episode_0022

“I can’t really tell for sure either way.”

“I understand Jang Moon-in’s feelings. But haven’t there been any traces of the Demonic Cult? Jang Moon-in must know very well that he must be very alert at times like this.”

A little to the northwest of Seongdo is Cheongseongsan Mountain.

It is said that Zhang Tianshi, one of the Taoist deities during the Han Dynasty, practiced Taoism here, and it is natural that the Qingcheng School is located on Qingcheng Mountain, which has been regarded as a sacred mountain since ancient times.

As a member of the Baekdo Jeongpa, a faction of the old school and the leader of the world’s martial arts world, Bikhwaja, widely known by the nickname Dongcheon Sword King, was in the middle of arguing with Jang Moon-in.

“Of course, that doesn’t mean that Jang Moon-in is wrong. But think about it. Shouldn’t we be open to the possibility of either side before making a judgment? That means we need to investigate even more thoroughly.”

“… … .”

Jang Moon-in, who had his eyes tightly shut in front of the muralist who was giving a lecture, remained silent.

The muralist is Noh Kang-ho of the Byeokja ship. If we only consider the rank, he is ahead of Jang Moon-in of the Cheongja ship. Even though Jang Moon-in is in a position to lead the school, it was not easy for him to deal with an elder of a higher rank than himself.

“Let’s assume that the Demonic Cult has a plan and is trying to get our attention. It’s okay to assume that they’re using the Seongdong Gyeokseo’s scheme, or that the Sapa’s scum are trying to make us clash with the Demonic Cult. Just as Jang Moon-in is worried.”

“… … That’s exactly what I’m worried about. If a master who even the muralist could not easily handle appeared, how could he have handled it like that? Leaving traces so blatantly. ”

“It could be a coincidence. In any case, we should keep the possibility open. How many giant demons among the demonic cult leaders would be able to compete with me?”

“According to what is known, there are probably only a few, including the Demonic Cult’s dialogue method, the external general, and the Dark Night Lord. The Demonic Cult is extremely closed, so it is impossible to even plant a spy, so in reality, there may be more hidden masters.”

The muralist replied as if he was frustrated with the long-winded man who still couldn’t decide on a direction.

“That’s right. There might be a demon lord like that walking around this Sacheon land, so it wouldn’t hurt to prepare in advance, right?”

“Then, let’s say that the evil demon head who has mastered the Dark Night Lord, the Small Magical Lord, and the Blood Water Magical Lord appears at the same time. What would you do then, Mr. Wall Painting?”

“Is that what you mean? Of course, we should spread the net of heaven and earth and catch and kill him.”

The muralist answered immediately.

There was a deep hatred for the Demonic Cult in those eyes.

The muralist’s face is now one hundred and forty years old.

As a peerless master who has reached the highest realm of Hwagyeong, he has gone through a complete transformation and lived for more than twice as long as an ordinary person.

And over the years he lived, he participated in four wars against the Demonic Cult.

Whenever the Demonic Cult, unable to give up its ambition to conquer the Central Plains, invaded the Central Plains, the Cheongseong faction naturally fulfilled its mission as a part of the old faction, and the Byeonghwaja went to war every time.

I have seen the deaths of my fellow students over and over again. From the top, to the pinnacle, and to the extreme. Even if you reach the highest level of martial arts, there can be no sacrifices in war.

“… … .”

The long man remained silent.

Jang Moon-in also participated in the war against the Demonic Cult, although his distribution was low. However, Jang Moon-in did not harbor as much hatred for the Demonic Cult as Byeonghwaja.

If the muralist’s speculation is true, and if a wild goose chase is unleashed to hunt down a peerless master comparable to the muralist, how much more blood will be shed?

That was all Jang Moon-in worried about.

Of course, it’s better than the karma of the Demonic Cult.

The official name of the Cheonmasingyo was not called by anyone except the members of the Demonic Cult. The name was given to the Demonic Cult (魔敎) because it meant the devil who did evil things. That derogatory name is the only name given to the Demonic Cult.

A normal sect would not engage in indiscriminate slaughter and war, claiming that they would conquer the Central Plains and unify the martial arts world. Even if they had power that was equal to or stronger than that of all the old sects combined.

Also, in order to maintain that level of power, they do not capture orphans without connections from outside and raise them as unmanned members of their faction.

It’s not like it’s been a day or two since the Demonic Cult abandoned humanity.

However, the reason Jang Moon-in was conflicted until the end was not because of any positive feelings toward the Demonic Cult, but because of his sense of responsibility as the Jang Moon-in who made the decisions on all matters of the sect.

“… … Please do so. I will tell you to align it with the Tang family and the assistants. ”

Jang Moon-in, who had been pondering until the end, nodded as if he had no choice.

The Demonic Cult has been quiet for nearly thirty years, but the fact that a demon leader of that caliber is roaming the Central Plains is quite disturbing.

