Ten days and one later.
The party arrived at the Huashan Sect's mountain gate faster than when they had departed, and their mouths hung open at the magnificent sight unfolding before them.
"What in the world..."
"Am I dreaming right now?"
The group rubbed their eyes.
The narrow and treacherous mountain path, which no one except herb gatherers ever climbed, was now lined with a long procession of people.
"So many people..."
"Why is there such a line at our sect's mountain gate?"
The Huashan Sect disciples witnessing this situation for the first time pinched their cheeks with dazed faces, unsure if it was a dream or reality.
"Ow!"
"It, it's not a dream."
"It seems the rumor that the Elder defeated the White Snake God has spread to this area."
Jeokgeom, who was the first to come to his senses, blurted out with a voice full of excitement.
"Hoho. As expected!"
"I thought so too."
Everyone unconsciously nodded.
Though Jeokgeom spoke first, everyone had vaguely sensed it.
During the journey to the Huashan Sect, hadn't the way people—especially martial artists—looked at and treated them been completely different from before?
"It's all thanks to the Elder and the Primordial Heavenly Venerable."
"Amitabha."
Seeing the procession climbing the rugged mountain path, the group couldn't hide their pride.
In particular, Hyeondo and Hyeoryeo were immersed in deep emotion.
"It's been a long time since we've seen this sight."
"It really has been a long time."
Perhaps the emotions they had suppressed were welling up, but their gazes were fixed on the people in line and wouldn't move.
It was a sight they used to see every day before the Huashan Sect's reputation had fallen.
And it was also a sight they thought they might never see again.
"I didn't know this day would come again."
"I didn't think I'd see this scenery again in my lifetime."
Hyeoryeo's eyes moved quickly.
"With this much, we should be able to recover our finances."
Her eyes gazing at the people in line and their offerings were sparkling like stars.
Around the time the group was immersed in deep emotion.
'A sight I haven't seen in five years.'
Cheonhwi also looked at the procession with curiosity.
It was an unfamiliar sight he hadn't seen during his time at the Huashan Sect.
During that time, even when visitors came, they were as rare as beans sprouting in a drought, coming at most once every two days.
And even when they did come, didn't most of them offer pitifully small donations?
But to see people competing to visit and make offerings?
It felt almost awkward.
'Reputation really is important, isn't it.'
It was then.
"Th-those people..."
"It's the Taoists of the Huashan Sect!"
"Really?!"
"Wh-where? M-me too..."
Suddenly a commotion broke out.
At someone's shout, the people in line all turned their heads at once, and soon their faces were colored with surprise.
"The Huashan Sect is not famous for nothing. Look at that powerful spirit and noble demeanor."
"To climb such a rugged mountain path without a single breath out of place—they might as well be immortals."
"Even those young Taoists exude such devout and warm energy. The Huashan Sect's reputation will surely rise greatly."
A festival of embarrassing praise.
Their voices were not quiet.
Rather, they seemed slightly loud, as if wanting the Huashan Sect party to hear.
Glancing back, the corners of the following disciples' mouths were twitching.
'As if I'd be pleased by such blatant praise.'
When Cheonhwi was about to look forward again.
"That person is the Huashan Divine Sword hero..."
"As the rumors say, he has a fearsome—no. Dignified appearance."
Hearing the title 'Huashan Divine Sword,' Cheonhwi turned his head to watch Hyeondo.
"What's wrong?"
"You've become quite famous."
"Ahem."
Around the time Hyeondo let out a fake cough, perhaps feeling embarrassed about his current situation.
"Amitabha. We greet the immortals."
Greetings came from here and there.
Hyeondo and Hyeoryeo did not ignore their greetings and respectfully bowed.
"Amitabha. Thank you for traveling a long way to visit our sect."
"We're sorry for making you wait."
"N-no need!"
"There's no need to bow..."
The people in line waved their hands frantically.
Right now, the Huashan Sect's reputation was rising day by day, knowing no bounds.
Yet the Huashan Divine Sword, the center of that reputation, was thanking them for visiting, and a Taoist nun who appeared to be of equal rank was also bowing?
To mere merchants?
It was a sight hard to believe even seeing it.
'They call themselves Taoists, but they're different from the Zhongnan Sect that only demanded tribute and chased people away.'
'They're different from other sects.'
At that moment, the atmosphere softened.
"Hahaha. This is nothing."
"Indeed, there's an order, isn't there."
Hyeondo and Hyeoryeo smiled.
Their smiles were as gentle as clouds floating in the sky.
'They look quite like proper Taoists?'
Cheonhwi stared at the two.
It was completely different from their usual frivolous behavior.
After climbing while exchanging greetings for a while.
"We've arrived."
The party was able to reach the mountain gate.
'It's been a while.'
