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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 129
Chapter Title: The Secret of the Hwasan Sect Leader
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“That's the place.”
Yugang pointed to the top of a distant cliff.
It was so high that the details were barely visible to the naked eye.
The lone pavilion perched atop the sheer cliff, bathed only in moonlight with not a single light on, looked all the more desolate.
“Wait here for a moment.”
The Hwasanpa had its share of renowned swordsmen.
To bring the sect leader back without alerting their keen senses, Namgung Mucheon had to go alone.
“Be careful, Grandfather.”
“I will.”
Namgung Mucheon scaled the cliff in an instant.
It was the Namgung's movement technique, the Cheonpungsinbeop.
“Wow…”
Yugang's mouth fell open at the marvelous lightness skill. Seolhwa, who had been watching Namgung Mucheon disappear, turned to Yugang at his gasp of admiration.
A laugh escaped her as she saw him staring, his eyes sparkling in a daze.
“…?”
Yugang looked back at Seolhwa, bewildered.
Seolhwa cleared her throat without thinking and averted her gaze.
*…Why did I laugh?*
“Can you do that too?”
“…Huh?”
Yugang pointed at the cliff.
“Can you climb up like that?”
Seolhwa looked up at the top of the cliff where his finger was pointing.
Namgung Mucheon was already out of sight.
“Probably?”
*I already know the Cheonpungsinbeop.*
*Even without it, I could use my lightness skill to scale a cliff of this height in no time.*
“Whoa… That's amazing.”
Yugang's eyes sparkled with admiration.
*Come to think of it, he's still only a first-rate master.*
*Even if he's close to the peak level, he's probably not yet accustomed to handling his internal energy.*
*It was only natural that climbing a cliff like this would be difficult for him.*
*Once he's a little more developed, he'll be able to go up and down something like this several times a day.*
*I don't need to tell him he'll become strong enough.*
*After all, Yugang is destined to become an outstanding swordsman soon enough.*
*If the Hwasanpa doesn't self-destruct, his fate will change drastically.*
In his past life, he was a man who cherished his Hwasanpa brothers deeply.
Back then, he wandered the battlefields alone, fighting against the Hyeolgyo, but this time, if things worked out, he would become a sharp blade standing against them with his brothers.
*…It might be quite a sight.*
How reassuring would it be to see the swordsmen of Hwasanpa charging through the battlefields against the Hyeolgyo, scattering the essence of plum blossoms?
How many orthodox martial artists would have their morale boosted by their brilliant swordsmanship?
That alone was reason enough to save the Hwasanpa.
* * *
“…”
Having scaled the cliff, Namgung Mucheon gazed with an impassive expression at the old, solitary pavilion.
On the worn-out sign, where the other characters had faded, only the single character for 'pavilion' (閣) remained.
*Was this once the Secret Pavilion?*
Either it was used to store books, or it was a pavilion for the sect leader or elders to meditate in peace.
Otherwise, there would be no reason for it to be built in such a secluded place.
From within the pavilion that had lost its original purpose, he could sense the presence of one person.
After checking his surroundings for any other presences, Namgung Mucheon opened the pavilion's door.
The loud creak of old hinges echoed through the darkness.
The person who had been holding their breath inside rustled and stood up, speaking.
“Who is it?”
The voice, heard for the first time in nearly a decade, was still incredibly gentle.
It was a voice devoid of wariness or suspicion, a voice filled with benevolence.
However, the voice was also clearly tinged with exhaustion and fatigue.
“It is Namgung Mucheon.”
“…Is that you, Elder Geomhwang…?”
“May I come in?”
A long silence followed from within.
Namgung Mucheon stood before the pavilion door, quietly waiting for his answer.
“It is… quite humble.”
“I'll take that as permission.”
Namgung Mucheon stepped inside the pavilion.
The musty smell, noticeable even from a step away, stung his nostrils.
It was like the smell of rotting flesh, or perhaps the sour stench of spoiled food.
The bitter scent of incense, meant to cover the foul odor, was also mixed in.
Namgung Mucheon stood before a long, hanging reed screen.
The source of the smell was behind it.
With a soft rustle, the reed screen was slowly raised.
The man who had rolled up and secured the screen then lit a lamp on the desk.
With a flare, the flame erupted, clearly revealing Nohun's form.
“It has been a long time, Elder Geomhwang.”
