Chapter 215
Chapter 215
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 215
Chapter Title: Men Navigating the Turbulent Times (3)
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The six men seated in their respective places each exuded an extraordinary aura from their entire bodies.
Their gazes focused on Cho Yeon-un and Hae So-wol. An immense pressure bore down on Cho Yeon-un and Hae So-wol.
“Long time no see, Cho Yeon-un.”
The young warrior seated closest to them spoke familiarly.
He was a towering figure over seven feet tall, with a body that looked as if it had been chiseled from steel—intensely powerful and arrogantly gleaming eyes.
The moment Cho Yeon-un laid eyes on the man, who seemed to look down upon the world from above, his expression twisted sharply.
“Nam Hak!”
That was the name that escaped his lips.
He was none other than the Heavenly Thunder Warrior, Nam Hak.
A member of the Nine Dragons and the once-in-a-generation genius of the Kunlun Sect.
Once Nam Hak was confirmed, the others came into view. They were all people Cho Yeon-un knew well, each radiating a presence no less intense than Nam Hak’s.
“To think the Nine Dragons would gather in one place. Unbelievable.”
“Long time no see.”
“Cho Yeon-un.”
Each tossed out a word, and they were all members of the Nine Dragons.
Pyo Seo-un, the secular disciple of the Jeomchang Sect and young master of the Unchang Escort Agency, the largest in Yunnan—the Swift Gale Yama.
Eom Tae-cheon, the Kunlun Sect’s greatest prodigy from the Mysterious Finger Sect—the Shadowless Divine Dragon.
Cheong-un of the Qingcheng Sect, the unparalleled warrior recognized by the Tang Clan and even Mount Emei as Sichuan’s One Star.
Geum Han-su, the Heavenly Power Noble Son leading the revival of the Zhongnan Sect.
Finally, Jin Mu-yeong, the Peerless Sword and hope of the thousand-year-old Wudang, had gathered alongside Nam Hak.
Adding Hae So-wol made it seven of the Nine Dragons in one place.
“How are you all here?”
Too shocked, Cho Yeon-un’s voice trembled involuntarily.
“With the martial world in dire peril, isn’t it only natural for us to step up?”
Nam Hak scowled as if the question was ridiculous.
Jin Mu-yeong rose from his seat and approached Cho Yeon-un.
“Long time no see, Yeon-un.”
“Jin Mu-yeong.”
“It’s been about three years, I think. I’ve heard you’ve been through a lot.”
“Have you come out of seclusion?”
“Indeed.”
Jin Mu-yeong nodded.
An untouchable pressure emanated from his entire body. Though they were both part of the Nine Dragons, his presence was incomparable to the others.
The rest of the Nine Dragons merely watched as Jin Mu-yeong took the lead, saying nothing more. From this, Cho Yeon-un could tell that Jin Mu-yeong was leading this gathering.
Jin Mu-yeong stood tall like a crane—erect posture, broad shoulders and back, bold facial features. His piercingly clear eyes accentuated his commanding presence.
A faint smile played on Jin Mu-yeong’s lips, making him appear utterly at ease. It was the leisure and confidence that only true strength could bring.
“This is unexpected. To see seven of the Nine Dragons in one place. Should I consider it an honor?”
“Don’t be sarcastic, Yeon-un. I know your skills are in no way inferior to the Nine Dragons.”
“You flatter me.”
“It’s no flattery. I’m merely speaking as I see it.”
Cho Yeon-un’s eyes twitched at Jin Mu-yeong’s words. The man’s icy gaze seemed to pierce through everything about him.
Cho Yeon-un found Jin Mu-yeong’s eyes uncomfortable. No, the entire situation was uncomfortable.
Jin Mu-yeong gestured to a seat.
“Don’t just stand there awkwardly. Sit down.”
“Why did you call me here?”
“Can’t we old acquaintances just chat casually? Do we need a reason to meet?”
“Mu-yeong.”
“What is it?”
“I know you well. You’re not the type to arrange something like this without reason. Be honest. What’s going on?”
“I just… wanted to see your face after so long. It’s about time we gathered anyway.”
Unlike the sharp-edged Cho Yeon-un, Jin Mu-yeong was completely relaxed. That easygoing expression grated on Cho Yeon-un.
It wasn’t just Jin Mu-yeong. The entire Nine Dragons, excluding Hae So-wol, shared a similar laid-back atmosphere.
‘What’s this? This loose vibe like they’re out on a leisurely excursion?’
Cho Yeon-un’s gaze deepened.
Sakju wasn’t just a branch of the Martial Alliance. It was a battlefield where life and death clashed multiple times a day.
Naturally, tension was etched on everyone’s faces, and they were constantly on guard. Yet not a shred of tension emanated from these Nine Dragons.
“What do you mean, ‘time to gather’?”
“With the martial world on the brink of collapse, shouldn’t the young warriors band together?”
“Band together?”
“That’s right! Wouldn’t that be more efficient?”
As Jin Mu-yeong answered, he glanced around. All eyes were on him.
The Nine Dragons weren’t just the top prodigies of the martial world. Most belonged to the Nine Great Sects, the pinnacle of the jianghu, and held the highest positions in their own sects.
Unless something unforeseen happened, they would become the next sect leaders. Perhaps because of this, confidence overflowed in their expressions.
Cho Yeon-un spoke curtly.
“What an honor. To be invited to a gathering like this.”
“You have more than enough qualifications. So don’t make that face.”
“Hmph!”
Cho Yeon-un crossed his arms defensively. Nam Hak chimed in.
“Given the occasion, mind your manners, Yeon-un. Being invited here is an honor in itself.”
“An honor?”
“Without Brother Jin’s consideration, do you think you’d even be here?”
