Chapter 102: The Secret of Former Alliance Leader Baek Hyang-muk (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 102: The Secret of Former Alliance Leader Baek Hyang-muk (1)
It happened before the eyes of countless people.
Three peerless masters were engaged in a fierce duel, dancing through the night sky with Void Step.
Every time they clashed, the resulting wind pressure and aftershocks turned the surroundings into utter pandemonium.
"G-get back!"
"Waaaaah!"
Rumble!
A stray burst of crimson killing intent sliced through the roadside within the city. If the sharp energy swung by one of them were to deflect toward the buildings, several structures would be pulverized in an instant.
Even a duel between masters who had reached the realm of superhumans produced incredible shockwaves, but the battle between these three peerless masters was on an entirely different dimension.
No one could even approach within a radius of dozens of feet.
"What on earth is going on?"
"I don't know."
"All I see are shadows. I can't tell who's winning."
The night sky was dark, and their movements were so lightning-fast that it was difficult to track them with the naked eye.
However, such a peerless duel was a rare spectacle that one couldn't see even for a fortune.
That was why the martial artists within the city remained, watching the duel to the end from a distance despite the danger of the aftershocks.
"They're true monsters."
"To hold off a combined attack from such peerless masters like that..."
Even if they couldn't see clearly, they could tell the fight was at least evenly matched.
Meanwhile, many of the martial artists watching the duel began to harbor doubts.
Why is the Blood Demon helping us?
To the Blood Cult and the Blood Demon, the Orthodox Faction was an irreconcilable enemy.
Yet, the Blood Demon, who had appeared out of nowhere, was now helping the Orthodox Faction.
In truth, this question had been slowly creeping into people's minds for some time now.
He did return the prisoners of the Orthodox Faction...
And they said the Blood Demon saved the Alliance and the escort agency when they were in danger from the pirates of the Eighteen Waterway Strongholds on the Yangtze River.
He even let the main forces go peacefully during the recent Blood Cult subjugation war.
The Blood Cult they were seeing was quite different from the one they had known.
Rather than being atrocious villains, they seemed no different from any other martial organization.
Aside from using force to protect themselves, they showed no movement that crossed the line.
Has the Blood Cult changed?
If so, is there a need to fight them at the risk of our lives?
Unbeknownst to them, such thoughts were beginning to sprout in the hearts of some martial artists.
However, no one questioned these thoughts or feelings—not even the fact that these emotions had been intentionally cultivated.
It was then, as the duel continued for a long while.
"Look! Over there!"
"He's running away!"
A change occurred in the fight that seemed like it would last until someone died.
The golden-eyed being, who had been facing the two individuals hailed as the greatest masters of the Orthodox and Evil factions, suddenly stopped fighting and attempted to flee.
The martial artists watching cheered at the sight.
"Waaaaaaaah!!!"
"That monster is retreating!"
The being who had appeared like a sudden calamity was the first to flee.
This fact sent the martial artists of the Alliance into a frenzy and bolstered their morale.
The figure appearing to be the Lesser Sword Immortal pursued the fleeing being using Sword Flight Art, and the one appearing to be the Blood Demon also kicked off the air, chasing them with Divine Bow Shadow Projection.
It was during this pursuit.
Tap!
Someone appeared on the roof of a building within the city.
It was none other than the Vice Alliance Leader of the Martial Alliance, Ardent King Hegemon Jin-gyun.
Having rushed to the Hall Master's palace after receiving the report, he gnashed his teeth at the sight of the three figures performing light skill in the distance.
He realized I was coming.
Jin-gyun had seen them fighting as he approached.
However, as soon as he reached the vicinity, the fight ended and the being attempted to escape.
Because of this, Jin-gyun judged that the creature had fled knowing it would be at a disadvantage if he joined the fray.
"Do you think I'll let you get away!"
Whoosh!
Jin-gyun likewise deployed Divine Bow Shadow Projection.
"Waaaaaaaah!!!"
"It's the Vice Alliance Leader!"
The martial artists cheered as they spotted him streaking through the air.
The crisis that had loomed over the Martial Alliance was lifting.
