Emperor of Steel [EN]: Chapter 99

4. The Latter Half of the Gold Sword

1

Luke had expected Nanda to either possess a book detailing the latter half of the Gold Sword or to locate one for him, given Nanda’s claim to reveal it. However, Nanda’s words took an unexpected turn.

“This humble monk does not possess the secret techniques of that swordsmanship,” Nanda stated.

“But didn’t you clearly say earlier that there was a latter half to the Gold Sword?” Luke questioned, surprised.

“Hahaha. Of course, there is. But it’s not in the form of a book. As I said before, I can only show it to you,” Nanda chuckled.

‘What on earth is he going to do…’ Luke wondered, a hint of dissatisfaction on his face. Nanda then clapped his hands together.

Clap!

Instantly, a strange scene flashed into Luke’s mind: a rocky mountain with bizarre formations and a valley overgrown with moss and weeds. It was so desolate that it was hard to find any signs of life, yet Luke instinctively knew this place was somewhere in the Southern Continent.

‘Where is this? I’ve never been here before?’ he thought, puzzled by this unfamiliar memory.

The already desolate landscape was suddenly struck by a bolt of black lightning.

Kwakwang! Kwakwakwang!

Rumble!

The rocky mountain crumbled, filling the valley with debris. Just as Luke was trying to make sense of the sudden change, Nanda’s voice echoed in his mind.

-What you are seeing now is not your memory, but the memory of the Minotaur demon you absorbed.

‘A Minotaur demon? Then this is Cowren’s memory!’ Luke realized. He had defeated Cowren and absorbed his demonic energy and abilities. However, those weren’t the only things he had absorbed. Cowren’s memories were also part of the package, though Luke had been completely unaware of it. This was because his abilities hadn’t yet reached the point where he could access and utilize such memories. Nanda, who had awakened the Six Supernatural Powers through long practice, was using his Divine Eye of Past Lives to show Luke Cowren’s memory.

‘Has Cowren been summoned to the Intermediary Realm before? Huh? And who is that?’ Luke wondered as an old man with white hair and a white beard, dressed in black, appeared before him, or rather, before Cowren’s eyes, as if he had fallen from the sky. An enormous fighting spirit emanated from the old man, whose face was as red as a jujube and who looked incredibly strong.

‘He’s strong. He’s no ordinary fighter!’ The tension Cowren had felt remained in the memory and was conveyed to Luke, allowing him to gauge the old man’s strength. As he was inwardly assessing the old man, a thunderous voice erupted from the old man’s mouth.

“This is a world where people live! This is not a place for a vile demon like you to run rampant, so disappear!” the old man roared. He then drew a sword with a round ring on the hilt and unleashed dozens of sword beams from its tip, attacking Cowren. Cowren, in response, flared up and swung his battle axe, launching his Thunder Bringer [a powerful attack], engaging the old man in combat.

Watching the fierce battle, Luke clicked his tongue. ‘That old man is really amazing. To fight almost evenly with Cowren, a demon general, with his bare hands!’ Luke had witnessed Cowren fighting Emperor Rudolf before. At that time, Rudolf had fought Cowren on equal terms while riding the Super Hero-class Gigant Kaiser [a powerful mech], which had an output of 6,000 Fight [a unit of power]. Yet, this old man was blocking and deflecting Cowren’s fierce attacks with just a sword, piercing and cutting the demon’s body, which was stronger than steel.

‘There was such a strong person in the Southern Continent; the world is truly vast!’ He mused that the old man might be stronger than the Sword Emperor, the warrior Rakan, and perhaps even capable of defeating Arsen, who had turned into a lich. As Luke watched the old man’s martial prowess in a daze, a look of astonishment appeared on his face.

“I will cut down the impure with the light of the sun! Golden Light Divine Sword!” the old man declared.

‘No, that swordsmanship is…!’ Luke thought, recognizing the style. In an instant, the old man’s swordsmanship changed drastically. The problem was that Luke knew that swordsmanship. Although the stances and forms were slightly modified, it was clearly the Gold Sword. At first, it seemed like the first half of the swordsmanship he knew was being used, but soon unfamiliar stances appeared.

‘This is similar to what Rudolf used. Then this part is the latter half!’ Luke frantically absorbed the old man’s swordsmanship into his mind. The fight between the old man and Cowren continued for more than three days and nights. However, at some point, the old man began to be pushed back. Although he was strong, there was a limit to the inner energy… no, the aura that a human body could possess, and his opponent was a high-ranking demon from the demon realm who never tired. Realizing there was no other way, the old man gathered his remaining aura and attempted a mutual destruction.

Kwaaaang!

