Chapter 269

It felt like sitting on a bed of thorns—or rather, walking a thorny path.

Every time I moved alongside Mae Jonghak, the countless gazes flying my way made my face prickle.

Those gazes were filled with awe and curiosity.

Everyone knew now. The young martial artist who had been treated as nothing more than a lucky country bumpkin just days ago was, in fact, a great martial artist known as the Sword Saint.

“Is that really him? Great Hero Mae Jonghak, the Sword Saint.”

“Good heavens, he looks so young. I thought Returned to Youth was nothing more than an absurd fairy tale.”

“As expected of Great Hero Mae Jonghak. He’s turned the Murim upside down.”

The people’s hushed conversations pierced my ears.

“But who’s the guy next to him?”

“That’s the Sleeping Dragon of Shanxi, Jin Taekyung. I heard from someone yesterday that he grabbed Great Hero Mae Jonghak by the neck and talked to him like he was some punk, and—well, you know?”

“Good heavens. At that point, shouldn’t he be called the Mad Dragon instead of the Sleeping Dragon of Shanxi?”

“…”

Fuck. Did I do that on purpose? I didn’t. I just didn’t know.

When I glared at the whispering people, Mae Jonghak burst out laughing.

“It’s all right. Friends can act that way with each other. No need to worry.”

He was killing me twice over.

We moved to a quiet rear garden, away from the crowd.

It was still early spring, but the weather was warm and the flowers were in full bloom. Mae Jonghak walked while gazing at flowers whose names I didn’t know, then opened his mouth.

“First, I should thank you.”

“For what…?”

“I heard you gave Cheongpung a great deal of help.”

“It was nothing worth calling help.”

“I don’t know the details, but if he went so far as to call you his Benefactor, he must have received considerable assistance.”

“…”

He didn’t know the details. He really didn’t know them at all.

I wondered what expression would cross Mae Jonghak’s face if he found out that I had merely given Cheongpung a few candied hawthorn skewers¹ and earned the title of Benefactor.

“To be honest, I was very worried about that boy. But after meeting you this time, I was able to put my mind at ease. I owe you a debt.”

“Oh. Right.”

I decided not to mention the candied hawthorn skewers. There was no reason to cut into my own flesh when the Sword Saint said he owed me a debt.

“How is Young Hero Cheongpung?”

“He’s recovered enough to move around. The moment he opened his eyes, he threw a fit and insisted on coming to see you.”

“Oh, dear. And what happened?”

“Hmm? He quieted down when I gave him dumplings.”

Twenty years of child-rearing experience hadn’t gone to waste. He knew exactly how to handle Cheongpung.

“And Great Hero Jeok?”

“He still hasn’t regained consciousness. I actually wanted to ask you about that…”

“Ask me anything.”

I had a hard time forcing the words out.

“Is there a possibility that he might never wake up…?”

“Hmm.”

Mae Jonghak stroked his smooth chin.

“What did the physician I sent say?”

“Ah, that man?”

Remembering the old physician who had briefly visited yesterday and looked like a mouse, my mood soured.

“He seemed like a complete quack.”

“A quack? You mean the Luoyang Strange Physician?”

“The Luoyang Strange Physician or whatever. He took a quick look, said there was nothing he could do for him right now, and stormed out. How is that not quackery?”

What kind of old man had such a fierce temper? When I grabbed his arm in sheer disbelief, he screamed so loudly my ears nearly fell off.

He shouted that he would never examine Jeok Cheongang again, leaving me no choice but to let him go.

Mae Jonghak clicked his tongue after hearing the story.

“The Luoyang Strange Physician is a renowned doctor throughout the Central Plains. His personality is as eccentric as his nickname suggests, but there is no question about his skill.”

“Then…”

My heart sank when Mae Jonghak nodded.

My thoughts must have shown plainly on my face, because he patted me on the back.

“Don’t worry too much. If Great Hero Jeok’s life had been in immediate danger, the Luoyang Strange Physician wouldn’t have simply left.”

His words were warm and comforting, but they didn’t completely dispel my unease.

Jeok Cheongang had seemed like he would shake everything off and get back on his feet in no time.

