Chapter 123: Sichuan Tang Clan-1
Chapter 123: Sichuan Tang Clan-1
It had been about a week since Lady Dang and I passed Gwanggeom's trial and emerged outside the Two Person Gate.
When we came out through the stone gate, the cave passage was still shrouded in a faint green light, and Mak Woo-jeon and Ga Yoo-ak, fallen into madness, were wandering through it like ghosts.
Lady Dang asked me via telepathic transmission.
- It's been over a month, yet they're still moving. They wouldn't have eaten anything. Is that also because of the madness?
I shook my head and answered.
- It's not that. According to our master, the time inside the Two Person Gate is different from here. He said time in there passes five times faster, so while a month has passed for us, for them, it's probably been less than a week.
- Ah, that makes sense.
Over the past month, we had served Gwanghyeopgeomgoe Jeong Myeong-gwang as our master and received his instruction in the Moonlight Illusion Sword Dance.
A month would have meant the leave I'd received from the frontlines was already over, so if I didn't return soon, I could have been processed as a deserter.
But because time inside the Two Person Gate was five times faster than reality, in real time, less than a week had passed.
"Keurureureu!"
At that moment, Mak Woo-jeon's red glare turned toward us.
The bastard had finally spotted us.
"Kuaaaang!"
He began charging at us furiously.
A monster on the verge of the transcendent peak, fallen into madness and now capable of unleashing power nearly equal to the transcendent peak—that Mak Woo-jeon was bearing down on us.
Lady Dang asked me urgently.
"What do we do?"
I smiled leisurely and answered.
"What do you mean, what do we do?"
I grinned as I gripped my sword.
"Isn't this a perfect chance to test what we've achieved?"
The moment I finished speaking, I drew my sword and activated the Moonlight Illusion Sword Dance.
The Moonlight Illusion Sword Dance, First Form.
Flying Moon.
Immediately, my mind entered a hallucinatory state.
Hwaaak!
The world around me was being draped in a dreamlike, phantasmagoric veil.
The Moonlight Illusion Sword Dance was fundamentally a secret technique that pulled the mind into a hallucinatory state through sword dance.
So, originally, the proper sequence was to begin with the sword dance first in order to enter the hallucinatory state.
But through the past month's training, I had so thoroughly internalized the Moonlight Illusion Sword Dance that I could reverse that order.
In other words, it meant I could first fall into the hallucinatory state, then unfold the movements.
Even with sword techniques other than the Moonlight Illusion Sword Dance.
So, having entered the hallucinatory state the moment I drew my sword, I looked at the charging Mak Woo-jeon and smiled brightly.
In that hazy state where everything in the world felt like a dream, I could feel an omnipotence as though I had become a god.
"Kuaaaaang!"
Mak Woo-jeon's sword came slashing at me with savage momentum.
"Hmph!"
But when I snorted and looked at him once, his sword began to slow as if crawling, in an instant.
Everything around me was the same.
I had slowed the world's speed by my will.
Of course, in truth, I had merely accelerated my mind so that the surrounding time felt slower, but even knowing that, my heart swelled with a sense of superiority, as if I were controlling the world at my whim.
I grinned as I watched Mak Woo-jeon's sword flying at me.
'Slow.'
Of course, my own movements had become slower as well.
But there was no way a sword perceived so sluggishly could pose a threat to me.
I lightly pressed down on the flat of the blade coming to cut me, deflecting it downward, then launched my body to narrowly evade his sword.
Then, freely twisting my body as if flying through the air, I slowly drew my sword across.
I could see my sword gradually grazing across the bastard's flank as it passed.
And the red blood rising from there into the air, globular like droplets.
"Keu a a a a a!"
When the bastard slowly roared with a twisted face, I—having planted my foot on the ground—pressed it firmly in the opposite direction.
Then, overcoming the fierce pressure, my body slowly began turning in the opposite direction, back toward where the bastard was.
And I slowly thrust my sword in.
Toward the back of the roaring bastard's neck, who was screaming in agony.
Ssuuuk!
With a faint pressure, I felt my sword sliding into his neck. It was a soft sensation, like piercing soft tofu with a knife.
My mind filled with euphoria.
An elevated spirit where everything in the world felt possible, senses so sharp I could feel the flow of the air with the ends of my hair—it felt as if I had truly become a god.
Suddenly, a powerful urge to remain in this state forever surged up like wildfire.
But my mind, armed with the Great Calm Mind Technique, did not succumb to that temptation.
"Huuuu."
