Chapter 76: Spreading Fame (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 76: Spreading Fame (4)
Merciless Wind God Jin Seong-baek and Flying Moon Swordsman Ha Seong-un stared at each other, looking utterly bewildered.
Seomun Geuk couldn't help but feel puzzled. He had expected them to be overjoyed, but their reactions were the complete opposite of what he had anticipated.
"Is... something the matter?"
As he asked, Ha Seong-un sent a message via Sound Transmission to his son-in-law, Jin Seong-baek.
[Is there a flaw in the Wind Shadow Eight Streams Sect’s information network? Or has Woon-hwi done something outrageous again?]
[......It seems to be the latter.]
If it were the former, the entire intelligence department would need to be purged. However, that didn't seem to be the case.
[Him fighting against himself... does that even make sense?]
The Blood Demon was Woon-hwi, and the disciple of the Namcheon Sword Guest was also Woon-hwi. This was no different from pulling a massive scam on the entire martial world. No matter how much Jin Seong-baek cared for the boy as his own, there was no way he could fully fathom the depths of Woon-hwi’s schemes.
[......He certainly has a way of achieving the impossible.]
Late at night.
In Wuhan, Hubei Province—the holy land of the Orthodox Faction.
Inside the Alliance Leader’s office at the Martial Alliance headquarters, a lengthy briefing was underway. Throughout the report, the expression of Baek Hyang-muk, the Alliance Leader and the First Sword of Wuhan, remained grim.
It was only natural, as the report detailed a string of significant losses for the Martial Alliance.
"The Second Strategist’s whereabouts are unknown?"
"It is as I have reported. All traces of Second Strategist Sama Jung-hyeon vanished after he left the Guizhou Province branch of the Martial Alliance."
Sama Jung-hyeon had disappeared.
It was a bizarre turn of events. According to the Guizhou branch, they had sent the preserved corpse of Flash Thunder Sword Jagyun—the veteran master who had attempted to impersonate the Blood Demon. However, no report of its arrival was ever made, and even the corpse itself had vanished.
Sama Jung-hyeon was the only one who might hold the clue to this suspicious incident, yet he had suddenly dropped off the face of the earth.
"What of the Sect Leader of the Quanzhen Sect?"
"Similarly, his whereabouts remain unknown. We are searching alongside the elders of the Quanzhen Sect, but we have found no traces."
Taoist Master Manjong, the Sect Leader of the Quanzhen Sect and the Sixth Elder of the Alliance, had also vanished. It was understood that he had personally retrieved the bodies of his disciples, who had perished in the bloodbath near the Military Governor’s Office, to bring them back to his sect.
But then, one day, he was simply gone.
And he wasn't the only one. Everyone who had been inside or around the Central Yang Hall within the Quanzhen Sect had disappeared as well.
"Alliance Leader. This is undoubtedly the work of the Blood Demon—no, the Blood Cult."
Third Strategist Baek Wi-hyang pointed to the Blood Demon as the culprit. Although there was no circumstantial evidence, he seemed convinced by his intuition.
Alliance Leader Baek Hyang-muk let out a low groan and stroked his beard.
"Alliance Leader?"
"My intuition says the same, but it doesn't make sense."
"What do you mean?"
"Despite the trap we set, the Blood Demon fought Flash Thunder Sword Jagyun—who was impersonating him—to avoid an immediate full-scale war. Why would he then kidnap the very people he supposedly protected?"
It was contradictory. If that were his goal, there would have been no reason to help them in the first place.
‘The disappearance of the corpse bothers me.’
Though he didn't say it aloud, the disappearance of the body weighed heavily on Baek Hyang-muk’s mind. The corpse of Flash Thunder Sword Jagyun, the man who had posed as the Blood Demon. It was strange for the Blood Demon to go out of his way to recover it. After all, that body was the very evidence that could prove his innocence.
‘......Has a third party intervened?’
