Emperor’s Sword [EN]: Chapter 63

In the Demon Venerable Hall, Mad Demon, Dan Jang-hwa, Lee Si-myung, and Shin Kwan-chul were seated. Before them stood the Vice Sect Leader of the Black Tiger Gate and the patrol supervisor, with Gwak-ju circling them and Shim Yeo-rang watching him. Gwak-ju was muttering something incessantly.

“You won’t deny your crimes, will you?”

“You overlook the fact that the inspector’s actions were excessive. Even a mere bird in the forest instinctively resists those who try to harm it. Is it a crime to prove one’s innocence by stating the reasons for it?”

“What? Innocent? You vile creature! So you beat me like a dog…”

Realizing it was a humiliating memory, he trailed off and vaguely concluded,

“…and you call that justified? And you,” he pointed at patrol supervisor Ga Woon-sung. His finger didn’t stop there, but poked Ga Woon-sung’s head repeatedly.

After several pokes, Ga Woon-sung’s head tilted from side to side, which was quite comical, but the person’s face was flushed with unbearable shame.

“You dared to commit dereliction of duty, yet you try to deny it and obstruct official duties with a show of force. Furthermore, you dared to mock the Great Lord with your filthy lips. Yet you don’t admit your guilt and try to use the Vice Sect Leader’s power? Did I look that foolish to you? I’ll fix your rotten mentality.”

*Thwack*

“Ugh”

*Thud*

Gwak-ju’s foot forcefully kicked the back of patrol supervisor Ga Woon-sung’s head, who was sitting down. He fell forward with his chair. The Vice Sect Leader’s face, who was next to Ga Woon-sung, contorted with rage at Gwak-ju’s sudden action.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

He clenched his fist, trembling as if he would kill Gwak-ju right away. Gwak-ju smirked and leaned closer to him.

“Why, want to try hitting me again? Go ahead. With your great martial arts, you can easily kill someone like me. Don’t hesitate, go ahead.”

Stepping back from the trembling man, Gwak-ju approached Mad Demon and the others.

“Did you see? They clearly disregard the Great Lord’s orders. The Great Lord clearly stated that he gave me the authority to inspect all members of the alliance, and that includes the sect leaders of the Eight Demonic Gates. Yet, the way they treat me shows that they intend to disrespect the Great Lord.”

Mad Demon looked at him with interest.

“So?”

“These two should be removed from their positions and thrown in jail. Furthermore, the Black Tiger Gate Leader should also be held accountable for his subordinates’ crimes.”

“Hahahaha… and then?”

“And then… well, I’ll have to stir up the alliance again.”

“Vice Sect Leader.”

At Mad Demon’s call, Vice Sect Leader Gong Heon-tak flinched.

“Why, what is it?”

It was a curt reply.

“Do you agree with Inspector Gwak’s words?”

“Is that even a question? That man is crazy. For the Great Lord to appoint such a man as an inspector…”

*Bang*

“Ugh!”

Dan Jang-hwa raised her hand and released her inner force [internal energy]. Gong Heon-tak, who was caught off guard, flew back two yards, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

“How dare you complain about what the Great Lord does… It’s obvious. That man’s head is full of discontent towards the Great Lord.”

Dan Jang-hwa shouted, unusually agitated.

“Everyone says you’re at fault. I was going to be lenient, but you dug your own grave. You, at least, shouldn’t have mentioned the Great Lord. Even if you had complaints, you should have kept them to yourself. Commander Lee.”

“Yes.”

“Throw those two in jail and summon the Black Tiger Gate Leader.”

“Pardon?”

“Don’t you understand what I’m saying?”

“Ah… I understand.”

★ The leaders of the Eight Demonic Gates were gathered at the Black Tiger Gate Leader’s residence. Hot tea was placed before them, but no one touched it.

“Tell me, what are you going to do? Are you really going to be dragged around like this?”

