Chapter 40 - A First-Rate Warrior Stirring a New Wind (2)

I felt like I was really going to die.

Out of essence, qi, and spirit, it felt as if my spirit was about to be extinguished.

Unlike most people whose spirits extinguished due to a lack of essence and qi, my essence and qi were somehow kept moving by internal energy and spiritual elixirs meant to restore vitality, so it was my spirit that was left utterly devastated.

But with the world-renowned Namgung Jinmyeong, the Peak Master of the Four Emperors Peak, and the Gang Leader of the Black Death Gang standing guard for me, who would dare say they wanted to take a break?

Thanks to that, I did enjoy a luxury no one else in Jianghu could ever experience.

I must be the only person to have all the experts of the Orthodox faction and the Underworld step forward to stand guard and unblock my acupoints for me.

Amidst that fatigue where it felt like my mind would be extinguished, I somehow moved my body and entered the Soul-Extinguishing Array again, and in the end, an accident occurred.

I took a few wrong steps.

But strangely, in that moment, a new path within the Soul-Extinguishing Array became visible, and I resumed walking as if nothing had happened.

It was a mistake that shouldn't have been possible under normal circumstances, but after all, I was the only one who would know of any mistakes made inside the Soul-Extinguishing Array.

When I casually asked Yu Jiryang, he said that one method of studying arrays was to first grasp the paths and embody the calculations.

However, my personal thought was that this might be the efficacy of the Taiyi True Scripture.

As I began learning the Taiyi True Scripture, a study that awakens one to the Dao of all creation, I gained a new perspective on the information coming in from my surroundings. With my essence and qi separated and my spirit objectified, perhaps I had awakened to the subtleties of the array. It was merely a guess.

Anyway, in the end, I saved everyone.

Excluding those who moved hastily and died inside, the injured, and those who died unable to endure the hunger, I saved everyone.

I heard that there had never been a time in Murim's history where a single person saved so many people.

Honestly, it did bother me that the people inside were dying, but it wasn't to the extent that I would risk my life like this to save them.

It was a situation where I could have saved them while making appropriate trades and taking what I wanted.

I could have easily turned the situation to benefit the Taiyi Sect and myself, but upon hearing that Yong So-ah had fled to Wudang by way of the Murim Alliance and failed to properly convey information about the array inside, I decided I had to save everyone inside, even if it meant risking my life.

"Because only then will the awe towards Yong So-ah be thrown into a cesspit."

The fact that the Murim Alliance, the great mountain of the Orthodox sects, eventually fell into Yong So-ah's hands was due to his overwhelmingly powerful martial arts and the backing of Wudang, the strongest sect within the Murim Alliance, protecting him.

Moreover, while other sects died off helplessly every time they engaged the Demonic Cult, Yong So-ah continually secured victories against the Demonic Cult with his unique, superhuman abilities.

All of this developed into awe, leading people to believe that Yong So-ah was the Murim Alliance's only hope.

"But that ends today."

Transcending the Orthodox and Underworld factions, the people gathered in Yueyang had somehow become friends, completely absorbed in sharing tables, drinking, and celebrating together.

Disciples of the Underworld sects expressed their gratitude to the experts of the Orthodox sects, and conversely, experts of the Orthodox sects also conveyed their thanks to the Underworld sects.

Amidst all this, their common enemy naturally crystallized as Yong So-ah, and at every drinking gathering, people relentlessly chewed out Yong So-ah instead of their bar snacks, fueling their anger towards him.

Yong So-ah had taken such a massive shit, and Wudang's attempt to cover it up by calling him back to the Wudang Sect and hiding him away had actually turned into a terrible move.

As survivors began to emerge, relief supplies and volunteers started pouring in from all over Jianghu, including the Murim Alliance, but Wudang was not among them.

"Things are going to get interesting from here on out."

Even a solid reservoir is bound to collapse starting from a small hole.

It was safe to say that a small hole had been torn into Wudang, the strongest of the Orthodox Murim, starting today.

Of course, since it was just a small hole, they could easily plug it, but considering the pathetic behavior I had seen from them so far, would they actually do so? I had my doubts.

Even now, strange rumors—centered around the Beggars' Sect—were starting to circulate, suggesting that the array inside wasn't actually that terrifying. However, whenever someone voiced such rumors, they would inevitably be beaten to a pulp by the people who had suffered in the Demonic Spirit Plateau.

As a result, those nonsensical rumors quickly died down.

"I finally look somewhat human."

After saving all the survivors, we dismantled the command post and the field camps and moved to Yueyang.

