Chapter 94: He Has Returned (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 94: He Has Returned (3)
“Killed by... Jue Xin?”
I was momentarily speechless at the mention of a name I never expected to hear.
Killing Fiend Jue Xin.
Among all the villains, his was the name I had heard most often, to the point of exhaustion.
Countless men, women, and children had died by his hand. He was called the ultimate monster, a name so terrifying that even a crying child would stop at the mere mention of it.
He had many titles.
The Worst Butcher.
The Blood-Calling Calamity.
The Grim Reaper.
Whenever people spoke of Jue Xin, they all agreed on one thing: he was the fundamental embodiment of evil itself.
—Why?
Moon Evil Sword Sama Chak committed murder for revenge and to punish the wicked.
Ghost-Slaying Fist Demon Jang Mun-ryang killed over a hundred civilians and martial artists after losing his mind to Qi Deviation.
Wicked Heart Granny Cheol Su-ryeon targeted young women in a desperate attempt to cure her infertility.
The actions of other villains usually followed a certain pattern or logic.
However, the path of Killing Fiend Jue Xin showed no consistent purpose or will.
—You mean he has no goal at all?
No specific goal.
If there was one peculiarity, it was that he possessed an "aesthetic" regarding murder.
—Aesthetics?
One day, he suddenly appeared in a village in northwestern Guizhou Province, killed all the civilians, and piled their severed heads into a tower.
Another day, he appeared in Shaanxi Province, slaughtered hundreds of people, and created a pond filled with blood in the middle of a village.
—...He’s insane.
It went beyond insanity.
After annihilating a sect in Jiangsu Province known as the Jichang Gate, which had been quite famous, he gouged out all their eyeballs, skewered them, and displayed them atop the main gate’s pavilion.
Such atrocities were too numerous to count.
—And they just let him do that? Isn't he basically a public enemy?
He wasn't just a public enemy; he was the public enemy.
The Great Yan Empire had placed an astronomical bounty on Jue Xin’s head, and the Orthodox Martial World had likewise issued a blank-check bounty for him.
The government and the Martial Alliance had even collaborated for five years just to capture him.
—And they still couldn't catch him?
Exactly.
For starters, none of those who attempted to capture him survived. Even trying to track him based on the traces he left behind was nearly impossible. From the beginning, he committed his murders and left them behind like works of art, as if daring everyone to look.
—...Hah.
Lesser Conversation Sword clicked his tongue in disbelief.
I found the fact that this incident had occurred even more absurd.
He actually managed to kill them...
There was an incident that had broken out before my regression. Jue Xin had single-handedly stormed the Wudang Sect and killed Taiji Sword Emperor Zhongxian, one of the Eight Great Masters.
Since history had changed significantly this time, I hadn't expected this to happen.
This confirmed one thing for me.
Was Zhongxian his target from the start?
Otherwise, there was no way this could have happened when their paths were so different this time. It seemed Zhongxian’s death at his hands was an inevitability.
Damn it.
If that was the case, there was a high probability that First Venerable Dan Wi-gang had been caught up in the act of killing Zhongxian. I needed to hear the full context of the situation to make a proper judgment.
“How did it happen?”
Jo Seong-won answered my question.
“According to the information provided by the Martial Alliance, it seems to have happened while Taoist Master Zhongxian—who was stationed on the border of Hunan and Guangxi to elect a new Alliance Leader—was returning to the Martial Alliance with only the Wudang Sect’s escort swordsmen.”
“It happened on his way back? But why was the First Venerable...”
“It seems our Cult ambushed the Taiji Sword Emperor with an elite force while he was traveling.”
Ah.
They took advantage of that opening. Even I wouldn't have missed such an opportunity.
“So the First Venerable led that elite force.”
“That’s not all.”
“What else?”
“They say the Blood Cult Leader wearing the evil ghost mask also appeared. Most likely...”
“Baek Hye-hyang!”
The only person who would act as the Cult Leader in my stead while wearing that mask was Vice Cult Leader Baek Hye-hyang.
