Chapter 112
Chapter 112
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 112
Chapter Title: The Truth (1)
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Before Jeok Sang could even begin his story, Ouyang Jue reflexively circulated his Purple Mist Divine Arts.
It was partly to keep an eye on his surroundings, but he also didn't know what the man might be thinking.
He could be ambushed while focused on the story.
‘With Jeok Sang's skill, it's certainly possible.’
The wariness Ouyang Jue felt sharpened his senses.
Noticing this, a bitter look flickered across Jeok Sang's face.
But it couldn't be helped.
To Ouyang Jue, the Mount Tai Sword Gate was an untrustworthy outsider, a remote sect he had never even heard of.
‘Just when did things turn out like this?’
His lament settled deep into his wrinkles, drying hard and stiff.
His gaze grew somber.
When had it begun?
The reason why the once-brilliant Mount Tai Sword Gate had declined in just two decades, forgotten even among the orthodox sects.
Jeok Sang's lips began to part once more.
* * *
‘Finally…!’
A Taoist, his robes turned a dusty white, gazed at the sky with a look of profound emotion.
A full half-year.
That was how long the united alliance of great sects had spent fighting the Demonic Cult.
During that time, much blood had been shed, and many regrettable lives had been lost.
The Taoist thought of his dead senior and junior brothers, but he did not despair, instead lifting his head with resolve.
"You're Bai Duanxian, aren't you?"
At those words, the Taoist, Bai Duanxian, turned his head to the right.
He saw a face utterly exhausted from countless battles. It was someone Bai Duanxian knew well.
"Ah, Senior Iron Blood Sword!"
As Bai Duanxian clasped his hands in a gesture of respect, Jeok Sang waved his hand dismissively.
"There's no need for such formalities."
"But you, Senior, are a hero of the martial world, a champion who has driven the Demonic Cult this far."
Jeok Sang chuckled at Bai Duanxian's praise.
"The prodigy of the Mount Hua Sect puts me to shame."
"Haha. Not at all. By the way, Senior, what brings you here?"
"I heard Ink Stone Iron String was injured in the last battle."
"Ah, you mean Senior Brother Cheol?"
Bai Duanxian hesitated for a moment before answering. But then, he clenched and unclenched his fist.
Even if sects kept to themselves, he didn't want to hide anything from a senior who had come to ask about Cheol Geum-san's condition.
"Ever since he was struck by that sorcerer in the strange mask, he's been suffering from a high fever... It seems he'll have to recuperate at Mount Hua."
"Ah, is that so?"
Jeok Sang showed his regret at the news.
"He said we should have a drink when the battle was over. Tsk. Looks like he's had his fill of fevers all by himself."
"I will pass on your words to my senior brother."
"I'd be grateful if you did."
After their conversation ended, an unwitting silence fell between them.
Both Jeok Sang and Bai Duanxian had been thrown into the war against the Demonic Cult between the ages of twenty and twenty-five.
It would be a lie to say they had no feelings with the final battle before them.
Beyond the profound emotion, a sense of anticipation welled up—they could finally go home.
But for some reason, they couldn't hide their bitterness.
It was likely because their regrets were so great.
What if we had done this?
Shouldn't we have stepped forward then?
No, if only our skills had been a little better...
Realizing the silence had stretched on, Jeok Sang spoke.
"...Is the Mount Hua Sect alright?"
"What's done is done, but we've at least managed to save the branches."
"Is that so..."
Jeok Sang looked down at the ground with a desolate expression.
"Once the war with the Demonic Cult is over, there will be countless more squabbles in the martial world."
"..."
"A day might even come when you and I cross swords."
"Senior."
"Don't say that it won't happen unless you're certain."
Bai Duanxian clamped his mouth shut at Jeok Sang's frosty words. But his eyes were bloodshot with defiance.
His gaze, which seemed to ask how comrades-in-arms who fought on the same battlefield could possibly turn their swords on each other, pierced through Jeok Sang.
Jeok Sang smiled bitterly.
"If everyone were like you, such worries would be unfounded."
"I will coordinate with the Zhongnan Sect to ensure nothing of the sort happens in Shaanxi, at least."
"Do you think it will be that easy?"
"...Why do you think that?"
