Chapter: 724
Why are you leaving out the story of the Amipa’s betrayal?
Kwonseon’s reaction to those words was genuinely fierce.
With wide eyes, hurried breaths, and even a racing heartbeat.
Everything was converging towards one outcome.
Seeing that reaction, I couldn’t help but lift the corners of my mouth.
‘Honestly, I was just testing the waters, you know.’
I felt more confident than ever.
A creeping discomfort made its way into me. Acknowledging that, I organized my thoughts.
Thus, the conclusion was reached.
Crack-!
I tightened the grip of my hand that was holding Kwonseon’s cheek.
Ugh…
She let out a brief gasp.
“Almost nothing you said is true.”
Are you saying that Amipa is looking for Bong-soon to clear the name of the Eulryeong Sword Master?
Oh, how lovely that sounds.
Perhaps there was a reason for the previous Sword Master to part from Amipa and engage elsewhere, but even so, since they were affiliated with Amipa, the false charges must be resolved.
If that’s the case, it’s indeed a beautiful notion.
However, there was a problem here.
“If that was the case, you should have acted sooner.”
Why come forward now of all times?
“It’s been at least twenty years since the war ended.”
A significant amount of time has passed since the conclusion of the Jeongsa War.
What exactly has Amipa been up to during that period?
“Nothing at all.”
They did nothing.
Is the false accusation about treating the Sword Master as a traitor linked to starting a war? If they were aware, they should have done something!
“This old man… The excuse that you could intervene because of Bong… No, that’s just a flimsy excuse.”
There should have been something done prior to that.
“Oh, there was something.”
In the past ten-plus years, there were indeed happenings with Amipa.
I knew about it.
‘I had already looked it up when I heard about its connection to Bong-soon.’
It wasn’t the most secretive information either. A little search would bring it to light.
But tangled with the current situation, the strangeness was undeniable.
“Over the past twenty years, the sect has become quite active. Yet the number of guilds offering sponsorship has hardly increased.”
…!
Kwonseon’s body trembles slightly upon hearing those words.
Watching her, I continued.
“You might be seen as the guardians of Sacheon now, but… that wasn’t the case until recently, was it?”
Now that the Tang clan has retreated, Amipa assumes responsibility for Sacheon.
Until now, Tang clan occupied most of the territory.
The disparity in influence is evident.
Most of Sacheon is under the Tang clan’s thumb.
With significant support yet no increase in their status, their position is poised to rise.
In addition, the ongoing Ma Kyung Moon incident across Sacheon was managed by Tang clan, which implied that Amipa was relatively unable to exert any influence.
But.
“The buildings have been rebuilt and the land expanded… Not to mention, they’ve held quite a few festivals.”
Where on earth did the funding come from?
Given that it’s a well-established faction, a lack of funds seems impossible. Yet, in light of their position, such extravagant expenditures seemed unreasonable.
“Where did that money come from?”
Questions are spilling forth.
“Huh? Where did it come from?”
In fact, Amipa has hardly participated in any major league events.
The Yongbong sect periodically produced an outcome, but they’ve never had spectacular results.
And yet, the number of scholars grew.
The number of scholars is indicative of the sect’s standing. Naturally, an increase in numbers means higher management costs.
‘At a time when there’s been little support from the upper echelons and no specific ties with the league. Even so, the sect somehow maintained and even improved its position.’
How could that happen?
Is the sect’s money overflowing?
It might be possible.
‘Perhaps they discovered some hidden fund without anyone’s knowledge.’
Money varies depending on circumstances.
And it could be that Amipa has refrained from getting involved with the Eulryeong Sword Master until now because they didn’t know about Bong-soon and only recently learned about the false accusations.
But.
“That’s not the case.”
Crack!
I have no faith in such miraculous circumstances.
“Ugh… Hah…”
“You most likely knew about the false accusations from the start. Did you only realize it when the war ended? Or were you already aware beforehand? In any case, the important part is you knew.”
It’s highly possible that Amipa is aware of the circumstances surrounding the Sword Master.
That’s why.
“Knowing that, you’ve kept quiet until now. It’s probably because of some separate agreement you made.”
Despite being overshadowed by the Tang clan, they still managed to hold their ground as the Gu Pailbang.
“What was your payoff from them?”
…!!
“I bet you received something in return, even if not money. A promise for the future or maybe just some living expenses right now.”
There’s a flicker of something sparkling in Kwonseon’s eyes.
A subtle fear wraps around it.
“Surely you benefitted. After all, you’re the head of a sect.”
I needed to tread carefully.
If I mishandled my strength, Kwonseon’s head might very well explode.
“I.”
There’s a tremor in my voice now.
“This is why I dislike you, you miserable wretches.”
Brrrrrrk!
A vibration surged from my toes, cracking the training ground.
“I can’t even bring myself to like them. They truly are a sickening lot.”
Maybe it’s because I’ve relived my life and worked hard, I’ve gained some patience.
Look at me now. I’m sparing this senile old guy instead of killing him.
Hah… Hah…
Blood trickled down from my hand, which was pressed against my mouth.
It was Kwonseon’s blood.
Heat surged into my hand.
Despite my body burning with emotion, my mind was cooler than ice.
“Okay, let’s wrap this up.”
Amipa, who has been hoarding wealth and remained silent thus far. Why are they showing up now?
Is this really to do with Bong-soon’s appearance?
No.
They only discovered Bong-soon after coming to Hanam.
If that’s true, then they genuinely were unaware until now.
