Absorb the Elders' Hall (1)
Whoosh!
"Wh-what?!"
The people of the Seok Family Shaanxi Branch were thrown into utter chaos as flames suddenly erupted inside the building.
In the dead of night, the abrupt fire disaster sent everyone into a panic.
Fwoosh!
In the meantime, Hyeon Yucheon's figure vanished after dispatching Seok Mujin.
Having already slain the youngest son Seok Mugeong and now the second son Seok Mujin...
He gazed at those frantically rushing to extinguish the blaze and thought,
'Seok Family, the revenge begins right now.'
After that day, news of Seok Mujin's death rocked the entire Central Plains.
Though Seok Mujin wasn't a martial artist of renowned fame, as the son of the Seok Family head—the supreme wealthy house—and leader of the Shaanxi Branch, his demise shocked many.
And it didn't end there.
-The Seok Family will suspend operations in Shaanxi Province for the time being!
With the branch leader dead, they could no longer continue running their merchant operations.
The Seok Family's downfall naturally benefited the Demon Sword Merchant Association and Hyeon Yucheon.
No sooner had the economic pressure from the merchant world lifted than the Demon Sword Sect and Demon Sword Merchant Association extended their influence from Hebei Province into Shaanxi as well.
To call it the Demon Sword Sect's dominion wouldn't be an exaggeration, especially since Huashan Sect in Shaanxi had declared a halt to activities.
-The era of the Seok Family's unchallenged monopoly over the martial world's commerce is over!
Such words even circulated regarding the alliance between the Demon Sword Sect and Demon Sword Merchant Association.
Hyeon Yucheon had kept his word.
He had followed through on his vow to curb the Seok Family's dominance.
"Senior Brother Eum and Butler Gu, I would be grateful if you continued focusing on the Demon Sword Merchant Association."
With the association gaining momentum, Hyeon Yucheon naturally poured all his efforts into it.
In fact, following Haomen leader So Jaun, survivors like Jeong Se-in and those from Gold Amount Escort Agency were mobilized, along with King of Ronin Jeong Chilgyu and his ronin band. Bridging the Demon Sword Merchant Association and Demon Sword Sect were Eum Ji-myeong and Gu Seung-hwan.
"Even those who conquered the world, the supreme experts or the Murim Alliance itself, couldn't escape the Seok Family's influence. It was all due to material reasons. In other words, to become the world's top sect, we need economic independence strong enough to break free from the Seok Family's shadow."
This was precisely why Hyeon Yucheon, after unifying the unorthodox sects, turned his attention to forming the merchant association and dominating the commercial realm.
Even the current Murim Alliance leader knew this well, reaping benefits through blood ties with the Seok Family.
"Our Demon Sword Sect will stand tall as a flawless, perfect faction."
This was Hyeon Yucheon's dream—and his tribute to his master, Demon Sword Ghost Lord Cheon Baeksang, who had bequeathed everything to him.
A grin!
The leadership, watching with heartfelt satisfaction, beamed with moved smiles, their chests swelling with emotion.
Hyeon Yucheon had always honored his words, turning them into reality with his genius.
From what they'd observed, it was more than possible—it was inevitable.
"Sect Leader, the time has come."
Jeong Inheon, the sole remaining elder of the Demon Sword Sect and watching intently, spoke with a resolute expression.
"Pardon?"
When Hyeon Yucheon asked, Jeong Inheon brought up the matter they'd deliberately delayed.
"Those who left after the previous sect leader went missing—no, passed away."
Hyeon Yucheon understood immediately.
"Ah, you mean our sect's elders?"
"Yes. It's time we went to the Elders' Hall and asked them to return."
The Demon Sword Sect's other major force: the Elders' Hall.
Most of its members were supreme experts who had fought alongside Demon Sword Ghost Lord Cheon Baeksang in his youth. They had gathered not just out of love for the sect, but out of admiration for Cheon Baeksang the martial artist himself.
This bond was evident in the incident of the Ghost Lord's disappearance.
When Cheon Baeksang vanished and eldest disciple Ga Jinuk—meant to be the sect's pillar—was captured in an unfortunate accident, they lost all interest in the martial world and declared retirement.
They vowed never to return, no matter the sect's fate, and vanished into unknown depths.
"I agree with Elder Jeong. It was my duty originally... my own shortcomings."
Jin Gwangma Geom Ga Jinuk scratched the back of his head sheepishly.
After Cheon Baeksang's disappearance, as the eldest disciple and big brother figure, it had fallen to him.
But he had been tied up by the Blood Dragon Gang, unable to act, and in the meantime, the rift between the Elders' Hall and Demon Sword Sect had grown insurmountable.
Second brother Eum Ji-myeong, the Flash Light Flying Gentleman, stared into the void with guilt.
For this task to fall to the youngest disciple—who, aside from Jeong Inheon, had no acquaintance with the elders—was embarrassing and regrettable.
"No, I believe now is the perfect time."
Hyeon Yucheon eased the burden on his senior brothers Ga Jinuk and Eum Ji-myeong.
And he meant it sincerely.
"In the past, convincing the Elders' Hall would have meant pleading on sentiment, airing regrets. But now... aren't we truly recreating Master's glory?"
There was another reason for Hyeon Yucheon's justified confidence.
'And I've mastered one of the Formless Mysteries that even Master couldn't fully grasp.'
