Chapter 2146 - MP 15

The moment an unexpected exclamation flowed from Eulji-tae's mouth.

"You bastard!"

U Sim-gi roughly spat out curses and rushed at the man in blue martial robes.

His fist flew fiercely toward the blue-robed man's face. It was Chasing Cloud Fist, one of the fist techniques Kunlun prided itself on. Though it was no more than a simple straight punch, it concisely contained the graceful movements characteristic of Kunlun Sect.

However!

Ting, thwack!

"Urk!"

Swing, swish.

The blue-robed man flicked the thumb of his left hand to lift the sword hilt. That was all he did to block U Sim-gi's attack.

When his thumb struck the sword hilt, the rear end of the longsword shot out straight like a shark or orca leaping out of water to swallow prey, striking U Sim-gi's fist.

With that, U Sim-gi's fist completely deviated from its original path. His fist passed over the blue-robed man's head, and U Sim-gi's body instead leaned forward toward the blue-robed man.

The blue-robed man seized that gap and brought the end of the sword hilt to U Sim-gi's neck. If he had cut U Sim-gi's neck with the blade part rather than the sword handle, U Sim-gi would have lost his life with this single move.

It appeared simple, but it was by no means easy.

"...Impressive."

Eulji-tae put down the piece of Five Spice Soy Sauce Meat he had picked up. Following the appearance of Heavenly Rigid Sword, its owner's amazing move made him do so. Now his interest had completely shifted from food to the fight.

Dong Gwang-cheon's head was also turned in that direction. He was clearly watching that fight. However, because his hair covered most of his face, it was difficult to know exactly where he was looking.

"Y-you bastard! Do you think a mere fellow like you can do this to me, Kunlun White Dragon, and get away unscathed?"

Having been pushed back in skill, U Sim-gi instead glared at the blue-robed man and threatened him.

Sring.

Was it because he felt fear at Kunlun Sect's prestige or U Sim-gi's reputation? The blue-robed man lowered the sword he had half-drawn and put it back in its sheath.

Then he brushed past U Sim-gi and walked forward.

U Sim-gi flinched, wondering if the blue-robed man might suddenly attack. That's how tremendous the move the man had shown was.

However, the man had no intention of attacking U Sim-gi in the first place. He just kept walking forward. Judging by that direction, the place he was heading was the ferry dock.

Just then.

"Halt right there!"

A group of people poured out of the inn and stopped the blue-robed man's steps.

They were clearly disciples of Mount Hua Sect, all wearing red robes and carrying swords with plum blossom embroidery.

Following them, another group of people also burst out, and they were disciples of Kunlun Sect wearing white robes with cloud-shaped embroidery hanging from their shoulders. It seemed the blue-robed young man had gotten into a quarrel with both Mount Hua Sect and Kunlun Sect. Or perhaps he had gotten into it with one side, and the other was helping.

Eulji-tae was curious.

He had absolutely no desire to know the details like why they fought or what happened. What he was curious about was the skill of the blue-robed man, who was clearly the owner of 'Heavenly Rigid Sword.'

'Has the real sword been drawn and entered the world? Or has it just come out to the Martial World for a brief outing to get some fresh air? Show me once.'

If it was the latter, it would be better to quietly return to the original mountain from here.

The blue-robed man stopped.

He slowly turned his head and body back.

Between his shaggy hair, flashing eyes swept over the disciples of Mount Hua Sect and Kunlun Sect, then inadvertently went toward the second floor of the inn.

His eyes met Eulji-tae's, and then he directly clashed gazes with Dong Gwang-cheon who sat in front of him. However, it was literally only a brief moment, just passing by.

"A wild beast."

Eulji-tae's assessment was as brief as the brief clash. In his view, the blue-robed man was an unrefined, raw wild beast.

On the other hand, Dong Gwang-cheon's assessment was completely different.

The blue-robed man's eyes that briefly passed by felt like they would burst his brain right open. They were intense. Yet strangely, there was no greed in those raw eyes. They were purely transparent, that was all.

He had seen such eyes once while hunting in that other world. Back then, that fellow had such eyes because he mistakenly thought himself to be just, but this one was different. Eyes that purely looked only at 'the sword,' believing only in strength. He wasn't a human who could be evaluated as right or wrong. In some ways, an existence like himself.

Truly the sword. A human who was the sword itself.

Dong Gwang-cheon had never seen such a human in his life. Humans are all animals and omnivorous with a herbivorous bias. Occasionally there are carnivores, and such people are his hunting targets.

But that fellow wasn't such a predator. Yet he was extremely intense. Stimulating enough to make the back of his head burn hot with competitive spirit.

He's not the kind of animal that survives by attacking others to steal or kill.

He's a herbivore. A herbivore, but extremely strong... should he be called a herbivorous beast? He was such a unique type of human that no suitable word came to mind to describe him.

If he had to make a comparison.

'An elephant perhaps...?'

Elephants are in fact the kings of animals. The strongest creature on land that no one can match if they weren't herbivorous.

Is such a creature the king of herbivores?

Dong Gwang-cheon's heart pounded just slightly. To feel such emotion toward someone who wasn't a hunting target. No, even from hunting prey, it was very rare to feel this much.

Then is that fellow... a hunting target?

Dong Gwang-cheon became interested in the blue-robed man in a different sense than Eulji-tae. His eyes concentrated on the blue-robed man more than before. Of course, no one could tell since it was hidden by his hair.

"If you don't immediately apologize to Young Lady Hwa and this young master, according to the ways of the Martial World, we will give you a harsh lesson."

Gaining confidence as the group grew, U Sim-gi stepped forward again and first threatened the blue-robed man.

"I did not... do. I did... nothing...."

The blue-robed man's words were jumbled and extremely stuttering. As if he had lived forgetting speech for years and was just now uttering his first words.

"You did nothing? Didn't you keep sending those filthy eyes of yours to Young Lady Hwa?"

Saying that, U Sim-gi briefly looked around inside Cheongcheong Pavilion. His tone and posture were showing off, as if asking 'I'm doing well, aren't I?' Probably that woman called Young Lady Hwa was inside Cheongcheong Pavilion, and he clearly had ulterior motives toward her.

"I did not... do. I...."

The blue-robed man repeated the same words. Still stuttering, but somewhere the tone had become a bit stronger.

"This young master clearly gave you a chance to apologize."

"...."

"Earlier, this young master didn't use his sword, so it was like that, but to think you'd act so arrogantly trusting in that meager martial art of yours. This Hundred-Breaking Sword shall gouge out those lustful eyes of yours."

Saying that, U Sim-gi half-drew the sword hanging at his waist.

His epithet Hundred-Breaking Sword was earned because he won in martial arts contests against a hundred masters active near the Kunlun Mountains. If he drew his sword, true to his reputation, he would attack the blue-robed man with sharp sword strikes.

A hair-trigger moment.

"Do not... draw. You will... regret it...."

The blue-robed man spoke quietly. Those stuttering words were oddly chilling.

But U Sim-gi, who had already half-drawn his sword, had no choice but to draw it completely. He had already been humiliated once. He thought that if he didn't fully draw the sword here and sheathed it again or forgave his opponent, he wouldn't be able to lift his face in front of his fellow disciples and Young Lady Hwa in the future.

Clang!

U Sim-gi finally drew his sword. No, tried to draw it.

When his blade was about eight or nine-tenths drawn, the blue-robed man finally moved.

Srrrk.

"...!?"

A strange movement technique that clearly had feet touching the ground yet somehow seemed to glide forward stepping on air. What was peculiar was that the pattern of those footsteps seemed to follow some fixed form—in a way almost like formation techniques—and principles, yet also appeared chaotic. Yet it was incredibly fast. So fast that the blue-robed man's body appeared as several blue afterimages.

Just seven steps.

Seven steps that felt exactly like one step.

"...!"

The blue-robed man came to stand before U Sim-gi.

U Sim-gi's sword was not yet fully drawn.

Conversely, the blue-robed man's longsword was already in his hand—when had he drawn it—and the tip of that blade was striking down the end of U Sim-gi's sword handle from behind.

Bang!

U Sim-gi had no choice but to sheath his sword again in the same position he'd been drawing it.

Still the blue-robed man's longsword didn't stop. His sword that had returned U Sim-gi's sword to its original position rose to about the height of U Sim-gi's neck, then quickly swept around U Sim-gi's neck as if peeling fruit in a spiral.

Swiiish—

The neck was cut. Not completely cut—a thin line was drawn as if the area around his neck had been carved out.

Naturally, from U Sim-gi's neck, blood seeped out and flowed down below his neck like juice flowing.

"Ugh, aaagh!"

Judging by his screaming, he wasn't dead. But the pain and terror... were terrible. To carve around the neck meant he could have killed him anytime he wanted. U Sim-gi not only bled but even pissed himself as he collapsed to the ground.

"You bastard...!"

The disciples of Mount Hua Sect and Kunlun Sect finally reacted. However, no one moved as nimbly as the blue-robed man.

Swish swish swish swish.

Moving as if drawing the Big Dipper, the blue-robed man created the same wound on everyone's neck that he had made on U Sim-gi's neck.

Soon everyone clutched their necks and rolled on the ground like U Sim-gi.

Even after reducing the official disciples of Mount Hua Sect and Kunlun Sect to such a state, the blue-robed man's face remained utterly cold and stern. As if it had nothing to do with him.

-x-X-x-

Immediately after, he turned his body to continue on his way.

