Chapter 416
Chapter 416
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 416
Chapter Title: Spectacle (5)
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"……."
In the silence that followed as Master's name slipped out, with me offering no response...
Myeong Yeong spoke up again.
"Ah. The title 'Sword Demon' might be displeasing, but since he has no other moniker, that's how I referred to him. I hope you understand."
At this point, there was no reason to hide my master's lineage.
'...In any case, it's something the Baekdo know as Sin Seung, and the Blood Cult as Sa Gyeom.'
I nodded and replied.
"It's not displeasing. And it's true that I inherited that man's martial lineage."
Myeong Yeong let out a dry chuckle.
"As I thought. Looking back, that blood technique you use..."
"You can call it Blood Curse Technique."
"I see. Your Blood Curse Technique seemed of a different quality than what could be explained by mere influence from your ally Dokgo Cheol. Now that I think about it, the Blood Demon's occasional hesitations come to mind as well."
"Why does it feel like you're reminiscing about the past... Did you confirm it during the Body Exchange Technique?"
"Exactly. At first, I was doubtful. Remember when I examined your sword back at the Wudang? Your martial arts carried a domineering aura, yet they also held the warmth of the Buddhist aspiration to embrace all things."
"……."
"But after this incident, I became certain. Your martial arts bear a slight resemblance to those of the demonic path... Anyway, after the Body Exchange Technique drained my energy and I collapsed, my disciples and others made a fuss, forcing me to rest. In that quiet time, his name came to mind."
Myeong Yeong continued, having broached the subject.
"Wi Cheol-jin. The man from Shaolin who refined the techniques passed down by the Mendicant Monk and left behind the foundational martial arts of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult."
As Myeong Yeong spoke, Master unwittingly interjected telepathically.
- ...Why is this sharp-tongued fellow dredging up a story from over a century ago now?
Myeong Yeong had named one of the three who dueled Master in the Kunlun Sword Debate.
"Infinite Sword Emperor. Coincidentally, remove just one character from his title, and you get mine. To me, the one who would be my master is the great hero whose lineage you inherited—one of those who stood in his way."
"……."
"I know nothing of the inner details beyond the Infinite Sword Emperor being a participant in the Kunlun Sword Debate... But the very fact that even a later generation like me knows nothing of it means it wasn't a heroic tale worthy of being passed down as legend."
Regret laced Myeong Yeong's tone, so I asked him directly.
"Are you... apologizing?"
But Myeong Yeong simply shook his head calmly.
"No. How could I apologize? An apology without knowing the full story would be empty, and besides, you can't scoop up spilled water. I simply felt that the Way had been fulfilled. I merely felt the weight of that Way."
Then he closed his eyes gently.
"Just as you became a junior of the Baekdo... Perhaps Wi Cheol-jin, that swordsman, could have etched a name into history other than Sword Demon. But if we go down this path of reflection, there's no end to it. It simply made me newly realize how heavy the consequences are of pursuing a misguided Way."
For a moment, Myeong Yeong calmly bared his heart.
He lifted his closed eyelids and added the rest.
"This isn't an apology. Does this chaotic world need the Infinite Sword? In my view, it needs you more than me. That's what I felt, and I gave what I could. That's all."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Having recovered, I joined the others in cleaning up the area turned into a sea of blood and corpses.
Ding-a-ling- Ding-a-ling-
After coffining the Baekdo corpses identifiable as hailing from a homeland and reducing the Blood Cult's unidentifiable remains to handfuls of ash...
Represented by Myeong Yeong, Dokgo Cheol, and myself, we solemnly held a memorial rite.
Whoosh-
Roar-
As the final act of burning paper money to send with the departed as travel funds, marking the end of the Blood Cult war...
Sa Gyeom spoke up with a serious expression.
"I went into battle with Jin Go-ryang prepared to die, but unfortunately, I survived. Didn't we say that if we lived through this fight, we'd share a drink? What about you all, including Go-ryong?"
The first to react was Blood Hand Scholar Son Cheon-jeong, standing nearby.
"Over half of the cultists who followed me have passed on. Tonight, sober as it is, feels a bit melancholic. But we have no alcohol to share. The one bottle we offered at the rite is all we have."
Dokgo Cheol nodded in agreement and added,
"Jin Go-ryang and his gang wrought havoc even here, so the locals tremble at any Central Plains folk. I barely got that one bottle by insisting it was for the memorial."
Listening Hao Sect Leader Mok Yeom-yak chimed in.
"We have some. Jin Go-ryang was about to declare his new cult soon. Seems he stockpiled a lot of fine liquors for it."
She gestured to those behind her.
Hao Sect disciples promptly carried out rows of elegant white porcelain jars from her quarters.
As everyone marveled at the sight...
Mok Yeom-yak gave a dry smile.
"I didn't mention it since using Blood Cult liquor to comfort the souls of the fallen didn't seem right. But for the survivors to share as they press on, it fits perfectly."
At her command, the Hao Sect disciples moved swiftly.
Though the weakest in martial prowess among the participants, they were seasoned in such matters.
"Fishermen! You can play carpenter well enough, right?"
"You mean assemble tables? Got it."
Simple drinking setups were quickly prepared.
People gathered around, tilting their cups one by one.
Glug glug glug glug-
As it was a gathering to honor the departed...
It wasn't a lively feast.
Some called out names of lost comrades, others poured a cup toward the distant riverbank.
Thus, they emptied the drinks before them.
At that moment...
