Chapter 179
Chapter 179
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 179
Chapter Title: Debt
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The Kunlun Sect had one peculiar rule.
The strongest among them became the sect leader.
In truth, most other sects and clans followed a similar pattern, where the mightiest individual ascended to the position of sect leader or clan head.
But that wasn't a formal rule. It simply happened because the most skilled martial artist naturally garnered the most support from the warriors.
Conversely, if someone could compensate for a gap in skill with character and reputation, it wasn't uncommon for a less skilled person to take the helm.
Kunlun was different. Just as the Kunlun Sect confronted demonic cults advancing from the west on the front lines, they had to face off against unorthodox warriors descending from the north on the front lines.
Moreover, to suppress and reform those unorthodox warriors, Kunlun needed a central pillar with overwhelming force.
As a result, the rule emerged that the most exceptional martial artist would lead the Kunlun Sect.
The Kunlun Sect leader, Muryangja, had come to Return Bone Valley upon hearing rumors of a demon descending from the north. And unexpectedly, he encountered a familiar face. Flash Sword Yu Gwan-il.
It had been a long time since Yu Gwan-il abandoned his sect and vanished. Muryangja's last meeting with him was even further in the past.
With the passage of time layered atop his ragged appearance, most people wouldn't recognize Yu Gwan-il.
But Muryangja spotted his face immediately. One could always recognize an opponent from a life-and-death duel, no matter how they changed.
Muryangja's single eye crinkled softly.
"Long time no see. Flash Sword."
Flash Sword Yu Gwan-il gave no reply. He showed no sign of understanding the words at all.
To make matters worse, his eyes were bloodshot, and drool dripped from his mouth in a pathetic display.
Muryangja muttered to himself.
"Captured by madness, have you lost even your reason?"
Muryangja drew his sword and fixed his left eye on Flash Sword.
"Isn't the world full of ironies? Back then, I was the demonic one, and you were the righteous warrior. Now, I'm the righteous warrior, and you've become the demon."
Up until the Orthodox-Unorthodox War began, Muryangja had been an unorthodox warrior, while Yu Gwan-il was the young sect leader tasked with preserving the Geomchang Sect after their leader's death.
The two had clashed on the battlefield, and Muryangja had lost by a hair's breadth. As payment, he lost his right eye.
Losing one eye was a far greater handicap for a martial artist than one might think. Controlling favorable distance was the first step in any warrior's fight.
Thus, Muryangja was furious. But he didn't despair. He had confidence that he'd win in a rematch.
However, before facing Yu Gwan-il again, Muryangja encountered the Sword King, head of the JeWon Baek Clan, and suffered another defeat. Unlike with Yu Gwan-il, it was an overwhelming loss.
Unlike his fight with Yu Gwan-il, Muryangja felt no anger toward the Sword King. Instead, he felt admiration.
Who in the martial world wouldn't admire a man who rose to the pinnacle of the world with third-rate techniques—at best second-rate?
To draw even a little closer to the Sword King, Muryangja abandoned his sect and forsook his unorthodox path.
That was how Muryangja became a Kunlun warrior, displayed his talents, and ascended to sect leader.
Finishing his reminiscence, Muryangja glanced at the woman standing behind him.
The Sword King's granddaughter. The sole survivor of the JeWon Baek Clan. A prodigy who cured her Nine Yin Severed Meridians and gained immense inner power. Baek Hyang-a.
'Standing before the granddaughter of the man I admired, as the enemy who took his right eye. That's what makes life interesting.'
Old memories brought a throbbing pain to his lost right eye. Long-buried rage and resentment reignited.
In his excitement, Muryangja demonstrated the starting stance of the Subduing Demon Sword Technique, Immortal Observing Earth Dragon, and thrust his sword toward Yu Gwan-il.
"Come. Let's see how much your skills have grown."
Before learning Kunlun's martial arts, Muryangja had matched Yu Gwan-il evenly with crude unorthodox techniques. But now he wielded the Subduing Demon Sword Technique and Mixed Origin Unity Skill. Defeat was impossible.
Kunlun's arts weren't just superior in level—they perfectly suited Muryangja. Techniques to harbor demons and force them to kneel. Wasn't that his life itself?
