Chapter 26: A Bond That Touched Across the Past
“As you know, that alone cannot make the master and disciple into complete victims.”
At the words of the Wudang Sect Master, Chang Myeongja bowed his head.
“I know. To make that happen, we need someone who can claim to be a direct victim. For example, my grandmaster or someone like myself.”
That meant that Unyeon Jinren, who had raised the Taiji Sword Emperor, or Chang Myeongja himself, a disciple of the Taiji Sword Emperor, would have to step forward.
From the standpoint of the Vice Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult who had killed the Taiji Sword Emperor, he would inevitably become the perpetrator when facing Unyeon Jinren, who was like a father to the Taiji Sword Emperor, or Chang Myeongja, who was like his child.
“However, Uncle-Master Unyeon would find it difficult to deal with the elders.”
“I am aware of that as well. My grandmaster is far too advanced in years to contend with the elders. Thus, if Uncle-Master Sect Leader permits it, though I am lacking, I would like to go in his stead.”
At Chang Myeongja’s words, the Sect Master looked at him with a heavy gaze.
“What is done with the head and what is felt when hearts collide are different matters. Even if you face him directly, can you truly maintain your composure?”
It was a concern that, having gone to negotiate, he might instead swing his sword in vengeful fury over the loss of his master.
To the Sect Master’s worry, Chang Myeongja answered,
“I know well how insufficient I am. I will chew down my resentment inside, and for the sake of the future, I will smile outwardly.”
After confirming the elders nodding at Chang Myeongja’s words, the Sect Master spoke.
“Very well. I will trust those words and entrust this matter to you.”
“I will do my utmost.”
Chang Myeongja, who performed a deep clasped-fist salute, was watched by the Wudang Sect Master and the elders with gazes that were both regretful and proud.
Yul Han, who was staying in a pavilion that had originally been the residence of the Martial Alliance’s Elder Jaehwa, gazed blankly through the window at the martial artists cleaning up the burned and collapsed guesthouse.
It was work that could have been assigned to laborers, yet for some reason the Martial Alliance had mobilized martial artists for the task.
Cold Blade Blood, watching over Yul Han’s shoulder from behind, spoke gruffly.
“Bastards. Are they afraid we’ll lay a hand on it if they send laborers?”
“No, it’s because of those buried underneath.”
At Flashing Light Blood’s abrupt interjection, Cold Blade Blood asked,
“Buried underneath?”
“Yes. There must be people buried there who were caught in the explosion they themselves caused and died.”
“So they used martial artists to hide the fact that they killed their own people with their own hands?”
“If they were truly their own people, there’d have been no need to exclude laborers just to prevent word from leaking out.”
Only then did Cold Blade Blood grasp what Flashing Light Blood was getting at, and a look of contempt crept onto his face.
“Assassins!”
“Exactly. They’re trying to hide the fact that they hired assassins.”
“Tch. Those Hundred Paths bastards, always cracking pumpkin seeds behind your back—what a bunch of scheming snakes.”
At that criticism of the Hundred Paths, Yul Han’s eyes sank deeply. As before, it felt as though the words were being directed at him.
To Yul Han, Cold Blade Blood cautiously asked,
“Setting aside those Hundred Paths bastards cracking seeds behind our backs, is it really fine for us to just wait like this?”
“And what do you think we should do?”
Still keeping his gaze outside the window as he asked, Yul Han received Cold Blade Blood’s reply.
“I think we ought to leave this place before those bastards start another round of dirty schemes……”
“If we do that, we’ll just be running away while piling up even more grudges, without resolving anything regarding the Taiji Sword Emperor.”
“I don’t like that either, but if we end up getting caught in some other vile plot……”
“Even then, we would just end up fighting again. In any case, whether we leave now and fighting breaks out, or we stay here and fall into their schemes again and fight, it amounts to the same thing.”
At Yul Han’s words, Cold Blade Blood wanted to say no. Even if fighting was inevitable, the circumstances would be different.
At the very least, they wouldn’t be forced into a hopeless battle, surrounded by enemies, with only the three of them.
But upon meeting Yul Han’s slowly turning, murderous gaze, he dared not voice such words.
