Chapter 71 : White Plum

Chapter 71: White Plum

‘Must stop him—!’

The elders of the Alliance Leader’s faction, including Peng Taesan, all threw themselves forward without a moment’s hesitation.

Just like Jaegal Hun, they were trying to block Myeong Iljin-in who was charging ahead.

It was not because of the elevated worth of Sewoon.

It was closer to instinct, to stop the horrific tragedy about to unfold before their very eyes.

But—

Wham!

‘That man again…?’

‘…Why there?’

‘He’s hugging him??’

Suddenly, the mood shifted into what looked like a tearful reunion between the two men.

In the end, the elders were forced to halt awkwardly in various spots.

“It’s all right, Jin-in. I only did what I had to do.”

“Thank you, truly, thank you…”

To the elders, the two of them looked almost like a harmonious grandfather and grandson.

The sight was so bizarre that Hwangbo Geon’s jaw dropped wide open, as if it might fall off.

He looked as though a bug could fly in and out without him noticing.

As the atmosphere in the hall became restless again—

Sewoon discreetly sent a telepathic message to Myeong Iljin-in.

Since Do Yecheon had been sent to the Heavenly Medical Hall for treatment, Sewoon’s question was nothing out of the ordinary.

‘Th-this…’

For some reason, Myeong Iljin-in suddenly regained clarity of mind.

Then, with eyes full of concern, he began closely observing Sewoon’s expression.

Myeong Iljin-in felt boundless gratitude and indebtedness toward Sewoon, but at the same time, he was also burdened by unease and worry.

He had just returned after confirming that, thanks to Sewoon’s help, Do Yecheon managed to overcome the berserk outbreak of the Heaven-Slaying Star.

The rampage of the Heaven-Slaying Star was something akin to demonic qi, exploding out star energy in all directions, so there was no way Sewoon would not have noticed.

‘…But thankfully, this young Daoist friend never reported it to the Alliance.’

Despite being tormented by the martial enforcers of the Court of Justice, Sewoon had never once spoken a word about Do Yecheon’s abnormality.

And yet, within the solemn laws of the Murim Alliance it was inscribed:

—“Those who have witnessed the Heaven-Slaying Star must immediately execute it. Should one conceal such knowledge, that person too will face the same capital punishment.”

Even though his own life had been threatened under suspicion of being a spy of the Demonic Alliance, why had he not reported his disciple’s condition?

Myeong Iljin-in, through all his years in the jianghu, had long since learned that there was no such thing as selfless goodwill without a price.

‘Even if he were to demand the Plum Blossom Sword Art, I would gladly hand it over.’

Amazingly, he was speaking of the secret art, the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Art, passed down only to the Sect Leader and the Great Disciple.

But it was not truly surprising.

Myeong Iljin-in had come here resolved to give Sewoon anything he asked for.

Though it meant committing an unpardonable sin against the Mount Hua Sect, he was ready to accept punishment by crippling his own dantian.

That was how great Sewoon’s deed was—it was nothing less than saving Do Yecheon’s very life.

If Sewoon had not calmed his disciple’s condition, then the Heaven-Slaying Star’s rampage would surely have slaughtered countless lives.

Do Yecheon would have become an Enemy of the Martial World, hunted down until he lived a wretched fugitive’s life, only to meet a miserable death in the end.

‘But my only fear is…’

Myeong Iljin-in’s concern lay not in this single exchange being repaid.

What he feared was that his disciple’s tragic fate would not end here, but instead become shackles that bound the rest of his life.

Just then, Sewoon sent him another telepathic message.

The man clearly knew his disciple was the Heaven-Slaying Star.

Myeong Iljin-in did not bother denying it and accepted it openly.

But then—Sewoon said something entirely unexpected.

“Thank you! Truly, thank you!”

Hearing that this was not the end, but that he would continue to provide help even in the future, Myeong Iljin-in could not help but cry out loud in joy.

Others glanced at him strangely again, but Myeong Iljin-in paid no mind.

What on earth was this young Daoist saying?

Just like when Sewoon had gone to the Beggars’ Sect and Leader Jang Sopyeong was dumbfounded—

Myeong Iljin-in now showed the same reaction toward Sewoon.

Looking at Myeong Iljin-in frozen in thought—

‘Hmm, was it my imagination? Pretending to be pure-hearted seems to come more naturally now.’

Sewoon thought that to himself.

Truthfully, he too desired the Plum Blossom Sword, one of the greatest martial arts of the Murim.

But he refrained.

Though he could ask and receive it—

‘If I do, I will lose the Purple Mist Sword Sovereign.’

The Myeong Iljin-in he knew would cripple his own martial arts after handing over the sect’s supreme art.

That was something he had to prevent.

In the coming war against the Blood Cult, the role of the Purple Mist Sword Sovereign would be indispensable.

But in truth, that was not the only reason.

When he first felt the old man’s hunched shoulders as he embraced him, Sewoon’s heart had grown heavy.

Seeing a man who had lived seven years in anxiety and silence, worrying endlessly for his disciple—

It felt as though he was looking at his own self before regression.

Do Yecheon, born with the Heaven-Slaying Star within him, was someone who, by his very existence, could destroy Mount Hua.

