Chapter 45
Chapter 45
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: If I Want to Hold It, I Can Hold It
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“Martial arts? Masters? The world under heaven?
That’s all stuff for those otherworldly folks living up there in that high-and-mighty realm. For people like us, a warm back and a full belly are all that matter. No matter how great you were in the past, if there’s nothing left right now, the smart thing is to face reality sooner rather than later.
My master clung to his martial arts even when his disciples had grown up, showing no interest in what we were up to, and my eldest senior brother just abandoned us, saying it was tough, and went off on his own merry way. I hated them both. Hated them so much.
Fine, maybe Master had his reasons since we’d grown up, but the eldest senior brother? He’s the one who should’ve been figuring out our future together with us. Instead, he tossed us aside and left. That’s why I hated him so much... but then that bastard comes back and turns everything upside down.
Iron Lion King! Thunderclap Barrier Fist!
I don’t know what’s coming next, but for now, I’m going to learn it.
I don’t care about the world under heaven or becoming some grand master. I just want to smack that smug look off my eldest senior brother’s face with one solid punch. That’s the only way I’ll feel any relief.”
Those were Iron Mountain’s words, spoken right in front of Yu Chil and Wi Hong.
The leader of the Great Righteous Alliance, Volcanic Divine Sword, and the sect master of the Tyrant Emperor Sect, Heaven-Rending Legion, had come to the Iron Lion Sect. Their only attendants were Spear Freak Ga Gyeom-chang and Blood Radiance Monk—a remarkably modest entourage. Do Cheon assigned each of them a separate guesthouse.
After placing two figures who could easily rank among the Ten Great Masters of the world like that, Do Cheon felt utterly unburdened, a smile refusing to leave his face.
Rescuing the Iron Lions was dragging on, but recruiting talent wasn’t something that happened overnight. Once he accepted that, the impatience melted away.
“What do you plan to do now?”
Byeon Ryeo-gun asked, her eyes gleaming beneath her veil. Do Cheon grinned broadly at her and replied.
“It’s been a while, so I figure I’ll take a relaxing trip to blow off some steam.”
“Where to?”
“Dongting Lake.”
“You have business with the Dongting Lake Waterway Stronghold?”
“Something like that. Care to join me?”
“Of course. That’s my job, after all.”
Byeon Ryeo-gun rose from her seat first.
Ha Gun-pyo of the Four Divine Dragons.
After being the first disciple ousted by Heaven-Rending Legion and becoming the young leader of the Tyrant Emperor Sect with a bright future ahead, there he was, sprawled out flat even as the sun blazed high in the midday sky.
White Rakshasa kicked him hard without warning.
“Ugh? What the hell! Who’s the bastard...! Oh, it’s you, junior brother?”
Ha Gun-pyo, tumbling from the kick, shot his upper body up like a striking viper, then flopped back down upon recognizing White Rakshasa.
“Those bastards are probably laughing their asses off right now. How long are you going to lie there like this!”
“Who are those bastards? If they piss you off that much, let’s go find them and...!”
Ha Gun-pyo bolted upright again.
“You talking about them?”
“Yeah. That guy who humiliated you and me, and that girl you like!”
“What about them?”
“Ever since you got kicked out like this, they’ve been stuck together every damn day.”
At White Rakshasa’s words, Ha Gun-pyo clenched his fists tightly. But that was it. He couldn’t even muster the anger, settling for grinding his teeth instead.
“You trying to turn into a total pussy just because Dad chewed you out?”
White Rakshasa snapped viciously.
“Watch your mouth.”
“He yanked out your finger, and you’re still lounging around like it’s all good? You’re a total pussy!”
“Then what do you want me to do!”
“Find some way to rip that little shit apart!”
“You want to get properly thrashed by Master too?”
“Idiot! Does Dad have another son? Another disciple? Even with his fiery temper, he won’t toss us both out at once.”
“...!”
White Rakshasa had a point. When he ousted the eldest senior brother, he still had his junior and Ha Gun-pyo to fall back on. But kicking out the remaining two at once? No way.
Ha Gun-pyo stared at his mangled hand, missing a finger, then stood up.
“So, what exactly are we doing?”
“Let’s drag out the eldest senior brother.”
“Eldest senior brother?”
“Yeah.”
White Rakshasa grinned slyly at Ha Gun-pyo’s dumbfounded shock.
Grrrrrind!
A massive stone door slid open, revealing a pitch-black passageway.
“I had no idea a place like this existed.”
“Dad used it back when he was deep in his training.”
“He trained in a place like this?”
“You’ll see when we get there.”
“...?”
As they walked the dark passage, it gradually brightened, eventually opening to the outside bathed in light.
