Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors
Tadadad
I, Jin So-cheong, and Geuk Ho began making our way toward Henan at a rapid pace using the Destruction of the Soul Technique. With this technique, I could run for much longer and faster with significantly less energy and stamina compared to traditional methods. Originally, such a feat required immense internal power, but with the Destruction of the Soul Technique, it became easily achievable.
‘Awesome!’
It goes without saying that utilizing the Destruction of the Soul Technique allowed me to feel like I was flying. I felt as if I could run continuously for four days and five nights without breaking a sweat. The joy of traversing the world as if it were my backyard filled me. Sure, using the Body Lightening Technique would have been even easier, but the enhancement in mobility itself was exhilarating.
This meant I had to adjust our speed to match that of my companions. Having kept the existence of the Body Lightening Technique a secret from them until now, it felt a bit awkward to bring it up now. While using it wouldn’t be a problem, I couldn’t shake the feeling that it was better to keep it under wraps. Just then, Geuk Ho, who had been resting against a tree stump and wiping his forehead, exclaimed,
“Ugh… gulp… what the heck? How does this little brat have such amazing internal power?”
His awkward demeanor turned back to his usual self as if it was just a joke. After more than six months of martial discussions and sparring, I had become quite friendly with Geuk Ho and Jin So-cheong. Hearing Geuk Ho banter made me chuckle as I replied,
“Thirty years of Konjow research, please!”
“Ha! Look at this punk, joking around? Pet.”
Geuk Ho, chuckling, spat lightly on the ground and continued,
“Anyway, is that ancient dude Dongbang Mugeol really that strong? Do we all need to go together?”
At that moment, Jin So-cheong, munching on some tree fruit, responded. Being younger and a disciple of the Thunder God Lineage, he usually treated Geuk Ho with respect.
“Um… Geuk Ho. I think that’s likely. If even the Dharma Protector of the White Lotus Sect is cautious, then he’s incredibly strong.”
“Hey, does that tree fruit taste good? Isn’t it bitter?”
“Want to try some?”
“Sure.”
After chewing on the fruit, Geuk Ho grimaced.
“Ugh, it’s awful.”
“That’s how tree fruits are.”
“Ugh… Who would have thought I’d end up in Henan? What the heck…”
I replied to the complaining Geuk Ho,
“Geuk Ho, do you happen to know anything about Mastering Skills?”
“Mastering Skills? Whose name is that? The Thunder God Lineage does mention it, but none of us knows it. Even Lee Kwang doesn’t.”
“Then who does?”
“Not me. Someone among the scattered disciples of the Thunder God Lineage might know.”
“That’s disappointing.”
Geuk Ho laughed heartily.
“Ha! Don’t be so anxious~ With the three of us together, the only ones who could challenge us would be a couple of guys far away in the White Lotus Sect. There’s no way we’d lose to those ancient guys!”
“Right.”
In my opinion, if there were any Mastering Skills in the Thunder God Lineage, it would allow Geuk Ho and I to easily encircle Dongbang Mugeol together. But as Geuk Ho said, it was indisputable that with the three of us combined, there was hardly anyone in the realm who could pose a threat. It was one thing if Dongbang Mugeol had martial arts on par with the Dharma Protectors, but if he didn’t, of course, we would win.
‘Considering they couldn’t handle the Sichuan Tang Sect, Dongbang Mugeol can’t possibly be at the Dharma Protector level.’
A Dharma Protector level martial force symbolized absolute power. Someone capable of stirring a frenzy in the Jianghu alone. This meant that even if there were exceptional masters hiding here and there, one comparable to a Dharma Protector would be impossible to find.
While I was deep in thought, Jin So-cheong asked,
“Master, is there no way to negotiate aside from engaging with Dongbang Mugeol?”
I shook my head.
“From what I’ve gathered about him… no.”
“That’s unfortunate.”
“Letting him get a free pass might put us in danger.”
