“This is an order as the master.”

“…”

The disciples could not disobey the order given by the master.

As long as the Alliance Friend Order had been issued.

They could not act as disciples of the Four Divine Daoist Temple forever.

The disciples packed their few belongings and hurried their steps.

The time had come to return to their respective sects and families.

While the disciples were preparing to leave, Gu Yong came to find Gwak Myeong.

“The death of Great Master Gu has been confirmed. Fortunately… it seems that Great Master Kang stopped the Blood-Sucking Sword Demon and saved Great Master Gu, but his wounds were too deep to be saved.”

It was something he had expected to some extent.

Nevertheless, Gwak Myeong felt as if all the strength in his body was draining away.

From the moment he became the master of the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple, Gu Jucheol had been a great help to him.

The world had pointed fingers at his past and had resented and cursed Gu Jucheol, who had been one of the Seven Evils.

Nevertheless.

Gu Jucheol did not regret his choice.

He had devoted himself to the righteous martial world with a spirit of repentance.

In the end, he had met his death for the righteous martial world.

“Gu Yong.”

“Yes.”

“Did such a martial art as the Blood-Sucking Sword Demon’s really not exist in this world? You… would know, wouldn’t you.”

Would Gu Yong, who showed an obsessive attachment to martial arts, know?

Gu Yong scratched his head.

“…I’m sorry. I have never heard of such a martial art.”

Even Gu Yong, who was said to know almost all martial arts, seemed to know nothing about the Blood-Sucking Sword Demon’s martial art.

‘Is it as Elder Ilsong said?’

Had everyone been mistaken?

“Perhaps.”

At that moment, Song Wu appeared from between the half-open door.

“He may have a talent similar to that of Disciple Jin.”

“What do you mean?”

Song Wu said with a sigh-mixed voice.

“I have shown Disciple Jin Sohyun the Maitreya Three Thousand Seas.”

“If it’s the Maitreya Three Thousand Seas, isn’t that the grappling technique of Shaolin?”

“That’s right. And Disciple Jin accurately imitated the movements of the Maitreya Three Thousand Seas in front of me. It was not an imitation… but a kind of replication.”

“Replication… you mean Jin Sohyun imitated the movements exactly?”

“That’s right. If he were to put the mystery of Shaolin into it, it would become the Maitreya Three Thousand Seas.”

“…”

If Song Wu’s words were true, then the inhuman power that the Blood-Sucking Sword Demon possessed was also understandable.

If he had the talent to imitate the martial arts of the martial artist he had faced exactly.

He would be able to showcase all the martial arts in the world as if they were his own.

It was definitely a plausible story and situation.

Nevertheless, Gwak Myeong felt a strange sense of incongruity.

“No. That was a little different. The Blood-Sucking Sword Demon didn’t just imitate… it was as if he were showcasing the martial arts as if they were his own…”

A strange story that he had read in a certain book suddenly came to Gu Yong’s mind, who was contemplating.

It was a story about a war that had happened decades ago.

“Ming Cult.”

At the one word that Gu Yong had uttered without realizing it, Gwak Myeong and Song Wu gathered their gazes.

“Ming Cult?”

“The Ming Cult started the Righteous-Demon War. At that time, they called the righteous martial world thieves and started a war, saying they would reclaim what was theirs.”

The Ming Cult had invaded the Central Plains by surprise.

Naturally, the Martial Alliance had no time to prepare, so the war had produced numerous casualties.

Of course, the Ming Cult had also suffered damage.

But nevertheless, the Ming Cult had attacked the Martial Alliance as if they were possessed by something.

Without even proper preparation.

As if they were being chased by something.

“At that time, it seemed that the Ming Cult was cursing the righteous martial world as thieves as a justification to occupy the Central Plains…”

Gu Yong, who was recalling his memory, frowned and then his eyes widened.

“According to the stories that the leaders of the Ming Cult, who were interrogated through the Demon Subduing Ghost, confessed… at that time, the leader of the Ming Cult seemed to believe that the Martial Alliance had stolen something that had a substance. And that was…”

Gu Yong hit his own head.

“You idiot! Moron! Imbecile!”

“Wh-what’s wrong?”

Song Wu was flustered and stopped Gu Yong.

Gu Yong, who was hitting his own head, approached Gwak Myeong as if he would rush at him with a bewildered face.

