Chapter 512
Chapter 512
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 512
Chapter Title: The Sword Mound
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The Peng Clan has sealed its gates.
The reason was said to be an internal conflict between the Grand Patriarch, Peng Ak, and the current Patriarch, Peng Mun-cheon.
The father, fearing his son's potential, forcibly confined him in the Wall-Gazing Cave.
The son escaped, rallied the clan's forces, and struck down his father.
—What ridiculous nonsense.
As such rumors spread, the martial artists of the Murim scoffed.
Wasn't such a tale of patricide something that rarely occurred even among demonic clans or the dark factions?
In the history of the Murim, among the clans of the Orthodox Faction,
there was no precedent of a family being utterly destroyed due to a conflict between father and son.
However, as the rumors spread uncontrollably, the leaders of various factions visited the Peng Clan to confirm the truth.
But Peng Mun-cheon kept the gates firmly locked and allowed no one inside.
—The main family is in a devastating state, and many have lost their lives. Please understand that we wish to handle the aftermath quietly.
The leaders could not hide their astonishment.
Although the truth of the rumors was unknown, it was a fact that the Peng Clan had fallen. Peng Mun-cheon had lost his father and all the clan's power.
And since he was even pleading to handle it quietly, people from other clans could not force their way in.
In the end, the martial artists who had visited the Peng Clan turned back.
However, not all of them meekly accepted Peng Mun-cheon's position.
—It seems he really did strike down his father, just as the rumors say.
—If so, isn't the fall of the Peng Clan a natural consequence?
—Even if it is a family matter, how can such a patricide be the Patriarch of one of the Eight Great Clans?
The majority of martial artists condemned Peng Mun-cheon, calling it a disgrace to the Orthodox Faction.
But Peng Mun-cheon silently endured the criticism.
No, he felt rather grateful that they thought of it as a patricidal power struggle.
What if the deeds Peng Ak had committed were to leak out?
What if it was revealed that he was one of the key figures who had continuously conducted cruel human experiments, unleashing the Soulless Ones upon the Murim?
The Peng Clan would never be able to wash away that filthy stain on its name, even after a thousand years.
Peng Mun-cheon could only hope.
If not in his generation, then in the next. If not then, then the one after that...
That one day, the Peng Clan could be rebuilt and stand proudly in the Murim once more.
At a pavilion at the edge of town, three men stood facing each other, bidding farewell.
The farewell between a man and a woman is poignant.
But the farewell between men is intensely passionate and solemn.
Bu Eun-seol, Noe Bi-hon, Dae Gu-hwi.
These were all men of high status, figures who wielded great influence in the current Murim.
They also possessed the potential for even greater growth and shared a common enemy: the Three Realms.
And they shared a passionate friendship, willing to risk their lives for one another.
“Brother.”
Noe Bi-hon gripped Bu Eun-seol's hand tightly.
No long words were needed.
A mere exchange of glances was enough to reveal the unwavering friendship between the two, who had sworn an oath of brotherhood.
And next to Noe Bi-hon stood Dae Gu-hwi.
Although they were not father and son by blood, a bond stronger than kinship flowed between them.
“Where will you go?”
“First, I must train this fellow, Gu-hwi, until he is capable. So he can become the official successor of the Beast Palace.”
Noe Bi-hon took a deep breath.
“After that, I plan to rebuild the Thunder Spirit Sect.”
Dae Gu-hwi, despite not having a Thunder Spirit Body, had a fortuitous encounter and acquired the Divine Thunder Energy.
If Dae Gu-hwi, who has mastered the martial arts of the Beast Palace, also learns the martial arts of the Thunder Spirit Sect...
A new powerhouse will one day be born in the Murim.
“If you ever need strength, come find me anytime.”
Noe Bi-hon had already finished his revenge and had no regrets.
Yet, the reason he was striving to rebuild the Thunder Spirit Sect was solely to become a great source of strength for Bu Eun-seol.
