The Gathering Storm of the Ten Ghosts
A few days after Yoo-sung's group departed, a band of men appeared on the wild hill where the bodies had been buried.
"Branch Leader!"
At the beggar's call, a middle-aged man approached with a grim expression.
"He is indeed dead."
The middle-aged beggar's name was Ho-geol.
True to his name, which meant 'heroic,' he was a jovial and righteous beggar.
Currently, he was tracking one of Sichuan's most famous figures, the 'Blue Willow Sword.'
Hailed as the future of the Jeomchang Sect, the Blue Willow Sword had been highly active in hunting down the demonic practitioners throwing Sichuan into chaos.
He was entirely different from the other martial artists of Jeomchang, who were corrupt to the core.
But that very Blue Willow Sword had vanished over a month ago.
The sect leader and elders of Jeomchang secretly rejoiced at his disappearance. Conversely, his junior disciples had covertly sought out Ho-geol, begging him to find their senior brother.
Having set out on this path, Ho-geol now had to accept the grim reality of the Blue Willow Sword's death.
"So this is how you met your end," Ho-geol murmured bitterly, offering a silent prayer.
Even if Jeomchang was corrupt, he had hoped a talent like the Blue Willow Sword would become a guiding light to redeem the sect.
"Branch Leader!"
At another shout, Ho-geol furrowed his brow.
"What is it now?"
"This... isn't this Yoon Ji-gang?"
"Let me see."
Ho-geol carefully and grimly examined Yoon Ji-gang's corpse.
"It is. One of the Five Evils of Cheondo died here."
"Do you think he fought the Blue Willow Sword?"
At the beggar's cautious speculation, Ho-geol shook his head.
"Idle speculation is dangerous. Especially in chaotic times like these, we must not jump to hasty conclusions."
"Understood!"
Ho-geol's caution was well-founded.
The relationship between the Jeomchang Sect and Cheondo Gate had grown incredibly strained.
In terms of prestige and tradition, it was once unthinkable for an upstart like Cheondo Gate to oppose the great Jeomchang Sect.
However, through the Great Martial War against the Matian, Jeomchang's power had crumbled, forcing them into fierce competition with Sichuan's rising factions, including Cheondo Gate.
This reality had severely wounded Jeomchang's pride, driving them to take desperate, unorthodox risks.
"Search the surroundings thoroughly! Report both deaths to their respective sects."
"Yes, Branch Leader!"
As the beggars dispersed to search, Ho-geol watched them with a complex gaze.
Instinctively, he felt that the wind rising in Sichuan was about to blow much harder than anyone anticipated.
Who on earth killed Yoon Ji-gang?
Others might be fooled, but not an experienced veteran like Ho-geol.
He could tell at a glance that there was a significant time gap between the two deaths.
He chose silence only to avoid unnecessary noise.
I'll have to investigate this quietly.
With Ho-geol's resolve, the news of their deaths would spread far faster than Yoo-sung had anticipated.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"You all did well."
Under Do Sang-woon's warm encouragement, they unwound and shared their stories.
"As I mentioned in my letter, this is Dogan Mabu. He will be staying at the academy from today onward," Yoo-sung introduced.
Dogan Mabu bowed his head respectfully.
"Though I was once a bandit, I have never committed an act I am ashamed of. From this day forth, I will devote my entire strength to the prosperity of this academy."
Do Sang-woon and Do Yoo-chan nodded in quiet approval at his sincere declaration.
They held no prejudice against different martial paths.
Martial arts themselves were blameless; it was only the greed of those who practiced them that brought dishonor.
Dang So-ryung and Binghwa shared the same sentiment.
Yoo-sung recounted the events of his journey, leaving Do Sang-woon and Do Yoo-chan deep in thought.
Addressing the pensive pair, Yoo-sung shared his perspective.
"The situation in Sichuan remains unstable, so there is no telling when I might have to head out again."
It was just as Yoo-sung said.
Though the martial artists of Sichuan had set out to hunt demonic practitioners, their numbers, far from dwindling, seemed to multiply by the day.
Worse, the emergence of cruder, more violent demonic humans left everyone in Sichuan feeling suffocated.
A creeping dread whispered that Sichuan might become the starting point of a second Great Martial War against the Matian.
Consequently, the atmosphere within the Sichuan Righteous Alliance had grown far more solemn than when it was first formed.
