The sudden visit from the Zhuge Clan threw the once-quiet Huashan Sect into an uproar.
"The Zhuge Clan came to our mountain?"
"Why would they……?"
The Daoists of the Huashan Sect stared at the Zhuge Clan's party, openly revealing their doubt and hostility.
The Eight Great Families and the Nine Sects One Faction.
They had already crossed an irreversible river as enemies, so this was only natural.
The tense atmosphere persisted.
"Everyone, quiet down."
But soon, a low voice brought the commotion to an end.
The Sect Leader, who had appeared without notice, passed through the Daoists and approached the Zhuge Clan's party to ask.
"What business does the Zhuge Clan have in visiting this mountain?"
At the entirely unwelcoming tone, the Zhuge Clan's party was momentarily flustered before Zhuge Seonghyeon stepped forward.
"This humble one greets the Sect Leader of the Huashan Sect."
Zhuge Seonghyeon, who performed a respectful cupped-hand salute and greeted first, raised his head.
"I am Zhuge Seonghyeon of the Zhuge Clan. I have visited Huashan to accept the commission that your clan requested of us this time."
"……Commission?"
The Sect Leader's eyes narrowed.
"What do you mean, commission?"
"Did you not send a letter directly to the Lord of our Clan this time?"
Instantly, the Sect Leader's eyes sank.
A letter to the Lord of the Zhuge Clan?
Such a thing had absolutely never happened.
"I have never sent a letter."
Just as Zhuge Seonghyeon was growing flustered at the Sect Leader's demeanor of knowing nothing at all.
"But Huashan Sect's Cheonhwi……."
"I called them."
Cheonhwi appeared between the two.
The Zhuge Clan's party was terrified upon witnessing that astonishing divine presence.
But what surprised them more was.
'This person is Cheonhwi?'
It was Zhuge Seonghyeon.
'How can he be so young…….'
It was an appearance he had never imagined.
The blueprints drawn in the letter clearly carried the weight of long years of experience.
That wasn't all.
The detailed mechanism formations within it looked like they were designed by someone who had spent their entire life researching formations.
Yet he appeared to be around the same age as himself.
'Who taught him?'
Meanwhile, Cheonhwi also observed Zhuge Seonghyeon closely.
'They sent someone younger than expected as the representative.'
Briefly, it was the same thought as Zhuge Seonghyeon's.
The checkpoints based on the Heavenly Demon Ten Passes within the blueprints were quite complex.
'I thought at least an elder would come.'
He turned his gaze and scanned the people behind Zhuge Seonghyeon, but not a single outstanding individual was among them.
'Do they even know how to build this properly?'
Just as Cheonhwi wore an expression of clear doubt, the Sect Leader's voice came.
"What is the meaning of this?"
The Sect Leader asked in a stiff, rigid tone entirely different from before.
It was a tone that sounded like a rebuke.
'Should I have told the Sect Leader?'
He understood the Sect Leader's feelings.
The Zhuge Clan and the Huashan Sect were enemies.
Yet he had summoned them to the main mountain without even telling the Sect Leader, so concern was inevitable.
"I commissioned the Zhuge Clan."
"What kind of commission?"
The Sect Leader's brow furrowed.
"I'm trying to create checkpoints to help the disciples of the Huashan Sect grow, and I needed mechanism formations for that."
"……This is the first I'm hearing of this."
"I forgot to mention it."
At Cheonhwi's words, the Sect Leader pressed his throbbing head with one hand and spoke.
"Was the Zhuge Clan necessary for this?"
"If the Huashan Sect is to grow stronger as quickly as possible."
Hearing Cheonhwi's calm voice, the Sect Leader's heart shook greatly.
'It's necessary for the Huashan Sect to grow stronger, huh.'
Calling the Zhuge Clan without telling him was a bit insolent, but hearing the reason softened his heart.
'If Cheonhwi says so…….'
