093 - What is the Path that Serves the Righteous Way?
I am Jeongun, the senior disciple of the Huashan Sect.
In the jianghu, they say Muheo of Wudang or Nangong Cheon of the Nangong family will become the next greatest swordsman under heaven. But I've never once thought my sword fell short of theirs.
Muheo is too flighty by nature—without some great ordeal, his growth will hit a limit. And Nangong Cheon? That arrogant pride will one day trip him up.
No, the only man I consider my true rival in this world is one.
"Hey, Taoist. Doesn't my word ring true? Why are you just blinking at me? Cat got your tongue?"
The man right in front of me now, spouting his usual nonsense.
The sole genius I acknowledge, and my dearest friend.
Dan Ri-ye.
"What... did you just say?"
His one flaw was acting like he was half out of his mind, but today it seemed worse than usual.
Dan Ri-ye gnawed on a chicken leg as he gazed down at Huashan's grand halls.
"Your junior sister. The one who died a few years back."
"...Yes."
"She didn't take her own life. Your master killed her."
"......"
I couldn't believe it. No, I didn't want to believe it.
How could my benevolent master, renowned for his kindness, kill his own disciple?
Why?
"Your junior sister loved you. But your master exploited that and raped her. That dog worse than a beast. No good deeds left, so he preys on his pupil? I ought to cut his dick off and feed it to the dogs."
"You... bastard...!"
"It's a grudge spirit. That spot down there is where she suffered. Oh! What a tragedy! Filled with resentment, she couldn't ascend and became a ghost!"
"......"
My heart felt like it would burst. My eyes burned like fire.
Dan Ri-ye tossed the chicken bone aside with a flick and grinned at me.
"What do you say? Shall I avenge your junior sister for you? It's a hassle, but I can manage that much. You're my friend, after all."
"Shut your mouth, you scum!!"
"Ack?"
No matter how unhinged he was, how dare he insult my master and junior sister.
With such vulgar words, no less.
Seeing red, I unleashed my sword at Dan Ri-ye without mercy.
"Whoa! You crazy Taoist bastard!"
And so Dan Ri-ye left Huashan.
My fellow Plum Blossom Swordsmen and I pursued him madly for nearly a month.
By the time we finally caught up and came to our senses,
Our master and every last Plum Blossom Swordsman had lost their lives at his hands.
"Why... why...?"
I never knew he was that strong.
The man in his frenzy wasn't human. No—a ghost.
I knelt, staring at him standing at the cliff's edge.
The sunset at his back shrouded his face in shadow, but those conflicted eyes still haunt me to this day.
And, astonishingly,
"......!"
My dead junior sister stood beside Dan Ri-ye.
"J-Junior sister!"
She smiled sadly and slowly spoke.
[Senior brother. Young hero Dan Ri-ye spoke true. Thanks to him, I've resolved my grudge and can now depart.]
"J-Junior... sister?"
[I'm sorry to leave you behind. I wanted... to be with you...]
With those final words, she scattered into motes of light.
I reached out to grasp her soul, dissolving like mist.
Dan Ri-ye gazed down at me for a moment, then leaped off the cliff.
"Dan Ri-ye!!!"
Too late, I called his name, but he never appeared before me again.
Returning to Huashan like that,
I was expelled—my meridians severed, my dantian shattered.
***
Claaang! Claaang! Claaaang!
"Daaaan Riii-yeeeee!!!"
Jin Muhon retreated repeatedly, swinging his Four Emperors Sword to block Blood Person's strikes.
The power in those sword blows was terrifying.
The shockwaves alone made the entire hall rumble, leaving the later-generation disciples staggering.
Curious.
Jin Muhon focused on defense, closely observing Blood Person's state.
At first, he'd thought it was a divided soul planted by Ma-seon, but something was off.
No mere divided soul could create such a Blood Person.
More importantly, though the power was immense, the mind seemed unstable somehow.
"Master! Why is the Nangong family head acting like this?!"
"Still don't get it? The Nangong family lured us into a trap!"
"What? Then we should help the Yunbong Sword Hero! He looks in danger!"
"Mm... true, but..."
Kwaaaang! Kwaaaang! Kwaaaaang!
Each clash of swords unleashed eerie bolts of energy.
The exploding qi waves grew fiercer, reaching a point where even the sect leaders hesitated to intervene.
Then, Sword Emperor Nangong Cheon spoke gravely.
"That is not my son."
All eyes turned to him.
"Pardon? What do you mean?"
"To my shame, my house fell to them long ago. I lost my inner energy; my son and grandson lost their lives. What stands there now is merely a demon wearing my son's skin."
"......!"
"......!"
The Sword Emperor's declaration froze the conference hall like a bucket of ice water.
Finally, Shaolin Abbot Gongyo recited Amitabha as he regarded Nangong Cheon.
"Amitabha. For the world's Sword Emperor to suffer such a fate. Who are they?"
"Who else?"
"No! Surely not?"
The Sword Emperor had revealed even his loss of inner energy.
A few sect leaders rolled their eyes, probing for truth, but to most, the Sword Emperor's word carried immense weight.
"The Demonic Cult! That Blood Person is a demonic fiend!"
"Yes! Demonic arts! The Demonic Cult has such techniques!"
"This is no time to talk! We must aid the Yunbong Sword Hero!"
