novelraw Chapter 385 : Entangled Fate (1)
Chapter 385 : Entangled Fate (1)
Chapter 385: Entangled Fate (1)
The two of us left the village and headed toward the Guan Yu Shrine.
Coincidentally, the Guan Yu Shrine we were going to wasn’t far from the inn where the Heavenly Demon Sect’s Great Young Master and his entourage were staying.
The Demonic Master felt uneasy, worried that they might run into the Great Young Master’s group.
Still, he believed that the Great Young Master, Ok Kirin, would not go out since he had remained in his room throughout the journey, shut away while circulating qi.
As we climbed toward the Guan Yu Shrine, we frowned.
A group was descending from there, wearing the same attire as those who had attacked Yu Maelim.
The uniforms of the Poison Valley martial artists were entirely black, except for the sleeves, which were dyed brown.
Since most poisons took on a brown hue, they dyed the sleeves that color to confuse their opponents.
It looked like the Poison Valley martial artists had already searched the Guan Yu Shrine and were coming down.
“Traces clearly led this way, but they’ve vanished without a trace. They must be nearby. Search every inch!”
The one who looked like the squad leader gave the order. As they descended, they spotted Yu Maelim and the Demonic Master coming up.
“No! That’s the White Sword of Integrity! Capture him!”
There were about fifteen Poison Valley martial artists, all master-level experts assembled to pursue the Greatest Sword Under Heaven.
The Demonic Master grumbled inwardly as things grew more tangled.
‘Damn it, even when I try to do something good, nothing ever goes smoothly.’
Though he had come along with Yu Maelim to prevent exactly this kind of situation, when things unfolded as he feared, he sighed.
“Hide behind me.”
The Demonic Master stepped in front of Yu Maelim and drew his sword.
Uuuung!
When he infused three cycles’ worth of qi into the blade, the sword trembled faintly, releasing an ominous sword cry.
‘Oh? What’s this? This isn’t an ordinary sword.’
The Demonic Master had always thought that the sword Eum Sajeok carried possessed some unusual energy, but he hadn’t realized until now. After infusing three cycles of qi, he felt its spiritual aura.
This sword was the Supreme Yin Spirit Sword, a treasured sword Eum Sajeok had owned.
The Supreme Yin Spirit Sword had the property of absorbing an opponent’s qi. But as the Demonic Master felt its aura, he realized that Eum Sajeok had only known half its true power.
‘This sword is brimming with spirit. It has the ability to absorb and annihilate qi. But after I infused three cycles, it began to release qi rapidly. That means it can return absorbed qi back at the opponent. Ha! That fool Eum Sajeok wielded this peerless blade as if it were mere iron—no wonder he was crushed so miserably by Yong Hwarin.’
Still, he could somewhat understand Eum Sajeok. The sword’s true nature revealed itself only when infused with more than three cycles of qi.
Since Eum Sajeok only had about one cycle’s worth, he could never have known its true function.
‘With this sword, I might actually have a chance against these bastards.’
In his prime, the Demonic Master wouldn’t have flinched even if twice this number had come at him. But now, using only three cycles of qi in Eum Sajeok’s body, he had been uneasy.
‘But who am I! I am Demonic Master Seok Jamyung!’
The Demonic Master struck first.
That was the most fitting way to wield the Supreme Yin Spirit Sword.
When he slashed at the two blocking his path, one raised a sword to parry while the other thrust his blade toward his chest.
Even as they countered hastily, both unleashed blue sword qi.
The Demonic Master could tell immediately that their realm surpassed first-rate.
Still, he didn’t back away—he stepped forward instead.
Clang!
The moment their blades collided with the young man’s sword, tremendous true qi surged into them, and they were startled.
As they faltered, trying to suppress the raging energy, the Demonic Master had already slipped past them.
Slice!
With a sound of bone being severed, both collapsed like sandcastles.
“He’s no ordinary man! Be careful!”
Three more leapt over the bodies of their fallen comrades, but the Demonic Master, who had been charging ahead, suddenly vanished from sight.
“Behind you!”
Before they realized, he was already behind them, thrusting his sword.
It was a feint achieved through three rotations.
These were all advanced martial arts he had honed over a lifetime in his previous life.
“Urgh!”
“Gah!”
Two clutched at their throats and collapsed. The last one twisted his body and barely escaped the strike zone, but had to leave an arm behind.
In less than five breaths, five men were down.
The Poison Valley martial artists watching from behind froze.
Those who had gone first were men who carried great pride even within Poison Valley.
But to be felled in an instant by a young man they had never seen before—more than anger, it brought them despair.
Ok Kirin never liked being called the Heavenly Demon Sect’s Great Young Master.
It felt like flaunting that he was the descendant of the Heavenly Demon Sect.
Even in its founding days, the Heavenly Demon Sect had the power to control everything within the murim.
He didn’t want to obtain the position of Sect Leader just by being born of the First Master’s bloodline.
One day, he wanted to compete fairly with the disciples raised by his father and uncles, and seize the Heavenly Demon Sect with honor.
And if he proved lacking compared to them, he was ready to serve as their subordinate.
But after training in seclusion and mastering martial arts, those thoughts gradually faded.
The arts he learned were those passed down only to the Heavenly Demon Sect’s direct heir, destructive and transcendent in nature.
