Chapter 180 - The Black Flame Dragon That Swallows the Sea of Blood (10)

Daoist Myeonghyeon regained his senses with a splitting pain.

His head felt as heavy as if he had gotten unbearably drunk the night before, and he couldn't put any strength into his body.

He had shared some drinks with Grandmaster Hyeseong, but considering he had never felt intoxicated since reaching the Peak Realm, it was truly strange.

Furthermore, the condition of the disciples who had woken him up was also strange.

As disciples of the Mount Cangshan Sect, they were required to maintain a neat appearance at all times.

However, they had grown rough beards at some point, and dark circles shadowed the areas under their eyes.

"What in the world... has happened?"

Daoist Myeonghyeon was startled upon hearing his own voice.

It sounded as if scraping iron came from his throat, rusted from days of disuse.

The disciple standing before him muttered as if his soul had left his body.

"It was sorcery... sorcery, Elder."

"Sorcery?"

How was he supposed to understand this sudden talk of sorcery, like a bolt out of the blue in the middle of the night?

"The ones who ambushed us three days ago... were practitioners of sorcery."

Daoist Myeonghyeon roughly shook his head at the story, as if that were impossible.

"Stupid nonsense!!! Don't you know that the Mount Cangshan Sect does not fall for something as shoddy as sorcery?!!!"

"..."

The disciples, who hadn't even been able to recite the Demon-Subduing Mantra during the battle with the blood-robed figures and were only cleaning up the aftermath, looked at each other with sullen expressions.

Did sorcery somehow bypass those affiliated with the Mount Cangshan Sect?

Then why had they fallen for it this time?

Whether the disciples harbored doubts or not, Myeonghyeon sprang up from his seat.

"It must surely be some clumsy Underworld bastards daring to pull a stunt without fearing the Murim Alliance."

Having shot up in a fit of anger, Myeonghyeon staggered for a moment as dizzying vertigo hit his head.

"It is because you were unconscious for three whole days, Elder. Please get up slowly."

Lee Gipung, a disciple of the Mount Cangshan Sect, tried to soothe him, but Myeonghyeon roughly shook off his disciple's hand and headed outside.

The sight that met his eyes as he rushed out of the tent was...

"W-What in the world... what the hell is this!"

Corpses rolling on the ground.

The martial robes those corpses wore clearly belonged to the 'Great Mount Cangshan Sect'.

Myeonghyeon widened his eyes and hastily looked around.

"T-This is..."

The wounded, who had sustained deep injuries and fallen into a coma.

Their martial robes also clearly displayed that they belonged to the lay sects of the 'Great Mount Cangshan Sect'.

THROB.

Myeonghyeon squeezed his eyes shut at the pain sharply piercing his head.

"It seems the aftermath of the sorcery still lingers. Jin So... No, according to the academy representative, you need to find stability and steadily practice your qi circulation method and moving cultivation to prevent any aftereffects from the demonic qi."

Myeonghyeon reacted as if having a seizure to Lee Gipung's words.

"Jin Sowoon? Why is Jin Sowoon suddenly being mentioned?"

This event was meant to restore the honor of the Mount Cangshan Sect that had been stained in Yueyang, but at the same time, it was also to suppress Jin Sowoon's endlessly inflating reputation.

Naturally, not only should Jin Sowoon not appear here, but even his name shouldn't have been mentioned.

"..."

Amidst the settling silence, the disciples of the Mount Cangshan Sect exchanged glances.

Eventually, Lee Gipung gathered his courage and spoke.

"The academy representative came running to save us. If not for him and his companions..."

He swallowed dry saliva but did not avoid Daoist Myeonghyeon's fiercely glaring eyes.

"We definitely would have died."

The other disciples immediately nodded as if agreeing with Lee Gipung's words.

Daoist Myeonghyeon glared at his disciples.

"Representative? Did you just call Jin Sowoon that??"

A gaze filled with absolute disbelief.

Myeonghyeon shouted at his foolish disciples.

"You stupid fools! I set up this entire event because you couldn't even surpass a mere Taiyi Sect disciple! And now you are pointlessly defending him?!"

"..."

"Jin Sowoon... Is that bastard here right now?!"

Lee Gipung, who had been hesitating at Daoist Myeonghyeon's question, nodded his head.

It was a completely unexpected story.

"Hah... A guy who should be carrying out his academic schedule came all the way here?"