Baek Hyang-muk’s racing thoughts eventually reached that possibility. At that moment, Chief Strategist Bang Deok-hyeon spoke up.
"Strategist Baek’s words are not without merit, Alliance Leader."
"Chief Strategist!"
Baek Wi-hyang sent a grateful look toward Bang Deok-hyeon for finally taking his side. Ignoring him, Bang Deok-hyeon continued.
"If we assume this was all orchestrated by the Blood Demon, it is a possibility."
"What do you mean by that, Elder?"
"Due to this incident, our Alliance has been stained with the infamy of being indebted to the Blood Demon. We must consider the possibility that everything has unfolded exactly as the Blood Demon intended, Alliance Leader."
"Hmm......"
Since even the Chief Strategist said so, it couldn't be dismissed lightly. Yet, why did this lingering sense of unease remain? Baek Hyang-muk felt as though someone were intentionally hoodwinking him.
In truth, it had started that day. Flash Thunder Sword Jagyun, while impersonating the Blood Demon, had ambushed the Alliance warriors and Quanzhen disciples as if he had full access to their internal intelligence. That information was supposed to be known only to the Alliance Leader himself, the Strategist’s Hall, and those present on the scene.
Baek Hyang-muk’s gaze shifted toward Chief Strategist Bang Deok-hyeon.
‘......No. That’s impossible.’
He had known Bang Deok-hyeon for a long time. It was inconceivable that he would be a mole.
‘Still, just in case, perhaps I should conduct a separate investigation?’
Just then, an urgent message arrived.
"Alliance Leader! News has arrived from the Yangtze River!"
One of the operations being conducted secretly and simultaneously was the raid on the Yangtze River Waterway Eighteen Strongholds. This was a mid-to-long-term measure to prevent the Blood Cult from reclaiming the region south of the Yangtze. The success or failure of this mission would dictate much of their future strategy.
"What is the result?"
The warrior delivered the conclusion of the Yangtze River report first.
"The operation has ended in failure."
The outcome was something no one had predicted.
"Good heavens!"
Baek Hyang-muk couldn't hide his frustration. This meant that all the operations planned by Bang Deok-hyeon since his return had failed. Yet, despite this, Bang Deok-hyeon didn't look the least bit flustered.
‘.......Why is there not a single ripple of emotion?’
Baek Hyang-muk felt a seed of doubt grow. However, he didn't let it show. Even as he met the Alliance Leader’s eyes, Bang Deok-hyeon asked in a calm, steady tone.
"What was the cause of the failure?"
"There was an ambush by an unidentified group midway through."
"An unidentified group?"
"Yes. According to information sent by the Beggar's Sect, they appear to be related to those with golden eyes."
"Golden eyes!"
The existence of the 'Golden Eyes' was information known only to the high-ranking leadership of the Martial Alliance. Were they not the mysterious assailants who had been attacking various promising masters?
For the first time, Baek Hyang-muk noticed Bang Deok-hyeon’s pupils tremble.
‘Is he only now surprised?’
The reaction came only after the mention of the golden eyes. After a moment of visible emotional disturbance, Chief Strategist Bang Deok-hyeon spoke.
"Then, what happened to the ship that was attacked?"
Bang Deok-hyeon seemed more concerned about the ship than the golden-eyed group.
"The ship is safe."
At those words, the furrow in Bang Deok-hyeon’s brow deepened. One would expect him to be relieved that the ship was safe, yet his scowl only intensified. Baek Hyang-muk narrowed his eyes, keeping a close watch on him.
The warrior continued his report.
"The even more shocking news is that the Ghost-Slaying Fist Demon Jang Mun-ryang, one of the Five Great Villains, was among the attackers."
As the name of one of the Five Great Villains was mentioned, Baek Hyang-muk’s attention snapped back to the report.
"The Ghost-Slaying Fist Demon? And yet the ship is safe? Did the Wolf King defeat him?"
"No, sir."
"No?"