"Hey!"

A woman in red robes with a body that fluttered like plum blossom petals came out of Cheongcheong Pavilion and once again stopped the blue-robed man's steps.

Holding a sword with red embroidery hanging from it, she was undoubtedly a disciple of Mount Hua Sect.

"I'm still left. If you're just going to leave—"

"Will not... draw.... To a woman...."

The blue-robed man cut off the woman in red robes' words without even turning his body.

Did saying he wouldn't draw his sword against a woman touch her pride? The beautiful woman in red robes seemed offended, raising her straight eyebrows—sharp as a whetted sword—into an inverted 八 shape and shouted.

"Are you looking down on me because I'm a woman!"

Thud, thud.

Instead of answering, the blue-robed man moved his steps back toward the ferry dock. That answer was enough.

Clang!

"Stop! If you don't stop, this Hwa Ye-ji's sword will not forgive you...!"

Swish swish swish swish.

When Hwa Ye-ji drew her sword, only then did the blue-robed man move. His body once again stepped through the seven positions of the Big Dipper as he approached Hwa Ye-ji. So fast that his body seemed to stretch.

Unlike before, the blue-robed man didn't draw his longsword. He simply raised his right hand, extended his index finger straight, and poked Hwa Ye-ji's forehead.

While uttering stuttering words.

"I poked.... I am... stronger. Than you...."

"...."

Hwa Ye-ji couldn't say anything.

The man's eyes seen up close were terribly transparent. Transparent enough to fully reflect her appearance. Hwa Ye-ji felt that her current appearance reflected in those eyes was extremely ugly.

Whoosh.

The blue-robed man folded the finger that had cut Hwa Ye-ji's heart and walked toward the ferry dock again.

"Wh-what's your name?"

At Hwa Ye-ji's sudden words, the blue-robed man stopped walking again. Then he lowered his head. Just like someone who couldn't remember his own name.

Everyone at this place had their eyes and ears turned toward him. Though it was nothing special, he had a strange power to capture everyone's attention.

"Jong...Ji-hang. Probably...."

Jong Ji-hang.

Leaving behind those three characters of his name, before long he was too far from Cheongcheong Pavilion to be seen.

"Jong...Ji...hang...!"

Hwa Ye-ji still stood frozen in place, looking in the direction where the man had disappeared.

Soon, the disciples of Mount Hua Sect and Kunlun Sect who had been rolling on the ground got up and said something to her, but she remained silent, only staring into the distance.

In fact, not just her, but many people were deeply impressed by Jong Ji-hang's entrance and exit.

"An amazing fellow."

One of them, Eulji-tae, who had been watching everything from the second floor of Cheongcheong Pavilion, said.

Dong Gwang-cheon—no, Dong Bong-su—who had likewise watched the entire scene from directly across, also agreed.

In fact, Dong Gwang-cheon was Dong Bong-su whose hair had grown longer after leaving the Northern Plains.

He had left Guisui and returned straight to Datong. Before going out to the Central Plains, he had to meet the Soldier Eccentric. The item made by melting down [Novice's Sword]. He had to receive it. So he went to the Eight Directions Armory, but the Soldier Eccentric was already gone.

Instead, there was another master strong enough for Spirit Eyes to issue a warning. He said that the Soldier Eccentric was currently at the Murim Alliance.

Whether the Soldier Eccentric had some hidden agenda, whether there were some circumstances, or whether something sudden had just come up, Dong Bong-su didn't know. But he decided to follow that master, Eulji-tae, right away. He had judged that Zhengzhou wasn't a bad choice as the first step into the Central Plains.

The center of the current Central Plains Murim was, no matter what anyone said, Zhengzhou.

Because the main headquarters of the Murim Alliance was in Zhengzhou.

Dong Bong-su hadn't yet decided what to do or how to do it once he went to the Central Plains.

To run a 'ranch,' he first had to find good stock. Good stock isn't given away for free. Especially in this wasteland called the Murim, even more so.

He had thought about various things.

How should he establish what kind of ranch? After establishing it, would he really be able to secure stock? Money?

Then suddenly another thought occurred.

Why bother establishing a new ranch? How about acquiring the biggest and best ranch among those currently in the Murim? A ranch where big money and good stock would pour in even without doing anything... that is.

Murim Alliance, Heavenly Demon Castle, Hall of Gathering Evil.

Currently, these three places were the best ranches, that is, talent gathering centers. Without question.

Then which of these three should he go to? Also, how to acquire them?

Nothing was decided yet.

Dong Bong-su had left open possibilities in all directions among these.

As long as he could continue his hobby and grow efficiently, any direction was fine. And just in time, an opportunity to visit the Murim Alliance had arisen, so he was heading to Zhengzhou like this.

Jong Ji-hang appeared before such a Dong Bong-su.

As Eulji-tae said, an amazing person. So amazing that this thought even occurred.

'Like a protagonist from a martial arts movie or novel.'

A truly unvarnished, objective evaluation from Dong Bong-su.

The Jong Ji-hang he briefly saw was a mysterious person with an interesting aura that made those around him into supporting characters.

"To cause problems with one phoenix and one dragon each before even arriving in Zhengzhou. Should he indeed be called the Heavenly Rigid Swordmaster?"

The dragon Eulji-tae spoke of must be Kunlun White Dragon U Sim-gi, and the phoenix... must be referring to that woman called Hwa Ye-ji.

"...."

In Dong Bong-su's view, Eulji-tae seemed to know something about Jong Ji-hang. And he could also read the anticipation for the 'Heavenly Rigid Swordmaster' flowing in those eyes.

Eyes just like movie audiences or novel readers hoping for the protagonist's active role.

Dong Bong-su was blank for a moment.

In that instant, the surrounding scenery all seemed to stop and was sucked into his eyes. Eulji-tae, Hwa Ye-ji, U Sim-gi, and various others. Everyone was expressing different emotions, but they were all without exception feeling and thinking about Jong Ji-hang. Whether they liked it or not.

'Should it be said that the appearance of the young hero called Jong Ji-hang was causing upheaval in some way?'

Then time flowed again, and Dong Bong-su's thoughts jumped to a strange place.

Heavenly Rigid Swordmaster and Heavenly Rigid Sword.

Jong Ji-hang and the sword he held.

And.

A thought that suddenly occurred.

'What would happen if the protagonist suddenly died in a movie or novel?'

1

'Wouldn't that also become an interesting movie or novel?'

1

'Is there a law that only the protagonist must be the protagonist? Wouldn't a picture of a suddenly appearing extra being cast as the lead also be cool?'

Smack smack.

Eulji-tae began eating.

Dong Bong-su also picked up his chopsticks and put a piece of meat in his mouth and chewed. Though juice flowed filling his mouth, he couldn't taste it. He couldn't feel it.

Not pork, but a true herbivore. Because he became curious about the taste of elephant.

***

Zhongnan Sect.

A member of the former Nine Sects and One Society.

However....

Now a forgotten sect.

Zhongnan Lone Sword. Or Zhongnan Poison Sword.

Lone Sword because he remained alone. Also Poison Sword because he possessed a terrible sword.

However....

Also a forgotten name.

It had truly been decades. Since Heavenly Rigid Sword shook off the heavily accumulated dust and revealed its hidden inner flesh.

The last and symbolic sword of Zhongnan. The Lone Sword's sword.

Jong Ji-hang was looking down at the Yellow River while holding Heavenly Rigid Sword in his left hand like before. Though not a beautiful sight, masculinity subtly emanated. Whether the Yellow River or Jong Ji-hang.

Swoooosh—

The boat goes east, east. Zhengzhou wasn't far.

An incident occurred as soon as he entered the Martial World. However, there were no regrets.

His master had said.

[Don't carelessly draw your sword. But if you draw it, handle it devastatingly. So that mountains, streams, grass, and trees tremble, and all Murim people piss their pants.]

He drew it and handled it roughly. He couldn't yet tell if all the mountains and rivers trembled, but at least he made one person piss their pants.

He had heard plenty about Kunlun Sect from his master too.

A sword sect full of superficial style and pretense. His teacher's assessment. Having directly faced them, Jong Ji-hang also found it difficult to give a different evaluation.

A weak sword reeking of women's powder.

His master's assessment of Mount Hua Sect that followed after Kunlun. But this time his thoughts were somewhat different. Though it reeked of powder, he felt it wasn't entirely weak. Because for just a brief moment, he thought he wanted to see Mount Hua's Plum Blossom Sword that had reached a certain level.

In fact, the reason he had gotten into a quarrel with them earlier was also because of that.

A strong plum blossom scent wafted from that woman. That scent mysteriously wafting out while she was just sitting quietly—the fact that he looked at her a few times because of it became the root of the problem. Of course, the more fundamental problem was the opponent's hypersensitive reaction.

Jong Ji-hang briefly reviewed what had happened a moment ago and then erased it from his memory. If he had finished what he needed to do as a swordsman, there was no need to think further. His master always said that. He agreed. The fight was over, and a new fight would be waiting afterward. With that, this fight's meaning was extinguished.

Swooooosh—

Jong Ji-hang stood alone idly. At the prow, the place where the splitting of the current could be seen best.

[Split the world like splitting the current.]

He had never even seen a current, let alone the world needless to say. Having spent his whole life at Zhongnan, to him the world was Zhongnan. At least until that time when he heard those words.

Jong Ji-hang answered yes. Because he couldn't object to his master's dying instructions.

