Chapter 445
Chapter 445
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 445
Chapter Title: A Disciple's Duty
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Bu Eun-seol immediately used his fleet-footed arts and headed for Yunnan.
Pushing his Extreme Speed Shadowless Art to its absolute limit, he shot forward as if using the legendary art of land shrinking, folding the very ground beneath him as he ran.
*Whoosh!*
After running ceaselessly without a single sip of water, he finally entered the vicinity of Nanhua in Yunnan.
“This way.”
As he entered the forest, So-yo vanished instantly.
This was because Bu Eun-seol had ordered him to guide him only to the area where he could find Hyeol-geum-gang and then leave.
If Hyeol-geum-gang were to detect So-yo's stealthy presence, he might mistake him for a guard.
Hyeol-geum-gang always keeps his word. If he mistook So-yo for a guard, he might immediately take his own life.
“Good work, So-yo.”
Bu Eun-seol spread his extrasensory perception wide, then gathered his strength and once again used his fleet-footed arts.
‘Is that the place?’
Bu Eun-seol moved swiftly toward a part of the forest where he could feel a large number of presences.
When he finally reached a clearing deep in the forest, dozens of people were surrounding a blood-soaked monk.
It seemed to be Hyeol-geum-gang and the martial artists who held a grudge against him.
‘Thankfully, he's safe.’
Suppressing his presence, Bu Eun-seol immediately hid behind a tree.
If he were to reveal himself in such a situation?
Hyeol-geum-gang would instantly strike his own celestial crown and commit suicide.
“Hyeol-geum-gang, do you remember me!”
Just then, among the martial artists surrounding Hyeol-geum-gang, a pockmarked man holding an axe spoke as if coughing up blood.
“I am Han Sang of the Iron Axe Clan, who lost his only brother at your hands.”
At that, Hyeol-geum-gang nodded and said.
“I know. The 'Sour Scholar' Han Su-gyeom died from one of my palm strikes.”
Han Su-gyeom was a man who had challenged Hyeol-geum-gang, vowing to restore justice in the martial world after Hyeol-geum-gang killed figures of the Orthodox Faction.
However, he was no match for Hyeol-geum-gang and died instantly from a single palm strike.
And his younger brother, Han Sang, had come to find Hyeol-geum-gang to avenge his brother.
“You must be prepared, right?”
Hyeol-geum-gang raised his left hand with its severed fingers, joined it with his right in a prayer gesture, and said.
“Take your revenge. I will not resist.”
“Don't be ridiculous!”
Han Sang drew his axe and shouted with a frustrated expression.
“After slaughtering the heroes of the world, now you want to play the part of a monk!”
Han Sang swung his axe, aiming to strike Hyeol-geum-gang's neck.
But Hyeol-geum-gang stood ramrod straight with a peaceful expression, his eyes closed.
*Chk.*
In the end, Han Sang couldn't bring himself to strike with the iron axe and stopped.
“My brother did the right thing his entire life and showed mercy to those who did not resist!”
Then he yelled as if bursting with indignation.
“How can I abandon the principles my brother upheld his entire life just for the sake of revenge!”
*CRASH!*
He swung his axe, shattering a distant boulder, and turned away.
This time, a burly man with enormous fists stepped forward and shouted.
“The Cloud-Severing Bodyguard Jo Uk was my brother. You killed him.”
“That's right. The Cloud-Severing Bodyguard indeed died from my palm strike.”
Although he spoke calmly, standing straight, Hyeol-geum-gang's appearance was utterly wretched.
For over a month, he had been beaten and cut by many members of the Orthodox Faction, leaving no part of him unscathed.
The burly man struck Hyeol-geum-gang's cheek with a pained expression.
“My brother also lived his entire life as an honorable member of the Orthodox Faction and never killed anyone who didn't resist.”
*Smack! Smack!*
Tears streamed from the burly man's eyes as he slapped Hyeol-geum-gang's cheek.
“Consider yourself lucky to be alive because of that, Hyeol-geum-gang! Ptui!”
