Chapter 175: A Clever Move (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 175: A Clever Move (2)
A heavy, prolonged silence filled the room.
Won Hyo-ja stared at the book placed before him, then cast a gaze full of suspicion toward the Leader of the Martial Alliance.
Go Ju-gang smiled and continued cautiously.
“Take a look for yourself first. See whether this is indeed that notorious Demonic Energy Absorption Art or not.”
Flip.
Only then did Won Hyo-ja open the book.
Flip. Flip.
The silence stretched on.
The Demonic Energy Absorption Art. Setting aside the fact that it was a demonic art, it was no exaggeration to call it one of the greatest martial arts in the history of the Jianghu. It was only natural that it took a considerable amount of time to examine.
Won Hyo-ja finally broke the silence that had seemed eternal.
“How… did you obtain this?”
“The story is quite long and complicated. To put it simply, let’s just say it was discovered on the bodies of the Geomma captured during the recent Gangnam Blood Incident.”
“The Geomma? You mean the warriors the Martial Alliance captured who were in a state of Qi Deviation?”
“Precisely. Their clothes were inscribed with cryptic symbols, and we compiled them into a single volume.”
“Hah…” Won Hyo-ja let out a deep sigh.
The Gangnam Blood Incident.
It was an event where warriors suffering from Qi Deviation emerged simultaneously across the country, particularly in the Gangnam area. In truth, it wasn't uncommon for one to fall into Qi Deviation while practicing high-level martial arts. There were also plenty of instances where such individuals became Geomma.
However, during the Gangnam Blood Incident, the frequency was far too high, and the symptoms were excessively extreme. Consequently, many elders speculated that the martial arts they practiced might have been demonic in nature.
The Leader of the Martial Alliance had just driven that point home.
“Why are you bringing this up now?”
“I suspect that the boy named Seok Myeong might have learned this demonic art.”
“That contradicts what you said earlier. You claimed that a martial art officially certified by Shaolin as an Orthodox Martial Art was actually a demonic art…”
“Sect Leader. Let me ask you in all earnestness. Is Shaolin’s martial arts—is their insight—truly, absolutely perfect?”
“…”
Won Hyo-ja could not answer. No, he couldn't answer.
It was partly due to Diancang’s pride, and partly due to the reality of the situation. Shaolin was undoubtedly the strongest sect throughout history, but that did not mean every single individual from Shaolin was the greatest master in the Jianghu.
At times it was Wudang; at times it was Mount Hua. And in the distant past, Diancang had also produced masters more formidable than those of Shaolin.
“Nothing is… absolute.”
Therefore, since even Shaolin could not be considered absolute, one certainly couldn't claim that something was definitely right just because it was a sacred object of Shaolin.
“Indeed. Then there is room for doubt. Think about it, Sect Leader.”
Sensing he had gained leverage, Go Ju-gang’s explanation grew longer.
“Can a boy barely over thirty kill Goma, the Light Splitting Divine Sword, and defeat three elder-level figures of the Diancang Sect? If we trace back further, when he first began his Jianghu Travel, he fought to a draw with Cheol-jung of the Golden Martial Association—one of the Five Dragons. That was less than a year ago.”
“Mmm.”
“What do you think? Is there any other assumption that could make sense of such a nonsensical situation?”
Won Hyo-ja’s eyes drifted toward the Demonic Energy Absorption Art on the table despite himself.
Certainly, by common sense—or even by the standards of history—the current situation was incomprehensible. In less than a year, for a mere First Generation Disciple to achieve a level of skill equal to or greater than an elder…
Only something like the Demonic Energy Absorption Art could make such a thing possible.
“But Alliance Leader. This demonic art possesses an incredibly foul energy, even among demonic arts. It is known that the moment one learns it, their very humanity is extinguished,” Won Hyo-ja countered cautiously.
“I know. That is why I only had suspicion and no proof. But Qingcheng has shown us this time—that this beast can be tamed and forged into a heart method unique to Qingcheng,” Go Ju-gang continued calmly.
He had fully expected Won Hyo-ja’s resistance. He had even factored in the possibility of the man becoming enraged or adamantly opposed. Compared to those scenarios, this was civil.
“I am also considering the opposite possibility. A mere First Generation Disciple of Qingcheng accomplished it. If so, what is there that Diancang—the center of Taoism and the master of Pure Yang energy—cannot achieve?”
“Mmm…”
“Is it not so? Is Diancang a Taoist sect that falls behind Qingcheng? In terms of purity alone, how can the Taoist spirit of Diancang even be compared to those swordsmen of Qingcheng?”
“Ahem.”
Won Hyo-ja’s expression twisted further.
The Demonic Energy Absorption Art. Normally, it was a devilish art he wouldn't have even glanced at, no matter how sweet the temptation. But in the current situation, where he was being compared to the rising Qingcheng and had suffered humiliation at their hands, it was difficult to brush aside this temptation.
Revenge. Retribution for the insult. Above all, what Sect Leader wouldn't feel a sense of crisis regarding the uncertain future of their sect?
“If you are truly that uneasy, I shall take it back.”
As Won Hyo-ja wavered, Go Ju-gang made a show of subtly backing off. It was a very clever maneuver.
“But remember one thing. That boy’s unsettling Black Ink Energy is a power only seen in the Heretical Path. It is merely a guess, but the reason Qingcheng is acting so boldly and the reason the Diancang elders were defeated is not due to pure skill. They have simply laid their hands on an absurdly powerful divine weapon.”
Slide.
Just as he moved to reclaim the secret manual along with his words…
Thud.
Won Hyo-ja hurriedly grabbed his hand. “Did you just call it a weapon?”