Now that he was facing a real fierce current up close like this, he seemed to understand why his master had said such things.

Jong Ji-hang raised his right hand high above his head.

Whoong—

A hand blade falling as if nothing.

Nothing happens. The boat still majestically splits the current and heads forward, forward.

But what if that current was the world, and the hand blade was Heavenly Rigid Sword? Jong Ji-hang was curious. To the point of madness.

Then suddenly, between the splitting currents, the faces of the two men who had looked down at him from the second floor of Cheongcheong Pavilion earlier floated up.

One was a master. A master so outstanding that Heavenly Rigid Sword reacted with a tingle even at a glance.

The other man was....

'Hmm.'

He couldn't remember. He didn't know why.

Jong Ji-hang quickly stopped caring about him. His interest was in the strong. He had no interest in weaklings who didn't elicit a signal from Heavenly Rigid Sword.

'Can I win?'

He raised his right hand high again and drew it downward.

The imaginary opponent draws their sword and blocks his right hand.

The imaginary battle that began like that continued for quite a while, and the other person he couldn't remember disappeared even further into his memory.

And....

Was completely forgotten like that.

Because he seemed neither important nor particularly strong.

At least until now....

-x-X-x-

Zhengzhou. The provincial capital of Henan Province.

Because Henan Province is called the Central Province, it's the center of the Central Plains. And the center of that Central Province is precisely this Zhengzhou. In other words, the core of cores. However, despite this geographical advantage, Zhengzhou had long not received much attention.

To the west is Luoyang, to the east is Kaifeng. Both places have prospered since ancient times as transportation hubs. Many dynasties throughout history established their capitals in those two places. Because of that, there was a strong perception that Zhengzhou was just a provincial capital squeezed between them.

That is, until this organization established itself here.

[Ping has the Imperial Palace, Zheng has the Murim Alliance]

In Pingzhou there is the Imperial Palace, and in Zhengzhou there is the Murim Alliance.

Murim Alliance.

The sky of the Murim. An organization tremendous enough to be compared to the Imperial Palace.

Especially in times like now, the Murim Alliance's prestige could truly be said to cover all under heaven.

Zhengzhou, where such a Murim Alliance existed, has been bustling lately.

Would it bustle this much even when there are civil service examinations in Beiping?

Hundreds of young martial artists were flocking to Zhengzhou every day. With all kinds of attire and peculiar dialects rampant in Zhengzhou, it could truly be said they had gathered from the Nine Provinces.

Heavenly Youth Martial Arts Tournament.

This tournament held by the Murim Alliance was igniting the hearts of young martial artists across the nation.

Just as scholars' success in life depends on civil service examinations, for martial artists such martial arts tournaments are the best opportunity to make their names known.

Moreover, while scholars have the triennial examinations held once every three years, for martial artists such opportunities might come once in a lifetime if at all. Regular exams and irregular exams differ vastly in value. Because of that, young martial artists had no choice but to stake their lives rushing toward this even more.

Also, in addition to that, simple spectators were also flocking to Zhengzhou. Such a large-scale martial arts tournament was a tremendous spectacle. Not only for martial artists, but for poets and scholars too, it was a grand event that could serve as conversation material for a lifetime.

If by chance a hero born from this martial arts tournament later became the greatest under heaven, wouldn't it remain in the Murim's history forever?

Today too, people were flocking through all passages—east, west, south, and north—of Zhengzhou.

Whether mediocre or masters, whether chivalrous warriors or villains,

Or....

Yet another, something else....

***

Murim Alliance. The heart of the Martial World. And a vast estate extending over three hundred meters north to south, with an east-west width exceeding two hundred meters.

This is another provincial capital existing within Zhengzhou.

If one follows the official road running through Zhengzhou's north and south all the way down south, one sees Cheongsin Mountain, and the Murim Alliance majestically overlooks downtown Zhengzhou with its back to this Cheongsin Mountain.

Although countless people were flocking to Zhengzhou, not everyone could enter inside the Murim Alliance. Since the martial arts tournament had not yet begun, only those who received official invitation cards distributed by the Murim Alliance could cross Muhwa Gate, the main gate of the Murim Alliance, and enter inside the Alliance.

And crossing Muhwa Gate didn't mean one could freely roam around inside the Murim Alliance either. Guests were basically assigned rooms in Jibin Pavilion according to their reputation, and likewise their range of activity was determined according to their reputation or allocation. The vast majority of guests had their activity area restricted to the Outer Court outside Jibin Pavilion, and only a very small number of special guests could enter the Inner Court.

The palaces, halls, and pavilions that are the center of the Murim Alliance are all inside the Inner Court, so in fact, this Inner Court could be said to be the real Murim Alliance. In other words, a person who could freely enter and exit the Inner Court could be called a true celebrity of the Murim.

However, like any large organization, the Murim Alliance also had places where entry was strictly forbidden. Regardless of who one was. Even if they were sect leaders of major sects or family heads of great families, such a place that couldn't be carelessly approached.

Cheontong Hall. That is, the Murim Alliance Leader's residence.

All power of the current Orthodox Murim emanates from precisely this place, and all kinds of martial arts and talents from the Central Plains flow into this place. Therefore, one who would become the sky of the Martial World must either surpass this place or become its master.

This imposing building is a dangerous and fearsome place as much as its exterior. With one command from the Murim Alliance Leader, various formations existing under heaven activate so that even a peerless master cannot escape.

That's why people also call this place by another name—the Fortress of Iron and Blood. Because in some ways, this place might be even harder to infiltrate than the emperor's residence.

However,

Right now inside that Fortress of Iron and Blood, there was someone who had entered without interference from formations or hindrance from martial artists guarding Cheontong Hall like iron.

No one here had ever met him, but no one stopped him from entering Cheontong Hall. Because there had been word from Murim Alliance Leader Hyeoncheon Jinin.

***

The Murim Alliance Leader's office.

A room that didn't match Cheontong Hall's splendid exterior, with only a table and bed placed and filled only with tea fragrance. Perhaps showing the master's unpretentious character.

Right now, two people sat facing each other at the square table in the center.

Slurp.

Hyeoncheon Jinin lightly lifted his teacup and brought it to his mouth. That appearance was extremely gentle and soft. Perhaps because of that, his transcendent atmosphere like an immortal stood out even more. Though tea water might touch his beard whiter than white snow, not a bit of moisture appeared on his beard.

He slowly lowered the teacup onto the table and looked at the 'uninvited guest who wasn't an uninvited guest' sitting before him.

A young man.

Shabby to the point of being filthy, yet emanating a heavy energy that quietly filled this room.

Could the presence of the Twenty Great Masters under Heaven be this much? It was difficult to be certain. Just because one is the Murim Alliance Leader doesn't mean one can meet all the masters existing in the Martial World.

But one thing was certain....

None of the Two Divinities Three Eccentrics, Five Supremes, Ten Greats would have shown such presence when they were the same age as that shabby young man sitting across from him now.

Hyeoncheon Jinin lifted his teacup again, moistened his lips once more, and then parted his lips for the first time.

"Ascend to the Void Way. Your presence, Dao friend, seems about to send Cheontong Hall flying."

Hyeoncheon Jinin's voice quietly reciting the Dao epithet was very gentle, matching his appearance.

"...."

Clack.

The young man silently lifted his teacup, fidgeted with it here and there, and then put it back in place. Was it because he had never tasted tea in his life? Perhaps to him, tea was merely water with a slight smell.

"This poor Daoist uses the arrogant and untalented Dao epithet called Hyeoncheon."

Watching that appearance carefully, Hyeoncheon Jinin spoke again. Only then did the young man open his mouth.

"Jong...Ji-hang.... Probably...."

The young man was Jong Ji-hang.

Jong Ji-hang's manner of speech was not only stuttering, but the formality of his words was also extremely crude. Moreover, probably? Does that mean he doesn't even know his own name accurately? Or does it really mean that?

Either way, in today's Murim, who could speak to Hyeoncheon Jinin in such a manner?

Hyeoncheon Jinin instead laughed heartily and said,

"Haha. Hearing 'probably' makes it seem certain you're the Lone Sword's disciple."

"...."

"He also did that decades ago. He couldn't remember his own name either and said so. Probably...."

Jong Ji-hang still didn't reply and only looked straight at Hyeoncheon Jinin. Hyeoncheon Jinin took another sip of tea and continued speaking.

"But why did you come alone?"

At Hyeoncheon Jinin's words, Jong Ji-hang gripped Heavenly Rigid Sword in his left hand even tighter. Then he answered in a heavy voice.

"He went. My master...."

Had the expression for passed away not come to mind? Jong Ji-hang's word choice was very different from ordinary people.

However, that was enough. For Hyeoncheon Jinin to understand.

"Ascend to the Void Way. I see.... Well, whether the Lone Sword or this poor Daoist, it's all about time to return to our roots."

Hyeoncheon Jinin recites his Dao epithet again as if regretful. But whether what was really regretful was ambiguous, hard to tell. Was it regretful that he died, or was it unfortunate that one master to oppose Heavenly Demon Castle had disappeared?

Jong Ji-hang and Hyeoncheon Jinin's eyes lightly met in midair. Only then did Hyeoncheon Jinin notice that his opponent's eyes were very clear. Jong Ji-hang's eyes were transparent like a thousand-year lake so clear and deep its depth couldn't be known. At that, Hyeoncheon Jinin's white eyebrows slightly twitched.

