Chapter 70: The Villain's Title (2) (Revised)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 70: The Villain's Title (2) (Revised)
"A fake? How could this be... Good heavens."
Taoist Master Manjong, the leader of the Quanzhen Sect, let out a heavy sigh as he stared at the fake Blood Demon Sword, which was merely plated in red.
He had been certain the real Blood Demon was behind this, but to find that an unrelated third party had intervened was a shocking turn of events. His reaction was only natural.
In a way, the disciples of the Quanzhen Sect were simply victims of misfortune. Had everything gone according to my plan, they wouldn't have been sacrificed so pointlessly.
"We should check this man's face first."
I approached the head rolling on the ground. Though I already knew who it was, I feigned ignorance and removed the shattered mask covering the face.
"At a glance, he looks to be in his mid-fifties."
At my words, Master Manjong stepped closer. It was a face I hadn't seen before this life, but would he recognize him?
"This... this is..."
What was this? Master Manjong’s reaction was far from ordinary.
"Do you know him?"
"Step aside for a moment."
Master Manjong knelt and examined the face closely. Even during my time as a spy before my regression, I had seen countless figures from the Martial Alliance, yet I had never seen this face. Furthermore, this man was a master who had broken through the wall.
Master Manjong muttered in a trembling voice, "Flash Thunder Sword Jagyun."
"Flash Thunder Sword?"
—Do you know him?
No. I’d never heard of him. If I had even a shred of information, I might have guessed his identity through his martial arts. I decided to ask Master Manjong.
"Is he someone you know?"
"How can this be..."
Why was he so shocked? My curiosity was soon satisfied by Master Manjong’s explanation.
"He was a swordsman known as the Hegemon of Anhui Province some thirty years ago."
Anhui? That was the territory of the Namgung Family. For generations, the Namgung Family had exerted their fierce influence over Anhui. To think there was someone else who held the title of Hegemon there.
"This man should be dead. How is he...?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"I saw this man once a long time ago. Even back then, he was over sixty years old. By now, he should be nearly a hundred. Yet, he has the face of a much younger man..."
Master Manjong’s words reminded me of what happened at Peerless Fortress. The man there looked to be only in his thirties, yet he claimed to be the master of the Dagger-Killing King.
This was already the second time. I had encountered another person whose youthful appearance didn't match their actual age.
"What do you mean when you say he should be dead?"
"...Flash Thunder Sword Jagyun challenged Ardent King Hegemon Jin-gyun. From what I know, he vanished after suffering injuries so severe he could never recover."
"He fought the Ardent King Hegemon?"
"It was a massive scandal at the time. He traded over a hundred bouts with the Ardent King Hegemon, who had just gained fame as one of the Eight Great Masters."
To trade a hundred bouts with a warrior who had broken through the wall into the realm of superhumans? It was no exaggeration to say he had been on the very cusp of breaking through the wall himself.
"I find this situation impossible to understand."
It was understandable. A famous master from the past, long thought dead, had reappeared looking younger than ever. And that man had disguised himself as the Blood Demon to carry out a sinister plot. It was a story hard for anyone to swallow—unless you factored in the Golden-Eyed Man and his organization.
—Are you going to tell him?
He wouldn't believe me if I just blurted it out. It would be better to adapt the information into something more credible. I spoke to him cautiously.
"...Actually, there is something I haven't told you, Master."
"What is it?"
"This man tried to win me over."
"He tried to recruit you?" Master Manjong frowned and urged me to continue. "How?"
"He told me he would make me a hero of the Orthodox Faction."
"A hero of the Orthodox Faction?"
"A hero who defeated the Blood Demon after he slaughtered the Taoists of the Quanzhen Sect."
"That despicable scoundrel!"
Master Manjong’s usually benevolent face twisted with fierce rage. It seemed the idea of his disciples' lives being used as pawns made his blood boil.
"And what did you do?"
"How could a warrior who reveres the Orthodox path fall for such wicked schemes? I told him that even if my strength was lacking, he should kill me rather than insult me."
—Wow... you didn't even blink while saying that.