The old man’s sword split Cowren’s battle axe and tore through his face and heart. Cowren, severely injured by the old man’s desperate move, fled to the demon realm. However, the old man’s condition was no better. In fact, it was hopeless. The old man, having exhausted all his energy, collapsed on the spot. Yet, he breathed his last with a relieved expression, perhaps because he thought he had saved the world from the demons. Cowren’s memory ended there.

2

‘He was almost a demigod-level swordsman,’ Luke thought, impressed by the old man. After finishing his brief reflection, Luke spoke to Great Master Nanda.

“I understand now. You mean for me to learn the swordsmanship that the old man in Cowren’s memory was using.”

“This humble monk has shown you all that he can show. What you gain from here is up to you,” Nanda replied.

At Nanda’s words, Luke nodded. ‘It’s enough. No, it’s more than enough.’ The old man had used the Gold Sword repeatedly while fighting Cowren. The Gold Sword, which he called the Golden Light Divine Sword, was more complete than what Grand Duke Gregory had independently researched, and it was more detailed and powerful than what he had seen Rudolf use. By analyzing this, he believed he could fully learn the latter half of the Gold Sword. However, some questions remained.

“You seem to have some questions,” Nanda observed.

“That’s right. Who is the old man who fought Cowren? He seems like he would have been very famous in the Southern Continent,” Luke asked.

“He is called the Sword Immortal, Yeon Garam. He was a Jo-ui Seonin [a high-ranking Taoist hermit] of Yemaek, and he was known as an absolute master who had almost reached the realm of enlightenment,” Nanda explained.

“Sword Immortal… I see. So he was the Sword Immortal,” Luke nodded. He had heard about the legendary masters of the Southern Continent, such as the Sword Immortal, the Divine Spear, and the Fist King, from Hwang Bo-sung. Some were from the same era, and some were from different eras, making it impossible to know who was stronger. However, according to Hwang Bo-sung’s stories, they were at least at the absolute realm, beyond the peak and super peak. In the Rhodisian continent’s terms, they would be above the Sword Sage. At first, he thought it was exaggerated, but seeing the divine power of the Sword Immortal, he believed it. In fact, the Sword Immortal was much stronger than what he had heard in the stories.

‘Currently, Lee Yung-mu, the Red Dragon King, is said to be a master who has reached the absolute realm in the Southern Continent, right?’ Luke thought, wanting to spar with him someday if he had the chance.

“But, I’m curious as to why the Sword Immortal knows the Gold Sword,” Luke continued. According to what Rogers had told him before, the latter half of the Gold Sword had been lost about 400 years ago. It was recorded separately into the first and second halves, but the lord who had gone to war at the time was assassinated, and the Gold Sword’s swordsmanship manual he had was also lost. Fortunately, the first half was preserved because the lord’s son, who had been training in it, had made a copy.

‘Considering that Rudolf learned the Gold Sword, it’s certain that the Baroque Imperial Family assassinated the lord of that time and stole the swordsmanship manual,’ Luke thought. Even so, he did not understand how it had been leaked to the Southern Continent. Nanda then told Luke a story.

“Hmm, that may be related to this matter.” About 200 years ago, merchants from the Rhodisian continent began to visit the Southern Continent for trade. The merchants who visited at the time presented Gigants to the Emperor of the Song Empire to curry favor with him, and the Emperor was greatly shocked by it.

“I know that story. He was worried that they might invade his country with such weapons, so he sought weapons to counter them, and the Zhuge family reproduced the Wooden Ox [a type of ancient war machine],” Luke said.

“You know it well. Not only that, but the Emperor was also curious about the military power of the North. So, he sent many spies to the North to investigate.” Among the spies dispatched was a person called the Shadowless Thief in the Jianghu [a term for the martial arts world]. He was skilled in stealth and infiltration, and he had not only stolen the secret techniques of many sects but was also a great thief who had robbed the Imperial Palace Armory.

“He was caught after a 20-year pursuit, and although he was a criminal who deserved to be beheaded, the Emperor gave him a chance to atone for his sins. He was sent as a spy to a great power in the North.” The Shadowless Thief faithfully carried out the mission given to him by the Emperor. He returned with information about the military power of each country in Rhodia, as well as information about Gigants, and the skilled knights and the swordsmanship they used.

“The Emperor was pleased with the valuable information that the Shadowless Thief had brought. However, on the one hand, he was worried that he would reveal what he knew to the rulers of other countries.”

“He must have tried to kill him to silence him,” Luke guessed.

The Shadowless Thief was not so dull that he did not notice this. He quickly fled, and his whereabouts became unknown after that. “At that time, not only the Imperial Family but also the martial arts sects were chasing him. Among the secret techniques he had stolen, there were rumors that there were not only advanced martial arts but also the swordsmanship that the Emperor of the Northern Continent was secretly practicing.”