Daoist Myeonghyeon fiercely racked his brain, which felt constant pain from the sorcery's aftereffects.

There was no way Jin Sowoon would have just come here.

There was definitely some sort of conspiracy!

"Right! That's it! This entire situation is clearly his conspiracy!!"

Myeonghyeon yelled out as if he had just gained a great realization.

"..."

The reaction of the disciples—who would normally have lit up their eyes to carve every single word Myeonghyeon said into their hearts—was lukewarm.

Whether he noticed or not, Myeonghyeon continued speaking.

"That bastard is definitely someone colluding with the Underworld. It's clear he conspired with the Underworld in advance to create a trap! Jin Sowoon! Where is that scum?"

Among the Mount Cangshan Sect disciples, no one answered Myeonghyeon's question.

"You said he's here! Where is he!"

Pressed by Myeonghyeon, a disciple belonging to the lay sect pointed in one direction.

"I-I heard he just returned from observing the enemy's movements."

"Lead the way! I must personally judge and execute that bastard!"

"..."

"Did I not tell you to hurry and lead the way!"

Once again, only silence quietly settled down.

When none of the Mount Cangshan Sect disciples stepped forward, Lee Gipung eventually supported Daoist Myeonghyeon.

The scene that followed was something all the Mount Cangshan Sect disciples had expected.

"You dare play tricks against the Mount Cangshan Sect? What are you all doing! Subdue that bastard at once and drag him before me!"

Daoist Myeonghyeon's strict command fell, but no one moved.

"A mere academy student dares not only to collude with the Underworld but also to attack the Council of Elders? Your sins could not be paid off even with death!"

Daoist Myeonghyeon yelled fiercely, his face dyed red, but Jin Sowoon didn't look like he had any intention of making a single excuse.

No, rather, he brought his hand to the Black Dragon Sword.

"I thought even if you were completely rotten, you'd at least know how to distinguish shit from piss."

And he slowly drew the Black Dragon Sword.

Jin Sowoon's face was full of disappointment.

Even in his past life, a situation where ten people should have died escalated into a hundred people dying because of people like him.

"Because you were better educated and superior to us... we believed and kept believing that there was some big picture."

Only after the innocent sacrifices of tens of thousands did they realize.

Only belatedly did they figure it out as they watched the backs of those fleeing to the North Sea, scattering the victims' blood on the ground.

That the grand plan they spoke of was nothing more than a signboard to hide their own political gains...

Because Jin Sowoon had stood at the very front lines of those victims, he knew better than anyone just how great that sense of betrayal was.

"To turn your eyes away from the tragedy right in front of you for the sake of your own political gain. People like you are the true enemies of the Murim Alliance, more dangerous than the heterodox path and the Demonic Path."

As Jin Sowoon pointed the Black Dragon Sword at Myeonghyeon, Myeonghyeon erupted in fiery anger.

"You bastard! Not only do you dare play tricks against the Mount Cangshan Sect, but you also dare oppose the Murim Alliance's Council of Elders!"

Unlike Myeonghyeon, Jin Sowoon's tone was incredibly serene.

"What exactly did I scheme?"

"Did you think I wouldn't know you played tricks with the Underworld to interfere with the Orthodox Council's event?"

"If you hadn't taken Moyong Jaehwa and Eun Seollan, I would have just stood back and watched you die."

"... W-What!"

Daoist Myeonghyeon's realm in his past life had been Supreme Peak.

Even if he hadn't achieved the realm of Red Sand Piercing the Crown, he surely would have achieved Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown.

His essence, qi, and spirit would have unified as one, protecting his Heavenly Palace, so even if he fell victim to an illusion array unawares, he wouldn't have lost his reason.

Therefore, although Daoist Myeonghyeon might currently be suffering from the aftereffects of demonic qi, he was spouting bullshit in an incredibly clear state of mind.

"Not only I, but Hyeseong is also here. Do you realize you've plotted a treacherous scheme against the Council of Elders?"

"Keep spouting nonsense."

"This is no different from treason under the Murim Alliance's laws."

"Hah... Haha."

A volatile situation where things could blow up at any second.

Moyong Jaehwa and Eun Seollan, who had been looking after the people, approached Jin Sowoon's side.

Nam Hwaseong agonized over whether he should get closer to Jin Sowoon or stay far away, but eventually stuck close to Jin Sowoon.

