Chapter 277: Take Your Bullshit to the Murim Alliance.

The mood grew heavy after I mentioned the Demon Cult. In any case, it was not my fault.

The Mansang Sect Leader first sent out one of his officers.

“Prepare a letter and send a messenger.”

“Yes, Sect Leader.”

The Mansang Sect Leader said to me,

“It is not that far, but we will have to wait for a reply.”

“We should.”

“The Byeongnyeok Sect is probably closer, so their reply will likely arrive first.”

The Mansang Sect Leader pointed at the Dukang wine.

“I will say it again, but we do not use poison. The reason Makseong’s fighting has at least not descended into utter ruin is because both sides agreed not to use poison. If one side crossed the line, the other two sects were to join forces and strike them down, but there was no telling when that balance might break. In truth, we do not know much about poison either. All we learned was war.”

There was indeed an air of military forces about them.

I looked around at the Mansang Sect Leader and his officers.

“Do you know of a way for the Mansang Sect to unite and take over Makseong’s Black Path, then survive well without collecting tribute?”

They were men of the Black Path with no plans, so I had not expected much of an answer. The officers looked at one another, then all turned to stare at the Mansang Sect Leader.

The Mansang Sect Leader answered,

“I do not.”

I gave him the answer simply.

“You should work.”

“Mm.”

“But I suppose you hate working too, don’t you? Well, if you are the descendants of generals who once received stipends from the state, I cannot say I do not understand. It is not easy to drink yourself stupid late into the night and get up at dawn. If someone had to dig medicinal herbs in the mountains and sell them at the market, he would get up before daybreak, glance once at the faces of his sleeping child or wife, then hurry up the mountain. But the Black Path daring to wake at dawn and work? Ah, impossible.”

“…….”

“You may think of working itself as something dreadful, but do you think anyone works because they like it? Mansang Sect Leader, those who have not learned martial arts are not fools. Everyone has their circumstances, so they rise at dawn. It is much the same as your circumstances for hating work. If you are collecting tribute and living in luxury, should you not at least take a look at how that money is earned? At your age, no less.”

The Mansang Sect Leader looked at me without so much as twitching.

“Even the Black Path has the word Path attached to it, but I cannot understand how you attach a Path to the identity of men who simply steal others’ money to live. This is not the essence of the Black Path. Fundamentally, I do not care if you idle about and eat. If the Mansang Sect changes its principle to resolving unreasonable matters that occur in Makseong, or helping merchants work without great hardship… do you think those who received help would leave the Mansang Sect to starve? I will say it again, people are not fools. Just because they do not know martial arts does not mean they do not know gratitude.”

I picked up a cup of Dukang wine.

“…If I drink this and there is poison in it, I intend to kill all of you before the poison spreads through my body, so do not be pleased that I am drinking. Anyone want to stop me? No one?”

I poured the Dukang wine down my throat.

Of course, there was no poison.

In truth, not only the officers present but even the Mansang Sect Leader were older than I was. But age did not matter. We were all living with our lives on the line.

There is no order when it comes to ascending to heaven.

Amid the heavy atmosphere, one officer asked me,

“We heard quite some time ago that you fought the Demon Cult. How is that progressing now?”

“What do you mean, progressing? Are you asking why I’m still alive and well?”

“That is not what I meant. It is just that, since the Cult Leader is one of the Three Calamities….”

“I am probably alive because the Cult Leader is one of the Three Calamities. He has two more rivals, you see. If he were the single sole calamity, I would have died long ago. He is likely searching for a way to overwhelm the other Three Calamities. Even if he sends his subordinates who are somewhat good at fighting, he knows I will not die. I have gone a little beyond that level. I am a somewhat troublesome existence to anyone. By the way, Mansang Sect Leader.”

“Speak.”

“I am contemplating how I can fight well against the Cult Leader later, while you are picking merchants’ pockets. A remarkable Black Path indeed. Your ancestors must be ashamed underground. Is that the extent of the capacity and vessel of a martial artist named Sunu Jin? Your ancestors became defeated generals after losing a war, but if you live like this, does it not mean you are living like defeated generals without even having gone to war?”

