Chapter 506
Hebei Laiyuan County, the Demon Hall's Secret Safehouse.
As he listened to the explanation after emerging from the crate, Paeng Mun-cheon's eyes gradually widened in shock.
The man who had coordinated with Paeng Jong-gang to rescue him was none other than the Heir of the Demon Hall?
'So that's how it was.'
Even if the young man from the Beast Palace possessed skills formidable enough to deceive the eyes of the Paeng Clan's masters...
Even if he had devised an ingenious plan, carving the Demon Hall's emblem onto the crate to smuggle him out of the clan undetected...
In the end, the reason this plan had succeeded was because of the name attached to it—the Heir of the Demon Hall.
Martial Soul Lord Bu Eun-seol.
A prodigy of the new generation, whose reputation alone shook the martial world, had unofficially inspected every corner of the Paeng Clan.
Naturally, the clan's entire surveillance network and combat forces would have been focused on tracking his movements.
Thanks to that, he had easily slipped past security and hidden inside the warehouse crate, allowing Dae Gu-hwi to take his place and enter the Wall-Facing Cave in his stead.
'Of course... it was only possible because the heavens willed it, and the Retired Family Head was absent.'
Had the Retired Family Head, Paeng Ak, been present, such a scheme would have been unthinkable.
But this operation had been overseen by the Chief Steward, Paeng Seo-un.
Upon recovering the Paeng Clan's lost treasure, he had been so overjoyed that he hadn't scrutinized the other details too closely.
And the most astonishing part?
This wasn't an operation orchestrated by the Demon Hall—it was the personal undertaking of the Martial Soul Lord himself.
Moreover, the man assisting him was none other than Noe Bi-hon, known as the Thunder God.
"Well, I suppose only someone of the Demon Hall's heir's stature would dare meddle in the affairs of our main house."
Paeng Mun-cheon let out a deep sigh.
Until now, he had sought help from numerous orthodox sects, but none had stepped forward willingly.
Those who had offered assistance either quickly gave up or were brutally crushed by the masters Paeng Ak had secretly dispatched.
But the Demon Hall's heir wouldn't be easily exposed through intelligence networks, and even Paeng Ak wouldn't dare act recklessly against him.
"You're misunderstanding something."
At that moment, Noe Bi-hon, who had been standing silently, stepped forward.
"We're not here to help you."
Paeng Ak, the Retired Family Head of the Paeng Clan, was the Great Demon who had dissected Noe Bi-hon's wife and son in his experiments.
Though he had agreed to Bu Eun-seol's plan, he was exercising tremendous restraint.
"The only thing I want is Paeng Ak's head."
As a chilling killing intent flickered in Noe Bi-hon's pale eyes, Paeng Mun-cheon couldn't hide his startled expression.
From what Paeng Jong-gang had told him, he had assumed they were aiding him to solidify ties with the Paeng Clan.
But their true goal was to bring down his father, Paeng Ak?
"Brother Noe's family was brutally slaughtered by your father, Paeng Ak."
Bu Eun-seol proceeded to explain in detail the atrocities Paeng Ak had committed.
"So that's what happened..."
After hearing everything, Paeng Mun-cheon lowered his head and spoke.
"For generations, our main house has upheld the banner of protecting the martial world as one of the Eight Great Clans of the orthodox faction."
"..."
"But at some point, the Retired Family Head changed. He began selecting our clan's martial artists for separate training, imparting techniques only to them."
From Paeng Mun-cheon's mouth flowed a calm but previously unknown account of the Paeng Clan's internal affairs.
"Not only that, he began associating freely with vile figures and the unorthodox factions. All for the sake of making the clan stronger, or so he claimed."
Paeng Mun-cheon continued with a righteous gleam in his eyes.
"But I only ever wanted the Paeng Clan to remain as one of the Eight Great Clans. I had no desire to forge bonds with wicked men just to refine some supreme saber art."
His expression twisted in anguish.
"But because I opposed these dealings with evil men to the very end... this is what happened."