Lesser Conversation Sword clicked his tongue at my blatant lie. Right. I would never actually tell someone to kill me. I’d always find a way to survive. But as one of the Twin Heroes of the Orthodox Faction, I had to show that level of integrity.
Master Manjong patted my shoulder and praised me. "Admirable. With juniors like you, the future of the Orthodox Faction is bright."
"You flatter me. Regardless, when I refused to follow his orders, he tried to kill me."
"Is that when the Blood Demon appeared?"
"No. When he moved to kill me, I asked him: 'The Blood Demon is currently on trial at the Right Army Commander's Office, so who are you really?'"
"And what did he say?"
"He seemed momentarily flustered by my words."
Master Manjong stroked his beard, deep in thought, before speaking. "It's because his plan went awry."
He was reaching the exact conclusion I intended. I played dumb and asked, "His plan?"
"He intended to commit this atrocity early this morning while disguised as the Blood Demon. Since his timing was off, it's only natural he was flustered. So, what happened next?"
I pulled the pill I had taken from the man out of my robe.
"He tried to force me to swallow this. He threatened me, saying that once I ate it, I would have no choice but to follow 'them'."
"'Them'?"
"Yes. He spoke as if he were part of an organization, not acting alone."
"...Is that true?"
"I heard it clearly."
"Who on earth could be moving a man like this?"
Master Manjong took the matter seriously. Having fought the man himself, he couldn't help but be wary of a hidden power capable of commanding such a master.
"I don't know either. If it's not the Blood Cult, then what force could it be?"
"...This is a grave matter. May I see that?"
"Here it is."
Master Manjong took the pill and sniffed it. However, he wasn't a physician or an apothecary; he couldn't know its nature just by smell. He offered a guess.
"The scent makes me feel strangely lightheaded. It appears to be a type of hallucinogenic poison. It seems they intended to use you for some scheme."
"That was a close call. Fortunately, the real Blood Demon appeared just then."
"Hmph..." Master Manjong sighed. "How very coincidental."
I could guess why he said that. He had essentially been saved by the very Blood Demon he had tried to trap and corner. As a member of the Orthodox Faction, he must have felt conflicted.
"Things have become truly complicated."
"Perhaps this man, or the organization behind him, intends to force the Martial Alliance and the Blood Cult into an early war from the shadows."
"I suspect you are right, as my own thoughts align with yours."
Everything was going according to plan. Now, all that remained was for him to go to the Martial Alliance and make the existence of this hidden organization public. However, Master Manjong’s next words were unexpected.
"The ones who plotted this are a problem, but the current Blood Demon is also a concern."
"...What do you mean by that?"
"Flash Thunder Sword Jagyun single-handedly annihilated over a hundred of my sect's disciples and the members of the Martial Alliance branch who were lying in ambush. That means he had undoubtedly broken through the wall."
"That's true, but..."
"You saw it earlier, didn't you? The current Blood Demon didn't have a single scratch on him."
...I was actually hurt quite a bit.
He was a formidable foe, enough to punch a hole in my stomach. This old man was sharper than he looked. To think he had been keenly observing my attire amidst all that. If I had known, I would have torn my clothes a bit to make it look like a struggle.
Master Manjong spoke with awe. "To suppress such a man without taking a single wound... I cannot even fathom how powerful the current Blood Demon's martial prowess must be."
...Hmm.
It seemed he was taking this even more seriously than I expected. Was he more wary of a known enemy's danger than a mysterious hidden force?
Master Manjong looked at me with a meaningful gaze. "It seems that for the first time in twenty years, there will be a change in the hierarchy of the Four Great Villains."
'!!!'
*
That evening.
I was staying in the guest quarters of the Right Army Commander's Office. Perhaps because of my history as a spy, even I thought I was being incredibly bold—no, shameless. I was staying here not as the Blood Demon, but as So Woon-hwi of the Orthodox Faction.
"Whew."
I had spent nearly eight hours straight in meditation. Night had already fallen.
When I fought Flash Thunder Sword Jagyun, I hadn't realized it because I had just broken through the wall, but the vessels of my lower, middle, and upper Dantians had grown larger than before. My Essence, Energy, and Spirit had all reached a new level of growth.