After spitting on him, he turned away.
Watching from a distance, Bu Eun-seol let out a deep sigh.
Those who practiced martial arts would rather die than suffer such humiliation.
But Hyeol-geum-gang simply stood there stoically, his face a mask of pain.
And this time, an old Taoist priest wearing a Wudang sword on his back walked forward.
It was the True Master Chung-yeop of Wudang.
“Hyeol-geum-gang. You killed my master, the True Master Un-heo. Do you remember?”
“That's right. Un-heo died at my hands.”
“Why did you kill my master?”
“He believed he could change this humble monk's heart. But he failed, and in the end, I attacked him.”
Hyeol-geum-gang spoke words he had never uttered before.
“This humble monk has never once attacked anyone first. But the only evil deed I ever committed was killing Un-heo.”
Hyeol-geum-gang closed his eyes and lowered his head.
“Because if I hadn't struck first then, this humble monk would surely have been defeated.”
*Shing.*
True Master Chung-yeop immediately drew his sword.
“Hyeol-geum-gang. This humble Taoist has long dreamed of the day I would take revenge on you. But when I entered the martial world, you had already returned to the Wolf Fang Pavilion, so I could not fulfill my wish.”
Hyeol-geum-gang closed his eyes without a word.
True Master Chung-yeop swung his sword at Hyeol-geum-gang's neck in a single motion.
*Clang! T-t-tink.*
But before the sharp sword could reach Hyeol-geum-gang's neck, it shattered like a cracker.
True Master Chung-yeop had used his internal energy to shatter the sword to pieces.
“My late master agonized that such a brilliant talent had fallen to the demonic path, and he risked his life to try and change your heart.”
“...”
“And now that his wish has finally been fulfilled, how could this humble Taoist ruin it?”
He looked at the distant sky, then turned away.
“With this, let us sever the ill-fated connection between you and my sect.”
Bu Eun-seol, who had been watching everything from his hiding place, was deeply moved.
Wudang was Wudang, after all.
Realizing that Hyeol-geum-gang had genuinely repented, True Master Chung-yeop had stopped his revenge, splendidly carrying on his master's will.
And Bu Eun-seol was not the only one who was moved.
*Rustle.*
Of the martial artists who had witnessed everything, more than half turned and left.
They were inspired by True Master Chung-yeop's noble act and, at the same time, remembered one fact.
—Aside from his martial brothers at Heavenly Dragon Temple, Hyeol-geum-gang had never attacked anyone first.
In truth, those who died at Hyeol-geum-gang's hands had all struck first, under the pretext of changing his heart or punishing him.
In the end, his only crime was defending himself.
A long silence fell over the forest.
But this time, a one-eyed woman approached Hyeol-geum-gang.
“Do you remember the 'Iron-Faced Guest' Jo Ui-jeong?”
“I remember.”
“He was my husband.”
The one-eyed woman drew her sword and spoke.
“He was a man who had no connection to you. Why did you kill him?”
Hyeol-geum-gang hesitated for a moment, then clasped his hands together.
“This humble monk has nothing to say.”
In truth, while the Iron-Faced Guest Jo Ui-jeong was known in the martial world as a renowned hero, he was actually a man who lusted after women and money.
Moreover, he was a villainous man who personally operated an intelligence organization, sowed discord between sects, and used information to profit from the middle.
Furthermore, the reason he was killed by Hyeol-geum-gang was that he had led his subordinates to attack him in order to gain fame.
If Hyeol-geum-gang were to reveal these facts, Jo Ui-jeong's reputation would plummet to the abyss.
Hyeol-geum-gang remained silent to protect the reputation of the already deceased Jo Ui-jeong.
“After my husband died, my entire foundation vanished. I was robbed of all my wealth by bandits and even lost an eye.”
The one-eyed woman said as she walked toward Hyeol-geum-gang.
“But Hyeol-geum-gang, you suddenly pretended to have a change of heart and went on a pilgrimage of repentance all the way to Yunnan. And the martial artists who believed you spat on you or gave you a single palm strike and forgave you.”