Though he had achieved his revenge, the Three Realms still stood strong.
To uproot them, who had dominated the Murim for generations, a powerful force would be needed.
For Bu Eun-seol, who was fighting a lonely battle to deal with the Three Realms... he would rebuild the Thunder Spirit Sect.
“Thank you.”
Bu Eun-seol also smiled calmly and cupped his hands.
“Brother Noe, if you ever wish to see this younger brother, please come to the Demonic Hall.”
“I will.”
Noe Bi-hon smiled warmly and patted his shoulder.
“You go first.”
Noe Bi-hon and Dae Gu-hwi were to leave together.
So they intended to see off Bu Eun-seol, who had to leave alone.
“Great Warrior Bu. Please take care until we meet again.”
As Dae Gu-hwi bowed his head in respect, Bu Eun-seol gave a faint smile.
“See you again, Gu-hwi.”
*Tcht!*
With those words, he vanished in an instant, like mist.
Noe Bi-hon and Dae Gu-hwi gazed endlessly in the direction Bu Eun-seol had disappeared.
Perhaps because they had been together for so long, a corner of their hearts felt empty now that he was gone.
“There’s no time to rest.”
Dae Gu-hwi nodded at Noe Bi-hon’s words.
“It seems so.”
The two of them had too much to do.
Noe Bi-hon had to rebuild the Thunder Spirit Sect, and Dae Gu-hwi had to return to the Beast Palace, defeat his brothers, and become the official successor.
And... they had to become stronger as quickly as possible, to be a source of strength for that young Grandmaster.
***
Murim Alliance, Silver Moon Pavilion.
Here resided the wisest woman in the Murim.
The Star of Wisdom, Gongson Dan-gyeong.
She had become the Grand Commander of the Murim Alliance in her thirties and had since been managing various affairs.
However, most of what she did was carried out in secret.
In fact, aside from the battle in the Yeogyeong region, none of the matters she had handled have been made public.
“This is Division Commander Seonu.”
After parting with Noe Bi-hon, Bu Eun-seol immediately returned to the Murim Alliance.
Through this journey, he had gained much and his martial arts had advanced a level. But he had no time to savor it.
He had been away from his post for too long, and the situation at the Murim Alliance was particularly urgent.
Seonu Jin was still a Second-Class Division Commander.
If he didn't quickly achieve merit, his primary goals—hunting down the Vicious Beast and dealing with the Three Realms—could be delayed indefinitely.
Upon entering the Murim Alliance, Bu Eun-seol immediately sought out Gongson Dan-gyeong at the Silver Moon Pavilion.
This was because Grand Commander Gongson Dan-gyeong had urgently summoned him even before he could meet with Hall Master Yuk Jang-cheon of the Martial Affairs Hall.
“Welcome.”
As Bu Eun-seol entered the office, Gongson Dan-gyeong offered him a seat and immediately got to the point.
“The incident at the Peng Clan was quite unexpected.”
“I've heard the rumors as well. A conflict between father and son.”
“Patriarch Peng remains silent, but circumstantial evidence suggests that an act of patricide did occur. However... the situation is too strange and bizarre. I tried to uncover the internal details through various intelligence networks, but to no avail.”
“Then.”
Gongson Dan-gyeong nodded.
“I would like you, Division Commander Seonu, to uncover the truth behind it. The precise circumstances within the Peng Clan.”
Peng Ak and Peng Ryun had been recruited by the Infinite Realm and had been involved in human experiments for decades.
Therefore, Peng Mun-cheon was desperately trying to hide the atrocities the two had committed.
The only ones in the Murim who knew the exact situation of the Peng Clan were Bu Eun-seol, Noe Bi-hon, and Dae Gu-hwi.
“I can't accept that the prosperous Peng Clan would suddenly engage in a father-son conflict and self-destruct as a result.”
“Hmm.”
