Chapter 130: Old Ties and New Ties Arrive (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 130: Old Ties and New Ties Arrive (1)
Han Wol-baek released his horse-riding stance and gave a faint, nonchalant smile.
“The rumors of the world were wrong. The New Dragon of Sichuan isn’t just a rising star of the Murim; he is the Top Dragon of Murim. Anyone who has a problem with that will have to come find me, Han Wol-baek.”
He muttered to himself as he approached me.
“To control both sword and ring with such mastery… truly a remarkable technique.”
He offered a polite fist-and-palm salute.
“Not at all. If you hadn’t gone easy on me, Han Dae-hyeop, such a trick would never have worked. I only hope my clumsy display didn’t offend your eyes.”
Han Wol-baek stared at me intently.
“Grandfather Phoenix King was right about everything.”
He laughed, looking at me, then turned around.
“We shall meet again.”
Despite being the loser, he walked away with his head held high. He was truly worthy of being the Fist King’s disciple. That kind of spirit wasn't something just anyone could possess.
Once Han Wol-baek disappeared, I turned to the remaining martial artists.
“Now, what will you do? Will you fulfill your promise? Or will you challenge me again? I’m warning you, don’t expect me to regulate my internal energy like I did during my duel with Han Dae-hyeop. My internal energy is quite agitated from that fight.”
When I spoke in a subtly threatening tone, they began whispering among themselves, glancing at one another. Having witnessed my martial prowess, they knew that attacking would be futile.
Overwhelming power! In a way, it was the easiest way to solve the most difficult problems.
“Everyone, leave! If anyone returns seeking revenge, they will have to face my strike with their very lives!”
At my words, they glared at the Blood Witch one last time before retreating from Ten Thousand Dragons Fortress.
After the storm had passed, the people around me were looking at me with eyes full of awe.
“What is your true identity? How can you be so different from when I first met you? Have you been hiding your skills all this time? Or… did you completely assimilate my internal energy?”
Even as she spoke, her eyes betrayed her disbelief, as if such a thing were impossible.
“In all my life, I have never once revealed my full strength.”
I bluffed and turned away. If one makes a grand appearance, a grand exit is required to maintain the dignity of a master. As I walked away with a dignified stride, Jeok Yeong followed me.
“Brother, I truly respect you.”
Jeok Yeong spoke with genuine sincerity. However, I was thinking about something else. The Fist King’s disciple wouldn't have appeared here without a purpose; I felt certain that something was brewing.
*
“Indeed, he is more than worthy of being called the Top Dragon of Murim. Yes, I recognized his talent from the start. Guardian Eo is undoubtedly the descendant of a legendary master from a previous generation.”
Mok Yi-gun spoke as he raised his drink. In response, everyone in the hall followed suit and raised their glasses.
Mok Yi-gun had thrown a banquet upon hearing that I had defeated Han Wol-baek, the Fist King’s disciple, in a duel. As if I didn't know his ulterior motives. This time, the banquet was exceptionally grand, attended by all the elders and masters of the fortress. Being a wealthy place, they were able to prepare such a large-scale event overnight.
I accepted drinks from various people and soon became quite tipsy.
“Accept a drink from this old man as well, Guardian Eo.”
An old man held out a bottle to me. He was Elder Sang, the second-highest-ranking member among the six elders of Ten Thousand Dragons Fortress.
“Of course, Elder Sang.”
As I politely accepted the glass, the elder smiled broadly and poured the liquor.
Wait? His posture was strange. He was pouring with his left hand, yet he was using his chopsticks with his right.
I felt the alcohol-induced haze instantly vanish. A stinging sensation returned to the soles of my feet as a memory from long ago resurfaced.
That’s right. The assassin who stabbed my foot back then, and the one who threw hidden weapons during the duel—they were definitely ambidextrous.
I shook my head, wondering if an elder could really be an assassin. What could an elder possibly lack that would drive him to act as a spy? Still, I decided to test the waters subtly.
“Have you heard anything from the Divine Light Sect?”
At my question, Elder Sang flinched, nearly dropping the bottle.
Oho, a direct hit.
His excessive surprise was highly suspicious.
“Are you speaking to me, Guardian Eo?”
He replied nonchalantly, but his eyes were trembling—a clear sign of anxiety.
“Have you also been poisoned by a Gu parasite, Elder Sang?”
At this question, Elder Sang could no longer maintain his facade of composure and spilled his drink.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. What is a Gu, and what is this Divine Light Sect?”
Ignoring his denial, I spoke up loudly so everyone could hear.
“The force that attempted to assassinate Lady Mok and myself previously is the Divine Light Sect. And now, I intend to reveal the spy the Divine Light Sect has planted within Ten Thousand Dragons Fortress.”
Mok Yi-gun was startled by my sudden, out-of-the-blue declaration.
“The Divine Light Sect? I’ve never heard of them.”
Since no one knew of them, I briefly explained what kind of organization the Divine Light Sect was and what their goals were.
“They’re madmen who think the Murim belongs to them,” Mok Yi-gun remarked.
