Chapter 293. He Avoided My Gaze.

As soon as I saw the Thunder Sword Form land, I moved one step with the Tiyun Zong.

If anything, I put more into that single step than I had while fighting.

While I moved that step, I saw blood spurt from the Chumyeong Scholar’s body, and I confirmed his eyes widening as he saw me approaching, but by then I had already reached him and sealed his acupoints.

Thud!

Just as the Chumyeong Scholar tried to resist the Waning Moon Finger Art and move, I sealed more of his acupoints with the Wooden Rooster Finger Art. I seized the Chumyeong Scholar, who had gone stiff as a wooden chicken, turned him around, and announced to enemy and ally alike.

“……Cease for a moment. I have something to say. Look over here. Hey!”

Some were too busy fighting to hear me, while others had already been watching this place and were listening.

“Law Clan, stop. Those guest retainers or whatever you call them, stop too.”

They were all people with broad fields of vision, so once they saw the Chumyeong Scholar in my grasp, stopping the fight was not difficult.

Before I knew it, the Special Operations Unit had surrounded me.

The Law Clan forces, still more numerous than us, stood in confrontation.

I looked at Special Operations Unit Captain Im Sobaek, then spoke to the Law Clan forces.

“Your clan head has become my prisoner. If you keep fighting, I’ll have no choice but to kill him. If your clan head dies, the Law Clan loses. Listen while I’m still using words.”

Someone from the Law Clan said,

“Hao Sect Leader, get to the point.”

I snorted once, then said to the Law Clan’s troops,

“Join the Murim Alliance forces right now and slaughter the water bandits. You see them, don’t you?”

When I pointed……

The Sword Demon, the Lecherous Demon, and the Ghost Demon were butchering the troops pouring out of the ships, but more than a hundred men who had disembarked from the large ship still remained.

I asked the Law Clan, who were standing still,

“Are my words difficult to understand?”

Now that I thought about it, even in a situation like this, the head of the Law Clan had to be the one to give orders.

I said to the Chumyeong Scholar,

“Comrade Chumyeong, give the order. Whether you win or I win, they’re bastards who have to die anyway.”

An old man from the Law Clan said,

“Will you release the clan head?”

“No? I’ll hand him over to the Murim Alliance. If they release him over there, welcome your clan head back then.”

“Then we cannot obey.”

“You old bastard, who are you? Are you the clan head? If you’ve lived that long, assess the situation calmly. If you want your clan head to die first and the Law Clan to be wiped out here as well, do as you like. Even when I open a path for you to live, you insist on choosing the road to ruin.”

“Why would we be wiped out? In terms of troops, we still hold the advantage.”

At that moment, the Chumyeong Scholar, who had been silent, seemed to finally notice the man of presence and said this.

“The Murim Alliance Leader is here.”

“……!”

The entire Law Clan looked around with startled faces. Perhaps because it was dark, even with the Murim Alliance Leader nearby, they still failed to recognize him.

Im Sobaek let out a sigh with an uncomfortable expression.

“Special Operations Unit, join them first. Leave this place to the Sect Leader. They are not people who will let their clan head die. Move.”

In an instant, the Murim Alliance’s Special Operations Unit charged again, leaving the Law Clan behind.

Even Im Sobaek followed as though supporting the Special Operations Unit, then joined the place where the Four Great Evildoers were fighting.

In the blink of an eye, I was left alone with the Chumyeong Scholar, confronting the Law Clan troops.

Just how much did the Alliance Leader trust me? The way he believed and left it to me was utterly cold and decisive.

So this was why people said “Alliance Leader,” “Alliance Leader”……

“It suddenly got empty around here.”

Absurdly enough, the Law Clan troops tightened their encirclement. I warned the approaching Law Clan troops.

“Really? If you come at me like this, I’ll have no choice but to kill your clan head.”

I injected ice qi into the Chumyeong Scholar’s shoulder. The Chumyeong Scholar’s face twisted, and white cold energy began clinging to him from the shoulder.