"Do you know why this poor Daoist called your revered master here?"

This time too, Jong Ji-hang didn't reply and just waited for Hyeoncheon Jinin's answer. Anyway, he knew well that the question wasn't asked expecting an answer.

Hyeoncheon Jinin thought that was Zhongnan's tradition. The Lone Sword in hazy memory whom he had met before was also that wordless. No, it would be more correct to say it wasn't necessary. If he inherited everything of his, naturally he would become like that....

"I called him to lift Zhongnan's gate sealing. Well, since the gate sealing was lifted, you could be sitting here, but...."

Precisely, the moment Hyeoncheon Jinin sent out the Murim missive, Zhongnan's gate sealing was lifted. There were various reasons why he sent the Murim missive all the way to Zhongnan Mountain, and among those reasons, bringing Zhongnan Lone Sword to the Murim Alliance was the biggest.

Jong Ji-hang had no relevance to that plan at all. That's why he was an 'uninvited guest who wasn't an uninvited guest.' An uninvited guest because he wasn't directly invited, but also not an uninvited guest because he came in place of the one invited.

Hyeoncheon Jinin still couldn't draw any conclusion about Jong Ji-hang. His transparent eyes weren't properly telling him any information....

Just then, Jong Ji-hang, who had been sitting quietly, opened his mouth.

"The gate was never... sealed.... Zhongnan... was simply... exercising forbearance and prudence on its own...."

"...!"

Very arrogant words. Moreover, they were even less appropriate to say at the place where the current Alliance Leader of the Murim Alliance, the party who had sealed the gate, was personally lifting the seal. Hyeoncheon Jinin's white eyebrows twitched lightly once more. But soon that trembling disappeared.

Hyeoncheon Jinin raised his hand and gently stroked his white beard that hung down to his chest as he spoke.

"Then there would have been no reason for you to bother coming to the Murim Alliance, would there?"

"It was... a dying instruction. My master's...."

He came to the Murim Alliance to follow the Lone Sword's dying instruction.

And that was from the Lone Sword's disciple....

In truth, Hyeoncheon Jinin hadn't held much expectation when he sent the invitation card to the Lone Sword, that is, Zhongnan Lone Sword. He was already one who had forgotten the sword, one long forgotten by the Murim. And one whose all grievances were sealed.

Hyeoncheon Jinin put his lips to his teacup that now showed the bottom with nothing more to drink, and continued speaking.

"What do you intend to do from now on?"

He was asking what the Lone Sword's will was. The Lone Sword he knew wasn't someone who would end things by simply sending his disciple to the Murim Alliance.

Since he couldn't ask directly given the Alliance Leader's dignity, he was asking in a roundabout way like this.

"...."

In Jong Ji-hang's transparent eyes, a sharp light flashed for just a brief moment.

Had he been waiting for this question? Hyeoncheon Jinin felt that perhaps his question was included in the Lone Sword's dying instructions.

"...I will walk... again. The path... my master... walked...."

"...!"

Thud.

'Was that it...? The Lone Sword's dying instruction?'

It wasn't that he hadn't considered it while lifting Zhongnan's gate sealing. Nevertheless, the reason he made such a decision as the Murim Alliance Leader was because he judged that the Murim needed the appearance of one more absolute master.

Hyeoncheon Jinin set down his teacup audibly on the table and quietly looked into Jong Ji-hang's eyes. The sharp light had already disappeared from those eyes. They were simply too deep and clear.

Hyeoncheon Jinin soon gave up on reading his inner thoughts and sighed deeply.

"Hah.... Much resentment will accumulate. Just as your master did."

Jong Ji-hang stroked the Heavenly Rigid Sword once and said.

"My master... said... this...."

"...."

"That he carelessly... drew his sword.... That he couldn't even... handle it devastatingly.... And yet...."

Though the words were jumbled front to back, Hyeoncheon Jinin could fully understand the content. And he recalled words he had once heard from the Lone Sword.

[If you're not going to swing it, what's the point of painstakingly learning the sword? If you've learned it, you should use it devastatingly. Hahahaha!]

Into Hyeoncheon Jinin's ears, which had been immersed in reminiscence for just a brief moment, Jong Ji-hang's heavy voice continued to reach him.

"So... he became... the Lone Sword, the Poison Sword...."

"If you walk the same path, you'll only become a second Lone Sword."

"I will not... be so...."

"...."

"I will not carelessly... draw my sword.... But if drawn... I will swing it... devastatingly.... And then... mountains, streams, grass, and trees... will tremble, and all Murim people... will piss their pants...."

"...Is that the Lone Sword's dying instruction?"

At Hyeoncheon Jinin's heavy question, Jong Ji-hang shook his head. The real dying instruction was separate. Probably to say that, he had sent his disciple to the Murim Alliance even after his death. Hyeoncheon Jinin thought so.

Jong Ji-hang rose from his seat. The Heavenly Rigid Sword gripped in his left hand was shaking roughly. Just as the Lone Sword of old had done. No, even more crudely than that.

"He told me... to become... the New Sword , the Divine Sword...."

"...!"

Did he mean to newly write the history of the Martial World with a sword that reached divine skill? Probably so. The Lone Sword he knew was more than capable of leaving such a dying instruction.

And.

He was someone who never spoke nonsense.

'Does that mean this young man is worthy material for that?'

With those words, Jong Ji-hang turned his body and walked toward the door. Having finished all he had to say, he must be leaving.

At this moment, Hyeoncheon Jinin's voice caught Jong Ji-hang's feet.

"Is the collaboration with the Alliance still valid?"

Halt.

Jong Ji-hang stopped and lowered his head, lost in thought for a moment. From that appearance, Hyeoncheon Jinin could be certain that he knew about the alliance. Though whether to keep it or not was entirely up to him now that the Lone Sword was dead.

"That is... so...."

A gentle smile spread across Hyeoncheon Jinin's face.

Though he hadn't obtained the Lone Sword, he had obtained the New Sword. He hadn't yet seen how sharp it was, and it might become a double-edged sword in the future....

But wasn't that a problem for the person who wields it?

Thud.

Jong Ji-hang left and the room emptied again. Now only Hyeoncheon Jinin remained in the room, stroking an empty teacup.

***

Creak—

The next boat arrived in Zhengzhou.

Dong Bong-su and Eulji-tae waited until all the others had disembarked from the boat before finally setting their first steps on Zhengzhou soil.

Up ahead, the disciples of Kunlun Sect and Mount Hua Sect, defeated by Jong Ji-hang alone and still wearing gloomy expressions, were calmly moving their steps southward. The direction where the Murim Alliance is. Not only them, but most of the people who had been on this boat were heading toward the Murim Alliance as soon as they disembarked.

The people disembarking from other boats arriving from the opposite direction were also almost all moving in the same direction... it was no exaggeration to say that a human tide was surging into Zhengzhou.

"Why do you think they're flocking to this place like that?"

Eulji-tae gazed quietly at the pushing and pressing crowd and spoke.

Anyone who knew him would be surprised. Was the Breaking Heaven Hegemon Blade someone who opened his mouth first like this? And to someone he hadn't known for even a month.

Originally, he was famous for rarely opening his mouth unless someone spoke to him first. Dong Bong-su made him open his mouth first often. It was strange, but the feeling wasn't particularly bad.

Dong Bong-su, like Eulji-tae, stared blankly at the procession of people continuing to arrive, then said as if tossing out the words.

"Because it's not an age of great peace."

Unexpected. An answer far beyond expectation. Right. This is why he opens his mouth first. Eulji-tae wore an expression on his cold face that could be either a smile or doubt, and said.

"What do you mean by that?"

"You asked why they flock to this place like this."

"I did."

"They've gathered here to become heroes or great chivalrous warriors."

Yes. This answer was the standard and precisely the direct answer Eulji-tae wanted. But what does the age of great peace have to do with this? Isn't it completely off-topic?

Dong Bong-su's words continued.

"Heroes don't appear in an age of great peace. In an age of great peace, people don't need heroes or great chivalrous warriors, nor do they even know such things exist."

"...."

"Just as the common people in the age of Yao and Shun didn't even know who their ruler was."

Chaotic times. And the heroes of those turbulent times.

Dong Bong-su was speaking of heroes of chaotic times. He wasn't referring to simple chivalrous warriors of the Martial World that Eulji-tae had thought of. Did he mean there was that much of a gap between heroes and 'great' chivalrous warriors?

At Dong Bong-su's interesting answer, Eulji-tae became even more curious about this person.

"What about you? Are you the same as them?"

"...."

At Eulji-tae's question, Dong Bong-su paused his words for a moment and fell into thought.

A 'special prey' would have come here. And for the first time in his life, he also had a 'peculiar goal.' As special and peculiar as they were, both would be extremely difficult. Since it was a first, the word challenge would be fitting.

Challenge.

An unfamiliar but somehow attractive word. And he had already come to Zhengzhou.

Suddenly, a joke he heard often in that other world came to mind.

'Can't eat it but go anyway.'

A Hwatu game. Translating into terms from this place, a gambling game. Though it was a phrase that would only fit in such places... it fits perfectly.

That's right. He goes forward. As he always has.

"Waves are breaking."

Dong Bong-su said in a level tone.

When Eulji-tae looked, just as Dong Bong-su said, people's heads pushing and pressing here and there as they moved forward looked exactly like waves.

"When one has already thrown oneself into the sea, is there a way to avoid the waves?"

