novelraw Chapter 28
Chapter 28
Chapter 28:
11. Eternal Character Eight Methods (1)
Hyeok Je-un, though he saw Jeong-min's trembling hands, pretended not to notice.
The Heavenly Demon, Hyeok Je-un, simply smiled with satisfaction as he looked at the written pledge Jeong-min had brought.
It was a written pledge concerning an alliance with the Blood Cult.
"I will confess. I truly did not think we would be able to form an alliance with the Blood Cult."
And for good reason.
The Blood Cult was a group that severed all diplomatic ties with the outside world and lived independently through self-sufficiency.
Moreover, with rumors circulating that they consumed human flesh, hardly anyone entered or left Mangyuan Prefecture under ordinary circumstances.
Well, that wasn't just a rumor—it was the truth.
Even if it was for the purpose of treating illness, consuming humans was a taboo that was difficult to forgive.
"Splendid."
At Hyeok Je-un's firm yet spirited praise, Jeong-min felt his heart soften at once.
"I did it because it had to be done."
Jeong-min took a sip of tea to calm himself, and Hyeok Je-un spoke.
"I have had all of Bang-rip's letters exchanged with the Martial Alliance confiscated. You were right, Jeong-min. We can no longer afford to stand idle."
A flash of fury took root in Hyeok Je-un's eyes.
"From here on, we will prepare against the Martial Alliance."
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.
.
Hyeok Je-un had made a promise for when Jeong-min returned after forging the alliance with the Blood Cult.
That promise was none other than.
"The procession is beginning!"
"The Junior Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Cult proceeds!"
The Junior Cult Leader Investiture Ceremony.
It was something closer to a lantern festival, to be precise.
The Hour of the Dog had already passed, yet the peak of Tianshan in Xinjiang showed no sign of its lights going out.
Everyone had lit lanterns and torches, enjoying the night scenery as though it were a festival. Every single one of them was dressed in round-collar wide-sleeve robes or cross-collar robes.
They were all Cult Members or household members of the Heavenly Demon Cult.
And the one passing through their midst was none other than.
"The Junior Cult Leader passes!"
Jeong-min, riding in a carriage.
Seated in the carriage above the heads of others, gazing down below, Jeong-min entrusted his body to wherever the coachman led.
Cult Members stood guard around him as escort.
Furthermore, among the Cult Members were Jeong-min's brothers, Hyeok Jang-ho and Hyeok Mun-ha.
They called out to praise their younger brother with triumphant expressions.
"The Junior Cult Leader passes!"
"Everyone, make way! Ha ha!"
Discerning whether a person's expression was true or false was something Jeong-min could manage with ease.
Hyeok Jang-ho and Hyeok Mun-ha were congratulating Jeong-min with all sincerity.
That fact warmed Jeong-min's heart.
Brothers.
And alongside that warm feeling, on one side of his heart.
This feels awkward.
Dressed in a crimson ceremonial robe, wearing a Cult Leadership crown embroidered with gold thread on a black background, his head felt heavy.
Jeong-min scratched the back of his head, bothered by the coarse part that hung down beneath the Cult Leadership crown.
But even so.
I'm happy.
It was a life Muyeong had never experienced in his past life.
A life where everyone looked up to him, where his name was praised.
In his past life, he had been Muyeong—no given name whatsoever. No position he had ever worn.
But today, even if borrowed from another, he had a name.
"Long live Lord Jeong-min!"
"Long live the Junior Cult Leader!"
The Cult Members who responded every time the carriage carrying Jeong-min passed by.
Anyone listening would think a wedding ceremony was being held, he thought, as Jeong-min smiled with contentment.
Right, come to think of it, he hadn't properly rested even once since returning.
Just for today, let me rest easy.
Thinking of the precious things I have.
Just for today, let me play without a care.
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The Junior Cult Leader Investiture Ceremony continued deep into the night, until the Hour of the Rat.
He had done nothing but sit in the carriage and travel along the route, yet even so, Jeong-min felt both body and mind utterly exhausted.
"Oh my, every bone aches."
Jeong-min went not to his usual bedchamber in the Demon Studies Pavilion, but to the Demon Dragon Pavilion at the far end of Tianshan.
This building, which was rarely used under ordinary circumstances, served special purposes exclusively—one of which was to serve as the bedroom where the Junior Cult Leader slept after the investiture ceremony.
"3 days here, then."
Jeong-min looked around.
Though no one came and went, the cleaning alone was immaculate; there was not a single speck of dust inside the room.
A quilted cotton blanket and cotton pillow were laid out at the very center.