It was a strange phenomenon. They were growing stronger together, as if in resonance.
—I'm truly moved, Un-hwi, Namcheon Iron Sword said, sounding emotional.
'Why?'
—To think that you, who couldn't even form a Dantian when I first met you, have surpassed my previous master.
It was true. In a true sense, I had surpassed the Namcheon Sword Guest. After breaking through the wall, I was miraculously able to utilize up to the 8th stage of the Life Bright Divine Art, something I couldn't achieve before due to a lack of enlightenment. It was a realm even the Namcheon Sword Guest had never reached.
Looking back now, I felt I had truly become the student who surpassed the master.
—My previous master would be happy for you as well.
I hoped so. Regardless, I had inherited his legacy.
Just then, I sensed someone approaching outside the quarters. I recognized the Qi sense; I knew who it was.
Knock, knock!
"Yes."
"Young Master So. It is I."
It was the voice of Second Strategist Sama Jung-hyeon. I hadn't seen him since the brief encounter at the site where the bodies were being recovered. What business did a man, who should be busy writing reports for the Martial Alliance, have with me at this hour?
"Please, come in."
The door opened. I clasped my hands in a salute and bowed slightly. He returned the gesture with a light bow.
"What brings the Strategist here in person?"
Sama Jung-hyeon closed the door and spoke. "First, I want to apologize to you."
"What do you mean?"
"In truth, Master Manjong and I tested you because we couldn't fully trust you."
A test. Of course, I knew. They had given me the wrong ambush location. I had overheard it through the Namcheon Iron Sword anyway, so it was a moot point now. I feigned ignorance.
"A test?"
"We thought you might be a spy, so we gave you a different location for the ambush. Despite that, thanks to you, four lives were saved."
Four lives? Were there others besides the three first-generation disciples of the Quanzhen Sect? As I looked puzzled, Second Strategist Sama Jung-hyeon gave a faint smile.
"Would Master Manjong not have lost his life as well if it weren't for you?"
"No, it's quite the opposite. I was only able to survive because Master Manjong arrived. How could the credit be reversed?"
Sama Jung-hyeon shook his head. He stepped closer and said, "You risked your life to hold off the enemy and buy time. Master Manjong praised you highly."
"Goodness..."
I had only knocked him out so I could fight properly, but it had been misunderstood like this. Well, it wasn't a bad thing for me if they thought that way.
"I have already reported this matter to the Alliance Leader."
"The incident?"
"Yes. Because of this, the Blood Demon's reputation may grow beyond control."
Naturally. After all, he had essentially saved an Elder of the Martial Alliance who had been trying to backstab him. Surely they wouldn't twist this into false information to cause confusion?
—In what way?
For instance, they could spread rumors that Flash Thunder Sword Jagyun, the fake Blood Demon, was actually a subordinate of the real Blood Demon. Baek Wi-hyang, the Third Strategist, was exactly the kind of person who would do that. I wasn't sure about the man in front of me, though.
Then, Second Strategist Sama Jung-hyeon placed a hand on my shoulder and spoke in a serious tone.
"If you are willing, our Alliance is prepared to nurture your growth further."
"...What do you mean by that?"
"There may be a third force whose identity we do not know. Furthermore, the strength of the Blood Cult may be greater than we anticipated."
"What does that have to do with me...?"
"What do you think is the most important thing in war?"
What was his intention with this question? I didn't want to stand out or draw attention, so I gave a generic answer.
"Morale."
"Correct. It is morale."
Wait... that was the right answer? That wasn't what I intended. Sama Jung-hyeon took a deep breath and continued.
"A symbolic figure, the new Blood Demon, has appeared in the Blood Cult. Such a figure might boost the morale of the Blood Cult and the Evil Faction, but for our Alliance and the Orthodox Faction, it is the opposite. It will demoralize us."
"Does the Orthodox Faction not have the Alliance Leader?"
Sama Jung-hyeon shook his head. "Of course, the Alliance Leader can play that role, but he is now the center of the Orthodox Faction. He is not a vanguard or a hero meant to boost morale."
I felt a sense of unease. Surely...
"I hope you will take on that role."
"......Me?"