She could have sent subordinates, but this was very much like her. She probably stepped forward personally to test herself against one of the Eight Great Masters.
Given her martial prowess, which was on the verge of breaking through the wall, she would have certainly been a help, but hearing the outcome of what had already transpired made me uneasy.
“Were there any other Revered Stars involved?”
“Given the mention of a muscular man wearing black iron gauntlets and greaves, it seems Fifth Blood Star Fist and Kick of Blood Rain Hwang Kang was also there.”
One Superhuman and two masters at the Supreme Peak Realm. This was more than enough power to kill Taiji Sword Emperor Zhongxian.
“So, what happened?”
“The Taiji Sword Emperor and the Wudang swordsmen, ambushed by our Cult’s forces, reportedly fought a fierce battle. The Wudang swordsmen were also first-rate masters and fought using sword formations, so it was quite a stalemate at first.”
“They wouldn't have been able to hold out for long, though.”
“Yes. Once the Taiji Sword Emperor was double-teamed by the Blood Cult Leader and the First Venerable, he began to get pushed back. It seems things were quite dire for him.”
“Naturally.”
No matter how much of a Superhuman he was, he was being double-teamed by people of similar caliber. In a prolonged fight, he was bound to be overwhelmed.
“That was when he appeared.”
“...Killing Fiend Jue Xin.”
He appeared at the perfect moment. But how did they react?
Based on what I knew of his goals and temperament, it should have turned into a three-way battle. But the reality was different from my expectations.
“They say Killing Fiend Jue Xin appeared out of nowhere and began attacking everyone indiscriminately, regardless of who they were.”
“Indiscriminately?”
—He really is a madman.
Lesser Conversation Sword was right. If that happened, the outcome was obvious. Even wild beasts will team up if a common, dangerous threat appears.
“So, what did they do?”
“Faced with Jue Xin’s absurd, monster-like martial prowess, both sides reportedly stopped fighting each other and teamed up against him.”
As expected, Jue Xin seemed to have surpassed the realm of ordinary Superhumans. To be called a monster while fighting all of them at once...
It wasn't for nothing that his martial prowess was said to be among the top five of the Twelve Superhumans.
“...So the First Venerable and the Taiji Sword Emperor were killed while fighting him together?”
“Actually... that is only an assumption.”
“What do you mean?”
“It seems the Wudang swordsmen, who weren't much help even with both sides working together, headed to their base to call for reinforcements.”
Even if the Wudang swordsmen were excellent martial artists, they were no different from weaklings in a battle between peerless masters. It was the right choice.
“By the time they returned with reinforcements from the Martial Alliance, the battle was already over.”
I asked in a trembling voice.
“...The result?”
“In the middle of the ruins, there were pieces of flesh so mangled they were hard to recognize. Stabbed into them were the Wudang Sect’s Taiji Sword and the precious sword held by the First Venerable.”
“Is there a chance it wasn't the First Venerable...?”
“The severed hands of the two men were still gripping the hilts of their respective swords.”
I let out a groan at those words. To lose the First Venerable like this was absurd. He had essentially been struck down by a walking disaster.
Grit!
I bit my lip hard enough to draw blood, barely suppressing my grief and rage before asking.
“Was there no trace of Baek Hye-hyang or the Fifth Blood Star?”
I was worried about their safety.
“Given that Vice Cult Leader Baek Hye-hyang’s Blood Demon Sword, armor, and greaves were missing, it seems they fortunately survived.”
It seemed her imitation Blood Demon Sword wasn't at the scene.
“...Are you sure?”
“The Martial Alliance mobilized thousands of people to search the area. They scoured a radius of several hundred li but found no traces. However, some bloodstains were found leading toward Guangxi Province...”
“So they were injured.”
“It seems so.”
There was no way they could have escaped that fight unscathed. It was Killing Fiend Jue Xin, after all.
The only silver lining was that there was a Cult outpost with thousands of troops on the Guangxi border to keep watch on the Martial Alliance. No matter how much of a disaster Jue Xin was, he wouldn't be reckless enough to push that far, especially with the forces of both major powers converging near the battlefield.