"Indeed, the surrounding areas are in turmoil. I don't know if you've heard, but the Blue Willow Sword is dead," Do Sang-woon said.
"The Blue Willow Sword?"
Unlike the puzzled Yoo-sung, Ho-sung and Dogan Mabu stiffened.
"He was a young man hailed as the future of the Jeomchang Sect. In a ruined Jeomchang, he and his martial brothers carried the weight of great expectations."
"Oh? I didn't know Jeomchang possessed such a talent."
Yoo-sung's feelings toward Jeomchang leaned heavily toward distaste rather than goodwill.
In his past, many of his comrades had met dog-like deaths due to the incompetence and cowardice of Jeomchang's martial artists.
He had once planned to pay back that grievance in full whenever he encountered the main force of Jeomchang.
Of course, in this life, that had become a useless piece of the past.
"With this, Jeomchang's downfall is practically assured. Under its current leadership, the sect has no future," Binghwa remarked coldly.
Do Sang-woon and Do Yoo-chan nodded in agreement.
Even though they primarily operated near the Heavenly Sword Academy, it was impossible not to hear of Jeomchang's notorious reputation.
"Who is the culprit?"
"According to Jeomchang, the Blue Willow Sword was pursuing the 'Red-Eyed Ghost Demon.'"
The Red-Eyed Ghost Demon.
True to his epithet, he was a master of the demonic path distinguished by his striking red eyes and crimson hair.
He had reached the pinnacle of the Transcendental Realm and was infamous for his sheer cruelty.
Furthermore, his relationship with Jeomchang was exceptionally hostile; nearly a hundred Jeomchang disciples had already perished by his hand.
"Before long, there will likely be a movement to hunt down the Red-Eyed Ghost Demon and the rest of the Ten Ghosts who have infiltrated Sichuan."
"It is a natural conclusion. It is highly unlikely the Red-Eyed Ghost Demon killed the Blue Willow Sword alone. It is safe to assume that at least half, if not all, of the Ten Ghosts have entered Sichuan."
The Ten Ghosts were notorious demonic masters of the Matian.
Even after the Great Martial War ended, they had continued to actively spread their infamy across the Jianghu.
"Let us leave the heavy talk here. I hear you've achieved excellent results, Brother," Yoo-sung said, turning to Yoo-chan.
"It was Father's help more than my own effort," Do Yoo-chan replied humbly.
Do Sang-woon clicked his tongue at his eldest son's modesty.
"Nonsense. I did barely anything. It is thanks to Yoo-chan that the foundational martial arts of our Heavenly Sword Academy have become far more robust."
"In that case, Ho-sung should be the first to learn it."
"Indeed, he should."
As they discussed their upcoming tasks one by one, the night quickly deepened.
"Let us rest and discuss the rest tomorrow."
"Yes, Father."
However, contrary to Do Sang-woon's wishes, Yoo-sung would be leaving the academy much sooner than expected.
A few days later, Cheolhwa and Cheolgeom visited the academy once more.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"I didn't expect to see you again so soon," Dang Hwa-young said with a wry smile as she entered the academy.
It had barely been any time since they last parted.
Yet, Dang Hwa-young's martial aura was noticeably more refined than before.
A martial artist's growth usually came hand-in-hand with trials, suggesting she had endured significant hardships.
This was evident just by looking at Cheolgeom beside her.
A small scar now marked his once-handsome forehead.
Though it had healed and faded considerably, the wound had clearly been deep.
As everyone's gaze gravitated toward the scar, Dang Hwa-soo smiled bitterly.
"I let my guard down. I forgot that a demonic practitioner can still strike back even in death."
A single moment of carelessness could have been fatal.
"Still, it is a relief you weren't gravely injured. Your grandfather must have been terribly worried," Do Sang-woon said.
Just as Do Sang-woon noted, Dang Hwa-soo was one of the talents Dang Joong-myung held high expectations for.
Though his martial talent fell short of Dang Hwa-young's, as a male heir, he was fully qualified to represent the future of the branch family.
"So, what brings you here so urgently?" Do Sang-woon asked.
Dang Hwa-young stepped forward.
"Have you heard the news regarding Jeomchang?"
"I heard the Blue Willow Sword has fallen."