In his past life, the berserk Sword Ghost had eventually taken countless lives.

And because Mount Hua had hidden the existence of the Heaven-Slaying Star, the Murim Alliance had sentenced them to ten years of sealed gates.

Everyone had reviled and cursed the Purple Mist Sword Sovereign.

They all said that because of his one disciple, he had brought ruin to the Mount Hua Sect.

…but Sewoon could not bring himself to condemn him.

‘For I too had done the same…’

He had abandoned the orthodox Murim to protect his bloodline.

Yes, he too had been a collaborator of the Blood Cult.

To this old man, Do Yecheon was closer to a son or family than merely a disciple.

That was why, looking at Myeong Iljin-in, Sewoon felt a tangled emotion as if he were seeing his own self before regression.

After their gazes crossed in midair for a long time—

‘Ah… So the Path of Chivalry still remains in the jianghu.’

Myeong Iljin-in’s chest pounded violently, tears threatened to spill, but he barely managed to steady his heart.

Then, taking a step back, he gazed at Sewoon with benevolent eyes and slowly spoke.

“You have helped Mount Hua’s Great Disciple overcome the Inner Demons he endured for seven years.”

“It was only shallow skill and good fortune…”

“They say excessive humility is discourtesy. How could shallow skill ever allow one to reach the realm of Transformation?”

At those words, the eyes of every elder, regardless of faction, widened as though they would burst.

Transformation Realm?!

Could it be that Mount Hua’s fallen disciple, Do Yecheon, had broken through that towering wall?

“Tr-Transformation?”

“That fool—no, you mean Do Yecheon has pierced the wall of Supreme Peak?”

“N-no way! At such an early age of barely thirty…”

If what Myeong Iljin-in said was true, then Do Yecheon’s evaluation and worth had completely reversed, no less than Sewoon’s own transformation.

It did not matter that seven years had been wasted.

Reaching the Transformation Realm was more than enough to compensate for those lost years.

Among the former Nine Dragons and Four Phoenixes, the highest realm attained was still only at the peak of Supreme Peak.

If this truth spread throughout the jianghu, the name “Fallen Dragon” would vanish, and he would finally soar again as the “Flying Dragon.”

But now, Myeong Iljin-in had no interest in his disciple’s attainment.

He only spoke of it to exalt Sewoon’s status.

“Had you not helped, my disciple would have perished miserably in Qi Deviation. Truly, truly, from the bottom of my heart—I thank you.”

Bow.

The Sect Leader of Mount Hua himself bowed deeply to Sewoon in utmost respect.

Even Sewoon was flustered and tried to stop him.

“Please, don’t. I am not even worthy of being called a junior.”

“What does age or seniority matter when expressing gratitude?”

“No, even so, this is far too much.”

No matter how Sewoon tried to stop him, Myeong Iljin-in only raised his head after paying full courtesy.

“And there is something I wish to give you.”

“…Pardon?”

As Sewoon tilted his head in puzzlement, Myeong Iljin-in pulled something from his robes.

It was a small wooden token with a snow-white plum blossom engraved at its center.

‘…What is that?’

Sewoon could not guess its identity—it was something he had never seen before.

Even with regression, this was something outside his knowledge.

‘W-wait!’

‘That is!!’

In contrast, the elders who saw the White Plum Token all reacted in utter shock.

Every single one of them, like Hwangbo Geon earlier, had their jaws drop wide open.

When the Murim Alliance was founded, Mount Hua had declared strict neutrality within the Alliance.

They had further announced they would not be entangled in the grudges of other orthodox factions, and ceased issuing the White Plum Token.

‘…Could it be like the Alliance Leader’s Token?’

Indeed, the White Plum Token carried the same authority and power as the Alliance Leader’s Token given to Sewoon by the Sword Emperor, granting him the aid of the Wudang Sect.

In that moment, Sewoon had gained Mount Hua as his staunch ally.

Looking at the bewildered Sewoon, Myeong Iljin-in gave a gentle smile.

“Anyone bound by fate with Mount Hua will protect your back.”

—“And if you show this token to me, I will gladly follow you, even if it costs my life.”

Myeong Iljin-in placed the value of his very life into that wooden token and handed it to Sewoon.

And so—

After hesitating, Sewoon accepted it with a heavy heart.

“I will use this with utmost caution.”

He respectfully received the White Plum Token.

Everyone in the hall was beyond surprise—they were in shock.

For Myeong Iljin-in to hand over the White Plum Token carried implications far beyond what it seemed.

‘Th-this means…!’

‘The Tang Clan has gained the wall of Mount Hua??’

‘The Neutral Faction has fallen…!’

Since the founding of the Murim Alliance, one of the three pillars of neutrality had effectively declared withdrawal.

This would utterly overturn the balance of power that Namgung Myeong and the Elder Faction had tried to shape within the Alliance.

Namgung Myeong’s chilling gaze turned toward Sewoon.

When Sewoon had received the Alliance Leader’s Token from the Sword Emperor, he had thought it mere luck.

But now it was different.

The boy had won Mount Hua with his own strength.

And with that, it became clear—

The one who could overturn the entire structure of the Murim Alliance, the decisive key player was none other than…

‘That brat—’

…Yes, the blood-stained youth before his eyes, Tang Sewoon.