Episode 428. Descend the Mountain
Saekma climbed the stairs in search of his Master and spotted Geoma sitting by the window.
“Master, did the Pavilion Lord stop by?”
“He did.”
“What did he come for?”
“Seems he came begging for a meal like a beggar. Nothing serious.”
Saekma smiled and sat down across from his Master.
“I see. By the way, I’ve brought some incredible news.”
“What is it?”
“Alliance Leader Im is said to be retiring.”
“It’s about time. That’s not such surprising news.”
“And so, they say they will select the next Martial Alliance Leader.”
Saekma took a letter from within his robes, handed it to his Master, and sat down.
Geoma opened the missive marked with the character for Alliance (盟) and read it.
「……This may be unexpected news, and some may welcome it. We are holding a martial arts tournament to select the next Martial Alliance Leader. We are carefully choosing and inviting seniors and juniors deemed qualified, but one seat has been left open for you. Please think positively and attend. We are inviting even those from distant places, so the period will be ample, but depart immediately upon reading this letter and prepare in advance. From the Martial Alliance, Im Sobaek.」
Geoma returned the missive to his disciple.
“I see.”
Saekma took it back with an awkward expression and spoke.
“If they are going to invite someone, they should invite you, Master. Why invite me?”
“I have no qualifications to begin with. The Alliance Leader would know better.”
Saekma replied with a bewildered expression.
“Is that so? It seems he failed to predict that I would refuse.”
Geoma glanced sidelong at his disciple.
“Refuse?”
“Yes.”
“The reason?”
“Well, Master. Why would I enter the Martial Alliance Leader’s tournament… I am still young.”
Geoma tilted his head.
“Are you saying you lack the confidence to defeat all the heroes?”
Saekma pondered carefully who would be invited.
“Do you think the Alliance Leader invited the Third as well?”
“Hardly. No one even knows where he is wandering about, and anyone can see the Third is not suited to be Alliance Leader. Im Sobaek wouldn’t want to throw the Jianghu into turmoil upon his retirement.”
“I thought as much. Then, what about the White-Clothed Scholar?”
“You might as well entrust a fish to a cat.”
“Exactly. Then in the end, won’t those Kings we saw last time come again? The Chief Strategist has retired as well.”
“Are you saying those Kings are not your match?”
Saekma cleared his throat before answering.
“Whatever King it may be, I do not think I would be helplessly defeated. No matter how highly I regard them, would they be stronger than Ilmajo? My Hundred Flower Palm Technique is slightly better now than when I was at Huashan.”
Geoma slowly nodded.
“That is likely why they invited you.”
Saekma looked at the letter.
“Even so, this is too much. I am the wild delusion of Baek Eungji. There are those who should be invited, and those who should not.”
Geoma asked.
“Even if you defeat them all in the tournament, do you despise the position of Alliance Leader?”
Saekma answered boldly.
“Yes.”
“Then what do you plan to do from now on? Let’s hear your plan. The Third has become the undisputed greatest under heaven, and the Second is set to leave for Zhongnan Mountain. I intend to remain here and continue teaching Yorani.”
“Of course, I must teach Yorani as well.”
“For the rest of your life, in Ilyanghyeon?”
“For now, yes. The Martial Alliance Leader was never in my plans.”
“You were never one to have plans to begin with.”
“That is true.”
Geoma shifted his gaze out the window and surveyed the scenery of Ilyanghyeon.
“I do not know all of Im Sobaek’s thoughts either. Sending a letter like this means he is asking for help. Even Im Sobaek probably cannot predict whether you can defeat all the heroes. And even if you do defeat them all, he cannot be certain you are suited to be the next Martial Alliance Leader. However.”
“Yes.”
“He is the man who came rushing to Dongho to help us. If he sent a letter, you should go and help him. If a letter had come to me as well, I would have gone to the Martial Alliance regardless of whether I was qualified or not.”
Saekma folded his arms.
“Then if I thoroughly beat up some of the Kings that Alliance Leader Im finds troublesome, would that count as sufficient help?”
Geoma nodded.
“That would be enough.”
Saekma muttered.
“At this rate, I’ll beat them all up and end up as a Martial Alliance Leader that was never in my fate… hahaha.”
“If by any chance Im Sobaek asks you to take it, you must accept.”
“Yes?”
“You must accept.”
Saekma’s expression grew serious.
“Why?”
“Because it means that cautious Im Sobaek trusts you.”
“Even I do not trust myself. That cannot be.”
“I cannot trust you either, but Im Sobaek is different. It is right to accept.”
Saekma blinked.
“……”
“The Alliance Leader likely predicted that with the Third having risen to become the greatest under heaven, nothing major would happen in the Jianghu. If that is why he decided to retire, you must help. Like the Second, you have no plans, which makes you all the more suitable.”
“I feel a bit strange.”
“In what way?”
Saekma let out a small sigh.
“Going to the Martial Alliance repeatedly… I cannot help but feel it was never meant to be in my fate.”