The elders and masters of Ten Thousand Dragons Fortress nodded at his words. The idea of trying to reshape the Murim according to one's own whims was, in a word, insane.
Mok Yi-gun stared at me and asked, “So, have you found the assassin?”
When I nodded, Mok Yi-gun shouted, “No one leave this room! Anyone who tries to leave, regardless of their rank, will be seized!”
No one moved at his command.
“Who is it! Who is the assassin!” Mok Yi-gun stood up as he spoke.
The Sword Palace Squad gathered around Mok Yi-gun to protect him. The Blood Wind Squad also gathered around me.
Elder Sang probably thinks he just needs to keep his mouth shut since I have no physical evidence.
Elder Sang had regained his composure and was now shouting loudly about how the traitor must be found. If I simply accused him of being the traitor here, it might backfire. Elder Sang was a founding contributor to Ten Thousand Dragons Fortress and held far more trust than I did.
But it’s not like there’s no way at all.
I smiled, recalling how flustered Elder Sang had been at my earlier question.
“Lady Chu, come closer!”
The Blood Witch, Chu Bong-hwa, never strayed far from my side. She maintained a distance of less than fifteen feet. She even followed me when I went to the outhouse. Since I couldn't address her rudely in front of others, I decided to call her Lady Chu.
“What is it?”
“Come a bit closer.”
As Chu Bong-hwa approached me, Elder Sang’s body began to shake like a leaf.
“As I thought!”
I had my suspicions, but Elder Sang was indeed infected with a Gu. All other Gu parasites reacted to the Blood Gu and crawled out of the body. This was all due to the aphrodisiac effect of the Blood Gu. It might sound absurd that a Gu parasite would be affected by an aphrodisiac, but the Blood Gu has the property of assimilating with a person’s internal energy, causing it to react to such substances.
As Elder Sang’s body trembled violently, people began to shout.
“What on earth is happening?”
I explained to the crowd.
“To ensure loyalty, the Divine Light Sect always poisons its members with Gu parasites to force them to obey. I know this well from an incident at the Nine Demons Chamber. The person who tried to assassinate me and Lady Mok was ambidextrous. Upon observation, Elder Sang is the only ambidextrous person among the elders. And seeing his reaction to the Gu, there is no doubt that Elder Sang is the spy and assassin for the Divine Light Sect.”
People gasped in horror as a black insect began to wriggle out of Elder Sang’s mouth. Eventually, as the Gu left his body, Elder Sang’s internal energy fell into chaos, and he fainted.
“Bind Elder Sang and throw him in the dungeon!”
At Mok Yi-gun’s roar, the warriors of the Sword Palace Squad bound the unconscious Elder Sang and took him to the stone prison of the fortress. The joyous banquet instantly turned into a scene of chaos, and everyone dispersed.
“Why is the Divine Light Sect targeting our fortress? Do you know anything, Guardian Eo?” Mok Yi-gun asked, looking at me as I stood there.
“Originally, the Divine Light Sect seemed to dispatch spies to monitor and seize control of major sects, but their reach extending to Ten Thousand Dragons Fortress suggests an intent to take over all the minor factions in Sichuan. You can see this from what happened with the Nine Demons Chamber.”
In truth, this was a thought that had occurred to me while I was pondering the situation.
“Or, they might be trying to cut off the hands and feet of the Ten Thousand Dragons Fortress.”
Mok Yi-gun agreed with my assessment.
“I think so too. Fortunately, we caught the spy, so I can breathe a sigh of relief, but it’s a bitter feeling. To think that Elder Sang was the spy…”
“The Divine Light Sect poisons not only the individual but their family as well. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate Elder Sang’s family as well.”
Perhaps shocked by the fact that a comrade who had helped found the fortress had betrayed him, Mok Yi-gun returned to his quarters with a somber expression.
I was relieved that I could catch the assassin more easily than expected. I felt a sense of liberation, as I no longer had to live with the constant anxiety of being assassinated. Feeling a sense of accomplishment from having resolved one issue, I took a deep breath and looked up at the sky.
Wait? That’s…
A single hawk was circling leisurely in the sky. There was no reason for a hawk to be nesting in this vicinity.
He must be here.
As I headed toward the main gate, the Blood Wind Squad and the Blood Witch followed me.
“I’m going to the outhouse.”
When I headed toward the outhouse, only the Blood Witch followed. I knew she wouldn't give up even if I told her not to, so I just let her be. If she moved more than thirty paces away from me, the Energy Dissipating Poison and the aphrodisiac would activate, so she had no choice but to follow.
However, I couldn't take the Blood Witch with me to meet him. So, I pretended to enter the outhouse, slipped out through the window, and used my movement technique to leave the area.
I left Ten Thousand Dragons Fortress and entered the forest. The hawk continued to circle above my head. I had many things to ask Gan Cheon-seong about the Blood Gu, so I had been looking at the sky several times a day, waiting for the hawk that monitored me to appear.
After a while, the masters of Ancient Wood Valley emerged from the forest.
“As expected! I knew you’d come if I sent the hawk.”