‘Dangerous.’
Seeing the murderous glint in the one-eyed woman's eyes, Bu Eun-seol gripped the throwing dagger inside his robes.
He had discerned that she had truly come to kill Hyeol-geum-gang.
“But I will never!”
The one-eyed woman said as if coughing up blood.
“I can never forgive you!”
And she strode toward Hyeol-geum-gang, raising her longsword high into the air.
The longsword was an exceptionally sharp treasured sword; even with his superior internal energy, Hyeol-geum-gang would not be able to block it.
Watching from afar, Bu Eun-seol had no choice but to prepare to throw his dagger.
No matter what Hyeol-geum-gang might say later, he had to save him first.
*Ting.*
With a clear metallic sound, the one-eyed woman's treasured sword was knocked away.
But it was not because of the dagger Bu Eun-seol had thrown.
Among the martial artists who had not yet left, a woman in yellow robes wearing a veil had picked up a stone and deflected her treasured sword.
“So-hon-mi-rang. You are far too shameless.”
The woman in yellow walked to the side of the one-eyed woman, So-hon-mi-rang, and sighed.
“The Iron-Faced Guest Jo Ui-jeong, contrary to what is known in the martial world, committed many evil deeds. He also laid a vicious trap for Hyeol-geum-gang to gain fame, and died after attacking him with his subordinates.”
“...”
“But Hyeol-geum-gang said nothing, to protect his honor. How can you, knowing this, still claim to be taking revenge on him?”
Surprisingly, the woman in yellow not only knew all of Jo Ui-jeong's evil deeds but also had a detailed understanding of how he had died at Hyeol-geum-gang's hands.
“He was called Hyeol-geum-gang, but aside from Un-heo, he never once attacked anyone first.”
The woman in yellow looked at So-hon-mi-rang with her beautiful eyes.
“Besides, your downfall wasn't because of bandits. You tried to seduce the Blood Roc Gang Leader, didn't you? And in the process, you ended up losing all your wealth, isn't that right?”
“Wh-what?”
“And the injury to your eye was inflicted by his fiancée, Cho Jeong, when you tried to seduce Nam Ja-ryong, who is known as the 'Righteous One of the Martial World.'”
“Who the hell are you to interfere in other people's affairs!”
So-hon-mi-rang, as if she could bear it no longer, glared at the woman in yellow and raised her treasured sword.
“Mind your own business and get lost!”
“I also came here to take revenge on Hyeol-geum-gang. Shouldn't anyone be able to meddle in Hyeol-geum-gang's affairs?”
“You...”
“Also, I can't just stand by and watch you invent a crime to kill him. There are others who have a real right to revenge.”
So-hon-mi-rang trembled but did not dare to swing her sword.
This was because the woman in yellow was emitting a sharp, formless energy that only a master of the sword could produce.
“Who are you!”
So-hon-mi-rang screamed in fury.
“I don't fight nameless nobodies. If you want to fight, state your name.”
“You are not worthy of knowing my name.”
“What did you say?”
Then, the woman in yellow said coldly.
“If you wish, use your sword. I will not decline.”
But So-hon-mi-rang did not dare to point her sword and retreated.
She instinctively felt that she could never defeat the woman in yellow.
“Just you wait!”
And then she immediately used her fleet-footed arts and left.
The woman in yellow looked at the remaining martial artists and said.
“Is there anyone left here who was attacked first by Hyeol-geum-gang without reason?”
At her words, the martial artists fell silent.
Because there wasn't a single person whom Hyeol-geum-gang had approached and killed without reason.
“Did you not come for revenge?”
Seeing the woman in yellow take his side, Hyeol-geum-gang spoke with a solemn expression.
“If you did not come for revenge, then leave.”
“Not at all. I also came for revenge.”
She approached Hyeol-geum-gang and said.
“In the past, you fought with a swordswoman called the 'Swordswoman of Eternal Regret' and inflicted a fatal injury, did you not?”
“Yes. I remember.”
