued speaking.

“On the day Cheon-gyeong opened his eyes, I saw the vengeance and killing intent in that child’s eyes. It was not the kind of thing a child should ever possess.”

Sage Hyeon-cheon trembled slightly, as if the memory of that day had returned to him vividly.

The eyes of someone who had killed before.

The eyes of someone who could kill another person without hesitation if necessary.

A twelve-year-old child had possessed those eyes.

“If that child learns proper martial arts, he will surely bring disaster to the Mount Hua Sect.”

“What absurd……”

“I support Junior Brother Hyeon-geom’s decision. Therefore, do not bring up this matter ever again, Junior Brother Hyeon-so.”

“Sect Leader!”

“I have already made my decision. Know it as such.”

“How could you?”

“I will not interfere with you looking after your disciple, but from this point onward, I forbid you from teaching him any more of Mount Hua’s martial arts.”

The words rang in Sage Hyeon-so’s ears like a bolt from the blue.

“This is the decision I have made as the sect leader of the Mount Hua Sect. There will be no reversal.”

Sage Hyeon-so sank heavily into his seat. His shoulders were trembling with faint spasms.

Sage Hyeon-geom’s gaze was cold, while Sage Hyeon-cheon’s eyes held a look of pity. Even so, he had no intention of changing his decision.

After a long while, Sage Hyeon-so staggered to his feet.

“Yes. I understand the Sect Leader’s will.”

In that short span of time, Sage Hyeon-so’s face had grown drastically weathered, as if he had gone through countless inner struggles.

He looked back and forth between the two men.

“Just wait and see. Cheon-gyeong will not give up like this. One day, that child will show you just how wrong your prejudice was.”

“I sincerely hope that happens.”

“Guide that child well, Junior Brother, and help him become a fine scholar-Taoist. For his own sake, that would be best.”

Instead of answering, Sage Hyeon-so gave a sorrowful smile.

Then he turned and walked out of Choiun Palace. Sage Hyeon-cheon and Sage Hyeon-geom silently watched his back.

Sage Hyeon-so’s figure looked so precarious that it seemed as if he might collapse at any moment. But he endured.

He now had a reason he absolutely could not fall.

‘Ho-ya, I will never give up on you.’