After mastering it, he cast aside his former fragile thoughts.
It was because he became confident that there would be no one in the world who could surpass him.
Ok Kirin paced back and forth in front of the inn.
He was waiting for someone who had promised to come.
A few days earlier, he had sent word to Hong Ahyul to come to where he was, and she had replied that she would soon arrive at Yeo-nam.
Outwardly, he summoned her on the pretext of receiving the Azure Dragon Three Marbles, but in truth, Ok Kirin had called her because he wanted to see her.
Ok Kirin had never forgotten Hong Ahyul, who used to spend time with him when they were young.
During his seclusion training, the one he had longed to see most was Hong Ahyul.
Even he hadn’t realized she remained so deeply in his heart.
So though it bewildered him, he resolved to accept the feeling naturally.
Though he had no real reason to leave seclusion, he came out from the Heavenly Demon Sect because he wanted to see Hong Ahyul.
Since she had left the Heavenly Demon Sect, there had been no contact for over a year.
After he entered the murim, he had sent his subordinates to search for her whereabouts, and through Jo Heon he was able to reach her and call her here.
Since she had arrived in Yeo-nam, he believed she would come to the inn where he was staying, so he had come out to greet her.
For the Great Young Master of the Heavenly Demon Sect, such behavior was unbecoming of his dignity, but his longing to see Hong Ahyul outweighed such concerns.
But while waiting for her, Ok Kirin happened to spot Eum Sajeok walking with a white-robed woman in the distance.
Ok Kirin had climbed a tree to better see Hong Ahyul’s arrival, and from there he noticed them.
‘Where is Brother Eum going? And who is that woman?’
Out of curiosity, Ok Kirin secretly followed them. It was strange enough for Eum Sajeok to act independently without saying a word, but he was even more curious about the identity of the white-robed woman.
‘Could it be that Brother Eum is luring that woman to violate her?’
If that were the case, he intended to stop him.
Ok Kirin had a personality that despised treating women carelessly.
Then, when he saw Eum Sajeok suddenly fighting with someone, he tilted his head and asked aloud into the air.
“Do you know who that woman is?”
When Ok Ilhwa, the First Master of the Heavenly Demon Sect, allowed his son to leave seclusion, he had sent along one of his trusted confidants—none other than the Hua Yingwei, the twin shadows who served as his closest guards.
If the Hua Chung Three Guards had been a name born partly from mockery of their position, the Hua Yingwei was a title feared throughout the Heavenly Demon Sect.
No one except Ok Ilhwa had seen their true faces, and it was said that once they resolved to kill, no one could escape.
Rumor even claimed that the two were legendary assassins from the previous generation.
“We do not know, Young Master. But from her attire, we can infer one thing.”
“What is it?”
Something pale flickered in the air, then stood behind Ok Kirin.
“There is a sect where they always wear white robes, carrying a needle case on the right hip and a sword on the left. You may have heard of them—the White Sword Sect dresses like that.”
“Yes, I know the White Sword Sect. They are unusual, a sword sect that also specializes in medicine.”
“That is correct.”
“Then are you saying that woman is a disciple of the White Sword Sect?”
“There is a high possibility.”
“Do you know who those men fighting Eum Sajeok are?”
“They are likely martial artists of Poison Valley, known as one of the Three Great Hidden Gates of the murim.”
“Then do you know why Eum Sajeok is helping a woman of the White Sword Sect against Poison Valley’s men?”
“That, Young Master, you must ask Eum Gongja yourself.”
The Hua Yingwei also could not understand Eum Sajeok’s actions.
“Was Eum Gongja the type to help people in difficult situations?”
“To our knowledge, he is not. There is always purpose and intent in his words and actions. He would not help that woman without reason. There must be something. Once again, I remind you—you must be more cautious of Eum Gongja than of Yang Gongja.”
At those words, Ok Kirin nodded.
“Yes, seeing now, I understand why you told me to be wary of him. Until now, I thought Brother Eum was only at the level of a master. But he is cutting down master-level experts with ease. That means he has been hiding his true strength. Incredible. Look at that! What is that technique he just used to cut down two men at once?”
The Hua Yingwei, too, seemed impressed.
“This is the first time we’ve seen that technique. But Eum Gongja is a man who conceals much. Even if he secretly trained in another art, it would not be surprising.”
“It seems I have underestimated him. Doesn’t he look even stronger than Brother Yang?”
“Indeed. His skill is one step above Yang Gongja’s. The way he faces master-level experts without flinching is like that of a veteran of a hundred battles.”
Normally stingy with praise, the Hua Yingwei admired Eum Sajeok’s movements and his clean swordsmanship.
Even after killing nearly half of the fifteen Poison Valley martial artists, Eum Sajeok showed no sign of fatigue.
Ok Kirin honestly doubted if even he himself could fight those fifteen and achieve what Eum Sajeok was doing.
And yet Eum Sajeok was cutting them down one by one.
It was truly impressive.
“He seems to have about three cycles’ worth of qi.”
“Yes. At most, three cycles. Compared to your five cycles of qi, Young Master, it is lacking, but his execution is astonishingly refined.”
Ok Kirin was genuinely curious about the purpose behind Eum Sajeok’s inexplicable battle.
So, when he saw Eum Sajeok in danger, he leapt into the battlefield.
He wanted to help him and then hear the reason directly from his mouth.