Chapter 81: The Secret of the Jonju (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 81: The Secret of the Jonju (3)
The successor of the Sword Immortal?
What on earth did that mean?
I was momentarily stunned by the news that the one-eyed Jonju with the golden eye had been defeated by a successor of the Sword Immortal.
Sodamgum spoke to me as if he couldn't understand it either.
It was just as he said. I was the one who had obtained the Sword Immortal’s spirit treasures, harnessed the power of the Big Dipper, and received direct instruction from the Sword Immortal’s spirit fragment.
Yet, Wicked Heart Granny Cheol Su-ryeon claimed that the Jonju had been defeated by a successor of the Sword Immortal.
To call it nonsense, though... wait, could it be?
Something suddenly flashed through my mind.
The spirit fragment of the Sword Immortal, who had passed his martial arts to me in the mindscape, had mentioned leaving behind three spirit treasures.
-
If that were the case, then the successor Cheol Su-ryeon spoke of might be someone who had obtained one of those three treasures and inherited the Sword Immortal’s legacy.
In fact, it was more bizarre that not a single person had managed to obtain a treasure in the hundreds of years since the Sword Immortal’s death.
'Hmm...'
Sodamgum was getting quite good at reading my inner thoughts.
Human greed is a difficult thing to suppress.
Perhaps because I had already obtained two of the treasures left by the Sword Immortal, I secretly hoped the last one would also fall into my hands.
However, it seemed the final one might not be destined for me.
That might be true, but I decided to let go of any lingering attachment.
Still, every treasure left by the Sword Immortal possessed a mysterious and profound power. If the successor Cheol Su-ryeon mentioned had truly mastered the final treasure, what exactly had they obtained?
“The successor of the Sword Immortal? You’re saying there was someone who inherited his legacy?”
My father-in-law, Moon Evil Sword Sama Chak, interjected with a question. He seemed intrigued by the idea that the man once called the Number One Sword Under Heaven had a successor.
Cheol Su-ryeon gave a mocking smirk as she replied.
“How should I know?”
“What?”
“But that man, at least, wouldn’t lie about something like that.”
“Who exactly is this Jonju that he has lived for so long and even fought a successor of the Sword Immortal?”
At that question, Cheol Su-ryeon let out a long breath.
“I don’t know. Even to me, the woman who bore his child—even if it was just a moment’s lust—he never revealed everything.”
‘!!!’
I couldn't hide my shock at those casually tossed-out words.
She bore his child?
I had heard that Cheol Su-ryeon had once joined forces with him, but I never imagined she had that kind of relationship with the Jonju.
To think such a significant memory wasn't in her spirit fragment.
Cheol Su-ryeon let out her characteristic, bizarre laugh.
“Kek-kek-kek-kek! Don’t go making useless assumptions. Neither that man nor I had any affection for each other. It was nothing more than a moment’s diversion.”
“You gave birth to a child conceived as a ‘diversion’?”
At that question, the laughter vanished from her face.
Cheol Su-ryeon wrapped her arms around herself as if embracing her own body.
“It was a child I carried and birthed from my own womb. It’s not for the likes of you to judge.”
Her voice was chilling.
Because her personality was so eccentric—enough to be called a villain—it was hard to truly understand her heart.
What was certain, based on her memories, was that she had a severe obsession with children. Regardless of her feelings for the Jonju, she seemed to have cherished the child as an extension of herself.
Perhaps that was why, after the child died, she had tried to keep giving birth, even if it meant using other women’s bodies.
Just then, a secret sound transmission reached my ears.
[Who is this Jonju that you are trying so hard to find out about him?]
It was my father-in-law’s voice.
At the sound of that transmission, Cheol Su-ryeon chuckled.
“It seems you have many secrets from your father-in-law as well, Blood Demon.”
Damn it.
To think she could eavesdrop on sound transmissions even in that state.
It wasn't through martial arts or sorcery, but likely an ability derived from her hyper-acute hearing.
My father-in-law also seemed quite surprised by this, frowning before looking back at me and repeating his question.
“Secrets?”
She was stirring up unnecessary trouble.
It might be better to tell my father-in-law at least some of the truth.
Perhaps he, too, knew of a man with a golden eye.
“Father-in-law, the Jonju I’m looking for is...”
Swish!
Before I could even finish, my father-in-law held up a hand, signaling me to be quiet.
His gaze suddenly shifted upward.
As I moved to look up as well, Cheol Su-ryeon spoke.
“A hawk.”
‘A hawk?’
Surprisingly, a shadow that looked like a hawk was indeed circling in the night sky above.
