Chapter 75: Gaining Fame (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 75: Gaining Fame (2)
Early in the morning, the members of the Murim Alliance’s Nine Dragons Group were in a bustle, preparing to depart for headquarters.
I was in the middle of a wide, gaping yawn when Hwang Chu approached me.
“Young Hero Eo, I’d like a word with you in private.”
I followed Hwang Chu to a secluded spot.
“What is it?” I asked once we reached a quiet corner.
“Before I head to the Murim Alliance, there’s something I must give you. I spent all night agonizing over this, but I feel I must entrust this to you.”
“What is it?”
At my question, Hwang Chu reached into his robes and pulled out exactly twelve Soul Spirit Beads, handing them to me.
“I want you to keep these, Young Hero Eo.”
“Aren’t these Soul Spirit Beads? Why give them to me?”
“These twelve are the ones with the strongest ghostly energy among all the beads here. They are things that must be destroyed. If they were to fall into the wrong hands and be released into the world, they would trigger a bloodbath.”
“If they’re that dangerous, wouldn’t they be safer with the Murim Alliance?”
Hwang Chu shook his head.
“These must be obliterated. I currently lack the spiritual power to do so, but I intend to grow my strength and eventually purify them. That was my master’s dying wish. Furthermore, even if I hand them over to the Alliance, there’s no guarantee they won’t eventually fall into someone else’s hands. So, please, keep them safe until I return for them.”
To think he would readily entrust something so vital to me.
“Do you trust me enough to leave these with me?”
Hwang Chu gave a thin smile.
“I have a decent eye for character. I’m sure there are people more trustworthy than you somewhere in this world, but among those I know, you are the most reliable. Right now, I trust you more than I trust the Murim Alliance.”
Hwang Chu had done quite a lot for me already, so I couldn't bring myself to refuse his request. Besides, it was something I felt I could manage, so I accepted the burden.
“Understood. I’ll keep them safe.”
“Also, to protect these, I’m going to place a special ward on the beads. This ward will allow you to manifest the Ghost Heaven Soul Formation I mentioned before. I’ll set it up just in case.”
It seemed Hwang Chu wanted to provide me with a powerful trump card, likely remembering how we had nearly perished when caught in the Demonic Cult League’s Heaven-Earth Dragnet.
“If those bastards from the Demonic Cult League target you and put you in danger, activate the formation. However, unless you absolutely intend to kill your opponent, you must not use the Ghost Heaven Soul Formation. Once triggered, it forces the targets into a state of possession, making them slaughter one another. You must consider its use very carefully.”
Hwang Chu added another warning, as if he still couldn't quite set his mind at ease.
“It is powerful enough that even I used it to escape from masters of the Demonic Cult League. Do not use it recklessly.”
“Don’t worry.”
Hearing his words made me a bit concerned about the Demonic Cult League. However, since the whole Murim knew Hwang Chu was handing everything over to the Alliance, no one would suspect he’d entrusted these specific items to me.
“But how do I trigger the Ghost Heaven Soul Formation?”
“You shake the Soul-Soothing Three Spirit Bell just as before. However, you must recite a mantra for the formation to activate.”
With that, Hwang Chu taught me a mantra consisting of two verses.
“Ah! You should keep those as well.”
I had tried to return the Soul-Soothing Three Spirit Bell and the Ghostly Sword I had attached to my bracelet, but Hwang Chu stopped me. He stood still for a moment, muttering an incantation in an unknown tongue. After chanting for a long while, he spoke to me again.
“I’ve placed a new spell on the Soul-Soothing Three Spirit Bell and the Ghostly Sword, so you should be able to use them without restriction. I’m entrusting them to you because I believe in you, so you must never let them fall into anyone else’s hands.”
“Shouldn't these be handed over to the Alliance too?”
“I have my reasons, so please, just do me this favor. I only need to hand over the manuals and the remaining Soul Spirit Beads to the Alliance.”
Since this wasn't a losing deal for me, I nodded.
“Don’t worry. And travel safely.”
Hwang Chu cupped his fists in a respectful salute, and I replied, “Once the investigation at the Murim Alliance is over, come straight to Ten Thousand Dragons Fortress. I’ll be waiting.”
A short while later, Mu Gyeol and the Nine Dragons Group departed from the Ilguk Sect. Mu Gyeol’s face remained stiff the entire time, likely because he felt humiliated after only managing a draw against Jeok Yeong.
Seeing him like that felt incredibly satisfying.
Hey, kid. The world is vast, and masters are plenty. Use this as a lesson to cultivate your character and become a better man.
Feeling gratified, I patted Jeok Yeong on the back.
Once the Nine Dragons Group left, the Demon Subjugation Groups from various sects also prepared to depart. Some groups had been completely wiped out, while others hadn't suffered a single casualty. Having no casualties usually meant they had spent the time hiding to avoid the Blood Lamas, so no one looked upon those groups with much respect.