"The one who defeated the Ghost-Slaying Fist Demon was So Woon-hwi, the disciple of the Namcheon Sword Guest."
"So Woon-hwi?"
There was no way he wouldn't know that name. He was the one the Alliance was trying to promote as a new star, alongside their joint successor, Lee Jeong-gyeom.
Third Strategist Baek Wi-hyang asked, sounding incredulous.
"Wait. Even if he is called one of the Twin Heroes, the Ghost-Slaying Fist Demon is a monster who has broken through the Wall. How could a mere junior like So Woon-hwi possibly face such a man?"
".......Even I find that hard to believe."
Chief Strategist Bang Deok-hyeon also frowned as he questioned the report. The warrior continued.
"I found it hard to believe myself, so..."
"What do you mean? What happened?"
"It is reported that So Woon-hwi, the disciple of the Namcheon Sword Guest, used the Sword Flight Art and the Self-Moving Sword Art to defeat the attackers and the Ghost-Slaying Fist Demon Jang Mun-ryang."
"What?!"
Baek Wi-hyang was dumbfounded. Both the Sword Flight Art and the Self-Moving Sword Art were considered the ultimate dreams of all martial artists—especially swordsmen. To hear that So Woon-hwi, a youth barely in his early twenties, had performed them was nearly impossible to swallow.
"What kind of preposterous nonsense is this?"
"Every sailor on the ship, the escort guards, and even the warriors of the Zhongnan Sect witnessed it."
"How could such an impossible thing..."
Alliance Leader Baek Hyang-muk’s reaction was no different.
‘It hasn't even been half a year. Has that boy already surpassed the Wall?’
Baek Hyang-muk had personally tested So Woon-hwi’s martial prowess at a blacksmith shop outside the city. Even then, his skills were incomparable to other juniors. But even so, he had deemed him lacking compared to his own disciple, Lee Jeong-gyeom. To have surpassed the Wall in such a short period defied all common sense.
‘.......Does he possess a natural talent that surpasses even Jeong-gyeom?’
His growth was far too rapid. Even the monster known as Killing Fiend Jue Xin, one of the Twelve Superhumans, hadn't grown this fast. While this should have been a cause for celebration for the Orthodox Faction, this terrifying genius inspired a sense of dread.
"Um... but that's not all."
"There's more?"
"It seems the Waterway Stronghold attacked the actual transport ship, not the decoy ship we set up."
"The Waterway Stronghold?"
Nothing was going according to plan. The ship meant for the operation was attacked by an unexpected enemy, while the actual transport ship was attacked by the pirates.
"And it appears the Blood Demon appeared there."
"So he finally moved."
This was somewhat expected. Though, unlike his predictions, he hadn't expected the leader himself to move alone.
Third Strategist Baek Wi-hyang spoke with a troubled voice.
"This is the worst-case scenario, Alliance Leader. Not only has the operation failed, but the Blood Demon and the Waterway Stronghold have made contact..."
"Actually... that doesn't seem to be the case."
The warrior delivering the news interrupted. Baek Wi-hyang asked, puzzled.
"What do you mean?"
"It is reported that the Blood Demon actually protected the transport ship from the pirates."
"What on earth are you talking about?"
The Blood Demon and the Yangtze River Eighteen Waterway Strongholds were both of the Evil Faction. From the Blood Cult’s perspective, they should have been friendly toward them to facilitate the unification of the Evil Faction. The report that the Blood Demon protected a transport ship was utterly absurd.
‘What is he up to?’
Baek Hyang-muk found it impossible to understand. This was completely different from the Blood Cult’s usual behavior. First, they take a friendly stance toward the government. Then, they save Alliance members in crisis? And now, they even save a transport ship from pirates?
‘What is your game, Blood Demon?’
If this continued, the Alliance’s justification for war would weaken. They were supposed to be the agents of justice against evil, but the current Blood Demon’s actions were slowly eroding their moral high ground.
‘Could that be his actual goal?’