A strange light flickered in the eyes of Bu Eun-seol and Noe Bi-hon as they watched him.
But it lasted only an instant—too brief for Paeng Mun-cheon to notice.
"When did the Retired Family Head begin consorting with these evil men?"
At Bu Eun-seol's question, Paeng Mun-cheon shook his head bitterly.
"I don't know. But the Retired Family Head had always resented the fact that our clan's saber techniques could only reach Great Completion in the hands of those with exceptional talent or innate divine power. To resolve this, he once wandered the martial world... and it seems his mindset changed around that time."
He continued without pause.
"Eventually, he passed the position of Family Head to me but remained secluded in the Supreme Ancestor Hall, continuing his dealings with wicked men and dabbling in strange Great Arts."
Paeng Mun-cheon went on.
"And rather than protecting the martial world or managing the clan, he urged me to obsess over saber techniques and ascend to the realm of the Saber Path."
Pausing briefly, Paeng Mun-cheon sank into recollection.
Paeng Ak had handpicked the clan's most skilled martial artists for special training, mercilessly casting out those deemed unworthy.
Moreover, the saber techniques he taught grew increasingly bizarre.
The Five Tigers Gate-Breaking Saber Method had always displayed an overbearing style and momentum, but it had never truly pursued sheer dominance.
Yet the techniques Paeng Ak taught differed starkly from the Paeng Clan's traditional methods—instead, they aligned eerily with the Blade Essence of the Demonic Path.
Eventually, suspicion drove Paeng Mun-cheon to investigate his father.
And what he discovered was that Paeng Ak had joined forces with a faction wreaking havoc in the martial world, selectively subjecting the clan's martial artists to grotesque human experimentation.
—Retired Family Head! How could you commit such atrocities?!
Though Paeng Mun-cheon had confronted him in horror, Paeng Ak had merely replied with indifference:
—This is all for the clan's sake. Soon, the Paeng Clan will no longer be just one of the Eight Great Families—we will become the martial world's central pillar.
Paeng Mun-cheon couldn't accept those words and repeatedly tried to persuade him.
But his father never listened.
"I can no longer stand idly by while the Retired Family Head commits such heinous acts."
In the end, Paeng Mun-cheon had attempted to rally martial artists within the Paeng Clan who shared his convictions, hoping to build enough power to stop Paeng Ak's atrocities.
But splitting the Paeng Clan into factions and inciting internal strife was unthinkable.
"Rather than tearing the Paeng Clan apart, I should inform the Martial Alliance and seek their aid!"
Paeng Mun-cheon had resolved to expose all of Paeng Ak's crimes to the Martial Alliance and request their intervention.
"You grow more foolish with age."
Yet somehow, Paeng Ak had intercepted him before he could make contact with the Martial Alliance and subdued him.
After that, Paeng Mun-cheon had been imprisoned in the Wall-Facing Cave, his internal energy sealed, where he remained ever since.
"...And that is how it came to be."
Having heard the full story, Noe Bi-hon furrowed his brow deeply.
"The timeline doesn't align at all."
The period when Noe Bi-hon's wife and son were abducted coincided with the internal strife between Paeng Mun-cheon and Paeng Ak within the Paeng Clan.
In other words, unless Paeng Ak had split himself in two, it would have been impossible for him to act as the Messenger of the Three Realms.
"Then the old man I saw was not Paeng Ak."
Noe Bi-hon had not seen the face of the masked Strange Old Man—only the Supreme Patriarch Token he carried.
Perhaps that Strange Old Man was an agent of the Three Realms who had collaborated with Paeng Ak.
"But didn't he say he recognized you, Brother Noe?"
"Ah, that's right. He clearly admitted to killing my wife and son while holding the Supreme Patriarch Token."
Recalling the Strange Old Man's words, Noe Bi-hon turned to Paeng Mun-cheon.
"Wait—does that mean there is another person in the Paeng Clan who possesses the Supreme Patriarch Token?"
"No. There is only one Supreme Patriarch Token, and my father holds it. However..."
