Chapter v8c8

Visitor of Cheonmu academy

“Ugh… so boring.. Won’t something happen?”

The sky was high and blue, and the words were too dull to even reduce the fat by fasting

An autumn afternoon of worry! Boring gatekeeping at the main gate!

Their limbs were so sluggish it felt like they could stretch.

Seon Jeong seong and Lee Moon seon, second year disciples from the Kunlun Sect, were bored to death.

“My whole body feels languid. The sunlight is also gentle… Yawning…………”

A long yawn escaped from Seon Jeong seong’s mouth. It was not easy to maintain dignity.

“Hey, Moon seon!”

“what is it? Jeong seong?”

Today, there were hardly any visitors.

“Before this boredom suffocates me, could you rescue me?.”

“Hey Jeong seong. stop it!”

It was a comforting word for SunJeong seong’s heart.

“Are you alright?”

Lee Moon seon’s head turned towards Seon Jeong seong. The sunlight made him squint.

“How could that be? I feel like my mouth will tear from all this yawning. Yawning….”

Lee Moon seon’s mouth opened wide enough to show her red uvula. It was a miracle that the sides of her lips didn’t tear. Time seemed to flow three times slower. Indeed, nothing made one feel the tedium of time like a leisurely main gate duty.

“I wonder if something will happen on such a day…………”

Seon Jeong seong lamented.

“Wouldn’t that be bothersome?”

Moon seon asked. Although she acted as if she was thinking ahead, yawns were still bursting from her mouth.

“Better to be bothered than this boredom!”

“ye maybe….”

“thats right………….”

Both looked up at the sky simultaneously. Clouds were lazily floating across the blue sea. Lethargy was choking their breath.

“Sigh… I wonder if something will happen…”

Again, sighs burst from both of their mouths.

It is said that if a wish is strong, it will surely come true.

Heaven helps those who help themselves.

The grand martial academy wrapped around the sparkling blue Payang Lake, shining like a well polished mirror under the autumn sun! A person walked towards the towering main gate of that place.

“It’s been a long time!”

Cheonmu Martial Arts Academy

Looking at the plaque with the characters for ‘dragon and snake soaring’ written in a vigorous brush stroke, the middle aged man muttered with mixed feelings. After glancing at the plaque, the middle aged man moved on.

“Who is it?”

“Who are you?”

The reason why Seon Jeong seong and Lee Moon seon, who were guarding the main gate of Cheonmu Martial Arts School, burst out with a voice devoid of any politeness was that the middle aged man ignored the guards question,

‘What brings you to our school?’

and strode through the main gate. The main gate was wide open during the day, welcoming everyone, so if no one stopped the middle aged man’s steps, he would safely pass through the main gate into the Cheonmu Martial Arts School.

If the purpose and identity are clear, Cheonmu Martial Arts School does not discriminate against people, but it was not a place so lenient as to let a rude person who tries to enter without revealing their identity and purpose.

The two warriors on duty pointed their spears at the intruder to stop his movement.

Cheonmu Martial Arts School rotates its main gate guards among the disciples. Therefore, a mistake in Guard duty could negatively affect their grades. It was a situation they could not afford. Seon Jeong seong and Lee Moon seon eagerly welcomed the visitor who would break the afternoon’s lethargy. They were inwardly planning to treat him kindly and gently.

Swoosh!

“Uh… what?”

Seon Jeong seong and Lee Moon seon, second year disciples from the Kunlun faction, widened their eyes.

The strange person approaching suddenly disappeared into a blur. It was no wonder they were shocked.

“A lot has changed here!”

The relaxed voice of the middle aged man came from behind them. The middle aged swordsman, exuding an extraordinary aura, was leisurely surveying the interior of the school from behind them. Perhaps he had some special memories?

Seon Jeong seong and Lee Moon seon strongly felt the premonition of a major incident.

Clang! Clang!

Suddenly, the main gate of Cheonmu Martial Arts School became noisy. It was because they threw away their spears and drew their swords. They could not send a proper welcome to the uninvited guest who had ignored the Guards and entered the main gate.

The reason they discarded their spears and drew their swords was that the sword was their primary weapon. The spear was merely for show and lacked power compared to the sword.

The surprise of the two Guards on duty at the main gate had not yet subsided. It was unbelievable that someone could escape their guard with movements they could not follow, even during the day when the main gate was open. Since they were all talented students of Cheonmu Martial Arts School, their astonishment was even greater.

Seon Jeong seong swung his sword with the intention of subduing the intruder. This angered the middle aged man.

“Impudent brat!”

With a single swing of his hand, the middle aged man sent a tingling shock through Seon Jeong seong’s arm. The shock was so great that Seon Jeong seong almost dropped his sword. The light move contained an immeasurable and extraordinary energy. If he were an enemy, they would likely face a life or death situation today. As they wished, a tremendous incident unfolded before them. However, the scale of the incident was too great for them to handle.

