Chapter 84: Creating Martial Arts (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 84: Creating Martial Arts (1)
I couldn't help but marvel as I looked at the massive, fortress-like walls of the Nine Demons Chamber.
"The walls look twice as high as when I saw them years ago. This isn't just a sect headquarters; it’s a citadel."
My admiration wasn't merely for the height of the walls. Painted across the stone were murals of a colossal dragon ascending to heaven—but with a twist that caught the eye: warriors were shown beheading the ascending beast.
It was exactly what one would expect from the Nine Demons Chamber. Even without an explanation, the meaning was clear. It symbolized their intent to cut down the Nine Great Sects of the Murim.
I never understood why the Nine Demons Chamber harbored such deep-seated hatred for the Nine Great Sects. Despite the murals, they had never actually engaged in open hostilities with them. Instead, their history was filled with frequent clashes against the Demonic Cult League.
As I passed through the massive iron gates, a wave of nostalgia washed over me. I had been inside these walls ten years ago, back when I was just a young attendant.
I swore I’d never set foot in this place again when I left, yet here I am.
I sighed, looking down at the Golden Qi-Poisoning Bracelet on my wrist—the very thing that had forced me back here.
I wonder if you’ll be my blessing or my curse.
Jeok Yeong and the Twin Heroes of Guiyang looked flushed with excitement, while the members of the Demon Subjugation Group were gawking at their surroundings like country bumpkins. In contrast, I maintained a calm, stoic expression.
I’m quite good at self-hypnosis.
To be honest, it was natural for third-rate martial artists to react like the Demon Subjugation Group. Maintaining the composure of an enlightened high priest wasn't easy. It was all thanks to my mental conditioning.
To keep from feeling overwhelmed, I was constantly repeating a mantra to myself.
I am the leader of the Nine Demons Chamber. I am the leader of the Nine Demons Chamber.
By doing this, I didn't shrink away when I locked eyes with the Nine Demons Chamber's warriors. Instead, I stared back with such confidence that they looked at me with curiosity rather than contempt.
Most people tended to interpret this attitude not as arrogance, but as boldness and grit. Even if I lacked true skill, the aura I projected when I imagined myself as the actual leader was worlds apart from the vibe I’d give off if I saw myself as a mere weakling.
Still, I was shocked by how much the place had changed in a decade. It had been large back then, but it hadn't been filled with such a dense array of magnificent, towering pavilions. With this level of power, they were almost comparable to the Black Fortress.
As I walked through the gates with an air of unshakeable confidence, Ham Bi-hye spoke up.
"You truly are something else, Young Hero Eo. Even masters usually find themselves momentarily cowed by the majesty of our headquarters when they first enter."
I gave her a thin smile.
"A mere building cannot intimidate me. I only feel pressure from the masters who might reside within it. Since I haven't met them yet, why should I feel cowed?"
I said this loud enough for the Demon Subjugation Group to hear, as they were still looking around like tourists. My words made them flush with embarrassment and straighten their postures.
Ham Bi-hye looked impressed by my seemingly profound remark. However, Galwi’s expression soured at her praise.
As we passed the iron gates and headed toward the pavilion where the Chamber Leader resided, we encountered many members of the sect. To my surprise, every single one of them bowed respectfully to Ham Bi-hye.
Though she faced assassination threats on the outside, she seemed to still hold significant authority within the Nine Demons Chamber. That was a relief. If her position inside was precarious, my life wouldn't be worth a copper coin.
Just as we reached the pavilion of the Ninth Chamber Leader, Ham Jeok, I felt my confidence waver for the first time since entering. It wasn't because of a master's killing intent, but because of a woman's extraordinary beauty.
Ham Bi-hye beamed when she saw her.
"Sister!"
The woman, who had been stroking a white cat, smiled brightly as Ham Bi-hye ran toward her. While Ham Bi-hye was bouncing with excitement, the woman greeted her with a calm, poised demeanor.
"It’s been a long time, Bi-hye."
"It has! I’m so glad to see you looking well."
The two of them chatted for a while, losing track of time, before Ham Bi-hye turned back and gestured for us to approach. When Galwi didn't budge, I took it as a sign for me to step forward and walked toward them.
"Sister Seo Rin, do you know who this is?" Ham Bi-hye asked, gesturing toward me.
"I’m not sure. Seeing how much you like him, is he perhaps your sweetheart?"
My face heated up at the suggestion, but I couldn't afford to lose my cool. I maintained my composure and simply gave the woman named Seo Rin a polite smile.
"Don't be silly! This is the New Dragon of Sichuan, Young Hero Eo."
