Heavenly Realm
I was taken aback by the Sword Demon’s sudden statement.
‘Jin So-cheong? After the Eight Demons of Martial Daos?’
It was completely unexpected. I thought I had moved on to a point where I wouldn’t be involved with Jin So-cheong again, but now we were entangled once more. However, a realization struck me, and my mind started racing.
‘That’s right! That event happened!’
It was definitely in my past life when I stupidly fought the monster army and met my end. It must have been my ninth life.
At that time, before going to Jinrang Valley at the call of Mangnyang, I had spoken with Jin So-cheong, who mentioned that under the orders of her master, Lee Kwang, she was set to deal with the Poison Demon of the Eight Demons of Martial Daos in South River. Naturally, I figured that if it was Jin So-cheong, she could handle the Poison Demon without worry, so I didn’t think much of it.
The timing also seemed much the same as now.
As I pieced it together, the Sword Demon nodded.
“Just as you thought. If left to her own devices, Jin So-cheong is destined to emerge from her Sect in about 5 to 6 years and embark on her heroic journey to confront the Eight Demons of Martial Daos.”
The Sword Demon had also shared in my past life’s memories through the Obsidian Stone. I pondered for a moment before speaking up.
“Something feels off.”
“What do you mean?”
“Lee Kwang didn’t have much interest in the Eight Demons of Martial Daos. Except for the Sect Leader, he mostly viewed all the demons as beneath him with disdain. Why would he suddenly want to go after the Eight Demons of Martial Daos?”
“Precisely.”
The Sword Demon smirked.
“To introduce his disciple to the Martial World, would he pit her against formidable foes from the get-go? No, he’d want her to face a weaker opponent, someone who doesn’t pose too much of a risk… But still, a worthy challenge to offer some training benefits. If I were in Lee Kwang’s position, I would make a similar choice.”
“……”
It made sense. Since the Eight Demons of Martial Daos were weak and insignificant, it would be an easy fight for Jin So-cheong. But even so, it was unfathomable how Lee Kwang’s inflated pride could lead him to underestimate the Eight Demons of Martial Daos like that.
“Won’t he have enemies from the Eight Demons of Martial Daos? Isn’t he worried?”
“Lee Kwang has already stepped on three of the Eight Demons’ toes in the past. What could he possibly fear from those lacking in skill? Assuming he’s on the same level as me, it’s a quite feasible idea. No matter how many lackeys they send, they’ll remain just that—lackeys.”
At that, I envisioned the scene when Lee Kwang decimated the Golden Eagle Guards with his Spirit Thunder Strike. Indeed, for anyone below the realm of the absolute masters, facing Lee Kwang would have been impossible.
‘But that’s just too reckless.’
The thoughts I had previously kept hidden came rushing back. Of course, the Eight Demons of Martial Daos often engaged in crimes, senseless killings, and mercenary work. But does that justify the reckless slaughter of numerous lives just to grant his disciple some experience? I understood through years of experience that not all members of the Eight Demons of Martial Daos were inherently evil, which only served to irritate me regarding Lee Kwang.
The Sword Demon spoke again.
“Jin So-cheong recently defeated the Poison Demon, Earth Demon, Madness Demon, and Yin Demon from the Eight Demons of Martial Daos. With that, she has effectively become the Martial Path Warlock, decimating their forces by half.”
“……”
From that information, I suspected Jin So-cheong’s true purpose.
The annihilation of the Eight Demons of Martial Daos!
That was the goal of Jin So-cheong’s current competitive journey. I hadn’t realized it before, but she’d likely set out with the initial intent to eradicate the forces of the demon path, including the Eight Demons of Martial Daos. And at the end of that journey, the life of the Sword Demon—the one dubbed the strongest among them—was also at stake.
I clenched my teeth.
“We can’t let that happen.”
“Of course. If you help me, I would be extremely grateful.”
“Let’s head to the Shadowless Gate right now.”
“Wait… Before that, I have something to tell you.”
“What is it?”
The Sword Demon stared intently at me, then casually sat on a rock. It was rather odd; though he seemed calm, I knew he must be feeling the urgency himself.
“If I die, take care of my daughter.”
“……!!”
My eyes widened. I exclaimed in shock.
“That won’t happen! The Sect Leader isn’t going to die!”
“Who can predict the affairs of the world? No one knows when death will strike. You know that better than anyone, don’t you?”
“But…”
The Sword Demon sighed.
“If anything unfortunate occurs, you’re the only one who can protect my daughter. Both orthodox and unorthodox factions will have their eyes on her.”
“……”
“I once failed to protect her from danger. When I learned she had been confined to the Pirate Island, my heart shattered, and I felt overwhelming guilt. I couldn’t fulfill my duty as a parent.”
“That’s not true.”
“You alone in this world have the power to save my daughter. If it’s not you, then who could possibly protect Hyea?”
I took a moment, my expression hardening. But I soon shook off my hesitation and replied.
“I will do it.”
“Thank you.”
The Sword Demon smiled faintly before continuing.
“I know you have a beloved named Miho. Therefore, it wouldn’t matter to me if my daughter became your second wife.”
