Chapter 79: The Fist King Meets Another Mysterious Faction
The Fist King Meets Another Mysterious Faction
Chapter 79: The Fist King Meets Another Mysterious Faction
Eighth Sword was buried shoulder-deep into the ground.
It was unclear whether he had lost consciousness or died on the spot. Dan Woo-sung pulled Eighth Sword out by the head, then retrieved the demonic sword before leaping away.
His plan was to return to the Taihu Merchant Group first, explain the situation, and borrow a boat.
Dan Woo-sung was now rowing a small boat borrowed from the Taihu Merchant Group, cutting through the currents toward the center of the lake.
Inside the boat lay Eighth Sword, bound and unconscious, while the folded demonic sword rested to one side.
The demonic swordsman of the Twelve Demon Blades had remained unconscious since his fall from the building, but the problem was that his physical resilience remained intact.
Because of this, Dan Woo-sung intended to give him a water burial. The previous member of the Twelve Demon Blades he had killed had expelled black energy from his mouth before his body lost its unnatural toughness.
This meant Eighth Sword was still alive.
Perhaps he was sustaining his life through demonic arts, so Dan Woo-sung continued contemplating how to break through Blade Immunity.
His focus was more on the Sword Demon than these subordinates.
At this moment, he was not a martial artist but a researcher of the Demonic Path.
Dan Woo-sung tossed Eighth Sword into the lake. With a splash, the ropes binding him sank beneath the surface.
Eighth Sword dangled like fishing bait beneath the water. If he regained consciousness, he would wake up submerged.
Dan Woo-sung held the end of the rope in one hand and lay back in the boat, gazing at the night sky while keeping track of time.
How long can he hold out?
If demonic arts were so formidable that they could ignore breathing, the world would have long fallen under the rule of the Demonic Path.
That couldn't be the case.
Eighth Sword floated underwater...
The boat Dan Woo-sung was in drifted slowly across the lake. After staring at the night sky for a long while, he closed his eyes, the rope still coiled around his wrist.
The rope twitched—then the water beneath erupted violently.
This happened after nearly half a sijin (about an hour).
Dan Woo-sung sighed from the boat.
"Unbelievable."
It was something he didn't particularly want to understand. The Twelve Demon Blades had all mastered Muto Yeonsigong (Breathless Corpse Art), a demonic technique that allowed them to feign death by suppressing their breathing and presence.
"Impressive."
Dan Woo-sung realized he was waging war against far more terrifying opponents than he had imagined.
Yet, Eighth Sword never resurfaced. The bindings had been wrapped so tightly that movement was impossible.
Once Muto Yeonsigong was broken and his breathing finally ceased, the taut rope slackened again.
Dan Woo-sung pulled up the now-lighter rope, and a lifeless corpse, like a deflated balloon, emerged.
Another monster had died.
Dan Woo-sung stared at the demonic sword. He intended to discard this ominous blade into the water as well. Carefully gripping the hilt, he examined the blade closely.
Even its color was sinister.
A mix of gray and black, densely engraved with unrecognizable patterns.
The moment Dan Woo-sung thought the patterns resembled human figures, a ghostly wail erupted from the sword, and black energy surged into the air. The energy swirled violently before scattering in all directions.
The wail was loud and horrifying enough to blanket the entire lake.
Dan Woo-sung exhaled and tossed the sword into the water.
Splash—
Moments later, the sound of something cutting through the water came from the right side of his boat before a large vessel abruptly appeared.
If it continued forward, the small boat would be smashed to pieces.
Dan Woo-sung stood up and crossed his arms, staring at the ship.
A woman in white robes looked down at him from the deck. Her robes were uniquely embroidered with a white dragon, and her face was veiled with white silk.
The White Dragon Gate?
The woman asked,
"I believe I just heard ghostly wailing from this direction."
Dan Woo-sung deduced her faction from her attire. The White Dragon Gate—a female-exclusive sect that often competed with the Emei Sect's leader for the title of Strongest Female Martial Artist.