Indeed. The common evaluations regarding Dongbang Mugeol were terrifying: [Strong Madman], or [That Bastard], or even [Crazy Lunatic]. These assessments came from reputable river-and-lake figures, making it clear just how chaotic Dongbang Mugeol must have acted in his daily life. So, it was plainly clear that normal conversations or negotiations with someone like him would be impossible.
‘He dared to challenge the Sichuan Tang Sect, so it really says it all.’
Typically, most would avoid the Sichuan Tang Sect out of fear of hidden grudges, but Dongbang Mugeol seemed to have incited Tang Mu-geuk‘s wrath, proving he was indeed a lunatic. I couldn’t fathom having a normal conversation with someone like that. We would have to overwhelm him by force.
Having recovered his stamina and regained focus, Geuk Ho replied,
“We’re just a few hundred paces away from Henan Castle. Rumor has it he’s wandering about in there, so we must definitely capture him!”
“Yes.”
Tadadad
Before long, we managed to enter Henan Castle. Thankfully, we possessed proof of identification and some money, so the entry was smooth. Upon stepping into the castle, I could feel a vibrant atmosphere bustling around us.
“Henan Castle is quite big.”
“Yup. But I heard this place is thriving with the Demonic Factions.”
“Hmm.”
I had heard about that, too. When I brought Seo Mun-hye and the hostages to the Fogless Gate in Henan, I’d come across that information but hadn’t thought much of it at the time. Now, however, it stirred some curiosity.
“Why is that? Isn’t the Shaolin Temple, the leader of the Nine Great Sects, still holding up?”
Geuk Ho chuckled lightly.
“Under normal circumstances, the Shaolin Temple’s influence should have suppressed the Demonic Factions. But it seems it’s because of the Henan Castle Lord.”
“Excuse me?”
That was something new to me. A lord of Henan Castle would presumably be royalty or nobility, so what was his relation to the Jianghu factions? As Jin So-cheong and I turned to Geuk Ho walking along the street, he straightened up and answered leisurely,
“Seems the lord of Henan Castle isn’t fond of the Shaolin Temple. So the Demonic Factions have grown considerably over the past few decades, and even the Shaolin Temple doesn’t venture out for purging malevolent entities easily. Moreover, the prestigious sects in Henan are all too busy accumulating wealth, letting the Demonic Factions expand their influence easily.”
“Hmm…”
The reason Geuk Ho seemed to know so much was likely because he had roamed around Henan before. I had visited Henan, but I hadn’t paid much attention to be aware of such details. Listening to Geuk Ho, Jin So-cheong appeared puzzled.
“Don’t those Demonic Factions simply disrupt the peace of the world? Isn’t the lord just making his own mess?”
“Eh, So-cheong. The world doesn’t work in such simple terms~. A lord of his standing likely doesn’t care about trifling Jianghu matters. And if the Demonic Factions offer enough incentives, why wouldn’t he let them run amok? He’d probably just leave them to do as they wish.”
“Then what about the common folk?”
At this, Geuk Ho looked astonished.
“Um? Why would high-ranking figures care about the commoners? Are you stupid?”
“……”
“And besides, the Mysterious Shadow Sect, known as the strongest among the Eight Devils of Martial Daos, is firmly holding onto the region. As long as they maintain control over small fries, there won’t be any major incidents, and their own sort of [order] will keep establishment. Hence, no one attempts to change the current state.”
Jin So-cheong appeared unconvinced. After pondering for a moment, he sighed.
“It’s complicated, Senior.”
Geuk Ho chuckled.
“So-cheong~ Your martial arts are impressive, but you still don’t understand the world well~ This little brat probably knows more than you do.”
I scratched my head at being pointed out.
