Chapter 381
Chapter 381
-----------------------------------------------------------------
>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 381
>Chapter Title: Joining Episode 100 (2)
>-----------------------------------------------------------------
The residence of the Leader at the Heaven and Earth Society's main branch.
"Cough, cough..."
Hearing the coughing from beyond the blanket, Vice Leader Mong Seo-cheon clicked his tongue.
The coughs were getting worse by the day, and he desperately wanted to call in the renowned physician Hoe Ta-myeong.
Yet the Leader showed no interest in treatment whatsoever.
Instead of healing, he was fixated on the Sacred Flame Command Leader of the Plum Blossom Cult. It was baffling why.
Could bringing her here really improve his condition?
'I have to get him to recover somehow.'
The Leader had no children, only his three disciples.
If he had heirs, there would at least be a pretext to solidify the succession. But now factions had split into three, and the infighting was escalating.
Especially,
'The Eldest Young Master's movements are suspicious.'
Ever since Great Young Master Na Yul-ryang emerged from seclusion, he had been on the move without restraint.
He was visiting neutral sects and subjugating them one by one. Soon, he would clash head-on with the alliance of Second Brother Jang Neung-ak and the youngest, Wi So-yeon.
No, they might already be fighting in the shadows.
Up to this point, it was somewhat understandable.
'A successor has to be decided eventually.'
Otherwise, the internal strife would drag on, becoming poison for the Society in the long run.
However,
"Leader... There are rumors that Great Young Master Na Yul-ryang is making contact with the Elder Hall. Other sects aside, those elders..."
"Cough, cough. It seems the time has finally ripened."
"Yes?"
What did he mean by the time ripening?
As Mong Seo-cheon puzzled over it, the Leader's voice continued from beyond the blanket.
"It means they no longer intend to go through me."
"What? Does that even make sense? No matter what, how could the retired elders interfere in the Society's internal affairs?"
"Leave them be. They only move on his command anyway."
"Leader... You mean him?"
"Who else?"
Mong Seo-cheon furrowed his brow at the Leader's question.
He had a good idea who the Leader meant.
But that person had passed away long ago.
So how could the Elder Hall...
"More importantly, have they arrived yet?"
The Leader asked then.
"You mean them...?"
"If they escaped Kaifeng safely, they should be nearing the main branch by now."
'Ah!'
Only then did Vice Leader Mong Seo-cheon realize who the Leader was referring to.
"Just now, a messenger pigeon arrived from Mok Mu-yak."
"How's it going?"
"They escaped successfully, but due to pursuit from the Imperial Capital, they'll detour via Guizhou Citadel to shake them off."
"Guizhou... Coming from the west, then? Cough, cough."
"Seems like it. And there's something else urgent I need to report."
"Urgent?"
"Yes. This has stirred unusual movements from the Justice Alliance."
Mong Seo-cheon passed a prepared report toward the Leader's blanket.
The Leader took it and slowly scanned it, his eyes lighting up.
"The Seventh Heaven?"
* * *
Young Manor Lord Gu Ung-hwang personally escorted Mok Kyung-un's subordinates to one of the vacant guest halls in Spirit Sword Manor, bowed politely, and stepped out.
"Rest well, then."
Only after moving far from the guest hall did one of the Spirit Sword Manor's swordsmen assisting him cautiously speak up, his tone puzzled.
"Um... Young Manor Lord. Was it necessary to guide them yourself? Couldn't you have left it to us?"
Gu Ung-hwang chuckled at the question.
"If it were something to entrust to you, I would have. But regardless of the outcome, they've entered the Lord's service now. Don't we need to check who these underlings are?"
"Ah. Was that your intent? I failed to read your mind."
"No need for that. Don't worry about it."
"But what did you think of them?"
"Of what?"
"The Heavenly Demon Lord's subordinates. Honestly... I was quite shocked. That Broken Precept Monk—isn't he Ja Geum-jeong, one of the Three Madmen?"
"Yes. It seems so."
Even Young Manor Lord Gu Ung-hwang had been stunned to see the Broken Precept Monk Ja Geum-jeong.
But what surprised him more wasn't Ja Geum-jeong.
The man in the mask with its peculiar pattern and the one leaning on the serpent staff—their skills were utterly unfathomable, no matter how he looked.
This led him to conclude they were masters above his own level.
'Not a single ordinary one among them.'
The others were the same, including Broken Precept Monk Ja Geum-jeong, and even the two youngest-looking ones.
Both had reached the Superb Realm.
How could his subordinates all be so extraordinary?
With just these, they could wipe out one or two mid-sized sects overnight.
With such remarkable forces under him, it was a mystery how his name and fame hadn't spread yet.
Now that one of the Six Heavens, his father Gu Cheon-mu, and Spirit Sword Manor had joined his banner, his power had effectively doubled.
What on earth does this lord plan to do with such might?
His curiosity grew by the day.
* * *
Inside the guest hall.
Once the Spirit Sword Manor's Young Manor Lord who had guided them departed and his presence faded, Seop Chun spoke in disbelief.
"Am I dreaming right now?"
Mong Mu-yak shook his head with a somewhat dazed expression at the question.
He was just as shocked.