The Black Tiger Gate Leader shouted. The chief of the Green Forest, Black Sand God Hwang Bo-yeom, responded to his words.

“What good would it do to show our displeasure over this? It’s better to wait for the right time. Don’t you think?”

The memory of being severely defeated by Pa Cheon was still vivid. He had an underlying fear of Pa Cheon. The same was true for Tak Tap-cheonwang Geo Yeo-pae, the chief of the Eighteen Caves.

“That’s right. Even if we act together, it’s useless if the Great Lord doesn’t accept it. Moreover, the Great Lord isn’t even here right now… If we cause trouble, how will we deal with the aftermath?”

His words represented everyone’s feelings. The divine power of Pa Cheon they had witnessed was like that of a demon. They had seen the power of a demon that could not be resisted by human strength, so the very thought of going against him filled them with fear and aversion.

“Are you saying that this is our sect’s problem, and we should handle it ourselves? How can this be just the Black Tiger Gate’s problem? If we don’t recognize this as a problem for all Eight Demonic Gates and deal with it, it will be too late.”

“You’re being too dramatic. I also don’t think the Great Lord’s current actions are right. But I don’t have the confidence to confront him head-on. Moreover, we don’t have a justifiable reason to stop the Great Lord, do we?”

It was the Demonic Shadow Heavenly Evil, Ma Young-cheon-sa. Some people nodded at his words.

“This is frustrating. The Great Lord is alone. Of course, he currently wields all the power of the Demonic Alliance, but do you think that will be the case even after the Great Ancestor returns? Those who follow him will be like kites with broken strings. Do you think the Great Ancestor will leave the Great Lord, who is a burden, alone? If we unite our strength and take a firm stance, the Great Lord won’t be able to treat us carelessly.”

*Bang*

The Black Sand God slammed the table and stood up abruptly.

“Don’t say things you can’t take responsibility for. After seeing the elders get massacred last time, you’re still saying such things? I think… that the Great Lord might be stronger than the Great Ancestor, even though they are both among the Five Great Warriors of the Martial World. How many people in martial history have been that strong? I don’t want to die so meaninglessly like the elders. If you want to oppose the Great Lord, Black Tiger Gate Leader, do it yourself. I’m out.”

With those words, he turned and left the room. No one said anything. They all had similar thoughts to the Black Sand God. Geo Yeo-pae cautiously opened his mouth.

“I also think it’s best to just watch for now. Let’s think calmly. Maybe the Great Lord is the right person to revive the Demonic Path. We can’t live like moles, hiding from the righteous path forever, can we? If the Great Lord and the Great Ancestor clash, I will step back and observe.”

He also stood up and disappeared. Watching him, Black Tiger Gate Leader Dan Ya-jeok-pung let out an angry cry.

“Hmph, cowards. To think that those who are supposed to be the pillars of the Eight Demonic Gates are so afraid. Tsk, tsk.”

Seeing him clicking his tongue, the Master of the Killing Tent, Killing King, shook his head.

“I also think the same as them. You said we’re cowards? I won’t deny it. I’ve never been afraid of anyone in my life, not even the Great Ancestor. But that man… he was different. I can’t pinpoint what it is, but I’m afraid when I look at him. I also reject the Black Tiger Gate Leader’s proposal. I want to live. Then…”

He also stood up and left. That was three people already. Now, only five people, including himself, remained. The others also seemed to have the same thoughts as those who had left, even if they didn’t express it.

“You don’t need to worry about what others think. If you’re scared, leave. I’ll do it alone…”

As soon as those words were spoken, three people stood up at once. They glanced at the Black Tiger Gate Leader and then disappeared. It was truly absurd. The leaders of the Demonic Path, the heads of the Eight Demonic Gates, were cowering in fear before a young master? The only one left was unexpectedly the Palace Master of the Enchanting Flower Palace, Enchanting Finger Fairy.

