Chapter 168
Chapter 168
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 168
Chapter Title: As the Sword Demon Did
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The Sword Fiend, Na Chunggil.
He was a man largely unknown to the world, as was his title.
But that wasn't the case within the Heavenly Demonic Cult.
If you were to ask who the best swordsman in the cult was, a hundred out of a hundred people would say the Sword Demon.
The Heavenly Demon, of course, was the exception.
Few had ever actually seen the Heavenly Demon wield a sword, but anyone who had would insist that defeating him in swordsmanship was impossible.
In any case, the finest sword in the cult was the Sword Demon.
So, who came after the Sword Demon?
There were countless answers to that question. The Heavenly Demonic Cult had swordsmen as numerous as grains of sand, and among them were many whose skills were too close to rank.
But if you asked who coveted the Sword Demon's position the most, everyone would give the same name.
The Sword Fiend, Na Chunggil.
The Sword Fiend was, true to his name, a man obsessed with the sword. And he was also obsessed with the Sword Demon.
The Sword Fiend’s goal was the Sword Demon, and the Sword Demon, in turn, quite liked and cherished the Sword Fiend.
He even offered him lessons through live combat from time to time.
Of course, the one on the receiving end probably didn't see it that way.
As the Sword Demon once did.
In any case, most people would grind their teeth at their teacher in such situations. They would use that as fuel to become stronger.
Just as the Sword Demon did.
If the Sword Demon hadn't ground his teeth at me, the Heavenly Demon, how could he have ever reached the realm of the Mind Sword?
Regardless, the Sword Fiend left the cult with the goal of surpassing the Sword Demon.
Frankly, no place could match the training environment of the Heavenly Demonic Cult.
One could frequently engage in spars that were close to real combat. The cult also possessed a wide variety of martial arts manuals, and most members had the opportunity to study them.
But the Sword Fiend turned his back on all of it and left.
He resolved never to return until he had become stronger than the Sword Demon.
And the one who had personally granted him permission was none other than myself, the Heavenly Demon.
That was why the memory was still quite vivid in Byeok Taesan's mind.
Of course, had he not seen Na Heontak, it would not have been easy to recall.
Byeok Taesan silently stared at Na Heontak, lost in these thoughts.
Na Heontak’s expression grew incredibly complicated.
"I haven't... been in separate contact with him."
Byeok Taesan listened quietly.
"He used to visit whenever he felt like it, but it will soon be three years since his last visit."
Hwaok, who had just received a bundle of documents from Na Heontak and happened to be nearby, watched the two of them with eyes full of fascination.
"Still, I'd think you'd at least know where he's staying, wouldn't you?"
Hwaok asked, her eyes sparkling.
Na Heontak looked at Hwaok with a troubled expression. Hwaok smiled sweetly and continued.
"People like us can't stand not knowing something when we have the means to find out."
The words struck a chord, and Na Heontak gave a bitter smile.
"I apologize if I was too forward."
Na Heontak shook his head at Hwaok’s apology.
"Not at all. That is, of course, only natural... but Young Master."
Na Heontak looked at Byeok Taesan and said.
"He wouldn't want this. I don't wish to... disturb his peace."
Byeok Taesan scoffed.
"How would you know whether he wants it or not?"
"We've known each other for fifteen years. Though we only met occasionally... that's enough to understand certain things."
A hint of interest flickered in Byeok Taesan’s eyes.
"And what is it that you've understood?"
"His hesitation."
"So you think he's contemplating whether to put down his sword."
Na Heontak nodded with a bitter expression.
The Sword Fiend's talent, skill, and passion were a true waste, but if he decided to lay down his sword, he wanted to help him in any way he could.
He was not only his one and only brother but also the benefactor who had given him a life.
"Why do you get to decide that?"
"I'm not deciding anything. Everything is up to my brother..."
"So why are you trying to orchestrate it as you please?"
Na Heontak fell silent. It wasn't that he had nothing to say, but he knew arguing would only prolong the conversation without reaching a conclusion.
"Tell me where he is. I'll speak with him."
Na Heontak lowered his head slightly. He could no longer refuse to tell Byeok Taesan.
"Please... do not shake my brother's resolve too much. I earnestly ask this of you."
Byeok Taesan scoffed.
