Human beings possess a great many emotions.
The most representative are said to be the Five Desires and Seven Emotions.
The five desires and seven emotions are called the Five Desires and Seven Emotions.
They are the fundamental emotions possessed by humans, and they say that one can reach the realm of liberation by wholly escaping them….
Honestly, I do not know about that.
I have never even been interested in that sort of thing.
‘What matters here is this.’
Whether it is lust, which craves the flesh.
Greed for material things, which craves money.
Or the desire for honor, which seeks fame.
All of these can only be obtained by continuing to live.
Then, in the end, isn’t the desire to survive the most important of all?
The desire to maintain one’s life.
The longing to not die.
Perhaps that is the most important desire of all for human beings.
That was what I thought as I looked at the middle-aged man kneeling before me.
Because this middle-aged man himself was proof of it.
The Fierce Tiger Nine Fists, Hwangbo Yeolwi.
A martial artist in the Transformation Realm who had risen to the ranks of the Central Plains’ Hundred Great Masters, and a fighter renowned for his weighty punches.
As the head of the Hwangbo Clan, he possessed nothing particularly lacking or exceptional.
He was simply the head of a prestigious family.
He was a man who held that level of standing, but—
“I heard Shaolin made contact with you.”
The Fierce Tiger Nine Fists was now a fallen man who had become a demon.
At my words, the Fierce Tiger Nine Fists carefully continued speaking.
“…That is correct. They attempted to approach the clan several months ago.”
“For what reason?”
“To request an invitation to the upcoming Martial Exhibition, as well as an official letter from the clan head congratulating the event.”
“An official letter from the clan head….”
I gave a slight nod at the Fierce Tiger Nine Fists’ words.
‘The invitation itself is understandable.’
It was a festival the Alliance was putting its heart and soul into creating.
Inviting the Hwangbo Clan, a prestigious family, was only natural.
‘But requesting an official letter from the clan head to congratulate it….’
I stroked my chin, my eyes gleaming.
‘Does this mean the Sword Immortal intends to further solidify his position?’
The Sword Immortal’s standing was weaker than that of the previous Alliance Leaders. Perhaps this was an attempt to establish himself more firmly.
If the other prestigious families and clans sent official letters congratulating him, it would be no different from declaring their support for the Sword Immortal.
‘They may have demanded it for that reason.’
But what I found strange was—
‘That Shaolin had moved personally.’
Shaolin itself had attempted to contact the Hwangbo Clan in order to deliver these messages concerning the Alliance.
It was not one of the Alliance’s Swordsmen, nor even Wudang, the Sword Immortal’s own sect, that had moved.
It was Shaolin, of all places, that had sought out a prestigious family to convey the Alliance’s affairs.
I should have sensed something out of place there.
‘Are they trying to make their position clear?’
Shaolin had participated in the Alliance’s affairs.
In other words, Shaolin was showing through its actions that it fully supported the Murim Alliance.
‘It also means they intend to step forward in earnest.’
The Abbot of Shaolin, Heavenly Eye, was said to see the future and read the laws of cause and effect.
He had declared that he would support the current Murim Alliance.
“Was there any other contact besides that?”
“…Nothing has been reported.”
“Tsk.”
I clicked my tongue at his answer.
‘Then it isn’t much different from what I heard last time.’
It was no different from the information I had already received through Nahi. That was the problem.
‘There has to be something more.’
By that point, I had already been receiving information from Shandong through Nahi.
I had thought there might be some different information this time.
Apparently, that was not the case.
“I understand for now.”
As I spoke while hiding my disappointment, the Fierce Tiger Nine Fists lowered his head even further.
I looked him over as if inspecting him.
‘His condition has stabilized considerably.’
The burly martial artist was as sturdy as he appeared.
The qi within his body was no different.
Perhaps because he was a martial artist who had reached the Transformation Realm through the martial arts of combat, his internal condition was also filled with stability.
However—
There was a faint hint of instability.
It was only noticeable upon extremely close inspection.
I examined the Fierce Tiger Nine Fists’ energy from every angle, then gave a slight nod.
‘Not bad.’
At first, he had not merely been unstable—he had been utterly broken. But now, it seemed he had finished recovering and entered a stable condition.
“Your complexion looks good. It is pleasing to see.”
“It is all thanks to the blessing you bestowed upon me, Holy Master.”
My eyes narrowed at his words.
‘He must have nearly finished absorbing the Poison Heaven Pills.’
Judging by how his energy had increased in quantity and grown denser, that seemed to be the case.
‘It would be insane if he didn’t recover after being given three.’
The Poison Heaven Pill was said to be comparable in value to Shaolin’s Great Restoration Pill.
I had fed three of them to him.
The reason was simple.
‘He needed at least that much.’
The Fierce Tiger Nine Fists’ body had been ruined to the point of no return.