‘Could it be, the Gold Sword…?’ Luke wondered. Could the swordsmanship that the Emperor of the Northern Continent was secretly practicing be the Gold Sword that was stolen from the Baroque Imperial Family? While Luke was making that guess, Nanda’s story continued.

“It was later revealed that the Shadowless Thief had left the Song Empire and lived in seclusion in the mountains of Yemaek. It was said that the Jo-ui Seonin were the ones who protected him.”

‘I see. So that’s how it was spread.’ The Sword Immortal, Yeon Garam, was originally a Jo-ui Seonin of Yemaek. It was clear that his ancestors had a connection with the Shadowless Thief, and the Shadowless Thief, as a favor for hiding him, had taught the Jo-ui Seonin the swordsmanship of Rhodia, the Gold Sword.

“Are your questions resolved now?” Nanda asked.

“To some extent. But I have one more question.” It was a point that was even more curious than the leak of the Gold Sword. Luke, looking at Nanda with an admiring expression, asked, “How on earth were you able to show me the memories of the demon that were absorbed into my body? Are you perhaps a messenger of God or a saint?”

At this, Nanda put his hands together and shook his head. “Amitabha! This humble monk is not the kind of person you think I am. I have simply learned a small skill by repeatedly practicing according to the teachings of the World Honored One [a reference to Buddha].”

“That’s a small skill… Then can I learn that skill too?” Luke asked, intrigued.

“Of course, you can. But you will surely refuse,” Nanda replied.

At Nanda’s answer, Luke wore an expression of incomprehension. “Why?”

“To learn the Six Supernatural Powers, you must abandon the five desires and seven emotions, but you are the type of person who values relationships more than abandoning the five desires and seven emotions and seeking enlightenment,” Nanda explained.

“Relationships…” The moment he heard Nanda’s words, Luke thought of Reina. If reincarnation existed as they said in the Southern Continent, he thought that she was definitely the reincarnation of Katarina.

“Your relationships are clearly connected to the past. But do not forget. What goes around comes around. As long as it is related to the past, there is no guarantee that similar things will not be repeated,” Nanda warned.

“Si, similar things?” Luke asked, bewildered.

At Luke’s bewildered question, Nanda replied, “The distortion of fate by those blinded by greed. Although it is different from the past, danger exists.”

‘Certainly… there is danger,’ Luke thought. Unlike Katarina 500 years ago, Reina is in an absolute position as the Pope of the Holy Artenia Empire. There are no people who would dare to use her for political reasons. However, there were forces that were hostile to her, blinded by power. Opposing forces within the Holy Empire, such as Archbishop Constantine and Count Marques. Although they had fallen after the civil war, they had not been completely eliminated. They were constantly looking for opportunities to attack Reina and the reformists. As evidence of this, some priests had recently raised their voices, saying that the Pope should be verified. The opposing forces were using the rumors that Nana had spread.

‘Still, Grand Duke Gregory is there… No, I can’t just trust him. Those blinded by power will use any means necessary,’ Luke thought. For example, there was a possibility that the anti-Pope faction would bring in foreign forces, or that Arsen would secretly offer them cooperation. ‘The most troublesome opponent for the lich Arsen is the Holy Empire. So, the more chaotic and weaker the Holy Empire becomes, the better it will be for him.’ Although he didn’t want to think about it, there was a high probability that those blinded by power would fall for Arsen’s machinations.

The most likely way to incite chaos would be through the assassination of Reina.

“How can we prevent that from happening?”

“The answer is simple. It lies within you, Lord.”

After a moment of thought at Nanda’s words, Luke nodded and said,

“I suppose I need to become stronger.”

“Indeed. You already possess sufficient power, but you are not wielding it properly. That is why you have not been able to defeat Arsen.”

“Wielding my power properly, huh…”

He had roughly grasped what he needed to do while fighting Arsen.

Black magic and white magic, the abilities of the demon race, and the Gold Sword.

He needed to integrate all of his separately categorized powers and abilities into one.

It was simple in theory, but difficult to achieve in practice.

No one had ever accomplished it before.

‘But I have to do it, no matter what.’

To defeat Arsen, and to avoid facing a fate that would be twisted once more.

Luke vowed to become even stronger than he was now.

3

A few days later, thousands of Imperial Guards arrived at the Zhuge Family Estate.

They were already quite flustered, having heard on their way that the Zhuge Family had been repeatedly attacked.

Therefore, they immediately checked on Jo Won-rak’s safety upon arrival and breathed a sigh of relief.

“General, we are truly sorry for being late.”

The vice-generals leading the Imperial Guard knelt before Zhuge Hwi and apologized.