Slowly exhaling a deep breath, I broke free of the hallucinatory state.
Then the world returned to its original speed.
"Keueoeok!"
I drew my sword from the back of Mak Woo-jeon's neck—who was gagging, his throat pierced through—as if slicing it out.
Shaaak!
Then, from the bastard's neck, which had been cut about seventy percent through, blood shot up like a fountain.
Puhwaak!
By the time that blood splattered everywhere, I had already flung myself back and returned to Lady Dang's side.
It had been an incredibly simple fight.
She smiled brightly and congratulated me.
"That was amazing, Jin! You seemed just like a transcendent peak master!"
I laughed awkwardly and answered her words.
"Not at all. It seems this fellow couldn't eat anything all this time, so his physical abilities must have declined considerably. At this level, I probably could have won even without using the Moonlight Illusion Sword Dance, don't you think?"
That wasn't modesty—it was the truth.
No matter how great the Moonlight Illusion Sword Dance was, if this guy had been in proper condition, there was no way I could have caught him so easily.
Mak Woo-jeon, having wandered in madness without any nourishment, appeared to have dropped two or three levels in martial prowess compared to the last time I'd seen him.
At that, Lady Dang smiled brightly and said.
"Still, it's a fact that you easily handled a difficult opponent. Congratulations."
I smiled softly and nodded.
"Thank you, Yeo Eun. You take care of Ga Yoo-ak over there. I'll watch from the side."
Having spent a month together inside the Two Person Gate, we had grown much more comfortable with each other.
We still hadn't completely dropped formal speech, but at least in terms of address, we were now calling each other by name rather than attaching titles like young master or sojeo.
Suddenly shifting the mood, I spoke to her in a serious tone.
"Still, it's astonishing. Even with just the first form, 'Flying Moon,' it's already like this, so I don't know if I'll be able to handle it once I learn the second form, 'Dark Moon.' The senses in the hallucinatory state are one thing, but pulling yourself back out of it isn't that easy."
Currently, we had only mastered the first form, 'Flying Moon,' of the Moonlight Illusion Sword Dance, which consisted of five forms in total.
It was because of our master's advice that, at our current achievement in the Great Calm Mind Technique, handling anything beyond that would be dangerous. So, while we did know the contents up to the fifth form, we hadn't yet attempted to learn them.
And that judgment seemed to have been a wise one indeed.
Because the sensation of the first form, Flying Moon, when I first unfolded it in reality, was not to be taken lightly.
Maintaining my sanity had been quite difficult.
At that, Lady Dang took a deep breath with a tense expression and looked ahead.
"If Jin thinks that, then I should be even more nervous."
Where her gaze was directed, Ga Yoo-ak, his red glare shining, was charging at us furiously.
I glanced at Ga Yoo-ak, then smiled cheerfully at Lady Dang and said.
"There's no need. You'll handle it well. I believe in you, Yeo Eun."
At that, she wore a flustered expression for a moment, then smiled brightly at me.
It was a smile like sunlight, brightly illuminating the cave that had been filled only with a faint green glow.
***
After Lady Dang had also superbly dealt with Ga Yoo-ak, we were finally able to completely escape outside the cave.
There, we met Do Mun-seung, who had been waiting for us all this time.
He came running toward us with a bright expression.
"You two! You're safe!"
We were utterly flustered by that unexpected meeting.
Because I had never imagined he would still be waiting for us.
When we entered the cave, even though there was no need to, I had deliberately killed all the other Sucheonhoe warriors and only thrown a fake killing strike at him, making him play dead.
It was so that he could secretly slip away while we were inside the cave.
But it seemed I had underestimated the kind of person he was too much.
Far from slipping away from here, he had buried all the dead warriors and had been waiting in front of the cave until we came out.
"No, what were you going to do if we never came out, or if Mak Woo-jeon came out instead of us?"
When I asked, utterly dumbfounded, he answered with an unassuming laugh.
"If it weren't for my benefactors, I would have died anyway, so shouldn't I be willing to bear at least that much risk? And I wasn't planning to wait forever. If you hadn't come out by today, I was just going to leave."
But even those words about just leaving weren't very convincing.
I let out a hollow laugh, amazed.
He truly seemed like the very image of a righteous gentleman straight out of a book.
And I pondered for a moment.
"Hmm."
After briefly consulting with Lady Dang, I decided to share the story of the Light Sword master with him.
It was because I thought that, rather than us, he might be a talent more suited to mastering the Moonlight Illusion Sword Dance.
