《The Legend of the Northern Blade》
Chapter 0: Prologue
Why a sword?
There are so many different weapons in the world, so why did I choose the sword?
That''s because swords represent perfection.
A sword has two edges.
One edge to hurt the enemy, one edge to protect me.
It protects me by killing my enemies.
That is the purpose of a sword.
And that is exactly how I use my chosen weapon, my sword.
Chapter 1: Alone Under the Wavering, Endless Sky
Jin Mu-Won (Ԫ)[1] opened his eyes. Oddly, the world seemed to have be a blur. That was because ayer of moisture had covered his young eyes. Although he was trying his best to hold it in, the tears would not stop flowing, as if his tear ducts were damaged.
Jin Mu-Won wiped away the tears with his sleeve.
This is thest time I will cry. I will never shed tears ever again, swore the thirteen-year-old teenager to himself.
Just then, a man stretched out arge hand and stroked Jin Mu-Won on the head. The boy raised his head to look at the man.
Behind the gentle smile on the man''s face, one could faintly sense his sorrow and despair.
The man knelt down and made eye contact with Jin Mu-Won.
Son, from now on you will be alone.
Father!
I''m sorry.
Do you know why you have to apologize to me?
The man nodded and grabbed Jin Mu-Won''s shoulder.
So you do understand. I''m sorry, but from now on, you are the Lord of the Northern Army (T).[2]
Jin Mu-Won nodded in response as the man silently patted him on the shoulder.
The man could feel his son''s shoulder shivering. No matter how mature the boy was, he was still a thirteen-year-old child who needed his parents'' protection.
Jin Mu-Won looked up at the sky and avoided the man''s gaze, trying his hardest not to tear up again.
Damnit! You''re thest head of a family that has fallen apart. Just what kind of shitty inheritance are you leaving me, huh?
I''m sorry.
Don''t apologize. Apologies don''t suit a great man like my father.
I see. It seems that for a moment, I forgot who I was.
The man stood up, back straight.
His name was Jin Kwan-Ho, also known as the Northern Wall. To some, he was the wall of despair, but to others he was the most dependable shield. The word sorry did not suit a man like that.
Do you hate me? This is all my fault.
It''s fine. At least, I no longer have to be restrained by duty. I''m free from all the responsibilities now.
Im d you think that way.
Jin Kwan-Ho nodded and looked outside the room.
There were a lot of people in the central za. They were waiting for Jin Kwan-Ho toe out.
It''s time. I shouldn''t disappoint those people. If possible, I wish this was an illusion, but s.
Jin Kwan-Ho''s calm voice made Jin Mu-Won''s eyes twitch.
Jin Mu-Won bit his lip. His tender lips split open and blood flowed out from the wound, but he still stared at Jin Kwan-Ho as if it didn''t hurt at all.
Father.
As Jin Kwan-Ho walked out, Jin Mu-Won followed behind him.
Jin Kwan-Ho''s back was wider and stronger than any other. Jin Mu-Won imprinted the image of his father''s back in his mind.
As he entered the central za, Jin Mu-Won looked at the army who had gathered there.
There were people of all ages and dressed in different styles of clothing. The only thing they had inmon was the sharpness in their eyes, which was proof that they were all martial arts experts.
Right now, the only thing preventing these people from moving forward were a few warriors still loyal to the North. However, they were just candles in the wind in front of these experts.
Their sharp gazes fell on Jin Kwan-Ho.
Jin Kwan-Ho locked gazes with them one at a time. Among them were soldiers who immediately looked away, as if they were guilty of a grave crime. There were some, though, who red back at Jin Kwan-Ho with killing intent. These included some people that Jin Kwan-Ho and Jin Mu-Won had been very close to.
Jin Kwan-Ho whispered to himself, It seems that martial artists from all over have gathered here today. Should I think of this as an honor?
It was true, all the strongest martial artists in the murim had gathered in the same za. Several stood out much more than others.
Nine martial artists stood at the head of the army. The youngest was a warrior in his thirties and the oldest, a monk in his seventies. Overwhelming auras far exceeding the others could be felt emanating from their bodies.
Only those who stood at the very top could possess such intimidating auras. Jin Kwan-Ho looked at them coldly and said, As expected, Heaven''s Summit ()[3] is behind all of this. I cant help but be impressed.
Jin Kwan-Ho.
A man in his sixties stepped forward. He had an ordinary appearance that would blend perfectly into any crowd, but his eyes were as deep as the ocean.
Most people dared not face this mans gaze, because theyd feel like he could see right through them.
Grand Elder of the Seo-Moon n, the renowned Ghost of Zhuge Liang (T)[4].
Jin Kwan-Ho recognized this old man immediately.
The old mans real name was Seo-Moon Hwa. He was a genius who had brought a n of fallen nobles back to prominence. It was said that he had reached the limits of knowledge and understood everyw of nature. All the wisdom of the world was contained within that tiny brain of his.
He had passed the role of family head down to his son and became the Grand Elder of the n as well as one of the Nine Skies of Heaven''s Summit. This day, Seo-Moon Hwa and the other eight members of the Nine Skies overshadowed the Sky of the North.
Why did you betray us, Jin Kwan-Ho?
I have no idea what you mean, Elder Seo-Moon.
Are you going to keep denying what youve done? You colluded with our enemy, the Silent Night.
Haha! Seo-Moon, how are you so proud of a life of corruption? Youre even falsely using me of colluding with the Silent Night (ҹ)[5]. Thats ridiculous.
The Four Pirs of the Northern Army have given their testimony. Are you still not going to confess?
Jin Kwan-Ho looked at the four men who stood at the very back of the army. Because of the crowd, he could not see their faces clearly, but he could sense their presence.
Are you four so ashamed that you have to hide behind others?
The Northern Generals.
Better known as the Four Pirs of the North.
Once, they had been Jin Kwan-Hos friends. He had trusted and relied on them more than any other, and they had been the Norths shields and spears. In the end though, they had chosen to betray Jin Kwan-Ho and the Northern Army. Many followers of the Northern Army had also joined them in betrayal.
Youre pathetic.
Suddenly, Jin Kwan-Ho turned toward Jin Mu-Won, who stood beside him silently.
His son was moreposed and stood prouder than anyone else in the hall. However, Jin Kwan-Ho knew that this was all an act. Jin Mu-Wons trembling shoulders was proof of that.
No matter how resolute he was, he was only thirteen. He was far too young to calmly ept the terrible misfortune that had befallen him out of nowhere.
Jin Kwan-Ho put a hand on Jin Mu-Wons shoulder. Jin Mu-Won raised his head and looked up at his gentle father.
His sons deep ck eyes spoke a thousand words.
Im sorry, my son.
Jin Kwan-Ho let go of his son and took a step toward Seo-Moon Hwa. All the members of the Nine Skies, including Seo-Moon Hwa, flinched.
No matter how much I struggle, I cant escape from your trap. Still, this is the Northern Army. If I give it up, a third of this deste region will be truly unlivable.
Are you nning to resist, Jin Kwan-Ho?
A hint of anxiety appeared on Seo-Moon Hwas face. The others were just as nervous.
Although it was on the verge of copse, this was the headquarters of the Northern Army. This was the fortress that had defended against the Silent Night for a hundred years. It wouldnt be surprising if there were death traps and formations everywhere. Just those were enough to wipe out a third of their forces.
Most importantly, the man called Jin Kwan-Ho was here.
If the man known as the Northern Wall charged at them while prepared to die, the number of deaths he would cause was unimaginable.
The Four Pirs might have betrayed him, but there were still many experts loyal to the Northern Army. One word from Jin Kwan-Ho, and they would follow him to their deaths.
Thus, Seo-Moon Hwa and the other Nine Skies of Heaven''s Summit were more nervous than ever before. Unexpectedly, Jin Kwan-Ho was the one who broke the tension.
I will disband the Northern Army.
Really?
I no longer have any reason to lie.
Jin Kwan-Ho grinned smugly at Seo-Moon Hwa, who scowled back with suspicion. Jin Kwan-Ho looked as if he knew the whole truth, which made the Nine Skiess faces turn red with anger and shame that they had been trying to hide.
To Jin Kwan-Ho, this couldn''t have been an easy decision. Although it was only for a moment, the Nine Skies were dumbfounded.
The Northern Army must be eradicated.
As long as the Northern Army exists, we will be unable to cement our control over the Central ins.
The Nine Skies exchanged thoughts. Regardless of whether he knew their true intentions, Jin Kwan-Ho cut right to the chase.
He announced, From today onward, the Northern Army is no more! All warriors of the North, leave the Northern Army and live your lives as you please! This is my final order as your lord!
Milord!
Arghhh!
Many warriors of the Northern Army, who had been facing off against the murims forces, chose tomit suicide upon hearing Jin Kwan-Hos announcement. As they embraced their deaths, tears flooded uncontrobly from their eyes.
Jin Kwan-Ho turned back to look at Seo-Moon Hwa.
Are you satisfied now?
It seems that this still isnt enough for you.
Jin Kwan-Hos grin widened.
To these people, there was only one eptable oue. Jin Kwan-Ho decided to give them what they wanted.
Hah!
Jin Kwan-Ho released his aura and a powerful windstorm engulfed the area. The Nine Skies raised their weapons and prepared to work together to fight him.
Just as his aura reached its pinnacle, Jin Kwan-Ho suddenly turned his strength on himself. His body shook from the great impact.
Father!
Jin Mu-Won ran toward his fallen father and held him in his arms. His clothes were quickly drenched in Jin Kwan-Hos blood.
AHHHHHHH!
The Nine Skies heaved sighs of relief. They all knew what Jin Kwan-Ho had done to himself. By reversing the flow of his chi, all of Jin Kwan-Hos blood vessels had burst. With damaged coronary arteries, not even the gods could save Jin Kwan-Ho now.
Jin Kwan-Ho looked toward Seo-Moon Hwa with bloodshot eyes from the burst blood vessels.
Satisfiednow?
Everyone in the murim army, including Seo-Moon Hwa, were stunned speechless by Jin Kwan-Hos bloodied appearance.
The man had chosen to end his own life rather than die fighting.
Jin Kwan-Hos extreme decision made even toughened soldiers break down in shock. Even Seo-Moon Hwa bit his lip in consternation.
Seo-Moon Hwas eyes fell upon Jin Mu-Won.
I wish to die surrounded only by my family.
It was hard for Seo-Moon Hwa to look away, but if he did not, the soldiers would disapprove of him.
All of you, get out! cried Seo-Moon Hwa.
Jin Kwan-Ho smiled weakly in his sons arms. His heart had been torn to shreds and there was no sign of life on his pale face. He had persisted this far using his powerful chi, but he had finally reached his limit.
Im sorry, my son.
Father.
I hope you live freely.
Jin Kwan-Ho passed away, smiling.
Jin Mu-Won stared at his fathers face for a very long time. Although his father had died from a damaged heart, his face appeared the same in death as it did in life. Jin Mu-Won stretched out a trembling hand and closed his fathers eyes.
Jin Mu-Won carried his fathers corpse and turned around. Im all alone now. Alone under the wavering, endless sky.
The soldiers quietly stared at Jin Mu-Wonsnky profile. This young man, who had not shed even a single teardrop at his fathers death, gave them a strange sense of trepidation.
Footnotes:
[1] Jin Mu-Won (Ԫ): The name Mu-Won means Martial Origin.
[2] Northern Army (T): literal trantion, Northern Heavenly Gates. The manhwa TL uses Northern Heavenly Sect, but they are not a sect in the traditional sense. This faction is an army.
[3] Heaven''s Summit (): literal trantion, Heaven Among the Clouds or Standing Above the Rest. Manhwa TL: Central Heavenly Alliance. Heaven''s Summit has a double meaning of "peak of heaven" and "gathering of leaders" which I think fits better with the literal trantion.
[4] Ghost of Zhuge Liang (T): literal trantion, Ghost of Zhuge Liang. Zhuge Liang was a genius military strategist who served Liu Bei of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era. A famous story is how Liu Bei, a king, couldn''t summon Zhuge Liang to his court and had to personally visit Zhuge Liang at his cottage three times in order to recruit him. The nickname "Ghost of Zhuge Liang" shows just how smart Seo-Moon Hwa is, as Zhuge Liang is thought to be the most intelligent man of his era.
[5] Silent Night (ҹ): Can also be tranted as Hidden Night, or Secret Night, but Silent Night sounds better.
Chapter 2: Against the Wind (1)
Winters in the North were harsh. The merciless dry winds would prate right through ones clothes and sting like des cutting into flesh.
Two horse-drawn wagons plodded slowly across the ins against the punishing wind. A dozen or so men sat both inside and on the roof of the wagons.
They looked around them, faces pale. They were exhausted from their long journey. They were not in a hurry, so the journey had not been physically tiring, but the countless days spent on the road still pushed their mental resilience to their limits.
The worst thing was that no matter which direction they looked in, all they saw was an endless, t expanse of snow.
It''s been three days since we left the border, but I haven''t seen a single living soul. It feels like I''ve entered apletely different world, like I''m suffocating in a nket of white nothingness.
Do we seriously have to spend three years in this deste ce? muttered a man sitting on the roof of one of the wagons to himself.
The men around him closed their eyes and shuddered at the thought.
The wagon they were riding on was filled with food and daily necessities that they would need to survive the harsh winter. With this much food, they couldn''t possibly go hungry, but even that was not enough to make them feel better about their situation.
Arge fortress appeared in the distance. At first nce, it was grand and imposing, with the soaring towers of a few dozen stately pces peeking over the colossal walls. On closer inspection though, the eerie fortress showed no signs of human life, like it had been abandoned a long time ago.
This was the ce they would be staying in for the next three years. They were approaching their destination, but the mens motivation was at an all-time low.
Fuck!
When he saw his dispirited men, the captain of the group stomped his feet angrily, but said nothing more. That was because he was just as depressed as the rest of them.
His name was Jang Pae-San. He was the captain of the Third Company[1] of mercenaries affiliated with Heaven''s Summit. The men on the wagons were all his underlings.
As they approached the main gate, Jang Pae-San shouted to his men, We will soon be taking over custody of the fortress from the Second Company, so buck up! Don''t you dare embarrass me in front of those guys!
Yes sir!
In front of the fierce, bandit-like Jang Pae-San, even the toughest, strongest men would be meek and obedient. Jang Pae-San had an explosive, violent temper that made his men tread carefully around him so as not to trigger the Volcanic Eruption of Mt. Jang Pae-San.
The vice-captain Seo Mu-Sang (KĽ)[2] stood up on a wagon roof and ordered, Everyone check your weapons!
Seo Mu-Sang was a young man in his early twenties, with a calm and rational personality. Due to the fact that he never showed any emotions, the men gossiped about his cold-bloodedness.
Seo Mu-Sang raised his head and looked at the main gate of the fortress. Therge que that had once stood there and disyed the name of the fortress was nowhere to be seen. The gate itself had fallen into disrepair and was covered in numerous cracks and dents.
Fortunately, the walls were still intact enough to distinguish the interior and exterior of the fortress. There was a strange inscription on the walls, but no one thought much of those.
During the climax of the war with the Silent Night, this fortress had housed more than ten thousand soldiers from all over the Central ins. There were dozens of identical military barracks, nameless vis and other essential facilities for living. More people lived here in the Northern Army Fortress than in an entire county.
In fact, this fortress was so big that even those who had lived here for many years could easily lose their sense of direction within the maze-like fortress and be hopelessly lost. As a result, the Northern Army used to hand out maps to everyone who was visiting for the first time.
However, these once majestic buildings nowy in ruins, reduced to a mere shadow of their former selves.
Is this really the Northern Army Fortress? murmured Seo Mu-Sang.
This used to be the Northern Army Fortress. It''s also the ce where we will be spending the next three years. Fuck this shit! cursed Jang Pae-San. To him, the fact that this fortress was once the headquarters of the famed Northern Army was not important. He was simply disgusted and enraged by the thought of living in such a godforsaken ce for three whole years. On the other hand, Seo Mu-Sang looked at the ruins of the Northern Army Fortress with a sense of reverence.
Even though the Northern Army was no more, joining this army had once been the dream of many young martial artists. The sheer weight of the words Northern Army bore down heavily on the hearts of Seo Mu-Sang and the other young warriors.
SCREEECH!
An ear-piercing screech rang out as the rusted gates were opened. A group of men marched out from the fortress, but unlike the reminiscing young men, these people had sharp eyes and intimidating auras.
Jang Pae-San saw a familiar face amongst the men and greeted, Captain Seo.
Oh, who is this I see? I guess this makes you my recement? Captain Jang.
Captain Seo shook hands with Jang Pae-San.
Yeah, unfortunately.
Tsk tsk! Captain Seo clicked his tongue. He had already been stuck here for more than two years. Those years had been utter misery for him and his men. Thus, he had been really looking forward to going home. Today, the day of his departure had finally arrived.
The feelings of the men of the Second and Third Companies were the exact opposite. The former were excited and thetter, depressed. For the Third Company, the gates to hell had just opened and were weing them to a long period of suffering and despair.
Captain Seo put a hand on Jang Pae-Sans shoulder and hurried him along.
Lets go inside.
Jang Pae-San and the rest of the Third Company followed Captain Seo, while the Second Company escorted the wagons into the fortress.
From inside, the Northern Army Fortress appeared even shabbier than it did when seen from outside. The main buildings were barely intact, and most of the secondary buildings hadpletely copsed. In addition, any pieces of evidence of human civilization were gradually being eroded by the green of nature.
There were only a few usable buildings amongst the ruins. Jang Pae-San noticed a well-maintained mansion in the innermost part of the fortress.
Is that the one?
Yes, thats the prison.
Prison? Then
Captain Seo nodded silently. After receiving his confirmation, Jang Pae-San saw the mansion in apletely different light. The Third Company also followed their captains gaze and looked toward the mansion.
Suddenly, the door to the mansion opened, apanied by the creaking of rusted hinges. A scrawny teenage boy about fifteen to sixteen years of age walked out. The boys shoulder-length ck hair was untied, and long bangs covered his eyes. The only parts of his face that could be seen were his nose, lips, and chin.
Jang Pae-San felt that this boy ought to have a very stubborn personality from his sharp nose and pursed lips. Even if he didnt look like that, the boy exuded the aura of a lone wolf. That was not an aura that a fifteen, sixteen-year-old boy should have. It fit him unexpectedly well though.
Captain Seo and the Second Company tensed up when they saw the boy. In contrast, Jang Pae-San and the Third Company appeared confused, their eyes showing hints of both pity and wariness.
Captain Seo moved to intercept the boy, saying, You have to inform us beforehand if you want to go out.
The boy stopped in his tracks and looked at the captain. At least, it seemed that he was looking at the captain, as his eyes were hidden under his hair. The captain felt that he could somehow sense the boys gaze.
After staring at the captain for a while, the boy finally said, Im just taking a walk. Im not going out today.
The boys voice was very soft, barely more than a whisper. One would think that unless one was paying attention, one would not have heard him. But despite the low volume, the boys words could be easily understood.
Everyone, even the men of the Third Company standing far away, could hear the boy, not just Captain Seo who was right in front of him. Even so, no one found this odd. Perhaps that was because of the boys unique aura.
I believe you.
The boy nodded at Captain Seos reply and left. None of the soldiers could take their eyes off his back as he walked away.
Only when the boy had disappeared around a corner did Jang Pae-San ask, Was that the kid?
Yes. He is thest heir of the Northern Army.
The boy paused for a moment and surveyed his surroundings.
The fortress that hadnt been maintained for two years had truly be a ruin. Thankfully, there were still two intact residential buildings left: the mansion that the boy lived in and the barracks where Heaven''s Summits affiliate mercenaries lived. All other defensive and military structures had been destroyed, leaving nothing but rubble.
The boy had gotten used to the deste scenery, but nevertheless, it still pained him every time he saw it. This was the ce that his father, grandfather and forefathers had worked hard to protect.
The boys name was Jin Mu-Won. Technically, he was the Lord of the Northern Army. Since the Northern Army had been disbanded in disgrace, calling him the Lord was a form of humiliation. After the events of two years ago, none of the former warriors had chosen to remain and had all departed for greener pastures.
Heaven''s Summit, the mastermind behind the Northern Armys destruction, was flourishing right in the heart of the Central ins. Many sects that had once been loyal to the Northern Army now pledged their allegiances to the factions led by the Four Pirs of the North. Even martial artists living outside the Four Pirs domains knew how lucrative employment there was.
Where did all of you go? I hope you have enough to eat and are living happily,ughed Jin Mu-Won self-deprecatingly.
He despised the people who had chosen to leave the Northern Army.
The Northern Army had been created with the help of Heaven''s Summit and had also been annihted in the hands of the same Heaven''s Summit. His father had been too kind to force all of the Northern Armys warriors tomit mass suicide with him, and had ordered them to leave instead.
Even so, I didnt think that all of you would move so far away.
Jin Mu-Won scratched his head. He was unable to leave this ce. Even if the Northern Army had fallen, he was still its Lord. A Lord cannot forsake his territory.
Haaah Jin Mu-Won sighed.
No matter how hard I try, I cant help but sigh.
Following the death of Jin Kwan-Ho and the disbandment of the Northern Army, the Northern Army was no longer a threat to Heaven''s Summit. The people who had lost their livelihood felt like they had no choice but to move away. But just because they had given up, did not mean that Jin Mu-Won had given up.
Using keeping a lookout for the Silent Night as an excuse, Heaven''s Summit had sent its affiliate mercenaries to the Northern Army fortress. Officially, he was thendlord and the Second Company were his tenants.
However, no one had seen hide nor hair of the Silent Night for thirty years. The whole world believed that the Silent Night had beenpletely destroyed and that the Northern Army had been disbanded because there was no longer any need for its existence as the main force defending the front lines.
The mercenaries real job was not to keep an eye on the Silent Night, it was to keep an eye on thest heir to the Northern Army.
Jin Mu-Won wandered aimlessly around the wreckage. After the events of that day, the enemy had not immediately left the fortress. The Four Pirs took the most valuable military supplies. Gold and other valuables were plundered in an instant. Even weapons like swords and dao had been looted. It was all thanks to those thieves that Jin Mu-Won was penniless.
I dont know what will happen in the future, but no matter what, I will survive.
Jin Mu-Won shook his head. He was only fifteen, an age where most would still be depending on their parents, but he had matured so quickly that he felt like an old man.
Jin Mu-Won walked into a tower that still possessed a roof. In the past, this tower was known as the Grand Library. The library had been named after the ten thousand precious schrly tomes and martial arts manuals that had once been stored here.
This ruined tower could no longer live up to its name as the Grand Library. Most of the precious tomes had been scattered all over the world, leaving only a few worthless ones behind. The hundred or so books left could be ssified into two categories: philosophy books and third-rate martial arts manuals (e.g. Six Directions Fist, Three Foundations of Swordsmanship, Cloud Steps). They were all ced on the same bookshelf.
Jin Mu-Won stood in front of the bookshelf and took out the Three Foundations of Swordsmanship manual.
Just as the world is split into the heavens, the earth, and Man,[3] so is swordsmanship.
This line seemed sophisticated, but all the manual contained were the three basics of using a sword. It was so simple that no martial artist worth his salt would call it swordsmanship.
Jin Mu-Won knew the truth about the book. Even so, he read it seriously again and again in order to fully understand the Three Foundations of Swordsmanship. He was so focused that it took him half an hour to finish reading a book with only a few pages.
There was nothing much to do in this barrennd, and the mercenaries never interacted with him. Time passed so slowly that each unchanging day felt like a year. Reading was one of the few activities that took up a lot of time, so Jin Mu-Won visited the Grand Library daily and read each book over and over again.
By now he had memorized the contents of all the books, down to every word. Nevertheless, when the next day arrived, he would read a memorized book again. There was nothing else to do anyway.
Heaven''s Summit was afraid that Jin Mu-Won would learn martial arts and take revenge on them, so they dispatched mercenaries to observe him. But after observing Jin Mu-Won closely for two years, Captain Seo and his men concluded: There was no martial art manual left for Jin Mu-Won to learn from.
Wow, these people are seriously greedy. They took away everything except the truly worthless trash? I guess being thick-skinned and shameless is also a kind of talent. said Jin Mu-Won to himself.
Whenever he was alone, Jin Mu-Won would talk to himself. If he didnt do that, hed probably never get the opportunity to talk.
Jin Mu-Won put the manual back on the shelf. Normally, he would then take out another book and begin reading, but he didnt feel like doing that today. He left the Grand Library and headed toward his mansion.
Just then, a powerful gust of wind nearly swept him off his feet.
Winter had begun.
Bringing with it the raging tempests of the North.
Footnotes:
[1] Third Company: Called the Third Mercenary Group in the manhwa.
[2] Seo Mu-Sang (KĽ): Mu-Sang means "Aim to be Dignified".
[3] The world is split into the heavens, the earth, and Man: A concept from the I Ching.
Chapter 3: Against the Wind (2)
Seo Mu-Sang looked coldly at the mansion in the distance. It was the most well-preserved building in the ruins of the Northern Army Fortress as well as Jin Mu-Wons lodgings.
You mean to say that youre supposed to stay here for three whole years? asked Captain Seo.
The Second Company had lived here for two years. The Third Company would have to be here for three.
The mercenaries main objective was to keep watch for any movements from the Silent Night, but the possibility of that happening was very low.
The first time the Silent Night revealed themselves was a hundred and thirty years ago. Their appearance ignited the fires of war across the continent. Countless people died, to the point where cities, towns and viges started to appear lifeless. Only when the Silent Night disappeared and the war ended did the people begin to regain their vitality and prosperity.
After the end of the first war, the Silent Night staged a new invasion every five to ten years. Each invasion resulted in a huge battle that imed countless lives. As the casualties piled up, the murim world decided to work together to defend against the Silent Night.
The Northern Army was the culmination of their efforts. It was not a sect or school but a new armyprised of martial artists from the entire murim who were united in a single purpose: To defeat the Silent Night.
The murim spared no expense in supporting the Northern Army. This resulted in the Northern Army amassing arge collection of martial arts and precious medicines, which was used to create a legion of elite martial artists. The duty of these elites was to protect the people from the Silent Night.
And then there was Heaven''s Summit.
Heaven''s Summit was originally an alliance created to financially support the Northern Army. The first leaders of Heaven''s Summit included the heads and elders of many ns, but as time passed, nine ns rose to prominence.
The leaders of these nine ns became the first-generation Nine Skies of Heaven''s Summit. Seo-moon Hwa was one of them. The Nine Skies of Heaven''s Summit created a new world order by taking advantage of the chaos that the Silent Night had sowed, effectively bing the new rulers of the murim.
This state of affairs continued until thirty years ago, when the Silent Night suddenly disappeared. The mostmonly believed reason for the disappearance was that an entire generation of the Silent Nights members had been wiped out. To regain their strength, the Silent Night would need many years to nurture a new generation of martial artists.
With this knowledge in hand, Heaven''s Summit decided topletely eradicate the Silent Night whilst they were still weakened.
The biggest obstacle to Heaven''s Summit then became the Northern Army. Heaven''s Summit felt that the continued existence of the Silent Night had be an excuse for the Northern Army to retain its power, and that the Northern Army would oppose their ns for theplete destruction of the Silent Night.
Thus, they came up with a scheme to fake evidence of Jin Kwan-Hos collusion with the Silent Night, which would, in turn, bring about the disbandment of the Northern Army.
Despite the fact that everyone had left the Northern Army, leaving only a boy named Jin Mu-Won behind, Heaven''s Summit remained wary of the possibility of the Northern Armys resurrection. The mercenaries true mission was to constantly monitor Jin Mu-Wons every action.
Heaven''s Summit wanted to investigate whether Jin Mu-Won knew and practised martial arts and if he had any desire for vengeance. The moment they confirmed that he was a threat, he would be taken away by the mercenaries.
Over thest two years, weve established that the boy poses no threat to Heaven''s Summit. Even so, I have to stay here for three years, said Seo Mu-Sang, frowning.
Keeping watch for the Silent Night sounded like an honorable job, but in reality, they might as well have been exiled.
A familiar voice said, Vice-Captain, what are you doing there all alone?
Seo Mu-Sang turned around to see two men, one in his early-to-mid-twenties and the other just past thirty years of age. Their names were Yoo Gyung-Chun and Won Jeok-Sim, and they were the people he got along best with within the Third Company.
Seo Mu-Sang turned to face the direction of Jin Mu-Wons mansion in reply. Won Jeok-Sim and Yoo Gyung-Chun caught onto his intentions immediately and nodded in understanding. They felt the same way as Seo Mu-Sang.
Why not just kill the boy? whispered Won Jeok-Sim.
What?
If the target of our mission dies, we wont have to live here for three years. Well definitely be summoned back to the Central ins.
Seo Mu-Sang and Yoo Gyung-Chun shook their heads at Won Jeok-Sims joke. Although it was in bad taste, they could see why he would think that way.
Seo Mu-Sang coldly and firmly said, Our job is to keep watch for any movements from the Silent Night, and nothing else.
But Hyung,[1] you agree with me, right?
What I think isnt important. Im just obeying orders from above.
Still
If you dare repeat what you just suggested, then Im no longer your hyung.
Okay, okay.
Won Jeok-Sim lowered his head, sulking. Yoo Gyung-Chun noticed him and clicked his tongue.
Youre always like this. Someday, youre going to have to pay for that uncontroble tongue of yours.
I get it already! This is all my mouths fault, so from now on Ill just have to keep it shut.
Yoo Gyung-Chun smiled. You say that, but a few minutester youll start chattering away again. Won Jeok-Sim was a talkative man who loved to make jokes. He wouldnt stop talking even if he got scolded for it.
As expected, Won Jeok-Sim couldnt stay quiet for long, and had the three men roaring withughter not longter.
Elsewhere, Jang Pae-San and Captain Seo were drinking together.
For Captain Seo, tonight was hisst night at the Northern Army Fortress. For Jang Pae-San, tonight would be his first night here. Each had their own feelings about this big change in their life.
Jang Pae-San poured a drink for Captain Seo and asked, Got any ns after returning to the Central ins?
Do I have a choice? I just do whatever my superiors order me to.
You should be receiving a huge reward for staying here for two whole years, right?
Right mumbled Captain Seo. Just as Jang Pae-San had mentioned, he would be receiving arge reward for his service, but he hadnt been informed what that reward would be yet.
The two continued pouring drinks for each other. A few roundster, both of them had gotten slightly drunk. Only then did Jang Pae-San reveal his true intentions.
So, how much did you take?
What?
Are you going to keep acting stupid? Were friends, right? Didnt all of the most precious resources in the world get sent here during the war? Dont tell me that you didnt take any of that for yourself, and are surviving on the pittance that we get for work.
Captain Seo did not reply immediately. He first finished a cup of wine and then chewed on a piece of pork.
The Northern Army used up all the consumable resources themselves. The rest of the treasure has already been taken away by Heaven''s Summit and the former generals. As for me, I received nothing.
Really? Are you sure youre not hiding something from me?
Trust me, I spent two years searching every nook and cranny of this ruin, but I found nothing.
Jang Pae-San scowled. This was not the answer he was expecting.
If everything was taken, then how is the penniless boy still alive?
Hes got a servant. A man who took it upon himself to feed the kid.
What about martial arts? Did you manage to force any martial art techniques out of him?
No, the kid has never practiced any martial art before.
Even if he didnt practice it, he could have still memorized it, right?
I thought the same way at first, but the kid was only thirteen at that time. How much could he have memorized at that age? I even heard that the martial arts of the Northern Army are unusuallyplex and that its not possible for one person to remember it all, much less master everything. In addition, the Four Pirs who literally raised the boy gave testimony that he had never learned nor practiced any form of martial art.
In truth, Jin Mu-Won was only alive today because of the testimony from the Four Pirs. They could tell at a nce that Jin Kwan-Ho had not taught his son martial arts.
If Jin Kwan-Ho had indeed taught his martial art to his son, Jin Mu-Won would have already been executed.
Jang Pae-San was clearly upset after his conversation with Captain Seo, but the dark glint in his eyes strongly hinted that he was not a man who would give up easily.
The next morning, Captain Seo and the Second Company departed the Northern Army Fortress. Jang Pae-San and the Third Company watched them leave.
At that moment, the rxed smiles on the faces of the Second Company stood in stark contrast to the frowning, gloomy Third Company.
Fuck! cursed someone.
Jang Pae-San yelled back, What are all of you still doing here? Get back to work!
The Third Company immediately started returning to their posts.
Vice-Captain Seo, stay behind.
Yes sir.
I have a mission for you.
Seo Mu-Sang looked at Jang Pae-San quietly. Jang Pae-San suddenly broke into a huge grin, revealing his yellowed teeth.
Vice-Captain, dont you feel bad about spending three years here rotting away?
Yes
Then, since you cant get away from this ce, you might as well profit from it, yeah?
But didnt the Second Company say that all the treasure was gone? Theres nothing left for us to take.
Thats what theysaid. Think carefully, do you trust them? What if there was a little bit of hidden treasure left?
You want me to search for hidden treasure?
The Northern Army has existed for a hundred years. Why wouldnt they have hidden treasure? Why do you think the boy is being kept alive? He must know something.
The Second Company observed the boy for two years. They discovered nothing.
Thats where you, my smart Vice-Captain,e into y. I cant trust what the others say, because theyre all idiots. I need you to get close to the boy.
Jang Pae-San knew how cold and emotionless Seo Mu-Sang was. It was hard to get along with him, but he was the best man for the job.
The boy will definitely talk once he considers you an ally.
What if he still doesnt reveal anything?
Jang Pae-San grinned cruelly, sending a shiver down Seo Mu-Sangs spine.
Then well simply have to torture him.
But we were specifically ordered not to mess with the boy
How would those guys living on the other side of the continent know the truth of what happened here? We just have to report that the boy went out of the fortress for a walk and came back injured. Heaven''s Summit will ept any excuse as long as its usible. We could also kill him afterwards to shut him up, and then say he died in an ident,ughed Jang Pae-San.
Seo Mu-Sang finally nodded, even though he felt utterly disgusted by Jang Pae-Sans greed and depravity.
As a mercenary, he had been demoted again and again until finally, he ended up at the very bottom of the hierarchy, the Third Company. He had already been backed into a corner and had nothing left to lose. He didnt know if a hidden treasure truly existed, but at least it would help him kill some time.
Jin Mu-Won.
Seo Mu-Sang couldnt help but look toward the mansion where Jin Mu-Won lived.
Jin Mu-Won went for a walk.
It was part of his daily routine. Every morning, he would take a walk around the Northern Army Fortress, strolling around leisurely like a tourist.
Seo Mu-Sang secretly tailed Jin Mu-Won. All was as Jang Pae-San had said, the boy showed no sign of ever having practiced martial arts. The walking gait of a martial artist was different from that of a normal person.
Jin Mu-Wons breathing was light and his footsteps heavy, typical of a person who didnt possess any chi. After walking for a short while, Jin Mu-Won would stop to rest and catch his breath. It seemed that he wasnt very fit. Regardless, he had a well-proportioned body with unusually long limbsa good build for a martial artist.
Its far toote for him to start learning martial arts now.
Jin Mu-Won was already fifteen. He was at the age where most children ofrge martial ns began to shine.
These children would have started learning martial arts around the age of six or seven, but only around age fifteen when they were allowed to do muscle training would they be able to match adults in strength. They also would have been taking medication and receiving treatment since they were born to make their bodies more suited to chi cultivation.
Jin Mu-Won, being the son of a criminal, was at a huge disadvantagepared to these kids. Even if he started learning martial arts now, he would probably never catch up to them.
Jin Mu-Won suddenly sat down in the ruins of a pavilion near the northside entrance.
Who are you waiting for? muttered Seo Mu-Sang to himself, hiding in the shadow of the trees where Jin Mu-Won couldnt see him.
After what seemed like hours, Seo Mu-Sang thought, how long have I been hiding here?
Finally, he saw a man approaching the entrance.
Young Master!
The man appeared to be in his thirties, although his slightly hunched back and tanned skin might have made him look older than he really was.
Jin Mu-Won broke into a weing smile.
Uncle Hwang!
Footnotes:
[1] Hyung: The honorific that a younger male uses to call an older male friend or sibling, same as Bro/Brother.
Chapter 4: Against the Wind (3)
Young Master! cried the man, whose name was Hwang Cheol ()[1].
Hwang Cheol had once been a third-rate soldier in the Northern Army. He was never any good at martial arts, but his loyalty was unquestionable.
He was also the only soldier who hadnt truly abandoned the Northern Army. He voluntarily chose to spend the hard-earned money he got from working elsewhere on food and necessities for Jin Mu-Won, and would deliver them in-person regrly. His devotion earned him the honor of being called uncle by Jin Mu-Won.[2]
Young Master, how have you beentely? Have the new mercenaries been treating you well?
Dont worry, Uncle Hwang, they havent harmed me. How have you been?
Im doing well, thank you.
Hwang Cheol looked at Jin Mu-Won sadly. He was also an orphan. When he was young, he used to always get falsely used of crimes, so he ended up wandering from ce to ce. That ended when he met Jin Mu-Wons father, Jin Kwan-Ho. Not only was Jin Kwan-Ho the first person to ept him, he took him in, taught him martial arts, and gave him the ability to make a living.
Hwang Cheol never had any talent in martial arts. He couldnt even master the basics of the Northern Armys martial arts. Despite that, Jin Kwan-Ho personally taught him self-defense so that he could protect himself and live independently.
Of course, he could neverpare to the elites. Hisck of talent was just toorge of a barrier. But he was still good enough at martial arts that people called it a miracle.
Hwang Cheol never forgot Jin Kwan-Hos kindness. While everyone else abandoned the Northern Army, he chose to serve Jin Mu-Won instead.
Have you had dinner yet?
Hwang Cheol opened his backpack. A few momentster, a bowl of freshly cooked rice with steamy side dishes appeared in front of Jin Mu-Won. Hwang Cheol had probably just finished cooking.
The weather is cold today, so please eat while the food is hot, Young Master.
Uncle Hwang, you dont have to do this for me. I can cook for myself.
No, Young Master, I enjoy cooking for you. Hurry and eat.
Jin Mu-Won found himself unable to reject Hwang Cheols sincerity, so he grabbed a spoon. He suggested sharing the food with Hwang Cheol but was refused. Hwang Cheol said that he would feel full just watching Jin Mu-Won eat.
Jin Mu-Won felt a little choked from gratitude, but still went ahead and swallowed his food. Hwang Cheol was always like this.
Eh.
Seo Mu-Sang twitched. He had watched this entire scene unfold from his hiding spot, and was starting to feel guilty for spying on the touching reunion between a young heir of fallen nobility and his loyal servant.
The greedy Jang Pae-San now seemed so pettypared to these two sincere people.
After Jin Mu-Won finished his dinner, Hwang Cheol went to rest in the mansion, while Jin Mu-Won headed to the Grand Library to kill time. Since Jin Mu-Won wasnt in his room, Seo Mu-Sang went to search through all of his books, but didnt find anything of interest.
Was this really the headquarters of the Northern Army? The great Northern Army that single-handedly stopped the Silent Nights invasion?
Once, it had been every young mans dream to serve the Northern Army.
The Northern Army had been like a utopia to those who dreamed of bing a hero, including Seo Mu-Sang. However, the higher ones hopes were, the more disappointed one would feel when those hopes were dashed. Disappointment would then turn into chagrin, and chagrin into hatred.
The light of guilt vanished from Seo Mu-Sangs eyes as he recalled his hatred for Jin Mu-Won.
Jin Mu-Won opened the door to his room and entered. Anger shed across his eyes for a moment as he looked across the room.
Generally, it appeared the same as when he had left. However, he noticed that the cement of some objects had shifted just a little bit.
A guest was here, muttered Jin Mu-Won as if it didnt matter to him.
It was like this two years ago too. Captain Seo and his men would search his room again and again whenever he went out. Only after conducting more than a dozen searches did they finally give up and conclude that there was nothing of value hidden in his room.
They all thought that Jin Mu-Won hadnt noticed, but they had severely underestimated him. Jin Mu-Wons observational skills and sharp eyesight were unparalleled. He could detect even the most subtle of changes.
I wonder how many times you guys are going to search my room this time? said Jin Mu-Won to himself. He sat down at his desk and looked at the few books ced atop it, including the Dao De Jing (¾) [3]. He could tell that the books had been opened by another even though there were very few clues.
Tsk! Jin Mu-Won clicked his tongue and put the books back in their original position.
-Later that night-
When everyone else had fallen asleep, Jin Mu-Won opened the window and looked outside. His room was on the third floor of the mansion, so he could see the entirety of the Northern Army Fortress from his window.
The days long gone were like a pleasant dream. Back then, many warriors would drink, discuss martial arts, or trainte into the night. Things were lively. Now, there was only silence.
Jin Mu-Won stood unmoving, looking at the scenery outside. He was like a statue, making not the slightest movement. After about an hour, he shut the window andy on his bed. He rolled around on it for a while, then began to breathe regrly as if he had fallen into a deep sleep.
Swoosh!
A long time after Jin Mu-Won had fallen asleep, a barely perceptible swoosh sound could be heard. Jin Mu-Won waited for a few minutes, then opened his eyes.
You finally left, huh?
Jin Mu-Won knew that someone had been tailing him for thest few days. He even knew that he had been spied on exactly twelve times a day, his every action monitored.
At first, he could feel that the spy had been pretty focused, but that concentration had waned as time passed.
Jin Mu-Won led a very regr lifestyle. Every morning, he would take a walk. After that, he would head to the Grand Library and read. In the evening, he would take another walk before retiring to his room. The only change today was that he had breakfast together with Hwang Cheol.
This unchanging routine made his life extremely boring. Such a routine was the result of his determination to survive, but at the same time it was also an unbearably painful experience for both the one following it and the one observing it.
Naturally, this held true for Seo Mu-Sang as well, as he gradually lost interest in Jin Mu-Won. Instead of tailing him all the time, Seo Mu-Sang would only pay attention if Jin Mu-Won did something unusual.
Jin Mu-Won once again confirmed that his tail was gone before picking up the Dao De Jing that currentlyy beside his bed. This was the book that he would read whenever he was alone.
The Dao is ever inactive; Yet there is nothing it does not do (o飻o). [4]
This was Jin Mu-Wons favorite line in the Dao De Jing, and also the line that best represented its contents. He sat on his bed and read the Dao De Jing over and over again.
The night was passing, and dawn would soon arrive in the North.
asionally, Jin Mu-Won would go outside the Northern Army Fortress.
The instant he stepped out of the entrance, he was hit by the freezing, biting wind. The wind engulfed him brutally and before he knew it, his clothes were a mess.
This wasnt a normal gale. It was a violent windstorm that felt like it could rip a persons body to pieces. The northern winds were never benevolent, so even those who had lived here for a long time would avoid going outdoors on a windy day.
Jin Mu-Won frowned, but did not turn back. The wind was so strong that it was hard even to breathe. Jin Mu-Won let himself be assailed by the raging tempest until he began to feel pain.
Pain is good. Pain is proof that Im still alive.
When the Northern Army was disbanded, time stopped for Jin Mu-Won. To put it precisely, he stopped feeling the passing of time, because time spent living a life without meaning, might as well not have passed at all.
For Jin Mu-Won who lived like that, the bone-chilling pain from the frigid wind was an rm that jolted him awake from a dreary lull. It let him know that he was still alive.
Jin Mu-Won took a step forward. There were no settlements within ten miles of the Northern Army Fortress.
In the past, the fortress had been surrounded by viges big and small. However, after the fall of the Northern Army and the departure of the vigers, all traces of their existence had been wiped out by the merciless windstorms.
All he saw now was a ce frozen in time, and the ruins of a once great fortress. Jin Mu-Won himself was a part of that bleak scene, like a still frame from an old movie.
The way you are now, Jin Mu-Won, is just pitiful, said Jin Mu-Won to himself. He climbed to the top of a nearby hill where one could get a view of the entire fortress. The top of this hill was also the highest point in the mostly t northern region, and the ce where he could see the furthest away.
Jin Mu-Won gazed out at a ce beyond the horizon.
The southern region; the ce everyone called the Central ins. He had never gone there before.
Standing under a tree, Jin Mu-Won looked toward the South for a very long time. If one looked at him now, they would see the t northern ins reflected in his eyes.
WHOOOOSH!
Jin Mu-Won was knocked over by a particrly powerful gale. He was simply too weak.
Well, Im still young. In time, I will grow taller and stronger. If I manage to survive till adulthood, that is.
Hah, sighed Jin Mu-Won. Even thought it had only been for a moment, a look of determination had appeared on his face.
Not that he wasnt usually determined. He just needed to reinforce that determination every once in a while. That was because, if he wavered, it would be equivalent to betraying his fathers memory.
Soon, it would finally be time for him to take the next step forward.
SWISH!
Suddenly, he heard the sound of clothes brushing against leaves as a hand holding a ck cloth reached out from behind him.
Mmph! Jin Mu-Wons eyes widened as the hand pressed the cloth over his mouth. He began to feel faint.
Hurry up!
As Jin Mu-Wons consciousness faded away, he heard a mans impatient roar.
Footnotes:
[1] Hwang Cheol (): The name Cheol means wisdom.
[2] The social hierarchy in ancient China was strict, and a noble like Jin Mu-Won calling a mere servant uncle was unthinkable.
[3] Dao De Jing (¾): A Chinese ssic text. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tao_Te_Ching
[4] The Dao is ever inactive; Yet there is nothing it does not do (o飻o): The first line of Chapter 37 of the Dao De Jing. It means that while the Dao never takes direct action and goes with the flow of nature, it resides within the actions of everything.
Chapter 5: As Long as there is Wind, there will be Ripples (1)
Ugh! Jin Mu-Won groaned as he regained consciousness. He blinked and realized that his arms had been tied.
This is?
He was in a small, dark room with no windows. The feel and construction of the room was familiar, so Jin Mu-Won deduced that he was in one of the Northern Army Fortresss underground bunkers.
Hmph! It took you quite a while to wake up!
Suddenly, a torch was lit and a man shouted right into his ear. He was temporarily blinded by the sudden bright light, but Jin Mu-Won recognized the speakers voice. It was Jang Pae-San, the mercenary captain who had arrived at the fortress not long ago.
Jang Pae-San was currently sitting in front of Jin Mu-Won. Behind him stood several members of the Third Company, including Seo Mu-Sang, Won Jeok-Sim and Yoo Gyung-Chun.
Jin Mu-Won immediately understood what had happened.
I was kidnapped right in my front yard.
Thats right! It seems youre a smart kid.
And youre Jang Pae-San.
Jin Mu-Won red at Jang Pae-San. Jang Pae-San grinned, revealing his ugly yellow teeth.
You got that one right too.
Why did you kidnap me?
You already know the answer, dont you?
I want to hear it directly from your mouth. What gave you the audacity to kidnap me and throw me into a prison inside my own house?
Hah! As I expected, youre just a harmless, na?ve little boy, even though you look like a venomous snake.
Jang Pae-San stood up and approached Jin Mu-Won. Jin Mu-Won felt like a giant, angry wild boar was closing in on him; Jang Pae-San was just that big and fierce at six-feet tall.
Jang Pae-San grabbed Jin Mu-Wons chin clumsily and pulled his face close, forcing the boy to meet his gaze.
Because of a good-for-nothing like you, we have to spend three years rotting away. So, you have topensate us.
You wantpensation?
Yes.
What kind ofpensation are you talking about? I dont remember hiring you. Dont you work for Heaven''s Summit?
Kid, I really dont like the way youre looking at me now. It makes me want to dig your eyes out and boil them.
Jang Pae-san nodded to a man behind him. The mans name was Noh Ji-Kwang, who was the Third Companys most skilled person at torture. He was also one of Jang Pae-Sansckeys, so Jang Pae-san trusted that he would do whatever he told him to.
Okay kid, lets start with the milder techniques.
Noh Ji-Kwang took out a scalpel with a blue-coloured de.
Noh Ji-Kwang lightly brushed the scalpel across the back of Jin Mu-Wons hand. Jin Mu-wons skin split open, and blood began to flow out one drop at a time. The scalpel de was so sharp that Jin Mu-won didnt even feel any pain until he saw the blood-covered wound.
Guh! groaned Jin Mu-Won. The pain was worse than hed imagined, as if a nerve had been cut.
I dont want to hurt you, but in my line of work, you learn to do a lot of things whether you want to or not. How to torture someone is one of them. Ive never done it to a kid before, but it shouldnt be too hard to make you talk.
Noh Ji-Kwang ced the scalpel next to one of Jin Mu-Wons fingertips. The feeling of cold metal against his sensitive skin made Jin Mu-Won shudder, but the determination in his eyes remained undiminished.
You sure you want to do this?
What do you mean, kid?
Do you honestly think you can get away with this?
Kukuku! I dont know what youre talking about. Youre an orphan, and no one will care about you even if you die here.
If you really think that way, then youre a fool.
Noh Ji-Kwangs eyes widened at Jin Mu-Wons insult. He felt like he had been humiliated by the brat.
Squelch!
Noh Ji-Kwangs hand quivered, causing the scalpel to stab into the delicate flesh right under Jin Mu-Wons fingernail.
AHHHHHHHHHH! screamed Jin Mu-Won, his entire body twitching and jerking like a fish out of water. His eyes turned red and swollen, and his teeth clenched together forcefully from the unbearable pain.
What did you just call me? Dare to repeat yourself, kid?
You. Are. An. Idiot.
Fuck!
Furious, Noh Ji-Kwang twisted the scalpel causing Jin Mu-Wons fingernail to snap in half. The pain from both the broken fingernail and the scalpel digging further into his flesh was so intense that Jin Mu-Won couldnt even scream, only widen his eyes in shock.
Seo Mu-Sang and the others watching fervently shook their heads.
Ill give you onest chance. Did you call me an idiot?
Yes! You moron!
You motherfucking cocky sonovabitch
Noh Ji-Kwang grinned evilly. Still trembling, Jin Mu-Won red at Noh Ji-Kwang with bloodshot eyes.
Tsk Ill tell you why youre a total dumbass. Its cause you dont even realize that youve taken a step closer to hell.
Why you little
Do you know why Heaven''s Summit is keeping me alive?
Noh Ji-Kwang and Jang Pae-San hesitated for a moment. They realized that they had been so blinded by the prospect of treasure and secret martial arts that they hadnt even thought about the consequences of harming Jin Mu-Won.
Do you think that youre smarter than the group before you? Do you honestly think that they havent tried doing the exact same thing youre doing now? said Jin Mu-Won in a grave tone, blood flowing from his cut lips. He had bitten down on his own lip really hard in order to endure the excruciating pain. Despite that, he did not forget to stare daggers at Noh Ji-Kwang. The look in his eyes was so cold and frightening that even Noh Ji-Kwang was taken aback.
Jang Pae-San was unmoved, though. He stepped forward.
Are you trying to threaten me, brat? Dont bother, your threats dont work on me. If you dont want to suffer more, hurry up and tell us where you hid the treasure. The longer you resist, the more painful this is going to be.
Do I sound like Im threatening you?
Like I said, your threats mean nothing to me.
Boiling with rage, Jang Pae-San nodded at Noh Ji-Kwang again. That was the signal to continue with the torture.
Noh Ji-Kwang nodded back in acknowledgement and put the scalpel under another one of Jin Mu-Wons fingernails. However, before he could do anything, Seo Mu-Sang stepped forward and said, Captain, arent you going a bit too far?
What, have you been affected by the brats nonsense? Hes just making up stuff so that he can get away from being tortured.
Jang Pae-San waved him away dismissively, but Jin Mu-Won turned to face Seo Mu-Sang, saying, Do you think so too? That Im merely making up stuff so that I can get away from being tortured?
Seo Mu-Sang met Jin Mu-Wons gaze.
It was obvious that Jin Mu-Won was in great pain. He tried to pretend that it didn''t hurt, but his shaking, shivering body betrayed him. If Seo Mu-Sang chose to turn a blind eye to his suffering now, the boy would probably die. In the end, though, he couldn''t bring himself to do that.
The reason was Jin Mu-Won''s eyes.
Although Jin Mu-Won''s eyes were filled with pain, there was no fear in them. His resolve had not wavered in the least despite the torture. Seo Mu-Sang had never seen another child Jin Mu-Won''s age with such eyes.
This kid?
Seo Mu-Sang turned to look at Jang Pae-San.
Jang Pae-San repeated his orders for Noh Ji-Kwang to proceed, but Seo Mu-Sang interrupted him, saying, Captain, why don''t we try talking to the boy first? We can torture him again anytime if he doesnt say anything meaningful.
What?
We cant be sure if he has any motives, but it wouldnt hurt to be careful, right? said Won Jeok-Sim.
I agree with them, Captain, added Yoo Gyung-Chun.
Jang Pae-San looked like he still wanted to continue, but the other men seemed to share Seo Mu-Sangs opinion, so he had no choice but to give up for now.
He crouched in front of Jin Mu-Won.
Brat, you better answer our questions properly, or I will cut you up into tiny pieces and scatter them on the ins for the wolf cubs to eat. Im sure theyll love you for it.
Youre threatening me again.
You!
Why do you think Heaven''s Summit is keeping me alive? Why did they not kill me after my fathers death, even though they literally had hundreds of opportunities to do so? What makes you think youre smarter than the Ghost of Zhuge Liang of the Nine Skies, who made the decision to let me live? Even though my life isnt worth a fucking cent!
Urk! Jang Pae-San made an ugly face when Jin Mu-Won brought up Seo-Moon Hwa.
Seo-Moon Hwa, a member of the Nine Skies, the rulers of Heaven''s Summit.
It was a name that Jang Pae-San dared not mention. An existence far above his station.
You little rascal!
What I meant was, that Im a hostage. A very valuable hostage, said Jin Mu-Won, smiling.
The smiling face of a child covered in blood was more disturbing than pitiful. As Jin Mu-Wons eyes scanned across the crowd, each full-grown man who met his gaze couldnt stop themselves from shuddering as shivers ran down their spines.
What do you mean, youre a hostage?
Think about it. What value would I have as a hostage?
Jin Mu-Wons voice possessed a strange charisma that made people listen closely to what he said. Even Seo Mu-Sang had been drawn in without realizing and started to seriously consider the meaning of his words. Jin Mu-Wons value as a hostage.
Just who would value this kid?
After the disappearance of the Silent Night, the power bnce in the world had shifted. Heaven''s Summit stood at the very top, while therge sects and ns were still fighting for dominance. But, none of those factions would value Jin Mu-Won.
If there was someone, they would have to be rted to the Northern Army Wait, the Northern Army?
Suddenly, Jang Pae-San and his men remembered something.
The warriors of the Northern Army.
After the fall of the Northern Army, the Four Pirs set up base in the Central ins. In exchange for their betrayal, all of the murim factions had previously agreed that they would be givennd.
Most of the warriors of the former Northern Army had joined the Four Pirs new factions. However, there were some who had not. Although these people had lost their roots, they were still not a force to be underestimated.
Should they decide to rebel against Heaven''s Summit, the entire Central ins would descend into chaos. Even those who had joined the Four Pirs would get involved in the rebellion alongside their formerrades.
On the surface, no one dared to challenge Heaven''s Summit. That did not mean that the possibility didnt exist. The worlds powers existed in a very delicate bnce that could be shattered easily.
What will happen if Jin Mu-Won dies?
Will his death enrage the former Northern Army warriors who have be wanderers?
If that happens, the warriors who follow the Four Pirs will rebel too. The Four Pirs would never allow that to happen. And neither would Heaven''s Summit.
Jang Pae-San bit his lip and groaned, Urgh.
Now think about what will happen to you guys.
To us?
Would Heaven''s Summit let you guys off if they found out that you obtained the Northern Armys treasure or martial arts? No way. Even if they spared your lives, theyd still expel you. To make things worse, you tortured a hostage like me. If that gets out, the Four Pirs will move, and you guys are all as good as dead.
What!? The other mens faces turned pale as the realization finally hit them. In particr, Noh Ji-Kwang, who had been the one directly torturing Jin Mu-Won, was utterly horrified.
You guys should understand the situation youre in now, right?
We could just kill you secretly!
How long do you think you could hide my death? If you think you can hide it forever, then go ahead and kill me.
Jin Mu-Won stuck his tongue out at Jang Pae-San, but Jang Pae-San hesitated to retaliate.
Everything was just as Jin Mu-Won had said. Even if he killed Jin Mu-Won and ran back to the Central ins, Heaven''s Summit would definitely find him, because Heaven''s Summit was the world itself.
Now, untie me and treat my wounds. After that, I will start considering what you can do to me.
Grr! Jang Pae-San clenched his fist. Deep down, he knew that Jin Mu-Won was right. However, his egotism was preventing him from epting the truth.
Seo Mu-Sang walked up to Jang Pae-San and whispered in his ear, Even if hes lying, we have to let him go.
ARGH!
Weve already searched this ce, right? And we didnt find any treasure or hidden martial arts manuals. The only thing here is the kid. We could easily kill the brat, but on the off chance that what he says is correct, then well all be executed along with our families.
Jang Pae-Sans face trembled with rage, but in the end, he had no choice but to agree with Seo Mu-Sang.
Untie him and send him back to his room! ordered Jang Pae-San. The men obeyed and freed Jin Mu-Won from his restraints.
Jin Mu-Won forced himself to his feet and grabbed his shaking, throbbing finger. The fragments of his broken fingernail fell to the ground.
Jin Mu-Won stared daggers at Jang Pae-San and dered, I will never forgive you.
Im letting you live for now, but if I ever find out that you were lying, Ill personally break all your bones.
It seems that I didnt make myself clear enough.
What do you mean?
This is my home, and you are an unwanted guest. From now on, I want you to behave like a proper guest should. That means youre not allowed to search my room for no reason. You already know that the stuff in my room is mostly trash anyway, so stop wasting your time and efforts. If you can do this, I will pretend that the events of today never happened.
Fine, but if you ever piss me off, I will kill you regardless of the consequences, and to hell with Heaven''s Summit or the Northern Army. Remember that.
Jin Mu-Won walked toward the exit, grinning smugly. Jang Pae-San watched him go with a terrifying look in his eyes.
Suddenly, Jin Mu-Won stopped in front of Seo Mu-Sang. Their eyes met for a moment, but shortly after, Jin Mu-Won said nothing and left.
Puhaaaa! Jin Mu-Won let out the breath he had been holding. The pain he had been trying so hard to ignore finally hit him. Although he had only lost one fingernail, the pain was beyond imagination.
Jin Mu-Won was now absolutely certain of one fact: The human body was much weaker than one would expect. Even what appeared to be a minor wound could hurt like hell. If he hadnt possessed inhuman resolve, it wouldnt have been possible for him to bargain with Jang Pae-San.
My value as a hostage? Why would anyone believe that shit? No one actually thinks the remnants of the Northern Army are a threat.
The Four Pirs probably didnt care if Jin Mu-Won was alive or dead. On the other hand, that meant that he could use their name for his own benefit without problems.
Jin Mu-Won knew that his life was in his own hands. He would have to use every tool at his disposal if he wanted to survive inside his own home.
Past and future, that was what he did, and what he would need to keep doing.
Drenched in blood, Jin Mu-Won walked back toward his mansion, the setting sun casting a long shadow behind his lonely back.
Chapter 6: As Long as there is Wind, there will be Ripples (2)
After the events of that day, Jang Pae-San and the other men of the Third Company avoided Jin Mu-Won like the gue. Nothing good woulde out of associating with the boy, so they treated him like he didnt exist.
This was good news for Jin Mu-Won. At the very least, he wouldnt be tortured anymore. Still, he had to be wary of the extremely petty Jang Pae-San, who wouldnt forget the humiliation hed received that day for a very long time.
Hah... sighed Jin Mu-Won, looking down at the ruins of the Northern Army Fortress. He was currently sitting on the roof of the Tower of Shadows, the tallest building in the fortress.
Although the twelve-story building was mostly intact, it wouldnt be weird if it copsed anytime and most people avoided ascending the building. However, after what happenedst time with the kidnapping incident, Jin Mu-Won dared not go outside anymore. He instead started climbing to the top of the Tower of Shadows.
Jin Mu-Wony down, awake, on the roof tiles all night long.
Seo Mu-Sang watched him from afar, even though he knew that doing so was meaningless. He was only observing Jin Mu-Won now out of pure curiosity. For some reason, he just couldnt take his eyes off the boy.
Youre really brave despite not knowing any martial arts.
Jin Mu-Wons sheer courage and audacity shocked Seo Mu-Sang. He knew that Jin Mu-Won had lied; his ims and reasoning were riddled with ws. Anyone who thought carefully about what he had said would have realized that.
The Four Pirs all rank among the strongest martial artists in the world. For people like them to lose control of their followers, is that even possible?
Jang Pae-San had been too intimidated by the mention of the Northern Army and Heaven''s Summit, and had not noticed this fact. That was not the case for Seo Mu-Sang. He had immediately seen through Jin Mu-Wons lies; he just didnt feel like informing Jang Pae-San.
True, he had been tempted by the mention of treasure and martial arts manuals, but he hadnt wanted to torture a child to obtain these things. Furthermore, he had already personally searched the fortress and confirmed that there was indeed nothing of value in this ce.
He was upset that he had to waste away for three years, but he didnt want to take it out on Jin Mu-Won.
Truth be told, he actually admired Jin Mu-Won. A boy who could remain calm and manipte people while being tortured despite not knowing martial arts, was nothing if not admirable.
Its a pity. If only he had learnt the martial arts of the Northern Army, he would have definitely be a great man and a world leader.
Jin Mu-Wons daring was not something that could be taught. He was born a tiger cub, but unfortunately for this tiger cub, his father passed away before he could grow up.
Even baby tigers needed their parents protection to grow up safely. Seo Mu-Sang could onlyment that Jin Mu-Wons path to greatness had been blocked by his misfortune.
He watched Jin Mu-Won for a little while longer, then left. Jin Mu-Won had been a major disappointment, but it had nothing to do with him so there was nothing for him to regret. In the eyes of Heaven''s Summit, the boy had already reached his limits.
Seo Mu-Sang suddenly lost interest in Jin Mu-Won. The boy wasn''t a threat. Without a sound, he vanished into the darkness.
When Seo Mu-Sang had gone, Jin Mu-Won did not get up. He didn''t know what he should do next. He simplyy down and fell asleep, waking up only at the break of dawn. When he saw the reddish rays of the rising sun, he stood up.
"Fuck!" he screamed as he identally grazed his nailless finger against the roof. It had already been three days since the kidnapping and a scab had formed on the wound, but the pain was still tormenting him constantly.
This is a small price to pay for getting rid of their suspicions, he told himself. When he treated what had happened as a necessary ritual that would guarantee his survival for the next three years, he felt much better.
Jin Mu-Won looked toward the east. The light from the rising sun shone upon the ruins of the Northern Army Fortress, bathing the fortress, which had been shrouded in darkness, in golden light.
As the darkness was swept away, shadows appeared. Rays of light prated through cracks in the walls and buildings, creating mysterious patterns from the contrast between light and shadow.
Jin Mu-Wons eyes lit up. The shadows created by sunlight shining upon the carvings on the walls, turned the seemingly meaningless designs into something resembling words.
He focused his attention on the walls. As the sun rose, the angles of light and shadow changed, until finally the text could be read.
In the beginning, there was only pure energy, and then it split into light and shadow.
Light and shadow can mix in different ways, but in the end, all of creation is unified by their harmony.
The world is filled with the lights of many souls, but I embrace the shadows. Bing the darkness of the night sky that is lit up by a sea of stars.[1]
Jin Mu-Won stared unblinking at the phenomenon created by the interaction of light and shadow.
The greatest secret of the Northern Army revealed itself to him.
As the sun moved across the sky and the shadows shifted, words would appear and disappear. These words came together to form one martial arts manual after another. This mysterious sight could only be observed from the roof of the Tower of Shadows.
These words were written in thenguage of the Moon River Kingdom (ºӇ),[2] a kingdom that was destroyed a long time ago in a war. Jin Kwan-Ho hadnt taught his son martial arts, but he had taught him how to read thenguage of the Moon River Kingdom.
Thus, Jin Mu-Won was now the only living person who could read thisnguage. In the eyes of others, these words were no more than random glyphs.
Thousands of people had been to the Northern Army Fortress, but Jin Mu-Won was now the only person left who knew of this secret. Not even the Four Pirs were told about it.
People simply called it the Wall of Ten Thousand Shadows (fӰ).[3] They had no idea that the legacy of every Lord of the Northern Army was carved on that very wall.
It wasnt always martial arts. Sometimes when one of the previous Lords had an idea, they would organize their thoughts on the fortress wall. After many years, the wall eventually became the current Wall of Ten Thousand Shadows.
All of the Lords starting from the first-generation Buk Jin-Hu, to the fourth-generation Jin Kwan-Ho, had left their writings behind on the wall. Because the wall was merely a medium for them to write down their thoughts, the writings ended up being spread out all over the ce.
Some of the writings had more depth, while others had more breadth. Some discussed the theory of martial arts (), while others discussed their understanding of foot techniques (). Two types of writings were of particr interest to Jin Mu-Won. The first was sword techniques (), and the second was the chi cultivation idea (Ĺ) left behind by Buk Jin-Hu.
At a nce, one could see that after the lines of the chi cultivation idea that was written like a poem, Buk Jin-Hu and every one of his sessors had left their own exnations and interpretations of the text, alling together to form theplete Art of Ten Thousand Shadows (fӰE).[4]
As the notes about the Art umted over the years, the Art of Ten Thousand Shadows had taken up more and more space on the walls, extending to even the deepest parts of the fortress. The ten thousand words felt more like a thought process rather than a simple conclusion. Because of its sheer length, the Art of Ten Thousand Shadows could also be called the Ten Thousand Word Martial Art (f).
Although the Art of Ten Thousand Shadows had been refined over several generations, it was still merely a theory. No one had ever mastered it before.
Buk Jin-Hu, the first Lord of the Northern Army and the one who came up with the initial idea, was from Nanjing. He wasnt a disciple of any famous martial art schools, so his foundations werent particrly solid. He belonged to the type of martial artist who had gotten strong through actualbat experience.
As he hadnt been indoctrinated aboutmon sense in martial arts since childhood, the techniques and ideas that he developed tended to be very unconventional. In addition, he was a genius with an imagination far surpassing any other.
The Art of Ten Thousand Shadows was the culmination of his wild imagination.
Most of Buk Jin-Hus life had been spent on the battlefield fighting against the Silent Night, and he had very little free time to ponder the details of Shadow Chi. Therefore, that was all the information about Shadow Chi that he had left behind when he died.
A few dozen years after Buk Jin-Hus death, the second Lord of the Northern Army, Nam Un-San, decided to continue working on Buk Jin-Hus idea. At that time, the Northern Army was doing very badly in the war against the Silent Night.
The martial arts of the Silent Night were self-destructive to the practitioner, but they possessed incredible offensive power far beyond the martial arts of the Central ins. Thus, Nam Un-San concluded that new martial arts needed to be developed to fight against the Silent Night and began to refine Buk Jin-Hus Shadow Chi idea.
However, the one who truly turned the Shadow Chi from an idea into a real cultivation technique was the third Lord, Yoo Kwang-Yeon. Yoo Kwang-Yeon had had his chi center[5] destroyed in a fierce battle with the ck-Winged Divine Spear (),[6] one of the Four Great Demon Generals (Ĵħ).[7] Instead of resigning himself to an inevitable death, Yoo Kwang-Yeon chose to study the Shadow Chi and turn it into reality.
He created an imaginary chi center to rece his destroyed one and filled it with apletely different type of energy from chi. This was the energy that Buk Jin-Hu had named Shadow Chi.
Like an actual shadow, Shadow Chi was immaterial and only those who practised it could feel its energy. Its presence pulled Yoo Kwang-Yeon back from the brink of death and gave him a new reason to live.
Yoo Kwang-Yeon then immersed himself in perfecting the Shadow Chi for the rest of his life.
Yoo Kwang-Yeon felt that if he managed to master Shadow Chi, he would be able to revamp the entire chi cultivation system. However, before he couldplete his work, he sumbed to his injuries and passed away.
He had realized the importance of Shadow Chi when it was already toote, and the little time he had left was far from enough to perfect it. Before his death, the technique was passed down to his sessor, the fourth Lord and Jin Mu-Wons father, Jin Kwan-Ho.
Jin Kwan-Ho had inherited his predecessors will to perfect the technique, but he died young and never managed to study Shadow Chi or work on improving the Art of Ten Thousand Shadows.
Although Jin Mu-Won knew that Art of Ten Thousand Shadows was iplete, he still chose to learn it. It was something he would have never even considered if not for his situation. The Four Pirs had taken away every other martial arts manual, and Heaven''s Summit monitored his every move. He had no choice but to learn a martial art that waspletely undetectable by others, even if the search for a path to perfecting the Art made him feelpletely lost, like he was fumbling around on a small raft in the open seas at night with no guiding light and no idea where the destination was.
The end of his road could be a sea of despair, but it could also be a new world shining with hope. He didnt know. He could only move forward, one step at a time, one day at a time.
Suddenly, Jin Mu-Won smiled.
At least I have something to hope for. Ive still got something I can do.
It was worth the gamble. Jin Mu-Won was satisfied by the mere thought that whether he seeded or not, at least he wouldn''t have wasted his time not even trying.
He closed his eyes and continued contemting the Art of Ten Thousand Shadows.
Just like that, his morning quickly came to an end.
Footnotes:
[1] This is obviously gibberish meant to sound sophisticated by quoting stuff from the Dao De Jing, the I Ching, andmodern physics. I tried my best to make sense of it but nonsense is nonsense. I bet the manhwa trantor took a nce at this and was like r(st)q too. Thest line Bing the darkness of the night sky that is lit up by a sea of stars is from the manhwa only but it helps rify the gibberish so I included it.
[2] Moon River Kingdom (ºӇ): Literal trantion - Moon River Country. Tranted as Lower Moon Kingdom in the manhwa. Fun fact- The Moon River Kingdom is likely a kingdom in the Indian subcontinent as the manhwa shows the writing on the walls to be in the Devanagari script which is the script used by a lot of Indiannguages like Hindi, Sanskrit, Marathi, etc.
[3] Wall of Ten Thousand Shadows (fӰ): Literal trantion - Wall of Ten Thousand Shadows.
[4] Art of Ten Thousand Shadows (fӰE): Literal trantion - Art of Ten Thousand Shadows. Tranted as Gathering of Ten Thousand Shadows in the manhwa.
[5] Chi center (Danjeon in Korean): Also known as Dantian, or chi cultivation center.
[6] ck-Winged Divine Spear (): Literal trantion - ck Wings Divine Spear. Tranted as Spear of the ck Wings in the manhwa.
[7] Four Great Demon Generals (Ĵħ): Literal trantion - Four Great Demon Generals. Tranted as Four Demonic Lords in the manhwa.
Chapter 7: There Aren’t Enough Rooms for All the Guests (1)
Jin Mu-Won strolled around the Northern Army Fortress with his eyes closed. Everyone who saw him thought that he was just wandering about aimlessly. In truth, he was mulling over the Art of Ten Thousand Shadows.
This was a very abstract phrase, and the exnatory text wasnt particrly helpful, either. Jin Mu-Won couldnt be sure if it was a method of circting chi or a lesson in ethics.
I need to strike a bnce between both interpretations because the Art of Ten Thousand Shadows isnt simply a chi cultivation technique, its also a philosophical text.
Suddenly, Jin Mu-Won opened his eyes. His precognition told him that someone he weed very much would be arriving at the fortress in the near future.
Not far away, he saw Jang Pae-San and his men hanging out. They didnt bother him anymore and treated him like he didnt exist, because doing so was a waste of everyones time.
Once the Third Company had understood that they would gain nothing from messing around with him, the tension between them disappeared. The men had be so rxed from theck of societal pressures that they would discuss all sorts of obscene things in public in order to while away the time.
All they thought about was how to get past each day without feeling bored. As for the orders from their higher-ups to keep a lookout for the Silent Night? That was all but forgotten.
It was a repeat of what their predecessors did. And just like them, these guys would spend their days doing nothing until it was time to return to the Central ins.
Jin Mu-Won took a step forward. His injured finger was still throbbing with pain, but he did not show it on his face. Whether he liked it or not, hed have to spend three years with these mercenaries. To ensure that they would ignore him, hed have to keep a low profile at all times and always hide his true emotions.
He walked past Jang Pae-San and headed for the backyard. In the past, this had been a beautiful garden with exotic nts, man-madendscapes and a big pond. Now that no one took care of it, though, it had be overrun with weeds.
Jin Mu-Won would sometimese here in order to rest and avoid people, but today, someone had gotten here before him.
SWOOSH!
There was a man brandishing his sword recklessly. He crushed the grass beneath his feet and chopped off the bushes at waist-level, sending nt debris flying through the air.
Pant, pant! gasped said man, who turned out to be Seo Mu-Sang. He must have been training for quite some time, as his entire body was drenched in sweat.
Jin Mu-Won paused and observed Seo Mu-Sang quietly.
Seo Mu-Sang had an expression filled with self-loathing and was venting out his frustrations on the nts like a crazy guy.
The Blue Cloud Sword Style (년). [1]
That was the name of one of the martial arts that was taught to every grunt in Heaven''s Summit. It was a martial art that could be learned within a very short time due to its simple moves and effective chi cultivation method. However, everyone knew that there was a limit to how strong one could get by practicing it.
If one wanted to surpass that limit, theyd have to obtain better martial arts, but Heaven''s Summit would never easily hand over such treasures to a mere affiliate mercenary like Seo Mu-Sang.
The only way for him to obtain high-level martial arts was to be promoted to a high position within Heaven''s Summit, or make a great aplishment and be rewarded. Unfortunately, Vice-Captain Seo Mu-Sang wasnt in a position where he could do either.
He looked like he was randomly waving a sword around, but his movements were sharp and concise, and he followed the trail of his sword with his eyes. He might not have been particrly talented, but he definitely had a solid foundation.
After finishing his sword dance, Seo Mu-Sang threw his sword on the ground.
CLANG!
AHHHHH! GODDAMNIT! yelled Seo Mu-Sang resentfully, his voice hoarse. Suddenly, he noticed Jin Mu-Won looking at him and raised his head.
Their eyes met.
You got a problem with meing here?
No, it was empty anyway.
Then get lost.
Seo Mu-Sangs attitude toward Jin Mu-Won was in rude. That was because every time he saw the boy, he would be reminded of his regrets and lingering ambitions.
Jin Mu-Won lowered his head slightly in acknowledgement, then left. Seo Mu-Sang resumed swinging his sword around wildly.
The cut leaves and grass spun and danced in the air.
A gentle breeze stirred up ripples in the pond water, causing Seo Mu-Sangs reflection to blur as if he were shivering.
One Year Later
Jin Mu-Won looked up.
It was a fine day, with not a cloud in the sky, and he could even see the ins far into the distance. Normally, this sight would make him smile, but not today.
Winter wasing. Soon, the temperature would start decreasing at a frightening rate, and the winds would freeze one right to the bone. The Northern ins would be quickly transformed into a world of white.
Ah, fuck! Its freezing! Hurry up and move the things inside. If anythings missing, well need to inform the suppliers right away.
Jang Pae-Sans loudint pierced Jin Mu-Wons eardrums. He turned around and saw Jang Pae-San nagging at three people pushing a filled supply wagon.
An evil grin spread over his face.
The winterst year had been really cold. Even Jin Mu-Won, a local, couldnt stand the harsh winters of the North. Then, just how bad had it been for these people experiencing it for the first time?
They learnt what frostbite was, and the feeling of breathing in air that was like knives slicing through their lungs. Also, because they underestimated the amount of food they would need to eat to resist the cold, they had been left with no choice but to go out and get supplies in the middle of a blizzard. Jin Mu-Won could still remember the looks on their faces.
Evidently, they had learned their lesson. About a month ago, Jang Pae-San had written to Heaven''s Summit requesting several times more food and necessities than the previous year. Not only that, he had also bought a ton of fur from the hunters in the nearest vige, and clumsily sewed himself several coats in preparation for theing winter.
It was the second winter that Jin Mu-Won and Jang Pae-San were going to have to spend together. Their rtionship hadnt changed, though. For the whole of thest year, both of them had pretended that the other didnt exist, just like ostriches burying their heads in the sand.
In just one year, Jin Mu-Won had grown a lot taller and even his scrawny body was starting to show a little muscle. However, the most noticeable things about him were his stubbornly pursed lips and the profound look in his eyes that made the sixteen-year-old look like a mature adult.
Seo Mu-Sang looked at Jin Mu-Won warily. Although his hatred for the boy seemed to have diminished a little bit, there was still some killing intent left in his eyes.
Jin Mu-Won could feel Seo Mu-Sangs gaze, but he did not pay it any mind. He knew that Seo Mu-Sangs hostility toward him had decreased significantly over the past year.
While Jang Pae-San and the other mercenaries were wasting away, Seo Mu-Sang diligently worked on improving his swordsmanship. Every day, as he swung his sword and practiced his footwork, the grass around his feet was uprooted until the ground became barren and hard.
Seo Mu-Sang hadpletely mastered the Blue Cloud Sword Style by now. However, he had been getting more and more irritabletely as there was no more room left for him to improve.
Young Master! A familiar voice called out to Jin Mu-Won.
Jin Mu-Won smiled.
A man in his thirties stood in front of him, dragging arge horse-drawn cart behind him. He had tanned skin and looked a lot older than he actually was.
Uncle Hwang!
Young Master, how are you?
Hwang Cheol smiled. He had brought an entire cart filled with winter supplies for Jin Mu-Won.
Im fine, thank you for your concern. How have you been, Uncle Hwang? greeted Jin Mu-Won.
Im nice and healthy, as you can see. I''m freezing though, so can we go inside now? Hwang Cheol was tempted to push Jin Mu-Won all the way back into his room.
Jin Mu-Won grinned as he led Hwang Cheol indoors. He looked at Hwang Cheols cart. It was filled to the brim with food and other necessities. Uncle Hwang worked hard to save up and buy this stuff for me.
In the face of Hwang Cheols loyalty and sincerity, Jin Mu-Won sniffed and felt the tip of his nose getting colder and colder as his snot froze.
Uncle Hwang, you dont have to do this for me.
But I want to do it. The price of these goods means nothing to mepared to the precious Young Master cried Hwang Cheol, tears dripping down his face.
Jin Mu-Won beamed and patted him on the shoulder, saying, Dont cry, Uncle Hwang. Im really thankful for your concern, thats all.
Hwang Cheol did not reply and only smiled bitterly.
Jin Mu-Won should never have ended up this way. If not for the Northern Armys efforts, the Central ins would have been nowhere near as prosperous as they were now. A hundred years ago when the Silent Night first invaded, the Central ins had been on the brink of destruction. Even now, the wounds of war had notpletely healed.
But time was fleeting, and so was human nature. As soon as the Central ins had recovered a little, they forgot about the scars and despair from that time and began to vie among themselves for power again. They forgot about the Northern Armys aplishments and destroyed it for selfish reasons. Now, they had even forgotten about Jin Mu-Won.
Any news about the outside world? asked Jin Mu-Won as they entered his room.
Hwang Cheol suppressed his feelings of bitterness and began to tell Jin Mu-Won about recent events. He was the young mans only link to the rest of the world, and the only source of information about stuff happening in the Central ins. From this information, Jin Mu-Won could deduce the rough directions that the world was taking, so he always listened very carefully to the stories that Hwang Cheol told.
Hwang Cheol talked all night long, and Jin Mu-Wonsughter could be heard from time to time through the gaps around the door.
When morning arrived, Hwang Cheol prepared a nice breakfast for Jin Mu-Won. Jin Mu-Won wanted to share the food, but Hwang Cheol refused. In the end, he finished all the food by himself, causing Hwang Cheol to grin with satisfaction.
Young Master, I have transferred everything to the storeroom. Be sure to eat well.
Dont worry. Ever since then, Ive made sure to eat three meals a day.
Despite Jin Mu-Wons answer, Hwang Cheol did not feel relieved. Jin Mu-Won understood how Hwang Cheol felt. If their positions had been reversed, he would probably have felt the same way.
Just then, Jin Mu-Wons gaze shifted toward Hwang Cheols cart. Most of the goods had been removed, but there was still some stuff left.
Whats that? asked Jin Mu-Won, pointing to a rock about the size of a toddler. The obsidian rock with a dull ck gleam looked extremely heavy.
I got it on my travels. I heard that it was a meteorite that had fallen from the heavens, and that a tribe was worshipping it as a holy rock
How did something like that end up in Uncles hands?
The tribe was massacred, so the rock became the property of no one.
They were massacred?
It seems like they got into a conflict with the Tyrant Fist Sect.
Shocked speechless, Jin Mu-Won looked up at the sky. The dawn had arrived and the sky was getting brighter, but that did not make him feel any better.
The Tyrant Fist Sect is in Yunnan, right?
Yes. Its probably because there arent many martial arts factions over there.
Jin Mu-Won closed his eyes. The four traitors of the Northern Army had all chosen to set up their own factions in the Central ins.
The Phantom de (ֹ턦) Yeon Cheon-Hwa (BA) had set up base in the West and created the Greatsword Fortress (), also known as the Fortress in the Western Paradise (챤).
The Wind Emperor (L) Kyung Mu-Saeng (ʤ) created the Tempest Mountain Vi (Lɽf). Although his martial arts were bnced between footwork and closebat, because of his followers, his faction ended up mostlybat focused.
The strongest among the Four Pirs, the Ironblood Emperor (FѪ) Jae Hyuk-Shim (Х) created the Ironblood City (FѪ) in the northern region of the Central ins. He was a master of defensive martial arts, but his subversive personality frightened everyone, including his own followers.
Finally, the Fist Demon (ȭħ) Jo Cheon-Woo () created the Tyrant Fist Sect (ȭ). He was cruel, ruthless and relentless to the point where he would charge forward without looking back once he had a target, like an unstoppable raging bear. The Tyrant Fist sect was situated in Yunnan to avoid territorial conflicts with otherrge factions, but in the process of its expansion, it annihted and absorbed countless small sects and tribes. [2]
Dont worry too much about what happened, Young Master. Ill take this away so you dont have to look at it.
No, dont. For some reason, it has captured my heart.
Jin Mu-Won reached out with his fingertips and touched the rock. The icy chill that he felt weighed heavily on his heart.
Footnotes:
[1] Blue Cloud Sword Style (년): Literal trantion C Blue Cloud Sword Style. Manhwa TL: Way of the Blue Sky de.
[2] List of terms: - Phantom de (ֹ턦): Literal trantion C Invisible Ghost Sword. Manhwa TL: Cursed Ghost de
- Yeon Cheon-Hwa (BA): The name Cheon-Hwa means Best of the Heavens.
- Greatsword Fortress (): Literal trantion C Heavy Sword Fortress.
- Fortress in the Western Paradise (챤): Literal trantion C Fortress in the Western Paradise. Manhwa TL: Protectors of the Western Heavens.
- Wind Emperor (L): Literal trantion C Wind Emperor. Manhwa TL: Tempest Storm
- Kyung Mu-Saeng (ʤ): The name Mu-Saeng means Victory for My Team.
- Tempest Mountain Vi (Lɽf): Literal trantion C Wind and Cloud Mountain Vi or Tempestuous Mountain Vi. L has double meanings, either wind and clouds or a tempestuous situation.
- Ironblood Emperor (FѪ): Literal trantion C Iron Blood Martial Emperor. Manhwa TL: Iron Blood Ruler
- Jae Hyuk-Shim (Х): The name Hyuk-Shim means Howling Punishment.
- Ironblood City (FѪ): Literal trantion C Iron Blood City. Manhwa TL: Iron Castle.
- Fist Demon (ȭħ): Literal trantion C Fist Demon. Manhwa TL: Demon Fist. The emphasis is different and Id trante ȭħ as Fist Demon and ħȭ as Demon Fist.
- Jo Cheon-Woo (): The name Cheon-Woo means Blessed by the Heavens.
- Tyrant Fist Sect (ȭ): Literal trantion C Tyrant Fist Sect. Manhwa TL: Broken Fists Sect
Chapter 8: There Aren’t Enough Rooms for All the Guests (2)
The sky was overcast and snow began to fall over the Northern Army Fortress. At first, it was just a few snowkes, but it soon developed into a full-blown blizzard where one couldnt see even an inch ahead of them. After three days of snowfall, everything had turned white and the apanying cold froze the entire world solid.
Winter had arrived.
Jang Pae-San and the other men of the Third Companypletely cancelled all their outdoor activities. However, Jin Mu-Won continued going on his daily walks despite the wind chill and would often pull all-nighters on the roof of the Tower of Shadows. Only after the sun had risen would he return to his room. Hed then sleep for a bit and read the books that Hwang Cheol had given him.
Jin Mu-Wons continued adherence to his daily routine made Seo Mu-Sang frown. No matter how stubborn one was, one would need incredible tenacity to be able to endure living like that every single day for years.
Time seemed to crawl to a standstill in this deste ce, and visitors were rare. The longer one spent here, the quicker the feelings of istion and depression would erode away at the mind, sending one spiralling into the depths of madness. Not even the mercenaries were exempted from these emotions.
Not too long ago, a few men in the Third Company had already shown signs of going insane. If Jang Pae-San hadnt realized and interfered in time, they would havepletely lost their minds.
Unlike Jin Mu-Won, at least these guys had something to look forward to. They only had to endure another two years of this istion, and then theyd be able to go back to their homes. This was the point that most concerned Seo Mu-Sang. How on earth does Jin Mu-Won manage to remain so calm and rational knowing that hes probably going to spend the rest of his days living aimlessly like this?
Unbeknownst to Seo Mu-Sang, Jin Mu-Won did have something to live for. The Art of Ten Thousand Shadows. Without this ray of hope, he would likely have ended up going crazy just as Seo Mu-Sang had expected.
Jin Mu-Wons days began with the Art of Ten Thousand Shadows, and ended with the Art of Ten Thousand Shadows. As soon as the sun began to rise over the horizon, he would climb to the roof of the Tower of Shadows and read the manuals. Even when he was walking about aimlesslyter in the day, hed still be mulling over the Art in his head.
Every waking moment including his every breath, movement and even meals were spent contemting the Art of Ten Thousand Shadows.
Recently though, Jin Mu-Won had been feeling depressed. He had hit a roadblock in his understanding of the Art and had stopped improving.
This phrase appeared in the middle of the Art of Ten Thousand Shadows. The meanings of many of the poetic phrases were vague, but this phrase in particr resonated strongly with Jin Mu-Won.
I have no idea what it means to have a strong heart. Jin Mu-Won knew that it was okay to skip this part for now and move on, but he couldnt bring himself to do it. The phrase kepting back to haunt him as if something in his heart was missing.
He tried to read the Art in its entirely multiple times, but it was as if he were trapped in a blinding fog.
A strong heart should suffice, is it enough to just have a strong and healthy heart?[1] Ahhh, I just dont get it! I dont get it at all!
Jin Mu-Won gave up thinking and went to the Grand Library. Perhaps he would be able to find a solution to his problems in the books there.
Crunch, crunch.
The sound of his footsteps in the snow echoed around the empty fortress. The cold reached his toes and jolted him awake. He raised his head and saw that the snow had started falling again after a brief respite.
Jin Mu-Won had a feeling that this years winter was going to feel much longer than the ones before. Most importantly, it wouldnt be one that went past meaninglessly.
Along one wall of the library, there was arge stack of new books. These books had been gifts from Hwang Cheol, who would often buy second-hand books for Jin Mu-Won whenever he passed by a bookstore during his regr deliveries.
Hmm?
Suddenly, Jin Mu-Won furrowed his brows. A window had been shattered inwards, and there was snow on the floor. Someone else had entered the Grand Library.
That person had left footprints in the snow on the floor, so he followed the footprints to a corner of the library.
WHOOSH!
Just as he was about to go around the corner, he felt the cold touch of metal against his neck.
!!!
Jin Mu-Won was shocked speechless. Someone had crept up behind him and ced a glowing white dagger against his neck. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see the curvy and petite figure of the assassin.
A girl?
The girl looked really young, probably no more than fourteen years of age. She left a strong impression on him with her unusually pale skin, eyes shining like ck crystals, lips as red as blood, and ck hair with a hint of blue.
The girl whispered from behind him, Who are you?
I should be asking you that question.
She tightened her grip on the dagger, saying, Answer me.
I am the owner of this ce.
Owner? So that would make you the heir to the Northern Army?
The Northern Army doesnt exist anymore, but yes, I am the heir. Now its your turn.
The dagger dug into his skin and made him wonder if he was going to be killed in the very next moment, but there was no fear in Jin Mu-Wons steady voice.
I
CRASH!
The girls voice trailed off as she suddenly copsed, dropping the dagger on the ground. Jin Mu-Won turned around. The girls shoulder and even the floor was drenched in blood.
Jin Mu-Won hurriedly put his ear on the girls chest. Her heartbeat was very irregr, and it sounded as if it could stop anytime. He had no idea who she was or what she was doing here, but he couldnt let her die right in front of him.
He picked up the girl in his arms and carried her to his room. After cing her down on his bed, he carefully removed her long cloak, revealing her bloodied clothes. Then, he slowly peeled away the cloth around her shoulder wound.
Ah! eximed Jin Mu-Won, frowning, as he examined the girls wound. There was a hole the size of a coin, and the skin around the hole had turned ck.
Youve been poisoned?
From the size of the wound, Jin Mu-Won could tell that it had probably been made by an arrow or a small dagger.
He opened the drawer of a dresser next to his bed and took out a small bottle.
I hope this works.
Besides martial arts, the Northern Army had heavily invested in the development of new medicines. It was only natural given that they had been fighting a war with the Silent Night for over a hundred years.
One of the new medicines developed by them was the Heart-Protecting Detoxification Pill (oij), which was very effective at removing poisons from the body. Unfortunately, both the recipe for this pill and the pills themselves had been lost during the fall of the Northern Army. The one that Jin Mu-Won possessed was the only one left in existence.
Jin Mu-Won didnt want to risk failure, so he decided to use this pill without hesitation. He opened the bottle and a ck mist appeared, followed by a mild but pleasant scent. He had eaten all the other pills except for this one because it was the only one that had no effect on increasing his strength.
Jin Mu-Won pressed gently on the girls throat and her lips parted slightly. He then put the pill in her mouth where it immediately dissolved and was swallowed.
He searched through the drawer again. This time, he took out a wooden box filled with acupuncture needles. He inserted one near the girls wound and the blood soon stopped flowing out.
Hah, sighed Jin Mu-Won in relief. He had already done everything he could.
Now that he had some free time, he took a closer look at the girls face. She appeared to be only a year or two younger than him, and she was very pretty. She had long eyshes, a high nose bridge, and rosy red lips. It was as if she had walked out of a painting.
The contrast between her pale skin and dark, blue-ck hair only served to entuate her beauty. She was already a very alluring flower bud now, but in a few years, she would be a fully blooming flower.
Why did I pick up this guest even though I dont have a room for her to stay in?
Jin Mu-Won sat on his chair, sighing.
Footnotes:
[1] A strong heart should suffice: The strong heart here means to be steadfast and true to yourself, but Mu-Won doesnt get it and thinks it means to have a physically strong and healthy heart. His mental issues and the emotions that he keeps buried deep down have left him feeling kind of empty, which is preventing him from understanding the true meaning of the phrase.
Chapter 9: There Aren’t Enough Rooms for All the Guests (3)
Jin Mu-Won was awoken by the strange feeling of something on his neck. He opened his eyes and saw a girl holding a dagger to his throat.
He couldnt help but smile resignedly.
This again?
The first time they met, she had held a dagger to his throat too. It seemed that she was still wary of him even though he had been kind enough to save her. Perhaps she was used to living a dangerous lifestyle.
Youre awake now?
Did you save me?
You saw that?
Why did you do it?
I couldnt let you die right in front of me. It would also be unpleasant if someone died in my house.
The girl bit her lip at Jin Mu-Wons answer.
How long was I out for?
Three days. You wouldnt wake up, so I was already prepared to bury your corpse.
You mean, Ive been unconscious for three days?
Jin Mu-Won nodded. A light shed in the girls eyes.
Jin Mu-Won did not know the girls circumstances, but at the rate her condition had been deteriorating, he might have really needed to bury her corpse. Even after swallowing the Heart-Protecting Detoxification Pill, her health didnt improve and her fever remained high.
In an attempt to reduce her fever, Jin Mu-Won had constantly changed the cool, wet cloth on her forehead without rest for three whole days.
The fact that she managed to wake up despite all that is a miracle, he thought.
The girl mused over Jin Mu-Wons words for a while, then put away the dagger.
Ill be staying here for some time until my wound healspletely.
Her tone sounded more like she was giving orders and not at all like she was making a request, but Jin Mu-Won felt that a haughty attitude suited her very much.
Whats your name?
Why do you need to know it?
I feed you and let you sleep in my room. Shouldnt you at least tell me your name?
The girl bit her lip and remained silent for a while, before saying, EunHa-Seol (ѩ). [1]
Thats such a nice-sounding name. Well, my room is the best room in this ce, so you should keep staying here. Also, you need to rest now.
Jin Mu-Won got up from the chair and began to pack his stuff.
Although he had lived here for a few years, he didnt have much luggage. Eun Ha-Seol watched as he moved his things out of the room, a confused look on her face.
She had basically just threatened him. She couldnt understand why Jin Mu-Won was so eager to do whatever shed asked of him.
This guy isnt normal
Suddenly, she felt a sharp twinge in her shoulder and closed her eyes, trembling uncontrobly as her wound throbbed painfully.
After giving his room to Eun Ha-Seol, Jin Mu-Won moved into the Tower of Shadows.
Heughed out loud. She was interesting, so he decided to give his room to a girl he had just met, despite knowing that taking in a mysterious girl with an unknown background was an extremely risky thing to do.
He knew that she probably had a very dangerous enemy who could give her a terrible wound like that. He knew that doing this would make the mercenaries suspicious of him. He knew that he was still too weak to resist them. He was also painfully aware that if he showed the slightest weakness, or let the mercenaries see through the smallest crack, that he would bepletely devoured by the beasts.
Even so, Jin Mu-Won chose to let Eun Ha-Seol stay with him.
Am I really that lonely?
Maybe Ive gotten tired of this lifestyle. Maybe Im just childishly craving human interaction. I dont know.
Jin Mu-Won was only sixteen. He wasnt an adult yet.
Haa
Eun Ha-Seol went outdoors and took a deep breath. As the cold air entered her lungs, she finally felt alive again.
She had spent thest three days diligently tending to her wound inside Jin Mu-Wons room. If not for that, she would still be lying down in bed. Still, she had to be careful.
Jin Mu-Won had managed to bring her back from the brink of death using the Heart-Protecting Detoxification Pill, but a lot of poison remained in her body. This poison was just too strong, leaving her with no choice but to slowly expel it from her body over a very long period of time.
I wonder how long this is going to take.
First, I must regain my strength. Only then can I use my chi to slowly expel the poison.
She looked around the Northern Army Fortress.
All she saw were empty snow-covered pavilions, towers, and castles. It was an eerie sight.
So this is the Northern Army Fortress
It seems that you can move around now.
Eun Ha-Seol spun around to face the owner of the voice. She saw Jin Mu-Won, who was holding up a torch.
Noticing Eun Ha-Seols surprise, Jin Mu-Won smiled and said, As you can see, theres nothing here. This ce was once prosperous, but now its just a miserable wreck. I wouldnt live here if I had a choice.
Oh, and if possible, use the resources wisely. I probably have barely enough food for the two of us to survive the winter.
Eun Ha-Seols eyes lit up.
Please dont ask me about my true identity.
She was curious why the young man had epted her despite not knowing anything about her.
Come with me. Ill show you around. Youll be staying here for quite some time, right?
Jin Mu-Won finished saying what he wanted to say, and then immediately turned around and walked away. Eun Ha-Seol chased after him.
Two different sets of footprints appeared on the white snow of the fortress and were slowly covered up by the falling snow in the order they had formed.
Above their heads, a bird flew past.
A messenger hawk?
Jang Pae-San appeared puzzled to see therge bird flying above the Northern Army Fortress. He reached out and the messenger hawknded gently on his arm. It must be quite an important message.
Heaven''s Summit often used highly-trained messenger hawks to dispatch important orders to their branches in the Central ins. However, this was the very first message that Jang Pae-San had received after arriving at the Northern Army Fortressst year. This was a ce that Heaven''s Summit didnt give a shit about, after all.
A small bamboo tube was attached to the hawks leg using a red cloth. The red cloth meant that there would be a paid job for Jang Pae-San.
He hurriedly opened the tube and took out the rolled-up letter inside.
Honored guests will be arriving in spring, so be prepared to wee them? What the fuck
The corners of Jang Pae-Sans lips twitched as he spouted off a string of profanities.
Truth be told, he had hoped that it would be good news. He had literally been praying that he would be summoned back to the Central ins. Unfortunately for him, the contents of the letter were about something else entirely.
Whats so fucking interesting about this ce, is this supposed to be some kind of a tourist resort? Why the heck are these honored guestsing all the way here just to freeze to death?
Mt. Jang Pae-San finally erupted after being dormant for so long.
I didnt want to be exiled, its not fair! On top of all that, now theyre telling me to turn this shithole into a hotel for distinguished guests? By the start of spring? thought Jang Pae-San, heart thumping with indignation.
Still, orders were orders. He didnt dare disobey orders from the higher-ups, regardless of whether they wanted him to face danger or dirty his hands. In the eyes of the mighty Heaven''s Summit, he was a mere insect who could be crushed at any time.
Goddamnit! Well have to fix up one of the empty castles.
From the fact that Heaven''s Summit had sent him the order by messenger hawk, he knew that these honored guests were no ordinary guys. They were definitely people of high standing or came from privileged families. He would have to prepare a proper ce for them to stay.
Oi, Vice-Captain!
Jang Pae-San summoned Seo Mu-Sang and informed him that there would be esteemed guests arriving in spring. Upon hearing the news, Seo Mu-Sang initially reacted in the exact same way as Jang Pae-San.
It would be one thing for these guests to visit the fortress once, but it seems that they actually want to live here for a year or more?
Hmm, this might seem annoying, but it might actually be a good thing. We should take advantage of this opportunity, said Jang Pae-San.
Opportunity? What opportunity?
These guys are VIPs. If they take a liking to you, you might be able to leave this ce sooner than you think.
Seo Mu-Sangs eyes lit up at Jang Pae-Sans suggestion. He had gotten sick and tired of these boring, uneventful days. A month here felt like a year in the Central ins. Most importantly, he had a reason to return to the Central ins as soon as he could.
I think its about time we renovate the Lofty Sky Manor (Aw). [2]
I agree. The Lofty Sky Manor is the nicest-looking building in this ruin.
I will inform Young Master Jin.
What for?
He is technically the owner of this fortress. We should make sure that he at least makes a show of hospitality.
Ill leave that up to you, then.
Yessir!
A real man should turn a crisis into an opportunity, huh. Im such a genius! Alright, this is my chance! Im gonna end this boring mission and return to the Central ins.
Jang Pae-San roared withughter. Looking at things from a different perspective had made him feel a lot better about the situation.
Seo Mu-Sang was about to ask Jang Pae-San for permission to take his leave when he realized that the man had bepletely absorbed in a world of his own imagination. Thus, he simply left and headed to where Jin Mu-Won was.
Jin Mu-Won always followed a regr schedule. After more than a year together, Seo Mu-Sang knew exactly where he would be at this time of day.
Seo Mu-Sang went to the Wall of Ten Thousand Shadows. He wasnt surprised to find Jin Mu-Won there. But he was very surprised to see a girl standing next to him, emanating an aura that screamed I am an extremely suspicious person.
Seo Mu-Sang was dumbfounded.
He approached Jin Mu-Won and called out, Young Master Jin.
Vice-Captain.
Seo Mu-Sang quietly stared at Eun Ha-Seol and waited for an exnation.
She is Hwang Cheols niece. Both of her parents passed away when she was young, so Uncle Hwang raised her. He brought her with himst time, and she decided to stay here until the next time hees back, said Jin Mu-Won, who had made up a false identity for Eun Ha-Seol in advance.
Seo Mu-Sang examined the girls appearance closely as Jin Mu-Won was talking. As he locked gazes with the girls obsidian-like eyes, he felt faint for a moment, like he had been struck by lightning.
Her eyes
Eun Ha-Seols eyes were blindingly pure and crystal clear. Any man who saw those eyes would be bewitched by their perfection. Seo Mu-Sang couldnt believe that eyes like that could belong to a real, living person.
A-Are you really Hwang Cheols niece?
I will be staying here for a while, so please take good care of me.
Urk!
Seo Mu-Sang sighed. He was familiar with Jin Mu-Wons one and only loyal servant, Hwang Cheol. Since the girl was Hwang Cheols niece, there was nothing more he could say.
Why did youe looking for me? Did you have something to say to me? asked Jin Mu-Won.
Ah, thats right! Several honored guests from Heaven''s Summit will being here in the spring. Is it okay if we renovate the Lofty Sky Manor for them?
Go ahead. No ones using it now, anyway.
Jin Mu-Won gave his permission without hesitation. The Lofty Sky Manor was the building situated right opposite his mansion. It had been abandoned for a long time, and he himself hardly went there. Therefore, he didnt really care if someone used it for their own purposes.
The guests were the bigger problem. Seo Mu-Sang had referred to them as honored guests, which meant that they were people of rather high status. The thought of having to associate with such tiresome people gave Jin Mu-Won a headache.
It was not like he had a choice, though. The vice-captain had acted like he was making a request, but he was actually just informing Jin Mu-Won about something that had already been decided.
Jin Mu-Won left, with Eun Ha-Seol following behind him. Seo Mu-Sang silently looked at Eun Ha-Seols rear profile as she walked away.
Footnotes:
[1] Eun Ha-Seol (ѩ): Her first name Ha-Seol means Summer Snow.
[2] Lofty Sky Manor (Aw): Literal trantion C Majestic Sky Manor/Vi. Manhwa TL: Hwacheon Pce.
[]
Chapter 10: That Year, In Winter… (1)
Jin Mu-Won cut down a redwood tree. Using a whittling knife, he slowly carved the wood into the shape he desired. When he was finished, a perfect wooden sword appeared in his hands. He waved it around to test its bnce and see if there were any parts he didnt like.
Eun Ha-Seol, who was sitting beside him, looked at him with a puzzled expression.
Are you having fun?
No, not at all.
Why did you cut down the tree yourself?
Because no one will do it for me.
Then why did you make a wooden sword?
I recently started to learn the sword.
Eun Ha-Seols eyes suddenly lit up.
Youve never learned martial arts before?
Is that weird?
Youre the heir to the Northern Army. Isnt it weird for the heir to not know any martial arts?
As you can see, there is no Northern Army anymore. Also, I was too busy trying to survive each day. Where would I find the time to learn martial arts?
Eun Ha-Seol ignored Jin Mu-Wons replies and looked around, confused.
They were inside the Grand Library. The bookshelves had been filled with the books that Hwang Cheol had brought, but everything still looked extremely shabby. This pathetic sight didnt live up to the name of the Northern Army at all.
The only martial arts left on the shelves were third-rate ones like the Six-Directions Fist (ȭ), The Three Foundations of Swordsmanship (ń), and Cloud Steps (L녲). Eun Ha-Seol couldnt understand why Jin Mu-Won would bother learning such inferior martial arts.
Jin Mu-Won didnt care what she thought about it, though. He examined his sword, smiling all the while, before finally standing up in satisfaction. The ground beneath his feet was covered in wood shavings.
He swung the sword.
WHOOSH!
It was his first time making a wooden sword, but the weight and bnce felt good in his hands.
He continued swinging the sword with a serious expression. Eun Ha-Seol looked at him like he was out of his mind.
The Three Foundations of Swordsmanship?
Jin Mu-Won was practicing the Three Foundations of Swordsmanship that even third-rate martial artists wouldnt bother learning. It was so funny that she couldnt evenugh.
Do you really not know any better martial arts than this? If you want, I can teach you.
You know a lot about martial arts?
Uh, I know a little bit
Thank you, but no thank you.
Do whatever you want.
Eun Ha-Seol scrunched up her face and went outside. Jin Mu-Won grinned naughtily as he watched her go, but a momentter, he resumed practicing his swordsmanship.
sh, chop, stab
In no time, his entire body was dripping with sweat.
Hmph! He just helped me a little, so I wanted to thank him, thats all.
Eun Ha-Seol turned back to look at the exterior of the Grand Library. The tower was barely maintaining its original shape, just like the rest of the Northern Army Fortress.
She walked toward the mansion which had now be her home. Even though she could move normally now, she still hadnt been able topletely remove the poison in her body.
After her strength had recovered to a certain extent, her recovery speed had slowed to a crawl. Her body was like a ceramic vase that could shatter at any moment, so she didnt dare expel the poison as the procedure would ce a heavy burden on her body.
Who are you?
Eun Ha-Seol was lost in thought when suddenly, the voice of a stranger startled her. She turned to see Jang Pae-San and the Third Company standing in the middle of the za.
Seo Mu-Sang hadnt told the mercenaries about Eun Ha-Seol yet, so they had no idea she was here. He immediately whispered in Jang Pae-Sans ear, telling him the stuff hed heard about the girl from Jin Mu-Won. An odd light lit up in Jang Pae-Sans eyes.
Shes Hwang Cheols niece, you say?
Yes!
Hmm
Jang Pae-San ogled Eun Ha-Seols entire figure, a lecherous look on his face. Eun Ha-Seol frowned. She felt as if a thousand worms were crawling under her skin.
How dare you? Quit staring at me like that, or you can wave your fucking eyesight goodbye!
Jang Pae-Sans face turned beet red. He did not expect Eun Ha-Seol to reply in such a vulgar tone.
Youve got quite the mouth, girl.
Dont talk to me, you horny motherfucker.
I see you need some taming, you little bitch! Good. I havent tasted the flesh of a woman for far too long. I should fix that problem right now.
Wahahahaha!ughed the men of the Third Company, with the exception of Seo Mu-Sang. Eun Ha-Seol might have been a little too young for their tastes, but she was beautiful. Heck, they were so deprived, they would be satisfied with even a sixty-year-old grandma.
Eun Ha-Seol could clearly see the perverted desires written all over the faces of Jang Pae-San and his men. She knew that she was in grave danger.
Jang Pae-San and hisckeys slowly closed in on Eun Ha-Seol. Seo Mu-Sang furrowed his brows and was just about to stop them when
Suddenly, Eun Ha-Seol moved.
SWOOSH!
She charged at Jang Pae-San so quickly she was like a silvery-white streak. In her hands, she held a small and dainty dagger.
Wha! eximed Jang Pae-San. Before he could react, there was already a dagger touching his neck. If Eun Ha-Seol put any more force behind the dagger, his blood woulde spurting out and hed probably breathe hisst right then and there.
You, you
Now say it again. What you want to do to a little bitch like me.
Seeing the deranged look in Eun Ha-Seols eyes, Jang Pae-San snapped his mouth shut like a m.
This little bitchs eyes Shes fucking insane!
Jin Mu-Won has a few screws loose, but this girl is even worse.
Captain, are you alright? Girl, how about you put that dagger away now?
Looks like this bitch really wants to die!
The men of the Third Company finally came to their senses and took out their weapons.
Eun Ha-Seol narrowed her eyes. Right now, she was in a state where she was unable to utilize her chi. If the mercenaries all ganged up on her at once, she wouldnt be able to deal with them. Thus, she had taken a gamble and chosen to first subdue Jang Pae-San.
The instant they sense my weakness, theyll pounce on me like wild beasts.
She understood these types of people all too well.
In front of those stronger than themselves, they readily lowered their heads and licked their boots. On the other hand, when they saw someone weaker, they wouldtch onto them like leeches and suck them dry.
Eun Ha-Seol tightened her grip on the dagger and increased the pressure on Jang Pae-Sans throat.
W-Wait!
What? Are you going to turn over a new leaf if I let you go?
Do you think you can get away with killing me? There are more than ten of us here.
I dont care.
What?
I want to kill you. I dont care what happens afterwards.
Crazy bitch!
How could a little girl possibly be this insane? Jang Pae-San felt that Eun Ha-Seols brain wasnt normal. She was like a tiger with bared fangs; if he did anything wrong, he would die for sure.
Drip, drip
Blood began to drip down Jang Pae-Sans neck. The dagger had pierced through his skin.
Wait, wait wait! Lets make a deal.
What deal?
If you let me go now, I swear that I wont touch you again.
Hmph! And how am I supposed to believe you?
I am the Captain of Heaven''s Summits Third Company. I dont tell lies.
Jang Pae-San raised his voice, but the only reply he got from Eun Ha-Seol was a snigger.
She didnt believe him. However, now that the situation had gotten to this point, it was near impossible to resolve things peacefully. She really wanted to dig out Jang Pae-Sans eyes, but then she would definitely be captured, raped, and killed by the others.
If only my chi had recovered, trash like this would never
Eun Ha-Seol weighed her options and came to a decision. She put on an act and made a cold and emotionless expression.
Hmph! I guess today is your lucky day. I was just wondering if I should slice off your cock.
Gah!
Eun Ha-Seol kicked Jang Pae-Sans butt and used the recoil to leap backwards. As the mercenaries rushed forward to check on Jang Pae-Sans condition, she snorted coldly and left the za.
Seo Mu-Sang clicked his tongue as he watched her go. Honestly speaking, he hadnt found her martial arts very impressive. It was the animal-like agility that took down Jang Pae-San in one move, her quick-thinking, and sharp-tongue that impressed him the most.
Fuck! Ill definitely get back at her for this humiliation.
Seo Mu-Sang heard Jang Pae-Sans frenzied screaming from behind him, but he chose to ignore it.
Suddenly, one of the Grand Librarys windows caught his attention. Jin Mu-Won was leaning against the windowsill, watching them.
Youve been watching this entire scene unfold since the very beginning, havent you?
Seo Mu-Sang only managed to exchange a nce with Jin Mu-Won before the young man disappeared into the shadows.
[]
Chapter 11: That Year, In Winter… (2)
Jin Mu-Won channeled his concentration into the hand holding his wooden sword. He did his best to remember the weight, feel, and bnce of the sword.
The sword is an extension of my arm. I need to be one with it, just like I am one with my arm and my breathing.
But unlike my limbs, the sword isnt attached to my body, so how can I make it a part of my body?
The limbs of a living being must have bones supporting its structure, muscles providing it power, and blood circting within its veins. All of these are then connected to the brain via the nervous system. If any of theseponents are missing, it cant be called aplete limb.
Jin Mu-Won tried to think about the problem from another perspective.
A sword is not merely a weapon for killing. It is a part of me, a part of my arm. Therefore, I must explore different ways of observing and understanding it.
These werent random ideas that Jin Mu-Won had made up. Rather, they were his father, Jin Kwan-Hos opinions.
Jin Kwan-Ho hadnt taught his son any martial arts. Instead, he worked the boy to the bone just studying.
From the proper way to grip a sword to analyzing an enemys possible angles of attack, he had memorized it all. Therefore, even though Jin Mu-Won hadnt actually practiced any martial art, his brain was filled with knowledge about martial arts and philosophy.
Among all the different types of martial arts, the ones that interested him the most were sword techniques.
The sword is the king of weapons.
There are many different types of weapons, but the sword is indisputably the best one of them all.
In terms of wounding the enemy, it is inferior to the dao. In terms of effectiveness on the battlefield, it is inferior to the spear. In terms of flexibility, it is inferior to the whip. In terms of sheer power, it is inferior to the axe.
Even so, everyone calls the sword the king of weapons.
Why?
I think its because the sword is a symbol of dominance.
Since times long past, kings would use a sword as a symbol of their right to rule, and not just as a weapon for killing. They would use it in ceremonies as a way tomunicate with the heavens and the earth. Their swords were not simply weapons, they were holy objects that contained the will and desires of the rulers.
At least, that was how Jin Mu-Won viewed it, and the reason why he was more attracted to the sword than any other weapon.
If I take the Three Foundations of Swordsmanship as an example, everyone knows that the three basic moves are the thrust, the sh, and the parry. But how many would realize that their individual understandings of the natural and human world would affect the way they executed those moves?
The heavens lie above mans head and the earth beneath mans feet. The Three Foundations of Swordsmanship tells the story of heaven, earth, and man.
To conclude, if I wish to correctly grasp the essence of swordsmanship, I have to learn to understand humans. Humans might beplicated beings, but if I can so much as discern the rtionship between a man and his weapon, I will be able to use that knowledge against him.
Originally, Jin Mu-Won hadnt nned on learning swordsmanship until muchter. His first priority was to create a shadow chi center using the Art of Ten Thousand Shadows. Ideally, he would then use this shadow chi center as a basis for his swordsmanship. However, he changed his mind and decided to do things the other way round when he ran into a major hurdle while learning the Art. He would practice the fundamentals of swordsmanship first, and then see if he could use it to solve the problems he encountered while learning the Art.
Jin Mu-Won swung his sword repeatedly, trying to perfect his stance, as described in the Three Foundations of Swordsmanship.
I need to precisely control my breathing, muscles, and blood cirction. I need to feel the tip of my sword with my nerves. Even though something like that is physically impossible, I must always consciously think about doing it until it bes as natural as breathing.
Because thats what it means to be one with my sword. I am the sword, and the sword is me.
Jin Mu-Won knew that even experienced martial artists rarely attained this realm of mastery, but right now, he was attempting to reach it.
He swung his de once, twice, thrice but it wasnt long until his entire body was soaked in sweat. As time passed, his breathing becamebored, and his posture got worse.
Jin Mu-Won stumbled. He put down his sword, sat down cross-legged on the ground where he stood, and began to think.
My body cant keep up with my mind. Theres arge gap between how I want to swing my sword and how I actually swing it.
Jin Mu-Won felt that he had to intensify his physical training. He had already been doing some mild training regrly while learning the Art of Ten Thousand Shadows, but clearly, that amount of training wasnt quite enough to learn swordsmanship.
The problem then would be avoiding Jang Pae-San and his men. They were much less wary of him nowpared to a year ago, but if he showed the slightest sign of seriously practicing martial arts, they would definitely report it to Heaven''s Summit immediately.
The Tower of Shadows was the only ce he could practice martial arts while remaining hidden from sight. However, it was too cramped and he couldnt move around freely.
I need to do something about this.
There was a long road ahead of him, and a lot of obstructions.
But Jin Mu-Won hadnt given up despite everything he had gone through, and he wasnt about to start backing down now.
First, I have to start with the things that I can do right now.
Once he had decided on a n, all he had to do was follow it. The most important thing was the determination to never call it quits.
My current; most urgent task is to make my body more suited to learning swordsmanship. I need to get rid of the muscles that I dont need and train those that I do need.
Jin Mu-Won imagined the ideal image of himself that he aimed to create. Now that he had decided on a goal, he needed to act upon it.
He uncrossed his legs and stood up.
When he went out, the sun had already set. It turned out that he had spent half a day in the Tower of Shadows.
Jin Mu-Won analyzed the mistakes he had made and how to fix them as he walked.
Hmm? This ce is?
He found himself in his room, which was currently on loan to Eun Ha-Seol. He had unconsciously walked back to this ce while lost in thought.
Its frightening how we sometimes do things without even realizing it. Jin Mu-Won looked around, but did not see Eun Ha-Seol.
Did she go outside?
Jin Mu-Won thought about the scene that he had witnessed yesterday. The lightning reflexes and calm decision-making that Eun Ha-Seol had disyed as she subdued Jang Pae-San were the hallmarks of someone who mastered martial arts. It was clear that she was a disciple from a famous school.
He spected about her true identity for a while longer, then left.
The instant Jin Mu-Won walked out of the room, there was a distortion in the space at the corner of the room and a person suddenly appeared there. It was Eun Ha-Seol, the girl whose ck hair shone with a pale blue light.
She had been in the room all along, even if Jin Mu-Won hadnt realized it. Scattered in the area around here were several ck and white-colored rocks.
The Formless Crystal Formation ().
It was a type of illusory formation, as well as one of the most basic ones. But even though it was basic, that did not mean it was easy to set up.
Eun Ha-Seol had set up the formation so that she could concentrate on healing herself in peace without having to worry about sudden intruders. The Formless Crystal Formation might have been basic, but those who werent familiar with formations wouldnt be able to see through it, much less break it.
She nned to always use this formation whenever she was focused on healing. She needed her strength to recover to a certain extent so that she could use moreplex martial arts. That was because the stronger she was, the safer she would be.
She looked at the door Jin Mu-Won had left from with a strange expression on her face. Then, she vanished back into the formation.
It was snowing again. Due to the thickness of the snow that couldpletely bury a man, the Northern Army Fortress had be separated from the rest of the world. The temperature had gotten so low that even wearing multipleyers of clothes, one would still shiver uncontrobly.
No one had bothered clearing up the snow, so it had piled up all over the fortress. The only way to traverse the fortress now was to dig a tunnel across it like a rabbit.
This was the main reason why Jang Pae-San and his men had chosen to spend most of their time either inside the barracks where they lived or at the Lofty Sky Manor, which they were busy renovating.
Eun Ha-Seol had hidden her presence to the point where it was like she wasnt there at all, but Jin Mu-Won knew that she was still inside the Northern Army Fortress because the food and resources kept decreasing.
One thing he was sure of, though, was that it was impossible for him to find her unless she showed herself willingly. Thus, Jin Mu-Won decided to stop thinking about her and focus on his own problems.
He was currently in the lowest basement of the Tower of Shadows. The twelve-story tower had been built right on top of bedrock, so the building was extremely sturdy. Jin Mu-Won held his sword and focused on the bedrock wall in front of him.
He swung the sword at the wall.
THWACK! THWACK!
The sound of wood hitting stone echoed around the basement room.
Jin Mu-Wons face immediately twitched from pain.
The recoil force from hitting the wall had spread to his arms, waist, and back through his sword.
HAH!
Jin Mu-Won swung his sword a few more times, then quickly left without turning back. The skin on his hands had torn and was bleeding profusely. He grit his teeth in pain.
After waiting a while for the pain to subside, he tore a piece of cloth from the hem of his robes. He wrapped it around his hand and wiggled his fingers, then picked up his sword once again.
URYAAAH!
He took a deep breath and continued hitting the wall.
I need to protect my body, but at the same time, I need to maximize the force with which I strike the wall.
In order to reduce the impact on his body, Jin Mu-Won tried all sorts of ways of holding his sword. At first, he would grip the sword as tightly as he could. Then, he would slowly lower the strength of his grip until he found the perfect stance.
SNAP!
Suddenly, not long after he resumed training, the wooden sword shattered. Wood splinters were sent flying in every direction, some cutting Jin Mu-Wons face and drawing blood.
Furious, Jin Mu-Won red at the broken sword and the wall. Unfortunately for him, the sword hadnt left even the slightest scratch on the wall.
On one hand, he was mad at himself for being such a useless person.
On another hand, he doubted the validity of the Art of Ten Thousand Shadows. He had already spent three years studying the thing but still didnt have any idea how it could be used to cultivate chi, much less incorporate it into various techniques.
All I have is myself, my pride as a fallen noble, and this abandoned ruin. Under these circumstances, how could I ever dream of soaring through the skies?
Jin Mu-Won hurled the remains of his wooden sword on the ground.
ARGHHHHHH! he screamed, staring at the stone wall once more. His voice bounced off the stone, resulting in a loud echo that resounded around the room.
He kept screaming for what seemed like a day, then punched the wall with his fist. Tired, he slid down andy on the ground.
The dark ceiling filled his vision.
BA-DUMP, BA-DUMP.
His racing heartbeat began to slow, and his agitation gradually subsided.
Exhausted, Jin Mu-Won stared nkly at the ceiling for a very long time. He then suddenly had a thought.
Its a long winter, and there are many more trees I can cut down and make wooden swords out of. Thats right. Im not in a hurry. My life has only just begun.
As Jin Mu-Won made peace with himself, his pain slowly began to fade and his boiling anger vanished. Not long after, his sword arm stopped hurtingpletely and his anxiety went away.
Just then, the fog which had been clouding his mind began to lift.
Both frustration and rage are feelings that stem from the heart.
That''s right, the core of the problem is my own heart. My body only does what my heart wills it to.
Jin Mu-Won shuddered like he had been struck by lightning.
Is it not enough to simply have a heart?
A bright light pierced through the fog in his mind and showed him the path forward. His vision cleared, and something that he had been suppressing for a long time seemed to stir.
I need to ept the shadows hidden within my heart.
Shadows are immaterial, but they still exist. They appear alongside the light but are different from pure darkness. They have existed since time immemorial, residing within the reflection of the world.
Shadows enveloped Jin Mu-Wons chi center.
At that very instant, this young man took his very first step in the mastery of the Art of Ten Thousand Shadows.
Chapter 12: That Year, In Winter… (3)
Eun Ha-Seol closed her eyes and concentrated on healing herself. Beads of sweat dripped down her forehead.
Besides healing, she was desperately trying to recover her strength. She wasn''t sure if her efforts would pay off, but right now there were some indications that her chi was about to start flowing again.
If she missed this opportunity, the next one might note anytime soon. Thus, she was cing all her concentration on trying to circte her chi.
Crack!
Her body shook. She had reached the limits of her tolerance.
En Ha-Seol wanted to scream in pain. However, she did her best to endure the pain and kept her mouth shut. If she screamed now, all her efforts would have been for nothing. She didn''t know how much longer she would need to fully recover now, much less, how long it would take if she had to start over.
I must be patient, and slowly increase my chi bit by bit. Only then can I properly expel the poison from my body and return to full strength.
At present, she waspletely defenseless. Even the slightest touch from another person would give her a heart attack, causing her to cough up blood, and even kill her. Normally, she would never risk using this kind of healing technique, but she had no choice. She could only trust in the Formless Crystal Formation.
Suddenly, the door to the room opened with a creaking sound.
Who is it?
It wasnt Jin Mu-Won.
This persons footsteps were heavy and his stride was long. Also, he wasnt alone.
Hmm? Shes not here?
You were the one who told me she was here, yeah?
I thought she would definitely be hiding here
The mens voices echoed around the room.
Eun Ha-Seols face instantly turned ck.
Its them.
The owners of these voices were Jang Pae-San and the other mercenaries from Heaven''s Summit.
Theyre here for revenge, arent they?
Eun Ha-Seol knew exactly what these guys were thinking. Small-fries like them often had the biggest egos. She felt that she had already given them a severe enough warning, but clearly, it was insufficient.
Eun Ha-Seol saw her life sh before her eyes, but the illusion vanished as quickly as it had appeared. She had only seen it because her heart was beating too quickly.
Right now, Im as good as useless. I can only believe in the Formless Crystal Formation.
She tried her hardest to regain herposure.
Just where the fuck did that bitch go? growled Jang Pae-San, furiously searching the seemingly unupied room.
It was just as Eun Ha-Seol had presumed. Jang Pae-San hadnt forgotten the humiliation hed received that day. How could he forget? He had been disgraced in front of his underlings by a little girl half his size.
Jang Pae-San had seriously reflected upon the events of that day. In the end, he concluded that there was definitely something off about Eun Ha-Seol. If the girl was at her normal strength, there was no way she would have backed off when she clearly held the advantage.
Obviously, the bitch was just feigning it all.
The more he thought about it, the more certain he was that Eun Ha-Seol was not in peak condition. Then, he was hit by a frightening thought. If the girl had given him such a hard time when she was in bad form, just how strong would she be after she had recovered fully?
Jang Pae-San realized that he could not continue letting her slowly restore her strength.
He took a deep breath.
Shes definitely somewhere in this room! Search every inch until you find that bitch!
Yessir!
The mercenaries continued searching the room.
A drop of cold sweat rolled down Eun Ha-Seols face. Jang Pae-Sans men were steadily closing in on her location.
The Formless Crystal Formation was just a basic formation. It could hide ones presence, but it had no defensive power. If someone so much as grazed it, she would be exposed in a heartbeat.
I cant move, but I cant not move.
Should I take the risk? Eun Ha-Seol bit her lip.
I have to decide now. Even though my recovery time will be prolonged if I forcefully stop my healing technique, I have no other option.
She decided to give up healing.
What are you doing in my room?
Suddenly, she heard Jin Mu-Wons voice.
Jang Pae-San and the mercenaries turned around to see Jin Mu-Won standing at the door.
Before Jang Pae-San could reply, Jin Mu-Won strode forward and stood in between him and Eun Ha-Seol.
Since when did Heaven''s Summit be so uncivilized? Dont you know that it is rude to enter someone elses room without permission?
Does it matter? You dont even live here anymore!
Is there aw stating that you can randomly enter someone elses property if they are not using it? Dont forget, Im the one giving you permission to stay in the barracks, and also the one letting you utilize the Lofty Sky Manor just because you want to give your honored guests a nice ce to live. Are you trying to tell me that I should also hand my room over to you? Huh?
Jang Pae-Sans face twitched. His tightly clenched fists trembled like a beast ready to strike at any moment.
It seems that you really want to die.
It seems that you only know how to repeat that one phrase.
Fuck you! Youre really
Jin Mu-Won calmly locked gazes with the erupting Mt. Jang Pae-San.
Jang Pae-San looked like he would punch Jin Mu-Won any moment now, but the young man knew that the mercenary wouldnt dare do that.
Although they hadpletely ignored each other, it was a fact that they had lived in the same ce for more than a year. Jin Mu-Won felt that this amount of time was enough to perfectly grasp Jang Pae-Sans personality.
He sucks up to the strong and bullies the weak. He always puts his own safety first, and would never gamble with his life.
As long as I am the heir to the Northern Army, he wouldnt dare harm me carelessly.
Everything was proceeding the way Jin Mu-Won had predicted. Jang Pae-San could only stare daggers at him, but would not resort to violence, much less draw his sword on him.
Brat, you just wait and see. I havent given up yet.
Jang Pae-San turned and stormed out of the room. His subordinates followed him.
When he was sure that he was the only man left, Jin Mu-Won did not leave the room right away. Instead, he turned to look at the corner of the room where Eun Ha-Seol was hiding.
There she is.
He suddenly broke into arge grin.
Has the world changed? No, its my view of the world that has changed.
Should I call it the flow of the world, or the flow of energy (chi)? I can now see things that I have never seen before. Its not very clear, but I can definitely feel some kind of flow now.
Jin Mu-Won finally left the room. Eun Ha-Seol waited for a while beforeing out of the Formless Crystal Formation.
The tension on her face had mostly disappeared. Jin Mu-Won had arrived in the nick of time, and his intervention had allowed her to finish her healing technique without getting interrupted.
One of the barriers to my recovery has been ovee. Still, that guy
A little bit of chi had gathered within her chi center. Although it was just an insignificant amount, to Eun Ha-Seol it was like she had received the water of life that would give her salvation.
She stared at the door that Jin Mu-Won had left from, a hint of suspicion in her eyes.
Jin Mu-Won looked around the storeroom, muttering, I should have saved up some resources.
He had thought that he was well-prepared for the winter, but he was wrong. Half of the food was already gone. There was no way he could have predicted the appearance of a gluttonous guest, after all. Even though he wanted to reduce his food intake, doing so during the winter was a fast way to ascend to heaven.
I wonder if Uncle Hwang is doing well?
He felt a sharp sting in his heart as he thought of Hwang Cheol. Hwang Cheol was a man who had willingly given up his own freedom to look after him. In a way, he felt that Hwang Cheol had already done more than enough to repay the debt he owed Jin Kwan-Ho. However, Hwang Cheol did not agree with him and felt that he was stillcking.
Jin Mu-Won took some rice, mutton and vegetables out of the storeroom. His footsteps could be clearly seen in the snow as he walked along the road toward the Tower of Shadows.
Suddenly, he turned to look at the Lofty Sky Manor. Hammering sounds could be heard as Jang Pae-San and his men cleaned and renovated the building.
I wonder who will being in spring. They must be of pretty high status to be able to make thesezy mercenaries work so hard.
After returning to the Tower of Shadows, Jin Mu-Won began to prepare dinner. He cooked the rice and put the sliced mutton and vegetables into a pot. He added some water and seasonings to the pot and brought it to a boil to make mutton stew.
He had gotten pretty good at cooking after living alone for so long. He controlled the fire while waiting for the food to cook. Soon, the fragrance of freshly cooked rice and stew filled every nook and cranny of the tower. Jin Mu-Won sniffed it and smiled with satisfaction.
He ced the cooked food on a wooden table that he had temporarily set up while Eun Ha-Seol was staying in his room. Although it was just a simple bowl of rice and a pot of mutton stew, to Jin Mu-Won, it was the most delicious food in the world.
Where is this smelling from
Jin Mu-Won abruptly turned to face the doorway,dle in hand. It was Eun Ha-Seol.
He smiled and said, Long time no see?
Eun Ha-Seol nodded in response. Her pale face looks even prettier than thest time I saw it, Jin Mu-Won thought.
Whats up?
I came here to thank you.
What for?
You saved me from danger back there.
What do you mean? I have no idea what youre talking about.
Do you really not know?
Jin Mu-Won shrugged. Eun Ha-Seol stared directly into his eyes to see if he was lying. However, his eyes were as calm as the sea and she couldnt tell what he was thinking at all.
Jin Mu-Won suddenly asked, Want some dinner?
If you havent eaten yet,e sit down. I made a lot of food.
Eu Ha-Seol frowned and was just about to refuse Jin Mu-Wons offer when a rumbling sound could be hearding from her stomach.
Her face immediately flushed red, but she walked toward the table nonchntly as if nothing had happened. Jin Mu-Won handed her a bowl of rice and a pair of chopsticks, grinning all the while.
I-Im not doing this because Im hungry. I just thought that you would be lonely if you ate alone, so Im joining you for dinner.
Pfft! Thanks.
Jin Mu-Won dumped a heap of mutton stew on top of his rice and began to eat.
Eun Ha-Seol picked up the chopsticks and tried a mouthful of Jin Mu-Wons stew. Her eyes widened in amazement.
The stew looked clumsily made but it turned out to be unexpectedly delicious. She also hadnt been eating very welltely because of her condition, but Jin Mu-Wons cooking had really whet her appetite.
Eun Ha-Seol then tried some of the hot soup and felt like her frozen body had warmed up. She quickly polished off the bowl of stew.
Is it good?
Yeah, replied Eun Ha-Seol straightforwardly without thinking.
Jin Mu-Won unconsciously smiled and opened the pot lid to scoop out some more stew.
Eun Ha-Seol, who had been eating her food quietly, looked up at Jin Mu-Won. His bowl was almost empty.
She stared at him for a while, then asked, Dont you have any questions for me?
No?
Youre not going to ask about me?
No.
Why?
I just think its best if I didnt know anything about you. I have a feeling that if I knew who you really were, we wouldnt be able to spend time togetherfortably like this anymore.
You are an idiot.
I get that a lot.
Sheesh!
Eun Ha-Seol snorted at Jin Mu-Wons reply. Jin Mu-Won didnt care though and kept on eating. Seeing that, Eun Ha-Seol quickly became absorbed in her own meal once again.
Sometimeter, the two finished eating. Jin Mu-Won stood up quietly, cleared away the dishes, and put a kettle of water on the stove.
What are you doing?
Im done eating, so its time for some tea.
I want Byeochun tea. [1]
Thats a luxury good!
Hmph! Eun Ha-Seol pouted.
Byeochun tea was the best quality tea grown in the Dongting mountain region near Lake Tai. It was so expensive that no peasant could afford it. Despite its fame, production was low, so the only people who got to drink Byeochun tea were high-ranking officials and royalty.
The only tea Jin Mu-Won had, though, was the one that Hwang Cheol had given him. The taste and fragrance of the tea wasnt very refined, but it had its own unique vor. This tea was Jin Mu-Wons one and only luxury good.
After the water had boiled, he waited a while for it to cool to a suitable temperature. Then, he added the tea leaves and steeped them for some time.
Eun Ha-Seol observed the rxed and unguarded Jin Mu-Won. Where she came from, carefree people like him were rare.
Jin Mu-Won poured the tea into a cup and handed it to Eun Ha-Seol. Eun Ha-Seol furrowed her brows at the crude appearance of the tea but when she smelled its fragrance, she couldnt help but reach out for the cup.
The warm touch of his hand made her smile. She held the cup in her hands, enjoyed the fragrance for a moment, then took a sip.
Again, she was astonished by the vor.
This is delicious.
The tea tasted much better than shed thought it would. This meant that Jin Mu-Won knew the correct way to brew tea.
Well?
Its good!
Right? Ive loved tea since I was ten years old, so I learned how to brew it.
Jin Mu-Won had never officially learned the tea ceremony,[2] but brewing tea was his only hobby, so he was delighted that Eun Ha-Seol approved of his skill. Eun Ha-Seol snickered as she looked at his smug appearance.
Normally, when a persons entire family is killed, their eyes will be filled with resentment or despair.
If he truly is this skilled at concealing his emotions, then he is a very frightening man indeed. If not, then hes just a vulnerable optimist.
No matter which one it is, its worth finding out. Most importantly, Im not in a state where I can leave this ce. I still need to concentrate on healing for a few more months. The Northern Army Fortress is the best hiding ce for me.
Eun Ha-Seol stood up.
You leaving?
Yes. Please continue enjoying your tea.
You shoulde over more often. Like you said, eating alone is lonely.
Not happening.
Eun Ha-Seol left with a firm expression on her face.
Footnotes:
[1] Byeochun tea: Biluochun or Bi Luo Chun (ݴ) is a famous green tea originally grown in the Dongting mountain region near Lake Tai in Suzhou, Jiangsu, China. Also known as Pi Lo Chun, it is renowned for its delicate appearance, fruity taste, floral aroma, showy white hairs and early cropping. Its he expensive and considered a high-ss tea, even more than Longjing tea.
[2] Tea ceremony: A tea ceremony is a ritualized form of making tea ( cha) in East Asia by the Chinese, Koreans and Japanese. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea_ceremony
Chapter 13: A Thousand Miles at a Snail’s Pace (1)
One day, the sound of metal being hammered could be heard resounding from within the Tower of Shadows. The sound traveled outside of the tower and echoed off the walls of the fortress before falling into silence.
On the fourth floor of the tower, in apletely enclosed room, Jin Mu-Won was swinging a hammer. The sweat on his bared upper body glistened, illuminated by a furnace in the corner of the room.
CLANG! CLANG!
With his other hand, he held a red-hot steel bar in ce using a pair of metal tongs. Every time he swung the hammer down, the length of the bar would increase a little.
Jin Mu-Won hammered away at the steel bar until the heat had dissipated, then put it back into the furnace. When it turned red, he would take it out and resume hammering it.
Sparks flew all over the ce with his every strike, and the ng of metal hitting metal echoed off the walls. Jin Mu-Won ignored these and quietly hammered the metal over and over again. His goal was to make a sword.
The sword would be two cheok seven chon[1] long and slightly curved, simr to the wooden sword that he had carved before.
Jin Mu-Won could have requested Hwang Cheol buy a sword for him, but he chose not to. He wanted to increase his understanding of swords by smithing them himself.
He did not think that swords were only weapons for killing. A sword was a martial artists best friend, one that would sync perfectly with the wielders breath, just like an extra limb. He felt that if he did not make the sword himself, he would be unable to understand the swords true nature, so he decided to start learning swordsmithing.
Jin Mu-Won hade up with this idea because of what he read in a book titled, Record of a Thousand Weapons. It was an autobiography written by Im Yeon-Su, the best cksmith of his time more than a hundred years ago. He recorded everything he had aplished during his lifetime in the book. Hwang Cheol had obtained this book by coincidence and had given it to Jin Mu-Won.
The Record of a Thousand Weapons described in detail the methods of refining steel as well as the process of smithing different weapons. ording to Im Yeon-Su, the best weapons chose their own master, but the finest weapons of all were crafted by their own master.
Luckily for Jin Mu-Won, there was an abandoned smithy in the Northern Army Fortress. It was the ce where weapons were crafted and repaired during the Northern Armys heyday, but now there were only furnaces left.
He dismantled one furnace and moved it into the Tower of Shadows. When Jang Pae-San noticed his movements, he shot Jin Mu-Won a suspicious look.
Kid, whats the meaning of this?
I cant keep taking money from Uncle Hwang forever, so I was thinking of preparing for the future.
The future?
I want to be independent. Thats why, from now on, I will be learning cksmithing to earn a living.
Hmm
Jin Mu-Wons excuse did not ease Jang Pae-Sans suspicion. However, he couldnt think of a reason to stop the young man as cksmithing was not the same as martial arts.
In fact, just the notion of it was ridiculous.
The heir of the Northern Army wants to make a living off cksmithing. Hahahahaha!
Jang Pae-San decided that he should just sit back, rx, and watch as the legend sank to new lows.
Now that Jang Pae-Sans suspicions had been cleared, other problems began to crop up.
Hwang Cheol had already given him the most important material, the steel ingots. However, there was no fuel for the furnace. Jin Mu-Won had to find a way to obtain fuel himself. He left the fortress carrying a rake and an axe, cutting down oak and pine trees for wood. He then made charcoal from the wood.
Jang Pae-San and his croniesughed when they saw Jin Mu-Won hard at work, but the young man ignored them and quietly went about his tasks.
The first things he made were tools like hammers and tongs. Only then did he begin to get serious about smithing. Using the two different types of charcoal made from different woods, he controlled the temperature of the furnace. He then heated the ingots and hammered them. Although Jin Mu-Won had already memorized the contents of the Record of a Thousand Weapons, reading about something was not the same as actually doing it.
For the first time in his life, he severely injured himself while hammering. He also experienced what it was like to be burned by molten metal. His hands hurt so much from hammering that for the first few days, he couldnt even hold a pair of chopsticks. Still, Jin Mu-Won did not give up.
He knew that his greatest strengths were his resilience and determination. He might be moving forward at a snails pace, but as long as he never gave up, he would eventually travel a thousand miles to the pinnacle of excellence.
He hammered again and again and by the time he learned how to hammer properly, there were callouses on his hands. It was only then that he could finally mold a piece of metal into the desired shape sessfully. However, only the shape was correct. His work was still far inferior to a true craftsman.
Jin Mu-Won observed the sword he had made closely. Because he hadnt quenched the steel correctly, unsightly marks had been left behind on the surface of the sword. The thickness and width of the sword were also so uneven that he felt bad even calling it a sword.
He picked up a nearby hammer and continued hammering away at the sword.
BAM!
The sword that he had spent so much effort making suddenly snapped in half. He tossed the broken sword aside without hesitation.
Hew sighed Jin Mu-Won, sitting down on a nearby chair.
His efforts for thest few days had all been for nothing. Naturally, he was dejected.
From the beginning, he hadnt expected to make a decent weapon. However, his progress was much slower than hed thought it would be. He felt that his pride had been injured.
I thought that I was quite dexterous, so I believed that as long as I put in the effort, I could master smithing very quickly.
Jin Mu-Won looked at his hands. They were covered in ugly blisters and callouses. The heat had caused his skin to peel off, and several parts were badly burnt. Even so, he felt that he had gained something from the experience.
Its slow, but Ive definitely improved. Jin Mu-Won, you need to keep doing your best, he told himself.
He stood up from the chair.
He climbed up the steps of the Tower of Shadows and went to his quarters on the highest floor. Although he was exhausted, he did not rest. Instead, he started to cook.
When the rice was ready and the mutton was almost done, the door to the room opened and someone came in. It was Eun Ha-Seol, who had entered the room like it was only natural. She sat down without a word and Jin Mu-Won automatically handed her a bowl of rice and a spoon.
Why is it mutton again?
Er, we have other types of food as well
I know that mutton is a luxury food.
Then?
Im just sick of eating it all the time.
Eun Ha-Seol pouted.
Theres nothing I can do about that. Spring is almost here, though. If you can wait a while, Ill make lots of even tastier dishes for you.
Eun Ha-Seol furrowed her brows at Jin Mu-Wons reply and started spooning food into her mouth. Jin Mu-Won looked at Eun Ha-Seols expression andughed.
For thest three months, Eun Ha-Seol had shown up in his room every day during mealtimes. It was as if he had promised to keep feeding her. Jin Mu-Won did not say anything about her behavior, only cooked for her every time she came. Now that this had be a familiar scene, he felt that they had be much closer.
Still, he knew that there was an insurmountable wall between the two of them. For all this time, Eun Ha-Seol had never said anything about herself, and neither had Jin Mu-Won asked her about it.
This odd rtionship had already continued for three whole months. They had gotten used to seeing each other every day.
Jin Mu-Won stared at Eun Ha-Seol as he ate. She was eating a lot better now, and looked a lot healthier than before too. The amount of meat that she consumed every day had left a strong impression on him.
I am so sick and tired of eating mutton stew.
Winter was almost over now. When spring came, Hwang Cheol would visit the fortress, bringing with him enough stuff to fill the storeroom to the brim. Ill be able to cook much nicer dishes for her soon. If shes still here, that is.
Jin Mu-Won did not think that Eun Ha-Seol would be staying at the fortress for much longer. She wasnt suited to living in this deste ce.
The longer someone lived in a certain ce, the more they would blend into their surroundings. However, Eun Ha-Seol was an exception. She refused to blend in. This meant that she was ready to leave at any time.
Suddenly, Eun Ha-Seol raised her head and looked at Jin Mu-Won.
Whats up?
Are you still making swords?
Yes.
How do you feel? Is it worth it?
Im so tired that I could die.
Jin Mu-Won didnt hesitate to tell Eun Ha-Seol the truth. Strangely, every time he saw her, he would feel extremely rxed, even telling her secrets that he wouldnt reveal to anyone else.
Then why dont you stop?
Erm, I guess you could say its because Im stubborn? If I give up now, then all my efforts will have gone to waste.
Thats so stupid!
Perhaps.
But I like it.
Huh?
This kind of thing.
Want more tea?
Yes.
Please wait for a bit.
Jin Mu-Won stood up, smiling. Eun Ha-Seol stayed seated and leisurely observed him.
He had brewed tea for her every day after mealtime for thest three months. Teatime was also the time she looked forward to the most because his tea was just so delicious. A little whileter, Jin Mu-Won had prepared two cups of tea.
Here you go.
Mm.
As she brought the cheap ceramic cup to her lips, she smiled contentedly.
This time, it was Jin Mu-Wons turn to ask questions.
Did something happen?
What?
You seem a bit different than usual.
No, theres no such thing.
Eun Ha-Seol hurriedly finished drinking her tea and stood up. It was time for her to leave.
Right before she left, she suddenly turned around and said, See youter.
Jin Mu-Won did not reply and only nodded in response.
Footnotes:
[1] two cheok seven chon: cheok () and chon () are ancient units of measurement, 1 cheok being around 30 cm and 1 chon around 3 cm. That would make Mu-Wons sword approximately 80 cm, or 2''7" long, which is slightly longer than the average 70 cm Chinese sword but shorter than the two-handed swords (>1 m).
Chapter 14: A Thousand Miles at a Snail’s Pace (2)
After returning to her room, Eun Ha-Seols eyes glinted with a cold light.
Ive only managed to recover about half of my chi.
Originally, she had wanted to recover all of her chi before attempting to expel the remaining poison from her body. However, she did not have much time left. The poison was much more toxic than she had expected. Even now, it was eating her up from the inside out.
She had not told this to Jin Mu-Won, but the poison she was afflicted with was one of the most dangerous poisons ever made by humans.
The Blood Disintegration Poison (ѪѪ춾).
Just as its name implied, the Blood Disintegration Poison would dissolve ones internal organs into a bloody mush. One mouthful of the poison was enough to kill. It was mostly forgotten now, but a few decades ago, this poison had taken countless lives.
Eun Ha-Seol had honestly thought the poison would kill her, but Jin Mu-Won had saved her by giving her the Heart-Protecting Detoxification Pill.
Although the pill hadntpletely eliminated the poison, it was extremely effective at suppressing it. It was thanks to this suppression that her life was prolonged until now.
However, the effects of the Heart-Protecting Detoxification Pill were reaching their limits. If she let things continue as they were, her life would be in danger before she could recover all of her chi. Thus, she decided to take a gamble and use the chi she had already recovered to expel the poison from her body.
Eun Ha-Seol focused all her concentration on the poison removal process. She first performed two checks to confirm that there was nothing else wrong with her body. Then, she began to circte her chi.
Currently, the poison was concentrated inside a small part of her spleen. She needed to move it carefully to the ring finger on her left hand. If something went wrong with her chi cirction, or if she got distracted now, she would cough up blood and the poison would kill her in an instant.
Bit by bit, she moved the poison through her body. As her concentration reached its peak, beads of sweat appeared on her forehead. The sweat dripped down her face and nose, making her feel itchy, but she maintained all her focus on controlling her chi without squirming.
The poison that had been trapped within her spleen started to flow. Suddenly, it began to resist her will, just like a living thing.
Ugh!
Her concentration was broken, and the chi which she had wrapped around the poison almost dispersed. The poisons resistance to treatment was unusually strong. It seemed to know that if it got transferred to a certain ce, it would be eliminated.
The war between Eun Ha-Seols chi and the poison raged on for a while. Eun Ha-Seol knew that if she didnt suppress the poison soon, she would be in for a drawn-out battle. She reallocated her chi to make itst as long as she possibly could.
Time passed, and Eun Ha-Seols face became paler and paler. It seemed that, because she had decided to expel the poison before her chi was fully recovered, she had overexerted herself and her body was screaming in defiance.
She felt as if her entire body was being squeezed and twisted like a rag. Eun Ha-Seol grit her teeth. If she screamed now, the flow of her chi would be affected and the poison would quickly spread throughout her body. If that happened, not even the most powerful gods could save her.
Stay focused, Eun Ha-Seol. Your life is at stake here, she told herself.
Eun Ha-Seol gave it her best. She concentrated so hard that she ended up soaked in sweat.
GUSH!
Suddenly, a burst of poison gushed through her body. She jolted as if she had been struck by lightning. She didnt scream, but it was obvious that it hade as a shock to her.
SPLURT!
ck blood flowed from her mouth and her face turnedpletely pale. She immediately tried to expel the poison again, but it was useless. The strength she had left was not enough to suppress the poison that had acted up violently.
Is this the end?
Eun Ha-Seols vision began to blur. She had only just realized that she no longer had any control over the poison.
Suddenly, the image of a person appeared in her mind. It was not the person she admired the most, nor was it her teacher or her family.
You weirdo.
Just then, she heard a voice.
Young Mistress, calm down.
A powerful chi was injected into her body, flowing through her blood vessels. The unfamiliar chi merged with her own and quickly contained the poison in her blood.
Young Mistress, gather your focus and help guide my strength.
Eun Ha-Seol nodded wordlessly, then channeled the chi within her body. The person helping her followed her guidance and moved their chi ordingly to assist her in expelling the poison.
If she used force, they would do the same. When she got tired and took a short rest, they would rest with her.
How much time has passed? Color returned to Eun Ha-Seols pale face. All the poison was now aggregated in her left ring finger.
DRIP!
Drop after drop of smelly ck liquid formed on the tip of the finger. It contained the Blood Disintegration Poison that had almost devoured Eun Ha-Seol as well as some contaminated blood.
Eun Ha-Seol summoned up thest of her concentration and squeezed out the remaining poison. It had resisted to the very end but lost to thebined strength of two people. Finally, all the poison was gone.
Phew! The person who had helped Eun Ha-Seol heaved a sigh of relief and stood up. They were covered in bloodied loose-fitting ck clothes from head to toe, hiding their figure and making it impossible to determine their gender. One thing was for sure, though, their aura was familiar to Eun Ha-Seol.
Eun Ha-Seol opened her eyes. Her eyes shone with a weing light.
Sa-Ryung (а`),[1] youre still alive.
Young Mistress, I apologize for being sote. I didnt know where you were hiding, so it took a long time to find you.
Sa-Ryung, the ck-clothed person, got down on one knee in front of Eun Ha-Seol and lowered their head.
I will dly ept any punishment for cing Young Mistress in danger.
There''s no need for that. In that kind of situation, even Master couldnt do anything, much less you. Where have you been all this time?
I have also been in hiding, recovering from my injuries.
Then, you also dont know if Master is safe?
Thats correct. Right after my wounds had closed, I went looking for Young Mistress.
Eun Ha-Seols face turned ck. As if they could read her mind, Sa-Ryungs eyes lit up. They said, Dont worry, Young Mistress, the Madam is definitely safe. For me, the most important thing right now is Young Mistresss recovery.
Mm. Eun Ha-Seol nodded. However, her expression was anything but happy.
The Northern Army Fortress is a fine ce to take refuge. You have made an excellent decision, Young Mistress. Those guys would never think to look for you here. You should continue staying here while you recuperate from your wounds.
What about you, Sa-Ryung?
I will search for the Madams whereabouts.
Thank you.
Please dont say that. I was born to serve you and the Madam.
Sa-Ryungs tone waspletely t and emotionless, with no high or low tones that would betray their thoughts. Even so, Eun Ha-Seol knew that they were telling the truth.
Sa-Ryung stood up, and an explosive power erupted from their body.
First, I will clean up this ce so that Young Mistress can livefortably.
The evil spirit Sa-Ryungs blood-red lips split open to reveal pearly white teeth. That was the only proof that they were still alive.
From Eun Ha-Seols condition, Sa-Ryung guessed that she hadnt received proper medical treatment in this ce. They had heard about the fall of the Northern Army, but the living conditions in this ruin were much worse than expected.
To Sa-Ryung, Eun Ha-Seol was the most exalted person in the world. If there was even the slightest possibility that anyone in this ce was a danger to her, they would immediately nip it in the bud.
If they wanted to, Sa-Ryung was strong enough to instantly massacre every living thing inside the Northern Army Fortress.
No, Sa-Ryung.
Young Mistress!
I will be better off with him by my side.
Yes, Young Mistress.
Sa-Ryung did not raise any more objections.
Please hurry up and regain your strength, Young Mistress.
I will.
Eun Ha-Seol sat down cross-legged and started circting her chi to recover. Sa-Ryung stood on guard beside her like a stone statue.
Some timeter, when Eun Ha-Seol had recovered some of her physical strength, she opened her eyes. Sa-Ryung was nowhere in sight.
She knew that Sa-Ryung had already left to find her master and wouldnt return until they had found her.
Sa-Ryung.
Eun Ha-Seol stared nkly at the window Sa-Ryung had vanished from.
Hoo! Jin Mu-Won took a deep breath. It was still freezing outside, but the temperature had clearly increasedpared to a few days ago. He felt that spring would be arriving very soon.
This had been a very eventful winter for him. First, a suspicious girl called Eun Ha-Seol had showed up. Next, he had entered the first stage of the Art of Ten Thousand Shadows. Finally, he had picked up swordsmithing and made one sword after another.
Repeating the same routine day after day had made him grow as a person.
He was now seventeen. He still didnt look like an adult, but his eyes were deeper and more refined than a typical mans. He had also grown taller and now boasted a height of six cheok.[2] At first nce, he already had the build of a full-grown man.
Jin Mu-Won raised his head and looked up at the sky. The rays from the sun shining on his face were warm. Very soon, the heat from the sun would melt all the snow, making the white slush that could bury a person disappear into nothing.
Winter would pass, and spring would then begin. Simrly, Jin Mu-Won felt that his days of suffering would one day reach an end, followed by the arrival of the spring of his life.
He smiled refreshingly and went for a walk. As usual, he traversed the Northern Army Fortress and headed for the basement of the Tower of Shadows. There, countless broken wooden swords were piled up like corpses, but Jin Mu-Won didnt care about them. Whenever he broke one wooden sword, he would just make himself a new one.
He picked up a wooden sword that he had made previously and stood in front of the bedrock wall. He had been hitting the wall with wooden swords all winter, but there still wasnt a single scratch on the wall.
Doing this was tiresome, but Jin Mu-Won did not feel frustrated or disappointed at the result. He simply swung his de quietly.
THWACK!
The sounds of his wooden sword hitting stone echoed around the basement room. Unlike before when the wooden sword would break after a few hits, he could now hit the wall a few dozen times and the sword would still be perfectly intact.
This meant that after months of training, he had attained much more precise control over his strength and had truly grasped the essence of swinging a sword. With his current ability, even if he swung the sword forcefully like before, it rarely broke or flew out of his hands any more.
As long as one gives a task their everything and persists tenaciously at it, one will definitely reap the rewards when the timees. No one had taught him, but Jin Mu-Won had still seeded in learning how to control a sword through rigorous training.
I have to rotate my waist a little faster and tense up my shoulder muscles
Jin Mu-Won regted his breathing as he swung his sword. In his mind, he was constantly analyzing his own movements, trying to optimize the bnce between power and form.
His goal was to achieve the perfect harmony of mind and body. By doing this, he hoped that it would allow him to wield his sword to perfection.
How many times have I swung this sword? Jin Mu-Won couldnt remember. He hadpletely lost himself in his training and fallen into a trance.
His mind and body fell into perfect sync. Before he realized it, he had taken another step closer to Mind-Body Unification (һw), the wless union of the mental and physical selves.
Just then, his shadow chi that had been lying dormant all this time awoke from its slumber. The Shadow Space inside his chi center, which he had created using the Art of Ten Thousand Shadows, came to life and a dark light seemed to radiate from within. As Jin Mu-Won swung the sword down, all the energy within him burst forth through the wooden de.
SWOOSH!
The wooden sword cut through bedrock like it was tofu. Shocked, Jin Mu-Won instantly snapped back to his senses.
He looked at the sh on the wall, eyes glittering. Although he had done it unconsciously, he clearly understood what this meant and how it had happened, from the changes within his body to the strike that had led to this result.
He had taken yet another step forward on his chosen path, and could now inject his chi into his sword. The proof of that was right before his eyes.
Jin Mu-Wons instincts told him that he could not let go of this moment.
He had to carve the memory of this feeling into his mind before this sense of immersion and serenity faded away.
He raised his sword once more. He did not consciously try to inject his chi into the sword, but instead recalled the feeling of that strike just then.
SHIING! SHIING!
His sword sliced through the bedrock again and again.
In general, certain telltale signs would appear when ones swordsmanship reached a certain level of proficiency. First, energy would be seen emanating from the sword forming a shroud over it. This phenomenon was referred to as Sword Chi (), and its appearance meant that one had reached the first stage toward Transcendence.
The State of Transcendence (ϕN֮) was also known as the State of Ascendance. Those who had attained this state were able to merge their inner chi with the chi in their surroundings. This meant that no matter how much chi they used, their inner chi reserves would never run dry, and they would be able to perform miraculous feats like creating a sword domain to cross a river.
Even among the disciples of famous sects, few managed to reach Transcendence. The ones who did only seeded because of abination of their own diligence, their masters guidance, and the support of their sect in the form of pills and medication.
Once in a while, a genius would appear who could open the path to Transcendence without help or guidance from others, but those were few and far between. Although Jin Mu-Won had no visible sword chi, the fact that he had shed through a solid stone wall like it was tofu was the most convincing evidence that he was such a person.
Jin Mu-Won swung his de again and again until he had no more chi left to use.
So what if Im as slow as a snail?
As long as I keep moving forward, one day, I will travel a thousand miles to the final destination.
When Jin Mu-Won returned to his room on the top floor of the tower, the sun had already begun to set. He had been so absorbed in his training that he hadnt noticed the passing of time. His body felt as heavy as lead, but his mind was refreshed and spirited.
Hmm?
Jin Mu-Won made a confused expression when he noticed Eun Ha-Seol sitting on a chair in his room, sulking.
Why are you here at this hour?
Do you really not know?
Eh?
I havent seen you since yesterday morning.
Youre telling me that an entire day has passed?
A sudden realization came over Jin Mu-Won. He hadnt been training from dawn till dusk; hed been at it for nearly two whole days.
So thats why shes so angry.
Does that mean, you havent eaten for two days?
Hmph!
Jin Mu-Won shuffled into the kitchen under Eun Ha-Seos watchful gaze. Unbeknownst to him, she heaved a sigh of relief.
When Sa-Ryung had disappeared, so had Jin Mu-Won. She felt that there was no way that Sa-Ryung would have disobeyed her orders, but she still worried about him.
Eun Ha-Seol was very angry at herself too. This was the first time she had worried about anyone other than her master. It was an unfamiliar feeling. She looked at Jin Mu-Wons back as he cooked, aplicated look in her eyes.
Jin Mu-Won sat on the roof of the Tower of Shadows, looking down upon the Wall of Ten Thousand Shadows.
The words hidden within the intery of light and shadow gradually revealed themselves to him in the light of dawn.
Although he could see this sight every day during this time, today was special.
Yesterday, during his daily self-inspection, Jin Mu-Won realized that severalrge changes had urred inside his body. He had finally ovee the barrier that had been impeding his progress.
The time hase.
Besides the Art of Ten Thousand Shadows, there was another martial art that the former Lords of the Northern Army had created and refined over several generations. Like the Art, this martial art was also inscribed on the Wall of Ten Thousand Shadows.
It was aplex sword technique that had been invented for the sole purpose of war.
In order to meet the basic requirements for learning this sword technique, Jin Mu-Won had trained his swordsmanship like crazy.
As the sun rose higher over the horizon, the words written on the Wall of Ten Thousand Shadows became more well-defined. Jin Mu-Won focused his gaze on one particr line.
Footnotes:
[1] Sa-Ryung (а`): Sa-Ryung is more like a nickname or code name rather than a real persons name. It means Evil Spirit. Also, the gender of Sa-Ryung hasn''t been revealed so we are using the pronouns they/them.
[2] six cheok: Approximately 6, or 180 cm tall.
[3] Shadow de of Destruction (ħӰ): Literal trantion C Shadow de of Heavenly Destruction and Demon ying. Manhwa TL: The Shadowed de of the End and The Shadowed de of Destruction. The exnation for our trantion is in C43. The sword of shadows (Ӱ) created to destroy the heavens () and y all demons (ħ).
Chapter 15: The Wind is Cold Even in Spring (1)
Winter passed, and the North weed the spring. The flowers hadnt bloomed yet, but the temperature had increased significantlypared to before, and the snow as deep as a mans height had started to melt.
Jin Mu-Won had made himself a giant wooden shovel and was currently busy clearing away the snow around the Tower of Shadows. He only needed to pile up the remaining snow along one wall, and the spring wind and sunshine would do the rest.
It was already his third day shoveling snow around the tower and the main gate.
Whew!
When he finally finished shoveling all the snow, Jin Mu-Won beamed with satisfaction and sat down near the main gate. He wiped off the beads of sweat on his forehead.
The air was still kind of cold, but the earth was brimming with the energy of spring. Jin Mu-Won rxed and relished in the feeling ofing back to life that only one who had endured the harsh winter could experience.
Yeahhh!
Another winter hase and gone, but Im still alive. Winter wille again, but so will spring after that. This is the cycle of life.
Pfft! Hahahahahahahaha!
Suddenly, he startedughing out loud. What am I, a homeless beggar? Im only seventeen, but Im thinking like an old man. Maybe I matured early because Ive been through a lot since I was young?
Hmm?
Jin Mu-Wons eyes lit up. He saw a horse-drawn wagon traversing through the snow-covered ins, heading toward the Northern Army Fortress.
He squinted his eyes to see the person sitting on the wagon, then broke into a weing smile.
Uncle Hwang!
He hadnt seen Hwang Cheol since before the start of winter.
Young Master!
Uncle Hwang!
The two men held each others hands as they happily exchanged greetings.
Young Master, have you been taking good care of yourself?
Hwang Cheol carefully observed Jin Mu-Won to see if there were any problems with his health. In his eyes, Jin Mu-Won was still a child. Jin Mu-Won smiled, having understood Hwang Cheols kind intentions.
I have, so theres no need to check me. Lets go inside.
Jin Mu-Won grabbed Hwang Cheols arm and dragged him away.
When Jin Mu-Won told Hwang Cheol that he had moved into the Tower of Shadows because he had given his old room to a guest, Hwang Cheol was appalled. Jin Mu-Won sensed how Hwang Cheol felt, and exined, Well, Ive always thought about moving someday. It just happened a little sooner than I expected, thats all.
But Young Master is
Its fine, Uncle Hwang. I really like living in the Tower of Shadows.
Jin Mu-Won had never told Hwang Cheol about the secrets of the Wall of Ten Thousand Shadows before. It wasnt because he didnt trust Hwang Cheol, but because this was a secret that only the Lords of the Northern Army were allowed to know about.
Sigh, if Young Master insists
Hwang Cheol didnt believe Jin Mu-Wons excuses, but he still epted the young mans decision in the end. That proved just how loyal he was to the Jin family.
After they had moved all the stuff from Hwang Cheols wagon into the storeroom, the two sat down opposite each other. Hwang Cheol looked at Jin Mu-Won with a dazed expression.
Young Master, youve grown up. If only your father could see you now, Im sure he would be so happy
How have you been, Uncle Hwang?
The person who hired me this time is a pretty big shot, so I was forced to spend the winter in Jiangnan together with him, answered Hwang Cheol apologetically. That was because he had left Jin Mu-Won alone in the harsh Northern winter, while he enjoyed the warm weather in the South.
Jin Mu-Won, who had guessed what Hwang Cheol was thinking,ughed, Hahaha! In that case, you must have heard a lot of news from the Central ins, right, Uncle Hwang? As for here, there were some problems, but everything turned out fine in the end.
Young Master!
What about the world? Has anything significant happenedtely?
It is still peaceful for now, but I have a feeling that wontst much longer. Of course, this is only my personal opinion.
Oh? Tell me more. Jin Mu-Wons eyes lit up.
First, there have been signs that the Four Pirs are attempting to expand their territory. Because of this, Heavens Summit has started investigating them.
Finally. I knew this would happen someday. Jin Mu-Won nodded.
To begin with, the Four Pirs and Heavens Summit had never been friends. They had only cooperated out of necessity and owed each other no loyalty or trust. Once they had defeated theirmon enemy, the Northern Army, all that was left was for them to fight among each other.
Right now, theyre still being cautious of each other, but it feels like theyre all treading on thin ice. It wouldnt be surprising if a conflict happens somewhere sometime soon.
Good!
The merchants are very enthusiastic about the situation too. Some of them have already started stocking up on weapons and other battle supplies.
Although they werent asrge in scale as a war between two countries, murim conflicts still consumed a huge amount of food and resources. This was especially true forrge factions such as Heavens Summit and the former Northern Army. The more people there were in a faction, the more resources they would consume. That was why the merchants were highly interested in the fact that some among them had begun stocking up on battle supplies.
Hwang Cheol exined what he knew of happenings beneath the surface to Jin Mu-Won. He worked for several rich merchants, so he was privy to a lot of information about the world that others wouldn''t know about. Also, the people who were the most interested in collecting information were those who controlled the flow of trade and dealt with huge sums of money.
From Hwang Cheols description, Jin Mu-Won understood that the world was walking on a tightrope. It was still maintaining its bnce for now, but the slightest push would send it toppling over. Peace would descend into chaos in a heartbeat.
He continued listening to Hwang Cheols stories intently. Hwang Cheol was his only window to the world, and it was only through him that he could learn about what was going on in the world.
One of the things that interested him the most was news about the murims younger generation.
Dam Soo-Cheon (Tn)? [1]
Thats right. This young man has be the center of attention in the gangho[2] because he is challenging a hundred experts to duels.
ording to Hwang Cheol, Dam Soo-Cheon was the third son of Dam Jeok-Shim, the Valley Ruler of the Valley of No Return (w) and one of the Nine Skies of Heavens Summit. His act of challenging a hundred people to duels while unarmed, known as the Hundred Man Challenge (˱), had brought him into the spotlight.
The first person he challenged was Im Jung-Oh, heir to the Cloud Sword Sect, a small-to-medium-sized sect in the southern region of the Central ins. Im Jung-Oh, whose nickname was the Seven sh Schr, was an all-rounder who counted outstanding swordsmanship and footwork among his many aplishments.
Im Jung-Oh was thirty-two this year. He was a man in his prime and a powerhouse who hadnt tasted defeat since he was twenty. When Dam Soo-Cheon had announced that he would be challenging Im Jung-Oh, many martial arts expertsughed at him.
Although Dam Soo-Cheon was one of Valley Ruler Dam Jeok-Shims sons, he had never made any significant achievements before and his name was rtively unknown in the gangho.
On the contrary, his two elder brothers Dam Yu-Seong and Dam Jin-Il were known to be promising young martial artists. Those two had inherited Dam Jeok-Shims personality and talents, and had already proved their abilities within the Valley of No Return. It was even said that one of the two would be chosen as the sessor to the Valley of No Return.
With this kind of background, it wasnt long before rumors began spreading that Dam Soo-Cheon had embarked on the Hundred Man Challenge in order to catch up to his brothers, who were far ahead of him in the struggle to be the sessor. Many believed that Dam Soo-Cheon was no more than a na?ve child making a reckless attempt at attracting attention out of jealousy for his brothers.
These peopleughed and made fun of Dam Soo-Cheon, saying that he would never seed. They all thought that he would be defeated in his very first duel, but Dam Soo-Cheon showed them just how wrong they were. He crushed Im Jung-Oh mercilessly, sending the gangho into an uproar.
Even then, people thought that Dam Soo-Cheon had only won by sheer luck. However, when he defeated two more renowned martial artists, the Seven String Sword Yoon Gi-Ju and the Invincible Woodcutter Jang Jung-San, they were forced to change their perspective on the issue.
Dam Soo-Cheon continued winning. As his consecutive victories piled up twenty, thirty, fifty times, even experts had begun cheering for the young warrior in a mixture of surprise and excitement.
Despite the continuous battles, Dam Soo-Cheon showed no sign of letting up on his challenges. He continued sending duel invitations to famous martial artists of the younger generation and felled them one after another.
The young martial artists who received his invitation quickly became torn over whether to ept the duel or not. On one hand, epting meant that they were recognized as powerhouses in the gangho. On the other hand, losing the duel meant that the reputations they had worked so hard to build up would disappear like popped bubbles.
Those young martial artists who had not yet been invited waited for their turn with mixed emotions. They knew that Dam Soo-Cheon would only stop when he had finished the Hundred Man Challenge.
That was because Dam Soo-Cheon himself had mentioned that only after he had finished challenging a hundred people, would he seclude himself to train and reflect on the experience.
Right now, Dam Soo-Cheon had already racked up ny-three consecutive victories. He only needed to win seven more times to set a new record in the gangho.
Dam Soo-Cheon had started his Hundred Man Challenge in the South and had steadily moved northwards as it progressed. All of the young martial artists in the northern region left in his path anxiously trained their martial arts as they awaited his arrival.
Its not that no one has ever seeded at the Hundred Man Challenge before, but that no eighteen-year-old has ever seeded at the Hundred Man Challenge before. Dam Soo-Cheons age is the real reason why the entire ganghos attention is focused on him.
Wait, you said he was only eighteen?
Thats right, Young Master.
Jin Mu-Wons eyes hardened.
Hes only a year older than me, but hes already a powerful martial artist.
If he continues growing stronger like this, he will definitely be one of the future pirs of the gangho.
Going by the route he was taking, it wasnt hard to deduce that Dam Soo-Cheons final opponent would be the Soul-Hunting Swordsman Baek Seong-Won, the sessor to Mount Heaven Sword Sect and one of the most formidable swordmasters in the world.
Baek Seong-Won was on apletely different level than the other opponents Dam Soo-Cheon had faced. He was the greatest genius in the history of Mount Heaven Sword Sect, who had attracted the sect leaders attention at the tender age of seventeen and begun training in the Sword of Soul-Hunting Light (һΩ). At the age of thirty-two, he mastered the technique.
He was so strong that not only was he undefeated among people his own age, few in the entire murim could match him. To call him just another murim-in[3] was to ridicule the Soul-Hunting Swordsman Baek Seong-Won.
Currently, Baek Seong-Won had secluded himself in training. He had already predicted that he would be thest boss in Dam Soo-Cheons Hundred Man Challenge. He did not think that he would lose to Dam Soo-Cheon, but if he did, it would be a huge hit to his reputation and standing within the gangho.
Hmm, the Sky Mountain Checkpoint is only about seven hundred li[4] away from here.
Jin Mu-Won got up from his chair and stood in front of the window. He looked toward the south.
Dam Soo-Cheon, Dam Soo-Cheon
A name that gives me a weird feeling.
As Hwang Cheol continued talking about world affairs, Jin Mu-Won stood with his back against the window, listening intently.
Footnotes:
[1] Dam Soo-Cheon (Tn): The name Soo-Cheon means Valiant Ambition.
[2] Gangho (): Korean pronunciation of jianghu, aka the world of murim. The gangho includes everybody involved with and influenced by the murim world such as the merchants, government officials, etc.
[3] Murim-in (): Literal trantion C murim person/people. Refers to martial artists in the murim.
[4] li (): A traditional Chinese unit of distance. The li has varied considerably over time but was usually about one-third of an English mile and now has a standardized length of a half-kilometer (500 meters or 1,640 feet). 700 li would thus be about 350 km or 220 miles.
Chapter 16: The Wind is Cold Even in Spring (2)
Chapter 16: The Wind is Cold Even in Spring (2)
Jin Mu-Won picked up his hammer.
CLANG! CLANG!
Every time he swung the hammer, sparks would fly everywhere, and the red-hot steel b would inch closer to its final form.
As he bathed in the intense heat, sweat dripped down from Jin Mu-Wons body like rain. The heat had been somewhat bearable in winter, but now that spring had begun, it had gotten both hot and humid in the smithy. Even so, Jin Mu-Won did notin and continued hammering away.
Right now, he was shaping the steel by hammering it in a process called forging. During forging, impurities are removed and the internal structure of the metal deforms to follow its general shape, resulting in a stronger, denser material.
To create a high-carbonyer on the surface of the steel, Jin Mu-Won used pine charcoal powder and straw-ash as carburizing agents. He rubbed the powder on the surface of the metal and heated it up in the furnace. After some time, he took the metal out to cool. While the metal was cooling, he made y from a powdered mixture of hematite, bleaching earth, straw-ash and water. Finally, he smeared the mixture on the cold metal to protect it from further carburization.
The metal was now ready for folding. Jin Mu-Won put the steel b back into the furnace, heated it and hammered it. When the impurities had been hammered out to a certain extent, he made a notch in the metal with an axe and folded it.
ording to the Records of a Thousand Weapons, steel must be folded twelve times during forging before it is shaped into a weapon. That was because folding steel twelve times produced a total of 4096yers of alternating hardness, which in turn resulted in maximum durability.
More impurities would also be removed during the folding process, causing the mass of the steel to decrease by a fifth. Therefore, only after folding, would the preparations before making a sword be consideredplete.
Now that the steel had been refined, it was time to shape the b into a sword. Using the furnace, Jin Mu-Won heated the metal evenly and then hammered it yet again.
CLANG! CLANG!
The more he hit the hot metal, the more the b resembled a sword. Even though the flying sparks burnt his face and skin, Jin Mu-Wons hammering movements were fluid and showed no hesitation.
As luck would have it, learning swordsmithing had turned out to be beneficial to mastering the Art of Ten Thousand Shadows as well.
PSHHH!
At some point during the forging, a white mist had emanated from and enveloped Jin Mu-Wons body. While he was hammering the sword, he had somehow unconsciously started using the Art of Ten Thousand Shadows to counter as well as to attune his body to the extreme heat from the furnace. His continuous use of the Art in this fashion had resulted in arge increase in his shadow chi reserves.
Besides dealing with the heat, Jin Mu-Won was also attempting to merge his shadow chi into his hammer in order to optimize each and every strike.
The ugly b of steel now looked like a perfect sword, but his work wasnt finished yet. The most important part of the forging process was left.
Jin Mu-Won put the sword back into the furnace. Controlling the temperature of the furnace was now of utmost importance. When the steel had reached the desired temperature, he took the sword out of the furnace and cooled it in air. He then repeated this heating and cooling process two more times.
This process was termed annealing, and it would help stabilize the multiyered structure of the steel by improving the crystallinity.
Phew! sighed Jin Mu-Won, looking at the sword that he had been working on for thest few days.
Only quenching and sharpening left to go.
He smeared the y that he had prepared beforehand on the sword, taking care to ensure that theyer of y on the edge was much thinner than on the rest of the sword. He then let the y dry for a day.
After that, he put the sword covered in dry y back into the furnace. In the time it took a candle to burn out, the de started glowing red. He immediately took the sword out and immersed it in water.(1)
SIZZLE!
The water boiled instantly releasing a burst of steam. Jin Mu-Won swiftly took the sword out.
The thinyer of y on the edge caused it to cool very quickly, bing extremely hard. On the other hand, the thickyer of y on the rest of the sword body caused it to cool down slowly, resulting in higher ductility. These two different material properties conferred by varying cooling rates would improve the swords ability to absorb impacts without breaking.
While waiting for the sword to cool down, Jin Mu-Won closed his eyes and activated the Art of Ten Thousand Shadows. He slowly willed the shadow chi out of his dantian and into his bloodstream, circting it throughout his body. When he had first begun swordsmithing, he only had a little shadow chi, but as time passed, it had grown stronger at an amazing rate.
The nature of shadow chi was Yin, so it would start by merging itself with other types of energy, then gradually take it overpletely like a parasite. From a certain point of view, it could be seen as contamination, but from another point of view, it was fusion. Right now, Jin Mu-Won was absorbing the heat energy in his surroundings and converting it into shadow chi.
This conversion was the reason Jin Mu-Wons chi had grown at an rming rate. Despite the fact that his chi had gotten much stronger, though, it was still impossible for anyone else to sense it regardless of how strong they were.
Afterpleting one whole cycle of the Art of Ten Thousand Shadows, Jin Mu-Won opened his eyes. A blinding light seemed to explode from his eyes, but the light eventually scattered and his eyes returned to how they normally looked.
Jin Mu-Won stood up and picked up the cooled sword. He still needed to sharpen the edge, but the sword was already basically a finished product.
He rubbed off the remaining y on the sword to reveal its shining silver de. At first nce, the silvery-white color of the de was bright, dazzling, and wless, with beauty that was out of this world. Jin Mu-Won observed his new work for a while, then flicked a finger at the de.
TNGG!
A metallic ringing sound echoed across the room like music, but it wasnt music to Jin Mu-Wons ears. He looked at the sword again, face turning cker with each second.
Hah he sighed. Using his index finger, he poked a certain part of the de.
CLINK! CLANG! CLONG!
The de shattered and exploded, metal shards flying all over the ce. Jin Mu-Won looked down at the remains of the sword and muttered, Another failure, huh?
The de appeared to be perfect, but to him, it was a failed product. That was because it contained a very tiny imperfection. This imperfection was so insignificant that most would ignore it, but not him.
Every time he finished smithing a new sword, he would look at the alignment of the de grain. A wless de would have a beautiful and perfectly aligned grain, but one that contained imperfections would have an unsightly-looking grain.
If an imperfect de was struck at a certain position with a certain amount of force, it would shatter into pieces. Jin Mu-Won had broken the sword using this principle, and he had named this newly created technique the Weapon-Shattering Finger (ָ).
Although he had created a new technique, he wasnt satisfied in the least. What he really desired was topletely understand swordsmanship, not learn some random tricks.
Jin Mu-Won picked up the broken metal shards on the ground and tossed them into the furnace. He then left the smithy and returned to his room for a bath. When he came out of the bath, it finally hit him that Eun Ha-Seol was nowhere in sight. Even the food that he had prepared beforehand was untouched, the cutlery still in the exact same position he had left them.
Theres no way she would cook for herself, so she must be starving right now.
Jin Mu-Won shook his head. He saw Eun Ha-Seol every day, so he knew her habits inside out. She had no interest or talent in cooking, and would thus never cook for herself.
The reason for that was her extreme pragmatism. She felt that, instead of wasting her time doing things she had no talent for, she would rather train, even if it meant that she would go hungry because he wasnt there to cook for her.
Sigh, youre not a child anymore
He opened the storeroom door, sighing. Because Hwang Cheol had visited not too long ago, the storeroom was full. Jin Mu-Won took some ingredients out of the storeroom and began preparing dinner.
Not longter, he finished making a feast of hotpot, side dishes, and rice. He then left his room to call Eun Ha-Seol.
He walked across the training za and easily spotted her sitting on the roof of the mansion, looking toward the South.
What are you doing up there? asked Jin Mu-Won. Eun Ha-Seol did not respond, so he climbed up to the roof.
What are you looking at? he asked again, but Eun Ha-Seol remained silent.
Oh, for fucks sake said Jin Mu-Won, following the direction of her gaze.
He suddenly mped his mouth shut. As a dusty breeze blew in from the south, he saw several horse-drawn wagons and carriages escorted by guards traveling toward the fortress.
Tsk!
A stern expression appeared on Jin Mu-Wons face.
Footnotes:
(1) Usually, oil is used for quenching as quenching with water causes the metal to warp due to ultra-rapid cooling. With oil, the change in temperature is not as drastic so it has less chance of warping and breaking. Jin Mu-Won was either too poor to use oil or was trying to make a Katana-like weapon, in which case the water quench will cause the de to curve. Water quenching works for katanas because the interior is rtively low carbon steel, which is soft and unlikely to crack. Even so, any mistakes in the forging process will lead to imperfections... (Random fun facts brought to you by the PF!)
TL NotE: I hopE yoURe STIll sanE. i KnoW iM nOt.
PF Note: Please pray for Trantor-Nim! May Trantor-Nim regain his sanity!
PF Note [2]: Guess that watching Forged in Fire finally came in handy! Time for Proofreader-Nim(me) to flex his knowledge! The lesson to be learned is that you should never take the cheaper route as it leads to a worse quality result! Stay in school kids!
Chapter 17: The Wind is Cold Even in Spring (3)
A four-wheeled carriage and two wagons made a beeline for the Northern Army Fortress. The carriage was surrounded by more than a dozen guards wearing ck cloaks to defend against the biting wind. Under their hoods, the guards sharp eyes exuded an aura of bloodthirstiness. Bringing up the rear were two horse-drawn wagons: one filled with luggage and the other carrying servants.
Inside the carriage, an eighteen-year-old youngdy sat next to a girl who looked a year or two younger than her. Across from them sat a young man who looked to be around twenty.
The youngdy had an elegant appearance like a water lily, with moist eyes that would steal any onlookers heart. In contrast, the girl next to her was cute and energetic, with a mischievous expression on her face like a wild horse.
The young man was also fairly good-looking, his only w being raised eyebrows that made him look arrogant.
The cute girl said, Orabeoni[1], is that the Northern Army Fortress over there?
The man looked outside the window at the girls question. There was argeplex in the distance with many towers and pavilions.
I think so.
The girl cheered, Wow! That means, Ill soon be liberated from this boring carriage, right?
The youngdy next to her smiled.
How is that a good thing? said the man, the cute girls elder brother.
Youre only like that because you have a thing for Seo-Moon-unnie[2]. As for me, Im sick and tired of being stuck inside this carriage.
Didnt I tell you to stay at home? I warned you that this was going to be a harsh journey.
Bah! Given the choice, would you be willing to miss out on this golden opportunity? If not, then dont give me that bullshit.
The young man shook his head helplessly at his younger sisters stubbornness. He had never won an argument against his sister before.
The young mans name was Shim Won-Ui (hx)[3]. He was the sessor of Judgment Heaven (а)[4], one of the backbone factions of Heavens Summit. He was also one of the ganghos most outstanding youths.
Shim Won-Uis younger sister, the cute girl, was named Shim Soo-Ah ()[5]. She was very well-liked by the elders of her sect, so much so that whenever she was upset, the whole of Judgment Heaven would be turned inside out. Not only her father, the Sky Lord[6] Shim Mu-Wae, but even the other elders would be desperate to find out what caused her to be upset.
To put it simply, although Shim Won-Ui was the sessor to Judgment Heaven, his younger sister Shim Soo-Ah was the real heart of the sect. Everything revolved around her. It was at a point where thick-skinned members of Judgment Heaven would report to Shim Soo-Ah first before going to her brother Shim Won-Ui.
The youngdy smiling at the siblings was named Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung (Tۑz)[7]. She was the granddaughter of the Ghost of Zhuge Liang Seo-Moon Hwa, as well as a strong woman who was well-versed in both the schrly and martial arts. It was also a well-known fact that her mesmerizing eyes and dignified aura had captured the hearts of countless young men.
The guards escorting the carriage were the elites of Judgment Heaven, known as the Wardens (o). Each and every one of them was a warrior in their prime, and they frequently boasted of their unbeatable strength.
The leader of the Wardens was Warden Captain Mok Eun-Pyeong, a swordsman strong enough to have earned the nickname Sword Rain of Blood (Ѫꄦ).
The wagons behind the carriage were for the servants and luggage. These servants belonged to Judgment Heaven and had joined the party out of concern for their masters, Shim Soo-Ah and Shim Won-Ui.
Not longter, the carriage came to a halt and Warden Captain Mok Eun-Pyeong opened the carriage door.
Young Master, we have arrived at our destination.
Good! said Shim Won-Ui, who nodded as he got off the carriage. Shim Soo-Ah and Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung followed suit.
Shim Won-Ui stood looking at the ruins of the Northern Army Fortress, frowning. He was upset that no one hade out to wee them.
Suddenly, a group of men rushed out from inside the fortress. It was Jang Pae-San and his men.
Huff, huff they panted, as they ran as quickly as they could.
Warden Captain Mok Eun-Pyeong stepped forward and coldly asked, Are you the one in charge of this ce?
In the face of Mok Eun-Pyeongs harsh tone that felt like it could draw blood, Jang Pae-San flinched and swallowed his saliva.
Yes, thats right. I am Jang Pae-San, Captain of the Third Mercenary Company of Heavens Summit.
Didnt Heavens Summit inform you about our imminent arrival?
I did receive a letter, but it didnt state exactly when you would arrive
Jang Pae-San hastily made up an excuse, but Mok Eun-Pyeong wasnt buying it. At the same time, Mok Eun-Pyeongs icy stare was starting to annoy the men of the Third Company. The tension between them rose.
Just then, Shim Won-Ui stepped forward and said, Thats enough, Captain Mok. How were these men supposed to know when we would arrive? Its not like they are saints.
My apologies.
Its fine, its fine. By the way, have our amodations been prepared?
Yes, they have! replied Jang Pae-San loudly, unconsciously standing at attention. Mok Eun-Pyeongs murderous re was frightening, but it was nothingpared to Shim Won-Uis creepy smile.
This young mans eyes arent smiling at all.
Shim Won-Uis lips were upturned, but Jang Pae-San felt that his unmoving, unreadable eyes reminded him of the venomous snakes he had seen in his childhood.
Wevee a long way, so we would like to rest now.
Follow me, I will show you to your rooms.
Jang Pae-San led the way, followed by the Wardens and Shim Won-Ui.
Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung and Shim Soo-Ah looked around the Northern Army Fortress curiously. They knew how incredible the Northern Army had been in its heyday.
If not for the Northern Army, the Silent Night would have won the war. The Northern Army was so powerful that even the factions led by the Four Northern Pirs, mere fragments of the Northern Army, were not forces that Heavens Summit could afford to underestimate.
However, that mighty Northern Army had be history, and they were currently looking at what little was left of it. The deste sight left a feeling of bitterness in their mouths.
Most of the towers and pavilions had copsed, and even the inner walls had fallen over. The entire ruin gave off an eerie aura.
Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung observed her surroundings with a regretful look on her face.
What a pity. This abandoned ruin is all thats left of the Northern Army. They once enjoyed worldwide renown, but now all they have left is a memory of their fame.
Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung sighed softly.
She was aware that her grandfather had been the one to plot the fall of the Northern Army. Most importantly, she knew that Heavens Summit and the rest of the murim had willingly chosen to do this because they felt that the world no longer needed the Northern Army.
This is the way of the world. The strong survive, while the weak perish. When the hunt is over, we no longer need the hunting dogs. The Northern Army was destroyed by this kind of logic, and I think it makes a lot of sense, said Shim Won-Ui.
You might be my brother, but the way you talk disgusts me.
Shim Won-Uis face turned ck at his younger sisters insult.
You! What did you just say?
Peh! You should be a little more respectful since were in the Northern Army Fortress.
Shim Soo-Ah looked around the fortress excitedly, not caring about Shim Won-Uis reaction to her words. She seemed genuinely thrilled to be here and was upset at her brothers pretentious attitude. Shim Won-Ui decided to stop arguing with her since he couldnt win anyway.
If she starts crying now, I will go crazy.
Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung smiled gently as she watched the squabbling siblings.
Jang Pae-San led Shim Won-Ui to the Lofty Sky Manor that he and his men had been working hard renovating all winter. Their efforts had resulted in the manor being restored reasonably well.
Jang Pae-San pointed at the Lofty Sky Manor and said, This is the nicest building in the fortress. We spent the past winter renovating it so that it can be used.
Hmph! Shim Won-Ui shook his head in disappointment, but it seemed that he had no choice but to ept. The other buildings in the Northern Army Fortress were in such a bad state that the Lofty Sky Manor looked like a pce to him.
He turned to Mok Eun-Pyeong, saying, The servants will stay on the first floor, and the Wardens can have the second floor. The third floor belongs to us.
Yes, Young Master.
Meanwhile, Shim Soo-Ah was staring intently at Jang Pae-San, who was clearly perturbed by her strange action.
W-Why are you staring at me like that?
Hey, is it true that thest sessor of the Northern Army lives here?
Yes, Young Miss.
Where is he? Why isnt heing to meet me? Isnt it proper manners for the owner of the house to greet his guests?
Er stuttered Jang Pae-San, a clueless expression on his face. He hadnt seen Jin Mu-Won ever since he was forcefully chased out of the mansionst winter. The young man had cooped himself up in the Tower of Shadows, and Jang Pae-San didnt have time to check on him because he needed to renovate the Lofty Sky Manor.
Most importantly, unlike them, Jin Mu-Won was not obliged to meet with the three. The young man was the Lord of the Northern Army, not a member of Heavens Summit.
Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung, who had been standing beside Shim Soo-Ah, cut in, We are the guests here. We should put down our luggage and go to greet him instead.
Is that so?
Yes. Shall we head over to our rooms?
Okay, I will do as Unnie says.
Thank you, sister.
Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung took Shim Soo-Ah indoors, apanied by the servants carrying their luggage.
Behind them, Shim Won-Ui turned his head back to face Jang Pae-San. He asked, Whats his name?
Who are you talking about?
The sessor of the Northern Army.
Ah, right. His name is Jin Mu-Won.
Jin Mu-Won huh? Well, Ill see youter.
Shim Won-Ui entered the Lofty Sky Manor, smiling thoughtfully.
The guards followed Shim Won-Ui and went inside with Mok Eun-Pyeong in the lead, but as they walked past the mercenaries, they did not forget to size them up one at a time.
The mercenaries of the Third Company shuddered under the Wardens gazes. Deep down, they knew that they were nothingpared to the Wardens.
However, Seo Mu-Sang remembered the faces of all the Wardens clearly as if he had seen them the day before. All of the Wardens smiled, having recognized Seo Mu-Sang as well. In particr, one of them grinned pretentiously as he looked at Seo Mu-Sang.
Yeop Wol? Is that you? eximed Seo Mu-Sang.
Footnotes:
[1] Orabeoni: The formal/historical version of Oppa, used by a younger female calling an elder male in the same generation.
[2] Unnie: Korean honorific for a younger female calling an older female in the same generation.
[3] Shim Won-Ui (hx): Won-Ui means far-reaching justice. Manhwa TL- Shim Woo-Lee.
[4] Judgment Heaven (а): Literal trantion C Heaven Where Evil Dies/Heaven that ys Evil. Manhwa TL: Deceitful Heavens.
[5] Shim Soo-Ah (): Soo-Ah means pretty and elegant.
[6] Sky Lord: The literal trantion of Sky Lord is Heaven Leader, because he is the leader of Judgment Heaven, but Heaven Leader sounds bad no matter how you look at it.
[7] Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung (Tۑz): Her family name is Seo-Moon, one of the rare two-character family names. Her first name Hye-Ryung means intelligent and sympathetic.
Chapter 18: The Wind is Cold Even in Spring (4)
Seo Mu-Sang closed his eyes and stood unmoving. He was currently in the backyard where he had been training for thest two years. Ever since he had started training there, the ce had been trampled and smashed up to the point where not even weeds would grow there anymore.
I did not expect to meet you here of all ces, Yeop Wol, sighed Seo Mu-Sang with pursed lips.
I had hoped that I wouldnt have to see your face again for the rest of my life. Even in my dreams, I never thought that I would meet you here and now.
Suddenly, Seo Mu-Sang drew his sword and broke into a sword dance.
It was the sword dance of the Blue Cloud Sword Style.
The swordsmanship of the Blue Cloud Sword Style was one that embodied the spirit of freedom. Ones de would drift like the clouds and flow with the wind. However, Seo Mu-Sangs Blue Cloud Sword Style was different. His sword tore into his surroundings like a raging tempest.
It was a sword style that had deviated significantly from the original, and was a result of the stress hed built up over thest two years.
Seo Mu-Sang had desperately tried to improve the Blue Cloud Sword Style, but had turned it into something unrecognizable instead. His sweat dripped down his face to his chin as he savagely swung his de, but that was not enough to make him stop his sword dance.
Huff! Huff! he panted, copsing onto the ground from exhaustion.
It seems like this is the limit for someone like me.
He was acutely aware that he was neither smart nor talented. Even so, he felt that he would be able to ovee his limits as long as he bet his life on it. Though the harsh reality said otherwise.
He had remained stuck at his current level of strength despite training insanely hard over thest two years. He hadnt truly surpassed the limits of the Blue Cloud Sword Style, only added a different element to it.
I suppose theres a reason behind the enormous strength of the disciples of prestigious martial arts schools. Their martial arts have been refined continuously for hundreds of years, so how could an ordinary man like me even hope topete with the likes of them?
They even set ridiculously high walls to protect their secret hereditary martial arts from being leaked, further cementing their elevated status over other people.
Seo Mu-Sang had made many attempts to obtain better martial arts techniques, but all his efforts had ended in failure. No sect would teach anything to someone who wasnt one of their own disciples.
In the end, it was because there was a limit to the type of martial arts that a nobody like him could obtain. The Blue Cloud Sword Style was already the best technique he could ever wish for. Once again, he felt the crushing weight of his own limits.
Yeop Wol.
That was the name of a person who he had once felt was no different from him. Right now, though, he couldnt even lift his head to meet the mans eyes.
Ovee by shame and discontent, Seo Mu-Sang closed his eyes.
Eun Ha-Seol sat on a chair, shaking her legs as she watched Jin Mu-Won prepare dinner. Shim Won-Ui and the other outsiders had arrived the day before, but Jin Mu-Won hadnt said anything about it. He simply went about his day as if it had nothing to do with him.
He had taken a walk in the morning, only stopping to read in the Grand Library. After that, he had gone to the smithy to practice swordsmithing for a while, then spent the rest of his day in the basement.
Eun Ha-Seol had never been to the basement, and had no idea what he was doing in there. Still, she had a hunch that he was practicing martial arts in secret.
The odd thing is, theres no sign of him possessing any chi.
She couldnt be sure if it was because he didnt have any chi at all, or if he had somehow hidden his chi from her senses.
She had searched the whole of the Grand Library, so she knew exactly how inadequate it was. There were so few books, and the books of such poor quality, that continuing to call it the Grand Library made her feel awkward. Although one could always improve upon their foundations of martial arts, without the proper resources, it was impossible to reach Transcendence. Therefore, Eun Ha-Seol felt that even if Jin Mu-Won had learned some martial arts, he wouldnt be very strong.
Under these cruel circumstances, several outsiders had intruded upon the Northern Army Fortress. She couldnt even begin to imagine what it must be like for Jin Mu-Won, having to watch as his home was trampled over by these people gleefully unpacking their luggage and treating the ce like a hotel.
It seemed that forcefully disbanding the Northern Army and making his fathermit suicide wasnt enough for them. They had to go and add insult to injury. Even so, Jin Mu-Won acted like all this was normal to him, never revealing his true feelings.
Its probably because revealing his true feelings would ce him in danger.
Eun Ha-Seol shifted her senses away from Jin Mu-Won and to her own body.
It seems that Ive recovered about six-tenths of my chi.
After she had expelled the poison with the aid of Sa-Ryung, her chi had recovered extremely quickly. At this rate, she would be fully healed before the start of summer. Before that though, she nned to keep staying in the Northern Army Fortress. That was because there was no better hiding ce for her than right here.
Just then, Jin Mu-Won said, Foods ready.
He set the rice and dishes down in front of Eun Ha-Seol.
She ced a hand under her chin and scrutinized the dishes, saying, Were having beef hotpot today too?
Seeing Eun Ha-Seols dissatisfaction, Jin Mu-Won smiled.
Uncle Hwang gave it to me not long ago, but I have to finish it before it goes bad.
At least the mutton tasted good even though I got tired of eating it.
That was a luxury food that you wouldnt normally get to enjoy
I know that already.
Eun Ha-Seol ended the conversation and eagerly started moving her spoon. Jin Mu-Won sat down and picked up his chopsticks.
Jin Mu-Won raised his head to look at Eun Ha-Seol, the weird girl who had suddenly barged into his life one day and disturbed his peace. He had gotten used to preparing an extra spoon every evening at dinnertime, and could no longer imagine going back to evenings without her.
He asked, Hows the food?
Its edible.
I shouldnt have bothered asking. It must be good if youre eating it.
Thats why I said its edible.
Sheesh! eximed Jin Mu-Won, exasperated.
Contrary to herments, though, Eun Ha-Seol seemed to be enjoying her meal. When he saw that, the corners of Jin Mu-Wons lips turned upwards again.
By the way, do you find todays hotpot a little too salty?
I havent had beef in a long time, but shouldnt beef hotpot be kind of salty?
Really?
Jin Mu-Won shook his head but handed Eun Ha-Seol a cup of water anyway. He felt that it was about time she would ask for a drink.
Have some water.
Mmhm.
Suddenly, they heard the voice of a stranger outside the door saying, May I enter?
Jin Mu-Won and Eun Ha-Seol put down their spoons and exchanged gazes.
Come in, replied Jin Mu-Won.
Immediately after he had finished talking, a muscr man with a pointed goatee, sharp eyes like des, and a ck uniform entered the room. It was the Warden Captain, Mok Eun-Pyeong.
Mok Eun-Pyeong nced at Eun Ha-Seol for a moment, then turned to Jin Mu-Won.
Are you the rumored sessor of the Northern Army, Jin Mu-Won?
Jin Mu-Won shook his head silently.
Are you trying to say that youre not him?
I am not the sessor. Even though there isnt a single soldier left, I am still the Lord of the Northern Army.
Jin Mu-Wons response made Mok Eun-Pyeongs eyebrows twitch. However, he quicklyposed himself and said, I am Warden Captain Mok Eun-Pyeong of Judgment Heaven. Ie bringing a message from the Young Master.
A message?
The Young Master said, Its a littlete, but I owe you a greeting. You are thereby invited to dinner with me tomorrow at the Lofty Sky Manor.
Jin Mu-Won scowled, infuriated. The Northern Army might have fallen, but nheless, he was its Lord. The fact that a guest was inviting him, the owner, to a banquet in his own house was ridiculous.
You must be joking, right?
The Young Master never tells jokes.
A guest inviting the owner? Interesting. Fine, Ill ept his invitation.
The banquet will be held tomorrow evening at the Lofty Sky Manor. If youre worried about being alone, you can bring her along.
Mok Eun-Pyeong looked at Eun Ha-Seol, who was sitting across the table from Jin Mu-Won, with razor-sharp eyes that seemed as if he could see right through her. In response, she stared back at him unflinchingly.
Ill be going there alone tomorrow
Im going too, interrupted Eun Ha-Seol all of a sudden.
Having aplished his mission, Mok Eun-Pyeong said nothing more and arrogantly strode out of the room.
Jin Mu-Won turned back to face Eun Ha-Seol, an impressed look on his face.
I hope you do know that nothing good is going to happen.
If its an invitation to a banquet, there must be good food, right?
Haah sighed Jin Mu-Won.
The breeze from the window felt a little chilly as if time had be frozen between winter and spring.
Chapter 19: Good People Don’t Come Here, and Those Who Come Here Aren’t Good (1)
Jin Mu-Won''s jaw dropped as he gaped at the newly renovated, brand new interior of the Lofty Sky Manor. After the fall of the Northern Army, this ce had beenpletely abandoned. Most of the building had copsed, sealing off ess to the interior.
He hadnt observed them in person, but he could tell that Jang Pae-San and hisckeys had worked extremely hard on the renovation.
As Jin Mu-Won and Eun Ha-Seol entered the manor, they were greeted by a man who appeared to be a servant.
Am I correct in assuming that you are Lord Jin?
Yes.
The banquet is on the third floor. Please follow me.
The servant led them up the stairs.
These guys actually brought their servants along with them on such a long, arduous journey?
Besides the guard, Jin Mu-Won saw more than a dozen people dressed like servants busy cleaning and decorating the manor.
Its as if they seriously think that the Lofty Sky Manor belongs to them. Its obvious that these people dont n to stay here for just a day or two.
Those people wouldnt have brought so many servants along with them if they were only nning to stay at the Northern Army Fortress for a few days. He did not know their reasons for doing this, but the one thing he could be absolutely sure of was that these people were going to stay for quite some time.
Young Master, I have brought the guests.
Let them in.
Only after the servant had obtained his masters permission did he open the door, saying, Please enter. The Young Master and hispanions are waiting for you.
Jin Mu-Won nodded and entered the room.
The room where the banquet was being held had been decorated in an ostentatious manner. A massive tiger fur carpet wasid out on the floor, and all sorts of weapons had been hung up on the walls. Colorful ceramics that were nonexistent in the rest of the Northern Army Fortress were disyed everywhere in this room, adding to its grandeur.
All these things were probably brought here by Judgement Heaven.
A young man and two young women were sitting around the table in the center of the room. It was Shim Won-Ui, his younger sister Shim Soo-Ah, and Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung. All sorts of seafood dishes wereid out on the table, many of which Jin Mu-Won had never seen the likes of before.
As the two of them entered the room, Shim Won-Ui stood up.
Come sit down. My name is Shim Won-Ui, he greeted Jin Mu-Won, looking at him sullenly.
Next to him, Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung frowned but did not say anything.
Jin Mu-Won moved to the head of the table and said, I am Jin Mu-Won.
And the youngdy beside you is?
A distant rtive that Ive been taking care of.
Even while Jin Mu-Won was introducing her, Eun Ha-Seol did not express any interest in anything other than the food on the table. Shim Won-Ui furrowed his brows. He hadnt expected Jin Mu-Won to bring anyone. Even so, he controlled his temper and tried to sound patient, saying, This is my younger sister Shim Soo-Ah, and this is Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung.
You people are from Judgment Heaven and the Seo-Moon n, right?
You know who we are?
Shim Won-Ui appeared shocked.
Ive heard your names before. Arent you guys famous?
Hmm
Shim Won-Ui looked at Jin Mu-Won thoughtfully, but Jin Mu-Won ignored him and sat down nonchntly.
I havent attended such a formal banquet in a very long time.
You must be hungry. Ive prepared a lot of food, so, please do savor it.
Isnt it difficult to prepare so much food?
Not at all. Wherever I go, the servants will prepare food for me that suits my personal preferences.
I envy you. I have to cook for myself every day.
If you wish, I can give you one or two servants.
Thank you for your offer, but as you know, I cant afford to hire anyone. Life is hard for the only survivor of a ruined family, after all.
Jin Mu-Won shrugged.
Seo-Moon Hye-Ryungs eyes lit up. Jin Mu-Wons behavior was quite different from what she expected.
She had thought that Jin Mu-Won would be shocked or upset by their presence. Ultimately, the truth was that they were intruders who were forcefully staying in a fortress that belonged to Jin Mu-Won.
Most importantly, they were members of Heavens Summit, the ones that had forced Jin Mu-Wons father tomit suicide and the ones who caused the dissolution of the Northern Army.
Seo-Moon Hye-Ryungs grandfather had even been the central figure behind that incident. Although there was no way Jin Mu-Won wouldnt know about this fact, he did not openly express any anger or hostility and appeared quite apathetic.
Shim Soo-Ah looked at Jin Mu-Won and Eun Ha-Seol curiously, then abruptly asked, Jin-orabeoni, have you been living alone for the past three years? Do you ever feel lonely? Where did you get your food from?
Shim Won-Ui, who had sat down next to Jin Mu-Won, was so shocked by his sisters slew of rude questions that he failed to stop her in time. However, Jin Mu-Won answered her patiently, Um, I somehow managed to survive living alone, and an acquaintance sends me food regrly.
Is Orabeoni going to continue living here? If I had to stay here all alone, I dont think I would evenst a month.
No matter what, this is my home. There is nowhere else for me to go, replied Jin Mu-Won, shrugging.
This time, it was Seo-Moon Hye-Ryungs turn to ask questions. She said, Mister Jin, have you never thought about going to the Central ins?
Is there anyone in the Central ins who would wee my presence there?
The Four Pirs
Ill probably be better off staying far away from those people.
Is that so? Mister Jin seems like a very lonely person to me.
Seo-Moon Hye-Ryungs jet-ck eyes shimmered with sadness and sympathy. She looked so alluring at that moment that even Jin Mu-Won couldnt help but sink into deep thought, wondering how much of that was real.
Shim Won-Ui observed Jin Mu-Won, who had slumped down in his chair as if captivated by Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung.
Hes still a child. Even so, his youth is no reason to underestimate a tiger cub like him.
Just then, Eun Ha-Seolined, Can we start eating now?
As if her voice was an rm bell, Jin Mu-Won suddenly woke up from his stupor. He raised his head and saw a pouting Eun Ha-Seol staring at the food.
Shim Won-Ui burst intoughter.
Haha! My mistake, I nearly forgot that we had another guest. We can keep talking even while eating anyway.
The banquetmenced. Both Jin Mu-Won and Eun Ha-Seol vigorously moved their chopsticks as they snatched up the food. Whenever one dish was almost empty, several servants would appear carrying refills as if they had already prepared more beforehand.
Wow! This dongpo pork[1] sauce is perfect. The meat is cooked very well too. This chefs skills are amazing!
The one who made this is my personal chef. When ites to braised meat, he is one of the best in the Central ins.
Hes probably the best one of them all! Jin Mu-Won gave Shim Won-Ui the thumbs-up.
How about another drink?
Sure
Jin Mu-Won drank all the wine that Shim Won-Ui offered him. As a result, he was so drunk, his face had turned red and his eyes were bloodshot.
Some timeter, when they were done eating, Shim Won-Ui wiped his lips clean with a handkerchief, then said, How did you find todays meal?
Thanks to you, I got to enjoy a luxurious meal. If possible, Id like to be invited over to dinner more often.
That wont be a problem.
Then I suppose Ill have to thank you in advance.
Its only fair since I have a request for you as well. You are the owner, and I am simply a guest, so I would like to seek your approval to let us stay here for some time.
It seems that you n on staying for quite a while.
I am waiting for my friend here.
A friend?
Yes, a friend.
Shim Won-Ui smiled for the first time. Jin Mu-Won felt that his smile was like that of a beast looking at its prey.
Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung asked, Have you heard of the name Dam Soo-Cheon before?
You mean, the guy who took on the Hundred Man Challenge?
Yes, him.
Why did you suddenly bring him up?
A hint of suspicion appeared on Jin Mu-Wons face. He couldnt understand why she had suddenly mentioned Dam Soo-Cheon. Suddenly, a thought sprang into his mind.
Could it be, the person youre waiting for is Dam Soo-Cheon? Why would hee here?
The location for the final duel of his Hundred Man Challenge is not far from here. He probably wishes to see the traces of the former Northern Armys glory for himself. Regardless of what anyone says, it is an indisputable fact that the history of the Northern Armys hundred-year war with the Silent Night is buried within these walls.
I see. Jin Mu-Won nodded.
Then, until he arrives, we will be imposing on you.
Dont worry, there are lots of empty rooms here anyway.
Thank you.
Shim Won-Uis smile widened at Jin Mu-Wons friendly tone.
I think Ill be heading off to bed now. Ive had too much to drink, and Im worried that Ill do something stupid if I get drunk.
Alright. Until next time, then.
Jin Mu-Won stood up shakily and drunkenly patted Shim Won-Ui on the back. He grabbed Eun Ha-Seol, who still wanted to eat more food, and dragged her out of the banquet room.
Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung watched him as he left.
Shim Won-Ui asked, Well, what do you think?
He seems to be a very levelheaded person.
Is that all?
No.
Hmph!
Shim Won-Ui crossed his arms in annoyance.
Suddenly, Shim Soo-Ah, who had been quiet for some time, spoke up.
I like him.
What do you mean?
Hes really handsome.
Shim Won-Uis jaw dropped as if he couldnt believe what he had just heard, but Shim Soo-Ah ignored him and ced a hand on her chin as she looked longingly at the door Jin Mu-Won had just walked out from.
Hes good-looking, and he has a very unique aura. I think I might have fallen in love with him.
Dont be ridiculous.
What? Do you think this is a joke?
Shim Soo-Ah looked at her brother, grinning. Shim Won-Ui chose not to meet his sisters eyes and called for Mok Eun-Pyeong instead.
Captain Mok.
Yessir!
Send some men to keep an eye on him.
Understood.
Get me information on the girl next to him as well.
It will be done. Also
When Mok Eun-Pyeong had left, Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung said, Was that really necessary?
Youll know once you see the end result.
Shim Won-Ui poured himself a cup of wine. In his eyes, a cold light that would send shivers down anyone''s spine glinted.
Footnotes:
[1] Dongpo pork: Dongpo pork aka braised pork belly is pork belly braised in a mixture of soy sauce, sugar, and some other spices. When cooked well, the seasoned meat melts in your mouth, bursting into vor.
Chapter 20: Good People Don’t Come Here, and Those Who Come Here Aren’t Good (2)
Chapter 20: Good People Dont Come Here, and Those Who Come Here Arent Good (2)
Are you really okay?
Yes.
Really really?
Is there a reason I shouldnt be okay? Jin Mu-Won said, grinning.
Eun Ha-Seol stared at Jin Mu-Wons face for a long time with a concerned expression.
Why are you looking at me like that?
I want to see if youre actually okay.
Well, what do you think?
Hmm, you seem fine, replied a confused-sounding Eun Ha-Seol, her puffed-up cheeks distorting the shape of her face.
Im leaving, she said, vaulting over the buildings. She had stopped hiding the fact that she was a martial arts practitioner from Jin Mu-Won some time ago.
Jin Mu-Won shook his head as he watched her disappear into the darkness. She was like a wandering stray cat that liked to leap around randomly.
He went into a shaded alley, then suddenly began to vomit.
argh!
Jin Mu-Won kept puking until he had thrown up all the food that Shim Won-Ui had given him and his vomit turned yellow from the gastric juice. He then raised his head, muttering, Ahh, that feels so much better.
He stood up straight and wiped his mouth with his sleeve.
Jin Mu-Won felt warm even though the weather was rather cold. He walked over to the nearby well, confirmed that no one was around, then proceeded to take off his shirt. Immediately, the freezing wind bit into his skin. He bent over and drew a bucket of water from the well, then poured the water over his head and body.
SPLOSH!
As thest of his drunkenness was washed away, Jin Mu-Wons mind cleared up.
Things will probably get really tiresome from here on.
The way Shim Won-Ui looked at him made him feel extremely ufortable. For the whole duration of the banquet, that man hadnt taken his eyes off him, not even for an instant. Those eyes that seemed like they were boring right through him had made him acutely conscious of every movement, even while eating.
He suspects that I know martial arts. It would be one thing if it was just the foundations, but if Shim Won-Ui finds out about the Art of Ten Thousand Shadows, he would definitely utilize all means at his disposal to get rid of me.
Jin Mu-Won dumped another bucket of cold water on himself.
Be patient, Jin Mu-Won. You must always remember to be patient and tolerant.
He looked up at the sky and repeated the words be patient over and over again.
Dark clouds filled the sky, concealing the light of the stars like a veil.
They mentioned that Dam Soo-Cheon would being here, right?
Dam Soo-Cheon is undoubtedly the star of the current generation, having embarked on the Hundred Man Challenge. Shim Won-Ui and Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung came all the way to this ce just to meet with him.
Now, the real problem is, will Dam Soo-Cheon take any interest in me?
...I hope not.
Shim Won-Ui stood on a hill, looking toward the north. As his eyes scanned over the endless expanse of deste ins, a smile spread across his face.
This is great.
He could feel the powerful life force pulsating behind the illusion of bleak ins and barren hills. This was a ce where the weak were meat and the strong eat, where the most desperate people survived by ruling over the weak and forcefully taking away what was theirs. These people who had the will to do whatever it took to survive highly intrigued him.
Shim Won-Ui relished in the strength and savagery of the North. He wasnt sure if this was because he highly approved of the phrase survival of the fittest, or if it was because he had been born and raised within the hierarchical confines of the Central ins and craved freedom.
Just then, Warden Captain Mok Eun-Pyung quietly approached him.
Young Master, Ive finally found you. Everyone is worried about you.
No need to make such a big fuss. I only came outside to get some fresh air.
Still, you must be careful. As the future leader of Judgment Heaven, Young Master must always be aware of your own status.
Hah! Who would dare harm me? sneered Shim Won-Ui.
Mok Eun-Pyung lowered his head. He dared not argue with Shim Won-Ui. Shim Won-Ui turned back to face the northern ins.
Captain Mok, can you see it?
See what?
Do you know why Ive always wanted toe here? It''s because I want to see the traces left behind by a hundred years of war for myself. From there, I can capture a glimpse of the brutal battles of the past, and immerse myself in that part of history.
Sohave you seen what you came for?
Ive felt it. The immense ferocity and intensity of that period. Inparison, the Central ins is too peaceful and quiet.
Young Master.
The truth is, the peaceful state of the gangho right now is but an illusion created by those ancient monsters in Heavens Summit.
Shim Won-Uis mouth twitched in distaste.
Following the fall of the Northern Army, a new era of peace had begun in the Central ins. That was because no sect or n dared to raise any conflicts under the absolute reign of Heavens Summit.
Heavens Summit simply would not condone any kind of chaos in the new world order it had established. All disputes and feuds would have to be mediated by them, and those who vited this rule would be punished severely.
They were especially intolerant of ouws and bandits, as these hoodlums were the root cause of most small-scale scuffles within the gangho.
Of course, the criminals tried to resist. However, they couldnt trust each other and their teamwork fell apart easily, like sand scattered across the ground. Naturally, they werent a match for Heavens Summit.
To those who opposed them, Heavens Summit was merciless. They captured and punished any dissidents to a point where it could even be called cruelty. The few who survived the purge either retired from the gangho or ended up serving under other factions.
In the end, only the prominent sects, distinguished ns, and factions led by powerhouses such as the Four Pirs were allowed to voice their opinions to Heavens Summit.
These powerful factions relied on brute force to interfere in the economy, obtaining huge amounts of capital. They then used the money as funding to make evenrger profits.
In a world dominated by martial strength and money, murim-in valued personal gain over freedom. From a certain perspective, the world had be an even more depressing ce to live inpared to when the war with the Silent Night was still ongoing.
Everything was as Heavens Summit willed it to be.
To put it precisely, the current state of the world was dictated by the Nine Skies, the rulers of Heavens Summit.
The Nine Skies abhor changes and challenges to the doctrine that theyve put in ce. Perhaps, theyre even thinking of pursuing immortality to revel in their wealth and glory forever.
Theyve created a perfect system which cannot be overturned by any one person; a system where a few privileged people rule over the rest with an iron fist.
That is the current reality within the Central ins.
Shim Won-Ui knew that he himself was one of the privileged who enjoyed a luxurious life under the umbre that was Judgment Heaven. Since when he was young, he had been fed various strengthening pills and received bodily purification and enhancement. These had allowed him to be an expert martial artist at a very young age.
Also, barring any unforeseen incidents, he would undoubtedly seed the leadership of Judgment Heaven. However, this wasnt likely to happen for many years, as his father, Shim Mu-Wae, was still in his prime and would only get stronger as time passed.
It might seem odd to you, but my father is the same kind of person as them. He would never give up power and pass his position down to another for as long as he lives, even if that person is his own son.
Huhuhu! If I dont do anything about it, itll probably be several dozen years before I can take over the leadership of Judgment Heaven. Im not going to quietly wait until that timees, though. I choose to challenge his authority, and it will make me strong. Right here, right now, I am creating the foundations that will bring my n to fruition.
Shim Won-Uis eyes glittered with a cold, malevolent light.
He was young, hot-blooded, and believed in his own strength. Most importantly, he burned with ambition and wasnt about to resign himself to being merely the sessor for a few dozen years.
