Chapter 18: Bloodline (1)

Drip drip.

An old man with an immortal-like appearance was wiping his sword blade with a cloth.

His name was the Sword Saint of the Red Knight, Jin Museong.

The master of Cheongun, he often sat around idly like this, absentmindedly polishing his sword whenever he had nothing else to do.

“Elder Jin.”

At that moment, a man came looking for him from the rear courtyard of the estate.

The one who sought out Jin Museong was none other than Namgung Hwi, the young master of the Namgung Family.

“What brings you here?”

With his hands clasped behind his back, the young master walked over and sat across from Jin Museong.

His expression was unusually grave, as if he had something important to say.

Jin Museong stroked his long beard, waiting for him to continue.

After a brief pause—

“It’s about Young Hero Cheong.”

At those words, Jin Museong’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“Go on.”

“I’m sure you’ve noticed that I’ve been gathering information about Young Hero Cheong.”

“Keukkeuk. Who wouldn’t know? You’ve been openly sending people to investigate him.”

Jin Museong chuckled as if it were no big deal.

There was no such thing as a master who appeared out of thin air.

But Cheongun was an exception even in his eyes.

A young man not even twenty years old, yet he had never once revealed himself in the martial world before.

So he understood why the young master was acting this way.

“I see. Since you’ve come to me, does that mean your investigation has made significant progress?”

At those words, Namgung Hwi nodded.

“I commissioned the Beggars’ Sect for information, and they found out quickly.”

In the Central Plains, there were organizations with the suffix “Sect” (Bang) in their names.

These were usually associations formed by people of specific professions.

The Beggars’ Sect, for example, was a massive coalition of beggars who made a living by begging across the land.

In the ancient Central Plains, where the wealth gap was extreme, beggars were everywhere.

With vagrants scattered all over, collecting and spreading rumors from the streets, their intelligence network was unparalleled.

Even the Five Great Families, who dominated the Central Plains, had to concede to the Beggars’ Sect when it came to information.

Especially for someone like Cheongun, who had no known background, their intelligence was even more crucial.

The eyes and ears of beggars were everywhere— nothing could escape their vast network.

It was no accident that the Beggars’ Sect held a place among the Nine Sects and One Coalition.

That was why they wielded such immense influence across the land.

Namgung Hwi exhaled a short sigh and spoke.

What he was about to tell Jin Museong was something even he found hard to believe— but what could he do?

The Beggars’ Sect’s information was rarely wrong.

“They say he was once a beggar.”

“…What?”

“His origins are unknown. He made a living fishing around the Emei Mountain area for quite some time, apparently.”

“So he was part of the Beggars’ Sect?”

“Not exactly. In fact, he was disliked by them.”

Jin Museong blinked in confusion.

“Disliked? Why?”

“Even among beggars, he was stubborn and always wandered alone, so he often clashed with the local members of the Beggars’ Sect. Apparently, he even beat a few of them to a pulp on several occasions.”

Jin Museong was flabbergasted.

Having spent several months with Cheongun, he was well aware of his disciple’s fiery temper.

But that wasn’t the important part.

“What you’re saying is…”

Namgung Hwi, who had been staring at Jin Museong, suddenly burst into a smirk.

“That’s right. A master who fell from the clear blue sky.”

A true master wasn’t something one could create just because they wanted to.

It required innate talent, rare and precious elixirs, proper guidance, and years of rigorous training.

Only when vast resources and collective wisdom were concentrated on a single individual over a long period could a true master emerge.

But look at Cheongun.

His physique, his aptitude, even the mysterious family martial arts he had supposedly learned— everything about him was flawless.

Cheongun himself was nothing short of a miracle in this chaotic martial world.

Throughout history, without a single exception, the desire of martial artists for such miracles had always led to bloodshed.

If word of Cheongun’s existence spread, the repercussions would be unimaginable.

So Namgung Hwi cautiously opened his mouth.

“Young Hero Cheong, the secret family martial arts you’ve mastered— I’m curious about them.”

“You’re curious about the oddest things.”

“Such a pure and flawless flow of qi must belong to an orthodox Taoist breathing technique. It could be called a divine art among divine arts.”

“Hwi.”

“Right now, the most formidable forces of the dark path are gathering under the banner of the Heavenly Demon Sect. As things stand, we can’t hope for peace in the martial world. If only we had Young Hero Cheong’s help— Gahk!”