Among the things Cheonhwi had done so far, there was nothing that hadn't helped the sect.
He recalled the things Cheonhwi had accomplished.
Completing various missions and subjugating the Hundred Ghost Fortress.
Crafting growth elixirs for the Plum Blossom Sword Guards.
Each and every one was a great undertaking, and all were things that benefited the Huashan Sect.
He nodded lightly.
His conclusion was that if it was something Cheonhwi was doing, it was worth trusting blindly.
"I will properly hear the details of this matter later."
The Sect Leader immediately turned his head.
Along with that, he offered a light bow to the Zhuge Clan's party and parted his lips.
"Amitabha. I welcome your visit."
"Ah, no, thank you."
Just as Zhuge Seonghyeon was flustered by the Sect Leader's attitude, which had changed like flipping a palm.
"But is this everyone you have?"
Cheonhwi spoke while looking at the party.
"That is so, but……."
Cheonhwi made a displeased expression.
With twenty people, it seemed like it would take much longer than expected to complete the checkpoints he had already designed.
"I want to complete this as quickly as possible. Will it be possible within the timeframe with this many people?"
"What are you saying right now……!"
"Do you know who we are!"
Just as the Zhuge Clan's party was getting riled up.
"Please calm down."
Zhuge Seonghyeon stopped the party with a calm voice and met Cheonhwi's gaze.
"The people I brought here are among the best in our Clan. We can finish any commission swiftly."
"Even the commission I sent?"
"That is correct."
Oh-ho.
Cheonhwi looked at him with unexpected eyes.
The martial arts he had learned were meager.
Barely second-rate?
But regardless of his martial prowess, he was confident.
'Confidence is good. But if you can't meet the deadline properly.'
The corners of Cheonhwi's lips twisted.
"Let's trust you for now, then."
* * *
Sitting face to face with Cheonhwi, Zhuge Seonghyeon spread out the blueprints he had carefully brought in his embrace.
From being unfolded and handled so many times on the way here, the once stiff letter had become crumpled and darkened from the oils of his hands.
"I have confirmed the blueprints."
Zhuge Seonghyeon's face hardened.
"Can the mechanism formations operate according to the design?"
Seeing Zhuge Seonghyeon speaking stiffly, Cheonhwi nodded.
"Yes."
"All of this?"
"You can verify it after everything is built."
Zhuge Seonghyeon clicked his tongue.
"Very well. Then let us begin discussing these checkpoints now."
His expression completely changed.
The stiff face from just a moment ago was somehow beaming with a smile.
It was like the innocent face of a child who had discovered something interesting.
"I roughly understand the blueprints. But I have some questions. First, from here……."
Zhuge Seonghyeon pointed to the seven unfolded blueprint sheets and continued speaking.
Seeing that, Cheonhwi's eyes narrowed.
'As expected of the Zhuge Clan.'
It wasn't enough that he grasped the blueprints at a single glance when most people would struggle to even comprehend them; he was piercing through to the core and asking about it.
Meanwhile, after having their entire conversation, Zhuge Seonghyeon clicked his tongue without realizing it.
'They say there's a sky above the sky.'
He had been revered as a genius in the Zhuge Clan and had thought so himself.
But that wasn't the case.
Today, he had met a true genius.
"But is it really okay to proceed as is?"
Zhuge Seonghyeon asked cautiously with a tense face.
"If it's built like this, someone could be severely injured if they make even the slightest mistake."
The blueprints he had read over and over on the way to Huashan Sect had made him exclaim in admiration at the unique methods of the mechanism formations and battle formations.
But as time passed, he grew appalled.
'For a Daoist checkpoint, it's cruel.'
The checkpoint utilizing mechanism formations and battle formations looked more like something used by martial-obsessed sects rather than a Daoist one.
'Right, like the Demonic Cult's…….'
Zhuge Seonghyeon shook his head fiercely.
This was the Huashan Sect. How could he think of the Demonic Cult?
