Chapter v16c22

*The Fate of Victory*

Three days had passed since the Earth Trial ended.

As always, the morning was bright, and Bi, as always, opened his eyes.

But today, the rising sun felt different to Young Master Bi.

And tomorrow, it would feel even more different. Because today was the day a new history would begin. The sun that rose for the end of an old era couldn’t be the same as the sun that rose for the beginning of a new one.

Young Master Bi stirred the water in the copper basin, distorting his reflection.

He didn’t like looking in mirrors. Mirrors only reflected the present. Unless one possessed special powers, it was impossible to see the future through them. And the present always made him reflect on the past.

The present and the past… He didn’t want to compare them. Sometimes, recognizing the stark difference between them wasn’t pleasant. That was why he disliked mirrors, even if they were just temporary reflections created by water.

He washed his hands. Chu Myeong stood three steps away, a towel draped over his arm, bowing respectfully.

“Are the preparations complete?”

“Everything is ready, my lord. The dragon will soar today.”

Chu Myeong replied, his voice filled with emotion.

“Good! And them?”

Chu Myeong knew who he was referring to. The unpredictable variable, the potential threat. But that variable had been silenced.

“…There’s no news yet. No unusual activity.”

“I see… Then there will be no obstacles. And the Three Saints?”

“No unusual activity from them either.”

“Then no one can stop us. The historians of the Jianghu will remember this day. The day the history of the Jianghu is rewritten! Destruction for rebirth! Today marks the end of the old era and the beginning of the New Era of Martial Arts!”

Even his usually cold and emotionless voice was filled with fervor. The mission of ushering in a new era ignited a passion within him.

“Chu Myeong, the plum blossoms that bloom today will be even more beautiful, won’t they?”

“Of course, my lord.”

The Five Elements Trial of the Mount Hua Sword Conference had officially ended. The participants were gathered at the grand training ground. Elder Hyuk, the leader of the Heavenly Law, was about to announce the winner.

It was a foregone conclusion that Group 1 would win. All the other groups had been attacked by the silver-masked figures during the Earth Trial and had their tokens stolen. Only Group 1 had managed to keep all their tokens. They had also been attacked by a silver-masked woman wielding a branch, but they hadn’t lost their tokens. Ironically, it was all thanks to Bi Ryu-yeon, the man they had ostracized.

“I don’t see Bi Ryu-yeon or Na Yerin. And Hyo-ryong and Jang Hong are missing too… Did something happen, Elder Yeomdo?”

Eun Seol-ran asked, her voice filled with concern.

Yeomdo, bored by the formal ceremony, was standing with Eun Seol-ran, away from the platform. She had accompanied him because she was curious about the results. But she was puzzled by the absence of familiar faces.

“Well… I heard they were involved in some kind of incident during the trial…”

“An incident?”

“Hmm, all I know is that someone was murdered.”

Eun Seol-ran’s face paled. Yeomdo, noticing her distress, quickly said, “Don’t worry. No one was injured. It seems like the victim wasn’t a participant.”

“But why…?”

“Don’t ask any more questions!”

Yeomdo didn’t want to worry her, so he refused to elaborate.

“Now, let’s announce the winning group of the Mount Hua Sword Conference. The winning group of the Five Elements Trial, commemorating the centennial anniversary of the Mount Hua Sword Conference…”

The Law Enforcer in charge of the ceremony paused for dramatic effect, then shouted, “Group 1! The winning group is Group 1! The representative of Group 1, please come to the platform!”

Cheers erupted from Group 1. Young Master Bi stepped forward and walked towards the platform, his gait confident, his aura commanding. But then, something happened. The crowd’s attention shifted upwards. Someone was standing on the roof of the Heavenly Martial Hall, the building behind the platform.

“Wait!”

The figure shouted, his voice amplified by his profound internal energy, echoing through the training ground.

“I object!”

“Wh-What’s he doing up there?”