“You thought the Swordswoman of Eternal Regret attacked you simply to raise her fame. But in reality, it was to avenge the Orthodox Faction's hero known as the 'Sorrow of Ghosts,' Sa Ma-yu.”
The woman in yellow looked at Hyeol-geum-gang with a solemn expression.
“But you inflicted a fatal wound on her simply because she attacked you. Do you admit it?”
“I admit it.”
Hyeol-geum-gang said, lowering his head.
“At that time, having just perfected my heart technique, I had fallen into the demonic path and could not control my killing intent. So I abused my martial arts, ignorant of the value of others' lives.”
“In the end, the Swordswoman of Eternal Regret's wounds from your strike worsened, and she lost her life. Just for the reason that she attacked you for revenge.”
Hyeol-geum-gang clasped his hands.
“Your point is correct. I will not resist, so take your revenge.”
But the woman in yellow shook her head.
“Just because you killed those who attacked you, just because you threw yourself into the demonic path... that doesn't automatically make you an evil person.”
“What are you trying to say?”
“I was merely confirming. Whether you have truly repented. Or if you were planning to stir up another storm of blood.”
And she let out a deep sigh.
“But you have genuinely repented, and you are trying to repay the debts of the past, even if it means giving up your life.”
And she slowly turned around.
“Even if I were to kill you, I would only be stained with the infamy of having killed someone who did not resist. I, too, will stop here.”
Leaving behind those short words, the woman in yellow turned away.
The martial artists who met the solemn gaze of the woman in yellow all turned away.
Among them were some who truly intended to take revenge, but most were those who sought the fame of having killed Hyeol-geum-gang.
But at the solemn and noble sight of the woman in yellow, they all turned and left.
‘It was her.’
The hiding Bu Eun-seol watched the woman in yellow and breathed a sigh of relief.
Others might not know, but he could recognize the woman in yellow's identity.
Because he had long seen the treasured sword whose scabbard at her waist was dyed completely white.
It was none other than Ah-yeon, a disciple of the Sword Pavilion.
‘She came all this way because of me.’
For the first time, Bu Eun-seol felt a great sense of gratitude toward Ah-yeon.
‘She knew the elder was my master, so she came to help.’
Ah-yeon had always felt greatly indebted to Bu Eun-seol.
Also, back when she requested a duel with Bu Eun-seol at the Subjugation Pavilion.
She had questioned the terrifying level of Bu Eun-seol's internal energy and asked what kind of internal energy technique he had learned.
And at that time, Bu Eun-seol had honestly told her that he learned his internal energy technique from Hyeol-geum-gang at the Wolf Fang Pavilion.
So when Hyeol-geum-gang, who was like his master, fell into crisis... Ah-yeon had willingly stepped forward to help.
‘Thank you. I will not forget this favor.’
Bu Eun-seol felt deeply moved and grateful toward Ah-yeon.
When she pointed out So-hon-mi-rang's wrongdoings and persuaded the remaining martial artists, saving Hyeol-geum-gang from the crisis.
He was so happy that he wanted to run over, embrace her, and express his thanks.
After everyone had left, a heavy silence flowed through the forest clearing.
Hyeol-geum-gang, who had been standing blankly for a long while, let out a deep sigh,
“Come out.”
he said in a low voice, looking straight at the tree where Bu Eun-seol was hiding.
“Bu Eun-seol.”
The hiding Bu Eun-seol couldn't hide his surprise.
Hyeol-geum-gang's body was a complete mess after enduring all sorts of trials on his way to Yunnan.
His internal energy and physical body were both in shambles, so how did he know?
“Elder.”
Bu Eun-seol emerged from behind the large tree and bowed deeply.
“How did you know?”
Having surpassed the state of Returning to Simplicity and reached the realm of Tranquil Stillness, Bu Eun-seol's concealment was such that even a master at the Apex Realm would have difficulty detecting him.
Yet Hyeol-geum-gang, who was so severely injured that not a single part of him was unscathed, had noticed his presence at once.