“But Lord, that isn't the main problem. The Martial Alliance is now certain that the Blood Cult Leader has been severely injured, and they are currently marching south with a massive army.”
“...They’re prioritizing this over revenge for the Taiji Sword Emperor?”
It was ridiculous. Of course, from the Martial Alliance’s perspective, attacking the Blood Cult—whose strength they judged to be significantly diminished—was a higher priority than trying to track down the elusive and solitary Jue Xin.
“They have already reached Mount Heng in Hunan Province.”
“Mount Heng?”
“It seems the Hengshan Sect, the sect of your younger sister Lady Yeong-yeong, has also joined them.”
“...Sigh.”
A sigh escaped me automatically.
“Did Yeong-yeong join them too?”
“It seems Lady Yeong-yeong remains at the Martial Alliance.”
“At the Martial Alliance?”
So they didn't mobilize their entire strength? As I looked puzzled, Jo Seong-won explained.
“It seems the Martial Alliance has split into two factions again following Taoist Master Zhongxian’s death.”
“Split into two?”
“There is a faction within the Martial Alliance that supported Taoist Master Zhongxian, and they argued that Killing Fiend Jue Xin should be dealt with before subjugating the Blood Cult.”
“Then the forces currently moving south aren't the full strength of the Martial Alliance.”
“You can consider it about half.”
Even half would likely be superior to the Cult’s current strength. They probably judged that if they gathered the forces from the provincial branches, they could finish off the Cult for good.
Hearing this, I could guess the current state of the Martial Alliance.
“You said the factions split again. Who became the new Alliance Leader?”
Seven months had passed, and if Taiji Sword Emperor Zhongxian was dead, the election would have been a two-way race between Merciless Blade Jeong Cheon and Ardent King Hegemon Jin Gyun. Both were outsiders, but in the current situation, the one with the advantage was likely...
“It is Merciless Blade Jeong Cheon.”
Just as I expected. Jeong Cheon was considered superior in martial arts compared to Jin Gyun. Since both were outsiders, they would have naturally chosen the one with the higher reputation and greater strength.
“Then did Ardent King Hegemon Jin Gyun leave?”
A man with his pride wouldn't likely stay in the Martial Alliance after losing the election. But my prediction was wrong.
“No. Ardent King Hegemon Jin Gyun has taken office as the newly created Deputy Alliance Leader.”
“He became the Deputy Alliance Leader?”
That was unexpected. He swallowed his pride?
“It seems many figures within the Martial Alliance persuaded him, citing the great loss of strength following Taoist Master Zhongxian’s death.”
“He’s not the type to be swayed by just that.”
“Rumor has it that the previous Alliance Leader, First Sword of Wuhan Baek Hyang-muk, visited him privately before leaving the Martial Alliance.”
So he set aside his pride and stubbornness at the persuasion of the former leader. There seemed to be more to the story, but it was hard to tell from just the information I had.
Still, if he became the Deputy Alliance Leader, I could guess one thing.
“Then is the faction claiming they must find Killing Fiend Jue Xin the one on the Deputy Alliance Leader’s side?”
“Yes. As you said, the group that supported the Taiji Sword Emperor has aligned themselves with the Ardent King Hegemon, who is now the Deputy Alliance Leader. Thus, the Martial Alliance is currently divided into two factions.”
In any case, the Martial Alliance forces currently moving south toward the Cult represented half of their total strength. And they were being led by the new Alliance Leader, Merciless Blade Jeong Cheon.
The good news was that Yeong-yeong wasn't part of this war, but if the Hengshan Sect suffered damage, it was obvious how she would react.
A total war...
A clash with the Hengshan Sect was a foregone conclusion. It was impossible for them to avoid casualties in this situation. It was truly a dilemma.
“Is the Deputy Alliance Leader’s side currently tracking Killing Fiend Jue Xin?”
“It seems so. However, they have made almost no progress.”
“That’s a relief.”
“Pardon?”
