Chapter 46
Chapter 46
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: Death Mirror Ice Art
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Death Mirror Ice Art... A mirror that reflects death, is it? Just hearing the name made it clear why this forbidden text had been designated as such.
"This is..."
Opening the book, contrary to the ominous title, it was filled with surprisingly detailed and foundational techniques.
Methods for circulating Yin Energy to wield Ice Arts, internal energy cultivation techniques, all illustrated meticulously—it looked like a pure and orthodox martial art.
As I flipped through the pages one by one, before I knew it, I was immersed in the content, losing track of time as I read.
"I see."
After devoting nearly an hour to the book and reaching the final pages, I finally understood why it had been classified as a forbidden text.
The contents were as follows.
The early sections described methods for a man's body to absorb and circulate Yin Energy. The techniques were so detailed and unique that they offered a fresh perspective on Ice Arts.
The key point was that rather than filling up on Yin Energy through Yin Absorption methods, it was more efficient to weaken the suppressive Yang Energy and thereby handle the Ice Art.
I agreed with this. In practice, when dealing with vast amounts of Yin Energy, I often operated my qi with the mindset of inverting Yin and Yang.
But as the book progressed to the middle, the content took a drastic turn. Faced with an absolute shortage of internal energy, the author had resorted to taboos.
Absorbing the chill from the dead.
The Yin Energy of those who died harboring grudges was far stronger than that of the living. Of course, before absorption, the chill would typically dissipate, making it impossible with ordinary methods.
Yet the author of this manual had succeeded. They devised a technique to extract the chill from the Baihui acupoint of humans on the verge of death.
And from this point, the descriptions grew vague and disorganized, hinting at the author's deteriorating mental state.
Well, who could perform such an act—extracting chill from a human soul—in their right mind?
By the final section, it seemed the author had fallen into qi deviation; only wild, illegible scrawls and erratic illustrations remained.
This was less a martial arts manual and more the ravings of a madman.
"Death Mirror Ice Art..."
Yet for some reason, I couldn't tear my eyes away from the book.
Thinking about it, I'd always been drawn to things that were twisted or off-kilter. Probably because I myself was an incomplete human.
What kind of life had the creator of this art lived? How had someone who began with pure intent to study Ice Arts descended into such horrors?
Of course, the world was full of warriors who stepped into the jianghu with pure ambition for strength, only to gradually break down. But cases this extreme were rare.
Putting aside the inexplicable stirring in my heart, I tucked the book into my bosom. With the chill I already possessed, I could master this art without resorting to the madness of preying on the souls of the dead.
And perhaps, I could achieve the realm its author had desperately sought.
That aside, filling Yin Energy not through Yin Absorption but Soul Seizure methods...
The author must have been so ugly he couldn't get a woman, or someone utterly incapable of killing one.
"Well, that's none of my concern."
Shaking off the flicker of pity, I gathered a few other manuals and left the spot.
Exiting the Martial Studies Hall and heading to the main gate, the warriors I'd seen upon arrival were still guarding it.
Our eyes met with one of them, and he flinched in surprise, hurriedly bowing to me.
"We apologize for the grave discourtesy we committed before!"
"We apologize!"
One apology sparked the others, who bowed deeply with loud voices.
"Think nothing of it. No need to apologize."
They must have heard that I was truly the Sword Dragon and nearly suffered disaster due to the earlier incident of being locked in the basement.
"No, we did commit a grave error. Please, at least accept our apologies."
"You merely did your duty. I have no intention of rebuking you for it."
While it was unjust to be thrown into the basement after dealing with the spy and returning, that wasn't their fault.
Guarding the headquarters gate against a stranger who showed up banging on it with the head of a Non-Alliance faction was only natural.
By the book, they deserved a reward.
"We are deeply grateful for your magnanimity!"
Finally relieved, they relaxed their faces and expressed thanks. Some even gazed at me with sparkling eyes.
In my previous life, I could never have imagined Alliance members looking at me with admiration.
A faint, awkward smile crept over me.
"Open the gate at once."
Then a familiar voice came from beyond the gate.
"Gate Master?"
"Great hero! Are you alright?"
One perceptive member opened the gate, revealing Baek Eunhwa and the Fourth Black Lian Leader, Han Do-hyuk.
Baek Eunhwa rushed straight to me.
"We were worried sick."
She threw herself into my arms, gripping me tightly as if she'd never let go.
"What brings you all the way here?"
"To find you, of course. We heard you'd been captured by the Alliance—are you okay?"