“Look at this. With his internal injuries, it looks hard for him to endure.”

At that moment, two old men with identical faces spoke.

“How about we choose a new clan head and kill the Sect Leader too?”

The Chumyeong Scholar spoke with difficulty in a trembling tone.

“……Yin-Yang Clan Head, have you gone mad?”

I clicked my tongue.

“These scholar bastards are a complete mess. Don’t you have any laws?”

Someone from the Law Clan denounced the Yin-Yang Clan Head.

“Yin-Yang Clan Head, have you gone mad? You came to help, yet you mean to harm our clan head. Are you planning to become the enemy of the Law Clan?”

The Yin-Yang Clan Head said,

“Now even a disciple brat speaks rudely to us. The Yin-Yang Clan will withdraw from this fight. My interest has waned.”

“Yes, Clan Head.”

A hollow laugh escaped me of its own accord.

“These bastards are running away the moment they hear the Murim Alliance Leader is here.”

When the Yin-Yang Clan Head withdrew with the Yin-Yang Clan’s forces, nearly a third broke away.

I committed the two old men of the Yin-Yang Clan to memory, then asked the Chumyeong Scholar,

“Those two old men aren’t scholars?”

The Chumyeong Scholar answered,

“With skills like that, they don’t even come close.”

In truth, their skills looked quite good, but since the Chumyeong Scholar’s personal feelings were mixed into his words, I let it pass.

I persuaded the Chumyeong Scholar.

“Listen, if you want to plead for your life, it would be better for the Law Clan to step in quickly and kill even one more water bandit. You have not yet caused enough trouble to be declared a public enemy of murim. Why? Because no one from the Special Operations Unit has died yet.”

They seemed to have come with only elites, and with the Special Operations Unit Captain at the vanguard, they were not people who would be easily taken down. And truthfully, I did not really remember what trouble the Chumyeong Scholar had caused until now.

“Our personal grudge was settled to some extent in this duel.”

“Settled?”

“If you feel wronged, challenge me again personally later. Right now, preserving the Law Clan’s forces is the role of the clan head. Does Alliance Leader Im look easy to deal with? If this goes to the end, you will all be wiped out. Understand why I’m doing this. Don’t think emotionally.”

As soon as I finished speaking, the Chumyeong Scholar gave the order.

“Law Clan, join the Murim Alliance forces and kill the water bandits.”

“Pardon?”

“Since when have I said things twice?”

“We…… obey your command.”

I laughed inwardly as I watched the Law Clan troops turn the points of their swords and advance toward the water bandits.

I had no idea why it was so enjoyable every time I sowed discord.

Now even the Law Clan had no choice but to kill the Dongho First Sword’s subordinates.

Things have to become entangled for them to turn into chaos.

When they turn into chaos, I enjoy myself.

And because fortune comes when one laughs joyfully, the chances of catching the Dongho First Sword naturally increase.

The disciple commanding the Law Clan seemed wary of the Murim Alliance, so he moved to the outskirts and began killing the group of water bandits on the right first.

"Good."

I rested alone, leisurely watching the chaotic melee between the Four Great Villains, the Martial Alliance, and the School of Law.

At first, the Four Great Villains had been rampaging while surrounded, but now the situation had reversed, and the water bandits were falling dead.

Chumyeong Seosaeng, who had been standing stiffly beside me, looked a little bored, so I turned his posture around so that he too could watch properly.

Chumyeong Seosaeng spoke to me.

"Why go through all this trouble? If Alliance Chief Im had been here, you could have killed them all."

I answered Chumyeong Seosaeng offhandedly.

"Do I look like a cult leader to you? Like a murderer? Do I look like I walk the Demonic Path?"

"……."

"Do I look like a madman?"

"It would seem so."

I shook my head and smacked my lips. What I wanted to say had gotten a little twisted.

"Anyway, I'm keeping my promise."

