Chapter 320
A strange rumor began circulating through the Martial Alliance.
—You know that disciple of the Sword Sovereign who became the Sword Unit Commander of the Yojin Sword Unit? Apparently, he's actually a bit unhinged.
—Right. Even when he uses martial arts, instead of just cutting cleanly, he brutally hacks away at his opponents.
—And they say he's incredibly selfish. I heard the subordinates in the Yojin Sword Unit almost lost their martial arts because of him?
As one bad rumor after another spread, the Martial Alliance found itself in an awkward position.
Especially since Cheon-geom had been appointed Sword Unit Commander through the favor of the High Command.
But with such negative rumors swirling, they couldn't just stand by and do nothing.
The Azure Heaven Fan Sword, Baek In-cheong.
He was the commander of the Divine Guard Unit, one of the Seven Great Battle Groups that formed the Martial Alliance's strongest combat force.
Baek In-cheong, in particular, had a close personal relationship with the Sword Sovereign. Because of this, he was well aware of just how formidable Cheon-geom's martial prowess was.
So when Cheon-geom expressed his desire to join the Martial Alliance, Baek In-cheong swiftly appointed him as the Sword Unit Commander of the Yojin Sword Unit under his command.
—To have an outstanding young talent like Cheon-geom under my wing!
Baek In-cheong had been pleased.
If someone as skilled as Cheon-geom joined his ranks, the Divine Guard Sword Unit would undoubtedly become the strongest among the Seven Great Sword Squads.
But the outcome was far from ideal.
Instead, only negative rumors about Cheon-geom spread, and people had even begun to doubt the judgment of the Martial Alliance's High Command.
Finally, unable to endure it any longer, Baek In-cheong summoned Cheon-geom to his office.
Azure Heaven Pavilion—Baek In-cheong's office.
Seated before a wide desk was a middle-aged man with a refined appearance.
His face was pale and clean, but his gaze carried the solemn dignity of a frosty morning.
This was none other than the Divine Guard Unit Commander, Baek In-cheong.
And sitting across from him, expressionless, was a towering man—the one known as the Righteous Golden Divine Eye, Cheon-geom.
"Lately, there have been some unpleasant rumors circulating within the Alliance about you."
Baek In-cheong spoke with a stern expression.
"To confirm the truth, I personally questioned the members of the Yojin Sword Unit."
He let out a deep sigh and shook his head.
"The unit members were reluctant to speak, but... ultimately, their attitude made it clear they do not acknowledge you as their commander."
Baek In-cheong wore an extremely troubled expression.
Truthfully, he had gone against the objections of many in the High Command to appoint Cheon-geom as the Sword Unit Commander of the Yojin Sword Unit.
But now, with only bad rumors spreading, his own position had become quite precarious.
"You suddenly came to the Martial Alliance, told us of your past deeds, and asked for even a minor position, did you not?"
"..."
"And out of respect for the Sword Sovereign, I specially appointed you as the Sword Unit Commander of the Yojin Sword Unit. I overruled the objections of many in the High Command—even the unit members themselves."
Seeing no change in Cheon-geom's expression, Baek In-cheong spoke again with emphasis.
"But if these negative rumors continue to spread, there will be nothing more I can do."
Cheon-geom, who had been listening silently, suddenly brought up an unexpected topic.
"The Heir of the Demon Hall, the Martial Soul Lord, was quite adept at handling such situations in the past."
"Hm?"
"When opposition and dissatisfaction from those around him grew too loud, he silenced them by accomplishing an even greater feat."
The Heir of the Demon Hall, the Martial Soul Lord, Bu Eun-seol.
His exploits were legendary in the murim, and Baek In-cheong was well aware of them.
As the Ten Demonic Heir, Bu Eun-seol had rightfully ascended as the successor of the Demon Hall—but rumors spread that he abused his power.
In response, he suddenly annihilated the Five Poisons Sect, which had been kidnapping children, leveraging his immense intelligence network.
After that, the voices within the Demon Hall that sought to restrict Bu Eun-seol's actions completely vanished.
"It would be the proper course for me to step down now. But if I do, I would leave without repaying the kindness you've shown me..."