"So what are you going to do?"

"I will escort you back to the Murim Alliance and punish your crimes! Furthermore, don't even think your fellow disciples and sect will remain unscathed!"

As soon as Daoist Myeonghyeon finished speaking, Jin Sowoon's martial robes swelled as if about to burst.

Killing intent exploded in all directions, and due to this, a few among those who had barely stabilized their internals coughed up blood again.

Even Myeonghyeon's face turned sallow, seemingly struggling to endure the aftermath of the killing intent.

Jin Sowoon slowly raised his head.

"Try it."

"... W-What!"

"I said try it."

"..."

Jin Sowoon's eyes gleamed with killing intent.

Unable to accept that rebellious attitude at all, Daoist Myeonghyeon furiously screamed.

"You can't? I'll help you out."

Jin Sowoon shifted his grip on the Black Dragon Sword.

Soon after, he strode towards Myeonghyeon.

And then.

THWACK.

He unleashed a kick loaded with internal energy.

"Ugh...!"

Myeonghyeon's figure, which had been leaning on Lee Gipung, rolled miserably across the ground.

Jin Sowoon looked down at him with a cold gaze.

"If you think I'm colluding with the Underworld and plotting treason to overturn the Murim Alliance, then actually try it properly!"

"Y-You really...!"

SMACK!

Jin Sowoon's fierce kick slammed into Myeonghyeon's face.

"Gah!"

A wound opened on Myeonghyeon's nose, and blood streamed down.

However, Jin Sowoon did not withdraw his killing intent.

"If I'm an enemy of the Murim Alliance and a threat to Jianghu, then try and kill me!"

"Y-You bastard! If only... if only I hadn't suffered internal injuries...!"

"Internal injuries?"

Contempt filled Jin Sowoon's eyes.

Soon, he unleashed finger wind and struck Myeonghyeon's vital points.

BAM BAM BAM! BAM BAM BAM BAM!

The finger wind, which was not a special martial art but simply shot out with internal energy, was closer to brutal punches.

Myeonghyeon felt as if he were taking a beating from dozens of giant men.

Jin Sowoon's eyes, looking down at him, trembled faintly.

"Is this the extent of the resolve of a person who claims to protect Jianghu?"

Because the Minor Orthodox Unit members had meager internal energy, mutual destruction was part of their daily lives.

Tapping into their innate true qi was a given, and whenever they had the chance to take Exploding Blood Pills, they tossed them into their mouths without hesitation.

Even knowing what kind of future would unfold if their innate true qi was damaged in the life of an insignificant Third-Rate warrior, they still did it.

Because it was the only thing they could do to protect Jianghu's future with their meager strength at the immediate moment.

"Even a Third-Rate warrior receiving a rat's tail of a monthly salary does that, yet a person called an Elder of the Murim Alliance lacks the resolve for mutual destruction out of fear that his innate true qi will collapse? I truly don't know any reason why I should keep you alive."

THWACK!

Myeonghyeon rolled several times from Jin Sowoon's kick.

"Urgh! Y-You!"

Thinking he couldn't take it anymore, Myeonghyeon tried to forcibly rouse his internal energy.

Seeing that, a hollow smile hung on Jin Sowoon's lips.

"Not when the heterodox path was threatening you, not when your disciples' lives were in danger, but in the end..."

Jin Sowoon lightly threw a fist form.

"You only find the resolve for mutual destruction when your own life is in danger?"

The fist form of the Ten Thousand Transformations Invincible Fist that shot out from his hand struck Myeonghyeon's lower Dantian, middle Dantian, and major blood vessels, interrupting his energy circulation.

"Kuh-heuk!"

Daoist Myeonghyeon's state as he rolled on the ground profusely vomiting blood was literally close to a cripple.

Yet Jin Sowoon seemed to have no intention of stopping as he continued approaching Myeonghyeon.

And Myeonghyeon scrambled back with a face full of fear, shouting at the Mount Cangshan Sect disciples.

"What the hell are you bastards just standing around for!"

"..."

"Hurry up and capture that criminal!"

"..."

However, silence returned once again.

Not a single person moved at Daoist Myeonghyeon's words.

Filled with resentment, Myeonghyeon struggled to flail his limbs around and roared again.

"What are you doing! Are my orders to bring that criminal to his knees a joke to you! Lee Gipung!"