Turning his eyes away from the now-silent Cold Blade Blood, Yul Han once more looked out the window.
Watching Yul Han’s back, Cold Blade Blood thought that perhaps the Vice Cult Leader might actually be hoping for exactly that.
Perhaps he intended to slaughter all the Hundred Paths experts who would swarm in under the pretense of a trap.
Judging by the power the Vice Cult Leader had shown since his last battle with the Taiji Sword Emperor, it didn’t seem entirely impossible.
Of course, in the process, Flashing Light Blood and he himself would likely die. Well, without that level of sacrifice, it would be impossible to devour all the Hundred Paths experts anyway.
If it turned out that way, the exchange rate wouldn’t be bad at all. Once he thought that, Cold Blade Blood’s heart felt lighter.
Perhaps because of that, he found himself curious as to what Yul Han, who only stared outside the window, was watching so intently.
“By the way, Vice Cult Leader, what are you watching so closely?”
“I am watching people pour their sincerity into something transient.”
“Yes?”
Not quite understanding the meaning, Cold Blade Blood cautiously leaned over Yul Han’s shoulder to look outside the window, then asked again.
“Is the Martial Alliance’s martial artists clearing away the burned and collapsed guesthouse what you mean by something transient?”
“How could clearing the debris of a collapsed building be meaningless?”
“Then is it hiding the corpses of the assassins that is……?”
“…….”
Seeing Yul Han silently nod in response to his question, Cold Blade Blood asked,
“It seems natural to hide it, since it goes against what they usually preach……”
“Is that truly natural?”
“Isn’t it……?”
“If you knew it was not righteousness, you should not have hidden it. Yet they are so busy concealing it like that, meaning that once again they are committing an act that betrays righteousness. And they pour such sincerity into it. It seems they still do not realize that they are shoving their own value into a cesspit with their own hands. Just like someone from the past.”
“Whom are you referring to……?”
At Cold Blade Blood’s cautious question, Yul Han merely held a bitter smile and gave no answer.
Seeing that, Cold Blade Blood worried that he might have asked an unnecessary question and offended the Vice Cult Leader’s mood, so he closed his mouth and withdrew.
Thus, in the room that grew quiet once more, Yul Han gazed absentmindedly at the martial artists of the Martial Alliance, who were earnestly devoted to a transient task, just as he himself had been in the past.
After Yul Han’s group waited like that for three days, the Alliance Leader requested a meeting with Yul Han.
Leaving behind Cold Blade Blood and Flashing Light Blood, who had wished to accompany him, Yul Han once again headed alone toward the Alliance Leader’s residence under the guidance of the strategist, Jegal Giyeon.
Unlike before, this time martial artists and attendants were stationed along the path leading to the Alliance Leader’s residence.
In particular, the gazes of the Martial Alliance’s martial artists placed at key points were not only sharp but rough and savage.
Well, to them, Yul Han was a mortal enemy whom they could never be satisfied with even if they chewed him to pieces.
As Yul Han walked along the path under the fierce stares of the Martial Alliance’s martial artists, he suddenly stopped.
Then, turning around, he approached one of the Martial Alliance’s martial artists.
Startled by Yul Han’s sudden action, the surrounding martial artists were about to surge forward, but Jegal Giyeon, who was guiding him, hurriedly raised his hand to stop them.
It was because he feared that even that small action might escalate again into a clash with the Vice Cult Leader.
Thanks to the strategist’s swift response, Yul Han came face to face with the Martial Alliance martial artist he wanted and asked,
“What is your name?”
At Yul Han’s abrupt question, the Martial Alliance martial artist was flustered, and Jegal Giyeon said,
“Answer him.”
Perhaps because of the strategist’s words, the questioned martial artist answered reluctantly.
“Cheol-yong. Na Cheol-yong.”
Perhaps out of pride that a righteous hero could not use honorifics toward a demonic lord, the martial artist spoke in plain speech, and Yul Han stepped one pace closer.
“Your origin?”
Asked with eyes full of killing intent, Yul Han’s question felt as though it meant, ‘I will wash your impudent sect in blood.’
Even so, Na Cheol-yong answered obediently, for reasons known only to himself.
“I am from the Righteous Will Sect of Guizhou.”