We rented thirty lodgings, including guest houses, in their entirety and assigned them first to the injured and those who had accumulated fatigue during the rescue process. Among them, I was given a separate annex to rest comfortably.

When I woke up from sleeping, I would call a waiter to shove a massive amount of food into my mouth, practice my breathing exercises, and go back to sleep. When I grew hungry while sleeping, I would wake up and repeat this process.

It wasn't until I did that for three days that I felt my mind slowly returning and my body nearing normal condition.

The first thing I checked after waking up was my internal energy.

I hadn't noticed because I was circulating my qi in a state of selflessness amidst the urgency, with no time to check the efficacy of the Taiyi True Scripture, but my internal energy had already reached 120 years' worth.

"... Ha."

It seemed it was all thanks to the Taiyi True Scripture circulating through my entire body and sweeping up all the remaining spiritual elixir energy sleeping inside me.

The feeling of possessing an endless supply of internal energy and a completed martial art to pour that internal energy into was very unfamiliar.

"There was a reason the experts of Jianghu and that bastard Yong So-ah were so confident."

It was a sense of fulfillment I had never felt before, neither in my past life nor in this one.

It was enough to give me the confidence that I could effortlessly resolve everything I had planned.

Because I had spent three months in the Demonic Spirit Plateau, there were only three months left now, making it a time when every moment counted and I had to move quickly.

"Still, it was more than worth the time."

Celebrating like that, I paid a visit to Jang Dowon first.

"Haha, you really..."

Upon seeing the Amitabha Holy Water, Jang Dowon let out a hollow laugh with a dumbfounded expression.

"I thought just returning alive was something to be immensely grateful for..."

"It's all thanks to you, sir. This was quite helpful."

I said as I waved the Flying Dragon Claw.

"I shouldn't have bothered making it for you. If I knew you'd be this much of a nuisance, I would've just made it roughly."

Even as he said that, Jang Dowon didn't erase the smile from his lips.

In my past life, Jang Dowon had once said something like that.

He said that an artisan feels joy just from meeting an owner who utilizes their creation well.

"Come back in three days."

"Will it take that long?"

"This is a thing that won't lose to anything in terms of extreme yin energy. Did you think processing this would happen in an instant?"

"Understood. How much money should I prepare?"

"Forget it. Even if I took your money, I'd have no use for it."

"Really?"

"Among the kids you saved this time, a few were my customers. Let's consider the bill paid with that."

"Huh? Then doesn't the math actually not add up?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Right now, regardless of whether they're from Orthodox sects or Underworld sects, everyone is trying to repay me. Shouldn't you give me at least one treasure on top of this?"

"You rotten brat. Do you want to see me fail to process the Amitabha Holy Water and blow it all away?"

I quickly left his shop before he could change his mind.

Jang Dowon even closed the doors to his shop and began his work.

* * *

It was when I was about to return to the annex.

I was just about to step aside after seeing a group of warriors wearing the martial uniforms issued by the Murim Alliance.

For some reason, that group of nearly twenty men suddenly stopped dead right in front of me.

"Are you Jin Sowoon of the Taiyi Sect?"

Moreover, they already knew my identity.

"I am, but..."

"You'll have to come with us."

The Murim Alliance warriors reached out to grab my arms from both sides.

I immediately fired off a palm strike at them, forcing them to step back.

Forced three steps back by the unexpected attack, the startled warriors tried to draw their swords.

"Are you ignoring the orders of the Murim Alliance?"

"You still haven't revealed who you are, where you came from, or why you're here."

If it had been in the past, I would have thought quietly following them without causing a fuss was the right answer, but not now.

"I am Gong Seokchan, the Yueyang Branch Chief of the Murim Alliance. If I say this is about what happened at the Demonic Spirit Plateau, you should know what it means."

I tilted my head.

"I have no idea."

"You insolent brat! Your sect, the Taiyi Sect, also occupies one of the 108 Peaks. Do you intend to ignore the alliance laws of the Murim Alliance?"

"I told you clearly. I don't know what you're talking about. Just what wrong did I commit there?"

Gong Seokchan gestured with his eyes to the Murim Alliance warriors.

At that, four men tried to lunge at me simultaneously.

Without even needing to draw my sword, I executed the Ten Thousand Transformations Invincible Fist.

BAM-BAM-BAM-BAM-BAM-BAM-BAM!

Swept up by dozens of fist shadows that shot out in an instant, the Murim Alliance warriors took several hits to their vital spots and were left gasping for air as if they couldn't breathe.

"You brat! Do you have any idea what you've just done?!"

"And what exactly are you plotting, Branch Chief, using the alliance laws as a front?"

"What?"

