Sword God Reborn

Chapter 230 : How to Become a Complete Demon

The lights of the Lotus Pavilion never go out. The Lotus Pavilion was a place that had steadfastly kept its lights on even when the plague of the Blood Serpent Sect was rampant.

But today, the lights of the Lotus Pavilion were out, and its doors were firmly shut.

There were nine people secretly gathering at the firmly shut Lotus Pavilion.

"It's been a while."

"It's been a while, Brother Jak."

"Brother Seomun, did you get too much sun in Zhejiang? Your face has become like an Oguija."

"Haha, the life of a fisherman is quite enjoyable. My face getting tanned is a bit of a problem, though."

They all seemed to know each other, with happy expressions. It was natural if one knew the detailed circumstances.

Brothers who found it difficult to gather in one place due to the world's gaze, even in the vast martial world.

They were the nine Incense Masters, the leadership of the Sword Sect.

"All the senior brothers received the message, right? From them."

"Of course. The Blood Demon Valley bastards must be in a hurry. The guys who didn't even treat us like humans are now trying their best to escort us."

"The reason Grand Senior Brother Jang called us together must be because of that, right?"

"What other reason would there be for Grand Senior Brother to break all the rules and gather us in one place? It must mean it's that important."

They had all received Jang No's letter.

In fact, although they considered each other senior and junior brothers, strictly speaking, they were not.

Their individual masters were different. But in the large fence of the Sword Sect, they considered each other like senior and junior brothers. If it weren't for that strong bond, the Sword Sect would have long since disappeared from either the Demonic Path or the Orthodox Path.

"......!"

As soon as they secretly entered the Lotus Pavilion, they flinched.

Three figures slowly revealed themselves in the darkness.

For a moment, surprise appeared on the Incense Masters' faces.

Before the figures intentionally revealed their presence, they hadn't even properly detected that someone was there.

Moreover, the momentum of the three was not ordinary.

Their complexions changed at the rough yet sharply refined momentum.

A faint wariness appeared on the Incense Masters' faces at the murderous momentum, as if they would be stabbed with a sword at any moment.

"What is this..."

"Hehe, d-don't worry! Jang No is inside. We are just guards standing guard."

The oldest man among the three smiled lightly. His tone was somewhat frivolous.

Seomun Jeok, the youngest of the nine Incense Masters, tilted his head.

The qi of the one-armed, one-eyed man with a nonchalant air was not ordinary.

Was that all?

"Escort Heo, please open the door over there. The guests we've been waiting for have arrived."

At that, the man called Escort Heo silently opened the door of the building.

Although he seemed slightly lacking compared to the one-eyed man, a steady and unshakable rock-like qi was felt from his magnificent physique.

The Incense Masters' faces hardened.

'This is... an orthodox martial art?'

'Orthodox Path? Is this Mount Hua?'

'It's Mount Hua! The faint scent of plum blossoms...'

The corners of the Incense Masters' eyes trembled.

It was Heo Seong, an escort of the Azure Star Escort Agency. Having received enlightenment from Cheon Mubaeck before, although he was a lay disciple of Mount Hua, he now contained a depth of orthodox martial arts more like Mount Hua than any of Mount Hua's disciples.

Seeing Heo Seong, the Incense Masters' gazes clashed in the air.

'This...'

'Are you sure that letter was really sent by Grand Senior Brother?'

'Are you saying this is a trap?'

'That one-eyed warrior shows a Black Path disposition, but that man called Escort Heo is a true Orthodox Path martial artist. I can feel an orthodox internal energy that is difficult to even get close to.'

'Why would Grand Senior Brother place an Orthodox Path martial artist in this place?'

'This is a trap.'

In an instant, their opinions were exchanged through telepathy.

Somehow, an unusual feeling filled the hall. It was an ominous aura.

The Sword Sect had always lived in persecution. They were not welcomed anywhere. They had hidden everything to survive. As a result, their ability to sense danger was unparalleled.

All of their instincts shared the same feeling.

'It's dangerous!'

The moment everyone agreed.

Jak San, the oldest of the nine Incense Masters, composed his expression and said.

"It would be better to meet outside. It would be a good thing to discuss while looking at the stars in the night sky here. Please ask Senior Brother Jang, who is inside, to come out. We will go out first."

Led by Jak San, the nine of them turned their bodies towards the main gate they had entered.

But at that moment, a man closed the main gate and stood firmly in front of it.

"......!"

Jak San's eyes widened for a moment.

The man blocking the gate was relatively young. A young appearance that was at most not yet thirty.

But...

'What on earth is this!'