"From where I'm standing, you're the one shaking the Sword Fiend. I don't understand why you'd say such a thing."
Na Heontak spoke with a complicated expression.
"He is on Mount Yuelu."
"So close."
Mount Yuelu was a mountain about twenty li from here.
He talked about not wanting it, about not disturbing his peace, yet he was just on Mount Yuelu. It was impossible not to laugh.
Na Heontak, perhaps a bit embarrassed, quickly added something else.
"And there is a high probability that it is the location indicated on the treasure map."
"What an interesting bunch."
Byeok Taesan grinned and turned his gaze back to the people training.
The thought that someone would soon arrive to help with their training lifted his spirits.
Byeok Taesan glanced at Na Heontak beside him and spoke.
"It seems you've learned the Seven-Severing Demonic Arts."
Na Heontak turned his head toward Byeok Taesan in shock. How could he possibly know that?
He had never once revealed his martial arts or spoken of them in front of Byeok Taesan.
Did that mean he had seen through the nature of his martial arts just by observing him?
'Is such a thing even possible?'
Na Heontak stared blankly at Byeok Taesan.
Hwaok, having accurately assessed the situation, had already prepared an inkstone, brush, and paper, and placed them respectfully before Byeok Taesan.
Byeok Taesan dipped the brush generously in ink and began writing on the paper with a single, fluid stroke.
It was merely three pages.
But the content was far from "mere."
"Take a good look. It makes no difference to me whether you grasp this or not."
With those words, Byeok Taesan turned and strode into the pavilion.
Hwaok watched his retreating back, covering her mouth to stifle a laugh.
Na Heontak looked back and forth between Hwaok and the papers on the ground, his expression bewildered.
"It seems the Young Master is in a good mood today. Take these and savor every single character. Congratulations on your newfound fortune."
After saying this, Hwaok gathered the bundle of documents she had received from Na Heontak and the writing materials, and went inside the pavilion.
With a dazed expression, Na Heontak carefully picked up the papers from the ground. Then, he began to read them calmly.
His expression shifted from dazed to surprised, and from surprised to utterly shocked.
In the end, he stood rooted to the spot, completely lost in a state of self-forgetfulness.
***
Rumors about the treasure map began to spread like wildfire.
They didn't just circulate in Changsha; they exploded almost simultaneously throughout all of Hunan.
Once the news broke, the rumors spread in all directions, setting the world abuzz.
The rumor was that the Golden Moon Trading Company had acquired a treasure map leading to a hidden cave where the Profound Heaven Sword, a treasure of the Heavenly Demonic Cult, was concealed.
Since the rumor had already been circulating covertly in Changsha, its impact was far more destructive.
This shortened the time it took for people to verify its authenticity.
And so, the eyes of the world once again turned to the Golden Moon Trading Company.
They had already been suffering from rumors that they had taken treasure from the Golden Jade Trading Company, but the addition of the treasure map made their predicament even worse.
Of course, unlike before, this situation was one the Golden Moon Trading Company had intentionally created.
When the world's attention was at its peak, the Golden Moon Trading Company decided to release the treasure map.
They decided to make precise copies of the map and distribute them to influential sects and organizations.
The copying process was to be observed by representatives from the chosen sects and organizations, allowing them to confirm that the copies were not tampered with.
Countless negotiations and dealings took place, all centered around the Golden Moon Trading Company.
And in the process, the Golden Moon Trading Company greedily extracted every possible benefit.
As if determined to recoup their losses from several past failures, they acted with an almost unreasonable amount of greed.
In the end, they selected a total of twenty parties.
Among them were not only powerful sects and organizations.
A few rather lacking factions were mixed in, enough to make one tilt their head in confusion.
But no one found it strange.
The Golden Moon Trading Company had been so blatant about what it wanted. Everyone simply assumed this was the result.
And that was where the problem arose.
While returning to their sects with the copies of the map, some were ambushed and had their maps stolen.
From that point on, a battle for the treasure maps erupted.
Of course, the more powerful sects kept their distance and simply watched, while the less prominent factions and organizations jumped into the fray.
It was, quite literally, chaos.
Fights broke out everywhere, and blood was spilled. Many martial artists were killed or injured, and the resulting chaos only grew.
And at that moment, the Martial Alliance, the Black Alliance, and the Five Great Families intervened simultaneously.