That was also why he had fallen into my hands.
There had been rumors that the Hwangbo Clan Head was in poor health, and he had not appeared at any official occasions for several years.
He had lived in hiding as quietly as a dead mouse, only beginning to show himself again a year ago.
And contrary to the rumors, he had appeared in excellent health.
Thanks to that, the Hwangbo Clan, which had been gradually shaken, became firm once more.
But to explain the matter, the rumors had been true.
The Fierce Tiger Nine Fists really had been dying at the time.
‘And it was because of the characteristics of the Hwangbo bloodline.’
The bloodline.
That was the problem with the special martial arts that only direct descendants could receive.
The Hwangbo Clan’s martial arts focused on extreme external training and domineering techniques. As its practitioners aged, those arts gradually consumed their vitality.
In the process, some developed an External Affliction, a disease that caused the body to collapse.
Their muscles deteriorated, their internal organs were affected, and their lives slowly approached their end.
That had been the opening I exploited.
‘The longing for life.’
Fall.
And I will save you.
Those had been the conditions I offered the Fierce Tiger Nine Fists.
As he gradually approached death, the Fierce Tiger Nine Fists accepted them all too easily.
The regenerative power he would gain upon becoming a demon.
And the Poison Heaven Pills that would repair his ruined energy.
He had needed to undergo several other processes as well, but ultimately, the decisive reason the Fierce Tiger Nine Fists had fallen into becoming a demon was—
—I will raise the Hwangbo Clan to the position of one of the Four Great Families you have long desired.
I would raise the Hwangbo Clan to the position of one of the Four Great Families.
That was what had shaken his heart.
The primitive desire to survive.
Along with the desire for honor he possessed as the clan head.
I had dug into those weaknesses, and the Fierce Tiger Nine Fists had fallen into becoming a demon far more easily than expected.
‘The Hwangbo Clan had always been ranked behind the others.’
A prestigious family that was the most suited to be one of the Four Great Families, yet fell just short.
That had been the general perception of the Hwangbo Clan.
This was surely the result of the deeds of the Hwangbo clan heads of previous generations.
To end that legacy in his own generation.
And become the greatest Hwangbo clan head in history.
That must have been the Fierce Tiger Nine Fists’ greatest desire.
I had promised to restore his health and help him accomplish it.
The Fierce Tiger Nine Fists had merely taken my hand.
‘I only exploited that opening.’
The expense had seemed somewhat large, but—
I had gained a useful piece in return, so it was not an excessive expenditure.
‘The Poison Heaven Pills can simply be made again.’
I already possessed the method of manufacture.
Based on it, production was already underway.
Naturally, the Tang Clan was in charge of the manufacture.
In absolute secrecy.
‘According to the Tang Clan’s Young Lord… he said there should be results by the end of this year at the latest.’
It had been lost several centuries ago, so I was not expecting them to recreate the original perfectly.
But if they managed to produce it at all, that would be sufficient.
“What of the other matters I asked you to handle?”
“We have dealt with the collateral branches as you instructed.”
The collateral branches of the Hwangbo Clan.
He was referring to the Silent Fist.
“Although they have not been given the direct lineage’s martial arts, we have reduced the mistreatment they had suffered until now….”
I had made certain arrangements so that he could live somewhat more comfortably.
“Furthermore.”
The Fierce Tiger Nine Fists’ purple eyes gleamed as he continued.
“As you commanded, we have prepared to convene the Council of Elders to designate the Second Young Master as the heir to the clan.”
The Second Young Master of the Hwangbo Clan.
He was referring to Hwangbo Cheolwi.
‘I told him before.’
That the First Young Master, Hwangbo Cheok, was trash and would be dealt with, while Hwangbo Cheolwi would be raised as the next clan head.
Preparations to carry this out were already underway.
“Not bad. You have worked hard.”
I slightly raised the corners of my lips.
Not bad.
It seemed the plan was proceeding step by step.
Thus, I spoke to the Fierce Tiger Nine Fists.
“Continue preparing the rest as well. The time should be approaching.”
“…!”
“Isn’t it time for you to go now? To the Four Great Families.”
The time would be after the Martial Exhibition ended.
Or—
‘In the middle of the Martial Exhibition.’
I would prepare according to the circumstances, but that was when it would most likely happen.
It was time to establish a firm foothold.
“…I shall devote this worthless life entirely to you, Holy Master.”
The Fierce Tiger Nine Fists lowered his head until it nearly touched the floor.
I looked at him with coldness in my eyes.
Then you should devote your life.
‘That is what I am using you all for.’
There was no problem with the plan.
If there was one anomaly, it was merely the reason Shaolin had intervened.
‘On this matter, I should make sure to pass the information on to Zhuge Hyeok.’
I had an excellent strategist on this side who could investigate it, so I would trust him.