Cheon-geom smiled faintly.
"Even if I must leave, shouldn't I do so honorably—after accomplishing something great?"
"If that's possible, it would be for the best."
As soon as Baek In-cheong gave his affirmative answer, Cheon-geom spoke as if he had been waiting for this moment.
"In the end, I will deal with Black Land."
"Black Land?"
Black Land was one of the Four Great Wicked Lands—a vile faction of the unorthodox path that dominated the Black Dragon River region with their unique martial arts and Great Arts.
To eliminate them, the Martial Alliance would typically need to mobilize forces on the scale of an entire battle group.
"You don't mean to suggest you and I should take action together, do you?"
"Of course not. Naturally, I will handle it myself."
"But aren't your injured unit members still recovering?"
"I won't need the unit members."
Cheon-geom spoke confidently.
"Because I'll be doing it alone."
For a moment, Baek In-cheong fell silent.
He was well aware of Cheon-geom's martial prowess.
But taking on a massive faction like Black Land alone was an impossible feat.
"Listen here."
Baek In-cheong sighed and shook his head.
"Simply crushing a sect won't reverse the negative public opinion. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
"Of course. That's why I said 'it was final' earlier."
Cheon-geom spoke smoothly, as if he had already planned everything out.
"Coincidentally, I've heard there's been an outbreak of a strange disease in the Heungsan region."
"A strange disease?"
"Yes. Particularly in Heungsan, there are many weak and ailing elderly people."
For the first time, Cheon-geom's expression turned serious.
"My master's Myriad Forms One Style is a sword form that cannot be executed without a deep understanding of the human body. My skills in this regard surpass even those of most traveling physicians."
"Are you saying you'll pose as a doctor in the Heungsan region?"
"Exactly."
The Heavenly Sword spoke with confidence.
"Even if I can't completely cure them, if I stay there and administer medical treatment until the very end, the Alliance will see me in a different light."
The times when commoners revere martial artists the most are when their lives are saved from the hands of villains—
And when medical treatment is given to the sick.
Seeking treatment from a physician costs an exorbitant amount, and medicine prices are no small burden either.
From the patients' perspective, martial artists are practically divine beings.
Because they can use their internal True Qi to instantly heal the sick or cleanse illnesses entirely.
The only problem is that individuals willing to expend their own precious True Qi to treat others are exceedingly rare.
"That's not a bad method, I suppose."
Baek In-cheong swallowed a bitter taste and furrowed his brows.
"But even if you manage to quell public opinion, what about the dissatisfaction among the unit members?"
"Once public opinion improves, the unit members' perceptions will change soon enough anyway."
"Hm?"
"People praise you when you do something good and tear you down when something goes wrong. At the end of the day, they're all the same, aren't they?"
The Heavenly Sword spoke with unwavering confidence.
"If we take our time and let things settle, all the criticism up until now will disappear, and I'll regain my honor."
Baek In-cheong, who had been listening silently, suppressed his disbelief.
Now he realized—the Heavenly Sword had no intention of addressing his subordinates' grievances at all.
'He's aiming higher. He has no intention of stepping down from his position.'
As he mulled over the Heavenly Sword's words, Baek In-cheong finally understood.
To the Heavenly Sword, his subordinates' thoughts meant nothing. He only wanted to suppress the negative rumors and maintain his position as the Sword Captain of the Murim Alliance...
While achieving further merits to climb even higher.
'The Sword Sage raised his disciple a little wrong.'
Baek In-cheong sighed inwardly and shook his head.
Instead of solely imparting such formidable sword techniques, the Sword Sage should have taught him more about the ways of the world.
The martial world is not a place where one survives simply by being clever or exceptionally skilled in martial arts.
What martial artists collectively refer to as 'experience in the Rivers and Lakes'—
It means enduring countless failures and trials, overcoming them one by one.
But the Heavenly Sword, who had advanced his martial arts so rapidly due to his extraordinary talent, had no such experience whatsoever.
'Well, he's still young... It can't be helped.'
The Heavenly Sword was still young.
Not every young person could be as capable and sharp-witted as that Heir of the Demon Hall.
'From now on, I'll just have to teach him properly myself.'