Ma Ha-ryeong, standing in the front row, gasped. She recognized the figure on the roof. It was Bi Ryu-yeon, the man who had disappeared after being accused of murder during the Earth Trial.

*What’s he holding?* She wondered.

Before she could finish her thought, Bi Ryu-yeon threw something towards the platform, landing it right in front of Young Master Bi.

The object was large and heavy, but it moved slowly, as if supported by an invisible hand. But as it reached Young Master Bi, the invisible hand seemed to disappear, and the object fell, crashing onto the platform, shattering it, and rolling several times before coming to a stop at Young Master Bi’s feet.

It was a man, his limbs bound, his body massive, at least twice the size of an ordinary man. His face was bruised and swollen, his mouth foaming.

Young Master Bi’s eyebrows shot up, his eyes widening in shock. He recognized the man, and his hidden identity.

“You recognize that big guy, don’t you?”

Bi Ryu-yeon shouted from the roof. The crowd stared at the man, unfamiliar to them. They had never seen a Law Enforcer that large.

“Chief Chef Woo!”

The Law Enforcer in charge of the ceremony recognized him. There were thirty-six chefs at the Red Plum Valley. And at the top of the hierarchy was the Chief Chef, Woo Dun-woo, the Butcher.

“Well? Do you have an explanation?”

Bi Ryu-yeon asked, smirking.

“Shouldn’t you be the one explaining yourself?”

“Why me?”

“You haven’t cleared your name yet, have you? Aren’t you the one who murdered An Myeong-hu? Who would listen to a criminal?”

Bi Ryu-yeon chuckled.

“Oh, that! Don’t worry. I have reliable witnesses! They’ll vouch for me.”

“Witnesses?”

“That would be us!”

The crowd gasped, their hearts pounding.

The three who stood up were none other than the Heavenly Martial Three Saints.

“This is… unexpected…”

Even Young Master Bi was stunned. He hadn’t sensed their presence. It wasn’t his subordinates’ fault. Bi Ryu-yeon and his group had probably entrusted everything to the Three Saints and then pretended to be innocent. They had lulled him, their invisible enemy, into a false sense of security.

“Well? Are you ready to confess now?”

Bi Ryu-yeon asked, smiling.

*The Identity of the Silver-Masked Figures*

Bi Ryu-yeon and his group had followed the thread, easily tracking the silver-masked figures. And when they finally found their hideout, they were surprised.

The three figures were roasting a whole wild boar over a fire. A woman, dressed in red, was urging them to hurry, while a short, stocky old man was diligently turning the boar. The aroma of roasted meat filled the air. They realized they had skipped two meals while tracking the figures.

“Hmm? We have guests.”

The old man said, without turning around. Bi Ryu-yeon’s group was still hidden in the bushes.

“What brings you here? Come out.”

A tall old man, wearing a silver mask, said in a gentle voice. Mo Yong Hwi wondered if it was the same terrifying voice he had heard that night. It had sounded like the voice of fear itself, but now, in the daylight, it sounded almost friendly.

“Don’t just squat there. Come out.”

The tall, white-haired old man said. Bi Ryu-yeon’s group emerged from the bushes, their guard still up.

“You found us.”

“We have our ways.”

Bi Ryu-yeon said, uncharacteristically humble.

“It’s commendable that you made it this far, but are you prepared for the consequences?”

“We’re prepared to share that roast boar with you!”

The three figures laughed heartily, amused by his unexpected answer.

“Hahaha, you’re an interesting one. We like you. So what’s your business?”

“We have a question.”

“A question?”

“About a man’s death.”

“Death?”

The three silver-masked figures flinched. Bi Ryu-yeon watched them intently, not missing a single detail.

*That reaction…*

“His name?”

“An Myeong-hu, I believe.”

Bi Ryu-yeon finally said.

“What? An Myeong-hu is dead?!”

The short old man roared, his voice echoing through the mountains, as he charged towards Bi Ryu-yeon. It was so fast that it looked like teleportation. Smoke rose from the ground where his feet had landed. It was dust.

