Chapter 165: What Does It Mean to Be a Great Master? (1)

*Tap.*

Namgung Musan placed his brush down after writing a letter to the Murim Alliance.

“Now it begins.”

After ten years, the Namgung Clan had the opportunity to rise again.

At the same time, it was also time to showcase the achievements gained from his closed-door training to the world.

“The Heavenly Destruction Society…”

Feeling the weight of his responsibility, Namgung Musan spoke to Namgung Chan, who was still gazing out the window.

“Father, we will soon arrive in Suzhou.”

“…I see. The familiar scenery is coming into view.”

“We will likely have a busy time ahead.”

“Indeed. With the head of the Great Namgung Clan visiting, many in the Jianghu will be quite tense.”

Hahaha.

Watching Namgung Chan joke, Namgung Musan composed himself.

“Before that, I have something to ask.”

“Of me?”

“This is the first time in ten years that our clan will demonstrate its strength again. Is there anything I must not forget?”

Namgung Musan expressed his concerns.

“I understand that the Heavenly Destruction Society is not to be taken lightly.”

I have no worries.

Our clan is the greatest in the world, and I am confident in the achievements of my closed-door training.

“But since I am stepping forward in the name of Namgung, I want to avoid even the smallest mistakes.”

What should I keep in mind to achieve this?

Namgung Chan smiled warmly at his son’s question.

“Haha. Now you look like a true clan leader.”

Then let me ask you.

“What do you think it means to be a supreme master?”

“A warrior who can defeat any opponent with a single strike and maintains an undefeated record.”

“Then what do you think it means to be a great master?”

“A person responsible for an entire family or sect.”

“That’s right. A great master is someone who creates the history of an era.”

What you must become is not just a brave warrior, but a great master who establishes the legacy of an era.

Namgung Chan continued sternly.

“A supreme master only bears the weight of their own life. But a great master bears the responsibility for many.”

They are fundamentally different.

“What do I need to become a great master?”

“Abandon your desire for victory.”

“My desire for victory?”

Namgung Musan was surprised by the unexpected words.

Isn’t the desire for victory what drives a warrior to reach higher levels?

“The next thing you must abandon is the desire for competition.”

“Even the desire for competition?”

“Yes.”

“Isn’t the desire for victory and competition essential for a warrior?”

But Namgung Chan’s answer was ‘No.’

“Where do you think a great master should stand?”

“If one is the strongest, shouldn’t they lead from the front in dangerous situations?”

“That is merely the bravery of a common man.”

The bravery of a common man.

Namgung Chan dismissed it as the recklessness of a trivial person.

“Have you ever seen a great general lead from the front in a war?”

“No, I haven’t.”

A great general is like the head that commands the soldiers.

They are not the ones wielding the sword at the forefront, but the ones orchestrating grand strategies from afar.

“Some have indeed shown bravery at the front.”

But they eventually died at the hands of nameless soldiers.

“Famous figures like Xiang Yu of the Chu-Han Contention and Lü Bu of the Three Kingdoms were like that.”

Namgung Chan continued.

“A great master is like that. Instead of being fixated on personal victories and defeats, they must establish grand strategies and complete long-term plans.”

Therefore, the desire for victory and competition must be the first things to be abandoned.

“Have a cool head instead of a hot temper.”

That is what it means to be a great master.

“……”

Namgung Musan fell into deep thought.

***

*Rustle.*

The sound of the wind could be heard.

Even as he sensed the presence of people landing behind him one by one, Cho Un-hwi didn’t even glance back.

“……”

It didn’t matter who came or how many followed him.

A fight was always a lonely affair.

Having followers was good, and not having them was also fine.

With followers, he could avoid some hassle, and without them, he could act freely.

“……”

His focus was solely on the dock shrouded in darkness.

The only place where the enemy might be.

How long had he been watching?

“My lord.”

*Flap.*

A black bandage fluttering with the smell of blood descended beside him.

“It’s certain. Suspicious people are gathering there.”

Not entirely certain.

“We were pressed for time.”

At Danya’s dejected words, Cho Un-hwi moved his lips.

“That’s the place.”

I can feel the unpleasant energy.

“Did you identify the people coming and going?”

“Yes. It was quite unexpected.”

Danya cautiously revealed his findings.

“I thought it would be people from the dark side, but surprisingly, they were from the righteous sects.”

“I see.”

It’s not surprising.

The collaborators of the Heavenly Destruction Society didn’t distinguish between righteous and demonic sects.

“Is it the main body?”

“I don’t think so. But since Elder Sima is moving, the main body will soon be revealed.”

“Elder Sima can be trusted.”

As Cho Un-hwi unfolded his arms, Danya pointed with his bandage.

“They’re thorough. It seems they’ve prepared several secret passages just in case.”

“You take care of that.”

*Flap.*

Loosening his robe, Cho Un-hwi began to walk.

With each step, the smell of blood grew stronger.

***

The Desert Assassins’ New Eight Tigers were tense.

“Gulp.”

This was their first assassination mission since leaving the desert.

They had missed the Hundred Ghosts Night Walk, but those who participated spoke of it.

– We were like ghosts.

The faces of the senior assassins, who usually suppressed their emotions, showed faint signs of excitement.

– No, it was fortunate we were like ghosts.

It was hard to believe they were the same people who always acted like machines.

So they headed here, putting everything else aside.

With high expectations for today’s night walk.

“Gulp.”

But they couldn’t help feeling nervous.

Having directly investigated the Heavenly Destruction Society’s cells, they knew how strong the people there were.

Moreover, unlike their small group, there were many formidable opponents.

Facing nearly a hundred people with only about ten of them.