His face was covered in boils, swollen and puffy, with pus oozing from the burst ones and patches of flesh rotting away—a truly hideous sight.
His neck, hands, and feet, visible outside his clothes, were also covered in the same boils, so much so that even breathing seemed difficult for him.
The only thing that matched Namgung Mucheon's memory of the Maehwasingeom was his eyes, barely open, which still held an untainted, benevolent spirit.
“Have you been well? It has been too long.”
“I have been well, but it seems you have not. Why are you in such a state?”
“Haha, I did not expect you, so I failed to prepare myself.”
That wasn't what he meant, but Namgung Mucheon didn't press further about his appearance.
Nohun smiled and said.
“The child from the Namgung Sega sent me a message, so I had a feeling, and it seems it was indeed your will, Elder Geomhwang.”
“…It was not.”
“Then…”
“The one who sent you the message was indeed my granddaughter.”
A low sigh escaped Nohun's slightly parted lips.
“I see. So it was truly that child… By any chance, did your granddaughter not come with you?”
“She is waiting for you down below.”
“Ah…”
Nohun clenched his fists slightly.
After receiving the short letter and sending Yugang, he had been waiting every day for contact.
*Could she know something? Does she know a way to cure this disease of unknown origin?*
To him, who had emptied his heart and accepted death, Seolhwa's note was a ray of light.
*Finally.*
“It seems you've been waiting.”
“…It would be a lie to say I haven't.”
“Let's go. There is no reason to delay. Let's go and find a way at once.”
“Yes.”
Nohun followed Namgung Mucheon without delay.
However, his feet were bare as he stepped out.
Mucheon, who had found it strange that he wore no shoes, immediately understood the reason upon seeing his feet.
His feet were swollen and covered in boils, making it impossible for him to wear not just shoes, but even socks.
Pus oozed from the boils every time he took a step. Nohun's staggering walk looked incredibly painful.
Yet, he didn't let out even a small groan.
His tolerance for pain was truly astonishing.
“Is it alright to leave without a word?”
A desolate smile appeared on Nohun's lips.
“There is no one who would come looking. I told them not to. It has already been seven days since I stopped eating.”
“Why is that?”
Instead of answering, Nohun gave a benevolent smile.
From that smile, Namgung Mucheon heard the answer.
*He was preparing for death.*
It was the expression of a man who had given up on everything and was merely waiting to die.
“Get on my back.”
“To be carried on Elder Geomhwang's back… this is truly a night full of surprises.”
“No more talk, just get on.”
Chuckling, Nohun quietly climbed onto Namgung Mucheon's back.
In his current state, unable to even use his internal energy at will, it was an unavoidable choice if he was to descend the cliff.
“When we return, you'll have to climb up yourself.”
“Haha. I will keep that in mind.”
In that moment, a gust of wind blew.
The small lamp illuminating the old pavilion flickered out in the breeze, and only a wisp of smoke rose under the moonlight.
* * *
The group brought the Hwasanpa's sect leader straight back to their lodging.
Yugang returned to his tent, while the other three headed for a tent prepared in advance by the Black Dragon's leader.
Though the night was deep, Seolhwa sat facing Nohun.
The conversation began only after Namgung Mucheon had set up a sound-blocking barrier around the tent.
“So you are Namgung Seolhwa.”
“Greetings to the Sect Leader of Hwasanpa. I apologize for testing you with only a short letter, without any prior context.”
“Haha, testing me? Not at all. Thanks to that, I was prompted to request a meeting. Had there been context, I would still be mulling over your intentions.”
“I am grateful that you think so.”
“Now then, may I ask you something directly?”
Seolhwa raised her gaze to look at Nohun.
He looked extremely anxious. The longer the wait, the greater the anxiety.
The moment Seolhwa nodded, Nohun immediately asked.
“What is it that you know?”
[Open Mind's Eye, See Secret Diagram]
That was the entirety of the message Seolhwa had sent him.
With just those six characters, Nohun was showing such anxiety.
“Before that, may I ask you one thing?”
To say he was anxious because his illness was painful would be inaccurate; Nohun maintained an attitude of having transcended pain.
If he only wanted to end the pain, he should have appeared more composed, consistent with his transcendent attitude.
“You recently discovered the hidden cave of Manrisintu, didn't you?”
At that moment, Nohun's expression subtly stiffened.
Seolhwa met his gaze directly and asked.
“Why are you hiding the fact that you discovered the cave?”
