0061 : Demon Subduing Hall
Upon returning to the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School, Samjeol Lee Kwang looked at the plaque of the Zhongnan Sect and immediately said,
“Leave that for the Dragon’s Lair. I will handle it.”
What business did he have in mind? Both Lee Kwang and Jin So-cheong were individuals whose way of thinking I found incomprehensible. As I silently grumbled, Lee Kwang placed the liquor on the table.
“Let’s have a drink. I’d like to hear how it went.”
“Yes.”
Jin So-cheong and I began recounting the events of the gathering while sitting at the liquor table. Most of the narration came from Jin So-cheong, with me occasionally adding supplemental details. Once the storytelling reached its conclusion, Samjeol Lee Kwang spoke contentedly,
“Indeed, my disciples. You have exceeded my expectations.”
“Thank you.”
“Alright, raise your glasses. Tonight, the liquor tastes great.”
The drinking session continued until around the hour of the Dog (around 9 PM), when it finally ended. Jin So-cheong had to resume his role as Grandmaster early the next morning, so he left right away. As I busily cleared the remnants of our meal, Lee Kwang spoke to me.
“It seems you have something you want to ask.”
Despite having consumed quite a bit of liquor, he was entirely sober and merely exuding a tipsy demeanor. An expert of his caliber could drink a tankard and not get intoxicated. Knowing this, I cautiously broached the topic.
“When we visited the Zhongnan Sect, they called you Azure Dragon instead of the Three No Limits. When I inquired with Yeon Jeong-hong, he said to ask you directly for the reason.”
“Why didn’t you ask during the drinking session?”
“It was a festive occasion to celebrate the recovery. Now is merely a brief moment…”
“Is it not inappropriate to inquire?”
“……”
Lee Kwang chuckled softly.
“You’re quite the amusing child. A formidable internal energy that belies your age, talents that seem out of place, and a worldly demeanor as if you’ve been navigating among people for decades… I prided myself on being able to read people well, yet you remain a mystery.”
“If it was inappropriate, I shall withdraw.”
“No, not at all. As Yeon Jeong-hong stated, I should tell you why I am called Azure Dragon. Sit down and listen.”
“Yes.”
I seated myself opposite Lee Kwang, facing the empty table, as he gulped down a bowl of cold water and continued,
“Are you aware that before I became active in the Martial Arts World, I was the Grandmaster of the Imperial Guard and a Martial Officer?”
“Yes. You taught me that when I first entered the school.”
“Now I shall tell you why I left the Imperial Guard to join the Martial Arts World.”
I felt a stir of anticipation.
‘Finally, I will hear the story.’
Being the Grandmaster of the Imperial Guard signified holding a position that taught martial arts to the one hundred thousand soldiers, officers, and generals stationed in the Imperial Capital, Luoyang. Moreover, it often involved serving as the martial arts instructor to the Emperor. For a Martial Officer, there was no greater title than that of the Golden Eagle Guards, noted for its commendable honor and recognition as a master of martial arts! To forsake such a position to operate in the humble region of Guanzhong was a decision that seemed hard to comprehend.
Up until now, Lee Kwang had never explicitly discussed this aspect of his past life. I had inquired on occasions, but he always scowled at such questions, deeming them rude. I had never been close enough to Lee Kwang in my previous life to hear about his past.
Lee Kwang continued,
“What do you think is the organization that protects the Imperial Palace?”
“That would be the Imperial Guard, the Golden Eagle Guards, and the Imperial Army, totaling three.”
“Correct. However, although the Imperial Guard is a standing army, it is actually organized under the direct authority of the Grand General, hence, the organizations closest to the real meaning of ‘guard’ would be the Golden Eagle Guards and the Imperial Army.”
Lee Kwang sighed as he reached this point.
“However, in reality, the Golden Eagle Guards and the Imperial Army have faced too much competition since their establishment. Both were created as hunting hounds by the Emperor, who couldn’t trust the powerful ministers of the court and wanted to protect his power. Consequently, they began to decline, showing a lack of capability to properly guard the Emperor, even as they wielded influence. It became common for noble families to use bribes to place their sons in these organizations for power.
The previous Emperor was concerned about this and felt the need to transform these two institutions into genuine elite forces. He selected the best experts and chose individuals with both skill and loyalty, regardless of their affiliations.
It was during this process that the four greatest experts of the Imperial Palace emerged. They were known as the Four Divine Guards.”
“……!!”
Looking at Lee Kwang in disbelief, he nodded and said,
“I was active as Azure Dragon, one of the Four Divine Guards.”
This was astonishing news.
