Chapter 117
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 117
Chapter Title: Chronicle of the Combat Martial Emperor
I asked the Vice Regional Master.
“Who are you?”
The Vice Regional Master was triumphant.
“I am Yang Seok-cheon, the Vice Regional Master of the Yueyang Branch of the Ten Heavens of the Unorthodox Path.”
“And who can prove that?”
The Vice Regional Master laughed heartily and pointed to the masters.
“Hahaha! My subordinates will prove it.”
“And who are they?”
“They are my subordinates, from the Yueyang Branch of the Ten Heavens of the Unorthodox Path…”
“And who can prove that?”
“If you don’t believe me, you can come with me to the Yueyang Branch of the Ten Heavens of the Unorthodox Path…”
“And who can prove that place is the Yueyang Branch of the Ten Heavens of the Unorthodox Path?”
“Well…”
“Nothing to say?”
“…”
I pointed to the sun.
“Prove to me that is the sun.”
“…”
I returned Yang Seok-cheon’s own logic right back at him.
Yang Seok-cheon hesitated, his face twisting as if he'd bitten into a bug.
I hammered the final nail in the coffin.
“It seems that man doesn't want to fight because he doesn't want to hurt you.”
“What nonsense!”
Yang Seok-cheon snapped.
“If you don’t believe me, test him yourself.”
Yang Seok-cheon looked at Yong Hyeon-jung.
Yong Hyeon-jung said nothing, simply standing with his hands clasped behind his back.
This time, Yang Seok-cheon looked at me and Go Un-hyo.
“And who are you?”
After speaking, he studied my clothes intently.
I was wearing the Grand Branch Master attire that An Do-pil had recently made.
My previous outfit had ‘Martial Alliance, Dong-ro’ on the left chest and ‘Team Leader 3’ on the right shoulder. This new one, however, had a magnificent, large golden dragon head embroidered on the left chest, and the characters for ‘Grand Master’ (太上) were also stitched prominently on the right.
Yang Seok-cheon’s gaze lingered on the ‘Grand Master’ on my right chest.
The term ‘Grand Master’ is used in titles like Grand Clan Head, Grand Sect Leader, or Grand Elder, usually denoting the highest position in a major sect or clan.
And since I was wearing a yellow robe made of good-quality fabric—though not luxurious like silk—Yang Seok-cheon couldn't figure out who I was and kept tilting his head in confusion.
But he was certain of one thing: he shouldn't treat me carelessly.
Regardless, I walked with Go Un-hyo toward the Flying Dragon.
About five breaths later, a shout and the loud *cha-cha-chang* of swords being drawn erupted from behind. A moment later, a series of stifled screams broke out and then ceased.
Go Un-hyo looked back and said.
“Brother, that man took down the Vice Regional Master and all the Unorthodox masters.”
The foolish Vice Regional Master didn't believe me and, along with his subordinates, hurried off to the Yellow Springs.
Moreover, the man in blue, Yong Hyeon-jung, had tried to avoid a fight several times before finally unleashing his killing intent.
I didn't look back, but it seemed Yong Hyeon-jung had killed all twenty-some men in three moves.
‘What a magnificent fellow.’
He tolerates most things, but once he draws his sword, he kills.
* * *
The Flying Dragon departed from Yueyang Port. We were now heading back to our destination, Dong-ro Prefecture.
On this journey, which I had taken to avoid clashing with the people of the Martial Alliance and to sort out my thoughts, I had made a decision.
I'm done with the Dong-ro Branch. When I return, I plan to wrap things up and leave without any lingering attachments.
My purpose after leaving is clear. I plan to meet, or seek out, strong opponents and challenge them.
I already had a rough idea of which masters I would seek out.
I never had any feelings for Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo to begin with, so there was nothing to sort out.
* * *
Go Un-hyo took the butterfly-shaped hairpin he had bought and went to Ja-un's room.
“Ja-un, are you there?”
A rustling sound came from inside.
“What is it?”
“I have something to say.”
“Say it from there.”
Evidently, Ja-un was too embarrassed to face me.
“I'll leave it outside the door.”
