The Regressor of Mount Hua-Chapter 433. Special Edition Chapters (2)

Her skin was pale, and her silky, flowing black hair was straight and unbroken. Her eyes were as clear as a lake, but they were calm and deep, akin to the eyes of a sage cultivating the Dao.

"It's been a while."

Zhuge Xiuluan bowed respectfully to the two.

"It's been a while."

Tang Hui returned Zhuge Xiuluan's greeting, and her expression just moments ago had vanished into thin air.

"Welcome, Teacher."

The disciple called her "Teacher," as she had been teaching him various subjects since he was young. Other than the Daoist studies his master taught him, Zhuge Xiuluan had been teaching him a wide range of subjects, from Confucianism or Neo-Confucianism to strategy and other mental arts.

She was a beautiful woman, comparable in beauty to Luo Xiaoyue and Tang Hui. She was an incredibly intelligent woman as well.

On that note, Zhuge Shengji, the teacher's only younger brother and his master's sword brother, was a very infuriating individual.

One day, his master summoned him and said, "The person who is going to teach you mechanisms is coming soon, but he is truly an infuriating brat."[1]

"Master, you shouldn't belittle others just because you lack the skills."

However, it didn't take the disciple long for him to realize that his master was completely right.

"Now, why don't we start by looking over here? See that thing over here?"

"See what?"

"Why can't you see this...? How strange. Isn't it something that appears just by looking at it?"

"No."

"So you're talentless, huh?"

What a truly infuriating man...

In many ways, Zhuge Shengji was the worst type of person. He was particularly incapable of teaching anyone. As a side note, he was handsome, and it made him appear even more infuriating.

In the end, his wife, Wu Zhenhua, would take over and explain things in an understandable way in her husband's stead.

Zhuge Shengji was an idiot when it came to educating others, but Wu Zhenhua seemed to be pretty talented at it, as she often gave lectures to the apprentices and family members in her husband's place.

"Where did your master go?"

"A guest came to visit, so he went away for a moment."

Zhuge Xiuluan gently stroked her hair. She rarely showed a smile or a change in expression, but it was simply because, like the Instructor, she was awkward at expressing her emotions.

Even though her feelings were difficult to read, she was a good person.

"Hey."

Tang Hui called out to the disciple.

"Yes?"

"Since your teacher has come all this way, you should make more tea."

"Oh, yes, Mistress. I'll start on it now."

Tremble. Zhuge Xiuluan's hands trembled.

"What's wrong, Teacher? Is there anything bothering you? Should I go get some medicine?"

Tang Hui looked down at Zhuge Xiuluan and smiled.

"...You truly have bad hobbies."

"Huh?"

"I don't think it's right for you to fool an ignorant child by getting them to call you whatever you want," Zhuge Xiuluan said without batting an eyelid.

"Says the tactician who forgot what happened decades ago."

"I don't quite understand what you're talking about."

"It seems no matter how smart you are, you still can't beat aging. I have a good medical poison to prevent dementia. Should I prescribe you some?"

"I'll offer you that exactly in return."

Crackle!

A lightning bolt flashed between the two.

Save me... the disciple prayed inwardly with a sullen face. I made a mistake. Perhaps what made the Master so great wasn't his martial skills, but his ability to seduce women?

He had many questions about his master, but if the disciple had to choose one, he would ask questions about the people around him, particularly his complicated relationships with women.

Luo Xiaoyue, Tang Hui, and Zhuge Xiuluan. Not just one, but three women had been loving his master for decades now. From the disciple's perspective, it was incredibly strange.

While his master wasn't ugly, he still felt a bit inadequate to receive the love of three people. To be honest, if he were to speak objectively, he would say that the three women were punching down.

It would have been different if his master had exceptional martial skills or a sharper mind than others, but it wasn't the case at all.

No matter how much the disciple thought and pondered about it, he couldn't think of anything.

"What do both of you like about Master?" the disciple asked the very people involved, as he could no longer hold in his curiosity.

"..."

"..."