The exaggerated introduction was a bit much, considering I wasn't some absolute master. Judging by the fact that Ham Bi-hye called her "Sister," she clearly held a high-ranking status within the sect. Since my name had been brought up, I offered a formal greeting.
"It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Eo Ja-seo."
With people like this, less is more. A brief, clear greeting makes one appear more confident. It’s usually those lacking self-assurance who ramble on to build themselves up.
"Oh, I’ve heard much of the New Dragon of Sichuan’s heroics. I am Seo Rin."
Oh? So my fame has reached as far as Yunnan?
Well, Sichuan and Yunnan were neighbors, so it made sense for rumors to travel. Since she kept her greeting short, I responded with a respectful fist-and-palm salute.
"Young Hero Eo, Sister Seo Rin is the daughter of the Third Chamber Leader."
My eyes widened slightly. I had suspected she was someone of importance given her beauty and bearing, but I hadn't expected her to be the daughter of the Third Chamber Leader.
The Third Chamber Leader, Seo Gong, known as the "Demon of Chaos," was a warrior who had pacified the dark martial world with a single blade. It was said that when he swung his weapon, a bloody wind of red energy swept the surroundings.
Given the rumors that he and the Ninth Chamber Leader, Ham Jeok, were sworn brothers, it made sense for his daughter to come out and greet us. But even so... was she the only one?
I felt a pang of dread. Out of the nine chamber leaders, was the Third Chamber Leader the only one Ham Bi-hye could rely on?
"Meow!"
Suddenly, the white cat in Seo Rin’s arms licked the back of my hand.
"What a beautiful cat."
I hadn't noticed the cat at first, blinded by Seo Rin’s beauty, but now I saw the snow-white creature. When I reached out my hand, the cat continued to lick it.
Ham Bi-hye and Seo Rin watched the scene with astonished expressions.
"That’s incredible. I’ve never seen Seol-a lick the hand of someone she’s just met."
Not understanding why they were so shocked, I replied, "Is it that unusual for a cat to lick someone's hand?"
Ham Bi-hye glanced at Seo Rin before explaining.
"Young Hero Eo, this isn't an ordinary cat. It’s a spirit beast that lives in the snowy mountains. It’s intelligent enough to understand human speech and is capable of killing a tiger."
I quickly changed my tune. If Seo Rin was carrying it in her arms, she clearly cherished it.
"I see. No wonder it has such a unique aura. It may look like a cat, but its presence is truly like that of a tiger."
This wasn't just flattery. I could see a fierce, predatory glint in the white cat’s eyes. But why was this little beast acting so friendly toward me?
Usually, spirit beasts were wary of strangers and only loyal to their masters. I was puzzled by its display of affection.
The only reason I could think of was the nature of my internal energy from the Circulating Dantian. I recalled a passage from a manual stating that while energy from a Foundation Building Pill is condensed and feels aggressive, energy from a Circulating Dantian is constantly flowing and feels soft and gentle.
If this spirit beast felt a sense of kinship with me, that had to be the reason.
"If Seol-a likes you, then you must be a good person, Young Hero Eo."
Seo Rin’s gaze became noticeably warmer. Such spirit beasts were known for their ability to see through a person's true nature—perceiving things that humans could not.
After a few more words with Ham Bi-hye, Seo Rin took her leave. Seeing Ham Bi-hye’s reluctant expression as she watched her go, I could tell the two were very close.
We followed Ham Bi-hye into the Ninth Chamber Leader’s pavilion. As soon as we entered, a man greeted her.
"Welcome back, Junior Sister."
"Eldest Brother!"
A tall, well-built man smiled at Ham Bi-hye. But before she could even return the greeting, she asked a question.
"Where are Grandfather and the other brothers?"
She spoke to the man she called "Eldest Brother" as if he were her own flesh and blood.
"The Mad Demon and the other disciples have all gone to guard the Chamber Leader’s closed-door training room. The physician went in just a moment ago."
"Then why are you here, Eldest Brother?"
"I just stopped by to pick up something I needed. I heard you arrived, so I wanted to see you."
The man turned his gaze toward me.
"Is this the person you mentioned?"
His eyes were fixed on my wrist. He was clearly waiting for the Golden Qi-Poisoning Bracelet.
"Oh, Young Hero Eo, this is my Eldest Martial Brother."
Only then did the man introduce himself.
"I am Yuk Cheong-woo."
I couldn't detect even a hint of the dark martial world from this man. Instead, he felt like a warrior from a prestigious orthodox sect.
Has the aura of the Nine Demons Chamber's warriors changed in the last ten years?
Probably not. The warriors I’d encountered on the way here were practically dripping with the aggression and sinister killing intent characteristic of the dark world.
