Chapter 430: The Absolute Master from the West
“Alliance Leader, Young Master Mongyeon has arrived.”
“Send him in.”
Im Sobaek lowered the two legs he had propped on his desk and looked at the Lust Demon of Baekeungji as he entered the Alliance Leader’s office.
The Lust Demon showed the proper courtesy, then said,
“Alliance Leader, it has been a long time.”
“Sit.”
Im Sobaek looked at one of the candidates to whom he might hand off his burden.
The Lust Demon, still finding that burden rather oppressive, stared intently back at Im Sobaek.
Im Sobaek said,
“Why are you glaring like that? Shall we have a round?”
The Lust Demon answered with an awkward smile.
“Shall we?”
“I thought you would refuse out of courtesy.”
“In any case, how is it that you invited only me?”
Im Sobaek explained.
“It is not only you. I told the other candidates as well to come with as few attendants as possible. The martial contests will also be held in private. I intend to limit the observers too. From the outside, the position of Alliance Leader will pass on very quietly. Just as the title of Greatest Under Heaven passed very quietly from the Cult Leader to the Hao Gate Master.”
“And the method of the contests?”
“The candidates will gather, and if necessary fight several times, but you will have to test your skills in a way everyone can acknowledge. I have not set any minor rules, so let us discuss them once everyone is here.”
The Lust Demon nodded.
“Somehow, it seems similar to the Mount Hua Sword Debate.”
“That is right. I heard about it from Senior Gongson. Perhaps this will be most similar to that.”
“Did you invite Third Brother?”
“And if I did?”
“I will not participate.”
“Why?”
The Lust Demon said with a bitter expression,
“Ah…… I cannot win. Not right now.”
Im Sobaek folded his arms, then asked,
“Is it to that extent? You did not seem afraid of having a bout with me just now.”
“Well, I mean that is how it is now.”
Im Sobaek had heard roughly from Gongson Sim about what happened at the Mount Hua Sword Debate, but he was also curious how the martial contests had looked through another person’s eyes, so he asked,
“They say no one saw his duel with the Cult Leader. I did hear a rough account from Old Man Gongson.”
The Lust Demon nodded.
“Only those people went up Mount Hua and came down looking unexpectedly unharmed, but the Cult Leader’s hair had turned white, as though he had fought without rest for about ten years.”
“And the Gate Master?”
The Lust Demon pointed to his own eyes.
“Third Brother was normally the type who could not sleep deeply, so his eyes always had a reddish hue and burst blood vessels here and there, did they not?”
“They did.”
“For whatever reason, when he came down with the Cult Leader, unlike usual, his eyes were extraordinarily clear. That was the only change, though.”
“The Cult Leader’s hair turned white, and the Gate Master’s eyes became clear.”
“Yes.”
“It must not have been an ordinary fight.”
“Indeed. Judging only by the thunderous blasts that rang out now and then, it would not have been strange if all of Mount Hua had been blown away.”
“If the Gate Master came down looking that unharmed, we can only assume his realm rose in the middle of the fight.”
“That was our guess as well.”
Im Sobaek asked in a serious tone,
“Can you estimate when your skill will become roughly equal to the Gate Master’s? A man of the jianghu should always pursue the title of Greatest Under Heaven.”
“Alliance Leader, you have the order wrong.”
“Tell me.”
“You and I must first surpass Senior Cheonak. And though the Cult Leader certainly will not accept a martial contest, if the opportunity arises, I must in any case confirm whether I have surpassed the Cult Leader’s realm. After that comes the Gate Master’s turn. It is not only me; the same goes for the other martial artists of the jianghu. There should still be no one in the jianghu who has surpassed the retired Three Talents.”
“Is that so? Then my plan is a little off as well. After retiring, if I had some time, I was thinking of receiving the Gate Master’s sword once. In any case, hypothetically speaking.”
“Yes, Alliance Leader.”
Im Sobaek twirled a finger near his temple.
“If the Gate Master were to go completely mad from cultivation deviation, how should we compose the team to capture him and bring him to the Martial Alliance?”
The Lust Demon tilted his head.
“Would such a thing happen? The fact that his eyes became clear means the madness he had long suffered from was resolved to some degree. What is surprising is that he resolved it not mentally, but through a profound realm of martial arts.”
“I also do not think such a thing will happen, but I am saying we should suppose it and assemble a team.”
The Lust Demon pondered, then let out a short sigh.
“……In that case.”
“Tell me. Do you think we could not capture him no matter how many went?”
“Not quite.”
At first, the Lust Demon considered three of the Four Great Villains, and then Im Sobaek and Gongson Sim as well, making five, but then he changed his mind entirely.
“If we send Jang Yoran, the disciple of the four of us, I think she could bring him back.”
“Why do you think that?”
