0073 : Demon Subduing Hall
A few days after attaining enlightenment in martial arts, I once again met Han Baek-ryeong under the guidance of Han Jin-seong. Uncharacteristically, this time Han Baek-ryeong was dressed in formal evening attire, suggesting she had just returned from somewhere. Upon seeing me, she spoke.
“I’ve done some research, and it seems you’re not a disciple of the Azure Dragon after all. He has a disciple named Jin So-cheong, who is another genius on par with Jin-seong. Honestly, I find myself somewhat envious.”
I realized that Han Baek-ryeong’s quiet demeanor was actually a cover for her thorough investigation of me. To be able to speak so confidently indicated that she had gathered a considerable amount of information.
“Before we talk, I have a question to ask.”
Han Baek-ryeong looked at me with her transparent eyes devoid of emotion.
“Do you not wish to become a part of our Han Clan, rather than just a guest?”
“What do you mean all of a sudden?”
“I’m saying I can grant you the power you desire so desperately. I do not know who your targets for revenge are, but I can assist you in that regard, as long as it falls within the limits of your wishes. In exchange, you must pledge your absolute loyalty to the Han Clan, and at times, you may have to stake your life.”
“……”
I pondered for a moment before speaking.
“Becoming part of a clan implies a blood connection, so are you saying…?”
“I intend to give you Ji-hwa as your partner. She is one of the Four Beauties of Luoyang, known for her exceptional beauty and talent, and is a source of pride for our clan. To be honest, I think she is even too good for you.”
“……!!”
I was taken aback. During my long stay as a guest in the Han Clan, I had heard stories about her.
The Four Beauties of Luoyang!
They referred to the most noble and beautiful maidens from renowned martial arts families within Luoyang. I had caught a glimpse of Han Ji-hwa from afar; she had an alluring figure and delicate, sculpted beauty. If I had to compare her to a flower, she resembled a poppy, a beauty capable of making any young man’s heart race.
To be honest, my looks were rather unremarkable due to my youth, and it would become more apparent in a few years. An average maiden from a respectable family might even turn away in disdain. To match a Four Beauty of Luoyang as a partner would surely create an imbalance. Stammering, I replied,
“W-wait a moment. Is there no say from Ji-hwa in this matter?”
“Ji-hwa is prepared to do whatever it takes for the clan. It is her duty as someone born into the Han Clan, having received enough benefits. Besides, she’s a kind and graceful girl, and she’ll willingly serve you as her husband.”
The idea of a beautiful maiden like her looking at me with devotion was an irresistible temptation for any man.
“……”
I glanced at Han Jin-seong. Since Han Ji-hwa and Han Jin-seong were cousins, I thought there might be some reaction from him upon hearing this significant matter. However, the branch head of the Han Clan, Han Jin-seong, maintained a stoic expression, listening silently and making it difficult to gauge his emotions.
I clenched my teeth and said,
“This is all very sudden. I don’t understand why you would offer me such kindness. I only wish to cultivate martial arts within my own sect; do you truly believe I can integrate with your clan?”
“Of course, I have my own reasons for not helping you free of charge. There are clear benefits in making you one of us. However, my desire to integrate you into our clan by offering Ji-hwa stems from the fact that I find you interesting.”
“Hmm?”
“Cut the nonsense and answer. Will you accept my offer or not?”
I took my time to contemplate. Both Han Baek-ryeong and Han Jin-seong seemed to understand the seriousness of the matter and patiently awaited my response. After a considerable pause, I finally spoke.
“I must decline.”
Han Baek-ryeong’s expression turned incredulous, but she quickly returned to her usual demeanor.
“Is that so? Well, fine. Let’s consider this conversation as if it never happened.”
“Thank you.”
“By the way, may I ask one thing? Did you reject the offer because you are not interested in Ji-hwa? I would like to hear your reason for declining.”
Taking a moment to breathe, I calmly explained,
“The path I am on is the way of Shura. Until everything is resolved, I cannot afford to look sideways. Moreover, if Ji-hwa’s acceptance of me is not born from genuine feelings but is simply forced, then both she and I will end up unhappy. Additionally, my revenge must be achieved with my own strength; I cannot hastily make such a significant decision relying solely on your power.”
Indeed.
