The first feeling I had upon arriving at Mount Hua was reverence.

It was steeper than expected and far taller than I’d imagined. Parts of it were shrouded in clouds, and in some places, rocks jutted up like countless swords. To my crooked eyes, it looked like a mountain with a violent personality.

Of course, I wasn’t the only one who saw it that way.

Everyone had looks of awe they couldn’t quite hide—standing before Mount Hua, we were all just country bumpkins.

“......”

But what surprised me most {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} was that, contrary to my expectations, Mount Hua wasn’t a good place to fight.

Everywhere I looked, it was cliffs and boulders—how the hell was anyone supposed to fight properly in a place like this?

From the attacker’s perspective, Mount Hua was an impregnable fortress. If a dozen martial masters who knew the terrain well held their ground and caused chaos, they could wipe out entire armies.

On the other hand, it was an excellent place to train.

Climb it once, and you’d never want to come back down for days. Just climbing this mountain seemed like it would deepen your killing intent.

If someone could go up and down Mount Hua without that kind of murderous energy settling into their heart, then they must be a sage.

But right now, it was already a situation where those with deep-seated killing intent had to clash. A mountain like this would only piss off the Cult Leader. I needed to change my thinking.

“This is a bit...”

Tilting my head, I looked to Big Bro and said,

“Big Bro, let’s fight at the base of Mount Hua.”

“Hm?”

“I feel like my temper’s going to get worse just climbing up there.”

Big Bro looked at me calmly.

“Isn’t your temper already bad?”

“Not mine—his. The Cult Leader’s. Anyway, this isn’t it. We can just have Sambok deliver the location. Let’s find a better spot. This isn’t what I had in mind.”

Sambok asked,

“Lord, what do you mean by a better spot?”

Everyone turned to me, so I explained what came to mind.

“First of all, it needs to be spacious.”

“......”

“Quiet would be better. Water to drink during breaks. A breeze every now and then. Trees with flowers to look at when you’re bored. Somewhere that’s easy to light a fire when it gets dark. A place where we can sit here and there to gaze at the moon, and eat rice if we get hungry while fighting.”

Sambok scratched his forehead and said,

“Are you here on vacation?”

I pointed at Sambok.

“Good observation. A place that feels like a vacation—that’s the answer.”

“May I ask why?”

“If we fight near cliffs or in rough terrain, our minds become just as rough. You have to worry about techniques and strategy more. The ideal is a place where we can focus solely on martial arts. A temple would be perfect, but since this is a battle involving the grandmaster of a sect, it should be somewhere without religious overtones.”

Sambok nodded.

“Then we should scout the area around Mount Hua thoroughly and find a suitable manor.”

The Lecher gave a baffled expression.

“Wait, you were serious? That wasn’t just nonsense?”

I looked up at the treacherous Mount Hua and nodded.

“I’m serious. This mountain is narrower than I thought and the rocks are mean. One blast of force and you’re flying off a cliff. And it won’t be us dying from a single blast. The problem is, we’d have to climb back up and fight again. That’s just exhausting.”

I knew this well.

Because I’d once fallen into Manjang Gorge.

“Let’s move, move, move. Time to get back in the black carriage. Advance, advance, let’s go.”

I led the group back into the black carriage. Once aboard, Sambok said to me,

“I can’t ever predict your thinking, Lord.”

“You don’t have to.”

Sambok added with a serious face,

“What I mean is—I want to understand how you think.”

“Why?”

He looked at me.

“Because the flatter, calmer, and more controlled the battlefield is, the more favorable it is to the Cult Leader.”

I nodded.

“Is that so? Then let’s treat the battlefield as a gift.”

“Hm.”

“So he can fight to his heart’s content. So he can laugh with joy mid-battle. Eliminate variables, and clash purely in martial arts. This is the gift the Lord of Haomun presents to the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Cult.”

“I thought you hated and despised him.”

“That has nothing to do with it. The Hua Mountain Duel will be someone’s last fight. I don’t know what happened in their succession war, but I’m sure it was full of filthy tricks. Poison, hidden weapons, traps, betrayal, mutual destruction, ambushes—they’ve probably faced all kinds of demonic techniques. They didn’t clash in martial arts—they fought through every dirty, disgraceful scheme a human can show. Maybe that’s what shaped the Cult Leader’s personality. He’s nothing like Baekdo. He’s been through enough schemes and conspiracies. He doesn’t need to do that in a fight with me.”

