episode_0018

A senior man with a sage-like demeanor was wiping the blade of his sword with a cloth. His name was Red Night Sword Sovereign. As Cheongun’s master, Jin Mooseong, he would often sit idly anywhere and polish his sword like this when he had nothing to do.

“Master Jin.”

Just then, a man came looking for him in the backyard of the estate. The one who came to find Jin Mooseong was none other than Namgung Hwi, the young master of the Namgung clan.

“What is it?”

He walked over with his hands behind his back and sat opposite Jin Mooseong. His expression was unusually serious, suggesting what he was about to say. Jin Mooseong stroked his long beard, waiting for him to speak.

A moment later.

“It’s about Young Master Cheong.”

At those words, Jin Mooseong’s eyes narrowed.

“Tell me.”

“I believe Master also noticed that I was gathering information about Young Master Cheong.”

“Haha. Who wouldn’t know? You’re openly having people conduct a background check.”

Jin Mooseong laughed as if it were no big deal. There’s no such thing as a master who just drops from the sky. But Cheongun was beyond extraordinary, even in his master’s eyes. He was a master who had never once appeared in the Jianghu, yet he was a fresh-faced youth not even in his twenties. So, it wasn’t impossible to understand the young master’s actions.

“So. You’ve come to me, which means the background check has made quite a bit of progress, correct?”

At those words, Namgung Hwi nodded.

“When I requested information from the Beggars’ Alliance, it came out quickly.”

Among the organizations in the Central Plains, some have ‘Bang (幇)’ attached to their names. Such organizations usually refer to associations of people with specific professions. In the case of the Beggars’ Alliance, it’s a massive association of beggars from the Central Plains who live by begging. It’s a well-known fact that there were many beggars in the ancient Central Plains, where wealth polarization was extremely severe. With beggars scattered everywhere, picking up and spreading stories circulating on the streets, their intelligence network can truly be called the best in the Central Plains. Even the Five Great Clans, who dominated the Central Plains, yielded to the Beggars’ Alliance when it came to intelligence. This was especially true when digging up information on a person like Cheongun, who had no known background. The eyes and ears of the beggars wandering the streets exist everywhere in the world, so it was difficult for any event to escape the Beggars’ Alliance’s net. It wasn’t for nothing that the Beggars’ Alliance held the ‘Ilbang’ position among the Nine Factions and One Alliance. That was why the Beggars’ Alliance could wield enormous influence throughout the Central Plains.

Namgung Hwi let out a short sigh and spoke. He himself found it hard to believe what he was about to tell Jin Mooseong, but what could he do? The possibility of the Beggars’ Alliance’s information being wrong was extremely low.

“‘A former beggar,’ he said.”

“…What?”

“Unknown birth. He reportedly made a living by fishing around Mount Emei. And for quite a long time.”

“Are you saying he’s one of the Beggars’ Alliance’s own?”

“No, that’s not it either. Apparently, he’s actually disliked by the Beggars’ Alliance.”

Jin Mooseong blinked his eyes blankly.

“Disliked? Why?”

“Because he was stubborn even among beggars and always traveled alone, he reportedly had friction with beggars belonging to the Beggars’ Alliance in the area whenever he had a chance. They even said he turned some Beggars’ Alliance beggars into bloody pulp a few times.”

Jin Mooseong was dumbfounded. Having lived with Cheongun for several months, Jin Mooseong knew his disciple’s fiery temper well. But that wasn’t the important part.

“Which means…”

Namgung Hwi, who had been looking at Jin Mooseong, finally chuckled.

“That’s right. A master who dropped from a dry sky [appeared out of nowhere].”

A master isn’t something you can create just because you want to. From innate talent to all sorts of rare elixirs, proper guidance, and years of training. Only when immense capital and collective wisdom are concentrated on one individual for a long time can a master finally be born. But look at Cheongun. His physique, his aptitude, even the unidentified family martial arts he supposedly learned. Not a single thing is lacking; he is perfect. Indeed, Cheongun’s very existence is a fortunate encounter in the chaotic Jianghu. Without a single exception throughout history, warriors’ desires for such fortunate encounters have always brought bloodshed. He dared not imagine what kind of repercussions would follow if Cheongun’s existence became known. Thus, Namgung Hwi cautiously opened his mouth.

“I’m curious about the family martial arts Young Master Cheong supposedly learned.”

“You’re curious about everything.”

“Such a pure flow of energy must be an orthodox Daoist qi cultivation technique. It could truly be called a divine art among divine arts.”

“Hwi.”

“Currently, all the prominent black-path forces are gathering around the Demonic Cult. As things stand, we cannot hope for peace in the Jianghu. If only we had Young Master Cheong’s help… Gasp!”