Will you join me and help me achieve my goals, Captain Mok?
I am Young Masters sword. The lord was the one who created me, but my loyalty is to you, Young Master.
Is that so?
Shim Won-Ui made direct eye contact with Mok Eun-Pyung. Although the captains own gaze was as sharp as a knife, Shim Won-Uis stare made his eyes feel like they were being split open. Even so, he did not look away.
Pleased by Mok Eun-Pyungs reaction, Shim Won-Ui smiled.
Use me as you wish, Young Master.
Then, shouldnt you start by changing the way you address me?
Milord!
Hahaha!
Shim Won-Ui grinned in satisfaction. He already knew that Mok Eun-Pyung was loyal to him, but he still wanted to make use of this opportunity to confirm it.
Suddenly, a ck-clothed person appeared at the hilltop with a swoosh sound. It was one of the Wardens, a man named Yeop-Wol.
He called out to Mok Eun-Pyung, saying, Captain!
Whats going on?
One of the mercenaries wishes to speak with Young Master.
Yeop-Wol pointed at a man standing in the distance. It was Jang Pae-San.
Mok Eun-Pyung looked at Jang Pae-San with disdain.
Milord?
Jang Pae-San was merely an affiliate mercenary, a position that was considered below even a low-rank member of Heavens Summit. His martial arts were so weak that he had been kicked out of the lower ranks during one struggle for promotion. For trash like that to request a conversation with Shim Won-Ui was unthinkable unless the man thought too highly of himself.
However, Shim Won-Ui could think of uses for a man like that.
Bring him to me.
Milord?
Mok Eun-Pyung looked at Shim Won-Ui, confused.
Huhu! He might be trash, but that doesnt necessarily mean he has no value. There are some dirty jobs that only people at the very bottom can do. Bring him here.
Yes, Milord.
Mok Eun-Pyung nodded to Yeop-Wol, who immediately went to fetch Jang Pae-San.
I heard that you wish to meet me?
Yes, Young Master.
Jang Pae-San knelt down in front of Shim Won-Ui, who responded by giving him a sinister smile.
So, what did you want to talk about?
This insignificant one has always admired Young Master Shim. If Young Master would give me a chance to serve you, I would be willing to do anything for you.
Hmph!
I beg of you, please give me just one chance.
Jang Pae-San mmed his forehead into the ground repeatedly until blood came spurting out.
You said that you admired me?
Yes, Young Master! Ive always thought that only Young Master is worthy of leading the future murim. I might not be of much use, but if Young Master is willing to take me in, I swear that I will serve you wholeheartedly.
How do you intend to serve me?
I am ready to do anything that needs doing. When I return to Heavens Summit, I can be your eyes and ears there.
You wish to be my eyes and ears in Heavens Summit? Do you know just how many eyes and ears I have? Do you honestly think you canpare to any of them?
Of course, Im sure that Young Master has many servants. However, none of them are bottom feeders like me. I am familiar with the ins and outs of the lowest ranks and how to make use of those people.
Jang Pae-San was betting his life on this plea. He understood all too well that if he continued living life the way he was right now, he would never amount to anything and would simply waste away. The fear that he would never be summoned back to the Central ins and would have to rot away in this deste ce for many more years gave him the courage to risk his life just this once.
If he could be one of Shim Won-Uis trusted underlings and make his way up the ranks of Heavens Summit, that would be killing two birds with one stone. Thus, Jang Pae-San prostrated himself on the ground in front of Shim Won-Ui, who in turn seemed rather satisfied with Jang Pae-Sans attitude.
Mok Eun-Pyung looked at the man groveling on the ground with contempt, then whispered in Shim Won-Uis ear, saying, This man isnt worthy of you, Milord.
He was a proud man by nature. One nce at Jang Pae-Sans sly eyes had told him everything that he needed to know about the mercenary. He ced a hand on his sword hilt, ready to behead Jang Pae-San the instant Shin Won-Ui gave the order.
Jang Pae-San realized that this was the crucial moment that would decide his ultimate fate. He shivered but did not raise his head.
To think that I would ce my life in the hands of another.
He was hit by a wave of regret, but there was no turning back now. Even though he didnt know whether he would survive or not, he had no choice but to keep moving forward.
Hmm, what shall I do with you? said Shim Won-Ui, grinning naughtily. He was enjoying tormenting Jang Pae-San with his words, but Jang Pae-San forced himself to endure the humiliation and waited for Shim Won-Uis final decision, his mouth dry with anxiety.
Shim Won-Ui waited for some time. Then, like a judge mming down his gavel, he said, Raise your head.
Yessir!
Jang Pae-San raised his head only to lock gazes with Shim Won-Ui, who was standing above him and looking down. Looking at the arrogant eyes that were colder than a snakes and sharper than a knife, Jang Pae-San couldnt help but swallow his nonexistent saliva.
Okay, I will take you with me. When I return to the Central ins, you will being with me.
T-Thank you, Young Master. No, I mean, Milord.
You better not think about betraying me, ever. I also hate it when one of my servants disagrees with me.
I am absolutely loyal to you. I would even be willing to jump into the fires of hell at yourmand.
Now, get out of my sight.
Shim Won-Ui waved his arm dismissively. Jang Pae-San retreated backwards on his knees until he had gotten far enough away.
When Yeop-Wol and Jang Pae-San had disappeared out of sight, Mok Eun-Pyung cautiously asked, Do you really need him that much?
Hmph! Recently Ive been wondering whether I need a loach(1) like that. A pond that is too clean and clear is boring, isnt it? Sometimes, you just want to savor the pleasure of muddying the water, said Shim Won-Ui,ughing.
.1. Loach: A type of mud-colored pond fish. It makes for a very tasty soup.
Chapter 21: Good People Don’t Come Here, and Those Who Come Here Aren’t Good (3)
Chapter 21: Good People Dont Come Here, and Those Who Come Here Arent Good (3)
Captain.
Seo Mu-Sang and Won Jeok-Shim greeted Yeop Wol and Jang Pae-San as they returned to the Northern Army Fortress.
When Seo Mu-Sang saw that the person apanying Jang Pae-San was Yeop Wol, resentment shed through his dead, emotionless eyes for a moment. However, Jang Pae-San failed to notice this anomaly and gleefully said, Vice-Captain, I have a lot of things to tell you guys today, so bring everyone to my room tonight.
Jang Pae-San patted Seo Mu-Sang on the shoulder a few times, then headed inside the fortress, followed closely by Won Jeok-Shim.
Seo Mu-Sang was just about to leave as well when Yeop Wall suddenly said, Hey, just how long are you going to keep ignoring me? Are we supposed to pretend that we dont know each other?
Seo Mu-Sang shuddered like he had been struck by lightning. He haltingly raised his head to look at Yeop Wol.
Mu-Sang, dont say that you cant see me even though Im standing right in front of you.
Yeop Wol.
Haha, finally! My old friend, how are you?
Friend? You still consider me a friend?
Seo Mu-Sang did his best to maintain his poker face, but couldnt stop himself from scowling in the end. Contrary to Seo Mu-Sangs ugly expression, Yeop Wol wore a fake smile on his lips.
Havent we been friends for ten years? To me, youre still a friend.
Is snatching away a friends beloved something that friends do?
You already know that it was an arranged marriage between our families. I didnt have a choice.
You didnt have a choice? Who are you kidding? Do you honestly think I dont know that you used your familys connections in order to arrange that marriage?
Seo Mu-Sang lost his temper. As his rage boiled over, his rationality evaporated as well. He pulled out his sword and charged toward Yeop Wol like a raging bull.
SHING!
Yeop Wol effortlessly defended against Seo Mu-Sangs surprise attack, but Seo Mu-Sang then unleashed a flurry of blows down upon him.
Youre still the same as before, mumbled Yeop Wol as he countered each and every blow. However, his casual response only angered Seo Mu-Sang further.
Seo Mu-Sang unleashed the full force of the Blue Cloud Sword Style.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
As the des shed, sparks flew everywhere.
Seo Mu-Sang went all out, harboring killing intent within his every swing. However, in the end, he could not even graze Yeop Wols clothes.
You havent improved at all.
SHUT THE FUCK UP! YEOP WOLLL!
In the face of Yeop Wols constant taunting, Seo Mu-Sang lost hisst shred of reason. He recklessly used the strongest skill he knew, the Blue Cloud Sword Styles Cloud-Dividing Sword (һ).
SWISH!
Seo Mu-Sangs de seemed to explode like a firework, surrounding Yeop Wol with a whirlwind of shes. Yeop Wols fake smile instantly vanished.
ROAR!
A sharp, blinding red light shed from Yeop Wols sword. The light sliced through the air, cutting through all of Seo Mu-Sangs attacks.
KCHAK!
Ugh! groaned Seo Mu-Sang as the sword he had been using for thest ten years was split into two.
Yeop Wols swordnded on Seo Mu-Sangs left shoulder, the de touching his neck. He only needed to move his de an inch to the right to give Seo Mu-Sang a fatal injury.
Although the knowledge pained him, Seo Mu-Sang knew that this situation was not an ident. It was a result of Yeop Wols control over his de.
You cant possibly defeat me using the Blue Cloud Sword Style that is taught to every low-level grunt hired by Heaven''s Summit. However, its not every day that I get to meet an old friend, so I will forget about what happened today. Your wound isnt that serious, and youll probably recover fully after a few days of rest.
Grr!
Dont be so frustrated about your loss. My starting point was far ahead of yours, after all, consoled Yeop Wol in a mocking tone.
Unlike Seo Mu-Sang, who was an orphan, Yeop Wol came from a reputable family. He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and his path in life was already fully paved for him.
From a certain point of view, it could be said that Seo Mu-Sang and Yeop Wols meeting was destiny, as they hade from vastly different backgrounds. They had gotten to know each other by ident, but the two men had hit it off immediately. However, everything changed a few yearster, when they met a woman named Seo Yu-Ran.
Seo Yu-Ran was the highly intelligent and beautiful eldest daughter of the Jiangsu Seo n, a family of fallen nobles. She and Seo Mu-Sang had fallen in love with each other at first sight and had even been prepared to spend their futures together.
Unfortunately for them, that period of bliss ended when Yeop Wol, a man who would do anything in order to get the things he wanted, decided to get between them. Just like Seo Mu-Sang, Yeop Wol had fallen in love with Seo Yu-Ran.
Yeop Wol knew what the fallen Jiangsu Seo n needed the mostmoney. And money was something that Yeop Wols family had in abundance. Thus, he pushed for an arranged marriage between him and Seo Yu-Ran in exchange for financial support.
Seo Mu-Sang was furious, but there was nothing a run-of-the-mill mercenary like him could do. In the end, Yeop Wol had married Seo Yu-Ran while he had been exiled to this fortress in the middle of nowhere.
In addition, Yeop Wol had been scouted by Shim Won-Ui, the young heir of Judgment Heaven, not long after his marriage. This guaranteed that he would have a bright future ahead of him. Even the martial arts that he had learned from Judgment Heaven were far superior to Seo Mu-Sangs, so much so that there was noparison to be made between them.
Yeop Wol pointed his sword at Seo Mu-Sang and said, By the way, your captain has decided to serve our Lord, which means that we will be seeing each other very often from now on. We cant be fighting every single time we meet, so I hope that you will be able to keep a rein on your temper from now on.
What? Are you fucking kidding me?
Your captain even prostrated himself in front of our lord. He left quite the impression on me.
Khh! Seo Mu-Sang grit his teeth, swamped by feelings of betrayal. He had no idea that Jang Pae-San had gone to swear fealty to Shim Won-Ui. There was no way hed be able to avoid Yeop Wol if they were working for the same person and being constantly reminded of his most painful memories was thest thing Seo Mu-Sang wanted.
Feeling helpless, Seo Mu-Sang looked away. He was just about to leave when Yeop Wol provoked him even further, saying, Did you know? The one who proposed our marriage wasnt me. It was her.
Seo Mu-Sang froze in his tracks.
Dont lie to me, Yeop Wol. Do you honestly think I would believe you?
What reason would I have to lie to you? That woman isnt as na?ve or innocent as you seem to think she is. In fact, shes quite the ambitiousdy. She was the one who wanted to use me as a stepping stone to relieve herself and her family from their burdens. Even if you dont believe me, all you have to do is to plow through your memories of her carefully, and youll soon realize that Im telling the truth.
Yeop Wol blurted out everything that he wanted to say, then promptly spun around and left. Seo Mu-Sang remained rooted to the ground. Yeop Wolsst line yed itself back in his ears over and over again.
Youre lying. Why would she
He squeezed his eyes shut, only for her to appear within his minds eye, her voice whispering into his ears. She might not be together with him physically, but he still believed that her hearty with him.
Later, Seo Mu-Sang found out that Yeop Wol had at least told him the truth about Jang Pae-Sans decision to serve Shim Won-Ui. Everyone cheered at the prospect of returning home to the Central ins. Everyone but him, that is.
Ever since Shim Won-Ui and the others had moved into the Northern Army Fortress, Jin Mu-Won had avoided going out as much possible and spent his whole day cooped up inside the Tower of Shadows. He would watch the sunrise from the roof, practice the Art of Ten Thousand Shadows, and then do swordsmanship training until he was exhausted. Alternatively, whenever he ran into an obstacle during training, he would spend his time swordsmithing instead.
Many dayster, a dazed Jin Mu-Won finally went outdoors. He needed to search for some answers in the Grand Library. It was something he used to do every day before he entered the first stage of the Art of Ten Thousand Shadows.
Haaah he sighed, as he opened the door to the library and saw the mess inside. It seemed as if someone had ransacked the bookshelves and thrown all the books on the floor.
And its up to me to clean up the mess. Again.
Jin Mu-Won smiled resignedly as he picked up the books on the floor and put them back on the shelves. He didnt even have to guess to know what the people who did this were up to.
They definitely did it on Shim Won-Uis orders.
Everyone who came to the Northern Army Fortress for the first time would follow the exact same procedure. After ransacking the Grand Library, they would tail him in an attempt to find out if he knew any martial arts.
The moment Jin Mu-Won had stepped out of the Tower of Shadows, he knew that was being tailed. It was just like that time two years ago with Jang Pae-San. And just like back then, it wouldnt be long before they lost their interest and simply left him to his own devices.
After cleaning up the mess, Jin Mu-Won took out a few books and began to read. He got so absorbed in reading that not only did he fail to notice the passing of time, he also wouldnt have noticed even if the world had ended right there and then.
How many times have I read these books already?
In order to find an answer to his question, Jin Mu-Won pored through book after book. When he finally decided to look up, the sky had gotten a lot darker. In just a moment, the sun would set.
Youre very focused.
Suddenly, he heard the voice of a womaning from the direction of the library entrance. Startled, Jin Mu-Won turned his head to see a thin woman standing at the doorway.
You?
Mister Jin, greeted Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung, a timid smile on her face.
Jin Mu-Won stood up and asked, What are you doing here?
You must have been surprised by our arrival, right? I felt that it was rude of us toe here without warning, so I came here to apologize.
Theres no need for that. Its not like this is the first time someone hase to live here without informing me. Ive already gotten used to it.
Really now?
Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung approached Jin Mu-Won. The way she walked with light footsteps and graceful movements made her look like a regal butterfly.
Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung picked up the book that Jin Mu-Won had just been reading.
The Debates of Hwang and Jeong? Now thats not a book I expected to see here.
Youre familiar with this book? asked Jin Mu-Won, surprised.
Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung smiled graciously, saying, Isnt this book is a record of the debates between Hwang Heo-seonsaeng and Jeong Myeong-seonsaeng(1), the two great philosophers from over two hundred years ago?
It was just as Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung had said. Hwang Heo and Jeong Myeong were great philosophers who had lived over two hundred years ago. They were both very well-versed in Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism but did not get along at all. To prove that they were correct, the two had held many fiery debates, the ferocity of which reminded one of duels to the death between warriors.
The book called The Debates of Hwang and Jeong contained records of their exchanges. However, now that over two hundred years had passed, very few people knew of the books existence.
Thats a book Ive always wanted to read, but even with the help of the Seo-Moon n, I couldnt find it. Would it be okay if I borrowed this book from you? I will return it once I have finished reading.
Sure. Ive already finished reading all of these books anyway.
Seo-Moon Hye-Ryungs eyes twinkled like the stars in the sky upon receiving Jin Mu-Wons permission to borrow the book.
Thank you. Honestly speaking, this was unexpected.
What do you mean?
I thought that you would hate me, Mister Jin.
And why would you think that?
Because my grandfather, the Devilish Genius Seo-Moon Hwa, is one of the Nine Skies of Heavens Summit. Wait, did you not know that?
I knew.
Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung appeared surprised at Jin Mu-Wons calm response. Seo-Moon Hwa forced the Northern Army to disband and pressured Jin Mu-Wons father intomitting suicide. He must think of my grandfather as his worst enemy, right? How on earth can he remain so calm andposed even after I reminded him of this?
Then, does this mean that youve forgiven him?
What? No! How could I possibly forgive him?
So how
To put it precisely, Ive given up on revenge. Thats not something I can do alone.
Is it because youre not strong enough? That you dont have enough influence?
Probably. As you can see, Im broke. Everything of value in the fortress was taken away, and not even the official documents were spared. What can I do in this situation? Thats why, from now on, I want to be a schr.
If you had the ability to seek vengeance, what would you do?
Thats not very likely to happen, but I guess I would consider it.
Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung was confused by Jin Mu-Wons honest answers. The young mans actions were the exact opposite of what she expected, making it difficult to tell what he was really thinking. On the other hand, if he had insisted that he had forgiven Heavens Summit for their crimes, shed be able to glean more information about him.
She was a person who had been praised by many for her outstanding understanding and observational abilities. She could see through most people so easily that some had even said that her grandfather considered her superior to him in that aspect.
Are you really that honest, or are you just hiding your true feelings behind a mask of honesty?
Seo-Moon Hye-Ryungs eyes glittered in the darkness as she tried to peer into the depths of Jin Mu-Wons heart. However, even under her intense gaze, Jin Mu-Won did not waver.
She decided to continue probing him.
Mister Jin, have you learned any martial arts before?
Does it look like there are any decent martial arts in this godforsaken ce?
Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung was shocked speechless at Jin Mu-Wons bluntness. She was aware that he hadnt been taught any martial arts in his childhood, and Heavens Summit had confirmed multiple times that there were no real martial arts left inside the fortress. She had even received a report from the Third Company stating that Jin Mu-Won still hadnt practiced any kind of martial art.
Im sorry, she couldnt help but apologize.
Unexpectedly, Jin Mu-Won smiled, saying, Dont worry about it. Almost everyone whoes to the Northern Army Fortress asks me the same questions. Most people suspect that Im hiding a massive fortune somewhere in here, but the truth is, this ce is just as empty as it looks.
Im sorry, apologized Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung again thoughtlessly.
This person is not normal.
Why am I apologizing to him? Its not like Im the one at fault for his misery.
Anyway, I dont have many books, but if theres anything you want to read, feel free to borrow it. I wont mind it as long as you put it back in the correct location on the shelf.
Thank you, Mister Jin.
Then, Ill be leaving.
Jin Mu-Won gave Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung a polite fist salute(2). As he walked past her, she unconsciously stepped aside to let him pass.
(1)Seonsaeng: Teacher, Sensei. Honorific denoting respect for an academic. The modern tl for seonsaeng in this particr case would be Professor, but that clearly doesn''t mesh right with the ancient china setting.
(2) Fist salute: Amon greeting between martial artists, see image below. Note: Left palm over right fist is a friendly greeting, whereas right palm over left fist signals a duel to the death. You dont want to be picking death fights randomly
Chapter 22: The Momentous Dawn of a New Era (1)
SHING! SHING!
Every time Jin Mu-Won rubbed the sword in his hands along the whetstone, the dull de would get a little sharper. As he focused all his concentration on sharpening the sword, beads of sweat dripped down his forehead, chest, and back.
When the de had been fully sharpened, he grinned with satisfaction.
This new sword he had made was one cheok three chon long, and a little over one geun() in weight.[1] It was much shorter than a normal sword, but it was extremely well-bnced.
Jin Mu-Won raised the de to the light to inspect it more carefully. There were no cracks on the de, and it reflected the light spectacrly.
YEAHHHH!
Today was the day he finally made his first real sword. Before this, he had made dozens of swords but ended up destroying all of them. This sword was made out of the most ordinary steel, but due to its perfect hardness and bnce, none of the previous swords could even hold a candle to this one.
Regrettably though, this sword was far too short and light for him. It was a sword more suited to a person who specialized in speed.
Sigh! I seeded in making a perfect de, but it doesnt look like it''s a sword thats meant for me.
A sword that he made but could not use was a sword he didnt need. Jin Mu-Won decided to put the sword back into the furnace.
RIIING!
Suddenly, he heard an odd ringing noiseing from the sword.
Was thatthe cry of the sword?
It was as if the sword was telling him that it didnt want to die. Jin Mu-Won tried to listen for the swords cry again, but he did not hear anything this time. The crying sound hed just heard could have been a figment of his own imagination, for all he knew.
He sighed, having decided against throwing the sword back into the furnace. Regardless of whether it had been a hallucination or not, hed heard the cry of the sword. It no longer felt right to simply dispose of it like that.
It had taken him countless swings of the hammer and numerous burns from the furnace to understand even a little bit about the weapon called a sword. Now that he was more familiar with the sword, he could feel that swords had a life of their own. Of course, this knowledge wasnt about to change the way he handled his sword or his attitude toward it.
The more one learns, the more one realizes just how little one knows. My journey to understanding the sword has only just begun, and theres a very long road ahead of me.
Jin Mu-Won hung the sword up on the wall and returned to his lodgings, only to find Eun Ha-Seol sitting on the windowsill inside his room.
She was looking outside and shaking her legs yfully. Every time she kicked the air, her skirt would lift up just a little, revealing the pale skin of her legs.
Ahem! she coughed, embarrassed. She turned her head to face Jin Mu-Won. Her face was lit up by the setting sun, making it appear redder than it usually was.
She red at him but said nothing. Her eyes shone like obsidian, and her dark hair fluttered gently in the breeze.
She is such a mysterious girl.
Jin Mu-Won had grown a lot taller over the past winter. Simrly, Eun Ha-Seol had also matured, her womanly aura only growing stronger with each passing day.
Jin Mu-Won, who had beenpletely bewitched by her unfamiliar appearance in the light of the evening sun, quickly came back to his senses. He calmly asked, When did you arrive?
Not long before you did.
What have you been up to? I havent seen you in some time.
Ever since going to Shim Won-Uis banquet together with him, Eun Ha-Seol hadnte over to his ce.
Did you miss me?
A little.
Eun Ha-Seol smiled at Jin Mu-Wons reply.
I was busy. There was something I had to do.
Something you had to do? Then, are you done with that now?
Kind of Eun Ha-Seols voice trailed off.
Seeing Jin Mu-Wons skeptical expression, she quickly changed the topic, saying, Im hungry.
What? Please dont tell me, you havent eaten for days?
I dont know how to cook.
You spoiled brat.
Jin Mu-Won shook his head, but Eun Ha-Seol naturally walked over to the table and sat down.
As usual, he cooked some rice and made hotpot. The secret behind his tasty hotpot was the fact that he made the same thing every single day, which meant that he had gotten a lot of practice. He could even be a professional hotpot chef by now. In no time, the fragrance from the cooking food spread out over the entirety of the Tower of Shadows.
Eun Ha-Seol rested her head on her hands as she watched Jin Mu-Won cook. Suddenly, she said, Hey, about that woman
Woman? What woman?
You know, the one that came here recently. I saw her go inside the Grand Library.
Ah, you were referring to Miss Seo-Moon?
What were you two doing together inside the library?
We were just talking.
About what?
She asked me all sorts of questions about this and that. I wasnt expecting her to be such a nosy person, replied Jin Mu-Won as if it wasnt a big deal.
To Eun Ha-Seol, however, this wasnt a small matter. She asked, Do you think shes pretty?
Yeah.
Eun Ha-Seols aura instantly started to intensify
But youre even prettier, added Jin Mu-Won.
Oh? Really?
The corners of Eun Ha-Seols lips turned upwards, but Jin Mu-Won did not see it because he had his back to her.
You are such a weirdo, she softly grumbled.
Did you just say something?
No, I did not.
Sometimeter, Jin Mu-Won brought out the freshly cooked food. As the steam rising from the food filled the room, it seemed to warm her up as well.
Eun Ha-Seol pushed open the door to her room. She was greeted by the familiar sight of the room she had gotten used to.
Haa she sighed, looking around the room.
Suddenly, a light of rm shed across her eyes. She raised her head to look at the seemingly empty ceiling.
Who goes there?
Young Mistress.
A person dressed in ck from head to toe descended from the ceiling and knelt down before her.
Sa-Ryung.
I have returned, Young Mistress.
Im d youre safe, Sa-Ryung.
Thank you very much for your concern, Young Mistress.
Did you find Master?
Yes. I was fortunate enough to find the Madam in one of the safehouses that I prepared beforehand.
How is she? Is she okay?
The Madam was seriously injured, but her condition has improved a lot since.
Eun Ha-Seol heaved a sigh of relief, saying, Phew! That takes a load off my mind.
The Madam also instructed me to leave you here until her wounds have fully recovered.
What? So, I cant leave this ce yet?
We arent confident that we can beat those guys without being at full strength. They even almost caught me several times as I made my way here.
Sa-Ryungs skill in camouge and disguise is one of the best in the world. If they put their mind to it, no one will be able to detect their presence. The fact that they were nearly caught can only mean that we are in an extremely dire situation.
With a grave expression, Eun Ha-Seol said, Is there no other way to go about this?
That person will not give up until he has achieved his goals, and as long as the Madam and Young Mistress are alive, his ambition will never be fulfilled, said the evil spirit Sa-Ryung, an eerie glow flickering in their eyes.
As Sa-Ryung spoke, Eun Ha-Seol could feel an extraordinary murderous intent emanating from them and assaulting her senses.
Be careful. There are a lot of people in this fortress besides the two of us, she warned.
My sincerest apologies, Young Mistress. Only after Eun Ha-Seol reminded them, did Sa-Ryung suddenly realize their mistake and brought their killing intent under control.
Did something happen? What are the sessors of Heavens Summit doing here?
Theyre waiting for a guy named Dam Soo-Cheon.
Dam Soo-Cheon? mumbled Sa-Ryung.
Do you know him?
Hes probably the most talked-about martial artist in the world right now.
Whats your opinion of him, Sa-Ryung?
He is a born warrior.
Hes that strong? eximed Eun Ha-Seol, astonished. The Sa-Ryung she knew would never give another person such high praise.
Im sure you would understand what I mean after seeing him in person, Young Mistress.
Okay. In that case, I will judge him personally.
Please be very careful when you do that, Young Mistress. This is enemy territory, after all.
Eun Ha-Seol nodded silently and looked outside the window. Night had fallen over the Northern Army Fortress, shrouding it in mystery.
Footnotes:
[1] One cheok three chon long, and a little over one geun() in weight: Length C 38 cm or 1 3. Weight: Around 600 g or 1.3 lb.
Chapter 23: The Momentous Dawn of a New Era (2)
Chapter 23: The Momentous Dawn of a New Era (2)
In the backyard of the Northern Army Fortress, there was a man frantically swinging his sword. It was Seo Mu-Sang.
Seo Mu-Sangs wounds, which had scabbed over, reopened as he moved around vigorously, spilling blood all over the ce. However, he ignored it and continued swinging his sword as if he couldnt feel any pain.
A whirlwind was stirred up by the force of his de, wrecking everything in its path.
Its a lie. It must be a lie, thought Seo Mu-Sang with bloodshot eyes.
Yeop Wolsst line repeated itself over and over in his head, torturing him day and night. The only thing Seo Mu-Sang could do to vent out his fury was swing his sword with everything he had.
His body was trembling uncontrobly and his blood vessels felt like they were going to burst open, but Seo Mu-Sang still did not stop. If he didnt vent out all his frustrations right now, he would go crazy.
Yeop Wol was indeed talented in martial arts, but Seo Mu-Sang didnt think that he was the least bit inferior to Yeop Wol.
If I had learned the same martial arts as him, and been given the same opportunities, I would never lose to him.
Seo Mu-Sangs blood boiled.
PSHHH!
The chi emitting from the broken sword slowly dimmed. If he insisted on continuing, there was a possibility that his dantian would be damaged, killing him. Even so, he did not stop.
That was because, as a result of his battle with Yeop Wol, he was being constantly tormented by his inner demons. (1)
Kill! I should just kill them both!
An enormous killing intent gushed forth from his entire body.
As long as I can kill Yeop Wol, it doesnt matter if I die. That woman who betrayed me needs to die, too.
GRAAAAARH! he howled like a crazed beast.
Just as he was about to stomp out of the backyard and seek out Yeop Wol, he heard a gentle voice saying, Paranoia gives birth to delusions ()(2). When you are paranoid, your unjustified fears be food for the darkness within your heart. Lashing out in anger will only result in your own destruction, and even then, none of your problems would be solved. Your fear and rage are but one facet of you, they do not define who you are. Calm your heart, and it will be a mirror that reflects your true self."
Seo Mu-Sangs footsteps came to a screeching halt. Ripples appeared inside his heart that had been consumed by an ocean of darkness. Slowly, light began to return to his zed eyes.
The mysterious voice continued, Even when a stream has flowed to its lowest point, sunlight will cause the water to evaporate and rise to the heavens. The same is true for the heart. When the calm wind blows, the clouds of your worries will scatter into nothingness.
Seo Mu-Sang shivered. How long have I waited just to hear these words?
To some, these words were no more meaningful than noise. However, to Seo Mu-Sang, they were like a desert oasis, enlightening him to the fundamental truth behind the Blue Cloud Sword Style and guiding his swordsmanship to new heights.
Seo Mu-Sang immersed himself in the words of the stranger. Bit by bit, his rampaging chi settled and returned to his dantian.
Liken your body to a tree. Let your chi be the water, your Spirit Pce (I) the roots, your Upper Pir () the trunk, and your Hundred Meetings (ٕ) the branches and leaves. (3)
Seo Mu-Sang did as the voice instructed him to.
WHOOSH!
The blocked blood vessels in his body opened up one after another as his chi flowed through like a raging torrent. However, unlike before, Seo Mu-Sangs expression was unbelievably calm andposed. He closed his eyes and focused on channeling his chi.
The chi that had never budged no matter how much he practiced the Blue Cloud Meditation Technique was now charging forward like a warhorse without reins. It barged its way through narrow and blocked channels, creating new and wider paths for his chi.
This is the true power of the Blue Cloud Meditation Technique, as well as the most optimal way of using the Blue Cloud Sword Style.
I cant believe it took me this long to realize it.
After mastering the Blue Cloud Sword Style and the Blue Cloud Meditation Technique, I thought that I had reached the peak of these martial arts, because I could no longer see a path forward. But right now, all that has changed. This mysterious voice has shown me the best way to keep climbing higher toward the heavens!
Seo Mu-Sang kept circting his chi, until eventually it began to umte, like tributaries merging into a wide river. When hepleted three cycles of cirction, he opened his eyes.
For an instant, his eyes seemed to glow with a blinding light, but they returned to normal so quickly that it waspletely imperceptible.
Seo Mu-Sang swung his broken sword again. Unlike thest time, though, he was not waving his sword blindly. He moved along with the flow of chi.
HISS!
Ayer of sword chi enveloped the broken de, but Seo Mu-Sang did not notice it. He had entered a trance as he swung his sword repeatedly.
Hours passed, until atst the sun began to rise, signaling the break of day. It was only then that Seo Mu-Sang stopped swinging his sword to take a breather.
He could sense a powerful chi like molten metal flowing through his body. It was exhrating. He had never felt like this before.
Suddenly, a question popped into his mind. Just who is the owner of the mysterious voice?
He looked up and surveyed his surroundings, but there was no one around him. Whoever had helped him was long gone.
Hello? Is there anyone there?
The mysterious voice had sounded both familiar and unfamiliar at the same time. Seo Mu-Sang thought hard about it for a long time, trying to remember if there was anyone around him with a voice like that.
It cant be No way thats true, right?
Inside the smithy, Jin Mu-Won was sitting on a chair with his eyes closed. He had made this chair himself, and although it was very simple, it was also veryfortable as it was perfectly sized for him.
Just like this chair, the sword I want must not be too long or too short, too heavy or too light. It should be just right for me.
Every day without fail, he would do swordsmanship training in the basement of the Tower of Shadows, and then make a new sword in the smithy. His hands were now covered in calluses, and his knuckle joints were thick like the nodes of bamboo nts. As a result of all the training and smithing, he now had hands that were suited to wielding a de.
It was the same for the rest of his body. As he practiced his swordsmanship, his muscles would adapt themselves to his movements. The changes to his body werent immediately obvious under his clothing, but anyone who paid close attention to him would have noticed that he now possessed an athletic build.
In order to create a body that was suited to swordsmanship, Jin Mu-Won had trained his muscles and roughened his hands in a very specific way, one step at a time.
Just like the hammering of a piece of steel into a sword, he was polishing himself for the future. This was a time-consuming, boring, and punishing task. In addition, in order to avoid attracting the attention of Heavens Summit, he had to slow down his training speed on purpose.
Since he was still growing, making a sword for himself was a waste of his time. He needed to wait until he was fully grown to make the perfect de. Even so, he had to keep practicing swordsmithing in preparation for the future.
This is a battle of patience, after all.
I have to remain patient until the precise moment for me to strike back arrives. Before that, I need to do everything I can to prepare myself for that moment. I have to polish my mind, body, and skills to perfection. Waiting is the only thing I can do right now, and I just happen to be very good at it.
Now that he had organized his thoughts, Jin Mu-Won opened his eyes. He stood up and walked to a corner of the smithy. There, on the ground,y a huge pile of broken swords. He did not have enough raw steel ore to work with, so he had to recycle the old steel from the broken swords as many times as he could. He thus picked up several metal shards and tossed them into the furnace.
The mes turned blue and his skin prickled as the temperature inside the furnace rose. Previously, whenever he did this, Jin Mu-Won had felt like his lungs were on fire and would consequently lose his appetite.
However, at some point, he had unintentionally figured out how to breathe through his skin. It was a skill that he had learned naturally as he got used to the scorching heat.
He suspected that this skin-breathing technique had something to do the Art of Ten Thousand Shadows. It was probably one of the as-yet unknown abilities that one would obtain after practicing the martial art. The Art had been devised by thebined efforts of the past Lords of the Northern Army, but even they knew very little about the side effects of practicing it.
Jin Mu-Won was basically a pioneer who was feeling his way through a pitch-ck maze without a singlemp. Even so, as long as he kept moving forward and never gave up, he believed that he would be able to find his way out of the maze into a bright new world one day.
He took out the lump of steel that had formed from the broken sword shards out of the furnace. It had reached the correct temperature for forging. He then began hammering the metal, sending sparks flying everywhere as the steel was shaped.
CLANG! CLANG!
The sound of Jin Mu-Wons hammering was pleasantly rhythmic, like music. He immersed himself within the rhythm and eventually lost track of time. How long have I been doing this?
Suddenly, his concentration was interrupted by a sudden remark, Wow! I never knew that the sound of hammering could be this refreshing. Its making quite the impact on me too!
1. Inner demons: The term used here is ħ, literally heart demon or inner demon. Actually, its just PTSD.
2. Paranoia gives birth to delusions (): A Chinese/Korean idiom. Literal trantion C A suspicious heart gives birth to dark ghosts.
3. Spirit Pce (I), Upper Pir (), Hundred Meetings (ٕ): These are the names of acupuncture points. The Spirit Pce is at the belly button, the Upper Pir is at the back of the neck just under the hairline, and the Hundred Meetings is at the very top of the head.
Chapter 24: The Momentous Dawn of a New Era (3)
Jin Mu-Won stopped hammering and sighed. He turned around to face the person who had just spoken.
It was Shim Won-Ui, who was currently leaning against the door and staring at him.
How long have you been standing there?
Not that long. A day or two at most, joked Shim Won-Ui.
To be honest, Jin Mu-Won was shocked to see Shim Won-Ui personally show up in the smithy. Everyone else who wanted to look for treasure would have searched his room while he wasnt around, or sent someone to spy on him instead.
How long are you nning on letting me stand? Arent you going to offer me a seat?
Ah. You can sit on this chair.
Jin Mu-Won handed Shim Won-Ui a wooden chair. Shim Won-Ui sat down and observed the interior of the smithy.
The furnace was currently burning at full force. It was so hot inside the room that even those who were used to heat would find it unbearable. Shim Won-Ui had no choice but to protect his body using his chi.
I heard that you dont have any chi, but you seem quite at ease in this extreme heat.
When I first started smithing, I felt so hot that I wanted to die. After some time, though, I seem to have gotten used to it.
Is that so? A razor-sharp glint shed through Shim Won-Uis eyes.
Jin Mu-Won poured a bucket of water on the furnace, causing a huge burst of steam as the water evaporated instantly. When the room had cooled down somewhat, he skillfully brewed some tea for Shim Won-Ui.
Shim Won-Ui raised a cup of tea to his lips and sniffed it, then remarked, This tea smells pretty good.
Ever since he was born, he had only drunk the highest-grade teas, and only ones that suited his tastes, at that. He was surprised to see such good tea in this deste ce in the middle of nowhere.
Why did youe here?
If I said that I came here to see how you were doing, would you believe me?
Well, should I?
Even I wouldnt believe me, but it is indeed the truth.
Shim Won-Ui finished the rest of his tea in one big gulp. As the fragrance of the tea lingered on his tongue, he smiled.
The tea tastes much better than I thought it would. You are very good at brewing tea.
Its my hobby, after all.
Would you mind teaching my chef how to brew tea properly? Hes good at cooking, but his tea tastes terrible.
Im not good enough to teach someone else.
Is that so? In that case, Ill just have toe over to your ce more often.
Ill be sure to make tea for you every time you visit, then.
Thank you. Shim Won-Uis smile broadened.
Frankly, Shim Won-Uis unusual behavior was making Jin Mu-Won nervous. What is a person like him doing,ing all the way over to my ce for tea?
Theres nothing to do in this fortress at all. Its boring. Time feels like it crawled to a stop in this ce. How can you stand living here for so long?
Time flies as long as I keep myself busy.
When you say busy, are you referring to cksmithing? I heard that you basically spend your whole day making swords.
Theres nothing else for me to do anyway.
I suppose thats true. Shim Won-Ui shook his head. He had only been at the Northern Army Fortress for five days, and already he was missing the Central ins. His time here had been so dull and monotonous, hed started admiring Jin Mu-Won for being able to live here his whole life.
Suddenly, he turned to look at the sword hung up on the wall. It was the short sword that Jin Mu-Won hadpleted not long ago.
Can I take a closer look at that?
Jin Mu-Won nodded silently and handed the sword to Shim Won-Ui.
Wow! eximed Shim Won-Ui the instant he touched the short sword. He was a swordsman, and this de felt extremely well-bnced to him.
SWOOSH!
He swung the sword a few times in the air, then nodded, saying, This sword is very well made. Im sure a swordsmith of your skill would be very wee in the Central ins.
For once, Shim Won-Ui truly meant what he said. The bnce and sharpness of the sword were both top-notch. However, that was all there was to it. He had seen many better swords than this one in Judgment Heaven and even owned several treasured des. Jin Mu-Wons short sword was good, but it wasnt quite good enough to trigger his greed.
He smiled. It was a smile that was colder, and eerier than ever before.
Shim Won-Ui raised the sword and pointed it at Jin Mu-Won, who suddenly felt as if his heart was pierced by an invisible, intangible spear.
Jin Mu-Wons eyes widened in shock. He could clearly feel Shim Won-Uis murderous intent, as the young man wasnt bothering to hide it at all.
...Why?
I was just curious.
Jin Mu-Wons eyes trembled. Seeing that, the corners of Shim Won-Uis lips rose even higher.
You said that youve never learned any martial art before, is that correct?
In the report that Shim Won-Ui had received from Jang Pae-San, Jin Mu-Won imed to have never learned martial arts before.
No, wait, that statement is wrong. To put it precisely, Jin Mu-Won stated that he had never learned any internal arts before, only external arts.[1]
In order to confirm the truth for himself, Shim Won-Ui had dispatched one of his own Wardens to spy on Jin Mu-Won. In the end though, that person had also arrived at the same conclusion.
ording to his spys report, Jin Mu-Won followed a strict daily routine. Once a day, he would go for a walk or head to the Grand Library to read, but otherwise, he would just spend the rest of his time swordsmithing in the Tower of Shadows.
It appeared that Jin Mu-Won led the life of a monk despite being only seventeen. However, Shim Won-Ui simply could not bring himself to believe that a seventeen-year-old boy was capable of enduring the monotony of such a simple, modest lifestyle.
After all, Jin Mu-Wons father had been forced tomit suicide and disband the Northern Army. In addition, he himself had been ced under the highest level of surveince by Heavens Summit and had to endure being scrutinized and spied on a dozen times a day. Shim Won-Ui couldnt even imagine living a depressing lifestyle like that. A normal person would have gone crazy or fallen into despair a long time ago.
And now, youre telling me that a seventeen-year-old who went through that kind of trauma, and is under all that mental stress, is living routinely like a monk?
How interesting. Very interesting indeed. It should be impossible for someone without hope for the future to live the way he does.
That is what my gut feeling is telling me, even though I have no evidence to the contrary.
So, what is giving this seventeen-year-old boy hope? He is not a normal person, but the scion of a family of martial artists. Also, the way he uses his hammer during swordsmithing is suspicious.
When smithing, he hammers the steel with a certain rhythm. A rhythm akin to that of martial arts masters. Of course, master craftsmen are like that as well.
The problem is, this sword that he made is of excellent quality. No beginner could produce a sword like this. That makes it difficult to conclude anything just from his hammering technique.
Ill have to investigate more thoroughly in order to find out whether he truly knows martial arts, or is simply an exceptional craftsman.
Shim Won Ui thrust the short sword at Jin Mu-Won.
Come, try your hardest to survive!
Unlike before, where he had only directed intangible killing intent at Jin Mu-Won, Shim Won-Ui now attacked him for real.
Khh!
Jin Mu-Wons face paled in an instant. Shim Won-Ui was strong enough to be the sessor to Judgment Heaven. He was a martial arts master the likes of which Jin Mu-Won could not hope to match.
Gah!
In order to confirm his suspicions, Shim Won-Ui was forcing Jin Mu-Won to make a choice. Jin Mu-Won could either fight back and reveal himself, or die by his de.
Blood flowed out from the corners of Jin Mu-Wons lips. His internal organs had been damaged by Shim Won-Uis chi.
SWISH!
Shim Won-Uis de pierced through the air toward Jin Mu-Won. Like a poisonous snake baring its fangs, his thrust was blindingly fast and urate. Jin Mu-Won could have dodged it if he tried, but he decided against it.
I have to take a gamble. A gamble that will determine whether I live or die.
Jin Mu-Won grit his teeth.
If I fight back, Ill die for sure. If I dont fight back, Ill probably die. In that case, I should pick the choice with the higher probability of survival.
STAB!
AAAHHHHHH!
Shim Won-Uis sword plunged through Jin Mu-Wons left shoulder, just inches from his heart.
Hmm. Shim Won-Ui narrowed his eyes, then said, Have you really never learned martial arts?
He had deliberately given Jin Mu-Won a chance to dodge. That thrust was one that anyone who knew even a little bit of martial arts would have been able to avoid.
People tend to reveal their true selves when their lives are threatened. As long as youve learned some kind of internal martial art before, you will definitely unconsciously use it to save yourself. Because that is human nature. So why do I still feel nothing from you?
Whatever. Third times the charm, right?
Shim Won-Ui pulled out the sword from Jin Mu-Wons shoulder.
SPLORT!
Blood spurted out of Jin Mu-Wons injured shoulder, dyeing Shim Won-Uis arms and sword crimson red. Jin Mu-Won grabbed his injured shoulder, his footsteps staggering as he reeled in pain.
Shim Won-Ui swung the de at Jin Mu-Won again, this time aiming for his neck.
Jin Mu-Wons eyes widened. He could feel Shim Won-Uis murderous intent prickling his skin, as if it had materialized.
This is it. Im dead. I should have dodged this one.
His instincts were screaming at him to move. However, his mind was detached from his instincts, remaining calm and rational despite his dire situation. Deep down, he felt something stir within him.
Just then, he heard a scream.
NOOO!
SLASH!
Shim Won-Uis sword brushed across Jin Mu-Wons neck. A momentter, blood came pouring out of the wound like a fountain. Jin Mu-Won came back to his senses and fell to his knees. The skin on his neck had been ripped open, revealing the flesh beneath it.
GYAAAAAA! Jin Mu-Won shrieked like an injured animal.
Fuck, hes still alive. Shim Won-Ui sheathed the short sword with a dissatisfied expression on his face. He looked toward the entrance of the smithy, only to see Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung standing there, panting.
Youre not allowed to kill him, Mister Shim.
Ah, so it was you who cried out, Miss Seo-Moon.
You should understand what you have done wrong. Things shouldnt have turned out this way.
I havent actually crossed the line yet, though. Shim Won-Ui grinned maliciously.
Hes still alive, so I havent crossed the line.
Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung observed Jin Mu-Won closely. Fortunately, his injuries arent too severe, she said.
She swiftly rubbed a hemostatic agent on his wounds. She then tore off her sleeve and used it to bandage the wounds.
Ugh!
Dont move.
Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung reached into her bosom, took out a pill wrapped in paper, then fed the pill to Jin Mu-Won. The pill, known as the Soul Fusion Life Preserving Pill (걣ȫ), was one of the secret medicines of the Seo-Moon n. As long as one still had a single breath left, the pill would be able to save them from the brink of death. Thus, unless there was an emergency which would implicate the Seo-Moon n, Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung would never use such a valuable pill.
After swallowing the pill, some color returned to Jin Mu-Wons pale face. Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung heaved a sigh of relief.
If Heavens Summit finds out what youve done, youll be in deep trouble.
No one will know anything as long as you keep your mouth shut.
Thats enough, Mister Shim.
Shim Won-Ui didnt look the least bit remorseful at all. Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung scowled, feeling extremely disappointed by his behavior.
Jin Mu-Wons continued existence was a subject of controversy in Heavens Summit. Some people wanted to get rid of him as quickly as possible and eliminate this potential seed of dissent, while others wanted to keep him alive and monitor him out of respect and nostalgia for the Northern Army.
Unfortunately, the people who wanted Jin Mu-Won kept alive did not have much influence within Heavens Summit. Most of them were freshly-minted experts who had admired the Northern Army and pitied Jin Mu-Won as a result.
Above all, they were worried that they would end up in the same situation as the Northern Army. As long as Jin Mu-Won was alive, Heavens Summit would not be able to make up an excuse to get rid of them. They may not hold much sway over Heavens Summit individually, but not even Heavens Summit could afford to ignore theirbined pleas.
Shim Won-Ui knew about the delicate situation surrounding Jin Mu-Won, but he didnt care what others thought. He had been a selfish person ever since he was born.
He looked down at Jin Mu-Won, saying, Anyway, Ive at least achieved my first objective, so Ill leave it at that. Take good care of yourself, okay?
Shim Won-Ui threw the short sword down in front of Jin Mu-Won, then turned and left. Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung watched him go, her frustration clearly written on her face.
Suddenly, she looked at Jin Mu-Won, who was lying down in herp. She had felt a slight tremble from one of his arms, and his teeth were clenched tightly. She didnt know if he was doing that because of pain from the wound, or out of anger at Shim Won-Uis actions.
Its probably both
Footnotes:
[1] Internal and External Martial Arts: Internal Martial Arts are upied with the spiritual, mental or chi-rted aspects of martial arts, whereas External Martial Arts are focused on the physiological aspects. External Martial Arts are generally considered inferior to Internal Martial Arts, as anyone can train their bodies and exercise. Most ouws/bandits practice only External Martial Arts because the murim sects keep the secrets of Internal Martial Arts to themselves. Therefore, it ismon for the disciples of murim sects to look down on random warriors. Examples from what weve seen so far: - Internal Martial Arts: Art of Ten Thousand Shadows, Blue Cloud Meditation Technique.
- External Martial Arts: Regr bodybuilding and exercise, Three Foundations of Swordsmanship, Blue Cloud Sword Style.
- Both Internal and External: Shadow de of Destruction, Blue Cloud Sword Style (Seo Mu-Sang only).
Chapter 25: The Momentous Dawn of a New Era (4)
You were very lucky. Your wounds are deep, but your internal organs are fine. Youll be able to move again after taking this medication and resting for a week.
Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung reced Jin Mu-Wons bandages with some clean ones, then stood up.
Should I say thank you?
No, Im the one who should apologize. Im sorry, Mister Jin. I had no idea that Mister Shim would be so extreme.
Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung appeared remorseful, but Jin Mu-Won remained expressionless. It wasnt that he didnt want to respond to her, but that he was too busy gritting his teeth in pain.
Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung looked down at Jin Mu-Won for a long time, then sighed. She had not expected the situation to get this far out of hand.
I wish to rest now.
As she left the room, Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung said, Please rest well then. I will make sure that Mister Shim does not disturb you again.
Sigh! When he was sure that Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung was gone, Jin Mu-Won heaved a sigh of relief that he had been holding back all this time.
He had lost too much blood, so his face was still rather pale. If not for Seo-Moon Hye-Ryungs timely rescue and medicinal pill, he would have died for sure.
How the hell did I survive this encounter?
He had literally gambled with his life.
No, this couldnt be called gambling. Gambling implied that there was a chance to win and a chance to lose. Since losing meant the loss of his life, he could not take chances with a gamble. What he did was choose the one option with a possibility of survival, even if that possibility was slim.
As it turned out, he had made the right choice. His wounds were severe, but he was still alive. Jin Mu-Won strongly believed that his life would one day turn for the better, so the most important thing to him was to survive until that day arrived.
Also, it was imperative that Shim Won-Ui not find out about the Art of Ten Thousand Shadows. By letting Shim Won-Ui injure him, he had sessfully convinced the man that he did not know any martial arts.
All in all, it was worth risking my life for this result.
Jin Mu-Won closed his eyes. The instant he did so, he was ovee by extreme exhaustion. Coupled with the pain from multiple wounds on his body, the fatigue was overwhelming.
He gave in to his bodys demands and fell asleep.
How long have I been sleeping?
Jin Mu-Wons face felt a little itchy for some reason, as if someone was spying on him in the dark. He slowly opened his eyes and saw a dark figure staring down at him.
The figure had eyes as bright as a cats.
Jin Mu-Won smiled. There were many people in the world, but only one person looked at him with eyes like that.
Ha-Seol.
Who did this to you?
Im fine.
I asked you who did it! There was a hint of rage in Eun Ha-Seols voice.
Was it them?
Ha-Seol.
It must have been them.
I dont even need to hear his answer. Those people are the only ones in this ce who would hurt him.
Suddenly, the temperature inside the room plummeted. Goosebumps appeared on Jin Mu-Wons frozen skin, and the cold air made it hard for him to breathe.
Was she this strong!?
He knew that Eun Ha-Seol practiced martial arts, so even though he had never had a chance to gauge her strength before today, he had never thought of her as weak. However, he hadnt expected her to be this strong, either.
Her inner chi was in perfect harmony with the chi in the environment.
Transcendence.[1]
Just like how the color of fire would turn blue at a high enough temperature, Eun Ha-Seols martial arts had surpassed the fundamentals and evolved to a higher stage.
This was far beyond Jin Mu-Wons predictions.
Shes only fourteen years old. How on earth did she reach Transcendence at such a young age? More importantly, how many people are capable of creating a monster like her? Just who is her master?
In the end, this girl is
Jin Mu-Won sighed, saying, Im fine, Ha-Seol. This was part of my n.
Your n?
Yes.
Why would you do that to yourself?
Because I dont want to arouse their suspicions.
You allowed yourself to get hurt just for that?
Not intentionally, no. I simply didnt have any other options avable to me at that time. I was in a life-threatening situation, and I chose the one and only path where there was a possibility of survival.
Ahh, you really
The anger dissipated from Eun Ha-Seols voice, and the temperature in the room returned back to normal.
Jin Mu-Won heaved a sigh of relief.
Eun Ha-Seol pulled up a chair and sat down next to Jin Mu-Wons bed.
He got hurt so badly the instant I took my eyes off him. Im partly to me for this, arent I?
Are you still in pain?
Yes.
Haa The two of them sighed at the same time.
A man was traveling alone through the ins of the North.
The northern winds ripped through him like the ws of a wolf as he moved against its flow. He raised a hand to brush his long hair out of his face.
All he could see was the whitish-gray color of aridnd, stretching out all the way to the horizon. Despite its deste appearance, he could feel the powerful vitality of the North hidden below the surface.
This is great!
The man beamed. From his smile, one could clearly see his immense confidence and boundless ambition. These traits only served to make him appear even stronger.
He was six feet[2] tall, with dark brown skin. As his ck cloak billowed in the wind, his huge, bared muscr arms could be seen. A long scar ran across his face, further adding to his wild, ferocious look.
The man slowly strolled northwards.
His powerful spirit could be felt in every brazen step he took, intimidating those with lesser conviction than he. The wind turned his long, ck hair into a lions mane, creating the illusion that he was the king of beasts.
He walked proudly on his own two legs, with no horse or carriage to ease his journey. Hidden beneath his cloak, his body was covered with dozens of wounds; somerge, some small. These were wounds that he had sustained during his many battles on his way here.
Most of these wounds were merely small scratches, but several were deep and near-fatal. Despite sustaining all these serious injuries, he had survived and managed to travel all the way to the North.
This is only the beginning of my grand journey.
I have a dream.
Everyone calls it an impossible dream, but I dont care.
Ive had this dream ever since I was young, and to realize this dream, I have worked my butt off. Even so, I still dont have the qualifications to make my dreame true.
Suddenly, the man stopped dead in his tracks and observed his surroundings carefully.
Who goes there? The mans voice boomed like the roar of a lion.
Still, there was nothing.
Come out, or I will go over and drag you out instead! the man roared again.
As if in response to the mans demands, several gray-cloaked warriors suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
The mans eyebrows twitched.
Er, so there really was someone there?
The warriors did not answer the mans question. They only stared at him with tilted heads and expressions of distaste.
The man sized up the warriors.
They had sharp eyes like that of a poisonous snake that had found its prey. Their muscles were tensed, like a leopard ready to pounce. Calluses covered the front and back of their hands, an indication of how hard they had trained.
What the man was most concerned about, though, were the unusual weapons hanging from their waists. It was a transforming weapon that could be interchangeably used as a sword and a sickle, with a thin silver chain about the width of a childs thumb attached to the end of the handle.
Weapons like these were rare in the Central ins, so the man was very curious about them. He had never fought someone wielding a weapon like that before.
Just then, a man who looked like the leader of the warriors stepped forward. Therge man frowned as he looked at this person. That was because the leader of the warriors exuded an evil aura that disgusted him.
The aura was sinister yet noble. It was unlike anything he had seen before.
The warrior leader squinted at the man and asked, Where are you going?
I think Im hardly obliged to tell you that, right? the man replied, crossing his arms. Even though he was surrounded by over thirty warriors, his spirit was not the least bit daunted.
The leader of the warriors smiled slyly.
Then, allow me to change my question. Who are you?
I dont think Im obliged to tell you that either.
You wont answer any of my questions, huh? In that case, please allow me to at least give you a warning.
Im listening.
Go back to wherever you came from, and we will let you leave this ce alive.
I will pretend I didnt hear that. There is a reason I cannot turn back.
The warrior leader narrowed his eyes. At the same time, the gray-cloaked warriors raised their weapons.
Youre going to ignore our warning? In that case, we will be forced to execute you.
Lets see wholl be the one who ends up executed, shall we?
Your arrogance will be the death of you, growled the leader in an icy tone.
Suddenly, therge man felt as if his skin had been painfully pierced by needles. He was stunned. He had not expected to meet someone who could affect him using just aura in this deste ce.
The leader yelled, Kill him! Theres a possibility that hes here to help that little bitch.
That little bitch?
Therge man appeared confused for a moment, but quickly decided to save his questions forter. The gray-cloaked warriors were swarming toward him like a tsunami.
A transforming sickle came flying towards him, its silver chain trailing behind it.
SHIING!
A piercing sound like the clinking of chains reverberated in his ear. Multiple silver chains had ovepped to form a giant web and they were approaching him in a disorienting manner. However, even now, the man stood still with his arms folded.
A white mist arose from the silver chains, just like the sword chi of a master swordsman. The mist then quickly spread out, concealing the gray-cloaked warriors within. Although it appeared harmless, the man knew that if he let the miste in contact with his body, even for an instant, it would shred him into tiny pieces like a torrent of sharp des.
The Shrouded Fire Demon Formation ([ħ).
That was the name of the formation that the grey-cloaked warriors had put up. It was a formation that was highly effective when surrounding one opponent. The sheer pressure that the formation exerted on him was so great that even therge man could feel deaths approach.
Ive never seen a formation like this in the Central ins before.
Therge man was fairly young, but he was very experienced and insightful. Despite all his experience, though, he had never seen warriors and formations like these before.
Interesting!
The man smiled.
When faced with a situation like this, some mayment their bad luck, but not I. This battle is merely a trial that will serve as nourishment for my growth.
WHOOSH!
The transforming weapons shot towards him, stirring up the wind and causing his clothes to flutter wildly. For a moment, all he could see were des flying in his direction.
The man raised his right arm and pointed toward the sky. When the leader of the warriors saw this, he sneered.
I guess hes just another lunatic.
I was stupid to think he was any more than that and get all nervous because of him.
Just then.
The man clenched his fist as if he was grasping the sky in his hands. A blinding light appeared between his sped fingers, but before the light could spill out, the man mmed his fist into the ground.
BOOM!
Lightning shed across the sky, apanied by the roar of thunder.
AHHHHH!
GEUHEUK!
The gray-cloaked warriors and their silver chains were swallowed by a giant cyclone of light. As the light faded, smoking corpses fell to the ground one after another. In just one blow, more than a dozen warriors nowy dead.
A pure white light flickered on the still-smirking leaders forehead for a moment, but before he knew it, it had disappeared like a mirage.
He waspletely bewildered. He just couldnt understand what had just happened. All he remembered seeing was a brilliant sh of light, and then suddenly, more than a dozen of his men were dead, killed by the broken fragments of their own weapons.
What? How is this possible? We are the Shrouded Ghost Squad ([)!
The Shrouded Ghost Squad? Is that what you guys are called?
You Just who are you? asked the panicking leader, again.
Instead of answering him, the man raised a hand toward the sky once more. In the eyes of the warrior leader, it was as if he was about to take hold of the heavens.
BOOM!
Yet another tornado of light appeared, followed closely by the sh of thunder.
The Shrouded Iron Shell Formation ([F), hurry!
The members of the Shrouded Ghost Squad ced their hands on each others shoulders and locked their silver chains together with amazing speed to form a giant metal shell. The Shrouded Iron Shell Formation was the formation with the highest defensive power in their arsenal.
KABLAM!
They were immediately engulfed by a light cyclone.
CRACK!
Cracks appeared in the metal shell. All of the members of the Shrouded Ghost Squad, including their leader, grit their teeth as they reeled from the impact.
Blood flowed from the corner of the squad leaders lips. Although his squad had managed to get the Shrouded Iron Shell Formation up in time, he had still sustained internal damage from the shockwave.
A desperate look appeared on the squad leaders face as he growled, You bastard! In the name of the Shrouded Fire Devil, I swear that you will definitely die a horrible death!
You finally introduced yourself, so I will do the same. My name is Dam Soo-Cheon.
The man looked up at the sky.
To this man who brought forth the dawn of a new era, the heavens bestowed upon him the name Dam Soo-Cheon.
With the Shrouded Fire Devil in the lead, the Shrouded Ghost Squad shed with Dam Soo-Cheon.
Jin Mu-Wons wounds were itching unbearably, to the point where he couldnt sleep. He tried and failed several times to fall asleep, until finally, he gave up and decided to take a walk. He left the Tower of Shadows and took a deep breath of the cold air outside. The icy wind brought his mind back into focus, making him feel alive again.
After the events of that day, Shim Won-Ui had lost all interest in him. He now treated Jin Mu-Won like he was invisible, pretending not to see him even when they ran into each other.
In addition, his wounds had taken a whole week to close properly. During that entire period, Jin Mu-Won had been bedridden and couldnt move at all. If not for Eun Ha-Seol and Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung taking turns to look after him, he would probably still be stuck in bed.
Jin Mu-Won strolled around the inner courtyard of the tower for a while. Suddenly, he looked up at the night sky as if he was possessed by something.
One of the constetions was emitting a dazzling white radiance, drowning out the light from all the other stars.
The darkness of the night sky around that constetion pulsated in concert, as if it was resonating with the light. [3]
Footnotes:
[1] Transcendence: Technically, the term used here is ????(ti), meaning Complete Mastery. It differs from other instances of Transcendence ????(ϕN֮), but seeing as it only appears once in the entire 400 chapters, I believe this is a mistake by the author. The description also matches that for Transcendence in C14 perfectly.
[2] Six feet: Im converting all units of measurement from now on. Dealing with ancient units is a pain. Anyway, Dam Soo-Cheon is the same height as Jin Mu-Won.
[3] Dam Soo-Cheon is the light, and Jin Mu-Won is the shadow. In the Art of Ten Thousand Shadows (C6), Jin Mu-Won represents the darkness of the night sky that is lit up by a sea of stars. The phenomena in the sky appears to be prophesying that these two young men will spearhead the dawn of a new era, hence the title The Momentous Dawn of a New Era.
Chapter 26: Tiger and Dragon (1)
Eun Ha-Seols body was wrapped in a silvery-white mist of chi. The mist was an indication that she was recovering well after expelling the poison from her body.
Every time she breathed in and out, the mist would circle around her like a living thing.
RUSTLE
The mist brushed past the furniture in the room as it revolved around her, turning them to dust. However, Eun Ha-Seol was unaware of this fact as she was too focused on her meditation.
Suddenly, beads of sweat appeared on her face, marring her wless, gant beauty. The sweat dripped down her neck to her chest, but still, her concentration remained unaffected.
WHOOSH!
As her chi cirction reached its peak, the silvery-white mist thickened and began to spin faster and faster, bing like a barrier that protected her from outside interference.
Eun Ha-Seol had started training in the evening, but by the time she finallypleted her meditation, it was already the crack of dawn. She gathered the mist in the room near her head, then took a deep breath, absorbing it back into her body.
Haa she exhaled, opening her eyes. A clear light like the sparkle of a crystal flickered in her eyes for a brief moment.
She checked the condition of her body.
Every muscle of hers felt like a coiled spring, packed with strength that would gush forth at her will. Her chi flowed through her blood vessels like a raging river. The life force that she exuded was tremendous. It was clear that her body had been restored to tip-top condition.
However, she felt that this wasnt something to be happy about at all. Now that her strength had fully recovered, it was about time she left this ce. Just like the smashed-up furniture in this room, she did not belong here.
Sa-Ryung had gone out to investigate the movements of their enemies. The instant they returned to the Northern Army Fortress, was the instant she had to leave this ce.
Soon, the time wille when we have to say goodbye.
Eun Ha-Seol took a quick bath, then headed to the Tower of Shadows where Jin Mu-Won lived.
The morning light shone upon the Tower of Shadows, the only building which stood tall and proud amidst the ruins of the Northern Army Fortress. It was as if this tower stood as a testament to the enduring spirit of the Northern Army.
Beforeing here, Eun Ha-Seol had thought that there was no longer anything left of the Northern Army. The giant that was Northern Army has breathed itsst and ceased to exist, she was told. She had been convinced that this was trueuntil she met Jin Mu-Won.
He is not the kind of man who would take this lying down.
The Jin Mu-Won I know is a man who is constantly nning for the future. He might have nothing now, but he is always doing his best to survive each and every day, all the while waiting patiently for an opportunity.
I dont know what hes nning, but I have a feeling that the moment he steps out into the world, something big is going to happen.
Now that I think about it, Ive really gotten used to my current lifestyle, huh.
Every day, after finishing her meditation, she would head over to the Tower of Shadows for a meal.
She would eat the food he cooked and drink the tea he brewed. Whenever they spent time together, all her worldly worries would be cast aside and forgotten. It was a refreshing andforting feeling.
At first, she had felt awkward about epting his hospitality and sincerity. She was a trained human weapon, and weapons did not need to have emotions or form rtionships with people. At least, that was what she had been taught. However, Jin Mu-Won had changed her. She often found herself rxed and unguarded when she was together with him.
She knew that she had fallen into a trap of her own making. Even so, she couldnt resist her desire for the warmth that Jin Mu-Won gave her.
Suddenly, Eun Ha-Seol stopped in her tracks. A refined, elegant woman stood in her way.
She frowned.
Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung.
In the light of the rising sun, Seo-Moon Hye-Ryungs beauty was all the more dazzling. She was currently looking up at the Tower of Shadows, the sunlight casting a long, dark shadow behind her.
Sensing Eun Ha-Seols approach, Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung turned around. Eun Ha-Seol could see herself reflected in the womans clear eyes.
Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung greeted, Hello, Miss Eun.
Eun Ha-Seol remained silent, as if responding to Seo-Moon Hye-Ryungs greeting was beneath her. Seeing this, Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung smiled gently.
Are you taking a walk?
Food.
Huh?
I always eat together with him.
For a moment, Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung appeared confused at Eun Ha-Seols unexpected answer, but she quickly regained her initialposure.
By him, do you mean Mister Jin?
Eun Ha-Seol nodded like she had only stated the obvious.
Despite Shin Won-Ui ordering his servants to run a background check, we havent been able to dig up any information on this girl at all. We heard from Jin Mu-Won that her name is Eun Ha-Seol and that she is a distant rtive of his. However, that young man could be lying for all we know.
How is Mister Jins condition? Is he feeling better now?
You already know the answer to that, dont you? After all, the person who did that to him is yourpanion.
In the face of Eun Ha-Seols usation, Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung made an apologetic expression.
Once again, I apologize for what happened. I did not think that Mister Shim would be so extreme.
Hmph! Eun Ha-Seol snorted in derision.
Eun Ha-Seols attitude was starting to irritate Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung, but she restrained herself from showing her annoyance on her face. She was a few years older than Eun Ha-Seol and wanted to maintain the appearance of a mature woman in front of her.
Simrly, Eun Ha-Seol did not like Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung in the least. The woman gave her a disgusting feeling, so much so that she couldnt stand being in the same room as her. She puffed up her cheeks and glowered at the older woman.
However, Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung only found her angry expression adorable.
Miss Eun, do you have any siblings?
Why are you asking me this?
I was just a little curious, thats all.
Eun Ha-Seol looked wary of her, but in Seo-Moon Hye-Ryungs eyes, she was still really cute.
No, I dont have any siblings.
What about your parents?
Theyre dead.
Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung apologized, Im sorry. Lets talk about something else, shall we?
However, Eun Ha-Seol acted as if her questions hadnt bothered her at all. She went around her and started walking toward the Tower of Shadows, leaving Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung with no choice but to chase after her.
Wait, do you want to have tea together sometime?
Eun Ha-Seol red at Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung, her expression seeming to say, Why the fuck are you asking me that?
Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung giggled, Is that a no?
It seems that this womans going to keep annoying me until I ept.
Eun Ha-Seol nodded, saying, Later, when Im free.
Is that a promise?
Yes.
Come visit me when you have time, then. Ill be waiting for you.
Just then, the two arrived at the entrance of the Tower of Shadows. Eun Ha-Seol turned toward Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung and asked, Are you going to follow me inside?
No, replied Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung, shaking her head.
Eun Ha-Seol stared at Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung for a while longer. Finally, she looked away and entered the Tower of Shadows. Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung remained where she was, watching Eun Ha-Seol slowly climb up to the top of the tower.
TL note: This chapter should be called Tigress and Dragoness lol.
PF note: Trantor-nim got carried away this chapter. The title of the chapter is actually The Meeting of Tiger and Dragon but trantor-nim shortened it because he thought that it sounded cooler this way!
Chapter 27: Tiger and Dragon (2)
Jin Mu-Wonid out the breakfast table. He had a feeling that Eun Ha-Seol would being over for breakfast, so he cooked a pot of mutton stew and fried a te of her favorite pork cutlet in preparation for her arrival.
When Eun Ha-Seol showed up at the door, Jin Mu-Won smiled.
Come on in.
You havent been preparing an extra portion of food every meal, have you?
No, I just felt that it was about time you got hungry.
Eun Ha-Seol sat down at the table and observed Jin Mu-Won. His face was still rather pale.
In truth, Jin Mu-Won could heal himself almost instantly using the Art of Ten Thousand Shadows. However, he chose not to do so because healing too quickly would rekindle Shim Won-Uis suspicions.
For this same reason, he could not continue training or swordsmithing either. Instead, he spent his time reading or contemting philosophy, often bing absorbed in his own world.
Countless thoughts shed across his mind, shing and intertwining with each other to form entirely new ideas. Jin Mu-Won did not attempt to control the direction of his thoughts, he simply let it flow naturally like water.
Unexpectedly, this decision of his invoked thoughts and ideas that he had never even considered before. As the random concepts in his head piled up, they began to connect together and organize themselves, finallying together as a whole.
In just a few days, Jin Mu-Won felt that he had taken yet another significant step forward. His understanding of the world had deepened, and as a result, his sixth sense had sharpened as well.
It was this sixth sense that had told him Eun Ha-Seol would being over in the morning, and true enough, she showed up right after he finished preparing breakfast for her! This precognition of his was now so absurd, even Jin Mu-Won was bbergasted. [1]
He felt that this ability definitely had something to do with the Art of Ten Thousand Shadows. He wasnt sure why it was like that, but practicing the Art had indeed expanded his insight and perception to an unbelievable extent.
Eun Ha-Seol focused all her concentration on moving her chopsticks, tasting one dish after another. She then nodded in approval and eximed, Yum
Eun Ha-Seols reactions to the food made Jin Mu-Won smile. She was a lot more expressive than when he had first met her. Back then, she was like a lifeless, emotionless doll. Right now, though, that doll hade to life, bing bright and animated.
She was especially lively when it came to food. Whenever she ate something good or bad, it would be written clearly all over her face. Jin Mu-Won felt that this was the biggest change that had urred in her.
Eun Ha-Seol put a piece of pork cutlet in her mouth and chewed.
Is it good?
Mm-hmm.
Eun Ha-Seol nodded cutely, prompting Jin Mu-Won to reach out and stroke her head. Her face immediately turned red with embarrassment.
However, Jin Mu-Won seemed to not notice this, remarking, Thats a relief.
Huh?
I was starting to get worried because you seemed to have lost your appetite recently.
Jin Mu-Won filled Eun Ha-Seols te with fried pork cutlet. She lowered her head and stared nkly at the te for a while.
No one has ever cared about me as much as he does. Not even my Master, who raised me since I was young.
Suddenly, she lifted her head and looked directly at Jin Mu-Won.
Why?
Why what?
Why are you so nice to me?
This time, it was Jin Mu-Won''s turn to stare nkly at her. She did not avoid his gaze.
Why Do I really need a reason to be nice to you?
Where Ie from, there is a reason for everything.
Everyone who approached Eun Ha-Seol had done so with an ulterior motive. It didnt matter if their motives were good or bad, only that they desired something of her. Thus, even though Jin Mu-Wons pure sincerity felt foreign to her, she weed it with open arms.
You must have had a hard life, said Jin Mu-Won gently.
Tears welled up in Eun Ha-Seols eyes. She quickly looked down and pretended to eat.
Why am I always like this when Im together with him? Its like my emotions are spiraling out of control! Its weird, and it makes me feel uneasy.
Eun Ha-Seol yed with her chopsticks for a while, then suddenly said, I-I might have to leave this ce soon.
Youre leaving?
Yeah. Im almost fully recovered, after all.
Jin Mu-Wons eyes trembled. He did his best to put on a show ofposure.
When?
Soon.
Sa-Ryung had gone to meet her master. When they came back, she would have to leave the Northern Army Fortress.
Is that so? I understand.
I already knew that we would have to part someday. I even prepared myself for it. Sowhy? Why does my heart feel so empty? Since when did she be so important to me, that I cant stand the thought of us being apart?
Please remember to tell me before you leave, okay? Dont just disappear quietly.
Dont worry, I wont leave without saying goodbye.
Jin Mu-Won smiled.
When Eun Ha-Seol had gone, he went to the smithy and began to work on something.
Jin Mu-Won walked out of the Northern Army Fortress, climbed to the top of the nearby hill where he could look down upon the entirety of the fortress, and sat down under a massive tree.
Haa he sighed, leaning against the tree. He had spent thest few days working non-stop inside the stuffy smithy.
He took a deep breath. As the fresh air filled his lungs, vitality returned to his lifeless face.
The fortress had beenpletely taken over by Shim Won-Ui and hispanions, leaving him with very little freedom to move around.
Theyre treating the ce like their own home, even though Im the owner of the fortress. These people are such a pain in the ass
Ahh, screw them. I have more important things to worry about, like
Ha-Seol.
Recently, whenever he thought about Eun Ha-Seol, his heart would start thumping like crazy.
Is there something wrong with my mental state?
Jin Mu-Won pondered this thought for a while but quickly rejected the notion. He knew that he was just avoiding the truth because hed much rather be insane than infatuated.
It wasnt like there wasnt a simple solution to his restlessness. He closed his eyes and concentrated on the Art of Ten Thousand Shadows.
WHOOSH!
His shadow chi flowed through his veins, and his senses expanded out toward the horizon. He could hear the buzzing of bees and the rustling of leaves a dozen miles away. The warmth from the vitality all around him soothed his heavy heart.
Hmm?
Jin Mu-Wons eyes widened in shock. A unique presence had appeared at the edge of his senses, emitting an immense power that made his hair stand on end. Even the air around that person seemed to shimmer in trepidation.
An expert.
Jin Mu-Won did not know exactly how strong this person was. The only thing he could be absolutely certain of was that he was no match for this person.
I have to get out of here
His instincts kicked in, telling him to run away as fast as he could. However, before he could move, he felt a wave of power wash over him as a man made his way up the hill.
The man was six feet tall and donned arge ck cloak that billowed out behind him in the strong wind. His indomitable aura rippled through the air like the waves of an earthquake, as if it wanted to crush everything around him to pieces.
Suddenly, he turned around, looking straight in Jin Mu-Wons direction. Only then did Jin Mu-Won notice the huge scar running across his face.
BA-DUMP!
The instant the two mens eyes met, Jin Mu-Wons heart sank. The man looked at Jin Mu-Won, a curious expression on his face.
Jin Mu-Won could clearly see the mans powerful ambition and unyielding determination in his eyes. It was as if there was a fire strong enough to set the whole world ame burning within them. Although he felt like his soul had been ignited as well, he did not back down and look away.
This time, it was the mans turn to be surprised. Never had another person locked gazes with him like this without eventually breaking eye contact.
Since he was young, he had been extremely ambitious. To achieve his desires, he had given it everything he had. This resolve had etched itself into his eyes, turning them into a de that would cut into the soul of whoever locked gazes with him.
Those familiar with him gave a name to this ability, calling it the Eyes of Domination.
Anyone who faced the Eyes of Domination for the first time would undoubtedly feel a sense of danger and look away. It didnt matter whether they were young or old, strong or weak. The only ones who could endure his stare were those with resolve equal to, or greater than his.
As a result, some called him Dam Soo-Cheon, the gentleman with the eyes of a king looking down upon his subjects.
Others knew of him as Dam Soo-Cheon, the young dragon of the Central ins, renowned worldwide for seeding in the Hundred Man Challenge.
But most often, he was known as the lone star illuminating the heavens.
In other words
The Lone Star of the Azure Sky (n), Dam Soo-Cheon!
Footnotes:
[1] Jin Mu-Won already possessed some kind of precognitive ability before this chapter. In C7, he predicted exactly which day Hwang Cheol would show up.
TL note: Tiger and Dragon
As most of you have probably guessed, Jin Mu-Won is the Tiger and Dam Soo-Cheon is the Dragon.
In East Asian cultures, the Tiger and Dragon are often mentioned together. They are both symbols of authority, valor, and strength, but at the same time, they are pr opposites of each other (Yin and Yang, Fire and Water, Left and Right, East and West). Quite the apt description for Dam Soo-Cheon and Jin Mu-Won, isnt it?
In addition, there are references to the Four Symbols, also known as the Four Sacred Beasts: Azure Dragon of the East (n, , Qinglong, Seiryu, Cheong-Nyong), White Tiger of the West (, Baihu, Byakko, Baek-Ho), Vermillion Bird of the South (ȸ, Zhuque, Suzaku, Ju-Jak), and ck Tortoise of the North (, Xuanwu, Genbu, Hyeon-Mu).
This reference is most noted in Dam Soo-Cheons moniker, Lone Star of the Azure Sky (n), and the Azure Dragon Society (n). Hence, I chose to use the word azure, instead of cerulean, even though they pretty much mean the same thing.
On the other hand, the White Tiger is a god of war and righteousness, raining judgment down on evil. That sounds a lot like a certain someone
Chapter 28: Tiger and Dragon (3)
If Dam Soo-Cheon was fire, then Jin Mu-Won was water. The former asserted himself through his fiery disposition, while thetter adapted to everything in his stride like formless water.
SWOOSH!
Just as Dam Soo-Cheon was about to call out to Jin Mu-Won, a violent torrent of energy tore through the air, zooming straight at Dam Soo-Cheon like a bolt of lightning.
CRASH!
The attack mmed into Dam Soo-Cheon, stirring up a whirlwind of dust. Jin Mu-Won shielded his eyes from the devastating windstorm and backed away.
Damned brat! You sure ran away quickly, but we still caught up to you!
When the dust cloud settled, three men wearing red robes and matching red bamboo hats[1] appeared. Oddly, they had identical auras like triplets born on the same day at the same time.
They each wielded a crimson longsword with the edges sharpened so finely that Jin Mu-Won could sense the keenness of the des despite having retreated out of the battlefield.
Jin Mu-Won frowned. These three martial artists had pretty distinct characteristics, but for some reason, he hadnt heard of them before. Although he lived in the isted North, he always made Uncle Hwang tell him about the famous martial artists of the Central ins, so he expected to be able to recognize most of them, if not all.
Dam Soo-Cheon stood in the middle of the battlefield. Despite enduring a direct hit from the assassins, he was totally unscathed.
I wondered who they were, but it seems like these people are rted to the ones I fought previously.
Dam Soo-Cheons eyes shed with excitement. He bellowed, Who goes there? I cant believe you guys attacked me without warning!
Dam Soo-Cheons roar was intimidating, but it wasnt enough to make the red-robed men flinch. Rather, all he did was make them openly hostile toward him.
Did you think that you would be able to get away scot-free after annihting the Shrouded Ghost Squad?
The Shrouded Ghost Squad?
Dam Soo-Cheons eyes glinted as he recalled the warriors who had assaulted him on his way to the Northern Army Fortress.
Shrouded Ghost Squad, Shrouded Ghost Squad Ah! I think I remember now. I guess its just as well that you guys are here to take revenge for them because I have a lot of questions for you. For example, who exactly are those guys? Also, why did they try to get in my way?
The Shrouded Ghost Squad and their leader, the Shrouded Fire Demon. None of them were ordinary opponents. Most importantly, Ive never heard of warriors like them in the Central ins before.
Maybe others couldnt be sure of this, but not me. After all, Ive made absolutely sure to pay attention to every small detail of everything happening in the gangho.
In addition, the martial arts used by the Shrouded Ghost Squad are very different from the rest of the gangho. So different, in fact, that they could be said to be operating on opposing principles. How interesting is that?!
Dam Soo-Cheon looked at the red-robed men. He couldnt see their faces clearly because of their bamboo hats, but his instincts told him that they werent ordinary martial artists.
Who are you? one of the men asked.
You guys came after me without even knowing who I am?
Dam Soo-Cheon narrowed his eyes. He did not know which faction the Shrouded Ghost Squad and the Shrouded Fire Demon belonged to. Likewise, these people affiliated with them had no idea who he was. They only sought him out because he had obliterated the entire squad.
They are probably pursuing me for no other reason than to eliminate a potential obstacle to their ns.
The red-robed man continued asking, How are you rted to the Northern Army?
The Northern Army? I hold them in high esteem, and have wished to visit their headquarters for the longest time.
So youre saying, you have no ties to them at all?
Before today, that would have been the truth. By the way, just who are you people?
This isnt fair, you know. Ive answered all of your questions, so its only natural that you answer mine, right?
Suddenly, the red-robed mens killing aura intensified and their chi began to stir.
This is an interrogation. You have no right to ask questions.
Dams Soo-Cheons face darkened with rage.
These people arent normal. I had a feeling that there was something off about the Shrouded Ghost Squad back when I fought them, but I couldnt get any answers out of them because of their mental resilience.
They possess a ridiculous killing intent and disy incredible courage in the face of fear. Those arent things that can be learned in just a day or two. They would have had to ovee countless hardships and go through rigorous training to be like that.
There arent many organizations in the Central ins that can aplish this. Even if they could, that doesnt mean that they have done so. At least, not to my knowledge.
In conclusion, these people most likely belong to a faction that I am unfamiliar with. Not that thats a bad thing!
The red-robed men charged at Dam Soo-Cheon, their des slicing through the air.
WHOOSH!
A ck wind surrounded Dam Soo-Cheon, obscuring his vision from the razor-sharp crimson swords concealed within. In Jin Mu-Wons eyes, it was as if Dam Soo-Cheon had been swallowed by a tsunami of red and ck.
Dam Soo-Cheon appeared to be in grave danger. Any moment now, he could be ripped to shreds. Even so, he remained motionless.
Are you just going to give up and do nothing?
I highly doubt that!
Jin Mu-Won could sense a tremendous chi radiating out from inside the battlefield, and at the very center of this chi storm, stood Dam Soo-Cheon.
RUMBLE!
Suddenly, the rays of a blindingly bright, white light pierced through the sea of red and ck. The light was so ring that not only Jin Mu-Won, but even the three assassins were forced to squeeze their eyes shut in pain.
BOOM!
GEUHEUK!
A deafening p of thunder resounded throughout the battlefield, followed almost immediately by the sound of someone throwing up blood.
Jin Mu-Won opened his eyes, only to see a red-robed assassin soaring in midair, his chest sunken inwards unnaturally.
Dam Soo-Cheons explosive punch had literally sent the man flying.
Lil bro! The eyes of the two assassins still alive became dyed red with hatred and grief for their dead brother.
However, Dam Soo-Cheon wasnt about to let go of this opportunity. He charged towards the remaining assassins like a raging tempest.
ROAR!
The wind from Dam Soo-Cheons attack mmed into his opponents, engulfing them in a devastating whirlwind of light.
In response, the assassins spat out wave after wave of crimson sword chi infused with blood, shouting in unison, BREAK THROUGH! CASCADING RAIN OF BLOOD (Ѫfm)! [2]
A sea of crimson des plunged downward like a waterfall, raining directly upon Dam Soo-Cheon.
Although this move was a double-edged sword, the assassins knew that Dam Soo-Cheon would not be able to continue attacking them while dodging their bombardment. If he was a normal person, he would definitely retreat at this point and wait for his next opportunity.
Unfortunately for them, Dam Soo-Cheon was not normal. He was a man who seized every opening without fail.
SMASH!
Dam Soo-Cheon let out a ear-splitting roar as he rammed right into the assassins.
A momentter, Jin Mu-Won clearly saw two men being sent flying like rag dolls.
When the assassins bodies finally plummeted back to the ground, they split into a dozen misshapen pieces on impact. There was no sign of life left on their faces. They had died the instant Dam Soo-Cheons attack had hit them.
Jin Mu-Won looked at Dam Soo-Cheon. The man hadnt gotten away unscathed from his reckless charge. His face was pale, and he seemed unsteady on his feet. In addition, there was a crimson sword sticking out of his back.
A suicide attack.
Thats not something that just anyone can do. How many people would willingly choose to put their own life at risk for the sake of killing their opponent?
Huff...huff panted Dam Soo-Cheon, raising his head to face Jin Mu-Won. He was drenched in blood, but his eyes were sparkling.
Sorry for thete introduction. My name is Dam Soo-Cheon.
...I am Jin Mu-Won.
The first meeting between the two men who would one day be called the Martial Emperor of the Azure Sky and the Northern de, urred while standing atop a pile of corpses.
Er, what happened to you!?
Mister Dam?
As Dam Soo-Cheon entered the Northern Army Fortress, Shim Won-Ui and Seo-Moon Hye-Ryungs jaws dropped in shock. However, he ignored them and turned to Jin Mu-Won instead, saying, Thank you for allowing me to stay here without prior notice.
Dont worry, the doors of the Northern Army Fortress are open to all. Rest well, and I hope you feel better soon.
Jin Mu-Won gave Dam Soo-Cheon a fist salute, then walked out of the central za. Dam Soo-Cheon watched him as he left.
Wah, its Dam-orabeoni! It sure took you long enough to get here! eximed Shim Soo-Ah, who hade running as soon as she heard of Dam Soo-Cheons arrival.
Shim Soo-Ah grabbed Dam Soo-Cheons hands in greeting. rmed, Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung red at her.
Jin Mu-Won made his way to a secluded corner of the fortress, then quickly released the fists he had been clenching tightly all this time. His palms were covered in cold sweat, and his fingernails had left imprints on his skin.
Dam Soo-Cheon.
I never imagined that a guy like that could exist.
Not only does he have the explosive power of a volcano, he also doesnt hesitate to ce himself in danger in order to get what he wants.
He makes good decisions quickly and rationally. To call him a genius would be a grave understatement.
He is a born warrior.
Jin Mu-Won suddenly felt a pang in his heart. He turned to look at the Lofty Sky Manor, where Dam Soo-Cheon was staying. For a moment, it was as if he could see an illusion of a slumbering dragon coiled around the building.
At the thought of this young warrior of the same generation, his heart tingled with both excitement and trepidation.
Footnotes:
[1] Bamboo hat: A big woven hat meant to provide shade from the sun and block the rain.
[2] BREAK THROUGH! CASCADING RAIN OF BLOOD (Ѫfm)!: Literal trantion - Go! Ten Thousand Droplets of Blood Erode and Break Through!
Chapter 29: Some People Can Never Be Together (1)
The first thing Dam Soo-Cheon did after arriving at the Northern Army Fortress, was order the servants to prepare arge, warm bath for him. When the bath was ready, Dam Soo-Cheon entered the bathroom.
He took off his clothes, revealing his toned, muscr body beneath. Just like a wild stallion that charged around recklessly on the ins, he was covered in wounds bothrge and small.
These wounds were a memento of the Hundred Man Challenge. The evidence of the battles that he had gone through were carved into his very flesh. And today, a new record was added to the archiveshis most recent battle with the red-robed assassins.
His raw flesh could be seen where hed been stabbed or shed by the assassins des. If the wounds had been any deeper, they would most definitely have been fatal. Dam Soo-Cheon had taken several emergency measures to stem the bleeding, but he would have to seek proper medical care as soon as he could.
Dam Soo-Cheon downed the wine that Shim Won-Ui had given him. It was the hard stuff. After finishing his drink, he entered the bath.
Ugh!
His open wounds stung like someone had rubbed salt in them, but Dam Soo-Cheon did not flinch. He submerged himself up to his neck, then began to meditate.
PSHHH!
Just as he was wondering whether the water would boil immediately, a cloud of steam appeared. Dam Soo-Cheon continued meditating in the steamy bathwater.
His skin soon turned red. Thebination of strong wine and hot water caused his blood vessels to dte to twice their usual size. Not only were his major arteries and veins dted, even the smaller blood vessels had expanded greatly.
In addition, the speed of his blood cirction increased manifold due to the fusion of his powerful chi into his blood, speeding up his healing rate remarkably. As his healing rate reached its peak, the pores on Dam Soo-Cheons skin opened up to expel the impurities in his body along with his sweat, releasing a foul stench.
At first nce, the method he was using to heal his wounds appeared rudimentary, but studies by multiple generations of physicians had proved that this simple technique was also the most effective one. Also, Dam Soo-Cheon knew from experience that his wounds would close much faster using this technique whenpared to swallowing pills and medicines.
Besides removing the impurities from his body via the sweat nds, the contaminants inside the wounds were also discharged as a yellow ooze, followed by dirtied blood. Once the wounds were cleaned, they immediately began to form scabs.
Hoo!
An hour after entering the bath, Dam Soo-Cheon opened his eyes.
SPLASH!
He stood up, causing the ckened bathwater to overflow. He summoned several servants to rece the bathwater, then got back into the water and restarted his meditation.
Dam Soo-Cheon repeated this healing and rinsing procedure three times until the bathwater was clean and no longer stinky. When he was finally done, color had returned to his previously pale face.
He clenched his fists and examined his body. He wasnt in his best condition, but it wasnt too bad either. A few days rest, and he would be back to normal.
To a normal martial artist, this kind of healing speed would be miraculous. However, to Dam Soo-Cheon, this was the norm. That was because the martial arts that he practiced was one that aimed to maximize the natural abilities of the human body. It had been developed over many years and generations and had been refined so much that the physical techniques of other schools paled inparison.
Dam Soo-Cheon changed into new clothes and walked out of the bathroom.
Oh? Youre already out of the bath? greeted Shim Won-Ui. He had been waiting for Dam Soo-Cheon outside the bathroom together with Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung.
How do you feel?
Much better than before. Dam Soo-Cheon smiled.
What happened? Did the Soul-Hunting Swordsman, Baek Seong-Won, do this to you?
The Soul-Hunting Swordsman, Baek Seong-Won, was a disciple of Mount Heaven Sword Sect and a murim legend. He was also Dam Soo-Cheons final opponent in his Hundred Man Challenge.
Dam Soo-Cheon shook his head, saying, Baek Seong-Wons Sword of Soul-Hunting Light is indeed fearsome. However, he isnt strong enough to injure me.
Then, who did it?
Dam Soo-Cheon told the other two about his fight with the Shrouded Fire Devil and the Shrouded Ghost Squad. Shim Won-Ui and Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung weighed the gravity of the situation with a severe look on their faces.
Is that true? Are those guys really strong enough to hurt you so badly?
Yes, they are. If I hadnt been vignt and gone all out, I might not have survived the encounter.
What!? Honestly, Im still finding it hard to believe your story.
Not to boast, but out of all the people in the gangho, Shim Won-Ui felt that no one understood Dam Soo-Cheon more than he did. He could say with absolute confidence, that Dam Soo-Cheon was a monster.
His ability to master new martial arts within a very short timeframe, excellent decision-making, outstanding observational skills, and keen awareness of the flow of battle, were all traits that Shim Won-Ui could only wish for.
Did you manage to find out their identities?
They didnt have anything on them that could be used for identification.
What about their martial arts?
Dam Soo-Cheon shook his head, causing Shim Won-Ui and Seo-Moon Hye-Ryungs expressions to turn grimmer.
Although Dam Soo-Cheon was about the same age as them, as a martial artist, he was far more experienced. He had also been through more tough battles than anyone else in the same generation. Therefore, if even he could not recognize his attackers, then those peoples existences were probably as yet unknown to the world.
This isnt an insignificant matter, so I will be sure to investigate it thoroughly after I return to the Central ins.
Perhaps
Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung was just about to make a suggestion when Shim Won-Ui shook his head and interrupted her. He said, Its not them. That organization has been gone for dozens of years. Theres no way Heavens Summit wouldnt know if they were to make a reappearance now.
Even so
At the mention of that taboo organization, Shim Won-Uis eyes hardened threateningly, leaving Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung unable to finish her sentence.
However, Dam Soo-Cheon spoke up, saying, You know, I dont really care who they are.
What do you mean?
I just want someone to bring some excitement to this dull, lifeless gangho, blurted Dam Soo-Cheon, his eyes lighting up with anticipation like a pair of torches in the dark.
I dont know about the others, but Im sure Hyung-nim and Ryung know the real reason why I embarked on the Hundred Man Challenge, right?
Haa The two people Dam Soo-Cheon was referring to sighed in unison.
Heavens Summit was governed by nine major factions, whose leaders were collectively called the Nine Skies. Because of this, Heavens Summit was sometimes referred to as the Summit of Nine.
Over thest hundred years, Heavens Summit had gradually restructured the political powers in the gangho, eventually forming a centralized government. The current Heavens Summit was an all-powerful organization with eyes all over the gangho, ensuring that no insurrection, no matter how small, would escape its notice.
Under this new world order, only the old and powerful factions were allowed to prosper and expand. New factions and young warriors were heavily oppressed and were prevented from interfering or achieving anything in the gangho. This naturally made it extremely difficult for martial artists of the younger generation to stand out amongst the crowd.
Many people desired change but were helpless in the face of the totalitarian rule of Heavens Summit. This was especially true after the disappearance of the Silent Night, as no one had dared to challenge Heavens Summit since then.
Dam Soo-Cheon was one of these people.
He was often called a martial arts prodigy, but the truth was, he did not wield any actual influence within the gangho. Nheless, in order to realize his dream, he needed to seize arge amount of political power.
Enough power to shake the very foundations of the current world.
The clippety-clop of horses hooves could be heard as a carriage made its way forward along the uneven road. A man dressed in a pale green oiled raincoat and wearing a bamboo hat sat on the in, unadorned coachmans seat, holding the horses reins. An ancient, gaudy sword was strapped to his waist.
The constant vibration of the carriage was making the man nod off to sleep. Every time his head bobbed downwards, the bamboo hat he wore seemed to quiver a little, as if it would fall off his head anytime.
A gentle breeze blew past, and the horses continued trotting onward even without his guidance. How far have I gone? he thought. Suddenly, he lifted his head and looked straight ahead.
A sharp glint shed across his eyes, hidden beneath the bamboo hat.
Show yourself.
Before the coachman had finished speaking, a white-robed man appeared out of nowhere. Like the coachman, he too wore a bamboo hat that hid his face. He bowed towards the carriage, saying, My lord!
The coachman did not reply, instead, he turned his head to look behind him. Just then, a voice could be heard from inside the carriage.
If I remember right, your name was Chu-Wol ()? [1]
There was no trace of emotion in that cold voice. It was difficult to even tell if the speaker was male or female.
The white-robed man knelt down on the ground.
I have returned, milord.
Have you found her?
I have. However
Hmm?
Theres a problem. The target is inside the Northern Army Fortress.
The Northern Army Fortress?
The person inside the carriage fell silent. The coachman and the white-robed man waited for their lords response with bated breaths.
After some time, the person inside the carriage spoke again, saying, It seems that she exceeded my expectations, and made a very clever choice. No one would even think of searching for her inside the Northern Army Fortress.
Sensing a slightly troubled tone in his lords voice, the coachman suggested, Shall I go? Ill make sure to clean up the mess afterwards.
No, youre not capable of fighting without leaving any traces behind.
But
I said, NO.
Fine!
The coachman immediately shut his mouth. His lord was not one to change their mind after making a decision. Once his lord said no, it was useless no matter what excuse he came up with.
Suddenly, the white-robed man interjected, Theres another problem.
What problem?
Dam Soo-Cheon and a couple of his friends are also in the fortress.
Dam Soo-Cheon? Did he go there after finishing the Hundred Man Challenge?
Yes. In addition, he annihted the Shrouded Ghost Squad and killed the Bloody Triplets (ѪӰħ)[2] on his way to the fortress.
How on earth did he end up running into the Shrouded Ghost Squad?
It seems to have been a coincidence. Also, ording to our investigation, the Bloody Triplets only started pursuing him because he finished off the Shrouded Ghost Squad.
Tsk!
The person inside the carriage fell silent once again, and only the sounds of someone drumming their fingers could be heard. This time though, the silencested much longer than before.
Finally, the person ordered, Light up the signal re to summon the Chaos Demon (ħ). [3]
Youre dispatching the Chaos Demon? eximed the coachman, dumbstruck.
If youre so confident, why dont you do it yourself?
Okay, thats enough, I get it already. The thing is, if we send the Chaos Demon, then Dam Soo-Cheon and the rest of them will probably
Its about time we teach the Lone Star of the Azure Sky just how high the sky truly is.
I see. In that case, Ill summon him, said the white-robed man hesitatingly. He still hadnt recovered from the initial shock of his lords decision.
The white-robed man had nothing more to report. It was time for the carriage to move on. The white-robed man stepped aside respectfully to let the carriage pass.
Far away in the distance, arge g fluttered in the wind. A caravan made up of dozens of freight wagons filled with supplies were being escorted by over a hundred warriors.
The carriage where the white-robed mans master rode incorporated itself into the very back of the caravan as if it had always been a part of it.
Footnotes:
[1] Chu-Wol (): A code name simr to Sa-Ryung. It means Autumn Moon.
[2] Bloody Triplets (ѪӰħ): Literal TL C Blood Mirror/Shadow Three Demons.
[3] Chaos Demon (ħ): Literal TL C Chaos Demon.
Chapter 30: Some People Can Never Be Together (2)
Jin Mu-Won clenched his teeth. Ever since the moment he had locked eyes with Dam Soo-Cheon, the energy that he had been suppressing till now had been gradually spiraling out of control. His heart was racing with excitement as if someone had thrown a rock into a still pond.
Dam Soo-Cheon had lit a fire in his heart.
Dam Soo-Cheon.
Ive never been so worked up in my life. It seems that being part of the same generation as a warrior like Dam Soo-Cheon has made my blood boil with anticipation.
Jin Mu-Won picked up a wooden sword that had been leaning against the wall. It was a wooden sword that had been soaked in his blood and sweat, and also a wooden sword that he had swung a million times. The evidence of his hard work could be seen in its every scratch and crack.
He raised the de and held it in front of him.
As if he were staring Death in the eye, his expression turned serious.
In the darkness of the training room, he imagined Dam Soo-Cheon standing right in front of him. The sight of Dam Soo-Cheon fighting against the three assassins had left a strong impression on him, and he used his memory of the battle to incorporate every detail about the man into his mental image.
He pointed the sword at Dam Soo-Cheons forehead. Seeing this, the Dam Soo-Cheon in front of him smiled mockingly, taunting him.
Jin Mu-Won''s face twitched.
He was painfully aware of his own strength. Right now, he was no match for Dam Soo-Cheon, not even close. If martial arts were a marathon, then Dam Soo-Cheon would have had arge head start on him, running straight down the beaten path. On the other hand, he was still standing at the starting line.
He swung his sword at the illusion of Dam Soo-Cheon.
SWOOSH!
Jin Mu-Won shed horizontally, then upwards. He thrust his de forward, followed closely by a diagonal chop. His footwork was like water, flowing naturally around the entire training room unhindered.
However, the frustration on his face betrayed his true feelings. His imaginary opponent, Dam Soo-Cheon, never allowed the sword to graze him. He simply looked down on Jin Mu-Won like he was a mere insect.
This is my turf.
How many times have I swung my sword in this very room? How many wooden swords have I carved? Even when my fingernails fell off and the skin of my palms tore, I continued training right here, in this space Ive created for myself!
Not to mention, it was also here that I made my decision to sharpen my de in preparation for the future.
And yet, it is only now that I understand howcent Ive been. The heavens have shown me that by erecting a wall in front of me.
A colossal wall by the name of Dam Soo-Cheon!
Sometimeter, Jin Mu-Won left the training room. He closed the door behind him and moved some furniture in front of it. When he was done, the door had beenpletely hidden. It was a simple, but extremely effective, setup. Unless one already knew that there was a door there, they would think that it was just another normal wall. Concealing the location of the training room also allowed him to train to his hearts content without worrying about spies.
Jin Mu-Won headed for the smithy. He had lit up the furnacest night to melt a lump of steel, and it was now ready for shaping.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
He deftly hammered the metal again and again, forgetting about the passage of time. So intent was he on molding it into the shape he envisioned. This new work of his was far more intricate and delicate than anything he had ever worked on before.
Many hourster, Jin Mu-Won finally finished his newest masterpiece. He ced the object in a wooden box that he had prepared beforehand.
Whew! he eximed, exhausted.
Suddenly, he looked up abruptly and turned to face the doorway, a strange expression on his face.
He saw a young man with hair like a lions mane leaning against the door. Who else could it be but Dam Soo-Cheon?
Jin Mu-Won put down the wooden box in his hands. He asked, Ermwhy are you here?
I came here to thank you.
Dam Soo-Cheon walked towards Jin Mu-Won. With every step he took, an immense aura seemed to pour out of him.
When martial artists reached a certain level of mastery, they gained the ability to control their own aura. Dam Soo-Cheon had most certainly reached that level, but it was clear that he had no intention of hiding his presence. He was just that confident in himself.
Although Jin Mu-Won felt pressured by the aura, he did not shrink back. This was because he did not sense any killing intent from Dam Soo-Cheon.
Dam Soo-Cheon stopped a short distance away from Jin Mu-Won. He sped his hands together in a fist salute and lowered his head slightly, saying, Thank you for letting us stay here even though we didnt ask for your permission. It has always been my dream to visit the Northern Army Fortress.
I hope you werent disappointed. After all, there is nothing here but abandoned ruins.
No, there is something. A man who has inherited the will and spirit of the Northern Army.
Are you sure youre not mistaken? There is no way a normal person like me can inherit all that, you know?
Hahaha!ughed Dam Soo-Cheon. Like his aura, even hisughter exuded confidence.
The Northern Army is a very distinguished faction.
For more than a hundred years, they stood at the frontlines of the war against the Silent Night. Their true capabilities cannot be determined from mere material possessions like this fortress or its treasury.
In the end, what makes a faction strong, are the people.
It ismon for the first generation of a new faction to be sessful. However, it is not easy for that sess to be passed down to future generations.
As time passes, the foundationsid by the first generation will wane and be forgotten. When these foundations have beenpletely lost, most factions will cease to exist.
Only those who could pass their teachings and principles down to the next generation can survive, and only those that have survived for several generations have the right to call themselves distinguished.
Looking at it this way, the Northern Army definitely belongs to the ranks of the distinguished. Every single generation has devoted itself to its original purpose of defending against the Silent Night. The pride of the Northern Army is based on their extraordinary tenacity and unshakable resolve, even more so than any other faction.
Despite knowing this, I was still extremely shocked the first time I locked gazes with the man named Jin Mu-Won. No one else has ever remained that calm after meeting me for the first time.
I dont know if he has inherited the true legacy of the Northern Army, but that isnt important. Whats really important, is the fact that he can stare me directly in the eye without cowering. Just that fact alone is enough to tell me that this person isnt normal.
Thus, there is one thing I can be absolutely sure of.
This man, Jin Mu-Won, has inherited the unyielding will of the Northern Army.
To Dam Soo-Cheon, it didnt matter whether the inheritance was tangible or not. Even if Jin Mu-Won hadnt learned any martial arts, he still possessed the indomitable spirit of the Northern Army. There was nothing more inspiring to him than that simple fact.
Since childhood, I have held the Northern Army in the highest regard.
The sheer fighting spirit and tenacity needed to fight a war against the Silent Night for over a hundred years is nothing if not admirable.
Thats why I had toe here no matter what.
The ce where I take the first step to achieving my dream can only be right here in this very fortress!
Dam Soo-Cheons gaze swept around the smithy. It was crude, but it gave him a feeling of sturdiness. Like it was stubbornly hanging on even though it didnt have much.
Is it because this is a smithy?
I think not.
The atmosphere in this smithy revolves around the man at its center, Jin Mu-Won. It is this person that gives life to the structure, that turns the stale air of the ruin into an expression of his obstinacy. Perhaps even he himself hasnt noticed how his presence is changing the deste atmosphere of this ruin into something greater.
All in all, Im really d I came here.
My original reason foring to this fortress was to bask in the spirit of the Northern Army, and bask in that spirit I did, even though the way it happened was different from what I expected. I dont know if Jin Mu-Won will be my enemy in the future, or if he will walk the same path as me, as a friend. Still, just being able to meet him makes my trip here worth it.
Suddenly, Dam Soo-Cheons eyebrows twitched. He sensed that someone was behind him.
He turned around and looked at the entrance to the smithy. There, he saw a petite girl of about fourteen years of age.
She had dark eyes, pale skin, and ck hair tinged with a hint of blue. Dam Soo-Cheon could clearly see the wariness in her eyes, but like Jin Mu-Won, she wasnt afraid of him.
This girl isnt normal either!
Eun Ha-Seol walked forward and stood next to Jin Mu-Won as if she was his protector.
An eerie stillness filled the smithy.
The tension between Eun Ha-Seol and Dam Soo-Cheon was suffocating, like two beasts ready to spring into action.
Just then, Jin Mu-Won intervened, saying, Since youre here, how about a cup of tea?
The tension broke in an instant. Both Dam Soo-Cheon and Eun Ha-Seol nodded unthinkingly.
Jin Mu-Won smiled and went to brew the tea, with Eun Ha-Seol staying by his side. It seemed that she was trying her best to protect him.
Would you mind telling me your name, Young Miss? asked Dam Soo-Cheon.
Eun Ha-Seol.
I see. My name is Dam Soo-Cheon. I will remember you.
Eun Ha-Seol frowned but did not say anything. She only had eyes for Jin Mu-Won, anyway.
Chapter 31: Some People Can Never Be Together (3)
Liken my body to a tree. Let my chi be the water, my Spirit Pce the roots, my Upper Pir the trunk, and my Hundred Meetings the branches and leaves.
As long as I believe with all my heart that something is real, even an illusion can turn into reality. The forces of nature will follow my hearts desires.
Seo Mu-Sang opened his eyes. A light briefly shed within them.
Recently, his martial arts had improved dramatically. He had been getting better every single day, so much so that the Seo Mu-Sang of a few days ago was iparable to the current Seo Mu-Sang. His formerly obstructed chi channels were nowpletely unblocked, allowing his chi to flow smoothly and continually within his body.
For the longest time, Seo Mu-Sang had desperately longed to get stronger. His thirst for powerbined with his new insightsplemented each other, resulting in an unbelievably rapid rate of growth.
After finishing his training, he rxed and savored the pleasure of progress.
Yeop Wol.
At my current level of strength, I dont think I would lose to Yeop Wol even in an all-out fight. However, I cannot be careless.
Regardless of how much my martial arts have improved, my status as an external affiliate of Heavens Summit remains unchanged. On the other hand, Yeop Wol has the support of Shim Won-Ui.
I must be patient. Revenge is a dish best served cold. One day, I will repay all the grievances I have suffered.
If there was anything Seo Mu-Sang learned aftering to the Northern Army Fortress, it was patience. As long as one was patient enough, an opportunity would surely arise eventually. Conversely, impatience and recklessness would only lead to self-destruction.
Suddenly, he thought of Jin Mu-Won.
For thest three years, I have been watching him closely. Although his situation is several times worse than mine, he never despairs or gives up on himself.
At first, I attributed this behavior of his to emotional detachment, but on closer inspection, I realized that that wasnt the case at all. Jin Mu-Wons patience, restraint, and self-control are second to none.
Seo Mu-Sang lifted his head, looking up at the sky.
Could it really have been him?
Over thest few days, an absurd idea had taken root in his mind. Was Jin Mu-Won really the mysterious person who had saved him from the brink of insanity that fateful day?
This conclusion was notpletely unfounded, it was the result of logical deduction.
Technically, the only martial artists skilled enough to have advised him were Shim Won-Ui and the Wardens under him. Although Dam Soo-Cheon was a prodigy, it could not have been him as he hadnt arrived at the Northern Army Fortress until after Seo Mu-Sang had reached Transcendence.
Once I''ve eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth! It could only have been Jin Mu-Won!
Is what he said really correct? Actually, is that kid even skilled enough to teach me?
Seo Mu-Sang shook his head. This conclusion of his was far too outrageous to be true.
If hes that strong, why did he let himself be subject to so much pain and suffering?
Seo Mu-Sang recalled how Jin Mu-Won was captured and tortured by Jang Pae-San. Back then, he had personally confirmed that Jin Mu-Won did not know any martial arts. Thus, he was all the more confused.
Suddenly, a voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
Hyung-nim! shouted Won Jeok-Shim, running into the backyard.
What is it?
The captain ordered us all to assemble.
The captain?
He said that there was something he had to tell us.
Seo Mu-Sang furrowed his brows. After meeting with Shim Won-Ui, Jang Pae-San had be the young mans dog, ready to even give up his own life for his masters sake. In addition, the rest of the Third Company had also sworn their loyalty and were now at Shim Won-Ui and Jang Pae-Sans beck and call.
Ha Seo Mu-Sang sighed.
I wonder what hes going to talk about today. This is so annoying
Having gotten a strong impression of both Jin Mu-Won and Eun Ha-Seol, Dam Soo-Cheon left the smithy. The two left behind remained silent for a while.
In particr, Eun Ha-Seol was still struggling to recover from the inner turmoil in her heart. Dam Soo-Cheons presence had hit her like a ton of bricks. She finally understood what Sa-Ryung had meant when they praised Dam Soo-Cheon.
I still cant believe that such a man exists.
Even though I know that hes not doing it on purpose, his aura and presence are still suffocating. Just being in the same generation as this man has ignited mypetitive spirit.
Eun Ha-Seol took great pride in her martial arts. Not only was she the sessor to one of the most powerful martial arts in the world, her personal achievements were also outstanding.
She had been confident that few among her peers would be able to defeat her. However, that was before she had met Dam Soo-Cheon. Dam Soo-Cheon had shown her just how arrogant she had been.
I knew that there had to be a good reason for Sa-Ryungs unusual behavior when they spoke of Dam Soo-Cheon. He is the first person ever to have rattled my self-confidence so severely.
Suddenly, she looked at Jin Mu-Won. He was absentmindedly holding a teacup and looking out the window, deep in thought. She figured it was because he was just as shaken as she was.
Mu-Won.
Just then, Jin Mu-Won turned around to face her. The instant she looked into the calm depths of his eyes, all her worries were instantly washed away like waves crashing on the beach.
I was wrong. Unlike me, hes not flustered at all. Instead, his air of serenity is so soothing
Jin Mu-Won smiled and asked, Did youe here because of me?
You came rushing here because you were worried that Id get hurt again, right?
Exactly No, dont get the wrong idea.
Pfft! Jin Mu-Wonughed, then suddenly took out a small wooden box and held it in front of Eun Ha-Seol.
W-What is this?
Open it.
Eun Ha-Seol took the box from him and carefully opened it.
Huh? This is? Her eyes widened in surprise.
Inside the box, a delicate flower bloomed, its silvery-white petals seemingly teeming with life. It was so realistic that she wouldnt be shocked if bees and butterflies were attracted to it.
It was a flower-shaped silver hair essory.
I-Is this for me? I
Jin Mu-Won nodded, saying nothing. This was the gift that he had beenboriously working on until right before Dam Soo-Cheons arrival.
Eun Ha-Seol immediately lowered her head, tears welling up in her eyes. She sped the hair essory tightly like it was the most precious of treasures.
This is the first gift I have ever received.
Do you want to try wearing it?
Upon hearing Jin Mu-Wons suggestion, Eun Ha-Seol put the flower essory in her hair.
Jin Mu-Won beamed, saying, Phew!
What?
It suits you beautifully.
Really?
Jin Mu-Won nodded.
Thank you so much!
I made it in a hurry, so please forgive me if its a little crude. I really wanted to give you something before you left, Jin Mu-Won said sincerely. A few days ago, when he heard that Eun Ha-Seol would be leaving soon, he had felt an odd sense of loss, like his heart was being cut open.
It was only then that he realized just how much she meant to him. He was helpless to stop her from leaving, but he wanted to give her a present at the very least. Thus, he decided to make her an essory.
This steel flower was the most intricate piece he could make within the short timeframe of a few days. He had poured his heart and soul into making it the best he could.
When we first met, I had no idea that she would eventuallye to upy a special ce in my heart. What little time we have left together seems all the more precious.
If only I was stronger I would never let her go! I would definitely think of some way to keep her beside me.
However, that is impossible for the current me. I dont even know if I will still be alive tomorrow. Thats why I cant selfishly force her to stay with me.
Eun Ha-Seol took the flower out of her hair and held it tightly in both hands.
This is the first gift I have ever received in my life, and it was Mu-Won who gave it to me!
That night, Eun Ha-Seol couldnt sleep. The flower essory that Jin Mu-Won had given her was still in her hands. She had fiddled around with it so much that it had already gotten a little dirty.
Ha she sighed.
She gave up trying to fall asleep and opened the windows, letting the cold air outside into the room. She took a few deep breaths and immediately felt more awake.
She stared nkly at the essory that Jin Mu-Won had given her. Like a real flower, each and every petal was unique and vivid.
It was as if the flower was trying to tell her just how much effort Jin Mu-Won had put in to make it.
MuWon, she mumbled. Her face turned red, and her heart was thumping furiously.
What are these weird feelings? I dont really understand it, but it doesnt feel bad.
Suddenly, she sensed a presence approaching. The emotion disappeared from her face as she quickly gathered her chi in her hands.
SWOOSH!
A person soundlessly appeared in her room. When she saw the androgynous figure of the neer, she smiled weingly and said, Sa-Ryung, youre back!
Young Mistress! cried Sa-Ryung, kneeling down in front of her.
Eun Ha-Seol stood up and quickly asked, Did something happen? Why are you back so soon?
No, nothing happened, replied Sa-Ryung, shaking their head.
Then
The Madam ordered me to inform you that she will being to pick you up soon.
Master ising!?
I dont know the details, but it shouldnt be that surprising to you, right?
!!!
Just then, Sa-Ryungs gaze turned toward the essory in Eun Ha-Seols hands.
What is that?
Its nothing.
Young Mistress?
Dont worry, its nothing important.
Eun Ha-Seol quickly shoved the hair essory into her breast pocket. Sa-Ryung stared at her suspiciously, but Eun Ha-Seol continued acting as if she had merely set aside something trivial.
Sa-Ryung harshly scolded, Always remember that you are our hope, Young Mistress. You are not allowed to get emotionally involved with others.
I know. I wont let that happen.
I believe you, said Sa-Ryung in a slightly gentler tone.
Half a day after Sa-Ryung left, their expression suddenly turned ugly. Their red lips, hidden beneath the ck hooded cloak, twisted in a terrifying manner.
This is bad.
The change in Eun Ha-Seols behavior had not escaped their notice. After all, they had watched over her since she was young and understood her even better than she understood herself.
GRIND!
From Sa-Ryungs lips, came the sound of grinding teeth.
TL note: Great Detective Sherlock Mu-Sang is here!
Chapter 32: Young Dragons Dreaming of a New Sky (1)
Jin Mu-Won was taking a walk outside of the Northern Army Fortress. He raised his head and looked up at the sea of stars nketing the night sky. The stars appeared so close, it was as if they were within arms reach. He stretched out a hand to grasp the stars, but when he closed his fist, it was empty.
He smiled bitterly. Thanks to Eun Ha-Seol, he hadughed and smiled more in thest few days than he had in a very long time.
Whenever he saw her, he couldnt help but smile. The time they spent together always passed by in a sh. However, the moment he remembered that they would have to part ways soon, his heart would sink.
Its almost time to say goodbye, huh?
Suddenly, Jin Mu-Won sensed a slight discrepancy in the flow of chi.
SWISH!
He narrowed his eyes and focused his senses. Someone was approaching him quickly and silently like a fog. If it werent for the barely perceptible aura emanating from that person, he wouldnt even have noticed them. Furthermore, if he had to describe the aura he was sensing, he would liken it to a poisonous snake.
Who could it be? Shim Won-Ui?
Jin Mu-Won shook his head. There was no reason for Shim Won-Ui to personally sneak up on him. Simrly, neither Dam Soo-Cheon nor Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung woulde after him either.
The mysterious intruder sneakily circled around Jin Mu-Won like a lynx observing its prey.
Oddly, even though he could tell that his opponent was many times stronger than him, Jin Mu-Won did not feel afraid. Instead, he was thrilled. Although the intruder was a master of stealth, and waspletely invisible to the naked eye, Jin Mu-Won could still feel his presence.
Is this because of the Shadow Space?[1]
Thats the only possible reason I can think of. Also, I feel that my senses are sharper in the darkness than in the light. Thats weird.
Anyway, this person is observing me to see if I noticed them.
Jin Mu-Won broke out into a cold sweat. Simply being able to sense someones presence, and being able to react to them in time were two different things. Moreover, he had no idea who the intruder was.
If this intruder is a scout sent by Shim Won-Ui or Dam Soo-Cheon, then I will not be able to use any martial arts. After all, the only reason I am still alive is because they are convinced that I am a normal person.
Jin Mu-Won clenched his teeth. This was not the time to reveal his martial arts. He couldnt let all his effort go to waste.
Well, its not like I have a choice anyways. For me, there is only one path to survival.
I must be patient.
No matter what happens, I must be patient!
Jin Mu-Won waited for the intruder to make the first move. He was so nervous that all the muscles in his body tensed up and his hair stood on end. He could feel the intruders presence getting stronger and stronger, until even a normal person would notice it.
Still, something was off here. Even though he waspletely defenseless right now, the intruder hadnt attacked him yet, only made their killing intent known.
It seems their aim is to observe me.
In that case, they were definitely not sent by Shim Won-Ui. Knowing that man, he wouldnt bother trying the exact same scheme a second time.
Its not one of Jang Pae-Sans men either. Those guys are incapable of such high-level martial arts.
Jin Mu-Won considered several possibilities, but ended up rejecting them all.
Hmm What if theyre not from Heavens Summit?
Suddenly, the name of a person came to mind.
Could it have something to do with Ha-Seol?
She is the only person inside the fortress with an unknown background. Of course, I know she is not the one responsible, because I have confirmed that her feelings for me are real.
Besides, while there are simrities between the intruders aura and Ha-Seols, they are not exactly the same. Rather, the intruder probably practices the same martial art as Ha-Seol.
Thats the feeling I get, anyway.
He had no proof, but Jin Mu-Won was absolutely convinced that his theory was correct.
Just then, he felt a burning sensation on his skin. The intruders murderous intent had gotten even stronger.
Theyre deliberately revealing themselves to me!
If the intruder wanted to kill him, he would already be dead. He was unarmed and too weak to resist. However, all that person did was hide in the shadows and watch him.
I see So their goal was to threaten me.
I dont know why theyre doing this, but even an idiot could deduce that Ha-Seol is somehow involved.
While Jin Mu-Won was deep in thought, a gentle breeze brushed against his cheek, bringing with it a light fragrance that tickled his nose.
He frowned. The intruders presence had disappeared with the wind, and he hadn''t sensed them leaving at all.
THUD!
The instant he let go of the breath he had been holding, Jin Mu-Won stumbled and fell to his knees. His clothes were soaked with sweat and his legs were trembling. He took a deep breath to calm himself.
Neverwill I forget this feeling of utter humiliation!
To the intruder, it might have been a simple, effortless threat. However, Jin Mu-Won did not see it that way. He saw it as nourishment for his growth.
That was not so much a threat as it was a reminder; a stern reminder that I must never stop moving forward!
Glug, glug
A man was choking on his own blood. There was a thick, muscr forearm sticking out of his chest. He mustered all his energy to look up at the face of the executioner standing in front of him.
The giant of an executioner had a tough body that reminded one of granite and unkempt hair that covered his face. He wore a gray robe that was so torn and tattered, it looked like it would be blown away by the strong wind. In between the messy strands of hair, the man caught a glimpse of red eyes sparkling with the light of insanity.
Guheuk! C-Chaos Demon, why
The executioner called the Chaos Demon did not reply and proceeded to lift the arm that he had pierced the man with. He looked at the man curiously as he wiggled his legs in the air, painfully trying to break free.
The dying man had been the embodiment of a heartless warrior. He was strong, smart, and resolute. The light of life in his eyes had been brighter than anyone elses, but in the face of death, that light was slowly fading away.
When the man looked into the Chaos Demons eyes, all he saw was a psychotic monster observing him like he was just a weird ything. This terrifying revtion left him paralyzed with fear.
Some timeter, the mans body shuddered, and he exhaled hisst breath. The Chaos Demon immediately flung the corpse aside with one swift movement, having lost interest in this toy.
This is no fun. I thought that he would try to struggle a little more,ined the Chaos Demon, the madness gradually fading from his eyes.
He scratched his head and looked around him. Everything in his surroundings had been smashed into pieces and then burnt into ash. Nothing had been left intact. Judging by the ghastly scene, he could tell that his enemies had died horrible deaths.
All this destruction had been the work of him and him alone.
He was the best tracker, hunter, and executioner of all. However, whenever he went berserk, he wouldpletely lose it and annihte every living being in his vicinity.
It was for this reason that the man named Tae Mu-Kang was given the moniker Chaos Demon.
Just as Tae Mu-Kang was starting to get bored, he was approached by a group of about a dozen gray-uniformed warriors with auras simr to his own. Like himself, these warriors looked like they had taken a shower in the blood of their enemies.
They were the Gray Wolves of Chaos, the warriors that served him.
Since they had all received his taint of insanity, he was the only one they took orders from. Without him, they would instantly go out of control and turn into crazed beasts.
One of the Gray Wolves bowed to him, saying, We have finished cleaning up the trash, Leader.
"Where are we going next?"
The Northern Army Fortress.
What?
That is where the girl is hiding.
I suppose thats only to be expected. Not many ces for an injured rat to hide, after all, said Tae Mu-Kang, the corners of his lips curling up into a smirk.
Footnotes:
[1] Shadow Space: Location in Jin Mu-Wons chi center where the Shadow Chi resides. See c14.
Chapter 33: Young Dragons Dreaming of a New Sky (2)
The atmosphere inside the Lofty Sky Manor was nice and rxing. In contrast, tensions outside the manor were high as the Wardens patrolled the area around the manor diligently. The air that they gave off was so intimidating, no one dared to get close to them.
Why so secretive?! Just what is going on in there? mumbled Jang Pae-San, ncing at the manor. However, he quickly gave up on finding out as he was aware of the difference in social status between himself and the people inside. Besides, if it was something they didnt mind him knowing, they wouldnt have gone so far as to set guards around the perimeter of the manor.
Jang Pae-San turned around to find his subordinates eagerly reading a book titled de of Blood Waves (Ѫ). He shouted, I expect all of you to memorize every single character in that martial arts manual before we return to the Central ins! Those who fail to memorize it will be left behind in this ce!
Dont worry, Captain. I will memorize all the contents of this book even if it makes my brain explode, swore Noh Ji-Kwang, one of Jang Pae-Sans most loyalckeys.
Hahaha! I always knew that you were a blessed man, Captain. Thanks to you, I get to learn elite martial arts. If we can master this technique, reaching Transcendence might not just be an impossible dream!
Aye, we would never have gotten our hands on something like this without the captain. Ill be your loyal dog forever, so please continue taking care of me even after we return to the Central ins, okay, Captain?
The men of the Third Company showered Jang Pae-San with praise, putting him in a good mood. Heughed, Loyal dog? Mwahahaha! Thats right, Im your shortcut to sess, so you guys should be nicer to me!
Shim Won-Ui had bestowed the de of Blood Waves upon Jang Pae-San as payment for his servitude. To Shim Won-Ui, this was a worthless martial art, but to the affiliate mercenaries, it was a priceless treasure that would pave the way to Transcendence.
At least, they thought it would.
Beside the de of Blood Waves, Jang Pae-San had actually received another martial art from Shim Won-Ui. However, he kept this a secret from his underlings.
Hee hee! The de of the Vast Heavens (V쵶) belongs only to me. Theres no way I can simply hand over such a powerful martial art to mere henchmen.
Jang Pae-San felt that a leader should be stronger than his men. Unlike the de of Blood Waves, which was ambiguous, the de of the Vast Heavens contained a section about achieving Transcendence.
Im d I chose to pledge my allegiance to Shim Won-Ui. Hes already this generous even though I havent done anything yet. If I manage to aplish something great, just how big would the reward be? Uheheheh hahahahaha!
Suddenly, the grinning Jang Pae-San noticed Seo Mu-Sang leaning against the wall. His smile instantly vanished.
Everyone else in the Third Mercenary Company was busy memorizing the de of Blood Waves. Seo Mu-Sang, who was standing alone in a corner staring nkly at the sky, was the sole exception.
What the fuck is up with that guy?
In the past, he might have been hard to deal with, but he always obeyed me without question. However,tely, he seems really distant and appears somewhat reluctant to follow my orders.
Athough Seo Mu-Sang looked exactly the same as before, strangely, Jang Pae-San now felt cowed whenever he looked into Seo Mu-Sangs eyes. He would freeze up involuntarily and be unable to utilize his chi.
After the fight with Yeop Wol, Seo Mu-Sangs martial arts had improved tremendously. He had ovee the barriers in his way and achieved the state of Transcendence.
Not long after reaching Transcendence, Seo Mu-Sang started distancing himself from the rest of the men. He also began naturally exuding an aura of authority through his bodynguage and expressions. This aura was useless against those stronger than himself, but it ced the mercenaries under great pressure. Jang Pae-San was no exception.
However, Jang Pae-San simply chalked up his behavior toziness and despair. The thought that Seo Mu-Sangs martial arts had entered the state of Transcendence did not even ur to him.
Technically, now that Seo Mu-Sang had achieved Transcendence through the Blue Cloud Sword Style, he no longer needed to learn the de of Blood Waves. However, when he tried to refuse Jang Pae-San politely, the narrow-minded Jang Pae-San only took it as an expression of defiance.
All this had resulted in the current situation, with him being alienated by the rest of the mercenaries. Seo Mu-Sang could only watch silently as the other mercenaries tried their best to memorize the de of Blood Waves.
If I had received an opportunity like this beforeing to the Northern Army Fortress, would my life bepletely different from what it is now?
Although I feel that a persons background is meaningless as long as they have talent and work hard, I cant help but be consumed by jealousy.
Just then, the pleasant voice of a young girl rang out in the training grounds, saying, Teehee! It seems like everyone is working hard!
Seo Mu-Sang turned his head and saw a cute girl of about fifteen walk into the za.
This girls name should be Shim Soo-Ah, I think?
The adorable girl with the coquettish grin was indeed Shim Soo-Ah, the younger sister of Shim Won-Ui. She was currently the mostid-back person in the whole of the Northern Army Fortress, taking a walk even when Shim Won-Ui, Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung and Dam Soo-Cheon were immersed in discussion at the Lofty Sky Manor. Her bodyguards desperately chased after her, worried for her safety.
Oh, if it isnt the Young Miss! What brings you here today? greeted Jang Pae-San, rubbing his hands together as if he was ready to sell his soul to Shim Soo-Ah.
Shim Soo-Ah smiled in amusement. She had seen too many bootlickers like Jang Pae-San and knew exactly how to deal with these types of people. She said flirtatiously, I came here to see you!
O-Oh mythat
Why does everyone look so busy? Sheesh, you guys should take it easy! eximed Shim Soo-Ah, pouting so cutely that for a moment, Jang Pae-San was tempted to reach out and touch her face.
AHH! What am I doing? Just what was I thinking?
Jang Pae-San hurriedly held himself back, having realized his mistake. Seeing that she had seeded at bullying Jang Pae-San, Shim Soo-Ah grinned with satisfaction.
Haa Im getting bored, she grumbled to herself. She stretched out her body and looked toward the Tower of Shadows. Shall I go there and y? Would he be willing to y with me if I visited him personally? she added.
Startled, Jang Pae-San said, Oh no, Young Miss. You cant do that!
Why not?
Jang Pae-San swallowed his saliva, then persuaded, That is not a ce that a nobledy like the Young Miss should go. Moreover, the person there is the son of the ganghos number one criminal. Laying your eyes upon a person like that will only sully the Young Misss eyes.
What are you trying to say?
Its best if Young Miss does not go near trash like that. If youre feeling bored, please allow this lowly one to take you outside instead.
Is there anything interesting to see outside?
Not really, but
Then this conversation is over. Shim Soo-Ah ended the conversation with Jang Pae-San and stormed out of the training grounds.
This girl is a total airhead!
Jang Pae-San did his best to suppress his anger and chased after Shim Soo-Ah.
Where are you going, Young Miss?
Hmph! I go wherever I want to go!
Young Miss!
Jang Pae-San watched Shim Soo-Ah as she left. Only when he was sure that both she and her bodyguards were out of earshot did he mutter, What a whimsical girl! Im sure shell pay for her rude behavior one day.
He had been in a good mood before talking to Shim Soo-Ah, but now he felt like he had just been dragged through the mud.
As she walked out of the training grounds, Shim Soo-Ah spotted Jin Mu-Won talking a walk nearby. She smiled at her unexpectedly good fortune.
Since her arrival at the fortress, she hadnt had an opportunity to speak with Jin Mu-Won alone. On one hand, it was because the young man tended to coop himself up inside the Tower of Shadows. On another hand, Shim Won-Ui had prevented her from going outside the manor and meeting him at all costs.
The excuse that Orabeoni gave for grounding me was that I am ignorant and impulsive, like a babe in the woods. If my father, the Sky Lord Shim Mu-Wae, was here, would Orabeoni have dared to do this to me? Hmph, I think not!
Hey! Shim Soo-Ah shouted, running toward Jin Mu-Won and waving her hands like she was greeting an old friend.
Huh? Jin Mu-Won stared at Shim Soo-Ah with an odd look on his face.
Hey, do you have some time now?
I just want to talk. Everyone else is busy with work, but youre free to hang out with me, right?
Shim Soo-Ah stood next to Jin Mu-Won, not caring whether he agreed or not. Her bodyguards lips twitched, but she did not raise any objections. Shim Soo-Ah would make her life utterly miserable afterwards if she did so.
Im also busy.
What are you busy doing?
Just some random chores and such.
Haha! Youre just like my brother. Are all men always so busy, even when a pretty girl is standing right in front of them? How can you be like that?
Shim Soo-Ah chatted on and on. Jin Mu-Won felt that she was like a happyrk. She was carefree, had no worries, and said whatever she pleased.
She probably has never met anyone who wasnt nice to her. Well, I guess thats only natural. I doubt anyone would dare be harsh to the daughter of Shim Mu-Wae unless they were stronger than him.
Unlike me, she lives such an easy life. I have to fight a constant battle just to stay alive every single day. Even then, every night, I lie in bed wondering if I will be able to get through the next day.
Whenever I talk to anyone, I have to choose my words carefully. Before I can do anything, I have to consider every possible oue and weigh the consequences. The only way for me to survive is to n and calcte my every action.
This girl, Shim Soo-Ah, is theplete opposite of me. Even if she doesnt use her brain at all, no one can harm her!
Ahh, this is so annoying. Even though I havent done anything, I already feel exhausted. This is all her fault. Well, at least this meeting allowed me to confirm one important fact: Shim Soo-Ah is nowhere near as crafty as her elder brother.
Hmm?
Jin Mu-Won abruptly turned to face the Lofty Sky Manor. There, through a half-open window, Shim Won-Ui and Dam Soo-Cheon were staring at him.
Chapter 34: Young Dragons Dreaming of a New Sky (3)
Eun Ha-Seol closed her eyes and channeled her chi to inspect her current condition.
Her chi had fully recovered, and her blood was flowing freely without obstruction. In the blink of an eye, she had alreadypleted one cycle of chi cirction.
It had taken her several months of healing to get to this point. As an additional benefit, the amount of her chi seemed to have increased. However, she wasnt the least bit happy about this.
Master will be here very soon, and when she arrives, I will have to leave with her. Although I dont want to do that, I can rest assured knowing that at least Mu-Won will be safer without me. After all, wherever Master goes, danger always follows.
After finishing her training, Eun Ha-Seol left her room. She owed this ce and its owner far too much, so she wanted to burn the scenery of the Northern Army Fortress into her memory before leaving.
Suddenly, she frowned. Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung stood in front of her, as if she had been waiting for her all this time. Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung beamed and greeted, Good day to you, Miss Eun.
Eun Ha-Seol nodded silently in answer.
Despite her rudeness, though, Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung did not stop smiling. She asked, Are you going to see Mister Jin?
This time, Eun Ha-Seol shook her head.
No? Then what are you up to today?
Why do I have to answer all your questions?
My apologies, it seems that I have been quite rude. You see, I have an uncontroble sense of curiosity and cant stand not knowing the answer to any questions that I have Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung made an apologetic expression, but Eun Ha-Seol wasnt moved by her performance.
She said bluntly, So, what''s up?
Id like to extend an invitation to you.
An invitation?
Yes. Its an invitation to visit the Lustrous Jade Hall (x) three days from now.
The Lustrous Jade Hall?
Thats right! Please be sure toe together with Mister Jin. I wanted to invite him personally, but he hasnte outside at all for the past few days.
Just what are you people up to?
We will tell you when the timees, said Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung, smiling enigmatically. She added, Though I promise that you wont be disappointed. So, make sure to turn up, okay? Pretty please?
Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung was so insistent that Eun Ha-Seol knew that she wouldnt be able to refuse. She could only stop walking and nod in acknowledgement. In response, Seo-Moon Hye-Ryungs smile widened.
Shim Won-Uis servants quickly finished rebuilding the Lustrous Jade Hall. This once immense, majestic, and extravagant hall had been built during the Northern Armys peak for the purpose of holding banquets for distinguished guests, but after the fall of the Northern Army it was left with only pirs and a roof.
The servants first removed the debris inside the hall, then built a new outer wall using fine, new wooden nks. They then cleaned the interior of the hall and added furniture.
When all that was done, it was already time to prepare for the banquet. Dozens of servings of food were brought to the banquet table, their fragrances wafting out over the whole of the Northern Army Fortress.
Jin Mu-Won watched all this happen from inside the Tower of Shadows.
Shim Won-Uis not going to bother asking me for permission, huh.
Regardless of the current state of the Northern Army, it was a fact that Jin Mu-Won was its Lord. Before using any of the buildings inside the Northern Army Fortress, one would first have to obtain his permission. However, it seemed that Shim Won-Ui didnt care about that at all, instead treating him like he didnt exist.
If Dam Soo-Cheon hadnte to apologize in Shim Won-Uis stead, I might really have reached the limit of my patience.
That rude asshole is stomping all over the pride of the Northern Army and brazenly vandalizing thisnd that my father spent his whole life protecting.
These people, who have lived their whole lives in an era of peace, have forgotten how blessed they are!
The horrors of the past are just a story to them, so they distort it as they wish and only ept the parts that are beneficial to them.
This is a world where free-thinkers are oppressed; a world ruled by despots!
In this unjust gangho, just what kind of future are you envisioning, Dam Soo-Cheon?
Jin Mu-Won recalled the burning ambition in Dam Soo-Cheons eyes. He did not know what Dam Soo-Cheon was nning, but he felt that it would not end quietly.
Today was the day that Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung had invited himself and Eun Ha-Seol to a banquet. Although neither of them wanted to ept the invitation, Jin Mu-Won had done so in the hope that these people would leave the Northern Army Fortress as soon as possible.
KNOCK KNOCK!
Come in.
One of Shim Won-Uis servants cautiously opened the door and entered the room. He bowed to Jin Mu-Won courteously and said, Mister Jin, the preparations for the banquet areplete. You can now proceed to the Lustrous Jade Hall.
Then, if youll excuse me. The servant bowed again, then left.
I dont like this, but I havent got a choice. Jin Mu-Won put on his cleanest set of clothes and headed towards the Lustrous Jade Hall.
On his way to the Lustrous Jade Hall, Jin Mu-Won stopped in front of the Wall of Ten Thousand Shadows. This wall, which had stood proudly for over a hundred years, was slowly crumbling into pieces, like a living thing reaching the end of its lifespan. It was as if the Wall knew that it had done its part and was no longer needed. Jin Mu-Won ced a hand on the Wall.
Please forgive my helpless self that can only watch as you perish in the ravages of time. Still, I will promise you this: The day that I revive the Northern Army, will also be the day that I rebuild you!
After making a promise to himself, Jin Mu-Won continued making his way to the Lustrous Jade Hall.
When he arrived at the hall, he noticed that the Wardens were guarding every inch of the perimeter and cutting off all possible routes of escape or intrusion. The atmosphere around the hall felt ominous, like something serious was going to happen.
Mok Eun-Pyeong, the Warden Captain, approached him. He greeted, Wee to the Lustrous Jade Hall. My Lord is waiting for you inside.
Jin Mu-Won could sense a murderous aura from Mok Eun-Pyeong befitting his moniker, the Sword Rain of Blood. He didnt know why, but the captains attitude confirmed that todays event was noughing matter.
He looked around the hall, only to discover that several people he expected to see were nowhere in sight. He asked, Where are the mercenaries?
They are in charge of guarding the outskirts of the Northern Army Fortress.
The security level is too high. The Northern Army Fortress is situated in the deste northern region, far from the Central ins. The threat of spying here is so low as to be negligible. And yet, Shim Won-Ui is going this far to ensure that nothing is leaked from todays event?
Please enter the hall now, Mister Jin.
Jin Mu-Won nodded, then walked into the Lustrous Jade Hall. Inside, the first thing that caught his attention was the altar with an incense burner ced atop it. The altar sat on a raised tform, and three chairs were ced right in front of that tform.
Shim Won-Ui, Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung, and Dam Soo-Cheon sat on those three chairs, dressed in colorful clothing. Shim Soo-Ah sat a little further behind them, but she was also dressed fancifully.
When Jin Mu-Won entered the hall, Dam Soo-Cheon immediately stood up. As the representative of the four, it was up to him to do the formal greetings.
Wee, Lord Jin, and thank you for epting our invitation.
Whats going on? Is this some kind of ceremony?
A ceremony? Hmm, I guess you could call it that, replied Dam Soo-Cheon, smiling confidently.
Jin Mu-Won frowned. For some reason, Dam Soo-Cheons overflowing confidence was making him feel ufortable.
Dam Soo Cheon motioned Jin Mu-Won to an empty chair in front of Shim Soo-Ah, saying, I will tell you all the details when Miss Eun has arrived. Meanwhile, please sit down and enjoy the food.
As Jin Mu-Won sat down, Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung bowed her head slightly in greeting, but Shim Won-Ui red at him with a displeased expression. Jin Mu-Won ignored them and coldly nced around the interior of the Lustrous Jade Hall.
Seriously, what the hell are these people up to this time? No one in their right mind brings an incense burner to a banquet! What is this, some kind of cult ritual?
It wasnt long before Eun Ha-Seol showed up at the hall, led by Mok Eun-Pyeong. This time, it was Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung who stood up to greet her and guide her to the seat next to Jin Mu-Won.
When he saw Eun Ha-Seol, Jin Mu-Won smiled. She was wearing the hair essory that he had given her.
After the two guests were seated, Shim Won-Ui announced, Now that everyone has arrived, let us begin the ceremony.
Dam Soo-Cheon and Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung nodded and stood up from their seats. Dam Soo-Cheon looked toward Jin Mu-Won and said, First, I would like to apologize to you. We rebuilt the Lustrous Jade Hall without your permission, and forced you toe here today. However, I hope that you can find it in your heart to forgive us, as we have a very important reason for doing that.
Hmph! scoffed Jin Mu-Won with a disdainful look on his face, like he was waiting to hear what colorful excuses they woulde up with.
We invited the two of you here today as witnesses, added Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung.
Witnesses?
Yes. We would like you to witness the founding of a brand-new organization: the Azure Dragon Society (n). [1]
The Azure Dragon Society is an organization created for the youths of the murim to express their opinions as a united front. Our goal is to gather promising young murim-in at Heavens Summit and eventually be an integral part of murim''s governance. Although the three of us are the founding members, many young murim-in have already agreed to join us.
Is there a reason youre holding your inauguration ceremony at the Northern Army Fortress instead of the Central ins? Since you saying it like its a group created for the good of the murim, shouldnt you hold this ceremony there instead?
Before we can umte enough strength to stand up for ourselves, we cannot make ourselves publicly known. More than anyone else, you should be quite familiar with the mindsets of the current rulers of the murim. They only hear what they want to hear, and expect absolute obedience from everyone else. Do you honestly think it would be possible for us to start such an organization within the Central ins?
So what youre saying is, that you people traveled all the way here just to avoid the spies of Heavens Summit?
Dam Soo-Cheon, who had been silent for a while, suddenly answered, That was indeed one of the reasons we came here, but its not the most important one. I chose to hold this ceremony at the Northern Army Fortress because I have always revered the Northern Army, which protected the world from the Silent Night for over a hundred years.
Does that mean, youre going to help rebuild the Northern Army?
Dam Soo-Cheon smiled, but did not say anything. Jin Mu-Won narrowed his eyes.
Hes not going to give me a straight answer that easily, huh? That whole spiel about revering the Northern Army is just an excuse. All these people wanted was a ce where they could convene, away from the prying eyes of Heavens Summit.
Like a fog that had finally cleared up, only now did he finally understand the reason why these people hade to the Northern Army Fortress.
Dam Soo-Cheon continued his speech, I hereby announce the formal establishment of the Azure Dragon Society. May the gods bless us, such that the Azure Dragons be as one in heart and soul. Lord Jin, would you be willing to bear witness to the official founding of our organization?
The way Dam Soo-Cheon worded it made it impossible for Jin Mu-Won to refuse. He replied, Yes, I will bear witness to the founding of the Azure Dragon Society this day.
Thank you, Lord Jin.
Pleased with Jin Mu-Wons answer, Dam Soo-Cheon returned to his seat. Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung followed suit. However, Jin Mu-Won wasnt feeling the least bit thrilled about what he had just been coerced into doing.
The Azure Dragon Society. Speaking these three words leave me with a feeling of distaste in my mouth, like eating sand.
Suddenly, as if she could read his mind, Eun Ha-Seol gently held his hand. The two locked gazes with each other, and Jin Mu-Won quickly calmed down. He could tell from Eun Ha-Seols eyes that she understood how he felt.
Since I and Ha-Seol have agreed to be witnesses, it would be dishonorable for either of us to spill the truth of what happens here today. That way, these people will be able to keep the Azure Dragon Society a secret.
Jin Mu-Won turned toward Shim Won-Ui. He was the only one of the three who hadnt spoken, even though his position was supposedly equal to theirs.
Shim Won-Ui, are you just going to just hand over the leadership of the Azure Dragon Society to Dam Soo-Cheon without a fight? Hahaha! So even you know your own limits, huh?
Dam Soo-Cheons fame, strength, leadership ability, and burning ambition meant that he would likely be the Chairman of the Azure Dragon Society. Shim Won-Ui would then be relegated to the position of Executive.
Shim Won-Ui met Jin Mu-Wons gaze. He sneered derisively, as if taunting Jin Mu-Won, then stood up and walked to the middle of the tform, in front of the altar holding the incense burner.
He began reciting the speech that he had prepared beforehand, saying, Today, we are gathered here in this hall to celebrate the founding of the Azure Dragon Society. We thus pledge to hold ourselves to the ideals of the Azure Dragon, upholdingw and order and punishing the unjust.[2] May the gods bless us and show us the path forward.
The atmosphere in the hall became solemn as Shim Won-Ui recited the congrattory speech. Shim Won-Ui dered that Dam Soo-Cheon would be the Chairman of the Society, and invited him to pay his respects to the gods.
Dam Soo-Cheon lit the incense in the burner, then bowed to the heavens, saying, I, Dam Soo-Cheon, am honored to take on the role of Chairman of the Azure Dragon Society.
When Dam Soo-Cheon was done, Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung stepped forward, bowed at the altar and acknowledged her position as Vice-Chairman in simr fashion.
To them, the official founding of the Azure Dragon Society was a historic moment.
Suddenly, Jin Mu-Won sensed that someone was staring at him. He turned around to see an unhappy Shim Soo-Ahs gaze alternating between him and Eun Ha-Seol.
Footnotes:
[1] Azure Dragon Society (n, prn. Chang-Lyong Ho): Chang-Lyong (n) refers to the Azure Dragon of the Four Symbols/Sacred Beasts. Manhwa TL: Cerulean Dragon Society.
[2] The Azure Dragon is a god that protectsw and order and punishes evil.
TL Notes (random facts from a wuxia nerd, you dont have to read this):
The Azure Dragon Society (sometimes tranted as the Green Dragon Society) was first penned by famed wuxia author Gu Long, as a mysterious society that is neither orthodox nor unorthodox, good nor evil, ck nor white. It appears in the novel series Lu Xiaofeng, Chu Liuxiang, and Seven Weapons.
No one knows when this society was formed, where it is located, who is part of it, and what events they have interfered with, only that the Azure Dragon Society might be powerful enough to take on the entire murim. It is hinted that the society belongs to the Emperor of China, and that they exist to keep a lid on the power and influence of murim, but no evidence has ever been found to prove this. The reason for such a thought is because to the government, murim = mafia, orthodox sect = armed conglomerates + vigntes (Robin Hood and Batman-wannabes), unorthodox = criminals + foreign spies and soldiers.
The only confirmed facts about the Azure Dragon Society is that it consists of 12 Halls and 365 Branches, corresponding to the 12 months and 365 days of a year. They specialize in information gathering,munications, financial management, military strategy, and assassination. The members of the Society are ruthless and believe that the ends justify the means. They are also very strict toward their own and those who fail a mission are executed immediately.
There were rumors that Gu Long was nning to write a new novel series based on the Azure Dragon Society, but he unfortunately died young and the truth about this society will nevere to light.
Of course, the Azure Dragon Society in the LOTNB world ispletely different from the original, except for the secrecy bit! Why did you even read all that?
PR Note- You all got jebaited!
Chapter 35: A Wind of Chaos (1)
I can smell their food from all the way over here.
What the heck! Those brats are keeping all the good food to themselves.
Outside the Northern Army Fortress, two members of the Third Company wereining while patrolling. Their names were Nam Wol and Lee Chun-Myeong.
Until this morning, they had been feeling pretty good about themselves. They knew that there would be a banquet at the Lustrous Jade Hall and had been anticipating it for days, even starving themselves so that they would be able to stuff themselves on delicious seafood. However, their happy daydreams did notst for very long.
The Warden Captain Mok Eun-Pyeong had ordered the entire Third Company to stand guard around the exterior of the Northern Army Fortress. Jang Pae-San couldnt disobey his new masters, so he had no choice but to lead them outside and split them into groups.
From these twos current location, the other groups were not visible. Most importantly, the captain and vice-captain were out of sight, out of hearing, and therefore out of mind. Without their superiors around to nag at them, the two men, as well as most of the others, had rxed their vignce and started gossiping andining instead.
What kind of danger could there possibly be in this deste ce? Compared to meaninglessly patrolling, Id much rather be practicing martial arts.
Yeah, me too. Our time would be much better spent learning the de of Blood Waves.
Nam Wol and Lee Chun-Myeong were addicted to practicing the de of Blood Waves that they had received from Jang Pae-San. It was their first time encountering a martial art that could be used to reach Transcendence, and it had rekindled their dreams of bing stronger.
Im so goddamned hungry. Hey, how long do you think we will have to keep patrolling before they call us back?
I wonder if there will be leftovers from the banquet. I saw the amount of food that the servants prepared before leaving the fortress, and it was enough to feed an army.
Fuck! Just thinking about it is making me salivate. Ahh, I cant stand this any longer! Want a drink? asked Lee Chun-Myeong, taking out a bottle that had been hanging at his waist.
Nam Wol stared at the bottle for a while. Then, suddenly, his face paled. He eximed, Thats a bottle of wine, isnt it? Where did you get that?
Heehee! I bribed a servant into swiping it for me.
Arent you worried about getting caught?
Dont worry, those guys have got so much wine, they wont even notice that one bottle has gone missing! So, you drinking or not? If not, the whole bottle is mine.
Oi! Who would say no to wine? Still, this ce is too open. We should find somewhere we can hide and drink without worrying about our backs, said Nam Wol, looking around desperately.
Lee Chun-Myeongughed, It should be fine if we leave our posts for a while, right? He pointed toward a nearby bush.
Nam Wol grinned, revealing teeth as yellowed as Lee Chun-Myeongs. He said, Then, shall we begin our own little banquet?
The two men exchanged looks, then headed for a spot behind the bushes.
Kuhaa! This is great wine!
After taking a sip, Lee Chun-Myeong revealed an expression of utter bliss, then passed the bottle to Nam Wol.
Phew! This must be some kind of expensive wine! eximed Nam Wol, wiping his mouth with his sleeve.
The wine that Lee Chun-Myeong had procured was not ordinary cheap wine, but premium aged Shaoxing wine that was only produced in Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province, and was widely considered one of the finest wines in the Central ins.
After such a high-quality wine, Lee Chun-Myeong and Nam Wol started feeling like the world was at their fingertips. They reveled in the euphoria that came with their drunkenness.
Their foolishughter rang out across the northern ins, Hahahahaha!
If it meant that they would be able to drink such fine wine, they were perfectly okay with going hungry. After all, they would soon return to the Central ins to work for Shim Won-Ui. There, they would be able to taste even more delicious wines than this.
We only need to put up with this shit for a while longer.
Hey, after we go back to the Central ins, lets spend ten days and nights in a brothel.
Yeah! Well enjoy nice wines while savoring the pleasure of womens flesh, heehee.
Heeheehee! Just the thought of visiting a brothel made the two men burst intoughter once again.
Just then, they heard a hollow, sinister voice saying, Can I have some of that wine too?
Yikes!
Who are you?
Startled, the two men quickly stood up and looked behind them. A giant wearing tattered gray clothes was standing there, staring at them with an insane look in his glowing, red eyes. As their eyes met with his, the two men froze.
The giant held out a hand, and Lee Chun-Myeong unconsciously handed over the bottle of wine like he was possessed by a ghost.
GLUG! GLUG! GLUG!
The giant quickly downed the wine. He then wiped his lips with a torn sleeve and smiled, saying, At least the wine is pretty good.
PSSSH!
When Lee Chun-Myeong and Nam Wol saw the giants creepy smile, they immediately pissed their pants, trembling uncontrobly with fear.
That came as no surprise to the giant, as living beings tended to lose control of their dders when faced with a life-threatening situation. It seemed that these two were no exception.
Hmm? Seo Mu-Sang suddenly looked up.
Whats up, Hyung-nim? asked Yoo Gyung-Chun, puzzled. However, Seo Mu-Sang did not reply.
I dont know why, but I have a bad feeling that something terrible has happened. My nerves are all standing on end, and my skin is covered with goosebumps.
Yoo Gyung-Chun called out to Seo Mu-Sang again, Hyung-nim?
Only then did Seo Mu-Sang turn towards him, saying, Somethings wrong.
What on earth are you talking about?
Instead of answering, Seo Mu-Sang frowned. His heart was pounding, and he couldnt calm down. He had never felt like this before.
He stood up abruptly. Noticing this, Won Jeok-Sim approached him.
Call the other guys.
Hyung-nim?
Hurry!
Eh, are you for realined Won Jeok-Sim.
Seo Mu-Sang was just about to answer him when the sound of a horn rang out across the northern ins. This was the signal to report. All of the groups blew their horns in response, except for the one in the northwest area.
Who is in charge of patrolling the northwest area? asked Seo Mu-Sang.
I think its Chun-Myeong and Nam Wol. I saw Chun-Myeong snitch a bottle of wine, so maybe those two got drunk? Anyway, dont worry too much about it. Just what could possibly go wrong?
No, I think its something more serious than that.
Seo Mu-Sang felt strangely anxious, like something ominous was weighing heavily upon his heart. He drew the rusty iron sword at his waist. His steel sword had been broken during the fight with Yeop Wol, and he hadnt been able to find a proper recement, so he figured hed just make do with a random cheap iron sword until he could get a new one.
Hyung-nim? Won Jeok-Sims face twitched. Whenever Seo Mu-Sang got like this, no one could stop him, not even their captain, Jang Pae-San.
Suddenly, Seo Mu-Sang started running northwest. Won Jeok-Sim was left with no choice but to chase after him whileining, Da fuck? Ahh, why am I friends with you of all people
Seo Mu-Sang sprinted with all his might. Every time his foot touched the ground, he would leap twenty feet forward. He quickly raced far ahead of Won Jeok-Sim and vanished into the distance.
Won Jeok-Sims jaw dropped. He yelled, Hey!? What the hell? Since when have you been that good at martial arts?
Won Jeok-Sim could hardly believe his eyes. Seo Mu-Sang was the only member of the Third Company who hadnt learned the de of Blood Waves, and yet he was so much faster than himself. This makes absolutely no sense!
In order to try to keep up with Seo Mu-Sang, Won Jeok-Sim squeezed out everyst bit of energy, expending both his chi and physical strength in the process. After some time, he finally caught sight of Seo Mu-Sang.
Furious, he shouted, Oi! What was the meaning of that!? Whyd you suddenly run off?
Hyung-nim?
Just then, Won Jeok-Sim finally noticed the odd expression on Seo Mu-Sangs face. He turned to face the direction where his friends gaze was transfixed.
His eyes widened in shock at the sight, so much so that his eyeballs looked like they were about to pop out of their sockets.
E-Eh?
His shock quickly turned into rage.
NOOOOOOOO!
Won Jeok-Sim looked away, trying to erase the revolting sight from his mind. He felt that it would leave a permanent scar in his heart if he didnt forget what he had seen.
L-Lee Chun-Myeong, NamWol, whispered Seo Mu-Sang, trembling uncontrobly.
The remains of Lee Chun-Myeong and Nam Woly in front of the two men. Their corpses had been inhumanely dismembered and scattered across the ground like pork and beef that had been cut up by a butcher. The only proof that these lumps of meat were once human was the appearance of a few distinctive body parts.
Hyung-nim, w-whats going on here?
It seemsthat weve got an intruder.
A crazy psychopath of an intruder that is more ferocious than a bear, and more ruthless than a tiger. No mentally sound person could have been this savage.
Seo Mu-Sang turned around to face the Northern Army Fortress. ording to the tracks, it went that way. That murderous psycho went into the fortress!
You need to inform the others about this. I will go after him.
Hyung-nim?
GO! yelled Seo Mu-Sang, charging toward the Northern Army Fortress at top speed.
Chapter 36: A Wind of Chaos (2)
When the ceremony celebrating theunch of the Azure Dragon Society ended, Dam Soo-Cheon sat on his chair in silence while Shim Won-Ui happily chatted with Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung.
Eun Ha-Seol whispered into Jin Mu-Wons ear, Hey, dont you think they look like idiots?
Huh?
You know, all theserituals and prayers and such.
Eun Ha-Seol could not understand why people prayed to the gods. In the world she was raised in, the winners always took all and only the strongest could live infort. There was no ce for the gods in a world dominated by human desires.
To her, the act of desiring acknowledgement from a higher power was a sign of weakness. All it meant was that one wanted to avoid taking responsibility for their own deeds and decisions.
Hahaha!ughed Jin Mu-Won. He agreed with Eun Ha-Seol. Although the three from Heavens Summit had pretended that he was the witness to this farce, in truth he was simply a tool to feed their own ego.
Fools!
These people are indeed fools, but they are dangerous fools who will dictate the future of the Central ins.
Do they scare you?
Huh?
Theres no need to be afraid.
!?
As long as we are together, you dont have to be afraid of anyone. No matter what, I will protect you.
Jin Mu-Wons eyes widened as he turned to look at Eun Ha-Seol. Her face had turned red from embarrassment at her cheesy lines.
Jin Mu-Won grinned and said, Thanks.
Im serious, stopughing!
Thank you, Ha-Seol. If I were all alone here, the istion and the loneliness might have driven me insane.
Suddenly, Dam Soo-Cheon stood up and approached Jin Mu-Won, saying, Hey, can I talk to you alone?
Jin Mu-Won nodded, then got up from his seat. Eun Ha-Seol watched as the two men walked out of the Lustrous Jade Hall.
When they had left, someone sat down next to her. It was Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung.
Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung smiled graciously, Hello, Miss Eun.
......
How did you find the food today?
Eun Ha-Seol red fiercely at Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung. In a grave tone, she said, You. What were you thinking!?
What do you mean?
Im sure you know how miserable that made him. How much more are you going to make him suffer before youre satisfied?
...... Seo-Moon Hye-Ryungs smile vanished in a heartbeat.
You didnt have to invite him here today, but you did. On purpose.
Like I said before, we needed a witness. If you found that offensive, please ept my apologies.
Who the fuck do you think you are?
What!?
Whose idea was this?
Enough is enough, Miss Eun. Seo-Moon Hye-Ryungs face flushed with anger at Eun Ha-Seols antagonism.
Whats going on, Unnie? asked Shim Soo-Ah suddenly, noticing the friction between the two women. She walked over and stood by Seo-Moon Hye-Ryungs side.
Eun Ha-Seol met Shim Soo-Ahs gaze. There was open hostility in those eyes. For some reason, this young girl absolutely hated her, and it was making her feel uneasy.
Dont worry, its nothing.
Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung tried to brush her off, but Shim Soo-Ah could sense that she was trying to hide something and continued confronting Eun Ha-Seol.
Eun Ha-Seol frowned. The feelings that she had repressed till now felt like they were about to explode. These two women werent the only cause, but they were most certainly the trigger.
I dont like the atmosphere in this ce today, or the people in it. They toyed around with the feelings of a helpless person like it was only natural, even making up some random excuse like we need a witness to invite him here. Theyre exactly the kind of people I despite the most; people who look down on others.
In a threatening tone, Eun Ha-Seol growled, Dont you dare make him suffer anymore. His life is hard enough even without you messing with him.
Arent you the one making people suffer now? Youre just being mean! interrupted Shim Soo-Ah.
Dont butt in when you know nothing!
Ohh, now I get it. Youre the one whos making him suffer, not us. Hes not evenining, so why are you making a fuss in his stead? What gives you the right to speak for him? You might be rtives, but there are some lines you dont cross.
Soo-Ah, please stop, pleaded Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung, but Shim Soo-Ah only shot her a bitter look.
This womans a guest, just like us. Dont you agree that shes being way too presumptuous? Its just like the saying, the road to hell is paved with good intentions. She thinks shes helping him, but shes just hurting him instead.
Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung said tly, Thats enough from you, Soo-Ah.
Although she wanted to salvage the situation, she had already let Shim Soo-Ah say more than was necessary. The tension in the air was at its peak, and both Eun Ha-Seol and Shim Soo-Ah were ready to snap at any moment.
Suddenly, Eun Ha-Seol shivered. A chill ran down her spine, and her skin felt like it was being pricked by a hundred needles.
This feeling is? It cant be!?
Outside the Lustrous Jade Hall, Jin Mu-Won asked Dam Soo-Cheon, What did you want to say to me?
I wanted to apologize, as well as discuss something with you.
Look, Im really sorry for not telling you about what we were nning to do beforehand, and for forcing you to be our witness. Also, my answer to the question you asked me before is: Yes, I wish to help rebuild the Northern Army.
Now that they were alone, Dam Soo-Cheon felt that it was time he revealed his true intentions to Jin Mu-Won. Most people did not understand the true value of the Northern Army, some even to the point of being sacrilegious, but not him. He knew that these people were simply in denial over the fact that the Northern Army in its prime could easily destroy their sects and remove them from power.
However, the opinions of the youngsters of the murim were the exact opposite. Instead of fearing the Northern Army, they craved its strength. They had all grown up while listening to the stories of glory; of war; of tragedy; of victory and defeat. It was a ce where they could go from zero to hero.
The young warriors of murim are the ones who most wish to rebuild the Northern Army.
The older generation of the gangho saw these youngsters as mere chicks, but Dam Soo-Cheon did not agree with them. He felt that if he could rally all the warriors of the younger generation, he would be able to shatter the delicate bnce of the current regime and pave the way to a new era.
The young warriors might not be at the peak of their strength yet, but just like how a dead Zhuge Liang scared away a living Sima Yi,[1] he would use the Northern Army as a facade to make the gangho believe in his strength and ept him as the leader of a new superpower.
In order to do this, though, he had to secure Jin Mu-Wons cooperation. The acknowledgment of thest sessor to the Northern Army was essential to the legitimacy of his ims. It was for this reason that Dam Soo-Cheon and Shim Won-Ui had decided to make Jin Mu-Won their witness. That way, he would be their aplice whether he wanted to or not.
This is fucking humiliating. What do they think the Northern Army is, a disposable tool for their ambitions? Jin Mu-Won said, You want to help rebuild the Northern Army? Okay. However, will the Central ins really let you do that?
I dont care about what they think. Ive already made up my mind to do this.
Wow, youre amazing, praised Jin Mu-Won, a sarcastic smile on his face. Although he had seeded in stopping himself fromughing out loud, he still couldnt help but smile. Ahh, the unrealistic ambitions of one who has never experienced failure. Haha.
I know how upsetting this must be for you. Even so, please ept my offer. Im begging you.
Join the Azure Dragon Society. Together, well change the world. Dam Soo-Cheon held out a hand; a hand that was strong, steady, and covered in calluses. It was the hand of a man with the ability to change the world.
For a moment, Jin Mu-Won was tempted to grab that hand. If he chose to do that, the road ahead of him would be so much easier. He wouldnt have to worry about his day-to-day survival anymore. It was very enticing.
However, in the end, Jin Mu-Won resisted the temptation and shook his head, saying, I think I have contributed enough to your cause by being your witness. I would appreciate it if you did not involve me or the Northern Army in your future ns.
Dam Soo-Cheon was stunned into silence. It seemed as though Jin Mu-Wons refusal hade as a huge surprise to him. He stared at Jin Mu-Won with his Eyes of Domination, but the younger man did not look away. Unlike everyone else he had met, Jin Mu-Won was not easily intimidated.
Furthermore, not only was Jin Mu-Won unintimidated, his eyes were calm. Within that calmness, Dam Soo-Cheon could sense the powerful, unyielding spirit of the Northern Army.
In the future, this man could be the biggest obstacle to my ns
Dam Soo-Cheons body shook as he was consumed by an intense sense of foreboding, like the thought that had just randomly crossed his mind would be reality for sure. He hadnt had this kind of feeling in a very long timeso he decided to give up on making Jin Mu-Won his subordinate.
Sometimes, its better to have a rival instead of a friend. Most importantly, the man named Jin Mu-Won is worthy of being my rival.
Im sorry, that was rude of me. You and I, were the same. Were not people who would willingly bow down to others.
We are
BOOM!
The sound of an explosion suddenly echoed throughout the Northern Army Fortress.
The two men exchanged a grim look.
Footnotes:
[1] A dead Zhuge Liang scared away a living Sima Yi: At the Battle of Wuzhang ins (5th battle of the Northern Expeditions, go read/watch Romance of the Three Kingdoms), Cao Caos strategist Sima Yi withdrew his army out of caution when he saw Zhuge Liang leading his army to retreat, thinking it was a trap. However, he had no idea that at that time, the real Zhuge Liang was already dead. This resulted in the Shu army sessfully retreating from battle. After the battle, when people questioned him about his seemingly stupid decision, heughed and told them, I may be able to predict the thoughts of the living, but I can''t predict those of the dead.
Chapter 37: A Wind of Chaos (3)
Ugh Noh Ji-Kwang moaned painfully as he rolled around on the ground. He struggled to lift his blood-covered face and look at the person who had done this to him.
A gray giant stepped out from between the ruins of the main gates. Crimson eyes glowing with the light of insanity could be seen peeping out through the tangled mess of his hair.
M-Monster!
Cough! Blood mixed with chunks of internal organs sttered on the ground. All of Noh Ji-Kwangs ribs were broken and his heart and lungs were smashed. The giants massive blow to the gates had packed enough force to also have fatally injured Noh Ji-Kwang, who was guarding it.
I was going to be a sessful man. Why am I dying a dogs death like this?
I became Jang Pae-Sans dog and rotted in this godforsaken northern region for three years. I endured all that shit and finally got the chance to return to the Central ins in glory. I dont want to die like this! Its not fair
CRUNCH!
Noh Ji-Kwangs head exploded like an overripe watermelon, sending skull fragments and gray-white brain mush spraying out in every direction.
Hahaha! Tae Mu-Kang howled withughter, having crushed Noh Ji-Kwangs head beneath his foot.
Tae Mu-Kang looked around the fortress. The countless pavilions and towers were a reminder of the former glory of the Northern Army. However, a reminder was all it was. The buildings were in such disrepair that they could copse at any moment.
The Northern Army Fortress is a lot shabbier than I thought it would be.
The gangho was a ce where the strong rule and the weak are eliminated. Losers were even erased from the annals of history, their existences never to be known by future generations. When Tae Mu-Kang looked at it from that perspective, there was nothing pitiful or regretful about the current state of the Northern Army at all.
He marched through the fortress, searching for his prey.
STOMP! STOMP!
Every step he took reverberated through the ground like the ripples of an earthquake. There was no hesitation or doubt in hisrge strides, because he was a person who had no reason to hide his presence.
Where are you hiding, little bitch?
He had already ordered the Gray Wolves to surround the fortress in order to make sure that the little bitch had nowhere to run. The Third Mercenary Group, which was in charge of guarding the outer perimeter, waspletely helpless in front of the strength of the Gray Wolves.
Tae Mu-Kang released his aura and spread it out over the surrounding area. A martial artist of his caliber would usually only be able to spread their senses around two hundred feet away, but his area of detection was several times that of theirs.
He smiled.
Inside therge spider web made up of his aura, he had detected a certain individuals chi. His target was inside the Lustrous Jade Hall.
Tae Mu-Kang slowly strolled toward the hall. There was no need to hurry. He was an experienced hunter, and taking his time to enjoy the pleasure of the hunt was a privilege of experienced hunters.
Who are you?
The Wardens came running from the Lustrous Jade Hall as soon as they had heard the noise. However, Tae Mu-Kang took no notice of them and continued making his way to the Hall.
Kukuku! So thats where you were hiding, little bitch! he shouted. He had let her get awayst time, but her luck could onlyst for so long.
The Warden Captain Mok Eun-Pyeong stood in front of Tae Mu-Kang, blocking his way. He emitted his killing aura and said, I asked you who you were.
Only then did Tae Mu-Kang finally notice Mok Eun-Pyeongs presence.
The instant he met the intruders crimson eyes, Mok Eun-Pyeong felt as if he was being sucked into a whirlpool of insanity. A shiver ran down his spine.
W-Whats up with this mans eyes?
He swallowed his saliva in nervousness, but his mouth was dry. The man in front of him was like an undefeatable, gargantuan ck bear. His legs were trembling, his blood felt like ice, and his senses were screaming at him to run away. For the very first time in his life, Mok Eun-Pyeong was afraid of battle.
Tae Mu-Kang replied, An insect like you doesnt have the right to hear my name.
Hearing the voice that seemed like it echoed from somewhere deep within a cave, Mok Eun-Pyeong unconsciously took a step backwards.
Suddenly, a sense of shame and guilt washed over him. I am a swordsman. How could I retreat in the face of fear? How shameful.
Surround him! Do not let him enter the Hall at all costs!
Yes, Sir!
The Wardens quickly surrounded Tae Mu-Kang, but he ignored them despite their murderous auras. He looked past them and towards the Lustrous Jade Hall, roaring, Get your ass out of that ce right now, little bitch, or Ill kill every living thing in this ce!
Attack! ordered Mok Eun-Pyeong. The Wardens immediately charged forward.
SWISH SWISH SWISH! WHOOOOSH!
Mixed with the sound of fluttering clothes was the whooshing of ck sword chi bursting forth from the Wardens des and striking Tae Mu-Kang like a thunderbolt.
Tae Mu-Kangs huge body was swallowed up by the sword chi in an instant.
HISS!
Suddenly, Mok Eun-Pyeong saw Tae Mu-Kangs grey clothes blow up like a balloon. He quickly realized his mistake though, as a murky gray aura spread out and wrapped itself around Tae Mu-Kang, quickly forming a translucent sphere around his body.
BOOM!
Geuheuk!
Ugh!
All of the Wardens attacks rebounded off the gray sphere, sending them flying backward in unison. The sword chi that they were so proud of vanished into thin air, and the recoil damaged their internal organs, causing blood to trickle down from their mouths.
R-Rebound Flux!? eximed Mok Eun-Pyeong incredulously, eyes widening in shock as he wiped away the blood around his mouth.
The gangho was a chaotic ce where beginner martial artists often defeated masters. This was a fact that was painfully acknowledged by every experienced warrior. Thus, since ones level of mastery did not always equate tobat strength, dividing martial arts mastery into levels was meaningless. Mastery meant nothing if a warrior could not use their abilities to the fullest in actualbat.
Nevertheless, there would always be people who liked ranking warriors ording to their mastery of martial arts. The ssification system that they hade up with was as follows: - First-ss Expert: Able to emit chi from their weapon.
- Peak-level Expert: Able to shape their chi into a weapon.
- True Master: Able to utilize Weapon Flux, the refined version of weapon chi. [1]
ording to the people who did the rankings, it was impossible for anyone Peak-level or below to defeat a True Master. That was because Weapon Flux, which includes Sword Flux and Dao Flux, could not be defended against using ordinary weapon chi.
In addition, the chi of a True Master would never run dry, allowing them to surround their bodies with an armor of chi. This chi armor, also known as the Flux Barrier, could not be prated by weapon chi either.
Therefore, when a True Master faces off against lower-ranked warriors, thebination of Weapon Flux and the Flux Barrier would be the equivalent of having an unstoppable sword and an unbreakable shield.
However, there were several True Masters who did not use their Flux Barriers as simple shields, instead modifying it to reflect their enemies attacks back at them with several times more force. Although this technique, known as the Rebound Flux, was extremely powerful, controlling it was so difficult that few True Masters could do it unless they had done special training or received some kind of enlightenment.
The move that giant in front of me just used Im sure its the Rebound Flux. That means that hes a True Master. We wont be able to break through his defenses. Even so, I cannot back down!
Mok Eun-Pyeong was aware that his survival prospects were grim. His fellow Wardens had received severe internal damage from the enemys Rebound Flux and were still lying on the ground. If he let things continue as is, all of them would die.
He steeled his resolve. He was a proud warrior of the gangho, a ce where cowards tended to die quickly, and right now, there was only one path to survival. It didnt matter whether he stood a chance of winning or not, he had to fight!
That was the fate of one who lived in the gangho, and a fate he had epted a long time ago.
Mok Eun-Pyeong pointed his sword at Tae Mu-Kang. His valiant spirit was so obvious, even Tae Mu-Kang could feel it.
He gritted his teeth and dered, I swore to protect this ce, and protect it I will. If you want to go past me, youll have to do it over my dead body.
For the first time, Tae Mu-Kang took notice of Mok Eun-Pyeongs presence. Even he could not fail to acknowledge a warrior with such determination.
Brat, whats your name?
I am the Sword Rain of Blood, Mok Eun-Pyeong!
You have a fine name and amendable resolve. Very well, I will tell you who I am. I am the Chaos Demon, Tae Mu-Kang.
Tae Mu-Kang approved of Mok Eun-Pyeongs courage and told him his name. However, those who had lived to tell the tale after hearing his name were few and far between.
YAAAH!
Mok Eun-Pyeong charged toward Tae Mu-Kang. He summoned his lifes energy, and unleashed the de of Searing Blood and Soul. A flurry of swords dyed red with the crimson color of blood fanned out toward the gray giant.
TWANG!
As if it could sense its owners desperation, Mok Eun-Pyeongs sword made a humming sound.
Oh? Did your sword just cry for you? Tae Mu-Kang eximed in admiration. As long as ones chi had reached a certain amount, it wasnt hard tomunicate with ones sword and hear its cry. However, not many people could form such a strong link with their weapon that it cried for them when their lives were on the line.
Since his current opponent was capable of such a thing, Tae Mu-Kang thought that he should at least treat him with the proper amount of respect. He settled on using his signature move, the Whirlwind Flux of the Chaos Demon (ħ), and leaped towards Mok Eun-Pyeong.
HOWL!
The Rebound Flux surrounding Tae Mu-Kang began to spin, rapidly generating a huge tornado.
BAM!
A bloodied ball of flesh came shooting outwards from within the gray storm. It was the body of the man called Mok Eun-Pyeong.
Captain! cried the Wardens as they watched their leaders corpse crumble into pieces.
Now that he had killed their leader, Tae Mu-Kang had no intention of letting the other Wardens go. He said, You guys should apany him.
PSHHHH
Murky gray flux oozed out of Tae Mu-Kangs body and swooped toward the Wardens.
Despair was written all over the Wardens faces. Aware that they were unable to dodge, many of them closed their eyes and awaited death.
SCREEEECH!
Suddenly a dark shadow screeched to a halt right in between Tae Mu-Kang and the Wardens.
BANG!
Footnotes:
[1] Flux: Flux = an evolved form of chi. If regr Chi () is still air, then Flux () is flowing wind.
Chapter 38: A Sky Above the Sky (1)
A windstorm swept across the Northern Army Fortress, apanied by a thunderous boom.
Kuheuk! the Wardens coughed as they breathed in the dust cloud that had risen as a result of the sh. However, the pain that they had been anticipating never arrived.
They opened their eyes slowly, only to see a ck-clothed man standing in front of them and protecting them.
For an instant, the mans back seemed like an impregnable wall.
Y-Young Master Dam!
The Wardens eyes, which had been filled with despair, once again shone with the light of hope. They had instantly recognized Dam Soo-Cheon from behind. He was the only person in the fortress who exhibited such might and authority, like a wall that would never fall.
However, in truth, Dam Soo-Cheon was quite shaken. Although he had sessfully defended against Tae Mu-Kangs attack, the amount of damage he had taken wasnt something he could ignore. From the way Tae Mu-Kangs flux had hit him like a ton of bricks, he could tell that this opponent was stronger than anyone he had fought before.
Who is this guy? To think that someone like this existed.
He was Dam Soo-Cheon, the man who hadpleted the Hundred Man Challenge. Even so, no one had managed to surprise him more than Tae Mu-Kang.
His skin was pricking from Tae Mu-Kangs flux, and his nerves were screaming in pain. This was his body telling him that he was in extreme danger.
Tae Mu-Kang looked at Dam Soo-Cheon curiously, as if the young man was an interesting toy. He asked, Hey, whats your name?
My name is Dam Soo-Cheon. Who are you, Senior,[1] and why are you making a ruckus in someone elses home?
Hahaha! So you were the brat with the guts to call himself the Lone Star of the Azure Sky!
Dam Soo-Cheons eyebrow twitched. He said, Since you know who I am, you should be aware of the consequences of doing such a thing in front of me, right?
There is no need for an arrogant young master like you to be concerned about me. I dont know about the people of the Central ins, but Im not afraid of you.
The people of the Central ins? I suppose I can take that phrase to mean that you are not a martial artist from the Central ins.
Tae Mu-Kang did not reply. Instead, he smiled mysteriously.
Dam Soo-Cheons eyes narrowed.
How can a man this strong be totally unknown to the gangho? The only reason for that is that he has never done anything in the Central ins. If so, is there anywhere besides the Central ins where a monster like this can be created?
Yes, there is.
Youre from the Silent Night, arent you?
I wonder
!!! Dam Soo-Cheon needed no further confirmation for his suspicions than Tae Mu-Kangs ambiguous reply.
Hes really from the Silent Night!? The Silent Night that vanished for thirty whole years? Werent they disbanded or something?
Is an era of war going to start again?
Dam Soo-Cheon shivered, not because he was afraid, but because he was excited. If this man truly was from the Silent Night, then the chaotic era he had always dreamed of would begin anew.
Only after the old world order had been destroyed could a brand new one be created. To the current establishment, the appearance of the Silent Night was a disaster. However, to youngsters like Dam Soo-Cheon, it was an opportunity.
The heavens are indeed favoring me.
Dam Soo-Cheon clenched his fist.
Seeing Dam Soo-Cheons reaction to his answer, Tae Mu-Kang sniggered. A nce was enough to tell him how ambitious Dam Soo-Cheon was, and he indeed had the strength to back up that ambition.
Tae Mu-Kang reminded, Oi, before your imagination gets out of hand, remember that you have to survive today or else everything is meaningless.
He did not have any intention of letting Dam Soo-Cheon live, though. Although Dam Soo-Cheon was still young, he already possessed a strong spirit and an intimidating aura. As time passed, Tae Mu-Kang couldnt even begin to imagine just how strong Dam Soo-Cheon would be. This potential threat had to be eliminated before it had a chance to grow up.
Tae Mu-Kang emanated a killing aura that seemed to corrode his surroundings.
Dam Soo-Cheon readied himself for battle, then said, Stand back, Wardens.
Understood! The Wardens immediately supported each other and limped out of the battleground as quickly as they could.
Tae Mu-Kangs body seemed to grow evenrger, but that was only an illusion. Still, the fact that Dam Soo-Cheon saw such an illusion told him that Tae Mu-Kangs chi was far stronger than his. Even so, he did not lose heart. Rather, his fighting spirit was getting fired up just thinking about how he was going to challenge the impossible.
Tae Mu-Kang was the first real wall he had to ovee. If he chose to avoid facing this wall because of fear, there would be no future for him.
I will topple this wall with my very own hands.
WHOOSH!
As Dam Soo-Cheon summoned all of his chi, little whirlwinds started appearing around him, and the air began to tremble. His chi was resonating with his surroundings.
Brat! yelled Tae Mu-Kang, leaping towards Dam Soo-Cheon.
ROAR!
The Whirlwind Flux of the Chaos Demon tore through the air with Tae Mu-Kang at its center, but Dam Soo-Cheon charged headfirst into the storm.
He raised a glowing fist.
BOOM!
Guh! Shim Won Ui and Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung groaned. A battle of unimaginable proportions was taking ce right in front of them. Tae Mu-Kangs chaotic flux disyed might that shocked the world. Dam Soo-Cheons fists shed with blinding light every time he shed with Tae Mu-Kang.
The Lustrous Jade Pce was quickly demolished by the battle, sending dust flying everywhere. It was chaos.
Is the Silent Night finallying out of hiding? said Shim Won-Ui. He had not factored the appearance of the Silent Night into his ns. Like everyone else in the Central ins, he had believed that the Silent Night had beenpletely eradicated. No, I convinced myself that it was gone, because I wanted it to be so.
If that man really is a warrior from the Silent Night, and if the Silent Night has raised a new generation of martial artists, Ill have to make some big changes to my ns.
Even though he was standing far from the battlefield, the two shockingly powerful presences still made his heart race.
Jin Mu-Won and Eun Ha-Seol stood behind Shim Won-Ui. As Eun Ha-Seol looked at Tae Mu-Kang, she couldnt help but shiver in fear.
To think that monster chased me all the way here!
Eun Ha-Seol understood Tae Mu-Kang better than anyone else currently inside the Northern Army Fortress. The giant was the very reason she had to escape and hide in the fortress to begin with.
The Chaos Demon, Tae Mu-Kang, was the most perfect hunter created by her enemies.
Suddenly, her gaze met Tae Mu-Kangs. Even while fighting with Dam Soo-Cheon, Tae Mu-Kang hadnt let Eun Ha-Seol out of his sight.
Goosebumps popped up all over her skin.
Suddenly, someone ced a warm hand on her shoulder. She turned around and saw that it was Jin Mu-Won.
Jin Mu-Won smiled, saying, Are you okay?
Im fine. Eun Ha-Seol shook her head and grabbed Jin Mu-Wons hand.
You should run away.
Why?
That man is very scary. Dam Soo-Cheon is not a match for him.
Hes that strong?
If my master doesnte here in time, no one here will be able to defeat him. Thats why, Mu-Won, you have to run away!
What about you?
Im his target. No matter where I go, he wille after me.
Thats why, if you continue being together with me, you will be in danger too.
Eun Ha-Seol looked Jin Mu-Won in the eye and said, Mu-Won, you dont have to ce yourself in danger because of me.
Im sorry, but I wont run away.
This is my home. The Northern Army Fortress might be a ruin, but its the ce where I was born and raised. I wont run away just because a wild beast is rampaging around in my backyard.
But
No buts. At the end of the day, my most important reason for not leaving is because I will never leave you behind and run away by myself.
MuWon. Eun Ha-Seols eyes trembled. Through a blurry lens made up of tears, she looked at the smiling man in front of her.
Suddenly, Jin Mu-Won raised his head and surveyed their surroundings. He mumbled, Well, its toote to run anyway.
Warriors dressed in bloodstained gray clothes appeared on the fortress walls. They were Tae Mu-Kangs Gray Wolves of Chaos, and they were returning to their master after finishing a hunt.
Footnotes:
[1] Senior: The term Dam Soo-Cheon uses is sunbae, which in modern times is used to respectfully address someone your senior (e.g. in school or work). However, in LNB, the historical meaning of sunbae is used, and it refers more to respected old man/woman, or respected master than just someone a year or two older.
Chapter 39: A Sky Above the Sky (2)
Once a beast has tasted human blood, it will start preying on humans. Simrly, after a warrior murders another human for the first time, they will continue killing humans.
Although there are many warriors in the gangho, just how many of them have needed to fight for their lives before?
The era of battles to the death had ended with the rise of Heavens Summit. The new orders idea of peace simply did not allow for senseless murder and genocide, and all such actions were quickly nipped in the bud.
On the other hand, the Gray Wolves of Chaos lived constantly on the border between life and death. Day after day, mission after mission, their des tasted the blood of countless humans. As they became more and more proficient at killing, their technique improved by leaps and bounds.
They were warriors who existed solely for the purpose of killing. It wasnt just their martial arts that were brutalthe way they walked, the rhythm of their breaths, the look in their eyesevery single movement of theirs exuded intention to kill.
They closed in on Jin Mu-Wons group, tightening their encirclement.
Shim Won-Uis eyes hardened. Furious, he growled, How dare they!
No one has ever threatened me like this before. No one has ever dared to treat me like this! What on earth is Captain Mok doing at this time?
Suddenly, Shim Won-Uis thoughts came to a halt. As he was searching around for Mok Eun-Pyeong, he finally noticed the corpse lying on the ground. He clicked his tongue in irritation, then turned to face the Wardens, saying, Tsk! What a useless piece of trash. Oi, what are the rest of you good-for-nothings doing? Hurry up and finish off these intruders!
Yes, sir!
The Wardens immediately charged forward to intercept the Gray Wolves of Chaos. However, the expressions on their faces were grim. The way Shim Won-Ui had just addressed them was degrading. Still, they did not dare to openly show their resentment, as they had bigger problems to deal with right now.
The Gray Wolves of Chaos leapt toward the Wardens, howling, AWOOOO!
Stop them!
The two sides shed, and the battlefield erupted into chaos. Every time a sword shed, a scream would ring out, apanied by a fountain of blood. Soon, the Northern Army Fortress was swallowed up by a crimson windstorm of blood and severed body parts.
Shim Soo-Ah trembled in shock and horror. She was the precious treasure of Judgment Heaven and the only daughter of the Sky Lord, Shim Mu-Wae. Who would ever let her witness such a brutal, barbaric scene?
Seo-Moon Hye-Ryungs face was just as pale as Shim Soo-Ahs. However, unlike the younger girl, her mind remained clear despite her rampaging emotions.
The Silent Night has decided to show itself after going into hiding for dozens of years. If news of this gets out, there will be a huge, uncontroble, uproar.
Now that the Silent Night were involved, she needed to make changes to her original ns. Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung considered every possible oue, taking into ount the manpower she had and the changes that could ur in the gangho, and swiftly made the corresponding modifications.
This ability of hers to remain calm and rational was not inborn, but a result of her martial art, the Heavenly Mental Enhancement Technique (ȫX칦)[1]. It was a martial art that maximized her intelligence and mental capability by allowing her to blot out emotions, always think rationally, analyze multiple things in parallel, and utilize 100% of her brainpower.
Unfortunately, this technique was soplicated, that the only person who had ever seeded at mastering it was the Ghost of Zhuge Liang, Seo-Moon Hwa.
Even so, Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung was at least smart enough that she was allowed to learn the technique at a young age. She had only reached the seventh stage of the technique, but her mental capabilities were already far ahead of other geniuses.
Suddenly, her eyes fell upon Jin Mu-Won.
He wasposed, far tooposed. Although blood was sttering everywhere and corpses were dropping to the ground like flies all around him, he did not even bat an eyelid.
Just what is the reason for his confidence? Is he hiding something? If not, then
Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung shifted her gaze toward Eun Ha-Seol.
The two womens eyes met. Perhaps it was coincidence, but Eun Ha-Seol had turned to face Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung at exactly the same time.
Eun Ha-Seol.
Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung narrowed her eyes.
Just then, two Gray Wolves pounced in Jin Mu-Won and Eun Ha-Seols direction. Eun Ha-Seol instantly stepped in front of the young man as if she was his protector.
It was only for an instant, but Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung was certain that she saw Eun Ha-Seols eyes turn silvery-white.
What? It cant be!
A long-forgotten name appeared in her mind. There was only one martial art in the world that would cause a persons eyes to be silvery-white. Most importantly, the person who practiced this martial art was once known as a human cmity.
The Witch of the White Night (ҹħŮ).[2]
Seo-Moon Hye-Ryungs shoulders trembled.
Meanwhile, the duel between Tae Mu-Kang and Dam Soo-Cheon had reached its climax.
BOOM!
Tae Mu-Kang was pushed back by Dam Soo-Cheons blow, leaving a huge, deep trench in his wake as his feet dragged across the ground.
Blood flowed out from Dam Soo-Cheons lips. Although Tae Mu-Kang was the one who had lost that particr exchange, it was Dam Soo-Cheon who was bleeding from internal damage.
The problemy in Tae Mu-Kangs Rebound Flux. Every attack aimed at Tae Mu-Kang would be reflected back to him with several times more force, but there was nothing Dam Soo-Cheon could do about it.
I wont be able to break through his Rebound Flux using ordinary martial arts.
Dam Soo-Cheon shot a nce at Jin Mu-Won and Shim Won-Ui. All of Shim Won-Uis attention was focused on the Gray Wolves of Chaos, but Jin Mu-Wons eyes hadnt missed a single moment of the battle between him and Tae Mu-Kang.
I wonder if hesughing at me. He must be thinking, Is this all I have?
Damn, now Im fired up. I guess Ill just have to show you my true power!
Dam Soo-Cheon squeezed out all of his strength.
BRRRRRRR!
The air vibrated, and a blinding light enveloped his body.
Tsk! Tae Mu-Kang, who was just about to charge at Dam Soo-Cheon, frowned and hesitated for a moment.
Dam Soo-Cheon did not let that brief opening slip past him.
KABOOOOM!
Ugh!
Dam Soo-Cheons fist of light struck Tae Mu-Kangs chest like a thunderbolt, sending him flying. The Rebound Flux which had protected him till now wavered as if it was going to disappear any moment.
Tae Mu-Kang mmed into the ground, creating arge crater. The flickering light in his eyes betrayed his shock at having his Rebound Fluxwhich was much stronger than that of others as it was a product of his unique martial artnearly destroyed.
That meant that his current opponent, Dam Soo-Cheon, had just used a technique that surpassed his own. He asked, What martial art did you just use?
The Divine sh (}). [3]
Tae Mu-Kang frowned. He had never heard of such a martial art before. He waited for a bit, but Dam Soo-Cheon seemed wholly uninterested in exining further.
It wasnt that Dam Soo-Cheon didnt want to tell Tae Mu-Kang about it, but that he couldnt. The Divine sh was an iplete martial art, and still had many ws to be corrected and details that could be improved upon.
The Divine sh was created a hundred and fifty years ago, by a crazy martial artist. In order to prove his strength, this crazy martial artist sought out many powerful warriors and engaged in duels to the death with them.
Throughout his entire life, he fought more than three hundred duels but only won about fifty of them. Out of his two hundred and fifty losses, over thirty had resulted in near-fatal wounds.
His winning rate was so low that no one in the gangho thought much of him. Even the duels that he won were ignored, as people felt that there was nothing particrly interesting about them.
Nevertheless, at that time, no one realized his true worth. He had survived despite taking part in three hundred duels to the death. Also, most of his fifty wins had urred within thest few dozen duels.
He was a man who had survived countless battlefields and gained experience from them. The experience that he gained piled up until finally, he began to grasp the rough form of his own unique martial art.
It was a martial art that countered all demonic arts by embodying the element of light. A martial art that was brighter and more dazzling than any other.
The man named it, the Divine sh.
For generations, the Divine sh was passed down in single session, one disciple at a time. The inheritors of the martial art each spent their whole lives refining it.
Dam Soo-Cheon was the sixth-generation sessor.
Even so, the Divine sh that he inherited had yet to be perfected. In fact, one of the main reasons that he embarked on the Hundred Man Challenge was to gain the fighting experience necessary to refine the martial art.
BAM!
Dam Soo-Cheon kicked off from the ground.
I have to finish this battle as quickly as I can.
The Divine sh was one of the most powerful martial arts of all, and every punch was capable of causing unimaginable destruction. However, in exchange, its chi consumption was absurdly high.
CRASH!
Tae Mu-Kang was pushed back once again, but Dam Soo-Cheon did not get away unscathed either. Blood flowed from his lips, and his face turned as white as a sheet.
Another problem with the Divine sh was that the users body would be hit with recoil from the heavy punches. It was a double-edged sword.
BAM!
Tae Mu-Kang flew backward again. However, this time he did not fall to the ground, insteadnding on his feet. Heunched himself forward, emitting a huge fog of murky chi to obscure Dam Soo-Cheons vision.
Where did he go?
Dam Soo-Cheon focused his senses. A light appeared on his forehead.
This was a sensory enhancement technique known as the Three-Eyed Technique, mainly because it made its user look like they had three eyes.
As Dam Soo-Cheon expanded his senses, he finally pinpointed Tae Mu-Kangs location and looked up above him.
Tae Mu-Kang was falling down from the sky at a frightening speed with his murky flux spinning around him with astonishing force.
KWAAAARRRRR!!!
Tae Mu-Kangnded right on top of Dam Soo-Cheons head and unleashed his move, the Spinning Drill of the Chaos Demon, a technique that utilized the rotation of flux to increase the force of the blow.
Gah! Dam Soo-Cheon grimaced, facing Tae Mu-Kang head-on. He knew that dodging this attack was the correct thing to do, but his pride as the only sessor to the Divine sh did not allow him to do so.
He gathered all his chi for the final blow. The light on his forehead shone brighter than ever before.
Meanwhile, Tae Mu-Kangs flux was spinning faster and faster. If Dam Soo-Cheon continued defending, his body would soon be torn to shreds like he had been through a meat grinder.
However, Dam Soo-Cheon stayed rooted to the spot. In order to suppress his instincts that were screaming at him to dodge, he constantly muttered to himself, Not yet, not yet
In his mind, he formed a clear mental image of the technique he was about to release. His body was in the present, but he could already foresee the conclusion of this battle.
Dam Soo-Cheons eyes zed with a blinding white light.
Footnotes:
[1] Heavenly Mental Enhancement Technique (ȫX칦): Literal trantion C Heaven-Analyzing Brain Optimization Technique.
[2] Witch of the White Night (ҹħŮ): Literal trantion C Demonic Lady of the White Night.
[3] Divine sh (}): Literal trantion C Holy Light Style.
TL Notes: Where can I learn the Heavenly Mental Enhancement Technique? I want it so bad.
Chapter 40: A Sky Above the Sky (3)
SHWAAA SHWAAA SHWAAA!
A raging windstorm tore through the Northern Army Fortress, creating a huge crater that was twenty feet deep and two hundred feet wide smack in the middle of the za.
In the center of that cratery Tae Mu-Kangs wretched corpse. His head was twisted around to the back, his arms were bent in impossible angles, and his shin bones were sticking out of his flesh.
Kuheuk! Dam Soo-Cheon kneeled down on the ground, coughing out blood. He waspletely exhausted, and his blood pressure was also absurdly high as a result of forcibly strengthening his chi. So many of his joints had been dislocated that he felt like his body was about to fall to pieces.
Haa, haa When he finally stopped coughing, Dam Soo-Cheon struggled to his feet. Not only had he been severely injured in this battle, he had also used up two-thirds of his chi.
However, he was alive. At the end of the day, the one who survived was always the winner.
WHOOSH!
Suddenly, Dam Soo-Cheon heard the sound of flowing chi from the direction of Tae Mu-Kangs corpse. He swiftly turned to face the center of the crater, muttering, No way?
PUGUGUGU!
Tae Mu-Kangs body was twitching awkwardly. His broken bones were slowly healing, and his torn flesh was regenerating.
Dam Soo-Cheons jaw dropped. He couldnt believe what he was seeing right now.
I knew it! Eun Ha-Seols expression froze. She already knew that something like this would happen, because it wasnt her first time witnessing it.
When his wounds were fully healed, Tae Mu-Kang stood up. Through his hair that fluttered in the wind like raging mes, the light in his bright crimson eyes could be seen flickering back to life.
Are youa monster? asked Dam Soo-Cheon, a grim expression on his face. No matter how strong their martial arts were, no human could recover from that kind of fatal injury.
Butso what if youre a monster? Dam Soo-Cheon pounced on Tae Mu-Kang. It doesnt matter if hes human or not. All I have to do is kill him again.
He clenched his fists and unleashed one of the Divine shs most powerful techniques, the Triple Wheels of Light (݆)[1], aiming to strike the exact same spot on Tae Mu-Kangs body three times in a row and pierce through his defenses.
BANG!
His first punch was blocked by Tae Mu-Kangs murky Rebound Flux. He grit his teeth and stuck a second time.
SMACK!
However, even his second punch was blocked.
SLAM!
What!? For the first time, Dam Soo-Cheons confidence wavered. All three of his punches had been blocked. It was the first time the Triple Wheels of Light had failed him.
Not even thest opponent of his Hundred Man Challenge, the Soul-Hunting Swordsman Baek Seong-Won, had sessfully defended against the Triple Wheels of Light. In fact, Baek Seong-Wons treasured sword, Cinnabar Moon, had been shattered after receiving his punches. Hence, he had been extremely confident in the destructive power of the Triple Wheels of Light.
Tae Mu-Kang grinned.
BOOM!
A giant set of footprints appeared on the ground as Tae Mu-Kang abruptly vanished into thin air.
Where is he? Dam Soo-Cheon wondered as he gathered his Light Chi. [2]
Just then, he felt a slight vibration to his left and instinctively raised an arm to protect his face.
CRACK!
Tae Mu-Kangs heel mmed into Dam Soo-Cheon, sending him flying.
When Dam Soo-Cheonnded, he quickly hauled himself to his feet and wiped away the blood on his mouth. His intestines felt like they had been rattled, and his heart was thumping furiously in apprehension.
If I hadnt raised my arm in time, that wouldnt have ended with just minor internal injuries.
Hee hee hee! taunted Tae Mu-Kang, looking down at Dam Soo-Cheon.
Indignation boiled up from within the depths of Dam Soo-Cheons soul. He growled, How dare you!
I am the man who will stand at the top of the world.
I am the only person who is allowed to look down on others! How dare he taunt me like this!
Dam Soo-Cheon tried to summon his chi, but
WRIGGLE!
Something squirmed inside his body. A foreign chi had been injected into him and was invading his bloodstream. It was as if a thousand needles were pricking him all over. Dam Soo-Cheons face turned ugly.
Prating Energy!? Thatst attack!
Dam Soo-Cheon cycled his chi to drive out the foreign energy.
Kuwaak! he gasped, his veins bulging out from his skin. His legs wobbled, and he fell to one knee.
What? This is!?
Only now did it finally hit him that the Prating Energy Tae Mu-Kang injected into him was not normal.
A spear as ck as night hurtled toward him. It pierced through a weakness in the Light Chi he was so proud of, intertwining and interfering with his energy like a virus.
Not even Dam Soo-Cheon himself was aware of this weakness in the Divine sh. Hed thought that his defense was perfect. However, he didnt have the time to ponder this weakness, as the dark energy was ravaging his internal organs.
Tae Mu-Kang didnt wait for him to recover, though, andunched a flurry of attacks at Dam Soo-Cheon.
MUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAMUDA!
Dam Soo-Cheon was knocked around the Northern Army Fortress like a dry leaf in a windstorm. He wanted to defend himself, but couldnt because he had to focus all his concentration on suppressing the foreign chi in his blood.
In an instant, he was covered in wounds from head to toe.
Mister Dam!
Bro! [3]
Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung and Shim Won-Ui cried out at the same time, a look of disbelief on their faces. The strongest man they knew had fallen.
In ast-ditch effort to go help Dam Soo-Cheon, Shim Won-Ui desperately pushed the Gray Wolves of Chaos aside and charged at Tae Mu-Kang.
RIPPPP!
Shim Won-Uished out at Tae Mu-Kang again and again while the giant was distracted by Dam Soo-Cheon, his fingers curled up to form the Demonic ws of Scarlet Jade (tħ). [4]
Unfortunately, it wasnt long before his expression became the same as Dam Soo-Cheons. Unknown to him, his chi had also been invaded by Tae Mu-Kangs Permeating Energy.
How is this possible!? My All-Round Chi Technique (AĹ)[5] is perfect!
Shim Won-Uis All-Round Chi Technique was known as one of the most perfect chi cultivation techniques in the gangho. It had been continually refined and improved upon for hundreds of years, and practitioners of it all possessed very stable and bnced chi.
Shim Won-Ui was very proud of his perfectly bnced chi. However, his pride was quickly being shattered into pieces as his chi was thrown intoplete disorder by the invasion of Tae Mu-Kangs energy.
This doesnt make any sense
There was something very strange about Tae Mu-Kangs Permeating Energy. It was as if it knew what Shim Won-Uis weakness was all along, and was specifically targeting that weakness.
The Permeating Energy that entered my body has split into tiny needles and is attacking me in many different ways at the same time!
KACHAK!
A crack appeared in Shim Won-Uis chi, and the Prating Energy started breaking down his internal defenses. It had taken advantage of a weakness that Shim Won-Ui didnt even know existed.
BAM!
AHHH! Shim Won-Ui screamed as he was easily tossed aside. His clothes were torn and bloodied, and his hair was a sticky mess.
Shim Won-Ui trembled. He had never been humiliated like this before.
GUWAAAA! YOU BASTARDDDD! he shrieked, hitting the ground with his fists.
Hahaha!ughed Tae Mu-Kang, sending a roundhouse kick at Shim Won-Uis head.
Shim Won-Ui would die the instant that kick connected.
Dam Soo-Cheon desperately charged forward and knocked Shim Won-Ui over.
SWOOSH!
Tae Mu-Kangs leg whizzed past above their heads.
How did things end up like this mumbled Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung. She and Shim Soo-Ahs faces had paled as they watched the battle. They never imagined that Dam Soo-Cheon and Shim Won-Ui could lose even while working together.
SMACK!
The head of a Gray Wolf that had charged toward Jin Mu-Won exploded. The Gray Wolves of Chaos werent a match for Eun Ha-Seol at all, and both of her hands were stained with their blood.
Still, Tae Mu-Kang was the real problem here.
Dam Soo-Cheon and Shim Won-Ui were beingpletely overpowered. It seemed like they could still stand for now, but it wouldnt be long before they fell.
Eun Ha-Seol understood what kind of situation they were in, because she herself had been at the receiving end of Tae Mu-Kangs special ability before.
Like a dry sponge absorbing water, Tae Mu-Kangs Art of the Primeval Hellish Demon (Ԫħ)[6] devoured his opponents chi, digested it, analyzed it, and automatically transformed itself into an energy that perfectly countered his opponents.
It was a bizarre technique that continually evolved itself to counter and oppose every martial art in existence. Because of this property, Tae Mu-Kang was literally invincible.
Even so, the Art of the Primeval Hellish Demon did have one ring weakness. As Tae Mu-Kang blindingly absorbed his opponents chi, the chi in his own body would be impure. When that happened, Tae Mu-Kang would have to hibernate like a bear in winter, or a snake that had just swallowed its meal whole.
An extreme existence like him couldnt be called human anymore. He was a monster, through and through.
Of course, no martial artist in the world would train themselves to be like that. Tae Mu-Kang was an artificially created monster brought into existence for the sole purpose of hunting down powerful martial artists.
He even defeated Master. The only way to kill him is to finish him off with the very first attack, before he can absorb and counter our chi.
Tae Mu-Kang hade to the Northern Army Fortress to hunt down his prey, Eun Ha-Seol. While his target was still alive, he would never rest or stop.
Throughout his entire battle with Dam Soo-Cheon and Shim Won-Ui, Tae Mu-Kang had never let his true prey out of his sight. Every once in a while, hed nce at Eun Ha-Seol with murderous intent.
He pointed a finger at Eun Ha-Seol, as if to say, Now, its your turn.
Footnotes:
[1] Triple Wheels of Light (݆): Literal trantion C Triple Wheel of Light Attack.
[2] Light Chi (}): Literal trantion C Holy Light Chi. Chi imbued with the element of holy light.
[3] Bro: Shim Won-Ui calls Dam So-Cheon ah-ooh, which means younger brother.
[4] Demonic ws of Scarlet Jade (tħ): Literal trantion C Red Jade Demon w.
[5] All-Round Chi Technique (AĹ): Literal trantion C Rounded-Ends Mental Cultivation Technique.
[6] Art of the Primeval Hellish Demon (Ԫħ): Literal trantion C Technique of the Demon of Primeval Chaos from Hell.
Chapter 41: A Sky Above the Sky (4)
Seo Mu-Sang''s eyes reddened, as if he was about the cry tears of blood.
Gyung-Chun, Won-Sang
He had gotten really close with his fellow mercenaries during thesest few years in the Northern Army Fortress. More than anyone else, Yoo Gyung-Chun and Im Won-Sang had been looking forward to going home to the Central ins.
And yet, it was these two who were now lying in a pool of their own blood, having died at the hands of Tae Mu-Kang''s Gray Wolves of Chaos. From the traces of the battle, Seo Mu-Sang could tell that these two had fought to the very end even though they stood no chance of winning.
Why didn''t you run? You dumbasses
Tears flowed down Seo Mu-Sang''s cheeks. The two dead mercenaries eyes were wide open and their fists were clenched, as if they couldn''t believe that they were dying.
Suddenly, he heard the shuffling of someone''s footsteps behind him. He drew his sword with lightning speed and spun around, only to see Jang Pae-San walking out of the woods.
Captain?
Is that you, Vice-Captain?
Seo Mu-Sang and Jang Pae-San heaved a sigh of relief. Reassured that at least one of his men was still alive, Jane Pae-San plopped down on his butt in front of Seo Mu-Sang.
However, Seo Mu-Sang was not happy to see Jang Pae-San alive, unhurt, and rxed while Yoo Gyung-Chun and Im Won-Sang were lying dead in front of him.
Annoyed, he asked, Captain, care to exin what happened?
Isnt it obvious? We were ambushed by a group of wolf-like men.
What I mean is, why are you the only one who got away? Your group members are dead
What the fuck? Vice-Captain, are you saying youd rather Id have died together with these guys? Jang Pae-San replied angrily. His teammates, Yoo Gyung-Chun and Im Won-Sang, had been attacked while he was away urinating. They had fought back using the de of Blood Waves that they had just learned, but were still no match for the Gray Wolves of Chaos.
Afraid of being discovered, Jang Pae-San hid himself. His own life was far more important than his subordinates, anyway.
Its enough if I get revenge for those two in the future. But to get revenge, I need to survive.
Just like that, Jang Pae-San stayed where he was until Seo Mu-Sang arrived. Unlike Seo Mu-Sang, he clearly did not think there was anything dishonorable about his behavior.
They believed in you. Those two wouldy down their lives are yourmand. Shouldnt you at least show them that you are worthy of their respect!?
Shut up! What does their respect have to do with me? Ahh, fuck! I can just get revenge for them, right?
Seo Mu-Sangs eyes burned with fury. Although he already knew that Jang Pae-San was a loathsome man, he did not think he would be this despicable.
You rotten piece of trash.
What the hell was that, you motherfucker!?
Jang Pae-San was livid, but Seo Mu-Sang didnt want to waste any more time arguing with him. In the time it took to quarrel with the asshole, he could save another person. Even if he couldnt save anyone, he could at least kill their attackers.
With that in mind, Seo Mu-Sang started marching back to the Northern Army Fortress.
Behind him, Jang Pae-San yelled, Oi! Bastard! If you go that way, youll die for sure! You should be running in the opposite direction! You goddamned idiot, dont you know its all over once youre dead? Hey!
However, Seo Mu-Sangpletely ignored him and continued on his way.
When Seo Mu-Sang vanished into the distance, Jang Pae-San muttered to himself, That fucking son of a bitch! Always pretending to be all honorable. I guess hes the kind who thinks dying with honor is better than living. Ahh, he can do whatever he wants, I dont give a shit. Im going to survive till the end and enjoy a life offort. Thats how Ive always lived. Fuck!
Jang Pae-San red fiercely at the direction of the Northern Army Fortress.
Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung pushed her Heavenly Mental Enhancement Technique to its limits, desperate to find a solution to their current predicament.
Dam Soo-Cheon and Shim Won-Ui were being mercilessly crushed by Tae Mu-Kang.
She had never imagined that things would end up like this, not even in her wildest dreams. Tae Mu-Kangs ridiculous strength was against the rules!
I cant let things continue as they are, or both Mister Dam and Mister Shim will die.
Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung believed that her natural intelligence was second only to her grandfathers, and with the addition of the Heavenly Mental Enhancement Technique, no one else could surpass her at analyzing and decision-making.
If there was anything she had learned from her grandfather, it was that sometimes, you had to make some sacrifices in order to obtain the best possible result.
Dam Soo-Cheon is a man who will stand at the top of the world. His legend must be wless, so I cannot allow any blemishes on his perfect battle record. He must never fail or make any mistakes.
Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung nced toward Jin Mu-Won.
Its a pity. Jin Mu-Won is a highly valuableand easily exploitabletool.
As the sessor to the Northern Army, he possesses the potential to rally the young warriors of the gangho. However,pared to Dam Soo-Cheon, he is nothing.
If I had to choose between the two, I would definitely pick Dam Soo-Cheon.
Countless thoughts ran through her head, but she quickly sifted and sorted through every possibility.
There were about three or four ways to resolve the situation. Among these, she selected the one with the highest probability of sess.
Its a waste to sacrifice this pawn, but
In the future she just envisioned, there would be no Jin Mu-Won. She had already reorganized her ns to ount for his death.
Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung met Jin Mu-Wons gaze and lowered her head, saying, Im sorry, but I dont think well be able to continue working together towards our dreams.
Is that what youve decided?
Im really sorry, but events in the gangho rarely ever go ording to n.
Although Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung kept apologizing to Jin Mu-Won, there was no remorse on her face.
Shes a born tactician; heartless and calcting. She wont allow her emotions to get in the way of her decisions. Tsk tsk.
Jin Mu-Won smiled. He wasnt the least bit shocked by Seo-Moon Hye-Ryungs decision.
I kind of expected that things would end up like this.
Bloodlines are a really scary thing. The traits and even personalities of the parents are inherited by their children. Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung might not even be aware of this herself, but shes definitely a chip off the old block.
Seo-Moon Hwa was the one who plotted the fall of the Northern Army. Knowing this, how could I ever trust this woman? Im not that stupid.
In a low voice, Seo-Moon Hye-Ryungmanded the Wardens, Please hold on for just a while longer.
She then strode toward Dam Soo-Cheon with feather-light footsteps, like a fairy on the battlefield.
Jin Mu-Won, who was observing her, gave a start as he realized what she was doing.
This is?
Every time Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung took a step, a deep footprint would appear on the ground. Following that, the scenery would change a little.
Fog started to build up, and dark clouds obscured the sky. Lightning shed, thunder roared, and rain began to fall.
Is thata formation?
Formations were something that only a few geniuses who had understood thews of nature could use. That was because in order to set up a formation, one had to use the terrain and their surroundings as a medium, but no two ces would ever be exactly the same.
Even so, one thing was certain. Setting up a formation required arge amount of effort and incredible concentration.
And yet right now, he was seeing a person creating a formation just by walking.
Not just any random formation either, but the Seo-Moon ns Footsteps of the Heaven-Devouring Tiger (ΰ첽). [1]
This formation was named after the deep footprints that it left behind on the ground and the dark clouds that would gather when it was activated, like a stomping tiger that swallowed the clear skies.
Currently, there was only one person in the world who could set up theplete Footsteps of the Heaven-Devouring Tiger formation.
Seo-Moon Hwa.
When asked about the formation, Seo-Moon Hwa had said, Even though this formation ispleted using only thirty steps, it would prevent even the heavens from escaping.
Unlike Seo-Moon Hwa, Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung was still unable to finish setting up the formation within thirty steps, and could not fully unleash its heaven trapping ability.
However, she could still use it to disorientate her enemy, distracting and dying them. She knew that this little push was all that was necessary for Dam Soo-Cheon and Shim Won-Ui to escape from danger.
As Tae Mu-Kang looked around him, confused, Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung ran up to Dam Soo-Cheon and helped him up.
Mister Dam!
Miss Seo-Moon!
We need to get out of here right now.
I cant do that. Dam Soo-Cheon shook his blood-covered head resolutely. Although he had been beaten to a pulp due to the interference of Tae Mu-Kangs Prating Energy, his fighting spirit hadnt diminished.
Theres one thing Ive learned about human nature If humans do something once, theyll do it again. Thats why I wont run away. No matter how badly injured I get, no matter how much of a disadvantage Im in I wont back down.
Dam Soo-Cheon was a very prideful man. His pride would not allow him to surrender.
Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung sighed. I just knew he was going to say that!
Im sorry.
Wha? mumbled Dam Soo-Cheon, before suddenly cking out.
Shim Won-Ui stood behind Dam Soo-Cheon. It was he who had poked Dam Soo-Cheons meridians and knocked him unconscious.
He wasnt the same as Dam Soo-Cheon.
Like Dam Soo-Cheon, he had felt utterly humiliated during that battle, but he knew that if they didnt retreat now, there wouldnt be a next time. He could take a loss if it meant that he would survive.
He quickly nced over at Jin Mu-Won, who was hiding behind Eun Ha-Seol.
What about him?
Were abandoning him.
Woah! Thats cruel.
We dont need him as a pawn anymore. From now on, whether he lives or dies is entirely up to his luck. We will have nothing more to do with him.
Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung was already looking to the future, and there was no ce for Jin Mu-Won in that future. ording to her calctions, he would die here, today.
Compared to Jin Mu-Won, she was more concerned about Eun Ha-Seol.
There was a possibility that Eun Ha-Seol was the disciple of the Witch of the White Night. After all, her pupils had turned white when she used her martial art.
Most importantly, if Eun Ha-Seol had truly inherited the skills of the Witch of the White Night, then that meant that the Silent Night had secretly trained a new generation of warriors.
If I could, I would like to capture her and interrogate her, but I can only give up for now
Eun Ha-Seol was Tae Mu-Kangs target. She could tell that much from Eun Ha-Seols reaction when she saw the giant. Since he had bothered to chase her all the way here, there was no way he would let her live. She was as good as dead.
It wont be long before that monster escapes from the formation. Before that happens, we need to get out of here.
Gotcha.
Shim Won-Ui bent over and carried Dam Soo-Cheon on his back, while Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung grabbed Shim Soo-Ahs hand. Together, they ran out of the Northern Army Fortress as fast as their legs could carry them.
GRARRRRR! roared Tae Mu-Kang, busting out of Seo-Moon Hye-Ryungs formation. His killing intent had increased tenfold after being trapped inside a formation for so long.
Furious, he shifted his gaze toward Eun Ha-Seol and Jin Mu-Won.
Footnotes:
[1] Footsteps of the Heaven-Devouring Tiger (ΰ첽): Literal trantion C Tiger-Shaped Heaven-Devouring Steps.
TL Note:
So Shim Soo-Ah survived. However, Author-nim totally forgets about her existence from here on. Thats probably another reason why she was killed off in the manhwa, besides Artist-nim purposely doing it to make an impact. Now go read the FAKE Chapter 41 because I really want her DEAD.
Chapter 42: Those Who Want to Leave Have Left, Those Who Want to Stay Are Staying (1)
Jin Mu-Won stared nkly as Dam Soo-Cheon and Shim Won-Ui disappeared into the distance. They were abandoning their own subordinates and running away. Even so, the Wardens were still frantically fighting against the Gray Wolves of Chaos in order to buy them time to escape.
He shook his head and sighed. I pity these Wardens.
The Wardens were sacrificing themselves one after another just so that their master could run away, and yet, no one wasining.
They lived for their master, and died for their master.
This was the nature of most murim warriors. Sadly, average disciples of famous schools in the gangho were all trained to be this way since young. They were so brainwashed that they did not fear death as long as they thought that it was an honorable death. However, to Jin Mu-Won, they might as well be dogs for how loyal they were to their masters.
Whats the point of dying for a master who doesnt appreciate you, no matter how honorable it might be? And even if it was an honorable death, why would honor even matter when youre already dead?
Jin Mu-Won clicked his tongue.
No matter how much humiliation one must endure, the most important thing is survival, for the dead tell no tales, and only the living can stand up for truth and justice.