“You bastard!”

Seon Jeong seong, who tried to subdue the intruder, was instead subdued, and an outraged Lee Moon seon immediately took out her drawn sword and rushed forward.

“Stop!”

However, Lee Moon seon could not carry out her plan because of the hand that grabbed her shoulder.

“Master Gong Yun seok!”

The one who grabbed Lee Moon seon’s shoulder and saved her was none other than Master Gong Yun seok of Jeomchang Sect, in charge of the main gate security.

“Step back! you are not his match.”

“Yes!”

Lee Moon seon quietly stepped back at Master Gong Yun seok’s command. Master Gong Yun seok instinctively felt that this guest was not someone who could be turned away with ordinary hospitality.

The middle aged man said.

“The kids are much more impatient these days! Is it no problem these days to throw patience on the ground… Is that how you teach?”

Only then did Seon Jeong seong, Lee Moon seon, and, Master Gong, have the opportunity to closely observe the uninvited guest’s appearance. It did not take long to recognize his identity.

Because there was a characteristic on his face that could be identified at a glance. Two diagonal scars on the face! There were not many people with such scars and skills.

“Are… you? Could it be!”

Gong Yun seok burst out in anger. A figure flashed through his mind.

A cross scar cutting across the face! A silver dragon pattern embossed on a black sheath as dark as the night sky! There was only one person with such physical characteristics who could emit such sword energy.

One of the ten great masters of Dark Heaven Faction! One of the ten pillars, the genius of the sword, the demon of the sword,

Sword Demon,Geomma Choyeol!

‘Damn it!’

The guard in charge of the main gate, Gong Yun seok, frowned deeply. It seemed he had caught the wrong person. His luck was not good.

“What brings you to our headquarters? Please state your purpose according to the regulations.”

Gong Yun seok’s voice became infinitely polite in an instant. A person of Geomma Choyeol’s caliber wouldn’t act rashly without reason. There must be a reason.

Sneer!

A sneer flowed from Choeol’s face.

“Is this place accustomed to swinging swords at guests without question?”

“There are rules in this headquarters. Visitors must first write their identity and purpose in the guestbook before entering the main gate, regardless of their status.”

Gong Yun seok stood his ground. He was not intimidated by the visitor’s status and did not forget his duty.

“Heh! Of course, I have a purpose, indeed!”

The Sword Demon spoke in a chilly voice.

“Is that so?”

Anxiety lingered in Gong Yun seok’s question. He didn’t know what the purpose was, but the energy emitted was too chilling.

“Of course! Otherwise, I would have come here with a blood stained sword, not with this piece of letter. I have a message to deliver today!”

It was a voice that conveyed a chilling aura, delivering a sense of brutality to the listener.

“What message? To whom?”

“To the head of the martial arts school!”

Gong Yun seok’s eyes widened.

“The messenger is…?”

“The leader of the Dark Heaven Faction!”

Gong Yun seok’s eyes nearly split open.

Politics is a headache.

Because there are too many situations to consider.

Politics is complicated.

Because nothing goes as one wishes.

‘Ugh… What am I to do with this situation…’

Ma Jin ga had a headache. His head throbbed like a student facing a difficult exam question. His iron fist trembled as he held the letter.

‘Is this a threat?’

Under the platform, Geomma Choyeol maintained a cold demeanor, setting the atmosphere. Of course, a man like Iron Fist Ma Jin ga couldn’t be suppressed by Geomma Choyeol’s energy. No matter how excellent and renowned Geomma Choyeol was, he paled in comparison to the title of the head of Cheonmu Martial Arts School.

The problem wasn’t Geomma Choyeol’s deeply furrowed expression. Ma Jin ga read the will of the Dark Heaven Faction behind the action of sending a big shot like Geomma Choyeol as a messenger for the letter. The higher the status of the letter’s messenger, the greater the value and weight of the letter. Sending Geomma Choyeol, one of the Dark Heaven Ten pillarsi, as the messenger meant that the Dark Heaven Faction considered this letter of great importance and was exerting silent pressure to consider it carefully.

“Hmm…”

Ma Jin ga felt his hand was somehow heavy. His face showed disapproval. What he held was merely a piece of paper, but the content within was enough to weigh down both his hand and his heart.

“Huff! Even after all that, you still have no intention of ending it?”

It seemed that the death of his most anticipated and boasted eldest son had given an immeasurable shock to the leader of the Dark Heaven Faction, Gal Jeung Cheon. There was still no sign of covering up the incident.

“It sounds like you’re telling us to be grateful! Isn’t that right?”