“It’s a sword!”

“A sword… explain so that I can understand.”

“A sword with a blood-red blade… the Ming Cult leader was said to have cherished a sword with a bright red blade. This is…”

Gwak Myeong’s eyes widened as well.

A bright red blade.

Gwak Myeong had also seen it.

The sword with a blood-red blade that the Blood-Sucking Sword Demon had.

“Don’t tell me.”

“We have to return to the Martial Alliance. The ancient books of the Ming Cult are there.”

“The ancient books of the Ming Cult? Weren’t they all burned and destroyed?”

As Song Wu asked in surprise, Gu Yong laughed awkwardly.

“That’s what’s known to the public, but the Alliance did not destroy the ancient books of the Ming Cult. Because the Zhuge Clan had earnestly requested it. Thanks to that, the ancient books of the Ming Cult have survived and are being kept in the underground vault of the Martial Alliance. Of course, to view them, you have to go through a rather complicated procedure and can only view them for a limited time under strict surveillance.”

“Let’s go.”

Gwak Myeong packed his sword and stood up.

“The answer might be there!”

***

Swoosh— swoosh—!

Seolpyeong, who was treading on the snow, put the thick overcoat he had brought on the shoulder of Mu Yu, who was standing with his hand on a tree.

“The wind is very cold, Great Head of the sect.”

“I had forgotten.”

“What do you mean?”

Mu Yu continued, watching the distant peaks and mountains.

“When I became the great head of the Heretic Path's Alliance, I put my hand and influence in most of the alliance. The Alliance Leader entrusted me with almost all the duties and authority of the Heretic Path's Alliance.”

As with almost all organizations.

Mu Yu, as the great head of the sect, had put his hand and influence in all the major and minor affairs of the Heretic Path's Alliance as the second in command after the Alliance Leader.

There was no matter that Mu Yu’s hand had not touched.

And there was no place that Mu Yu’s influence had not reached.

And so, slowly but with sincerity.

Mu Yu was making the Heretic Path's Alliance his own.

Even until then, the Alliance Leader, Ju Cheon, had not restricted or been wary of Mu Yu.

“So I had become arrogant. I believed that what the Alliance Leader knew, I also knew, and what the Alliance Leader was trying to do, I could also do.”

Seolpyeong silently stood by Mu Yu’s side.

Even during that time, Mu Yu stared at the empty air, being hit by the snow.

“But I was wrong. I didn’t know… that the Alliance Leader was looking down on everything from the highest place in the Heretic Path's Alliance. There was no matter that his hand had not touched, and there was no place that his influence had not reached.”

Since when was it?

Yes.

From the time the Righteous-Demon War ended and the Martial Alliance had won.

All of this must have begun.

He loves chaos.

The Acheon he had planned was just the first step to create a turbulent age, and a turbulent age creates a hero.

In other words, what Ju Cheon had wanted from the righteous martial world was not for them to tremble in fear or to feel anger and start a war.

He had wanted the birth of a hero.

Because a hero is the true beginning of a turbulent age.

And the beginning of chaos.

“It was Ju Cheon who created Jin Sohyun. Whether he intended it or not, a hero of the righteous martial world named Jin Sohyun was born because of him. And he prepared. A hero of the heretic martial world to counter the hero of the righteous martial world…”

He gathered a thousand children.

He selected and selected again.

And he created a hero to stand against the righteous path, and that was Ma Seongun.

Ju Cheon had not spared any support for Ma Seongun and had given him the freedom to do whatever he wanted.

As a result.

Ma Seongun had become the Blood-Sucking Sword Demon and had made the Central Plains tremble in fear, and in the end, he had become strong enough to swallow the Five Great Masters of the Central Plains alone.

“The Central Plains is playing in the palm of the Alliance Leader’s hand. He created a turbulent age, he created a hero… and he will cause an even greater turbulent age.”

Ju Cheon was already watching everything… Jin Sohyun’s well-being and Ma Seongun’s growth.

Although he seemed to be crouching in silence.

He was already looking out at the world.

“Then… what will happen to us now?”

As Seolpyeong asked, Mu Yu brushed off the snow that had piled up on his shoulder and said.

“What we have to do.”

Mu Yu’s gaze, which had been staring at the empty air as if chasing an illusion, changed.

