Chapter 56 – Wu and Yue in the same boat (1)
Let me summarize the current situation clearly.
The Righteous Arts Martial arts alliance is already corrupt to the core and willing to join hands with the unorthodox sect or sacrifice innocent people without hesitation in order to capture the Evil sect.
If asked whether my current situation is positive, it is not. I am in a situation where the Sword Demon’s memories could erode my own and replace me at any time or place.
However, the Evil sect is not an entity that can be dealt with easily while conserving strength. When I was ambushed earlier, I truly thought I would die.
Aside from their strength, even I was impressed by the meticulousness of their schemes. If not for Ma Kang and Go Gyeom, it would be no exaggeration to say things would have gone according to their plan.
Also, the martial prowess of Namgung Seon-wi, the Dark Sword of the Namgung family, was beyond expectations. It’s not for nothing that he bears the title of Dark Sword, as he demonstrated his strength as an enlightenment realm without reservation.
‘This can’t go on. I need to become stronger. Strong enough to shatter any scheme or force head-on. Yes, just like the Sword Demon did decades ago.’
While the experience of having the Sword Demon’s memories erode mine wasn’t exactly pleasant, I cannot deny the appeal of that power. I sat down cross-legged.
Circulating energy.
As I fully engaged in the Spear-Sword Mind Technique without reserve, I could feel the inner force circulating throughout my body. And once again, memories responding to the familiar inner force unfolded in my mind.
However, this time they were only fragmentary memories. Yet even these fragments were extremely intense, as they were memories of single-handedly massacring the Righteous sect.
I, no, the Sword Demon, stood alone on the battlefield. This was probably a memory from the Sword Demon War. The martial artists of the Righteous sect gathered like sand on a beach to surround him.
[We have come to stop your madness.]
[Throw down your weapon and surrender! Sword Demon!!]
[In my view, You are foolish. Or are you merely covering your eyes?]
[If you don’t surrender quickly, we’ll have no choice but to kill you!]
The young martial artist who stepped forward as the vanguard and shouted at the Sword Demon showed no fear at all. Well, with so many people behind him.
Anyone in their right mind would have tried to resolve this through dialogue. Yes, if they were in their right mind. What the young martial artist received in return was nothing but a stab in the neck.
Thus, the Sword Demon War began. While it appeared that the Sword Demon was indiscriminately killing Righteous sect martial artists, surprisingly, the Sword Demon had his own set of beliefs.
First, avoid killing innocents if possible.
Second, try not to kill those who do not cooperate with the Evil sect.
Third, absolutely kill those who cooperate with the Evil sect.
Fourth, warn those who block my path, then kill them.
The problem was that the Sword Demon did not communicate these facts to the Righteous sect at all. He simply acted on what he believed was right. Yes. He is literally a monster consumed by his convictions.
If the Sword Demon had been an ordinary human, or even a typical martial artist, there wouldn’t have been an issue. However, the biggest problem was that he was a monster called the Sword Demon.
It is overwhelming. This being called the Sword Demon, who was clearly just one person, slices through dozens of martial artists with each swing of his sword. He was truly a disaster itself.
I was merely watching from behind, but all of his movements and the sword techniques the Sword Demon displayed were visible to me. Somehow, I feel like even I could do it.
‘Just as the Sword Demon is trying to use me, I too must use the Sword Demon. That’s the only way I can win this battle.’
Unfortunately, the opponent is too powerful to be choosy about means and methods. So I must also use the Sword Demon’s power. Yes, I decided not to dwell on it any further.
Bluntly put, if I’m weak, I’ll be consumed by the Sword Demon. Conversely, if I’m strong, I can consume the Sword Demon. Let’s see this through to the end, you damn old man.
“Haah.”
“Did you cough, Master?”
“Did you sleep well last night too?”
The energy circulation I began in the early dawn could only end when the sun was high in the sky. Sua had been wanting to stay much closer to me than usual since that day.
It was to the point where even I felt burdened. But pushing Sua away wasn’t an option either, as it was because of my disciples’ cries that I was able to return to my senses before.
I was unable to push her away completely, but unable to fully accept. In short, a situation where I could do this or that. That’s when an unexpected savior appeared.
“Are you there, great warrior?”
“I am here.”
“…If it isn’t Ryeonju Mu-wol and Roo-ju Yang Mi-yeon.”
No, I should say it was an unexpected combination.
â—‡
Naturally, the Cheongok Pavilion run by Roo-ju Yang Miyeon was also affiliated with the Evil sect. After all, the Evil Sect itself was formed by people like thieves and courtesans.
