Chapter 138: Saving Tang Ja-seong (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 138: Saving Tang Ja-seong (2)
“After I had my revenge, I felt nothing but emptiness. I had mastered the Small Hand Skill to get my vengeance, but without using the Yang-Stealing Yin-Supplementing Art to maintain my internal energy, I couldn't even use my martial arts. I resolved to die. I had endured such disgrace for the sake of revenge, but once it was done, there was no reason to go on. I thought I could finally die. But I couldn't. After I slit my wrists, the world I thought I’d lost forever appeared more beautiful than anything I’d ever seen. In that moment, I felt a desperate, maddening urge to live. To live like a human being. I wanted to show that life to the Sect Leader and my lover.”
I felt a pang of pity for Chu Bong-hwa, who had lived her life solely for the sake of vengeance.
“Live a life without regrets,” she said.
“What even is a life without regrets? Just the fact that I’ve lived by the sword is regrettable enough.”
At my words, Chu Bong-hwa shook her head.
“I only realized it after losing everything. If you love those you love more deeply, and cherish what you value more dearly, you won't have regrets.”
Hearing that made my heart feel heavy with emotion.
“Those words really strike a chord.”
I suddenly felt a sense of maturity from Chu Bong-hwa, and without realizing it, I began speaking to her with formal respect.
She stared at me intently and asked, “Why the sudden formality?”
“Is it... okay if I speak casually?”
As expected, the casual speech didn't come easily. Sensing her mental maturity made it hard to treat her like a peer.
“It would be even stranger to hear you use formal speech with this face. When I took on this appearance, I already discarded my age. So don't worry about it.”
I watched her reaction carefully and lowered my speech to a casual tone.
“Alright. Don't go saying something else later.”
“Just know that you're the first person to survive after speaking to me so casually.”
“What? You’re making me nervous when you put it like that.”
When I feigned being frightened, Chu Bong-hwa broke into a smile.
In that moment, she wasn't the Blood Witch Chu Bong-hwa; she was the Blood Goddess Chu Bong-hwa.
“Squad Leader!”
“My Lord!”
Hearing the loud shouting and the sound of people running toward us, it seemed the Blood Wind Squad had arrived.
Crash!
The door burst open, and the Twin Heroes of Guiyang and the Blood Wind Squad swarmed around me as I lay there. Even Jeok Yeong looked at me with a worried face, which made me feel a bit embarrassed.
“It’s not a big deal, there’s no need for such a fuss.”
At my words, the Twin Heroes of Guiyang spoke up.
“What do you mean it’s not a big deal? You fought the Divine Light Sect! Lady Chu, why did you leave our Lord in this state?”
It seemed Po Zhongyin had a death wish, given how he was interrogating Chu Bong-hwa.
“What are you talking about? It’s thanks to Lady Chu that I’m even alive. Can’t you see her bandages?”
My injuries didn't even require bandages, but Chu Bong-hwa was covered in them almost from head to toe.
“I’m just resting for a bit because my internal energy is depleted. The one who’s truly injured is Lady Chu.”
Once the Blood Wind Squad calmed down at my explanation, they began rowdily cursing the Divine Light Sect with every insult imaginable.
Chu Bong-hwa quietly slipped away.
Watching the Blood Wind Squad, I recalled what she had said moments ago.
‘The people I should love and cherish more... are these guys, aren't they?’
Looking at them with that mindset, even the Sichuan Seven Heroes looked cute, and the Four Ghosts of Sichuan seemed downright lovely.
“Have you all been eating properly?”
At my question, Jeok Yeong barked back.
“Brother! Is food really the priority right now? We’re trying to come up with a plan to deal with those Divine Light Sect bastards, and you’re casually asking about meals?”
‘If I were to lose them, would I turn out like Chu Bong-hwa?’
I suspected I would.
“It has been a while.”
Just as I was about to get up and head out, the Phoenix King and the Fist King entered. Han Wol-baek nodded to me in greeting.
“Shall we talk?”
At the Phoenix King’s words, I sent all the Blood Wind Squad members out of the guest room. Seeing these masters made me feel uneasy, as if I were being pulled further into the center of the storm.
“How is your body?”
“I just collapsed briefly due to energy depletion, so you don't need to worry.”
The Phoenix King gave a thin smile and said, “Your skills have improved significantly since I last saw you. You’re almost at a level where you could hold your own against this old man.”
I scratched my head.
“You flatter me too much. How could a junior like me hope to block even a single move from a senior? All of this was possible thanks to your teachings. I thank you once again.”
The Fist King, who had been sitting silently, looked at me and spoke.
“This is the first time I’ve heard of the Phoenix King teaching anyone anything.”
