The next day after arriving at the Huashan Sect.
Knock, knock—
"...Are you there?"
"Ugh—"
Tianhui, who had sought sleep in the thatched cottage after a long time, woke up to the noisy sounds coming from outside early in the morning.
"What is it?"
Rising with still groggy, unfocused eyes, he pulled the door open with an expression full of annoyance.
"At the crack of dawn, what..."
He was about to complain but stopped short.
"I apologize for the early hour."
Seeing Xianqing, Tianhui furrowed his brows.
"What is the matter at this hour?"
"There is something I wish to confirm."
Tianhui scratched the back of his head.
If it had been Chijian or Xuelan, he would have chased them out immediately, but the other person was Xianqing.
"Sigh, come in."
"Excuse me."
Xianqing strode into the room.
He looked around the room and spoke to ease the heavy atmosphere.
"This place hasn't changed from before."
"There's nothing to change."
At Tianhui's nonchalant words, Xianqing smiled lightly and took a seat. Following suit, Tianhui sat across from him and asked.
"So, why did you come?"
"I will ask you directly. Tianhui, was it you who defeated Baishashen?"
Xianqing's voice was low.
Seeing Xianqing staring at him with a serious expression, Tianhui felt a tension in his brows.
'...He already knows.'
Perhaps having already heard of what he had done, there was no wavering in Xianqing's eyes.
And that thought was correct.
Xianqing had visited Xiandao last night.
—Was it Tianhui?
A question that cut straight to the chase.
But it was filled with certainty.
He had rejoiced upon hearing the rumor that Xiandao had defeated Baishashen and annihilated Baiguicheng, but it was hard to believe entirely.
Although they were both experts of the Tianwu realm, compared to Baishashen, who had been in the Tianwu realm for a long time, Xiandao currently fell short.
Moreover, he annihilated Baiguicheng on top of that?
Even with the help of the Feiyan Jianjun, it was an impossible feat.
'But if it's Tianhui...'
He thought it might be possible.
That was how deep Xianqing's belief and trust in Tianhui's skills, which he had witnessed, ran.
And that expectation was correct.
—Senior Brother, I told you because you know of Tianhui's talent, but this fact must be kept secret. If it becomes known that the one who defeated Baishashen is not me, but Tianhui, a similar disaster to the youngest junior brother could occur.
—Do not worry about that. I too would decline for such a thing to happen...
Xianqing agreed as if it were a matter of course.
Why had they fallen out with Baiguicheng?
It was because Baiguicheng grew jealous when the talent of the youngest junior brother, the Plum Blossom Sword Hero Xianjiang, became known.
Yet, if the existence of Tianhui, whose talent surpasses that of the youngest junior brother, is revealed?
This time, instead of the Liuhuangmen, the Sihelian might step forward directly.
Right then, Tianhui opened his mouth.
"Yes."
"As expected..."
Xianqing's eyes shook greatly.
He had already confirmed it with Xiandao, but hearing it directly from Tianhui stirred his emotions.
Soon, he quickly reached out, grasped both of Tianhui's hands, and bowed his head deeply.
"I am truly sorry and grateful. For something we should have resolved..."
His voice was damp with moisture.
"Thank you truly."
For a moment, Tianhui felt something profound.
Who had ever thanked him with such sincerity?
There was none in his memory.
'It's not a bad feeling.'
Perhaps because his heart had softened, the hands holding his felt warm.
"Thanks to you, a long-cherished wish has been resolved."
"Is that so? That's quite a relief."
Xianqing slowly raised his head.
On his wrinkled face, a bright smile like a blooming flower, the likes of which had never been seen in his life, blossomed.
"Then I too can no longer just stay cooped up. I will visit again later."
Leaving those meaningful words, Xianqing released his hands and left the thatched cottage.
"My sleep has completely fled."
Scratching his messy hair, Tianhui went outside and sat at the edge of the cliff.
"Let's organize what happened then, for now."
Closing both eyes, he recalled his opponent.
A man, entirely white, blooming like smoke within the pitch-black darkness.
That was Baishashen.
In the illusion, he began to use the qi art he had unleashed at the very end: Jiutian Yalei.
'So that's how it is?'
Recalling the qi art Baishashen had used, he slowly drew up his inner qi.
Whirr—
Materialized inner qi faintly bloomed across his entire body, making his Taoist robes flutter.
'Flow the inner qi this way...'
Tianhui's eyes slowly opened.
Mimicking the qi art Baishashen had used for a brief moment, he moved his hand.
Soon, the moment his hand swept grandly.
Swoosh—
A vortex formed in the empty air where only a light breeze had been blowing just moments ago, pulling in all the surrounding air.
"Like this."
He stared blankly at the vortex, or more precisely, the space compressed by inner qi.
"If I draw up more inner qi here and press down hard to seal my movements even a little."
A leaf that drifted into the distorted air was completely compressed and crumbled away.
A moment later.
Whirr—
He gathered the inner qi he had drawn up.
With that, the raging vortex vanished in an instant, and the surroundings grew quiet.
'It's decent, but I won't be able to use it in actual combat.'
It was a powerful qi art, but its flaws were just as pronounced.
He had only executed it for a very short time, but most of the inner qi in his lower dantian had already been depleted.
"Tsk. If only I had more inner qi."
Of course, if he wanted to use it, he could do so right then.
However, if asked whether he would use it at the cost of consuming so much inner qi, the answer was an absolute no.
"I wouldn't know if I learned the inner qi cultivation method he practiced, but like this, it's only half-baked."
He recalled Baishashen at that time.
The power of Jiutian Yalei, unleashed alongside his unique inner qi, was tremendous.
