Chapter 201: In Parang-1
Chapter 201: In Parang-1
After meeting Yu Hae-eung, we headed northeast again, moving further inland.
Brother Jeung Chil seemed to have plenty of complaints, but he acknowledged that clashing with the Haenam Sect at sea was dangerous, so there was no helping it.
I conversed with Mukrang as I ran through the jungle.
'So you're saying the sword that White Wolf Sword character is holding is definitely the Seolrang Sword you made, Elder?'
- Indeed. There might be another sword with a white wolf engraved on it, but if he even used ice arts to freeze the sea, it would be hard to think it's a different sword.
I had asked the villagers in the coastal town about this White Wolf Sword character.
What I'd learned was simply that a single man dressed like a beggar had recently been wielding a pure white sword and fighting against the Haenam Sect's forces.
Of course, up to that point, there was nothing particularly special about it.
The "dressed like a beggar" part just meant his appearance was shabby, so it was impossible to guess his identity, and pure white swords could be found anywhere.
In fact, hadn't the White Mist Sword that Seonwoo Jin had gifted Cheongyeon also been a pure white sword?
But the martial arts he supposedly used were somewhat special.
That was because people said the White Wolf Sword froze the sea.
Here, in this scorching Southern Sea, he was said to freeze the sea, run across it, and fight the pirates upon it.
Upon hearing that story, Mukrang had sighed deeply and said.
- The Seolrang Sword Technique! It's definitely the Seolrang Sword I made, Gun!
According to Mukrang, the martial art left within the Seolrang Sword was precisely the Seolrang Sword Technique and Seolrang Heart Technique, created with reference to the Ice White Divine Art and Ice White Sword Technique of the legendary sect, the North Sea Ice Palace.
So that meant the sword this White Wolf Sword character was holding was certainly the Seolrang Sword, the Sword God's legacy, and furthermore, that this person had even passed the Sword God's test just like I had.
After confirming that fact, Mukrang spoke as if finding it strange.
- Huh, for the Seolrang Sword to reveal itself like that, it's an odd thing. The Haenam Sect really must be in shambles.
I didn't understand what he meant.
What did the Seolrang Sword revealing itself have to do with the Haenam Sect being in shambles?
'What does that mean?'
Then he answered me.
- Long ago, the Seolrang Sword was taken by that bastard In Jeung-ho. He said he didn't like the wolf ornament and that if I changed it to a tiger, he'd make it his family's crest. So I personally overlaid a white tiger pattern on top of the wolf pattern. But for it to have fallen into the hands of this White Wolf Sword character from the Haenam Sect, and for the original wolf ornament to be revealed again... wouldn't you say many things must have happened?
A white sword with a tiger ornament?
Upon hearing that, I could immediately recall something.
'Ah, then that's the Baekho Sword?'
- Hm? The Baekho Sword?
'Yes, the Baekho Sword was the sword used by the Southern Sea Sword King In Jeung-ho, and from then on, it's been passed down through generations as the sacred relic of the Haenam Sect leaders. In my assessment, circumstantially, that's probably the Seolrang Sword. And seeing this White Wolf Sword character wielding the Seolrang Sword and fighting the Haenam Sect...'
- Hmm, perhaps he might be the successor of the Haenam In-ga clan who went missing long ago.
'Yes, that's what I think too.'
The more I learned, the more complicated the Haenam Sect's situation appeared.
A leader pursuing tyranny and expanding power like an unorthodox sect, disciples trying to uphold the principles of the orthodox faction, and the successor of the Haenam In-ga clan fighting the Haenam Sect with the Seolrang Sword, which had revealed its true form once more.
Of course, it wasn't certain that he was the successor of the Haenam In-ga clan, but it definitely looked complicated.
At that moment, Elder Mukrang suddenly spoke in a tone of disbelief.
- That, too, but for three people to have passed my test in the same era, when no one had for a hundred years... that's also a curious thing.
'Ah, that's true.'
He was certainly right.
After all, it meant that three people — the Blood Wolf Sword Emperor Ban Jung-yang, myself, and this White Wolf Sword character — had passed the Sword God's test of the 'allied heart' that he had arranged.
Hearing him say that, I suddenly felt immensely curious about this White Wolf Sword character.
Whatever his identity might be, passing the Sword God's test meant he possessed an allied heart willing to risk his own life for others, didn't it?
Then Mukrang suddenly laughed and said.