Of course, I want to marry Han Ji-hwa, known as one of the Four Beauties of Luoyang, to enjoy her body and live a happy life filled with women as I desire. However, I currently seek revenge against the Chief of the Golden Guard and aim to unveil the conspiracies of the imperial palace, and I have sworn to myself not to rest until I accomplish these goals. Therefore, I cannot be bound by an awkwardly forced marriage.
Moreover, what if I were to marry her, live a happy life for several years, and then die unfortunate and experience reincarnation?
I would not be able to remain calm when facing the Han Clan in my tenth or eleventh life. I would inevitably strive to protect Han Ji-hwa, who shared a bond with me—my lover. If, in that relationship, we were to have biological children, it would be even more devastating. My mental strength would be utterly depleted and shattered.
It felt like the entirety of my past life would be consumed by desire, and I couldn’t imagine anything more painful than that.
At the very least, I want to choose a woman with whom I can share my feelings and spend a peaceful life based on my own volition. To achieve that, I must first diligently fulfill the tasks and revenge laid out before me. Upon hearing my response, Han Baek-ryeong appeared genuinely impressed.
“Remarkable. You have a strong inclination toward the evil sect but also possess a resolute will and determination. A person like you can succeed anywhere.”
“Let’s stop with the flattery. Is there nothing else to discuss?”
“Though you have declined my offer, I still wish to help you. This is because there is a connection between your sect and mine, and I want to assist even if just a little.”
“A connection?”
Han Baek-ryeong nodded and replied.
“As you might have guessed from your master, our Han Clan is a lineage that carries the Fire God Sect.”
“Are you saying you are…?!”
“Yes.”
At her answer, I widened my eyes in disbelief.
“I am Han Baek-ryeong, the heir of the Fire God Sect. Like the Thunder Spirit Sect, I am also a descendant of the White Lotus Sect.”
“……!!”
The White Lotus Sect!
While I had suspected this fact, I could not suppress the sound that escaped my mouth. If this information were to become public, it would turn the world upside down. It made sense after all; she was indeed a master of extraordinary martial arts. Her internal energy must be on par with someone who had consumed the Thousand-Year Snow Silkworm several times, capable of wielding martial arts that transcended human limits!
However, if she were the equal of that “monster” Lee Kwang, it was comprehensible. Being a master of the Reverse Flow-Return Motion technique and such a formidable entity, it would make sense.
Another realization came to me. If her family’s martial arts were from the Fire God Sect, it was only natural that she could not participate in the Imperial Palace Martial Arts Tournament. While the imperial warriors might not recognize her at first, as information accumulated, they would inevitably connect the dots to the White Lotus Sect, which was why she was trying to conceal her capabilities.
At that moment, I felt like a deer in headlights. A certain assumption popped into my head.
‘Could it be that she is…’
I had so many questions I wanted to ask, but simultaneously, a deep sense of dread enveloped me. Even the Chief of the Golden Guard had claimed he wouldn’t be able to defeat the Dharma Protector in a one-on-one match, making her a power I currently could not even hope to contend with. As I felt flustered, Han Baek-ryeong said,
“I can tell you have many questions. However, since you have rejected our clan’s offer, I cannot provide any more information.”
I inwardly regretted it. Had I known this, I should have just lied and claimed I would join the clan to hear the secrets… Yet, the opportunity was lost. I regained my composure and replied,
“Do not think that I would leak this information to the martial arts world.”
“Is there any need for that?”
“What do you mean?”
“The Thunder Spirit Sect is also seen as an aberration among the Central Plains martial world. Besides, if our identities were revealed, we could simply relocate our base to the White Lotus Sect, but you from the Thunder Spirit Sect would be dismissed not just by the Central Plains martial world, but by the White Lotus Sect as well.”
Han Baek-ryeong cast a cold gaze.
“Of course, should you ever leak this secret, I will personally seek you out and tear you apart. Wouldn’t that be only natural?”
“… I understand.”
Her words did not sound like mere jokes or fabrications. Somehow, the power of the Han Clan felt like it could find me even if I hid at the ends of the earth. While I could purposefully leak the secret during my reincarnation to spite the Han Clan, I felt like I would be leading myself down a path to death.