"If my eyes do not deceive me, you will become a symbolic hero who will lead the Martial Alliance—no, the entire Orthodox Faction—in the future."
How was I supposed to respond to this? The person standing right in front of him was the Blood Demon.
—He'd faint if he knew.
Probably. Things were drifting further and further away from the past I knew. Originally, the person the Orthodox Faction intended to push as a hero was Lee Jeong-gyeom, the joint successor of the Eight Great Masters. Yet here I was, the Leader of the Blood Cult, listening to this.
*
Ten days had passed since then.
I had now reached the Ohyeon Pier in Anhang County, northern Hunan Province. Many things had happened in the meantime.
Master Manjong, the leader of the Quanzhen Sect, had performed a simple funeral for his fallen disciples and departed for Sichuan, saying he had to return their bodies to the sect.
Sama Jung-hyeon, the Second Strategist of the Martial Alliance, had urged me to accompany him to the Guizhou branch to treat Flash Thunder Sword Jagyun's body to prevent decay before heading to Wuhan, but I declined. While going with him would have made entering the Martial Alliance easy, I wouldn't have been able to achieve my goal.
—Wasn't it just because that guy was a burden?
That's why I practically ran away and left first.
My current destination was the base of the Yangtze River Waterway Eighteen Strongholds. They were the first force I needed to unify the Evil Faction.
Of course, I wasn't alone. My companions included Sama Yeong, Jo Seong-won (the former Beggar's Sect disciple), and the twin brothers, Song Jwa-baek and Song Woo-hyeon. This was the small elite group Baek Hye-hyang had called "slow as molasses." Originally, the group included the Left Guardian and the Cult Leader's guards, but I had assigned them other missions. My current companions were the ones I felt most comfortable with and were the best elite force for moving within the Orthodox Faction's territory.
We had arrived in Anhang, but we needed to find a boat. While the Cult operated its own vessels, Jo Seong-won suggested that using a merchant group's ship would be a faster way to encounter the pirates of the Waterway Strongholds.
Indeed, Ohyeon Pier was bustling with people, as it was a hub for merchant groups using the waterways.
—Hey, human. How long do I have to stay in this wooden box?
The Blood Demon Sword spoke to me in a dissatisfied voice. I know it's frustrating, but bear with it. Until I can make a proper scabbard that can hold multiple swords like I had at the Martial Alliance, you and the Evil Connection Sword can't be seen in public.
—Heehee. It's so stuffy. I hear so many men's voices outside. Won't you let me out?
The Evil Connection Sword said, sounding like she was licking her lips. That's exactly why I can't. It would be trouble if you tried to use your seduction.
—Lowly thing, the Blood Demon Sword spat.
—My, what lovely words. You're not my type either, you know.
Stop fighting, both of you. My head hurts when you argue. Having so many swords is becoming quite a chore. I should consider finding other masters for them, as the Lesser Conversation Sword suggested.
In the midst of this, Song Jwa-baek spoke to me.
"Before we look for a merchant ship, why don't we stop at an inn for a meal? This guy's condition isn't great."
Since I told him to treat me as So Woon-hwi of the Orthodox Faction rather than the Blood Demon Jin Un-hwi, he had been happily speaking to me informally.
"You're getting quite good at that informal speech, aren't you?"
"Hey, you told me to... I mean, you told me to do it, sir."
When I teased him, he sheepishly checked my reaction. You're always fun to mess with, Jwa-baek. Seeing me smirk, he realized he'd been played and stomped his foot.
"Argh!"
As he said, Song Woo-hyeon was staring intently at the street of inns. The scent of spices and charcoal-grilled food wafted all the way here. He was a guy with a strong appetite, and since we'd been surviving on jerky for the past few days, he clearly wanted a proper meal.
I looked at Sama Yeong. She gave a bright smile and nodded.
"Let's eat first, then."
At her words, Song Jwa-baek's lips twitched as he muttered, "Next time, it'll be much faster to just ask Lady Sama."
Keep those thoughts to yourself. Don't say them out loud.
Jo Seong-won stepped forward and pointed toward the street of inns. "My Lord. There's an inn famous for its duck broth that I visited once with that damn old man. The clean flavor is exquisite. Shall we go there?"
