Multivers, Leveling Up in the World I Created

Chapter 425: 425 Return to the Volcano 11

I was inwardly delighted, but I didn’t show it—I’d waited a long time to see this kid.

"But why so many chickens..."

"I have someone with a big appetite. Let’s head up."

We began climbing Huashan. Cheongmyeong, lacking internal energy and being young, was short on stamina, breathing heavily as he followed.

"Want me to carry you?"

"Ah, no. I’ve come to join—I can’t accept help from others."

Cheongmyeong, returning to Huashan after a long time since the Demonic Cult incident, seemed determined to climb on his own strength.

"Then let’s rest for a bit."

"Okay."

While Cheongmyeong sat on the steps catching his breath, I pulled out a small water pouch from my inventory and handed it to him. He gulped it down and asked,

"Which sect do you belong to?"

"Me? I’m from the Jin Estate in Sichuan."

"There’s such a sect?"

"Yes, it’s quite famous in Sichuan. It was founded by refugees after the Demonic Cult’s massacre—about a hundred years ago now."

"I see. That’s why I wouldn’t know."

"Huh?"

"Ah, nothing. So how did you become an instructor at Huashan?"

I gave him the same story I’d told Huashan.

"So you learned Huashan’s martial arts without knowing they were Huashan’s?"

"Yes, that’s right. So I was asked to serve as an instructor. Now that I’ve finished teaching the second-generation disciples, my role is almost over."

"Manifesting plum blossoms through self-study from a manual alone is impressive... But didn’t the thief keep his promise?"

"Huh? Thief?"

"Ah, nothing."

The kid kept muttering to himself, so I decided to tease him.

"You’re a bit suspicious—you know about Huashan’s plum blossoms, and you ask a lot of questions about Huashan. Are you a spy from another sect?"

"What?! No, that’s not it. I just heard stories because I wanted to join Huashan... Ahaha..."

I eyed him suspiciously and asked. Cheongmyeong looked flustered and hurriedly made excuses.

"Hmm... Should I believe that?"

"Please believe me! It’s really not true."

I pretended to think for a moment and then said,

"Alright, fine. You don’t seem like a bad kid, so I’ll trust you for now. But I’ll be watching."

"Yes..."

"Anyway, let’s get moving. It’ll get dark soon."

We climbed the rest of the way and entered Huashan. Cheongmyeong was tired, but he seemed proud to have reached the sect without anyone’s help—his expression was bright. But the moment he stepped in, his face turned to shock.

"Beautiful as always, my biceps!! Haha, don’t be jealous, thighs—I’ll give you a good workout tomorrow."

"Back muscles, you’re invisible so I’m sad... but my love for you never changes."

Today, as always, the first-generation disciples were shirtless, doing heavy lifting (weight training) in the training ground. Some were posing during rest, admiring their muscles like lovers.

"Wh-what is this... Did I come to the wrong place? Is this really Huashan?"

"It is."

"Hah..."

Just then, Unam, who had been lifting, noticed us and came over, wiping sweat.

"Instructor Jin, you’re back. You bought quite a lot. Who’s this child?"

"He said he wants to join Huashan, so I brought him."

"Is that so? But the sect leader said he wouldn’t accept any more third-generation disciples..."

Cheongmyeong suddenly prostrated himself on the ground and pleaded earnestly.

"Please, let me see the sect leader!! I want to join Huashan!!!"

The first-generation disciples stopped their workout and looked at him.

"He wants to join that badly."

"He must have been captivated by my muscles! Well, they are captivating—look how I’ve raised them."

"But didn’t the sect leader say he won’t accept more?"

"Still, if he wants to build muscles like ours, they might make an exception."

"Maybe."

"Kid! Hang in there! If you get in, I’ll teach you how to build real muscles!"

At their misunderstanding, Cheongmyeong looked dumbfounded. But he kept quiet—even if they misunderstood him as wanting to build muscle, joining Huashan was what mattered.

Unam seemed moved by Cheongmyeong’s plea.

"If you’re that serious about building muscle... Alright, I’ll go with you and persuade the sect leader. Wait here."

"It’s not muscles..."

"Huh? Muscles?"

"I want to build muscles quickly, haha..."

"Haha, be patient—I need to get ready too."

Unam dressed properly and went to see the sect leader. Cheongmyeong sighed deeply and waited. Since Unam had taken charge of him, I put the chickens in the temporary coop behind my quarters and rested.

In the original, Cheongmyeong would see Huashan’s decline and resolve to revive it, but now he was struggling to adapt to the changed Huashan. I couldn’t help but laugh.

’This is entertaining in its own way.’

The next day, Yi-seol and I prepared for our usual run—it was routine, nothing new. Outside, the first- and third-generation disciples were warming up. They too ran the mountain with us every morning. After so many years, it had become a Huashan tradition.

What was amusing was that some third-generation disciples had bruised faces and bumps on their heads. It seemed they’d tried to give Cheongmyeong an initiation prank, only to get beaten up instead.

Un-geom, their teacher, asked,

"Why do your faces look like that?"

Cheongmyeong made an awkward excuse.

"Ahahaha, the senior disciples were demonstrating Yukhap-gwon last night and got a bit too intense..."

"Tsk, tsk—must have been too eager with a new recruit."