‘Until I possess the strength to defeat her, I must refrain from carelessly speaking.’
As I grappled with these thoughts, Han Baek-ryeong spoke again.
“I owe a debt of gratitude to the Thunder Spirit Sect. When the Thunder Spirit Sect was expelled from the White Lotus Sect, the situation was quite absurd. If I had actively assisted at that time, the Thunder Spirit Sect would still be serving as protectors of the White Lotus Sect today, which is quite unfortunate.”
“That was over half a century ago, and you…?”
“Can you not see that I am a master of Reverse Flow-Return Motion? That incident occurred during my active years.”
“……”
There was something different about the passage of time. Sighing, Han Baek-ryeong continued,
“Very well. I will write you a recommendation letter, so take this letter to the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School in Guanzhong. The sect leader there, Lee Kwang, is a master of the Thunder Spirit Sect, and he will be able to help you progress in your martial arts.”
“What do you mean? I wasn’t planning to participate in the Imperial Palace Martial Arts Tournament?”
“Someone else is going in your stead. It’s much faster to receive teachings from a fellow Thunder Spirit Sect member, and since your goal is to improve your martial arts, it would be better to follow my suggestion.”
That made sense. If I could become Lee Kwang’s disciple again, there would be no need to risk my life participating in the tournament. I asked, still in a daze,
“Are you saying he would accept me?”
“Of course. I know his master, and I’m familiar with his disciple, Lee Kwang. You don’t need to worry about that.”
I graciously accepted the letter Han Baek-ryeong extended. At the same time, I thought of this as one of my strokes of luck.
‘Good. With this, I can alleviate any tension and become Lee Kwang’s disciple once more.’
It was regrettable that I hadn’t heard the full secrets of the Han Clan, but this was a significant opportunity for me, who had been contemplating how to rejoin the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School. If Han Baek-ryeong was so confident, Lee Kwang would almost certainly accept me without hesitation.
“I am deeply grateful for your kindness.”
“Now go. Next time you come to Luoyang, bring a gift with you.”
“I will.”
I followed Han Jin-seong as we left Han Baek-ryeong’s residence. We walked through the maze-like hallway for quite a while, but it felt like we weren’t nearing the exit at all. I looked at Han Jin-seong in confusion, and he suddenly stopped and said,
“Thank you.”
“What do you mean?”
“For my cousin’s matter… thank you.”
It seemed to be related to the forced marriage discussion.
Han Jin-seong’s face wore an expression filled with emotion that was hard to believe considering his previously calm demeanor. He looked as if he might burst into tears at any moment. With a somewhat choked voice, he continued,
“Everything in this family is dictated by the head of the family’s will. In truth, all this wealth and honor have been achieved through the head’s strength, so we always live with a sense of duty. I thought there was no way to escape Ji-hwa’s wedding.”
There was intense anguish in his words. So, I replied readily,
“I only refused for my own sake.”
Han Jin-seong shook his head.
“I think it’s remarkable that you could clearly state your own thoughts and refuse in front of the head. I mean it.”
“……”
I felt embarrassed, having never received such praise from anyone before. As I cleared my throat, Han Jin-seong strode forward.
“Though it may not be quite right to call it a treasure, I would like to present this to Baek Woong.”
Creak
Han Jin-seong opened the door to a room. Inside lay an ancient sword. The sword quietly glimmered on a jade stand, exuding an aura of immense power at first glance.
“This is…?”
Han Jin-seong stepped forward and lifted the sword from its sheath. Holding the blade’s center, he extended it toward me.
“This sword is Longyuan. Please take it.”
“Longyuan!”
I was taken aback.
Longyuan is one of the three swords crafted by the renowned smith Gu Yazi from the Kingdom of Yue during the Warring States period, along with an imperial order from the King of Chu. This sword, also known as Longquan, became famous not only because the legendary conqueror Xiang Yu possessed it but also for heralding the beginning of the Western Jin Dynasty.
If this were truly the Longyuan, its value was beyond my imagination. It was a legendary sword, and both its historical and symbolic value far surpassed that of an entire city. It wouldn’t be surprising if wars broke out over such an incredible artifact.
“I cannot accept such an incredible item. What are you trying to achieve…?”
“I can grant you this much within my authority. For the head, Longyuan is merely a collectible.”