Instead of scolding them, Zhuge Hwi asked a question.

“Were you delayed in receiving the message?”

“Yes, because of that, the Grand General was also very angry.”

“Did you find out the reason?”

“It seems that there were too many arcane telegrams [magical communication devices] flying into the Imperial Palace at the time, so it took time to verify them.”

Zhuge Hwi wore a suspicious expression at one of the vice-generals’ answer.

It was true that many arcane telegrams flew into the Imperial Palace. Not only were there messages from the military, but also reports from local officials and spies scattered both domestically and abroad were constantly coming in.

However, in the case of the Imperial Guard, they were a unit that protected the safety of the Imperial Family, so they were given priority. Moreover, there was a separate arcane official in charge of communication, so this excuse did not hold water.

‘Someone deliberately delayed the message. It must be the work of someone connected to those who carried out this attack.’

Zhuge Hwi resolved to properly investigate this matter when he returned to the Imperial Palace.

One of the vice-generals spoke to him.

“But we heard that you were injured. Are you alright?”

“Yes, thanks to Sir Eun, I’m completely healed.”

While staying at the Zhuge Family Estate, Luke had treated Zhuge Hwi and a few of his surviving subordinates whenever he had the chance.

He had absorbed all the remaining demonic energy from the Black Bind.

“I will go and say my farewells to Sir Eun. In the meantime, you prepare for departure with the Third Prince.”

“Yes, General.”

There was a possibility that the masked men might target the Third Prince again, but he judged that thousands of elite Imperial Guards would be enough to protect him.

‘Still, just in case, I should put a soldier acting as the Prince in the carriage when we return.’

Thinking this to himself, Zhuge Hwi left the vice-generals behind and went to the building where Luke was staying.

Luke, who happened to be in the front yard of the building, was sparring with Hwangbo Sung, wielding a wooden sword.

Clatter! Bang!

Swish—!

Although it was a sparring match between a wooden sword and bare hands, the noise generated when they exchanged blows was extraordinary, as both of them had drawn upon their inner energy [internal life force].

‘As expected, the Three Thunder Fist of the Hwangbo Family is impressive. But Sir Eun’s swordsmanship is also not to be trifled with.’

Zhuge Hwi was more interested in the swordsmanship Luke was displaying than Hwangbo Sung’s Three Thunder Fist. He was a swordsman himself, but there was another reason.

‘Indeed, it feels like I’ve seen it once before….’

Even when they first met, and when he saw Luke cutting through the lich with Gold Aura, it didn’t feel unfamiliar.

It was like he was about to remember, but he couldn’t.

Then, at one moment, he was startled by Luke’s suddenly changed swordsmanship.

‘That, that is…!’

He finally remembered.

Twenty-five years ago, Zhuge Hwi, who was a newly appointed young officer in the Imperial Guard, had witnessed an imperial martial arts competition.

The main figures of that competition were the Red Dragon King, Lee Yung-mu, and the Sword Immortal, Yeon Ga-ram, the strongest master of the era.

At that time, Zhuge Hwi was completely mesmerized by Yeon Ga-ram’s divine swordsmanship.

In particular, he could not forget the swordsmanship that had defeated Lee Yung-mu in the end.

‘No doubt! That’s the Sword Immortal’s Golden Light Divine Sword. How does Sir Eun know that swordsmanship?’

The Golden Light Divine Sword was a signature technique known in the martial world to be mastered only by the Sword Immortal.

Yet, he could not understand how Luke, a man from the Northern Continent, had learned it.

Thud!

While Zhuge Hwi was pondering, Luke was struck by Hwangbo Sung’s counterattack and fell to the ground.

“Lord, how can you show an opening?”

“Tch, it was a mistake. I shouldn’t have used it like that in that situation.”

Luke had just demonstrated the latter part of the Sword Immortal’s Golden Light Divine Sword, or rather, the Gold Sword.

However, it seemed that it was still too much for him to face Hwangbo Sung, a Fist Master, with a swordsmanship he had just learned.

“It seems there are more difficult aspects than I thought.”

Brushing off his clothes, Luke turned his gaze towards Zhuge Hwi.

He had already noticed that he was there. He also noticed that he was particularly watching his swordsmanship.

“What is it, General Zhuge Hwi? I heard you were returning to the Imperial Palace with the Imperial Guard?”

“Ah, yes. I came to say my farewells. I heard that you are also returning to your homeland, Sir Eun?”

“That’s right. Actually, I was prepared for quite a long journey, but thanks to an extraordinary person, I don’t have to worry about that.”

It would take at least a month to travel from the Southern Continent to the Northern Continent, even if he took the fastest trade ship.

If they encountered a typhoon or heavy rain in the middle, it would take even longer.

