Chapter v15c24

### A Hidden Hand

“H-How… What’s going on?”

Im Deok-seong stammered, his voice filled with awe. Even this lawless bandit was capable of feeling wonder.

“W-Who are those two? I didn’t sense any Qi from them before… And one of them is Do-seong…?”

His jaw dropped, his mind reeling from the revelation. The name “Do-seong Ha-hu Sik” had paralyzed his thoughts.

“I told you they were reclusive masters!”

Mo-gyeong exclaimed, his jaw equally slack. He sounded smug.

Apparently, doubt required a certain level of mental capacity. It was a luxury afforded only to those with the leisure to think. When your vision narrowed, your mind stiffened, becoming as inflexible as a rock.

Im Deok-seong, annoyed by Mo-gyeong’s smugness, snapped out of his stupor. A question arose in his mind.

“Hey, Mo-gyeong.”

“Yes, Boss?”

“Why aren’t they attacking us?”

The intruders were focused solely on the woman and the two old men. They hadn’t even glanced in their direction. He was relieved, but also slightly offended. They were being ignored.

“Maybe… we look too weak?”

“Weak? Us? Me? Im Deok-seong, the Green Forest King?”

He scoffed. But Mo-gyeong nodded.

“I understand your disbelief, Boss. But think about it. If three tigers are rampaging, would they bother with a couple of wolves? They would focus on the bigger threat.”

It was clear who he meant by “wolves.” Mo-gyeong had to restrain himself from saying “dogs” instead.

Im Deok-seong would normally have been furious, but he was too depressed. He was being ignored. He was insignificant.

“Should we… join in?”

He said, his hand resting on the hilt of his saber. He couldn’t just stand there and watch. He was itching for a fight.

“Wouldn’t we just get in the way?”

Mo-gyeong said calmly.

“They might not appreciate it. And if we offend them, we’ll regret it.”

“You’re right…”

Im Deok-seong said, his voice unusually subdued. Mo-gyeong nodded.

“Well, they could wipe out the entire Green Forest if they wanted to. Luckily, they haven’t decided to do that yet.”

They couldn’t deny it. They were outmatched.

Meanwhile, the Extinction Squad, having realized the true extent of the woman’s power, changed their tactics.

[Abandon the three. They’re too strong. Focus on An Myeong-hu! Eliminate him!]

Sa Ma-heun sent a telepathic message to his subordinates. He had decided to abandon the secondary objective and focus on the primary objective. Their priority was to silence An Myeong-hu.

But it was no use. The change in tactics didn’t matter. They were still outmatched.

The three masters continued to toy with the masked men, twirling their fingers, tapping them with sticks, and flicking them with chopsticks.

“Your swordsmanship is as impressive as ever, Sword Saint. No, it’s even better! The heart is the sword, the sword is the heart, all things return to the source… I can’t keep up with you anymore! Hohoho.”

The middle-aged woman said, laughing, her chopsticks never pausing. Each flick of her chopsticks released a blast of frosty Qi.

“You flatter me, Sword Empress. I’m just a humble swordsman. It’s all thanks to my new sword, ‘Galaxy.'”

He said, holding up his branch. It wasn’t very convincing.

He swung his “sword” again, sending more masked men collapsing.

There was no bloodshed. But none of them got back up.

“It’s been a while since we fought together! It reminds me of the old days. It was a scary time…”

The woman said, a wistful smile on her face.

“A scary, but nostalgic time.”

The old man in white said, smiling. They were reminiscing, as if they were enjoying afternoon tea.

But elsewhere, chaos reigned.

“D-Did I hear that right, Deputy Commander?”

Sa Ma-heun asked, his voice trembling. His deputy, Yi Gae, shook his head numbly.

“Y-Yes, sir. He said… Sword… Saint… Sword… Empress…”

Sa Ma-heun finally understood who they were dealing with. But the knowledge didn’t bring him any comfort. It was a disaster.

“T-This is… impossible! How can they be here… together…?”

