Chapter 101: Blackmail (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 101: Blackmail (1)
"It’s been a long time, Successor of the Sword Immortal."
As he lifted his bamboo hat, a golden light gleamed from behind the black cloth veil.
I was momentarily speechless at his tone—which suggested he was certain of my identity—and the sight of those two golden eyes.
The man in the bamboo hat who had tried to seize the Evil Connection Sword earlier spoke up in surprise.
"This man is the Successor of the Sword Immortal?"
"Even if his face is different, it is clear to these eyes."
His golden gaze pierced through me like a hawk's.
-What’s going on? How did he recognize you?
My mind raced at the Lesser Conversation Sword’s question.
Even if he was wearing a black veil, lifting the bamboo hat didn't mean his face was entirely hidden. I knew only one person with two golden eyes.
However, the face I could faintly see was not his.
-You mean it’s not that Seobok guy?
No.
It was highly likely he was wearing a human skin mask.
Only Seobok had achieved perfect immortality, which caused both of his pupils to turn gold. It was almost certain he was using a mask to hide his true features.
-Couldn't that Golden Emperor guy have achieved perfect immortality too?
If that were the case, it would be the worst-case scenario, but it didn't seem likely.
If he had achieved perfect immortality, he wouldn't have a reason to target the Evil Connection Sword in the first place, nor would these men treat someone with golden eyes so casually.
Furthermore, when I first met the Golden Emperor, he hadn't even undergone the procedure for the Golden Imperial Body. Therefore, he shouldn't be able to identify me using golden eyes.
The only person who had looked at me with golden eyes back then was Seobok, who held an official post under the Golden Emperor.
-Huh? Then why is he with them?
There are two possibilities.
One is that his relationship with the Golden Emperor has been mended, and he is serving him again.
-And the other?
Illusion Demon Poison.
-Illusion Demon Poison?
Seol Baek had said that because the Blood Lord died, they were short on the Illusion Demon Poison needed for their grand scheme.
When I heard that, the first thing that came to mind was that the Golden Emperor intended to use the poison to brainwash numerous figures in the martial world.
The key question was how powerful a master the Illusion Demon Poison could affect.
Once one reaches the Peak or Supreme Peak Realm, they can usually neutralize most poisons using internal energy.
However, if that poison could brainwash even those who had reached the Realm of Superhumans, it would be a catastrophic variable.
'If it’s Illusion Demon Poison, that’s even worse.'
It would be better if he had simply returned to the Golden Emperor’s service of his own accord.
I decided it would be best to test him.
I looked at him and spoke.
"Seobok."
At my words, the golden-eyed man didn't even flinch.
He showed no emotional agitation whatsoever. Instead, he spoke to me with an air of leisure.
"As expected, you recognize me, Successor of the Sword Immortal."
"Because you, Seobok, are the only one who has achieved perfect immortality."
At that, the eyes of the man I presumed to be Seobok narrowed.
Was he showing emotional unrest?
I couldn't let this opportunity slip by.
"As far as I know, you fled because you defied the Golden Emperor’s will. Why are you with these people now?"
Instead of the man I suspected to be Seobok, the man in the bamboo hat standing next to him took a wary opening stance with his sword and spoke.
"Give up on your attempts to probe us, Successor of the Sword Immortal. Gun-bang is His Majesty’s loyal subordinate. He will not fall for your attempts to sow discord."
Gun-bang was Seobok’s courtesy name.
The situation remained ambiguous based on that man's answer alone. I needed to lead him further.
"Seobok. You defied even Qin Shi Huang, and you defied the Golden Emperor. Surely you must know that this is not right..."
Before I could even finish my sentence—
Swish!
The man in the bamboo hat who had been in his opening stance lunged at me with lightning speed.
He was decent, but he was no match for me.
I parried his blade with the Evil Connection Sword and snapped it in the same motion.
Clang!
"Wh-what?"
I moved to pierce the space between his brows in a single breath, but—
Clash!
My blade was deflected with blinding speed by the other man in a bamboo hat standing to the right of the one I presumed to be Seobok.
I applied force to my deflected sword to perform a variation technique, but the man also executed a sword technique, blocking my path with minimal movement.
Clang-clang-clang-clang-clang!
'He blocked them all?'
I was inwardly astonished by this man's swordsmanship.