Therefore, Nanda had promised to use the ‘Divine Foot’ ability, one of the Six Supernatural Powers [Buddhist concept of extraordinary abilities], which could travel long distances in the blink of an eye, to return Luke to the Rakan Territory.

He knew that he did not have much time left, so he intended to help Luke as much as he could.

“That’s good. But may I ask what that swordsmanship you just displayed was?”

“Ah, this? It’s a swordsmanship passed down in my family. It’s called the Gold Sword.”

“Gold Sword…”

“It’s so difficult that I haven’t fully mastered it yet.”

Luke did not say anything more than that.

That was because Zhuge Hwi’s eyes were already shining with a burdensome intensity.

If he told him that it was the Sword Immortal’s signature technique, he might pester him to teach it to him.

In fact, Zhuge Hwi was suffering from considerable conflict and temptation. Luke was mastering the swordsmanship of the Sword Immortal, who was his idol and goal.

If he were a martial artist of the Jianghu [the martial arts world] rather than a general of the Imperial Guard, he might have immediately said that he wanted to become Luke’s subordinate.

Still, unable to give up completely, he left a slight connection.

“If you have the chance later, please visit Daeryang [capital of the Song Empire]. I will have the best wine prepared and wait for you.”

“I understand. I will definitely visit if I have the time.”

Luke did not take Zhuge Hwi’s request lightly and accepted it sincerely.

The capital of the Song Empire, Daeryang, was where the Red Dragon King, Lee Yung-mu, was.

If he had the chance, he definitely wanted to compete with him, the only absolute master in existence.

However, Zhuge Hwi did not notice Luke’s thoughts. His mind was filled with regret that he had to let Luke go like this.

‘I can’t let him go like this!’

Unable to easily shake off his lingering attachment to the Golden Light Divine Sword, Zhuge Hwi hurriedly ran towards the building where the family head was, having just had an idea.

4

Family Head Zhuge Mun was gathering the elders and high-ranking officials of the family, such as Zhuge Shin, Zhuge Do, and Zhuge So-hwa, to discuss future matters.

They discussed major issues such as tracking down the masterminds behind the unidentified attackers, restoring the Zhuge Family, which had suffered great damage, and how to respond if the enemy attacked again in the future.

Knock knock.

“Who is it?”

“Brother, it’s Hwi. May I come in for a moment?”

Zhuge Mun, surprised by the sudden visit during the meeting, nodded with a puzzled expression.

“Yes, come in.”

A moment later, the door opened and Zhuge Hwi entered. Zhuge Mun asked,

“You must be busy packing, what is it?”

“There is something urgent I need to tell you, brother.”

Zhuge Hwi told him in detail about the swordsmanship he had seen when he went to see Luke.

“Sir Eun is mastering the Sword Immortal’s Golden Light Divine Sword?”

“Yes, he said it was a family martial art called the Gold Sword, but in my opinion, it was definitely the Golden Light Divine Sword.”

“Oh my, such a thing…”

Everyone, including Zhuge Mun, was astonished by Zhuge Hwi’s answer.

“Could it be that Sir Eun is the Sword Immortal’s disciple?”

At Zhuge So-hwa’s question, Zhuge Mun shook his head.

“That can’t be. Sir Eun clearly said that this was his first time coming to the Southern Continent.”

“Then there must be some kind of story behind it.”

While the two were talking, Zhuge Do interjected with an excited face.

“Brother, how about we hold him back a little longer?”

“That’s difficult. I heard that Sir Eun’s territory is also in a dire situation, how can we hold him back? And even if we hold him back, there is no guarantee that we can easily receive the swordsmanship, is there? He said it was a family martial art, didn’t he?”

A family martial art was a secret technique passed down only to the family members.

The Zhuge Family, which was considered the most closed-off sect in the martial world, was well aware of that fact.

“But we can’t give up. It’s the Sword Immortal’s swordsmanship. I heard that even the martial artists of the Song Empire, as well as the Jo-ui Seonin [a title for a high-ranking martial artist] of Yemaek, the Sword Immortal’s hometown, have not inherited the Golden Light Divine Sword.”

“That’s right, Family Head. Isn’t there a situation where someone suspected to be a descendant of the Heresy has appeared? We may have to fight him again, so we must prepare for the future.”

The elders also raised their voices, saying that they had to secure the Sword Immortal’s swordsmanship at all costs.

Then, an old elder with white hair, who had only been listening to the conversation so far, stepped forward.

“Then how about we do this? Let’s ask Sir Eun to let us watch him train.”

It was not as good as learning directly, but if they did that, they could learn by watching.

They thought that even that much would bring tremendous development to the Zhuge Family’s swordsmanship.