The Moonlight Illusion Sword Dance was a martial art where the hallucinatory state grew progressively more severe as one advanced through the first form, second form, and third form.
So no matter how diligently we trained in the Great Calm Mind Technique, we could not guarantee that we would be able to unfold the fifth form of the Moonlight Illusion Sword Dance.
But what if a righteous gentleman like Do Mun-seung were to learn the Moonlight Illusion Sword Dance?
It would be difficult for him now since his martial prowess was still too weak, but if he were to attain a first-class level of martial skill or beyond, would he not be able to perfectly execute even the fifth form of the Moonlight Illusion Sword Dance?
"For now, we will operate the cave's mechanisms and seal the entrance. So, Do-hyeong, please conceal yourself until Sucheonhoe becomes somewhat quiet, cultivate your strength, and then venture inside."
At my advice, he thanked us with a deeply moved expression.
"I have never even heard of martial artists sharing a fated opportunity... My benefactors are truly great men. I will never forget this kindness."
Great men, he said...
Being called a great man by a righteous gentleman like him was profoundly embarrassing.
After all, while we could teach him how to enter, whether he could learn the Moonlight Illusion Sword Dance would ultimately be up to the master's judgment.
And to pass through the Two Person Gate, he would have to meet another righteous gentleman of equal caliber, which made me wonder if such a thing was even possible.
After leaving him a few words of advice, we headed back to Sucheonhoe, still disguised as the Crimson-Blue Dual Swords.
It was to clean up the aftermath.
Although the Sucheonhoe chief Mak Woo-jeon had been blinded by a fated opportunity and committed evil deeds, it was clear that Sucheonhoe itself was an absolutely necessary faction for the people of this region.
So it needed to be handled with some care to prevent it from completely collapsing.
Thus, we secretly contacted Na Cheol-gyeong, who was reputed to be the most upright among Sucheonhoe's elders.
He was a chivalrous hero of unbending integrity, and according to intelligence from Hao Gate, he had recently been shunned by the chief, Mak Woo-jeon.
I suspected it was because Mak Woo-jeon judged that Na Cheol-gyeong would be an obstacle in carrying out this affair.
"...For that reason, we killed Mak Woo-jeon."
We did not reveal exactly that it was the relic of the Broad Hero Sword Ghost, but once he had heard roughly what had transpired in the attempt to seize the fated opportunity, he shut his eyes tightly.
And with a pained expression, he asked.
"...Is there proof that the chief committed such deeds?"
"I believe you, Dangshin, were likely aware that Sucheonhoe's warriors and disciples conscripted from surrounding sects have been disappearing. And that the chief, Mak Woo-jeon, was pushing something forward while keeping you at a distance."
At that, he let out a hollow laugh and spoke as if lamenting.
"Yes, it was so. I simply thought he did not speak to me because our dispositions did not align, but how could it..."
We informed him of the location where the bodies of Mak Woo-jeon, Ga Yoo-ak, and the other Sucheonhoe warriors lay.
Though it was the place where the Mad Soul Gate was situated, we had sealed that entrance with the mechanisms, so even someone who originally knew of it would likely be unable to find it.
"Elder Na Cheol-gyeong, when you discover Mak Woo-jeon's body, you will gain the justification needed to seize control of Sucheonhoe. And we hope that Sucheonhoe under your command will be reborn as a truly orthodox faction, unlike before."
At my words, spoken in a ringing voice while disguised as the eccentric Crimson-Blue Dual Swords, Na Cheol-gyeong nodded gravely.
Only after finishing that conversation with him were we able to set out on the road again.
Now, it was finally time to go to the Sichuan Tang Family.
***
The Sichuan Tang Family was located in Chengdu, the heart of Sichuan Province.
Taking only the bare minimum of rest, we ran swiftly and were able to arrive there in three days.
Chengdu, when we finally reached it, was an incredibly prosperous city.
As we passed through the gate and entered, the bustling crowds and rows of shops caught my eye first.
Admiring the sight, I spoke.
"I too lived in Guiyang, the capital of Guizhou Province, but this place looks far more prosperous. It truly lives up to being the center of Sichuan Province, home to the great sects of the Dang Clan, Qingcheng, and Ami."
"Yes, it is a very prosperous place."
However, Lady Dang's expression as she answered was not at all bright.
In fact, her expression had been growing darker as we approached Chengdu.
It seemed that simply being near the Dang Clan was weighing heavily on her heart.
I placed a hand on her shoulder and said.
"Don't worry. Nothing will happen. And even if something does, I will always be by your side."