When the Young Manor Lord first called their lord the Heavenly Demon, he wondered what was happening.
But everyone was floored by his words.
[Our Spirit Sword Manor has sworn allegiance to the Heavenly Demon as our lord.]
'!!!!!!'
Even Mara Hyun, who rarely showed emotion behind his mask, and Gu Yang-so, the Eight Poison Serpent Staff living a new life under his human皮面具, reacted the same.
They too were stunned by Young Manor Lord Gu Ung-hwang's declaration.
And rightly so—if Spirit Sword Manor were an ordinary sect, it might have been acceptable, but they were swordsmiths who profoundly influenced the Central Plains' swordsmanship.
Moreover, their Manor Lord, Gu Cheon-mu, was one of the Six Heavens at the pinnacle of the current martial world.
For such a colossal figure to pledge loyalty to their lord, Mok Kyung-un—it was hard to believe even after hearing it.
"...Seems we're serving someone far greater than we imagined. Don't you all think so?"
"......"
Everyone nodded silently at Seop Chun's words.
The event had delivered a massive shock to them.
The incidents at Shaolin Temple and the Sichuan Tang Clan were impressive enough, but once this spread through the martial world, the ripples would be enormous.
A powerhouse like Spirit Sword Manor had joined their lord's banner.
"We've been underestimating our lord."
Mong Mu-yak, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke.
"Underestimating?"
"Yes."
"Even after watching him so closely?"
"...Yes. Naturally, since we thought his goal was simply to become the Leader's fourth disciple."
"......"
Seop Chun's eyes took on a strange glint.
He understood what Mong Mu-yak meant.
He had chosen to follow Mok Kyung-un partly for his prowess and capacity, but decisively because he seemed a candidate for next Leader.
And Mong Mu-yak was right.
It had been an underestimation.
Their lord's vessel wasn't something they could casually judge.
Who could have imagined him subduing one of the Six Heavens on the Leader's level?
He was no longer a vessel the Leader could contain.
He was a grandmaster in his own right.
Then, Broken Precept Monk Ja Geum-jeong, sipping from his gourd, chimed in.
"Kuh. So that's why you followed the master all this time? Puhahaha! Who cares whose disciple he becomes?"
He burst into wild laughter, amused.
Seop Chun scratched his head, sounding a bit indignant at the attitude.
"You wouldn't say that if you knew how fast he's grown."
When they left the Society, he was already a monster, but not to this extent.
Surpassing walls to reach the Profound Realm wasn't enough—he had even subjugated one of the Six Heavens.
'Monster... Yes, this is a true monster.'
Mara Hyun, arms crossed and leaning against the wall in silence, inwardly clicked his tongue.
He hadn't expected such rapid growth when he first met Mok Kyung-un.
Even when escaping the Imperial Palace, hadn't he faced North Blade King Gu Seong-baek of the North Faction—another of the Six Heavens—alongside Six Heavens Tiger So Ye-rin and Blood Saint of the Blood Cult without faltering?
Now he stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the pinnacle Six Heavens.
"Ha."
Had there ever been anyone in martial history who grew this fast?
If it spanned years, it might make sense, but it was just two or three months—harder to believe.
Then Seop Chun said,
"But it's a bit regrettable."
"What is?"
"Due to the palace pursuit, he used the alias Heavenly Demon, but imagine if he'd built fame with his real name."
"Real name?"
"Yes. If Mok Kyung-un had crushed the Shaolin 108 Arhats Formation, sealed the Sichuan Tang Clan for sixty years, and subjugated Spirit Sword Manor under that name, the Leader's seat would be secured by reputation alone. I don't get why he won't even let the Society know."
Mong Mu-yak snorted at Seop Chun's words.
"You really don't know?"
"What?"
"Sigh... You really don't. Figures, since you only know how to swing a sword, not use your brain."
"...Then enlighten me, oh wise one, on our lord's intentions."
"It's not about intentions. Our lord has no need to reveal he's the Heavenly Demon."
"No need?"
"Right. If he does, do you think the Great Young Master and the second and third will just check him? No. He's an outsider recruited from outside, from the orthodox faction no less."
"Ah..."
"Even if recognized for talent alone, once they realize that talent is beyond control, how do you think the Society will react?"
Seop Chun replied in a sobered voice.
"They'd go beyond checks—might even block his entry altogether."
"Now you're getting it."
Mok Kyung-un had already reached a level to duel the Leader directly.
If such a figure sought entry, he'd face all opposition, and in the worst case, outright rejection.
"He's not that shortsighted. But it's funny seeing you analyze so coldly."
"......"
"Though you pledged loyalty reluctantly, your roots are as successor to Vice Leader Mong Seo-cheon, the Leader's right hand."
Mong Mu-yak's eyes gleamed at Seop Chun's words.
He'd thought him simple, but he'd been watching him closely for Mok Kyung-un—no, their lord.
Suspecting betrayal at any moment, huh.
Understandable, of course.
He'd have done the same in this situation.
But not anymore.
"You're right. But things are different now."
"Different?"
"...Yes. Now, I'm just one who wants to see how far our lord will go."
Seop Chun's lips curved up at that.
"First time our thoughts align."
End of Joining Episode 100 (2)