Chapter 42
Guizhou, Liupanshui.
Black Water Sect.
In the last three years, it was the most prosperous sect in the Unorthodox Path, a group that did not hesitate to commit heinous acts such as drugs, gambling, human trafficking, robbery, rape, and murder.
Therefore, even the Unorthodox Path itself recognized the Black Water Sect not as a Jianghu sect, but as a large criminal organization.
It was so bad that even the notorious Green Forest bandits and the Yangtze River Waterway Alliance pirates had commented, ‘Those Black Water Sect bastards are demons wearing human skin!’
But there were two reasons why this Black Water Sect, which was like a public enemy, could grow with the momentum of a rising sun.
First, the martial arts of the sect leader, the Eccentric Saber, Wu Ma-gun, were very outstanding for a gangster.
Second, an unidentified organization had been paying a large sum of money without missing a month for three years, requesting random human trafficking.
Thanks to this, the Black Water Sect’s finances were now solid, and they were expanding day by day by recruiting a large number of wandering warriors.
“Kuhaha! Old Man Jang. This time, as you requested, I have kidnapped and loaded only young men and women who are virgins and under the age of twenty. They will be as fresh as can be.”
“You’ve worked hard, Sect Leader.”
“Hehe! But, Old Man Jang.”
“Speak.”
“It has been three years since the Black Water Sect and Old Man Jang started trading humans. At this point, can’t we trust each other quite a bit?”
“That’s right.”
“Then, please reveal your identity, Old Man Jang. It’s a rule not to ask about the client’s identity, but since we’re doing such a dangerous business, I don’t know anything about you, Old Man Jang… it’s frustrating.”
“Hah…”
“If it’s difficult, then at least tell me where you use all these people.”
“Do you really want to know?”
“I do. I’ve been dying of curiosity until now.”
“Hmm… in that case, let’s move to a quiet place for a moment!”
“Alright!”
The place where the two were currently standing was a deserted pier.
The only eyes watching were about a dozen sailors following Old Man Jang and the members of the Black Water Sect, but Old Man Jang, as if he was being so careful, took Wu Ma-gun and moved to an empty lot where there were no people at all.
—Hwiiii…
The reeds in the empty lot bent in a gust of wind.
At the same time, Old Man Jang opened his mouth.
“Sect Leader.”
In that moment.
The Eccentric Saber, Wu Ma-gun’s whole body was covered in goosebumps.
‘…Killing intent?’
It was because a dense killing intent began to rise from Old Man Jang’s body.
“Old Man Jang…?”
“Why do you look at me with that expression?”
“You… who on earth are you?!”
Wu Ma-gun stuttered.
At a glance, Old Man Jang was an ordinary person, and he had never thought that he was a martial artist, but the current killing intent was close to the formless ki that was said to kill people without touching them.
‘This much killing intent… he’s a master of an unpredictable level!’
But that was a late realization.
The corners of Old Man Jang’s mouth, which was emitting an even more acrid killing intent, curled up sinisterly.
“Hehe, Wu Ma-gun. Are you surprised?”
“Old Man Jang… who on earth are you?”
Just then.
—Gurgle, gurgle!
Old Man Jang’s face was grotesquely distorted.
Not only the skin that made up his facial features, but also the bones that made up the outline of his face were distorted as if they were liquid. Soon, his face was transformed into an unfamiliar impression.
‘Has he been using a disguise technique to hide his face all this time?’
The moment Wu Ma-gun had that thought.
Old Man Jang’s low voice continued.
“Wu Ma-gun. Have you ever heard the name No Yeong-myeong?”
“No… did you say No Yeong-myeong? You mean the Twin Demon Geezers who represent the Unorthodox Path, the Right Heavenly Demon Sword, No Yeong-myeong?”
“Kekeke… that’s right.”
“Of course I know. How could a person who has a record in the Jianghu, and moreover, a person who is in the Unorthodox Path, not know the Right Heavenly Demon Sword, No Yeong-myeong?”
“I am the Right Heavenly Demon Sword, No Yeong-myeong.”
“……!”
Wu Ma-gun was so astonished that he couldn’t say anything.
Although it was an unbelievable thing, for some reason, he believed it.
Because the killing intent and the prayer-like aura of a vicious demon that Old Man Jang was emitting were pressing down on Wu Ma-gun to the point where he couldn’t move.