This was Jin Mu-Wons motto in life.
Suddenly, he was jolted out of his musings by Eun Ha-Seols panicked voice.
Mu-Won, no matter what you do, dont stand in front of me.
Tae Mu-Kang was quickly closing in on them with killing intent so strong, it had materialized and was stirring up a tornado that sucked in the air and wrecked the earth.
What a monster
From the battle with Dam Soo-Cheon, Jin Mu-Won could tell that Tae Mu-Kang was incredibly strong. However, watching a battle and experiencing Tae Mu-Kangs strength for himself were twopletely different things.
Its terrifying.
The pressure from Tae Mu-Kangs aura was making it hard to breathe, and he felt his consciousness start to fade.
So this is why Ha-Seol was trembling. In the face of such a monster, anyone would be frightened.
Eun Ha-Seol squeezed out everyst bit of her energy.
Seeing this, Tae Mu-Kang snorted, saying, It seems that we have finally reunited once again, little bitch.
Chaos Demon, you undying monster!
You guys are the ones who made me like this, you know? Since you turned me into an undying monster, you should pay the price for it, right? The Chaos Demon released his killing intent.
RUMBLE!
The heavens trembled, and the earth shook.
Eun Ha-Seol defended against Tae Mu-Kangs aura using her martial art, the Heart of the Silver Soul (yěQ)[1]. In a sh, her eyes and hair turned from ck to silvery-white.
Ugh! Under pressure from both Tae Mu-Kang and Eun Ha-Seols aura, Jin Mu-Won had no choice but to step backwards.
Eun Ha-Seols silvery-white hair reminded him of a legend that he had heard long ago, about the Four Great Demon Generals of the Silent Night.
In ce of their leader, the mysterious Lord of the Night (ҹ), the Four Great Demon Generals led the armies of the Silent Night. [2]
During the war with the Central ins, each of these generals had ughtered hundreds of the most powerful martial artists, to the point where the mere mention of the words Four Great Demon Generals had be taboo. It was said that not even the Nine Skies of Heavens Summit were willing to take them on in directbat.
Generation after generation, the titles of the Four Great Demon Generals were passed down from master to disciple, ensuring the continuation of the fearsome legends.
All four demon generals possessed several unique traits. In particr, the Witch of the White Night was known to have silvery-white eyes, which was the hallmark of a practitioner of the Heart of the Silver Soul. Besides the silver-white eyes, Jin Mu-Won had also heard rumors that mastering the Heart of the Silver Soul would turn one into a heartless, emotionless, cruel witch.
And right now, Eun Ha-Seol was clearly disying the traits of the Witch of the White Night.
Is Ha-Seol the sessor to the Witch?
It had urred to him before that perhaps Eun Ha-Seol was connected to the Silent Night. Still, he never imagined that she would actually be the heir to the Witch of the White Night, one of the Four Great Demon Generals.
So that means, the master that she talked about was the Witch of the White Night.
Until a few dozen years ago, the Northern Army had been at constant war with the Silent Night. Back then, the Witch of the White Night had ughtered many martial artists, including the warriors of the Northern Army.
Violence breeds hatred, and hatred gives rise to violence. Just like that, throughout the ages, a never-ending cycle of hatred and violence is passed down from generation to generation.
BAM!
Tae Mu-Kang and Eun Ha-Seols attacks mmed into each other, resulting in a huge shockwave. They exchanged blow after blow, their clothes and hair dancing furiously in the raging wind. Jin Mu-Won retreated far from the battlefield and watched them nkly.
Waves of murky energy poured out of Tae Mu-Kang, making him seem like a demon god.
On the other hand, Eun Ha-Seol looked like she was struggling just to defend herself.
While fighting her master, Tae Mu-Kang had already absorbed and digested the characteristic chi of the Heart of the Silver Soul. Thus, he could convert his own chi into one that perfectly countered Eun Ha-Seols.
Eun Ha-Seol understood this fact, so she focused only on defense in order to buy time for her master to arrive and save her. She had to prevent Tae Mu-Kangs Prating Energy from being injected into her at all costs, or everything would be over.
CLANG! CRASH! BAM!
Kuheuk! coughed Eun Ha-Seol, blood flowing from her lips. Although she was doing her best to defend, every time she took a hit from one of Tae Mu-Kangs fists, the force would be transmitted through her limbs to her internal organs, damaging them.
She was painfully aware that she was no match for Tae Mu-Kang. To her, her best option had been to run away while Tae Mu-Kang was distracted by Dam Soo-Cheon. Even now, she could still choose to escape.
However, she didnt do that, because Jin Mu-Won was standing right behind her.
Hes a man who helped me without asking for anything in return; a man who didnt even want to ask who I was. Maybe others wouldnt be able to understand why he did that, but I do.
Loneliness. Solitude. A heavy weight that always hangs on the heart.
I understand, I really do. Because Im the same as him.
When I look at him, its like Im looking at a mirror; at another version of myself. Maybe thats why I cant leave him alone; why I always want to be near him.
Palm of the Silver Fairy (y)! [3]
A silvery-white mist gathered in Eun Ha-Seol''s palm to form a Palm Flux, which she mmed on Tae Mu-Kangs Rebound Flux.
BOOM!
Tae Mu-Kangs huge body shivered a little, but the impact hadnt been strong enough to hurt him or even push him back. He charged toward Eun Ha-Seol like a stampeding elephant.
CRACK!
Eun Ha-Seol tried to resist Tae Mu-Kangs charge, but it was futile. She was continually being pushed back, her nted feet digging out a trench as they dragged across the ground.
She was like a candle in the wind that could be snuffed out anytime.
At this rate, she would die for sure.
Ha-Seol isgoing to be killed!?
BOOM!
Eun Ha-Seol was sent flying. When shended on the ground, she coughed up blood yet again.
Jin Mu-Wons heart sank, and he couldnt help but clench his fists in worry and frustration.
Eun Ha-Seol struggled to her feet. She had to find a way to continue defending. How much longer can Ist? Since the beginning, Ive never once thought that I could defeat Tae Mu-Kang. After all, even Master, with all her strength, was severely injured by him.
Tae Mu-Kangs punchesnded on Eun Ha-Seol unceasingly, like waves crashing on a beach. Her skull was fractured and bleeding, and a huge gash appeared on her shoulder. Through these wounds, Tae Mu-Kangs Prating Energy tried to squirm into her body.
Eun Ha-Seol desperately tried to block the Prating Energy, but the harder she tried, the more mistakes she made.
Suddenly, her gaze fell upon the ce where Jin Mu-Won had been standing, but the young man was nowhere to be seen.
Did he finally run away? Phew, thats good.
Although Eun Ha-Seol thought that, she still couldnt suppress the tears and the feeling of intense disappointment that followed. Shed thought that their hearts were connected and that he would never betray her.
Ahh!
Eun Ha-Seol panicked. It was only now that she realized her true feelings for Jin Mu-Won. It wasnt just mutual sympathy; she had genuinely fallen in love with him.
Mu-Won.
She bit her lip. For his sake, she had to keep fighting. The moment she fell, Tae Mu-Kang would go after Jin Mu-Won, Dam Soo-Cheon, and the rest of them. That monster never left any survivors in his wake.
Meanwhile, Tae Mu-Kang was getting irritated. Hed been one-sidedly beating her up for a while, but Eun Ha-Seol still hadnt died.
BANG!
He leaped towards Eun Ha-Seol, his huge body seeming like a massive meteor crashing down upon the small girl.
She held out both of her hands and gathered as much chi as she could within them.
BRRRRR!
Tae Mu-Kangs body began to spin like a drill.
Hes using rotational movement to create torque!? Eun Ha-Seols eyes widened.
KRAKRAKRAKRACK!
The instant Tae Mu-Kangs spinning drill hit her, she heard the sound of her arms breaking. Now that her defense was shattered, Tae Mu-Kang tackled her right in the chest, sending her flying.
CRACK!
AHHHHHH!!! Kuheuk!
Eun Ha-Seol mmed into the ground, coughing. Her face was covered in blood, and the pain was unbearable.
If I hadnt gathered my Silver Soul Chi around my chest at thest minute, I would be dead now.
Still, the impact she had received was too strong. Many of her joints were dislocated, and her ribs were badly fractured. She could only take somefort in the fact that she was still alive, and crawled to her feet.
Teeheehee! Tae Mu-Kang giggled crazily. His victory was certain.
Its not over yet. Im still alive. If you want to go after him, youll have to do it over my dead body.
Are you going to sacrifice yourself for a brat who ran away and left you behind? Youre a fool, mocked Tae Mu-Kang.
Even so, he is the only person who has ever shown me kindness.
Tae Mu-Kang roared withughter, but Eun Ha-Seol did not waver. In her eyes, one could see that she was prepared to die fighting.
Footnotes:
[1] Heart of the Silver Soul (yěQ): Literal trantion C Silver Soul Heart Cultivation Technique
[2] Lord of the Night and the Four Great Demon Generals: - Lord of the Night (ҹ): Literal trantion C Nights Master.
- The Shadow of the Blue Wind (iLħӰ): Literal trantion C Blue Wind Demonic Shadow.
- ck-Winged Divine Spear (): Literal trantion C ck-Winged Divine Spear.
- Mountain-Splitting Devil Axe (ɽħ): Literal trantion C Mountain-Splitting Demonic Axe.
- Witch of the White Night (ҹħŮ): Literal trantion - Demonic Lady of the White Night.
[3] Palm of the Silver Fairy (y): Literal trantion C Silver Soul Half-Fairy Hand.
Chapter 43: Those Who Want to Leave Have Left, Those Who Want to Stay Are Staying (2)
Huff! Puff! Yeop Wol panted, looking around him. He was the only living Warden, but there were still four Gray Wolves of Chaos left.
These four were the strongest, and the cruelest, in the squad. Their attention was focused solely on Yeop Wol, and they didnt care about their fellow Gray Wolves deaths at all.
Yeop Wol could feel his own death approaching as he stared into those eyes filled with killing intent. Try as he might, he saw no hope of survival.
He bit his lip, summoned his fighting spirit, and told himself, I will not die without a fight.
Im not scared of death. When I decided to live as a murim warrior, I was already prepared to die anytime. Situations like these happen every single day in the gangho. The only regret I have is that my wife, Seo Yu-Ran, will be a widow.
Shes really smart though, so shell definitely find a way to live a good life, right?
I would be lying if I said that Im okay with dying. Thats why, Im going to keep fighting until the bitter end!
IYAHHHHHHH!
Yeop Wol swung his sword with everything he had, his each and every sh flowing into the next without pause. For the first time in his life, he executed his sword technique, Partitioning the Snowy Sky (ѩ֊^), to perfection.
SHIIING!
Even Yeop Wol felt that this move was so wless, he could probably drag one or two of the Gray Wolves down with him.
However, the Gray Wolves went far beyond his expectations. With the slightest tilt of their bodies, all of them narrowly avoided his swings and pounced toward him.
SPLURT!
The Gray Wolves swords plunged deep into Yeol Wols shoulders, chest, and legs.
AHHH! he screamed, his legs wobbling. Immediately after the initial pain, he felt his vision begin to dim.
As everything faded into eternal darkness, he heard a shout.
YEOP WOL!!!
STAB! STAB! STAB!
The Gray Wolves repeatedly stabbed Yeop Wol until he fell to the ground, unmoving.
Suddenly, he felt someone grab him.
W-Who?
You cant die. If you die, then who am I going to get revenge on?
MuMu-Sang? Yeol Wol recognized the man who had just grabbed him.
With aplicated expression on his face, Seo Mu-Sang yelled, Yeop Wol!
I hate this guy. I practiced my Blue Cloud Sword Style like a madman for no other reason than to personally get my revenge on him. That will never happen now.
Ha Im
What is he trying to say? Seo Mu-Sang saw Yeop Wol move his lips, but before he could finish hisst sentence, he passed away.
He ced the corpse on the ground and stood up.
God damn it.
He looked toward the nearest Gray Wolf, who stared back at him with murderous intent that was enhanced even further by the adrenaline of a sessful kill.
Thats right. Everyone is dead. Except for me.
Among the members of the Third Company, there were some he liked and some he hated. However, all of them had apanied him during his three years at the Northern Army Fortress.
They were his brothers-in-arms, and most of them were now confirmed dead.
CRUNCH, CRUNCH.
Seo Mu-Sang ground his teeth, and picked up Yeol Wols sword. With his current strength, he could probably take on one or two of the Gray Wolves, but definitely not four. Even so, he did not feel like running away. Thankfully, he had nothing more to lose, and therefore nothing to regret if he died.
Even if I die, Ill make sure you four apany me to hell.
Seo Mu-Sang and the Gray Wolves of Chaos charged towards each other.
THUD!
Eun Ha-Seol fell to the ground, rolling. Her face that had been white as a sheet started to turn ck.
Kuheuk! she coughed, spitting out ck blood. Even then, she didnt feel any better. There was no part of her body that wasnt injured.
Her head spun. She had lost too much blood. In an attempt to retain her consciousness, she bit her tongue forcefully.
Tae Mu-Kang stood over her, stretched out arge hand, and grabbed her by the neck.
Ugh!
Tae Mu-Kang gleefully observed the struggling young girl. When he saw her frightened, wavering eyes, heughed, Teehee, now youre finished, little bitch.
He raised a fist. One more hit and Eun Ha-Seol would die for sure. She squirmed around desperately, but Tae Mu-Kangs grip was like an iron mp.
She closed her eyes and muttered, Goodbye, Mu-Won.
SHIIIING!
Suddenly, she heard the sound of a sharp weapon slicing through the air. The next thing she knew, she was free.
Haahaa she panted, kneeling on the ground. Fresh air entered her lungs, clearing up her foggy mind and restoring some of herposure.
What happened? Eun Ha-Seol raised her head, only to see that Tae Mu-Kangs arm was injured.
Just then, someone hugged her around the waist and helped her up.
W-Who
Sorry, Imte.
Eun Ha-Seols eyes widened, and her jaw dropped. The man holding her was none other than Jin Mu-Won. In his hand, he held the short sword that was usually hung up on the wall of the smithy.
You left to get your sword?
Jin Mu-Won nodded.
Eun Ha-Seol stared at Tae Mu-Kang, who was looking at the wound on his arm and frowning. Although she knew that Jin Mu-Won always practiced the sword inside the Tower of Shadows, frankly, she had never really expected anything from him. She had thought that he only knew the basics, and yet, he had easily managed to hurt Tae Mu-Kang through his Rebound Flux.
Mu-Won?
Didnt I tell you before? Theres no way I would leave you behind and run away by myself.
Mmmh! Tears flowed down Eun Ha-Seols cheeks again, only this time, they were tears of joy. The man she had given her heart to hadnt betrayed or abandoned her. She hadnt chosen the wrong man, after all.
Jin Mu-Won pointed his de at Tae Mu-Kang.
Just now, while watching Eun Ha-Seol protecting him from Tae Mu-Kang, and knowing she would die at this rate, his feet had unconsciously edged toward the Tower of Shadows. When he finally came to, there was a short sword in his hand.
It was the first perfect sword he had made, and also the sword that had been stained with his own blood because of Shim Won-Ui.
VRRRRR!
The sword cried furiously, as if it had synchronized with Jin Mu-Wons emotions.
Tae Mu-Kangs wounds were regenerating much more slowly than he expected. Normally, a small wound like this would be healed in an instant, but the bleeding hadnt even stopped. He red at Jin Mu-Won with insane-looking eyes and said, You. Your chi is fucking weird.
Jin Mu-Won strengthened his grip on the short sword.
How long can Ist? No, am I even able to fight this guy?
This was his first-ever battle, but the opponent was just too strong. The situation couldnt possibly get any worse.
He would have to be extraordinarily lucky to survive through today. Still, he believed in himself and refused to give up without a fight. This was the way he had always lived, and also the way he would live for the rest of his life.
Right now, this unyielding will of his was clearly reflected in his swordsmanship.
Tae Mu-Kang frowned. Jin Mu-Won''s weak aura irked him greatly. Although the young man''s aura was much weaker than Dam Soo-Cheon''s and Shim Won-Ui''s, and inferior to even Eun Ha-Seol''s, it gave him a very bad feeling and made him strangely restless.
The only way to get rid of this restless feeling is to smash this annoying little upstart to bits!
"Dammed brat!" he yelled, leaping a hundred feet into the air and letting his Primeval Demonic Chi run wild. Like a falling meteor, he plunged down toward Jin Mu-Won and Eun Ha-Seol.
ROAR!
Tae Mu-Kangs chi whirlwind was so strong that before he had even made contact, Jin Mu-Won and Eun Ha-Seol already felt like they were being crushed under a colossal mountain. Jin Mu-Won didn''t even think of facing that blow head on, instead opting to parry the strike.
SWISH!
A gentle aura like flowing water was emitted from the sword, deflecting the force of the attack to the side.
BOOM!
Tae Mu-Kang''s attack mmed into the ground, carving a ten-foot-deep trench where itnded and stirring up a cloud of dust.
Jin Mu-Won and Eun Ha-Seol quickly took the opportunity to step back, but Tae Mu-Kang charged toward them yet again.
CRASH! BAM! WHAM!
Under the human cmity that was Tae Mu-Kang, the environment was quickly transformed into a wastnd. Sonic booms could be heard as his punches zoomed through the air.
As he looked into the depths of Tae Mu-Kang''s eyes, Jin Mu-Won shuddered. The insanity contained within them was so all-consuming that he nearly fell on his butt in shock. However, he pushed himself to remain calm, held Eun Ha-Seols hand, and continually pulled her backward along with him in order to avoid Tae Mu-Kangs fierce blows.
BANG!
The spot where Jin Mu-Won had been standing up until a moment ago exploded, sending fragments of rock flying everywhere.
Jin Mu-Won felt like his brains had turned to mush. What the hell have I been thinking, being so confident just because I knew the theory of martial arts like the back of my hand and learned the techniques written on the Wall of Ten Thousand Shadows? Ive only been practicing martial arts for three years!
I was even arrogant enough to think that I wouldnt lose to any martial artist my age. I felt that as long as I had enough patience and kept a low profile, that Id be able to handle any situation thates my way. Tae Mu-Kang has shown me just how stupid I was.
My body cant keep up with my mind, and the pressure from Tae Mu-Kangs killing intent is making me slower than I usually am. Ive never fought in a real battle before and had no idea that such a thing would happen. Thanks to that, I ended up taking quite a few hits.
But there is one thing I know for sure. If I take a direct hit from that monster, Im dead. I have to focus on gathering my Shadow Chi while predicting, dodging, and deflecting his attacks.
Fuck you, stop dodging! Tae Mu-Kangs eyes glowed with fury. Jin Mu-Won was as slippery as an eel, and catching him was proving to be harder than expected. In particr, his movements werepletely unpredictable. Every time he thought hed had the boy cornered, hed do something weird and somehow slip away.
Are our martial arts just fundamentally ipatible? This has never happened before. Fuck!
Mu-Won. Eun Ha-Seol couldnt help but be amazed at the way Jin Mu-Won avoided a direct confrontation with Tae Mu-Kang while being burdened by her. Whenever Tae Mu-Kang was about to hit one of them, hed either dodge, parry, or pull her away to safety by the tiniest margin. Not only that, as time passed, his movements were only getting smoother and more experienced.
BA-DUMP!
Jin Mu-Won suddenly felt an itch at the back of his head, so he took a small step forward. At the same time, Tae Mu-Kangs fist whizzed past the ce where his head had just been, like they were in perfect synchrony.
Next, he felt that the right side was ominous, so he stepped to the left. Tae Mu-Kangs attack then immediatelynded in the space he vacated a moment ago.
SWISH!
Jin Mu-Wons mind, which had been thrown into confusion due to his inexperience, cleared up. An unfamiliar feeling spread out over his entire body.
He could feel Tae Mu-Kangs angry gaze like needles on his skin. He could hear the giants breath like thunder in his ears. Every little vibration was transmitted to his skin through the air and the ground.
It was often said that after a warrior has acquired a certain amount of fighting experience, theyd gain an ability known as Perception. This ability allowed them to perceive their opponents next move by observing the direction of their gazes and the twitching of their muscles.
However, Jin Mu-Won felt that what he was currently experiencing was not the normal kind of Perception, but rather, an actual sensory enhancement. He was so sensitive to his environment that no change, no matter how small, could escape his notice.
It was as if the entire space around him had be his absolute dominion.
For now, I shall call it the All-Epassing Cognizance (ȫλ X).
Jin Mu-Won had no idea if this ability was inherent to the Art of Ten Thousand Shadows, or if he had awakened it as a result of stimtion from the near-death experience that was Tae Mu-Kang.
How I gained this ability isnt important. Whatever this ability is, it greatly increases my chances of survival. Thats all that matters.
Meanwhile, Tae Mu-Kangs frustration was building up. Again and again, Jin Mu-Won had sessfully dodged and parried his attacks. To make it worse, he always avoided the attack by the smallest possible margin, using the minimal amount of movement. If the boy was an expert martial artist like Eun Ha-Seol, hed be able to ept it somehow, but
Slippery brat! Im gonna st you into nothingness! Primeval Chaos World Annihtion (Ԫ)! bellowed an enraged Tae Mu-Kang, leaping into the air once more.
RUMBLE!
Primeval Chi gushed out of Tae Mu-Kangs body, spread out over the battlefield, then shot toward Jin Mu-Won like a beautiful rain of dark Flux.
Although the All-Epassing Cognizance told Jin Mu-Won that it was an attack he could easily dodge, he did not do so. That was because if he avoided that attack, Eun Ha-Seol would be the one in danger.
The cunning look in Tae Mu-Kangs eyes seemed to be mocking him, telling him to choose between his own life and Eun Ha-Seols.
Jin Mu-Won grit his teeth. Ill only get one chance. I dont have a lot of chi, so Ive been saving it up and concentrating it as much as I can for the sake of one big, effective attack.
Jin Mu-Wons eyes suddenly fell upon the Wall of Ten Thousand Shadows behind Tae Mu-Kang.
That was the wall his ancestors had dedicated their blood, sweat, and lives to defend.
The name of the sword technique that they left behind on that wall might as well have been written in blood.
The Shadow de of Destruction (ħӰ).
For the very first time in his life, Jin Mu-Won whispered the name of his sword technique out loud.
The sword of shadows (Ӱ) created to destroy the heavens () and y all demons (ħ). [1]
The iplete sword created and refined by his ancestors, but that only saw the light of day in his hands.
Dividing the Heavenly Seas (캣). [2]
He became a shadow.
Footnotes:
[1] Shadow de of Destruction (ħӰ): FINALLY, we see a proper exnation for the name of this technique. Before that was all random guessing based on obscure clues. It is the sword of shadows (Ӱ) created to destroy the heavens () and y all demons (ħ). Depending on the way this name was put together it could mean very different things, it''s easy to group it as 족 and ħӰ, which would trante to Demonic Shadow de of Heavenly Destruction, but no, its ħ and Ӱ, which is literally Shadow de of Heavenly Destruction and Demon ying.
TL: (s)s ߩ
[2] Dividing the Heavenly Seas (캣): Literal trantion C Splitting the Heavenly Seas.
Chapter 44: Those Who Want to Leave Have Left, Those Who Want to Stay Are Staying (3)
A dusky light filled the whole world, the air rumbled like someone banging on drums, and ck rain fell upon the smashed ruins of the Northern Army Fortress.
"Those guys have gone crazy!" muttered Seo Mu-Sang, running out of the battlefield as fast as his legs could carry him. The four Gray Wolves of Chaos were doing the same thing as him. Although they weren''t afraid of death, Tae Mu-Kang''s killing intent was so powerful that it made even them fearful.
When the ck death rays hit the fortress, the walls and buildings that had stood proudly for over a hundred years was instantly ground to dust.
BOOM! BANG!
Crater after crater appeared on the ground, giving it the appearance of a beehive.
Seo Mu-Sang''s eyes widened in abject horror. He never imagined that humans were capable of causing such mass destruction.
That kind of thing should be the domain of the gods of heaven and hell, right!?
Where the rain of chi fell, no living thing, not even a martial arts expert, would be left alive. It was the end of the world.
Just as Seo Mu-Sang was thinking that Jin Mu-Won, who was in the middle of all that, was dead, he saw an unbelievable sight that made him doubt his eyes.
Jin Mu-Won was carrying Eun Ha-Seol on his back and running through the rain of death without getting a scratch on him.
Common sense told Seo Mu-Sang that this was impossible. Just as a human cannot run through a thunderstorm without getting wet, there was no way Jin Mu-Won could dash through that rain of death without being hit.
And yet, the impossible was happening right now, right in front of him.
Hmm? On closer inspection, he''s not really avoiding Tae Mu-Kang''s ck rain. It''s justgoing through him? He''s like a ghost, ora shadow.
A shadow without a material body.
Jin Mu-Won closed in on Tae Mu-Kang and raised his sword. Seo Mu-Sang could not sense any sword ki or sword flux surrounding the sword, but for some reason, his heart was pounding with anxiety and tension.
"Dividing the Heavenly Seas (캣)."
SLASH!
Although Jin Mu-Won''s attack was soundless, Seo Mu-Sang heard his short sword slice through something. It was the same for the Gray Wolves of Chaos. They had definitely heard Jin Mu-Won''s sword cut through flesh and bone.
Tae Mu-Kang was no exception. His senses were telling him that he had been sliced in half, even though Jin Mu-Won''s sh seemed to be an illusory technique.
Still, that attack had felt quite different from a normal illusory technique, where the illusion directly interfered with one''s Perception of an opponent''s action or movement. Tae Mu-Kang brain was literally screaming that he''d been cut.
A shiver ran down his spine.
He wasafraid.
Even so
At that moment, Tae Mu-Kang spotted an opening in Jin Mu-Won''s defense. He immediately spun around, gathered some of the chi around him, and aimed a roundhouse kick at Jin Mu-Won''s ribs.
BAM!
Jin Mu-Won was sent flying a hundred feet away, with Eun Ha-Seol still on his back. He wanted to scream but couldn''t as his flesh and bones could be seen through the wound in his chest, like a savage beast had just taken a huge bite out of him. The short sword he was so proud of was shattered, and only the hilt remained in his hand.
"Kuheuk!" he coughed,ying on the ground. His consciousness was fading, but he desperately summoned his inhuman willpower and forced himself to stay awake.
"Mu-Won!" Eun Ha-Seol tightly hugged the tall boy with her small, petite frame, and red at Tae Mu-Kang.
Seeing the girl''s pathetic state, Tae Mu-Kang sniggered.
SPLURT!
Suddenly, a fountain of blood gushed out of his shoulder, and his body shuddered involuntarily.
A look of disbelief appeared on Tae Mu-Kang''s face. "What? When did he?"
I was so sure that I dodged it! I didn''t even feel myself getting shed. If Jin Mu-Won''s swordsmanship was a little more experienced, I wouldn''t have gotten off with only a shoulder wound. He would have lopped off my head without me realizing it. I might possess regenerative powers, but if I get decapitated, I''m dead.
"Fucking son of a bitch!"
I have to get rid of him before he gets any stronger! Just the thought of how powerful this kid could get makes me shiver.
Tae Mu-Kang staggered toward Jin Mu-Won. He trusted in his own regenerative powers, and the sooner the boy died, the sooner his anxiety would go away.
However, suddenly, he screeched to a halt, tilting his head in confusion.
"."
Something''s wrong.
He looked toward his injured shoulder.
The wound isn''t healing.
Tae Mu-Kang had a body that was almost invincible. A small wound like this should have healed in the blink of an eye, but the odd thing was, it showed no signs of healing at all.
TWITCH!
Tae Mu-Kang''s whole body twitched as if he were struck by lightning. He then started to tremble uncontrobly.
Is this what pain feels like? Why? I''ve never felt pain before.
Tae Mu-Kang scowled at Jin Mu-Won with bloodshot eyes, growling, "You damned bastard, what the fuck did you do to me?"
His Art of the Primeval Hellish Demon was supposed to analyze Jin Mu-Won''s chi and convert itself into a type that perfectly opposed the boy''s energy. Theoretically, it should be able to absorb and adapt to any kind of chi. However, when faced with Jin Mu-Won''s chi, the Art of the Primeval Hellish Demon literally waved the white g of surrender without putting up a fight.
This was the first time the Art of the Primeval Hellish Demon had failed Tae Mu-Kang.
Although Tae Mu-Kang was staring daggers are him, Jin Mu-Won had no intention of answering him. That was because the instant he opened his mouth, thest of his strength would leave him.
In order to properly utilize the Shadow de of Destruction, he had to first master the Art of Ten Thousand Shadows. However, despite not mastering the Art, he had forced himself to unleash the Shadow de of Destruction anyway. As a result, his internal organs had been damaged by the rebound.
Jin Mu-Won felt that his chi was on the verge of going berserk, but he still clenched his teeth and struggled to his feet.
Tae Mu-Kang raised his fist once more. To him, there was probably no better time to get rid of this potential threat.
Jin Mu-Won desperately willed himself to move, but his body simply wouldn''t listen to him.
Is this the end?
Suddenly, someone stood in front of him. In his moment of need, Eun Ha-Seol was the one who protected him. She held out hands which were covered in a thin, silvery-white membrane of chi. That was all the energy should could muster for defense right now.
BOOM!
"AHHHHHHH!"
In front of the ferocious Tae Mu-Kang, the defensive chi that Eun Ha-Seol had worked so hard to umte shattered like ss, sending her flying while screaming. She crashed into the ground like a broken doll andy there, unmoving.
"HA-SEOL!" shouted Jin Mu-Won, his eyes popping out of their sockets. Eun Ha-Seol''s crumbled body could be seen clearly reflected in the corneas of his eyes.
"Ha-SeolHa-Seol" He crawled over toward her, calling her name over and over again, but Tae Mu-Kang stopped him by stepping on his left arm.
CRACK!
"ARGHHHHHH!" he screamed as the bones in his left arm were crushed.
Tae Mu-Kang looked at Jin Mu-Won''s head vehemently and gathered his chi in his fist.
WHOOSH!
Tae Mu-Kang''s fist zoomed toward Jin Mu-Won''s head. Just as the young man''s head was about to be smashed like a watermelon, a woman roared, "CHAOS DEMON!"
A silvery-white storm of chi, so cold that the water vapor in the air was frozen into ice, swallowed Tae Mu-Kang.
BAM!
Tae Mu-Kang was knocked backwards, like he had just been hit by a giant hammer. He fell to the ground rolling, ayer of ice forming on his chest.
With bloodshot eyes, Jin Mu-Won stared at the neer who had attacked Tae Mu-Kang.
It was a woman who appeared to be in her thirties, with blue-ck colored hair. She exuded an aura of an untouchable, absolute being. Even the air seemed to hold its breath around her.
She turned around to look at Eun Ha-Seol.
"Ha-Seol."
Eun Ha-Seol could only whisper in reply, "Master."
Seeing her disciple''s heavily wounded state, the woman''s blood boiled with rage. In stark contrast to her burning anger, the temperature of her surroundings decreased drastically.
Tae Mu-Kang slowly stood up, growling, "Witchof the White Night."
"Chaos Demon," said the woman, her eyes quickly turning white.
TING LING LING!
The frozen air spread out around the woman, forming concentric circles of ice.
She was the woman known as the "Celestial of the White Night (ҹ)" to her allies, and the "Witch of the White Night (ҹħŮ)" to her enemies. [1]
Her name, was Seo Geum-Hyang.
Footnotes:
[1] Celestial/Witch of the White Night (ҹ/ħŮ): Literal trantion C Female Celestial/Demonic Lady of the White Night.
Chapter 45: Those Who Want to Leave Have Left, Those Who Want to Stay Are Staying (4)
The woman had dark hair that fluttered in the wind, glowing skin that was as smooth as silk, and a perfect figure with no excess fat. She was like a celestial descended from heaven, strolling at a leisurely pace under the pale moonlight.
That beautiful appearance of hers was just an illusion, though. Whether it was the first time Eun Ha-Seol had met her, or many years ago when Sa-Ryung had sworn fealty to her, she had always looked exactly the same.
Dozens of years had passed since she became known as the Witch, yet as if time had stopped for her, she never aged a single day. Because of this, it was rumored that she was an unaging, undying celestial.
She stared at Tae Mu-Kang, her white eyes brimming with murderous intent.
She was one of the Four Great Demon Generals of the Silent Night, and she prided in her undefeated legend. The only stain on her perfect battle record was her defeat at Tae Mu-Kang''s hands. Sure, he hadid out a trap for her and taken her by surprise, but a defeat was still a defeat.
She was a woman who would not make excuses for her defeat. All she wished for was sweet, sweet revenge.
With the proud bearing of a queen, she looked down at Tae Mu-Kang and said, "Demon of Chaos, you should never have been born in this world."
"I was created by your own allies, the Silent Night. But I''m sure you already knew that, Witch." Tae Mu-Kang roared like a wild beast.
Compared to his taunting, mocking disposition when bullying Eun Ha-Seol and Jin Mu-Won, his attitude toward Seo Geum-Hyang was serious. She was an enemy whose continued existence he could not tolerate, and a foe he could not underestimate. He did not bother hiding his hostility toward her, and forcefully engaged his chi. As the whirlwind of his Rebound Flux surrounded him, the wound inflicted by Jin Mu-Won erged and more of his blood spilled out, but he ignored it.
"Tee hee! I was going to use that little bitch as bait to lure you out, but to think you would show yourself like this."
"Hmph!" Seo Geum-Hyang sneered at Tae Mu-Kang''s provocation and leapt toward him. She pushed the Heart of the Silver Soul to its limits, causing a silvery-white mist to enshroud her body like a translucent veil.
It was the same martial art as Eun Ha-Seol, but the feeling that Seo Geum-Hyang gave off waspletely different. The gap between their levels of mastery was just too big.
In an instant, Seo Geum-Hyang appeared in front of Tae Mu-Kang, leaving behind a trail of silver-white afterimages.
CRASH!
The Witch of the White Night and the Chaos Demon shed.
"Young Mistress."
Eun Ha-Seol felt herself being helped up and struggled to open her eyes. "Whois it? Sa-Ryung?" she mumbled.
"Yes, it''s me, Young Mistress," replied Sa-Ryung, Seo Geum-Hyang''s most trusted subordinate.
"Were you the one who led Master here?"
"I''m sorry, we came toote."
Eun Ha-Seol was wounded all over. Her limbs were bent in the wrong directions, her shoulder bone was broken, her chest was sunken in, and her face was covered in blood. The fact that she was still alive was a miracle.
Sa-Ryung''s eyes burned with fury as they looked at Eun Ha-Seol''s pathetic state. However, their anger wasn''t directed at Eun Ha-Seol, but at Jin Mu-Won.
Young Mistress would never have gotten so badly hurt if she didn''t have to protect Jin Mu-Won. It''s all that stupid boy''s fault.
Besides, as Madam''s disciple and a practitioner of the Heart of the Silver Soul, Young Mistress must abandon all human emotions. Only then can she be enlightened and view the world without bias.
Until she met Jin Mu-Won, Young Mistress was always perfectly rational andposed. There was no better inheritor of the Heart of the Silver Soul than her.
Madam only took Young Mistress in as a disciple because of her personality traits, but Jin Mu-Won has changed her. It will be dangerous for Young Mistress if we let him live.
The most dangerous people in the gangho were those who excelled at staying unnoticed, like Jin Mu-Won. Everyone, from Heaven''s Summit to the Silent Night, all thought that the Northern Army was thoroughly annihted, but it was in fact hiding a ferocious beast quietly polishing its ws. Furthermore, the young man was the current Lord of the Northern Army, which automatically made him the Silent Night''s worst enemy.
Suddenly, Eun Ha-Seol said, "Please don''t kill him, Sa-Ryung."
"Young Mistress?"
"He hasn''t done anything wrong."
Sa-Ryung''s heart missed a beat, because Eun Ha-Seol''s words had hit home. They first looked at the pale face and lips of the girl, and wondered if she could read their mind. They then turned toward Jin Mu-Won, seriously considering whether they should ignore the Young Mistress''s orders just this one time.
"It''s all my fault. I was lonely, so I selfishly pushed my emotions onto him. That''s why, please don''t me him."
Mu-Won is the first, and the only person who has ever truly loved me. After leaving the Northern Army Fortress, I might never get to experience that kind of feeling again. That''s why, I cannot let my most precious memory be ruined even if I have to die together with him.
"YoungMistress."
"You''ll listen to my request, right?"
"YesYoung Mistress." Sa-Ryung acquiesced and nodded. They were cruel to everyone else, but had a soft spot for Eun Ha-Seol. Still, whenever they looked at Jin Mu-Won, they couldn''t help but want to kill him.
"Young Mistress, please drink this," said Sa-Ryung, taking out a wooden box from their chest pocket. They opened the box to reveal a glowing red pill wrapped in golden foil.
It was the Pill of the Supreme Gods (_), a famed life-saving medicine within the Silent Night. Regardless of how heavily injured one was, as long as they still had one breath left in them, the Pill would be able to save them. However, due to how difficult it was to make one, not many pills were made, and only a lucky few were saved by it.
Sa-Ryung did not hesitate to give such a valuable medicine to Eun Ha-Seol. The instant they ced the pill in Eun Ha-Seol''s mouth, it dissolvedpletely and flowed down her throat.
Sa-Ryung waited for some time, but Eun Ha-Seol''s condition did not appear to improve. All the Pill of the Supreme Gods did was prolong her life for now.
Nevertheless, Eun Ha-Seol recovered enough energy from the Pill that she tried to stand up. Seeing their beloved young mistress struggling, Sa-Ryung''s heart melted and they helped her up.
Eun Ha-Seol limped toward Jin Mu-Won and whispered, "Mu-Won."
"Ha-Seol," he replied, looking up at her from the ground where hey. There was a gaping hole in the side of his stomach, and his left arm was broken, but Jin Mu-Won still somehow managed to smile gently at her.
You''re alive.
Thank the gods you''re still alive!
From the look on Jin Mu-Won''s face, Eun Ha-Seol could tell exactly what he was thinking. Her eyes welled up with tears
KABOOOOOM!
Following the sound of an explosion, a powerful gust of wind swept toward the young couple. Sa-Ryung immediately shielded Eun Ha-Seol with their own body, while Jin Mu-Won summoned his remaining energy to protect his own body.
They then turned toward the direction of the explosion, and saw that the battle between Seo Geum-Hyang and Tae Mu-Kang had reached its climax. Every time the two shed, waves of energy would ripple outwards like a terrible storm.
Tae Mu-Kang was drenched in blood. The wound he had received from Jin Mu-Won hadn''t healed at all. Thanks to this, Seo Geum-Hyang had gained the upper hand.
Seo Geum-Hyang reached behind her and took out two glittering silver chakras. The name of these palm-sized rings was the "Moonlight Chakras (¹݆)". They were demonic weapons that heralded mass bloodshed, and were unique to Seo Geum-Hyang, the Witch of the White Night.
Only masters of the Heart of the Silver Soul could freely wield such bloodthirsty weapons, as anyone else would be consumed and killed by the chakras upon touching them.
Previously when Tae Mu-Kang had ambushed Seo Geum-Hyang, she did not have the Moonlight Chakras on her. In unarmed battle, she was no match for him, a closebat specialist, and ended up losing horribly. Now that she had her weapons with her, though, it was impossible for her to lose.
She hurled the Moonlight Chakras at Tae Mu-Kang.
BUZZ! BUZZ!
The silver rings of death spun across the air with a humming noise like a swarm of bees.
Tae Mu-Kang narrowed his brows. He was aware just how powerful these Moonlight Chakras were. However, he had no intention of backing down.
He was the Chaos Demon, a monster created especially for hunting down top-level martial artists like Seo Geum-Hyang.
The Flux of the Primeval Hellish Demon surrounded him as he charged toward the Moonlight Chakras, roaring withughter, "HAHAHAHAHA!"
CRASH!
The murky storm shed with the silver storm.
In the resulting chaotic tempest, Jin Mu-Won, Eun Ha-Seol, and Sa-Ryung were all blown far, far away.
Chapter 46: Those Who Want to Leave Have Left, Those Who Want to Stay Are Staying (5)
"Ugh!" groaned Jin Mu-Won, opening his eyes. The first thing he saw was Seo Geum-Hyang staring down at him, but he was pinned under a copsed pavilion and couldn''t move.
When he noticed the killing intent in Seo Geum-Hyang''s eyes, he couldn''t help but smile bitterly. For some reason, everyone he had met recently wanted to kill him. It was so absurd that he wanted tough.
However, Seo Geum-Hyang only found his smile all the more infuriating. She growled, "Are you mocking me?"
"Do youthink that''s even possible?" Jin Mu-Won moaned, expanding his senses and observing his surroundings. He searched for Tae Mu-Kang''s presence, but could not sense him anywhere in the Northern Army Fortress.
"Hmph, he ran away," said Seo Geum-Hyang, an unpleasant look on her face. Tae Mu-Kang''s escape was an insult to her pride.
During their final sh, Seo Geum-Hyang''s Moonlight Chakras had dealt fatal blows to Tae Mu-Kang''s shoulder and stomach. If a normal person had gotten that kind of wound, they would most certainly have died on the spot. However, Tae Mu-Kang was not a normal person.
Even with those grievous wounds, he could still run away. Seo Geum-Hyang had attempted to pursue him, but her previous injuries had not yet fully healed.
Furthermore, the remaining four Gray Wolves of Chaos had gotten in her way in order to buy time for Tae Mu-Kang. While she was busy killing them, Tae Mu-Kang disappeared. Regrettably, the threat to hers and Eun Ha-Seol''s life hadn''t been eliminated.
Well, he won''t be recovering from the wounds that he received from the Moonlight Chakras. I doubt he''ll survive for much longer.
The Moonlight Chakras might be demonic weapons, but they were also the perfect foil to Tae Mu-Kang''s murky chi.
Now, to deal with the other problematic one
Seo Geum-Hyang turned to face Jin Mu-Won. Before she arrived at the scene, Jin Mu-Won had already severely injured Tae Mu-Kang. More importantly, she''d noticed that Tae Mu-Kang''s wound wasn''t healing even with his regenerative abilities. That could only mean that Jin Mu-Won''s martial arts countered Tae Mu-Kang''s.
After being injured by both my Moonlight Chakras and Jin Mu-Won, the possibility of Tae Mu-Kang surviving is zero. However, the fact that I didn''t defeat him using my own power, and had to rely on weapons, is disgraceful.
Thest Lord of the Northern Army, Jin Mu-Won, is a problem.
Everyone had thought that he was a tiger cub which had lost its ws. However, Tae Mu-Kang''s wounds proved that he was no harmless cub, but a full-grown tiger with sharpened ws.
He must be killed immediately, before he bes even stronger.
The worst thing is, my sessor, Eun Ha-Seol, seems to have fallen in love with him? That absolutely cannot be allowed. The Heart of the Silver Soul cannot be mastered without abandoning one''s emotions.
Seo Geum-Hyang gathered her chi. The best time to kill Jin Mu-Won was right now, while he was heavily injured.
"No, Master!" Suddenly, Eun Ha-Seol''s piercing shriek rang out, hurting Seo Geum-Hyang''s ears.
Seo Geum-Hyang ignored her disciple and raised her hand to strike, but because she had hesitated for a moment, Eun Ha-Seol managed to squeeze her tiny body in between her and Jin Mu-Won.
"You"
Even though her own body was on the verge of copse, Eun Ha-Seol held her arms out to the side to protect Jin Mu-Won.
Her face was pale, her lips were dry, and she was having difficulty breathing. She was only conscious due to the effects of the Pill of the Supreme Gods. She knew that if she continued pushing herself like this, she might never recover fully. Even then, her desire to protect Jin Mu-Won trumped her concern for her own well-being.
Seo Geum-Hyang looked like she was about to go ballistic. She roared, "You dare get in my way!?"
"That''s not it, Master."
"Move it, Ha-Seol. He is a descendant of the Northern Army, our most hated enemy."
"But he''s also my savior."
"What? Do you know what you''re saying!?"
Seo Geum-Hyang''s killing aura intensified. A mere disciple dares to disobey me, her master? The Eun Ha-Seol I knew would never do this. She only became like his because of Jin Mu-Won''s influence.
"Are you defying me, your master?"
Eun Ha-Seol knelt down and prostrated herself, her forehead touching the ground.
"Master, please, I''m begging you."
THUNK! THUNK!
The skin on Eun Ha-Seol''s forehead tore and blood began to flow out. Still, she refused to budge.
Seo Geum-Hyang was livid. Eun Ha-Seol''s condition was critical, and she needed immediate medical attention from an expert. Her disciple should also be aware of this fact, and yet, she had chosen to protect Jin Mu-Won over her own life.
Perhaps I should erase her memory.
A long time ago, she herself had once knelt before her own master like this. That memory had now faded, but somehow, she felt as if she could see her former self ovepped with the current Eun Ha-Seol.
Seo Geum-Hyang looked at Jin Mu-Won. Simr to her disciple, there was unyielding determination in the young man''s eyes, but his gaze was focused only on Eun Ha-Seol.
She sighed, "Fine, I will not kill him."
"Thank you, Master."
"In exchange, you will begin training using the Ice Crystal Silver Light Technique (꾧y)[1]''. Is that understood?"
"Y-Yes."
The Ice Crystal Silver Light Technique could help Eun Ha-Seol master the Heart of the Silver Soul within a very short time, but the risk of dying from it was also extremely high. Before today, Seo Geum-Hyang had kept dying this type of training in order to increase her disciple''s chances of survival. However, her disciple now needed to be punished severely for her actions.
Seo Geum-Hyang stormed off. She was extremely upset, but she knew that her disciple wished to bid farewell to Jin Mu-Won.
Finally, Eun Ha-Seol turned to face Jin Mu-Won.
Jin Mu-Wony in the middle of the ruins. He tried his hardest to get up, but he still couldn''t lift a finger.
"MuWon."
"You look terrible. Haha!" Jin Mu-Wonughed bitterly, but suddenly, Eun Ha-Seol ced her arms around his neck and embraced him.
He closed his eyes, trying to engrave the warmth and fragrance of her body into his memories.
Eun Ha-Seol whispered, "I have to go now."
"I know." Jin Mu-Won nodded. As much as I hate it, I have to say goodbye. The way I am right now, I can''t possibly protect Ha-Seol. If her master hadn''t appeared in time, she would have died today.
If only I wasn''t this weak, she would never have gotten hurt!
Blood flowed from Jin Mu-Won''s clenched fists.
Eun Ha-Seol could feel the man in her arms trembling. She instantly understood what he was thinking, and said, "Please don''t me yourself. We both knew that this day woulde sooner orter."
"Next time, I will be the one to find you. Sowait for me!"
"Okay." Eun Ha-Seol nodded, then let go of Jin Mu-Won. She stood up and limped toward her master.
Jin Mu-Won watched her go with bloodshot eyes. He finally managed to raise a hand and reached out for her, but when he closed his fist, there was nothing in his grasp.
Just then, Eun Ha-Seol looked behind her, saying, "Mu-Won, no matter how much I change in the future Please don''t hate me."
"I could never hate you!"
"I believe you."
Eun Ha-Seol beamed happily, then fainted. Sa-Ryung picked her up and carried her on their back.
Seo Geum-Hyang red at Jin Mu-Won and sternly said, "Last sessor of the Northern Army, I''m warning you. Never show yourself in front of that child ever again. I pray you won''t forget my advice."
Before Jin Mu-Won could reply, Seo Geum-Hyang spun around and left. Sa-Ryung followed right behind her.
Jin Mu-Won watched them go in a daze. Only when they hadpletely vanished from sight did he grit his teeth and swear to himself, "I will definitely be even stronger."
I now have yet another reason to be stronger!
In his aching heart, Jin Mu-Won cried tears of blood.
Footnotes:
[1] Ice Crystal Silver Light Technique (꾧y): Literal trantion - Ice Crystal Silver Light Great Technique.
Trantor''s Notes:
I''ll bet none of you expected THAT to be the real reason why Seo Geum-Hyang let Jin Mu-Won off the hook.
Chapter 47: Facing the Sword Wall for Seven Years (1)
Chapter 47: Facing the Sword Wall for Seven Years (1)
Seo Mu-Sangs emotions were a total mess, and it was written clearly on his face. After receiving multiple bad surprises in one day, he felt like nothing could surprise him any longer.
What a chaotic day. The attack of the Chaos Demon, the return of the Silent Night, and the most shocking thingthe truth about the man named Jin Mu-Won.
Since that time in the backyard, Ive suspected that he wasnt normal, but he surpassed all my expectations by a mile. Even the duo of Dam Soo-Cheon and Shim Won-Ui struggled badly against Tae Mu-Kang, but Jin Mu-Won easily dodged all of that monsters attacks by a hair. Most importantly, thatst sword technique that he unleashed
Just recalling it makes my hair stand on end. How could a sword technique like that possibly exist?
At least, Im now absolutely sure that the man named Jin Mu-Won has fully inherited not only the spirit, but the strength of the Northern Army as well. Despite being this powerful, for five whole years, he deliberately concealed himself and endured all sorts of torture and humiliation without revealing a thing. Neither Jang Pae-San nor Shim Won-Ui managed to force a single peep out of him.
Thats just terrifying. If it was me, could I do it?
No way in hell. Jin Mu-Won is probably the only person in the world with the patience to suffer in silence for so many years. Not to mention, in the midst of all that shit, he turned his resentment into strength and secretly trained his martial arts to an unbelievable level.
Such a scary man is currently heavily wounded, lying motionlessly against a fallen wall, and staring nkly in the direction that Eun Ha-Seol had left from.
If I want to kill him, now is undoubtedly the best time. Its probably also the only chance I will ever get to kill him. I am a warrior of Heavens Summit, and I was dispatched to the Northern Army Fortress to monitor Jin Mu-Won. Killing him would be the right thing to dobut I cant bring myself to do it.
After all, hes the one who enlightened me that time It was his voice that saved me from my inner demons. Until today, I couldnt be certain that it was him, as everyone was convinced that he didnt know any martial arts.
Haa Seo Mu-Sang couldnt help but sigh.
Suddenly, Jin Mu-Won moved. His injuries were grievous, and his left arm was broken, but he still struggled to push himself to his feet.
After what seemed like an eternity, Jin Mu-Won finally stood up. It was painful and difficult to breathe, and his body wobbled every time he moved, but that did not stop him from walking forward, one step at a time.
He raised his head and looked at thepletely annihted ruins of the Northern Army Fortress. This fortress had stood up to countless invasions by the Silent Night, but after one battle with Tae Mu-Kang, it was finished. Only the Tower of Shadows and a few scattered pavilions were left standing.
Jin Mu-Won shuffled toward the Tower of Shadows. On the way, he fell down several times, but each time he picked himself up and continued heading toward the Tower.
Seo Mu-Sang watched Jin Mu-Won with a dazed look on his face. Jin Mu-Won should be aware that he was being watched, but not once did he ask for help. Seo Mu-Sang couldnt help but admire the young mans pride and stubbornness.
There should be a limit to how harsh one is to themselves.
Seo Mu-Wang no longer wanted to kill Jin Mu-Won. He owed the young man a life debt, and biting the hand that fed him was against his principles.
After Jin Mu-Won entered the Tower of Shadows, Seo Mu-Sang started reorganizing his thoughts. It was time for him to make a decision.
Time flew, and before Seo Mu-Sang knew it, the sun had begun to rise, heralding the dawn of a new day. After a whole night spent weighing his options, he now knew exactly what he wanted to do.
He stood up and began to retrieve the corpses of his formerrades. Regardless of whether he liked them or not, they had apanied him throughout thesest three years. Even though he thought that he had prepared himself mentally, the sight of their mangled corpses still broke his heart.
Won Jeok-Sim, Yoo Gyung-Chun, Noh Ji-Kwang Everyone is here, except for Captain Jang Pae-San.
So that fucker really ran away, huh?
CRUNCH!
Seo Mu-Sang ground his teeth. If anyone else in the Third Company had run away, hed probably be able to forgive them. However, their captain, Jang Pae-San, was an exception. As the leader, he was responsible for their lives. Forsaking his subordinates and leaving them to die was shameful and inexcusable.
Ill never serve someone like that ever again, thought Seo Mu-Sang as he collected some firewood from around the ruins of the fortress. He then ced the corpses of the Third Company mercenaries on top of the firewood.
Im sorry, I couldnt protect any of you, he whispered to himself, tears streaming down his face.
He lit the bonfire, and watched silently as the mes licked the corpses of his friends and colleagues. The fortress was soon filled with the suffocating smell of smoke.
Seo Mu-Sang waited for all the corpses to bepletely cremated, then put out the fire. He searched through the ashes for whatever bones were left, then ground the bones into powder and poured it into a small leather sack.
I will definitely take you guys back to the Central ins, he swore. The men of the Third Company had really been looking forward to returning home, and the least he could do was help them fulfill theirst wishes.
Perhaps he had cried too much, but he no longer felt sad, just empty. The moment he remembered Jang Pae-San and Shim Won-Uis betrayal, though, that emptiness was filled with rage.
Suddenly, he turned to face the corpse of Yeop Wol. Even though Yeop Wol had been abandoned by his master, Shim Won-Ui, he had epted it as his fate.
In the end, you were nothing more than a disposable tool.
Although he had envied Yeop Wol, in the world ruled by Heavens Summit, not even he could stand out. Perhaps Yeop Wol had thought about relying on Shim Won-Ui to fulfill his ambitions, but he ended up paying the ultimate price the instant Shim Won-Ui ran into an enemy he could not defeat.
I need to be stronger, so that no one will dare use me and throw me away.
That was easily said, but not easily done. Seo Mu-Sang thought about how his views of the world had changed after living in the Northern Army Fortress for three years.
He looked pretty much the same on the outside, but inside, he was a changed man.
It was because of this change that he chose not to leave the Northern Army Fortress. Instead, he stood outside the Tower of Shadows and waited quietly for Jin Mu-Won toe out.
He ended up waiting for a total of five days. When he finally saw Jin Mu-Won, the young mans face was still a little pale, and his wounds hadntpletely closed yet, but he looked much better than he did five days ago.
Unknown to Seo Mu-Sang, Jin Mu-Won had spent thest five days using the Art of Ten Thousand Shadows to heal his injuries. Thankfully, he wasnt a normal person, or those wounds would definitely have been fatal. Right now, he was far from fully recovered, but at least his life was no longer in danger.
He still needed to meditate for many more days before he could return to peak condition. However, resolving his current predicament was more crucial, so he got up and forced himself to head outside.
Like Seo Mu-Sang, he roamed around the ruins, asionally digging through the debris. A dayter, he finally found what he was searching for: an obsidian rock about the size of a small child.
This rock had been a gift from Hwang Cheol when he visited the fortress a few years ago. It was a meteorite that had fallen down from the heavens, and had been worshipped as a god by a tribe in Yunnan. Jin Mu-Won used the location of the rock as a marker to dig out more of his stuff.
As he was searching through the ruins, Jin Mu-Won could sense Seo Mu-Sang looking at him quietly. However, he said nothing. The atmosphere between the two men was just too awkward.
Thus, one man watched as the other man did whatever he pleased. They didnt talk, but they didnt need to talk. It wasnt hard for either of them to guess what the other was thinking.
When he had finally found all his stuff, Jin Mu-Won approached Seo Mu-Sang. The young man was covered from head to toe in dust from the debris, and he looked like he badly needed a bath.
There were scabs all over his dirty face, and his clothes were torn and bloodied.
Even though he looks like that, his eyes are still alert and focused, thought Seo Mu-Sang, meeting Jin Mu-Wons sharp gaze. He asked, Are you going to leave the fortress?
Yes. The time hase for me to leave.
I knew it! Seo Mu-Sang nodded.
I just knew it would be like this. Jin Mu-Won isnt stupid enough to continue staying in the Northern Army Fortress.
Soon, Heavens Summit will dispatch an investigation team here to probe into the truth. The kids who ran away would have already informed them about Tae Mu-Kang and the Silent Night, so theres no way Heavens Summit would sit still.
However, if he remained here, Jin Mu-Won would definitely be captured and interrogated. It doesnt matter whether he has any rtion to the matter or not, because he will end up taking the me.
What about you? What are you going to do? asked Jin Mu-Won.
Ill probably return to Heavens Summit. Theres something I must do there.
They wont go easy on you.
I guess. Seo Mu-Sang shrugged nonchntly, as if Jin Mu-Won were talking about someone else.
Once Jin Mu-Won left the fortress, Seo Mu-Sang would be the only survivor of the massacre, and Heavens Summits only source of information. Knowing them, he most certainly would be tortured.
Despite knowing that, Seo Mu-Sang was still insisting that he wanted to return to Heavens Summit. From the look of determination in Seo Mu-Sangs eyes, Jin Mu-Won could tell that nothing he said would change the mercenarys mind.
I swear on my life and my honor, that I absolutely wont tell them anything about you.
Jin Mu-Won nodded. Seo Mu-Sang was a man of his word. The reason he had not only guided him to Transcendence but also let him live after Tae Mu-Kangs massacre, was because of this. If Seo Mu-Sang had been an untrustworthy man, no matter how badly injured he was after the battle, he would have killed him.
Suddenly, Seo Mu-Sang changed the way he spoke to Jin Mu-Won. Like he was speaking to an equal, he said politely, Also, I apologize for my previous rudeness. There is no man I respect more than your father. I know this sounds like an excuse, but when I saw how weak and pathetic the son of the man I admired most appeared, I simply couldnt forgive you.
Jin Mu-Won looked at Seo Me-Sang silently, waiting for him to continue.
But now I understand. You had no choice but to act like that. Thank you for your guidance that time in the backyard, and please forgive me for my sins.
Please stand up. Its nothing, really.
No, this is very important to me.
Seo Mu-Sang looked at Jin Mu-Won, then nced to the South where the Central ins was. He summoned his resolve, he grit his teeth, and kneeled down before Jin Mu-Won.
He then bowed his head and shouted, I, Seo Mu-Sang, pledge absolute loyalty to my Lord, Jin Mu-Won! From this day on, I swear to the gods that I shall live for you, and die for you! Now and for the rest of my life, I will serve you and you alone!
This was not a decision made in haste. Seo Mu-Sang had spent thest five days mulling it over and over. He had questioned himself repeatedly, but in the end, he realized something.
This man will definitely rebuild the Northern Army, and lead it to glory.
In this gangho where people betray each other everyday and malicious schemes are abound, Jin Mu-Won is the only person with a truly sincere heart and a burning ambition. If I do not choose him as my Lord, who else is worthy of my loyalty?
Jin Mu-Won is the light that will bring justice to this murky gray gangho.
Seo Mu-Sangs heart pounded in anticipation.
THUMP! THUMP!
Seo Mu-Sang mmed his head on the ground again and again. The skin on his forehead tore, and blood came flowing out, but he did not even bat an eyelid.
My lord, please ept me as your servant! Let me be the sword that ys your enemies! Seo Mu-Sang shouted passionately, pouring his soul into his voice.
Jin Mu-Won stared at Seo Mu-Sang for a while before finally answering, Please stand up!
My lord! Seo Mu-Sang continued banging his head on the ground.
He misunderstood me. Jin Mu-Won calmly rified, I ept. From now on, you are my first sword.
Thank you, my lord. Thank you so much!
Now, stand up!
At once!
Seo Mu-Sang sprang to his feet.
Jin Mu-Wons heart was set on the future. Although the hundred-year foundations of the Northern Armyy in ruins, he did not think it was a pity. The people and the fortress may be gone, but he was still alive.
Moreover, he had just obtained his first sword.
Due to Tae Mu-Kangs attack, he had lost one person, but in exchange, he had gained another.
The light of reddish-orange mes licked the sky, as if they were trying to reach the heavens. A raging inferno swiftly swallowed up the ruins of the Northern Army Fortress.
CRACKLE! ROAR! BOOM!
The Tower of Shadows copsed, quickly vanishing into the mes. It had stood proudly for a hundred years, but not even it could be spared from the ze.
Jin Mu-Won and Seo Mu-Sang stood a long distance away, watching the fortress burn. They could feel the shocking heat even where they stood.
Suddenly, Seo Mu-Sang looked at Jin Mu-Won. The young man was watching the end of the Northern Army Fortress coolly and unblinkingly. To him, the fortress was simply a physical manifestation of the spirit of the Northern Army; as long as the soul remained intact, mere buildings could be sacrificed if need be.
And sacrifice was exactly what he did. Jin Mu-Won was the one who had set the fortress alight.
Two dayster, the ze finally burned itself out, leaving only ashes in its wake. Thest remaining evidence of the Northern Armys hundred years of war with the Silent Night was gone.
Jin Mu-Won spun around. He did not regret what he had done. The past was the past, and it was time for him to let go of it and embrace the challenges of the future.
Hwang Cheol stood in the distance, holding the reins of two horses. As soon as he had received the news of Shim Won-Uis visit to the Northern Army Fortress, he was ovee with worry and, with all speed, he made his way northwards.
Young Master he mumbled, sobbing. Even though he had hurried as much as he could, he still hadnt made it in time for Tae Mu-Kangs attack. That naturally meant that he hadnt been there for his young master in his greatest time of need.
Jin Mu-Won smiled at Hwang Cheol. He understood Hwang Cheols pain from watching the burning of the Northern Army Fortress, but he did not share it. The fortress had been his shackles, and he was now free.
He mounted one of the horses that Hwang Cheol had prepared.
Seo Mu-Sang stood in front of Jin Mu-Won and bowed, saying, Until the next time we meet, please be sure to take good care of yourself, milord.
You might have to wait many years for me.
That is fine. I will wait for as long as you deem necessary.
Alright. You make sure to be careful, too.
Thank you, but there is no need for milord to worry about this humble me.
Seo Mu-Sang ced a fist on his chest, a determined look on his face.
I see. Then
Jin Mu-Won urged his horse forward, quickly breaking into a gallop.
Until the next time we meet, Warrior Seo.
Uncle Hwang, Ill be depending on you to take care of the lord.
Dont worry, that is something I have decided to do no matter what. Hwang Cheol bid farewell to Seo Mu-Sang, then mounted his horse and took off after Jin Mu-Won.
Seo Mu-Sang silently watched the two men disappear into the distance. Even long after they had gone, he still remained standing at the same spot, unmoving.
My lord! he eximed to himself.
The slumbering dragon has finally woken up and left to search for his wings.
I have to make preparations for the time when he returns. That is my foremost duty as his first sword.
Seo Mu-Sang sat on the ground and closed his eyes.
A few days ago, after he had sworn his eternal loyalty to Jin Mu-Won, they had discussed many things, from Jin Mu-Wons ns for the future, to Seo Mu-Sangs current situation.
In addition, Jin Mu-Won had taught one of the martial arts written on the Wall of Ten Thousand Shadows, the Flowing Stream Steps (Ϫ)[1], to Seo Mu-Sang.
The Flowing Stream Steps was a foot technique created by Nam Un-San, the second-generation Lord of the Northern Army. He had drawn inspiration from a flowing stream to create a foot technique that consisted of meandering movements. Jin Mu-Won felt that this foot technique was a perfectplement to Seo Mu-Sangs freely flowing Blue Cloud Sword Style, so he taught it to him, and true enough, the destructive power of Seo Mu-Sangs sword technique increased by leaps and bounds.
Seo Mu-Sang mulled over the details of the Flowing Stream Steps in his head.
How many days has it been?
Suddenly, his eyes snapped open.
RUMBLE! RUMBLE!
The earth beneath him trembled. A group of horsemen were galloping toward the location where the Northern Army Fortress had once stood. The man in the lead held up a gigantic g emzoned with the symbol of Heavens Summit.
Finally, theyre here. muttered Seo Mu-Sang, standing up.
I figured it was about time the investigation team sent by Heavens Summit arrived. It takes five days to travel to their nearest branch, so taking into ount the time taken for Dam Soo-Cheons group to reach that branch, and the time Heavens Summit needs to organize a team and send them here, it makes sense that they would get here in approximately fifteen days.
Noticing Seo Mu-Sangs presence, the investigation team changed directions to surround him. There were more than a hundred of them, and Seo Mu-Sang could tell that they were all elites at a nce. In particr, their leader exuded an aura that stood out from the rest.
The leader was in histe forties, with an angr face and fierce eyes like a tiger. On his back, he carried a gigantic, intimidating dao.
Seo Mu-Sang had heard of this mans name before. He was Yang Man-Chok, the Branch Head of Heavens Summits Xining Branch [2]. Within the Qinghai region, his strength was unparalleled, giving rise to the alias Savage Dao of Qinghai.
Like his namesake, both his appearance and personality were savage. Also, Seo Mu-Sang was certain that Shim Won-Ui and Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung had escaped to the Xining Branch, as it was the nearest branch to the Northern Army Fortress. Thus, although Seo Mu-Sang had never met Yang Man-Chok before, he recognized him immediately.
Ten days ago, as soon as Yang Man-Chok had received Shim Won-Uis report of the Silent Nights reappearance, he had immediately summoned his men as well as all the murim experts living nearby to form an investigation teamprising on a hundred elite warriors.
Yang Man-Chok drew his dao and pointed it at Seo Mu-Sang, demanding, Who are you? State your name and affiliation!
I am Vice-Captain Seo Mu-Sang of the Third Company, a group of mercenaries affiliated with Heavens Summit.
Youre one of the affiliate mercenaries?
Yang Man-Chok raised an eyebrow that was as thick as a caterpir and red at Seo Mu-Sang with suspicion. Seo Mu-Sang tossed him an identity token as proof that he worked for Heavens Summit.
Even after seeing the identity token, Yang Man-Chok did not let down his guard. The token was real, but the holder could still be an imposter.
Where are the other survivors?
I am the only survivor.
You mean to say, youre the only person who survived the massacre?
Yes, sir!
What about the Lord of the Northern Army?
I think hes probably dead.
Did you see him die with your own eyes?
Thest time I saw him, he was trapped in the mes that burned down the fortress. I did not see him escape, so I figured that he must be dead.
Yang Man-Chok glowered at Seo Mu-Sang, but the mercenary did not avoid his gaze.
Hmph! Well know everything once we investigate. Men! Tie this person up, then take him back to the Xining Branch. Well interrogate him there!
Yes, sir!
Two warriors walked up to Seo Mu-Sang and sealed his meridians. Seo Mu-Sang had already predicted this behavior of theirs beforehand, so he did not resist and quietly let them tie him up and capture him.
After hauling him to the Xining Branch, they would torture him to find out whether he was rted to the Silent Night, how he had survived, and whether Jin Mu-Won had really died. Only when they were satisfied that he was innocent would they free him from imprisonment and allow him to return to Heavens Summit.
After making sure that Seo Mu-Sang was bound, Yang Man-Chok turned to face his men and shouted, Split into two groups and search the area!
[1] Flowing Stream Steps (Ϫ): Literal TL C Stream Flow Steps.
[2] Xining City, Qinghai Province, China: Xining is the capital of Qinghai Province in China, a province which borders Tibet.
Trantor Notes:
We now have a rough location of the Northern Army Fortress and the true identity of the Silent Night. The fortress is located on to the west of Xining City, near the border between Qinghai, Xinjiang, and Tibet. Being located on the Tibetan teau, the fortress would have been subject to harsh winters, mild summers, strong winds, and frequent sandstorms. During the Ming Dynasty, most of Northwest and Western China (Xinjiang, Tibet) was ruled by the Dzungar and Khoshut Khanates, of Oirat Mongol origin. Naturally, this is a strong hint that the Silent Night is made up of Mongols, who are forever trying to invade Central China to escape the harsh living conditions of Northwest/Northern China.
Chapter 48: Facing the Sword Wall for Seven Years (2)
For a few days, Jin Mu-Won rode towards the sunset, until finally, he arrived at a lone barren mountain situated west of the fortress. The mountain rising from the t, deste ins looked no different from an uninhabited ind in the middle of the ocean, except that the rust-colored rocks emanated an unearthly, sinister aura.
The original name of this rocky mountain was Mount Cinnabar (rɽ)[1], but because of its macabre aura that prevented nts from growing on it or near it, and the fact that it scared off both humans and animals, it was moremonly referred to as the Ghost Mountain.
Most importantly, Jin Mu-Won knew that Heaven''s Summit was not aware of the existence of this mountain.
"Young Master, do you really n on living here?" Hwang Cheol felt terrible at the thought of leaving Jin Mu-Won alone in this deste ce while he returned to the Central ins.
On the contrary, Jin Mu-Won liked this ce a lot. He replied, "Yes, I do. This is the perfect ce for me to concentrate on learning martial arts."
Back when he lived in the Northern Army Fortress, he was closely monitored day and night by Heaven''s Summit. At least here, he wouldn''t have to constantly be on the alert for spies and carefully choose his every word.
To the world, the man named Jin Mu-Won is dead. They might be suspicious at first, but as time passes, they will forget me and move on to the next piece of interesting gossip, for that is the true nature of mankind.
If there are any problems with living here, it would have to be the difficulties in securing living necessities. I''ll have to depend on Hwang Cheol''s seasonal visits for that.
"Uncle Hwang, I know this will be hard on you, but would you mind continuing sending me supplies regrly?"
"Oh dear! Please don''t say such things, Young Master. Taking care of you is my duty. You shouldn''t worry about me and focus on learning martial arts."
Jin Mu-Won smiled and said, "Thank you, Uncle Hwang."
However, instead of making Hwang Cheol feel reassured, Jin Mu-Won''s smile only ended up making him feel even more guilty.
Jin Mu-Won looked up at the giant mountain before him.
"This is the ce where I will learn to spread my wings and take flight."
After Hwang Cheol had left, Jin Mu-Won carried his luggage into a cave on the side of the mountain. The naturally formed cave was wide and deep, perfect for his living and training needs.
When he was done moving his luggage, Jin Mu-Won did not rest. Instead, he piled up a stack ofrge rocks into a certain shape, then headed to the bottom of the mountain and filled up a sack with soil.
The broken bone in his left arm hadn''t healed, and it was painful to put a lot of strength into it, but Jin Mu-Won did not want to take a break. Soon, his body was drenched in sweat, and his muscles were twitching uncontrobly from the overexertion.
Still, he did not stop. He drew some water from a crack in the rocks near the cave and mixed it with the soil to form y. He then used the y to fill the cracks in between therge rocks that he had piled up.
Just like that, three dayster, Jin Mu-Won finished making himself a gigantic furnace three times the size and thickness of the one in his old smithy. The reason for thisrge furnace was that there was no firewood avable near Mount Cinnabar. Instead, ording to the "Record of a Thousand Weapons", he''d be able to find coal in the mountains. The mes created from burning coal were far hotter than that created from firewood, so he needed a furnace that could handle much higher temperatures.
Two dayster, after searching around the mountain, he found a location where he could mine a ck rock that matched the description of "coal" in the "Record of a Thousand Weapons".
"Phew!"
Jin Mu-Won observed the white-hot mes in his new furnace. The heat spreading out from it was so intense that it was hard to breathe even far away.
He tossed several chunks of iron ore into the furnace. He needed to forge himself a new sword, as the one he had made previously was shattered during the battle with Tae Mu-Kang.
The new sword had to be much sharper and more durable than the previous one.
Smithing was also a good way to pass the time while he was still recovering from his injuries. Two weeks had passed since his ribs were broken by Tae Mu-Kang, but even with the help of the Art of Ten Thousand Shadows, he needed to rest and meditate in-between smithing for another two weeks in order topletely recover.
"Huu"
Jin Mu-Won took a deep breath and looked up at the blood-red rock wall in front of him. It was thergest cliff face of Mount Cinnabar, being 300 ft tall and 500 ft wide.
It''s like a giant among giants is looking down at me; like nature''s majesty and supremacy is aiming to crush my spirit.
This wall is the backbone of Mount Cinnabar, and the red coloration is its blood.
I hereby name this wall, the "Sword Wall ()".
"From now on, you will be my opponent."
In his hand, Jin Mu-Won held a new short sword that he had spent thest month forging.
It was two feet and seven inches long, and weighed around half a pound. The sharpness of its de could be discerned from the way the steel glinted in the bright sunlight.
Jin Mu-Won had used every forging technique he knew to create this sword, and as a result, the size and weight suited him perfectly. It looked crude and simple on the outside, but he was very satisfied with this piece of work.
He poured his chi into the de, and the de hummed in response. This was the sword acknowledging his chi.
While maintaining the chi in the de, he closed his eyes and recalled the Shadow de of Destruction.
He was the Lord of the Northern Army, and all Lords of the Northern Army desired fighting on the frontlines more than sitting around enjoying life, because only when they were fighting the Silent Night, could they get stronger and obtain even more inspiration to improve on their martial arts.
The Shadow de of Destruction was the culmination of their efforts.
No one understood the pros and cons of the Silent Night''s martial arts more than the Lords of the Northern Army. The Shadow de of Destruction was the result ofpiling all the knowledge they had collected over a hundred years.
However, the Shadow de of Destruction was not the sword technique''s original name. It was formerly called the "Demon ying Sword (ħ)"the sword created to y the demons of the Silent Night.
When Heaven''s Summit betrayed the Northern Army, Jin Kwan-Ho decided to change the name of the technique. It became the sword of shadows that ys not only demons, but destroys the heavensthe "Shadow de of Destruction". The new name was a reflection of Jin Kwan-Ho''s rage and hatred for Heaven''s Summit.
Jin Mu-Won went through the six basic forms of the Shadow de of Destruction in his mind. - Meteor Soul (ǻ)
- Wall of the Northern Heavens ()
- Dividing the Heavenly Seas (캣)
- Storm Forest ()
- Bloody sh (WѪ)
- Shadowless World (oӰ)
As expected of thebined creation of multiple Lords of the Northern Army, the defenders of the world, just one of the six basic forms would be considered equal to the Silent Night''s and the Central ins''s strongest martial arts.
However, the really scary part of the Shadow de of Destruction could only be realized when the forms werebined and performed in conjunction. It''s true strength was not the sum of the six individual forms, but the strength of the six forms multiplied together.
For example, if Meteor Soul and the Wall of the Northern Heavens were to be merged, it would result in a new form that was clearly distinct from the two original forms. Simrly,bining Dividing the Heavenly Seas with Storm Forest would give rise to yet another new form. Theoretically, simply bybining only two forms, one would be able to create thirty new forms. Adding that number to the original six basic forms, that would be thirty-six forms in total. And that was not the limit.
The keyword there was "theoretically". Not even Jin Mu-Won knew if it would actually work, since none of his predecessors had actually reached that level of mastery.
Right now, Jin Mu-Won had only learned the first three of the six basic forms. Even then, it had taken him many, many repeated experiments and failures to iron out the mistakes and problems with the forms. Turning a theoretical martial art into reality ended up being a lot harder than he thought it would be.
He didn''t know how much more time and effort it would take him to fix the remaining three forms, but he felt that as long as he kept trying, he''d surely seed one day.
The Path of the Sword.
The current me is still standing at the beginning of that path.
Thankfully, my shackles are gone. I can finally begin moving forward.
Suddenly, Jin Mu-Won looked up at the sky and whispered to himself, "I swear that I won''t let you wait that long for me, Ha-Seol."
Right now, Good and Evil, Heaven''s Summit, and the Silent Night were things that had nothing to do with him.
He turned to face the Sword Wall and swung his de.
A sword cried, and the wind rose.
Footnotes:
[1] Mount Cinnabar (rɽ): Literal trantion C Mount Red Rock. Mount Red Rock sounds terrible, and I chose "cinnabar" because nothing can live on or around that mountain, like a toxic cinnabar (mercury sulfide) mine.
[2] Old Matriarch: If you read Leviatan''s trantion of the manhwa, they called her Noh Tae-Tae. That is not her name but her title, meaning "Old Lady". Her real name is Jang Mun-Hwa. I decided to call her "Old Matriarch" as "Old Lady" seemed extremely underwhelming, and also didn''t contain the White Dragon merchants'' sense of respect for their founding CEO.
Trantor Notes: This is the END of the first arc. To celebrate, download the epub in the next post on the blog
Chapter 49: The Cursed Sword, Snow Flower (1)
In order to handle the deliveries of their most highly-valued goods, the White Dragon Merchant Association had set up its own armed escort division. Most of the escorts lived in a dormitory within the Association headquarters, with six men sharing a room.
The Association decided to make the escorts live together as they believed that it would strengthen the mens rtionships, and thus their ability to work together as a team during escort missions. This teamwork was what made the White Dragons escorts stand out from thepetition.
The escort dormitory was equipped with a spacious training za. There, young escorts would practice their martial arts, while the older, more experienced escorts would gather under the shade of the trees around the za to chat and y Go.
Yoon Hoo-Myung entered the dormitory.
Director-nim, Gong Jin-Sung, the leader of the escorts, greeted Yoon Hoo-Myung. The middle-aged man was strong and trustworthy, so the other escorts willingly followed him.
Yoon Hoo-Myung smiled and greeted back, How are you?
Haha! Thanks to you, were doing very well. So, why did youe here today?
Where is Escort Hwang?
Hyung-nim is over in that corner teaching the new kid.
Did he take in a disciple?
Disciple my ass. That boy is the son of Hyung-nims friend, Kwak Yi-Soo. Hyung-nim is just teaching him out of consideration for his friendship with the boys father.
Is that so? Yoon Hoo-Myung nodded and walked toward the corner of the training za. There, a sweaty teenage boy was training in martial arts, supervised by a stout middle-aged man.
There, put more strength into your shoulders! Dont just focus on the flow of your chi, instead, harmonize it with your movements! Ah, you little brat! I asked you to use more strength, not stiffen up!
The middle-aged mans berating made the teenager break out in cold sweat. He was trying his best, but his body just wouldnt listen to him.
The kids not very talented, muttered Yoon Hoo-Myung. He was also a martial artist, albeit not a very outstanding one. However, he prided himself on his ability to judge people, and to him, the boy was clearlycking in talent.
Rather than a martial artist, the boy looked more like a drunkard randomly waving his fists around.
Yoon Hoo-Myung shook his head, unable to continue watching this disappointing performance. He approached the middle-aged man and greeted, Escort Hwang.
Only when he heard his name did Hwang Cheol finally notice Yoon Hoo-Myungs existence. The tanned, slightly hunchbacked man sprung to his feet and eximed, Hmm? If it isnt Director-nim! What brings you to our humble abode?
Im here on Mothers orders.
You mean, the Madam? [1]
Yes, she has something important to tell you, so she sent me to inform you.
I-I see
She will be waiting for you in her quarters.
Ah, I understand, replied Hwang Cheol. He then looked toward the boy and warned, Kid, if you dont want to get killed during an escort mission, dont ck off and keep training. Youre not important, and no one will give you a shit and protect you, got it?
You didnt have to say that in such a mean way!
Im saying this for your own good, you damned brat.
The instant Hwang Cheol turned around to leave, the boy pouted. However, he knew that Hwang Cheol was right, so he did not argue back.
The boys name was Kwak Moon-Jung. Two years ago, his father Kwak Yi-Soo passed away on an escort mission. In order to support his family, the boy decided to take up his fathers mantle and be an armed escort himself. Normally, someone as bad at martial arts as him would never have been hired, but in honor of his fathers contributions, the White Dragon Merchant Association made an exception for him.
Hwang Cheol and thete Kwak Yi-Soo had been as close as real brothers. Unfortunately, Kwak Yi-Soo had died while Hwang Cheol had been away on other business. Since then, Hwang Cheol had taken it upon himself to teach Kwak Moon-Jung martial arts.
Hwang Cheol finished greeting Yoon Hoo-Myung, then immediately headed towards the Old Matriarchs quarters.
Yoon Hoo-Myung watched him go. Hes weak, and doesnt appear to be very smart. Just what does Mother see in that man that I cant? I dont get it.
Kwak Moon-Jung looked at Yoon Hoo-Myung with glittering eyes, but the older man did not pay the kids ass-kissing attempt any mind.
KNOCK, KNOCK.
Madam, this is Hwang Cheol. You asked to see me?
Please enter!
Hwang Cheol slowly opened the door to the Old Matriarchs quarters and entered, then bowed politely in greeting.
The Old Matriarch motioned him to a chair, saying, Please sit, Escort Hwang.
Thank you, Madam. Hwang Cheol gingerly sat down.
The Old Matriarch smiled benevolently at him and greeted, How have you been?
Thanks to you, Ive been living veryfortably.
Thats good. After all, Ive always been extremely grateful to you.
I didnt really do anything Hwang Cheols voice trailed off. The truth was, he had never done anything that would make him stand out within the White Dragon Merchant Association. All he did was do his job as an armed escort seriously. He really couldnt understand why the Old Matriarch thought so highly of him.
So, why did Madam summon me?
My third son has decided to travel to Yunnan.
Yunnan? Hwang Cheol frowned. Even he had heard of the unusual happenings in Yunnan.
My third son was the one who started up the Yunnan Branch, so he feels responsible for what happened to it.
I see.
Thats why, I hope that you will be able to apany him.
Im not going to be much help, though?
I believe in you, Escort Hwang. The Old Matriarch locked gazes with Hwang Cheol.
Hwang Cheol sighed, saying, Im not as great a person as Madam seems to think I am. My martial arts are also really weak.
The Old Matriarch said nothing and only continued staring at Hwang Cheol directly, smiling.
Sigh. I will apany the Third Young Master, but please do not ce your hopes in me.
Thank you, Escort Hwang.
When will we be leaving for Yunnan?
Half a month from now.
I will make sure to return by that time, so could I go on a short vacation? Theres somece I must go.
Is that so? Very well then, I approve your vacation. Thats all for today.
Thank you. Hwang Cheol gave the Old Matriarch a polite fist salute and left her quarters.
When he was gone, the Old Matriarch leaned her head against the window and muttered to herself, I pray that your good luck will be enough to protect my son
Seven years ago, when Yoon Ja-Myung escaped from certain doom, Hwang Cheol had been there by his side. Simrly, five years ago, when she herself had been in danger, Hwang Cheol had also been there beside her. After that, she noticed a certain trend: Whenever anyone survived and escaped from a certain death situation, Hwang Cheol just so happened to be there.
Hwang Cheol was literally the lucky star of the White Dragon Merchant Association. However, the Old Matriarch was not so foolish as to chalk up his repeated survival to simple luck.
Hwang Cheol possessed extremely strong survival instincts. She didnt know if he was naturally like that, or if he was a more calcting man than he appeared to be.
Whatever it was, she believed that his good luck was a talent. Moreover, it was quite the rare and unusual talent.
Before he left, Hwang Cheol constantly nagged at Kwak Moon-Jung, saying, I have to leave for a very long time, so you better be sure to train hard while Im gone!
Hwang Cheol opened a cab in a corner of his room, took out several receipts, and headed toward the Finance Department of the White Dragon Merchant Association. Those were the receipts from his work as an armed escort, and hed be able to exchange them for money and goods at the Finance Department.
Hmm, whos this? Ah, its Escort Hwang! Long time no see, greeted Seok Joong-Sang, the Head of the Finance Department. He and Hwang Cheol were about the same age, so although they werent exactly close friends, they were good drinking buddies.
Hwang Cheol handed Seok Joong-Sang the receipts.
Seok Joong-Sang furrowed his brows, asking, Same as always?
Yes, please.
Are you secretly raising an illegitimate child? You know thats not a big deal, right? We can help you
This was something that Hwang Cheol did every few months. He would save up the receipts from his missions and exchange them for food and necessities, including rice, meat, vegetables, clothes, and iron ore. Hed then ce all the stuff in a horse-drawn wagon and head off to god knows where.
Whenever anyone asked him about it, hed refuse to mention where he was going or who the stuff was for. However, he always disappeared for an average of ten days, arousing everyones curiosity. Seok Joong-Sang himself had tried many times to pry information out of Hwang Cheol while he was drunk, but Hwang Cheol never revealed a single thing.
All Seok Joong-Sang could do for his drinking buddy was offer him lower exchange rates than the market prices of the goods. The White Dragon Merchant Association was loaded anyway, so no one would fault him for something so minor.
Alright, please wait for a moment. Seok Joong-Sang counted the receipts and wrote down something on paper. He then handed the paper to one of his subordinates and ordered him to prepare the things listed on it.
How many days will you be gone this time?
Ill be back in half a month at thetest.
Then when you get back, lets go grab a drink together.
That might be a little difficult.
Why?
Right aftering back, I need to escort the Third Young Master to Yunnan.
What? Youre going with him? Seok Joong-Sang frowned. He had already heard the news that Yoon Ja-Myung would be heading to Yunnan, but he had no idea that Hwang Cheol would be tagging along.
Looks like we wont be able to hang out for a while.
When I get back from the mission, lets have arge celebration. My treat.
Really?
Have I ever gone back on my words?
Haha! This is why I like you! Now Ill really be praying for your safe return!
Seok Joong-Sang patted Hwang Cheol on the shoulder, and the two drinking buddies grinned at each other.
When the Finance Department had finished loading the goods onto a horse-drawn wagon, Hwang Cheol climbed onto the drivers seat and left Lanzhou City, heading northwards.
As he traveled through the Yumen Pass, the border between Gansu and Xinjiang Provinces, he was greeted by the sight of deste inspletely different from the greenery of the Central ins. The only poptednd in Xinjiang was the capital city, Urumqi, while the rest of therge ins was utterly devoid of human settlements. One could easily travel for days in Xinjiang without meeting another human being. [2]
Due to its proximity from the government capital, Xinjiang was ruled by the local armies and wealthy merchants. However, it was alsorge, so there would definitely be ces where there was little to no governance andw enforcement.
Whenever Hwang Cheol had to travel through those kinds of ces, hed have to remain alert for mounted bandits. These mounted bandits cleverly avoided conflict with the armies and merchants, attacking only lone travelers and merchant caravans, and in return, the authorities turned a blind eye toward their activities.
The three powers remained in bnce until recent years, when the Flying Wilderness Squad took over and united all of the mounted bandits. This naturally led to tensions with the armies and merchants, as the bandits were no longer ragtag criminals, but an organized threat with unknown numbers.
Strangely though, the mounted bandits never robbed Hwang Cheol the lone traveler, despite the fact that they would happily attack a caravan with an armed escort. When rumors of this spread, Hwang Cheol became a sort of local legend, and hed even receive requests from people wanting to travel together with him. However, he always refused these requests.
Hwang Cheol traveled through Xinjiang, stopping only asionally to let his horse rest. For his safety, he never got off the wagon. When he started feeling tired, he would practice his breathing technique or nap with his hands on the reins, and when he was hungry, hed eat dry rations on the move.
He didnt know whether the mounted bandits were busy elsewhere, or if they were avoiding him on purpose, but he wasnt about to start getting careless.
As Hwang Cheol moved northwards, the temperature began to drop, and the winds grew stronger. Although his qi could reduce the cold somewhat, it wasnt enough to stop him from shivering. Still, he did not mind the nasty weather.
A dayter, he reached a snow-covered in. He urged his horse forward through the knee-deep snow, but the smoke from its every breath showed just how difficult it was to traverse through the endless expanse of white.
Almost there. Hwang Cheol heaved a sigh of relief, releasing a huge cloud of steam as well.
Eventually, a lonely mountain peak appeared in the distance. Like he had just seen an oasis in the middle of the white sea, Hwang Cheol smiled.
He had reached his destination.
Young Master, he muttered, eyes glittering with the gentle light of longing.
WHOOSH!
A frigid wind tore through the valley, freezing everything in its path. In this weather where a normal person would unconsciously tighten their winter clothes, a man was taking a nice, rxing stroll.
The mans face was covered by his messy hair, as if he hadnt had a haircut in a very long time. His bare skin could be seen through his torn and tattered pants, and as for his shirthe wasnt wearing a shirt. Even so, he strolled through the blizzard like it was a nice summer day.
The snow was as deep as a mans thigh, but where the man walked, barely any footprints could be seen.
The man headed towards a giant furnace. The burning mes in the furnace were so intense, all the snow a hundred feet around it had meltedpletely, and the heat made his lungs and eyeballs feel like they were on fire. Even so, he ignored the pain and approached the furnace anyway.
CRACKLE! CRACKLE!
A long, red-hot objecty in the middle of the white mes. The man confirmed that the object had reached the desired shape, then stuck a pair of tongs into the furnace. He took out the long object and ced it on a workbench nearby.
The object was made of metal, and, like moltenva, it was emitting a shocking amount of heat.
Hah, I finally got you to surrender! The man grinned. For two years, he had waged a long and boring war with this stubborn piece of metal, and atst, he won.
He had actually discovered this metal by ident.
One day two years ago, he suddenly realized that none of the swords he made could withstand his strength. Every single one of them shattered after a few uses. It was then that he noticed a ck rock in a corner, and remembered that it had once been worshipped by a tribe, as a god. It was hard, heavy, and useless, but seeing as it was a gift from a precious person, he couldnt bring himself to throw it away.
Suddenly, he had a strange thought.
Could I make that thing into a sword?
He considered it for a while, then decided he would try it.
At first, he had thought that it would be simple. Previously, no matter how hard the metal, it had easily melted in the giant furnace he had built himself. However, this one was different.
As if taunting the man, the ck rock never melted in the mes.
The man felt like his pride had been wounded. He tried everything in his knowledge to raise the temperature of the mes, even conducting several dangerous experiments.
Six monthster, he finally figured out what additives to burn in order to make the mes hotter. Only then did he begin to see changes in the rock.
However, that was only the beginning of his battle with the rock. Every day, the man would wait for the rock to heat up, hammer it, then return it to the mes. The shape of the stone would change just a little every time he hammered it, but the man never imagined it would take him a year and a half to forge it into the shape he desired.
The shape of a sword.
He hadnt made a sword hilt yet, but the graceful and beautiful hamon[3] on the edge was proof that it was a fine de.
Two days ago, the man had rubbed ayer of y on the de before cing it into the furnace. Through a differential hardening process, the underlying structure of the metal would undergo changes that would result in a harder edge with a softer core, greatly increasing the durability of the sword and creating a hamon.
It was time to quench the de. Using a pair of tongs, the man immersed the de in a special oil that he had prepared beforehand.
PSHHHHHH!
The oil sizzled, and steam rose from the oil bath.
The man closed his eyes and sharpened his senses. The de must not be soaked for too long, or too short a time. He felt for changes in the sword through the tongs and listened closely to the sizzling of the oil.
Now!
The man took the de out of the oil and observed it closely. Good, the y hasnt fallen off.
The man beamed. The entire forging process had gone perfectly.
He ced the sword on his workbench. All he had left to do was wait for it to cool, and then sharpen it. Although sharpening the de was also an essential step, the hardest part of the forging process was over.
Phew! The man let out a breath he hadnt realized hed been holding.
Suddenly, he heard a voice calling, Young Master!
The man turned around to see a middle-aged man riding on a horse-drawn wagon. He smiled.
Uncle Hwang!
Young Master!
As Hwang Cheol descended from the wagon, Jin Mu-Won rushed forward and gave him a big hug.
With reddened eyes, Hwang Cheol cried, YoungMaster
Footnotes:
[1] Madam: Hwang Cheol called the Old Matriarch by yet another name that means Old Mom, you can probably guess why I altered it
[2] Yumen Pass: Located west of Dunhuang, Gansu, the Yumen Pass was one of the most important checkpoints along the Silk Road. From the Yumen Pass, one could travel northwest to Urumqi, or west through the Tamakan Desert to the Middle East, and then all the way to Cairo/Constantinople.
[3] Hamon: The wavy line on the cutting edge of a Japanese katana, also known as a de pattern. Most Chinese swords do not have this pattern as the differential hardening technique is not used, or the de is simply cast, not forged. However, as seen in C16, Mu-Wons forging technique is more simr to katana forging than typical Chinese sword forging.
Trantors Notes:
Mu-Won definitely put the fear in those bandits ATTACK UNCLE HWANG AT YOUR OWN RISK.
Proofreaders Notes:
Mu-Won a menace!
Chapter 50: The Cursed Sword, Snow Flower (2)
Uncle Hwang, I missed you so much! eximed Jin Mu-Won, looking down at Hwang Cheols face.
Hwang Cheol looked back at him warmly and sobbed, Look at you, youve grown up so well. Now I can die without regrets.
Suddenly, the wind blew Jin Mu-Wons messy hair out of his face, revealing his current appearance. He had arge forehead, a high nose bridge, straight eyebrows, deep-set eyes, and thick, stubbornly pursed lips. He was no pretty boy, but he definitely qualified as ruggedly handsome.
His bared upper body was like a sculptors work of art; each and every muscle was chiseled to perfection. Every time Jin Mu-Won breathed in and out, his muscles would flex like they had a life of their own.
Seven years had transformed Jin Mu-Won from a scrawny teenager into a full-grown man. For all those years, he had lived inside Mount Cinnabar and honed his martial arts daily. Except when Hwang Cheol came to deliver his living necessities, he was always alone.
Jin Mu-Won grabbed Hwang Cheols hand and said, Its really cold outside, so lets go indoors.
What about the luggage
You can bring the stuff inter.
Okay. Hwang Cheol nodded and followed Jin Mu-Won.
The two men entered a cave not far from the giant furnace. This was the ce where Jin Mu-Won had stayed for thest seven years.
Usually, Jin Mu-Won never lit up the firece, even in the dead of winter. Enduring the blistering cold was a part of his martial arts training. However, Hwang Cheol was here today, so he started up a fire and boiled some water for tea.
As soon as the cave started warming up, color returned to Hwang Cheols pale, frozen face. Jin Mu-Won handed him a cup of freshly brewed tea.
Young Masters tea is always so tasty. I cant find this great taste anywhere in the South.
Hahaha! Uncle Hwang, youre giving me too much credit!
No, Im not. I sincerely meant what I said, Young Master.
Hwang Cheol didnt think he was praising Jin Mu-Won too highly. He knew that he hadnt given the young man any high-quality tea leaves, and yet somehow, he always managed to bring out the best vor from those cheap leaves. Jin Mu-Wons skill at brewing tea was so good that he hadpletely spoiled Hwang Cheols taste buds, and he was telling the truth when he said that he couldnt find as good a vor anywhere else.
Young Master, youve changed again since thest time I visited. Thats really amazing!
Is that so? Jin Mu-Won grinned.
Hwang Cheol felt as if the term daily improvement was created specifically to describe Jin Mu-Won. Every time he visited the young man, he would feel significantly stronger than before. Hwang Cheol couldnt be sure exactly when it happened, but Jin Mu-Won was now a warrior far beyond Hwang Cheols realm of understanding. He only knew that every time he saw the young man, his eyes would appear deeper, wiser.
Did something happen? You dont usuallye here this time of year.
Yeah, some stuff happened, and I have to go to a very faraway ce for a mission soon. I decided toe here earlier than usual because Im not sure how long this mission will take.
Is that mission dangerous?
I dont think so, and theres no need for you to be too concerned, Young Master. I know how to take care of myself.
I pray its nothing serious.
It shouldnt be. Please dont worry about me, Young Master.
It would be good if that were true.
Even though he said that, Jin Mu-Won couldnt help but feel anxious. To him, Hwang Cheol was his only family, and he always thought of Uncle Hwang as his godfather.
Hwang Cheols continued support was also the only reason he had managed to survive seven years of nothing but training in a deste ce like Mount Cinnabar. If not for him, he would never have reached his current level of strength.
Regardless, please be careful, okay, Uncle Hwang?
Im more worried about Young Master than I am about myself.
By the way, I havent left the mountaintely, do you have any updates about the current state of affairs in the world?
Hwang Cheol knew that Jin Mu-Won was pretty much living the life of a hermit, so he would always make sure that he was up-to-date with current affairs all over the gangho. As an escort for argepany like the White Dragon Merchant Association, it was pretty easy for him to obtain such information.
Like I mentionedst time, the Four Northern Pirs have been getting more restlesstely. In order to suppress them, Heavens Summit
Hwang Cheol talked for a very long time, and Jin Mu-Won quietly listened to him, waiting for him to finish speaking before asking questions.
Has the Silent Night still not made their move?
No. Since that day seven years ago, Heavens Summit has sent out many search parties, but so far, they havent found anything. Its extremely unsettling.
I see. The light vanished from Jin Mu-Wons eyes.
Ha-Seol.
No matter how hard he tried, he couldnt find any trace of her. It was as if she had disappeared from this world.
Where are you?
SNIFF SNIFF!
Hwang Cheols nostrils red, and his eyes flew open. Something smelled really good.
Where am I? Hwang Cheol looked around him. He was lying down on a wooden bed inside a cave. He vaguely remembered chatting with Jin Mu-Won the night before, and at some point, he had taken a barrel of Lanzhou Nuerhong wine out of the wagon and opened it.
Ugh
He had probably fainted after drinking the wine together with Jin Mu-Won. He was pretty confident in his alcohol tolerance, but it seemed that Jin Mu-Won was even better than him.
Youre awake?
Hwang Cheol turned toward the direction of the voice. There, at the cave entrance, stood Jin Mu-Won, holding a simple cooking pot. The fragranceing from the contents of the pot stimted his nose, making him salivate.
Young Master, did you cook that?
I was worried that youd be hungover, so I made you some hotpot.
I can cook for myself mumbled Hwang Cheol, ovee with guilt.
Jin Mu-Won smiled. He knew that Hwang Cheol was perfectly capable of living for himself, and yet, he had chosen to stay by his side all these years, like family.
He ced the hotpot down and set the dining table, saying, Youll feel much better after eating.
It smells really good! Hwang Cheol eximed. He had traveled alone and subsisted on dry rations for a while, and Jin Mu-Wons cooking was good enough topete with professional chefs.
Jin Mu-Won ced two bowls of rice on the table, then filled another two bowls with hotpot.
OMNOMNOM!
Hwang Cheol greedily gobbled down the hotpot. As the warm food filled his stomach, he finally felt alive again.
Young Master, this is delicious! he praised, giving Jin Mu-Won the thumbs-up.
Jin Mu-Won grinned and said, Take your time and eat slowly, we still have a lot of food.
Hwang Cheol nodded, then continued stuffing his face. Jin Mu-Won watched him quietly, lost in thought. He hadnt observed Hwang Cheol this closely before, but now that he did, he realized that Hwang Cheol was actually quite a bit stronger than he had thought.
Uncle Hwangs chi is flowing very smoothly. He should be able to emit sword chi soon.
The ability to emit sword chi was the first step to reaching Transcendence, but even for those talented in martial arts, it wasmon to hit a roadblock and never achieve the realm of Transcendence for the rest of their lives.
When Jin Mu-Won recalled peeping at his father, Jin Kwan-Ho, teaching Hwang Cheol martial arts a long time ago, he understood just how little talent Hwang Cheol had.
When you teach a genius one thing, they will be able to infer ten more things. Simrly, when you teach a prodigy the most basic of theories, they will be able to deduce thews of the universe.
However, geniuses and prodigies were rare. Most people would find it hard just learning one thing.
Hwang Cheols talent was more extreme than most people. If you taught him ten things, he might not even understand one.
One might even call him a slow-learner. Still, Hwang Cheol never gave up training his martial arts.
How much blood and sweat did you shed? How much time have you devoted to mindless training? Perhaps you were less talented than others, but because you never gave up, you have reached a level that most of them can never dream of.
The memory of Hwang Cheol training with his father years ago was fresh in his mind, as if it were only yesterday.
Talent is important, but the will to never give up even more so.
Jin Mu-Won felt like he had been enlightened.
As a martial artist, Hwang Cheol was only average. However, as a human being, Hwang Cheol had given him something much more valuable than skills; he had given him courage and wisdom.
Uncle Hwang.
Hwang Cheol raised his head and looked at Jin Mu-Won, mouth still full.
You have to be safe, okay?
Dont worry, Young Master. Until the day the Northern Army stands its ground once more, this Hwang Cheol will never fall, in sickness or in death.
Did you know? Ive always been extremely grateful to you.
Young Master! Hwang Cheols eyes sparkled, like he was about to break into tears.
The sight of Hwang Cheols humble response made a huge smile spread over Jin Mu-Wons face.
The two men continued eating their hotpot, and time flew by.
Hwang Cheol took a break from eating and piled up the things that he had brought in a corner of the cave. Besides a few clothes and some iron ore, most of the pile was made up of food and daily necessities.
Why did you bring so much food this time? I still have a lot left over fromst time.
Men should eat a lot in order to build strength and gain muscles.
Uncle Hwang, you should already know that Ive stopped growing, right? Ill be okay even if I dont eat as much as I used to.
Even so, you shouldnt be stingy! You have to eat more! Ahh, am I so useless that I cant even feed Young Master well anymore?
Okay, I will do my best to eat more. Worried that Hwang Cheol would keep nagging at him, Jin Mu-Won caved in. Only then did Hwang Cheol feel reassured and resume eating.
Mmm, so good! eximed Hwang Cheol again and again, slurping his soup.
Jin Mu-Won smiled and finished the rest of the hotpot.
When the meal was over, it was time for Hwang Cheol to leave.
Young Master, I will be back next spring. Be sure to take good care of yourself, okay?
You too, Uncle Hwang.
Thats a given. Please dont worry about me.
After Hwang Cheol and Jin Mu-Won said their goodbyes, Hwang Cheol got on the wagon and set off downhill. Jin Mu-Won watched him until he disappeared over the horizon, then turned around and returned to his daily life.
Jin Mu-Won looked at the sword on the workbench. While he and Hwang Cheol were catching up, it had cooled downpletely. He carefully scrubbed off the remaining y on the de.
CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!
Every time a piece of dried y fell to the ground, a little bit more of the ebony-colored de would be revealed. Most swords were silver in color, but this one was the same color as the obsidian rock it was made from.
Like a puddle of ink, Jin Mu-Won could see his face reflected in the dark sword de.
SWOOSH!
The swish of a de slicing through the air could be heard as Jin Mu-Won swung the de sharply. He swung it a few more times, then grinned broadly.
He hadnt made a hilt for the de yet, but the feel and bnce already felt perfectly suited to him. His efforts over thest two years werent for naught, after all.
Still, the forging process wasnt over. He needed to sharpen the edge, and create a hilt and scabbard for the sword.
SCREECH! SCREECH!
Jin Mu-Won took out a brand-new whetstone and began to sharpen the de. However, even as the whetstone got smaller and smaller, the edge did not appear to get any sharper.
You are still so stubborn, Jin Mu-Wonughed, speechless. He was naive for thinking that his days of suffering with this de were over.
Alright then. Lets find out who will have thestugh, shall we?
He injected his chi into the whetstone and resumed sharpening the de.
SCREECH! SCREECH!
The sound of metal rubbing against stone echoed throughout the cave. As Jin Mu-Won concentrated on his work, the passing of time was all but forgotten.
Progress was extremely slow. Despite focusing all his efforts and chi on sharpening the de, the changes were minimal. However, this wasnt enough to make Jin Mu-Won give up.
He was probably the most patient person in the world. The word quit was not part of his vocabry.
This was a different kind of war from usual, but it was a war nheless.
A war between him and the sword.
Jin Mu-Won cast aside his martial arts, his thoughts, his worriesand focused everything on sharpening the des edge.
How much time has passed? Jin Mu-Won didnt know. He only knew that the formally dull edge was finally beginning to show the glint of sharpness under the light of the winter sun.
HUMMM!
He wasnt sure when it started, but he felt as if the nerves in his arms had extended themselves into the sword, merging the tip, the de, the edge, and the handle with his flesh and blood. When that happened, his shadow chi naturally flowed into the de like ink spreading out to cover a surface.
HUMMMM! HUMMMM!
The sword cried. No, it was whispering to him. Jin Mu-Won bent over to listen to the swords words.
Give me a name
That was what the sword was telling him.
Jin Mu-Wons eyes snapped open. For a moment, he thought he saw the silhouette of a naked woman transforming into the beautiful lines of the de. A dark light glittered along its edge, like a lonely flower blossoming on a snowy expanse.
Snow Flower (ѩ). Your name is Snow Flower.
HUMMMM!
Snow Flower hummed in delight, as if it were a newborn baby announcing its existence to the world.
Jin Mu-Won grabbed hold of Snow Flowers handle. A strange yet familiar warmth spread throughout his body from the sword, telling him that it had always been, and will forever be, his and only his.
He broke into a sword dance with his new partner.
WHOOSH!
The bone-chilling winter wind blew, and snowkes fell from the sky. Jin Mu-Won poured the shadow chi from the Art of Ten Thousand Shadows into the de, and it responded by glowing with a dark light.
Stroke after stroke, the dark light from Snow Flower carved out graceful lines in the air. From afar, it seemed as if a dark flower had bloomed in the white snow.
Ha-Seol.
A dark flower in the pure white snow, just like the girl he could never forget.
On a rocky mountain devoid of life, a lone tree stood proudly. Its roots had split apart the rock, dug deep into the earth, and absorbed whatever nutrients it could get. Even though it had barely grown to the height of a mans waist, its resilience and life force could be said to be the strongest in the world.
Jin Mu-Won chopped down the tree that he had named Iron Heart. He carved the wood into the shape of a sword hilt, engraved the words Snow Flower on the guard, then wrapped the handle with leather in order to prevent his hands from slipping when he held the sword.
Next, he inserted a thin metal sheet into a wooden scabbard also carved from Iron Heart. To protect the wood from wear and tear as well as hide its unique appearance, he wrapped it with leather.
CLACK!
Like two puzzle pieces falling neatly into ce, Snow Flower and the scabbard fit together perfectly.
Jin Mu-Won stroked Snow Flower, his new favorite sword, lovingly.
HUMMM!
Snow Flower hummed gently in response to his stroking.
Is it just me, or does Snow Flower sound like a coquettishdy, or perhaps a deeply contented child?
Bewildered, Jin Mu-Won stared at the sword for a very long time, wondering if he had finally gone crazy.
A mesmerizing dark light danced along the de, casting a spell of hypnosis upon him. He tried to focus on the light, but the harder he tried, the more difficult it was to follow its movement.
Suddenly, Jin Mu-Won awoke from his trance.
This sword that Ive forged is neither a divine sword, nor a demonic sword.
Its a cursed sword!
Once in a while, a new legendary weapon would appear that shocked the world. However, Snow Flower waspletely unlike any of those weapons.
She emits a powerful cursed energy, stealing the heart of whoever looks at her. If one is caught in her web of enthrallment, they will be devoured by her cursed energy.
This might not be a bad thing for me. Its a constant reminder that I should always remain vignt.
Jin Mu-Won drew Snow Flower out of her sheath and stood in front of the Sword Wall. This was the stone wall that he had been battling for thest seven years. Once, it had been as smooth as a mirror, but now, it was covered in scars created by his de.
These scars were the physical evidence of Jin Mu-Wons seven years of hard work.
Jin Mu-Won activated the Art of Ten Thousand Shadows. Woken from its sleep, the shadow chi residing within his chi center stretchedzily and quickly spread itself throughout his body, filling every nook and cranny of his muscles like water filling a dry sponge.
The shadow chis movement was silent andpletely undetectable. The only proof of its presence was Jin Mu-Wons eyes, which looked as if a curtain had been pulled down over them, dying the whites ck.
Besides his own body, the shadow chi also poured into Snow Flower. Rather than rejecting the foreign chi, though, Snow Flower readily epted it, even greedily gobbling it up.
As Snow Flower absorbed more and more of Jin Mu-Wons shadow chi, its already ck de became even darker, like a ckhole that swallows all light.
Jin Mu-Won gracefully danced with Snow Flower.
SWOOSH!
At first, his dance was slow and gentle. Gradually, he moved faster and faster, stirring up a giant whirlwind.
The Shadow de of Destruction.
The most powerful sword technique of all burst forth.
SWISH! BAM! SHIING!
One moment, his sword was a falling meteor (Meteor Soul). The next, it was an unscble wall (Wall of the Northern Heavens).
The sky was split into two (Dividing the Heavenly Seas), and a forest of swords rained upon the ground (Storm Forest).
A blood red light shed for a moment (Bloody sh), but it was quickly eclipsed by a world without light (Shadowless World).
Phew! panted Jin Mu-Won. The instant he released his concentration, the shadowless world vanished like an illusion.
HUMMM!
Jin Mu-Won sheathed Snow Flower. At first, Snow Flower cried and made a fuss about not wanting to be sheathed, but once she was back in her scabbard, she quieted down.
The Sword Wall loomed down upon Jin Mu-Won, mocking him for not being able to add a single scratch to it this time.
Jin Mu-Won spun around.
CRASH!
The scarred Sword Wall screamed and copsed into dust. When the dust cloud settled, a clean, perfectly t surface like a mirror was revealed. Jin Mu-Won had sliced the Wall so cleanly, it was restored to its original, pristine state.
WHOOOSH!
The spring wind blew, taking with it the dust on the rocky ground.
Without Jin Mu-Won noticing, winter hade and gone. However, Hwang Cheol, who had promised him three months ago that he would return in spring, still hadnte.
Jin Mu-Won quietly waited for Hwang Cheol to visit him. One month passed, and then another month. The heat of summer arrived, but still there was no sign of Hwang Cheol.
Uncle Hwang I cant wait any longer.
One summers day, Jin Mu-Won left Mount Cinnabar and embarked on a journey south.
Trantor''s Note: Apologies for the dy as I''ve had to work overtime everyday this week. Will try to make up for it over Thanksgiving break, if I don''t wind up spending all my time shopping for more kitchenware than I actually need.
Chapter 51: Sometimes, Coincidences Do Happen (1)
Since times long past, Lanzhou City has been a major trade hub connecting the Western Nations to the Central ins. Goods from the Central ins would be traded to the West, and simrly, exotic merchandise from the West would be sold to the Central ins.
The constant flow of merchandise and money transformed Lanzhou into a city that never slept. Although the buildings werent as pretty as the architectural wonders in the Central ins, the liveliness of the city more than made up for what itcked in appearance.
Throngs of people flooded the streets, and merchants stood outside their shops advertising their goods to potential customers. Several merchants were shouting at the tops of their voices as they haggled prices with their customers, while others grinned and shook hands with the clientele, pleased with the deal they had just struck.
In particr, there was one street lined with inns and brothels, known as the Revisit Street. The streets name originated from the untold numbers of people who had revisited the street after spending one night there.
The Dark Moon Inn was a small inn situated on the north side of Lanzhou, a few dozen steps away from the headquarters of the White Dragon Merchant Association, one of the Ten Great Companies. Because of its close proximity to the Association, business was good despite its small size.
Why is it so quiet today? mumbled Mah Bok, stretchingzily. He was an errand boy at the Dark Moon Inn, and just the day before, he had been so busy that he felt like dying. However, today, the inn was so quiet and empty that he had nothing to do.
I much preferzy days like these, anyway.
When business was booming, the owner would be able to earn a lot of money, but as an employee, he received a fixed sry regardless of how many customers he served. Therefore, having no customers was good as hed get paid even though he wasnt doing any work.
CLACK!
Suddenly, the door to the Dark Moon Inn was opened, and a man entered. Perhaps because he had been traveling for a long time, his hair and clothes were covered in a thickyer of dust.
Mah Bok happily greeted the man, saying, Wee to the Dark Moon Inn!
Im tired, do you have a room avable?
Of course we do! Howrge a room do you need?
A room for one is good enough, preferably with an attached bathroom.
Mah Bok looked at his new customer closely. The man hadnt shaved in ages, and god knows when thest time he bathed was. He was so dirty and messy that Mah Bok couldnt guess his age.
Oh boy, he looks like he''s rolled around in mud! I wonder how many times Ill have to change his bath water before hes clean.
As if he could read Mah Boks mind, the man smiled and flicked a finger. For a moment, something sparkled in the air, thennded squarely on Mah Boks outstretched hand. It was a silver tael.
You can keep the change.
Woah! Dear customer, this is a little too much! eximed Mah Bok, grinning from ear to ear. One silver tael was enough to pay for the best room and food in the inn, and hed still get to pocket around thirty copper coins as a tip. Even working from early morning tillte at night, hed usually earn at most ten copper coins a day. That meant that just the tip from this man was equivalent to three days of his sry.
This way please. I will show you to our best room. From there, youll be able to take in the best sights in Lanzhou, including the headquarters of the White Dragon Merchant Association!
I want to take a bath first.
Certainly! Ill prepare it immediately after showing you to your lodgings. replied Mah Bok, feeling like he had just met the God of Money.
Mah Bok led the man to one of the standalone buildings on the inns grounds. It was ced on higher ground than the other buildings, allowing one to see the White Dragon Merchant Association as well as the streets of Lanzhou from the windows.
This is your room. Please wait while I heat up the bathwater!
Thank you.
Youre wee! Thenplease excuse me for a moment!
When Mah Bok had left, the man ced his luggage down in the room. Calling it luggage was a bit of a stretch though, since the mans only belongings were a long rod wrapped in cloth and a small traveling bag.
Phew! sighed the man, sitting on a chair. He pushed his messy hair back, revealing his face. He had thick eyebrows, deep ck eyes, a high nose bridge, and pursed lips, typical of a person from Hunan.
The man, Jin Mu-Won, mumbled to himself, Has it already been ten days?
It had taken him ten days to travel from Mount Cinnabar to Lanzhou. If he hadnt gotten lost, he would probably have reached Lanzhou sooner, but considering the fact that he traveled all that way on foot, he had already made better time than he expected.
In truth, this was his first time leaving the Northern Army Fortress and Mount Cinnabar. He never intended for it to be this way, but what with him being so monitored closely at the fortress for most of his teenage life, and his childhood with the Northern Army, that was just the way things had turned out for him. The fact that it had taken an idiot in geography like him only ten days to travel from Xinjiang to Lanzhou was nothing short of a miracle.
Jin Mu-Won looked at the main doors of the White Dragon Merchant Association, where a long caravan was currently making its way through.
This is the ce where Uncle Hwang works; where he earned the money that he used to raise me.
As Jin Mu-Won stared nkly at the Association, lost in thought, he was suddenly interrupted by the errand boy, Mah Bok.
Honored guest, I have already finished the preparations for your bath. Right this way, please.
Jin Mu-Won stood up and walked towards the back of the building, where Mah Bok was pointing. There, he saw a room with arge bathtub.
This is the bathroom. If you need the water changed, feel free to call me anytime.
Got it.
Then, I will inform the cooks to start preparing dinner.
When Mah Bok left, Jin Mu-Won took off his clothes and entered the bath. Naturally, since he had been traveling non-stop for ten days without rest, the clear water instantly turned murky.
Jin Mu-Won closed his eyes and submerged himself to his neck.
Uncle Hwang.
Three months ago, when Hwang Cheol failed to show up in Mount Cinnabar, his sixth sense had already told him that something had gone horribly wrong. Hwang Cheol was not the kind of person who would break a promise, or betray him like the Four Northern Pirs did.
This whole time, Ive been taking him for granted. I should have cared for him more. I should have made an effort to learn more about him.
Even though Hwang Cheol had visited him regrly over thest ten years, Jin Mu-Won had never questioned him about his personal life before. All he knew about Hwang Cheol was that he worked for the White Dragon Merchant Association in Lanzhou City.
Even if I was focused on learning martial arts, I was far too apathetic towards Uncle Hwang. I never truly appreciated what I had until it was gone!
Jin Mu-Won bit his lip.
I pray that Im not toote. Uncle Hwang, as long as youre alive, I swear that Ill bring you back no matter what it takes!
After his fathers passing, the only person who remained by his side was Hwang Cheol. To him, Hwang Cheol was the godfather he could trust in and depend on wholeheartedly. That was why Hwang Cheol was the one person he could never forsake.
Jin Mu-Won finished his bath, then pulled out a small knife and began to shave off his beard.
SCRITCH! SCRATCH!
Although he had never done this before, he moved the knife deftly and swiftly, shaving off the beard without leaving a single nick on his face.
Phew he let go of the breath he had been holding and stroked his chin. The smooth feeling of his clean-shaven chin was foreign to him. Jin Mu-Won thought about it for a while, then decided to give himself a haircut as well.
When he was done with his personal grooming, he returned to his room and opened his traveling bag. Inside it, was a neatly folded red and brown martial artists outfit.
The outfit had been a gift from Hwang Cheol.
Jin Mu-Won put on the outfit that Hwang Cheol had given him. It was a perfect fit. He was once again reminded of how much care and attention Hwang Cheol had put into everything regarding himself.
After he had gotten dressed, he noticed a string for tying hair included with the clothes. He picked it up and tied his hair loosely with it, then walked outside.
When Mah Bok, who was waiting outside the room, saw Jin Mu-Won, his jaw dropped in shock. Because of the beard, he had thought that Jin Mu-Won would be pretty old, but the man in front of him was not only young, he was also extremely good-looking.
Wow! I almost didnt recognize you! You look amazingly handsome and dignified!
You dont need to tter me. Also, Im hungry, could you serve the food now?
That was the truth, not tter! Mah Bok said and made a puppy-dog face, like he had been misunderstood.
Pfft! Jin Mu-Wonughed. He didnt dislike Mah Boks excessively exaggerated expressions. Rather, he found it very amusing.
Mah Bok grinned. Even if you didnt ask, the food should be ready around now. Please take a seat in the restaurant while I bring it over.
Mah Bok went to the kitchen and brought out the dishes. There was fried pork, steamed fish, stir-fried bambooall sorts of mouth-watering delicacies were ced on the table.
Heh heh! Ive also brought out a jug of our Dark Moon Inns best Shaoxing wine for you, said Mah Bok, smiling broadly and cing a small jug on the table.
Even through the sealed lid of the jug, Jin Mu-Won could smell the powerful fragrance of the wine.
It smells amazing!
I guarantee you that its good! Please, enjoy!
Jin Mu-Won nodded and removed the lid of the wine jug. The fragrance instantly became many times stronger, spreading out all over the room.
Hmm? This wine smells familiar It kind of reminds me of the one Uncle Hwang brought with himst time?
Jin Mu-Won took a sip of the wine.
This vorits exactly the same.
The memory of that drinking bout he had with Hwang Cheolst winter was still fresh in his mind.
Jin Mu-Won looked up at Mah Bok and asked, Do you know a warrior by the name of Hwang Cheol?
Hwang Cheol? Do you mean, Escort Hwang? Mah Boks eyes widened in surprise.
I knew it!
Jin Mu-Won replied, Yes. He is my uncle.
In that case, are you Mister Jin Mu-Won?
How did you know my name?
Oh my! How could I not know? Every time Escort Hwang gets drunk, all he would talk about is you, Mister. He said that you were a hero who would revitalize his n and that he was very proud of you. I remember him boasting about you like it was only yesterday.
ording to Mah Bok, Hwang Cheol was a regr at the inn restaurant. Whenever he returned from a mission, he woulde here for a drink.
Now that I think about it, Escort Hwang always sits at the exact same spot Mister is sitting in now. What a coincidence!
When he heard Mah Boks words, Jin Mu-Won unconsciously touched the table.
This is the ce Uncle Hwang sits down for a drink. Right now, Im seeing the same view he always sees.
Jin Mu-Won looked out of the window. It was the one facing the White Dragon Merchant Association. Even after finishing a tough mission, Hwang Cheol still hovered around near the Association.
I think I finally understand how much Uncle Hwang treasures the White Dragon Merchant Association.
As he listened to the errand boy Mah Boks constant chattering, Jin Mu-Won strengthened his resolve.
Uncle Hwang, I will definitely find you.
If you see this, you are on the wrong site. FoodieMonster007, TheGreatT20
Chapter 52: Sometimes, Coincidences Do Happen (2)
Jin Mu-Won raised his head and looked at a signboard that read, "White Dragon Merchant Association". Like its name, the characters were written powerfully and impactfully, probably by a master of calligraphy.
Suddenly, he was jolted out of his reverie by a voice asking, "Who are you?"
The two guards guarding the door to the Association ced a hand on the swords at their waists and red at him warily.
Only then did Jin Mu-Won realize that he had forgotten his manners. He sped his hands together in greeting and said, "I apologize for my rude behavior. My name is Jin Mu-Won, and I am looking for a child called Kwak Moon-Jung."
"Kwak Moon-Jung? Of the escort team?" eximed one of the guards. He was a man in his early forties, with a very well-groomed beard, and appeared to be the senior-most warrior among the guards.
He approached Jin Mu-Won and questioned him, saying, "How do you know Kwak Moon-Jung?"
"I don''t know him, but I''ve heard that he was rather close to my uncle, whom I haven''t heard from in nearly half a year. That is why I wish to speak with him."
"Your uncle?"
"That''s right. My uncle''s name is Hwang Cheol, and he works here as an armed escort."
If you see this line, you''re reading at the wrong site.
"Huh? You''re Hwang-hyung''s nephew?" The guard''s eyes widened in surprise.
"Do you know Uncle Hwang?"
"Of course I do! I used to drink with him every three days. However, recently, Hyung-nim has" The guard''s words trailed off. He hadn''t heard from Hwang Cheol in thest six months, either.
"In that case, I suppose you''re here to inquire about Hwang-hyung''s whereabouts."
Jin Mu-Won nodded silently.
"Sigh! Follow me. I''ll take you to Moon-Jung."
"Thank you."
Jin Mu-Won followed the guard into the White Dragon Merchant Association. The interior was huge, evenrger than the Northern Army Fortress had been at its peak.
"Is this your first time in the White Dragon Merchant Association?"
"Yes."
"Unlike most people, you don''t seem very surprised or awed by the fancy buildings."
"That''s not true, I was just shocked speechless."
"Haha, the Association is one of the Ten Great Companies, after all! Hwang-hyung has always been very proud of being able to work for such a bigpany. However, that is still nothingpared to how proud he is of you. Every time he gets drunk, you''re all he talks about. I''ve heard him boast about you so many times that I''m getting sick of it."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah. We always drink at the Dark Moon Inn right across the road. Once Hwang-hyung gets drunk, he''ll start repeating himself over and over again, saying that he has an amazing nephew who will one day bring glory back to his n."
"Uncle Hwang often tells me that too. Unfortunately, I''m not as great a person as he seems to think I am."
"Well, only time will tell. Regardless, since Hwang-hyung praised you so highly, I''m looking forward to what you will aplish."
His voice is filled with concern for Uncle Hwang. These two might be closer than I initially thought.
This is a non-profit trantion. You should not be seeing ads.
Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, Jin Mu-Won noticed a group of workers busy loading more than twenty horse wagons with various cargo and traveling supplies. Seeing as how the caravan was surrounded by vignt-looking guards, the cargo on the wagons was probably extremely valuable.
"It seems that those people there are preparing for a long journey."
"I heard that they were assigned a special mission by the Old Matriarch herself, but I wasn''t informed of the specifics."
Jin Mu-Won''s eyes lit up. So that''s why those guards are unusually alert. I''d thought that they were too wary, even for professionals that were trained by the White Dragon Merchant Association.
"We''re almost there," the guard continued.
Jin Mu-Won turned away from the caravan, only to see that they were approaching arge training za where many escorts were training. The guard went up to a man who looked like the escort leader and whispered something into his ear.
The escort leader''s expression instantly changed, and he walked up to Jin Mu-Won.
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"I heard that you''re Escort Hwang''s nephew? I am the Head of the Finance Department, Gong Jin-Sung. It''s a pleasure to finally meet you."
Jin Mu-Won sped his hands in a fist salute and bowed slightly, greeting, "I''m pleased to meet you, too. My name is Jin Mu-Won."
"Take a seat. Moon-Jung will be here shortly," said Gong Jin-Sung, pointing to a chair in the shade.
Jin Mu-Won nodded and sat down.
"Have a good chat. I have to go now."
"Thank you."
The door guard smiled and returned to his post.
Suddenly, Gong Jin-Sung asked, "You''re here to ask about Escort Hwang''s whereabouts, am I right?"
"Yes. Do you know something about it?"
"To tell you the truth, I don''t know that much about it either. I only know that some problems cropped up in Yunnan and that the Third Young Master and the Security Squad went there to solve said problems. Also, at the Old Matriarch''s behest, Escort Hwang was ordered to join the mission as well."
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Jin Mu-Won''s eyes narrowed. "Why did the Old Matriarch force Uncle Hwang to join such a dangerous mission?"
"How should I know what those higher-ups are thinking? It''s just, knowing the Old Matriarch, she would never have asked Escort Hwang to join the mission if she didn''t think he could bring some benefit to it."
From the respectful way Gong Jin-Sung spoke, Jin Mu-Won could tell that the man regarded the Old Matriarch very highly.
Suddenly, Gong Jin-Sung''s gaze shifted toward the long, cloth-wrapped object in Jin Mu-Won''s hands. Although he couldn''t see the interior, it didn''t take a genius to figure out that it was a sword.
"Are you a swordmaster?"
"No, but I''m strong enough to protect myself."
"Hmm, is that so?" Gong Jin-Sung didn''t think much of Jin Mu-Won''s answer.
As another one of Hwang Cheol''s drinking buddies, he was familiar with how Hwang Cheol would start praising Jin Mu-Won every time he got drunk. He had never met Jin Mu-Won before, but Hwang Cheol had described this young man in so much detail that it was pretty easy to figure out who he was.
Like the door guard, he did not regard Jin Mu-Won particrly highly. People tended to exaggerate things when they were drunk, especially when they were talking about their family members.
After a few drinks, every minor strength would be a specialty, and even the most normal child would be called a genius. Gong Jin-Sung didn''t feel that Jin Mu-Won would be any different from the other escorts'' kids.
Even so, simply based on the fact that Jin Mu-Won was Hwang Cheol''s nephew, they would at least treat him with basic respect. That was how much they appreciated Hwang Cheol, who got along well with everyone and had treated all of them to drinks at some point or other.
Hwang Cheol was a kind man, as well as a man who knew how to care for others. To the younger escorts, he was their beloved hyung-nim.
"Is the White Dragon Merchant Association not going to send out a search party to look for the missing Uncle Hwang?"
"The problem is, Escort Hwang is not the only person who has gone missing. Everyone in the Yunnan group, including the Third Young Master and all the members of the Security Squad, have disappeared as well.
"To make things worse, ever since we lost contact with the Third Young Master''s group six months ago, the Old Matriarch has already dispatched three search parties after them. However, none of the search parties have returned after leaving for Yunnan either.
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"Therefore, never mind searching for one person, the White Dragon Merchant Association is already going crazy searching for all the missing people."
"What!?"
"At the end, when the Old Matriarch realized that normal methods weren''t going to work, she hired a powerful mercenary group to help us out. Right now, the higher-ups are in the middle of finishing up the final discussions with the mercenaries before setting off for Yunnan."
"Then, the caravan we just saw"
"contains the supplies and rewards for the mercenaries. We also loaded it with gifts for the Tyrant Fist Sect, in the hope that they will help us find the missing people."
Yunnan''s current most powerful faction was the Tyrant Fist Sect led by the Fist Demon, Jo Cheon-Woo. The only way to get anything done in Yunnan would be to first obtain the approval of the Tyrant Fist Sect.
However, that was not the way of the White Dragon Merchant Association. They were merchants who would never bow down to another''s authority, instead carving out their own independent trade routes in Yunnan. Therefore, it was unlikely that the Tyrant Fist Sect would be willing to help the Association locate the missing people.
However, because the Third Young Master was among the people that had vanished this time, the Association had no choice but to give up on their own routes and depend on the Tyrant Fist Sect.
"In other words, they n on bribing the Tyrant Fist Sect."
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"What choice do we have? The White Dragon Merchant Association is just that desperate," Gong Jin-Sung replied, smiling bitterly.
This was the White Dragon Merchant Association he was talking about. The same White Dragon Merchant Association that was one of the Ten Great Companies, and wielded even more power and influence in the gangho than the Tyrant Fist Sect. The fact that they had to swallow their pride and beg the Tyrant Fist Sect for help showed just how desperate they were.
Jin Mu-Won now understood that the Association hadn''t abandoned Hwang Cheol and done nothing all this time. Even though they hadn''t aplished anything, at the very least, he appreciated the fact that they had tried their best.
"Ah, Moon-Jung''s here," said Gong Jin-Sung, pointing at a boy running toward the two of them.
"You two have a good chat. I have to go meet the Old Matriarch now."
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"Can I join the Yunnan search party?"
"You?"
"As long as I can go to Yunnan and search for Uncle Hwang, I''m fine with doing hardbor."
Gong Jin-Sung locked gazes with Jin Mu-Won. He had an exceptionally fierce re that would frighten most people, but Jin Mu-Won was unmoved. The young man neither avoided his gaze nor wavered, only stared straight back at him.
Knowing that he wouldn''t be able to persuade Jin Mu-Won otherwise, Gong Jin-Sung sighed.
"Alright, I''ll inform the Old Matriarch about this."
Gong Jin-Sung stood up to leave, and at the same time, Kwak Moon-Jung arrived.
With glittering eyes, the boy observed Jin Mu-Won curiously.
If you see this, you are on the wrong site. FoodieMonster007, TheGreatT20
Chapter 53: Sometimes, Coincidences Do Happen (3)
The Old Matriarch raised a cup of tea to her lips and observed the young man and woman seated opposite her.
The young man dressed in sky blue clothing wore a faint smile on his face. Rather than a warrior, he looked more like a schr. His name was Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan[1], otherwise known as the "Methodical Strategist (һһӋ)[2]". His martial arts was inferior to the "Seven Young Skies (С)[3]", the seven strongest young martial artists recognized by the gangho, but his intelligence was higher than most.
Every year, a few young prodigies would appear in the gangho. That meant that there were hundreds, even thousands of these young prodigies wandering the gangho dreaming of bing heroes.
Most of them aimed to be the new Nine Skies of Heaven''s Summit. However, doing that was as difficult as plucking stars out of the night sky.
Among the promising young heroes, there were seven whom people thought were most likely to seed the Nine Skies. They were:
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- Woo Tae-Cheon, the "Free-Spirited Gentleman (b)"
- Hyun Gong-Hwi, the "Fighting Maniac (^)"
- Bi Jung-Yeon, the "Vanishing Dragon (oӰ)"
- Nam Soo-Ryun, the "Saint of Mount Mu (ɽŮ)"
- Yeon So-So, the "Flower of the West (һ)"
- Seo-Moon Hye-Ryung, the "Celestial of the Crimson Primrose ()"
The Seven Young Skies was made up of four men and three women, and every single one of them was a martial arts expert who would not lose to a master of the old generation.
Although not to the extent of the Seven Young Skies, Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan was still a well-known prodigy in the gangho. Like his title, the "Methodical Strategist", he was a careful strategist who nned out his schemes in great detail, one step at a time.
Most importantly, he was the Vice-Commander of the Iron Brigade (Fh), a small mercenary group made up of a few dozen autonomous martial artists. However, their fame far exceeded their small size.
The Iron Brigade often took on missions assigned to them by other murim sects. They were a group who would do just about anything as long as the price was right. They possessed both clever strategists as well as powerful warriors and had a reputation of never betraying their employers.
The leader and Commander of the Iron Brigade was a man named Yong Mu-Sung.[5] He was stubborn, resilient, and an extremely strong fighter.
It was said that if Yong Mu-Sung represented the brawn of the Iron Brigade, then Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan was its brain. The person who decided whether the group would ept a mission or not was not themander, but the chief strategist, Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan.
The Old Matriarch''s gaze shifted to the beautiful woman in her twenties elegantly sipping tea next to Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan. The woman wore simple clothing made of snow leopard skin, and she made no effort to hide the horrific scars which stretched from her neck down toward her chest. The stark contrast between her cultured mannerisms and rough appearance left a strong impression on the Old Matriarch.
Her name was Chae Yak-Ran.[6] Like Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan, she was also Vice-Commander of the Iron Brigade, but while he was a strategist, she was a warrior.
For the whole duration of Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan and the Old Matriarch''s discussion, she hadn''t said a single word. From her silence, the Old Matriarch could tell that she wasn''t a talkative person.
The Old Matriarch turned back to face Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan, who smiled and said, "As long as you''re willing to meet all of our conditions, we will dly ept your request."
"Of course, Vice-Commander Jong-Ri. Uponpletion of the mission, the White Dragon Merchant Association will pay you the full sum, and not a copper less."
"Then we agree."
Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan ced the contract he had prepared beforehand on the table. All of the details of their discussion until now were written down clearly on the contract.
I''ve heard that Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan was a very shrewd man, and the rumors were not exaggerated. He already anticipated what I would agree to ahead of time.
The Old Matriarch had hired the Iron Brigade to rescue her son, Yoon Ja-Myung. If he was alive, they were to escort him back, and if he was dead, they''d have to retrieve his corpse. Depending on the situation, the promised reward would be different. All these details were included in the contract.
In other words, Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan had yed her, the Old Matriarch, for a fool. Their entire discussion had proceeded exactly as he nned it.
Even so, the Old Matriarch did not feel upset. On the contrary, she was d that the person she''d hired to find her son was thispetent. That was because the morepetent Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan was, the greater the chances of her son being brought home alive.
The Old Matriarch stamped her seal on the contract, and Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan folded it up and kept it in his chest pocket.
"The procedures for us taking on your request areplete. Tomorrow morning, we will set off for Yunnan."
"Thank you!"
"You can thank us after we rescue Mister Yoon."
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"Pardon me for asking this, but how many of your people will be going on this mission?"
"Besides myself and Vice-Commander Chae, the "Soul-Summoning Hunter (лC)" Im Jin-Yeop, the "Seven Skills Swordsman (Ʉʿ)" Gong-Son Chang, and the "Twilight Iron Bow (F)" Dam Jin-Hong will be going on this mission. The rest of our members, including ourmander, will be meeting us in Sichuan."
The Old Matriarch was taken aback by Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan''s answer. The three people that Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan had mentioned were also famous members of the Iron Brigade. In particr, these three were known for their tracking and rescuing skills. She asked, "Wait, did you just say that you''re meeting up with yourmander in Sichuan?"
"That''s right. We''ll have to pass by Sichuan on our way to Yunnan anyway, and several of our members have justpleted a mission there, so it''s not really much of a detour. I''ve already informed them of our imminent arrival, and they will be waiting for us there."
"I see" The Old Matriarch sighed. She was usually super calm and collected when it came to business, but whenever her children''s lives were involved, she would get extremely emotional.
The Iron Brigade was her best bet at finding her missing son.
At first, she''d thought about requesting help from Heaven''s Summit, but she quickly gave up on that idea. It would take too long to get her request processed through the bureaucracy that was Heaven''s Summit, and she had no idea if they would even ept it or not.
Even if Heaven''s Summit approved her request, they might not send warriors that met her standards, and they would absolutely charge her ridiculously exorbitant rates.
She was quite happy with the offer that the Iron Brigade had proposed to her. If even they failed to save her son, then she would have no choice but to acknowledge that he was dead and give up the search. Although it pained her, this was a decision that she had to make as Head of the White Dragon Merchant Association.
The Old Matriarch looked toward the door and shouted, "Department Head Gong, are you there?"
"Yes, Madam!"
"Pleasee in."
Gong Jin-Sung, the Head of the Finance Department, entered the room and bowed, saying, "What can I do for you, Madam?"
"The Iron Brigade has epted our request."
"Really?" Gong Jin-Sung beamed. He recognized the name of the Iron Brigade. With their help, our chances of finding the Third Young Master have increased by leaps and bounds.
Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan looked at Gong Jin-Sung and greeted him with a polite fist salute, saying, "Please take good care of us, Department Head."
"No no, we''re the ones who are grateful for your help," Gon Jin-Sung hurriedly replied, returning the greeting.
"They will be setting off tomorrow. Department Head, I''d appreciate it if you would introduce them to the escort team."
"Yes, Madam!"
Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan and Chae Yak-Ran stood up from their seats. However, Gong Jin-Sung did not immediately show them out. Instead, he asked, "Madam, would it be possible for us to add another person to the search party?"
A hopeful expression appeared on the Old Matriarch''s face, but Gong Jin-Sung quickly rified, "The nephew of Escort Hwang, who went missing together with the Third Young Master, is here. He wishes to join the Yunnan search party."
The Old Matriarch''s eyes glittered. She felt guilty for having gotten Hwang Cheol into trouble, as the only reason she had sent him to Yunnan with Yoon Ja-Myung was because of his good luck and survivability. If there was something she could do for him now
"Hmm? Did Escort Hwang have a nephew?"
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"Yes. He''d boast about his nephew every time he got drunk."
"Is that so? It seems I have been too negligent, dispatching Escort Hwang on such a dangerous mission without knowing much about his personal affairs. Okay, if bringing Escort Hwang''s nephew won''t cause much of a problem, then please feel free to do so."
The Old Matriarch did not think twice about adding Jin Mu-Won to the search party. Normally, she would never do something so careless without conducting a thorough background check on him, but she was too stressed out and anxious right now to bother.
If you see this, you are on the wrong site. FoodieMonster007, TheGreatT20
Footnotes:
[1] Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan: Jong-Ri (Rx) is a two-wordst name, same as Seo-Moon (), though far more umon. Mu-Hwan (o) is his first name, meaning "never in trouble".
[2] Methodical Strategist (һһӋ): Literal trantion C One step one strategy.
[3] Seven Young Skies (С): Literal trantion C Seven small/little/young skies. I like "young" or "junior" more than "lesser", which sounds in rude to me.
[4] Jade Qilin (): A Qilin is a mythical Chinese giraffe with scales and a dragon''s head, and is said to appear with the imminent arrival or passing of a sage or illustrious ruler.
[5] Yong Mu-Sung: The name Mu-Sung (}) means "martial sage".
[6] Chae Yak-Ran: The name Yak-Ran (m) means "like an orchid".
Chapter 54: Traveling Companions (1)
Im Jin-Yeop and Dam Jin-Hong drank and chatted with the armed escorts all night long. In just two hours, they hadpletely blended in with the group and the escorts began treating them as their own. Their social skills were admirable.
In contrast, Jin Mu-Won mostly kept to himself. Several of the escorts expressed interest in talking to the nephew of Hwang Cheol, but most of themrgely ignored his existence.
That was human nature. People simply didn''t care much about things that didn''t concern them. Jin Mu-Won understood that fact well and didn''t me these people for being heartless and unsympathetic.
Hey down on Hwang Cheol''s bed for a while, but countless thoughts ran through his mind, preventing him from falling asleep. At first, he was filled with worry for Hwang Cheol. However, unconsciously, his thoughts slowly turned toward the girl he hadn''t seen in years.
Ha-Seol.
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Ever since that day, Eun Ha-Seol had vanishedpletely, as if she had never existed before.
Not only her, the Silent Night has alsoid low since the events of that day. Have their internal affairs been resolved, or are they still in the progress of sorting themselves out?
It would be great if I could confirm that Ha-Seol is still alive, but unfortunately, Uncle Hwang hasn''t been able to find out anything about her or the Silent Night. The only fact I can takefort in is that Heaven''s Summit doesn''t know what the Silent Night is nning either.
Seven years ago, the Northern Army Fortress was wiped off the face of the map. Heaven''s Summitunched an investigation into the truth, but they found nothing.
Instead, they constructed a new garrison right where the fortress used to be. Unlike previously, they did not simply send a few weak mercenaries to guard it. This time, they stationed a proper army there.
However, even then, the Silent Night did not show themselves anywhere. It was as if the events of that day were a hallucination. The only oue of that battle was that Heaven''s Summit heightened their defensive and surveince measures.
If the Silent Night tries anything now, it definitely won''t go undetected by Heaven''s Summit informationwork.
If that was the case, the answer was simple. He needed to nt a spy inside Heaven''s Summit. Fortunately, he did have one promising candidate.
Seo Mu-Sang.
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Right now, he had no idea where Seo Mu-Sang was or what he was doing. His First Sword hadn''t contacted him even once in thest seven years. However, Jin Mu-Won strongly believed in Seo Mu-Sang''s patience and cool-headedness, and wasn''t too worried that he would betray him ornd himself in trouble.
In time, I''ll definitely meet him again. For now, I need to focus on finding Uncle Hwang, Jin Mu-Won concluded.
There was no need to overthink things. As long as he concentrated on getting one task done at a time, he would eventually obtain the result he desired most.
The hardest part would be holding on to his desires while tirelessly waiting for the perfect time to strike. However, Jin Mu-Won was confident in himself. He had already lived this way for more than a decade.
After sorting out his thoughts, Jin Mu-Won felt a lot better. He smiled and opened his eyes, only to find that the escorts were still busy partying and hadn''t returned to their rooms. Even so, he wasn''t lonely at all.
"I like the quiet anyway."
He was used to loneliness. Ever since his father passed away, he had always been alone, except for the brief time that he had spent together with Eun Ha-Seol.
Just as he was just beginning to enjoy the solitude, Gong-Son Chang, the Seven Skills Swordsman of the Iron Brigade, opened the door and entered the room.
Gong-Son Chang looked around for a moment, then copsed onto an empty bed. He tightened his grip on a sword with a very thin de, like it was more precious to him than his own life.
Other people might not get it, but Jin Mu-Won understood just how Gong-Son Chang felt.
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To a swordsman, their sword was their life; it was an integral part of their very being. Some people thought that a swordsman''s sword was just a piece of metal, but real swordsmen knew that swords had a life of their own, and always needed to be kept within arm''s reach.
Suddenly, Gong-Son Chang turned to look at Jin Mu-Won, or rather, the sword next to him.
"Do you also use the sword?"
Jin Mu-Won quietly nodded.
Gong-Son Chang''s voice immediately took on a friendly tone, saying, "That''s a good decision. There are many weapons in the world, but the sword is the king of all weapons. Learn it well, and I believe that you will be an excellent swordsman."
"Thank you"
"What''s your name?"
"Jin Mu-Won."
"I''ll remember that."
Although Gong-Son Chang said that, he did not expect much of Jin Mu-Won. The young man was probably an escort, and being an escort was no privileged position. It would be difficult to obtain any martial arts better than third-rate ones, and as if to reinforce his presumption, he could not sense much chi in the young man''s body.
The truth was, Jin Mu-Won''s shadow chi was nigh undetectable by normal methods. All the chi that Gong-Son Chang could sense, was what he had deliberately allowed him to sense. He felt that as a martial artist, having no chi at all was abnormal, so he''d usually emit a little bit of "chi" for other people to detect. The chi he emitted was just enough that people would not suspect him of hiding his true strength, and yet weak enough that most would write him off as just another third-rate martial artist.
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Gong-Son Chang quickly lost interest in Jin Mu-Won, leaned against the wall, and closed his eyes. On the other hand, Jin Mu-Won decided to get up and head outside.
He could still hear the noisy sounds of partying in the training za, so he decided to walk in the opposite direction. Although it wasn''t fully dark out yet, the torches around the White Dragon Merchant Association were already lit, and workers were still busy moving goods around. It was as if the people in the Association had no idea that nights were meant for sleeping.
Jin Mu-Won strolled along the path, but no one paid him any mind. As long as he did not attempt to enter any of the important buildings, to them, he was just another one of the Association''s employees.
Everyone was calm despite seeing someone they didn''t know because it was almost impossible to recognize every single one of the several hundred employees in the Association Headquarters. Furthermore, the branch employees would sometimes visit the Association Headquarters, and there were thousands of them spread out all over the Central ins.
All of a sudden, Jin Mu-Won stopped in his tracks. A man and a woman were arguing in front of the twenty-wagon caravan that he had seen earlier in the day.
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The man was Yoon Hoo-Myung, the Association Director, and the woman was his younger sister Yoon Seo-In.
Yoon Hoo-Myung frowned and yelled, "Don''t think I don''t know what you''re nning to do. What I don''t understand is, why are you doing this!?"
Yoon Seo-In pouted, replying, "Both you and I know that Department Head Gong alone wouldn''t be enough to ensure that the search for Ja-Myung proceeds smoothly. It''s far too much work for one person! That''s why, I''m going to help him."
"Hah? What kind of bullshit excuse is that!? We don''t even know if Ja-Myung is still alive. It''s too dangerous, I absolutely can''t let you go to Yunnan!"
"I don''t care what Orabeoni says. My heart is set on going."
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"Argh! You really"
Yoon Seo-In got along very well with her younger brother, Yoon Ja-Myung. He was the youngest among the siblings, and she had always doted on him.
"Orabeoni, did you forget? I learned martial arts from the Kongtong Sect. I can take care of myself."
"Why on earth would you willingly put yourself in danger like this?"
"I''m doing it for the sake of a precious family member."
Yoon Hoo-Myung was stunned speechless by his younger sister''s answer, as well as the unwavering determination in her eyes.
He sighed. He was aware that Yoon Seo-In was no pushover. In fact, she was so talented in martial arts that she had been scouted and trained by the most prominent sect in Gansu, the Kongtong Sect.
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Although she wasn''t quite at the level of the Seven Young Skies, she was nevertheless a genius that the Kongtong Sect had ced their hopes on. Thus, even though she was a part of the White Dragon Merchant Association, the Kongtong Sect still taught her some of their strongest martial arts, including the Divine Palm of Dark Heaven () and the Demon Subjugating Sword (ħ).[1] Yoon Seo-In prided herself on being able to learn these martial arts, and was confident in her strength.
SHING!
Suddenly, Yoon Seo-In drew the urumi[2] wrapped around her waist and injected her chi into it. The flexible de, which had initially trailed along the ground like a snake, instantly became as straight as a steel rod.
Even Yoon Hoo-Myung, who didn''t know many martial arts, could feel the cold killing aura emanating from the urumi.
"Even after seeing this, will you still try to stop me? I am perfectly capable of defending myself!"
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This is no way to convince someone. My head hurts just thinking of what would happen if she keeps behaving like this, thought Yoon Hoo-Myung. I have no choice but to surrender to her, but I should at least add some conditions...
"Okay, okay, I get it. However, I''ll only allow you to go as far as the Tyrant Fist Sect. There, you''ll have to wait quietly while the Iron Brigade and Department Head Gong rescue Ja-Myung. In addition, if you sense any danger, you must immediately pull out of this operation. Promise me that you''ll follow these instructions, and I''ll allow you to go to Yunnan."
Yoon Seo-In nodded happily in agreement, saying, "Okay, I promise. Also, you''re worrying too much!"
No, I''m not! This is normal! Yoon Hoo-Myung sighed. He didn''t know how he was going to exin this to the Old Matriarch.
Unfortunately for Yoon Hoo-Myung, Yoon Seo-In did not notice her brother''s frustration. She beamed and said, "Then, I''ll go back now and prepare for the journey!"
Having aplished her aim, Yoon Seo-In skipped back toward her lodgings. On the way, she briefly paused in front of Jin Mu-Won. The two people stared at each other for a while, before it finally dawned on Jin Mu-Won that he was blocking her way.
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"Ah, I''m sorry!" he apologized, stepping to the side. As soon as he was out of the way, Yoon Seo-In took arge step forward and continued on her way, leaving Jin Mu-Won to stare at her nkly.
This spunky young mistress is going to be one of my travelingpanions!?
Jin Mu-Won didn''t know why, but he had a feeling that this journey wouldn''t go as smoothly as he''d hoped.
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Footnotes:
[1] Divine Palm of Dark Heaven (), Demon Subjugating Sword (ħ): Wuxia nerd time! These two techniques have names that are extremely simr to techniques originating from Jin Yong''s "Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber", but neither of them belong to Kongtong Sect! The "Divine Palm of Dark Abyss (ڤ)" belonged to a pair of viins (Two Elders of Dark Abyss) and the "Demon Subjugating Sword of Skanda (fӷħ)" to Shaolin Temple. In the novel, Kongtong Sect''s most well-known techniques are: Seven Harms Fist (߂ȭ), Soaring Phoenix Hand (wP), and Yin Yang Grind (ĥ).
[2] Urumi: Following the Witch of the White Night''s Moonlight Chakras is yet another Indian weapon, known as the Urumi. The urumi is a sword with a flexible, whip-like de, and it is probably the most terrifying sword ever invented. If you thought getting hit by a leather whip would hurt, imagine what would happen if said whip was made out of STEEL, with sharp edges. I know I wouldn''t go within a hundred feet of anyone holding such a weapon...
Chapter 55: Traveling Companions (2)
The Old Matriarch and Yoon Hoo-Myung watched as the twenty-wagon caravan trundled out of the White Dragon Merchant Association. Including both the mercenaries of the Iron Brigade and the armed escorts, there were more than fifty warriors in all.
Normally, arge caravan such as this would be apanied by several servants. However, taking into consideration the dangers involved, as well as the sheer length of the journey, it was decided that only those who knew martial arts would be allowed to join the search party.
The Old Matriarch stood beside the main door. As the warriors moved past her, she smiled and exchanged gazes with every one of them, starting with Gong Jin-Sung and the escorts, and followed by Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan, Chae Yak-Ran, Im Jin-Yeop, Gong Son-Chang, Dam Jin-Hong, and the rest of the mercenaries. Although most of them had gotten wasted just the night before, none of them appeared hungover and returned her greeting spiritedly.
I pray for all of your safe returns, and that you''ll be able to bring my Ja-Myung home with you.
"Haa" When she saw her daughter Yoon Seo-In riding on one of the wagons, she sighed. Just like her eldest son Yoon Hoo-Myung, she hadn''t been able to convince her daughter into staying home.
[I''m going, and that''s final.]
The Old Matriarch could still hear her daughter''s firm voice echoing in her ears.
Finally, thest wagon rambled past her. The driver was a young man she didn''t recognize. When she saw him, a strange light filled her eyes.
So that child is Escort Hwang''s nephew?
Guilt flooded her heart. She was worried that she''d end up sending not only Hwang Cheol to his death but the escort''s nephew as well.
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Suddenly, Jin Mu-Won''s eyes met hers. The instant she saw the profound look in his eyes, she waspletely taken aback.
Huh?!
She couldn''t read anything in those eyes. That was unexpected. She had been a merchant for most of her life and had gotten to know countless people, from heroes to politicians, swindlers, and even evil criminals who had threatened the peace of the world.
Because of her vast experience, she believed that she had developed a good eye for people.
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Human faces were fascinating things. People who walked the same path in life would often begin to look physically simr after a while. Thus, for her, a few hints here and there were often enough for her to predict a person''s calling and future.
For example, Jong-Ri Mu-Hwang and Chae Yak-Ran, both of whom she had just talked to the day before, were both extremely talented people. Just from the faces, the Old Matriarch knew that they would have a bright future ahead of them as long as nothing particrly untoward or unexpected happened.
However, when she looked at Jin Mu-Won''s face, she couldn''t read a thing. The young man was smiling faintly, but it was as if there was a fog hidden beneath that smile, obscuring his true self.
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This was the first time in her life she had met someone like Jin Mu-Won. It was unnerving. Unconsciously, she called out to him, "Hey"
"Mother, what''s wrong?" asked Yoon Hoo-Myung, looking at her curiously.
The Old Matriarch was distracted for only a moment, but when her senses returned, Jin Mu-Won had already driven the wagon past the doors and was gradually disappearing off into the distance along with the rest of the caravan. She sighed and said, "Regardless of how much of a hurry I was in, I should have taken the time to meet with him. Ignoring him was a grievous mistake."
A man like that couldn''t possibly be ordinary. No, even if he was ordinary, she still should have talked to him. Only then could she make a more urate evaluation of the kind of person he was. She couldn''t bring herself to estimate the price she might have to pay for this blunder.
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Her judgment had been clouded by her worry for her children, and it had cost her a precious opportunity. She had forgotten the fact that a merchant must never lose their cool, even when their family members were in danger.
"Perhaps the time hase for me to retire" she muttered, a dark shadow clouding over her face.
Looking at his mother''s unusual reactions, a confused Yoon Hoo-Myung said, "Mother?"
In order to reach Yunnan within a month and a half, two months at thetest, the caravan traveled south at a hurried pace. The sooner they reached their destination, the earlier they could begin the search for the missing people, and the higher the chances of finding them still alive.
CLIP CLOP CLIP CLOP!
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Every bump and vibration of the wagon wheels on the rough ground was transmitted to Jin Mu-Won''s butt. It was extremely ufortable, but he was hardly in the mood to care about something so minor.
The caravan attracted a lot of attention from passersby. Although Lanzhou City was a center of trade, it was rare to see arge caravan made up of twenty wagons and more than fifty personnel.
Jin Mu-Won knew that those curious gazes were not directed specifically at himself, but he still couldn''t shake off the unsettling fear that he would be recognized. He pulled down the hood of his cloak to hide his face and immediately felt much better.
When Kwak Moon-Jung, who was riding on horseback next to Jin Mu-Won''s wagon, saw the older man''s reaction, hemented, "Hyung, by any chance, are you kind of shy?"
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Because of his inexperience, Kwak Moon-Jung had been assigned to the very back of the caravan. His job was to ensure that the rear of the caravan remained in formation and to keep an eye out for ambushes from the back.
"Are you sure you''re not sick?"
"Haha! As you can see, I''m perfectly fine," replied Kwak Moon-Jung, thumping his chest. He had spent the previous night drinking and partying together with Im Jin-Yeop and the rest of the escorts, but despite his young age, his alcohol tolerance was already very high and he showed no signs of being hungover.
Im Jin-Yeop and Dam Jin-Hong had beenpletely merciless toward the escorts, partying all night long without rest. Even Kwak Moon-Jung had ended up pulling an all-nighter, mesmerized by the stories of the mercenaries'' adventures.
He was particrly taken in by the story of the mercenaries'' battle against the Three Iron Heart Freaks (F), a trio of kidnappers and rapists. As the mercenaries had talked about the details of their fights, he had imagined himself as the main character of the story and clenched his fists tightly.
In addition, during the party, the mercenaries had encouraged him, saying that as long as he trained as hard as he could, he would one day be a hero of the gangho just like them. Thebination of the stories and encouragement had fired him up and fueled his heroic ambitions.
Jin Mu-Won could sense Kwak Moon-Jung''s excitement. For a moment, he felt like bringing the youngd back to reality, but he decided against it in the end. Kwak Moon-Jung was still an immature teenager, and his raging emotions would easily override his rationality. Even if he tried persuading the kid, he wouldn''t listen. The best thing he could do for him right now was to observe him silently and make sure he did not do something reckless.
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Im Jin-Yeop, Dam Jin-Hong, and Gong-Son Chang were at the very front of the caravan, and Jin Mu-Won could not see them from his position. That was good. He hoped that things would stay that way until he reached Yunnan. He did not want to risk being noticed.
Back in the Northern Army Fortress, he had lived a life under constant surveince; his movements and activities were closely monitored every day, twenty-four hours[1] a day. He had even been forced to practice martial arts in a basement where no one could see him.
On the contrary, the current him did not need to constantly be on the watch for spies. Most people in the caravan kept their eyes on the road ahead, and rarely ever bothered to look back.
Kwak Moon-Jung attempted to chat with Jin Mu-Won, but when he realized that the older man was not very keen on conversation, he rode ahead and returned to his work. Only then could Jin Mu-Won finally enjoy the passing scenery in peace.
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Shortly after the caravan left Lanzhou, the scenery changedpletely. Gone were the residences and shops, reced by towering mountain ranges. The wagons traveled in single file on a narrow road that meandered between the mountains, such that he could not see the path''s end.
Jin Mu-Won closed his eyes. Even then, as a result of the All-Epassing Cognizance,[2] he could still sense everything in his surroundings.
The All-Epassing Cognizance was an ability that he had awakened during his battle with Tae Mu-Kang, the Chaos Demon. It allowed him to perceive his immediate environment so clearly that no change, no matter how small, could escape his notice. This perception was so sharp that even when his vision waspromised, he could still create a mental image of the space around him.
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It was also the reason why he could drive a wagon with his eyes shut. He could even divide his consciousness into two, and drive while training in the Art of Ten Thousand Shadows.
As he gradually lost himself in the Art, the world inside his heart showed itself to him. That was a world of darkness and absolute silence, and it was also where Jin Mu-Won felt the mostfortable. One moment, it was as if he had returned to his mother''s womb and curled up into a ball. The next moment, he was spreading his wings like a bird and glidingzily across the sky.
Besides his inner world, the Art also caused his shadow chi to flow out of his Chi Sea Acupoint (⺣Ѩ)[3] and start circting throughout his body. To others, shadow chi was undetectable and untouchable, but to Jin Mu-Won, its presence was as clear as day.
ROAR!
Suddenly, the shadow chi, which had been circting smoothly and quietly, began to turn turbulent. Jin Mu-Won frowned, but did not panic and focused on controlling the chi flow.
He forgot about the passage of time and ignored the changing scenery. All he could see was his inner world, and he reveled in the freedom that being inside this world brought to him. He was both the creator and master of this world; a world of his mind that waspletely separate from reality.
I wonder how long I''ve been meditating?
He could sense the movement of people around him through his All-Epassing Cognizance. He unified his divided consciousness and opened his eyes.
Gong-Son Chang stood on a clearing beside the caravan and shouted, "It''s gettingte, so we''ll be resting here today! Hurry up and set up camp!"
The sun is already setting? How time flies
Following Gong-Son Chang''s orders, the escorts detached the horses from the wagons, rounded up all the animals, and tied them to trees nearby. They then parked the wagons close together, forming a circle. This circle of wagons would form the "wall" of their encampment. Several escorts would guard the exterior of the "wall", while others started fires and began cooking inside.
Jin Mu-Won couldn''t help but marvel at their efficiency. He knew that the escorts had been working together and doing this for a long time, but the way they wordlessly did each of their respective jobs without conflict or confusion was admirable. Their coordination was so good, even the mercenaries who were used to traveling couldn''t help but praise them.
Suddenly, one of the older escorts approached Jin Mu-Won and said, "Hey, don''t just stand there gaping like a fish. There must be something you can help with, right?"
"...Huh? Yeah, sure!" Jin Mu-Won replied, flustered.
The old escort then proceeded to drag him toward the fires, where the younger escorts, including Kwak Moon-Jung, were busy preparing dinner.
If you see this, you are on the wrong site. FoodieMonster007, TheGreatT20
Footnotes:
[1] Hours: LNB uses ancient units of time, called sijin ?? (r, 1 sijin = 2 hours, 12 sijin a day), but I''m going to use modern units because it''s a pain in the ass to keep reminding people. The same goes for distance units, using imperial units because 1) it matches the ancient era setting, 2) the numbers look nicer than metric after conversion from ancient Chinese units, and 3) tyranny of the majority; Americans make up thergest proportion of readers by country.
Proofreader Note: Americans really should switch to metric units.
[2] All-Epassing Cognizance: See chapter 43.
[3] Chi Sea Acupoint (⺣Ѩ): An acupuncture point, also known as the Lower Dantian Acupoint. It is located roughly two fingers below the belly button. This acupoint is what people usually refer to when they mention the chi center or dantian. I''m leaving this as it is because the author used kihaehyul (⺣Ѩ) instead of danjeon ().
Chapter 56: Traveling Companions (3)
Jin Mu-Wondled up bowls of steaming hotpot and handed them out to everyone.
Huuuh!? This is delicious!
WOW!
The escorts who tasted Jin Mu-Wons hotpot couldnt help but exim out loud. At first, only a few people were willing to try Jin Mu-Wons cooking, but in no time at all, all of the escorts were scrambling to get a bowl before the food in the pot ran out.
Are you hungry? You havent eaten yet, right?
Im fine. I pinched some food while cooking.
The senior escort loudlyined, If youre fine with it, then from now on, youre in charge of cooking. These guys cooking tastes like shitpared to yours!
Oi! When the escorts who had formerly been on cooking duty heard him, they immediately objected, and the dinner conversation quickly devolved into an argument.
Jin Mu-Won nodded silently in response to the senior escorts question, but his presence was all but forgotten at this point.
Whether he liked it or not, he''d have to spend the next two months with these people. Although he did not need to put any effort into getting to know them, he didn''t have to purposely distance himself from them either.
After dinner, Jin Mu-Won and the other young escorts were tasked with washing the dishes in a stream near the campsite. When they were done, he sat down and leaned back against one of the wagons, hugging Snow Flower. He looked up at the night sky, feeling as if he were drowning in the mysterious sea of dazzlingly bright stars.
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Suddenly, someone walked up to him and said in a low voice, I heard that youre a great cook. Everyones talking about it.
Jin Mu-Won turned to face the speaker. It was a beautiful woman wearing clothes made from snow leopard fur. Therge scar running down from her neck to her chest left a strong impression on him.
She looked at Jin Mu-Won and continued, Is it okay if I sit down next to you?
Jin Mu-Won nodded and recalled Gong Jin-Sung introducing this woman to him. He said, You are Vice-Commander Chae Yak-Ran of the Iron Brigade?
The woman sat down and replied, Just call me Chae Yak-Ran.
If you see this line, you''re reading at the wrong site. Bahahaha.
My name is Jin Mu-Won.
Its a pleasure to meet you, Master Jin.
Jin Mu-Won stared nkly at Chae Yak-Ran, surprised by her politeness and unassuming manner. She had no reason to go out of her way to talk to him, as she was one of the powerful warriors hired by the White Dragon Merchant Association, while he was just a random tag-along. Their statuses were just too different.
Being specially hired hands, the Iron Brigade were given special treatment by the Association. They didnt have to do any of the chores, and even the food they ate was specially made by an escort who was the son of a chef. Both the type and quality of the ingredients used were far superior to that given to the escorts.
When she saw Jin Mu-Wons shocked expression, Chae Yak-Ran calmly said, Next time, I want to try your hotpot.
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Its just a simple dish. Im nowhere near as good as a professional chef.
I like simple foods the best, though. Theyre easy to eat, and the nutrients are well-bnced, replied Chae Yak-Ran. Unknown to Jin Mu-Won, she was a martial arts maniac. Whenever she had free time, she would train. She loved training so much that she felt it was a pity she had to give up several hours a day to eating and sleeping. If she could save some time eating hotpot instead of having someplex meal, while still getting all the nutrients her body needed, she would definitely choose the hotpot.
Okay, Ill be sure to prepare your share of hotpot next time.
Thank you, and Im sorry to request this of you since your work as an escort must be tiring as well.
I am not an escort.
Huh?
If you see this line, you''re reading at the wrong site. Bahahaha.
Im going to Yunnan on personal business.
Ah! Chae Yak-Ran eximed, panicking. She had talked to him casually because he looked like one of the escorts, but if he was an important person, then
Jin Mu-Won felt slightly amused by her anxious expression. He exined, Im just helping with the chores since the Association is letting me travel for free. Besides, making one more persons worth of hotpot is no big deal, so please dont feel bad about it.
N-NoIm so sorry, I really thought you were one of the escorts
You dont have to apologize. Its just a simple misunderstanding, and I guess that most people would think Im an escort at first nce too, Jin Mu-Won said, smiling.
Chae Yak-Ran stared closely at Jin Mu-Won''s face, saying, You''re a very unique person, Master Jin.
Bewildered, Jin Mu-Won asked, What do you mean?
Jin Mu-Won couldn''t understand what made Chae Yak-Ran say what she did, but to her, he was the one whockedmon sense. She was the only woman in the Iron Brigade, a small but very well-known mercenary group within the gangho. There were many who envied her, looked up to her, lusted for her, or were just interested in gossiping about her. Thus, she was used to always receiving odd looks from people who were meeting her for the first time.
However, Jin Mu-Won was different. She was sitting right next to him, but he expressed no interest in her beauty or any curiosity about her appearance at all, including the scar that she so proudly disyed to the world.
Chae Yak-Ran observed Jin Mu-Won. The amount of chi that she sensed from him was about the same as the rest of the escorts. That meant that although he knew some martial arts, he wasnt very strong. If there was anything unusual about him, it was his eyes.
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As she looked into his dark eyes, she felt like she was staring into the deepest depths of the ocean, but no matter how hard she tried, she just couldnt see the ocean floor where his true feelingsy.
This man?
Noonim.
Suddenly, she heard someone call her from behind. She turned around to see Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan, who had approached her while she was lost in thought.
What are you doing here?
Hmm? Ah, about that
We still have much to discuss, and many things to prepare before meeting up with themander. It would be a problem if you kept cking off and didnt get back to work.
If you see this line, you''re reading at the wrong site. Bahahaha.
Chae Yak-Ran sighed. People often called Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan the Methodical Strategist, but to her, he was just a naggy little brother. Still, she couldnt ignore his nagging.
She stood up, patted the dirt off her butt, then smiled at Jin Mu-Won, saying, I have to go now, but Im really looking forward to your hotpot tomorrow.
When Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan saw Chae Yak-Rans smile, his eyes widened in shock. The Chae Yak-Ran he knew was not a woman who would say something nice like that. She was pretty, but she was also more serious andpetitive than anyone else. Most importantly, she never smiled!
See you tomorrow then!
Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan looked at Jin Mu-Won with aplicated expression, then suddenly said, Id like to try that hotpot, too.
Jin Mu-Won furrowed his brows and looked up at Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan, who grinned and added, Thank you in advance.
With that said, Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan turned around and walked off together with Chae Yak-Ran. Jin Mu-Won stared nkly at them as they left. For some reason, his head was starting to hurt.
If you see this line, you''re reading at the wrong site. Bahahaha.
Nights in the wilderness tended to begin earlier than in the city. The area illuminated by the campfires was limited, and most of the campsite was shrouded in darkness. This was the perfect environment for wolves and bandits to ambush their prey, so the escorts had no choice but to take turns keeping watch.
It was gettingte, but the mercenaries were still awake and busy discussing how they would go about conducting the search in Yunnan. Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan, the strategist of the group, did most of the talking, while Chae Yak-Ran and the other mercenaries listened quietly. Im Jin-Yeop asionally raised an objection, but his ideas were quickly shot down by Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan''s sound logic.
Whenever that happened, Im Jin-Yeop would shrink in embarrassment, causing the mercenaries to burst out inughter, "Hahaha!"
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On another side of the camp, the escorts had also split up into several groups and were sitting around chatting beside the fires. While hugging himself tightly in the cold, Kwak Moon-Jung approached Jin Mu-Won and said, "Brr, it''s freezing!"
"Is it time to switch shifts already?"
"Yes, and were free from now till tomorrow morning.
Although he was still a teenager, Kwak Moon-Jung treated his work as an escort seriously. He did his best to pull his own weight and do the same amount of work as the others, because only then would they treat him as their equal.
While observing Kwak Moon-Jung, Jin Mu-Won was suddenly assaulted by a wave of nostalgia. His situation was quite different from the boys, but he also had to be independent at a young age and mature much more quickly than other children. Looking back, he wouldnt be the person he was today without that harrowing experience.
If you see this line, you''re reading at the wrong site. Bahahaha.
Instead of turning in for the night, Kwak Moon-Jung sat down and crossed his legs.
Are you going to meditate? Jin Mu-Won asked.
Yes.
Thats unexpected. Itsmon sense not to meditate unless one is alone in a quiet and secluded ce, and this noisy campsite is anything but ideal. Theres no way Kwak Moon-Jung doesnt know this, so why is he choosing to meditate here and now? If his concentration is broken during meditation, theres a chance that Chi Deviation might ur, resulting in permanent disability.
Why dont you wait until were in a quiet ce before you meditate? Its impossible to maintain your concentration here.
Uncle Hwang said that the meditation technique he taught me can be practiced even in this kind of noisy ce.
Jin Mu-Wons eyes lit up at Kwak Moon-Jungs unexpected answer. He asked, Uncle Hwang said that? Would you mind telling me the name of that meditation technique he taught you?
If you see this line, you''re reading at the wrong site. Bahahaha.
He said that it was called the Three Origins Meditation Technique and that it would lead me down the path to bing a martial arts expert.
The Three Origins Meditation Technique?
Jin Mu-Wons eyes trembled. Dazed, he looked up at the sky and mumbled, Uncle Hwang
If you see this, you are on the wrong site. FoodieMonster007, TheGreatT20
Master Jin (Jin-sohyeop): The honorific used here is -sohyeop, which is an honorific that is unique to the wuxia genre. Hyoep = Xia (b) in Chinese, and loosely trantes to chivalrous warrior, or hero. Sohyeop is used for young warriors, and Daehyeop for great (middle-aged to old) warriors. The closest English equivalent would be Sir, but I dunno if that reminds one too much of European knights. Gimme your feedback!
Noonim: Honorific for older sister, used by men.
Uncle Hwang: Kwak Moon-Jung calls Hwang Cheol Hwang-ahjussi, while Jin Mu-Won calls him Hwang-suk. Both mean Uncle, but -suk is more affectionate than -ahjussi, meaning Mu-Won is much closer to Hwang Cheol than Moon-Jung is.
Chapter 57: Traveling Companions (4)
The Three Origins Meditation Technique was the characteristic chi cultivation technique of the Blue Ocean Sword Sect, one of the many small-to-medium sized Taoist sects located in Mount Heng, Shanxi Province. The martial arts of the Blue Ocean Sword Sect were known for being bnced and powerful, but evenpared to other Taoist martial arts, where it was already difficult to achieve a high level of mastery, the chi cultivation rate of the Three Origins Meditation Technique was abnormally slow.
The slow training rate was the main reason the Blue Ocean Sword Sect had steadily fallen into decline over the years, as more and more young peoplecked patience and chose not to enter the sect.
However, the Three Origins Meditation Technique did possess several advantages that few people knew of. For one, it was a very simple martial art, so simple that even rtively dimwitted people could easily learn it. The requirement for practicing this martial art was not intelligence, but patience and determination.
As long as one was patient, they would eventually be able to master the Three Origins Meditation Technique. However, most intelligent people would rather spend more effort learning a moreplicated martial art with a faster cultivation speed.
The second advantage of the Three Origins Meditation Technique was its stability, like a pavilion built on solid rock instead of soft soil. As long the practitioner persevered until they reached a certain level, their chi would suddenly start umting at a much faster rate. In addition, their chi would be extremely dense, resulting in increased physical strengthpared to other chi cultivation techniques. This meant that practitioners of this martial art were well-suited to using heavy weapons such as greatswords ().
The third advantage was that the Three Origins Meditation Technique had the ability to resist and counter demonic energy. That was because practitioners of this Martial Art tended to possess a strong mental resilience that allowed them to resist demonic and evil arts that targeted the mind.
All in all, it was these three advantages that had given rise to the name of the technique, Three Origins. Unfortunately, because these advantages were not obvious or well-knownpared to its disadvantages, the Three Origins Meditation Technique and the Blue Ocean Sword Sect had faded into obscurity.
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With the decline of the Blue Ocean Sword Sect, the Three Origins Meditation Technique was donated to the Northern Army. However, no one in the Northern Army wanted to learn it, as they were fighting a war and there was no meaning practicing ate bloomer martial art when they might not live to see the next sunrise.
Therefore, for a long time, the Three Origins Meditation Technique sat forgotten in a corner of the Grand Library, collecting dust. It was only when Jin Mu-Won''s father, Jin Kwan-Ho, went searching for a martial art that suited Hwang Cheol that it was rediscovered. Before teaching it to Hwang Cheol, Jin Kwan-Ho had even done his best to improve it, enhancing its strengths and reducing its weaknesses.
In return for Jin Kwan-Ho''s kindness, Hwang Cheol put his heart and soul into practicing the Three Origins Meditation Technique. Even if his progress was slow, he never med Jin Kwan-Ho for choosing it. Instead, he thanked the former Lord of the Northern Army every time he overcame a hurdle in his training.
Jin Mu-Won recalled Hwang Cheol saying, "The Three Origins Meditation Technique is not meant to be learned by geniuses. It''s a martial art for idiots, and is there anyone in this world stupider than I am? Hahaha!"
With Jin Kwan-Ho''s death, Hwang Cheol was now the only person in the world who knew the Three Origins Meditation Technique. The technique was so basic, even Hwang Cheol was embarrassed to teach it to others. However, if he ever chose to teach it, it would definitely be to someone very much like himself; someone who wascking in talent, but with unyielding resolve and patience.
Did Uncle Hwang see himself in this child? Is that why he
Jin Mu-Won immediately understood how Hwang Cheol felt toward this child. Kwak Moon-Jung was like a younger version of Hwang Cheol, so Hwang Cheol couldn''t help but shower him with care and attention.
"Haa" he sighed, looking at the boy who was deeply engrossed in meditation in front of the campfire.
Practicing the Three Origins Meditation Technique is like traveling a thousand miles at a snail''s pace. It''s such a daunting task that few would dare tread on this path. And yet, this is the path that this boy, Kwak Moon-Jung, has chosen.
Jin Mu-Won muttered softly, "As long as you never give up, I believe you will surely be the martial arts master of your dreams."
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I pray that you never admit defeat and call it quits, because I know that''s what Uncle Hwang would expect of you.
Jin Mu-Won watched Kwak Moon-Jung train for a very long time, taking it upon himself to act as the boy''s personal guardian.
The next morning, everyone packed their luggage and left the campsite. When they left, the only traces that someone had camped there was the burnt ground where the campfires had been.
Although everyone had spent the night outdoors, no one looked tired. This was only the beginning of their long journey, and all of them were martial artists who practiced inner energy techniques. All they had to do to ease their weariness was meditate for a short while.
It was the same for Jin Mu-Won. He hadn''t had spent thest seven years in a remote mountain for nothing. Rather, to him, the hardest part of the journey was enduring the boredom from driving the wagon all day long. The other escorts were in charge of keeping watch, so his one and only task was to follow the wagon in front of him.
Well, his situation was still a little better than the other escorts who were driving the wagons. He at least had the All-Epassing Cognizance, which allowed him to immerse himself in the Art of Ten Thousand Shadows and train while unconsciously driving the wagon. The other drivers were so bored that they would sometimes nod off and break the caravan formation.
Whenever this happened, Gong Jin-Sung would step forward and restore order. If the wagons in the caravan went out of formation, it was easy for the situation to fall into chaos when something untoward happened.
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Jin Mu-Won looked at this whole situation with interest. "Armed escort" was not a job for an ordinary warrior. Usually, onlyrge sects orpanies would hire armed escorts to protect important people or possessions, as their lives were much more valuable than random warriors. Thus, many looked down on escorts as disposable tools.
Old and powerful factions like therge sects and Five Great ns had strong economic foundations and did not need to worry about finances, but the truth was, most people in the murim struggled to make ends meet. Even the small and medium-sized sects often dabbled in businesses in order to fund their activities and expand their influence.
However, how many people in the gangho belonged to a rich sect or n? It was only a very small portion of the whole. Most people had no choice but to find employment of some sort, and for a frence warrior, there was no better paying job than being a guard or armed escort. Not only was the pay stable and regr, they''d have ess to additional benefits that they otherwise would not be able to obtain.
These people wielded their weapons for neither honor nor fame, only for the people and treasures they were paid to protect. They weren''t defenders of justice; they were simply people who fought for a living.
Looking at these people made Jin Mu-Won reflect on his own situation. What should I do from here on? Right now, all my efforts are focused on finding Uncle Hwang and Ha-Seol, but after that, what exactly is it that I want to do?
Whatever anyone says, I belong to the Northern Army. That''s where my roots are, and it''s something that I can never forget or abandon. Even now, every time I think about how the Northern Army defended the Central ins against the forces of the Silent Night despite being at aplete disadvantage, I feel proud to call myself a descendent of such heroes.
That''s why, I can''t help but wonder: Should I take revenge against Heaven''s Summit, or should I just live my life peacefully as a total nobody?
To Jin Mu-Won, this was an important question that he had to find an answer for, because that would dictate the way he would live for the rest of his life.
My father wanted me to live a life away from the political machinations and schemes of the gangho. He chose to disband the Northern Army andmit suicide, so that Heaven''s Summit would not have any justification to kill me due to my ties with the Army. That way, I''d have a chance at bing a free wanderer who could live as I pleased.
However, is that kind of life what I really wish for? The anger and hatred in my heart just won''t fade away!
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Jin Mu-Won''s heart was racing. He did not try this hard to survive just for the sake of living. Something deep down in his heart was constantly egging him on, driving him forward.
He raised his head and looked at the road ahead of him. The grassy ins stretched on endlessly, and the river a short distance away flowed without pause. Far in the distance, he could see the hazy silhouette of a mountain range. Above him, fluffy clouds drifted across the azure sky, carried by the wind.
I don''t know if I can live the way Father wished me to, but I will try my best. Even if I can''t do that, I swear that I will live my life with integrity, and never dishonor the pride of the Northern Army.
Suddenly, Jin Mu-Won sensed the wagon in front of him slowing down and adjusted the speed of his own wagon ordingly.
Are we slowing down because of the river crossing?
Thest time he checked, the river was still quite a distance ahead, but while he was lost in thought, it seemed that they were already nearing the river. At the river bank, he could see a small vige and pier where they''d be able to hire boats.
Just as Jin Mu-Won predicted, the caravan stopped at the pier, where Gong Jin-Sung stepped forward, saying, "The boat that can carry horses will return to port four hours from now. Until then, we will split ourselves into two groups and take turns resting. One group will go grab a meal in the vige, while the other guards the wagons. When the first group has finished eating, they will immediately switch shifts with the second group."
"Yes, Sir!"
Gong Jin-Sung then proceeded to split the escorts into two groups, and both Jin Mu-Won and Kwak Moon-Jung ended up in Group 1.
The two young men entered a nearby inn and sat down. The inn had a grand sounding name, the "South Sea Inn", but it was very small and run-down. Thus, a few of the escorts chose not to eat there and went somece else.
"Wee!" greeted an energetic young waitress, as they entered the inn. The girl looked a year or two younger than Kwak Moon-Jung, but had a very friendly attitude, suggesting that she might be the daughter of the owner.
"Are there any seats next to the window?"
"Of course, right this way please. You''ll be able to see the pier and the river from the window."
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"Thank you." The two young men smiled, thanked the waitress and sat down.
"What will you be having today?"
"Just something simple and filling, please."
"Then how about some fried pork? We just received a delivery of really good meat."
"That sounds great!"
The young waitress smiled refreshingly and giggled, "Heehee! In that case, please wait while we prepare the food." She then turned around and ran toward the kitchen.
Jin Mu-Won noticed Kwak Moon-Jung staring nkly at the young girl''s back as she walked away. He grinned mischievously and asked, "You like her?"
"What!? N-No!" Kwak Moon-Jung eximed, shaking his head desperately.
Just then, someone opened the inn door and entered followed by a group of people. Jin Mu-Won recognized some of the people who entered.
"We meet again," Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan said, smiling at Jin Mu-Won. It seemed that he, Chae Yak-Ran, and the other members of the Iron Brigade had also decided to eat at the inn. They quickly chose a table and sat down.
Right behind the mercenaries, another group of people also entered and sat down at another table.
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Chapter 58: The One Thing a Person Must Never Give Up On (1)
The Iron Brigade sat down at the table next to Jin Mu-Won and Kwak Moon-Jung. As Kwak Moon-Jung looked at them, his face turned red and his eyes shed with envy.
Ahh, this kid It seems that he still hasn''t gotten the tales of the mercenaries'' adventures out of his mind
Jin Mu-Won''s gaze shifted toward the other group that had entered the inn. There were three people in total: a teenage boy about the same age as Kwak Moon-Jung, and two middle-aged men dressed in Taoist robes.
Just then, he heard someone whisper to him, "Judging by the green bamboo embroidery on their sleeves, they''re Taoist priests from the Kongtong Sect. The green bamboo is a symbol of steadfastness, like bamboo in the wind."
Jin Mu-Won turned to face the speaker, Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan, who smiled back at him and continued, "I don''t think that boy is an ordinary disciple. The Kongtong Sect never allows disciples that age to leave the sect unless they''re a first-generation disciple, or their martial arts have reached a certain level."
"In that case, that boy has to be one of the two, if not both."
"That''s right. However, if he truly managed to be a first-generation disciple at that young age, then he''s probably a genius."
"I see," replied Jin Mu-Won, lowering his head to avoid being noticed.
As if confirming Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan''s suspicions, he''d noticed that the boy had very well-developed muscles, as well as a fierce, arrogant attitude.
Like Jin Mu-Won, Kwak Moon-Jung was also quietly observing the Taoists.
Jin Mu-Won asked, "Are you jealous of him?"
"No, not at all."
Surprised, Jin Mu-Won asked again, "Really? He''s a disciple of arge sect, and has ess to all sorts of powerful martial arts."
"I know that, but my dream is to be an armed escort."
"Why?"
"Father once told me that although escorts are people who work for money, it is a job he takes pride in doing. We are those who protect the lives of others, as well as the things important to them. We could die anytime, but even so, we choose to live cleanly and use our martial skills to help people rather than extort or rob them. As a man, could there be a more honorable job than this?"
Kwak Moon-Jung had always looked up to his father, Kwak Yi-Soo. Two years ago, one of the White Dragon Merchant Association''s ships was attacked by pirates while traveling along the Yangtze River. Because everyone was stuck on a ship, there was no escaping from the pirates. In that kind of situation, Kwak Yi-Soo had defended against the pirates to thest, protecting the ship''s crew as they made their escape. Until the moment he died, he had never let go of his sword.
He was a man who had sacrificed his life to protect others; a real hero who took pride in his job as an escort.
Kwak Moon-Jung aimed to be a man as great as his father. He wanted to be a "true armed escort", a hero who protected others.
Jin Mu-Won bowed his head in respect and said, "Your father is an admirable man."
"Heh heh!" Kwak Moon-Jung scratched his head, embarrassed.
Im Jin-Yeop, who was nearby, overheard the two''s conversation andughed, "Hahaha! Tell you what, I propose a toast, in honor of your father! What say you? Don''t be shy!"
"But I''m still in the middle of work!"
"Hmm, in that case, we''ll have drinks tonight instead. Remember toe over to my ce, okay?"
"Sure!" Kwak Moon-Jung epted Im Jin-Yeop''s offer enthusiastically.
The tense and awkward atmosphere caused by Jin Mu-Won and Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan immediately became more rxed, to the relief of the other members of the Iron Brigade. They looked at Kwak Moon-Jung gratefully.
Just then, the young waitress ambled over to the tables, carrying arge te of food. She ced the te down on Jin Mu-Won''s table and, in a loud and clear voice, announced, "The famous fried pork of the South Sea Inn makes its grand entrance!"
"Pfft!" Kwak Moon-Jung couldn''t hold back hisughter.
The waitress ced her hands on her hips and red daggers at Kwak Moon-Jung.
His face immediately reddened as he apologized, "I-I''m sorry!"
"This is my dad''s fried pork. If it tastes bad, we won''t charge you a cent for it."
"That''s not why IughedI''m sorry." Kwak Moon-Jung scratched his head, at his wit''s end.
Suddenly, the girl grinned, saying, "Apology epted. This time, anyway."
"Thank you!"
"My name is Seo-Ryung. Ham Seo-Ryung. What''s yours, Oppa?" [1]
"I''m Kwak Moon-Jung."
"Oppa, are you an armed escort?"
"Y-Yes!"
"That''s so cool! Hee hee!"
Kwak Moon-Jung''s face quickly turned even redder.
Seeing the boy''s embarrassed expression, Im Jin-Yeop crudely eximed, "Oh my! Congrattions, youngster! How on earth did you attract the attention of such a pretty youngdy? I can tell that in a few years, she''ll be a legendary beauty who will capture the heart of every man. I''m so envious of you!"
Kwak Moon-Jung waspletely dumbfounded by Im Jin-Yeop''s sudden outburst. On the other hand, Ham Seo-Ryung stared at Kwak Moon-Jung quietly,pletely unruffled.
Jin Mu-Won smiled amusingly as he watched this whole situation unfold. This girl is not normal, either. Her eyes are intelligent and she shows maturity beyond her years.
Kwak Moon-Jung was ambitious and determined, but he knew that at his current strength, calling himself an escort was probably pushing it. He stuttered, "A-About that, I-I''m probably more of an escort-in-training"
As if she could sense Kwak Moon-Jung''s sincerity, Ham Seo-Ryung cheerfully said, "Ah, so you''re still an apprentice?"
"Kind of. Buteven so, I''m still an escort!" Kwak Moon-Jung thumped his chest confidently.
Ham Seo-Ryung smiled, saying, "Then, if I ever need a protector, could I hire you from the White Dragon Merchant Association?"
"O-Of course!"
"Hee hee! Can I take that as a promise?"
"Yes!" Kwak Moon-Jung nodded vigorously.
Ham Seo-Ryung smiled at him again, then turned around and returned to the kitchen in a hurry. Kwak Moon-Jung watched her go, his face as red as a beetroot.
"Wow! That little girl is quite the fox!"
"She has himpletely wrapped around her little finger. Are children nowadays all like that?"
The mercenaries of the Iron Brigade broke into a loud discussion, shocked by Ham Seo-Ryung''s forwardness. However, their happy expressions revealed that they weren''tining because they were upset, but because they were genuinely thrilled for Kwak Moon-Jung.
Even the normally stern Chae Yak-Ran wore a faint smile on her face. Ham Seo-Ryung''s spunk and boldness reminded her of herself in her youth.
"Come on, let''s tuck in."
"Okay!"
Kwak Moon-Jung picked up his chopsticks and tasted the fried pork. It was just as tasty as Ham Seo-Ryung had said it would be. Being able to eat such good food in a run-down inn could only be said to be a stroke of luck.
Jin Mu-Won and Kwak Moon-Jung wolfed down their food. In the meantime, Ham Seo-Ryung took orders from both the Iron Brigade mercenaries and the Kongtong Sect Taoists.
"After our mission isplete, shall wee here again?" asked Jin Mu-Won.
"Mmhmm," Kwak Moon-Jung''s mouth was full, so he nodded eagerly in response.
A little whileter, the mercenaries'' food was also served. Like Jin Mu-Won, the Iron Brigade couldn''t help but praise the delicious cooking.
"Woah! It''s hard to find food this good even in the provincial capitals."
"Yeah, the chef is really skilled."
The mercenaries ordered one jug of wine after another to make the food taste even more satisfying. However, just when Jin Mu-Won and the mercenaries were in the middle of enjoying their meal, a man sharply snapped, "Who''s the chef of this inn?"
Jin Mu-Won turned to see the Kongtong Sect Taoists put down their chopsticks. The older among the two middle-aged Taoists mmed his fist on the table and angrily hollered, "Oi, Chef! Are you deaf? Come out, now!"
The old Taoist''s voice was so loud that it reverberated through all the objects in the inn, causing the mercenaries'' faces to darken in displeasure. Kwak Moon-Jung''s face paled, as he had the weakest chi among those present and was the most adversely affected person.
"Did someone call for me?" asked a middle-aged man who looked to be Ham Seo-Ryung''s father, running out of the kitchen. He desperately wiped his oily hands on his apron to clean them, but the instant he saw the Taoists, the color drained from his face and his movements froze.
"S-Senior Brother?"
"Hmph! I knew it was you, Ham Ji-Pyung!"
"Senior Brother, why are you here?" said Ham Ji-Pyung, visibly confused.
The Taoist red at Ham Ji-Pyung coldly, saying, "So the rumors were true. I heard that you were working as a chef here."
"I have already cut all my ties to the Kongtong Sect. You''re the one who should know that best, right? Senior Brother?"
Ham Ji-Pyung''s rude reply seemed to only make the Taoist angrier. He growled, "Okay, let''s say I take your word for it and what just happened has nothing to do with you being emunicated from the sect. If that''s the case, then how are you going to exin this?"
The Taoist pointed at the young man next to him, who spat something out into his hand. It was the fragments of a broken tooth, covered in saliva. The Taoist continued, "While eating the food you cooked, Seol-Goong''s tooth broke when he bit into a rock. Although he''s just a first-ss disciple right now, he''s a genius who was chosen for personal training by Grandmaster Uncle.[2] In other words, he''s the person who is entrusted with the future of the Kongtong Sect. Such a person broke their tooth while eating the food you cooked. How are you going to take responsibility for this, huh?"
"W-What?" Ham Ji-Pyung''s shoulders trembled.
All the ingredients used in the dishes of the South Sea Inn had been specially selected, prepared, and cooked by him. He knew that he always checked the quality of the food before serving it to customers. That was the reason he had gained the trust of the locals despite only working at the inn for a year. And now, this man was telling him that there were rocks in his cooking? That was impossible!
"Senior Brother!" Ham Ji-Pyung looked at the middle-aged Taoist with sorrow in his eyes.
The Taoist''s name was Mu-Hae,[3] and Ham Ji-Pyung had once trained together with him as a fellow disciple of the Kongtong Sect. If his chi center hadn''t been destroyed, ruining his martial arts and leading to his emunication, then he would definitely have be a first-ss disciple of the sect as well.
"Are you still hung up on the events of that day? Is that why you''re doing this to me now?"
"I don''t know what you''re talking about."
"Senior Brother, that day, I lost the ability to use martial arts forever. On the other hand, all you lost was some dignity. Did you really have to go this far?"
Mu-Hae''s eyes shed with killing intent as he bellowed, "You sound like you''re using me of framing you. Look, old fool, Seol-Goong''s tooth is broken, and that''s a fact you can''t deny!"
Fifteen years ago, Mu-Hae had been one of the top disciples of the Kongtong Sect. However, there was always one man above him: Ham Ji-Pyung.
As long as Ham Ji-Pyung existed, Mu-Hae would always be number two. Back then, Ham Ji-Pyung had carried the expectations and envy of the entire sect on his shoulders. Mu-Hae knew that Ham Ji-Pyung disliked the attention, and felt that it was a burden, but to him, that didn''t change anything.
Every three years, the Kongtong Sect would invite their civilian disciples[4] and financial supporters to a friendly martial arts tournament. The purpose of such an event was to foster and reinforce rtionships and also serve as a test for the disciples'' martial arts skills.
The winner of the tournament would be awarded the title of "Elite of Kongtong (һ)", meaning that they were the most promising disciple of the Kongtong Sect.
In the past, Mu-Hae had fought his way through the tournament and challenged Ham Ji-Pyung in the finals for that very title. However, he lost that battle in a very embarrassing way, right in front of everyone in the Kongtong Sect.
That experience had left a terrible scar in his heart. To rid himself of his inner demons, Mu-Hae nned on challenging Ham Ji-Pyung again in the tournament three yearster, but unfortunately for him, that was not meant to be.
Just a few months after winning the tournament, Ham Ji-Pyung somehow got himself involved in something unsavory. As punishment, his chi center was destroyed and he was emunicated from Kongtong Sect. Everyone in the gangho had been curious as to why he was punished so severely, but the higher-ups in the sect had adamantly refused to exin the reasons for their decision.
As time passed, the man called Ham Ji-Pyung was forgotten by the world. However, there was one person who still remembered him.
Mu-Hae.
And now, Mu-Hae had found him as well. The him who had be nothing more than an ordinary cook.
Seol-Goong stood to the side and watched the drama unfold with relish, as if it had nothing to do with him. He was the rising star of the Kongtong Sect, like Ham Ji-Pyung once was.
No, he was even better. He had been raised to the position of a first-ss disciple at the tender age of fifteen, and the Sage of Red Snow (tѩw), his Grandmaster Uncle as well as the strongest swordsman in the sect, had dered that he would personally train him.
Although he still hadn''t received his Taoist name and was using the name his parents gave him, he could tell how much the Kongtong Sect treasured his genius.
Huhuhu! This is getting interesting! Seol-Goong grinned to himself.
The truth was, he didn''t give a crap about Mu-Hae''s hatred toward Ham Ji-Pyung. He was only using the older man to fulfill his ambition. He didn''t n to remain a mere first-ss disciple forever, so he had to start building his politicalwork as early as possible.
As long as he helped Mu-Hae with his revenge, he''d be able to obtain his rmendation and support to be the next Sect Leader of Kongtong. From there, he''d work toward bing one of the next "Nine Skies".
Seol-Goong was familiar with the internal politics of the Kongtong Sect, and understood that without Mu-Hae''s rmendation, it''d be impossible for him to be the official sessor. Thus, he approached Mu-Hae and offered his help. He figured that one tooth was a small price to pay for obtaining Mu-Hae''s undivided support, and with Mu-Hae''s influence, he''d also be able to get most of the other first-ss disciples on his side.
Now that his part in the y was over, all he had left to do was watch the show.
Ham Ji-Pyung locked gazes with Mu-Hae and asked, "Did he really break his tooth while eating the food I made?"
"The proof is right here." Seol-Goong held out his hand, showing Ham Ji-Pyung the broken fragments of his tooth.
"Is that what really happened?"
"Are you calling me a liar?" snapped Seol-Goong fiercely, furrowing his brows.
Ham Ji-Pyung sighed, saying, "HaaTo think that the genius chosen by Grandmaster Uncle would lie without batting an eyelid. The future of Kongtong Sect is bleak."
Mu-Hae immediately roared, "What was that!? How dare you insult the Kongtong Sect?"
CRASH!
Before he could even scream, Ham Ji-Pyung was sent flying into a wall.
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Footnotes:
[1] Oppa: Honorific for "older brother", used by females. Less formal and more endearing than "Orabeoni", but they mean the same thing.
[2] Grandmaster Uncle: The junior brother of one''s master''s masterIt''splicated.
[3] Mu-Hae: This dude''s name sounds the same as "harmless (o)", ROFL. Though I''m guessing it actually means "martial sea (亣)". Methinks it''s an intentional pun.
[4] Civilian Disciples: Disciples of a religious sect (Taoism/Buddhism) who have chosen not to enter the priesthood/monkhood and return to regr civilian life, for example Yoon Seo-In of the White Dragon Merchant Association. Unlike regr disciples, civilian disciples are free to eat meat and get married, but they will not be allowed to learn the strongest martial arts or have any official position within the sect.
Chapter 59: The One Thing a Person Must Never Give Up On (2)
"DAD!" Ham Seo-Ryung shrieked as she was dashing towards her father, who was coughing up blood and trembling uncontrobly. With a distraught look on her face, she hugged her father tightly.
Ham Ji-Pyung had once been a genius martial artist, but right now, he was but an ordinary man. It was impossible for him to defend against Mu-Hae''s sudden attack.
Mu-Hae stood over Ham Ju-Pyung and said, "How dare you insult the Kongtong Sect!? You asked for this!"
"That''s enough! Stop bullying my father!" Ham Seo-Ryung cried, looking up at Mu-Hae. Tears dripped down her face, but Mu-Hae only mercilessly stared down at the father and daughter pair.
At the frenziedbination of joy, arrogance, rage, and dissatisfaction on Mu-Hae''s face, the Ham family could only shiver in fear.
"Karma is real, after all. You reap what you sow, you arrogant bastard!"
"Lies!" screamed Ham Seo-Ryung. Mu-Hae frowned, but Ham Seo-Ryung continued, "Everything you''ve said is a lie! My dad''s food is the best! How could there be any rocks left in the meat and vegetables after he washed them multiple times? You''re a dirty liar!"
"Stop talking nonsense, you little bitch! What do you know, huh? Just keep your mouth shut and stay there quietly."
"I know everything! I know that you''re harassing my dad on purpose!"
Ham Seo-Ryung turned to face Seol-Goong, who was standing next to Mu-Hae, and added, "Why did you lie? We didn''t do anything wrong."
"."
"Was there really a rock in the food? Is that the truth?"
Seol-Goong furrowed his brows, but did not reply. When she saw his response, Ham Seo-Ryung was even more convinced that she was right.
"LIARS! So what if you''re Taoists from Kongtong Sect? I''ll report you! I''ll report you even if I have to crawl my way up Mount Kongtong!" Ham Seo-Ryung''s voice echoed throughout the inn.
Seol-Goong''s face flushed with rage. No one had ever insulted him to his face before!
Not only was he talented, he had also worked hard to earn both the respect of his senior brothers and the adoration of the elders. He didn''t deserve to be ndered like this!
SLAP!
Before he knew it, his hand had already moved. Ham Seo-Ryung''s eyes widened in shock as her head was pped to the side. Seol-Goong didn''t feel like he had put much strength behind that strike, but to the young girl, even a careless p from a martial artist was enough to knock her unconscious.
"Huh? I"
The members of the Iron Brigade, who had been quietly observing this scene, sighed in unison. Im Jin-Yeop and Dam Jin-Hong, the two most hot-blooded mercenaries, wanted to stand up and interfere, but Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan quickly stopped them, saying, "Don''t forget, they are disciples of Kongtong Sect."
"But"
"Kongtong Sect may be one of the weakest among therge sects, but they are still capable of erasing the Iron Brigade from the face of this world."
"Grr!"
Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan clearly understood the Iron Brigade''s position in the gangho. They were famous, butpared to the old martial arts sects, they were nothing. That was the unfortunate reality of things. The only way he could protect the Iron Brigade was to ensure that they stayed out of conflicts with people and factions stronger than themselves.
After all, revenge was a cycle that never ended. In this kind of situation, he had to be the one to act rationally, even if it went against his better judgment. He couldn''t allow the Iron Brigade to be swept up in a wave of hatred.
Im Jin-Yeop and Dam Jin-Hong reluctantly sat back down. They were infuriated, but they weren''t about to go against Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan''s decision, because they understood that his cold rationality was what protected the Iron Brigade from destruction.
Chae Yak-Ran was no less furious than the two men, but she too held herself back. In the end, the mercenaries could only watch the Taoists'' actions with bated breaths.
However, not everyone could turn a blind eye to what was happening right in front of them.
"Seo-Ryung!"
Kwak Moon-Jung sprung up from his seat and ran toward Ham Seo-Ryung. He hugged the injured girl and red at Seol-Goong, shouting, "Hey, don''t you think you''ve gone too far?"
The young man''s voice pierced through the silence.
Mu-Hae was shocked speechless. Although he knew that there were others in the inn, he''d assumed that those people wouldn''t dare interfere with their business knowing that they were disciples of the Kongtong Sect.
Seol-Goong red at Kwak Moon-Jung irritably, asking, "Who are you?"
"Me? I-I''m an escort."
"An escort? You work for the White Dragon Merchant Association?"
"Yes."
"Hah! Do you not know about the rtionship between Kongtong Sect and the White Dragon higher-ups? Is that why you''re sticking your nose into our business?"
Kwak Moon-Jung lowered his head, unable to maintain his courage under Seol-Goong''s murderous gaze.
In truth, he was terrified. When he saw Seo-Ryung being bullied, he had dashed forward without a second thought, but now that he was asked to take responsibility for it, he didn''t know what to do. However, as he looked at the trembling, unconscious girl in his arms, he bit his lip in determination.
"C-Could you please forgive her just this once? I''m not entirely sure what happened, but she''s just a child!"
"Tsk! Do you think you''re a hero of justice?" Seol-Goong clicked his tongue. He looked toward the Iron Brigade mercenaries, as if confirming whether they would step forward to help Kwak Moon-Jung. When they only stared back quietly, he knew that Kwak Moon-Jung wasn''t anyone important to them.
Mu-Hae said, "Kid, the crime of interfering with the Kongtong Sect''s business is severe, but seeing as we are kind Taoists, we will forgive you if you immediately step down."
"I-If you''re so kind, can''t you find it in your heart to forgive her as well?"
"Argh! You don''t get it at all, do you!?" roared Mu-Hae, releasing an aura so powerful that the tes and bowls on the tables vibrated in resonance.
"AHHH!" Kwak Moon-Jung covered his ears with his hands, but even then, his ears were ringing and he began to see double.
If Mu-Hae''s chi had been just a little bit stronger, Kwak Moon-Jung would have sustained internal injuries. Even so, the trauma he was currently suffering wasn''t anything to scoff at. His lower body was shaking uncontrobly, as if he would urinate any moment now. His lips were dry, and all the hair on his body was standing upbut still, Kwak Moon-Jung did not let go of Ham Seo-Ryung.
His unyielding tenacity only made Seol-Goong even angrier.
"You! You''re just an escort!"
BAM!
Seol-Goong kicked Kwak Moon-Jung with all his strength, causing him to throw up blood.
"Kuhaaak!"
"Do you know who I am? I am the future Sect Leader of Kongtong Sect! And yet! A lowly escort who works for money dares to get in my way!"
"TAKE THAT BACK!" Kwak Moon-Jung yelled at the top of his lungs. Seol-Goong and Mu-Hae''s jaws dropped in shock at his sudden outburst, and Kwak Moon-Jung seized the opportunity to continue shouting, "Don''t you dare insult us escorts! You said that we work for money? We''re just taking what we rightfully deserve for our work! Quit talking as if you don''t need us! We give our lives to protect the people you don''t want to sacrifice your pompous selves for. We take pride in our work, so don''t you dare call us trash."
Although Kwak Moon-Jung''s shoulders were trembling, it wasn''t because he was afraid. It was because he was furious at his weak and helpless self.
"Oppa" Ham Seo-Ryung, who had been woken up by Kwak Moon-Jung''s outburst, reached up and touched the young man''s face.
Mu-Hae squatted down in front of Kwak Moon-Jung and said, "See? You just proved that escorts are trash. Real martial artists would never behave as recklessly as you just did. That''s why, kid, allow me to make you an offer."
"What offer?"
"Hahaha! All you have to do, is admit that escorts are not real martial artists."
"That"
"If you don''t say it, I will kill this pair of father and daughter. Think carefully before you speak, because their lives are now in your hands."
Mu-Hae''s eyes glittered with malice. He saw the Ham Ji-Pyung of fifteen years ago in Kwak Moon-Jung, and he detested the determination and pride in the young man''s demeanor.
I want to let the world know that pride and determination are worthless in the face of absolute strength. I want to teach these naive kids that justice does not exist, and that they should bow down in front of someone superior to them.
"Now, why don''t you try saying it? Is your pride as an escort worth more than their lives? Can you protect them with just that silly pride of yours?"
"I"
"Justice without strength is just the meaningless babble of children."
Kwak Moon-Jung bit his lip again in consternation.
"You need only say one line: Escorts are not real martial artists.'' If you refuse, then not only will I take the lives of these two, I will also chop off one of your arms as punishment for interfering with the justice of the Kongtong Sect."
SHIING!
Mu-Hae drew the sword at his waist. The sword was named "Bamboo de (Ą)[1]", after the green bamboo pattern engraved on the scabbard. It was the sword that represented the most senior disciple of the Kongtong Sect.
Mu-Hae pointed the Bamboo de at Kwak Moon-Jung and focused his killing intent, making Kwak Moon-Jung''s face turn as white as a sheet.
I have to say it. How else can I save Seo-Ryung and her father?
It was only six words, but if Kwak Moon-Jung said those words, it would be equivalent to denying everything his father had stood for. What was the point of living if one could not even raise their head proudly?
"I, I" Kwak Moon-Jung''s voice trembled. Tears flowed down his cheeks and dripped onto Ham Seo-Ryung''s face.
"E-Escorts are not t-true" Kwak Moon-Jung stumbled over his own words. It was hard for him to speak in between sobs. Mu-Hae and Seol-Goong smiled cruelly as they watched him struggle.
"Hoo" Jin Mu-Won sighed and stood up. He didn''t like butting into other people''s business, but this time, the Taoists had crossed the line. He picked up Snow Flower, which was leaning against the table.
Just then, he felt someone grab his shoulder. He turned around only to see Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan shaking his head and whispering, "Don''t be a fool. The Kongtong Sect isrge and powerful, and their influence extends outside Gansu Province, all the way to Sichuan. If you make an enemy out of them now, they will hunt you down."
Jin Mu-Won understood what Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan meant. The gangho was a ce where a seemingly minor conflict could lead torge, severe repercussions. It was wise to keep one''s hands to themselves. Furthermore, the opponent this time had a solid background in the Kongtong Sect.
The Kongtong Sect called themselves Taoists and preached peacefulness, but in order to be one of thergest murim factions, just how much blood had they spilled over the years? Their sect was undoubtedly built on top of a mountain of corpses.
It was impossible for them to get along with everyone, and they surely had many enemies who fervently wished for their annihtion. For them to remain strong, they had to be firm towards those who opposed them, even ughtering their enemies mercilessly.
The moment they revealed any kind of weakness, was the moment the Kongtong Sect would begin falling into decline. For that reason, they absolutely could not allow anyone who tantly shed with them to live, unless they too had the backing of another powerful sect or n.
"Please, just bear with it. That kid''s pride might be shattered, but at least he won''t be harmed," Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan exined, analyzing the situation rationally. It was humiliating, but Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan felt that Kwak Moon-Jung would quickly forget about what happened today and return to his life as an escort without problems.
Contrary to his expectations, Jin Mu-Won shook his head and replied, "There is something very wrong with what you said."
"Huh? What was I wrong about?"
"Something like humiliation can simply be endured. As for pride? Hah, that can be fed to the dogs. However, there is one thing that a human being must never give up on."
"Whatis that?"
"Conviction. A person must never give up on their most fundamental conviction."
"."
"Right now, those Taoists intend to break that child''s conviction. They''re forcing him to betray everything he has ever believed in."
Jin Mu-Won looked directly into Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan''s eyes, but for some reason, Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan felt like he couldn''t face the other man.
"If a child loses his conviction, then what do you think will happen to him? What kind of future do you envision for a child who has nothing to believe in?"
"T-That Aren''t you exaggerating this a little too much"
"Am I?"
"."
Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan, the man known as the "Methodical Strategist", was left utterly speechless by Jin Mu-Won''s reasoning.
"That child is an armed escort. Didn''t you hear him dere it? No matter what the world thinks of him, he vowed to be a true escort. For us to stand by and do nothing is in cowardice. Are the heroic adventures that you guys talked about during the party just drunken fabrications?"
Chae Yak-Ran and the other mercenaries hung their heads in shame. They greatly outnumbered Jin Mu-Won, but none of them could bring themselves to rebut his words.
Jin Mu-Won stepped forward. Behind him, he could hear Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan muttering, "You''re a foolhow could you even consider making an enemy out of the Kongtong Sect over something so trivial"
Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan simply couldn''t understand what spurred Jin Mu-Won on. It defied his idea of rationality.
Suddenly, Jin Mu-Won shot him a nce, saying, "What''s wrong with that?"
"."
"Wouldn''t the world would be a better ce if more fools like me existed?"
If you see this, you are on the wrong site. FoodieMonster007, TheGreatT20
Footnotes:
[1] Bamboo de (Ą): Literal trantion C Bamboo-engraved Sword.
Trantor''s Note: Double release today! With a cliffhanger! MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Proofreader''s Note: Damn! What a chapter!
Chapter 60: The One Thing a Person Must Never Give Up On (3)
Kwak Moon-Jung wanted to speak, but the only sound that came out of his mouth was a painful gasp for air. He pursed his lips in agony.
Mu-Hae raised his Bamboo de up high, saying, "Because of your arrogant and impertinent meddling, you''re going to have to pay the price along with this father-daughter pair!"
Seol-Goong and the other Taoist watched the interaction between Mu-Hae and Kwak Moon-Jung with twisted delight. As they expected, Mu-Hae did not hesitate to swing his sword down on Kwak Moon-Jung.
Kwak Moon-Jung squeezed his eyes shut. The whistling of a de slicing through the air rang in his ears. However, the pain that he was expectingnever came.
THWACK!
"Ugh!"
At Mu-Hae''s sudden cry, Kwak Moon-Jung slowly and carefully opened his eyes. His vision was blocked by a man''s broad back.
"Hyung?"
Kwak Moon-Jung''s eyes widened, as if they were going to pop out of their sockets. The man wearing a red and brown coat, with his left hand ced behind his back and holding Snow Flower, could only be Jin Mu-Won.
Kwak Moon-Jung shifted his gaze a little, and to his absolute shock and horror, Jin Mu-Won had mped Mu-Hae''s Bamboo de in-between his index and middle fingers. He couldn''t see the de very clearly from his position, but he could at least tell that all of Jin Mu-Won''s fingers were still intact.
On the contrary, the look on Mu-Hae''s face was one of confusion. The Taoist had never even considered that his sword would be blocked for a moment.
He stopped my de with his bare hands!?
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He''d heard of people performing such feats before, but it was definitely rare and required a lot of training. Most importantly, one could only do such a thing if they were stronger or at least equal to their opponent in strength.
Mu-Hae hadn''t injected any chi into his de, but it was still a sword sh from a martial arts expert. The fact that the man in front of him had blocked it with just two fingers was definite proof that he was no weakling.
Mu-Hae withdrew his sword and red at Jin Mu-Won, saying, "Who are you? Are you doing this despite knowing that I am a disciple of Kongtong Sect?"
"I am this boy''s hyung. Now that you know who I am, are you still going to insist that I have no right to intervene?" Jin Mu-Won expressionlessly replied.
Mu-Hae''s face twitched. He said, "Ha! I get it now. The reason this boy was so cocky must be because you, a hidden master, is protecting him."
Mu-Hae had misunderstood the situation, but Jin Mu-Won wasn''t about to bother exining it to him. Kwak Moon-Jung''s safety was much more important than whatever this Taoist thought of him.
"You should be able to forgive this child now, right? I''m sure that he has learned his lesson after the harrowing experience he has had to go through today."
"What? Are you saying that he should be allowed to get away scot-free without any punishment? That''s not the way of the gangho! If I let this go today, the cycle of vengeance will never end." Mu-Hae scowled.
Jin Mu-Won sighed. Here was a narcissist who wallowed in his own grief and rage, but was utterly incapable of sympathizing with others'' pains. This kind of self-centered person would never forget a grudge, no matter how minor it was. Rather, they would gnaw on their spite over and over again, feeding their resentment. Thinking about it, today''s conflict had happened for this very same reason.
Mu-Hae asked, "Which sect are you from? Or do you not even have the courage to dere your affiliations?"
"I don''t see why I have to answer that question."
"Bah! Things have already reached this point, and you''re still trying to hide your identity? What a joke. Aren''t you looking down on our Kongtong Sect too much?"
"This has nothing to do with the Kongtong Sect. This is a personal issue, between you and me."
"What?"
"Am I wrong?" Jin Mu-Won looked straight into Mu-Hae''s eyes.
Mu-Hae flinched. Jin Mu-Won''s gaze was neither piercing nor vicious, and he did not feel any murderous intent behind that stare. Even so, he was bewildered by the fact that he simply could not bring himself to meet the young man''s eyes.
"You dare threaten me? Me, Mu-Hae of Kongtong?" he growled.
"I''m not threatening you. I''m imploring you to forgive a child. So, what''s your answer?"
"Is this how a person begging for mercy is supposed to behave?"
"Oh? Thenhow am I supposed to behave?"
"Cut off one of that child''s arms. Do that, and I will forget everything he has done today."
Mu-Hae turned toward Kwak Moon-Jung. He still hadn''t forgiven the child, and he probably wouldn''t even after ten years.
Jin Mu-Won shook his head, saying, "I refuse. If everyone did things like you, Taoist, no one in this world would have any arms left."
"Are you provoking me on purpose? Because you''ve seeded! DIE!" roared Mu-Hae, unleashing one of the Kongtong Sect''s ultimate techniques, the "Lesser Yang Sword (ꖄ)".
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SWOOSH!
Mu-Hae''s Bamboo de shot toward Jin Mu-Won''s throat.
What a ruthless killing technique. Even though this man is a Taoist, he swings his de with no mercy.
The emotion in Jin Mu-Won''s eyes vanished, reced by an eerie calm. He held up his right index and middle fingers, imitating a sword, and swiftly poked Mu-Hae''s de.
Mu-Hae sniggered, "Hmph! Do you really think I''ll allow you to stop my de with your bare hands again!?"
Mu-Hae injected his chi into his sword, intending to slice off Jin Mu-Won''s fingers. In response, the Bamboo de glittered with a sharp light.
"Hyung!"
"Hey?"
Kwak Moon-Jung and Im Jin-Yeop cried out in warning. In their eyes, Jin Mu-Won''s fingers looked like they were about to be cut off.
However, the moment Jin Mu-Won''s fingers came into contact with Mu-Hae''s sword, something odd happened. The sword point pierced right through an afterimage of his fingers, which gently bumped against the middle of the de.
Mu-Hae taunted, "What kind of parlor trick"
CRACK!
Cracks appeared on the part of the de that Jin Mu-Won had just touched. The smile on his face vanished.
"Wha?"
SNAP!
The Bamboo de shattered, scattering de fragments in every direction. Mu-Hae''s face was cut by one of the fragments, but he did not feel any pain. He could not.
He stared nkly at the sword hilt in his hand. There was no de.
"T-The Bamboo de"
The Bamboo de was the symbol of a disciple of the Kongtong Sect. To Mu-Hae, who valued his reputation more than anything else, it was as precious as his own life.
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That Bamboo de had shattered after being poked by Jin Mu-Won''s bare fingers. Mu-Hae felt like the world as he knew it was falling apart all around him.
In truth, Jin Mu-Won hadn''t just poked the sword, he''d used the Weapon-Shattering Finger (ָ), a technique that he had randomly created years ago while failing repeatedly at swordsmithing. [1]
To Mu-Hae, the Bamboo de was a famous and perfect sword, but in Jin Mu-Won''s cksmith eyes, it was covered in imperfections.
"Senior Brother!" screamed the other middle-aged Taoist, whose name was Mu-Wol. He hadn''t expected Mu-Hae to lose, and hadn''t managed to react in time.
SHIING!
He quickly drew his own Bamboo de and swung it toward Jin Mu-Won with all his strength. He''d seen what happened to Mu-Hae after underestimating Jin Mu-Won, and he wasn''t about to make the same mistake.
Jin Mu-Won swiftly took one step backward. Mu-Wol''s de whizzed past his head, missing him by a hair. Like Mu-Hae, Mu-Wol was also aiming for his life.