As Myeonghyeon pointed out Lee Gipung, the gazes of the Mount Cangshan Sect and lay sect disciples turned toward Lee Gipung.

"Lee Gipung! Join the Mount Cangshan Sect disciples and take that bastard down in one strike!"

"..."

Lee Gipung looked back and forth between Jin Sowoon and Myeonghyeon before letting out a sigh and taking a step.

"What are the rest of you doing! Hurry up and move!"

Lee Gipung slowly approached Jin Sowoon and Myeonghyeon.

He stared at Jin Sowoon's relaxed eyes for a moment, then,

"I will pass by for a moment."

Soon, he walked past him and approached Myeonghyeon.

And then.

"What are you doing right now! Hurry and subdue that bas... Keo-heuk."

Daoist Myeonghyeon, who had been pointing his finger, unawares let out a 'Gasp' sound and grabbed Lee Gipung's clothes as if he couldn't believe it.

The one who cut off Daoist Myeonghyeon's words and ambushed him was...

"Y-You..."

None other than Lee Gipung, who had supported him earlier.

THUD.

Myeonghyeon looked at Lee Gipung with eyes full of disbelief before fainting.

Lee Gipung, who was blankly staring at the collapsed Daoist Myeonghyeon, scratched his head and said.

"It seems... Elder Myeonghyeon has lost his reason due to being exposed to demonic qi for too long."

"..."

"..."

Lee Gipung looked at the other disciples.

A situation where he could be framed for the crime of deceiving his master and destroying the ancestors if he made a mistake.

The other disciples nodded their heads, as if they had also made up their minds.

"... Well, there's no helping it. We also don't really know what's going on yet."

"I'm still seeing hallucinations."

"Daoist Myeonghyeon has had a bit of dementia for a while now."

As the Mount Cangshan Sect disciples chimed in one by one, the lay sect disciples didn't even dare think of speaking up.

Lee Gipung, who handed Daoist Myeonghyeon over to another disciple, slowly stepped forward.

Then, he respectfully clasped his fists.

"Representative Jin Sowoon, I apologize on behalf of Elder Myeonghyeon for his slip of the tongue."

Jin Sowoon looked at Lee Gipung with fascination.

"You're worse than Jong Byeokgi. Will you be able to clean up the mess from what you just did?"

"... You remember me?"

"Of course, you showed quite a sharp move at the pier."

"..."

Lee Gipung genuinely felt a sense of shame.

During the standard exam, regardless of whether he passed or not, he had only attempted to sabotage his opponent to make him fail.

Yet now, that very opponent had saved them and even swallowed insults on their behalf.

That fact made him feel even more sorry.

"The crime of deceiving your master and destroying the ancestors will be punished as the sect's heaviest crime. Wouldn't it have been better to just take a few hits from me and be done with it?"

Lee Gipung raised his head and looked at Jin Sowoon.

Seeing him act so nonchalantly despite knowing his past made Lee Gipung feel even more ashamed of himself.

"I wanted to become a warrior who knows honor and lives a life without shame. If I am to live such a shameful life, I believe it is better to commit the crime of deceiving my master and destroying the ancestors."

"It would be a shame if you were locked up in the Mount Cangshan Sect's prison. I wanted to see how you would change."

Lee Gipung looked at Jin Sowoon with complicated eyes for a while.

Just how big was this man's vessel that he could say such things without hesitation?

Overwhelmed by a vastness he had never felt once in his life, Lee Gipung felt his head naturally bow.

'To a man like this, the politics we've been playing must have been nothing more than petty trickery. How shameful.'

Lee Gipung respectfully bowed his head and clasped his fists.

"Thank you once again for fighting like your life was worthless straw to save these foolish people. We will carve this grace into our bones and be sure to repay it someday."

Starting with Lee Gipung, the disciples of the Mount Cangshan Sect began to bow their heads one by one.

"We thank our benefactor. We will carve this grace into our bones and be sure to repay it someday!"

"We thank our benefactor. We will carve this grace into our bones and be sure to repay it someday!"

As all the disciples of the Mount Cangshan Sect bowed their heads, they were followed by the disciples of the Mount Cangshan lay sects, and then the disciples of the Shaolin Sect and the Shaolin lay sects.

Everyone stopped what they were doing, bowed their heads in unison, and clasped their fists toward Jin Sowoon.

