Ah, I Want to Cry
“Leave the righteous faction folks alone. I can't hold back in front of Su-gyeong.”
“Your command!”
True to the strict hierarchy of command and obedience that defined the Ilwolgyo warriors, not a single one dared defy the sole sovereign, the Ilwolgyo Lord. That didn't mean they held no grudges against the righteous faction members. It simply meant the Lord's command superseded all emotions.
The Yeomwangdae warriors scattered like a black wave crashing in all directions, striking down only the Blood Sect fighters as per their Lord's orders. The Blood Sect warriors, who had slaughtered a considerable number of righteous faction martial artists, were now thrown into utter panic.
“Th-the Ilwolgyo Lord!”
“N-no way.”
“The Ilwolgyo Lord has set foot in the Central Plains...!”
“M-Murim Alliance! We have to inform the Murim Alliance!”
Regardless of the chaos erupting around him, the Ilwolgyo Lord paid it no mind. His gaze was fixed solely on Baek Su-gyeong, standing amid the three women.
“In the midst of this pandemonium, you've got three women with you? How intriguing, Su-gyeong. A hero surrounded by beauties, indeed. One from Haomen, one from the Namgung family, and one powerless commoner?”
Gal Ye-ryeong ground her teeth at the Ilwolgyo Lord's brazen revelation of her identity. But he couldn't care less about it. He was the absolute one. In Ilwolgyo, he was a living god, and the same held true in the Shin-gang lands he ruled. No one could refuse, reject, or deny him. He was a sage incarnate, walking the earth in human form—a being of such overwhelming might that he could be called an avatar, or huasin in esoteric terms.
The Ilwolgyo Lord, largely indifferent to worldly affairs, had eyes only for Baek Su-gyeong.
“Truly intriguing.”
Baek Su-gyeong, supported by So Ssaang-a, looked pale as a ghost. With the screams of the Blood Sect warriors as his backdrop, the Ilwolgyo Lord slowly advanced. He ignored the wary glares from the righteous faction warriors encircling him. He wasn't the type to fuss over such details.
“Protect Teacher Su-gyeong!”
“Ilwol Demon Lord! To dare set foot in Luoyang!”
“You'll have to kill us all before you reach Teacher Su-gyeong!”
They closed in like a tightening net, swords and weapons at the ready. Among those willing to lay down their lives for Baek Su-gyeong were even talents like Cheongmyeong and Huashan's Plum Sword, as well as Qingcheng's Blue Stream Sword.
Each gripped their weapons with resolve, steeling themselves.
“Stop!”
Baek Su-gyeong's voice, his face drained white as a sheet, halted them in their tracks. He looked on the verge of collapse. But he had to step forward. If he didn't intervene, an unprecedented massacre might unfold.
“Lord, no!”
“Let go.”
Baek Su-gyeong was firm. The Ilwolgyo Lord had eyes only for him. That meant only he could afford words or actions that might irk the Lord. The overwhelming pressure from the Ilwolgyo Lord was enough to make anyone faint if they relaxed even slightly. Thanks to his encounters with countless warriors, Baek Su-gyeong could endure it—barely standing, though it was grueling.
Was he scared? Of course. But he was the only one who might even have a chance to exchange words with the Ilwolgyo Lord. So he had no choice but to step up.
Shaking off So Ssaang-a's support, he steadied himself and moved forward.
“Teacher!”
“Lord!?”
“Baek Teacher!”
Ignoring the cries of the three women, Baek Su-gyeong faced the Ilwolgyo Lord head-on. The Lord stroked his chin, amused by Baek Su-gyeong standing firm against his natural aura.
“...Splendid.”
It was a remark that would have sparked jealousy among the Ilwolgyo warriors, including the Yeomwangdae. The Lord, notoriously stingy with praise and a tormentor of countless talents, had just called his first encounter with Baek Su-gyeong splendid. Was it praise for his mental fortitude? Or recognition of the potential others had overlooked?
“Everyone, stop.”
As the righteous faction warriors halted at Baek Su-gyeong's words, excited voices erupted here and there.
“Teacher Su-gyeong!”
“Why?!”
“That's the Ilwolgyo Lord! The root of all demonic evil itself!”
“We must cut him down here!”
Baek Su-gyeong replied coolly. “Is there an expert here confident enough to take the Ilwolgyo Lord's head? Not even the Alliance Leader, with power comparable to his, is present.”
“Th-that's...!”
“It would be nothing but reckless suicide. History would record just one line: 'The Ilwolgyo Lord slew hundreds of warriors in Luoyang.' That's all.”
Though still pale, Baek Su-gyeong's logical breakdown overwhelmed them. The heated atmosphere cooled in an instant. A profound silence fell over the blood-stirred crowd, like cold water dousing their heads.
Then, the Ilwolgyo Lord's laughter echoed through.
