Chapter 63
When all the battles were over and Gui Lin Valley sank into silence, the Seven Sages of the South Sea caught their breath and looked over at Jaseong.
'We owe our lives to the ingenuity of that young leader...'
'To think of using the Hell Bell Mushroom to wipe out Demonic Radiance Hall's subordinates...'
'Even if he was wounded, he managed to defeat Murong Dangcheon in the late peak stage. Truly incredible martial skill. If we could bring him to the elders of the Hainan Sect and make him our head disciple...'
Since their lives had been saved thanks to Jaseong, the Seven Sages of the South Sea regarded Jaseong with unanimous reverence and gratitude in their eyes.
At last, First Elder Hae Cheoldo cupped his fist and spoke.
"Hao Sect branch leader, I owe you my life."
"......."
"If you hadn't shown up, all of us would have ended our days here."
Second Elder Hae Punggeon continued.
"The Hainan Sect will never forget this favor. You must visit Hainan sometime. We will surely repay you."
Third Elder Mu Gangpyeon added in a kindly tone,
"And we will inform the Murim Alliance of these events, as well. You must be rewarded for slaying the Demonic Cult in the name of the Righteous Faction."
The Murim Alliance...
At that word, a cold light flashed in both Jaseong's eyes.
Because back on the day of the Red Light District massacre, it was the Murim Alliance experts who killed his eldest big brother.
To be rewarded by such people as the Murim Alliance—
It was enough to make a passing dog laugh.
Yet Jaseong soon corrected his expression and nodded calmly.
"A reward from the Murim Alliance... I'll look forward to it."
Jaseong spoke words that he didn't mean.
For a simple reason.
'... If I use this opportunity well, I can get close to the Murim Alliance easily. That will make it that much easier to get my revenge on those bastards.'
What's more, among the names on the "Kill List of the Celestial Realm" given to him by the sword immortal Lü Dongbin were the current Murim Alliance leader and several top Righteous Faction experts.
Therefore, for the sake of revenge and Heaven's Mandate, he had to take full advantage of the Murim Alliance's favor.
Thus, Jaseong had acquired a foothold to step into the heart of the Murim Alliance.
For the previous executors of Heaven's Mandate and the Celestial Realm watching him, it was a most exhilarating moment.
* * *
A month later.
The martial world was roiling with enormous upheaval.
At Tianxiang Pavilion, a massive inn at Wuhan City where the Murim Alliance was located, martial artists were drinking and making a lively commotion.
"A Murong clan elder colluding with the human trafficking ring Three Souls Hall! What a disgrace for the Righteous Faction!"
A sturdy man, using boiled conch and eggs as his drinking snacks, slammed the table and shouted.
"That's not all. I hear they also joined hands with the Demonic Cult!"
A bearded old man at the next table clicked his tongue.
"Tsk, tsk. For someone from a collateral branch of the Five Great Clans to do something so filthy."
"I heard the Murim Alliance will not only close the Mocheon Sect gates but also hold the Murong clan responsible!"
"Then the Peng Clan and Mount Hua Sect must be celebrating. They've been competing with the Murong clan over the next alliance leader position...."
In this way, across the inns and taverns of Central Plains, voices cursing and mocking the Murong clan never ceased.
The name of Murong, once one of the Five Great Clans that dominated Central Plains, had fallen into the mud.
At the center of all these events was a single name.
"By the way, who exactly is this leader of the Hao Sect's Ansun Branch?"
A young man, drunk, asked with curiosity in his voice.
"At first, I couldn't believe my ears. Who would have thought there was such an expert in the Hao Sect...."
Another young man replied excitedly,
"You're behind the times. You don't know the branch leader of the Hao Sect's Ansun branch?"
"?"
"Didn't you hear he won the Dark Path Duel Banquet this time? And in overwhelming fashion, too! They say he even defeated the third young master of the Twin Dragon Clan, Kang Ryong!"
"What? Even the third young master of the Twin Dragon Clan...?"
"Heh. I doubt anyone among the rising stars could stand against him at that level."
"He killed the heads of Three Souls Hall, the Mocheon Sect, and even a hall master of the Demonic Cult. There's nothing more to say!"
"Which clan was he born into to possess such talent...?"
"I heard, in passing, that Ansun came from the Red Light District...."
"What? Red Light District???"
Along with the Murong clan's disgrace, tales of the Hao Sect's Ansun Branch and its leader were spreading throughout the entire martial world.
Some praised him as a chivalrous warrior brimming with integrity, while others feared him as a cold-blooded demon who left no survivors.
But there was one fact that no one could deny.
The name "Hao Sect Ansun Branch" had become a force in the martial world that could no longer be ignored.
* * *
As Jaseong's renowned name swept through the martial world—
Jaseong himself was in White Fragrant Pavilion, Ansun's base in Guizhou City.
[White Fragrant Pavilion]
At a glance, the headquarters of the Hao Sect's Ansun Branch looked like an ordinary inn.
But in truth, armed guards of the sect patrolled every corner—it was a veritable fortress.
In the private chamber on the second floor of this fortress, Jaseong sat back in a chair, shirt removed.
The white bandages wrapped around his entire body silently testified to the recent bloody battle.
"Great hero, does it still hurt?"
Lee Rin, with skin as white as a dumpling wrapper and large eyes, asked in a worried voice.
But contrary to the concern in her gaze, her mouth was working busily through the mountain of delicacies in front of her.
"Great hero, try some Dongpo pork. You need to eat lots of meat so your wounds heal quickly."
"... I've already had plenty. I'm full."
"What kind of man has such a small stomach?"
"Lee Rin, aren't you the one eating too much? Your chin's been looking rounder lately...."
"... Great hero. Do you want to get hurt even more?"
As Lee Rin growled, Gu Janghu silently savored his drink, the famous Hansanchun.
A bottle cost as much as a sack of rice; it was renowned for its sweet yet crisp aftertaste.
"Masters, I've brought more wine!"
At that moment, a clear young voice rang out as a boy of about ten entered with a tray.
This was Cheon Woong, whom they'd brought from the Wandering Warrior Village.
"Here's fine, right?"
Cheon Woong was completely different from a month before.
He was cleanly dressed, healthy in complexion, and—most of all—there was life in his eyes.
"Cheon Woong, how's your training these days?"
Jaseong asked as he raised his cup.
"Master Gu and Master Lee have been teaching me martial arts, and I've thrown myself into my studies! Especially sword-drawing techniques—they're really fun!"
Cheon Woong answered, voice alight with excitement.
During the day, he worked as an errand boy at White Fragrant Pavilion, but at night, he learned martial arts from Lee Rin and Gu Janghu.
"Work hard. You have martial talent."
Jaseong repeated the words someone had once said to him, now to Cheon Woong.
"Yes, thank you!"
A bright smile lit Cheon Woong's face.
Just then, an alluring woman with feline features approached Jaseong.
It was Hyang-I, the courtesan who managed the inner affairs of the Hao Sect's Ansun Branch.
"How's your health, leader?"
"I'm much better, thanks to the doctors you brought, Hyang."
"I'm glad. Some new carrier pigeons arrived. Would you like to check them now?"
Jaseong accepted the carrier pigeons from Hyang-I.
He'd been away a long time as the fifth executor of Heaven's Mandate, so the stack of correspondence had grown into a mountain.
The first piece was from Fierce Sky Faction Leader, Pacheon Gong.
[To the brat leading the Ansun Branch,
I heard your news.
Once again, you've managed to surprise me.
Destroying Three Souls Hall wasn't enough, now even the Mocheon Sect has fallen.
All the groundwork I laid to topple the Mocheon Sect is pointless now.
You've snatched victory from under my nose.
Still, well done.
If you have time, visit Gaeyang.
I'll throw you a feast.]
Reading Pacheon Gong's correspondence, Jaseong couldn't help a faint smile.
"Gaeyang... I'll have to make time to visit."
He unfolded the second pigeon scroll.
In that instant, his eyes twitched.
"Who's that letter from, great hero?"
Lee Rin asked, chewing her rice cake.
"A letter from the Hao Sect upper ranks."
"The Hao Sect headquarters...?"
Once more, Jaseong shifted his gaze to the scroll:
[To the leader of the Hao Sect's Ansun Branch,
This is Gal Seo-ryeong, the guardian general you saw at the Dark Path Duel Banquet.
Everyone is talking about your achievements again.
It was shocking enough that you won the Dark Path Duel Banquet, but now you've destroyed the infamous Dark Path Three Souls Hall in one stroke.
And you even brought down the Murong clan elder and the Demonic Cult lurking behind them...
Thanks to you, the prestige of our Hao Sect grows higher every day.
Therefore, the Sect Leader and the other heads have decided you deserve an appropriate reward.
An official notice will come soon.
Attend at the appointed place when the time comes.]
'A reward from the Hao Sect headquarters... I wonder what it will be.'
Surprised by the unexpected content, a deep anticipation welled up in Jaseong's eyes.
If the Hao Sect headquarters prepared it, it must be something major.
But there was more to Gal Seo-ryeong's letter.
[Ah, and lastly, I must warn you—be cautious for a while. The Murong clan is keeping their eyes on you.]
Again, Jaseong's eyes twitched.
'The Murong clan...'
It was as he'd already expected.
With Jaseong's actions exposing the alliance among the Mocheon Sect, Three Souls Hall, and Demonic Cult, and with the Murong clan's prestige in shambles, it was only natural that they wouldn't want to let Jaseong go unchecked.
'They can't move openly while the whole martial world is watching. But sooner or later, I'll definitely clash with them. So...'
For that time, Jaseong knew he had to become even stronger.
The Murong clan had many experts at and above Murong Dangcheon's level.
He needed to master martial arts that could sweep them all away at once.
Moreover, his power needed to grow.
The Murong clan, though called a clan, was actually a giant martial force.
Countless sects and sword schools had splintered off as its collateral lines, and the sheer number of their sword experts was overwhelming.
To face such a force, Jaseong needed an equally mighty organization.
'... Above all, my enemies do not stop with the Murong clan. The Peng Clan in Hebei, the Zhongnan Sect, the Demonic Cult, and everyone helping them—if I'm to destroy all these, I need power, too.'
Finishing his thoughts, Jaseong looked at Hyang-I.
"Hyang."
"Yes, leader."
"Summon all of our Ansun Branch warriors. Everyone we've recruited recently as well."
"Understood."
At Jaseong's command, Hyang-I immediately turned and left.
A little later, footsteps echoed as about twenty warriors came upstairs to White Fragrant Pavilion's second floor.
Entering first were Little Devil and Silent Traveler, both former Fierce Sky Faction officers.
"You've returned, leader."
Little Devil and Silent Traveler greeted with cupped fist salutations.
Well-known as top experts even in Fierce Sky Faction, their presence was imposing.
They presently guarded the Hao Sect's Ansun Branch.
One by one, warriors specially chosen from around Guizhou City entered and lined up.
Every single one radiated a fierce presence.
Some had faces slashed by sword-scars, others wore an eyepatch.
And their weapons, hanging at their waists, were all different.
Axes, iron maces, twin swords, steel whips...
The varying arms told the story of their lives.
"We pay our respects, leader."
"We pay our respects, leader!"
All twenty warriors simultaneously offered the cupped fist salute.
Though Jaseong was far younger than any of them, they all showed him the utmost respect.
That was because they had all heard Jaseong's reputation.
Champion of the Dark Path Duel Banquet—the one who annihilated Three Souls Hall, toppled the Mocheon Sect head, and even felled the Demonic Cult's lord.
Who would dare act arrogant in front of such a towering expert?
Looking over them, Jaseong said,
"There's work to earn your keep."
"Speak your orders."
"As you all know, in the southern part of Guizhou City, in Guangxi, all sorts of Dark Path organizations run rampant. Hyang, what were the names of those Dark Path gangs?"
"Black Wind Society, Viper Hall, and the Iron Blood Corps, leader."
"Right. From now on, this leader will clean out those Dark Path groups and make them subordinate to our Hao Sect's Ansun Branch."
"What...?"
"And starting with Guangxi, we'll sweep away the Dark Path, bit by bit, throughout the entire Central Plains."
"......!"
"......!!"
"......!!!"