Though it remained to be seen whether he would move according to my wishes.
Just as I was organizing my thoughts—
“Yangcheon.”
I heard someone calling me from beside me.
It was Cheol Ji-seon.
When I turned my gaze, he took something from inside his robes and handed it to me.
“…A message from the strategist.”
“Hmm?”
Cheol Ji-seon looked somewhat uncomfortable, and when I wondered why, I saw that it was a letter from Zhuge Hyeok.
‘He still seems displeased.’
Cheol Ji-seon did not seem to have particularly warm feelings toward Zhuge Hyeok, any more than he did toward Divine Physician.
He had been like that ever since learning that Zhuge Hyeok was Divine Physician’s grandson. The fact that he acted that way despite them sharing the same family name clearly suggested that there was some problem between them.
‘He can handle it himself.’
I did not involve myself in the matter.
I was already busy enough to drop dead. I had no time to deal with their circumstances as well.
Rustle.
I immediately unfolded the letter I had received.
Inside were several short lines. They all concerned the information and solutions to the orders I had requested.
—Confirmed the Flying Dragon Unit Commander’s child. Assigned personnel as ordered.
It seemed he had properly found Beom Dong’s daughter.
I had ordered them to simply keep her under surveillance afterward, so he must have deployed personnel for that purpose.
And then—
—Unusual activity confirmed on Wudang’s side.
‘Hmm?’
There was a strange piece of information written there.
—Based on our investigation, they appear to be secretly collecting ghostly objects.
‘Collecting ghostly objects?’
At Wudang?
If Zhuge Hyeok had written it down, it was surely accurate information. But I wondered whether there was any reason for Wudang to collect ghostly objects.
‘What are they planning?’
It bothered me.
I knew instinctively.
‘They are planning to pull some kind of bullshit.’
Wudang was preparing to commit some unusual act.
‘Tsk. And the Dark King is absent at a time like this.’
The fastest way would be to send someone to Wudang to obtain information.
But considering what I had done there last time, and with the Sword Immortal currently in Henan, Wudang’s security would be several times tighter than usual.
The only person who could break through it and obtain information immediately was the Dark King.
‘He still hasn’t returned even though I told him to come back. It seems he has something to deal with over there as well.’
What should I do?
After thinking for a moment, my eyes gleamed.
‘…There is one way.’
There was a way to obtain information on Wudang.
I did not know whether it would be as reliable as the Dark King, but there was one method.
I would have them prepare it in the near future.
‘And the last one.’
The final line written in the letter—
The instant I read it, my body stiffened.
“Ha. Well, look at this.”
A laugh escaped me involuntarily.
It could not be helped.
The final line of Zhuge Hyeok’s letter was—
—There is a high possibility that the Blade King will attend the Martial Exhibition ‘in person.’ Keep a close watch on him.
It was information I had thought would absolutely not come to pass.
And furthermore—
‘Things keep going so smoothly that it’s making me uneasy.’
It was something I had secretly been hoping for.
******************
Immediately after finishing my business and sending the Fierce Tiger Nine Fists back, I headed to where Divine Physician was.
I had gone there partly to meet Namgung Bi-ah, but more than that, I had gone to meet someone who had come to visit that place.
“It has been a long time.”
Looking at the handsome middle-aged man with a cold impression, an inexplicably chilling air about him, I gave him a slight nod.
“Yes. It has been a long time.”
The identity of the middle-aged man was none other than the current Sword King—
The clan head of the Namgung Clan, the Azure Heaven Sword King, Namgung Jin.
He happened to be leaving Divine Physician’s residence. It seemed he had just come to see Namgung Bi-ah.
“Have you been well?”
His faint smile as he looked at me was strangely irritating.
There was a smile resembling Namgung Bia’s, as if proving that he was her father.
But quite apart from that, there was something that instinctively made me want to keep my distance.
“…Yes. I hope you have been well too, Lord Patriarch.”
“You still insist on that stiff form of address.”
“…”
Then what else was I supposed to call him?
A few titles came to mind, but none were things I could bring myself to say aloud.
If I had to pick one, perhaps “lust”? Even that was impossible to say, so I had to hold it back.
‘The last time I saw him was… Was that a year ago as well?’
I had once gone to the Namgung Clan for business.
At the time, I believe I had—
‘Delivered a letter from the Heavenly Venerable.’
I did not know what had been written in it, but I remembered handing it over while I was there.
‘…And, while I was at it, I took measures to ensure they wouldn’t come looking for me pointlessly.’
The sword of Namgung Myeong, which the Namgung Clan had lost.
Namgung Jin had clung to me in an attempt to obtain it.
This had been around the time I had laid the groundwork to deal with that matter.
I glanced over Namgung Jin briefly before speaking.
“Your cultivation… seems to be progressing well.”