“Furthermore, it would be normal for them to rebuild with the help of various clans and our Alliance... but their decision to seal their gates and rebuild on their own is also incomprehensible.”
A gleam flashed in Gongson Dan-gyeong's large eyes.
“There must be an internal story that outsiders don't know. I want you, Division Commander Seonu, to find out what it is.”
The fact that even her intelligence networks couldn't find anything showed just how tightly Peng Mun-cheon was keeping things under wraps.
“Understood.”
Bu Eun-seol cupped his hands without hesitation.
He already knew the whole story, so he just had to present it in a way that seemed plausible for Seonu Jin to have discovered.
In other words, he just needed to report his findings appropriately, leaving out the part about the Three Realms.
***
“The clan is sealed. We ask for your understanding.”
With the guard's cold words, the gates of the Peng Clan shut firmly once more.
Under Gongson Dan-gyeong's orders, Bu Eun-seol returned to Hebei and began investigating the Peng Clan.
However, he couldn't even get the main gate to open, let alone go inside.
For the sealed Peng Clan, they couldn't open their gates and welcome anyone, not even the Alliance Lord, let alone a Second-Class Division Commander.
If the truth were to be revealed by any chance, the Peng Clan would never be able to rise again.
*‘This is where it gets important.’*
Bu Eun-seol looked up at the tall gates of the Peng Clan.
Gongson Dan-gyeong must have sent him because she hoped for a different result than what her previous agents had produced.
In that case, he couldn't return empty-handed; he had to find some kind of clue.
*‘Though there's nothing I really need to find.’*
Excluding those inside the Peng Clan, no one knew the situation better than Bu Eun-seol.
But he couldn't just state it outright, and even if he did, he would need to provide evidence.
After a moment of thought, Bu Eun-seol went to a nearby market.
*‘No matter how sealed they are, people still have to eat.’*
The Peng Clan had accumulated great wealth over generations, so they wouldn't face significant hardship for a while even while sealed.
However, they were still human and needed to eat.
Bu Eun-seol canvassed the market and eventually found the shop that supplied the Peng Clan with ingredients.
He then found the merchant who dealt with the Peng Clan, gave him some money, and heard various stories from the workers who transported the ingredients.
Afterward, Bu Eun-seol attempted every investigation method an intelligence agent might use.
But he couldn't obtain a single thing.
*‘Was she telling me to infiltrate?’*
Bu Eun-seol finally realized Gongson Dan-gyeong's true intention.
No intelligence network had been able to learn the internal situation of the Peng Clan.
That meant no agent had succeeded in infiltrating the clan.
Moreover, what if the Murim Alliance sent an agent to dig up information on the Peng Clan and they were caught?
That would cause a situation that not even someone of the Grand Commander's status could handle.
*‘I have no choice.’*
Since he already knew the internal situation, he just had to go through the motions of infiltrating.
The problem was deciding if he could enter the Peng Clan, finish the investigation, and get out safely using Seonu Jin's abilities.
As one of the Eight Great Clans, even while sealed, the Peng Clan was still the Peng Clan.
Infiltrating it was not something that could be done easily with ordinary skills.
*‘So she intends to test all of my abilities.’*
If one could infiltrate one of the Eight Great Clans, gather information, and return safely?
It would be a measure of not just their martial skill, but also their improvisation, insight, disguise and stealth techniques, knowledge of mechanisms, and more. All of their capabilities could be assessed.
*‘Didn't I intend to rise through the ranks of the Murim Alliance anyway?’*
He couldn't stay in the Murim Alliance forever.
In that case, it wouldn't be a bad idea to quickly show Gongson Dan-gyeong just how unparalleled the man named Seonu Jin was.
She too was an ambitious person with plans of her own.
*‘Is she planning to draw me in?’*
If that wasn't her intention, she wouldn't be constantly testing the man named Seonu Jin and confirming his excellence.
