Chapter 81 - Yunbong Sword Hero
Drip... drip... drip...
Blood droplets fell from the tip of the sword gripped by the man.
In the silent hall, that faint sound echoed unusually loudly.
Yuil-do couldn't even breathe properly, his eyes bulging wide.
Jin Muhon tightened his grip slightly on the Four Emperors Sword and gazed at the one-armed man holding his blade.
"You alright?"
At Jin Muhon's question, the one-armed man bowed his head curtly.
"Yes."
Dokbi, reborn through soul fusion, had sought out Jin Muhon immediately upon awakening. Their soul connection made finding him effortless.
Jin Muhon nodded.
"You're a bit more useful now."
"Yes."
Buso-yong eyed Dokbi with a meaningful gaze.
"That man... he seems different somehow."
Jin Muhon glanced away dismissively.
"Men naturally speak less once they grow up."
"Hoho! Then Muheo must still be childish, huh?"
"Something like that."
Jin Muhon turned his gaze to Yuil-do, who was trembling in the corner.
Yuil-do hurriedly dropped to his knees.
"P-P-Please, spare me!"
"Is that how a so-called great hero kneels so lightly?"
"Th-This is all Gwak Cheol-un's scheme! I just couldn't ignore an old friend's request!"
"Is that so."
"Yes! Believe me! I swear to the heavens I never committed evil! My only crime is sheltering orphans with nowhere to go!"
"Fine."
"......!"
Yuil-do's face lit up.
Buso-yong looked at him with pity.
'Fool. Who does he think the Sword Demon is?'
The moment Buso-yong clicked her tongue inwardly—
A thick crimson blood mist began to fill the room.
"Eek? Wh-What's that?"
Jin Muhon's will infused the blood mist.
"......!"
"......!"
Buso-yong and Hongcheong widened their eyes as they scanned their surroundings.
Small shadows multiplied one by one within the mist.
"Uh... uh...?"
Yuil-do collapsed backward, scrambling away.
But he didn't get far before a solid wall blocked his back.
"Hic... Director... why... did you kill me..."
"Director... it's cold... it hurts..."
"Director..."
"N-No! Go away! Get away from me!"
Yuil-do flailed his arms, half out of his mind.
Jin Muhon looked down at him impassively.
"Gangnam's great hero. Seems the children have words for you."
"J-Jin family head! Spare me! Sp— Aaaagh!!"
The blood mist engulfed Yuil-do completely.
From beyond the fog came the sounds of bones grinding and flesh tearing.
Soon, silence fell, leaving only a foul stench of blood in the room.
Creeeak—
Buso-yong walked to the window and opened it.
Outside, dozens of children shivered in the cold, staring up at the hall.
After gazing down at them for a moment, Buso-yong crossed her arms and turned away.
"They say it's darkest under the lamp. Who'd have imagined something like this happening right under the Nangong family's nose."
Though she had little interest in the jianghu, Buso-yong was still a pillar of the righteous sects. She couldn't hide her disgust at witnessing such hypocrisy firsthand.
Jin Muhon, meanwhile, showed no surprise.
"As if the Nangongs didn't know."
"Pardon?"
Jin Muhon offered no further explanation.
Buso-yong started to speak but closed her mouth.
For some reason, Jin Muhon's guess rang truer than anything about the Nangong family.
'Perhaps... that's why Geomje summoned me too...'
Step. Step. Step.
As Jin Muhon moved toward the door, he said to Dokbi,
"Fetch Go Seokchu."
"Yes, family head."
Jin Muhon and Dokbi vanished outside.
"Master...?"
Buso-yong stared blankly at the fading blood mist for a long while.
***
That night.
The Murim Alliance, upon receiving urgent word from Haomen, dispatched several investigators to Seonghye Hospital without delay.
Had it been merely a request from the obscure Yunbong Jin family, things wouldn't have moved so swiftly—but the witness was none other than Okhwa Palace Lord Buso-yong, to a crime that outraged heaven and earth.
"We'll need a closer look, but that Yuil-do... what a shameless wretch. I can't fathom how such a man was hailed as a great hero."
One investigator groveled before the veiled Buso-yong.
From the start, he had no interest in Jin Muhon, head of some nameless clan.
Buso-yong frowned and scolded him.
"It was Yunbong Jin family head Jin Muhon, the great hero, who uncovered this. The Alliance owes him thanks."
"Ah, yes. We'll duly note it in the report."
"......"
The investigator glanced sidelong at Jin Muhon, standing at a distance.
But contrary to his words, his eyes held no goodwill—only stronger resentment for the needless trouble.
'Still waters run deep, as they say.'
Yet scolding one investigator wouldn't solve the rot.
Buso-yong had long known the Alliance was corrupt to its roots.
"Tsk tsk. I knew that bastard had a rotten face. Messing with kids when he had nothing better to do... tch!"
Muheo arrived late at Seonghye Hospital with Jin Hayeon, clicking his tongue repeatedly in disgust.
Jin Hayeon, having heard the tale, looked equally grim.
"Family head. What of the children?"
Muheo eyed the huddled orphans worriedly.
These "investigators" weren't even feeding them properly—handing them to the Alliance hardly seemed right.
"Uncle. Couldn't we take these children to Unbong County?"
