Chapter 68: Demon Sword (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 68: Demon Sword (4)
The man dressed as a priest had shimmering Golden Eyes.
I couldn't hide my astonishment.
-Is he someone you know?
Yeah.
The Blood Demon Sword probably didn't see him back then because it was busy regulating my maternal grandfather’s blood vessels.
It was truly bizarre.
The Blood Demon Sword was created when the Blood Demon Ancestor founded the Blood Cult. That must have been hundreds of years ago. If so, it meant this man had been alive for all those centuries.
-Could it just be someone who looks like him?
There’s a limit to how much two people can look alike.
Their faces are identical. Even his voice is the same as the one I heard back then. But the most undeniable piece of evidence is those two eyes glowing gold.
‘Do you know who he is?’
-I don’t. I only encountered him once, and it was on this very day.
‘So this is all you know?’
-Indeed. But it is fascinating. To think a human, who lives a hundred years at most, has survived until now.
That was exactly what I wanted to say.
It meant the power of the Golden Eye might not be limited to mere regeneration.
-Is longevity not the dream of all humans?
Everyone desires a long life.
Immortality. To live an eternal life without aging.
The man with the Golden Eyes standing before me might be the one who achieved what all of the Central Plains—no, all of humanity—craves.
-To think such a man is the origin of our birth...
The Blood Demon Sword was right.
If the conversation between those two was accurate, the mastermind behind the creation of the five Demon Swords was this man with the Golden Eyes.
A question arose.
How did someone so close to immortality end up imprisoned in Bongnim Valley?
Back then, he said the one who imprisoned him was a "one-eye"—someone like me, who had only one Golden Eye.
-Aren't you more curious about why he made us?
Of course I am.
The more I learn about the Golden Eye, the more complicated the web becomes. At first, I thought it was just related to the Maoshan Sect, but knowing this man has existed since the Warring States period—a time of absolute chaos—makes it impossible to figure out through mere guesswork.
Who was this man with the Golden Eyes, and why did he have Gu Yaja create the five Demon Swords?
This alone wasn't enough to solve the mystery.
‘Ah!’
Come to think of it, the man with the Golden Eyes had said something. He warned never to let the Demon Swords gather in one place.
-Hmm. Now that you mention it, I don't think two or more of us have ever been in the same place, even by accident.
I looked at the swords thrust into the sand.
Right now, three of the swords were gathered together.
‘Can you pause this for a moment?’
No sooner had I spoken than Gu Yaja’s hammer, mid-swing, came to a halt. It was as if time itself had frozen.
I approached the swords.
‘What secret could be hidden here?’
Gyeongwang had examined the swords in great detail and even took rubbings, yet he couldn't discover any secrets. According to the man with the Golden Eyes, it might be because he only had one sword, preventing him from uncovering the truth.
I slowly circled the three Demon Swords, inspecting them.
There was nothing particularly special about them. The only thing they had in common was a unique pattern engraved on a portion of the blade...
‘All three of them?’
Looking closely, the patterns were all different. Naturally, they would be distinct to differentiate the swords, but why put these patterns on all the Demon Swords?
I examined the patterns carefully.
‘The patterns are too simple to be a cipher.’
I had learned countless codes during my time as a spy. I ran through various theories in my head, applying what I knew. I considered that it might be a map, but the patterns on the blades were simpler than expected.
Would the secret be revealed if I took rubbings and joined these patterns together?
-Must I keep this up? Human.
‘Just wait a moment.’
I needed to memorize the pattern on the Tiger Sparrow Sword. I could just take rubbings of the Blood Demon Sword and the Evil Connection Sword later, but I didn't have the Tiger Sparrow Sword in my possession.
Once I had memorized the pattern, I deactivated Cheondun.
The illusion scattered like smoke, and I returned to my quarters.
-Did you find something?
‘I need to check.’