I placed the hairpin far from the cabin door and returned to my own cabin.
* * *
After leaving Yueyang, I holed myself up in my cabin and, while deep in thought, began compiling a book—a register of the masters I would fight from now on, as well as those I had already faced.
In my mind, I titled this book the *Chronicle of the Combat Martial Emperor*.
Of the Fifteen Martial Venerables, I had fought the Blood Shadow Sword Venerable and the Snow Cloud Ice Venerable, and had won both times.
Go Un-hyo’s master, the Golden Sword Martial Venerable, was killed by the Blood Shadow Sword Venerable, so he was excluded.
Therefore, twelve of the Fifteen Martial Venerables remained, including Sang Gang-jo's master, the Soul-Startling Sword Venerable.
Next were the Eight Absolutes Under Heaven, said to be a level above the Fifteen Martial Venerables.
The Eight Absolutes Under Heaven referred to the leaders of the Five Martial Powers and three other exceptional individuals.
The Five Martial Powers were the Martial Alliance, the Demonic Emperor's Grand Union, the Ten Heavens of the Unorthodox Path, the Four Seas Way, and the Mysterious Jade Palace. Their leaders were among the Eight Absolutes.
First, upon returning to the Dong-ro Branch, I planned to have a one-on-one duel with Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo, the Alliance Lord of the Martial Alliance and one of the Eight Absolutes.
There would be much opposition, but it was a duel I had to fight. My very reason for living is to become the strongest, and if I didn't face her, I would feel unsettled no matter who else I fought.
Above the Eight Absolutes were said to be the Four Transcendent Masters of the Realm. Sang Gang-jo had told me Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo's skills were on par with one of them, Grand Elder Yeong-gak.
Therefore, after Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo would be Grand Elder Yeong-gak. No excuses, no pretexts, no concessions. I was determined to fight him unconditionally.
Afterward, I would leave Dong-ro Prefecture and travel the world, seeking out the leaders of the Demonic Emperor's Grand Union, the Ten Heavens of the Unorthodox Path, the Four Seas Way, and the Mysterious Jade Palace to challenge them.
The Fifteen Martial Venerables, the Eight Absolutes Under Heaven, and the Four Transcendent Masters of the Realm—I had to find and fight them, no matter what.
And in between, whenever I had the chance, I would seek out and fight the two hundred sixty-two masters from Sang Gang-jo’s *Register of Hidden Masters* and the rising stars from the *Record of the Invincibles*.
Thousand Illusions Wanderer Song Ga-hyeon, Life-Ending Saber Geum Cheong-san, and Blood Crow Saber Cheon Jeong-u were exceptions.
That was the gist of the list I had compiled so far. I also recorded the names and titles of the masters who had been defeated or killed by me.
* * *
The night we left Yueyang, the Flying Dragon was moored by the riverbank.
It was winter but not yet cold, so we were having dinner and drinks on the deck. For the first time in a while, Ja-un joined us.
Ja-un sat across from me but wouldn't meet my eyes. Still, the butterfly-shaped hairpin tucked into her neatly combed hair was beautiful.
Ha Mong-un's cooking was, as always, superb. The liquor was a traditional brew we had bought in Yueyang.
Tonight's meal was especially fragrant and savory, as it was made with fresh, high-quality ingredients purchased in Yueyang.
I asked Ha Mong-un.
“Chef Ha, do you have a family?”
“My children are all grown and married. Only my wife is at home.”
The crew of the Flying Dragon all ate together, so Ha Mong-un sat beside the maid.
“You’ve been away from your wife for too long. I apologize.”
Ha Mong-un waved his hands frantically, with more vigor than necessary.
“Not at all! Please don’t say such a thing!”
Ha Mong-un beamed.
“I’m enjoying the greatest freedom of my life!”
Chae Gwang said with a laugh.
“Chef Ha’s wife is famous in Dong-ro Prefecture!”
“What is she famous for?”
“For being the most shrewish wife in all of Dong-ro Prefecture!”
Everyone roared with laughter. Ja-un, who seemed to know this as well, smiled shyly.