Sambok nodded.

“Then I’ll look for a good spot. I won’t steal land or coerce anyone, so don’t worry. I understand your intent now.”

“You know, it’s a relief we can talk.”

“Yes, Lord.”

Sambok passed word to the coachman.

“If you see a guesthouse nearby, stop. Lord, it’s probably faster to ask around than to wander aimlessly.”

“True.”

***

While we were eating at a nameless guesthouse, Sambok returned from a short stroll and sat at our table.

“Strangely enough, everyone I asked mentioned the same notable figure.”

I took a sip of water and asked,

“Who?”

“There’s a man nearby known as the Master of Plum Blossom Manor. He’s wealthy, owns a lot of land, and is known for helping others generously.”

“Plum Blossom?”

“Yes. Seems it’s just the name of his manor. He’s also apparently called the Best Sword of Mount Hua.”

Big Bro, the Lecher, and I all responded at once.

“The Best Sword of Mount Hua?”

I turned to Big Bro.

“Big Bro, you heard of him?”

“Never.”

“Been alive this long and I’ve never heard a nickname that arrogant. Let’s go strip him of that title first. How dare he call himself the Best Sword of Mount Hua.”

The Lecher laughed.

“That’s a common nickname around big mountains. What’s so arrogant about it?”

“Look at Mount Hua.”

We paused our meal and looked up at the mountain towering above the clouds like a white headband. After taking in the view again, the Lecher nodded.

“...Yeah, that’s an arrogant nickname. Let’s take it from him. You and I don’t have swords right now, so for now, Master...”

The Sword Demon took a sip of liquor and answered.

“Since we’re at Mount Hua, I’ll take it.”

“Yes, Master.”

And just like that, Big Bro became the Best Sword of Mount Hua. Whether the title was useful or not didn’t matter to me. What mattered was taking it.

Big Bro asked Sambok,

“Where is it?”

“I can guide you there with the coachman.”

“Let’s go.”

We stood up before even finishing our meal. I paid and said to the group,

“Let’s go. Second Best Sword of Mount Hua, Third Best Sword of Mount Hua—you be the Fourth Best Sword of Mount Hua.”

Sambok replied,

“Lord, that wasn’t funny.”

“Sorry. Let’s go.”

We boarded the black carriage and set off for Plum Blossom Manor with the best coachman under Mount Hua. In the carriage, I asked Sambok,

“Sambok, but seriously, isn’t the nickname kind of cool?”

“Best Sword of Mount Hua... yeah, it sounds decent.”

“What about Best Sword of Zhongnan or Songshan?”

“They sound weaker for some reason. Maybe it’s the image of Mount Hua.”

“My point exactly. I’ve never seen a mountain that looks like it’d train your light footwork just from climbing.”

Which made it a great place for training.

If you reached the level where you could go up and down Mount Hua like a backyard hill, you’d be flying across flat land. The terrain was so rough that there were surely places human feet had never touched, meaning the mountain’s primal energy was intact. No wonder it was considered a sacred mountain.

I’d never heard of any Best Sword of Mount Hua.

Here’s my guess:

He’s either a hidden master who looks down on the world with arrogance—or a local bumpkin who doesn’t know the first thing about the world. Mount Hua’s so extreme, I wouldn’t know which to believe until I met him.

Soon after dismounting, we gazed at Plum Blossom Manor. I took in the surrounding atmosphere. It was a peaceful and spacious estate, perhaps because it was a manor. The gate wasn’t even locked. We left only the coachmen behind and entered.

“...Master, are you here?”

I was about to say more, but as soon as I stepped into the manor, I fell silent. Whether the Best Sword of Mount Hua was a great swordsman or not, I could at least confirm he was a masterful estate owner.

True to the name, plum blossom trees were planted all around...

The arrangement was artful, and the space for martial training was wide. A gentle stream flowed somewhere, likely from a sloped pond. There were tables for tea, and ivy clung to the walls, making the whole place feel far more cozy and expansive than it appeared from outside.

This place is nice.

But it was also the kind of place that would get wrecked quickly in a martial clash. While the Lecher babbled on, a man walked out of the manor with his hands behind his back. He looked like a scholar, or perhaps an official.

He seemed in his mid-thirties. Whether he was the master or just a steward was unclear.