Baek In-cheong resolved inwardly.
He would guide this talented young man onto the right path, no matter what.
But there was one thing he didn't yet realize—
That the Heavenly Sword was already deeply ensnared in the trap Bu Eun-seol had laid, flailing helplessly within it.
Hidden Demon Pavilion, Meeting Room.
Bu Eun-seol, Myo Cheon-u, and Yu Un-ryong sat with deeply serious expressions.
"It's going according to plan."
Yu Un-ryong spoke in a firm voice.
"Word is spreading about a strange disease in the Heungsan region. He's preparing to tour the area and restore his reputation."
Myo Cheon-u crossed his arms, a sneer playing on his lips.
"Tch, with so many elderly there, he must be thrilled."
Children and the elderly—
These two groups were the most effective in swaying public opinion.
Yu Un-ryong shook his head and continued.
"He doesn't even care about the lower ranks. He thinks flipping public perception and impressing the high command will solve everything."
"Preparations?"
When Bu Eun-seol asked, Myo Cheon-u grinned.
"Already finished. We're just waiting now."
Then he shrugged and added,
"Truly, old ginger is the spiciest. Just as you said, none of them were ordinary old folks."
Myo Cheon-u let out a dry chuckle.
"Then again, to survive this long, they'd all have to have a trump card or two up their sleeves."
"By the way, how were you so certain the Heavenly Sword would head to Heungsan and prepare all this in advance?"
At Yu Un-ryong's question, Bu Eun-seol replied indifferently.
"Because it's the easiest and most straightforward way to reverse public opinion."
Bu Eun-seol gazed out the window, murmuring as if to himself.
"Winning people's hearts takes time and is never an easy task."
His eyes lingered on the distant clouds as he continued.
"He's skilled in martial arts and not unintelligent, but he'll never grasp that simple truth in his lifetime."
Bu Eun-seol had predicted every move the Heavenly Sword would make.
That he would try to recover his fallen reputation faster than anyone else.
Had he been the type to consider others' emotions and show care—
He would have taken his time to reflect on his actions and mindset. He would have worked to earn people's trust.
But Bu Eun-seol knew.
The Heavenly Sword was not that kind of person.
He would only look for the quickest, most immediately effective method.
And so, Bu Eun-seol deliberately spread rumors of a strange disease in Heungsan.
Then, he gave twenty-five commoners fragments of the Mount Hua Sect's spirit medicine—the Violet Essence Pill.
For martial artists, the Violet Essence Pill was a supreme elixir that purified the internal organs and cleansed the qi and blood.
But when consumed by commoners without internal power, its potent effects would instead cause them to fall ill for no apparent reason.
Bu Eun-seol had spread the strange disease using the spirit medicine, and the Heavenly Sword had taken the bait he'd laid out without hesitation.
After all, it was a golden opportunity to restore his honor—one that might never come again.
This also proved just how desperate the Heavenly Sword had become.
Because he had to torment Bu Eun-seol to the very end. He was struggling by any means necessary to keep his position as Sword Captain.
"But... are you sure this will work?"
Yu Un-ryong spoke with a worried expression.
"Even if we drag the Heavenly Sword down, his martial arts are truly formidable."
"Of course."
Bu Eun-seol replied with unwavering certainty in his eyes.
"Because of this incident, he will inevitably plunge into the abyss."
And then, his pupils flashed with a bloody light, like flames.
"Soon, he will pay the price for cruelly murdering Yeong Mun-ho."
Martial Alliance Territory, Heungsan Region—Yanghyeon Village.
This remote mountain village was home to many elderly and sickly people.
Due to the nature of the cave-dwelling hermits, large settlements were impossible, and the younger generation had all left for Chengdu once they came of age.
Thus, the only residents left were the elderly and a few herb gatherers barely scraping by.
Still, since rare medicinal herbs could be found here, people came and went fairly often.
But even that had changed—once rumors of the strange disease spread, the village became a ghost town.
Whoosh—
The Heavenly Sword arrived in the Heungsan region in an instant and began surveying the area.
Most of the elderly here lived alone, their small houses scattered sparsely across the land.
Moreover, their life energy was faint, and they were already ill.