"...."

If it were the original Dong Bong-su, he wouldn't have made such pointless remarks so long and verbose.

However,

If he's already been violently swept up by the waves of chaotic times, wouldn't it be fine to try wearing the mask of a hero? And right now, the mask Eulji-tae wanted seemed like it would speak in this manner, just as he had. And in some ways, it was also what he truly wanted to say.

"If one has already been hit by the waves, one has no choice but to ride the current and swim safely all the way to land, wouldn't you say?"

Whether Eulji-tae quite liked Dong Bong-su's answer, he cleared his throat to hide an unfamiliar smile and said.

"Ahem. I see. Then let's go. If we're going anyway, it's better to go a little faster."

Dong Bong-su and Eulji-tae. The two finished their conversation and jumped into the human sea curtain, swept toward the Murim Alliance.

***

Just as Eulji-tae and Dong Bong-su had disappeared, the boat they came on soon departed as well.

Following that, another boat flowed in from the opposite direction and filled the spot that had just been vacated. On that boat was someone who, like the previous two, waited until all the other passengers had disembarked before setting foot on Zhengzhou soil.

Medium height. Black light armor. Short-cropped hair. A sword slung diagonally across his back. And an impressive scar slashing across his left cheek.

An appearance not much different from the other martial artists here. Except for the wound on his cheek.

Like any one of the martial artists, he mixed into the crowd, passed through the bustling main road, and walked southward for quite a while. The very path Dong Bong-su and the others had taken. The direction where the Murim Alliance is located.

Was he also one of the martial artists who came seeking the Murim Alliance?

After walking for a long time past Zhengzhou's prosperous district, a mansion as grand as a palace appeared. The Murim Alliance. Naturally, the area in front was bustling with people.

Those who had brought invitation cards were passing through Muhwa Gate and entering the Murim Alliance, while the rest were looking up at the great pillar of the Murim they were seeing for the first time.

The man mixed with the latter group and stood in one spot for just a moment. Then he quickly turned his body and left that place.

That was all. What he did after coming right in front of the Murim Alliance....

But at the spot where he had been standing, one very small mark had been stamped. At a glance, it looked no different from grains of sand rolling around nearby. However, looking closely, because it didn't move, it was clearly carved into the ground with some specific shape. Just as if someone had deliberately stamped a seal with that shape....

-x-X-x-

Drip drip—

Water droplets flowed drop by drop down the woman's jade-white skin. Her delicate jade hands ceaselessly scooped up water from the bathtub, wetting her graceful shoulders and breasts as if carved by gods.

The sight of water droplets sliding and circumventing the prominent symbol marked between her breasts was sensuously stimulating in a way that didn't match her pure body.

The water droplets, slightly reduced in size after passing the protrusion, continued downward without rest along the valley between her breasts, downward, downward. Passing over her smooth lower abdomen, they finally reached their destination—a small pond.

However,

In that intimate place where the water droplets soaked in, there was a small pattern hidden that only the water droplets could see. As if resembling a person's blurry shadow....

Before long, the woman finished her bath.

The moon that had just risen sent its light as if regretful, caressing her naked body, but couldn't stop her from putting on clothes.

Rustle, rustle.

Soon, her beautiful body was mostly covered by clothes. Of course, that intimate place of hers too....

Slide.

As she came out of the bathroom, a fairly tall female warrior wearing purple light armor approached. It was her guard warrior, Jang Ga-heun.

Normally, maids should have been waiting for her to finish bathing, but....

She quickly noticed from Jang Ga-heun that there was a special message.

"What's the matter?"

"Young Miss. A cloud has come from the Main."

"...Who came?"

The woman's voice became even softer, and also lowered further. So that ears that might be on the walls wouldn't hear.

"I haven't confirmed yet."

"The location?"

"First Ground."

"First Ground!? Did you just say First Ground?"

"Yes, Young Miss. And—"

The woman was already quite surprised, but it seemed there was more to tell as Jang Ga-heun continued speaking.

"And?"

"Today, two more people whose identities couldn't be determined entered the Alliance."

"Two people? Are they those the Alliance Leader sent invitation cards to directly?"

"One seems so, but the other doesn't seem to be."

"Explain."

"One went to Cheontong Hall as soon as he arrived and is having a private meeting with the Alliance Leader, and the other... headed to Jibin Pavilion together with the Breaking Heaven Hegemon Blade whose whereabouts had recently been unclear."

"One is having a private meeting with the Alliance Leader? And the other appeared together with the Breaking Heaven Hegemon Blade and headed to Jibin Pavilion?"

"Yes, Young Miss."

A peculiar smile appeared on the woman's face upon hearing Jang Ga-heun's answer.

"...A cloud suddenly appeared, and two more variables have emerged. Hoho. Good. Very good."

"...."

"I was worried about what to do if the Heavenly Youth Martial Arts Tournament was utterly boring, but it seems my concern was unfounded. This martial arts tournament will be unexpectedly interesting."

Perhaps very, very much so.

"...When will you go to meet them?"

Whom... didn't need to be added. It was merely a matter of order. She would meet all three anyway.

"I should go greet them now."

"Yes, Young Miss."

The woman left the bathroom and slowly walked toward Muhwa Gate.

The choice of the word greeting. And Muhwa Gate.

With that, the first of the three the woman would meet was decided.

***

The man was waiting for the woman at 'First Ground.'

With his arms crossed and eyes closed, his appearance was so motionless that he might seem dead.

First Ground.

This place had existed since long ago, but those who knew of it were extremely rare, and most of them had died. Now, only dozens knew about this secret place, and even fewer could enter.

The man being here meant he was also one of them.

Would the radius be thirty meters?

The entire interior space of First Ground was rippling alive like the twitching scar on the man's cheek.

Trees, stones, earth, sand, and the sky—everything surrounding him was distorted like a desert mirage. The only thing maintaining its form intact in this mysterious space was him alone.

Wooong—

At some moment, a hole opened with a strange sound in one spot directly in front of the man.

Step.

One small foot entered through the hole into the space. The hole gradually grew larger and naturally revealed the owner of the foot's entire body.

Another person who set foot in this strange space, First Ground.

It was precisely the woman who had left through Muhwa Gate a moment ago.

"You came."

The man's voice was rough, as if speaking with a handful of sand in his mouth.

"...."

The woman could recall the man's identity from that voice. Though the man's appearance had changed very much from what she remembered, only that grating voice that scraped at people's hearts remained the same.

"Gwang-un. So it was you."

Gwang-un. The woman called the man that.

The man, Gwang-un, looked at the woman with eyes as rough and unrefined as his voice and said.

"The Soldier Eccentric has come to the Murim Alliance."

"...."

Gwang-un brought up the main point immediately without a single word of greeting. But the woman didn't care. She knew all too well that Gwang-un was originally such a person.

More importantly, the fact that the Soldier Eccentric had appeared at the Murim Alliance was significant.

The 'Three Holy Lights incident' that occurred when plotting against the Namgung Family.

After that, Flying Cloud, Gray Shadow, and Water Shadow went down below the cliff to find the party involved in Three Holy Lights who might possibly be alive, but....

They failed to find them.

Eventually, those three including many other Clouds and Shadows focused on pursuing the Three Eccentrics' movements. Probably the fruits of that effort had finally been borne now.

"Where is he?"

The subject was the Soldier Eccentric. Something easily guessed without asking.

"Well. Recently, several people with ambiguous identities have entered the Murim Alliance, so even I can't tell who everyone is."

Two more were added today. But the woman didn't bother mentioning that.

"Do you want to die?"

Was saying the single word "well" some great capital crime? Pitch-black murderous light exploded from Gwang-un's eyes.

However, receiving Gwang-un's domineering energy that seemed capable of killing an ordinary person with just his gaze, the woman instead laughed loudly.

Moreover,

"Hahaha. Yes. That's just like Gwang-un."

Her voice changed. The soft, thin voice became thick and masculine... no, became a completely male voice.

At that, killing intent far more intense than before gushed out strand by strand from Gwang-un's body.

The interior of First Ground instantly sank as if suffocating.

"My sword doesn't speak many words. Transformed Shadow."

Transformed Shadow. Gwang-un called the woman that.

The woman, Transformed Shadow, opened her mouth after clenching and unclenching her fists as if her hands were itching. She—no, he—originally liked adventure and fighting. But that was only when certainty was guaranteed. As far as he knew, there were only a few within the Main who could defeat that 'mad Cloud' with a sword. If it was like that over ten years ago, the gap must have widened even more now.

"Hoho... Haha. I really don't know either. As you know, these days people are flooding into the Murim Alliance every single day."

It wasn't a lie. Because of the Heavenly Youth Martial Arts Tournament, truly many people had recently surged into the Murim Alliance. The identities of most of them had been determined, but the identities of a very small number hadn't been discovered yet. There were even a few who had secretly entered the Murim Alliance without going through Muhwa Gate. Whether they were spies planted by Heavenly Demon Castle, or figures the Murim Alliance Leader had secretly brought in, completely unknown... such figures. Perhaps... Mubon's secretly operated 'Shadows' might be included too....

Moreover, what was even more interesting was that Hyeoncheon Jinin knew about that fact to a considerable extent. Yet he was leaving it alone, so he must have some scheme.

'The Soldier Eccentric must be one of them too.'

Transformed Shadow also truly didn't know that the Soldier Eccentric had entered the Murim Alliance. Probably if he hadn't heard from Gwang-un, he would have been unaware of that existence for quite a long time, or unable to determine it.