So, why did they decide to act?
This could be discerned quickly by piecing together the circumstances. The reason Amipa has recently resurfaced is none other than this.
The reason is.
“Because the Tang clan has fallen.”
The incident that led to the collapse of the Sacheon Tang clan.
That’s likely the motive.
As the Tang clan fell from power, their influence waned.
Automatically, Amipa’s standing rose in the process.
They’ve probably increased the frequency with which they handle the Magic Gate.
Along with it, the amount of assistance from the upper echelons has likely gone up.
What does that imply?
‘Well, it means one thing: heads are going to swell.’
Anyone can relate to that.
When people receive more than their capacity allows, they forget their place.
It suggests they forget how they lived in the past.
I knew such situations all too well.
I didn’t find it odd at all.
‘Everyone’s like that.’
From the get-go, my expectations of humans are as low as possible.
It’s only natural to think that way about beings as such.
Only.
‘I just find it repugnant for those who deny it despite knowing the reality.’
They think it somehow doesn’t apply to them.
Seeing those kinds of folks makes me want to torch them alive.
Like I do right now.
“So you’ve finally decided to show yourself?”
The reason Amipa appeared in Hanam.
“Now that you feel a bit stronger, are past mistakes haunting you again?”
It serves as a warning to the Martial Alliance.
They’re letting everyone know they haven’t forgotten the deeds of the past.
How ridiculous is that?
I also know that Amipa attempted to pull a fast one on those competing in the martial arts competition.
I’m unsure what their intentions were, but ultimately, one thing remains important.
“Did your head swell so much that you yearned to vault to the surface?”
With a flick of my wrist, I sent Kwonseon flying.
Thud! Crash!
The old man’s body goes rolling across the ground.
Gulkh… Gulh… Cough!
Boom!
I stomped on the coughing Kwonseon as he lay crumbled on the floor.
Ugh… Ugh…
“You’re nothing but a bug. Old fool. You haven’t matured even at this age.”
Yeah, Kwonseon never matured.
So.
‘You’re being toyed with by your own disciples.’
This matter has progressed so far that Kwonseon remains ignorant.
Oh, of course, I have no intention of enlightening him.
Naturally, I’m a tad regretful as well.
Respect vanished from my speech long ago.
Respect for adulthood is limited to ‘those who act grown up.’
From my viewpoint, Kwonseon isn’t an adult.
All I feel looking at her is contempt and disgust.
“What do you want?”
Hah… Ugh, you…
“What on earth do you intend to do by searching for Pi Yeon-yeon?”
Crack!
Uck!
I applied pressure with my foot. Crunch! The sound rang out.
Kwonseon’s chest was crumpling underfoot.
“What could her presence possibly bring you?”
I ponder.
And I consider.
My chilled mind began to race rapidly.
I’d probably reach a conclusion shortly.
I was well aware of it.
“It honestly doesn’t matter anymore.”
It has become a futile matter now.
Swish.
I removed my foot and reached out my hand.
Then Kwonseon’s lying body rose, and I grasped her neck firmly in my hand.
Ugh… Ha… Ugh…
“I think this should be enough confirmation.”
No need for further confirmation.
“You’re not human to me.”
That was my assessment of Kwonseon.
I felt no need for further scrutiny.
“What… what are you suggesting?”
Kwonseon squirmed slightly, not understanding my words.
His eyes were clouded with confusion and doubt.
“Are you… contemplating harming me…?”
“Oh my. How frightening.”
I smiled.
“The head of the Great Amipa wouldn’t have come to see me without notifying me of such. If I were to kill you here, how troublesome would it become in the future?”
Still mere annoyance for now. What awaits after a bit of time, who knows?
“Furthermore, shouldn’t we spare the noble one from death?”
I spat while pouring power into my heart.
Thump-!
My heart raced wildly, magic coursing through my veins.
Swish–!! Heat permeated my eyes.
As Kwonseon watched me, her pupils widened.
“What—what… Ugh!”
Like a startled fawn, her words stumbled from her lips, and her body tensed rigid.
Nothing else could be expected. A distant energy must be saturating her body.
“Guhhh… Urrrghhhh!!”
Kwonseon’s body began to tremble violently.
I observed calmly.
‘Just a little.’
If there had been even a hint of redeeming quality, I wouldn’t have pushed it this far.
While ruminating over this, a faint chuckle escaped my lips.
‘Yet… maybe not.’
This doesn’t feel right. In truth, I had anticipated this outcome.
‘If I were to speculate on a timeframe, it would likely be the day of the martial arts festival.’
Just days ago. Right after I’d slain the Amipa martial artist attempting to flee after seeing Bong-soon.
If I had known, I would have assumed from that moment.
‘I knew this would unfold like this.’
The underlying issue was I had held unwarranted hope.
Perhaps he might be a decent person.
Could he be somewhat unspoiled?
Such absurd expectations brewed in my imagination.
“I have my own issues too. My body is rejuvenating, making me irrationally emotional.”
This makes the comments I’d made to Cheol Ji-seon seem somewhat silly.
“Nevertheless, I’m relieved. Thanks to you, it’s solidified.”
I extinguished the hopes I had inside me.
That allowed me to smile.
“I’ll put it to good use and then throw it away. Especially since you seem to have a hefty load ahead of you.”
What exactly am I going to dump?
I didn’t mention it directly; it’s instinctively understood.
With a smile, I addressed Kwonseon.
Hah-!!
Then her eyes darkened, swallowed by the abyss.
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