He stared at the three masters, his eyes wide with disbelief. It wasn’t just Do-seong Ha-hu Sik. There was also Mo-yong Jeong-cheon, the Sword Saint, casually tapping his subordinates with a stick, and Yi Ok-sang, the Sword Empress, wielding her chopsticks as deadly weapons.

The Heavenly Martial three saints, the three most powerful martial artists in the world, living legends… They were all here, in this humble inn.

He would need all twenty-two battalions of the Extinction Squad to stand a chance. They had been trained for this, for the possibility of facing all three saints at once.

‘Surely it won’t come to that?’ he had thought. But now he knew.

‘It’s not enough… Twenty-two battalions won’t be enough! Against these monsters…’

“This is cheating!”

He cried out in his mind. It was unfair. But there was only one thing he could do.

“Retreat! Retreat! We’ll be annihilated if we stay here!”

He ordered.

“But our mission…”

Yi Gae, his deputy, said, his voice flat.

“I’ll take responsibility. Do you think we can succeed, even in this situation?”

He asked. Even his deputy, who was usually critical of him, had to admit the truth.

“No, sir.”

He replied without hesitation.

An Myeong-hu was lying unconscious in the center of a triangle formed by the three masters. It was the safest place in the world right now.

“Then don’t question my decisions!”

Sa Ma-heun snapped.

“But that’s my job, sir.”

Yi Gae replied, his voice emotionless. He was doing his job, but his tone was annoying.

Sa Ma-heun glared at him, vowing to deal with him later. (If they survived.) He ordered his men to retreat. Their fighting spirit had waned considerably after they learned the identities of their opponents.

“Oh my, oh my! We can’t let them escape.”

Yi Ok-sang, the Sword Empress, said, flicking her chopsticks. She hadn’t left her seat since the food arrived. The masked men’s escape routes were sealed.

“Now, where were we? Ah yes, your addresses!”

She smiled, her eyes gleaming with amusement. It was a benevolent smile, like that of a Bodhisattva. But to the Extinction Squad, it was more terrifying than the smile of a demon.

‘There’s no escape…’

Sa Ma-heun thought, closing his eyes. He had only one option left.

They were machines. Captured machines were useless. And useless machines had to be disposed of. It was an absolute command, ingrained in their minds. There was no room for hesitation.

“Heavenly Calamity Blood Oath, Blood God’s Advent!”

He chanted, biting down on a hidden poison capsule. He didn’t hesitate. And as if the deadly poison wasn’t enough, he finished the job himself.

“No!”

Do-seong Ha-hu Sik cried out, sensing his intention. But it was too late. Sa Ma-heun had already plunged his sword into his own heart.

Blood spurted from his back.

“Damn it! Why?! Why do they throw their lives away so easily?! Fools!”

Do-seong Ha-hu Sik was furious. He couldn’t stand it. They were treating life like it was nothing.

He looked around. There were no survivors. They had all chosen death, either by their own hand or by the hands of their comrades. It was a mass suicide.

“Calm down, Do-seong. You know how they’re trained. They’re brainwashed killing machines! Just like all the other servants of darkness. It’s not easy to erase those commands from their minds. We know that better than anyone.”

Mo-yong Jeong-cheon, the Sword Saint, said, his voice calm and soothing.

“I’m sorry. I lost my temper. I still have much to learn. If I had known they were Heavenly Calamity agents, I would have been more careful… I knew what they were capable of, but I failed to stop them…”

Do-seong Ha-hu Sik said, his voice filled with self-reproach.

“That’s what makes you so admirable, Do-seong. I love that about you!”

Yi Ok-sang, the Sword Empress, said, smiling warmly.

“Hehe, is that so? If you say so…”

Do-seong Ha-hu Sik blushed, scratching his head. He was over a hundred years old, but he was still a boy at heart.

He looked at the carnage, his eyes sharp.

“Is the shadow of Heavenly Calamity returning to the martial world…?”

He muttered, his brow furrowed.

“His Lordship’s premonition seems to have been accurate.”

Mo-yong Jeong-cheon said, his eyes deep and thoughtful. He was worried too.