Watching this scene from the tiled roof of a building on the outskirts of the city, nearly two hundred yards away, was a black shadow.
The black shadow's gaze remained fixed on the distant scene without the slightest tremor.
Then, the figure scattered like mist and vanished.
The tiles where the figure had stood were warped into a bizarre shape.
Zhaoyang, in northern Hubei.
There was a house hidden like a natural fortress, surrounded by cliffs.
Inside was a space filled with the heat of bellows.
Clang! Clang!
A dark-skinned man, appearing to be a blacksmith, was diligently hammering a piece of glowing red iron shaped like a sword.
Someone stood at the entrance of the forge with his hands behind his back, watching.
One of his eyes glowed with a golden light.
He turned his head, his eyes flashing with interest.
A figure standing outside the forge bowed toward him as if they had been waiting.
The golden-eyed man spoke.
"Noejang."
"My Lord."
"Did you find the Divine Healer of Ten Thousand Ailments?"
At that question, the figure spoke with a hint of regret.
"We are searching using King Yeong's influence, but the Divine Healer's tracks have not been revealed. He is likely in one of the two suspected locations."
The golden-eyed man's gaze sharpened at those words.
" I believe I told you to find him and bring him here."
His voice was laced with anger.
The figure called Noejang spoke in a calm, low voice.
"I returned because there is a more urgent matter."
"An urgent matter?"
As the man looked puzzled, the one called Noejang continued.
As he listened, the golden-eyed man's brow furrowed terrifyingly.
His rage was so potent that the blacksmith, who had been hammering, suddenly clutched his chest as if he were having trouble breathing.
"How dare they... imitate me."
This was a completely unforeseen situation.
As if that weren't enough, he didn't know what trickery had been used, but he had intended to reveal they were the same person. Instead, he was dumbfounded to hear that they had joined forces to face him.
Barely suppressing his anger, the golden-eyed man asked.
"What happened to Gun-bang, Cho-ju, and Baek Hyang-muk?"
"I watched from a distance, but since there was no sign of them..."
Swish!
Before the words were even finished, the golden-eyed man's form reached right in front of Noejang.
He then grabbed him by the throat and lifted him up.
"Urgh."
"Did you just stand by and watch?"
"By... the... time... I... arrived... there... were... already... too... many... eyes."
"Useless fool."
The golden-eyed man threw Noejang aside roughly.
Noejang straightened his posture as if nothing had happened.
The golden-eyed man snorted and clicked his tongue inwardly at the sight of him not even changing his expression despite being strangled.
Of the three subordinates who followed him, this one was the most inscrutable.
He couldn't very well kill the only one he had left in a fit of rage.
This bastard...
Unlike before, this incident had caused a major setback in his plans.
If he wasn't careful, the Orthodox and Evil factions might actually join hands.
If that happened, everything he had done so far would be in vain.
There is no time.
The golden-eyed man walked into the forge with his hands behind his back.
On the wall were five rubbings of complex patterns.
And in a large incense burner placed on the opposite side of the furnace, a single sword was thrust. Surprisingly, it had the exact same shape as the Blood Demon Sword.
It had taken over three months just to cast this.
Just to make that glowing red sword the blacksmith was currently holding with tongs, he had already spent—
Two months and five days.
Even this was only possible because he had obtained the rubbing that King Gyeong possessed.
The golden-eyed man asked the blacksmith, who was watching him warily.
"Can you not move faster?"
The blacksmith replied cautiously.
"I-I apologize, but it will take at least fifteen days. Guanye Black Iron is much harder to work with than other metals. If we rush, it might instead..."
"I understand."
The golden-eyed man cut him off with a harsh exhale.
In the end, it would take at least fifteen days for this sword to be completed.
If he could endure for fifteen days, he would have two swords made of Guanye Black Iron that could be inserted into the stone sarcophagus—even if they were imitations—plus the two he originally had, for a total of four.
It's not enough.
Time was running out.
Since the stone sarcophagus hidden in the Tomb of King Ping of Chu had been revealed and rubbings were taken, he could now make the remaining sword out of Guanye Black Iron.
However, it would take the same amount of time for that to be completed.
