Chapter 93 - Martial Arts World (4)
The current martial world was largely divided into two. The Murim Alliance and the Demonic Cult. Excluding the Demon Sect beyond the frontier desert, it was safe to say the two split the martial world between them.
Two hundred years ago, during the chaotic period of the Righteous-Demonic War, there was never a day without bloodshed between the two factions. But nothing lasts forever. Even they, who fought as if to completely annihilate the other side, saw their conflicts subside over time. An era of peace and prosperity arrived. Now was literally the golden age of the martial world.
But when the moon waxes, it must wane. An uneasy air flowed through the two powers, as if a vessel of power was filled to the brim. Zhuge He, the strategist called the head of the massive organization known as the Murim Alliance, furrowed his brow.
"The Shadowless Divine Fist's secret vault?"
"Yes. The Demonic Cult's movements are unusual. If we're not careful, the Righteous-Demonic War might break out again."
Zhuge He, who had been fiddling with his fan, clicked his tongue.
He couldn't just dismiss it as some thief's warehouse. The Shadowless Divine Fist was literally the world's greatest thief. Among the major martial arts sects, it was harder to find one that hadn't been robbed by him. Regardless of alignment, any sect with a name had been. If the martial arts of all those sects were gathered there, they had to be verified and retrieved.
"Annoying..." The Shadowless Divine Fist's activities had dwindled since ten years ago, and recently had completely ceased. Yet out of nowhere, his secret vault was revealed. The formation using the power of the moon was his unique technique. The likelihood of it being real was high.
"According to the formation experts, entry will be possible in two days."
"Two days... Too short."
Mo Yong-cheol, who had come to the Nakyang Tower to drink lavishly, shouted. "Damn it! How much longer is Ae-hwa going to be down?"
"I-I'm sorry. There's a new girl named Geum-hee who's very pretty. Would that be acceptable?"
"Tch... Bring her here."
"Yes! Geum-hee, come here!"
Seeing her chest, Mo Yong-cheol grinned with a lecherous expression. "Hmm... She's quite big. I like her."
Smacking his lips, he shouted at the manager who was trembling beside him. "If Ae-hwa doesn't show next time, I'll grind your teeth into powder. Got it?"
"Y-yes! Yes! I'll bring the best physician to treat her!"
"Tch. You lowlifes only listen when you're beaten."
Despite the insulting words, the manager's face was full of a servile smile. Rather, he was just relieved that he liked the girl Geum-hee, whom he had secretly brought from the red-light district. This man was like a natural disaster. There was no way to resist a massive family like the Mo Yong Clan. Even the sect that had been backing them didn't respond to pleas for help. Thanks to that, he was going through hell.
"Kyaaah!!!" Just as Mo Yong-cheol was about to enter the pavilion, pulling Geum-hee by the shoulder, a scream rang out from the street. The bodyguards, who had been standing expressionlessly, naturally shifted their positions. They reinforced the defense on the side where the scream came from. The manager smiled awkwardly and said to Mo Yong-cheol. "Young master, it might be dangerous, so please take shelter inside."
"Shut up! Who would dare harm me? I'm curious, so I'll go see."
Mo Yong-cheol strode forward without hesitation. He headed toward where the scream had come from.
In this place crowded with people, a murder had occurred in broad daylight. A hairy man who had just killed someone pulled his sword from the corpse and eyed Mo Yong-cheol warily. "...You look like a rich young master. Don't meddle in unnecessary affairs and go on your way. This man was a thief."
"Shut up. How dare you commit murder so brazenly before me? I'll kill you!"
Mo Yong-cheol charged, his heavy bulk jiggling.
The Mo Yong Clan was famous as a family of fist techniques, but that didn't mean they lacked swordsmanship. He swung his sword, his plump body jiggling. Because of his heavy weight, he seemed about to fall, but the power behind his sword strikes was intense. Every time the precious sword swung, a whooshing sound followed. Clang! Clang!
"Ugh...!" The hairy man could only defend, unable to counterattack. If he had eyes, he would have seen the bodyguards watching him from all around. Mo Yong-cheol's main specialty was fist techniques. His swordsmanship was full of openings. But it was enough to attack unilaterally. The rogue facing him was gradually losing strength.
"Ugh...!! Why are you persecuting me!"
"Shut up! You demonic dog!"
Clang!
"Ugh...!"
The eyes of the hairy man, who was being attacked unilaterally, gradually filled with rage.
At that moment, the bodyguard leader, who had only been watching, swung his sword. Slash.
"Kyaaah!"
Even though the sword didn't touch him, his arm was severed at the shoulder. Blood gushed like a fountain from the hairy man's empty shoulder. Yet Mo Yong-cheol's sword didn't stop.
"Sp-spare me...!!"
Thwack!
"Gurk...! Sh-shit..."
The hairy man, whose upper body was cut by Mo Yong-cheol, began to gurgle. A fatal wound exposing his ribs. His lungs seemed to be cut, so he couldn't even breathe properly. The crowd began to murmur at the killing blow dealt to an already subdued opponent.