For the past year, he had been my Master, freely passing everything he had on to me. At the same time, he was as good as my own grandfather.

No. He’ll be all right.

I forced down the anxiety rising inside me.

A martial artist counted among the top ten in the world and a renowned physician had already examined Jeok Cheongang. For now, the best I could do was trust them.

When I finished thinking, I changed the subject.

“Have you learned anything more about Dark Heaven?”

“Dark Heaven…”

Mae Jonghak gazed at the flower garden with a strange expression.

“I can’t make heads or tails of it.”

“What parts are you talking about?”

“All of it.”

“What?”

“Let me ask you something. Did you notice anything strange about this incident?”

I thought deeply for a moment before answering.

So much had happened so urgently yesterday that I hadn’t noticed it at the time, but there were certainly several things that raised questions.

“There are a few things that seemed strange to me…”

“What are they?”

“For one thing, I don’t understand what those bastards were trying to accomplish.”

“Go on.”

“If Dark Heaven intended to deal a serious blow to the Murim, they should have prepared something much bigger.”

The leaders of the orthodox faction’s Murim had all gathered in one place.

If Dark Heaven’s goal was to destroy the orthodox faction and take control of the world, they should have at least planted explosives.

Whether or not it would have succeeded, it was a perfect opportunity to wipe out the enemy’s leadership all at once.

“Yet only Dharma King Hong Dao and Shaolin Temple had paid the price. They chose clear targets and acted from the very beginning.”

“Coming out into the open like this means they must have made at least some preparations for a fight… Yet it feels like they openly revealed themselves only to pick up iron coins instead of silver nyang.”

Mae Jonghak, who had been listening in silence, suddenly spoke.

“That comparison is wrong. Shaolin Temple is a symbol of the orthodox faction. Dark Heaven destroyed that symbol to make their existence known.”

“Was that really necessary?”

“Several theories have emerged. The first is that they wanted a direct confrontation.”

“Surely not.”

“Don’t underestimate demonic practitioners. They are people ruled solely by blood and power. The Demonic Cult during the Great Faction War was no different. They’re impossible to read.”

Mae Jonghak shook his head and continued.

“The second theory is that Dark Heaven is nothing more than a smokescreen.”

“A smokescreen?”

“Do you know who caused the bloodbath at Shaolin Temple?”

“The Yin-Yang Twin Freaks… Ah.”

“That’s right. They were great demonic figures who made their names feared beneath the Demonic Cult’s banner during the Great Faction War. A great deal of time has passed, but there’s still a strong possibility that they continue to follow the Demonic Cult.”

So Dark Heaven could be a franchise of the Demonic Cult. No, a subordinate organization.

As Mae Jonghak said, it was a possibility that made perfect sense.

But there was one thing that bothered me…

“What about the Blood Lord? Is he part of the Demonic Cult, too?”

“I don’t know.”

Mae Jonghak answered without the slightest hesitation, then scratched his chin.

“The Temporary Strength Pill you acquired, the Exploding Blood Demonic Art used by those who attacked Shaolin, and the Blood Lord himself. They all clearly carry the scent of the Demonic Cult, but… something is different. It has become darker and stranger.”

Mae Jonghak was a living witness to the Great Faction War, having lived through it himself. He must have fought countless enemies and experienced their martial arts firsthand.

In the orthodox Murim, he was one of the foremost authorities on demonic martial arts. His word was practically the established theory of the field.

“Especially that sorcery I saw at the end. Even I had never experienced anything like it.”

It wasn’t a movement technique or a lightness skill. It was sorcery.

I had heard that the Demonic Cult possessed all sorts of bizarre sorceries, but I never imagined something like that was possible.

Even I, who was used to magic, had been left gaping in astonishment.

Wasn’t that practically magic?

Martial artists had searched the surrounding area thoroughly, keeping every possibility in mind, but the Blood Lord was nowhere to be found. He had truly vanished as though the earth itself had swallowed him.

“There has also been considerable debate over where such a large number of enemies appeared from. If they can use that kind of sorcery on a large scale…”

“That’s horrifying just to think about.”