Gwang-un glared at Transformed Shadow's eyes a bit longer before opening his mouth again.

"I'll trust you. However, if it's a lie...."

"If it is?"

"I'll kill you."

"Hahaha, hoho. I look forward to it, yes."

This statement of Transformed Shadow's was also not a lie. Though it seemed he couldn't defeat Gwang-un, it also seemed he could.

There's no peerless warrior in the Murim. It didn't seem he would lose to Gwang-un who had only now drawn his sword that had been rotting within the Main in this rough Murim. Because the Murim wasn't a place where one could guarantee victory solely based on the superiority or inferiority of martial arts....

If he couldn't win, he just needed to make it so he could win and then fight. That's why he looked forward to it. A possible fight with Gwang-un.

Transformed Shadow once again let out a bizarre laugh that couldn't tell if it was from a woman or man.

"Hahahoho."

Gwang-un, as if no further conversation was necessary, passed by Transformed Shadow and moved his steps toward the hole he had opened. While saying.

"From now on, I will take control of the Outer Shadows here."

"Do as you wish."

Transformed Shadow, who had already recovered the woman's voice, answered with a bright smile. Anyway, Gwang-un's words, having come down under Mubon's orders, were law here now. Of course, the real power holder in this Zhengzhou would still be himself.

Still, there was something curious.

What exactly would Gwang-un do to capture the Soldier Eccentric?

"What do you plan to do from now on?"

At Transformed Shadow's words, Gwang-un stopped right in front of the hole. Due to the rippling wall, he also seemed to be moving, but he was clearly standing still.

"I'll participate in the tournament."

With those words, Gwang-un completely disappeared from First Ground.

"Participate in the tournament? The Heavenly Youth Martial Arts Tournament?"

Who?

"That Gwang-un? Directly? Ha... Hahahahahaha! Good. Good. Hohohohoho!"

Transformed Shadow laughed madly as if something was amusing.

Even after that, Transformed Shadow's bizarre laughter that couldn't tell if it was from a woman or man echoed for a long time inside First Ground. Of course, no one could hear it.

-x-X-x-

City That Never Sleeps.

When spring arrives, it's the same for any city, but here in Zhengzhou too, the night disappears. Everyone who had shrunk back during winter rushes outside all at once and strolls through the streets day and night.

Among all the cities under heaven, Zhengzhou was currently probably the brightest and most bustling place. Because not only the people within Zhengzhou, but young talents of the Martial World from the Nine Provinces were gathering like clouds to make their martial names known.

Due to the far too many people who had flocked here, inns and restaurants had long since reached saturation. Needless to say about taverns. Any place where one could avoid the somewhat chilly spring breeze was full to capacity.

Nevertheless, people continued to pack in relentlessly.

Then where would the remaining people who couldn't secure lodging go? Anyway, wouldn't they have to endure until the day when the Heavenly Youth Martial Arts Tournament that was making Zhengzhou into a city where lights don't go out was held?

Some paid extra money to temporarily entrust themselves to private homes, while others avoided the night dew by smelling the scent of women's flesh and powder in blue houses or red houses.

And those who remained after that?

Sleeping outdoors. Indeed, the last resort was the street.

Sprawled anywhere here and there, that place becomes their bed. Still, since it was spring, it wasn't cold enough to freeze to death.

They were martial artists of the Murim. In the dusty Martial World, what were the wind and dust of the streets?

But that was the thinking of the homeless sleeping outdoors, and the reality was different. When night fell, quarrels over street positions between homeless Martial World people occurred quite often. Normally, all these people should be dragged to the government office, but now was a special period. And since most of these homeless people were Murim people, it was difficult for the government to handle.

Therefore, the Murim Alliance was handling the chaotic security of Zhengzhou by releasing martial artists even at this late hour. Naturally, even for the Murim Alliance, completely solving it was beyond their capacity.

Moreover, among the guests of the Murim Alliance who had come after receiving Murim missives, some were also setting out for night excursions into this chaotic Zhengzhou city at midnight....

Truly a City of Sleepless Chaos.

And.

In such chaotic Zhengzhou city, among the excursion visitors for killing boredom, Dong Bong-su was also included. Of course, it goes without saying that his purpose was completely different from other excursion visitors.

***

***

One hour earlier.

Eulji-tae first guided Dong Bong-su to Jibin Pavilion and then headed to Cheontong Hall alone. Strictly speaking, Dong Bong-su was not a guest of the Alliance but a personal guest of the Soldier Eccentric.

When the two passed through Muhwa Gate and entered the Murim Alliance, the day had already ended, so entrance to Cheontong Hall by outsiders was strictly forbidden. Though Eulji-tae was the leader of the Martial World Protection Corps, he couldn't bring Dong Bong-su into Cheontong Hall.

In the end, they decided to go meet the Soldier Eccentric after dawn tomorrow, and Eulji-tae entered the Inner Court alone.

After that, Dong Bong-su briefly left Jibin Pavilion and strolled through the Murim Alliance's Outer Court. With the temporary identification tag and access permit that Eulji-tae had given him, no one blocked his movements.

He traversed every corner of the Murim Alliance's Outer Court, storing in his mind every single person he met at every step.

All these actions were a kind of 'map exploration.'

For most gamers, this is the very first thing they do when arriving at an unknown dungeon or hunting ground for the first time.

Though Dong Bong-su was not a gaming expert, he was instinctively acting like a skilled gamer. In fact, just like gaming, the basics of hunting also started with first familiarizing oneself with the surrounding geography where prey resided, so in a way, the two had many similarities.

Above all.

This itself was a game to him.

New Murim Online.

Another world now engraved in his soul, a hunting ground, and a goal.

This place, Zhengzhou.

Was nothing other than a new 'hunting field' in New Murim Online.

Besides Dong Bong-su, there were quite a few others strolling freely within the Alliance like him. Among them, some were heading out through Muhwa Gate to the prosperous district of Zhengzhou city. When his exploration of the Murim Alliance's Outer Court was somewhat complete, he naturally followed them outside the Alliance.

With the identification tag pinned to his left chest collar—attached by Eulji-tae before leaving—he could enter anywhere except the Murim Alliance's Inner Court. A kind of pass.

Map exploration wasn't limited simply to dungeons. If the Murim Alliance was a dungeon, then Zhengzhou city was the 'Field.' In preparation for any situation, it was good to perfectly grasp the geography of Zhengzhou city as well.

And the next thing to do was confirm the 'mobs' roaming around that 'Field,' and ultimately confirm the 'boss mobs.'

Especially, in cases like now where his level had risen considerably, confirming only boss mobs might be sufficient.

He had gone through all this process when he first arrived in Datong as well. And the supreme master of Datong he met then—the boss mob in gaming terms—was precisely the Soldier Eccentric.

Particularly, the boss mobs of this place, Zhengzhou, would mostly be concentrated inside the dungeon that was the Murim Alliance's Inner Court, but there was a high possibility that some had been additionally deployed to the field to match this 'Heavenly Youth Martial Arts Tournament event.'

Dong Bong-su headed to the field to find them.

If this were a real online game, he could pull up all their specs with a single 'Alt + Tab'....

As expected, this place was the real Murim.

Inside New Murim Online.

That's why Dong Bong-su liked it more.

***

***

Just as he had found the Soldier Eccentric in Datong, Dong Bong-su once again meticulously scanned and toured Zhengzhou city.

Those sprawled here and there were mostly worthless types. Moreover, like very spoiled house cats, those who hadn't even realized the fact that they had come outside their homes. Having only caught house mice under the eaves, they knew nothing of the harshness of the world and were flashing their eyes at just anyone.

The people Dong Bong-su was looking for were not such domesticated cats.

Predators, carnivores, or gluttons were needed.

Dong Bong-su steadily proceeded with his exploration. He searched not for the low-grade killing intent of neighborhood cats, but for the refined instincts of higher feline animals. Or, special and unique cases like Jong Ji-hang would be good. Even better.

Anyone would be welcome if they were proper prey.

In fact, there were several prey who stimulated Dong Bong-su's Energy Sense. But they weren't the prey he wanted, the prey he wanted in this New Murim Online.

There was no stimulation from Spirit Eyes.

This was the biggest change in him since coming to this world. Now, simple predators were far from being his prey. Just being a predator now couldn't even become a tasty hunting target. They had to be strong.

Strong and cruel. If not that....

They had to be at least strong. If they were maddeningly strong....

That alone would make them the best prey. Now.

He too was gradually learning the taste of fighting, the pleasure of combat itself. The battle with Timur Khan last time gave him a different taste. The sense of exhilaration in extremely fierce combat, in life-or-death fights.

That was the best.

Dong Bong-su was looking for such a target, an opponent who could be like that.

However,

Lv. 35.

Was it because he had become far too strong?

Even though the Hour of the Pig (9 PM - 11 PM), when the gatekeepers of Muhwa Gate had warned him to definitely return, was almost over, he hadn't met a single such person.

He had passed many strong people, but hadn't found anyone strong enough to whet his appetite.

Even until then, Spirit Eyes remained far too quiet.

'Do I really have to look among those who received invitation cards from the Murim Alliance?'

Dong Bong-su had grown that strong.

Though he hadn't found exciting prey, he thought this was fine in its own way too.

After all, even in games, when one reaches high level, most players spend all their time on 'Boss Time,' running dungeons, PVP (Player Vs Player), PK, and such.