“You’ve worked hard raising the Black Water Sect until now. The Black Water Sect has enough power to serve as a branch of our cult.”
“What… do you mean by that?”
“From today, the Black Water Sect will be taken over by our cult. The New Blood Cult, that is. Of course, you will continue to lead the Black Water Sect as you have been. Of course, under my command.”
In a word, it was a story of handing over the Black Water Sect.
“Old Man Jang… no, Great Hero No… how can you say such a thing…”
“You have two choices. First, become my loyal dog, take over the world, and live a life of luxury for the rest of your life.”
“…”
“Second, not only will your eyeballs be plucked out and your limbs torn apart right now, but your neck will also be severed, and your old mother and family living in Xiangzhou will be massacred overnight, and the Black Water Sect will be taken away. Will you drink the celebratory wine or the penalty wine?”
A blood light flashed in No Yeong-myeong’s eyes.
Wu Ma-gun, instinctively realizing that he would die the moment he refused the proposal, squeezed his eyes shut and knelt down.
“Great Hero No… no, my lord! Please save me. Please save me and my family!”
“Hehe. I’m glad you chose the celebratory wine. Follow me. From today, I will appoint you as a messenger of our cult.”
“Ah… I understand.”
“Ah! For your information, the external name of our cult is not the New Blood Cult.”
“…”
“From now on, you will be reborn as a messenger of the ‘White Lotus Cult’.”
***
Late at night.
So-ah was lost in thought while strolling through a small flower garden near the annex.
‘Is Huin-dung-i listening to my uncle well?’
So-ah decided that he would have to visit the family soon.
In that moment.
He felt a presence.
So-ah moved his gaze to the direction where he felt the presence and raised his shining eyes.
At that, a man’s figure was brightly revealed even in the darkness. So-ah, who had examined the man’s face, slightly curled up the corners of his mouth.
‘It’s finally here!’
He had known that a day like this would come.
Rather, he had been feeling frustrated by the delay.
So-ah opened his mouth to the man who was walking towards him from a distance.
“What brings the great Namgung Daemun here at this late hour?”
The man was Namgung Mun.
A little later…
Namgung Mun, who had approached him, also looked at So-ah with a sneer.
Namgung Mun’s face, reflected in the moonlight, was as handsome as a jade.
“Huhu, Jin So-ah. You’re truly amazing. To have won over the instructors in the academy and taken control of the Human Division in just 20 days. Your cunning scheming is truly the best in the world.”
Namgung Mun openly showed his hostility.
Even considering that he was the son of the head instructor, the student representative, the head of the Heaven Division, and older than So-ah, his status was that of a student.
Just by uttering such words, So-ah could impose a disciplinary action on him.
But So-ah did not blame him for his disloyalty.
“Cunning scheming… that’s a harsh word, Mr. Namgung Daemun. Wouldn’t it be better to say something like ‘leadership’ or ‘strategy’… there are many good words, right? Let’s just leave it at that.”
Namgung Mun made a dumbfounded expression at So-ah’s words and then asked in a solemn voice.
“Do you look down on the Orthodox Martial Path?”
“…”
“Do you look down on the world, believing in your background as the disciple of the God of War?”
“…”
“I will correct your wrong thinking.”
“Wait! Look here. Why do you think that?”
“What?”
“I have never looked down on the Orthodox Path or the world, not even once. Why are you saying such a thing?”
“To become an instructor, a procedure is necessary. Also, there is common sense and convention in the martial world. You have violated all of them. I cannot forgive you for that.”
“I’m sorry, but it was the Martial Alliance that first proposed the offer to be an instructor. And since I have become an instructor, it is my business how I educate the students. Is this a problem?”
“Of course. I can’t stand by and watch a piece of trash from the Moyong Family strut around.”
Namgung Mun ground his teeth.
But So-ah still did not lose his smile.
“Pfft… so that was it.”
“What?”
“You didn’t care from the beginning whether I became an instructor or educated the students in an unfamiliar way.”
“…”
“A once-in-a-millennium prodigy, the strongest rising star of the Orthodox Path, the representative who will lead the Martial Alliance in the future, and so on. The titles that follow you are so splendid, aren’t they?”
“…”
“You’re just angry that a person who could threaten your existence has appeared. On top of that, you’re probably also drawing a picture of ousting the Moyong Family from the Five Great Families, right?”