“But the trail has gone cold again.”

Yi Ok-sang said, her voice laced with regret. They had failed to prevent the destruction of evidence.

“We can’t use the Soul Returning Technique on them. We’ll have to give up on questioning the dead.”

Do-seong Ha-hu Sik said, his voice filled with disappointment.

“But there’s still one survivor.”

Yi Ok-sang said. They all looked at An Myeong-hu, who was still sitting on the floor, his face pale and lifeless.

Ironically, it wasn’t the Extinction Squad’s swords that had defeated him, but the revelation of their identities.

“Boss, what should we do? Should we pay our respects?”

Im Deok-seong asked. He might be the Green Forest King, but his fame paled in comparison to the Heavenly Martial three saints. But he didn’t feel any envy or jealousy. On the contrary, he was filled with admiration.

Few martial artists didn’t respect the Heavenly Martial three saints, the saviors of the martial world from the tyranny of Heavenly Calamity. Im Deok-seong, despite his bandit background, was no exception.

“Hmm… I think we should. They’re not easy to meet.”

He said, scratching his head. He was excited.

He didn’t look like the Green Forest King at all. It was a good thing his subordinates weren’t here to witness this.

“Hmm, hmm, we should apologize for calling them ‘senile old fools’… Mmmph!”

Mo-gyeong’s words were cut short as Im Deok-seong clamped his hand over his mouth. He glared at his brother-in-law, his eyes filled with murderous intent.

“If you say that, we’re all dead!”

He hissed, his voice trembling. He was sweating, his face pale with fear.

“Mmmph…”

Mo-gyeong nodded vigorously. He didn’t want to be silenced.

An Myeong-hu collapsed to his knees and bowed deeply.

“An Myeong-hu, Special Inspector of the Shaanxi Branch of the Orthodox Alliance, greets the Heavenly Martial three saints.”

“Oh dear, we’ve been discovered…”

It was inevitable, after all the commotion they had caused. Their plan to travel to Mount Hua discreetly had failed.

“We couldn’t just stand by and watch. Especially since Heavenly Calamity is involved.”

Mo-yong Jeong-cheon said, his voice troubled.

“I’m glad you’re safe.”

Yi Ok-sang said, smiling warmly. Her voice was soothing, her smile comforting.

“I am eternally grateful for your assistance.”

An Myeong-hu said sincerely. He had been pulled back from the brink of death. And his saviors were none other than the three most renowned martial artists in the world.

“We should help each other in times of need.”

“Why were those villains chasing you? Your position suggests there’s more to this story.”

Do-seong Ha-hu Sik said. An Myeong-hu nodded.

“It’s a long story. I’m the only survivor of my team. If it weren’t for you…”

He would be dead, his head severed like Gae-ko’s. The thought sent a chill down his spine.

“What were they chasing you for? They were all skilled martial artists.”

Do-seong Ha-hu Sik said. It was an odd thing to say, considering he had just defeated them all with ease. An Myeong-hu’s eyes hardened.

“It’s serious. Very serious.”

“What is it?”

Do-seong Ha-hu Sik asked.

“You know about the Mount Hua Sword Conference, right?”

“Of course. We’re on our way there now. That’s how we met you.”

“Ah, right. I forgot. The Heavenly Martial three saints always attend the Sword Conference.”

It was a great honor for the participants.

“But what about the Sword Conference?”

Do-seong Ha-hu Sik asked, his impatience showing.

“It’s…”

An Myeong-hu’s eyes rolled back, and he collapsed.

Do-seong Ha-hu Sik caught him before he hit the ground.

“Inspector An! Wake up! Inspector An!”

But he remained unconscious. Slapping his face didn’t work.

“What’s wrong?”

“Look at this!”

Mo-yong Jeong-cheon, the Sword Saint, held up An Myeong-hu’s right hand. The wound where the dagger had grazed him was turning black.

“Poison!”

It was the only explanation.

“It seems to be a slow-acting poison. It gradually spreads through the body.”