Gan Cheon-seong, who stepped forward, praised my quick wit. He then gave an order to the masters of Ancient Wood Valley.
“Stand guard around the perimeter.”
At his command, the masters dispersed in all directions. They were indeed well-trained experts. Once we were alone, I offered a fist-and-palm salute.
“It has been a long time, Senior.”
“I’ve heard much of your exploits on my way here. You’ve built quite a reputation in a short time.”
Since it was a compliment rather than sarcasm, I gave a small smile.
“There was an ambush while I was traveling from the Nine Demons Chamber to Junggang. If it hadn't been for the help of Ancient Wood Valley, I would have been buried there. Thank you once again.”
“I heard those were the ones controlling the Ghost Pursuit Squad.”
“Yes. They were masters of the Divine Light Sect.”
“As I thought, it was them.”
I felt something from Gan Cheon-seong’s words. It seemed as though he already knew about the Divine Light Sect. So, I decided to probe a little.
“Could it be that the reason you stayed in Ancient Wood Valley for so long was also because of the Divine Light Sect?”
Gan Cheon-seong flinched in surprise. “How do you know that?”
“Actually, when I was at the Nine Demons Chamber, the Divine Light Sect sent an envoy to propose an alliance. I was attacked because I thwarted their plans.”
Gan Cheon-seong nodded with a dark expression.
“I see. I don’t know why they’ve suddenly become so active. To be honest, an envoy from the Divine Light Sect has also come to our valley to propose an alliance. It’s caused quite a stir.”
I was certain they would do exactly what they had done at the Nine Demons Chamber. I asked Gan Cheon-seong, “By any chance, have there been people in Ancient Wood Valley who suddenly suffered from Qi Deviation recently?”
Gan Cheon-seong’s eyes widened. “How do you know that? This is a top secret even within our valley.”
As I suspected, my prediction was correct. I explained quietly.
“They use poison against any force that opposes them. Killing them would cause too much of a commotion, so they induce Qi Deviation instead. It’s all being orchestrated by the Divine Light Sect.”
“Many elders in our valley have suffered from Qi Deviation this time. We’ve been monitoring the Divine Light Sect’s envoys, so how could they have pulled it off?”
“To bring people into their fold, they poison them with Gu parasites to force obedience. Since they also poison their families, there are bound to be those who have no choice but to follow orders. Those poisoned by Gu are highly likely to be spies for the Divine Light Sect, so please be careful.”
“That’s possible. To think they would dare use Gu on us, who are famous for our Blood Wood Gu. It’s like being stabbed in the back.”
When the topic of Gu came up, Gan Cheon-seong suddenly pulled a small box from his robe.
“Thanks to your information, I think we’ll be able to wrap up the Divine Light Sect business in our valley successfully. Thank you. And this is the Gu I promised you before. It’s a pair with the one inside your body, so you can use this to extract the Blood Gu from your dantian. Shall we start right away?”
I shook my head.
“No. I can do it myself. I think it would be better for you to return to Ancient Wood Valley quickly, Senior.”
“Actually, as long as you have that Gu, the Blood Gu in your dantian will come out, so there’s no need for me to be here.”
I pulled the remainder of the Heart-Guiding Blood Flow Divine Art from my robe and handed it to him. Gan Cheon-seong examined the manual and tucked it into his robe.
“Thank you.”
“Not at all. But I have a few questions about the Gu.”
“Ask away. I’ll tell you everything I know.”
“If the Blood Gu in my dantian dies, what happens to the Gu in this box?”
“If your Blood Gu dies, the one in this box will naturally die as well.”
“If I kill the Blood Gu in this box, will the one in my dantian die too?”
“No. That’s a different story. The Blood Gu in your dantian has already been tamed by your internal energy and has developed different characteristics from the one in this box. In other words, the Blood Gu in your dantian can control the one in this box, but the one in this box cannot control the one in your dantian.”
I understood the gist of what he was saying.
“I see.”
“Still, as long as you have this Gu, you can extract the one in your dantian, so don’t worry. Even though I’m busy, I can’t just leave like this. I’ll extract the Blood Gu for you myself, so sit down.”
Gan Cheon-seong seemed uneasy about just leaving and offered his help.
“No. I can do it alone, so don’t worry. And I have my own plans, so I won’t be doing it right away.”
Gan Cheon-seong nodded.
“I understand. Since that’s your wish, I’ll take my leave. I’m taking all the masters I had assigned to you back to the valley, so there will be no way to contact me. If any problems arise, come to Ancient Wood Valley. To extract the Blood Gu, place the Gu from the box on your dantian and slowly move it toward your mouth; the Blood Gu in your dantian will follow it up. That’s how you remove it.”
“Understood.”
Gan Cheon-seong looked at me intently and said, “We shall meet again.”
With those final words, he turned away. Seeing him leave in such a hurry, it was clear that his mind was preoccupied with the Divine Light Sect.
“Please stay healthy.”
I offered a fist-and-palm salute toward the direction where Gan Cheon-seong had disappeared. It was a gesture of respect for the man who had helped me so much.