Chapter 424
Chapter 424
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 424
Chapter Title: A House Divided, A Sanctum Besieged
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The main source of income for the Pavilion of Idyllic Serenity was its high-end taverns and courtesan houses established throughout the Central Plains.
The amount of money they brought in daily was a staggering several hundred thousand nyang.
The Pavilion of Idyllic Serenity operated these courtesan houses.
Using the information obtained from them and its vast financial power, it formed alliances with the leaders of both the Orthodox and Unorthodox Factions, flaunting its influence.
The Pavilion of Idyllic Serenity, Zither Pavilion.
It was the residence of the Pavilion Mistress, Geuk Hye-ryeong.
Normally, she would have been analyzing the constant stream of news and information from all regions to grasp the trends of the martial world, and meeting with the leaders of various sects for negotiations.
She would have been ceaselessly handling the major and minor affairs of the Pavilion of Idyllic Serenity.
But because of that, she had failed to pour her attention and love into her only blood relative, Geuk Hye-bin, and as a result, a great sickness had taken root in the girl’s heart.
What if she had never met the outstanding demonic talent, Bu Eun-seol?
Geuk Hye-bin’s illness would have reached an irreversible point.
“Yes. You’re doing well.”
Geuk Hye-ryeong was helping Geuk Hye-bin study the Pavilion’s formations using wooden chopsticks.
If the Zither Pavilion of the past was a fierce workplace, it had now transformed into a warm space for playing with her granddaughter and helping her study.
Geuk Hye-ryeong’s only blood relative was her granddaughter, Geuk Hye-bin.
And Geuk Hye-bin was a child who needed a great deal of attention and love.
The time they spent together like this would all become good memories and would help in fostering a proper character and disposition.
And all of this was a truth taught to her by the young great master of the Demonic Path, Bu Eun-seol.
“Pavilion Mistress.”
Just then, a low voice came from outside the door.
It was the voice of Du Yak-rang, the master of the Silk Labyrinth Grotto, which managed and oversaw all the mechanisms and traps installed in the Pavilion of Idyllic Serenity.
“Come in.”
Du Yak-rang opened the door and entered with a respectful expression.
“What is it?”
At Geuk Hye-ryeong’s question, Du Yak-rang glanced at Geuk Hye-bin and made a troubled face.
Geuk Hye-ryeong nodded and headed to the study inside the Zither Pavilion.
“What is the matter?”
“I believe you need to see this.”
Du Yak-rang hesitated for a moment before holding out a book.
It detailed the monthly profits the Pavilion of Idyllic Serenity earned.
“Is this not the ledger?”
“Mistress. Do you not sense something strange?”
Seeing Du Yak-rang’s grim expression, Geuk Hye-ryeong began to examine the book more closely.
Then she, too, realized something was wrong.
“I see.”
Geuk Hye-ryeong nodded.
Only then did she realize that the amounts written in the ledger were gradually decreasing.
Come to think of it, she had been receiving reports that profits were declining significantly, but she hadn't thought much of it.
But checking it now, she found that the profits had been reduced by more than half.
“What has happened?”
At Geuk Hye-ryeong’s question, Du Yak-rang bowed her head.
“It seems the Master of the Courtyard of Flower and Willow, who is in charge of Jade Compassion Fragrance, has been lining her own pockets.”
“The Courtyard Master?”
Geuk Hye-ryeong tilted her head.
Yu Su-ryeon, who was in charge of managing all the taverns and courtesan houses under the Pavilion of Idyllic Serenity.
She was a loyal retainer of the Pavilion and a person Geuk Hye-ryeong trusted deeply.
For her to suddenly be lining her own pockets?
“That can’t be.”
“Mistress, you’ve hardly touched your duties recently, as you’ve been looking after the Young Mistress, have you not?”
Du Yak-rang said with a pained expression.
“As a result, the Courtyard Master naturally began to manage the Pavilion’s finances little by little. Not only that…”
Glancing at Geuk Hye-ryeong, she lowered her head and spoke.
“She is gathering the disciples who hold grievances against the Pavilion and placing them under her command.”
Geuk Hye-ryeong was shocked.
She could somewhat understand that Yu Su-ryeon had become greedy for money and was lining her own pockets.
