Chapter 115
Moyong Family, Training Ground—
“Gasp… gasp…”
The man had been repeating the same movement for over three shichen.
Sometimes soft and gentle like the waters of the vast Yangtze River.
Sometimes explosive and majestic like an erupting volcano.
Sometimes with the quietness of a mind free of thoughts, as if indifferent and silent.
What was peculiar was that the movement the man was so diligently repeating was the form of the Six Harmonies Fist, which even third-rate warriors were reluctant to learn.
The man was So-ah’s first top disciple, Yi Baek, and the essence of this strange training was also So-ah’s will.
‘Yi Baek’s form is becoming more and more disciplined.’
‘Is this what they call the refinement of a solid foundation?’
‘He’s a persistent child. To endure so well with such a frail body! There’s a reason So-ah chose him as his top disciple!’
The elders of the family were inwardly impressed as they watched Yi Baek’s arduous training.
When So-ah had asked them to supervise Yi Baek and left for the Martial Alliance, the elders had monitored Yi Baek’s every move.
But that was just a useless act.
Because Yi Baek, without anyone telling him to, faithfully carried out So-ah’s instructions on his own.
This was a characteristic of the Yi family of Shandong, known as one of the three great chaebols of the Central Plains. Under the banner of the family head, Lee Kun-hee, ‘Let’s be people who earn our keep!’, Yi Baek’s habit of doing his best wherever he was and whatever he did became the driving force of his passionate training.
Just then.
“Yi Baek.”
Moyong Woo, a man in his forties who was a fifth cousin of the family head, Moyong Baek, approached the training ground with a letter in his hand and called out to Yi Baek.
“Yes!”
“A letter for you.”
“For… me?”
“Yes. It seems a big incident has occurred at the Martial Alliance. This letter was specially written for you by So-ah, so read it.”
“Yes, I understand!”
Yi Baek, whose heart was fluttering at the words of his master’s letter, quickly read the contents.
「To my disciple, Yi Baek…
Baek-ah. I have some unfortunate news to deliver. I should have finished the hero tournament quickly and returned to the family to check on your martial arts progress, but as a misfortune has befallen the Martial Alliance, I have to leave for a place called the Valley of Ten Thousand Poisons in Nanman.
Although it is a long way, I have peerless lightness skill and infinite stamina, so it won’t take long for me to return.
So don’t worry and wait.
And…」
‘My master is also good at writing! He is well-versed in both martial arts and literature. What a great person!’
Just as Yi Baek, who was reading the letter written in a dragon-and-snake-like handwriting and with a formal style, was having that thought.
The style and content of the letter began to change abruptly.
「I know well. The human race is generally lazy and weak-willed. Would you be any different?
But you have to be different. Why?
Because your master is ‘me’.
Other people can do things half-heartedly, but my disciple can’t.
So, except for eating, going to the bathroom, and sleeping, immerse yourself in training all day long.
If I see a disappointing appearance when I return, I plan to give you a taste of hell in your lifetime.
No, come to think of it, I misspoke.
Reduce the time you eat, sleep, and shit.
Do you know what I mean?
Just think of yourself as dead and roll around.
A human with a frail body and no talent like you has to work 100 times harder than others.
That’s all for now.
Your Master」
‘Master… what on earth are you…’
Yi Baek was so dumbfounded that he was at a loss for words.
To him, who had grown up receiving the best education in a chaebol family, the master named ‘Jin So-ah’ was an incomprehensible human being.
But anyway.
‘I really have to train as if I’m dead. I can’t disappoint my master.’
Whether that was the case or not, Yi Baek’s determined gaze, whose perseverance was no less than So-ah’s, was directed towards the distant mountain ridge.
***
—Xizang, Potala Palace.
The two great holy sites that formed the axis of Xizang.
The White Lotus Cult, which had taken over the Potala Palace and the Small Thunder Sound Temple, had also subjugated the remnants deeply rooted in Xizang and had come to completely dominate the entire Xizang martial world, which was represented by the three great sects outside the pass.
The process was not smooth.
Because they had to lose many masters of the cult.
But with No Yeong-myeong and Go Eung at the forefront, the White Lotus Cult, with the help of the Eastern Depot and the use of demons, had subjugated Xizang with the momentum of a bamboo splitting and had become its master.
But…
The cult leader seated on the golden throne.
The face of the Blood Demon, Tae Ho-gong, was full of sorrow.