“Haha! I’m so touched I could cry.”
Cho Yeon-un clutched his stomach laughing.
Some of the Nine Dragons frowned at his attitude. While Jin Mu-yeong held Cho Yeon-un in high regard, not everyone did.
They acknowledged Cho Yeon-un’s fame as the Drunken Dragon, but believed him far inferior to the Nine Dragons. They were dissatisfied with his invitation but couldn’t show it openly due to the occasion.
The conversation proceeded amid the stiff atmosphere, and Cho Yeon-un’s hardened expression didn’t soften. Hae So-wol was the same.
***
The first thing Sword Inspection Immortal saw upon opening his eyes was the worried faces of Un-gyeong and his disciples gazing at him.
“Uncle Master.”
“Have you regained consciousness?”
His disciples’ voices rang noisily in his ears.
Blinking briefly, Sword Inspection Immortal soon grasped his situation.
His body ached as if it had been torn apart. His heart meridian was shaken, his qi and blood disrupted. He had suffered severe internal injuries.
“Did I… lose? To that child, Cheon-gyeong?”
“Uncle Master!”
“Tell me, Un-gyeong.”
“I’m sorry.”
“So that’s it? I lost? That cripple beat me?”
Sword Inspection Immortal ground his teeth.
He simply couldn’t accept the fact of his defeat. Acknowledging it would deny his entire life.
He had trained the sword his whole life for Huashan.
After grueling effort, he became Huashan’s Greatest Sword, only for it all—his fame and efforts—to be dragged through the mud by Tan-ho.
Sword Inspection Immortal’s face twisted hideously. His shoulders and clenched fists trembled.
Un-gyeong and the Huashan disciples could say nothing. They merely watched.
Sword Inspection Immortal closed his eyes.
“Was I wrong? Did I, Sword Inspection Immortal, misjudge? Is that truly the case?”
Demonic illusions invaded his mind.
A whirlwind of thoughts churned within: jealousy, rage, resignation, conflict—blending into a gray emotion.
The gray emotion swallowed everything. Sword Inspection Immortal felt himself plummeting endlessly into the abyss.
He surrendered himself completely to the阴郁 emotions. Darkness gradually eroded his heart.
A faint killing intent emanated from Sword Inspection Immortal’s body. His disciples cried out in alarm.
“U-Uncle Master!”
“Keep your wits…”
Their faces paled white under the killing intent.
They realized Sword Inspection Immortal had fallen into demonic obsession.
“N-No!”
Un-gyeong clenched his fists.
One who had reached Sword Inspection Immortal’s realm rarely succumbed to demonic obsession. Moreover, he cultivated the orthodox heart method of the Huashan Sect, Present Gate Orthodox Pure. Even if ensnared, he should escape quickly.
But Sword Inspection Immortal’s reaction was far from normal.
Dddrr rumble!
The terrifying aura he emitted shook the room’s furnishings. An immense pressure then crushed the Huashan disciples.
“U-Uncle Master! Pull yourself together!”
“You can’t do this. Urk!”
The Huashan disciples screamed.
Blood trickled from their mouths. They had sustained internal injuries from his killing intent.
Kukukuku!
The aura from Sword Inspection Immortal’s body materialized into a whirlwind. The Huashan disciples were flung about like leaves in rapids.
They were like driftwood swept by torrents.
“Sword Inspection Uncle Master!”
Un-gyeong shouted with all his might.
His near-scream pierced Sword Inspection Immortal’s heart. A ray of light spread through the darkened chest.
The light created a mirror in his heart.
The reflection showed Sword Inspection Immortal steeped in darkness.
‘Is that my appearance?’
It was a sight he had never imagined.
He had lived his entire life for Huashan.
He took up the sword to protect Huashan and walked the sword path unwaveringly.
He deserved to shine brighter than anyone and be revered.
‘And yet that’s me?’
He couldn’t believe it.
He wanted to deny it. But he couldn’t.
The black shadow in the mirror was unmistakably himself—the darkness lurking in his heart, given form.
Sword Inspection Immortal stared long into the mirror’s image of himself.
Now he had to accept it. Darkness had eroded his heart, clouding his judgment and leading to arrogance.
His resolve to protect Huashan had birthed a monster within. Only now did he realize it.
Suddenly, a passage from the Daoist scriptures slipped through Sword Inspection Immortal’s lips.
“Man does not mirror himself in flowing water but in still water; only when the heart is still can it reflect the world.”
A line from Zhuangzi’s Inner Chapters, glimpsed fleetingly over a decade ago.
Though he had been with Huashan for decades, immersed solely in martial arts, he had read few Daoist texts—and forgotten them long ago.
Why did that line surface now?
His heart grew still.
The world reflected in the tranquil heart.
Light spread through the darkened mind. A smile formed on Sword Inspection Immortal’s lips.
The raging killing intent and aura in the room halted as if by magic.
“U-Uncle Master?”
Un-gyeong’s eyes widened in shock.
As the second-ranked among the first-generation disciples, he knew exactly what the phenomenon before him signified.
He hurriedly ordered his juniors.
“You all, go outside and guard the door. Let no one in.”
“Understood.”
The disciples hurried out without question and stood vigilant guard.
How much time passed?
Sword Inspection Immortal quietly opened his eyes. A profound clarity flickered in them.
“Uncle Master, are you alright?”
“You’ve had it rough, Un-gyeong.”
“Uncle Master?”
His voice carried a subtle profundity, his tone kindly.
It was utterly different from the Sword Inspection Immortal Un-gyeong knew. The dramatic change was hard to believe.
Sword Inspection Immortal suddenly rose.
Moments ago, severe internal injuries had left him immobile, yet now he appeared fully recovered.
“Uncle Master?”
“I must go to Hyun-so.”