SERIES: Returning to the Dark Moon
Chapter 9. The Pitiful White Sword's Revenge
I awoke when the sun was high in the sky. As soon as I got up, I suddenly recalled Eung Sam's words and headed for the back mountain where I had met the Traceless Divine Beggar yesterday.
I stood there blankly, staring at the ground. Then, I kicked at the dirt for no reason, tilted my head, and muttered.
“Wow, how is this possible? Even a master who has reached the Profound Realm couldn't have blown this mountain away. The Realm of Life and Death? No, the Realm of Nature? What kind of bastards clashed here?
Who could create such a monstrous phenomenon? As I said, even the Traceless Divine Beggar couldn't perform such a feat. A master of Realm of Life and Death!
‘What if it was Baek Cheon?’
Even he couldn't have done it alone. In our past life, Baek Cheon and I roamed the martial world from the very pinnacle of martial arts, the Realm of Life and Death.
While there were realms beyond it, like the Realm of Nature or the Mythic Realm, they were mostly just words. It was impossible to confirm if those realms even existed. Few had ever claimed to have reached them.
I scanned the craters scattered here and there across the flat ground with my eye technique. The Sun and Moon Piercing Technique. It was a martial art linked to the Sun and Moon Heavenly Art.
As I observed the craters with my eye technique, things I hadn't seen before began to appear. A massive amount of emitted energy, so faint that most martial artists wouldn't even be able to recognize it.
Explosive release of internal energy is a striking method. Its power varies drastically depending on how one strikes. In the end, because it uses internal energy, it was bound to leave a trace.
I could see pure white sparks, the same color as my sword qi, fluttering in the air. That must have been the point where I clashed with Elder Hwa's disciples. Now, it was just an empty space.
Along with that, the image of countless black sparks and golden sparks tangling madly all over the sky was seared vividly into my eyes.
‘The emitted energy of the Dark Shadow Sword Art and... huh? Shaolin's Dragon Claw Hand?’
Wait, why is this here?
Shaolin is a Buddhist sect. They’re a bunch of guys who hole themselves up on Mount Song in the Henan region and rarely ever come out. Why is a technique of those damn monks here?
Moreover, the Dragon Claw Hand was one of the so-called Seventy-Two Arts of Shaolin. Naturally, they were extremely reluctant to let their martial arts leak to the outside world, and would even sever the tendons in the limbs of a disciple leaving the sect and destroy their lower dantian.
‘Buddha's mercy, my ass.’
Anyway, there isn't a single normal person in this damn martial world.
In any case, destroying a mountain was impossible, even for the Abbot, the head of Shaolin. People say that peerless masters can cleave the sea and split mountains, but completely leveling one overnight like this was impossible.
The real problem was the trace of Baek Cheon. The fact that this trace existed meant Baek Cheon had been around me the whole time.
‘Does Baek Cheon still possess his full power from his past life?’
Or did he have a master? But I had never heard Baek Cheon speak of a master. If so, I had to assume it was Baek Cheon himself, but why was he following me?
In the first place, it was a mystery why he had retained his past life's power, unlike me, who had lost everything.
At any rate, it seemed I would have to pay a visit to Shaolin later. I couldn't remember if there had been a grandmaster on board with Baek Cheon, but I had to check, didn't I?
“They're probably tied to the mountain anyway, because of the monstrous beings targeting the Shaolin Temple.”
I've said it time and again, but using my head is not my strong suit.
‘If only the White Snow Blossom were here, things would be so much easier.’
Unfortunately, the Grand Strategist who had been so active during the war, the Leader of the Sun and Moon Divine Cult, had no connection with my current self.
Then again, the young leader of the Demonic Cult, ostracized even by the Imperial Family, shouldn't have a connection with me in the first place.
Recalling her crimson eyes, stained with madness, I reflexively squeezed my eyes shut.
“It's easier not to get involved. It's always best to avoid a crazy bitch. There are other options, albeit of a lower class, like the Zhuge Clan, so there's no need to meet some pseudo-cult leader.”
When I opened my tightly shut eyes, I saw a head of graying white hair. It was Elder Hwa, walking boisterously with a crowd of beggars. You could tell it was him from the front, from the back, or even if he was doing a somersault.
