Genius Martial Arts Trainer

Plum Blossom Sword Saint

Thanks to Mu-jin taking care of the three attackers, Hye-geol felt the battle become somewhat easier. However, this didn’t mean he had the luxury to deal with the attackers leisurely. He had only progressed from being desperate to defend and evade to being able to handle it reasonably well.

When Mu-jin struck another attacker in the head while getting a wound on his side, a powerful voice imbued with immense inner energy erupted:

“How dare you set your filthy foot in the Great Mount Hua!”

Though they were too busy fighting to identify the source of the voice, others helpfully identified it for them.

“Great Elder!”

“Senior Brother!!”

The figure who was both the senior brother of the attackers and the person the Mount Hua disciples referred to as the Great Elder was none other than the first martial artist of Shaanxi, Plum Blossom Sword Saint Yunsun.

Though it was a shameful situation for Hye-geol as a senior monk of Shaolin, his attention naturally turned to Mu-jin upon hearing about Yunsun’s arrival.

When Mu-jin first suggested attacking Mount Hua, Hye-geol had argued that despite many disciples leaving, the Plum Blossom Sword Saint would still be there. The answer Mu-jin gave was:

“I know.”

Even knowing that the Plum Blossom Sword Saint was present, Mu-jin still intended to attack Mount Hua. To temper what seemed like excessive confidence, Hye-geol had asked:

“Are you saying your skills surpass those of a master of the Seven Kings?”

Mu-jin had shook his head at the ridiculous notion.

“I don’t claim to surpass the masters of the Seven Kings. But I do know the weakness of the Plum Blossom Sword Saint.”

With such confident eyes, Hye-geol had decided to trust Mu-jin, given his previous actions.

And now, Mu-jin, who had confidently claimed he could handle the Plum Blossom Sword Saint, was busy creating another hole in an attacker’s abdomen.

‘Tch. Have these old men lived such comfortable lives that they’ve lost all sense of real combat?’

However, Mu-jin’s actions provoked the Plum Blossom Sword Saint.

“You rascal!”

With his roar, an unseen barrage of sword energy shot towards Mu-jin. Without hesitation, Mu-jin used the attacker’s body he had just killed as a shield.

Squelch!

The body was sliced into pieces, further enraging the Plum Blossom Sword Saint.

“Step back! I will personally tear this wretch apart!”

Unable to refuse his order, the Mount Hua disciples and the surviving attackers swiftly distanced themselves from Mu-jin and Hye-geol. With the area clear, Mu-jin finally got a good look at the Plum Blossom Sword Saint.

‘A tough-looking old man.’

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Next to the stern old man was a middle-aged to elderly man.

‘He must be the headmaster.’

While the Plum Blossom Sword Saint wore the distinctive attire of the Mount Hua, the other man’s attire was noticeably different, marking him as the headmaster.

“You won’t leave here alive.”

Though the Plum Blossom Sword Saint approached with sharp, blade-like aura, Mu-jin was thinking about something else.

‘The Great Elders, the Plum Blossom Sword Saint, and the headmaster are all here. There must be no one significant left inside.’

Having concluded his assessment, Mu-jin signaled to Hye-geol.

Whoosh!

Upon receiving the signal, Hye-geol immediately started fleeing over the Mount Hua’s wall.

“Showing your back, huh!”

The Plum Blossom Sword Saint swung his sword, but the sword energy was blocked by Mu-jin’s fist energy.

Whoosh!

Mu-jin also leaped towards the wall after blocking the attack directed at Hye-geol.

“Do you think you can escape alive!? Capture them!”

The Plum Blossom Sword Saint, furious from witnessing the grotesque scene of his disciple’s body being used as a shield, chased them, leading the pursuit himself. His speed was so great that he quickly outpaced the Mount Hua disciples and the attackers following him.

Although it could be a diversion tactic, the Plum Blossom Sword Saint was unconcerned. This was their territory, and it was impossible for traps to be set here. Confident in his ability, he believed he wouldn’t lose to these two masked men.

As he closed the distance to them, they were already halfway down the Mount Hua mountain. The journey was short, as the three of them had considerable speed.

“Die!”

The Plum Blossom Sword Saint swung his sword again, sending dozens of red sword energies towards the masked men. The masked men dodged and blocked some of the attacks without significant injury, but this was merely to stall them.

Landing silently on the fallen leaves, the Plum Blossom Sword Saint aimed his sword at the masked men. Once more, the lead masked man showed his back, continuing to flee.

“Tch.”

With a swing of his sword, the Plum Blossom Sword Saint sent a different kind of energy. Instead of the usual red streaks, he unleashed a starlit plum blossom aimed at the masked man’s back. Anticipating this, Mu-jin signaled to Hye-geol while preparing an attack.

From his danjeon, immense inner energy circulated through his meridians, concentrating powerfully. The technique he had learned from Hyunhwang, named Muah Divine Fist, was unleashed.

Boom!

As Mu-jin’s star-like energy clashed with the Plum Blossom Sword Saint’s sword energy, a massive explosion ensued. Through the dust and debris, Hye-geol could be seen continuing to escape unscathed.