‘Well, that’s true. I’ve had my share of experiences, so I know better than Jin So-cheong at the moment. But…
When it comes down to it, the most crucial factor when venturing into the world is often one’s pure martial prowess. Jin So-cheong, who carries basic wisdom, may flounder a little at the start, but with a bit of experience, he could quickly grasp the intricacies of Jianghu. His cautious nature means he generally avoids making big mistakes, which is a huge advantage in the world of Jianghu.
As we idly chatted, we arrived at an inn, settled our belongings, booked a room, and ordered food. After we had eaten, Geuk Ho gathered us together and said,
“The informant Lee Kwang has connections with the Divine Maiden Sect, one of the Eight Devils of Martial Daos. We’ll rest today and tomorrow we’ll meet them for information on Dongbang Mugeol.”
“Yes.”
“Once we locate him, let’s capture him swiftly. Is that understood?”
“Understood.”
Lee Kwang fascinatingly seemed to have relationships with the Divine Maiden Sect, one of the most secretive factions within the Eight Devils of Martial Daos. The fact that he could make use of their information was quite curious. I wondered if he had any significant past with them, but it was predictable that even if I asked, he wouldn’t reveal it.
The next day, we met with a skilled member of the Divine Maiden Sect and received some crucial information.
“Dongbang Mugeol is staying at Jeon Bong Inn, near the north gate inside the castle.”
The Divine Maiden Sect informant didn’t appear to have particularly strong martial skills as a woman, but even from behind the veil, one could tell she was quite beautiful. Geuk Ho stared at her momentarily, then cleared his throat and asked,
“Hmm! Is he alone?”
“No, he has two companions.”
“Two?”
“Individuals in black, wearing monkey masks. They almost never step outside the inn, but they surely appear to be his guards.”
Hearing this, we exchanged glances. Geuk Ho turned back to her and inquired,
“What about their martial skills?”
“I’m sorry, but we observe them discreetly from afar using a special method. We can’t get close enough to discern their martial skills. What I can confirm is that Dongbang Mugeol doesn’t seem to want to be separated from those two.”
“Hmm…”
“There’s no further information I can provide. I will take my leave now.”
“Please take care.”
Whoosh!
Once the informant from the Divine Maiden Sect vanished, we returned to the inn. Geuk Ho initiated the conversation,
“Kiddo, are those the masked guys you were talking about? The ones rumored to have played mahjong with four at the Skull Temple?”
“Yes, that’s definitely them.”
Jin So-cheong crossed his arms.
“Could they have traveled from Sichuan to here alongside Dongbang Mugeol?”
“Nothing’s for sure.”
“Right. They could have joined forces in the Central Plains. Still, the fact that they are moving together is important.”
Geuk Ho, contemplating, then asked,
“Kiddo, what did you say about their martial arts?”
I recalled what I heard from Do Wang from earlier.
“From what I gathered, their martial arts are exceptionally high. Dongbang Mugeol couldn’t even dream of exerting any force against them. They’re likely on par with him or at least close to being peerless.”
Geuk Ho frowned.
“Dammit, this is turning into a mess. If those guys stick around like guards, capturing Dongbang Mugeol will be troublesome.”
“What should we do?”
“I have no idea. So-cheong, what do you think?”
Geuk Ho casually handed over the decision-making to Jin So-cheong. After contemplating it long enough, he responded,
“It’s been a while since we received the information, hasn’t it?”
“Yeah, it’s been a bit. Making the journey from Shaanxi to Henan isn’t typical.”
“Yet, the fact that Dongbang Mugeol and his crew have remained in the inn indicates they’re waiting for something with a purpose.”
“Waiting for what?”
“I’m not sure… but if we uncover that, it should make things easier.”
I agreed with Jin So-cheong‘s words. While Dongbang Mugeol appeared to move freely, he was certainly acting with a clear objective—something about treating So-kyoju’s illness. There had to be a reason for them to stay in Henan Castle for several consecutive days.