Jin Mu-Won''s eyes shed with a cold light as he said, "There is a saying that goes: A young person cares only for themselves; A parent cares only for their children; A merchant cares only for their profit; A Taoist cares only for the salvation of mankind. From what I can see, thest line of that saying must be false."
Jin Mu-Won''s voice echoed around the inn, causing Mu-Hae and Mu-Wol''s faces to turn red in rage and embarrassment. In one sentence, Jin Mu-Won had denied their very reason for existing.
"Shut up, you bastard!"
Mu-Hae and Mu-Wol charged at Jin Mu-Won. Mu-Hae, whose sword was broken, used the Cloud Chasing Fist (ȭ), while Mu-Hae swung his de. The two Taoists moved in perfect unison, and it was clear that they often trained together.
WHOOSH! SWOOSH!
The entire interior of the inn was swept up in a giant storm created by the wind from Mu-Hae''s fist and Mu-Wol''s sword, smashing all the furniture. Within that wild tempest, Jin Mu-Won moved around freely and gracefully. Whenever the two Taoists attacked, he would step backwards, and whenever they retreated, he''d close the distance and strike.
Seeing that, Im Jin-Yeop couldn''t help but exim, "It''s like he''s dancing in the wind."
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As if he didn''t feel threatened at all, Jin Mu-Won never drew his own de. He simply raised a finger and aimed for Mu-Wol''s sword. Although Mu-Wol had already seen what had happened to Mu-Hae''s de, he didn''t think that Jin Mu-Won would have such good luck a second time around.
Damned brat! I''ll slice off your fingers!
Instead of being wary, Mu-Wol was delighted. He poured his chi into his sword and swung it at Jin Mu-Won.
THUD!
The sword shed with the finger.
CRACKCRACK
CLANG!
Mu-Wol watched nkly as his sword also shattered, scattering pieces of metal everywhere.
"Eh?"
Mu-Wol''s face looked like it had been dragged through the mud. He''d previously thought that "dragged through the mud" was just an abstract idiom, but he was wrong, because right now, he felt like he''d been literally dragged through the mud. [2]
BAM! BANG! CRASH!
Now that their weapons were broken, both Taoists had no choice but to use their fists.
"Ugh!"
Mu-Wol stumbled, and Mu-Hae''s right arm hung limply by his side, his shoulder red and swollen. During one of the shes with Jin Mu-Won, his right arm had gotten dislocated at the shoulder.
Mu-Hae''s eyes glittered with disbelief. He didn''t even know when or how Jin Mu-Won had attacked him.
Suddenly, Jin Mu-Won stopped in his tracks. Without taking his eyes off the two old Taoists, he reached out behind him and grabbed a sword.
"Huh!?" blurted Seol-Goong, who had attempted to sneak up on Jin Mu-Won while he was distracted.
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As the fight progressed, Seol-Goong had gradually understood that his two senior brothers stood no chance of winning against Jin Mu-Won. At least, not if they stuck to normal methods. Thus, he had thought tounch a sneak attack on Jin Mu-Won.
Unfortunately for him, though, Jin Mu-Won''s All-Epassing Cognizance detected his presence before he could do any harm.
Jin Mu-Won shot Seol-Goong an icy re, saying, "Boy, you''re a coward. If a person like you became the next sect leader of Kongtong, it would most certainly spell the end of the sect."
Jin Mu-Won twisted the de in his grip.
KA-CRACK!
"AHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
The sound of Seol-Goong''s right arm breaking was quickly drowned out by his ear-piercing shriek.
If you see this, you are on the wrong site. FoodieMonster007, TheGreatT20
Footnotes:
[1] Weapon-Shattering Finger (ָ): See chapter 16.
[2] In case you were wondering, yes, this is wordy. It is not a literal trantion, because if I did that, no one would understand anything, but the general meaning is close enough (face turning mud-yellow because things have gone south, followed by his face actually turning yellow).
Lazy Trantor Addicted to Civ6 because World Domination is Awesome''s Note: It took Mu-Won 60 chapters to kick ass. Finally. *look of satisfaction*
Chapter 61: The One Thing a Person Must Never Give Up (4)
The silence in the inn was suffocating, but for a long time, no one dared to speak. Everyone watching felt as if they had seen something they shouldn''t have.
""
Jin Mu-Won''s opponents weren''t ordinary martial artists; they were all first-ss disciples of the Kongtong Sect, and warriors that people in the gangho often referred to as "martial arts experts".
Three of these "experts" had teamed up against one man and lost. Furthermore, for the entire duration of the battle, Jin Mu-Won hadn''t drawn his sword or used his left hand. All he did was dodge attacks while using a strange finger technique that destroyed weapons.
Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan''s expression was stiff. I can''t believe it. The Kongtong Sect has beenpletely and utterly humiliated.
Even so, that''s not the most important issue at hand here. The fact that we, the Iron Brigade, witnessed this whole fiasco is far more worrying than the result of this fight!
The Kongtong sect absolutely will not take this lying down. Once they start their investigation, they''ll definitely find out that Jin Mu-Won and Kwak Moon-Jung were at the heart of this incident and go after them.
However, even though we did nothing, we won''t be able to avoid being indirectly implicated. That''s because it is an undeniable truth that we witnessed three disciples of Kongtong, including the future sect leader, behaving in a depraved manner.
Knowing those guys, they''ll do anything to shut us up and maintain their reputation. We''re fucked!
If I want to protect the Iron Brigade, I''ll have to tread very carefully from now on!
"AHHHHHHHHHH!" Seol-Goong screamed. Compared to the physical pain he felt, the mental agony of being humiliated and insulted was several times more aggravating.
"How dare you! How dare youuuuuu!" he repeated over and over again, ring daggers at Jin Mu-Won. If eyes could kill, he would have already torn Jin Mu-Won to shreds.
"Junior Brother!"
Mu-Hae and Mu-Wol rushed to inspect Seol-Goong''s wound. The murderous looks in their eyes were no less piercing than Seol-Goong''s, but Jin Mu-Won took no notice of them.
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Instead, he walked up to Kwak Moon-Jung and helped him up, asking, "Are you alright?"
"Eh? Yeah!" Kwak Moon-Jung replied, still stupefied. Not even in his wildest dreams had he imagined that Jin Mu-Won could be that powerful.
"Do you think that you''ll be fine after crippling a disciple of Kongtong Sect?" growled Mu-Hae through clenched teeth.
"If I worried about such things, nothing would ever get done."
"The Kongtong Sect will not ignore this!"
"Is that so?"
"Yes! The Kongtong Sect never forgets a grudge!"
"In that case, I''ll just have to erase all the evidence, right?" Jin Mu-Won said, smiling gently.
A shiver ran down Mu-Hae''s spine. Before today, it had never urred to him that a smile with no killing intent could be so terrifying. He stuttered, "I-Is that a threat?"
"What''s wrong? Am I not allowed to threaten you?"
"Eek!"
Jin Mu-Won''s voice was low and calm, but to Mu-Hae, it sounded like the whispers of a devil. The young man had only shown them a fraction of his true strength.
The moment he draws his swordNo, even if I''m not a match for him, I can''tcower
Jin Mu-Won took a step closer to the Taoists, and they instinctively took a step back. Their wills had been crushed by Jin Mu-Won''s intimidating aura. Like that, Jin Mu-Won continued slowly pressurizing them, forcing them to retreat until their backs were up against the wall.
Suddenly, the inn door opened and a young woman''s voice rang out, saying "Senior Brother Mu-Hae? I heard that you were here?"
The owner of the voice was the youngest daughter of the White Dragon Merchant Association, Yoon Seo-In. She had entered the inn while smiling happily, but when she sensed the unusual atmosphere in the room, her expression immediately stiffened.
"What happened here?"
Instead of answering her question, the Kongtong Sect Taoists simply stared at Jin Mu-Won like they wanted to kill him.
Yoon Seo-In turned to face Jin Mu-Won and asked again, "Can you tell me what''s going on?"
"It''s nothing serious. We just had a little difference of opinion."
"Really?" Yoon Seo-In said skeptically.
Jin Mu-Won shrugged casually, like it had nothing to do with him. However, unlike him, the three Taoists were not rxed at all. They weren''t about to let their guards down around Jin Mu-Won.
Mu-Hae asked, "What''s your name?"
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"Jin Mu-Won."
"The Kongtong Sect will remember that name."
With that said, Mu-Hae, Mu-Wol, and Seol-Goong limped out of the inn. Yoon Seo-In followed closely behind them, crying, "Senior Brother!"
When they had left, Jin Mu-Won helped Ham Ji-Pyung onto a chair.
"Cough! Cough!" Ham Ji-Pyung coughed again and again. His broken ribs were pressing against his lungs, and he couldn''t breathe properly.
CRACK! KA-RACK!
Jin Mu-Won poked Ham Ji-Pyung''s chest several times and put his broken bones back where they were supposed to be. When he could breathe again, Ham Ji-Pyung''s purple face slowly started to return to its normal color.
"How are you feeling?"
"Thank you, savior!"
"For the time being, don''t push yourself. If you don''t get enough rest, you''ll never recover fully."
"Don''t worry about me, savior. You need to run away and hide!"
"Because of the Kongtong Sect?"
"Senior Brother Mu-Hae never forgets a grudge."
Although Ham Ji-Pyung was very grateful to Jin Mu-Won for stepping forward and saving him, he felt guilty whenever he thought that he was the cause of the young man''s future troubles. The Kongtong Sect that he knew wasn''t as unreasonable as Mu-Hae made it out to be, but he couldn''t be sure as many years had already passed since he left the sect.
Jin Mu-Won smiled, saying, "They''ll probably bring someone stronger the next time they approach me."
"Since you know that, please hurry up and run away! No matter how good you are at martial arts, you won''t be able to stop them!"
Jin Mu-Won shook his head gently and replied, "I''m sorry, but I cannot do that."
"Then what are you going to do, savior?"
"You''re badly injured. You should rest."
Jin Mu-Won quickly sealed one of Ham Ji-Pyung''s meridians, knocking him unconscious.
Just then, Ham Seo-Ryung woke up, ran over to Jin Mu-Won, and asked, "Is my dad okay?"
"He''ll be fine after resting."
A look of relief immediately washed over Ham Seo-Ryung''s face. Jin Mu-Won turned to Kwak Moon-Jung and said, "Take care of Ham Seo-Ryung and Ham Ji-Pyung for me."
Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan walked up to Jin Mu-Won. He still hadn''t gotten over his shock at seeing Jin Mu-Won''s incredible martial prowess. The situation had changed, and he understood that he could no longer continue treating Jin Mu-Won the same way he did before. He hesitated for a moment, then said, "The Kongtong Sect is going to target you from now on."
"I know."
"ErrYou do?"
"What was I supposed to do, then? Watch quietly as my little brother had his arm chopped off? Or witness an innocent father and daughter perish right in front of me?"
"Couldn''t you have handled things differently? You might have been able to avoid direct conflict if you had negotiated with them rationally instead," Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan gravely said.
Regardless of how strong one''s martial arts were, there was nothing a single person could do when they were greatly outnumbered. It was unfair, but "tyranny of the majority" was one of the fundamental rules of the gangho.
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Furthermore, the enemy this time was one of the most ancient and powerful sects, the Kongtong Sect. They were a faction strong enough to rule over a part of the world.
Jin Mu-Won locked gazes with Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan and said sternly, "Do you always calcte the consequences of your every action like that?"
"How else could I survive in this insanely dangerous gangho? Knowing our limits, and acting ordingly, is the secret to the Iron Brigade''s continued existence and prosperity."
Jin Mu-Won lowered his head, mumbling, "I see. You''re not wrong. Most people in the world live the same way you do."
"Thenwhy?"
"Sometimes, we must follow our hearts instead of our heads. To me, this was one of those times."
Jin Mu-Won''s words weighed heavily on the hearts of Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan and the Iron Brigade mercenaries, like a wake-up call.
Before they could say anything, Jin Mu-Won continued, "Everyone says that justice is dead. The rich snatch away every grain of rice from the poor to fill their overflowing coffers, and those who are wronged can only suffer in silence. In times like these, as martial artists who follow the way of chivalry, if even we choose not to stand up for what''s right, then why bother continuing calling ourselves warriors?"
Ten years ago, when the Northern Army was disbanded, countless martial artists had rushed forward and fought over all the treasures they could get. All of them were blinded by their greed, and no one cared for the truth. If not for Hwang Cheol, Jin Mu-Won would probably have given in to his despair and hatred a long time ago.
However, Hwang Cheol was living proof that there were still good people left in the world. He''d given Jin Mu-Won a reason to keep on living.
If I had turned away from those people, could I bring myself to face Uncle Hwang when I meet him again?
No, I can''t.
Suddenly, Jin Mu-Won felt something change within him, as if the him right now and the him a moment ago werepletely different people.
Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan shouted, "You can''t change the world alone! That''s not the way things work!"
"Is that so?"
Jin Mu-Won smiled, but Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan avoided his gaze. He knew that the instant he looked into Jin Mu-Won''s eyes, he''d understand how the young man thought. Even so, he couldn''t bring himself to do it. That would be equivalent to admitting that every decision he had made for the Iron Brigade was a mistake.
This man is dangerous. Fucking dangerous. It won''t be long before he causes a huge stir in the gangho.
He''s a charismatic leader who will inspire people to action. However, people like that never have a happy ending!
The rulers of this era will simply not allow anyone to destroy the order they''ve created! To them, a nonconformist like Jin Mu-Won is a seed of chaos that must be eliminated!
Although Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan''s mental rm bells were ringing continuously, before he knew it, he had already met Jin Mu-Won''s gaze. The young man possessed a strange power that attracted others to him. At first nce, he appeared extremely ordinary, but when one looked into his resolute, stubborn eyes, they''d unconsciously find themselves sinking into its unfathomable depths.
Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan had the illusion that whatever Jin Mu-Won said, it must be true. He couldn''t stand this irrational feeling, but he couldn''t deny it either.
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Jin Mu-Won looked out the window. The clear, blue sky was reflected in his eyes.
"I may not be able to change the world, but I can at least be the light that illuminates the darkness. I cannot save everyone, but I will protect the people in front of me."
At this moment, the young boy who had been left alone in a ruined fortress finally became a warrior with a heart as wide as the world.
"That isthe reason I learned martial arts, and the path I have chosen to walk."
If you see this, you are on the wrong site. FoodieMonster007, TheGreatT20
Chapter 62: Not Everyone Trudges Through a Windstorm with Their Heads Down (1)
"What kind of a person is Master Jin?"
"Which sect is he from?"
"I don''t know! Why won''t you believe me!?"
In the face of Im Jin-Yeop and Dam Jin-Hong''s relentless interrogation, Kwak Moon-Jung looked as if he was about to cry. They thought that the boy was hiding the truth on purpose, but he really didn''t know anything about the man named Jin Mu-Won.
All Kwak Moon-Jung knew was that Jin Mu-Won was Hwang Cheol''s nephew, and that Hwang Cheol doted on him. He had no idea where he was from and what martial arts he used.
Right now, tensions in the White Dragon caravan were unusually high. On one hand, Gong Jin-Sung wanted to continue on with their journey as soon as possible, while on the other hand, Yoon Seo-In insisted that they had to remain in ce until the issue with the Kongtong Sect was resolved. As a result, they ended up in a stalemate and couldn''t move on until they received an update about the Kongtong Sect''s next move.
When Jin Mu-Won stepped out of the South Sea Inn, all of the mercenaries and escorts turned to look at him. However, none of them approached him. They hesitated to do anything that would incur Yoon Seo-In''s rage, and associating with Jin Mu-Won was a very good way to irritate her.
"Hyung!"
Kwak Moon-Jung was the only person who ran toward Jin Mu-Won. Jin Mu-Won rubbed the boy''s head and looked around. He could feel the cold stares all around him.
After his conversation with Ham Ji-Pyung, the atmosphere around him had suddenly changed. Gone were the friendly greetings, reced by hostile res.
Jin Mu-Won smiled bitterly and walked away with Kwak Moon-Jung.
Tears dripped down Kwak Moon-Jung''s face as he sobbed, "I''m so sorry, Hyung. Because of me"
"It''s not your fault."
"But this would never have happened if I hadn''t stuck my nose where it didn''t belong."
"You did the right thing. It''s not easy to summon one''s courage in that kind of situation. However, you made one grave mistake."
Jin Mu-Won looked straight into Kwak Moon-Jung''s eyes and scolded, "You did not take your own capabilities into ount. Anyone can do what you did back there. Your mistake was not thinking before you acted. You caused a problem that you couldn''t resolve on your own, without being prepared to take responsibility and face the consequences of your actions."
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"I''m s-sorry," Kwak Moon-Jung stammered.
Jin Mu-Won continued, "Always think thrice before you act. Your decision could ce everyone around you in danger, and who knows how far your enemies can reach? What lowly means they would stoop to?"
"I will engrave that in my mind."
"Still, thanks to you, two people were saved. You can rest assured that you did the right thing."
"Yes!"
As his worries were assuaged, tears flowed down Kwak Moon-Jung''s face like a waterfall.
Jin Mu-Won smiled. Kwak Moon-Jung was still a child, after all. He was neither good at martial arts nor well-educated, but he had a strong spirit that very few possessed. This spirit had allowed him to stand up and take action when even the Iron Brigade, a group of martial arts experts, could not. Most importantly, a strong spirit wasn''t something that could be bought with money or taught in school.
Although it could lead to painful consequences, having a strong spirit was a virtue, not a weakness. It meant that Kwak Moon-Jung was capable of empathizing with others'' pains and acting with integrity. Above all, it also meant that he was a person with conviction that was not driven by misguided greed, but a deep-seated belief that shone brighter than anyone else.
"From now on, you have to work hard on getting stronger, and learn how to clean up after yourself."
"Yes, I will!" Kwak Moon-Jung replied vigorously.
Kwak Moon-Jung didn''t ask Jin Mu-Won how he could be strong. He didn''t know why, but he felt that as long as he stayed by Jin Mu-Won''s side, he''d definitely grow stronger, both in martial arts and as a person. Right now, he looked up to this older brother far more than anyone else.
Just then, a woman''s sharp voice pierced their ears, saying, "Hey!"
Jin Mu-Won turned around only to find Yoon Seo-In staring at them with her hands on her hips. "What''s the matter?" he asked.
"Are you asking because you really don''t know? It''s your fault the White Dragon Merchant Association is shing with the Kongtong Sect!"
As Yoon Seo-In''s voice echoed across the harbor, one by one the escorts looked away and pretended that they hadn''t seen or heard anything.
"Young Mistress, this is not the time to raise your voice."
"Shut up, Mister Gong."
Gong Jin-Sung tried to calm Yoon Seo-In down, but his efforts were futile. Yoon Seo-In strode toward Jin Mu-Won, who simply stared back at her nkly. However, hisposure only fueled Yoon Seo-In''s anger.
"Are you out of your mind? Why on earth did you piss off the Kongtong Sect? Don''t you know how close the White Dragon Merchant Association and the Kongtong Sect are? And that I am a disciple of the sect as well? Also, how dare you injure Junior Brother Seol-Goong? What are you going to do if the Kongtong Sect breaks off their rtionship with the White Dragon Merchant Association because of that?"
Yoon Seo-Inunched into a furious tirade, but Jin Mu-Won remained silent and did not argue with her.
"At this rate, there''s no way we can continue letting you join us on our journey to Yunnan! I don''t want to spend every waking moment worrying about the people chasing us! Well? Tell me! What are you going to do about this whole mess!?" Yoon So-In panted, out of breath.
Jin Mu-Won patiently waited for Yoon Seo-In to finish ranting, before finally saying, "Aren''t you going to ask me about the reason why things ended up this way to begin with?"
"What did you say?"
"This child almost had his arm cut off. He may be young, but he is still an escort working for the White Dragon Merchant Association, for you! Shouldn''t his safety be your first concern? Furthermore, the innkeeper and his daughter nearly lost their lives. Aren''t you a martial artist of the gangho? What happened to keeping your priorities straight?"
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"I..."
"Miss Yoon, I am indeed aware of your rtionship with the Kongtong Sect. However, you are first and foremost a leader of the White Dragon Merchant Association and the person in charge of this search-and-rescue mission. In my humble opinion, it would be wise to hear what everyone has to say before you make any premature judgments."
Yoon Seo-In''s face turned red with shame and embarrassment. She had been blinded by her rage. Deep down, she knew that Jin Mu-Won was right, but even then, she did not want to admit it. Instead, she screamed, "So are you saying that it''s actually my fault? And that you didn''t do anything wrong? Hmph! You don''t even care what happens to the White Dragon Merchant Association, do you?"
She hasn''t been listening to a single thing I said. There''s no logic or reason in her words, only incoherent fury. Jin Mu-Won calmly said, "I''ll take responsibility for everything that has happened. I wouldn''t have stepped up in the first ce if I wasn''t prepared to do so."
"Hmph! How are you going to take responsibility for it? With those trivial martial arts? Do you know who your opponent is? It''s the Kongtong Sect! One of the oldest and greatest martial arts sects of all, the Kongtong Sect!
Jin Mu-Won could hear the sheer pride Yoon Seo-In held for the Kongtong Sect, which she was a part of, in her voice. That pride wouldn''t allow her to ept whatever he said, but nevertheless, he had to say it.
"Nothing in this worldsts forever."
"Huh? What are you saying all of a sudden?"
"The Kongtong Sect may be powerful, but it won''t exist forever."
Even the Northern Army, which had been much stronger than the Kongtong Sect, had copsed in an instant. And that was only one example in the long history of the murim, where such events happened frequently. Any faction that fell out of favor would be swallowed up by the cruel reality of the gangho.
The Kongtong Sect was no exception. However, the enraged Yoon Seo-In once again misunderstood the meaning behind Jin Mu-Won''s words.
"Are you insulting the Kongtong Sect? Trash like you"
"My name is Jin Mu-Won."
"So what..."
"And I am not trash. Do not call me that again."
Jin Mu-Won''s voice was soft, and he hadn''t used his chi. Even so, his voice contained a power beyond Yoon Seo-In''sprehension.
Yoon Seo-In unconsciously took a step back. Then, realizing what she had just done, she bit her lip and attempted to continue shouting at Jin Mu-Won. However, the moment she locked gazes with him, she shuddered. She opened her mouth, but no words came out.
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Although she was furious and irrational, she wasn''t an idiot. Jin Mu-Won wasn''t an employee of the White Dragon Merchant Association that she could order around as she liked. He was a martial arts expert who had taken down Mu-Hae, Mu-Wol, and Seol-Goong despite the fact that they had ganged up on him. He wasn''t an opponent she had any hope of defeating.
She suddenly felt as if her entire body had been doused with cold water.
"I-I..."
"Like I said, I will take responsibility for everything that happened today. If it pleases you, Moon-Jung and I will leave the caravan and travel on our own."
Well, since the very beginning, I''d already nned on traveling alone. I''m also not interested in causing trouble for these people who have helped me.
Yoon Seo-In was at a loss. No one had ever chided her like that before.
Gong Jin-Sung, who couldn''t bear to watch this scene anymore, stepped forward and said, "Wait. We''re not in so much of a hurry that we need to make a decision right now. Why don''t you spend the night with us, and we can discuss what to do together? How about it, Young Mistress?"
"Huh? Okay" Yoon Seo-In shot Jin Mu-Won an awkward nce, then walked toward the ce where the escorts were gathered.
Gong Jin-Sung asked, "Sowhat are your ns? Like the Young Mistress said, the Kongtong Sect will not stay still."
"I''m waiting for them toe to me."
"Waiting? For them!?"
"Yes," Jin Mu-Won calmly replied, staring nkly in the direction of Mount Kongtong.
I let Mu-Hae escape alive for a reason, you know?
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Trantor''s Notes: First LNB chapter of 2022! Maybe I''ll catch up with the manhwa this year? (and pigs will fly)
Chapter 63: Not Everyone Trudges Through a Windstorm with Their Heads Down (2)
Jin Mu-Won and Kwak Moon-Jung sat in an empty lot near the harbor, enjoying the cool night river breeze. Both the escorts from the White Dragon Merchant Association and the Iron Brigade mercenaries kept their distance, as if they wanted nothing more to do with them. Ham Ji-Pyung and his daughter were the only ones who dared approach them, even going so far as to deliver meals to their benefactors.
Jin Mu-Won frowned. During one of his exchanges with Ham Ji-Pyung, he learned about the events of fifteen years ago that had ultimately led to Ham Ji-Pyung''s emunication from the Kongtong Sect. Although he had mentally prepared himself to deal with the Taoists, it turned out that he had also unintentionally gotten involved in something much bigger than he expected.
I have to be careful about how I go about solving this problem, or it might leave unexpected repercussions.
He nced at Kwak Moon-Jung next to him.
He''s still sulking. The alienation and aversion from the other escorts is affecting him horribly. To be betrayed by the very people he''d thought of as familyhe must be extremely shocked and depressed.
Kwak Moon-Jung curled up into a ball and mumbled softly, "The gangho is such a heartless ce."
Jin Mu-Won nodded in agreement and silently watched over Kwak Moon-Jung. Ten years ago, when he was only thirteen, the true meaning of the phrase "survival of the fittest" had been brutally hammered into him. No one understood how the boy currently felt more than he. After all, what the Four Pirs had done to his father and the Northern Army was much, much worse.
He''d once considered the Four Pirs of the Northern Army as his beloved family members. His father was often busy, so the four of them had basically taken on the role of godfathers while Jin Kwan-Ho wasn''t around. Back then, he''d thought that things would remain that way forever.
However, these four people that he''d trusted the most ended up betraying the Northern Army and forcing his father intomitting suicide.
In this cruel world where even blood rtives could betray their own families, he was a fool for blindly believing in people who werepletely unrted to him.
Now, Kwak Moon-Jung had also awoken to the reality of this merciless gangho.
He''s probably going to be depressed for a while, but if he can get over this, it will be a valuable experience that will make him stronger.
Suddenly, Jin Mu-Won looked up. Startled by his sudden movement, Kwak Moon-Jung eximed, "What?"
"Shh!" Jin Mu-Won ced a finger on his lips.
Kwak Moon-Jung immediately mped his mouth shut. A short distance away from them, there was a disturbance in the White Dragon Merchant Association''s camp. The two men waited for a while, until a group of seven martial artists walked out of the camp and approached them.
On their sleeves, there was a green bamboo embroidery; At their waists, they each carried a Bamboo de. It was clear that they were all first-ss disciples of the Kongtong Sect. Jin Mu-Won noticed that Mu-Hae and Mu-Wol were both among the seven.
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A man who looked to be the leader of the seven exchanged gazes with Jin Mu-Won and Kwak Moon-Jung.
He''s a skilled swordsman, thought Jin Mu-Won. Although the leader was barely over five feet tall, his sharp eyes and the de-like atmosphere emanating from him immediately gave Jin Mu-Won that kind of impression. Moreover, he noticed that even the prideful Mu-Hae and Mu-Wol were obediently walking behind the leader. From that, it wasn''t hard to deduce that the leader''s status was far higher than theirs.
Even in the dark, the Taoist leader''s eyes shone like amp, causing a creeped out Kwak Moon-Jung to gulp in fright.
In a sharp voice like a cold, bared de, the leader asked, "Are you Jin Mu-Won?"
Jin Mu-Won stood up and replied, "Yes. Who are you?"
"My name is Mu-Jin," the leader announced his Taoist name with pride. He belonged to the same generation as Mu-Hae, but their martial arts skills were in no way on the same level. Mu-Jin was the man who stood at the top of Kongtong Sect''s disciples, and every other first-ss disciple had to respectfully refer to him as First Senior Brother.
In other words, it was generally epted that he would be the next Sect Leader of the Kongtong Sect.
Unlike the other disciples, Mu-Jin had never participated in any of Kongtong''s internal tournaments. That was because his skills had already been acknowledged by the other members of the sect, and he had no need to prove himself.
Not only was he talented, he was also hardworking. While the other disciples were preupied withpeting with each other for the tournament, he had trained in seclusion and learned one of the strongest sword techniques of the Kongtong Sect, the Five Yin Divine de ().
The Five Yin Divine de was a sword technique created by the Sage of Clouded Sky, a legendary swordsman of the Kongtong Sect from three hundred years ago, bybining every other sword technique in the sect. Ever since then, this powerful technique was only taught to sessive generations of sect leaders.
From then till now, fifteen years had passed since Mu-Jin first learned the Five Yin Divine de. For all that time, he had never disyed his true abilities, inside or outside the sect. Even so, none of the other first-ss disciples doubted his mastery of the sword technique.
That was because Mu-Jin was a martial arts maniac who did nothing but train all day long, without any regard for the day-to-day affairs of the Kongtong Sect. In fact, he was so obsessed with training that he had even tried to step down from the position of sessor using "it will only reduce my training time" as an excuse.
"I heard that you unfairly assaulted three disciples of the Kongtong Sect. Is that true?"
"If you call that an unfair assault, then I have nothing more to say to you."
"Are you denying it, then? In that case, why did you break several disciples'' Bamboo des?"
Mu-Jin''s eyes shed with killing intent. The Bamboo des were the symbols of a first-ss disciple of the Kongtong Sect. To break their swords was to shatter their prides in themselves and their sect.
Originally, Mu-Hae had not wanted to tell Mu-Jin about his broken sword, as it made him feel extremely ashamed of himself. However, he still wanted to blow up the issue, so he colluded with a few other disciples and brought them with him when heined to Mu-Jin. Unfortunately for him, though, Mu-Jin saw through his lies instantly.
"Although I don''t know why you attacked my junior brothers for no reason, I will at least promise you that as long as you surrender quietly, the Kongtong Sect will judge you fairly."
"Judge me fairly? Is that even possible?"
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"You don''t trust me?"
"It''s your junior brothers whom I don''t trust."
Mu-Jin''s eyebrows twitched. Just then, Mu-Hae, who was standing beside him, shouted, "Don''t listen to that devious guy, Senior Brother! He''s trying to trick you! You should just judge him right here, right now!
"That''s right, Senior Brother! His martial arts are weird, and he''s as sly as a fox. We should subdue him immediately!" added Mu-Wol.
Jin Mu-Won''s eyes suddenly glittered in the darkness.
As expected! When Ham Ji-Pyung told me of everything that had happened fifteen years ago, I simply couldn''t bring myself to believe that something so preposterous was true. However, Mu-Hae and Mu-Wol''s current behavior has now dispelled all my suspicions.
In that casewhat should I do?
Jin Mu-Won sent a telepathic message to Kwak Moon-Jung, saying, [Just to be safe, please run over to the South Sea Inn and check on the two people there.]
Kwak Moon-Jung immediately understood what Jin Mu-Won meant and quietly stepped backward.
At the same time, Mu-Jin moved closer to Jin Mu-Won and threatened him, saying "Are you going to fight back, or will you surrender quietly? Choose."
Jin Mu-Won shook his head. He was thest Lord of the Northern Army. If this were personal, he wouldn''t mind enduring the humiliation and bowing down to another. However, Hwang Cheol and Kwak Moon-Jung were involved this time, so that was not an option.
"Sigh. Why are you choosing the stick instead of the carrot?" [1]
"Before we fight, I''d like to ask you a question."
"Go ahead."
"Did your junior brothers tell you why they came to this vige?"
The blood drained from both Mu-Hae and Mu-Wol''s faces. Mu-Hae immediately sent a punch flying Jin Mu-Won''s way, yelling, "Senior Brother! Do not listen to this bastard''s sophistry! He''s a devil!"
Mu-Wol and four other Taoists quickly followed suit and charged toward Jin Mu-Won.
SWOOSH!
Afterimages of fists and swords filled Jin Mu-Won''s vision, making him furrow his brows slightly. He was extremely upset about Mu-Hae''s sudden interruption, but it was already toote to stop him.
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Well, no matter. I''ll just start by finishing off these six.
Although Mu-Hae and Mu-Wol still hadn''t recovered from their dislocated shoulders, their fist techniques were polished. The other four Taoists were no slouches either, and the aura surrounding them was impressive.
WHISH!
Four Bamboo des sliced through the air, while Mu-Hae and Mu-Wol made up for the gaps in between the shes with punches. It was abination attack with no weaknesses.
Seeing his fellow disciples'' outstanding teamwork, Mu-Jin couldn''t help but nod in approval. Individually, their martial arts may becking, but they are making up for each other''s weaknesses wonderfully.
However, to Mu-Jin''s astonishment and admiration, Jin Mu-Won moved through the storm of attacks freely. With his casual reddish-brown clothing and light footsteps, he looked like a man taking a leisurely walk in the park.
Mu-Jin could tell that Jin Mu-Won was not using any kind of movement technique, but even so, his steps were confident, and none of the six Taoists couldy a finger on him.
"He''s like the wind!"
For the first time in Mu-Jin''s life, he couldn''t help but praise his opponent.
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Footnotes:
[1] The stick instead of the carrot: The literal trantion is asking why Jin is choosing the penalty drink, which is part of an idiom that says "choosing the penalty drink instead of a toast". It means that Jin is purposely doing things the hard way, when there''s an easy way out.
Chapter 64: Not Everyone Trudges Through a Windstorm with Their Heads Down (3)
Yoon Seo-In''s eyes widened in disbelief. She was watching the battle from afar, and seeing Jin Mu-Won overwhelm six of her senior brothers to the point where they could not even touch the hem of his clothes hit her like a ton of bricks.
"How? What? Why?" she blurted.
"The gangho is arge ce with many hidden masters who hide their abilities and blend into themon folk. The Old Matriarch knows this well, and has always been wary of people who appear to be normal at first nce."
"So what you''re saying is: He''s a hidden master?"
"" Gong Jin-Sung did not answer. No, he couldn''t answer, because just like Yoon Seo-In, he was also guilty of underestimating Jin Mu-Won.
It seems that everything Escort Hwang boasted about his nephew was true.
Every time Gong Jin-Sung went drinking with Hwang Cheol, the middle-aged man would always boast about his nephew''s greatness. Unfortunately, back then, no one had ever taken him seriously.
Where was Hwang Cheol from again? I can''t remember his background Now that I think of it, I know next to nothing about that man''s past. I''ve never thought of him as anything more than a simple escort.
Why is his nephew Jin Mu-Won so damn scary!? For a normal warrior like me, just the thought of taking on a first-ss disciple of the Kongtong Sect frightens me to no end, and yet right now, I''m watching six of those disciples get their asses handed to them by Jin Mu-Won!!!
"Stop dodging, you bastard!"
"GAHAAA!"
Mu-Hae and Mu-Wol increased the pressure on Jin Mu-Won, but it was useless. Even after being driven into a corner, he would always somehow wriggle his way out of their encirclement with a rxed look on his face.
"What the hell!?" one of the Taoists eximed. He and his fellow disciples were the strongest among the first-ss disciples of the Kongtong Sect, and had all been acknowledged as peak-level experts.[1] Furthermore, Mu-Hae and Mu-Wol were swordmasters. However, none of them could graze Jin Mu-Won''s clothes, which meant that Jin Mu-Won''s strength was far beyond theirs.
To make things worse, Jin Mu-Won hadn''t drawn his sword yet. Instead, he''d sometimes stick out his fingers with a face like he was about to poke something, causing the six Taoists to panic and draw back.
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As he watched all of this, Gong Jin-Sung couldn''t help but wonder what the rationale behind the Taoists'' strange actions was. In the end, he figured that he was probably just too weak to understand the battle.
Suddenly, at the edges of Jin Mu-Won''s All-Epassing Cognizance, he sensed a presence that wasn''t supposed to be here heading in a certain direction.
"Of all the..." he mumbled to himself. He couldn''t dy this fight any longer. If he did, he''d regret it for the rest of his life. His eyes began flickering with a strange light.
Shivers ran down the spines of the six Taoists, and goosebumps broke out all over their bodies. The air around them felt like it had frozen solid.
For the first time since the fight began, Jin Mu-Won stopped moving around. Sensing an opportunity, the Taoists charged at him, fists zing and swords swinging.
When he saw this, however, Mu-Jin shouted, "No! Everyone, retreat!"
Regrettably, Mu-Hae and the others ignored him. Their eyes were filled with a frenzied desire to kill Jin Mu-Won.
We have to kill him!
The Taoists unleashed their killing techniques, the "Soul Annihtion (皢)" and the "Golden Dragon Destroyer (S)". Sword chi surrounded the area around Jin Mu-Won, sealing off his escape routes. The Taoists were confident that they''d be able to shred Jin Mu-Won into pieces with this attack.
Much to their surprise, Jin Mu-Won did not attempt to dodge this move. Instead, he charged toward them.
SLASH! BAM! WHAM!
One by one, the Taoists'' attacks were knocked aside. Jin Mu-Won took advantage of the momentary opening created by their confidence in this final attack to execute one of the basic techniques of the Shadow de of Destruction, Meteor Soul (ǻ), except he was using knifehand strikes[2] instead of his sword.
"KUWAA!"
"UGAAH!"
Struck on the chests and necks, the Taoists screamed and fell to the ground rolling. Although Jin Mu-Won had used his hand instead of his de, the sword technique was no less polished. If he hadn''t held back, the Taoists would already be dead. His seven years of hard training in Mount Cinnabar were finally showing results.
"Ugh!"
Mu-Haey on the ground, concussed. His vision seemed to have doubled, or even tripled, and he felt like throwing up. He tried to stand up, but couldn''t summon any strength back into his limbs.
In the meantime, Jin Mu-Won leaped over them and broke into a run.
"Stop!" yelled Mu-Jin, chasing after him.
KA-CHINK!
Mu-Jin drew his Bamboo de.
ROAR!
A few dozen brilliant rays of light spilled from Mu-Jin''s Bamboo de as he prepared the Metallic Radiance (FOx) technique of Kongtong Sect''s Demon-ying Sword (ħ). The rays of light took on the forms of Bamboo des, making it difficult to tell which one was real and which one was a feint.
CLANG!
Without turning around, Jin Mu-Won swung the sheathed Snow Flower, defending against Mu-Jin''s sword technique with pinpoint uracy. He then used the force of the blow to leap forward and increase the distance between himself and Mu-Jin, all the while sprinting at breakneck speed.
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"Are you trying to escape from me?" Mu-Jin roared. As he chased after Jin Mu-Won, his killing intent intensified.
"HAAH!"
Mu-Jin swung his sword again and again, shooting out his sword chi as countless rays of light at Jin Mu-Won. However, as if he had eyes at the back of his head, Jin Mu-Won dodged all of his attacks without looking back.
"Brat! Stop!"
Exasperated, Mu-Jin gathered his chi and executed one of the Kongtong Sect''s movement techniques, the Soaring Phoenix Steps (wP). Like a phoenix soaring into the sky, Mu-Jin spread his arms wide and elerated, quickly closing in on Jin Mu-Won.
He brought his sword crashing down on Jin Mu-Won''s back, but the young man responded in the same way he did before, moving Snow Flower to intercept the attacks without looking back or slowing down.
CLANG! CLANG! KA-CLANG!
Fireworks erupted in the darkness, and Jin Mu-Won''s body shook from the impact. Even so, he did not allow a single sh to reach him.
Enraged, Mu-Jin injected more chi into his Bamboo de and spat, "Are you going to keep running away? Do you not have any pride as a warrior?"
SWOOSH!
Mu-Jin charged his sword chi and released it all at once in a technique known as the "Soul-Shattering Thunderbolt (Z)", one of the final moves of the Demon-ying Sword. It was a technique that required one to split the chi in their body into five threads, then wind the threads into a condensed rope andunch it like a spinning arrow with the power to crush a target''s soul.
To Mu-Jin''s delight, this was indeed not an attack that Jin Mu-Won could dodge or block carelessly. Unlike before, Jin Mu-Won was forced to stop, turn around, and face him seriously.
SHWAAA!
As the condensed sword chi was about to hit him, Jin Mu-Won spun Snow Flower with grace and finesse. Without drawing his de from the scabbard, he struck the side of Mu-Jin''s chi and knocked it to the side.
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BOOM!
The Soul-Shattering Thunderbolt crashed into the wall of a nearby building.
"Force Deflection (ƻľ)[3]?" Mu-Jin eximed, eyes trembling in shock.
Like grafting a flower onto a tree, Force Deflection was a parrying technique that changed the direction of an opponent''s attack, splitting and transferring the force. It was something that any martial arts expert could do.
However, the technique that most people knew of as Force Deflection could only be used on physical attacks. Mu-Jin had never heard of anyone using this technique on an intangible chi attack before.
Most importantly, Jin Mu-Won had used such a technique on a finishing move executed by him, a peak-level expert. Mu-Jin did not dare to imagine how precise Jin Mu-Won''s control over his chi must be in order to pull off something so insane.
Jin Mu-Won stopped fleeing and nced at Mu-Jin expressionlessly.
A shiver ran down Mu-Jin''s spine. Only now did he finally realize that Jin Mu-Won was a much more formidable swordsman than he''d previously predicted.
Why on earth would a person like this use a cowardly surprise attack on Mu-Hae and my other junior brothers? That doesn''t make any sense.
Suddenly, Mu-Jin realized that Jin Mu-Won''s eyes weren''t focused on him, but on the damaged building. He turned to see what had caught the attention of the younger man.
The sight that greeted him left him utterly confused. The wall of the building had copsed, exposing the interior and the people inside. There, he saw his junior brother Seol-Goong holding a sword with a panicked look on his face.
Huh? What is Junior Brother Seol-Goong doing here?
Desperate for answers, Mu-Jin''s gaze naturally shifted to the people opposite Seol-Goong. The first person he saw was the boy from earlier, Kwak Moon-Jung, spreading his arms wide as if to protect someone behind him. As for the people the boy was protecting
"M-MuGung? Junior Brother Mu-Gung?" Mu-Jin shouted, trembling uncontrobly.
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"Mu-Gung" was the Taoist name that Ham Ji-Pyung had abandoned when he was emunicated from the Kongtong Sect.
Inside the damaged building that used to be the South Sea Inn, Ham Ji-Pyung and his daughter also noticed Mu-Jin. As the initial shock melted away, tears began to flow from Ham Ji-Pyung''s eyes.
Ham Ji-Pyung cried in reply, "Senior Brother Mu-Jin!"
"Mu-Gung, why are you here..."
Mu-Jin instantly forgot about Jin Mu-Won and slowly tottered towards Ham Ji-Pyung.
If you see this, you are at the wrong site. FoodieMonster007, TheGreatT20
Footnotes:
[1] Peak-level: Not a cultivation realm but a ssification of strength created by bored murim dudes who like ranking lists. The uracy is naturally dubious since only famous people are on it.
[2] Knifehand strike: i.e. the karate chop. I just wanted to avoid the word "karate" since ites out of nowhere
[3] Force Deflection (ƻľ): Literal trantion C Grafting a Flower Onto a Tree. I chose to TL it using the meaning and physical description rather than an abstract name, but you know, murim logic
Trantor''s Note: The terror of the "Poke Attack" will haunt Kongtong Sect forever Traumatized Taoists ROFL
Chapter 65: Not Everyone Trudges Through a Windstorm with Their Heads Down (4)
Mu-Jin looked at Seol-Goong and asked, "What''s going on here?"
Seol-Goong remained silent and did not reply. After all, what was he supposed to say? That he came here to kill Ham Ji-Pyung and erase the evidence of their wrongdoing while Mu-Jin, Mu-Hae, Mu-Wol and the other four distracted Jin Mu-Won?
There was no way he could admit that to Mu-Jin, who knew nothing about the dark side of Kongtong. Besides, his part in their n was supposed to be the easiest one. Ham Ji-Pyung had already lost all of his martial arts and was no threat to him.
Unfortunately, he hadn''t taken into ount the fact that Kwak Moon-Jung would protect the Ham family and stall for time until Jin Mu-Won arrived and smashed the wall.
On the other hand, one man''s misery was another man''s fortune. By virtue of Kwak Moon-Jung and Jin Mu-Won''s interference, Ham Ji-Pyung was saved from the brink of death once more.
Seeing that Seol-Goong wasn''t about to answer him, Mu-Jin turned to face Ham Ji-Pyung and said, "Junior Brother Mu-Gung, what''s going on? Why are you here? Do you know how long I''ve been searching for you?"
"Senior Brother Mu-Jin, Imissed you."
Tears streamed down Ham Ji-Pyung''s face. Ham Seo-Ryung didn''t know what was going on, but when she let out the breath she had been holding, her eyes also welled up with tears.
Mu-Jin was thoroughly confused. Ham Ji-Pyung was his favorite junior brother, and the two of them used to be as close as real brothers. However, while he was busy training in seclusion, Ham Ji-Pyung disappeared from the Kongtong Sect.
The official reason for Ham Ji-Pyung''s disappearance was that he had gone crazy due to Chi Deviation and attacked several of his fellow disciples, but Mu-Jin didn''t believe a single word of that excuse. He wanted to find Ham Ji-Pyung and confirm the truth for himself. That was the least he could do as a brother.
However, when he asked his other junior brothers about Ham Ji-Pyung''s whereabouts, every single one of them had kept their mouths shut about it as if they were all co-conspirators. Mu-Jin had tried to search for Ham Ji-Pyung himself but to no avail.
Only now, after seeing Seol-Goong and Ham Ji-Pyung together in the same ce, did Mu-Jin finally start to piece things together. He directed his killing intent at Seol-Goong and threatened, "Tell me what''s going on."
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"S-Senior Brother?"
"Hurry up and talk."
"I-I don''t know anything. I was justfollowing Senior Brother Mu-Hae''s orders." Seol-Goong desperately tried to exin himself, but Mu-Jin''s piercing state was making him feel so guilty and frightened that he couldn''t help but tremble like a leaf.
"Mu-Hae?" Mu-Jin''s gaze turned toward the spot where Mu-Hae had been knocked down by Jin Mu-Won.
Sensing his opportunity, Jin Mu-Won added, "Fifteen years ago, Ham Ji-Pyung was ganged up on by his fellow disciples who were envious of him. He then ended up taking the me for the fight and was emunicated from the Kongtong Sect."
Mu-Jin immediately refuted, "Don''t lie to me. Discipline in the Kongtong Sect is enforced very strictly. There is absolutely no way something like that could have happened."
"Everything he said is the truth, Senior Brother Mu-Jin," said Ham Ji-Pyung, walking toward Mu-Jin.
"Then how did Mu-Hae hide the truth for so long? I''m sure our sect leader would have conducted a proper investigation."
"When this happened, the sect leader was busy teaching you the Five Yin Divine de. He didn''t take part in the investigation or the trial."
"Are you saying that he might not be aware of this?"
"Yes. The investigation and trial were both conducted by Master Uncle Tae-Hyun."
"Master UncleTae-Hyun?" Mu-Jin''s voice shook. Reverend Tae-Hyun was Mu-Hae''s master, and a junior brother to his own master, Reverend Tae-Wol, who was also the sect leader.
"Also, my chi center wasn''t destroyed as part of the punishment. It was an injury that I had gotten from the fight. Since I was already a cripple that could never use martial arts ever again, and Master Uncle told me that everyone I cared about would be fine as long as I kept my mouth shut, I epted being emunicated from Kongtong."
ording to Ham Ji-Pyung, this whole affair had begun with Mu-Hae verbally abusing him after his win in the tournament. When Ham Ji-Pyung ignored the insults, Mu-Hae lost his temper and assaulted him along with Mu-Wol and several other disciples.
Not too long after, Mu-Hae''s master Tae-Hyun covered for his own disciple andid the me on Ham Ji-Pyung, leaving him with no choice but to leave the Kongtong Sect.
"What!? How could Master Uncle Tae-Hyun do such a thing!" cried Mu-Jin.
This waspletely different from the story he had heard. He recalled once asking Tae-Hyun about it, and his master uncle''s response to his question was as such: "The Sect Leader and all of the elders have confirmed that Ham Ji-Pyung attacked his fellow disciples after a training ident that caused Chi Deviation. We decided that the best punishment for his sins was exmunication."
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Stunned, Mu-Jin then asked Ham Ji-Pyung, "Sowhere have you been all these years?"
"I was afraid that Mu-Hae and Tae-Hyun would kill me to erase all the evidence, so I never dared go close to Mount Kongtong. It was only recently that I moved to this vige, hoping that I would be able to meet you again and tell you the truth about what happened. Unfortunately, Mu-Hae found me first."
Seol-Goong immediately kneeled down before Mu-Jin, mming his head down on the ground and crying, "Senior Brother Mu-Jin, please forgive me. I was just following Senior Brother Mu-Hae''s instructions. I''m innocent!"
However, Mu-Jin did not buy into Seol-Goong''s lies. He stared at Seol-Goong coldly and said, "Mu-Hae may have been the instigator, but you are definitely a co-conspirator. Dead men tell no tales'', was it?"
"Senior Brother, please, please forgive me! I really didn''t know anything!" Seol-Goong screamed. I may not be able to oppose Senior Brother Mu-Jin, but I should at least be able to use the facts against him! I was still a baby fifteen years ago, after all! Whatever Mu-Hae did back then has no rtion to me! As long as I can persuade Senior Brother Mu-Jin into letting me go today, Master Uncle Tae-Hyun will naturally take care of the rest!
Unbeknownst to Seol-Goong, while he was sobbing and kowtowing to Mu-Jin, Mu-Jin was also observing him carefully. Noticing the cunning look in Seol-Goong''s eyes, Mu-Jin couldn''t help but look up at the sky andugh at his own foolishness.
"Hahaha! I feel like a ragdoll, blind and deaf to everything around me, with only martial arts in my head. What a joke I must look like to my fellow disciples who have sessfully kept such a dirty secret from me for fifteen whole years."
Mu-Jin paused for a moment, then nced at Ham Ji-Pyung and said, "I''m sorry. You must have had a hard time."
"Senior Brother" As if a knot in his heart had been untangled, Ham Ji-Pyung plopped down on the ground and began to cry.
"Ah! Daddy, please don''t cry!" Ham Ji-Pyung hugged her father tightly, tears flowing down her cheeks as she shared in his pain.
Jin Mu-Won and Mu-Jin watched them quietly.
A little whileter, when Mu-Hae and Mu-Wol came back to their senses, they were immediately greeted by the sight of Mu-Jin and the Ham family standing over them. In particr, Mu-Jin was staring down at them with extremely cold eyes.
Shit! We''ve fucked up, big time.
The two Taoists instinctively knew that things had gone very wrong and got to their knees as quickly as they could.
"Senior Brother, this is a misunderstanding! Please allow me to exin."
"That''s right. I don''t know what they told you, but these people can''t be trusted."
Although Mu-Hae and Mu-Wol were pleading with him desperately, to Mu-Jin who had already heard Ham Ji-Pyung''s side of the story, everything the two said now sounded like the shameless excuses of despicable lowlifes.
"All this time, I never once suspected that you people were so cruel."
"S-Senior Brother" mumbled Mu-Hae in a trembling voice. The truth was, he feared Mu-Jin so much, he wanted to kill Ham Ji-Pyung before Mu-Jin found him.
His First Senior Brother Mu-Jin was a man of integrity who prioritized fair judgments over rtionships. If a junior brother of his were tomit a crime, he would punish him mercilessly. Therefore, when Mu-Jin volunteered himself to apany him to the vige, Mu-Hae plotted to let Seol-Goong secretly murder Ham Ji-Pyung while he kept Mu-Jin and Jin Mu-Won distracted.
"Prepare yourself to receive a harsh punishment upon returning to Mount Kongtong. You will be tried for deceiving me, the sect leader, and the whole of Kongtong Sect."
"Anything but that! Please forgive me, Senior Brother"
Mu-Hae and Mu-Wol fervently begged for forgiveness, but Mu-Jin ignored them. He didn''t want to hear another word of their lies.
Mu-Hae and Mu-Wol felt that everything they had built up over the years was crumbling to pieces. Their pride as first-ss disciples of the Kongtong Sect, the positions of elders that they would receive in a few more years, the respect of the other disciples
The two Taoists suddenly exchanged nces. They had simultaneouslye to the same conclusion.
"To hell with all this!"
"Die!"
They dashed toward Mu-Jin, quick as lightning, to catch him unawares. Mu-Hae used the Demon ying Palm (ħ), while Mu-Wol used the Seven Injuries Fist (߂ȭ). These two techniques ranked among the strongest martial arts in Kongtong Sect, and both Taoists considered them their trump cards.
"I knew it!"
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Contrary to what Mu-Hae and Mu-Wol thought, their surprise attack was under Mu-Jin''s expectations. Ever since finding out the truth, he had already suspected that something like this would happen.
SHIING!
The Bamboo de at his waist slid out from its sheath and drew an arc in the air.
"Ugh!"
"Gah!"
Before their attacks had evennded on Mu-Jin''s body, Mu-Hae and Mu-Wol screamed in pain as the deep stab wounds on their shoulders spilled out blood like a fountain. Mu-Jin''s sword thrusts had reached them first.
"Did you think that you''d be able to hurt me with your pitiful strength? Not only are you two heartless, you''re also stupid!"
Mu-Hae ced a hand on his shoulder wound to stem the bleeding and red at Mu-Jin bitterly, saying, "Haha! What makes you think you''re any smarter than us? Do you even know anything besides martial arts?"
"Is that why you lied to me?"
"That''s right! You''re too strong, and everyone knew that you''d be the next sect leader, so there was never any meaning topeting with you. That guy next to you, on the other hand, kept getting in my way!"
Mu-Hae''s gaze shifted toward Ham Ji-Pyung. That was a man who had a humble and amiable disposition despite being younger and more talented than himself. He felt that as long as this junior brother existed, he would never be able to stand out among his peers. Especially after his loss in the tournament, this feeling of dread had only gotten stronger.
"Hmph! So that''s why you provoked him into a fight and destroyed his chi center?"
"Yeah! Well, what are you going to do about it? What can you do? Are you going to kill me?"
"No, I will not kill you. I will drag you back to Mount Kongtong, where you will be punished ording to the sect''s rules."
"My master will not idly sit by and watch that happen, you know? Give it up No, I have a better idea. Try your hardest to prove your point, Senior Brother. Even if you are the next sect leader, more of the first-ss disciples support me than you. I''ll show you that you won''t be able to get anything done without their help."
"...You want to make a bet with me?"
"Since you''re the one who suggested it, Senior Brother, why not? You have nothing to lose and everything to gain anyway."
Mu-Hae''s confident tone struck Mu-Jin like a stab to the heart, pushing him into the abyss of despair. He bit his lip until it bled to wake himself up.
Damn it! I never realized that our Kongtong Sect had rotted from the inside out Mu-Hae was right when he called me a fool who doesn''t know anything except martial arts!
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"Fine, I will stake Mu-Gung''s and my own reputation on this. I, Mu-Jin, will reveal the truth about the events of fifteen years ago and restore Junior Brother Mu-Gung''s honor. Additionally, I will make sure that the perpetrators of the crime are punished ordingly."
Upon hearing Mu-Jin''s final deration, the color drained from Mu-Hae and Mu-Wol''s faces.
Mu-Hae, Mu-Wol, Seol-Goong, and the four other Taoists had their acupuncture points sealed and were locked up in the basement of the South Sea Inn. Seol-Goong repeatedly insisted that he was used by Mu-Hae, but Mu-Jin pretended not to hear him.
Once the offenders were secured, Mu-Jin then sent a messenger pigeon back to the Kongtong Sect, requesting reinforcements from the disciplinary council to haul them back to Mount Kongtong the next morning.
While he waited for them, Mu-Jin and Ham Ji-Pyung discussed the events of thest fifteen years till the wee hours of the morning. As Mu-Jin listened to the Ham family''s situation, tears welled up in his eyes in sympathy and regret over his own negligence.
Ham Seo-Ryung sat next to her father, helping him tell the story and adding in facts that he had forgotten. From this, Mu-Jin could tell that she was an incredibly smart girl.
"How old are you, Seo-Ryung?"
"I''m twelve this year."
"Twelve, hmm?" Mu-Jin''s eyes lit up with interest. Although twelve was a little old to begin learning martial arts by the standards of therge sects, it wasn''t umon to start learning at that age either. He couldn''t be sure how much talent Ham Seo-Ryung had from just looking, but if she was intelligent, the chances of her being below average were pretty low. Furthermore, she was his best friend''s daughter.
Mu-Jin considered taking her on as his disciple. He had never taught anyone before as he was concentrating on his own training, but he now realized that he very much needed to expand his horizons. It would probably be difficult to make it official as she was female and couldn''t enter the all-male sect, but women could still be epted as civilian disciples. From there, he would make her his nominal disciple.
However, that will have to wait until after I return to the sect and clean up the trash. Master Uncle Tae-Hyun and several other elders will do everything they can to hide the truth, and Mu-Hae''s aplices are not to be underestimated, either. It''s going to be tough, but for the future of the Kongtong Sect, this is something I cannot avoid.
"You''ve had it hard all these years, so please leave the rest to me. Get some sleep now while you can, you should know how hard the hike up Mount Kongtong is." Mu-Jin gently patted Ham Seo-Ryung on the head and stood up.
Ham Ji-Pyung appeared shocked by Mu-Jin''s sudden action. He asked, "Hmm? I thought we were going to chat for a while longer?"
"I want to, but there''s something I must do first."
"Senior Brother?"
"It is true that that person saved you, but it''s also true that he has provoked the Kongtong Sect."
Ham Ji-Pyung froze for a moment as Mu-Jin''s words slowly registered in his mind. He then stuttered, "B-But"
"This is this and that is that. The Bamboo de is the symbol of the Kongtong Sect. Breaking our swords is the same as trampling on our pride."
Mu-Jin was often referred to as the "pride of Kongtong Sect", and in return, he was proud of being part of the sect. Everything he had was given to him by the sect, so there were some things he just couldn''t let go.
"You should rest now."
Ham Ji-Pyung didn''t dare object to Mu-Jin''s decision and quietly left.
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Meanwhile, Mu-Jin walked out of the South Sea Inn. The sun hadn''t risen yet, and it was still pitch ck outside.
Interestingly, although he and the other Taoists had caused quite themotion the day before, none of the escorts or vigers had gotten close to the battleground.
I suppose I have Yoon Seo-In and Gong Jin-Sung to thank for that. It''s good that no innocent people got hurt by our actions, and those people won''t be able to spread bad rumors about the Kongtong Sect if they know nothing as well. That would be a huge embarrassment to the Sect.
Mu-Jin spread out his senses and grinned. A certain presence was making his location known in the darkness. Mu-Jin walked toward a clearing a hundred feet away, near the docks.
There, he found Jin Mu-Won waiting for him as if the man had already foreseen that Mu-Jin woulde searching for him.
Mu-Jin asked, "Have you been waiting here all this time?"
Jin Mu-Won nodded silently in reply.
"How did you know I would go looking for you?"
"I knew a man with a simr personality as yours."
"Oh?"
"Just like you, he valued the pride of his sect over his own reputation. He was a man who could endure being personally humiliated, but if it involved his sect, he would fight against it to the bitter end."
Mu-Jin nodded, saying, "You saw right through me, huh. That''s right, I''m a stubborn fool that doesn''t understand how topromise."
He ced a hand on his sword and continued, "I know you had a good reason for doing it, but you did injure several of my fellow disciples and even broke their swords. I cannot let you go unpunished."
"Are you nning to dispel the wind of corruption within the Kongtong Sect?"
"That''s our own problem. It has nothing to do with you."
"Puhahaha! I see!" Jin Mu-Wonughed. Mu-Jin had indeed answered his question, albeit in a very indirect way.
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Suddenly, Mu-Jin gave Jin Mu-Won a fist salute and dered, "I, Mu-Jin, First-ss Disciple of the Kongtong Sect, request a formal duel with you, Jin Mu-Won. Regardless of the oue, I will consider all our disputes settled after this match. Do you ept?"
Jin Mu-Won returned Mu-Jin''s salute, saying, "I, Jin Mu-Won, humbly ept Reverend Mu-Jin''s request. We will settle all our disputes through this duel, swordsman to swordsman."
"Great!" Mu-Jin nodded and drew his Bamboo de.
SHIING!
The razor-sharp edge of the Bamboo de glittered in the darkness. Jin Mu-Won felt Snow Flower tremble in his hand, as if it wasining about why he hadn''t drawn it yet.
Okay, this time, I''ll answer your summons.
As the de darker than night revealed itself, Mu-Jin''s heart skipped a beat. He was enraptured by Snow Flower''s eerie beauty.
"Thatis no ordinary sword."
"This is Snow Flower. I crafted it myself."
"You did? Amazing."
Mu-Jin concentrated his chi, and his Bamboo de cried out in acknowledgment. Today was the first time he was revealing the fact that he had learned the Kongtong Sect''s Five Yin Divine de to the world. It was an announcement that he was the sessor to the sect.
"Then let us begin."
WHOOSH!
Before he had even finished speaking, Mu-Jin used the Flying Phoenix Steps and appeared right in front of Jin Mu-Won.
SLASH!
As he unleashed the first form of the Five Yin Divine de, Dark Moon Splits the Sky (),[1] his de drew a red arc across the air and split Jin Mu-Won in two.
No, that was an afterimage! I didn''t feel any resistance that meant I cut something.
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Mu-Jin''s expression hardened. The instant he moved, Jin Mu-Won had also moved. The young man''s reflexes and reaction time were much faster than he''d thought.
Where is he?
Mu-Jin searched for Jin Mu-Won''s aura and locked on to his position. Using his left foot as a pivot, he spun around, swinging his de and releasing five bursts of sword chi.
That was the third form of the Five Yin Divine de, the Five Yin Scarlet Flower (ꎼt).[2] When the five bursts of sword chi struck their target, a scarlet flower with petals of sword chi and blood would bloom.
However, Mu-Jin''s attack missed its target once again as Jin Mu-Won vanished from the spot he was standing on.
I don''t want to drag this out any longer, so I''ll finish the battle right away, thought Jin Mu-Won.
SWISH!
Like a graceful swallow gliding across the water''s surface, Jin Mu-Won sprinted toward Mu-Jin. He tightened his grip on Snow Flower, causing the sword to vibrate excitedly.
When Mu-Jin saw the shadows around Jin Mu-Won suddenly darken as if they hade alive, his heart raced with anticipation.
I''ll face him head-on!
Jin Mu-Won raised his sword, which shone like a meteor about to shoot across the heavens. It was the preparation for Meteor Soul (ǻ), the first form of the Shadow de of Destruction.
Across from him, Mu-Jin wasn''t about to just stand there and do nothing either. The Taoist muttered, "Heavenly Sword sh (섦һ)." [3]
The Five Yin Divine de contained seven forms in total. The one Mu-Jin was most familiar with among the seven was the fifth and most powerful form, the Heavenly Sword sh.
HUMMMMM!
The Bamboo de emitted green light in the shape of a gigantic sword. That green light was Sword Flux, the refined form of sword chi that every swordsman dreamed of achieving.
"YAHHHHH!" Mu-Jin roared as his aura rampaged through the darkness.
And then
BOOOOOOM!
The two swordsmen shed.
If you see this, you are at the wrong site. FoodieMonster007, TheGreatT20
Footnotes:
[1] Dark Moon Splits the Sky (): Literal TL C Yin Moon Splits the Sky. "Yin Moon" can refer to either the month of April in the lunar calendar or the dark side of the moon. Manhwa TL C sh of the Lunar Skies.
[2] Five Yin Scarlet Flower (ꎼt): Literal TL C Five Yin Red Flower. Manhwa TL: Five Elements: Spread of Destruction.
[3] Heavenly Sword sh (섦һ): Literal TL C Heavenly Sword One sh. Manhwa TL: Single de of the Heavens.
Trantor''s Note:
Damn, Mu-Won was talking about his dad! *Hit in the feels*
FYI, the Seven Injuries Fist is the most famous technique of the Kongtong Sect in Jin Yong''s "Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber". In the novel, the Golden Lion King Xie Xun snatched the manual from Kongtong Sect''s Five Elders, and the mc Zhang Wuji then learned it from Xie Xun and unted it right in front of the Kongtong Sect.
Chapter 66: A Swordsman Speaks with a Sword; A Blacksmith Speaks with Iron (1)
Chapter 66: A Swordsman Speaks with a Sword; A cksmith Speaks with Iron (1)
By FoodieMonster007 1/17/2022 08:09:00 PM
CRACK! CLINK!
Pieces of a broken sword were scattered across the ground.
Haa A mans sigh of despair went unheard in the wind as he looked down at his broken sword. It was the Taoist from Kongtong Sect, Mu-Jin.
How did you... I even went so far as to use Sword Flux he muttered, puzzled. He hadnt felt any chi surrounding Jin Mu-Wons sword, and yet, his own Bamboo de was the one that was broken in half. This defiedmon sense.
He lifted his head and nced at the ck sword resting against his neck. There was no doubting his defeat.
What happened? How did you break through my Sword Flux?
Sword Flux is simply a technique for emitting and condensing energy on the outside of ones de. What I did instead was increase the density of chi inside my de.
Did my sword break because of the difference in chi density?
From my point of view... Yes, it did.
Is that so? I can''t quite ept your exnation, but Ill admit my defeat, Mu-Jin said through clenched teeth, his shoulders trembling with frustration.
As Jin Mu-Won withdrew Snow Flower from Mu-Jins throat, the sword throbbed as if it were upset at not having cut anything.
Mu-Jin looked up at the sky, sighed again, and mumbled to himself, Mu-Jin, youre an imbecile. To think that you were satisfied with your current strength! Just how arrogant were you? Shame on you! Youre a weakling who cant evenst one second against your opponent.
Jin Mu-Won watched Mu-Jin silently. If he tried tofort Mu-Jin now, it would probably backfire. Patiently waiting for Mu-Jin toe to terms with his defeat was the best option.
Finally, Mu-Jin looked at Jin Mu-Won again and said, I may have lost to you today, but my defeat doesnt mean that the Kongtong Sect has also been defeated.
I know.
As agreed previously, with this, our disputes are settled.
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Thank you.
After I have solved the problems in my sect, I will return to training in seclusion. The next time Ie out, I will challenge you again. Swordsman from the North,[1] would you be willing to ept my future challenge?
Yes.
Thank you.
Mu-Jin stared at Jin Mu-Won with aplicated expression.
This feels like something out of a nightmare. How could a swordsman this young and skilled exist? Im already over forty, but this guy is definitely in his early- to mid-twenties. And yet, hes much stronger than me.
If this is what true genius is, then life is just too unfair. This mans strength is even more ridiculous than the Seven Young Skies.
The Seven Young Skies were the most promising youths in the gangho. They were barely over twenty, but they had already proven their abilities to the world. Even more aggravating was the fact that not only did they possess talent blessed by the heavens, they also came from powerful sects and families that provided the best environment for them to grow and develop.
If you see this line, you''re reading at the wrong site. Bahahaha.
Mu-Jin may be the strongest disciple in the Kongtong Sect, but neither his talent nor background couldpare to those seven youths. Thus, he may have felt jealous of them, but it was not to a point where he would give up all hope of catching up to them. He always felt that as long as he worked a little harder, hed surely be able to reach their level.
However, Jin Mu-Won was different from those people. Mu-Jin had a feeling that this young man was far beyond his reach.
He may even be as talented as the Lone Star of the Azure Sky
Mu-Jin recalled a boy he met many years ago. The child was so outstanding, he didnt feel an ounce of jealousy. After all, one could only be envious when one believed they could have what the other person possessed.
Haa Mu-Jin sighed once more. Deep down, he swore to himself that this defeat would be his motivation to be stronger. His eyes filled with a mixture of emotions, he slowly bent down and picked up the broken pieces of his sword.
Jin Mu-Won watched him silently. This long and eventful night had finallye to an end.
The next morning, several Kongtong Sect Disciplinary Council members showed up to take Mu-Haes group back to Mount Kongtong.
Before leaving with them, Mu-Jin said to Jin Mu-Won, The White Dragon Merchant Association informed me about your situation. I heard that youre going to Yunnan to search for a missing family member?
That''s right.
Im sorry for making you waste a day here because of us. It wont make up for what my junior brothers have done, but Ill introduce an old friend of mine to you. When you arrive at Kunming City in Yunnan, search for the Schr with Three Brains (X)[2], Ha Jin-Wol. He kind of stands out, so finding him shouldnt be too difficult. Just tell him my name, and I''m sure he''ll help you.
Thank you.
Mu-Jin then turned to face Kwak Moon-Jung, who was standing next to Jin Mu-Won, and said, The Kongtong Sect owes you a great debt.
No, I didnt do anything...
For as long as I live, the Kongtong Sect will not forget what you have done for us. You will always be wee there.
Ham Seo-Ryung, who was going to leave with Mu-Jin, suddenly asked, Oppa, will youe visit the Kongtong Sect when youre free?
Of course, I will!
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Then, I''ll be waiting for you, okay? Ham Seo-Ryung smiled brightly, but the tears welling up in her eyes betrayed her true feelings.
Jin Mu-Won quietly watched the two young lovebirds say their parting words. Their appearances reminded him of the events of seven years ago.
His heart twinged with pain and bitterness.
After crossing the river with their horses, the White Dragon caravan continued their journey south to Yunnan. The rxed atmosphere they had when they first started out from Gansu was gone, reced by silence and tension that hung heavily in the air.
The cause of all the uneasiness was the young man driving a wagon at the very back of the caravan. The strength Jin Mu-Won disyed the previous night had shocked not only the escorts but also the mercenaries of the Iron Brigade. The mercenaries had prided themselves on their skills, but before Jin Mu-Won willingly revealed himself, none of them had any inkling of his true abilities.
In just one night, Jin Mu-Won had gone from being an inconspicuous freeloader to a martial arts master who had easily overpowered six first-ss disciples of the Kongtong Sect as well as their future sect leader, Mu-Jin. The Kongtong Sect had tried very hard to conceal this fact, but it was impossible for them to stop all the information from leaking out, especially to the caravan members who had been resting in the vige.
Although the Kongtong Sect was the weakest of the old and established sects, it was nheless a powerful faction with hundreds of murim experts. Among those experts, Mu-Jin and Mu-Hae were known to be the best and most talented disciples.
And yet, Jin Mu-Won had crushed them without sustaining a single scratch. That could only mean that he was above the so-called peak-level experts in skill. To the escorts, who were mostly second- or third-ss warriors, he was in a different league altogether.
If you see this line, you''re reading at the wrong site. Bahahaha.
Naturally, the escorts began to distance themselves from Jin Mu-Won, as if there was an invisible barrier separating them.
However, the escorts were hardly the ones most affected by Jin Mu-Wons abilities. Their shock was nothingpared to what Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan of the Iron Brigade and Yoon Seo-In of the White Dragon Merchant Association had to go through.
On Jong-Ri Mu-Hwans end, although he had fully expected for Jin Mu-Won and the Kongtong Sect toe to blows, he never predicted that things would end as peacefully as they had. Still, all things considered, it wasnt a bad result for him and the Iron Brigade.
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He exceeds my expectations time and time again. This is upsetting.
Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan was a strategist. To people like him, unexpected situations, even if they were beneficial, were something that couldnt be tolerated. Each time Jin Mu-Won had exceeded his expectations was one time hed failed as a tactician.
If Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan was upset, then Yoon Seo-In was utterly devastated. She clearly remembered venting her anger and hurling a multitude of insults at Jin Mu-Won. As a civilian disciple of the Kongtong Sect, she hadnt doubted for a moment that Jin Mu-Won would be harshly punished, butto her astonishment, not only had the whole mess been resolved peacefully, even her aloof and distant Senior Brother Mu-Jin had acknowledged Jin Mu-Won.
Since Mu-Jin was the sessor to the Kongtong Sect, that meant that the sect itself had acknowledged Jin Mu-Won.
Yoon Seo-In''s gaze shifted toward Kwak Moon-Jung, who was now following Jin Mu-Won around everywhere. Before Mu-Jin had left, shed heard him saying that he owed the boy a great debt. That meant that even Kwak Moon-Jung was now under the Kongtong Sects protection.
Ive really made a mess of things. Its probably toote to apologize, and as the leader of this caravan, I cannot be seen lowering my head to the people under me.
Yoon Seo-In sighed.
Meanwhile, Jin Mu-Won, the man responsible for messing with everyones emotions, was happily driving his wagon. Thanks to the events with the Kongtong Sect, he had finally decided on his path in life. He felt that his decision would probablynd him in a lot of trouble and drag him into many future conflicts, but he knew that as long as his heart was set, he would keep moving forward. That was the kind of person he was.
As he smiled to himself, Kwak Moon-Jung suddenly approached him on horseback and cried out, Hyung!
What''s up?
Errnothing. Never mind. Kwak Moon-Jung grinned bashfully. His excitement from the previous night had not yet subsided. Although he was still young, he understood the fact that what happened at the South Sea Inn would change his life forever.
Although Kwak Moon-Jung told Jin Mu-Won not to mind him, for a long time, he stared at Jin Mu-Won with sparkling eyes.
When Jin Mu-Won, who didnt feel like he had done anything deserving of the boys admiration, reached the limits of even hisposure, he turned toward the boy and asked, Why are you staring at me like that?
If you see this line, you''re reading at the wrong location. Bahahaha.
Because I respect you.
Me?
Yeah! How did you get so strong, Hyung? I never thought that you would be able to defeat those guys.
Kwak Moon-Jung had frequently heard Hwang Cheol boasting about Jin Mu-Won, but like everyone else, hed always thought that the old man was just exaggerating. After the events of the day before, though, he now knew that Hwang Cheol had in fact been telling the truth.
Not only was Jin Mu-Won strong enough to disregard the Kongtong Sects threats, but above all, his courage and integrity were unequaled. Kwak Moon-Jung took pride in the fact that such a person was his Hyung.
However, when he suddenly thought about his own situation, his expression quickly became sullen. Ultimately, Jin Mu-Won had only gotten involved in the affair because he was too weak to defend himself. He didnt dare dream of bing as strong as Jin Mu-Won, but he at least wanted to be able to protect himself and do his job as an escort properly.
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Hyung, how can I be as strong as you? he asked.
Jin Mu-Won smiled. He understood how Kwak Moon-Jung felt, as he had once been in the boys shoes.
Moon-Jung.
Hmm?
The Three Origins Meditation Technique that Uncle Hwang taught you is no ordinary martial art. You might not see any marked improvements when you first start practicing it, but once you reach a certain level of mastery, youll suddenly start getting stronger at an unbelievable rate. Thats why, as long as you keep training hard, I believe that one day, youll surely be a master.
Yeah! Thanks, Hyung.
By the way, I suggest you get a heavier sword than the one youre using right now. Practitioners of the Three Origins Meditation Technique are most suited to using heavy weapons.
A heavier sword? How much heavier?
For starters, you should get one that is twice as heavy as the sword you currently have, but once you get used to that one, youll need to get a true greatsword that is four times heavier.
Okay! I''ll definitely do as you said!
Kwak Moon-Jung didnt doubt Jin Mu-Wons words for a second. After what they had been through together, he now hadplete faith in Jin Mu-Wons advice.
If you see this, you are at the wrong site. FoodieMonster007, TheGreatT20
[1] Swordsman from the North: Don''t ask me how he knows this, I''m guessing the Kongtong Sect did some sort of a background check on Jin...
[2] Schr with Three Brains (X): Literal trantion C Schr with Three Brains (i.e. has thebined intelligence of three people). If anyone can think up a better nickname for this dude, pleasement as hes important enough to be the deuteragonist. ErrTripled Schr? Trinity Schr?
Chapter 67: A Swordsman Speaks with a Sword; A Blacksmith Speaks with Iron (2)
"So this is the Dujiangyan Irrigation System?" [1]
The escorts buzzed with excitement as they admired the engineering marvel known as the Dujiangyan Irrigation System. Right in front of their eyes, the beautiful Min River, with its shy myriad colors, was split into two by a man-made structure.
Originally, as winter turned into spring, snowmelt from the nearby mountains would flow into the Min River and flood the nearby areas, causing great suffering to the people living there. To solve the problem, Lee Bing, a local official of Sichuan Province during the Qin Dynasty, together with his son Lee Rang, worked together to design and construct an irrigation system that would redirect the waters of the Min River and prevent flooding. All in all, more than ten thousand workers were mobilized for the construction which took eight whole years toplete.
When the river stream, which was originally one, was divided into an outer river and an inner river, the waterway stabilized and the area became free of flooding.
That was the history of the Dujiangyan Irrigation System, a ce where the flow of Nature was altered by human hands. This engineering miracle which saved many lives and livelihoods caused many Sichuanese to consider this structure as sacred.
Gong Jin-Sung said to Yoon Seo-In, "It will take us two days to travel from Dujiangyan[2] to Chengdu. We should rest here tonight."
"That is fine, Finance Head Gong," Yoon Seo-In replied weakly.
Gong Jin-Sung shed a look of sympathy at Yoon Seo-In. She had been depressed ever since the incident with the Kongtong Sect, which opened her eyes to the pinnacle of strength and showed her that she was just a frog in the well.
To make things worse, Yoon Seo-In wasn''t the only person affected by the incident. Arge chasm had appeared between Jin Mu-Won and the rest of the caravan, including himself and the Iron Brigade. Having to travel together with someone of that caliber was turning out to be far more nerve-racking than he''d thought possible.
By far the most stressful part was Jin Mu-Won''s attitude, which remained wholly unchanged from before. Instead of demanding better treatment, Jin Mu-Won quietly drove his wagon and cooked hotpot for everyone every day. This action of his had renewed his rtionship with some of the escorts, but most of them still avoided him.
It''s entirely up to the Young Mistress to decide whether she should let things continue this way or set her pride aside and apologize to him. I can''t do anything.
Gong Jin-Sung sighed. He still needed to get things done, so he couldn''t spend too much time being distracted by Yoon Seo-In. He booked twelve rooms in the Revitalization Inn, thergest inn in Dujiangyan, and ordered the escorts to unpack the luggage. Night hadn''t fallen yet, but the journey to Yunnan was long and he wanted to take this opportunity to let the caravan members get more rest.
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Normally, three or four people would be assigned to onerge room, but Gong Jin-Sung gave Jin Mu-Won and Kwak Moon-Jung a small double room of their own. He felt that this was the least he could do for the two who had been alienated by the rest of the group. As for the remaining rooms, half were assigned to the Iron Brigade and the remaining half to the White Dragon Merchant Association.
Gong Jin-Sung left the minimum manpower behind to guard the wagons, then ordered the escorts to take the rest of the day off. When they heard his announcement, the exhausted escorts who had been sleeping outdoors for half a month cheered loudly, split up into small groups, and happily went into the red-light district where the prostitutes who had seen the caravan enter the city earlier were eagerly waiting to wee them.
Although Jin Mu-Won desperately wanted to continue on to Yunnan, he understood that he couldn''t be selfish and ignore the needs of others. Thus, since he had nothing better to do, he decided to rx and enjoy the rest of the day by touring the city together with Kwak Moon-Jung.
The two young men strolled around the market district of Dujiangyan, basking in the atmosphere of a city they had never been to before. Crowds thronged the streets, and the loud cries of merchants passionately greeting and haggling with their customers could be heard along with the sounds of bothughter and angry shouting. It was like a noisy and chaotic festival.
Interestingly, there were many people dressed in Taoist robes walking on the streets. Kwak Moon-Jung, who had studied some geography due to his job, pointed to a mountain range south of the city and introduced it to Jin Mu-Won as Mount Qingcheng, one of the birthces of Taoism and the location of the Qingcheng Sect.
Mount Qingcheng consisted of thirty-six peaks, and there were more than eighty monasteries built on those peaks. All those monasteries put together formed the Qingcheng Sect. The individual monasteries alternated between cooperating and antagonizing each other, but they all nheless took pride in the name of their sect.
The people of Dujiangyan treated the Taoists of the Qingcheng Sect with great respect, and the Taoists in turn took their hospitality for granted as the protectors of the area.
I remember Uncle Hwang telling me Dujiangyan was the territory of the Qingcheng Sect, but hearing someone talk about it is not the same as seeing it for myself.
There were threerge murim factions in Sichuan, namely, the Qingcheng Sect, the Emei Sect, and the Tang n. Both the Qingcheng Sect and the Emei Sect were powerful sects, while the Tang n was one of the Five Great ns. The strengths of these three sects were quite bnced, and together they split up and ruled thends of the Sichuan Province.
Still, the three factions may be the undisputed kings of Sichuan, but because of the existence of Heaven''s Summit, their influence over the entire Central ins was limited. They could only boss over their own territories.
I recall Uncle Hwang also telling me that the Qingcheng Sect was the most neutral and reasonable of the three factions. There''s even a famous saying in the murim that goes "The violent Tang n; The aggressive Emei Sect; and the moderate Qingcheng Sect".
On the surface, that saying seems to be correct. The Taoists of the Qingcheng Sect, with their faint smiles and gentle expressions, fit the "moderate" description perfectly.
Suddenly, Kwak Moon-Jung tugged at Jin Mu-Won''s sleeve, pointed in a certain direction, and asked, "Hyung, can we go over there?"
From the direction where Kwak Moon-Jung was pointing, Jin Mu-Won could hear the sounds of hammers striking steel. He then nced to his side and saw the boy eagerly staring at the street filled with weapons shops and smithies.
It was obvious what he wanted. Jin Mu-Won grinned and said, "Do you want to buy a new sword?"
"...Hyung, weren''t you the one who told me to get a heavier sword?"
Jin Mu-Won nodded, replying, "Yeah, I did, didn''t I? Okay then, let''s take this opportunity to get you a new weapon."
"Alright! Let''s go!" shouted Kwak Moon-Jung, skipping ahead excitedly.
As Jin Mu-Won entered the arms street, the nostalgic smell of burning metal tickled his nose. Not only that, heat from the furnaces in the warm smithies poured out onto the cold streets as white smoke. All these familiar sights and smells immediately reminded him of the years he spent hard at work forging swords.
The only differences between back then and now were the colorful signboards hanging above every door.
Heavenly Arms Workshop, Divine Weapons and Armor Shop Just what is up with these names? Pfft hahaha
shy names were one thing, but these were too garish. As a swordsmith himself, Jin Mu-Won understood all too well that no decent cksmith would be able to put up such a signboard without feeling embarrassed. However, Kwak Moon-Jung was unaware of this fact and browsed the wares in every shop.
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"Hyung, how does this sword look?"
Jin Mu-Won shook his head.
"Then what about this one?"
Jin Mu-Won shook his head again.
Undeterred, Kwak Moon-Jung went from shop to shop tirelessly, picking out swords he liked and asking Jin Mu-Won for his opinion.
Although there were many shops with shy names, Jin Mu-Won felt that few of the weapons they sold were forged by real smithies. The swords on disy appeared sleek and shiny, but they were more ornamental than practical.
The shops on this part of the street target normal people looking for self-defense weapons rather than true martial artists.
The two young men slowly moved toward the other end of the street. As they walked, they noticed that the shops were getting smaller and shabbier. Few had signboards up front, and no one tried to advertise goods to them.
At the same time, Jin Mu-Won noticed that the quality of the weapons and armor had improved by leaps and bounds. Additionally, he could now clearly hear the sounds of hammering and feel the heat from the furnaces. These were the real smithies.
He identified the smithy where the hammering sounds resonated most pleasantly in his ears and entered.
"Hmm? Hyung?" asked Kwak Moon-Jung, bewildered by Jin Mu-Won''s sudden change in behavior.
Inside the smithy, two rotund cksmiths were engrossed in taking turns hammering a piece of red-hot steel into its final shape. Kwak Moon-Jung, who was seeing this for the first time, couldn''t close his mouth in awe.
Jin Mu-Won nodded in acknowledgment and unconsciously tapped his thigh with his finger to the rhythm of the hammering.
When the older one of the two cksmiths saw Jin Mu-Won''s actions, his eyes lit up with interest for a moment, but he quickly returned to focusing on his work.
A whileter, when the hammering and shaping process wasplete, the two cksmiths doused the metal into a tub of oil.
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PSHHHHH!
The metal quickly cooled in the oil, causing steam to rise and fill the room.
"Phew!" Only then did the old cksmith heave a sigh of relief, unwind the towel wrapped around his head, and wipe off the sweat on his upper body.
"I have a pretty good feeling about this one. I''ll leave it to you to finish the quenching."
"Sure thing, Father."
The old cksmith finally approached Jin Mu-Won and Kwak Moon-Jung, asking, "What kind of weapons or armor are you looking for?"
"I''m buying a sword for this kid here."
"What about yourself?"
"I have this guy." Jin Mu-Won raised the hand holding Snow Flower and showed it to the old cksmith.
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The old cksmith''s eyes glittered as he asked, "Did you make that yourself?"
"How did you know?"
"I saw you tapping your finger on your leg earlier. Only a fellow craftsman would be able to follow that rhythm."
Jin Mu-Won was taken aback. The fact that the old cksmith could notice such a subtle movement while hammering meant that he was a master of his craft.
"Mind letting me take a look at your sword?"
Jin Mu-Won hesitated for a moment, then handed Snow Flower over to the old cksmith. The old cksmith summoned all of his strength to draw Snow Flower from its scabbard, but regardless of how hard he tried, it was futile.
"Ugh! Hey, is this sword sealed?" eximed the old cksmith. He tried drawing Snow Flower a few more times, but eventually gave up and returned it to Jin Mu-Won.
Jin Mu-Won smiled, took back Snow Flower, and drew it in one smooth movement.
SHIING!
Unlike when the old cksmith was trying to draw it, Snow Flower slid out of its scabbard easily. However, the instant the old cksmith saw the de as dark as night, his face paled.
"A-Acursed sword!?"
If you see this, you are at the wrong site. FoodieMonster007, TheGreatT20
Footnotes:
[1] Dujiangyan Irrigation System: The Dujiangyan (Chinese: ; pinyin: Djingyn) is an ancient irrigation system in Dujiangyan City, Sichuan, China. Originally constructed around 256 BC by the State of Qin as an irrigation and flood control project, it is still in use today. The system''s infrastructure develops on the Min River, the longest tributary of the Yangtze River. The area is in the west part of the Chengdu in, between the Sichuan Basin and the Tibetan teau. Originally, the Min River would rush down from the Min Mountains and slow down abruptly after reaching the Chengdu in, filling the watercourse with silt, thus making the nearby areas extremely prone to floods. King Zhao of Qinmissioned the project and assigned it to Li Bing, a Sichuan local official, and the construction of the Dujiangyan harnessed the river using a new method of channeling and dividing the water rather than simply damming it. The water management scheme is still in use today to irrigate over 5,300 km2 (2,000 sq mi) ofnd in the region. The Dujiangyan, the Zhengguo Canal in Shaanxi and the Lingqu Canal in Guangxi are collectively known as the "three great hydraulic engineering projects of the Qin Dynasty."
[2] Dujiangyan: Referring to Dujiangyan City.
Trantor''s Notes: Sorry for thete update, I was sick. Also, this chapter is basically a tourist guidebook and I had to do some research to figure out what all the locations and sect names were.
Chapter 68: A Swordsman Speaks With A Sword; A Blacksmith Speaks With Iron (3)
What do you mean, a cursed sword? asked Kwak Moon-Jung.
The old cksmith did not answer him. He simply stood still as if he was petrified.
On the other hand, Jin Mu-Won looked at the old cksmith curiously. I cant believe he recognized that Snow Flower was a cursed sword in one nce He must be really skilled and experienced to sense the faint traces of cursed energy that many other martial artists or craftsmen werent able to detect. Is it because hes spent his entire life doing nothing but cksmithing?
When the old cksmith recovered from his shock and red fiercely at Jin Mu-Won, the young man calmly epted his gaze and stared back coolly. Exasperated, the old cksmith sighed and said, Haa I think we have a lot of talk about, but we shouldnt do it here. Follow me.
The old cksmith walked toward the back of the smithy. As Jin Mu-Won moved to follow him, he said to the still bewildered Kwak Moon-Jung, Come on, lets go.
Kwak Moon-Jung quickly chased after Jin Mu-Won and the old cksmith, who led them into a hidden basement under the smithy. Neither of them had noticed the basement beforehand, as it was unthinkable that such a small and worn-down shop would have a space like that.
When Jin Mu-Won entered the basement room, he noticed that the walls were lined with the old cksmiths masterpieces that he had forged over the years and nodded in approval. The quality of these weapons were far superior to even the ones outside.
Wow! eximed Kwak Moon-Jung, eyes glued to the weapons on disy.
The old cksmith pointed toward a chair and said to Jin Mu-Won, Take a seat.
Thank you.
The two craftsmen sat face to face around a table. A nervous tension filled the air as the old cksmith focused his attention on Jin Mu-Won.
Are you aware that the sword you carry is a cursed weapon?
Yes, I am.
Could you tell me why you made a sword like this?
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I didn''t make a cursed sword on purpose.
Then?
Things just somehow turned out like this.
I find that hard to believe.
The truth is the truth, whether you believe it or not.
Hmm The old cksmith groaned wearily, aplicated look on his face.
As if he could read the old cksmiths mind, Jin Mu-Won asked, Are you thinking about whether you should trigger the traps in this room or not?
You know about those!? Surprised, the old cksmith stared nkly at Jin Mu-Won.
Jin Mu-Won smiled. Quite a number of the traps in this room were simr to those that had been installed in the Northern Army Fortress, so hed noticed their presence as soon as he stepped inside.
The moment you stomp on the trigger under your foot, the traps will be activated and attack me. Am I right?
Without taking his foot off the trigger, the old cksmith answered Jin Mu-Won meekly, Yes. As soon as I put my foot down, all of the hidden weapons around here will fire at the spot where you are sitting.
Even though he knows that Im aware of the traps, hes still willing to trigger them, huh?
Kwak Moon-Jung was stunned speechless. He hadnt sensed the tense atmosphere between the two craftsmen at all until now. AhhI still have a lot to improve on. I was so distracted by the nice weapons on the walls that I failed to notice whats going on
Although the traps were now revealed, the two craftsmen somehow still continued conversing normally.
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Are you trying to throw the world into chaos?
That depends. I cant give you an answer right now.
Then I will ask you again. Why did you make a cursed sword?
As I said earlier, I didn''t make it because I wanted to. I only realized that it had cursed energy after it waspleted.
The old cksmiths eyes hardened as he exined, When a craftsmans will and desires are infused into their work, the object that is created could either be a divine or demonic treasure. Although the treasures made by us humans cannot create miracles, it will affect the mental state of the user. Following the craftsmans desires, it would turn the user into a hero or a monster. That is the reason why us craftsmen must always be careful when crafting masterpieces.
Im aware of that.
Really?
In a voice filled with conviction, Jin Mu-Won repeated himself, Yes, Im aware.
As the old cksmith looked into Jin Mu-Wons resolute eyes, his determination wavered. He sighed, saying, I dont get it. I dont understand how a man with such clear eyes as yours can forge a cursed sword. It defiesmon sense.
The source of the curse is probably not me, but the material this sword is made from.
Hmm? Tell me more.
Jin Mu-Won told the old cksmith about the origin of the ck rock that Snow Flower was made from. When he finished his tale, the old cksmith covertly took his foot of the trap trigger on the floor.
In other words, the source of the curse is the despair and hatred of the tribe that was massacred?
Thats what I think.
Hoo The old cksmith sighed. He now understood that Jin Mu-Won hadnt created Snow Flower on purpose, but even so, that didnt change the fact that it was a cursed sword.
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First, he decided to introduce himself, saying, My name is Tang Seo-Wol. Do you now understand why I got so jittery when I saw a cursed weapon?
Its because youre a member of the Tang n.
Im merely a branch family member, but since I just used thest name of Tang, that means that Im currently acting as a member of the Tang n.
Doesnt the Tang n live in the Tang Tower?
How big do you think that tower is? And how many members do you think there are in the whole Tang n? Most branch family members like me live outside the tower.
Although the Tang n specialized in poisons and hidden weapons, the motto of the n was justice and chivalry. Thus, many of the Tang n members referred to themselves as the Chivalrous Tang n.
They were known to be violent, but that was because they were merciless when it came to bringing down the hammer on justice on those they considered viins.
I heard that all cksmiths of the Tang n lived in the Tang Tower, but I guess the truth is not like that.
From a certain point of view, what youre saying is correct. In order to prevent ssified information from leaking out, all artisans who have learned the secret crafting techniques of the n must live in the Tower. However, I did not learn my cksmithing techniques from the Tang n, instead, I learned it in the smithies of the city.
When Tang Seo-Wol reached a certain level as a craftsman, the Tang n had indeed urged him to move into the Tang Tower and inherit the ns secret techniques. However, he rejected their offer in favor of his freedom. He felt that being able to create things as he wished was more effective in increasing his skill than learning from the n. As it turned out, he was right.
Still, the blood of the Tang n flowed through his veins. His pride drove him to uphold the beliefs of his n, and made him extremely sensitive to people and things that could possibly be evil.
Please use that sword with caution. If you get distracted during battle, it will affect your mental state.
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Thank you. I will be careful.
So, what brought a master craftsman like you to this ce? I dont think you need another sword.
I wanted to buy a nice sword for this boy, Jin Mu-Won replied, pointing at Kwak Moon-Jung.
What kind of sword are you looking for?
A greatsword that is about three feet long and weighs at least ten pounds.
Isnt a greatsword too heavy for a kid?
He is currently learning the Dominating Sword Technique (҆g), which specializes in greatswords. Im only getting him a ten pound sword since hes a kid and a beginner, but when he gets used to this de, he will eventually need one that weights twenty pounds.
I see.
Tang Seo-Wol got up from his seat and walked toward a wooden box leaning against the wall. He opened the box filled with weapons of all kinds and took out a greatsword. He then handed the sword to Jin Mu-Won and said, This is the sword that best matches your description. I made it on a whim five years ago, but no one wanted it because it was too heavy. I stored it here thinking that it would never get sold, butto think that Id end up bringing it out today.
This is a good sword. The bnce and weight are excellent, and from the subtle red glow, it seems that it was forged from hematite ore?
As expected, you recognized the material right away. Hematite is harder and heavier than regr iron ore, so it''s perfect for making heavy swords.
Jin Mu-Won flicked his finger against the de.
TINGGGG!
The swords cry was pure and clear. Jin Mu-Won smiled and praised Tang Seo-Wol, saying, Not bad.
Its not good enough to be considered a masterpiece, but its definitely a sword that Im satisfied with. Oi, kid, dont just stand there staring! Youre the user, so your opinion is the most important one. Come over here and try holding the sword.
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Huh? Oh, yes! With trembling hands, Kwak Moon-Jung took the greatsword from Jin Mu-Won...and almost dropped it.
H-Heavy!
You have to get used to the weight. From now on, carry it with you wherever you go.
Okay! I will treat it as if its a part of my body. Kwak Moon-Jung hugged the sword tightly, grinning from ear to ear.
Boy, I put my heart and soul into forging this de. Dont do anything that would disgrace it and me.
Kwak Moon-Jung loudly dered, Understood! I''ll do my best not to tarnish your reputation, old man!
Now thats a good answer.
Suddenly, Kwak Moon-Jung whispered, By the way...how much does this sword cost?
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Tang Seo-Wol looked at him speechlessly and replied, Did you think a sword forged personally by me would be cheap? Even a few hundred silver taels would barely be enough to pay for that de.
A few hundred silver taels? I dont have that much money
Right now, Kwak Moon-Jung only had three silver taels in his pocket. There was no way he could afford to buy Tang Seo-Wols sword.
I wont take your money.
Then?
Tang Seo-Wol turned to face Jin Mu-Won and said, Instead, I will give this sword to you as an apology for my rudeness earlier.
You don''t have to do that. Ill pay for the sword.
Hmm, in that case, how about this? As payment for the sword, if the Tang n is ever in trouble, please help them on behalf of this old man who knows nothing but cksmithing.
Me? Help the Tang n? The opposite is more likely, and Im just one person
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Hmph! Are you trying to fool me because Im old?
Although Tang Seo-Wol knew nothing about martial arts, he was an expert when it came to weapons. His expertise told him that a man with the strength and willpower to wield a cursed de like Snow Flower couldnt possibly be weak.
Tang Seo-Wol then looked back at Kwak Moon-Jung and told the boy, From today onward, this greatsword belongs to you. When it bes too light for you and you need a heavier one, be sure toe visit my shop again. Ill forge a custom de just for you.
Shocked by the generous offer, Kwak Moon-Jung eximed, Got it. Thank you so much!
On the other hand, Jin Mu-Won smiled bitterly. Did I just mysteriously make a weird promise? As the saying goes: The older the ginger, the hotter the spice [1]
When Tang Seo-Wol saw Jin Mu-Wons bitter expression, the crafty old man grinned with satisfaction.
If you see this, you are at the wrong site. FoodieMonster007, TheGreatT20
Footnotes:
[1] The older the ginger, the hotter the spice: A Korean proverb (?? ??? ????) that says old people are more experienced, cunning, and wiser than young folks. It is derived from the Chinese proverb ϵ.
Chapter 69: Yong Mu-Sung, The Commander Of The Iron Brigade (1)
Heeheehee! Kwak Moon-Jung hugged his new sword tightly and giggled like an idiot.
Do you like it that much?
Yes!
Until now, Kwak Moon-Jung had only used cheap iron swords, so this was his first time owning a properly forged de. He decided to name the sword Crimson Fang (), for its faint red glow that reminded one of a bloodied fang.
Thats a great name.
Right? Heehee!
Now that you have a good sword, you need to work extra hard to grow into a warrior who will not bring shame to your weapon.
Yes, I will train as hard as I can! Thank you so much, Hyung! I may only be able to thank you with words right now, but I swear that I will work my ass off to be useful to you.
Youre wee, and Im looking forward to your future.
Kwak Moon-Jungs resolve was clearly written on his face. He could tell that Jin Mu-Won truly cared for him, and sincerely wished to help him. If he betrayed the expectations of such a great man, he wouldnt be able to live with himself.
As evening fell, the two young men headed back to the Rejuvenation Inn where the White Dragon caravan was spending the night.
When they entered the inn, Gong Jin-Sung, Yoon Seo-In and the Iron Brigade mercenaries, who had gathered in the lobby, suddenly turned to stare at them.
Jin Mu-Won noticed several unfamiliar faces among the mercenaries. His eyes lit up with interest.
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Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan immediately frowned, but the man next to him, a seven-foot-tall giant wearing a red warriors outfit, stood up from his seat. He had rough facial features and thick, messy hair like a lions mane. A hefty dragon scale dao[1] was slung across his back and a hexagonal baton as thick as a mans arm was shoved through his belt. All in all, he looked extremely fearsome.
The giant held his arms open in greeting and approached Jin Mu-Won, saying, Hahaha! Are you the famous Jin Mu-Won that Ive heard so much about?
Yes, but
Nice to meet you! My name is Yong Mu-Sung. Wahahaha!
As Jin Mu-Won had guessed, theughing, rugged giant was indeed Yong Mu-Sung, the Commander of the Iron Brigade. He gave Yong Mu-Sung a fist salute and introduced himself, saying, I am Jin Mu-Won. Its a pleasure to meet you, Commander Yong.
I heard that you were a very stubborn man. Our Vice-Commander had a lot of things to say about you, hahaha!
Yong Mu-Sung patted Jin Mu-Won on the shoulder and continued roaring withughter. Although it hurt quite a bit and his entire body shook every time his shoulder was patted, Jin Mu-Won did not budge an inch.
Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan, who couldnt stand watching this farce any longer, loudlyined, Commander!
What? Did I say anything wrong?
Unfortunately, Yong Mu-Sung did not pick up the hint and continued talking to Jin Mu-Won.
Come, take a seat over here.
C-Commander Yong? Gong Jin-Sung stuttered, panicking.
However, Yong Mu-Sung ignored him as well and sat down next to Jin Mu-Won.
Ah! By the way, I heard that your uncle was among the people who went missing. Are you okay? You must be anxious! In that case, it would probably help if you joined our discussion about how we are going to proceed next.
About that, Commander Yong
Before Gong Jin-Sung could finish his sentence, Yong Mu-Sung interrupted him, saying, You told me that this guy was strong, right? Thats all that matters. Right now, were in a situation where we need all the strength we can muster.
Guh! Alright, I understand.
Gong Jin-Sung was left speechless by Yong Mu-Sungs logic. Off to the side, Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan and Chae Yak-Ran, who had seen this scene many times, helplessly shook their heads.
Yong Mu-Sung always handled everything spontaneously and arbitrarily. Because of that, his behavior often got them into trouble. However, since Yong Mu-Sung did bring up a good point, they decided not to object this time.
Jin Mu-Won might be a problematic person, but everyone here acknowledged his strength. In the end, leaving out an ally who was likely one of the strongest martial artists in the murim was hardly an intelligent thing to do.
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Ill head over to our room and wait for you, said Kwak Moon-Jung, reading the atmosphere. He understood that he had neither the authority nor the strength to remain in this ce.
When Kwak Moon-Jung left, Yong Mu-Sung introduced the neers to Jin Mu-Won and the White Dragon leaders.
Youve already met some of my group members, so Ill only introduce the three people who are joining the caravan today. First up is the Red Leg Devil (Ź). He lost his right leg in a battle ten years ago and reced it with a red-colored prosthetic. Even I dont know what his real name is. Ahahaha!
A man with a red prosthetic leg raised his hand and greeted, Hello. Like the Commander said, just call me the Red Leg Devil.
Yong Mu-Sung then introduced the next person, Ladies, please beware this person with a pretty-looking face. His name is Man Seo-Jin, and hes a master at seducing women.
A handsome man waved and smiled in greeting.
Finally, Yong Mu-Sung gestured toward the third new person, an extremely skinny man with sharp, crazed eyes.
This is Ji Sung-Yul. As you can see, he has a terrible temper and is very stubborn. All of you should be careful not to piss him off, otherwise, you might receive a blow to the back of your head when you least expect it.
Despite Yong Mu-Sungs stinging introduction, Ji Sung-Yul did notin. Instead, he simply observed Jin Mu-Won keenly.
Jin Mu-Won gave a fist salute to the three men and said, My name is Jin Mu-Won.
Now that we''re done introducing each other, lets get this meeting started.
Gong Jin-Sung nodded in agreement and kicked off the discussion.
First of all, the current situation in Yunnan is veryplicated. Until a few years ago, Diancang Sect (cn)[2] was the only decent murim faction there, but now we have the Tyrant Fist Sect to consider as well.
The Tyrant Fist Sect was currently rapidly expanding their influence, leading to violent shes with the Diancang Sect all over Yunnan Province. Normally, Heavens Summit would interfere and stop them from fighting, but for some reason, they chose to stand by and do nothing this time.
As a result, the situation got so chaotic that not only were the small and medium-sized sects dragged into the mess, even the White Dragon Merchant Association, the Sun Moon Merchant Association and the Maind Merchant Association of the Ten Great Companies also ended up bing victims. Things were so messy, no one could predict what would happen next.
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Because of the caravans going missing, none of the other merchant associations are willing to do business in Yunnan. Our trading branch there mainly makes money from these caravans, so our profits have plummeted.
Yong Mu-Sung rubbed his chin thoughtfully and mumbled, Do you think that someone is intentionally trying to control the flow of goods and money there?
Yes. We suspect that either the Diancang Sect or the Tyrant Fist Sect is behind this, but we cant be sure which one of them is responsible until after we enter Yunnan.
Is it possible that a third faction is the mastermind?
Yes, that possibility does exist.
What a mess. This is oneplicated request youre asking of us, Finance Head Gong.
Yong Mu-Sung turned to look at Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan, who smiled helplessly back at him and said, Youre going to ept this request even if I think its a stupid thing to do, right?
Yeah Yong Mu-Sung scratched his head apologetically.
Normally, the Iron Brigade would never ept a mission that risks the lives of their members. That was because they strongly believed that staying alive was far more important than getting rich.
However, not too long ago, they ran into some dire straits and were now gravely in need of more money. The White Dragon Merchant Association offered them the most for their services, so they had no choice but to ept this mission.
Suddenly, Jin Mu-Won, who had been listening in silence, asked, Do you know where my uncle disappeared?
Gong Jin-Sung shook his head and replied, No. Although we tried to find out, we cant seem to obtain any information on the happenings in Yunnan. If my guess is correct, then we will be able to enter Yunnan easily, but getting out will prove challenging.
In other words, we cant even conduct an investigation without entering the province.
That''s right.
Jin Mu-Wons face immediately clouded over.
Yong Mu-Sung attempted to make him feel better, saying, Don''t worry. Ive already sent several of my men there in advance. We might be able to get some information from them shortly after we arrive in Yunnan.
I was wondering where Chu Gae went. Now I know that the Commander sent him to scout ahead of us.
Haha! That guy isnt any help in a fight, anyway! Since hes good at collecting information, I sent him to Yunnan first.
Well done, Commander. Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan nodded in approval. He may be the strategist of the team, but ultimately, Yong Mu-Sung was the leader of the Iron Brigade and everyone followed his will.
Chu Gae,[3] who had gone to scout ahead for them, was a beggar. He imed to have ties with the Beggars Sect, but no one believed him. However, his ability to collect information was indeed outstanding, securing his position as one of the most important members of the Iron Brigade.
Well, there isnt much we can do until we get more information, so I guess thats it for today. Ugyagyagya! [4]
Yong Mu-Sung stood up and stretched his body.
Commander, the meeting isnt over yet
Im sure youre more than capable of taking care of the rest, Vice-Commander. After all, you guys were doing just fine even without me, right?
But...
No buts! Picking on the details really isnt my style. Just give me a summary of your discussionter. Also, dont worry. When we get an update on the situation in Yunnan, Ill definitely join in the nning.
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Understood, Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan replied with a resigned look on his face. This kind of attitude was normal for hismander, so hed long since given up trying to convince him otherwise.
Suddenly, Yong Mu-Sung turned toward Jin Mu-Won, grinned yfully, and asked, Hey, how long are you nning on staying here? Want to go get some fresh air?
Jin Mu-Won went for a walk with Yong Mu-Sung.
I wonder where hes taking me to?
Normally, people who were taking a leisurely walk would look around randomly and seem a little lost, but Yong Mu-Sung was not like that. He had a clear destination in mind and was walking there without being distracted.
Dont you have something you want to ask me? said Yong Mu-Sung all of a sudden.
What do you mean?
Arent you curious why I asked you to take a walk with me, and where were going?
Even if I dont ask you, Ill find out eventually as long as I y along with you, right?
Are you being serious right now? As expected, you''re a weirdo.
How am I weird?
Never mind, I shouldnt have bothered asking you that.
Jin Mu-Won fell silent. Yong Mu-Sung was probably referring to the reason why Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan was keeping a distance from him.
That guy, Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan, hes a strategist who feels the need to ensure that everything falls within his calctions. To do that, he ces people into categories and uses that as a basis to predict what they will do. However, youre the type of unpredictable person who doesnt always act rationally, so he feels kind of bothered by that.
Even without being told, Jin Mu-Won could tell that Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan instinctively wanted to avoid unpredictable people who were outside of his calctions, as they were the ones who were most likely to mess up his ns.
He may be smart, but even he cant escape from thinking like a stereotypical strategist, huh?
What do you want me to do about it? Should I apologize?
Hahaha! Why should you? Theres nothing wrong with you. In fact, I think youre a very amusing guy.
Arent you angry about it? Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan is your subordinate, right?
He is, but hes also a very boring guy. Kukuku! Yong Mu-Sung roared withughter.
Jin Mu-Won couldnt help but grin yfully as he listened to the mercenary leader happily criticize his own subordinate. The fact that Yong Mu-Sung could do something like that without feeling ashamed was proof of how close-knit the members of the Iron Brigade were.
Anyway, that stubborn guy always makes my life difficult and stops me from doing a lot of things. However, he still works for me, so even if hes rude to me, I still have to respect his wishes.
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He must be extraordinarily capable if youre hiring him despite his rudeness and disrespect for you.
Ah, hes not that rude
But that son of a bitch doesnt even have the basic courtesy to respect his superiors, yes?
Err, that''s true but...
A person like that will not learn his lesson and change his ways unless he is punished harshly. Thats why, the next time he opposes you, you should just smash his knees and cripple him permanently.
Do I really need to go that far? I can ignore a bit of rudeness, and if he disrespects me, I can just scold him
I guess thats okay too.
Hey! Did you say all that on purpose!? You look stoic and serious, but youre actually quite cheeky, arent you? Ahahaha, Im liking you more and more!
Sigh, how did this conversation end up like this?
Does it matter how it happened? Im enjoying myself, so dont worry about it.
The more Jin Mu-Won talked with Yong Mu-Sung, the more he became convinced that the mercenary leader spoke in a way that made the listener feel good. Even though Im meeting him for the first time today, hes talking to me casually without seeming awkward.
The two men continued walking and chatting for a while, until Yong Mu-Sung eventually led Jin Mu-Won to a quiet alley in a corner of the market district.
Is there something here? Jin Mu-Won asked.
Hahaha! Dont worry, I didnt bring you here to finish you off.
Do you seriously think youd be able to kill me?
We wont know until we fight, right? said Yong Mu-Sung, grinning mysteriously and turning to face Jin Mu-Won.
His fiery eyes immediately met with Jin Mu-Wons calm gaze, and the two men stared at each other for a while, sizing each other up.
However, after a while, Yong Mu-Sung looked away, saying, Its a pity, but we have more important things to do today.
What exactly are we doing?
Collecting information.
Information?
Yeah, information about the current situation in Yunnan.
Earlier, didn''t you say that you couldn''t get any information?
That was then, this is now.
Jin Mu-Won furrowed his brows at Yong Mu-Sungs conflicting words, but in response to his confusion, Yong Mu-Sung only grinned smugly, walked to a normal-looking house at the end of the alley, and knocked on the door.
KNOCK KNOCK!
If you see this, you are at the wrong site. FoodieMonster007, TheGreatT20
Footnotes:
[1] Dragon scale dao: A gigantic Chinese dao. Imagine FF7 Cloud Strifes Buster Sword.
[2] Diancang Sect (cn): The name Diancang means a ce on Cang Mountain (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cang_Mountain). In Jin Yongs ssic wuxia novel Sword Stained with Royal Blood, it is a powerful but hidden sect as well as one of the Four Great Sword Sects along with Mount Hua Sect, Emei Sect, and Kunlun Sect.
[3] Chu Gae (ؤ): I cant tell whether this is a name or a title that means Beggar Wannabe
[4] Ugyagyagya: Yong Mu-Sungughs in multiple weird ways Hahaha kukuku ugyagyagya
Trantors Notes: Novel Jin Mu-Won is so cheeky and snarkypared to his stoic manhwa counterpart
Proofreader''s Notes: Chapter 69. NOICE!!
Chapter 70
TL: FoodieMonster007; ED: TheGreatT20
Jin Mu-Won observed the house in front of him carefully, but no matter how hard he stared at it, it looked exactly the same as a typicalmoners residence in Sichuan.
The only unusual thing about it is the small ck g hanging by the window. Is that some kind of sign?
In fact, the ck g was so small, he wouldnt have noticed it if he didnt know that there was anything odd about this house beforehand.
After knocking on the door, the two men waited for a while before a short, middle-aged man opened it and stuck his head outside.
Whats up?
Im here to make a deal
You came to the wrong ce. If you want to make a deal, you should go to a shop somewhere
Im looking for something illuminated by the light of the ck moon
Whatever it is youre looking for, I dont have it
The ck Moon Spymaster said that I could visit whenever I wanted though
Whats your name?
I am Yong Mu-Sung, the Commander of the Iron Brigade.
The moment he heard Yong Mu-Sungs name, the middle-aged mans expression changed. He took a quick look around to ensure that no one else was nearby, then said, Pleasee in.
Yong Mu-Sung and Jin Mu-Won entered the house. Like the outside, the inside of the house appeared perfectly ordinary at first nce. If anything, it felt like he had entered a quiet mountain temple. However, Jin Mu-Won could sense that he was being observed.
As expected, its not a normal house.
The middle-aged man guided Jin Mu-Won and Yong Mu-Sung to the innermost room. The rooms design was simple, with no decorations, and the only furniture inside was a table surrounded by four chairs. It felt like an abandoned house.
Please wait here, said the middle-aged man as he left the room.
Jin Mu-Won turned toward Yong Mu-Sung and asked, What is this ce?
Its one of the ck Moons () branch offices.
Jin Mu-Won furrowed his brows. He had never heard of the name ck Moon before. Yong Mu-Sung grinned, as if he could tell what Jin Mu-Won was wondering about.
To put it simply, its a ce that investigates and manages top-secret information.
That means, people can buy information here?
Yes, but not just anyone can do that.
.
The ck Moon only sells information to sect leaders and those at the same level.
The only people at the same level as a sect leader are the elders of therge sects. How many people in the whole gangho belong to this level? There cant be many.
They take the initiative to obtain crucial information that the murim leaders need, summarize it into an easy-to-understand form, then sell it to their customers. The role they y is so important that even Heavens Summit and therge sects depend on them to make decisions.
Of course, not every leader goes to the ck Moon, only those who understand the value of getting information quickly and urately. These people also tend to be the ones who wisely n for the future.
Is it really okay for you to reveal all this to me even though we just met for the first time today?
Pfft haha! Didnt I already tell you? The ck Moon only sells information to sect leaders and those at the same level. Even if you know about the existence of this ce, you cant buy information.
I see.
I just wanted you to know that ces like this existed, and that the gangho is a much bigger, moreplex ce than you imagined, Yong Mu-Sung dered confidently.
Now I know why Yong Mu-Sung brought me here. Its rted to how I ended up shing opinions with Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan. He wanted me to learn that since there are a lot of unknown dangers in this world, I should take better care of myself and think twice before acting. At least, any normal person who learns about the existence of such a ce would carefully reconsider their circumstances from here on.
Thank you for your advice. I will keep it in mind.
I hope you do. Yong Mu-Sung shot a meaningful nce at Jin Mu-Won.
Just then, a person entered the room and said in a clear voice, I hope I havent kept you two waiting for too long.
The two men looked toward the door to see a woman wearing a veil over her face walking gracefully toward them. Every time she moved, the beautiful curves of her body would be emphasized, giving her a very seductive feel.
The woman looked at Yong Mu-Sung and asked, I heard that you were the Commander of the Iron Brigade. Is that correct?
Thats right. And you are?
I am Mae Wol-Ryung, the Branch Head of ck Moons Sichuan Branch.
Yong Mu-Sungs eyes glittered with curiosity. From the tone and pitch of the womans voice, he had guessed that she was quite young, and it was quite unprecedented for someone around her age to rise to the position of branch head.
Nice to meet you, Miss Mae.
Who is the person next to you?
Hes one of my travelingpanions.
Mae Wol-Ryung looked at Jin Mu-Won and asked, You must be quite the outstanding person to be allowed to apany Commander Yong here. Could you tell me your name?
My name is Jin Mu-Won. Im a neer to the gangho, and I havent got any aplishments to my name. Commander Yong only brought me along because hes concerned for me, so please dont mind my presence, replied Jin Mu-Won, putting his hands together in greeting.
Mae Wol-Ryungs eyes, the only part of her face not hidden by her veil, immediately lit up with interest. She stared at Jin Mu-Won thoughtfully and said, Dont you know that we are very interested in up-anding neers, Master Jin?
Her eyes curved at the edges, as if she were smiling underneath the veil.
No one in the gangho knew who the leader of the ck Moon was, or when and why such an organization was founded. Even the number of members they had, and the identities of the members wereplete mysteries. The only thing most people could be certain of was that the ck Moons ability to obtain information was terrifying. Somehow, they were always the first ones to find things out.
Heavens Summit and therge factions understood that information was power, and as such, they all badly desired the ck Moons resources. They felt that if they could take over the spy organization, theyd be able to gain an overwhelming advantage over theirpetitors.
In fact, one of those factions, the Hwang-Bo n1 of the Five Great ns, had indeed made such an attempt before. Among the Five ns, they had the worst informationwork, and they wished to supplement their weakness so that they could be the new leader of the Five ns.
Once their decision was made, the Hwang-Bo n had moved swiftly and without hesitation in order to avoid alerting the ck Moon spies. They mobilized not only their own elites, but also borrowed warriors from their allies, andunched an attack on one of the ck Moons branches.
Unexpectedly, the ck Moon branch showed no resistance against the Hwang-Bo ns surprise attack. None of the members there fought back, and the branch fell within minutes. The captured members were then interrogated, tortured and killed, however, none of them revealed the identity and location of their leader, the Spymaster of the ck Moon.
Several of the tortured ck Moon members had indeed talked, but they were also the ones who knew nothing about the higher-ups. In the end, the Hwang-Bo n were forced to retreat after getting none of the information that they wanted.
However, things did not simply end with just that. The Hwang-Bo ns retreat only marked the beginning of the ck Moons counterattack.
The counterattack began by isting the Hwang-Bo n from the outside world. Not only did the ck Moon cut off all of the Hwang-Bo ns information andmunication channels, they used it against them by spreading fake news and rumors.
Next, the ck Moon usedrge sums of money tomission assassins targeting the n leadership. Dozens of those targets wound up killed or gravely injured, nearly resulting in the destruction of the n.
Eventually, the Hwang-Bo n were forced to surrender to the ck Moon. However, by that time, they had already lost most of their leaders and elites. The n quickly fell into decline and were humiliatingly kicked out of the Five Great ns.
It would be decades more before the Hwang-Bo n once again rose back to the ranks of the Five Great ns.
Through this series of events, therge factions came to the realization that no good woulde from aggravating the ck Moon, and to this very day, the legend of the ck Moons viciousness continues.
As part of expanding its informationwork, one of the objectives that the ck Moon was most concerned about was the identification and tracking of neers in the gangho. From experience, the ck Moon knew very well that the bnce in the gangho was often easily swayed by the appearance of yet unknown talents.
Mae Wol-Ryung carefully observed Jin Mu-Won from head-to-toe.
They may be a small group, but the Iron Brigade is still one of the more influential factions in the gangho. In particr, their leader, Commander Yong Mu-Sung, is one of the strongest martial artists in the world. Not only that, unlike his vulgar appearance, hes actually incredibly intelligent and has a good eye for people.
A man like that would never allow a random person to apany them. In other words, although he looks normal, Yong Mu-Sung has already recognized Jin Mu-Wons talent.
To conclude, Jin Mu-Won is definitely a warrior worth paying attention to.
Without knowing it, Jin Mu-Won had be a subject of the ck Moons observation. This was something that not even Yong Mu-Sung had expected.
Finally, Mae Wol-Ryung turned to face Yong Mu-Sung, asking, So, for what purpose are you visiting the ck Moon, Commander Yong?
I want to know whats happening in Yunnan.
Hmm! Thats not an easy question to answer.
Knowing the ck Moons abilities, it shouldnt be too hard, right?
You overestimate us. Even our informationwork has limits.
Despite what she said, Mae Wol-Ryungs voice was brimming with confidence. Yong Mu-Sung sensed this and grinned, adding, Ill pay you guys as much as you want, so please tell me about the current events in Yunnan. I epted a request from the White Dragon Merchant Association rted to the unusual happenings there, and Im at a loss because I cant get any information on it.
I see
Please help me.
Mae Wol-Ryung closed her eyes as she organized her thoughts. As a branch manager, it was her job to memorize all the information. The reason for that was because the ck Moon did not keep any written records, as they wished to avoid a repeat of the Hwang-Bo n tragedy.
After some time, Mae Wol-Ryung said, Im not sure if youre aware of howplicated the situation in Yunnan is right now. Most people think that its just a simple sh between the Tyrant Fist Sect and the Diancang Sect, but in truth, its more like some kind of holy war.
Are you trying to say that theres more to the conflict than a fight over territory between the two sects?
Yes. The two sects are indeed waging war, but Mae Wol-Ryungs voice trailed off.
Sensing that she was about to reveal a big secret, Yong Mu-Sung and Jin Mu-Won perked up their ears.
Mae Wol-Ryung whispered, The ck Moon believes that a third faction may be involved in the conflict. We havent yet managed to obtain absolute proof of this, but if we consider the circumstances, it must be true.
Hmm!
We have another convincing piece of evidence that a third faction is involved. Heavens Summit has dispatched an investigation squad to Yunnan.
All details regarding the investigation squads of Heavens Summit were top secret. However, the fact that the ck Moon had knowledge of their movements went to show just how far their reach was.
Then, did the third faction target the merchant associations in order to fuel the war between the Tyrant Fist Sect and Diancang Sect?
Thats what we think.
In that case, there is a very high likelihood that the people with the caravans which disappeared in Yunnan were either detained or killed.
If they had been killed, Im sure that we would have already found their corpses, as it is impossible to quietly dispose of that many bodies.
When he heard that there was a good chance Hwang Cheol was still alive, Jin Mu-Wons eyes sparkled with the light of hope.
What is the identity of this third faction?
We dont know yet. However, once we pool our resources together, Im sure we would be able to find that out pretty quickly.
Jin Mu-Won could hear the pride in Mae Wol-Ryungs voice as she talked about the ck Moons capabilities. It was clear how much she believed in the organization.
One more thing. Can you give me some details about the investigation squad that Heavens Summit sent to Yunnan?
Heavens Summit is rather good at keeping secrets, so we dont know much about it yet. The only thing we can be sure of is that the people in the squad are carefully selected elites specialized in navigating the chaos of Yunnan.
Ugh Yong Mu-Sung groaned.
Heavens Summit is an unexpected variable that could change things greatly. Regardless, we absolutely cannot fail this mission. Also, if we break the contract, the reputation that weve worked so hard to build up will crumble into pieces.
Sigh, I have no choice but to go to Yunnan and do my best toplete the mission with minimal losses.
Tsk! Looks like were in for tough times ahead.
You said that you epted a mission from the White Dragon Merchant Association, right? Your goal must be to search for the missing third son.
Thats right.
Its not going to be easy. Like I said, even we dont know everything thats going on in Yunnan, and without information, it will be impossible to predict what could happen.
Mae Wol-Ryung looked at Yong Mu-Sung regretfully. Contrary to her appearance, she had worked for the ck Moon for a long time. Long enough to understand that sometimes, the only way to get through a windstorm was to lower ones head.
To make things worse, the storm currently brewing in Yunnan was no ordinary windstorm, but a raging hurricane. No one knew how bad things would get.
Yong Mu-Sung rose from his seat. Although it wasnt much, he had indeed obtained some useful information during this conversation. In fact, simply knowing about the existence of a third faction made the visit worth it. Armed with this new information, he was soon going to get very busy with the preparations for the entry into Yunnan.
He took out two gold yuanbao2 the size of a childs fist and ced them on the table.
I hope that this is enough for the information.
Its more than enough. As thanks for the extra tip, Ill add in one more piece of information.
Go on.
Commander Yong, you are being targeted by the Deathshroud.
Yong Mu-Sung shuddered. That was not a name he expected to hear. After all, the Deathshroud (oӰĻ)3 was an assassin organization. It wasnt the best assassin organization in the gangho, but it was certainly the most vicious and unrelenting one of them all. Not a single one of their targets had been met with a quick, painless death.
Yong Mu-Sung did not bother asking why he had been targeted. The reason was obvious.
Looks like information about me epting this current mission has been leaked.
Dont you want to know who leaked it?
Will you tell me if I ask?
Mae Wol-Ryungs eyes glittered oddly as she answered, Would you believe me if I said that it was Neung Won-Pyong?
Aha! As expected, it was him. Haa No wonder I kept having a bad feeling about this mission. Yong Mu-Sung sighed.
Footnotes: -
Hwang-Bo (ʸ): Yet another 2-word family name, the same as Seo-Moon and Jong-Ri. Other 2-word family names include Nam-Goong, Je-Gal, Sun-Woo, Sa-Gong, Dok-Go. ?
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Yuanbao (Ԫ): A type of gold and silver ingot currency used in imperial China from its founding under the Qin dynasty until the fall of the Qing in the 20th century. The name yuanbao is the pinyin romanization of the Mandarin pronunciation of the characters for inaugural treasures. Under Chinas Tang dynasty, coins were inscribed kai yuan tong bao (_Ԫͨ, Circting Treasure of the Beginning of an Era),ter abbreviated to just yuanbao. ?
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Deathshroud (oӰĻ): Literal trantion C Hidden Curtains of Death. Curtain as in the curtains that close at the end of a stage y. I figured I could justbine hidden curtains together into one word like shrouded or veiledunless anyone has any better ideas? ?
Chapter 71
Chapter 71: Yong Mu-Sung, The Commander of the Iron Brigade (3)
Feb 11, 2022
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TL: FoodieMonster007; ED: TheGreatT20 If you see this, you are at the wrong site!
After Jin Mu-Won and Yong Mu-Sung had left, Mae Wol-Ryung appeared to be alone in the room.
Heuk-No1, she said.
A hidden door on one side of the room opened, revealing an old man dressed in all ck. The old mans face was covered in ugly scars, giving him a terrifying appearance.
This old man, whose name was Heuk-No, approached Mae Wol-Ryung and asked, You called for me, Young Miss?
Did you get a good look at Master Jin?
Yes, I did.
Whats your opinion on him?
With my abilities, its difficult for me to judge him.
Really?
Young Miss, do you suspect that hes someone special?
Hmm, I dont know. Maybe.
Mae Wol-Ryung sighed and took off her veil, revealing her dazzlingly beautiful face. It was a face that could only belong to a woman in her twenties, an age where the sparkle of youth coexisted with the seductiveness of a mature woman.
Five years had already passed since she had be the branch manager of the ck Moons Sichuan Branch. During that time, she had met a lot of distinguished and renowned people, from faction leaders such as Yong Mu-Sung to the elders of therge sects and ns.
Despite her young age, she had never felt the least bit intimidated by them. Rather, she used her experiences interacting with those leaders to improve her judgment skills and ability to read people.
However, Jin Mu-Won was different. She hadnt been able to glean any useful information about him just by observing his speech and bodynguage. It was as if he were a perfectly ordinary person, except for the fact that Yong Mu-Sung had acknowledged him as apanion.
Even so, theres something about him that really bothers me, and I cant get him out of my mind This has never happened to me before! Ive seen plenty of men who are way more handsome and famous than he is, so why is he the first one to perk my interest?
Just what is it about him that I find so intriguing?
Mae Wol-Ryung recalled Jin Mu-Wons appearance and mulled over it for a while before suddenlying to a realization.
Its his eyes, or rather, the look in his eyes. Unlike other young men his age, his eyes are not filled with hopes and dreams, but at the same time, are also not distant and emotionless.
Jin Mu-Wons calm eyes did not belong on the face of a young man in his twenties. Only a veteran warrior who had experienced the countless ups and downs of the gangho could have eyes like that.
Just what on earth did he go through to end up like that?
Mae Wol-Ryung tapped her chin with her finger, while Heuk-No watched her in silence. He understood all too well that she had a habit of doing that whenever she was lost in thought.
This is a free trantion. You should not be seeing ads.
A short whileter, Mae Wol-Ryung said, Heuk-No.
Yes, Young Miss?
As soon as Jin Mu-Won steps into Yunnan, have one of the Secret Moon () spies tail him.
Which rank should the spy be?
Choose one from the Heaven Rank.
Heuk-Nos eyes widened in shock. The top thousand spies in the ck Moon all belonged to the Secret Moon squad. The Secret Moon spies were then further split into three categories based on their abilities: Heaven, Earth, and Mortal. Among the three, the twenty or so Heaven Rank spies were the most skilled in the whole of the ck Moon.
Thus, when Heuk-No heard that his mistress was using such a precious resource on the likes of a gangho neer, he was astounded. Throughout the long history of the ck Moon, this was a first.
Is there truly a need to go to such lengths?
Im not sure yet. However, in order to collect information in Yunnan, well have to send at least one of the Heaven Rank spies there anyway, so regardless of whether Jin Mu-Won is interesting or not, we wont be taking a loss.
Understood. I will select a suitable person from the Secret Moon and send them to Yunnan. By the way Heuk-No hesitated.
Mae Wol-Ryung smiled encouragingly at him and said, Go on.
Why did you tell Yong Mu-Sung that the Deathshroud was targeting him?
The ck Moon was not a charity organization. They never revealed even the smallest piece of information to their customers unless they were paid an appropriate price, and there was no way that Mae Wol-Ryung wouldnt know this.
It was because I wanted to confirm something.
This is a non-profit trantion. Ads? What ads?
Confirm what?
Heuk-No, how much do you know about the Iron Brigade?
They are a small group of elite mercenaries who have never failed a mission
Thats right. Because of that achievement, the Iron Brigade secured its position as one of the strongest mercenary squads in the gangho.
For a mercenary squad, their business was proportional to their reputation, and the Iron Brigade had indeed made full use of their good reputation to earn huge profits as well as the admiration of many young martial artists.
Mae Wol-Ryungs smile widened. Isnt it odd? Do you really believe that those guys deserve their prominent position in the gangho? And what about the rumor that they have never failed a single mission? Is that actually possible?
In other words, you think that the Iron Brigade is hiding or falsifying something. Right, Young Miss?
Its just a lingering suspicion, but I still want to confirm the truth of the legend. At least, from what I can see, they are indeed a bunch of very intelligent folks. People like them have their uses, you know?
Hmm
Anyway, there is a storm brewing in Yunnan, but we still dont know if its one that will remain contained within the province, or if it will eventually engulf the whole world. We can only prepare for the worst, Mae Wol-Ryung concluded, staring nkly into the distance as if the world was reflected in her eyes.
Jin Mu-Won and Yong Mu-Sung walked side-by-side out of the ck Moon branch, but unlike when they entered, Yong Mu-Sung now wore a scowl on his face.
A third faction in Yunnan. What a headache.
Didnt you already guess that a third faction was involved during the meeting in the inn?
A wild guess is not the same as confirmation, just as a potential threat is not the same as one that is right in front of you.
Yong Mu-Sung had spent two gold yuanbao just to confirm that one fact, but it was well worth the price. Knowing who their potential enemies were meant that they could prepare for it and hence mitigate the threat.
By the way, who is Neung Won-Pyong? And what is the Deathshroud?
Ah, that old guy? Yong Mu-Sung sighed and suddenly stopped in his tracks.
Jin Mu-Won stared at him and waited for him to continue.
Neung Won-Pyong is the customer I was working for until right before I joined the White Dragon caravan. I escorted him from the Qaidam Basin in Qinghai all the way to Sichuan.
Did something happen with him?
He found a very valuable item in the Qaidam Basin. So valuable, that if that items existence became known to the world, he would be extremely troubled. In our mission contract, we pledged that we would keep this item a secret, but seeing as he employed the Deathshroud, it seems that he didnt trust us after all.
That means the Deathshroud is
An assassin organization, obviously. Only dead men tell no tales, you know?
Although Yong Mu-Sung spoke jokingly and casually like he always did, his eyes were not smiling. Instead, they were deep and intimidating, like an endless abyss.
Jin Mu-Won wasnt the least bit surprised by that. This serious Yong Mu-Sung was probably the real him, while the friendliness was just an act he put up.
Suddenly, as if he had finally noticed the tense atmosphere, Yong Mu-Sung grinned, patted Jin Mu-Won on the shoulder, and said, Hahaha! Dont worry and just leave everything to us. Well make sure that our journey to Yunnan is as smooth-sailing as smooth can be.
Uhm, I wasnt worried.
In that case, thank you for believing in us. Also, I need to go somewhere alone, so would you mind returning to the inn without me?
Sure.
Ill buy you a drinkter. We can talk more then.
Jin Mu-Won shrugged in answer to Yong Mu-Sungs offer, and the two men went their own ways. As Yong Mu-Sung walked off, Jin Mu-Won stared at him for a while, then began heading back to the Revitalization Inn.
Unlike Yong Mu-Sung, he wasnt particrly concerned with the state of affairs in Yunnan. It wasnt his problem, and there was probably no room for him to intervene, anyway.
Instead, he was far more intrigued by another point that Mae Wol-Ryung had brought up, and that was the possibility that Hwang Cheol was still alive.
After returning to the inn, Jin Mu-Won sat down on a chair and watched Kwak Moon-Jung circte his chi using the Three Origins Meditation Technique. This was something that Kwak Moon-Jung did every day without fail, even though it was extremely boring.
Crimson Fang, Kwak Moon-Jungs new greatsword,y next to him. The swords hilt was covered in sweat and grime; proof of how hard the boy had trained his swordsmanship earlier.
Keep going like this and dont stop. So what if your improvement is slow? Does it matter how long it takes as long as you know youll eventually reach the peak? Jin Mu-Won whispered, both to Kwak Moon-Jung and as a reminder to himself.
After all, he understood very well that as long as one remained patient and never gave up, even at a snails pace, one would be able to travel a thousand miles to the final destination Although he had no idea what reaching that final destination entailed, being only partway through the journey himself.
Suddenly, he heard amotion outside the inn. He stood up, walked over to the window, and looked outside. There, he saw the mercenaries of the Iron Brigade, including Yong Mu-Sung, gathering.
Sensing his gaze, Yong Mu-Sung looked up and met his eyes. In that instant, Jin Mu-Won noticed the cunning grin on Yong Mu-Sungs face, and was hit by a strange sense of foreboding.
Yong Mu-Sung waved to Jin Mu-Won, then left the inn grounds with the rest of the Iron Brigade.
Jin Mu-Won frowned. I have a bad feeling about this
Chapter 72
TL: FoodieMonster007; ED: TheGreatT20
Ever since the crack of dawn, the Revitalization Inn had been bustling with activity. The escorts of the White Dragon Merchant Association hurried around preparing the luggage, loading the wagons, and hitching the horses to the wagons. After a brief rest, it was once again time for them to continue their journey to Yunnan.
Meanwhile, the inn cooks had also prepared breakfast before dawn, and the waiters were currently busy carrying the food from the kitchen to the dining hall.
After finishing the final checks on the wagon he was in charge of driving, Jin Mu-Won headed into the dining hall. Gong Jin-Sung and Yoon Seo-In were already there, so he approached them and greeted, Good morning, you two sure are up early.
Gong Jin-Sung greeted him back, saying, Youre up early too. We expect to be hitting the road without breaks for quite a few days and munching on dry rations on-the go, so eat well while you still can. Not long from now, well probably be desperately wishing for nice meals like this!
Okay, Ill do just that, Jin Mu-Won said, then began walking toward an empty seat.
Suddenly, Yoon Seo-In, who hadnt been able to bring herself to talk to Jin Mu-Won for a while, stuttered, M-Master Jin
Hmm? Jin Mu-Won turned to look at her.
Yoon Seo-In bit her lip gently to quell her nerves and stiffly continued, Aboutst time Im sorry, I went too far.
Yoon Seo-In was a very prideful woman, which made it hard for her to apologize to anyone. In addition, she was still upset over her senior brothers defeat. However, she understood that she was clearly in the wrong this time, and didnt want to keep suffering from the guilt of not apologizing. Furthermore, Jin Mu-Wons strength was a great asset to her current mission. This was not the time for her to be stubborn.
Jin Mu-Won smiled warmly and replied, Its okay, I forgive you. Please dont worry about it anymore.
Yoon Seo-In visibly rxed at receiving Jin Mu-Wons forgiveness. Seeing this, Gong Jin Sung suggested, Why dont we eat together?
But
Is that okay with you, Master Jin?
Now that it hade to this, it would be impolite of Jin Mu-Won to refuse Gong Jin-Sungs offer. He sat down at their table, which was already loaded with food.
Yoon Seo-In stared curiously at Jin Mu-Won for a while, before abruptly asking, This might sound a little rude, but would you mind telling us more about yourself, Master Jin?
Next to her, Gong Jin-Sungs eyes also lit up with interest.
I dont really have much to say about myself. I simply learned the martial arts that have been passed down in my family for a long time, and this is my first time entering the gangho so I dont have any stories to tell, either.
Disappointment shed across Yoon Seo-Ins face. She felt that Jin Mu-Won was purposely lying about his origins.
Seeing her expression, Jin Mu-Won immediately tried to change the topic, asking, Wheres Commander Yong? I havent seen him since yesterday.
The Iron Brigade mercenaries all went out to run some errandst night. They promised me that theyll definitely return before we depart, so they should probably be here soon.
I see.
Jin Mu-Won looked down at the food and was just about to start eating, but suddenly, the door to the inn opened and arge group of people entered.
Im so hungry, I think the front of my stomach is glued to the skin on my back!1
Its not like you did much, though. Why are you so hungry?
What do you mean, I didnt do much!? I just pulled an all-nighter!
The Iron Brigade mercenariesined loudly as they stormed into the inn dining hall. When Yong Mu-Sung noticed Jin Mu-Won and the two White Dragon leaders, he grinned happily and said, Wow, that looks delicious! Mind if we join you? Im starving!
However, before Yong Mu-Sung could even finish talking, the mercenaries had already rushed into the dining hall, plopped down on the chairs, and reached for the food like hungry ghosts who hadnt eaten in three months.
Yoon Seo-Ins jaw dropped in shock. Just what have you guys been doing all night? And UGH! All of you reek of sweat!
Dont talk to me. Theres a starving beggar in my stomach.
Could you order more food? This isnt enough.
Having received nothing but irrelevant replies, Yoon Seo-In was left with no choice but to order more food for the mercenaries. Simrly, Jin Mu-Won gave up on trying to snatch food away from the ravished mercenaries and simply sat there watching them eat.
The roasted duck that a waiter had just brought to the table a few minutes ago disappeared in a blink of an eye, leaving only a pile of bones on the table. Even then, the mercenaries, who hadnt had their fill yet, licked the oil on their fingers while waiting for the next dish to be served.
When the waiter finally brought out the next dish, it was also emptied out in an instant, leaving only the grease behind.
In the end, Yong Mu-Sung was the first person to finish eating his fill and restore enough of his senses to turn toward Yoon Seo-In and apologize, Im really sorry about this, Miss Seo. Ive been working non-stop all night long, and felt like I was starving to death!
What did you dost night? And why are all of you dressed like beggars?
I met up with an acquaintance and had a heart-to-heart talk with him.
Yoon Seo-In frowned. She had no idea what Yong Mu-Sung was talking about.
Yong Mu-Sung peered at Jin Mu-Won meaningfully, as he was probably the only person outside of the Iron Brigade who knew who he had just referred to. However, Jin Mu-Won merely wrinkled his nose in response. The mercenaries were just too smelly!
Its not just their sweat, they also stink of blood.
The privileged Yoon Seo-In had failed to recognize the smell, but it was impossible for Jin Mu-Won to miss it. He was absolutely sure that the mercenaries dark clothes were covered in bloodstains.
Just then, Chae Yak-Ran stared unblinkingly at Jin Mu-Won.
Do you need something from me? Jin Mu-Won asked.
If youre not going to eat that, can I have it? Chae Yak-Ran pointed at the food in Jin Mu-Wons bowl.
Jin Mu-Won nodded nkly and handed his bowl to Chae Yak-Ran. She bowed her head slightly in thanks, then bent down and tucked into her meal.
What in the world!? Yoon Seo-In, who was watching this scene, couldnt help but exim out loud.
Next to her, the corners of Yong Mu-Sungs lips curled upward slightly as he briefly exchanged nces with Jin Mu-Won.
After breakfast, the White Dragon caravan left the inn and slowly sped up their pace, headed for the highway.2
The Iron Brigade mercenaries were so tired from their nighttime escapade that they fell asleep on the roofs of the wagons. Even Jin Mu-Wons wagon wasnt spared, as Yong Mu-Sung had mbered onto it and was happily snoring away.
Kwak Moon-Jung approached Jin Mu-Won, riding on his horse.
Just what on earth did they do all night to be so tired? he asked, throwing a sideways nce at the sleeping Yong Mu-Sung.
Cant you tell by the smell?
Smell? What smell? Kwak Moon-Jung sniffed his own clothes, thinking that Jin Mu-Won was referring to him.
Suddenly, there was a mor at the front of the caravan.
Fire!
The smokesing from over there!
Jin Mu-Won and Kwak Moon-Jung looked in the direction where the escorts were pointing. There, they saw the flicker of red-orange mes amidrge plumes of ck smoke that blotted out the sky.
Jin Mu-Won narrowed his eyes.
Gong Jin-Sung called out to one of the escorts and ordered, Go over there and find out whats happening.
Yes sir!
The escort sprinted toward the fire, and the caravan came to a halt while they waited for him to return.
Ahh, its burning up so beautifully! What a sight for sore eyes! Hahaha! Yong Mu-Sung, who had woken up, sat cross-legged on the roof of Jin Mu-Wons wagon and burst into admiration at the scene of destruction.
Yeah, its amazing indeed. Huhuhu!
Like Yong Mu-Sung, the Iron Brigade mercenaries had also been woken up by the noise and were now calmly observing the fire.
A shiver ran down Kwak Moon-Jungs spine, and his hair stood on end. The escorts who had heard the mercenaries talking, also unconsciously shuddered.
A little whileter, the escort who had gone to investigate the fire came running back to the caravan. Gong Jin-Sung immediately asked him, So? Did you find out anything?
The name of the building on fire is the Neung Family Mansion (f).
The Neung Family Mansion?
Yes! The Neung Family is the most powerful government faction in Dujiangyan. Last night, their mansion was attacked by unknown assants and everyone there, from the bodyguards to the Neung Family members, were all assassinated.
Seriously?
In addition, it appears that the Neung Family was nning to host a wedding a few days from now, and there were a lot of guests staying there. As a result, the number of deaths was even greater than it should be. Sigh, how cruel must these murderers be, to kill even the women and children
Gong Jin-Sung and Yoon Seo-Ins faces stiffened. Of all the terrible timings, something like this just had to happen while they were resting in Dujiangyan.
So, if the attack happenedst night, what is going on now?
Well, the constables are still busy searching for the culprits.
Have the culprits been identified at least?
No. The attack happenedte at night, and there were no witnesses.
No witnesses!? Haa, how could something like this Gong Jin-Sung sighed.
Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan approached Gong Jin-Sung and said, We dont have time to waste here. We should leave this to the constables and be on our way. If we dally, we might end up getting roped into this mess.
Gong Jin-Sung nodded in agreement with Jong-Ri Mu-Hwans suggestion. He turned toward the caravan and shouted, Alright everyone, hurry up! Were leaving this ce asap!
What happened to the Neung Family was a pity, but it had nothing to do with him. The gangho was a merciless ce, and oftentimes, it was better to not get involved in such matters.
Suddenly, in a low, chilling voice, Jin Mu-Won asked, By the way, is the Head of the Neung Family a person named Neung Won-Pyong?
I dont know, maybe? Anyway, tragedies like this are the reason why us gangho folks should avoid making enemies as much as possible. You never know when someone suddenly stabs you in the back, Yong Mu-Sung replied from the roof of Jin Mu-Wons wagon.
I see. That Neung Family must have made a very dangerous enemy indeed.
I guess so? More importantly, if the Neung Family owned such arge mansion, they must have been rich, right? I wonder where all their treasures went? Those assassins couldnt have been dumb enough to burn it all, could they?
How should I know? Maybe they somehow managed to move away all the valuables before setting the mansion on fire.
Wow, they must have struck it rich, then. Im jealous!
I dont believe theres any reason to envy cowards who pretend to be honorable while ignoring the cries of the innocent andmitting atrocious acts at the slightest threat. This is merely the deed of people who have given in to their fears.
Jin Mu-Won instantly felt a number of stinging gazes directed at him. The Iron Brigade mercenaries were ring at him as if they wanted to devour him.
Jin Mu-Won did not avoid their stares.
Footnotes: -
A Korean saying for when your stomach is empty and t. ?
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Highway: A wide, paved roadmissioned by the government that connects major cities and towns. Except, in ancient times it was meant for horses/donkeys/buffalo carriages/wagons, not cars. ?
Chapter 73
TL: FoodieMonster007; ED: TheGreatT20
The headquarters of the Tang n, which was also known as the Sichuan Tang n or the Chivalrous Tang n, was located in the Tang Hill Vige (Ƽ)1, Sichuan, and was one of the most famousndmarks in the world.
The Tang Hill Vige housed over a thousand people, even more than an average vige. Moreover, most of the people living there were martial artists and craftsmen of the Tang n. However, at first nce, the Tang Hill Vige looked just like any other ordinary vige in the region. This was quite different from the other members of the Five Great ns, who often built fancy mansions and residences to show off their power.
Only when one visited the Tang Hill Vige itself would one realize that it was structured quite differently from other viges.
The n Heads main residence was ced smack in the middle of the vige, and was only a littlerger than the other residences. The houses directly surrounding the main residence were for the n Heads immediate family members.
Right behind the houses where the immediate family members lived, there was arge mansion for the Tang n elders, the Hall of Elders. The Hall of Elders was one of the most important buildings in the Tang n Vige, as it was the ce where the elders passed down their knowledge and martial arts to their descendants.
Next to the Hall of Elders, there was a building called the Pavilion of Ten Thousand Poisons (fw). This was the most important facility in the Tang Hill Vige, where all the research on poisons and crafts were conducted. The reason it was ced so close to the Hall of Elders, was because that was where the top experts of the Tang n lived, and was therefore the safest ce in the vige.
All of these important buildings were then surrounded by ordinary residences. However, even these ordinary residences were not arranged randomly. Their cement followed the bnce of the five elements in a giant, vige-wide formation meant to trap invaders.
In addition, these normal houses belonged to the warriors of the Tang n, who were specialists in the poison arts and hidden weapons. Most of these people were blood-rted, so whenever they found a stranger in the vige, they would quickly raise the rm and form the ns first line of defense against intruders.
Pull all these security measures together, and the Tang Hill Vige was probably one of the safest, most secretive ces in the world.
In the deepest part of the Tang Hill Vige, inside the n Heads residence, three people sat around a table. An old viger in his sixties, a middle-aged man in his forties and a youngdy in her early twenties.
The old man, who wore clothes made of rough linen, upied the position at the head of the table. His name was Tang Kwan-Ho,2 and he was the current Head of the Tang n.
Traditionally, the Tang n Heads would inherit the same title from their predecessors: the Emperor of Ten Thousand Poisons (f). However, because Tang Kwan-Ho had never left the Tang Hill Vige ever since he was born, few knew that the man with such a fearsome title looked like nothing more than an ordinary old viger.
Tang Kwan-Ho closely observed the two people seated to his left and right.
The middle-aged man, Tang Gi-Mun, was both his nephew and the Head of the Pavilion of Ten Thousand Poisons. Within the Tang n, not only was Tang Gi-Mun a master of poisons second only to himself, he was an excellent doctor who could even use poisons as medicine. However, because he adamantly refused to learn any hidden weapons techniques, preferring to spend his whole life researching poisons, Tang Gi-Mun became well-known in the gangho for being the Tang ns entric.
As for the youngdy, Tang Mi-Ryeo, she was his granddaughter and a genius with senses so sharp, she had already mastered one of the Tang ns ten best Hidden Weapons Arts at a young age. This was unprecedented as the Tang n was a highly traditional family that rarely taught martial arts to women. Furthermore, because of her great beauty, she was known to many as the Flower of Sichuan.
Tang Kwan-Ho asked, Have you finished the preparations for your departure?
What is there to prepare? All we have to do is walk out, replied Tang Gi-Mun.
Hohoho! The Head of the Pavilion of Ten Thousand Poisons is personally moving at the request of Heavens Summit. I think you need to be more aware of how important you are.
Why did Heavens Summit request for me?
Tang Kwan-Hos expression unconsciously darkened. He said, Im not sure either, but it probably has something to do with poison being used in Yunnan.
Two days ago, the Tang n had received an urgent summons from Heavens Summit, requesting their cooperation to dispatch a person familiar with poisons to Kunming City, the capital of Yunnan Province. They had then immediately convened a meeting to discuss who they would send, finally deciding on Tang Gi-Mun, the Head of the Pavilion of Ten Thousand Poisons. To protect Tang Gi-Mun, who did not know martial arts, they would also send along Tang Mi-Ryeo and about a dozen other warriors.
Technically, I should be the one going, but I need to prioritize managing our ns internal affairs.
The Tang ns reputation would be ruined if our n Head himself had to obey Heavens Summitsmand. I think you guys made the right decision. Also, I have Mi-Ryeo protecting me, so dont worry.
If you think that things are getting too dangerous, feel free to retreat. Remember, your safetyes first.
And if Heavens Summites after us for that?
Hohoho! So what if they do?
Tang Gi-Mun grinned. This was the pride of the Chivalrous Tang n. As for Heavens Summit? Hah, let theme! The Tang n wasnt afraid.
Tang Kwan-Ho might not be a member of the Nine Skies, but that wasnt because he wasnt strong enough. It was because he was a recluse who had no desire to leave the Tang Hill Vige, and was satisfied with just the title, Emperor of Ten Thousand Poisons.
Finally, Tang Kwan-Ho turned toward Tang Mi-Ryeo and said, Mi-Ryeo, please make sure to take good care of yourself and return here safely.
Dont worry, n Head. Ill be fine, Tang Mi-Ryeo replied, smiling gently. She had chosen to apany Tang Gi-Mun as she was very interested in his Living Poison Arts, despite being more talented in hidden weapons than the poison arts.
Tang Gi-Mun knew about this, and would teach her whenever he had some time to spare. One reason was naturally because he loved his cute niece, but he also truly believed that she was the future of the Tang n.
If there was anything that Tang Mi-Ryeo currentlycked, it was experience. With her naivety, it was hard to see her as a leader. However, this was a problem that could only be fixed by actually letting her experience many things, so Tang Gi-Mun agreed to let her apany him to Yunnan.
Tang Kwan-Ho was worried about his granddaughter, but even he understood that he could not coddle her forever. A day would surelye when she had to grow up and leave the nest.
Well then, well be setting off now.
Okay.
The three people left the n Heads Residence. Outside, a dozen young warriors dressed in the Tang ns signature light green uniform greeted them. They were the warriors who were tasked with protecting Tang Gi-Mun and Tang Mi-Ryeo on the Yunnan mission.
n Head!
This is an important mission. All of you, be sure to protect the Pavilion Head,3 Mi-Ryeo, and yourselves! I will be awaiting your return!
Leave it to us, n Head! replied Tang Yun-Ho, confidently thumping his chest. He was the leader of the young warriors assembled here, and the most outstanding member of these elites. With their strength, annihting even a medium-sized sect would be a piece of cake. Thus, they werent really worried for their safety. To them, this was nothing more than an ordinary leisure trip.
Tang Kwan-Ho looked at these young elites worriedly. He had a feeling that they were taking this mission too lightly. For a moment, he thought about giving them a few words of warning, but decided to hold back in the end. Young people like them did not take well to nagging, and would only learn things the hard way. This trip to Yunnan would serve as a good lesson for them.
Alright then, you may leave now.
"Yes Sir!
Tang Gi-Mun and the young warriors marched out of the vige. As they walked, many of the vigers recognized them immediately and waved their hands in greeting, as if they were ordinary vigers praying for the safe return of their viges young folks.
Have a safe trip!
Come back safely.
When they reached the vige entrance, they mounted the horses that were already prepared for them.
Tang Gi-Mun ordered, Well have to travel quickly.
Yes Sir!
The Tang n warriors rode south briskly. Unknown to them, a pair of eyes watched them leave from far away.
Slurp!
A huge man sat at a roadside stall and slurped down his noodles. To his left, there was a huge stack of more than ten empty bowls. The old woman who ran the stall watched him eat with an expression of disbelief.
The man, whose name was Jang Han, wore a thick beard on his face, making it impossible to determine his exact age. A giant sky piercer halberd (쮋)4y next to him, scaring off anyone who approached him carelessly.
The old woman carefully asked the man, Will your stomach be okay if you eat that much?
Hahaha! The reason I cant stop eating is because your noodles are delicious, old grandma! And make me another bowl.
Another one?
The old woman tiredly cooked up yet another bowl of noodles and brought it to the man, who stared at the steaming noodles with pleasure.
Mmm! I just cant get enough of this.
When Jang Han finally finished his meal and was patting his stomach in satisfaction, he noticed arge merchant caravan drive past him along the main road.
Hmm! So thats the White Dragon Merchant Associations caravan, huh? he muttered, curiously looking at the caravan waving a g with a white dragon symbol and observing its members as they marched by.
The first ones to catch his eye were the mercenaries of the Iron Brigade, especially Yong Mu-Sung.
Woah! These guys look really strong!
Jang Han snapped his wooden chopsticks in half and used them as toothpicks while openly staring at the mercenaries, but none of them noticed his gaze.
Huh?
Suddenly, his eyes fell upon thest wagon in the caravan. To be precise, it was the driver of that wagon. He didnt know if it was just a coincidence, but the wagon driver dressed in red and brown was staring right back at him.
There were countless people in the crowd, but that man had chosen to look at him out of all the other people. His instincts were telling him that it couldnt be a coincidence.
Did that punk pick out my aura from among all these people?
The two mens gazes met.
Squad Leader.
Jang Han turned around to face the person who had called out to him. It was a young man in his twenties with a verymonce appearance. The young man bowed his head to Jang Han and said, The Tang n has made their move.
Then we move, too. Tell the kids to get ready.
Yes Sir! The young man energetically replied, giving Jang Han a fist salute.
Jang Han looked back toward the main road, but the White Dragon caravan had already vanished from view, taking with them the mysterious wagon driver who had made eye contact with him.
That guy
That man
Jin Mu-Won frowned, thinking of the man he had just exchanged nces with. He couldnt see the mans facial features because of his massive beard, but the arrogant look in those eyes and the aura like a raging storm remained clear in his mind.
Even in this highly-popted Sichuan Province filled with martial arts experts from the Qingcheng Sect, the Emei Sect, and the Tang n, the mans aura stood out from the rest. Unfortunately, no one else, not even Commander Yong Mu-Sung of the Iron Brigade, noticed this mans presence.
I pray that its nothing big
Suddenly, he was jerked out of his musings by Kwak Moon-Jungs voice.
What are you thinking so hard about?
Nothing much. Is something the matter?
I was told to pass on the message that we wont be stopping here in Chengdu5 because we need to hurry on to Yunnan.
Got it.
This was exactly what Jin Mu-Won wanted. The faster he reached Yunnan, the higher the probability of Hwang Cheols rescue.
Kwak Moon-Jung rode next to Jin Mu-Wons wagon for a while, before worriedly asking, Are you okay? Did something happen?
What?
You know, between you and them Kwak Moon-Jung nced toward the Iron Brigade.
Ever since Jin Mu-Won had made that derogatory remark against the Iron Brigade, they had given him the cold-shoulder. Everyone, even the weakest among the escorts, could tell that tensions between the two were running high. Not even Yong Mu-Sung, with his friendly and sociable personality, talked to Jin Mu-Won.
In this situation, Gong Jin-Sung and Yoon Seo-In, who had ultimately chosen to believe in the famous Iron Brigade over the mysterious Jin Mu-Won, decided to look the other way. The escorts could not defy their leaders, and so avoided Jin Mu-Won as well.
Not that Jin Mu-Won cared for the situation one bit.
Dont worry, Im fine.
But
Were fine as long as my rtionship with them does not get any worse than it is right now, and I highly doubt that it will.
Kwak Moon-Jung nodded. He was good at reading the situation, and could sense the truth in Jin Mu-Wons words. The Iron Brigade clearly did not want to make an enemy out of Jin Mu-Won. Instead, they recognized his strength and usefulness in their uing mission.
However, although Jin Mu-Won understood how the Iron Brigade thought, that didnt mean that he agreed with them. They were pragmatic people, but it was this same pragmatism that had led them to massacre seventy-eight people in the Neung Family Mansion within one night. If he included the hired warriors, that number would add up to over a hundred.
If the one-sided massacre wasnt bad enough, many of the people who died were innocent bystanders who werent even part of the gangho. They were simply normal business partners of the Neung Family and wedding guests. However, they were still killed for the purpose of eliminating evidence.
Thus, even though he knew that the Iron Brigade only did it to protect themselves from the Deathshroud, and that the Neung Family Head was at fault, he could not bring himself to ept it. Now, every time he talked to the mercenaries, there would be a certain sharpness in his voice; and every time he looked at them, there would undoubtedly be a harshness in his gaze.
Jin Mu-Won believed that there was a line.
A line in the sand6 created by humans for humans.
A line which determined the minimum eptable ethics and morality that all human beings should always adhere to.
A line that must never be crossed, because the instant one did so, theyd lose their humanity and be a beast.
The Iron Brigade had most certainly crossed that line, and not only had they crossed it, they did not regret doing it in the least.
To them, their own safety was their top priority. If someone or something was a threat to them, theyd do anything to get rid of it, even at the cost of their humanity and morality. That was the true secret behind the Iron Brigades survival and their perfect track record.
Jin Mu-Won understood very well that the path the Iron Brigade had chosen was efficient and logical. Still, he couldnt acknowledge them, because that would mean denying his own beliefs. Although he currently shared the same ultimate goal and was walking along a parallel path with them, he was certain that these two paths would not cross.
It was a fragile alliance, and no one knew when it would break down.
Both Jin Mu-Won and the Iron Brigade were painfully aware of that fact.
Even so, the ones who had crossed the line, and the one who hadnt would remain travelingpanions for now.
Footnotes: -
Tang Hill Vige (Ƽ): I mistranted this as Tang Tower in C68 before, but that has been fixed now. Author-nim used a rather unconventional word for vige on a hill which sounds exactly the same as tower, so I didnt realize it until I saw the hanja in this chapter ?
-
Tang Kwan-Ho: In case anyone was wondering, YES, this old man has the SAME NAME as our MCs dad, Jin Kwan-Ho, just differentst names. His name was changed to Tang Geon-Woo in the manhwa to avoid confusion. ?
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Pavilion Head: Im not going to type Head of the Pavilion of Ten Thousand Poisons over and over again, and you probably dont want to read that either. Therefore, I will shorten Tang Gi-Muns title to Poison Pavilion Head or just Pavilion Head when it is suitable. ?
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Sky piercer halberd (쮋): A type of Chinese polearm that became popr as it was used by the famed general Lu Bu in the novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. However, even though Lu Bu is a real historical character, he lived in an era before such polearms were even invented. Here is an image:
?
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Chengdu: The capital city of Sichuan Province. ?
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Line in the sand: Author-nim literally wrote Maginot Line (????) here, for the colloquial meaning a line that shouldnt be crossed, not the WW2 fortification that ended up being useless. Im taking the liberty to rece it to avoid confusion. ?
Chapter 74
TL: FoodieMonster007; ED: TheGreatT20
The White Dragon Merchant Caravan left Chengdu and continued their journey south. They travelled past Mount Emei, Xichang City, and Dechang County with barely any rest and sleep, all so that they could reach the border between Sichuan and Yunnan in less than two weeks.
Everyone was exhausted. Dust had piled up on their heads and shoulders. Still, the knowledge that they were reaching the end of their journey kept them going and eased some of their fatigue.
Well rest here tonight and enter Yunnan Province tomorrow. Ill let everyone have a day off when we reach Kunming City, so please keep up the good work!
The escorts sighed unanimously at the thought of camping outdoors again. Still, Gong Jin-Sung promised that they would get a day off in Kunming, so there was at least something small to look forward to.
With practiced movements, the escorts rounded up the wagons and put up the camp fences. Except for the few who had been ced on the first watch, the men quickly set up the tents and began preparing dinner.
While all this was happening, Jin Mu-Won quietly led Kwak Moon-Jung to a deserted clearing nearby to oversee his training. Ever since leaving Chengdu, this had be part of the two young mens daily routine.
Jin Mu-Wons goal wasnt to teach Kwak Moon-Jung his martial arts, but to point out Kwak Moon-Jungs mistakes and give him suggestions on how he should improve, just as Hwang Cheol had done for the boy before disappearing.
SWISH!
Kwak Moon-Jungs greatsword sliced through the darkness. His breathing was rough, and his face was red from the exertion. However, the boy did not let out a single word ofint, and only continued swinging his sword over and over again.
He understood that he had received a precious opportunity avable to only a few in the world; the opportunity to be guided by a true master.
Rather than forcibly attempting to change Kwak Moon-Jungs habits, Jin Mu-Won preferred to observe his strengths and build on from there. He felt that that was the best way for a so-called talentless person like Kwak Moon-Jung to improve.
When Kwak Moon-Jungs movements finally began to slow down, he suddenly shouted, Stop, thats enough for today!
HuffhuffI can still continue!
You wont improve just by swinging your sword until you cant move.
But
Rest and recovery is very important for muscle growth. Besides, were about to enter Yunnan very soon, and we dont know what dangers lie ahead of us. You need to save your energy and make sure that you remain in peak condition at all times.
Understood. Kwak Moon-Jung was a little disappointed, but he did not refute Jin Mu-Wons logic. Meeting this amazing person was the best thing that had ever happened to him, and until now, Jin Mu-Won had never been wrong about anything.
In fact, if someone asked him who the person he respected the most was right now, hed say that it was Jin Mu-Won with absolute certainty.
Youve gotten a lot better than before, though.
Really? Heehee! Kwak Moon-Jung giggled, embarrassed. Nothing made him happier than receiving apliment from his idol.
Lets go back. There wont be any food left for us if werete.
Yeah!
However, just as the two young men were about to head back to the campsite, someone got in their way. It was the icy, stone-faced Seven Skills Swordsman of the Iron Brigade, Gong-Son Chang.
Gong-Son Chang asked Jin Mu-Won, Mind lending me some of your time?
What for?
Lets duel.
Duel? said Jin Mu-Won, observing Gong-Son Changs face closely.
Hes dead serious about this.
Jin Mu-Won could sense the faint killing intent in Gong-Son Changs eyes. It seemed that the man had approached him prepared. The instant he agreed to the duel, the mercenary would draw his sword and attack.
Gong-Son Chang bit his lip and recalled the first time he had met Jin Mu-Won. Back then, he had said, There are many weapons in the world, but the sword is the king of all weapons. Learn it well, and I believe that you will be an excellent swordsman.
Thinking about it now, he realized that hed probably totally embarrassed himself in front of a master. Whenever he imagined Jin Mu-Wonughing at him in secret, he felt his blood boiling.
He was familiar with the skills of Mu-Jin, the sessor to the Kongtong Sect, and had never doubted the Taoists strength. And yet, that Mu-Jin had easily lost to Jin Mu-Won.
Gong-Son Chang understood that the problemy with him, not Jin Mu-Won. It was he who felt that his self-esteem had been crushed and trampled on. However, the only way he could think of to repair his damaged pride was to fight it out with the young man.
He was confident that Jin Mu-Won would ept a duel he would win effortlessly. s, the young mans response was not what he had expected.
I refuse.
What? Gong-Son Chang raised his eyebrows in surprise. When that surprise faded, his killing intent began to leak out once more.
Why? he asked.
Is there any meaning to us dueling now, Master Gong-Son?
Is there a meaning? Hmph! Dont you think youre being too arrogant? Do I look like a pushover to you? To say that theres no meaning to dueling with me
Im sorry, thats not what I meant. I just dont want to get distracted by other things right now.
What are you so afraid of?
What?
Are you afraid of fighting me and losing, or are you afraid of turning the Iron Brigade into your enemy?
Jin Mu-Wons eyebrow twitched. Gong-Son Chang was provoking him on purpose. Unfortunately, Jin Mu-Won was no ordinary man.
As Ive just said, I dont want to get distracted by other things and expend my energy meaninglessly, especially now when we are just about to enter Yunnan.
Jin Mu-Won had no interest in dueling with Gong-Son Chang. He gained nothing from it, neither fame nor profit.
Gong-Son Changs mouth twitched in irritation as he mocked, I thought that you were a great man, but it turns out that youre just a coward.
Kwak Moon-Jung clenched his fist, furious. He was just about to scream in retort when Jin Mu-Won grabbed hold of his shoulder to calm him down.
Hyung?
Kwak Moon-Jung looked at Jin Mu-Won. Unlike Gong-Son Chang, whose eyes were twitching with rage, Jin Mu-Wons eyes were as calm as still water.
Hmph! Gong-Son Chang snorted with disdain, then promptly turned around and stormed off.
The White Dragon merchant caravan entered Yunnan. While the early summer weather was still nice and cool in the Central ins, Yunnan was already hot and humid. The escorts, who were not used to such weather, were sweating buckets while their faces turned red.
Gong Jin-Sung reminded them, Be careful not to get bitten by venomous insects.
Yes Sir!
Due to the hot and humid climate, the forests of Yunnan were breeding grounds for many venomous creatures.
Are we finally in Yunnan? Jin Mu-Wons eyes glittered. He was nearing the end of this long and boring journey. Of course, this was just the end of the traveling, not the end of his mission.
Still, the thought that Hwang Cheol was nearby wasforting, to say the least.
Suddenly, he sensed a sharp gaze being directed at him. It was Gong-Son Chang. Ever since he had rejected the duel with him a day ago, the mercenary had been staring at him with open hostility.
On the other hand, Jin Mu-Won had no interest in Gong-Son Chang, other than the fact that he was actually quite annoyed by the mans fixation on him. However, he did not want to waste his time and energy on something so meaningless. Instead, he thought about what he would do from now on.
Judging by the current state of my rtionship with the Iron Brigade, it would be foolish of me to rely on them for information. I guess I should first seek out the person that Mu-Jin of the Kongtong Sect told me about, the Triune Schr Ha Jin-Wol.
Although Im not sure how much help this person would be, since he has a title like Triune Schr, he should at least have thebined intelligence of three people, right?1 Such a person cant possibly be ordinary. He should at least be able to tell me about the situation in Yunnan.
Jin Mu-Won sighed. He felt that he was being far too optimistic. Even so, he couldnt pass up a chance of finding Hwang Cheols whereabouts, regardless of how small the possibility was.
Jin Mu-Won gently caressed Snow Flower, lost in thought.
Suddenly, he recalled Eun Ha-Seol. Seven years had already passed since she had left him, but he still clearly remembered every little detail about her appearance.
I hope youre doing well, and living a good life.
Every time he thought about the woman he loved, his heart would ache as if someone had stabbed it with a knife.
Suddenly, he was jolted back to his senses by the sound of people shouting.
Its a corpse!
Theres a corpse here, too!
Jin Mu-Won stood up from his wagon drivers seat and looked in the direction of the yelling. There, he saw a number of corpses strewn on the ground right next to the road.
The air reeked with the metallic stench of blood. That was proof that it hadnt been long since these people were killed.
Jin Mu-Won walked over to where the corpsesy. He could hear Gong Jin-Sung and the Iron Brigade mercenaries discussing the state of the bodies.
It hasnt been long since these people died.
They hade to the same conclusion as him.
Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan flipped over one of the corpses. It was a man wearing red robes and armor. A dagger the size of a childs palm was lodged into the back of his neck, the only part that was not covered by his armor.
Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan frowned.
Yong Mu-Sung asked, Whats wrong?
Its poison. Judging by the ck color of this mans face, he died from poisoning.
Poison? Yong Mu-Sungs eyes narrowed.
Hidden weapons and poison. The identity of the perpetrators couldnt be any more obvious.
The Tang n?
Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan nodded, causing everyones expressions to turn grim.
The Tang n was one of the most prominent factions in the murim, despite being a bunch of blood-rted shut-ins. That was because they were unparalleled in the arts of poisons and hidden weapons.
Why did the Tang n do this?
The same question popped up in everyones mind. Despite poisons and hidden weapons being their forte, the Tang n normally refrained from using violence.
Someone definitely shed with the Tang n, but we cant be certain who started the fight.
Worry appeared on the face of the usually fearless Yong Mu-Sung. He did not want to make enemies with the Tang n. Although the Iron Brigade was a powerful group recognized by the gangho, they were nothingpared to the Tang n.
Concerned about being poisoned, Yong Mu-Sung put on gloves made of deer leather before searching the corpses for something that could identify them. However, he found nothing.
What a headache.
The fact that these corpses didnt carry anything that would prove their identities could only mean that they were prepared to sh with the Tang n. Not only that, it also meant that these people did not fear the strength of the Tang n.
Yong Mu-Sung nced at Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan as if to ask him what he thought about this whole situation.
Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan took a moment to organize his thoughts, then said, Firstly, I dont think we should intervene in the Tang ns affairs, and secondly, neither of these parties are people we should be making enemies of.
Tsk!
Yong Mu-Sung seemed displeased, but Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan ignored him and continued firmly, Our current mission is to rescue the Third Young Master of the White Dragon Merchant Association and his co-workers. Until this is over, we cannot risk getting involved in anything else.
The leaders of the White Dragon caravan nodded in agreement at Jong-Ri Mu-Hwans words. With their current strength, protecting themselves was the limit. They couldnt afford to get swept up in someone elses affairs.
Yoon Seo-In muttered to herself, Even the Tang n is here Just what is going on in Yunnan?
No one answered her, because they all had the same question in their minds.
While everyone else was deep in thought, Jin Mu-Won bent down and observed the corpse.
His upper body muscles are as tough as beef brisket, and his right arm is as thick as a tree trunk. Only a user of a heavy weapon would develop these particr muscles to such extremes.
Jin Mu-Won looked around for the dead mans footprints and traced out the path hed walked on the grass right before he died. He then stood up and followed the footprints, trying to recreate the dead mans final moments, but no one took any notice of him.
The footprints led him to a small hill overlooking the forest where the main road was. As he climbed the hill, he noticed that it was covered in tall grass which appeared to have been trampled by many people.
The dead man and hispanions hid here to ambush their enemy.
Jin Mu-Won counted the number of different footprints.
There were at least thirty people here, including a few martial arts experts.
He could roughly tell how strong a person was by the footsteps they left behind. All experts were light-footed and left barely any traces on the ground. Furthermore, those light traces would be t, indicating that the persons weight distribution was perfectly bnced and always in control.
Jin Mu-Won looked down at the forest. He could clearly see the White Dragon caravan from here. The Tang n warriors had probably been ambushed at the very spot where the caravan currently was.
Forests like these are among the most disadvantageous type of terrains for those who use poisons and hidden weapons.
The spread of airborne poisons would be slowed down by theck of wind on the forest floor, and the trees could be used as cover to dodge thrown weapons. Additionally, the attackers wore thick armor that would be difficult to prate using small weapons.
This was a carefully nned ambush. If we were the ones who had arrived here firstthen except for a few members of the Iron Brigade, most of the caravan would have been ughtered.
At the thought of that, Jin Mu-Won felt his blood run cold.
The stench of death permeated this ce.
This was a battlefield.
Proofreaders Note: Pray that trantor-nim gets that pay raise. ??
Footnotes: -
Triune Schr: Remember, Triune Schr means Schr with Three Brains. ?
Chapter 75
TL: FoodieMonster007; ED: TheGreatT20
As the White Dragon caravan traveled through Yunnan, the number of corpses they found on the sides of the road increased. The corpses were all dressed in either red armor or green uniforms, proof that they belonged to only two factions.
The more bodies they saw, the grimmer the faces of the Iron Brigade mercenaries became.
Only members of the Tang n wore green uniforms like that. Furthermore, these were uniforms that the Tang n only put on when they were prepared for battle, not what they usually wore in the Tang Hill Vige.
At this point, there was no denying the Tang ns involvement any more. Everyone, from the White Dragon escorts to the Iron Brigade mercenaries, trudged forward with heavy hearts.
There were numerous murim sects and ns in the world, but there was no faction that defined as clear a boundary between friend and enemy as the Tang n. Those who treated the Tang n with kindness would be repaid tenfold, and those who offended them would be repaid a hundredfold.
Most importantly, anyone who hurt a member of the Tang n out on official n business would be cklisted by the entire n.
I fucked up. When we found the first body, we should have immediately turned around and headed back.
The exact same thought ran through both Gong Jin-Sung and Jong-Ri Mu-Hwans minds.
So far, they had already found several dozen dead bodies. It was clear that the Tang n was having a drawn-out fight with a formidable enemy.
Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan turned toward Yong Mu-Sung and said, Its best if this conflict ends before we catch up, but if it doesnt, we need to be ready for a fight at any time.
Tsk! This is crazy. I cant believe that were running into such a situation right after entering Yunnan. Still, this is a mission that we absolutely cannot fail.
Its my fault. I should have been more cautious. Jong-Ri Mu-Hwans face darkened.
The Iron Brigades modus operandi was to avoid potentially dangerous situations as much as they could, and if they couldnt avoid it, they would take the initiative to get rid of the threat. When selecting missions, they would only ept the ones they were certain to seed at, being careful to never take any risks that could wipe them out.
Well, theres nothing we can do about that now. Everyone, remain on high alert. We have no idea what we might be facing. Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan, you give the orders from here on.
Yes Sir! cried the mercenaries, readying their weapons.
Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan looked at Im Jin-Yeop and said, Jin-Yeop-hyung, you take the lead.
Sure thing!
Im Jin-Yeop, who used to be a hunter, was the most suitable person to scout the way forward.
Commander, you and Vice-Commander Chae should follow right behind him.
The two mercenary leaders nodded in acknowledgement.
Jin-Hong-hyung, please prepare your bow and arrow to shoot at a moments notice.
Got it.
Gong-Son-hyung, youre in the middle. Man-hyung and Ji-hyung, you two support him.
Alright!
Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan ordered the mercenaries around without hesitation. He was the Iron Brigades strategist, a fact that even the unruly Ji Sung-Yul understood, so no one disobeyed him or argued with him.
After cing the mercenaries in strategic positions, Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan said to Gong Jin-Sung, Finance Head Gong, please instruct the escorts to be prepared to abandon the caravan at any time. In the worst case scenario, well have to give up the wagons and luggage.
But
Survival is our highest priority.
Okay. Gong Jin-Sung gave up and epted Jong-Ri Mu-Hwans opinion.
Finally, Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan turned toward Jin Mu-Won. He opened his mouth as if he was about to say something, but then shut it again.
Yong Mu-Sung looked at him incredulously, asking, Arent you going to give him instructions like you did to everyone else?
No. Hes not a person I can control, and if I cant be sure hell do what I say, I might as well just exclude him from my ns.
Right now, having even one more warrior would be
I get your point, but Ive already made my decision.
Gong-Son Chang, who had just had his duel request rejected by Jin Mu-Won not too long ago, nodded in agreement. Seeing that even one of his most trusted subordinates was being like this, Yong Mu-Sung furrowed his brows a little, but did not continue pursuing the issue.
If leaving Jin Mu-Won be was Jong-Ri Mu-Hwans final decision, then so be it. He believed in his vicemanders wisdom that had protected the Iron Brigade from all sorts of dangers so far.
Tsk! Looks like we cant avoid souring our rtionship with him after all.
The nastyments that Jin Mu-Won had made regarding the Neung Family affair had truly damaged their rtions with him beyond repair.
If they couldnt trust each other enough to leave their backs to each other, then they might as well simply exclude Jin Mu-Won from their formation. It was a waste of a powerful fighting force, but not even Yong Mu-Sung could be sure that the young man would follow orders without question.
I wanted to invite him to work under me, but since that isnt possible anymore, Ill have to draw a line between us and him. If I force the guys to work with him now, it would bring down their morale.
In the end, the Iron Brigades wishes took priority over everything else. From the way Jin Mu-Won had acted during this entire journey, he didnt seem like the type who would quietly follow orders to run away so that they wouldnt get tangled up in the Tang ns business. On the other hand, even if they had to do something cowardly, the Iron Brigade always survived. As long as this difference in principles existed, they could not work together with Jin Mu-Won.
Fine, do as you please, Yong Mu-Sung concluded.
Thank you.
Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan nced at Jin Mu-Won out of the corner of his eye, however, the young man was staring nkly ahead of him as if their conversation didnt concern him.
As I thought, I cant figure out whats going on in that mans head at all!
Like Yong Mu-Sung, Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan was aware that leaving Jin Mu-Won out of their ns was probably the wrong thing to do. Even so, he couldnt acknowledge the man. Their personal values were just too different.
One day, youll also learn that the gangho is not a ce where you can survive alone.
He gritted his teeth and ordered the caravan to resume their travels.
While driving his wagon, Jin Mu-Won observed Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan, who was standing at the forefront and leading the White Dragon caravan formation. He could sense that the strategist was avoiding him on purpose, and had built up an unsurmountable wall between them.
That wall was a crystallization of the contrasting morals and values they each held. A persons conviction wasnt something that could be changed easily, and most certainly not because someone else disagreed with them.
SWOOSH!
Suddenly, two people, a man and a woman, dashed through the grass toward the caravan, their clothes stained with blood.
Yong Mu-Sung shouted, Stop right there!
SHING!
The Iron Brigade mercenaries and the White Dragon escorts immediately pulled out their weapons.
Seeing this, the bloodied woman, Tang Mi-Ryeo, cried, Wait! We belong to the Tang n, and were currently being chased by thugs! Please help us!
Yong Mu-Sung stood in front of the woman, who was supporting a barely conscious older man while bleeding like crazy from her open wounds, and asked, Youre from the Tang n?
Yes! This person here is my uncle, Master Tang Gi-Moon! We were ambushed and my uncle was severely injured! Please help us, we will definitely repay you for your kindness!
Tsk!
Yong Mu-Sung was conflicted. The Iron Brigade stood to benefit if they aided the Tang n, but at the same time, they would also make an enemy out of whoever ambushed them. Without knowing the details, he couldnt decide whose side he should be on.
He threw a nce at Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan, who shook his head gently.
Tang Mi-Ryeo was neither a blind nor tactless person. Yong Mu-Sung and the White Dragon Merchant Association were clearly unwilling to help her, but that still didnt mean that she could give up.
Please, I beg you. If you help me this time, the Tang n will reward you handsomely.
Im sorry, young miss. We are merely an ordinary merchant caravan, and do not wish to get involved in the ganghos chaotic affairs, Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan replied firmly. He did not feel good about abandoning someone in need, but he didnt have the freedom to choose this time around.
An enemy that not even the Tang n can stand up to is most definitely one that we should not be getting involved with.
Tang Mi-Ryeo bit her lip. If she werent in such a desperate situation, she would never have lowered her head and begged another person for help. However, unidentified enemies hadid traps and ambushed the Tang n. Going by the fact that they had targeted Tang Gi-Moon, a master of poison, first, their attack had been carefully nned out beforehand.
The Tang n warriors had fought back valiantly, but the hidden weapons they were so well-versed in could not pierce through their enemies red armor. Tang Yun-Ho, their strongest warrior, had bravely charged head-first toward the enemies, but was sliced in half in one sh of the enemys de.
The Tang n warriors had then quickly located the red armors weak points between the joints and taken down several of them, but by then, it was toote. In the end, all of the Tang ns young elites were annihted.
Those young warriors had been Tang Mi-Ryeos rtives and friends. If she hadnt been tasked with protecting Tang Gi-Moon, she would much rather have fought to the very end with the rest of them instead of running away while crying tears of blood.
The enemies preparations for fighting the Tang n were frighteningly thorough. However, the most terrifying one among them had to be their leader, the giant
SHUDDER!
Just thinking about that man made the goosebumps on her skin rise up.
Tang Mi-Ryeo looked at Yong Mu-Sung again and pleaded, Please
Im sorry, young miss, he said, beckoning the caravan to resume moving.
As they passed by, the Iron Brigade mercenaries and the White Dragon escorts looked at Tang Mi-Ryeo withplicated feelings, knowing full well how heartless they were being, but none of them said anything that would tick off Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan.
Tang Mi-Ryeo despairingly met eyes with each and every one of them, even as she supported her injured uncle. She understood that there was no meaning in her begging to them again. If she was in their position, she might have done the same. Still, she never imagined that the Tang n would be treated so harshly in such a remote part of the world.
The world is a cruel ce after all, huh?
She felt like she was standing in the middle of a pit of despair, slowly sinking deeper into its depths every time a wagon wordlessly drove past her.
However, just as she felt that the entire caravan was going to leave, a dark shadow blotted out the light in front of her.
She lifted up her head, only to see one of the wagon drivers looking down at her. He reached out his hand and said, Get on.
Ahh!
Tang Mi-Ryeos eyes trembled with surprise and gratitude.
Chapter 76
TL: FoodieMonster007; ED: TheGreatT20
It takes a hundred days to learn to use a spear, a thousand days to be proficient in the dao, and ten thousand days to get used to a sword.
However, it takes only one day to learn how to kill people.
Unfortunately, the gangho was a ce swarming with monsters who killed people for a living.
With trembling eyes, Tang Mi-Ryeo looked at the hand that was being held out to her. On one hand, it was so shapely and unmarred that it was hard to believe that it belonged to a man, like the hand of a dainty woman who had never done any rough chores in her life.
On the other hand, she could sense a powerful strength behind that hand, a strength that could only be gained from having endured past countless difficult hardships and trials in life.
The man repeated, Get on in.
Tang Mi-Ryeo found herself inexplicably drawn to the mans voice and grabbed his hand. The man then swiftly pulled her and Tang Gi-Mun up into the wagon and sat them down by his side.
T-Thank you, she stammered.
Jin Mu-Won, the man who had helped her, replied, You dont have to thank me. Its only natural to help out a person in need.
Suddenly, his expression stiffened. Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan and the Iron Brigade were marching toward him.
What are you doing? asked Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan, ring fiercely at Jin Mu-Won. As if to support their vicemander, the rest of the Iron Brigade wore the same look of fury and disapproval on their faces.
However, Jin Mu-Won did not waver.
Why did you pick them up without permission? Didnt you hear what I said just now?
I heard you very clearly.
And you still helped them? What the hell are you thinking Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan bit his lip so hard that it was bleeding. If eyes could kill, he would have already murdered Jin Mu-Won.
This man ispletely uncontroble. In order to proceed safely, we need to act cohesively as a group. Everyone has to learn to tolerate some amount of dissatisfaction and disharmony to optimize our strengths and minimize our losses, because that is what it means to be part of a group!
And yet, this man, Jin Mu-Won, repeatedly vited this basic rule. His deviant behavior is a threat to everyone in the caravan and will greatly affect the sess of our mission. I cannot sit still and allow him to do whatever he pleases anymore!
Please let them off your wagon and ignore them. Youre cing the safety of the entire caravan in jeopardy.
Master Jin, please do as Vice-Commander Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan instructs, Gong Jin-Sung added, making his stance clear.
Jin Mu-Won directed his gaze toward Yong Mu-Sung, who was standing beside Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan.
Commander Yong, do you feel the same way as the two of them?
Does it matter what I think? I mean, what can I do? If thats what everyone wants, I havent got a choice but to follow them. Yong Mu-Sung shrugged nonchntly.
Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan took a step forward and threatened, Well, Master Jin?
Although they did not express it as explicitly as Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan, most of the caravan members supported the Iron Brigade strategist. Their collective gazes fell upon Jin Mu-Wons shoulders like a huge weight trying to crush his iron will.
The wordless pressure on Jin Mu-Won was so great, even Kwak Moon-Jung could feel it.
Still, Jin Mu-Wons expression did not change. Seeing theck of response, even Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan couldnt help but feel a little intimidated.
After a long pause, Jin Mu-Won asked, Do you honestly think that youll get out of here safely just because you left them behind?
As long as the possibility isnt zero, it isnt worth taking the risk of saving them. Your actions endanger not only yourself, but every single one of us. Since there is a good chance we can avoid trouble by just closing one eye, we shouldnt escte the problem. Thats why, Im ordering you to abandon them now.
Every word that came out of Jong-Ri Mu-Hwans mouth was like a razor-sharp dagger meant to pierce right through the listeners heart, especially Tang Mi-Ryeos.
I see now that chivalry in the gangho is dead.
Before she had left the Tang n for the first time, Tang Mi-Ryeo still held delusions of the ganghos grandeur and chivalry in her heart.
Shed imagined that the gangho was a ce where justice was served, where the strong helped the weak, where corruption was punished.
However, the gangho that she had experienced waspletely different. It was a cruel, merciless ce where the instant one showed weakness, the beasts hiding in the darkness would immediately pounce on the opportunity and tear one to shreds.
Tang Mi-Ryeo nced anxiously at Jin Mu-Wons back, but he remained silent as if cowed by the escting pressure emanating from Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan and the caravan members.
He was her only hope. Tang Mi-Ryeo sincerely prayed that Jin Mu-Won would stand up against the tyranny of the majority.
Finally, Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan delivered his ultimatum, saying, Us, or her? Please choose now.
Jin Mu-Won did not answer immediately. His gaze was focused far into the distance, as if he was distracted by something.
Furious at being ignored, Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan roared, You
Wait! Yong Mu-Sung suddenly eximed, grabbing Jong-Ri Mu-Hwans shoulder.
What the!?
Shh!
Yong Mu-Sung had a grave expression on his face. Seeing this, Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan immediately shut his mouth.
Damn! I was toote.
What?
Cant you feel it?
Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan hurriedly spread out his chi-enhanced senses, and then he finally detected the thing that had alerted Jin Mu-Won and Yong Mu-Sung C killing intent.
Since when?
The killing intent was spread out like a wall meant to cage them in, but the problem was, Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan had no idea when they started being surrounded. He turned to Jin Mu-Won for answers, but Jin Mu-Won didnt take notice of him.
It was only then that the hard truth hit him.
Did he sense them around the time we started talking? How far away must they have been at the time?
Yong Mu-Sung clicked his tongue.
Well, Ill be damned. That guy knew right from the get-go that we were surrounded. Even if we ignored these Tang n warriors, we wouldnt have been able to escape from their encirclement.
Then he should have said so from the beginning Jong-Ri Mu-Hwans voice trailed off. Even he felt that he was being extremelyme and petty right now.
The killing intent was not directed at only Tang Mi-Ryeo and Tang Gi-Mun, but at everyone in the vicinity. That meant that everyone here was a target for execution.
Tsk! Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan grimaced.
Jin Mu-Won said to Kwak Moon-Jung, No matter what happens, never leave my side.
Got it, Hyung! Kwak Moon-Jung frantically nodded.
CLAP, CLAP, CLAP!
What a pity. That was a really interesting show you guys put on, and I nned on watching you until the end, you know? Still, even though it was iplete, I quite enjoyed the performance.
Arge man with a beard like a hedgehog appeared from behind the trees, pping his hands in apuse. On his back, he carried an intimidating sky piercer halberd.
As the man approached them, the Iron Brigade mercenaries and the escort warriors quickly drew their weapons.
Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan shouted, Who are you!?
The man did not answer Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan and only picked his ears in annoyance at the strategists voice. Seeing this, Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan bit his lip in indignation.
The man looked around for a bit, and when his gaze finally settled upon Jin Mu-Won, his eyes lit up in interest.
My names Nam-Goong Wi. What about you?
Jin Mu-Won.
What a nice name. So, when did you find out that we were surrounding you? The moment we started?
.
Kukuku! I thought so. Now, you seem to be confident of leaving here alive, but that just leaves me speechless, you know?
Although the giant who called himself Nam-Goong Wi giggled childishly until his face turned red, no one in the White Dragon caravan dared to act rashly. The man himself was insane and dangerous, but the fifty red-armored warriors who appeared behind him were no less threatening, each having an aura as strong as the mercenaries of the Iron Brigade.
Just who on earth are these people? Its like theyre perfect copies of each other, crafted from the same mold, with identical martial arts and auras! Even the most powerful factions in the gangho would be hard-pressed to gather the finances, resources, and elixirs required to build such a military force. Most importantly, Ive never seen the red armor theyre wearing in the Central ins before. Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan was baffled.
He carefully asked, Where are you people from? Heavens Summit?
What a stupid question. What makes you think that well give you an answer?
Will you let us go if we just leave quietly?
Wow, Ive never met someone as shameless as you before. Why would I go to such lengths to surround you if I nned to let you escape? I thought you looked kind of smart, but I guess youre just looks and no brains after all. Nam-Goong Wis lips curled up in a sneer. He only held back for so long as toying around with Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan was kind of fun.
His mission was to eliminate every member of the Tang ns expeditionary force without revealing his identity. Knowing the Tang ns strength and the fact that they belonged to Heavens Summit, he couldnt afford to get careless.
Jong-Ri Mu-Hwans face crumpled at the insult, but Nam-Goong Wi had already lost all interest in him, instead turning toward Jin Mu-Won and asking, Hey, if I asked you nicely, would you kindly hand those two over to me and go away?
Dont be ridiculous. Why would I let them board my wagon if I was going to abandon them? I thought you looked kind of smart, but I guess youre just looks and no brains after all.
Having been given a taste of his own medicine, Nam-Goong Wi burst intoughter, Kukuku! Damn do I love this guy! Kuhahaha! He dares talk to me, Nam-Goong Wi, like that. What an interesting fellow!
WHOOSH!
The deafening sound of Nam-Goong Wis roaringughter rang in their ears and reverberated inside their skulls, making the faces of the Iron Brigade mercenaries and White Dragon escorts turn as white as a sheet.
Yong Mu-Sung yelled, Gather your chi and protect your hearts1 from bursting!
The martial artists immediately did as Yong Mu-Sung instructed, but it was already toote for some of them. Nam-Goong Wis unexpected sound wave attack had caught them off guard and caused internal injuries before they could react.
What powerful chi! Jong-Ri Mu-Hwans eyes trembled in shock and dismay. Only a true master above peak level could cause internal injuries just byughing.
If you wont hand them over to me, then you leave me no choice but to kill everyone here.
At Nam-Goong Wismand, the red-armored warriors charged forward, drawing their weapons in unison.
SWISH!
Yong Mu-Sung quickly stepped in front of Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan and said, From now on, Im in charge.
But, Commander!
This fight is beyond your abilities.
Fine I understand. Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan was frustrated, but he bit his lip and retreated toward the back obediently.
Yong Mu-Sung scratched his head and looked at Nam-Goong Wi, saying, Well, I didnt mean to run into you red ghosts, but since I did, I warn you that you shouldnt underestimate the Iron Brigade. Just because I dont like annoying things and fighting stupid battles, doesnt mean that Im weaker than you.
Well see about that.
Dont worry, you wont regret seeing it.
Yong Mu-Sung grinned broadly, showing his gums. His aura burst out from him, and in response, the Iron Brigade mercenaries also released their killing auras.
ROAR!
Like a massive red tsunami, the red-armored warriors came crashing down upon the Iron Brigade and the White Dragon warriors.
Footnotes: -
Hearts: Okay, he says coronary arteries here, but that sounds very wrong in English. ?
Chapter 77
Chapter 77: Revenge is a Cycle That Never Ends (2)
Mar 30, 2022
Day/Night Mode: Change Mode
Change Font Size: -A A A+
TL: FoodieMonster007; ED: TheGreatT20 If you see this, you are at the wrong site!
RRRUMBLE!
Chae Yak-Ran grit her teeth as she watched the red-armored warriors swarm toward her.
SHUDDER!
She could sense the White Dragon escorts next to her trembling in terror. Fear was a highly contagious disease, and if things continued as they were, their morale would decrease past the point of no return, rendering the escorts useless and essentially spelling out their collective demise.
Mu-Hwan made a major miscalction this time.
By choosing to ignore the Tang n warriors, the Iron Brigade had revealed their vulnerability andck of confidence to the White Dragon escorts. As a result, the escorts now doubted their strength and ability to keep them safe, especially in the face of a terrifyingly powerful enemy.
Not far from Chae Yak-Ran, Yong Mu-Sung hade to the same conclusion as she did.
Fuck, I shouldnt have handed overmand to Mu-Hwan. If I had known beforehand that things would end this way, I would have stepped forward and taken the responsibility for the decision myself.
Same as his vicemander Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan, Yong Mu-Sung also could not ept Jin Mu-Wons uprightness. However, as the leader, he felt that it should have been him who showed their ugly side in ce of his subordinate. It was toote for regrets now, though.
Well, thats stuff to think about after we survive this crisis!
Yong Mu-Sung tightened his grip on his dragon scale dao and shouted, Everyone, get your asses together! Jin-Hong, provide rear support!
Yes Sir! replied Dam Jin-Hong firmly. He sharpened his gaze like never before, notched an arrow on his bowstring, aimed at one of the red-armored warriors, and fired.
TWANG!
With a loud whistle, the arrow flew through the air at the enemys head, the only vital part that wasnt protected by armor. Just as Dam Jin-Hong believed that his arrow would pierce the targets throat
THWACK!
His faith in his skill was shattered alongside the arrow that was easily swatted away by the warriors spiked mace.
The warrior then grinned at Dam Jin-Hong, as if he already knew where the mercenary would aim for.
This motherfucker!
Staring into the enemys eyes that were as savage as a starving wolfs, Dam Jin-Hong felt his blood freeze.
AHHH!
In the meantime, an all-out battle broke out as the red-armored warriors, the Iron Brigade, and White Dragon escorts shed. The sound of people screaming and weapons shing were heard everywhere as the scene deteriorated into one of pure chaos.
Blood gushed upwards into the sky like a geyser, and severed limbs fell on the ground with a plop sound.
Yoon Seo-In stood in the middle of the unruly mess, her face as white as a sheet.
This is ridiculous. Why is this happening to us?
?
Dead bodies piled up one after another, and blood flowed freely like a river.
Up until a few moments ago, Yoon Seo-In had been confident that she would be able to defend herself using the martial arts she had learned from the Kongtong Sect. This belief in herself had led her to join the Yunnan caravan thinking that her own life would never be threatened.
Now, the cruel reality was telling her just how wrong she had been. Right in front of her very eyes,y the lifeless bodies of the escorts she had known for years, tossed on the ground like worthless trash.
Shed even watched helplessly as the spark of life was extinguished from one of their eyes like candles in the wind.
SHIVER!
Her sword hand trembled uncontrobly. She knew that she had to pull herself together, but she simply couldnt erase the vivid memory of the look in that escorts eyes as his life faded away.
Noticing that she was defenseless, one of the red-armored warriors approached her.
SWOOSH!
If youre seeing this, you are at the wrong ce.
The warriors serrated sword flew straight for Yoon Seo-Ins neck, but she was still too rattled to notice.
CLANG!
Chae Yak-Ran, who was nearby, barely managed to block the serrated sword in time and yelled, Hey! Wake up! Do you want to die?
Yoon Seo-In finally snapped back to her senses.
S-Sorry
Its up to you to protect yourself. Stay sharp.
I understand.
Yoon Seo-In tightened her grip on her whip sword (urumi). The trembling in her hands had subsided somewhat, but the trepidation in her eyes was as clear as day.
She had never felt as much a part of the violent gangho as she did today. Left with no other choice, she suppressed her fear as best as she could and fought for dear life.
Some distance away, in the middle of the dance of death, Jin Mu-Won and Nam-Goong Wi stood facing each other.
Perhaps it was because Nam-Goong Wi had chosen him as his opponent, the red-armored warriors avoided Jin Mu-Won. In turn, Nam-Goong Wi didnt me them, as if that were only natural.
UWAAAARRGH!
As the desperate screams of the dying caravan members reached his ears, Jin Mu-Wons face darkened. He might not have gotten along with them, but he didnt feel good just watching them die, either.
Nevertheless, as long as Nam-Goong Wi was present, he couldnt help them. The enemy leaders fiery aura exploded like a volcanic eruption, but its true nature was closer to that of a hissing snake coolly observing Jin Mu-Won, carefully calcting his strength even as it was poised to strike.
Normally, the stimtion from being observed would cause a knee jerk response, but Jin Mu-Won remained utterly still and calm in defiance of Nam-Goong Wismon sense.
?
Either he doesnt know martial arts at all, or hes a master who is in full control of his body. Considering hisposure, probably thetter.
Suddenly, Nam-Goong Wis gaze turned toward Tang Mi-Ryeo, who was standing behind Jin Mu-Won. He said threateningly, Oi, bitch! All these people are dying because of you, so you should take responsibility for them.
Tang Mi-Ryeo shuddered as the sheer amount of killing intent in Nam-Goong Wis voice reminded her just how frightening the man in front of her was. This was a monster who had killed three of the Tang ns young elites in one strike. In addition, she didnt know how effective poison would be on him, but she knew that her hidden weapons werepletely useless against that thick red armor he wore.
These people are literally the natural enemies of the Tang n.
It didnt take a genius to work out that this group was painstakingly created for the sole purpose of taking on the Tang n.
Tang Mi-Ryeo shuddered.
The Tang n doesnt stand a chance against these warriors. But, who are they? Is there a powerful faction that hates the Tang n so much, they would do this just to destroy us?
Although the Tang n was a superpower as well as a member of the Five Great ns, Tang Mi-Ryeo couldnt think of anyone they had offended enough to spend so much money and resources on something this extreme.
We might have unknowingly gotten ourselves involved in a sweeping, macabre conspiracy.
Tang Mi-Ryeos blood ran cold as she trembled in fear and trepidation.
However, rather than the fear of the unknown, the immediate pressureing from Nam-Goong Wi in front of her was far harder to bear. To her inexperienced self, the giants eyes were like those of a wild beast staring down its prey, excited yet murderous.
STEP.
The wagon driver dressed in a reddish brown outfit, like earth that had been soaked in blood, stepped between her and Nam-Goong Wi, taking on the brunt of his aura in her ce.
Ah!
The huge pressure on Tang Mi-Ryeo instantly vanished as if it had never existed.
That wagon driver was, naturally, Jin Mu-Won.
Hmph!
Nam-Goong Wi snorted derisively and grabbed his sky piercer halberd. In an instant, his aura intensified several-fold.
Despite the increased pressure like arge boulder trying to weigh him down, Jin Mu-Wons rxed expression never faltered, leaving a deep andsting impression on Tang Mi-Ryeo.
Nam-Goong Wi pointed his halberd at Jin Mu-Won and taunted, Youre not going to chicken out on me now, are you?
This is a free trantion. You should not be seeing ads.
If I was going to back down, I wouldnt have interfered in the first ce.
Nam-Goong Wi grinned and concentrated his chi as he replied, Okay, lets find out just how strong you are!
ROAR!
With a ear-splitting roar, the sky piercer halberd came crashing down on Jin Mu-Won like a fierce wave on a stormy sea. In the wind that had turned to des, his clothes fluttered wildly, threatening to slice through his skin.
Jin Mu-Won narrowed his eyes.
Nam-Goong Wi was by far the strongest opponent he had faced aftering to the Central ins. Not even Mu Jin of the Kongtong Sect could hold a candle to Nam-Goong Wi.
Still, he didnt feel in the least bit scared. Instead, his heart was filled with an eerie calm, containing neither excitement nor nervousness, as if his soul had been separated from his body and was observing the situation from an outsiders perspective.
Before we fight, there is something I must know. Mind answering a question first?
As long as its a question I can answer.
Are you the one who caused the disappearance of the merchant caravans?
Hmm, I wonder Nam-Goong Wi answered vaguely, a mysterious smile on his face.
That settled it for Jin Mu-Won. The giant was definitely involved in the disappearances. He asked again, Are you the one responsible for everything thats happening in Yunnan?
This is a non-profit trantion. Ads? What ads?
Woah there! Youre overestimating me. Im not the mastermind, merely a human weapon.
Then, who is the mastermind behind all this?
Are you curious?
Jin Mu-Won nodded.
Nam-Goong Wi grinned like a naughty boy about to do some mischief, but Jin Mu-Won didnt buy his poor acting. Unlike the others, he could clearly see the barbaric savagery and mercilessness surrounding the giant like a raging vortex.
Nam-Goong Wi waggled his finger at Jin Mu-Won in a beckoning gesture1 and said, If you want to know the answer, youll have to defeat me first.
If I do, then will you tell me what I want to know?
Maybe?
I see, in that case
SSUK!
This is a free trantion. You should not be seeing ads.
Jin Mu-Won vanished from Nam-Goong Wis field of vision, causing him to instinctively raise his halberd in defense.
BAM!
A tremendous impact struck Nam-Goong Wis halberd, pushing him a dozen steps backward and leaving a gaping furrow in the hard ground.
Fuck!
The smile was wiped clean off Nam-Goong Wis face as he staggered from the shock of the blow transmitting throughout his entire body.
At the exact spot where he had been up until a moment ago stood Jin Mu-Won, holding an unsheathed Snow Flower.
Ill just beat you up and continue asking.
Jin Mu-Won strode toward Nam-Goong Wi.
:
Beckoning gesture: You know, the e on! or bring it on! finger waggle ?
Chapter 78
TL: FoodieMonster007; ED: TheGreatT20
Fucking son of a bitch! Nam-Goong Wis face contorted horribly as his rxed demeanor quickly faded away, revealing the true appearance of the monstrous beast under the mask. A chaotic torrent of chi gathered around him like a raging tsunami and crashed down upon Jin Mu-Won.
Although the pressureing from Nam-Goong Wi was so intense that it made it hard to breathe, Jin Mu-Won strode toward the giant without a single change in expression.
CRUNCH. CRUNCH.
Jin Mu-Won footsteps as he trudged on the forest ground stood out from the cacophony. Nam-Goong Wi frowned and pointed his sky piercer halberd at the young man.
SCREEEEECH!
The halberd cried out harrowingly and emitted a faint wave of chi as a blurry haze. The haze stretched out from the ce where Nam-Goong Wi gripped the weapon, stretching and twisting itself until it covered the entire halberd.
So thats your Halberd Chi, huh?
The sky piercer halberd (쮓) was a very creative polearm. In addition to the spear tip, twin crescent-moon des () were attached to the end in order to increase the shing and slicing damage, rather than relying mostly on thrusting like the spear.1
This made for a very versatile weapon, but also one that was much harder to masterpared to the simple spear. As a result, the oncemonce weapon became rarer and rarer among martial artists, to the point where the sky piercer halberd martial arts techniques were almost lost.
And yet, Nam-Goong Wi managed to wave around a sky piercer halberd as naturally as breathing. That could only mean that his martial arts were extraordinary, at least, extraordinary enough to intimidate most ordinary martial artists.
However, Jin Mu-Won was wholly unaffected by Nam-Goong Wis scare tactics. Rather, he was ted. This was his first time since entering the gangho that he was facing a tried and tested martial arts master, and not an as-yet inexperienced young talent.
Nam-Goong Wis eyes glittered menacingly as he growled, Now its my turn to strike first!
Although Nam-Goong Wi said that, before he had even finished speaking, his figure had already disappeared from Jin Mu-Wons line of sight, leaving behind an afterimage.
Jin Mu-Won did not panic, instead, he calmly raised Snow Flower and deflected the blow aimed at his head.
BANG!
Nam-Goong Wis sky piercer halberd mmed into Slow Flower with explosive power, sending Jin Mu-Won sliding backward. Just like Jin Mu-Won, Nam-Goong Wi proved that he could also move at speeds beyond the perception of the human eye.
Hmph! Youre not half-bad, snorted Nam-Goong Wi, swinging his halberd again.
SWOOSH! WHOOSH!
Every time Nam-Goong Wi swung his sky piercer halberd, the scream of a vacuum being formed in the air rang out threateningly. He moved in a way that maintained his absolute control over the area immediately around him, forming a domain of death.
SHIING!
Jin Mu-Won dodged all of Nam-Goong Wis attacks and drew Snow Flower from its scabbard. The cursed de immediately started wailing as if it was throwing a childish tantrum.
Jin Mu-Won tightened his grip on the sword.
Suddenly, Nam-Goong Wi sensed a change in Jin Mu-Wons aura. The young mans presence had undergone an unbelievable transformation right after drawing his de.
Take that! Nam-Goong Wi yelled,unching a spinning thrust at Jin Mu-Wons heart.
Instead of backing down or dodging, Jin Mu-Won leapt head-on into Nam-Goong Wis vicious embrace, all the while swinging Snow Flower.
CLANG!
The ring of metal on metal reverberated around the forest as Nam-Goong Wis halberd was mercilessly knocked aside. Jin Mu-Won took the opportunity to aim for Nam-Goong Wis chest, but the giant used his right foot as a pivot and spun around to the side to avoid a fatal blow.
CRASH! CLANG! BAM!
Fireworks sparked in every direction as Snow Flower and the sky piercer halberd shed over and over again.
Nam-Goong Wi spun his halberd like a windmill and mixed a variety of thrusts, shes, and slices into his offensive, exploiting his weapons unique advantages to its maximum.
Despite Nam-Goong Wis shy moves, Jin Mu-Won remained unshakable, choosing to calmly deal with Nam-Goong Wis wild barrage one strike at a time. Regardless of whatever Nam-Goong Wi did, all of his attacks bounced off the young man like it had hit an impregnable wall.
Impressed, Nam-Goong Wi couldnt help but exim even while attacking relentlessly, Damn! Youre fucking strong, kid!
It wasnt like either of them had used any special techniques. This was a sh of pure weapon skill, but bothbatants were such masters that the most basic of strikes were no less effective than the top martial arts techniques in the gangho.
Like him, Jin Mu-Won was also making the most of his chosen weapon and neutralizing every single one of his opponents attacks. This kind of feat wasnt one that was possible without aplete understanding of the swords characteristics.
Since when was there a martial artist so faithful to the basics in the gangho?
Most murim warriors were obsessed with learning higher-level martial arts and techniques, as they felt that doing so was the best way of improving themselves.
However, the more one mastered martial arts, the more one would realize the importance of a good foundation. That was how it had been for Nam-Goong Wi as well, so at a certain point, he had begun desperately training in the fundamentals.
Thanks to that, he was now able to bring out the full power and flexibility of the sky piercer halberd, and he even felt like he could defeat his enemies without using special techniques. Truth be told, he had been wholly disappointed in the opponents he had faced so far in the Central ins. However, meeting Jin Mu-Won shattered all of his illusions.
CLANG! BANG! SMASH!
Jin Mu-Won was matching him blow-for-blow using only the three basic movements for a sword: the thrust, sh, and parry. Not only that, he was also countering him using only the minimal amount of movement. It was a fighting style that emphasized efficiency above all.
Jin Mu-Wons swordsmanship was so optimal, even Nam-Goong Wi, the enemy, couldnt help but marvel at it. The young man wasnt using a sword like a tool, rather, it was as if he had be one with the sword.
The term one with the sword (һw) was probably created to describe this very state.
Nam-Goong Wi squeezed out more of his chi. As much as he admired Jin Mu-Wons skill, they were enemies, and now that he had confirmed his enemys strength, it was time to do everything he could to defeat him.
Sensing the sudden spike in Nam-Goong Wis chi, Jin Mu-Won furrowed his brows.
RUMMMMMBLE!
Halberd Qi burst forth from the tip of Nam-Goong Wis weapon like he wanted to split the heavens in half, effectively increasing the length of his sky piercer halberd by three feet.
Even though three feet was a very short distance to a normal person, in a duel among masters, a tiny change in reach could mean the difference between victory and defeat, life and death.
Nam-Goong Wi was confident that with this, Jin Mu-Won would step back. However, as it turned out, he could not be more wrong. It was human instinct to back away when faced with danger or surprises, but Jin Mu-Won overcame that instinct and instead continued engaging Nam-Goong Wi in closebat.
Jin Mu-Won was well aware that polearm users always held the overwhelming advantage at a distance, due to their weapons longer reach. If he retreated, it would be the same as him jumping into a sea of mes while carrying a sack of dry straw.
Nam-Goong Wi thrust his halberd and finally managed to injure Jin Mu-Won, but unfortunately for him, he missed the young mans heart by a hairs breadth. Although Jin Mu-Wons clothes were shed apart, and his blood sttered in the air from the wound, his sword swings never stopped or slowed, as if the injury hadnt affected him in the least.
SWISH!
Ghh! Nam-Goong Wi let out a painful groan as Snow Flower created a long, deep gash across his shoulder. Fortunately, it was not a fatal blow, but it was still close enough that it left Nam-Goong Wis heart pounding.
It was only then that Nam-Goong Wi was finally convinced of Jin Mu-Wons strength.
This dudes the real deal. Hes not a superficial, half-baked martial artist like most of the warriors in the Central ins.
Hes a true martial artist utterly dedicated to his craft and mastery of the sword even at the cost of his own life.
A strong feeling of anxiety and excitement gripped him. It had been a long time since he hadst felt this way.
Suddenly, Nam-Goong Wi stepped back and looked at Jin Mu-Won, who immediately stopped swinging Snow Flower and stared back at him.
Nam-Goong Wi yelled, Very well! I will grant you the honor of witnessing my True zing Halberd of the Fire Dragon (w)! I, Captain Nam-Goong Wi of the Crimson Ghost Corps (F), will face you, Jin Mu-Won, with all of my strength!
ROAAAAAAR!
A lions roar resounded across the skies as Nam-Goong Wi held his sky piercer halberd vertically as if building a bridge between Heaven and Earth.
This was the starting stance for the True zing Halberd of the Fire Dragon, the martial art technique that Nam-Goong Wi practiced. However, this was the first time he was using it in the Central ins as he had never run into anyone worthy enough to make him use it before.
Rather than giving Nam-Goong Wi a verbal answer, Jin Mu-Won simply pointed Snow Flower at him. It was a simple deration of war, and one that ced immense pressure on Nam-Goong Wi.
The giants lips curled upward in a grin. Just like him, Jin Mu-Won had not yet disyed his full prowess.
The real fight was just beginning.
HAAAAAAH! Nam-Goong Wi roared deafeningly as chi exploded from his sky piercer halberd.
HUMMMMMMM!
The chi quickly shaped itself into the form of a sky piercer halberd and ovepped itself with Nam-Goong Wis physical weapon as Halberd Flux.
Then, as if cutting grass, Nam Goong-Wi swept his sky piercer halberd across Jin Mu-Wons knees, at the same time unleashing one of the True zing Halberd of the Fire Dragons ultimate moves the Soul-Burning Fire Dragon ().
FLAP!
Jin Mu-Wons clothes fluttered in the wind as he kicked the earth and leapt forward, Snow Flower held low to meet Nam-Goong Wis halberd.
SWOOSH! CLANG!
Snow Flower collided with the sky piercer halberd, sending sparks flying everywhere and raising a cloud of dust.
Tang Mi-Ryeo hastily retreated backward, carrying Tang Gi-Mun on her back, and Kwak Moon-Jung quickly followed suit. The instant they got themselves out of harms way, the wagon they were riding on was smashed to pieces in the wake of the attacks.
A fight far beyond their imaginations was unfolding right in front of them.
Jin Mu-Won swung his sword again and again, as if it was an extension of his body. He was one with his de.
Unbelievable! Tang Mi-Ryeos eyes widened in amazement.
Footnotes:
Chapter 79
Chapter 79: The Swordsman from the North (1)
CRACK!
With a hair-raising crack sound, the chest of one of the red-armored warriors sunk inwards, a giant dragon scale dao embedded in it.
Hmph! Yong Mu-Sung snorted. He pulled out his dao from the red-armored warriors chest with a grim expression on his face.
At more than fifty pounds, the dragon scale dao he wielded weighed several times more than the weapons most warriors used. Despite that, he still had to inject a significant amount of his chi into the de just to damage the enemys red armor.
The sheer amount of destructive power needed to break that armor was ridiculous. It was only possible because the one doing it was Yong Mu-Sung, and the fact remained that none of the other warriors around were capable of reproducing his feat.
As if to hammer that painful truth in, the White Dragon escorts were faring very poorly in battle, and only the Iron Brigade mercenaries were capable of defeating the red-armored warriors.
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Where on earth did these peoplee from? Throughout the years, Ive traveled all over the gangho, and yet Ive never seen warriors like these anywhere before!
Gah! I seriously got myself dragged into one hell of a mess this time.
Even so, I cannot back down. Credibility is the lifeblood of the Iron Brigade. The losses we would sustain from abandoning a request midway is too great, and we would have to waste a lot of time and effort to make aeback.
Noticing that theirrade was killed, five of the red-armored warriors rushed in on Yong Mu-Sung at once, emitting an aura so intense that it hurt the eyes of anyone looking at them.
Yong Mu-Sung immediately understood that he could not defeat these guys using only basic moves.
Tsk! In the end, Im still forced to use one of my trump cards, huh, he grumbled as he infused his dragon scale dao with chi, making it glow red.
His lips curled upward in arge grin, revealing his unusually white canines. He swung his dragon scale dao at the charging red-armored warriors, saying, Damn bastards, dont even dream that Ill give you a painless death.
Like the w of a fearless wild beast, the dragon scale dao sliced through the air.
RUUUUMBLE!
A red tornado ravaged the heavens and earth, swallowing up all of the red-armored warriors andunching them into the air. The warriors tried to resist, but to no avail.
Then, the red glow surrounding Yong Mu-Sungs dragon scale dao intensified.
AHHHHH!
SPLAT! BAM! PLOP!
Amidst ear-splitting screams, the five warriors fell back to the ground as a rain of blood mixed with bits of armor, flesh, and bone.
That was Yong Mu-Sungs secret technique, the Infernal Dragon Scale de ([ħε), an attack so terrifying that even demonic practitioners forbade its practice, because it never left its targets corpses in one piece, instead ripping them apart like they had been assaulted by dozens of infernal beasts.
Finally, the red-armored warriors hesitated, startled by the ferocity and ruthlessness of Yong Mu-Sungs Infernal Dragon Scale de. They nced at each other for a moment, then began to retreat.
Seeing this, Yong Mu-Sung beamed triumphantly.
Hahaha! I guess you guys were nothing special after all Huh? Yong Mu-Sungs voice trailed off as it struck him that it wasnt him the red-armored warriors feared. An odd atmosphere gripped the area as not only the enemies around him, but all of the red-armored warriors were backing away.