“Th-That is…”
“Ah! I get it now. So there were so many letters slandering the Moyong Family. The Namgung Family was behind it. I mean, before my grandfather reigned as the God of War, the Namgung Family was famous as the number one family in the world, so it’s understandable.”
“Shut up! The Namgung Family was like that in the past, is like that now, and will be like that in the future. We are always the number one family in the world! Not only the Nine Great Sects, but no martial arts group can follow our family… Moreover, do you think the Moyong Family, which has no masters to speak of except for the God of War, can even be compared to our family? We don’t even care about trash like you!”
Namgung Mun trembled with rage.
At the same time, So-ah’s gaze also changed.
“That’s quite insulting.”
“I just called trash, trash.”
“So how are you going to deal with that trash?”
“Namgung Mun of the Namgung Family, as a rising star of the same Orthodox Martial Path, officially requests a duel with Jin So-ah, an external disciple of the Moyong Family.”
***
Not just the White Martial Academy, but the entire Martial Alliance was in an uproar.
A duel between an instructor and a student.
This was an unprecedented, no, an absurd duel in the first place.
At first, there was a lot of opposition.
Not only the officials of the academy, but also the instructors and the Martial Alliance, which was the higher organization of the White Martial Academy, did not approve.
But the head instructor of the White Martial Academy, Namgung Won, pushed for it.
In addition, So-ah, the person concerned, also demanded permission, putting forward his title as the chief instructor, and Namgung Mun even got signatures from the students of the Heaven Division and urged the Alliance to permit the duel, so the Alliance had no choice but to take a step back.
In the end, through a bilateral meeting between the Alliance Leader, Ha Won-sang, and the Head Instructor, Namgung Won, the duel between So-ah and Namgung Mun was to be held publicly.
—To the fellow martial artists of the Jianghu.
Jin So-ah of the Moyong Family, the chief instructor of the White Martial Academy, and Namgung Mun of the Namgung Family, the head of the Heaven Division, regardless of their status within the academy, as rising stars of the same generation, and as new masters representing the Orthodox Path, wish to exchange their martial arts.
Through this friendly duel, the Orthodox Martial Path will not only be able to grasp the current level and future potential, but also promote harmony and coexistence by boosting the morale of the new generation of the Jianghu.
Therefore, the Alliance Leader, Ha Won-sang, and the Head Instructor of the White Martial Academy, Namgung Won, after consultation, have set the date of the duel for the fifteenth day of the eighth month.
As it is a friendly duel, it will be held as a completely public duel, so we hope for the participation of many fellow martial artists of the Jianghu.
Seal of the Martial Alliance Leader, Ha Won-sang.
Seal of the White Martial Academy Head Instructor, Namgung Won.
Seal of the White Martial Academy Chief Instructor, Jin So-ah.
Seal of the White Martial Academy Student General Representative, Namgung Mun.—
“Hoho… should I laugh or cry at this!”
A single letter written in a vigorous and flowing script.
Moyong Baek, who had received it, could not help but swallow a dry laugh.
“Honey, what is it?”
“No, it’s just… So-ah is having a duel with a student.”
“So-ah went in as an instructor, didn’t he? But he’s having a duel with a student?”
“It seems a complicated political situation is involved. Since the Namgung family head is the head instructor…”
At Moyong Baek’s words, his wife, Yeon So-so, quickly took the letter and scanned it.
“Hmm… what was So-ah thinking when he accepted this?”
“I don’t know, but So-ah must have had his own thoughts.”
“We have to go, right?”
“Of course. This is not just a duel between So-ah and Namgung Mun, but a duel between the Moyong Family and the Namgung Family, isn’t it? Of course we have to go.”
“So-ah… will he be okay?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I mean, can he win? While the prestige of our family is falling day by day after my father passed away, if So-ah, who has become an instructor, is defeated by Young Master Namgung, who is a student, not only will he have to give up his position as an instructor, but our family might be expelled from the Five Great Families.”
At that, Moyong Baek made a dumbfounded expression and then, as if he was dumbfounded, snorted and spoke.
“Hmph! Honey.”
“Why?”
“You still don’t know?”
“What do you mean by that…?”
“This won’t be a duel, but an education. A very one-sided, true education.”
“Honey…”
“You can trust So-ah. That child is the top master representing our family, no matter what anyone says.”