Before he could even finish his sentence. An invisible force seemed to grip his throat, blocking his airway. Namgung Hwi was choking, unable to breathe properly. At that moment, Jin Mooseong parted his lips.

“You’re crossing the line.”

Rumble—!

The estate vibrated violently from Jin Mooseong’s internal energy. Dust rose from the ground, and the very earth trembled. His internal energy seemed to take on a tangible form, pressing down on Namgung Hwi. It was ominous, fierce, and filled with killing intent. No matter how much he raised his cultivation, he couldn’t break free.

“Hwi. Haven’t I always told you? You always let your emotions get ahead of you and ruin things.”

Numerous sword forms floated in the air. They were white, glowing sword auras. Since there were only sword forms without actual swords, they could be called Sword Projection Auras. His entire body broke out in goosebumps from the earth-shattering divine art. The thick killing intent made even breathing difficult.

“Since your concern for the Jianghu’s peace is commendable, I’ll tell you one more time.”

“Gasp! Gasp!”

“If anyone dares to use or harm my disciple, then the Jianghu will have me as an enemy. Do not test my patience. My patience has been at its limit ever since you dared to send Yuli as a spy into the Black Forest Gate.”

Namgung Hwi’s mind grew hazy from the internal energy that crushed the entire space. Cold sweat drenched his entire body. His stomach churned, and his head spun. It was an overwhelming pressure he had never felt, even when facing his father. Just then.

“Haha. I’ll be going now. The breeze is cool, so it would be good for a walk.”

In an instant, the crushing pressure on his entire body vanished. The sword auras that had filled the sky dispersed like mist. Jin Mooseong, with his hands behind his back, left as usual.

“…”

Namgung Hwi stared blankly at Jin Mooseong’s retreating figure.

****

Meanwhile.

“Young Master! Please! If we get caught like this, both you and I will die!”

“Then do you want to die right now?”

“That’s a bit much.”

“Then shut up and just guide me properly.”

“Damn it…”

Cheongun made Jin Cheonwoo lead the way as they headed somewhere. Their destination was none other than the Blood Lotus Pavilion headquarters. The Blood Lotus Pavilion was one of the black-path forces, an organization that specialized in espionage, but they had one hidden secret. That was that most of the Blood Lotus Pavilion’s executives practiced demonic arts. Their numbers were such that it could practically be considered a subcontracted organization of the Demonic Cult. Even the Blood Lotus Pavilion Lord, who could be called the master of the pavilion, was a member of the Demonic Cult. They would soon cause a major incident called the Blood Purge, leading to the dissolution of the pavilion. More accurately, it wouldn’t be dissolved but absorbed by the Demonic Cult.

The reason Cheongun willingly walked into such an organization. It was none other than to assess if he could swallow the Blood Lotus Pavilion whole. The Central Plains was an era of barbarism. To operate vast capital, one needed a force. Just as vast capital is protected within the framework of a corporation in modern society, in the Central Plains, it was unstable for a single individual to stably manage vast capital due to circumstances. ‘I’m not going to live my entire life in the Namgung clan.’ If I wanted to live a life of peaceful contentment and survive on unearned income, it was time for me to have my own force.

‘Getting entangled in grievances is troublesome in many ways, but…’

Well, it’s fine. Even so, there’s nothing else but antagonizing the Demonic Cult. Honestly, those Demonic Cult bastards are already public enemies of the Murim, so antagonizing them wasn’t a problem at all. It’s a good thing, considering how troublesome it’s already become with bounties on my head placed everywhere.

So, currently. They arrived at a massive gate guarded by fierce-looking men.

“…We’ve arrived.”

Jin Cheonwoo said in a trembling voice.

“You’ve worked hard, Blackman Sword.”

“Damn it, I’m Black Killing Sword!!”

“Blackman Sword or Black Killing Sword, what’s the difference?”

Cheongun left the trembling Jin Cheonwoo behind and walked towards the main gate. How far did he walk like that?

“…”

Cheongun stood still, staring blankly into the air. He couldn’t help but do so.

[You have encountered a Demonic Cultist as an enemy!]

A Demonic Cultist here too.

[You have encountered a Demonic Cultist as an enemy!]

A Demonic Cultist there too.

[Multiple Demonic Cultists detected!]

[Additional traits are activated!]

[Demon-Breaking True Body activated!]

Everywhere he looked, it was full of Demonic Cultists.

[Blue Spirit Purifying Qi Body activated!]

[Divine Purity Unassailable Meridians activated!]

[Adamantine Indestructible Body activated!]

[Ethereal Body activated!]

…

…

……Is this heaven?