Before exchanging blows in earnest, Muryangja sent a transmission to Baek Hyang-a.
The sole blood kin of the Sword King he admired. His cherished disciple, precious as the apple of his eye.
- Hyang-a. Stay back far enough not to get swept up. And witness this life-and-death duel.
But no reply came from Baek Hyang-a.
Muryangja glanced back again and realized her gaze was fixed not on Yu Gwan-il, but elsewhere.
'Who is she looking at?'
To keep Yu Gwan-il from charging, Muryangja retreated two steps and followed her line of sight. There were five young men.
Among them, the oldest caught Muryangja's eye. A man who looked just like Flash Sword in his youth.
'Flash Sword's son.'
A father lost to madness. A son following in his wake.
Muryangja didn't know why the son trailed his father, but the moment he saw Yu Jin-gwang, intense rage seized him.
Memories of losing his right eye flooded back vividly, along with lingering regret for the higher realms he might have reached with both eyes.
'...Should I kill them both?'
Killing the deranged Yu Gwan-il wouldn't satisfy him fully. But slaughtering his spitting image of a son as well might balance the scales—
However, Muryangja realized Baek Hyang-a's gaze wasn't on Yu Gwan-il or his son. It was nailed to the neatly handsome man beside him.
Not a gaze of rational fondness, but closer to shock or bewilderment.
'Who is that?'
Baek Hyang-a had spent most of her life within the JeWon Baek Clan walls, and afterward, within Kunlun's.
Thus, the scope of people she knew didn't stray far from Muryangja's own.
Yet the man she stared at wasn't in Muryangja's memory.
'A man I don't know. But one she does. And that expression.'
Muryangja's judgment was swift.
- Hyang-a. Answer me.
Baek Hyang-a startled, then replied with somewhat clumsy transmission.
- Yes, Master.
- Is that the freak physician's disciple you mentioned?
- Yes. Circumstances suggest he is.
- Perfect. We'll kill him too.
He'd planned to eliminate Yu Gwan-il and his son anyway.
To prevent word from leaking, all witnesses had to be removed. If he could avenge his disciple's grudge in the process, even better.
- But...
Baek Hyang-a hesitated, unable to reply readily.
She hadn't settled her feelings toward the freak physician and Dang Mujin.
Until her forced treatment for the Nine Yin Severed Meridians, she'd harbored rage toward them.
But time revealed their actions bordered on benevolence. What was truly odd was her father and clan's behavior.
Had things ended there, Baek Hyang-a would have lived gratefully toward Dang Mujin.
But then Baek Chu-seo died poisoned. Circumstances pointed squarely to the freak physician or Dang Mujin.
Foolish father or not, he was still her father. And their bond had been closer than most.
However, Muryangja interpreted her complex emotions differently.
- Disciple. No need for long deliberation. There's no hesitation in executing utterly vile black path scum.
- Black path?
- If the disciple of a man who slaughtered countless innocent physicians isn't black path, then who is?
Muryangja replied curtly and advanced on Yu Gwan-il, sword at the ready.
Yu Gwan-il growled like a beast and raised his sword high.
In the next instant, a sword like a beam of light flew toward Muryangja's throat.
A strike so brilliant it felt like a man becoming a sword and charging. Muryangja barely parried. His chest trembled deeply.
'Yes. Since the Orthodox-Unorthodox War, no opponent has matched me like this.'
Dark desires from his unorthodox days crept up slyly.
He wanted to gouge out Yu Gwan-il's eyes right then.
To behead Yu Gwan-il and show it to his son.
Or failing that, make Yu Gwan-il watch his son die. Whether he'd comprehend it was another matter.
'No, there's an even better way.'
He wanted Yu Gwan-il to pierce his own son's heart.
It was a splendid method too. Instead of minding Yu Gwan-il's son behind him while fighting, better to draw the son and his group into the fray.
"Come, beast!"
Muryangja unleashed the Subduing Demon Sword Technique from a suitable distance to provoke Yu Gwan-il.
And at the peak of Yu Gwan-il's ferocity, Muryangja dashed at full speed, leaping over Dang Mujin's group.
*
The moment they arrived before the Kunlun Sect, Dang Mujin's group understood Flash Sword Yu Gwan-il's intent.