Sa Gyeom lifted a jar toward Myeong Il and spoke.
"Wudang Taoists aren't bound by a precept against alcohol, as far as I know... Care for a cup?"
"……."
But Myeong Il didn't answer immediately, and silence fell over the group.
"……."
"……."
"……."
The youngest of the Wudang Five Heroes, Myeong Han, hurriedly broke the quiet.
"Ahem. Sa Gyeom is correct. Prohibition isn't a core precept. But our second senior brother personally abstains from drink..."
Before he finished, Myeong Il clasped his hands in salute toward Sa Gyeom and replied.
"Let's share a cup."
"If you have a personal precept, I won't press."
"No. On a night like this, I can't settle for just tea."
Those who had run toward irreconcilable poles—Baekdo and Madou—now stood back-to-back, survived, and clinked cups.
The scene stirred a strange feeling in me.
Apparently, I wasn't alone.
Beside me, Myeong Yeong, watching the same sight, suddenly smiled faintly.
Seeing that smile spread across his pale face filled me once more with complex emotions.
"You look pleased. Your junior here just inherited your lineage, so now whenever I venture into the jianghu, I'll hear that I must uphold the Infinite Sword's duty."
I lightly conveyed this to Myeong Yeong.
He maintained his smile and looked at me.
"Oh dear, that's unfortunate. Thanks to you, I feel unburdened. If I'd known it would be like this, I'd have done it sooner."
Myeong Yeong meant it as a jest to ease my concerns.
But it hinted at thoughts of retirement, so I said sternly,
"Unburdened? There's still the matter of late fees between us."
"...Late fees?"
"Yes."
"...You're not one to jest three times. You're not seriously saying I must pay for being late?"
"Yes. My grandfather becomes the Golden Buddha of Shanxi. I don't joke about money. All three times were sincere."
"……?"
"?"
At my words, Myeong Yeong swallowed dryly and asked back.
"My assets amount to one begging bowl and this pine-patterned sword. Ah, I could perhaps pawn some rice cakes... How much?"
"You were late, putting my life at risk. Pay the value of my life. What do you think my life is worth?"
"I see. No matter what I say, you'll claim the value of someone the world needs is worth no more... So, what do you really want?"
"Join the Eastern Path Alliance as an advisor. There's much for you to do."
Myeong Yeong pondered briefly, then nodded.
"If I can help, so be it."
He gazed again at the mingled Blood Vanguard, Eastern Path Alliance, and Hao Sect sharing drinks, smiling faintly.
"Still... A sight like this is worth a fortune."
I shifted my eyes around as well.
This place, once seen as a den of Blood Demon-worshipping devils...
Now, with all battles ended, revealed majestic mountains and lush forests.
Curving streams added to the scenic beauty.
Amid such a landscape, those who chose the same path mingled.
"Indeed. This sight truly is a spectacle."
I couldn't help but smile with him.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Meanwhile.
Far northwest from Myeokgap Mountain lay the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains, reachable only after a long trek.
A man arrived there amid biting, howling winds.
None other than Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's Radiant Right Emissary Baek Ri-gu.
"It's been a while. Left Emissary."
His presence—he who had long overseen relations with the Great Desert's Sun Palace and Tianzhu's Thunder Sound Temple on the western side of the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains—prompted Radiant Left Emissary Byeon Cheol-yeong, managing the Myriad Demon Hall in Hyeok Ryeon-gang's stead, to set down his letter and speak.
"Your presence here now means... the Blood Cult has fallen."
Baek Ri-gu nodded at Byeon Cheol-yeong's words.
"Correct. The Baekdo won completely. The Hao Sect broke their neutrality to side with Baekdo, so Jin Go-ryang and his self-proclaimed protectors all met their ends."
"Kuhahaha. Tripped up by the Hao Sect, of all things. A fitting end for a rebel who raised arms against the Cult Leader."
Byeon Cheol-yeong could laugh at Baek Ri-gu's report because the Blood Cult's fall wasn't a loss for the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
"Regrettable we couldn't execute him ourselves, but as long as he died pathetically, it's fine. This solidifies our alliance with the Sun Palace and Thunder Sound Temple."
"If we ever fell, it'd mean the bulwark shielding the Central Plains vanishes, so yes. Demon Brain went to strengthen ties with them, which is why I'm here to report."
"And the opposing Jeon Gal-cheok?"
"Jeon Gal-cheok's forces aren't large enough to pursue beyond the Cheonjang Mountains."
As he answered Byeon Cheol-yeong's questions, Baek Ri-gu sat at his seat in the Myriad Demon Hall.
Now, he posed his own.
"How's the main branch lately? I heard the Cult Leader plans to name one of the young masters as Little Cult Leader. Any developments?"
"Narrowed to the eldest and youngest young masters."
"Hm. Then the Eight Great Families must be sorted too?"
"Yes. With Jin Ga cowering after the Jin Go-ryang affair, the remaining seven were bickering. The second young master's faction collapsed, leaving five families regrouping. Once word of the Blood Cult spreads, it'll intensify."
Baek Ri-gu nodded at the response, but another curiosity lingered.
To sate it, he spoke again.
"...I see. How's the Cult Leader these days? Can I meet him now?"
"Impossible. He passed the eighth gate recently and has entered the ninth."
At Byeon Cheol-yeong's words...
Baek Ri-gu's body instinctively bowed reverently toward the annex housing Hyeok Ryeon-gang.
"Heavenly Demon Reincarnation. Myriad Demons' Retribution."