Before he could even finish speaking—

An invisible force gripped his throat, cutting off his breath.

Namgung Hwi choked, unable to breathe properly.

Then, Jin Museong parted his lips.

“You’ve crossed the line.”

Kuuuu—!

Jin Museong’s inner energy erupted violently, shaking the entire training hall.

Dust surged from the ground, and the earth itself trembled.

His energy took on a tangible form, as if it had a will of its own, pressing down on Namgung Hwi.

It was ferocious, savage, and brimming with killing intent.

No matter how much inner strength Namgung Hwi mustered, he couldn’t break free.

“Hwi. Haven’t I always told you? Your impulsiveness will be your downfall.”

Countless sword shapes materialized in the air, glowing with a radiant white light— sword energy without physical blades.

It was an unfathomable divine technique, one that sent shivers down his spine.

The dense killing intent made even breathing difficult.

“I appreciate your concern for the martial world’s peace, so I’ll tell you one more time.”

“Ghk! Ghk!”

“If anyone dares to exploit or harm my disciple, the entire martial world will have me as its enemy. Do not test my patience. From the moment you dared to send Yul into the Black Forest Sect as a spy, my patience was already at its limit.”

Namgung Hwi’s consciousness wavered under the crushing pressure of the energy filling the space.

Cold sweat drenched his body. His stomach churned, and his head spun.

He had never felt such overwhelming pressure, not even when facing his own father.

And then—

“Heh. I’ll take my leave now. The breeze is nice— perfect for a stroll.”

The oppressive pressure that had weighed down his entire body vanished in an instant.

The sword energy that had filled the sky dissipated like scattered mist.

Jin Muyeong, with his hands clasped behind his back as usual, stepped aside.

“……”

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

****

One Side.

“Little Hero! Please! If we get caught, both you and I are dead!”

“Then do you want to die right now?”

“Well, no.”

“Then shut up and guide me properly.”

“Damn it…”

Cheongun was leading Jin Cheonwoo somewhere.

Their destination was none other than the headquarters of the Haomen Sect.

The Haomen Sect was one of the factions in the underworld, primarily engaged in espionage, but they had a hidden secret.

That secret was the fact that most of the sect’s executives had cultivated demonic arts.

So much so that they could practically be considered a subcontractor of the Demon Cult.

Starting with their leader, the Haomen Sect Master, who was a member of the Demon Cult.

Before long, they would commit a major atrocity known as the “Purge of Blood,” leading to the sect’s dissolution.

To be precise, they wouldn’t dissolve— they would be absorbed into the Demon Cult.

The reason Cheongun was willingly walking into such a place?

To assess whether he could swallow the entire Haomen Sect whole.

The Central Plains was an era of savagery.

To wield vast capital, one needed power.

Just as modern society protects massive capital within the framework of corporations, in the Central Plains, it was inherently unstable for an individual to manage such wealth alone.

It wasn’t like I was going to spend my whole life in the Namgung Family.

If I wanted to live comfortably off passive income, I needed my own faction.

‘Getting involved with the Silver Circle is annoying in many ways, but…’

Well, it’s fine.

At worst, it just means being hostile to the Demon Cult.

Honestly, the Demon Cult was already public enemy number one in the martial world, so being hostile to them wasn’t a problem at all.

They’d already been a nuisance by putting bounties on my head everywhere, so this worked out.

And now.

They arrived before a massive gate guarded by rough-looking men.

“…We’re here.”

Jin Cheonwoo spoke in a trembling voice.

“Good work, Black Blade.”

“Damn it, it’s Black Death Blade!!”

“Black Blade or Black Death Blade, same thing.”

Cheongun left the fuming Jin Cheonwoo behind and walked toward the main gate.

How long had he been walking?

“……”

Cheongun stopped in his tracks and blankly stared into the air.

He couldn’t help it.

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

A demonic practitioner here.

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

A demonic practitioner there.

[Multiple Demon Cultists detected!]

[Additional traits activate!]

[Pama Jinche (Demon-Shattering True Body) activates!]

The entire world around him was filled with demonic practitioners.

[CCheongryeong Jeonggitae (Blue Spirit Cleansing Qi) activates!]

[Shinjeong Bulchim Maek (Divine Cleansing, Uninvadable Meridian) activates!]

[Geumgang Bulgoe (Indestructible Diamond Body) activates!]

[Kongnyeong Jiche (Void Spirit Body) activates!]

…

…

……Is this heaven?