After a moment of silence, Geuk Ho proposed,
“How about this: since fighting in the castle would likely cause collateral damage, let’s wait until they move as much as possible, then lead them into a remote area and tackle them one by one? That way, we can increase our chances of capturing them.”
The idea was to rely on suiting one’s martial talents against each other.
“And for Dongbang Mugeol…?”
“Well, that’s for So-cheong to handle. You and I will each take on one of the masked ones.”
“Understood.”
“Let’s keep surveillance on Jeon Bong Inn in shifts, at least for a week.”
With that, we began a long-distance watch on the individuals entering and exiting the inn. Given the considerable distance, the chances of Dongbang Mugeol discovering our surveillance were minimal. Even if by chance he did, we maintained a network of communication, allowing us to pursue them immediately.
Change began to unfold three days later.
“They’re moving.”
The trio of Dongbang Mugeol and the masked individuals exited Jeon Bong Inn and started toward somewhere. We cautiously followed them, keeping our auras concealed. They left the castle and walked for quite a while until they stopped near the edge of a secluded grassy area.
Then, moments later, Dongbang Mugeol turned in our direction and bellowed,
[“You little brats! If you have something to say, why don’t you come out?”]
We were hiding about sixty paces away. Geuk Ho frowned.
“Damn it! They’ve found us.”
“They’re not trying to escape.”
“These fellows are confident in their strength. What a pain.”
Geuk Ho turned to Jin So-cheong in a resigned manner,
“So-cheong, I’m counting on you. Since we don’t know the true skills of the masked ones, you need to handle it well.”
“Understood. Leave it to me, senior.”
“Let’s go!”
Whoosh!
We simultaneously dashed forward, facing Dongbang Mugeol and his companions. Dongbang Mugeol, standing in the center, looked at us with a cold smile and said,
“You’re all just kids. No matter where you’re from, you’ve fallen right into my hands.”
“Oh no~ I’m terrified. You’re just too strong for me to handle.”
“……”
As Geuk Ho fired back provocatively, Dongbang Mugeol momentarily lost his words. However, rather than becoming infuriated, he simply stared at us, and one of the masked individuals standing next to him asked,
“Dongbang Mugeol. What will we do?”
“If I cow down to these little brats, my grand aspirations will be stalled. Let’s hear what they have to say.”
It seemed Dongbang Mugeol and the masked individuals held equal standing, likely a temporary partnership forged for convenience. Listening to their exchange, Jin So-cheong spoke up,
“Hold on! Fighting right away isn’t a solution. Please hear us out first.”
“What do you want?”
“Are you not working to cure the illness of the White Lotus Sect’s leader?”
“……!!”
This time, Dongbang Mugeol flinched in surprise. Oddly enough, the masked individuals didn’t show signs of fear, remaining calm. Dongbang Mugeol glared at Jin So-cheong and snapped,
“How do you know that?”
“That’s not the point. What matters is that we can assist one another.”
“Assist? How? How do you know what I’m doing? And how can I know who you are?”
Showering me with suspicion, Dongbang Mugeol’s murderous intent was palpable.
“Don’t make me laugh! You’re clearly a band of ruffians keen on stealing my research!”
“Good luck drinking the poison yourself.”
“Cough cough, you’re the ones who’ll be the ones in trouble!”
Seeing Dongbang Mugeol spewing nonsense, Geuk Ho remarked,
“See? If we weren’t in the good books, we wouldn’t need to trouble ourselves defeating him.”
“Damn brat!”
Boom!
In a sudden fit of rage, Dongbang Mugeol swung his glowing white hand forcefully forward. At that moment, we quickly activated the Destruction of the Soul Technique to evade, and the area ahead exploded with light.
Crackle!
“Ugh…!!”
It was astonishing. Just a single swing from him obliterated everything in a fan-shaped area ahead of us. There must have been an immense power hidden behind Dongbang Mugeol’s strength, nearly rivaling mine. On top of that, his latent potential was enormous.