- You shouldn't be thinking so leisurely about that, should you? In other words, doesn't this mean there are two more competitors who could inherit my true godly ultimate techniques? Shouldn't you hurry a bit more?
I gave a bitter smile at his words.
That was certainly one way to look at it.
Going all the way to Zhejiang Province only to find someone else had inherited the Sword God's true godly ultimate techniques would be immensely deflating.
I abruptly asked Mukrang.
'Come to think of it, since the number one under heaven of this era, the Blood Wolf Sword Emperor Ban Jung-yang, passed your test long ago, Elder, he might have already inherited your true godly ultimate techniques?'
But Mukrang was negative only on that point.
- Not necessarily. My sword's test was for an allied heart, but to inherit the Forgotten Self Art requires overwhelming talent. Didn't I say so before? In my entire life, I couldn't find a successor to inherit it, so I ultimately had to resort to this method. But according to what that Ghost Sword fellow said last time, that Sword Emperor's talent didn't seem particularly outstanding?
I nodded at his words and decided to forget the anxiety that the Sword God's ultimate technique might already be gone.
Since I couldn't know the truth right now, it would ultimately be a useless worry anyway.
Then I asked about a different question.
'If the Mukrang Sword referenced the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, and the Seolrang Sword referenced the Ice White Divine Art, what martial arts did the other swords reference?'
Then he answered in a playful voice.
- Indeed, you're curious? The others are no slouches either. First, the Byeok-rang Sword Technique contained martial arts referencing Mudang's Taiji Wisdom Sword. Among the martial arts of the Nine Great Sects I saw, that one was the best.
'The Taiji Wisdom Sword?!'
It was an astonishing statement.
The Taiji Wisdom Sword was, in name and reality, the greatest sword art of the orthodox faction.
However, its level was so exceedingly high that I'd heard it had been a long time since anyone in Mudang Sect had even learned it, recently.
But for the Byeok-rang Sword containing such an ultimate technique to be in the possession of someone like Poisonous Eyed Ghost Sword Seo Il...
It didn't suit him at all.
But even the surprise I felt upon hearing about the Taiji Wisdom Sword was nothing compared to the martial art of the Blood Wolf Sword.
Because Mukrang spoke this way about the martial art contained within the Blood Wolf Sword.
- And in the Blood Wolf Sword, I placed a martial art that referenced the Blood Cult's Nine Heavens Blood Dragon Demon Art.
The Blood Cult's Nine Heavens Blood Dragon Demon Art?!
Startled, I asked him again.
'You mean a martial art of the Blood Cult?!'
- Yes. The martial arts of those Blood Cult bastards ruin one's mind, but aside from that, if you compensate for it, many of them are quite decent. The Nine Heavens Blood Dragon Demon Art in particular was an especially fine martial art. That Sword Emperor child probably didn't clash much with the Blood Cult. I likely told him so. I tried to make it look as different as possible, but those who have learned it would still see the similarities.
'Ahh...'
Now that I heard that, it was true that the Sword Emperor, famous as a hero, had notably few encounters with the demon heads of the Blood Cult.
The reason must have been because of the martial art he learned.
Mukrang suddenly laughed and warned me.
- So you be careful as well. Others might not, but if the Heavenly Demon sees the Mukrang Sword Technique, he'll go after you with fire in his eyes to kill you.
'......'
That was... truly chilling to hear.
If the Heavenly Demon would go after me with fire in his eyes, didn't that mean the problem wasn't the Heavenly Demon himself, but that I'd become a target of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, the strongest force under heaven?
Just imagining it was utterly terrifying.
Then Mukrang spoke playfully.
- Then you just need to become stronger than the Heavenly Demon before that happens, don't you? Hahahaha!
'......'
Words came easy to him.
Just become stronger than the Heavenly Demon, he said — if that were an easy task, there'd be no reason to worry so much about the Blood Demon either, would there?
Elder Mukrang, who spoke such words as casually as saying "if you're hungry, eat," was so insufferable at that moment.
I, who had frowned deeply, suddenly recalled something and asked again.
'Then what did you put in the Yellow Wolf Sword?'
This time, Mukrang answered in an immediately offended voice.
- The Yellow Wolf Sword, you say? In that one, I placed a martial art referencing the Seven Star Sword Technique, my family's hereditary sword art. As it was the sword technique I used the longest, I created it with great affection, but for that bastard to break such a precious thing...
It seemed Mukrang was really upset with the Ghost Sword for breaking the sword containing his arrangements.
