The annihilation of Paewang Gate that occurred last night.
Its aftermath was considerable.
In a way, it was an inevitable sequence of events.
For a faction wielding absolute power in Hamyang County to be wiped out overnight.
However, the destruction of Paewang Gate had a much greater impact on the martial world than expected.
The first to emerge were the factions that had been holding their breath, suppressed by Paewang Gate's might; they began crawling out into the open.
No, not only did they crawl out, but they also fought to seize the interests and rights originally held by Paewang Gate.
Like wolves running amok when the tiger ruling the mountain dies.
As if that wasn't enough.
Even the factions and trading companies near Hamyang County began to eye it greedily.
The small and medium-sized factions belonging to the Bicheon Alliance.
The factions and dark path martial artists under Paewang Gate.
And even the factions belonging to the Murim Alliance.
Hamyang County turned into a muddy swamp as they gathered one by one to engage in their vicious struggles.
And the person responsible for creating this situation, which was no different from a living hell, was spending his time peacefully at the Bipung Trading Company.
"Yawn."
Like an idle youth with nothing to do, Cheonhui was lying on the bed in the separate pavilion Go Gyeyoung had prepared for him, lounging around.
Burying his body in soft fabric instead of the hard floor of a thatched hut, he muttered with a languid expression.
"I'm bored."
It had already been ten days since he stayed at the Bipung Trading Company.
During that time, he had merely repeated the cycle of eating, sleeping, and cultivating twice a day.
Of course, it was very good at first.
Since he could eat to his heart's content for the first time in a while and lie on a soft bed.
But that was only good for a day or two.
As it approached ten days, he started to get sick of it.
Swish—
Unable to bear the boredom any longer, he jumped up from the bed and grabbed his martial robes.
"I should at least get some fresh air."
While walking down the long corridor after leaving his room at a time other than meals for the first time in a while.
"Oh my."
He abruptly ran into Go Gyeyoung and Yeon Suran, who were rushing somewhere in a hurry.
Perhaps because it was a sudden encounter, the two were startled and offered their greetings.
"It's been a while, Benefactor."
"Long time no see, Benefactor."
Cheonhui looked at the two greeting him.
Go Gyeyoung had a wide smile on his lips, as if glad to see him.
On the other hand, Yeon Suran was forcing a smile, but it looked truly stiff and uncomfortable.
As if terrified.
As if familiar with their contrasting reactions, Cheonhui gave a casual greeting.
"It's been a while."
Go Gyeyoung, whose eyes widened at Cheonhui's greeting, smiled broadly once again.
"Hahaha, but for you to come out other than mealtime, did something happen?"
Go Gyeyoung asked carefully in a very quiet voice, as if afraid someone might hear, and Cheonhui answered nonchalantly.
"I just came out because I was bored?"
"Hahaha, then I will assign you a servant..."
"No. It's not necessary."
Expressing his refusal firmly, Cheonhui looked straight into Go Gyeyoung's face.
In the past two days, he had changed again.
'He treated me amicably before, but not to this extent.'
He started changing from the day Paewang Gate was reported to have been annihilated.
At that time, like the stiff Yeon Suran next to him, he had found Cheonhui difficult to deal with, but after a certain point, he began treating him amicably and entertaining him with utmost hospitality.
"Gyeyoung."
At that moment, Yeon Suran called out to Go Gyeyoung.
"We're out of time."
"Ah! That's right!"
Belatedly recalling the reason they were rushing, Go Gyeyoung bowed to Cheonhui once again.
"I apologize. I have a prior appointment, so I must go first."
"Yes, take care."
Whether he cared or not, Cheonhui spoke in a nonchalant tone, but Go Gyeyoung firmly maintained his smile and opened his mouth.
"If you need the help or funds of this trading company later, please look for me."
Go Gyeyoung said his last words and left, with Yeon Suran following behind him.
Bow—
As Yeon Suran, who had only been bowing with a constantly intimidated expression, disappeared, Cheonhui rested his chin on his hand.
'Help or money, huh... Hmm. That might come in handy later.'
While walking again, pondering the distant future.
Hah! Hah!
Small voices mixed with martial shouts struck his ears.
'This voice is...'
Instantly, as if possessed by something, he changed direction and headed for the source of the sound.
How long did he walk like that?
Soon, his field of vision captured Jeokgeom and Seolran shouting at the remaining Plum Blossom Swordsmen while teaching them the sword.
"Wake up! If you lose sight of the opponent's sword tip, how can you counterattack!"
"Y-yes, sir!"
"Yes!"
Jeokgeom was teaching Jeokun and Jeokjae, and next to him, Seolran watched Jeokbi swinging his sword before shouting.
"Jeokbi, Martial Brother! I told you to pay attention to your footwork before swinging your sword!"
"Hahaha, that... it looked easy when I just heard it, but when I actually try it, it's quite confusing."
At Jeokbi's sheepish expression, Seolran covered her face with her hands and let out a sigh.
"Haa, so I said..."
Cheonhui watched Seolran saying something to Jeokbi and approached them.