"Wouldn't it be better to change it to be a bit safer?"
"No."
Cheonhwi cut his words short.
"As long as they don't die, it doesn't matter."
"A-as long as they don't die?"
"Yes."
At those words, Zhuge Seonghyeon was flustered.
What Daoist would say such a thing?
And what Daoist would emit such a gaze?
Seeing the horrifyingly cold and rational eyes, Zhuge Seonghyeon swallowed.
"Phew. I understand. Then we will begin construction as is starting tomorrow. May I ask you to take direct command over some of these mechanism formations to ensure we understand them completely?"
Zhuge Seonghyeon spoke smoothly.
"That was my plan."
As Cheonhwi answered nonchalantly, Zhuge Seonghyeon placed the blueprints back into his embrace.
"Then I will take my leave now."
He rose and was about to leave before stopping.
"By the way, have you decided on a name for this checkpoint?"
Cheonhwi smiled broadly.
"Plum Blossom Seven Gates (Meihwa Chilgwan)."
* * *
The Sect Leader stared at several sheets of paper densely filled with drawings and writing.
"So this is the Plum Blossom Seven Gates?"
"Yes."
"Let me see it for now."
Immediately, the Sect Leader unfolded the papers.
"Hm? This is……!"
The Sect Leader's eyes widened.
Then, as he alternated between looking at the drawings and writing on the paper, the Sect Leader's hands began moving faster and faster.
'Good heavens! You mean martial arts are trained like this? But if it's like this, the body won't hold up before even surpassing the beginning level! But with this method…….'
The more he read, the more his mind became dizzy.
The total of seven checkpoints were each so complex that passing a single one was difficult, and the results were extremely harsh.
'Asceticism (Kuhaeng), and even then, what asceticism.'
It was ambiguous to even call it asceticism.
It was as if everything else had been excluded for the sole purpose of growing stronger.
His hand holding the papers trembled.
"……Did you really come up with this?"
"Yes."
"Do you think it will turn out as this result says?"
"It's entirely possible."
At Cheonhwi's answer, he clicked his tongue.
They were certainly harsh checkpoints, but the results would be enough to overshadow everything.
'Phew. I thought there would be nothing more about Cheonhwi that could surprise me.'
His head was complicated.
Martial arts talent, followed by medical talent.
Now even architectural talent.
It was enough to make him laugh in disbelief.
"How is it? Acceptable, right?"
At Cheonhwi's question, the Sect Leader pondered.
If they created these checkpoints exactly as written and trained the disciples, it was safe to say they would show rapid growth.
However.
"While each one is certainly a good checkpoint, it places too much emphasis on the martial side."
"It's a checkpoint for martial achievement, after all."
"You're forgetting one thing."
The Sect Leader glared straight at Cheonhwi.
"This sect is of the Daoist school."
"And a Murim sect, isn't it?"
At the rebuttal, the Sect Leader's eyes half-closed.
After looking at Cheonhwi with a sharp glint for a moment, the corners of the Sect Leader's eyes curved.
"Indeed. You are right."
Cheonhwi made an expression of surprise.
'I didn't think he'd admit it right away.'
Cheonhwi shrugged.
"Then you're giving me permission?"
"Haha. Did you think I would refuse?"
"As you said, it's a Daoist school, for now."
"Haha. In the past I would have refused as you said, but not anymore."
The Sect Leader's voice deepened.
"Whether cultivating the Dao or acting with righteousness, both are only possible when one has power. How can one without power cry out for justice and the Dao in the Murim?"
There was weight to the Sect Leader's words.
No matter how much one practiced justice and the Dao, without power, one would ultimately only die.
'Now he's acting a bit more like the Sect Leader of a proper sect.'
Just as Cheonhwi was looking at the Sect Leader's demeanor with an approving expression.
"But Cheonhwi."
The Sect Leader spoke to him.
"If you're planning things like this next time, please tell me first."