He looked proper and neat but didn’t seem like a martial master, which made me a little uneasy. The man stared at us in surprise before speaking.

“What brings you here?”

Sambok replied first.

“We came to see the Master of Plum Blossom Manor.”

The man looked us over, still puzzled, and said,

“I’m the Master of Plum Blossom Manor.”

Sambok gestured toward me.

“This is the Lord of Haomun. Next to him is Prince Mong of the Wind-and-Cloud Mong Clan, and beside him is Prince Mong’s Master.”

I nodded politely to the Plum Blossom Master, still bewildered.

“I am Yi Zaha, Lord of Haomun.”

Heard of me?

The Plum Blossom Master tilted his head.

“Ah, I see. I rarely venture into Jianghu... but please, have a seat.”

He pointed toward a table set outdoors. We moved over and sat around the long table.

I doubt I was the only one thinking this.

As we walked, I observed the Plum Blossom Master’s footwork and breathing—but nothing stood out.

Too ordinary.

The Plum Blossom Master looked around at us and asked,

“...What brings you here?”

I answered.

“We were looking for a site to hold a martial duel and heard of your reputation. I also heard you’re called the Best Sword of Mount Hua.”

“Mm, that’s correct.”

“One of us will challenge you. If you lose, lend us the site for the duel.”

I got straight to the point and watched his reaction. The Plum Blossom Master blinked and looked at me.

“You want to challenge me?”

“Yes.”

“I don’t mind lending the place. But if I win, what do I get?”

“Hm. I hadn’t thought of that. If you have a request, name it. We’ll compensate you with money or whatever you ask and leave without issue.”

At that, the Plum Blossom Master gave a helpless laugh.

“So... you came here without even considering the possibility of losing?”

“For now, yes.”

When the Plum Blossom Master burst into laughter, even Big Bro looked a little flustered—which was rare. I understood the feeling. No matter how I looked at him, he didn’t seem like a martial master.

What the hell is this vibe?

Was this that “Heaven beyond Heaven” thing? I calmly examined his qi once more.

Hmm...

The Plum Blossom Master asked,

“Whom shall I face?”

I shared my internal conclusion.

“Choose whoever you’d like.”

“...Excuse me?”

The Plum Blossom Master frowned and said,

“Then let’s do this. I don’t have any particular demands. But if I win, the next person challenges me. I’ll accept challenges from all four of you.”

By four, he meant Big Bro, me, the Lecher, and Sambok.

“......”

I was too dumbfounded to respond. The Plum Blossom Master continued.

“If I lose, I’ll lend you the duel site.”

I cautiously asked,

“If you lose, will you also give up the title Best Sword of Mount Hua?”

“How could I claim that title after losing? That’d be ridiculous. I’ll go get my sword.”

The Plum Blossom Master stood up abruptly and headed inside.

Naturally, the four of us watched his every movement. As he disappeared, Big Bro finally sighed.

“I wondered if he was a hidden master... but no. He’s just a frog in a well.”

Sambok asked,

“What does that mean?”

The Lecher answered,

“It means he’s a frog in a well.”

“Yes.”

Big Bro looked at us.

“So, who wants to go first?”

With no real choice, I looked at Sambok.

“Sambok.”

“Yes, Lord?”

“You fight the Best Sword of Mount Hua.”

Sambok quickly glanced at our expressions and replied,

“Is this a sacrificial strategy? I’m not a fool. You want to observe and get revenge after I lose, don’t you?”

“You don’t want to?”

“No.”

“That’s unfortunate. That man can’t beat you. Just lend me your sword.”

Sambok unfastened the black blade at his waist and handed it to me. Is this how fate turns on a dime?

While waiting for the Plum Blossom Master, I became the Best Sword of Mount Hua.

The Lecher commented,

“He’s got a gentlemanly air—he does have a master’s presence. I guess he’s a ‘vibe master.’”

Big Bro offered advice too.

“He doesn’t seem like a bad guy, so don’t hurt him.”

“I won’t.”

Finally realizing the situation, Sambok tried to intervene.

“Ah, should I just fight him after all?”

I looked at him.

“Shut it. That ship’s sailed. The Best Sword of Mount Hua is mine now.”

Even if you train at Mount Hua, if you don’t experience the world, you’ll just become a frog in a well. I realized it’s better to wander the world first—then climb Mount Hua.

How could one become a master by shutting themselves in a mountain?