I immediately ground some ink and used a brush to draw the pattern of the Tiger Sparrow Sword from memory. It took about half a shijin to finish, as I kept re-verifying it with Cheondun to ensure there were no mistakes.
However, taking rubbings of the Blood Demon Sword and the Evil Connection Sword was a quick task; I just had to apply the ink.
-What's hidden in here?
‘Hmm.’
I placed the two rubbings and the drawing of the Tiger Sparrow Sword's pattern together. Simply joining the different shapes didn't reveal anything. It didn't form a map, either.
‘Maybe I should look from a distance.’
I stuck them on the wall and stepped back. Sometimes, things look different from afar than they do up close. As they say, look at the forest, not the trees.
‘...There’s nothing.’
Even from a distance, it just looked like different patterns stuck together. What on earth was hidden here? Did all five Demon Swords have to be together for the secret to be revealed?
I must have spent over a shijin just thinking. I was starting to feel frustrated.
‘It’s not about combining these patterns... Wait.’
Why didn't I think of this? I think I overcomplicated things because I had to manually recreate the Tiger Sparrow Sword's pattern.
I applied ink to the patterns of the Blood Demon Sword and the Evil Connection Sword again.
-More! More!
Would you please shut up?
The Evil Connection Sword let out a suggestive sound every time the brush applied ink.
-Is there a part of the pattern missing? Why are you taking rubbings again?
I’m changing the method.
I laid out the drawing of the Tiger Sparrow Sword I had made earlier.
-Eh? You’re going to overlap them?
Yeah.
I had to press them down with the blade's direction aligned so the front and back wouldn't get mixed up. I pressed the Blood Demon Sword's rubbing over the Tiger Sparrow Sword's pattern. Then, I did the same with the Evil Connection Sword.
When I pressed down firmly and pulled them away, something amazing happened before my eyes.
‘Ha!’
As the patterns overlapped, two characters were completed in the spaces between them.
日 途
-Oh! They really turned into characters!
-I didn't realize it when they weren't overlapped. How marvelous.
The swords were impressed as well.
The Hanja characters formed by the overlapping patterns were "Sun" (日) and "Road" (途).
What did this mean?
Sun and Road?
-Don't the characters seem a bit far apart? Un-hwi.
The Namcheon Iron Sword pointed that out sharply. Just as it said, there was a slight gap between "Sun" and "Road." Was another character missing?
-Mmm~ Doesn't it look like another character was starting to form at the end of the pattern?
Drop the nasal tone, Evil Connection Sword.
But just as she said, the last part looked like a character with several strokes missing. I thought I could guess what it was.
‘...If I add the four missing strokes here...’
陵
It became the character for "Tomb" (陵).
-Sun, Road, and Tomb?
What kind of combination was that? The words didn't seem to fit together at all. As expected, did I need the other two Demon Swords to complete the phrase?
Was there a phrase that included Sun, Road, and Tomb? Perhaps it was a line from a poem or an idiom from the classics?
Various theories swirled in my head.
-Didn't you say you were quite well-read?
If I remembered every single thing I read, I would have taken the civil service exams or joined the government. And do you have any idea how many books there are? I’d need to look at a book from Gu Yaja’s era or a related historical record to even begin to piece this—
‘...Historical records?’
Records of the Grand Historian (사기).
It refers to the records of history.
‘The Zizang Historical Records!’
-Zizang Historical Records?
There are tens of thousands of books related to the Warring States period, when so many heroes and legends emerged. Among them, only a few are considered proper historical records, and the most famous is the Records of the Grand Historian completed by Sima Qian, whose courtesy name was Zizang.
Sima Qian was a historian and official during the Former Han dynasty, which preceded the Great Yan Empire. The Records he left behind consist of 130 volumes in total: 12 volumes of Basic Annals, 10 volumes of Chronological Tables, 8 volumes of Treatises, 30 volumes of Hereditary Houses, and 70 volumes of Biographies.
-Yikes! 130 volumes? Isn't that too many?