“It is pleasant to hear you say so.”
Namgung Jin smiled faintly at my words.
It was not empty flattery.
Namgung Jin’s realm had truly changed, becoming far more solid than before.
‘When I first saw him, he was halfway into the Hwagyeong realm.’
In a mere three or four years.
Namgung Jin had reached the perfect Hwagyeong realm.
He still seemed lacking to be called the Sword King, but he was certainly strong enough to be called a formidable expert.
‘Could that little bit of advice really have been useful?’
The first time, Elder Sin had done it.
The second time, I had tossed out a joke.
The third time, I had borrowed the Heavenly Venerable’s mind.
In exchange for writing the letter, I had asked him for a little help.
‘To have reached that level from those three pieces of information…’
In the end, it meant that Namgung Jin himself had been born with exceptional talent from the beginning.
Well, considering he was Namgung Bia’s father, perhaps that was only natural.
“…It seems you have just come from meeting your daughter?”
Namgung Bia suddenly came to mind, and I asked him.
“Hmm, something like that. My daughter, yes, and…”
Namgung Jin’s eyes grew cold as he spoke.
I was wondering why when—
‘Ah.’
I realized who was inside that place.
‘The Eccentric Immortal.’
Namgung Hyeong, the Wudang Eccentric Immortal.
He was there as well.
Anyone could tell that the two men were on bad terms simply by looking at the Eccentric Immortal’s current affiliation.
Namgung Jin’s expression shifted for a moment, but soon he smiled again and addressed me.
“Come to think of it, I was wondering whether Grandfather has been well.”
He was asking about the Heavenly Venerable.
As I had informed him by letter, he knew that the Heavenly Venerable was staying in Shanxi.
“He is probably doing well.”
He probably was.
‘It would be best if this didn’t become known, if possible.’
Thinking of the Heavenly Venerable gave me a slight headache.
What would happen if it became known that all three of the Three Venerables, who were called the pinnacles of the orthodox sects, had once been staying in Shanxi?
‘They would practically regard it as a demonic lair.’
It was obvious. We had accomplished something no other clan in the world had ever managed to do.
“…Did he still seem unwilling to return to the clan?”
“You should ask him yourself. That is something I do not know either.”
“I would like to, but… unfortunately, he does not accept our messages.”
After delivering the letter to the Namgung Clan, the Heavenly Venerable had not accepted any further contact from them.
Whenever something arrived from the clan, he would habitually return it without even reading it.
‘The fact that they haven’t come looking for him in person, even so…’
That was probably thanks to something the Heavenly Venerable had done while telling them never to come.
“Therefore, if it is possible…”
Namgung Jin was about to add something when—
“Before that.”
What I had to say took priority.
“I heard that the First Young Master came as well. Where is he?”
The Dragon Prince, Namgung Cheonjun.
I had come here looking for him.
Namgung Bia had clearly said that he had come along with them, so I had assumed he would be here.
“Hmm?”
Namgung Jin answered my question.
“The First Young Master did not accompany us. He had some matters to attend to, so unfortunately, he could not come to Henan.”
“…What do you mean?”
His answer was somewhat different from what I had expected.
‘He didn’t come?’
Namgung Bia had definitely said he would. Had he left somewhere along the way?
‘This makes things a little complicated.’
Namgung Cheonjun coming to Henan—more specifically, to the place where Namgung Bia was—
That would violate the restriction I had placed on him. I had wanted to find out what was going on if such a thing were possible.
‘If Namgung Cheonjun didn’t come…’
It had become somewhat difficult to confirm.
In that case…
‘There is a chance he couldn’t come because the restriction was still in place.’
But alongside the possibility that it had been impossible for him to come even if he had tried—
‘There is also the possibility that it wasn’t.’
The possibility had arisen that he could have come, but simply chose not to.
As far as I could tell, the restriction still seemed to be working perfectly, but one could never be sure.
‘I’ll have to make certain.’
I supposed I would need to call Nahi and check.
‘Normally, I should do it myself.’
But the Sparring Tournament was only two days away.
It would be difficult to check this as well.
‘Tsk.’
It was disappointing, but there was nothing to be done.
Some things had to be postponed.
Having made that decision, I bowed to Namgung Jin.
“Thank you for telling me. In that case, it is getting late, so I shall come to greet you again another time.”
“It is not particularly late yet… Perhaps we could have a spar for a little while…”
Namgung Jin was clearly trying to use the opportunity to subtly ask for instruction.
But—
“I’m sorry, but I already have plans.”
Not a chance.
“I have a schedule today… I shall come pay my respects properly another time.”
Of course, I had no intention of visiting Namgung Jin again.
Ignoring his disappointment, I fled back to my quarters and spent the time training while organizing my upcoming schedule.
And so, two days passed.
Before I knew it, the day of the Sparring Tournament had arrived.