"...Duck broth. Good."
Song Woo-hyeon, his mouth watering, spoke for the first time in a while. Jo Seong-won was useful at times like this. Being a former beggar of the Beggar's Sect, he knew a lot of random things.
—He only knows about food.
Knowing good restaurants is very important. Eating is one of life's greatest pleasures.
Anyway, following his lead, we entered the street of inns. We saw a worn-out inn crowded with people. Even though it wasn't mealtime—around the hour of the Dragon (辰時)—the fact that it was so packed meant it was definitely famous.
The inside of the inn was just as crowded. I wondered if there would be any seats. A waiter rushed over to greet us.
"Welcome! You're in luck; a table just opened up."
That was a relief. There's nothing more tedious than waiting. We followed the waiter deeper into the inn.
[There are many people carrying water-banners, aren't there?]
Sama Yeong sent me a sound transmission. As we walked in, I noticed several groups of people who were clearly martial artists. They weren't just from sects or gangs. Judging by the banners with characters on them tucked into their bundles, they seemed to be escort guards.
[They look like escort guards.]
Escort guards are warriors who take on commissions from escort agencies to deliver goods. Their nature is somewhat different from typical martial artists. Since this pier was primarily used by merchant ships, it made sense that many people involved in that line of work were here.
[Ah, so that's how escort guards dress. It's my first time seeing them. I did hear that their status has risen lately because of a certain famous escort guard.]
I think I'd heard of that. Before my regression, there was a man called a "Master Escort" who performed countless eccentric feats. I heard his martial prowess was quite impressive, but since he had no ties to the Martial Alliance, I never had the chance to see him in person.
"Please, sit here."
The waiter led us to a table in the far corner. It was better than a conspicuous spot. Jo Seong-won asked, "Shall we all have the duck broth?"
Everyone nodded in agreement, except—
"I want meat noodles!"
Song Jwa-baek ordered meat noodles for himself. He was the type to say no when everyone else said yes. Well, when it comes to food, the truth is you should eat what you want regardless of what others say.
"Is that so?"
"Understood. I'll bring it right out."
The waiter hurried off toward the kitchen. While waiting for the food, we were chatting about various things when Sama Yeong gestured toward the escort guards and spoke to me in a low voice.
"Young Master. Since we have to board a merchant ship anyway, how about we disguise ourselves as escort guards?"
"Escort guards?"
Hmm. That didn't sound like a bad idea. I'd heard that merchant ships don't take on extra passengers once they've reached their cargo and crew limit. If so, disguising ourselves as escort guards could be a viable method. However, to do that, we'd need to pose as guards from a fairly credible agency. How should we go about it?
I was pondering this when—
"Won-seong?"
I called Jo Seong-won by his alias.
Jo Seong-won was suddenly staring toward the entrance of the inn with a grave expression.
Wondering what was wrong, I followed his gaze. A group of escort guards and several beggars were walking in together as if they were a single party.
'Ah.'
I think I knew why he was making that face.
Among the beggars was a young man with about eight pouches slung over his shoulder.
That signified the Eight Principles.
In other words, he was the Back Opening of the Beggar's Sect—the Junior Chamber Leader.
'Hong Geol-gae?'
I hadn't expected to run into the Junior Chamber Leader of the Beggar's Sect in a place like this.
Jo Seong-won’s eyes were burning with a smoldering rage.
[Calm down.]
No matter how good the human skin mask was, if he glared with such murderous intent, the other side was bound to notice.
Without taking his eyes off the man, Jo Seong-won ground his teeth and sent a sound transmission.
[...My Lord. You haven't forgotten your promise to me, have you?]
[I haven't.]
I had promised to help him get revenge for having his position as the Back Opening stolen.
In exchange, he had sworn his loyalty to me.
It seemed the time had finally come.
Watching the Back Opening, Hong Geol-gae, I asked Jo Seong-won a question.
[I’m curious. What would happen if the current Back Opening died and the original candidate for the position suddenly reappeared?]
At that question, Jo Seong-won turned to look at me, his eyes wide with shock.