If what he said was true, then Lee Kwang, the master of the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School before me, was originally an extraordinary figure! If he was indeed one of the Four Divine Guards, then he had already been an unparalleled master from that time. Moreover, to have served a role in reorganizing the armed forces of the Imperial Palace under the Emperor’s command meant he had earned the Emperor’s deep trust and had been at the core of power at one point!
As I swallowed hard, Lee Kwang forced a smile.
“At that time, I realized there were less than ten usable experts in the Imperial Palace, and I decided to pressure the Martial Arts World to recruit stronger individuals.”
“Pressure the Martial Arts World?”
“At that time, the Nine Great Sects and various martial arts sects were skeptical about contributing their experts to the Imperial Golden Eagle Guards, unlike now. It was only recently that superior talents started to emerge from the Luoyang sects, including the Shuangwenzha family.”
“Why was that? Now, martial artists are eager to join the Golden Eagle Guards…”
“Back then, there was a constant, bloody struggle for power within the Imperial Palace. It was quite common for those selected for the Golden Eagle Guards or the Imperial Army to have their limbs torn apart within just a day, or to be caught up in treasonous calamities, resulting in their sects being ruined. Who would want to offer their outstanding disciples to such political strife?”
“……”
I didn’t quite know when this ‘past’ he spoke of took place. One thing was certain—it was a matter of decades before I was born. The current landscape of the Martial Arts World and the atmosphere of the Imperial Palace were so different that all I could do was listen in silence.
He gazed at the moon in the sky and said,
“Yet, I had to do it. I traveled to persuade the leaders of various sects, assuring them that they would not be harmed if they sided with me. However, they refused to listen. So, I resorted to my last measure.”
“The last measure?”
“I traversed the martial arts world from Shaanxi and beyond, smashing through various sects. Using competition as an excuse, I shattered the plaques of several sects in a single day. I defeated quite a few experts during that time, and I regret having killed so many.”
“……”
“I thought that by applying pressure, the Martial Arts World would yield and offer their peak experts to the Imperial Palace.”
Could it really mean that?
That the Azure Dragon, the great master and one of the Four Divine Guards, had recklessly rampaged through the Shaanxi martial arts world under the guise of the Emperor’s command—such a mad endeavor existed in the past. And possibly, the Zhongnan Sect of the Nine Great Sects was also involved in that chaos. I swallowed hard and asked,
“Did you, by any chance, challenge the Eight Demon Gate or the Nine Great Sects?”
“It wasn’t a challenge; it was a martial arts competition.”
“Yes, a competition.”
“I pitted myself against the Zhongnan Sect, the Huashan Sect, and even the Wudang Sect. I even fought the Black Night Gate, Shura Sect, and Heaven and Earth Gate among the Eight Demon Gate.”
“What happened as a result…?”
“I have never been defeated.”
The answer was excessively succinct. Yet, realizing the implications hidden in his words sent shivers down my spine.
Lee Kwang, the Azure Dragon, had displayed the overwhelming power of one of the Four Divine Guards in the Imperial Palace to the entire Martial Arts World! Not only that, but he was undefeated against the top experts of both the righteous and demonic factions at the pinnacle of the martial world! I began to understand what Jin So-cheong referred to as ‘fear.’ At that time, the name “Azure Dragon” must have been synonymous with death and blood, a reaper of sorts in the Imperial Palace.
In disbelief, I asked,
“How could you, having incurred so much enmity, end up opening a martial office…?”
“I thoroughly crushed those who had a vendetta against me, those who were worth avenging. I left some room for compromise, so there was no one left to retaliate against me. I handled that part meticulously and then descended into the Martial Arts World.”
The thought of him being such a fearsome individual sent chills down my spine. If he himself claimed to have dealt with matters so thoroughly, then he must have been a true nightmare for those who found themselves on the receiving end. Lee Kwang was a person who should never be turned into an enemy.
“……”
“However, despite the pressure I exerted on the Martial Arts World, they continued to shut their doors even tighter. It became quite common for them to use the excuse of ‘closed gates’ to refuse to fight me. As my goal of recruiting experts hit its limits, I grew angry and frustrated.”
Lee Kwang sipped his tea and smiled bitterly.
“… But oddly enough, the situation resolved itself. Once the power struggles within the Imperial Palace concluded, everything fell into place. The martial sects again offered their experts, and the distribution of experts in the Golden Eagle Guards and Imperial Army returned to normal. I was discharged from the Four Divine Guards due to insufficient capability.”
“Discharged? That’s not your fault, is it?”
“I initially thought so. So, as I descended into the Martial Arts World, all sorts of thoughts crossed my mind. I had dedicated my life to the Imperial Family, yet here I was being cast out… It was infuriating.”
A more relaxed expression surfaced on Lee Kwang’s face.
“However, it turned out differently. It was indeed my fault.”
“What?”