His gaze moved to the Four Kings Hall.

“We have to prepare to face a turbulent age.”

***

“Is… is this your house, brother?”

“Yeah.”

Cha Seol, who had followed Jin Sohyun from the Cheonhwagak, looked at the Jin Clan estate they had arrived at with her mouth open and blinked her eyes.

To the girl who had never left the village, the grand majesty of the Jin Clan estate came as a great shock.

“It’s… like a castle.”

“Is it? Let’s go in.”

“Y-yes!”

Jin Sohyun, who had entered the Jin Clan estate, swallowing his dry saliva, first greeted his family who had come after hearing the news.

“Are you okay now?”

Jin Seomok and Yu Seoheung first asked about Jin Sohyun’s well-being.

“I’m fine now, so don’t worry.”

“Phew… that’s a relief.”

“You must be tired, so go and rest.”

“Yes.”

Jin Sohyun, who had returned to the separate building, lightly stroked the head of Siu, who had run up to him and had hugged him.

“Young Master! Why did you come back so late!”

“Haha… have you been well?”

“Yes! The one and only… no, not anymore. Anyway! This Siu, the number one maid in Shanxi! I’ve prepared everything so that you can rest comfortably whenever you come back, Young Master!”

Siu was smiling brightly and then frowned as she saw Cha Seol, who had appeared with Jin Sohyun.

“And who… is this?”

“This is Cha Seol. She’ll be staying with us for a while.”

“My name is Cha Seol.”

As Cha Seol greeted politely, Siu said with a displeased look, crossing her arms.

“Hmph! I’m Siu. The maid that the Young Master cherishes the most.”

“Ah… what’s a maid?”

“You don’t know what a maid is?”

“No.”

At Cha Seol’s innocent answer, Siu sighed and naturally took her arm and led her.

“I’ll take care of this person. You should rest, Young Master.”

“Please take good care of her. And Seol.”

“Yes!”

“Be careful with your eyes and mouth.”

At Jin Sohyun’s warning, Cha Seol nodded her head and covered her mouth.

Soon, Jin Sohyun, who had been watching the departing Siu and Cha Seol, came into his room and lay down on his own bed after a very long time.

“Ugh… this is nice.”

He really liked the cozy feeling of the soft bed.

The lazybones of Shanxi, who had returned to his hometown after a long time, quickly fell asleep.

A very deep sleep.

“Jin Sohyun!”

At the voice that hit his eardrums, Jin Sohyun sat up with a drowsy face.

“Who are you?”

“Who do you think?”

What he saw with his blurry vision was Namgung Muhyeok’s face.

Why was the person who should be at the Namgung Clan estate at this time here?

Jin Sohyun rubbed his eyes and barely sat up.

“Why are you here, uncle?”

“Uncle… I came as soon as I heard that you had returned to the Jin Clan estate.”

At Namgung Muhyeok’s following words, Jin Sohyun let out a yawn and scratched the back of his head.

The back of his head felt strangely hard.

No, more than that.

“How did you come so quickly?”

The distance from Anhui, where the Namgung Clan estate was, to Shanxi was a distance that would take at least four to five days, no matter how fast you went.

But how had he come to find him so quickly?

“I heard you haven’t woken up once since you fell asleep, and it was true.”

“What do you mean?”

“Do you know how long it’s been since you came to the Jin Clan estate?”

“A day?”

Namgung Muhyeok sneered and said.

“It’s been a week.”

A week.

Only then did Jin Sohyun realize that he had slept for a week without waking up once.

“Did I sleep that long?”

“Yes.”

“By the way, what brings you here, uncle?”

“The Alliance Friend Order has been issued.”

“What’s the Alliance Friend Order?”

“For now, just know that there is such a thing. What’s important… is that the war has begun.”

“War…”

The things he had been worried about had become a reality.

Although he had tried to stop the war somehow.

The war had begun.

“It’s not enough that the Sword Saint, who was one of the Five Great Masters of the Central Plains, died, but even Great Master Gu has died.”

“Wait… what did you say?”

As Jin Sohyun asked again as if he didn't understand, Namgung Muhyeok said sadly.

“The Ghost-Faced Revolutionary Sword, Gu Jucheol. He… is dead.”

(End of Chapter)