“This junior will eventually become a pillar that leads the Murim,” the Phoenix King replied.
At those words, the Fist King stared at me intently and said, “Then please look after my disciple in the future as well.”
I laughed awkwardly at the Fist King’s joke and scratched my head. Then, a sudden curiosity struck me, and I asked.
“But how did you two happen to come to that manor?”
It was far too coincidental that they had appeared just in time to save the Silver Dragon when he was in danger.
“Actually, we were monitoring that manor even before the Silver Dragon arrived. We had received intel that they were holding a meeting that day. We were surprised when the Silver Dragon suddenly showed up. Since he was in danger, we couldn't just stand by, so we jumped in. If you hadn't been there, we would have been in trouble too. If they had all swarmed us at once, even this old man couldn't have been certain of the outcome.”
I felt a sense of doubt.
‘Why are these two monitoring the Divine Light Sect?’
The Phoenix King spoke up.
“I came here because I have something to tell you.”
“This junior is all ears.”
“I heard that you fought the Divine Light Sect when you were with the Nine Demons Chamber and when you were returning to Ten Thousand Dragons Fortress.”
“Yes, it seems I have a persistent ill fate with them.”
“The ones you fought this time were the elders and protectors of the Divine Light Sect. They will surely seek revenge for the elders and Overlords you’ve killed. Since that puts you in danger, you should go and stay at the Murim Alliance.”
Hearing that, I thought it was a reasonable suggestion. In fact, I had been very worried about that myself. And hearing the Phoenix King’s concern for my safety made the bridge of my nose tingle with emotion. Having lived a lonely life, I often found myself moved by someone’s kindness or consideration.
Since many of the Divine Light Sect’s core members—the elders and Overlords—had died by my hand, they would undoubtedly use any means necessary to get their revenge.
“I understand. I will consider it.”
“I’ll send word to the Murim Alliance, so go there without any worries. We still have things to investigate in Sichuan, so we’ll follow later.”
“But why did so many elders of the Divine Light Sect enter Sichuan in the first place?”
I asked out of curiosity but immediately reproached myself for asking something unnecessary. The Fist King looked at me with a momentary flash of wariness. However, the Phoenix King spoke freely without any suspicion.
“The Divine Light Sect recently formed an alliance with the Green Forest and the Yangtze's Eighteen Water Villages. After that, the elders and protectors appeared in Sichuan in large numbers to form an alliance with Foreign Forces as well. We received intel that there is a meeting scheduled in Sichuan with the core leadership of those Foreign Forces. We are currently investigating exactly when and where that meeting will take place.”
“When you say Foreign Forces, which group specifically are you referring to?”
My tongue was wagging again, moving independently of my will. The Phoenix King seemed to deliberate for a moment on whether it was okay to reveal the secret to me.
“It’s something that will be revealed soon anyway, so I see no reason to hide it from you. There is a power that recently unified the Foreign Forces. According to recent information, the Blood World Cult has unified the Foreign Murim.”
“The Blood World Cult? Weren't they wiped out long ago in the allied war between the Murim Alliance, the Nine Sects and One Clan, and the Nine Demons Chamber?”
The Fist King shook his head.
“No. The leader of the Blood World Cult was killed by the Murim Alliance Leader, but a significant number of their high-ranking officials escaped alive. It seems they gathered their strength and rose again. The important thing is that the Blood World Cult has regained its power, conquered the Foreign Murim, and is now trying to join hands with the Divine Light Sect. If those two combine their strength to seize hegemony over the Murim, the world will once again be drenched in blood.”
The Fist King’s grim conclusion made the situation seem incredibly grave.
“The Murim Alliance is currently keeping a close eye on Sichuan because of this. A bloodbath might erupt here. It would be fine if the Sichuan Murim could just keep them in check, but the problem is they still don't know the true identity of these people.”
The Phoenix King added to that.
“Because of that, the Divine Light Sect is trying to bring all the martial sects based in Sichuan under their thumb. That way, it will be easier for them to operate.”
Hearing that, I decided I should leave Sichuan as soon as possible. Since they told me to go to the Murim Alliance, seeking safety there seemed like the wisest choice.
After discussing the state of the Murim a bit more, the Phoenix King and the Fist King stood up to leave.
“In any case, your help was great this time. We have work to do, so we must be going. We’ll see you again.”
The Phoenix King gave a benevolent smile, like a friendly neighbor, and took my hand. Since our martial origins were somewhat connected, he seemed to feel a special affection for me.
After seeing them off, I took a walk alone. A suspicious wind was blowing through the Sichuan Murim, and I was contemplating how I should act amidst the turmoil.