"Should we go to the training room right now?" Ham Bi-hye asked.
Yuk Cheong-woo shook his head.
"No. The physician said he needs to stabilize the Chamber Leader's blood vessels with the Heart-Guiding Blood Flow Divine Art first. He also said that when you arrived, you should wait here until the Elder calls for you."
Ham Bi-hye let out a sigh of relief.
This confirmed one thing for certain: the person suffering from Qi Deviation was none other than the Ninth Chamber Leader, Ham Jeok. Why else would they mobilize disciples to guard the training room?
The fact that Ham Jeok had fallen into such a state was a shock to me. I had suspected it, but I’d hoped I was wrong.
Who was Ham Jeok? He was the "Sword Demon" of the current dark martial world. His Purple Lightning Sword technique was ranked among the top ten sword styles in the Murim, and he was considered one of the five greatest living swordsmen.
The Sword Demon was on the same level as the Sword King of the orthodox world.
"Is this the man who possesses the Golden Qi-Poisoning Bracelet?"
"Yes," Ham Bi-hye replied before continuing. "We need to appoint Young Hero Eo as the Acting Squad Leader of the Blood Wind Squad immediately."
"Right. If the opposing faction makes a move first, it’ll be a headache for us."
I didn't quite follow their conversation.
"Is there a reason I must be the Acting Squad Leader?"
I had assumed Ham Bi-hye told Galwi I was the Acting Squad Leader just as a cover since I was an outsider, but it seemed there was more to it. Seeing my confusion, she explained.
"I apologize for not telling you sooner. The truth is, not just anyone can enter the Chamber Leader’s closed-door training room. It’s under strict guard, and only those with a certain status are permitted entry. Only immediate family, direct disciples, and those of squad leader rank or higher can go inside."
"Ah, I see."
I finally understood why she was so intent on giving me that title. Since I had the Golden Qi-Poisoning Bracelet, I needed to enter the room with her, but without an official rank, I’d be barred. Thus, she was giving me the temporary position of Acting Squad Leader of the Blood Wind Squad.
However, appointing an Acting Squad Leader wasn't as simple as just saying the words. While appointments up to the rank of Hall Master only required a report to the respective Chamber Leader, a squad leader rank required the approval of the Nine Demons Chamber’s Elder Council.
I learned this the very next day when several elders suddenly stormed into the pavilion, demanding to see Ham Bi-hye.
"Welcome, Elders."
Ham Bi-hye’s expression darkened; she clearly wasn't pleased by their visit.
"We heard the Junior Sect Leader brought an outsider to serve as the Acting Squad Leader of the Blood Wind Squad. We came to remind you that a squad leader must be a warrior belonging to the Nine Demons Chamber. We hope you haven't forgotten."
The three elderly men, all with long beards and sharp eyes, glared at her. I could tell instinctively that their relationship was strained.
"That rule applies to permanent squad leaders. As I understand it, the position of Acting Squad Leader can be filled by an outsider," Ham Bi-hye countered firmly.
The role of Acting Squad Leader was a special provision that allowed for the appointment of external masters. It was a chamber rule created long ago to recruit outside talent and bolster the sect's strength, so the elders had no grounds to argue.
"Hmph. If the Ninth Chamber Leader were here, he wouldn't have made such a mistake."
"That is my father's concern. In his absence, I have the authority to make decisions. Do I not?"
Finding no leverage against Ham Bi-hye, the three elders turned their sights on me.
"Are you the boy who is to be appointed as the Acting Squad Leader?"
Internally, I wanted to snap back and ask why they were speaking so informally to me, but I held my tongue. There was no need to draw unnecessary attention to myself with provocative behavior.
"Eo Ja-seo, a junior of the Murim, greets his seniors."
As I gave a fist-and-palm salute, an elder dressed in black spoke.
"I hear they call you the New Dragon of Sichuan. If you want to play hero, you should have stayed in Sichuan. What business do you have here in Yunnan? Do you think the Nine Demons Chamber is some playground? It would be best for your health to return to Sichuan quietly while we’re still being polite."
Ham Bi-hye bit her lip as she watched the elder openly threaten me. He was a prime example of those who had changed their tune the moment her father fell into Qi Deviation.
I looked at the three old men and spoke.
"I appreciate your concern, but please refrain from telling me what to do. I am here at the invitation of the Junior Sect Leader. Therefore, the only ones who can tell me to leave are the Young Lord and the Ninth Chamber Leader."
When I shot back at their insolence, the elder in blue laughed.
"Hahaha! What an interesting boy."
He was laughing, but I could sense a bloody wind brewing behind his words.