Of course, the Righteous sect Martial Arts Alliance doesn’t completely neglect to check them. Rather, before Cheongok Pavilion established itself in Hanam, all kinds of checks were imposed on absurd grounds.
However, even that was eventually overcame through skill, and it was Yang Mi-yeon’s achievement which made Cheongok Pavilion proudly establish itself in Hanam. Mu-myung spoke while drinking the tea Sua had brought.
“So, why have you come to see me?”
“First, I came to express my gratitude, great warrior.”
“…Gratitude? You mean for introducing you to the Murong family?”
“That’s right.”
Currently, Mu-wol, the Leader of Sadoryeon, is gathering allies to counter the Evil sect. And the Murong family could be considered the strongest alliance he had obtained.
“I have nothing to receive gratitude for in that regard. Isn’t it ultimately an achievement that the Leader gained through his own efforts?”
“But if you hadn’t provided the bridge, I couldn’t have even attempted it.”
“You flatter me.”
Sua, who had served tea to Yang Mi-yeon and Mu-wol just as she had done for me, gave a slight bow and then sat down beside me. It was so natural that I almost let it pass.
“Sua, I have something to discuss.”
“Am I not now a proper daughter of the Murong family, Master?”
“That’s true.”
Now that the hot summer has passed and the green leaves are beginning to take on the colors of autumn foliage, many changes have come to Sua in less than a year.
First, Sua used to have shoulder-length brown hair, but recently she started growing it out, and it now reaches her back, beyond a bob cut. Add to that the fact that she started wearing makeup.
Her already beautiful appearance could be described as having matured even more. Of course, it was also a bit bittersweet. The fact that she dresses up like that means…
‘It means she has a man she likes, which isn’t strange considering her age.’
From what I could see, the atmosphere between her and that young man Go Gyeom didn’t seem bad. I don’t know anything else, but it definitely seemed like Gogyeom was very interested in our Sua.
“Ahem, can we get to the main point now, great warrior?”
“I apologize. I was momentarily lost in thought.”
“It’s fine.”
“So what are your plans moving forward?”
“To put it simply… It could be called Five-wol Dongju.”
Five-wol Dongju. It means people from Yu and Wue in the same boat, indicating that even sworn enemies can cooperate if their interests align.
“Why is that suddenly brought up?”
“While I haven’t fully grasped the Nine Schools One Way, the Five Great Families are on such bad terms with each other that it makes their grouping under the same name seem meaningless. Especially the Namgung family.”
“I got that impression when I clashed with the Dark Sword before.”
“In the past, during the Sword Demon War, the Namgung family mobilized all the martial artists of the Righteous Sect Martial Arts Alliance as the alliance leader. And surprisingly… They became the family that suffered the least damage.”
Sichuan Tang family, Jegal family, Habuk Pang family, etc. Needless to say, the Five Great Families and the Nine Schools suffered tremendous damage, and some small and medium-sized martial arts academy were even annihilated, suffering the extinction of their entire lineage.
However, while it makes sense for the Nine Schools or the Five Great Families who wielded their swords at the forefront, Mu-wol says he doesn’t understand why small and medium-sized martial arts schools suffered the extinction of their entire lineage.
“My father only faced the strong. But to directly annihilate other martial arts schools for deploying just a few martial artists? That’s impossible.”
“That part also seems to need a separate investigation.”
“I’ve already had people investigate it. But what’s important is that the relationship between the other Five Great Families and the Namgung family has deteriorated to the worst because of that incident.”
The Sichuan Tang family was already on bad terms due to their competitive relationship, but because of the Sword Demon War, they became nothing short of irreconcilable enemies, and the Jegal family, which pursued balance.
They also took the direction of checking the Namgung family, which had come to wield absolute power. After hearing the story up to that point, I finally understood what he was aiming for.
“You’re thinking of uniting with other families like the Murong family.”
“That’s right. In fact, if you think about it, it’s no different than using other martial arts schools and families as shields. The Namgung family joined the war the latest, and they even used the time of their participation as the standard for dividing merits.”
“Which means most families and martial arts schools didn’t receive recognition for their contributions in the Sword Demon War.”
“Exactly. And even at the Sun moo Academy, they proudly teach that the Namgung family alone participated in the Sword Demon War and stopped the Sword Demon.”
They’re even crazier than I imagined. With that kind of behavior, it means they had to join hands with the Evil sect just to barely stop the Sword Demon? Anyway, the direction this story is pointing to is clear.
“What do you want from me?”
“The Leader of the Sichuan Tang family wishes to meet you, great warrior.”
