Chapter 220. This Is a Revolution.

The White-Clad Scholar’s expression was gradually changing.

“Zixia Divine Art… A martial art the world has never seen before.”

Fifth Sword, waiting for orders, asked the White-Clad Scholar.

“What shall we do?”

The White-Clad Scholar answered.

“It is a martial art we must make ours, no matter what. It is clearly a higher-level art than the Moon Shadow Merciless Art and the Golden Turtle Carefree Art. The Sect Leader must have created it. I have never seen it before. You understand what I mean, don’t you?”

I knew what he meant.

He meant to capture me alive.

I had realized that Fifth Sword and Sixth Saber were highly skilled, but for a moment, I felt a touch of pity. If we had fought under ordinary circumstances, they would have been at about the Butcher’s level, so even I would have had a hard fight. But I thought they would find it difficult to handle my current state.

The Zixia Divine Art is an emotional martial art.

That is exactly how I feel right now.

I am in an extremely foul mood. Whether or not an emotional martial art existed in the martial world before is none of my concern.

When Fifth Sword and Sixth Saber moved, each drawing their sword and saber.

I drew my blade as well and swung it at Fifth Sword and Sixth Saber. The speed at which the three of us drew our weapons was so similar it was difficult to say who was superior, but from the edge of my wooden sword, Zixia Sword Qi poured out and flew toward Fifth Sword and Sixth Saber.

When Fifth Sword and Sixth Saber each wrapped sword qi around their blades and assumed defensive stances.

One sword, one saber, Fifth Sword’s arm, Sixth Saber’s arm, Fifth Sword’s upper body, and Sixth Saber’s upper body were cut apart at the same time. Blood sprayed in every direction, and the broken blades fell to the floor. It was instant death, so I could no longer hear Fifth Sword or Sixth Saber’s voices.

“No!”

The White-Clad Scholar moved like a thunderbolt, stepped over the corpses of Fifth Sword and Sixth Saber, and began fumbling around the study. He suddenly pulled out books and checked whether they were intact or not, then slowly stopped moving and let out a long breath. Astonishingly, it was a sigh of relief.

“……”

I watched the White-Clad Scholar’s entire display.

This crazy bastard was checking whether the books were all right, regardless of whether his disciples had died or not. I don’t know whether it was my instinct or my senses, but I had cut down Fifth Sword and Sixth Saber while restraining my strength to some degree. If the sword qi had extended as far as the study, then naturally, over a hundred books would have been blown away.

The White-Clad Scholar turned around with a pale face.

This man had just made a grave mistake in front of me. At first, he had boasted that it did not matter even if I set the place on fire, but when the situation actually came to the study being damaged, he was panicking like that.

How exactly should I interpret this?

I slowly walked with my sword in hand, brushing the books with my left hand as I went.

“Scholar… Didn’t you say there were many copies? Why are you so surprised?”

I withdrew the state of the Zixia Divine Art, then studied the White-Clad Scholar’s expression. In other words, the White-Clad Scholar himself looked as if he had been startled by something he had not expected. Even if copies existed, there was apparently a reason why the books here could not be allowed to disappear.

I looked at the pale-faced White-Clad Scholar, then lowered my tone and said.

“Scholar, go sit at that table. Let’s talk business.”

I judged that the word “business” would be appropriate to calm the White-Clad Scholar’s agitation.

After the sound of teeth chattering came from inside the White-Clad Scholar’s mouth, words flowed out.

“Sect Leader, do you look down on me because you have learned a divine art?”

“Of course not. I have some idea of your abilities. You are certainly not beneath me. I know. I know, but if you try to kill me, this place will become a mess too. Look at your disciples’ corpses. I controlled my strength. But if I fight you, that kind of restraint will be impossible for me too. So sit down for now. While I’m still asking nicely.”

Looking at the White-Clad Scholar, who was not out of his mind because his disciples had died but because the books might disappear, I could not help but sigh.

Seeing the White-Clad Scholar sit at the table, I sheathed my sword and said.