“Ah…! Is the path to taking the world in my hands so far and rough!”
Watching the Blood Demon, who was letting out a long sigh, the Left Heavenly Demon Saber, Go Eung, who was standing by, also hardened his expression.
“Cult Leader…”
The reason the Blood Demon, Tae Ho-gong, was sighing was because of a single letter.
The letter had flown in from the Right Heavenly Demon Sword, No Yeong-myeong.
「—Confidential Letter.
No one except the Cult Leader, the Chief Elder, and Go Eung shall read it.
1. Kwon Hyo of the Haesa Sect, who was dispatched as a spy to the Martial Alliance, succeeded in poisoning the masters of the Nine Great Sects and the Eight Great Families under the command of the Sword Empress Hong-ryeon, who had become the Alliance Leader, using the Ten Fragrances Tendon Severing Powder.
2. The Martial Alliance side, using the rising generation, proposed a 5-on-5 consecutive victory duel to our cult, and in the midst of winning consecutive victories in that duel.
3. A few unexpected variables occurred.
4. First, the tide of the duel changed with the appearance of Jin So-ah, the great disciple of the Moyong Family.
5. The Shaolin side, led by the Great Master Gong-seung, arrived late, so we could not poison them.
6. The Dragon Horn of Jongnam also arrived late. The power of the two top masters of the Orthodox Path was added to the Martial Alliance. (In this process, the Green Forest King, Jang Beon-pal, and the Waterway King, Jang Beon-ha, as well as the North Sea Ice Palace, arrived at the Martial Alliance as Jin So-ah’s helpers.)
7. The head of the Udo-bang of Goryeo appeared at the Martial Alliance as Jin So-ah’s helper.
His special abilities and sorcery were so great that we failed to respond.
8. Kwon Hyo was exposed as a spy for our cult, and he was beheaded, and the people of the Haesa Sect are in a situation where they are detained by the Martial Alliance.
9. There is a high possibility that all the information Kwon Hyo knew about our cult has entered the Cheonmun-gwan of the Martial Alliance.
Total: Cult Leader. Above all, the old man who is the head of the Udo-bang of Goryeo may act as a big variable in the future. His ability and extraordinary appearance were enough to surpass me, and seeing that he was also knowledgeable about demons, I believe it is reasonable to complete the grand plan with a meticulous strategy and planning rather than an immediate all-out war.」
The contents of the letter were as follows.
The Blood Demon, Tae Ho-gong, also had no intention of destroying the Orthodox Martial Path right away.
Because it was an impossible task for now.
But at the very least, he had thought that No Yeong-myeong would create an opportunity to psychologically pressure them through the hero tournament…
In particular, the appearance of Baek In-hwa was an unexpected variable, so the hearts of the Blood Demon, Tae Ho-gong, and the Left Heavenly Demon Saber, Go Eung, could not help but be heavy.
“Cult Leader. Wasn’t it expected that the completion of the grand plan would take a long time? The situation of our cult is not bad yet.”
“Not bad?”
“That’s right. Although there are a few variables, with this, we no longer need to hide our identity, and we have become free to use our great power without hesitation. In addition, a three-way division of the world will now unfold.”
“A three-way division of the world…”
“That’s right, our cult, the Orthodox Martial Path. And the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. The cult leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, Wi-ji Gang, is renowned as an ambitious man. He will try to gain an advantage between our cult and the Orthodox Path. If a three-way battle is unavoidable, we should make a long-term plan and gradually occupy the world.”
“You mean we could be defeated if we are hasty.”
“That’s right.”
“But aren’t there still the remaining forces outside the pass and the people of the Unorthodox Path?”
“Now that we have taken over Xizang, we can just step on the North Sea and the others little by little. What was the reason we have been working so hard on the restoration and reconstruction of the demons? Also, Brother No will gradually recover the Unorthodox Path, so please don’t worry.”
Go Eung’s words seemed clear and concise at a glance, but in reality, they were nothing more than an overly optimistic reasoning.
But there was a reason why he presented a somewhat complacent view.
‘If the Cult Leader gets excited and loses his reason, the grand plan will be further away. First, I must prevent the rampage of the Blood God at all costs. Buying time and resolving the situation is the best plan!’
Go Eung was worried about the rampage of the Blood Demon, Tae Ho-gong.
Recently, Tae Ho-gong’s complexion had been turning more and more purple.