For a moment, the Iron Brigade mercenaries and the White Dragon escorts, who had been struggling badly in the fight, looked around them, confused. When they finally noticed what was happening, their eyes opened wide.
CLANG! BANG! BOOM! CRASH!
An unimaginable fight was taking ce in their immediate vicinity.
It was Jin Mu-Won and Nam-Goong Wi.
In the midst of their frenzied battle, the two men were destroying everything around them, even sending several unsuspecting warriors who had identally gotten close to them flying to their deaths.
SWISH!
Every time Jin Mu-Won swung his de, the warriors would hurriedly close their eyes as if they had been cut.
.
Several of the warriors soon managed to force their eyes open, but none of them dared speak in the face of the suffocating pressure from the two master martial artists.
After a long time, Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan finally mumbled, What the hell?
He couldnt believe his eyes. Nam-Goong Wi and his sky piercer halberd were indeed intimidating, but Jin Mu-Won left his brain inplete disarray. He couldnt sense an ounce of sword chi or sword flux from Jin Mu-Wons sword, and yet every time the young man swung it, the chilling keenness of the de sent shivers down his spine.
His mind was in such a mess that he couldnt say anything even vaguely coherent.
How is this possible? Gong-Son Chang, the Seven Skills Swordsman, gasped as his shoulders shook uncontrobly. He was a proud swordsman who aimed forplete mastery of the sword, which was the level of Sword Flux.
Common sense told him that Weapon Flux could only be blocked and countered with Weapon Flux, so to achieve that stage, he had worked extremely hard.
However, the fight unfolding in front of his very eyes was telling him otherwise. It was demolishing all his most fundamental beliefs andmon sense.
How Blood spurted out from the wound as Gong-Son Chang bit down on his lip, hard.
The other members of the Iron Brigade quietly watched theirrade tremble in shock and disbelief. Although they were also badly affected by Jin Mu-Wons disy of skill and strength, it wasnt to the same extent as Gong-Son Chang. The prouder one was, the harder they fell, and Gong-Son Chang was by far the proudest one of them all. They couldnt even begin to imagine how much frustration and despair the man must be feeling.
Chae Yak-Ran sighed softly.
Jin Mu-Won.
Shed never thought that these three words would have such arge impact on the Iron Brigade.
From now on, this mans name will shake-up the entire gangho.
The Iron Brigade mercenaries nodded in agreement.
Meanwhile, Nam-Goong Wis expression was grim. He had just unleashed one of his ultimate techniques, the Fire Dragons zing Annihtion (ל), but Jin Mu-Won had dodged it easily just by moving his body slightly.
Hes like a shadow without substance. How can such a person exist?
Nam-Goong Wi face twisted in distaste as he tightened his grip on his halberd, causing the veins on the back of his hands to pop out like earthworms. Jin Mu-Won was an unexpected variable that no one had been able to predict, and to make matters worse, this variable was an enemy preventing him from aplishing his mission.
Not even that man could foresee the arrival of a person like Jin Mu-Won, even though he is the most intelligent person I know, and can contain the knowledge of the world inside a tiny brain asrge as my fist. As much as I respect him, there are still things beyond his calctions, huh.
So, where the fuck did this guye from?
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Nam-Goong Wi was the leader of the red-armored warriors, also known as the Crimson Ghost Corps. Dozens of years and an unimaginable amount of money had been invested to create the Crimson Ghost Corps, and simrly, it was impossible for a master swordsman like Jin Mu-Won to have been trained overnight.
Is Heavens Summit behind this?
The instant the idea popped up in his head, Nam-Goong Wi shook his head. He was confident that he understood the internal and external movements of Heavens Summit better than anyone else, including many members of Heavens Summit themselves.
Although Heavens Summit was the most powerful organization in the world, both in regards to the strength of individual martial arts masters and the group as a whole, the method to create a master was not quite the same as training a group of warriors. It wasnt something that could be done deliberately.
The killing intent in Nam-Goong Wis eyes surged.
If I fail to kill this guy now, he will be a gue we can never ignore.
It wasmon sense that individuals could not alter the worlds overall trajectory, but sometimes, a person would appear who overturned thatmon sense. They rejected the existing order and wrote history as they saw fit, sending the world spiraling into a whirlpool of chaos filled with uncertainty and vtility.
Naturally, not everyone approved of such drastic changes, especially Heavens Summit, who created and benefited the most from the current order. To them, an unstable variable like Jin Mu-Won was like poison in their political waters.
The same was true of the faction Nam-Goong Wi belonged to. Although they wished for change, they did not desire an uncontroble variable like Jin Mu-Won making a mess wherever he went.
BOOM!
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Nam-Goong Wis aura exploded, unleashing a torrent that swept up everything around it.
ROAAAAAAR!
He smashed his sky piercer halberd down on Jin Mu-Won with all his might, causing a thunderous reverberation like he was heralding the end of the world.
In the face of Nam-Goong Wis all-out attack, Jin Mu-Won looked like a helpless leaf about to be swept away in a terrible windstorm. However, the expression on his face was as calm andposed as ever.
Like the saying goes: A tree that is unbending is easily broken.1 It is foolish to stand up straight and face a storm head-on.
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If the opponent forces his way forward, I will let him have his way, but the moment he steps down, I will close in on him.
The key to doing this is to carefully sense and read his breathing patterns.
One could feint using their eyes and muscle movements, but the breath could never be disguised. The brief intervals between inhtion and exhtion would always reveal an enemys intentions, allowing one to react ordingly.
Well, that was easy to say, but reading an opponents breathing patterns in the middle of a life-and-death situation was hardly trivial. Furthermore, Nam-Goong Wi was no weakling.
No matter how much a person steeled their heart, it was difficult to maintain onesposure when faced with a threat to ones life. Be that as it may, remaining calm and making logical decisions in the heat of battle was paramount to survival and victory.
At least, for Jin Mu-Won, coolly engaging in a close-range fight with Nam-Goong Wi was only possible because of his All-Epassing Cognizance.
Not only that, he was also using the giant as a stepping stone to improve his skills to the next level as he fought. This particr ability was a trait of the Shadow de of Destruction, and one of the reasons it was one of the most terrifying martial arts techniques.
As the battle wore on, Nam-Goong Wis face gradually turned pale from extreme overuse of chi. The energy depletion was so bad, even his physical strength had been drained. Moreover, Jin Mu-Wons constant counterattacks hadpletely disrupted his breathing rhythm.
If I let this drag on any longer, my chances of striking back will only get lower and lower. I have to finish this battle in one decisive move!
Fuck! To think that I would have to go through such a nightmarish experience in the boonies of Yunnan!
Frustrated and enraged, Nam-Goong Wi roared, DAMN BASTARD! LETS FINISH THISSSSSS!
Scarlet chi wrapped itself around Nam-Goong Wis sky piercer halberd like a coiled dragon as he injected all his remaining chi into the weapon in preparation for his strongest technique, the Berserk Dragon Ascends the Heavens (w).
?
As he watched Nam-Goong Wis body bend backward like a drawn bow, Jin Mu-Won narrowed his eyes. His instincts told him that this attack was different from all the ones before.
He tightened his grip on Snow Flower, which cried in response as if it knew what he was thinking.
Nam-Goong Wis sky piercer halberd flew toward Jin Mu-Won, tearing apart everything in its path.
In answer to Nam-Goong Wis provocation, Jin Mu-Won unleashed the third form of the Shadow de of Destruction (ħӰ)Dividing the Heavenly Seas (캣).
CRAAAAASSSSHHHH!
:
Thetter idiom does not trante well so I added this sentence, a quote from Lao Tzus Dao De Jing that Jin Mu-Won is so fond of reading. ?
If you see this, you are at the wrong site!
Chapter 80
TL: FoodieMonster007; ED: TheGreatT20
DRIP.
A droplet of bloodnded on Snow Flower.
As everyone watched with bated breaths, the bright crimson droplet slid frictionlessly down the jet ck de without leaving any traces, like raindrops falling on a lotus leaf.1
Suddenly, the droplet paused at the edge of the de, as if it was hesitating about whether to fall off or not. The spectators unconsciously clenched their fists in apprehension.
PLOP!
Ahh
At longst, when the droplet of blood finally fell onto the ground, the watching warriors let go of their held breaths in unison. Their minds, which had been enraptured by the surreal scene they had just witnessed, were finally dragged back into reality.
Keuk!
The scowl on Nam-Goong Wis face deepened. He knelt on the ground on one knee, using what was left of his sky piercer halberd, which had been sliced cleanly in half, to support himself from falling over. Under his ribs, there was a huge, deep gash, and blood was pouring out of the wound like there was no tomorrow.
However, right now, the pain from the wound hardly mattered to him.
When!? How!? What!?
Nam-Goong Wis eyes trembled in disbelief. He was indeed surprised that his ultimate technique had been blocked, but what really drove him crazy was the fact that he had no idea when and how he got injured.
There was neither sound nor trace of the attack. There wasnt even a single hint of movement.
It was as if he had been shed by an invisible sword.
Thats the wless sword technique of a master assassin No, assassins are people whounch sneak attacks on their enemies while concealed. Jin Mu-Won attacked me head-on!
The sheer absurdity of it blew his mind.
Across from Nam-Goong Wi, Jin Mu-Won slowly calmed his breathing, his face burning red from the exertion.
Dividing the Heavenly Seas was the sword form that best made use of the unique characteristics of Shadow Chi. It was formless and traceless; the de of an assassin hidden in their opponents shadow, holding their breath and waiting to strike.
By the time the enemy noticed them, it was toote to react. And the result of the attack Nam-Goongs Wis current state was a good example of that.
Well, Jin Mu-Won was a little disappointed though. This was his first time using the technique in battle, and he hadnt executed it perfectly. If he had, Nam-Goong Wi would have already breathed hisst.
He asked, You should be able to answer me now, right? Does the disappearance of the White Dragon merchant caravan have anything to do with the group you belong to?
Nam-Goong Wi red at Jin Mu-Won. His face was expressionless, as if nothing in the world could shake him, but that was just another mask of his.
He was a sword.
A sword honed for the sole purpose of killing.
Without thinking, he replied, Yes.
I knew it.
You wont be getting more than one answer out of me.
Well see about that.
Jin Mu-Won strode toward Nam-Goong Wi and raised his sword. He wasnt about to let things end like this. He wanted to bring Nam-Goong Wi to his knees, and force the man to spit out everything he knew.
As if he could read Jin Mu-Wons thoughts, Nam-Goong Wi stiffened.
WHOOSH!
Suddenly, the sound of an object whistling through the air rang in Jin Mu-Wons ears. He promptly gave up swinging his de down and leapt backward, narrowly avoiding the arrow that urately pierced the ground where he had just been standing.
A pungent green smoke then quickly started to rise out of the small leather bag attached to the arrow, having opened upon impact when it struck the ground.
Realizing that he felt strangely ufortable after breathing in the smoke, Yong Mu-Sung covered his nose and mouth with his sleeve and shouted, Its poison! Everyone step back!
The Iron Brigade mercenaries and White Dragon escorts immediately scrambled to get away from the smoke, but Yong Mu-Sungs warning still came toote for the ones who were in close proximity to it.
UAHHHHHH!
As the toxic fog swallowed the warriors, they scratched their own throats, screaming in pain until the moment they lost consciousness.
When Jin Mu-Won held his breath and tried to charge into the smoke, even more arrows flew at him and got in his way.
WHISH!
The force behind each arrow was so strong that it sent shivers down his spine, leaving Jin Mu-Won with no choice but to dodge the arrows as he rushed forward instead of just blocking them and knocking them aside.
THUD!
Two arrows pierced the ground where he had just been standing and dug in so deep that only the fletching was left above ground, still quivering from the impact.
Damn it!
As he walked out of the toxic fog, Jin Mu-Won frowned. Nam-Goong Wi and the remaining red-armored warriors were gone. They only had a very short time frame to work with, but clearly that was enough time for these well-trained warriors to escape.
Hoo
Having escaped from the crisis, the surviving White Dragon escorts heaved sighs of relief. Although the Iron Brigade mercenaries did notpletely lower their guards like the escorts, in truth, they felt the same way.
Yong Mu-Sung walked toward Jin Mu-Won, saying, Hey
However, before he could finish his line, Jin Mu-Won dashed off in the direction where Nam-Goong Wi and the red-armored warriors had vanished.
U-UhYong Mu-Sung could only stare nkly, mouth gaping open, as Jin Mu-Won chased after their assants.
Tang Mi-Ryeo shook her head resignedly and pointed out, I dont think hes willing to let them off that easily.
Yeah
As Tang Mi-Ryeo also looked in Jin Mu-Wons direction, an intensity that wasnt there before burned in her eyes.
Every time Jin Mu-Won took a step forward, thendscape around him would change drastically as if he had teleported. He maneuvered through the forest like flowing water, blending into the wind, as he searched for Nam-Goong Wis trail. Just like his swordsmanship, his movement was soundless and traceless.
He was using the Flowing Stream Steps (Ϫ)2 that he had taught to Seo Mu-Sang a long time ago, but over the years, he had modified and improved the martial art to better suit himself.
Although there werent many clues, based on the direction where grass that was stepped on was bent, and several faint footprints, Jin Mu-Won tracked down Nam-Goong Wi and was closing in on him at a frightening speed.
I have to catch him and make him spill out Uncle Hwangs whereabouts!
Jin Mu-Won grit his teeth. He didnt know which faction Nam-Goong Wi belonged to, but it wasnt hard to deduce that it was arge and powerful organization. Against a group like that, the longer he took to find his target, the more disadvantaged his position would be.
Furthermore, he desperately wanted to discover Nam-Goong Wis true identity and the name of the group he belonged to. He had a feeling that these people had ambushed the merchants on purpose to direct the eyes of the Tyrant Fist Sect as well as the gangho on Yunnan Province, and if that was indeed true, then they must be confident out of making enemies of the entire murim.
Perhaps, its them
The name of a certain organization immediately sprung to mind, sending his heart beating wildly.
Suddenly, his senses alerted him to an unknown danger. He instinctively jerked his head downward as if someone had hit him with a hammer.
WHISTLE!
A long, sharp object whooshed past where his head had just been a moment ago.
Was that an arrow?
Jin Mu-Won turned to look at the tree behind him to find an arrow buried deep into it, still quivering from the sudden impact.
That arrow had flown faster than the speed of sound. If not for his All-Epassing Cognizance, he would have been caught unawares and died in an instant.
Damn it, they left an archer behind to stall for time while Nam-Goong Wi and the red-armored warriors escape.
A drop of cold sweat rolled down Jin Mu-Wons back as he spread out his senses to find the archer.
As expected, it wasnt long before yet another arrow came flying at himNo, there were three arrows this time! Not only were the arrows fast, they had also been fired at extremely rapid intervals!
THWACK! SMACK! BAM!
Jin Mu-Won knocked all of the arrows away using Snow Flower, but his hand was now numb from the recoil. Whoever this sniper was, they were at least as skilled as the Twilight Iron Bowman Dam Jin-Hong, the Iron Brigades master archer.
SWOOSH! RUSTLE!
The archer moved around at high speed while firing arrows continuously to avoid being detected, but Jin Mu-Wons All-Epassing Cognizance was no simple technique that could be easily misled. Although he could not pinpoint the archers location extremely urately, he could still sense their general direction.
SWISH!
Jin Mu-Won abruptly spun around and sprinted in a straight line toward a part of the forest with unusually thick vegetation.
Wha! The archer unconsciously eximed out loud. He hadnt expected Jin Mu-Won to find him so quickly.
TWANG! TWANG!
The archer was left with no choice but to attempt to slow Jin Mu-Won down by shooting arrows non-stop.
Although swatting away the powerful arrows made his hands numb, Jin Mu-Won faced them head-on. He didnt have any time to waste.
THWACK! SMACK!
A dark painting appeared in the air, created by the afterimage of his ck sword coupled with the arrows falling to the ground like rain.
Suddenly, Jin Mu-Wons senses alerted him to someones movement. It seemed that the archer intended to change his position and find a new hiding spot after firing another arrow at him. He quickly spun around using his left foot as a pivot and leapt toward the archers new position.
Ugh!
Jin Mu-Won swung down Snow Flower, cutting down everything in his path and revealing the enemy. It was a short man in his mid tote forties with a disproportionately broad chest and thick arms, carrying a purple bow.
Keuk! the middle-aged man eximed, aghast. He was used to killing his targets at a long distance, and the number of people who had died this way at his hands easily exceeded a thousand. Among all those targets, none had ever found him and exposed his position like this.
Where on earth did this monstere from
Jin Mu-Won had pinpointed his location in a heartbeat and charged toward him without any hesitation. Although he couldnt tell if the young man was confident or just being reckless, there was one thing he understood for sure: This man was insanely dangerous!
SLASH!
A ck de covered in cursed energy came flying at him.
Fuck!
The archer quickly raised his purple bow to block Jin Mu-Wons attack as his instincts screamed at him that it was impossible for him to dodge.
CLANG!
The instant the two weapons shed, the archer was sent flying backward, his purple bow nearly broken in half.
Kuheok! Blood poured out of the archers mouth as he coughed. His intestines had been badly damaged by the impact. However, he had a hunch that Jin Mu-Won would not let up just yet.
I wont be able to block the next attack. In that case
A vicious light shed in the archers eyes.
SPURT!
Jin Mu-Won stabbed the archer in the shoulder, sending blood flying everywhere. He had no intention of killing the archer, only subduing them and interrogating them.
However, to his surprise, the archer ignored the injury, spread his arms wide, and hugged Jin Mu-Won.
Shall we die together? Hahaha! the archer whispered in Jin Mu-Wons ear.
A shiver ran down Jin Mu-Wons spine at the middle-aged mans chilly voice. His instincts warned him of impending danger. He frowned and tried to wrestle himself free of the archers iron grip, but those thick arms bound him tightly like metal chains.
PSHHHHH
Suddenly, green smoke rose out from the archers body.
This is
Jin Mu-Won held his breath, gathered his chi, and released it at the archer, causing the mans arms to loosen momentarily. He then immediately took the opportunity to slip out from the mans grip and leap away from him.
As the green smoke quickly swallowed the archer whole, the mans body started to melt like candle wax. With hisst breath, he spoke in a voice like an ominous curse, Since you have gotten in the way of our work, know that you will surely die a painful death. Kuhahaha!
Who the hell are you?
Huhuhu! This is just the beginning Soon, the whole world will be The archers voice trailed off. He was dead.
Jin Mu-Won stared vehemently at the melted lump of flesh, which continued to bubble until it turned to liquid and seeped into the ground. Soon enough, even the green smoke vanished along with the corpse.
He sighed, Haa In the end, I wasnt able to find out anything.
Footnotes:
Chapter 81
Chapter 81: The Swordsman from the North (3)
TL: FoodieMonster007; ED: TheGreatT20 If you see this, you are at the wrong site!
Haa sighed Yong Mu-Sung, looking at the situation around him.
Only a short time had passed, but nearly thirty people were dead, nketing the White Dragon caravan in an atmosphere of gloom and despair. Everyone was used to living on the edge, but dealing with the deaths of people with whom one had just been talking and joking with was never easy.
Not even the Iron Brigade mercenaries were exempt from the grief and shock. Moreover, they were mortified by not only the strength of the red-armored warriors, but the solidarity and teamwork that they had disyed when they took the effort to retrieve theirrades corpses before they retreated.
That was not something any normal organization would do, since it would greatly hinder their chances of a sessful escape. Looking at it from another perspective, though, it meant that the red-armored warriors were desperate not to leave any corpses, which would reveal hints to their true identities, behind.
Yong Mu-Sung scratched his head and muttered to himself, Damn it, damn it! Those fucking crazy bastards
Unlike Yong Mu-Sung, the rest of the caravan did not voice it out loud, but they all felt the same way as him. Never in their dreams had they imagined that so many of them would die on their very first day in Yunnan. The unexpected blow had crushed their hopeful spirits.
Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan approached Yong Mu-Sung and self-deprecatingly sighed, HaaThis is all my fault. It was my decision that
Youre not the only one at fault. As yourmander, Im equally responsible for what happened here today. I allowed those guys to wipe so much shit all over my face, that from now on, I wont be able to raise my head in front of others wherever I go.
Im sorry, Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan apologized, then nced toward the wagon where Tang Mi-Ryeo was treating her uncle.
Shortly after their enemies had retreated, Tang Mi-Ryeo had given her injured uncle, Tang Gi-Mun, emergency treatment. As a result, Tang Gi-Mun had swiftly regained consciousness. Tang Mi-Ryeo had then quickly brought her uncle up to speed on their current situation, including the fact that the Iron Brigade and White Dragon Merchant Association wanted to abandon them.
Well, if the two of them had been killed, no one would be the wiser, and the truth about what happened here would have been buried in the sands of time. However, they survived, and now the resentment from being abandoned burned strongly in their hearts.
Lets go, said Yong Mu-Sung.
Confused, Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan asked, Huh? Go where?
We have to apologize to those two before its toote. Yong Mu-Sung marched toward the wagon.
Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan sighed briefly, then followed him. Yong Mu-Sung was right. Trying to pretend that nothing had happened would not solve their problems.
The two Iron Brigade mercenaries stopped in front of the wagon, sped their hands together in a fist salute and bowed their heads slightly. Yong Mu-Sung said, Greetings, Great Senior from the Tang n. I am Yong Mu-Sung of the Iron Brigade, and a mere humble junior in martial arts.
Greetings, Elder Tang Gi-Mun. I am Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan, also of the Iron Brigade.1
Tang Gi-Mun wordlessly stared at the two men for a long time, leaving them sweating from the tension. Finally, he said in a voice as cold as ice, Nice to meet you, I am Tang Gi-Mun, the Head of the Pavilion of Ten Thousand Poisons in the Tang n. Ive already heard the entire story from my niece, and I wont be forgetting your assistance anytime soon.
The two mercenaries faces crumpled. Even an ordinary elder of the Tang n wasnt someone they could afford to offend, much less the Head of the Pavilion of Ten Thousand Poisons, a much more revered position and one that was part of the core leadership of the Tang n.
Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan wanted to faint where he stood. Only now did the sheer severity of his mistake strike him.
Fuck, if Id known who he was, Id have helped him regardless of the danger!
But theres no point crying over spilled milk now. My best option is to attempt to patch things up so that the Tang n does not bring the hammer of vengeance down on us.
Im really sorry, but as you saw just now, with our measly strength, there was nothing we could do to help you.
Why are you apologizing? All you did was act like a typical warrior of the gangho.
Under Tang Gi-Muns cold gaze, Jong-Ri Mu-Hwans heart sank. He felt as if the old man could see right through his intentions.
Seeing this, Yong Mu-Sung took over, saying, Elder Tang, were truly sorry about this. If we had known who you were, we would definitely have risked our lives to protect you. Also, at the time, we werent really in a state where we could have made any rational judgments
?
Do you weigh the lives of people by their status?
Isnt that the way of the gangho?
Tang Gi-Mun locked gazes with Yong Mu-Sung, who grinned back brazenly.
The way of the gangho, huh Tang Gi-Mun couldnt refute Yong Mu-Sungs statement, because it was the truth.
In the end, he could only cynically conclude, I see. Thank you, I learned a lot of things today, and this is one lesson I will never forget.
Aigoo! I didnt teach you anything, you know?
In return, I will not pursue what you did today.
Thank you.
I dont owe you anything, either. After all, this is the way of the gangho, right?
Hahaha! Im satisfied as long as you donty the me on us, Yong Mu-Sungughed unabashedly.
So this is Yong Mu-Sung, the Commander of the Iron Brigade. Hes quite the cocky, audacious man. Most martial artists would tremble at the mention of my title, but this guy didnt even bat an eyelid. Our Tang n will have to be wary of this man from now on. Hes not normal.
Tang Gi-Mun tried to stand up, but almost immediately fell back down on his butt, reeling from pain. His internal injuries were much more severe than he had thought, and all of his organs felt like they had been disced. Thankfully, hed avoided death due to Tang Mi-Ryeos emergency treatment, but he still badly needed proper medical care.
He turned toward Tang Mi-Ryeo and ordered, From now on, dont let anyonee near me.
Yes, Uncle.2
Once again, under the curious gazes of Yong Mu-Sung, Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan and the rest of the caravan members, Tang Gi-Mun forced himself to his feet, mbered off the wagon, and hobbled over to a small clearing. He then sat down cross-legged and took two tiny ceramic bottles out from his chest pocket.
Tang Mi-Ryeos face turned as white as a sheet.
Uncle? she eximed.
Dont worry, these are for treating my injuries.
Tang Gi-Mun opened the cap of the bottle on the right, releasing a terrible stench that made one dizzy just by smelling it.
Is that poison!? Yong Mu-Sung immediately held his breath and unconsciously retreated several steps backward. Any poison that Tang Gi-Mun carried could not possibly be something mild or rtively harmless.
However, Tang Gi-Mun unhesitatingly poured a drop of the poison into his mouth and swallowed. His face quickly paled, and his entire body started trembling uncontrobly.
The name of the poison that he had just taken was the White Frogs Acid, named that way because it was extracted from the skin of the Blood White Frog (Ѫ),3 a poisonous frog native to the remote parts of Qinghai Province. Unlike other frogs, the Blood White Frog did not hibernate in winter, instead, it became more and more energetic as the weather got colder. This unusual behavior was the result of its body producing a poison so potent, one drop of it was enough to take down more than ten healthy bulls.
In the past, Tang Gi-Mun had spent two whole months searching every nook and cranny of Qinghai Province just to find the frog and obtain this poison.
The way the poison worked was that the moment it entered the body, it would stimte the entire nervous system to continuously fire off signals indicating pain to the brain, and the indescribable agony that followed would send most people to their deaths.
However, Tang Gi-Mun was no ordinary person. He was a poison master, and possessed resistance to most poisons. The White Frogs Acid was indeed potent, but for him, the pain was still bearable.
?
With trembling hands, Tang Gi-Mun opened the bottle in his left hand, brought it to his mouth, and gulped it down.
This bottle was filled with another potent poison called the Cranes Red Crown (Q피t), and like the White Frogs Acid, one drop of it was enough to kill several dozen people. It was obtained from the red crowns on the heads of old cranes who had lived for several hundred years, and the difficulty of obtaining this poison was so high it was like trying to pluck stars from the sky.4
If anyone who knew about poisons had seen what Tang Gi-Mun just did, they would have freaked out and called him insane. One drop of each type of poison was enough to kill dozens of men, and yet he swallowed not just one, but both poisons!
Keuk! The instant the Cranes Red Crowns entered his stomach, Tang Gi-Mun bit his lip in pain. His poison resistance might be outstanding, but thebined effects from two different poisons was unbearable even for him.
Surprisingly though, the two poisons only shed violently for a while before they began cooperating and healing Tang Gi-Muns body. As time passed, his face that was twisted from pain began to rx and some semnce of color returned to it.
PSHHHH
Suddenly, poisonous fumes gushed out from the pores of his skin.
Yong Mu-Sung hurriedly shouted, Everyone, get away from him!
At Yong Mu-Sungs reminder, everyone who had been watching Tang Gi-Mun curiously quickly stepped back, although Yong Mu-Sung continued observing the old man closely.
Is he treating poison with poison (Զƶ)? No, if I remember right, that phenomenon should be the one called harmony of poisons (Զ)
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It wasmonly known that some poisons could be used as antidotes for other poisons. However, what Tang Gi-Mun did was different. He was not simply canceling the effects of one poison using another, butbining two different poisons to create medicine.
The White Frogs Acid would stimte his nervous system, causing pain yet triggering his bodys natural healing response. On the other hand, the Cranes Red Crown damaged the internal organs while protecting the nervous system. On its own, the destructive effects of each poison overwhelmed its healing effects, but together, only the negative effects were canceled out.
Well, this crude method only worked because he was Tang Gi-Mun, and could resist the worst side effects of each poison. For anyone else, if the amount and concentration of each poison was even slightly off, the result would be certain death.
Soon, Tang Gi-Moons disced organs returned to their rightful positions, and his torn muscles came back together.
As expected of the Head of the Pavilion of Ten Thousand Poisons, thought Yong Mu-Sung bitterly. If only he had chosen to save Tang Gi-Mun, he and the Iron Brigade would have benefited greatly from the master who had surpassed the stage of poisoning people to death, and reached the realm where he could turn poison into precious elixirs.
As more and more poisonous fumes came out from Tang Gi-Muns body, his immediate surroundings quickly transformed into a circle of death where nts that had been lush and green just a few moments ago became gray and barren. In contrast, Tang Gi-Mun himself seemed livelier and livelier.
Finally, with a soft sigh, Tang Gi-Mun opened his eyes, got to his feet, and walked toward Tang Mi-Ryeo.
Uncle, are you feeling better now?
Yes, thanks to you, Ive mostly recovered. Also, Im sorry, I couldnt help you at all during the battle. I was just a burden.
Phew Tang Mi-Ryeo heaved a sigh of relief.
Suddenly, she heard the sound of rustling grass. Jin Mu-Won had returned.
She immediately cried out with delight, Savior!
Like his niece, Tang Gi-Mun also turned to face Jin Mu-Won, and the two mens gazes met.
Jin Mu-Wons eyes lit up with interest. Until right before hed left to chase after Nam-Goong Wi, Tang Gi-Mun had been in a near-death state, and yet, the man was now standing up straight as if hed never gotten injured.
So youre the young man who saved my life. Thank you, and please allow me to introduce myself, I am Tang Gi-Mun.
My name is Jin Mu-Won. Also, you dont need to thank me, I just did what anyone would have done in that situation.
Even so, I am a member of the Tang n. Both animosity and kindness are things that we will never forget, so in the name of Tang Gi-Mun, I swear that I will return this favor, Tang Gi-Mun adamantly insisted.
Those who treated the Tang n with kindness would be repaid tenfold, and those who offended them would be repaid a hundredfold. That was the Tang ns Creed, and out of everyone in the n, Tang Gi-Mun was the one who abided most firmly to their familys principles. His word was worth more than the weight of a thousand gold coins.
While all this was happening, Yong Mu-Sung and Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan could only watch on the sidelines with expressions like they had just eaten sour grapes.
To their chagrin, that promise was only between Jin Mu-Won and Tang Gi-Mun.
:
Senior/Elder: Yong Mu-Sung says sunbae (and refers to himself as a humble hoobae) while Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan says janglo, so Im differentiating the two honorifics. ?
Uncle: Tang Mi-Ryeo uses sukbu (??, 常), yet another word for Uncle, although it more literally trantes to Uncle Father and proves how close the two are. Remember, Jin Mu-Won calls Hwang Cheol Hwang-suk, and Kwak Moon-Jung calls him Hwang-ahjussi, both also meaning Uncle Hwang. Sigh, honorifics ?
Blood White Frog (Ѫ): This is a purely fictional frog species, probably a borrowed idea from Jin Yongs novel, The Heavenly Sword and Dragon-ying Saber, where the protagonist Zhang Wuji eats a Blood Frog (which contains pure Yang energy) to neutralize the cold (Yin) poison from his enemys technique, the Divine Palm of Frigid Darkness. ?
Cranes Red Crown (Q피t): The Red-crowned crane most certainly exists, but although it is one of the longest-lived bird species (with a lifespan of up to 75 years), it most definitely does not live for several hundred years and is also not poisonous. ?
Chapter 82: is, but meanwhile I’ll be plodding along to finish what’s before that.
TL: FoodieMonster007; ED: TheGreatT20
Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province, was located on a teau about 7000 feet (2,000 meters) above sea level. That was even higher than the peaks of many famous mountains in the Central ins.
Contrary to expectations though, it wasnt cold at all in Kunming. Rather, the city boasted a warm climate all year round, which made farming feasible regardless of the season. Thanks to that, life in the region wasfortable even before the arrival of the Han Chinese, when there were only a few tribes scattered around the area.
Additionally, Kunming had a different vibe from other cities in the Central ins. It was a ce where various cultures and ethnicities intersected, and people wearing the traditional clothing of different tribes could often be seen walking down the busy streets.
Or rather, that was what the city should have been like.
When the White Dragon caravan entered Kunming, the noisy, busy streets they expected were nowhere to be seen. Instead, the city was quiet and deserted, and the passersby stared at them with wary expressions on their faces. Having only recently lost several of theirrades in a battle, the caravan members were no less vignt and somber than the city folk. The tension in the air was so suffocating, everyone could feel the rigid, crushing pressure.
Jin Mu-Won sat on his wagon drivers seat and calmly surveyed his surroundings. Not even he was exempt from the tense atmosphere in Kunming. Once in a while, he could sense the passersby ring at him with eyes filled with suspicion, and when he took a closer look at these people, he realized that most of them were fully-armed martial artists.
Why are there so many martial artists in this city? Theyre also not dressed in any of the traditional clothing from the native tribes. That can only mean that all of these people came from elsewhere.
Just what is going on here?
Not long ago, Tang Gi-Mun had informed him that the Tang n had left for Yunnan on orders from Heavens Summit, but Heavens Summit hadnt actually given them much information on the situation. Based on the fact that they had specified his name, though, he surmised that a poison-rted disaster had likely urred there.
Just then, the two Tang n members stuck their heads out from the sheltered wagon cabin, right behind the drivers seat. Compared to a few days ago, Tang Gi-Mun looked a lot healthier, a result of continuously tending to his body even after the initial treatment with the two poisons.
Tang Gi-Mun asked, Mind if we sit next to you for a moment?
No, not at all. Jin Mu-Won moved over to the side, allowing Tang Gi-Mun and Tang Mi-Ryeo to mber onto the drivers seat.
Finally, I get to stretch my body. Tang Gi-Muns face lit up. The inside of the wagon cabin was dark and dreary, and getting a breath of cool, fresh air felt great to him.
How are you feeling?
Thanks to you, Master Jin, Ivepletely recovered.
I didnt do anything. You were the one who tended to your own wounds without rest.
If you hadnt saved me, I wouldnt still be breathing.
Tang Gi-Mun looked toward the front of the caravan, where the leaders of the Iron Brigade and the White Dragon Merchant Association were. He hadnt forgotten how these people had abandoned him that day. Even while they were traveling together, he never initiated a conversation with them, and when he was forced to talk to them, hed only give them single-word replies or outright ignore them.
As a leader of the prestigious Tang n, and a master of his chosen field, that kind of arrogance suited Tang Gi-Mun. Yet, the way he behaved toward Jin Mu-Won was the exact opposite of how he acted toward the Iron Brigade and the White Dragon Merchant Association.
In a voice overflowing with concern, Tang Gi-Mun said, You must be exhausted. Youve been driving the wagon for a few days without taking a single break.
The reason Tang Gi-Mun was so nice to Jin Mu-Won wasnt just because the young man saved his life, it was also because he genuinely liked him. Although Jin Mu-Won was no pretty boy, his possessed a certain unique charm that attracted others to him, and above all, he was a man who sincerely cared for other people.
During their entire journey to Kunming, the young man had never once asked the Tang n to repay his kindness or reminded them of his deeds. From this, Tang Gi-Mun could tell that Jin Mu-Won hadnt saved them because he wanted something of them. Hed simply followed his hearts desire to help those in need.
We dont see people like him very often nowadays.
If there was one thing that bothered Tang Gi-Mun, it was Jin Mu-Wons past. During their entire time together, the young man had never revealed any information about himself. However, the only way he could be that strong was to learn from a distinguished master or belong to a famous sect.
No, even then, I cant think of a single person or sect who can raise someone like him. I should take the young man aside and attempt to probe him for answerster.
Suddenly, Tang Mi-Ryeo, who hadnt said anything in a long while, asked, Master Jin, are you going to continue staying together with the White Dragon Merchant Association now that weve reached Kunming?
Although her question was simple, it was one with many implications.
No, I n to get my own amodations.
Why?
If we force ourselves to cooperate with each other despite being on bad terms, we would only end up getting in each others way. Thats why, from now on, Im going to move on my own.
Then, why dont youe with us?
Surprised by her offer, Jin Mu-Won stared nkly at her.
Tang Mi-Ryeo smiled and continued, We n to first head over to the Tyrant Fist Sect and meet up with the other martial artists sent here by Heavens Summit.
The Tyrant Fist Sect? Jin Mu-Won narrowed his eyes.
The Tyrant Fist Sect was the faction founded by the Fist Demon Jo Cheon-Woo, one of the former Four Pirs of the Northern Army. Once upon a time, Jo Cheon-Woo had been a close friend of his fathers, so much so that they had called each other brothers. To Jin Mu-Won, he had also been an uncle to be proud of.
However, on that fateful day, Jo Cheon-Woo had been the first person to turn his back on Jin Kwan-Ho and the Northern Army. As a reward for that, Heavens Summit had given him license to build the Tyrant Fist Sect in Yunnan Province.
It would be a lot easier to locate your uncle if you could get help from the Tyrant Fist Sect, right?
Thanks for the offer, but for the time being, I dont really want to enter that ce.
Why dont you want to go there?
Theres something I must do first, however, I wille look for you after Ive finished my business.
Is that so? It cant be helped, then. Tang Mi-Ryeo sighed disappointedly when she heard the first part of Jin Mu-Wons reply, but only after a short while did the full meaning of what he said register in her mind. Their parting was only temporary. A smile quickly reappeared on her face as she took out a jade token and handed it over to Jin Mu-Won.
Please be sure toe and see us when youre done, okay? Just show this to the Tyrant Fist Sect, and theyll allow you entry.
Jin Mu-Won looked at the jade token. The word Tang (), the symbol of the Tang n, was engraved on it. He immediately understood that this wasnt something the Tang n handed out easily, as a token like this could be used to enter even the headquarters of Heavens Summit without being submitted to questioning and background checks.
Thank you, he said, cing the token in his chest pocket.
Off to the side, Tang Gi-Mun, who had just watched the two youngsters exchange, looked up at the sky and mumbled to himself, Spring is always such a LOVELY season, isnt it~
Tang Mi-Ryeos face immediately flushed red with embarrassment.
Tang Gi-Mun then turned toward Jin Mu-Won and said, I trust that you know what youre doing, but please, be careful and do your best to stay safe. Right now, Kunming is no different than a den of demons. Judging by the fact that Heavens Summit summoned us here, it shouldnt be hard to guess just how bad the situation is.
Ill keep that in mind.
One more thing, take this.
Tang Gi-Mun took out a small wooden box and passed it to Jin Mu-Won.
Whats in this?
An antidote called the Red Silver Elixir (ty).
Isnt that extremely valuable?
Its okay, I made this myself. This antidote will instantly nullify most poisons, and as a bonus it will also increase your poison resistance for more than ten years.
I cant ept such a precious gift.
Hey you, how much do you think my life is worth? Compared to that, this is nothing.
I guess theres no arguing against that. Jin Mu-Won finally relented and epted the gift, saying, Thank you, I will definitely make good use of it.
Im sure itll be helpful to you in an emergency, as unfortunately, this is all I can give you right now, Tang Gi-Mun replied apologetically. However, unlike the way he put it, the Red Silver Elixir was hardly a worthless item. It was actually a project that he had heavily invested in for several decades, and had required him to collect a grand total of several dozen priceless poisons.
Even then, hed only managed to synthesize twenty doses of the Red Silver Elixir, and after sharing them with his close friends and family, as well as the leaders of the Tang n, he only had five doses left. Still, he didnt at all regret giving one to Jin Mu-Won.
As the three people talked, the caravan traveled past the main gate of the Tyrant Fist Sect, and Jin Mu-Won brought his wagon to a halt.
The Tyrant Fist Sect was no small sect. Although it could notpare to the Northern Army in its heyday, it boasted a scale and splendor that was in no way inferior to the great old sects of the Central ins. More than tenrge halls and vis towered above the high walls, while several dozen smaller pavilions dotted thendscape.
As if to make a show of the Tyrant Fist Sects position as a powerhouse, numerous warriors lined up perfectly from the main gate through the courtyard for no purpose other than to wee the visitors.
Tang Gi-Mun and Tang Mi-Ryeo disembarked from the wagon, and Jin Mu-Won waved them off with a fist salute, saying, I have to go now. Ill see you again soon.
Ill be waiting for you, Master Jin.
Then, until next time.
Tang Gi-Mun nodded in acknowledgement and strode toward the main gates of the Tyrant Fist Sect. Tang Mi-Ryeo followed closely behind him, but every few steps she took, she couldnt help regretfully turning around and looking at a certain young mans back as he drove off after the caravan.
At the gates, the uncle and niece revealed their identities to the gate watchers, causing a smallmotion until finally a middle-aged man dashed out from within the sect to greet the two esteemed visitors.
Wee, I am Yoo Jung-Moon, the Chief Administrator of the Tyrant Fist Sect.
Its a pleasure to meet you, Chief Administrator Yoo.
You arrived muchter than we expected. Did something happen?
On our way here, we were attacked by the enemy. The two of us managed to receive help and were saved, but sadly, the rest of our group lost their lives.
Oh no, Im so sorry for your loss. You should quicklye in and rest up, then. The Sect Leader and the Young Leader are waiting for you.
Alright.
Yoo Jung-Moon led the two Tang n members indoors. As they walked past the gates, Tang Mi-Ryeo looked behind her for thest time, but the White Dragon caravan and Jin Mu-Wons wagon had already disappeared off into the distance.
After a journey thatsted several months, the White Dragon caravan had finally arrived at their destination, thergest inn in Kunming, the White Marble Inn. While the escorts unloaded the luggage and moved them into the rooms, Jin Mu-Won approached Gong Jin-Sung and said, Thank you for everything youve done for me this far.
Why are you suddenly saying this?
I think its better if we moved separately from now on. I will find my own amodations.
Uhh Gong Jin-Sungs expression stiffened. He had witnessed Jin Mu-Wons strength with his very own eyes and understood that the young man was a warrior he could depend on. However, he could not bring himself to tell him not to leave.
By now, the divide between Jin Mu-Won and the caravan members had grown so wide, it was a gaping chasm. The Iron Brigade mercenaries, whose pride had been hurt, wanted nothing to do with the young man. On the other hand, the weaker escorts were afraid of him.
Most importantly, not even Gong Jin-Sung himself was confident that he could rein in Jin Mu-Won. If the young man was a cold, calcting person, he could just hire him with money, but unfortunately, Jin Mu-Won was not a man driven by such trifles. He acted solely based on his own principles and sense of justice, and was not tempted by any kind of material benefit.
That made him a very difficult person to employ.
However, even though Gong Jin-Sung had given up on hiring Jin Mu-Won, he didnt want topletely break off his rtionship with the man.
I respect your decision. Still, if you ever need help from the White Dragon Merchant Association, pleasee find me. As long as its something within my abilities, I will do my best to aid you.
Thank you, Im extremely grateful for your offer. Jin Mu-Won gave Gong Jin-Sung a fist salute, then turned and left.
Meanwhile, Kwak Moon-Jung, who was listening to their conversation, also bowed toward Gong Jin-Sung, saying, Thank you for the care and consideration youve shown me all this time.
Are you going to follow him? The path he has chosen is bound to be a rough one.
Hyung-nim was the one who showed me the way forward, and I want to do my best to see whats at the end of the road.
I see. Gong Jin-Sung nodded. He didnt know why, but he felt like he could understand Kwak Moon-Jungs decision.
One day, when I feel like I can handle the responsibility, I will return to the White Dragon Merchant Association. At that time, would you hire me again?
Of course, Ill be waiting. Now, you should really hurry up and go after him.
At Gong Jin-Sungs reminder, Kwak Moon-Jung hurriedly said his goodbyes and chased after Jin Mu-Won.
Gong Jin-Sung quietly watched the two young men leave. Meanwhile, Yong Mu-Sung, Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan, and Yoon Seo-In walked up to him.
So he left, huh?
In the first ce, he wasnt someone we could peacefully work with.
Jin Mu-Wons principles conflicted with that of Yong Mu-Sung and the Iron Brigade, and as long as these two were at loggerheads, there was no way the White Dragon Merchant Association could force him to stay.
Where on earth did that kind of person spring out from?
Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan unconsciously mumbled, I remember him saying that he was from the North.
Trantors Note: The fact that the capital of Yunnan is named Kunming and not Dian or Tuodong pretty much confirms LNB as taking ce during the Ming Dynasty. Like Author-nim described, the climate there is mild and perpetually spring-like, earning Kunming the nickname City of Eternal Spring. Also, the Han Chinese from the Central ins pretty much invaded the region and took it over from the ethnic minority tribes living there, but they also built a prosperous city and created trade routes.
To those of you who read Star Instructor Master Baek, you might have realized that the chapters are now double-posted on Alpha Scans. If they can trante faster than me, then Ill hand the project over to them. They will be starting from where the current manhwa chapter is, but meanwhile Ill be plodding along to finish whats before that.
Chapter 83
TL: FoodieMonster007; ED: TheGreatT20
The busybodies in the gangho loved to categorize martial artists by their strengths and create ranking lists. Although they often had disputes, they would always agree that the strongest nine people in the murim were the Nine Skies of Heavens Summit. The names and titles of the Nine Skies were as follows: - Demonic ws of Scarlet Jade (tħ), Shim Mu-Wae.
- Combat Before Words (ֲ), Dam Jeok-Shim.
- Azure Dragon Sword Emperor (n), Bi Sa-Won.
- Demonic Soul Emperor (ħ`), Hyun Hyun-So.
- Ghost of Zhuge Liang (T), Seo-Moon Hwa.
- Undefeated Ascetic (oʿ), Mo-Yong Yul-Cheon.
- Scarlet Leaf Sage (~w) of Wudang Sect.
- Abbot Buddha Vestige (Ӱɮ) of Shaolin Temple.
- Storm Harbinger (L녔), Neung Gun-Hwi
Together, these nine masters held absolute dominion over the gangho. Some of them were famous for their martial strength, while others were renowned for being the leaders of the worlds most powerful sects.
Every single one of them had the qualifications to challenge the title of the Worlds Strongest. However, because these nine people had never fought among themselves, it was impossible to determine who the strongest martial artist was.
Thus, the gangho paparazzi lumped them together and called them the Nine Skies. Of course, there were other martial artists who could possibly challenge these nine, including the Four Pirs of the Northern Army: - Phantom de (ֹ턦), Yeon Cheon-Hwa.
- Fist Demon (ȭħ), Jo Cheon-Woo.
- Ironblood Emperor (FѪ), Jae Hyuk-Shim
- Wind Emperor (L), Kyung Mu-Saeng
Although the Four Pirs had branched out from the great tree that was the Northern Army, in a mere ten years, they had built factions that were no less powerful than the old sects of the Central ins.
Of course, most people knew that there were definitely other, less well-known grandmasters hidden within the masses, or living in seclusion, but no one thought that all these people put together would number more than thirty.
Even so, if these people had been born in different times, every one of them would have been a ruler of the gangho in their own right. Fortunately for the ordinary masses, though, their existence in the same era led to a bnce of power and overall peace for the people.
Still, this peace is extremely fragile, like bncing on a knifes edge.
Withplicated feelings, Tang Gi-Mun looked at the middle-aged man in front of him sitting on a golden throne engraved with dragons rising up to the heavens. The man possessed arge stature that reminded one of a bear, and had an angr jaw, thick lips, a t nose, and tiger-like eyes that seemed to see right through to a persons soul. However, contrary to dull and clumsy bears, his aura was sharp and intense enough to crush a thousand men.
He was Jo Cheon-Woo, the Fist Demon, one of the former Four Pirs of the Northern Army, and the current head honcho of the Tyrant Fist Sect.
And right now, that Jo Cheon-Woo wore a very grave expression on his face. The fact that the Tang n had been ambushed within Yunnan Province, his territory, angered him greatly.
After a long pause, Jo Cheon-Woo growled, Those guys have crossed the line.
Tang Gi-Mun shuddered, as if he had just heard the roar of a fearsome tiger. Were the Four Northern Pirs always this strong? Of all the people I have met before, Jo Cheon-Woo has the strongest presence, as if everything in this hall is under his absolute control.
Although Tang Gi-Mun did not know martial arts, he was still a member of a martial arts n. After meeting and talking to numerous warriors, he felt that he had developed a keen eye for people.
If hes this powerful, I can see why he would be dissatisfied at serving another as a mere general in the Northern Army.
Those who had enough power to shake the world would never be content with ying second fiddle to another, and Jo Cheon-Woo was most certainly such a person.
Did you manage to identify the assassins?
My subordinates have moved out to investigate, and its only a matter of time before the truthes to light, Jo Cheon-Woo replied confidently.
In the ten years since the Tyrant Fist Sect had been established in Yunnan, they had grown and developed at an extremely fast pace. In particr, Jo Cheon-Woo had ced the utmost importance on developing his information collecting department, known as the Eye of Heaven (ͨ).
After all, hed seen with his own eyes how ack of information had led to the destruction of the Northern Army.
Now, ten years since the creation of the Eye of Heaven, he was confident that they werent any inferior to any information organization within the Central ins. That was also the reason why he was assured that his agents would definitely discover the truth behind the strange incidents in the region.
Hopefully, we can find out who they are as soon as possible. From what Ive experienced, they are very thorough when ites to covering up their tracks.
Hmph! As long as they are in Yunnan, they wont be able to avoid my spies forever. The moment we identify them will be the moment they breathe theirst.
The killing intent in Jo Cheon-Woos voice was obvious. Whoever was causing trouble in Yunnan had already been at it for more than six months, and with the disappearance of the merchant caravans, Yunnans economy had been badly hit.
Naturally, the Tyrant Fist Sect, which provided security for the caravans as their main source of ie, went down along with it. Although they had indeed developed very rapidly over thest ten years, their economic foundations were still not solid enough to withstand such a drastic change.
In contrast, their neighbor in Yunnan, the long-established Diancang Sect owned ample farnd, and were self-sufficient even without the profits from trade.
In such a situation, not only was the Tyrant Fist Sects finances in dire straits, their reputation had also been badly affected. Things were so bad, they even needed aid from Heavens Summits investigation team to find out the cause of the problems.
Obviously, Jo Cheon-Woo couldnt be happy in such a situation, but he didnt have a choice. Along with the Tyrant Fist Sects recent decline, more and more doubts about his leadership ability had begun to appear, and he could no longer maintain absolute control over everything within the sect.
Anyway, Im d youre all right, Pavilion Head Tang.
If Tang Gi-Mun, the Head of the Pavilion of Ten Thousand Poisons, had died in Yunnan, then the Tyrant Fist Sect would have undoubtedly found themselves in a real pinch.
If I hadnt been lucky enough to receive help, I would most certainly have died. The enemy was so thoroughly prepared to face the Tang n that we werepletely at their mercy.
Well, we have the heavens to thank for that then. Also, any benefactor of the Tang n is also the benefactor of the Tyrant Fist Sect. Tell me your saviors name, and Ill make sure to send them my regards.
Unfortunately, I still dont know his true identity or personal history. However, Ill definitely meet him again soon. When that happens, Ill introduce him to you, Sect Leader Jo.
Im looking forward to the meeting already.
Trust me, you wont regret it.
At Tang Gi-Muns confident assertion, Jo Cheon-Woos eyes glittered with interest.
Inside a room in the Peace-Loving Inn, Jin Mu-Won unpacked his luggage. The inn was very shabby, but it upied a space in a prime location right in the middle of the city, and although he was in a single room, the room was actuallyrge enough for three or four people.
Kwak Moon-Jung looked around the room and eximed with surprise, Wow! This is a lot better than I expected, for an inn that looks like its going to copse anytime from the outside.
The chef here is supposedly pretty skilled, and the innkeeper has also allowed us to use their backyard.
Does this mean that Ill be able to practice my martial arts there? Kwak Moon-Jungs eyes twinkled brightly. He had never been more keenly aware of how weak he was than during the battle with the red-armored warriors. Furthermore, although he practiced his martial arts whenever he had time while they were traveling, the fact remained that hed had hardly any free time.
Im going to head out alone for a few days, so in the meantime, you should focus on your own training.
Understood! Kwak Moon-Jung replied passionately.
Jin Mu-Won then left the highly-motivated boy behind and went downstairs. He saw a young waiter moving around between the tables and called out to him, Kid.
You called for me, sir? The waiter immediately came running toward him.
Im trying to find someone, and Id like to ask you if youve heard of him.
Who are you looking for?
The Triune Schr Ha
Oh, him. The crazy guy!
Crazy guy? Jin Mu-Won asked, puzzled.
Thats what everyone calls him around here. It was rumored that he was once a genius, but one day, he suddenly lost his mind and went crazy. Because of that, we also refer to him as the Crazy Schr ().
He just suddenly went crazy one day?
Yeah! I dont know the details, but apparently, he just showed up one day and dered that he was crazy.
Where can I find him?
About that The waiters voice trailed off, as if waiting for something.
Jin Mu-Won smiled knowingly and handed the boy a coin.
The young waiter immediately burst into arge grin and continued, If you keep heading south down the central boulevard, youll find a slum. Right in the middle of the slum, theres a building called the West Wind Inn. You should be able to find him there.
Is he staying at that inn?
The building may be called an inn, but its actually a gambling den. Ill have to warn you beforehand that its a pretty dangerous ce though.
Thank you, Ill make sure to be extra careful.
Hehe!
Jin Mu-Won waved the gleeful waiter goodbye, walked out of the inn and was about to make his way to his destination when a passing patrol squad wearing the crest of the Tyrant Fist Sect caught his attention.
His expression unconsciously stiffened. No matter how much he tried to stay calm, he just couldnt do it. The current Sect Leader of the Tyrant Fist Sect was the man hed once dearly called uncle, and even though ten years had passed, that mans face was still clear in his mind.
He sighed softly and shook his head. He was being irrational and irritated, but now was hardly the time to lose himself in hatred.
I need to first save Uncle Hwang, he told himself as he resumed walking toward the slum that the waiter had told him about.
Wherever a lot of people gathered, a slum would naturally form. It was a world for those who couldnt blend into society or were pushed to the periphery by their circumstances.
As such, the moment Jin Mu-Won entered the slum, he could feel a change in the atmosphere. Unlike the rest of Kunming, the slum felt cold regardless of the weather.
It was frozen by the hearts of the poor; by their hatred and despair.
As Jin Mu-Won walked through the slum, he could sense an increased wariness from the people around him. An old man sitting on his doorstep stared at him suspiciously, while the children ying in the alleys ran away the instant they saw him.
He was watched carefully every step he took, as if the whole street hade to life just to monitor his movements.
Well, that wasnt unexpected. These people were all born and raised in this slum, which cemented their solidarity. They probably knew everyone else in this area like the backs of their hands. The sudden appearance of a stranger like himself was bound to raise eyebrows.
Jin Mu-Won acted like he hadnt noticed the slum residents gazes and smoothly strode toward his intended destination, the West Wind Inn. However, when he finally reached there, two muscr men got in the way of his entry. They scrutinized him thoroughly with intimidating looks, before one of them asked, Why are you here? What do you want?
Im here to see the Triune Schr, Ha Jin-Wol.
The men instantly exploded into unbridled rage.
That lying crook!
Fucking conman!
You, are you in cahoots with that swindler?
The atmosphere tensed as many more big, burly men suddenly came charging out of the inn.
Chapter 84
TL: FoodieMonster007; ED: TheGreatT20
Jin Mu-Won was surrounded by more than a dozen fierce-looking, ripped hoodlums. If a normal person were to be ced in his position, they would most certainly be intimidated, but unfortunately, Jin Mu-Won was no ordinary man.
He coolly observed the giant dao-wielding ruffians around him and asked, Is there a problem?
Are you asking us that because you really dont know?
A man who appeared to be the boss thug stepped forward and red sharply at Jin Mu-Won. He had arge beer belly and a long scar across his face, giving him a threatening appearance.
Jin Mu-Won shrugged casually and replied, Im quite sure that Ive never met any of you before.
You came here to find the swindler, Ha Jin-Wol, right?
Is that a problem?
Of course its a problem. Bring this punk to his knees!
Before the boss had even finished giving out his orders, the thugs had already swung their des at Jin Mu-Won.
SWOOSH!
The sight of a rain of des falling down upon them would have scared off most people, but Jin Mu-Won was the worst possible opponent to try to scare.
He simply held out two fingers on one hand and reached out toward the iing des.
Are you out of your mind? one of the attackersughed, but the next moment, the smile was wiped off his face.
SHATTER!
The instant Jin Mu-Won fingers touched his dao, it shattered like ss. The young man had used his Weapon-Shattering Finger (ָ).
After that, Jin Mu-Won continued poking the rest of the weapons, and one-by-one, they shattered into pieces and ttered onto the floor.
The beer-bellied bosss jaw dropped as he groaned, Ooo!!
He couldnt believe what he was seeing. This scene defiedmon sense. How could a human being destroy steel weapons with their bare fingers?
You? Youre he mumbled.
Jin Mu-Won turned toward the boss, who suddenly lost strength in his legs and fell on his butt as he watched the two deadly fingers close in on his forehead. Around them, the other men, whose weapons had all been destroyed, could only stand as still as statues, their eyes filled with terror.
Shit! We picked on the wrong guy.
Hes a master, hes a master
Although there were many murim warriors in Kunming, over thest decade, none of them had ever visited the slums. For that reason, it didnt ur to the thugs that Jin Mu-Won was a martial artist. They even failed to notice the sword hanging on the young mans waist till after they were beaten silly.
Fuck! Why did a mastere to a ce like this
Jin Mu-Won had destroyed a de with his bare hands, no, with just the touch of a finger. That could only be the ability of a supreme master.
As the same thought crossed the thugs minds, they couldnt help but gulp in fear.
Jin Mu-Won squatted down in front of the boss thug and asked, Do you still have a problem with me?
No, no problem at all. The boss thug desperately shook his head.
Then, is now a good time for a chat?
Of course! We can chat anytime. Heehee!
Good. Jin Mu-Won smiled.
However, to the boss thug, the young mans smile was like the grin of a devil. He was smiling, but if those diabolical fingers poked his forehead
SHUDDER!
Just imagining it made him tremble like a leaf in the wind.
So, why did the mere mention of Ha Jin-Wols name trigger you guys off like that?
That son of a bi The boss thug wanted to swear, but when he saw Jin Mu-Wons face, he immediately shut his mouth. Best not to upset the man when he didnt yet understand the rtionship between him and Ha Jin-Wol.
With a sigh, the boss thug told Jin Mu-Won his side of the story. His name was Ma Deung, and he was both the owner of the gambling den and the leader of the slum residents. One might think that building a gambling den in a poor slum was a bad idea, but as most government informants and constables tended to avoid the squalid slums, the gambling dens clientele ended up being mostly made up of high-ranking officials and the wealthy elite who wanted to have fun while hiding their identities. Thus, Ma Deungs profit margin was high and business was good, leading him to umte a significant amount of wealth, to the point where he nned to attempt expanding his business to the merchant center of Kunming.
However, his grand ambition was unexpectedly shattered by a person named Ha Jin-Wol.
Ha Jin-Wol was a destitute-looking schr, so when he first visited the slums with only a single silver in hand, no one had bothered him. He quickly lost that one silver, then proceeded to borrow money from the gambling den.
That was when things quickly went downhill.
Ma Deung didnt know if Ha Jin-Wol was simply hiding his original skills or if his skills had suddenly improved, but Ha Jin-Wols win rate started increasing at a rapid pace, until even his best dealers couldnt do anything to stop the schr. As such, it wasnt long before Ha Jin-Wol won so much money from his best customers that it became a problem.
Naturally, Ma Deung couldnt just sit back and ignore the problem. He immediately mobilized his men to rob Ha Jin-Wol of all his money and chop of one of the schrs arms.
However, do you know what that guy did? He simply grinned and wiggled his fingers randomly in the air. At first, I thought he was going to do something, so I just watched and waited, but As if recalling a terrible memory, Ma Deung ground his teeth and his entire body shook with rage.
But? Jin Mu-Won urged, his interest piqued by this memory that Ma Deung didnt seem willing to remember.
All of a sudden, I felt really dizzy, and thenan army of beautiful fairies descended from heaven and appeared in front of me.
Numerous alluringdies in light, fluttering robes made of skylight had appeared and stolen his heart. Their silky white skin, deep ck eyes, angelic voices, and seductive moves were so mesmerizing, Ma Deung and all of his men had been bewitched andpletely forgotten where they were, or what they were doing.
It was like a dream, no, not even in my dreams had I ever thought that I would meet such gorgeous women. At that moment, I felt like something wilder than my wildest dreams hade true.
And so, Ma Deung and his men had made love with the lovely fairiesuntil they woke up from their sweet dreams and entered the nightmare that was reality.
The first thing Ma Deung had seen when hed opened his eyes was the big rock in his arms. To make things worse, he was getting it on with the big rock, butt naked, in full view of everyone else in the slum.
His reputation had flown straight out the window, never to be repaired in thiswless jungle of a slum. Overnight, the feared tyrant had turned into a pitifulughingstock.
Could it have been an illusion formation? Jin Mu-Won narrowed his eyes.
ording to those who had witnessed Ma Deungs fall from grace, Ha Jin-Wol had remained at the scene of the event for a very long time, all the while staring unblinkingly at the thugs and mumbling to himself. His musings had apparently gone something like this: As expected, are humans more instinctual than logical? Or are these thugs just naturally immoral? If thats the case, what makes them any different from animals?
Jin Mu-Won tried to picture the scene in his mind, and couldnt help but burst outughing, Pfft, hahahaso, what happened next?
While we wereindisposed, that motherfucker made off with all the money in my gambling den. He took everything! All the money Ive been saving up for years! Ugggh
Ma Deung sobbed for a bit, then continued telling the rest of his tale. After the daylight robbery incident, he had quickly mobilized all his men to capture Ha Jin-Wol. However, although catching the schr himself wasnt hard, Ha Jin-Wol had a tendency to escape right away like a slippery eel, which somehow made things even more frustrating than if they hadnt caught him at all!
Do you know where he is now?
He recently appeared at the cattle market at the end of Shining Street, but I cant be sure if hell go there again.1
I see. Jin Mu-Won stood up.
Are you going to leave now?
Do you want me to stay?
No, please go ahead, and I hope you nevere back.
Jin Mu-Won turned and left, shaking his head.
Only when Ma Deung was sure that the young man was out of sight and out of earshot did he yell at hisckeys, Oi, you guys! Bring the salt! And then sprinkle it EVERYWHERE!2
Tracking the man named Ha Jin-Wol turned out to be a surreal experience.
Ha Jin-Wol had first bought a dozen sturdy cows at the cattle market and shooed the cows to a nearby vige. He then held a bullfightingpetition, and observed the bullfighting for two days. After that, he held a feast for the vigers, gave the bulls to them for free and left for a monastery at one of the nearby hills.
There, he spent ages arguing with an old monk. It was said that their debate was so fierce and intense, it was no different from a death match between two martial artists. In the end, the monk quit the monkhood in tears and returned to normal society. Jin Mu-Won found the former monk and asked him about the contents of the debate, but the monk adamantly refused to say anything.
Judging by his actions, it seemed that Ha Jin-Wol was just as crazy as the waiter had described him. There was no pattern to his behavior and no sign of a clear goal. He simply spontaneously did whatever he felt like doing.
It was probably understandable if one gave up searching for the man at this point, but Jin Mu-Won didnt feel like it. For some reason, he kind of liked this cute lunatic. And so, he kept following the mad schrs tracksall the way to the Stone Forest (ʯ).3
As its name suggested, the Stone Forest was literally a forest made up of stones. All kinds of strangely shaped rocks lined up side-by-side there, making it a highly appealing tourist site since ancient times.
Even Jin Mu-Won was impressed by its grandeur and magnificence.
There was a ce like this in the world?
There was a rock that looked like a sword and one that resembled the Buddha, but simply the fact that all these countless different rocks coulde together perfectly to form an interlocking forest made one realize just how mysterious and harmonious nature could be.
Jin Mu-Won slowly strode through the Stone Forest, marveling its splendor.
This was thest ce Ha Jin-Wol had been spotted, and in order toe here, he had spent an entire day traveling without rest. He should have been extremely annoyed, but for some reason, Jin Mu-Wons expression was rxed.
His curiosity about the strange character that Mu Jin had introduced to him far overwhelmed his annoyance. He seriously wanted to know what kind of entric person Ha Jin-Wol was, to go on such a wild and whimsical trip.
Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks. Puzzled, he stared at the sword-shaped rock right in front of him. He was sure he had seen this exact same rock not too long ago!
No way?
Jin Mu-Won moved on past the sword-shaped rock. Previously, he had turned left at this point, but this time he chose to turn right instead. Nevertheless, after some time, he found himself back in front of the sword-shaped rock.
He was dumbfounded.
When did I enter a formation?
Even though his All-Epassing Cognizance was still active, hed walked into a formation without noticing it.
Is this your idea of a wee ceremony?
He was trapped in a formation that distorted ones senses to create an illusion. It was indeed a very dreamy wee. Fortunately, the formation didnt seem to have been set up with murder in mind, but if he kept walking around in circles like this, sooner orter, he would tire himself out.
Jin Mu-Won observed his surroundings for a while, then looked up at the sky beyond the towering stone trees.
BOOM!
Jin Mu-Won kicked off from the ground and leapt high up into the air. Just when he thought he would escape from the formation, everything around him turned pitch ck, and he couldnt see anywhere he could safely jump to. Once again, his senses were distorted, and he had no choice but tond in the same spot where he had jumped.
Looks like there isnt a loophole I can exploit by jumping, huh? he said thoughtfully.
He felt that Ha Jin-Wol was testing him, and was actually watching him from somewhere close by, happily pping while admiring the results of his masterpiece.
Hmm, I dont really enjoy being in situations like these
There were two ways to deal with highly intelligent people. One, be smarter than them, or two, just use brute force.
Jin Mu-Won decided on thetter method.
He knew very well that dancing in the palm of his opponents hand in their field of expertise was about as dumb as dumb could get. Well, if that was how Ha Jin-Wol wanted to y it, then all hed have to do was face the schr using his own specialty.
He ced a hand on Snow Flower, then drew the de in one swift movement.
SWOOSH!
Following a bright sh of light like a meteor falling from the heavens, Snow Flowers whistle as it cut through a certain schrs wee present rang soundly throughout the Stone Forest.
CRACK!
Like the opening of stage curtains at the start of a y, the formation split apart, revealing the man behind it.
Eh?
FoodieMonster007s Note: Ha Jin-Wol, the deuteragonist of Northern de, finally makes his appearance after 80+ chapters! APPLAUSE APPLAUSE
FYI if you ever n a vacation to China, Yunnan is a great destination, much better than Beijing or Shanghai. They have great bbq, tea, and cheese, which you can enjoy while viewing the breathtakingndscapes. Although trips there do demand a ridiculous amount of hiking, at least the hiking helps work up an appetite so you can you know, have an excuse to eat some more mushrooms with pan-fried goat cheese
Footnotes:
Chapter 85: was delayed.
TL: FoodieMonster007; ED: TheGreatT20
The mysterious mans face crumpled like a piece of paper as he red daggers at Jin Mu-Won and hollered, OI, YOU! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!? I spent half a day setting up that formation! Why did you have to go and destroy it?
Jin Mu-Won observed the man. He was exceptionally dainty-looking, with a wide forehead, a smooth round nose, thin lips, and extremely pale skin. If one didnt know he was a man, it was easy to mistake him for a woman. However, contrary to his delicate appearance, the mans voice was rough and hoarse.
Did you know that Ive been working non-stop since early morning just setting this up? Damn it! This is going to take forever to fix
Are you Ha Jin-Wol, the Triune Schr?
Huh? You know me?
Mu-Jin of the Kongtong Sect told me toe find you.
Mu-Jin? Ha Jin-Wol frowned. He was indeed the person Jin Mu-Won was looking for.
Whats your rtionship with that guy?
What?
He wouldnt have sent you to me if you didnt meet his standards. Are you one of those Kongtong Sect Taoists?
No.
Then?
I had a duel with him
So who won?
I dont remember losing.
Seriously?
Suddenly, the look in Ha Jin-Wols eyes changed. One moment, he was looking at Jin Mu-Won like the young man was an interesting ything, but the next, his eyes were shing as if some dangerous ideas had crossed his mind.
You defeated him?
Ha Jin-Wol observed Jin Mu-Won closely, then started circling around him like a hawk.
Hmm You dont look that strong from the outside, but at the same time the Mu-Jin I know never lets up on his training. Ive no doubt hes good, and yet you still beat that violent bastard. That can only mean that youre above peak-level, Ha Jin-Wol muttered to himself, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
Jin Mu-Won watched him in silence.
Sowhy are you acting all humble and unassuming? Hahaha! Arent you quite the crafty guy?
I just want to live a long life.
Bingo! There are a lot of people who boast of their strength, and few of them live for very long. The only ones who live long enough to die of old age are sly people like you.
At the mention of him being sly, Jin Mu-Won grinned slyly, but that only had the effect of further arousing Ha Jin-Wols curiosity.
You, stay here and dont go anywhere until Im done with my work.
Ha Jin-Wol waited for Jin Mu-Won to nod his head in agreement, then turned around and walked toward the big rock that Jin Mu-Won had smashed when he destroyed the formation. It was the one that resembled a sword, and Ha Jin-Wol had named it the Swords Tip.
How did you find out that this rock was the core of the formation?
By instinct
INSTINCT!? Ha Jin-Wol was stunned speechless. He felt that Jin Mu-Won was just joking with him, but little did he know that Jin Mu-Won was actually telling the truth. The young warrior had simply swung his de at the ce where hed sensed the highest density of energy, and that ce had turned out to be where the Swords Tip was located.
Hmph! You might have really sharp senses, but you still lucked out because my formation was iplete. If it was finished, then the moment you struck that rock, you would have coughed up blood and died, Ha Jin-Wol dered proudly.
His confidence probably isnt unfounded. Im not certain if hispleted formation would be powerful enough to kill me, but at least, I wouldnt have been able to break it so easily.
What kind of formation is that? Jin Mu-Won asked.
Ive onlye up with a rough concept for it right now, so I havent named it yet. Besides, theres no point in naming an iplete formation, thats just stupid.
Ha Jin-Wol began his work, grumbling non-stop as he moved about diligently. From Jin Mu-Wons point of view, the schr was casually weaving his way in between the rocks while arranging them with his deft hands.
It seemed like a simple task to Ha Jin-Wol, but the way he was moving and cing rocks had an arcane feel to it. Furthermore, Jin Mu-Won could sense the energy in the stone forest being amplified every time Ha Jin-Wol did something.
He narrowed his eyes. This is!
The energy in the formation was iparable to when he was trapped inside it. Ha Jin-Wol wasnt boasting after all; he indeed would have found it a lot harder to escape from thepleted formation.
KOOOOOOO!
As time went by, the tension in the air started to rise. Jin Mu-Wons premonition told him that something big was about to happen, so he observed unblinkingly as Ha Jin-Wol finished his work. The man was a genius, and if a genius put their all into creating a formation, it was bound to be extraordinary.
Man stands between heaven and earth. Heaven and earth are thus in harmony because of me, and the world loses its reason for existence when I am absent. After all, the world exists only because I exist, Ha Jin-Wol chanted under his breath as he smacked the final rock into position.
The formation roared to life, nketing the entire Stone Forest in pitch darkness.
Just what kind of formation is this? Jin Mu-Won roughly understood the underlying principles behind formations, and could set up some simple illusion formations himself.
However, the scale of Ha Jin-Wols formation was sorge, to set this up, one not only needed to be well-versed with formations, they also needed to be familiar with the rules of nature. To put it simply, that meant that the man named Ha Jin-Wol was knowledgeable in every discipline known to mankind.
The reverberations in the air intensified, and when they reached a peak, violent tremors started to shake the world around them.
KOOOOOOO!
At this sight, Ha Jin-Wol burst intoughter, HAHAHA, THIS IS PERFECT! Now, if I do this
Ha Jin-Wol stood in front of the activating formation and raised both of his hands, causing lightning to sh in the skyand a strong sense of foreboding in Jin Mu-Wons heart. Without dy, Jin Mu-Won sprinted toward Ha Jin-Wol at top speed.
What are you d?
In a fit of panic, Ha Jin-Wol let down his guard, giving Jin Mu-Won the opportunity to quickly grab the schr and kick off from the ground.
BOOOOOOM!
A giant thunderbolt struck the spot where Ha Jin-Wol had just been standing. Moreover, before the dumbfounded Ha Jin-Wol could say anything, the energy in thepleted formation began to fluctuate unnaturally.
Oh, fuck!
Jin Mu-Won leapt again, still carrying Ha Jin-Wol. Right after he moved, the formation finally copsedpletely, engulfing the area in a violent windstorm.
ROAAAARRR!
Ha Jin-Wol stared nkly at the scene of destruction from within Jin Mu-Wons arms. The Stone Forest was copsing as if someone had set off a bomb in there.
I made absolutely sure there werent any problems with my calctions, so what exactly was the problem? Its definitely not the math he muttered soullessly. He knew that his calctions were perfect, and that he had ounted for all of the variables using his vast knowledge. However, the result was still a failure.
Jin Mu-Wonnded at a spot that hadnt been ravaged and ced Ha Jin-Wol down. However, even then, the schr only sat on the ground with an empty gaze, as if life no longer held any meaning for him.
The only thing Jin Mu-Won could do was silently wait for Ha Jin-Wol to regain his senses.
Damn it! I failed again. Just where did I go wrong?
Waiter! Get me another roast duck.
Ha Jin-Wol munched on his duck in earnest, while Jin Mu-Won watched with a look of absolute disgust at the table littered with remnants of the schrs food.
Ha Jin-Wols depression turned out to be only temporary, as he quickly recovered and headed to a nearby inn. Then, he started binge eating as if venting his anger on food made him feel better. Furthermore, as he devoured the food, he mumbled constantly to himself, analyzing the reason why his formation blew up.
Are all geniuses like this? When he gets lost in his thoughts, he is so focused to the point that he ignores everything and everyone, including me who is sitting right next to him.
Jin Mu-Won sipped his wine quietly and decided not to pay attention to Ha Jin-Wol whose mind was off innd even as his hands were busy shoving food into his mouth. To everyone else, the stark contrast between these two men sitting at the same table must have seemed awkward and ill-matched.
Hourster, Ha Jin-Wol finally looked up and said, Yeah, the problem definitely lies with the Kan position (λ)1. I failed to ce a buffer between it and the Qian position (Ǭλ), resulting in imbnce.
He stood up abruptly, eyes sparkling, then turned toward the door.
Jin Mu-Won put down his wine cup and asked, Where are you going?
What do you mean where am I going? I figured out the problem, so naturally, Im heading back to the Stone Forest to set up my formation.
Night has already fallen, and you wont be able to see well enough to set up your formation.
Eh? Ha Jin-Wol looked out the window, only to find that Jin Mu-Won was right. Before he knew it, it was already dark outside.
Damn! Just when I finally figured out the solution Ha Jin-Wol groaned regretfully.
Suddenly, his gaze fell upon the wine jug in front of Jin Mu-Won. With glittering eyes, he held out his own wine cup to Jin Mu-Won and said, Hey, pour me a drink.
However, right after Jin Mu-Won wordlessly filled his cup, Ha Jin-Wol gulped down all the wine in one go and held out his cup to the young man again. Just like that, Jin Mu-Won ended up pouring three cups of wine for Ha Jin-Wol before the schr sighed with satisfaction, Whew! I finally feel alive again.
Did you manage to find a solution to your problem?
We wont know for sure until we try, but I think Ive found a clue, so Im going to test it.
Are you trying to seal the heavens? What kind of formation is thatplicated?
Sealing the heavens? Hahaha! I wish I could do that. AHAHA, IF ONLY I COULD! Ha Jin-Wol started drinking again.
Jin Mu-Won could sense that there was something going on with Ha Jin-Wol, but he didnt question the schr about it. Everyone had some secrets that they would never tell anyone else. He resumed sipping his wine while waiting for the schr to calm down again.
Out of the corner of his eye, Ha Jin-Wol curiously observed Jin Mu-Won. Come to think of it, he knew nothing about the Jin Mu-Won except that Mu-Jin was the one who introduced him to the young man.
Hey, just who are you, anyway?
My name is Jin Mu-Won.
I wasnt asking for your name, but for your true identity.
What true identity?
Oh, so thats how you want to y it? All right then, lets forget about this. So, why did youe looking for me?
Im here to find someone.
If youre looking for a missing person, you should go to the authorities. Im not so amazing that I can find out where everyone in the world is right now, you know?
The person Im looking for went missing in Kunming six months ago.
Ha Jin-Wol, who was just about to gulp down another cup of wine, ced his cup down instead and stared at Jin Mu-Won, saying, Six months ago, a trading caravan from the White Dragon Merchant Association showed up here in Kunming, then vanished a few dayster. Is the person youre looking for part of that caravan?
Yes.
Hmm!
Do you know anything about this?
Is the person youre looking for a rtive of yours? Your sister?
No.
Then I suggest you give up.
No.
Are you going to keep looking for them even if it means you might die? Ha Jin-Wol asked sternly, all signs of his previous flippancy gone.
Jin Mu-Won resolutely replied, Yes, because that man is a person worth risking my life for.
Footnotes:
Chapter 86
Chapter 86: Unsought Attention (1)
It was raining.
A tall, bear-like man stood proudly in the pouring rain as if he owned the world. Even though rainwater was flowing down his huge frame and ttering heavily upon the green stone floor with a sound like beans being fried on an iron pan, the man emotionlessly stood as still as an immobile stone statue.
This man with an overwhelming presence could only be Jo Cheon-Woo.
For the longest time, Jo Cheon-Woo stared silently at the night-timendscape of Kunming City. Where once stood a sleepless city that bustled with nightlife even after twilight, Kunming was now nketed by a quiet, lonely, suffocating darkness.
The cause of all this were the series of devastating incidents that had urred frequently over thest few months. These incidents had all but crippled Yunnans economy, and the effects were most pronounced in Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province.
Even his own Tyrant Fist Sect had been severely affected by the economic recession in Kunming. Their dwindling finances ced them in a state of emergency, forcing them to reduce their activities greatly in order to cut operating costs.
To the Tyrant Fist Sect, which was currently vying with the Diancang Sect over control of Yunnan, this was a fatal blow.
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Suddenly, a young man braved the rain and approached Jo Cheon-Woo, saying, Father.
Unlike the giant Fist Demon Jo Cheon-Woo, his son Jo Un-Kyung was of ordinary height, with a slender frame.
Jo Cheon-Woo coldly nced at his son and asked, Why are you here?
The heads of the White Dragon Merchant Association have dispatched an investigation team here.
The White Dragon Merchant Association?
Apparently, they are searching for the caravan members who went missing here six months ago.
And theyre asking us for help?
Yes.
How many times have we gotten this type of request already?
If we include this, a total of six times.
In other words, more than six trading caravans have vanished in Yunnan. Jo Cheon-Woo narrowed his eyes.
We cannot continue ignoring this issue any longer, Father. All of our trading partners have begun to hesitate doing business with us.
Hmph!
We have to at least do something to cate them.
Father, please
You take care of the matter yourself. Also Jo Cheon-Woos voice trailed off.
Seeing that his father was about to say something, Jo Un-Kyung prompted, Yes?
However, Jo Cheon-Woo only shook his head, replying, Its nothing. Just go pacify those merchants.
Understood.
Now get lost!
Yes! Jo Un-Kyung gave his father a quick bow and hurriedly scrambled away.
Jo Cheon-Woo waited for the young man to run out of earshot, then called out, Yeop Pyung.
A red-robed middle-aged man soundlessly appeared in the rain, bowed decorously and replied, Im here, my lord.
Although the man was already pretty short, him bowing his head toward Jo Cheon-Woo made him appear even smaller. He was Yeop Pyung, the leader of the Tyrant Fist Sects intelligence division, the Eye of Heaven, as well as the one and only man that Jo Cheon-Woo trusted fully.
Whats your opinion of Un-Kyung?
What do you mean?
Do you think he would make a good sessor?
Yes, hes very good at his work.
Really?
He handles his duties with aplomb and is well-respected by the other sect members. Wouldnt that be enough to make him a good sessor?
Hes too soft-hearted, though. To be a good ruler, one must always be rational and keep their emotions in check.
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Well, isnt that something he can learn with time? Its not like were in a hurry, Yeop Pyung said, smiling. He was well aware of what Jo Cheon-Woo was worried about.
Just like their appearances, Jo Un-Kyungs personality was theplete opposite of Jo Cheon-Woos. While the father was fiery and arrogant, the son was calm and quiet.
Regardless, hes still my sessor. Im afraid that he wont ept the way I n to do things.
Im sure hell get over it, since he is my Lords son. The child of a tiger must be a tiger cub, right?
Even so, I wont get him involved in this affair. If he knew the truth, that kid would definitely go against me.
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Understood, my lord.
I wont be satisfied with just ruling over a small corner of Yunnan. If I was that kind of easily satisfied man, then I wouldnt have bothered betraying Jin-hyung, my former lord.
Jo Cheon-Woo looked down at his fists. Those huge hands of his were covered in calluses, with skin as thick and tough as the paws of a bear. He wiggled his fingers, feeling the explosive strength within. This was the result of training his hands to the limits.
Having power but not using it is a sin he mumbled to himself.
Yeop Pyungs smile widened. The world they lived in revolved around the strong, but when the strongest stayed dormant, rather than bringing peace, that was when the world fell into chaos.
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Jo Cheon-Woo was a man with too much ambition and strength to remain satisfied with merely being one of the Four Pirs of the Northern Army. Since the end of the war with the Silent Night, he had wanted to march into the Central ins to seize powerbut was stopped by the forever unbudging Northern Wall, Jin Kwan-Ho.
Jin Kwan-Ho was utterly faithful to the original mission of the Northern Army to protect the Central ins from the Silent Nights invasion. On the other hand, Jo Cheon-Woo simply couldnt understand why a man with such military power could live like a monk while resisting the allure of political dominance.
As a result, Jo Cheon-Woo abandoned Jin Kwan-Ho for Heavens Summit, and got part of what he wanted in the form of Yunnan Province. To this day, he had never once regretted his decision.
My Lord is right, of course, and that is also why I follow you. Please leave taking care of all the little things to me, so that my Lord can focus on the big picture.
Thank you.
?
If that is all, then Ill be on my way, my Lord.
Are you setting off now?
Yes. Fortunately, we managed to finish all our preparations on time. However, were still cutting it rather close, so well have to hurry.
Make sure you finish everything before Heavens Summit can interfere.
Dont worry. If theres anything Im worried about, its that we might be seeing a lot more bloodshed that we originally thought.
Bah! There is no sess without sacrifice. If we were afraid of a little sin, we wouldnt be walking down this path.
Still, the repercussions will likely be a lot bigger than expected. We need to minimize the bacsh.
How much worse do you think things will get?
At least a few hundred people, maybe even a thousand, will die.
Well, it hasnt rained in Yunnan for quite a while. A rain of blood, that is. Jo Cheon-Woo stood proudly and looked down at the world below him as the rain continued to pour incessantly.
Yeop Pyung bowed deeply to Jo Cheon-Woo, then vanished as silently as he had appeared.
As Jo Un-Kyung entered the main hall of the Tyrant Fist Sect, the four people waiting there Gong Jin-Sung, Yoon Seo-In, Yong Mu-Sung, and Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan stood up to greet him.
?
On behalf of the group, Yong Mu-Sung said, Im really sorry for barging in on you like this. I am Commander Yong Mu-Sung of the Iron Brigade, and this man is my vicemander, Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan. With us are Finance Director Gong Jin-Sung and Miss Yoon Seo-In of the White Dragon Merchant Association.
Its a pleasure to meet you all. Take a seat.
Thank you.
When Yong Mu-Sung and the rest of the group had settled down, Jo Un-Kyung sat down on his fathers throne.1
Wow! Yong Mu-Sung couldnt help bursting into admiration at the sight of Jo Un-Kyungs arrogance. Although the young man wasnt outwardly brash like his father, his speech and mannerisms gave off an aura that he had everything under control. Was this the pedigree of the sessor of a prestigious family?
Ive heard a lot about the Iron Brigade. Since youre here with people from the White Dragon Merchant Association, I assume youve epted a mission from them?
Yes. Our mission is to search for the caravan members who went missing here.
Just hearing that youre here to help makes me feel reassured. Jo Un-Kyung locked gazes with Yong Mu-Sung, who did not shy away from him.
Yong Mu-Sung gave him a simr feeling as his father, piquing his interest. Not only did the two men bear a physical resemnce in the form of arge build, they also had very bossy, dominating personalities.
Jo Un-Kyung asked, Have you found any clues to track down the missing people?
Thats the problem, we havent found anything so far. We came to the Tyrant Fist Sect in hopes that you had information, Yong Mu-Sung confessed.
The truth was, if not for the battle with the red-armored warriors, he would never have thought to visit the Tyrant Fist Sect this soon. However, if there were more enemies like that inside Yunnan, then things would undoubtedly get dangerous if they started investigating without prior knowledge.
Theyre only saying that because the only way for them to minimize their losses is to work together with the Tyrant Fist Sect. Unfortunately for Yong Mu-Sung, Jo Un-Kyung saw through him almost instantly. Still, getting the White Dragon Merchant Association, one of the Ten Great Companies, to owe them wasnt necessarily a bad thing for the Tyrant Fist Sect.
The problem now was the conditions for their coboration.
Jo Un-Kyung asked, Is information all you want? If thats the case, then Im sorry but we cant help you.
If youre seeing this, you are at the wrong ce. No, we came here for a more important reason, Gong Jin-Sung replied. He then pointed to Yoon Seo-In, who was sitting beside him, and continued, My Lady here is the one in charge of this search party, and shes looking for her missing elder brother, Yoon Ja-Myung. This much information should be enough for you to understand how much were willing to give you for your help, right?
I see.
Jo Un-Kyung looked at Yoon Seo-In, who bowed her head slightly in acknowledgement. However, for some reason, her heart wouldnt stop pounding in his presence and she couldnt lift her head to look him straight in the eyes.
In that case, please rest assured that our Tyrant Fist Sect will spare no effort in the search for your brother, Miss Yoon.
T-Thank you.
Jo Un-Kyung smiled, then turned back toward Yong Mu-Sung and Jong-Ri Mu-Hwan. Yoon Seo-In was merely a figurehead, and these two were the true negotiators that he had to deal with from now on.
Well, were probably in for a very long talk now, and I hope that we can decide on a win-win situation in the end.
So do we.
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Then, shall we get started?
The moment Jo Un-Kyung finished speaking, two men dressed in schrs robes entered the parlor. They were the Tyrant Fist Sects strategists, and their arrival could only mean that they were now the ones in charge of negotiations with the Iron Brigade.
That also meant that Jo Un-Kyungs job was simply to watch and observe, and he wasnt happy about it.
There is no more justice and loyalty in this shitty gangho, only a struggle for survival and authority. Now that it hase to this, I find myself rather missing life in the North
His time in the Northern Army had undoubtedly been the happiest in his life. Back then, he enjoyed a lot more freedom than he did now.
Jo Un-Kyung looked out the window. It was still raining cats and dogs.
I feel truly sorry for you, Mu-Won. However, since Ive already opened Pandoras box, theres no turning back for me, even if what awaits me are the zing fires of hell.
:
Ancient Chinese parlors would have a raised tform with a decorated throne for the head of the house, and regr chairs ced along the sides of the room. The empty space in the middle of the room serves as a stage of sorts. ?
Chapter 87
TL: FoodieMonster007; ED: TheGreatT20
Jin Mu-Won and Ha Jin-Wol returned to Kunming together, walking side by side. When they arrived in front of the Peace-Loving Inn, Ha Jin-Wol waved Jin Mu-Won goodbye while saying, Dont forget what I told you earlier.
Are you sure you dont want to stay with me?
Huhuhu! Im living a veryfortable life right now, so what reason do I have to go looking for trouble? Its not like that muddy business has anything to do with me.
Arent you afraid?
Ha Jin-Wol frowned at Jin Mu-Wons unexpected question.
What would I be afraid of? he asked.
While I was following your tracks, I noticed that there were a lot of people after you, and most of them referred to you as a crazy swindler.
Huh! Well, I guess I am kind of crazy. You dont seem to think that Im crazy, though?
Jin Mu-Won nodded and replied, Yes, thats right. To me, you seem much more like a desperate man who has been driven into a corner.
Real lunatics were incapable of acting logically, and although the things that Ha Jin-Wol did on his journey seemed random, once Jin Mu-Won thought more deeply about it, he noticed that there was a consistent pattern to the schrs actions.
However, mostmon folk would not be able to notice that pattern, as they were Ha Jin-Wols test subjects for his research on human psychology. By putting various pressures on people and observing how they reacted, he would hence study the rtionship between natural human instinct and the widerws of nature.
That wasnt a feat that any lunatic could aplish, but it also wasnt something anyone normal would willingly do. Jin Mu-Won was sure that Ha Jin-Wols urgency and desperation were caused by some person or event.
Dont bother trying to understand me with yourmon sense, you cant do it.
Although I cant possibly know what youre thinking, Im free to make my own guesses, right?
Hmph! Anyway, dont you dare ignore my prior warning! Still, if you insist on carrying on, head to Yuxi City.1
Yuxi?
Thats all I can tell you, and Im only letting you know this much because Mu-Jin was the one who rmended me to you.
Thank you.
Take care!
Ha Jin-Wol quickly disappeared off in the rain, his body swaying from side to side as he walked. For a long time, Jin Mu-Won stared nkly in the direction where the schr had vanished.
Hyung!
When Jin Mu-Won finally entered the inn, he was greeted by a very happy Kwak Moon-Jung.
Were you bored?
Nah, I was so engrossed in practicing my martial arts that time just flew by. Did you manage to make any progress in the investigation?
I didnt manage to achieve my initial goal, but I at least got hold of some useful information.
Thats a relief.
Also, were heading to Yuxi first thing tomorrow morning. Be sure to finish your preparations beforehand.
Got it.
Have you eaten yet?
No, I was waiting for Hyung toe back so we could eat together.
Okay then. I havent had anything to eat all day, and Im starving!
Lets eat!
Jin Mu-Won summoned the waiter, ordered several simple dishes, and sat down at a table by the window.
Outside, the downpour which had started earlier in the evening was getting heavier, with no sign that the rain would stop anytime soon. As they waited for their food to be served, Jin Mu-Won and Kwak Moon-Jung looked at the foggy scenery of Kunming City in the thunderstorm.
Although Jin Mu-Won said nothing, the truth was, ever since hearing about Ha Jin-Wols opinion on the Yunnan situation, his feelings had been inplete disarray.
Jin Mu-Won was certain that Ha Jin-Wol knew something, but the schr seemed reluctant to give him the details.
Nam-Goong Wi said something of the sort, too. However, hes just a human weapon, not the one giving orders.
The possibility that the mastermind behind the Crimson Ghost Corps was also behind all the happenings in Yunnan was extremely high.
Regretfully, I failed to capture Nam-Goong Wi back then.
Hyung!
Kwak Moon-Jungs voice jolted Jin Mu-Won back to his senses.
Huh? Did something happen to you?
Hyung, you really gave me a scare just now.
Me?
Yes! Kwak Moon-Jung replied stiffly.
Unbeknown to Jin Mu-Won, he had released his aura in the inn while lost in thought, creating a pressure that suffocated both Kwak Moon-Jung and the waiter.
The terrified waiter walked toward Jin Mu-Wons table, carrying several tes of food.
S-Sir, your food is ready, the waiter stuttered, his face as pale as a sheet. He then hurriedly ced the dishes down on the table and dashed back to the kitchen as fast as his legs could carry him.
Jin Mu-Won could only smile bitterly upon seeing this. He felt like he should apologize for what he had done by ident.
Shall we eat?
Yeah.
The two young men quietly picked up their chopsticks.
Outside, the rain continued pouring like there was no tomorrow.
The Yoo Family Clinic was famous in Kunming for being home to excellent acupuncturists. However, although Doctor Yoo was usually a very confident physician, today, cold sweat continually dripped down his back.
Doctor-nim, please treat me first!
Please wait a bit. This patientes first.
Its urgent! I cant stand the pain anymore!
Okay okay, Ill be right there.
The deafening screams of more than twenty heavily wounded patients echoed around the clinic. However, unfortunately for Doctor Yoo, these werent ordinary patients, but armed martial artists. Their wounds also werent normal injuries; they were inflicted by various vicious weapons.
He felt like his soul had been sucked dry by their arrival. He had mobilized all of his disciples to help cope with the workload, but it was still too much. Furthermore, his disciples werent experienced enough to treat most of these wounds.
In the end, the unending cries of pain and pleas for help turned the small clinic into a scene of pandemonium.
Damn it! If these bastards werent backed by the White Dragon Merchant Association, I would definitely have chased them out. Why do I have to suffer like this in the wee hours of the morning!?
The people that he was currently treating were the injured escorts from the White Dragon caravan which had been assaulted by red-armored warriors on their way to Yunnan.
One of the escorts, whose name was Seo Jo-Kyung, had been shed by a sword in the stomach, and pus was currently oozing out through the bandages wrapped around his wound. Unable to endure the agonizing pain, he screamed for Doctor Yoo, Please hurry up, Doctor-nim! KUAAAAAAAK!
Unfortunately for Seo Jo-Kyung, Doctor Yoo only paid him lip service and ignored his cries to treat people he felt needed to be prioritized.
Seo Jo-Kyungs face paled as he shrieked, AHHHHH!
Fine, fine, Iming, said a doctor as he approached Seo Jo-Kyung.
Seo Jo-Kyung dimly nodded in thanks, his eyes blurry from the intense pain.
The doctor untied the escorts bandage and examined the wound. Hmmyour wound is infected. However, this couldnt have been done by a normal sword; you must have been hit by a greatsword or some otherrge weapon.
Doctor-nim, c-can you f-fix me up?
Dont worry, you wont end up crippled. I think.
What?
Im sorry, what I meant was, you wont die from this. Huhuhu!
Seo Jo-Kyung raised his head to shoot a warning look at the doctor treating him, but he was so dizzy that he couldnt focus on the mans face.
Meanwhile, the doctor muttered to himself, No martial art of the Central ins is this vicious. It wont be easy to fully recover from a wound like this. The martial art that did this was designed to cripple even if it failed to kill. Unbelievable, a group that uses martial arts like this still exists in the current gangho?
Doctor-nim, please treat me
Ahh, dont worry. Youre not going to die for some time.
Thats why you have to treat meKUAAAAAK!
Youll be fine.
AHHHHHH!
The doctor wrapped up Seo Jo-Kyungs stomach with clean bandages and stood up. Although the treatment was brief and simple, Seo Jo-Kyungs pain had been significantly reduced and pus had stopped oozing out from the wound.
Seo Jo-Kyung wanted to thank the doctor who had treated him, but for some reason, he couldnt find the man anywhere. He had vanished!
A long timeter, Doctor Yoo finally walked toward Seo Jo-Kyung. He unwrapped the escorts bandages, then frowned, asking, Huh? Hey, who treated you?
Blood had stopped flowing from Seo Jo-Kyungs ugly wound. The work wasnt quite professional, but the standard of treatment was not much worse than his own.
Just now, there was another doctor
Anotherdoctor? Doctor Yoo said, puzzled. He was the only doctor in the Yoo Family Clinic, and none of his disciples were this good yet!
Who in the world did this!?
A doctor walked out from the Yoo Family Clinic and scratched his head. In that instant, his face suddenly aged another twenty years, transforming from a middle-aged man to an elderly person.
This isbor exploitation. Damn it! Even I need some time to rest, you know? the old man grumbled in an indistinct voice. Unlike his appearance, though, his voice was as energetic as that of a young man.
His name was Cheong-In, and he was an elite member of the Secret Moon, a squad made up of the top thousand spies in the ck Moon spy organization.2 Furthermore, within the ck Moon, he was known as Ten Steps Ten Transformations, a nickname given to him for his ability to transform into tenpletely different people every ten steps he took. One moment, he could be an old person, and the next, a child. He could even turn into any gender he wanted.
The only person who knew his true appearance was the leader of the ck Moon.
Not long ago, he had just finished a mission in Yueyang,3 but he had then immediately been dispatched to Yunnan for his next mission.
Suddenly, he rubbed his left leg.
Oww, that hurts! No matter how important the mission is, people need time to rest. Not to mention, I get paid peanuts even though Im being worked to death. This isbor exploitation I tell youTsk!
The injury he had gotten in his previous mission still stung with pain, and though it did not affect his movement, it was extremely annoying.
They want me to not only track down the mysterious bad guys hiding in Yunnan, but also keep an eye on Jin Mu-Won at the same time? Do they think that Im capable of making clones of myself? Fucking lunatics who have never been out on the field before always give out these ridiculous orders!
Still, although Cheong-In liked toin a lot, he treated all of his missions with absolute seriousness.
Over thest few days, he had traced the footsteps of the White Dragon Merchant Association from the point where they had entered Yunnan all the way to Kunming, and found that they had been ambushed by unidentified enemies not far from the Yunnan checkpost.
He had then closely examined the traces left behind at the battleground, and deduced the strength of the enemies the White Dragon caravan had faced. As it turned out, these enemies appeared far stronger than he had thought, to the point where it wasnt normal.
Nevertheless, this conclusion was based only on circumstantial spection. He needed solid evidence, so he returned to Kunming and disguised himself as a doctor at the clinic where the injured White Dragon escorts were being treated.
His inspection of Seo Jo-Kyungs wounds confirmed his suspicions, and also told him the kind of martial arts that the attackers had used. He didnt know who would take an interest in such minor information, but as a professional spy, he understood that it was often these small bits of information that added up to reveal the big picture.
As of now, hed failed to identify the attackers, but he had at least obtained some clues about them.
Okay, so now I have to start observing the man named Jin Mu-Won. I wonder which face I should use? Cheong-Ins eyes lit up mischievously, a look that waspletely and utterly out of ce on his current old mans face.
He nced though a window of the Peace-Loving Inn and found his target drinking wine at a table.
Hmm
The corners of his mouth turned upwards in a grin.
Footnotes:
Chapter 88
Chapter 88: Unsought Attention (3)
Jun 15, 2022
Day/Night Mode: Change Mode
Change Font Size: -A A A+
TL: FoodieMonster007; ED: TheGreatT20 If you see this, you are at the wrong site!
Night in Kunming was as silent as the dead. All of the lights were extinguished, and all of the people had long since gone to bed. For thest six months, the city nightlife had been non-existent.
Even the Peace-Loving Inn where Jin Mu-Won was staying at was like that. There were no litmps in the kitchen, and the rest of the guests were already asleep.
Jin Mu-Won and Kwak Moon-Jung had also retired early. Perhaps because he was exhausted from his training, Kwak Moon-Jung quickly fell into a deep sleep.
In the darkness, Jin Mu-Wony on his bed, listening to the even breathing sounds of the sleeping Kwak Moon-Jung. Unable to fall asleep, he finally gave up trying and sat up straight on his bed. Missing one nights sleep would not affect him much, and he didnt like wasting his time lying down doing nothing.
He opened the window to get some fresh air.
TANG TANG TING!
An exquisite tune rang out from far away, so beautiful that it tugged at ones heartstrings. Someone was ying the qin.1
At first, Jin Mu-Won thought that it was just good music, but his expression suddenly stiffened. The tune rocked his mind back and forth like a boat on stormy seas, and every note transformed into a dagger which stabbed repeatedly into his heart.
What the!?
Jin Mu-Won quickly turned to check on Kwak Moon-Jung, only to find that the boy was still sleepingfortably, as if he hadnt heard or felt anything.
Is that musician taunting me on purpose? Im the only person their music is affecting!
Jin Mu-Won picked up Snow Flower and leapt out of the window. If someone was going so far to incite himthen he wouldnt simply let them seed.
The instant he stepped outdoors, the sound of the qin became clearer, building up like the giant wave of a raging tsunami while pounding his chest with the thunder of a beating drum. Oddly enough, no one else seemed to hear the music, seeing as they had neither opened their doors nor lit up theirmps.
Jin Mu-Won activated the Art of Ten Thousand Shadows to protect his heart and arteries, and almost immediately felt a lot better.
To think that such a skilled master of the Sound Arts () existed!
It was a well-known fact that bing a master of the sound arts was a lot harder than mastering the sword or any other weapon. People who possessed the aptitude for such arts were umon, resulting in very few masters to begin with, and these masters in turn could not raise many disciples. Furthermore, even if one was lucky enough to find a master, that did not mean that they would ultimately be able to reach the same level.
Thus, although Jin Mu-Won had only entered the gangho a few months ago, it was odd that he had never heard of such a rare master of the sound arts within the murim.
Jin Mu-Won traced the source of the music to a pavilion next to a smallke in the outskirts of Kunming. The qin yer was dressed in pure white robes, and his hair that was tied in a bun was covered with a silk cloth. His chiseled facial features were handsome, and his half-closed ck eyes gave him a mysterious atmosphere.
He was also still ying the qin as if he hadnt noticed Jin Mu-Wons arrival.
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TRALALANG!
Perhaps it was because the piece he was ying was reaching its climax, but the sound of the qin created powerful ripples on theke surface, which quickly spread throughout theke.
TWANG!
When thest note of the mans performance was plucked, the ripples finally subsided, as if they had never appeared to begin with. Only then did he raise his head to look at Jin Mu-Won.
A smile slowly spread out on the mans face until he was beaming with happiness, like Jin Mu-Woning to meet him was the greatest thing in the world.
As expected, you came to look for me, he said.
Arent you the one who summoned me?
The man stood up, holding his qin. The faint moonlight seemed to flow down his loose robes, highlighting his silhouette.
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Jin Mu-Won continued, You seem to know who I am, but I dont know who you are.
Oh my, I apologize for my rudeness. Greetings, Master Jin, my name is Geum Dan-Yeop,2 the man replied in a voice that was soft and low, but at the same time as clear and beautiful as the sound of his qin. He then descended from the pavilion and walked toward Jin Mu-Won.
You are indeed as amazing as he described you to be. After all, you managed to hear and respond to my Thousand Mile Soul Music (ǧ`).
He? Who?
Im pretty sure you two have already met, though? His name is Nam-Goong Wi
Jin Mu-Won narrowed his eyes. Are you with him? he asked.
Yes, we are quite close.
Jin Mu-Won could feel his heart pounding. My instincts tell me that this is the mastermind that Nam-Goong Wi talked about.
So it was you. Youre the one behind all the happenings in Yunnan.
Nam-Goong Wi told you that much, huh?
Geum Dan-Yeop looked surprised for a moment, but he quickly smiled and nodded, saying, Well, if its you though, I guess I dont mind telling you even more. I admit Im a little curious about the man who left Nam-Goong Wi in the sorriest state Ive ever seen him.
Geum Dan-Yeop was all too familiar with Nam-Goong Wis strength andpetitiveness. The man could definitely live up to his arrogance, as the number of people in all of Yunnan Province who were even capable of just injuring him could be counted on one hand. That strength was the reason why Geum Dan-Yeop had entrusted the mission to him without worries.
However, when Nam-Goong Wi had returned after being heavily wounded by Jin Mu-Won, his master n, which had been moving along as smoothly as oiled gears, was suddenly disrupted.
It was the advent of an unpredictable variable. He initially felt that he had already considered every possibility, and Jin Mu-Wons appearance was not part of those possibilities. He had been left with no choice but to confirm why such a person hade to Yunnan now, of all times.
If youre seeing this, you are at the wrong ce.
If you dont mind, could you tell me which sect you belong to?
Im not a part of any sect, and the only martial arts I know are the ones that have been passed down my family.
Your family must be quite the great martial n, then.
Its not that amazing. Also, its already ruined, and no one even remembers it anymore.
Is that so?
Geum Dan-Yeop stared intensely at Jin Mu-Won with eyes that seemed to see right through him. It was impossible to tell lies in front of eyes like that. However, Jin Mu-Won only red right back at him confidently, with no hesitation or anxiety.
Geum Dan-Yeop couldnt help but be impressed. Although Jin Mu-Won appeared ordinary on the surface, his eyes contained the steadfastness of a mountain that has stood for thousands of years.
The eyes are windows into the soul, and the firmness of ones gaze represents the strength of their determination. I can definitely see Jin Mu-Wons unshakable resolution within his eyes. Men like him are basically impossible to sway or tempt.
Since you seem unwilling to tell me which n youe from, is it okay if I ask you why you came here instead? Are you following orders from Heavens Summit?
The reason Im here has nothing to do with Heavens Summit.
Then?
Im looking for someone.
Geum Dan-Yeop furrowed his brows slightly, asking, And who is that?
Six months ago, a caravan belonging to the White Dragon Merchant Association vanished here in Kunming. Unfortunately, one of my acquaintances was among them.
Now its my turn to ask questions. Are the people who went missing at that time still alive?
Hoo Geum Dan-Yeop sighed, then continued, You were here for personal reasons?
You havent answered me yet.
Theyre still alive, but
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Please return them to me. Ill leave Yunnan right after that.
I wish I could, but its not as easy as it sounds Geum Dan-Yeop hesitated, troubled.
A blizzard seemed to cloud over Jin Mu-Wons face, and the atmosphere immediately froze like it was the dead of winter.
So youre not going to return them to me?
Not right now at the very least, because then Ill be the one in deep shit instead.
What about this? When Im finished with my ns for Yunnan, Ill return them safely to you. I swear that on my name, Geum Dan-Yeop proposed apromise, but Jin Mu-Won did not answer him.
He could only sigh again, saying, HooI guess giving you my word is not quite enough for you. What a dilemma.
Geum Dan-Yeop folded his arms and frowned. Is there room for negotiation? No, there isnt. This guy absolutely wont take no for an answer. Even if he doesnt say anything, somehow I just know he wont agree to anything I propose.
Well, I only came here today to observe him and confirm the presence of this variable with my own eyes.
Geum Dan-Yeop seemed to be distressed, but Jin Mu-Won did not believe his act for an instant. Although at first nce, the man appeared to have a very soft and reasonable personality, however, Jin Mu-Won knew from experience that people like him were the scariest ones of them all.
HaaThis isnt okay, and that also isnt okay In the end, it seems like were destined to fight. How sad. I havent met someone I liked so much for quite a while.
Geum Dan-Yeopsst sentence was sincere. He didnt have many close friends, as there werent many people around him at his level. Besides, although he hadnt known Jin Mu-Won for a long time, he liked the guy. They were even around the same age. Unfortunately, they were on opposing sides, and couldnt possibly be friends.
Jin Mu-Won tightened his grip on Snow Flower. The surrounding temperature, which had already been freezing, fell even lower. That was his way of conveying his intention to Geum Dan-Yeop.
It seems that Jin Mu-Won is a man who will never give up without getting his way. Its just too bad that I am the same kind of person. Geum Dan-Yeop smiled sadly. There was something he had to do no matter what. A mission that couldnt be aplished by anyone else. He had been nning for this for a very long time, and him liking Jin Mu-Won wasnt enough of a reason for him to back down now.
Jin Mu-Won walked toward Geum Dan-Yeop, but Geum Dan-Yeop retreated away from him.
Are you going to run away?
This is not where you and I will fight. Dont you agree that it would be a pity if we dueled in a shabby ce like this, with no audience to watch us?
Geum Dan-Yeop shrugged nonchntly, but Jin Mu-Won only leapt toward him in response. Regardless of what Geum Dan-Yeops ns were, Jin Mu-Won wasnt about to let the man go.
SWOOSH!
Suddenly, a hail of arrows came zooming out from the woods nearby. Just like when he had fought Nam-Goong Wi, archers once again obstructed Jin Mu-Wons movement.
Fortunately, he had already predicted that something like this would happen. Jin Mu-Won easily knocked the arrows aside with Snow Flower and elerated, instantly narrowing the distance between him and Geum Dan-Yeop until they were basically face-to-face with each other.
However, Geum Dan-Yeop then started ying his qin again.
TRALANG!
Kuh! Jin Mu-Won shuddered involuntarily as the sound assaulted him like waves crashing against a cliff. He pushed his way through the wall of sound, but when he finally got out of its range, Geum Dan-Yeop had vanished.
From far in the distance, he could hear the sound of the man singing.
?????
Men and women, old and young, yin and yang.
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The two worlds that I know of, fantasy and reality
At longst merge into one, revealing ones true desires.
The heavens dream of a silent night,
While the silent night dreams of breaking out of its shell.
You, the people who have risen from the wastnd,
Hurry up, because you dont have much time left.
?????
When the song came to an end, even the surrounding archers were gone, leaving only Jin Mu-Won at the scene.
:
Qin (): A plucked seven-string Chinese musical instrument, also known as the Guqin. It has been yed since ancient times, and has traditionally been favored by schrs, nobles, and even royalty as an instrument of great subtlety and refinement. It is simr to the guzheng/Japanese koto/Korean geomungo, but doesnt have movable bridges under each string. Listen to it here. ?
Geum Dan-Yeop (~/): Dan-Yeop meaning Lone Leaf or Lone Shining me. Random interesting fact, in the modern day, Geum Dan-Yeop would actually be pronounced Kim Dan-Yeop, as the hangul for was changed from ? (Geum) to ? (Kim) sometime in the 1400s, but for some reason, only when used as ast name. The hanja is still pronounced as Geum when referring to Gold, its literal meaning. Author-nim sure did his research even for something this trivial ?
Chapter 89: Fortune And Misfortune (1)
TL: FoodieMonster007; ED: TheGreatT20
Jin Mu-Won and Kwak Moon-Jung woke up in the wee hours of the morning, had a light breakfast, then left the inn. The streets were deserted; an indication that the city had not yet woken up from its slumber.
Lets go. As long we maintain a good pace, well be at Yuxi by tomorrow evening.
Yeah!
Thanks to the White Dragon Merchant Association, their trip here to Kunming had been on a veryfortable wagon, but from now on, they would have to travel around on their own two feet. Jin Mu-Won would have bought a horse if he could, but none of the stables were open at this hour, and he probably could not afford one anyway.
Fortunately for the two gangho neers, the main road to Yuxi was very well-maintained and there was no risk of them getting lost.
As the sun rose from beyond the horizon, Kwak Moon-Jung murmured, This ce is amazing. The weather was so hot and humid when we first entered Yunnan, but here in Kunming, its nice and cool.
Yeah. It seems that the temperature is lower here because Kunming is situated on a teau, Jin Mu-Won replied logically, although he was equally amazed at the wonders of nature. Hed even heard from the owner of the Peace-Loving Inn that dozens of ethnic minority tribes still lived close to Kunming, proof of how lovely an environment it was for folks to stay in.
Jin Mu-Won agreed with the inn owner. Everything was abundant here, unlike the barren North where he came from. In particr, due to the mild climate all year round, double cropping was possible, and wild fruit was abundant in the forest. As long as one was willing to put in some effort, theyd have more food than they could eat.
Its a pity that while the earth here is blessed by the gods, the native peoples are not.
The native people of Yunnan didnt appear to be particrly greedy, likely because they were used to having everything in abundance. The real problemy in the greed and wealth of the people who had immigrated here from the Central ins, not to mention the strength of the martial artists. The natives stood no chance against them.
I wonder which is better, the rough lives of the Northern folk, or the cushy lives of the Yunnanese? Regardless, I get the feeling that I dont belong here.
Suddenly, Kwak Moon-Jung disturbed his train of thought, asking, What are you thinking so hard about?
Just this and that
This ce has made you reconsider a lot of things too, huh.
You too?
Yeah, a lot of random ideas keep popping up in my head. Honestly, Ive been feeling a little worriedtely
Although Kwak Moon-Jung had boldly chosen to follow Jin Mu-Won, at the end of the day, he was still a thirteen-year-old boy. It was impossible for him not to feel anxious when he had no idea whaty ahead of him.
Jin Mu-Won could sympathize with the younger boy, because he felt the same way, too. Ever since he hade out into the world, he had only been facing one powerful enemy after another, as if his destiny was intertwined with a bout of terrible luck.
He was aware that he could no longer live as freely as he used to, and the truth about the never-ending cycle of hatred within the gangho rang truer to his ears than ever before.
Im kind of anxious, too.
Really? You?
Im human, too. How could I possibly be free from any worries? Even so, that doesnt mean that we can back out now, can we? When one does not consider retreating as an option, then one can only advance. That is my motto.
What does that idiom mean, Hyung?
When people give themselves a way out, they tend to cower in the face of danger, and I strongly believe that cowards like that can never defeat those who live day after day in desperation.
Kwak Moon-Jung bit his lip in surprise and admiration. He never expected that Jin Mu-Won, whom he thought of as super strong, would have a motto like that.
If I had that kind of mindset as well, then perhaps I could be as strong as Hyung? Ill need to live desperately, as if every day were myst
Hyungs really amazing
At first, Kwak Moon-Jung only liked Jin Mu-Won because he was Hwang Cheols nephew, but the more he got to know the young man, the more he captivated his heart. Jin Mu-Won was a brother he could trust and rely on.
Heehee!
Whats up?
Nothing, heeheehee! Lets just go.
Okay. Jin Mu-Won nodded and matched Kwak Moon-Jungs walking speed.
The journey to Yuxi was uneventful. The main road was well-maintained, so there was no fear of getting lost, and the weather was cool andfortable, perfect for traveling. However, since Yuxi wasnt exactly near Kunming, they had to no choice but to spend a night outdoors.
Just before sunset, the two young men decided to sleep in a clearing which was not too far from the road, had a nice even ground, and a small stream nearby that made it easy to get drinking water.
Jin Mu-Won chopped some firewood while Kwak Moon-Jung brought the drinking water. Both of them were used to camping outdoors, so the preparations were quickly finished.
Dinner was dry rations which they had prepared beforehand. Kwak Moon-Jung, who finished his meal a little earlier than Jin Mu-Won, began training with his greatsword, Crimson Fang.
SWOOSH! WHOOSH!
Perhaps because the teenagers muscles were now more developed, he swung the heavy greatsword with ease. That was a huge improvement from before. Although he was only taking one small step at a time, Kwak Moon-Jung was indeed growing steadily.
Its time. Jin Mu-Won stood up and picked up a tree branch.
Kwak Moon-Jung looked at Jin Mu-Won in confusion and asked, Hyung?
Fight me with everything youve got.
For a moment, Kwak Moon-Jung simply blinked stupidly, not processing what Jin Mu-Won had just said. When the meaning finally hit him, he bit his lip in anticipation.
FinallyIve been waiting for this!
Until now, Jin Mu-Won had given him advice from time to time, but had never instructed him directly, and he hadnt dared ask him for instruction, either. He understood that the gap between them was too huge, and that there would be no point asking for it until he reached a certain level.
Kwak Moon-Jung tightened his grip on Crimson Fang. His heart was pounding wildly, and his blood pressure was rising.
Suddenly, Jin Mu-Won said, Calm down. How are you going to train properly when youre bursting with excitement?
Okay!
Now, fight me!
YEAH! Kwak Moon-Jung shouted as he dashed toward Jin Mu-Won.
SWISH!
Seeing that Kwak Moon-Jung was charging at him like a mad bull, Jin Mu-Won took a step to the side and dodged the attack with ease. He then tapped Kwak Moon-Jungs elbow lightly with his tree branch, saying, Straighten your elbows more when you swing your sword, and youll be able to pack more power into it.
Kuh! Understood!
Kwak Moon-Jung straightened his elbows as Jin Mu-Won had suggested, but this time, Jin Mu-Wons branch hit him lightly on the shoulder instead.
THWACK!
Your reflexes will be slowed if your body is too rigid.
Yes!
Dont take your eyes off your opponent.
Yes!
Step firmly upon the ground.
Gah!
Breathe deeply from your abdomen.
KUACK!
As Jin Mu-Won smacked his weak points every time he said something, Kwak Moon-Jung ended crying out in pain over and over again. The strikes seemed light, but for some reason, that slight force was enough to rattle his internal organs.
However, although moving around while he was in pain was hard, and his body was covered in bruises from falling onto the ground, Kwak Moon-Jung did not give up. Time and time again, he desperately charged at Jin Mu-Won, but his instructor never let anything slide for any reason.
Ironing out the deficiencies in ones basics is far more important than practicing techniques. A true martial arts master does not even need techniques, because every strike of theirs is an ultimate technique. However, that doesnt mean that learning and practicing techniques arent necessary, because one has to first achieveplete mastery of a technique to reach the level where one no longer needs techniques.
BONK!
Keuk!
Once again, Kwak Moon-Jung was sent flying. His clothes were in tatters, his hair was ragged, and his face was an unrecognizable mess.
Only then did Jin Mu-Won toss his branch aside.
I canstillgo on Kwak Moon-Jung clenched his teeth hard as he stood up shakily.
I know, but there is a time to train and a time to rest. Hurry up and use the Three Origins Meditation Technique.
In the end, Kwak Moon-Jung had no choice but to give in and start meditating.
While tending to the campfire, Jin Mu-Won carefully observed Kwak Moon-Jung. As he originally intended, the boys insides were a mess, he was having trouble breathing, his muscles were badly torn, and his joints were battered loose.
To a normal person, these injuries would be extremely serious, but for Kwak Moon-Jung, a body that needed healing was the optimal condition for training the Three Origins Meditation Technique and making him stronger.
Personally, Jin Mu-Won didnt really like using this elerated method of training, but if he didnt make Kwak Moon-Jung stronger soon, the boys odds of surviving through the uing chaos was extremely low. It would have been better if he had helped with the boys training since his childhood, but thinking about what ifs was meaningless now.
He had to prioritize Kwak Moon-Jungs survival over everything else.
As Kwak Moon-Jungs meditation reached its peak, sweat flowed down his entire body like rain, and his skin began to turn as red as a beetroot. That was a sign that the Three Origins Meditation Technique was currently healing his wounds.
Seeing that, Jin Mu-Won added more firewood to the campfire, raising the temperature around them.
An hourter, Kwak Moon-Jung finally finished meditating. His previously pale face now appeared healthy and his body was filled with energy.
Great job, youve worked hard. Jin Mu-Won smiled.
You worked a lot harder than I did, Hyung. Thank you.
Kwak Moon-Jung bowed deeply to Jin Mu-Won.
However, Jin Mu-Wons smile suddenly vanished, and his expression hardened. Before Kwak Moon-Jung could express his shock, Jin Mu-Won whispered, Look in the direction of the main road.
Kwak Moon-Jung looked where Jin Mu-Won was pointing, but it was pitch-ck and he couldnt see anything. However, he knew that Jin Mu-Won wouldnt have said something like that for no reason, so he focused his eyes carefully and tried to peer through the darkness.
CLIP CLOP CLIP CLOP.
After a while, he heard the sound of a horses hooves, and couldnt help but marvel at Jin Mu-Wons incredible eyesight.
The group that emerged from the darkness consisted of a carriage escorted by a dozen warriors. Immediately upon spotting Jin Mu-Won and Kwak Moon-Jung, they made a beeline toward the two young men.
Kwak Moon-Jung nervously drew Crimson Fang. For now, it was impossible to know whether these people were enemies or allies.
As the group arrived at the clearing, the two finally got a good look at these people. The warriors had bright eyes and unusually powerful auras. In addition, the character for Tyrant (҆) was emzoned on their chest armor.
Martial artists from the Tyrant Fist Sect, the sect created by Jo Cheon-Woo, the traitor I once called Uncle.
Jin Mu-Wons eyes shed briefly. His feelings toward these people were tooplicated for him to express them through words.
The eldest warrior, who was also probably the leader, dismounted his horse and approached Jin Mu-Won. He appeared to be in histe forties, with rather distinctive features such as broad shoulders, thighs as thick as tree trunks, narrow eyes, and an overwhelming aura as if he wanted to crush anyone who faced him.
He shouted to Jin Mu-Won, As expected, someone got here first. We already nned to stay here for the night, so would you mind sharing the space? We often camp here when were traveling outdoors.
Sure.
Thank you.
Having obtained Jin Mu-Wons permission, the old warrior turned back toward his subordinates.
Were camping here. Everybody start unpacking.
Yes Sir! The warriors loudly affirmed. They then dismounted their horses and began preparations for spending the night outdoors.
Meanwhile, Jin Mu-Won nced at the old warrior behind his back with trembling eyes.
Did he not recognize me?
He lowered his head and smiled bitterly.
However, his thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a familiar voice saying, Master Jin, is that you?
Chapter 90: Fortune And Misfortune (2)
TL: FoodieMonster007; ED: TheGreatT20
Jin Mu-Won looked up only to see two familiar faces, Tang Mi-Ryeo and Tang Gi-Mun, getting off the wagon. Tang Mi-Ryeo strode toward Jin Mu-Won, absolutely delighted to see him.
What brings you here, Miss Tang?
Were on our way to Yuxi. I never dreamed that I would be able to meet you on our way there, Master Jin.
Yuxi, you say?
Yes! Tang Mi-Ryeo smiled.
Meanwhile, Tang Gi-Mun walked up behind her and asked, What about you? Werent you staying at an inn in Kunming?
I also have stuff to do in Yuxi, so it seems were headed in the same direction. By the way, where are the people from Heavens Summit? Werent you going to meet up with them at the Tyrant Fist Sect?
Heavens Summit suddenly changed our meeting ce to Yuxi instead.
Hmm
Fortunately, the warriors from the Tyrant Fist Sect agreed to escort us there.
Since Tang Gi-Mun had already been attacked en route to Kunming, the Tyrant Fist Sect had dispatched a squad of elites to guard the two Tang n members. He looked toward the leader of the guards and introduced, That warrior over there is Im Soo-Kwang, the Eight-Armed Heavenly General. Apparently, hes one of the top five masters in the Tyrant Fist Sect as well as an expert in fist techniques. His battle prowess is also said to be unmatched.
Jin Mu-Won nced at Im Soo-Kwang, aplicated expression on his face. However, it was already dark out, and no one noticed his abnormality.
If I had known that you were also heading to Yuxi, Master Jin, I would have stuck with you since the beginning. Then again, we can just travel together from now on, right? Haha, Id feel much more reassured with you around! Tang Gi-Munughed. From his point of view, Jin Mu-Won was a much more trustworthy person than Im Soo-Kwang, who was aplete stranger to him.
Come, lets sit down and talk, he continued, leading the group toward the campfire, where they sat down in a circle.
Do you know what exactly transpired in Yuxi?
I heard some rumors, but it was so extreme, I just cant believe it.
Could you tell me?
Well Im not sure how much I should say, since I havent even been able to confirm the truth myself. Well know everything once we enter the city, so would you mind being patient for now? Tang Gi-Mun asked, a severe look on his face.
Alright. Sensing the heavy atmosphere, Jin Mu-Won and Kwak Moon-Jungs faces darkened.
Suddenly, Im Soo-Kwang approached Tang Gi-Mun, saying, Master Tang, our camping preparations areplete.
Good work. This man here is Master Jin, my savior.
Im Soo-Kwangs eyes lit up with interest as he quickly sized up Jin Mu-Won, saying, You may be young, but I can tell that youre already a powerful martial artist. I am Im Soo-Kwang of the Tyrant Fist Sect.
My name is Jin Mu-Won, Jin Mu-Won greeted resignedly.
Startled, Im Soo-Kwang eximed, I know someone with the exact same name as you! Would you mind telling me which sect you belong to?
Its just a small sect. Even if I told you, you wouldnt recognize it.
Hmm Im Soo-Kwang fell silent. He felt that Jin Mu-Won was avoiding the question, but if the young man wasnt willing to say anything, it would be difficult to continue pursuing the topic.
The Jin Mu-Won I know died seven years ago, so theres no way it could be him, right?
The events that had happened many years ago still weighed heavily upon his heart, and although he could no longer recall the face of the boy left behind in the Northern Army Fortress, he remembered his name, Jin Mu-Won. The same name as the man right in front of him now.
Back then, hed had no choice but to go with the flow, but he always paid keen attention to any news concerning Jin Mu-Won. That was why, when he heard about Jin Mu-Wons death seven years ago, hed be so overwhelmed with guilt that he couldnt bring himself to eat or sleep for days.
Im Soo-Kwang carefully observed Jin Mu-Won again. Come to think of it, the young man did resemble the boy in his memories. However, this Jin Mu-Wons demeanor was far too calm.
If he truly were the Jin Mu-Won I knew, he would never look at me this emotionlessly. Im Soo-Kwang sighed and sat down.
Sensing the tension in the air, Tang Mi-Ryeo pouted, not understanding what was going on. There was a lot she wanted to ask Jin Mu-Won, who was sitting next to her, but the heavy atmosphere made it hard for her to say anything.
That night, after everyone else had fallen asleep, Jin Mu-Won sat alone beside the campfire, holding Snow Flower in his arms. Next to him, Kwak Moon-Jung slept without a care in the world.
He looked up. The sea of stars glittering in the night sky reminded him of the North.
Before he was abandoned, he was always surrounded by warm and caring people. This had given him the mistaken impression that the world was a kind ce.
In fact, Im Soo-Kwang had been one of those people. Every time they had met, the man would greet him with a smile and teach him a lot of things.
However, on that fateful day, Im Soo-Kwang had turned his back on his father and himself more heartlessly than anyone else. Still, Jin Mu-Won didnt resent the man very much, as he wasnt the only one who had betrayed them.
Although it was impossible to face Im Soo-Kwang without mixed feelings, Jin Mu-Won didnt want to let himself be bothered by a person like that. After all, the Central ins were filled with people just like him. If he got angry at every single one of the traitors, he would ultimately only ruin himself.
This is yet another injustice that I have to endure, he consoled himself.
Suddenly, he remembered his meeting with Geum Dan-Yeop the night before. That mysterious man had summoned him out of the blue, said a few words, then disappeared. The only information hed gotten out of him was that he was the mastermind behind the events in Yunnan.
Just who is he? What is his goal?
Although that was Jin Mu-Wons first time meeting Geum Dan-Yeop, he could tell that he was not a man who would do all this over a personal grudge. Therefore, he had to have some kind of motivation. Unfortunately, he had no way of finding out what his true aim was.
Still, he had a hunch that they were destined to meet again.
Jin Mu-Won tossed several branches into the dying mes of the campfire, reigniting them.
What if, hes
His expression darkened.
Nam Goon-Wi sat down, shirtless, in a pitch-ck secret room. There was a frightening-looking stab wound right beneath his rib cage. He closed his eyes and concentrated on circting his chi.
Every time he inhaled and exhaled, white fog would flow out from his nostrils. As his meditation reached its peak,rge droplets of sweat dotted his brow, and his whole body flushed red.
WHOOSH!
Suddenly, he shuddered violently, and his face grimaced with pain. The white fog that he had breathed out swirled around him, but he abruptly sucked all of it back in one gasp.
Atst, hed finished his meditation. Nam Goon-Wi opened his eyes slowly and gently touched the de wound in his side. He then scowled, mumbling, Cough! Wow! Even though Ive been meditating all day, the wound hasnt even closed up yet.
For him, most normal wounds would close after a round of meditation, so even if they werentpletely healed yet, hed still be able to move around without issue. However, the wounds hed received from Jin Mu-Won were not like that at all.
Not only did they heal very slowly, they also hurt like hell. As a result, Nam Goon-Wi had been left with no choice but to hole himself up in a secret room for several days doing nothing but treating his wounds.
He carelessly threw on some clothes and left the room. Outside, he was immediately greeted by the sight of a picturesque garden surrounded by a high fence. Therge varieties of well-tended trees, flowers, and grasses showed off their most vivid colors as they gently swayed in the breeze.
Nam Goon-Wi strode through thendscape indifferently. Although the garden was clearly the result of someones hard work, he had no interest in superficial things like that; honing ones martial arts was a much more productive use of time. However, he understood that not everyone agreed with him.
Soon, he found a man in rags pulling weeds from the garden.
Dan-Yeop.
The man shabbily dressed like a poor farmer looked up at his call and smiled. It was Geum Dan-Yeop.
Goon-Wi, you look much better now than before.
Are you ying with dirt again? You always do that whenever you have too much stuff to think about.
Haha! Instead of replying, Geum Dan-Yeop simply grinned. Just as Nam Goon-Wi said, every time he had too much to think about, he would do some gardening.
Suddenly remembering something, Nam Goon-Wi asked, You went to meet him?
Yes.
Kekeke! So thats what happened. Hes messing up your ns, isnt he?
Nam Goon-Wi plopped down on a nearby bench, causing it to creak ominously under the strain of his weight. Seeing this, Geum Dan-Yeop smiled and sat down next to him.
How are you feeling?
Im notpletely healed, but thank the gods, at least I can move now. Man, back then, I seriously thought that I was fuckedcough! Just my tough luck running into the devil himself, I guess.
Thats a relief.
What about you?
Nam Goon-Wi did not explicitly state who he was referring to, but Geum Dan-Yeop instantly understood him, replying, Hes thrown a wrench into my ns.
Is it that bad? Even for you?
Hes a really unusual guy. He gives me the feeling of a huge, unmovable rock. Its a total mystery why I havent met anyone like him until now.
Nam Goon-Wis jaw dropped. He had never heard Geum Dan-Yeop give anyone such high praise before. The man was always highly cynical and critical of others, and the only other praise he had ever heard him give was somewhat useful.
Even so, he felt like he could sympathize with Geum Dan-Yeop. After all, not only had he devastatingly lost one of the Iron Ghost Snipers who he had trained with all his heart, he himself hade within a hairs breadth of losing his life to Jin Mu-Won.
There is no room for negotiation with him.
As expected. Nam Goon-Wi lowered his head. Jin Mu-Wons gentle appearance was merely a fa?ade. Inside, he was a man burning with passion and determination. It was impossible to negotiate with such a person once he had set his mind to something, and as a warrior who had fought the young man directly, Nam Goon-Wi believed that he could personally attest to that fact.
So, what are we going to do? We cant be withdrawing now, can we?
No, we cant. He may be an unpredictable variable, but we cannot call off all of our ns just because of one man.
Yeah!
Besides, weve alreadye too far to turn back now.
Geum Dan-Yeop looked up at the sky, prompting Nam Goon-Wi to also do so. The cloudless azure sky appeared to stretch out for a thousand miles, but Geum Dan-Yeop was looking at a ce even farther than that.
Anyway, things have gotten much more fun now. Regardless of how well we n, it is the unexpected variables that make this boring life worth living.
Kukuku! Is that something tough about? Its so depressing that no tears areing out.
No, it has to be like this
Dan-Yeop
If we wish to rouse the Silent Night from its deep slumber, Geum Dan-Yeop whispered in a low, but powerful voice.
Trantors Notes: Sorry for the long absence, but I was busy with my engagement, immigration, and thenCOVID. And damn does covid suck. Updates will now resume, but I am currently experiencing some problems with hosting and might need to take the site down for a day to migrate it.
Proofreaders Notes: Were back! Forgot soo many of the character names. Had to reread some chapters to familiarize myself with the story and immersion.
Chapter 91: Fortune And Misfortune (3)
TL: FoodieMonster007; ED: TheGreatT20
Jin Mu-Won and Kwak Moon-Jung woke up early in the morning and prepared to leave. At the same time, as if they were in sync, the Tyrant Fist Sect Warriors also started packing up.
Since none of them had much luggage, it wasnt long before everyone was ready to go. Suddenly, Im Soo-Kwang approached Jin Mu-Won, asking, Master Tang told me that youll be joining us on our journey to Yuxi. Is that true?
Yes, however, we do not wish to impose on you, and if you find us a burden, well travel there ourselves.
No, not at all! You can ride on our extra horses.
Thank you.
No need to thank me. Come this way. Lets grab a quick breakfast before we go.
Alright.
Jin Mu-Won and Kwak Moon-Jung followed Im Soo-Kwang to the campfire, where the other Tyrant Fist Sect warriors had prepared a simple meal of porridge for breakfast. There, Tang Gi-Mun and Tang Mi-Ryeo were already seated, and were each holding a bowl of food.
Good morning, Master Jin.
Please take a seat.
The two greeted Jin Mu-Won and Kwak Moon-Jung with beaming smiles.
Im Soo-Kwang also sat down, saying, This porridge is made from boiled rations, but it doesnt taste too bad. We always survive off this stuff whenever were traveling.
Thats a good idea. Very efficient.
Yeah, even back during my days in the North No, never mind. Justeat the food while its still hot.
Im Soo-Kwang personallydled out two bowls of porridge and handed them to Jin Mu-Won and Kwak Moon-Jung. When Jin Mu-won looked at it, he realized that it not only contained soggy flour, but bits of grain as well. The grains must have been added to the dry rations when they were being made.
This is the same stuff the Northern Army warriors ate during the war with the Silent Night. Ill have to prepare rations like these for myself soon, too.
Jin Mu-Won took a sip of the porridge and smiled. Like Im Soo-Kwang had said, it didnt taste too bad. In fact, it was good enough that even Kwak Moon-Jung was willing to slurp it down.
Just then, Tang Gi-Mun turned toward Im Soo-Kwang and asked, How much longer until we arrive at Yuxi?
Well definitely be there before sunset.
I see!
Our sect owns a vi in Yuxi. You can wait for the warriors from Heavens Summit there.
Right, I guess I can rest until then.
Yeah, after all, youll have no time to rest once Heavens Summit shows up.
Mhmm, Tang Gi-Mun replied, helping himself to another bowl of porridge. He needed to eat well to replenish his stamina for the rest of the journey.
Next to him, Tang Mi-Ryeo looked at Jin Mu-Won, asking, Master Jin, would you like another bowl of porridge?
No, but thank you for offering.
Really?
I have a habit of not eating until Im full.
Thats a good habit. When youre full, your senses and reflexes will be dulled, Im Soo-Kwang suddenly interjected. He continued, Eating less is crucial to staying alert all the time.
Thank you for your advice.
Without realizing it, it seems that I have just said something very presumptuous to a master martial artist. Please pretend that you didnt hear myment, Im Soo-Kwang immediately added as the realization that he had tried to give a master like Jin Mu-Won advice dawned on him.
Strange, he wasnt someone who would normally preach to others like that There was just something about Jin Mu-Won that loosened his tongue.
Do I unconsciously think of him as the same person as the Jin Mu-Won I know? Just because they have the same name? Im Soo-Kwangs expression darkened. He looked up and stared at Jin Mu-Won, but the young man had already stood up from his seat.
Jin Mu-Won.
Some timeter, Jin Mu-Wons group passed by the Dian Lake.1 Looking at the vastke with no opposite shore in sight, Jin Mu-Won frowned in irritation.
Tang Gi-Mun, who was looking at the same scene through the carriage window, smiled and said, This is the sixthrgestke in the Central ins.2 People who see it for the first time often mistake it for the sea.
Nature is very mysterious indeed. Its unthinkable how such argeke can exist right in the middle of these hignds.
I agree. The Dian Lake is the lifeblood of Yunnan, as many of its peoples livelihoods depend on theke.
The sun rising above the horizon was dyeing theke a deep red. Jin Mu-Won stared, enraptured, at the dazzling festival of light formed by the scattering of sunlight against the gentle ripples of the waters.
Thats right. Even light can bend and scatter. The waters of theke seem calm at first sight, but in truth, the currents are flowing endlessly.
The cycles of Nature are never-ending. The brighter the light, the darker the shadow. Isnt it the same for human history?
To many, this was a very ordinary realization, but for Jin Mu-Won, it was so enlightening that he felt something inside of him change.
His Shadow Chi, which hadin dormant in his chi center, suddenly flushed out and flooded his circtory system. The breakthrough happened so unexpectedly that Jin Mu-Won panicked, although he took care not to reveal his inner unease and silently allowed his chi to rage through his body unchecked.
SNAP! POP!
His ears rang with the sounds of bursting blood vessels. However, he was the only one who could hear it. That was the sound of his Shadow Chi removing the blockages in his blood vessels for optimum flow.
Besides the optimization of his chi cirction, an unknown nerve that he had never noticed before connected to his brain, enhancing his All-Epassing Cognizance several-fold.
Jin Mu-Won felt like a blind man seeing the world for the first time, or a deaf person who suddenly became able to hear. His senses were now far sharper than ever before, altering his perception of the world.
It was an unexpected stroke of luck. Once again, Jin Mu-Won realized that the simplest enlightenment could cause humans to change extremely drastically.
Although the Tyrant Fist Sect warriors rode by his side, thankfully, none of them noticed his unusual demeanor or the sudden change in him.
Finally, as if it had done its job, Jin Mu-Wons Shadow Chi returned back to his chi center. Only then did he let go of the breath he was holding.
Hoo As he exhaled, the impurities in his body were also expelled.
Hyung, are you okay? Kwak Moon-Jung asked, staring at him concernedly.
Im fine.
Really? Kwak Moon-Jung, who had been with Jin Mu-Won for a long time, tilted his head in confusion. He felt that Jin Mu-Won was a little different now, but he couldnt tell exactly what had changed.
Jin Mu-Won clutched his horses reins and activated the All-Epassing Cognizance, expanding his senses like never before. The information obtained by his eyes, ears, and skin quicklybined in his brain, creating a highly detailed simtion of the real world inside his mind.
Jin Mu-Won instinctively realized the truth about this simted world. It was his Domain.
When a martial artist reached a certain level of enlightenment, they would eventually form their own Domain, a space where they can exhibit their strengths to the fullest and react to any external interference instantly.
The higher the level of mastery, therger the size of ones Domain. For martial arts experts, most battles would be a sh at the edges of each practitioners Domain. In that situation, although having arger Domain did not always guarantee a win, it did provide the martial artist with many advantages over their opponent.
Jin Mu-Won smiled. This unanticipated improvement would surely prove useful in the many dangerous situations he would soon face.
Suddenly, Im Soo-Kwang approached Jin Mu-Won, making him a little nervous that the change in him had been noticed. However, from the look on Im Soo-Kwangs face, that did not seem to be the case.
Were almost at Yuxi. I dont know whats going to happen from now on, so please be sure to remain alert at all times.
Got it.
Also, would you mind staying close to Master Tang just in case?
Not at all.
After conversing with Jin Mu-Won, Im Soo-Kwang left to give orders to his subordinates, who quickly spread themselves out evenly around the carriage and warily observed their surroundings.
Even Jin Mu-Won couldnt help but admire their coordination and synergy. These men are extremely disciplined. Well, Im Soo-Kwang was always one to train his subordinates very rigorously.
Although the Im Soo-Kwang he knew was a carefree man who freely allowed his subordinates to make a ruckus, his team was also always the one with the fewest losses on the battlefield.
Jin Mu-Won kept his All-Epassing Cognizance activated as he rode his horse. Like this, even if he wasnt looking, he could hear Kwak Moon-Jungs breathing next to him and detect the smallest movements from Tang Gi-Mun inside of the carriage.
Geum Dan-Yeop, Nam Goon-Wi, and the other people hiding in the darkness
At first, Jin Mu-Won had considered warning Im Soo-Kwang about Geum Dan-Yeop, but in the end, he decided against it. Not only was Im Soo-Kwang a literal stranger to him, but most importantly, he simply couldnt trust anyone who sided with the former Four Northern Pirs.
Captain! I found something
Suddenly, Jin Mu-Won was jerked back to reality by one of the Tyrant Fist Sect warriors who was riding at the front of the party. The warrior dismounted from his horse and started staring at something on the ground.
Jin Mu-Won also got off his horse and joined the warrior, only to gasp at the sight, Ugh!
Scattered on the ground were the dismembered corpses of several people, as if they had been mauled by a wild beast. The torsos and limbsy separated, making it difficult to tell how many people they had originally belonged to, only that there were at least three dead.
BLAARGH! Kwak Moon-Jung, who had thoughtlessly approached the gruesome scene, hurriedly turned around and threw up.
On the other hand, Im Soo-Kwangs face hardened as he said, Another attack?
Jin Mu-Won gathered a lot of information just from those two words. First, this kind of attack has happened before. Second, the Tyrant Fist Sect is aware of it. And finally, Heavens Summit is taking this case very seriously, but why?
Jin Mu-won examined the corpses in detail to see if he could discern the reason for Heavens Summits interest. As a result, he noticed something odd.
Judging by the bruising on the corpses, their wounds were not caused by any weapon, but rather, bare human hands.
Tang Gi-Mun, who had approached Jin Mu-Won while he was analyzing the scene, let out a sigh and said, These people were dismembered by a bare-handed person with monstrous strength.
All this was seriously done bare-handed!? By a human being?
Jin Mu-Wons eyes narrowed. Killing a person was not as easy as most would think, because normal people had a moral baseline, whether that be the result of familial education or through social interactions. Such people instinctively understood which line they should not cross, and would hesitate to take anothers life.
Therefore, people in power would often implement various measures to remove or weaken their subordinates inhibitions toward killing, including giving them weapons that suited their taste.
Regardless, killing someone with a weapon and tearing them apart with ones bare hands were twopletely different things. Even if one had the natural instincts of a murderer, no matter how strong an ordinary person was, it was physically impossible for them to dismember another human being with their grip strength.
On the other hand, no trained martial artist would choose such an inefficient method of killing when there were much easier ways to go about it.
That leaves us with only one possible conclusion, that the murderer is a martial artist who has lost their mind. However, that defiesmon sense! Is the situation in Yuxi much more severe than I had originally thought?
Im Soo-Kwang shouted, Everyone, stay in formation and be on guard! If you see someone who could be an enemy, dont hesitate to cut them down!
Yes Sir! the Tyrant Fist Sect warriors answered in unison, mounting their horses.
Jin Mu-Wons eyes turned toward Yuxi as he mumbled, It seems that misfortune tends to follow fortune, huh?
Footnotes:
Chapter 92: Those Bound By The Cursed Threads Of Fate (1)
TL: FoodieMonster007; ED: TheGreatT20
The atmosphere in Yuxi was unexpectedly bleak. There were only a few people on the streets, and the whole city was nketed in a macabre, gloomy atmosphere.
Im Soo-Kwang took the group to a manor known as the Clear Moon Vi, which doubled as the Tyrant Fist Sect branch in Yuxi.
As if he had already been notified of their arrival, the vi steward stood outside the gates together with the other servants. Wee, Ive been waiting for you, he greeted.
Steward Yeom, where are the warriors from Heavens Summit?
They havent arrived yet.
I see! Also, please prepare amodations for these two guests, Im Soo-Kwang said, pointing to Jin Mu-Won and Kwak Moon-Jung.
However, Jin Mu-Won shook his head, saying, Thank you for your consideration, but we intend to move independently from now on.
Youve already apanied us all the way here. Why not just ept our offer?
Its more convenient for us that way.
Tang Gi-Mun, who had been watching from the side, stepped forward and added, Hes here to search for his missing uncle. Staying in the vi would restrict his movements.
I suppose thats possible. Im Soo-Kwang nodded in agreement. As guests, the two young men would have to follow the houses rules and obtain permission every time they wished to leave the vi.
Have you found any clues as to your uncles whereabouts yet?
Jin Mu-Won shook his head, replying, Nothing, except that he went missing here in Yuxi.
Hmm! Well, its not going to be easy. I hope you find your uncle alive and well. If you need any help from the Tyrant Fist Sect, feel free to inform Steward Yeom. As long as its something I can do, Ill help you as much as I can.
Thank you. Then, well be leaving now Jin Mu-Won gave Im Soo-Kwang a fist salute, turned, and left. Kwak Moon-Jung quickly did the same and hurried after Jin Mu-Won.
Tang Mi-Ryeo nkly watched Jin Mu-Won disappear into the distance, her eyes brimming with regret.
As they walked along the streets of Yuxi, Kwak Moon-Jung asked, Hyung, have you decided where were going next?
No.
Then wouldnt it have been better to stay at the Clear Moon Vi? The Tyrant Fist Sect is offering us their help.
Thats ourst resort, because I dont trust the Tyrant Fist Sect one bit.
Kwak Moon-Jung fell silent at Jin Mu-Wons firm answer.
In response, Jin Mu-Won smiled at him and continued, Still, we shouldnt be too hostile toward them. I only said that because this is the gangho, after all, where trusting anyonepletely is the height of foolishness.
Understood!
Moon-Jung, if you were toe to Yuxi as part of the White Dragon Merchant Association, which inn would you choose?
If I was with the White Dragon Merchant Association, then I would choose thergest inn, because we always travel with arge caravan. Of course, the inn stable needs to be well-equipped and it would be preferable if we could stay in a separate building of our own.
Then, lets look around and find out if such an inn exists.
Oh! Youre trying to trace their movements, arent you? Kwak Moon-Jung eximed, only now realizing Jin Mu-Wons true intentions.
Yes. Its impossible for no traces to have been left behind when so many people mysteriously disappeared all at once.
Moreover, since Yuxi is much smaller than Kunming, there shouldnt be many inns that could amodate them, right?
Right.
Then, would you mind leaving this to me? I think Im quite experienced in things like this.
Sure.
Heehee! Okay then, Ill be right back, Kwak Moon-Jung said, before running off.
A few minutester, he reappeared, huffing and puffing.
I asked the locals, and they said that theres only onerge inn in Yuxi, the Jumbo Inn.
The Jumbo Inn?
Yes! Everyrge merchant caravan that arrives here stays there.
It seemed that their destination was now set. The two young men walked toward the Jumbo Inn, which was located on the outskirts of Yuxi. The three-story wooden building was shabby, but it was definitelyrge enough to amodate the bigger caravans.
They entered the inn, only to find that it was deserted save for one teenage waiter dozing off in a corner. Kwak Moon-Jung, who couldnt stand to watch this pathetic sight any longer, said, Oi.
Huh? Yes! Wee! The surprised waiter opened his eyes, nimbly sprung to his feet like a cat, and hurried toward the two.
Do you have any rooms avable?
What? As you can see, all we have here are empty rooms. Hehe! the waiter exaggeratedly pointed at the empty inn, making Jin Mu-Won and Kwak Moon-Jungugh at the funny sight.
I see. Its so quiet you can hear the flies buzzing in here.
Its been like this for thest six months. If this continues, the inn will be forced to close down.
That serious?
Dont even get me started on this. Our entire customer base was cut off. There are so many rumors floating around that no one dares to stay here.
Huh.
Jin Mu-Won and Kwak Moon-Jung took a seat in the inn restaurant, while the waiterid a pot and cups on their table.
How many days are you nning to stay? the waiter asked.
About three or four days. Maybe longer.
The waiter grinned and replied, Alright. Ill give you the best room since theres no one else here anyway. Hehe!
Thank you.
Youre wee. Food for you two?
Yes, please. Were starving after having traveled a long way, so serve us your best dishes. Bring us some wine too if you have any.
Hehe! Okay, Ill get all that prepared right away. Please wait for a while. The waiter ran into the kitchen.
Jin Mu-Won and Kwak Moon-Jung looked out at the streets of Yuxi. Despite the beautiful scenery, these streets that would normally be thronging with poets and artists were deserted and as silent as the dead.
Suddenly, Kwak Moon-Jung asked, Wont the White Dragon Merchant Association and the Iron Brigade track down this ce as well?
Youre right, they probably will, since theyre also following in the previous caravans footsteps. However, since they have to coordinate their movements with the Tyrant Fist Sect, I dont think theyre going to make it here for a while.
Due to nning, organization and procedural issues, traveling and investigation was always harder for arge grouppared to a small one. Although it was safer, the one- or two-day dy caused could be crucial to preventing an irreversible tragedy.
The Iron Brigade, the White Dragon Merchant Association, the Tyrant Fist Sect, Heavens Summit I wonder what other factions have gotten involved in this mess?
Well, one thing is for sure, everything is only just beginning.
Haa Kwak Moon-Jung sighed. Although he had never thought for a moment that this mission would be easy, he didnt think that so many big shots would get involved, either. If not for Jin Mu-Wons presence, just the names of these powerful factions would have made his legs wobble.
Jin Mu-Won recalled the name of the mastermind behind all this.
Geum Dan-Yeop.
They had only met once, but Jin Mu-Won could not forget that mans face.
Just what is he after? What kind of a blueprint has that man drawn for Yunnan?
Jin Mu-Won tried to think about things from Geum Dan-Yeops standpoint, but he had far too little information on the man to conclude anything. The only things he knew about Geum Dan-Yeop was that 1) he was an extraordinary person and 2) he was a master of the sound arts.
Furthermore, Geum Dan-Yeop had Nam Goon-Wi, a master martial artist, on his side. The grand n they hade up with was definitely going to be impactful, but unfortunately, he had no way of finding out what that was.
Regardless, my first priority is rescuing Uncle Hwang. Everything elsees after.
Right now, to Jin Mu-Won, Hwang Cheol was the most important person. Saving him took precedence over everything, and everyone else.
As Jin Mu-Won organized his thoughts, the waiter carried tes filled with a mountain of food to their table.
Hehe, thanks for waiting! I swear you wont be disappointed.
A steamed carp formed the centerpiece of the feast, and several other dishes were ced around it. The fragrance wafting from the food really whetted the twos appetites.
Finally, the waiter ced a jug sealed with red paper on the table, saying, And this is the specialty of our Jumbo Inn personally brewed by my boss, the Jade Cordial.
Even sealed, the tantalizing aroma of the wine tickled their noses.
This is good wine!
Have a taste. You wont regret it!
Jin Mu-Won opened the seal, causing the scent of the wine to burst out. He quickly gulped down a cup of wine.
Wow! The feel of the strong wine burning down his throat was so exhrating, Jin Mu-Won couldnt help but exim in surprise.
Kwak Moon-Jung, who was next to him, stared at him with sparkly puppy dog eyes.
Jin Mu-Won immediately understood what the boy wanted. Would you like a drink? he asked.
No, I cantbut if youll offer me one, Ill have just one cup. Ehehe! Kwak Moon-Jung looked a little hesitant, but did not reject Jin Mu-Wons offer.
Jin Mu-Won smiled and poured Kwak Moon-Jung a cup of wine, bringing a smile to the young boys face.
Although Kwak Moon-Jung was still young, hed drunk wine together with the other members of the trading caravans before. That was because to people of the gangho, the instant one held a weapon and had the ability to protect themselves, their age was no longer important, only that they were a martial artist.
Kwak Moon-Jung carefully took a sip of the cordial. The exceptional sweetness instantly struck his fancy.
Hehe! This is delicious. He grinned from ear to ear.
Enjoy your meal! Call me if you need anything, the waiter left, beaming.
Jin Mu-Won and Kwak Moon-Jung ate and chatted. As the waiter had guaranteed, the food was excellent, and the wine exquisite. For the first time in a while, the two young men were able to enjoy a nice meal.
After eating, they retired to their room. Perhaps because they had traveled a long way, they were both oddly sleepy, and fell asleep immediately after lying down on their beds.
I suppose now should be about the right time for me to get to work?
Suddenly, someone quietly opened the room door and stuck his head inside. It was the waiter. Upon seeing the sleeping Jin Mu-Won and Kwak Moon-Jung, he smiled in satisfaction.
As expected, theyve fallen asleep. The Hundred Daydreams is truly potent, hehe!
Like a stray cat, he soundlessly entered the room.
He had spiked the wine given to Jin Mu-Won and Kwak Moon-Jung with a powerful sedative called the Hundred Daydreams. The drug took a long time to take effect, but once the victim fell asleep, it was impossible to wake them up without giving them the antidote.
Although the drug wasnt as potent as its name suggested, giving people a hundred daydreams, it was still strong enough to affect martial artists. Most importantly, it wasnt ssified as a type of poison, so most experts would not be able to detect it.
The waiters true identity was the master spy Cheong-In. Until now, he had only observed Jin Mu-Won from afar, but he finally decided to take the risk and disguise himself as a waiter to approach the young man.
After confirming that Jin Mu-Won was indeed asleep, Cheong-In carefully searched through his luggage.
Somethings weird. I just cant find any information on this guy. Its as if he just fell out of the sky one day.
Up until recently, Cheong-In had closely observed Jin Mu-Won in order to discern his true identity. However, the young mans martial arts, background, age etc. wereplete unknowns.
The only reliable information that he had about the guy was that he was searching for a missing rtive, and that he had traveled together with the White Dragon Merchant Association, but even this information was something he had obtained using the ck Moons extensive spywork, not personally.
In the end, Cheong-In had been left with no choice but to take the risk and dig through Jin Mu-Wons luggage for clues about his identity. He quickly found the jade token that Tang Mi-Ryeo had given him, some spare clothes, andthat was it.
He sighed in disappointment, Damn it! What kind of person only carries this stuff with him
There was nothing that could prove Jin Mu-Wons identity.
Suddenly, Cheong-Ins eyes fell upon Snow Flower, whichy beside Jin Mu-Wons bed.
Perhaps?
As if he was possessed, once heid eyes upon Snow Flower, he simply couldnt take his eyes off it, and unconsciously reached for it
GYAAAAH!
The instant Cheong-Ins fingers made contact with Snow Flower, his eyes zed over.
Chapter 93: Those Bound By The Cursed Threads Of Fate (2)
TL: FoodieMonster007; ED: TheGreatT20
Jin Mu-Won opened his eyes at Snow Flowers cry only to find a dazed Cheong-In standing in front of him, holding Snow Flower.
Frowning, he circted his shadow chi to check his physical condition. After one round of meditation, he finally detected the Hundred Daydreams sedative in his bloodstream.
It seemed that the shadow chi had counteracted the effect of the sedative, causing him to wake up much earlier than he otherwise would.
I was careless.
Hed fallen for the waiters act and hadnt doubted him for a moment.
Ive only ventured out into the gangho for a short while, and yet Ive already started getting sloppy. Am I getting conceited?
Jin Mu-Won looked closely at Cheong-In, whose eyes had zed over as if he was mesmerized by something.
Is it because of Snow Flower?
Snow Flower was a cursed sword that only recognized Jin Mu-Won as its owner. Anyone else would be affected by its cursed energy, and no matter how much chi one had, cursed energy wasnt something that could be defended against.
Jin Mu-Won stared at Cheong-In thoughtfully. He didnt feel like letting this intruder go that easily, but unless he took Snow Flower away from the man, he would remain in that dazed state until he died of starvation.
Hypnosis is used for interrogations, and he appears to be hypnotized by Snow Flower, so why dont I try interrogating him?
Jin Mu-Won wasnt a man who would hesitate after making a decision. He approached Cheong-In and asked, Whats your name?
C-Cheong-In.
As it turned out, Jin Mu-Wons hypothesis was correct.
Who do you work for?
The Secret Moon.
Tell me about the Secret Moon.
The Secret Moon is a top-secret subdivision of the ck Moon, specializing in spying and surveince activities. Agents of the Secret Moon are divided into three ranks: Heaven, Earth, and Mortal, with the Heaven rankprising of the best spies in the Secret Moon.
What is your rank?
I am a Heaven-ranked agent.
In his hypnotized state, Cheong-In unconsciously bbed everything he wasnt supposed to.
It seems that Mae Wol-Ryung meant what she said, huh?
Mae Wol-Ryung was the head of the ck Moon Sichuan Branch, and Jin Mu-Won recalled her mentioning that the ck Moon was very interested in up-anding gangho neers.1
However, this was bad news for Jin Mu-Won. He wasnt afraid of being exposed, but it would make getting anything done a lot harder.
Just as he was sinking into deep thought about what to do about Cheong-In, he recalled a certain event.
Several dismembered corpses were found near Kunming. Do you know anything about the culprit?
That Despite Snow Flowers hypnosis, Cheong-In hesitated.
That could only mean that this piece of information was extremely important.
Keep talking.
Some time ago, crazy people began to randomly appear on the streets of Kunming. All of them were ordinary folks and there was no clear reason why they had gone crazy. Furthermore, not only had they lost their minds, they also had greatly enhanced physical strength. In their madness, they tore their parents and siblings apart without even recognizing them.
All that was done by crazed ordinary people?
As far as we know, yes. As for the cause, both Heavens Summit and the Tyrant Fist Sect suspect that drugs are involved. They have thus also gotten the Tang n involved in this.
Jin Mu-Won narrowed his eyes. If drugs are truly involved, then that means that someone is intentionally spreading them. Do you know who they are?
We can only assume that it was the work of the same people who kidnapped the merchants.
Tell me about those people.
The ck Moon is currently investigating that using a variety of different methods.
You dont actually know anything about them, do you?
Thatsthats right.
Hmm Jin Mu-Won sank into deep thought.
Every time he thought of a possibility, he would question Cheong-In about it. Hypnotized by Snow Flower, Cheong-In mindlessly answered all of Jins questions to the best of his ability.
SHUDDER!
Suddenly, Cheong-In started shivering and drooling. That was a side effect of being hypnotized by Snow Flower, and if Jin Mu-Won let him be, it wouldnt be long before he was braindead.
Jin Mu-Won agonized over whether to take Snow Flower back for a while, but in the end, he decided to do it.
The instant Snow Flower left Cheong-Ins hands, he stopped shivering and began panting instead, going, Kuuu! Hooo!
Only some timeter did he finallye back to his senses and looked around, mumbling, What happened to me?
It seemed like he had no idea he had confessed everything he knew to Jin Mu-Won. His memories onlysted up until the moment hed grabbed onto Snow Flower.
He then looked uponly to find Jin Mu-Won calmly staring down at him.
Fuck! Ive been caught! As an experienced spy, Cheong-In instinctively knew when hed been discovered.
I dont know what happened to me, but Jin Mu-Won woke up and found me while I was preupied.
For a moment, Cheong-In couldnt decide what to do next. Should I try running away? Can I defeat him if I take him by surprise?
Suddenly, in a voice as piercing as a dagger, Jin Mu-Won said, Your name is Cheong-In, right?
H-How did you know that!? Cheong-Ins eyes widened, and his heart felt like it was beating out of his chest.2 The ck Moon Leader and Mae Wol-Ryung were the only two people who were supposed to know his real name!
What the hell happened to me? I clearly remember grabbing that strange sword, and then Ahh, if I could, I would turn back time right now and check!
Enraged, he raised his head again, but this time, he was met with Jin Mu-Wons icy cold re, which immediately drained all the energy from his body.
What did you do to me? What kind of evil curse
Evil curse? Thats rich,ing from you, the person who fed me sedatives.
Ah Cheong-In was stunned speechless by Jin Mu-Wons statement. Now that I think about it, once a person takes the Hundred Daydreams, its impossible for them to wake up until they receive the antidote. So, how the hell is this guy awake?
Jin Mu-Won had swallowed enough sedative to knock out more than two master martial artists! With that dosage, he was supposed to remain asleep for another half a day even after taking the antidote.
Even Kwak Moon-Jung, who had only taken a sip, had fallen into a deep sleep. Cheong-In just couldnt understand how Jin Mu-Won was conscious after drinking an entire jug of spiked wine.
In any case, thank you for the information.
Information? What information? What the hell did I say?
Rather than answering, Jin Mu-Won simply smiled knowingly in reply.
Cheong-Ins mind descended into chaos. I think I definitely said something, but I just cant remember what! Its as if someone took an iron rod and stirred my brains around.
Keuk!
You can leave now. I will use the information you gave me well. Thank you again.
W-wait, are you seriously okay with letting me go like this?
Didnt we already get all the information we needed from each other?
AHHHHH! This is driving me nuts! Cheong-In screamed and pulled his hair out.
Jin Mu-Won grinned and enjoyed the show. After all, forgetting everything that had happened while one was wasted was probably one of the most frustrating things in the world.
KA-CHINK!
Suddenly, Cheong-In took out a dagger hidden near his chest. The crescent moon-shaped, green-glowing dagger was Cheong-Ins signature weapon, the Eclipse Dagger (ذ).
The Secret Moon that Cheong-In belonged to was not a martial sect, but a spy organization. The most relevant skills for its members were those necessary for the collection of information, including disguise, stealth, espionage and infiltration. However, members who possessed only those skills could only belong to the Mortal rank.
In order to protect themselves and defend the ck Moon, all Heaven and Earth rank spies were required to learn martial arts. In particr, members of the Heaven rank were almost as strong as the average murim expert.
I dont know what I said, but those secrets must not leave this room! Cheong-In grit his teeth in determination. Although Jin Mu-Won was a target of special surveince, the value of his life was iparable to that of the ck Moons secrets.
Sword Chi appeared on his Eclipse Dagger.
Punk, prepare yourself! The sin of hearing the ck Moons secrets can only be forgiven by your death!
Youre going to regret this, you know?
I am a member of the Secret Moon, and we never regret our actions!
Cheong-Ins face shone with the light of desperation as he thrust his Eclipse Dagger at Jin Mu-Won.
Kwak Moon-Jung tossed and turned in his bed as shivers ran down his spine and sent his mind reeling. When he finally opened his eyes, he saw Jin Mu-Won standing in front of him holding a a small ceramic bottle.
Hyung?
Youre awake? How do you feel?
Huh? Im fine, but what on earth is? Kwak Moon-Jung looked around the room, befuddled. He was quite sure than he had fallen asleep inside a normal inn room, but right now, not only was freezing wind blowing in through a hole in the wall, there was a groaning stranger lying on the floor.
Moreover, the stranger had ck eyes, lots of bruises on his face, and blood all over his nose and mouth.
What happened? Who is this guy? The smashed-up room indicated that a big fight had just urred, and Kwak Moon-Jung simply couldnt believe that he had slept peacefully throughout the whole chaos.
Jin Mu-Won exined, You were put to sleep using a sedative called the Hundred Daydreams. I heard that once you consume it, you wont ever wake up until you take the antidote.
Okay, then what about that guy?
Jin Mu-Won nodded at Cheong-In, who raised his head and shouted as if on cue, Cough! The Secret Moon will not be humiliated! Just kill me already, damn it!
By now, Cheong-In had realized that Jin Mu-Won was not an opponent he could take down using brute force. His chances of winning were as slim as a dust cloud rising in the middle of a thunderstorm.
As for resisting? Hah, there was no point in him resisting unless his strength was at least on the same level as his opponent.
It was nopetition. Although Cheong-In wasnt weak by murim standards, Jin Mu-Won was something else.
How could such a monster exist? Ive spied on many martial artists, but Ive never seen one like Jin Mu-Won.
To make things worse, Jin Mu-Won had one-sidedly beaten Cheong-In to a pulp without so much as touching Snow Flower. Even Cheong-Ins beloved poisoned weapon, the Eclipse Dagger, had shattered into pieces with one poke from Jin Mu-Wons finger.
Just hurry up and kill me already, you demon!
Is there truly a need for me to personally kill you?
What do you mean?
Even if I do nothing, the ck Moon will not stand still. When they find out that you were the culprit who leaked the information, do you honestly think that they would let you off the hook?
Hmph! They might do that, but it doesnt matter. Illmit suicide long before theye and get me. A spy who cannot keep secrets doesnt deserve to live. I dont know what information you pried from me, but youll get nothing more from me once Im dead.
Jin Mu-Won nodded at Cheong-Ins grim expression and pulled over a chair, asking, Still, do you really need tomit suicide?
Just what are you trying to say?
The ck Moon wants information about me, but I dont want information about the ck Moon.
Huh?
What I want is information about the unusual events in Yunnan and the masterminds behind it all.
Cheong-Ins eyes glittered. Only now did he understand what Jin Mu-Won was getting at.
In that case?
What do you say we form a temporary alliance until we both get what we want?
Footnotes:
Chapter 94: Those Bound By The Cursed Threads Of Fate (3)
TL: FoodieMonster007; ED: TheGreatT20
KUHUHU! The crazed man roared withughter as he repeatedly mmed his head against the metal bars of his cell despite his already cracked and bleeding skull. His eyes were bloodshot, and drool dripped down from his mouth.
Baffled, Tang Gi-Mun eximed, What the hell?
Tang Mi-Ryeo, who was next to him, wore a simrly befuddled expression as she mumbled, This is the murderous lunatic?
Yes, and it took several of our sects experts working together just to capture him alive. Im Soo-kwang replied. In fact, out of the five Tyrant Fist Sect masters mobilized to capture the madman, two were injured.
Right now, the madman was still desperately trying to escape from his cell by mming his broken body against the metal bars, and every time he struck it, they heard an ominous cracking sound.
Tang Gi-Mun observed the madman closely, saying, This is not a normal type of lunacy. He might have caught rabies from being bitten by a dog
Tang Gi-Mun paused and shook his head. Rabies wasnt a disease that could increase the strength of normal humans severalfold.
Regardless, Ill need to give him a physical examination. Can you put him to sleep?
We tried draining his blood to knock him unconscious, but it didnt work.
Hmm! If even draining his blood doesnt calm him down, then that can only mean that there is a problem with his circtory system. Is it caused by poison, after all?
Since every other option had been eliminated, the only cause of the insanity left was poison.
Tang Gi-Mun took a small ceramic bottle out from his chest pocket and tossed it into the madmans cell.
CRACK!
The bottle smashed to pieces, releasing white smoke from within.
Whats that?
Its the poison of the Blood-Forgetting Grass, a nt that only grows in South Africa. Its not particrly lethal, but its highly effective in reducing brain activity, hence inducing sleep.
As Im Soo-Kwang started wondering if Tang Gi-Mun was familiar with every kind of poison in existence. Tang Gi-Mun observed the madman closely to see if his poison had worked.
At first, there was no change in the madmans behavior, but suddenly, just as everyone began to think that the poison hadnt worked after all, the madman stumbled like a drunkard and copsed to the ground.
Tang Gi-Mun and Tang Mi-Ryeo quickly opened the cell door and examined the unconscious madman. Tang Gi-Mun pulled out a wooden box from his chest pocket and opened it, revealing dozens of silver needles. He took out the longest, thickest needle and stabbed it three inches into the madmans chest, causing him to convulse.
Tang Gi-Mun and Tang Mi-Ryeo immediately tensed up, but thankfully, the madman did not wake up.
Tang Gi-Mun pulled out the silver needle and looked at it, saying, Hmm, this is not a normal type of poison.
Most poisons would cause a silver needle to turn ck, but there were some that would not, so Tang Gi-Mun decided to try some other methods of detection. He took out a folded piece of paper filled with white powder, unfolded it, then ced the paper underneath the madmans nose so that he would breathe in the powder.
Off to the side, Im Soo-Kwang looked on with interest, wondering how exactly Tang Gi-Mun, the Tang ns Poison Pavilion Head, was diagnosing the madmans condition. He was quite unfamiliar with poisons, as like many other martial artists, he mostly shunned people who used poisons, thinking of them as underhanded. However, the Tang n was an exception.
Although the Tang n was famous for their violent forms of justice, he rarely heard of them using poison against their enemies. That was because the usage of poison was highly regted within the Tang n, such that it would not be abused.
Unfortunately, inhaling the white powder did not cause a reaction in the madman.
No response, huh? Looks like this is not an animal-derived poison.
How did you know that?
This powder is used to detect only animal poisons.
Does that mean that different techniques are used to detect different kinds of poisons?
Of course. There are three main types of poison: animal poison, nt poison, and mineral poison. Each type of poison can then be further divided into subcategories, for example, animal poisons include insect venom, snake venom etc. This white powder in particr takes advantage of amon characteristic within all animal poisons to distinguish them from other types of poison.
Wow! Im Soo-Kwang eximed, awed by Tang Gi-Muns exnation.
Tang Gi-Mun took out yet another powder packet, but this time, the powder was red. He simrly let the madman inhale the powder, but again, there was no response.
Now for the final test.
Thest type of powder that Tang Gi-Mun made the madman inhale was silver. For a while, there was no change in the madman, but just as a disappointed expression appeared on Im Soo-Kwangs face, the madman opened his eyes and began to convulse.
Im Soo-Kwangs eyes lit up as he asked, Theres a response! Does this mean that mineral poison is the cause of his madness?
No, somethings off Tang Gi-Mun shook his head. In the case of mineral poisoning, the normal reaction to the silver powder was rashes, not convulsions.
KEUAAAACK!
Suddenly, the madman scrambled to his feet and charged at Tang Gi-Mun. Everything happened so quickly that even Im Soo-Kwang, who was standing right next to Tang Gi-Mun, had no time to react.
The madman grabbed onto Tang Gi-Muns shoulders with such force that he felt his muscles being painfully torn apart.
CRACK!
AHHH! Tang Gi-Mun screamed as his shoulders were dislocated, his eyes wide open in shock.
Fuck! Im Soo-Kwang rushed forward to protect Tang Gi-Mun, his mind finally registering the unexpected assault.
D-Dont kill him! Tang Gi-Mun shouted.
In an instant, Im Soo-Kwang adjusted his attack to disable rather than kill, sending a palm strike right into the madmans sr plexus.
BOOM!
Struck by Im Soo-Kwangs pot-lid sized palm, the madman flew backward andnded on his butt.
Phew Tang Gi-Mun heaved a sigh of relief. If Im Soo-Kwang had acted anyter, his arms would likely have been ripped off. As it was, they were just swollen.
Uncle! Are you okay? Tang Mi-Ryeo asked, quickly rushing over to check on Tang Gi-Mun.
Fortunately, it doesnt seem to be a serious injury, but Tang Gi-Mun directed his gaze toward the madman.
GRAAAAAAH! The madman once again pounced at Tang Gi-Mun, but this time, Im Soo-Kwang stood in his way.
Tsk, how dare you! Im Soo-Kwang clicked his tongue.
The madman continued trying to attack Tang Gi-Mun, but couldnt get past the wall that was Im Soo-Kwang. Although he was much stronger than a normal person, there was no way he could take down a martial arts master by striking randomly without any decent techniques.
Tang Gi-Mun observed the fight carefully, frowning while muttering, Could it really be a kind of mineral poison? No, his reaction to the testing agent was far too extreme, and hes too energetic.
Mineral poisons tended to strip a person of their vitality and slowly drain away their life. The madmans symptoms were the exact opposite of that, releasing his physical potential and driving him insane. Not even Tang Gi-Mun had heard of a mineral poison like that before.
Im Soo-Kwang swiftly suppressed the madman by sealing his meridians, causing his body to stiffen like a statue. He then smiled at Tang Gi-Mun and said, You can rx now.
T-That? Suddenly, both Tang Gi-Mun and Tang Mi-Ryeo let out a warning cry.
ck blood spurted out of the madmans orifices, followed by intense convulsions, then stiffening.
What the? Im Soo-Kwang stared confusedly at the madmans body. He was certain that all he had done was seal the madmans movements, not kill him!
Tang Gi-Mun hurriedly examined the madman, then concluded, Hes dead.
What now?
Dont worry, I dont think its your fault. He seems to have died of organ failure caused by unnatural, excessive exertion.
Is this what mineral poison does to a person?
Im not sure either, Tang Gi-Mun sighed. He had been quite confident that he knew everything there was to know about poisons, but the events this time had left him questioning himself.
Please help me carry the corpse inside so I can take a closer look. Ill find out the cause of his madness even if I have to pull an all-nighter.
Alright. Im Soo-Kwang summoned several servants and instructed them to move the corpse to an examination room.
Tang Mi-Ryeo nervously wondered, What the hell is going on here?
I dont know, but whatever is going on, its much more serious than any of us had ever imagined.
Jin Mu-Won sat on the roof of the inn, looking down at the city of Yuxi. No thanks to Cheong-In, he was now fully awake and unable to fall back asleep. Night in Yuxi appeared quiet and peaceful on the surface, but Jin Mu-Won could sense that this was merely the calm before a storm.
Hoo!
SCREECH!
Just as Jin Mu-Won started sighing, Snow Flower cried out, causing him to tighten his grip on the sword. Although he was the one who had made it, he sometimes felt that the sword was alive, but at the same time, he simply couldnt understand why he would have such an irrational thought.
What the hell are you, really?
A cursed sword that only he could touch.
Am I really okay with that?
Jin Mu-Won did not think that Cheong-In was a weak-minded person. However, even then, hed ended up bewitched by Snow Flower into revealing things he never meant to. To make things worse, Cheong-In was an expert martial artist. Jin Mu-Won didnt even want to think about what would happen if a normal person came into contact with Snow Flower.
Moreover, Jin Mu-Won hoped that he was just being paranoid, but Snow Flowers cursed aura seemed to have gotten stronger ever since hed stepped foot into Yunnan.
Is it because youre close to your home?
A long time ago, Hwang Cheol had told him that the ck rock was once worshipped by a tribe, but that tribe had already been annihted by the Tyrant Fist Sect.
After this, Ill need to make time to visit that tribe.
Although Jin Mu-Won could restrain Snow Flower for now, if the swords cursed aura kept getting stronger, he didnt know if he would lose control and cause a terrible disaster.
SCREECH!
Snow Flower cried out again, as if telling him not to worry. Her voice was sweet and soothing, like the voice of a whispering lover.
Just then, the red-dyed eastern sky heralded the break of dawn, and on the streets below, several people started making their way to work.
Merchants?
Despite the sluggish Yuxi economy, the people still had to work in order to put food on the table.
Ah!
Suddenly, an idea popped up in Jin Mu-Wons mind, and he leapt down from the roof.
Chapter 95: Those With Ambition Care Not For Bloodshed And Tears (1)
TL: FoodieMonster007; ED: TheGreatT20
Jin Mu-Won and Kwak Moon-Jung left the inn early in the morning, with Cheong-In trailing behind them.
When they reached the market street, Jin Mu-Won paused and looked around. Although the ce was rather quiet, to the point where one could even call it deserted, some of the shops were still open for business. Still, despite therge varieties of goods disyed on the shelves, few people were buying them, and the merchants appeared gloomy.
As expected, the appearance of the madmen had badly affected Yuxis economy, but at least to Jin Mu-Won, knowing the reason for something did not mean that he could ept things as they were.
With a frown on his face, he resumed walking.
Fuck! How did I, a Heaven-ranked agent of the ck Moon, end up like this Cheong-In grumbled under his breath as he followed Jin Mu-Won.
Not only had he been caught red-handed on a spying mission, he now had to apany Jin Mu-Won. If the ck Moon ever found out about this, he would never be able to bring himself to look them in the eye.
Its all that swords fault. If I hadnt been bewitched by that sword Cheong-Ins eyes drifted toward Snow Flower, which was strapped to Jin Mu-Wons waist. Even now, every time he recalled what Snow Flower had done to him, shivers would run down his spine. Never in his dreams had he thought that he would be hypnotized by a sword one day.
Suddenly, he felt an itch on one side of his face, as if someones eyes were focused on him. Furious, he hollered, Do I look like a caged monkey to you? Why are you staring at me?
Kwak Moon-Jung shrugged as he apologized, S-Sorry, I just thought that it was amazing.
What?
Is that your real face? Kwak Moon-Jung asked. He was genuinely curious about Cheong-Ins appearance. Just yesterday, they spy had worn the face of a teenage waiter, but today, he looked like a middle-aged man in his fifties. He had even grown a whole foot taller and gained a beer belly.
I just cant believe what Im seeing, it doesnt make any sense! He can change his face by wearing a mask, but how on earth did he alter his physique that drastically?
Cheong-In snorted, Hmph!
In an instant, he changed his appearance again. This time, he was a healthy, striking man in his thirties.
Woah! Shocked speechless, Kwak Moon-Jung could only blink his big eyes in wonder.
I sometimes even forget what my real face looks like, so youre better off not asking me that kind of question, Cheong-In smugly said. His nickname wasnt the Ten Steps Ten Transformations (ʮʮ׃) for nothing, as with Kwak Moon-Jungs level of martial arts, seeing through his transformation was impossible.
The real problem is that person! Cheong-In nced at Jin Mu-Won, who immediately sensed his gaze and sent him a look of recognition even though his appearance waspletely different from a moment ago. The worst thing is, I just cant figure out how hes doing it!
Damn it! Even though Im supposed to be a spy, Ive been caught hook, line, and sinker. What kind of fucked up situation is this!?
As they walked, Cheong-In noticed that Jin Mu-Won never, ever bothered checking on him. That pissed him off even more.
Hmph! Hmph! He snorted over and over again. He had been quite confident in his martial arts, right up until Jin Mu-Won trashed him one-sidedly without even drawing his sword.
He narrowed his eyes, sinking into deep thought.
As Branch Manager Mae guessed, hes no ordinary warrior. In this entire murim, the only youngsters who can possibly match him all belong to the Seven Junior Skies.
Despite that, everything about Jin Mu-Won is a mystery. His origins, his martial arts, and his goals are all unknown. Its as if he just fell out of the sky one day, and not even the ck Moon can dig up any information on him.
Regardless, hes the target of our investigation now, and the way of the ck Moon is to keep going until we find out everything there is to know about Jin Mu-Won: his birthce, family, history, personality, right down to his embarrassing moments; well learn them all.
Pfft! Jin Mu-Won failed to stifle hisughter. Cheong-Ins cat-like face when he was lost in thought was just way too funny.
Jerked back to his senses, Cheong-In asked in a confused voice, By the way, what are we doing right now?
For some unknown reason, all they had done since early morning was randomly stroll around the streets of Yuxi. Jin Mu-Won sometimes browsed the goods on disy, but he never bought anything. At first, Cheong-In thought that he simply hadnt found anything he liked, but as time passed, he realized that Jin Mu-Won was purely window shopping.
In truth, Kwak Moon-Jung was wondering the exact same thing. The Jin Mu-Won he knew was not a man who would splurge on luxury goods, and they were already well-stocked up on basic necessities. Still, he hadnt dared bring up the question, because Jin Mu-Won always acted with a purpose in mind, even if that purpose wasnt immediately apparent.
Suddenly, Jin Mu-Won paused and looked at a stall in a corner of the market district. There, an old merchant sold every kind of item imaginable, including goods that normally could only be found in the Central ins.
As he stared closely at the merchants wares, the merchant delightedly asked, See anything you like?
This one, Jin Mu-Won said, picking up an iron sword with antique carvings on the hilt. In his eyes, this was such a well-made sword that he couldnt believe it was being sold at a street market stall.
He pulled out the sword and took a closer look. Unlike the fancy hilt, the de was cracked in multiple ces as if someone had fought with it before. Still, as long as it was repaired, the sword could still be used for a very long time.
The merchant grinned broadly, showing his yellowed teeth, and said, Haha! Youve chosen quite the amazing item indeed! You can have it for three silvers.
Thats too expensive.
Fine then, if you think its too expensive, go somewhere else.
Okay. Jin Mu-Won put the sword back.
However, this only made the merchant cry out in panic, Hey hey hey? Are you just going to leave like that?
Werent you the one who told me to go somewhere else if I thought that the sword was too expensive?
Argh, damn it! Two silvers. I cant go any lower than that.
Ill give you three silvers if you answer my questions.
Questions? The merchants ears perked up.
Where did you get this sword?
Is that important?
Im just curious.
That the merchant hesitated.
Jin Mu-Won reached into his chest pocket and took out more money, saying, If you answer me, Ill give you three more silvers.
That added up to a total of six silvers, twice the original price of the sword. Not understanding why Jin Mu-Won was paying such an exorbitant price for a sword, Cheong-In and Kwak Moon-Jung simply watched him quietly.
For a moment, the merchant stared at the money in Jin Mu-Wons hands, but finally he caved in to his greed and answered, Not long ago, a huge influx of goods appeared on the ck market. That was where I bought this sword.
The ck market?
Yeah, it only opens asionally, but recently, a lot of quality goods started being sold there. Im not the only one buying things from there though, more than half the merchants in Yuxi are guilty of that.
Do you know when the ck market will open again?
Im not sure. Could be tonight, could be a few monthster.
Then, could you tell me where it is held? Jin Mu-Won waggled the silvers in front of the merchant, whose eyes instantly sparkled with greed.
If you head north from here, youll find a road called the ck Tortoise Street (·). The ck market takes ce at the vacant lot at the end of that street.
Thank you. Jin Mu-Won tossed six silvers to the merchant and left, iron sword in hand.
Now that the deal was done, Kwak Moon-Jung couldnt suppress his curiosity anymore, so he asked, Hyung, how could you buy a sword like that for six whole silvers?
Contrary to Kwak Moon-Jungs confusion, though, Cheong-In carefully observed the sword in Jin Mu-Wons hands, having discovered something of note. He muttered, That swordperhaps?
Swords like these are a rare sight in Yunnan.
The warriors of different provinces tended to prefer different weapons, and this was heavily influenced by the regions terrain and climate. For example, thick and heavy dao were a lot moremon in Yunnan than elegant swords due to its extensive forests, which sometimes needed to be cut through.
Even those who used swords in Yunnan, such as the martial artists of the Diancang Sect, chose weapons that were heavier and bnced more toward the hilt than the conventional swords of the Central ins. This made their des a lot more suited to shing and cutting rather than thrusting.
However, the sword that Jin Mu-Won had just bought was clearly not a heavy sword like that.
Cheong-In borrowed the sword from Jin Mu-Won and examined it in detail, saying, I doubt this sword was crafted in Yunnan. Swords here tend to be heavier and shorter.
It was made in the Central ins, probably in a region north of Hunan, Jin Mu-Won added. As an excellent cksmith himself, he could tell what type of iron the de was made from just by flicking it with his finger.
That was because every region had their own iron smelting method, resulting in slight differences in the final materialposition and structure. Most people would never be able to distinguish the origins of a piece of metal, but to a professional-level cksmith, the differences were as clear as day.
As we explored the market district, I noticed many products originating from the Central ins. Isnt that odd? Not many merchant caravans have dared to enter Yunnantely, Jin Mu-Won exined. The discrepancy between the amount of trade goods being imported into Yunnan and the avability of items had bothered him considerably.
Youre quite astute, arent you? Cheong-In couldnt help but exim. The three of them had been walking down the same streets and seeing the same sights, but only Jin Mu-Won was perceptive enough to notice the little anomalies. It was as if they were seeing the world frompletely different perspectives.
Meanwhile, Kwak Moon-Jung, who was clearly out of the loop, nced alternately at Jin Mu-Won and Cheong-In, waiting for an exnation. However, he soon lost his patience andined, Hey, can you two exin all that in a way that I understand?
Cheong-In clicked his tongue in irritation, then replied, Tsk, is that frizzy hair of yours actually hiding a small brain? Use your head. Things that are supposed to be of limited supply in Yunnan have instead appeared inrge quantities. What could that mean?
The stuff has to havee from somewhere, right?
So, where could it havee from? Next time, think before you ask such stupid questions, dumbass.
Wait, are you trying to say that? Kwak Moon-Jung froze. Only now did he realize the implications of Jin Mu-Wons observation.
Its exactly what youre thinking. The people who kidnapped the merchants sold their goods on the ck market. This sword must have belonged to one of the caravan escorts.
Although many people had been mobilized to search for the missing caravans, until now, no one had found any clues on their whereabouts, not even the ck Moon. However, all it had taken Jin Mu-Won was one morning walk in order to uncover a vital clue.
To Cheong-In, that revtion came down like a bolt from the blue. He now had no choice but to see Jin Mu-Won in a new light.
Its not just his martial arts that are amazing, this guys intuition is downright scary.
While most people simply focused on tracking the missing peoples footsteps and searching for traces, Jin Mu-Won had chosen a wholly unconventional approach, and it paid off.
Such an ability wasnt something that could be taught or trained, it was inborn.
It seems that Jin Mu-Won is a much harder person to deal with than I originally thought
SHUDDER!
A sudden shiver ran down Cheong-Ins spine, and a feeling of uneasiness settled in his heart. He doubted that it would go away very soon.
Jin Mu-Won turned toward Cheong-In and wordlessly locked gazes with him.
Cheong-In immediately understood what the young man wanted. Ill take over from now on. Give me an hour to collect all the information avable on the ck market, he offered.
Now that they had a breakthrough in the investigation, the hard part was over. The rest of the information they needed could easily be obtained through the ck Moonswork.
Jin Mu-Wons gaze turned toward the north, where the ck Tortoise Street was.
Finally, Ive gotten one step closer to the bottom of this.
However, unknown to him, the storm was only just beginning.
Chapter 96: Those With Ambition Care Not For Bloodshed And Tears (2)
TL: FoodieMonster007; ED: TheGreatT20
ck markets were ces where illegal goods were traded, and because of the nature of such items, there were no consistent sources of supplies and most such markets only opened sporadically. For this reason, it was safe to say that there were few ways for the general public to ess the ck market unless they knew of it in advance.
Furthermore, due to Yuxis close proximity to Kunming, where mostmon goods could be obtained, it was very unusual for a ck market to open there. However, since the trade routes had been cut offtely, many necessities must have been in short supply, forcing the merchants to seek alternative sources such as the ck market.
As for the merchants themselves, well, since when had merchants cared about the origins of their wares? They were only interested in profit, not always only because of greed, but because that was their bread and butter. It wasnt like most of their customers even knew about the existence of ck markets, anyway.
Late one night, a group of people suddenly appeared in the vacant lot at the end of the ck Tortoise Street, followed by around a dozen wagons. They swiftly unloaded the contents of the wagons onto the ground, and when they were done, a horde of merchants suddenly swarmed into the lot as if they had mutually agreed upon a starting time beforehand.
The merchants carefully appraised the goods on disy, which included silks, ceramics, medicinal herbs, weapons etc. If there was one thing inmon about all these items, it was that none of them were easy to obtain in Yunnan.
The group organizing the ck market this time did not interact much with the merchants, instead choosing to stand off to the side, whispering softly to each other.
Some timeter, the merchants gathered around the middle of the lot. From previous experiences, they knew that the haggling and auctioning was just about to begin.
A man who appeared to be the leader of the ck market organizers stepped forward, and all eyes fell upon him as he announced, Im sure you lot have finished appraising everything and have concluded that nothing is defective. The prices of the goods are the same asst time. Now,e forward one at a time to finish the transaction.
The merchants immediately formed a line, causing a smallmotion in the process as they jostled each other around. One particrly short merchant among them then asked the organizer, Are you absolutely sure that these goods are not defective? What if theres a problem
Its entirely up to you whether you want to buy stuff or not, because there are a lot of people lining up behind you.
Looks like you cant guarantee anything, huh.
Tired of answering the merchants incessant questions, the organizer instead released a powerful killing aura and threatened, No more questions.
Im not asking anything veryplicated, am I? Were also taking big risks here, you know.
And I already told you, you dont have to buy anything if you dont like it.
Youre avoiding all my questions. As expected, these goods werent acquired legally, were they?
In an instant, the organizers killing intent intensified, and his eyes shed red.
Who are you? he demanded.
In the face of the ck market organizers intimidation, the short merchant only grinned and shot back, Im the one who should be asking you that question. Who are you?
Youre no ordinary merchant.
And neither are you.
Even in the face of the ck market organizers disy of power, the short merchant remained calm. However, this only served to provoke the organizer further.
One after another, the remaining organizers rallied around their leader and released their own killing auras. Sensing that there was trouble, the other merchants quickly took several steps back, trying to retreat out of the conflict zone.
The short merchant continued grinning broadly at the leader.
SHIIING!
The organizers drew their weapons, but still, the short merchant was not intimidated, instead folding his arms and watching them with a look of amusement.
Huh? Is he Nah, no way, thought the leader, before shouting, Kill them all and erase all traces of our presence here today!
Yes Sir!
The armed men immediatelyunched themselves at the merchants.
UWAAAH!
HEEEELLLP!
The merchants screamed and tried to run away, but the men chased after them and cut them down. The empty lot quickly descended into pandemonium as more and more blood was sttered. It was a scene straight out of hell, but the short merchant who provoked the ck market organizers never even batted an eye.
SWISH!
Die! The lead organizer thrust his sword at the short merchant, who raised a hand to block it.
CLANG!
The lead organizers eyes widened with shock, feeling the recoil from his attack. The merchant had stopped his de with his bare hands!
You?
Hahaha! the merchantughed, rubbing a thin film off his face and revealing apletely different appearance. His skin was so pale that it was as if it never saw the sun, his lips were as red as blood, and his eyes as cold as a snakes.
A mask? The lead organizers eyes trembled, not because the merchant was in disguise, but because his true appearance was too rming.
The pale-skinned man grinned coldly, saying, Ive finally caught you in the act, you damn slippery rats.
Who are you?
Yul Gyeong-Cheon.
Youre from the Blizzard Squad!
The lead organizer, whose name was Yoon Moon-Cheon, shuddered and looked around hurriedly. As expected, another twenty men in white armor had appeared out of nowhere and were surrounding the ck market.
The Blizzard Squad was a military organization directly serving Jo Cheon-Woo, the Sect Leader of the Tyrant Fist Sect. They were in charge of taking care of all the shady jobs, and answered only to Jo Cheon-Woo and Yeop Pyung.1
Moreover, the squad consisted entirely of peak-level experts who had undergone rigorous training to improve their coordination, so much so that they could understand each others intentions with a mere exchange of nces. However, they were also extremely cruel, and for the sake of their mission, they would murder even helpless women and children.
It was thus rumored that wherever the Blizzard Squad passed though, not even an ant would be left alive. They were an object of fear for anyone who knew of their existence.
And Yul Gyeong-Cheon, the Heinous Squad Leader, was the captain of the Blizzard Squad as well as a merciless warrior with a slew of aplishments.
Although Yoon Moon-Cheon was quite confident in his own abilities, he didnt think that he would be a match for Yul Gyeong-Cheon. He quickly retreated backward, shouting, Damn it!
However, Yul Gyeong-Cheon wasnt about to let him escape.
What makes you think that you can get away?
SWISH!
Yul Gyeong-Cheons clothes pped loudly as he charged at Yoon Moon-Cheon, catching up with him in an instant. No matter how fast one retreated backward, they would never match the speed of someone running forward.
Keuk! Yoon Moon-Cheon swung his sword at Yul Gyeong-Cheons neck in desperation.
SWOOSH!
Despite the sword darting at him like a venomous snake, Yul Gyeong-Cheon did not panic. Instead, he simply reached out with a white-gloved hand and grabbed the de. He trusted that his gloves, which were made of Heavenly Silk, would not be damaged by a normal de.
He then tightened his grip around the de, snapping it in half.
Fuck! Yoon Moon-Cheon immediately tossed aside his broken sword and swung his fist at Yul Gyeong-Cheon, but Yul Gyeong-Cheons next palm strike mmed into his chest before his mind even registered it.
BAM!
Ugh! Yoon Moon-Cheon fell to the ground, rolling. He struggled to stand up, but for some reason, he couldnt summon any strength into his arms and legs.
In a mocking tone, Yul Gyeong-Cheon said, Dont bother trying to get up. When a person gets hit by my Void Palm (վ), theyll lose control of their muscles.
Yoon Moon-Cheon quickly looked around him for help, but at some point, all of his men had been subdued by the Blizzard Squad, causing the lot to fall into silence. Sigh, as expected of the infamous Blizzard Squad
KUHEOK!
Suddenly, one of the subdued ck market organizers threw up blood and copsed onto the ground.
He took poison! Restrain their movements! one of the Blizzard Squad members shouted, but it was already toote. All of the organizers faces had turned ck, and they were on the verge of death. The poison they had taken was fast and lethal.
No way? Yul Gyeong-Cheon immediately turned toward Yoon Moon-Cheon.
WHOOSH!
The sound of something piercing through the air stung Yul Gyeong-Cheons ears and he instinctively ducked in response, narrowly dodging an arrow aimed at his head.
Who is it? he shouted, drawing the dao at his waist, but the only reply he got came in the form of three more arrows.
CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!
He swung his dao and cut down all the arrows, but he was not happy.
How dare you!
Yoon Moon-Cheon was gone. Within the short time he was distracted, someone had whisked the man away. He instantly gave chase, growling through gritted teeth, Do you think you can escape from me?
Yul Gyeong-Cheon tore through the dark streets of Yuxi, the Blizzard Squad trailing right behind him. It was the dead of night, and these wolves were now on the hunt.
Meanwhile, the vacant lot where the ck market had been fell into silence. Most of the merchants who had gotten embroiled in the fight nowy motionless on the ground, dead or dying, and everyst one of the ck market organizers had alsomitted suicide. The sight was reminiscent of a ughterhouse, but all of the dead were human beings.
Whoa, what a mess! Its a total massacre, a skinny man in his twenties said, shaking his head.
The skinny man was, naturally, Cheong-In. All the way here, Kwak Moon-Jung had found himself constantly annoyed by the spys constantly changing faces. Just how many times does he change his face in one day? he wondered.
However, the bloody scene at the lot quickly caught his and Jin Mu-Wons attention. It was a painting of hell.
Jin Mu-Won grimly surveyed their surroundings. Neither the ck market organizers nor the Blizzard Squad had given the merchants safety any consideration, but as far as he could tell, more of the merchants had actually been in by the Blizzard Squad than the ck market organizers.
Cheong-In looked at Jin Mu-Won apologetically. He felt rather guilty about the situation, as the massacre might have been prevented had he been able to obtain information on the ck market faster.
What now? I think were a step toote, he asked.
Instead of answering, Jin Mu-Won simply picked up one of the arrows that had been fired at Yul Gyeong-Cheon. It bore a striking simrity to the ones that had been shot at him not too long ago.
Its the Crimson Ghost Corps.
The Crimson Ghost Corps? Cheong-In asked. He had never heard of such a group before.
Hmm Huh? Hey?! He was just about to ask Jin Mu-Won for more details, when the young man abruptly dashed off into the darkness, leaving him and Kwak Moon-Jung no choice but to run after the young man.
Damn it! Hey, is it so hard to exin something to us clueless folks here before we dive right into something?
Trantors Notes: Murim authors like cheon in names way too much, sigh Then again, Chinese authors like tian which is the same thing, all meaning heaven/sky. Heavenly EVERYTHING! Heavenly Sword, Heavenly Alliance, Heavenly Demon, Great Sage Equal to Heaven
Footnotes:
Chapter 97: Those With Ambition Care Not For Bloodshed And Tears (3)
TL: FoodieMonster007; ED: TheGreatT20
Most religious institutions were located deep in the mountains or far away from popted cities and towns, as this made it easier for the ascetics to abstain from worldly temptations. However, the Nine Dragons Temple () was located in the Yuxi city center, and was famous for their grand thirteen-story stone pagoda, known as the Nine Dragons Pagoda.
If one climbed to the top of the Nine Dragons Pagoda, one would be able to take in the sights of the whole of Yuxi. For that reason, it was a must-visit tourist attraction for any new visitor to the city.
Normally, the Nine Dragons Pagoda would be crammed with traveling pilgrims and curious tourists, but right now, the usual crowds had been reced by arge band of martial artists.
One of those martial artists stood on the roof, looking down at Yuxi. He was a short, slightly hunchbacked man with amon, unremarkable face. However, anyone who knew who he truly was would never describe him as ordinary.
He was Yeop Pyung, themander of the Eye of Heaven and closest aide of Jo Cheon-Woo, the Sect Leader of the Tyrant Fist Sect.
The cacophony in the city constantly assaulted his ears, interspersed with the shrill shrieks of people ripping through the deathly silence of the night. The streetmps had been lit up even though it was long past bedtime, and the hunt for the people behind the ck market was in full swing.
It had all begun when the Blizzard Squad tracked down Yoon Moon-Cheon. That ruthless group had then spared no effort in going after him, destroying everything that stood in their way. Unfortunately, their enemy was also not to be underestimated.
Random assassins dressed as civilians started to appear all over the city. One moment, an olddy would throw a hidden weapon, and the next, a housewife wouldunch a surprise attack with a kitchen knife. Unable to distinguish between normal people and assassins, the Blizzard Squads actions became greatly hampered, and several of their members had even fallen prey to the assassins.
However, this did not stop the Blizzard Squad. They simply deemed anyone they saw as an enemy, ughtering even innocent civilians in their heated pursuit. They smashed any building in their path, and murdered the people in their beds.
As a result, it wasnt long before the whole of Yuxi had descended into chaos.
Yeop Pyung emotionlessly watched all of that happen from the roof of the Nine Dragons Pagoda. Innocents were dying by the hundreds, but he didnt give a crap about them. Punishing the ones who had dared to scheme against the Tyrant Fist Sect was much more important.
After all, the Tyrant Fist Sect was the party that had suffered the most with the disappearance of the merchant caravans, and it wasnt simply limited to economic damage. The loss of trust and reputation among their clients were going to affect them for many years toe.
To make things worse, the ongoing situation had given Heavens Summit an excuse to intervene in the affairs of Yunnan, thend they had received in exchange for betraying the Northern Army. Although they had indeed worked with Heavens Summit before, the truth remained that every faction only ever operated ording to its own interests, and a conflict would inevitably arise someday.
That was why thus far, Jo Cheon-Woo had done his best to prevent Heavens Summits interference. However, as more and more merchant caravans disappeared and he failed to produce any results on the investigation, all of his hard work turned out to be for naught.
Therefore, when he heard that Heavens Summit was sending an investigation team to Yunnan, he immediately ordered Yeop Pyung, Track down the culprits and eliminate them at any cost. We need to resolve this whole problem before Heavens Summit shows up.
As Jo Cheon-Woo emphasized, he wanted the culprits caught at any cost. In other words, as long as the deed was done, he did not care how many innocents died in the process.
Yeop Pyung immediately intensified his efforts, but searching for a hidden enemy was hardly a straightforward task, and this enemy, in particr, seemed very experienced at erasing their traces. As a result, even though he had easily identified Yuxi as the enemys base of operations, from that point on, his investigation progress hade to aplete standstill.
To him, that could only mean one thing.
Theyve got a lot of aplices in Yuxi helping them cover up their movements.
Unfortunately, not even Yeop Pyung could estimate just how many aplices there were. It could be only a few people, or it could be hundreds. In the end, he settled on reporting his findings and conjectures to Jo Cheon-Woo and letting his master make the final decisions.
Not surprisingly, Jo Cheon-Woo was infuriated.
Eradicate everyone involved in shady activities and their aplices, even if you have to wipe Yuxi off the map, he said.
As ordered, Yeop Pyung began looking into all shady activities taking ce within Yuxi, and like Jin Mu-Won, he soon noticed the unusually frequent ck market activity. Further investigation revealed that the goods sold at the ck market matched up with the ones the missing merchants were transporting.
Now that he had a lead, the hunt could finallymence. All he had left to do was punish the ones who dared challenge the authority of the Tyrant Fist Sect.
Yeop Pyung turned around to face a group of warriors dressed all in ck. They were the undercover warriors that the Tyrant Fist Sect had secretly brought into Yuxi and gathered at the Nine Dragons Temple. In order to keep their existence under wraps, not even Jo Un-Kyung, the Young Master of the Tyrant Fist Sect, was informed about them.
Lets get started.
Yes Sir!
The warriors split up into small teams and quickly scattered all over Yuxi.
Yeop Pyung watched them go, mumbling to himself, All will be as my Liege wishes.
That day, a rain of blood fell over Yuxi.
Im Soo-Kwang sat cross-legged, working on his favored weapon, the Silver-Scaled Gauntlets regr maintenance. Like its name suggested, the Silver-Scaled Gauntlets (y[ϻ) was made by forging Tempered Darksteel (ī) into chainmail, resulting in durabilityparable to a renowned sword while at the same time enhancing the power of his fist techniques.
Once Im Soo-Kwang had his gauntlets on, he was confident that except for Jo Cheon-Woo, few people in the Tyrant Fist Sect could defeat him. However, he also rarely wore his gauntlets, because even without them, most people were no match for him.
Normally, he was most rxed when maintaining the Silver-Scaled Gauntlets. The work was like meditation to him; a means ofmunicating and improving his synergy with his weapon. Right now, though, he couldnt shake off the feeling that hed missed something really important.
Sigh! I just cant calm down.
When did this restlessness start? Was it when I entered Yuxi? Noit started right after I met the man named Jin Mu-Won!
Jin Mu-Won.
That was a name deeply associated with his inner demons.
At first, Im Soo-Kwang had tried not to think too hard as Jin Mu-Won wasnt exactly an umon name. However, the harder he tried to ignore it, the more it bothered him.
It cant be. Hes dead. Even Heavens Summit concluded that hes dead. So why
Why do I keep feeling this tightness in my chest?
Im Soo-Kwang recalled Jin Mu-Wons face. The young mans deep-seated eyes, pursed lips, and chiseled facial features were nothing like the boy in his memories.
Still, he wavered. The Northern Army had disbanded more than a decade ago, and his memories of the people back then had faded with the passing of time.
That made him all the more frustrated.
Hoo he sighed again.
When he had first left the Northern Army for the Central ins, he hadnt regretted his decision at all. Rather, hed felt like he had been freed from his chains and could now chase his heroic ambitions.
However, ten years from then, that sense of freedom was long gone, reced by a heavy weight on his conscience. Jo Cheon-Woo, the liege lord he followed, had changed a lot since then. Where once his liege had possessed a sense of justice and spirit of brotherhood, now all he wished for was authority and strength.
Im Soo-Kwang was increasingly disgusted by Jo Cheon-Woos behavior, and that did not escape Jo Cheon-Woos notice. As a result, Jo Cheon-Woo assigned him to an insignificant post to keep him at arms length.
That suited Im Soo-Kwang perfectly. Hed even volunteered himself to escort Tang Gi-Mun just so he could get away from Jo Cheon-Woo for a short time.
Im Soo-Kwang mulled over his meeting with Jin Mu-Won again, but as far as he could tell, the young mans eyes betrayed no emotion whatsoever, neither resentment nor the curiosity of a stranger. That made him all the more confused.
Is it really him? At least, I hope its him.
He closed his eyes in contemtion. He wanted to know the truth. The guilt and anxiety were tearing him apart and making his head hurt.
Suddenly, a familiar voice cried out from outside the room, Elder!
Who is it?
Im Song Kyung.
Song Kyung was a young warrior of the Tyrant Fist Sect who had been dispatched together with him.
Did something happen?
Yes. Pleasee out now and take a look.
Sensing the urgency in Song Kyungs voice, Im Soo-Kwang rose from his seat and left his room. The moment he opened the door, he was greeted by the young warriors panicked face.
Whats going on? he asked.
A big incident!
What kind of incident? Im Soo-Kwang raised an eyebrow.
Many unidentified warriors have engaged in a chase fight in the middle of the city, and theyve already killed many innocent civilians.
What do you mean, unidentified warriors?
As far as Im Soo-Kwang knew, there were no murim factions or sects that the Tyrant Fist Sect wasnt aware of in Yuxi, which was part of their territory.
Could it be rted to the madmen? If so, we need to go take a look.
Yes Sir!
The two men quickly rushed out of the Clear Moon Vi1 and onto the streets of Yuxi.
Eh?! Im Soo-Kwang gasped in shock and horror.
The street, which had been in pristine condition just the day before, nowy in ruins. Buildings everywhere had copsed, and the ground was littered with dead bodies. On closer inspection, he could see that blood was still flowing from the sh wounds on the corpses, proof that they had only been killed moments before.
Just who would do this?
Im Soo-Kwangs face flushed with murderous rage. He put on his Silver-Scaled Gauntlets, turned to Song Kyung, andmanded, Protect Master Tang for me.
What about you, Elder?
Im going after the murderers. Remember, Master Tang must not meet any harm even at the cost of your own life.
Yes Sir! Song Kyung replied determinedly.
Im Soo-Kwang activated his foot technique and dashed after the murderers, following the traces they had left behind. As he flew past the streets, his face hardened at the sheer inhumanity and brutality of it all.
Everywhere he went, the streets were a painting of hell. Countless peopley on the ground, dead or severely injured. Although there were several armed warriors among the victims, most appeared to be innocent civilians.
WAAAH! Mama, mama, please wake up! screamed a child clinging onto his fallen mother.
The heart-wrenching cry pierced Im Soo-Kwangs ears like a dagger being stabbed into his heart. He immediately picked up the pace, growling, Unforgivable. Absolutely unforgivable!
Suddenly, he saw a warrior in ck cut down another man.
STOP! he yelled,unching himself at the warrior in ck.
Surprised, the warrior in ck tried to take a step back, but he was too slow.
Im Soo-Kwang closed in on the warrior in ck and unleashed the Unseen Palm of the Silver Dragon (yoӰ), one of the techniques that had earned him the alias, Eight-Armed Divine General (˱).
The warrior in ck swung his de in an attempt to block Im Soo-Kwangs palm technique, but it wasnt enough.
CRACK! CRASH!
Im Soo-Kwang shattered the warriors sword, struck him in the abdomen, and sent him flying.
Who are you people? Im Soo-Kwang shouted, grabbing the still-struggling warrior by the cor.
Keuk! The warrior coughed up blood.
Im Soo-Kwang stared hard at the warriors face. It was covered in blood, but the facial features were still discernable. Im Soo-Kwangs eyes slowly widened in recognition.
The warrior moaned, Elder Im
YoureJang Oh of the Iron Spirit Squad (F`)? What are you doing here?
Jang Ohs face paled. I was just obeying the Sect Leaders orders, he replied.
The Sect Leader? Are you telling me that the Sect Leader ordered the Iron Spirit Squad to conduct a massacre?
Not only us. The Blizzard and Imperious Squads have also been mobilized.
Those are the three squads directly under Jo Cheon-Woo. I know several of their members, but even I am not privy to their activities, thought Im Soo-Kwang, before asking, Why is he doing this?
Weve confirmed that our enemies are hiding in this city, posing as civilians, so he dispatched us here to kill them all.
Then, why are you killing innocent people as well?
Our top priority is killing all the enemies. To ensure that we get all of them and send them a stern warning not to mess with the Tyrant Fist Sect, the Sect Leader ordered us to ughter everything that moves in Yuxi.
HES OUT OF HIS FUCKING MIND!
Im Soo-Kwang stiffened. More than anyone else, he understood Jo Cheon-Woos barbaric, uncouth behavior. However, he never once thought that the man would stoop so low.
Even though he was still bleeding profusely, Jang Oh suddenly pleaded, Elder, please dont involve yourself in this. Our Sect is risking our future for the sess of this operation.
Innocent people are dying! By your hands!
Everything I do is for the sake of our Sect.
ENOUGH, YOU DAMN PUNK! Im Soo-Kwangs deafening roar echoed through the city, causing Jang Ohs face to turn even paler.
He then looked up at the sky,menting, Sect Leader, just what are you thinking? Is this really what you want?
Footnotes:
Chapter 98: The Master Of Swords (1)
TL: FoodieMonster007; ED: TheGreatT20
The vice-captain of the Blizzard Squad, Kang Joo-Myung, was Captain Yul Gyeong-Cheons confidant and a martial arts master recognized by the Tyrant Fist Sect. He had a petty and cruel personality, which,bined with the twin short spears he wielded, brought terror to anyone who faced him.
How dare you oppose the Tyrant Fist Sect! he said, thrusting a spear through the hearts of two enemy warriors and then tossing them aside like skewered meat.
Blood sttered all over the ground. Someone screamed, but Kang Joo-Myung ignored them. He, and the rest of the Blizzard Squad, had a mission toplete C To track down and exterminate all of the Tyrant Fist Sects enemies.
For once, he didnt have to care about how many people died in the process, or if any civilians got caught up in the fighting. It was great. There didnt exist a single martial artist who didnt suffer from the urge to show off their power and prove their strength, and he was no exception. It was a natural result of learning how to fight.
AHHHHH!
Several more people died, caught in his spear technique. Some of them were enemies trying to protect Yoon Moon-Cheon, but the others were simply unfortunate civilians who happened to be nearby.
KYAAAAA!
A few witnesses fell to their knees and shit their pants. They had never seen such a grisly sight in their lives and could only stare nkly at Kang Joo-Myung, aghast at his violence and cruelty.
Kang Joo-Myung grinned happily at them. As expected, he was on a different level from these weaklings. The fear on their faces as they looked at him stoked his sense of superiority.
Yes, continue looking at me like that. That look suits pathetic bugs like you perfectly. Hahaha!
Youre crazy! shouted one of the warriors protecting Yoon Moon-Cheon. The sight of Kang Joo-Myung going berserk made even them hesitate. Never in their wildest dreams had they imagined that the Tyrant Fist Sect would indiscriminately attack everyone, including innocent civilians, just to hunt all of them down.
The Blizzard Squad was indeed strong. However, the traits that really made them fearsome were their persistence and ruthlessness.
It wasnt hard to see why the Tyrant Fist Sect valued their continued existence. They were essential not only for killing the enemy, but for maintaining discipline within the Sect.
Heehee! Now, shall we get things started? Kang Joo-Myungughed and flipped over one of his spears.
CLICK!
With the sound of metal interlocking, the two short spearsbined into one long double-ended spear. Kang Joo-Myung then leapt forward, swinging his weapon like a maniac. Anyone in his path was sliced horizontally in half, sshing blood and spilling intestines all over. The agonizing screams of his victims, who hadnt died immediately, reverberated through the streets.
SWOOSH!
Suddenly, a huge sky piercer halberd tore through the air toward Kang Joo-Myung, forcing him to block the attack with his long spear.
CLANG!
Gah!
The impact of the blow pushed Kang Joo-Myung backward and caused blood to trickle down from his lips. He wiped his mouth with his sleeve and red at the new arrival, asking, Who are you?
Kukuku! Im a nutcase, same as you, Nam Goon-Wi replied, a faint smile on his face. In his hands, he held a gigantic sky piercer halberd. Perhaps because it had been repaired in a hurry, the traces of having previously been split in half by Jin Mu-Won were still visible on the shaft.
Kang Joo-Myung eyed Nam Goon-Wi cautiously. His instincts told him that Nam Goon-Wi was a dangerous man.
I asked you who you were.
Is that important? Heehee!
I see. Youre right, it doesnt matter at all.
Kang Joo-Myung pointed his spear at Nam Goon-Wi. The man was right; it didnt matter where he came from, only that they were enemies, and that they were about to cross swords in a life-or-death match.
Might was right, after all, and history was written by the victors.
YAAAAH! Kang Joo-Myung roared, thrusting his spear forward like a needle threading through air, creating a void in its path.
Hahaha! Good one! Nam Goon-Wi chuckled, feeling his hands tremble from meeting the force of Kang Joo-Myungs attack.
He recalled what Geum Dan-Yeop had told him right before he left.
Nam Goon-Wis eyes glistened with the light of madness.
Like you said, I will paint this city red with blood. Heeheehee!
ROAR!
He swung his sky piercer halberd and drew a ming dragon with his qi. That was the form of his technique, the True zing Halberd of the Fire Dragon (w).
This is it, the unfolding of the final battle!
BOOM! CRASH!
The fire dragon swallowed Kang Joo-Myung whole, but it didnt stop there. It went on and destroyed several buildings behind the Tyrant Fist Sect warrior.
UGHAAAAAAH! Kang Joo-Myungs shriek of pain rattled the city.
Hahaha! Nam Goon-Wi looked aroundughing, his eyes still shining with excitement.
All around him, the Blizzard Squad members who had been chasing Yoon Moon-Cheon could be seen fighting with the red armored warriors of the Crimson Ghost Corps.
The screams of people in pain rang out over and over in a cacophony that disturbed the silence of the night. Civilian housing was either burning ory in ruins, and themonfolk desperately ran away from the city, trying their hardest to avoid anyone who looked like a warrior.
However, even then, countless civilians were killed by stray blows from martial artists who couldnt care less about them.
It was a sh between two groups of savage lunatics.
How did things end up like this? Cheong-In gasped, forcing his trembling legs to move. Although he was an experienced ck Moon agent who had traveled all over the world, this was his first time in hell. Children who had lost their parents were bawling their eyes out, and people who had been mauled by stray sword chiy on the ground, slowly bleeding to death.
This is too cruel, Kwak Moon-Jung whispered, tears flowing down his cheeks. He had chosen to follow Jin Mu-Won in order to grow into a strong-hearted warrior, but the determination in his adolescent heart was crumbling in the face of this appalling scene.
Something dark flickered in Jin Mu-Wons eyes. Unlike the other two, he appeared calm on the surface, but in truth, his emotions were raging unchecked.
Most of the people living in Yuxi were ordinary civilians who had never learned any martial arts. Even though their lives asionally ovepped with gangho people, martial artists and civilians basically lived in two different worlds.
Yet now, these ordinary folks lives were falling apart because of martial artists.
They had lost their homes, their lives, their families, and their wills to live.
Despite their lives being threatened, these people had nowhere to go besides the city they lived in. All the survivors could do was randomly wander around the remains of their homes.
The lost looks on their faces resonated strongly with Jin Mu-Won, reminding him of a time long past. He followed the trail of the battle, but the blood on the streets felt like shackles on his feet, weighing down his every footstep.
Is this really the work of murim warriors? Its aplete vition of gangho etiquette!
Even during the war with the Silent Night where there were numerous casualties, there was an implicit agreement between both sides to avoid fighting near ces where civilians lived. As a result, most of the people who died were murim warriors, and as everyone was fighting for their ideals, no one thought of these deaths as unjust.
What was happening now was the very opposite of that.
As the three got closer to the central battleground, the extent of destruction worsened significantly. Unable to stomach the nightmarish scene, Cheong-In and Kwak Moon-Jung tried their hardest not to look around.
However, they were suddenly osted by a group of men.
Who are you people? one of the men asked. He and the other warriors with him belonged to the Tyrant Fist Sect, and their hands were all soaked in blood.
Jin Mu-Won examined the mans face closely and asked back, And who are you people?
Youre not going to answer that, huh. Then, are you the ones behind all this?
Were the ones asking questions here.
Are you so ashamed of your deeds that you cant even tell me who you are?