At my words, the officers looked at the ground.

Their leader was being insulted, so it seemed they were getting angry. But when Sunu Jin remained still, no one opened their mouth.

The Mansang Sect Leader nodded.

“I lack much.”

“I lack much too. I entered the jianghu because I hated having money extorted from me. I had no property, and I did not come from a prestigious family. But I knew I was not a fool. Even when I was a waiter. I endured each day with the feeling of, just you wait, you bastards. That is why I am here now.”

As I kept tormenting the Mansang Sect, the messenger who had gone to the Byeongnyeok Sect returned a little while later. I heard running outside, then the stairs creaked, and the messenger arrived with white steam rising from his entire body.

But before he even opened his mouth, his complexion was so poor that I could plainly guess what the message was.

“Sect Leader, I have returned.”

“What did they say?”

The messenger cleared his throat, then answered.

“I apologize for conveying this.”

“…….”

“I delivered the letter and passed on the points to be careful of, but the Byeongnyeok Sect Leader….”

“Tell me calmly. Everyone already knows he is discourteous.”

“Yes. He said not only did he not believe that the Hao Sect Leader was here, but that if you wanted to spout bullshit in the dead of night, you should go do it at the Murim Alliance. I apologize.”

“You have nothing to apologize for. Understood. Go rest.”

“Yes.”

The face of the Mansang Sect Leader, who had been restraining his emotions fairly well, twisted.

I snorted involuntarily.

“Take your bullshit to the Murim Alliance, he says… The Alliance Leader is not some village chief. I am the sect leader of an allied force and a comrade-in-arms who struck the Namak Green Forest Alliance with him. I will add the crime of insulting the Alliance Leader.”

Outside, perhaps someone had pulled hard on the reins, because a horse’s neigh rang out. Then came the sound of someone rushing over as frantically as a messenger from a battlefield, and the messenger who had gone to the Cheoneung Gang also ran up the stairs.

This time, it was similar.

There was a bright red handprint stamped on the messenger’s cheek. Even so, the messenger reported in a rather composed tone.

“Sect Leader, the Cheoneung Gang Leader said….”

“Yes. What did he say?”

“If you are drunk, you should go to sleep early. If you have something to say, he will summon you to Suwoljeong himself, so come out then.”

In that instant, the area beneath the Mansang Sect Leader’s eyes trembled.

“I see. Why were you slapped?”

The messenger answered in a spirited tone.

“He told me to come over for a moment, then simply hit me.”

The Mansang Sect Leader nodded.

“…You endured well. Go rest.”

“Yes.”

The Mansang Sect Leader looked at me.

“I hope you do not misunderstand. Our relationship has always been poor. They likely heard the claim that the Hao Sect Leader was here as a trick to make them go to Suwoljeong for nothing. Or perhaps they thought there was no reason for you to come here. Since you are acquainted with the Murim Alliance Leader, it seems they judged that you would not associate with us and dismissed it as bullshit.”

I nodded.

“You keep saying dogshit, dogshit, and now I feel like I’ve turned into a dog. I suppose I’ll have to show you what real doglike behavior is. You sons of bitches……”

One of the officers had a strange look on his face, so I asked.

“Are you laughing?”

“No, sir.”

I looked around at the officers.

“All the better. As of today, I’m retiring the Thunderbolt Sect Master and the Heavenly Eagle Sect Master. This is why the man at the top matters. Caution or courtesy. If they had even one of the two, their sects would have stayed intact.”

By contrast, the Myriad Manifestations Sect Master had both caution and courtesy, more or less.

I stood up, took off the flower-patterned long robe that had been torn to shreds, and looked at the black long robes the officers were wearing. The characters for Myriad Manifestations (萬象) were written on the shoulder.

“Give me one of the Myriad Manifestations Sect’s outfits. My clothes look like a beggar’s rags.”

I put on the Myriad Manifestations Sect officer’s robe one of the officers brought over, then said.

“Which is closer?”

“The Thunderbolt Sect is closer.”

“Then let’s do this. The officers, the sect master, and me. We’ll attack with just that.”

The Myriad Manifestations Sect Master said with a startled expression.