“He’s been poisoned…”

Do-seong Ha-hu Sik muttered grimly. He should have been more careful. Those masked men, dressed in black and hiding their faces, were clearly up to no good. It was foolish to expect them to fight fair.

They might be powerful, but they couldn’t change the past.

“They won’t let him go alone… They want him to join them in the afterlife.”

“We were careless! Damn it, I’m ashamed to call myself one of the Heavenly Martial three saints.”

“The poison hasn’t spread completely yet. His pulse is weak, but he’s still alive.”

“It’s a slow-acting poison, so it’s taking its time.”

“We have no choice! We have to save him!”

They placed their palms on his body and channeled their internal energy into him, trying to force the poison out.

He had more to tell them. He couldn’t die before he finished his story.

“The combined power of the Heavenly Martial three saints can even revive the dead. Don’t underestimate us!”

Do-seong Ha-hu Sik said, his voice booming. He was channeling an immense amount of Qi, but his internal energy remained stable. He was a monster.

Their Qi flowed through An Myeong-hu’s meridians, pushing back the poison.

It was like a holy fire, purging his body of impurities.

His eyes fluttered open. But he wasn’t fully conscious yet. His gaze was unfocused.

“D-Danger… D-Danger…”

He muttered, then lost consciousness again.

“Wake up! What is it? What’s dangerous?”

Do-seong Ha-hu Sik shouted, his voice shaking An Myeong-hu’s soul.

“You have more to tell us! Finish your story before you die! You’ll have no regrets then!”

He pleaded. His words reached An Myeong-hu, and his eyes opened again. They channeled more Qi into him.

“C-Conspiracy… M-Mount Hua… D-Danger… Dr-Dr-…”

He couldn’t finish his sentence. He was exhausted. He wouldn’t be waking up anytime soon.

“Rest in peace.”

Do-seong Ha-hu Sik said, closing his eyes.

“He’s not dead yet.”

Yi Ok-sang corrected him.

“We need to move him. I’ve stabilized him for now, but he’s not out of the woods yet. The poison has severely damaged his dantian. He said he took a Qi Explosion Pill…”

“A Qi Explosion Pill…”

Mo-yong Jeong-cheon groaned. They knew the effects and side effects of those pills all too well.

“He used such a dangerous drug to escape…”

“This is more serious than we thought.”

“What should we do?”

“We need to get him to a doctor. He needs to recover his strength. And we need to purge the remaining poison from his body…”

They needed him to wake up so he could tell them what was going on.

“But who’s going to carry him?”

And then, a gruff voice spoke up.

“W-We can do it, if you don’t mind.”

They turned to see the two burly men who had been eating at a nearby table.

“Who are you?”

Do-seong Ha-hu Sik asked, his face puzzled. He recognized them. They were the unsavory-looking men who had been eating earlier.

“Hehehe…”

Im Deok-seong and Mo-gyeong grinned sheepishly, scratching their heads.

“We’re strong. And obedient. Please, let us carry him.”

Im Deok-seong said, gesturing towards Mo-gyeong as if he were presenting a gift.

“Huh? M-Me?”

Mo-gyeong asked, his eyes wide.

“You want me to do it at my age?”

Im Deok-seong glared at him. Mo-gyeong sighed.

“I’ll do it.”

He said, bowing his head.

Being a subordinate was tough.

Mo-yong Jeong-cheon, the Sword Saint, looked towards Mount Hua. He couldn’t see it, but his mind was already there.

“What’s happening on Mount Hua…?”

He couldn’t shake off his sense of foreboding.

“I hope everything is alright…”

He had a bad feeling about this Sword Conference. But all he could do was hope for the best.

### The Metal Gate

#### – Fall

The man was a beggar.

He was dressed in rags, but he was a former disciple of Woo Gyeom, the Dragon Head Elder of the Beggars’ Sect, one of the Nine Great Sects. And he had a very bad-tempered senior brother.

The beggar, No-hak, was crawling across a rough, rocky surface. It was a barren wasteland, devoid of soil, littered with boulders and crevices.

He crawled with great care, his face etched with concentration, sweat beading on his forehead.