“It is not a matter of capturing him with martial arts. She would have to make him come to his senses. Capturing the Gate Master through martial arts is close to impossible. To begin with, even in terms of lightness skill alone, he is faster than us.”
“Is that so.”
When Im Sobaek looked at the Lust Demon and smiled faintly, the Lust Demon asked,
“Why are you smiling like that?”
“I laughed because your way of dealing with it was ingenious.”
“Yes.”
“If you have anything you are curious about, ask. If not, go and rest for now. I have assigned someone to be in charge of you, so if you wish, you may look around the Alliance. I forbid you from going outside. It will take quite some time for the other candidates to arrive, so get used to the place.”
“The person in charge, could it be……”
“There was a volunteer, so I assigned a martial artist named Jangsan. He said he had seen you before.”
“Yes. I remember him. Ah, may I know who has been invited?”
“There are some sovereigns, and I have also sent word to the Sword Saint and the Divine Spear. Since they have retired as well, their successors will probably come. I do not know about the other masters. There are aftereffects from injuries and families that have closed their gates, so the number will not be very large. In any case, it is an appropriate time for a change of generations. Anything else you are curious about?”
“No, nothing now.”
Im Sobaek asked,
“Mongrang, are you confident? That is what I am most curious about.”
The Lust Demon swept up his bangs, then answered,
“I was a little flustered to receive the invitation, but.”
“……But. What?”
“The sovereigns are no match for me.”
Im Sobaek said in an indifferent tone,
“I think I understand why the Gate Master always picked on you so much.”
“Indeed. Why did he do that?”
“Because you are insufferable.”
“Mm……”
“If the successors of the Sword Saint and the Divine Halberd arrive, it may be because the two themselves have grown old, but it also means they are confident their successors will not disgrace themselves at the Murim Alliance. If they participate, do not grow conceited.”
“Understood.”
The Lust Demon rose from his seat and paid his respects politely.
“Alliance Leader, my master and all my brothers are grateful that you came running to Dongho that day.”
Im Sobaek nodded.
“It was only right that I go.”
“Thank you as well for inviting me to the Martial Contest.”
“I should be the one thanking you for coming.”
The Lust Demon bowed his head slightly and turned to leave, but Im Sobaek called him back.
“Mongrang.”
“Yes?”
“That sword is not one I’ve seen before.”
“Ah, this is a longsword I received as a gift from the Dragon Head Ironworks in Ilyang County. Would you like to see it?”
“Blades with ornamentation that gaudy are rarely proper swords…… Hand it here.”
Still uncertain about the sword, the Lust Demon handed over White Dragon and watched Im Sobaek’s expression.
Im Sobaek drew White Dragon, checked the blade, then immediately sheathed it and returned it.
“Ilyang County is quite the curious place. It produced the Number One Under Heaven, and it has an outstanding craftsman as well. You may use it in the Martial Contest.”
The Lust Demon, who had been troubled over matters concerning his epithet, deliberately revealed the sword’s name as he accepted it.
“Yes. The sword’s name is White Dragon.”
“I was not curious about that. You may go.”
“Understood.”
After Mongrang disappeared, Im Sobaek, left alone, muttered.
“……White Dragon, my ass.”
* * *
I looked out at the beach, now thoroughly clean.
The corpses and debris that had been scattered all over the shore had been cleared away over three days by King Eunpyeong’s subordinates. They gathered up the weapons that had lost their owners, burned the bodies, and the remaining miscellaneous trash was swept away by the waves.
The Mad Monk did not involve himself. For most of the time, he sat facing the sea in meditation for long stretches. From time to time, he opened his eyes and gazed at the swelling sea, but even I could not tell what he was thinking.
Perhaps he was calming his killing intent.
Or perhaps he was reflecting on the killing he had committed after coming all the way to the Central Plains.
Whether it was the fight on the shore or the fights before that, whenever it seemed the situation had been settled, the Mad Monk stopped me, and so we kept repeating the process of killing and then stopping.
Thanks to that, King Eunpyeong survived.
Only after the beach had been restored to its former order did I send King Eunpyeong’s subordinates back first, and then I made King Eunpyeong run various errands.
Gathering firewood, finding food, catching fish, lighting fires……
I always only ran my mouth, and King Eunpyeong did all the work.
Every time I thought it had been a good idea to keep him alive, I marveled at the wisdom of the bald man sunk in meditation.
Then, when I felt that the sea I had named Gwanghae, the Sea of Light, had regained its original radiance……
A carriage and four horses came to a halt at a fair distance away.
It was a black carriage resembling the one the Cult Leader used to ride in, so I could not take my eyes off it.
Murim people dismounted from the four black horses, but since I did not know who they were, I asked King Eunpyeong beside me.
“……Who are those?”
“The greatest masters of the Life-and-Death Society. From the left: Black Wolf, the Life-and-Death Wanderer, the Demon Queen, and the master called the State Preceptor of Yan.”