They began to actively involve themselves in the conflict, as if to declare they would no longer stand by and watch the turmoil.
The chaos subsided temporarily, but resentment toward the Martial Alliance, the Black Alliance, and the Five Great Families began to grow.
And in the shadows, the battle for the treasure maps continued bit by bit.
The key was simply not to get caught, wasn't it?
There were even cases of people hiring assassin guilds.
They could have escalated things further, but Hyeokryeon Hwi and Pyeong Jarim chose not to.
The more important task was to lure as many people as possible to the hidden cave.
The chaos caused by the treasure maps had its limits.
And the speed at which the Martial Alliance, the Black Alliance, and especially the Five Great Families were deciphering the maps was too fast.
The deciphering ability of the Five Great Families, particularly the Jegal Family, was astounding.
Having already anticipated this, the Golden Moon Trading Company immediately announced that they had deciphered the treasure map.
And they declared they would share the method of interpretation with anyone who wanted it.
Once again, all hell broke loose.
This time, the Golden Moon Trading Company did not act greedily and readily handed over the interpretation method to everyone who desired it.
With both the treasure map and the interpretation method, anyone could now find their way to the hidden cave.
And here and there, people began to stir, preparing to seek out the hidden cave.
***
While all this was happening, Byeok Taesan remained at the Gakwol Inn.
He had actually intended to find the Sword Fiend before this, but he couldn't.
The Sword Fiend, who was supposed to be on Mount Yuelu, had left.
According to Na Heontak, he hadn't moved permanently, but was just away for a short while.
He said it was because the area had become noisy due to the treasure map incident, and apparently, this had happened a few times before.
In any case, he was simply passing the time by training.
Today was no different; he spent his time watching the people train diligently in the space prepared in the annex, occasionally using the Soul-Devouring Demonic Arts to let them experience death.
His control was now incomparably more refined than before, to the point that sometimes they didn't even realize their souls had been severed from their bodies.
As he was watching their training, Na Heontak approached.
"Young Master, you have a visitor."
"A visitor?"
Byeok Taesan turned his head to look at Na Heontak.
Na Heontak lowered his head slightly and answered.
"He didn't reveal his identity, but he seems to be from the Golden Moon Trading Company. It looks like he's brought the treasure map."
Byeok Taesan scoffed.
"They must be getting anxious."
"I suppose so. After all, you haven't made any move at all, Young Master."
Na Heontak watched Byeok Taesan for a moment before continuing.
"Lately, the Golden Moon Trading Company has been secretly meeting with various people. Very secretly. So secretly that I would have had difficulty noticing if I hadn't been lucky."
"They're distributing the treasure map."
"Precisely."
Byeok Taesan grinned.
"This is getting more and more interesting."
Na Heontak bowed his head slightly and led Byeok Taesan to where the guest was waiting.
Byeok Taesan followed leisurely behind him.
And that day, he received the treasure map and its interpretation method from the Golden Moon Trading Company.
***
"It's so blatant. Must we really go?"
To the question from Sima Wihong, the Grand Strategist of the Martial Alliance, Bang Durip, the leader of the Heavenly Sword Brigade, replied with a resolute expression.
"That's all the more reason to go. We must stop whatever atrocities are planned there, must we not?"
Sima Wihong let out a low sigh.
"But if the Heavenly Sword Brigade makes a move, things will escalate. Do you think the Black Alliance or the Five Great Families will stand idly by? If the Hubei Martial Alliance also gets involved, it will become a complete mess in an instant."
"That would happen if the entire Heavenly Sword Brigade were to mobilize. I'm no fool. Though I might seem like one compared to the Grand Strategist."
"What a preposterous thing to say..."
"I intend to take only myself, the vice-leader, and the squad leaders and their deputies. With such a small number, it shouldn't become too big of an issue."
Sima Wihong couldn't hide his troubled expression. For him to say that much meant his mind was made up.
If he opposed him any further, things might take an unexpected turn.
In the end, Sima Wihong nodded.
"Very well. I will process the order. But please remember, you must not let things escalate."
Bang Durip smiled brightly.
"Of course. You can trust me. And who knows? The Profound Heaven Sword might just end up in my hands."
Bang Durip's words only deepened Sima Wihong's anxiety.