But while he waited patiently, the Sword Immortal's successor was slowly tightening the noose around his neck.
Then, Noejang's voice was heard.
"Since Baek Hyang-muk's life or death is uncertain anyway, we cannot receive the sword according to the agreement with him. Should we not retrieve the sword by force?"
The golden-eyed man's gaze turned peculiar at Noejang's words.
Why was that?
The golden-eyed man spoke in a somewhat subdued voice.
"Unless I or you step in, we might not be able to suppress him. We cannot afford to lose any more pawns when our strength is already severely depleted."
"But his sword has already pierced right under our chins."
"So what are you suggesting?"
At that question, Noejang clasped his hands in a fist-and-palm salute and said.
"I have entrusted the matters of the Imperial Palace to Mongju. Please send me. I will return with the remaining sword."
The golden-eyed man fell into thought for a moment.
Whether to choose the path of enduring for three months, or to send Noejang to retrieve the sword even at the risk of some danger.
But a conclusion was soon reached.
"Bring the sword."
"Loyalty!"
As soon as the command was given, Noejang's form scattered like mist.
A steep mountain range about 30 li away from the Martial Alliance's city.
I was running through the dense undergrowth at an incredible speed using light skill.
In truth, I could have run faster, but I was adjusting my pace to match someone else's.
Tap!
After running for a long while, I came to a stop.
A valley with a waterfall lay right ahead.
I didn't think we needed to go any further.
—We came quite far because of that guy.
Indeed.
While acting, I saw Vice Alliance Leader Ardent King Hegemon Jin-gyun appear.
At that point, I stopped the fight and made my escape.
Others might not have known, but Jin-gyun, who had crossed the wall into the realm of superhumans, might have noticed something if I had dragged it out any longer.
Rustle!
Then, someone emerged from the bushes.
The person had red hair, wore an evil ghost mask, and was covered in a black robe.
From the outside, he looked exactly like I did when I acted as the Blood Demon.
The man took off the evil ghost mask.
He was none other than the former Alliance Leader, the First Sword of Wuhan, Baek Hyang-muk.
"I believe we've lost the Ardent King Hegemon now."
I shook my head at his words.
I thought he would give up at a reasonable point, but he had followed us for nearly 30 li.
Even if his capabilities were below ours, he was an impressive man.
Baek Hyang-muk tossed the evil ghost mask to me and said.
"I will never imitate the Blood Demon like this again."
"We'll see. According to our agreement, you still owe me two more favors."
Baek Hyang-muk grimaced at my words.
Then, as if trying to change the subject, he asked me.
"Who exactly is the man wearing the human skin mask with a face similar to the Lesser Sword Immortal?"
I shrugged at his question.
There was no need to tell him.
In fact, the person who had played my role was none other than my father-in-law, Moon Evil Sword Sama Chak.
I knew my father-in-law was skilled at making human skin masks, but I was surprised to see him adjust the wrinkles and eyebrows in that short moment to make himself look like me.
Of course, someone who knew me well would have realized it was a mask if they saw it up close, but it was night, and it was hard to tell from that distance.
—You're something else too. Seeing how you keep putting that monster of a father-in-law to work.
What else could I do in an emergency?
Besides, it was too much for me to play three roles at once using the secret techniques of the Wind Shadow Eight Streams Sect.
Unlike before, there were many masters within the Martial Alliance.
In any case, my father-in-law, who had helped me, had split off midway to distract Jin-gyun's pursuit.
—But he stuck to this side.
Yeah.
Ardent King Hegemon Jin-gyun has a very good intuition.
Anyway, we lost him, didn't we?
Then Baek Hyang-muk said to me.
"I have someone in mind... but if it is indeed him, you are truly bold, Successor of the Sword Immortal. How did you think to bring that man into the Alliance?"
"Even if he entered, it wouldn't have caused any particular problems."
"Even so..."
Baek Hyang-muk, who was about to say something, let out a sigh that was close to a lament.
It seemed he felt he no longer had the right to blame me for anything.
After sighing, he spoke.
"Do you think this play will work?"
"It will."
It had already worked on the Yangtze River.
Since I had used the Transformation Eye Scripture appropriately this time as well, those who saw the illusions would testify well.
