Chapter 27 Plum Blossom Sect Badge (2)

Chapter 27 Plum Blossom Sect Badge (2)

Do you know the Plum Blossom Sect Badge?

Gu Yangji couldn’t help but suppress a bitter chuckle inside. It was a sinister smile he couldn’t show outwardly.

It was also a remnant of that sinister figure from his past life who had tried to annihilate the Huashan Sect.

Yes, I know.

Gu Yangjie knew of the Plum Blossom Gang’s existence.

‘But I never managed to track them down completely.’

Gu Yangjie answered indifferently.

“I do not know.”

“Is that so?”

Leaving only those brief words, Baek Dan-hyeon muttered, “Well, that’s understandable.”

As far as Gu Yangji knew, the Plum Blossom Gang was merely a legend passed down through the ages.

An ambiguous legend said to be everything about the Huashan Sect, yet no one knew for certain.

Gu Yangji had kept one ear open, hoping against hope, searching for the Plum Blossom Gang until the very day he faced the Great Heavenly Water.

But the Plum Blossom Gang proved as elusive as the legend itself.

Therefore, Gu Yangji had concluded it never existed in the first place.

‘Even after spreading rumors of the Plum Blossom Sect throughout the martial world, I couldn’t find it.’

So he had shaken his head regretfully, dismissing it as nothing more than an illusion someone had fabricated.

But why would Baek Dan-hyeon, who was nothing but a thorn in his side, bring up the Plum Blossom Sect?

His mind grew complicated.

Gu Yangji bit the inside of his lip with his fangs.

The pain cleared his head.

“Why does the Sect Leader ask me about the Plum Blossom Sect token?”

At those words, Baek Dan-hyeon hesitated briefly, fingering the token in his hand.

“As for your feelings… I understand well, but now you have a place you must go.“

‘A place I must go?’

Repeating Baek Dan-hyeon’s words, Gu Yang-jeok tilted his head.

Then, beneath his suddenly twitching eyebrows, a quiet ripple stirred within his pupils.

”From what the Sect Leader says, has some insolent person on this Huashan Mountain issued an order?”

“……!”

At those words, Baek Dan-hyeon realized he had spoken carelessly.

‘I was too unsettled by the matter of Ha Jin-ak… to make such a mistake…!’

Simultaneously, he marveled at Gu Yang-jeok’s insight.

Swift, precise.

His wit pierced the very heart of the matter with a sharpness that was almost cutting.

However, the disciple before him couldn’t possibly know something even the few who knew within the volcano knew. This was surely just a simple misjudgment.

Just as Baek Dan-hyeon opened his mouth to refute Gu Yang-jeok’s words.

Gu Yang-jeok’s lips trembled intensely.

“Whoever it was.”

Gu Yangjie possessed memories of a past life.

While he himself had grown immensely, rising triumphantly toward a bright tomorrow.

Yu Zhangming had fought and died, his body pitifully withered.

The Huashan sect, which had endured nearly a hundred years, scattered and vanished.

The justice of the martial world had died.

He disliked this world where righteousness and principles were meaningless, where only the strong proved themselves.

By the time he raised his banner against it, everyone he wanted to believe in, everyone worthy of belief, was already dead.

‘By chance, or perhaps by necessity.’

Gu Yangjie returned to the past with the power of the talisman given by Mantongzi.

So, just as he was about to divert the course of history and dream of change, Ha Jin-ak ended up like that.

He wanted to laugh at his former arrogance. He wanted to laugh uproariously until his side ached.

But he couldn’t laugh.

Knowing what was to come, Gu Yang-jeok had no room for laughter.

There was no time to delay now.

He felt no regret. It was a useless emotion, pointless and futile.

Instead, he armed himself with caution and composure.

But what?

A faint anger flashed in Gu Yangji’s eyes.

“Shouldn’t there be no one above the head of the sect here on this volcano?”

Countless afterimages flashed through Gu Yangjeok’s mind.

His own hands, casually stained with blood; screams, wails, Jo Hun’s anguish.

“Senior Brother Gu Yang, I never expected this!”

Jo Hun’s eyes glowed coldly with venom.

“I’ll curse you even in death!”