At that, she smiled and nodded.
Her slightly glistening eyes sparkled like starlight.
A short while later, we arrived at the main estate of the Sichuan Tang Family, located in the center of Chengdu.
It was a grand manor on such a massive scale that one could believe it if it were called an imperial palace.
Before the main gate of that colossal manor, over twenty warriors stood guard, exuding a sharp, ferocious momentum.
They were deeply impressive.
It was not just the outstanding martial prowess of each individual, but the disciplined, almost military bearing and precise vigilance they displayed.
Even the squad leader of the gate guards appeared to be a martial artist who had reached the peak-level realm.
A peak-level warrior doing nothing more than guarding a gate—it was enough to make the name Sichuan Tang Family draw an involuntary exclamation of awe.
As we approached, the squad leader stepped forward solemnly and asked.
"This is the Sichuan Tang Family. What business brings the two of you here?"
It seemed he was a warrior who did not know Lady Dang's face, despite being of the same Dang Clan.
At that, Lady Dang answered casually, as if it were entirely expected.
"I am Dang Yeoeun, daughter of the Tang Family, who was serving on the frontline. I have returned on leave at the summons of the family head."
At her reply, a glint of interest appeared in the warrior's eyes.
And with a posture that became even more formal, he said.
"It was the youngest lady, Dang Yeoeun. I have only been in the Tang Family for three years and failed to recognize you. Please forgive my rudeness."
"Not at all. I fully understand."
And after waiting briefly at the main gate, we were guided inside by another peak-level martial artist who came out to receive us.
He spoke to Lady Dang with a solemn attitude, yet a businesslike air that felt nothing like addressing a family member.
"I congratulate you on your safe return, Young Lady. It is the family head's command that you be escorted to the great hall immediately."
At that, Lady Dang asked in reply with a slightly startled expression.
"To the great hall? Immediately?"
"Yes, that is correct."
Perhaps because she found it unexpected to be summoned to the great hall the moment she arrived, her expression was deeply anxious.
But she had no choice.
"Yes, understood. Let us go."
I silently followed behind her.
The peak-level martial artist guiding us glanced at me but seemed to have no intention of stopping me.
We walked for quite some time, passing the vast training grounds and several enormous pavilions that appeared beyond the main gate, until we finally reached the Dang Clan's great hall.
He entered the great hall first and announced our arrival in a loud voice.
"Young Lady Dang Yeoeun has arrived!"
Then a low, subdued voice, yet one containing terrifying internal energy, rang out.
"Enter."
We stepped inside the great hall.
There, we could see countless martial artists arrayed in formation.
I swept my gaze over them once and noticed that a considerable number of their uniforms were not the green martial robes of the Tang Family but those of other sects.
It seemed there was a meeting underway in which martial artists from other sects could also be seated.
And at the center where these martial artists were arrayed, on the elevated seat at the highest place in the great hall—the place of honor—sat the man I had seen before at the Jeonghyeopbang, with a languid expression.
A handsome middle-aged man with a cold expression on a face whose thoughts were difficult to read. It was the Poison Rock Sovereign, Dang Jeong-hu, the family head of the Sichuan Tang Family.
Lady Dang and I approached before him.
And finally reaching his presence, Lady Dang cupped her hands in a deep salute and said.
"I, Dang Yeoeun, daughter of the Tang Family, report that I have returned safely to the family head."
It was an incredibly stiff greeting for a daughter returning after four years to her own father. So stiff that it was hard to believe.
But no one around seemed to find it strange.
The Poison Rock Sovereign Dang Jeong-hu nodded once and asked her.
"Has it been four years since you entered the frontline?"
As expected, Dang Jeong-hu launched straight into questions with no greeting or concern for her well-being whatsoever.
Lady Dang bowed her head respectfully and answered.
"Yes, it has now been four years."
Then Dang Jeong-hu asked again.
"So you will be able to be discharged in a year, I see?"
That was an undeniable fact.
After five years of service, one could be discharged from the frontline.
But to ask out of the blue if she could be discharged in a year.
It was an unmistakably loaded remark.
Lady Dang answered with a slightly tense expression.
"Yes, in one year it will be my fifth. However, I intend to apply for reenlistment afterward..."
At that moment, cutting off her words, Dang Jeong-hu spoke bluntly.
Words that could not help but leave Lady Dang aghast.
"See that the wedding ceremony is held in one year. I have arranged your marriage match."
"...What?!"
Lady Dang's horrified face was turning as pale as a sheet of white paper.