Geoma nodded as well.
“If the Third had not appeared, I too would have died near Baek Eungji. If I had not appeared, you would still be suffering from the cold poison and wandering aimlessly.”
“Since you have gone so far as to say this, Master, I shall go.”
Geoma nodded.
“Before the Huashan martial arts competition, I could not say for certain how you would fare against the Kings. But because you went through that, I do not think you will be helplessly defeated. Once you have resolved to participate, calm your mind until departure, think only of the tournament on the way to the Alliance, and refrain from foolish acts. Train further so that you can use the Hundred Flower Palm Technique as smoothly as possible in real combat.”
“Yes.”
“The three of us have blood soaked into our epithets, while yours has only a bit of indignation, so from Im Sobaek’s perspective, calling for you is most comfortable. If the timing aligns, it would be better to leave with the Second. You should be able to travel part of the way together.”
“Understood. I will do so.”
While Saekma was answering, Gwima came up the stairs holding something. Geoma and Saekma looked, and in the Second’s hand was a flag with nothing written on it.
The Ghost Demon approached and said,
“Brother.”
The Ghost Demon placed the flag on the table, spread it flat, then took a brush and ink from his bundle.
The Sword Demon asked,
“A flag?”
“Yes.”
The Lust Demon immediately realized what the flag was for as well.
“A flag for declaring a challenge?”
In other words, it was a flag used for a martial challenge tour through the jianghu.
The Sword Demon asked,
“What do you intend to write on it?”
“You should write it for me, Brother.”
While the Sword Demon silently stared at the blank white cloth, the Ghost Demon ground the ink.
In the midst of his thoughts, the Sword Demon muttered,
“A challenge-tour flag……”
As the Ghost Demon ground the ink with an indifferent expression, the Lust Demon said,
“I’m thinking of going to the Murim Alliance too, so let’s set off together later.”
“Understood.”
When the atmosphere fell quiet, the Lust Demon said,
“We’ll be parting for a while. Isn’t the mood a bit too calm?”
The Ghost Demon replied,
“We’re always like this. But what business do you have at the Murim Alliance?”
“It seems the Alliance Leader is retiring. I was invited to the martial contest. Why doesn’t Second Brother go as well?”
“I’m fine.”
“Why?”
“Because it’d be troublesome if I went for no reason and ended up beating everyone.”
“You’re that confident?”
The Ghost Demon nodded.
“Surely the Sovereigns can’t be stronger than the Blood Cult Leader. I don’t think so.”
The Lust Demon and the Ghost Demon were both aware that the Mount Hua martial contest had made them grow tremendously.
The Sword Demon held out his hand.
“Give it here.”
After receiving the brush, the Sword Demon held the flag in place and slowly wrote the words. The Lust Demon and the Ghost Demon silently watched the characters he wrote.
Zhongnan’s First Sword (終南第一劍).
Master Liuhe (六合先生).
For a moment, the three of them stared intently at the words written on the flag.
The Sword Demon asked,
“Second, do you like it?”
“I like it.”
The Lust Demon looked once at his master, then at Second Brother, and muttered,
“……I’m jealous.”
The Ghost Demon asked,
“What are you jealous of?”
“The epithet.”
The Ghost Demon advised the Lust Demon,
“You should go to the Murim Alliance and get yourself a proper epithet this time too. Not Lust Demon. It’s a ridiculous epithet. Lust Demon, honestly……”
“What’s so ridiculous about it?”
The Ghost Demon looked at the Lust Demon.
“Jang Yoran’s master is the Lust Demon? Fine work you’re doing. That’s definitely an epithet you should throw away before Yoran grows up.”
“Hm.”
“It may be Third Brother’s fault, but the alliance members who were at Dongho won’t forget your epithet in particular either. Alliance Leader Im must have all sorts of thoughts in mind, which is why he’s calling you.”
The Sword Demon spoke in a cold tone.
“Second, if you are defeated during your challenge tour, burn the flag and return to training.”
“Understood.”
The Lust Demon kept staring enviously at the words on the flag, then said to his master,
“Master, should I come up with a new epithet before I leave too?”
What he meant was that he wanted one made for him, but the Sword Demon’s reaction was cold.
“What’s wrong with Lust Demon?”
“It’s just a little……”
As if he had just remembered, the Ghost Demon said,
“Ah, come to think of it, Third Brother gave you one before.”
“What?”
“Bingsin (氷神).”
“Shut up.”
“You bingsin bastard.”
When the Lust Demon could find nothing to say, the Sword Demon looked at his disciple.
“Mongrang.”
“Yes, Master.”
“It is fine if you become the Murim Alliance Leader. It is also fine if you cannot.”
“Yes.”