“My duty was not to disrupt the Martial Arts World and crush its experts. It was to swiftly end the power struggles within the Imperial Palace and bring about peace in the world. Had I done so, many innocent people would not have been sacrificed, and I would not have incurred unnecessary enmity.
I followed orders without thinking for myself, believing that to be the virtue of a martial officer. Because I did not think for myself, I ended up failing.”
“……”
Lee Kwang looked at me intently and said,
“Remember this well. No matter how great your strength may be, you must think with your own mind and choose a path willingly. Otherwise, strength becomes utterly useless.”
Think with your own mind!
That was the most significant lesson that Samjeol Lee Kwang could impart to me in the present. Having undergone several reincarnations, I could deeply understand the meaning behind his words. I had died several times because I acted impulsively without considering situations with my own mind.
“Life experience and wisdom are indeed essential.”
As a realization crossed my face, Samjeol Lee Kwang had a curious expression.
“You are truly unique. I’ve shared this story with Jin So-cheong several times, but that child merely regarded it as guidance for the future. Yet you empathize with it profoundly as if you’ve experienced something similar.”
“……”
“Perhaps it’s the alcohol, but I’ve been talking too much. Let me address a few more questions.”
A hint of embarrassment appeared on Lee Kwang’s face. Even such an extraordinarily composed man seemed uncomfortable with recalling the past. After deep contemplation, I asked him an important question.
“Do you happen to know the Grand Commander of the Golden Eagle Guards? Is he also one of the Four Divine Guards of the Imperial Palace?”
“Of course. He is Baihu (White Tiger), one of the Four Divine Guards, and a close friend of mine.”
I couldn’t help but swallow hard.
‘So that’s why he was so incredibly powerful.’
If the Grand Commander of the Golden Eagle Guards is Baihu of the Four Divine Guards, then it would be impossible for me to win in a direct confrontation right now. Being friends with Lee Kwang and considered one of the Four Divine Guards means he is at the pinnacle of the martial world.
“Who are the other two?”
“One is Huan Ya (幻夜), the Eastern Commander Xuanwu. The other is Zhuque (朱雀).”
“Along with my master, that makes three who were leading the martial forces of the Imperial Palace. But does that Zhuque hold any special position?”
“Zhuque is rather special. He is a true guardian of the Emperor and rarely shows his face among the other Divine Guards. He operates from the deepest shadows.”
“I see.”
After sharing various insights, Lee Kwang gave me a pointed look.
“What do you intend to achieve by being curious about the Divine Guards? With your current abilities, you cannot take on anyone.”
Nevertheless, the information I had obtained was a significant gain. I shook off his admonishment and tried to memorize everything. Then I said,
“… Finally, there’s a question I would like to ask my master.”
“Go ahead.”
“If the Golden Eagle Guards were to lose their sense of humanity and engage in wicked deeds, would you consider stopping them?”
“Hmm.”
Lee Kwang seemed to ponder my question seriously. Perhaps he had considered such a scenario himself at some point. He frowned, deep in thought, and after a while, he finally spoke.
“If it is for the sake of His Majesty, then I cannot stop them.”
“Are you serious?”
Lee Kwang nodded.
“I have seen and heard a lot about inhumane activities, and I have taken part in them myself. I have even conducted torture personally. But I believe that all those actions are ultimately in service of loyalty and sincerity to His Majesty. As a martial officer, it is my duty to subdue my own sense of justice for my lord and to serve selflessly; thus, I can understand them.”
“That…”
I wanted to retort, clenching my teeth.
‘The Golden Eagle Guards are no longer the same Golden Eagle Guards in your memory! They are sacrificing thousands, perhaps tens of thousands of people as offerings!’
But I held my tongue.
The reason I refrained from saying this was because of the thought of Mangnyang’s neck. If I told Lee Kwang the truth now, perhaps I could prove the tragedy over time and win him over as an ally.
However, even if I managed to win Lee Kwang as an ally, there was no guarantee that we could overcome the Golden Eagle Guards. Moreover, judging by what Lee Kwang had said, there was a possibility that he might turn a blind eye to the truth. Lacking power, I would ultimately face a situation akin to when I severed Mangnyang’s neck.
I would no longer rely on others’ strength. In this lifetime, I entered the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School to cultivate my own power. For that, I vowed to run forward without looking back or to either side.
As I bowed my head, I heard Lee Kwang’s voice.
“Today’s drinking session ends here. From tomorrow, I will start teaching you the Heavenly Sword technique, so stay focused.”
Lee Kwang’s presence slowly faded into the distance.
I sat alone in front of the empty table, gazing at the moon outside. It was a full moon.
“I need to stay focused.”
Once again, I steeled my resolve.
The only one I can truly rely on is myself.