"We thank our benefactor. We will carve this grace into our bones and be sure to repay it someday!"

"We thank our benefactor. We will carve this grace into our bones and be sure to repay it someday!"

Their sincere voices echoed in all directions.

Moyong Jaehwa, who had hooked his fingers on the bowstring of his iron bow, lowered his bow and blankly stared at the scene.

Eun Seollan had somewhat turned her head and was wiping away tears.

"Tch..."

Sheathing the Black Dragon Sword again with a complicated expression, Jin Sowoon slowly opened his mouth.

"I get it... so stop that and let's hurry back."

Jin Sowoon swiftly turned his body and walked away as if fleeing.

Nam Hwaseong chased after that Jin Sowoon and asked.

"Are you happy? Are you happy being praised like that by your enemies?"

"Get lost! You're annoying!"

However, a faint smile hung on his face.

* * *

After stabilizing(?) Daoist Myeonghyeon, a similar situation almost occurred with Grandmaster Hyeseong, but somehow, thanks to Ilgak quickly stepping up(?), there was no need to blush in anger with Grandmaster Hyeseong.

After reorganizing the unit, I sent them off first and remained at that particular peak.

Nam Hwaseong said it was awkward to join the unit and wanted to follow me, but when I scared him by saying we might encounter an Iron Jiangshi again, he put on a serious face, told me to come back quickly, and joined the unit.

"Umm... Hyungnim..."

Moyong Jaehwa cautiously spoke up.

"Yeah? What?"

"Well... why am I still remaining here...?"

He seemed quite anxious that he was the only one remaining when everyone else had gone back.

I patted his head and said.

"Your Thunderbolt Arrow, you haven't completed it yet."

"... Pardon? Ah, r-right."

"There are such great targets right here, so you need to finish it here before we go. Right?"

"B-But you definitely said an Iron Jiangshi would appear..."

Tch, did he hear what I said to Nam Hwaseong?

"It won't appear. Probably."

"... Probably?"

"Anyway, don't worry. Unlike Nam Hwaseong, you're light, so I can just carry you and run away."

"Pardon?"

Jaehwa's eyes shook helplessly.

I patted his head even more to reassure him.

"Well, as long as our clothes don't tear or anything, such an unfortunate thing won't happen, right?"

Moyong Jaehwa suddenly patted his own clothing.

"What do you mean... A-Anyway, what do you plan to do by staying here?"

"Seungho Hall is currently heading this way. If we don't block their vanguard, the damage will grow even larger."

Jaehwa's jaw dropped as if he couldn't believe it.

"So you're saying the two of us are going to stop that vanguard...?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"... Is that even possible?"

"It's possible as long as you complete your Thunderbolt Arrow."

"..."

Casualties in war are most likely to occur in the greatest numbers during a retreat.

Moreover, the leading groups, including the Shaolin and Mount Cangshan Sects, hadn't even properly recovered from the sorcery's aftereffects.

If they were ambushed in this state, it was an obvious fact that the damage suffered by not only the Orthodox Council but also my own party would grow significantly.

'And above all, I cannot afford to lose the Red Light Sword... no, the Blood Sea Jade.'

This was truly killing two birds with one stone, like the old saying of seeing one's beloved and picking mulberries.

I looked deeply at the dazed Jaehwa and said.

"Shall we go pick some mulberries?"

"Pardon? What are you..."

In times like this, you have to push them hard to leave them breathless.

Taming... no, the basic common sense of training.

"Now, over there! Over there! Do you see the red tent?"

"Pardon? You mean that tent two hundred zhang away?"

"Yeah. For starters, feed a Thunderbolt Arrow into that."

"Umm... Hyungnim, even with an iron bow, the maximum range is a hundred and fifty zhang."

"Hey, what are you talking about? I've seen you shoot at a distance of three hundred zhang."

It was true. In my past life, Breaking Bow flawlessly shot his bow at targets averaging three hundred zhang away, and up to a maximum of four hundred zhang.

'He said that once his martial arts were complete, five hundred zhang would be theoretically possible.'

Of course, Breaking Bow in my past life ultimately failed to reach that realm, but he picked up the bow faster in this life, so wouldn't it be possible before the Orthodox-Demonic Great War?

Therefore—

"What are you doing, aren't you going to shoot quickly?"

I need to quickly recover the Blood Sea Jade and go back.