Unhwi smiled faintly.

“No matter what happens, I’m confident I won’t die. But if Commander Seong were to act on his own, trying to rescue me, then I too might end up getting hurt.”

“……”

“So don’t worry, and if things seem dangerous, just try to avoid them as best you can. Understood?”

“…Is that an order?”

“It is.”

“Then I’ll obey.”

As Unhwi gave Commander Seong a reassuring pat on the shoulder, a man approached him.

It was Samyeong.

“…Sir Hyeon Seollin. You saved my life earlier. Thank you.”

Unhwi gave a slight nod.

“Be careful next time.”

“…Yes, sir.”

He thought to himself—what a strange person.

He was grateful for being saved, of course, but also thankful for how casually Unhwi brushed it off like it was nothing.

He’d spoken with suspicion at first, yet in the end, he’d gone so far as to save his life.

A truly strange man.

The corridor came to an end, and a vast circular space unfolded before them.

At the center of the space lay a large pond filled with crystal-clear water, and in the middle of the pond stood a small island.

A simple pavilion had been erected atop that island. Around the pavilion, thirty-six stone pillars stood arranged in a perfect circle, each engraved with a single character.

“Mehwa Pavilion.”

At Unhwi’s words, Sim Munryong’s eyes gleamed.

“Mehwa Pavilion…? The place where Cheon Hwajin reconstructed the Thirty-Six Plum Blossom Sword Forms?”

Unhwi nodded.

Though most records had vanished, fragments remained.

During the era of the Millennial Cataclysm, the most famous martial art of the Mount Hua Sect was the Plum Blossom Thirty-Six Sword Forms.

Even before that, it had been known, but the fame it gained during the Millennial Cataclysm—when it relentlessly cut down demonic cultivators—was incomparable.

That was because the sword forms had been reborn in the hands of Cheon Hwajin.

The reconstructed Plum Blossom Thirty-Six Sword Forms were so formidable that they were said to have rebuilt the very foundation of Mount Hua.

What had once been a lower-tier Heaven-Earth grade technique was elevated to the very peak of the Heaven-Earth grade. The final two sword forms were even considered godlike—reaching the level of Musin techniques.

There was nothing more to say.

Mehwa Pavilion was the place where Cheon Hwajin had sat in meditation for a full hundred days to reconstruct the sword forms.

It was so famous that it became a cornerstone of Mount Hua’s rise in prestige.

Unhwi looked around. There didn’t appear to be any connecting bridges, which meant they’d have to walk across the water. The water was remarkably clear, allowing the bottom to be seen easily.

When he looked closely, he saw that the stones at the bottom were arranged in the shape of plum blossoms.

“Looks like we’ll need to step on those stones to cross.”

Sim Munryong frowned.

“Why go through the trouble of making it so complicated? This feels off again… something’s gonna come flying at us like last time…”

Before he could finish, a brilliant blue light flared from the pavilion atop the island, and a voice echoed forth.

—Three Plum Seals. The Unshaken State of Mind.

With a wavering heart, one cannot reach truth.

As before, Unhwi quietly repeated the words to himself, then responded curtly.

“Peace of mind.”

“Peace of mind?”

“Look at the stones on the water. They’re arranged like plum blossoms. The five petals of the plum symbolize Mount Hua’s five elements. We must cross while maintaining the balance of those five elements.”

Unhwi stepped up to the edge of the pond and looked at the first stone. He extended a foot and stepped onto it.

The moment his foot touched the stone, it lit up with a blue glow.

At the same time, one of the thirty-six pillars around the pavilion lit up as well.

“How interesting.”

Unhwi murmured.

“Each stone must be linked to a pillar. I suspect that only by stepping on all thirty-six stones will the path to the next gate open.”

Unhwi moved to place his foot on the second stone—but at that moment, a column of water suddenly shot up from the pond.

It surged toward him like a living creature, rushing at him with force. Unhwi twisted his body swiftly to dodge, but the water column chased after him persistently.

“Young master!”

Commander Seong shouted and was about to dash forward, but Unhwi raised a hand.

It was a signal for no one to interfere. Everyone present froze in place.

Standing atop the water, Unhwi exhaled slowly and deeply.

He closed his eyes.

The water columns grew fiercer as they rushed toward him, but Unhwi did not waver.

“The Unshaken State of Mind…”

He whispered softly.

He let go of everything.

Peace of mind.

To walk forward with unwavering heart, no matter what unfolded around him.

Just before the water columns could engulf him, they transformed midair—turning into fluttering plum blossom petals that scattered in the breeze.

Everyone blinked in astonishment.

It was a rare and wondrous sight. As Unhwi opened his eyes, he spoke briefly.

“Non-action and naturalness. Let go of everything and follow.”

Without hesitation, Unhwi stepped onto the third stone. This time, no obstruction came. The corresponding pillar lit up. Then he stepped on the fourth. Another pillar shone.

Still no interference.

“…Is he really a monster or something…?”

Sim Munryong muttered in admiration, only for Commander Seong to glare and slam his shoulder with a loud smack.