Looking at the three unidentified people here, even Heo Seong alone was a skilled person whose victory no one could guarantee.

But the one-eyed warrior, Neung-heo, was far more extraordinary than such a Heo Seong. Even if three Incense Masters rushed at him at the same time, they wouldn't dare.

But the young man in front of them was at least at that level.

Like a sharply honed blade.

A ferocious wildness like that of a wolf in the wilderness flashed in his gaze.

"You can't go outside. Go in. Because the sword of this Gwak family is blocking the gate."

At Gwak Cheon-hu's murderous momentum, Jak San swallowed dryly.

Each and every one of them was an incredibly skilled person, rare to see in the martial world.

But to think that three such skilled people were gathered here in one place.

Moreover, they had placed such skilled people merely as guards?

'What kind of dragon's den and tiger's lair is this?'

Several gazes were exchanged among the Incense Masters who felt that something was unusual.

"It can't be helped. Let's go in and meet Grand Senior Brother first. The handwriting and seal on the letter were definitely his."

Jak San entered with a firm face.

Guided by Heo Seong, they went up the stairs, and a wide room door opened before them.

A strange light flickered in Jak San's eyes as he entered.

Jang No was visible through the faint candlelight. Although he had an old face, it was unmistakably him.

The eleven Incense Masters of the Sword Sect, and among them, the eldest brother. It was Jang No.

But the Incense Masters had no choice but to erase their happy expressions. Because the figure of another man was reflected next to Jang No.

A single bead of cold sweat flowed down Jak San's back.

An ominous feeling for some reason kept poking at his chest.

He didn't know it, but it was the Demon-Subduing Qi.

"Nine people. Jang No, is the number correct?"

"That's right. One person, Seoryeong's master, couldn't come because he is not in good health, so everyone has gathered."

"The faces."

"They are all... my junior brothers."

The Incense Masters all glared at the man.

The man to whom Jang No spoke respectfully. It was too natural. As if he were a superior.

Jak San couldn't have a happy reunion with Jang No, and glared at the man.

The Demon-Subduing Qi flowing from Cheon Mubaeck strangely pressed on his nerves.

It was natural.

At this very moment, Cheon Mubaeck was intentionally operating the Heaven-Shaking Soul Art to its maximum.

He pressed the situation with the Demon-Subduing Qi, which any demon, anyone who had learned demonic arts, would find unpleasant and be reluctant to face.

Jak San, representing the Incense Masters, asked with a firm face.

"Grand Senior Brother, may I ask what this situation is?"

"It's been a while, junior brother."

"Grand Senior Brother... Please explain. Why is there an outsider at a gathering of the Sword Sect's demons?"

"...He is the one I serve."

"......!"

For a moment, a sense of betrayal appeared on the Incense Masters' faces.

The rule of the Sword Sect.

Never reveal your demonic arts, and never be caught as a demon. Even if you have to step out into the martial world, you must hide it, and even if you enter a certain force, you must keep the secret.

That was how the Sword Sect had survived.

But Jang No had brought his superior to a meeting where the demons of the Sword Sect were gathered.

A sense of betrayal was bound to appear on the faces of the Incense Masters who had trusted and followed him as their Grand Senior Brother.

"What on earth is this! Grand Senior Brother!"

"Are you trying to sell us out!"

"Grand Senior Brother! This is not right!"

At that moment, Cheon Mubaeck stood up.

The Incense Masters, who were angrily denouncing Jang No, flinched for a moment and stepped back.

"......!"

Astonishment spread across the Incense Masters' faces.

'What kind of disgraceful behavior is this...!'

Just by Cheon Mubaeck standing up, the nine Incense Masters had all stepped back.

It was his momentum.

The momentum of a single person had swallowed up the momentum of the nine people who were denouncing him in betrayal.

As if they were facing a huge landslide and hurriedly stepping back.

Jak San's pupils trembled violently.

"Who... are you."

"This one is..."

Cheon Mubaeck's eyes flashed beyond the faintly flickering candlelight.

"The Heavenly Dragon Sword Hero."

* * *

Cha-cha-cha-cha-chaeng!

Nine swords were drawn, emitting a faint light.

A menacing sword light flashed.

But at that moment, Jang No, who was watching, shouted in a desperate voice, as if he were vomiting blood.

"Everyone, sheathe your swords! Please, everyone, sheathe your swords!"

Jang No remembered Cheon Mubaeck's words clearly.

That if one did not aim their sword at him first, he would not use his sword either.

Paradoxically, didn't it mean that if the opponent swung their sword, he would definitely fight back?

That was why Jang No had no choice but to shout with a heart that felt like it was vomiting blood.