As I walked and thought, I eventually found myself at the government office’s training ground. Soldiers who were off duty were diligently practicing their martial arts. I stood to one side, watching them and nodding.
The martial arts of government soldiers and Murim practitioners were fundamentally different. Soldiers focused on external arts, while Murim practitioners focused on internal energy. The martial arts performed by the soldiers were mostly based on the Eighteen Martial Arts, which excluded internal power. Upon becoming a soldier, training in the Eighteen Martial Arts was mandatory.
Among the military officers, there were many experts in these external arts. The government knew that mastering internal energy couldn't be achieved through simple training, so they focused heavily on the external side.
When I was young, I also dreamed of becoming a soldier. However, to become a salaried soldier, one needed a clear social status and a guarantor. It was even said that it required a bribe, so becoming a soldier was no easy feat. As long as there was no war, it was a profession that allowed one to live a decent life.
“What are you looking at so intently?”
As I was lost in old memories while watching the soldiers train, a man who appeared to be an officer approached and asked. Judging by his reaction, he didn't seem to know I was a Murim practitioner. I wasn't carrying a sword, and since I had just thrown on some random clothes to see off the Phoenix King, it was natural he didn't recognize me.
However, a few soldiers passing by saw me and shouted.
“Ah! It’s the New Dragon of Sichuan!”
“What? You mean Young Hero Eo?”
At those words, the soldiers swarmed around me. The officer who had spoken to me looked embarrassed and cupped his hands in a polite salute.
“My apologies. I didn't recognize the hero of Sichuan.”
Normally, military officers don't use the martial salute, but this man must have seen his share of battle, as the gesture came naturally to him. I had no choice but to return the salute.
“Not at all. Well then, I’ll be going.”
I turned to leave, but one soldier spoke up.
“Since Young Hero Eo has made the effort to come here, please give us a few words of wisdom.”
His request was met with agreement from all sides.
“Please tell us how to master internal energy!”
I abandoned my plan to slip away and turned back.
“It is dangerous for those who protect the people to master internal energy,” I said. “When you learn martial arts through internal energy, it becomes naturally easy to harm people. Soldiers are those who protect the people; would it be right for you to cause them harm? That is likely why military officers do not focus on internal cultivation.”
I was just making things up, though there were other reasons they didn't learn it. Besides, if soldiers mastered internal energy, it would indeed be the commoners who suffered.
“Then what should we do when we have to catch lawless martial artists? We cannot catch them with the martial arts we are learning now,” one soldier asked.
Martial arts without internal energy might work against commoners, but they were no match for Murim practitioners who had cultivated their inner force.
I sighed. It seemed every soldier in the office had gathered around me. Whether they were martial artists or soldiers, everyone wanted to hear a word from an expert. After all, these soldiers were also people who lived by the spear and sword.
I was in a situation where I had to say something that sounded plausible. One of the bothersome things about becoming an expert was that there were many opportunities to give long-winded speeches like this. It was becoming a bit much for my limited knowledge.
In the end, there was only one thing I could tell them.
“Among the warriors known to the world, there is one I admire most.”
The soldiers’ attention focused on me.
“It is none other than the King of Kicks, Meng Yu Ji Sung-bak. He was a warrior who pacified the world’s Murim with nothing but his kicking techniques, a true martial artist who defeated the prominent experts of his time. Later, he was crowned the King of Kicks. But even he had a time when he was a weakling who suffered mistreatment. However, he gritted his teeth and conquered the Murim with his kicks—what a great warrior he was! If you all train in one of the Eighteen Martial Arts as diligently as Meng Yu Ji Sung-bak, how could you not become experts? And one more thing: the one who led the King of Kicks to become an expert was none other than Radalando Heedonggu. You already have many instructors and officers to lead you. Do not forget that these men can become your Radalando Heedonggu. Doing your absolute best in the environment you are given—that is the way to become an expert.”
The gathered soldiers all nodded at my words.
“As expected of Sichuan’s Number One Expert, every word he says strikes a chord.”
Someone’s comment sent a chill down my spine.
‘From the New Dragon of Sichuan to Sichuan’s Number One Expert... Being called the New Dragon is fine, but being called the Number One Expert is hard to handle. There are so many martial sects in Sichuan; even their sect leaders alone would surpass me.’
Still, I felt less cheated than usual. If these guys had started shouting about reaching enlightenment after hearing my words, I would have lost my mind.
It just goes to show that enlightenment can only be attained by those who have prepared steadily. As is the way of the world, only those who are prepared can seize the opportunity. Thinking about that, I felt a sense of doubt about whether I had truly lived my life with such preparation.