The exchange of words between the two women came to a halt. Neither of them answered the question. Instead, they looked away. Their cheeks were flushed, and their fingers were twitching.

It felt strange watching them fan themselves when it wasn't even hot. While the disciple was unclear about anything else, he knew one thing for sure—the women would blush like little girls whenever he asked them about his master.

It truly is complicated...

The reason his master's relationship was so complicated was that his master was still a single man. His master and Tang Hui truly loved each other, but they couldn't marry each other due to some unavoidable circumstances.

The disciple was extremely curious, but he was too scared to ask. He could only watch as Tang Hui muttered the names of Luo Xiaoyue and Zhuge Xiuluan under her breath.

"By the way, why is your master so late? Who is his visitor?" Tang Hui asked, perhaps trying to change the subject.

"I don't know. Instructor just told me that there's a visitor."

"Your instructor? Little Ghost?"

The disciple nodded.

"Little Ghost," Tang Hui said to the disciple's shadow.

"Yes," Little Ghost replied, emerging from the disciple's shadow.

"Ah!" the disciple exclaimed, startled.

"Who came to visit Zhu Gege?"

"You're using the wrong title." Zhuge Xiuluan pointed it out.

Tang Hui ignored her.

"It's Nangong Shanxu."

"The Boundless Heaven?"

***

"The Sword God truly remains unchanged through the years."

Nangong Shanxu poured Zhou Xuchuan a drink. A smile tugged at his lips, eliciting movement from the wrinkles that proved his age.

"I reached the peak earlier than others, and did I not manifest my path? It's only natural that I age slower than others."

Zhou Xuchuan also poured a drink for Nangong Shanxu.

"What is an Empyrean Overlord, and the Patriarch of the Nangong Family no less, doing, coming all this way? You're not trying to introduce me to your younger sister again, are you?"

"Didn't I almost get killed by the three of them for trying to do that decades ago? The Heavenly Strategist... that fellow also glared at me and said that he wouldn't forgive me if I were to make his sister sad."

"It's making me think of some people once again."

"..."

A moment of silence passed. It seemed like they were reminiscing, not mourning.

"Last night, Blessed Existence passed away."

The hand reaching for the liquor bottle faltered.

"So he lived a long life, then."

Zhou Xuchuan wasn't surprised. He accepted it calmly.

"Since you said that he couldn't die so easily, we administered the finest elixirs in the murim. Moreover, the Benevolence Clinic has been maintaining his health for years. Twenty years ago, a tumor was discovered in his stomach, but it was safely removed, and he survived the ordeal."

The Dark Heavens' strategist had lived his entire natural lifespan, if not longer.

All within a dungeon under the care of the Righteous and Evil Factions.

"How was he?"

"Absolutely terrifying."

Nangong Shanxu shuddered as he stroked his liquor glass.

"Under the ban, let alone suicide, he couldn't even harm himself. Whenever he gets sick, he'd be cured immediately. All he could do was eat grain pills; I still can't believe that he didn't go crazy spending decades in a dungeon in solitary confinement."

"..."

"Since he was a prisoner, even speaking to him was forbidden, so—his mental strength truly was terrifying."

"And?"

"Despite being locked alone in the dungeon for decades, he still managed to guess the state of the murim as if he were outside its walls. The issue was that most of his guesses were correct."

A bitter smile tugged at the Boundless Heaven's lips.

"Before he died, Blessed Existence scoffed, saying, 'the murim hasn't changed, has it?' He mocked us, saying that the Righteous and Evil Factions should be at odds by now, forgetting the peace that they had achieved through sacrifice.

"He guessed that those of the murim would still discriminate and hate each other based solely on their martial arts and their sect's ideology. I found myself unable to deny that."

Nangong Shanxu's face was heavy as he continued, "When the war ended, I thought the murim would change.

"I can't forgive those who turned their backs on the Righteous, Evil, and other factions to join forces with the Dark Heavens Association, but wasn't the reason behind their betrayal ultimately the discrimination in the murim?"

Nangong Shanxu's clasped fingers tightened.