“……”
Suddenly, I recalled that the Han Clan was the wealthiest in the Central Plains. Indeed, if the Han Clan had amassed such immense wealth, even a magnificent sword wouldn’t be viewed as anything extraordinary. No matter how remarkable a past item might be, it could not compare to current power.
“Well, I shall accept it.”
As I received the Longyuan sword, a subtle light suddenly emanated from its blade. Unlike the mighty aura associated with ancient artifacts, it felt as though a sort of spiritual energy enveloped my body. When I turned to look at the green glow, Han Jin-seong remarked with curiosity,
“I’ve never seen such a phenomenon before. Perhaps the Longyuan sword recognizes its owner…”
After a moment, the energy subsided. I felt content with the acquisition of such a treasure. However, reluctant to leave just yet, I asked Han Jin-seong another question.
“Have you ever heard of the Seven Treasures of Qiyou?”
“Of course, I’ve heard about it in the context of Daoist legends. But I find it too fanciful to believe that such treasures actually exist.”
It seemed that even someone who collected swords as magnificent as Longyuan didn’t bother with the Seven Treasures of Qiyou. It made sense, considering those treasures were steeped in distant legend. After a brief reflection, I asked again,
“If so… you seem to possess an exceptional intellect; where do you think the ‘Southernmost End of the World’ is?”
This was a clue regarding the Fire Star I had heard from the Celestial Hermit. I instinctively sensed that Han Jin-seong was as brilliant as the legendary Meng Liang, thinking there might be some angle to exploit. Han Jin-seong appeared perplexed but replied,
“I’ve seen that further south from the Southern Barbarians lies a great ocean between Tianzhu, and beyond that ocean is the primitive continent, which is utterly wild. No one has ventured further than that, so I can’t say for certain.”
“Primitive continent?”
“Would anyone even make it to such a far-off place from Central China? It would be impossible by regular sailing. That’s all I know.”
“……”
I had a foreboding feeling that reaching the Fire Star among the Seven Treasures would require an incredibly long journey. It seemed to be in an unfathomable distance that couldn’t be measured in mere thousands of li.
After bidding farewell to Han Jin-seong, I made my way toward the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School in Guanzhong.
‘Looks like there are no pursuers from the Shura Sect.’
It was strange. Based on my previous experience, I would have expected bandits or troublemakers to swarm now, but there wasn’t a hint of danger. The Shura Sect probably decided to avoid drawing ire from the Han Clan altogether.
Several days later, I arrived in front of the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School.
“……”
Was this my fourth time seeking admission? Rather than feeling deeply moved, I found the situation quite perplexing. Who would have thought I’d return here after going through countless adventures in Luoyang and receiving a recommendation from the Thunder Spirit Sect?
The Bangyi brothers were not guarding the main gate of the school. As I strode confidently toward the Woyong Hall, it seemed my presence had been sensed; the sect leader, Lee Kwang, emerged to greet me. Jin So-cheong was nowhere to be found.
With a cold expression, Lee Kwang looked me over and extended his hand.
“Show me the letter.”
Recognizing it as Han Baek-ryeong’s recommendation, I handed it over without hesitation. After a brief examination of about ten seconds, Lee Kwang suddenly burnt the letter to ashes with the technique of Sanmei Zhenhua.
Whoosh
In an instant, he destroyed the letter and spat out,
“That old hag of the Fire Star Sect has lost her mind. So preoccupied with her own safety that she ignores her master’s crisis, and yet she dares to recommend another Thunder Spirit Sect disciple to me?”
Something felt off.
The atmosphere was unsettling.
‘Oh no… what the hell…’
A feeling of dread swept over me, suddenly recalling Tai Xu Tian Zun. Until now, I had been extremely lucky, so why was this happening? The murderous intent radiating from Lee Kwang made my heart drop. If that monster went berserk, there was no way I could survive.
Lee Kwang suddenly threw a spear and a sword at me.
As I instinctively caught them, he spoke in a low voice, his eyes filled with genuine killing intent.
“This is a duel. If I am not convinced, you will die here.”
At that moment, a thought crossed my mind.
The luck bestowed by Tai Xu Tian Zun might only last for a relatively short time and was, at best, expendable.
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