But that she was recruiting disciples who held grievances against the Pavilion?
What was this sudden, absurd nonsense?
“Mistress, you have been investing a great deal of funds to support the successor of Nang-ya-gak, the Lord of the Martial Spirit, have you not?”
Du Yak-rang said, looking at Geuk Hye-ryeong’s confused face.
“It seems she has won over the disciples who are dissatisfied with that.”
Geuk Hye-ryeong fell silent.
The predecessor of the Pavilion of Idyllic Serenity was the Palace of Joy.
In other words, among the female sects, it was the one that had been most frequently invaded by outside forces.
Moreover, the Palace of Joy was a gathering place for courtesans who had mostly been used and abandoned by men.
It was not only a place to console each other for the hardships of their lives but also an organization bound by a shared hatred for men…
Thus, Geuk Hye-ryeong’s actions in supporting Bu Eun-seol had led to a surge of dissenters.
“Of course, that might be a factor.”
Geuk Hye-ryeong said with a sharp gaze.
“But the Courtyard Master could not have done this on her own. An external force must be involved.”
The current Pavilion of Idyllic Serenity was not a union of courtesans, but a proper martial arts sect with a clear master-disciple hierarchy.
Yet for the Courtyard Master to have won over existing disciples.
That was something she could never have accomplished with her own power.
An external force with immense power must have been supporting her.
“This Pavilion is by no means a place to be swayed by external forces. There is no need to worry.”
At Geuk Hye-ryeong's words, Du Yak-rang frowned.
“I think so too, but the problem is there are rumors that the Courtyard Master has stolen The Black Book that you were keeping, Mistress.”
This time, Geuk Hye-ryeong was truly astonished.
The Black Book was a ledger that recorded the secret slush funds that the Pavilion of Idyllic Serenity had been funneling.
It was a record of the so-called ‘black money.’
The reason the Pavilion had been able to sway the martial world for generations without amassing overwhelming martial power.
One of the reasons was The Black Book.
And Yu Su-ryeon had stolen even that?
As Geuk Hye-ryeong’s expression turned grave, Du Yak-rang spoke as if she had been waiting.
“The fact that she stole The Black Book may mean she has already seized control of the Pavilion’s intelligence network.”
Du Yak-rang said with an utmost serious expression.
“We must mobilize the Pavilion’s Maidens of a Hundred Flowers immediately and strike down the Courtyard Master.”
The Maidens of a Hundred Flowers were the Pavilion of Idyllic Serenity’s greatest fighting force, masters who had cultivated outstanding martial arts.
If the Maidens were sent?
No matter how much Yu Su-ryeon was colluding with an external force, they could instantly take her head.
“Hmm.”
At Du Yak-rang’s words, Geuk Hye-ryeong gazed at the distant sky beyond the window.
After thinking deeply about something, she shook her head.
“Leave it be.”
“Pardon?”
“We cannot have the disciples of our Pavilion shed each other’s blood.”
“But…”
Geuk Hye-ryeong spoke firmly.
“Perhaps what the external force desires is our Pavilion's division.”
“But couldn't the Courtyard Master strike you first, Mistress, in concert with that external force?”
“That will absolutely not happen.”
Geuk Hye-ryeong shook her head resolutely.
“If the Courtyard Master intended to start a rebellion in league with an external force, she would have done so long ago.”
Then, with a lonely expression, she continued.
“And if the Courtyard Master and the external force were to strike first, not only the Demonic Palace but also Nang-ya-gak and Jeolcheonmyeolji, who have ties with our Pavilion, would naturally intervene.”
“I see.”
As Du Yak-rang nodded in understanding, Geuk Hye-ryeong spoke.
“But if I were to strike first, she would naturally gain a pretext to bring in external forces. Claiming she was wronged, of course.”
Deep wrinkles formed around her eyes.
“Even if that were not the case, how could disciples fight amongst themselves? Considering the history of our Pavilion, which began with resentful courtesans comforting one another… it is absolutely unthinkable.”
Du Yak-rang let out a deep sigh.
Geuk Hye-ryeong was someone who loved the Pavilion of Idyllic Serenity and its disciples more than anyone.