But the issue was that none of the disciples of the Thunder God Lineage were fazed by such a show of strength. Geuk Ho boldly charged at the masked individual while shouting,
“Come on, let’s have some fun~!!”
Ka-pow!
Crunch!
In an instant, each of us locked in our battles. Jin So-cheong dashed toward Dongbang Mugeol, while I lunged at the masked individual on my right. Geuk Ho rushed left, delivering thrusts with his spear, as he attempted to maneuver the fight away from Dongbang Mugeol‘s area of blasting attacks. Being someone with immense internal power and area attacks, he clearly wanted to avoid getting caught up in those.
‘Jin So-cheong should handle it well.’
I, too, felt reassured. I glanced at Jin So-cheong, then turned my focus on the masked individual, asking,
“Let’s take this one-on-one, alright?”
“Sounds good, kiddo.”
The masked individual and I agreed and moved about seventy paces away. There, we each grasped our weapons. I considered using my Muramasa, but since I wasn’t quite comfortable with it, I simply grabbed a well-crafted iron sword.
As it turned out, the masked figure also wielded a sword. Calmly, he declared,
“You look young, but you seem quite talented. I can’t go easy on you.”
“Hah, the mouse worries for the cat. Do me a favor and just bring it on!”
“Heh heh, you’re not even going to plead for mercy.”
For some reason, the masked guy seemed to chuckle ominously and then gradually unleashed the name of his sword technique,
“I don’t know what your sect’s sword technique is, but can you handle my Moon Maiden’s Sword?”
Swish!
“Ugh!”
In that instant, I felt an overwhelming sword pressure sweeping toward my front. I hastily activated the Destruction of the Soul Technique and dodged, but it was an attack that sent chills down my spine.
‘Had I not mastered the Destruction of the Soul Technique, would I have taken a direct hit…?!
I realized I’d been mistaken. Among Dongbang Mugeol’s crew, I had thought he would be the strongest, but it wasn’t just him. This masked individual’s martial arts were equally extraordinary. With fierce determination in his eyes, the masked individual boldly stated,
“Here I come!”
Our battle concluded after about a hundred and eighty seconds.
Squish!
“Ugh… urgh…”
The masked individual clutched his severed arm and wailed in agony. I stood unfazed, radiating my aura. In a calm voice, I stated,
“Sorry, but I don’t have time to waste. If you choose to continue, I’ll end your life right here.”
“……”
Though I could not see the masked individual’s face, his shock was palpable through the trembling air. He had unleashed his full Moon Maiden’s Sword Technique at me only to find himself overwhelmed by my immense internal power. After merely a hundred and eighty seconds, I had nearly reached the conclusion of our duel. After a short sigh of resignation, the masked figure uttered,
“Ugh… I have no other choice. I’m beaten, so I’ll retreat.”
“Good call.”
“Did you spare my life out of mercy?”
As he picked up his severed arm, I couldn’t help but chuckle.
“If you pay up, I might even offer you some reconstructive help.”
“Ugh, today really is my unlucky day.”
Shaking his head, the masked figure declared,
“Baek Won-sang-mya will withdraw for today. Do what you will with Dongbang Mugeol.”
“Wait, who are you?”
“Go ask Dongbang Mugeol yourself!”
He picked up his arm and fled.
I thought about chasing him but decided it wasn’t necessary. Although I had severed his arm, that didn’t mean I had fully triumphed over him. If the masked individual was driven to fight with his life on the line, I would have to be prepared for serious injuries as well, so I let him go.
“Phew, I won.”
I let out a long sigh.
‘In my past life, I could’ve found myself in dangerous situations quite frequently.’
In this duel, I sensed that my swordsmanship had become much broader and more diverse. The Moon Maiden’s Sword, known for its variations and speed, was ultimately overshadowed by my improved skills, and I had managed to fend it off without showing significant vulnerability. This was clearly a result of my efforts honing my martial arts in the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School.