At Na Cheol-yong’s answer, Yul Han closed his eyes.
To those watching, it looked as though he was committing it to memory, perhaps intending to finish things on his way back.
Then Yul Han’s closed eyes opened.
“What was your father’s given name?”
At Yul Han’s question, Na Cheol-yong became certain. His name, his origin, and now even his father’s name—this was clearly for revenge.
It was an endlessly frightening situation, yet there was nothing left to fear.
Honestly, even if one spoke of his sect of origin, it had already declined beyond recovery, leaving only himself, the sect master’s son.
Moreover, his father had passed away thirty years ago, dying in a battle against a demonic lord.
In that fight, the Righteous Will Sect lost not only his father, who had been the sect master, but also all of his uncles by righteousness, who had been elders.
Because of that incident, there were no notable martial artists left in the Righteous Will Sect.
His mother had passed away before that, and his uncles by righteousness had left no families. On top of that, the few remaining disciples had all departed over ten years ago, leaving no one behind.
In other words, even if the Vice Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult sought revenge, there was no one left for him to further slaughter.
Thus, having resolved himself to death, Na Cheol-yong had nothing more to lose. That was why the voice with which he answered was quite dignified.
“My late father’s given name was Na Seok.”
“Your late father…… yes, indeed…….”
Yul Han nodded as though he already knew, swept his gaze up and down Na Cheol-yong, and then said,
“Take hold of your sword.”
Na Cheol-yong did not even notice that Yul Han’s manner of speech had shifted to informal.
He judged that the man intended to take revenge on the spot.
Na Cheol-yong did not even want to ask why he had been singled out. Why were demonic lords demonic lords? They were a breed that engaged in bloodshed even without reason.
And this was a fight against such a demonic lord.
It would be a lie to say he did not fear death, but Na Cheol-yong did not want to be ashamed. Just as his late father and many uncles by righteousness had done, dying while fighting a demonic lord would itself be righteousness and chivalry.
If one’s life had been chivalry, then was it not acceptable to die as well?
Grinding his teeth as he recalled his sect’s teachings, Na Cheol-yong boldly drew his sword.
“Come at me! You demonic bastard!”
It was fine up to the point of boldly drawing his sword and shouting, but the hand holding the sword trembled minutely.
Angered by the thought that he had shown disgrace, Na Cheol-yong bit his lower lip and steadied his mind.
Watching him quietly, Yul Han stepped back one pace.
“You resemble your father and your uncles by righteousness, staking your life on futile acts.”
“How dare you disgrace my father and my uncles by righteousness!”
Shouting angrily and taking a stance as though he would strike at any moment, Na Cheol-yong was watched by Yul Han, who shook his head.
“When taking the opening stance, I told you to spread your left foot half a span wider.”
Cheol-yong. When you take the opening stance of the Righteous Will Sword Art, you must spread your left foot about half a span wider than now. Follow this uncle by righteousness. Like this.
As if responding to the words the Vice Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult had just thrown out, a scene suddenly sprang forth from the depths of Na Cheol-yong’s memories, and his eyes widened in shock.
To such a Na Cheol-yong, Yul Han’s Mental Voice Transmission was delivered.
—Whether at five years old or now, nothing about you has changed. You really are something. Come to my residence later.
After tossing out only that clipped Mental Voice Transmission, Yul Han left behind a smile akin to that of a ferocious beast just before devouring its prey, then turned and continued on his way.
Watching Yul Han depart and Na Cheol-yong standing there with a vacant expression, Jegal Giyeon hurriedly followed after the Vice Cult Leader, who had gone some distance ahead.
Once Yul Han and the strategist had moved far away, the surrounding Martial Alliance martial artists approached Na Cheol-yong.
“Are you okay?”
“Did you get hit by some kind of Infiltration State?”
“What’s wrong with you? Why do you look like someone who’s been struck by dark sorcery?”
Surrounded by the worried voices of his comrades, Na Cheol-yong, who wore a vacant expression after the Vice Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult had left, could not say a single word.
When taking the opening stance, I told you to spread your left foot half a span wider.
The words the Vice Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult had spoken earlier continued to echo in Na Cheol-yong’s ears.