“Close that door. Let’s talk, just the two of us. If your subordinates come again and fight, I can’t make any guarantees this time. After all, they’ll be stronger than Fifth Sword and Sixth Saber. Right?”

When the White-Clad Scholar pressed a mechanism on the table, the wall from which his subordinates had appeared flipped around.

The White-Clad Scholar said.

“Do I have any business to discuss with you?”

I went to the section categorized under Established Masters, took out the Golden Turtle Carefree Art, and said while examining the main text.

“…You do. There are three things you don’t know about me. The Golden Turtle Carefree Art, the Quick Hall, and the Zixia Divine Art. I also know nothing about your organization. Whether there are several more studies like this. Whether you are the supreme commander or not. Leaving aside the level of our martial abilities, it is difficult for us to destroy each other. You people are no ordinary organization.”

“And?”

In the middle of the conversation, I checked the end of the Golden Turtle Carefree Art. Because the content was identical to the book I had read, I confirmed that the White-Clad Scholar had distributed it in my previous life. After putting the Golden Turtle Carefree Art back, I looked at the White-Clad Scholar.

“Scholar, you have done something insolent to some of these books without permission.”

“……!”

The White-Clad Scholar’s eyes went round.

Even as I spoke, I revised the strategy for what I would say next dozens of times. Since my prediction could be wrong, I was observing the White-Clad Scholar’s expression and refining my words in detail.

“I understand you. Perhaps I will remain the only person in the martial world who understands you.”

“What nonsense is that? What is it you claim to understand?”

I sat down on the floor with my back against the study and looked at the White-Clad Scholar.

“Scholar, don’t get worked up and listen carefully. Sometimes there are things more important than life and death. You and I killing each other? We can do that anytime. But right now, let’s talk about something more important than that.”

The White-Clad Scholar smiled with a contemptuous expression.

“Sect Leader, if we fight, the one who dies will be you. You know that, don’t you?”

“Shut up. That’s why I’m talking. I said there’s something more important than life and death.”

“And what is that?”

“Even though copies exist, you do not want the books here to burn or disappear. In truth, you likely did not understand that feeling yourself.”

The White-Clad Scholar looked at me without saying a word.

I had no choice but to draw my conclusion, then launched my attack.

“…Who gave you permission to alter and annotate ancient martial arts as you pleased?”

The White-Clad Scholar’s expression did not change, but as soon as he heard my words, his Adam’s apple bobbed as if he had swallowed once.

I pointed with my finger here and there around the study.

“The books you created here differ in content from the copies elsewhere. Your thoughts, your martial learning, and your opinions are in them. Originally, you were only supposed to transfer the writing from the bamboo slips into books, but you became an author yourself.”

“What do you mean by author? I am not asking because I don’t know the definition.”

“A person who creates a work is an author. What else would it mean? The books here are your works. They are works of art you made. You did not simply stop at copying them down. Your thoughts deleted some sentences, and your opinions were subtly added. The copies elsewhere and the ones here are different. These are your works.”

The White-Clad Scholar seemed flustered and was keeping his words to a minimum.

I continued to press the White-Clad Scholar.

“Do you know what happens when a person pours their heart and soul into something, or creates something of value?”

“……”

“They can never make the same thing again. It is difficult. Impossible. Even if you take the original bamboo slips again and copy them over, the content of your alterations and annotations will change.”

I pointed at the study.

“What this means is that not even the creator himself could remake what lies here. Bamboo scrolls are useless, and copies stored elsewhere will not help either. Much less is it possible to reproduce such a vast collection of books exactly as they stand now. That is the reason you hold the books here so dear in the depths of your heart.”

“Hmm.”

“Scholar, who in the world could understand such a heart as yours?”

“Munju, what is it you wish to say?”

“Isn’t that what I’m doing right now, you bastard....... Look closely at my sincerity. I am the only one in this world who respects and understands your will. Who else could possibly understand your will? Neither your foolish disciple nor the people of your organization, who are surely clever, can understand your true essence. They will not respect your works either.”

“What is it you want to trade?”

