Chapter 19 : Chapter 19

Chapter 19. The Man Who Doesn't Know How to Give Up (3)

“Vice Sect Leader……”

“Huh? Is it strange? Since there are two of us now, I was thinking of just calling it a sect from here on out.”

At Han Cheong-un’s words, Dang Jin let out a small laugh.

“Were you planning to create a sect from the beginning?”

“To have a voice in the Murim world, you need to be in a position that represents something, at the very least.”

“Hmm……. Isn’t there a way to gain a voice by occupying a key position within the Murim Alliance?”

“I’ve already tried that. And……”

Han Cheong-un sighed and said.

“I failed spectacularly.”

The Evil-Annihilating Squad, which was treated as the top fighting force among the Murim Alliance’s military units.

Han Cheong-un was the Grand Master of that Evil-Annihilating Squad.

That position was quite high within the Murim Alliance. But…….

“The organization called the Murim Alliance is too huge, and its structure is already perfectly established.”

“That’s true.”

“It’s not easy for one person to speak up and change something within it. That’s why I left the Murim Alliance this time.”

“Tsk, well……”

If what Han Cheong-un said was true, then in the final moments, it was not the Unorthodox Faction that betrayed him, but the Murim Alliance.

So how could he remain in the Murim Alliance?

Stabbing a hero who led a war to victory in the back and imprisoning him in a lightning prison for over a decade?

That’s not something a person who knows righteousness would do.

But on the other hand…….

‘They are people who are more than capable of doing it.’

As long as there is a suitable excuse like ‘for the greater good,’ they can do things dirtier than the Unorthodox Faction.

That was the place called Murim.

Dang Jin, born as a direct descendant of the Sichuan Tang Clan, knew this reality better than anyone. In that case…….

“What kind of sect do you want to create?”

“A sect to defeat the plots of the Eight Gates of the Evil Way, prevent the tragedy of the Righteous-Demonic War, and save the suffering weak of the current Murim.”

The intention is good.

“It shall be named the Justice Road Walking Chivalry Gate.”

“……”

Let me rephrase that.

Only the intention is good.

The name is lame.

“Are you really going to operate under that name?”

“Yes.”

Han Cheong-un answered confidently.

Dang Jin thought.

[Greetings. I am Dang Jin, the Vice Sect Leader of the Justice Road Walking Chivalry Gate.]

Rather than experience that, I would rather lock myself away in a deep mountain valley and turn my back on the world for the rest of my life. But…….

“How is it? It’s a good name, isn’t it?”

It seems Han Cheong-un was serious.

Without a shred of doubt, he thinks that lame name is a ‘good’ name.

At that moment, Dang Jin realized the first thing he had to do as Vice Sect Leader.

‘I will definitely change this lame name.’

“Ahem, isn’t it a bit long?”

“Pardon? I’ve already shortened it a lot.”

“……”

“Originally, it was Righteous Heavenly Just Wind Dark Flower……”

“No, please forget about that……”

How did the Dang Jin of the original history act as this person’s right-hand man?

Dang Jin sighed and said.

“It’s not good to reveal the nature of the sect too blatantly.”

“Huh? On the contrary, isn’t it good to blatantly reveal the sect’s purpose? So that people can tell what kind of sect it is just by looking at it.”

“Absolutely not. More than that……”

Dang Jin said to Han Cheong-un.

“What is the Sect Leader’s will for creating the sect?”

“My will?”

“Yes. That is the most important thing. Why are you trying to create a sect?”

At that, Han Cheong-un organized his thoughts for a moment and then said.

“The Private Way has no justice, so it’s not even a consideration from the start.”

“……”

“The Righteous Way is correct, but the ones who practice it have no principles, so I don’t want to be a part of it.”

“……”

“So I will pursue the Ultimate Path that surpasses both. And this time, I will definitely prevent all those tragedies.”

A sense of conviction could be felt in Han Cheong-un’s eyes as he spoke. And Dang Jin said with conviction.

“The Ultimate Path Gate.”

“Pardon?”

“The Ultimate Path Gate would be good. It will be a sect that can always remember the Sect Leader’s conviction and oath.”

“Umm……. Isn’t it too short?”

“It’s sufficient.”

“It seems short……”

“If you do not accept this name, I will return to my clan.”

He absolutely did not want to be active in the Murim world with a lame name like the Justice Road Walking Chivalry Gate.

“Tsk, it can’t be helped.”

In the end, Han Cheong-un accepted Dang Jin’s advice.

It was like this during the old Evil-Annihilating Squad days too, but when Dang Jin spoke with such conviction, he had to listen.

If he didn't, all his comrades would take Dang Jin’s side and start persuading him.

‘What a pity. The Justice Road Walking Chivalry Gate. It was truly a naming so brilliant that even Li Bai would have wept.’

He would have wept.

Just for a different reason.