Elder Hwa’s eyebrows twitched as he looked into my eyes, which seemed to reflect the moonlight.
His disciples had all vanished after going to capture me, so his rage toward me must be immense. But he has suspicion, not proof. Besides, seeing how the mountain ended up, the bodies themselves must have evaporated.
Elder Hwa slowly approached me and said with a smile.
“Ah, what brings Hugae here? I never expected to see you in a place like this. Are you here on some business?”
Approaching with a smile. He must be rotting on the inside, yet he's still acting? I genuinely found Elder Hwa's behavior amusing, so I grinned back at him, baring my teeth.
“Has it been two days? I've been seeing you a lot lately. I heard the local mountain collapsed, and I couldn't contain my curiosity. Unlike some people, I'm not the type to play mind games.”
“Have you no intention of showing respect?”
“Respect? That’s all well and good. But I'm an ill-mannered man. How much can a beggar know of etiquette and rules? The Blue Clothes Faction—let's be beggars who pursue profit and chase money? Is there a beggar in this world who hates money? But if you chase money in exchange for abandoning martial arts, what happens to the chivalry our predecessors in the Beggars' Sect cried out for? Elder Hwa, you're not a beggar. You're nothing more than a merchant. Understand?”
After my sudden outburst, I paused to catch my breath. The sound of the wind blowing through the ensuing silence brushed coldly past my ears.
Some beggars stared at me blankly, while others looked at me reproachfully, as if I had just spouted nonsense. Elder Hwa's faction was still strong.
In the desolate silence, Elder Hwa's lips twitched for a moment before he finally spoke.
“The Heir’s mouth opens at such unexpected moments that it flusters even this old beggar. It is as if you are afflicted with madness. It seems you need treatment from our sect's medical hall…”
“Hah! I'm not finished. You old bastard.”
I stomped hard on the dirt ground. `Kwang!` I could feel everyone's eyes gathering on me. I had planned to put this off a little longer, but I figured it wouldn't matter if I did it right now.
I will bring down Elder Hwa immediately. By the authority of the Acting Sect Leader, which I received a long time ago.
I hope this can repay even a small fraction of the grace I received.
“By the authority of the Acting Sect Leader, I hereby declare in this very spot. Of the nine Elders of the Beggars' Sect of the world—Dragon, Tiger, Wind, Cloud, Fire, Water, Wood, Metal, and Earth—I will now carry out the excommunication of Elder Hwa.”
The moment my words ended, the sound of teeth grinding, `eudeuk`, was heard, followed by Elder Hwa's furious roar, laced with internal energy.
“Heir! You crazy bastard. What the hell do you think you're doing?!”
A crowd was gathering, and more were coming. All the better. The ledger I took from the gambling den was filled with Elder Hwa's corruption. Why did I, the God of War, return to the past?
I'll say it again: I don't know. Do I need to know?
“Elder Hwa. His name, Hong Cho Sam. Alias in the martial world, White-Clothed Beggar. Bribery, murder of innocents by privately using the sect's members, conspiring with the Heavenly Kill Gate and Deep Poison Stream to kill the Spring–Poplar Swordsman. Man, why are there so many? And so on, for over twenty charges! Does the accused admit to these crimes?”
As I pulled the ledger from my robes and waved it gently, I saw Hong Cho Sam let out a hollow laugh. It seemed Elder Un hadn't told him that he had given me the ledger.
I glared at a beggar in the crowd who was scratching his head with a club in his hand. When his eyes met mine, he let out a deep sigh and spoke.
“Elder Su, Master of the Hall of Punishments, concurs with the Acting Sect Leader's decision! Happy now, Heir?”
After saying so, Elder Su let out a hearty laugh. He was the one who regulated the laws within the Beggars' Sect and handled the transport of criminals. We hadn't planned this beforehand.
The whole reason I caused a scene like this in a place where people had gathered was to draw in the Elders scattered throughout Beijing.
Beggars are quick-witted. There was no one here who didn't know that a man named Hong Cho Sam was about to fall.
Again. An old man wearing a worn-out iron helmet, the kind you'd use on a battlefield, raised his hand high and said.