Calling it a surprise attack was laughable. If the enemies could appear here and there like Hong Gil-dong, it would be no different from being struck by lightning.

The leadership must be in chaos, too.

The atmosphere had already been disorderly when I briefly attended the meeting the day before. By now, it could only have gotten worse.

I was clicking my tongue at the thought when Mae Jonghak asked,

“Have you ever wondered why they were so obsessed with the Green Jade Buddha Staff?”

“Who knows? Because it’s Shaolin Temple’s sacred treasure?”

“They could have just broken it.”

“I think they were more focused on taking it. To be honest, I’m not even sure what they planned to do with it.”

As far as I knew, the Green Jade Buddha Staff was nothing more than a slightly special staff.

I thought it only seemed more impressive because it carried the authority of Shaolin’s Abbot and the history of a thousand-year-old Shaolin Temple.

It wasn’t the Elder Wand or anything. What were they going to do with a glowing green staff?

“Yes, that’s possible. That was what the others thought as well.”

After saying that, Mae Jonghak fell into thought for a while before suddenly speaking again.

“Did you know that Master Hong Dao left me a letter?”

“This is the first I’ve heard of it since I grew pubic hair.”

“Perhaps he sensed his own fate and left some arrangements behind. In the letter, he wrote that you were the Morning Star who would drive away the darkness.”

“…”

“You’re a genius unlike anyone I’ve ever seen. Look around you. Who else your age has reached such a realm?”

I thought for a moment before answering.

“Cheongpung.”

“Oh. I see.”

“…”

“Pung broke through the wall to the Peak realm when he was eighteen. I’d have thought you had done about the same by that age.”

“I was doing well in another sense back then. My epithet was the Night King.”

“Oh, something about being a match for the Ten Kings? Is that what it means?”

“No. I went in and out of pleasure houses too often.”

“Oh. I see.”

“…”

“…”

An icy silence descended.

Mae Jonghak scratched the back of his head, unable to find anything to say, then let out a hollow laugh.

“As expected of my grandson.”

“…I think I’ll be going now.”

As I turned away, Mae Jonghak shouted behind me.

“I’ll drop by again soon! I’ll bring news that will surprise you, too!”

Ugh. Why did I feel so drained?

“Have you returned?”

When I returned to the room where Jeok Cheongang lay, Hyuk Mujin bowed and greeted me. Unlike before, he looked thoroughly disciplined, and I smiled with satisfaction.

“That’s how you stand watch. You can draw your sword at any moment. What could be better?”

“Of course. I will guard this place like an iron fortress.”

“Yeah. You can go now.”

“Yes, sir!”

Hyuk Mujin was about to hurry out of the room when I spoke.

“Put the gold lump in your sleeve back down.”

“…”

“If it isn’t down by the time I count to three, you’ll be killed today. One, two.”

Clatter.

Hyuk Mujin put down the gold mask he had crumpled with his strength earlier and lowered his head dejectedly.

“Ah. You knew?”

“Do I look like an easy mark?”

“Captain, please. I even took out a loan from Yama himself this time…²”

A hundred thousand silver nyang hadn’t been enough, so he had even borrowed from a loan shark. What a lunatic.

I clicked my tongue and tucked the gold lump into my robes.

“We’ll see, depending on how you behave.”

“Gasp. Does that mean…?”

“I’m going to rest now, so don’t let anyone in. Not even my eldest brother.”

“E-Even the Lesser Family Head?”

“That’s right. Tell them I’m exhausted and asleep.”

I looked out the window. The sky was gradually turning red.

“The deadline is tomorrow morning. Can you do it?”

Hyuk Mujin nodded resolutely.

“I will give my life.”

“I know you’re not going to do that anyway, so just do what I told you.”

“Yes, sir!”

Some “yes, sir.”

Hyuk Mujin’s face lit up, and he moved aside with a broad grin.

I gazed at Jeok Cheongang’s face, which looked as though he were sleeping soundly, then lay down on the bed beside him.

How long had it been since I’d done this?

The past year had been a nonstop rush. Now, I desperately wanted to ease off the reins a little and return to my family’s embrace.

Logout.

Ding.

With the familiar notification sound, my vision went black.