“What are you doing? Not going?”

“…That hurt.”

“And?”

“…You were talking informally before, now suddenly back to formal? What’s your deal?”

She ignored him.

Commander Seong began stepping across the stones behind Unhwi, followed by Sim Munryong and the four sworn brothers.

At the very least, none of them lacked the Five Elements.

If you know the answer and still get it wrong—well, you might as well go die.

They reached the pavilion without issue. Unhwi, who arrived first, walked inside.

At the very center of the pavilion sat a book.

On its surface, the following was written:

Plum Blossom Thirty-Six Sword Forms.

Without a word, Unhwi handed it to Sim Munryong.

“…Aren’t you going to read it?”

“There’s no need.”

Sim Munryong could only admire him.

“…I didn’t even do anything. Kinda shameless to take it, but… thanks.”

His feelings toward Unhwi grew even more resolute, though he misunderstood one thing.

Unhwi already knew the Plum Blossom Thirty-Six Sword Forms.

He also knew the Five-Element Plum Sword, and the Plum Blossom Inner Method.

And he knew about the final technique that would appear at the last trial: the Jaha Divine Art.

In his past life, the last surviving martial artist had escaped with all those techniques. They had eventually flowed into the black market and—after many twists of fate—ended up in Unhwi’s hands.

That’s why he gave the book away. He had already seen and memorized it.

A deep rumble echoed. The pavilion shook, the pond stirred violently—and then, a new gate emerged.

It [N O V E L I G H T] was the path to the third and final trial.

From experience—and by instinct—Unhwi could feel it.

What lay beyond was real.

“Let’s go.”

Unhwi stepped forward first. The others followed.

***

The next trial was neither a burning world nor a pavilion in the middle of a pond.

It was a vast, grand stone chamber.

The ceiling stretched high above, the floor gleamed with polished marble—but most striking was the massive mural covering the entire wall.

“…Wow. This is… insane…”

Sim Munryong couldn’t even close his mouth.

At the center of the chamber was a small pedestal, and atop it sat a book that shimmered with a violet light.

Jaha Divine Art.

One of Mount Hua’s greatest inner cultivation methods—thought to have been lost completely after the Millennial Cataclysm.

To rebuild Mount Hua, three things were essential: the Jaha Divine Art, the Plum Blossom Thirty-Six Sword Forms, and the Plum Blossom Inner Method.

Nothing else would suffice.

And now, Sim Munryong had obtained all three.

“…Damn… how the hell am I supposed to repay this debt…”

But Unhwi didn’t answer.

His attention was on the mural.

He slowly walked along the wall, examining the painted story.

It unfolded like the life of a single man.

It began with a man training atop a high mountain. Plum blossoms fluttered around him. Unhwi recognized him immediately.

“The Plum Blossom Sword God—Cheon Hwajin.”

The others followed Unhwi’s lead, walking alongside the mural.

Next, it showed Cheon Hwajin accepting two disciples—one a stern-looking man with a serious face, the other radiating warmth and strong will.

Sim Munryong studied it and spoke.

“Cheongmun and Baekhwa Jin-in. The two disciples of the Plum Blossom Sword God.”

Then came a shocking scene.

Cheon Hwajin appeared alongside people dressed in black.

They wore robes with a strange emblem.

“…What… is this? This can’t be right…”

Sim Munryong’s words were understandable.

A round circle. Inside it, a reversed taiji (taegeuk) symbol.

A very distinctive emblem.

And anyone who saw it had the same reaction as Sim Munryong.

Because it was correct.

This was the emblem of the Thousand-Year Demonic Sect.

“…What is this? Why is the Plum Blossom Sword God with members of the Demonic Sect?”

Unhwi said nothing.

In his past life, the survivor hadn’t seen the full mural—but had mentioned one thing clearly:

They saw a martial artist from Mount Hua dressed in Demonic Sect attire.

That alone was enough.

The mural continued. It showed Cheon Hwajin and the Demonic Sect warriors attacking a village.

His sword emitted plum-blossom-shaped sword energy—cutting down innocent people.

Commander Seong murmured in a low voice.

“Young master… this is serious. This could rewrite history itself.”

“Well… it’s not something I can decide.”

Unhwi turned to Sim Munryong.

“What do you think?”

“……”

“Are you still proud of Mount Hua?”

Sim Munryong’s brow furrowed. It was the same question Unhwi had asked before the second trial.

“…You knew, didn’t you? That’s why you asked me that?”

“I only suspected. I wasn’t sure.”

“……”

“You seem shaken. But the mural’s still here—we should keep watching.”

Unhwi continued walking.

The next part was even more tragic.

Baekhwa Jin-in confronting Cheon Hwajin. The two pointing swords at each other.

Then, both of them collapsed.

In the final image, Cheongmun was shown receiving a fist-sized gem from the fallen Cheon Hwajin.

That was the end.

“Cheon Hwajin died along with his own disciple, Baekhwa Jin-in?”

Sim Munryong spoke in disbelief.

Unhwi noticed a line of small text beneath the final mural. He bent down and slowly began to read it.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep