Chapter 86
Chapter 86
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 86
Chapter Title: The Flawless Holy Sword
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The middle-aged man who entered the inner sanctum possessed a sturdy frame and an imposing aura.
However, his eyes were closed.
Or more precisely, he couldn't open them.
Yet even so, he turned directly toward Mok Yangil's position, smiled, and spoke.
"Mok Gong, it's been a while. I hope you've been well."
Mok Yangil's lips curved into a bright smile as he welcomed the reunion.
"Haha. What excitement could there be on this little island? Unlike you, great hero, I'm little more than a loafer wandering aimlessly."
"I was worried when I lost track of you for a time, but thankfully you're alive and well. Do you still roam from place to place without a fixed home?"
"What else is there for me? I've grown so accustomed to this life that staying put anywhere feels suffocating now."
Their conversation carried the deep bond of longtime friends.
"Every time I come here, I can't help but marvel. Looking at these layered azure trees makes it feel like stepping into another world, far removed from the greater realm."
"The air's good, but that's about the only advantage. If you wanted, though, I could easily arrange a spot for you here anytime."
"I appreciate the thought, but I'll pass. As I said, I get restless if I stay still too long."
"Hahaha. I figured as much."
After their warm exchange, he finally got to the point.
"Speaking of which, what brings you all the way here to see me? I doubt it's just to check on my well-being."
"Sharp as ever. You're right. But you might want to ask this friend about the details."
"Friend?"
At those words, he turned his head toward Hyeok Mulin.
Hyeok Mulin nodded in greeting.
"Pleased to meet you. I'm just a nameless wanderer."
"Pleased to meet you as well. I'm Wi Sohong."
It was him, after all.
The Flawless Holy Sword, Wi Sohong.
Dozens of years ago, he had been a renowned later-generation talent of the Qingcheng Sect, displaying overwhelming talent in swordsmanship that earned him the title of a swordsman without flaw.
With his skills matched by a noble character steeped in justice and chivalry, he was particularly highly regarded even among the orthodox sects—a prodigy of Qingcheng.
Hailed as the next greatest sword of Qingcheng, he soared amid everyone's expectations, but his fall from such heights was instantaneous.
'It wasn't his fault at the start.'
One day, Wi Sohong encountered a young man harassing commoners on the street.
The atmosphere around him and his accompanying guards made it clear he was from a high-ranking family, but Wi Sohong paid no heed to such things.
He swiftly subdued the guards and the youth, then checked on the commoners' well-being. At that moment, his eyes wavered.
Before he arrived, corpses of slain commoners were already piled up beside them.
'......'
The instant he saw that, his hand moved of its own accord.
He was a disciple of Qingcheng.
He desperately suppressed his killing intent, but he couldn't fully purge his rage.
He shattered the arms and legs of the guards and the youth, leaving them unable to walk on their own or even hold chopsticks, then released them.
He felt no regret for his actions.
But days later, his intolerance for injustice caught up with him.
—Send the criminal Wi Sohong to the imperial palace.
The youth he had crippled turned out to be one of the imperial princes.
The full story came to light later, but no one could help him.
Alone, he fled.
Wi Sohong was as strong as his reputation.
He boasted profound martial arts, escaping three hundred li through the imperial pursuit.
The imperial family, frustrated by the mounting losses, changed tactics.
They held the Murim Alliance—home to Qingcheng—accountable, demanding they capture him themselves.
The Murim Alliance complied.
They deployed a heaven-and-earth net to ensnare him, and ultimately succeeded.
But the casualties exceeded their expectations by far.
In subduing him, Shaolin's Master Hyeon, Namgung's Qi Heaven Sword, and hundreds more were injured or killed.
Behind the imperial fury came the alliance's wrath.
In the end, they didn't deliver him to the palace.
They crippled his dantian, gouged out his eyes, and cast him into the Millennium Solitary Prison like trash.
Thus, he was a warrior who embodied the orthodox ideals most purely—yet was utterly abandoned by them.
"So, what is it you want to ask me?"
Hyeok Mulin posed his question straight to Wi Sohong.
"Do you know of a physician who can repair a dantian?"
"A dantian..."
Wi Sohong let out a low hum before shaking his head.
"Unfortunately, I don't. This society has some skilled healers, but restoring a dantian is another matter entirely."
As expected.
Having sensed the inner energy of the local warriors upon arrival, this was the answer he anticipated.
He detected no substantial internal arts among them.
If such a physician existed here, the countless warriors already present would have regained their qi.
"I'm sorry I couldn't give you the answer you wanted."
"It's fine."
Hyeok Mulin withdrew cleanly without pressing further.
Wi Sohong eyed him in surprise, then rested his chin on his hand thoughtfully.
"...However."
"...?"
"The Society Leader might know something."
The Society Leader.
Hyeok Mulin glanced at Wi Sohong as if asking if meeting him was possible, and the man nodded.
"I'll speak to him on your behalf."
"Really?"
"I've received much from Mok Gong over the years; this is the least I can do. Rest easy here until the Leader's reply comes."
Mok Yangil.
What kind of life had he lived here?
For a fleeting moment, Hyeok Mulin grew more curious about that than Gwang's whereabouts.
They spent their respite in the lodgings Wi Sohong provided.
But it wasn't pure rest.
He trained while observing the society's operations firsthand.
With the deputy leader's influence, the wary gazes had all but vanished, allowing them free movement inside.
In a word, the Thorough Escape Society that Hyeok Mulin had surveyed thus far was bizarre.
They were a gathering of those so desperate to flee the island that they discarded their names and aliases.
But as their numbers grew, it evolved into a group opposing the Ocean Tyrant Society, and side effects emerged.
At some point, they stopped sharing escape information and methods.
If one deemed their method viable, someone else might snatch and test it first.
'A collective, yet not truly a group.'
The haphazard cluster of huts exemplified this best.
Under the society's banner with a shared goal of escape, their sense of belonging was weak; they shared intel only with a trusted few.
"Fascinating."
"What is?"
"The structure here."
"The society's setup? It is odd. Most here are strong individualists; without the Ocean Tyrants' tyranny, they'd never have banded together."
Mok Yangil, walking beside Hyeok Mulin, agreed.
Hyeok Mulin decided not to dwell deeper.
He had no intention of joining them; he sought only info on Gwang.
As they strolled in the cool breeze, Mok Yangil glanced sidelong at Hyeok Mulin and asked.
"Why are you so desperate to repair your dantian? I've seen many give up the search, but never anyone as tenacious as you."
"Don't all warriors feel the same? I can't comprehend those who quit."
"Hm. So you want to leave this place?"
"Even if I escape, I'd need my dantian restored to survive. Everything has prerequisites."
"Heh. You see farther ahead than this fool."
Mok Yangil chuckled ruefully, and Hyeok Mulin turned the question back.
"Don't you want to repair yours?"
"I did at first. But now that I've settled here, no regrets remain."
Hyeok Mulin regarded his bittersweet smile with a peculiar gaze.
Then he shifted his eyes and asked another question.
"Do you know who the Society Leader is?"
"I do, but..."
Mok Yangil paused briefly before continuing.
"Rather than my clumsy explanation, I recommend meeting him yourself. Even I've only seen him from afar, so words fail me."
"Ho."
"But he knows much. He's the only one all members report to."
"That raises my expectations."
Hyeok Mulin smirked.
Just then, a woman approached from the front.
Her pale skin and thick lashes framed by stark white hair captured every gaze around her.
As she passed Hyeok Mulin, their eyes met for an instant.
"......"
"......"
The moment passed, and they resumed walking forward.
But Mok Yangil, still staring after her, spoke in astonishment.
"What brings that young lady here? She's not one you see easily."
"Who is she?"
"Seol Yeoan, princess of the North Sea Ice Palace. A woman tragically trapped here."
Ice Palace?
Hyeok Mulin turned to watch her retreating figure.
Her snow-white hair, like the first flakes from heaven, fluttered lightly with each step.
'First time seeing him... but why does he feel familiar?'
Seol Yeoan, sensing an inexplicable familiarity from the stranger despite it being their first meeting, headed deeper into the society.
She climbed the thickest azure tree root there, ascending to the top.
Stepping up the layered branches like stairs, she reached the special chamber hollowed out at the summit.
No need to knock.
After waiting briefly before the door, an elderly voice emerged from within.
"Come in."
With permission, Seol Yeoan entered and bowed politely to the white-masked elder.
"Greetings, Society Leader."
"It's been quite a while since your return."
The elder smiled warmly and asked.
"Any gains in your travels?"
Seol Yeoan had been scouting escape routes and island movements independently.
"The Ocean Tyrants are acting suspiciously. They've aggressively expanded lately; their numbers seem to exceed a hundred now."
"A hundred. Not to be taken lightly."
"Yes. Our society must prepare countermeasures."
"Thank you. Thanks to you, we can brace early."
She smiled faintly at his kind expression.
But it faded quickly, her face hardening again.
"And... there's urgent news for you, Leader."
Staring straight ahead gravely, she continued.
"Recently, I found traces of martial arts using internal energy on the western coast."
"...Is that true?"
"No falsehood."
The elder nodded gravely at her resolute gaze.
"......I see. Stand by until I issue further orders."
"Yes. Stay well."
She departed at his dismissal. Alone, the elder gazed at the documents on his desk before slowly rising.
Hands behind his back, he stepped outside and looked down at the warriors below.
'Traces of martial arts left by someone... and just then, a newcomer requests an audience.'
Coincidence?
"...Easy enough to check."
A sharp glint shone in his eyes.