Paeng Mun-cheon took a deep breath as a thought occurred to him.
"...It is possible for him to have given it to someone else."
"Brother Noe."
Bu Eun-seol, who had been silently listening, suddenly spoke up.
"It's possible that there were two people playing the role of Paeng Ak."
"What do you mean?"
"Even back then, I found it strange."
Bu Eun-seol explained calmly.
"How the Strange Old Man at Tianshan was able to attack you, Brother Noe, while you were pursuing the Messenger of the Three Realms."
At the time, Bu Eun-seol had thought the Strange Old Man had killed the Southern Heaven Great Hero and then immediately rushed to attack So-ho.
But upon reflection, the distance between Tianshan and So-ho's location spanned thousands of li.
Even if one used Lightness Skill without rest, it would take at least three or four days to cover that distance.
The idea that the Strange Old Man had crossed it in an instant, without pause, to attack Noe Bi-hon was undeniably suspicious.
"The only way to know for sure is to subdue the Retired Family Head."
At that moment, Paeng Mun-cheon spoke again.
"Most in the main family are unaware of the Retired Family Head's true nature. If we reveal the truth to them, they will not remain idle."
He drew a deep breath before continuing.
"Through Paeng Jong-gang, I will gather the most capable and righteous figures in the main family and inform them of the truth. Once preparations are complete, we will immediately enter the main family and depose the Retired Family Head."
Paeng Mun-cheon's plan aligned perfectly with Bu Eun-seol's intentions.
If they were to strike the Paeng Clan using forces from the Demon Hall or the Demonic Path?
The Righteous Faction in Hebei would never allow it and would intervene immediately.
But if it were an internal conflict within the Paeng Clan? No one would dare interfere.
"But to do that, I must first recover my internal energy."
Bu Eun-seol nodded at Paeng Mun-cheon's words.
"This lord will unseal your acupoints."
He carefully examined Paeng Mun-cheon's condition.
'Paeng Ak... That man is truly formidable.'
The Meridian-Sealing Technique that had blocked Paeng Mun-cheon's dantian had been in place for over a decade.
Yet it remained as unyielding as ever, still suppressing his energy flow.
Just from the sheer ruthlessness of this technique, one could indirectly gauge the terrifying level of Paeng Ak's martial prowess.
"It is possible to unblock the sealed acupoints."
Bu Eun-seol took a deep breath before continuing.
"However, since they have been sealed for so long, your body may not withstand the strain. It would be best to proceed slowly, step by step."
"Is not life and death in the hands of Heaven?"
Paeng Mun-cheon smiled faintly.
"If I die from this, then so be it—it would simply be Heaven's will."
Then, fixing Bu Eun-seol with a steady gaze, he added:
"So spare me such worries and proceed."
Despite his composed demeanor, Paeng Mun-cheon was a man willing to pay any price.
As Bu Eun-seol nodded and began gathering his internal power, Noe Bi-hon suddenly stepped forward.
"Brother, your internal energy is too overwhelming—it may harm his body instead. My Thunder Essence Divine Qi, on the other hand, is particularly effective in unblocking sealed meridians."
"It's fine. I can handle it."
"No, let me do it."
Bu Eun-seol was uneasy.
After all, Paeng Mun-cheon was still the descendant of Paeng Ak, the man who had subjected Noe Bi-hon's family to cruel experiments before killing them.
What if, in a fit of rage, Noe Bi-hon ended up killing him?
"Do you still see me as a man plagued by madness?"
"Of course not."
As Bu Eun-seol shook his head, Noe Bi-hon turned to Paeng Mun-cheon.
"Paeng Mun-cheon. Do you have the resolve to endure my treatment?"
Paeng Mun-cheon actually laughed.
"This Family Head is prepared to overthrow his own father for the sake of justice. What is there to fear?"
"Good."
Noe Bi-hon immediately activated his Thunder Essence Divine Qi.
White lightning flickered in his pupils, and suddenly, Paeng Mun-cheon's body began levitating into the air.
