Chapter 408 : Reorganizing the Sect (2)

Chapter 408: Reorganizing the Sect (2)

So Yonghwa and Lord Sanbi hadn’t expected to fall into such a miserable state.

Having lost all their main forces with only a few guards remaining, their minds went blank.

Since entering the inn, they hadn’t budged from their room.

It was the first time they had suffered such a crushing defeat in their lives, and the psychological blow was immense.

“Are we supposed to just return like this?”

When So Yonghwa murmured, Lord Sanbi replied weakly.

“There’s no other way for now. We’ll have to go back, gather strength, and bide our time for revenge.”

Lord Sanbi was annoyed at So Yonghwa for saying something so obvious.

“Just thinking about going back like this is enough to drive me mad.”

The two sighed heavily, lamenting in unison.

“If I had the troops right now, I could exact revenge immediately.”

As he said that, So Yonghwa suddenly raised his head.

“Do you remember what Brother Ok said a while ago?”

Hearing his words, Lord Sanbi’s eyes also lit up.

“Surely, you don’t mean—?”

“According to Brother Ok, the Daebyeol Sect Alliance was gathering to attack the Heavenly Central Sect. And he said he was heading there to lead them, didn’t he?”

“That’s right.”

“I heard Brother Ok returned to the Heavenly Demon Sect after losing to Yong Hwarin. If that’s the case, their forces should still be intact.”

The two of them realized that the fighting force they needed was still available.

“But I doubt the Daebyeol Sect Alliance would follow our lead.”

To Lord Sanbi’s muttering, So Yonghwa responded.

“Hmph, they wouldn’t dare refuse the commands of us—successors of Dark Echo Valley and the Blood Demon Castle. With Brother Ok gone, they’ll likely want to join hands with us.”

“Even if they don't, we’ll make them.”

The two exchanged faint smiles, as if they had never been disheartened at all.

“Heaven has not forsaken us.”

Immediately, the two set out for Mount Seopyeong, as Ok Girin had mentioned.

“It’s the Small Sect Leader!”

As Yong Hwarin entered, the disciples and followers of the Heavenly Central Sect rushed out all at once.

It might have been overwhelming, but Yong Hwarin smiled and greeted each of them personally.

“The Sect Leader is coming! Step aside!”

At the call from the warrior behind him, those who had crowded around Yong Hwarin quickly moved aside in perfect order.

Yong Hwarin bowed his head toward Yong Biyang, who was walking toward him.

But Yong Biyang didn’t seem satisfied with just that—he opened his arms.

“Come here, son. Let me hug you.”

Yong Hwarin embraced Yong Biyang without the slightest hesitation.

The successors watching them felt a strange mix of warmth and envy.

They had been forced into endless competition and martial training since childhood.

Isolated training was a daily affair, so they rarely experienced the warmth of parental affection.

But seeing Yong Hwarin and Yong Biyang embracing so fondly reminded them of their own parents.

Yong Hwarin left his father’s arms and embraced his mother, Gi Yooyeon, who stood behind him.

“Mother, your son has returned.”

Startled at first, Gi Yooyeon gently stroked Yong Hwarin’s back.

“Yes, you’ve done well. Welcome home.”

Yong Hwarin then left his mother’s arms to embrace Yong Seollan and Yong Kijoong.

“Brother, thank you for everything.”

“No, you’re the one who’s been through so much. Without you, the Heavenly Central Sect wouldn’t be standing today. I know how hard you’ve worked.”

Yong Kijoong responded with a smile.

“I couldn’t allow myself to be the useless younger brother.”

“You are a brother I’m proud of.”

Hearing that, Yong Kijoong smiled as if all his hardships had been worth it.

“Brother!”

Yong Seollan clung to Yong Hwarin’s waist.

“I missed you.”

Yong Hwarin gently stroked Yong Seollan’s head as she acted cutesy.

“I missed you too, my dear Seollan.”

“Hehe.”

Yong Seollan grinned at his words, delighted.

Yong Hwarin gently let go of her and approached Jong Munhye and Jong Seok, who were standing behind.

“Because of you two, I was able to stay focused while away. You’ve been through a lot, haven’t you?”