Although confirming that his Muah Divine Fist could counter sword energy, Mu-jin felt dissatisfied.

‘Damn it. The energy exchange rate is poor.’

The Muah Divine Fist had consumed half a ga-ja worth of inner energy in one strike. Experts who could freely wield energy could typically unleash it a dozen times. Yet Mu-jin’s technique, which brute-forced energy, was inefficient.

‘If I could put in one ga-ja of inner energy, I could overpower sword energy, but…’

The inner energy consumption was extreme, making it a one-hit kill technique in crucial situations.

Meanwhile, the Plum Blossom Sword Saint frowned as his sword energy was countered by Mu-jin’s technique.

“Fist energy.”

Publicly, the only known expert who could wield fist energy freely was Wi Ji-hak, the Fist King. But that was over ten years ago. Perhaps Huangbo Family’s head had reached that level, but they had no reason to attack Mount Hua.

For a brief moment, the Plum Blossom Sword Saint recalled some information he had heard a few months ago.

“You must be Hyunhwang of Shaolin.”

Hyunhwang was officially said to have achieved nirvana, but the Plum Blossom Sword Saint assumed this was a ruse by Shaolin for this mission.

Years ago, it was said Hyunhwang had regained his past martial prowess, so it wasn’t surprising he could wield fist energy. Hearing this absurd assumption, Mu-jin laughed scornfully.

‘If Hyunhwang were here, Mount Hua would have fallen long ago, you foolish old man.’

Yet voicing this would reveal his identity, so Mu-jin chose different words to conceal it.

“You’re seeking the wrong person if you think you’ll find him.”

“Whether it’s Hyunhwang or not, I’ll know once I unmask you.”

The Plum Blossom Sword Saint pointed his sword at Mu-jin, who assumed a defensive stance rather than fleeing.

Seeing this, the Plum Blossom Sword Saint smirked.

“Do you think everyone who can wield energy is of the same caliber?”

He was right. Mu-jin had only recently learned to wield energy and lacked proficiency. His battle with a master of the Seven Kings level hinged on a single powerful strike. But that was against masters other than the Plum Blossom Sword Saint.

“You’ll need to use ‘Zihashin Technique’ to catch me.”

The moment Mu-jin mentioned Zihashin Technique, the Plum Blossom Sword Saint’s face turned cold.

“How dare you speak of Mount Hua’s ultimate technique!”

Deeming words unnecessary, the Plum Blossom Sword Saint attacked with his sword, but Mu-jin dodged the energy instead of confronting it head-on.

‘Only three more uses left.’

Having already expended almost a ga-ja of inner energy causing havoc in Mount Hua, and another half-ga-ja with his Muah Divine Fist, Mu-jin couldn’t use it recklessly anymore.

But Mu-jin had experience fighting top-tier masters, so evading the Plum Blossom Sword Saint’s strikes wasn’t too challenging.

“Hahaha! Without Zihashin Technique, you can’t catch me!”

Dodging narrowly, Mu-jin taunted, appearing to be at ease.

Provoked, the Plum Blossom Sword Saint’s strikes became fiercer.

Mu-jin continued to evade, occasionally countering with a half-ga-ja Muah Divine Fist to neutralize the energy strikes.

‘Two more times.’

Keeping a mental count amidst the chaos, Mu-jin’s mouth didn’t stop moving.

“Why hide Zihashin Technique?”

“…”

“Hahaha! Feeling embarrassed now?”

“…”

“You’ve killed your senior to acquire it! Show it proudly!”

These last words seemed to hit a nerve. The Plum Blossom Sword Saint, who had been silently attacking, hesitated.

“How do you know…?”

Zihashin Technique.

The ultimate skill representing the Mount Hua, and more importantly,

“Are you asking how I know you, not the headmaster, mastered Zihashin Technique?”

Only the headmaster of Mount Hua was allowed to learn this special technique. Yet the Plum Blossom Sword Saint had mastered it despite not being the headmaster.

“Or are you asking if I know

you killed your senior headmaster to obtain it?”

A heinous crime unthinkable in a martial sect.

But as they say, the heavens’ net is wide, but nothing escapes it.

Perhaps due to this grave sin, Zihashin Technique had become the Plum Blossom Sword Saint’s weakness.

* * *

While a battle raged at the entrance of the Mount Hua, Mu-gyeong had infiltrated the rear using Shadow Step and Ghost Step techniques. As the one who had taught Mu-jin these techniques, Mu-gyeong had also mastered them.

Following the map provided by Mu-jin, Mu-gyeong soon reached his destination.

Carefully entering a pavilion named [Zihagung], Mu-gyeong took out a letter he had prepared.

‘Is this the poison meant for Mount Hua?’

Though Mu-gyeong held the letter, he didn’t fully understand Mu-jin’s instructions.

‘Is the letter coated with poison?’

With such doubts, Mu-gyeong discreetly placed the letter in the specified location and then exited Zihagung.