Bai Duanxian tilted his head at the meaningful words.
Seeing this, Jeok Sang began to voice the question he had harbored for the past three months.
"Junior, have you never found it strange? That for the past six months, both sides have been locked in a war of attrition..."
"Is that strange?"
"Think about it. Even with the government helping to wipe out the Demonic Cult, we've never once gained the upper hand. Isn't that odd?"
At those words, Bai Duanxian scratched the back of his head.
"Hmm... This is a bit difficult for me to follow."
"I considered whether it was a ploy by the sects, a power struggle to weaken each other, but it's gone too far. Besides..."
*Rustle.*
Jeok Sang took a map from his inner robe and pointed to the Demonic Cult's movement path as he explained.
"From Qinghai where they first appeared, to Gansu, Shaanxi... all the way to Jiangsu. Aren't the Demonic Cult themselves marching into a corner?"
Instead of defending their position in Qinghai, the Demonic Cult was practically seeking out a place to die.
There was no way the leadership of the Martial Alliance was unaware of what even Jeok Sang had noticed, yet they continued the war of attrition.
Realizing the implication, Bai Duanxian let out a groan.
"Hmm... But our Mount Hua Sect, and the elders of the Mount Tai Sword Gate, they're all part of the Martial Alliance, aren't they?"
"That's what's so strange."
Jeok Sang pounded his chest in frustration.
"Elder Sang is more knowledgeable in military affairs than I am, and his wisdom is exceptional, yet things have turned out this way... And he hasn't shown his face recently."
"Then why not ask Senior Nangong Cheon directly? The leader of the Martial Alliance, Grand Hero Peng, is also there."
"They aren't the type to give a straight answer to juniors like us, are they?"
"Well, that's true, but if we let this go without knowing..."
It was then.
*Swish!*
A sudden, ghastly sound cut through the air, and an arrow pierced through a mound of dirt, embedding itself in the neck of a scout.
Soon, urgent shouts filled the sky.
"Enemy attack!"
"Everyone, return to your positions and fortify the formation!"
Their conversation was cut short, but neither Bai Duanxian nor Jeok Sang paid it any mind.
Right now, responding to the enemy, presumably the Demonic Cult, was the priority.
Neither of them imagined they wouldn't have another chance to continue their talk, so they immediately assumed a combat stance.
Jeok Sang turned his back to Bai Duanxian and shouted.
"We'll talk more after this battle ends!"
"Yes!"
But there was no next time.
With the end of that battle, the war against the Demonic Cult was over.
The elder who was said to be staying with the Martial Alliance had returned as a corpse, having perished along with the Demonic Cult's leaders.
However, the Hebei Peng Clan, as the greatest contributor to the war against the Demonic Cult, became a sect that commanded the Jiangdong region.
Nangong Cheon, who held a high position, also rose to prominence in the aftermath. It was around that time he earned the title of Heavenly Sword.
Fortunately, because Peng U-jong had a gentle nature, and because his martial arts were worthy of being called the 'Greatest Saber of All Time', there were no fights between the sects.
But, five years later.
The central figure of the Martial Alliance, the Saber Tyrant of the Heavens, Peng U-jong, died.
After that, the Martial Alliance naturally disbanded, and two groups were formed: the Martial Alliance and the Unorthodox Alliance.
They thought.
‘Wasn't the martial world always about the survival of the fittest?’
‘There is no longer a gentle absolute ruler like Peng U-jong.’
So... it was time to return to the natural order.
While the Unorthodox Alliance smiled insidiously, the Martial Alliance gradually began to distinguish between allies.
"That is the publicly known history of the war with the old Demonic Cult."
"It does sound a bit suspicious, but... 'publicly known'... Are you saying there's more to the story?"
At Ouyang Jue's question, Jeok Sang nodded his head firmly, as if in certainty.
"I wasn't sure back then, but now, at least."
"What is it?"
"That a group was planted in the leadership of both sides, orchestrating the current outcome."
Simply put, he added, his fists trembling with rage.
"The war with the old Demonic Cult was nothing more than a history they fabricated amongst themselves."
"Wait."
As Ouyang Jue processed Jeok Sang's words, his vision swam for a moment.
He could guess who might have been in the Demonic Cult at the time.