For the next 3 days, Jeong-min would have to eat and sleep here. It was apparently a process for the Junior Cult Leader to purify his mind—or so they said.
"Ugh. I'm exhausted."
Feeling as though he might collapse, Jeong-min quickly hid himself under the blanket.
However, perhaps because of the unfamiliar sleeping place, sleep did not come as readily as he had expected.
3 days here. After that, I'll have to move quickly.
Rest ends here.
After that, there is something Jeong-min must do.
Participation in 'that thing,' to be precise.
3 days. It'll be dull before the Upper Feast arrives.
Should I meditate in a cross-legged posture and train my demonic energy?
Since the Demon Vein is sealed, I suppose that would be fine.
Even as the small hours of the morning deepened, Jeong-min did not fall asleep easily.
The twilight hour of blinking eyes on the verge of sleep.
Hmm?
Something caught in the languid energy sense of Jeong-min, who had been finding even the process of going to sleep tedious.
Under ordinary circumstances, a presence of this level would not be caught by such energy sense, but tonight, having been sharp and restless until late at night, such a thing was possible.
This is...
A presence he had never felt before.
Because of that, the sleepiness that had barely been clinging to Jeong-min—who had been unable to sleep to begin with—vanished entirely.
Jeong-min's eyes snapped open and he grinned.
"An uninvited guest has come to relieve my boredom."
Even an uninvited guest was a guest, so he would personally go out to greet them.
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In spear arts, there exist 3 fundamental spear techniques known as Intercept-Seize-Thrust. How well one commands these Intercept-Seize-Thrust determines the level of a spear practitioner.
The same holds true for sword arts. Sword arts have 8 ways of swinging a sword, even more numerous, and these are called the Eternal Character Eight Methods.
Rein, Kick, Push, Effort, Sweep, Peck, Side, and Spread—these are they.
Rustle—
A man in black martial attire hiding behind the undergrowth stared blankly into the distance.
A hood and mouth cover, and a dark-colored sword—the very archetype of an assassin's standard.
So this is Hyeok Jeong-min.
He had come here today on someone's orders.
One-Coin Assassin, Myeong Gang-ho. A figure who prided himself on being something of a name in the underworld.
Myeong Gang-ho was a master of Kick—the severing blow among the Eternal Character Eight Methods.
He has awakened.
It was no coincidence that Hyeok Jeong-min's energy sense had caught Myeong Gang-ho.
Myeong Gang-ho had deliberately not concealed his own killing intent.
He moved his body and took position atop the martial practice platform in front of the Demon Dragon Pavilion. And he loosened his body, stiff from the late night.
In that time, Hyeok Jeong-min appeared before him. He too had approached while rolling his shoulder joints.
"Am I mistaken? Are you perhaps an assassin?"
When Jeong-min asked with composure, Myeong Gang-ho gave a nod.
"I am called One-Coin Assassin, Myeong Gang-ho."
"You reveal your own name."
He couldn't help but tilt his head.
Jeong-min himself was of shadow origins, so he knew very well what actions someone dressed in black ought to take.
"Are you Hyeok Jeong-min?"
"Yes. I don't have any particular alias yet. That aside, I have a question—isn't it usually the case that an assassin kills in secret?"
"Usually, that would be so. But I, Myeong Gang-ho, am different."
Myeong Gang-ho lowered his mouth cover. He removed his hood.
He had blatantly revealed his face to the target.
"Do you know why I am called the One-Coin Assassin?"
"I've heard the name for the first time so, not really."
"It is because I carry out the work even if paid only 1 coin."
After that, Myeong Gang-ho rattled on about things no one had asked.
He said that he was one of the 5 heads running a group of assassins called the Black Shadow Hall, and that if a target piqued his interest, he would accept the job and assassinate them for just 1 coin.
Black Shadow Hall?
The Black Shadow Hall was something Jeong-min was well acquainted with.
It was a rather well-known group of assassins. And yet for one of that group's heads to have personally come calling—
It seemed they had made quite solid plans to kill Jeong-min.
"The count of targets killed with that has now surpassed 50."
"I'm truly sorry to interrupt, but—"
Jeong-min raised his hand, and Myeong Gang-ho shrugged and pointed at him.
Jeong-min lowered his hand and said,
"I didn't ask. I'm not the least bit curious."
"……."
Shhring—
Whether Jeong-min's indifference had wounded him, Myeong Gang-ho drew his sword.
Jeong-min thought it was a good thing he had brought along the Heavenly Ascent Sword. And he prayed earnestly that Myeong Gang-ho was not the archetypal villain—one who only ran his mouth and then collapsed in a single blow.
