Chapter 95 - Ma-seon's Servant
Ma-seon.
A monster who twisted human lifespans to cling to life, driven by a single obsession: to become an immortal sage.
He walked the path of inhumanity and seized terrifying power, yet he still lingered in the mortal world, unable to fulfill his ambition.
One could only imagine the depth of his resentment toward the heavens that rejected him, despite his unparalleled talent.
Endless, eternal cultivation had worn his mind to ruin, and in the end, he sought to achieve his goal by using humans as mere materials.
Yet even refining the living into elixirs and devouring the souls of the dead to bolster his ghostly power could not surmount the lofty, treacherous threshold to the immortal realm.
Now, driven mad, Ma-seon had but one path left: to annihilate the mortal world and tie up his ancient grudge with the power of that destruction.
"Hah... Ma-seon..."
"Indeed, I seem to recall hearing that my master knew such a figure."
"To think the demonic fiend from legend truly exists. Unbelievable. Simply unbelievable."
The sect leaders' faces darkened like stones plunged into water after hearing Jin Muhon's tale.
At that moment, Jegal Gak asked in a slightly trembling voice.
"Jin family head. Then how can we discern Ma-seon's servants? If what you say is true, who can guarantee none are here among us right now?"
Jin Muhon nodded, fixing his gaze on Jegal Gak.
He had always kept schemers at arm's length regardless of reason, but he couldn't deny that this man was offering real aid.
"Who knows. I wouldn't presume to know what methods you lot might have."
"Hah! So we're to sit idly by and take it lying down?"
"There must be some way! Surely Wudang or Huashan know something?"
The leaders' eyes turned to Muheo and Huashan sect leader Jeongcheong, but both merely shook their heads without a word.
As bewilderment spread through the room, Jin Muhon spoke up.
"It's not that there's no way at all. Even Geomje here noticed the anomaly, albeit belatedly."
"Mm..."
"That's true enough."
Geomje looked at Jin Muhon and said,
"Jin family head. By the time I realized, it was already too late."
"Still, you reached out to Okhwa Palace's lord for help. That's what allowed us to stop them."
"Wasn't that thanks to you?"
Jegal Gak's eyes sparkled as he jumped into the conversation.
"Jin family head. What you're saying is that to stop Ma-seon, we must join hands more closely than ever, yes?"
"..."
It wasn't exactly what he'd meant, but honestly, what other options were there now?
Jin Muhon gave a slight nod.
Jegal Gak leaned forward toward him, lowering his voice.
"But, Jin family head. Moments ago, you said we have no way to identify Ma-seon's servants. Is that right?"
"Yes."
"Then, does that mean you can find them?"
"..."
The corner of Jin Muhon's mouth twitched upward.
If the Demonic Cult has its thunderbolt genius, the righteous factions have Jegal Gak, they said. Indeed, not a word escaped him carelessly.
"Oh! Sword Demon! Is what the Jegal family head says true?"
"Then test it here and now! We can't move forward without certainty among ourselves!"
Jin Muhon swept his gaze over the sect leaders and family heads.
Most shone with eager anticipation, but a few faces abruptly darkened.
"Amitabha. How can you entrust such a grave responsibility to the Sword Demon? If he brands this poor monk as Ma-seon's servant, what then?"
"Haha! As if the abbot would be?"
"This is no laughing matter. All we've confirmed is the Sword Demon's word. If he harbors ill intent, the righteous Murim would crumble uncontrollably under his actions."
"Mm..."
"The alliance leader's words carry weight."
Gongyo's concerns quickly deflated the proposal to test for Ma-seon's servants.
Buso-yong's eyes gleamed as she stared piercingly at Gongyo.
"Well, it's late into the night. Best to end the meeting here."
"But alliance leader, we haven't discussed any way to confront Ma-seon."
Gongyo shook his head, admonishing the leaders.
"The more we talk in this situation, the more suspicion breeds. If the Sword Demon speaks true, our first step should be returning to our sects to inspect our own ranks."
"True enough, but..."
At that moment, Buso-yong, who had been silent until then, spoke coldly.
"Abbot. Are you Ma-seon's servant?"
"What?"
"What did you say?!"
Everyone's eyes widened as they alternated glances between Buso-yong and Gongyo.
A strange tension filled the meeting hall.
Part of it stemmed from the speaker being Okhwa Palace's lord, and the urgency of the situation made it seem plausible, but above all, Gongyo seemed somehow different from his usual self today.
"Hey now!"
Thud!
Gongyo slammed his prayer beads against the floor.
Shaolin's majestic inner energy boomed heavily through the room.
"Okhwa Palace lord. That's too far. To call me Ma-seon's servant."
Gongyo furrowed his brow, not hiding his displeasure.
With that, Buso-yong's gaze grew even chillier.
"Then why block the Jin family head?"
"I've already said. If the Sword Demon calls you a servant, will you accept it?"
"I am no servant of Ma-seon."
"That's not what I meant!"
In the end, the famously hot-tempered Gongyo raised his voice.
Muheo, watching, immediately interjected.
"Baldy, who the hell are you yelling at? Wanna end up in the shitter again like last time?"
"Shitter? What nonsense is that, Muheo?!"
"Huh? You don't remember the shitter?"
"Don't befuddle my ears with such drivel!"
Muheo blinked, staring fixedly at Gongyo.