“I merely wish for you to set a goal or purpose. If you have that, then even after defeating every hero there, it would be acceptable for you to say you don’t want the position of Alliance Leader. Or, even if you lose, it would not be bad for you to remain at the Murim Alliance and spend a few years adapting alongside the alliance members. You may dwell on your defeat and challenge the position of Alliance Leader again. But in little Ilyang County, it will be difficult for your wandering heart to settle. If only you find that……”
“Yes.”
“In the words of the ancients, you may now descend the mountain.”
“Descend the mountain?”
The Sword Demon looked at his disciple.
“You should descend. There is nothing more to teach you. As for martial arts, you had already been strong enough that there was nothing more to teach you long ago. You have gained plenty of experience now as well. The you who used to do nothing but drink at Baengeungji and the you now are vastly different, are they not?”
“Of course they are.”
When his master told him it was time to descend the mountain, the Lust Demon felt strange. It felt as though he were being driven out, yet also as though he had been acknowledged, leaving him with a peculiar feeling.
The Ghost Demon lent weight to the Sword Demon’s words with a brief remark.
“That’s right. You should become independent.”
The Lust Demon nodded repeatedly with an awkward expression, then looked at the faces of his master and Second Brother.
“Ah, understood. First, I’ll go to the Murim Alliance and take part in the martial contest… Strangely enough, I don’t feel like I’d lose in a one-on-one fight. But if I have to fight several matches, there will be variables, so I’ll prepare thoroughly. If I truly do end up defeating everyone, and Alliance Leader Im asks me to……though the chances are low, I’ll think it over carefully and decide.”
As he spoke at length, a flustered look appeared on the Lust Demon’s face.
“……In any case, Master. Thank you for always guiding me so well until now.”
The Sword Demon nodded lightly.
“Right. There won’t be a separate farewell party, so tonight let us gather for dinner……”
The Sword Demon, the Ghost Demon, and the Lust Demon looked at the man coming up the stairs. The Ghost Demon greeted him first.
“Chief Geum, welcome.”
Geum Cheolyong of the Yongdu Iron Workshop bowed his head lightly.
“Masters, have you been well? Grand Master.”
The Sword Demon also pointed to an empty seat.
“Chief Geum, sit.”
As the three of them watched, Geum Cheolyong set down a snow-white longsword engraved with a White Dragon (白龍) on the table.
The three of them looked over the longsword Geum Cheolyong had brought for a while. Even without drawing the blade, its appearance was worth admiring.
Geum Cheolyong offered it to the Sword Demon.
“First Master, would you take a look? It’s White Dragon.”
The Sword Demon took hold of White Dragon and drew the blade. After pulling it out slightly and studying it, he drew the sword’s body all the way and examined the edge from various angles. He was the Sword Demon, a man who had spent his entire life looking at swords and swinging them. It was not difficult for him to tell whether this was a good sword or a bad one.
The Sword Demon asked Geum Cheolyong.
“Are you satisfied?”
As if he had been waiting, Geum Cheolyong answered.
“No.”
“…….”
“But it is better than before. You may infuse it with inner force and clash it as you did last time.”
The Sword Demon gazed silently at White Dragon’s blade, then slid it back into its sheath.
“I don’t think there is any need for that.”
Only then did Geum Cheolyong, a little surprised, ask the Sword Demon.
“First Master, is it still lacking?”
The Sword Demon shook his head.
“Who knows. It is simply a sword too precious to break in a single stroke.”
Geum Cheolyong looked at the masters with wide eyes.
Was that praise, or was it not?
Perhaps thinking his expression was too stiff, the Sword Demon softened his face slightly and said to Geum Cheolyong.
“Forge Master Geum.”
“Yes.”
“You have worked hard. It is a fine sword. If it breaks again, it will be because there was too little precious material such as profound iron, not because the sword itself is lacking. After you completed it with such difficulty, I feel it would be discourteous to you to forcibly break it as I did last time.”
The Sword Demon held White Dragon out to Geum Cheolyong. Geum Cheolyong took it in both hands, then offered it back to the Sword Demon.
“……It is a gift for the masters. Whether our Hao Sect Master uses it, or First Master uses it…… anything is fine. Through the masters’ teachings, I have gained the process by which I can make a fine sword.”
The Sword Demon looked at White Dragon as Geum Cheolyong offered it again, then suggested.
“Mongrang will soon be going to the Martial Alliance to take part in the Alliance Leader’s martial contest……”
Geum Cheolyong replied.
“Yes.”
“Would it be all right if he participated while carrying this White Dragon of Yongdu Iron Workshop?”
Geum Cheolyong looked at the Lust Demon with a bright expression.
“Fourth Master, it would be an honor if you did so. Please accept it.”
The Lust Demon rose awkwardly from his seat and received White Dragon with both hands.
“Thank you, Forge Master.”
As the Lust Demon gazed at the snow-white longsword, the Sword Demon spoke in an easy tone.
“My disciple.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Of the saying ‘heroes are fond of beauty,’ all that remains is for you to become a hero.”
At the Sword Demon’s words, the Lust Demon, the Ghost Demon, and Geum Cheolyong laughed together.