Even a master like the Heavenly Sword would struggle to sense their presence unless he got close.
"Hmm."
After scanning his surroundings, the Heavenly Sword soon approached the nearest house and stepped inside.
"Anyone here?"
"Who is it?"
A weak groan came from an old man lying on the floor, wrapped in a rough blanket.
"I've come from the Martial Alliance. I heard there are elderly suffering from a strange illness here."
Then, in a firm voice, he declared:
"I am the Martial Alliance's Yojin Unit Commander, the Heavenly Sword. I will treat you."
"I have no money."
"There's no need to refuse. I've come to treat you free of charge."
"Mm..."
At the word "free," the old man let out a low hum.
"Come in."
"Thank you."
With a polite smile, the Heavenly Sword pushed open the door and stepped inside.
The room was cramped, and the old man lay beneath a tattered blanket.
The Heavenly Sword carefully observed the man's condition.
"Fever, sweating, coughing... Your tongue is yellow and dry, and your pulse is rapid. It seems cold energy has invaded your lungs."
Martial arts and medical arts both stemmed from the study of the human body.
Especially the Sword Sovereign's Myriad Forms One Style—it pursued the most natural movements a human could perform.
A sword form that could never be mastered without deep understanding of the body. Naturally, his skill surpassed that of ordinary physicians.
"I'll infuse you with true qi to treat you."
Opening the meridians with internal energy would accelerate natural healing.
Since there were no herbs or medicine nearby, he would rely on true qi to aid recovery.
'If I fully heal him, my energy consumption will be significant.'
The Heavenly Sword's eyes narrowed slightly.
As long as word spread that he'd done a good deed, that was enough. There was no need for a perfect cure.
He deliberately released only a tiny amount of true qi, just enough to alleviate the symptoms.
"How do you feel?"
Though it was only a minuscule amount, the Heavenly Sword's pure true qi instantly unblocked dozens of the old man's acupoints.
But then, the man lying on the floor muttered softly:
"Big guy, but so damn stingy."
And then, suddenly, he cursed under his breath.
"Bastard, you're just here to show off. 'Treatment' my ass."
The Heavenly Sword's eyes widened in alarm—
Just as he sensed something wrong, a plume of white smoke erupted inside the hut.
'Qi-Scattering Powder?!'
Flash—!
A sharp gleam shot from the smoke, aiming straight for his throat.
Clang—!
The Heavenly Sword's reaction was inhumanly fast—he deflected the strike in an instant.
"Who are you?!"
With a sweep of his hand, he dispersed the smoke and yanked away the old man's blanket.
But the man who had been lying there was already gone.
He instantly heightened his extrasensory perception, yet not a single trace of life could be detected within roughly 500 feet.
"Don't tell me... that bastard again?"
A foreboding premonition flashed through the Heavenly Sword's mind.
He was convinced—Bu Eun-seol had set this trap to assassinate him.
"But that old man just now was real!"
No matter how skilled one was at disguise, the elasticity of skin and internal organs couldn't be faked.
When the Heavenly Sword had checked his pulse through touch, it had undeniably been an old man's body.
"Did he predict I'd come to Heungsan and prepare in advance?"
His blood boiling, the Heavenly Sword clenched his fists.
If Bu Eun-seol had anticipated his actions, then this entire region must be littered with traps.
"He's telling me to turn back. To never restore my reputation."
But he couldn't.
He had boasted to the Divine Guard Unit's commander before leaving—if he returned empty-handed now?
He would have no justification left to remain in the Martial Alliance.
"Fine. I accept your challenge!"
The Heavenly Sword grinned brightly.
"No matter what traps lie ahead, I'll just break through them all."
He was confident.
No matter how many assassins lay in wait, no matter what traps had been set.
Even if a whole crowd of old men like before ambushed him, he could handle them with ease.
"Too bad for you, but I'm not turning back, Bu Eun-seol."
Snorting, he muttered coldly:
"No matter what traps you've laid, I'll just keep healing my way through them."
There was no way Bu Eun-seol could have disguised all the villagers in Heungsan as assassins.
The Heavenly Sword would break through every trap—and continue his treatments regardless.