Jin Mu-Wons insult must have hit a nerve, because the men were livid.
You, how dare you insult the Tyrant Fist Sect!
Jin Mu-Won narrowed his eyes and nodded, saying, I knew it. You guys belong to the Tyrant Fist Sect.
The men flinched. Jin Mu-Won had tricked them into revealing their affiliation. Still, now that the truth was out, they needed to deal with it. They closed in on Jin Mu-Won, saying, You know too much already.
Although these men were unarmed, the auras radiating from their bodies werent trivial.
Jin Mu-Won nced at their callused hands and noticed cracks running through them like the shell of a turtle and blue-stained nails. Those were the hallmarks of the Blue Stained Sun Moon Fist (iȭ), one of the martial arts belonging to the Northern Army as well as the only martial art in the world that turned ones nails blue.
The Blue Stained Sun Moon Fist was created during the height of the war with the Silent Night for the sole purpose of creating experts quickly and efficiently. To learn it, one not only needed the meditation method, but also a special medicine made up of several dozen different poisons. This medicine would be absorbed through the skin of a practitioners hands, causing their fists to be harder than steel.
Unfortunately, although the Blue Stained Sun Moon Fist gave one immense strength on the battlefield, it possessed a fatal w. As time passed, the toxins absorbed into the hands would gradually diffuse into the brain, driving the practitioner insane or making them invalid.
In the end, there were only two possible endings for practitioners of the martial art: 1) death on the battlefield, or 2) death by mental degeneration.
Furthermore, if simply going insane wasnt bad enough, quite a number of these crazed people had even wound up indiscriminately ughtering their ownrades. For that reason, the Northern Army had first tried to refine the Blue Stained Sun Moon Fist and remove its ws, but they eventually gave up and deemed it a forbidden art. As such, it soon faded into obscurity.
Was there really a need to go to such lengths to satisfy your ambition, Uncle?
Jin Mu-Won knew that Jo Cheon-Woo understood full well the side effects of the Blue Stained Sun Moon Fist. However, he had still chosen to teach it to his subordinates. That could only mean that all the man cared about was making a lot of effective killing machines.
Die, punk!
The Tyrant Fist Sect warriors charged forward, splitting themselves up into three groups to attack Jin Mu-Won, Cheong-In and Kwak Moon-Jung.
Damn it! Cheong-In cursed, drawing his dagger to defend himself. Simrly, Kwak Moon-Jung pulled out his greatsword, Crimson Fang.
CLANG! BAM!
The twos steel weapons collided with the warriors fists, sending sparks flying as if those hands were made of metal rather than flesh and blood.
At the same time, three of the warriors set Jin Mu-Won as their target.
WHOOSH!
A flurry of fists appeared in front of Jin Mu-Won, every single one of them aimed at his vitals. It was only the beginning of the fight, but the warriors were already going all out and using their most powerful techniques.
For the first time, Jin Mu-Wons eyes shed with killing intent. No matter how hard he tried to suppress his resentment and pretended to be nonchnt, there was only so much he could do to quell the wrath and indignation that had built up over the years.
Those were the chains of hatred that he needed to break free from.
I wonder if this is fate?
Are you so scared that youre talking nonsense, brat? one of the warriorsughed.
Jin Mu-Won tightened his grip on Snow Flower. These people have no pride or honor.
As the Tyrant Fist Sect warriors fists crashed down upon him like a tsunami, Snow Flower drew a graceful arc in the air.
SCREEEE!
And then there was silence.
Even the Tyrant Fist Sect warriors attacking Cheong-In and Kwak Moon-Jung had frozen in their footsteps, blinking stupidly. For some reason, they felt unsettled.
KA-CHINK!
Jin Mu-Won sheathed Snow Flower and casually strode between the warriors who had attacked him.
THUD! THUNK! CRASH!
One by one, the warriors copsed like flies. It was surreal. Seeing theirrades fall so easily in battle, the other Tyrant Fist Sect warriors unconsciously held their breaths in dread.
A new storm had begun to rage through the battlefield.
A storm named Jin Mu-Won.
Chapter 99: The Master Of Swords (2)
TL: FoodieMonster007; ED: TheGreatT20
Geum Dan-Yeop stood alone in a dark room lit only by the faint glow of a luminescent pearl, staring coldly at the thing in the opposite corner.
Wheezewheeze The thing panted,1 mming its head against the wall over and over again.
Im not going to apologize for doing this to you, Geum Dan-Yeop mumbled to himself.
Suddenly, someone entered the room and kneeled down, saying, My Liege!
It was Yoon Moon-Cheon, the leader of the ck-market organizers. After being pursued by the Blizzard Squad, he was covered in blood and sweat from head to toe.
Hello, Administrator Yoon.
I have returned, my Liege.
Youve had it hard. Good work.
I dont deserve your praise, my Liege. I only did what I must. Yoon Moon-Cheon kowtowed, smacking his head against the floor until his forehead was bleeding, but he didnt mind the pain. Finally, he lifted his head and looked at Geum Dan-Yeop, his eyes brimming with reverence.
My heart weeps for you and your men. It was cruel of me to send you to your deaths.
Please dont apologize. We willingly chose to do what we did. Your will is our will, my Liege. You are the only one who can wake the sleeping Silent Night. We are plenty satisfied if we could contribute to your cause by sacrificing ourselves.
Administrator Yoon
My Liege, although Squad Leader Nam is currently engaging the Tyrant Fist Sect in battle, there are too many of them. Please leave this ce before they arrive.
Geum Dan-Yeop smiled sadly, then replied, I will not run away.
My Liege!
In truth, I have kept something hidden from all of you. Regardless of what we do, the Silent Night will not get involved. They no longer have the motivation to do so.
The Silent Night had long since lost its drive for domination, and Geum Dan-Yeop understood this fact more clearly than anyone else.
But, if they knew of my Lieges ns
Simply knowing is not enough. What they need is a violent wake up call. Only then will the Four Great Demon Lords, including the Witch of the White Night, take action. And the moment they do, is when the Silent Night truly reawakens.
My Liege!
Now you know why I absolutely cannot run away, no matter what anyone says. As the one who came up with this n, I am also responsible for seeing it through.
ROAR!
Suddenly, a powerful aura gushed out from Geum Dan-Yeops body, causing even the walls to rattle. Administrator Yoon! hemanded.
Yes, my Liege.
Prepare to greet our guests.
Understood.
And one more thing
Yes?
No, its nothing. You can go now.
Yes, my Liege, Yoon Moon-Cheon said, before stepping out of the room.
Geum Dan-Yeops gaze turned toward the direction of the groaning sounds.
Jin Mu-Won he whispered to himself.
Although he had only met the man once, Jin Mu-Won had left a very strong impression on him. He was the one and only person who had responded to his Thousand Mile Soul Melody. Geum Dan-Yeop felt that if the two of them had met under different circumstances, they would surely have be the best of friends. Unfortunately, that was not to be.
My role is to summon an era of chaos.
Only the devastation created by an era of chaos could wake the Silent Night. However, to start that era, a lot of people needed to die.
Are you sure this is the ce? Yeop Pyung asked, looking up at a signboard that read Baek Family Manor (f@).
The manor belonged to a retired high-ranking government official who had no ties to the gangho, and had thus escaped the Tyrant Fist Sects notice. Until now, that was.
Yul Gyeong-Cheon, the captain of the Blizzard Squad, replied, Yes, I am. We tracked him to this very location.
To think that this ce was the rabbits den all along. Yeop Pyung smiled coldly. They had gone to extreme lengths and even killed hundreds of civilians just to find their enemies hiding ce, and he knew that they would soon have to pay the price for their deeds, but he couldnt care less about his own fate. We have to finish this business before Heavens Summit catches on, while making sure that our Liege isnt troubled by any slip-ups.
Fortunately, the warriors dispatched by Heavens Summit hadnt arrived in Yunnan yet. If they had, the Tyrant Fist Sect wouldnt have gotten away with executing such a crazy n in Yuxi.
Yul Gyeong-Cheon smiled in exactly the same way as his fellow warrior and said, Of course, Commander.
Im looking forward to seeing what these people have prepared for us.
Huhuhu! Regardless of how hard they worked, they wont be able to stop us.
Lets get started.
Yes, Sir! Yul Gyeong-Cheon nodded in agreement.
As if that was a signal, the waiting Blizzard Squad members leapt over the Baek Family Manor fence.
YAAAAAH!
CLANG! KWANG!
Shouts and the ng of metal on metal echoed throughout the manor as a massive fight broke out between the manors defenders and the Blizzard Squad invaders.
Just like that, the second phase of the Night of Carnage begun.
Im Soo-Kwang looked around despondently, but deep down, he wanted to close his eyes to the agonizing scenery of death and destruction all around him. To make things worse, he knew that his own sect was the cause of it all.
Im pathetic. I cant believe I followed such a despicable Sect Leader for so long, he muttered, wandering around in a daze. His slumped shoulders left him looking utterly wretched, and the silver gauntlets on his hands felt like lead.
Suddenly, he raised his head and looked toward the northern sky. Perhaps the rising sun would end this nightmare of his, but it was nowhere to be seen.
My Lord He recalled the face of the leader he hadnt seen in a decade; a leader he had almost forgotten.
Jin Kwan-Ho, the Northern Wall. That was a man who was stronger than any other, whether physically or mentally.
Why didnt I believe him back then? How on earth could a man like that possibly conspire with the Silent Night? Youre such an idiot, Im Soo-Kwang. No, youre not just stupid, youre also deaf and blind. Im Soo-Kwang wanted to stab the ears that had been swayed by Jo Cheon-Woos temptations of glory.
He knew the truth. Despite that, hed turned a blind eye to it, all because he was tired of his monotonous life in the Northern Army. He took the bait that Jo Cheon-Woo had dangled in front of him.
That was his sin, a sin that he could never escape from.
AHHHHHHH! a girls shrill voice rang out in the distance.
Without thinking, Im Soo-Kwang immediately sprinted in the direction of the scream. There, he found a middle-aged warrior pulling a sword out of a teenage girls shoulder.
What the fuck do you think youre doing, Squad Leader Mak?! he roared.
The middle-aged warrior turned to face Im Soo-Kwang. Due to his distinctive triangr face and squinty eyes like a rat, Im Soo-Kwang had instantly recognized him as Mak Kweng, the captain of the Iron Sprit Squad, one of the three squads that Jo Cheon-Woo had sent to carry out a massacre in Yuxi.
Why hello, Elder Im.
I asked you what you were doing.
Please dont misunderstand me, this girl is a martial artist and a threat to our Tyrant Fist Sect.
Then just kill her in one strike. Why do you have to torture her so?
Is there a reason why I cant do that? Mak Kweng grinned like a depraved creep.
Im Soo-Kwang frowned. There was something very wrong with the way Mak Kweng was acting. You he began.
Before he could finish his line, Mak Kweng interrupted him, saying, Do you know what your problem is, Elder Im? Youre too independent thinking. The Sect Leader could never trust a man like you.
A-Arent you being too rude?
Youck loyalty to our Liege. Mak Kweng straightened his back and swung his sword. In a sh, the girl copsed, bleeding from the neck.
Im Soo-Kwang shook with rage at the sight.
Elder Im, do you know why the Sect Leader sent you here?
Why are you suddenly talking about this?
The truth is, the Sect Leader finds your recent behavior a little troubling.
No way, thats ridiculous Im Soo-Kwang denied, but he could tell that Mak Kweng was telling the truth. As an Elder of the Tyrant Fist Sect, it made no sense for him to act as a lowly escort for Tang Gi-Mun, and yet, Jo Cheon-Woo had ordered him to do exactly that.
Mak Kweng closed in on Im Soo-Kwang, still smiling evilly. While they were talking, his subordinates had sneakily surrounded the Tyrant Fist Sect elder.
Im Soo-Kwang sighed, The Sect Leader has truly gone past the point of no return.
See? This is why he finds you problematic. Well, no matter. You know too much already, soI hope you enjoy your trip to the afterlife.
SHIIING!
The warriors of the Iron Spirit Squad drew their weapons in sync.
Im Soo-Kwang closed his eyes for a moment, then reopened them and said, It seems that I am going to die a dogs death, and Ill ept it as a natural consequence of my past actions. However, that doesnt mean that Ill go down without a fight.
Mak Kweng clicked his tongue, Tsk! You could have died a quick and painless death, but no, you want do this the hard way, huh.
He signaled to his men, who simultaneously pounced on Im Soo-Kwang.
Jin Mu-Won wordlessly walked down the streets of Yuxi, with Cheong-In and Kwak Moon-Jung following quietly behind him.
I cant believe that such a swordsman exists, Cheong-In thought, his face as white as a sheet. As horrifying as the massacre in Yuxi was, he found himself much more terrified of the young man right in front of him. He had gone on countless missions as a top agent of the ck Moon and spied on numerous powerful martial artists, but never before had he encountered a warrior such as Jin Mu-Won.
It wasnt simply a matter of the swordsmans strength, but the sheer intensity of the aura overflowing from him. It was as if Jin Mu-Won wielded not only a physical sword, but a sword of the soul that would slice his opponents wills to shreds before they even started fighting.
Cheong-In nervously hazarded a nce at Jin Mu-Wons face and shuddered.
Suddenly, Jin Mu-Won stopped in his tracks and stared in a certain direction.
Cheong-In naturally followed Jin Mu-Wons gaze, only to find a bloodied body that had been mauled so badly it was barely recognizable as human. To his shock, that person was still breathing.
Jin Mu-Won knelt down in front of the dying man, who mustered his remaining strength to force his eyes open.
Itsyou he groaned.
Master Im Despite the severe muttion, Jin Mu-Won immediately recognized the man as Im Soo-Kwang.
Before falling in battle, Im Soo-Kwang had defeated over ten of the Iron Sprit Squad members, and they nowy dead at his feet. However, he regretfully failed to kill Mak Kweng, their captain. Isyour name really Jin Mu-Won? he whispered.
Jin Mu-Won nodded, but didnt say anything.
Are youthe Jin Mu-Won I know?
Jin Mu-Wons eyes twitched. The other two might not have understood what Im Soo-Kwang meant, but there was no way he wouldnt. Moreover, Im Soo-Kwang was on his deathbed, and both of them knew it. Even then, the older man desperately wanted to confirm his hunch. It was his dying wish.
Please Im Soo-Kwang begged. He hoped with all his heart that this Jin Mu-Won was the boy from that time.
In a hoarse voice, Jin Mu-Won replied, Yes, I am. You often instructed me in the basics of martial arts when I was a child.
Im Soo-Kwang trembled with joy, saying, Ahh, thank the heavens! Im dyoure alive. AndIm sorry. Im so, so sorry. Iam a sinner. I have to apologize to Lord Jin when I meet him in the afterlife Im Soo-Kwangs voice trailed off as his consciousness faded.
To hear hisst words, Jin Mu-Won bent over and leaned closer to him.
PleaseI beg you. You must stop the Sect Leaders rampage. Please put an end to this living nightmareYou arethe only one I can count on Im Soo-Kwang fell silent. He was dead. So deep was his grief and remorse, he couldnt even bring himself to close his eyes and die in peace.
Jin Mu-Won reached out and closed his eyes for him.
Proofreaders Notes: Thatst part hit right in the ??. Everything is not Daijobu.
Footnotes:
Chapter 100: The Master Of Swords (3)
TL: FoodieMonster007; ED: TheGreatT20
The warriors led by Yeop Pyung swiftly seized the Baek Family Manor from their enemies and uncovered a hidden underground pathway. As Yeop Pyung led the Blizzard Squad down the pathway, hemanded, Im sure their leaders are hiding here. Do not let a single rat escape.
Dont worry, weve secured the perimeter of the manor. Nothing will get past us alive, Yul Gyeong-Cheon replied.
Good. Yeop Pyung smiled in satisfaction. No one would be able to fault the Tyrant Fist Sect for what happened in Yuxi once they had identified their enemies and rescued the captured merchants. As a bonus, they would also be able to push the responsibility for all the civilian deaths onto these bastards.
Suddenly, one of the Blizzard Squad members held his torch out and said, Commander, please take a look at this.
The object that he lit up was an iron cage with several people curled up inside.
GRAWRRRR! The caged humans growled with bloodshot eyes.
Yeop Pyung frowned. Yul Gyeong-Cheon observed the people for a while, then said, I think theyre the captured merchants.
You sure?
Yes, I recognize the guy furthest away from us.
Any idea why theyre acting like wild beasts?
I think they were driven insane just like the madmen we found on the streets.
I agree. Hm Yeop Pyung narrowed his eyes. Until now, the Tyrant Fist Sect still hadnt found out the cause of the madness, and if all of the kidnapped merchants were like this, then they had a major problem on their hands.
GUWOOOOOAH! The insane merchants mmed themselves against the bars of the cage repeatedly. Thankfully, the cage was very sturdy and held firm despite the madmens enhanced strength.
Anyway, we can think about how to solve this problemter. Our first priority is to capture the mastermind.
Yes, Sir! Yul Gyeong-Cheon replied, taking the lead in exploring the underground passage.
As they walked, Yeop Pyung frequently nced back at the cage with the crazed merchants. Im not sure why, but Ive got a bad feeling about them In any case, I can take my time investigating what happened to them after were done here.
As Yeop Pyung and Yul Gyeong-Cheon moved toward the end of the corridor, they met with frequent enemy ambushes, but each time, they came out victorious. When finally they reached the end, they found their path blocked by a huge, seemingly impassable iron gate. However, Yul Gyeong-Cheon simply pulled out his sword and smashed the door to bits.
BAM!
Behind the copsed iron gate, there was an unbelievably spacious hall, and standing in the middle of the hall, stood Geum Dan-Yeop and his men.
CRASH!
Suddenly, the iron gate on the opposite side of the hall also fell apart, revealing the warriors of the Iron Spirit and Imperious Squads.
Yeop Pyung looked toward Geum Dan-Yeop andughed, Hahaha! Your fates are sealed now.
Although he had never met Geum Dan-Yeop before, his instincts told him that this was the mastermind behind the whole operation.
The Tyrant Fist Sect warriors surrounded Geum Dan-Yeops group, but instead of panicking, Geum Dan-Yeop only sneered, I see you finally found your way here. I salute you for your hard work and enthusiasm.
Hmph! Did you think you would be safe after doing such a thing in the Tyrant Fist Sects territory?
Since when has Yunnan been the property of the Tyrant Fist Sect?
Since ten years ago, when we established ourselves here.
Oh, yeah. You got Yunnan in exchange for selling out the Northern Army, right?
Yeop Pyungs face soured. It was taboo to mention the fall of the Northern Army to any of the former Four Northern Pirs and their men. He yelled, Shut the fuck up! Whatever your goal was, its all over for you now! Just surrender already!
That would be difficult. I spent a lot of time nning this, you know?
Youre not still dreaming of escaping, are you?
Huhuhu! Dont worry, I had no intention of leaving here in the first ce. Geum Dan-Yeop grinned childishly.
Shivers ran down Yeop Pyungs spine, but he suppressed them and threatened, So you want to do this the hard way, huh?
I think youre misunderstanding something here. You dont have the strength or the right to demand anything of me.
What? Yeop Pyung was furious.
However, Geum Dan-Yeop ignored him. When he had firste up with this n, it had left him sleepless for several days on end. He didnt want to lose his humanity, but he also didnt think he had a choice in the matter. The only way to achieve his goal was to stray from the path of a human being and be a savage beast. That was the conclusion he hade to after churning it over in his mind several hundred times.
I am simply treating these devils the same way they treated my forefathers. Besides, this is the only method to awaken the Silent Night from its slumber. Geum Dan-Yeop bit his lip and asked, Did you see the madmen in the cage?
Arent you curious? How did they go crazy? And where are the rest of the merchants and treasures?
Yeop Pyungs eyebrow twitched. Ever since hed seen those madmen, hed felt something nagging at him deep down. However, he couldnt identify the cause of his anxiety.
Geum Dan-Yeop continued, This is payback for what you did to us several decades ago.
What the fuck are you talking about?
Oh, you probably dont know anything, do you? Well, I understand. Youre just your masters pet dog, after all. I guess my only regret is that Jo Cheon-Woo isnt here, though that was probably just wishful thinking on my part. Geum Dan-Yeop raised his hand, and suddenly, an army of madmen rose from the darkness where they were hiding.
GRRRRR! The madmen growled, their red eyes glittering in the darkness. Their clothes were ragged, and they looked more like beasts than humans.
More madmen?! Yeop Pyung furrowed his brows, but before he could say anything, the madmen pounced on the Tyrant Fist Sect.
As the captain of the Blizzard Squad, Yul Gyeong-Cheon barked orders in his stead, yelling, Kill them all!
B-But Several of the warriors hesitated. They knew that these madmen were the missing merchants they had been looking for all this time. Moreover, if the fact that the Tyrant Fist Sect had killed these merchants ever got out, they wouldnt be able to avoid criticism.
As if that werent bad enough, the Ten Great Companies were likely to me them for the deaths of their merchants, making the value of these merchants lives far above those of the ordinary Yuxi residents.
However, Yul Gyeong-Cheon insisted, It doesnt matter who they were, theyre our enemies now! Kill them all!
As Yul Gyeong-Cheonmanded, the Tyrant Fist Sect warriors engaged the madmen and started ughtering them. Although the madmens physical capabilities had been enhanced to inhuman levels, they were still no match for properly trained martial artists.
Cunning bastards! Yeop Pyung ground his teeth, having realized that he had yed right into Geum Dan-Yeops hands. Unfortunately, he did not have the freedom of choice any longer.
Pandemonium raged in the hall as the Tyrant Fist Sect warriors shed with the madmen. Even though the Tyrant Fist Sect had the upper hand, they were outnumbered by more than two-to-one. In those conditions, injuries were unavoidable.
Yul Gyeong-Cheons eyes shed with killing intent as he cut down at least one lunatic with every ruthless swing of his sword. Even though youre just annoying flies he muttered.
Finally, he fought his way through the rabble and closed in on Geum Dan-Yeop. Through a corner of his eye, he saw that Mak Kweng, the captain of the Iron Spirit Squad, had done the same. It was clear that they hadid eyes on the same target, the mastermind behind all their troubles, Geum Dan-Yeop.
This was a fight that would only end when one side waspletely wiped out, as both sides had already gone into a battle frenzy. Even the Tyrant Fist Sect warriors were starting to lose their rationality as the metallic scent of blood filled their noses, elerating their descent into madness.
Geum Dan-Yeops eyes darkened. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. That is thew of the gangho. I already decided to leave all my regrets and reservations behind. Those arent emotions my current self is allowed to have.
SCREEEEEEECH!
Suddenly, all of the Tyrant Fist Sects swords cried out at the same time, starting with quiet hums and then quickly rising to a crescendo.
Whats happening? The warriors looked around, perplexed. Their swords were reverberating in harmony without regard for their intent, and although each des cry was insignificant, thebination of all the swords cries was louder than a wolfs howl and more majestic than a dragons roar.
Keuak! The madmen faltered in the face of the singing swords, and the warriors covered their ears with their hands.
Just then, a man casually strode through the crowd.
SCREECH! SCREEEEEECH!
Each time he walked past a sword, it cried out loud as if singing his praises.
Both Yeop Pyung and Geum Dan-Yeop widened their eyes in shock and disbelief.
Y-You? Geum Dan-Yeop stuttered.
Finally, the man stopped between Yeop Pyung and Geum Dan-Yeop. The swords instantly fell silent, making the deafening chorus just a moment before seem like a lucid dream.
No one dared to breathe for fear of disturbing the silence. All of their gazes were inevitably drawn toward the man, as if they had been hypnotized.
Jin Mu-Won, the Master of Swords, roared, Are you two trying to start an era of chaos? If so, youll have to do it over my dead body.
Proofreaders Note: 1/4th of the way to the end. Only 300 more chapters to go! ??
Chapter 101: The Return Of The Legends (1)
TL: FoodieMonster007; ED: TheGreatT20
Jin Mu-Wons thunderous roar was followed by a moment of silence. Everyone stared at him with bated breaths, as if they would be instantly cut into pieces if they so much as moved a muscle or said a word. From him, they could sense the overflowing aura of a peerless swordsman with the strength of a thousand men.
Yeop Pyung and Yul Gyeong-Cheon were no exception. Despite their extensive informationwork, they had somehow failed to notice the presence of such a powerful martial artist in Yunnan. In particr, the Blizzard Squad Captain Yul Gyeong-Cheon was astounded that he had lost control of his swords cry to Jin Mu-Won.
SCREECH! SCREECH!
Like a whining child, his sword continued to cry at Jin Mu-Won, ignoring his own efforts to regain control. Yul Gyeong-Cheon had never felt so betrayed by his own weapon or so frighteningly ufortable.
However, Geum Dan-Yeop was the one who was most surprised by Jin Mu-Wons appearance. Although he knew that there was a possibility of Jin Mu-Won intervening in his ns, he never expected the young man to show up right at this very moment.
YAAARGH! Youre just a brat whos still wet behind the ears! shouted Seo Chang-Yoon, the vice-captain of the Iron Spirit Squad, as he charged at Jin Mu-Won. He was a man with a fiery temper, and could not bring himself to simply stand by while Jin Mu-Won attempted to intimidate him.
A fist the size of a pot lid flew toward Jin Mu-Won, apanied by Fist Chi as immense as a tsunami. Jin Mu-Won immediately recognized the technique as one of those that had belonged to the Northern Army, the Thirteen Fists of the Wolfs Fang (ʮȭ).
Seeing that their vice-captain had made the first move, several experts of the Iron Spirit Squad followed suit. In the face of theirbined attack, Jin Mu-Wons slender frame looked like a candle in the wind.
SWOOSH!
Just as everyone expected Jin Mu-Won to die, Snow Flower split the heavens in half, then returned to its sheath. For a moment, all those watching felt like they had been sliced apart.
SPLASH!
A warm liquid sttered all over the people watching. One of the warriors touched the liquid absentmindedly and muttered, Blood?
The spectators gazes moved toward Seo Chang-Yoon and the Iron Spirit Squad soldiers who had attacked Jin Mu-Won. Eerily, all of them had frozen in their tracks, but just as people were starting to look puzzled, a red line appeared on their bodies.
At first, most thought that they had just been cut, but suddenlythe bodies separated into two halves and fell to the floor.
BA-DUMP! BA-DUMP!
Therge hall went so quiet that everyones nervous heartbeats could be heard.
CHANG-YOON! Mak Kweng, Seo Chang-Yoons direct superior and the captain of Iron Spirit Squad, roared. Having lost all reason at his subordinates death, he toounched himself at Jin Mu-Won. Damn punk! Ill never forgive you!
Just as he dismembered and killed Im Soo-Kwang, he wanted to rip Jin Mu-Won to shreds.
BOOM!
Another flood of qi threatened to swallow Jin Mu-Won, but this time, he dived into the torrent and agilely weaved through it like a salmon climbing a waterfall.
Mak Kweng recognized this foot technique. This was the Perfect Stride (op), one of the techniques belonging to the Northern Armys Flowing Stream Steps (Ϫ).2 Unfortunately, by the time he registered it, it was toote.
Thest thing he saw was Jin Mu-Won closing in on him and releasing a sh of light from his fingers.
SPURT!
A hole the size of a coin appeared on Mak Kwengs forehead.
CRASH!
The sound of Mak Kwengs corpse hitting the ground resounded like thunder in the hearts of the warriors present.
Yeop Pyungs eyes twitched. Although everyone was equal in death, Captain Mak Kweng of the Iron Spirit Squad wasnt a man who should have died meaninglessly without even putting up a fight.
For a long time, no one dared to move. The martial arts experts, in particr, were still stunned speechless at Jin Mu-Wons ridiculous strength that had allowed him to one-shot Mak Kweng and Seo Chang-Yoon without using any special techniques. Furthermore, never mind special techniques, in a total departure frommon sense, Jin Mu-Won hadnt even used any Sword Flux or Sword Chi to dispatch them.
Jin Mu-Won looked around coolly, asking, Whos next?
Every warrior who Jin Mu-Won nced at instinctively turned their heads away and avoided meeting his gaze, until one person chose to retaliate.
Cocky punk! yelled Gwan San-Ho, a member of the Crimson Ghost Squad and one of Nam Goon-Wis subordinates, as he thrust his spear at Jin Mu-Wons throat.
WHIRRRR!
Gwan San-Ho spun his spear in his palm to maximize his stabbing force in a technique known as the Prating sh. He was confident that he could at least destroy the young mans illusion of invincibility, even if he wasnt strong enough to kill him. We cannot allow our grand n to be ruined by an uninvited guest! Not after Lords Geum Dan-Yeop and Nam Goon-Wi have spent countless sleepless nights and immense effort bringing it to fruition!
In response to Gwan San-Hos attack, Jin Mu-Won held out the still-sheathed Snow Flower horizontally and pointed it at him.
Everyone felt that he was crazy not to draw his sword, and that he was only out to block Gwan San-Hos thrust. What followed, however, exceeded all of their expectations.
CRACK!
As sword met spear, the spear was the one that was split lengthwise into two halves. The shock from the recoil even broke Gwan San-Hos wrists, sending blood sttering everywhere.
Keua! Gwan San-Ho screamed, but his voice was suddenly cut off as Snow Flower punched a hole the width of its sheath in his brain. Like a felled tree, he copsed to the ground with a loud thud.
WHOOSH~
Jin Mu-Won looked around again and repeated, Whos next?
No one stepped up this time. No, they couldnt step up.
There were many elite warriors present, but none dared meet Jin Mu-Wons gaze.
His presence was just too overwhelming.
Although Yeop Pyungs heart was racing just as wildly as the other warriors, he frowned with chagrin. Hes an absolute masterparable to my Liege, Jo Cheon-Woo. Why would such a person suddenly appear here?! Moreoverhave I seen him somewhere before? Where?
No, Im sure that Ive never seen his face before. Even then, why do I feel like he reminds me of someone?
Well, regardless, I have to do something.
Having made up his mind, Yeop Pyung stepped forward and said, Who are you? Youre interfering in the Tyrant Fist Sects business. If you fall back now, I can pretend that this never happened.
You can pretend that nothing happened, but I cant.
Yeop Pyungs eyes twitched again. Jin Mu-Wons reply was far more brazen than hed expected, to the point where it seemed like the young man couldnt care less whether he made an enemy of the Tyrant Fist Sect or not. How impudent. I cant believe that a person who dares to look down on the Tyrant Fist Sect like this exists, he said.
Whats so great about the Tyrant Fist Sect?
What?
Whats so great about a sect that massacres innocent civilians with no ties to the gangho? Did you even count how many people you murdered in Yuxi?
It was a necessary sacrifice for the greater good. Besides, if it werent for these guys, we would never have done something so extreme, Yeop Pyung said, immediately pushing all of the responsibility for the massacre onto Geum Dan-Yeop.
Geum Dan-Yeop, who had been keeping quiet until now, finally lost his patience, saying, Youre far stronger than I thought, Master Jin.
And you are far more ruthless than I thought.
Is that so? If you really think so, then you will never amount to anything more than a naive romantic. Thew of the gangho is to do whatever it takes to achieve ones goals, because only by climbing to the top can we create proof of our existence.
What is the point of proving your existence? How is that worth sacrificing the lives of so many people?
Do you really want to know?
Jin Mu-Won nodded, and Geum Dan-Yeop beamed.
Ill tell you after you defeat me, he added.
You people are always repeating the same lines, Jin Mu-Won sighed. He recalled that Nam Goon-Wi had said the exact same thing.
Haha! Isnt that only natural? He and I are the same type of person, Geum Dan-Yeop replied mirthfully. However, the smile on his face then slowly melted away, revealing apletely different, cold-blooded personality. His icy gaze shifted away from Jin Mu-Won and toward the Tyrant Fist Sect.
Yeop Pyung and Yul Gyeong-Cheon immediately sensed his intense killing intent and deep-seated hatred for them.
Does he have a grudge against the Tyrant Fist Sect?
Back when the Tyrant Fist Sect first settled down in Yunnan Province, they had trampled on the lives and homes of many people to create the current status quo. It was obvious those people would hold a grudge against them. However, only ten years had passed since then, and that clearly wasnt enough time to gather as many resources and train as many martial arts experts as Geum Dan-Yeop had. At least, not with any ordinary means.
Geum Dan-Yeop looked down at his hands. The skin on those hands was utterly wless and silkier than most women. However, those very same hands were also stained with the blood of an unimaginable number of people.
He raised his head to face Jin Mu-Won and said, I am a devil who will never stop or hesitate until I breathe myst. If you wish to put an end to this fiasco, then kill me.
Why are you being like that?
If I had to be killed by anyone, then I hope that youre the one who does it. I mean it.
The atmosphere in the underground hall tensed as Geum Dan-Yeop relit the fire that Jin Mu-Won had put out.
Suddenly, a man with a boisterous voice shouted from behind Jin Mu-Won, Hohoho! Dont worry, Dan-Yeop, because Ill definitely die before you do. I guarantee it.
Jin Mu-Won turned around and saw a familiar giant standing at the entrance to the hall. Youre Nam Goon-Wi, he said.
Indeed I am! Long time no see, Sword Demon! Nam Goon-Wi cheerfully greeted, holding his signature sky-piercer halberd over his shoulder. Blood was still dripping from the halberd, evidence that he had been killing people up until a few moments ago.
Sword Demon?
Heehee! Dont you think you deserve a splendid nickname like that after seriously wounding me? Nam Goon-Wiughed as he marched into the hall, the red-armored Crimson Ghost Squad trailing behind him. Like their leader, blood was dripping off their armor and weapons.
Yeop Pyungs eyes trembled at the sight. Impossible!? he muttered.
Huhuhu! Weve dealt with the idiots you ced outside. You guys are all thats left of the Tyrant Fist Sects forces.
Yeop Pyung knew that Nam Goon-Wi was telling the truth. There was no way his subordinates would have let Nam Goon-Wi and his troops through while they still lived, and the fresh blood the Crimson Ghost Squad was drenched in could only have belonged to his men.
Nam Goon-Wi hollered, Kill them all!
The Crimson Ghost Squad immediately obeyed Nam Goon-Wis orders and charged toward the Tyrant Fist Sect. They knew that Nam Goon-Wi didnt need them to reply, and Nam Goon-Wi trusted that they would do as he said even without looking, which meant that he could ignore them and focus all of his attention on Jin Mu-Won.
He approached Jin Mu-Won, saying, Hey, you dered that we could only continue killing over your dead body, right? In that case, please take responsibility for your words.
Nam Goon-Wi released his killing intent, while Geum Dan-Yeop emitted a disturbing aura. Strangely, when the two forces mixed, the temperature in the hall slowly started to rise.
Meanwhile, the fight between the two groups had already begun. Blood was being sttered everywhere, and people were screaming all around him. It was a fierce battle that would only end when one side waspletely annihted.
From this, Jin Mu-Won learned something new. If one doesnt take full control of the battlefield, then madness will eventually take over.
Just as Nam Goon-Wis sky-piercer halberd flew toward him, he finally drew Snow Flower.
Footnotes:
Chapter 102: The Return Of The Legends (2)
TL: FoodieMonster007; ED: TheGreatT20
CLANG!
The sound of metal being struck rang out along with a huge tremor caused by the killing intent contained within the vibrating sound waves.
Both Jin Mu-Won and Nam Goon-Wi were pushed back by the force of the sh, but they soon kicked off the ground again and rushed toward each other.
CLANG! THUD! CRASH!
As Snow Flower and the sky-piercer halberd collided again and again, theirbined killing intent quickly sent shockwaves of death spreading out all over the battlefield. After their previous duel, each fighter fully understood how terrifying the other was.
Right at the start of the fight, Nam Goon-Wi unleashed everything he had. This was his first time giving it his all after learning the True zing Halberd of the Fire Dragon. He put his heart and soul into every strike and focused his senses like never before.
WHOOSH!
Like a roaring dragon, his halberd radiated its spirit in every direction, gathering the threads of energy it previously dispersed and twisting them into the distinct shape of a sky-piercer halberd. That was Halberd Flux, the enhanced version of regr halberd chi.
Soul-Sealing Fire Dragon! he shouted, shooting the halberd flux at Jin Mu-Won.
However, Jin Mu-Won simply took one step to the side and stretched out Snow Flower as if smacking away a minor annoyance.
THWACK!
Snow Flower hit the side of the giant chi halberd, sending it veering off toward the fighting Crimson Ghost and Blizzard Squad warriors.
BOOM!
The unlucky warriors who stood in the chi halberds path instantly exploded like human bombs without getting even a chance to scream.
Was that Energy Redirection ()? Thats the advanced, more energy efficient form of Force Deflection (ƻľ)!1 The attack also isnt wasted since he can control its direction rather than just deflecting it randomly! Nam Goon-Wi scowled. He wasnt surprised that Jin Mu-Won could use such a technique, however, he was exasperated at himself for letting it be used on him.
How dare you! He ground his teeth and leapt at Jin Mu-Won, swinging his sky-piercer halberd savagely and ominously like a bear baring its fangs. At first nce, his swings appeared wild, but in reality, they were calcted and highly precise strikes which took into ount every direction in which his opponent could dodge. Until now, no one had ever sessfully stood up to this chained attack.
The moment one blocked the first attack, a stronger one would follow, and if that was also blocked, then the next one would be even more forceful. It was a strategy that had always worked for Nam Goon-Wiuntil now, that is.
Unfortunately for him, Jin Mu-Won had the All-Epassing Cognizance. He had eyes that would not miss a single minute muscr movement, ears that could urately grasp his opponents breathing, and skin that could detect faint air currents. Put all these together, and Jin Mu-Won could literally predict all of his opponents attacks. Moreover, he had trained his body well to minimize the dy between his thought and reaction speed, giving him the ability to deal with every attack with pinpoint uracy.
The resulting exchange between the two warriors was thus so intense and rapid that if any one of them so much as made a single mistake, the battle would be over. It was such a close fight that no one dared to intervene.
In the midst of battle, Nam Goon-Wi suddenly roared, Who the hell are you?!
Hearing the hidden meaning in Nam Goon-Wis question, Jin Mu-Won chose not to answer and simply concentrated on his battle with Nam Goon-Wi.
Grasp the opponents breathing, predict their movement, and block it in advance. He repeated the same pattern over and over and, in the process, honed his swordsmanship.
CLANG! CLANG! BAM!
The sound of Nam Goon-Wis sky-piercer halberd and Snow Flower striking against each other at blinding speed echoed throughout the hall, and even though Snow Flowers de appeared thin and delicatepared to the halberd, Nam Goon-Wi couldnt leave any scratches on it.
The two men fought from the west side of the underground hall to the eastern end, then headed north. Every time the other warriors saw theming, they would immediately disengage and run away from them, not wanting to die from random stray attacks.
YAAAAARGH!
BAM!
Whenever Nam Goon-Wi struck the floor, arge crater would form, scattering broken pieces of rock everywhere. However, Jin Mu-Won was always nowhere to be seen even though he had been standing there just a moment ago.
Still, Nam Goon-Wi did not fall into despair. He already knew that he would never be able to scratch Jin Mu-Won using ordinary techniques, because like water flowing through a winding river, Jin Mu-Wons movement constantly changed, making it unpredictable.
He clenched his teeth. Never in his life had he dreamed that he would be forced to fight with everyst ounce of his strength. I wont be able to catch that guy without taking any risks. At this very moment, I will give up on being human.
CRACK!
He broke the seal within his body, and woke up the sleeping beast.
While Jin Mu-Won and Nam Goon-Wi engaged in battle, Yeop Pyung and Yul Gyeong-Cheon approached Geum Dan-Yeop. Compared to the unimportant chaos happening all around them, subduing the leader was far more crucial to ending this battle.
Rather than avoid being surrounded, Geum Dan-Yeop smiled gently as if weing them.
On the contrary, Yeop Pyungs face was frozen stiff as he threatened, Ill ask you onest time. I know that youre not capable of doing all this without help. Where is the true mastermind?
Youre curious too, arent you?
Answer me, and I will kill you as painlessly as possible.
Hahaha! Is that supposed to be some kind of a joke? Youre funny, Geum Dan-Yeopughed as if he were having fun.
Yeop Pyung was livid. Dont think its over once youre dead. Ill find your parents, your siblings, your rtives, everyone you ever cared for, and torture them to death. You can trust that our Tyrant Fist Sect absolutely has the power to do so.
I know that. If your lord, Jo Cheon-Woo, werent an asshole like that, he wouldnt have betrayed the Northern Army.
Geum Dan-Yeops words hit Yeop Pyungs sore spot. Ten years had already passed, but people still hadnt forgotten about the Northern Army. Everyone knew that the Four Northern Pirs were able to expand into the Central ins in exchange for betraying the Northern Army. They just didnt say it to their faces.
Yeop Pyung epted that it was their karma, and something they would have to endure for the rest of their lives. However, he did not enjoy hearing something like that from the mouth of an enemy.
He nodded at Yul Gyeong-Cheon, who stepped forward and pointed his sword at Geum Dan-Yeop.
Dont think about dying easily, punk. Ill carve your flesh from your bones bit by bit.
What a coincidence! I dont intend to kill you easily either.
Hmph! Lets see how long you can stay so rxed! CHAAAARGE!
Yul Gyeong-Cheon and Yeop Pyung rushed at Geum Dan-Yeop in unison. Yul Gyeong-Cheon aimed for Geum Dan-Yeops head, while Yeop Pyung circled behind his back.
However, Geum Dan-Yeop casually sidestepped and thwarted their attack. He then smiled at them, took a silvery flute2 out of his chest pocket, and raised it to his mouth.
Yul Gyeong-Cheon snorted at the sight, saying, How ridiculous. What are you going to do with that toy?
He unleashed a killing technique at Geum Dan-Yeop, but in response, the young man very calmly started ying a forlorn melody on his flute.
Yul Gyeong-Cheon and Yeop Pyung came to a grinding halt as the music sent their minds reeling.
Keuk! Is that Sound Arts ()?
HISSSSSSSS!
The tinnitus symptoms were the first to show. Yul Gyeong-Cheon and Yeop Pyung began to see double, and maintaining their bnce got harder and harder. Although both of them were experts and quickly protected their hearts and minds with their inner energy, the unexpected attack still rmed them immensely.
As Sound Arts experts were almost unheard of in the Central ins, thest thing they expected was for Geum Dan-Yeop to be a rare master of the Sound Arts who could affect them just by ying a few notes.
Geum Dan-Yeop closed his eyes and immersed himself in his ying.
Keuak! Several of the warriors nearby shrieked as their hearts exploded, having failed to defend against Geum Dan-Yeops sound attack in time.
When he saw his copsing Blizzard Squad subordinates, Yul Gyeong-Cheon bathed his de in sword chi and swung it at Geum Dan-Yeop, roaring, Stop ying, damn it!
The true terror of Sound Artsy in its ability tounch an unblockable attack on arge group of targets. Since sound waves were transmitted through air, except for the few victims who were skilled enough to protect themselves with chi, most were defenseless against it.
If Geum Dan-Yeop were allowed to run free, the damage he caused would inevitably increase exponentially. Knowing this, Yul Gyeong-Cheon promptly gave up on capturing Geum Dan-Yeop and decided to kill him as quickly as he could.
SWOOSH!
He thrust his de at Geum Dan-Yeop and prepared five kinds of follow-up techniques, thinking that the young man would block his attack with the flute, but that did not happen.
BOOM!
Yul Gyeong-Cheons sword bounced off an invisible wall surrounding Geum Dan-Yeop.
Gah!
STOMP! STOMP! STOMP!
The recoil sent him three or four steps back, and in order to halt his momentum, his feet left deep footprints in the stone floor as he retreated. A stream of blood flowed down from his mouth, and his eyes trembled with shock and disbelief. It cant bethe Intangible Sound Barrier (oĤ)? he muttered.
Only a master of the Sound Arts could use the Intangible Sound Barrier. Technically, it was simr to the self-defense field created by a normal martial artist, but created with sound instead of chi, which made it much harder to learn and use.
Yeop Pyung was equally startled at Geum Dan-Yeops mastery of the Sound Arts. Hes an absolute master. Are there any organizations that can hire someone like him? More importantly, the two of us are no match for him. Our liege Jo Cheon-Woo is the only person in the Tyrant Fist Sect who is qualified to face him.
Suddenly, a daring idea struck him. W-What ifhe belonged to the Silent Night?
No matter how hard he thought about it, the Silent Night was the only ce that could train such a master, and if that was true, then the news of the Silent Nights return circting around the Northern Army ten years ago were not a hoax. Everyone simply dismissed it as a rumor because there were no new reports about their movements since then.
No, perhaps it was the other way around. No information was obtained about the Silent Night because there was no Northern Army to monitor them.
Still, after eliminating everyone else, the Silent Night was the only possible organization capable of nning and executing the Yunnan conspiracy.
Yeop Pyung looked at the smiling Geum Dan-Yeop, and a shiver ran down his spine. For some reason, the young mans schrly appearance and graceful smile made him seem even scarier than his brutish friend.
Have you finally realized who we are? As expected, weve been inactive for so long that we have basically faded into obscurity.
Wait, you really are from the Silent Night? Yeop Pyung tried to stay as calm as he could, but his trembling voice betrayed his true feelings. As a former warrior of the Northern Army, the mere mention of the Silent Night bothered him a lot.
Geum Dan-Yeop met Yeop Pyungs gaze and tly said, I understand how you must feel, as someone who doesnt belong to the generation that fought the Silent Night directly.
Those who have never personally felt fear alwaysugh at others terrors, thinking they would fare better. As such, fears tended to diminish with the passing of time.
Simrly, the fear of the Silent Night was forgotten by the people of the Central ins. To them, the Silent Night was a part of history, not reality.
Geum Dan-Yeops eyes turned red as he growled, This time, Ill make sure you guys never forget it again.
He had sacrificed everything to prepare this stage. There was no stopping him now.
He ced the flute back in his mouth.
Footnotes:
Chapter 103: The Return Of The Legends (3)
TL: FoodieMonster007; ED: TheGreatT20
There was a good reason why Geum Dan-Yeop had chosen an enclosed space like the underground hall as the battleground, since the curved walls optimized the acoustics of the area.
Once again, he started ying the flute.
As the sound waves struck the walls and reflected off them, they were amplified to the point where they didnt even sound like a flute anymore. All of the fighting sounds in the hall were quickly drowned out.
TULULU!
AHHHHHHHH! everywhere, people screamed and rolled on the floor, blood flowing from their eardrums. Several of the weaker warriors eyeballs were also affected by the sonic vibrations, causing them to turn red and eventually burst.
In a mere instant, Geum Dan-Yeop had turned the hall into a terrible sea of madness and death.
Keuk! Yeop Pyung, whose arteries were crushed by the attack, coughed up blood. His attempt at protecting his cardiovascr system with chi was a failure, as he had not taken into ount the soundwaves directly transmitted to his brain through his eardrums.
Next to him, Yul Gyeong-Cheon was in a simr situation. He had also fought back by raising his chi as much as possible, but going by the redness of his eyes, he hadntpletely blocked the attack either.
All around them, the Tyrant Fist Sect warriors were dropping to the ground like flies. In contrast, though, the Crimson Ghost Squad seemed unaffected even though they were also caught in the attack.
Yeop Pyungs face paled. How are they unhurt even though they heard the same sounds as us? I dont understand No, theres only one possible reason. Geum Dan-Yeop is much scarier than we originally thought.
As Geum Dan-Yeops solo concert reached its climax, the number of Tyrant Fist Sect warriors copsing increased exponentially. The sounds prating their eardrums echoed within their skulls, turning their brains to mush. It was a slow, painful death.
Geum Dan-Yeop expressionlessly looked down upon the horror he had unleashed. The dying people were looking at him with eyes full of resentment and hatred. He could hear the curses they hadnt voiced out. This is my karma, he thought.
TULULULULULULULU!
He yed his flute with even more vigor than before.
KEUUAAAH! Pleasejust kill me, the warriors begged.
The Tyrant Fist Sect warriors werent the only ones affected by Geum Dan-Yeops unexpected sonic attack. A trickle of blood flowed down the side of Jin Mu-Wons mouth as he hurriedly protected himself with the Art of Ten Thousand Shadows and surveyed his surroundings. All around him, peopley dead and dying.
Only now did Jin Mu-Won realize the full extent of the threat posed by Sound Arts, especially if the user was a determined master like Geum Dan-Yeop. However, he had no time to think leisurely. Nam Goon-Wi was still attacking him at full force.
Huhuhu! Where are you looking? Dont get distracted!
BAM!
Nam Goon-Wis strikes were several times stronger and more violent than before. Everything that got in the way of his sky-piercer halberd was blown to smithereens.
Are they expending their life forces? Both Geum Dan-Yeop and Nam Goon-Wi are fighting recklessly, as if they have nothing left to lose. I dont know whats making them go this far, but a lot of people are dying because of them!
Then again, Im sure I just heard them mention that they belonged to the Silent Night. Is there some sort of internal conflict going on within the Silent Night?
Jin Mu-Wons face darkened. There was someone he could never forget within the Silent Night.
Han-Seol
First it was Hwang Cheol, and now Eun Han-Seol. The two people he was closest to were somehow involved in this mess, and he had no intention of continuing to be dragged around like this without knowing anything.
He tightened his grip on Snow Flower until his veins could be seen popping out.
A glimmer of panic flickered in Nam Goon-Wis eyes. His instincts were warning him that something about Jin Mu-Won had changed. He immediately squeezed out all of his energy, causing his clothes to p around.
Lets end this, he said, charging toward Jin Mu-Won like a mad bull while his sky-piercer halberd glowed blindingly.
ROAR!
The air itself was set alight, and a st of mes like a dragons breath threatened to engulf Jin Mu-Won. However, in the face of heat that would easily burn ones lungs, Jin Mu-Won did not bat an eyelid.
His gaze was not directed at the burning sky-piercer halberd, but at Nam Goon-Wi behind it. When the two warriors eyes met, Jin Mu-Won pointed Snow Flower at Nam Goon-Wi and unleashed the fifth stance of the Shadow de of Destruction, Blood sh (WѪ).
SCREEEECH!
Snow Flower, which was synchronized with Jin Mu-Wons will, let out a bone-chilling cry as a shining arrow of light pierced through Nam Goon-Wi with a sound like that of tearing silk.
As if time hade to aplete standstill, Nam Goon-Wi stopped mid-movement, his sky-piercer halberd still raised.
Then, all of a sudden, arge crack appeared on his wide-eyed face, and his arms convulsed involuntarily. He smiled, revealing blood-stained teeth, and said, Youre indeed the SwordDemon
CLANG!
The sky-piercer halberd fell to the floor and rolled away, and Nam Goon-Wis huge body followed suit.
Jin Mu-Won wiped away the blood around his mouth with his sleeve as he stared at Nam Goon-Wis corpse. He had sacrificed some of his chi defense to swiftly take down Nam Goon-Wi, and as a result, hed suffered some internal damage from Geum Dan-Yeops ongoing sound wave attack.
However, he did not have the leisure to tend to his wounds right now. He needed to stop Geum Dan-Yeops madness.
Jin Mu-Won shouted at Geum Dan-Yeop, Stop! Enough!
Contrary to stopping, though, Geum Dan-Yeop put even more effort into his ying.
TRULULU!
Like a tigers roar, the sound of the flute was amplified tens of hundreds of times by the acoustics of the underground hall. Yeop Pyung and Yul Gyeong-Cheon, who had already been struggling, finally reached their limits and fell to the ground.
Cough!
Momentster, they were dead, leaving Jin Mu-Won as Geum Dan-Yeops only remaining target.
Jin Mu-Won felt his mind nk out momentarily as the intense sonic waves were focused on him, causing his clothes and hair to p around like crazy even though there was no wind.
Keuk! He groaned as he was pushed back by an invisible force, leaving two deep furrows in the ground from digging his feet in. It was only then that a long-forgotten legend resurfaced in his mind.
This is the Celestial Sound Demons (ħ) Serenade to the Apocalypse (~)! A Sound Arts technique created for the sole purpose of mass destruction!
At the height of the war between the Northern Army and the Silent Night, a sound arts master known as the Celestial Sound Demon had appeared on the battlefield. Every time he yed his pipa1, dozens of warriors would die, and throughout the whole war, the total number of lives he had taken were in the thousands.
Although he wasnt as strong in singlebat as the Four Great Demon Lords, who were known as human cmities, he was just as notorious as they were for his ability to dominate any battlefield and decimate cannon fodder far more swiftly and efficiently. Things got so bad that Heavens Summit was forced to sacrifice the lives of countless people just to trap him, and even more to ultimately kill him.
The Serenade to the Apocalypse was the ultimate sound arts technique of that Celestial Sound Demon. It was said that whenever the Serenade started ying, a 300m radius around the Celestial Sound Demon would turn into and of death.
Suddenly, Geum Dan-Yeop stopped ying the flute and sadly gazed down upon Nam Goon-Wis corpse, mumbling, Goon-Wi
Nam Goon-Wi had been his only friend and confidant, and it was impossible for him not to grieve for his death.
A short whileter, Geum Dan-Yeop looked back up at Jin Mu-Won, saying, Jin Mu-Won Ive heard that name before, and not just once or twice. However, until now, I just couldnt remember who it was. After all, Jin Mu-Won, thest Lord of the Northern Army, was said to have passed away ten years ago.
Are you a descendant of the Celestial Sound Demon?
Yes, and I am also the current Celestial Sound Demon.
Jin Mu-Won and Geum Dan-Yeop, the descendants of the Northern Army and the Silent Night, stood facing each other just like their ancestors had many years ago. To most, the factions they belonged to had already been lost to the sands of time, but somehow, they had still wound up in the same situation.
As expected, rumors are just rumors. Did you know? Ten years ago, when I heard the news of your death, all I felt was despair. After all, if anyone was to remember who we were, it would be you, thest heir to the Northern Army. It sucks to be forgotten, invisible, as if I never existed. I was terrified of that feeling, and it drove me insane.
Is that why you did all this crazy bullshit? Just because you wanted the world to know you existed? Because you wanted to leave your mark in history?
Of course not, the world isnt that simple. My circumstances are rather moreplicated that you would think.
Are you talking about the Silent Nights infighting?
Wow, you even know about that? Geum Dan-Yeops eyes widened in surprise.
Are theFour Great Demon Generals alive and well?
Although there were some minor problems, yes, theyre still alive and kicking.
Jin Mu-Won clenched his fists tightly to hide his agitation and inwardly heaved a sigh of relief. Phew That means that Han-Seol is safe.
Geum Dan-Yeop smiled and said, You know, our meeting here today is truly a miraculous coincidence. Both the Silent Night and the Northern Army have pretty much been wiped out, and yet here we are, gathered in one ce. I guess this is part of what makes the world so interesting.
Unlike Geum Dan-Yeop, Jin Mu-Won could not bring himself to smile. He was not amused. He hade here to find Hwang Cheol, but the middle-aged escort was nowhere to be seen.
Why did you kidnap the merchants and make them go berserk? And where are the rest of the missing people?
To answer your first question, it was a warning, Master Jin.
A warning?
Yes, a warning to Heavens Summit.
What in the world
Thats all I can tell you. Find out the rest on your own. Geum Dan-Yeop raised the flute to his mouth to continue ying the Serenade to the Apocalypse.
Sensing that Geum Dan-Yeop wasnt willing to talk further, Jin Mu-Won drew Snow Flower without hesitation.
The remaining Crimson Ghosts leapt at him in a giant wave, while Geum Dan-Yeop focused his sound attacks on him. At the same time, Snow Flower drew an arc through the air as he charged forward and dived right into the fray.
A rain of swords fell from above as the fourth stance of the Shadow de of Destruction, Storm Forest (), was unleashed.
Cheong-In and Kwak Moon-Jung stood outside the entrance to the underground hall, visibly baffled. Lucky for them, they were outside of Geum Dan-Yeops attack range and hence unaffected by the Serenade to the Apocalypse, or they would be in the same state as the Tyrant Fist Sect warriors.
OHMYGAWD! They were from the Silent Night?!
Hyung-nim was a descendant of the Northern Army?!
Not one, but two long-forgotten legends were being revived right before their eyes and were already at each others throats.
Just looking at the fight, they could tell. The era of peace was over, soon to be reced by a new era of chaos and change.
In a trembling voice, Cheong-In whispered, Is this the start of a war for supremacy?
Footnotes:
Chapter 104: Worth More Than A Life (1)
TL: FoodieMonster007; ED: TheGreatT20
Phew! Tang Gi-Mun sighed, straightening his back, while Tang Mi-Ryeo handed him a white towel.
Thank you. Tang Gi-Mun took the towel from her and wiped off the sweat on his face. In front of himy the madmans corpse. He had examined the body all night long without rest, using every technique he knew. As a result, the corpse was covered in dozens of silver needles and discolored by the various poisons that were used during the autopsy.
Did you find out the cause of the madness?
No, I still have a long way to go. Still, there are only a few possibilities left, so as long as I keep trying, Im confident that Ill get to the bottom of this sooner orter.
Thats good news. Tang Mi-Ryeo heaved a sigh of relief.
Are you okay? You look even more haggard than I do.
I-Its nothing.
No, its not. Please tell me about it, Tang Gi-Mun insisted. He had been so absorbed in his work that he had no idea what was going on outside.
Tang Mi-Ryeo was left with no choice but to tell Tang Gi-Mun about the tragedy in Yuxi which had happened during the night. As she described the incident, the blood slowly drained from Tang Gi-Muns face.
Did such a thing really happen in Yuxi?
Yes!
Thats insane! How could they have done such a thing right in the middle of Yuxi? Many innocent civilians must have died! Tang Gi-Mun said, shaking his head sadly. Although both martial artists and ordinary people lived in the gangho, there was always an implicit understanding that martial artists would not involve civilians in their fights.
One of the reasons for that is that whoever harmed civilians would instantly be branded a public enemy, and not even thergest sects could stand up to thebined forces of the rest of the murim. In particr, the orthodox sects, including Heavens Summit, would do their best to prevent open conflicts which would harm their reputations.
As it is, the Tyrant Fist Sect had tantly ignored this unwritten rule andmitted mass genocide. Although they only did it to defeat their enemy who was hiding themselves among the people, their actions had crossed the line.
When we get back to the Tang n, Im going to announce their crime to the world.
Uncle?
I knew all along that Jo Cheon-Woo, the Sect Leader of the Tyrant Fist Sect, was ambitious, but I had no idea he was this ruthless. If you dont stop him now, who knows how many more innocent lives will be sacrificed?
Hes really going to publicize this. Ive never seen him so angry, Tang Mi-Ryeo thought. If Tang Gi-Mun did as he said he would, the world would soon be thrown into chaos.
I wonder what hes doing right now? A certain persons face suddenly appeared in her mind. Master Jin
Jin Mu-Won saved her and her uncle when everyone else had left them for dead. Unlike the others who talked about justice but only ever made empty gestures, he was a man who took action on his beliefs when it counted. How many people could do that, especially when they themselves might be put in danger because of it? At least, Jin Mu-Won was the first such person that Tang Mi-Ryeo had met.
Just remembering his face made her heart pound.
Just then, Song Kyung, who was guarding their residence, said, This ce is off-limits. Please leave.
However, the next thing she knew, Song Kyung seemed to have quietly discussed something with the visitor and let them pass. She could hear the sound of a mans footsteps approaching, until finally, he opened the door.
Are you Master Tang? the visitor asked, looking at Tang Gi-Mun. He was in histe thirties, with neatly tied hair that was wrapped with a white cloth and schrly sky blue robes. Behind him stood a dozen warriors who were armed to the teeth and giving off threatening auras.
Tang Gi-Mun frowned as he replied, Thats right, Im Tang Gi-Mun. Who are you?
The schr smiled and said, I am Dam Ju-In from Heavens Summit.
Are you the emissary who was supposed to meet us here?
Yes, I am a member of Heavens Summits Scarlet Fog Association (Fh).
The Scarlet Fog Association?
Youve probably never heard of it. Were a small group, and even within Heavens Summit, few people know of us, the schr said, but as Tang Gi-Mun was still visibly confused, heughed, took out a letter from his chest pocket, and continued, Master Kwan, the Head Administrator of the Administrative Division, told me to deliver this letter to you.
Master Kwan? He must be talking about Kwan Dae-Seung of the Administrative Division. Ive met him a few times before.
The Nine Skies did not reside within Heavens Summit. They lived in their sects and only went there during special asions. Thus, the daily affairs of Heavens Summit were left to the Administrative Division, led by the Head Administrator Kwan Dae-Seung.
Tang Gi-Mun observed the letter that Dam Ju-In handed to him and noticed Kwan Dae-Seungs seal along with a statement proving his identity.
Fine, Ill trust in Master Kwans rmendation, Tang Gi-Mun concluded with a nod of approval as he took a closer look at Dam Ju-In. At first nce, the emissary appeared to be a run-of-the-mill schr, as he was unarmed and showed no signs of having practiced martial arts before. Still, Tang Gi-Mun couldnt shake off the feeling that there was something oddly repulsive about the man, though he hid his distaste as he had no reason to suspect the man.
Now then, would you mind helping us with the investigation? Ive already started the autopsy of one of the madmens corpses, and with your aid, well know the cause of madness much sooner than if I did it alone.
Theres no longer any need to continue the investigation.
Huh? Why?
Weve already identified the cause of insanity.
Tang Gi-Mun widened his eyes in surprise. When did you do that? Didnt you just arrive here in Yunnan?
Actually, weve already been here for quite some time, and I apologize for concealing that fact from you, Master Tang.
What? Why did you do that? Tang Gi-Mun raised his voice, clearly upset.
However, Dam Ju-In remained expressionless as he replied, I needed someone to distract our enemies while we conducted our investigation.
Tang Gi-Mun and Tang Mi-Ryeo blinked in confusion for a moment, but the true meaning of Dam Ju-Ins statement soon sunk in.
So you used us as bait?
Thanks to you, Master Tang, we of the Scarlet Fog Association couldplete our investigation swiftly and without being noticed. Rest assured that Heavens Summit will greatly reward you for your contribution to our sess, Dam Ju-Inughed.
However, his mirth echoed strikingly in the otherwise silent room, which was instantly nketed in a heavy atmosphere.
Jin Mu-Won looked like he had taken a shower in blood. Every step he took, more corpses fell to the ground around him. He was exhausted, not physically due to his extreme training, but mentally.
Huff! Huff! he panted. His legs felt like they were weighed down by the souls of the dead clutching at his feet and desperately hanging on for fear of being dragged into the underworld.
He had never been surrounded by so much death before, not even ten years ago. Moreover, many of these deaths had been at his own hands. Although he understood that it was kill or be killed, the thought of taking so many lives tormented him.
The blood of countless people now stained Snow Flower, even though it seemed spotless and clean on the surface. The weight of all those lives piled up like a mountain, slowly crushing him.
He felt like he was trudging through a deep swamp, and yet, he did not stop. Geum Dan-Yeop was standing right in front of him, still ying his flute with his eyes closed as he concentrated on the climax of his piece and focused his sound on Jin Mu-Won alone.
The notes he was ying were now so high-pitched that it could not be heard by human ears. Regardless, the sound pierced Jin Mu-Wons eardrums, shaking up his innards despite the shadow chi protecting his heart and ears.
If Jin Mu-Won had been a normal person, his body would have already exploded from the sonic waves, especially since he was Geum Dan-Yeops only target. Even with his strength, blood still spurted out from his nose as the sound overwhelmed his defenses. Ripples appeared on his skin, and his face contorted in pain.
Keuk!
Not only is the Serenade to the Apocalypse more powerful than Id imagined, its power has been amplified several times over by the acoustics of the underground hall. The longer I stall, the more disadvantageous it will be for me. I need to take him down as quickly as I can.
Once his mind was made up, Jin Mu-Won burst into action. He took his left hand off Snow Flowers hilt, holding it with only his right hand, then concentrated his chi in his left index finger and struck Snow Flowers de.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
The sound of Snow Flowers de ringing interfered with Geum Dan-Yeops music, breaking Geum Dan-Yeops concentration. Sensing the momentary opening, Jin Mu-Won immediately closed in with the Flowing Stream Steps.
Geum Dan-Yeop snorted. Jin Mu-Wons unexpected move had taken him by surprise, but it wasnt enough to interrupt his ying. He took a deep breath and blew thest note of the Serenade with all his might.
SCREEEEEEEECH!
The sound attack at a frequency beyond human hearing swallowed up Jin Mu-Won, and Geum Dan-Yeops confidence surged. He did not doubt for a moment that he would kill Jin Mu-Won with this one move.
However, the moment the attack hit him, Jin Mu-Won kicked off the ground and leapt a dozen meters into the air, then hurtled down toward Geum Dan-Yeop. As he fell, he unleashed the Shadow de of Destruction, including techniques such as Meteor Soul, Dividing the Heavenly Seas, and Storm Forest, filling the hall with Snow Flowers afterimages.
WHOOSH! SWOOSH!
Dozens, no, hundreds of swords rained down on Geum Dan-Yeop who, overwhelmed by the magnificent sight, forgot that he was still ying his flute.
So this is the Northern Armys sword technique?
BOOM! CRACK! BANG!
The sound of fireworks exploding echoed throughout the underground hall, scattering dust and broken stone fragments in every direction. Cheong-In and Kwak Moon-Jung, who were hiding outside the entrance, hurriedly crouched down to protect themselves.
When the explosions quieted down, the two of them stuck their heads into the hall, but couldnt see anything through the dust cloud.
Hyung?! Kwak Moon-Jung cried out in a trembling voice, but didnt dare enter the hall.
A few minutester, the dust finally settled, revealing the state of the two men inside. Both Jin Mu-Won and Geum Dan-Yeop were kneeling down on one knee, facing each other.
Geum Dan-Yeop asked, Was that one of the Northern Armys ultimate techniques?
Its called the Shadow de of Destruction.
Haha! To think that the Northern Army sessfully kept everyone in the dark about such a powerful martial art. Amazing, truly amazing Kuheok! Suddenly, Geum Dan-Yeop coughed out blood mixed with bits and pieces of internal organs, then almost immediately after, cut wounds appeared all over his body, drenching him in blood.
In contrast, Jin Mu-Won appeared unharmed on the surface, but the Serenade to the Apocalypse was still ringing in his brain and giving him a headache like he was being hit repeatedly on the head with a hammer. His vision doubled, his lungs struggled to take in air, and nausea threatened to ovee him.
Still, Jin Mu-Won did not take his eyes off Geum Dan-Yeop. Although Geum Dan-Yeop was a descendant of the Silent Night, he could not bring himself to hate the man. Instead, he felt like he could sympathize with him, as a person who was also forgotten by the world.
Geum Dan-Yeop slowly raised his blood-stained face and looked back at Jin Mu-Won, only to see the sad expression on the young mans face. You dont have tobe sad about my death. Ive already achieved my goal. The seeds I sowedwill wake the Silent Night from its slumber. Thats whyI have no regrets.
I know. Youre not a person who would die with regrets.
Haha! As expected, you Ao Mountains Death Valley Go there Geum Dan-Yeops voice trailed off as life faded from his eyes.
Jin Mu-Won silently observed Geum Dan-Yeops final expression. Although his face is bloodied, he seems at peace. Just why is he so desperate? What drove him to such extremes? What does he value more than his own life? I still have a lot of questions to ask him, but he will never answer me again.
You Jin Mu-Won began, but he was interrupted by a sudden windstorm.
Proofreaders Note: Hopefully back to more regr updates. Pray ?? for Trantor Nims well deserved break.
Chapter 105: Worth More Than A Life (2)
TL: FoodieMonster007; ED: TheGreatT20
Jin Mu-Won froze. His senses told him that the instant he moved, his body would be torn apart by a mysterious killing aura.
Whose aura is this?!
The instant Geum Dan-Yeop died, an unknown persons aura had descended upon him. If he had been in peak condition, he would never have gotten caught in such a trap, but he was exhausted and his head was still spinning.
Jin Mu-Won painfully nced behind him, but all he could see was a ck wall. If not for his All-Epassing Sense alerting him to a persons presence, he wouldnt have suspected that there was anything hidden in the darkness.
He squinted his eyes and blinked away the blood and sweat obscuring his vision. Then, he finally saw the ck cloaked man standing in front of the ckened wall. The cloak was oversized and wrapped around the man like the wings of a bat, pping around like a living thing every time the man breathed and asionally revealing the silvery glint of a long spear hidden within.
The man had sharp facial features, and although his skin was badly wrinkled, he didnt look old. Rather, the harsh shadows cast by his wrinkles only seemed to make his appearance even more striking in the dim light as he gazed sadly upon the corpses of Nam Goon-Wi and Geum Dan-Yeop.
For a brief moment, the mans eyes shed with a golden light, but the glow quickly faded.
He probably mastered a martial art that allows him to suppress his emotions. ButI seem to vaguely recall learning of a ck cloaked man with golden glowing eyes before? Who was it Jin Mu-Won was sure that he had never seen this man before, and yet, a distant memory kept nagging at the back of his mind.
No, nows not the time to think about all this. I need to recover as much of my strength as I can. Jin Mu-Won put his doubts aside and concentrated on the Art of Ten Thousand Shadows. There was a lot he wanted to ask the man, but he couldnt afford to waste any of his limited energy reserves on talking.
Fortunately, the man wasnt particrly interested in killing him right away.
Suddenly, the man sighed and grievously said, My apologies, Dan-Yeop, I arrived toote. Even so, why did you have to go this far? He lightly strode toward Geum Dan-Yeops corpse, but the wind stirred mightily with his every step.
Jin Mu-Won narrowed his eyes. Cold sweat dripped down his back, his hair stood up on end, and warning bells went off continually in his head. The ck cloaked mans aura nketed the underground hall with a suffocating pressure so heavy that none except the strongest could remain standing inside.
Hes even stronger than a master. Thest time I met a monster like this, it was in the Northern Army Fortress. The Chaos Demon Tae Mu-Kang and the Witch of the White Night Wait, the Witch of the White Night? The Four Great Demon Lords?
A sudden revtion dawned upon Jin Mu-Won.
To the Silent Night, that living legend was the Divine Spear, but to the Northern Army, he was the Devil Spear.
A ck cloak like a bats wings and a silver spear Hes the ck-Winged Divine Spear ()!
Jin Mu-Won bit his lip until it bled. If he was right, then his situation couldnt possibly get any worse. Even if he managed to recover some of his energy using the Art of Ten Thousand Shadows, it was impossible for him to take on the ck-Winged Divine Spear after fighting Nam Goon-Wi and Geum Dan-Yeop.
The ck-Winged Divine Spear cradled Geum Dan-Yeop in his arms. Dan-Yeop, you were always our golden child. Everyone cherished you and looked forward to your future, but you went and sacrificed yourself to force us out of hiding.
Jin Mu-Won felt his blood run cold. Hes sincerely grieving over Geum Dan-Yeops death. I can clearly hear his sorrowand his rage.
The ck-Winged Divine Spear rose from his position, carrying Geum Dan-Yeops body in his arms, and directed his gaze at Jin Mu-Won. Jin Mu-Won, the little tiger of the Northern Army, he growled, baring his killing intent at the young man.
Do you know me?
How can I not know you? The Northern Army is our Silent Nights nemesis.
I see. Well, I suppose thats to be expected. Ive known for a while that the Silent Night was just keeping a low profile all along.
Yes, but now with the death of Dan-Yeop, the Silent Night will awaken from its long slumber and throw the world into chaos once again, the ck-Winged Divine Spear dered, his eyes once again lighting up with a golden glow.
Jin Mu-Won met the old mans burning gaze. He felt like his eyes were on fire, but he did not turn away.
Dan-Yeop was a much-loved child, and all those who cared about him will do their utmost to fulfill his dying wish. For many years, that child often begged us to leave our cramped refuge for the wider world, but in our despondence and despair, we ignored his cries. In the end, for the sake of his desire, to give us a wakeup call, he gathered the fewrades who shared his beliefs and sacrificed everyone.
In other words, the Silent Night is going to be active again, right?
Look forward to it. The ck-Winged Divine Spear looked up at the dark ceiling lit up by phosphorescent pearls as if it were a starlit night sky. Geum Dan-Yeop had been the Silent Nights star of hope, but his dim light was now extinguished, and as beings who lived in the darkness, they were obliged to seek out their star.
Outside the hall, Cheong-In, who was listening in on Jin Mu-Won and the ck-Winged Divine Spears conversation, shuddered. Damn, is the Silent Nighting back to life? No, from what I can gather, they never perished.
While Cheong-In was too young to have directly experienced the terror of the Silent Nights invasion, as an expert undercover agent, he was privy to ssified information about the Silent Night and understood their formidable strength much better than most. He tried his hardest to remain calm, but his body simply wouldnt stop trembling, instinctively recognizing and responding to the dangerous being that was the ck-Winged Divine Spear.
Next to him, Kwak Moon-Jungs mind wentpletely nk. His brain, having failed to ovee the formidable aura of the ck-Winged Divine Spear, chose to cut off all connections to external stimuli to protect itself.
Blood trickled from Jin Mu-Wons mouth. Although he had recovered a lot of his chi, it still wasnt enough to defend himselfpletely from the direct impact of the ck-Winged Divine Spears killing aura. He knew that he was at a huge disadvantage, but he clenched his teeth and held on. This wasnt the time or ce to show weakness, and he couldnt risk being distracted from recovering his energy.
He could only attempt to stall for time by asking, Why did the Silent Night stay dormant all this time? Was it because of infighting?
Infighting? If only things were that simple. Not everything can be clearly defined as ck or white.
A cut appeared on Jin Mu-Wons forehead even as he frowned in puzzlement. Just like Geum Dan-Yeop, none of the ck-Winged Divine Spears words made any sense without context. Still, there was truth hidden in those riddles that Jin Mu-Won could not take lightly.
The golden gleam in the ck-Winged Divine Spears eyes intensified as he increased the pressure on Jin Mu-Won.
Keuk! Jin Mu-Won grit his teeth even harder and tightened his grip on Snow Flower.
The ck-Winged Divine Spear looked down at Jin Mu-Won and continued, I could kill you right now, but I wont do it. I need you to watch the Central ins pay for their sins with your own eyes.
BA-DUMP!
Jin Mu-Wons heart missed a beat, his veins were on the verge of bursting, and his eyes became bloodshot. Every word that came out of the ck-Winged Divine Spears mouth was infused with his firm belief and power as if he was reciting a prophecy. Even the corpses of Geum Dan-Yeop and the Crimson Ghost Squad were not spared, with multiple new wounds appearing on the bodies.
Just as Jin Mu-Won thought that his endurance had reached its limit, something suddenly changed within him. Without his conscious input, a thumbnail-sized clump of Shadow Chi gathered within his Chi Center, then dissolved into his bloodstream and spread throughout his body like water soaking into a piece of cotton wool.
To repair and revitalize his injured and exhausted body, the Shadow Chi then acted on its own ord and started absorbing energy from his surroundings, in particr, the internal chi that had once belonged to the dead warriors but had scattered upon their demise.
Interestingly, despite the Shadow Chi pulling something so drastic, the ck-Winged Divine Spear remained perfectly unaware of what was happening right in front of his eyes. This was the consequence of one of the unique properties of Shadow Chi: Beingpletely undetectable by those who used normal chi, regardless of their martial arts mastery.
However, the absorbed chi came with side effects. The dead warriors hatred and murderous intent tainted their chi and influenced Jin Mu-Won, threatening to rouse his violent tendencies. Even Snow Flower was affected, crying out from within its sheath and emitting cursed energy.
Upon hearing Snow Flowers cries, the ck-Winged Divine Spear was finally alerted to the unusual phenomenon around Jin Mu-Won. This brat I participated in the war between the Silent Night and the Northern Army from start to end, and few should understand the martial arts of the Northern Army better than I. However, Ive never seen such a strange martial art What is that cursed energy? Even my divine spear hungers for it!
HOWL!
The ck-Winged Divine Spears treasured weapon cried out in response to Snow Flowers energy. That could only mean one thing. Jin Mu-Won wasnt an opponent he should underestimate.
His killing aura soared in anticipation. This is the man who murdered our adorable child Geum Dan-Yeop. I should just kill him now before he bes a bigger threat. In his current state, finishing him off is a piece of cake No, Dan-Yeop wouldnt want that. The ck-Winged Divine Spear shook his head and dispelled his thoughts of killing Jin Mu-Won.
Still, Snow Flower detected the rise in his aura and amplified its cursed energy in response, like a volcano right before an eruption. The tension in the underground hall intensified.
Outside the hall, Cheong-In knew that with this, he had reached his limit. He grabbed Kwak Moon-Jung and immediately fled for the exit. Sure, he was extremely curious to know more about the two people in the hall, but it wasnt worth risking his life for.
Despite sensing the twos escape, Jin Mu-Won and the ck-Winged Divine Spear ignored them and continued facing off each other until suddenly, the ck-Winged Divine Spear said, I could kill you right now, but Dan-Yeop wouldnt be happy about that, so I wont do it. Still, my pride wont allow me to let you leave this ce in one piece.
He raised his hand from the ck cloak, revealing arge silver spear engraved with the image of a ghost sticking out its long tongue, and threw it at Jin Mu-Won like a javelin.
Along with his throw, a dozen rays of light exploded outwards from the spear.
WHOOSH!
Jin Mu-Won clenched his teeth and swung Snow Flower with all his might.
ROAAAAARRRRR!
A storm swept through the underground hall.
Chapter 106: Worth More Than A Life (3)
TL: FoodieMonster007; ED: TheGreatT20
CRASH!
With a deafening crash, the Clear Sky Hall, thergest pavilion in the Baek Family Manor, copsed, kicking up a huge cloud of dust.
ARGHHH! Cheong-In screamed, having narrowly escaped from being crushed underneath the falling rubble. The exit from the secret passage was under the Clear Sky Hall, and if the Hall itself had copsed, that could only mean that the underground space beneath it had also crumbled.
Cheong-Ins eyes went wide with terror. If he had dyed escaping just a moment longer, he would be dead.
Wait, what about that guy? he mumbled, wondering if Jin Mu-Won, who was facing off against the ck-Winged Divine Spear, had survived.
That was no ordinary battle. It was a sh between the Silent Night and the Northern Army, and a signal that heralded the resurrection of both legends. Moreover, like it or not, he would now be associated with Jin Mu-Won and dragged into the mess.
Cheong-In shuddered, and his heart sank. All of the information that I collected before is now useless. Ill need to start over from scratch. Damn, thats harsh. I cant do this alone.
Suddenly, a tremor disturbed the wreckage of the Clear Sky Hall. Cheong-In raised his arms in defense and gathered as much chi as he could.
A hand creepily popped out of the rubble, followed by a man covered in dust from head to toe. It was Jin Mu-Won.
Youre alive! Cheong-In eximed.
For the first time ever, Jin Mu-Won looked pathetic. Dust and dirt had gotten into his open wounds, and his reddish-brown martial arts outfit was torn to rags.
Keuk! With a groan, Jin Mu-Won fell on one knee. There was a hole the size of a coin in his side, as if a spinning drill was shoved through his body. He hurriedly applied pressure on the wound to stop the bleeding, but to no avail.
Cheong-In immediately rushed over to him, asking, Hey, are you okay?
No, Im not, Jin Mu-Won growled, taking out a wooden box from his chest pocket with trembling hands. Although the slight movement opened his wounds and intensified his bleeding, this was hisst chance at survival. The box was the parting gift he had received from Tang Gi-Mun when they went their separate ways near the Tyrant Fist Sect, and contained the Red Silver Elixir (ty).1
Jin Mu-Won swallowed the Red Silver Elixir and began to meditate, while Cheong-In watched him with mixed feelings.
To think that this man was the heir to the Northern Army all along I previously wrote him off as just another wanderer or hermit who doesnt have much influence over the gangho despite his ridiculous martial arts. But if hes the sessor to the Northern Army, that changes everything.
There are still many people in the gangho who support the Northern Army, and if they start gathering around Jin Mu-Won No, Heavens Summit would never allow that. Once his existence bes a threat to them, theyll eliminate him.
Cheong-Ins mind swirled. He could already see Jin Mu-Won altering the status quo of the gangho. He lost himself in thought for a long time, but in the end, he came to a conclusion.
Regardless of what happens in the future, we have to first cover up the fact that this man is thest heir to the Northern Army. The resurrection of the Silent Night is already enough to spread mass confusion, and throwing Jin Mu-Won into the mix would be like adding fuel to the fire.
Ill have to make up a fake past for him. I wont be able to fool Heavens Summit forever, but it should suffice for the time being. Additionally, if I can get the ck Moons cooperation, altering his background would be easy, but Ill have to think up a good excuse to convince them No, as long as I tell them the truth about Jin Mu-Wons existence causing more chaos in the gangho, theyll definitely help me.
Cheong-Ins heart raced as he shot Jin Mu-Won aplicated look filled with both excitement and anxiety. The Swordsman from the NorthThe Northern de, will you be a harbinger of turbulent times or amp that brightens up the world?
The winds blew outwards from Yunnan, carrying an unbelievable rumor with them: The Silent Night had returned. Theirst sign of activity was ten years ago, when they had made a brief appearance at the Northern Army Fortress, but it seemed that this time, they were here to stay.
The contents of the rumor spoke of therge number of casualties caused by the fight between the Silent Night and the Tyrant Fist Sect, turning Yuxi into a city of death. This rumor, whose origin was unknown, quickly spread throughout the Central ins like wildfire, sending the gangho into a panic.
For the first time in decades, the crippling fear that had gripped the masses in times long past was reignited, and Heavens Summit went on high alert.
Meanwhile, stories also spread of a young swordsman from the North who appeared in the vicinity of Kongtong Sect, near the border between Gansu and Sichuan, and overpowered the first-ss disciples of Kongtong as well as their First Senior Brother Mu-Jin. After that, he traveled south to Yunnan, rescued the Tang n warriors from the Crimson Ghost Squad along the way, and then yed an instrumental role in the Battle of Yuxi.
His sword technique was unlike anything the world had ever seen before, and his strength unrivaled, among his peers. Besides the fact that his name was Jin Mu-Won, and that he hailed from the North, everything about his past was shrouded in mystery.
Thus, people started referring to him as the Northern de ().
However, not everyone agreed that the Northern de surpassed, or was equal to the Seven Junior Skies, the best young warriors in the gangho. The Seven Junior Skies all had powerful sects and ns behind them, which meant that not only were they good at martial arts, they also wielded significant political influence. It was unfair topare the Northern de, a lone wanderer, with privileged folks like that.
Still, most people acknowledged that the Northern de definitely ranked among the top young martial artists in the murim and began to talk about him more, especially since he had taken part in the fight against the resurrected Silent Night.
Unknown to most, the origin of the rumor, a certain ck Moon spy named Cheong-In, was using the resources of the ck Moon to travel all over the Central ins and announce Jin Mu-Wons existence to the world, engraving the young man into the annals of murim history.
Said young man, however, was more concerned with other issues, such as his missing uncle Hwang Cheol.
A few days after the Battle of Yuxi, Jin Mu-Won inspected his wounds. After ingesting Tang Gi-Muns Red Silver Elixir, his internal injuries were almostpletely healed. In addition, the elixir had also boosted his chi and increased his resistance to poisons. As for his external injuries, although they werentpletely healed, they had stopped bleeding and scabbed over. In his current state, traveling should be possible.
Suddenly, Kwak Moon-Jung opened the door and entered, holding a ragged set of reddish-brown clothes. Im done fixing it up, Hyung, he said, unfolding the mended clothes and showing them to Jin Mu-Won.
The needlework was shoddy, and the remains of the original cloth made up less than half of the final mended robe, the rest being made up of patches. Although Kwak Moon-Jung had tried his best to fix the badly damaged clothes, he was clearly no tailor.
Its the thought that counts. Impressed, Jin Mu-Won took the outfit from the boy, put it on without hesitation, and said, Im truly blessed to call you my younger brother. Thank you.
Ehehe! Kwak Moon-Jung giggled. As Jin Mu-Won had previously told him that his clothes were a gift from Hwang Cheol, hed taken the initiative to mend the clothes even if he had to pull an all-nighter.
Jin Mu-Won looked at Kwak Moon-Jung. Within the span of a few days, the teenager had matured remarkably. His eyes seemed more contemtive, and his face brimmed with resolve. Although the cruelty of the Tyrant Fist Sect and the Silent Night had shaken him to his core, it had also inadvertently helped him reflect on himself and his motivations.
Besides his mental growth, Kwak Moon-Jungs martial arts had also improved noticeably. The boys helplessness as he witnessed the brutality in Yuxi spurred him on to train furiously for thest few days, culminating in a significant breakthrough.
Jin Mu-Won dly epted Kwak Moon-Jungs change. There was no way he could fault the boy for earnestly pursuing the path that he had chosen.
He strapped Snow Flower to his waist and walked out of the Peace Inn, where he had been staying with Kwak Moon-Jung ever since they had first entered Yuxi. Many homes and structures were destroyed or burned down during the massacre, but fortunately, the inn was one of the few that were spared.
As he left the building, he turned toward a strange old man sweeping the yard and said, Thank you.
H-Huh? Do I know you?
Instead of answering, Jin Mu-Won simply smiled knowingly.
The old mans face instantly soured. Ahh, Im going to go crazy. How did you find out? My disguise is perfect!
As it turned out, the old man was actually Cheong-In in disguise.
Kwak Moon-Jungs jaw dropped. How on earth does Hyung recognize him right away every single time? I just cant get used to his constantly changing appearance!
Opposite him, Cheong-In was no less confused. Ive tested my disguises on countless people, including martial masters, but I have never been discovered before! How the hell is Jin Mu-Won immediately seeing through all of my perfect disguises?
Suddenly, arge, noisy group of martial artists disembarked from five horse wagons and entered the inn. Jin Mu-Won and Kwak Moon-Jung nced at them out of curiosity and realized that they knew these people.
Simrly, the warriors also noticed them. What a coincidence! Are you guys staying here too? Its good to see you again, huhu! one of them said.
Its good to see you too, Commander Yong, Jin Mu-Won said, then greeted the rest of the group, which consisted of the Iron Brigade led by Yong Mu-Sung and the White Dragon Merchant Association led by Gong Jin-Sung and Yoon Seo-In.
Contrary to their boisterous leader, Jongri Mu-Hwan and the other members of the Iron Brigade were visibly disgruntled at running into Jin Mu-Won, though they still sullenly returned the young mans greeting as if they had been forced into it.
Ive been hearing a lot about you and your aplishments these past couple of days. Youve gone and really made a name for yourself!
What are you talking about?
Wait, didnt you know? Everyones talking about you, the new star of the gangho. Theyre calling you the Northern de (), seriously, the Northern de!
Jin Mu-Won slowly turned to stare at Cheong-In, who hurriedly avoided his gaze and pretended to be sweeping the yard.
Why are there so many fallen leaves? Theres no end to it. Oh my!
Seeing Cheong-Ins poor attempt to hide his culpability, Kwak Moon-Jung pped a hand over his mouth to hide hisughter.
Anyway, Im d I ran into you.
Did you get the information you wanted from the Tyrant Fist Sect?
Yong Mu-Sung shook his head, replying, Dont even mention that shithole. Those bastards literally kicked us out of there.
What happened?
Just as we were about to finalize our agreement with the Tyrant Fist Sect, a bunch of warriors from Heavens Summit suddenly came charging in and med them for the Yuxi Massacre. Thanks to that, I doubt the Tyrant Fist Sect will be open to outsiders for a while
Well, even if Heavens Summit hadnt shown up, the public has already lost faith in the Tyrant Fist Sect. Evidence against them is being found one after another, and with the death of Yeop Pyung, the person-in-charge of the Yuxi dispatch, the Tyrant Fist Sect doesnt have a scapegoat to shove the me on.
Still, although the tensions between Heavens Summit and the Tyrant Fist Sect seem to have reached a climax, I dont think theyll actuallye to blows. Theres definitely a huge divide between them that wont be healed for a very long time though. What a headache.
Jin Mu-Won narrowed his eyes. Judging from this, the seeds that Geum Dan-Yeop sowed are already starting to sprout. Is this worldwide chaos the thing you considered worth more than your own life?
Proofreaders Note: First chapter of the new year! Hope you all had a great 2022 and cheers to an even better 2023 and onwards.
Footnotes:
Chapter 108: The Gathering Storm (1)
TL: FoodieMonster007; ED: TheGreatT20
Jin Mu-Won and Kwak Moon-Jung left the inn, the warriors of the Iron Brigade trailing right behind them.
Whenever Jin Mu-Won turned around to look at the Iron Brigade, Yong Mu-Sung would avoid his gaze and whistle innocuously. However, as soon as he resumed walking, Yong Mu-Sung would continue following him.
Eventually, to Yong Mu-Sungs delight, Jin Mu-Won gave up, sighed, and asked, How long are you going to follow me?
Huh? Me? Following you? Nah, I just happen to be going the same way as you.
Then, please go ahead. I do not wish to block your way.
No! Id rather walk behind you Besides, dont you need someone to watch your back?
Chae Yak-Ran and Jongri Mu-Hwans faces immediately flushed red with embarrassment at Yong Mu-Sungs barefaced lie, while the other members of the Iron Brigade burst intoughter.
In the end, Jongri Mu-Hwan stepped forward and said, Apologies for our rudeness, Master Jin. I know its shameless of us, but youre the only one we can count on right now.
What do you mean?
Hoo Jongri Mu-Hwan let out a deep sigh and looked at Jin Mu-Won with mixed feelings before continuing, Master Jin, would you mind sharing the information you have with us?
As the Tyrant Fist Sect hade under pressure from Heavens Summit, the negotiations between them and the Iron Brigade had quickly fallen apart. To the Iron Brigade who had been pinning their hopes on the Tyrant Fist Sect, that had been like a bolt from the blue. The time they had spent there waspletely wasted.
Also, for thest several days, they hadnt obtained any new information. On the other hand, Jin Mu-Won had made much more significant progress in the investigation and even fought with the Silent Night, the culprits behind the missing person cases. As such, Jongri Mu-Hwan figured that if anyone had clues about the missing peoples whereabouts, it was Jin Mu-Won.
Unfortunately, Jin Mu-Won wasnt someone they could bully or trick into talking. Although Jin Mu-Won had acted like a naive brat when he rescued the Tang n members who were being hunted down by the Silent Night, he was capable enough that none of the affairs hed stuck his nose in had ended badly.
Staying calm and making the most out of a bad situation is not something a child can do. Whether I like it or not, Jin Mu-Won is an amazing warrior who can bring about even more desirable oues than me, a strategist. As much as I hate him, I have no choice but to acknowledge hispetence as a martial artist. Thats why, no matter how exasperating it is and how much it hurts my pride, Id still rather obtain his help toplete my mission than fail it.
Besides, people never pay attention to the details of a mission, only the final results. As long as we find and rescue those missing people, the Iron Brigades status and reputation will rise by leaps and bounds, Jongri Mu-Hwan reasoned.
Taken aback by Jongri Mu-Hwans sudden request, Jin Mu-Won stared at him, trying to read his mind through the window of his eyes, but the strategist avoided meeting his gaze. He turned toward the other Iron Brigade members, but the result was the same. Only Yong Mu-Sung reacted differently.
Hahaha! Isnt it better to have more people working together on this? Lets not be so harsh to each other. If you help us, the Iron Brigade will owe you a huge debt, Yong Mu-Sungughed, cing a hand on Jin Mu-Wons shoulder as if they were friends.
Seeing Yong Mu-Sungs lousy and desperate act, Kwak Moon-Jung burst outughing.
Hes right, I stand to gain if the Iron Brigade owes me a debt, Jin Mu-Won thought. I dont really like them, but as long as Im a part of the gangho, I may need their help someday. As the saying goes, there are no such things as eternal enemies or allies.
Jin Mu-Won nodded and said, Fine, well search for the missing people together.
Really? Hehe! Thats a great idea! Yong Mu-Sung grinned and thumped Jin Mu-Won on the shoulder.
Jongri Mu-Hwan heaved a sigh of relief. Now they could openly, shamelessly follow Jin Mu-Wons lead.
Where are you headed, anyway? Yong Mu-Sung asked.
Im going to the Ao Mountains.1
The Ao Mountains? Yong Mu-Sung and the Iron Brigade warriors eximed in surprise.
The Ao Mountains was a mountain range located not far from Yuxi. The mountain peaks pierced the clouds, and the cliffs were sheer and steep. Colossal trees over a hundred years old dotted the slopes, and poisonous snakes and ferocious predators called it their home. It was a magnificent mountain range that stretched for over three hundred miles.
However, it was also notorious for being so difficult to traverse that many people who had lived in Yuxi all their lives never approached the Ao Mountains. Even so, Jin Mu-Won didnt have a choice. The Death Valley in the Ao Mountains was the only clue he had gleaned from Geum Dan-Yeop before his death, and he had to take the risk even if it turned out to be a trap. Still, with the extra manpower from the Iron Brigade, finding the Death Valley within those peaks should be much easier and safer.
After confirming their destination, Yong Mu-Sung gave two horses to Jin Mu-Won and Kwak Moon-Jung. The clock was ticking, and the faster they found the missing persons, the more likely they were to be alive.
Half a dayter, the group arrived at the Ao Mountains. Now that they were here, the mountains seemed even more insurmountable than the stories.
Jin Mu-Won said to Yong Mu-Sung, Lets split up into small groups and search for the Death Valley. Take care not to move alone as it might get dangerous.
Got it.
Yong Mu-Sung turned to the Iron Brigade warriors and shouted, Heard that, boys? Split yourselves up into pairs and search for the Death Valley. If you find it, whistle to signal the rest of us.
On it! the warriors replied, before scattering in every direction.
Jin Mu-Won partnered with Kwak Moon-Jung and was also about to head off when Chae Yak-Ran, the Vice-Commander of the Iron Brigade, requested to join them.
I have a feeling that youll be the first one to find the Death Valley. Do you mind if I join you?
No, Im fine with it.
Thank you. I swear I wont be a burden to you.
With that, Chae Yak-Ran joined Jin Mu-Wons party and searched the Ao Mountains. However, no matter where they went, they never ran into any hunters or woodcutters.
Chae Yak-Ran shook her head, saying, The mountains feel haunted. No wonder no onees here to gather resources.
If even she, a martial artist, experienced it, then normal folk would only feel worse.
Kwak Moon-Jung rubbed the goosebumps on his arms and agreed, adding, Yeah, this ce is creepy. If any bandits decided to build their base here, Im sure not even the government would be able to do anything about them.
All mountains emanated different kinds of energies. Some had yang energy, and some had yin energy. Some were drenched in the water element, while others were enveloped by wind. Depending on the type and strength of the energy, people could either feel refreshed or ufortable.
In particr, yin energy dominated the Ao Mountains, making it a ce where people attracted to such energies, such as bandits and criminals, gathered and flourished.
You know, Master Jin is a very unique person.
Really?
Sometimes, hes really hardheaded and stuffy, but other times, he goes wild and does the unthinkable. We dont see a person with these two opposing qualities very often.
Kwak Moon-Jung nodded in agreement. Chae Yak-Rans observation was on point. Jin Mu-Won was a person who was kind and generous to those in his inner circle, but treated strangers coldly and kept them at a distance. Although he was polite to everyone, it was painfully clear that he drew a line between the people he knew and those he didnt.
It probably wont be long before you rise to fame, Master Jin. However, the more one stands out, the more they must learn to lower their head and make concessions. There is no ce for a stubborn maverick in todays gangho. I know that you dont approve of Jongri Mu-Hwans ways, but its a fact that weve survived this long thanks to him. Thats why, I hope that you can look past the surface and get along with him, Chae Yak-Ran suggested. She had chosen to join Jin Mu-Wons group just to convey this message to him, but she wasnt going to force him to ept her view of the world. It was up to Jin Mu-Won what he wanted to do.
Thank you for your sincere advice, I will keep your words in mind, Jin Mu-Won replied.
Chae Yak-Ran let out the breath she had been holding. Phew, Im d that hes a man who listens to reason. If a martial artist as powerful as he stays set in his ways, then hes a danger not only to himself, but everyone else around him.
Suddenly, Jin Mu-Won stopped searching randomly and made a beeline for a deep canyon with smooth, sheer cliffs like someone had sheared it off with a de.
Did he find something? Chae Yak-Ran diligently followed behind Jin Mu-Won.
As they entered the canyon, a fog so thick that one could barely see an inch ahead of them surrounded the group, and a ghostly ambience filled the air.
I think weve found the Death Valley, Jin Mu-Won said.
Chae Yak-Rans eyes widened in shock. She knew that Jin Mu-Won had good instincts, but he had found the Death Valley so effortlessly that it was uncanny. She quickly came back to her senses, however, and whistled to signal the rest of the Iron Brigade.
Her whistle echoed across the cliffs and was transmitted a long distance away to the ears of the searching warriors, who quickly made their way to where she was. Yong Mu-Sung, the first person to show up, asked, Did you find it?
Jin Mu-Won answered, The feeling of death here is very strong. This should be it.
Really? Then lets go inside right away. Do you mind taking the lead? Like Chae Yak-Ran, Yong Mu-Sung did not doubt Jin Mu-Won judgment for a moment.
Jin Mu-Won nodded, then entered the Death Valley and unhesitatingly led the group through the thickening fog and worsening visibility, his All-Epassing Cognizance helping him pinpoint the way forward.
Whats with this aura of death? The Ao Mountains may be known for its dense yin energy, but this is too extreme. Feeling the humid air stuck to his skin and the increasingly oppressive feeling weighing on his heart, Yong Mu-Sungs expression hardened. He sent a telepathic message to the Iron Brigade members to remain on high alert and ced a hand on his Dragon Scale Dao, ready to draw it at any moment.
Suddenly, Jin Mu-Won stopped in his tracks.
Whats wrong? Yong Mu-Sung asked.
Jin Mu-Won pointed toward the fog ahead of them and replied, The fog there is unusually concentrated, to the point where its tangible.
Youre right, its like a wall made out of fog.
I think thats a part of a formation.
A formation? Yong Mu-Sung muttered, then immediately summoned Jongri Mu-Hwan, the foremost expert on formations in the Iron Brigade. Can you tell what kind of formation that is? he asked.
I think its abination of an illusion formation and a maze formation. Ill need some time to break it, so please step back and wait for a while.
Alright!
Jin Mu-Won and Yong Mu-Sung did as Jongri Mu-Hwan requested, and Jongri Mu-Hwan stepped forward to take the lead. As everyone watched him with bated breaths, he ced a hand on the fog wall, closed his eyes, and mumbled under his breath as he analyzed the formation.
One hourter, Jongri Mu-Hwan finally opened his eyes and concluded, Its abination of the Myriad Disorientation Formation (f·) and the Mirrored Illusion Formation (~RӰ).
Can you break it?
I think so. Commander and Master Jin, please stand in the Qian (North) and Kan (East) positions respectively, and prepare to strike the formation using all of your chi. As for the rest of you
Jongri Mu-Hwan handed out orders, organizing the Iron Brigade members into different positions to dismantle the formation. Then, when he was satisfied, he shouted, NOW!
At Jongri Mu-Hwans signal, everyone attacked the formation in tandem, with Jin Mu-Won swinging Snow Flower and Yong Mu-Sung using his Dragon Scale Dao.
RUMBLE!
The fog wall shuddered like a wounded beast for a moment before finally giving in and dispersing.
Footnotes:
Chapter 109: The Gathering Storm (3)
TL: FoodieMonster007; ED: TheGreatT20
Jin Mu-Won stared at the man with guarded eyes, and the man stared back at him without saying a word. Before they could do anything else, two people pushed their way through the crowd of warriors and walked up to Jin Mu-Won.
Thank goodness youre safe!
Master Jin.
They were Tang Gi-Mun and Tang Mi-Ryeo.
Master Tang, Miss Tang, who
This is Dam Ju-In, a detective from the Heavens Summit Administration Division, Tang Gi-Mun introduced.
The man in the light blue robe, Dam Ju-In, approached Jin Mu-Won and said, Greetings! I am Dam Ju-In from Heavens Summit.
Jin Mu-Won.
It is truly an honor to meet the newest rising star of the Gangho, Master Jin. Dam Ju-In smiled and met Jin Mu-Wons gaze.
For a moment, Jin Mu-Won felt a strong sense of difort, for although Dam Ju-In was clearly smiling, his gaze was frighteningly cold.
First of all, on behalf of Heavens Summit, I would like to thank you for your hard work. Without you, we wouldnt have been able to control the scale of the Yuxi Massacre.
A massacre is not something that can be controlled.
Still, we do our best.
How did you find this ce?
Weve been keeping a close eye on the enemys movements for a while, although I must say Im surprised that you managed to find this ce before us.
Despite Jin Mu-Wons sharp voice, Dam Ju-In wasnt the least bit fazed. Looking at the schrly mans calm face, Jin Mu-Won realized that he was very used to such things.
In every organization, there are people who are in charge of cleaning up after other peoples messes. This man must be one of them. Hes someone who never loses hisposure, who makes you believe that he can solve any problem, and whos so capable that its hard to deal with him.
Master Jin.
Speak.
Youve worked hard, so why dont you take a break and let us take care of the rest? Of course, we at Heavens Summit will always be grateful for your contributions.
Jin Mu-Won frowned.
However, Dam Ju-In disregarded his opinion and continued, While I know that Master Jin is a powerful martial artist, this is not a job for one person. Mercenary groups like the Iron Brigade are also hardly used to this kind of work. As representatives of Heavens Summit, we hereby volunteer to quarantine and treat these madmen in your stead.
You know how to cure their madness?
Were not sure yet, but Im confident it wont be long before we figure it out, so please trust us, Master Jin, Dam Ju-In replied politely, though there was an undertone of intimidation in his voice. Behind him, the martial artists of the Scarlet Fog Association stood in formation and released their auras, increasing the tension in the air.
Yong Mu-Sungs eyebrows furrowed. He didnt like being threatened, but at the same time, he didnt want to act rashly. The opponent was Heavens Summit, the ruling faction of the gangho. If he offended them, not only would the Iron Brigade lose their ce in the gangho, he himself would be dragged into a lot of trouble.
Jin Mu-Won took a quick look at Yong Mu-Sung and the Iron Brigade. The looks on their faces told him that they had made their decision.
Dam Ju-In bowed to Jin Mu-Won and said, I beg you to respect my request, Master Jin.
Now that Dam Ju-In hade this far, Jin Mu-Won realized that he had been cleverly backed into a corner. By forgoing his pride, Dam Ju-In had taken away any excuse Jin Mu-Won might have had to refuse. Only an experienced and shrewd politician could do such a thing.
Dam Ju-In Compared to straightforward martial artists, cunning men like him are the hardest to deal with At this point, Jin Mu-Won realized it was time for him to step down.
Ill leave the rest of the victims to you, then.
Thank you. I swear on the honor of Heavens Summit that we will resolve this matter with utmost sincerity. By the way Dam Ju-Ins gaze fell on the ck box in Jin Mu-Wons hand. That box is emitting a very powerful poison. Is that the cause of the madness?
Would you mind handing it over to us for analysis? Once we know the cause, it will be easier to treat the patients.
Rather than Heavens Summit, I think Master Tang would be more suited to the task.
Of course, we will invite Master Tang to take part in the study of the poison. Until then, please rest assured that it will be safe in my hands. Dam Ju-In extended a hand to Jin Mu-Won.
Jin Mu-Won looked at Tang Gi-Mun, who sighed and nodded in resignation.
He handed the ck box to Dam Ju-In, saying, I sincerely hope you can find a cure for the madness.
Dont worry, Master Jin. We are Heavens Summit.
I see. Then
As Jin Mu-Won made to leave, Dam Ju-In suddenly added, Please stop by Heavens Summit sometime in the future, Master Jin. Im sure the people at the top would be delighted to meet you. Ill leave a message with the guards at the outer courtyard, so feel free toe whenever you feel like it.
Ill think about it.
The gates of Heavens Summit are always open, Master Jin, Dam Ju-In deliberately remarked, before turning around and returning to his work.
Jin Mu-Won watched him go for a while before also leaving, Tang Gi-Mun and the Iron Brigade trailing after him.
As soon as Jin Mu-Won was out of earshot, the polite smile on Dam Ju-Ins face vanished. He coldly looked in the direction where Jin Mu-Won had disappeared and asked, Jin Mu-Won, was it? Ive definitely heard the name before somewhere, but is he really thest survivor of the now defunct Iron Sword Sect?
Yes. Ive confirmed it with the ck Moon, so it must be true, one of Dam Ju-Ins henchmen replied. Whether it was Heavens Summit or Dam Ju-In personally, the ck Moon was one of their most trusted sources of information.
The Iron Sword Sect was a small sect that had operated for several decades in Jinchang City, Gansu Province. Unfortunately, the area was so inhospitable that they couldnt take on many disciples and fell into decline, before finally dissolving and bing forgotten. The only notable thing about them was their swordsmanship, which was rumored to be so great that before the sects lineage was cut off, few sects within Gansu could rival them.
If he is indeed the heir to the Iron Sword Sect, then the fact that he traveled south with the White Dragon Merchant Association makes sense, but somehow, I have a feeling theres more to it.
If it bothers you, we can get rid of him right away
Its not that easy, especially now that hes no longer an unknown nobody. We should focus on our own mission and leave him to the rest of the Administration Division. What happened here must not be allowed to leak out.
Yes sir!
Take care not to leave the slightest trace of our involvement.
Yes sir, Ill start right away, the henchman replied grimly, then left to organize the Scarlet Fog Association warriors.
Finally alone, Dam Ju-In squeezed the ck box in his grip until it shattered. The Silent Night Well done. Thanks to you, Im going to have a huge headache cleaning up this bullshit, he mumbled.
A solitary figure walked alone across a barren wastnd with not a de of grass or tree in sight, leaving deep footprints in his wake as he dragged a heavy ck coffin behind him. As far as the eye could see, there was nothing but reddish-brown earth. The strong wind rattled his bones, and the sky was the color of ash, as if a storm were about to strike.
Judging by the mans loose ck robe and the shiny silver spear on his back, he could only be the Silent Nights ck-Winged Divine Spear.
He paused and let out a sigh. His legs felt abnormally heavy. As a practitioner of demonic arts, his chi was heavily contaminated and could not be used for prolonged periods of time. Furthermore, more than the weight of the coffin he was dragging, it was the weight of the karma crushing his chest that slowed his progress.
Hoo He steadied his ragged breathing and continued walking.
Half a dayter, he finally saw his destination: a small vige nestled at the base of arge cliff. A river of ochre-colored water flowed in front of the vige, and only a long rope connected the cliffside vige to the outside world.
The ck-Winged Divine Spear regarded the vige for a moment. Even though the vige at the base of the cliffs consisted mostly of simple grass huts, the streets were spotless, and the trees nted throughout the vige were well cared for. He tied the coffin to his back, grabbed the rope and quickly rappelled down the cliff. Interestingly, the thin rope did not snap or fray despite the extra weight.
As soon as the ck-Winged Divine Spear appeared on the street, the doors and windows of the houses opened one by one, and the townspeople came out to greet him. However, when they noticed the ck coffin on his back, the joy on their faces was instantly reced by horror.
The grim look on the ck-Winged Divine Spears face was contagious. The vige quickly fell silent, and not a single person dared to speak to him.
He walked through the vige and knocked on the door of the grass hut in the middle of the vige. A momentter, an elderly bard who appeared to be in histe fifties opened the door.
Wee ba No, it cant be?! The bard was about to greet the ck-Winged Divine Spear when he saw the ck coffin.
Im sorry.
The ck-Winged Divine Spear only apologized, but the old bard instinctively understood what had happened. I knewit would end like this. Come in, he said, his voice shaking.
The ck-Winged Divine Spear sighed inwardly and entered the old bards home, which was even more austere than it appeared from the outside. There was not a single piece of furniture inside, except for a few musical instruments like a pipa and a qin. He carefully ced the ck coffin on the floor.
With trembling hands, the old bard opened the coffin, revealing Geum Dan-Yeops corpse. He reached out and slowly caressed the young mans face. The icy feeling on his fingertips brought tears to his eyes.
Dan-Yeop.
Geum Dan-Yeop had been his favorite disciple. He had raised the child ever since he was a baby and even changed his diapers personally. In turn, the child had loved him like his own parent and soaked in everything hed taught him like a sponge.
asionally, he had been concerned that Geum Dan-Yeop was too bright for his own good, but the boy had always been independent and cautious, so hed dismissed his worries as irrational. He hoped that his student would quietly live a normal life, but Geum Dan-Yeop was never a bird that he could keep caged.
Thus, he wasnt suprised that when he had matured both as an adult and as a martial artist, Geum Dan-Yeop had urged them all to go outside. The young people eagerly agreed with him, but the older ones strongly opposed the idea. Unable to fulfill his desire, he took his young followers with him and went out into the world.
Now he has finally returned, but as a cold corpse. Looking at his lifeless disciple, the old bard felt like his heart was being torn to shreds. He mourned for a while, then looked up at the ck-Winged Divine Spear with bloodshot eyes and demanded, Who was it? Who did this to my child?
A boy named Jin Mu-Won. Thest heir of the Northern Army.
Jin Mu-Won of the Northern Army. To think that our bad karma has been passed on to the next generation! The old bard stood up, a tremendous aura radiating from him. He was the former Celestial Sound Demon (ħ), Yoon Cheon-Hak, and he was furious.
Sensing the old bards killing intent, the ck-Winged Divine Spear narrowed his eyes.
As an elder of the Silent Night, I hereby formally request a grand assembly. I want all Four Great Demon Lords present, not a single one missing!
You
This child may have fallen, but I will not let his dreams die with him.
The ck-Winged Divine Spear looked at Geum Dan-Yeops body. In the end, you got what you wanted. Are you satisfied, Dan-Yeop? Now that Yoon Cheon-Hak has called for a grand assembly, every warrior of the Silent Night wille out of hiding and the world will fall into chaos once again.
Hoo The ck-Winged Divine Spear sighed softly, unheard by anyone else. He moved a hand to his shoulder, flinching at the sudden sting of pain when he touched it.
The Northern de.
The wound Jin Mu-Won had inflicted on him was not healing.
Chapter 110: Old Dragons Fall As Young Dragons Rise (1)
TL: FoodieMonster007; ED: TheGreatT20
Jo Cheon-Woos eyes appeared more cid than ever, but there was a fury in them that he couldnt hide. A fat man in his early forties sat before him, his narrow fox eyes almost hidden by his flesh, while the fat creases of his skin protruded through his chair.
Oh my, its kind of hot here. The man joked, wiping the sweat from his brow with a handkerchief.
In response, Jo Cheon-Woos eyes grew even colder.
The fatty continued to wipe the sweat off his forehead, unperturbed, even though a normal person would be shivering and unable to breathe at this point.
Finally, Jo Cheon-Woo said, Let me guess, Heavens Summit sent you here to officially force me to ede to their demands.
Not at all, we just hope that you would restrain yourself a little until the whole Yunnan saga settles downUgh, its so hot here!
As expected of Heavens Summit. Jo Cheon-Woo clenched his fists tightly. A tremendous surge of power exploded out of him, causing the guards outside the room to tremble in fear.
However, the fat man was unfazed. He was the Golden Armored Divine Lord Heo Dong-Cheon, one of the ten elders of Heavens Summit and a master of the Golden Turtle Divine Art (), a martial art that maximizes defense by concentrating internal energy in the flesh, making one impervious to most attacks and able to counterattack with recoil. His unusually rotund appearance andyers of blubber were actually evidence of this mastery, which is why, despite his unattractive appearance, he was often sent to disputed areas as a messenger of Heavens Summit.
The civilian casualties in Yuxi number in the tens of thousands. Youve gone too far, and its affected public opinion. The people are outraged.
Didnt that cause the Silent Night toe out of hiding? Just that one great aplishment should be sufficient to offset any punishment.
Well, those abovedont agree.
By above, do you mean the Nine Skies? Jo Cheon-Woos brow twitched.
Heo Dong-Cheon knew that Jo Cheon-Woo was offended by his words, but he didnt care. Who could it be but them? he said.
Im not afraid of them.
I know that, which is why youve done such a ridiculous thing.
How dare you!
Now is the time for self-restraint. I know youre ambitious, but shouldnt that kind of behavior be saved for when the Tyrant Fist Sect is in charge?
Jo Cheon-Woo grimaced and his shoulders trembled with rage and humiliation. He felt like smashing in Heo Dong-Cheons face right there and then, but if he did that, he would automatically turn Heavens Summit against him, and that was thest thing he wanted to do for now.
All of the martial artists he had sent to Yuxi were dead. Decades of training and investment, wasted in one fell swoop. The Tyrant Fist Sects power was halved, which meant that they now had topete with the Diancang Sect for supremacy in Yunnan. It was humiliating.
Fuck you, Yeop Pyung, even though you sounded so confident Jo Cheon-Woo gritted his teeth as he thought of Yeop Pyung, who was found dead in Yuxi. With the mans death, he had lost his scapegoat and ended up bing the one at fault instead. Rather than mourning his former subordinate, he was furious at his ipetence.
Across from him, Heo Dong-Cheons smirk widened as he gained the upper hand. Right from the beginning, he knew that Jo Cheon-Woo never had any choice but to ept his offer. This is good news for Heavens Summit, as we now have an excuse to restrict and control one of thewless Northern Pirs.
We can take our time dealing with the Silent Night. Even though they revealed themselves, theyll still need quite a bit of time to reorganize their armies. On the other hand, Heavens Summit has already made all the preparations to face them immediately.
Jo Cheon-Woo took a deep breath to calm himself down. So, what does Heavens Summit want me to do?
Please lock your sects gates for the time being.
You want us to iste ourselves from the world?
Sooner orter, the Silent Night will reappear. When that happens, you cane out of istion and gain military achievements. If you do that, no me will fall on the Tyrant Fist Sect.
Hmph! Jo Cheon-Woo scowled as memories of the past resurfaced.
In a patronizing voice, Heo Dong-Cheon continued, Leave it to us to clear up the aftermath of the Yuxi Tragedy. Dont worry, weve already dispatched the best person for the job.
Fine I will do as you suggested.
An excellent decision, Heo Dong-Cheonughed.
In stark contrast, Jo Cheon-Woo ground his teeth.
Heo Dong-Cheon got up to leave, but before that, he suddenly added, By the way, if you get a chance, send your son to Heavens Summit.
You mean to take my son as a hostage?
Haha! Dont get me wrong. Heavens Summit is nning to assemble a squadron of talented young warriors to deal with the Silent Night, called the Demon Hunters (ħ). Rather than being held hostage, your son will instead be given unthinkable authority.
Young heroes from all over the Central ins will be gathered together, and those who stand out will be the future leaders of the Central ins.
The corners of Jo Cheon-Woos eyes twitched. He didnt want to listen to Heo Dong-Cheons pathetic excuses. It didnt matter what the fat man said, the real goal of Heavens Summit was to hold his son hostage.
This is all that punks fault.
Jin Mu-Won. The young martial artist who had risen to prominence in the wake of the Yuxi Tragedy had ruined all of Jo Cheon-Woos ns and caused him to suffer this humiliation.
No, what bothers me more is his name.
Heavens Summit had imed that Jin Mu-Won had no connection to the Northern Army, but his intuition told him otherwise.
Youll pay for this even if it costs me everything I have.
When Hwang Cheol and Yoon Ja-Myeong returned to the inn, Yoon Seo-In and Gong Jin-Sung, who had been waiting there, cheered. Unfortunately, their happiness was short-lived. The moment they heard that Yoon Ja-Myeong had gone mad, their faces fell.
Their only constion was that Tang Gi-Mun, the authority on poisons in the gangho, would stay behind and attempt to cure Yoon Ja-Myeong. Tang Gi-Mun wasnt a person they could hire even with ten thousand gold coins, so they were infinitely grateful that he was willing to offer his help. They had even reserved the entire inn to make it more convenient for Tang Gi-Mun to work in peace.
At this point, Jin Mu-Won wanted to part ways with the White Dragon Merchant Association, but Hwang Cheol insisted that he wanted to take care of Yoon Ja-Myeong and prevented him from doing so. Exasperated, Jin Mu-Won had no choice but to give in to Hwang Cheols demands.
Unlike Jin Mu-Won, Hwang Cheols life depended on the White Dragon Merchant Association, and he was racked with guilt for not being able to protect Yoon Ja-Myeong properly. As such, he felt that it was his duty to stand by the Third Young Masters side until he was cured.
While Tang Gi-Mun was busy, Jin Mu-Won, Hwang Cheol, and Kwak Moon-Jung gathered in the inn backyard. Ever since Hwang Cheols return, the grin on Kwak Moon-Jungs face hadnt vanished for even a moment.
Heehee!
If you keepughing like that, brat, a fly will enter your mouth. Are you that happy?
Yeah! I just cant stop smiling seeing you safe and sound like this.
Im d that youre safe, too.
Hwang Cheol patted Kwak Moon-Jungs head. The boy could feel that his uncles hands were much bonier than before, evidence of the hardships he had been through.
Your martial arts have improved a lot.
How did you know that? Kwak Moon-Jung opened his eyes wide in surprise.
Im not sure. I just got the feeling that it was like that.
Uncle Hwang, your chi has gotten a lot stronger. I think you must have ovee some training obstacle while counteracting the poison.
Is that so? Im not really sure what happened myself. Hwang Cheol scratched his head.
Jin Mu-Won smiled at Hwang Cheols clueless face and exined, From your chi, I can tell that youre almost at the pinnacle of the Peak Realm. I doubt there are many people out there who can overwhelm you purely on the basis of internal chi anymore, Uncle Hwang.
Oh dear! How is that possible? I couldnt even break the chains binding me, you know?
Thats probably because you couldnt release all of your chi while you were busy focusing on protecting yourself from the poison.
Yes, but
How about you try swinging your sword while using the Three Origins Meditation Technique and see the difference for yourself?
Eh, but
Itll be okay, just try it.
Alright. Hwang Cheol gave in to Jin Mu-Wons nagging. He picked up his sword, walked to the center of the backyard, took a few deep breaths to steady himself, and then started practicing.
ROAR! WHOOSH!
With every move, a majestic and domineering aura radiated out in all directions, causing arge tremor that spread to all the buildings in thepound. The dense chi unique to the inner arts of the Taoist schools was refreshing to behold. Hwang Cheol had even reached a level of chi intensity that few elders in the Taoist Sects, including the Wudang Sect and the Mount Hwa Sect, could reach.
Kwak Moon-Jungs eyes widened with disbelief as he mumbled, Am I really seeing this?!
Yes, this is what happens when the Three Origins Meditation Technique is mastered.
Every time Hwang Cheol swung his de, a blue light would sh for a moment before converging to form a blurred illusion of a sword.
Is that Sword Flux? Kwak Moon-Jung involuntarily clenched his fist.
No, that is not aplete Sword Flux.
Eh?
It looks that way because of Uncle Hwangs powerful chi, but its missing the essence of a true Sword Flux. Sword Flux is only achieved bybining a deep understanding of the sword with a correspondingly powerful chi, and Uncle Hwang has not quite yet met the first condition. His goal now is to work harder at perfecting his swordsmanship. The path of the sword is never ending.
I see, Kwak Moon-Jung said, shaking his head at the thought of the arduous path thaty before him.
Jin Mu-Won smiled faintly. Despite his criticism, he was delighted that Hwang Cheol had taken his first step toward achieving Sword Flux, which was the hallmark of a Supreme Peak martial artist. He had already ovee the chi barrier, the first and hardest step toward it, and hard work and time would take care of the rest.
The more Hwang Cheol wielded his sword and got used to focusing his chi, the more precise his movements became, and the more the blurry Sword Flux increased in rity.
It was around then that Tang Gi-Mun and Tang Mi-Ryeo entered the backyard.
Wow!
As they approached Jin Mu-Won, they let out an exmation of admiration at the spectacle that was Hwang Cheols martial arts, and Jin Mu-Won exined what had happened to the puzzled pair.
Well, as the saying goes, every cloud has a silver lining. By the way, I had no idea that the Three Origins Meditation Techniquewas this amazing, Tang Gi-Mun praised, his eyes glittering. Even in prestigious families with a long history like the Tang n, martial experts who could use Sword Flux were hard toe by. That made such people highly sought after everywhere.
Hoh! To think that an escort could step into the Supreme Peak realm If news of this gets out, there will be an upheaval in the gangho.
Finally, Hwang Cheol finished his sword dance and walked over to Jin Mu-Won and Tang Gi-Mun.
How do you feel? Jin Mu-Won asked.
I still feel weird, as if my body doesnt belong to me. Its a difficult feeling to describe, Hwang Cheol replied, smiling wryly.
Thats probably because your swordsmanship hasnt caught up with your inner chi yet. Once those two are in harmony, that awkward feeling will disappear.
Congrattions on joining the ranks of the Supreme Peak, Master Hwang.
Oh my! I really dont deserve to be called Master
Hwang Cheol nervously sped his hands together to thank Tang Gi-Mun for thepliment. It was obvious that he wasnt used to being treated like this.
Tang Gi-Mun smiled. He liked Hwang Cheols honesty and purity.
Jin Mu-Won turned toward Tang Gi-Mun and asked, How is Mister Yoons treatment going?
Unfortunately, I have had little sess. For now, the best I can do is prevent his condition from worsening while we wait for the summons from Heavens Summit. I need to analyze the poison they took away in order to find a cure, Tang Gi-Mun sighed.
Suddenly, Jin Mu-Won remembered something hed almost forgotten. He put his hand into his chest pocket and took out a deerskin pouch.
Whats that?
I didnt give all of the poison to Heavens Summit.
Tang Gi-Muns eyes instantly lit up and his face glowed with excitement. Really? he eximed, hastily taking the pouch from Jin Mu-Won and opening it. Immediately, noxious poison fumes wafted out of the opening. If I analyze this, Im sure I can find a way to cure the mdy. Thank you, he added.
Next to him, Tang Mi-Ryeo also smiled broadly as she said, Thank you so much, Master Jin.
Chapter 111: Old Dragons Fall As Young Dragons Rise (2)
TL: FoodieMonster007; ED: TheGreatT20
As the saying goes: There is Heaven above, and Su-Hang on Earth (, K).1
Suzhou and Hangzhou were widely considered the most picturesque andfortable ces to live in the Central ins. Due to their proximity to the sea, food was plentiful and greenery was lush. Every prominent merchant in the Central ins owned a mansion in either Suzhou or Hangzhou. People were drawn to the beautiful scenery, and wherever people gathered, trade flourished.
The faces of the people on the streets shone with health and happiness, while the poets and writers who dined in the many famous restaurants left behind countless masterpieces. As a result, the people of Suzhou took great pride in their hometown.
The Cloud Administrators Garden (@)2 was a beautiful garden located in the West Lake District of Suzhou. The waters of the West Lake3 were diverted into the garden to create arge lotus pond, with an artificial hill and a magnificent pavilion built right next to it. The garden blossomed in spring and turned red in autumn, creating a stunningndscape.
The name of the pavilion was the Clouds Fragrance Vi (w),4 and it was usually off-limits to the public. However, for the first time in months, several people entered it.
The first was a handsome man who appeared to be in his mid tote twenties. His features were unusually sharp and his skin was pale, making his red lips and piercing eyes stand out even more. He naturally exuded a sense of authority, which matched his arrogant expression very well.
He stood with his hands sped behind his back, looking rxed and uninterested as he admired the view of the mountain and pond. For the longest time, he stared nkly without moving, as if he were a stone statue.
Suddenly, a middle-aged man who appeared to be a servant jogged to the foot of the pavilion, bowed his head and politely said, Young Master, one of your guests has arrived.
Show them here.
Yes, Young Master! the middle-aged servant replied, then scurried off.
A momentter, the man heard the sound of anothers footsteps. He unsped his hands and turned around to greet the new arrival.
A woman as charming as a water lily at the break of dawn climbed up the steps to the pavilion. Her eyes were mysteriously moist, as if they contained all the wisdom in the world.
The man broke into a smile upon seeing her. Long time no see, he said.
Its been two years, Mister Shim, the woman replied, smiling back at him.
The mans name was Shim Won-Ui, and he was the Young Master of Judgement Heaven as well as a member of the Seven Junior Skies. With his prominent background and strength, he was considered one of the rising stars of the current generation.
The woman was Seomoon Hye-Ryung, one of the worlds most brilliant minds and a fellow member of the Seven Junior Skies.
Where are the others? Shim Won-Ui asked.
They should be here soon.
Is that so?
The Clouds Fragrance Vi belonged to Judgment Heaven and was used by Shim Won-Ui as a vacation home. He had never let anyone else inside before, so the fact that he was hosting guests there proved the importance of the days event: the meeting of the Azure Dragon Society (n), a group of young martial artists that he and Seomoon Hye-Ryung had recruited over the years.
Is Soo-Cheoning today?
No, he hasnt finished his closed-door training yet.
Still?
He said that he had a revtion and wonte out until he gets what he wants.
Im looking forward to his growth.
As the only man who could unite all the young martial artists of the murim with his charisma alone, Dam Soo-Cheon was the undisputed Chairman of the Azure Dragon Society. Despite being one of the founding executives, Shim Won-Ui simply did not have enough recognition to rece him.
That was why, the stronger Dam Soo-Cheon was, the more powerful and influential the Azure Dragon Society would be, and the closer Shim Won-Ui would get to fulfilling his dream.
Im sure he will be terrifyingly strong. His obsession with martial arts sends shivers down my spine, Seomoon Hye-Ryungmented.
That incident seven years ago had a great impact on him, after all.
Seomoon Hye-Ryung smiled bitterly. Seven years ago, they had all made a desperate escape from the Northern Army Fortress after being utterly humiliated. Since then, Dam Soo-Cheons life had been consumed by martial arts, even ignoring his best friends Seomoon Hye-Ryung and Shim Won-Ui.
Seeing the expression on Seomoon Hye-Ryungs face, Shim Won-Ui remarked, Him growing stronger is good news for us. The stronger our leader, the more we can aplish.
What ambition. I expected no less from you, Mister Shim.
The world order is about to be turned on its head, and while the changes so far have been small, time is definitely on our side.
Are you referring to the Yuxi Massacre and the return of the Silent Night? Certainly, these events have increased the likelihood that our ns will be elerated.
You were aware of it too? As expected of Miss Seomoon, one of the brightest minds in the universe.
Im ttered, Seomoon Hye-Ryung replied, smiling knowingly.
The return of the Silent Night will plunge the world into chaos, and ambitious people who have been holding back because of Heavens Summit will rise up one by one. Isnt that exactly what weve been waiting for?
Many people will die, though.
The sacrifice of a few for the greater good is inevitable, and in this regard, I am grateful to those who died in the Yuxi Massacre, for their sacrifice marks the beginning of the end.
The Chaotic Era had always marked the end of an established order and the beginning of a new one. Taking advantage of the chaos to be the rulers of the new era was the goal of Shim Won-Ui and the Azure Dragon Society.
By the way, did you hear the rumors about him? Seomoon Hye-Ryung suddenly asked.
Who are you talking about?
The man who put an end to the Yuxi Massacre. The Northern de.
Oh, the Northern de.
Although Shim Won-Ui pretended to know the name, in reality, he hadnt paid much attention to the Northern de. Rumors were always exaggerated, and he didnt think this one would be any different.
Seomoon Hye-Ryung sighed inwardly. She could tell that her friend was being flippant, as he often looked down on those who did not meet his exacting standards.
His name is Jin Mu-Won.
Jin Mu-Won?
Doesnt it ring a bell?
Does it? Shim Won-Ui thought the name felt vaguely familiar, but he couldnt remember where hed heard it.
Seven years ago, at the Northern Army Fortress.
Ah! Jin Mu-Won was the name of the heir to the Northern Army! Shim Won-Ui eximed, his memory refreshed. So, is this Northern de the same Jin Mu-Won as the one from the Northern Army? he continued.
ording to our sources, its another person with the same name. However, I cant help but feel a little uneasy
Another person with the same name I guess its possible, since its not an umon name. Why do you let it bother you so much? Didnt the investigation conducted by Heavens Summit conclude that he was dead?
The events of seven years ago had shaken Heavens Summit to the core. They had mobilized an unimaginable amount of manpower to investigate the incident, and in the end, they concluded that Jin Mu-Won, thest Lord of the Northern Army, was dead.
I know that, but
Now is the time to focus on the future, not fixate on ghosts of the past.
Despite Shim Won-Uis words, Seomoon Hye-Ryung did not rx. No, she couldnt. Like tiny thorns under her fingernails, a foreboding feeling tugged at her nerves, but she didnt insist on the matter. She knew all too well that such talk would fall on deaf ears at this moment.
Even so, I should confirm it personally. Mister Shim seems confident, but if that person is really alive, then the rightful heir of the Northern Army is not someone I can just ignore.
Young Master, your other guests have arrived, a servant suddenly announced, interrupting the conversation.
As soon as he finished speaking, a dozen young martial artists noisily barged into the pavilion. Their powerful auras, perfectly controlled movements, and bright eyes were a testament to their superiority over their peers.
Mister Shim.
Long time no see, Miss Seomoon.
The youths quickly greeted Shim Won-Ui and Seomoon Hye-Ryung. Although Dam Soo-Cheon was the Chairman of the Azure Dragon Society, the two of them were the ones who actually ran things, so the young martial artists treated them with deference.
Long time no see, how has everyone been?
Haha! I was so excited about the meeting that I got a little jumpy and was scolded for it, one of the youths said. His name was Jwa Moon-Ho, and he was the sessor to Shandong Provinces famed Three Rings Sword Sect (hT).
In fact, there wasnt a single person in the pavilion who wasnt a disciple of a prestigious faction or hadnt been called a genius at some point in their lives. Because of this, they all exuded an aura of confidence and self-assurance.
After a brief exchange of greetings, the meeting began. The main topic of conversation was the soon-to-be-formed Demon Hunters.
Seomoon Hye-Ryung began, The members of the Demon Hunters will be given great authority, even though they are few in number. Theyll have the power to convene,mand, and oversee entire sects, especially during times of conflict. Its a golden opportunity for the Azure Dragon Society to rise to power, and we must take full advantage of it.
The fact that the Demon Hunters couldmand the sects ced them in a unique position within the gangho. If the Azure Dragon Society could make good use of this power, even the leaders of the great sects would envy them.
The Demon Hunters I didnt expect those old fogeys to relinquish some of their authority in this fashion.
That either means theyre afraid of the Silent Night, or they want to minimize their own losses while bleeding the younger generation dry. As for why theyre targeting us, its probably because there are no easier pawns than rash youngsters blinded by their desire for glory.
Indeed
Still, we have no choice but to seize this opportunity. If we miss it now, the Azure Dragon Society might never have another chance as good as this, Seomoon Hye-Ryung concluded.
For a moment, there was silence as everyone frowned slightly at theirck of choices.
The Demon Hunter selection exam will be held soon. Until then, all of you should do your best to prepare yourselves, and if you find anyone trustworthy and promising, scout them.
Agreed!
Finally, Seomoon Hye-Ryung turned toward Shim Won-Ui. Mister Shim, I need you to personally meet and recruit a certain person, she requested.
Me? Shim Won-Uis eyes burned with curiosity. If he had to go out of his way to scout someone, it meant they were important.
Who is it?
The Triune Schr, Ha Jin-Wol.
Ive never heard of him before.
Hes from Yunnan, so you may not know him, but we absolutely must recruit him.
Why?
Hes the only person in the world with intelligenceparable to mine.
Shim Won-Uis eyes lit up. Although Seomoon Hye-Ryung appeared humble on the surface, she was a very proud person. Yet, here she was admitting that someone was her equal.
Unfortunately, during our meeting five years ago, he was so shocked that he became traumatized.
Seomoon Hye-Ryung recalled her first encounter with Ha Jin-Wol. It was at the sixtieth birthday party of Seok Dae, a famous schr. The two of them had coincidentally sat down at the same table and debated about everything from astronomy to politics and even war strategies. However, their personalities were pr opposites, and their views of people and philosophies differed greatly.
The only thing they recognized was each others genius. In particr, Seomoon Hye-Ryung realized that if she left Ha Jin-Wol alone, there was a good chance that he would soon threaten her position in the gangho.
Thus, she had showed him her familys ultimate formation, the Nine Continents Myriad Patterns Formation (fδ), a masterpiece that her family had developed and improved over hundreds of years. Overwhelmed by the immense knowledge contained within, Ha Jin-Wol had immediately be traumatized.
If he really is a genius though, he might have ovee his trauma by now.
Now I really want to meet him. What should I do if he refuses to join us?
Eliminate him. A precious pearl like that should only belong to the Azure Dragon. We cannot allow it to wind up in the hands of another dragon.
Footnotes:
Chapter 112: Old Dragons Fall As Young Dragons Rise (3)
TL: FoodieMonster007; ED: TheGreatT20
Jin Mu-Won left the Peace Inn and wandered alone through the streets of Yuxi. He had nothing to do until Tang Gi-Mun figured out how to cure Yoon Ja-Myeong, so he had started enjoying frequent walks.
For the local people, the shock of the massacre had not yet subsided, leaving the streets so deserted that Yuxi looked like an abandoned city. Everywhere he went, he could see evidence of that fateful day. Walls were gouged by weapons, and the ground was stained with blood that hadnt been washed away. The few passersby who saw Jin Mu-Won carrying Snow Flower shied away from him, a new fear of martial artists having taken root in their hearts.
Back at the inn, Hwang Cheol was passing on some of his enlightenment to Kwak Moon-Jung, whom he hadnt seen in a long time. As teaching others was a good way for one to improve, the arrangement benefited both teacher and student. Jin Mu-Won, who learned a different martial art, tried to stay out of the way if he could.
While walking aimlessly, Jin Mu-Won suddenly felt a cold breeze caress his face. He looked ahead only to discover that he was approaching a vastke. Without realizing it, he had reached ake near Yuxi.
Huh?
A very strange sight greeted him. Several small boats were floating on theke, and whenever a man on thergest one waved a g, they moved into a different formation.
Isnt that person?
He recognized the man waving the g. It was Ha Jin-Wol, the Triune Schr. For some unknown reason, the sight of Ha Jin-Wol wildly screaming at the top of his lungs brought a smile to his face.
He stood by theke and watched Ha Jin-Wol do his thing. The schr seemed to be working on an experiment involving the coordinated movement of boats, but from the frown on his face, he wasnt too happy with the results.
Suddenly, he threw away his g, plopped down on the deck, and stared nkly into the water for a long time. The sailors and Jin Mu-Won waited for him with bated breath. It looked like he was about to make a breakthrough.
How long have I been here? Jin Mu-Won wondered.
AAHHHHHHHHH! Fuck! I dont get it!
CRASH!
Ha Jin-Wol let out a shriek, toppled onto his back, andy there staring at the sky for the longest time.
Suddenly, a shadow loomed over him. Eh? he blurted.
Youre the same as ever, Jin Mu-Won remarked.
Its you? Why havent you left Yuxi yet? Ha Jin-Wol pushed himself up and sat down cross-legged.
Jin Mu-Won sat down opposite him, only for Ha Jin-Wol to fold his arms and re at him. There was no malice in Ha Jin-Wols gaze, so he did not avert his eyes.
You do realize that youre the reason Ive had to talk so muchtely, right?
Oh?
I heard you were called the Northern de? Such a presumptuous title.
Im not the one who came up with that title.
Well, I guess its normal for the main character to be unaware of his own story. Ha Jin-Wol shook his head and gave Jin Mu-Won a pitying look, then shouted at the boatman, Bring me my wine table and drinks, Im thirsty!
On it! The boatman replied.
You brought a wine table?
Hmph! Isnt a wine table a must on a boat trip?
You dont look like youre on a trip.
Did you see what I was doing just now?
Yes.
Haha! Ha Jin-Wolughed and pointed at the waters surface.
Jin Mu-Wons eyes went wide in shock. Arge school of fish swarmed beneath the surface, circling around one spot as if caught in an invisible fishing.
Is thisa formation? he asked in a trembling voice. Although he could set up several advanced formations and understood the basic principles, he had never heard of anyone trapping fish below the surface with only a few small boats. It was arge-scale yet subtle maneuver.
So what if it is? Its useless. Ha Jin-Wol snorted and waved his hand at the other boats. At his signal, the boats left their positions and returned to the shore. Immediately, the gathered fish scattered in all directions with a loud ssh, symbolizing the disintegration of the formation.
What a waste of a good catch! Jin Mu-Won felt a pang of regret for Ha Jin-Wols wastefulness.
Just then, the boatman returned and ced the wine table between them. Ha Jin-Wol reached out and poured two cups of wine for Jin Mu-Won and himself.
Cheers!
Jin Mu-Won didnt refuse the offer and took a swig. The strong liquor burned its way down his throat and quickly made him tipsy. It was a cheap liquor that he couldnt imagine a man of Ha Jin-Wols stature drinking.
He finished his wine, then refilled both his and Ha Jin-Wols empty cups.
Heheheh! Its nice to have a drinking partner, although itd be better if it was a pretty girl instead of a man.
I agree.
Hahaha!
The two men drank and drank, the boatman bringing out another bottle as soon as the previous one was empty. Their faces quickly reddened from intoxication.
I suppose youre going to the Central ins soon?
Yeah.
Hmm Ha Jin-Wol stared at Jin Mu-Won.
Jin Mu-Won felt a little ufortable, but he didnt look away.
Damn, this is so interesting, Ha Jin-Wol eventually concluded.
What is?
You. How is it that a guy like you just shows up out of the blue?
While ordinary frence martial artists would run away from a fight between the Silent Night and the Tyrant Fist Sect, Jin Mu-Won had not only intervened, but also single-handedly ended the fight between the two sides with overwhelming strength.
Ha Jin-Wol recalled all the martial artists he knew of, but couldnt match Jin Mu-Won with anyone in the existing sects. That was odd. A talent of Jin Mu-Wons caliber should have been famous since childhood, like the Seven Junior Skies. However, he wasnt, which made Jin Mu-Won a very intriguing outlier.
Suddenly, Ha Jin-Wol asked, Hey buddy, have you ever dreamed of taking over the world?
Taking over the world?
Jin Mu-Won remained silent for a long time. He had never considered such a thing before.
Across from him, Ha Jin-Wol patiently waited for his reply.
Finally, Jin Mu-Won said, No, and I dont know if I will ever think about it. I only know one thing for sure.
What is that?
I will never betray the voice of my heart.
The what?
I go where my heart leads me, and I wont do what it tells me is wrong.
Youre a romanticist.
Maybe, butthats how I want to live.
A life following the voice of your heart, huh?
Jin Mu-Wons words unexpectedly resonated with Ha Jin-Wol. What is the voice of my heart? What is it I desire? Will I ever betray my own ideals and beliefs? He suddenly felt a tightness in his chest. Jin Mu-Wons answer had brought up questions he hadnt thought of, so he closed his eyes and reflected deeply on it.
Jin Mu-Won quietly watched him.
After a long time, Ha Jin-Wol opened his eyes. For a moment, Jin Mu-Won felt as if the fog that had been there had now cleared.
Ha Jin-Wol grinned. Buddy, you should go to Heavens Summit.
Heavens Summit?
Something very interesting is going to happen there.
I dont really want to go there.
No, you absolutely have to go.
Why?
Heheh! Because Im going, and I need an escort.
What on earth? Jin Mu-Won was speechless.
On the other hand, Ha Jin-Wol looked confident that Jin Mu-Won would ept his unreasonable request.
Why are you going to Heavens Summit?
I need to settle a debt with a certain girl there.
A girl?
Thats all you need to know for now. Ill introduce her to you when we meet, so dont ask me anything about her till then.
Jin Mu-Won frowned. He had been so focused on saving Hwang Cheol that he hadnt paid attention to Heavens Summit for a while. Heavens Summit Its the ce where the people responsible for the destruction of the Northern Army have gathered. The ce ruled by the monsters known as the Nine Skies. The microcosm of the gangho. The ce that many young martial artists dream of entering. The ce I have to go to eventually whether I like it or not, since theyre the only ones with information on the Silent Night.
Hoo Jin Mu-Won sighed.
As if he knew this wasing, Ha Jin-Wol chuckled, Heheh! Looks like I was right.
When do you n to leave?
At the same time as you.
That might take a while.
Doesnt matter. As you can see, Im very good at alleviating my boredom.
Okay, Ill give you a heads up before I leave.
No need to contact me, Ill be there.
Also
Hmm?
Can you stop calling me Buddy? I have a name
I like you, so that makes you my buddy. Ille up with a new name for you when youre a little more famous.
Haah. Jin Mu-Won let out a sigh. Strangely enough, he didnt find Ha Jin-Wols tone annoying or unpleasant. If being irritating without pissing people off could be called a talent, then Ha Jin-Wol was a genius.
Jin Mu-Won poured the rest of the wine down his throat, and Ha Jin-Wol did the same. They finished all the wine they had, and Jin Mu-Won stood up.
I need to go. Mypanions are probably starting to worry about me.
Heheh! Who would worry about someone as strong as you are?
Fine, its gettingte, go ahead. I wont see you off.
You wont be able to, anyway. Jin Mu-Won said, before leaping off the boat and running across the water to the shore. Although it was a powerful jump, the boat that Ha Jin-Wol rode on didnt sway in the slightest.
Jin Mu-Wons figure quickly disappeared from sight.
Ha Jin-Woly down on the deck and looked up at the night sky, the sea of stars reflected in his retinas. The stars always moved in fixed orbits. However, that order had now been disturbed, and new paths created.
The destiny dictated by the heavens has changed with his appearance, he mumbled.
Not many people can change fate on their first appearance in the gangho. Will he be a hero who moves the times, or a trailzer who opposes the heavens? I wonder
He smiled. After meeting Jin Mu-Won, the constant anxiety that had gued him for years was gone.
HAHAHAHAHA!
Ha Jin-Wols roaringughter echoed across theke.
Chapter 113: Birds Of A Feather Flock Together (1)
TL: FoodieMonster007; ED: TheGreatT20
Jin Mu-Won took a stroll around the backyard of the Peace Inn. A gentle breeze ruffled his hair, and he closed his eyes in pleasure, thinking, Han-Seol, if only you could feel this nice breeze too
Suddenly, a voice interrupted his reverie.
Hello, Master Jin, Tang Mi-Ryeo greeted, carrying a basin of water.
Hello, Miss Tang.
My uncle told me that youre going to Heavens Summit. Is that true?
Yes.
Can I go with you? Please take good care of me on the trip.
Im the one who will be taken care of. Are you on your way to treat Young Master Yoon?
Yes, my uncle told me to bring him fresh water.
Would you mind if I joined you?
Of course not. Tang Mi-Ryeo blushed. Fortunately, it was still dark outside. It would have been very awkward if Jin Mu-Won had seen her.
Jin Mu-Won walked side by side with Tang Mi-Ryeo, keeping pace with her. From time to time, she would steal a nce at him. She wished that this walk wouldst longer, but s, they soon arrived at the outbuilding where Yoon Ja-Myeong was being treated.
Yoon Seo-In and Gong Jin-Sung, who were watching over the patient, stood up and greeted them.
Greetings, Master Jin.
Thank you foring.
Their attitude towards him had changed a great deal. Previously, they had only been polite to him out of respect for his strength, but he was now the famous Northern de as well as Yoon Ja-Myeongs savior.
Jin Mu-Won returned their greeting and asked, How is Young Master Yoons condition?
He hasnt improved much. For now, were just thankful that Master Tang has managed to prevent his madness from worsening, Gong Jin-Sung replied, looking crestfallen. In spite of Tang Gi-Muns best efforts, there hadnt been much progress. Nevertheless, the Tang ns poison master was their only hope.
Wheres Master Tang?
He went out for a bit and said that hed be back shortly, but I havent heard from him yet, Yoon Seo-In said anxiously. Yoon Ja-Myeong was her favorite brother. She loved how upbeat and positive he usually was, so her grief was multiplied.
Suddenly, the door opened and Tang Gi-Mun walked in. The four rose to greet him, but Tang Gi-Mun held out his hand to stop them.
All of you, please take a seat, he said, joy written all over his face.
Jin Mu-Won asked, Have you figured out a cure?
Im not sure if my new approach will work yet, but I think its worth a try.
Gong Jin-Sung and Yoon Seo-In immediately jumped to their feet. Really? they asked.
Yes. Dont get your hopes up though, Im still in the theory stage, Tang Gi-Mun stressed. In his right hand, he held the deerskin pouch that Jin Mu-Won had given him, and in his left hand, he held a small purple rock.
I spent thest few days analyzing the poison you provided, but unfortunately, I was unable to determine itsposition. However He gestured with the purple rock and asked, Do you know what this is?
Jin Mu-Won shook his head.
This is a mineral called maite. It has an uncanny ability to attract iron, but its not easy to find, so most people have never even heard of what maite is, Tang Gi-Mun exined, smiling even though the past few days had been an absolute nightmare for him. Faced with an unknown poison that defied allmon sense, he realized how helpless he was. He tried everything he could think of and ran all kinds of tests, but to no avail. In fact, the moment he let his guard down, he would have been poisoned himself.
The creator of this poison was either a genius or a monster. Finally, in a fit of rage, he threw the poison pouch against the wall, where itnded next to a piece of maite. It was only then that he noticed something strange.
The poison did not react to any of my other tests, but it was attracted to the maite. That can only mean one thing: the poison is a type of metal. Now, this type of poison cant be detoxified, but it can be flushed out from the body. Thats why, a few days ago, I got a famous craftsman in Yuxi to make these for me, Tang Gi-Mun reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a wooden box filled with acupuncture needles. Interestingly, the needles were purple instead of silver.
Are those made of maite?
Yes, Ill be using these to attract and remove the maic poison. Its my first time trying something like this and I need your help, so stay vignt.
Thank you, Master Tang, Gong Jin-Sung said.
Well do our best to help you, Yoon Seo-In added.
Tang Gi-Mun looked to Jin Mu-Won for confirmation, as he trusted the young man more than the two of them. Jin Mu-Won nodded, and Tang Gi-Mun sat down looking relieved.
Mi-Ryeo.
Yes, Uncle.
Im going to perform the Forbidden Crystal Activation Acupuncture Technique (`g). Youll be my assistant.
Understood.
A glimmer of nervousness appeared on Tang Mi-Ryeos face. The Forbidden Crystal Activation Acupuncture Technique that Tang Gi-Mun was talking about was an advanced form of acupuncture that required the cooperation of at least two people. Acupuncture needles first had to be inserted at different speeds and depths into the thirty-six major acupuncture points of the body in one go. This was followed by the injection of the Tang ns unique chi to draw out the poisonous qi in the body.
Lets begin.
Tang Gi-Mun leaned over Yoon Ja-Myeong and inserted the acupuncture needles while Tang Mi-Ryeo injected her chi and separated the poison from the blood. Yoon Seo-In and Gong Jin-Sung watched nervously. When the two Tang n members finished their individual roles, they synchronized their breathing and drew out all the poison at once.
KEUAAAK!
Yoon Ja-Myeongs reaction was immediate. His body started to convulse as if he was having a seizure.
Quick, subdue him! Before he hurts himself! Tang Gi-Mun shouted.
Jin Mu-Won and Gong Jin-Sung sprang into action, strengthening themselves with chi to pin down Yoon Ja-Myeong. At the same time, Tang Gi-Mun and Tang Mi-Ryeo sped up their work, thick beads of sweat pouring down their faces like rain. Even though the process looked simple, it required a great deal of control. Not to mention, Yoon Ja-Myeong was so heavily poisoned that the procedure drained a great deal of their chi.
At first, their efforts seemed to have no effect. Then, suddenly, ckened blood vessels popped out of his skin.
POP! POP!
Seeing the ck protruding blood vessels, Tang Gi-Mun and Tang Mi-Ryeo gave onest push. Finally, the ck blood slowly inched toward the purple acupuncture needles.
It worked Tang Gi-Muns face lit up with joy. As he predicted, maite needles were effective at attracting the poisonous mineral.
DRIP, DRIP, DRIP.
ck droplets trickled up the maite needles and leaked out through microscopic holes too small to see with the naked eye.
Miss Yoon, please wipe off the poison on the needles with a wet towel, and be careful not to touch it.
Yes! Yoon Seo-In did as Tang Gi-Mun instructed.
KEUAK! As the poison drained from his body, Yoon Ja-Myeongs pain seemed to intensify. However, he could only groan and howl due to Jin Mu-Won and Gong Jin-Sung restraining him.
The sun set and then rose again. Yoon Seo-In changed the water and towel used to collect the poison for the umpteenth time, while Tang Gi-Mun and Tang Mi-Ryeo repeated yet another cycle of poison extraction. All of them were exhausted to the bone, their faces pale from the exertion. The good news was, Yoon Ja-Myeongs pitch ck blood was now a dark red.
Another two hours passed.
SQUELCH!
Finally, thest drop of poison was drained from Yoon Ja-Myeongs body.
Huff, huff Tang Gi-Mun and Tang Mi-Ryeo rxed their tensed muscles and sank to the floor, totally spent.
Tang Gi-Mun leaned against a wall for support and said tiredly, Please help me do a final check. I suspect there may be some poison left.
Sure, Jin Mu-Won replied, then ced his palm against Yoon Ja-Myeongs Gate of Life Acupoint.1 He let his Shadow Chi stealthily flow through Yoon Ja-Myeongs veins, searching for traces of poison.
There! In the Chi Sea Acupoint!2 Tang Gi-Muns guess was correct. A tiny bit of poison remained hidden in Yoon Ja-Myeongs body, waiting for its chance to strike.
Jin Mu-Won encapsted the poison with his Shadow Chi, but the poison struggled desperately as if it were making ast stand. To counter this, Jin Mu-Won used the Art of Ten Thousand Shadows to analyze the poison and evolve his Shadow Chi into a form that could perfectly neutralize it, just as he had done for the Chaos Demon Tae Mu-Kwang ten years earlier.
SPURT!
When thest of the poison was expelled from Yoon Ja-Myeongs body, Tang Gi-Mun pulled out all the maite needles and sighed in relief, Phew!
Yoon Seo-In nervously asked, Is my brother cured now?
Please wait while I examine him, Tang Gi-Mun said, cing his finger on Yoon Ja-Myeongs wrist and checking his condition. After what seemed like a long time, he smiled. All the poison has been eliminated, but your brothers body has been severely damaged by the poison and hell need a lot of nourishment to recover.
Please tell me what he needs. Ill get it immediately, no matter the cost or rarity.
Tang Gi-Mun wrote down a prescription and handed it to Yoon Seo-In. Most of the medicinal herbs on it were worth thousands of gold, but with the financial power of the White Dragon Merchant Association, it wasnt too hard to get hold of them.
Thank you. We really appreciate your help. Yoon Seo-In and Gong Jin-Sung said, bowing their heads to Tang Gi-Mun in gratitude.
Tang Gi-Mun and Tang Mi-Ryeo smiled back at them, and Jin Mu-Wonughed. Like the White Dragon merchants, they too felt as if a huge weight had been lifted from their hearts.
Footnotes:
Chapter 114: Birds Of A Feather Flock Together (2)
TL: FoodieMonster007; ED: TheGreatT20
It was a turbulent time for the gangho. Following the news of the Silent Nights return, a new rumor spread throughout thend.
Heavens Summit was creating a new organization made up of young martial artists. They would be deployed to conflict zones and conferred the authority tomand and manage the other martial artists nearby.
The impact of the rumor was tremendous. Not only the young martial artists of the small and medium-sized sects, but even those of the Nine Great Sects began to stir.
The Central ins murim was dominated by Heavens Summit, the Nine Great Sects, and the Four Northern Pirs. The rulers of each region were obvious, with Heavens Summit having the furthest outreach. That left no ce for the small and medium-sized sects. Their statuses depended more on what faction they belonged to than their ability or strength. It was a stagnant world in which no form of social mobility existed unless one belonged to Heavens Summit or the Nine Great Sects.
For young martial artists living in such a stagnant world, the rumor about Heavens Summit creating a powerful youth organization was very wee news.
It wasnt long before promising young martial artists began to mobilize from every region. They had no idea whether the rumors were true or not, but they were determined to get to Heavens Summit before anyone else.
The rumor also reached Jin Mu-Wons ears through his best informant, Cheong-In.
Jin Mu-Won, Cheong-In, Kwak Moon-Jung, Hwang Cheol, and Tang Gi-Mun gathered in a meeting room.
Heehee! What do you think? Isnt it interesting?
It certainly is.
Its a stroke of genius. Whoever came up with the idea is amazing. Cheong-In nodded in admiration.
Kwak Moon-Jung, on the other hand, had a bored look on his face. Whats so great about that? Whats the big deal about a youth organization?
Please use your brain, kiddo. Cheong-In knocked on Kwak Moon-Jungs head.
Kwak Moon-Jung shrank away exaggeratedly and leaned backwards. If you keep hitting me like that, I will get stupider.
Your intelligence is already at rock bottom. Do you even have anything more to lose?
Ugh!
Tang Gi-Mun smiled at the heartwarming scene, then said, Heavens Summit gains three things from these rumors. First, it draws peoples attention away from Yunnan, where they made a big mess with the Yuxi Massacre. Second, it motivates and distracts the hot-blooded youth. Third, they can use these young people as pawns against Silent Night.
Ah! Kwak Moon-Jung let out an exmation as the realization finally hit him.
Cheong-In looked at him and continued the exnation, I dont know who came up with this idea, but its really smart. Not only is it perfectly timed, it is also in line with the tide of public opinion.
Theres a reason why Heavens Summit stands at the peak of the gangho. If we use a tree as an analogy, the tree of Heavens Summit would be so huge that theres nowhere it doesnt have roots and nowhere its branches dont reach, Tang Gi-Munmented, sighing. As a member of the Tang n, a pir that supported Heavens Summit and one of the enforcers of the stagnant order, he felt partly responsible for the ganghos air of despondency.
Whether Heavens Summit intended it or not, the wave of change has begun. Soon, a great wind will blow through the gangho. Cheong-Ins gaze fell on Jin Mu-Won, who sat at the head of the table.
He knew that Jin Mu-Won was the trigger of the chaos and the eye of the storm, whether it was intentional or not. The mere fact that he is thest Lord of the Northern Army is enough to rock the world.
For now, he did his best to keep the truth about Jin Mu-Wons background from leaking out, but he knew he couldnt hide it forever. Someday, the cat would be out of the bag, and the ensuing uproar was something Cheong-In could not anticipate.
I just have to do what I can now and worry about the rest when it happens. Cheong-In felt a headacheing on and rubbed his temples with his thumbs.
Tang Gi-Mun asked Jin Mu-Won, What are you going to do after this?
Im nning to go to Heavens Summit. Even if its a trap, I cant just sit here and do nothing. Jin Mu-Won looked to the north. In truth, he was hiding something from the others. He would go to Heavens Summit eventually, so he wasnt lying per se, but there was one ce he had to stop at first.
I have to visit Jo Cheon-Woo, the mastermind of the Yuxi Massacre, at the Tyrant Fist Sect. However, I cannot afford to put Uncle Hwang in danger again, so Ill send him out of Yunnan first.
Im sorry, Uncle Jo, but it looks like we can never reconcile. I can ept that you betrayed the Northern Army for your own ambitions, but I will never let you off for orchestrating the murder of innocents.
Im also going there. Shall we travel together? Tang Gi-Mun asked.
Is there something you need to do there?
Tang Gi-Mun gathered up his resolve. As a person of the orthodox sects and a master of the Tang n, he couldnt turn a blind eye to injustice. That was his pride and identity. I have to publicize the truth about the Yuxi Massacre. I will take this matter to court and have the perpetrators brought to justice, he dered.
Are you sure about that? Your actions will affect the future of the Tang n.
Im sure the n Head will approve of my decision. The Tang n has always adhered to the Chivalric Creed,1 which dictates that those who practice martial arts must hold themselves to a high code of conduct, for force without justice is tyrannical.
Cheong-In marveled at Tang Gi-Muns conviction. I expected nothing less of the Chivalrous Tang ns Poison Pavilion Master! Hes a man who sticks to his beliefs till the very end.
Im going with you, too, Cheong-In blurted out loud without realizing it.
All eyes immediately focused on him, and his face flushed with embarrassment at his slip-up.
Ahem, Ive always wanted to visit Heavens Summit, he exined.
I see, Jin Mu-Won nodded, aware of what Cheong-Ins real job was. He turned to Hwang Cheol, who had remained silent during the entire meeting. What about you, Uncle Hwang?
I would very much like to follow you, Young Master, but Im afraid that I would only be a burden to you, Hwang Cheol replied.
He knew that while the unexpected turn of events had helped him make a huge breakthrough in his martial arts, it was woefully iplete. Until he improved his swordsmanship enough to bnce his overflowing chi, he could not use his new skills in realbat.
I will return to Lanzhou with thWhite Dragon Merchant Association, meditate on my new insights, and truly make them my own.
Thats a good idea.
Ill also take this opportunity to teach Mun-Jung, so I will be taking him with me. If youll give me some time, this Hwang Cheol will definitely be a great help to you, Young Master. Hwang Cheols eyes shone with a determined light.
Jin Mu-Won smiled. Im sure you will, Uncle Hwang.
I wont let you down, Young Master.
I-Ill do my best, too! Kwak Moon-Jung clenched his fists. His time with Jin Mu-Won had taught him many things, the most important of which was that a martial artist had to be strong. Justice without force is powerless.2 If I ever want to enforce my own justice, I will have to train hard.
After the poison was removed, Yoon Ja-Myeongs condition improved rapidly. He woke up within two days and was able to sit up on his own within another two days. When that happened, he called Jin Mu-Won, Hwang Cheol and Tang Gi-Mun to his room.
I really dont know how to thank you. I am so, so grateful to all of you. You saved my life.
We are also d that you have recovered. However, please continue to take the medicine I prescribed for another three months. It will help restore some of your vitality.
Yes, I will definitely do so, Yoon Ja-Myeong replied to Tang Gi-Mun, before turning his attention to Jin Mu-Won.
Thank you, Jin Mu-Won. Seo-In told me what you did, and I will definitely repay you for your kindness.
Please return the favor to others who have suffered more than I have.
Yoon Ja-Myeong smiled. The others had already informed him about Jin Mu-Wos personality. Dont worry, I will. Even then, Im not one to forget a favor, and I will definitely repay you in some way. If you ever need anything, please dont hesitate to contact the White Dragon Merchant Association. If there is anything I can do to help, I will do my best, no matter what it is.
These were heavy words that could represent the will of the White Dragon Merchant Association, as they were spoken by Yoon Ja-Myeong, the third young master.
However, Jin Mu-Won thought nothing of it. Everything he did, he did to save Hwang Cheol, not for a reward or Yoon Ja-Myeongs favor. Yoon Ja-Myeong was just lucky that he happened to be close to Hwang Cheol.
Seeing Jin Mu-Wons nonchnt attitude, Yoon Ja-Myeong liked him even more. Moreover, even though he had only just regained consciousness, as someone who was a merchant down to his very bones, his merchants intuition whispered to him, This man will definitely leave his mark on gangho history. Establishing a connection with him now would be of great benefit to uster, and luckily for me, I have a good rtionship with not just one, but two of his close associates.
He turned toward Hwang Cheol and Kwak Moon-Jung and said, Ive caused you a lot of trouble, Escort Hwang. Ill make sure to repay you. Thank you too, Moon-Jung. I will never forget what youve done for me.
You dont have to do that, Young Master. I was just doing my job.
Please dont thank me, I did nothing.
Hwang Cheol and Kwak Moon-Jung downyed their own contributions.
Yoon Ja-Myeongs smile widened. From his earlier conversations with Kwak Moon-Jung and his travels with Hwang Cheol, he knew that both Kwak Moon-Jung and Hwang Cheol were men of character. In particr, he made a vow to himself to get to know Hwang Cheol better.
Now that your body has recovered somewhat, I think its time we set out for the Central ins, Tang Gi-Mun suggested.
Finally, it was time for them to leave Yunnan.
Footnotes:
Chapter 115: Birds Of A Feather Flock Together (3)
TL: FoodieMonster007; ED: TheGreatT20
CRAAAAAASH!
A thunderous boom rang out across Death Valley. A huge cloud of dust appeared, obscuring the view of magnificent pavilions and beautiful trees being crushed under tons of crumbling rock.
The copsested for quite a long time. When the dust finally settled, the paradise that was Death Valley was no more. There was only arge garden of rocks.
Oh my, this is amazing! Dam Ju-In whistled at the sight. This endeavor had cost him dozens of bombs and thousands of gold taels. The Death Valley was gone, and people would never know what happened inside. It was the perfect end result.
The hard work of the past few days had not been for nothing. Dam Ju-In turned and smiled, feeling satisfied. It was time to return to Heavens Summit.
Suddenly, a red-robed martial artist appeared out of thin air and knelt down on one knee in front of him. My lord, he greeted.
Is something the matter?
A variable has appeared.
A variable? Dam Ju-Ins eyes lit up with curiosity.
Someone who was supposed to die survived and even recovered from the insanity.
Who?
Yoon Ja-Myeong of the White Dragon Merchant Association.
Really?
I just confirmed it. Hes still struggling to walk, but hes regained his sanity and can speak normally.
Dam Ju-Ins expression stiffened. If what his subordinate said was true, then his cleanup job was far from perfect. Did they find an antidote? he asked.
It wasnt an antidote, but an unknown special technique that cured him.
A special technique?
Were watching him closely now, and we should be able to figure out how the poison was neutralized soon.
Yes, we must know how it was done. Dam Ju-In smiled eerily.
A shiver ran down his subordinates spine. Due to the nature of their work, his superior always wore a mask, but for the first time, that mask had cracked.
Tang Gi-Mun, the Tang ns Poison Pavilion Master Truly, the abilities of a great n are nothing to sneeze at.
The knowledge that an ancient n, especially one that had existed for hundreds of years like the Tang n, had umted over countless generations was unimaginably broad and deep.
Also.
You have more surprises for me?
The Fist Demon has disappeared. Hes supposedly in isted training, but theres no sign of him anywhere in the Tyrant Fist Sect.
Jo Cheon-Woo? Dam Ju-In frowned, then continued, Didnt Elder Heo take care of him?
He did, which is why Elder Heo is panicking right now.
Hmm Dam Ju-In tapped his chin with a finger. He didnt have many habits, but this was the one thing he couldnt help doing whenever he was agitated.
A long timeter, he finally said, I dont have the spare time to meddle in this affair, so ask Elder Heo to take responsibility for it. The Scarlet Fog Association will focus all our efforts on finding out how Tang Gi-Mun cured Yoon Ja-Myeong.
Understood, the subordinate replied, before abruptly vanishing the same way he had appeared.
From now on, dozens of eyes would watch Tang Gi-Muns every move, and all the information obtained passed on to Dam Ju-In for careful analysis.
Tsk! This isnt fun anymore.
The White Dragon Merchant Association specially ordered arge carriage that couldfortably fit a bed for Yoon Ja-Myeong, who was not fully recovered yet. To look after him as they traveled, Yoon Seo-In, Tang Gi-Mun and Tang Mi-Ryeo also boarded the carriage. The Tang n members would at least keep an eye on him until the Yunnan border, where they would part.
Their retinue would be the same as before, with the Iron Brigade and their own escorts guarding them. The most ring difference was the cheerful expressions on the faces of Yong Mu-Sung and the other members of the Iron Brigade, as they had now sessfully aplished their mission.
Jin Mu-Won, Hwang Cheol, and the othersgged at the back of the group. Yoon Ja-Myeong had shoved arge sum of money into Jin Mu-Wons reluctant arms, and thanks to this, Jin Mu-Won had be unexpectedly wealthy. However, he wasnt really aware of the value of the money he was holding, having lived in the wilderness for years.
Lets go! Yong Mu-Sung shouted.
Finally, the caravan began its journey north. The mood was much lighter than when they had arrived, and even the escorts wore rxed smiles on their faces.
On the road, Hwang Cheol stuck close to Kwak Moon-Jung and continued sharing his insights about the Three Origins Meditation Technique with the boy. As a fellow practitioner of the same martial art, Kwak Moon-Jung absorbed Hwang Cheols teachings like a sponge.
Meanwhile, Jin Mu-Won remained on high alert. Cheong-In did the same, albeit from the shadows, disguised as one of the happy escorts. Jin Mu-Won did not know which one he was, but he knew that he had no need to identify the spy; Cheong-In would appear when the time was right.
With all these people following me, I wont be able to take a small detour anymore
Hey, what are you thinking so hard about? Yong Mu-Sung asked, walking to Jin Mu-Wons side.
This and that.
Thats a lot of things to think about, heheh! Yong Mu-Sungughed in his usual unique way.
Did you want to talk to me about something?
Have you heard the rumor?
Which rumor?
The rumor that Heavens Summit is recruiting young martial artists.
Ive heard of that one.
I see. The smile vanished from Yong Mu-Sungs face as he asked seriously, So, what are you going to do?
For now, Im thinking of going to Heavens Summit.
Are you interested in that organization?
Jin Mu-Won shook his head.
Yong Mu-Sung was baffled. Then why are you going there?
Theres something I want to investigate. It has nothing to do with Heavens Summit recruiting people.
I see.
Why did you ask me about that rumor?
Because Im actually thinking of going to Heavens Summit myself.
Is the Iron Brigade also interested in the organization theyre creating?
Its tempting, but were not interested in joining. Im going there for personal reasons.
What about the White Dragon Merchant Association?
Ill escort them to Lanzhou no matter what, but Ill make a beeline for Heavens Summit after that, Yong Mu-Sung said, an unusually grave expression on his face.
Jin Mu-Won suspected it had something to do with Yong Mu-Sungs personal reasons, but he didnt ask for more detail. Perhaps well meet again in Heavens Summit.
Perhaps. Yong Mu-Sung shook his head.
Jongri Mu-Hwan, Chae Yak-Ran, and the other Iron Brigade warriors looked toward him. It wasnt just Yong Mu-Sung who wanted to go to Heavens Summit, it was the entire Iron Brigade.
Anyway, dont worry about your uncle. Ill take him to Lanzhou safely.
Thank you.
Ill head back to the front of the caravan. Yong Mu-Sung said, before reining in his horse and leaving.
Jin Mu-Won watched him for a moment, then closed his eyes and rapidly sank into the world of his mind. Just as Hwang Cheol needed time to process what he had learned, so did he.
Nam Goon-Wi and Geum Dan-Yeop. He had gloriously won the battle against the two men, but they had also made him realize his shorings.
That was especially true of the fight with Geum Dan-Yeop, whose Sound Arts posed a great challenge to Jin Mu-Won. Although itsrge area of effect was astonishing, it was in fact most frightening when focused on a single target.
Geum Dan-Yeops Serenade to the Apocalypse had caused Jin Mu-Won a lot of internal damage. Had Geum Dan-Yeops technique been a little more refined, he might not have won that final exchange.
Simple swordsmanship is no match for the Serenade to the Apocalypse. Theres also no guarantee that Ill be able to disrupt the sound waves with my swords cry a second time. What is the best way to effectively deal with Sound Arts?
Jin Mu-Won recalled his battle with Geum Dan-Yeop. It had taken ce in an underground hall, and the reflected and amplified sound had made it much more difficult to endure and counter.
He used the location advantage to maximize the power of his sound waves, while I struggled badly, deprived of my mobility. That means that when fighting an opponent like him, its important to have a geographical advantage.
Compared to Hwang Cheol, this barely counted as enlightenment. However, for Jin Mu-Won, who constantly thirsted for new knowledge, it was significant. After all, big changes often started with small enlightenments.
How can I preserve my maneuverability in the underground hall while also dissipating the sound waves that are focused on me?
Jin Mu-Wons ideas were endless, his imagination boundless. In his mind, the battle with Geum Dan-Yeop reyed over and over again, each time slightly different from thest. He imagined how Geum Dan-Yeop would react to his every move, and changed his approach ordingly.
Like this, he constantly improved himself.
Suddenly, the caravan came to a halt, and Jin Mu-Won opened his eyes. How long was I in deep contemtion? he wondered, even as he asked a nearby escort, Whats going on?
Theres a blockade up ahead, the escort replied.
Jin Mu-Won immediately urged his horse forward, followed by Hwang Cheol and Kwak Moon-Jung. As they approached the front of the caravan, they saw a gigantic ox cart blocking the road, pulled by an abnormally dull-looking yellow ox.
A man sat on the ox cart with arge wine table in front of him. He was fanning himself with the front of his shirt wide open, and his face was red from alcohol. When he saw Jin Mu-Won, he waved.
Heya! he shouted.
It was Ha Jin-Wol. Jin Mu-Won immediately averted his gaze.
Do you know him? Kwak Moon-Jung curiously asked.
For the first time, Jin Mu-Won didnt want to admit that he knew someone. It was too embarrassing.
Chapter 116: Gratitude Is Fleeting; Grudges Are Forever (1)
TL: FoodieMonster007; ED: TheGreatT20
Unexpectedly, Ha Jin-Wol and Tang Gi-Mun got along very well. Shortly after meeting the schr, Tang Gi-Mun went over to the ox cart and started talking to him. The topic started with medicine, but soon moved on to astronomy, geography, and more. In the end, even Jongri Mu-Hwan joined the discussion.
Although everyone who listened to their conversation was quickly turned off by the frequent use of iprehensible jargon, the arrival of Ha Jin-Wol livened up the atmosphere.
Unlike when they entered Yunnan, they didnt stop in Kunming, where the Tyrant Fist Sect was located. They had already rescued Yoon Ja-Myeong, and the Tyrant Fist Sect was hardly the best ce to go now. Since Jin Mu-Won had agreed to travel with the group until they left Yunnan, he decided to abandon his original ns and follow Gong Jin-Sungs lead.
Before they knew it, the sun was already setting, and Gong Jin-Sung ordered the escorts to set up camp. Fortunately, there was a fairlyrge stream nearby, and a clearing in front of it that wasrge enough tofortably amodate them.
They built a circr barricade of wagons, started a fire, fetched water from the stream, and poured it into arge pot hung over the mes. The cook of the day threw various dried meat and vegetables into the pot, and soon a very randomly vored mysterious gruel was ready.
The gruel was distributed to the escorts, and Jin Mu-Won took a bowl as well. He knew from experience that even if it didnt look appetizing, it usually tasted pretty decent. However, as he ate, a dark cloud hung over his face.
Hwang Cheol, who was sitting beside him, asked worriedly, Whats wrong, Young Master? Does the food taste bad?
No, its not that.
Then?
I have a foreboding feeling.
What?
My chest feels tight, as if Ive forgotten something important, Jin Mu-Won said. Throughout the journey, he had felt increasingly anxious, as if an invisible hand was tugging at his ankles. It was so bad that he couldnt meditate at all.
Hwang Cheol narrowed his eyes. Theposure of a master like Jin Mu-Won was rock solid, never easily shaken or broken. If he felt out of sorts, it had to be something serious enough to affect his mental state.
Suddenly, an idea came into his mind.
Perhaps
Eh?
Could you be affected by that sword?
You mean Snow Flower?
Yes, the homnd of the ughtered tribe, where I got the ck rock you used to make Snow Flower, is not far from here.
Where is it?
A dozen miles north of here is a mountain called Mount Darksword. The tribes ancestral home is on the north face of Mount Darksword.
I have to go there. Jin Mu-Won put down his bowl and stood up.
Are you leaving right now?
Yes. I think its better if I resolve this sooner rather thanter.
Ille with you.
You dont have to.
The terrain around Mount Darksword is moreplicated than it looks, and its not easy to find your way around. Youll need a guide. Hwang Cheol stood up, the determination in his eyes burning so brightly that Jin Mu-Won could not refuse him.
Jin Mu-Won told the group that he was going to visit Mount Darksword and that if he was not back by sunrise, they should leave without him and he would catch up with themter.
The two men then left the groups campsite and headed for the mountain. Jin Mu-Won matched Hwang Cheols pace, and even though Hwang Cheol wasnt very good at movement arts, they maintained a decent speed thanks to his increased internal chi.
Personally, Hwang Cheol was amazed at his own abilities. No matter how much he squandered his chi, he never seemed to run out of energy or feel tired. This was something he had never imagined could happen to him before.
Hwang Cheol nced at Jin Mu-Won out of the corner of his eye. Jin Mu-Wons face did not turn red, nor did his breathing be ragged, despite the fact that he was running at top speed.
Young Master has already reached a level I dare not fathom. If my Lord were alive to see this, how happy would he be? At the thought of Jin Kwan-Ho, Hwang Cheol felt his tears well up. It had been ten years since Jin Kwan-Ho met his tragic end, but Hwang Cheol still felt heartbroken whenever he thought of him.
He forced back his tears and tried to smile, walking faster so that Jin Mu-Won would not notice his expression. He did not want his emotions to affect the young man. It would be one thing if it was him, but he didnt want Jin Mu-Won to be reminded of the painful past.
ZOOOOM!
The scenery around him passed by at a rapid pace, and as he ran, a huge shadow loomed over him. In the dim moonlight, a huge mountain was barely visible. It was Mount Darksword.
Whew! Hwang Cheol let out a gasp as he came to a screeching halt.
Jin Mu-Won also stopped running and looked at the mountain. From the tremors next to his waist, he could tell that Snow Flower was crying, as if she was happy to be back home.
Uncle Hwang was right. Snow Flower was the cause of my uneasiness. Jin Mu-Won gently stroked Snow Flower until her intense trembling gradually subsided.
I hope the road to the vige is still visible, Hwang Cheol said a little worried.
Uninhabited viges quickly became ruins, and unused roads became overgrown with vegetation, making it difficult to find any trace of them. Since he wasst here ten years ago, it was unlikely that the road was still there.
Hwang Cheol forged his way through the bushes, trying to remember the path he had taken a long time ago, while Jin Mu-Won silently followed behind him. The forest was so quiet that even the chirping of crickets was cut off by the sudden appearance of the two humans.
As Hwang Cheol had said, the terrain was very rough. Although it was nothing like the Ao Mountains, they still had to cross dangerous valleys and steep cliffs.
Before they knew it, it was already dawn. Hwang Cheol pointed to a cliff in the shape of a roaring lion and said, Were almost there. The vige is at the in below that cliff.
As it turned out, the in where the vige once was was covered in man-sized grass and dotted with wooden beams, probably the ruins of houses.
This ce
SCREEEEEECH!
Snow Flower, who had calmed down for a while, started to wail again, this time so loud that even Hwang Cheol could hear her.
Ugh! Hwang Cheol gasped. He felt like his chest was being squeezed. He hastily circted his chi to counter Snow Flowers cursed energy, and the pain gradually subsided.
What kind of sword is this he muttered, ring at Snow Flower angrily. Even though Jin Mu-Won had told him that it was a cursed sword, this was the first time he had experienced its energy.
Jin Mu-Won didnt answer. No, he couldnt answer. Snow Flowers cursed energy affected him even more than Hwang Cheol, and he had his hands full just trying to calm her down.
His heart sank and he felt tears threatening to fall. However, these were not his own emotions. They were Snow Flowers.
To make matters worse, without realizing it, he had followed Snow Flowers urging to arge cave at the back of the vige. He peered into the cave and saw a shrine to the tribes ancestors, but it had been so thoroughly destroyed that only a few traces remained.
This is where I found the rock.
Were there any survivors at all?
At least, I didnt see anyone here when I came. A shadow fell over Hwang Cheols face as the memory of that time came back to him. Thest time he hade to this ce, the devastation had been terrifying. The bodies of hundreds of tribesmen littered the ground, and even their livestock had been ughtered and was rotting away. Most of the houses had been burned or destroyed, and the streets reeked of blood and decay.
To this day, I dont know what it was about this ce that made the martial artists destroy it
The area was surrounded by mountains on all sides. There was nothing of interest nearby. It wasnt exactly the kind of ce that would appeal to martial artists, but for them toe in and wipe them out meant that there was something of value that he didnt know about.
After looking around for a moment, Jin Mu-Won entered the cave. However, because of the debris from a cave-in, he couldnt go very deep inside. He peered through the debris. Something behind it attracted him. As if to prove it, Snow Flower screamed even louder.
Jin Mu-Won started to move the stones. Seeing his young master at work, Hwang Cheol silently helped him, thinking that there must be a good reason for Jin Mu-Wons actions.
Just like that, the two toiled for hours, removing the stones.
Finally, the cavern behind the rubble was revealed. Jin Mu-Won immediately bit his lip and Hwang Cheol froze in horror.
What on earth?
Right in front of them, countless bodies were piled like luggage around arge pit dug into the ground. Since the bodies had been in an enclosed space for the past ten years, they had mummified instead of dposing.
T-There were more bodies than just the ones outside? Hwang Cheol said, his voice shaking.
There were over a hundred mummies. A foul stench emanated from them, causing the two men to feel slightly disoriented. However, Jin Mu-Won braved the stench and approached the bodies to take a closer look.
These are all women.
Does this mean that the killers gathered all the women separately?
It seems so.
Damn it! Hwang Cheols face scrunched up in anger.
One hundred bodies, all women Jin Mu-Won muttered. Something about this fact bothered him, but he couldnt remember what it was.
Jin Mu-Won reached out to examine one of the mummies, but the dried flesh crumbled at the slightest touch. It was in a terrible condition, and he had to limit himself to observation.
He thus carefully searched for simrities among the mummies, and soon noticed that they all had crisscrossed cuts on their necks and wrists.
All the blood in their bodies was drained through these wounds. Thats why they were mummified instead of dposing.
What kind of lunatic would drain all the blood from a corpse? Thats insane.
Are you sure that this ce was wiped out by the Tyrant Fist Sect?
Thats what I heard. Why?
Whether its the bodies drained of all their blood or this giant pit, both are signs that a practitioner of demonic arts was here.
Demonic arts?
Can you think of a demonic art that uses womens blood as a sacrifice?
Hwang Cheol shook his head. In all his years of traveling around the country with the White Dragon Merchant Association, he had never heard of a demonic art that used a womans blood.
Do you know anything about it, Young Master?
When I was a child, I heard a certain horror story from the warriors of the Northern Army.
What story?
There is a demonic art that uses blood drained from living women. It is said that the power of the demonic art increases exponentially as the practitioner absorbs more and more blood.
Are you saying that such a demonic art actually exists?
It is called the Demonic Blood Cross (ʮѪħ), and it was dered a forbidden martial art in the gangho long ago due to its cruelty and inhumanity. Jin Mu-Wons eyes turned icy. I wonder who the culprit was? The Demonic Blood Cross has a fatal side effect that causes one to develop a split personalityand yet they chose to learn it!
SCREEEEECH!
Snow Flower wailed.
Chapter 117: Gratitude Is Fleeting; Grudges Are Forever (2)
TL: FoodieMonster007; ED: TheGreatT20
As the sun rose in the morning, the group packed up and set out on their journey. Jin Mu-Won still hadnt returned, but none of them were worried about him. It was foolish to worry about a man of Jin Mu-Wons strength.
They decided not to wait for him and left marks on the ground or in the trees to help him follow themter.
Yong Mu-Sung looked at Jongri Mu-Hwan, who was lost in thought. The strategist had looked gloomy since yesterday.
Are you worried about something?
Oh, no, its not that.
Then why are you so upset? Our mission was a great sess.
Thats because
Tell me.
At Yong Mu-Sungs urging, Jongri Mu-Hwan reluctantly said, Its because of Master Jin.
What about him?
To be precise, its because of Schr Ha, who joined us as Master Jins guest.
Is there any problem with him?
Hes an amazing person. Ive never met anyone as knowledgeable as him in my life.
More than you?
Honestly, I dont think I can hold a finger against him.
That bad, huh? Yong Mu-Sungs eyes widened. He knew Jongri Mu-Hwan better than anyone else. The strategist might be a little inferior in martial arts, but he had unrivaled intelligence and vast knowledge, and he was proud of it, as evidenced by the fact that Jongri Mu-Hwan couldnt easily acknowledge Jin Mu-Won.
Yet, for the first time, he cast aside his arrogance and humbly admitted that he felt inferior to another. To Yong Mu-Sung, this was a big deal.
Yong Mu-Sungs gaze fell on arge ox cart at the very back of the caravan. Ha Jin-Wol sat on the cart, ying go against himself.
So you admit that hes a genius?
I dont think genius is the right word. Ive never seen anyone with such in-depth knowledge on so many different things.
At first, hed thought that Ha Jin-Wol was simr to him, so he took a liking to him and joined him for drinks. However, the more they talked, the more he was overwhelmed by the schrs vast knowledge, to the point where he eventually felt depressed.
Hmm After hearing Jongri Mu-Hwans exnation, Yong Mu-Sung looked at Ha Jin-Wol. Do geniuses attract geniuses? Jin Mu-Won, the martial arts genius, got another genius to follow him?
I dont know what wille out of these two working together, but I have a feeling that its going to be big.
Yong Mu-Sung patted Jongri Mu-Hwan on the shoulder and said, Dont worry too much. Youre a genius too. To me, youre the best strategist. You dont have to beat yourself up byparing yourself to Ha Jin-Wol.
Hyung-nim?
Dont be so conscious of them. They have their path, and we have ours. We just have to be quiet and follow the path we chose.
Yeah, Jongri Mu-Hwan replied weakly.
This is a wall he must ovee by himself, Yong Mu-Sung thought, looking ahead. Regardless of how much they had actually contributed, it was true that they had aplished their mission. As long as they made it to Lanzhou, they would receive a huge reward from the White Dragon Merchant Association. With that money, the Iron Brigade could finally work towards achieving their shared dream.
Just wait a little longer. Ill be there soon. Yong Mu-Sung clenched his fists tightly and released a hint of killing intent.
Sensing their leaders intense emotions, the martial artists of the Iron Brigade gathered around them. The Iron Brigade had been together for a long time, and their bond was so strong that they could tell what each other was thinking with just a nce.
And true enough, that simple gesture was enough to calm Yong Mu-Sung and Jongri Mu-Hwan down.
Gong Jin-Sung, who was watching them, couldnt help but marvel at the sight. They are no different from biological brothers. Is there any other sect in the gangho with such strong bonds?
Although the Iron Brigade hadnt yed much of a role in saving Yoon Ja-Myeong due to the emergence of the powerhouse that was Jin Mu-Won, their unity was a big part of why Gong Jin-Sung believed in them.
Although their numbers are small and they dont have much influence, people like them always have a ce in the gangho. We must do our best to maintain good rtions with them.
After being part of the White Dragon Merchant Association for so long, Gong Jin-Sung had be a merchant through and through. However, he didnt think it was a bad thing.
He looked at the carriage that Yoon Ja-Myeong was riding in. The Third Young Master was in much better shape now.
I wonder how happy the Old Matriarch will be when she finds out we brought him back safe and sound?
The thought of her waiting for him at White Dragon Merchant Association brought a smile to his lips. However, his smile didntst long. The martial artists in the front of the group suddenly reined in their horses, bringing the entire group to a halt.
Whats wrong? Gong Jin-Sung rode to Yong Mu-Sungs side, but Yong Mu-Sung didnt answer him and only stared straight ahead, a stiff expression on his face.
Gong Jin-Sung looked in the same direction.
Urk! He too stiffened.
There was arge river ahead, blocking their path. However, it wasnt the river that surprised them, it was therge rock in front of the river, or more precisely, the giant sitting on the rock.
A giant that radiated an aura of tyranny.
Gong Jin-Sung groaned. He recognized the man. Jo Cheon-Woo, the Sect Leader of the Tyrant Fist Sect and one of the Four Northern Pirs.
For some reason, Jo Cheon-Woo stood in their way. His presence was so powerful that everyone, including the Iron Brigade, remained frozen to the spot.
Yong Mu-Sung narrowed his eyes as he looked at Jo Cheon-Woo. He didnt like the fact that the man had himpletely suppressed with his aura, but he was more interested in something else.
Why the hell is Jo Cheon-Woo here? Although the negotiations with the Tyrant Fist Sect went awry, we havent formed any grudges. However, judging from Jo Cheon-Woos intense killing intent, he didnte here with the intention of just talking.
Regardless, I cannot just ignore him. Yong Mu-Sung stepped forward and greeted, Greetings, Master Jo, I am Yong Mu-Sung.
Jo Cheon-Woo didnt reply and simply locked gazes with Yong Mu-Sung.
Pain immediately shot through Yong Mu-Sungs eyeballs, making him feel as if they were about to burst, but he gritted his teeth and didnt avert his gaze.
Jo Cheon-Wos eyes glinted dangerously. Where is Jin Mu-Won? he asked.
Jin Mu-Won? Yong Mu-Sung twitched. Is this rted to the Yuxi Massacre? Id heard that the Tyrant Fist Sect had been involved, and that theyd received a stern warning from Heavens Summit to shut their gates for a while, but I never expected Jo Cheon-Woo to ignore all that and personally make a move.
Jongri Mu-Hwan and Chae Yak-Rans faces turned grave as they realized the gravity of the situation.
Hes not here right now.
Hmph! Are you lying to me? I already know that hes traveling with the White Dragon Merchant Association.
He was, but he left usst night and isnt here right now, Yong Mu-Sung exined.
Jo Cheon-Woos eyes glowed with rage as he rose to his feet like a mountain rising from the earth, spooking the horses into rearing and throwing off their riders. He was sure that Yong Mu-Sung was lying.
How dare you lie to me, Jo Cheon-Woo?
Behind Jo Cheon-Woo, more than a hundred elite martial artists of the Tyrant Fist Sect appeared and released their killing intent. They were usually stationed outside the sect, and had hence escaped Heavens Summits surveince. Moreover, they had worked together with the Blizzard Squad many times, and were furious at the deaths of theirrades in Yuxi.
What should I do to make you believe me? If you want, Ill even allow you to search the carriages.
What makes you think Ill believe you? Im sure that youve already made arrangements to hide him. Jo Cheon-Woo ignored Yong Mu-Sung and came up with a conclusion on his own. He then looked at his men andmanded, Kill them all. Well see if he still doesnt show up.
Yes sir!
The elites of the Tyrant Fist Sect marched threateningly toward the martial artists of the Iron Brigade and the White Dragon Merchant Association, not bothering to hide their murderous intent.
Jongri Mu-Hwan whispered to Yong Mu-Sung, No matter what we say, they wont believe us.
I guess not. Yong Mu-Sung gritted his teeth. He wanted to avoid fighting if he could, as it wasnt in his nature to take risks without a reward. Unfortunately, it was impossible to negotiate when Jo Cheon-Woo had no intention of doing so.
At that moment, Gong Jin-sung, who had been watching from the sidelines, stepped forward and politely asked, Master Jo, my name is Gong Jin-Sung, and I am the Finance Head of the White Dragon Merchant Association. There seems to be a misunderstanding, so could you please calm down and listen to us first?
The White Dragon Merchant Association? Are you trying to intimidate me with that insignificant name?
Jo Cheon-Woos aura intensified, inflicting internal injuries on Gong Jin-Sung and causing his face to turn pale.
The man had no desire to talk at all.
They say that good luck and bad fortune are two sides of the same coin, and that they alwayse together. I suppose today is the day I fight with everything I have. Gong Jin-Sung nced at the carriage behind him. Yoon Ja-Myeong and Yoon Seo-In were looking out of the window. For their sake, he couldnt back down.
He shouted at the top of his lungs, Everyone, take out your weapons! Show them that the White Dragon Merchant Association are not pushovers!
The White Dragon escorts quickly drew their weapons and gathered their chi.
Damn it! Why does this have to happen just when I thought the worst was over?
Fuck!
Some of the escorts cussed while their colleagues beside them gulped nervously. A sense of urgency like never before washed over them.
SWOOSH!
The Tyrant Fist elites pounced at the caravan members, their hands balled into fists.
Shit! Theyve got a hundred peak masters capable of unleashing Fist Chi! Were screwed. Where the fuck is that bastard at a time like this? Yong Mu-Sung was usually optimistic, but this time, he was the first to curse Jin Mu-Won for not being there.
As the Tyrant Fist Sect elites swooped in on the group, Jo Cheon-Woo looked at Yong Mu-Sung and grinned wickedly. Lets have a little fun, shall we?
Youre a motherfucking lunatic.
At the very back of the caravan, Ha Jin-Wol stood up on the cart just in time to see the martial artists tangling up ahead. The Iron Brigade warriors were doing well, but as it was impossible for ordinary escorts to defend against the Tyrant Fist Sects elites, the overall situation was overwhelmingly unfavorable for them.
W-Why did this happen only when he was away Tang Gi-Mun stammered. Jo Cheon-Woo of the Four Northern Pirs was a master who towered above supreme peak experts. No one present was a match for him.
Were going to be wiped out at this rate. Its just bad luck that this happened right after I joined. No, its not my bad luck, its his bad luck. For now, Ill just have to hold out until hees, Ha Jin-Wol mumbled to himself.
Tang Gi-Muns eyes lit up. Hold out? Do you have any ideas?
No, but Im thinking of one right now, Ha Jin-Wol replied, grinning wickedly.
Chapter 118: Gratitude Is Fleeting; Grudges Are Forever (3)
TL: FoodieMonster007; ED: TheGreatT20
Oi, you, Ha Jin-Wol called out to a young escort near him.
The young man gave Ha Jin-Wol a confused look, but Ha Jin-Wol ignored him and waved him over.
A little upset, the escort said, Whats the matter, cant you see that Im busy?
Its not like youre doing anything important.
Neither are you.
Go get rid of the spies watching us from the shadows.
Why me?
Because youre from the ck Moon.
The young escort grimaced, and Ha Jin-Wol grinned.
Mu-Won told me about you before he left.
That person seriously
If I were Heavens Summit, I would definitely spy on either us or Jo Cheon-Woo. Im not sure exactly where theyre hiding, but please finish them off. Its very important.
And why should I do that?
Because it will benefit the ck Moon.
What?
The ck Moons greatest weapon is their monopoly on information. Theres no need to share it with Heavens Summit, is there? Ha Jin-Wol smiled triumphantly, confident that the cat was in the bag.
Cheong-In stiffened. Ha Jin-Wol had totally read his mind. The Triune Schr Ha Jin-Wol. The ck Moon doesnt have much information on him, but thats only because weve never considered him worthy of attention. ording to the ck Moons rules, when our own lives are threatened, we are to abandon our mission and escape immediately, buttheres something about this schr named Ha Jin-Wol thats keeping me here
The Iron Brigade and White Dragon escorts werepletely overwhelmed. At this rate, their annihtion was only a matter of time, and yet, there was no fear on Ha Jin-Wols face. Rather, he was smiling faintly, as if he was enjoying himself.
Cheong-In hesitated. He felt the need to see the source of Ha Jin-Wols confidence with his own eyes.
Ahh damn it! The boss will nag me like crazy after this.
I guarantee you wont regret it.
Hmm, where would I hide if I were a spy? Fuck!
The young escort seemed to fade away and then vanish from sight, grumbling all the while. Most normal people would find his stealth technique frightening, but Ha Jin-Wol wasnt the least bit flustered.
Moon-Jung.
Yes! Kwak Moon-Jung came running at Ha Jin-Wols summon. They had only spent one night together, but he instinctively sensed that Ha Jin-Wol was no ordinary person.
I need you to do something for me.
Just say the word.
Ha Jin-Wol pulled out a dozen palm-sized gs from his chest pocket, handed them to Kwak Moon-Jung, and said, Stick these gs in the ground where I tell you. Theres a line on each g that tells you how deep to nt it.
True to his word, there were lines carved into the gpoles with a knife, each at a different position. Ha Jin-Wol leaned in close to Kwak Moon-Jung and told him where to put the gs.
Do you remember everything?
Yes, just leave it to me! Kwak Moon-Jung replied energetically, then ran off to do as he was instructed. He had no idea what was going on in Ha Jin-Wols head, but the schr was the only person he could trust in this situation.
Tang Gi-Mun, who was sitting next to Ha Jin-Wol, asked, Is there anything I can do to help?
Why would there not be? Your help is highly wee. Ha Jin-Wol smiled.
His eyes were clear, deep, and so intense that they seemed to prate into ces that Tang Gi-Mun couldnt see. They were clearly in the middle of a crisis, but somehow, Tang Gi-Mun found the schrs presence strangely reassuring.
Despite his entric personality and sharp tongue, Ha Jin-Wol was a trustworthy man. For a moment, he wondered what thebination of Jin Mu-Won and Ha Jin-Wol could aplish. Perhaps I should just wait and see how far these two go?
Meanwhile, slightly ahead of the ox cart group, Yoon Seo-In left the carriage to protect Yoon Ja-Myeong, holding her Bamboo de.1 The situation was too urgent to rely solely on the escorts.
Again and again, she unleashed the Kongtong Sects ultimate techniques. Unfortunately, although she could use sword chi, her opponents were elites and could also do the same. To make things worse, they were far more experienced inbat, and did not hesitate to draw blood. That fact alone spelled the difference between victory and defeat.
POW!
AAAH! Yoon Seo-In screamed as a fist mmed into her outer thigh. The excruciating pain made her take several steps back.
Even if youre a woman her opponent growled, his eyes bursting with killing intent.
The other members of the Tyrant Fist Sect were just as manic. Having lost so many of theirrades in the Yuxi disaster, their hearts were filled with nothing but rage. Right now, they couldnt bring themselves to see Yoon Seo-In as a beautiful woman; she was just another target to be eliminated.
Yoon Seo-In looked around grimly. The escorts who had been with her for months were dying one after the other. She wanted to close her ears to their groans, to close her eyes to their deaths, but she couldnt do it.
She had once thought that the gangho was a romantic ce, but not anymore. This was a dangerous world where one walked a tightrope between life and death. It wasnt a ce for a weak-minded person like her.
Seo-In Yoon Ja-Myeong looked at Yoon Seo-In with pained eyes. His sister was in danger, but there was nothing he could do to help her.
No! Tears blurred his vision as he watched a Tyrant Fist Sect martial artist swinging a fist the size of a pot lid at Yoon Seo-Ins slender body.
FOOM!
Suddenly, a stranger intervened in their fight. It was Gongson Chang of the Iron Brigade. With one swift strike, he shed open the Tyrant Fist warriors throat, killing him. However, they werent out of the woods yet.
There are too many of them! Gongson Chang stepped in front of Yoon Seo-In and wiped the sweat from his brow. Individually, the martial artists of the Iron Brigade were stronger, but there was too much of a difference in numbers. All of them were drenched in blood, and although most of the blood belonged to their enemies, at this rate, it would only be a matter of time before they copsed.
He looked around for Yong Mu-Sung, only to see hismander sent flying backward.
BAM!
Keuak! Yong Mu-Sung groaned as a trickle of blood dripped from the corner of his mouth. One punch from Jo Cheon-Woo had resulted in him sustaining internal injuries.
Jo Cheon-Woo was terrifyingly strong. His fists were harder than iron and powerful enough to crush a boulder the size of a house.
Jo Cheon-Woo looked down his nose at Yong Mu-Sung as if he were an unworthy piece of trash.
Yong Mu-Sung tensed. The oue of this battle was all too obvious. The first to be wiped out would be the escorts, and then the Iron Brigade. Jongri Mu-Hwan was scrambling around trying to reorganize the warriors, but it was toote for him to turn the tides.
Why the fuck did this have to happen just when that punk isnt around?
For the first time, he resented Jin Mu-Wons absence.
[Hey, buy me fifteen minutes.]
Suddenly, someone contacted him using voice transmission. Yong Mu-Sung nced behind him and was shocked to discover that it was Ha Jin-Wol. In the midst of the fierce battle, he hadnt paid the schr any attention, but for some reason, no one had noticed his presence all this time.
I just need to hold out against Jo Cheon-Woo for fifteen minutes, right?
Strangely enough, Yong Mu-Sung didnt question why Ha Jin-Wol wanted him to stall for time. He instinctively felt that Ha Jin-Wol would be able to do something about their current situation if he had fifteen minutes.
He tightened his grip on his Dragon Scale Dao, and Jo Cheon-Woo smiled wryly at the sight.
Looks like you still have a trump card. Go ahead and show it to me. You wont get a second chance.
Hmph! Dont look down on me, you old monster. Yong Mu-Sung bit his lip in indignation.
In response to Yong Mu-Sungs defiance, Jo Cheon-Woo taunted him with a beckoning gesture.
Yong Mu-Sung focused his energy on the Dragon Scale Dao, causing it to glow red in preparation for his most powerful martial art: The Demonic Dragon Scale de Art ([ħε).
SCHRIPPP!
The Dragon Scale Dao ripped through the air like an unstoppable force, and for the first time in this battle, Jo Cheon-Woos face lit up with interest.
The intimidating pressure that made his skin crawl and the sharpness that made his nerves tingle were truly impressive. Although his anger had caused him to temporarily lose his rationality, ultimately, he was a martial artist. He couldnt help but be fascinated by a martial art he had never seen before.
Heughed, Good, lets enjoy this to our hearts content!
That arrogance of yours will be your end, Yong Mu-Sung growled fiercely.
Sensing Yong Mu-Sungs killing intent, Jo Cheon-Woo nodded gleefully. I like that look, but you cant kill with your eyes alone. Come, show me that your de is as sharp as your eyes.
I guarantee you wont be disappointed.
Yong Mu-Sung took a step towards Jo Cheon-Woo.
ROAR! ROAR!
The Dragon Scale Dao cried like a wild beast as Yong Mu-Sung injected more and more chi into it.
At the same time, Yong Mu-Sungs steps became faster and faster, and in an instant, he had shortened the distance between him and Jo Cheon-Woo.
YAAAAH!
BOOM!
Red chi des exploded out of the Dragon Scale Dao like the ws of a beast. Using his left foot as a pivot, Jo Cheon-Woo dodged the attack, knocked the des aside and closed in on Yong Mu-Sung.
Yong Mu-Sung immediately spun the Dragon Scale Dao around and held it in a reverse grip. He shed out at Jo Cheon-Woo, but only nicked the giant mans clothes.
Unabated, he went on a full-scale offensive, unleashing the Demonic Soul Crushing de (ħ) and the Explosive Dragon Fang (ѻ), the two most powerful techniques of the Demonic Dragon Scale de Art, in rapid session.
Lightning shed and the wind swirled like a storm. The earth shook and rocks cracked.
Jo Cheon-Woosposure evaporated. Yong Mu-Sungs martial arts were created for a singr purpose, to take the enemys life at any cost. Every single technique that Yong Mu-Sung had used was meant to kill him in one strike.
The creator of this martial art must be either a bloodthirsty maniac or someone with a deep-seated grudge.
Finally realizing that Yong Mu-Sung posed a threat to him, Jo Cheon-Woo spread his arms wide and said, It seems that you are worthy of receiving my fists.
Footnotes:
Chapter 119: Even So, I Have No Regrets (1)
TL: FoodieMonster007; ED: TheGreatT20
A change was urring on the battlefield. The martial artists of the Iron Brigade, who had been pushed back since the beginning of the battle, began to recollect themselves.
[Seo Jin-hyung, step back and let Jin Yeop-hyung take your ce. Jin Hong-hyung, shoot an arrow at the one on the right and hold him back.]
Jongri Mu-Hwans used voice transmission to send orders to the Iron Brigade Warriors, moving them into formation. However, there was no joy on his face. Ha Jin-Wol, who stood beside him, was the mastermind who had given all the instructions.
On the surface, nothing much seemed to be happening, but as time went by, the cooperation among the martial artists of the Tyrant Fist Sect began to break down. This resulted in their movements slowing down, giving the Iron Brigade a chance to solidify their defenses.
The left nk is copsing; send Vice-Commander Chae over there. That swordsman seems to be exhausted, so ask him to retreat for a bit and rece him with the hidden weapons wielder to bnce things back out, Ha Jin-Wol said.
Jongri Mu-Hwan immediatelymunicated his orders to the Iron Brigade warriors. The line of defense strengthened yet again, giving the tired martial artists some breathing room.
However, Ha Jin-wols orders just kepting.
Ask the wounded escorts to pull out from battle and move those wagons toward therge boulder on the right. Ill tell you how to line up the wagons there.
Alright, Jongri Mu-Hwan replied helplessly. The overwhelming difference in ability between himself and Ha Jin-Wol had unknowingly manifested itself in his passive demeanor.
Instead of being controlled by the situation, the schr took charge of everything and adjusted it to his liking.
Damn it, just what does he see in this mess? Goosebumps rose all over Jongri Mu-Hwans body. He could tell that Ha Jin-Wol saw something beyond mere survival. Even in the midst of a chaotic battle where many people were dying, the schr calmly grasped the situation and brought order to it.
Suddenly, Ha Jin-Wol asked Tang Gi-Mun, Do you have any Qi Dispersing Poison?
Qi Dispersing Poison made it impossible for a martial artist to gather qi for a short period of time. It had little effect on peak experts, but was very useful against ordinary martial artists.
I do, but I dont think it will be of much use. Unless we can segregate our own warriors from the enemy, the Qi Dispersing Poison will be a double-edged sword.
Dont worry, Ill take care of that. Please give me the poison.
Okay Tang Gi-Mun took out a porcin bottle from his chest pocket and handed it to Ha Jin-Wol, who calmly held it as he watched the battlefield unfold.
The Iron Brigade warriors gradually retreated backwards, forming a circr defensive line like a spiny hedgehog. Although this made things harder for the Tyrant Fist Sect elites, however, time was on their side and the difference in power was overwhelming. The moment the Iron Brigade warriors began to tire, their defenses would crumble and the battle would turn into a one-sided ughter.
It was a battle that absolutely could not be won at least not by conventional means.
The problem is perspective. What I have to do is stall for time, not n to win.
With Jin Mu-Won gone, they were at an absolute disadvantage. No strategy that Ha Jin-Wol coulde up with would make up for the fact that they could not deal with the one martial master named Jo Cheon-Woo.
For now, Yong Mu-Sung was holding up against Jo Cheon-Woo, but the bnce was precarious, like a flickering candle that could go out at any moment. Time was of the essence.
Going by the suns position, we have about half an hour left until noon, when the Yang energy is strongest. I can only pray he manages tost at least that long
Ha Jin-Wols gaze shifted toward Kwak Moon-Jung, who was diligently nting gs on the outskirts of the battlefield. There were many moments when his life was at stake, but he overcame them all and nted the g exactly where he was told to.
That boy seems dull at first nce, but to be able to have that kind of focus, especially in a crisis, is really something. Hes much more talented than I gave him credit for. Ha Jin-Wol raised his initial appraisal of Kwak Moon-Jung, unaware that he was one of only a small handful of people who saw anything in the boy.
After nting the seventh g, Kwak Moon-Jung swiftly headed toward the next point, but found himself obstructed by a heavily muscled, six-foot tall Tyrant Fist Sect warrior. Seeing the powerful Fist Chi around the mans hands, he instantly judged that his opponent was a peak-level martial artist and one of the strongest fighters among the enemies.
He was correct. The man was Yang Moon-So, a famous barehanded warrior recognized by the Tyrant Fist Sect. For a while now, Yang Moon-So had watched curiously as Kwak Moon-Jung nted gs all around the battlefield.
Kid, what are you doing? he asked.
Instead of answering him, Kwak Moon-Jung raised his greatsword.
Yang Moon-So chuckled in amusement. Heh, I guess it doesnt matter whether you answer me or not. Youre going to die either way.
Although Kwak Moon-Jung exuded quite a bit of strength, he was only a boy of twelve or thirteen. There was no way he could lose to a teenager who wasnt even fully grown yet.
Take this! Yang Moon-So shouted, throwing a punch at Kwak Moon-Jung.
Kwak Moon-Jung gritted his teeth. The punch hadnt even reached him, and he could already feel the wind from the attack. His arms trembled and his heart beat wildly. His breathing quickened and the blood in his body rushed through his veins at many times its normal speed. Yang Moon-Sos killing intent pricked his skin.
It was as if he was facing the God of Death. He had felt something simr during the confrontation with the Kongtong Sect some time ago, but that was nothingpared to this. Moreover, there was no Jin Mu-Won by his side now.
He had to ovee this crisis alone.
If I fail to nt this g, a lot of people will die.
He swung his greatsword.
Across from him, Yang Moon-So suddenly found himself unable to close the distance to the boy. The difference in their reach was too great. That left him no choice but to charge up his attacks with chi and strike from a distance.
With each blow, Kwak Moon-Jung felt like he was being hit by a tidal wave of sheer power, but he steadied himself and calmly deflected each attack with his greatsword.
BAM! BOOM! BANG!
Every time his greatsword shed with his opponents fist chi, a loud explosion resulted, piercing his eardrums. With every new exchange, the impact increased, making his body tremble, and yet, he did not back down.
Damned punk! Yang Moon-So cussed, enraged by the sight of Kwak Moon-Jung determinedly fending him off. He intensified his attacks, overwhelming the boy.
Soon, Kwak Moon-Jungs clothes were torn to shreds and his body covered in wounds. Still, he remained on his feet.
I wont lose! I can endure this! I have to keep defending until the enemy tires and lets his guard down.
After following Jin Mu-Won for thest few months, he realized that in order to protect what he loved, he had to fight with everything he had, even if the difference in strength between himself and his enemy was absolute. As long as he did not give up, his chances of sess, no matter how low, would never be zero.
Fortunately, his greatsword was very well-made and able to withstand Yang Moon-Sos chi. Moreover, the wide sword doubled as a shield and protected his entire body.
Conversely,pared to Kwak Moon-Jungsposure, the more defiance the boy showed, the angrier Yang Moon-So became.
How dare this little bastard!
The sight of Kwak Moon-Jung hanging on despite going to copse at any moment irritated him to no end. At first, hed wanted to save his energy, but now all he wanted was to kill the boy once and for all.
Huff, huff! Kwak Moon-Jung panted. Although he was still able to move and use his techniques with precision, his physical strength was almost at its limit. The only thing that kept him going was his superhuman will and his sense of responsibility to the g nting mission that Ha Jin-Wol had given him.
He blocked Yang Moon-Sos relentless attacks over and over again.
Fuha! Suddenly, Yang Moon-So gasped loudly as he ended one wave of attacks and gathered his chi for the next.
Kwak Moon-Jung didnt miss the opportunity.
For the first time in his life, he felt the draining sensation of all the energy in his body being sucked into his sword.
Hmph! Yang Moon-So snorted as he raised his arms to parry the greatsword and crush Kwak Moon-Jungs heart in one fell swoop. Having mastered the Iron Sun Technique (Fꖚ), he was confident that his skin was so tough it could withstand being hit by the greatsword without even a scratch.
His forearm shed with Kwak Moon-Jungs greatsword.
SCHRIPP!
Huh? Yang Moon-So stared in disbelief as the greatsword sliced through his forearm and stabbed into his chest, spurting blood everywhere.
Kuheok! he coughed, his face contorting in pain. Kwak Moon-Jungs sword had smashed through his sternum and destroyed his lungs and heart.
THUD!
Yang Moon-Sos corpse toppled over backwards like a log.
Huff! Haah! Kwak Moon-Jung gasped as he fell on his butt. Sweat and tears mixed on his face as the relief of being alive and the guilt of killing a human for the first time swirled in his tiny chest.
However, he knew that he could not rest right now. He still had an important mission toplete.
Uggh! he groaned, mbering to his feet even as tears streamed down his face.
This day, the young boy Kwak Moon-Jung finally became a warrior who lived by his sword.
Having finished exploring the ruins of the massacred Yunnan tribes vige, Jin Mu-Won and Hwang Cheol were returning to the caravan when suddenly, Jin Mu-Won stopped in his tracks.
Whats wrong, Young Master? Hwang Cheol asked, puzzled.
Look here, Jin Mu-Won said grimly, pointing at the ground. There were numerous footprints in the dirt.
What on earth!?
Jin Mu-Won knelt down on one knee and examined the footprints closely. These were made by close to a hundred martial arts masters, he deduced. No ordinary person walked with such light footsteps.
Do you think theyre aiming for the White Dragon Merchant Association?
Jin Mu-Won nodded. They werent far from the White Dragon Merchant Associations camp. The only reason arge group of elite martial artists would gather in such a remote location was either to target the White Dragon Merchant Association or Jin Mu-Won.
The question is, who is the enemy? Jin Mu-Won considered several possibilities, but in the end, he decided that there was only one possibility.
Its the Tyrant Fist Sect.
It was evident that Jo Cheon-Woo, the man whom he had once called his uncle, had made a move.
He must be holding a grudge against us over the Yuxi Massacre.
Jin Mu-Wons expression darkened.
W-We have to hurry up and catch up with them! Hwang Cheol stammered. As a former member of the Northern Army, he knew that Jo Cheon-Woo was a vengeful man who would return even the smallest of grudges several times over.
Jin Mu-Won nodded and stood up. The situation was bad, but it wasnt hopeless. At least, there was one person he could trust to protect the White Dragon caravan while he wasnt there.
Ha Jin-Wol, the Triune Schr.
Chapter 120: Even So, I Have No Regrets (2)
Ugh! Yong Mu-Sung groaned as he was sent flying, his clothes and Dragon Scale de stained red with blood. His body was shaking, his legs were weak, and his eyes were bloodshot from the immense pressure of Jo Cheon-Woos chi.
As a master martial artist, Jo Cheon-Woos bare fists were his most powerful weapons. He didnt even need to use techniques anymore; every normal punch of his was equivalent to a lesser warriors strongest technique.
With a single strike, he shattered Yong Mu-Sungs Dragon Scale de Art and still had enough power left over to overwhelm him.
On the contrary, no matter what technique Yong Mu-Sung unleashed, Jo Cheon-Woo easily deflected it and counterattacked.
It wasnt long before Yong Mu-Sung was covered in wounds.
Keuk! Yong Mu-Sung wiped the blood from his mouth with his sleeve.
So this is the strength of a warlord who aims to rule the world?
His opponent was a man who wasmonly referred to as an absolute master, and for Yong Mu-Sung to have survived so far against such a person was a feat in itself. However, simply surviving was meaningless.
Hurry up ande back, damn it!
Out of the corner of his eye, he cast a nce at his men. The Iron Brigade and the White Dragon escorts had formed a defensive circle, but the Tyrant Fist Sect elites had thempletely surrounded.
Suddenly, Jo Cheon-Woo sneered, Im surprised you can afford to look the other way while Im standing right in front of you.
Yong Mu-Sung bit his lip until it bled and scrambled back to his feet. Youre so old and weak that you cant even kill a fly. Is that the best you can do?
Pfft, are you trying to taunt me? How uncouth, Jo Cheon-Woo coldly replied, even as his eyes glowed with rage.
Yong Mu-Sung realized that his taunt had seeded, because a strange air current began to flow around Jo Cheon-Woos body, whipping around him like a whirlwind and stirring up the rocks and leaves on the ground.
SWOOSH! WHOOSH!
An instantter, the leaves and rocks were ground to dust, disappearing without a trace.
Jo Cheon-Woo was unleashing the Fist of Heavenly Domination (҆ȭ), the most powerful barehanded martial art in the history of the Northern Army. Originally, it was a martial art that could only be learned by the Lord, but when the Northern Army fell with the death of Jin Kwan-Ho over a decade ago, Jo Cheon-Woo stole the martial art manual.
Jo Cheon-Woo had always admired Jin Kwan-Ho, but he felt that if he mastered the Fist of Heavenly Domination, he would be equal to his former leader. Therefore, for the past ten years, he had focused only on mastering the Fist of Heavenly Domination, and in the end, he achieved what he wanted. He was confident that at his current level, he would be able topete with Jin Kwan-Ho.
Shit, I must have hit a nerve. Yong Mu-Sung grimaced. Maybe he had gone too far with the provocation, because his senses were screaming at him that Jo Cheon-Woo meant business.
He pushed all of his remaining chi into the Dragon Scale Dao, and it roared in answer.
Fuck, I only have one life to lose anyway! I should at least see how far I can go.
Dao Chi wrapped itself around his Dragon Scale Dao like a coiling dragon.
THUD!
Kwak Moon-Jung stuck thest g into the hard soil.
Haa Huff! he gasped. His legs were wobbly and his heart was pounding, making it difficult for him to stand, but he couldnt afford to rest. Even at this very moment, the warriors of the White Dragon caravan were fighting for their lives, and the longer he dyed, the more people would die.
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He waved his hand wildly at Ha Jin-Wol, who stood in the center of the defensive circle.
Ha Jin-Wol grinned, picked up a nearby rock and threw it into the center of the g formation.
CLACK!
A translucent fog began to swirl around the battlefield.
W-What?
Fuck! Its a formation!
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The Tyrant Fist Sect warriors, who were confident of their victory until the fog appeared, started to lose theirposure. One moment, they were blinded by a sh of light, and the next, they were plunged into pitch ckness. It was so dark that they couldnt even see the faces of theirrades next to them.