Though part of the White Path, they were not an actively interventionist force in the martial world.
Their last recorded appearance had been during the Five Peaks War.
Before and after that, they had left no traces—a faction mysterious enough to be called enigmatic.
Thanks to his past life's experience, Dan Woo-sung could easily distinguish friend from foe.
Since they were from the White Dragon Gate, he explained honestly.
"I killed a demonic swordsman wielding a demonic blade. The wailing came from the sword."
"Ah..."
The woman looked startled.
"What did you do with the demonic sword?"
"I threw it into the lake."
"Understood. Please wait a moment."
She disappeared from the bow. Shortly after, she returned with a rope and asked,
"Our sect leader wishes to speak with you. If you don't mind, would you come aboard?"
"Very well."
As soon as Dan Woo-sung agreed, the woman leaped down lightly onto the small boat and tied the rope to its seat.
"Let's go."
Then, both Dan Woo-sung and the woman leaped onto the deck of the White Dragon Gate's ship.
The other women of the White Dragon Gate waiting there also had their faces veiled with silk. Only then did a woman in her mid-thirties, dressed in white robes, emerge from the central chamber, lifting the curtains as she walked out.
She appeared to be the sect leader. Unlike the others, she wore no veil, and her strikingly beautiful appearance defied her age.
She wore a cheerful expression.
The White Dragon Gate was not a celibate sect like Buddhist or nun orders. However, they did not encourage marriage either—those who wished to marry simply left the sect. They were a unique faction that only took in orphaned girls as disciples.
The White Dragon Gate's leader, Joo Yeon-wol, gestured to Dan Woo-sung and said,
"Come in. You're so handsome it's troublesome. If you stay around our young disciples, it'll disrupt their training."
Dan Woo-sung coughed awkwardly and followed her into the central chamber. He knew it was a joke but had no response.
Joo Yeon-wol pointed to a table, and Dan Woo-sung sat. She took her seat as well and said,
"You said you killed a demonic swordsman?"
Dan Woo-sung nodded.
"Yes. What brings the White Dragon Gate here?"
Joo Yeon-wol tilted her head slightly as she studied him.
"How did you recognize us? You're quite young."
"I've heard descriptions of your attire and characteristics."
Joo Yeon-wol lightly clasped her hands and said,
"I am Joo Yeon-wol, leader of the White Dragon Gate. It's been a while since I've spoken to a young man, so forgive me if I ramble."
She grinned—a truly charming sight.
"Understood."
She was a bold, straightforward woman.
Dan Woo-sung introduced himself, explained the situation with the Taihu Merchant Group, and detailed how he had come to kill the demonic swordsman. Since they were part of the White Path, there was no harm in being forthcoming.
Joo Yeon-wol nodded repeatedly.
"Young hero, thank you."
"For what, exactly...?"
Joo Yeon-wol called out,
"—Bring that ominous thing here."
"Yes, Sect Leader."
Moments later, a disciple returned carrying a sword wrapped in white cloth.
Joo Yeon-wol said,
"At first, I thought he was just a lust-crazed pervert, but fighting him was a shock. He wouldn't die. My disciples and I came to the lake to give him a water burial. Only after he died did the demonic sword release a ghostly wail."
Dan Woo-sung's eyes widened.
It seemed the White Dragon Gate had also reduced the numbers of the Twelve Demon Blades.
Joo Yeon-wol continued calmly,
"Before killing him, we water-tortured him a bit. He had no name—just called 'Eleventh.' Despite his martial prowess, he was terrified of water from the start. Seems even they are human in some ways."
"How did you subdue him?"
"My disciples struggled, so I had to step in."
Dan Woo-sung nodded. As a sect that vied for the title of Strongest Female Martial Artist, the White Dragon Gate's leader capturing one of the lower-ranked Twelve Demon Blades was no great feat.
Moreover, the White Dragon Gate was not a sword-wielding sect. They were one of the rare factions in the martial world that specialized in whips. He imagined dozens of lashes immobilizing the demonic swordsman before Joo Yeon-wol stepped in.