"Hoo... The Mo Yong Clan has gone too far... Isn't this too much even for them?"
"That's how those righteous bastards are... Oof!"
The bodyguard leader's cold gaze made him shut his mouth. Mo Yong-cheol ignored the hostile looks from the crowd. Instead, he raised his voice and shouted. "I, Mo Yong-cheol of the great Mo Yong Clan, have killed a demonic dog! I have upheld justice!! Hahahahaha!"
It was too excessive. The bodyguard leader, who could no longer stand it, furrowed his brow. "Young master...!"
"Why are you making that face? Who dares to criticize the actions of the great Mo Yong Clan?"
The bodyguard leader felt a headache coming on. The young master who had run away and then returned. Far from maturing, his already foul temper had worsened. He used to beat people when bored, and now he didn't even hesitate to kill. As members of the righteous faction, they at least had to maintain face. Killing people like this would inevitably lead to gossip. The thought of cleaning up the mess made his head throb. The problem was that the clan head had begun to trust this brat immensely. Especially for this chivalrous mission, he had ordered them to follow his commands unconditionally. "Tsk."
Mo Yong-cheol paid no attention to the bodyguard leader's worries. Instead, his eyes gleamed as he looked down at the corpse. "Hmm... Let's see."
Mo Yong-cheol pulled something out from the body, holding it high and showing it off to everyone around. It was a rolled-up scroll.
"Hoh!? That demonic dog had something useful."
He unrolled the scroll without hesitation in the middle of the street. Mo Yong-cheol's loud voice echoed throughout the street. "It's obviously a treasure map! Hey, bodyguard leader, we're going here!"
Similar incidents were occurring all over Guangdong Province.
Si-woo tilted his head as he examined the contents of the scroll he had copied earlier. He could tell it was a map at first glance. It wasn't easy to interpret it differently from a modern map. So he had left it to an expert to reinterpret it in a modern context. 'Why does this seem like the Gorong Valley...?' The problem was that he had come to the Gorong Valley, and the map pointed to this location. More and more martial artists were running through the mountains. Among them, he had beaten up a guy who picked a fight without knowing his place. After a few punches, the guy spilled everything he knew.
"What? A treasure map of the Shadowless Divine Fist?"
"Yes, great hero! The rumors are rampant in Guangdong!"
The guy kneeling smiled awkwardly. He was gently rubbing his cheekbone, which seemed to be sore from being beaten by Si-woo. A blue bruise was forming around his swollen eye. It suited him, looking like a bandit.
"They say the Murim Alliance has also sent people!"
The rumors were shaking the area. It was said that the Shadowless Divine Fist's secret vault had been discovered in the Gorong Valley. A treasure trove filled with items that the Shadowless Divine Fist, the greatest thief in the martial world, had stolen throughout his life. The treasure map containing its location was suddenly spreading everywhere.
"Such a valuable item is being scattered around? Are you kidding me?"
"N-no! It's true. This is why Guangdong has been so noisy lately."
Someone, unknown who, was copying and distributing the map. The problem was that it was quite credible. From third-rate rogues hoping for a life-changing opportunity to several large families, everyone was moving.
"Get lost."
"Th-thank you!"
The guy, as if his leg had cramped, rolled on the ground and fled in haste.
Such rogues were not just one or two. And it wasn't just those pathetic types. Some were strong enough that even he couldn't take them lightly. 'Damn... I need to hurry.' He felt a sense of crisis that he might not be able to obtain the legacy left by Mok Yi-do because of this Shadowless Divine Fist's vault or whatever. He could take it from others, but he couldn't let it be taken from him.
*
'Is this it?' The Gorong Valley was a massive canyon. It looked as if a giant snake had passed through. A rough current flowed through the long, straight canyon. He had wandered for a while after arriving here. True to the unnecessarily vast martial world, the canyon's scale was enormous. Searching blindly would take months. He frowned at the violently rushing water. 'The Mixed Energy Qi is supposed to guide me?' It had been two hundred years, so he wondered if the legacy had survived intact. This place, battered by wind and rain, was completely different from the cave where Mok Yi-do's martial art manual had been. Still, the residual thoughts left in that manual were remarkable. He closed his eyes, deciding to trust it. "Hoo..." He calmed his mind and began circulating the Mixed Origin Qi Art. As expected, there was no reaction. Just as he was about to give up, he felt a certain energy. '...Hmm?' It was familiar. Faint, but distinct. An energy that contained multiple possibilities simultaneously. Similar to natural energy, but definitely Mixed Energy Qi. That energy was coming on the wind. He closed his eyes and sharpened his senses. The faintly drifting Mixed Energy Qi was gradually disappearing. This was the first time he had focused his energy circulation this intensely. 'Found it.' The direction the wind was coming from was south. It was the same as the direction the water was flowing. He saw some rogues running in the opposite direction. That was also where the map pointed. He wanted to check both, but time was short. He had to choose what to prioritize. 'Hmm...' The Mixed Energy Qi was more trustworthy than the suspicious map. After all, the legacy left by Mok Yi-do was his original purpose. He ran in the opposite direction from the others, following the Mixed Energy Qi.