“...!”
Ha Gun-pyo froze in astonishment.
A space large enough for an entire estate appeared. Now he realized where they were, which only amplified his shock.
The Tyrant Emperor Sect was built midway up a notoriously treacherous peak. And they had pierced right through the mountain to the back side. The rear was a sheer cliff face that screamed “ten thousand ren drop,” and midway up it was a ledge spacious enough for a manor, complete with a shabby thatched hut and a few picturesque pine trees.
“Eldest senior brother, it’s me.”
White Rakshasa called out.
The hut’s door creaked open, and a man in pristine white robes poked his head out.
“E-Eldest senior brother!”
Ha Gun-pyo cried out in shock.
The man had snow-white skin and a flawless face—it was indeed the eldest senior brother. How could he not be stunned that the first disciple, supposedly exiled by their master, was alive and well behind the Tyrant Emperor Sect?
“Gun-pyo’s here too!”
“Senior brother...”
Ha Gun-pyo didn’t know whether to greet him warmly or not, utterly at a loss.
“You look confused about me being here, huh?”
The eldest senior brother stepped outside.
Tall stature, strikingly pale face, perfectly chiseled features.
The same extraordinary presence from their youth. Not just in martial prowess, but in looks too—he’d always intimidated Ha Gun-pyo.
Ha Gun-pyo just stood there, flustered and helpless.
“So, what brings you here?”
The eldest senior brother asked White Rakshasa.
“We need your help, senior brother.”
“My help?”
“Someone yanked off Gun-pyo’s finger.”
The moment White Rakshasa finished, the eldest senior brother’s face hardened. But he didn’t look at Ha Gun-pyo.
“Go back now.”
“Senior brother.”
“I’m content like this. I don’t want to wrong Master anymore. Just go back.”
The eldest senior brother turned away first.
“This has nothing to do with Dad. We can’t let the bastard who trampled on me and Gun-pyo get away with it. So you have to step up, senior brother.”
“No.”
“Sorry.”
“...!”
The instant White Rakshasa spoke, the eldest senior brother whirled around in shock.
“Gun-pyo! Dad sealed senior brother’s dantian. You’ve learned Dad’s Eight Emperors Heaven-Shattering Art too, so you can unseal it. One inch at the Divine Pivot point, three cun at the Sea of Qi—hit him with the shock from the Eight Emperors Heaven-Shattering Art! Hurry!”
“Don’t do it!”
The eldest senior brother staggered back, shouting, while Ha Gun-pyo blinked in confusion, unsure what was happening.
“Idiot! You gonna let the guy who ripped off your finger keep frolicking with Byeon Ryeo-gun?”
As White Rakshasa yelled, Ha Gun-pyo charged in fury.
Thud! Thud!
He struck exactly as instructed. With his dantian sealed, the eldest senior brother couldn’t properly evade. Ha Gun-pyo, fueled by rage, followed through, stunned that he’d actually hit his senior brother, his face a mix of shock and twisted glee. But right then—
“Get back!”
White Rakshasa shouted.
“...!”
As Ha Gun-pyo wore a puzzled look—
Grab!
The hunched eldest senior brother shot out his hand, seizing Ha Gun-pyo’s head. Ha Gun-pyo reflexively swung a fist to smash his senior brother’s elbow, but it felt like punching iron—his arm was unyieldingly solid, leaving him shocked. And then—
“Heh heh heh heh!”
The eldest senior brother let out a fiendish chuckle as he began to straighten up.
Ha Gun-pyo’s gaze was drawn inexorably to his face.
There it was. A monster with a face so ghastly it terrified even in dreams.
Eyes brimming like pools of ink.
Grotesque against his porcelain-white skin. And the suffocating aura pouring from his entire body—like a beast crawled straight from hell.
“Where is Heaven-Rending Legion?”
The monster asked.
The monster wearing the shell of Sa Mu-ryong, Heaven-Rending Legion’s first disciple.
“Senior brother! There’s someone even greater than Dad!”
White Rakshasa screamed.
In an instant, Sa Mu-ryong’s form shot like a beam of light, grabbing White Rakshasa by the throat and hoisting him up effortlessly.
“Where is Heaven-Rending Legion?”
“Th-The Heavenly Demon. Hea... Heavenly Demon.”
“Heavenly Demon?”
At the words “Heavenly Demon,” White Rakshasa’s airway eased slightly. Seizing the moment, he shouted.
“The Heavenly Demon’s martial arts have appeared!”
The Dongting Lake Waterway Stronghold bustled with energy.
The boatmen spotted Do Cheon and shouted greetings loudly; one even bolted straight for the stronghold leader. Do Cheon gave casual nods in return as he headed toward Gwak Hyu’s quarters.