In any case, the White Dragon Gate's appearance meant the Demonic Path's activities were growing more rampant.
Joo Yeon-wol asked,
"So, the Taihu Merchant Group's matter is resolved?"
"Yes. Sect Leader, what brings you here...?"
"About capturing the demonic swordsman? It was due to the Alliance Leader's order. Leader Yoo Jung-hong personally entrusted me to my master. Both my parents were members of the Murim Alliance—they died in the Five Peaks War. The Alliance Leader is like a grandfather to me. He said he's fighting the Demonic Path again, so I'm on my way to see him after a long time. His enemies are mine as well."
Dan Woo-sung looked at her.
For some reason, the Left Envoy he had killed came to mind.
From their conversation, he had learned that the Left Envoy had also lost his parents in the Five Peaks War. Now, here was another victim of that conflict.
Both were orphans—yet one was raised in the White Path, the other in the Demonic Path. If wars continued, such tragedies would repeat endlessly.
Dan Woo-sung said to Joo Yeon-wol,
"Please convey my regards to the Alliance Leader. Tell him a junior from the Silver River Merchant Group is doing well."
"Oh, does the Alliance Leader know you?"
"Yes, from the Phoenix Tournament."
Joo Yeon-wol clapped her hands and laughed before asking,
"Did you win?"
"Yes."
She applauded, then asked,
"Would you like to come with me? To the Murim Alliance?"
Dan Woo-sung crossed his arms and pondered for a moment before shaking his head.
"No. But please tell the Alliance Leader this: I've killed two men with Blade Immunity. And another who claimed to be the Left Envoy. They seem to be from a different faction of the Demonic Path. Judging by recent events, the Demonic Path isn't preparing for an all-out war—they're scattered, gathering funds or carrying out assassinations. I heard the Green Forest King is also dead. Another war like the Five Peaks War won't break out immediately. This time, the Demonic Path will likely commit massacres in various regions or ambush sects. Gathering everyone at the Murim Alliance isn't the right strategy."
Joo Yeon-wol nodded.
"That's important. I'll relay it."
"Of course, if an all-out war does happen, I'll be there."
Joo Yeon-wol studied him intently before saying,
"Understood. Young hero, may I ask which sect you belong to?"
"The Oryo Sect."
"And the Fist King...?"
Dan Woo-sung shook his head as if unwilling to speak. Joo Yeon-wol understood.
'The Fist King... Hm.'
She said,
"You must be grieving deeply. My condolences."
For a while, the two sat in silence. Joo Yeon-wol was deep in thought. Of course, she had roughly gauged Dan Woo-sung's martial prowess. She also recalled the Oryo Sect's martial arts.
'Lightning Style, wasn't it? Extreme Yang martial arts have clear limits without special opportunities.'
After some deliberation, she said,
"I'd like to introduce you to a senior in the martial world. What do you think? You don't have to meet them immediately. I plan to visit the Alliance Leader first before paying respects. This senior is very close to me, but... they're difficult to befriend. I can only make the introduction—you might be turned away at the door."
She smiled.
Joo Yeon-wol believed that if Dan Woo-sung had killed two of the Twelve Demon Blades at such a young age, he was a rare talent in the martial world. In these times of the Demonic Path's resurgence, the White Path as a whole needed to nurture such experts. The White Dragon Gate was a sect that only took in orphans, and their philosophy revolved around caring for those with nowhere else to turn.
Though they did not flaunt their strength in the martial world, Joo Yeon-wol had traveled extensively since becoming sect leader.
Dan Woo-sung wasn't particularly expectant. He already knew most of the martial world's top experts. Still, he couldn't guess who this senior might be.
He asked,
"Which senior is it?"
Joo Yeon-wol smirked.
"The King of Narrow-Mindedness, the God of Stubbornness, the Master of Forcing His Will."
Dan Woo-sung nodded.
"You know the Mad God."
"Yes."
The Mad God was one of the Three Gods and stood at the pinnacle of the White Path.