Chapter 6: Introduction to Volcanoes (1)

The Island Province Was a Vast Place.

Crossing its outskirts did not suddenly make it bustling. They had to travel much farther. However, it was not Mount Hua.

After two more days of travel, it became clearly visible even from a distance. It was a towering blade standing tall.

“….Is there a conduit up there?”

“That’s right.”

“If someone lived in a place like that, even a loafer would become a Taoist master.”

“That’s not necessarily true.”

Eunsong poured a cup of tea for Cheon Soyak. This was their last meal before entering Mount Hua.

“So, how do you feel? You will soon become a person of Mount Hua.”

“Master.”

Cheon Soyak softly called Eunsong’s name. A slightly tilted head and narrowed dark eyes.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Think about it. I was originally a person of Mount Hua.”

“.…Oh.”

Hwaeom Gate was an affiliated sect of Mount Hua. That meant her father was once a secular disciple of Mount Hua.

However, Mount Hua did not protect her.

“Was Hwaeom Gate expelled from Mount Hua?”

“I have nothing more to say.”

“So, they were expelled.”

Cheon Soyak let out a bitter smile. She took a sip of the now-cold tea and gazed at the plum blossom-filled Mount Hua in the distance.

For some reason, she felt like crying.

“Are you alright?”

“I’m fine. It’s nothing strange.”

“When you enter, you will likely have to go through the admission process.”

“I thought I’d go directly under you.”

“That’s how it used to be. Until five years ago.”

Eunsong took a sip of tea, soothing his bitter mouth.

Five years ago, he was still a young prodigy in his late twenties—full of youthful energy.

“Then, a certain remarkable talent went to the Yongbong Assembly and made such an impression that every sect wanted to recruit secular disciples.”

“They wanted connections.”

“Exactly. And I don’t hold enough power within the sect to simply take in a disciple as I please.”

Cheon Soyak looked at her teacher and asked casually,

“Was that remarkable talent you?”

Eunsong nearly choked on his tea. He waved his hands, shaking his head.

“Of course not. I was just average.”

“Oh…”

“That talent was my junior disciple. I often helped him train.”

He had a mind that grasped principles and a talent for teaching others. Even back then, he was a genius.

His body was merely that of an ordinary prodigy, not an extraordinary one. He had to put in tremendous effort just to reach the early stages of the Absolute Realm.

Meanwhile, Eunchun—considered the most gifted among his fellow disciples—was already looking beyond the middle stages of the Absolute Realm.

“Are you jealous?”

“What?”

“I asked if you are jealous.”

Facing the gaze of the young girl staring at him, Eunsong couldn’t bring himself to lie.

“My junior had no respect for me at all. How could I not feel jealous or envious?”

“You don’t have to feel that way.”

Cheon Soyak calmly placed down her empty tea cup.

“My father often told me this story.”

“What story?”

“That humans fear monsters.”

“That’s obvious, isn’t it?”

“A prodigy, a genius, a divine talent—they are all words for humans who were born with exceptional abilities.”

Her eyes gleamed deeply. Within them swirled a boundless and limitless universe.

It was something immeasurable, something that evoked primal fear in humans.

“My father called me a monster. He taught me that I must never frighten other ‘humans.’”

“Hah.”

What kind of father calls his own daughter a monster?

But he wasn’t wrong. In fact, his words had helped her.

Because of them, Cheon Soyak had learned early on how to stand alone.

By never giving her heart away first, she never had to be hurt when others feared her.

“My father was neither a liar nor a narrow-minded man, so I believe it to be true.”

“Fine. I’ll admit it. You are…”

“Yes, Master. I am a monster in human form.”

The Heavenly Killing Star.

A beast born beneath the stars.

A monster that had taken the fragile and pitiful form of a young girl.

“So now, Master, you will never have to envy anyone again. Because you will be my teacher. Isn’t that right?”

Eunsong stared blankly at the girl before him.

Not because she was bold.

But because she was calm.

“…That actually feels quite nice. I’ll finally be able to put that arrogant junior in his place.”

“Yes.”

★★★

At the foot of Mount Hua, in the bustling market of Hwaum County.

The noise of the crowd surrounded them on all sides.

For the first time, Eunsong sensed tension from Cheon Soyak.

“Are you alright?”

“…Probably. Yes, I’m fine.”

No matter how noisy Tianhua Pavilion got, it was still a high-class establishment, meaning it remained relatively quiet.

The only sounds one would hear were hushed conversations, soft music, and the occasional sliding of doors.

But this was a marketplace.

A chaotic uproar, a whirlwind of shouts and cries, a complete frenzy.

An unfamiliar environment naturally required an adjustment period.

“Don’t worry. I’m here with you.”