He was about to grab Bi Ryu-yeon by the collar, to choke him until he confessed. But his hand stopped an inch away from Bi Ryu-yeon’s clothes, unable to close the distance. His eyes widened in surprise. He had realized that Bi Ryu-yeon had subtly dodged his grappling technique.

“I doubted my eyes when I saw you before, but you’re no ordinary man!”

“It wouldn’t be fun if I were just like everyone else, would it?”

Bi Ryu-yeon replied, smirking, his composure unwavering even in this life-or-death situation.

“You have a sharp tongue! And guts, kid!”

The woman exclaimed, but her face quickly darkened.

“Kid, say that again! Did you just say that An Myeong-hu, the Nine-Foot Iron Heart, is dead?”

“I’m not sure if his nickname was Eight-Foot or Nine-Foot, but his name was definitely An Myeong-hu. And he was murdered.”

Bi Ryu-yeon relaxed slightly, sensing the killing intent dissipating.

“Th-This is…”

The tall old man’s lips tightened, a groan escaping his throat. All three of them, despite possessing enough power to shake the world, were shocked by this news.

What was going on?

He was curious.

“To think this would happen while we were distracted…”

“We were too caught up in our pleasures. We forgot about our duties while playing with the children…”

“It’s all our fault.”

They each muttered a word of regret.

“Wait a minute, you didn’t know?”

Jang Hong stepped forward and asked.

“We didn’t know. If we had, we would have moved heaven and earth to stop it.”

A somber mood settled over them. Bi Ryu-yeon was speechless.

“It seems like something went wrong.”

“What do we do now?”

“Let’s think.”

The three figures whispered among themselves.

“Who are you people?”

Bi Ryu-yeon asked, puzzled. They were a strange group. They didn’t seem like the same people who had introduced themselves as Fear, Despair, and Sorrow.

“Us?”

The short, plump figure said. Bi Ryu-yeon nodded.

“Well, we’re…”

“This.”

Their voices changed, and the atmosphere shifted.

They removed their masks.

“No way… It’s them…”

Young Master Bi’s voice trembled. His gaze was fixed on the three figures. They were the most famous trio in the Jianghu. They nodded.

“Do you recognize us now?”

Do-seong asked. The three figures each pulled something out of their robes and put it on.

“Gasp!”

Gasps of shock filled the air. They had put on silver masks.

“Wh-Why are you doing this…?”

Young Master Bi asked, struggling to compose himself.

“I’ll answer that!”

Elder Hyuk stepped forward.

*”You have a request for us at this Mount Hua Sword Conference?”*

The Sword Saint had asked the old man, his tone respectful. Elder Hyuk deserved his respect. He was worthy of the Heavenly Martial Three Saints’ courtesy.

*”Yes. What do you think of those children gathered outside?”*

*”They’re quite talented. They must have worked hard to reach their current level at such a young age. They have both talent and potential.”*

*”How do they compare to him?”*

The old man’s finger pointed at Do-seong.

*”There’s no comparison.”*

The Sword Saint answered honestly. Comparisons were only meaningful between things that were somewhat similar. It was pointless to compare the height of the sky to the height of a tree.

*”Those children were chosen after passing numerous tests. They’re prodigies. They’re the most promising talents in the Jianghu, the strongest of their generation. But their experiences are still limited. They’re like flowers in a greenhouse. They don’t know what it’s like out there. It could be their fortune, or their misfortune.”*

*”What do you mean…?”*

The Sword Saint’s voice lowered. Elder Hyuk nodded. They had to teach the frogs in the well about the vastness of the sky.

*”I want you to teach them about fear. True, overwhelming fear.”*

Ironically, it was thanks to Wi Cheon-mu, the Heavenly Calamity Blood Demon, that the current Jianghu was so united. Without him, the Jianghu wouldn’t have been divided into two major factions. And institutions like the Heavenly Martial Academy and the Heavenly Demon Pavilion wouldn’t have been established, nor would they have focused so much on developing their martial arts.