He had shown his son all his insights, then sought death without harming him.
Heading south toward Kunlun was to secure a sturdy ally for his son.
But contrary to expectations, Muryangja's gaze toward Dang Mujin's group was far from friendly.
Hyun-gong asked Yu Jin-gwang.
"That guy, doesn't he have some ulterior motive?"
"No way."
Yu Jin-gwang replied curtly, but Hyun-gong's prediction hit the mark.
Muryangja shoved the frenzied Yu Gwan-il onto Dang Mujin's group.
Yu Gwan-il's assault naturally turned from Muryangja toward them. Dang Mujin desperately swung his sword to block the first technique.
Clang—
His hands went numb. Skill plus luck let him block once, but Dang Mujin lacked confidence for more.
Moreover, the smirking Muryangja beside them was the real problem.
Whatever grudge he held, Muryangja's killing intent targeted both Yu Gwan-il and Dang Mujin's group.
Namgung Myeong muttered.
"Caught between two absolute peak experts. How did we end up like this?"
"How should I know?"
"If you don't know, we're done? Figure it out!"
Namgung Myeong shouted as he barely parried Yu Gwan-il's sword. The rebounding blade grazed his cheek, drawing a thin line of blood.
Of course, Dang Mujin had his suspicions too.
He didn't know the full story, but the woman with Muryangja was definitely Baek Hyang-a.
Whether she knew he'd killed Baek Chu-seo was unclear, but even setting that aside, their relationship was fraught.
'But it doesn't seem like Muryangja's targeting us over that.'
If he sought to avenge Baek Hyang-a, his killing intent should focus on Dang Mujin. Yet Muryangja's gaze concentrated on Yu Jin-gwang.
'Not sure if it's precisely targeting Hero Yu, but at least it's not my fault.'
Muryangja seemed uninterested in striking first, instead lightly prodding Yu Gwan-il to keep him attacking Dang Mujin's group.
Finally, unable to endure, Hong Geolgae yelled.
"Hey, elder! Why are you doing this to us?"
"What's the problem?"
"You're deliberately goading Flash Sword to attack us right now!"
"It's not like that. Yu Gwan-il's a formidable foe, so pooling strength to block him is only natural, isn't it?"
Muryangja replied mockingly. Dang Mujin's group found the situation suffocating but couldn't provoke him further.
They were barely holding against Yu Gwan-il; if Muryangja joined actively, they wouldn't last a quarter hour.
While Dang Mujin's group desperately parried, one person sank into deep thought.
Hyun-gong judged the situation coolly as always.
'I don't know why, but Muryangja intends to kill us.'
'If we're truly lucky, we might even subdue Yu Gwan-il. But with Muryangja joining, no chance of victory.'
'...We should focus on surviving first?'
Hyun-gong finished his judgment in a blink and sent a transmission to Muryangja.
- Elder Muryangja! Long time no see!
He might have ignored a bland transmission, but Hyun-gong's carried an odd familiarity. Muryangja reflexively replied.
- Judging by age, skill, and swordsmanship, you're Wudang's Rising Dragon Sword. But aren't we meeting for the first time?
As the specific question landed, Hyun-gong's mind raced. This called for improvisation.
Wudang was a Daoist sect, and so was Kunlun. Not terribly distant either. There had to be some connection.
Rifling through memories at top speed, Hyun-gong recalled Muryangja visiting Wudang about a decade ago.
Too young to join the sect leaders' talk, he'd heard secondhand, but the visit was certain.
Hyun-gong didn't reply immediately, digging deeper for specifics.
'Who came with him? I think someone from Huashan too.'
Someone worthy of accompanying Muryangja wouldn't be minor. Likely Huashan's sect leader.
'Timing-wise, not the current one, but the previous.'
Hyun-gong recalled the previous Huashan leader's title: Dao Ho.
- About ten years ago, when you visited Wudang with Elder Seonmuja.
- Oh? Nice to meet again.
A trivial connection. Muryangja replied indifferently, ready to move on, but Hyun-gong seized the opening.
- I've always wanted to see you again. My current achievements are all thanks to you.
- What do you mean?
- As a child, I always lagged behind my peers. But you were the first to recognize my talent. I vividly remember you saying I'd become Wudang's pillar. Those words helped me overcome hardships.
Of course, it never happened.
But Hyun-gong knew two habits of superiors.
First, they often tossed compliments to juniors.
Second, they didn't meticulously remember young warriors far below their station.
Muryangja was no exception.
- ...Was it? It rings a bell.
- Of course. Thanks to you, I reached this level. Dare I stand by your side?
Muryangja scrutinized Hyun-gong's face closely, suspecting a ploy to escape death.
But Hyun-gong's expression held not a shred of deceit.
Meanwhile, Dang Mujin's group defended more solidly than expected, making it hard to predict when Yu Gwan-il would pierce Yu Jin-gwang's heart.
Having Wudang's top defender slip from the group would be ideal.
Muryangja weighed the situation.
'Doesn't seem like a lie. Even if he's clinging for his life, no issue. I'll pretend to accept, then behead him at the end. Witnesses die anyway.'
Besides, a brat like that couldn't land a surprise blow on Muryangja.
Muryangja nodded, calculations done.
- Right. Now I remember. Wudang's young pillar can't fall. Come here quickly.
Hyun-gong deflected Yu Gwan-il's sword one last time, then slipped to the rear. He tiptoed toward Muryangja.
Dang Mujin's group, noticing late, sent transmissions in unison.
- Hyun-gong, where are you going?
Dang Mujin's doubtful transmission.
- You're defecting to Muryangja?
Namgung Myeong's, piecing it together.
Hong Geolgae couldn't transmit, so he vented fury with gaping mouth and gestures.
Hyun-gong considered brazening it out, then sent a transmission to the group. He didn't want more angry ones.
- Calm down. I have a plan. Just wait a bit.
Detailed excuses lost credibility. Whether they bought it or not, no more transmissions came as they watched him.
Hyun-gong had no real plan to break the deadlock.
But he kept a calm face, approached Muryangja, and surveyed the field.
The situation favored Muryangja utterly.
He just needed to prod Yu Gwan-il and shift positions slightly to keep him attacking Dang Mujin's group.
Muryangja planned to let Yu Gwan-il kill them all, then finish the exhausted man leisurely.
'To create a variable, we'd need Dang Mujin's group, Flash Sword, and Muryangja all checking each other simultaneously.'
But Muryangja wasn't foolish enough to allow that. Hyun-gong unwittingly bowed his head and turned away.
'Sorry, friends. Better one survives, right?'
His head insisted it was the right choice. But his heart felt uneasy.
Hyun-gong stayed still a while, then sneaked a peek.
Dang Mujin's group had accumulated more wounds. Dang Mujin, meeting his eyes, stared coldly while fiddling with something inside his robe.
Feeling slight pressure, Hyun-gong scanned around with a serious, opportunity-seeking expression.
Then, one person caught his eye. Muryangja's disciple, Baek Hyang-a.
Hyun-gong raised one eyebrow.
'By the way, what's that girl to Muryangja?'
Daoists sometimes married, so maybe his daughter.
Even if not, he clearly treasured her enough to bring her north.
In that instant, a clever idea sparked in Hyun-gong's mind. A long shot that might turn the tables if lucky.
'Daughter would be best, but at least a disciple.'
Staying quietly by Muryangja offered the highest survival odds.
But twisting the situation might yield the best outcome, however slim.
Hyun-gong repeated in his mind.
'Muryangja is yesterday's sun. Mujin's group is tomorrow's. To become sect leader, better to back Mujin's group over him.'
'Escape this, and Hero Yu becomes Geomchang leader. Kunlun and Geomchang leaders equal, then Mujin, Namgung, Hong come free.'
Might not be right.
No, a slight deviation from optimal crept in. Success odds differed.
But Hyun-gong deliberately stopped there.
Human judgment wasn't perfect; minor errors to heaven's luck.
'Please, let it be minor.'
Hyun-gong held his breath, suppressed his presence, and tiptoed forward.
Fortunately, Muryangja, focused on the fight, missed his movement.
As Dang Mujin's group reached their limit, Hyun-gong finally reached Baek Hyang-a's back.
He pressed his sword to her pale neck and bellowed.
"Muryangja. Enough of your cowardice!"
Hyun-gong staged a righteous hostage play.