"What are you doing?"
"...!"
The five Plum Blossom Swordsmen flinched.
"Fourth Martial Uncle?"
"What brings Fourth Martial Uncle here..."
As Seolran and Jeokgeom tried to ask in bewilderment, Cheonhui asked again.
"I asked what you are doing."
Feeling the chilling air, the two quickly glued their hands to their sides and stood stiffly. Standing straight as if they had taken root in the ground, they answered briskly.
"We were teaching them martial arts!"
"We were teaching them martial arts."
Cheonhui stared at the two, who had sweat dripping from their foreheads, and narrowed his eyes.
"What? Teaching martial arts?"
With an expression of disbelief, Cheonhui looked Jeokgeom and Seolran up and down before opening his mouth.
"You guys."
Cutting off his words, he turned his gaze and stared at the remaining Plum Blossom Swordsmen.
"To them?"
"That is true, but..."
"That's because the martial brothers asked me to teach them, so I ended up..."
At Cheonhui's ridiculous reaction, the two became discouraged, their voices grew quieter and quieter, and their expressions turned gloomy.
Cheonhui clicked his tongue.
"The end of times, truly the end of times. For you bastards to be teaching anyone..."
Instantly, as if a dagger had pierced their chests, Jeokgeom and Seolran's expressions darkened.
"The help of the martial sister and martial brother was great."
"It was helpful enough."
"Rather, I'm so stupid that I can't even keep up with the martial sister's teachings."
The remaining Plum Blossom Swordsmen spoke urgently at the noticeably changing expressions of the two.
"You all..."
"Martial Brothers..."
Comforted by the three's supportive words, Jeokgeom and Seolran's complexions brightened, and the dark atmosphere enveloping them gradually faded away.
A heartwarming atmosphere.
However, that was only for them.
'What the hell are these guys doing?'
Cheonhui felt no such sentiment.
Instead, as he looked at them pathetically, an amusing thought suddenly occurred to him.
'I'm bored out of my mind, so this works out.'
He immediately put the thought into action.
"Then shall I teach them martial arts instead of you two?"
"...!"
"Gasp!"
Jeokgeom and Seolran froze on the spot.
"Are you serious?"
"We beg you!"
"Fourth Martial Uncle will teach us?"
Unlike them, the remaining Plum Blossom Swordsmen standing nearby had their eyes shining brightly.
"Why? Don't want to?"
The three shook their heads vigorously.
"No!"
"How could we."
"We would only be grateful if you teach us."
The three Plum Blossom Swordsmen speaking vigorously revealed expressions full of emotion.
In the past, they had dismissed Cheonhui as merely a young martial uncle, but not anymore.
The divine might he displayed when saving the Bipung Trading Company.
And even the annihilation of Paewang Gate.
To them, Cheonhui being their martial uncle was a matter of course, and furthermore, he was a figure they could not respect more.
For such a person to give them teachings directly.
It was an unprecedented opportunity.
Overjoyed as if they would jump, the three bowed their heads to Cheonhui simultaneously and shouted.
"Please take care of us!"
Cheonhui let the greeting go in one ear and raised the sword at his waist, scabbard and all.
"Alright. Then let's start with you first."
Pointing at Jeokun with the scabbard, he called him.
"Come here."
"Yes, sir!"
"I'll be your opponent, so show me your martial arts at full power."
Jeokun expressed his difficulty.
"Weren't you going to teach us martial arts?"
"I need to know what martial arts you've learned first before I can do anything."
"Ah, I understand."
Cheonhui glared at Jeokun, who was radiating inner energy weakly, and added.
"I said at full power, not half-heartedly."
"At full power? Will you be alright?"
Reading the thoughts contained in Jeokun's words, Cheonhui smirked.
"Why? Worried you'll hurt me with your martial arts?"
"T-that's..."
As if hit right on the mark, Jeokun flinched and trailed off, and Cheonhui cut him off sharply.
"Even if you died and came back to life, that won't happen, so stop with the useless talk and draw up your inner energy at full power."
"Y-yes, sir."
Jeokun raised his sword with a tense expression and immediately drew up his inner energy.
Radiating a momentum clearly different from before, he executed the Nine Palaces Steps and the Heavenly Flow Sword Art, which he was most confident in.
Swish— Swish—
Stepping on the nine palaces properly, the Nine Palaces Steps that dominated the space was flawless.
The Heavenly Flow Sword Art that followed.
The starting stance, power, and inner energy manipulation—the Heavenly Flow Sword Art executed perfectly in every aspect had a different caliber compared to when he fought the Paewang Gate disciples.
"What? You actually know how to execute martial arts properly?"
Seeing Jeokun approach right before his nose, Cheonhui took half a step forward and stamped a forceful step.
Thump!
The scabbard, swung at some point, stabbed into Jeokun's wide-open left flank.
Crack!
"Arghhhh!"
With the sound of something breaking, Jeokun screamed and his waist buckled.
Slump—
Dropping his sword from the pain, Jeokun clutched his side and fell to his knees.
"My, my bones..."