“It seems that only the fairy is worthy. If that’s the case, then with just the power of our Black Tiger Gate and the Enchanting Flower Palace…”

“I don’t intend to join either. I stayed behind to give you some advice.”

“What, what did you say?”

“Gate Leader, you’ve lost your reason. Think about it again. What is truly beneficial for you? Consider why they all have the same thoughts. What made them make such a decision? Perhaps… we are facing one of the few true demonic heroes in martial history.

His martial arts, divine power, the ability to control and attract people, his decisiveness, and his unconventional actions, all of these things may be irritating you, but perhaps our Demonic Path will enter a new era of prosperity because of it. Well… I should be going now.”

Even she disappeared, leaving the Black Tiger Gate Leader’s face filled with despair.

“You, you cowards, I’ll see how much glory you enjoy by surviving like that. When the Great Ancestor returns, you’ll see what the consequences of your actions will be. Damn it…”

“Gate Leader, the Thousand Man Commander has arrived.”

‘What? What are they trying to find fault with now? Fine, let’s see who’s tougher, let’s have a head-on collision.’

“Let him in.”

Thousand Man Commander Lee Si-myung entered the room and looked at the teacups on the table. He had bumped into the departing leaders of the seven gates, so he guessed what had happened inside. Lee Si-myung looked at the Black Tiger Gate Leader.

“Mad Demon is summoning you, Gate Leader.”

“What? Why is that man summoning me? If he has business with me, he should come himself. What kind of person is Commander Lee? You’re the Thousand Man Commander, who is supposed to be the Great Ancestor’s direct guard, yet you’re being swayed by people who don’t even know where they came from?”

“I’ve delivered the message, so I’ll be going. Let me just say one thing. The Great Lord’s subordinates are all masters. And from what I see, there’s no one who can control their violent temper right now, except for the Great Lord. It would be better for you to calm down and go. It would be better for you in many ways.

And… I am a member of the Demonic Path before I am the Great Ancestor’s direct subordinate. Given the nature of our Demonic Alliance, it’s natural for the strongest to become the Great Ancestor. If the Great Lord is strong enough to surpass the Great Ancestor, I will follow him. Whether you come or not, it’s up to you, Gate Leader.”

With those words, he left.

“You damn bastard…”

*Crash*

He slammed the table, splitting it in two, and the teacups on it rolled onto the floor. He slumped into his chair. His heart felt heavy. What should he do?

“If I resist to the end, their actions are obvious. Nothing will change if I oppose them. Moreover, with the other seven gates turning their backs on me, I can’t do anything alone. Where did the Great Ancestor go? He only said he was going into seclusion, but no one knows where he is now. Is following the trend the only way to survive? Sigh.”

He pondered for a long time, and after about an hour, he got up and moved to go outside.

He had decided to bow his head for now. He had judged that maintaining his life was the top priority. Just as he was about to go outside,

“You foolish man!”

“Who, who is it?”

The sound from behind made Dan Yajeokpung spin around, his body already in a defensive stance.

Dan Yajeokpung’s face contorted in surprise.

“Y-you are?”

“Heh heh, it seems your usefulness has expired. I’m not generous enough to keep feeding a useless dog.”

*Swoosh*

Dan Yajeokpung sensed his opponent’s approach. Instinctively, he retreated, gathering his inner energy. But it was too late. His opponent was already right in front of him, grinning with white teeth. The opponent’s hand touched his chest. He felt like he was suffocating. Then, the opponent’s body blurred and suddenly moved far away, standing out of reach.

“H-how?”

*Fwoosh*

Dan Yajeokpung’s body was torn to pieces. Blood gushed from the wounds, and fragments of flesh splattered on the walls and ceiling. It was a gruesome death.

“Heh heh, farewell. You’ve served your purpose. Your death is more valuable to me than your life…”

*Swish swish swish*

The room was empty. Only the scattered pieces of flesh and the smell of blood lingered.