"The lodgings where I am staying clearly house the Namgung Clan and the Mount Mao Sect as well. If you had gone through them, you wouldn't have needed to mobilize this kind of force. So what is the reason for using such a method instead?"

"..."

"I don't know the reason, but if it's justified, I will follow you. However, if it isn't, I won't go."

A story I heard from Namgung Seonhwa.

When Yong So-ah fled to Wudang to hide, it was the Murim Alliance who simply watched him do so.

Because of such behavior, a war almost broke out between the Namgung Clan and the Wudang Sect.

It was said that this incident made Namgung Jinmyeong furious to the point that he completely excluded the Murim Alliance from the subsequent rescue operation.

It meant there was no need for me to bow my head and yield just because they were the Murim Alliance.

"It's a suspicion regarding whether there was some sort of contraption in the array at the Demonic Spirit Plateau to begin with."

I listened quietly to Gong Seokchan's words, but I still couldn't understand.

When I tilted my head, he explained in detail.

"Can you prove that the array deployed at the Demonic Spirit Plateau didn't belong to the Taiyi Sect?"

"Paha."

Since a disciple of the Taiyi Sect breached an array that neither Yong So-ah nor the Mount Mao Sect could overcome, wasn't the array the Taiyi Sect's doing in the first place? That was their suspicion.

It was so absurd that a laugh slipped out of me without my realizing.

"If our Taiyi Sect had the ability to deploy an array of that caliber, would we have had any reason to live while being persecuted at the bottom ranks of the 108 Peaks?"

"... We'll find that out once we investigate."

"In that case, please show me an official order from the Mantong Bureau."

"... What?"

"If it's a matter of this importance, you must have received authorization from the Mantong Bureau. Or are you, Branch Chief, planning to conduct an investigation based purely on your own suspicions?"

"..."

Naturally, there was no way such an order existed.

An order for a matter this important would require Zhuge Somyeong's authorization, but there was no way he would take such a conspiratorial suspicion seriously.

"... Your constant rambling is starting to look increasingly suspicious."

I suddenly thought of something regarding Gong Seokchan's completely illogical behavior and asked.

"By any chance, are you from the Wudang Sect, Branch Chief?"

FLINCH.

Seeing his expression that he couldn't even hide properly, I finally understood.

"Ah, if you're from the Wudang Sect, then that makes sense."

The reason they hadn't stepped up properly even though Yong So-ah, who had gone to ask for the Murim Alliance's help, went to Wudang instead.

Their claim that this was unrelated to their sect...

The reason they had stood idly by, hoping all the witnesses inside the Soul-Extinguishing Array would disappear.

And the reason they had hastily stepped forward now that Yong So-ah's reputation had hit the ground. It all made sense.

"Bring me an order. Otherwise, I will not go."

Just as I was about to ignore Gong Seokchan and leave the spot.

Unable to hold back any longer, Gong Seokchan finally made a move.

"Hmph."

I tried to respond with the Ten Thousand Transformations Invincible Fist without delay.

I still didn't know what level the Taiyi Sword Emperor's martial arts were at, and I wasn't sure if they could counter Wudang's martial arts, but one thing was certain: my internal energy was definitely higher than his.

Right then, a huge man appeared between the two of us and swung a greatblade down at Gong Seokchan.

BAM!

The massive man had just swung his greatblade and stood completely still, yet Gong Seokchan was sent flying a full two jang through the air.

"Keuhuk! W-Who are you?! How dare you attack a Branch Chief of the Murim Alliance!"

"A Branch Chief?"

The huge man said as he hoisted his greatblade onto his shoulder.

"A mere Branch Chief dares to persecute the benefactor of me, Cha Seokdu of the Four Emperors Peak? Listen here, kiddo. If you want to take this boy, you'd better go and bring your Alliance Leader."

At the mention of Cha Seokdu, the Peak Master of the Four Emperors Peak—one of the top martial groups in the Underworld Murim—Gong Seokchan's face turned pale.

The one who calmly stepped out next to him was Namgung Jinmyeong of the Namgung Clan.

"I clearly told them that this was not a matter for the Murim Alliance to interfere in."

Not only Gong Seokchan, but the Murim Alliance warriors looked as though they wanted to flee the scene immediately, simply from the appearance of those two.

In the end, Gong Seokchan gave a half-hearted fist-and-palm salute and hastily left the area.

"I finally get to see the face of our benefactor."

"Look here, didn't I tell you to let our guards know when you go out?"

Seeing the two giants of the Orthodox faction and the Underworld—who wouldn't have been out of place baring their fangs at each other—standing together as if they were close friends left my head completely muddled as to how I should react.