“I will try my best.”

Eunsong bought a bamboo hat and a new sword for Cheon Soyak. The Nakhwa Jeonggeom she originally had was too long for her height.

“Four and a half cheok tall at fourteen years old.”

“You don’t have to point it out—I know I’m small.”

“I didn’t mean anything by it…”

Cheon Soyak still slung the Nakhwa Jeonggeom over her back. The only difference was that a short sword now hung from her waist.

“It will be easier to wield.”

“Use it for now.”

Cheon Soyak slowly nodded.

Though it was called a short sword…

It was expensive.

“Are you sure, Master?”

“About what?”

“This is… too expensive.”

Her questioning gaze made Eunsong look down at her in silence before patting her head.

Of course, he had used up all their remaining travel funds.

But now that they had arrived at Mount Hua, what did it matter?

“Don’t worry. It’s not my money.”

“…What?”

“It’s Mount Hua’s money. Did you think the great Mount Hua Sect is so stingy that they make their disciples pay for everything themselves?”

“But this isn’t travel money.”

“No one cares about that, Soyak.”

Cheon Soyak blinked before narrowing her eyes.

Then, she calmly dropped a bombshell.

“This is embezzlement.”

“…What?!”

Cheon Soyak merely shrugged.

Eunsong let out a hollow laugh.

“Well, I’ll be off, Master.”

“Go on. Don’t get lost. I’ll be at that teahouse from earlier.”

“Yes, Master.”

Cheon Soyak turned to face Mount Hua.

A mountain as sharp as a blade, exuding an overwhelming presence.

Everywhere, plum blossoms were in full bloom, dyeing the mountain pink.

Even though it wasn’t the season for plum blossoms.

“So that’s Mount Hua’s Immortal Plum Blossoms, which haven’t withered for the past twenty-seven years.”

But their scent was faint.

If such a vast amount of plum blossoms had been blooming for nearly thirty years, the entire Hwaum County should have been drenched in their fragrance.

Cheon Soyak already knew the answer.

“No flower blooms for ten days straight.”

No matter how beautiful, no flower can stay in full bloom forever.

In other words…

If something lasts beyond its time, it is no longer truly alive.

Cheon Soyak took small steps and entered the grand admission hall.

It was crowded with people lining up and submitting documents.

Most of them were holding the hands of an adult.

Cheon Soyak stood at the end of the long line.

As it gradually shortened, she had to endure the stares and whispers directed at her.

“A black robe and a black bamboo hat… Isn’t that a ronin?”

“Who knows? She could be some stray mongrel of a girl.”

“She has no parents or guardian. No background at all. Too lacking, don’t you think?”

“What if she ends up in the same class as my child?”

Cheon Soyak responded with silence.

Speculations and insults rolled like a snowball.

Some called her deaf.

Some called her mute.

Some even called her blind.

Yet Cheon Soyak still did not say a word.

She only pulled her new black bamboo hat lower.

Eventually, the line shortened, and she stood at the front.

A burly martial artist, seemingly in his forties, looked down at the small girl.

“Did you come alone?”

“Yes.”

“Do you have a sponsor?”

“Mount Hua’s Eunsong.”

The martial artist blinked.

“Eunsong? You mean Eunsong Dojang, the second-generation disciple?”

“If he is thirty years old, then yes.”

“My goodness. He said he was going out to find a disciple, and he really did.”

“That’s right.”

“Has Eunsong officially taken you as a disciple?”

“I have learned Amhyangpyo from him, so you could say that.”

Something seemed off.

Eunsong had said she needed to go through the admissions process.

But judging by how things were unfolding…

‘He just dumped me here to avoid the hassle, didn’t he?’

Cheon Soyak let out a sigh.

That was probably why he had taught her Amhyangpyo in a hurry.

She had already been taught Mount Hua’s martial arts.

The sect could not simply abandon her unless they destroyed her martial arts completely.

But in this era of peace governed by the Martial Alliance…

Mount Hua, one of the Nine Great Sects of the righteous path, would not disgrace itself by crippling a young girl.

“Will it be difficult for me to enter?”

“No, not at all. However… could you bring Eunsong here?”

“Who should I say is calling for him?”

“Tell him that Master Myeonggon is requesting him.”

“…Understood.”

Cheon Soyak politely bowed her head and turned away.

The gazes of those around her had changed.

But she felt nothing.

She had already been through this before.

Back when Hwaeom Gate was the ruling power of the village.

And when her father was beheaded.

She still remembered how the villagers had looked at her then.

Cheon Soyak pulled her bamboo hat lower.

To shield her heart from their gazes.

Only then did she realize why Eunsong had bought her the hat.

He was a rather meticulous teacher…