“The Thunderbolt Sect has over a hundred men.”

“I don’t care about that. This underworld playacting is useless before overwhelming force.”

Eyes full of distrust toward me were overflowing everywhere. One officer expressed that distrust like this.

“Sect Master, your hand is injured too. Will you be all right?”

“I got hurt digging herbs, so stop talking bullshit and bring me the hardest, most vicious club you have. Some bandages too. My palm’s scraped raw and stings.”

“Ah, understood.”

***

Even including the officers, there were only twelve of us. Some of the Myriad Manifestations Sect’s subordinates stepped forward, saying they would join as well, but the officers stopped them and told them not to. I wrapped a bandage around my hand once, gripped the club, then wound the bandage around it again. With this, the club and I became one.

I looked around at the officers of the Myriad Manifestations Sect and said briefly.

“Let’s go.”

I set off for the Thunderbolt Sect, mingling with the underworld men. The moonlight, perfect for a night raid, was cheering on the underworld. As I walked quickly, I asked an officer.

“What does the Thunderbolt Sect Master look like?”

“His mustache droops down from both corners of his mouth. His complexion is yellowish, and he uses a great saber.”

“At that point, it’d be harder not to recognize him.”

“That is so.”

“Usually there are sects where the sect master’s martial strength is so high there’s a huge gap between him and his subordinates, and then there are sects with lots of experts of roughly similar level. Which one is the Thunderbolt Sect?”

“The Thunderbolt Sect Master is far stronger than his subordinates.”

“Not bad. Means I only have to beat one bastard to a pulp. You handle the rest. Even if they belong to the same sect, the bastards inside are worlds apart. If there’s a guy whose usual conduct was especially shit, beat him to death when we charge in. As for the ones who seem worth sparing, judging by their usual conduct and rumors, just break their arms and legs.”

“Understood.”

One of the officers behind me asked.

“But wouldn’t it be better to run? They may be preparing for us.”

“We walk. Can’t be tired before a fight. And if he were the kind of man who knew how to prepare like that, he would have come out politely in the first place. What’s the Thunderbolt Sect Master’s name?”

“Jeon Inpyeong.”

“What does Inpyeong usually do at this hour?”

“Nine times out of ten, he’ll be drinking.”

“That damned liquor……”

Since I liked drinking too, I didn’t add the curse that should have come next.

As we walked, a high official’s grand mansion appeared, incomparable to the Myriad Manifestations Sect.

“Don’t tell me that’s it.”

“Yes.”

“Wow. He was rich.”

The house looked as though a small castle had risen in the center of the great estate, making the surrounding walls seem extremely low by comparison. I looked at the Myriad Manifestations Sect Master.

“Sect Master, charge in while looking after your men.”

“Understood.”

I suddenly ran forward, then sprang up and reached the wall. I ran along the wall, launched myself into the air again, landed on the second-floor roof of the splendid house that looked like a small castle, then sprang up once more to the third-floor roof. As the sound of the front gate being smashed rang out and the Myriad Manifestations Sect Master entered, I smashed a window with my club and made my entrance.

Seeing no one on the third floor, I called my friend’s name.

“……Inpyeong! You son of a bitch. Where are you?”

When I left the Thunderbolt Sect Master’s room, the Thunderbolt Sect Master’s guards came running down the corridor. With my left palm, I poured palm force infused with the Waning Moon Ice Art into the entire narrow corridor. In an instant, the men who had been running over froze in awkward postures.

I glared at the half-frozen men, then crossed the corridor and went down the stairs.

“Thunderbolt Sect Master, why didn’t you believe me when I said I was coming? I even sent a letter. Telling me to take my bullshit to the Martial Alliance…… Let me have a look at your face.”

When I reached the second floor, the Thunderbolt Sect Master, surrounded by guards, looked at me with a dumbfounded expression.

“Who the hell are you?”

After confirming the Thunderbolt Sect Master’s face, I thought of a bearded wild boar. Liquor and side dishes were strewn across a long dining table. I climbed onto the table and walked forward, trampling the drinking snacks.

“It’s the day you retire.”