“Those epithets are something else.”
“So is their skill.”
“What’s with the State Preceptor of Yan? Don’t tell me he’s the state preceptor of the Yan kingdom?”
King Eunpyeong nodded.
“They say he was, once, though there is no way to confirm it.”
I tilted my head.
“The Life-and-Death Society Leader must be more impressive than I thought. In any case, who’s in the carriage?”
“That much, I do not know.”
As I sat side by side with King Eunpyeong, chatting idly, the one called Black Wolf addressed us in a voice laced with internal energy.
“King Eunpyeong, have you been captured? Where did your men go?”
King Eunpyeong replied.
“Some died, and some scattered in all directions.”
“Why are you not dead?”
He did not answer that question.
I turned my head and looked at the Mad Monk. Perhaps he had no interest, for he was staring out at the sea. Even a full-grown bald man needs time to himself now and then, so I left him alone without speaking to him.
Not wanting to speak in a voice laced with internal energy, I simply asked King Eunpyeong.
“Did they come to kill me?”
“In truth, I know because I have crossed hands with you, but they will not know who you are or what your skill is like. They have no way of knowing.”
Someone muttered from within the black carriage, and the four people slowly approached this way.
I advised King Eunpyeong as follows.
“Tell them that if they keep coming, I’ll beat them to death or throw them into the sea. The water’s cold, too.”
King Eunpyeong let out a sigh, then gave the warning in my stead.
“……If you come closer, you will suffer for it. Esteemed Four Hegemons of the Life-and-Death Society.”
The voice of the Life-and-Death Wanderer, whose very expression looked cold, rang out.
“You crippled fool. Kill yourself.”
I nodded and said.
“King Eunpyeong, you must have been on bad terms. Straight to insults.”
King Eunpyeong warned them again.
“I have clearly warned you. Esteemed Four Hegemons, in Zhejiang you may have had few rivals, but the person beside me is too much for you. Speak well to the Society Leader and……”
“Shut that mouth.”
The Demon Queen’s shrill voice rang out, and her appearance was no different from a ghost’s. The master called the State Preceptor of Yan smiled faintly and said to King Eunpyeong.
“Why is your hair in that state?”
King Eunpyeong replied.
“The person beside me cut it. Even if the others do not, State Preceptor Yan, you know well that I do not lie. Withdraw and take care of yourself.”
The State Preceptor of Yan, dressed in ceremonial robes, answered with a snicker.
“I am assisting the Life-and-Death Society Leader, so I cannot do that.”
“That is unfortunate.”
“You are the unfortunate one. You went around bearing the arrogant epithet of king, and yet what a state you are in.”
From a little ways off, the Mad Monk asked me.
“Sect Leader, should I help?”
“Please rest.”
“Very well.”
I looked at those who were on the verge of throwing their lives away on the shore, then stood up.
“……Shall we make it five against one, including the master in the carriage? Or you four, four against one? Or shall we keep the principles of murim and have a one-on-one rotation duel? Choose. Though I don’t know whether Zhejiang has any murim principles. What will it be?”
The Four Hegemons of the Life-and-Death Society silently took their weapons in hand.
The baldhead, who had been agonizing a short distance away, called to me.
“Sect Leader.”
No sooner had he spoken than a golden monk’s staff came flying through the air, flashing back the sunlight.
Had the Mad Monk still not properly grasped my skill?
The baldhead might sulk, so for the moment I caught hold of Unbreakable Conviction.
Suddenly finding King Eunpyeong, who was sitting idly beside me, an eyesore, I gave him a casual kick.
“Get lost.”
State Preceptor Yeon, who had been looking me up and down carefully, asked,
“Young man, why not reveal your identity first? If you are someone with connections, you may be able to plead for your life.”
“What’s with that sly offer?”
I slung the golden monk’s staff over my shoulder and went on.
“I am an unavoidable disaster, one of the Four Calamities of the jianghu, a man known to those who know and unknown to those who do not, the Absolute One from the west, a former waiter who came to see the sea.”
“…….”
“A master beyond even your imagination, an invincible, undefeated, peerless man.”
“…….”
“That is me. If you kneel first, I shall briefly possess the mental world of that monk over there and try showing you mercy.”
Perhaps sensing the depth of my sincerity, King Eunpyeong advised the Four Hegemons.
“Kneel. If you don’t want to die.”
The Four Hegemons laughed at once, I laughed as well, and King Eunpyeong laughed too. Remembering the attack the Cult Leader had used at the Mount Hua Sword Debate to make all of us kneel at once, I stretched my left hand out into empty air.
The moment I generated the palm force of the Great Hand Seal, I mixed in the principles of Absorption and Heaviness and dropped it down.
The knees of Heukrang, the Life-and-Death Guest, Mahu, and State Preceptor Yeon slammed into the ground.