“Scholar, let us be frank. I do not know whether you and I will become enemies or allies. That is not important. Whether we become enemies or not, let us treat the books as a separate matter. This is my final proposal. Should we fight right here and now, I swear upon my life that I will burn everything here to ash. Your works will all be lost. Into dust.......”

“If we do not fight, what choice will you offer?”

I answered with a sigh.

“What in the world were you trying to prove with all this? At least for the books you have already distributed, you must have made extra copies, have you not?”

“I did.”

“Did you wish to influence the martial world? Or was it simply for the sake of research? Or did you wish to ridicule the denizens of the martial world?”

It seemed the White-Clad Scholar’s concentration was wavering as he listened to me, so I had no choice but to lead with the conclusion.

“Listen, Scholar. Pick out the finest sword techniques, saber techniques, internal energy arts, and divine arts from the books you possess, and hand them over.”

“What kind of bullshit is that? Why would I?”

“Give them to me, and I will pour forth heroes for a thousand years to come. They will learn the martial arts from the books you authored.”

“What?”

The White-Clad Scholar echoed back with a baffled expression.

I spoke in an even tone.

“Strictly speaking, if one must classify you, you are a demonic faction.”

“We are not.”

“You are a demonic faction. Because you do not do this to be of help to the world, but because you have inherited hatred stretching back to the time of the First Emperor. Look at what you do to your disciples. You are of the demonic path. Whether you acknowledge it or not, I define you as such. The other bastards holding copies are no different. The odds are high that what they are doing is demonic as well. Because it all springs from hatred.”

“We have moved beyond such reasoning.”

“The things you have done after moving beyond such reasoning have been demonic all along. But I will give you a chance. I will give you a chance to teach wandering heroes with your creations, your works, your masterpieces—the martial arts manuals transcribed by the White-Clad Scholar. Those wandering heroes will establish sects, become grandmasters, accept disciples, slay demons and heretics, and eventually shatter the very organization you belong to. Your organization is mighty and secretive. It is a difficult thing for me to handle alone.”

I muttered, painting an as-yet-unfolded future in my mind.

“Instead, those who inherit my will shall fight across a thousand years. Perhaps these wandering heroes may even become your disciples. White-Clad Scholar, though in truth, they will likely be the disciples of us both.......”

I met eyes with the White-Clad Scholar.

“The people of the world will never know our story.”

The White-Clad Scholar gazed at me with eyes clearer than ever before. I could not afford to let my guard down, so I pressed him further.

“I shall give you time to think. But remember. Through the Jaha Divine Art, I can become Ilwol Gwangcheon by myself. After all, you saw with your own eyes how I made the Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon Cult back down all at once. Whether you are stronger than me or not, I swear that I can bring about a state where I die, you die, and this place is reduced to dust. In an instant, all of us vanish.”

“.......”

“You know best just what manner of madman I am.”

The White-Clad Scholar suddenly drew a deep breath, closed his eyes, and sank into meditation. I lowered my tone even further and murmured.

It was no different from reciting sutras to a madman, yet I was in earnest.

“You have lived consumed by hatred for the First Emperor, but I am thinking of Jing Ke, who tried and failed to kill him. Had there been more wandering heroes like Jing Ke, this hatred would never have been born. Who can say for sure? There is no law that says another bastard like the First Emperor will not appear again.”

“.......”

“The world needs more wandering heroes than there are now. You have inherited hatred, but I intend to inherit the heart of Jing Ke. Jing Ke could not succeed in his assassination alone, and there is little I can do alone, either. I can only hope that countless wandering heroes will topple a second and a third First Emperor.”

I summarized what I had been imagining and conveyed it to the White-Clad Scholar.

“If it comes to pass, that will be the revolution that began right here, between the two of us.”

I informed the White-Clad Scholar, who sat with his eyes closed.

“Choose. Will you die here with me, or will you pass these books on to the wandering heroes?”

I waited for the White-Clad Scholar’s answer before closing my eyes as well.

The sound of the wind blowing from beyond the cave and the sound of our sighs occasionally intertwined.