"Yes, after everything, the unequal discrimination in the murim diminished. Back then, I thought that the gangho would truly become united. However, I was sorely mistaken. Not long after the peace treaty, conflict broke out again.

"Recently, the Martial Alliance considered reviving the Black Shadow Division, and I couldn't believe my ears. Perhaps I should be thankful that Avaricious Wolf existed as a precedent, leaving them responsible for—"

"If Tang Hui hears about what you just said, the leadership of the Martial Alliance could end up getting poisoned, so it's best to keep that part to yourself."

"The Alliance Leader was furious, so no one should be able to open their mouths for a while."

"I'm surprised that Abbot Hong Jin is so angry. More importantly, does he not have any plans to retire yet?"

Hong Jin had been dedicating his very being to the murim for so many years now. It wouldn't be surprising if he ended up passing away tomorrow.

"He said that he has to save as many people as possible, even those he cannot see."

"That man truly is..." Zhou Xuchuan laughed, believing that Hong Jin was too much.

Just then, Zhou Xuchuan stood up.

"Are you leaving?" Nangong Shanxu asked.

"Ah, I have people waiting for me."

"Oh, I've troubled you."

Nangong Shanxu apologized with a cupped fist.

"Oh, by the way, did Blessed Existence leave me with any words?"

"He cursed so viciously that it's too difficult to even utter it... so I'll just say that he cursed you."

"Is that so?"

Zhou Xuchuan smiled in satisfaction.

"Boundless Dragon."

"You called—hmm?"

Nangong Shanxu answered absentmindedly, and then he tilted his head.

He had been missing that title.

"No matter what happens in the murim, the fact remains that you are a hero who saved it. Please remember that it was not a meaningless act."

"What do you mean? The hero is you, Sword God..."

"It was an honor to walk alongside you. I sincerely thank you for saving the murim."

Zhou Xuchuan cupped a fist and bowed with as much respect as he could muster, and then he bid goodbye.

Nangong Shanxu stood still, unable to leave for a while.

For some reason, a strange sense of longing welled up inside him.

***

"Senior Brother."

Luo Xiaoyue smiled softly and linked arms with him.

"You'll be in a difficult position by acting like this as an elder."

Zhou Xuchuan sighed. He tried to shake her off, but her smile was so reminiscent of someone that he couldn't just ignore it.

How did she know how to smile like that, even though she hadn't studied under the same master as he had? It was the complete opposite of the Iron Blood Plum Sword's demeanor, who was her teacher.

Occasionally, Duan Lihua would visit, and Zhou Xuchuan would catch a glimpse of Luo Xiaoyue's face emanating the same demeanor as the Iron Blood.

"What's wrong?"

Luo Xiaoyue leaned back and smiled mischievously.

"That's..."

"You'll die the second you get caught by my hands."

Zhou Xuchuan stopped walking. Reflected in his frozen eyes, frozen with fear, was Tang Hui, transformed into a demonic Rakshasa.

And right next to him was Zhuge Xiuluan... Although she couldn't be described as "demonic," she looked sad, which was an extremely heartwrenching sight.

"Stop bullying my Senior Brother!"

Luo Xiaoyue stood in front of Zhou Xuchuan.

"Luo Xiaoyue, you better get out of the way."

"Absolutely not."

"Great. That's great. I've been nursing a grudge against you, and I was planning on getting my revenge."

"Grudge?"

"Don't pretend that you don't know. Do you really think I didn't know that you interfered with our marriage proposal decades ago?"

"W-what are you talking about? I was just saying that it's important to uphold the rules as a disciple of the Mount Hua Sect..."

Luo Xiaoyue feigned ignorance. However, her pupils trembled like fish, and even her voice was trembling as well. Even though she had gotten older, she still couldn't lie at all.

Meanwhile, Zhuge Xiuluan tried to slip away like a ghost while Luo Xiaoyue and Tang Hui were facing off. However, a poison needle flew over with a sharp shrill of the wind, stopping her from leaving.

