Chapter 439
Chapter 439
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 439
Chapter Title: What Remains? (3)
Once again, I asked my master about publicly revealing that I was the true inheritor of the Heaven-Splitting Sword Sect.
"Will you be alright with this, Master?"
- There's no alright or not alright for me. My hated enemy is long gone, and my own body has crumbled to dust over time. But what about you? Are you truly okay with it?
My master replied as if it were no big deal.
"I'm the same. No alright or not about it for me either. Being your disciple isn't something I'm ashamed of."
When I conveyed that I felt the same,
my master cleared his throat awkwardly.
- Ahem! The guy who always nagged me about living like that is suddenly spouting cheesy lines! Gives me goosebumps, you rascal!
"That was just talk. My tastes are a bit different, so I don't follow your ways, but I respect your life itself. No lie."
- Hm! Ahem! I didn't mean you were lying.
"Then?"
- Anyway... whatever! Point is, revealing you're my successor will stir up a storm in the martial world, won't it? Some might have suspected, but making it official is a whole different story.
"Probably. So we need to discuss the details from here on out."
With my master's permission essentially granted, I turned to my Eon family juniors and spoke.
"There might be a way to draw out those Heavenly Demon Divine Cult bastards."
As I broached the topic, Yin Xia Lian tilted her head and asked,
"To lure out people who seem like they won't move no matter what... it won't be some ordinary method, right? I have a hunch it'll pile up mountains of work, but tell me. What's this method?"
"Revealing my true identity."
Namgung Young and Jang Seon, who had been listening quietly, spoke up then.
"Reveal your identity? Who in the world doesn't know Senior Yong-un?"
"Yeah? Even folks out in the Silver River Archipelago know you."
"To be precise, I'm revealing my sect. Not many truly know it. My sword arts actually stem from the same root as the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. From the Sword Demon Wi Cheol-jin. That's where it starts."
As I answered their questions,
Duggo Cheol muttered in a daze.
"...Looking back, there were parts that didn't add up if you were just a branch of the Blood Cult. You weren't... you're the Sword Demon's successor."
The other Eon family juniors had their mouths agape.
"Yong-un is the Sword Demon's successor? I had no idea!"
"What do you know anyway, Brother So-cheon? Of course you didn't. We didn't either!"
Of course, one among them did know my sect clearly.
Won-cheol, who had been there as a disciple of the divine monk when we resolved the grudge between Shaolin and the Heaven-Splitting Sword Sect, was that person.
For some reason, he spoke with a proud expression.
"Ahem. No one knew? With so many who've stayed by the Invincible Sword's side for so long, this is awkward. Only this lowly monk knew. My apologies."
Cheon Jang-ho then tilted his head with a displeased look.
"For someone apologizing, that smug grin... it's kinda irritating. Right, Ha-seong?"
"Kinda? It's blatantly worldly. Like he's not the right arm but at least the left arm of Brother Yong-un... That guy's turning less like a monk by the day, copying someone."
As Yin Ha-seong said that, Jeong Hyeon chimed in.
"Young Master Yin? Who do you mean by 'copying someone'—me?"
Tang Ok-gi slammed the table and spoke up.
"Ack!!! You idiots! Save that for later!"
He pulled the conversation back on track.
"Eon Yong-un. Is it okay to say that outright? From what I saw in the Ma Clan Alliance's research, it was tangled up with the Kunlun Sword Debate and even Beggars' Sect disciples. Right, Seolji?"
"Yeah. But now, the Beggars' Sect won't be an issue. Not Elder Strong Bone or Professor No Sam—they're not the type to dwell on the past. Same reason our family should be fine. Shaolin and Wudang, though..."
I cut off Zhuge Seolji's words and spoke.
"I've sorted things with Shaolin through Abbot Merit. That's why Monk Won-cheol knows."
"Oh? Really?"
"Yes. Not fully resolved, but Wudang's done too, through Senior Myeong Yeong."
Paeng So-jin, who was nearby, added,
"If those two sects are settled... no issues, right? The last party in the Kunlun Sword Debate was our Paeng ancestor's Sword Emperor Dan Cheon-do. My father won't hassle Yong-un over that."
Yin Xia Lian shook her head as if that was wrong.
"Not just those involved might hassle Young Master Eon. Even unrelated people might seize the chance to slander him."
Her eyes soon sparkled as she continued.
"But Young Master Eon isn't the type to care about such people. Even if the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult decides to stay put... if he steps up and declares himself real and them fakes? Honestly, which demon could stomach that? I'm for it."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The Eon family juniors were all in favor.
However, revealing I was the Heaven-Splitting Sword Sect's successor wasn't something I and the juniors could decide alone.
"Can't use the ancestor candidate ploy this time."
To announce it to the world, I'd need the gazettes, and they'd find out soon enough anyway.
"Master and Young Master Yin were right."
The moment the gazette printed it, chaos would erupt across the martial world.
"Those in the orthodox and unorthodox paths who've always disliked me will raise their heads."
The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult would come charging out of the Ten Thousand Great Mountains, grinding their teeth.