Now it was just time for him to do that too.

Now....

Time to hunt only real monsters.

Dong Bong-su decided to return to the Murim Alliance once field exploration was finished. Further searching seemed like a waste of time.

Just as he was about to conclude that among the mobs newly joined to this 'Zhengzhou Field,' there were no boss-level ones, at that very instant!

[The activation conditions for Spirit Eyes have been met and Spirit Eyes will automatically activate.]

[An enemy with a level difference of 10 or more from you has approached within 20 meters.]

Ding ding ding ding, ding-a-ling-a-ling-a-ling....

"...!"

The mechanical sound of Spirit Eyes, now somewhat unfamiliar, shook his mind.

Click.

He stopped his steps. Then immediately entered confirmation mode to see precisely what was within a 20-meter radius.

Current position: approximately 25° northwest, 4km from the Murim Alliance.

Taverns lined up left and right along a width of about 10 meters. A prosperous district so packed that there was no room to set foot even at this late night.

Right now too, a group of drunken people were staggering toward him. Nevertheless, the number '20' that Spirit Eyes reported remained fixed. Proof that among those groups, there was no prey that bothered Spirit Eyes' nerves.

He slightly shifted his steps to the left and naturally avoided the group. But that one small step made the warning sound stop abruptly.

'If the warning sound stopped because I moved away to the left....'

'The prey is on the right.'

Dong Bong-su turned his head to the right. Between the heads of drunks passing by him stood one small two-story building.

Nangnang Tavern.

The plaque announced the building's name.

Dong Bong-su quickly scanned the building from top to bottom, then moved a step toward its entrance.

-x-X-x-

Along with the moonlight, the interior of the building was clearly visible through lanterns and torches illuminating various places. It was packed full of people like other taverns or inns.

[20]

One step.

When he closed the same distance he had moved earlier, the warning sound returned.

'It's certain.'

The person presumed to be prey is inside that tavern.

Dong Bong-su entered, calculating the 20-meter distance by eye.

1 meter, 2 meters....

20 meters.

Near the entrance. But at the entrance, there was no one except the tavern boy. Which meant...?

'Hiding?'

Position?

'Slightly above or below the entrance. But below is blocked by the building's lower foundation.'

The enemy is above the entrance.

Dong Bong-su raised his head and looked up above the entrance. Naturally, blocked by the outer wall, he couldn't see inside. Because he didn't have clairvoyant abilities. However, the enemy must surely be clinging to the inner wall of the tavern.

But if a person was clinging there, shouldn't everyone's eyes in the tavern normally be drawn there? Because normally, a person clinging above a building's entrance itself doesn't make sense.

However, among the drinking patrons inside Nangnang Tavern, no one found this strange. Everyone was simply laughing and chattering while drinking. Not even one person was giving their gaze in that direction.

Step, step.

Dong Bong-su slowly approached the tavern.

19, 18, 17....

The distance narrowed.

[2]

"Welcome, customer."

When Spirit Eyes indicated 2, the tavern boy greeted him warmly. The distance to the boy was less than 1 meter. The tavern boy was not prey.

Dong Bong-su entered the bustling interior and pretended to look for a seat while turning his head to look toward the entrance. Of course, it goes without saying that while pretending to look straight ahead, he looked up above the entrance.

'...!'

Because light barely reached there and a wall dividing the first and second floors blocked it, deep shadow was cast on that position. Even so, it wasn't enough to completely block his vision, which had improved due to leveling up in the meantime.

And yet....

He couldn't see anything. Meaning his eyes couldn't discern the opponent's presence at all.

'Is that what they call Concealment Arts?'

In the North, he had occasionally encountered enemies who hid in the ground and popped out, or disguised themselves while covered with straw mats. But there had never been a case where he couldn't notice so perfectly. To the point where he couldn't recognize it even with both eyes wide open....

If Spirit Eyes hadn't existed, he wouldn't have known at all what was hiding there.

'Could I reach that level too?'

What does that mean?

Does it mean he too can use Concealment Arts?

That's right. In fact, after killing Timur Khan, Dong Bong-su had leveled up several times. Naturally there were big changes, and among them were several skills.

Among them was the skill [Concealment Arts].

[Concealment Arts Lv.1 Proficiency: 30.0%]

The swords of the Martial World have no eyes. Among them especially, the swords of swordsmen of Wanderer origin who climbed up from the bottom of the Murim are even more so. To wield such swords, sometimes one needs to hide one's body. Also, to avoid such swords, the technique of concealment is absolutely necessary.

Upon activation, the player's body perfectly assimilates with the surrounding environment. However, Concealment Arts are immediately canceled the moment one moves or uses a skill.

Energy Consumption per Second: 10 JP

It wasn't that he hadn't tried using it, but since he hadn't confirmed it while looking in a mirror, he couldn't verify precisely what degree of effect it had.

If it was proven to have that degree of efficacy, it might be quite useful in actual combat.

But what was important right now wasn't actually that.

Why.

'Why is a master of that level hiding so secretly in such a place?'

Assassination?

He thought that briefly, but the possibility was low. In Zhengzhou right now at this hour, what important figure would appear in such a place? If they were going to appear, they would have come already, and the location probably wouldn't be here either.

Dong Bong-su continued thinking.

Then, what other work could be done while hiding there?

Dark shadow within shadow. Yin... dark....

Work that must be done while hiding in darkness.

Many thoughts came to mind, but if not assassination, there was one other thing.

'Secret protection.'

In a situation like now, other possibilities were slim.

"Excuse me... customer. Would you be alright with sharing a table?"

There were no empty seats, and it didn't look like any would open soon. Then the tavern boy naturally asked about sharing tables. A common business tactic found anywhere. The tavern boy knew from the start that there were no seats in the tavern, and probably intended this from the beginning when guiding him inside.

But right now for Dong Bong-su, whether sharing tables or not, securing a seat and such weren't important.

'Who?'

He wanted to find the target worthy of protection by the master hidden in darkness. Probably that person was the real 'event mob' newly participating in this field.

"Excuse me, customer?"

Regardless of what the tavern boy said, Dong Bong-su paid no attention and just traversed the tavern's interior. According to Dong Bong-su's movements, the distance Spirit Eyes reported changed irregularly.

But the amount of change sometimes had nothing to do with the distance from the entrance. Which meant there was another master inside the tavern.

'As expected....'

Must be the protection target of the master hiding above the entrance.

Dong Bong-su narrowed down the target in accordance with Spirit Eyes' warning sound. The tavern boy still kept asking if he would share a table, but that was none of his concern.

Dong Bong-su's eyes indifferently poked around inside the tavern.

The bearded man sitting over there, the skinny guy with slit eyes in the back, the fat man right in front spewing nonsense while soaked in alcohol.

None of them.

Dong Bong-su's eyes continued scanning those within Spirit Eyes' range.

At some moment.

"...!"

He saw 'something.' Right. Something.

It was difficult to express that with any other words.

Dong Bong-su had never seen such an existence in his previous life or this life. Completely different from Tang O, Eulji-tae, or the Soldier Eccentric who were among the Twenty Great Masters under Heaven, and different from Jong Ji-hang whom he had seen recently.

Above all... some existence clearly distinct from Dong Bong-su himself.

That existence was sitting alone with chin propped in a corner seat of the tavern. Due to the posture, naturally 'its' gaze was fixed in one direction.

The gaze directed toward Dong Bong-su. As if it had been waiting for him, staring piercingly.

That existence.

Though dressed as a man, was clearly a woman, looked very young, and was beautiful. Because she was smiling innocently, perhaps she looked even more so.

But facing that smile like a child's, goosebumps rose all over Dong Bong-su's body. A thrilling sensation he had never felt in his entire life bound his entire body.

That thing, or rather she, stood up and approached him.

[2]

Spirit Eyes informed him that a powerful enemy had approached within 2 meters. And she was smiling brightly 2 meters in front of him.

Dong Bong-su's expression became even more languid.

'She's seeing right through me.'

It was certain. She recognized him.

And.

He also recognized her.

He couldn't know precisely what.

But he clearly noticed she was some existence beyond common sense. Like some kind of... suddenly created within this New Murim Online.

'Bug.'

She opened her mouth and spoke.

"It's the third time meeting, but every time we meet, you make me tremble incredibly. You."

"...."

Third time?

Dong Bong-su couldn't understand her words.

He never forgets people he's seen once. Yet she was saying it was the third time. And her words couldn't be lies. Though he couldn't read it, he could feel it.

It was the truth.

"Nice to meet you. I already said it twice before, but since you probably won't remember, I'll say it again, so this time definitely remember my name."

Already said it twice before...?

Again, words consistent with what she said earlier. But still, Dong Bong-su couldn't recall her.

"Yeon Yeong-ha. My name is Yeon Yeong-ha."

Yeon Yeong-ha.

Dong Bong-su heard her name for the first time. But strangely, it also felt like he had heard it. If he heard it, he heard it, but the feeling that he heard it. A peculiarity as if fragments of old memories were faintly trying to surface somewhere in his head before sinking again.

A truly unfamiliar sensation to him.

1

So he said.

"What are you?"

***

A certain gorge in Yunnan, full of rare flowers and precious plants in wild bloom.

A short old man with sharp eyes was examining flowers with his hands clasped behind his back.

Petals twinkling gently like distant stars under the moonlight.