Even if a blade were at her own throat, she would never order her disciples to fight among themselves.
“The Lord of the Martial Spirit.”
Then, Geuk Hye-ryeong’s lips parted again.
“Is there still no news of him?”
“That is correct.”
“I see. So that’s why they did it.”
Geuk Hye-ryeong said with a desolate expression.
“They’ve taken the disappearance of the Lord of the Martial Spirit as a fact… and that’s why they’ve made a move on our Pavilion.”
“Indeed. The Lord of the Martial Spirit has never vanished for such a long time before.”
“Heh heh.”
Laughing softly, Geuk Hye-ryeong murmured in the smallest of voices.
“Did we not agree to share life and death with him anyway?”
Her words seemed, for a moment, as if she were giving up on everything.
But Geuk Hye-ryeong’s eyes, on the contrary, were glowing with a volcanic light.
She believed.
That Bu Eun-seol would surely return and set everything right.
It was because of that belief that the Pavilion of Idyllic Serenity, which had never even interacted with other sects its entire life… had willingly placed itself under his command.
* * *
Jeolcheonmyeolji.
This was a place where the exceptional masters who once dominated the Demonic Path stayed to prepare for their end.
The bodies of the demonic practitioners residing in Jeolcheonmyeolji were not whole.
If their internal energy and bodies were sound?
They would have already become elders of the Demonic Palace, or would still be roaming the martial world… or at the very least, they would have established a small sect and ruled over a region.
But while they rampaged through the martial world, they had acquired fatal disabilities or their internal energy had greatly diminished.
As a result, they had no choice but to enter Jeolcheonmyeolji.
Upon entering Jeolcheonmyeolji, one had to leave behind their unique martial arts. In return, they were guaranteed a peaceful life away from the blood-soaked martial world.
And so… they had become old men, forced to reminisce about the glories of the past, etched in their hearts.
Jeolcheonmyeolji, the Pavilion of Eternity.
It was the office of Hyeok So-jin, the designated next Sanctum Lord.
After his long journey through the martial world with Bu Eun-seol, he had gained great enlightenment and martial skill. And based on that experience, he was managing Jeolcheonmyeolji with stability.
Thanks to Hyeok So-jin coming to his senses, Hyeok Gong-baek, who had long suffered, gradually stepped back from his duties and was now on the verge of retirement.
“This is why I didn’t want the position.”
Hyeok So-jin, sitting in his office lost in thought, lowered his head.
Even though everything was proceeding smoothly, his expression was not good.
The Peach Blossom Village of Jeolcheonmyeolji, where old demonic practitioners lived in quiet seclusion.
The masters residing there were, one by one, slowly withering away from old age.
“Ugh.”
Hyeok So-jin groaned with a pained expression.
His daily routine began with a visit to the Peach Blossom Village. And every time he returned from there, he had to suffer like this.
Most of the demonic practitioners were of his grandfather’s generation.
And as time passed, they could not overcome the power of the years, slowly growing gaunt, falling ill, and collapsing.
Once-straight backs bent, and age spots bloomed on their faces.
Although they had some internal energy left… all the organs in their bodies had lost their elasticity and could no longer contain it properly.
“In the end, there’s nothing I can do.”
Hyeok So-jin buried his head in his hands.
No matter how well he managed the Peach Blossom Village, made the demonic practitioners comfortable, and served as their conversation partner…
They were losing their vitality day by day.
In the end, from Hyeok So-jin’s perspective.
It was no different from caring for death row inmates walking towards their demise each day.
“Brother Bu…”
Suddenly, the resolute image of Bu Eun-seol came to his mind.
Only now could he understand why Bu Eun-seol had captured the hearts of the demonic practitioners in the Peach Blossom Village by personally crafting their coffins.
The practitioners in the Peach Blossom Village were mostly old and sick. The grand ambitions and even the memories of their past were fading from their hearts.
That was why… they needed one person who would remember their lives and see them off on their final journey.
“So-jin.”
Just then, a low voice came from outside.
Hyeok So-jin fixed his expression and rushed to open the door.
A refined old man with neatly combed white hair appeared.
It was the Sanctum Lord, Hyeok Gong-baek.