Anyway, Dang Jin, who had overcome the crisis, let out a sigh of relief and said.

“First, let’s get the titles right.”

“Titles?”

“There is no sect where the Sect Leader speaks formally to an ordinary sect member.”

“Ah, that’s true.”

“From now on, please speak informally.”

“I’ll do that.”

As long as they called themselves a sect, this was a rather important issue.

And Han Cheong-un was also comfortable with Dang Jin, who had been his Vice Grand Master, so this wasn't awkward.

Now that the minimum form of a sect was established, the next thing was…….

“Where are we going now?”

“Umm……”

At Dang Jin’s question, Han Cheong-un pondered. At that, Dang Jin asked again.

“By any chance, did you not have any plan?”

“Of course I do.”

Han Cheong-un sighed and said.

“Originally, I was scheduled to go to Hebei.”

“Hebei? To the Paeng Clan?”

“Yes. I can’t let the Paeng Clan be annihilated again……”

“The Paeng Clan was annihilated?”

“I was planning to do something about it.”

“Are you saying the Paeng Clan was annihilated? The Hebei Paeng Clan?”

To the disbelieving Dang Jin, Han Cheong-un smiled bitterly and said.

“By the time the first Righteous-Demonic War ended, two of the Five Great Families had disappeared.”

“……”

“One was the Sichuan Tang Clan, and the other was the Hebei Paeng Clan.”

“We were because of the bloodshed incident, but why was the Paeng Clan annihilated?”

At those words, Han Cheong-un looked up at the distant sky.

And said…….

“For the sake of pride.”

“Pardon?”

“There is no other way to explain it.”

Han Cheong-un squeezed his eyes shut in regret.

The memory of that day was a bitter one, no matter how many times he thought about it.

* * *

“Get up! What a martial artist must protect is not a pitiful life, but pride and honor!”

The young head of the Hebei Paeng Clan, Azure Cloud Warm Tiger Paeng Seolmyeong.

As his nickname, the Warm Tiger, suggested, he was a man of a different disposition from the past heads of the Hebei Paeng Clan.

A man who disliked fighting, loved books, and was proficient in poetry, calligraphy, and painting.

He was a gentle man who was usually reluctant to even say harsh words to others.

But at that moment, he roared more fiercely than anyone. And…….

“We receive the Clan Head’s command!”

“We receive the command.”

“We receive the command.”

The martial artists of the Paeng Clan, rising with their battered bodies.

Not a single one ran away or refused.

Even though it was a fight with an obvious outcome, everyone present burned their lives to the end.

And Han Cheong-un watched it clearly with his own two eyes. No, he could only watch.

* * *

“Damn it……”

“What is wrong?”

“No, it’s just……. A shitty memory came to mind.”

Han Cheong-un’s face crumpled.

At that time, Han Cheong-un was just an ordinary warrior belonging to the Murim Alliance’s Seven Swords Squad. He had no authority to defy the orders given by the Alliance.

That’s why he couldn't do anything while clearly watching them burn away gloriously.

‘No, that’s all just an excuse.’

What changes by clenching one's fists until they bleed and chewing on one's frustration?

In the end, the fact that he was a bystander does not change.

‘I can’t feel that X-like emotion again.’

So, originally, he was thinking of going to Hebei as soon as he resolved the Sichuan Tang Clan’s bloodshed incident. However…….

“The annihilation of the Hebei Paeng Clan was at the end of the Righteous-Demonic War.”

At least for now, it's not an urgent matter. More than that…….

“I think we have to go to the Mount Hua Sect.”

“What business do you have in Mount Hua?”

“It’s because of the Ghost Spirit Taoist.”

The moment he heard Han Cheong-un’s words, Dang Jin’s eyes became fierce.

“You mean that son of a bitch who cast a soul-subduing art on my sister?”

The Sichuan Tang Clan never forgets a grudge.

Never.

Han Cheong-un, who understood Dang Jin’s feelings, nodded and said.

“Actually, I didn’t know the Ghost Spirit Taoist was active at this point. But if he is active, there is a person who must be recruited.”

“Who is that?”

“The Mount Hua Divine Maiden Baek Sua.”

After thinking for a moment, Dang Jin said.

“Is there such a person in Mount Hua?”

“She probably hasn’t distinguished herself much yet. But she is also from the same Evil-Annihilating Squad as us.”

“Hmm……”

“And she is also the natural enemy of the Ghost Spirit Taoist.”

That was the most important thing.

* * *

The Mount Hua Sect.

It is a sword sect that ranks within the top five in the world, and at one time, it held the name of the greatest in the world.

Well, most of the Nine Sects One Union and the Five Great Families have held that title at least once.

Anyway, the Mount Hua Sect is a prestigious sect.

Even now, if you were to pick the top four sects within the Nine Sects One Union, they would be Shaolin, Wudang, Mount Hua, and the Beggars' Alliance.