Killing Fiend Jue Xin might be an enemy to the Martial Alliance and the Wudang Sect, but I also could never forgive the man who killed the First Venerable.
“If the Beggar's Sect finds him, report it to me first, not the Martial Alliance.”
“...The Beggar's Sect and the Martial Alliance’s intelligence units are already tracking him, but he has vanished without a trace. There isn't a single clue.”
He disappeared after achieving his goal. It was just like before. Even before my regression, Killing Fiend Jue Xin had vanished for eight years before suddenly reappearing to kill the Taiji Sword Emperor and then disappearing again.
It was several years later when he reappeared. I had no intention of letting him live until then. I couldn't let someone who touched my people breathe in peace.
“...Lord... your killing intent...”
“Ah.”
I reined in the killing intent I had failed to control. Being right in front of me, Jo Seong-won must have found it difficult to bear.
—But if no one can find him, how are you going to find that madman? Even the Imperial Court and the Martial Alliance couldn't catch him despite their best efforts. Do you have a lead?
...I don't.
—Is there anything you know from before your regression?
Nothing. Killing Fiend Jue Xin appeared in the martial world as if he had dropped from the sky. Whether he was meticulous or just naturally solitary, he had no personal relationships with anyone, leaving not a single link to follow. He killed almost everyone he encountered...
Ah!
—What is it?
There is one thing.
—What?
The thing that even bewildered my master, Hae Ak-cheon. The Divine Healer of Ten Thousand Ailments possessed Jue Xin’s sect token.
—Oh! Right! Even that crazy old man was incredibly flustered when he saw that.
Exactly. Master isn't afraid of any strong opponent. He even burned with fighting spirit when he saw Ardent King Hegemon Jin Gyun up close. But I still remember the look in his eyes the moment he saw Jue Xin’s token.
At the time, I was just surprised as well. But thinking about it now, the fact that the Divine Healer had his token meant there was a connection between them.
“Jo Seong-won.”
“Yes.”
“Find the Divine Healer of Ten Thousand Ailments.”
“Why the Divine Healer all of a sudden?”
“...Just find him.”
I considered telling him that the Divine Healer had Jue Xin’s token, but I decided against it. Since I was utilizing the Beggar's Sect’s resources, I needed to prevent even the slightest leak of information.
—But will the Divine Healer talk? He seemed pretty stubborn when we saw him before.
As Lesser Conversation Sword said, the Divine Healer had his convictions as a doctor. He had told me he would never reveal anything about a patient’s identity to anyone else.
However, there was one way to make him open his mouth.
—What’s that?
The sect token of his senior brother, Joje, which my maternal grandfather possesses. The Divine Healer wants to know his senior brother’s whereabouts, so he said he would grant any request if that token was brought to him.
Originally, my grandfather was going to use it to get the Divine Healer’s help in restoring his Dantian, but since the healer’s whereabouts became unknown, I ended up teaching him the Innate Heart Method to train his Middle Dantian instead.
I’ll have to explain the situation to my grandfather and borrow that token.
“Then what will you do, Lord? Isn't the Cult’s situation urgent right now?”
Of course it is. The Martial Alliance’s forces are marching south toward the Cult.
“I have to go to the Cult immediately. Before that... have you heard any news regarding the Shaolin Temple?”
The reason I asked was simple. If news of what happened at Shaolin had spread, he would have known I was alive, but he still didn't.
“Shaolin? Shaolin rarely involves itself in the affairs of the secular world.”
As expected, they didn't know what had happened at Shaolin yet. The reason was likely one of two things: Shaolin was doing its best to prevent the news from spreading to save face, or I had arrived here via Sword Flight faster than a carrier pigeon.
It didn't matter which it was.
“Immediately relay this information to the Martial Alliance headquarters and the forces marching south.”
“Relay what, Lord?”
“Tell them that Shaolin’s 108 Arhat Formation was broken by the Blood Cult Leader.”
“Wha-?!”
The moment those words left my mouth, Jo Seong-won’s face contorted in pure shock.