“Grandfather.”
“Why didn’t you come for your meal?”
“Ah.”
Hyeok So-jin’s eyes reddened.
His internal energy had now reached a state where he barely needed to eat, so he didn’t feel hungry.
Hyeok Gong-baek knew this well, yet he was still worrying about his grandson.
Because he knew better than anyone that even if Hyeok So-jin wasn't hungry, he enjoyed the pleasures of food.
“Is it very difficult?”
Noticing Hyeok So-jin’s dark expression, Hyeok Gong-baek asked.
“You look a little down.”
Hyeok So-jin smiled brightly and shook his head.
“It’s just… that old man, the Righteous-Annihilating Madman, keeps teasing the other sick old men… I was just wondering how to stop him.”
“Heh heh.”
Hyeok Gong-baek saw the shadow in Hyeok So-jin’s eyes and said benevolently.
“When you get old, you become like a child. You don’t need to worry about every little thing.”
“I understand.”
Though he said that, Hyeok So-jin’s expression did not improve.
His grandfather, Hyeok Gong-baek, had immeasurably deep internal energy and his illness had been completely cured… so he would live a long and healthy life.
But the demonic practitioners of a similar age in the Peach Blossom Village were not so fortunate.
Therefore, witnessing their suffering from the cycle of life, aging, sickness, and death every day was a painful task.
Seeing the once-great martial artists grow old and sick… was like a testament to the futility of life.
“This old man was the same in his youth.”
Hyeok Gong-baek smiled gently.
“While managing this place, witnessing the life and death of the previous generation of demonic practitioners… it was very difficult.”
He looked at his grandson with a gentle gaze.
“There were times when I wondered if our lives are nothing but a futile struggle.”
“You mean they’re not?”
“Of course not.”
Hyeok Gong-baek took a long breath and said.
“This old man remembers all their lives. The martial arts they left behind have all become the ultimate techniques of Jeolcheonmyeolji, passed down through generations.”
He continued with an intensely passionate gaze.
“In the eyes of the young, the sight of old and sick men may be shabby. But their lives were not shabby. They survived to the end and left their mark on the martial world.”
Hyeok So-jin stared at his grandfather with a blank expression.
He didn't fully understand all the words. He could only vaguely grasp the meaning…
‘To survive to the end and leave one’s mark.’
The sight of aging and sickness is wretched.
But that is only possible because they survived. And that was by no means an easy feat.
“From birth, humans grow by overcoming hardships and illnesses. If they had lost here, they would never have grown into full adults.”
Seeing that Hyeok So-jin didn’t seem to understand, Hyeok Gong-baek gently elaborated.
“And the demonic practitioners of the Peach Blossom Village also survived in the martial world, and survived again… to finally grow old.”
He paused for a moment, then spoke each word with force.
“In other words, becoming an old man is proof that you are a victor… one who has overcome a lifetime of countless hardships and adversities to survive.”
—To become old is to be a survivor, a victor.
Finally understanding the meaning Hyeok Gong-baek wanted to convey, Hyeok So-jin’s eyes widened.
Their lives were not shabby.
The one who should feel shabby was Hyeok So-jin himself.
Those old men had overcome the adversities and hardships that the young had experienced and would yet experience.
They were also Hyeok So-jin’s future.
“My thoughts were shallow.”
Hyeok So-jin was genuinely ashamed.
To feel pity for the lives of the demonic practitioners in the Peach Blossom Village, intoxicated by the advantage of youth that he had obtained without effort?
It was a thought born solely from the arrogance of possessing youth.
Seeing that Hyeok So-jin seemed to have realized much in a short time, Hyeok Gong-baek wore a benevolent smile.
“Yes. That is how you learn, slowly.”
“But where are you going? Why are you dressed to go out?”
At Hyeok So-jin’s question, Hyeok Gong-baek frowned slightly and said.
“According to the Criterion Squad, it seems there’s some trouble at the Pavilion of Idyllic Serenity.”
“I heard about that too. The volume of information coming into the Criterion Squad has also decreased.”
Jeolcheonmyeolji was receiving not only immense financial power from the Pavilion of Idyllic Serenity but also support from its outstanding intelligence network.