★ The passage was narrow. Only darkness existed, a place where anyone who entered became part of the darkness. The stuffy air suggested it was underground, but nothing else could be felt.

*Thud*

*Thud*

The small footsteps echoed, vibrating in all directions, and another step followed in response to the sound.

“Father, is it here?”

“Yes. What you so desperately wanted to know is here.”

Two different voices emerged from the echo of the footsteps. One was a young woman’s, and the other was an older man’s.

“Where exactly is it?”

“Heh heh, no one but me can find it.”

“But why did you suddenly change your mind? Didn’t you say it should never come out into the world?”

“I did. But now, even that meaning is unclear. What happens to this world after I die is not so important. Besides, the thought of it being buried forever feels like a waste.”

“I wonder if I can really deliver it to the Supreme One…”

“You must. No one in this world deserves to see it. But perhaps that person might. We’re here.”

“Here? This is still a corridor.”

“It’s here.”

*Whoosh*

A fire was lit on a fire starter. The fire was then transferred to a torch, creating a brighter light. It was then that the faces of the two people were revealed.

They were Saja Dowang and Cheonhyang Okbong.

“Why did you light the fire only now?”

“The passage we just passed was rigged with explosives. If we had come with the torch lit, we would have already been buried underground.”

It was a testament to his meticulous nature.

“Really… is the Devil’s Way here?”

“Yes. This is where the Devil’s Way, which should never be revealed to the world, exists. The most cruel and powerful martial art in the history of the martial world. A way that turns humans into devils. It is so powerful that it is forbidden. It is here.”

“Hmm… if they were to take this…”

“We must prevent that at all costs. If this way falls into the hands of the Blood Demon Heaven… no one will be able to stop them. If you were to pick the most domineering martial art in the history of the martial world, the Heavenly Demon’s martial art would be the first. There are no more than three martial arts that can be compared to it. And one of them is this.”

What kind of martial art was it that he was so hesitant about? Saja Dowang, the leader of the Southern Alliance and considered the best in the Central Plains, was afraid of this martial art?

Saja Dowang brushed away the moss on the wall with his hand. A tiny gap was visible. It looked like a crack in the wall. He inserted the sword he was holding into it and pushed hard.

*Clack*

*Click*

*Creak*

As he turned the sword handle, an unpleasant noise accompanied it.

*Grrr*

As the sword made a full rotation, part of the wall slid open. And through the opening, the light of night-shining pearls poured out. Inside, there was a book made of parchment, and around it were blood pearls and night-shining pearls densely packed. Saja Dowang reached for the book with trembling hands. It didn’t look very thick, but Saja Dowang held it up with difficulty, as if it were heavy. Cheonhyang Okbong stared at the cover of the book with curious eyes.

Blood Shadow Lightning Blade Technique!

“Is this it?”

“Yes. This is the greatest blade technique of all time, which all swordsmen dream of seeing even in their dreams.”

Blood Shadow Lightning Blade Technique, as Saja Dowang said, it was undoubtedly the greatest blade technique in the history of the martial world. But mastering it would turn one into a devil. Once you surpass the 8th level, you will inevitably face a mental demon, and only by overcoming that stage can you progress. After that, the mental demon will come every three days, and there is no progress without completely overcoming it.

So far, there have only been three people in the history of the martial world who have mastered this technique. But each time, those who mastered the Blood Shadow Lightning Blade Technique were devils who had succumbed to the mental demon, losing their humanity. They were demons who only enjoyed destruction and slaughter, but even so, their martial arts were among the best of all time.

The first time it appeared was during the era of the Heavenly Demon. It was when the Heavenly Demon had almost unified the Central Plains and even the outer martial world. At that time, the master of the Blood Shadow Lightning Blade Technique appeared, and the eighteen provinces of the Central Plains suffered greatly. The curse of blood caused by him never ceased. Eventually, the experts of the Heavenly Demon Sect, unable to bear it any longer, stepped forward, but they too became sacrifices to the madman. From then on, people began to call him the Blood Demon.