However, most of the groups had lost more than half their strength fighting the Blood Lamas. The Qingcheng Sect, Emei Sect, and Tang Clan had lost many masters; it was obvious the other sects had fared no better.
Because of this, their expressions were particularly grim. The warriors of the Nine Great Sects often studied together for years or even decades, so losing a comrade felt like losing a blood relative.
Hye-sim’s face was exceptionally dark. Even though she had played a major role in exterminating the Blood Lamas, the grief of losing her junior sisters seemed to outweigh any sense of accomplishment.
Still, she managed a smile when she saw me.
“If you ever pass by the Emei Sect, please seek me out. You helped me so much, yet I haven't been able to properly repay you. If you visit our sect, I will make sure to treat you with the hospitality you deserve.”
Hye-sim’s words warmed my heart. People often say members of the prestigious Orthodox sects are selfish and bureaucratic, but the more refined their cultivation, the more their humanity shines through.
“I appreciate the sentiment. I consider meeting you, Fairy, to be one of the greatest blessings of my life. If I ever find myself near your sect, I will certainly visit to pay my respects and listen to your teachings.”
When I responded, Hye-sim gave a soft laugh.
“Judging by the atmosphere, Young Hero Eo, you might just end up joining the Buddhist priesthood.”
Pung-hyeon, watching the two of us, threw in a playful joke. It could have been seen as teasing his senior, but Pung-hyeon’s free-spirited nature was well-understood by Hye-sim.
“It’s not impossible. They say 'Truth is not found in words.' I believe that the Dao and the Buddha-mind are transmitted through the heart, not through scripture. That is why I have been so moved by the Fairy’s heart.”
When I countered Pung-hyeon’s joke with one of my own, he shook his head in disbelief.
“Young Hero Eo, it’s not just your martial arts; that silver tongue of yours has truly reached the level of a master.”
Having grown quite close through this ordeal, Pung-hyeon and I shared a few more words before parting ways.
After saying goodbye to the Emei Sect, I met Taoist Myeonggwang. The Qingcheng Sect was also about to leave, and he offered his farewells when he saw me.
“You were a great help, Young Hero Eo. I heard that my juniors and disciples were able to escape that deadly formation all thanks to you. If you ever visit our sect, I will be sure to repay this debt.”
Myeonggwang naturally spoke to me in an informal, friendly manner. It showed how much affinity he felt for me, which actually made me feel quite good.
The members of other Demon Subjugation Groups watched with envious eyes as I conversed with the likes of Emei’s Hye-sim and Qingcheng’s Myeonggwang. For a low-ranking warrior from a small-to-mid-sized sect to mingle with high-ranking masters of the Great Sects was something usually only possible in one's imagination.
“It was the honor of a lifetime to meet you, Taoist Myeonggwang.”
As I spoke with humility, Myeonggwang smiled.
“I wish our Man-gong would take after you. He’s so quiet and shy that I worry about his social skills.”
Myeonggwang glanced toward Man-gong as he spoke.
“You worry too much. I’m certain Taoist Man-gong will one day make the name of the Qingcheng Sect ring throughout the Murim. That is the kind of man I see in him. I’ll be quite hurt if you pretend not to know me then.”
When I joked, Man-gong’s face turned red.
“Meeting you was my greatest gain here, Young Hero Eo. Once I have cultivated further, would it be alright if I sought you out for a debate on the sword?”
Man-gong asked, his competitive spirit subtly showing.
“Of course. But I am worried. I’ve heard a saying in the Daoist school: 'If one hears the Way in the morning, one can die in the evening.' If you intend to seek me out, please don't realize the Way too quickly. You have to be alive for us to debate, after all.”
When I joked using a scholarly reference, Man-gong laughed.
“Infinite Life Buddha... I shall trust that you aren't wishing for my early demise.”
As expected of priests from a great sect like Qingcheng, their cultivation was deep enough that they didn't take jokes about death too seriously. And whether it was Hye-sim or Man-gong, their spiritual depth made their smiles look remarkably similar—hollow yet benevolent.
Is this what they call 'Ten Thousand Paths Returning to One'?
To think I’m even coming up with concepts like that. My own enlightenment must be getting quite significant.
After parting with the Qingcheng priests, I stood before Tang Ja-seong and Tang Bin. Strangely, I felt quite reluctant to face them. I sensed a feeling of exclusion and jealousy coming from them.
Tang Ja-seong, who had lost the relaxed composure that usually symbolizes the strong, now looked like a finely honed blade. Where had all that leisure gone? I felt a bit sorry for him.