I had seen many masters, but I had never encountered someone with such clean, precise sword paths. Even his internal power was extraordinary.
'Who is he?'
Since he wasn't using any specific, recognizable sword techniques, I couldn't identify him unless I removed his bamboo hat.
"Damn it!"
In that brief interval, the man I had almost killed retreated about five paces. He must have realized he was outclassed.
The man who had blocked my sword spoke in a distorted voice.
"If you truly are the Successor of the Sword Immortal, then that couldn't have been your full strength."
"I could say the same about you."
The man didn't respond. He was being extremely careful with his words.
In that case, I would have to force that hat off his head.
Just as I was about to move—
"This makes it certain."
The man I presumed to be Seobok spoke to me.
What was certain?
"I wondered how you, the Successor of the Sword Immortal, knew that I had failed to understand His Majesty’s true intentions and fled."
"What are you talking about?"
"There are very few who know the fact that I was a fugitive."
Then, he spoke in a meaningful tone.
"So Woon-hwi."
"!?"
I couldn't help but be momentarily flustered by his words.
Even if he could see through my energy with his golden eyes, I thought he wouldn't be able to certain of my identity since I had altered my face with the Body Transformation Art.
My heart hammered in my chest.
Whether he noticed my brief agitation or not, the man I presumed to be Seobok snorted and said, "I was right. You are indeed connected to So Woon-hwi."
'Huh?'
What did that mean? Had he not figured out my identity for certain?
He continued.
"Are you surprised? That we caught your trail?"
I feigned ignorance and replied, "What are you talking about?"
"It’s no use playing innocent. The moment you came to retrieve the Evil Connection Sword, I was certain you were related to the Lesser Sword Immortal, So Woon-hwi."
"Related to So Woon-hwi, you say..."
I tightened my grip on the Evil Connection Sword.
I decided it was better to subdue them first rather than continue talking.
Then, the man I presumed to be Seobok said to me, "It won't be good for anyone if a fight breaks out here."
"Is that so?"
I prepared to target him first in a single bound.
However, I was forced to stop at the next words that came out of his mouth.
"I doubt you want it to be known that the Lesser Sword Immortal, So Woon-hwi, is the same person as the Blood Demon."
My mind became a chaotic mess.
And then, I remembered.
When I was dealing with the monsters in Bongnim Valley—one of the Three Forbidden Grounds—Seobok had suddenly appeared, dragging a dynamic iron ball, and had seen me in my Blood Demon transformation.
At the time, I couldn't do anything against him with my strength, and now that moment had returned to haunt me like an arrow aimed at my heart.
-This is bad. Your position as the Alliance Leader is going to fly out the window at this rate.
Indeed.
Now I understood why they said the plan had been revised.
They intended to expose that I, the Lesser Sword Immortal, was the same person as the Blood Demon.
-That’s right. If they do that, they can easily reinstate the former Alliance Leader they’re backing.
I was completely checkmated.
-We have to stop them!
Capturing these men wouldn't stop it. The fact that they had changed their plan meant the Golden Emperor already knew as well.
The man continued.
"It seems you weren't unaware that your disciple is the Blood Demon."
I frowned at his words.
Now I understood exactly what they thought of me.
Since they didn't realize that I was So Woon-hwi, they had concluded that I was his master.
It made sense; given the records of my upbringing in the Yikyang So Family, how could they possibly imagine that I had traveled three hundred years back in time?
Then, the man in the bamboo hat who had stepped back spoke up.
"Ha! So that was it. Everything fits now. Hahahaha!"
"......"
"What a shame. If the disciple's identity is revealed, the Blood Cult will drag him down, and the Orthodox factions will hunt him as a public enemy."
He must have thought he held all my weaknesses now. That was why he was gloating.
He reached out a hand and said, "Hand over the Evil Connection Sword, Successor of the Sword Immortal."
"Do you really think I'll just give it to you?"
The man sneered at my response.
"Don't you think you have too many weaknesses to refuse?"
"Weaknesses?"
"Do you think we haven't placed people near those associated with the Lesser Sword Immortal? We can kill anyone from the Yikyang So Family to So Yeong-yeong at any moment. Ah, even if we don't, the moment his identity is revealed, both the Martial Alliance and the Blood Cult will be out for his blood."