Cheonhwi gazed at the unchanged mountain gate and went inside.
It was a return that only happened after about sixty days since departing into the murim.
* * *
The Sect Leader looked at the incredibly long procession visible outside the window of Zihageak.
"...A long-cherished wish has been fulfilled."
Instantly, his expression softened.
Who could have predicted it?
That the fallen reputation and status of the Huashan Sect would rebound like this.
Just a few days ago, it was hard to believe. But now it had become reality.
Hoho. The reason it could become so...
Bang—
"Sect Leader Senior Brother!"
The thought was interrupted.
Nevertheless, an even more widespread smile lingered on his lips.
"You've come."
The Sect Leader looked at Hyeondo and Cheonhwi who appeared after opening the door of Zihageak.
It was all thanks to those two.
"We finally did it!"
The Sect Leader smiled softly as he watched Hyeondo shouting as if the sky were falling.
"Hohoho, I know. Calm down and take a seat first. Above all, shouldn't I hear the proper situation from you?"
Hyeondo took a seat, and following him, Cheonhwi also sat in the seat next to him.
"Then I'd like to hear the detailed circumstances from the beginning."
Cheonhwi, looking at the Sect Leader's gaze, frowned and pointed at himself with his index finger.
"I start?"
At the Sect Leader's nodding gesture, Cheonhwi sighed and slowly recalled the journey so far before opening his mouth.
"No need to explain what happened on the way, right?"
"If there was nothing important, it doesn't matter."
"Then I'll skip it."
Cheonhwi said with a relieved expression.
"So when we arrived at the Bifeng Trading Company, they had already been attacked and suffered from fire..."
The report continued.
The Bifeng Trading Company being attacked.
Destroying the Paewang Sect, the fact that Baekgwiseong was behind them, and defeating the Ghost Slaying Squad.
"And a few days later, Hyeondo Sabaek came..."
"I'll take over from there."
Hyeondo interrupted while Cheonhwi was hesitatingly continuing the story, recalling his memories.
"That's fine with me."
Cheonhwi, who found it bothersome to talk anyway, thought 'good idea' and immediately passed it over.
"When I arrived at the Bifeng Trading Company, I met Biyeongeomgun at the entrance."
The Sect Leader's eyes half-closed.
"So you met him then."
"Yes. During the time with Biyeongeomgun..."
Hyeondo began to talk about what had happened with an excited face.
'This is going to take a while?'
Seeing signs that Hyeondo's story would be long, Cheonhwi leaned back against the chair and sipped the tea the Sect Leader had prepared.
Around the time he took a few sips of tea.
"Cheonhwi?!"
Turning his head at the sound of his name mixed in a startled voice, the Sect Leader was looking at him with a serious face.
"Was it you who first proposed attacking Baekgwiseong?"
'What, he's making a big deal out of that?'
Cheonhwi answered nonchalantly.
"Yes."
The corners of the Sect Leader's eyes twitched.
"Why did you do such a thing?"
"They kept picking fights."
"J-just because of that?"
"And they're enemies. Can't leave them alone forever, so I killed two birds with one stone."
The Sect Leader was at a loss for words.
"Even so, to try to attack Baekgwiseong..."
"The timing was perfect too. They were being careless anyway, so it was good."
"But that's... Sigh. Never mind."
At Cheonhwi's nonchalant words, the Sect Leader pressed his forehead and shook his head from side to side.
"I'll let this one pass. But never do that again from next time. I'm worried something might happen to you."
"Well, depends on the situation."
With those words, Cheonhwi sipped his tea.
At such an attitude, the Sect Leader's head throbbed, but he couldn't say anything.
'Given Cheonhwi's personality, he'll do as he pleases...'
"Sigh..."
A deep sigh flowed from his dantian.
'How did he change so much.'
Perhaps it was a rebellion against his sickly past, but ever since he learned martial arts, he had become arrogant and fearless.
As if he had become a different person.
"Then, unlike the rumors spreading in the world, it wasn't just Hyeondo and Biyeongeomgun who attacked Baekgwiseong, but the three of you together."
"Yes."
The Sect Leader closed his eyes for a moment.
Tapping the table with his index finger as if thinking about something, he nodded and asked Hyeondo in a low voice.
"What did you do after that?"
"First, to get information about Baekgwiseong, I met the Beggar Sect's Hougae."
"The Beggar Sect's Hougae...?"
At the appearance of an unexpected figure, the Sect Leader's eyes flashed.
"Which numbered Hougae are you talking about?"
"I don't know now, but at the time I heard it was the ninth."
"The ninth..."
The Sect Leader shook his head.
The Beggar Sect's Hougae total twenty people.
He didn't remember each and every one of them.
"I cut you off needlessly. Continue with the story."