In that endlessly wide gorge, the old man leisurely strolled alone, admiring the magnificent scenery.

Due to the moon high in the sky, his shadow was much shorter than himself, and whenever the old man moved, it moved together like a black stain rippling.

At some moment.

Though the moon couldn't possibly squirm, his shadow swayed like a flower meeting wind.

As if it had something to say.

"What is it?"

The old man said while looking down at his shadow.

"There's been a communication from Old Uncle."

The shadow answered.

The old man's eyes changed. Probably news he had been waiting for.

"Yeong-ha?"

"She has safely arrived in Zhengzhou."

"Hehehe. Safely? Did you just say safely? Do you not know who that child truly is?"

"...My apologies, Palace Lord. This subordinate momentarily forgot what kind of existence she is. Please forgive me."

"Safely. Safely."

"...."

"Hearing those words makes me think it's truly the beginning now."

"Pardon? What do you mean by that...?"

"That the world will not be at peace. From now on."

-x-X-x-

"Ah!"

"The Murim Alliance seems to have orchestrated this whole affair with some plan for that child, but from what I can see, no one will be able to do anything to her. Unless the Two Divinities or that unknown force hiding in the shadows makes a move."

"..."

"However, there's one more thing that concerns me..."

The old man withdrew his gaze from the shadow. Then he looked up at the moon and continued speaking.

"New Star. That star that had been covering that child. That's what concerns me. That star, which I thought its duty was to shield Yeong-ha until she grew up, has instead grown stronger at this point when the child entered the Martial World."

In truth, what he was looking up at wasn't the moon, but a single star hiding beside it, barely visible.

Certainly, two years ago it had lost its light and was declining, but at some point it recovered its light and now was radiating its colorless, transparent light quite strongly.

An ordinary person wouldn't have been able to see it because of the moonlight, but the old man's eyesight pierced through it precisely.

"I truly don't understand what's going on here."

The old man, Hall of Gathering Evil Palace Lord Kong Na-chu, stood there for a long while gazing at the New Star.

The 'Extreme Yin Star of Heavenly Calamity' had already hidden behind the moon and was completely invisible.

And soon.

The New Star would follow behind it and disappear behind the moon.

'When that happens, will those two clash again...?'

It could be, or it might not be.

They could coexist peacefully.

Or they could fight.

Until one of them disappears....

***

The third repetition of today.

Without fail, 'it' entered inside Nangnang Tavern.

It.

Yes. It was definitely an existence that had to be described that way.

A person, yet also something that wasn't a person.

Something different from that thing that had sunk inside her body and chattered endlessly.

Yeon Yeong-ha scanned over its eyes, just as she had done on the second loop of today. As expected, nothing could be seen.

'Indeed, is it not human?'

If it were human, there was no way it wouldn't be readable to her eyes.

Yeon Yeong-ha clasped both hands together with her elbows resting on the table, and gently laid her small face on top of them.

Though her head wasn't heavy, her hands trembled slightly. It must be because the Heavenly Calamity Energy latent deep inside her heart, down below, was trying to burst out.

That person, Dong Guang-chuan, entered the tavern just as he had on the first and second loop of today, then looked up above the entrance. He must have noticed without fail that Old Uncle was hiding there. She didn't know how that was possible. That's why he was an even more incomprehensible existence. That person was…

Dong Guang-chuan wandered around the inside of the tavern with the waiter, then his eyes met hers.

Hoot.

She smiled.

Was it because she was so glad to see him? It was the first time in her life she'd seen such an existence. No, more precisely, this was their third meeting. But in another sense, it was also like meeting for the first time. Perhaps they would meet on 'another today' as well.

Swish.

She stood up and approached Dong Guang-chuan. Then she repeated the words she'd said when meeting him on the first and second loop, changing them only slightly.

"Even though this is the third time we're meeting, you make me incredibly nervous every time. You."

"..."

Third time. Only those words had changed; everything else was identical down to the last syllable.

"Nice to meet you. I've already said this twice, but I don't think you'll remember, so I'll say it again—please remember my name this time."

Twice. Again, everything was the same as the second loop except for those words.

"Yeon Yeong-ha. My name is Yeon Yeong-ha."

This too was the same. She was teaching him her name for the third time.

His eyes sank emptily. Then he completely closed off his inner self. And with that, he was reborn as an existence that seemed present yet absent.

He was already like that originally, but now he became even more unreadable.

"What are you?"

He spoke as scheduled.

It was interesting. Usually everything becomes boring when repeated several times, but dealing with this man was fascinating. It was so fun that she wanted to keep watching and talking to him.

But it was also dangerous. Not knowing must be something like that. Though she'd never experienced it even once, she thought it was probably so.

[Kill. Kill them all.]

The Heavenly Calamity Energy inside her, having sensed the other's existence, was screaming madly trying to burst out, but she couldn't act rashly.

'Hold it in. You can't cause trouble just anywhere, anytime.'

Without answering his words, she brushed past him and walked outside Nangnang Tavern. Since she'd already learned his name on the second loop, there was no need to forcefully advertise that she knew his name.

When she looked up, the same moon she'd seen over the past three days—also one day—was rising. It was very blue. Not that it mattered anyway.

She tightly clenched her trembling hands and slowly took a step. In the direction away from Dong Guang-chuan. If she stayed here any longer, the Heavenly Calamity Energy seemed like it would run wild.

"Old Uncle."

As if responding to her words, the greatly elongated shadow rippled.

"Deploy the entire Kill Shadow Group to kill that person."

The shadow that heard her words wavered again.

"You'll only send ten from the Kill Shadow Group? No. Send them all."

"..."

"Why? I've already sent them twice, and they all got devoured. That's why."

"..."

"Hm? Worried the Murim Alliance will find out? It doesn't matter. Anyway, they already know the Hall of Gathering Evil sent someone here. They just don't know that person is me. As long as I don't move directly, that Murim Alliance Leader can never know."

"..."

"Anyway, the Central Plains is my playground starting from this very moment. Yunnan was too cramped. From now on, I need to play to my heart's content. I even found an interesting toy."

Finishing her incomprehensible muttering to herself, she mixed into the crowd of bustling people and disappeared. Her shadow, lengthened by the moonlight, also hurriedly followed behind her and hid in the darkness.

***

After she disappeared.

Dong Guang-chuan, or rather Dong Bong-soo, also came outside Nangnang Tavern. The voice of the waiter who had been following him around kindly babbling this and that changed to grumbling, but it still wasn't his concern.

He was just mulling over the words the woman named Yeon Yeong-ha had said.

'She said she'd already met me twice, and this meeting was the third time.'

What could that mean?

And.

What was it? That thing?

It wasn't the 'event mob' he'd expected. But it was certainly a monster that stimulated his interest far more than that.

The Central Plains seemed to be a far more interesting place than he'd thought. A hunting ground where more prey than he'd expected ran wild.

Perhaps there were even terrifying monsters prowling about that might hunt him in reverse.

'Perhaps one of them is already thinking of me as prey and targeting me.'

If I saw myself....

Need it be said? I would have lost sleep discovering the ultimate prey. Probably she would be the same.

Thud.

Having thought that far, Dong Bong-soo took one step south to return to the Murim Alliance.

"..."

It was the point when the liveliness of the street meeting the peak season was slowly dying down. The Hour of the Pig was ending and the Hour of the Rat (11:00 PM to 1:00 AM) of the next day was approaching.

"Heh heh heh."

Suddenly, Dong Bong-soo chuckled lowly.

He felt a sense of incongruity from the entire street. Though he'd never experienced it, he instinctively knew why.

A faint and unpleasant Energy Sense pervading the entire street. Terribly low-grade killing intent. However, killing intent was killing intent. Dozens of such things clumping together and pressing down on him made his skin tingle slightly.

"Have I become prey? Sent by Yeon Yeong-ha, no doubt."

It was 100%. There was no need to think 'already.' It was the natural course of action. However, if it were him, he would have come out personally, so only that point was different.

In any case, being prey wasn't necessarily an entirely bad feeling. The stabbing touch of killing intent felt refreshingly invigorating, like a full-body massage.

Though it was a bit disappointing.

"If you're going to send them, you should have sent more delicious ones."

Spirit Eyes was quiet. Anticlimactically so. If they were at that level, they would hardly help with experience points.

One, two, three, four....

He counted the number of faintly felt killing intents.

Forty-three.

Forty-three trashy killing intents were hidden in every corner of the street. Walls, ground, roofs were radiating hostility toward him.

Probably the moment he tried to leave the street, their attack would begin.

Dong Bong-soo stopped walking completely.

It wasn't because he was afraid of fighting or anything. The fight itself was the problem. There were too many eyes here. Moreover, it was impossible to eliminate all those eyes.

Though New Murim Online was filled with blood and death, that blood had to be accompanied by justification. Death without justification brings resentment and hatred.

The justification given or to be given to him now was at best being ambushed by enemies. He had no justification to freely kill those homeless Murim people sprawled out sleeping over there or people enjoying a night outing.

The 'fake hero' he would have to wear for a while from now on must never slaughter innocent people—by the common standards of this place.

But he couldn't avoid fighting either. Moreover, showing everything wasn't a wise choice either.

After thinking a bit more, Dong Bong-soo made a decision. Anyway, those killing intents Yeon Yeong-ha sent were a tasting, a probing.

He just needed to show a glimpse.

However, that glimpse would be short and intense, so next time she came to probe, she might be too scared to even taste.