If so, this was not something to be taken lightly. Until now, the Blood Cult had been faithful to its role as the public enemy of the world, claiming they would wash the world in blood. Whenever friction arose, they had always sought to resolve it through sheer force.
‘He is different. Too different.’
For the first time, Baek Hyang-muk felt a profound sense of alarm regarding the Blood Cult. He realized that the current Blood Cult might become the most dangerous enemy the Orthodox Faction had ever faced.
"However, there is some good news."
"Good news?"
"It is said that So Woon-hwi, who arrived via Sword Flight, even defeated the Blood Demon."
"!!!"
Everyone was left speechless. It was hard enough to believe he had defeated the Ghost-Slaying Fist Demon, one of the Four Great Villains, but to have defeated the Blood Demon as well?
"This, too, was witnessed by all the escort guards on the transport ship."
"What in the world..."
They had expected an urgent report, but it felt like they were listening to a chronicle of one man’s heroic exploits. Third Strategist Baek Wi-hyang seemed to have run out of words, merely snorting in disbelief. He was a man prone to jealousy.
Alliance Leader Baek Hyang-muk shook his head and muttered.
"He has already transcended the realm of a 'New Star'."
"Indeed. People are already saying that he should be counted as one of the Eight Great Masters, replacing the deceased Muchen Sword Emperor, rather than just one of the Twin Heroes."
"The—the Eight Great Masters? A mere brat in his early twenties?"
Baek Wi-hyang asked, sounding outraged. He clearly couldn't accept it.
"Even the Wolf King Hyeok Cheon-man acknowledged his strength. His feats are no longer at a level that can be described as merely a 'New Star'."
His reputation had grown too great to deny. He was no longer a mere junior; he was a peerless master who ranked among the very best in the martial world.
Baek Hyang-muk spoke to the reporting warrior.
"With that level of fame, he must have earned a proper title by now."
"Yes. He is being called by several names, such as the Lesser Namcheon Sword and the Great Hero of the Flying Sword. However, many are calling him the 'Lesser Sword Immortal' (小劍仙), saying he is the reincarnation of the Sword Immortal."
At the mention of 'Lesser Sword Immortal,' a strange light flickered in Baek Hyang-muk’s eyes.
"I see... indeed."
It made sense. In the history of the martial world, had there ever been anyone with a greater reputation for the sword than the Sword Immortal? Hearing of So Woon-hwi’s exploits—defeating enemies while using Sword Flight and the Self-Moving Sword Art—naturally brought the Sword Immortal to mind.
Unlike him, Chief Strategist Bang Deok-hyeon’s gaze was inscrutable.
In a dark, dense forest.
A man sat before a crackling campfire, his eyes closed as if in deep meditation. A black figure suddenly appeared across from him. Despite the arrival of the mysterious masked individual, the man did not open his eyes or move an inch.
"I have a report for the Lord. A carrier pigeon has arrived from the Brain Lord (腦主)."
The man spoke without opening his eyes.
"Speak."
"It is reported that a person suspected of being 'that man’s' successor has appeared."
The moment those words were uttered, his eyes snapped open. In the light of the campfire, one of his pupils shimmered with a golden hue. At the sight, the masked man hastily bowed his head.
The man with the golden eye spoke.
"We must hurry."
"We shall recover the remaining three swords immediately... Gack!"
Before he could finish his sentence, the masked man’s body was hoisted into the air. It was a display of terrifying internal energy. His body frozen as if he were a mere puppet, the masked man’s eyes trembled with fear.
The golden-eyed man said to him.
"How much longer must I wait?"
"W-we have found traces of the Killing Fiend. Soon, we will have good news..."
"It will be faster to make that runaway wretch open his mouth than to find all the remaining swords."
"The runaway...!?"
With a flick of the golden-eyed man’s hand, the masked man’s body crashed to the ground. As he scrambled to his feet and knelt on one knee, the golden-eyed man gave his command.
"Find Gun-bang."