“But will Sir Eun really allow it?”

“Whether he allows it or not, we have to ask. In that regard, I think Elder Zhuge Shin is the right person.”

At the old elder’s words, Zhuge Hwi nodded inwardly.

His cousin was far more talented than him when it came to swordsmanship.

Moreover, Zhuge Shin had a good eye and a good memory, so he had been quite good at imitating swordsmanship he had seen since he was young.

However, Zhuge Shin himself opposed this.

“I can’t do it.”

“Why not?”

“To see Sir Eun’s swordsmanship, I would have to follow him. I would have to go all the way to the distant Northern Continent, but I can’t leave the family behind and go that far.”

“But…”

“And I have a request from Great Master Nanda. To carry out that task, I must remain in the Song Empire.”

Three days before the Imperial Guard arrived, Zhuge Shin had a meeting with Nanda because of the ability Luke had used when fighting Arsen.

Fortunately, Nanda replied that he had no intention of causing controversy over Luke’s issue or endangering the Zhuge Family, which reassured him.

Just when he thought the problem was resolved, Nanda made an unexpected request.

“An unusual wind is blowing in Daeryang. You must accompany the Third Prince to Daeryang this time and eliminate the darkness that has penetrated the people. Only then can the Imperial Family, this country, and your family enjoy peace.”

If someone else had said this, he would have ignored it, but the other party was Nanda, who was revered as a high monk.

Zhuge Shin was also drawn to the Golden Light Divine Sword, but he did not want to follow Luke to the point of ignoring Nanda’s request.

“Oh my, if Elder Zhuge Shin refuses, we won’t even be able to learn by watching…”

“Why not? There’s one more person here with a good eye.”

Everyone’s gaze turned towards the source of the clear and vibrant voice that refuted Elder Noh’s words. It was Zhuge Soha, the only woman and the youngest among those gathered there.

“I believe my eye for detail is no less than that of my brother, Zhuge Shin. Moreover, while I cannot compare to the Clan Head or the other elders, I am quite skilled in arcane arts.”

“Surely, you’re not suggesting the Azure Wing Hall Master will step forward?”

“The Azure Wing Hall is the one that usually handles such matters. Besides, this is a very important task, so I, as the Hall Master, should take the lead.”

There was no room to argue with Zhuge Soha’s words.

She was also a master of swordsmanship, a pinnacle expert.

She was well-versed in arcane arts and also headed the information organization, making her the most suitable person to carry out this task.

However, Zhuge Moon realized that Soha wasn’t just stepping forward because of the Golden Light Divine Sword.

‘Heh heh. She intends to follow Eun Gong [Luke’s given name].’

Soha had cleverly marked Luke as her future husband.

Zhuge Moon did not particularly oppose this.

It was common in the martial world for clans to form political alliances through marriage.

Although Luke was from the distant Northern Continent, he was a great lord who inherited the blood of a hero and possessed the miraculous ability to revive the Ironwood Tree.

Moreover, considering his strength in fighting the undead, it wouldn’t be bad to forge an even stronger bond with him.

Furthermore, the Golden Light Divine Sword, or rather, the Gold Sword, was said to be the family martial art of the Rakan family.

If things went well, there would be no need to learn it while being watched.

“Very well, we shall entrust this task to Soha. However, since you will be traveling far and will be away for a long time, we will temporarily relieve you of your position as the Azure Wing Hall Master.”

“Ah! Thank you, brother. No, Clan Head!”

It was decided that Zhuge Soha would be the one to acquire the Golden Light Divine Sword.

Some of the older elders still looked displeased, but none of them voiced any further objections.

The day after the Third Prince Jo Won-rak and his party departed, Luke also left the Zhuge Clan to return to the Rakan Territory.

‘It was a very sudden visit, but I gained a lot.’

First, he solved the Ironwood Tree problem, and second, he obtained the latter half of the Gold Sword.

When he returned, his old retainers, who would usually nag him, would surely be delighted to hear that he had acquired the latter half.

‘And third, I learned exactly how strong my enemies are.’

Luke had two sworn enemies.

The Baroque Duke and the Veritas Magic Tower, who had taken away his beloved and led him to ruin 500 years ago.

Among them, he knew the strength of Rudolf, the descendant of the Baroque Duke, from their previous battle against the high-ranking demon Kauren.

Only Arsen remained unknown, but now he knew exactly.

Arsen’s strength, which he had cultivated for over 500 years as a lich, was truly astonishing.

Moreover, it seemed that he had also mastered the apostate arts that had disappeared from the Southern Continent.

He was able to confirm this point while talking with Zhuge Moon the day after receiving treatment from Nanda.

‘Considering the battles to come, knowing his level is a great gain. I will definitely eliminate him the next time we meet!’