“You’re getting the royal treatment, huh?”
“Mocking me because they’re boatmen?”
“Not mocking, but it doesn’t suit you. Do Gongzi and boatmen just don’t mix.”
“I’m no big shot myself.”
“Maybe not you, but the Iron Lion Sect? Definitely not.”
She meant the Iron Lion Sect didn’t pair well with boatmen.
Do Cheon couldn’t really argue. Not because the sect was so grand, but because he knew that’s how his master and ancestors would feel.
As Do Cheon walked on silently without retorting, Byeon Ryeo-gun fell quiet too.
“Welcome.”
Gwak Hyu came out and greeted them warmly.
“Not complaining that I visit too often, I hope?”
“Never. Do Gongzi is always welcome.”
Gwak Hyu flashed a bright smile and offered Byeon Ryeo-gun a light clasped-hands salute.
“Nice to see you again since that day.”
That day—the official opening of Dongting Lake’s waterways.
“I’m Byeon Ryeo-gun.”
“Gwak, at your service. Just call me Stronghold Leader Gwak.”
Gwak Hyu knew Byeon Ryeo-gun was the head of Secret Shadow Pavilion. He didn’t know she’d recently stepped down and returned, but even so, he tactfully avoided mentioning it out of respect for her position. Noticing this, Byeon Ryeo-gun revised her view of him as merely a boatman boss.
“I know time is short, but I came just in case. How far along is the Yangtze investigation?”
Do Cheon asked.
Gwak Hyu gestured them inside his quarters as he replied.
“It’s been ages since I paid attention to the eighteen Yangtze strongholds, so I’ve sent my men out everywhere—you’ll need to wait a bit longer. Come in first. Before settling here, I recalled what I knew and jotted down a quick summary of the major eighteen strongholds. It’ll give you a feel for the Yangtze at least.”
“Sounds good.”
Do Cheon smiled and followed Gwak Hyu inside.
Byeon Ryeo-gun trailed them, inwardly surprised.
He really had the Yangtze in mind all along!
On the way back to the Iron Lion Sect.
Do Cheon was humming a cheerful tune, but Byeon Ryeo-gun’s mind was a whirlwind.
“I have one question.”
After a long silence, she spoke up. Do Cheon glanced at her sidelong.
“Looks like you’re finally done worrying about the world, huh?”
“Do Gongzi.”
“Yes, speak.”
“I heard you took on two at once.”
“I figured as much when I saw you carrying both Secret Shadow Pavilion’s token and the Tyrant Emperor Sect’s relic. So those old codgers told you, eh?”
“Yes.”
“So what do you want to know?”
“With that level of power, you could debut in the world under heaven. Why bother methodically taking the Dongting Lake and Yangtze waterways step by step?”
Do Cheon halted.
Byeon Ryeo-gun stopped too.
Do Cheon stared intently into her eyes for a moment. She met his gaze steadily, making it clear how curious she was. Naturally—one step could take him there, so why the detour?
Should I tell her?
Any reason not to? No.
Any reason I have to? No.
Byeon Ryeo-gun served as Heaven-Rending Legion and Volcanic Divine Sword’s eyes and ears, but she didn’t report everything she saw or heard. Only what was necessary, and she concealed anything that might trouble Do Cheon. Trust grew from that.
As her eyes reddened slightly, Do Cheon turned away. She did too.
A vast crimson sunset stretched out. The sun had dipped halfway below the western horizon. Do Cheon gazed at the scene and drew a deep breath.
His chest expanded, his back straightened.
The swelling ambition that had taken root in his heart sometime ago.
Savoring the thrill filling his chest, Do Cheon raised his hand. Slowly extending it, the red glow and half-sunken sun seemed clutched in his grasp.
“Here’s the thing. If I want to hold it, I can hold it.”
“...!”
“Byeon Sojeo.”
“Yes.”
“I’m already a towering figure in this world.”
“...?”
“No one may acknowledge it, but I don’t need the world’s validation. I’ve planted myself atop it all, and I know that clearly.”
Do Cheon’s words hit like a thunderbolt, shattering all her lingering doubts and suspicions. Unimaginable, something she’d never dared conceive. The shock hammered her mind, leaving her speechless for a moment.
Already a towering figure in the world...
As her eyes trembled, Do Cheon continued.
“Debuting and dominating the world under heaven? It’s just confirming and proving what I already know. Pointless, meaningless procedure.”
“Then why...?”
“Taking the Yangtze isn’t for me.”
“...!”
Do Cheon turned to face her eyes directly.
“No one can be happy alone in this world.”