“No, Brother.”

Jong Munhye’s eyes welled up as she looked at Yong Hwarin after so long.

She now truly believed Yong Hwarin to be her real older brother.

“Come on, give me a hug, my little siblings.”

Yong Hwarin embraced Jong Munhye and Jong Seok.

Watching this, Jaegal Yohye muttered,

“Tch, isn't he hugging a bit too much? He didn’t even hug us once when he saw us.”

She was, secretly, a bit jealous.

Yong Hwarin turned and smiled at Nan Myeonggwak.

“Master Nan, it’s been a while.”

“Young Master Yong, indeed it has.”

Just as Nan Myeonggwak was about to say something more, Yong Hwarin turned his body, leaving him scratching his head in embarrassment.

“Let’s have a drink tonight.”

But upon hearing Yong Hwarin’s next words, Nan Myeonggwak’s face lit up.

Yong Hwarin went around hugging and greeting everyone, spreading laughter.

Then someone shouted.

“Is that the Greatest Sword Under Heaven?!”

Someone must have asked upon seeing Yu Maelim and the Greatest Sword Under Heaven, Jo Cheonsaeng, and the successors had answered.

“Good heavens! Why would the Greatest Sword Under Heaven come here as a guest of the sect?!”

As the crowd’s attention suddenly shifted to Jo Cheonsaeng, Yong Hwarin was able to slip away.

“Unbelievable! To think I’d see the Sword Debate of the Three Externals in my lifetime!”

Yong Biyang stepped forward and greeted Jo Cheonsaeng with a clasped-fist salute.

“I am Yong Biyang, current leader of the Heavenly Central Sect. It is an honor to meet Master Jo Cheonsaeng, one of the Three Externals and the Greatest Sword Under Heaven.”

“No, the honor is mine. To meet the renowned hero Yong Biyang is truly my privilege.”

Jo Cheonsaeng received the greeting with humility.

“But may I ask what brings you to our sect?”

Jo Cheonsaeng looked toward Yong Hwarin as he replied.

“I’ve taken a liking to the young brother here and came to eat the sect’s rice. I hope that’s alright.”

Yong Biyang smiled.

“By all means. You may eat all the rice you want.”

“Wahaha! You truly are your son’s father—generous to the core.”

The gathered guests at the Heavenly Central Sect erupted in excitement at the appearance of the Greatest Sword Under Heaven.

The Greatest Sword Under Heaven was a martial artist who surpassed the Seven Martial Kings and was considered just below the Five Emperors of the Martial World.

In truth, he was often cited as the most powerful martial artist in the entire Murim—an absolute master.

It was no surprise that his presence as a guest caused an uproar.

While everyone's attention was on Jo Cheonsaeng, Yong Hwarin slipped away and approached two people watching him from the side.

Just as the Demonic Master and Ha Deokgong tried to approach Yong Hwarin, Seok Unjeong quickly grabbed their sleeves.

“Father, look where Brother’s eyes are directed.”

Yong Hwarin was walking straight toward two women, his gaze fixed on them.

“Let’s not disturb him right now.”

As Seok Unjeong said that, the Demonic Master looked disappointed.

But he nodded, understanding Yong Hwarin’s intent.

“For now, we’ll back off, and tonight we’ll welcome Young Master Yong with drinks.”

He didn’t want to interrupt Yong Hwarin now.

Yong Hwarin stood before the two women.

“I truly missed you both. You kept appearing in my dreams every night—I was going insane.”

Speaking with uncharacteristically sweet words, Jeong Minji and Bukri Sehee smiled.

Jeong Minji showed teeth as white as white-flower blossoms and said,

“Be ready tomorrow night.”

“Tomorrow night? Why not tonight?”

To that, Bukri Sehee replied,

“Tonight, you need to be with your clan. If you rush into a woman’s arms the moment you come home, you won’t look like a proper man.”

When the two women, out of consideration, postponed the night, he held both their hands.

“Everyone else got hugs, but all we get is hand-holding?”

As Bukri Sehee grumbled, Yong Hwarin whispered in her ear.