"Did you think I would give up just because you saved my life?"

I grabbed Chumyeong Seosaeng by the shoulder.

"Comrade, I'm sorry to say this, but I wasn't going all out when I fought you. Do you think I fear you?"

"I wasn't at full strength either, because my hand was injured."

"No, that's not what I mean. It may sound strange, but I mastered martial arts through emotion. I remember the moments when I was strong. I am not now. My martial prowess originates from Mu (Nothingness), from utter emptiness, and the gap to the ultimate pinnacle I can unleash is unfathomable. For someone like me, there have only been exactly three times when I was at my strongest."

In truth, there were more, but I omitted them for simplicity.

"……."

I spoke, watching the nighttime battle unfold.

"Aren't you curious? About when I was at my strongest."

"Are you saying your strength fluctuates with your emotions?"

"That's actually true. The third strongest I ever was, was when I fought Baekui Seosaeng. We didn't settle the match. I threatened to die together with him. I actually meant it. The perceptive Baekui Seosaeng gave up first."

"……."

"The second strongest was when I faced Simyeong Seosaeng. He sent his subordinates out first and watched for an opening. I had no choice but to suddenly create a new technique and challenge him. That's how I beat Simyeong. It wasn't easy. But that moment can't be called when I was at my strongest."

"Then when was it?"

I turned my head slightly and looked at Chumyeong Seosaeng.

"……I'm talking about that half-blood girl. She was being traded in Heukhyang. I rescued the child myself. She was an orphan. Six years old. A child with pretty eyes. The moment I witnessed the scene, my martial arts briefly reached their zenith. You may not believe it, but in Heukhyang, I killed them all with a single stroke. The fight that started that way is what brought me here to Dongho. Why, you ask? Because that bastard demanded compensation for damages from me. To be honest, I more or less expected you would come too."

"I suppose you did."

"Did I merely expect it? I had intended to kill you here. I never thought we'd end up talking like this, getting battered by the river wind together in the dead of night. Life doesn't flow according to plan. Look."

I pointed to Special Task Force Commander Im Sobaek.

"Why would the Alliance Chief suddenly come to a place like this? This too was not something I expected."

Judging by the sigh Chumyeong Seosaeng let out, this was unexpected for him as well.

In fact, because Chumyeong Seosaeng had even brought along the leader of the Yin-Yang School, who was on par with the heads of the other Hundred Schools of Thought, the fight would have dragged on far longer if they had properly clashed, and some members of the special task force could have been injured or killed in the process.

I spoke to Chumyeong.

"Do I look like I'm lying? Just now, my strength was not at its peak. Killing Simyeong Seosaeng was unavoidable. If Simyeong, Baekui, and Cheonak had joined forces, the Leader of the Beggars' Sect would have fallen. I had to save the Leader of the Beggars' Sect by any means necessary."

Without a word, Chumyeong Seosaeng stared blankly at the water bandits falling dead.

As if he had briefly forgotten, Chumyeong Seosaeng asked,

"Then where do I rank?"

"You would be fourth or fifth. Since I've grown stronger now than my average level back then. Now, you'll be captured by the Martial Alliance and interrogated a bit. After you roughly divulge some information, return to the School of Law. I can arrange that much."

"Absurd."

"Don't you want to live?"

Chumyeong Seosaeng answered.

"I don't mean I don't want to live. I mean you have no reason to keep me alive."

"That's true. Challenge me again in fourteen years. Assuming we're both still alive then."

At this abrupt remark, Chumyeong Seosaeng glanced at me out of the corner of his eye.

"Why fourteen years?"

In truth, I hesitated a bit here. But I answered as my heart led me. Because unless I spoke sincerely, we wouldn't understand each other.

"Listen, I've taken that half-blood girl as my disciple. She's six years old now. I should look after her until she's at least twenty before letting her stand on her own. If you're still alive, and I'm still alive, challenge me again then. The odds are high that I'll fight the Cult Leader before then, so there's little chance I'll come out of it in one piece. By that time, I might have a hole through my palm, or I might even be missing an arm. Still, I'll accept your challenge."