Seeing this, my father-in-law’s face brightened, and he muttered softly.
“Du Gong.”
He called the hawk Du Gong?
What did that mean?
Suddenly, my father-in-law used his lightness skill to leap up into the trees.
As he ascended, the hawk that had been circling above descended and perched on his forearm.
I couldn't see exactly what he was doing, as his back was blocking my view.
A moment later, my father-in-law sent the hawk flying back up and leaped down to the ground.
I was about to ask what was happening, but he spoke first.
“I was going to ask you for a favor, but it seems that won’t be necessary. You look like you can handle things on your own, so I’ll be going now.”
“Pardon?”
He was leaving just like that?
Didn't he say he had a favor to ask and wanted to see Sama Yeong?
Was everything resolved just because that hawk appeared?
Even as he spoke to me, his eyes didn't leave the sky; he seemed to be tracking the direction the hawk was flying.
I cupped my fists in a salute and said, “I understand. Is there anything I can help with?”
I was just asking out of politeness.
“No. I’ll come find you once I’ve finished my business.”
With those words, my father-in-law prepared to move, but he left one final warning.
“I’m watching you.”
.......Ah.
Everything was contained in those few short words.
Since Wicked Heart Granny Cheol Su-ryeon was listening, he had delivered his message implicitly.
What a coincidence.
Of all times, he had to show up right after we had made some progress in our relationship.
True.
But I couldn't figure out why he was leaving in such a hurry.
He called the hawk Du Gong—could it be related to Man Bak-ja?
Questions swirled, but for now, the priority was to hear the rest of the story regarding the Jonju.
Cheol Su-ryeon said to me, “Your heart is beating fast. It must be urgent business.”
That hearing of hers was truly monstrous.
Even with my senses heightened by Innate True Qi, I couldn't hear heartbeats or sound transmissions. Was it because she was blind that her other senses were so magnified?
Anyway, that wasn't the important part.
“It’s none of your concern. Finish what you were saying.”
She snorted at my words.
Then, she continued.
“You said you were curious why the Jonju is looking for the five swords?”
“Yes.”
“That man told me. He said he can’t do anything without dealing with the successor of the Sword Immortal first.”
Was the man called the Jonju afraid of that person?
If so, the reason he had been plotting from the shadows without revealing himself all this time might be because he feared crossing paths with the successor of the Sword Immortal again.
Just how strong was this person that a man who commanded masters who had broken the wall would hide his tracks out of fear of a single individual?
“And?”
“Isn't it simple? He was defeated by the successor of the Sword Immortal, and he still fears that person. If you were the Blood Demon, what would you do?”
“.......I would look for a way to defeat that successor.”
“Exactly. That is what I suspect. If he gathers the five swords, there must be a hidden secret manual or some kind of spirit treasure that can defeat that man. Why else would he be so desperate to find them?”
My prediction was off.
I thought he was looking for a way to prevent his recovery ability from being hindered by water, but I had unexpectedly learned of his natural enemy.
And that enemy was supposedly another successor of the Sword Immortal.
‘Hmm.’
To be honest, I wasn't sure if her words were true.
I was half-doubting.
The Jonju possessed incredible recovery abilities and had lived for a very long time—long enough for several dynasties to change—leading Cheol Su-ryeon to call him undying and immortal.
But would the successor of the Sword Immortal be the same?
No matter how strong the successor of the Sword Immortal was, they were still a normal human.
Even if their internal energy reached a divine realm, there were limits to human lifespan.
If so, the Jonju could have simply waited for that person to die before revealing himself again.
The Blood Demon Sword, which had been listening quietly, interjected.
The Blood Demon Sword had a point.
Not all causal relationships can be judged by objective facts alone.
Humans act on emotion as much as reason.
It really might be to avenge the humiliation of defeat.
‘Huh?’
‘!!!’
This guy.
He made a sharp point.
If what the Blood Demon Sword said was true, the pieces fit together.
It explained why the Jonju would hide his presence despite having such power and influence.
If he believed the successor of the Sword Immortal could appear at any time to thwart him, the Jonju would have no choice but to be cautious in everything he did.
I asked Cheol Su-ryeon.
“......Do you happen to know who the successor of the Sword Immortal is?”
“How would I know what even that man doesn't? But if that man reveals himself, the successor of the Sword Immortal will surely appear as well.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Can't you tell just by how secretly that man moves?”
For someone with that level of martial prowess to move only to stop the Jonju, without any desire for fame...
Was it someone willing to sacrifice themselves for the safety of the martial world?