This is the Dark Phantom Illusion Formation (`). It originated in the evil sects, but that doesnt make it any less effective than any other top-notch debilitation formation, Ha Jin-Wol muttered as he watched the Tyrant Fist Sects elite descend into chaos.
One of the most important effects of the Dark Phantom Illusion Formation was that it deprived enemies of their sight, impeding their senses and restricting their movements. For a master of Jo Cheon-Woos caliber, such a thing wouldnt be a problem, but for ordinary martial artists, losing their vision alone was enough to make them feel extremely restless.
Now we add this to that Ha Jin-Wol took out the porcin bottle that Tang Gi-Mun had given him.
The martial artists of the Iron Brigade watched the schr with bated breath. Not only had he reversed a situation where they were bound to be annihted, he was now protecting them with uncanny techniques that didnt seem like they could be executed by a human being in the midst of battle.
Jongri Mu-Hwan was by far the most taken aback of them all. Although he had heard of the Dark Phantom Illusion Formation, as far as he knew, setting up the formation was an arduous endeavor that required the perfect terrain, time, and a lot of equipment and manpower. It wasnt something that could be done with only a few gs. If it were up to him, he would need at least three days to create the Dark Phantom Illusion Formation.
How can anyone be that brilliant? Goosebumps crawled all over his skin.
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This was a different kind of shock than the one Jin Mu-Won had given him, and in a way, it was much worse. Jin Mu-Won was a master martial artist, and Jongri Mu-Hwan could console himself by thinking that he was more of a strategist than a warrior.
However, Ha Jin-Wol was different. Like himself, the schr was a strategist who relied more on tactics than martial arts, but was so skilled that he was like an unscble wall.
Ha Jin-Wol smiled and sprayed the Chi Dispersion Poison toward the outer edge of the Dark Phantom Illusion Formation. The poison spread out on the wind and slowly swirled along with the mist.
Keuak!
I-I cant use chi.
The Tyrant Fist Sect warriors who were outside the Dark Phantom Illusion Formation hastily retreated, but some of the unfortunate souls who were slow to react fell to the ground, poisoned.
Ha Jin-Wol sat down on top of his ox cart. Ive done everything I can. All we can do now is wait for him to return.
Over time, the Chi Dispersion Poison would disperse to the winds, but until that happened, it was enough of a threat to keep the Tyrant Fist Sect at bay and prevent them from advancing forward.
Moreover, seeing their hesitation, Ha Jin-Wol made a momentary opening in the formation for Kwak Moon-Jung to enter.
Haa Haa! Kwak Moon-Jung panted. In the short time he was exposed to the Dark Phantom Illusion Formation, he had also been poisoned by the Chi Dispersion Poison and lost the ability to control his chi.
Tang Gi-Mun patted Kwak Moon-Jung on the head. You did great. Many people have been saved because of you.
I-I cant gather my chi.
Thats because youve been poisoned by the Chi Dispersion Poison. Dont worry though, the effects will onlyst for two hours.
O-Okay! Kwak Moon-Jung nodded and copsed on the ground. His entire body was screaming from the extreme muscr strain and the pain from his injuries. He badly wanted to pass out, but he couldnt. They werent out of dire straits yet.
As hey resting, he watched the fight between Yong Mu-Sung and Jo Cheon-Woo.
BOOOM! CRASH! BANG!
A series of eruptions exploded between the two behemoths. Although Yong Mu-Sungs Dragon Scale Dao was coated with de Flux, his attacks were blocked by Jo Cheon-Woos own pitch ck chi and erased each time they shed.
Despite pushing himself to the limit, Yong Mu-Sung was still at a disadvantage.
Commander
We shouldnt just stand here watching, we need to help him!
Suddenly, the Iron Brigade warriors tried to rush out from the protection of the Dark Phantom Illusion Formation.
However, Ha Jin-Wol refused to open a path for them. Dont do useless things, he chided.
Get out of the way. If you try to stop us, well cut you down. Gongson Chang red furiously at Ha Jin-Wol, ready to murder the schr if he continued being stubborn.
In the face of Gongson Changs threat, Ha Jin-Wol stated matter-of-factly, Even if you join him, you wont be able to change anything.
We still have to go. We cant leave ourmander alone.
Realizing that he couldnt convince the Iron Brigade, Ha Jin-Wol asked Jongri Mu-Hwan, What about you? Do you think the same way as these guys?
Jongri Mu-Hwan wavered. His heart told him that he should help Yong Mu-Sung, but his mind warned him that doing so was tantamount to suicide. One look at Kwak Moon-Jungs current condition was enough to describe what they could expect if they attempted to break through the Chi Dispersion Poison. In that state, never mind helping Yong Mu-Sung; theyd be sitting ducks for their enemies.
Wewill stay here.
V-Vice Commander?
Mu-Hwan!
Gongson Chang, Im Jin-Yeop, and the other Iron Brigade members violently objected.
Jongri Mu-Hwan looked at them and narrowed his eyes. Mister Ha is correct. If we leave the formation now, well only get killed meaninglessly.
Mu-Hwan!
The Iron Brigade warriors were stunned by Jongri Mu-Hwans decision, even though he had done it in their interests. Even though they understood his concern in their heads, it was hard to ept it in their hearts.
Chae Yak-Ran grabbed Jongri Mu-Hwans shoulder.
Mu-Hwan.
Noonim.
Believe in our Commander. He will be fine, Chae Yak-Ran insisted, even as she tightened her grip. Of all the Iron Brigade members, she was the one who was most worried about Yong Mu-Sung.
Ha Jin-Wol looked at the two vicemanders. The Iron Brigade is a very united group. Yong Mu-Sung is a far better leader than I thought. Such camaraderie cannot be created simply by living together. It must be Yong Mu-Sungs sincerity and sensitivity in addition to hispetence that earned him the unquestionable faith and support of his subordinates.
Meanwhile, outside the formation, Yong Mu-Sung felt as if his heart was going to burst and his whole body was going to fall apart. His left corbone was shattered, his right shoulder dislocated, he had at least three or four broken ribs, and his chi center was devoid of internal energy. The blood hed lost made him dizzy, and he couldnt think straight.
He didnt have the strength to lift the Dragon Scale Dao anymore, but still he did not let go of the weapon. He knew that the longer he stalled Jo Cheon-Woo, the higher his chances of survival.
Damn it! I really want to lie down now. Why isnt he here yet? Ordid something also dy him? Barely holding on to his consciousness, Yong Mu-Sung mentally chastised Jin Mu-Won.
Jo Cheon-Woo approached him. You are one of the few people who have earned my admiration. If you had stood by my side, we could have enjoyed all the riches of the world together.
Ptui! Instead of answering, Yong Mu-Sung spat at Jo Cheon-Woo.
Unfortunately, his spit was blocked by an intangible chi barrier and did not reach Jo Cheon-Woo.
I admire your fighting spirit, but fighting spirit without skill is nothing more than recklessness.
Jo Cheon-Woo raised his fist.
He was going to end it all with one final blow.
Yong Mu-Sung closed his eyes. Fuck fuck fuck! Is this the end for me?
CLANG!
Suddenly, the sound of iron being struck echoed across the battlefield.
Yong Mu-Sung slowly opened his eyes, only to find Jo Cheon-Woo gazing at a nearby mountain peak. To Yong Mu-Sung, the metal sound had been very faint, but to Jo Cheon-Woo, it was as loud as a bell ringing right next to his ear, jarring his soul.
Are you taunting me, this great Jo Cheon-Woo? How dare you! Jo Cheon-Woo growled furiously at the unknown person who had dared to focus the sound waves on him before instantly forgetting about Yong Mu-Sung and charging straight in their direction.
Once he was gone, Yong Mu-Sung copsed, but before he could ck out, someone caught him and asked worriedly, Are you okay?
It was Hwang Cheol.
Chapter 121: Even So, I Have No Regrets (3)
Two men stood atop a small mountain overlooking a river.
Jo Cheon-Woo, an enormous man who resembled a granite boulder, red intensely at the young man in front of him.
He was dressed in a tattered red-brown martial arts outfit, and a sword was strapped to his waist. He was not particrly handsome, but he had attractive sharp features and a manly appearance. Most importantly, his face reminded Jo Cheon-Woo of a certain person in his past.
JinKwan-Ho, he whispered to himself. The man he feared and respected the most.
The resemnce was uncanny, and it wasnt just the young mans looks. His calming presence and his unwavering, resolute gaze made him a dead ringer for Jin Kwan-Ho.
Naturally, it was Jin Mu-Won. Upon his arrival at the scene, he had taunted Jo Cheon-Woo by flicking a finger against his sword, inspired by Geum Dan-Yeops Thousand Mile Sound Arts; the technique used to attract his attention during their first meeting.
After staring at Jin Mu-Won for a long time, Jo Cheon-Woo finally said, You must beMu-Won.
Long time no see, Uncle. Jin Mu-Won didnt deny it.
Jo Cheon-Woo narrowed his eyes. Even though he was a man with an iron will, he could not help but be shaken by the memories of times long past.
In contrast, Jin Mu-Won stared at him unwaveringly.
It had been ten years since theirst meeting, and their lingering feelings for each other wereplicated at best.
I heard that you died?
Im sure you hoped that I actually died.
Jo Cheon-Woo didnt answer. He couldnt. Jin Mu-Wons words were like razors. He thought that he had no regrets, but emotions he didnt even realize were buried in the depths of his heart rose to the surface and agitated him.
Shaken by the unfamiliar emotions he hadnt felt in a decade, he frowned and straightened his back topose himself a little, then asked, Why did youe out of seclusion? No one in this world wees your presence, so thats as good as inviting death. You would have been much better off hiding your identity and cutting your ties with the gangho.
Seeing Jo Cheon-Woos distress, Jin Mu-Won looked at him with pitying eyes. After betraying the Northern Army, all you got was a small piece ofnd in Yunnan? I thought you would have be something more than this, at the very least. What on earth have you been living for all this time?
Shut up! What do you know about me?
Uncle!
Your father was a sinner for selling out the Central ins, and you, the son of a sinner, are also a sinner! What right do you have to stand here before me?
Do you really think he betrayed the Central ins?
I do. I have nothing to be ashamed of! Jo Cheon-Woo shouted, thumping his chest.
You know, Uncle, I once looked up to you. To my young eyes, you were a man stronger and more upright than anyone else, but it seems that was just an illusion on my part. Its not like you dont know what shame is; you just dont feel it.
Enough!
Uncle, pray tell me, how many innocent people in Yuxi have shed their blood to fulfill your ambition?
No great deed is achieved without sacrifice. History taught us this immutablew of the world.
So was it worth it? If it was, then why are you here pathetically venting your rage?
Jo Cheon-Woo grimaced. Jin Mu-Wons presence was a trigger for everything he wanted to forget. The boy would never understand him or sympathize with the despair of not having his strength recognized!
What do you know What do you know?! Whats wrong with a powerful man being ambitious? The world revolves around the powerful anyway! Lor1 Your father Jin Kwan-Ho was a coward. He had great power and might, but he foolishly chose to stay in the backwoods that is the North. Even if us Four Northern Pirs hadnt turned our backs on him, he would have been erased by the passage of time!
Jo Cheon-Woos booming voice echoed across the mountains and made the earth tremor, but to Jin Mu-Won, everything he said sounded like the flimsy excuses of a man who had fallen into despondency.
Uncle! He looked at Jo Cheon-Woo sadly. The uncle he had once admired no longer existed; the man before him was nothing more than a pitiful soul whose reason had been eaten away by the monster called ambition.
Jo Cheon-Woo gritted his teeth and released a ck aura, causing the air to tremble. Its true that I havent gotten everything I wanted. Even so, I have no regrets. No matter what you say, I will go my own way. I will defeat you and prove that my path is correct.
Jin Mu-Won narrowed his eyes. The Fist of Heavenly Domination
By mastering the Fist of Heavenly Domination, I have be strong enough to fear nothing under the heavens. Now, with this martial art, I will send you to your grave. With that, thest ghost of the Northern Army will be eradicated, and the world will forget that it ever existed.
Jin Mu-Won closed his eyes. Countless memories shed through his mind, many of them fond memories of the time he had spent with Jo Cheon-Woo. It finally hit him that they could never go back to that time again, that they hade too far along different paths to do so.
When he opened his eyes, the grief within was reced by determination. Uncle, I will take back the legacy of the Northern Army. You will smear it no longer.
Hmph! And how exactly are you going to do that? Theres nothing of value left in the Northern Army Fortress. What are you going to fight me with?
Jin Mu-Won didnt answer. There was no need for words, as nothing he said would convince Jo Cheon-Woo. He ced a hand on Snow Flowers hilt, and it cried hysterically in reply.
On the mountaintop dominated by Jo Cheon-Woos aura, Jin Mu-Won expanded his own domain. Though not as intense as Jo Cheon-Woos, the strength of his presence was unmistakable.
An eerie tingle ran down Jo Cheon-Woos spine, like he had just scratched a steel te with his fingernails. This punks not normal, he thought as he further raised his killing intent.
Interesting. Fine, show me your martial arts. Take this!
Jo Cheon-Woo made the first move, barreling toward Jin Mu-Won at a terrifying speed like a giant, unstoppable boulder. He was using the Tyrant Kings Drum (҆), a body-mming technique of the Fist of Heavenly Domination which involved using ones entire body as a drum stick to beat ones enemies.
BOOOOM!
Jin Mu-Won took a step to the side, narrowly dodging the attack, even though the hem of his sleeve was torn by the shockwave. Jo Cheon-Woo sailed past him and mmed into the ground, forming a huge crater.
KA-CHINK!
Jin Mu-Won drew Snow Flower and pointed it at Jo Cheon-Woos forehead, causing Jo Cheon-Woo to see an illusion of his head being pierced.
A sword? Were there any sword techniques left in the Northern Army Fortress? The corners of Jo Cheon-Woos mouth turned upwards. During the coup ten years ago, he had taken all the unarmed techniques for himself, while Yeon Cheon-Hwa had made off with the sword techniques. The Four Northern Pirs had divided the martial arts among themselves based on their respective specialties, and as a result, there were no decent martial arts left in the Northern Army Fortress or so he had thought.
Right now, he couldnt feel Jin Mu-Wons qi, but somehow, he had the feeling that he would be run through if he took a single step forward.
He abandoned his arrogance for vignce. From the way Jin Mu-Won held his sword, he could tell what kind of training the young man had undergone.
The Northern Army, the ce that was once everything to my young self. Just when I thought Id trampled it underfoot, it produces yet another monster. If I dont kill him now, there will be no future for the Tyrant Fist Sect.
Having decided to get serious, Jo Cheon-Woo moved into the starting posture for the Formless Berserker (oӰ), yet another technique of the Fist of Heavenly Domination. ck qi gushed from the pores of his skin, creating a whirlwind of darkness that concentrated power on the basis of torque.
Jo Cheon-Woo stomped on the ground and charged toward Jin Mu-Won once more.
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SWOOOSH!
The wind from the tornado around his body hit Jin Mu-Won first, causing the hem of his robe to p wildly in the wind, but this time, instead of evading, he raised Snow Flower to receive the blow.
Just as Jo Cheon-Woos attack was about to reach him
SCREEECH!
Snow Flower sliced through the air with a grisly sound. Instantly, the devastating wind was torn apart and scattered as if it had never existed.
Ugh! Jo Cheon-Woo groaned as he bent over backward hastily.
The next moment, Snow Flower brushed past his chest and the tip of his nose, narrowly missing him. He immediately bent his knees and attempted to leap backwards like a spring, but Jin Mu-Won would not let him retreat so easily.
STOMP!
Jin Mu-Won kicked off the ground, ready to thrust Snow Flower into Jo Cheon-Woos throat. Desperate, Jo Cheon-Woo was forced to release his qi and use it as a shield.
BOOM!
Jo Cheon-Woos powerful qi knocked Snow Flower aside, but like a heron circling over ake, Jin Mu-Won changed his attack trajectory and aimed at Jo Cheon-Woo with even more precision.
Keuk! Sensing the danger, Jo Cheon-Woo used a foot technique to increase the distance between them. He needed to catch his breath beforeunching a counterattack.
Unfortunately, Jin Mu-Won preempted his movements, re-positioned himself, and swung Snow Flower with all his might.
Finally realizing that agility was not his strong suit, Jo Cheon-Woo concentrated his energy in both arms, coating them with ayer of Fist Qi.
The two mens attacks connected.
RUMBLE!
An explosion erupted as sword and fist shed, destroying the mountaintop as if it had been swallowed by an earthquake. Rocks shattered and ancient trees turned to splinters.
The violent impact rattled Jin Mu-Wons and Jo Cheon-Woos bones and organs, the flying wood chips and stone fragments cut their skin and stained their clothes red with fresh blood, but neither of them yielded.
Jo Cheon-Woos expression hardened. Even after unleashing one Fist of Heavenly Domination technique after another, he still hadnt subdued Jin Mu-Won. On the contrary, hede close to being killed many times by Jin Mu-Wons bizarre swordy that defied all martial arts logic.
Did the Northern Army have such a weird sword technique? It seems that fool Yeon Cheon-Hwa took the shell, but left the kernel behind. Too bad for him! Hahaha! He mentally mocked Yeon Cheon-Hwa for thinking that he had taken away all of the Northern Armys sword techniques, even though it was hardly the time for him to be distracted.
Seizing the brief opening formed by Jo Cheon-Woos moment of inattention, Jin Mu-Won sliced through his side, leaving a deep cut.
Blood poured out of the new wound like a waterfall, and Jo Cheon-Woo hastily sealed his acupuncture points to staunch the bleeding. I have to settle this before he can unleash his sword techniques!
A sense of urgency flooded his brain, triggering his survival instincts. The longer he dyed, the greater his disadvantage. He had to use his most powerful technique, the Heaven Destroying Rain (), which, as its name suggested, was akin to a torrential downpour of heaven-destroying punches.
ROOAAAAR!!!
A terrifying power materialized in his fists and surged towards Jin Mu-Won, pouring down on the young man like rain and leaving him no room to dodge.
In response, Jin Mu-Won unleashed the second form of the Shadow de of Destruction, the Northern Heavenly Wall, and a huge qi sword appeared in front of him to defend against Jo Cheon-Woos final blow.
That wasnt the end of his counter, though. The moment the Heaven Destroying Rain struck the sword wall, Jin Mu-Won smoothly transitioned into his next technique.
Dividing the Heavenly Seas (캣).
RRRRIIIIIP!
The spine-chilling sound of something being torn reverberated through the air.-
Lor : Jo Cheon-Woo nearly said Lord Jin. Old habits die hard rofl.
Chapter 122: Gaze into the Abyss, and the Abyss Gazes Back (1)
Cut them down.
With that single thought in mind, Jin Mu-Wons Shadow Qi emerged from the Shadow Core hidden behind his qi center and raced through his entire circtory system, converging into Snow Flower.
SCREEECH!
Snow Flower screamed.
In Jo Cheon-Woos eyes, the world suddenly became bathed in a pure white light.
AHH! Jo Cheon-Woo widened his eyes to see through the sudden sh blindness, only for a razor-sharp ck de to fill his vision.
The world split in two.
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CHWAAK!
The raging and shing qi that had dominated the mountaintop a moment ago vanished as if it had never been there. There was no more world-destroying rain, sword qi, or terrifying aura.
In the wake of the destruction, only Jin Mu-Won and Jo Cheon-Woo were left standing.
Suddenly, Jin Mu-Won staggered. His shirt had disappeared without a trace, revealing a scarred upper body, the most horrifying of which was a spiral-shaped wound on his left nk. Around the wound, his skin was charred and ckened, and bits of bone were jutting out.
He leaned on Snow Flower for support and struggled to stay on his feet.
Keuak!
With a loud cough, Jo Cheon-Woo fell to his knees, blood flowing from his mouth. A long, deep, gruesome gash split his torso nearly in two, and cracked ribs could be seen through the bloodied flesh.
Jo Cheon-Woo looked up at Jin Mu-Won. What kind of sword technique was that? he asked.
Its called the Shadow de of Destruction.
Haha! What an audacious name! Butit suits you.
Uncle
Dont look at me with those eyes. I dont regret anything I did. Jo Cheon-Woo forced his broken body to stand up, causing even more blood to pour out, but he didnt care. He didnt want Jin Mu-Won to see him on his knees. He might have lost the battle, but he still had his pride.
Uncle, why didnt you use the Demonic Cross of Blood? Jin Mu-Won asked hesitantly. He knew that Jo Cheon-Woo and the Tyrant Fist Sect were responsible for wiping out the nearby tribes, so he had been on the lookout for Jo Cheon-Woos possible use of the Demonic Cross of Blood throughout the battle.
Hmph! The Fist of Heavenly Domination is enough for me. I would never stoop so low Jo Cheon-Woos voice trailed off as the light faded from his eyes forever.
Uncle!
Jo Cheon-Woo passed away standing upright, still staring at Jin Mu-Won like a rock, unshakable even in death.
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Jin Mu-Won looked at him for a long time. Suddenly, the blood on Snow Flower and the weight of the lives it had taken felt like a mountain on his shoulders. It was said that if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you, and right now, his mind was trapped in the abyss.
Hoo Jin Mu-Won sighed.
Holy shit, is that guy really human? Haha Cheong-Inughed weakly, his mind still reeling from the unbelievable sight he had just witnessed. He was the only one who had watched the fight between Jin Mu-Won and Jo Cheon-Woo from start to finish, having run into them after eliminating the spies sent by Heavens Summit.
He was familiar with Jo Cheon-Woos strength. The giant was an absolute master and was always at the top of the ck Moons list of most important people to watch out for. Not only was he a force to be reckoned with, he was also impossible to reason with, so much so that the ck Moon only monitored his movements loosely and dared not ce their spies near him.
However, the living legend that seemed to be as steadfast as an iron fortress was now crumbling right before him. No, it wasnt just the fall of an old legend, it was the beginning of a new one, and he had witnessed it all.
A strange feeling of excitement filled him.
What should I do now? One of the pirs supporting the current gangho has been shattered. Once this news gets out, the world order will change.
I cant clean up after this guy alone anymore. Ill need to call for backup.
Never before in the history of the ck Moon had a single individual caused so much trouble.
Cheong-In looked at Jin Mu-Won with a veryplicated expression.
The Tyrant Fist Sect warriors approached Yong Mu-Sung. They couldnt do anything about the people inside the formation, so they wanted to vent their anger on him.
However, Hwang Cheol stood in their way.
The Tyrant Fist Sect warriors released their killing intent to intimidate him into stepping aside, but the current Hwang Cheol was a master of the Three Origins Meditation Technique and was immune to their veiled threats.
Even then, deep down, Hwang Cheol was wavering. Most of the Tyrant Fist Sect martial artists standing before him were strangers that Jo Cheon-Woo had trained after settling down in Yunnan, but there were a few familiar faces among them.
They were the former warriors of the Northern Army. Back then, when they were at the height of their fame, Hwang Cheol was merely a third-rate martial artist, and they naturally would not have taken any notice of him, but what mattered now was that he knew them.
Long time no see, Master Seo Chang-Hwe, Master Oh Geum-Ho, and Master Son Mu-Hyung.
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The three men Hwang Cheol mentioned stepped forward. They were all in their early to mid-fifties and ranked among the strongest fighters in the Tyrant Fist Sect.
You know who we are?
You may not remember me, but I was also a part of the Northern Army.
Ahh! The three of them gasped involuntarily. Over thest decade, they had followed Jo Cheon-Woo unquestioningly and lived a lifepletely different from their time in the Northern Army. This effort to distance themselves from the past paid off, as the connection between the Tyrant Fist Sect and the Northern Army faded until it was only a memory shared by a few founding members of the sect.
Seo Chang-Hwe observed Hwang Cheol carefully, then said, You must be Hwang Cheol. I remember you being very dear to Lord Jin.
Thank you for remembering me, Master Seo.
Hah, this is thest ce I expected to meet an old acquaintance. The corners of Seo Chang-Hwes lips turned up slightly, although he couldnt show his joy openly due to the circumstances.
What business do you have here? If possible, I hope that you can just turn around and leave quietly, as I have no wish to kill a formerrade with my own hands.
The same goes for me, Master Seo. Could you please take your men and go?
Even though they had never spoken to each other when they were in the Northern Army, the two men had a strange feeling that they shared a bond and were reluctant to fight.
I cant. We must follow our masters orders, Seo Chang-Hwe replied. He served Jo Cheon-Woo now, and his current masters orders took precedence over everything else, including Jin Kwan-Ho.
Hwang Cheol looked at the trio with pity. Dont you realize that what youre doing is wrong?
Still, what can we do? This is the path we have chosen. Seo Chang-Hwe smiled bitterly.
Simr smiles appeared on the faces of the other two. They had chosen Jo Cheon-Woo ten years ago, and to go against him now was tantamount to an admission that their choice back then was wrong.
I dont know what kind of rtionship you have with these people, but please forget about them and leave. Do that, and at least you can keep your life.
Sorry, but I wont abandon them.
Youre willing to risk your life for them?
Hwang Cheol shook his head. Not them, but someone else.
Who?
Hwang Cheol looked at Seo Chang-Hwe for a moment, then pursed his lips and sent them a message using sound transmission.
Is that true? The trios faces paled.
Yes. I can guarantee it on my life.
What?! The three men gasped in unison.
The martial artists of the Tyrant Fist Sect looked at each other, puzzled. What on earth are they talking about they wondered, but it was impossible to tell as none of those taking part in the conversation felt like borating.
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The three former warriors of the Northern Army closed their eyes to let the shocking news sink in.
Hes alive? Jin Mu-Won is alive
Jin Mu-Won. A name they couldnt forget.
From the moment they had heard the Northern des name, they had prayed with all their hearts that it was someone else with the same name, so that they would not have to live with the guilt of ending the life of the child they once knew.
However, it seemed that the merciless God of Fate was forcing them to tread a path of thorns as punishment for their crimes.
Seo Chang-Hwe said, Im relieved that hes alive. I mean it.
Then
Still, we cant back down. That would negate everything weve done until now, Seo Chang-Hwe concluded. This was the path he and the others had chosen, even if it meant beingbeled as traitors. There was no turning back now.
Sadness filled Hwang Cheols eyes, but somehow, he could understand their decision. They hade too far for a few words and Jin Mu-Wons presence to break their determination.
Seo Chang-Hwe clenched his fists. If by chance you survive, I wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors.
This may sound shameless of me, but lets both give this fight our all, Oh Geum-Ho added.
It was truly a pleasure seeing you again, Son Mu-Hyung mumbled.
Hwang Cheol bowed politely at his opponents. It was an honor meeting the three of you as well. I, Hwang Cheol, will defeat you in the name of the Northern Army.
He drew his sword and released his qi.
SHIIIING!
Seeing Hwang Cheols intense aura, the three Tyrant Fist Sect elites finally understood that their enemy was not to be underestimated.
Excellent. So this is why Lord Jin was so fond of you. A sense of relief washed over Seo Chang-Hwe. For a moment, he was worried that their past ties would affect their battle, but it seemed that Hwang Cheol was ready to set all of that aside.
This was a fight without reservations, martial artist to martial artist.
Then lets get started.
The three of them charged at Hwang Cheol.
Just as the other Tyrant Fist Sect warriors were about to follow, the Dark Phantom Illusion Formation, which was as solid as an iron fortress, lifted, and the Iron Brigade rushed out.
WHIZZ! SWOOSH!
Dam Jin-Hongs arrow tore through the air, and despite having only one leg, the Red Leg Devil weaved through the enemy formation with such speed that it gave the illusion that they were motionless.
Behind them, Gongson Chang, Chae Yak-Ran, and the White Dragon Merchant Association escorts followed.
The sudden attack caught the Tyrant Fist Sect unawares and shattered their defenses.
Ha Jin-Wol, the mastermind behind the unexpected maneuver, grinned. Unlike everyone else who was distracted by Hwang Cheol, he never took his eyes off the Tyrant Fist Sect warriors and was always on the lookout for an opening. As soon as he saw his chance, he took action.
Under hismand, the Tyrant Fist Sect warriors fell one after another. When he finally had one moment to spare, he muttered, All the Tyrant Fist Sect martial artists who participated in todays assault must die. Only the dead tell no tales.
Is there any need for that? Why not spare those who surrender? Tang Gi-Mun cautiously stated his opinion. He was a man of moderation, and it pained him to see so many people die.
Ha Jin-Wol immediately refuted his argument. Do you know what it is that one must avoid at all costs in the gangho?
It is the illusion of strength. It makes those in high ces feel threatened, and those at the bottom feel challenged. Before one has absolute strength, they are nothing more than tempting prey for both sides, and will all too easily be deemed a public enemy. Ha Jin-Wol continued, looking at the distant horizon.
Tang Gi-Mun couldnt imagine how far into the future the schr was seeing.
It is not the time to reveal ourselves yet, so we must eliminate the possibility of it happening, because in this gangho, a half-hearted acknowledgment is worse than no acknowledgment at all.
Chapter 123: Gaze into the Abyss, and the Abyss Gazes Back (2)
The survivors looked at the battlefield in dismay. It was a hard battle. Countless peopley scattered on the ground like garbage, dead or heavily wounded. The martial artists of the Tyrant Fist Sect, the Iron Brigade, and the White Dragon Merchant Association were all in a frenzy, especially the White Dragon escorts who had lost most of theirrades.
Three White Dragon escorts viciously ganged up on one Tyrant Fist elite. One of them held their enemy in a death grip while the other two stabbed him unhesitatingly, running their des through their ownrade in order to kill a stronger enemy. Simrly, the Iron Brigades warriors ferventlyunched themselves at the Tyrant Fist Sect, enraged by Yong Mu-Sungs defeat. The fury of people who had been driven into a corner was unthinkable.
Half an hourter, the brutal battle finally ended.
YEAHHHH!
WAAAARGH!
The cries of the five surviving escorts echoed through the hills despite all of them being heavily wounded.
Haa Why did things have to end up like this Gong Jin-Sung sighed as he looked around in despair. All of the escorts worked directly under him and had been with him for at least a few years. He knew them so well, he clearly remembered how many siblings and even how many grandchildren each of them had. However, they were now simply cold corpses on a field.
The Iron Brigade wasnt in good condition either. All of them had survived, but they were, without exception, covered in injuries from head to toe andy sprawled on the ground, panting.
Still,pared to the Tyrant Fist Sect, who were annihted, at least they were alive.
Chae Yak-Ran leaned back against a rock and looked at Hwang Cheol, who was kneeling over several corpses, his shoulders trembling slightly. In front of himy the bodies of Seo Chang-Hwe, Oh Geum-Ho, and Son Mu-Hyung. Instead of surrendering, they had chosen to fight to their deaths, but even at the end, they never med Hwang Cheol or cursed him.
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Ironically, that was also why Hwang Cheol was left with a huge scar in his heart.
Master Seo, Master Oh, Master Son With shaking hands, Hwang Cheol closed their bloodshot eyes. He had looked up to them as a young man, but instead of feeling a sense of aplishment from defeating them, he felt only unimaginable grief.
Ha Jin-Wol also looked at him sympathetically. He couldnt fathom the depth of Hwang Cheols loss. The precious memories from the middle-aged mans youth were shattered by none other than himself. He destroyed his own past he muttered.
He tore his eyes away from the devastation and stared nkly at the sky. Although he had tried his best to hide it, he was in fact the most nervous person during the battle. The Iron Brigade and the White Dragon escorts were the ones actually fighting, but he was the one who directed them. Countless lives would have been lost if he had made a single mistake.
Hed thought that he was ready for this when he decided to return to the gangho, but it happened much sooner than hed expected.
Have I already been swept up by that mans fate?
He was a strategist at heart, and in that sense, Jin Mu-Wons ability to attract trouble made the young man the most ideal person those like him could dream of following.
His heart beat faster in excitement. Thetent ambition in him was flickering back to life.
Jin Mu-Won returned to the caravan right before dusk. His clothes were tattered, and he looked on the verge of fainting.
Young Master. Hwang Cheol, Kwak Moon-Jung and Ha Jin-Wol greeted.
Im d youre safe, Uncle Hwang.
Too many people died though
Jin Mu-Won grimly surveyed the battlefield. There were still several unrecovered corpses scattered around, and the metallic scent of blood stung his nostrils. He closed his eyes in mourning, feeling the lingering resentment of those who could not rest in peace.
Ha Jin-Wol patiently waited for Jin Mu-Won to open his eyes, then said, Please gather everyone. We cant undo what has already happened, so we now need to think about how we should deal with the consequences.
Consequences?
Theres no such thing as an unsolvable dilemma. If there is, that can only mean that weck the will and ability to solve it, Ha Jin-Wol dered confidently.
Jin Mu-Won nodded in approval and gestured for all of the weary survivors to gather around them. When everyone was assembled, Ha Jin-Wol looked at Jin Mu-Won and said, You want him toe too, right?
Him?
The ck Moon spy.
Jin Mu-Won nodded, turned toward a seemingly empty shaded spot, and said, Come out.
I know youre there.
Fuck! An unfamiliar middle-aged man shouted profanities and grimaced as he came out of hiding and joined the group.
How the hell did you figure out where I was?
I just know it.
Thats bullshit! Cheong-In sat down, shaking his head in disbelief.
Now that everyone was gathered, Ha Jin-Wol stood in front of the group and announced, Okay everyone, we are in deep shit.
Since weve defeated the Tyrant Fist Sect, shouldnt we be out of danger? Gongson Chang of the Iron Brigade asked, looking at Jongri Mu-Hwan for agreement as the strategist was the most intelligent person he knew.
However, Jongri Mu-Hwans expression was just as grave as Ha Jin-Wols. He looked at Jin Mu-Won and asked, What happened with Jo Cheon-Woo?
He has left for the next world.
I knew it! Ha Jin-Wols eyes glittered darkly. Jo Cheon-Woo suddenly disappeared during the battle, and Jin Mu-Won appeared after it ended. Even though everyone knew what it meant, Jin Mu-Wons confirmation still left them in a state of shock and awe.
Jo Cheon-Woo is dead
That great pir has fallen
Not even Yong Mu-Sung, themander of the Iron Brigade, was exempt. As someone who had fought with Jo Cheon-Woo, he was well aware of the unsurpassable gulf between himself and the giant.
Jin Mu-Won isnt just a powerful gangho neer, hes already entered the realm of the absolute.
Yong Mu-Sung shuddered, realizing that he was witnessing the birth of a new legend.
Cheong-In gave Yong Mu-Sung a sympathetic look. He too had been stunned by the sight of Jin Mu-Won killing Jo Cheon-Woo, and the memory was still fresh in his mind.
With zed eyes, Ha Jin-Wol stared at Jin Mu-Won for a long time before finally asking, Jin Mu-Won, are you the Lord of the Northern Army?
Silence fell over the group. Everyone looked like they had been hit over the head with a hammer, especially the Iron Brigade mercenaries. Although they suspected all along that Jin Mu-Won was no ordinary wanderer, they hadnt expected him to be the current leader of the Northern Army.
Haa Someone sighed, breaking the silence.
How did you know that? Jin Mu-Won asked.
I couldnt be sure of it at first. After all, the Northern Army Fortress was destroyed ten years ago, and it was rumored that thest sessor had died in the chaos.
Even though Ha Jin-Wol hadnt fully believed the rumor, it was enough for him to initially dismiss Jin Mu-Wons association with the Northern Army. Such was the nature of rumors; they made it near impossible to think without bias. However, once he put together the pieces of the puzzle and cleared his mind, it wasnt hard to guess Jin Mu-Wons identity.
The problem is, if the fact that you defeated Jo Cheon-Woo gets out, Im sure that I wont be the only one who suspects that. Ha Jin-Wol exined.
Hwang Cheol frowned. Only now did he realize the gravity of the situation. As soon as it became known that Jin Mu-Won was the Lord of the Northern Army, Heavens Summit would surely move to eliminate him, and even though Jin Mu-Won was just as strong as the other absolute masters, in the end, he was just one person. No matter how good he was at martial arts, it was humanly impossible to defeat the overwhelming numbers of the super-organization that ruled the Central ins.
Suddenly, Ha Jin-Wol grinned slyly and turned toward Hwang Cheol.
Hwang Cheols heart sank.
Ha Jin-Wol asked, Since Mu-Won calls you Uncle Hwang, is it okay if I call you that too?
Y-Yes.
If youre seeing this, you are at the wrong ce.
Lets talk frankly.
What?
You still have a lot of contacts, right?
What are you talking about?
The Northern Army.
Hwang Cheols eyebrows twitched.
Ha Jin-Wol didnt miss it. So its true. No wonder the numbers dont add up.
Most people thought that the martial artists of the Northern Army were split up between the Four Northern Pirs, but ording to Ha Jin-Wols calctions, the vast majority of them actually ended up as wanderers.
Even though the Northern Army was forcibly disbanded by Heavens Summit and the Four Northern Pirs, theres no soldier who doesnt long for their hometown, so Im not surprised that quite a lot of them chose to return home instead of joining another faction. Also, I guessed that they would keep in touch with each other, and it seems I was right.
Ha Jin-Wols cold, hard logic left Hwang Cheol speechless.
Is he right? Jin Mu-Won asked Hwang Cheol.
Sigh! Im sorry for hiding this from you, Young Master, but Im indeed still in touch with some people.
Jin Mu-Won face lit up a little. They havent forgotten about the Northern Army, have they?
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I dont think anyone can forget the Northern Army, Young Master. Later, when theres time, Ill bring them together. Im sure theyll be happy to see you.
Oh, save that forter. I dont need them yet. Its enough that I know they exist. Now that weve settled one problem, its your turn Ha Jin-Wols gaze shifted to the Cheong-In, who flinched under his intense gaze.
Are you talking about me?
Yes, you.
Why?
I need you to get the ck Moon involved.
Why should I?
Because our destinies are now intertwined, and theres no way we can let the ck Moon walk away unscathed, is there?
Cheong-Ins face crumpled like a sheet of paper.
Ha Jin-Wol ignored him and continued, Its not yet time for this guys existence to go public. We have a lot more work to do before were ready to turn the world upside down, so I need your help until then.
Who are you to say that, when youve only been with us a few days? Cheong-In whined.
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However, Ha Jin-Wol didnt take his rudeness to heart. He nced at Jin Mu-Won and replied confidently, He trusts me. Isnt that enough?
Jin Mu-Won furrowed his brows at Ha Jin-Wols utter shamelessness, but he did not refute the schrs im and nodded wordlessly. As Ha Jin-Wol said, he did trust the man. There was no rationale behind why he did so, he just felt that Ha Jin-Wol could be trusted.
Cheong-Ins face fell as he said exasperatedly, What exactly is it you want? The fact that this guy killed Jo Cheon-Woo will soon be known throughout the world.
Im going to fish in troubled waters.
Cheong-In shook his head. Fishing in Troubled Waters was one of the Thirty-Six Stratagems,1 and it involved reaping benefits from chaos and confusion. However, there was no chaos?
Ha Jin-Wol grinned. An overabundance of information leads to mass confusion.
What?
Luckily, we have a good excuse, dont we?
Can you stop talking in riddles?
The Silent Night!
The Silent Night?
Yes, the Silent Night. The conflict between the Tyrant Fist Sect and the Silent Night. What do you think? Doesnt it make a pretty picture?
Ah! Everyone eximed in realization.
Jin Mu-Won asked, Is it possible to do it? The opponent is Heavens Summit, they wont believe it so easily.
Youre asking me if its possible? Dont forget, I am the one and only Ha Jin-Wol, Ha Jin-Wol replied in a voice that oozed pride and confidence.-
Thirty-Six Stratagems: A Chinese essay used to illustrate a series of stratagems used in politics, war, and civil interaction. Its focus on the use of cunning and deception both on the battlefield and in court have drawnparisons to Sun Tzus The Art of War.
Chapter 124: Gaze into the Abyss, and the Abyss Gazes Back (3)
Wuhan, the capital of Hubei Province, was located at the confluence of the Yangtze River and the Han River, making it an ideal location for a major trade hub. With a spiders web ofkes and rivers, including East Lake and Hong Lake, countless people travelled to Wuhan by boat every day. In recent years, however, one ce had be even more popr than Wuhan: Hanchuan City.
Located about a hundred miles north-west of Wuhan, Hanchuan was home to the headquarters of the most famous organization in the world: Heavens Summit. This superpower that ruled the gangho sat on a small ind in the middle of ake. The ind, more than forty miles in circumference, was densely popted with dozens of buildings,rge and small.
The only way to enter Heavens Summit was by crossing a bridge leading to a heavily guarded main gate. No one was allowed in without permission or identification, not even the most famous people in the world. Even then, Heavens Summit was always crowded with martial artists sent by the various sects, as well as martial artists who were stationed there permanently.
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Naturally, the thousands of martial artists living on an isted ind required an enormous amount of supplies, and dozens of supply wagons and hundreds of merchants traveled in and out of Heavens Summit every day. To make transportation more convenient, arge vige almost the size of a county sprouted up around the only bridge leading to Heavens Summit.
The name of this vige was Heavens Vige, and the vigers were so proud of Heavens Summit that they called themselves the Chosen People.
However, Heavens Vige was not just an ordinary vige. It was a miniature gangho where young martial artists seeking their fortune, spies from small and medium-sized sects, and people with various ambitions gathered.
With the gathering of people came the gathering of money, with the flow of money came the merchants and courtesans, and with the flourishing of businesses came the gathering and spreading of information. Under these circumstances, there were very few ordinary civilians living in Heavens Vige.
The Spotless Inn was a shabby inn on the outskirts of Heavens Vige. It was cheaper and more affordable than the other inns in the vige, so it was a popr destination for poor young martial artists.
The restaurant on the first floor of the Spotless Inn was filled to the brim with aspiring young martial artists looking for a chance to enter Heavens Summit. Although the inn was normally quite busy, the number of customers had more than doubled recently, following rumors of a new organization for young martial artists.
Suddenly, the doors to the Spotless Inn swung open and a young martial artist walked in. No one inside paid him any attention, as too many people went in and out of the inn every day. Rather than take note of every stranger, people were generally more interested in thetest news and rumors about Heavens Summit.
The young martial artist looked around for a moment, then approached the innkeeper at the registration counter and whispered something to him. After hearing his words, the innkeeper discreetly pointed at the stairs.
The young martial artist climbed up the stairs to the third floor. At the end of the corridor on the third floor was a room guarded by two muscled warriors. The warriors exchanged a few words with the young man, then let him into the room.
The inside of the room was undecorated and minimalist, with only a table, a chair, and some rustic furniture. A man sat at the table, scribbling something furiously, with his back to the young martial artist.
He was an average-sized man whose back was stiff with age and experience. As if he didnt care whether the young man was there or not, he continued working without pause.
If youre seeing this, you are at the wrong ce.
The young martial artist stared at the mans back for a long time, holding his breath to avoid disturbing him.
SWOOSH SWOOSH.
The room was so quiet, the sound of the mans brushstrokes could be heard. However, to the young man, every stroke sounded like a sword slicing through the air.
After what seemed like an eternity, the man put his brush down and flipped the document around. He then rolled it up until it was no bigger than a childs finger, inserted it into a small barrel and whistled loudly.
The young martial artist blinked at the man, puzzled, but his unspoken question was almost immediately answered as a bird flew into the window.
Is that a messenger bird?
The bird was a small eaglemonly known as a gyrfalcon. Despite its size, it was agile, fierce, and difficult to tame. However, once tamed, it could carry messages faster and more urately than any other bird in the world.
The man tied a small barrel to the gyrfalcons leg and sent her flying. Only when she was out of sight did he finally turn to look at the young martial artist.
He was in histe thirties, with an icy expression and piercing eyes that sent shivers down the spine of anyone he faced. A small and strange leather pouch hung around his neck like a ne.
He looked at the young martial artist and asked, What are you here for?
I have a report from Yunnan. The importance of the message is Earth-grade.
Yunnan? The mans eyes lit up with interest.
The young martial artist took a sealed letter out of his chest pocket and respectfully handed it to the man, who immediately unsealed it and read it.
Jo Cheon-Woo is missing? The mans eyes widened slightly with surprise. Can you confirm the truth of this?
This letter came from the Scarlet Fog Association in Yunnan Province.
The Scarlet Fog Association? If I remember right, their leader was a guy named Dam Ju-In?
Thats right.
The man put down the letter and stroked his chin, while the young martial artist looked at him nervously.
This man was no ordinary man. He was part of the Inquisition, one of the many secret organizations in Heavens Summit and one that was tasked with identifying, searching out, and monitoring potential enemies of Heavens Summit. The information they gathered was then passed on to every intelligence organization within Heavens Summit, including the General Administration.
In other words, to offend the Inquisition was to offend the whole of Heavens Summit. It was no wonder that no one wanted to get on their bad side.
Still, the man was quite a bit more important and powerful than the young martial artist thought. He wasnt simply a member of the Inquisition, he was their leader, and the Spotless Inn was the headquarters of the Inquisition.
The young man didnt need to know this though, as the identity of the Chief Inquisitor and the location of the headquarters were closely guarded secrets, known by only a few of Heavens Summits top officials.
So Jo Cheon-Woo really is missing?
The man stroked his chin and mumbled incoherently to himself for a long time, and the young martial artist watched him in silence.
Tell your men to keep a close eye on the Scarlet Fog Association, the man finallymanded.
Yes, sir. The young martial artist didnt question the mans unusual orders; he had absolute trust in him. His missionpleted, he quickly bowed to the man and left the room.
Meanwhile, the man lit the letter with a candle and watched as the ashes were blown away by the wind. He then took out arge, detailed, scaled map of the Central ins from a drawer and spread it out on the table. The map clearly showed the terrain of China, including the provinces of Hubei, Yunnan, and Gansu.
Heavens Summit had spent decades and heaps of gold on the making of such an urate map, to the point where even within Heavens Summit, few were allowed to use it.
The man took out several markers and ced them on the map. The white markers formed a path from Gansu Province to Yunnan via Sichuan, while the ck markers were scattered all around Yunnan.
This is the path he took, and these are the traces of the Silent Night that we are aware of.
The man stroked his chin and stared at the Central ins map for a long time, before adding several blue markers around the heart of Yunnan.
The Tyrant Fist Sect and Jo Cheon-Woo, the man mumbled, furrowing his brows as if the mere mention of those names irritated him. He then took out red markers and ced them at several strategic locations around Yunnan.
The Scarlet Fog Association.
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Now, the image he wanted wasplete. The current situation in Yunnan was clearly visible. In the mans mind, he began to organize all the information he had.
Thest survivor of the Iron Sword Sect? Hah.
As the man recalled the name of an up-anding martial artist, his heart beat wildly in excitement, his shoulders trembled in anticipation, and his palms sweat with tion.
Thats a lie. That person must be my lord.
From the moment the man had first heard the name, he knew. His lord was the only person who could cause such a stir in his emotions.
As for the identity of his lord? Well
The mans name was Seo Mu-Sang. Although he was now the Chief Inquisitor of Heavens Summit, seven years ago, he had been sent to the Northern Army Fortress as the vice-captain of the Third Company. Unfortunately, due to a certain incident, the Northern Army Fortress was set alight and burned down.
That was also when Seo Mu-Sang was summoned back to Heavens Summit. As the only survivor and witness of the entire incident, he endured torture and all sorts of unspeakable hardships from those who imed to be information collecting experts.
However, even though their torture wore him down both physically and mentally, he never confessed that Jin Mu-Won was still alive. In fact, he was so adamant about it that Heavens Summit had given up torturing him after a year, let him go and epted his words as truth.
That meant that not only had he seeded in faking Jin Mu-Wons death, he had also survived the ordeal and regained his freedom.
However, that wasnt enough to satisfy Jin Mu-Wons First Sword.
Seo Mu-Sang gritted his teeth and started over from scratch, re-joining Heavens Summit as a grunt. He devoted himself exclusively to improving his martial arts, mastering Jin Mu-Wons teachings and making them his own. This enabled him to slowly work his way up the organizationdder, despite having no strings to pull.
Also, he had deliberately avoided contacting Jin Mu-Won, aware that his every move was likely to be monitored, and he was right. Heavens Summits secret surveince continued for another three years.
His innocence finally proven, Seo Mu-Sang quickly rose to prominence, securing his position at the top of the Inquisition.
As Chief Inquisitor, Seo Mu-Sang did his best. Only by consolidating his ce in Heavens Summit would he be of help to Jin Mu-Won.
And now, after many years of toiling under Heavens Summit, he noticed the appearance of the Northern de, Jin Mu-Won. Right away, he was sure that this was the same Jin Mu-Won as the Jin Mu-Won of the Northern Army.
Part of him wanted to throw away everything he had worked for and run to Jin Mu-Wons side right away, but he couldnt.
If youre seeing this, you are at the wrong ce.
My Lord may be one of the strongest individuals, but he hasnt yet gained a footing in this world. I need to keep Heavens Summit distracted until he can find allies and build a group of his own.
A new era of chaos would begin soon, and it wasnt just a prediction. As the leader of the Inquisition, he had enough information to know it for certain.
Both Silent Night and Heavens Summit are gathering their forces. When theyre done, there will be all-out war.
It was a sh of giants that had been building up for decades. Seo Mu-Sang couldnt even begin to imagine the extent of the destruction that would be unleashed. All he knew was that the future of the Central ins was bleak.
I serve one and only one Lord. For him, Ill wait here patiently until the perfect timees to strike back, Seo Mu-Sang whispered determinedly.
Chapter 125: Gaze into the Abyss, and the Abyss Gazes Back (4)
Jin Mu-Won, the White Dragon Merchant Association, and the Iron Brigade arrived in Dehong County, a small county located between Yunnan, Sichuan, and the Western Regions on Ha Jin-Wols suggestion.1 The mixture of the Central ins and Western cultures gave the county an exotic feel.
We cant hide from Heavens Summit in the Central ins, so its better if we take the roundabout route to Gansu.
Yong Mu-Sung and the Iron Brigade agreed with Ha Jin-Wol. Most of the White Dragon Merchant Associations escorts were dead, and including the Iron Brigade, there were less than twenty people left in the caravan, barely a fifth of the forces they had when they left Yunnan.
It was impossible to respond to any emergency with so few warriors, so Yong Mu-Sung and the White Dragon Merchant Association agreed to take the long way back to Gansu, where the White Dragon headquarters were.
At a fork in the road, Yoon Ja-Myeong sped his hands together and bowed slightly to Jin Mu-Won. Thank you for all your help, Master Jin. I wouldnt havee this far without you.
I didnt do it alone. It was only possible because of the sacrifices of many people. Dont forget to reward them, or their bereaved families.
Absolutely. Ill make sure to repay those who sacrificed themselves for me.
Your pledge is enough for me.
If you run into any difficulties, please do not hesitate to contact the White Dragon Merchant Association. We will mobilize everything in our power to support you.
Thank you for your kind intentions.
Im not just saying this for the sake of it. Thanks to you, Master Jin, Ive realized what it means to stick to ones beliefs. Until now, Ive been living for money, but from now on, I will live for a greater purpose. When I said Id help you, Im serious about it, Yoon Ja-Myeong insisted, his voice filled with a conviction that he had never had before. Through the recent series of events, he had truly undergone a change of heart.
Jin Mu-Won nodded to him, then turned to Hwang Cheol and Kwak Moon-Jung.
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Uncle Hwang.
Dont worry about me. As soon as I master my martial arts, I wille to you.
Mmm.
Jin Mu-Wons gaze swept over to Kwak Moon-Jung, who stood at Hwang Cheols side. Take good care of Uncle Hwang.
I will, dont worry. You take care of yourself too, hyung, Kwak Moon-Jung replied, thumping his chest. However, his bloodshot eyes betrayed his true feelings.
He was agitated and upset that he couldnt be of help to Jin Mu-Won.
If youre seeing this, you are at the wrong ce.
Still, Kwak Moon-Jung choked back his tears and smiled brightly for his hyung, who patted him on the head.
Jin Mu-Won smiled at Hwang Cheol and Kwak Moon-Jung, then turned around. Ha Jin-Wol, Cheong-In, and Tang Gi-Mun were waiting for him.
It was time to leave for Heavens Summit.
The winds of change were blowing, and Jin Mu-Wons gaze shifted toward the North.
It was a vast canyon with sheer cliffs as sharp as razor des and a deep ravine with rushing waters determined to wash the world away.
If youre seeing this, you are at the wrong ce.
Throughout the canyon, over a hundred ck-robed men lurked in hiding, blending in perfectly with thendscape. They were the Green Lotus Society, a legendary group of elite assassins who had never failed a single mission over the course of more than two centuries.
A few days ago, they received theirtest mission. Even though there was only one assassination target and the client had concealed his identity, the reward of over ten thousand gold, a staggering sum that was usually equivalent to ten years of the Green Lotus Societys ie, was enough to tempt them into epting the job.
To ensure their sess, for the first time in the history of the Green Lotus Society, almost all of their hundred or so assassins were mobilized.
This included Baek Kyun-Su, the Sect Leader of the Green Lotus Society who had retired from active duty.
We absolutely cannot fail this mission. The future of the Green Lotus Society hangs on the bnce. Baek Kyun-Su thought to himself, even as he instructed his men to eliminate the target at all costs.
The canyon was eerily quiet. Although the killing intent that the assassins emitted was too faint to be detected by humans, the animals and insects instincts warned them of danger and silenced their calls.
ROOOOAR!
A sudden outburst of qi caused the hidden assassins to flinch, and the roosting birds soared into the sky in rm.
Hes here. Baek Kyun-Su immediately realized that their target had arrived.
SWISH!
The assassins began to move in earnest, blending into thendscape as they quickly approached their target.
However, Baek Kyun-Su didnt move. He was no ordinary assassin. He was thest resort in case the others failed. He would remain hidden here until the end, waiting for the perfect time to strike.
If youre seeing this, you are at the wrong ce.
The Green Lotus Society never lets its prey escape.
Baek Kyun-Su was confident that his turn would nevere. He trusted his men. Most of them were the best of the best, each with dozens of sessful kills under their belts. If he couldnt trust them, he couldnt trust anyone else.
BAAAAAAANG!
Suddenly, a thunderous explosion rang out from the north side of the canyon. The vibrations from the blow were so powerful that Baek Kyun-Su, who was hiding among the rocks far away, could feel it.
Unbelievable! Im more than three hundred feet away from the epicenter! Is the target a master martial artist?
Baek Kyun-Sus palms dampened with sweat, but he consciously slowed his pounding heart and lowered his body temperature to constrain his emotions, as any professional assassin should. He had already sessfully killed three martial arts masters. There was no way his Soundless Sword (o) would fail him this fourth time.
BOOOOOM!
Once again, a loud st pierced his ears. Although the sound was softer than before, oddly, the vibrations were more intense.
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ROOOOOAR!
Again, the volume was lower than the second blow. However, Baek Kyun-Sus sense of foreboding grew stronger.
Whats going on? Baek Kyun-Su trembled. An ominous sensation like an earthworm crawling over his skin gripped him, shivers ran down his spine, and his chest felt like it was being squeezed. He had never felt anything like this before, and it was making him panic. For the first time since bing an assassin, he had lost control of his body.
Finally, he gave in to his fear and stood up, breaking the assassins taboo. He had to find the source of his difort.
He walked a hundred paces north, but another explosion sent something flying into a nearby bush. It was a misshapen lump of human flesh.
Baek Kyun-Sus eyebrow twitched. A coded tag buried in the bloody mess told him that until a second ago, this had been his right-hand man, Yoo-Myeong. The man was a top-notch assassin second only to himself, but now, even his corpse had been mutted beyond recognition.
WHOOOOOOOOSH!!!
Not far away, a powerful windstorm was brewing. Tree branches swayed frantically, and leaves fell like rain.
Keuk! Gritting his teeth, Baek Kyun-Su leapt onto arge tree branch to get a better view.
What greeted his eyes was an unbelievably shocking scene.
SHWAAAAAAAAA!!!
des made of wind shot out from a silvery-white vortex and sliced through his assassins, leaving dismembered body parts all over the ground and blood in every direction. His men were attacking the target with all their might using hidden weapons and poisons, but it was futile.
SWISH! SMACK! THUD!
Every weapon bounced off the vortex and was immediately followed by a counterattack trailing the weapons path.
Keuak!
Ugh!
The assassins, who had been trained to never spit out a sound under any circumstances, were screaming in terror as they died.
What the hell? Baek Kyun-Sus mind couldnt process what was happening. The battle had only just begun, but barely a dozen of his men were left. A few more seconds, and there would likely be none.
Unable to watch any longer, Baek Kyun-Su abandoned the assassins creed of stealth andunched himself at the silvery-white vortex even as his instincts screamed that approaching the storm meant certain death, and emotions that he thought long gone threatened to swallow his senses.
He knew all too well that if he backed down out of fear now, his chances of survival would drop to zero.
Baek Kyun-Su poured all his energy into his sword.
It was kill or be killed.
SWOOSH!!
His sword sliced through the air toward the silver-white vortex. At the same time, the other assassins also unleashed their strongest techniques.
As if surprised by their sudden ferocity, the silver-white vortex condensed into a small sphere.
The next moment, however, it exploded.
BOOOOOM!!!
Everything was cut. The assassins swords, the assassins, and even Baek Kyun-Su were all sliced in two.
Looking at his lower body falling in the opposite direction, Baek Kyun-Susst thought was, what on earth is that monster?
THUD!
Blood rained down on the bushes and trees as the silver-white vortex disappeared, revealing a young girl of about sixteen. Her skin was unusually pale, her eyes sharp as obsidian, and her lips red as blood.
As her blue hair fluttered gently in the wind, she exuded an overwhelming grace and mysterious aura that made it hard to believe that she had justmitted a massacre. Her hair was adorned with a lifelike silver flower essory, adding to her beauty.
Suddenly, a person wearing a ck cloak that concealed their face and gendernded in front of her. Despite being surrounded by a bloody mess, their gaze remained fixed on the girl.
The ck-cloaked person bowed and said, Congrattions, Young Mistress.
In truth, they were the one responsible for hiring the Green Lotus Society as sacrifices to recognize the girls achievement, and she knew it.
After a long silence, the girl asked, Sa-Ryung, how long have I spent in training?
Seven years.
Seven years Time flies.
But you havent changed a bit, Young Mistress. The corners of Sa-Ryungs eyes twitched. The Young Mistress looked exactly the same as when she first entered this ce, as if time couldnt touch her at all.
She was Eun Han-Seol, the girl who lived in frozen time.-
Dehong County: Today, Dehong County is located on the border between Yunnan and Myanmar.
Chapter 126: Everyone Dreams of Becoming the Best (1)
There will alwayse a moment when the old and the new intersect. The torrent of time sweeps everything away and creates a new order to rece the previous one. Those who fail to adapt will disappear along with the old That is the nature of the era of chaos, the age of martial artists.
After parting ways with Hwang Cheol, Jin Mu-Won turned eastward. He needed to cross Sichuan to reach Hubei where Heavens Summit was located, but that was no easy task now that he no longer had the support of the caravan and its supplies.
The western part of Sichuan bordering Dehong was tough terrain. Not only was the elevation extremely high, they had to cross a series of rugged peaks and steep valleys without any predefined road or hiking trail, and there were no rest stops or inns along the way.
Without a proper guide, even the strongest martial master was likely to die of exhaustion after wandering in the mountains for days on end, or, if they were lucky enough to survive, to end up as food for the wild animals.
Things were a little better for Jin Mu-Wons group though. They had Tang Gi-Mun, who had explored the area multiple times before in his search for new poisons, leading the way. Even then, however, they had gotten lost several times within the never-changing scenery and had to retrace their steps to find the correct path.
Despite the setbacks and the tough hiking, the atmosphere within the group was jovial and rxed. Jin Mu-Won, Cheong-In, and Tang Mi-Ryeo were martial arts experts, and the non-fighters Ha Jin-Wol and Tang Gi-Mun were still fitter than the average person, so no one was extremely tired.
Moreover, Tang Gi-Mun was riding therge ox that Ha Jin-Wol had brought along. The oxs size, twice asrge as a normal ox, and the enormous amount of muscle it had made it possible for it to climb the rugged mountain paths where horses could not go.
Tang Gi-Mun touched the oxs back and marveled, Heh! What an amazing ox. I dont understand how such arge animal is so good at mountain-climbing.
Haha! Hyung-nim, just like humans, there are some rare exceptional individuals even among cattle. This one is one of them, and his name is Mr. Yellow. Ha Jin-Wol patted the exhausted ox on the back, and as if recognizing his name, Mr. Yellow wiggled his ears and mooed in pleasure.
Mr. Yellow What a fitting name.
Right? Hes such a treasure.
After hanging out for a few days, Tang Gi-Mun and Ha Jin-Wol both felt that they had met a kindred spirit and quickly became sworn brothers.
Tang Mi-Ryeo shook her head in disbelief. She had never seen her uncle get along so well with someone else before, and wondered if Tang Gi-Mun had always been such a talkative person.
Is it because great minds think alike?
Both Tang Gi-Mun and Ha Jin-Wol were geniuses in their respective fields. Perhaps that was why they shared so many simrities.
Tang Mi-Ryeo turned to peer at Jin Mu-Won, who was walking ahead. Ever since they entered the hignd region of Sichuan, Jin Mu-Won hadnt said a word. Although they were traveling together, it was clear that his mind was elsewhere, as if he had sunk into the depths of his own world.
Jin Mu-Won she mumbled thoughtlessly, before jolting back to her senses and looking around nervously, blushing with embarrassment. Fortunately, no one seemed to have heard her.
She wasnt sure exactly when it started, but some time ago, she had unconsciously begun taking notice of Jin Mu-Wons every move. Even if she tried not to look at him, her head naturally gravitated in his direction. She didnt know if Jin Mu-Won was aware of it, but he never reciprocated her feelings.
Hoo she sighed, when she heard a rustling sound ahead of them.
Tang Gi-Mun and Ha Jin-Wol immediately stopped chatting, while Jin Mu-Won moved into a ready position.
Phew! I thought I was going to die! A dirty and scruffly middle-aged man whined as he pushed his way through the bushes and approached them. Although they did not recognize his face, no one was surprised by his appearance.
From the way he talked, he could only be Cheong-In.
Did you find the path I told you about? Tang Gi-Mun asked.
Yes. Just as you said, there was a faint dirt path. It was hidden so well by the trees that I almost missed it, but I found it in the end.
Tang Gi-Mun heaved a sigh of relief. Well done. Im d to hear that its still there, as it was originally created by animals. Its not an easy path to track, but its also the fastest way out of here.
There was no sign of human habitation on the teau, and thus no trails made by humans. The most efficient way to travel was to track down animal footprints and follow the paths they chose. In fact, this was the way most human trails originated, as people long ago already learned that animals instinctively knew the easiest paths to tread.
Cheong-In stomped toward Jin Mu-Won and grumbled, Fuck! Why are you making me do the work of a scout all by myself? Isnt that too much?
Youre the best wayfinder among us.
Youre the only person in the world who dares make me work like a ve, damn it!
In truth, despite all hisining, Cheong-In didnt really mind helping Jin Mu-Won. For some time now, he had been feeling himself being assimted by Jin Mu-Won andpany. He still changed his face every day because he hated his true appearance, but he never changed his voice.
Thank you for your hard work.
Noticing that Cheong-In wasnt truly angry, Jin Mu-Won smiled and followed Cheong-Ins lead to a narrow path that was traveled by beasts. It was so well hidden that if one did not know about its existence beforehand, they would never find it.
The group followed the animal path for several hours until the sun began to set. Cheong-In quickly found them a suitable spot to camp for the night: A small recess in between tworge rocks the size of a house. The rocks protected them from the wind, and there was a small spring not far away.
Cheong-In gathered branches to make a fire, Tang Mi-Ryeo fetched water, and Jin Mu-Won hunted two rabbits. The whole process went quickly, and the fragrance of cooking meat soon wafted from their campsite.
Outdoor camping isntplete without alcohol! Ha Jin-Wol walked up to the giant ox named Mr. Yellow, reached into one of the leather pouches dangling from its side and pulled out arge bottle of wine.
Tang Gi-Mun burst outughing, I see you know your stuff.
Isnt that only natural? Teehee!
Jin Mu-Won, Tang Mi-Ryeo and Cheong-In ignored them and continued cooking the rabbit meat. This wasnt the first time the two intellectuals behaved like this. When the meal was done, they ate while sharing a few drinks with Ha Jin-Wol and Tang Gi-Mun, then went to sleep.
However, Jin Mu-Won could not fall asleep. As hey there staring at the starry sky, the beauty of it all made him get up and walk around in search of a ce with a better view. This led him to arge rock some distance away from the recess.
He climbed to the top of the rock only to be greeted by the magnificent sea of stars and stood there for a while, lost in thought.
What are you looking at? Whats so great about stars? Ha Jin-Wol approached him, grumbling.
Unsurprised, Jin Mu-Won smiled. I just find them spectacr.
There are a lot of spectacr sights and things. Ha Jin-Wol replied, flopping down on the rock.
Jin Mu-Won sat down next to him and took a sip from the wine bottle Ha Jin-Wol passed to him, then handed it back to the schr, who gulped it down in one go.
Kuaah! Ha Jin-Wol eximed, wiping the corner of his mouth with his sleeve. Youre right, the stars are so captivating, I wonder if theyre an illusion.
Ha Jin-Wol stretched out a hand and reached for the stars that seemed but an arms reach away, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldnt touch them.
Jin Mu-Won wordlessly stared at the deranged schr crazily waving his hands in the air. I guess everyone has different goals and reasons for living
He had no idea why Ha Jin-Wol had decided to travel with him, and their bond was not yet strong enough for them to confide in each other. Still, his presence was unexpectedly reassuring.
Suddenly, Ha Jin-Wol asked, You said that you wanted to live by your hearts desire. Dont you realize how difficult that is?
Jin Mu-Won shook his head.
Hmph! I knew it. Your words are as meaningless as the naive idiots who im they want to be a normal person and live a normal life.
Wanting to be normal is naive?
What is the definition of normal? Like all living beings, humans live for the sake of living. In this case, what is the standard for normal? Is it normal just because its someone elses life and not yours? Does it make sense to divide everything into two extreme categories like rich or poor, strong or weak? Does that mean that the only way to be normal is to be perfectly average in every way?
Its the same thing when you say that you want to follow your hearts desire. What is your hearts desire anyway? To do as you please? What would that mean forw and order? Imagine a world where everyone lived as they pleased. Is it possible for such a world to be peaceful? Havent you heard the saying: Stick out like a sore thumb and you will be crushed? If you follow your hearts desire, you will be ostracized not only by the powerful, but also by themon folk. Why? Because most people cant stand it when others think theyre better than them and are free to do whatever they want. They get jealous. Theyll give you dirty looks and loud boos. Theyll call you an evil viin for generations toe. In such a situation, can you still say that you want to live freely?
Why not?
What?
Do you know why my father died?
Wasnt it because of pressure from Heavens Summit and the entire Central ins?
No, my father wasnt the kind of man who would blink an eye at their threats. He was a man who would rather die fighting than take his own life, and yet he chose to do soto save me. He ced all of his hopes in me, and I am the only proof that his death was not in vain.
Jin Mu-Won stood up from his seat, and Ha Jin-Wol stared at him wordlessly.
He told me that life is a long journey of struggle to prove that ones way of life is right, but that the final judgment will be made by future generations.
Hmm!
So thats how I want to live. Is that wrong?
Ha Jin-Wol didnt answer Jin Mu-Won. Instead, he red at Jin Mu-Won for a moment, then grinned and burst outughing, Ahaha! How the fuck did you make that sound so freakin cool? HAHAHAHAHA!
Ha Jin-Wolsughter echoed in the night sky as he stood up from his seat. Okay, I like your spirit. However, there are a few things you must have in order to live like that.
What are they?
You need eyes that can see the world and insight to look behind the scenes.
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Exin it in a way that I can understand.
Sigh Fine, take the Northern Army for example. Did the fall of the Northern Army happen in a single day? Or were there warning signs? Logically speaking, major events like that cannot take ce overnight.
Warning signs?
Ive been observing and collecting data on the gangho for a long time. On average, for every person killed, there are ten times as many injured and hundreds of idents and fights. This was also the case when the Northern Army was destroyed. There were dozens of unusual movements within the gangho, and many of them did not bode well for the Northern Army. Your father overlooked these warning signs, and his inability to grasp them in time ultimately led to the worst possible oue: Annihtion.
Are you ming the destruction of the Northern Army on my father?
No, the greed of those at Heavens Summit was the cause, and thats a fact. What Im saying is that the worst could have been avoided if the warning signs had been heeded early on. Thats why, so that you wont make the same mistake, you need to learn how to read your surroundings.
Ha Jin-Wols words dug into Jin Mu-Wons heart like a dagger. The worst could have been avoided. So that I wont make the same mistake. Learning to read my surroundings.
Jin Mu-Won bowed deeply and asked, Then, will you teach me how to do that?
A smile spread across Ha Jin-Wols lips.
Chapter 127: Everyone Dreams of Becoming the Best (2)
There was a battle here.
Dam Ju-In cast his gaze upward in response to his subordinates words. When the spies he had ced on Jin Mu-Wons group mysteriously vanished, he had immediately led his subordinates on a relentless pursuit, feeling like he had been pped in the face.
With the marks his subordinates had left behind, tracking the Jin Mu-Won party was a simple task. The trail led them to a river on the way to Dehong County, however, only a few faint footprints remained on the riverbank.
Nevertheless, his subordinates detected traces of a fierce confrontation at the location.
Hmm Dam Ju-In bent his knees and scrutinized the ground. For a highly trained individual like himself, these footprints contained a wealth of information.
The fact that these footprints remained visible while others had faded suggested that the one who made them possessed extraordinary internal strength or arge physique. Out of the martial artists who lived nearby, only the ones from the Tyrant Fist Sect exhibited such characteristics. Those from the Diancang Sect tended to be slender in build.
Could Jo Cheon-Woo have followed him here?
It was a usible scenario. The Jo Cheon-Woo he knew bore grudges deeply and seldom let go of his pride. It was highly likely that he sought to mend the wounds inflicted on his honor during the Yuxi Massacre on this very battleground.
Fuck! Dam Ju-In swore as he stretched his back, his visage as stern as ever. Not long ago, he had learned of the mysterious disappearance of Jo Cheon-Woo and his elite martial artists from Heo Dong-Cheon, who was tasked with monitoring the Tyrant Fist Sect. Well, the man was in deep shit now for not doing his job, but the problem was that even he was affected by the blunder.
Weve found traces of the missing people from Kunming here, but theres no sign of Jo Cheon-Woo, one of his subordinates reported.
Dam Ju-In was no fool; he understood the implication. He barked orders to his men, If a skirmish urred in this vicinity, there must be corpses! Find the corpses!
Understood!
The Scarlet Fog Association warriors dispersed in all directions tomence their search. As their efforts persisted, they found more and more evidence of the battle, including signs of intensebat and blood sttered across the ground.
Yet, the corpses remained elusive.
After nearly half a day of relentless searching, Dam Ju-Ins face contorted, betraying his frustration.
Theyve obliterated every trace.
His mind raced. He knew that the White Dragon Merchant Association, Jin Mu-Won, and others had passed through here. Jo Cheon-Woos trail led here, and signs of a fierce confrontation abounded.
Thebined might of the Iron Brigade and the White Dragon Merchant Association against Jo Cheon-Woos Tyrant Fist Sect? Thats a one-sided battle no matter how I look at it. The Northern de couldnt have turned the tides all by himself, could he?
Seven years ago, a young martial artist named Dam Soo-Cheon, acimed as the Lone Star of the Azure Sky, had entered the limelight for his Hundred Man Challenge. It was an audacious title for a mere up-anding martial artist, but it had caused a profound stir in the murim.
However, after Dam Soo-Cheons triumphant challenge, he had withdrawn from the limelight for an unknown reason, leaving many in the martial world eagerly anticipating his return. Some even prophesied that hiseback would reshape the history of the gangho.
The Northern de Jin Mu-Won is the most promising young martial artist since Dam Soo-Cheon. His aplishments during the Yuxi Massacre are proof enough of his martial prowess, but is he truly capable of taking on Jo Cheon-Woo?
Until now, Dam Ju-In had never even considered the possibility, but circumstances now forced him to reconsider. With no body discovered, the oue of the confrontation remained unknown. Nheless, an ominous, unexinable unease crept over him like thorns embedded beneath his fingernailsa dull ache that, if neglected, could fester, jeopardizing an entire limb.
His gaze hardened. Erase all your preconceptions about the Northern de Jin Mu-Won and initiate a thorough investigation on him.
Tsk! Tang Gi-Mun clicked his tongue as he stared at Jin Mu-Won and Ha Jin-Wol, who were sticking closely together. Five days had passed since they entered the Western teau of the Sichuan Province, and the two young men were nigh inseparable.
In ordance with his promise, Ha Jin-Wol was imparting his vast knowledge and profound insights that defied ordinaryprehension to Jin Mu-Won.
The gangho has always been governed by the powerful. It obeys thew of the jungle, where the strong stand atop the food chain. But how many ascend purely through physical might? No, their ascent required immense effort in both martial arts and politics over the course of decades
In the end, the murim is a system of dominance erected by the powerful, for the powerful. Thats why you must learn and understand the path that Heavens Summit took to reign supreme
How long can this murim endure? When the immensely powerful coexist with ordinary folks, how do these ordinary souls respond? The transition may be arduous initially, but over time, they will discover the most efficient methods of adaptation. Then, our world shall undergo transformation, and the present-day murim will be but a transitional phase to a new era
Ha Jin-Wols worldview struck Tang Gi-Mun, Tang Mi-Ryeo, and Cheong-In like thunderbolts. They marveled at his unique perspective, astonished that anyone could perceive the world this way, and even more so that his arguments were unassable.
How could such a person have eluded the worlds notice? Cheong-Ins expression darkened as he gazed upon Ha Jin-Wol. The ck Moon thrived on information dominance, acquiring data on potential gangho influencers and peddling it to murim organizations. Yet, neither Jin Mu-Won nor Ha Jin-Wol had left a trace within the ck Moons vast web of information, despite being men who transcended genius.
Jin Mu-Wons overwhelming martial strength and Ha Jin-Wols profound philosophy and worldview set them apart from the rank-and-file. No, when it came to who held the potential to shake up the world more, Ha Jin-Wol was the definite winner.
Add Tang Gi-Mun, the poison and medical genius who rarely left the Tang n, and Tang Mi-Ryeo, another outstanding young expert, and he now feared that his life was on the verge of a seismic shift.
Monitor the target and report to the ck Moon. That had always been his mission. Yet, upon encountering Jin Mu-Won, his once straightforward life had quickly turned upside down and inside out.
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Haa he sighed.
Sensing that Cheong-In shared his sentiments, Tang Gi-Mun exchanged a knowing look with the spy.
I wonder if the duos presence heralds a shift in the ganghos paradigm?
As a member of the esteemed Tang n, Tang Gi-Mun had spent considerable time in the gangho despite hisck of martial arts training. He had witnessed the rise and fall of numerous individuals and sects, each following a distinct trajectory. Yet, Jin Mu-Won and Ha Jin-Wol defied convention.
Still, in a world unfriendly to neers, alien, independent, and powerful entities were not wee.
Will Jin Mu-Won and Ha Jin-Wol be the stakes that dig deep into this worlds roots, or will they be eliminated?
No one knew the answer.
Tang Gi-Mun contemted the potential consequences of his association with them. He knew that like most prestigious ns of the gangho, which guarded their interests fervently, the Tang n would expel him as soon as his rtionship with the two youngsters became a problem.
It seems that the older I get, the less willing I am to take risks.
Tang Gi-Mun sighed. This journey had turned out to be much more eventful than he had thought.
Meanwhile, Jin Mu-Won absorbed Ha Jin-Wols teachings like a sponge. Although he had studied Hwang Cheols books in addition to practicing martial arts when he lived in istion, his education was rather fragmented.
Ha Jin-Wol was his opportunity. The schr effortlessly answered all of his questions and encouraged him to view matters from fresh perspectives, teaching him how to think and spurring his growth.
Watching him, Tang Gi-Mun couldnt help but wonder how far this growth would carry him.
Chapter 128: Everyone Dreams of Becoming the Best (3)
Jin Mu-Won and his party crossed the teau in about ten days, their clothes dirty and tattered from their journey along the animal trails. However, no matter how hard the trek was, no oneined.
Ten days spent in thepany of Ha Jin-Wol had left an indelible mark on Jin Mu-Won. Though he had learned only a tiny fraction of what the genius Ha Jin-Wol had to offer, it had broadened his thinking.
Furthermore, not only had Tang Gi-Mun and Cheong-In borne witness to Jin Mu-Wons transformation, they too had unconsciously begun to absorb Ha Jin-Wols ideas and teachings.
Hahaha! We finally made it out! Tang Gi-Mun eximed, gazing at the vast in stretching out below him. This region, known as the Red Basin, was the most fertile in the Sichuan Province, providing optimal conditions for growing grain and forming the basis of Sichuans food security and economy.1 The Tang n had invested heavily in the regionsnd and the continued profits from it ensured that the n could weather any storm.
Jin Mu-Won asked, Do you know where we are?
Im not entirely sure, but my guess is were somewhere on the outskirts of Danba County. Well have to ask the locals, Tang Gi-Mun replied.
Danba was a tiny county in Garz Prefecture, the westernmost part of Sichuan Province, and a considerable distance from the provincial capital, Chengdu.2
Tang Gi-Muns smile widened. He had longed for this moment when they escaped the grueling Western teau. After ten days of roughing it, he craved nothing more than a hot meal and a good, long bath.
I second that, Cheong-In chimed in. There should be a vige nearby. Afortable bed and a decent meal sound like heaven right now.
Everyone nodded enthusiastically and quickened their pace.
Finally, as the sun dipped below the horizon, they stumbled upon a small, isted vige like an ind oasis in an ocean of green grass. They doubted theyd find amodations in such a remote ce, but it was gettingte. They had no choice but to spend the night here, even if it meant a meager meal or no meal at all.
As expected, there was no inn to be found in the vige. It was so remote that few outsiders ventured here.
Cheong-In stopped a passing viger and asked, Excuse me, do you know where we can stay overnight in this vige?
The young man Cheong-in had stopped looked at them suspiciously, his face reflecting his wariness of strangers.
Tang Gi-Mun stepped forward, I hail from the Tang n. Circumstances have brought us here for the night. Could you offer us a ce to stay? The Tang n will be very grateful for your aid.
The Tang n? The young mans eyes widened and his demeanor changedpletely. Even in this remote area of Sichuan, the Tang ns name carried weight. Whether Tang Gi-Mun was telling the truth or not, it was better to err on the side of caution. The only ce with room for guests in our vige is the Chiefs house.
Would you mind showing us the way there?
Follow me.
Jin Mu-Won and co. followed the young man, taking in the viges surroundings. For such a remote ce, the houses were surprisingly well-maintained and quite spacious. The asional viger passing by was neatly dressed, a sign that farming here was highly profitable.
The young man knocked on the front door of the vigesrgest house and called out, Chief, its Do-Choon!
A middle-aged man in histe fifties opened the door and peered out. What brings you here at this hour?
We have guests from the Tang n, and they need a ce to stay for the night.
The Tang n?
The vige chief turned his gaze to Tang Gi-Mun and the others. Are you truly from the Tang n?
Thats right. Weve traveled a long way and would be thankful for your hospitality, Tang Gi-Mun replied.
The vige chief scrutinized them with suspicion, especially when he noticed the sword at Jin Mu-Wons side, which sent a shiver down his spine.
My house is quite shabby. Is that alright?
Weve been camping outdoors for days. A warm ce to rest for one night would be greatly appreciated.
In that case, please stay the night at my house.
Thank you.
The vige chief gestured for them to follow and led them to a stone building within the courtyard. You can sleep here. Ill send someone along with a meal shortly.
Thank you, kind sir. We wont forget your generosity, Tang Gi-Mun said, bowing.
The vige chief returned the gesture and hastily returned to the main house.
Ahh~ This is the first real bed Ive had in ages, Cheong-In eximed, sprawling on the bed and eliciting smiles from the group.
If no one has any objections, Im going to bathe first, Tang Mi-Ryeo announced, her difort at not having properly bathed for days apparent.
Ha Jin-Wol flopped on a bed andmented, I know that people living in isted ces tend to be more wary, but this ce is especially bad.
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Well, viges like this tend to be insr. Theyre not too weing of outsiders with different surnames. Its just how things are in Sichuan Province. Unlike other regions, its a basin surrounded by tall mountains with few routes to the outside world, and the few that exist are treacherous. This istion has given rise to a unique culture and strong emphasis on kinship, Tang Gi-Mun exined, his excitement evident as he basked in the joy of being back in his homnd.
Ha Jin-Wol listened to him attentively. There were many things he could learn from a local like Tang Gi-Mun that was not written in books.
CRASH!
Suddenly, amotion erupted in the main house, where the vige chiefs family resided.
You rascal, what are you thinking? Staying here is enough to make a living!
Im not going to be a farmer! Ill definitely be a Heavens Summit martial artist, just wait and see!
No, you arent! That kind of life is not for you!
Ahh, fuck A young man shouted as he burst out of the main house, briefly acknowledging Jin Mu-Won and Ha Jin-Wol before dashing out the front gate.
The vige chief emerged momentster, looking distressed. Sigh!
Tang Gi-Mun waved the vige chief over. Whats going on? Is your son causing trouble?
The vige chief sighed deeply, Hes been obsessed with the idea of going to Heavens Summit for days.
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Heavens Summit?
Theres a rumor that theyre recruiting young warriors.
Tang Gi-Mun and Ha Jin-Wol shook their heads. They were quite familiar with this rumor, and simr family arguments were probably happening all over the Central ins right now over it. After all, which young martial artist didnt dream of joining Heavens Summit?
Has your son learned any martial arts? Ha Jin-Wol asked.
He spent about three years at a martial arts academy in Chengdu. I really dont know what makes him think hes ready for Heavens Summit. The vige chief sighed again. Ever since learning basic martial arts at the academy, his son, Myeong Ryu-San, hadnt been able to readapt to life in their rural vige.
Worst of all, Myeong Ryu-San had begun to think of himself as a martial arts prodigy, and was convinced that as long as he went to Heavens Summit, he could be a great hero.
Tang Gi-Mun also sighed heavily. He knew the cutthroat reality of the murim better than most. Out of all the young warriors headed to Heavens Summit, I wonder how many will actually make it in? For ordinary warriors without connections or special talents, joining a powerhouse like Heavens Summit is nearly impossible, and even if theyre lucky enough to get epted, itll be hard to survive and rise through the ranks while being treated as disposable pawns.
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Heavens Summit isnt a ce where you can just study martial arts for a few years at an academy and hope to seed, he concluded. I hope you can convince your son that Heavens Summit is no walk in the park.
You dont need to tell me something I already know! The problem is, he wont listen to me. To him, Im just a boring old country bumpkin! the vige chief said exasperatedly as he returned to the main house, his shoulders slumped and looking a decade older.
Tang Gi-Mun couldnt offer him any words offort.
Ha Jin-Wol shook his head. For such a phenomenon to ur in a ce this remote, the whole world must be in chaos. Man, the reappearance of the Silent Night is like a windfall for the Nine Skies. They can distract the young to prevent internal threats and eliminate an external threat, killing two birds with one stone.
Jin Mu-Won stared at the vige chiefs back, deep in thought. It seemed that the winds of change were blowing strongly everywhere.-
Red Basin: Also known as the Sichuan Basin. The basin is anchored by Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, in the west, and the direct-administered municipality of Chongqing in the east. Due to its rtive tness and fertile soils, it is able to support a poption of more than 100 million.
-
Danba County in Garz Prefecture: Im hazarding a guess here since the Korean transliteration of a Tibetan name is too atrocious to be read. Chengdu looks nearby on the current world map but do note that the city has expanded over a hundredfold since ancient times (poption explosion from 50k to 20m).
Chapter 129: Unforgettable Memories (1)
Chengdu, Tang Gi-Mun eximed joyfully as he took in the familiar sights. Colorful streets stretched out before him, lined with countless shops bustling with peopleing and going.
For most of the group, this vibrant cityscape exceeded anything they had ever witnessed, and it resonated with the lively spirit of its inhabitants. Nearly ten days after their departure from the Western teau, they finally reached Chengdu, the home of the Tang n.
For Tang Gi-Mun and Tang Mi-Ryeo, however, it was a homing after two months of hard traveling and intense fighting that resulted in the loss of the other young martial artists who had journeyed to Yunnan with them. Their survival came with a heavy burden: the duty of conveying the news of theirrades demise and alerting the Tang n to a possible conspiracy against them.
Tang Gi-Mun turned to Jin Mu-Won and said, Were making good time, so how about resting here for two nights? You can stay at the Tang Hill Vige while I meet with the n Head and update him on the situation.
That works, Jin Mu-Won readily agreed. With Heavens Summit still ahead of them and everyone fatigued from their long journey, a brief respite in a safe ce was a wee prospect.
If youre seeing this, you are at the wrong ce.
Ha Jin-Wol patted Jin Mu-Won on the shoulder and remarked, Wise decision. Observing a distinguished family like the Tang n will undoubtedly prove invaluable for your growth.
Normally, to protect their secrets, gangho sects and ns never permitted outsiders to enter their strongholds. Instead, guesthouses and separate meeting ces would be prepared for visitors. Thats what made Tang Gi-Muns offer to stay at Tang Hill Vige so tempting; it offered them an opportunity to glimpse the mysteries of the centuries-old Tang n.
The reason for the excessive secrecy was that the spirit of a sect didnt just lie in their martial arts. It was pervasive and manifested in the environment, the training grounds, the way of life, and the philosophy of the sect. The preservation of their essence was paramount, and they were willing to go to great lengths to protect it.
Even the formidable Northern Army had vanished from history when its spirit was broken, what about a weaker faction?
Ha Jin-Wol believed that this insight would more thanpensate for spending some extra time at the Tang Hill Vige, and Jin Mu-Won agreed. That left thest member of their party, Cheong-In.
I wont be entering the Tang Hill Vige. Ive been out of touch with the ck Moon for far too long, so I must visit the Chengdu Branch, report my recent activities, and await further instructions. When its time to depart, dont wait for me. I will find you wherever you are and catch up, Cheong-In said.
Understood, Jin Mu-Won nodded. Unlike Ha Jin-Wol, Cheong-In wasnt his friend orpanion. As long as the spy was part of the ck Moon, Jin Mu-Won had no right to interfere in his actions.
Cheong-In left, and Jin Mu-Won followed Tang Gi-Mun toward the Tang Hill Vige. As they walked, everyone in the party could sense Tang Mi-Ryeos joyous mood as she reveled in her long-awaited return to Chengdu.
Tang Gi-Mun smiled. Are you that happy to be home?
At first, Tang Mi-Ryeo wanted to say yes, but her face suddenly filled with guilt as she remembered the family members who werent returning home with her, not even as corpses.
Sensing her inner turmoil, Tang Gi-Mun gently patted her shoulder and said, Its not your fault they died. In the gangho, where death cane anytime, anywhere, they fought their hardest till the very end.
But
Learn to discern when guilt is unwarranted, Tang Gi-Mun advised.
Yes, Tang Mi-Ryeo replied, her voice subdued.
Ha Jin-Wol regarded Tang Mi-Ryeo with interest. Unlike Jin Mu-Won, who was ustomed to a life on the edge, Tang Mi-Ryeo had grown up sheltered within the confines of the Tang n and wasnt used to being surrounded by death.
Even so, he had no sce to offer her. This was a wall she had to ovee alone. Still, he believed that as long she could get over this, she had the potential to be a powerful martial artist in her own right.
Absorbed in their thoughts, the four of them made their way to Tang Hill Vige. Soon, they caught sight of a sprawling hill in the distance.
On the outside, the Tang Hill Vige appeared like any ordinary vige, devoid of walls or barriers. It emitted an air of openness, as if anyone coulde and go at will.
However, this was merely a facade. As they approached the vige, they felt the scrutinizing eyes of its inhabitants, who, though outwardly unassuming, were all masters of assassination. At the slightest hint of hostility, the countless hidden weapons concealed within their garments could transform into a deadly rain of projectiles, aimed at Jin Mu-Won and hispanions.
If youre seeing this, you are at the wrong ce.
This ce is a natural fortress, Jin Mu-Won realized. While itcked physical walls, the skilled martial artists here were more effective defenders than the sturdiest fortifications. This revtion shattered Jin Mu-Wons preconceived notions that a martial organization should be enclosed within imposing walls.
However, the initial wariness soon faded as they recognized Tang Gi-Mun and Tang Mi-Ryeo. Several people ran toward the duo to greet them.
Youre back safely!
Elder!
Tang Gi-Mun and Tang Mi-Ryeo returned their greetings.
Where is the n Head? Tang Gi-Mun asked.
Probably in the workshop.
Very well, I must meet him now. Im sure you have a lot of questions for us, but we can talkter.
Were just relieved to see you both back safely.
Also, these people are my honored guests. Please arrange for them to stay at the Three Suns Pavilion.
Understood.
Thank you Tang Gi-Mun acknowledged. He then turned to Jin Mu-Won and Ha Jin-Wol and said, Please follow them to your lodgings. Ill speak with the n Head first and join you in the evening.
Got it.
Then, Ill take my leave now.
With that, Tang Gi-Mun briskly departed, and Tang Mi-Ryeo followed him.
Ha Jin-Wol broke into arge grin. Lets go unwind!
Despite its grandiose name, the Three Suns Pavilion was indistinguishable from the other residences within Tang Hill Vige. The sole differencey in the towering enclosure that afforded it a degree of privacy, shielding it from prying eyes.
Ha Jin-Wol released Mr. Yellow into one corner of the pavilion, then asked Jin Mu-Won, Im going to take a bath. What about you?1^
Im going to rest for a bit.
Alright then, Ha Jin-Wol chimed as he headed for the bathroom.
Left to his own devices, Jin Mu-Won sat on a bed, cradling Snow Flower in his arms. Besides being physically exhausted, Ha Jin-Wols lectures had pushed his mind to the limit.
He closed his eyes, focusing on his breathing, but suddenly, Snow Flower emitted a subtle, silent radiance.
The girls tribe had lived on the sacred mountain for generations. Their roots ran deep, going back through her grandmothers grandmother. The Central ins referred to their mountain as Mount Darksword, but to them, it was the Sacred Mountain and nothing else.
This mountain provided everything they needed - food, shelter, and more. Each year, they threw a heartfelt festival as an expression of their gratitude for it.
As the apprentice shaman chosen by the mountain itself, she was responsible for helping with the ceremonial rites. Unfortunately, she couldnt attend the other festivities in person, as those who became shamans were strictly forbidden from marriage and contact with the opposite sex - a hard road for a young girl full of dreams. Nevertheless, she epted her fate and dedicated herself to her role.
She mastered the art ofmunicating with nature and honed her healing skills to tend to the wounded. As the years flew by, she grew into a formidable shaman.
One day, when she was fifteen, a star fell from the heavens, creating a massive crater in the northern part of the vige. Upon closer inspection, her mentor recognized the fallen star as a sacred stone and enshrined it in the viges sanctuary, where the tribe held it in great reverence.
Three yearster, the elderly shaman passed away, and the girl seeded her. Now, it was her responsibility to carry out her predecessors duties. Every morning, she rose before dawn, ced her hands on her head, and prayed for blessings upon her tribe. She gave up meat and adopted an ascetic lifestyle. Her prayers seemed to work, and the tribe prospered.
But with prosperity cameplications. The tribe became curious about the outside world and longed for more interaction. Some wanted to increase the tribes prosperity by engaging with outsidemunities, and their voices grew stronger over time.
Despite her protests, the Chief chose to engage with the outside world. The tribe traded their mountain resources for goods that made their lives more convenient. They allowed outsiders into their territory and embraced thefortable lifestyles that followed. They explored the mountains, hunting countless creatures to trade for desirable goods.
The sacred mountain cried out in agony, its plight reaching the shaman. She begged the Chief to end contact with the outside world, but her pleas fell on deaf ears.
When she turned twenty-five, disaster struck. A stranger entered the vige. Tall and powerful, he wreaked havoc upon arrival, leaving death and destruction in his wake. Tribal warriors perished at his hands, the vige echoed with screams, and the shamans cries of despair filled the air.
He was a demon.
Most of the men sumbed to his ruthless onught, while the women were herded into a vast cave where they were held captive. Only the shaman stood against him. Though shecked the power of the tribes warriors, her indomitable will and the protection of the sacred mountain fueled her resistance. She tried to thwart him, but her efforts were in vain. Powerless, she watched as the womens limbs were shattered and a giant cross carved into their flesh. Hundreds of women bled to death, their essence absorbed by him as he grinned menacingly.
She faced the demon with an unquenchable rage and swore revenge, I will never forgive you. Never.
Her rage at the demon that ravaged her beloved tribe burned as intensely as her love for everything she held dear. She turned to the sacred mountain and begged for the power to seek vengeance, no matter the cost. Her tears of blood seeped into the ck altar stone.
Jin Mu-Won snapped out of his reverie, tears streaming down his face. The dream had been too vivid to dismiss as a mere fantasy. Overwhelmed with emotion, he clenched his fists tightly, sweat soaking his entire body.
He looked at Snow Flower. Was that you? he asked.
Snow Flower remained silent.
With a sigh, Jin Mu-Won tried to remember the face of the man in his dream, but it eluded him.
The Demonic Cross of Blood, he whispered, tightening his grip on Snow Flower.
Chapter 130: Unforgettable Memories (2)
Life in the Tang Hill Vige was veryid back. Maybe it was because they were Tang Gi-Muns guests, but nobody treated Jin Mu-Won and Ha Jin-Wol with disrespect or rudeness. They were genuinely kind to both of them.
Still, Jin Mu-Won couldnt help but sense an invisible barrier between them, a line they couldnt cross despite sharing the same space. It made him uneasy.
Ha Jin-Wol let out a loud snort. Thats the pride of a prestigious family. Theyll be as friendly as they can because youre a guest, but they wont let you into their hearts because youre not one of them. Even if it seems pointless from the outside, to them, this is actually a chance to reinforce their unity.
On the bright side, the Tang n is more epting of outsiders than the other Five Great ns. The Anhui Namgoong n, the Hebei Peng n, and the Shandong Jaegal and Hwangbo ns are notorious for their belligerence. They never forget a grudge and always seek revenge, which is why many people avoid dealing with them.
A n is a martial faction that is bound together by blood. That leaves no room for outsiders. To make things worse, theyre part of the gangho establishment. They discriminate against neers, but whenever someone ovees the odds, they absorb them into the n through marriage. This results in a vicious cycle, Ha Jin-Wol said.
Taken aback by the unexpected lecture, Jin Mu-Won quietly walked away to digest Ha Jin-Wols words.
Ha Jin-Wol watched as he left and mumbled to himself, Now is the time for reflection. Your struggles will be the fuel for your growth. Even if I give you a wealth of knowledge, it will all be in vain if you dont learn to think for yourself. You must keep thinking, keep searching for answers. Thats how you be a real person instead of a living weapon.
Jin Mu-Won continued to walk, lost in thought. After a while, he looked up and found himself in an unfamiliar setting: an open clearing surrounded by tall trees, where every gust of wind sent colorful leaves dancing in the air. It was mesmerizing.
Suddenly, an odd sensation washed over him. There was a tingling on his skin, like ants were crawling beneath it.
Is that killing intent? It was so subtle that only those with keen senses or advanced martial arts could detect it, but it was definitely there.
If youre seeing this, you are at the wrong ce.
Jin Mu-Won tightened his grip on Snow Flower and unleashed his All-Epassing Cognizance. In an instant, a thirty-foot radius around him became his domain, allowing him to sense the slightest movement and sound. However, he still couldnt pinpoint the source of the killing intent.
An absolute master or a stealth expert. Jin Mu-Wons eyes narrowed. The Tang Hill Vige was home to the Tang ns martial artists, masters of hidden weapons and poison. It was nearly impossible for an outsider to infiltrate such a ce.
Someone from the Tang n, then? Jin Mu-Won wondered, but regardless, he wasnt going to stand idly by.
He closed his eyes and concentrated. The All-Epassing Cognizance guided him toward a faint warmth in the distance. It was body heat. Someones there, forty feet to my right.
Jin Mu-Won sensed a change in the strangers breathing the moment he detected their presence. It was clear that the unknown adversary had realized that their cover was blown, but neither made a move. Instead, an eerie stillness dominated the scene as they gauged each other through the atmosphere, the wind, and their breaths.
Suddenly, however, the wind ceased to blow, everything turned white, and the leaves suspended in mid-air descended like rain.
Is this his first move? Jin Mu-Won thought as leaves swirled precisely around him like a vortex, each ordinary-looking leaf brimming with an ominous killing intent.
Those leaves are filled with qi. Jin Mu-Wons eyes hardened, his mind raced, and his blood ran cold. His opponent was immensely skilled.
Without pausing, the leaves ascended into the sky, obscuring the sunlight, and then
SHWAA SHWAA SHWAA!!
Thousands of leaves turned into a torrential rain, pelting Jin Mu-Won relentlessly, but even though it seemed as if he had resigned himself to his fate, he stood firm.
Now! Jin Mu-Won waited for the leaf storm to dwindle before finally making his move.
SWISH!
Snow Flower sliced a vacuum in the wind, splitting the leaf storm in half and creating an opening. Without hesitation, Jin Mu-Won darted through it, even though his clothes were torn and his skin was riddled with cuts. Then, undaunted by the injuries, he remained vignt, seeking signs of his hidden adversary.
The rain of leaves descended once more, but this time, Jin Mu-Won was prepared. An intangible sword wall appeared as he swung Snow Flower and executed the second technique of the Shadow de of Destruction, Northern Heavenly Wall ().
Right after that, he swung Snow Flower at arge tree thirty feet away.
CRASH!
The tree was instantly felled, revealing a ck-d, seemingly ordinary viger in his sixties. Wow. Youre the first person to neutralize my White Night Leaf Storm (ҹɢ~) so effortlessly, he chuckled, pinching a fallen leaf between his fingers.
Who are you? Jin Mu-Won demanded.
Im kind of like the vige chief.
Youre the Myriad Poison Emperor?
Thats right, Im Tang Kwan-Ho.
So hes the Myriad Poison Emperor Tang Kwan-Ho, n Head of the Tang n and the worlds top authority on poisons.
A gleam of admiration shone in Tang Kwan-Hos eyes. The White Night Leaf Storm is a formidable hidden weapon skill that only a select few in the Tang n can master. Since you overcame it so easily, I see that Gi-Mun was right about you.
Now that they had met, Jin Mu-Won realized that Tang Kwan-Ho hadnt given the fight his all, but neither had he.
Your breathing and demeanor havent changed. For someone who just dismantled the White Night Leaf Storm, youre way too calm, Tang Kwan-Ho remarked lightheartedly, even though he really was taken aback by Jin Mu-Wonsposure. Anyway, Gi-Muns story fromst night piqued my curiosity.
So you attacked me?
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Sneak attacks are in the Tang ns blood. After all, most of our martial arts have their roots in hidden weapons techniques.
Tang Kwan-Hos response was so nonchnt that Jin Mu-Won was left speechless. Now that the tense atmosphere had been diffused, he no longer felt like fighting, so he sheathed Snow Flower.
Tang Kwan-Ho smiled and tossed a fallen leaf into the air. Instead of plummeting to the ground immediately, the leaves hovered and then scattered.
Lets take a walk, Tang Kwan-Ho suggested, leading the way. His demeanor was as carefree as ever, as if the intense fight had never happened.
Jin Mu-Won quietly followed him.
Your name is Jin Mu-Won, right?
Yes.
If youre seeing this, you are at the wrong ce.
Are you thest Sect Leader of the Northern Army?
Jin Mu-Won halted in his tracks. Did Master Tang share that much with you?
Gi-Mun doesnt keep any secrets from me, but dont worry, Im not going to reveal this to anyone else.
Coming from the n Head of the Tang n, those words were worth their weight in gold. Jin Mu-Won couldnt help but trust him.
You know, ever since I heard your story, I couldnt help thinking about it over and over again. Tang Kwan-Ho said, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon.
Jin Mu-Won looked at Tang Kwan-Ho with respect, not only because of his martial prowess, but because of the wisdom and grace that came with years as a leader in the harsh gangho.
With a voice that carried the unbearable weight of time, Tang Kwan-Ho said, Ive always felt indebted to the Northern Army and guilty that I didnt offer my help when it fell apart ten years ago. Im sorry. Back then, I just stood by and watched the Northern Army crumble. Its a poor excuse, but at that time, my duty as the head of the Tang n took precedence over everything else.
Was the Tang n also threatened back then?
As much as it pains me to say it, yes. It was a time when stubbornness and insanity reigned supreme, and if we had supported the Northern Army back then, the Tang n would have been swept away along with it.
Tang Kwan-Ho smiled wryly. Such was the madness of groups; those intoxicated by madness seldom tolerated dissenting voices. As such, to protect the Tang n, he had made the decision to remain neutral.
That was my sin, and the height of my cowardice. Since the day I learned of your fathers untimely death, Ive deeply regretted it. Would you believe me if I said that the weight of my cowardice still hangs over my heart? Thats why, when you appeared, I found myself at another crossroads.
Because I am the current Sect Leader of the Northern Army?
Yes, Tang Kwan-Ho confirmed with certainty. Despite his young age, Jin Mu-Wons strength was alreadyparable to his own. This meant that he was one of the strongest martial artists in his age group, if not the strongest. What was even more shocking was that Jin Mu-Won had achieved all of this without the support of any sect, relying solely on his hard work, talent, and determination. It was unprecedented.
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A man like you never rests on hisurels, and even if you wanted to, the times wont allow it. Sooner orter, youll find that many lives will be shaped by your choices. Many will perish due to your decisions. Are you prepared for such a heavy responsibility? he asked.
Jin Mu-Won closed his eyes for a while, then opened them and replied, As you said, I dont know what kind of tough times and decisions await me, but I wont let fear stop me from facing it head-on. I dont know what lies at the end of the path Ive chosen, but since Ive started, Ill see it through to the end.
I see. Tang Kwan-Ho nodded. For Tang Kwan-Ho, Jin Mu-Wons determination was proof enough that a new era was dawning, a turbulent era, different from his own. An era he did not belong to.
Suddenly, he said, By the way, I sent a message to Heavens Summit.
What for?
Gi-Mun wants to talk to them. He believes that there is more to the Yuxi Massacre than meets the eye and wishes to investigate. Who am I to defy his unwavering resolve?
Why are you telling me this?
I hope that you can escort him to Heavens Summit.
Itll be dangerous.
Do you know what he told me the other night? He said that he didnt want to betray the core principles of the Tang n, justice and chivalry. Hahaha! Tang Kwan-Houghed wryly.
- that was a faded banner from a bygone era, but every day, when he saw those words, he was painfully reminded of how he had put the safety of the Tang n ahead of themon good.
Tang Kwan-Ho turned to Jin Mu-Won and bowed his head. I swear that no matter the oue, the Tang n will stand by you in your endeavors. Please ept this as our apology for our sins.
Chapter 131: Unforgettable Memories (3)
The ce was an ancient ruin, the cornerstone barely maintaining its form, while the rest had sumbed to the relentless march of time. Only the waist-high grass and a thickyer of dust bore witness to the fleeting nature of existence.
A young girl strolled through the overgrown grass. Her name was Eun Han-Seol, and she looked no older than sixteen, but exuded an air of mystery far beyond her years. Her eyes remained inscrutable as she surveyed the ruins, her face devoid of any emotion, like a lifeless doll.
A gentle breeze tousled her dark hair as she stood there, immersing herself in the caress of the wind.
Suddenly, a shadow materialized behind her. Young Mistress, the neer said.
Eun Han-Seol turned to face the speaker. Sa-Ryung.
The Madam wishes to meet you.
Master? Eun Han-Seols eyes widened slightly in surprise. She had only seen her master, So Geum-Hyang, a handful of times in the past seven years, mostly during the early stages of her seclusion training. Once she had reached theter stages, her master never came to visit her again.
Lead the way.
Follow me.
The two walked in silence. Eun Han-Seol had always been taciturn, but now, she seemed moredistant.
Young Mistress For a moment, a wistful glimmer shed in Sa-Ryungs eyes, but he quickly hid it and returned to his role as an obedient servant.
He soon led her through the gates of a grandkeside estate located several miles away from the ruins. With its towering walls, lofty pavilions, and warm sunlight filtering through, the ce exuded tranquility and elegance like a scene from a painting.
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Nestled in the heart of the manor, there was a pavilion that offered a sweeping vista of the picturesqueke: the Fragrant Forest Pavilion. There sat a regal woman with ageless baster skin, crimson lips, silver-white eyes, and ck-blue hair that danced in theke breeze. She was So Geum-Hyang, Eun Han-Seols master.
Master.
Han-Seol.
As Eun Han-Seol stepped onto the pavilion, So Geum-Hyang embraced her petite form.
Youve been through a lot.
Master.
Congrattions on mastering the Silverlight Ice Crystal Art (꾧y).
Its all thanks to you, Master.
Eun Han-Seol took a step back and looked at her mentors face. Neither of them seemed to have aged a single day in the past seven years.
Please, take a seat.
Alright.
The two women sat across from each other. As she looked at her disciple who had surpassed all of her expectations, So Geum-Hyangs smiled faintly and said, I think its time I pass on the title of Fairy of the White Night to you.
No, Master, Im still not ready.
No one is ever fully ready for such a title, but you are already worthy of it.
So Geum-Hyang thought back to the day almost a century ago when she inherited the title Fairy of the White Night. That was what they called her in the Silent Night, but to her enemies, she was the cruel, ruthless Witch of the White Night.
After carrying the burden for so long, she was tired. It was time to pass it to her apprentice.
Henceforth, you shall be the Fairy of the White Night.
Master?
Cherish that title.
Eun Han-Seol closed her eyes. From now on, there was no more Eun Han-Seol, only the Fairy of the White Night, one of the Silent Nights Four Great Demon Generals. This was her destiny.
Suddenly, So Geum-Hyang asked, Do you still resent me?
How could a disciple resent her master
So Geum-Hyang grabbed her disciples hands and ced something in themtwo tiny chakras, each the size of a childs palm. It was the Moonlight Chakras (¹݆), the exclusive weapons of the Fairy of the White Night.
They are yours now.
A crack appeared on Eun Han-Seols expressionless face for the first time as the corners of her eyes twitched. She cautiously epted the Moonlight Chakras, and they emitted a clear sound, recognizing her as their new owner.
A refreshing energy surged through her, and the Moonlight Chakras energy swirled within her.
Dont resist it and activate the Heart of the Silver Soul. Its how the Moonlight Chakras acknowledge you as their master, So Geum-Hyang exined. The Moonlight Chakras were demonic weapons, and failure to master the Heart of the Silver Soul would lead to madness as the chakras consumed their wielder with demonic energy.
As instructed, Eun Han-Seol immediately used the Heart of the Silver Soul, and the energy of the chakras merged with her own. Silver light radiated from her body as she rxed, like liquid mercury coursing through her veins.
With this, you and the Moonlight Chakras have be one. A hint of a smile graced So Geum-Hyangs lips. The Moonlight Chakras acknowledgment process was nearing its conclusion, and Eun Han-Seol was now the true owner of these demonic weapons.
When Eun Han-Seol finally opened her eyes, the silvery-white light faded away.
So Geum-Hyang waited for Eun Han-Seol to regain herposure, then said, I shall return to the Silent Night now.
Master.
The Grand Council will be held soon.
Eun Han-Seols expression hardened. She knew the significance of the Grand Council. It was only summoned for major decisions concerning the Silent Night.
So Geum-Hyangs eyes sparkled with an unusual fervor. It was always just a matter of time before we invaded the Central ins. The question is: when and how. It may take two or three months before we reach a decision. Until then, you are free to do as you please. Enjoy this time, for personal moments will be scarce afterward.
Master.
This is my first and final act of kindness toward you as your Master. Do not decline.
I understand. Eun Han-Seol bowed.
So Geum-Hyang observed her in silence for a moment. Just as time seemed to have frozen for her, so had it for Eun Han-Seol. Perhaps she would remain unchanged, no matter how many years passed.
Han-Seol.
Yes?
Answer me truthfully. Do you resent me?
How could a disciple
Its alright, I felt the same way at first. When your emotions start to wane, you begin to question your humanity.
Eun Han-Seol bit her lip. So Geum-Hyangs remark was spot-on.
But never doubt yourself. Just because you cant feel emotions doesnt mean you arent human.
I understand, Master.
Well, youre a clever girl. Youll do just fine. So Geum-Hyang patted Eun Han-Seol on the shoulder, then left the pavilion.
Eun Han-Seols gaze shifted to theke shimmering in the light, her eyes devoid of any luster.
Jin Mu-Won took off his clothes, revealing a body marred by scars. In spite of his short time in the Central ins, he had already suffered wounds here that ranged from the minor to the life-threatening.
He ran his fingers over them before putting on a new martial arts outfit to rece the old one that was torn beyond repair. The maroon color, symbolizing the Northern Army, remained the same, and it closely resembled the martial arts outfit Hwang Cheol had given him.
He then picked up a reddish-brown overcoat that looked ordinary on the outside, but was actually crafted from treated crocodile and grizzly bear skins, making it resistant to wind, water, and fire, and had many inside pockets that allowed him to easily carry the essentials for several days of travel.
Both robes were gifts from the Tang n, personallymissioned by Tang Kwan-Ho as thanks for saving Tang Gi-Mun and Tang Mi-Ryeo.
He tucked a few everyday items into the inner pockets of the coat and secured Snow Flower to his waist. Despite the many objects, the coat remained sleek and inconspicuous.
Fully prepared, Jin Mu-Won ventured outside, where Ha Jin-Wol, Tang Gi-Mun, and Tang Mi-Ryeo were waiting for him. Ha Jin-Wol and Tang Gi-Mun had originally agreed to apany him, but Tang Mi-Ryeos presence came as a surprise. Tang Kwan-Ho had originally wanted her to stay in the Tang n, but Tang Mi-Ryeo insisted on following her mentor and uncle, Tang Gi-Mun, and her determination won out in the end.
Approaching with a smile, Tang Gi-Mun asked, Are you ready to go?
It may not look like it, but I already brought everything I own.
I see youve taken a liking to the gift.
Im not sure I deserve something so valuable.
Haha, dont worry about it. Even though the clothes are expensive, what is moneypared to the lives of Tang n members?
Indeed, they fit you like a glove, Master Jin, Tang Mi-Ryeo chimed in, blushing slightly.
Jin Mu-Won couldnt help but notice her lingering gaze. He understood her feelings, but despite her beauty and wisdom, there was no room for her in his heart.
It was already upied by a memory that time could never erase.
Jin Mu-Wons gaze shifted northward.
Chapter 132: The Gangho is Vast (1)
Heavens Summit was bustling with two thriving businesses: the inns and the armories. The inns were bustling with eager young martial artists, while the armories had folks queuing up to get their hands on weapons.
This was especially true for the ces near Heavens Summit, but even those farther away couldnt escape the frenzy. The inns in nearby towns and viges were practically bursting at the seams with spirited young fighters who couldnt afford to stay in the city.
Dazhu County was no exception, being a sizable county in Sichuan, a pit stop en route to Hubei. As the name suggested, it was renowned for its expansive bamboo forests.1 Most martial artists from Sichuan would spend a day in Dazhu County before heading to Hubei. Consequently, the countys inns rejoiced at the sudden influx of guests, and the armories were bursting with customers wanting to upgrade their weapons or buy new ones.
Amidst the hustle and bustle of the Dazhu County armories, many intriguing negotiations took ce, but none was more eye-catching than the bartering between an elderly craftsman and a young martial artist in histe twenties.
Ive only got one silver. Can you please help me out? the young martial artist pleaded.
The craftsman sighed, If you want a decent sword, youll need at least three silvers.
I beg you, this is all Ive got.
Why are you buying a sword if you cant afford it? Very well, these are what I can sell you at that price. The craftsman presented him with a lousy iron sword. It had been forged by an apprentice and was poorly bnced and made of inferior materials.
The young martial artist, Myeong Ryu-San, hesitated, desperation flickering in his eyes. Hed visited countless armories, but no one was willing to part with a sword for his single piece of silver, as the price of swords had skyrocketed to five or six silvers due to the increase in demand. To make matters worse, after this purchase, he wouldnt even have enough money to reach Heavens Summit, his ultimate goal.
No, I have to buy a sword, even if it means that I have to go without food for a few days. Myeong Ryu-San clenched his teeth and reluctantly handed his money over.
The elderly craftsman, seemingly expecting this oue, presented him with the crappy iron sword and said happily, Thank you for your purchase! This sword is now yours. Please take good care of it!
Just you wait, damn old man. When I be famous, Ille back and find you. Well see if you can still talk big when I show you what a real treasured sword is.
Chagrined, Myeong Ryu-San left the armory, clinging tightly to his precious new sword in fear of it being stolen. After three years of training at a small martial arts academy in Chengdu, he dreamed of sess, but only now did he realize the harsh reality that awaited him.
The streets teemed with people, not only penniless martial artists like Myeong Ryu-San but also well-dressed ones with fine swords. These martial artists exuded an air of authority, causing others to instinctively make way. They were different from Myeong Ryu-San, who had trained for only a few years.
Annoyance surged within him. If only I had been born into a more privileged family, I would definitely be stronger than them!
Irritated by the sight, Myeong Ryu-San sped up and hurried back to the inn where he was staying, a small establishment on the outskirts of Dazhu County. He had been forced to stay with thirty other people in a room designed for ten, as the single rooms in the inn were either full or too expensive.
Even though it was still daytime, the inn was already crowded with people who shared his dream of seeking their fortunes at Heavens Summit. A fellow guest recognized Myeong Ryu-San and beckoned him to join.
The older man, in his forties with a bearded face and innocent eyes, was the first friend Myeong Ryu-San had made at the inn. He couldnt recall the mans name, but that was unimportant. It was a fleeting connection; he would forget it once they reached Heavens Summit.
Myeong Ryu-San epted the older mans offer and took a seat.
Did you manage to buy a sword? the man asked.
Myeong Ryu-San nodded.
The mans eyes immediately fell on the shabby iron sword. When he saw it, he gave a fake smile and praised, Well done,d. A martial artist needs a sword. When you seed in Heavens Summit, youll be able to get yourself a better one. Have a drink.
Thank you, Myeong Ryu-San said. He could sense the mans sarcasm, but he hid his displeasure and pretended not to notice it, gratefully epting the free drink he was offered.
Suddenly, amotion erupted at the inns entrance, capturing everyones attention.
An alluring woman was weaving her way through the crowd. Her face had the delicate beauty of a blooming rose, her figure was slender, and she sported a striking red silk robe contrasted by a well-worn sword at her waist. From the moment she had stepped into the inn, no one could take their eyes off her.
Unfazed by the tant stares, the woman moved through the throng, emanating an extraordinary aura that left even the innkeeper trembling as she approached. Are there any avable rooms? she asked.
The innkeeper hesitated, Yes, but
But?
Its a high-end single-upancy room, and it costs one silver per night. Will that be eptable?
One could buy a bag of rice with a single silver. It was a considerable sum, enough to sustain an average person for months. Yet, the woman did not hesitate, saying, Thats fine. Id also like to order some food
After arranging her stay, the woman ordered several simple dishes. As the waiter hurried to fulfill her request, she surveyed the inn, her presence casting an intimidating aura. Those who met her gaze quickly averted their eyes, instinctively recognizing her higher status.
Silence reigned until the womans food arrived, and the inn gradually resumed its lively chatter as the patrons ate and drank, though they asionally stole nces at her.
Myeong Ryu-San, entranced by her beauty, was no exception.
The older man noticed and asked with a smirk, Are you infatuated with her too?
Why wouldnt I be? Myeong Ryu-San retorted.
The man advised sternly, Give up. Shes different from us. Its unwise to aspire to a tree you cant climb.
Myeong Ryu-San grit his teeth. Just you see. Ill make her mine someday.
Suddenly, the crowd stirred once more, this time with greater excitement.
Who is it now?
This time, a tall and rugged young man entered the inn. d in a bright blue robe and wielding a broadsword with three rings on the pommel, he immediately became the center of attention.
Murmurs of recognition spread among the crowd.
Three rings? Hes a disciple of the Three Rings Sword Sect.
Could he be the Flying Eagle Swordsman Jwa Moon-Ho?
The buzz of conversation grew louder. The man smiled confidently, savoring the attention.
Indeed, he was Jwa Moon-Ho, the sessor of the prestigious Three Rings Sword Sect in Shandong. As if he already knew where he was going, he made a beeline for the table where the woman sat, prompting her to look up at him.
Their eyes locked and the woman frowned. However, Jwa Moon-Ho remained unperturbed, sitting down at her table and creating a qi barrier to hide their conversation from prying ears. May I join you, Miss Nam? he asked after the fact.
Annoyed, the woman replied, No, you may not. Youre persistent, Mr. Jwa. I thought I already declined your offer.
Well, I think youll change your mind after hearing me out, haha!
Mr. Jwa
Please give me one more chance. If you reject me again, Ill give up for good this time, okay?
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Pretty please?
Appalled at the mans shamelessness, the woman relented and nodded.
Jwa Moon-Ho grinned as if he had already won. Hmph, no matter how strong your martial arts are, youre just an inexperienced gangho neer.
In truth, the woman was no ordinary martial artist. She was the Saintess of Mount Mu Nam Soo-Ryun, heir to the Mount Mu Sect, one of the ganghos most esoteric sects, and a master swordswoman in her own right. Even though she was one of the Seven Young Skies, she rarely left her sect, yet here she was in Dazhu County.
Just a day ago, Jwa Moon-Ho had popped up out of the blue, somehow managing to figure out where she was and intercepting her on the road. He invited her to join the Azure Dragon Society, and although she refused at first, he was insistent.
Through their conversation, she realized that the Azure Dragon Society had more young martial artists than she had expected, and their influence was greater than she had imagined. Still, she had no intention of joining. Her secretive sect rarely allowed disciples to venture beyond its borders, and she had no desire for worldly power. Her master had only permitted her this journey to gain experience.
Jwa Moon-Ho said assuredly, I understand your concern, Miss Nam. However, the Azure Dragon Society is just a social gathering, and it wont affect the sanctity of the Mount Mu Sect.
Mr. Jwa, let me get one thing straight: I am not going to join the Azure Dragon Society, Nam Soo-Ryun asserted.
Jwa Moon-Ho leaned in, trying to persuade her. Come on, Miss Nam, give it a second thought. The Azure Dragon Society doesnt ept just anyone, and this is a golden opportunity for you.
Nam Soo-Ryun shook her head resolutely. Im really sorry, Mr. Jwa.
Her firm refusal did not sit well with Jwa Moon-Ho, and a tense silence hung between them, sending chills throughout the inn.-
Dazhu means big bamboo.
Chapter 133: The Gangho is Vast (2)
Myeong Ryu-Sans butt twitched. Although he was sipping his drink, his ears were tuned to the neighboring seats upied by Nam Soo-Ryun and Jwa Moon-Ho. However, despite his best efforts to eavesdrop, he couldnt hear them.
It was the same for the other curious patrons of the inn. Although all of them were aware of the heated exchange between Nam Soo-Ryun and Jwa Moon-Ho, none of them realized how rude and inappropriate Jwa Moon-Ho was behaving.
BANG!
Suddenly, Jwa Moon-Ho mmed his hand on the table and stood up from his seat. The noise was so loud that many of the inns upants wore pained expressions and covered their ears.
Jwa Moon-Ho leveled a menacing re at Nam Soo-Ryun, who met his gaze unwaveringly. Tension gripped the atmosphere, and the inns martial artists held their breath, sensing the esction of conflict.
Gritting his teeth, Jwa Moon-Ho pressed, Are you sure you want to turn down our offer? Why would you refuse something that benefits you?
Nam Soo-Ryun said resolutely, My decision is final.
I hope you dont regret thister, Jwa Moon-Ho seethed. Nam Soo-Ryun was the first martial artist to outright refuse his invitation to join the Azure Dragon Society. It was a tant insult to his pride as a member.
He spun around and stormed out of the inn. Those martial artists who dared to meet his gaze quickly averted their eyes, sensing the chilly killing intent in his stare.
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Nam Soo-Ryun watched Jwa Moon-Hos departing figure with a somber expression. Seriously, the Azure Dragon Society? Has the world be so chaotic that even young martial artists are forming factions?
Ill need to move carefully from now on, she sighed inwardly, confident in her decision to decline Jwa Moon-Hos offer but wary of the grudge she could sense in his fierce eyes.
Nam Soo-Ryun put down her chopsticks. She had lost her appetite. She wasnt much of a drinker, but tonight seemed like a reasonable day to make an exception. She called to the waiter and asked, Bring me a bottle of wine.
As the waiter promptly fulfilled her order, several martial artists couldnt help but be captivated by the sight of a lonely, beautiful woman enjoying her drink. Having witnessed her earlier confrontation with the Flying Eagle Swordsman Jwa Moon-Ho, though, none of them dared to approach her with amorous intentions.
Myeong Ryu-San was one of those mesmerized men. His mind swirled as he pondered her identity and affiliation, and if she aspired to join Heavens Summit just like he did. Unfortunately, hecked the courage to approach her, choosing instead to drown his thoughts in the humble, unassuming booze in front of him.
Suddenly, the door of the inn creaked open again. Myeong Ryu-San looked up, half expecting Jwa Moon-Ho to return. To his surprise, it was not Jwa Moon-Ho, but a group that had recently visited his hometown. If he remembered correctly, the man wearing a maroon robe was Jin Mu-Won, and the ones with him were Ha Jin-Wol, Tang Gi-Mun, and Tang Mi-Ryeo.
The group was in a foul mood. Every inn they had visited had turned them away, even the seemingly run-down ones, and they were getting hungry. Although they had little hope that this inn would have any vacancies, they elected to eat here.
Jin Mu-Wons gaze wandered across the inn restaurant before settling on Nam Soo-Ryun, who upied a table by herself. He walked up to her and asked, Miss, if you dont mind, could we join you? There arent any empty tables left.
Nam Soo-Ryun, her mood still affected by her earlier encounter with Jwa Moon-Ho, nced at Jin Mu-won. Sensing that he harbored no ill intent, she nodded.
Thank you, Jin Mu-Won said, waving hispanions over. This kinddy has agreed to share a table with us, he told them when they arrived.
Thank you, Miss.
Thank you!
The group thanked Nam Soo-Ryun as they seated themselves at the table.
Dont worry about it, Im nearly done eating anyway, she assured.
The waiter soon approached, and Tang Gi-Mun asked, Do you have any rooms avable?
The waiter hesitated, aware of the current upancy of the inn. We do have an outhouse, but its rather costly
Tang Gi-Mun brushed aside the concern. An outhouse will suffice. How much?
Surprised by Tang Gi-Muns self-assurance, the waiter panicked. The outhouse was nothing more than a shabby living quarters for the innkeeper and his wife, and charging a high price for it nagged at his conscience. F-Five silvers, Sir he stammered.
Unperturbed by the waiters difort, Tang Gi-Mun pulled out a pouch from his chest pocket, the jingling sound within hinting at its contents. He took out five silver coins and handed them over, saying, The meal will be paid for separately, so serve us your best dishes.
Sure thing, Ill be right back! the waiter squealed with delight as he dashed to the kitchen, marveling at his unexpected windfall.
Jin Mu-Won smiled wryly, At least we have lodgings now, even if they are modest.
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Tang Gi-Mun shook his head irritably, Im still upset that it took us so long to find one.
Tang Mi-Ryeo nodded frantically, agreeing with her uncle.
Ha Jin-Wolined with his characteristic cynicism, These young martial artists seem to believe that Heavens Summit is a walk in the park. Theyck the brains to discern and navigate the trials that await them. I doubt many of them have much longer to live.
Familiar with Ha Jin-Wols unfiltered bluntness, Jin Mu-Won smiled and dismissed his acerbic words.
Nam Soo-Ryun, on the other hand, couldnt suppress a soft chuckle.
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Oh ho! It seems that thedy here shares my perspective, Ha Jin-Wol remarked, his eyes gleaming.
No, its not that
Judging by the Four Cardinal Gods engraved on your belt and the golden embroidery on the hilt of your sword, you must be the Saintess of Mount Mu Nam Soo-Ryun, one of the Seven Young Skies.
What? Nam Soo-Ryuns jaw dropped at Ha Jin-Wols nonchnt revtion. The fact that the Mount Mu Sect used the Four Cardinal Gods as proof of their identity in the outside world was a well-kept secret. As if that werent amazing enough, even within Mount Mu, only a select few were privy to the knowledge that only the sects sessor had golden embroidery on her sword hilt.
Ha Jin-Wol smirked. Why are you so surprised? And close your mouth, I think a fly might have gone inside it.
Who are you, Mister? Nam Soo-Ryun asked warily.
I doubt youd recognize my name even if I told you. However, Im sure youve heard of my hyung-nim here. Meet Master Tang Gi-Mun, the Tang ns Poison Pavilion Master.
What? Nam Soo-Ryun sat up, her surprise evident. How could she not know that name? There wasnt a soul in the gangho who hadnt heard of the Tang n, and Tang Gi-Mun was a household name. Along with Myriad Poison Emperor Tang Kwan-Ho, he was one of the worlds top poison experts.
This Nam Soo-Ryun greets the senior from the Tang n.
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Hehe, no need to be so polite. Please, sit down, Tang Gi-Mun said, shooting Ha Jin-Wol a reproachful look for revealing his identity without consent.
However, Ha Jin-Wol remained unperturbed. He knew that the instant he mentioned Nam Soo-Ryuns identity, Jin Mu-Won had deployed a sound-proof barrier, so everything they discussed within these walls was hidden from prying ears.
Jin Mu-Won smiled in amusement. He had grown ustomed to Ha Jin-Wols asional childlike unpredictability.
Tang Gi-Mun gestured toward Tang Mi-Ryeo, who was seated beside him. This is my niece, Tang Mi-Ryeo.
Ah! You must be Miss Tang, the Flower of Sichuan. Delighted to meet you.
Im even more delighted to make your acquaintance, Venerable Saintess of Mount Mu.
The women exchanged happy greetings.
Nam Soo-Ryuns eyes then shifted to Jin Mu-Won, who nodded and said, Im Jin Mu-Won.
Nice to meet you, Master Jin, but Nam Soo-Ryun tilted her head. The name sounded vaguely familiar, but she couldnt quite ce it.
Youre also heading to Heavens Summit, arent you, Miss Nam? Ha Jin-Wol interrupted her mid-sentence.
Yes.
Are you going there to gain experience?
Thats right, Nam Soo-Ryun sighed resignedly, feeling like nothing Ha Jin-Wol said could surprise her anymore. Yet, she couldnt help but wonder who he was. How many people in this gangho can deduce my identity and intentions so effortlessly? Why have I never heard of this man?
Ha Jin-Wol smirked, as if he could read Nam Soo-Ryuns mind.
Before she could say anything, though, the waiter arrived with their food, adding to Nam Soo-Ryuns previous order and filling the table with a spread of dishes.
Fate has brought us together. Since you dont seem to have eaten much yet, how about joining us? Ha Jin-Wol suggested.
B-But Nam Soo-Ryun hesitated.
Wouldnt you agree that eating is more enjoyable withpany than alone?
Thats true. Wont you join us, Miss Nam? Tang Mi-Ryeo pleaded, making it impossible for Nam Soo-Ryun to refuse.
Nam Soo-Ryun caved in and nodded. Truth be told, she was genuinely curious about these people.
Jin Mu-Won kicked off the party with a toast, and as the five of them started eating, drinks circted andughter filled the air.
Chapter 134: The Gangho is Vast (3)
A masked ck figure quietly opened the door and entered the room. They briefly nced around, then cautiously took a step forward.
Inside the room, three people were fast asleep,pletely unaware of the intruder. The ck figure slowly approached the sleeping men, heart racing.
Please, please dont wake up With trembling hands, the ck figure searched the pockets of the man on the far left. Fortunately, the man was in a deep slumber and showed no signs of stirring.
A weighty sensation filled the ck figures hand. They had found what they were looking for. Carefully, they withdrew their hand, holding a heavy wallet.
From the beginning, their goal had been the mans wallet. With a triumphant grin, the ck figure turned to leave the room.
That was when a cold, mocking voice rang out from behind him, Hoho, arent you quite the daring thief?
Gah! The ck figure froze in ce for a moment, then slowly looked back.
Two of the sleeping men had awakened and were staring right at him, astounded.
Ha Jin-Wol clicked his tongue. Tsk tsk! Why would anyone in their right mind attempt to steal from a murim person? Are you that confident in your skills?
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Zzz Tang Gi-Mun, the owner of the stolen wallet, snored loudly, oblivious to the fact that he had just been robbed.
The ck figure quickly covered his face and rushed out of the room.
Dumbfounded by the thiefs response, Ha Jin-Wol turned to Jin Mu-Won and said, Im going back to sleep, you take care of the thief.
Without waiting for Jin Mu-Wons response, Ha Jin-Woly back down and pulled the nket over his head.
Sighing, Jin Mu-Won got to his feet.
Chasing the ck figure wasnt difficult at all. There were hastily left footprints all over the floor. Before long, Jin Mu-Won had the thief cornered in a dead-end alley not far from the inn.
Please, just return the wallet and I wont hurt you or report you, Jin Mu-Won said tiredly.
N-No! What are you talking about, this is my wallet! The ck figure concealed the wallet they had stolen from Tang Gi-Mun behind their back.
Jin Mu-Won sighed again. Thats not yours.
Its mine now. I wont hand it over, the ck figure argued, drawing a sword from his waist and pointing it at Jin Mu-Won.
Jin Mu-Won narrowed his eyes. Petty theft was one thing, but assault was something else altogether. He took a step closer and warned, Look, I dont understand why youre doing this, but youd better put away that sword right now.
Stay back! If youe any closer, Ill kill you! The ck figure shouted, releasing his killing intent.
In response, Jin Mu-Won moved another step closer.
Immediately, the ck figure swung his sword at Jin Mu-Won, aiming for his throat. It was a real attempt on his life.
Jin Mu-Won tilted his head and deftly dodged the blow, his gaze turning icy cold. As the ck figure contemted taking anothers life, it seemed that he failed to realize that he, too, could meet his end at any moment.
Jin Mu-Won calmly extended two fingers towards the sword flying past his head.
CLATTER!
In an instant, the ck figures sword shattered. It was Jin Mu-Wons original technique, the Weapon-Shattering Finger.
If youre seeing this, you are at the wrong ce.
No, my sword This cant be! The ck figure stared disbelievingly at what remained of his sword for a moment, then lunged at Jin Mu-Won, screaming, Damn you! You broke my sword! My precious sworddddd!
He swung his fists at Jin Mu-Wons vital points, but they didnt have much power behind them.
Jin Mu-Won, a master in his own right, found the attack almostical. Shaking his head, he grabbed the ck figures wrist and twisted it effortlessly.
SNAP!
Argh!
The sound of bones snapping rang out as the ck figures wrist dislocated. He immediately recoiled, and Jin Mu-Won took the chance to remove his mask and take back Tang Gi-Muns wallet.
Who are you? Jin Mu-Won asked, furrowing his brow. He felt like he had seen this person somewhere before. Hmm The vige I stayed in after leaving the Sichuan teau. Hes the son of the vige chief.
Myeong Ryu-San gazed at the shattered sword lying his feet, his expression a mix of bewilderment and regret. It was a sword he had bought with his entire fortune earlier that day.
I wont forgive you! he growled, momentarily forgetting that he had stolen Tang Gi-Muns purse.
Jin Mu-Wons gaze turned icy. You stole someone elses wallet. Consider yourself fortunate to still be breathing.
In the gangho, one could lose their life for reasons far less trivial than theft, and in fact, such incidents were rminglymon.
Jin Mu-Won released Myeong Ryu-Sans wrist.
Myeong Ryu-San stood up and nursed his dislocated wrist, seething. What do you know? Damn you! You probably grew up in a good family and learned powerful martial arts as a matter of course. If only I had the same background, Id easily defeat you.
Good family? Background?
Why, do you want to deny it? Isnt that why youve be so strong? Fuck!
Jin Mu-Won remained silent and watched Myeong Ryu-San intently. The young mans face was full of rage rather than remorse, as if he carried the wrath of the entire world within him.
You stole someone elses wallet because you wanted to be stronger? Jin Mu-Won asked.
Yes! I wanted to borrow some money since I dont have enough to go to Heavens Summit. Is it such a terrible thing to ask for a small share of what the privileged have? Its just a few coins, Ill pay it back when I make it bigter.
Youre mistaken. If getting stronger were that easy, there wouldnt be a single weak person in the world.
Shut up! People like you who have everything always say that, but do you know what its like to scrape by? Why cant you share just a little bit of the silver spoon, huh?
His way of looking at things is deeply warped, and he mes the world for his own shorings. No matter what I say, he wont listen and will revert to his old attitude as soon as I leave. Sighing, Jin Mu-Won said, It seems that you need to be taught a lesson.
What?
If you dont want to die, please try your hardest to defend yourself.
In the blink of an eye, Jin Mu-Won disappeared, moving at an incredible speed that Myeong Ryu-San couldntprehend.
WHACK!
Struck by the hilt of Jin Mu-Wons sword, Myeong Ryu-San bent over like a boiled shrimp.
Keuk! Myeong Ryu-San foamed at the mouth, the intense shock causing stomach acid to flow back up his esophagus.
Unfortunately, Jin Mu-Wons punishment had only just begun. His sword hilt struck Myeong Ryu-Sans side and face time and time again.
THWACK! THUD! SMACK!
Ugh! Oww! Damn it! With each blow from Snow Flower, Myeong Ryu-San let out a scream that reverberated through his very bones. However, even though he was in excruciating pain, his anger toward Jin Mu-Won was undiminished.
When Jin Mu-Won saw that, he grew relentless. The angrier Myeong Ryu-San got, the more ferocious Jin Mu-Wons attacks became. He even selectively targeted the areas that maximized pain without causing serious injury.
In the gangho, people like Myeong Ryu-San, who were unable to control their impulses, often met a violent end. Hence, Jin Mu-Won wanted to teach Myeong Ryu-San a lesson in the hope that he would survive a little longer, in exchange for the shelter that the vige chief had given him.
However, Myeong Ryu-Sans stubbornness exceeded Jin Mu-Wons expectations. His internal arts were inadequate and his achievements minimal, but there was an instinct in him that surpassed everything he had been taught.
Is he the kind of guy who gets stronger through adversity? If thats the case, its no wonder that the teachers at the martial arts academy he attended couldnt train him very well.
Interesting Ive never encountered this type before. The gangho is vast indeed, Jin Mu-Won mumbled as he tossed Myeong Ryu-San, who had finally been knocked unconscious, over his shoulder.
Chapter 135: ever Forget a Grudge, but Never Let It Rule Over You (1)
Ha Jin-Wol frowned as he looked at Myeong Ryu-San, who was sprawled at Jin Mu-Wons feet. What is this disgusting pile of shit? he asked.
Its the thief from yesterday, Jin Mu-Won replied.
I know that. What I mean is, why is this thing in front of me? Ha Jin-Wol kicked Myeong Ryu-San.
Tang Gi-Mun stepped in, urging, Come on, lets hear his story first.
Okay, fine, Ha Jin-Wol scowled. He despised those who sought to gain without effort. The very notion that someone as able-bodied as Myeong Ryu-San could steal without working for it repulsed him.
Jin Mu-Won began to exin what had happened the night before, and Ha Jin-Wols expression rxed a bit.
Hmm, so this is the son of the vige chief we owe a favor to?
Yes, Jin Mu-Won confirmed.
Thats a funny coincidence. In any case, youll have to take care of this thing yourself and keep it out of trouble.
Okay, Jin Mu-Won replied with a smile.
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Tang Gi-Mun, who had been watching, crouched down in front of Myeong Ryu-San and examined every inch of his body. You did a very thorough job, he said to Jin Mu-Won.
Hes pretty tough. It took that much to knock him out, Jin Mu-Won exined.
At least hes got some muscle. And better bones than I thought, Tang Gi-Mun praised, admiring Myeong Ryu-Sans physique.
Despite his shabby clothes, Myeong Ryu-San possessed a surprisingly well-developed body, especially his densely developed muscles, which disyed explosive sticity simr to that of a wolf. Living on the rugged Sichuan teau demanded heightened physical abilities, which had obviously forged his extraordinary strength and endurance.
Tang Gi-Mun stood up and stretched his back. Anyway, its a strange thing. Ill let you take care of it.
Youre not going to treat it? Jin Mu-Won inquired.
I dont care about treatment. For simple bruises like this, saliva alone will do the trick, Tang Gi-Mun dismissed, shaking his head before walking away.
Jin Mu-Won sighed. Tang Gi-Mun was acting more and more like Ha Jin-Wol. Suddenly, he turned his attention back to Myeong Ryu-San, who was still lying down, and asked, How long are you going to lie there like that?
Myeong Ryu-San shuddered, but did not budge.
I know youre already awake. Get up.
Myeong Ryu-San hesitated for a moment before slowly pushing himself up. He had woken up when Tang Gi-Mun was examining his wounds. As he looked at Jin Mu-Won, a mixture of fear and anger filled his eyes. I What are you going to do to me?
You said you wanted to go to Heavens Summit, right?
So?
Then you shoulde with us.
Why?
Can you afford to go there on your own?
Myeong Ryu-San fell silent.
If youe with us, at least you wont have to worry about food and lodging.
A conflicted look washed over Myeong Ryu-Sans face. Despite his narrow-mindedness, he was sharp and could see that Jin Mu-Wons group was far from ordinary, and apanying them would undoubtedly make his journey to Heavens Summit easier. Moreover, his pockets were empty now. Joining them made more sense than begging his way to his destination.
Okay, Myeong Ryu-San reluctantly agreed.
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Jin Mu-Won smiled.
A shiver ran down Myeong Ryu-Sans spine. For some reason, Jin Mu-Wons smile gave him a bad feeling. But before Myeong Ryu-San could think about it, though, Jin Mu-Won changed the topic, saying, Lets go get breakfast.
Breakfast?
Arent you hungry?
Rumble~ Myeong Ryu-Sans stomach growled, causing his face to involuntarily flush.
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As if he knew this would happen, Jin Mu-Won took the lead while Myeong Ryu-San followed closely behind. In the dining room on the first floor of the inn, Ha Jin-Wol and Tang Gi-Mun were already seated.
Ha Jin-Wol shot Myeong Ryu-San a reproving look. Are you going to bring that thing with you after all?
I thought it might be fun, Jin Mu-Won replied.
Hmm! Ha Jin-Wol continued frowning at Myeong Ryu-San.
Myeong Ryu-San squirmed under Ha Jin-Wols disdainful gaze. His instincts screamed that Ha Jin-Wol was no ordinary person.
After what seemed like forever, Ha Jin-Wol turned his eyes away from Myeong Ryu-San, mumbling, Hmph, if you say so
Did you all sleep well?
Good morning.
Tang Mi-Ryeo and Nam Soo-Ryun greeted the men as they approached from the side, looking like close friends.
Ah! Myeong Ryu-Sans eyes widened.
Hmph! Ha Jin-Wol snorted at him, then returned the girls greeting along with Tang Gi-Mun.
Tang Mi-Ryeo and Nam Soo-Ryuns gazes shifted to Myeong Ryu-San, who stood beside Jin Mu-Won.
He picked up that thingst night and is going to take it all the way to Heavens Summit, Ha Jin-Wol remarked.
The two women directed their attention to Myeong Ryu-San and said in unison, Oh!
N-Nice to meet you! Myeong Ryu-San replied loudly, drawing the attention of everyone in the restaurant.
Tang Gi-Mun immediatelyined, Dont just stand there, sit down.
Yes! Myeong Ryu-San obeyed and hurriedly sat down.
Jin Mu-Won sat down next to him. Just then, the waiter arrived with the food that Ha Jin-Wol had ordered. Seeing the abundance of food in front of them, their hunger grew.
Myeong Ryu-San looked around for a moment and then started scarfing down his food.
Heh! He must have a bottomless pit for a stomach, Ha Jin-Wol teased.
Unfortunately, Myeong Ryu San did not hear him. He waspletely absorbed in his meal, following his instincts and enjoying the meal.
The others looked at him in disbelief at first, but they soon turned to their own tes and ate in silence.
Nam Soo-Ryun had arranged to meet some disciples of the Mount Mu Sect in Wuhan, Hubei Province. They were first generation disciples like her who wanted to gain experience.
When she found out, Tang Mi-Ryeo had persuaded Nam Soo-Ryun to apany them. So she went.
Since Tang Mi-Ryeo, who was rarely assertive, made the suggestion, Nam Soo-Ryun couldnt bring herself to refuse. Thus, she found herself with unexpected travelpanions.
After breakfast, the group left the inn and went to a nearby stable where they bought horses for riding and a cart for Mr. Yellow to pull. It cost a small fortune, but with Tang Gi-Muns ample funds, it hardly mattered.
Everyone seemed content, except for one person.
Tsk, rich bastards, Myeong Ryu-San sarcasticallyined. While the others rode horses, he was left to walk.
Ha Jin-Wol nced at Myeong Ryu-San and clicked his tongue. Who would waste good money on a thief?
Im not a thief. I just made one idental mistake
Yeah, yeah, that how it always starts Thieves be bandits, bandits be murderers. Its a good thing youre terrible at martial arts, or youd be in big trouble, Ha Jin-Wol taunted.
Ah, damn it! When are you going to stop talking about? Myeong Ryu-Sans retort cut off mid-sentence. Jin Mu-Won was standing right next to him.
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The man frightened him. His scars had not faded yet, and the memories ofst night were still fresh in his mind.
Ha Jin-Wol grinned at Myeong Ryu-Sans reaction, but to Myeong Ryu-San it felt like a mockery.
Just you wait. Look down on me all you want now, but one day, Ill make you kneel before me and beg for forgiveness, Myeong Ryu-San thought, clenching his teeth. However, when he caught a glimpse of Nam Soo-Ryun on horseback, his anger faded and he started chuckling idiotically.
Ha Jin-Wol clicked his tongue condescendingly. Tsk tsk, what a pervert
Hmph!
The two of them immediately started quarreling again.
Jin Mu-Won sighed and shook his head. The two women, on the other hand, giggled in amusement.
Hmm? Isnt Myeong Ryu-San keeping pace with us despite being on foot and engaged in a heated exchange with Ha Jin-Wol at the same time? Tang Gi-Muns eyes sparkled. He had previously discovered Myeong Ryu-Sans extraordinary physical abilities, but he hadnt expected him to have the stamina and endurance of a horse.
Did Mu-Won know about this beforehand? Tang Gi-Mun grew curious about Myeong Ryu-San, and his eyes took on a dangerous gleam.
Half a days journey from the inn, Jin Mu-Won led the group to a dock next to a marsh hundreds of miles across. To cross it with their horses, they had to board the Yunmeng Marsh Riverboat.1 They purchased their tickets and shortly after, they boarded the Yunmeng Marsh Riverboat when it pulled into the dock.
The deck of the Yunmeng Marsh Riverboat was crowded with people. Jin Mu-Won sat down on one side of the deck and waited for the boat to set sail.
Suddenly, a voice called out, Shall we go up on deck? Hey you, step aside and make way!
As the people near the entrance hurried to clear the way, everyones attention was drawn to the three mening out from there.
Nam Soo-Ryun recognized one of them immediately. Not him again, she thought with a frown.
The man in question was Flying Eagle Swordsman Jwa Moon-Ho, a six-foot-tall swordsman with bold features, dressed in a blue robe and carrying a broadsword with three round rings around his waist.
nking him on either side were two imposing men who towered over Jwa Moon-Ho. Their faces were almost identical, but one had dark brown skin, while the other was pale as a ghost.
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Nam Soo-Ryun groaned. A pair of brothers, over seven feet tall, with muscles like boulders and simr faces. Are they the Monochrome Bears (ڰp), the Kwan Brothers? Damn it, did Jwa Moon-Ho recruit them into the Azure Dragon Society?
If she was right, then the brown-skinned one was Kwan San-Woong, while the white-skinned one was Kwan San-Cheol. The Monochrome Bears were renowned in Shaanxi Province among young martial artists for their unique outer arts, tough skin, and innate strength.
The crowd, intimidated by the Monochrome Bears stature and power, hastily made way for them, creating a clear path.
Spotting Nam Soo-Ryun sitting on the opposite side of the deck, Jwa Moon-Ho grinned wickedly and approached her, saying, Miss Nam, how nice to see you here again.
Mr. Jwa. Nam Soo-Ryun stood and put her hands together in greeting.
Jwa Moon-Ho gestured toward the Monochrome Bears beside him. Allow me to introduce the Monochrome Bears. Theyve decided to join our organization in your ce, Miss Nam.
Kwan San-Woong.
Kwan San-Cheol.
The Monochrome Bears introduced themselves with haughty expressions. They looked down at Nam Soo-Ryun with smiles that seemed to mock her decision.
Their sneers irritated Nam Soo-Ryun, but she kept herposure and greeted them, Greetings, I am Nam Soo-Ryun of the Mount Mu Sect.
Ive heard a lot about you. Youre one of the Seven Young Skies? Kwan San-Woong asked nonchntly.
On the other hand, Kwan San-Cheol frowned, sending a chill through the air. The Seven Young Skies? Thats quite a reputation you have there.-
Yunmeng Marsh: A giantke in Qin Dynasty China to the northwest of Wuhan that no longer exists due to geographical changes. Today, it is a floodin known as the Jianghan in, with fertilend for farming. In Jin Mu-Wons time, thergeke would have already receded into a collection of smaller, shallowerkes.
Chapter 136: Never Forget a Grudge, but Never Let It Rule Over You (2)
Kwan San-Cheols re bore into Nam Soo-Ryun, eliciting only a faint furrow of her brow in response. Her eyes remained remarkablyposed, unyielding like a cid sea. Kwan San-Cheol, the provocateur, found himself increasingly bewildered by her unwavering gaze, which seemed to diminish his very being.
Jin Mu-Won observed the standoff and muttered softly, Is she using Spiritual Pressure?
In the unhindered qi realm of inner arts mastery, ones power would naturally radiate through their eyes. Though it couldnt cause physical harm, it was a powerful mental attack, especially against someone with weaker inner arts or mental fortitude.
Nam Soo-Ryuns ability to unleash Spiritual Pressure, a qi control ability that could inflict more damage than martial techniques, was a testament to her extraordinary skill.
Keuk! Kwan San-Cheol winced, buckling under the mental weight.
Haha! You two look positively murderous today. Lets part ways for now and reconver, Jwa Moon-Ho intervened, positioning himself between the two.
Huff Huff Kwan San-Cheol exhaled sharply, relieved of the pressure Nam Soo-Ryun had exerted on him.
Nam Soo-Ryun narrowed her eyes. The failure of her Spiritual Pressure indicated that Jwa Moon-Ho was more formidable than she had expected.
Jwa Moon-Hos eyes shifted to Tang Mi-Ryeo and the others around Nam Soo-Ryun. Yesterday, she was alone, but today, she had a group in tow. He intended to inquire about them, but she turned her back to him and stormed off before he could speak.
Oh? Suddenly, his gaze fixed on Jin Mu-Won. As a swordsman dedicated to perfection, he instantly recognized the exceptional sword hidden beneath Jin Mu-Wons maroon robe, and a flicker of avarice danced in his eyes.
Hey, bitch! Kwan San-Cheol blurted, unable to contain his frustration.
Silence, Kwan San-Woong, his brother, cautioned. Do you wish to make a spectacle of yourself? You have ample time and opportunities to make amends.
As the elder brother, Kwan San-Woong exhibited moreposure than his impulsive sibling, though the glint in his eyes betrayed his own yearning for recognition.
For any young martial artist striving for the pinnacle, being overshadowed by the Seven Young Skies, peers of simr age who possessed unparalleled strength and prestige, was disheartening.
Losers. All brawn and no balls, Myeong Ryu-San muttered under his breath as he trailed after Nam Soo-Ryun.
Fortunately, as thement wasnt directed at them, the Monochrome Bears didnt have a good reason to take offense at his insult, and could only watch as Myeong Ryu-San melted into the crowd.
When they were out of earshot, Nam Soo-Ryun stopped and exined about Jwa Moon-Ho and the Azure Dragon Society.
Tang Gi-Mun frowned. This was his first time hearing of the Azure Dragon Society. Hmm What the Azure Dragon Society is trying to do is really dangerous.
Ha Jin-Wol, on the other hand, already knew of the society.
Seomoon Hye-Ryung, the only person to ever humiliate me.
In hisst encounter with Seomoon Hye-Ryung, she had urged him to join the Azure Dragon Society, an offer he had promptly declined. Seomoon Hye-Ryungs ideals of absolute control, reminiscent of the Nine Skies, differed from his vision of the gangho as a fun ce that thrived on uncertainty.
Apparently, as early as a decade ago, Seomoon Hye-Ryung had joined forces with Dam Soo-Cheon and founded the Azure Dragon Society in order to achieve her goal. Whether or not they would be sessful remained uncertain, but its potential as one of the most powerful organizations of the future was undeniable. Moreover, their influence would only grow when Dam Soo-Cheon emerged from his seclusion training.
Ha Jin-Wols gaze shifted to Jin Mu-Won, who stood overlooking the vast expanse of water. His visage was stern, his eyes profound, and an aura of stillness enveloped him.
Only one young martial artist in the whole world can contend with the Lone Star of the Azure Sky.
Seomoon Hye-Ryung, if you bet your all on the Lone Star of the Azure Sky, then Ill wager mine on Jin Mu-Won.
His desire for revenge that had previously cooled down was rekindled. Ha Jin-Wol bit his lip until it bled.
Are you alright? Jin Mu-Won asked, sensing Ha Jin-Wols abnormal condition.
What do you mean?
You look like somethings bothering you.
Pfft, its customary for someone my age to reflect.
Is that so?
Yes, indeed. More importantly, never allow yourself to lose to anyone, ever.
What? Confused, Jin Mu-Won stared at Ha Jin-Wol, to which Ha Jin-Wol responded with a firm gaze.
Okay. Jin Mu-Won nodded, instinctively understanding Ha Jin-Wols intention.
Ha Jin-Wol rested an arm on Jin Mu-Wons shoulder and asserted, Stay vignt. Your journey has only just begun.
I know.
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Yes, you do.
The two contemted the flowing waters in silence for a long time.
Suddenly, Nam Soo-Ryun walked over to them, bowed, and said, I sincerely apologize for getting you entangled in this.
A striking woman inevitably attracts admirers. No need to apologize. If youre guilty of anything, its being too beautiful, Ha Jin-Wol remarked yfully.
What? Nam Soo-Ryuns eyes widened.
Ha Jin-Wol chuckled, Haha! Just kidding! I wanted to see you smile.
Ahh!
As the saying goes, a fox may borrow a tigers prowess, but it is still a fox. Dont waste your energy on such individuals, theyre everywhere anyway.
Yes. Nam Soo-Ryun smiled. Ha Jin-Wols criticism of the Monochrome Bears was blunt and derogatory, a refreshing departure from the politenguage used within the Mount Mu Sect. His frankness, devoid of any pretense, was endearing.
Nam Soo-Ryuns gaze shifted to Jin Mu-Won. Initially, she had considered him an ordinary martial artist and paid him scant attention, but as they spent more time together, an unfamiliar unease gnawed at her.
This man is no ordinary martial artist.
Although she wasbeled as one of the Seven Young Skies, she was aware that she hadnt done anything to deserve it and took no pride in it. She had been given the title simply because she was the sessor of the Mount Mu Sect.
Rather than empty titles and staged duels, she believed that the route to the pinnacle required enduring numerous trials. Hence, she had ventured beyond her sect to gain experience and engage with fellow martial artists her age.
To her dismay, most approached her captivated by her beauty, but few genuinely sought martial mastery. Nevertheless, these interactions honed her abilities considerably. Her adversaries sharedmon traits: admiration, critique, and a fiery passion. Jwa Moon-Ho and the Monochrome Bears belonged to this category, and so she was unafraid of them. Defeat was possible, but not humiliation.
Jin Mu-Won, however, was an enigma.
I cannot fathom this man. No matter how she honed her senses, she couldnt sense his qi. It was as though a shroud of darkness concealed everything, unsettling her in unfamiliar ways and igniting her dormant fighting spirit.
Suddenly, Jin Mu-Won turned to face Nam Soo-Ryun. His All-Epassing Cognizance had detected her heightened fighting spirit.
They exchanged wordless gazes, and Ha Jin-Wol observed them with keen interest.
Finally, Nam Soo-Ryun broke the silence. Master Jin, would you spar with me sometime?
Of course.
Their agreement bore the weight of a martial artistsmitment.
To the side, Ha Jin-Wols face fell in disappointment. He had been expecting an interesting conversation.
Suddenly, Myeong Ryu-San shamelessly shouted, Can I spar with you too?
His gaze, filled with jealousy toward Jin Mu-Wons interaction with Nam Soo-Ryun, overshadowed any remnants ofst nights pain.
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Ha Jin-Wol burst intoughter, Heh, as the saying goes, ignorance is bliss.
Are you calling me ignorant?
Yes, stupid.
You! Myeong Ryu-San grumbled, unperturbed by Ha Jin-Wols taunts.
Jin Mu-Won raised an eyebrow, finding the spectacle ridiculous but amusing.
Ha Jin-Wol shook his head, then said to Jin Mu-Won, Dont just stand there, handle this thing yourself.
Jin Mu-Won smiled.
Instantly, Myeong Ryu-San felt a shiver down his spine as an ominous foreboding engulfed him.
Jin Mu-Won didnt disappoint. Id be delighted to spar with you, he replied.
Oh, shit! Myeong Ryu-San winced, feeling the ache of his bruises as the weight of his regrets washed over him like a tidal wave.
Chapter 137: Never Forget a Grudge, but Never Let It Rule Over You (3)
Myeong Ryu-San crashed to the floor with a resounding thud, his body a tapestry of bruises, wounds, and blood.
Y-You devil! he choked, struggling to rise. Before he could say more, however, he sumbed to the pain and copsed in a heap.
Tang Gi-Mun clicked his tongue in disbelief, Tsk tsk, why so stubborn? You wouldnt have been beaten so badly if you surrendered earlier.
Ha Jin-Wols eyes twinkled with amusement. Despite his dislike for Myeong Ryu-San, he couldnt help but admire the young mans tenacity and vitality.
Although Myeong Ryu-San was no match for Jin Mu-Won, he persisted to the bitter end. The price, however, was steep. Jin Mu-Won showed no restraint, exploiting Myeong Ryu-Sans vulnerabilities without hesitation, even prodding acupuncture points that caused excruciating pain. Yet, somehow, Myeong Ryu-San endured it all.
If only I couldnd one good hit, Myeong Ryu-San thought, though he had already epted the impossibility of defeating Jin Mu-Won since his beating the previous day. Hence, Myeong Ryu-San persisted.
Tang Gi-Mun crouched down before Myeong Ryu-San, examining him thoroughly. After several rounds of inspection, he nodded decisively. Alright, Ive decided.
Curious, Ha Jin-Wol asked, What do you mean?
Youll find out, Tang Gi-Mun replied cryptically.
Jin Mu-Won left behind the battered Myeong Ryu-San and went toward the campfire, where Tang Mi-Ryeo and Nam Soo-Ryun were chatting casually.
Tang Mi-Ryeo weed him, Master Jin.
Is it over now? Nam Soo-Ryun asked.
Yes, it was more persistent than expected
The two women nodded in understanding. Both women were well-acquainted with the martial world and recognized that Jin Mu-Wons actions werent mere violence. For Myeong Ryu-San, this could potentially be a blessing in disguise, assuming he gained something from it.
Jin Mu-Won tossed a dry twig into the bonfire, intensifying the mes. They were camping for the night, having traveled by horseback along the highway after disembarking from a boat. The journey often took them through deste stretches with no signs of civilization, leaving them in need of a ce to rest and sleep.
Fortunately, they were well-versed in outdoor camping. No one except Myeong Ryu-Sanined.
Myeong Ryu-San had always been ainer, voicing grievances about life and harboring an apparent grudge against Jin Mu-Won since their first meeting. On such asions, Jin Mu-Won would resort to violence, using his Snow Flower to leave Myeong Ryu-San battered and bruised.
Neither woman found this behavior unusual, as they had witnessed it for days on end.
Jin Mu-Won silently gazed into the roaring bonfire. A flush of red tinted his face, enhancing his already striking presence. After a moment of watching Jin Mu-Won, Nam Soo-Ryun broke the silence.
Master Jin.
Jin Mu-Won met Nam Soo-Ryuns gaze wordlessly. Their eyes locked in the air. After several moments of mutual contemtion, Nam Soo-Ryun continued.
Do you have someone youre interested in?
Yes, Jin Mu-Won admitted.
Tang Mi-Ryeos eyshes fluttered. Nam Soo-Ryun sighed, her gaze shifting toward Tang Mi-Ryeo. Over the past few days, she had observed Tang Mi-Ryeos feelings for Jin Mu-Won. Frustrated by Tang Mi-Ryeos inability to express them, Nam Soo-Ryun took it upon herself to question Jin Mu-Won.
It was peculiar for someone as astute as Jin Mu-Won to overlook Tang Mi-Ryeos affections. However, when he did nce in her direction, his gaze seemed to be distant, as if he were looking through her.
Nam Soo-Ryun probed further. Could you reveal the luckydy who has captured Master Jins heart?
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Im sorry, but I cant disclose that, Jin Mu-Won replied.
Apologies for the unnecessary question, Nam Soo-Ryun conceded.
An awkward silence descended upon them, each lost in their own thoughts.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the camp, Myeong Ryu-San suddenly groaned. Eh?
Take this, Tang Gi-Mun urged, holding out a vial before Myeong Ryu-Sans barely conscious eyes.
Whats this?
Poison.
Poison? Myeong Ryu-San recoiled in shock. Are you out of your mind? Why would I consume poison?
Do you desire strength?
Madness! How can I gain strength from poison? I might as well die!
My poison is unique.
Ah! Never mind. I wont take it, never!
So, you prefer enduring Mu-Wons beatings daily? To live as an insignificant martial artist?
In that moment, Myeong Ryu-Sans eyes flickered. Tang Gi-Mun noticed the change.
I am the Poison Pavilion Master of the Tang n, Tang Gi-Mun dered with conviction. Naturally, the poisons I create are exceptional.
Tang n? Are you serious? Myeong Ryu-Sans voice trembled.
Even the most uninformed person in Sichuan, Myeong Ryu-Sans homnd, couldnt be oblivious to the Tang n. He was perhaps more knowledgeable about the Tang n than most.
Are you truly the Poison Pavilion Master? Myeong Ryu-Sans voice quivered.
He had inadvertently picked the pocket of Tang Gi-Mun, unknowingly challenging death. It was only now that heprehended his incredible fortune.
Indeed, who would dare impersonate the Tang n? I am the Poison Pavilion Master of the Tang n, Tang Gi-Mun reaffirmed with pride.
Myeong Ryu-San instinctively grasped the veracity of his words. Then, why poison me?
What do you think of poison? Tang Gi-Mun inquired.
Myeong Ryu-San muttered under his breath. Is that even a question? Poison is poison. But he dared not voice his thoughts. Instead, he responded as swiftly as possible, Poison is terrifying because it brings death without leaving a trace.
Exactly. Poison is fearsome. A wrong choice means certain death. But poison can also be a remedy.
A remedy? You must be joking. How can poison be a remedy?
Thats the misconception held by people like you. The Tang n is known for poison, but we are also the foremost practitioners of medicine in the world.
Studying poison was a quest for death itself. As they unraveled how poisons ravaged the human body, they discovered they could also mend it. This was the concept of healing poison.
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The Tang n delved into healing poisons, with Tang Gi-Mun leading the way. He delved beyond mere poison and sought to strengthen the human body using it.
Through the application of beneficial poisons, humanity can be stronger, Tang Gi-Mun believed, and his theory was wless, meticulously designed. However, no one volunteered for his research; the word poison instinctively repelled people. Some, like Tang Kwan-Ho, the Sect Leader of the Tang n, argued that achieving strength through poison required mastering poison techniques and embracing poison qi.
Tang Gi-Mun aimed to change this belief, and if sessful, the Tang ns power would soar. Myeong Ryu-San embodied the ideal candidate, possessing extraordinary vitality, resilience, and physical prowess. What hecked, he couldpensate for with poison.
I cant let this opportunity slip.
Myeong Ryu-San shivered under his gaze, involuntarily drawn to the repulsive idea of poison. If I can justnd a single blow against that bastard
Thinking of Jin Mu-Won, he felt an eruption of anger. Even if he died and were reborn, he knew he couldnt suppress it. The fact that he had been beaten to the brink of death already testified to it.
Are you sure consuming poison is safe?
Absolutely.
Truly?
I am the Tang ns Poison Pavilion Master. You wont gain immediate strength, but with consistent consumption as I instruct, you will develop a body immune to countless poisons and unlock powerful inner martial arts. I guarantee it.
Why would the Tang ns Poison Pavilion Master show interest in a third-rate martial artist like me? Nheless, Myeong Ryu-San struggled with his aversion to poison.
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After a moment of indecision, his gaze drifted toward the campfire. Nam Soo-Ryun and Tang Mi-Ryeo sat before Jin Mu-Won, seemingly sharing a deep connection as they conversed. Nam Soo-Ryuns face, illuminated by the firelight, radiated extraordinary beauty.
For an instant, jealousy coursed through Myeong Ryu-San. Damn it, why cant a man live like that?
Finally, he made a choice. F-Fine, I ept.
Youve made the right choice. You wont regret it, Tang Gi-Mun assured him, patting his shoulder with a smile that resonated in the night sky.
Yes, I will be strong. Ill run free. Myeong Ryu-San clenched his teeth.
Tang Gi-Mun presented Myeong Ryu-San with a delicate porcin bottle. Drink.
Already?
You agreed, didnt you? A man should keep his word.
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Well, yes.
Go on, drink it without hesitation. Tang Gi-Mun handed him the bottle.
After a moments pause, Myeong Ryu-San closed his eyes tightly and gulped down the liquid, feeling a burning sensation in his throat, akin to consuming strong liquor.
Tang Gi-Mun observed him with curiosity. So, how does it feel?
Not very Keuak! Myeong Ryu-San suddenly clutched his stomach, writhing on the ground. Agonizing pain gripped him, as though a sharp scalpel were slicing through his abdomen.
Keuaaah! Myeong Ryu-San cursed Tang Gi-Mun as he rolled in pain.
Tang Gi-Mun watched, chuckling. How can one be strong without pain?
Proofreaders Note: Happy New Year! Double release to celebrate. Hope all of you have a great year ahead!
Chapter 138: Never Forget a Grudge, but Never Let It Rule Over You (4)
Chapter 138: Never Forget a Grudge, but Never Let It Rule Over You (4)
While Myeong Ryu-San was unconscious, Tang Gi-Mun inserted silver needles all over his body to treat him, turning him into a porcupine. When that was done, he then carefully withdrew the needles, leaving the Hundred Meetings Acupoint1 forst.
When the final needle was removed, Myeong Ryu-San awoke. For a moment, he blinked in confusion and the corners of his eyes twitched from the pain of being poked all over. However, when the initial wave of pain passed, he immediately lunged at Tang Gi-Mun, screaming like a banshee, You crazy bastard!
Yeah yeah, how do you feel?
Are you seriously asking me how I feel after doing that to me? You must really be a lunatic Myeong Ryu-San started toin, when suddenly, he shuddered mid-sentence and began to convulse. In a matter of seconds, Myeong Ryu-San was racked with unimaginable pain and looked as if he had just taken a tour of hell, with hollowed cheeks and dead eyes.
Since this is the first time, I only used a small amount of poison, but Ill gradually increase it as we go, Tang Gi-Mun chuckled, his tone ominous.
No! I wont take that poison! Myeong Ryu-San recoiled, a shiver coursing down his spine. The threshold of hell was not a ce he wished to revisit, even for the sake of learning martial arts.
Tang Gi-Muns smile widened, and an unsettling aura enveloped him. That poison you just took is highly addictive. Once you start, you cant stop.
What?
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You need subsequent doses to suppress the withdrawal effects of previous doses, Tang Gi-Mun exined casually.
That doesnt make any sense
Rest assured, I have made all the necessary arrangements so you dont have to worry about missing a dose.
How long do I have to continue taking this poison?
You can stop when your Qi has harmonized with it.
Y-Youre a devil! No, not just you, the schr guy and the violent guy, youre all devils! Myeong Ryu-Sans anguished cries resonated through the night sky.
At the northern tip of Guizhou Provincey an inhospitable region known as the Fiendish Mountains (), home to the infamous ck Soul Order (), the worlds foremost assassination organization. For over a century, the ck Soul Order expanded its power through assassination contracts, but despite its long history, little was known about the organizations inner workings, whether it was the number of assassins or the identity of its sect leader.
What was certain, however, was the deadly efficiency of the ck Soul Order. When summoned, it delivered with ruthless precision, leaving a trail of carnage in its wake. Numerous attempts by lesser sects to overthrow the ck Soul Order had resulted in heavy casualties, their forces overrun by agents who took advantage of the treacherous terrain of the Fiendish Mountains. For over a century, the ck Soul Order had flourished, building a stronghold and leaving a trail of blood that instilled fear, ensuring that no one in Guizhou would dare challenge them.
Deep within the Fiendish Mountains, a wooden bridge swayed precariously in the wind. It was known as the Bridge of Elegance (), and it symbolized the power of the ck Soul Order. No one crossed it without permission, and only those who carried heavenly riches were granted passage.
BANG! RUMBLE! CRASH!
The normally peaceful Bridge of Elegance erupted into chaos. Dozens of assassins swarmed a man dressed in bizarre garb and armed with an array of unconventional weapons. A towering figure with a seven-foot frame, he carried a spiked club and a wooden staff on his back, a serrated sword and a western scimitar at his waist, a coiled whip behind his back, and an unusual weapon of unknown use tied to his thigh.2
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He was the Fighting Maniac () Hyun Gong-Hwi, the most enigmatic member of the Seven Young Skies and the martial artist who used the most weapons in the world. Although his origins were shrouded in mystery, he was famous for his formidable strength, fiery personality, and addiction to fighting.
Hahahaha! heughed, delighted at his opponents decision to charge at him. Reaching behind him, he grabbed the spiked club and swung it repeatedly, cracking open skulls and leaving a gruesome trail of blood.
In response, the surviving assassins threw their hidden weapons, and Hyun Gong-Hwi countered with his whip, creating a formidable wall that deflected the projectiles with deadly force. Within moments, dozens of assassinsy in a heap, dead.
Oddly, no one screamed or made any noise during the entire fight, but despite the eeriness, Hyun Gong-Hwi crossed the Bridge of Elegance, leaving a trail of bloodied footprints.
Suddenly, a man dressed in ck martial arts attire confronted him. Masked, with only his eyes visible, the man exuded a powerful killing intent as he warned, Who are you? How dare you run amok in the ck Soul Orders domain? If you dont want to suffer the consequences of your foolishness, identify yourself now.
My name is Hyun Gong-Hwi.
Hyun Gong-Hwi? The brat who calls himself the Fighting Maniac?
Thats me, Hyun Gong-Hwi chuckled.
The man narrowed his eyes beneath the mask. Despite his condescending tone, he knew that Hyun Gong-Hwi, a member of the Seven Young Skies, was no pushover. Why are you here? he asked warily.
Because you asked me toe here?
Y arent you reading this at ?
What? The man was bewildered. He was Im Han-Gong, the head of the ck Soul Order, and all requests to the Order were subject to his approval. If someone from the Order summoned Hyun Gong-Hwi, Im Han-Gong would definitely know about it.
Je Yong-San! Hyun Gong-Hwi shouted, as if to ay Im Han-Gongs confusion.
Je Yong-San? Im Han-Gong savored the name briefly but soon frowned, recalling amission he had received days earlier: A thousand gold pieces for Je Yong-Sans head. After a brief investigation revealed that Je Yong-San was an orphan with no close friends or sect affiliations, he approved the request and dispatched seven assassins to end Je Yong-Sans life.
Grabbing the scimitar at his waist, Hyun Gong-Hwi confronted Im Han-Gong. Yong-San was my friend. Now do you know why I came to find you?
I see. Feeling the weight of Hyun Gong-Hwis killing intent, Im Han-Gong immediately regretted not researching Je Yong-San more thoroughly. Damn it, I thought he was a loner, but he was actually friends with this battle junkie? No matter, theres no going back now!
SWOOSH!
With a wave of his hand, Im Han-Gong summoned dozens of the ck Soul Orders highest-ranking assassins. Hyun Gong-Hwi was strong, but he couldnt back down. In the gangho, turning ones back to the enemy was the quickest way to invite death.
Eliminate him, hemanded.
As ordered, the assassins charged at Hyun Gong-Hwi in unison, wielding curved daggers.
CLANG!
A translucent barrier appeared around Hyun Gong-Hwi, repelling all the attacks.
A qi barrier? Im Han-Gong gasped in disbelief. How could someone merely in theirte twenties create a qi barrier?
Y arent you reading this at ?
KAKANG!
Hyun Gong-Hwi smoothly blocked the daggers with his scimitar and countered, taking down three assassins with one swipe. However, the assassins behind them immediately filled up the gap in the attack formation and threw their hidden weapons.
SWISH! SWOOSH! BOOM!
Hyun Gong-Hwi smoothly rotated through his arsenal of weapons, blocking attacks with the wooden staff, shing with the serrated sword and scimitar, smashing skulls with the spiked club, and tearing through flesh with the whip. In a brief moment, half of the assassins had fallen before his might.
Damn it! Im Han-Gong cursed, as he joined the fray. If he lost any more men, the ck Soul Order was as good as finished. He unleashed his sword technique, the Dexterous Crossed Swords, andunched a torrent of shes at Hyun Gong-Hwi.
As if his move was a signal, all of the remaining assassins attacked simultaneously,plementing his attack perfectly and leaving no gaps for Hyun Gong-Hwi to exploit or dodge.
Seeing this, Hyun Gong-Hwi exploded into a chaotic multi-weapon dance. The spiked club roared like a beast, the des ripped through bodies like ws, and the whip sneakily pounced upon unsuspecting prey like a venomous snake.
It wasnt long before the ck Soul Order was annihted, and Hyun Gong-Hwi crossed the Bridge of Elegance.
Y arent you reading this at ?
Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks. Three men were standing in his way. Who are you? he asked.
My name is Jwa Moon-Ho, and I came here to meet you, Mr. Hyun Gong-Hwi.
Jwa Moon-Ho? The Flying Eagle Swordsman? Hyun Gong-Hwis eyes lit up with interest.
Yes, thats me.
What do you want?
Do you wish to gain wings, Mr. Hyun?
Puzzled, Hyun Gong-Hwi shook his head.
-
The acupoint located at the very top of the head.
-
Hyun Gong-Hwi carries a mix of Asian and European weapons.
Chapter 139: Sometimes, Pride is Everything (1)
Chapter 139: Sometimes, Pride is Everything (1)
The Yangtze River, often hailed as the lifeblood of the Central ins, coursed swiftly through the region from east to west, serving as both the sustenance and the cradle of civilization despite periodic flooding. Countless boats and ships could be seen on the river, carrying a bustling procession of goods and travelers.
However, the colossal Yunmeng Marsh Riverboat, a ferry that regrly traveled between Chengdu in Sichuan and Wuhan in Hubei Province, towered above the rest.
As Jin Mu-Won and hispanions boarded the Yunmeng Marsh Riverboat, they were awed at the sheer size of the ship and the bustle of the passengers on board. It was apletely different experiencepared to the small boats they had traveled on before.
In particr, Jin Mu-Wons eyes gleamed with wonder. The ship was one thing, but never before had he encountered a river of such magnitude. If he didnt know better, he would have assumed that this was the sea.
Noticing his dumbstruck expression, Ha Jin-Wol smirked. Surprised? he quipped.
Yes, Jin Mu-Won admitted candidly.
Ha Jin-Wol hung his head, disappointed at Jin Mu-Wons boring reply. Youre no fun, but I guess its only natural youre surprised. The Yangtze is not merely a river, its the link between East and West and the barrier that divides Jiangnan and Jiangbei, fostering distinct cultures, lifestyles, and dialects. Theres even a saying that whoever controls the Yangtze rules all of the Central ins. Heavens Summits choice of location is no ident.
Read this at , or else.
Wuhan City, where Heavens Summit was located, stood as the convergence point of the Central ins, with a cultural development that surpassed even that of Chengdu. This fostered a deep sense of pride among its residents, and also elevated Heavens Summit to a lofty position above other murim sects.
In essence, Heavens Summits choice of Wuhan was strategic, driven by political motives.
Mmhmm.
As we venture deeper into Hubei Province along the Yangtze, the influence of Heavens Summit will dominate every aspect of our surroundings. Pedestrians, shopkeepers, even beggars and prostitutes could be their spies. Maintaining constant vignce will be crucial to evade detection, Ha Jin-Wol warned sharply, a departure from his usual nonchnce.
Jin Mu-Won nodded. He too understood the gravity of their situation. Hubei Province was akin to an enemy stronghold, where the slightest misstep could prove fatal. Henceforth, caution would be his constantpanion.
Heavens Summit. The weight of the name bore down on Jin Mu-Won, but he brushed it aside. Worrying served no purpose right now. What mattered was maintainingposure and vignce, ensuring that he could make a clear judgment in the face of any challenge.
Ha Jin-Wol smiled in approval. Jin Mu-Won had only wavered for a moment before pulling himself back together. This resilience was something he respected Jin Mu-Won for more than his martial prowess.
CREEEAAK!
With a loud creaking noise, the ship docked at a rest stop, and as many passengers disembarked as boarded the ship. Among the influx of neers were three familiar faces.
Jwa Moon-Ho and the Monochrome Twins. Didnt they get off at thest rest stop? I thought we were rid of them Wait, that strange young man carrying a variety of different weapons seems to be following them closely. Is he their newpanion? Jin Mu-Won observed.
As if sensing Jin Mu-Wons gaze, the heavily armed young man stared back at him. For a brief moment, sparks seemed to fly between the two men, but they quickly vanished when he noticed Jwa Moon-Ho walking toward Jin Mu-Wons group. He followed Jwa Moon-Ho, effortlessly cutting through the crowd with his imposing figure.
Jwa Moon-Ho smiled as he approached Nam Soo-Ryun and Tang Mi-Ryeo. So, we meet again, Miss Nam.
I can see that, Master Jwa, Nam Soo-Ryun replied matter-of-factly.
If youre seeing this, you are at the wrong ce.
Jwa Moon-Ho persisted, This cant be a coincidence, it must be fated.
Coincidences like this happen all the time, Nam Soo-Ryun countered.
Well Jwa Moon-Ho trailed off, deliberately leaving his words hanging, and turned toward Tang Mi-Ryeo, who stood beside Nam Soo-Ryun.
I dont think weve met before. Im Jwa Moon-Ho of the Three Rings Sword Sect, he introduced himself.
Tang Mi-Ryeo returned the greeting with a polite smile, though she felt a tinge of difort. In the end, she opted for the universal sped hands greeting between fellow martial artists and said curtly, Its a pleasure to meet you, Master Jwa. I am Tang Mi-Ryeo of the Tang n.
The Flower of Sichuan? Jwa Moon-Ho gasped, surprised. No wonder she has such an outstanding demeanor! She is most certainly a good candidate for the Azure Dragon Society.
My apologies for not recognizing you, Miss Tang, he added.
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Theres no need for that.
Will you give me a chance to make up for my earlier rudeness? Jwa Moon-Ho pressed.
You have nothing to apologize for, Master Jwa. Its true that weve never met before, Tang Mi-Ryeo rebuffed bluntly.
Her personality is just as bad as the bitch next to her. Jwa Moon-Hos eyes shed with anger, but he refrained from further antagonizing the twodies. He did not want any enmity between himself and the Mount Mu Sect or the Tang n, as they were both highly respected and powerful sects.
Instead, he opted to change the topic. Are there any other Tang n members aboard this ship? he asked.
Yes, my uncle is here, Tang Mi-Ryeo revealed.
Your uncle?
Tang Gi-Mun.
The Poison Pavilion Master!? Jwa Moon-Ho gasped in astonishment. The position and influence of the Tang ns Poison Pavilion Master was considerable. He hadnt expected such a formidable contingent to apany Nam Soo-Ryun. Where is Master Tang?
Hes in his cabinbut he is upied with urgent matters. Ill inform him of your presence when hees out.
I see, Jwa Moon-Ho acknowledged. He would have to concede his defeat for now.
The Monochrome Twins shot him bewildered looks. They couldnt understand why Jwa Moon-Ho was backing down. What was so scary about the Tang n that rarely left their Sichuan sanctuary? If the Tang n represented a reclusive giant, the Azure Dragon Society was a rising sun, radiating power and influence. There was nothing to fear.
You ought to read this at .
Suddenly, the heavily armed young man, who had remained silent, advanced, his eyes gleaming with a primal ferocity.
A chill ran down Nam Soo-Ryun and Tang Mi-Ryeos spines.
Like a predator, he scanned Nam Soo-Ryun from top to bottom, then growled, Hey. Bitch.
The unexpected hostility left everyone, including Jwa Moon-Ho and the Monochrome Twins, speechless.
Nam Soo-Ryuns eyes flickered with agitation. Are you talking to me?
Yes, you. I heard youre part of Seven Young Skies too.
Mister Hyun? Jwa Moon-Ho interjected, his voice tinged with panic, but Hyun Gong-Hwi remained undaunted.
Im Hyun Gong-Hwi. Youve heard of me, right?
You ought to read this at .
Nam Soo-Ryun nodded, recognizing the name from their shared affiliation with the Seven Young Skies.
A fierce glint lit up Hyun Gong-Hwis eyes. Ive often wondered if thosebeled as Seven Young Skies truly merit standing alongside me.
How arrogant.
Because I have the strength to back it up. Im not sure about you, though.
Anger simmered beneath Nam Soo-Ryuns calm exterior. Hyun Gong-Hwis open ridicule was too much even for her. Mister Hyun, I hope that you can maintain proper decorum when speaking to me.
I reserve manners only for those who deserve it. Want respect? Prove it.
Mister Hyun!
You chicken?
Before Nam Soo-Ryun could retort, a voice interjected, Of course not!
You ought to read this at .
Hyun Gong-Hwi turned toward the speaker, eyebrows furrowing at the unexpected interruption. Standing there, with an even more aggressive stance, was Myeong Ryu-San. Although his face was covered in bruises, his eyes burned with defiance as he met Hyun Gong-Hwis gaze.
Who the fuck are you? Hyun Gong-Hwi asked.
And who the fuck are you?
Myeong Ryu-Sans tone sounded a little hesitant, but it still caught Hyun Gong-Hwi off guard. Few had dared to address him so casually since hed earned the nickname Fighting Maniac. He scrutinized Myeong Ryu-San, noting his sloppy posture andckluster martial prowess. Hmph, hes just another third rate thug.
Myeong Ryu-San grit his teeth, enduring Hyun Gong-Hwis intense gaze. Although Hyun Gong-Hwis murderous intent frightened him, he could not back down. Not with Nam Soo-Ryun looking at him.
As a man, I cant embarrass myself in front of ady! Besides, this guy is nothingpared to that violent Jin Mu-Won and crazy poisoner Tang Gi-Mun!
Hey, answer me. Who the fuck are you to re threateningly at people and throw a tantrum, huh? Myeong Ryu-San boldly asked.
Throw a tantrum? Me?
Thats right!
SMACK!
In the blink of an eye, Hyun Gong-Hwi struck, sending Myeong Ryu-San reeling.
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Master Myeong! Nam Soo-Ryun cried, but no one answered her as Myeong Ryu-San slumped against the ferry railing, unconscious.
Nam Soo-Ryuns face flushed red with anger. Mister Hyun, resorting to lethal force against someone weaker is reprehensible.
Hmph, I was just teaching the ignorant fool a lesson.
Then perhaps Ill teach Mister Hyun a lesson too.
Oh? Great. Follow me. Hyun Gong-Hwi smirked in satisfaction. This was the response he sought.
With a great leap, hended on the riverbank and disappeared into the forest with Nam Soo-Ryun hot on his heels.
Tsk! Well, they did say he was uncontroble. Jwa Moon-Ho clicked his tongue, the scene unfolding far from his expectations. Still, leaving Hyun Gong-Hwi unchecked wasnt an option. He had to clean up this mess and take the battle maniac to Heavens Summit no matter what.
With the Monochrome Twins in tow, he trailed after Hyun Gong-Hwi.
As they departed, Jin Mu-Won approached the fallen Myeong Ryu-San. Tang Mi-Ryeo had already assessed his condition: the young man was battered but still wees you.
What a great fool. Sticking his nose where it doesnt belong is just asking for trouble, Ha Jin-Wol snorted. However, despite his harsh criticism of Myeong Ryu-San, the contempt and anger on his face betrayed his true feelings about Hyun Gong-Hwis senseless brutality. But this guy is tough enough to withstand it, he added, turning to Jin Mu-Won.
Thats good.
By the way, are you just going to stand there? Those bastards wont leave you alone after this.
I know. Im going after them now. With a slight smile, Jin Mu-Won exited the Yunmeng Marsh Riverboat, a faint glimmer of fury burning in his eyes.
Tang Mi-Ryeo watched him depart, her expression fraught with concern.
Trantors Note: Help, Im extremely addicted to Palworld and cant stop ying. Trantions will be slow until my addiction is cured
Chapter 141: Sometimes, Pride is Everything (3)
Chapter 141: Sometimes, Pride is Everything (3)
The Monochrome Twinss eyes widened in shock. It had been ages since theyst felt the pain of injury. Their skin, which was tougher than iron armor, had been sliced open, and blood was gushing out of the wounds like fountains.
What is this? Their minds raced toprehend the situation.
In front of them, blood slowly dripped from Jin Mu-Wons sword, Snow Flower, painting a surreal scene.
A look of disbelief settled on their faces as the truth sank in.
What sorcery is this? Kwan San-Woong blurted, unable to ept that his Cannon Body Art could be so easily neutralized. Its as if my many years of hard work were all for naught!
Jin Mu-Won remained silent, further stoking the Monochrome Twins fury.
Ignoring the throbbing pain in their arms, they charged at him once more like a pair of rampaging bears. However, like an immovable wall, he effortlessly parried their relentless attacks.
Theyre no match for him, Jwa Moon-Ho thought as he took a step forward.
Noticing his movement, Jin Mu-Won shot a nce at him.
Ugh! Jwa Moon-Ho froze. Jin Mu-Wons unyielding gaze seemed to prate to the core of his being, unraveling his thoughts with unnerving precision. He had the feeling that if he dared to attack the man, he would be cut to pieces in an instant.
This isSpiritual Pressure! The same technique that Nam Soo-Ryun used on the Twins! Just who the hell is he? Jwa Moon-Ho bit his lip, vexed.
SPURT!
Without taking his eyes off Jwa Moon-Ho, Jin Mu-Won continued to swing Snow Flower at the Twins, drawing blood over and over again as if their defenses were made of paper. His shes were light, almost yful, and left only shallow cuts as deep as fish gills.
Keuk! Yet, despite their tough skin and muscles, the Monochrome Twins couldnt help but groan at the stinging pain. For the first time, they realized how agonizingly painful even light wounds could be.
Shivers ran down their spines as a fear unlike any they had experienced before threatened to engulf them. If Jin Mu-Won had used Sword Qi or the more advanced Sword Flux to prate their Cannon Body Art, they wouldnt be this terrified, but no, he only used the simplest, most basic shes.
Who are you? Kwan San-Woong screamed, his voice was almost a wail as he faced the heartless, merciless demon before him.
However, his question hung in the air, unanswered, as Jin Mu-Won nonchntly continued his assault.
Is he the devil? Trembling, the Monochrome Twins retreated. Though their injuries werent severe, the blood loss had left them dizzy. They suspected that if they didnt pull back soon, death would im them.
To their relief, Jin Mu-Won did not pursue them. Instead, he turned his attention back to Nam Soo-Ryun and Hyun Gong-Hwi, who had resumed their duel and were engaged in fiercebat. His unspoken message was clear: he would not allow anyone to interfere in the two young warriors duel.
Jwa Moon-Hos eyebrows twitched. An extremely unpleasant sensation stirred his nerves ominously like a sharp de scraping against his bones, making him feel nauseous. A mysterious swordsman in reddish-brown clothes who uses an unusual sword technique No way, could he be the rumored Northern de?
From what hed heard, the Northern de was a rising star of the murim with skills that rivaled the Seven Young Skies. Up until now, however, he had thought that the mans strength was overrated, as rumors tended to be.
Are you the Northern de? he asked.
Jin Mu-Won did not reply, only nce at him.
I guessed right, Jwa Moon-Ho concluded. Those rumors were not the least bit exaggerated. This man is indeed at least equal to the Seven Young Skies, and maybe even
What should I do about him? For a moment, Jwa Moon-Ho considered inviting Jin Mu-Won to the Azure Dragon Society, but no matter how hard he tried to imagine it, he had a feeling that Jin Mu-Won was not someone who would fit in with them.
He eyed Jin Mu-Won as if he wanted to tear him to pieces. Are you nning to get in the Azure Dragon Societys way? he warned.
Does Mr. Dam know about this? Jin Mu-Won answered the question with one of his own, looking soposed that it made one wonder if he was the same person who had just relentlessly attacked the Monochrome Twins.
What? Does he know Dam Soo-Cheon? If thats true, hes much more dangerous that I thought!
The Lone Star of the Azure Sky I know is a dignified martial artist. He would never stoop to such cowardly acts. Think carefully, does your current course of action align with his intentions?
Well Jwa Moon-Ho hesitated, caught off guard.
Jin Mu-Wons gaze turned icy. It seems that you took it upon yourself to do this without the Lone Star of the Azure Skys knowledge. I wonder how hell react when he finds out.
Guh Jwa Moon-Ho grimaced. Jin Mu-Wons words felt like daggers, mercilessly piercing his pride. He wanted to retort, but he couldnt risk saying the wrong thing after witnessing how Jin Mu-Won had dealt with the Monochrome Twins.
BOOM!
Suddenly, an explosion erupted behind Jin Mu-Won, creating a powerful gust of wind that made their clothes p noisily.
All eyes immediately turned toward the uproar, only to see Nam Soo-Ryun and Hyun Gong-Hwi kneeling on one knee each, their gazes locked in a silent battle. Nam Soo-Ryunsplexion was pale as paper, while Hyun Gong-Hwis face was flushed red, forming a stark contrast.
Fuck! Hyun Gong-Hwi snarled through clenched teeth, angry and humiliated at the fact that Nam Soo-Ryun was still on equal footing with him in spite of his best efforts.
Nam Soo-Ryun slowly rose to her feet. She wanted to scream in frustration but held back, refusing to show weakness, at least not to Hyun Gong-Hwi.
Hyun Gong-Hwi was of the same mind. He pumped power into his muscles, mustering the strength to stand tall. His pride would not allow him to show the slightest hint of inferiority.
Im not finished yet. Dont even think about running, bitch.
Dont worry, I have no intention of doing that, Master Hyun.
Neither of them backed down, even though their bodies were battered and furtherbat would endanger their lives Until suddenly, like puppets whose strings have been cut, they both reached their limits and copsed almost simultaneously, with Hyun Gong-Hwi crumbling like a sandcastle and Nam Soo-Ryun toppling to the side.
Jin Mu-Won rushed over and gently caught Nam Soo-Ryun before she hit the ground, then swiftly applied pressure to her acupuncture points to stem the bleeding. It was then that he understood why she was one of the Seven Young Skies.
Her situation was so dire, he could hardly believe that she had continued to fight with a body in that state.
She, too, is a martial artist who lives by the sword. Beneath her prim and proper demeanor, shes a fierce warrior.
He couldnt help but respect her.
Still, she needed immediate medical attention, and fortunately, he had two trustedpanions who were well-versed in medicine. He carefully scooped her up into his arms and walked toward the Yunmeng Marsh Riverboat.
Jwa Moon-Ho and the Monochrome Twins, who stood in his way, unconsciously stepped aside and watched him depart.
By the time they came to their senses, he was already gone.
Grr! What a disgrace Mark my words, I will definitely have my revenge! Jwa Moon-Ho exploded with frustration. When have I ever experienced such humiliation? When was thest time I was so overwhelmed by one person that I becamepletely helpless?
Next to him, the Monochrome Twins said nothing. Unlike Jwa Moon-Ho, who had only been subjected to Spiritual Pressure, they had faced Jin Mu-Won directly and were still haunted by the fear Jin Mu-Won had instilled in them.
Jin Mu-Won hastily handed Nam Soo-Ryun over to a startled Tang Gi-Mun, who immediately tended to her wounds. Thankfully, thebination of his skilled first aid and Tang Gi-Muns medical expertise was sufficient to save her life.
As Nam Soo-Ryun rested and recovered, Tang Mi-Ryeo faithfully remained by her side.
Ha Jin-Wol, having heard the entire ount from Jin Mu-Won, clicked his tongue knowingly. Even though Dam Soo-Cheon founded the Azure Dragon Society with noble intentions, not all its members share his vision. Moreover, his solitary training regimen has left the Society vulnerable to ambitious fools like Jwa Moon-Ho.
Jin Mu-Won nodded solemnly, casting his gaze skyward.
I have a feeling that it wont be long before I reunite with the Lone Star of the Azure Sky.
His precognition was usually correct.
Chapter 142: Sometimes, Pride is Everything (4)
Chapter 142: Sometimes, Pride is Everything (4)
Behind a group of martial artists serving as escorts, a caravan consisting of dozens of heavy wagons trekked across a vast desert. Atop the lead wagon of the procession, arge g bearing the words Silver Horse Merchant Association fluttered in the breeze.
The Silver Horse Merchant Association was one of the Ten Great Companies and amassed immense wealth primarily through trade with the western regions. Such ventures usuallysted from several months to more than a year, so their caravans were always loaded with cargo and personnel.
A thickyer of white dust settled on the roofs of the wagons, while the riders atop the horses bore gray-tinged heads and shoulders, testimony to the long journey they had endured.
Phew! exhaled the man driving at the front, unwinding the cloth from his face. With the rush of cold air, vitality surged back into his features. Appearing to be in his mid-thirties, he boasted a thick beard covering his cheeks and jaw, yet exuded an overall handsome wees you.
His name was Yoo Jang-Hwan, and he was the leader of this caravan and the heir to the Silver Horse Merchant Association. Having traveled to and from the western regions for over twenty years since the age of fifteen, he had sacrificed his youth and even missed the window for marriage, but he had no regrets about dedicating himself to shaping the associations future.
In the distance, the blue waves of Lop Nur Lake shimmered, signaling an end to the sea of sand.
Yoo Jang-Hwan remarked, Starting next year, lets send Jang-Pyeong on these trips instead. Im not as spry as I used to be.
Haha! I doubt the second young master will be able to withstand such a harsh expedition! the middle-aged Head Escort beside himughed.
Returning from the Western Regions after nearly eight months, their eyes shone with longing for home. The distance from Lop Nur Lake to the Central ins was not far, and despite their fatigue, the prospect of setting foot on the treasured soil of the Central ins made their expressions brighter than ever.
Yoo Jang-Hwan expressed gratitude to the weary convoy, Everyone, youve all worked hard! Well camp at Lop Nur Lake tonight, so bear with it a little longer! Once we enter the Central ins, Ill reward you handsomely!
I miss the women of the Central ins!
Ill rent out an entire brothel! Pick any woman you fancy!
Wahaha!
The martial artists burst intoughter at Yoo Jang-Hwans response, knowing he would deliver on his promises. This journey had been especially profitable, and the rewards would be greater than usual. Just the thought of fattening their pockets made them feel secure.
The headquarters of the Silver Horse Merchant Association was located in Hubei Province. Although they had to travel for nearly a month after entering the Central ins, the journey was nowhere near as arduous and lonely as crossing the desert.
Y arent you reading this at ?
For rest and refreshment, the Silver Horse Merchant Association always made a pit stop at Xinjiangs Lop Nur Lake during their annual journey. Despite theck of proper amodations due to the low traffic and remoteness of the region, the freedom to bathe in theke made up for the inconvenience.
The thought of bathing freely after such a long time quickened their pace, and they soon arrived at Lop Nur Lake. One of thergestkes in the region, Lop Nur Lake was vast, its beauty enhanced by the surrounding t desert terrain that stretched endlessly into the horizon. Still, it was difficult to find ces where more than a hundred people and dozens of wagons could rest at the same time, but since they had camped here many times before, they knew the perfect spot.
Unfortunately, someone had arrived at their camping spot before them.
Hmm! Yoo Jang-Hwan furrowed his brow.
Seated alone by a campfire, a girl who appeared barely sixteen tended to the mes. With strikingly pale skin, sharp ck eyes, and crimson lips, she exuded an otherworldly aura, her blue-tinged hair fluttering in the wind.
"Ahh! The men marveled at the girl. She wasnt just beautiful, she emitted a mesmerizing atmosphere that stirred the hearts of those around her.
However, the girl, Eun Han-Seol, paid them no heed. Her gaze remained fixed on the zing campfire, the mes casting shadowy patterns on her mysterious face.
Ahem! Some of the men involuntarily cleared their throats.
Eun Han-Seol shot them a nce, but no one dared to meet her gaze.
Yoo Jang-Hwan stepped forward. With uncharacteristic politeness and sincerity, he said, Greetings, Miss. I am Yoo Jang-Hwan, the leader of this caravan belonging to the Silver Horse Merchant Association. This is where we usually camp, but you seem to have arrived first. If its not too much trouble, would you allow us to share this space?
Eun Han-Seol scrutinized him silently.
Yoo Jang-Hwan immediately felt an inexplicable sense of inferiority and insecurity. His extraordinary insight and long experience in the gangho told him that Eun Han-Seol was anything but ordinary. Who could this girl be? Shes undoubtedly a seasoned traveler and adventurer.
Finally, Eun Han-Seol nodded.
Yoo Jang-Hwan sighed in relief. Thank you, Miss. I will definitely repay this kindness.
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He ordered his men to prepare for the night, and they sprang into action. Being seasoned travelers, they worked quickly, building campfires, hanging pots for cooking, and fetching water from theke for meal preparation. As a reward, Yoo Jang-Hwan even unsealed several barrels of wine for the party. The quietkeside soon buzzed with activity.
Eun Han-Seol sat in silence, observing theughter and chatter around her. The mens faces glowed with happiness despite their unkempt appearance from days on the road. Theyughed, shared food, and swapped stories to the clinking of wine cups. It all seemed so alien to her.
Why are they so happy? I dont understand Was I always like this? Over thest decade, she felt that she was bing increasingly impervious to outside stimuli, as if her mind had be an isted ind,pletely cut off from outside influences. Thats why, although she could intellectually understand why others were happy, she could no longer emotionally empathize.
Yoo Jang-Hwan approached Eun Han-Seol with a modest bowl of porridge that looked too crude for a dainty youngdy. He felt a little guilty that this was the best he could offer, but still smiled awkwardly and asked, Miss, would you like some? It looks like you havent eaten anything.
Eun Han-Seol looked at the porridge. It certainly didnt look like much, but it was filled with various ingredients, enough to make a bnced meal. Thank you, Ill eat it, she finally said, taking the bowl from Yoo Jang-Hwan.
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Her voice surprisingly pleasant to Yoo Jang-Hwans ears. It wasnt a melodious voice like the tinkling of bells, but it had a deep, moist quality to it.
Eun Han-Seol cautiously sniffed the porridge for a moment, then dug in.
Yoo Jang-Hwan grew intrigued. Where did this girle from? Theres no sign of civilization for miles, only deste deserts and thick forests prowled by wolves. Can a young girl really survive this terrain alone? No, is she really alone?
Guesses about Eun Han-Seols identity filled his mind. His years as a merchant had taught him to be wary of mysterious strangers, many of whom were dangerous people. To make matters worse, having spent eight months in the Western Regions, he was out of touch with the affairs of the Central ins and had little knowledge of recent events.
Carefully, he inquired, Do you have anypanions?
If youre seeing this, you are at the wrong ce.
Eun Han-Seol nodded.
Then, where are you headed?
The Central ins.
Yoo Jang-Hwans eyes lit up. How far into the Central ins?
Hubei.
Well! It seems our paths align.
Eun Han-Seol stopped eating and looked at Yoo Jang-Hwan. Are you also heading there?
Yes. Our headquarters are in Wuhan, Hubei Province. We are returning there after a long trip to the Western Regions. Anyway, crossing the Central ins alone can be quite challenging. If you dont mind, would you consider joining us?
Why show me such kindness?
You remind me of my youngest brother, who is around your age. If he was in your situation, I would go mad with worry.
Read this at , or else.
Eun Han-Seol stared at Yoo Jang-Hwan intently. Your youngest brother she murmured under her breath. Well, theres no need to tell him my real age.
She nodded. Thank you, I ept.
Alright. We will set out tomorrow morning. Also, may I ask one thing?
Of course.
Why are you going to the Central ins?
You dont have to answer if its inconvenient. Im just asking out of curiosity.
If youre seeing this, you are at the wrong ce.
Eun Han-Seols gaze drifted to the darkenedke where the moonlight shimmered more beautifully than ever. In the dancing light, she felt as if she could see the face of the person from her memories.
There is someone I must meet there.
Her voice carried on the breeze across theke.
Overwhelmed by her aura, Yoo Jang-Hwan fell silent. Someone she must meet, huh
Chapter 143: Recurring Nightmares (1)
Chapter 143: Recurring Nightmares (1)
Seo Mu-Sang stepped out of the Spotless Inn after a long stay and looked at the imposing silhouette of Heavens Summit in the distance. As the leader of the Inquisition, he usually acted independently, but today was one of the rare asions when he had to report directly to headquarters.
He strode through Heavens Vige, his mind buzzing with information. The crowds he passed included a mix of ordinary folk and skilled martial artists, but hed memorized most of their profiles.
The Green River desman Yoo Ka-Ryang, primarily active in Henan Province. The rising star, September Sword Devil Kang Yoo from Fujian Province.
Their presence, along with that of numerous other martial artists, cast an undeniable tension over Heavens Vige. Desperate for any information regarding the Demon Hunters selection, they ended up disrupting the lives of manymoners.
Tsk! Seo Mu-Sang clicked his tongue. Naive fools. They dont seem to realize how unjust the world is. Everyone who has a chance to join the Demon Hunters has already been informed about the selection test.
Halt! a young guard posted at the majestic Heavenly Bridge, the entrance to Heavens Summit, shouted as Seo Mu-Sang approached.
In response, Seo Mu-Sang pulled out the simple bronze badge of an external affiliate and presented it as proof of his identity.
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You may proceed. The guard motioned for Seo Mu-Sang to pass.
Crossing the bridge, Seo Mu-Sang felt like he was entering another world. The grandeur of Heavens Summit was unimaginable, with luxurious pavilions, soaring towers, and streets thronging with the worlds most powerful martial artists.
However, this air of freedom reminiscent of the wealthy city of Chengdu was nothing more than an illusion. The segregation of people by status was absolute, and trespassing outside ones designated zones was a crime punishable by death. Even visitors from the major sects were not exempt from this rule, prompting sect leaders to select their representatives with care.
Taking in his surroundings, Seo Mu-Sang quickened his pace and entered the western street. Save for his stint in the Northern Army Fortress, he had spent a significant portion of his youth here, so he knew the route to his destination well.
As he approached a restricted area, he pulled out a different, much more ornate badge than the one he had used to cross the Heavenly Bridge.
Hey, you! a gruff voice suddenly called out to him.
Seo Mu-Sang let out a sigh. This voice was one he knew all too well, yet it brought him no joy. Turning around, he confirmed his suspicion. In front of him stood a grizzled man a few years older than him, dressed in crimson martial attire and armed with an impressive de, exuding power and authority.
Jang Pae-San. Seo Mu-Sangs eyes hardened at the sight of his former superior.
However, Jang Pae-San took no notice of Seo Mu-Sangs cold and resentful expression. Hahaha! Long time no see, Vice-Captain, heughed boisterously.
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How have you been all these years?
Seo Mu-Sang couldnt bring himself to answer. This was the traitor who had deserted hisrades and run away alone seven years ago. Moreover, even though they often passed each other after his return to Heavens Summit, Jang Pae-San had always pretended he was invisible and ignored him.
As if all this wasnt bad enough, after sucking up to Shim Won-Yi, Jang Pae-San had steadily risen through the ranks of Heavens Summit and currently held the esteemed position of Captain of the Enforcement Squad, an elite force that was given autonomy to oversee various crucial missions.
It disgusted him. This was the one man he could never forgive.
Hey, when someone asks about your well-being, you should respond.
Thanks to you, Ive been doing well.
Is that so? d to hear it.
So? Whats the matter?
Someone is looking for you.
Me?
Yes. Its fortunate that our paths crossed, because I was about to send someone to look for you. Come with me.
Im afraid I cant at the moment.
Jang Pae-San raised an eyebrow. Why not?
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Im here on official business. I need to submit my report to the higher-ups before doing anything else.
Hmph! Its just a silly report. Stop making excuses and follow me. The person who summoned you will handle the repercussions, Jang Pae-San snorted, then started walking away, fully expecting Seo Mu-Sang to follow him.
Seo Mu-Sang hesitated for a moment before trailing after Jang Pae-San. Someone wants to see me? Who could it be? Until now, Ive mostly kept to myself as I slowly crawled my way up the ranks.
Jang Pae-San led Seo Mu-Sang through multipleyers of security to a secluded area of Heavens Summit.
Was there such a ce? Seo Mu-Sang thought himself familiar with theyout of Heavens Summit, but even he had never been here before.
Were here, Jang Pae-San finally said, entering a building.
Y arent you reading this at ?
Seo Mu-Sang narrowed his eyes. His senses warned him about a number of concealed figures nearby. He surveyed the surroundings instinctively, preparing for any eventuality. One, two twelve? No, fourteen. Theyre good. If I didnt have my guard up, I wouldnt have noticed them.
For thest seven years, he had lived on the edge, where the smallest slip-up would have cost him his life. Every breath he took, anxiety and worry threatened to ovee him. The only reason he could keep going until now was because he had an example to look up to, his liege, Jin Mu-Won. Taking a leaf out of Jin Mu-Wons book, hed learned to grit his teeth and soldier on even while maintaining constant vignce.
Halting in front of arge room door, Jang Pae-San announced, Miss, its Jang Pae-San. Ive brought the Head Inquisitor as instructed.
Enter, a woman replied. As if in response to her verbalmand, the door automatically swung open.
Jang Pae-San and Seo Mu-Sang stepped into the room. The interior wasvishly furnished, with ancient vases, intricately carved furniture, and a tiger skin rug adorning the space. A massive desk of red sandalwood dominated the room, and a young woman sat behind it, perusing a book.
Long time no see. Has it truly been seven years? the woman said, standing up.
Yes, it has, Seo Mu-Sang said, recognizing her immediately. She looks older and more mature than when Ist saw her but theres no way I can mistake her for someone else. Not Seomoon Hye-Ryung.
I had every intention to meet you earlier, but time eluded me. My apologies.
No need for apologies. Why did you summon me?
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Hmm, were you always so impatient?
Well, much time has passed. Seven years can change a person considerably.
I understand. Seven years is indeed substantial.
Seomoon Hye-Ryung smiled, a dagger-like sharpness shing in her eyes as she tried to dissect Seo Mu-Sangs intentions from his every word and action. Once, such a feat would have been a challenge for her, but now it seemed almost effortless.
Seo Mu-Sang remained silent, feigning ignorance. If it was the past me, I would have fallen right into her trap and given her all the information she desired.
I called upon you, Head Inquisitor, to ask you about something, Seomoon Hye-Ryung continued.
What might that be?
Jin Mu-Won.
I knew it. Good thing I anticipated this in advance, or I might have inadvertently let something slip. Seo Mu-Sang sighed inwardly with relief, even as he outwardly maintained hisposure.
A flicker of surprise briefly crossed Seomoon Hye-Ryungs face. She had anticipated some reaction from Seo Mu-Sang upon hearing Jin Mu-Wons name, but the man didnt reveal even the subtlest muscle twitch or a change in expression. Have you heard this name recently? she pressed.
Of course I have. The Northern de Jin Mu-Won is quite the hot topic in the gangho nowadays.
Do you think he could he be the same Jin Mu-Won from the Northern wees you.
How is that possible? That child perished seven years ago.
But you didnt see his corpse, did you?
No, Im just assuming that he died since I didnt see him escaping from the burning fortress.
So you think the Northern de is just someone with the same name?
Yes.
Seomoon Hye-Ryung furrowed her brow in disappointment. This was not the answer she wanted to hear.
Do you have any other questions for me? Seo Mu-Sang asked.
Are you that busy? You give me the impression that you just want to quickly end this conversation and leave.
Thats not it
Im sorry for taking up your valuable time, Head Inquisitor, Seomoon Hye-Ryung stated firmly, her voice now tinged with frost.
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At the same time, in a corner of the room, Jang Pae-San started exuding a faint but unmistakable hostility.
Seo Mu-Sang, however, remainedposed. I apologize if Ive offended you. I truly thought it was nothing significant, but if you
No, dont bother. Ive asked everything I wanted to ask, Seomoon Hye-Ryung dered, waving her hand in dismissal.
Seo Mu-Sang bid her farewell with a slight bow, then left the room.
When the door mmed shut once more, Jang Pae-San broke the silence. Miss, shall I take care of him for you?
Although he wasmitted to Shim Won-Yi, it was never his style to put all his eggs in one basket, and Seomoon Hye-Ryung was a promising candidate with whom he could establish good rtions.
However, Seomoon Hye-Ryung shook her head. No, instead, assign him an assistant.
You mean to monitor him?
Yes. He doesnt seem to be lying, but hes also not telling the whole truth. For now, he remains our primary surveince target.
Understood, Jang Pae-San acknowledged, bowing deeply.
Seomoon Hye-Ryungs gaze drifted outside the window. My analysis clearly showed that Seo Mu-Sang is the one who is constantly obstructing the investigation of Jin Mu Won and dismissing the importance of it. Something is definitely fishy about him! In particr, his calmness is too unnatural, and his unwillingness to engage in small talk or spend too much time conversing with me is suspicious
Chapter 144: Recurring Nightmares (2)
Chapter 144: Recurring Nightmares (2)
Standing on the deck, Nam Soo-Ryun slowly flexed her wrist, followed by her ankles and waist. Her injuries still hurt a little, but the pain was manageable. Overall, she felt much better. Thebination of Tang Gi-Muns dedicated treatment, her own willpower, and her profound inner arts had all contributed to her incredibly quick recovery.
A few more days and Ill be back to normal, she thought.
Are you sure its okay for you to be out here? Uncle said you should rest for a few more days, Tang Mi-Ryeo asked, smiling warmly as she approached.
Im fine. Staying inside was too stifling, and I feel better outside. Im almost fully recovered anyway, Nam Soo-Ryun replied.
Thats good to hear.
The bond between the two young women had deepened considerably over the past few days. Throughout Nam Soo-Ryuns bed rest, Tang Mi-Ryeo had stayed by her side, nursing her diligently and sharing her innermost thoughts. Naturally, they soon became fast friends.
Tang Mi-Ryeo stood next to Nam Soo-Ryun and silently watched the flowing river.
Suddenly, Nam Soo-Ryun began, That man
Puzzled, Tang Mi-Ryeo turned to look at her.Are you in love with him?
Tang Mi-Ryeo didnt answer.
Of course you are, Nam Soo-Ryun continued as if she could read her friends mind. Buthe has someone else in his heart.
Y arent you reading this at ?
I know
In Nam Soo-Ryuns eyes, Jin Mu-Won was a man like a stubborn rock. Once he set his heart on someone, his love would never waver, nor would he be swayed by external temptations.
It was too bad that Tang Mi-Ryeo wasnt the one who met him first. If that had happened, things might have turned out differently.
Well, theres no point in dwelling on what-ifs. The fact is, Jin Mu-Won is already in love with someone else. Theres no way this will end well for Mi-Ryeo.
Nam Soo-Ryun sighed. She wanted to talk her friend out of this one-sided crush of hers. Tang Mi-Ryeo deserved a less painful love.
You will only get hurt, she warned.
Tang Mi-Ryeo smiled instead of replying.
Nam Soo-Ryun fell silent, realizing that her words were useless against that serene smile.
The human brain may be rational, but the heart is not. Foreseeing the thorny path ahead for her friend, Nam Soo-Ryun felt a pang of sadness.
Noticing this, Tang Mi-Ryeo spoke as if tofort her, Im fine, so dont worry too much about me. In time, Ill sort out my feelings naturally.
Mmhmm.
Yes Time will take care of everything Tang Mi-Ryeo whispered.
Nam Soo-Ryun watched her silently. Jin Mu-Won. A man shrouded in mystery, known only by his alias, the Northern de. A man who influences the fate of everyone he meets. How far will he go?
The gangho was an unforgiving ce. It never left those who defied it unscathed.
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BANG!
Suddenly, Myeong Ryu-San burst out from the door leading to the cabins. The skin on his face had darkened unnaturally and he was foaming at the mouth.
Ughhhh! he groaned in agony, rolling around violently on the deck.
rmed, Nam Soo-Ryun and Tang Mi-Ryeo immediately started to approach him, but Tang Gi-Mun, who was following Myeong Ryu-San along with Jin Mu-Won and Ha Jin-Wol, stopped them.
Uncle? Tang Mi-Ryeo asked confused.
To her surprise, Tang Gi-Mun clicked his tongue. Tsk! Was the poison too strong? The effect is more intense than before.
Hyung-nim, if youre not careful, you might identally kill an innocent person, Ha Jin-Wol added with a slight frown.
Hmm Tang Gi-Mun fell into deep thought as he watched Myeong Ryu-San writhing in pain. At first, he hadnt liked the young man very much, but after spending a few days with him, Myeong Ryu-San seemed to have somewhat grown on him.
As a result, he felt a pang of guilt for putting Myeong Ryu-San in his current state. His disciple had adapted to the poison better than expected, to the point where he had begun to develop drug resistance. For this reason, Tang Gi-Mun had given him a much higher dosage of the poison instead of gradually increasing it as he had originally nned.
The result was this. Even though Myeong Ryu-San tended to exaggerate his pain, this time, his convulsions and suffering were real.
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Is there no way to ease his pain? Jin Mu-Won asked.
It would be great if there was, Tang Gi-Mun replied. Unfortunately, there isnt, so hell have to ovee it himself. Still, once he gets through this ordeal, his inner arts will improve dramatically.
Jin Mu-Won nodded. I see.
Yeah, so hang in there, you rascal. Dont worry, itll be easier next time.
You crazy bastard! What the fuck are you talking about? Next time? What next time? Im going to die! Damn you, you Myeong Ryu-San screamed at the top of his lungs while rolling on the floor. He then unleashed a barrage of curses at Tang Gi-Mun, insulting everyone from Tang Gi-Muns immediate family to his cousins and distant rtives.
Some timeter, his muscle spasms began to subside.
Hmm, looks like the seizure is almost over. Tang Gi-Mun closed his eyes and checked Myeong Ryu-Sans pulse. After a long examination, he looked at Jin Mu-Won.
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Do you want me to take a look? Jin Mu-Won asked, catching the hint.
Tang Gi-Mun nodded.
Jin Mu-Won stepped forward and put his hand on Myeong Ryu-San. Instead of checking his pulse like Tang Gi-Mun did, he injected Shadow Qi into Myeong Ryu-Sans body.
Oh? Jin Mu-Wons eyes shone with interest.
Tang Gi-Mun smiled. Can you feel it?
Yes.
Inside Myeong Ryu-Sans body, Jin Mu-Won detected an unusually sticky and dark energy that resisted his shadow qi. Although the energy was weak enough that Jin Mu-Won could dissipate it whenever he wanted, the fact that poison-based qi was building up inside Myeong Ryu-San was significant.
It seems like this guy has a unique constitution. I cant believe that he was able to absorb the poison and convert it into his own inner qi so quickly, Tang Gi-Mun eximed, smiling broadly and instantly forgetting all the pain and suffering he had put Myeong Ryu-San through. In the end, what mattered more was that his harsh training method was now proven to work, and that Myeong Ryu-San had an interesting physical constitution.
Grinning, Tang Gi-Mun lifted Myeong Ryu-San onto his shoulder and walked back to the cabin, muttering, I will definitely make you a master.