“But those others don’t see the real me. The only ones who can are the two of you.”

At that, Jeong Minji let out a quiet laugh.

“Don’t lie. I think that woman can probably see your true self too.”

Yong Hwarin turned and saw Mo Biyoung standing there.

Mo Biyoung had waited, thinking it only proper to greet the two women first.

Yong Hwarin called out,

“Biyoung, come here!”

As Mo Biyoung approached, Yong Hwarin asked,

“By the way, how did you know you were my woman?”

“Because Instructor Mo’s gaze toward you had changed. It was the look of a woman in love.”

Mo Biyoung bowed her head as she joined them.

“I greet you, elder sisters.”

Jeong Minji took Mo Biyoung’s hand.

“I’ll call you Little Sister Mo from now on.”

Bukri Sehee leaned in brightly and said,

“I’ll call you Big Sister Mo.”

By age, Jeong Minji was the eldest, followed by Mo Biyoung.

Mo Biyoung looked at the two women who welcomed her warmly and asked,

“You don’t hate me?”

“Why would we?”

“Because we’re sharing you.”

At that, Jeong Minji let out a long sigh.

“Little Sister Mo, I gave up on that the moment I let him into my heart. I knew from the start he wasn’t a man I could keep for myself. I just didn’t expect that person to be you.”

“Big Sister Mo is the sly one.”

Bukri Sehee said playfully, causing Mo Biyoung’s face to flush red.

“Were you with him all along?”

“Yeah. Since Shaolin Temple.”

“What? Then you must’ve done it more than I have?”

At the random remark, Mo Biyoung looked at Bukri Sehee’s cute face.

“Done what?”

“Oh please, don’t pretend you don’t know.”

Rolling her eyes as she spoke, Mo Biyoung realized what she meant and her ears turned red.

Yong Hwarin leaned into the conversation of the three women.

“Next time, you three should be prepared. I’ll make sure you never say things like that again.”

Jeong Minji responded,

“Our Hwarin seems to be getting more lecherous by the day.”

At that, Yong Hwarin deliberately flashed a cheeky smile.

The next morning, after circulating his qi to sober up from the night's drinking, Yong Hwarin took up the White Tiger Demon-Subduing Sword and headed to the training ground.

But the training ground was already packed with disciples of the Heavenly Central Sect.

‘Did they always train this hard?’

In the past, Yong Hwarin had never seen the sect’s disciples train this diligently.

Though they had trained early in the morning before, the look in their eyes now was completely different.

Back then, it had been more of a routine—something they just went through halfheartedly. But now, their expressions showed that they were truly striving to become stronger.

Even just watching their sparring made that clear.

Unlike before, when they carefully avoided hurting their opponents, now they attacked without holding back.

They knew each other’s strengths well from frequent sparring, and minor injuries were no longer a concern.

Truthfully, this level of training was something usually seen only in major sects or famed clans.

Small or mid-sized sects had always been more like how the Heavenly Central Sect used to be—training perfunctorily and sparring lightly.

But now, with that image gone, Yong Hwarin was deeply moved.

‘The sect has truly changed.’

Moreover, those who had learned the newly refined martial arts established by the Ten Prodigies of the Heavenly Central Sect were clearly training in a more systematic way than before.

Back then, the only real martial arts they had were the Soaring Dragon Emperor Sword and the Azure Bamboo Sword, so they had no choice but to focus solely on those two sword arts.

But now, as disciples progressed through levels, they were taught stronger martial arts, which drove their enthusiasm to train.

A true martial artist wasn’t made with swordsmanship alone—footwork, movement arts, breathing techniques, and physical conditioning all had to come together.

Now, beyond just the Soaring Dragon Emperor Sword, they were learning martial arts like Floating Step, Dragon Scale Finger, Dragon Concealment Heavenly Art, Fighting Dragon Fist, and more—subtly classified and diversified techniques that finally made their training feel like true martial cultivation.

At present, hundreds of martial artists of the Heavenly Central Sect were training in Dragon Claw Five Fingers and Dragon Scale Finger.

It was the result of the Ten Prodigies immediately working to cultivate elites upon their return.