"And where do you think you're going?"

While Luo Xiaoyue was Luo Xiaoyue, Zhuge Xiuluan was also problematic.

Tang Hui had suffered at her hands more than once over the decades.

"Hmm."

Zhuge Xiuluan wanted to run away, but she knew what Tang Hui was going to say, so she had to remain quiet.

Thud, thud, thud...

"Hmm?"

"Master, Master."

"What is it, my disciple?"

"Are you human trash, Master?" the disciple asked. He was still under Little Ghost's arm.

"Hey, hey, you little brat. Where are your manners? How can you speak that way to your master? Who taught you such things?"

"The mistress."

"Hmm..."

Zhou Xuchuan couldn't refute it, falling silent.

"Ah!"

Just as the disciple was timidly contemplating revenge, he remembered something and flailed around.

In response, Little Ghost threw him to the ground in annoyance.

The disciple fell with a thud, and then he jumped up.

"Master, Master! I have big news!!"

"What is it?"

"I've discovered the secret of the Plum Blossom Cultivation Art!"

Zhou Xuchuan's eyes widened in surprise, and then he smiled. His face seemed to be saying that he had expected that.

The disciple then told his master what he had discovered today. His excited voice sounded adorable.

"That's truly amazing, my disciple. By the way, what do you think we should call that cultivation method?"

"Um..." The disciple rested his chin on his hand and pondered. His train of thought didn't last long as he exclaimed, "The Plum Blossom Life Art! The Plum Blossom Life Art!" 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

The End.

Author's Note:

Hello, It's Author Jeong Jun.

With the Main Story, Side Stories, and Special Edition Chapters now having come to an end, the epic tale of Zhou Xuchuan, the Regressor of Mount Hua, has come to an end.

I'd like to express my gratitude to the readers who have loved and supported the Regressor of Mount Hua.

Thank you for sticking with me and reading this tale until the very end.

I'll leave the events between the Side Stories and the Special Edition Chapters, as well as the future stories, to your imagination!

A whopping one year and seven months have passed. It's both surprising and fascinating.

This novel is the longest I've ever written in both length and serialization. After all, it's seventeen volumes long.[2]

The Regressor of Mount Hua is a work that has given me many insights as an author. While my readers and those around me have praised it as having improved incredibly from my previous works, I still feel as though there are many shortcomings, such as typos and setting errors. I will strive to deliver even better work for the following novel.

Thank you.

As a side note, <The Regressor of Mount Hua> is the prequel to <The Reincarnated Shaman>. Did you notice it after seeing the Gold Will Merchants or the Valley of Phantoms?[3]

Moreover, if you're wondering if this shares the same worldview as my Miracle series, that's right, too. They're all the same.

Well, this letter has gotten quite long. I'll end things here with a goodbye.

I'd like to express my gratitude to Manager L, who has worked so hard because of me, my friends and acquaintances who have supported me, and you readers, who are reading this right now.

I hope you have a happy day today, tomorrow, and beyond!

I am truly grateful.

Sincerely, Jeong Jun.

1. In Korean, 재수 없어 literally means to bring bad luck. It comes from either the idea that someone is so haughty/ridiculous/clueless/rude (whether on purpose or not) that they bring bad luck, or that one has to have bad luck to have to be faced with a situation/person. Sort of like, when you're talking about how difficult it is to make rent because you're getting underpaid, and someone just quips, you don't have a house? Then you go, what did I do wrong in my past life to have to hear this shit?! That sort of vibe. Often, Sheldon from the Big Bang Theory acts 재수 없어. ☜

2. This novel, like many other Korean novels, was split into 16 books at 25 chapters each, with the final book being 29 chapters + 4 extra chapters. That said, our chapter count will be slightly different as some of the chapters in the novel were so long they needed to be split to get uploaded. ☜

3. While the three novels in the series have the same title structure in Korean, there is a 전생 can mean both Reincarnation and Regression, so the titles won't be in the same structure in English. Also, since the other two books in the series haven't been translated, the titles are subject to change. ☜