Chapter 277

Yeo Hyeok, the second-generation disciple of Mount Hua Sect.

Exactly thirty years old—the very edge of the age range where you could still be called part of the junior generation.

Before Yuyeon appeared, people said Mount Hua had produced a massive plum blossom tree, and he’d made a name for himself as a ridiculous genius.

And even now, that hadn’t really changed.

The edge of the junior generation. A true martial artist stepping into his prime—he was strong.

Maybe not someone you’d call an absolute master, but he was absolutely a master in his own right.

‘His epithet was probably...’

Plum Blossom Upright Sword.

Yeah. That had to be it.

Plum Blossom Upright Sword Yeo Hyeok.

That handsome bastard—giving off flower fragrance that was faint and yet thick at the same time—his epithet was definitely that.

[...Oh?]

Seeing Yeo Hyeok, Yoo Cheongil showed interest.

[That bastard always had an eye for it, even back in the day... so this is the kid he was bragging about.]

It sounded like Yoo Cheongil had seen him before.

Considering the timing, he must’ve seen him when Yeo Hyeok was still young.

[He grew up like that? Hah.]

Yoo Cheongil’s eyes narrowed a little as he spoke.

[At minimum, he’ll climb as far as Sect Master.]

“...!”

That was an insane evaluation. At minimum, someone who’d become Mount Hua Sect Master.

What higher praise was there?

[If that girl hadn’t existed, it would’ve been certain.]

“...”

And of all things, the name attached to Yeo Hyeok’s evaluation was Yuyeon.

The top junior in the world, the woman praised as Mount Hua’s greatest pride.

Even Yoo Cheongil seemed the same—he rated Yuyeon higher than Yeo Hyeok.

But—

[If it weren’t for that kid’s problem.]

“...”

The problem Yoo Cheongil pointed out—Yuyeon’s problem.

Maybe that stuck in his throat, because Yoo Cheongil let out a dry chuckle.

‘Right.’

I narrowed my eyes slightly. Now I had to think back to what Yeo Hyeok had just said.

‘The one responsible for the group.’

That’s what he’d called me. The moment I heard it, I shifted my gaze a little.

Past the Sword Emperor—toward the Small Moon Unit Leader.

If anyone was the responsible one here, shouldn’t it be that man?

“Are you not the Moon Knight?”

Yeo Hyeok said my epithet out loud and addressed me directly.

The Small Moon Unit Leader looked at me with silent eyes.

‘Ah, shit.’

Looks like I really was the one in charge.

‘...The Moon-Thread Sword, seriously?’

He glued the Small Moon Unit Leader onto me, so I figured he’d handle the leadership role too—turns out he really only assigned him as a guard.

‘If that’s all it was, he could’ve put a senior on it. Or Cheon Hyein.’

Even by rank distribution and the Small Moon Unit’s hierarchy, I was the youngest. Why the hell was I the one responsible?

It was ridiculous, but this wasn’t the time to sit there thinking about it.

“...I’m Bang Sungyeon of the Small Moon Unit. It’s an honor to meet Plum Blossom Upright Sword.”

I offered proper courtesy first. At that, Yeo Hyeok looked at me with a strange gaze.

“It’s an honor to meet you. I am Yeo Hyeok, Mount Hua Sect’s second-generation disciple.”

He casually offered a handshake. A heavy force sat inside his rough palm.

“I’d only heard the rumors, but it feels new to realize they aren’t entirely false.”

Like always, a conversation had to start with useless gilding.

“Not at all. I’m honored to meet someone who will lead Mount Hua in the future.”

“Ahahaha.”

“Hahaha.”

We forced out fake laughs, then I read the air and asked him—

“...But what brings you here?”

“Ah, we were searching during the night, and we saw a light, so we came to look.”

“Searching? Here?”

This was between Henan and Shaanxi.

Strictly speaking, this wasn’t Mount Hua’s operational territory, was it?

“...Why come all the way out here?”

Why would Mount Hua people come this far?

I glanced behind him. It wasn’t just Yeo Hyeok—there were many people in similar uniforms.

The moment I saw them, I knew.

‘Plum Blossom Sword Unit.’

Mount Hua’s elite.

Like Wudang’s Taiji Sword Unit, or Blue Moon Sect’s Small Moon Unit—

each sect or clan had a signature fighting corps.

And Plum Blossom Sword Unit was counted among the top three.

In group combat, they said the Taiji Sword Unit was unmatched.

In one-on-one combat, they rated the Small Moon Unit highly.

But—

‘In the end, people say the ones who truly stand out on the front lines are Plum Blossom Sword Unit.’

They said Plum Blossom Sword Unit gathered the strengths of both groups into one.

Mount Hua masters who wielded the most beautiful swordsmanship in the Central Plains, yet fought faster than anyone, finer than anyone.

Those Mount Hua masters were here.

“Ah, we were on our way here under the Sect Master’s orders. It was to meet all of you.”

“Us?”

...How?

‘The letter should only be arriving about now.’

If the Martial Alliance sent a letter to Mount Hua, it should’ve only just arrived there around now.

And even if Mount Hua dispatched people the instant they read it, there was no way they could meet us at this location.

They came to greet us? I couldn’t easily believe Yeo Hyeok’s words.

“I’ll need a more detailed explanation.”

At my words, Yeo Hyeok made a slightly troubled expression.

“We came under the Sect Master’s orders...”

“You’re saying the Sect Master told you to come greet us?”

“Yes. He said important guests would be arriving from the Martial Alliance, and that we were to escort you in.”

“...”

I still didn’t understand, but one thing was clear—the man in front of me was unquestionably Mount Hua.

‘How did he know?’

The letter shouldn’t have arrived yet. So how did Plum Blossom Single Sword know to send them?

I tried to turn it over in my head—

“Ah.”

Yeo Hyeok’s eyes widened as he saw someone.

“...Senior.”

At that, I turned.

Yuyeon was stepping down from a carriage.

She saw Yeo Hyeok and lifted her eyes slightly.

“Have you been well?”

Yeo Hyeok greeted her properly.

“...”

Yuyeon nodded.

‘...Senior.’

That form of address made me pull a weird look inside.

Yuyeon was probably ten years younger than him, but she was the Sect Master’s direct disciple—a first-generation disciple—while Yeo Hyeok was second-generation, so by hierarchy she was his senior.

“The Sect Master has been very worried. Have you been safe?”

“...”

Yuyeon nodded once again.

“That’s a relief.”

Yeo Hyeok smiled softly at that. He was being respectful, but his attitude felt like he was dealing with a younger sister.

“Then, first... we’d like to escort the honored guests from here. Would that be acceptable?”

After finishing a light greeting, Yeo Hyeok spoke to me again.

Escort us. Fine by me.

‘If we can travel more comfortably, that’s great.’

But there was something else I had to say first.

I glanced at Yoo Cheongil.

The old bastard smirked, then pointed somewhere.

Over there.

At the tree.

[Up in that tree.]

The instant I saw it, I pointed the same place out to Yeo Hyeok.

“Before that, it seems like there’s something we should handle.”

“Pardon?”

Yeo Hyeok’s eyes widened at my sudden move, and I looked straight into his eyes.

“I’m the one responsible for the Small Moon Unit’s travel to Shaanxi.”

“I know.”

“Then shouldn’t the responsible parties speak directly, at minimum?”

“What are you—?”

Yeo Hyeok looked like he didn’t understand.

No—more like he was pretending not to.

So I said it clearly.

“The person over there. Shouldn’t you be speaking with that person? That seems like the one responsible for your side.”

“...!!”

Yeo Hyeok’s eyes went huge.

At the same time, the Plum Blossom Sword Unit behind him—

and our own group—

immediately moved hands to sword hilts and stared where I pointed.

Someone was there.

Meanwhile, the Small Moon Unit Leader stayed calm.

He seemed surprised that I noticed, but he also looked like he already knew someone was there.

“Hah...”

Yeo Hyeok let out a strained sound.

“How did you—”

“That isn’t what matters.”

I frowned at him.

Watching us while hiding presence—if we were being strict about it, that was hostility.

“...”

Yeo Hyeok’s expression turned troubled.

And then—

“Ah, this is unfortunate. My apologies.”

TAP—!

Someone landed lightly right in front of me.

An old, white-haired man in the same white martial uniform.

“I only intended to take a brief look... but I committed a discourtesy.”

He had a kindly face. And the moment I saw his appearance and condition, I knew exactly who he was.

It wasn’t the kind of person you could fail to recognize.

“...Are you Plum Blossom Commander?”

“Keuheuheuh. I’m delighted you recognize a miserable old man like me. Yes—Plum Blossom Commander, that’s me.”

Plum Blossom Commander Seongpung.

Mount Hua Sect’s absolute master, a martial artist who represented Mount Hua alongside Plum Blossom Single Sword.

“I never thought you’d notice. They praised you so highly as the Sword Saint’s successor that I was curious... but you’re impressive.”

“...”

“Small Moon Unit Leader. Have you obtained a good sword?”

Seongpung spoke while looking at the Small Moon Unit Leader.

The Small Moon Unit Leader didn’t answer.

He only placed a hand quietly on his waist.

A hair-trigger situation. The moment we noticed someone was hiding, this stopped being a good scene.

“Heh... I’ll apologize again. Truly, I only intended to watch quietly, then step out to explain myself. But you’ve made it rather embarrassing for me.”

“...Why did you do it?”

“Because I was curious. About you.”

“Me?”

“Yes.”

He was curious about me, so he watched in secret.

Yeah.

‘Then the eyes Yoo Cheongil felt earlier must’ve been this old man.’

The warning that someone was watching—the one behind it was Plum Blossom Commander.

“So, what’s your impression after watching?”

I forced myself to stay calm as I asked.

Seongpung answered.

“Well... I still don’t quite know. You’re impressive enough that I can’t tell so easily.”

“...Thank you for the compliment.”

“I apologize again. I am Seongpung, the Plum Blossom Commander responsible for this group. Could you not let it slide once, thinking of it as the prank of a useless old man?”

I hesitated.

He said he only watched, and he’d apologized three times already. At this point, letting it go was best for everyone.

“...I accept your apology.”

“Ahahaha. Thank you.”

Seongpung smiled like a good-natured man.

“Since I committed a shameful act, from this point on, we will escort the honored guests with all sincerity. Would that be acceptable?”

“...Ah.”

My eyes trembled.

Before a heartbeat could pass, I stopped the trembling and answered.

“Yes. Please.”

We needed to head into Shaanxi. Getting help from Mount Hua along the way wasn’t a bad thing.

“Thank you for allowing it. The timing isn’t terribly urgent, so it seems we can spend the night here and depart tomorrow. What does our responsible party think?”

“I agree with your words.”

“Then we’ll depart at sunrise.”

“Yes. Understood.”

“We’ll also handle the night watch on our side, so rest well.”

“...Thank you for your consideration.”

I bowed and offered proper courtesy.

At my gesture, Seongpung grinned and turned away, moving toward Yeo Hyeok.

And then I sensed someone beside me.

Yuyeon.

She looked me over briefly, then started to walk toward the Plum Blossom Sword Unit.

That made sense—Mount Hua was her original place, and she belonged to Mount Hua, so of course she’d go to their side—

GRIP—!

“...?”

I grabbed her wrist.

Still with ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) my head bowed.

‘...I’m losing my mind.’

Yuyeon reacted in confusion, but seeing that reaction, I couldn’t bring myself to speak.

I couldn’t even lift my head properly.

If I raised my face, it felt like she’d read my expression instantly.

‘Why?’

I genuinely didn’t understand.

Because—

‘Why—’

On that old man—Plum Blossom Commander Seongpung—

‘—can I see traces of HEAVEN-BREAKING PALACE?’

Something I should never be seeing

was showing itself.