"The Red-Eyed Ghost Demon's location has been exposed. It turns out his cohorts have also entrenched themselves in Sichuan. The Alliance intends to hunt down the Ten Ghosts and purge Sichuan once and for all."
This was entirely expected given the Blue Willow Sword's death.
"Then, just like before, we must lend our aid."
"I will go," Yoo-sung volunteered immediately, bringing the discussion to a swift conclusion.
Only Do Yoo-chan watched him with a complicated, lingering gaze.
Thus, Yoo-sung set out to hunt the Ten Ghosts alongside Dang Hwa-young and Dang Hwa-soo.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Late that night, Do Yoo-chan visited Yoo-sung's quarters.
"Are you asleep?"
"Not yet."
Entering the room, Do Yoo-chan carried a small tray of light refreshments.
"Care for some tea?"
"Sure."
As they quietly ate the snacks Yoo-chan brought, a comfortable silence settled between the brothers.
"I'm sorry. As your older brother, I feel like I'm constantly saddling you with the hardest burdens."
Had his dantian remained intact, Do Yoo-chan would never have let Yoo-sung step outside the academy gates.
Conversely, even if Yoo-chan's body had been perfectly fine, Yoo-sung would still have volunteered to go first.
"They say the master of a clan and the one destined to succeed him must have heavy bottoms. A swordsman like me is better suited for spilling blood out in the field, while you focus on strengthening our foundation from within."
Yoo-sung knew his own nature. He was self-assertive, ruthless, and far preferred retribution over tolerance.
Do Sang-woon and Do Yoo-chan, on the other hand, always sought far more peaceful and benevolent solutions.
In times of chaos, Yoo-sung's iron-fisted approach was necessary, but when planning for the clan's long-term future, the gentler way of his father and brother was correct.
"Are you truly planning to go alone?"
This time, Yoo-sung had decided to accompany Cheolhwa and Cheolgeom by himself.
"Dogan Mabu is still difficult to bring along publicly, and Ho-sung needs to master the martial arts you and Father refined."
This was no ordinary task; they were hunting the notorious Ten Ghosts of the Matian.
Unlike their previous excursion, this mission was fraught with danger, and the likelihood of encountering prominent martial artists from across Sichuan was high.
Given Dogan Mabu's past as a bandit, bringing him along right now would bring more harm than good.
Furthermore, Dogan Mabu had not yet fully recovered from his internal injuries.
"What about the people your wife brought?"
The martial artists of the Ice Valley whom Binghwa had brought along were a formidable force.
However, they could not yet be considered true members of the Heavenly Sword Academy.
"For now, they belong to my sister-in-law, not the academy. We can only truly rely on them once they sincerely wish to align their destiny with ours."
"My wife shares the same thought."
"Even without them, we have more than enough. Between Ho-sung and the others, our people aren't easily defeated."
"They are indeed our pride."
The current military strength of the Heavenly Sword Academy was comparable to a decent mid-sized sect.
Starting with Ho-sung, who guarded the gates, they possessed about twenty Peak Realm masters.
If they moved with singular purpose, they could overcome most obstacles.
However...
"We can't keep them segregated forever. Letting useful assets sit idle is foolish."
Though they had followed Binghwa, those martial artists were not the type to blindly obey her forever.
Enlightening them and integrating them into the academy was a necessary task.
I'll have to deal with them when I return.
Half-hearted allies were far more dangerous than external enemies.
If they could not walk the same path, it was best to pluck the weeds early.
I should have my sister-in-law prepare in advance.
When he returned, quickly purging the elements she deemed unfit would be of immense help to the academy's future.
"In that case, take care of yourself. Even in the face of danger, as long as you keep your wits about you, you will find a way."
"You're not going to tell me to stay out of trouble?"
"How could I harbor a weak heart when it comes to punishing those who slaughter the weak and innocent? It is far better to resolve such matters with our own hands than to leave it to others."
Because that was the very foundation upon which the Heavenly Sword Academy was built.
While praying for Yoo-sung's safety, Yoo-chan also wished for him never to turn a blind eye to injustice.
"I'll be back."
"Go safely."
The following day, Yoo-sung departed, sent off by the warm farewells of the academy.
This journey would prove to be longer than the last, and it would lead him to bring back new companions—though that was a tale yet unknown to anyone.
It was the moment the curtain finally rose on the event that history would later record as the 'Rebellion of the Ten Ghosts.'