“Walking all the way here has exhausted my body, but my spirit has cleared, and my senses have become sharper.”
Hyeol-geum-gang said stoically, looking at Bu Eun-seol.
“Enough to feel the waves of your emotions from afar.”
Surprisingly, he hadn't detected Bu Eun-seol's hidden presence, but rather felt his uncontrolled emotions.
It was as if he had opened the Heavenly Eye, one of the Six Supernatural Powers spoken of in Buddhism.
“I believe I made my intentions clear.”
“That is why I came alone.”
Bu Eun-seol couldn't dare to meet Hyeol-geum-gang's solemn gaze and lowered his head.
“Elder, you are the master who taught me an internal energy technique as precious as life itself. I believe it is my natural duty to see you off on your final journey.”
It is a disciple's duty and obligation to guard their master on their final journey.
Bu Eun-seol was once again emphasizing that Hyeol-geum-gang was his master.
“Master, you say.”
Hyeol-geum-gang sighed, looking at the distant sky.
“I have said it time and again, it was merely a promise made with Pavilion Master Ak. Therefore, there is no favor or debt between you and me.”
“You may call it a debt, Elder, but to me, you gave me the strength to survive in the martial world.”
“Strength to survive?”
“A newborn cannot grow up alone. You raised me and gave me strength so that I could grow in the martial world. How could I possibly forsake such a favor?”
Hyeol-geum-gang took a deep breath.
The face of the Great Monk Jeong-yeong, the abbot and master of Heavenly Dragon Temple who had taught him long ago, came to mind.
“Hmm.”
The Great Monk Jeong-yeong was like a parent and a master to Hyeol-geum-gang, having raised him after he was brought to the temple wrapped in swaddling clothes.
His pilgrimage of repentance to Heavenly Dragon Temple was also for the purpose of kneeling before the Great Monk Jeong-yeong and atoning for his sins, even if he could not become a disciple again.
And now, Bu Eun-seol was also saying he would follow him to fulfill his duty as a disciple to his master.
How could he possibly stop him?
“You've become quite silver-tongued after living by the sword.”
“It is all thanks to you, Elder.”
Realizing those words were a form of permission, Bu Eun-seol approached Hyeol-geum-gang's side with a relieved smile.
*Whoosh.*
Just then, Bu Eun-seol's keen extrasensory perception sounded an alarm.
A huge number of people were laying an inescapable net around the area.
He could tell without them even showing themselves.
That they were assassins from the Three Realms.
‘So you've finally made that decision.’
Bu Eun-seol looked at the distant sky with a desolate expression.
‘Myo Cheon-u.’
The ones who knew Bu Eun-seol had gone out into the martial world to protect Hyeol-geum-gang.
They could only be the commanders of the Four Shadows Hall.
And the fact that Myo Cheon-u was the one among the commanders colluding with outsiders was something he had known for a long time.
The commander of the Nine Kills Squad, So Ja-myeong, who had been returned by the Grand Commander.
The secret mission entrusted to him had been to find the spy among the commanders of the Four Shadows Hall, and he had brilliantly completed that mission long ago.
*Shushushuk.*
In that time, assassins clad in black martial uniforms had completely surrounded Bu Eun-seol and Hyeol-geum-gang in the forest.
Their number was roughly a hundred.
Judging by the aura emanating from their bodies, they possessed skills on a completely different level from the assassins of the Three Realms who had attacked until now.
‘Or did you intend to end things once and for all this time?’
Understanding the situation, Bu Eun-seol's gaze turned extremely dark.
If they had intended a surprise attack, there had been plenty of good opportunities before now.
But the assassins only revealed themselves after Bu Eun-seol met with Hyeol-geum-gang.
They had calculated that the injured Hyeol-geum-gang could not properly use his martial arts, and that Bu Eun-seol would be primarily concerned with his safety.
In other words, the one who planned this.
Possessed a brilliant strategic mind, enough to predict that Bu Eun-seol's focus would be divided because of Hyeol-geum-gang…
And was a person who understood his character perfectly.