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chapter 35
The members of Gaebangdo arrived at Sinchangui with five corpses, and Chwi Geom Yudong examined the bodies.
“These are indeed the victims of the Black Curtain’s Guiyeong-osal.”
The assembled group murmured quietly.
With the words of Naeng Yeoseol confirmed as truth, investigating the Black Curtain had become inevitable.
“We must investigate the Black Curtain immediately. If that is indeed the den of the demons, a great bloodstorm will shake the martial world in the near future.”
Hyun Taeryeong, the head of Cheonmyeong Villa, directed his resentment over his son’s death toward the Black Curtain. He intended to console his son’s soul by punishing them.
“That’s right. If we leave them unchecked, more victims will surely arise.”
Gon Manok, the head of the Myeonghwa Trading Guild, shared Hyun Taeryeong’s sentiment. It would be difficult for him to strike the Black Curtain alone, but with Sinchangui and Cheonmyeong Villa together, there was no reason they could not succeed.
As public opinion shifted toward attacking the Black Curtain, Naeng Yeoseol slightly narrowed her eyes. Though anger over the death of one’s children was understandable, she believed a leader of an organization must remain colder than that.
—Why do they not consider that these people might have learned demonic arts?
—It’s a manuscript.
—Whether orthodox, heterodox, or neutral, it has spread widely.
Words that had been dismissed as exaggeration suddenly came to mind, and her expression stiffened.
“Master Wolyeong! What’s wrong?”
Yi Jemim asked upon seeing her change in expression.
“No, nothing. I was just thinking about something briefly.”
—Their goal is small-scale chaos in the martial world, and on a larger scale, division.
Naeng Yeoseol recalled what Geomryeong had said upon arriving, and her body trembled slightly.
‘Are the demons really aiming for this, just as Geomryeong said?’
At that moment:
“How frustrating people can be.”
A voice came from behind—it was Geomryeong. All eyes turned to him.
“Geomryeong!”
“What brings you here?”
Yi Jemim’s reaction was slightly cold, knowing Geomryeong.
“I came with Grandmother Naeng Yeoseol.”
Yi Jemim looked at Naeng Yeoseol, who nodded, then asked Geomryeong:
“Geomryeong, what do you mean by that?”
“Didn’t I tell you before I arrived? What they seek is, on a small scale, chaos in the martial world, and on a larger scale, to prevent unity by creating division!”
Naeng Yeoseol nodded; that was precisely her concern until a moment ago.
“Where is the evidence that the Black Curtain has learned demonic arts? Do you think the entire Black Curtain has mastered demonic arts just because a few of them did?”
“They certainly learned demonic arts…”
Naeng Yeoseol interjected. Of course, when speaking with others, she might admit it could be nonsense, but for this matter, clarity was necessary.
“So, if someone learned demonic arts from the Martial Alliance, does that make the Martial Alliance the leader of the demons?”
“How audacious! How dare you speak such words here!”
Yi Jemim roared at Geomryeong.
“Exactly. No one here trusts anyone else. Then why believe these people? Because the Black Curtain is heterodox? Or because you want the benefits the Black Curtain holds?”
“Seeing you defend the Black Curtain, you must be connected to them.”
Gon Manok of Myeonghwa Trading Guild revealed his hostility.
“Sir! How can you not believe your son learned demonic arts?”
“Are you mocking my deceased son?! Why would my son ever learn demonic arts?”
If Naeng Yeoseol weren’t nearby, he would have attacked immediately.
“Then, did these people have a reason to learn demonic arts?”
Gon Manok was momentarily at a loss for words.
“Geomryeong, enough.”
Naeng Yeoseol intervened, worried that Geomryeong might get hurt.
“Grandmaster of Wolyeong Sect is present and restraining himself, but if you continue mocking the dead, he will no longer tolerate it.”
Despite the warning, Geomryeong ignored him.
“It’s not my child, but it is someone else’s child? What strange logic you have.”
“What did you say!”
“Geomryeong!”
Seeing trouble brewing, Naeng Yeoseol tried to stop Geomryeong again, but it was useless.
—To abandon righteousness and camaraderie is to abandon the pride of a martial artist.
These were words Zunmo Yakbing once told him. Geomryeong stepped forward because he believed innocent sacrifices should be minimized.
“Shouldn’t we speak the truth? Gon Honggi, the second son of Myeonghwa Trading Guild, learned the demonic art Hwa Ma Okhyeonggong, and the incidents on the Zhu River were all his doing, yet no one here acknowledges it!”
“You insolent!”
Gon Manok exploded. Even with Naeng Yeoseol nearby, he unleashed lethal intent toward Geomryeong. Though a merchant, his martial skill was formidable.
“What’s going on?”
Naeng Yeoseol blocked Gon Manok’s strike.