"Ugh—!"
As the Thunder Essence Divine Qi surged into his suspended body, Paeng Mun-cheon let out a pained groan.
The Meridian-Sealing Punishment Art that Paeng Ak had deployed was so formidable that even three-tenths of Thunder Essence Divine Qi couldn't penetrate it.
'An ordinary person wouldn't survive even five-tenths of Thunder Essence Divine Qi.'
Noe Bi-hon studied Paeng Mun-cheon's gaze.
This was a man willing to drive out his own father for the sake of justice—hardly ordinary. He would likely endure it.
Zzzzt—!
The white light radiating from Noe Bi-hon's pupils intensified. Finally, he began injecting five-tenths of Thunder Essence Divine Qi.
CRACKLE-ZZZT!
The hair of Paeng Mun-cheon, suspended in midair, instantly melted away, and his robes disintegrated into tatters.
Then, blood burst from his lips. His body was breaking down, unable to withstand the Thunder Essence Divine Qi.
Hiss—!
At that moment, white smoke began rising from his dantian.
Huuuuum—!
A radiant white light spilled from Paeng Mun-cheon's body.
At last, the blocked blood circuits had been forced open.
Thud.
Paeng Mun-cheon, now completely bald, landed on the floor and immediately assumed the lotus position.
Huuuuum—!
Simultaneously, thick black smoke began rising from his body.
With his Internal Energy restored, he was now burning away all the turbid qi that had accumulated in his bloodline.
Flash!
When he opened his eyes, divine light radiated outward.
Finally, Paeng Mun-cheon had recovered all of his internal power.
"Thank you, Great Hero Noe."
"No need for thanks."
Noe Bi-hon's voice was icy.
"All of this was done so you could kill your father."
"Kill?"
"Drag him out and execute him—isn't that the way?"
"I have no intention of killing the Retired Family Head."
Paeng Mun-cheon's expression was almost comically bewildered.
"Even if he's an evil man, he's still my father, isn't he? As Family Head, I intend to have him pay for his crimes by imprisoning him in the Wall-Facing Cave for the rest of his life."
"Nonsense."
Lightning crackled in Noe Bi-hon's eyes.
"Did you think I went through all this just so you could lock him away in comfort?"
"Then are you telling me to become a patricidal monster?"
"You won't kill him. I will."
"Preposterous. Then you'll have to kill me first."
Paeng Mun-cheon's tone was eerily calm.
"But without my help, your attempt to strike down the Retired Family Head will fail. There's no other way unless he's brought down from within."
"Fine. I'll kill you."
Without hesitation, Noe Bi-hon summoned Thunder Essence Divine Qi, ready to obliterate Paeng Mun-cheon's crown.
"Brother Noe, wait."
Bu Eun-seol immediately stepped forward.
"Family Head Paeng. You've had time to reflect calmly in the Wall-Facing Cave. Surely you know exactly what kind of man Paeng Ak is?"
He met Paeng Mun-cheon's gaze and spoke evenly.
"He didn't spare you out of love or pity. He kept you alive either for future use or as a contingency."
Paeng Mun-cheon gave a faint nod.
Paeng Ak's Demonic Nature had already seeped into his marrow.
He had long suspected that his father's mercy had nothing to do with familial bonds.
"Just because my father became an evil man, must I too violate the laws of heaven?"
"No need to violate anything. The moment you rebelled and escaped, Paeng Ak was always going to kill you."
Paeng Mun-cheon reluctantly shifted the topic.
"Very well. We'll revisit this discussion after we've expelled the Retired Family Head and restored the main house to order. Once his crimes are laid bare, if the clan deems his sins unforgivable..."
Bu Eun-seol cut him off.
"You're mistaken. There is no plan to restore the Paeng Clan."
"What do you mean?"
"The Paeng Clan must fall."
"So your intention wasn't to help us rebuild ties, but to destroy us."
Paeng Mun-cheon's face twisted in betrayal before his tone hardened.