"Was it the Martial Alliance that sent you?"
"Defeat me and I'll tell you."
"There have been many cases where, after saying something like that, the throat flies off and one cannot answer. Out of consideration, I'd appreciate it if you answered properly."
"…You'll die soon anyway, so I suppose I can tell you. Yes, it was the Martial Alliance that sent me."
Speaking that much—it seems he hasn't been afflicted by the Madness Curse. Unlike Muyeong in his past life.
Jeong-min was briefly lost in reminiscence.
Those who drove me mad, sealed my mouth, and used me as a blade for decades before discarding me.
That is none other than the Martial Alliance.
To save the Heavenly Demon Cult? Yes, of course that as well. But the vendetta toward the Martial Alliance is deeply personal.
Jeong-min wished to display that personal emotion without filter.
Shhring—
Jeong-min drew the Heavenly Ascent Sword.
At that, the assassin gripped the sword in his hand even more tightly.
"I don't particularly like assassins. But I'll engage you. I would appreciate it if you at least gave me some entertainment."
"Quite self-assured, Junior Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Cult."
The rumor has already spread?
Thud!
Myeong Gang-ho stamped his foot, and his figure vanished in midair.
Then he appeared right before Jeong-min's nose, and the blade was already before his eyes, visible.
Jeong-min—
Clang!
—raised the Heavenly Ascent Sword and blocked Myeong Gang-ho's sword.
Clang, clang, clang! And then, sliding smoothly along the blade, he pressed in close to Myeong Gang-ho and deployed the Nameless Sword Art.
1st Form—Rake.
Slash!
Ring!
Myeong Gang-ho swiftly raised his sword and blocked it.
Only then did Jeong-min notice that Myeong Gang-ho's sword was no ordinary thing.
"So it's the Benevolence Competition Sword?"
"You know of it?"
The Benevolence Competition Sword, said to have been crafted by the master swordsmith Cha Song-ji in the not-too-distant past.
As its name suggests, it was said to be a renowned sword so fine that even those who received it would compete with one another wanting to bestow generosity.
Numbers from 1 to 50 were engraved at the base of the blade, and peculiarly, the earlier a Benevolence Competition Sword was crafted, the more formidable it was.
I'd heard that going down to single digits, it was a supreme-grade renowned sword on par with the Heavenly Ascent Sword.
Seeing it in person for the first time.
I'd heard many such swords were imbued with unique ideas. Things like pressing a button to retract the blade into the hilt.
That one looks fairly ordinary, though.
The number '36' was engraved on the Benevolence Competition Sword held by Myeong Gang-ho.
"The count of necks severed by this 36th-crafted Benevolence Competition Sword is precisely 50."
"Right, I understand it's a useful weapon, so come at me quickly."
Hurry up, I want to sleep.
Thud! Jeong-min stamped his foot. And swung the Heavenly Ascent Sword to clash against Myeong Gang-ho's Benevolence Competition Sword.
Clang!
This one, he's reckless.
That was Myeong Gang-ho's assessment of Jeong-min.
His hand speed was too quick and too hasty. This way, one ends up swinging dozens of times even to cut a single tree.
When cutting down a great tree, a single stroke of the blade is enough.
I will show you the true essence of Kick among the Eternal Character Eight Methods.
Whooom!
Myeong Gang-ho poured his internal energy into the Benevolence Competition Sword.
And he unleashed the single strike of Kick.
Whoosh—!
"!"
That single strike was far faster and sharper than any of Myeong Gang-ho's other attacks.
As though he had practiced only that for years.
The Eternal Character Eight Methods... and within them, a master of Kick?
But.
Clang!
Jeong-min swung the Heavenly Ascent Sword sideways and lightly deflected the Benevolence Competition Sword.
It did not end there. Myeong Gang-ho, who held the Benevolence Competition Sword, was sent flying, and upon checking the tip of that sword—
The blade has chipped.
The very tip had been shaved away, just slightly, by the smallest margin.
In other words, it meant the sword gripped by that young brat was harder than the Benevolence Competition Sword.
Moreover, what on earth was that movement just now?
"You... my sword."
"I recognized it. From what I can see, you're a master of Kick. Aren't you?"
"……! How could you—"
"Shouldn't I?"
Jeong-min swept his hair back.
And poured demonic energy into the Heavenly Ascent Sword, forging Demonic Energy Hardening.
A master of Kick, indeed. Impressive. But—
I am someone who has trained all of the Eternal Character Eight Methods to their absolute limits.
I acknowledge you as a master.
But Jeong-min was a transcendent being above even a master.