“Huhu, hahaha, hahahaha! To have thought that far already, Su-gyeong! Amid these fools, you alone stand pure! The Central Plains harbors a true gem!”
As he laughed skyward, the pressure radiating from his entire body vanished in a flash. Like ink washed away by water, it receded, and color slowly returned to Baek Su-gyeong's face. He'd been forcing himself to endure the aura that nearly knocked him out, and now he staggered.
“Impressive mental fortitude. Su-gyeong, you've proven yourself worthy of respect.”
The Ilwolgyo Lord's eyes curved into a smile. His face, usually cold and earning him the label of heartless even from his children, now bore a genuine grin. Baek Su-gyeong would go down in Ilwolgyo history as one of the few to draw such an expression from him—the Yeomwangdae would record it even without orders.
So Ssaang-a supported the swaying Baek Su-gyeong again, while Namgung Som-in and Gal Ye-ryeong stepped forward, teeth gritted.
An overwhelming powerhouse.
Even with his aura restrained, the subtle leakage alone is crushing us...
Forcing their bodies to move against the paralysis took immense mental effort; both women's faces were slick with sweat in moments. Facing a transcendent expert drained the mind like this. His mere passive presence dominated the area. Of course, the Ilwolgyo Lord could fully control it, but he'd deliberately loosened it just a bit. For peak experts like Gal Ye-ryeong and Namgung Som-in to feel such strain meant he was on another level entirely.
“I have no intention of harming the righteous today. What matters to me is only a conversation with Su-gyeong.”
“What do you want with Teacher...?”
The Ilwolgyo Lord glanced at Namgung Som-in. “They say the daughter of the Clear Heaven Sword King is exceptionally talented, inheriting even the Thunder Emperor Heaven Divine Art. Jade Sword Flower... More stinger than flower, though. Tsk.”
Tutting lightly, he turned back to Baek Su-gyeong.
“What say you, Su-gyeong? While my followers clean up the Blood Sect rabble, shall we chat?”
Baek Su-gyeong felt bile rising in his throat. Already battered by murim's endless chaos, now even the Ilwolgyo Lord had come to torment him. His stomach burned like fire.
“L-Lord... P-Pingwei Powder.”
“Hm? Relying on cheap herbs like Pingwei Powder? More fragile than I thought. Allow me.”
Even amid countless righteous faction members, he spoke without restraint—the leisure of absolute power. With a flick of his fingers, an invisible gust gently tapped Baek Su-gyeong's chest. Moments later, Baek Su-gyeong doubled over and vomited a stream of black blood.
“Teacher!!”
“Lord!”
“Baek Teacher!!”
The three women glared daggers at the Ilwolgyo Lord, especially So Ssaang-a, her eyes venomous as if she'd hire an absolute expert with all her wealth to kill him if Baek Su-gyeong died. Namgung Som-in and Gal Ye-ryeong were equally stunned.
“How dare you...!”
The Ilwolgyo Lord chuckled at Namgung Som-in reaching for her sword.
“Think that twig can harm me? You know I'm holding back, don't you?”
“Kuh...!”
“Recognizing the gap between foe and self is a warrior's virtue. With a casual effort, I could slay everyone here. Know why I don't?”
The Ilwolgyo Lord's eyes meeting Namgung Som-in's were frozen cold.
“Simply because Su-gyeong would dislike it. Thank him. Without him, every righteous soul and Blood Sect stray here would lie dead equally.”
A plain fact, a brutal truth. Even if all present attacked together, no one could guarantee a single scratch on the Ilwolgyo Lord. That was his level of strength.
“I'm... fine.”
“Teacher!”
Namgung Som-in turned to Baek Su-gyeong. Blackened blood stained his lips, but he smiled faintly—looking better than before.
The Ilwolgyo Lord said, “Relying on Pingwei Powder shows frailty. I've cleared your body's toxins while at it—no more poor health for years.”
“...Why do this?”
In response to Baek Su-gyeong's question, the Ilwolgyo Lord waved volume 8. No one knew when he'd picked it up. All eyes locked on the well-worn Wudang Sword Hero volume 8 in his hand.
Baek Su-gyeong's face twisted like he'd been stung by a venomous needle.
“Wh-where did you get that...?”
“Think Shin-gang is a land no merchants tread, Su-gyeong?”
The Ilwolgyo Lord's tone was disarmingly friendly, as if they were old comrades—far warmer than toward others. Just then, the Yeomwangdae warriors returned.
“Holy Venerable, the Blood Sect purge is complete.”
“Well done.”
With that curt reply, the Ilwolgyo Lord looked at Baek Su-gyeong.
“Shall we summon the Murim Alliance Leader for a chat too?”
How did it come to this? Baek Su-gyeong clutched his throbbing forehead, truly on the verge of tears.