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At Tang Gi-Muns almost maniacal voice, Ha Jin-Wol shook his head. We should pray for that guys soul. Of all people, he had to arouse Hyung-nims interest, tsk tsk.
Jin Mu-Won nodded in agreement.
Despite their worries, though, none of them thought of stopping Tang Gi-Mun. Even if the training was questionable, Myeong Ryu-Sans martial arts skills were improving at a remarkable rate, although he was still far from being able to challenge Jin Mu-Won.
Jin Mu-Won smiled as he turned his attention to a dock in the distance. This was the next stop of the Yunmeng Marsh Riverboat, and many people were waiting there to board the boat. However, in spite of the crowd, an unusual silence hung over the scene.
The reason was a group of Taoists carrying swords at their waists. Though quiet, their overwhelming presence and sharp auras like well-honed des exerted immense pressure on those around them, so much so that the merchants on the dock immediately recognized them.
Why arent you reading this at ?
They were the swordsmen of the Mount Hua Sect, one of the Nine Great Sects that had produced thousands of martial arts experts over the centuries. Even now, the Mount Hua Sect dominated the Shaanxi Province and was generally considered to be the pinnacle of Taoist sects, second only to the Wudang Sect.
A middle-aged Taoist, seemingly in his mid-forties, stood at the center of the group. Although he was a bit chubby, his eyes were keen and alert. He was the Seven Star Sage, a master of the Mount Hua Sects signature sword technique, the Plum Blossom Sword, and an esteemed elder of the sect.
The Seven Star Sage looked at the young Taoists around him. As an elder, his role was to guide and protect these talented first and second generation disciples as they participated in the Demon Hunters selection and gained experience.
With ages ranging from early twenties tote thirties, they represented the future of Mount Hua Sect, with the three first-generation disciples being groomed for leadership positions, while the seven second-generation disciples were the most skilled of the new generation.
Junior Uncle, the boat ising, said a Taoist in his mid-thirties named Chang Woon, pointing to the approaching Yunmeng Marsh Riverboat. He was a first-generation disciple of the Mount Hua Sect, known for his exceptional talent among those with Chang in their names. However, even though his martial arts skills were among the best, he didnt have a significant position yet due to his young age. Nevertheless, no one in the Mount Hua Sect dared to disrespect him.
Indeed! Have you checked the tickets?
Yes, they are all for first-ss seats.
Everyone, gather your belongings and stay within two steps of the group.
Yes!
Chang Hye and Chang Gung, also first generation disciples, led the second generation disciples in preparing to board the Yunmeng Marsh Riverboat. Although their martial arts skills were slightly inferior to Chang Woons, they were considered superior in judgment and adaptability.
The second-generation disciples looked at the approaching riverboat with sparkling eyes. Even though they were in their twenties, this was the first time they had left the Mount Hua Sect since they began their martial arts training, so they were extremely excited.
Finally, the Yunmeng Marsh Riverboat docked and people began to board, with the martial artists from Mount Hua Sect being thest in line.
The young disciples, who had never been on such a big boat before, couldnt hide their amazement at the huge deck.
The Seven Star Sage smiled faintly as he watched the disciples. At their age, he had also been unable to hide his curiosity.
Suddenly, he spotted a middle-aged man stepping out from the cabin door. Hmm? Isnt he? he muttered, furrowing his brow.
Chapter 145: Recurring Nightmares (3)
Chapter 145: Recurring Nightmares (3)
After calming down Myeong Ryu-San, Tang Gi-Mun stepped back out onto the deck. However, the moment he caught sight of a middle-aged Taoist, his expression soured. He knew this man.
Seven Star? he asked pointedly.
The Seven Star Sage red at Tang Gi-Mun. Hmph! So even the Tang n is here?
Even to onlookers, it was obvious that the two men were not on good terms. The sparks of animosity flying between them were almost visible.
The Seven Star Sage approached Tang Gi-Mun, his presence as sharp as a de. Its been a while, Gi-Mun.
About ten years, I guess.
You disappeared for so long, I thought you were dead, but here you are, still alive.
So youre leading the disciples of the Mount Hua Sect now? I hope you wont repeat the mistakes of the past.
If youre seeing this, you are at the wrong ce.How dare you! the Seven Star Sage shouted. His face darkened with anger, and his aura intensified.
The Mount Hua Sect disciples were confused, but they quickly stood behind the Seven Star Sage. They didnt know why he was upset, but he was their elder and leader. They had to support him.
Under thebined aura of several expert martial artists, Tang Gi-Muns face paled. Although he was a master of poisons and medicine, he wasnt skilled in martial arts, so physically, he was no different from an ordinary man.
All of a sudden, someone ced a hand on Tang Gi-Muns shoulder and sent a wave of soothing energy through him, relieving him of the pressure.
Thank you, Mu-Won. Tang Gi-Mun said.
Without alerting anyone, Jin Mu-Won had quietly approached Tang Gi-Mun and helped him.
The Seven Star Sages eyes gleamed. The pressure he exerted wasnt something ordinary martial artists could withstand, yet Jin Mu-Won had effortlessly helped Tang Gi-Mun ovee it. This was no small feat. Who are you? he asked.
Im hispanion, Jin Mu-Won replied.
Hmph! The Seven Star Sage didnt hide his displeasure at Jin Mu-Wons curt answer. Proper introductions in the martial world required one to state ones sect and name, especially when addressing an elder of higher stature.
Gi-Mun, it seems that yourpanion doesnt know what manners are.
Pfft! Who do you think you are to deserve respect?
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I guess birds of a feather flock together. Ill be on my way to the cabin now. If you see me again, we dont know each other. With a cold expression, the Seven Star Sage turned and left for the lower decks, his disciples following.
Tang Gi-Mun clicked his tongue in annoyance, Tsk tsk! That shitty temper of his hasnt changed at all.
Do you know him from before? Jin Mu-Won asked.
Who? Seven Star? Yes, somewhat. We spent some time together about ten years ago. Even then, his personality wasnt exactly pleasant, and it seems like nothing has changed, Tang Gi-Mun grumbled. He highly doubted that his mood would improve anytime soon.
Just then, Ha Jin-Wol, who had been watching from a distance, approached Tang Gi-Mun. If its the Mount Hua Sect, then does it have something to do with the incident you mentioned earlier
Yes, it does. About ten years ago, Tang n and Mount Hua Sect cooperated, but because of Seven Stars, everything got messy.
At that time, there was a notorious viin known as the Thousand-Faced Sex Maniac who raped hundreds of women. Many martial artists tried to catch him, but with his disguise skills and cunning tactics, he got away with raping over a hundred women.
One day, the Mount Hua Sect learned that the Thousand-Faced Sex Maniac had entered Shaanxi Province and sought help from the Tang n. As a result, several elite members of the Tang n, including myself, joined forces with them. Together, we pursued the guy relentlessly until we cornered him on the outskirts of Shaanxi Province.
However, that Thousand-Faced Sex Maniac held a civilian family hostage and used toxic gas as ast resort. I suggested we take a cautious approach and retreat until we could identify the poison, but the Mount Hua Sect disregarded my opinion and urged swift action to prevent further casualties.
The result was, well, not good. We ultimately defeated the Thousand-Faced Sex Maniac, but at the cost of the lives of the hostages and five Mount Hua Sect masters.
Was it the Seven Star Sage who made the decision? Ha Jin-Wol asked.
Tang Gi-Mun exined, Yes, and because of his unteral decision back then, an entire family of innocents was wiped out. Men, women, and children all of them sumbed to the poison. I and the other Tang n physicians tried to treat them, but it was in vain. The toxic gas released by the Thousand-Faced Sex Maniac was a highly corrosive acid. Once a persones in contact with it, deathes quickly, leaving no time to get treated. Fortunately, most of the martial artists from Mount Hua Sect were able to suppress the acid with their internal qi long enough for us to save them, otherwise the death toll would have been even higher.
Anyway, after the incident, I demanded that the Seven Star Sage be held ountable for the tragedy, and in response, the Mount Hua Sect issued a hundred-day penance for the Seven Star Sage. Naturally, I was livid. An entire family was wiped out, and that guy was only sentenced to a hundred days in prison? So many lives, worth only a hundred days of staring at a wall
As if that wasnt bad enough, the Mount Hua Sect hid the truth and only announced the capture of the Thousand-Faced Sex Maniac to boost their reputation. Since then, the rtionship between the Tang n and the Mount Hua Sect has be distant, and a deep rift formed between me and Seven Star.
If youre seeing this, you are at the wrong ce.
It seems like you hold a grudge from that incident.
Since ten years have passed, I thought that time would have mellowed him out, but I was wrong. He hasnt changed at all.
People dont change easily.
Yes, that seems to be true. Tang Gi-Muns mood soured even more. They were still several days away from Heavens Summit by boat, and the fact that he had to spend that time in the same ce as the Seven Star Sage irked him to no end.
Im going to go inside and rest for a while, he sighed, then headed towards the cabin where Myeong Ryu-San was.
Jin Mu-Won and Ha Jin-Wol watched his retreating figure in silence.
The gangho is more like a swamp with quicksand than a river or ake.1 Once you step in, you can never get out, Ha Jin-Wolmented.
Still, lots of people willingly jump into that swamp, Jin Mu-Won replied.
Yeah, because even though its disgustingly murky, it has a fatally attractive quality that makes people ignore their better judgment and roll around in the mud. Hoo, no wonder all gangho people smell of decay. Ha Jin-Wol sniffed at his clothes. Oh man, this smell, its awful!
Jin Mu-Won smiled bitterly. He, too, was a man of the gangho, and by Ha Jin-Wols standards, he was probably a pretty stinky fellow. After all, he had built a temple of victory atop a mountain of corpses and filled the moat with their blood.
Murder. No matter how much he tried to justify it, that was the truth of what he had done.
northdetldo wees you.
He was no different from any other stereotypical martial artist in the gangho.
Ha Jin-Wol pped Jin Mu-Won on the back of the shoulder. Dont make that face. At least youre self-aware. Most people in this world live without knowing why they do what they do.
Thats not muchfort.
Is it? Anyway, I was just spouting random nonsense. Dont take it to heart. Ahaha! Ha Jin-Wols raucous cackle echoed across the deck.
As the sun began to set and darkness enveloped them, the Yunmeng Marsh Riverboat continued to sail, with torches hanging from its bow to light the way ahead. The people who hadughed and chatted on the deck during the day retired to their cabins and fell into a deep sleep.
Jin Mu-Won sat alone on the deserted deck, watching the moonlight reflecting off the turbulent river.
Why arent you reading this at northdetldo?
Suddenly, a cloaked man opened the cabin door and stepped onto the deck. He was Chang Woon, a first-ss disciple of the Mount Hua Sect
After looking around for a moment, Chang Woon spotted Jin Mu-Won and approached him, saying, Looks like someones enjoying the moonlight alone. Mind if I join you?
Please, go ahead. Its not like I own the moon.
Haha! Thank you. Chang Woon plopped down in front of Jin Mu-Won and took out a small bottle. When he saw Jin Mu-Won looking at it, he grinned. What? Never seen a Taoist drink wine before?
Jin Mu-Won nodded.
Nothing strange about it. We Taoists are human too. Chang Woon opened the bottle. A strong aroma wafted out and stimted Jin Mu-Wons senses. He took a sip and offered it to Jin Mu-Won.
Jin Mu-Won was surprised but epted the wine and drank a mouthful. It was cheap hard liquor and felt like a firestorm in his throat, but curiously, the unique aroma felt strangely satisfying.
He passed the bottle back to Chang Woon, and for a while they took turns sipping the wine. Both of them were inner art masters who could suppress the effects of alcohol, but they chose not to, so it didnt take long for their faces to turn red.
Hey, have you heard of the Thousand-Faced Sex Maniac? Chang Woon asked.
Yes, I have.
Figures. With a bitter expression, Chang Woon took another sip of the booze. He looked at the moonlight reflected on the surface of the water for a moment and continued, Ever since that incident, Junior Uncle has lived a guilt-ridden life. In addition, although outsiders might see it differently, he was severely ostracized within the Mount Hua Sect, to the point that he lived in seclusion for a very long time, almost never showing himself.
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What are you trying to say?
I just hope that you wont resent Junior Uncle too much.
I dont know him well, so I have no reason to resent him.
Chang Woons eyes widened in surprise. I guess I got ahead of myself. Since youre traveling with Master Tang, I assumed you were of the same mind as him.
Master Tang never mentioned the Seven Star Sage until we met him today. I dont think his grudge is personal either. Its more like cynicism towards the gangho in general.
Chang Woon stared nkly at Jin Mu-Won for a while. Suddenly, he sped his hands and said, I am Chang Woon of the Mount Hua Sect.
I am Jin Mu-Won.
Haha! It feels great to meet someone worth having a drink with after so long.
Jin Mu-Won smiled. Chang Woons cheerful personality was contagious.
Ive been agonizing over a lot of things these past few days, Master Jin, but today Im going to let it all go and enjoy spending time with you. Drink to your hearts content. Even if its cheap liquor, I have plenty of it. Quantity over quality, right?
Passing the wine bottle back and forth, the two men chatted into the night.
The next morning, Chang Woon was found dead.-
The gangho is more like a swamp with quicksand than a river or ake: This is a word pun as gangho literally means rivers andkes.
Chapter 146: Death Is Never Fair (1)
Chapter 146: Death Is Never Fair (1)
Chang Woons body was a horrific sight. Half his face had rotted away, and his flesh was savagely mutted.
No! The Seven Star Sage let out a guttural groan, raw and animalistic. Who was it? Who found Chang Woon first?
It was me, Junior Uncle. Chang Gong, a disciple of Mount Hua Sect, stepped forward, his anguished expression a mirror image of the Sages.
What happened?
I thought it strange that Senior Brother hadnt risen from bed, so I checked his cabin and kuheuk! Ovee by emotion, Chang Gong crumbled into tears.
His grief seemed to spread like wildfire, and soon, the other disciples nearby were also weeping.
Senior Brother!
Junior Uncle! Uwaaaah!
In an instant, the Mount Hua Sect disciples filled the deck with their sobs and wails.Above the noise, the Seven Star Sagemanded, Silence! We cant afford to cry before we catch the one responsible for Chang Woons death. We must find and avenge him!
Read this at northdetldo, or else.
His words, charged with fierce determination, quieted the disciples. The shared killing intent in their bloodshot eyes sent a chill through everyone on the ship, causing civilians to instinctively step back.
Just then, Jin Mu-Won and his party approached the grieving disciples.
What in the world happened? Tang Gi-Mun asked, his eyes widening at the sight of Chang Woons mangled corpse.
Huh? Jin Mu-Won choked, instantly recognizing Chang Woon despite the severe disfigurement. Captivated by each others sincerity, they had shared drinks until dawn, and even when they parted, Chang Woon had insisted on continuing their sessions the next day and the day after that.
Just who he murmured, eyes darkening with restrained anger. Despite knowing Chang Woon for less than a day, the man had made a deep impression on him, and while he found the Taoists quick familiarity overwhelming, he had epted it, feeling a genuine sense of camaraderie.
Tang Gi-Mun stepped forward to conduct an autopsy as the Seven Star Sage looked on silently, his bloodshot eyes filled with unimaginable sorrow. Suddenly, Tang Gi-Muns expression grew stern, and he murmured, Could it be?
The Seven Star Sage immediately caught on. Is it aqua regia? he asked.
You suspected it already?
How could I not? Ten years ago, five Mount Hua Sect disciples lost their lives to aqua regia.
A decade earlier, the Seven Star Sage had watched his disciples die in agony after being poisoned by aqua regia. Although the culprit, the Thousand-Faced Rapist, was long dead, the cruel and painful memory remained fresh in his mind as if it had happened just yesterday.
As such, he knew the symptoms better than anyone.
Who dared use aqua regia against a disciple of the Mount Hua Sect? he roared, his voice booming across the Yunmeng Marsh Riverboats deck.
The onlookers shuddered, realizing the gravity of the situation. A disciple of the Mount Hua Sect had been murdered, and the transgression would surely not go unpunished. Trapped on the same boat, they feared the repercussions that might follow.
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Suddenly, Chang Gong pointed at Jin Mu-Won and shouted, Junior Uncle, its him! He was thest one seen with Senior Brotherst night.
The Seven Star Sages gaze shifted to Jin Mu-Won. Is it true? Were you with Chang Woon until the end?
Yes, Jin Mu-Won replied calmly, seeing no reason to lie.
The Seven Star Sages eyes red with suspicion. You dare
He was a good man. We shared drinks until dawn, and he promised we would drink together tomorrow and the day after. He didnt deserve to die like this, Jin Mu-Won whispered softly.
A shiver ran down the Seven Star Sages spine, as if he had been doused with cold water. This man?! Hes a lot stronger than I thought!
Nevertheless, he did not back down. Are you saying you had nothing to do with Chang Woons death? he pressed.
Yes.
Why should I believe you?
I will vouch for him, Tang Gi-Mun dered, straightening himself and meeting the Seven Star Sages furious gaze without flinching. I vouch for him in the name of the Tang n. He is trustworthy.
I asked him, not you. How can I trust your words?
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You dont need to trust me, Jin Mu-Won replied coolly.
What? The Seven Star Sages eyebrows shot up in surprise, feeling slighted by Jin Mu-Wons indifference.
I will find the culprit, Jin Mu-Won continued, unperturbed.
Do you know who it is?
Not yet, but I will soon.
How?
May I examine the body?
The Seven Star Sage hesitated, his expression conflicted.
Beside him, Chang Gong urgently whispered, Elder, we cannot let him desecrate Senior Brothers body any further.
Hes right, Junior Uncle. We cant let a suspect touch the body, added Chang Hye.
Their fellow disciples chimed in, their voices a chorus of pleas, urging the Seven Star Sage to deny the request.
Uncertain, he carefully observed Jin Mu-Won. Theres no fear in his eyes, he realized.
Sighing, he gave a reluctant nod. Fine. You can examine Chang Woons body. But if you fail to find the culprit, I will deem you guilty of his murder.
Thats absurd! Tang Gi-Mun protested, but the Seven Star Sage was unmoved.
You ought to read this at northdetldo.
I have given him the choice. If he is uncertain, he need not proceed.
I will do it.
You should know that lying in the murim usually leads to death, the Seven Star Sage warned, his voice stern as he stepped back to allow Jin Mu-Won ess to the body.
Jin Mu-Won knelt beside Chang Woons corpse, his face etched with grief. Chang Woon
Chang Woons face was contorted in agony, a testament to the suffering he had endured before his death. Jin Mu-Won gently closed his eyes and meticulously examined the body, checking the clothes, hands, feet, and every wound without missing even the slightest detail. After a thorough inspection, he stood up.
Did you find anything? Tang Gi-Mun asked.
Jin Mu-Won nodded, causing the Seven Star Sages expression to waver.
What did you?
May I inspect the disciples who came with you? Jin Mu-Won interrupted.
You dare suspect the Mount Hua Sect disciples? the Seven Star Sage boomed, outrage coloring his voice as his bloodshot eyes once again shed with killing intent.
Jin Mu-Won remained unfazed. I just need to take a quick look.
If youre seeing this, you are at the wrong ce.
Fine. But if you dont deliver, be prepared for the consequences.
One more thing. Did anyone touch Chang Woons body?
Only we moved Senior Brothers body. No other disciples came near it, Chang Gong and Chang Hye confirmed.
Are you sure?
Absolutely. We found Senior Brothers body first. No one else touched it.
Satisfied, Jin Mu-Won walked over to the Mount Hua Sect disciples. Some of them looked ufortable, instinctively resenting the intrusive scrutiny of an outsider, while others red at him with hostility, their pride as martial artists from a prestigious sect wounded.
Ignoring their wary gazes, Jin Mu-Won slowly circled around the disciples. Suddenly, his face darkened and he stopped abruptly. Why did you do it? he asked, staring at one of the second-ss disciples.
northdetldo wees you.
What? Il Won, the person in question and a promising young talent of his sect, snapped back irritably.
Chang Gong immediately protested, What nonsense is this?
Are you using one of us? Chang Hye echoed.
The Seven Star Sage stepped forward. using a disciple of the Mount Hua Sect without evidence is a serious offense. Unless you can provide solid evidence, we will not forgive this affront to our honor.
Tang Gi-Mun squirmed with worry. Why is he doing this? he muttered.
Lets wait and see, hyung-nim. The Mu-Won I know wouldnt step forward without good reason, Ha Jin-Wol quietly reassured.
True, but still
Just trust him and keep watching.
Reluctantly, Tang Gi-Mun nodded, though his anxiety was still palpable.
What nonsense are you spouting? How dare you use me! If you cannot provide evidence, I will personally behead you! Il Won shouted, cing a hand on his sword.
Read this at northdetldo, or else.
As if on cue, the other Mount Hua Sect disciples also readied their weapons, their killing intent heavy in the air.
Fucking bastards Myeong Ryu-San, who had been quiet until now, cursed under his breath. While he had gained some self-confidence after learning inner arts, he knew he wasnt yet a match for the Mount Hua Sect disciples.
Tang Mi-Ryeo and Nam Soo-Ryun reached out to calm him, their faces also marked with worry. They didnt doubt Jin Mu-Wons skills, but the Mount Hua Sect was one of the Nine Great Sects, a formidable opponent even for Heavens Summit. Provoking them could lead to serious consequences.
If Jin Mu-Won failed to uncover the culprit, he would make an enemy out of the Mount Hua Sect. If he seeded, their pride would be severely wounded. There was no favorable oue for him.
Why is he doing this? Tang Mi-Ryeo wondered, her eyes shaking with uncertainty. Is his bond with Chang Woon that strong even though theyve barely known each other for a day?
Seeing the approaching Jin Mu-Won, Il Won retaliated aggressively, threatening, using me without proof? Dont you realize that you are also a suspect? Do you think being with the Tang n Elder automatically exonerates you?
Why did you kill him? Jin Mu-Won asked again.
Read this at northdetldo, or else.
Even now you insist? If you cannot provide evidence, I will punish you in the name of the Mount Hua Sect!
Evidence?
Yes, evidence!
Did you see the wounds on Chang Woons body?
Of course, I did.
At first nce, they appear randomly inflicted, but if you look closely, they are all inflicted at a consistent angle. Most of the sword wounds are shed from left to right.
So what?
Why arent you reading this at northdetldo?
The perpetrator is probably left-handed, and among us, only you are left-handed.
Il Won, the only Mount Hua Sect disciple who wore his sword on his right hip, suddenly became the center of attention.
The Seven Star Sage exploded in rage. using a Mount Hua Sect disciple just because hes left-handed? You must have a death wish! Provide more evidence, or I will tear you apart!
Jin Mu-Won smiled, a cold and calcting smile. As you know, Chang Woon and I drank togetherst night. Though it was cheap liquor, its strong scent still lingers on me.
So what?
To my knowledge, only Chang Gong, Chang Hye, and Master Tang touched Chang Woons body. Observe closely, and youll notice that they all have a faint smell of alcohol.
Chang Gong, Chang Hye, and Tang Gi-Mun sniffed themselves and indeed detected the faint scent of alcohol. Jin Mu-Won then fixed his gaze on Il Won. But why do you smell of alcohol when you im you didnt touch his body?
Looking panicked, Il Won stammered, T-Thats because
The Seven Star Sage scowled. Exin yourself, Il Won!
C-Come to think of it, I did briefly talk to Senior Brother Chang Woonst night. The smell must have gotten on me then.
Chang Woon first opened the bottle of alcohol when he drank with me. Are you saying you met him after that?
Well Unable toe up with a usible excuse, Il Won grimaced in despair.
Chapter 147: Death Is Never Fair (2)
Chapter 147: Death Is Never Fair (2)
As the tension rose, all eyes turned to Il Won with suspicion. Even the disciples from Mount Hua Sect gave him wary looks.
Trapped and desperate, Il Won scrambled to clear his name. Junior Uncle, Senior Brothers, do you really believe what hes saying? I swear Im innocent!
Then what about the smell of alcohol on you?
Thats
Answer me! the Seven Star Sage bellowed, his voice booming across the deck and making bystanders p their hands over their ears and reel.
Y arent you reading this at northdetldo?
Damn it! Il Won grimaced in frustration, before suddenly running to the edge of the deck.
Caught off guard, the Mount Hua Sect disciples btedly dashed after him, but Il Won was already next to the railings, eying the river below. If he jumped, the Mount Hua Sect wouldnt be able to follow him.
However, just then, a figure materialized before him.Argh! Il Won growled, clenching his teeth. Standing in his way was Jin Mu-Won, the man who had exposed his murder of Chang Woon and branded him a traitor.
With a sh, he drew his sword with his left hand, just as Jin Mu-Won had foreseen, and thrust at Jin Mu-Wons throat.
CLANG!
Jin Mu-Won, just inches away, coolly parried with his scabbard, sending Il Won staggering with the force of the block, then brutally kicked Il Won in the stomach.
Ugh! Il Wons scream echoed throughout the boat as he tumbled back onto the deck, his body convulsing.
The Mount Hua disciples quickly surrounded him, and the Seven Star Sage stepped forward, his voice heavy with sorrow. Although he and Il Won werent well acquainted, he knew Il Won to be a gentle spirit, seemingly incapable of violence. Just what was his motive for poisoning Chang Woon?
Why did you do it? Why kill Chang Woon? he asked.
You ought to read this at northdetldo.
Ovee with emotion, Il Won struggled to speak, but eventually, he propped himself up and met the Sages eyes. Elder, Im sorry, he apologized.
Why? What were you missing?
I wanted to die a disciple of Mount Hua. Please remember that, Il Won confessed, his voice breaking.
Il Won the Seven Star Sage murmured, his voice thick with grief.
Just then, Il Wons cheeks reddened.
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Stop him! Jin Mu-Won shouted, leaping toward the young Taoist.
What are you doing? the Seven Star Sage yelled, shing at Jin Mu-Won.
Jin Mu-Won tried to circle around him, too pressed for time to strike back, but the other disciples formed a barrier and stood in his path.
That was their mistake.
BOOM!
Il Won shook violently, then copsed, having reversed his own qi to destroy his heart.
Il Won, what have you done? the Seven Star Sage wept bitterly. The double loss was a blow too deep for words, filling him with unspeakable grief.
Im sorry Elder Il Won gasped, his final breath slipping away.
Jin Mu-Won sighed. Had it not been for the interference, he might have stopped Il Wons suicide. Still, he couldnt fault the Mount Hua disciples; they too were deeply affected by the tragedy.
The Seven Star Sage stood in silence, gazing at Il Wons motionless body, his mind swirling with dreadful thoughts and overwhelming sorrow. Just who or what drove this boy to such madness? he whispered.
He didnt believe that Il Won was acting alone, of his own free will.
Why arent you reading this at northdetldo?
Having been orphaned, Il Won had joined Mount Hua at the age of ten and had never left it since. There was no sense in him murdering his Junior Uncle, Chang Woon, on his first ever outing.
The Seven Star Sages eyes fixed on Jin Mu-Won, bristling with rage. Its because of him. It all began when Chang Woon met this man.
What did you tell Chang Woon? Why did he have to die?
Sage?
Out with it! What did you discuss? Why did he have to die?
We talked about life, nothing more.
Dont lie! The Seven Star Sages voice, heavy with inner qi, resonated powerfully, striking fear into those around him without inner strength.
northdetldo wees you.
Immediately, Tang Mi-Ryeo and Nam Soo-Ryun stepped up to protect Tang Gi-Mun and Ha Jin-Wol from his wrath.
Speak! What did Chang Woon say? Why did he have to die?
I too would like to know. Though our meeting was brief, I saw in Taoist Chang Woon a man of greater integrity than most. I am curious why Taoist Il Won would assassinate him.
So you im no involvement in Chang Woons death?
That is correct.
I dont believe you!
The Seven Star Sages energy surged across the deck, violently rocking the boat in a stunning disy of power by an elder of the Mount Hua Sect, one of the Nine Great Sects.
Hold your senses, Seven Star! Hes not your enemy! Tang Gi-Mun shouted, but his words were lost on the Sage.
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Ha Jin-Wol tugged at Tang Gi-Muns sleeve, his eyes wide. Its pointless. Hes looking for a scapegoat, he said, then mumbled to himself, His mind has been consumed by his own inner demons.
AHHHHH! The Seven Star Sages roar tore through the air as he charged at Jin Mu-Won.
His disciples shouted after him, but he was deaf to their desperate cries, his attention fixed solely on Jin Mu-Won.
SWOOSH!
The Sages swordshed out at Jin Mu-Won, but this time, Jin Mu-Won didnt dodge.
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CLANG! CLANG!
Sparks scattered as Jin Mu-Wons scabbard shed with the Sages de. Wielding the 36-Strike Plum Blossom Sword Technique, the sage created illusions of plum blossoms with each swing of his sword. Although he could only manifest eighteen blossoms in total, it was enough to endanger everyone on the deck, especially the untrained bystanders.
Jin Mu-Won swiftly drew Snow Flower and unleashed his own aura.
Ugh! The disciples of Mount Hua Sect reeled back, overwhelmed, but it was the sight that followed which truly shocked them.
With the grace of a dancer, Jin Mu-Wons sword traced elegant arcs in the air, scattering the plum blossoms one after another.
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What? How?! The Mount Hua disciples eximed, unable to believe their eyes.
Jin Mu-Won was effortlessly countering the famed 36-Strike Plum Blossom Sword Technique, a feat thought nearly impossible given itsplexity and the sects centuries-old mastery.
Yet, besieged by his inner demons, the Seven Star Sage continued his relentless assault, unleashing one powerful attack after another. In an instant, the Plum Blossom Fragrance and Unmoving Plum Blossom techniques surged toward Jin Mu-Won.
Jin Mu-Won narrowed his eyes. The 36-Strike Plum Blossom Sword Technique was the pinnacle of the Mount Hua Sects martial arts. Executing even twelve blossoms brought considerable prestige, and fifteen or more garnered immense respect.
This made the Sages achievement of summoning eighteen blossoms even more remarkable, especially considering he managed it amidst his inner turmoil and unbridled rage.
Gripping Snow Flower firmly, Jin Mu-Won dove into the Sages plum blossom domain. A gust of wind rushed toward him, and he sliced through it effortlessly. Another flurry of blossoms followed, but each one wilted under his deft shes.
Amidst the sh of sparks and the whirl of sword winds, it was Jin Mu-Wons overwhelming control alone that averted catastrophe on the deck while the Seven Star Sage wildly brandished his sword, depleting his energy with reckless fury.
The duel wore on until, atst, the Seven Star Sage, exhausted of his inner qi, fell unconscious. Jin Mu-Won had precisely gauged the Sages energy, skillfully neutralizing him without causing harm to him or anyone else.
Junior Uncle!
Elder!
The Mount Hua Sect disciples, initially hesitant, rushed to their fallen leader. As Chang Gong supported the Seven Star Sage, he cast an apologetic nce at Jin Mu-Won and offered a slight bowthe deepest respect he could musteras a silent acknowledgment of the young mans role in saving both the civilians and his senior.
No one had imagined that a martial artist of the Seven Star Sages caliber could be subdued without injury, but Jin Mu-Won proved all of them wrong.
Chapter 148: Death Is Never Fair (3)
Chapter 148: Death Is Never Fair (3)
Whew! Yoo Jang-Hwan lifted his head and exhaled deeply.
Everyone from the Silver Horse Merchant Association joined him, releasing a collective sigh of relief.
What kind of wind Head Escort Lee Deung-Myung muttered, shaking his head, his expression one of utter bewilderment.
About an hour earlier, the weather had taken a sudden, violent turn, unleashing a snowstorm that battered them out of nowhere. It was so fierce they could scarcely catch their breath, yet as abruptly as it had appeared, it disappeared, melting away under the warm sun as though it had been a mere illusion. The snow that had nketed the ground dissolved without a trace. No one would believe a storm had swept through had they not witnessed it.
Phew! I really cant get used to this crazy weather, Yoo Jang-Hwan groaned under his breath.
Youre telling me, Lee Deung-Myung concurred.
Currently, they were at the border between Xinjiang and Qinghai Province, notorious for its unpredictable weather due to its mountains andkes. Snowstorms could appear while the sun still shone, only to vanish as if they were never there.
Why arent you reading this at northdetldo?
For those unfamiliar with the terrain and climate, navigating this area was an impossible challenge. Thankfully, the Silver Horse Merchant Associations motto to always be prepared for all situations saved them from serious trouble on numerous asions.Yoo Jang-Hwans eyes wandered to the carriage at the end of their convoy, resting on a girl who looked no older than sixteen. Despite the terrifying snowstorm, Eun Han-Seol seemed unfazed, not a single hair out of ce, her shoulders and head free of snow, as if the storm had consciously avoided her.
Seeing her gazing nkly into the distance, Yoo Jang-Hwan soon found himself doing the same. On the horizon, the massive Kunlun Mountains stretched skyward.
The Kunlun Mountains, he murmured.
The sacred mountain range in the southwest of Qinghai Province was awe-inspiring. Even in the height of summer, its peaks were crowned with eternal snow,manding reverence and towering majestically over all.
However, the Kunlun Mountains were not only famous for their majesty, but also for the Kunlun Sect that called them home. As one of the legendary Nine Great Sects, the Kunlun Sect was instrumental in the founding of Heavens Summit, yet unlike other sects in the Central ins, they seemed detached from its goals and indifferent to its ambitions, rarely sending out disciples and showing little interest in worldly affairs.
Nevertheless, they were always the first to respond to demonic uprisings or martial conflicts in their territory. As a result, the people of Qinghai held the Kunlun Sect in unparalleled esteem, even more so than the other Nine Great Sects. Even though the sect had not produced a member of Heavens Summits Nine Skies, most believed that they could have easily imed a spot if they had wanted to.
To Yoo Jang-Hwan, Eun Han-Seol was as enigmatic as the Kunlun Sect itself. Throughout their journey, she had barely spoken, keeping her distance, living as if in her own world.
What on earth is that girls hiding?
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He had many questions, but her silence offered no answers.
Just then, Lee Deung-Myung addressed him, Everyones exhausted from battling the snowstorm. We should rest early today.
Lets do that, Yoo Jang-Hwan nodded, feeling every bit as weary as hispanions.
Theres a good spot nearby for camping. It should be suitable for the night, Lee Deung-Myung proposed, leading the way to a small basin encircled byrge rocks near a namelesskea perfect campsite.
Yoo Jang-Hwan was impressed. When did you find a ce like this?
Ha! Ive spent my life on the road, so finding ces like this is second nature, Lee Deung-Myung chuckled.
Im still far from your level. Ill have to work harder to keep up with you, Captain, Yoo Jang-Hwan replied candidly.
Lee Deung-Myung broke into heartyughter, Haha! Youre always wee!
As the seasoned martial artists set up camp with practiced ease, Eun Han-Seol watched silently from the carriage roof.
Drawing water, lighting a fire, cooking foodthese routines made Eun Han-Seol feel a strange pang in her heart. Despite the hardships of the journey, their jokes andughter over simple things sparked a sense of alienation within her.
Eun Han-Seol buried her head between her knees. Mu-Won. Oddly, she could no longer remember his face. Though she longed for him, his image was fading from her memory, leaving her disoriented.
Just then, someone approached her. Miss, the food is ready. Everyones waiting for you.
She looked up to see Yoo Jang-Hwan. He gave her a shy smile as she stared at him. Eun Han-Seol dusted off her clothes and jumped down from the carriage,nding silently like a cat, and followed him.
Haha! Come on, Miss, he said. Here is your seat.
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The escorts, who had initially been awkward around her, now treated her casually, having gotten used to her presence. Eun Han-Seol sat down naturally, and an escort handed her a bowl of mysterious porridge.
Without hesitation, she began to eat, and her actions drew smiles from those around her. To them, she was just a fifteen-year-old girl, which perhaps made it easier to interact with her.
Dinner ended quickly. The escorts tidied up the area efficiently, set up sleeping arrangements around the campfire, and except for a few on guard duty, everyone settled down to sleep.
Eun Han-Seol was given the best spot, but she didnt lie down. She couldnt remember when exactly, but over time, she hade to need very little sleep and no longer felt tired without it.
Her eyes reflecting the endless sea of stars, she sat up and gazed at the sky.
Time passed as she enjoyed the silence. With everyone, including the guards, falling into a deep slumber, the camp was enveloped in a profound stillness.
Suddenly, Eun Han-Seol frowned, sensing something off. Killing intent. Over a hundred yards away.
She rose and looked around. Having perfected the Heart of the Silver Soul, her senses were incredibly sharp, far beyond the ordinary. She easily noticed a group of martial artists approaching from over a hundred yards away, but it seemed that no one in the Silver Horse Merchant Association had any inkling of their presence yet.
An urge to maintain the tranquility of the quiet campsite , filled only with the sounds of gentle breathing, overcame her.
Without a moments hesitation, Eun Han-Seol leapt out of the campsite.
The approaching group looked wretched. Their clothes, made of animal skins, were caked with yellow dust. Their unwashed, matted hair gleamed with grease. Dirt covered their faces, and their exposed teeth shone yellow in the darkness.
The Three Yellow-Robed Fiends. These criminals had recently made Qinghai Province their base of operations. Known for their ferocity and advanced martial arts, few in Qinghai Province could match them. They survived by raiding merchant caravans, leaving a trail of death and theft in their wake. Hundreds had perished at their hands, prompting several sects in Qinghai to attempt to subdue them. However, their elusive nature and the vastness of Qinghai had so far prevented their capture.
Fufu! So, the Silver Horse Merchant Association is just over that hill?
Thats right. They raked in a hefty profit in the Western Regions, so hitting them up should be worth our while.
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With that cash, we can live it up to our hearts content. Fufu!
The Three Yellow-Robed Fiendsughed wickedly. They already saw the Silver Horse Merchant Associations riches as their own, certain their prey stood no chance against them.
Huh?
Out of nowhere, a small girl materialized before them like a ghost. The Three Yellow-Robed Fiends shot each other baffled looks, but their bewilderment quickly morphed into lecherous smirks.
Fufu! What a treat!
Bathed in the soft moonlight, Eun Han-Seols otherworldly beauty held them spellbound. The cause of her sudden emergence was irrelevant. To them, she was merely another prey for their depraved appetites.
Girl, are you with the Silver Horse Merchant Association? How thoughtful of them to send a girl our way. Well be sure to make their end quick as a thank you.
If youre seeing this, you are at the wrong ce.
Come here, girl. We might even spare your life.
She looks good enough to eat in one bite.
Their eyes shed with greed, causing Eun Han-Seol to frown subtly, but that only heightened her allure in their eyes.
Leap into our arms, girl. Well take good care of you.
Eun Han-Seols blood red lips parted. That does it. Your fate is sealed, she dered icily.
What did you say?
Im talking about your death.
Haha! This girl talks so cute!
The Three Yellow-Robed Fiends burst intoughter. The eldest, stillughing, turned a menacing gaze toward Eun Han-Seol.
Little girl, if you dont want to see us angry, strip ande over here.
Ill start with that filthy mouth of yours.
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What?
In the middle of his lewd speech, the eldest felt a sudden chill near his mouth and wiped it with the back of his hand. His twopanions, however, gasped in horror.
Hyungs tongue!
Hyungs tongue is
Blood spurted like a fountain from the eldest Fiends severed tongue. For a moment, he stared nkly at his brothers, feeling no pain, when the agony hit him.
AHHHH!
With his tongue gone, his scream was incoherent. The second and third Fiends red at Eun Han-Seol, drawing their weapons.
You dared to attack us!
You set a trap, didnt you? Are you from the Kunlun Sect?
Eun Han-Seol didnt answer. Instead, she gathered her inner qi, stirring up a storm of silver energy around her.
If youre seeing this, you are at the wrong ce.
What the The Three Yellow-Robed Fiends grimaced in confusion as the silver storm engulfed them.
The Silver Horse Merchant Association set off on their journey again the next day, unaware that criminals had visited their camp that night.
Muchter, another group arrived at the campsite. Three men dressed in blue robes surveyed the area before heading north. There, they found what appeared to be human remains.
Hmm! A middle-aged martial artist, seemingly their leader, frowned at the sight.
The younger men with him also wore grim expressions as they looked at the remains.
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These are definitely the corpses of the Three Yellow-Robed Fiends.
It seems someone beat us to them, but their brutality is astonishing.
This is the work of demonic arts, the middle-aged man added, his face growing even grimmer. Though the younger men couldnt sense it, he detected a lingering, sinister aura in the air.
A demon more fearsome than the Three Yellow-Robed Fiends has appeared.
The mans name was Baek Nam-Hoi, and he was a renowned martial artist sent by the Kunlun Sect to eliminate the Three Yellow-Robed Fiends.
Trantors Note: New series The Fatebreakers Codex is now up! Novelupdates will be updated soon too!
Chapter 149: Dawn of Chaos (1)
Chapter 149: Dawn of Chaos (1)
After a day spent in aa, the Seven Star Sage regained consciousness.
Chang Gong, the Mount Hua Sect disciple tending to him, asked, Junior Uncle, are you okay?
He ignored them, his gaze fixed nkly on the cabin ceiling. He was aware the disciples feared he might still be ensnared by his inner demons, but that wasnt the case; he simply needed a moment to gather his thoughts.
Chang Woons death, the betrayal from within their ranksit all felt too surreal, like a bad dream. He wished it were just a nightmare, but the stark reality stood undeniable.
He rose from the bed and stumbled to his feet.
Noticing his sudden action, Chang Hye, another disciple, gasped in surprise, Junior Uncle?
Where are Chang Woon and Il Wons bodies? he asked briskly.
Master Tang is conducting an autopsy on them in his cabin.
Without a word, the Seven Star Sage made a beeline for Tang Gi-Muns cabin, with Chang Gong and Chang Hye trailing quietly behind him. Barging into the room, he found Tang Gi-Mun, Jin Mu-Won, and Ha Jin-Wol examining the corpses.If youre seeing this, you are at the wrong ce.
Tang Gi-Mun approached him. Seven Star, are you alright?
What have you discovered?
Well
Tell me. The Seven Star Sages intense gaze bore down on Tang Gi-Mun, demanding an answer.
This way, Tang Gi-Mun sighed in defeat.
Standing by the corpses, the Seven Star Sage glimpsed Chang Woons face, and a surge of grief threatened to overwhelm him once more.
To distract himself, he turned his attention to the other body. Beside the body, a porcin jar of liquid was found on Il Won, which Tang Gi-Mun identified as a potent acid. Curiously, Tang Gi-Mun had removed Il Wons shirt, revealing his bare chest.
The Seven Star Sage shot Tang Gi-Mun a puzzled look, questioning his actions.
In response, Tang Gi-Mun took out a small jade vial and exined, You wont see anything with the naked eye, but with this Illusion Dispelling Powder, everything changes.
Tang Gi-Mun sprinkled the powder over the corpses chest.
What are you doing? the Seven Star Sage asked.
Thisd has a tattoo that is normally invisible, but with this special form, it will be revealed. Watch, Tang Gi-Mun instructed.
Soon, a faint tattoo started to emerge on Il Wons chest, depicting a sinister two-faced demon so vivid it seemed poised to leap off his skin.
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Even I only discovered this after a full days examination, Tang Gi-Mun added.
Why would he have a tattoo on his chest the Seven Star Sage whispered, his eyes trembling. In the Mount Hua Sect, tattoos were considered the marks of criminals.
Junior Uncle!
Chang Woon and Chang Hye were equally baffled, knowing that this was Il Wons first venture outside the sect since joining. Having neither the time nor the opportunity to get a tattoo during his training, he must have gotten it prior to joining the Mount Hua Sect and kept it hidden.
The Seven Star Sage fixed his gaze on Tang Gi-Mun. Who else knows about this tattoo?
Just us here.
Keep this under wraps for now.
Seven Star
Please.
Understood.
The Seven Star Sage clenched his teeth, his eyes bloodshot.
You ought to read this at northdetldo.
Jin Mu-Won observed him closely. This tattoo was inscribed before Il Won joined the Mount Hua Sect, which means that someone must have sent him there with a purpose. Judging by the Seven Star Sages reaction, hese to the same conclusion. Hmm Is there a group in the murim that uses a two-faced demon as a symbol?
Though both demons faces were identical, their expressions were notone appeared calm, while the other seemed ready to pounce.
Whats going on in the murim?
Suddenly, Jin Mu-Won recalled the Demonic Cross of Blood. Although he had questioned Jo Cheon-Woo, the man knew nothing about it. Right now though, his unusually sharp intuition hinted at a significant connection between the Demonic Cross of Blood and the two-faced demon tattoo.
Why did Il Won kill Chang Woon? Did he stumble upon something he shouldnt have?
Read this at northdetldo, or else.
Questions swirled in his mind, deepening his confusion. Jin Mu-Won quietly exited the cabin, leaning against the deck rail as a cold wind swept by.
Is the reappearance of the Silent Night stirring dormant forces, or has there been an undercurrent in the murim all along?
A storm was brewing in the murim, and the ensuing chaos was unpredictable.
Suddenly, footsteps approached, jolting Jin Mu-Won from his thoughts. Is something the matter, Sage? he asked.
You said your name was Jin Mu-Won, right? the Seven Star Sage greeted, approaching him.
Yes.
I wont thank you, but I will repay this debt one day.
I swear this on the honor of the Mount Hua Sect.
An oath on the name of the Mount Hua Sect carried immense weight. Although the Seven Star Sage could not recall his time ensnared by inner demons, he knew the danger had been grave. Most who sumbed to inner demons ended up with qi deviation, losing their martial prowess and bing crippled even if they recovered their sanity. He should have been no different, yet not only was he fine, his qi had increased, and he felt he could reach even greater heights.
What happened to me? I have no clue what this Jin Mu-Won kid did, but he definitely did something.
Despite his harsh demeanor, he was not ungrateful, and repaying kindness was a cornerstone of his principles. Recent events had also altered his view of Jin Mu-Won.
Even though hes a formidable swordsman at such a young age, he has apassionate heart. It seems that a new guiding star has risen in the murim, shining the way forward.
You ought to read this at northdetldo.
Initially, he had scoffed at the pretentious alias Northern de, but now, he epted it. In fact, it seemed the rumors had severely understated Jin Mu-Wons abilities.
The Seven Star Sage sensed a new wind sweeping through the murim, one with Jin Mu-Won at its helm.
If you were to ask where the worlds smartest congregated, nine times out of ten, the answer would be the Seomoon n. Renowned for producing generations of top strategists, it was amon belief in the murim that favor from the Seomoon n could sway the fate of empires.
The n was currently led by Seomoon Jong-Cheon, but the true force behind it was his father, Seomoon Hwa, the Grand Elder.
Seomoon Hwa had transformed the Seomoon n from mere strategists to a dominant power. He broke the mold that strategists couldnt excel in martial arts, earning a ce among the Nine Skies.
A decade earlier, following the disbandment of the Northern Army, Seomoon Hwa chose seclusion. Rarely did he appear before the n members, spending most of his days in his private study, the Ownerless Pavilion.
Tucked away in the deepest reaches of the Seomoon territory, the Ownerless Pavilion was a modest structure. Unassuming to the eye, it housed a lethal security system that no n member except Seomoon Hwa could deactivate without fatal consequences.
Seomoon Jong-Cheon, a schrly man in his mid-fifties, approached the house with caution. Despite his intellect, he had always felt a twinge of tension near the Ownerless Pavilion.
Stopping before the deadly barrier, he announced his arrival, Father, its me, Jong-Cheon.
Immediately, the surroundings transformed. A hidden path revealed itself as Seomoon Hwa granted him safe passage.
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Seomoon Jong-Cheon treaded the path, marveling at the shifting scenery. Father has reached yet another level of mastery, he mused, awestruck by theplexity of the formations.
The brief walk stretched into what seemed an eternity. Upon reaching the pavilion, the door swung open and a weathered voice beckoned, Come in.
Yes, Father, he answered, straightening up before entering.
Inside, the study was farrger than its exterior suggested. Rows of bookshelves lined the walls, yet to Seomoon Jong-Cheons surprise, only two books remained.
Removing books from such a collection was a herculean task, particrly for the knowledge-thirsty minds of the Seomoon n. The fact that Seomoon Hwa, one of the Nine Skies, had nearly emptied his shelves hinted at his near escape from the clutches of wisdoms greed. The two books that remained likely symbolized hisst worldly attachments.
At a small table in the center, facing away from the sunlight filtering through the window, sat an elderly man with a gaze that carried the weight of centuries.
Seomoon Jong-Cheon knelt down and bowed his head deeply before the old man. Father, Ivee as you summoned, he stated.
Patriarch, raise your head.
Yes, Father. Seomoon Jong-Cheon looked up asmanded.
If youre seeing this, you are at the wrong ce.
How are things progressing? Seomoon Hwa asked.
Everything is unfolding as youve directed, wlessly. You have nothing to worry about.
See that it continues so.
Of course. How could I possibly disregard your orders, Father?
Hmm Seomoon Hwa murmured, a shadow of disappointment crossing his features.
northdetldo wees you.
Though Seomoon Jong-Cheon was undoubtedly brilliant, he still didnt quite meet Seomoon Hwas expectations. He manages well enough, but hecks the vision to create something from nothing. Its a pity. If only Hye-Ryung had been born male
Among the ns descendants, only Seomoon Hye-Ryung reached the standards Seomoon Hwa set, a fact he kept to himself.
Do your best. The other members of the Nine Skies will soon make their move.
What?
Until now, weve maintained a delicate bnce, but with the Silent Nights return, all our current constraints are lifted.
And will you also?
Yes, it appears the moment has arrived for me to reengage with the world. The celestial energies are in turmoil.
The previous night, Seomoon Hwa had observed the skies. The sea of stars, once tranquil, now showed signs of disturbance, and the Northern Star, the symbol of his ultimate nemesis that he long thought extinguished, once again flickered faintly.
I must identify its master, then ensure it never shines again.
A trace of killing intent passed through Seomoon Hwas eyes, which radiated a mysterious divine light.
Chapter 150: Dawn of Chaos (2)
Chapter 150: Dawn of Chaos (2)
It was a ce that had been abandoned long ago. Sharp as a knife, a high mountain encircled the basin like a folding screen. Within ity waterfalls and valleys, but the water had turned ck, reeking with a foul stench, and the trees had withered, adding to the deste atmosphere. The once grand pavilions that filled the basin had long been deserted and neglected, barely maintaining their forms.
Oddly, even though decades had passed since its abandonment, the air still hung thick with the scent of death.
Half a day ago, people began to gather in this forsaken ce.
The first to appear was an old musician. Carrying arge guqin on his back, he sat in the center of the basin and began to y. Deep sorrow filled the old musicians half-closed eyes, resonating in the notes he yed.
In harmony with his sadness, dark clouds covered the sky. The wind carried his melodies far, making even the mountains and trees seem to weep.
Finally, the dark clouds released their rain. Raindrops fell on the old musicians head, trickling down and soaking his clothes, yet he did not stop ying.
The second man to arrive watched the old musician with pity. His ck cloak fluttered like wings, and his golden eyes shone brightly, even in the pouring rain.
You ought to read this at northdetldo.
In a world of countless martial artists, only one man possessed such distinctive featuresthe ck-Winged Divine Spear.His gaze never left the old musician, the Celestial Sound Demon Yoon Cheon-Hak, who was ying a requiem in memory of his only disciple, Geum Dan-Yeop. Unable to grasp the depths of Yoon Cheon-Haks sorrow, the ck-Winged Divine Spear remained silent, simply watching.
Suddenly, a massive shadow loomed behind Yoon Cheon-Hak. A giant, resembling a ck bear with tworge axes strapped crosswise on his back and disheveled hair hanging down to his shoulders, appeared, causing the air to stir rapidly.
Hmph! I wondered who was making such a fuss. Its just the Sound Demon, the giant said, exuding an overwhelming aura.
Long time no see, Choo-San, the ck-Winged Divine Spear greeted, his golden eyes gleaming.
The giant smirked. Moon-Chun, he returned the greeting, calling the ck-Winged Divine Spear by his real name, Woo Moon-Chun, a name known to almost no one.
Woo Moon-Chun narrowed his eyes. The giants name was Man Choo-San, better known as the Mountain-Splitting Devil Axe. Like Woo Moon-Chun, Man Choo-San was one of the Four Great Demon Generals, and his aggressively destructive nature and formidable physical strength made him the most feared among them.
Has it been thirty years?
Ha! Seems about right. You havent changed a bit.
Neither have you.
Decades had passed, yet their appearances remained unchanged, as if time had overlooked them. Yet, for some reason, no one questioned this anomaly.
Suddenly, another voice, a womans, chimed in. I thought I would be the first to arrive, but three of you are already here.
The three men quickly turned to look at the neer, a woman who appeared to be in her thirties, with dazzling beauty, lustrous ck hair, and mysterious silver eyes. It was the Fairy of the White Night, So Geum-Hyang.
Man Choo-San grinned. Heh! Long time no see, witch.
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You havent changed at all.
If people change too easily, it means their death is near.
Three of the Four Great Demon Generals had gathered. Their overwhelming presence repelled even the raindrops, scattering them. After decades, they were reunited, though notpletely.
Woo Moon-Chun looked around. I dont see Jin-Myeong. Is he noting?
Hes probably wandering the world again. His wanderlust isnt a new thing.
Why arent you reading this at northdetldo?
They recalled the one who hadnt shown up, Shadow of the Blue Wind Yoo Jin-Myeong, a member of the Four Great Demon Generals and the fastest person in the world. As his alias suggested, he was a free spirit who rarely appeared unless necessary.
But when we make a decision, hell be the first to arrive. Thats the kind of person he is, So Geum-Hyang said, and everyone nodded.
If it was important, Yoo Jin-Myeong was the kind of person who woulde even if told not to. There was no need to be anxious or doubtful about his absence now.
Soon, five more people joined them, among them an ordinary-looking old man and a woman who seemed to have juste from farming. They looked likemon folk one might see in the countryside or on the streets, yet their auras and presence were as formidable as those of the Four Great Demon Generals.
Seeing them, Woo Moon-Chun murmured, So, even the Six Demon Lords have gathered.
If the Four Great Demon Generals were the external symbols of Silent Night, then the Six Demon Lords, including the Celestial Sound Demon Yoon Cheon-Hak, were its true leaders, spreading their influence and training disciples across thend. Although ranked below the Four Great Demon Generals, even they couldnt treat the Six Demon Lords lightly.
With the gathering of the Four Great Demon Generals and the Six Demon Lords, a tense atmosphere filled the ce.
Finally, Yoon Cheon-Hak stopped ying and stood up.
Cheon-Hak, your grief must be overwhelming.
northdetldo wees you.
Were deeply sorry about Dan-Yeop.
The Six Demon Lords offered their condolences, trying to console Yoon Cheon-Hak, who had lost his disciple. Geum Dan-Yeop had been like a child to them too, and they still vividly remembered his excited expression when he first started learning martial arts.
Despite their attempts tofort him, Yoon Cheon-Haks expression remained icy. I didnt summon you here to beforted. Dan-Yeop wanted us to end our istion and re-enter the world, and I intend to fulfill his dream.
Cheon-Hak!
As soon as the Lord of the Night arrives, I will formally request that we reengage with the world, Yoon Cheon-Hak dered.
A hush fell over the room. Some faces lit up with excitement, others were clouded with worry.
The kindest-looking among the Six Demon Lords, an elderly viger, interjected, Cheon-Hak, many young ones might die or get injured.
If youre seeing this, you are at the wrong ce.
You know as well as I do that we cant suppress them indefinitely. Theyve longed to venture out for years now, but weve only held them back. Dan-Yeop died for them. I wont let his sacrifice be in vain.
Hmm!
Dan-Yeop yearned for the Silent Night to awaken, to roar at the world, to unsheathe the sword of retribution. Look aroundhere we stand, old fools stifling the dreams of the young forfort and safety, Yoon Cheon-Hak cried out, his voice verging on a wail.
His forceful words made Man Choo-San, the Mountain-Splitting Devil Axe, smirk. Surveying the barren basin, now and of death, heughed, Haha! Youve finallye to your senses. Indeed, Dan-Yeop was killed by your foolishness. Remember,rades, that this was our home! Have you forgotten how it was destroyed, how we were expelled? If so, you are indeed hopeless fools.
Mountain-Splitting Devil Axe, your words are too harsh. Even if you are one of the Four Great Demon Generals, we are the Six Demon Lords. Show some decorum, a man in his mid-forties snapped, stepping forward. Dressed like a butcher ready for the ughter, his presence unleashed a fierce killing intent so palpable that even the wind hesitated before him and raindrops scattered in all directions.
He was Seven-Fingered Demon Lord Jang Hwang, a renowned figure within the Six Demon Lords and master of the Savage Beast de, famed for the most potent killing intent in the realm. Not even the Four Great Demon Generals took him lightly.
Still, Woo Moon-Chun sneered, unfazed. Oh? Want to try me?
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Are we really doing this? Jang Hwang narrowed his eyes, his killing intent surging.
Man Choo-San grinned, gathering his qi.
The air vibrated as their killing intents shed, spreading an oppressive aura that made breathing difficult for bystanders. The room pulsed with tension, teetering on the brink of violence.
Yoon Cheon-Hak stepped forward. Theres no need to fight. The Lord of the Night will make the final decision.
Hmph!
At Yoon Cheon-Haks intervention, thebatants gradually withdrew their energies. The Lord of the Night, the absolute ruler of Silent Night and the undisputed master of darkness,manded their ultimate allegiance. No one, not the Four Great Demon Generals nor the Six Demon Lords, could defy his will.
For decades, Silent Night hadbored to usher in the era of the Lord of the Night, their true sovereign, and now he was on his way here.
Yoon Cheon-Hak gazed upward as the rain ceased, revealing a clear sky. Whatever decision the Lord of the Night makes, I will obey. If hemands me to crawl like a dog, Ill crawl. If he orders me to bark, Ill bark. My sole wish is to avenge my disciple, Dan-Yeop, and to confront Heavens Summit.
The voice of a master mourning his disciple, heavy with vengeance, dissipated into the breeze.
Why arent you reading this at northdetldo?
Jin Mu-Won suddenly raised his head and gazed intently ahead.
Huh? Whats wrong? Myeong Ryu-San asked, baffled by Jin Mu-Wons sudden change in demeanor.
Silently, Jin Mu-Won continued to peer forward. Soon, the silhouette of a sprawling city emerged at the edge of the horizon.
Wow, is that Wuhan?
It was indeed the city of Wuhan in Hubei Province, the crossroads of all the cultures of the Central ins, with the formidable Heavens Summit looming in its backdrop.
A flood of memories flickered through Jin Mu-Wons mind, as vivid as a spinningntern. He remembered the unforgiving skies of the north, his father who was forced tomit suicide, and his own frail form, cradling his fathers body, bowing under the fierce wind.
Has it really been ten years? he murmured to himself.
After a long journey, he had finally arrived at Heavens Summit, thend of the absolute rulers.
Chapter 151: Into the Tigers Den
Chapter 151: Into the Tigers Den
Across the vast skies stretches the Web of Heaven, a celestialwork that seems delicately interwoven yet infinitelyplex. Trapping connections and destinies, it ensures that those fated to meet will inevitably find each other, even should their paths be shadowed by unending malevolence.
Ah! escaped from Hwang Cheol as the familiar bustle of Lanzhou unfolded before him, its vibrant streets lined with inns and brothels, culminating at the majestic gates of the White Dragon Merchant Association.
Were finally back, Yoon Ja-Myeong muttered, his face aplex mix of emotions.
He was not alone. The surviving martial artists of the White Dragon Merchant Association were visibly moved, tears threatening to spill from their eyes. The news of their return had obviously spread, as important figures like Noh Tae-Tae were already there, waiting at the gates to wee them home.
Children! Noh Tae-Taes voice cracked as she rushed towards Yoon Ja-Myeong and Yoon Seo-In, tears streaming down her face.
For the Iron Brigade martial artists who had traveled so far and fought so hard for Yoon Ja-Myeongs safe return, this scene was heartwarming. Their exhaustion was evident, but the joy of seeing a family reunited made it all worthwhile.
Why arent you reading this at northdetldo?
After embracing her children, Noh Tae-Tae turned to Hwang Cheol. Im relieved that youre back safely, Escort Hwang. You must have faced many hardships because of my son.Not at all, Matriarch, Hwang Cheol replied, scratching his head and gesturing to the Iron Brigade. These fine warriors were the ones who did the heavy lifting.
Noh Tae-Tae smiled warmly at his modesty. Her gaze then shifted to Kwak Moon-Jung, who stood quietly by Hwang Cheols side, wearing a look of calm determination rather than zealous youth.
He has changed. Is it because of that man? Noh Tae-Tae pondered, remembering Jin Mu-Wons remarkable deeds on behalf of the White Dragon Merchant Association. His feats were legendary, not only defeating Mu-Jin of the Kongtong Sect, but also demonstrating incredible prowess in Yuxi against mighty foes like the Silent Night and the Tyrant Fist Sect.
These aplishments had earned him the alias Northern de, a grandiose title rarely bestowed upon young martial artists in the jianghu. In fact, he was the first since Dam Soo-Cheon, the Lone Star of the Azure Sky, to make such an impressive ssh.
Nevertheless, for Noh Tae-Tae, Jin Mu-Won was even greater than Dam Soo-Cheon. While Dam Soo-Cheon had gained fame through the Hundred Duels Trial, Jin Mu-Won had made his reputation by fighting on the brink of life and death.
Clearly, Jin Mu-Won was the catalyst for Kwak Moon-Jungs growth, she thought, nodding to acknowledge the boy.
She then turned to Yong Mu-Sung. Thank you for rescuing my third child. How can I ever repay your kindness?
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We only fulfilled our contract. It was our duty, so theres no need to thank us.
But my heart feels otherwise.
If you must thank someone, thank Jin Mu-Won. Saying this hurts my pride, but he did most of the work. Yong Mu-Sung scratched his head in embarrassment. Although it pained him to admit it, he couldnt take credit for someone elses effort.
Noh Tae-Tae smiled at his honesty. He, too, is an extraordinary person, she mused, then dered, Fine, but since you and the Iron Brigade have honored your contract, we of the White Dragon Merchant Association will do the same.
At her signal, a merchant produced a chest brimming with gold taels, enough to fulfill the wildest dreams of Yong Mu-Sung and hisrades.
These gold taels were verified by the most reputable banks in the jianghu. Please check them.
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Theres no need for that. We trust the White Dragon Merchant Associations integrity, Yong Mu-Sung replied, entrusting the chest to Jongri Mu-Hwan.
Please,e inside. Weve prepared a banquet in your honor, Noh Tae-Tae invited.
Im sorry, but we must decline.
What? But
Although we appreciate the gesture, we must reach Heavens Summit as soon as possible. I sincerely apologize for the rush.
Noh Tae-Tae was momentarily taken aback by Yong Mu-Sungs unexpected refusal, but she quickly regained herposure and saluted him, I see. If you must go, I wont stop you.
Thank you, Matriarch. Also Yong Mu Sung paused. He thought about mentioning Hwang Cheol, but decided against it. Yoon Ja-Myeong and Gong Jin-Sung had already seen Hwang Cheols martial arts skills firsthand and would surely inform Noh Tae-Tae. For the White Dragon Merchant Association, getting a top martial artist like Hwang Cheol and maintaining ties with Jin Mu-Won was an undeniable advantage.
As if she understood the reason for Yong Mu-Sungs silence, Noh Tae-Tae smiled. Escort Hwang is a valued member of our White Dragon Merchant Association. We will take care of his well-being, so you need not worry.
I worried for nothing. We will take our leave now. Please take care of yourselves, Yong Mu-Sung said.
I wish you all a safe journey, Master Yong and the Iron Brigade.
With a respectful bow, Yong Mu-Sung departed with the Iron Brigade.
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Hwang Cheol and Kwak Moon-Jung watched them go.
Sensing the urgency in Kwak Moon-Jungs clenched fist, Hwang Cheol encouraged, We have no time to lose. Lets head to the training grounds.
Yes! Kwak Moon-Jung replied, determination evident in his voice.
Even on their way here, they had trained whenever they had the chance, but time was always scarce.
Hyung, just wait a little longer. Ill get stronger and join you soon, Kwak Moon-Jung whispered, a fierce determination in his steps as he followed Hwang Cheol to the training grounds.
The city of Wuhan buzzed with unprecedented prosperity. Countless martial artists gathered there to enter Heavens Summit, attracting merchants and spectators from all over the Central ins. The citys inns and taverns were fully booked, nightclubs and brothels buzzed with life, and even street vendors reported record sales.
Althoughters had to pay exorbitant prices for the few remaining amodations, Jin Mu-Wons group had no trouble finding a ce to stay. Like other notable sects, the Tang n owned a modest butfortable estate in Wuhan, far from prying eyes.
That evening, Jin Mu-Won took a rxing stroll through the busy streets of Wuhan. Despite his growing reputation, few had actually seen his face, enabling him to walk around incognito.
After some time, arge brothel caught his eye. Courtesans in elegant dresses flirted from the windows, theirughter ringing out. Nheless, it was a small ck g below the window, a symbol of the ck Moon, that caught Jin Mu-Wons attention.
Without hesitation, he stepped inside and was immediately greeted by squealing courtesans.
Wee, handsome Young Master!
Oh my, what a tall and fetching Young Master we have tonight! Today must be our lucky day!
Y arent you reading this at northdetldo?
The expression on Jin Mu-Wons face remained unchanged in spite of their fussing, but this only made the courtesans more eager to vie for his attention.
Jin Mu-Won cut through their yful banter, saying, Im not here to drink.
Oh? And what does one seek in a brothel if not indulgence? one teased.
I seek the ck Moon.
The flirtatious eyes of the courtesans sharpened, draining the warmth from the room.
And who might you be, Young Master? one inquired, her demeanor shifting from flirtatious to deadly.
I am Jin Mu-Won.
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The Northern de? The womans cold facade cracked slightly. Lowering her voice, she asked, Are you truly the Northern de Jin Mu-Won?
Yes.
Come with me.
She led Jin Mu-Won down a corridor, asionally casting curious nces his way.
Just as Jin Mu-Won suspected, this was indeed the Wuhan branch of the ck Moon, essible only to those with considerable clout. Normally, Jin Mu-Won would have to verify his identity, but a recent unprecedented directive from the ck Moons leader had ordered them to help him unconditionally.
Is he really the Northern de? The courtesan wondered. She had heard about Jin Mu-Won, but had never seen him in person. The stories had described a formidable swordsman, but this young man seemed quite ordinary, except for his handsome appearance.
Reaching the end of the corridor, she tapped on the wall with a certain rhythm, revealing a secret room. Jin Mu-Won, who was familiar with such things, calmly followed her into the true location of ck Moons Wuhan branch.
Further inside, they approached a thick iron door. After a brief exchange through a small window, she turned to Jin Mu-Won. Please wait here. Theres another guest ahead of you.
Mmhmm, Jin Mu-Won nodded, then leaned casually against the wall, eyes closed.
When the door finally opened, the previous guest emerged. It was a hunchbacked old man dressed in rags, with matted hair and arge staff as his walking stick.
You ought to read this at northdetldo.
Jin Mu-Wons eyes flickered open in an instant.
Hehe, what a sturdy young man, the old man chuckled, shing him a yellow-toothed grin before disappearing down the hall.
Intrigued, Jin Mu-Won gaze lingered on the departing figure.
Please, enter, Master Jin, the courtesan beckoned to him.
Jin Mu-Won stepped through the door into a dimly lit room, thick with the scent of incense. Seated behind a low table, a middle-aged man with amanding aura and piercing eyes awaited him.
Wee, Northern de, he greeted. I am the head of the ck Moons Wuhan Branch. Please, take a seat.
Jin Mu-Won seated himself across from the man, the atmosphere tense yet respectful. Ivee for information, he said.
The branch head nodded. Of course, anything for the Northern de.
Chapter 152: Into the Tigers Den (2)
Chapter 152: Into the Tigers Den (2)
As soon as Jin Mu-Won stepped into the room, the musty smell of old paper hit him. The walls were lined with countless books, crammed together without a single inch of space left, while a faint light glowed from a phosphorescent pearl hanging from the ceiling.
Beneath the phosphorescent pearl sat a woman. The moment he saw her face, a flicker of surprise crossed Jin Mu-Wons eyes. She had a curvaceous, voluptuous figure, and her face was half-hidden by a veil, but her clear, bright eyes shone through.
Mae Wol-Ryung. Despite the veil, Jin Mu-Won recognized her instantly.
Mae Wol-Ryung seemed to recognize him too, her eyes gleaming with a hint of a smile as she greeted, Long time no see, Master Jin.
Miss Mae, what brings you here? Jin Mu-Won asked. He knew her as the head of the Sichuan branch of the ck Moon, so it puzzled him to see her here in Wuhan, far from Sichuan.
I was reassigned to Wuhan right after we parted ways, Master Jin. Now, Im the head of the Hubei branch.
Ah!
And you, Master Jin, have changed quite a bit.
Me?Youve made quite a name for yourself, so much so that no one would dare call you a neer to the jianghu anymore. Huhu, Ive been hearing about your exploits through Cheong-In. Theughter in Mae Wol-Ryungs eyes deepened. Jin Mu-Won might not have realized it, but as the only legitimate heir to the Northern Army and the most prominent prodigy in the current jianghu, his actions were a major point of interest for the ck Moon.
Regardless, being the legitimate heir of the Northern Army is a double-edged sword. Depending on how its used, it could be a great boon or a terrible bane, she thought.
What about Cheong-In?
He should arrive in Wuhan soon. Hes been very busy catching up on work at Headquarters.
northdetldo wees you.
What kind of work?
Report-writing. He has to detail every single event without missing a word to be assigned new tasks, but Cheong-In is terrible at writing, and hismunication skills arent great I always told him to practice writing, but he hasnt improved.
Mae Wol-Ryungs tone was expressionless, but for some reason, Jin Mu-Won felt as if she was gloating and imagined a wicked smirk lurking behind her veil.
But why are you here, Master Jin? Youre not thinking of joining the Demon Hunters, are you?
You seem to have a negative view of the Demon Hunters?
Hoho! Are you testing me? Anyone with even a little knowledge of the current state of the jianghu knows the Demon Hunters are not looked upon kindly. Many young martial artists enter Heavens Summit with high hopes, but how many are actually chosen for the Demon Hunters? The number of positions is limited, and most are already reserved by prestigious jianghu sects like the Nine Great Sects and the Five Major ns. The remaining positions are scarce and highlypetitive. Even for someone like you, Master Jin, would find it nearly impossible to secure a spot without a rmendation.
So, nine out of ten positions are already pre-determined?
Exactly. In the end, Heavens Summit is an alliance of major powers including the Nine Great Sects and the Five Major ns. The remaining positions are officially filled through selection events, but thepetition is so fierce among the smaller sects that vagabonds like you, Master Jin, cant even dream of winning, no matter how outstanding your skills are.
Without a solid background, it was impossible to enter Heavens Summit, and even if you got in, you couldnt rise to the top. That was the harsh reality of the current jianghu.
Jin Mu-Wons expression darkened after hearing Mae Wol-Ryungs exnation. He had suspected as much, but hearing it from her made it even more disheartening. The world that Heavens Summit created for themselves was a literal hell for him and the other young martial artists who werent born to privilege.
As Jin Mu-Wons gaze sank deeper, he unconsciously released an indescribable pressure, inadvertently immobilizing Mae Wol-Ryung.
Hes just as Cheong-In reported. Mae Wol-Ryung swallowed dryly. She had initially thought that Cheong-In had exaggerated, but from experience, she knew Cheong-In would rather understate rather than overstate.
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A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth behind the veil. So this is why Cheong-In didnt want to part with Master Jin.
After staring at Jin Mu-Won for a while, she changed the subject, asking, Still, I doubt you came just to ask about Cheong-In. What brings you here, Master Jin?
Im looking for someone.
Oh? Im curious who it is. Mae Wol-Ryung was truly intrigued. She knew that Jin Mu-Won had little contact with the jianghu and knew few people, so it piqued her curiosity that he was searching for someone.
His name is Seo Mu-Sang.
northdetldo wees you.
Seo Mu-Sang? Mae Wol-Ryung frowned slightly, not recognizing the name. That could only mean that Seo Mu-Sang was a person outside the ck Moons radar.
About ten years ago, he was dispatched to the Northern Army Fortress as an external affiliate. When it was destroyed, he returned to Heavens Summit.
So thats how you know him. Well, Ive never heard of him, but if hes alive, it wont be hard to find him, Mae Wol-Ryung readily agreed.
I appreciate it.
Until now, Jin Mu-Won hadnt contacted Seo Mu-Sang out of concern for his safety, but with his imminent entry into Heavens Summit, he needed to find his first sword.
Its not a difficult request, Mae Wol-Ryung admitted.
Jin Mu-Won gazed at her. Han-Seol He wanted to ask Mae Wol-Ryung to find Eun Han-Seols whereabouts, but he couldnt. Though closely connected to Cheong-In, the ck Moon was fundamentally a group of information brokers. Revealing Eun Han-Seols information to them was too dangerous.
Anyway, with the Silent Night reappearing, she would eventually show herself. It was only a matter of time.
So, just Seo Mu-Sang, then?
Yes.
Are you not curious about the Four Northern Pirs?
At this unexpected question, Jin Mu-Wons eyebrows twitched, and Mae Wol-Ryung seemed to enjoy his reaction, knowing from Cheong-Ins report that one of the Four Northern Pirs, Jo Cheon-Woo, had died at Jin Mu-Wons hands.
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Yeon Cheon-Hwa of the Greatsword Fortress has already entered Heavens Summit, she remarked temptingly.
Tsk! A low click of the tongue escaped Jin Mu-Wons lips. No matter how much he tried to remain calm, the mention of the Four Northern Pirs affected him greatly, especially Yeon Cheon-Hwa, who had yed a key role in the betrayal of the Northern Army, and whose obsession with the ultimate martial art surpassed even Jo Cheon-Woo.
Damn it. No matter how hard I try, the sinking sand of persistent grudges clings to my ankles, as if trying to drag me down to the bottom.
Why is he there?
Shall I find out?
No.
Why not? This is a trivial task for the ck Moon, Mae Wol-Ryung persisted, a hint of regret in her voice evident.
If hes here, Ill definitely run into him eventually, Jin Mu-Won dered with certainly. He and Yeon Cheon-Hwa would inevitably sh someday. It was unavoidable.
Whatever the oue, I will confront it.
If youre seeing this, you are at the wrong ce.
He rose to leave.
Taken aback by his unexpected answer, Mae Wol-Ryung seemed momentarily at a loss for words. When she saw him leaving, though, she quickly asked, Leaving already?
I have a lot to do, and very little time. Jin Mu-Won gave Mae Wol-Ryung a farewell greeting and left.
Mae Wol-Ryung stared at the closed door for a long time, before finally sighing, As Cheong-In said, hes truly not an easy man.
At that moment, a section of the wall opened, and an elderly man in a ck martial arts attire appeared. His face was crisscrossed with scars, making him look gruesome, but his eyes, as he gazed at Mae Wol-Ryung, were filled with loyalty.
Heuk-No, you heard everything?
Yes, Miss.
Find that Seo Mu-Sang person as your top priority.
But, Miss
Hes worth it. Cheong-In has already proven that.
I understand, Miss. Ill handle it. Heuk-No bowed deeply.
Read this at northdetldo, or else.
Jin Mu-Won left the building and wandered through the streets alone. The sun had already set andnterns illuminated the streets. Theughter of courtesans grew louder, and there were even more people out than during the day.
Countless people passed by Jin Mu-Won as he walked aimlessly, like a raft floating on the sea. Eventually, his gaze fell on argeke in the distance known as East Lake.
If there was West Lake in Hangzhou, then there was East Lake in Wuhan. It was six timesrger than West Lake and famous for its orchids in spring, lotus flowers in summer, osmanthus in fall, and plum blossoms in winter.
The most notablendmark of the East Lake was the Yellow Crane Tower, one of the three famous towers of Jiangnan. Offering a panoramic view of Wuhan and the entireke, its majestic and refined structure attracted many tourists throughout the year.
As if enchanted, Jin Mu-Won found himself walking toward East Lake. The vast expanse of the East Lake in the darkness was reminiscent of a great sea, with countless boats with litnterns floating on the dark water, mingled with theughter of men and women.
Nobles and martial artists frolicked with courtesans on the boats, while merchants set up stalls along thekeshore to attract people. Even though the Demon Hunter Selection had not yet begun, the ce was already festive. The excited atmosphere seeped into Jin Mu-Won, but his mood only grew more somber.
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He walked past the busykeshore and headed towards the Yellow Crane Tower.
Father.
His father, Jin Kwan-Ho, had once mentioned it in passing. If he ever had the chance, he wanted to have a drink with the heroes of the world at the Yellow Crane Tower.
Now, his son stood in his ce.
Suddenly reminded of the times long past, Jin Mu-Won couldnt help but feel a pang of sadness.
After staring at the Yellow Crane Tower for a moment, he began to climb. The tower was less crowded than expected, with only a few visitors gazing absentmindedly at the East Lake.
Jin Mu-Won ascended to the top floor. Strangely, it was deserted, except for one person. An elderly man, looking to be in histe sixties, stood there, holding a cane in one hand and a bottle of liquor in the other.
Ah! Isnt this great! Who needs immortals? Who needs emperors? When you let go of everything, you be both an immortal and an emperor! the old man rambled drunkenly at the top of his lungs.
Y arent you reading this at northdetldo?
It was probably him who chased away all the other visitors, Jin Mu-Won thought.
Then, the old man turned around and looked at Jin Mu-Won.
Jin Mu-Wons eyes flickered with recognition. The old man from the ck Moon.
Care for a drink? the old man offered.
Chapter 153: Into the Tigers Den (3)
Chapter 153: Into the Tigers Den (3)
The old man thrust out a hand, clutching a bottle of wine. Jin Mu-Won eyed it for a moment, then silently reached out and took it. Without hesitation, he drank deeply, and a glimmer sparked in the old mans eyes.
Hey, slow down there. If you want tost the night, you should pace yourself, the old man advised.
Jin Mu-Won lowered the bottle and handed it back.
The old man shook it, grumbling, Damn it! You drank a lot. Thirsty for booze, are you?
I just took what I was offered.
You sure are one smooth talker, arent you?
Jin Mu-Won sat down in front of the old man, gazing out over theke. The floatingnterns on the water resembled blooming lotus flowers.
You ought to read this at northdetldo.
Nice view, aint it? All one needs to enjoy it is a good bottle of wine and someone who will listen to my grievances.You mean someone to share a drink with, right?
No way, thats basically like adding dog shit to healing medicine.
So Im dog shit?
You should count yourself lucky. Not everyone gets to be this old mans dog shit.
Y arent you reading this at northdetldo?
Is that so?
The old man took a long swig from his bottle. Ah! This is great. With good booze and such a magnificent view, what more does one need in life? What else is there to covet? Isnt that right?
Jin Mu-Won remained silent.
The old man looked at him, puzzled. You think otherwise?
An elder like you, who has lived a fruitful life, might be able to let go of your regrets and aspirations. However, I still have many years ahead of me. Its a waste to settle for a bottle of wine and a nice view.
Hah! Look at this kid.
Surprised, the old man stared at Jin Mu-Won, but the young man calmly met his gaze.
In the end, the old man was the first to look away. Well! Youre cheeky, but I suppose a young man should have some spirit. Still, if you keep living like this, things wont end well for you. Sometimes, you need to bow your head to the world, he said.
Is that so?
Y arent you reading this at northdetldo?
Consider it advice from an old man whos seen more of the world than you.
Thanks for the tip. Ill remember it.
Hmph! At least youre notpletely pigheaded. Here, drink more.
The old man handed the bottle back to Jin Mu-Won, who epted it without a second thought. The wine was indeed as delicious as the old man boasted, far superior to the cheap stuff Jin Mu-Won had tasted before.
This is good.
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Its called the Thousand Days Fragrance. Its aroma is exquisite, but its so rare that you can only taste it around this time of year.
Jin Mu-Won handed back the bottle.
Taking it, the old man asked, Arent you curious about who I am? Why are you just epting my drinks and not asking any questions?
Would you answer if I asked?
Who knows?
Thats why Im not asking.
Hah! Were you born with that silver tongue? Tsk! The old man clicked his tongue, his eyes gleaming with a strange light, but Jin Mu-Won continued to stare at theke, seemingly oblivious.
The countless lotus flowers blooming on the dark water stirred something in him. It was important that he enjoyed the view his father had longed for while sharing a drink with someone, even if the old man wasnt a renowned hero.
Soon, the bottle was emptied.
Looking at it regretfully, the old man grumbled, Damn! I should have bought another bottle. Ill have to pester that rascal again.
Why arent you reading this at northdetldo?
Sorry, I must have drunk too much.
What are you sorry for? You kept a cranky old manpany when others shun me because they cant stand my drunken rants.
At that moment, loud voices echoed from the stairs.
Is this the ce?
Yes, we agreed to meet at the Yellow Crane Tower. The others should be arriving shortly.
Frowning, the old man stood up. Im out of wine, so Ill take my leave. I hope you enjoy the rest of your evening.
He threw the empty bottle outside the pavilion and jumped after it, disappearing into the darkness in an astonishing disy of movement arts.
Jin Mu-Won silently watched the old drunkard vanish.
As expected
He had suspected that the old man was a martial arts expert, otherwise he wouldnt have had the guts to enter the ck Moon. Nevertheless, the old man was much more skilled than Jin Mu-Won had imagined.
I could barely feel the flow of his inner arts. No, if it werent for the All-Epassing Cognition, I wouldnt have realized that he was a martial artist at all.
Jin Mu-Won understood the implication of that.
Hes an absolute master.
Why arent you reading this at northdetldo?
Jin Mu-Wons eyes flickered with excitement. Today is only my first day in Wuhan, yet I just happen to meet such a master twice in one day? A master is not only defined by his martial arts skills, but also by his ability to turn circumstances to his advantage. For them, there is no such thing as a coincidence.
Unconsciously, Jin Mu-Won ced a hand on Snow Flower and fondled it.
Wow! Its really quiet here, someone said from the direction of the stairs.
Looking back, Jin Mu-Won saw a group of young martial artists climbing the stairs of the tower. They all looked sharp and lively, dressed in fine silks with expensive weapons at their waists. The most striking was the young man leading them, tall with tanned skin and chiseled features. He looked around the pavilion, ncing briefly at Jin Mu-Won, but immediately lost all interest in him.
The younger boy next to him chattered like ark, Looks like were the first to arrive, Senior Brother.
Indeed.
Hearing their conversation, Jin Mu-Won walked towards the stairs, expecting more people to arrive. When he saw familiar faces among the neers, however, he stopped in his tracks.
It was Jwa Moon-Ho, Hyun Gong-Hwi, the Monochrome Twins and the rest of their entourage.
You? Jwa Moon-Ho eximed, scowling. Having shed with Jin Mu-Won before over Nam Soo-Ryun, his hostility was obvious.
Simrly, the Monochrome Twins, who had suffered at the hands of Jin Mu-Won, shuddered anxiously.
However, Hyun Gong-Hwi was different. Since he had fainted at the same time as Nam Soo-Ryun, he did not see Jin Mu-Won overwhelm the Monochrome Twins, and no one had bothered to inform him of Jin Mu-Wons true strength.
If youre seeing this, you are at the wrong ce.
Jin Mu-Won bowed slightly, greeting, Its been a while.
What are you doing here? Jwa Moon-Ho asked through gritted teeth. As Hyun Gong-Hwi fainted and the Monochrome Twins were injured, they missed the Yunmeng Marsh Riverboat and had to take the long, arduousnd route to Wuhan. It was impossible for him not to resent Jin Mu-Won.
Ive wanted to visit this ce for the longest time.
If youre done sightseeing, then please leave. We have a meeting here.
A thought crossed Jin Mu-Wons mind. Is the Azure Dragon Society holding a meeting here?
That seemed the most likely exnation. The young martial artists who had arrived earlier joined Jwa Moon-Hos group, suggesting they were part of the same organization.
Who is this man who can make Master Jwa react so sharply? Their eyes seemed to say as they watched the tense exchange curiously.
Jin Mu-Won frowned. He did not like Jwa Moon-Hos arrogant attitude, but neither did he want to cause trouble. In the end, he quietly turned to leave, but Hyun Gong-Hwi blocked his path.
Where is Nam Soo-Ryun? Hyun Gong-Hwi demanded.
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Answer me. Where is she?
Jin Mu-Won sighed. Why are you looking for her?
I havent finished my duel with her, Hyun Gong-Hwi growled, his eyes with aze with rage and frustration, unable to ept that he had tied with someone he considered vastly inferior to himself.
The young martial artists immediately flinched at the intensity of his aura.
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Jin Mu-Won, however, remained unperturbed. Shes in Wuhan, he replied calmly.
Where exactly?
I dont want to tell you.
You dare! Hyun Gong-Hwis eyebrows shot up as he released his killing intent.
Offended by Jin Mu-Wons defiance, the other young martial artists backed Hyun Gong-Hwi.
Sensing the rising tension, Jwa Moon-Ho bit his lip. This is bad. Its getting out of hand.
Though he disliked Jin Mu-Won, he knew when to be rational. The young martial artists werent just reacting to Hyun Gong-Hwis killing intent, Jin Mu-Wons confidence in their presence agitated them.
Jwa Moon-Ho quickly grabbed Hyun Gong-Hwis shoulder to hold him back.
Let go, or Ill consider you an enemy too! Hyun Gong-Hwi snarled.
Youll have plenty of chances to redeem your pride. Right now, we must prioritize the meeting.
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This meeting was orchestrated by Jwa Moon-Ho, not Shim Won-Yi or Seomoon Hye-Ryung, so he would bear the consequences if anything went wrong. Naturally, he was desperate.
Hyun Gong-Hwi red at Jwa Moon-Ho, his eyes burning with killing intent. Jwa Moon-Ho swallowed nervously but stood firm.
All of you need to calm down. Cease this at once, he addressed the others.
I dont want to The first young martial artist to arrive shook his head with a smile. His name was Namgoong Il-Geom, and he was from the Namgoong n, one of the Five Great ns. Naturally, he was curious about Jin Mu-Won, who had provoked such a violent reaction from Hyun Gong-Hwi, a member of the Seven Young Skies.
As Namgoong Il-Geom spoke, the other young martial artists began to whisper in hushed tones.
Jwa Moon-Ho ground his teeth and red at Jin Mu-Won. This is dangerous! This man could cause a rift in the Azure Dragon Society before it even takes flight.
Amidst the rising pressure, Jin Mu-Won stood serenely, the air around him shifting subtly.
Chapter 154: The Wind Summons the Clouds (1)
For centuries, the Namgung n had ruled over Anhui Province. They possessed countless supreme martial arts passed down through generations, but among them, their swordsmanship was the most renowned.
Foremost among their martial arts was the Royal Sword Stylea technique revered as the pinnacle of sword arts in the jianghu. Some even said it embodied the grandeur of an emperor.
However, since only the Namgung n Head could learn the Royal Sword Style, Namgung Il-Geom hadn''t had the opportunity to master it. Instead, he learned the Thirteen Lightning Swords.
Although overshadowed by the Royal Sword Style, the Thirteen Lightning Swords was in fact a powerful martial art that could be considered one of the greatest techniques in the entire jianghu.
As such, Namgung Il-Geom took immense pride in his swordsmanship.
However, due to the Namgung n''s rule that prohibited its members from entering the jianghu before reaching a certain level of martial arts mastery, Namgung Il-Geom had focused solely on training until now. As a result, he hadn''t had the opportunity to make his name known.
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Still, he never considered himself inferior to the Seven Young Skies.
Jwa Moon-Ho shot an uneasy look at Namgung Il-Geom. "Namgung-hyung, calm down.""Why should I?" Namgung Il-Geom shot back, the faint smile on his face growing wider as he noticed the nervous look on the usually proud Jwa Moon-Ho''s face.
Jwa Moon-Ho was clearly wary of Jin Mu-Won. That meant that if he could subdue Jin Mu-Won, his own standing within the Azure Dragon Society would surely rise.
Approaching Jin Mu-Won, he announced, "I am Namgung Il-Geom, a descendant of the great Namgung n."
"" Jin Mu-Won stared at him with a nk expression.
Namgung Il-Geom''s face flushed as he took in his opponent''s calm expression. He had expected at least a flicker of recognition or acknowledgment after revealing his name, but Jin Mu-Won gave him none.
In the Central ins, being a member of the Namgung nmanded respect. Moreover, as a direct descendant, rather than a distant branch rtive, he was in line to be the next n Head. When had anyone ever treated him with such disregard?
Growing irritated, Namgung Il-Geom remarked sharply, "When someone introduces themselves, it''s customary to do the same in return. It appears you''re not well-versed in jianghu etiquette."
"Etiquette is reserved for those who deserve it. Why should I tell you my name?" Jin Mu-Won replied emotionlessly.
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"What did you say?" Namgung Il-Geom''s voice rose in pitch, and as it did, his restrained aura burst forth, bearing down heavily on the young martial artists around him.
Only Jin Mu-Won, who stood directly in its path, remainedpletely unfazed. As impressive as Namgung Il-Geom''s aura seemed, to him, it was as innocuous as a gentle breeze.
"Are you looking down on the Namgung n?" Namgung Il-Geom demanded.
Jin Mu-Won shook his head nonchntly. "When did I ever say such a thing?"
"Looking down on me is the same as looking down on the Namgung n."
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"When did I look down on you?"
"How dare you talk back to me!" Namgung Il-Geom''s voice boomed, piercing every corner of the Yellow Crane Tower. At the same time, his aura surged outward, forcing the nearby martial artists to cover their ears and retreat a few steps.
Even Hyun Gong-Hwi seemed taken aback by the unexpected power.
Nevertheless, Jin Mu-Won remained unmoved, his face a mask of calm. "You''re the one acting strange. Do we know each other well enough to greet each other warmly? Or do you expect me to bow deeply just because you''ve announced that you''re from the great Namgung n?" he said sarcastically.
Namgung Il-Geom''s face flushed with anger. "Y-You"
Before he could finish his line though, Jin Mu-Won''s voice, low yet resonant enough to fill every corner of the pavilion, interrupted him. "Don''t get me wrong, I understand the weight that the name of the Namgung n carries. I know how hard your ancestors worked and how much they sacrificed to build its honor and reputation.
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"Regardless, you are now in the jianghu, where even your smallest actions reflect on the Namgung n as a whole. Do not tarnish the great name of your n."
"You bastard!" Namgung Il-Geom snarled. Unable to hold back any longer, he unsheathed his sword and threw his scabbard on the ground.
A deadly glint shed in Jin Mu-Won''s eyes as the cold de caught the light.
Stepping forward and blocking Namgung Il-Geom''s path, Jwa Moon-Ho called out, "Stop! Master Namgung!"
However, Namgung Il-Geom shoved him aside.
Jin Mu-Won steeled his gaze. A sword was a weapon designed to inflict harm, and the scabbard served as a basic safeguard and a symbol of restraint. Discarding it was tantamount to announcing one''s intent to kill.
Is he seriously trying to kill me because his pride was slightly wounded? How childish.
Without giving anyone a chance to intervene, Namgung Il-Geom''s sword sliced through the air toward Jin Mu-Won.
"How dare you lecture me! I''ll teach you a lesson for your arrogant insolence!" he roared.
"No!" Jwa Moon-Ho shout echoed through the pavilion, but it was toote.
Namgung Il-Geom''s sword shot toward Jin Mu-Won''s throat like a bolt of lightning, zeroing in on a vital point where even a slight graze could be fatal.
When one attacks with the intent to kill, they must be prepared to die themselves. That is the rule of the jianghu, Jin Mu-Won mused, narrowing his eyes as he extended two fingers toward the iing sword.
CRACK!
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At the exact instant of contact, Jin Mu-Won unleashed the Weapon-Shattering Finger, shattering Namgung Il-Geom''s sword and scattering metal fragments in every direction.
"Keuk!" Namgung Il-Geom staggered back, coughing up blood as the force of the recoil struck him.
Before he couldpose himself, Jin Mu-Won darted forward, swift and low, moving with the deadly grace of a wolf on the hunt. Under the dim light of the surroundingnterns, his eyes burned with a terrifying glow, and killing intent flooded the space around Namgung Il-Geom, binding him in ce as if caught in an invisible.
Helpless, Namgung Il-Geom stared at Jin Mu-Won in a state of shock. Everything, from Jin Mu-Won''s billowing reddish-brown coat, to the cursed sword Snow Flower, to the eyes that shed ominously like a predator, made him feel as though he was standing before the God of Death.
"Enough!" Hyun Gong-Hwi bellowed, leaping forward and intervening in the fight. Not only could he not allow Namgung Il-Geom to die, but he also relished the opportunity to confront Jin Mu-Won directly.
WHOOSH!
The crescent moon de at his side sprang free, glinting like the deadly fang of a venomous snake.
"Damn it!" Jwa Moon-Ho cursed, gritting his teeth and entering the fray as well. He wasn''t sure how things had gotten to this point, but if Namgung Il-Geom died at Jin Mu-Won''s hands, the repercussions would be catastrophic for everyone there, including himself.
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On the other hand, the Monochrome Twins cautiously retreated. They''d nearly been killed by Jin Mu-Won once already, and instinct prevented them from challenging him again.
Hyun Gong-Hwi''s crescent moon dao shed at Jin Mu-Won''s side, as Jwa Moon-Ho''s sword swung in from behind. Their attacks weren''t coordinated, but together they formed a natural pincer.
In response, Jin Mu-Won spun around, deliberately allowing his loose coat to billow out in a wide arc that briefly obscured his form. Timing his counterattack to the moment when both Jwa Moon-Ho and Hyun Gong-Hwi lost sight of him, he snapped his leg forward like a whip,nding a powerful kick squarely on Jwa Moon-Ho''s chest.
"Gah!" Jwa Moon-Ho stumbled back, reeling.
Without missing a beat, Jin Mu-Won struck Hyun Gong-Hwi''s crescent moon dao with Snow Flower''s scabbard.
CLANG!
Sparks scattered as metal collided.
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"Ugh!" Hyun Gong-Hwi groaned. His hand had gone numb from the force of the blow. He had prepared himself for a light deflection, but the impact was much greater than he had expected. Clutching his dao with both hands, he realized he''d need every ounce of his strength just to block his opponent''s merciless blows.
Meanwhile, Jin Mu-Won closed in on Hyun Gong-Hwi with his palm outstretched, his movements flowing as naturally as running water.
rmed, Hyun Gong-Hwi immediately tried to form a barrier with qi, but he was too slow.
SLAM!
"Ahhh!" Hyun Gong-Hwi flew backward, hurtling away twice as fast as he had charged in.
Still, the fight wasn''t over yet. Jin Mu-Won drew Snow Flower from its scabbard, casting a fierce blue light across the scene.
If youre seeing this, you are at the wrong ce.
"Damn it!" Jwa Moon-Ho growled, struggling to rise as he wiped the blood from his mouth.
Just then, he felt something cold press against his neck. ncing down, he realized that it was Jin Mu-Won''s scabbard. Without thinking, he gulped, feeling his heart pounding in his chest.
Keeping Jwa Moon-Ho pinned with the scabbard in his left hand, Jin Mu-Won raised Snow Flower in his right, thrusting it straight at Namgung Il-Geom.
Seeing the cursed energy of the de glinting in the faint light, Namgung Il-Geom''s heart sank. Unable to move from the pressure of Jin Mu-Won''s killing intent, he could only watch in helpless horror as Snow Flower plunged toward his heart.
"No! Stop! Please!" Jwa Moon-Ho''s desperate shout echoed through the pavilion once more. If Namgung Il-Geom died, Jin Mu-Won wouldn''t be the only one who was finished, he would be doomed as well. The strength of the Three Rings Sword Sect was nothingpared to the might of the Namgung n.
The Monochrome Twins gritted their teeth, an involuntary response to the scene unfolding before them. They felt as if they were witnessing something that should never be seena moment that would etch itself into their minds forever.
The other young martial artists shared the same feeling, frozen in ce, not even daring to breathe too loudly.
Jin Mu-Won silently gazed down upon at Namgung Il-Geom, his eyes cold and unyielding.
Namgung Il-Geom wanted to look away, to escape that paralyzing gaze, but Jin Mu-Won''s eyes held him captive, stripping away every facade.
He shivered, feeling exposed, as though his very soul had beenid bare.
After a moment that felt like an eternity, Jin Mu-Won straightened up and slid Snow Flower back into its scabbard.
SHIING!
After ncing around, Jin Mu-Won descended the stairs. No one moved to stop him. They were too overwhelmed by his presence to even try.
"S-Stop right there!" Hyun Gong-Hwi finally managed to squeeze out a shout, but by then, Jin Mu-Won was already gone.
"Guh" A low groan slipped from Namgung Il-Geom''s lips.
A terrible trauma that would be a lifelong shackle had been etched into his mind. From now on, no matter how many years passed, every time he saw Jin Mu-Won, the memory of this defeat would resurface, as vivid as the day it happened.
For a martial artist, it was a fate worse than death.
Trantor''s Note: Master Baek has caught up, so weekly releases for Northern de will resume.
Chapter 155: The Wind Summons the Clouds (2)
A dense maze of buildings sprawled across the premises of Heaven''s Summit, with dozens of pavilions bothrge and small dotting the area. At first nce, they seemed randomly scattered, but each one stood exactly where it was meant to be, following an intricate, invisible order.
Among these structures were a number of pavilions shrouded in mystery, strictly off-limits to outsiders. High walls fenced off each area, and entry took more than a simple pass; it required rigorous identity verification and relentless scrutiny.
The Great Chasm Pavilion was one such ce. It was renowned for its delicate yet grandiose wall decorations, and the fact that it was always guarded by three or four vignt warriors. Their gaze missed nothing, constantly scanning every corner of the pavilion.
A young man walked up to the door. He was of average build, but lean and chiseled. His face seemed ordinary at first nce, but there was a sharp intensity in his eyes. His tightly clenched fists bulged like knotted wood, hinting at thetent power within.
Approaching one of the guards stationed near the entrance, he asked, "Has my uncle arrived?"
"He''s inside now," the guard replied.
"Let him know I''ve arrived."
"Yes, sir!"
This young man was Jo Un-Kyung, the eldest son of the Fist Demon Jo Cheon-Woo and heir to the Tyrant Fist Sect.Soon, a message came from within, inviting him to proceed. Jo Un-Kyung entered the pavilion and headed straight to the chamber in its deepest recesses.
The inner chamber was austere, devoid of any furnishings or decorations, except for the dozens of swords hanging on the walls. Each sword was unique, there were great swords, long swords, broad swords, and beautifully decorated precious des. It seemed as if all the famous swords of the Central ins were gathered here.
A man in histe forties, dressed in an extremely luxurious blue silk robe with his hair neatly tied in a hero''s headband, sat in the middle of the room. Thin as a skewer and small in stature, he appeared unimpressive, but his eyes shed with deadly keenness, and an overwhelming aura emanated from him, dominating the surroundings.
He was a man who embodied the very essence of a finely polished sword.
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Jo Un-Kyung bowed his head respectfully. "It''s been a long time, Uncle."
The man looked up. "Ah, Un-Kyung."
As was only natural, Jo Un-Kyung was impably polite. The man he called ''Uncle'' was Phantom Sword Yeon Cheon-Hwa, one of the world''s greatest swordsmen, a member of the Four Northern Pirs like his father Jo Cheon-Wo, and the current Lord of the Greatsword Fortress.
Jo Un-Kyung asked, "Yes, it''s been a while. How have you been?"
"Thank you for your concern, I''ve been well," Yeon Cheon-Hwa replied, his voice as cold and piercing as his gaze, each wordced with a swordlike edge.
"That''s good to hear."
"I heard you came to Heaven''s Summit for the Demon Hunter Selections. How is your father? It''s been a long time since Ist saw him."
"Well" Jo Un-Kyung hesitated.
"What''s wrong?" Noticing his hesitation, Yeon Cheon-Hwa stood up, a cold energy like a northern wind filling the room. "Speak. Did something happen to Cheon-Woo?"
"I lost contact with my father recently."
"What? Exin."
"He left the Tyrant Fist Sect with some elites one day, and then suddenly disappeared without a trace."
"Hmm!" Yeon Cheon-Hwa frowned deeply. "Didn''t he just go on a vacation? Even back when he served in the Northern Army, Cheon-Woo used to disappear like that sometimes."
"I wish that were true, but this time it''s different. Even when he went on vacation, Father never broke contact for more than three days, but now I haven''t heard from him for more than a month," Jo Un-Kyung exined.
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Yeon Cheon-Hwa''s expression became grave. Jo Cheon-Woo was a martial artist of the highest caliber, a master on par with himself, and the Sect Leader of the massive Tyrant Fist Sect. A sect could fall into chaos if neglected for even one day, so it was inconceivable for him to go missing for a month without contact.
Most importantly, he knew Jo Cheon-Woo better than most. It was not in his nature to be irresponsible.
"Then who is managing the Tyrant Fist Sect right now?"
"For now, the elders are working on it jointly, but if Father''s absence continues, tensions might grow among them."
"Hmph!" Yeon Cheon-Hwa snorted. Officially, he and Jo Cheon-Woo were rivals, each keeping the other in check, but in therger scheme of things, they were allies, bound by the collective fate of the Four Northern Pirs.
After all, united under that banner, they could wield greater authority. As such, Jo Cheon-Woo''s disappearance was not something he could overlook.
"Tell me in detail what happened."
A tense atmosphere, like a well-honed sword about to be drawn from its sheath, filled the room. In that charged silence, Jo Un-Kyung recounted his story.
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Jin Mu-Won returned to the Tang Manorte that night, his face clouded with aplex mix of emotions. The scuffle with Jwa Moon-Ho and the other prodigies didn''t bother him, instead, his thoughts lingered on the strange old man he had met at the Yellow Crane Tower.
Just who on earth is he?
The old man''s gaze had stirred something familiar in him, as if he''d seen it somewhere before, but he couldn''t remember exactly where.
While he was lost in thought, suddenly, the sound ofughter rang out nearby.
"Hahaha! Finally, I can use inner arts too!"
Jin Mu-Won shook his head. Just from theughter, he could tell who it was.
Myeong Ryu-San.
Intrigued, Jin Mu-Won went to the training ground where he saw Tang Gi-Mun and Ha Jin-Wol standing with Myeong Ryu-San, who wasughing frivolously as usual. At Myeong Ryu-San''s feet, there was a small rock that had split in two, the product of his recent qi attack.
Ha Jin-Wol clicked his tongue. "Tsk! That bloke''s finally lost it."
"Well, that''s understandable," Tang Gi-Mun replied with a satisfied smile. "It''s only been a few days, but he can already infuse qi into his attacks."
Tang Gi-Mun had put a lot of effort into training Myeong Ryu-San, and his rapid progress with Poison Qi was impressive. He was getting stronger by the day, and although his Conception and Governing Meridians were still blocked, preventing him from using qi freely, at this rate, he would soon break through.
However, as his inner arts grew stronger, so did his arrogance. He, who was previously submissive toward Ha Jin-Wol and Tang Gi-Mun, now disyed a newfound boldness.
The two of them found his behavior absurd, but on the other hand, they felt sympathy for him, realizing how much he must have suppressed himself until now.
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At that moment, Jin Mu-Won entered the training area.
"Wee back," the two greeted him warmly.
Myeong Ryu-San grinned at Jin Mu-Won. "So, you''re here?"
Jin Mu-Won frowned at the hint of provocation in his tone.
Unconcerned, Myeong Ryu-San leaned in close. "Guess what? I can use qi now."
"So?" Jin Mu-Won replied.
"Just wait a little. I''ll catch up with you soon. Hahaha!"
Jin Mu-Won raised an eyebrow at the cocky boast and cast a sideways nce at Tang Gi-Mun.
Tang Gi-Mun shrugged. "I think his brain''s kind of addled from all that Poison Qi. Just think of it as a madman''s ramblings."
Fortunately, Myeong Ryu-San, drunk on his newfound power, didn''t hear him.
Instead, he felt unstoppable. I''m not quite there yet, but soon, I''ll definitely surpass that bastard!
Laughing triumphantly, he left the training ground.
Ha Jin-Wol shook his head. "What you''re doing is giving a child a dangerous weapon. Are you going to keep forcing him to ingest poison?"
Tang Gi-Mun sighed, "What choice do I have? Since he''s started taking poison, he can''t stop now."
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"Haa" Ha Jin-Wol let out a sigh.
Turning to Jin Mu-Won, Tang Gi-Mun asked, "So, how did your outing go?"
Jin Mu-Won told them about what happened at the Yellow Crane Tower.
"You ran into a master of that level?" Tang Gi-Mun''s expression grew solemn. The appearance of a figure who could potentially shift the bnce of the jianghu was no small matter.
Ha Jin-Wol looked at Jin Mu-Won. "This is just the beginning. No one knows how many more masters will gather here. What''s certain is that through the Demon Hunter Selection, the deepest, darkest ambitions within the jianghu will be stirred."
A shadow fell over his eyes. The Demon Hunter Selection held by Heaven''s Summit was attracting everyone in the jianghu like a hungry ghost with an insatiable appetite. Numerous sects and martial artists, blinded by desire, were flocking here, causing the intertwining of ambitions and creating new grudges and enmities.
Wuhan and Heaven''s Summit had already be a battlefield.
Is this also Seomoon Hwa''s doing?
No matter how much he thought about it, he could not think of anyone else who could orchestrate such chaos with such precision. The problem was that he didn''t know what Seomoon Hwa''s intentions were.
"The invisible war has already begun. From now on, even the smallest mistake cannot be tolerated. You must keep this in mind," Ha Jin-Wol said.
"I understand," Jin Mu-Won replied.
"And about the fight with those prodigies You did well. In the jianghu, once you''re seen as a fool, you''ll be forced to give in endlessly. When that happens, there won''t even be a palm''s width of space left for you. Don''t let anyone look down on you."
"Mmhmm."
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Ha Jin-Wol smiled slightly, sensing Jin Mu-Won''s sincerity.
Yes, it''s only you. Only you canpletely shake up the chessboard set up by Seomoon Hwa and Heaven''s Summit!
Casually ced his hand on Jin Mu-Won''s shoulder, he smirked. "Now, shall we stir up some real trouble? Ufufufu!"
Chapter 156: The Wind Summons the Clouds (3)
Chang Hye and Chang Gung trailed closely behind the Seven Star Sage as they navigated through Heaven''s Summit, both looking more serious than ever. They eventually arrived at a pavilion with a sign that read "ܸ"the Central Administration Hall.
The Central Administration Hall was where the financial affairs of Heaven''s Summit were managed. They handled the massive amount of money needed to run the organization, and made even more by investing in businesses all over the jianghu. Through these efforts, Heaven''s Summit''s wealth had grown exponentially, so much so that no one could even estimate the extent of their wealth.
Naturally, the security at the Central Administration Hall was exceedingly strict. Countless first-ss martial artists guarded it around the clock, making it an impregnable fortress.
One of the guards, d in a purple martial arts uniform with a huge dao at his waist, stepped in front of the Seven Star Sage, exuding an overwhelming aura of power and intimidation. "Hold it right there! This is the Central Administration Hall. Those without prior appointments are forbidden from entering."
He was Jeong Yeol-Gwak, the Captain of the Purple Tiger Corps tasked with guarding the Central Administration Hall. No one could enter or leave without his permission.
The Seven Star Sage stepped forward. "I am the Seven Star Sage of Mount Hua Sect. I have an appointment, so please check your guest register."
"Please wait a moment."
Soon a soldier of the Purple Tiger Corps came running with the register. Jeong Yeol-Gwak checked it, then bowed to the Seven Star Sage. "I have confirmed your appointment, Seven Star Sage, and I apologize for my rudeness earlier. Lately, many people have been showing up unannounced, so I was being cautious."
You ought to read this at northdetldo."Is it because of the Demon Hunters'' Selection?"
"It seems so. Now, please proceed inside, the Chief Administrator is expecting you."
"Very well, keep up the good work."
The Seven Star Sage, along with Chang Gung and Chang Hye, passed through the doors and entered the Central Administration Hall.
Jeong Yeol-Gwak watched them for a while before turning back to his men. "All of you, stay alert."
"Yes, sir!"
As the hub of Heaven''s Summit''s operations, the Central Administration Hall was enormous beyond words,rger than most medium-sized sects. Its grounds included three halls, fourrge warehouses, a massive training ground, and a rear garden with artificial hills.
"Hmm!"
"Wow!"
As they walked through the Hall, Chang Gung and Chang Hye couldn''t help but exim in admiration at the immense scale. Such a grandplex was rare even in the Mount Hua Sect. It was hard to believe that this was merely a single Central Administration Hall.
The Seven Star Sage entered thergest building, and a servant who had been waiting guided him to the innermost chamber.
When the group opened the door, it revealed a roomrge enough for dozens of children to y in. The room was decorated with an antique elegance, the walls lined with rare artifacts that ordinary people might never see in a lifetime, and the wide windows offering a panoramic view of Heaven''s Summit.
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Inside the room, a man dressed like a schr, wearing a white robe and a schr''s cap, was moving a small brush over a piece of paper in front of him. Apparently in histe fifties, he couldn''t hide the signs of time, his hair graying and his forehead etched with deep wrinkles. Nevertheless, there was not a trace of impurity in his clear, deep ck eyes, which made his age seem irrelevant.
He was Gwan Dae-Seung, the Chief Administrator who oversaw the actual affairs of Heaven''s Summit, the real governing authority behind Heaven''s Summit''s vast operations, and one of the most influential figures in the jianghu.
Whether he noticed the Seven Star Sage''s arrival or not, Gwan Dae-Seung continued working, while the Seven Star Sage remained silent, patiently waiting for him to finish.
Finally, Gwan Dae-Seung stopped writing and folded the paper neatly. After cing it in an envelope and sealing it, he looked at the Seven Star Sage and said, "You have arrived, Seven Star Sage. I apologize for my rudeness. I had to give an urgent order regarding the budget allocations."
"No worries, such things happen frequently when handling major affairs. Everyone knows how busy you are, Chief Administrator Gwan."
Gwan Dae-Seung shed a friendly smile. "Thank you for your understanding."
Seeing him like this, the Seven Star Sage was convinced that the jianghu''s assessment of him was correct. Even though Gwan Dae-Seung effectively led the colossal organization known as Heaven''s Summit, there were no rumors or scandals surrounding him. He was known for his humble and unpretentious nature, never looking down on anyone, and it was widely believed that he was impartial and handled matters fairly and objectively.
"So, what brings you to see me, Seven Star Sage? Is it regarding the Demon Hunter Selection?" Gwan Dae-Seung asked.
"No, actually" The Seven Star Sage detailed the series of events that had urred on the Yunmeng Marsh Riverboat.
As he listened, Gwan Dae-Seung''s expression grew increasingly grave. "So, you''re saying that individuals bearing a two-faced asura tattoo are operating covertly within the jianghu?"
"Yes, and I believe there are more of them in the jianghu besides the ones we''ve encountered."
"Hmm If that''s true, then that''s a very serious problem."
"Does Heaven''s Summit have any information on such an organization?"
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"As you know, Seven Star Sage, all of Heaven''s Summit''s intelligence resources are currently mobilized to monitor the movements of the Silent Night. Therefore, we''re somewhat vulnerable regarding events urring within the Central ins."
The Seven Star Sage frowned bitterly. "Because of this incident, a first-ss disciple of the Mount Hua Sect has died. On behalf of the Mount Hua Sect, I formally request Heaven''s Summit to investigate the organization that uses a two-faced asura as its symbol."
"Hmm This matter does not seem to be something that I can decide on my own. I will report it to the Nine Skies and take appropriate measures," Gwan Dae-Seung replied solemnly.
"I''ll entrust this to you, Chief Administrator Gwan."
"Of course, it''s my duty. No need for thanks."
The Seven Star Sage''s expression rxed a bit. He knew that with Gwan Dae-Seung on the case, a thorough investigation into the organization symbolized by the two-faced asura would surely be initiated.
Chang Woon, please wait just a little longer. I''ll definitely clear your name.
The Seven Star Sage gave Gwan Dae-Seung a sped hands salute and then exited.
Gwan Dae-Seung gazed silently at the retreating figure of the Seven Star Sage. Once he waspletely out of sight, the faint smile on Gwan Dae-Seung''s lips faded away, and his demeanor and aura changed as if he were a different person. The rxed smile, warm as a spring breeze, vanished without a trace, reced by an expression as unreadable as iron, making it impossible to guess what he was thinking.
He looked out the window at the vast expanse of Heaven''s Summit. The endlessnd of absolute powerhouses, the ideal world of martial artists that he had painstakingly constructed,y stretched out before his eyes.
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Jin Mu-Won sat cross-legged in the back garden of the mansion, Snow Flower resting gracefully on hisp. Shortly after returning from the Yellow Crane Tower, he had begun meditating.
This city was practically enemy territory. Far more people were hostile to him than friendly, and their power was beyond anything he could imagine.
Among the martial artists here, there wasn''t a single person who wasn''t a master, nor was there anyone who didn''t have strong connections. If that wasn''t bad enough, most of them were his potential enemies.
Therefore, after meeting the mysterious old man yesterday, Jin Mu-Won felt the need to reevaluate his martial arts.
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Since his journey from the northern regions, his martial arts had improved dramatically. He was apletely different personpared to before, and as a result, he had now lost sight of his own limits.
He needed to calm his excitement and clearly understand his abilities. Only then could he make levelheaded judgments and respond appropriately to any situation.
First, the Art of Ten Thousand Shadows.
His primary martial art, the Art of Ten Thousand Shadows, epassed the collective knowledge of the sessive Lords of the Northern Army. However, it remained iplete, making Jin Mu-Won a trailzer. Despite that, its vast content was difficult to master, and itsbat techniques were still far from fully refined.
Jin Mu-Won activated the Art of Ten Thousand Shadows, allowing the shadow qi thaty dormant deep within his qi center to flow through his body.
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SWISH!
Like ink spreading silently, the shadow qi permeated his entire body without a trace. Even though Jin Mu-Won was using his inner arts, no one in the manor noticed. As the shadow qi moved, his All-Epassing Cognizance also awakened.
The range of his senses began to expand. From ten meters to twenty meters, then to thirty meters. Even with his eyes closed, the movements of insects and the falling leaves were vividly depicted in his mind.
This was his sphere of influence, the space where he could fully exert his potential.
Approximately thirty meters.
He already knew this. This was the limit he had reached previously.
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Is that all? My limit, the limit I''m imposing on myself
Jin Mu-Won gritted his teeth and poured more power into his inner arts, but still, the range of his senses didn''t extend beyond thirty meters. Nevertheless, he didn''t give up.
I don''t need to double or triple it. If I can just expand it by even one meter
To grasp this one possibility, Jin Mu-Won poured all his energy into circting his qi. Cold sweat ran down his back, but he was so absorbed in the Art of Ten Thousand Shadows that he didn''t even notice.
How much time had passed? Suddenly, Jin Mu-Won leapt to his feet and broke into a sword dance.
Snow Flower carved through the air, and the light reflected from the sword shimmered in the pre-dawn sky.
Jin Mu-Won danced around the garden at a terrifying speed, unleashing the Shadow de of Destruction while incorporating the Flowing Stream Foot Technique. Like flowing water, his movements were sometimes savage like a raging torrent, and sometimes gently swirling like a small creek.
Jin Mu-Won swung his sword again and again in the sea of tranquility, the only sounds being the slicing of the sword through the air and the fluttering of his clothes.
In the distance, Myeong Ryu-San was hiding behind a wall, watching Jin Mu-Won with wide-open eyes and clenched teeth and fists.
"T-That guy"
Someone much stronger than him was practicing martial arts past midnight and into the wee hours of the morning.
SWOOSH! WHOOSH!
Every time Jin Mu-Won swung his sword, Myeong Ryu-San felt a chilling sensation as if his own chest was being cut. It was so terrifyingly sharp that he couldn''t help but shiver.
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"Why is such a master still training at this hour"
Just a few hours ago, Myeong Ryu-San had been ecstatic about finally being able to project his qi externally. Overjoyed at the thought of bing a master himself, he had even enjoyed a celebratory drink.
On the other hand, Jin Mu-Won was still immersed in martial arts at this hour.
In the darkness, Jin Mu-Won''s swordsmanship seemed mesmerizingly beautiful.
Myeong Ryu-San''s face flushed with shame.
At that moment, Ha Jin-Wol approached him. He had alsoe out and seen Jin Mu-Won immersed in martial arts.
"Why on earth is he" Myeong Ryu-San muttered to himself.
He couldn''t understand it with hismon sense. If he had Jin Mu-Won''s martial prowess, he would have spent every day indulging in pleasure and luxury.
Ha Jin-Wol replied, "Did you think he was lucky? That he was chosen? No, what he has is the unwavering conviction of someone who has lived every day as if it were hisst for over a decade."
""
"Never speak ill of him again. The path he has walked is not so easy that he should be belittled by one who has not lived to the fullest. The strength of the Northern de is a tower built by constantly toeing the line between life and death. What about you? What kind of mindset do you live with every day? Do you truly have any conviction in your heart?"
"" Myeong Ryu-San couldn''t answer.
Chapter 157: Some People Are Extremely Petty (1)
If one were to capture the essence of the Hubei Province''s current state, the phrase "eye of the storm" would be most fitting. Countless sects had entered Wuhan and Heaven''s Summit, to the point where some even imed that a quarter of the jianghu''s martial artists had gathered here.
Those words were by no means an exaggeration. While the actual number of individuals might have been rtively small, those assembled either represented the very pinnacle of their respective sects, or were warriors who had recently proven their mettle in the murim.
As the geniuses and top experts of the jianghu gathered, it was only natural that all the intelligence organizations in the murim moved to identify them.
Among them was the Illusionary Killers, an assassination guild that, like itspetitors, thrived on contract killings. For them, the Demon Hunters'' Selection at Heaven''s Summit was a golden opportunity to identity the rising stars of the jianghu and gather information that might be useful to them when they received assassination contracts in the future.
Recognizing the importance of this event, Go San-Wol, the Sect leader of the Illusionary Killers, had set up a temporary base of operations in Wuhan. Whenever a person of interest appeared, his assassins would closely monitor them,pile a registry, and ssify them ording to their martial prowess.
Go San-Wol, also known as the ck Butterfly, was a legend among assassins, having carried out 142 sessful assassinations in his lifetime, including taking down more than twenty famous martial artists and even a supreme peak expert. This made him not only a legend among assassins, but also a figure of fear for the people. In the jianghu, it was an epted fact that once someone appeared on the assassination list of the Illusionary Killers, they wouldn''t survive for more than three days.
Currently, though, Go San-Wol was entertaining an unexpected guest at his residence. As he stared at the unwee visitor, a look of puzzlement crossed his face. He recognized this young martial artist.
Jwa Moon-Ho of the Three Rings Sword Sect.
The Three Rings Sword Sect was a prestigious sect in the Shandong region, and its influence was by no means small. Jwa Moon-Ho was known to be an exceptionally talented disciple of the sect leader of the Three Rings Sword Sect. However, this fact wasn''t particrly important, as the Illusionary Killers already knew this information.What truly perplexed Go San-Wol was how Jwa Moon-Ho had managed to pinpoint their secret base and boldly walk through its front door. The Wuhan location was meant to bepletely ndestine. For an assassination guild that relied on secrecy and surprise, such a breach was unthinkable. It could only mean one thing: the Illusionary Killers had beenpromised.
This base was an interim location established just ten days ago. Could our movements have been detected in such a short time?
A sh of killing intent appeared in Go San-Wol''s eyes as he considered murdering Jwa Moon-Ho and relocating the base.
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However, Jwa Moon-Ho seemed to read his thoughts and spoke first, "Don''t bother. It won''t make any difference."
Go San-Wol frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Even if you kill me and move your base, we''ll find it again soon enough. We have the smartest person in the world in our group, and with her abilities, tracking your guild''s movements is a trivial matter."
"Oh? I''m curious about this group you speak of," Go San-Wol said threateningly.
Assassination guilds were at their most powerful when they hid in the shadows and struck by surprise. From the moment their naked faces were exposed in broad daylight, they were no longer a threat.
Jwa Moon-Ho smiled. Of course, he wasn''t the one who had discovered the Illusionary Killers'' base, but Seomoon Hye-Ryung. True to her reputation as the smartest woman in the world, Seomoon Hye-Ryung had gathered information on numerous sects in the jianghu, including the Illusionary Killers. Go San-Wol may have thought that he had secretly established a base in Wuhan, but in reality, their movements were being closely monitored by Seomoon Hye-Ryung''s intelligencework.
Jwa Moon-Ho did his best to keep fromughing, although frankly, he was enjoying the sight of Go San-Wol''s difort.
"Even if I told you, you wouldn''t know. It''s not a group that has revealed itself to the world yet," he said.
Go San-Wol snorted. "Hmph! So it''s a secret society?"
"Well, if you insist on putting it that way, I guess so. In any case, our group has already grasped the Illusionary Killers'' every move."
"Do you think you know everything about the Illusionary Killers just by finding out about one temporary base?"
"The Jade Mountains in Jiangxi Province."
Read this at northdetldo, or else.
""
"That''s where the Illusionary Killers'' headquarters is, right?"
Go San-Wol red at Jwa Moon-Ho with a terrifying gaze. The fact that the young man''s group had located his guild''s headquarters was synonymous with them having a de at his neck.
Given the nature of an assassination guild whose main business was contract killing, they had numerous enemies, including many of the jianghu''s prestigious sects. If their location was leaked, it could lead to the destruction of the Illusionary Killers.
Jwa Moon-Ho leaned back in his chair, confident that he had the initiative now.
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Go San-Wol red at Jwa Moon-Ho for a long time with eyes filled with murderous intent, but eventually, he relented, asking, "What do you want from us?"
"What else could a person want from an assassins'' guild?"
"You want to make a deal with us?"
"Yes, please kill one person for us. In return, we''ll make sure that the Illusionary Killers can operate with ease."
Jwa Moon-Ho smiled. He knew that Go San-Wol could not possibly refuse his offer.
"Hmm Who is the target?"
"Jin Mu-Won."
"The Northern de?"
Go San-Wol''s eyebrows twitched.
Jin Mu-Won opened his eyes, dusted off his clothes and stood up.
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Ha Jin-Wol approached him as if he had been waiting for him. "Did you have an epiphanyst night?" he asked.
Jin Mu-Won shook his head.
"Then?"
"I just organized my thoughts a bit."
"So, did you manage to sort things out?"
"At least, I don''t feel confused anymore."
"That''s good."
There was a saying that when all things reached their pinnacle, they would be connected. Since Ha Jin-Wol had reached the peak of schrship, and Jin Mu-Won the peak of swordsmanship, he could easily guess what Jin Mu-Won''s words meant.
"Where are the others?" Jin Mu-Won asked.
"Ryu-San went to the training ground, saying he wanted to train."
If youre seeing this, you are at the wrong ce.
"Him? Training? Voluntarily?"
"He seems to be inspired, so leave him alone. He''ll probably hole himself up in there all day," Ha Jin-Wolughed. Jin Mu-Won didn''t seem to have noticed that Myeong Ryu-San was motivated just by watching him train.
"What about Master Tang?"
"Hyung-nim went out with Mi-Ryeo, saying that he had to meet someone. I''m thinking of going out too. If you have nothing else to do, why don''t youe with me?"
Jin Mu-Won nodded. "Sure."
The two of them left the mansion and headed towards Wuhan City. Ha Jin-Wol walked on without specifying a destination, and Jin Mu-Won didn''t bother to ask.
Soon they arrived at a slum on the outskirts of Wuhan.
"Do you know someone here?" Jin Mu-Won asked.
Ha Jin-Wol grinned. "Fufu! You''ll see when we get there."
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Jin Mu-Won furrowed his brow at Ha Jin-Wol''s vague answer, but knowing that he wouldn''t get any more details by asking further, he kept quiet.
After winding through the alleys, Ha Jin-Wol arrived at a small bookstore in the slums.
A bookstore in a slum? Jin Mu-Won''s mouth twitched in shock.
Slums and bookstores were unlikely partners. The impoverished residents, busy earning their daily bread, had no reason to visit such a shop, and schrs who wanted to buy books had no reason to venture into the slums.
Still, Ha Jin-Wol entered the bookstore without any exnation.
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As they entered, the musty smell of books greeted them. Ha Jin-Wol smiled faintly. He loved this scent that could only be found in old books.
A clerk who was arranging books stared at Ha Jin-Wol, puzzled. "How can I help you?"
Ha Jin-Wol red at the clerk as if he was mad. "Why would Ie to a bookstore if not to buy books?"
"Well, that''s true, but"
Even as he answered, the clerk couldn''t wipe the skeptical look off his face. This was a slum. Ordinary people or schrs would nevere to the slums to buy books. Moreover, Ha Jin-Wol''s clothes didn''t match the environment, and this incongruity made the clerk question him.
"I''ll buy some books before I leave, but could you call the owner first?" Ha Jin-Wol asked.
"The owner?"
"Yes. Tell him that the Triune Schr has arrived. He''ll understand."
After giving him a doubtful look, the clerk hurried inside.
Shortly after, a middle-aged schr who seemed to be the same age as Ha Jin-Wol came out, his face showing a hint of annoyance. However, when he saw Ha Jin-Wol, he stopped in his tracks and stared nkly, as if he couldn''t believe his eyes.
Ha Jin-Wol greeted cheerfully, "Long time no see, Dae-So."
"What brings you here, Jin-Wol?"
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"You don''t seem happy to see an old friend."
"Cut the crap and tell me why you''re here."
Despite his blunt words, the middle-aged schr''s eyes were smiling, and Ha Jin-Wol was smiling as well. After looking at each other for a moment, they both burst outughing at the same time and embraced each other.
"Hahaha!
How have you been? Are you still doing crazy stuff?"
"And you? Are you still buried in those musty old tomes?"
After their brief reunion, the middle-aged schr turned toward Jin Mu-Won, who was standing nearby.
Ha Jin-Wol introduced, "This is my friend, Jin Mu-Won. You must have heard of him, right?"
"The Northern de?" The middle-aged schr''s eyes sparkled with curiosity.
Jin Mu-Won greeted politely, "Greetings, I am Jin Mu-Won."
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"Nice to meet you. I''m Jang Dae-So. This rascal and I studied under the same master. As you can see, I''ve inherited the family business and run this old bookstore."
Contrary to his first impression, Jang Dae-So smiled warmly. Entrusting the shop to the clerk, he took Jin Mu-Won and Ha Jin-Wol by the hand and led them to the basement of the bookstore.
The moment they entered the basement, Jin Mu-Won''s jaw dropped in shock. An immense space, unimaginable under such a small bookstore, greeted him. The huge underground area was filled with bookshelves, each one filled with an enormous number of books.
Ha Jin-Wol looked around, deeply touched. "Being here brings back old memories. When I was young, I practically ate and slept here."
Jang Dae-So groaned, "Do you remember how much I got scolded by my father because of you? He keptparing me to you, saying, ''Why don''t you read as much as him when we have so many books collected over generations''?"
"Did that happen?"
"That''s why I disliked you so much as a child. You were so smart and even devoured books relentlessly. How was I supposed topete with you?"
Jang Dae-So''s ancestors had run this bookstore for generations, collecting any old books they could find and storing them in this underground space. After many decades, the number of books they umted easily exceeded a hundred thousand.
With the products of at least several centuries of history, culture, and knowledge all gathered here, this ce was basically the utopia dreamed of by all the schrs of the world.
In his youth, Ha Jin-Wol practically lived here, immersing himself in the books. Most of his vast knowledge was systematically acquired here. As he took out a book from the shelf, he murmured, "This ce is like the origin, where everything of mine began.
"Anyway, what happened? I heard that you were pulling some crazy stunts in Yunnan. Have youe to your senses now?"
"When was I ever crazy?"
"When were you ever sane?"
Jin Mu-Won quietly listened to their conversation. Thebination of Ha Jin-Wol, who prided himself on being the smartest in the world, and the owner of an old bookstore seemed incongruous, but strangely, the two matched in a strange way.
"By the way, what brings you here? You didn''te all this way just for a chat, did you?"
"I need strategic maps of Hubei Province centered around Wuhan, the blueprints for Heaven''s Summit, and data on key personnel in the Northern Army from ten years ago."
"What do you need all that for?"
Ha Jin-Wol beamed. "I n on sharpening my de against the world."
Chapter 158: Some People Are Extremely Petty (2)
Eun Han-Seol observed her surroundings with a calm gaze. The Silver Horse Merchant Association she was traveling with was taking a short break in Tianshui, Gansu Province, to rest and reorganize their cargo. This small county, located on the main road between Gansu and Shaanxi Province, served as an important transportation hub.
The route they had taken thus far piqued Eun Han-Seol''s interest. In Gansu Province, they had sold precious goods from the Western Regions. These exotic items, imbued with a foreign allure, sold out quickly, leaving their wagons empty.
Up to that point, she had vaguely assumed that the Silver Horse Merchant Association had made a considerable profit. However, their actions did not stop there.
During their brief stay in Gansu, the subordinate merchants scattered to different ces, returning a few dayster with their wagons overflowing with Gansu''s specialty products. Dozens of empty wagons and carriages were reloaded with goods once again.
Curious about the necessity of this venture, Eun Han-Seol asked Yoo Jang-Hwan about it.
"The basic principle of trade is to buy goods where they are plentiful and sell them where they are scarce. Here, goods from the Western Regions are rare, so we sell them at high prices. Simrly, goods from this region are hard to find in the Central ins, so we buy them cheap here and sell them at high prices there. In this way, goods flow from ces of abundance to ces of scarcity, and money flows in the opposite direction. Just knowing this principle will prevent you from suffering losses in life," Yoo Jang-Hwan exined.
Having already secured a substantial profit, Yoo Jang-Hwan''s expression radiated generosity. His subordinate merchants and escorts also wore smiles on their faces.
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The sight of the people from the Silver Horse Merchant Association left a deep impression on Eun Han-Seol. Until now, the only skill she had honed in her life was how to kill people efficiently.After all, martial arts was literally the art of killing. It was effective in destroying, butpletely useless in producing or creating. At the end of the day, what good was someone who could only destroy to the world?
Therefore, she considered herself someone who wasn''t very useful to the world.
Perhaps this exined why Yoo Jang-Hwan and the people of the Silver Horse Merchant Association seemed so alien and dazzling to her. They radiated a vitality that those who lived in darkness like her could never possess.
She watched in silence as the convoyughed and chatted happily.
"There must be a huge crowd at Heaven''s Summit by now."
"Is that even a question? If I had the time and leisure, I would have gone there too. Such a shame."
Ever since they entered Gansu Province, the mostmon topic of conversation was the Heaven''s Summit Demon Hunter Selection. Whenever two or more people got together, they would inevitably talk about Heaven''s Summit and the new martial artists that had recently emerged.
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Among them, the most famous was a neer known by the alias "Northern de".
Mu-Won.
Eun Han-Seol instinctively realized that the Northern de was the Jin Mu-Won she knew.
Looking back, the time she spent with Jin Mu-Won was the most memorable period of her life. He was the only person who ever made her heart flutter.
Unfortunately, she had now attained the perfect state her master desired, a state devoid of all emotion and distractions. Her feelings were dulled, her mind imperturbable. Deep down, however, she had a gnawing hunch that something was wrong.
And so she had to confirm itwhether her frozen heart could beat again, whether she could experience human emotions as she once had.
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Mu-Won, I''ll be there soon.
Two days after entering the old bookstore, Jin Mu-Won and Ha Jin-Wol emerged. During that time, Ha Jin-Wol had hidden in the basement while Jin Mu-Won spent his time reading books he liked from the shelves on the ground floor.
After returning outside, Jin Mu-Won noticed that Ha Jin-Wol''s expression had be more determined. To those who did not know him, he might have appeared unchanged, but Jin Mu-Won could sense the difference.
Just as a swordsman honed their de and hardened their resolve, a schr focused their knowledge and skills on a single purpose. In the depths of the old bookstore''s basement, Ha Jin-Wol had realized his purpose, or at the very least, he had made a firm decision on the path he wanted to walk.
That alone was enough to change the look in his eyes and his entire demeanor.
Now, all that remains is to move forward.
If youre seeing this, you are at the wrong ce.
They hade too far to back down now. Regardless of the oue, both he and Ha Jin-Wol had no choice but to move forward. Besides, neither of them were the type to give up halfway.
Suddenly, Ha Jin-Wol suggested, "I''m thirsty. Let''s find an inn and get some drinks."
"It''s still daytime."
"Since when did we care about the time of day when we drink?"
Smiling faintly, Jin Mu-Won nodded, and together, they entered an inn near East Lake. Since it was still daytime, the inn was quiet, so they chose seats by the window with a clear view of theke.
For a while, the two men drank in silence.
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During this time, many people came and went from the inn. As the customers changed several times, the number of bottles in front of them gradually increased.
When the number finally reached seven, Ha Jin-Wol put down his cup. Unexpectedly, despite drinking so much, he showed no signs of intoxication. Rather, his eyes were colder and clearer than before.
"This is thest one," he said.
"What do you mean?"
"It is myst drink before I achieve my goal."
"Aren''t you afraid of regretting those words? How can you be sure when you will reach your goal?"
"Hmph! Now that I have made up my mind, it won''t take long."
"As you wish." Jin Mu-Won smiled faintly, without any scorn. Ha Jin-Wol was a man who was entitled to his pride, and his bold promation sounded very satisfying.
Ha Jin-Wol looked directly at Jin Mu-Won. "No matter what happens, never waver. I will be right by your side. Just keep moving forward like an unstoppable ox, and I will deal with the aftermath."
"Is there really nothing you want from me?"
Ha Jin-Wol shook his head. "No, nothing."
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"Really nothing? What if I do something that opposes the world?"
"Then I will simply have to clean up that chaotic mess."
"Sounds good to me."
Ha Jin-Wol''s eyes shone with unprecedented rity, an unshakable conviction in them.
"A strategist should never impose his will or stand at the forefront of history. A strategist''s duty is to anticipate his liege''s intentions and steadily prepare the future ordingly."
"Liege?"
"Yes. I, Ha Jin-Wol, have decided to make you my liege. From now on, I wish to join your quest and intertwine our destinies."
Jin Mu-Won put down his cup and stared directly at Ha Jin-Wol, who met his gaze without flinching. The unwavering determination in his eyes spoke volumes.
"Even I don''t know what thorns lie ahead."
"I am aware."
"I could make an enemy of the whole world."
"I know that too."
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"Even so, you still intend to join me?"
"If it''s not something as great as confronting the world, how could it be worth my while, right?"
Although Ha Jin-Wol''s words were incredibly arrogant, Jin Mu-Won did not doubt him. If anyone could aplish such a feat, it was him.
The two men grinned at each other.
"By the way, isn''t it a little strange to call me ''you'' while also calling me your liege?"
"Liege is liege, and you are you. To me, you are my liege and also just ''you''."
"That''s kind ofplicated."
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"There''s nothingplicated about it. The important thing is that I have decided to be your vassal. Consider it an honor."
"I will."
Jin Mu-Won and Ha Jin-Wol chuckled. Perhaps the two of them knew from their first meeting that this was going to happen. They understood and epted each other with remarkable ease.
"May I ask about one thing?"
"Ask away."
"Why were you searching for the Northern Army roster yesterday?"
"Didn''t I tell you? Before any significant event, there are always many foreshadowings. Ultimately, humans are the ones who drive the events of the jianghu. The destruction of the Northern Army was no different."
"So?"
"I had to confirm the sequence of events against the people involved. No matter how much I think about it, some aspects remain unclear."
"And did you get the result you wanted?"
"FUFU!" Ha Jin-Wol let out a meaningfulugh instead of an answer.
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Jin Mu-Won''s expression turned dark. As Ha Jin-Wol blinked in confusion
CRASH! PWOOK!
Without warning, Jin Mu-Won kicked Ha Jin-Wol''s chair, sending him tumbling backwards as a sword pierced the floor where his chair had been a moment ago.
Ha Jin-Wol''s eyes widened. An ambush?
The next moment, assassins d in ck martial arts attire burst through the windows simultaneously and rushed towards them.
Faced with the unexpected assault, Ha Jin-Wol gritted his teeth. While his knowledge was extensive enough to discourse on the world, he wasn''t the most athletic guy andcked the agility to react to such an ambush.
SWISH!
A sword sailed through the air, aimed directly at his forehead, but even though he saw the attack unfold with perfect rity, his body refused to move. Nevertheless, he felt no rm, confident that this was not how his life would end.
PWHOOSH!
Blood erupted in front of his eyes, and the body of the assassin who had thrust at him was cut in two.
In an instant, Jin Mu-Won was standing in front of him, fresh blood dripping down Snow Flower''s dark de.
Without even turning around, Jin Mu-Won asked, "Are you okay?"
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"I''m fine. Well, except for the blood staining my new clothes. Tsk!" Ha Jin-Wol grumbled irritably as he wiped the blood from his chest.
Jin Mu-Won chuckled. For most people, this would have been a terrifying ordeal, but it didn''t seem enough to rattle Ha Jin-Wol.
He surveyed his surroundings. In the blink of an eye, dozens of assassins had stormed the inn and released their killing intent.
"Who hired you?"
""
There was no answer, but Jin Mu-Won wasn''t disappointed. He had not expected to get an answer from them anyway.
Thirty have breached the interior, with forty-five more lying in wait outside. Approximately eighty in total?
Jin Mu-Won''s All-Epassing Cognizance activated involuntarily, expanding his consciousness to cover the entire inn and vividly imprinting the inn''s structure and the positions of the concealed assassins in his mind.
It was no small matter for such arge number of assassins to be mobilized in what was considered the front yard of Heaven''s Summit. The only way this could have happened was if Heaven''s Summit had either given their tacit approval or if their attention had been diverted elsewhere.
Regardless, it did not bode well for Jin Mu-Won.
"You said that you would deal with the consequences no matter what reckless act Imitted, right?"
Jin Mu-Won asked.
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"Indeed. Why? Are you nning to do something reckless now?"
"Yes."
"Okay. Go ahead and rampage to your heart''s content!"
Ha Jin-Wol leaned back in his chair and cupped his hands over his knee as assassins charged from all directions. Swords shed and steely des swooped in, targeting his defenseless self over Jin Mu-Won to give themselves the advantage.
It was an efficient attack worthy of assassins. A typical martial artist would be flustered and lose hisposure.
Unfortunately, their opponent was no ordinary martial artist, but Jin Mu-Won.
WHOOOSH!
Jin Mu-Won pivoted on his left foot, his body spinning like a top as Snow Flower carved a line in the air. A sinister ripping sound rang out, and the assassins who had attacked Ha Jin-Wol were split in two, copsing to the ground.
Blood sttered onto Ha Jin-Wol, who was still sitting in his chair.
"Tsk! More blood stter on my new clothes." Ha Jin-Wol clicked his tongue, though his eyes never strayed from Jin Mu-Won.
Numerous assassins rushed forward, but none could prate the formidable wall that was the Northern de. Severed limbs were scattered through the air, and the muffled groans of the assassins echoed.
Death danced with abandon.
However, this battle was not Jin Mu-Won''s alone. Ha Jin-Wol fought as well. While Jin Mu-Won wielded his sword, Ha Jin-Wol''s mind calcted countless ways to deal with the ensuing chaos.
"I will free you from your shackles, Mu-Won."
Chapter 159: Some People Are Extremely Petty (3)
The assassins who attacked Jin Mu-Won and Ha Jin-Wol were all members of the Illusionary Killers. Go San-Wol, acting under the orders of Jwa Moon-Ho, had originally nned to assassinate Jin Mu-Won at his residence, but when he realized that the mansion belonged to the Tang n, he quickly discarded that n.
Even individuals as fearless as Go San-Wol and the Illusionary Killers considered the Tang n an insurmountable obstacle. Unwilling to openly confront them, he looked for another opportunity, and finally decided upon this inn.
Go San-Wol reasoned that eliminating Jin Mu-Won inside this inn would minimize any potentialplications. Therefore, he mobilized every assassin stationed in Wuhan for this ambush.
These assassins were products of brutal training regimes. They had survived countless brushes with death to be true demons of ughter who felt no pain. Their humanity had been erased, leaving them incapable of experiencing their own suffering, let alone that of others.
And yet, despite their fearlessness, a tremor now ran through their eyes.
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This was not due to the almost instantaneous demise of nearly twentyrades. From the moment the assassins were born, death had been a constantpanion. Chosen and groomed for a life of assassination, they had crossed countless thresholds of death and seen many friends die in vain and disappear into the abyss of oblivion.
No, the problem was Jin Mu-Won.
"SWISH!"Only when Jin Mu-Won''s swordpleted the arc did the sound of ripping flesh resound. The de moved faster than sound itself, always leaving the corpse of arade in its wake.
As assassins, the Illusionary Killers had faced countless martial artists. Therefore, they could confidently say that no one had ever practiced martial arts with such purity of form, such devotion to the sword, as Jin Mu-Won.
Jin Mu-Won shed vertically, and then horizontally. With mere flicks and sweeps of his de, the assassins'' eyes rolled back and they crumpled to the ground. Just a brief twitch, then eternal silence. He wasn''t even using the Shadow de of Destruction, just the most basic moves. Yet, none of the assassins could withstand a single blow form him.
Furthermore, attacking from behind proved to be futile. As if Jin Mu-Won had eyes in the back of his head, he never let the assassins get close.
Attempts to break hisposure by attacking Ha Jin-Wol also failed. Anyone who dared to approach Ha Jin-Wol had their limbs cut off and died without exception.
Jin Mu-Won and his sword had forged a massive wall, an imprable barrier of iron and blood that could not be breached.
The assassins'' pupils trembled uncontrobly, their spirits crushed by Jin Mu-Won''s formidable presence, and their uneasiness spread through their ranks like wildfire.
Go San-Wol, the Sect Leader of the Illusionary Killers, also sensed his subordinates'' growing anxiety.
Damn it! Is he even stronger than the rumors suggest?
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For the first time, he regretted epting Jwa Moon-Ho''smission. If this continued, the Illusionary Killers would be destroyed in the blink of an eye.
To Go San-Wol, Jin Mu-Won resembled a demon wielding a sword. The blood spilled by his assassins stained the inn crimson, while severed limbs littered the floor. It was a scene straight out of hell, with Jin Mu-Won at its center.
I should have simply killed Jwa Moon-Ho.
Go San-Wol gritted his teeth, but regret was a luxury he could not afford. His first priority now was to eliminate Jin Mu-Won as quickly as possible and keep the casualties among his assassins to a minimum.
Go San-Wol drew his sword and cautiously approached Jin Mu-Won.
He hadn''t earned the nickname "ck Butterfly" for nothing. His movements were like the delicate flutter of a butterfly''s wings navigating the darkness, and his presencepletely undetectable.
Meanwhile, the remaining assassins relentlessly pressed the assault, aiming to create an opening for Go San-Wol. With incessant attacks and screams, they intended to obscure Jin Mu-Won''s vision and overwhelm his senses.
Now!
Go San-Wol''s eyes shone with icy determination. Jin Mu-Won, seemingly preupied with his subordinates'' offensive, seemed oblivious to Go San-Wol''s approach.
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Capitalizing on this perceivedpse in awareness, he struck, his sword aimed squarely at Jin Mu-Won''s head.
SWISH!
Go San-Wol''s sword descended with meteoric force, a triumphant smile spreading across his face until Jin Mu-Won suddenly raised his head and looked up.
What Go San-Wol thought was a perfect ambush had actually been caught by Jin Mu-Won''s All-Epassing Cognizance right from the very beginning.
Fuck!
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That was Go San-Wol''s final thought. He felt a searing sensation on his forehead, and then nothing.
Snow Flower had pierced his skull before he could even register the attack.
THUD!
Watching their leader''s lifeless body fall to the ground, the remaining assassins'' expressions flickered with uncertainty. After exchanging brief nces, they scattered in all directions.
Assassins knew no loyalty, noradeship. With Go San-Wol, the only one capable of controlling them, dead, the Illusionary Killers dissolved into chaos. Every assassin fled the inn, desperate to save their own lives. There were no cries of vengeance.
In a heartbeat, they were gone without a trace.
Jin Mu-Won did not pursue them. Calmly sheathing Snow Flower, he surveyed his surroundings.
Dozens of corpsesy strewn all over the inn. It was a vision of hell, a hell created by Jin Mu-Won himself.
Jin Mu-Won''s expression was somber. He had taken dozens of lives with his own hands. Even though they were assassins sent to kill him, he could not find it within himself to feel any sense of peace.
Still, he felt no regret. This was the jianghua merciless world where life and death hung on a thread, where the enemy''s de would reach for one''s throat the moment one showed weakness.
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He had to be decisive. He had to show that such provocations were pointless. This was a message to his unseen enemies: If you wish to kill me,e and face me yourself.
Seeing his friend''s unwavering determination, Ha Jin-Wol smiled with quiet satisfaction.
BANG!
The inn''s doors burst open, and a dozen martial artists d in gray uniforms rushed in, their swords drawn and pointed at Jin Mu-Won.
"We received a report of a fight here! Drop your weapons!"
"Who are you?" Jin Mu-Won asked.
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"We''re martial artists from Heaven''s Summit Outer Branch. As this area is under the jurisdiction of Heaven''s Summit, no one is allowed to kill anyone without permission.
"Heaven''s Summit''s outer branch?"
Jin Mu-Won frowned. Wuhan was indeed within Heaven''s Summit''s territory, but the branch''s response was too quick.
That is, unless someone made a report beforehand.
The Outer Branch martial artists struggled to hold in their breath as they saw the bodies of the assassins scattered throughout the inn. Some were even retching.
The tips of their swords aimed at Jin Mu-Won trembled slightly. They knew that he was the architect of this gruesome scene.
Jin Mu-Won took a step towards them, and they instinctively backed away.
"D-Do you dare defy Heaven''s Summit? If you harm us, they will not stand idly by!"
"Answer one question, and I will follow you without resistance."
"W-What do you want to know?"
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"How did you get here so quickly?"
"We received a report that a deranged martial artist was on a rampage here, killing people at random."
"Can you tell me who filed the report?"
"We cannot divulge that information for the whistleblower''s safety."
"And who will be responsible for your safety?"
"Are you threatening us?" Jo Chun-Kwang, the leader of the Outer Branch, roared angrily, but he couldn''t conceal the tremor in his hands.
Damn it! The report never mentioned that the troublemaker was a master of this caliber!
With the Demon Hunter Selection looming, Heaven''s Summit was particrly sensitive about maintaining public order, so they had dispatched a group of capable martial artists to quell the unrest.
Despite being a respected figure in the outer branch, however, Jo Chun-Kwang couldn''t keep hisposure after witnessing the carnage in front of him.
In recent times, it was extremely rare for the martial artists of Heaven''s Summit''s Outer Branch to engage in actualbat. They were considered inferior to the Inner Branch, and the mere mention of Heaven''s Summit''s name usually caused their opponents to surrender.
An hour ago, when they had received a report of an unidentified master causing a disturbance at an inn in Wuhan, Jo Chun-Kwang had not taken it seriously.
He was sure that his men were more than capable of handling the situation.
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He never imagined he would be up against a true martial master.
Over forty bodies littered the ground, and the man responsible for this horrific massacre stood before him.
JIn Mu-Won had single-handedly aplished what would have been impossible even with Jo Chun-Kwang and all his men. This meant that even if they all attacked at the same time, they stood no chance against him.
In the end, he had no choice but to rely on the authority of Heaven''s Summit.
"If youy a hand on us, Heaven''s Summit will intervene. If you are not afraid of the consequences, then by all means resist," Jo Chun-Kwang dered as he and his subordinates focused their killing intent on Jin Mu-Won.
Nevertheless, they looked as vulnerable as candles in the wind.
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Jin Mu-Won narrowed his eyes. I see. The assassins'' ambush was merely a diversion, and the mastermind''s real goal was to have Heaven''s Summit arrest me.
He was unaware of the mastermind''s identity, but it was clear they had devised an intricate scheme. Subduing these outer branch martial artists would be trivial, but doing so would undoubtedly strain his rtionship with Heaven''s Summit.
The situation had be multifaceted andplex. His gaze drifted towards Ha Jin-Wol, who remained seated, calmly sipping his tea.
Smiling, Ha Jin-Wol set down his cup and rose to his feet.
Who is this man? The outer branch martial artists wondered, flinching again.
The tension in the air intensified. Someone who couldfortably drink tea in the middle of a hellish scene couldn''t possibly be ordinary.
Ha Jin-Wol rested a hand on Jin Mu-Won''s shoulder. "It seems we have no choice. Apany them for now."
"Is that really wise?"
"Isn''t this a golden opportunity to enter Heaven''s Summit without having to go through their cumbersome procedures?"
"Good point." Jin Mu-Won smiled, showing his implicit trust in Ha Jin-Wol.
"Now, I think it''s time for me to really start stirring up some chaos" Ha Jin-Wol muttered to himself.
"Hehe!" Jwa Moon-Ho giggled as he enjoyed his tea.
Across the street, the Outer Branch martial artists of Heaven''s Summit appeared, escorting Jin Mu-Won to prison.
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Jwa Moon-Ho had known from the start that the Illusionary Killers alone were not enough to deal with Jin Mu-Won. They were merely pawns in hisrger n to involve Heaven''s Summit.
This entire scheme was solely his doing, born out of his desire to avenge the humiliation he had suffered at Yellow Crane Tower. He was not someone who forgave and forgot even the smallest slights, and besides, that incident was the most humiliating experience he had ever suffered.
"If you thought you could get away scot-free after shaming the Azure Dragon Society, you were sorely mistaken. There will be no sanctuary for you in the jianghu. I will see to that. Hehe!"
Just then, as Jin Mu-Won walked alongside the martial artists of the outer branch, his gaze seemingly fell upon the inn where Jwa Moon-Ho was sitting.
"T-That bastard!"
Jwa Moon-Ho felt a shiver run down his spine as he met Jin Mu-Won''s eyes. There was no fear, no panic in those eyes, just a faint, almost yful smile gracing his lips.
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Chapter 160: Unpleasant Encounters (1)
Within the grounds of Heaven''s Summit stood a grand pavilion called the Wisdom Flower Pavilion. Entry required passing through two imposing doors andpleting three rigorous rounds of inspections.
This was where Seomoon Hye-Ryung stayed whenever she needed to remain at Heaven''s Summit. Here, her every need was catered to, from the well-kept rear garden and training field to the spacious halls, with countless attendants, guards, and bodyguards ready to serve her at any moment.
However, what she truly valued most about the Wisdom Flower Pavilion was its strategic advantage. From this location, she could observe the intricate flow of information at a nce.
After all, the Wisdom Flower Pavilion was one of the central hubs of the Seomoon n''s intelligencework. While it was smaller in scale than the Seomoon n Estate, nearly all information that made its way to Heaven''s Summit passed through the Wisdom Flower Pavilion. This allowed her to effectively gather intelligence and formte strategies from here.
"As expected, the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great ns, as well as the martial artists of various mid-sized sects have all gathered," she murmured softly as she read the letter in her hand.
Soon, Heaven''s Summit would open its colossal gates, weing even the martial artists waiting in Wuhan and Heaven''s Vige. Like a starving beast that could never be satisfied, it constantly craved more warriors.
Its insatiable greed was so intense that it disgusted even Seomoon Hye-Ryung, a figure renowned across the jianghu.
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With so many martial artists arriving at once, incidents and idents were constant. Managing even a few dozen individuals was already challenging in practice, let alone handling a crowd of martial artists who were used to settling disputes through force. As a result, the Outer Hall and Inner Hall of Heaven''s Summit stayed on high alert.Just then, a guard standing outside the door announced, "Young Miss, a guest has arrived."
"A guest?"
"It''s Miss Chae Hwa-Yeong of the Thunder Sect."
"Sister Yeong?" A smile spread across Seomoon Hye-Ryung''s lips. "Show her in."
"Yes!"
The door opened, and Chae Hwa-Yeong, a sturdy woman with a spear slung across her back, strode into the room. Her tanned skin and muscr physique were striking, surpassing even most men in strength and athleticism. With broad shoulders, keen, shining eyes, and firmly set lips, she possessed the fierce aura of a panther.
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The Thunder Sect was renowned for its domineering spear techniques and the devastating power of its explosives. Although it could not rival the influence of the Nine Great Sects or the Five Great ns, the Thunder Sect had carved out its own formidable domain,manding respect from all.
As the only daughter of Chae Gwang-Ho, the sect leader of the Thunder Sect, Chae Hwa-Yeong was an exceptionally talented spear user. Even among the young martial artists Seomoon Hye-Ryung had recruited into the Azure Dragon Society, her skills stood out from the rest.
Chae Hwa-Yeong approached Seomoon Hye-Ryung. "Good afternoon, Unnie," she greeted.
"Wee, Sister Yeong."
Noticing the paper in Seomoon Hye-Ryungs hand, Chae Hwa-Yeong sighed. Seomoon Hye-Ryungs relentless pursuit of information, worldly trends, and knowledge was something that even a martial arts genius like her found difficult toprehend. She often wondered how so much insight could fit within that small head.
Unlike most people who joined the Azure Dragon Society because of Dam Soo-Cheon, Chae Hwa-Yeong joined because of her unwavering loyalty to Seomoon Hye-Ryung. The bond they shared went far beyond the usual bonds between fellow members.
"You''re is still the same as ever, Unnie," Chae Hwa-Yeong remarked.
Seomoon Hye-Ryung put the letter aside. "If my work were taken from me, what would I have left? Now, what brings you here?"
"Do I need a reason to visit you?"
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"Of course not."
"Well I dide here because there was something I wanted to talk to you about."
Seomoon Hye-Ryung''s eyes gleamed with curiosity. "Is that so?"
"Unnie, are you aware that some members of the Azure Dragon Society met privatelyst night?"
"What?"
Seomoon Hye-Ryung frowned. She had been so focused on Heaven''s Summit that she had neglected the internal affairs of the Azure Dragon Society. Missing a secret meeting was no trivial oversight! ??
"Who led that private meeting?"
"Mr. Jwa Moon-Ho of the Three Rings Sword Sect."
Seomoon Hye-Ryung clicked her tongue, easily guessing why Jwa Moon-Ho had called the newer Azure Dragon Society members together.
"As expected, it was Mr. Jwa. His ambitions always seem to exceed his capabilities. Who else attended this meeting?"
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"Master Hyun Gong-Hwi, a member of the Seven Young Skies, Mr. Namgung Il-Geom of the Namgung n, and a few other significant young masters."
"Hmm" Seomoon Hye-Ryung''s expression hardened. Namgung Il-Geom and the others did not concern her too much. However, Hyun Gong-Hwi was a different matter altogether. As a peer among the Seven Young Skies, he demanded special attention.
Chae Hwa-Yeong grinned slyly, as if she had more to tell.
Seomoon Hye-Ryung asked, "So, what happened?"
"What do you mean, what happened?"
"You know what I mean. Tell me."
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"Actually" Chae Hwa-Yeong exined the events that had transpired at the Yellow Crane Tower.
Seomoon Hye-Ryung''s eyes widened with shock. "Is that true?"
"Yes, I heard it directly from a friend who witnessed it."
"So Master Hyun, Mr. Namgung, and Mr. Jwa joined forces and still ended up defeated?"
"Yes. Mr. Namgung even pissed his pants. It was aplete disaster."
"!!!"
All three men were renowned experts of the Azure Dragon Society. Their defeat, even after joining forces, was a serious blow to the society''s prestige. The Azure Dragon Society was only recently on the rise, and couldn''t afford any blemishes. If news of this incident were to spread, it would severely hinder their advancement.
"Who was it that managed to take down all three at once?"
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"I cannot recall his name clearly, but he went by the alias Northern de."
"Jin Mu-Won!" Seomoon Hye-Ryung shouted, standing up without realizing it.
"Unnie, do you know him?"
"You''re certain this person really is the Northern de? There''s no chance of a mix-up?"
"I''m sure."
"Damn it!"
Sometimes, a single name could evoke ominous visions and uneasy feelings without any clear exnation, and to Seomoon Hye-Ryung, Jin Mu-Won was one such name.
Ever since she had heard about the Northern de, he had constantly lingered at the edges of her thoughts. For reasons she could not understand, just hearing his name unsettled her and left her feeling unusually irritable.
"Is the Northern de Jin Mu-Won inside Heaven''s Summit right now?"
"I''m not too sure about that, but he''s definitely staying somewhere in Wuhan."
"Where is Mr. Jwa right now? Summon him at once."
"Well"
"What is it now, Sister Yeong?"
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"Ah, well"
"Speak up!" Seomoon Hye-Ryung shouted, frustrated.
Jin Mu-Won sat confined in a prison operated where those captured by the Outer Hall were held before being sent to the Sentencing Hall to receive punishment.
Despite being surrounded by iron bars, Jin Mu-Won disyed no anxiety whatsoever, and Snow Flower remained cradled in his arms.
Typically, prisoners were not permitted to keep their weapons, but Jo Chun-Gwang had not dared to take Snow Flower from Jin Mu-Won, fearing that such a transgression might cost him his life.
This resulted in the strange spectacle of a prisoner still holding his sword.
Throwing furtive nces at Jin Mu-Won, the Outer Hall martial artists whispered among themselves.
"Squad Leader, did we arrest the wrong person?"
"Yeah, he''s way too calm. Maybe he has someone influential backing him."
"I agree!"
Upon hearing his subordinates, Jo Chun-Gwang''s expression darkened. He had served the Outer Hall for over a decade, met countless martial artists, and prided himself on his ability to urately assess them.
No matter how strong they may be, most people cower in front of Heaven''s Summit, and this is especially true if they''re locked behind bar. Stayingposed should be nearly impossible even for a martial master with a powerful background!
Now that I think about it, I know next to nothing about this guy.
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A shiver ran down Jo Chun-Gwang''s spine. He had obeyed orders to arrest this scary man, but it just dawned on him that he knew nothing about him, not even his name.
"Hey" he began, about to ask the man''s name, when the door to the prisons mmed open.
A middle-aged man, likely around forty, leisurely sauntered down the prison hallway. He was Dan Un-Gang, the Hall Leader of the Outer Hall, known for his fiery personality and exceptional martial arts skills.
Jo Chun-Gwang immediately greeted politely, "Hall Leader."
"Fourth Squad Captain, I heard you captured the criminal?"
"Yes, sir!"
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"Hmph! Shall I take a look at the fearless man who dared to cause trouble in Wuhan?"
Dan Un-Gang leaned close to Jin Mu-Won''s cell to get a closer look at him, when he suddenly reared backward.
"Hey, Fourth Squad Leader, why does that guy still have his sword? Why didn''t you confiscate it when you locked him up?"
"T-That''s" Jo Chun-Gwang stammered, looking troubled.
Dan Un-Gang''s expression darkened. "Useless fool"
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He moved closer to the cell holding Jin Mu-Won.
"Hey, you. I heard you killed people in Wuhan. You are not expecting to get off scot-free after murdering people right under Heaven''s Summit''s nose, are you?"
Jin Mu-Won raised his head and locked eyes with Dan Un-Gang.
Seeing those deep, unflinching eyes that resembled a silent, motionless ocean, like the oppressive stillness right before a storm, Dan Un-Gang let out an involuntary groan, "Ugh!"
Jin Mu-Won said coolly, "I did not realize that defending myself against assassins was a crime."
"Shut up! Do you have any proof that the people you killed were assassins?"
"In what other situation would someone suddenly face an attack from dozens of masked martial artists dressed in ck at the same time?"
"That is for us to determine. Until we learn the truth, you will stay here."
"Who will oversee this investigation?"
Dan Un-Gang bared his yellowed teeth in a grin. "I will handle it personally. I will pry into the truth so deeply that not even a speck of dust remains."
Jin Mu-Won narrowed his eyes. "Did Jwa Moon-Ho put you up to this?"
Dan Un-Gang''s anger red, as if he might burst into the cell at any moment. "Who said anyone asked me anything? Are you using me, Dan Un-Gang, of epting bribes?"
"Are you ready for what is toe?"
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"What?"
"I''m asking if you''re ready to face the consequences of your actions."
"Are you threatening me, you bastard?"
"Whether I''m threatening you or not, you''ll find out soon enough," Jin Mu-Won replied inly.
Dan Un-Gang''s face twisted in rage. "You think you can intimidate me with your pathetic background, Jin Mu-Won?"
"You know my name?"
"Listen. Your name and your so-called Northern de title mean nothing to me. Here, I am king!"
Chapter 161: Unpleasant Encounters (2)
"What do you mean, Mu-Won was arrested?" Tang Gi-Mun''s roar echoed throughout the mansion.
He had just returned from Heaven''s Summit, only to be met with the shocking news of Jin Mu-Won''s imprisonment. It was no wonder fury had overtaken him.
"All he did was defend himself against assassins! How is that a crime? Are you suggesting he should have quietly allowed them to kill him? And what were you doing while they dragged Mu-Won off?"
Ha Jin-Wol sipped his tea calmly. "Please calm down, Hyung-nim."
"Calm down? How can I stay calm under these circumstances? How are you so calm!?" Tang Gi-Mun scowled at Ha Jin-Wol, who still held his teacup as if nothing was out of the ordinary.
Ha Jin-Wol set his teacup down. "To be honest, Mu-Won getting arrested might not be an entirely bad thing. There''s no need to be so agitated."
"Not a bad thing? How can you say that? Do you truly not understand what kind of ce Heaven''s Summit is? Even calling it a dragon''s den is an understatement. The atrocities that take ce on those grounds are beyond any outsider''s imagination. Moreover, since Mu-Won is locked in the Outer Hall''s prison, proving his innocence and freeing him is no simple task. Are you really that blind to the hardships he''ll have to face in there?"
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Every organization had its procedures, and Heaven''s Summit, being colossal, was no exception. Now that Jin Mu-Won was imprisoned in the Outer Hall, the Investigation Department was bound to dig up every detail about Jin Mu-Won and reveal it to the world.Although Jin Mu-Won was an incredibly powerful martial artist, he stillcked support. If his secrets were exposed now, Heaven''s Summit, known for eliminating potential threats, would not hesitate to destroy himpletely. After all, that was how it maintained its iron grip over the jianghu for so long.
As someone who knew these facts perfectly well, Tang Gi-Mun''s outrage came as no surprise.
Ha Jin-Wol, however, smiled faintly, seemingly unconcerned. "I understand what you''re concerned about, Hyung-nim."
"Then why are you so rxed?"
"I am rxed precisely because I understand."
"Ha! I have no clue what you''re talking about. What if this ends in disaster?"
"Uncle, why don''t we first listen to what Schr Ha wants to say?" Tang Mi-Ryeo interjected.
Tang Gi-Mun shut his mouth and stared at Ha Jin-Wol, as if demanding an exnation.
Ha Jin-Wol stood up and walked to the window. Through it, he could see Heaven''s Summit, massive and imposing, its grandeur evident even from dozens of miles away.
He reached out as if to grasp Heaven''s Summit in the palm of his hand.
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"It''s truly immense. Since the dawn of the murim, I doubt any single faction has wielded as much power as Heaven''s Summit."
"Isn''t thinking of Heaven''s Summit as a single entity a bit of a stretch?"
"Back when it was founded, Heaven''s Summit was truly an alliance, but now, it has bepletely self-sufficient, allowing it to expand easily even without the support of other sects."
"Hmph!"
"Heaven''s Summit has be a giant, autonomous monster. Every time it loses people, it simply sucks in countless martial artists from the jianghu to bolster its ranks. It''s no longer a mere microcosm of the jianghu, but the jianghu itself. Do you think that''s normal?" ??
Heaven''s Summit was no longer just an alliance of factions dedicated to maintaining peace in jianghu. It had be the ruling power over the entire jianghu, and no one seemed to find this strange or troubling.
In Ha Jin-Wol''s view, this situation was unthinkable. Martial artists, who prided themselves on valuing freedom and rejecting constraints, had willingly submitted to Heaven''s Summit''s control. This was a clear sign that the jianghu had strayed far from its intended path.
"As time passes, Heaven''s Summit will only deepen its grip over the murim, and no one will be able to break free from its grasp."
"What exactly are you trying to say?"
"Jin Mu-Won. Only that man has the power to disrupt the current jianghu''s system, even if just slightly."
"What has that got to do with letting Heaven''s Summit arrest him?"
"How else would he get into Heaven''s Summit? Besides, I wanted him to understand it from the bottom level."
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"You did that on purpose?"
"Every system tries to conceal its ws at all but the lowest levels. I do not know what Mu-Won will witness or experience, but he will undoubtedly learn something there, and that understanding will help him grow stronger."
"Jin-Wol" Tang Gi-Mun sighed. He finally understood that Ha Jin-Wol was orchestrating something so immense he could not fathom it. At least, whatever the n entailed, Ha Jin-Wol had no intention of bringing harm to Jin Mu-Won.
He felt ashamed that he had allowed himself to be so flustered, even momentarily.
Ha Jin-Wol grinned wickedly. "Mu-Won is more extraordinary than you give him credit for. His actions so far speak for themselves. Whoever pulled him into this mess will soon regret their folly."
They''ll get theireuppance. Although our side took some damage, I''ll make sure the one who started this ends up shedding tears of blood.
Ha Jin-Wol grabbed a coat hanging on the wall and put it on.
Tang Gi-Mun blinked in confusion. "Where are you going?"
"Since my beloved younger brother is locked up in prison, I must pay him a visit. He may need a meal delivered, but unfortunately, I''m not really sure what he likes."
Wearing a grim expression, Seomoon Hye-Ryung left the Wisdom Flower Pavilion with Chae Hwa-Yeong and three guards in tow.
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She had already learned all she needed about Jwa Moon-Ho''s tricks and how matters had developed. Although he had attempted to do things discreetly, he could not deceive her sharp eyes.
So, Jin Mu-Won is currently locked in the Outer Hall''s prison? Before passing judgment on Jwa Moon-Ho''s transgression though, I need to verify Jin Mu-Won''s situation.
Her heart pounded furiously. The path from the Wisdom Flower Pavilion, through the Grand Training Hall, and toward the Outer Hall''s prison felt much longer than usual.
Chae Hwa-Yeong nced at Seomoon Hye-Ryung''s flushed face. For some reason, the woman who always remained unshaken in any situation now seemed noticeably uneasy.
Is Jin Mu-Won really such a remarkable person? she wondered, but she dared not voice it.
They passed through two gates and reached the Outer Hall''s prison. Constructed from massive blocks of stone, it loomed ominously over them.
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"Stop!" a prison guard barked, stepping forward to block Seomoon Hye-Ryung''s path.
Chae Hwa-Yeong stepped in front of her and asked, "Where''s Hall Leader Dan?"
"Who are you to ask about the Hall Leader?"
"Summon Hall Leader Dan at once. Tell him that Miss Seomoon Hye-Ryung, one of the Seven Young Skies, wishes to visit a convict."
The Outer Hall guards let out involuntary gasps. Seomoon Hye-Ryung was a member of the Seven Young Skies and the granddaughter of Seomoon Hwa, one of the Nine Skies. Within Heaven''s Summit, her status was so exalted that a single word from her could decide a lowly guard''s fate. Naturally, they did not even dare to meet her gaze.
"P-Please wait. I will fetch Hall Leader Dan immediately," the guard stammered.
Seomoon Hye-Ryung said impatiently, "That will not be necessary. A man named Jin Mu-Won was arrested yesterday and imprisoned here, right? Show me to his cell."
"What? Why"
"Must I exin myself to you? Just lead the way."
"U-Understood. Please follow me."
The Outer Hall guard flinched at Seomoon Hye-Ryung''s curt reply and quickly moved on. Normally, he would have asked permission from Outer Hall Leader Dan Un-Gang first, but Seomoon Hye-Ryung had enough authority to disregard such formalities.
He pushed open the heavy iron door and led Seomoon Hye-Ryung into the prison.
As she walked further inside, her frown deepened. The musty smell and damp air in the corridor were grating on her nerves.
If youre seeing this, you are at the wrong ce.
Eventually, after winding past countless iron-barred cells, they reached a group of men standing with their backs to them.
"Hall Leader!" the guard cried out in relief.
"What is it?" Dan Un-Gang snapped.
"Sir, we have a guest."
"A guest?"
"Miss Seomoon Hye-Ryung of the Seomoon n is here."
"What?" Dan Un-Gang''s eyes went wide. "Miss Seomoon, what brings you to such a humble location?"
"I have heard that Jin Mu-Won is being held here. I wish to see him."
"What?" Dan Un-Gang gasped in shock. Jin Mu-Won had just been incarceratedst night, and even though he had been discreet about it, the news had somehow gotten out. "A-About that, Master Jwa gave clear orders not to allow any visitors"
"Are you suggesting his orders outweigh mine?"
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"That''s not what I meant" Dan Un-Gang hesitated, visibly conflicted. Jwa Moon-Ho had not merely asked a favor, he had dangled a life-changing opportunity before him.
Seomoon Hye-Ryung scowled. "Hall Leader Dan, it would be unwise to turn me into your enemy. I am quite serious."
Seomoon Hye-Ryung''s mellow tone echoed like thunder in Dan Un-Gang''s ears. He immediately shed the lingering regret that clung to him. Jwa Moon-Ho''s promise had been tempting, but not tempting enough for him to risk provoking Seomoon Hye-Ryung.
"Understood, Miss Seomoon," Dan Un-Gang said, moving aside to reveal a cell crafted from iron bars as thick as a child''s arm.
A man stood inside, hugging a sword.
"All of you, leave," Seomoon Hye-Ryungmanded, her voice trembling despite herself.
Everyone stared at her, perplexed.
"Did you not hear me? Leave. That includes you too, Sister Yeong."
"U-Understood."
"Yes, Unnie!"
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Dan Un-Gang and his subordinates filed out, followed by Chae Hwa-Yeong and the guards.
Once they were gone, Seomoon Hye-Ryung approached the cell, her shoulders trembling faintly.
Sensing her arrival, the man slowly lifted his head. His features stood out sharply even in the dimness.
Seomoon Hye-Ryung''s pupils wavered. "Y-You?"
Jin Mu-Won fully raised his head and studied Seomoon Hye-Ryung''s face for a moment. "It has been a while, Miss Seomoon," he greeted.
"Master Jin it really is you. Oh my goodness!"
Just as Jin Mu-Won had recognized her after ten years apart, Seomoon Hye-Ryung instantly recognized him too.
He really survived. The rightful heir of the Northern Army, the Northern de Jin Mu-Won.
Seomoon Hye-Ryung clenched her fists so tightly that her nails bit into her palms. The Northern de was already known as a martial arts prodigy, but add the fact that he was also the rightful heir to the Northern Army, and the situation became problematic.
Even the smallest stories became romanticized over time, and this was especially true for the Northern Army that had once fought against the Silent Night. Conspiracy theories suggesting there was more behind the Northern Army''s astonishingly swift downfall were already in cirction.
With the reappearance of the Silent Night and the emergence of the rightful heir to the Northern Army, a massive storm threatened to reshape the murim.
Seomoon Hye-Ryung grit her teeth. "So you survived after all, Master Jin."
Chapter 162: Unpleasant Encounters (3)
Shocked speechless, Seomoon Hye-Ryung stared at Jin Mu-Won in silence for a while.
Seven years ago, she and Dam Soo-Cheon had been attacked by the Chaos Demon and were forced to run with their tails between their legs.
Ashamed of what they had done, Dam Soo-Cheon couldn''t even look at her. He med her for making the decision to run away, and he carried this shame for a whole year, until he finally shut himself away and devoted himself to martial arts training like a madman.
Meanwhile, she and Shim Won-Yi did their best to bury what had happened that day. After all, who would join the Azure Dragon Society if they knew that its leaders had fled from a Silent Night martial artist?
Thus, they thoroughly swept what had happened in the Northern Army under the rug. However, today, a man who knew everything appeared before them.
Thest sessor of the Northern Army, Jin Mu-Won.
Jin Mu-Won wasn''t just some ghost from the past. He was a walking time bomb who knew their weaknesses, the Azure Dragon Society''s dirtyundry. If he spilled the beans, the Azure Dragon would crash and burn before it could even take flight.
Feeling giddy, Seomoon Hye-Ryung asked, "Master Jin, how did you survive that day?"
"I got lucky," Jin Mu-Won replied calmly.Seomoon Hye-Ryung didn''t believe him.
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Luck only favors those who are prepared. He must have created a contingency n long before meeting us.
The problem was that she, who prided herself on being smarter and more intelligent than anyone else, hadn''t noticed anything unusual about Jin Mu-Won at all back then.
She clenched her fists so tightly that her shoulders trembled, but in her agitation, she was oblivious to her own movements.
"Master Jin, are you really the Northern de?"
"That''s what people call me."
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"Then what about martial arts? Were you already learning martial arts before you met us?"
"I started training in earnest after you guys left."
Seomoon Hye-Ryung''s face clouded with uncertainty. Jin Mu-Won''s words could be interpreted in many ways, but she could not make a calm judgment right now.
A ghost of the past was standing before her eyes. A ghost named Jin Mu-Won.
"Y-You" she stammered, but couldn''t finish her line.
Jin Mu-Won studied her quietly. Seven years had passed, yet her appearance was almost unchanged. She remained as beautiful as ever, though her eyes were now deeper and more intense.
She seems flustered now, but knowing her, she''ll soon regain herposure. When that happens, I need to carefully tailor my responses ording to what she chooses.
"Phew!" Seomoon Hye-Ryung took a deep breath to steady herself. She circted her family''s cultivation method, clearing her mind enough to think rationally.
Regardless of how it happened, Jin Mu-Won was here. There was no reason to dwell on the past. She needed to consider the consequences of his presence and n countermeasures.
The most troubling part is that he is the rightful sessor of the Northern Army
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Countless possibilities shed through her mind in an instant, and among them, she picked out a few ns.
The first is to eliminate him here without anyone knowing, the second is to recruit him, and thest was to use him.
These three ns were the most pragmatic. Before making a decision though, she first had to understand Jin Mu-Won''s intentions.
"Master Jin."
"Yes, Miss Seomoon?"
If youre seeing this, you are at the wrong ce.
"Do you dream of going against Heaven?"
Jin Mu-Won''s eyebrows twitched at her candor, but he didn''t waver. "That''s grand. Going against Heaven. Which heaven are you talking about?"
"Heaven''s Summit, of course. Are you acting dumb, or do you truly not know what I am referring to?"
Jin Mu-Wonughed, "Since when did Heaven''s Summit be synonymous with Heaven?"
"Heaven''s Summit rules the current jianghu. To call it a substitute for heaven is not an exaggeration."
"I see."
"You haven''t answered my question, Master Jin."
"I''ll say one thing: I will do anything and everything I can to survive."
Seomoon Hye-Ryung quickly picked up on Jin Mu-Won''s hidden allusions. "Survival in Heaven''s Summit, or survival in the jianghu?"
"Survival from everything that threatens me."
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"Just survival, or do you dream of something more?"
Jin Mu-Won smiled. "Everyone is free to dream. I don''t know what you mean by ''something more''."
Seomoon Hye-Ryung squirmed. Jin Mu-Won''s smile made her ufortable. No, it was more than that. Just being in the same space as Jin Mu-Won put her on edge.
All of a sudden, she had a revtion. There was no need to continue this conversation. There was never any room forpromise between her and Jin Mu-Won. They were fundamentally different.
"That''s unfortunate," she said, a hint of regret in her voice.
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"What is?"
"Many things. I sincerely wish you all the best in your endeavors, Master Jin."
"Thank you, Miss Seomoon."
Seomoon Hye-Ryung smiled politely. Jin Mu-Won''s appearance was unexpected, and his existence posed a threat to her and the Azure Dragon Society, but a true strategist should know how to turn any situation to their advantage.
She turned and left the prison.
Jin Mu-Won stood there, silently watching her retreating figure. Is it starting now?
Since Seomoon Hye-Ryung had found out about him, then it was only a matter of time before Heaven''s Summit''s top executives noticed him.
With a dull ng, the prison''s iron gate mmed shut.
"Hoo" Seomoon Hye-Ryung leaned against the heavy gate and let out a suppressed sigh.
"Unnie, are you alright?" Chae Hwa-Yeong asked.
"I''m fine."
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"What happened? Did he make you ufortable?"
Seomoon Hye-Ryung shook her head. "No, it''s nothing."
Chae Hwa-Yeong stared at her with suspicion.
Looking away, Seomoon Hye-Ryung called out, "Hall Leader Dan."
Dan Woon-Gang, who had been observing from the side, scurried over. "Yes, Miss?"
"Release him."
"Pardon?"
"Didn''t you hear me? I said release him."
Dan Woon-Gang frowned, troubled. "I''m afraid that''s not possible."
Seomoon Hye-Ryung raised an eyebrow. "Are you ignoring my orders?"
"No, Miss. It''s just"
"Stop beating around the bush."
"I just checked, and a report has already been sent to the Investigation Department. I can no longer release Jin Mu-Won on my own authority."
"A report has already been sent?"
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"Yes. Someone bypassed my instructions and made a report."
"Who?"
"I don''t know either. That''s what I''m trying to find out too," Dan Woon-Gang replied, looking distressed.
The situation had clearly escted beyond his control.
Anger shed in Seomoon Hye-Ryung''s eyes. Who dared to bypass me and send a report to the Investigation Department?
Jin Mu-Won''s arrest was now an official issue within Heaven''s Summit. No matter her influence, she couldn''t recklessly intervene in matters that had been formally documented.
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Moreover, Chief Inspector Geum Ju-Sang of the Investigation Department was not someone who could be easily swayed. He was a man of principle with an unyielding personality.
Everything would have been simpler if that fool Jwa Moon-Ho had given me some warning before pulling off this idiocy. Now I need to find another way!
Just then, someone swaggered confidently into the Outer Hall''s prison.
"The weather is so beautiful today. Why on earth did I decide to quit drinking? Ufufu!"
Seomoon Hye-Ryung stiffened. This was a voice she would recognize anytime, anywhere. "The Triune Schr, Ha Jin-Wol?" she mumbled.
"Oh, if it isn''t Miss Seomoon! Long time no see!" Ha Jin-Wol greeted Seomoon Hye-Ryung with feigned familiarity.
"Why are you here? I heard you were in Yunnan."
"I arrived in Wuhan not too long ago, but mypanion caused trouble and got himself arrested."
"Yourpanion?"
"Yes, a foolish fellow named Jin Mu-Won."
"You came to see Master Jin Mu-Won?" Seomoon Hye-Ryung asked again, struggling to maintain herposure.
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Noticing the subtle tremor in Seomoon Hye-Ryung''s voice, Ha Jin-Wol''s eyes widened. "Oh? You know him too?"
"How do you know him?"
"I met him while boating in Yunnan."
"Boating?" Seomoon Hye-Ryung eximed.
Obviously, she didn''t believe him.
The Triune Schr Ha Jin-Wol was one of the people she was most wary of. For one, despite his intelligence, he was unpredictable. No other strategist or genius had ever made her feel more uneasy.
Still, the jianghu was not a ce where one brilliant mind could sway the world. Ha Jin-Wol wasn''t a problem as long as he was alone.
If he was working together with Jin Mu-Won, then that changed everything.
Not only did the Northern de Jin Mu-Won possess immense martial prowess, his story and background would excite many within the jianghu.
As thest descendant of the Northern Army, which Heaven''s Summit had destroyed, he could move the hearts of martial artists everywhere unlike any other.
Add the genius strategist Ha Jin-Wol into the mix, and a whole host of invisible rm bells went off in Seomoon Hye-Ryung''s head.
If youre seeing this, you are at the wrong ce.
Ha Jin-Wol was smiling, but Seomoon Hye-Ryung only saw a contemptuous sneer. The man who had once tormented her mentally was here, allied with Jin Mu-Won.
This meeting is no coincidence. This man, he let Jin Mu-Won be imprisoned? There''s more to this
A strong sense of crisis gripped Seomoon Hye-Ryung.
As if reading her thoughts, Ha Jin-Wol casually said, "You know, it''s hard to get permission to visit someone in the Outer Hall prison. Do you think you could use your influence to help me visit my friend, Miss Seomoon?"
"What?"
"Please, I''m asking you a favor."
Seomoon Hye-Ryung hesitated, then turned to Dan Woon-Gang. "You heard the man."
"Yes, Miss," Dan Woon-Gang replied unhesitatingly.
"Then, I''ll wish you two a pleasant reunion."
"Thank you, Miss Seomoon. Bye bye!"
Ha Jin-Wol passed by Seomoon Hye-Ryung and entered the prison.
Seomoon Hye-Ryung watched him go, then said to Chae Hwa-Yeong, "Call a meeting of the Azure Dragon Society. Every single member currently in Heaven''s Summit must attend."
Chapter 163: A Splinter in My Finger Hurts More (1)
"Kuhahaha!" Ha Jin-Wol''s wildughter rang out through the prison.
Jin Mu-Won shook his head. Ha Jin-Wol seemed to be in a fit ofughter for no apparent reason, but it didn''t take much effort to guess why.
He must have met Seomoon Hye-Ryung.
He already knew about theplicated rtionship between Ha Jin-Wol and Seomoon Hye-Ryung, so he understood exactly how Ha Jin-Wol was feeling right now.
Suddenly, Ha Jin-Wol stoppedughing. He let out a long sigh, then smirked. "Yeahhh! That felt great."
"You seem to be in a good mood."
"Of course! You should have seen that woman''s face, all scrunched up as if she had bitten into something foul."
"I did see it."
"Fufu! Really? What did you think?"You ought to read this at northdetldo.
"I wasn''t very impressed."
"Then I suppose I am the only petty one. I haven''t felt this relieved in ages! Wahahaha!"
Several years ago, Ha Jin-Wol had lost everything to the inner demons that Seomoon Hye-Ryung had inflicted upon him. Those experiences had forced him to grow, but they were not memories he wished to recall.
"This will probably make her more cautious," Jin Mu-Won remarked.
"Of course. That is precisely why I threw you into this cold prison in the first ce," Ha Jin-Wol exined, all traces ofughter disappearing from his face as he reverted to the calm and calcting demeanor of the strategist he truly was.
"So, what''s your next n?"
"I have none."
"Excuse me?"
"There''s no need to make any ns."
Jin Mu-Won blinked in confusion.
Ha Jin-Wol chuckled, "You are my n."
"Please exin it in a way I can understand. I am not as smart as you are."
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"Kuku! Just wait and see. One thing is certain, though. Because of you, Heaven''s Summit will soon be suffering one upheaval after another. You just sit here in this prison and enjoy the show."
"Just enjoy it? Are you not going to give me any warnings? Any advice?"
"Nope! I mean, who knows? Maybe someone will try to assassinate you, or someone else will plot against you. You don''t need my help to take care of that sort of thing, do you?"
"So you want me to survive on my own."
"You''ve managed to survive so far, haven''t you? I believe in you."
Jin Mu-Won shook his head, but he did not seem displeased. Since he had already decided to trust Ha Jin-Wolpletely, he would trust him to the end.
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"At least it won''t be boring, right?"
"If you hold out a bit longer, you will soon hear some good news."
"I look forward to it."
"Feel free to. I guarantee it."
Ha Jin-Wol''s eyes gleamed coldly in the darkness of the prison.
I will drag them all out.Every one of those who lurks in the shadows and maniptes the world.
Late that night, a crowd gathered at the Wisdom Flower Pavilion.
They were the young martial artists of the Azure Dragon Society. Led by Shim Won-Yi, over thirty people, including Jwa Moon-Ho, Hyun Gong-Hwi, the Monochrome Twins, and Namgung Il-Geom, filed into the main hall and took their ces around a long table, waiting for Seomoon Hye-Ryung to arrive.
Shim Won-Yi frowned. He had other important work to do, and this sudden summons irritated him. Still, he knew that Seomoon Hye-Ryung would never gather the Azure Dragon Society sote at night without a good reason, so he kept his temper under control.
If youre seeing this, you are at the wrong ce.
Jwa Moon-Ho quietly approached Shim Won-Yi. "Hyung-nim, do you have any idea why Miss Seomoon called an emergency meeting sote at night?"
"How would I know?" Shim Won-Yi replied curtly. "Just be patient and wait. She wouldn''t have summoned us without good reason."
"I thought you might know, Hyung-nim."
"I cannot know everything."
"Right."
Shim Won-Yi''s face remained tense, but to his even greater annoyance, Jwa Moon-Ho failed to notice this and continued whispering something to Hyun Gong-Hwi beside him.
Just then, the doors to the main hall opened, and Seomoon Hye-Ryung entered, apanied by Chae Hwa-Yeong.
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All eyes turned to her.
"You''re all here," she began. "Thank you all foring despite the sudden summons."
Noticing that Seomoon Hye-Ryung''s expression was more rigid than usual, the atmosphere in the main hall became serious and somber.
"What''s going on, Miss Seomoon?" Shim Won-Yi asked.
"Something serious has happened, so I called you all here to discuss a countermeasure for it."
"Something serious?"
"Yes, and I will exin it in detail soon. But before that, I have a question for Master Jwa Moon-Ho."
"Me?" Jwa Moon-Ho, who had been sitting silently, pointed at himself in surprise.
"Yes you, Master Jwa," Seomoon Hye-Ryung snapped irritably.
Sensing the unusual tension in the air, Jwa Moon-Ho frowned.
Seomoon Hye-Ryung continued, "I hear you secretly exerted your influence in the Outer Hall a short while ago. Is that correct?"
"T-That''s true, but"
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"May I hear the details?"
"Why would you?"
"This is important."
Confronted with Seomoon Hye-Ryung''s stern demand, Jwa Moon-Ho looked flustered. He looked to Shim Won-Yi for support, but Shim Won-Yi remained silent. Although he was annoyed by the summons, he could sense the unusual tension between Seomoon Hye-Ryung and Jwa Moon-Ho.
"Ah, well" Jwa Moon-Ho hesitated.
Seomoon Hye-Ryung''s expression grew colder, as if a sheet of ice had formed on her face. "Exin yourself, Master Jwa," shemanded.
"Jin Mu-Won caused a disturbance. I couldn''t stand by, so I reported it to the Outer Hall."
"A disturbance?"
"Yes, that is"
"Are you referring to the time when you, Master Hyun, and Master Namgung ganged up on him and still lost?"
"Is that true?" Shim Won-Yi shouted, jumping to his feet.
Hyun Gong-Hwi was one of the Seven Young Skies, just like himself, and Jwa Moon-Ho and Namgung Il-Geom weren''t much weaker. For a team of three such skilled individuals to lose to a single opponent around their age was unthinkable.
"We only lost because we let our guard down. Next time, I''ll definitely win," Hyun Gong-Hwi muttered.
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The hollow excuse echoed through the hall, and the other martial artists of the Azure Dragon Society stared at the three in disbelief.
Hyun Gong-Hwi bit his lip, Namgung Il-Geom closed his eyes in shame, and Jwa Moon-Ho''s face flushed red.
So the rumors were true.
Those three joined forces and still ended up losing.
The Azure Dragon Society''s martial artists instinctively realized that Seomoon Hye-Ryung was telling the truth. Otherwise, the three young men would not react this way.
Everyone knew that Hyun Gong-Hwi was among the top young prodigies of the current jianghu, so it was impossible to imagine him losing when he had the help of Jwa Moon-Ho and Namgung Il-Geom. However, their awkward reactions proved otherwise.
After a long silence, Shim Won-Yi said, "Jin Mu-Won Are you referring to the Northern de?"
If youre seeing this, you are at the wrong ce.
"Yes."
"Hmm" Shim Won-Yi scowled, recalling something Seomoon Hye-Ryung had mentioned in the past.
Desperate to justify his actions, Jwa Moon-Ho eximed, "That man insulted the Azure Dragon Society, so I could not just let him be. If I had ignored him, he would have be a significant threat to us."
"So you hired the Illusionary Killers?" Seomoon Hye-Ryung asked.
"How did you?"
"Do you really think so little of me, Master Jwa? Did you really think you could cause trouble in Heaven''s Summit without anyone noticing? Even if I hadn''t found out, there are countless people in Heaven''s Summit who could uncover the truth."
"Ugh!"
"Moreover, not only did you hire the Illusionary Killers, you also bribed the Outer Hall. Was that your attempt at a cover-up?"
Jwa Moon-Ho raised his voice, "So what if I did? Jin Mu-Won is just a lone frencer. He cannot affect the grand scheme of things or aplish anything on his own. Besides, I did not intend to kill him, only to confine him during the Demon Hunters selection. I fail to see what terrible crime I havemitted."
Seomoon Hye-Ryung''s eyes hardened. "Is that why you even tried to involve the Investigation Department?"
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"The Investigation Department? What are you talking about? Why would I send them a report? If they got involved, it would onlyplicate matters."
Seomoon Hye-Ryung''s mind raced. If it was not Master Jwa, then who in the Investigation Department?No way the Triune Schr?
Picturing Ha Jin-Wol''s cheeky grin, she clenched her fist so hard that her knuckles turned white.
"Master Jwa, for your information, the man you imprisoned is the sole heir of the Northern Army."
"The Northern Army? Why does that matter" Jwa Moon-Ho voice trailed off as the realization hit him.
"The sixth generation Lord of the Northern Army, Jin Mu-Won. That is his true identity."
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"W-Wasn''t the Northern Army annihted?"
"That is what people think, but he survived and managed to enter Heaven''s Summit. That''s the most important thing right now."
"Why should that matter? In fact, isn''t it a good thing that I imprisoned the heir of the Northern Army? They''re a bunch of viins, right?" Jwa Moon-Ho said triumphantly, regaining his confidence.
Some of the Azure Dragon Society''s martial artists nodded in agreement.
These fools with muscles for brains Frowning, Seomoon Hye-Ryung shook her head in disappointment. "So you''re saying he''s a viin, then?"
"Yes, because he''s the Northern Army''s heir"
"The Northern Army has already paid for all its sins. Jin Kwan-Ho, the former Lord, shouldered all the me andmitted suicide."
Silence fell over the room.
"Once Jin Kwan-Ho epted the me, Heaven''s Summit could no longer officially punish Jin Mu-Won. Now, after ten years, public opinion has shifted. People are starting to question whether our brutal actions against the Northern Army were justified."
Time had softened the memory of the Northern Army''s fall, and now some wondered if they had been judged too quickly and too harshly.
Moreover, with the return of the Silent Night, Heaven''s Summit needed demon hunters, and ironically, the Northern Army had once been those demon hunters, defending the Central ins from the Silent Night.
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With the reappearance of their heir, there was a chance that public opinion might turn against Heaven''s Summit.
"Jin Mu-Won''s presence in Heaven''s Summit will spark fierce debate, and might even plunge Heaven''s Summit into turmoil. Your reckless actions, Jwa Moon-Ho, dragged the Northern Army''s ghost, who could have remained in the shadows, out into the open, turning this into the worst possible oue. Heaven''s Summit is going to argue endlessly about what to do with him."
"Aren''t you overreacting?"
"Does it sound like I''m overreacting? Just look at Jin Mu-Won''s connections. He''s on good terms with Kongtong Sect, the Mount Hua Sect, and the Tang n. All famous sects that lead the current jianghu. Do you think Heaven''s Summit can easily finish him off in secret without alerting them?"
Jwa Moon-Ho and the other Azure Dragon Society members fell silent, taken aback by the sheer scale of the consequences. They never imagined that what they thought was a small matter would explode into something so serious.
"If only he had never set foot inside Heaven''s Summit, none of this would have happened," Seomoon Hye-Ryungmented.
Above all, the Triune Schr, the man who made even me, Seomoon Hye-Ryung, nervous for the first time in my life, is on Jin Mu-Won''s side. From the beginning to the end, this whole situation must be part of his scheme.
She bit her lip hard enough to draw blood. Without her noticing, Ha Jin-Wol had ced a de at her throat.
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Chapter 164: A Splinter in My Finger Hurts More (2)
Jin Mu-Won sat in the middle of the prison cell, eyes closed. He was the only inmate there. After the previous incidents, the Outer Hall Leader Dan Woon-Gang had taken measures to prevent any visitors from approaching him.
With neither visitors nor disturbances, Jin Mu-Won could finally lose himself in his thoughts. Revelling in this freedom he hadn''t enjoyed in a long time, his thoughts expanded, and his imagination soared.
However, his peace was short-lived.
SLAM!
An elderly man, seemingly in his mid-tote fifties, suddenly barged in through the prison doors. His gaunt physique, slightly irritable expression, and sharp gaze spoke of an entric personality.
Behind him, the Outer Hall Leader Dan Woon-Gang trailed like a dog that desperately needed to take a shit.
After briefly surveying the prison, the old man walked straight toward the cell where Jin Mu-Won was being held and looked down at Jin Mu-Won. "Are you Jin Mu-Won?" he snapped, his voice as sharp as his appearance.
Jin Mu-Won slowly opened his eyes and looked up at the old man. "Yes, I am."
Why arent you reading this at northdetldo?"I am Geum Ju-Sang, the Chief Inspector of Heaven''s Summit. Do you know why I came here?"
"Is it because there''s a problem with my identity?"
"Indeed."
The Chief Inspector''s eyes gleamed ominously even in the darkness of the prison. As the Chief Inspector in charge of enforcing Heaven''s Summit''s rules and regtions, he was quite the formidable martial artist, but even he couldn''t see through Jin Mu-Won.
"Some time ago, you were arrested for ughtering dozens of martial artists at an inn in Wuhan. Is that correct?" he asked.
"Yes," Jin Mu-Won replied calmly.
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"Do you admit your guilt?"
"What guilt?"
"You murdered dozens of innocent people. Do you deny it?"
"I admit that I killed dozens of people, but they were hardly innocent."
"The truth is different?"
"Yes."
"Tell me. I''d like to hear how your side of the story differs from the report I received."
"I was enjoying a nice meal at a restaurant when assassins attacked me. I couldn''t just stand there and let them kill me, right?"
"The ones you killed were all assassins?"
"Yes."
"Hmm" Geum Ju-Sang frowned. Jin Mu-Won''s testimony waspletely different from what was written in the report he had received. "One more question. Answer me honestly." ?
"Go ahead."
"Are you really from the Iron Sword Sect?"
If youre seeing this, you are at the wrong ce.
""
"So the information is indeed wrong? Beforeing here, I received an anonymous tip that you weren''t a disciple of the Iron Sword Sect. They said that you were Jin Mu-Won, the sixth Lord of the Northern Army."
The tension in the air deepened, and Outer Hall Leader Dan Woon-Gang gulped unconsciously.
The Northern Army?
How could he not know that name? A decade ago, he had dispatched his subordinates from the Third Company to the Northern Army Fortress, but most of its members were killed in the Silent Night''s attack.
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"" Jin Mu-Won remained expressionless.
"Answer me. Is it true?" Geum Ju-Sang pressed.
"Yes."
"Damn it!" Geum Ju-Sang let out a small groan and closed his eyes. Jin Mu-Won''s answer hade as a shock to him. He was one of the few in Heaven''s Summit who remembered the Northern Army and what they truly stood for.
After a while, he opened his eyes and looked at Jin Mu-Won with pity. "Why? Why did youe here? Why didn''t you stay hidden? Don''t you know that you''re not exactly weed here?"
"I wanted to. I thought about living quietly, like a ghost, but destiny led me here."
The Chaos Demon''s attack, training at the Sword Wall in Mount Cinnabar, his journey to Yunnan, and the path to this ce. Thinking back, his long journey had been anything but been easy, and none of it seemed connected, and yet, he had arrived here as if guided by something.
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It could only be destiny.
"Destiny? If this is your destiny, then it is a cruel one."
"Perhaps."
"Regardless, I will proceed ording to protocol. I won''t make any exceptions for you just because you''re the heir to the Northern Army."
"That''s enough."
"I wish you luck. A word of advice, though, be careful. The world is not a kind ce."
Jin Mu-Won bowed his head sincerely. "Thank you."
He could tell that Geum Ju-Sang was a man who could distinguish between personal feelings and duty. The Chief Inspector wouldn''t offer him any help, but he also wouldn''t do anything malicious.
For him, that was enough.
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Geum Ju-Sang turned to Dan Woon-Gang. "I will transfer him to the Investigation Department''s prison soon, so until then, guard him closely."
"Y-Yes."
Even though they were both leaders of their respective units, the Investigation Department and the Outer Hall were worlds apart in status and strength. Unlike the powerless Outer Hall, no one in Heaven''s Summit except the Nine Skies was outside the Investigation Department''s influence.
Geum Ju-Sang closed his eyes. A storm ising No, it would be more urate to say that he has brought the storm.
Soon, the news that Jin Mu-Won was the heir to the Northern Army spread among Heaven''s Summit''s leaders.
"The heir to the Northern Army has appeared?"
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"Is that true?"
The leadership of Heaven''s Summit was in turmoil.
Heaven''s Summit was not an independent entity. It was a mini-jianghu where the interests of countless sects and factions were intertwined like a spiderweb.
Based on those connections, the leaders began to contemte the impact of Jin Mu-Won''s sudden appearance.
Finally, a conference was called. On the surface, it was to discuss matters rted to the Demon Hunter selection, but since representatives from all the major sects were attending, they would also bring up the issue of Jin Mu-Won.
More than fifty of the most powerful and influential leaders of Heaven''s Summit, the Nine Great Sects, and the Five Great ns gathered together in a massive hall. The atmosphere was heated, like a volcano about to erupt, but everyone suppressed their apprehension and patiently waited for the meeting to begin.
The Nine Skies, the symbol of Heaven''s Summit, were not present, but the Ten Great Elders attended in their stead.
The White Fog Divine Fist, Gal Mun-Hong.
The Smiling Red Sword, Yoo Cheong-Wol.
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The Crazy Old Man of Mount Tai, Yang Gyeong-Mun.
The Jade Flower Fairy, Bing Ha-Woon.
The Shadowless Demon yer, Seop Yo-Cheon.
The Divine Spear, Sama Gong-Cheon.
The Dragon Catcher, Woo Mun-Sang.
The Vajra Yaksha, Daeryeok Sim.
The Carefree Musician, Baekri Hyeon-Sang.
The Asura Meteor de, Hong Cheon-Hak.
Each elder was a master whose martial arts prowess was said to be second only to the Nine Skies, and they were also core leaders of Heaven''s Summit.
Just as it was almost impossible for the Nine Skies to gather in one ce, it was also rare for the Ten Great Elders to meet like this. That was how much the appearance of the Northern Army''s heir affected them.
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In addition to the Ten Great Elders, the heads of the key organizations in Heaven''s Summit were also present.
The Chief Inspector of the Investigation Department, Geum Ju-Sang.
The Weapons Hall Director, Pyo So-Ryu.
The Ruling Hall Director, Yuk Ji-Mun.
The Secret Pavilion Director, Wol Seong-Cheon.
The other martial artists who came from the Nine Great Sects, the Five Great ns, and so on, were also, without exception, extraordinary individuals.
As the leaders looked at each other, their faces were etched with tension. The matter they were about to discuss was sensitive and had significant repercussions.
Most of the people present had been there ten years ago when the Northern Army was disbanded. In a way, they were aplices in the destruction of the Northern Army. Therefore, now that the Northern Army was being brought up again, few were pleased.
The elders of the Nine Great Sects, the Five Great ns, and so on were no different. It had been ten years since the destruction of the Northern Army. It was a forgotten name, an event of the distant past. No one was amused that a ghost of the past had resurrected to disrupt the order they had established, and their feelings were clearly reflected in their facial expressions.
Woo Mun-Sang, one of the Ten Great Elders, kicked off the meeting by saying, "This is a troublesome situation. The heir of the Northern Army has appeared? I thought he was dead?"
He looked at the Secret Pavilion director, Wol Seong-Cheon.
The Secret Pavilion was Heaven''s Summit''s intelligence organization, and Wol Seong-Cheon was its leader. Naturally, most of the information that reached Heaven''s Summit went through him.
Most importantly, seven years ago, it was the Secret Pavilion that had dered Jin Mu-Won dead, so all eyes were on Wol Seong-Cheon.
Seeing everyone staring at him, Wol Seong-Cheon bit his lip and exined, "ording to the information I gathered seven years ago, he was definitely dead. I don''t have any idea why he''s alive, but based on the information I had at that time, there was no other possible conclusion."
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Yang Gyeong-Mun, another one of the Ten Great Elders, cut in, "We''re not here to me you, Director Wol Seong-Cheon. We''re here to decide what to do about Jin Mu-Won. Speak your minds freely."
"What''s there to discuss? The Northern Army betrayed us, which makes its heir an enemy of the jianghu. He''s currently imprisoned in the Outer Hall, so we should take this opportunity to kill him and uphold justice," Namgung Cheong-San, the representative of the Namgung n, suggested.
News had reached him that Namgung Il-Geom, one of his n''s promising prodigies, had been utterly humiliated by Jin Mu-Won, so he had nothing but open hostility toward Jin Mu-Won.
As if waiting for this moment, many others chimed in with their support.
"If the heir to the Northern Army is allowed to walk freely in Heaven''s Summit, we''ll be theughing stock of the entire jianghu."
"Indeed! The Northern Army has caused great harm to the jianghu. They should have fought the Silent Night, but instead they colluded with them, which led to the Silent Night''s resurgence. Just look at the state of things now. How much are we suffering because of the Silent Night?" the Knowledge Seeking Sage of the Zhongnan Sect passionately voiced his opinion, stroking his beard.
The atmosphere in the hall quickly became heated.
BAM!
Just then, a middle-aged Taoist with a round face and sharp eyes mmed the table and stood up, his eyes were filled with rage as he looked at those gathered in the hall.
"Weren''t the sins of the Northern Army absolved with the death of their previous leader, Jin Kwan-Ho? Even the Nine Skies of Heaven''s Summit acknowledged that. Why are we suddenly talking about punishing his son, Jin Mu-Won? Has hemitted some terrible crime?" the Seven Star Sage of Mount Hua Sect shouted angrily.
If youre seeing this, you are at the wrong ce.
An elder of the Kongtong Sect also stood up. "Mu-Jin, our Sect Leader''s disciple, met him before. ording to him, Jin Mu-Won is an honorable man who would never harm the jianghu. We"
"How can we make a decision based solely on the words of a mere disciple?" Namgung Cheong-San interrupted.
"Mu-Jin is not just any disciple. He''s the next Sect Leader of the Kongtong Sect. Are you calling him a liar?"
"That''s not"
Namgung Cheong-San and the Kongtong elder began to argue. Others joined in, and the hall quickly became noisy.
The Carefree Musician Baekri Hyeon-Sang, one of the Ten Great Elders, frowned. The sudden appearance of the heir to the Northern Army has divided us. If this continues, Heaven''s Summit will fall into internal conflict.
Many elders insisted on executing Jin Mu-Won, but there was also considerable opposition. In particr, the Kongtong Sect, the Mount Hua Sect, and the Tang n were strongly opposed to Jin Mu-Won''s incarceration.
Since they were some of the most prominent sects in the jianghu, it was impossible to ignore them and carry out Jin Mu-Won''s punishment.
Just like that, Jin Mu-Won''s presence alone sent waves through Heaven''s Summit.
Chapter 165: A Splinter in My Finger Hurts More (3)
"What? Why is that man in prison?" Myeong Ryu-San asked, frowning. He had been secluded in his room, focusing solely on training, when the news of Jin Mu-Won''s imprisonment arrived.
Jin Mu-Won was a wall he had to ovee, a mountain he had to climb, but most shocking of all, he was the heir to the Northern Army.
Even as a country bumpkin from the western Sichuan teau, Myeong Ryu-San knew how extraordinary the Northern Army was. One of his childhood dreams had actually been to fight alongside them against the Silent Night.
"That man is the legitimate sessor of the Northern Army?"
Myeong Ryu-San felt a strange tightness in his chest, like he was pathetically small and insignificant. Feeling upset, he left his room and walked down the easternkeside path, his mind churning withplicated thoughts.
Frustrated, he kicked at a pebble on the ground.
"What? So that''s why that guy was training so hard?! Fuck! How can I possibly beat him now?"
Just then, a dark shadow loomed over him. Looking up, he saw a strong woman with a spear on her back staring down at him.
"Are you Master Myeong Ryu-San of Sichuan?""Yes, I am."
"Follow me. Someone wants to meet you."
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"What?" Myeong Ryu-San raised an eyebrow in confusion.
Unfazed, the woman continued, "You won''t regret meeting this person. I guarantee it."
"What do you mean, you guarantee"
"You don''t believe me?"
"It''s not that I don''t believe you, but that I don''t even know you. Why don''t you start by telling me who you are?"
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"I am Chae Hwa-Yeong of the Thunder Sect."
Myeong Ryu-San stiffened. He had never heard the name Chae Hwa-Yeong before, but he knew about the Thunder Sect. Although they were not one of the Nine Great Sects, they were still a powerful sect he couldn''t even dream of approaching. ?
"Why would the Thunder Sect"
Chae Hwa-Yeong smiled confidently. "It''s not the Thunder Sect, but someone else who wants to meet you. Trust me, you won''t regret meeting her. It could even be a huge opportunity for you."
Myeong Ryu-San frowned. What makes her so sure?
Still, he could not suppress his curiosity, so he ultimately nodded.
Smiling as if she had expected his agreement, Chae Hwa-Yeong turned around. "Come with me."
Myeong Ryu-San followed Chae Hwa-Yeong to a small pavilion on the eastern side of theke.
A woman with deep, mysterious eyes and dazzling beauty sat on the pavilion, the breeze from theke gently ruffling her hair.
Myeong Ryu-San gulped unconsciously. His instincts told him that she was no ordinary person.
"Unnie! I brought him, just like you asked," Chae Hwa-Yeong said politely.
The woman, Seomoon Hye-Ryung, turned to look at Myeong Ryu-San and smiled in a dignified manner. "Greetings, I am Seomoon Hye-Ryung of the Seomoon n."
"I-I''m Myeong Ryu-San."
"Pleased to meet you, Master Myeong. Compared to what I''ve heard, you''re even more handsome in person."
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"Thank you." Myeong Ryu-San bowed his head. He always argued freely with Jin Mu-Won and Ha Jin-Wol, but strangely, he felt bad about acting that way with the elegant Seomoon Hye-Ryung. "Wait, Seomoon? Are you"
"Yes. I''m honored to be one of the Seven Young Skies."
"As expected! I knew you were an extraordinarydy."
"You tter me. Please, take a seat. My neck hurts from looking up at you."
"O-Okay!" Myeong Ryu-San hastily sat down across from Seomoon Hye-Ryung.
Now that they were at eye level, he could see her face better, and he gulped again. It was his first time seeing a woman as beautiful as a celestial maiden up close.
Seomoon Hye-Ryung''s smile broadened at the sight of his flushed face. "I''ve been wanting to meet you, Master Myeong."
"Me?"
"Yes."
Myeong Ryu-San gaped in shock.
The martial artists guarding the Outer Hall prison weed an unexpected but familiar visitor.
"Well, well! Look who it is. Mu-Sang-hyung!"
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"Long time no see," Seo Mu-Sang greeted back.
As a former member of the Outer Hall, the martial artists recognized Seo Mu-Sang and weed him warmly, not knowing that he was now the Head Inquisitor. They only knew that he was managing an inn in Heaven''s Summit after retiring from active duty.
"What brings you here, Mu-Sang-hyung?"
Seo Mu-Sang offered the baskets he was holding to the Outer Hall martial artists. "I just happened to think of you while on a stroll, so I decided to pay you guys a visit and bring you gifts."
"What''s this?"
"Food I made at the inn, especially cooked for you lot."
"Hyung-nim!" The Outer Hall martial artists eximed, looking deeply moved.
The baskets were filled with rare and delicious food and alcohol, so they were ecstatic and hungry, but since Dan Woon-Gang had given strict orders, they couldn''t leave their posts and could only eat it on the spot.
"Is it really okay for us to eat this, Hyung-nim?"
"Of course. Isn''t this ce like home to me? If I don''t take care of you, then who will?"
"Thank you, Hyung-nim. We won''t forget this kindness."
"Eat it before it gets cold."
"Yes, sir!"
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The Outer Hall martial artists hastily began to eat.
Seo Mu-Sang watched them for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Being here brings back memories. Do you mind if I look around?"
"Feel free, Hyung-nim. We''re not strangers."
"Thank you. I''ll take my time, so enjoy your meal."
"Yes, Hyung-nim!"
Leaving the martial artists to their meal, Seo Mu-Sang began to explore the Outer Hall. When he was sure that no one else was around, he snuck into the prison.
Passing through the dark corridors, his heart pounded in excitement and trepidation, until finally, he reached his destination.
Found him.
Inside one of the cells, a man sat cross-legged, eyes closed, seemingly one with the darkness. Seven years ago, he had the build of a skinny child, but now, he was a fully grown man.
If youre seeing this, you are at the wrong ce.
Still, Seo Mu-Sang recognized him instantly.
"M-My Liege," he stammered. He tried to remain calm, but he couldn''t stop his voice from quivering.
Jin Mu-Won opened his eyes.
The moment he saw those deep eyes, Seo Mu-Sang shuddered. Gripping the bars of the cell, he shouted, "My liege!"
"Mu-Sang-hyung."
"My liege! Finally!"
Seo Mu-Sang fell to his knees, clutching the bars, his shoulders shaking with emotion. It was their first meeting in seven years, but he had never forgotten Jin Mu-Won in all that time. His body was in Heaven''s Summit, but his heart was always with Jin Mu-Won.
Hot tears streamed down his cheeks, and Jin Mu-Won''s eyes also reddened.
"You''ve lost weight," Jin Mu-Won whispered, doing his best to hold back his tears.
"I heard many things about you, but I couldn''te see you because I was trapped at Heaven''s Summit."
"I figured as much."
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Seo Mu-Sang forced a smile. "You''ve grown up. You''re a real man now."
He had been keeping up with every bit of news about Jin Mu-Won, but he hadn''t known that Jin Mu-Won was imprisoned untilst night, when someone from the ck Moon Society informed him about it.
"What happened? Why are you in prison?"
"Well, things just somehow turned out like this."
"Heaven''s Summit is in chaos because of you. The leaders and the elders are meeting to discuss what to do with you, and even the Demon Hunter Selection has been postponed."
"Not surprising."
"Did you reveal your identity on purpose?"
Jin Mu-Won nodded silently.
If youre seeing this, you are at the wrong ce.
Seo Mu-Sang frowned. "Why? You should be keeping a low profile right now."
"The smartest person in the world advised me to make myself known. Besides, I don''t want to hide my identity in Heaven''s Summit."
"The smartest person in the world? Are you talking about the Triune Schr Ha Jin-Wol?"
"You know about him?"
"I''ve been collecting every bit of information about you, so naturally, I also looked into him. Seomoon Hye-Ryung is extremely wary of him."
"If I''m not around, go to him for advice."
"Understood, my Liege."
Seo Mu-Sang smiled. Seven years ago, he couldn''t gauge Jin Mu-Won''s strength, and now, he couldn''t even guess at it. Although he believed that he himself had reached a certain level, everything about Jin Mu-Won was hidden, like a hazy fog.
That made him ridiculously happy.
My liege has grown into a great man.
His judgment seven years ago had not been wrong. Jin Mu-Won''s appearance had changed, but one thing remained the same: his deep eyes that were as vast as the ocean.
The reputation of the one he had chosen now echoed through the jianghu, but Seo Mu-Sang knew that this was only the beginning. Just the thought that he could rock the jianghu alongside Jin Mu-Won made his blood boil.
Noticing the aura that Seo Mu-Sang was exuding unconsciously, Jin Mu-Won remarked, "You''ve gotten a lot stronger."
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"I''m ashamed that it took so long, but I think I can finally wield the Blue Cloud Sword Technique freely now."
For the past seven years, he had dedicated himself to the Blue Cloud Sword Technique, which others dismissed as a third-rate martial art, and had reached an unprecedented level of mastery.
Jin Mu-Won smiled. The first sword he had chosen had broken through his limits through harsh training.
"You''ve worked hard," he praised.
"Not at all. It was my duty. I''ll be by your side from now on."
If youre seeing this, you are at the wrong ce.
"If you follow me, only hardship awaits. Are you sure?"
"I''ve trained in martial arts to walk that path with you. I won''t back down because it''s hard or tiring."
"Thank you, Mu-Sang-hyung."
Seo Mu-Sang abruptly fell to one knee. "I, Seo Mu-Sang, your first sword, will cut down everything in your path! Command me as you will, my liege!"
His voice echoed through the prison.
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