Eventually, despite the efforts of the Heavenly Demon Sect experts to hide it, the Heavenly Demon found out about it.

And he went to find the Blood Demon without hesitation. And the three-day and three-night battle that took place in Musan! The Heavenly Demon had to fight a life-and-death battle for three days and three nights to subdue the Blood Demon.

Before he died, he briefly regained his senses due to a phenomenon of returning light [a brief moment of clarity before death] and said to the Heavenly Demon, “Thank you. For killing me… It is the Devil’s Way. Find it and destroy it.” And then he died. The scroll was gone from where the Blood Demon had pointed. The Heavenly Demon mobilized 100,000 people to search the Central Plains for the Blood Shadow Lightning Blade Technique, but they never found it. After that, it became a legend.

“This is the Devil’s Way. That’s why our family has only kept it and never learned it.

Once you learn it, you either overcome the mental demon and achieve greatness, or you become a slave to the devil and become a Blood Demon. That’s why no one has ever tried to learn it.

No one knew that I had this. But what’s truly surprising is that you, the Blood Demon Heaven, knew about it. Of course, you weren’t sure, so you tried to confirm it, and my son became the sacrifice. Heh heh, but even he doesn’t know that I have this.”

Saja Dowang tucked the parchment book into his chest. Then, he restored the wall to its original state and turned off the torch. And then he retraced his steps back down the corridor.

In Saja Dowang’s chamber, two people were sitting face to face. Cheonhyang Okbong and Saja Dowang.

“Father, since Commander Lee has temporarily left the alliance, now is the time. Why don’t you abandon the alliance and go to the Supreme One…”

“No. If I go, where would I go? Abandoning this place where my blood and sweat are is the same as me dying. I would rather die than be humiliated. You should run away. If you stay here, you will inevitably encounter the Great Commander, and you won’t be able to escape his eyes. So, take this scroll and at least you…”

Saja Dowang’s face was filled with regret. He was deeply saddened that he had not even established a proper successor. What regrets could he have about his own life, but his affection for his only son, though flawed, was something that even he, with his iron will, could not control. The two of them stared at each other for a long time.

“I have one question.”

“What is it?”

“As far as I know, there is nothing in the history of the martial world that can be compared to the martial arts of the Heavenly Demon who founded the Heavenly Demon Sect…”

She seemed to have doubts about what Saja Dowang had said.

“That’s the general consensus, and at least as far as I know, there is nothing that surpasses it, but there are three martial arts that are comparable. There may be others, but… among those that have been revealed or known, that’s about it.

One is the Blood Shadow Lightning Blade Technique. Judging from the Blood Demon’s achievement of about the 9th level, if mastered, it would definitely not be inferior to the Heavenly Demon’s Three Swords. The second is a martial art from India called the Dark Dragon Soul-Stealing Hand. I don’t know its power. One of the legendary stories is that Dharma [Bodhidharma, the founder of Zen Buddhism] created the Buddha Shadow Wheel in his later years solely to block the Dark Dragon Soul-Stealing Hand.

The last is the Nine Yin Demonic Palm from the Nine Yin Manual. In fact, I don’t know if all three are still passed down. But there is a possibility that they exist somewhere on this land. In addition to these, there is the Buddha Shadow Wheel, which even Dharma of Shaolin created but could not use, and the three great demonic arts of the Blood Demon Heaven are also said to be formidable, but I don’t know their power.

The White Jade Divine Hand of the Divine Beast Palace, one of the three outer worlds, the Nine Dragon Sword Technique of the Four Emperors’ Castle, and the Ice Sword Style of the Northern Sea Ice Palace are also formidable. But the best are still the Heavenly Demon’s martial arts. He created hundreds of martial arts, and most of them can reach the ultimate level. Of course, it depends on the talent and achievement of the person who learns them… What I have mentioned are all worthy of being called the representative invincible techniques of the ancient and modern martial world.”