Because of this, they had established and were operating the Criterion Squad, an intelligence unit that could read the state of the martial world like the palm of one's hand.
“Well, with masters from Nang-ya-gak also stationed there, I doubt anything serious will happen… but they have always helped us in every way, so isn’t it proper to pay them a visit?”
Hyeok Gong-baek said in a low voice.
“From now on, we should develop the Criterion Squad into an independent intelligence unit, rather than operating it based on the Pavilion’s network.”
Hyeok So-jin nodded at Hyeok Gong-baek’s words.
Originally, Jeolcheonmyeolji was a place that did not, and could not, interfere in the affairs of the martial world.
But to lend his strength to the outstanding figure that was Bu Eun-seol.
He had begun to seriously build up their power and interfere in the martial world’s affairs.
“I understand. Please travel safely.”
“Yes, and.”
Hyeok Gong-baek said with a dry smile.
“Just in case, it would be good to recall the brigade commanders and their units that we sent out into the martial world.”
Hyeok So-jin had realized the importance of experience in the martial world through Bu Eun-seol’s teachings.
And he wanted to give the young warriors of Jeolcheonmyeolji a chance to grow as well.
Therefore, he had sent Jeolcheonmyeolji’s main forces and their commanders out into the martial world to gain experience.
In particular, as they had close ties with Nang-ya-gak, the three main brigades had been sent there to train alongside the Wind and Cloud Brigade, the Creation Brigade, and the Golden Star Brigade.
But Hyeok Gong-baek was worried about the security gap in Jeolcheonmyeolji, with thousands of troops all gone.
“I will recall them as soon as their training is over.”
Hyeok So-jin answered nonchalantly.
Jeolcheonmyeolji held one of the ten seats of the Demonic Path, and it was a place where old demonic practitioners spent their final days.
In truth, there were no forces in the martial world that would attack this place. It was unlikely to be attacked from the outside.
“Alright, then I’ll be off.”
Hyeok Gong-baek smiled and left in a carriage.
However, with the main forces of Jeolcheonmyeolji completely gone, he left behind the Wicked Soul Squad, the Sanctum Lord's direct secret unit and honor guard.
And he left, accompanied by his close friend, the Wind Master, Pung Yeo-ryang.
And four days later.
“Young Lord!”
Won Hong, the Absolute Martial Captain in charge of outer perimeter security, burst into Hyeok So-jin’s office.
“A force of two thousand is surging towards us like a tide.”
“A force of two thousand?”
Hyeok So-jin frowned.
Jeolcheonmyeolji was no longer the place of the past where old men simply waited for death in seclusion.
Thanks to the immense financial support from the Pavilion of Idyllic Serenity, it was a place where young disciples flocked.
And by sharing that outstanding intelligence network, they were in a situation where they could read the information of the martial world like the back of their hand.
But they were unaware of a two-thousand-strong force approaching?
“What was the Criterion Squad doing?”
“Well… it seems there was a rebellion within the Pavilion of Idyllic Serenity, and their intelligence network is paralyzed.”
Hyeok So-jin’s eyes widened.
He had heard that things seemed strange for a while, but for a rebellion to actually occur?
‘Grandfather’s intuition was right.’
Just then, Won Hong spoke again.
“Their eyes are not normal. They seem to be the Soul-lost.”
“The Soul-lost?”
A deep furrow formed on Hyeok So-jin’s brow.
‘Are they the Soul-lost that Brother Bu was always fighting? Or is it that artificial inner core?’
Bu Eun-seol had consistently shared most of the information he obtained with Jeolcheonmyeolji.
Therefore, Hyeok So-jin was also well aware of Matae and the artificial inner cores.
“Have the Demon Flame Brigade Commander take full command of the three brigades’ forces and swiftly…”
Hyeok So-jin, who had been giving the order nonchalantly, clamped his mouth shut.
Weren't the three brigades, the current main force of Jeolcheonmyeolji, all away?
‘There’s a spy.’
Hyeok So-jin bit his lip until it bled.
Not only were the main forces all gone, but even Hyeok Gong-baek had left, and in tune with that, a large force had been sent.
That meant there was a spy within Jeolcheonmyeolji, coordinating with the outside.