Apparently, the Lian Leader had witnessed me being dragged underground from afar and summoned her.
God forbid I'd been sentenced to the pillory—what then?
"I'm fine. More importantly, there are eyes on us, so not here..."
"Ah, my apologies."
She cleared her throat, released her embrace, and stepped back.
Positionally, she was the Lower Five Gates' Gate Master. Unwanted rumors would be a headache.
"If it's because of us, we'll never breathe a word about the two of you until our dying breath. Please don't worry."
Turning to the members with that in mind, I saw them watching Baek Eunhwa and me with pleased expressions.
Sigh, looks like I have no choice but to trust them.
"If any rumors spread, I'll come back. Keep your mouths shut."
"Yes, yes!"
Her chilling smile prompted nods amid their cold sweat.
Well, no need to worry.
"Glad to see you're safe."
The Lian Leader approached after things settled, offering a fist salute. Given his position, he must have been the most anxious about me entering the Alliance alone and nearly getting framed.
"I got lucky. Thanks to good friends, perhaps."
That said, with the Lian Leader here too, would they really have waged war if things went south?
Thanks to Jegal Hyeon, it resolved well—but a slight mishap could have sparked not a Righteous-Demonic War, but a Righteous-Evil War. The thought sent a chill down my spine.
"Shall we head back, then?"
Baek Eunhwa approached with a smile, taking my arm.
Was the basement floor too cold? Her warmth felt especially welcoming.
"Yeah, let's go home."
My place wasn't the Murim Alliance, after all.
"Damn, another bust."
"Don't be too downhearted, Brother Namgung. We've only just started the investigation."
"No leads."
In a back alley of Hukyang, Hunan, three young rising stars of the orthodox sects—tasked by the Alliance—were capturing ruffians and probing their qi flows.
Their mission: uncover traces of Demonic Cult forces hiding in the Central Plains.
Selected for their low profiles and lack of suspicion, they had been dispatched to Hunan.
'Among the rising stars, those with exceptional skill, the future pillars of the jianghu.'
Pride in that evaluation had faded; now, they felt only frustration at the lack of progress.
Three inexperienced rising stars with no connections, yielding nothing after a month—it was understandable.
"Let's head back to the inn and discuss."
The Namgung family youth, seemingly the leader, sighed and turned back empty-handed.
'Tenth time already.'
The warrior with the plum blossom-adorned sword thought. Maybe they were on the wrong track.
Their initial strategy, brainstormed together, was this:
Even if Demonic Cultists hid their demonic qi, their innate nature couldn't be concealed. Blending among commoners, they'd surely cause incidents.
By gathering intel and dealing with local thugs, they'd eventually find traces. So they believed.
Those who learned demonic arts had distinct qi flows; identifying them would be easy once found.
But reality was harsh.
No matter how many ruffians they caught or alleys they searched in Hukyang, not even a whiff of demonic arts.
'Even if the method's wrong, I can't oppose without alternatives.'
He'd initially believed in the plan too. Never imagined infamous, cruel Demonic Cultists could be so inconspicuous.
But now, he had to admit it. They needed a new approach.
Amid a leader banking on eventual success and a bafflingly silent comrade, he was the only one to voice ideas.
Back at the inn, around the table, he spoke up.
"Um, if I may—perhaps we should try a different approach."
"Different approach...? Got a good alternative?"
"No, not exactly, but if we put our heads together, maybe something better will come up."
"Hm..."
The leader had pondered the same lately. But with no better ideas, and doubting less experienced comrades, especially the silent one...
And he still thought the same.
"Until something comes up, stick to the plan. Simple methods have few flaws. We've just been unlucky."
"...Understood."
Lacking a retort, he nodded reluctantly.
"Alright, back to intel gathering, then scrutinize suspects."
They resumed activities, but a nagging unease lingered.
"Haa."
Alone, the one called Plum Blossom Sword Master looked skyward habitually. Beneath the clear blue, he thought:
'If only the great hero were here...'
Recalling the benefactor he'd heard nothing from in over half a year, he remembered accepting this mission.
Excited at the chance to meet Yi Sowol again—the one who'd defeated him in the Dragon Phoenix Tournament finals—he now wondered.
'Where are you, great hero?'
He was Unhak of the Huashan Sect, Plum Blossom Sword Master—one of the final four in the Dragon Phoenix Tournament, among the Alliance-commissioned rising stars alongside Namgung Cheon and Yuseongil.