It seemed excessive, to be so cautious about crawling across the ground. But he was taking no chances.

Crack!

“Huh?”

His eyes widened in alarm.

The rock he had been gripping had crumbled to dust in his hand. It was impossible. He had seen the man in front of him grip the same rock.

But he didn’t have time to ask for an explanation.

Crack!

The rock beneath his left foot gave way.

“Whoa!”

‘What the…?!’

He didn’t understand what was happening. It was too surreal.

“Hey! Help!”

The ground was receding beneath him. Or rather, he was rising above the ground. He felt himself being lifted into the air, as if gravity had lost its hold on him. He had never learned any levitation techniques. This was clearly not a voluntary experience.

He looked up. The sky was a brilliant blue. He looked down. The ground was a dizzying distance below.

He remembered where he was.

‘Ah, right!’

He wasn’t crawling. He was climbing. And what he had thought was the ground was actually a wall. A sheer cliff face, too high for even a bird to fly over.

He had fallen off the cliff.

And he was about to experience something he had never experienced before, and would likely never experience again. Something that would probably shorten his lifespan by fifty years.

But he didn’t give up hope. There was always a way out. They had all been given safety ropes for this very reason.

He saw the rope, the rope that connected the nine of them. The Metal Gate involved climbing this cliff together, as a team of nine.

“Remember, you must never cut this rope. It’s not just for your safety. If this lifeline is severed, for any reason, your group will be disqualified. So please be careful!”

‘Yes, the rope…’

But the rope was cut.

‘Damn it!’

It had happened so fast, but it felt like time had slowed down.

He looked up at the man above him.

‘That bastard…’

He was the fourth or fifth climber. The one with the chain scythe.

He had an unpleasant face. And he was holding a dagger, its blade glinting in the sunlight.

‘The Heavenly Demon Seven…!’

He wanted to curse him, but he didn’t have time. He didn’t even have time to figure out which one of the Seven he was.

But it didn’t matter.

‘Damn it, I knew I didn’t like his face!’

And then he saw it.

The man’s eyes, cold as a winter blizzard, staring down at him with indifference.

Time sped up again.

Gravity, the reaper’s grip, pulled him down.

“Aaaargh!”

He screamed as he fell.

And then, mercifully, he lost consciousness.

“Huh? What’s that?”

Bi Ryu-yeon saw it immediately. Something was falling from the cliff above, its lack of wings evident in its descent. He recognized it. He had used it many times before. It was often rebellious, but it had its uses. He had entrusted it with a task.

‘No-hak!’

He didn’t have time to wonder why it was falling.

He acted quickly. He didn’t hesitate. He wasn’t the type to waver in the face of a decision.

The safety rope. According to the rules, if the rope was cut, the group would be disqualified. He might seem indifferent to such things, but he knew the rules. Disqualification meant the lowest possible score. He knew that too. But he cut the rope without hesitation.

“Ryu-yeon!”

Na Yerin cried out in alarm. But it was too late. And then she witnessed something even more astonishing.

Bi Lei Men, Secret Movement Technique:

Phoenix Dance, Secret Technique:

Earth-Skimming Flight!

Bi Ryu-yeon ran down the cliff face, as if it were flat ground, his movements swift and sure. He was like an arrow in flight. It was a breathtaking display of wall-running.

The cliff face was irrelevant. His eyes, sharp as a hawk’s, were fixed on No-hak’s falling body.

Nine zhang… eight zhang… seven zhang… six zhang… five zhang… four zhang… three zhang…

Three zhang… three zhang… three zhang…

He couldn’t close the distance. Gravity was too strong. He wasn’t running at full speed, because it was too dangerous. This wasn’t flat ground it was a sheer cliff face. But if he didn’t do something, No-hak would be crushed. He hadn’t gone through all this trouble just to watch his disciple die.

“Ryu-yeon!”

He heard Na Yerin calling his name from above. It sounded familiar, like a distant memory. He was surprised by his own calmness in this desperate situation.

But her voice sounded so far away.