"Ah, I'll do that from next time."
Hearing Cheonhwi's definite answer, the Sect Leader smiled gently and stroked his beard.
"But there are quite a lot of materials needed to build the checkpoints."
"That's why I'm going to go look for them."
Cheonhwi's gaze headed in one direction.
That place was the Jaeryeongak, which was responsible for the Huashan Sect's finances.
Meanwhile, Hyeonryeo, who was in the Jaeryeongak, pressed her index finger firmly against her forehead as if her head was throbbing from seeing the documents piled like a mountain on her desk.
"Phew."
A deep breath came from the bottom of her lungs.
"At least this is good news."
She held the letter in front of her.
The letter, which clearly looked to be made of high-quality gold thread, bore the seal of the Lord of Qinghai Province.
"One hundred Gold Yuan Bao."
Instantly, Hyeonryeo let out a laugh.
She had been pinching pennies to save money in order to open the gates of the Huashan Sect.
But with this unexpected large sum of money coming in, it was only natural for laughter to emerge.
Knock— Knock—
"What is it?"
"I have something to discuss."
Hearing a voice other than the heavy voice of the Vice Pavilion Master that should have come, Hyeonryeo hurriedly rose from her seat and opened the door.
Standing at the door was the owner of the voice, Cheonhwi.
Hyeonryeo immediately embraced Cheonhwi.
"Hwi!"
"It's been a while."
Cheonhwi answered nonchalantly.
Being embraced by her was no longer a first or second time, so he was now used to it.
Hyeonryeo released the hug and raised her head.
"When did you return?"
"About three days ago."
"Three days?"
The corners of Hyeonryeo's eyes went up.
Soon, she glared at somewhere, then ground her teeth and shook her head.
'No, let's not pay any more attention to it.'
Lately, she had been deliberately putting a little distance between herself and Cheonhwi.
It was partly due to the request of the Eldest Senior Brother and Hyeondo Senior Brother.
But it was also because she had felt something as she watched Cheonhwi grow day by day.
The fact that Cheonhwi was far too great of an existence to remain merely in her embrace.
So she intended to let go.
"Right. You said you had something to discuss?"
"Yes."
"It'd be awkward to talk out here, so come inside."
Hyeonryeo guided him into the room right away.
'It's like entering Maro's room.'
Cheonhwi surveyed the room.
Documents that had clearly been approved, and the papers piled high on top of them.
Just seeing that, he could tell how hard she had been working alone.
'This is quite a bothersome task.'
Recalling Maro, who had once handled most of the Cult Lord's duties, a smile formed on his face without him realizing.
In his previous life where everyone was an enemy, Maro was the only figure he could trust.
Just as he was naturally sinking into memories.
"……hey, Hwi!"
Hyeonryeo's call brought him back to reality.
Regaining his senses, Cheonhwi sat on what appeared to be an old chair and immediately stated his purpose.
"I'm here to procure some supplies."
"Supplies? What supplies?"
"Supplies needed to build the Plum Blossom Seven Gates."
"Plum Blossom Seven Gates?"
"It's the checkpoint we're building this time. I've already received permission from the Sect Leader as well."
"……I understand."
Hyeonryeo hid her bewilderment, grabbed a brush, and prepared to write.
Seeing that, Cheonhwi opened his mouth.
"First, two hundred arrows without arrowheads, and……."
"T-two hundred arrows?"
Hyeonryeo, who had been moving her brush, was startled.
"Do you need that many arrows?"
"I have a use for them. If you're really curious, you can ask the Sect Leader."
Cheonhwi mentioned the Sect Leader and then resumed his paused words.
"After the arrows, five hundred Wall Valley Pills and five torches……."
As the words continued, Hyeonryeo found it increasingly difficult to hide her bewilderment.
Eventually, at Cheonhwi's final words, even the hand moving the brush stopped.
And her mouth fell wide open.
"And lastly, two Night-Bright Pearls as well."