The fear of the Heavenly Calamity Sect’s revival had forced them to seek strength. The leaders of the various sects, realizing that their current martial arts were insufficient, had gathered together, exchanging techniques and ideas, refining their strengths and weaknesses. The martial arts of the Jianghu had reached new heights. Without Wi Cheon-mu, this wouldn’t have happened. They would still be fighting amongst themselves, or perhaps they would have been destroyed.

The Orthodox and Black Paths had made a superficial peace, and exchanges between them had become more frequent, but their fundamental conflict of interest remained. The pursuit of power and profit always led to trouble. But they had managed to keep it under control, resolving their disputes in the shadows.

The Mount Hua Sword Conference was a platform for the exchange of martial arts between the Orthodox and Black Paths, a training ground for the future guardians of the Jianghu. It was a place to forge the strongest shields and the sharpest swords, to prepare for the threats to come. And there was another goal: to find the Key Guardian.

*”Why did the Jianghu unite a hundred years ago, forgetting their differences?”*

Elder Hyuk asked.

*”It was the fear of ‘him.’ We can’t deny that.”*

*”It wasn’t just fear. We experienced fear, despair, and sorrow. They need to unite. After a hundred years of superficial peace, the Jianghu is fragmented again. They’re all pursuing their own interests and pride. They need to unite.”*

*”Why not teach them yourself?”*

The Sword Empress asked.

*”You know as well as I do that some things can be taught, and some things can’t. Knowledge passed down from others isn’t true knowledge. It’s not true understanding. True understanding comes from within, from personal experience and realization. They need to feel it in their hearts.”*

He was right. They had to experience it for themselves.

*”What if they don’t unite?”*

*”Their strength will crumble like a sandcastle. If they don’t learn their lesson, they’ll die. They’ll learn the hard way that wisdom is essential for survival. Will you do it?”*

*”It sounds interesting.”*

Do-seong replied.

*”Intriguing.”*

The Sword Empress said.

*”Of course, Elder Brother.”*

The Sword Saint agreed.

*”We didn’t expect to go to such lengths for such a simple reason. But it was quite exciting!”*

Bi Ryu-yeon seemed to have enjoyed himself.

*”Hmph, do you think you can unite those grains of sand with such methods? It’s just a temporary compromise. They’ll soon fall apart again.”*

*”Forced unity is also temporary. It’s better to encourage voluntary participation. It’s more sustainable.”*

*”How did you know his identity?”*

Bi pointed at Woo Dun-woo, who was still unconscious.

*”It was a coincidence.”*

Bi Ryu-yeon said, raising his index finger.

*”Anyway, the trail has gone cold! What do we do now?”*

Do-seong said, his voice heavy with disappointment. An Myeong-hu had witnessed something important, and he had tried to tell them. The size of the group that had pursued him was proof of that. But they had all committed suicide, and An Myeong-hu was the only one left. And now he was dead too. It was frustrating.

*”It’s too early to give up.”*

Bi Ryu-yeon’s words made their heads turn so fast that their necks cracked.

Crack!

They ignored the sound.

*”Do you have something?”*

Their eyes gleamed with hope.

*”I heard something. It’s just a fragment of information, but it’s better than nothing.”*

*”What is it? Don’t keep us in suspense.”*

Jang Hong urged him, impatient.

*”He was in a coma. How did you find out anything? Do you have mind-reading abilities?”*

*”Mind-reading? I wish. I just overheard something.”*

*”What?”*

*”Sleep-talking!”*

*”Sleep-talking? You mean the things people mumble in their sleep?”*

They stared at him, incredulous.

*”Yes, sleep-talking. He was having a terrible nightmare. He was calling out names, his subordinates, it seems. They all died during a mission. It’s not unusual for people like him… But it seemed to have affected him deeply.”*

*”And?”*

Bi Ryu-yeon paused, as if remembering something, then continued, *”He said something I couldn’t ignore.”*

*”What was it?”*

Gulp!