Thus, I still needed to convince the Orthodox Path Alliance executives and the Righteous Martial Academy's board.
When I requested they gather, the alliance elders still at the academy assembled quickly.
"Thank you for gathering at this student's request... Hm. Medicine King, you're here too?"
Surprisingly, Medicine King O Gyun-cheon was among them.
"What? Can't I hear this?"
"No, it's not that. You seemed to dislike such matters."
"I do. But I don't mind the alliance's stance. With all these warriors gathered, I worried there might be bloodshed, so I tagged along."
No harm in it.
The upcoming battles would inevitably spill blood, so O Gyun-cheon's aid was essential.
I nodded and began recounting the discussion with my juniors.
"...So, what do you think?"
When I finished,
Father was the first to speak, his lips heavy.
"You forged that bond when you were exiled from the family."
Myeong Yeong added,
"Demons revere him as their progenitor, making him taboo in the orthodox paths, but his life offers lessons to righteous warriors. It makes them ponder what righteousness truly is."
Gongson Mu-gyeol, listening, brought up practicalities.
"It'll definitely provoke the demons beyond endurance. Whoever it is, they'll be furious. Doesn't seem like a rash decision."
"Yes. I'm not rushing into it. We'll base our plans on this and calculate thoroughly. Like who might move and how if the demons stir. Only push forward if it seems viable."
Namgung Won followed.
"Demons aside, it'll draw arrows from within too. Even Jongnam left Mount Dan River fuming. Will they stay quiet? I'm asking if you've considered that."
I countered Namgung Won.
"Elder, when you taught me the sword, didn't you roughly guess my arts' origins?"
"I did. But guessing and self-confession are worlds apart."
"It was bound to come out eventually. You all like me, so you overlooked questions about my sword. But those eager to criticize will pounce at the chance."
"...Continue."
"If it's inevitable, shouldn't we use it to our advantage?"
Zhuge Cheok nodded and spoke.
"Right. Missing the chance fearing internal orthodox arrows is like skipping the bath over maggots. So, if we proceed, how will you spread it?"
"Via gazettes."
"Printing in the gazettes that Eon Yong-un is the Sword Demon's successor... Hm. It'll spread fast, but isn't it a bit light? As a demon leader, I'd dismiss it as trickery."
"Revealing the site where I inherited his relics should suffice. Demons have scoured for it nearly a century."
"The Sword Demon's tomb! Oh ho. That's solid bait. Wait, considering your past deeds, don't tell me it's Lake Tai's..."
"Yes. Retreating Village. So, precautions... Besides calculations for the Alliance Lord, we should relocate the villagers and notify the Hao Clan ahead."
The elders nodded gravely.
Among them, Medicine King O Gyun-cheon crossed his arms and spoke.
"That Langya Sword maniac said he'd stay at the academy. Asked why, and he said he pondered what remains in his life. Told him it wasn't from my head, ask Yong-un... So this is it."
Muttering to himself, O Gyun-cheon turned to Abbot Gyeong Hye and spoke again.
"Then I should stay at the academy awhile too. Abbot Gyeong Hye, can this old man borrow a lab room?"
"No trouble. What for?"
"Wasn't it Yong-un who spoke of what remains in life?"
"Yes."
"I should try leaving something behind too."
"But aren't you already raising disciples at Benevolent Hall?"
"Looks like the grudge with Heavenly Demon Divine Cult won't heal itself. We'll be short on healers, no?"
"Can't train them short-term."
"True, but that Vitality Restoration Training he leads isn't for poison experts either, right? Whip up a course on self-treatment for warriors in emergencies and teach it."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ A month later, the agenda from the Orthodox Path Alliance discussion appeared in the Blue Bamboo Pavilion gazettes, posted across the land.
As expected, chaos began sweeping the martial world.
The epicenter was the Ten Thousand Great Mountains.
From lowly grunts to archdemons titled "Ma," all in the Demon Palace were stunned by the news.
It finally reached the Heavenly Demon Grotto, where Hyeok Ryeon-gang, the highest seat, sat.
"Cult Leader!"
Normally, to avoid disturbing Hyeok Ryeon-gang's training, Radiant Left Emissary Byeon Cheol-yeong would notify at the entrance and wait, but he rushed in urgently.
The man closest to Heavenly Demon in a century, Hyeok Ryeon-gang, lifted his closed eyelids.
"Left Emissary. Rushing straight to the training chamber unlike you. Why seek this seat?"
"The Revered Heavenly Demon's tomb location is revealed. I risk rudeness to see you."
At Byeon Cheol-yeong's words,
Hyeok Ryeon-gang rarely showed intense emotion.
"Where? Send the Right Emissary? Convene the Five Elements immediately! I'll go myself!"
"...But here's the thing."
Yet Byeon Cheol-yeong hesitated.
Hyeok Ryeon-gang narrowed his brows and pressed.
"It's the founding Heavenly Demon's will, Revered Heavenly Demon's matter, perfecting the Heavenly Demon Divine Art—what's with the hesitation? Speak!"
"...Eon Yong-un claims he found it and inherited the Revered Heavenly Demon's relics there."