“I did.” Go Ju-gang smirked inwardly as he spoke. “Whether it is the Demonic Energy Absorption Art or any other demonic art, if the practitioner can control it, then it is no longer a demonic art. However, since it isn't an Orthodox Martial Art either, I simply view it as a kind of weapon.”
“A weapon… a weapon, you say…”
Won Hyo-ja’s expression became complicated.
If it wasn't a cursed demonic art but rather a slightly dangerous weapon he was holding, his reluctance diminished significantly. Holding a sharp weapon didn't automatically make one a public enemy of the Jianghu. Unlike a demonic art, a weapon was, after all, just a weapon.
He failed to realize that Go Ju-gang had used that specific word with that exact intention.
“I have one question.” Won Hyo-ja glared at Go Ju-gang with a cynical face. “Why are you giving this to our sect? This is a martial art far too dangerous to be handed over as a mere favor. Furthermore, if you'll pardon my bluntness, I do not see you as the type of person to perform acts of pure kindness.”
“Haha. My, my. You are truly a cold-headed man, Sect Leader.” Go Ju-gang burst into a boisterous laugh, as if he had been caught off guard. “A reason… I have one. To put it simply, it is out of curiosity.”
“Curiosity?”
“Yes. I wonder if other Taoist sects can transform this dangerous martial art into their own, just as Qingcheng did. I'll tell you now… actually, before coming to Diancang, I showed this to the former Sect Leader of Mount Hua first.”
“Hoh.” Won Hyo-ja’s eyes narrowed.
He hadn't imagined that the Demonic Energy Absorption Art, the most demonic of all arts, had already entered the Mount Hua Sect. No, thinking about it, given Go Ju-gang’s nature, that seemed even more plausible. Aside from his greed for power, he was a man loyal to the Mount Hua Sect.
Go Ju-gang let out a long sigh. “However, he rejected it immediately upon seeing it. He said it was too dangerous to learn. He claimed it would put the disciples of Mount Hua in peril and refused it on the spot, saying he could never do such a thing.”
“…That sounds like something he would say. But then, why?” Won Hyo-ja asked back.
However, his face was a whirlwind of complex emotions, including anger.
“Why are you throwing this to us? Are you telling us to eat it and die? Are you saying you don't care if the disciples of Diancang become test subjects for some bizarre or evil art?”
He had realized the implication of why the Alliance Leader was offering this to them. The more he understood the hidden motive, the more his anger flared.
“Because it’s someone else’s sect that has nothing to do with you anyway? Because it’s a sect that has already been defeated and has nothing left to lose?!”
“Calm yourself, Sect Leader of Diancang. Honestly, I won't say that such thoughts were entirely absent. However…” Go Ju-gang raised a hand to stop him. And for this moment, he spoke with genuine sincerity. “But more than that, it is because of a lingering regret.”
“…Regret?”
“Yes. As you know, my own sect possesses a martial art that is similar to this, yet entirely different.”
Whew.
Go Ju-gang exhaled deeply, like a man unburdening himself of a secret.
“A divine art that has become a legend because the later generations were incompetent. I thought that if we could somehow restore that art… perhaps an absolute master, long forgotten by Mount Hua, could be born again.”
“The Violet Mist Divine Art…” Won Hyo-ja nodded unconsciously.
The greatest master under heaven. That seemed to be the regret Go Ju-gang was speaking of.
Certainly, the current greatest master under heaven was publicly recognized as Go Ju-gang, the Leader of the Martial Alliance. But that was only a public title; in an actual duel, the top masters of each sect were all roughly on the same level. Though there might be slight leads or differences, there was no single person or sect that could be called the absolute best.
The First. The Number One. That was the dream of every martial artist.
Wouldn't any Sect Leader harbor such a dream? If he himself, or even just one person from his sect, could emerge as a master who looked down upon the world… Won Hyo-ja felt that even if he were to die right here with his brains spilled out, he would have no regrets.
“I… understand the decision of my sect’s leader. Even if we aren't related by blood, the First Generation Disciples and the novice disciples of each sect are our future. They are not people we can push toward death as test subjects to endure the side effects of a dangerous evil art.”
“…”
“But that is also why there has been no progress. Qingcheng is the contrast to that. Through the group known as the Azure Cloud Pavilion, they pushed their own elites to their deaths, consuming the lives and time of dozens of generations, and it seems they have finally reaped the fruit.”
“…”
Won Hyo-ja remained silent. The words Go Ju-gang was speaking clearly had a purpose. It was glaringly obvious.
The Demonic Energy Absorption Art was not as uncontrollable as its past notoriety suggested. Seok Myeong of Qingcheng had just proven that. However, to reach that stage, one had to sacrifice the lives of countless disciples and endure an indefinite amount of time. Just as the Qingcheng Sect had spent an age on the absurd waste that was the Azure Cloud Pavilion.
It was certainly a foolish and dangerous gamble. Won Hyo-ja had thought so at first, too.
But the result was…
“I will try it.”
“…Ah!”
He saw Go Ju-gang’s face fill with overwhelming emotion. Won Hyo-ja could easily tell what the man was thinking.
He wanted the fruit without the burden. The side effects of refining the Demonic Energy Absorption Art into an orthodox internal energy would be entirely borne by the Diancang Sect.
‘And you probably intend for Mount Hua to safely monopolize the fruit afterward…’
Won Hyo-ja smiled inwardly. Now that he saw the man’s true intentions, there was no reason to play along exactly as desired. What Go Ju-gang wanted was likely for Mount Hua to be the best, for Mount Hua to rule the heavens.
But what Won Hyo-ja dreamed of… was revenge against Qingcheng. And for Diancang to be reborn as the greatest sect under heaven.
“I shall look forward to it.”
Go Ju-gang offered a formal bow. Today was the day the fruit he had waited nearly a month for while staying at Diancang finally fell into his hands.