So much so that even he, who was stingy with praise, had no choice but to acknowledge his martial prowess.
That was only natural, considering he had to use the Juedui Junlin Gong, which he had sworn not to use in this lifetime, against him.
"I must accumulate inner qi."
Tianhui observed his lower dantian.
Meihua Shengong was an outstanding cultivation method.
He could confidently say it was the best among the peerless martial arts he knew.
However, due to his insufficient inner qi and physical body, it had not fully bloomed.
He had to make this Meihua Shengong bloom.
Completely and thoroughly.
If that happened, he could proudly say there would be no rival in the world. No, throughout all of history.
But that was a story for when it bloomed.
Right now, he had been pushed back, overwhelmed even by Baishashen.
"I need to make Meihua Shengong bloom."
Tianhui's dark-red gaze flashed.
He had a strong competitive spirit since his past life.
Whether it was an enemy, an ally, martial arts, or any kind of pivotal moment, it didn't matter.
He had to place the world beneath his feet.
Yet, the fact that he had to use Juedui Junlin Gong against mere Baishashen was a crack in his pride.
"Something like that will never happen again."
* * *
The next day, at Yunchonglou.
The Sect Leader scanned the people who had taken their seats before he arrived, one by one.
"Hehehe, it seems we are holding grand meetings frequently as of late."
The Sect Leader looked at the people around him who were barely suppressing their excited expressions and opened his mouth.
"The reason I gathered you today is to make a major announcement."
A brief silence flowed for a moment.
The Sect Leader seemed to like that atmosphere, nodded lightly, and continued.
"We plan to open the mountain gates of the Huashan Sect within a year."
"...!"
"...Does that mean!"
A few people stood up abruptly.
Those who gasped blinked their eyes and asked carefully.
"Are you saying we will take in disciples?"
"That is correct."
Those who had stood up were dumbfounded.
They had thought the reason for holding the grand meeting today was to announce the rumors regarding Xiandao and Baiguicheng.
But to take in disciples!
Everyone's minds went blank at the Sect Leader's shocking announcement.
The Sect Leader smiled and continued speaking.
"Hehehe, it's been quite a while since we took in disciples at the main mountain, hasn't it? This time, our finances are sufficient, and our fame has risen high. Besides, there will be many disciples wanting to enter the mountain, so when else would we open the gates if not now?"
As the Sect Leader spoke word by word, everyone nodded up and down in silent agreement.
Just as the situation was flowing that way.
"S-Sect Leader!"
Xianxu, who had been lost in thought, came to his senses.
"The disciples of the Chizi Generation are still not skilled enough to teach martial arts. And the disciples of the Tianzi Generation are too few in number to teach the new disciples."
"Do not worry about that."
"How can I not worry..."
"Fortunately, it is not too late."
At the voice that suddenly interrupted, the gathered people's heads snapped around.
"This voice is..."
Seeing Xianqing, they were appalled.
Xianqing's appearance was completely unexpected, when it was hard enough just to see him attend a meeting.
"D-Did you come to attend the meeting?"
"Hehe. Why else would I be here?"
"Please sit here."
The Sect Leader pointed to the empty seat next to him that had always been vacant.
"Then excuse me."
As Xianqing took his seat, the Sect Leader scanned the still-shocked crowd and spoke.
"Senior Brother Xianqing said he will take charge of the disciples who will be newly entering the mountain."
"...Gasp!"
Everyone gasped in unison.
"Senior Brother Xianqing?"
"Hehe. Am I lacking?"
"N-No!"
Xianxu said, startled.
"It's just surprising that Senior Brother, who was restoring martial arts at Manjingge, would suddenly teach disciples directly..."
"There's no need for that anymore, is there?"
Xianqing smiled gently.
"Since Xiandao has achieved what I so desperately wanted."
At his mention of Xiandao, a topic everyone had completely forgotten came to mind.
"N-Now that you mention it, Senior Brother Xiandao defeating Baishashen..."
"It is true."
Xiandao replied with a smile.
"Aah. Finally, revenge..."
"Amitabha."
"He did it."
Everyone's eyes welled up with tears.
They had been overwhelmed with emotion from the moment they heard the rumors, but hearing it directly from the person involved felt completely different.
When everyone could not hide their joy.
"Is there still something you are worried about?"
The Sect Leader asked, looking at Xianxu.
"There is not."
"If there are no further objections, I will take it that everyone agrees to open the mountain gates of the Huashan Sect."
"Hahaha! Good."
"We have been waiting for this."
"Amitabha."
The Sect Leader glanced at Xiandao.
The two exchanged glances and smiled.
There were only four people here who knew of Tianhui's true skill.
The Sect Leader, Xianlü, Xiandao, and Xianqing.
Only those who had deep ties with Tianhui.
Because of that, without exception, they did not mention Tianhui's true martial prowess or identity.
It was then.
Tap, tap, tap!
Everyone's heads turned downward.
Beneath the clouds, a Taoist entered Yunchonglou, stepping with agile footwork.
"Who dares during a grand meeting..."
The Wuliange Master frowned, but the Taoist stepped into Yunchonglou.
"Hah, hah. Gulp. I apologize for interrupting the meeting. There is something I must deliver urgently, so I committed this breach of etiquette to enter."
The Taoist who suddenly entered, Tianshou, the Vice Pavilion Master of Zailingge, apologized respectfully.
Sensing something unusual from his urgent demeanor, which contrasted with his respectful appearance, the Sect Leader spoke.
"...What is the matter?"
Tianshou raised his head.
Looking at the people in Yunchonglou with eyes full of urgency, he opened his mouth.
"A l-letter has arrived from the Alliance!"