Among the things Saja Dowang listed, Cheonhyang Okbong had only heard of the Heavenly Demon’s Three Swords. The rest were things she was hearing for the first time. The Heavenly Demon’s Three Swords were something that any martial artist would have heard of, so she knew about them as well.

“Is the Buddha Shadow Wheel the only one from the Central Plains?”

“That’s not true. The techniques of the great sects of the Central Plains, which boast history and tradition, are all extraordinary, but it is extremely difficult to taste their true essence without long hours of training.

That’s why I didn’t mention them, but it doesn’t mean that the martial arts themselves are inferior. However, it is also true that they are far behind the Heavenly Demon’s Three Swords.”

“Hoo… I didn’t know that martial arts could feel so vast. I thought there was nothing to fear in the world… I might have been a frog in a well [a person with a limited perspective].”

“There’s no need to blame yourself. Just realizing that is a great discovery. There are many who never see the wider world in their entire lives…”

“Father, what should I do now?”

“Go to the Supreme One. If you go to Gaebongbu [a city] and find the Gaewang [a title], you will be able to see the Supreme One. You can only find your husband by meeting the Supreme One, so time is of the essence. Perhaps the Great Commander is already on his way here? Hurry and leave. Don’t worry about anything… If you have time later, take care of your older brother.”

“F-Father…”

Tears welled up in Cheonhyang Okbong’s eyes.

“I will leave then. Please take care of yourself.”

Cheonhyang Okbong got up, knelt before Saja Dowang, and bowed. Tears also welled up in Saja Dowang’s eyes as he looked at her.

‘I did not give birth to you, but I thought of you as my own daughter. I felt happiness when I saw your bright smile, and even when you stabbed a dagger of betrayal into my heart, I was not so angry. Now that you call me father again, what more could I ask for? Please, be happy. And never step into the swamp of unhappiness again. Even if I die, I will pray to the heavens and earth that only you will be happy.’

It was a father’s heart. Once a witch and seductress who had torn her father’s heart to pieces, she had now returned to her former kind and cute self, and his heart was filled with joy. He would die, but if his daughter could be happy, that was enough.

Cheonhyang Okbong, having received the Blood Shadow Lightning Blade Technique, tucked it into her chest. And then she disappeared outside. Before this night was over, she would leave the Southern Alliance.

★ She was a truly strange woman. He had given her freedom to go her own way, but instead, she was following him. He tried not to pay attention, but he couldn’t help but notice. Her group, following closely behind the Righteous Order, was carrying her in a palanquin and running. Due to the destruction of the Southern Branch, the Righteous Order changed their schedule and continued south. When the world began to sink into darkness, they arrived at Jinha, a village 200 li [approximately 100 kilometers] south of Namyeong.

Because it was a village located on the main road, it was a place where people came and went frequently compared to its size, and for that reason, there were two relatively large inns. The Righteous Order had to rent both of them. Even then, there were not enough rooms. So, the remaining 100 or so people had to rent a mansion on the outskirts of Jinha. It was the villa of a man named Jin Daein, the wealthiest man in the area, and there were few people living there compared to the size of the mansion.

Jin Daein, having recognized that they were people from the Martial Alliance, offered to lend the mansion for free, but that was impossible, so they paid 10 gold coins to rent it. Two hundred people stayed at Dowon Inn, two hundred at Jinsong Inn, and one hundred at Jin’s Mansion. Pacheon was at Jin’s Mansion, Cheongunhak was at Dowon Inn, and Kwak Woonseong was at Jinsong Inn.

The problem arose after that. Because they had rented all the empty rooms here, the group of women wearing bamboo hats who had followed them, and the travelers who had planned to stay overnight in Jinha, had nowhere to rest. However, Pacheon was not the type to care about them, so they had no choice but to sleep outside or stay in private homes.