I dealt with the charging guards using only simple downward strikes. Instead, the club was lightly infused with ice art. No matter what they blocked with, the club touched their bodies. In an instant, the sounds of bones breaking and screams mixed together, and a large saber fell from the air. After I broke the guards’ arms and legs, the Thunderbolt Sect Master, who had been watching my methods until then, belatedly stepped forward while swinging his saber.

Even though I blocked with the club infused with ice art, the great saber bit about half a pun into it, and then the Thunderbolt Sect Master’s kick flew at me. Since it was an attack laden with internal energy, I countered with the Great Hand Seal from my left palm.

Booooom!

Because of the palm force that exploded before my eyes, even I was pushed back. With my ears ringing from a roar like ten great drums bursting at once, a chilling saber wind poured down in succession.

Just from his level of fighting and the depth of his internal power, he was not a man the Myriad Manifestations Sect Master could easily handle.

I sprang up, then thrust out my left palm while lying prone in midair. By the time the saber wind passed beneath me, I had already collided with the Thunderbolt Sect Master using my left palm.

Booooooom!

The Thunderbolt Sect Master struck the wall with a staggering step, bounced off, and even in the midst of that, he unleashed his saber art and swung the great saber.

I thought, just this once, that the local underworld really was properly vicious.

I blocked the great saber one strike at a time with the club, then tore off at once the cloth I had wound around my hand by sheer grip strength and threw the club from close range.

Whoosh!

While the Thunderbolt Sect Master knocked the club away with his great saber, I drew my wooden sword and released sword qi diagonally upward. This time, blood spurted from the Thunderbolt Sect Master’s shoulder.

I stood in place and swung the wooden sword at a moderate speed.

With ice art, I released a cross in the shape of ten (十).

With the Flame Realm, I sent out sword qi in the form of five (㐅).

Next, I repeatedly poured out sword wind infused only with the qi of the Wood Realm in simple motions. In an instant, the Thunderbolt Sect Master, covered in blood as he swung his great saber, suddenly shouted.

“……Stop! I truly didn’t know you had come. Haomun Sect Master! Let’s talk this out.”

I continued pouring out sword winds from where I stood. The Thunderbolt Sect Master, who had been blocking them and gradually being driven back, swung his great saber, then sank down with his back against the wall. Covered in blood from head to toe, his face went pale and he vomited black blood.

I put away my wooden sword, then approached and met the seated Thunderbolt Sect Master at eye level.

“I sent a messenger saying we should talk, so what kind of attitude is this? Thunderbolt Sect Master.”

“…….”

I grabbed the Thunderbolt Sect Master by the collar and threw him outside. His fairly large body smashed through the window and fell out. I stood near the round hole the Thunderbolt Sect Master had made with his body and looked down.

The Black Dao men of the Thunderbolt Sect and the Myriad Forms Sect, who had been clashing, stopped fighting the moment they spotted the Thunderbolt Sect Master and all looked up at me at once.

“……It seems Thunderbolt Sect Master Jeon Inpyeong has something to say to me, so all of you keep your mouths shut.”

The Thunderbolt Sect Master writhed like an insect, then barely managed to sit up. His hair was already disheveled and his entire body was drenched in blood, making him the most wretched sight in this place.

The Thunderbolt Sect Master was looking up at me with resentful eyes, but he did not open his mouth right away. He probably had little to say.

But I had something to say to him.

“You stupid bastard, what are you staring at? Isn’t this the way of the Black Dao? Did I come to the wrong place? If you’re the White Dao, I’ll apologize for today’s rudeness.”

“…….”

“Seeing as you’re not answering, the Black Dao really was the Black Dao.”

The Thunderbolt Sect Master opened his mouth with a weary look.

“Haomun Master…… what in the world—”

I cut him off at once.

“Shut up and save your bullshit for the Murim Alliance.”

Suddenly, the Thunderbolt Sect Master planted both hands on the ground and burst into tears. The head of a Black Dao faction as old as he was bursting into tears? It was unbelievable.

“That won’t work, you son of a bitch.”

I ordered the Myriad Forms Sect Master.

“Tie him up.”

The Myriad Forms Sect Master looked at me, then gave a slight nod.

“Yes, sir.”