“Are you asking me to tolerate him desecrating my deceased son?”
“And yet, you use lethal intent on a child? Geomryeong, apologize for your wrongdoing immediately.”
“Why should I? I did not lie. Gon Honggi indeed learned Hwa Ma Okhyeonggong, and Cheonmyeong Villa’s second son, Hyun Jinmyeong, mastered the demonic art Sura Pokcheon Gong. And!”
Geomryeong looked at Gon Manok.
“I am not broad-minded enough to spare someone who threatens my life, and I make that clear here.”
Gon Manok’s face grew even redder.
“Are you saying even my son learned demonic arts? Why provoke us?”
Hyun Taeryeong asked more calmly than Gon Manok.
“I am not provoking; I am stating facts.”
“Facts…”
“Leader! Why bother talking to a kid?”
“How do you know my son and Gon Honggi learned demonic arts?”
His voice was calm but laced with lethal intent, ready to take a life if unanswered.
Geomryeong merely smiled faintly.
“Grandpa Ghost was right!”
The Ghost Demon Master had always claimed that although outwardly honorable toward orthodox martial artists, he did all sorts of vile deeds behind the scenes. Despite quarrels with Zunmo, he always spoke openly.
—At least we act in front of everyone, so our misdeeds are witnessed.
“How do I know? Because I killed them, of course.”
Sssrrrk!
The sound of a sword sliding from its scabbard echoed, and Hyun Taeryeong swung at Geomryeong.
Everyone’s eyes widened in shock. No one expected Hyun Taeryeong to wield lethal intent like this.
A bluish aura surrounded the blade rushing toward Geomryeong.
Chaaang!
No one saw when Geomryeong drew his sword, but he blocked Hyun Taeryeong’s qi-infused blade.
“Geomryeong!”
Naeng Yeoseol called out in surprise. She hadn’t fully believed he had learned martial arts, but seeing him block Hyun Taeryeong’s qi-infused sword left her astonished.
“You knew! That Hyun Jinmyeong learned demonic arts!”
Geomryeong’s words sent a ripple of shock.
“What nonsense!”
Hyun Taeryeong’s eyes twitched sharply, but Geomryeong did not miss it.
“So, you intend to kill me? A cover-up through murder—do you understand now?”
“Cover-up? Murder? Clever words. Then today, you will not escape my hand.”
Hyun Taeryeong threatened him.
“Why can’t you conceive of losing to me?”
His tone shifted, showing no courtesy even toward someone threatening his life.
“Me? To you…”
Hyun Taeryeong’s face flushed.
Many around didn’t know what to do.
“Enough, Leader Hyun!”
Only Naeng Yeoseol asked him to restrain himself, but Hyun Taeryeong ignored her.
“Fine! Then try to defeat me!”
Flaash!
Hyun Taeryeong’s sword moved with his unique style, Geompa Sword Formation.
Geompa Sword Formation was a mid-sword technique emphasizing strength, creating swirling energy in all directions. Even observing this showed he was putting everything into his fight against Geomryeong.
Flaash!
The bystanders withdrew from the fight, wary of entering the area of such overwhelming force.
Geomryeong moved. His movements were silent and stealthy, like a ghost.
Ghost Demon Flowing Footstep.
While the Ghost Floating Maneuver was the Ghost Demon Master’s signature combat technique, Ghost Demon Flowing Footstep was his unique footwork.
Flaash!
Geomryeong did not counterattack but simply evaded Hyun Taeryeong’s strikes.
“You! Do you think evading alone will defeat me? Or are you waiting for me to tire?”
Hyun Taeryeong shouted, trying to provoke him, yet Geomryeong silently continued to evade.
Naeng Yeoseol tilted her head.
Though the Ghost Demon Master had retired fifty years ago, his peak activity in the martial world had been decades prior. Naeng Yeoseol had heard countless stories but never seen him. This footwork seemed familiar yet unknown, raising suspicion.
“You! How long will you deceive me?”
Chuu-chu-chu-chu!
Sword energy filled the air, yet Geomryeong moved effortlessly through it.
‘Just as when carrying Aseol, now evading Leader Hyun’s sword… He seems to have truly mastered the footwork.’
Naeng Yeoseol thought this but still did not consider Geomryeong a true master, blinded by prejudice that a young person could not surpass experienced fighters.
A short time passed, yet Hyun Taeryeong could not even touch Geomryeong’s clothing.
“You’ve learned at least to evade properly.”
Though he said so, internally he was burning with frustration.
Being one of the top hundred martial artists, yet moving his sword against a seemingly young man for an entire moment, was embarrassing.
“You might be better at swordsmanship than me. I cannot kill you here; I am merely evading. Later, where no one is present, I will end you.”