Or were they operating under a hidden identity?
No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn't understand it.
Still, my next task was set.
Yes.
Once I reach the Tomb of King Ping, I’ll know for sure.
If I obtain what the Jonju is trying to get first, the secret will be completely unraveled.
Cheol Su-ryeon said to me, “I’ve told you everything I know. Now, keep your promise.”
“I’ll ask one more thing.”
“What is it?”
“Did the Jonju really have no affection for you or that dead child?”
At my question, Cheol Su-ryeon let out a mocking laugh.
“Do you think that man is capable of such affection? To him, a child is nothing more than a lump of meat. After the child died, he didn't show a shred of sadness, that...”
“I don’t know about that.”
“What?”
“I heard the Jonju told his subordinates not to touch you.”
Cheol Su-ryeon furrowed her brows at those words.
At first, I thought it might be because of Cheol Su-ryeon’s strength or her influence.
But I didn't think that was it.
No matter how strong she was, considering the Jonju and his organization, they could have dealt with her whenever they wanted if they put their minds to it.
“......What of it?”
“From where I stand, setting aside that one night’s diversion, it seems the Jonju isn't entirely without affection for you.”
Otherwise, there would be no reason for him to warn them not to touch her.
Cheol Su-ryeon’s face contorted as she spoke to me.
“Are you trying to say that man has a shred of affection for me?”
“Yes. That’s what I think.”
“Ha!”
She was dumbfounded.
It seemed she couldn't accept it.
“So what are you going to do? Surely you aren't going to break a promise made on that title?”
“No, I can't do that. A promise must be kept. At least, as the Blood Demon.”
“What?”
Thud!
Without warning, I stabbed her in the abdomen as she questioned me.
Since I accurately pierced her Dantian, a scream bordering on a shriek erupted from her mouth.
“Aaaaaaaagh!”
I grabbed her head with one hand as she writhed in pain and sent a sound transmission.
[As the Lesser Sword Immortal, I can't exactly let you go.]
‘!?’
At that transmission, her white eyes, which had been clouded with pain, trembled.
I had considered letting her go and then killing her later as the Lesser Sword Immortal, but with her freakishly developed hearing, she might recognize me anyway, so there was no need for such tedious work.
“Y-you... you bastard...”
[You’ll have to stay in a half-corpse state for a while.]
As soon as I finished speaking, I injected internal energy into her head.
Her head shook violently for a moment, and then she lost consciousness.
I placed a restriction seal on her.
I made her just like those half-corpses over there.
Given what she’s done, she has no right to complain.
Stop talking nonsense.
When the enemy uses any means necessary, why should I be the only one fighting fair?
I need to secure as many cards as possible.
Waiting around like an idiot for them to come one by one isn't my style.
*
A dense forest filled with mist.
In the middle of the forest, a middle-aged man who looked like an elderly crane with half-white hair was walking continuously in a unique pattern.
The pattern was divided into eight directions, and a stone tower was built at each one.
As the middle-aged man moved, he kept picking up stones that fell from the towers and stacking them back on top.
This formation of stone towers in eight directions was known as the Qi Gate Eight Directions Formation.
Rumble!
Every time the man stacked a stone, the tower shook.
It was as if it had received a powerful impact.
Strangely, the mist inside the Qi Gate Eight Directions Formation was much thicker than in the forest.
As the middle-aged man moved toward another direction where stones were falling, a voice drifted out from within the formation.
“How long do you think you can keep me trapped?”
At those words, the middle-aged man gave a small smirk.
“I’ll have to keep you tied up as long as I can.”
“Two days? Three? Or maybe a month? Do you think you can overcome hunger and sleep?”
The middle-aged man looked into the formation where the voice was coming from.
Two golden eyes were glowing vividly within.
“It’s already the fourth day. I can endure without eating anything, but can you say the same?”
The middle-aged man let out a sigh at the confident voice.
Then, as he stacked a stone on the tower, he said, “The friend you’re so afraid of will be here soon, so I’d appreciate it if you’d just give up and stay still.”
At those words, the voice of the golden-eyed man came from within the formation.
“Are you talking about the one who kept firing those iron beads?”
“You know him well.”
“Well, he is a scary friend. But I believe I told you that someone even scarier is trying to catch me.”
The middle-aged man curled the corners of his mouth upward.
“That is exactly what I’m hoping for.”
“......You’re fearless. You will surely regret holding me captive.”
“Then tell me the secret of that man you know. Gunbang. Or should I call you Seobok?”
At the final title, the golden light in the formation grew sharp.