Nothing could be more persuasive for convincing the stubborn, conservative Elders' Hall.
"Elder Jeong Inheon, do you know where the Elders' Hall is?"
He nodded at Hyeon Yucheon's question.
* * *
Plum Death Gentleman Jeong Inheon, the sole remaining elder in the current Demon Sword Sect and the youngest among the Elders' Hall.
He could never forget that day.
The night when, after Demon Sword Ghost Lord's disappearance and Ga Jinuk's capture by the Blood Dragon Gang, every member of the Elders' Hall declared retirement and vanished.
-Seniors! You can't do this.
Our Demon Sword Sect is in utter turmoil right now. Instead of being pillars for us juniors, you're retiring and vanishing?
Among the Elders' Hall, only one opposed the retirement: Jeong Inheon.
It wasn't because he was relatively young.
It stemmed from worry for the sect—and guilt.
But the Elders' Hall's resolve was ironclad.
-Most of us gathered out of admiration for Sect Leader Cheon Baeksang's spirit and character.
We respect your opinion, Elder Jeong... but we're too old and weary.
Jeong Inheon had pleaded repeatedly, but he couldn't sway them.
How desperate must Eum Ji-myeong's wails have been as acting sect leader, and the young Demon Sword Sect disciples' despair?
'With no teeth, use the gums. With no Elders' Hall, I struggled to fill even a tenth of their role.'
This was why Plum Death Gentleman Jeong Inheon, once a terror of the unorthodox martial world, had poured his all into supporting acting sect leader Eum Ji-myeong.
"Elder Jeong, what deep thoughts occupy you?"
Now, Jeong Inheon was guiding the group to Baekcheon Valley, where the retired Elders' Hall members lived leisurely.
Hyeon Yucheon, following silently behind, spoke up.
"Nothing. Just old memories."
Once decided to meet the Elders' Hall, Jeong Inheon and Hyeon Yucheon set out immediately, accompanied by Jin Gwangma Geom Ga Jinuk and the Black Wolf Three Swords.
It had already been a month.
'They've gone truly far.'
Under Jeong Inheon's guidance, Hyeon Yucheon arrived at a distant place.
The Elders' Hall's desire to leave the secular world for quiet living was genuine.
The path led to untouched wilderness, not even frequented by herb gatherers.
"Still... this is incredibly rugged. People really live in a place like this?"
Ga Jinuk asked, sweating profusely.
Originally, only Hyeon Yucheon and the Black Wolf Three Swords were to come, but Ga Jinuk insisted on joining.
The reason was simple.
-This was my duty. I'll repay it with dog-and-horse labor to aid the sect leader.
Wanting to share the debt for his past failure.
"It's deep and treacherous, isn't it? And the surprising part? We haven't even reached the outskirts yet."
Jeong Inheon wiped sweat from his brow with a smile.
Even for these supreme experts, the steep, deserted path drew sweat. This was Baekcheon Valley.
"In truth, Baekcheon Valley was famous for housing old masters and demon heads who once shook the unorthodox martial world."
Jeong Inheon shared knowledge known only to veterans of the unorthodox realm.
It was true.
Baekcheon Valley was so isolated from the Central Plains that rumors said immortals dwelt there.
And more.
"Moreover, the thick fog is so intense that even seasoned herb gatherers avoid it. No wonder it's called Baekcheon—'White Heaven'."
As Jeong Inheon said, the valley's name came from being perpetually shrouded in white clouds, as dubbed by local herb gatherers and geomancers.
And sure enough.
Shhh!
As they entered the central area, the fog visibly thickened.
"See? Proof we're nearing Baekcheon Valley's entrance."
Jeong Inheon grew vigilant amid the increasing mist.
"From here, stray and you might get lost forever. Stick close."
The group figured the fog couldn't be that bad—but not for long.
Soon, visibility dropped to zero in the dense haze.
It was so thick that even the backs of those ahead appeared blurry.
"This is Baekcheon Valley's entrance."
Jeong Inheon, who had visited before, somehow spotted it.
Tense at finally reaching the entrance, the group followed tightly.
But what was this?
"Hm?"
"What?"
Over an incense stick's time of travel, and the entrance Jeong Inheon pointed to kept repeating.
"Wh-why? Did I lose the way?"
Even guide Jeong Inheon panicked, hand to his forehead.
He'd visited Baekcheon Valley multiple times—never like this.
"I doubt it."
This time, Hyeon Yucheon stepped forward.
Jeong Inheon, who knew the inner paths well, wasn't mistaken or erring.
The reason was clear.
"The valley's residents have set up a formation."
To shake off pursuers or nuisances, an ascending barrier formation clearly enveloped the entrance.
"The Elders' Hall?!"
Hyeon Yucheon nodded at Ga Jinuk's words.
Hearing that, Jeong Inheon grasped why the formation was active.
"I've visited several times to persuade their return... They must feel bad refusing again."
In short, this formation—unknown even to Jeong Inheon—was the Elders' Hall's clear refusal to guests.
Realizing their intent, Jeong Inheon felt utterly dejected.
After such a long journey, to be denied a meeting—what could be more frustrating?
Even as Jeong Inheon, Ga Jinuk, and the Black Wolf Three Swords tried to dispel it, they failed utterly.
Right then.
"I've got a sense of... what kind of formation this is."
Hyeon Yucheon's eyes gleamed as he approached the profound, exquisite array.