Somehow, watching him look so displeased... felt refreshing.
Mukrang said.
- ...I can feel your mood entirely.
'Ah, my apologies.'
Actually, I knew that too.
It was satisfying.
Mukrang muttered.
- For the first time, I regret taking you as a successor.
***
We ran for an entire day and were able to escape the jungle.
That was because the western half of this damn Guangxi Province was the same jungle as Yunnan Province.
The place where we finally emerged from the jungle and arrived was Nannyeong, a city located about a third of the way from the southwestern part of Guangxi Province, a beautiful city surrounded by forests.
As we entered the castle walls of that place, bustling with many people, Brother Jeung Chil spoke with an admiring face.
"At last! Real food I can eat and a proper bed I can sleep in!"
I grabbed hyung-nim, who was about to hurry into Nannyeong while saying that.
"Huh? What now? Why are you grabbing me?"
To hyung-nim, who protested with a face that said he hadn't done anything wrong, I answered with a stern expression.
"Hyung-nim, I say this out of an abundance of caution, but Guangxi Province is currently under the rising power of a sect called the Hapsan Sect, and this Nannyeong is also their territory. So, just in case..."
At that, he shouted with an expression of utter exasperation.
"Ah, I get it! I get it already! As long as I don't start any trouble, right?! Whatever happens, I won't get involved at all! Hell, I won't even look at them! Happy now?!"
Listening to his fed-up cry, I nodded with satisfaction.
My constant nagging seemed to have gotten through to him.
"Yes, that's more than sufficient."
He grumbled as he stepped through the city gate.
"Why the hell did I ever swear brotherhood with that bastard? I can't tell if he's the youngest, the eldest, or my damn wife."
"I can hear everything, hyung-nim."
"Ah, can't a man even talk now?!"
Strictly speaking, we had never formally sworn an oath of brotherhood. But somewhere along the way, we had naturally solidified into three brothers.
And unlike my own blood siblings, I liked these two a great deal.
Both the coolest second brother in the world, and the eldest brother who was short-tempered and a bit dim but good-hearted at his core.
We were able to enter a proper inn for the first time in a while and order food.
Jeung Chil hyung-nim, his face soon brimming with excitement, shouted,
"Bring us one of every good dish you have! And bring your finest liquor too!"
Watching him brimming with excitement, Seol Pung smiled faintly and asked,
"Aren't you ordering a bit too much, hyung-nim?"
"It's fine, it's fine! Once in a while, on special occasions, it's good to leave leftovers! To celebrate treating my younger brothers to their first meal, hyung-nim here is paying for everything today!"
But though he was excited, once the food actually arrived, he couldn't eat right away and instead muttered vacantly.
"I wonder if little Yeong-chun is eating well. I hope she isn't being bullied or anything..."
So Yeong-chun was the name of the girl we met at the seaside village.
Jeung Chil hyung-nim seemed to have taken a great liking to her from the very first meeting.
It was to the point I suspected he might end up saying he would take her as his disciple.
With a worried face, he asked me,
"Maknae, shouldn't we have given those villagers a more proper warning? What if those bastards hold a grudge against Yeong-chun-i and do something to her?"
Before leaving the village, we had killed the village chief—who had orchestrated putting sleeping drugs in the food—right before the villagers as an example.
Saying it was the price for trying to harm someone who had tried to help them with good intentions.
I answered with a smile.
"She'll be fine. She didn't tell them that she tipped us off, did she? Besides, the warriors Yu Hae-eung sent are still watching over her, so they won't be able to try anything foolish."
He frowned deeply at that.
"I'm uneasy about those bastards too. Aren't they ultimately just pirates from the Haenam Sect? Who knows if they might suddenly change their tune while we're gone?"
His worry certainly had merit.
No one could truly know what lay in another's heart.
But I didn't think that would happen.
At the very least, Elder Mukrang had assessed them by saying, like master, like servant.
If they were subordinates who shared Yu Hae-eung's disposition, they were likely trustworthy.
I smiled and said,
"If you're that worried, why not take Yeong-chun-i with you when we return after finishing this business? If we say her family can come too, the child will likely follow."
At that, he asked with a touched face,
"W-Would that be alright?"
"Yes, having an adorable child like Yeong-chun-i as a saje would be wonderful."
Seol Pung also smiled and chimed in.
"I feel the same, hyung-nim. If I could gain such a cute saje, I would earnestly ask it of you."