That meant that Tae Ho-gong was moving further away from the existence of a human, and his rampage now, before he had achieved a complete ‘blood god transformation’, would be an unbearable catastrophe.
Of course, the Blood Demon, Tae Ho-gong, also knew that Go Eung was being overly optimistic at the moment.
“Chief Elder Go.”
“Yes, Cult Leader.”
“The situation is not good. It won’t be so easy.”
“Cult Leader…”
“If I weren’t in a situation where I had to focus on achieving the blood god transformation, I would never have entrusted all the authority to you and the Vice Cult Leader.”
“…”
“So don’t disappoint me anymore. I think you know what I mean.”
“I will obey your command!”
For a moment, a chill ran down Go Eung’s spine.
‘Cult Leader… are you really going to become a demigod even if it means selling your soul to an evil spirit?’
***
“Phew… Brother Woo-chi. Is that really true?”
“That’s what I’m saying!”
“Wow! I heard it from Elder Baek, but that was a shortened story. Goryeo is not a very big country, but there are many great people.”
So-ah and Jeon Woo-chi, who were on their journey to Nanman, had a conversation while hiking.
In the midst of that, when Jeon Woo-chi told the mythical anecdotes of the martial artists and extraordinary ability users of Goryeo, So-ah could not hide his surprise.
“That’s right. You know just by looking at my master, right? What did he look like?”
“Elder Baek goes without saying. Not only his sorcery, but his martial arts also seemed amazing.”
“That’s right. My master said that whether it’s martial arts or special abilities, when you reach the extreme, they are all connected. Perhaps my master is a person who has reached the extreme.”
At that, So-ah also pulled out a piece of a memory that had been buried in the back of his mind.
—So-ah. The abilities of a human are made of a single origin. The noble martial arts of the Taoist lineage, the firm martial arts of the Buddhist lineage. Even the demonic arts of a wicked nature. The Ten-Second Invincible Arts was created based on that origin. Therefore, it does not rely on any weapon and is based on subduing the opponent with unarmed brawling. The potential of a human is endless. Just by existing, it is a microcosm. Keep that in mind and never set limits for yourself in anything.
—Grandpa!
—Everything in the universe will open if you knock…
At that time, since he was a young So-ah, he could not grasp the true meaning of those words, but now, he seemed to understand, albeit vaguely, what his grandfather had been trying to say.
‘That’s right. I’ve been living with such a closed mind. There are no limits to a human. Just by looking at the duel between my grandfather and Grandpa Wi-ji, it was like that. It was as if the two gods of black and white had descended from the sky.’
At the same time, So-ah thought that perhaps Baek In-hwa was an absolute being comparable to his grandfather or Grandpa Wi-ji.
“Wow. To think that I decided to learn the Book of Changes from such a great person as Elder Baek. I’m so lucky.”
“What? My master said he would teach you the Book of Changes?”
“Yes. And that thing called exorcism. I want to learn that too… Brother Woo-chi. Please put in a good word for me with the elder next time.”
At So-ah’s words, Jeon Woo-chi shook his head, clicking his tongue.
“Phew… if you learn all those skills in addition to your heaven-shaking martial arts, what will a Taoist like me eat and live on, So-ah. Haha.”
“That’s none of my business…”
“You devil…”
“Hehe.”
So-ah, who was smiling at the back-and-forth jokes, suddenly thought of something and opened his mouth again.
“By the way, it’s a very long way to Nanman, and the detoxification of the seniors is urgent, so why did the elder tell me to go with you?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Although you’ve improved your martial arts, it would be impossible for you to keep up with my Swift Whale Step.”
So-ah was worried on the one hand.
Although he didn’t know the level of Jeon Woo-chi’s lightness skill and footwork in detail, at a glance, he didn’t seem to be a master.
If he had to go to Nanman at the speed of an ordinary martial artist, he would waste a considerable amount of time.
But.
“Hehe, Jin So-ah?”
“Yes?”
“I don’t think you’ll be able to catch up with me.”
“What do you mean by that, brother?”
“Have you heard of demonic tools?”
“Demonic tools? Isn’t that what you call the tool that you used to catch the jiangshi, the Seon-yo-jong or something?”
“That’s right.”
“But why?”
At So-ah’s question, Jeon Woo-chi curled up the corners of his mouth.
Then he took out a rolled-up carpet from his bundle.
It was the flying magical treasure, one of the three great demonic tools of the Udo-bang.