Thanks to that, the Incense Masters, who had drawn their swords without realizing it, did not rush in immediately. But they glared at Cheon Mubaeck with a very tense look.

The corner of Jak San's eye trembled.

He was just standing there.

Even with nine swords flashing their sword light and aimed at him, Cheon Mubaeck stood defenselessly.

But.

'There's no opening.'

It was paradoxical.

His arms were loose, his chest and neck were open. He was completely defenseless, but there was no opening.

He felt as if his mind was going blank.

Heavenly Dragon Sword Hero.

The adversary of the Blood Demon Valley, and the rising star of the Orthodox Path.

This was a meeting to gather the opinions of the Sword Sect on the Blood Demon Valley's proposal to join forces.

But the Heavenly Dragon Sword Hero had appeared here? And he was the person Jang No served?

The Incense Masters fell silent at Cheon Mubaeck's strong presence.

"Don't misunderstand. I have come to persuade you."

"Persuade?"

"I sincerely hope that the Sword Sect will not join hands with the Blood Demon Valley."

"..."

"It's as if I'm begging you to spare me."

Although he said so, his attitude was not like that at all. As silence still lingered, Cheon Mubaeck shrugged his shoulders.

"I know well. That the Sword Sect's ears are perked up at the Blood Demon Valley's proposal. However, I thought I should also tell you about the dangers that will arise if you do so."

"Dangers..."

"Joining hands with the Blood Demon Valley means turning me into an enemy."

"......!"

It was an arrogant statement. A very arrogant remark. But no rebuttal could come out. A suffocating silence fell. It was so quiet that only faint breathing could be heard.

Through the silence, Cheon Mubaeck's voice rang out softly.

"You'll turn me into an enemy to become a complete demon? There is no choice more wrong than that. Jang No has arranged this meeting to avoid such a situation."

"Don't talk nonsense! Heavenly Dragon Sword Hero! Aren't you the enemy of the Demonic Path!"

"I am only the enemy of the Demonic Path, not the enemy of the Sword Sect."

"......!"

"Was the Sword Sect ever part of the Demonic Path? Wasn't it just a gathering of cultivators who pursued the hegemonic path of the sword?"

"..."

"A complete demon, yes, if you want that, I will make you one."

Cheon Mubaeck smiled.

"The Demonic Path does not disappear. From its birth, until now. It has never once disappeared."

As if telling an old story, his voice flowed quietly, but intensely.

"I killed, and killed again. I cut, and cut again. I trampled, and trampled again. I burned, and burned again. But they stubbornly came back to life. The evil name of the Demonic Path, it stubbornly came back to life."

It was calm. But it was intense. The power in his voice dominated the space.

The nine swords that had been aimed at Cheon Mubaeck were now powerlessly falling to the floor.

"So I thought about it. Can the Demonic Path disappear from the world? No, it cannot. There have been times when it seemed that the Demonic Path had disappeared. But the Demonic Path is always operating in the shadows, always breathing. Whether in the form of the Seven Demonic Sects, or in a new form, it is alive somehow. A new force will inevitably arise at the opposite pole of the Orthodox Path, and that will represent the Demonic Path."

That's right. The Demonic Path had existed since the opening of the martial world.

They had fought and been defeated countless times, but in every era, the name of the Demonic Path had lived and breathed.

"The Demonic Path will not disappear. It will not die. So will we stop the war with the Demonic Path? Will we give up and end it? No. We cannot do that."

Cheon Mubaeck shook his head as if it were out of the question.

The tone of his calm voice gradually rose.

"They are blocking my way. They tried to invade my fence. They are bastards who would not hesitate to put my family in danger. So I will kill them."

His breath caught. The Incense Masters could not say anything. In the determination contained in his voice, a fierceness was felt.

"Then, Jang No."

At that moment, Cheon Mubaeck's gaze turned back. Cheon Mubaeck's gaze, which was looking at Jang No, burned blue.

"If you wish to become a complete demon because you are resentful of the Sword Sect, which cannot belong anywhere between the Orthodox Path and the Demonic Path."

The corners of his mouth slowly went up.

A smile that seemed to be sneering, or perhaps mocking. No, perhaps a smile that was too bright.

"Isn't there a surprisingly simple way?"

"...?"

"The six sects of the Seven Demonic Sects. If you kill all of them, only the Sword Sect will remain. Then the Sword Sect will be the only Demonic Path."

At that moment, a suffocating silence fell in the hall.

"So the only complete Demonic Path will be the Sword Sect."

A pure white smile spread in the Demonic Path.

(End of Chapter)