“I'm the old man who leads that rabble, the Dragon-Subduing Battle. I, Elder Yong, will actively support the Acting Sect Leader's decision.”
The Dragon-Subduing Battle. The greatest fighting force in the Beggars' Sect. He was also the head of the Martial Arts Faction. Naturally, he would be on bad terms with Elder Hwa.
I gave him a small nod to express my gratitude, then immediately fixed my gaze on Hong Cho Sam.
Hong Cho Sam glared at me, a murderous aura emanating from both his arms. It was as if a golden dragon was roaring at me.
Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms.
A martial art exclusive to the Sect Leader of the Beggars' Sect. The Sect Leader, knowing he had been poisoned, had taught it to all the Elders in case of an emergency.
To think he'd use it like this. It wasn't exactly unexpected.
The staff on Hong Cho Sam's back tilted back slightly.
The instant I blinked, he shot toward me like a beam of light.
Hong Cho Sam's palm struck upward at my chin.
After easily blocking it with my protective qi, I regained my balance and parried Hong Cho Sam's follow-up barrage by drawing my sword instantly.
A sharp `Kaang!` rang in my ears for a moment, and the staff on Hong Cho Sam's back was drawn instantly, coming crashing down as if to split my head in two.
At the same time, the dozens of afterimages created by Hong Cho Sam's Thousand Flower Staff Art blurred my vision, but I struck his staff precisely with the Fast Sword Style: Moonlight Flash, and at the same time.
With Starlight Sword Qi, the so-called starlight scattered when unleashing the sword, I erased Elder Hwa's staff shadows.
Only then did Hong Cho Sam retreat. He then looked around and began to laugh like a madman. It was not a pleasant sight.
“Hah, hahaha, don’t you laugh. You sons of bitches. I'll tear the limbs off anyone who laughs and feed them to the dogs.”
“No one is laughing at you, Hong Cho Sam. Look around you properly.”
“Then why are you laughing, Heir? The whole world mocks me. Even the heavens jeer at me, leaving me with nowhere to turn.”
I instinctively touched the corners of my mouth. My expression had been rigid from the start. Still, he was an Elder of the Beggars' Sect; seeing him like this didn't sit well with me.
The old iron sword in my hand hummed, letting out a cry. Suddenly longing for the chilling voice of Baekgeom, I began to dance, brandishing the sword.
“Heir, what are you doing now?”
To the accompaniment of Hong Cho Sam's voice, I performed a sword dance with the Starlight Sword Qi.
These were the sorrowful tears of a swordsman for his beloved blade. Come to think of it, it wasn't just Hong Cho Sam; I, too, was in the throes of an inner demon.
Suddenly stopping my sword dance, I pointed my sword at Elder Hwa and said.
“You son of a bitch. I'll avenge the pitiful Baekgeom.”
A martial art exclusive to the Sect Leader of the Beggars' Sect. The Sect Leader, realizing he had been poisoned, had taught it to all the Elders in preparation for an emergency.
To think he would use it like this? It wasn't entirely unexpected.
The staff on Hong Cho Sam's back tilted slightly.
Hong Cho Sam's palm struck my chin upward.
The moment I blinked, he rushed toward me like a beam of light.
I easily blocked it with my protective Qi, regained my balance, and met Hong Cho Sam's follow-up barrage by drawing my sword quickly.
A sharp clang rang in my ears for a moment as the staff on Hong Cho Sam's back was instantly drawn, swinging down as if to split my head in two.
At the same time, dozens of afterimages created by Hong Cho Sam's Thousand Flower Staff Technique dazzled my eyes, but with the Moonlight Flash of my fast sword style, I struck his staff precisely, and at the same moment.
With the Starlight Sword Qi—the so-called starlight scattered when unleashing the sword—I erased Elder Hwa's staff afterimages.
Only then did Hong Cho Sam retreat. He then looked around and began to laugh like a madman. It was not a pleasant sight.
“Hah, hahaha, don’t you laugh. You sons of bitches. I'll tear the limbs off anyone who laughs and feed them to the dogs.”
“No one is laughing at you, Hong Cho Sam. Look around you properly.”
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