As Luke made a firm resolution, Zhuge Moon and the clan’s experts appeared to see him off.

“Eun Gong, have you taken good care of the Ironwood Tree?”

“I have placed it in the safest place.”

Luke held up his bracelet.

Inside the bracelet’s subspace was the Ironwood Tree that the Zhuge Clan had stored for making wooden puppets.

“Even if you don’t need it, the Ironwood Tree can be used for many useful purposes. Therefore, I would like to assign someone to advise you.”

‘What? An advisor?’

As Luke tilted his head, a woman stepped forward.

“You are the Clan Head’s youngest sister, right…?”

“I am Zhuge Soha. Although I cannot compare to my brother, I will do my best to assist you with the arcane arts knowledge I possess.”

Soha’s expression was full of anticipation.

In contrast, Luke was inwardly analyzing the Zhuge Clan’s intentions.

‘Their hospitality is excessive. They must have another purpose.’

The reason Luke judged this way was that the Zhuge Clan was quite a closed-off sect.

Moreover, as far as he knew, Soha was one of the few pinnacle experts in the Zhuge Clan.

It was unlikely that they would send such a talented individual far away, especially after suffering considerable damage from Arsen.

‘Considering Zhuge Hwi’s attitude, their goal must be the Gold Sword.’

The Gold Sword had already been passed down to Philip and some of the knights in his territory.

Luke did not intend to hide this fact.

Rather, he planned to share it with Baron Rogers and Grand Duke Gregory once he had mastered the latter half.

Others revered the Gold Sword as if it were an incredible swordsmanship, but for Luke, it was just one of the many abilities he possessed.

And the more people who mastered the Gold Sword, the more advantageous it would be in the fight against his enemies.

‘Whether they steal it or not, I just hope they don’t bother me.’

With that thought, Luke gratefully accepted Zhuge Moon’s favor, performing the martial arts greeting of clasping his hands.

“Thank you for your consideration in many ways.”

“It is nothing compared to how you saved the Ironwood Tree forest and protected the future of our clan.”

After finishing his conversation with Luke, Zhuge Moon turned his gaze to Hwangbo Sung.

“Young Master Hwangbo, will you also be going with Eun Gong?”

“Yes, I am now a retainer of the Rakan Marquisate.”

From those words, Zhuge Moon could see Hwangbo Sung’s determination.

He had no intention of causing conflict with the Hwangbo Clan, and it seemed he had resolved not to interfere in the Hwangbo Clan’s affairs in the future.

‘If it is revealed that the Hwangbo Clan was behind the Third Prince’s attack, they will not only be destroyed but also receive the severe punishment of having their entire family exterminated. Considering that, it might be better for him to leave far away.’

Zhuge Moon was almost certain that the Hwangbo Clan was behind this attack.

If the Third Prince disappeared, the person most likely to become the next emperor was the Second Prince, Jo Won-gyun.

He was trying to gather evidence to prove that the masked men who attacked the Zhuge Clan and protected the Third Prince were ordered by the Hwangbo Clan.

‘It is a pity that the martial arts of the Fist King will be cut off in the Song Empire, but if that is the will of heaven, there is nothing we can do.’

With that thought, Zhuge Moon did not stop Hwangbo Sung.

“Amitabha. Let us depart now.”

At Nanda’s words, who had been waiting for a while, Luke nodded.

As he, Hwangbo Sung, and Zhuge Soha approached, Nanda clapped his hands together strongly in a prayer.

Clap—!

As soon as the sound of their hands meeting was heard, the four people vanished from the sight of the Zhuge Clan members.

‘Eun Gong, please take good care of our Soha.’

Zhuge Moon, who had been gazing at the spot where Luke’s group had disappeared, turned around and led his family members away.

There were many things to do, so he did not have time to dwell on the sadness of parting.

5

“Damn it! This goddamn…!”

Crash!

For several days, curses and the sound of furniture breaking could be heard from the main hall located in the center of the Hwangbo Clan’s estate.

The protagonist who was making a mess of the secret room in the hall was none other than the Clan Head, Hwangbo Gwang.

He had been reacting nervously ever since the Black Shadow Leader, Gwan Chang, had barely returned alive.

There were several reasons.

Not only had the assassination of Jo Won-rak failed, but the Black Shadow Unit that had participated in the attack had been almost completely annihilated.

Moreover, they had lost all the Jiangshi [undead puppets] they had received from Arsen.

However, there was something else that was more annoying and frustrating than anything else.

‘Hwangbo Sung, that bastard is alive! He came back alive!’

When he heard that story from Gwan Chang, Hwangbo Gwang thought he was going crazy.