*‘This must be a test for some future mission.’*
Whenever Gongson Dan-gyeong planned to start something,
she always assigned a task to select the right person for the mission.
The goals a person like her sought to achieve would surely be no easy feat.
*‘There's no reason to refuse a stronger support than Hall Master Yuk.’*
Bu Eun-seol intended to complete this task, make a strong impression on her, and get a foothold on her ladder as well.
***
“An incident that could never be revealed to the outside world occurred within the Peng Clan, and they chose self-destruction to hide it... is that it?”
Murim Alliance, Silver Moon Pavilion. Gongson Dan-gyeong's office.
Bu Eun-seol, in his identity as Seonu Jin, had ultimately infiltrated the Peng Clan, completed his investigation, and returned to the Murim Alliance.
“But this is all just... a hypothesis you've formed after confirming various circumstances, Division Commander.”
A cold glint emanated from Gongson Dan-gyeong's eyes as she put down the report Bu Eun-seol had written.
“And there is no concrete evidence for it.”
“That is correct.”
Bu Eun-seol explained confidently.
“Since the sealing began, Patriarch Peng seems to have disposed of all evidence. Even the deceased Grand Patriarch was cremated without a proper burial.”
Peng Mun-cheon was already branded a patricide.
He had even cremated his own father to ensure no evidence of their connection to the Infinite Realm remained.
“What is certain, however, is that the Peng Clan self-destructed due to internal conflict. There were no signs of an external attack, and all the deceased were experts of the Peng Clan.”
Bu Eun-seol continued.
“Patriarch Peng is being extremely cautious about security, even while sealed. This implies there is a secret that must never be revealed to the outside world.”
“Hmm.”
“The fact that they chose to seal their gates despite a conflict that led to near self-destruction, and that they are being so meticulous about internal security. In the end, I could only reach that conclusion.”
Gongson Dan-gyeong nodded.
Bu Eun-seol had attempted an infiltration that even her most outstanding agents had not dared to try.
And he had returned stealthily without leaving any trace.
Furthermore, although he had no concrete evidence, he had accurately analyzed the situation within the Peng Clan and drawn a fitting conclusion.
In other words, the man named Seonu Jin possessed ability and insight beyond what one could ever hope for in an intelligence agent.
“Indeed, Division Commander Seonu, you possess skills far greater than I imagined.”
Letting out a long breath that was somewhere between a sigh of admiration and a weary sigh, she pulled a small envelope from her drawer.
“Take this.”
“What is this?”
“It's a new mission for you, Commander. I have already spoken with Hall Master Yuk.”
Bu Eun-seol's prediction was correct.
Gongson Dan-gyeong hadn't been curious about the Peng Clan's internal affairs.
She had simply been testing whether Bu Eun-seol was suitable for a mission she needed to carry out.
*Ssk.*
As Bu Eun-seol read the letter from the envelope, a strange light appeared in his eyes.
“You want me to investigate the Celestial Human Cult?”
The Celestial Human Cult (天人敎).
A religious order rooted in the Yellow River region, it was said to have over fifty thousand followers.
However, there were rumors that it demanded excessive donations from its followers, and despite its name, it was known to use wicked and mysterious arts.
For this reason, the Celestial Human Cult was an object of caution from the perspective of the Orthodox Murim.
“To be precise, it's an investigation into the Sword Mound (劍塚) constructed by the Taiping Branch of the Celestial Human Cult.”
The Sword Mound.
It was a mysterious legend passed down through the Murim for generations.
Known as the 'Tomb of Swords,' these mounds were said to be hidden throughout the Murim, with divine swords and treasured blades (神劍寶刀) of mystical power slumbering within.
And it was said that if one was chosen by a sword from the mound, they could become a master who looked down upon the world.
“For several years now, the Taiping Branch of the Celestial Human Cult has been constructing an artificial Sword Mound near Mount Taiping, luring martial artists.”