Jang Moon-in thought that it was right to follow the muralist’s opinion for now.

* * *

I had a dream.

The reason Yu Ye-hyang realized that it was a dream was because she saw Yeon-jin in her dream.

I had been with Yeonjin every single day for over half a year since I had gone through regression. That was why I was so familiar with Yeonjin’s appearance that I could draw it with my eyes closed.

But Yeonjin in my dream looked a little older than she does now.

Masters who have reached the state of unity of the inside and outside undergo a complete transformation and their bodies are fixed to the prime of their lives. This means that regardless of their actual age, their appearance is fixed to the appearance of a young person in the prime of their body.

That’s why the Yeonjin I saw in my dream looked like she was a little past her prime, maybe in her mid-twenties at most.

It’s a familiar face. And a familiar sight.

The burning temple collapses. My lungs hurt as if they were going to burst. The energy of my danjeon, which was as vast as the ocean, is now empty, so empty that I can’t even draw out a handful of my true energy.

The deep sense of exhaustion that a superhuman who can level hills with a single wave feels when his body becomes no different from that of an ordinary person.

The worst body condition, where the body feels like wet cotton, and the muscles are loose and lax, and do not listen to the owner’s will.

And when Yu Ye-hyang reaches out, Yeon-jin spouts out words.

What was it? Yeah, it was a mixture of incomprehensible and real things like, “Your fate is strange once,” “I didn’t know it would end like this the second time,” and “Your first impression wasn’t that great.”

And with those words, Yeonjin, covered in blood, disappears.

It would have been more than he was, but never less. The scene ended with him holding a sword and facing off against enemies who were coming in like a tidal wave.

After that, the burnt rafters fall down and you can’t even see his back, and when you close your eyes, she is being led away from him in a half-conscious state by someone.

“… … No.”

Yu Ye-hyang woke up because she heard the voice she had let out in her sleep.

When I came to my senses and opened my eyes, the thick scent of blood and the pungent smell of something burning that had been lingering in my nose were no longer there.

The hand that had been stretched out in my sleep suddenly fell away, my body drenched in sweat.

“… … Why that dream again.”

Yu Ye-hyang, who had gotten up from her sweaty body, muttered while holding her throbbing forehead.

Even at her level, she couldn’t avoid sleeping at all. That’s why she went to sleep, even though she didn’t really like to fall into deep sleep.

It’s been a long time since I had the same dream again.

Was it because I heard that the Tang clan had started to move? From what I’ve experienced, the Tang clan’s poison-poisoning and secret techniques that put their lives at risk were quite annoying.

Maybe it was because I had a nightmare, but my body felt uncomfortable as it was drenched in sweat.

I wanted to go wash up right away, but in the quiet dawn, Yu Ye-hyang’s frowning gaze stopped at a certain spot.

“… … Ah.”

Yeonjin was sleeping on the bed across from me.

At the first guest house, I used the excuse that there was only one room, but after that, I used the same room even without any excuses.

It’s not like we’re sleeping in the same bed like before, but I’ve gotten a little too numb to the embarrassment of sharing a room.

So, I wasn’t even conscious of it, but Yu Ye-hyang’s gaze, which was looking at my face bathed in moonlight streaming in through the window, didn’t leave me.

All that came out of my mouth was a single, soft word.

As if possessed by something, Yu Ye-hyang walked towards her with a slow pace, and her gaze turned to Yeon-jin. The image from her dream just now overlapped with her face, which was still young compared to her image in the dream.

Love was a drug more powerful than anything else.

The five-stone mountain (五石散) was incomparable. The only thing he was interested in was martial arts, but at some point he lost interest in that and the intense stimulation that came to his boring life.

And then, for a long, long time, he just stared at Yeonjin, who had given him such an intense stimulus.

The outstretched fingertips touched her cheek. Warmth was felt from her flushed cheek.

I longed for that warmth. It wasn’t enough to just touch it.

so.

The lips that were slowly taken, touched lips.

It felt soft and smooth.

And, it felt warmer than when I touched it with my fingertips.

A semi-impulsive act, for which even she cannot explain the reason.

“… … Ugh.”

Yu Ye-hyang, who came to her senses late, instead of being startled, quickly rolled her eyes to check on Yeon-jin. Fortunately, it seemed like she hadn’t woken up yet.

Her judgment was so quick that it surprised even her.

If I had been startled by the sound and screamed or something, Yeonjin would have woken up right away.

And then their eyes will meet.

It’s a horrible experience just to imagine. Yu Ye-hyang let out a sigh of relief, her expression slightly weary.

“… … Thank goodness you’re sleeping.”

And with that true intention, Yu Ye-hyang, who had accumulated so much self-cultivation but was still overcome by impulse, hurriedly left the room, reproaching herself.

Unless she had done something wrong, she still couldn’t figure out why she had acted that way just now.