Again, screams, fire, Yu Zhangming’s withered body, the blaze spreading wildly until the entire volcano was engulfed.

The scene that unfolded before Gu Yangji, who belatedly returned holding his aide’s head, was the Hwasaengpa, completely burned to ashes and covered in soot.

But Baek Dan-hyeon, standing before him, didn’t know what afterimages Gu Yangji was seeing.

He simply thought the quick-witted Hui Jizhi was venting his anger as his true nature dictated.

That was normal.

Only the deep-seated resentment Gu Yangji harbored had strayed from the norm.

“If someone above the Sect Leader exists, and that person brazenly spreads their rotten ass across Huashan…”

“Enemy, you mustn’t speak so harshly any longer…”

Despite Baek Dan-hyeon’s pleas, Gu Yang-jeok smiled faintly and said.

“This disciple will kick that ass for you.”

No sooner had the words left his mouth.

Gu Yang-jeok sensed an unexpected energy invading the surroundings and brought his right hand to his forehead.

The words that followed were a declaration.

“I am a disciple of Huashan.”

At those words.

‘Something’ answered.

“…Hoo.”

Zhe-chak, ggeu-geung.

Six Harmonies Heavenly Sound? No, it was closer to a lion’s roar.

Gu Yangjie grimaced fiercely at the true qi the unidentified stranger began scattering.

Simultaneously, he sensed something strange.

‘Why… is no one reacting?’

He sensed no particular reaction even from the Plum Blossom Pavilion behind him.

Someone of Qinghuo Yuan’s caliber couldn’t possibly fail to notice such an extraordinary phenomenon.

Even Baidanxian seemed to vaguely sense something amiss and looked around in confusion. The answer was clear.

Some unknown entity was directing its pressure solely at Gu Yangjie.

‘Did the old monster build its nest in a volcano?’

Disgust seemed to crawl unhesitatingly up Gu Yangjie’s back to the crown of his head.

Click.

Gu Yangjie clenched his teeth. Following Ha Jin-ak, another unexpected master had appeared to trip him up.

Was this the unreasonable burden heaven bestowed for knowing the future?

He couldn’t know.

What mattered was that a handful of sorrow had become fuel for his rage.

“Who are you to dare mock others on this volcano!”

“Kwahahaha!”

The sky boomed as ‘something’ let out a laugh.

The pressure contained within was almost like a bullet, so Gu Yang-jeok couldn’t relax his guard.

At that moment, Baek Dan-hyeon urgently grabbed Gu Yang-jeok’s shoulder.

“That’s enough. Ignorance may be an excuse, but it cannot avert disaster.”

“Who the hell is that person that you’re afraid to confront?!”

“…Ji-a, you know about Plum Blossom Valley, right?”

Baek Dan-hyeon felt like a handful of hair would fall out just thinking about how to clean up the mess he’d made.

Sighing softly, Baek Dan-hyeon finally spoke.

“That person is the Celestial Guardian protecting Plum Blossom Valley.”

At those words, Gu Yangjeok’s eyes widened.

* * *

Plum Blossom Valley was a kind of sacred site that existed even before the Huashan Sect first appeared in the martial world.

In a way, it could be called the very cradle of Huashan’s martial arts.

The Plum Blossom Sword was forged right there, by cutting a branch from a plum tree beside the cave entrance.

The Three-Peak Sword was a haughty creation by a disciple who, after seeing the Plum Blossom Sword, sought to surpass his master.

The history of plum blossoms, the sword techniques of the Huashan Sect, began in Plum Blossom Valley, shook the world, and then returned here.

Plum blossoms must be surpassed by the sword of plum blossoms.

This was the first inscription at the entrance to Plum Blossom Cave, a source of pride.

The very notion of people entering such a place was unimaginable.

Besides, there was nothing of particular value deep within Plum Blossom Cave to begin with.

Even those who had ordered the destruction of the Huashan Sect had merely glanced inside Plum Blossom Cave once and declared it an abandoned cave, hadn’t they?

‘There… was a secret there?’

Gu Yangji couldn’t shake his skeptical gaze.

If the Plum Grove Talisman was a sacred object related to Plum Grove, then the full story, which had never been revealed, would finally be resolved.