And it would be a direct confrontation, unfamiliar to assassins.

‘I might die here.’

Sweat soaked their grip on their swords due to a mix of tension and excitement.

‘I’m a failed assassin.’

I can’t disappoint the master of the ghosts.

‘Control your emotions.’

As they began to take deep breaths.

*Step.*

Surprisingly, the master of the ghosts was the first to step forward.

The Reaper of the Desert, Gokju, quietly followed behind.

The senior assassins did the same.

‘The master is leading?’

For the Eight Tigers, who were used to seeing their targets hiding in the safest places, it was an incomprehensible sight.

But it felt fitting.

*Flap. Flap.*

Despite the fluttering cheap iron sword and the robe billowing in the night wind, the illusion of a giant mountain following behind was reassuring.

‘Damn. I was daydreaming.’

Realizing he had been distracted, the Eight Tigers followed in self-reproach.

“Young ghosts.”

The master’s voice reached them.

“Today’s battle will be quite challenging.”

There will be formidable opponents.

“But don’t worry. You will only face opponents you can handle.”

Remember one thing.

“Don’t fall behind.”

As the master’s voice, like a song, blended with the night wind, the Eight Tigers found themselves nodding.

“Now, show me. Young ghosts.”

Can you truly step into the darkness?

At the master’s playful words, the Eight Tigers gripped their swords tightly.

***

The master began the attack.

Walking straight to the pavilion, the master placed his hand on the firmly closed door and spoke.

“Surely you don’t expect a greeting from uninvited guests?”

*Bang!*

The massive door, an inch thick, shattered and flew inward.

*Crack.*

The force of the light touch was so strong that one side of the door frame tilted, spilling tiles.

‘Already?’

The young ghosts, following in a daze, realized the start of their bloody battle with the loud noise.

At that moment, figures leaped from the pavilion’s roof like flying birds.

‘Were they waiting?’

*Thud thud thud thud!*

A group of masters, using an astonishing lightness technique, descended with the momentum of slicing through everything.

*Swish!*

The sharp energy blooming at the sword tips was no joke.

“Kahaha! They’ve come to greet us!”

With the ghostly Gokju’s shout, dozens of bandages shot up and pierced the enemies, but there were too many.

The Eight Tigers drew their swords, seeing the eight figures hiding behind their swords and slashing at their necks.

‘I will die.’

But I will cut them down.

The moment they resolved, the master in front of them flicked his loose sleeve.

*Slash.*

A beautiful silver line was drawn in the air.

‘An illusion?’

It was a scene of dreamlike beauty.

But what it created was not beautiful.

The Eight Tigers saw four of the attackers aiming at them caught in the line.

*Slash!*

Half of the assailants turned into blood and flesh in an instant.

*Thud thud thud.*

As blood and flesh splattered on them, the Eight Tigers realized the meaning of the master’s words.

– You will only face opponents you can handle.

‘So that’s what it meant?’

Four enemies remained.

They were still formidable, but the Eight Tigers believed in their master.

‘I can cut them down.’

I can’t be a burden.

*Swish! Swish swish!*

Resolutely, the Eight Tigers used fierce techniques to face the attackers.

*Clang! Clang clang!*

Entangled with the four, the Eight Tigers’ hands moved swiftly.

The sword light following their swords clashed with the enemies’ swords, producing continuous metallic sounds.

“Huff! Huff!”

There was no time to relax.

The master was omnipotent but not benevolent.

He left only opponents that were difficult to handle, and any moment of carelessness meant death.

*Clang clang clang!*

*Thud! Thud thud!*

“Ugh!”

Two of the attackers, pierced through the stomach and back by the relentless attacks, collapsed.

Two remained.

“These bastards!”

“Take this!”

*Swish!*

*Humm humm humm!*

The blue sword energy rising from each opponent sent chills down their spines.

Forcing an assassin to fight head-on was not an ideal method.

But they remembered.

– You will only face opponents you can handle.

‘He said we could handle them.’

Trust in the master moved their bodies.

Abandoning the assassin’s tactics, they engaged in a true fight of strength.

*Clang! Clang clang clang!*

The opponents were strong, as expected.

In an assassination, they would have retreated and waited for another opportunity.

But the master had said.

‘I will only leave opponents you can handle.’

An inexplicable blind trust moved their bodies.

The result was the death of the enemies.

*Thud.*

“Ugh.”

*Thud thud.*

“Ugh.”

Throwing themselves at the enemies’ sword strikes, they created holes in their necks and lungs.

*Thud thud thud thud.*

Seeing other young assassins cutting down their opponents, the Eight Tigers realized.

‘I did it. I did it.’

They had defeated the renowned swordsmen of Suzhou.

As they watched the enemies coughing up blood and dying, they felt a sense of accomplishment.

“Damn.”

*Bang!*

The wall collapsed, and the Eight Tigers saw the hazy figure disappearing beyond it, regaining their senses.

‘Now I understand why he said not to fall behind.’

Killing stronger opponents was more challenging than anything.

‘Far more difficult.’

Shedding their small sense of victory, the Eight Tigers hurried their steps.

***

Inside the splendid carriage.

After a long contemplation, Namgung Musan nodded slightly.

“I see.”

The bravery of a common man.

“Instead of leading the fight with bravado, one must strategize with a cool head.”

“Haha. You’ve finally shed the title of mere warrior and opened your eyes to the fight of a clan leader.”

Having gained a new understanding, Namgung Musan nodded deeply.

“I understand the mindset of a great master.”

Then let me ask the next question.

“What is the fight of a cold-headed great master?”

Namgung Chan answered.

“swift as wind,silent like a Forest, fierce like Fire, and imovable as Mountain.”