Looking down at Jeokun clutching his side and groaning in pain, Cheonhui moved his lips.
"Yet, you couldn't execute it like this in real combat, which is why you struggled against those lowly bastards, right?"
Jeokun's shoulders heaved.
"Pathetic bastards."
With those final words, he withdrew his gaze, then shifted it to Jeokjae and Jeokbi, who were still frozen in shock, and spoke.
"Just both of you come at me at once."
Jeokjae and Jeokbi flinched.
However, they soon took a deep breath, calmed their minds, and charged at Cheonhui.
Half a ke later.
"..."
The three Plum Blossom Swordsmen, collapsed from just a single strike each, were lying on the ground.
Standing before them, Cheonhui opened his mouth.
"Next."
When no answer came, Cheonhui furrowed his brow and raised his head. Then, glaring at Jeokgeom and Seolran, he said.
"Why aren't you coming?"
Feeling Cheonhui's gaze, the two were horrified, then pointed at themselves with trembling lips.
"...Us?"
"U-us too?"
Cheonhui's eyes grew even colder.
"Are you not going to do it?"
The two shook their heads frantically.
"N-no."
"No!"
Seeing their vigorous head-shaking, Cheonhui rested the scabbard on his shoulder and spoke.
"At the very least, you two were better than those three. You executed your martial arts calmly in real combat."
At Cheonhui's praise, which they were hearing for the first time in their lives, Jeokgeom and Seolran's faces brightened.
However, it was immediately shattered by Cheonhui's following words.
"But isn't it too miserable for skills you've learned from me for five years?"
He didn't show it, but Cheonhui was slightly annoyed.
How many times had he taught them martial arts while they were attending to him?
Yet to see them being pushed back by those lowly bastards.
Jeokgeom and Seolran dripped with sweat.
"T-that is..."
"Since it was our first real combat..."
"Bullshit. Do you think that kind of excuse works in a life-or-death fight? Your neck would be cleanly sliced off before that."
At the piercing words, the two felt their breath catch and swallowed their words.
Then, Cheonhui drove the nail in further.
"You've gotten loose because I let you live comfortably lately, right?"
Jeokgeom and Seolran's faces turned pale.
Recalling Cheonhui's teachings that they had momentarily forgotten, their minds went completely blank.
"N-no!"
"That's not..."
"No, it must have been comfortable. Otherwise, there's no way you'd struggle against those guys when I taught you..."
As he spoke, Cheonhui's aura abruptly changed.
Faced with an overwhelming presence entirely different from when he was teaching the three, the two instantly turned white in the face.
"So I'll teach you properly so that doesn't happen next time."
Emphasizing the word 'properly', a vicious inner energy exploded from all over Cheonhui's body.
"Block well."
Realizing it was already too late to reason with him, Jeokgeom and Seolran desperately drew up their inner energy and raised their swords.
But despite their resistance, only the sounds of thrashing and screams ran rampant.
Thud! Thud!
"Arghhh!"
"Tsk, you can't even dodge this?"
"If you could go easy..."
"What? Go easy? Why didn't you try asking the enemy to go easy on you back then?"
"B-but it's too fast!"
"Too fast? You're just too slow."
Cheonhui rebuked their words, swinging the scabbard incessantly to vent his anger.
And Cheonhui's scabbard wasn't aimed only at the two.
"Urk!"
"F-Fourth Martial Uncle! We..."
"If you're awake, get up."
Cheonhui struck the acupoints of the Plum Blossom Swordsmen who were pretending to be unconscious with his scabbard.
"Argh!"
"S-save..."
"Don't worry. You won't die."
Half a shichen after Cheonhui's thrashing disguised as martial arts training began.
"Groan..."
"Please stop..."
"Martial... Uncle..."
"..."
"Please..."
Cheonhui withdrew his scabbard, looking at the five trembling on the ground.
"Grovelling at just this level. I should tell the Sect Leader to select new Plum Blossom Swordsmen."
Muttering words that would have made them jump if they hadn't almost lost consciousness, he dusted off his hands and poked their corpse-like bodies with his scabbard.
"Consider that anyone who doesn't get up by the count of three will get hit more..."
Instantly sensing a threat to their lives on instinct, the five convulsed and sprang up.
"W-we're up!"
Looking at them, he twisted the corner of his mouth.
"Seeing you get up right away, this level must be fine. Then I'll go harder."
Belatedly regaining their senses, the Plum Blossom Swordsmen looked at Cheonhui and their faces turned blue.
But Cheonhui added words, completely unconcerned by their terrified expressions.
"So you'll get hit more... No. You need to do a bit more martial arts training. Right?"
"N-no."
"It's enough now..."
"No, it's still not enough."
As Cheonhui, looking a bit relieved, raised his scabbard again, the Plum Blossom Swordsmen frantically waved their hands, but...
The scabbard was swung before that.
Thud! Thud!
"Arghhhh!"
Cheonhui's thrashing disguised as training began once more, and the sound of impacts and screams filled the Bipung Trading Company.
Swipe—
And from afar, there was a pair of eyes secretly watching their figures.