My eyes narrowed sharply at his words.
Seeing my reaction, the man couldn't hide his excitement. It was as if he were finally pulling a long-aching tooth.
"You wouldn't want your disciple to be miserable, would you? No, your entire sect would be ruined. 'The Successor of the Sword Immortal used his disciple to seize control of the Orthodox and Evil martial worlds.' My... imagine the public outcry."
"........"
These bastards had really thought this through.
Then, the man who had blocked my sword stepped forward and spoke.
"That's enough."
"What?"
"There is a proverb that even a cornered rat will bite a cat. If the Successor of the Sword Immortal decides to go into hiding after this, do you think we could ever find him?"
At his words, the man who had been mocking me fell silent.
He must have realized he had provoked me too much.
The one their leader truly feared was me; if I gave up everything and disappeared, he might have to take responsibility for that failure.
Keeping this in mind, the man said to me, "Very well. Successor of the Sword Immortal, I shall make you an offer."
"An offer?"
"Yes. If you accept this proposal, I will guarantee the lives of your disciple, his family, and everyone involved. And your disciple's identity will never be revealed."
It was a tempting offer.
I snorted and asked, "And what is this offer?"
The man chuckled and said, "Hand over that Evil Connection Sword and the Blood Demon Sword your disciple possesses. And have your disciple swear an oath of loyalty to His Majesty."
"What?"
"Do you think His Majesty would leave someone who hasn't sworn loyalty alone?"
The man spoke as if he were being considerate.
As if I didn't know their scheme was to swallow both the Blood Cult and the Orthodox factions in one go.
He continued.
"You, the Successor of the Sword Immortal, are in a different position than your disciple. His Majesty does not like leaving potential threats behind."
"What are you telling me to do?"
"Right here, cripple your own Dantian and sever the muscle meridians in both your arms and legs. If you do that, I will petition His Majesty to spare your life as well."
He seemed convinced I would accept this proposal.
He wouldn't be so triumphant otherwise. It was only possible because he believed he held all the cards.
The Lesser Conversation Sword asked worriedly.
-What are you going to do? You're completely trapped.
Indeed.
-Even if they think you're the master now, it's only a matter of time before they find out the truth.
Probably.
He had already identified my energy with his golden eyes. Whether I acted as the Lesser Sword Immortal or the Blood Demon, that man I presumed to be Seobok would definitely recognize me.
Now that my identity was compromised, I was truly backed into a corner.
I let out a long, hollow sigh.
"Whew... This isn't an offer; it's blackmail."
The man smiled and replied, "Think what you like. We have nothing to lose, but you, the Successor of the Sword Immortal, certainly do."
"Nothing to lose, you say..."
I snorted at his words.
The man in the bamboo hat jeered at me.
"You're in no position to be so relaxed."
To this, I said a single word.
"Heungsan."
"!?"
Upon hearing that, the man who had been shaking with joy went still.
I didn't stop there.
"Zhaoyang... Kichun... Seoseong... Namso."
There was only one reason he had fallen so silent at my words.
It was because the Golden Emperor’s base was located in one of those places.
Even if he constantly moved for his safety, he was bound to be in one of those locations.
"Did you think I wouldn't be able to find him?"
The man, momentarily speechless from shock, finally spoke.
"That changes nothing. We can move our base as many times as we need, but can you handle your disciple becoming a public enemy of the entire martial world once his identity is exposed?"
"Go ahead."
"What?"
"Expose it if you want."
When I took a hard line, the man couldn't hide his bewilderment.
I didn't stop there; I used the Body Transformation Art to change my face right then and there.
"Wh-what?!"
The face I transformed into was none other than the Golden Emperor’s.
Though I was partially obscured by the bamboo hat and the black veil, their eyes must have nearly popped out of their heads.
"H-how...?"
"Ah, I forgot one thing. The eyes are different."
I covered my eyes and then uncovered them, as if I had even transformed my eyes through disguise.
'!!!'
One of my eyes had turned gold, making me look exactly like the Golden Emperor. They were all struck with utter consternation.
I gave them a thin smile and said, "Let's see who becomes the public enemy of the martial world first."
"Y-you... surely..."
"I wonder if I should start by slaughtering everyone in the Martial Alliance, regardless of age or gender."