Tang Ja-seong was likely returning with the heaviest heart. Due to the nature of the Blood Lamas, they were the natural enemy of the Tang Clan, and their losses were heavy. The Blood Luo Living Jiangshi, in particular, were immune to both poison and hidden weapons, leading to the deaths of many Tang warriors.
It was understandable why Tang Ja-seong’s face was so grim.
“You’ve worked hard,” I said, greeting them first since they remained silent while staring at me.
“It was you who did the hard work, Young Hero Eo,” Tang Ja-seong replied. His spirit was still intact, his eyes sharp.
“I owe you for when we were trapped in Ban Ye’s formation,” he added.
Tang Bin cut in. “Our clan never forgets a grudge, but we never forget a debt of gratitude either. Please visit us sometime. We will reward you.”
Tang Bin spoke in a bold tone, as if she were obsessed with repaying the favor.
“Understood. If you give me the chance to see the Tang Clan, how could I refuse? I shall visit soon.”
In a situation like this, saying "don't worry about it" would only wound their pride further and invite their wrath. So, I simply played along.
I watched as the Tang Clan masters filed out of the Ilguk Sect. Do Yeon and Jeok Yeong came to my side.
“I wonder if Young Master Tang will face trouble because of this Blood Lama incident,” Do Yeon mused.
“What do you mean by that?” Jeok Yeong asked.
“In the Tang Clan, a successor must pass many trials before becoming the Clan Head. Even if they are of the direct bloodline, they won't become the leader if they fail to perform. Young Master Tang failed to achieve any merit this time and only lost the clan’s masters, so he might be in a crisis.”
Perhaps because of that tradition, the heads of the Tang Clan had been notoriously ruthless, cold, and persistent for generations.
I chimed in with a bit of pseudo-wisdom.
“They say a man’s true worth isn't revealed when he’s at the top, but when he’s facing a crisis. This will be the time to see Young Master Tang’s true value.”
I looked around the Ilguk Sect and continued.
“That aside, it seems there will be no one left to help the Ilguk Sect if we leave as well. I think we should stay and help out.”
If anyone thought I was helping the Ilguk Sect because I had nothing better to do, or out of some sense of chivalry, they still didn't know Eo Ja-seo at all.
There were still some bastards I hadn't met yet. Bastards I absolutely had to meet.
I couldn't leave because I expected them to come looking for me tonight. Since I had to stay another night to meet them anyway, I might as well perform some good deeds to polish my image.
I wasn't some greenhorn like Mu Gyeol, who only wanted to do the easy work and take all the credit. To give weight to a name, one’s actions had to match.
Sure enough, our Demon Subjugation Group received praise from everyone for this decision.
“Thank you, Young Hero Eo. I will never forget that you stayed until the end to help our sect. It has been a huge help.”
“Don’t mention it. I’m just glad I could be of service.”
I replied calmly to the Ilguk Sect Leader’s words. Helping a sect like this meant I could call in a favor if something happened in the future.
Martial artists were clear-cut about their debts and grudges. If they held a grudge, they would seek revenge until they died; if they owed a debt, they would repay it even at the cost of their lives. This was exactly why the Murim was never free of conflict.
Some say they want a peaceful Murim, but would a peaceful Murim even be the Murim? Has there ever been a single day in Murim history without dispute or battle? Even a cursory glance at history says no.
Therefore, to survive in a Murim with such a history of struggle, one must make more allies than enemies. That way, there would be fewer people trying to stab me in the back.
“By the way, I don't see the Yellow Dragon Secret Sword.”
“The Yellow Dragon Secret Sword?” I asked, hearing the name for the first time.
The Sect Leader smiled as I reacted as if I’d heard an unfamiliar name.
“Ah, you didn't know. That is Young Hero Jeok’s nickname. It’s the title he earned from his duel with Squad Leader Mu Gyeol, the Wudang Sword Dragon. They say it’s because his sword flashes with golden light like a yellow dragon.”
I smiled, feeling pleased.
“There isn't a soul in this region who hasn't heard of the Yellow Dragon Secret Sword, the sworn brother of the New Dragon of Sichuan.”
Is that why? The way many people here treated us had changed. In particular, they called our group the 'Invincible Demon Subjugation Group,' and even high-level masters didn't dare look down on us.
It was likely because we had defeated the Blood Lamas and broken through the Heaven-Earth Dragnet set by the Demonic Cult League masters. Surviving those numerous brushes with death was finally paying off.
“The New Dragon of Sichuan, the Yellow Dragon Secret Sword, and the Invincible Demon Subjugation Group. I like the sound of that.”
Looking around, I realized everyone seemed to have their eyes on me. It felt as if they were watching my every move.
Without realizing it, an old habit of mine surfaced—one of the 'masterly' traits I had practiced so hard.
I clasped my hands behind my back and took on the characteristic, carefree posture of a great master, gazing up at the sky.