At that moment, Jin Hayeon spoke up in a trembling voice.
Jin Muhon's gaze shifted from the children to her.
"Why?"
Their businesses, even tribute from unorthodox sects, brought in ample funds.
The Yunbong Jin family could now easily support not dozens, but hundreds more.
But charity alone wouldn't suffice.
Taking someone in meant shouldering their life—Jin Muhon wanted her to grasp that weight.
"I spoke with them briefly. Many are sharp. Raised well, they'd greatly aid the family."
Yet Jin Hayeon spoke not of pity, but gain to the clan.
Jin Muhon asked, surprised,
"Who stood out most?"
"A child named Soyong. Still young, but grasped the situation perfectly. Despite the fear, she apologized to you, Uncle."
"To me?"
"Yes. For not warning you, knowing the director was evil."
Jin Muhon nodded as if it were natural.
They were mere children. And Yuil-do had slain even them without hesitation. Defying such a man took courage even adults lacked.
"Our family lacks talent. Your gathered followers aid us now, but we must prepare for the future too."
"Do you see those children as the Jin family's future, Hayeon?"
"Yes! I'll devote myself to raising them!"
"......"
Jin Muhon gazed at her with complex emotions.
The niece he'd seen only as someone to protect now vowed to shelter others.
He couldn't name the feeling, but a warmth stirred in his chest, and he nodded unwittingly.
"Make it so."
"Thank you, Uncle!"
Jin Hayeon beamed and ran to the children.
Jin Muhon watched her back fondly.
Muheo poked his arm playfully.
"Family head. Keep this up, and folks'll really call you a great hero."
"...Cut the nonsense, old man. Don't you know I'm propping you up?"
"Heavens! How could I not, family head? Stick with me to the end! Heh heh heh!"
Muheo bowed jokingly.
From afar, Buso-yong shot him a pitiful glance.
***
Days later, in Hefei.
Rumors spread like wildfire.
True to their word, the investigators exposed every sordid detail of Seonghye Hospital.
The long-built fame of the Gangnam great hero crumbled to dust, becoming prime tavern fodder for martial artists attending the conference.
"Tsk tsk. Hear that? That Gangnam great hero snatched up orphans and did unspeakable things."
"How could a hero stoop to what even unorthodox scum do? Heroes have truly hit rock bottom in this world."
"That's why I say. At least a true hero's replaced the fake—righteous path's future isn't all doom."
"Pardon? True hero? Who's that?"
Noisy as the inn was, all ears turned to the two warriors' talk.
In an age mocking heroes, people yearned desperately for the real thing.
"Who else? The warrior who uncovered the Gangnam hero's evils and slew him in one stroke. Yunbong Sword Hero."
"Yunbong... Sword Hero?"
"Aye. Head of some Yunbong Jin family. Word is he's at the conference, and folks are already lining up to meet him. Nameless clan or not, jianghu's unpredictable."
"We'd best move quick too."
Muheo, eavesdropping from the corner, chuckled with shaking shoulders.
"Keh heh heh. Sword Hero, eh."
Muheo eyed Jin Muhon slyly.
Jin Muhon frowned, chopsticks moving.
"Shut it, old man."
"Mercy! Hope of the righteous, speaking like that?"
Snap!
Jin Muhon's chopsticks broke in half.
Only then did Muheo clamp his mouth shut.
But try as he might, laughter leaked out.
A jest at Seonghye had become reality.
'Sword Hero...'
Buso-yong watched Jin Muhon with mixed feelings.
Who was he?
The righteous sects' greatest foe: the Sword Demon.
Yet now hailed as a hero—truly, the world was unfathomable.
"Congratulations, Uncle!"
Jin Hayeon grabbed his arm gently, smiling brightly.
"......"
Jin Muhon furrowed his brow slightly, but couldn't rebuke her joy.
Sensing his dark past despite not knowing details, she adored his new moniker.
"With you as Sword Hero, Uncle, more will seek our Jin family! More business, more money! Hoho!"
"...Probably."
Jin Hayeon squeezed his hand tight.
"Live righteously now, Uncle! It's profitable these days! And we've mouths to feed now!"
"......"
Her eyes sparkled.
Half-joking? No—dead serious.
"...Fine. Got it."
Jin Muhon could only nod.
Beneath her veil, Buso-yong's lips curved faintly.
She smiled rarely, yet around the Jin folk, it came unbidden.
They reeked of humanity, that's all.
'Strange. How strange.'
The Sword Demon, symbol of villainy; Dao Destroyer Muheo, mad beyond compare.
Yet brimming with human warmth.
The world was unknowable indeed.
But the surprises weren't over.
Creeeak.
The inn door opened, and an elder entered.
Straight-backed unlike his age, exuding refinement, sword at his waist.
His mere presence drew all eyes.
"Hm? Who’s that? Face rings a bell."
Muheo tilted his head, scrutinizing.
Just then, the elder spotted Jin Muhon's group and smiled warmly.
A smile that had doubtless broken many a maiden's heart.
Thud!
Startled, Buso-yong shoved her chair back and shot to her feet.
In disbelief, she murmured,
"Th... Geomje?"
Supreme elder of the Nangong family.
The pinnacle of swordsmanship in the current jianghu.
Geomje Nangong Cheon had appeared before them in person.