Moreover, the talisman Baek Dan-hyeon held was extremely shabby.

If even a child could lose interest in it within a single day, then everyone could guess the appearance of the Plum Grove Talisman.

Gu Yangji asked Bai Danxian again.

“A celestial being?”

“Yes.”

Bai Danxian spoke gently, as if soothing a doubtful disciple.

“Due to personal circumstances, he cannot reveal the pseudonym or Taoist name he used in the mortal world. Currently, he resides in Plum Blossom Cave as both a Plum Blossom Cave Disciple and a celestial being of Huashan.”

“……”

At those words, Gu Yangji turned his gaze toward where he had sensed the strange man’s presence.

Simultaneously, his lips twitched unpleasantly.

It was because he still didn’t know why such power—martial arts capable of shaking the world—had remained hidden in his previous life.

Clearly, it must be related to the ‘personal circumstances’ Bai Danxian had mentioned.

Gu Yang-jeok, having made that guess, shot a look of irritation at the Plum Blossom Gang.

“So, that person asked me to take a look because they’re interested in me?”

“That’s the gist of it.”

Gu Yang-jeok refused with a simple statement.

“I don’t want to. That.”

At Gu Yang-jeok’s words, Baek Dan-hyeon’s eyebrows furrowed.

‘He didn’t say that for my benefit!’

Having observed Gu Yangjeok’s transformation thus far, Baek Danhyun could be certain of one thing.

His actions might be reckless, but his words held no falsehood, and his mind was deep.

Everything he had explained about the Plum Blossom Sect and the Celestial Being was to dispel Gu Yangjeok’s suspicions.

Yet, Gu Yangjeok had said he refused.

Moreover, he dismissed all meetings with the Plum Blossom Society as ‘that thing’.

‘Gu Yang-jeok, this bastard…’

He must be saying this to the Heavenly Man, who was surely listening even now.

Glancing at Baek Dan-hyeon’s deepening gaze, Gu Yang-jeok skillfully harmonized his sound technique to limit the listeners, ensuring no harm came to the Plum Blossom Society.

Within this very space where Gu Yangjeok stood.

It was a sound technique that converted the voice resonating in his head into vibrations and channeled them into the ground.

Gu Yangjeok was certain Baek Dan-hyeon beside him and the strange figure beyond the tree could hear it.

“I have no interest in those who cannot properly reveal themselves.”

“……This brat.”

“No, whatever you say, you won’t persuade me. I apologize to the Sect Leader, but I even feel a slight displeasure regarding this matter.”

Despite Baek Dan-hyeon’s face turning pale, Gu Yang-jeok’s words continued.

“As far as I know, among the names listed in the current Hwasan Sect’s registry, there is no one higher than the Sect Leader. Then is the author a ghost? Since when did Huashan begin serving ghosts?“

”…….”

Baek Dan-hyeon couldn’t bring himself to reveal the secret history of the Huashan Sect to his young disciple, Gu Yang-jeok, and remained silent.

Thus, the frustration Gu Yang-jeok harbored only grew more intense.

“If that person—no, that author—is the great elder of our sect, why did he remain silent while Senior Brother lay dying in agony?”

“Enough.”

Even as Baek Dan-hyeon finally cut him off decisively, Gu Yang-jeok did not stop.

It was a question that pierced through the decades of their past life together.

“What is that person protecting? The Huashan Sect? Or… something else?”

“……?!”

At those words, Baek Dan-hyeon couldn’t hide his momentary stiffening.

Just then, Gu Yang-jeok’s eyes turned to Baek Dan-hyeon, and a voice drifted from beyond the trees.

“Enough. Whether fate brings us together again remains to be seen. For now, acquaintance suffices.”

“But I haven’t gotten to know you yet.”

Even at Gu Yangjeok’s bold remark, the strange man chuckled heartily.

“Give that madman one Jiasodan pill, and assign one Dharma Protector to assist him in properly dissolving the medicine’s potency.”

At those words, Gu Yangjeok wiped the displeased look from his face.

Yet, a broad, beaming smile had already spread across his face.

“Thank you!”

“……?”

Only Baek Dan-hyeon, unable to adapt to this sudden shift in demeanor, let out a hollow laugh.