As Hyeondo continued the explanation, Cheonhwi tried to pour tea into his cup.
'Already empty?'
Frowning, Cheonhwi put down the teacup and blankly watched the two talking.
'When will this end.'
Their conversation was extremely monotonous.
Mostly Hyeondo talked, and the Sect Leader would chime in a few times or ask about things he was curious about.
Listening with half an ear, before he knew it, their conversation was gradually coming to a conclusion.
"Then..."
The Sect Leader's eyes half-closed.
He looked at Hyeondo, who was beaming with joy, then shifted his gaze to Cheonhwi.
"How was the White Snake God defeated?"
"Cheonhwi knows that better than I do."
"......"
"Cheonhwi defeated him."
The arrow of conversation was directed at Cheonhwi.
Cheonhwi made eye contact with the Sect Leader, who was looking at him with a stiff face, and nodded.
"He just died."
"Huh..."
At Cheonhwi's definitive words, the Sect Leader couldn't hide his astonishment.
When he heard the rumor that the White Snake God was defeated, he thought the three of them had combined attacks.
But that wasn't the case.
Cheonhwi had defeated him alone.
'Amazing. How amazing. I thought Cheonhwi's skill was extraordinary, but to think he'd defeat the White Snake God alone.'
He couldn't hide his admiration.
He was only twenty years old.
Not only had he reached the Cheonmu Realm, but he had also defeated the White Snake God, one of the absolute masters who ruled the murim.
It was like looking at those called Cheonoeecheon.
'No, even they at twenty...'
In an instant, admiration turned into worry.
In the current peaceful murim, the emergence of someone as exceptionally strong as Cheonhwi could make him a person to be wary of for the Guju Three Hegemons.
Like the youngest junior disciple, Hyeongang.
"So that's why you erased the information about Cheonhwi, Junior Brother."
"Yes. When delivering to the Beggar Sect's Hougae, I changed the information. Lying is a great sin, but for Cheonhwi's sake..."
"You did well."
The Sect Leader praised Hyeondo, who had trailed off at the end, expecting to be reprimanded.
"As you think, we must hide Cheonhwi as much as possible for now. Even if he's discovered later, we must delay that time as much as possible."
The Sect Leader glanced at Cheonhwi.
Even though they were talking about him, Cheonhwi was completely at ease.
As if he had no interest.
They say a sharp awl in a sack will always pierce through.
Cheonhwi was so outstanding that his true worth would inevitably be revealed someday.
But that didn't mean he would give up!
He couldn't protect his youngest junior disciple.
And he couldn't protect his disciple Cheonhwi either?
That must not happen.
'No matter what!'
The Sect Leader's eyes deepened.
Then, perhaps conscious of Cheonhwi, the Sect Leader carefully spoke to him.
"But I'm truly sorry to you. The opportunity to gain great fame..."
"No. I don't really mind. That little fame doesn't feed me or anything."
Cheonhwi looked at the Sect Leader who suddenly spoke to him and said nonchalantly.
No, he really didn't care.
'What use is such a tiny amount of fame.'
To him, who had made a name for himself not only in the past murim but also among the Guju Eight Emperors, this level of fame was barely worth a snort.
However, the Sect Leader thought Cheonhwi's nonchalant words and attitude were an attempt to hide his feelings, and said with a bitter smile.
"I'm truly sorry."
At that moment, Hyeondo thrust his face toward the Sect Leader, his lips trembling.
"More than that, Senior Brother, finally, finally... we've achieved revenge for the youngest junior disciple."
The Sect Leader, who had been listening to Hyeondo's voice filled with deep emotion, slowly closed his eyes.
"Yes."
He too, despite his position as Sect Leader, had been trying to remain composed, but his emotions had been welling up since the rumors first reached him.
Even now.
"...You did it."
The Sect Leader spoke while suppressing emotions that seemed about to burst forth like a waterfall.
He wanted to cheer right that moment, but he had to maintain his dignity.
Soon, he gathered his emotions and spoke.
"You really... worked hard."
It was a short sentence.
But that was enough for Hyeondo.
Because he knew what the Sect Leader had been thinking in that brief moment.
"Hahaha. What hard work? It's all thanks to our Cheonhwi."
Hyeondo, who spoke while laughing heartily, looked at Cheonhwi with a proud expression.
As he said, it was thanks to Cheonhwi.
It was Cheonhwi who suggested attacking Baekgwiseong first, and it was Cheonhwi who defeated the White Snake God.
Without Cheonhwi, they would never have been able to get their revenge.
"Hohoho. Before the youngest junior disciple departed, he left a precious treasure for our sect."
Cheonhwi looked at the two old men for a moment, not knowing whether they were crying or laughing, then moved his lips.
"Well, it seems like there's nothing left to talk about, so can I go now?"