They swallowed, hanging onto his every word.

*”Mount Hua is… in… danger… That’s what he said.”*

*”This place is in danger?”*

*”Didn’t he say anything more specific? We can’t do anything with such vague information. Well, someone was already murdered, so it’s definitely dangerous…”*

Jang Hong said.

*”He also said something else… Let me see…”*

*”Hmm?”*

*”Dragon Scales… Flame Rain… That’s what he said. I don’t know what it means, but he was sweating profusely when he said it. And his expression was as serious as when he was calling out his dead subordinates.”*

*’Dragon Scales… Flame Rain… I’ve heard those words before… Where have I heard them?’*

Jang Hong cursed his unreliable memory.

*”Dragon Scales! Flame Rain!”*

Do-seong suddenly shouted, his voice filled with alarm. The Sword Saint, startled by his reaction, quickly asked, *”What is it? Do you know something?”*

Do-seong looked at them, his expression grim. *”You know I like to wander around, right? I hear a lot of things. And sometimes, I come across information that’s not readily available to the public.”*

*”Get to the point. We don’t have all day.”*

*”Flame Rain is a special type of highly flammable oil. I heard it’s very volatile and requires careful handling. And Dragon Scales is its counterpart, a legendary artifact from the Thunderclap Palace.”*

*”The legendary Thunderclap Palace…”*

The Sword Saint had heard of it.

*”Yes. It’s legendary because it no longer exists. It was destroyed about a hundred and twenty years ago. They say it was because their knowledge of gunpowder was too dangerous. Some of their techniques were supposedly passed down to the military. No one knows for sure. The Hellfire Bomb, one of the Seven Forbidden Weapons, is said to be based on their designs. But how did an artifact from a sect that was destroyed a hundred and twenty years ago end up here?”*

Meanwhile, Bi Ryu-yeon’s mind had wandered off on a tangent, uninterested in the story of a destroyed sect.

*Oil? Cooking? Delicious food? Big guy? Masked man? Beggar? No-hak?*

He pieced together the fragments of information he had gathered, and a realization dawned on him.

It was about No-hak. If he could identify two of the four people No-hak had seen – it was obvious they were involved in this – he might be able to solve the puzzle. And he suddenly remembered where one of them might be.

He remembered No-hak’s testimony.

*’That big, bear-like masked man… It’s hard to explain, but… he looked delicious.’*

They had said that Flame Rain was oil. And they would need a lot of it if they were planning something big. Where would be the safest and most inconspicuous place to hide such a dangerous substance? Why had No-hak felt a sudden craving for food when he saw the man? He wasn’t a cannibal.

*Delicious food… Cooking… What’s essential for cooking? A place where you can have a lot of oil without raising suspicion, a place where a lot of goods are constantly coming and going, a place where oil is used in large quantities, a place where you have to cook for hundreds of people…?*

“The kitchen!”

Bi Ryu-yeon suddenly shouted, startling everyone.

“What?”

“The kitchen! Where else would they use so much oil without raising suspicion? Where else would they have enough storage space for such a large quantity?”

He had been a chef for so long that he had developed a sixth sense for such things. It would be easy to hide those materials in the kitchen, and it would be the perfect place to launch an attack.

It made sense. Do-seong shouted, “Let’s go!”

Things moved quickly. Bi Ryu-yeon persuaded No-hak to cooperate with a mixture of threats and promises, and they headed to the kitchen. No-hak immediately recognized the big guy. He had been hiding in the kitchen, away from prying eyes. His size wasn’t something you could hide with a black cloth. They apprehended him without much difficulty and extracted the information they needed with a combination of political maneuvering and a bit of brute force. They also found the oil, disguised as cooking oil, in the storage room. It had been delivered by the Central Plains Escort Agency. But they didn’t have time to worry about that now.