"We no longer need your assistance. From now on, I'll handle this myself as Family Head."
He looked down at Bu Eun-seol and spoke coldly.
"Of course, I'll repay the debt for helping me escape safely—in due time."
Bu Eun-seol, who had been listening silently, let out a sigh.
"Family Head Paeng. Do you take us for fools?"
"What are you—"
"Did you really think we'd believe Paeng Ak handpicked martial artists within the clan for grotesque experiments?"
Flames as fierce as burning coal ignited in Bu Eun-seol's eyes.
"Did you think we'd swallow such lies?"
"What lies have I told?"
"The Infinite Realm."
An overwhelming pressure erupted from Bu Eun-seol's body—enough to crush Mount Tai in an instant.
"Did you think we rescued you without knowing the Paeng Clan is one with the Infinite Realm?"
Paeng Mun-cheon fell silent.
The truth was, the Paeng Clan had deep ties to the Infinite Realm, and he had always known.
But Paeng Mun-cheon could never align with their banner. He had longed for the clan's return to the Righteous Faction.
"Paeng Ak didn't just experiment on Brother Noe's family. He captured countless people, subjected them to cruel tests, and slaughtered them. And you think locking him away in the Wall-Facing Cave for life is justice?"
"The main house and the Infinite Realm are not one and the same."
Paeng Mun-cheon defended cautiously.
"I know your clan has been in contact with them since your grandfather's time. They promised to modify human bodies so even ordinary people could master the Five Tigers Gate-Breaking Saber Method."
Unable to meet Noe Bi-hon's gaze, he hung his head and continued.
"Thanks to the Great Art they provided, many of our warriors mastered the technique. But in return, they demanded endless human experiments... In my generation, I sought only to sever that cursed bond."
Paeng Mun-cheon spoke urgently.
"I've heard the Retired Family Head was taken by the Three Realms as a child and subjected to horrific experiments. The Infinite Realm brainwashed him into believing these atrocities would save Murim... That's why he committed such cruelty."
"Clan Head Paeng."
Bu Eun-seol spoke with solemn gravity.
"Your current stance is no different in the slightest from the actions of the Infinite Realm."
Paeng Mun-cheon bowed his head in shame.
All this time, he had resolved not to kill his father—only to imprison him and end the matter there.
But with Noe Bi-hon, who had lost his wife and child in such a horrific manner, present—
No, given that countless innocent people had been slaughtered and dissected for the sake of human modification...
The sins committed were far too great to atone for while still alive.
"Paeng Ak collaborated with the Three Realms and conducted cruel human experiments. That alone is enough to disqualify the Paeng Clan from remaining one of the Eight Great Families of the Righteous Faction."
Bu Eun-seol's voice was merciless.
"The Paeng Clan must be erased."
Paeng Mun-cheon could not hide his flustered expression.
"Though our clan has deep ties with the Infinite Realm, the majority of our members are unaware of that fact. And yet, you say the entire clan must be destroyed?"
Thud.
Instead of answering, Bu Eun-seol tossed a book from his sleeve.
Within it were detailed records of every atrocity the Paeng Clan had committed.
Even those who had followed Paeng Mun-cheon and rebelled against the Retired Family Head had ultimately yielded to Paeng Ak.
The evidence of their compliance in his wicked deeds was laid bare.
"This... can't be."
Paeng Mun-cheon's trembling hands traced the words on the pages.
"So in the end... not just the Retired Family Head, but the entire clan must be dismantled."
He collapsed weakly to the ground.
The Paeng Clan had already become one with the Three Realms—there was no longer any distinction between ally and enemy.
"There is only one thing left for the Clan Head to do."
Bu Eun-seol spoke in a low voice.
"Tear down the Paeng Clan completely—then rebuild it anew."
"But that's—"
"If you refuse, I will expose the Paeng Clan's crimes to the Martial Alliance. Then, naturally, they will be purged."
Bu Eun-seol glanced at Noe Bi-hon and muttered bitterly.