“Wh-What are you saying?”
“Uhaha. Do you not like my daughter?”
“It’s not that…”
Looking at the smiling Sword Demon, I found myself at a loss for words. Despite his playful tone, there was a sincere weight behind every word. And it struck me that I needed to steel my resolve.
‘It can’t be helped.’
The Sword Demon anticipated his death during this journey. That was not solely due to Jin So-cheong but also because he sensed the dark plots brewing beneath the surface of the Martial World. Knowing that death could come for unexpected reasons was something I understood all too well. I gritted my teeth internally, vowing,
‘I will definitely survive! And I will protect them!’
Even if it means confronting Jin So-cheong himself!
Seeing the determination reflected in my gaze, the Sword Demon declared.
“Alright, then let’s go.”
“Yes.”
Fwoosh!
We used Boiling Qi to reach the Shadowless Gate. Even after six years, the exterior of the Shadowless Gate seemed unchanged. As we arrived, the disciples of the Shadowless Gate recognized us and rushed toward us, bowing deeply.
“Master!”
The black-clad members of the Shadowless Gate who kneeled were all peak masters in their own right. They were undoubtedly the elite of the unorthodox sects. The Sword Demon gestured for them to rise and then spoke.
“It seems you’ve almost completed your training with Baek Ho-bok. Have you all been well?”
“Yes!”
“I’ll listen to the rest of the reports inside. Where is Hyea?”
In response to the Sword Demon’s question, the most skilled disciple among them, known as the White Blood Swordsman, replied.
“The young master is in the training chamber.”
“Hmm… Then please relay my message later. I don’t wish to disturb her training.”
“Understood!”
We followed the disciples into the meeting room. One of them stepped forward to deliver a report.
“As you’ve heard, the Poison Demon, Earth Demon, Madness Demon, and Yin Demon have all been slain by Jin So-cheong. He is currently residing with the Zheng Tian Alliance.”
Upon hearing this, the Sword Demon folded his arms and asked.
“Zheng Tian Alliance, you say? What’s he doing there?”
“Jin So-cheong seems to have rescued the captives of the Zheng Tian Alliance who were imprisoned by the Heavenly Gate. There have been multiple sightings of him conversing with the Zheng Tian Alliance leader, Wei Zihun.”
“Hmmm…”
The Sword Demon closed his eyes as if deep in thought. After a moment, he spoke.
“That’s not too far from here.”
Indeed, the main headquarters of the Zheng Tian Alliance was located in Shandong Province, which was directly adjacent to Henan Province. With just a little Qingong, Jin So-cheong could reach the Shadowless Gate within a few days.
Noticing the tension among the disciples, the Sword Demon continued.
“Have we received any word from the White Lotus Sect?”
“Not long ago, we received a letter from the White Lotus Sect that has been sealed and kept safe.”
“What? When did it arrive?”
“It came in last night, and I hadn’t had the chance to report it.”
“Hmm… Show it to me.”
Rustle
The Sword Demon opened the letter from the White Lotus Sect handed to him by the disciples. After reading for a while, his expression hardened significantly.
“The White Lotus Sect, so they’re taking a stance like this…”
He turned to the White Blood Swordsman nearby and commanded.
“Contact the Black Demon. Tell him I have urgent matters to discuss, and that we should meet in Henan Province in three days.”
“Understood.”
“To the rest of the disciples, focus on your respective tasks for now and continue honing your martial arts! And Baek Ho-bok, come with me.”
“Understood.”
The meeting concluded quickly, and I followed the Sword Demon into his private room. Once inside, he spoke after taking a seat.
“This has become quite strange.”
“What do you mean?”
“Originally, I aimed to engage Jin So-cheong at my stronghold. But it seems the White Lotus Sect has intervened.”
“Excuse me…?”
His following words caught me completely off guard.
“The Wind Spirit Lineage has already been mobilized. It appears they dispatched their masters from the White Lotus Sect to hunt down Jin So-cheong five days ago.”
“……!!”
“It’s left me troubled. I wonder whether to stay idle or attempt contact with Jin So-cheong.”
Wind Spirit Lineage moving is something I didn’t foresee at all!
But upon reflection, I could surmise the reason behind it.
‘The Eight Demons of Martial Daos are currently functioning as a lower force of the White Lotus Sect… The White Lotus Sect can’t possibly allow Jin So-cheong, who is intent on destroying their Eight Demons of Martial Daos, to remain unchecked. That’s why the Wind Spirit Lineage is taking action!’
If the Wind Spirit Lineage aims to eliminate Jin So-cheong, they would likely send the Wind Spirit Army. I knew enough about the strength of the Wind Spirit Army to know that they were formidable; dozens of peak masters trained in the Wind Spirit Lineage could easily crush their foes together.
I didn’t know how developed Jin So-cheong’s skills were now, but against the Wind Spirit Army, he wouldn’t stand a chance. Peak masters from the Wind Spirit Lineage were far tougher and had significantly more power than typical martial artists from the central plains. There was a high likelihood that Jin So-cheong could perish as a result.
‘Hmm… Isn’t this a good thing?’