In their youth, Muheo—then a prodigy of Shaolin—had bickered endlessly with Gongyo whenever they met. One a Taoist, the other a monk, but youthful rivalry knew no bounds.
During one excursion into the jianghu, Muheo had dunked Gongyo into an inn's outhouse—a feat he boasted of lifelong, while Gongyo bore it as eternal shame.
"Baldy. You... don't remember the shitter?"
Thud!
"How dare a Taoist delude sentient beings with such pointless lies?!"
That was when it happened.
Tsk.
Jin Muhon clicked his tongue lightly and flung his teacup toward Gongyo.
Hummm—
"Gasp!"
"Wh-what?!"
The teacup floated midair, drifting slowly toward Gongyo.
A wondrous technique impossible without extraordinary inner energy.
Not just Gongyo, but everyone present gaped, eyes bulging as they stared at the flying cup.
"How dare you!"
Gongyo's robes billowed dramatically.
He'd gathered his energy, knowing a casual grab would spell disaster.
Tap.
Yet the teacup settled softly right before him.
Gongyo scowled at Jin Muhon.
"What... is the meaning of this?"
"Drink it."
"What?!"
Gongyo glanced down at the cup.
A red thread swirled atop the clear tea before vanishing.
"If you're innocent, drink. What's there to fear?"
"Hah! Why should I? How do I know you didn't poison it?"
Crash!
Muheo shot to his feet and strode toward Gongyo.
He snatched up the cup and glared down at him.
"I'll take the first sip! Then it's your turn, baldy! Any objections?"
"Mm..."
Gongyo scowled, sweeping his gaze over the leaders.
They said nothing, but suspicion filled their eyes.
Muheo took a gulp.
Slurp. Slurp. "A bit salty, but no poison."
"Amitabha."
"Amitabha my ass. Your turn now!"
Muheo thrust the cup toward Gongyo.
"..."
Gongyo hesitated, staring at it.
A calm voice, uncharacteristic of Muheo, emerged.
"Gongyo. We've bickered our whole lives, but truth be told, I never hated you that much. Just thought you were a bit thick-headed. But today, you're acting mighty strange."
"What... do you mean?"
"You were thick-headed, not vile. Yet you couldn't stand the absent sect leaders. And when Nangong family head appeared, you sided with him."
"Amitabha. Amitabha."
Gongyo shook his head.
"Muheo. Why do you grow more cantankerous with age?"
"You're doing it right now. The Jin family head is trusted by me, Geomje, and even Okhwa Palace's lord. Even that scheming Jegal seems to think so. Only you kick up a fuss about trusting him."
"..."
"So drink it. Honestly, I don't know what'll happen if you do. But if you're the monk I know, let's clear the air here. I'd like that, Gongyo."
"Ami... tabha..."
Gongyo slowly closed his eyes.
Then he reached languidly for the cup.
With eyes shut and such sluggish motion, Muheo dropped his guard.
That was when—
Whoosh—slash!
Gongyo bolted up, seized Muheo's pulse point, and struck his acupoint.
In an instant, the old monk's aura vanished, replaced by explosive malice.
"Huh?"
"No! Alliance leader!"
"Shut up! Nobody move!"
Jin Muhon's eyes gleamed coldly.
Heaven Earth Infinite.
Hummmm—
Jin Muhon's energy rippled out, stirring the ambient moisture.
His focus locked on the teacup in a flash.
Splash!
The tea transformed into a sharp dagger and flew.
Slash! Thwack!
"Guhk!"
The tea sliced halfway through Gongyo's wrist gripping Muheo.
In that moment, Buso-yong—the swiftest in movement here—kicked off the floor with full power.
Whoosh—thunk!
Speed like nothing in her life before.
Her afterimage lingered, yet she was already before Gongyo, plunging her sword deep into his heart.
"Keurgh!!"
Gongyo spewed red blood and unleashed a palm strike at Buso-yong's face.
Boom!
"Out!"
Nearby Huashan leader Jeongcheong leaped up, countering Gongyo's palm with his own right hand.
Bang!
"Cough!"
Jeongcheong spat blood and staggered back three steps.
Then, Ami sect leader Wonji from the opposite side hammered Gongyo's head with palm force.
Splat!
"So you're the demon!"
"Gack!"
Gongyo's form wobbled.
His eyes bulged bloodshot, and his glossy scalp erupted with ugly, dark veins.
Slash!
Buso-yong yanked her sword free and spun.
Her blood-sprayed blade traced a silver arc, severing Gongyo's neck.
Thwack!
Gongyo's severed head spun into the air.
It happened in the blink of an eye; the other leaders hadn't even risen, merely staring wide-eyed at the head tumbling onto the table.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Gongyo's head came to rest, splattering blood.
Its glaring crimson eyes swept the room murderously, radiating bloody light, while the filthy mouth worked silently.
One leader mouthed along slowly.
"Ma-seon... will... take... you all..."
Splat!
Gongyo couldn't finish.
His head burst like fireworks, spraying blood and brains everywhere.
"Eugh!"
"Wh-what's happening?!"
"Damn it!"
The leaders, drenched in Gongyo's blood, scrambled up in horror.
Drip. Drip.
Then came a sound utterly out of place amid the chaos.
The leaders turned.
Jegal Gak was pouring tea into an empty cup and handing it to Jin Muhon.
Jin Muhon took a sip, then addressed the stunned room in a heavy voice.
"That one was Ma-seon's servant."