"R-Really? Is that what my younger brothers think? Having a disciple or something would be a bit bothersome, but if you two truly wish it that much..."
"Yes, we truly wish it."
"Please do, hyung-nim."
"Alright, I'll give it some thought then."
Having said that, Jeung Chil hyung-nim finally began eating with renewed gusto.
Just thinking about it seemed to put him in a good mood.
We were enjoying our meal in high spirits when it happened.
I abruptly felt someone's gaze on me and turned my head to look.
I spotted a young waiter in a corner of the inn staring fixedly at me.
The moment our eyes met, he flinched in surprise, gave an awkward smile, and bowed his head.
Then, as if he had other business, he hurriedly disappeared into the kitchen.
"Hmm."
As I watched the kitchen where he had vanished with a suspicious eye, Seol Pung asked me,
"What's the matter, Jin?"
"Just now, a waiter who hasn't even learned martial arts was staring intently at me."
Chewing his food vigorously, Jeung Chil hyung-nim responded,
"Huh? Isn't it natural for a waiter to keep an eye on a customer?"
"Well, yes, but something about his gaze didn't feel like he was looking at a customer."
It felt unsettling.
Many waiters were also affiliated with the local Hao Gate information guild.
If he had noticed something about me and passed that information on to the Hao Gate, things could get troublesome.
I got up and headed toward the kitchen.
But inside, the waiter was already nowhere to be seen.
He must have slipped out through the side door inside the kitchen.
Going out into the bustling street, tracking him down wouldn't be easy.
"Hmm."
Returning to my seat, I said to my hyung-nims,
"He already slipped away. It seems quite possible some troublesome business might arise."
Seol Pung said to me,
"Strange. How could he have recognized you, Jin? Even the Mukrang Sword is wrapped in cloth."
That was what I found strange too.
Moreover, considering he had stared so intently at my face, he recognized my face, not the sword. And my face wasn't exactly famous.
In the end, we decided that the moment we finished eating, we would leave immediately before anything could happen.
I didn't know what it was about, but there was no need to wait around for trouble to brew.
Jeung Chil hyung-nim grumbled.
"Tch, just when I thought I could finally sleep in a comfortable bed, some weird waiter had to come along and ruin it."
I was disappointed too, but it couldn't be helped.
But perhaps we should have left right then, before we even finished eating.
As we ate, Seol Pung and I suddenly sensed something and looked around.
Seol Pung said,
"We're surrounded."
"Yes, there are many of them."
At that, Jeung Chil hyung-nim's eyes widened and he looked around the inn, asking,
"Huh? What do you mean? Surrounded? There's nothing here?"
"Outside the inn. About a hundred martial artists have encircled this place."
"Huh? Are you serious?"
It was immediately proven that our senses were correct.
Customers trying to leave came pushing back inside with terrified faces.
"Oh my!"
"W-What in the world is happening?!"
"It's the Hapsan Sect warriors! They've swarmed the entire area outside!"
Hapsan Sect warriors?
At those words, Seol Pung and I exchanged glances.
The Hapsan Sect was clearly the sect that had been rising meteorically to become the strongest in Guangxi Province over the past few years.
They were based near Hapsan in the northeast, not this Nannyeong area, but I had heard rumors that they'd been expanding their influence everywhere lately, absorbing a quarter of Guangxi Province into their sphere of power.
But why were they here for us?
There was no connection at all.
Then it happened.
About ten warriors strode imposingly through the inn's door.
The three at the front were peak-level masters, and the rest appeared to be first-rate warriors.
The innkeeper greeted them with a forced smile.
Cold sweat was trickling down his forehead.
"Goodness, noble warriors. What business brings you to my humble establishment...!"
But all that returned to him was an icy glare and a few words.
"Shut up."
At his words, the innkeeper could say nothing more.
And it wasn't just him.
Under their oppressive atmosphere, even the customers in the inn could only watch their every move with fearful eyes, unable to speak.
The warrior at the front held a piece of paper unfurled in one hand and scanned the inside of the inn.
Then, abruptly, his gaze stopped on me.
He glanced back and forth between the paper and me, then grinned broadly and said,
"Finally found you, Inparang."
...Huh?
Who?
I couldn't help but be flustered for a moment.
As I stood bewildered by his completely unexpected words, he looked at my Mukrang Sword wrapped in cloth and spoke again.
"That must be the White Tiger Sword? Heh heh, you're definitely Inparang."
...No, I'm not.
Absolutely not.
A very bewildering development was unfolding.