The Zizang Historical Records is a condensed version of that. A great scholar of the Great Yan Empire named Ge Hong condensed it into five volumes. It was named after Sima Qian’s courtesy name.
-What about it? Human.
The Zizang Historical Records is a must-read for any child of a prestigious Orthodox family. it’s a book that easily explains famous historical anecdotes, including many from the Warring States period.
Coincidentally, back when my Dantian was destroyed, I read this book dozens of times. There is a specific passage in it.
‘日暮途遠.’
Dusk falls, yet the road is long.
-The day is ending, but the path is far?
Yeah. It’s a phrase from the "Wu and Yue" chapter of the Zizang Historical Records. Wu and Yue were such bitter rivals that they inspired the idiom "Wu and Yue in the same boat."
-It’s great that you figured that out, but what’s the secret?
What matters is who the phrase "Dusk falls, yet the road is long" originated from.
-Who?
‘O Ja-seo!’
Wu Zixu (O Ja-seo). He was originally from the State of Chu, but after his father and elder brother were murdered, he served the State of Wu. A loyal subject of Wu, he sought out the tomb of King Ping for revenge and whipped the corpse three hundred times. His friend, Shen Baoxu, rebuked him for it.
At that time, Wu Zixu replied, "Dusk falls, yet the road is long, so I had no choice but to act against reason." This became a famous idiom.
I had wondered why "Tomb" (陵) was attached to the end of this idiom. In the end, it wasn't the idiom itself that was important, but the person it pointed to: Wu Zixu.
-Ah! Then does the "Tomb" at the end refer to Wu Zixu’s tomb?
It probably means Wu Zixu’s tomb.
At my words, the Lesser Conversation Sword stuck out its tongue in awe.
-Wow... your brain really works in mysterious ways.
They say praise can make even a whale dance, so I puffed out my chest. Then, the Namcheon Iron Sword asked curiously.
-But normally, isn't the character "陵" (Tomb) reserved for a king's grave? Un-hwi.
A king's tomb?
Ah... That’s true.
Wu Zixu wasn't a king. As a subject, he wouldn't have had a grand tomb built for him, and he eventually committed suicide after being falsely accused. It’s said that King Fucha of Wu, the son of Helü, was so enraged that he threw Wu Zixu’s body into the river.
This is where it gets confusing. In those days, "陵" was only used for kings, but it’s different now. Since it’s used to mean "tomb" in general, I can't be sure if it refers to Xushan, the shrine where Wu Zixu is enshrined, or the tomb of King Helü of Wu, whom Wu Zixu served.
-We’ll need to know all the missing characters to be certain.
It seemed the Blood Demon Sword was right. There was space for two or three more characters after "Dusk falls, yet the road is long." Those characters would likely specify which tomb it was...
‘Ah!’
No. I was mistaken.
-Why?
"Dusk falls, yet the road is long" refers to Wu Zixu, but it’s not about his tomb or the tomb of the king he served.
-Then?
It’s the reason for the anecdote. It refers to King Ping of Chu, the one Wu Zixu took his revenge upon. In the end, what the five Demon Swords are pointing to is the Tomb of King Ping, the one who suffered the "exhuming of the tomb and whipping of the corpse" at the hands of Wu Zixu.
-Your head works better than your martial arts. Human.
The Blood Demon Sword chuckled.
-Whoa. Then the answer is out. There’s some hidden treasure or secret belonging to that two-Golden-Eyed guy in the Tomb of King Ping, right?
The Lesser Conversation Sword chattered excitedly.
But I didn't share the excitement. To think it would be such a coincidence.
-Hey. You used your brain and solved the secret without even gathering all the swords. Why do you look so grim?
‘Because it won’t be easy.’
-What won’t be easy?
‘The location of the Tomb of King Ping.’
-Where is it?
‘It’s in Ying, which was the capital of the State of Chu.’
-Then we can just go there and dig around to find something, right?