Ma Jin ga glared sharply at the messenger. Even under his gaze, which had reached the level of harmony in martial arts, the messenger of the Dark Heaven Faction maintained a cold face without changing his expression. So Ma Jin ga decided to play a little trick. Yet still, the Sword Demon did not twitch an eyebrow.

A glint appeared in Iron Fist Ma Jin ga’s eyes.

‘To let my formless qi flow without any resistance.

He subtly released the formless energy that was emanating in the dark, but the person standing before him remained confident. He wanted to apply formless pressure to at least show his discomfort, but there was no reaction.

‘Indeed, a big shot is a big shot…’

After all, a man of that caliber can remain so calm in front of me! Is it confidence built up over time?

Even Ma Jin ga acknowledged that a man of that caliber was certainly qualified.

“Geomma Choyeol of Dark Heaven Ten pillars!”

True to being one of the ten great masters of the Dark Heaven Faction, the energy emanating from his entire body was extraordinary. A master recognizes a master. In this regard, even if Ma Jin ga found his attitude rude, he couldn’t help but admire him as a martial artist. Indeed, His victory at the Hwasan branch 40 years ago was not undeserved.

‘The Black Heaven Sect truly has many talents!’

Such matters, no matter how admirable, cannot be shown outwardly. Ma Jin ga feigned complete indifference out of a sense of duty. Geomma Choyeol was not here as an individual but represented the entire Dark Heaven Faction.

“Are you saying that even after invoking the law of ‘resolving the cause’ the blood law, you still can’t tie up the loose ends? Was the Iron Calvary of Death! insufficient?”

Ma Jin ga looked up from the letter to gaze at Choeol. Dressed entirely in black as if to show defiance or mourning for the dead (in contrast to the white worn by the righteous path, the dark path wears black), Choeol looked as if he had just returned from a funeral.

The Sword Demon said,

“Our faction leader still harbors doubts about the Iron Calvary of Death! incident. No matter how much we ponder, the suspicions do not clear.”

“I truly cannot understand! What are you trying to say?”

Whether it was a sudden surge of anger or a suspicion, Ma Jin ga’s body leaned forward slightly. It was the first time he had heard such a story from Choeol.

Initially, Choeol hesitated to answer Ma Jin ga’s question. The Iron Calvary of Death! incident was not a topic he wished to discuss, but he could not ignore the question posed to him.

“The returned members of the Iron Calvary of Death! seem to have taken a vow of silence, not expressing a word.”

“Why didn’t you seek out a locksmith or a hardware store?”

At Ma Jin ga’s sarcastic suggestion, Choeol gave a cold laugh. Such cynicism was unbecoming of a messenger, but he did not care. He had the audacity and the right. A false smile, as if to extract one’s liver, was utterly contrary to his nature.

“It seems our locksmiths lack the skill to unlock it!”

“What a pity! I express my condolences.”

In truth, even the Cheonmu Martial Arts School had not yet fully understood what had transpired that day. The Vermilion Bird Corps, Yeom do, and others were all tight lipped as if they had conspired together. How could one extract the truth of the incident when everyone is silent? The curiosity only intensified.

Choeol responded coldly to Ma Jin ga’s condolences.

“Don’t mention it! Our faction leader has high expectations for your renowned locksmith. Since it seems that the lock was placed by your side, it would be only right for the one who locked it to unlock it, wouldn’t it? As a gathering place for the geniuses of the righteous path, I trust you will not disappoint.”

The implication was clear: the cause lay with the righteous path, and they should quickly confess and enlighten them. The expressions of Ma Jin ga and the onlookers subtly changed.

“Haha! Don’t flatter us too much , it’s embarrassing! I doubt we have such a skilled locksmith. Even I am not aware of one! If I knew, I would have installed one at the main gate of our Cheonmu Martial Arts School. But insisting something exists when it doesn’t is not praise but a tantrum like a child’s stubbornness, isn’t it?”

It was a message to stop being childish, to stop the nonsense and go back. It also contained a plea to stop being a nuisance and to calm down. Indeed, Ma Jin ga was as shrewd as old ginger. He was not just a brute force practitioner of a martial arts faction.

“Well… we’ll see about that…”

The Sword Demon thought to himself.

Even setting aside the suspicions surrounding Gal Hyobong’s death, the defeat of the Iron Calvary of Death! was something Choeol himself did not understand. In fact, it would not be an exaggeration to say that no one knew the full story.

It remained an unsolved mystery within the Dark Heaven Faction.

‘What exactly happened that day?’

That day, the Iron Calvary of Death!, charged with a grave mission and burning with a fierce will to trample the entire righteous path, left the Dark Heaven Faction. When they returned, the people of the Dark Heaven Faction had no choice but to rub their eyes with their sleeves. The squad’s once ferocious and explosive momentum had vanished as if sold off, their shoulders drooping powerlessly. And their numbers had significantly diminished.