—Our cult has discovered a part of the Sword Mound!
Bu Eun-seol had heard that rumor before.
The branch of the Celestial Human Cult had discovered a portion of a Sword Mound hidden in Mount Taiping and opened it to the martial artists of the Murim.
—Those fools are spouting nonsense.
At first, martial artists scoffed and did not believe it.
Discovering a Sword Mound at the branch of a heretical cult based in the Yellow River region was unbelievable enough.
But to open it to the public?
If they had found a Sword Mound, they could have just kept it for themselves secretly. Why would they need to share the swords with other martial artists?
—The Sword Mound of the Celestial Human Cult's Taiping Branch was real!
But then, another strange rumor spread through the Murim.
It was rumored that the Taiping Branch was producing swordsmen of incredible skill, all of whom wielded swords obtained from the Sword Mound.
Tempted by the rumors, martial artists flocked to the Sword Mound day after day, but after that, no further news was heard.
“Is that true?”
Most martial artists believed the rumor was a ploy by the Celestial Human Cult, that they had artificially created the Sword Mound to lure people in.
This was because no one had obtained a sword since, and the rumors about the Sword Mound had quickly died down.
That was why Bu Eun-seol hadn't paid it much attention either.
But for Gongson Dan-gyeong to order an investigation?
“The Taiping Branch has established several rules for entering the Sword Mound. One of them is making people sign a waiver stating that their lives cannot be guaranteed once inside.”
Gongson Dan-gyeong continued calmly.
“Wondering what they were plotting, I dispatched some of my best agents, but after they went there, we lost all contact, and they disappeared.”
“Then couldn't the Alliance conduct a large-scale investigation?”
“It's a religious sect that includes common people, not just martial artists. Without any evidence, a martial arts faction has no authority to stir things up there.”
“Even when people have gone missing and died?”
“As I said, the Celestial Human Cult makes people sign a waiver absolving them of responsibility for any loss of life before entering the Sword Mound. We couldn't find any evidence linking them to our agents' disappearances.”
After thinking it over, Bu Eun-seol nodded.
“So, on the surface, the Alliance has no justification to intervene.”
“Correct.”
The Murim Alliance is a coalition of the Orthodox Faction, and its authority is limited to the orthodox sects that belong to it.
Of course, if there was suspicion, they could have torn the place apart under the pretext of upholding justice in the Murim.
In any case, they had no authority to forcibly investigate a religious order that also had common people as members.
*‘So that's why she asked me to infiltrate the Peng Clan.’*
If he could secretly infiltrate the Peng Clan and emerge safely,
her calculation must have been that infiltrating a branch of the Celestial Human Cult would be an easy success.
“Understood. I will investigate it.”
As Bu Eun-seol replied as if it were no big deal, Gongson Dan-gyeong's gaze turned serious.
“Division Commander Seonu. This is by no means an easy task.”
Her expression became incredibly grave.
“It may be a branch of the Celestial Human Cult, but if they went so far as to create a fake Sword Mound, they must have had strong support from their main headquarters.”
“I expect as much.”
“And all the capable agents I sent there have died. Not a single one of them was weaker than you, Division Commander Seonu.”
“...”
“Honestly, this mission is too dangerous. That's why I had you investigate the Peng Clan—to test not just your martial arts, but your various other skills. I believed that investigating the Celestial Human Cult would require not only martial arts, but also outstanding insight and wisdom.”
Gongson Dan-gyeong took a deep breath and said,
“Even so, I calculate the probability of you returning alive from this mission to be about twenty percent.”
It was a shocking statement.
Considering her genius, a conclusion of a twenty percent chance of survival would have considerable basis and credibility.
In other words, if Bu Eun-seol took on this mission?
The genius known as the Star of Wisdom,
while acknowledging his outstanding martial arts, strategy, and insight, was guaranteeing that he would die, eight or nine times out of ten.