"……."

"Truthfully, I had no intention of taking her as a disciple. She was a child with nowhere to go. I had no choice but to become her third master."

"Why the third master?"

I gestured with my chin toward the lakeshore.

"The other three are raising hell over there. Look at them, kicking up a damned fuss."

"You mean there are four masters?"

I looked at the Lust Demon fighting as if soaring through the air, and spotted the Ghost Demon assisting the Sword Demon from behind. As always, the Sword Demon was slaughtering his opponents with extreme cruelty—each time he swung his sword, some part of a body separated.

"If we've gone to the trouble of taking in an orphan with nowhere to go, we should at least try not to cause her the same sorrow. Even if we fight the Cult Leader, one of us four plans to avoid harm beforehand. To hell with the ways of the martial world—that is the way of human decency. Unlike before, I have no intention of dying recklessly. Because I don't want to die recklessly, I've become someone who thinks twice before killing even a good-for-nothing like you. That's not easy for me."

Perhaps because the strength had left his legs, Chumyeong Seosaeng collapsed onto the ground with a thud.

I asked Chumyeong Seosaeng, folding my arms.

"Hey."

"……."

"Does the School of Law happen to have any rule about showing respect to your opponent after losing twice in a row? Or serving them as your elder brother, anything like that?"

"Where would there be such a mad law?"

I glared at Chumyeong Seosaeng.

"Your laws aren't very thorough. Pathetic."

Chumyeong Seosaeng slumped and let out a sigh.

"If you're going to save me, release me like this. Don't let me get dragged off to the Martial Alliance."

I sneered at Chumyeong Seosaeng.

"Pathetic. Look at the state of the Yin-Yang School Leader. If you're innocent, the Martial Alliance will see to your treatment on its own. You'll be better off returning to the School of Law in one piece after recuperating in confinement."

After thinking it over, Chumyeong Seosaeng asked me.

"Why do you keep calling me comrade?"

I crouched down and met Chumyeong Seosaeng's eyes.

"What do you plan to do if another man like Qin Shi Huang appears?"

"The scholars would devote all their strength to assassinating him."

I nodded slightly.

“I’ll probably be there beside him. The paths may differ, but the destination is the same.”

Chumyeong Scholar, who had been glaring at me for quite some time, said this.

“Now I think I understand why that cruel, vicious Baek bastard didn’t kill you.”

I shook my head.

“Let’s get it straight. It’s not that he didn’t kill me. He couldn’t. Chumyeong, I am not an easy man. Not for you, not for Baegui, and not for Cheonak Scholar either.”

“Even so, I doubt the First Sword of Dongho will be easy to catch. I sent word that I would join forces with him, but I still couldn’t meet him. He has no intention of showing himself.”

“You don’t have to worry too much about the First Sword of Dongho. I plan to kill all his subordinates first, just like today. Then he’ll hide and hire assassins with money, won’t he? Then I’ll kill all the assassins too. I’ll keep killing until the waters of Dongho turn clear and transparent. Anyone who stays in Dongho and follows the First Sword of Dongho—every last one of them dies. One evening, I intend to gather my men, my comrades, the Murim Alliance, allied forces—anyone I know, at any rate—and make this declaration.”

I stood up and looked down at Chumyeong Scholar.

“Whether that crippled bastard shows up or not won’t matter anymore. Why? Because by then, even just in terms of influence, I’ll have become the First Sword of Dongho.”

I spoke while imagining that moment.

“From every direction, they’ll cheer, crying out my name, my epithet, my very identity. Hao Sect Leader! Lee Zaha! First Sword of Dongho! Waiter!”

I spread both arms to either side, then glared at Chumyeong Scholar, who looked slightly dazed.

“That is me.”

“…….”

The scholar bastard avoided my gaze.