If this fact were to be known, the former Clan Head, who had been in despair and had retreated to the back room, would not remain silent.

The former Clan Head had completely lost his motivation after losing Hwangbo Sung, but he was not someone to be taken lightly.

There were still old men in the clan who followed him, and there were many experts in the martial world who were close to him.

“Kuaaak! Damn bastard! Why didn’t you die and come back to hold me back! Why!”

There was a figure secretly watching Hwangbo Gwang, who was venting his anger as if in a frenzy, from above the ceiling.

He had infiltrated without the knowledge of the Black Shadow Unit warriors, and after quietly leaving the hall, he entered a warehouse in a corner of the estate.

Inside the warehouse, several people were waiting for him.

“Have you arrived, Second Young Master?”

“Sorry. Did you all wait long?”

The man who entered the warehouse was Hwangbo Yoon, known as the libertine of the Hwangbo Clan.

He was known as a loafer who loved alcohol, women, and gambling, but his usual lazy and careless appearance was nowhere to be found.

“Did you find out what the First Young Master is doing?”

At Jincheon’s question, who had previously served as the estate’s chief manager, Hwangbo Yoon smiled faintly and said,

“He’s in a panic, wondering how to clean up the mess he made at the Zhuge Clan.”

“Hmm, as expected…”

Hwangbo Yoon’s group was secretly active while keeping an eye on Hwangbo Gwang, but they had a general understanding of the events taking place inside and outside the clan.

Although it was not known to the world, Hwangbo Yoon was a member of the leadership of the Hao Moon, the organization with the widest network in the martial world.

Since his mother, who was a former courtesan, was an information agent of the Hao Moon, Hwangbo Yoon naturally formed a connection with them.

In fact, the reason he had been pretending to be a libertine and spending money like water was not only to avoid Hwangbo Gwang’s surveillance but also to solidify his position within the Hao Moon.

The investment that started with the ambition to become the head of the best information organization in the martial world was not in vain.

Thanks to that, he was able to build a considerable information network, but it was still insufficient to fight against the forces that Hwangbo Gwang had built in the martial world, the government, and the imperial palace.

If he were to reveal himself rashly, he would be eliminated immediately.

“The Zhuge Clan will smell something and secure evidence, but my brother won’t just back down.”

“I think so too. He will either cut off the tail or shift the blame to another clan.”

Hwangbo Yoon nodded at Jincheon’s words.

He already knew which clan Hwangbo Gwang had prepared as a scapegoat in case of an emergency.

“By the way… it seems Sung is alive.”

“Sung, you say?”

“I’m talking about my brother, Hwangbo Sung.”

Thud!

The warehouse was filled with shock at Hwangbo Yoon’s words.

“Y-Young Master… i-is that true?”

Jincheon’s voice echoed throughout the warehouse.

He was the one who had grieved deeply after hearing the news that Hwangbo Sung, whom he regarded as his own grandson, had died, and had even sailed to the Rhodisia Continent himself.

He had not given up the last shred of hope that he might still be alive.

And now, Hwangbo Sung was alive…!

“It’s certain. There were unidentified people among the guests who visited the Zhuge Clan, and there were also reports of a wooden puppet using martial arts that seemed to be the Three Thunder God Fist when the attack occurred.”

However, he could not jump to conclusions based on that alone.

Many of the information coming into the Hao Moon was exaggerated or unclear because it had passed through one or two intermediaries.

However, thanks to the words that Hwangbo Gwang had uttered in a frenzy a little while ago, he could be certain.

“If he is alive… if the Third Young Master is alive…”

“We must bring him back. If we leave my brother to run wild like this, this family will be finished.”

Hwangbo Yoon had no intention of inheriting the Hwangbo Clan anyway. He was not the legitimate son, and he had no talent for the Hwangbo Clan’s martial arts.

Rather, the Hao Moon’s martial arts, which were specialized in espionage, suited his personality.

So, as a result of diligently delving into that area, he was able to become one of the best experts in the martial world when it came to stealth and infiltration.

However, that did not mean that he intended to completely abandon his family.

The same was true for Jincheon and the other sympathizers who had been dismissed by the new Clan Head.

“I will go to the Zhuge Clan and bring back the Third Young Master.”

“Calm down, Chief Manager Jin. If you act rashly, you will attract attention. I understand your feelings, but we must be calm in times like these.”

“Hmm…”

“You are already on my brother’s bad side because of your last voyage. I will find a way for you to go outside naturally, so please wait.”

“Understood. But please don’t make me wait too long.”

Jincheon, who had agreed to Hwangbo Yoon’s persuasion, calmed his disappointment, believing that he would soon see Hwangbo Sung.

However, he could not imagine that the meeting he so desired would take place much later than now.