It meant that for the first time since his marriage, Ha Mong-un was relishing his freedom from his wife's nagging. I looked around at everyone and got to the point.
“I plan to return to Dong-ro Prefecture, and then leave again after a few days.”
Everyone, except for Go Un-hyo, was very surprised.
Go Un-hyo hadn't known about my decision, but since he would follow me wherever I went, he wasn't particularly surprised.
Ja-un, who had been avoiding my gaze all evening, stared at me in surprise, her eyes wide like a rabbit's.
“This time, it will be a longer and farther journey.”
“Where are you going, and for how long?”
“I'm going to travel the world. It could take several years.”
“Several years?”
“I haven’t decided on the duration yet.”
“I’ve grown fond of you all. So, if possible, I would like you to come with me.”
Ha Mong-un, Chae Gwang, and the two other sailors shouted in unison.
“Sir! We will go!”
“We will follow you no matter what, sir!”
At some point, they had started calling me 'sir'.
“I want to go too!”
“Me too!”
Following Ja-un, the maid also jumped to her feet and shouted.
“The two of you cannot come.”
I said flatly.
“Why? Why not?”
Ja-un protested fiercely.
“I won't repeat myself.”
Women are a headache.
* * *
A strange feeling woke me from my sleep.
‘Intruders!’
My Skynet's Divine Hearing had activated automatically, sensing someone climbing over the Flying Dragon's railing, and had woken me.
Not only that, but something was approaching from all directions, parting the water around the Flying Dragon smoothly.
My martial arts also activated naturally.
*Shaaa…*
Several boats were approaching the Flying Dragon, and from the ones that got close, intruders were quietly boarding.
I rose without a sound and stepped out of my cabin, extending my Skynet's Divine Hearing to its maximum.
Currently, five people had crossed onto the deck of the Flying Dragon, and two more were on their way.
And a dozen or so boats had drawn close to the Flying Dragon.
The people of the Flying Dragon, including myself, were sleeping in the cabins below deck. There was only one entrance from the deck to the cabins, and its door was locked from the inside.
The boats gently bumped against the Flying Dragon, and then a countless number of intruders swarmed aboard.
But I couldn't sense any presence from Go Un-hyo, Ja-un, or any of the other crew members.
With Skynet's Divine Hearing, I should have been able to detect not just their breathing but even their heartbeats, yet there was only a dead silence.
A wave of foreboding washed over me. Something had definitely happened to them.
I entered the adjacent cabin, where Go Un-hyo was.
Go Un-hyo was lying stiffly on his bed. I sensed he wasn't breathing, and his heart wasn't beating.
‘Un-hyo!’
I cried out internally as I rushed to his side and examined his face.
Go Un-hyo's face, with his eyes closed, was swollen and had turned a dark, purplish-blue. A foul stench emanated from his body.
‘Poison!’
I quickly checked Go Un-hyo’s pulse to assess his condition. His heart was beating so faintly it was almost still, and poison had filled every corner of his body. The beat was so weak I could only detect it by feeling for his pulse.
According to the *Medical Scripture of the Central Heaven*, treating such severe poisoning was a very complex and lengthy process.
‘Damn it!’
Seeing Go Un-hyo, whom I considered a brother, in this state, I was struck by both despair and fury.
After composing myself, I thought back on the day’s events and concluded that the dinner must have been the cause.
Go Un-hyo and I had eaten and drunk at a tavern near Yueyang Port without any issue. That meant the only thing we all ate together was dinner.
And the fact that I couldn't sense any sign of life from not just Go Un-hyo, but also Ja-un and the others, meant they had been poisoned too.
So, the dinner we all ate and drank together was the problem. It must have been poisoned. The lack of any vital signs from Go Un-hyo, Ja-un, and the others was proof.
Since Ha Mong-un had prepared the meal while the Flying Dragon was sailing, it would have been impossible for an intruder to poison the food.
In that case, the ingredients Ha Mong-un bought in Yueyang must have already been poisoned.
In conclusion, someone had been secretly tailing the Flying Dragon and executed their poisoning plot in Yueyang.
And the people now boarding the Flying Dragon must be the culprits who poisoned us.