These four sects could be said to hold the leadership of the Nine Sects One Union.

Although the Mount Hua Sect is that strong, it had one fatal weakness. And that was…….

“What a ridiculously high mountain.”

“I agree.”

Dang Jin agreed.

“What were they thinking, building on a mountain like this? No, how did they even build it?”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

A porter who was passing by, panting, also agreed.

That’s right.

The fatal weakness of the Mount Hua Sect.

It was that the sect was located in a really damn rough and deep mountain.

How could they have brought up building materials and built buildings in such rough terrain where it’s difficult for people to even walk?

Even now, it is said that the merchants who deliver goods to the Mount Hua Sect refuse to deliver unless the labor costs are raised three-fold.

“Phew. Anyway, we have to go.”

“We do have to go. Damn it……”

Han Cheong-un and Dang Jin climbed and climbed the rough path of Mount Hua. In fact, while moving through terrain that was sometimes hard to tell if it was a path or a cliff, Dang Jin said.

“You said that lady named Baek Sua was our comrade.”

“That’s right. The Mount Hua Divine Maiden Baek Sua is one of the most renowned female swordswomen in the Murim world.”

The memory is still vivid.

The sight of her jumping into the enemy camp and engaging in a chaotic battle, suppressing the enemy while spreading a particularly brilliant sword energy.

“She was a woman who had mastered all of the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Hands and had cultivated the Purple Mist Divine Art to the eighth star. In terms of pure martial might, she was within the top three in the Evil-Annihilating Squad.”

“Hoh……. Amazing.”

“She was amazing.”

“Then what was my rank?”

“……Her amazing points were not just her martial arts.”

“No, Sect Leader. I asked what my martial rank was……”

“She had a peculiar ability. An ability called the Dragon Eye.”

“……”

“The Dragon Eye is a peculiar ability that sees through the opponent’s spirit. Seeing the spirit means seeing through the opponent’s intentions. Thanks to that, she displayed skills beyond her realm in actual combat and achieved brilliant military exploits.”

Dang Jin had a sullen expression.

But Han Cheong-un deliberately ignored it.

It’s ambiguous to say that he wasn't even in the top ten, isn't it?

‘The Vice Grand Master’s, no, the Vice Sect Leader’s strength was not in his martial might…….’

“Well, anyway, thanks to that ability to see through the spirit, she was able to identify those who had fallen under the Ghost Spirit Taoist’s soul-subduing art like a ghost.”

“Ah, is that true?”

“Thanks to that, it was a great fortune.”

A person under the influence of the Ghost Spirit Taoist's spiritual art shows no signs in their daily life.

Their personality doesn't change, nor are there any omens.

On the contrary, they are as normal as usual.

Not only the people around them, but even the person themselves is not aware of it. But Baek Sua, who possessed the Dragon Eye, could see through a person’s essence.

Her Dragon Eye could detect those whose souls had been suppressed by the Ghost Spirit Taoist.

Thanks to her, they were able to find dozens of people in the Murim Alliance who had fallen under the Ghost Spirit Taoist’s soul-subduing art.

“So she was called the natural enemy of the Ghost Spirit Taoist and was treated as a valuable asset within the Murim Alliance.”

“I see, that makes sense.”

“If she hadn’t been there, it would have been impossible for us to win the second Righteous-Demonic War.”

It was true.

Dozens of high-ranking officials of the Murim Alliance had become the opponent's puppets, and to win the war in that state?

Impossible.

In fact, if Baek Sua hadn't been there, the Orthodox Murim would have been attacked from both inside and out without even putting up a fight and would have been miserably defeated.

“I understand that she is a necessary talent.”

“Right?”

“But.”

Dang Jin looked at Han Cheong-un intently and said.

“How are you going to persuade her to join our side?”

“……”

Han Cheong-un couldn't answer.

In the past, she had joined the Evil-Annihilating Squad not of her own will, but as a personnel measure by the Murim Alliance.

When the Evil-Annihilating Squad achieved brilliant military exploits on the front lines, she was sent to concentrate their forces further.

‘Well, that probably wasn’t the only reason.’

The owner of the Dragon Eye that reads the spirit.

That is an object of fear to those around.

What is more shameful for a person to show than their naked body is their inner thoughts.

But Baek Sua sees through that clearly.

To the high-ranking officials of the Murim Alliance, would such a person have been comfortable?

‘They probably didn't want her around.’

That’s why Baek Sua was assigned to the Evil-Annihilating Squad, which was active on the front lines.

But what about now?

She is a direct disciple of a Mount Hua Sect elder and a first-generation disciple with a high rank.

Would such a person voluntarily join the Ultimate Path Gate?

“She won’t, will she?”

“There’s a high probability she won’t.”

“Keung. This is troublesome. How do I persuade her.”

A plan?

There was no such thing.

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