Of course, there was no reason to explain these details to him.
"Looking at you, I still can't be sure if you are truly the Successor of the Sword Immortal."
Baek Hyang-muk clicked his tongue as he looked at me.
It seemed he felt I was too different from what he had imagined.
Well, even I think the strategies and tactics I use are quite different from the norm.
—It's closer to a scam than a strategy.
What does it matter if it's a scam or a strategy?
I'm dealing with an enemy who hides in the shadows, manipulating the martial world and seeking immortality. Do you think facing them head-on would work?
"Anyway, shall you tell me why you had no choice?"
At my question, Baek Hyang-muk looked up at the night sky and let out a lament.
What on earth had made him join hands with them?
He was the man who had led the Great Orthodox-Evil War to victory and firmly established the reign of the Orthodox Faction for nearly twenty years.
There were too many things that didn't make sense, starting with him touching the Blood Cult's martial art, the Blood Heaven Great Achievement Art.
"I don't think a man like you, Baek Hyang-muk, would do that just for the position of Alliance Leader. Was it to guarantee the safety of the Martial Alliance?"
Or perhaps they had threatened the safety of his family.
Hadn't he protected his rogue cousin, Baek Cheol, even when he had driven the daughter of Wang Chuyi, the sect leader of the Sea King Fortress Sect—one of the four major sects of Peerless Fortress—to her death?
It was entirely possible.
At my words, Baek Hyang-muk spoke as if ashamed.
"...Of course, that was one reason."
"One reason?"
"Does that mean there's another reason?"
Baek Hyang-muk hesitated, unable to answer immediately.
I didn't know what secret was hidden that made him so hesitant to answer.
I said to him.
"You might not know, Baek Hyang-muk, but I have been in conflict with this person for a long time. If they—no, if the Golden Emperor achieves what he wants, you have no idea how dangerous it will be."
"I am already well aware of that. If he has extended his reach to the Blood Cult and even Peerless Fortress, as you say, Successor of the Sword Immortal, then he must have the ambition to manipulate the entire martial world from the shadows."
"Then speak."
Baek Hyang-muk, who had been letting out deep sighs at my words, finally spoke.
"Before that, I want you to make a promise."
"A promise?"
"Please keep this a secret."
"What on earth is it that you need me to keep it a secret?"
"......The reason I am telling you this, Successor of the Sword Immortal, is because I believe you might be the only one who can stand against him."
"Stand against him?"
I had no idea what he was talking about.
After staring at him and falling into thought for a moment, I said readily.
"I will keep it a secret."
We both had plenty of secrets anyway.
Having received my confirmation once more, Baek Hyang-muk continued with a very serious face.
"I made a deal involving a certain secret, along with the safety of the Martial Alliance. The price was doing what they wanted."
"What was it?"
"It was to hand over a sword."
"A sword?"
A thought occurred to me.
If it was a sword they wanted, it could only be one of the five demon swords.
In that case, did he know my identity and plan to expose it and hand over the Blood Demon Sword?
Then, something unexpected came out of Baek Hyang-muk's mouth.
"That sword is the Calamity Slaughter Sword of Killing Fiend Jue Xin."
"The Calamity Slaughter Sword?"
For a moment, I couldn't hide my surprise.
In that case, did Baek Hyang-muk know the whereabouts of Killing Fiend Jue Xin?
I was already determined to take his life because of the crisis he had put my cult in.
If Baek Hyang-muk knew his whereabouts, that was perfect.
"Do you know where he is?"
Baek Hyang-muk nodded at my words.
And he said in a trembling voice.
"Please, keep this a secret."
"I promised, so stop stalling."
"Whew."
At my urging, Baek Hyang-muk finally revealed the truth.
"The Calamity Slaughter Sword is with my disciple, Lee Jeong-gyeom."
...What does that mean?
I couldn't understand what it meant for the Calamity Slaughter Sword to be with Lee Jeong-gyeom.
Did it mean he had defeated Jue Xin, who was known as the greatest of the Five Great Villains?
But then, a completely unimaginable answer came.
"......That child is Jue Xin."
!?