Heaven-Bearing Asura was one, and there were more than ten other demonic beings who would appear later.
But, but to think someone was planted in the Martial Alliance as well?
Didn't that mean the current Martial Alliance was the same!
Ouyang Jue's voice was filled with bewilderment.
"Then, according to you, Senior, are you saying the Hebei Peng Clan or the Nangong Clan are suspicious?"
"Nangong Cheon."
*Grit.*
Grinding his teeth, Jeok Sang glared at his surroundings.
Seeing this, Ouyang Jue sensed something was wrong.
Jeok Sang's eyes looked as if he were seeing an illusion, something not present here, right before his face.
Jeok Sang once again spewed out his anger.
"Nangong Cheon. Do not trust that man. He is the reason the Mount Tai Sword Gate has become what it is today."
"That's not enough. Please explain further."
"I don't know what more there is to explain."
Jeok Sang clenched his jaw tightly and pointed around him.
"It wasn't enough that he secretly attacked the Mount Tai Sword Gate; Nangong Cheon was the one who sold our sword arts to other sects!"
"..."
"My brothers, my blood relatives, my master—all killed by him and the Nangong Clan—are buried under these gravestones!"
Jeok Sang's roar filled Mount Tai, echoing in the sky above.
*BOOM!*
His rage was so immense that his internal energy exploded at once, creating a thunderous sound.
"...Kuh!"
While Ouyang Jue blocked the internal damage with his Purple Mist True Qi, Jeok Sang covered his face with his palms.
Through the darkened vision, the horrors he had witnessed until now flashed by.
It was all to prevent the martial arts of the Mount Tai Sword Gate from being lost, and to ensure that at least a trace of the sect remained.
He had endured for so long for such a meager reason. A hollow laugh escaped from between the palms covering his face.
"...Haha, hahaha."
Watching him, Ouyang Jue felt a pang of pity for Jeok Sang.
But he soon had to harden his expression.
‘What is that?’
Blood mixed with a purple hue dripped from between Jeok Sang's palms, and the Diamond Fist-Seal Armor, reacting to the evil energy, trembled violently.
"Don't tell me."
Ouyang Jue's gaze shifted to the side, toward the graveyard.
Something Jeok Sang had said bothered him.
‘If what he said is true, then those buried here should have been in their graves for at least ten to fifteen years. But...’
While helping Jeok Sang tend to the graves these past few days, hadn't he discovered a burial mound that was less than a year old?
Realizing this, Ouyang Jue gripped Severing Manifestation.
He also didn't forget to unleash the fire energy embedded in the Diamond Fist-Seal Armor.
"It seems what you said was right, Senior."
Asura's Demonic State.
The demonic art that had caused Cheol Geum-san himself to fall into ruin was, tragically, now manifesting in his close friend, Jeok Sang!
Ouyang Jue looked at Jeok Sang with his All-Seeing Eye.
Demonic energy was spewing from a pattern carved into the roof of Jeok Sang's mouth.
Ouyang Jue looked at the rampaging Jeok Sang with pity in his eyes.
It was so pitiful to see him being used, from the distant past of twenty years ago until now.
His attachment to the Mount Tai Sword Gate seemed to be the only thing forcing him to cling to life.
‘The recent grave must belong to someone who, like me, came to investigate the Mount Tai Sword Gate...’
Did the real seizure begin when he mentioned Nangong Cheon?
Ouyang Jue felt a chill run down his spine.
‘And I've met Nangong Cheon twice.’
But, was Nangong Cheon truly the one who did this to the Mount Tai Sword Gate, and was he connected to the Asura's Demonic State?
Ouyang Jue immediately thought of the Eight Evils.
Of course, he didn't know how long Jeok Sang had been in his right mind, so he couldn't believe everything.
But the result was laid bare before him.
‘Even if this is a ploy to trap Nangong Cheon.’
In the end, it was something he had to confirm with Nangong Cheon.
And he felt he could no longer bear to watch a respected martial artist like Jeok Sang wander around with a broken spirit.
"Senior."
Ouyang Jue drew Severing Manifestation.
"I will end your long suffering."
"Ugh... You, you were one of them too!"
Jeok Sang's eyes turned blood-red.
Ouyang Jue did not want to believe what he was seeing.