The Sword Demon, noting my expression, said,
“You’re relieved that you won’t have to dirty your hands.”
“Well, to be honest…”
It was quite a burden to face Jin So-cheong, and with the White Lotus Sect handling him instead, I was practically relieved. Making an awkward reply, the Sword Demon clarified.
“However, do not think it’s that simple. Had I not seen your memories, I would have thought like you too.”
“What do you mean?”
“The premise is flawed. This isn’t Jin So-cheong’s training journey. Only now am I beginning to see the bigger picture of this situation.”
The Sword Demon’s muttering continued.
“I’ve come to understand through your memories just what kind of person ‘Lee Kwang’ is. He’s meticulous, possessing the heart of a serpent, never stepping lightly on risky paths. Such a man wouldn’t send his beloved disciple lacking in caution without considering dangerous variables, would he?”
He tapped his fingers on the table as he continued.
“Absolutely not. I believe there’s a double scheme at play in this matter.”
“Double scheme?”
The Sword Demon’s statement sent a chill down my spine.
“I think Lee Kwang has known about the White Lotus Sect lurking behind the Eight Demons of Martial Daos from the very start.”
“……!!”
“So… Jin So-cheong’s slaying of the Eight Demons of Martial Daos is an order from her master. Simultaneously, it can be seen as a declaration of war against the White Lotus Sect.”
I was taken aback and wondered aloud.
“A declaration of war? Against the White Lotus Sect?”
That sounded absurd!
Despite my and Mangnyang’s utmost efforts to aid the Wind Spirit Lineage, it took us several years to finally secure their independence. And yet, now the weakened Wind Spirit Lineage, having suffered decline, decided to challenge the White Lotus Sect? This was the perfect recipe for total annihilation.
The Sword Demon chuckled.
“Lee Kwang’s intentions are transparent. He never intended to engage in open warfare with the White Lotus Sect from the outset. His strategy was to dismantle their lower forces while ensuring that the White Lotus Sect remained passive, then utilize the Zheng Tian Alliance to manipulate the course of the Martial World as he desired. He must have been considering the Wind Spirit Army dispatch from the beginning.”
“Ah… No way, even if he’s been planning since the beginning, why would he take such a dangerous gamble? Wouldn’t it be much safer simply to focus on training?”
In response to my question, the Sword Demon replied as if it were obvious.
“Well, he’s unable to forget the grudge, no?”
“…….”
“He perceives the White Lotus Sect as his sworn enemy. But surely he knows that as time passes, the probability of him exacting revenge only diminishes. Why? Because the current inheritors of the Wind Spirit Lineage have almost no remaining ties to their original roots and will gradually forget their history as years go by. Thus, he thought it prudent to act sooner rather than later, to publicize the fact that the Wind Spirit Lineage is still alive.”
I was left speechless.
Not only was the Sword Demon excelling in martial skills, but his intellect was also sharp! His ability to quickly deduce Lee Kwang’s motivations from our years of observing him was impressive. Perhaps his long-standing status as a top figure in the Jianghu granted him such perceptiveness.
‘So, Lee Kwang was indeed contemplating a faction war of sorts.’
By revealing that the Wind Spirit Lineage still existed to the world, it would ignite the lost resentment among the heirs, driving them to pursue revitalization. Lee Kwang was prepared to take this gamble.
“From now on, I suspect Lee Kwang will make his move. As Jin So-cheong resides with the Zheng Tian Alliance, he’ll likely pay a visit to mediate through its leader. This will cause the Wind Spirit Lineage, who wish to avoid unwanted attention, to hesitate and let things slide.”
“Isn’t that a bit of a stretch?”
“Hmm… There is another possibility.”
The Sword Demon’s next speculation sparked an inkling of concern in me.
“Lee Kwang might use Jin So-cheong as bait to wipe out the Wind Spirit Army.”
“……”
That would indeed be madness, but I couldn’t deny the plausibility of that scenario.
If anyone possessed the cunning to pull such a scheme, it would undeniably be Lee Kwang.
The Sword Demon remarked.
“Regardless, at this point, making a move would likely backfire. We should wait at the Shadowless Gate for a few days and observe how things develop.”
“Understood.”
After my conversation with the Sword Demon concluded, I returned to the room assigned to me. Lying on my back and staring at the ceiling, my mind churned with thoughts.
‘What is Jin So-cheong thinking?’
I knew he had both ambition and a strong personal will. He harbored dreams of seeing martial arts reach their pinnacle over the course of a millennium. However, at times, he seemed to act like a lifeless puppet, swayed by Lee Kwang’s intentions, leaving me confused about his true self.
Above all, the reason I found it so hard to read Jin So-cheong was his sense of nihilism.
For reasons unknown, he always carried an air of positivity and laughter, yet beneath it lay an inexplicable sense of futility. I had observed him for decades, yet the nature of that futility remained a mystery. Thus, it was difficult for me to read Jin So-cheong’s thoughts clearly.
But one thing was certain: the current Jin So-cheong was my enemy.
I lay in bed, resolutely promising myself,
‘If he becomes an obstruction to my training, I’ll eliminate him, be it Lee Kwang or Jin So-cheong!’