"However, this method would deny Brother Noe the chance for direct vengeance. Unless absolutely necessary, I would prefer not to resort to it."
Paeng Mun-cheon's vision darkened.
Easier said than done. Rebuilding a great clan like the Paeng Clan? Even decades of effort might not be enough.
"Lord."
Seeing no other way, Paeng Mun-cheon adopted a humble tone and began to plead.
"Spare the Paeng Clan."
"..."
"They only obeyed and submitted because they could not defy the Retired Family Head. That is the sole reason they committed such acts."
His expression was desperate.
"Most of our clan members are righteous people. If only the Retired Family Head is dealt with, the clan will naturally be purified."
"Do you truly believe that?"
"Of course. Had I not held such faith, I could never have endured all those years in the Wall-Facing Cave."
Bu Eun-seol exhaled sharply through his nose.
Paeng Mun-cheon was a man who sought to walk the righteous path in his own way.
Yet, regrettably, he failed to face reality—chasing only ideals.
Bu Eun-seol met his gaze and spoke.
"If what you say is true, then you should be able to return to the Paeng Clan and rally the majority of its members. After all, most were only forced into submission by the Retired Family Head."
"Precisely. They dared not resist only because of his terrifying martial prowess and the powerful swordsmen under his command."
"Good."
Bu Eun-seol's tone was decisive.
"If you can return to the Paeng Clan and unite over half of its forces, I will forever remain silent about the clan's atrocities."
Paeng Mun-cheon could hardly believe it.
If he merely rallied half the clan's forces, they would stay out of the matter? That was far too lenient.
"You swear it?"
"I do."
"Then let us make this agreement clear."
Paeng Mun-cheon spoke with confidence.
"If I unite more than half of the clan's forces, you will not interfere in our affairs—no matter what. Even if a battle breaks out, neither of you will intervene."
"Hopeless. Even now, you think only of your clan?"
Noe Bi-hon, unable to hold back, let out a cold sneer—but Bu Eun-seol stopped him.
"It's fine."
"Fine?"
"Brother Noe, have you not already experienced firsthand just how cruel that man is?"
Bu Eun-seol's expression was unwavering as he continued.
"The fact that such a person could remain in power for so long is proof that the Paeng Clan is rotten to its roots. Even if given the chance, it cannot be rebuilt."
His eyes were unfathomably deep, filled with insight and wisdom.
'That's just the kind of person he is.'
Though young, Bu Eun-seol possessed an intuition and understanding of human nature surpassing even that of an elder who had lived a full life.
If he was this certain, then it would undoubtedly come to pass.
"Very well."
Noe Bi-hon nodded.
"I will follow my younger brother's lead. But if, contrary to your promise, you fail to rally more than half of the clan's forces..."
A flash of white light ignited in his eyes.
"Paeng Ak—I will execute him on the spot."
Paeng Mun-cheon drew a deep breath.
The Martial Soul Lord of the Demon Hall had aided him, even sending the Five Tigers Saber and gifts as a gesture of goodwill.
The Thunder God, whose family had been slaughtered and whose hatred reached the heavens, had already conceded more than enough.
There was nothing left to say.
"Understood. If it comes to that... I will entrust the Retired Family Head's fate to you, Great Hero Noe."
"Good."
"But that is where it ends."
Paeng Mun-cheon met Bu Eun-seol's gaze and spoke firmly.
"If I unite more than half of the clan's forces, the conflict will be resolved internally—through our own reformation."
"Agreed."
Bu Eun-seol's immediate assent drew a sigh of relief from Paeng Mun-cheon.
'He knows nothing of our clan's circumstances.'
From childhood until now,
he had witnessed the countless members of the Paeng Clan groaning under the Retired Family Head's overwhelming power and oppression.
If they were given the strength and justification to overthrow him—
They would rise in rebellion without hesitation.
Then the Peng Clan could stand tall once more as one of the Eight Great Clans—as a pillar of the Righteous Path. They could finally return to their true form as the Hebei Paeng Clan.