The third-generation disciples looked incredulous. But when Cheongmyeong shot them a cold glare, they all shut up like mutes, afraid of what might happen if they spoke.

"Huff, huff..."

As the run began, the first-generation disciples, used to the training, kept pace without falling behind. The third-generation disciples, however, began dropping off one by one—many weren’t yet conditioned.

Cheongmyeong, running beside Yoon Jong, asked,

"Senior disciple, do we do this every day?"

"Yeah, our master says stamina is essential for learning martial arts."

"So this is why Huashan hasn’t completely collapsed—they train stamina daily."

Un-geom, leading the third-generation disciples, heard the chatter and scolded them.

"You still have energy to talk?! Fine, speed up!"

"Yes!"

The third-generation disciples answered obediently but clearly looked dissatisfied—they glared at Cheongmyeong as if it were his fault.

"Ugh... I’m dying."

"If we spend all our stamina now, how will we survive the strength training after breakfast?"

"Exactly. It’s all that kid’s fault."

"Hah... This is insane... Do something."

"I don’t want to get hit—you try."

The third-generation disciples lay sprawled on the training ground, gasping. Cheongmyeong was no exception—his young body couldn’t keep up, but he had a satisfied smile on his face.

After breakfast, the first-generation disciples went off to train or attend to their duties. The second-generation disciples, under Un-geom’s guidance, did strength training, followed by Yukhap Sword practice. It was the same routine, but the third-generation disciples looked particularly worn out today.

Yi-seol and I trained in the back mountain.

"Brother, since learning the Jeokmyeong Divine Art, the Seven Plum Sword feels a bit lacking—like the sword technique can’t keep up with the divine art."

"I suppose so. But Huashan’s martial arts only go up to the Seven Plum Sword."

Yi-seol, now at a higher level, was beginning to notice such limitations.

"If only Huashan still had the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Technique..."

"Hmm... Should I try restoring it?"

"Would you? But the sect leader said it’s nearly impossible..."

"You never know. It’s half-burned, but there are also notes from attempts to restore it."

At my words, Yi-seol’s expression darkened slightly—it was about her father, so she couldn’t feel at ease. I immediately regretted bringing it up.

After lunch, I went to see Sect Leader Hyeonjong to get the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Technique.

"Hmm... I see. You want to try restoring it... It won’t be easy. Ah, that’s right!"

Hyeonjong brightened as if something had occurred to him.

"I almost forgot—there’s a sword path! Let’s go to my quarters right now. There’s a supposed sword path for the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Technique engraved there."

Following Hyeonjong, I headed to the quarters used by generations of Huashan sect leaders.

Hyeonjong, familiar with the place, pushed aside a bookshelf, revealing a hidden vault entrance. He walked in without hesitation.

"This is a place only the Huashan sect leader is permitted to enter. Showing it to you carries considerable risk. But to recover lost martial arts, I’ve judged this risk worth taking. I trust you’ll keep what you see and hear today to yourself."

Bringing me here meant showing me Huashan’s deepest secret—laying bare the sect’s foundation. A single mistake could jeopardize Huashan’s future.

Knowing how heavy his decision was, I gave a respectful fist-and-palm salute and spoke as if making a vow.

"Understood. I will do so."

We proceeded deeper into the vault. Inside was a massive iron door, engraved with multiple sword paths.

"Take a look. I’m ashamed to say I lacked the skill to decipher it. But I believe you can."

I already knew from the original, but I pretended to examine it.

"Hmm... This is thousand-year cold iron. And these are indeed sword paths. I can make out Yukhap-gwon, Jukyeop-su, and an unfamiliar sword path—that’s likely the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Technique."

"As I thought. Can you open it?"

"I’ve never seen these sword paths before, but if I cross-reference them with the remaining manual, I might manage."

"That’s good to hear. I’ll bring it right away."

I could have opened it immediately, but doing so might raise suspicion, so I played along.

Hyeonjong soon returned with the half-burned Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Technique manual. His quick return suggested he kept it in his quarters.

I took the manual and studied it for a long time. Then I drew my sword and began tracing the techniques one by one.

In truth, the sword paths also included the Plum Blossom Sword Formula—a higher-level technique beyond the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword. But I didn’t tell Hyeonjong—I wasn’t sure how he’d react if he knew I was aware of it, so I passed it off as part of the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword.

"How is it? Can you do it?"

"There are only two new techniques, and I’ve grasped the general flow—I think it’s possible."

Hyeonjong’s face lit up.

"That’s a relief. Go ahead."

I took my stance and, following the engraved sword paths, fluidly executed Yukhap-gwon, Jukyeop-su, the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Technique, and even the Plum Blossom Sword Formula in succession.

SWISH! SLASH! CLANG! SWOOOOSH!!!

The thousand-year cold iron door slowly began to open. The key was to wield the sword along the precise sword paths while using Huashan’s internal energy.

CREEEAAAK!

"Oh!!! Finally!!!"

As soon as the door opened, Hyeonjong rushed inside, examining everything. He seemed eager to see what previous sect leaders had left behind in the vault—a place only the sect leader could enter.

"Th-this is the Great Huashan Sect’s financial ledgers from the Hwaeumhyeon period!!! Unbelievable—it was here all along!!! And even the royal decrees!!!"

Hyeonjong nearly fainted in shock, and I had to catch him.

"Sect Leader!!"