The Demonic Cult had seized the Nangong family.
From there, convening the Murim Conference to upend the righteous world.
With the Sword Emperor's emergence, the sect leaders began piecing together the situation.
But then.
"Hmph."
A cold snort cut through the rising tension.
All gazes shifted toward the source.
The woman who had scoffed with infused inner energy was the sharp-featured Ami Sect leader, Wonji.
"Amitabha. Does Nun Wonji have words to share?"
"Pathetic. And you call yourselves leaders of the righteous sects?"
"Amitabha. Amitabha."
Gongyo furrowed his brow at the sudden rebuke, fingering his prayer beads.
Wonji had always been prickly and antisocial, but he hadn't expected this in such a setting.
"Hey! Nun! That's too far!"
"Are you insulting us?!"
"And what makes you so superior?!"
Grumbles erupted immediately from the other sect leaders and family heads.
Wonji fixed them with icy eyes and jabbed a finger toward Jin Muhon.
"What? Yunbong Sword Hero? Hero of the righteous? Do you even know who that man is, saying such things? You need to get your heads straight!"
"Hey! Nun!"
"Anyone who knew his identity before today, step forward and speak plainly! Jegal family head! You seem to know—don't you?!"
"Mm..."
Jegal Gak clamped his mouth shut instead of answering.
That Jin Muhon was the Sword Demon was a fact Jegal Gak knew.
Given Ami's proximity to the Demonic Cult's territory, Wonji likely recognized the Sword Demon's face as well.
Reveal the Sword Demon's identity—for gain or loss?
In the short time since Jin Muhon appeared, Jegal Gak had swiftly assessed the dynamics.
Muheo and Buso-yong were favorable toward him, as was even the Sword Emperor.
And from what his son Jegal Yunmyeong had said, his prowess surpassed even his Sword Demon days.
"Jegal family head! Why so silent?!"
Despite Wonji's urging, Jegal Gak silently eyed the Okhwa Palace lord.
Anyone else, perhaps—but Buso-yong of Okhwa Palace would die before bending to the Demonic Cult.
Yet she gazed at Jin Muhon with trust.
I see.
Jegal Gak sorted the information in his mind.
His conclusion:
We must side with the Sword Demon!
The righteous murim would now revolve around the Sword Demon.
Read the currents swiftly, ride them—that was the Jegal family's tradition and strategy for survival.
Jegal Gak's eyes gleamed as he met Wonji's gaze.
"Of course I know."
"Good! Coming from the Murim Alliance's strategist, everyone will heed it! Now, reveal his identity plainly!"
"Very well."
Jegal Gak swept his gaze over the sect leaders and later-generation disciples awaiting his words.
Though only dozens in number, they were the heart of the righteous factions.
Jin Muhon's future standing hinged on his tongue.
"The Yunbong Sword Hero is the head of the Yunbong Jin family. Few may know it, but the Yunbong Jin family is an old, prestigious house. A pity their fortunes waned recently—but for their current head, the Yunbong Sword Hero, to display such prowess? This is the righteous murim's great fortune. Haha!"
Jegal Gak deliberately emphasized Jin Muhon's righteous affiliation.
"Wh-what?!"
Wonji's face flushed crimson.
"That bastard! That man is—!"
Wonji pointed at Jin Muhon, trying to expose him.
At that moment, the Sword Emperor approached, gazing down at her with gentle eyes.
"Nun."
"......!"
Whether from old ties, Wonji calmed slightly upon meeting his gaze.
"We need his strength now."
"......"
Wonji's eyes trembled.
It seemed the shock of the Sword Emperor knowing Jin Muhon's identity yet concealing it hit her hard.
"You hold a grudge against him, it seems. Later, I'll arrange a meeting. Why not settle it then?"
"Sword Emperor... you know. We..."
"I know. How much the Ami Sect suffered at their hands. But not today. Look—they've brought a foe more vicious and dangerous than themselves. First, we fend off the enemy before us. Isn't that our duty?"
"......"
Wonji said nothing, but the fury in her eyes visibly subsided.
Jegal Gak gave a slight bow of thanks to the Sword Emperor.
"Oh? Look there! The Yunbong Sword Hero's about to do something!"
"What is that? Sword aura?"
"Oho! Where did such an expert suddenly appear from?!"
Wonji's outburst refocused attention on Jin Muhon.
At a glance, Blood Person—coated in gore, sword flashing—seemed to have the upper hand, pressing Jin Muhon.
Yet at some point,
A strange phenomenon arose around Jin Muhon.
The air itself writhed, as if some invisible force stirred it.
Cloud Peak Mist Sea, Sixth Stage: Heaven Earth Infinite.
Using lower dantian energy to face Blood Person,
And upper dantian energy to unleash Heaven Earth Infinite.
A miracle only those who mastered the Dual Intent Divine Art could perform—wielding both energies at once.
All things in the world are made of water, and so too is blood.
Jin Muhon, who had been retreating, suddenly surged forward.
Shaaaek!
Blood Person's sword grazed past, a hair's breadth from his head.
Twisting his body diagonally right, Jin Muhon slammed his left palm into Blood Person's chest.
Puuuung—!
Unmistakably a palm striking flesh.
Yet with a roar like a waterfall crashing down,
The blood enveloping Nangong Yeong sprayed into the air.