We’d find something if we went. But the problem is that it’s difficult to go there right now.
-What’s the problem?
Ying, the capital of Chu... is currently known as Wuhan City.
-Wuhan City?... That’s where the Martial Alliance is!
Exactly. Wuhan City, Hubei Province—the holy land of the Orthodox Martial World.
The Tomb of King Ping is right in the middle of it.
*
Early the next morning.
In the eastern guest quarters of the Right Army Commander's Office.
In one of the rooms, Sama Jung-hyeon, the Second Strategist of the Martial Alliance, and Taoist Master Manjong, the Sect Leader of the Quanzhen Sect and the Sixth Elder of the Martial Alliance, were deep in conversation.
"Second Strategist. Will this truly be alright? If His Highness King Yeong sides with the Blood Demon, won't it be difficult to press him, even for His Highness King Qin?"
Taoist Master Manjong spoke with concern.
At this, Second Strategist Sama Jung-hyeon smiled thinly and pulled something out. It was a letter that appeared to have come from a carrier pigeon.
"What is that?"
"The news I’ve been waiting for."
At those words, Taoist Master Manjong’s face brightened.
"Does that mean Taoist Master Zhongxian has arrived?"
"He is currently stationed in Xinning, having joined forces with the disciples of the Wudang Sect and the strength of the Hunan Province Branch of the Martial Alliance."
"Hahaha. Excellent. Then the Blood Cult must have moved in a hurry as well."
"Indeed. We have received word that the First Venerable, Blood Breaking Sword Emperor Dan Wi-gang, is leading three thousand cultists and rushing toward the border of Guangxi and Hunan."
With this, the border of Guangxi was completely sealed off by the forces of the Martial Alliance. Even the Blood Cult’s greatest asset and strongest master, the First Venerable Blood Breaking Sword Emperor, was now pinned down.
As a result, the Blood Cult Leader was effectively isolated alone in Guizhou Province.
"As expected of the previous strategist, Master Bang. To drive the Blood Cult Leader into a corner so easily."
"That is the nature of strategy and the art of war. Depending on how you utilize them, you can drive your opponent to the edge of a cliff. The key is the capture of the Blood Cult Leader. Once he is taken, the remaining remnants will naturally crumble."
Taoist Master Manjong showed confidence at Sama Jung-hyeon’s words.
"Do not worry. For this day, the disciples of the Quanzhen Sect have prepared the Seventy-Two Seven Star Sword Formation. It is a grand formation that would not be pushed back even if the Alliance Leader himself were the opponent."
"That is reassuring. Then, let us have breakfast and attend the trial..."
Knock, knock!
Just then, someone knocked on the door.
Taoist Master Manjong answered.
"What is it?"
A voice came from outside.
"Sect Leader. A guest has arrived."
It was a third-generation disciple of the Quanzhen Sect.
"A guest?"
Who could it be at this early hour, before the sun had even risen? It could be officials from the Military Governor's Office.
Second Strategist Sama Jung-hyeon asked curiously.
"Who is it?"
"He says he is So Woon-hwi, the disciple of the Namcheon Sword Guest and one of the Twin Heroes."
"The Twin Heroes?"
As soon as they heard that, the two men looked at each other in surprise.
It was an unexpected guest. One of the two symbolic rising stars of the Martial Alliance, chosen to stand against the resurging Blood Cult, was the disciple of the Namcheon Sword Guest.
"Let him in."
The door opened, and a young man appeared.
The youth bowed with a fist-and-palm salute to the two Alliance leaders as they stood up.
"So Woon-hwi, a junior of the martial world, greets the seniors of the Alliance."
"Well now. What brings Young Hero So here?"
Taoist Master Manjong welcomed him warmly.
At this, So Woon-hwi gave them a meaningful smile and spoke.
"I heard that the wicked Blood Cult Leader has come this far. As a member of the Orthodox Faction, I have rushed here to lend a hand. Please, allow me to join you."