Chapter 39: Sudden Upheaval
“A Daoist Immortal? What are you suddenly talking about?”
After the skirmish had ended.
Jang Woo-hyun asked a question on the way back—one he hadn’t had the chance to ask due to the sudden appearance of the Sword Yakshas.
Hwang An looked at him with an expression that said, ‘What’s wrong with this guy again?’ He silently stared at Jang Woo-hyun as they walked several dozen steps and realized that he was quite serious.
“I don’t know why you’re suddenly asking something like that, but… are you talking about the kind of Daoist Immortals that show up in myths and legends?”
“Yeah, more or less.”
“Then I wouldn’t know either. Whether Daoist Immortals really exist or not. There are stories of famous Taoist masters ascending into immortality when they get old, but who knows whether they really became immortals or just died. But if you're talking about someone in the Martial World that people refer to as an Immortal... Oh, now that I think about it, Ha-un’s master is sometimes called that.”
Jang Woo-hyun turned his gaze to Jin Ha-un.
“My master is called the Sword Immortal in the Sichuan region, but that’s just a metaphor. He’s still very much alive and hasn’t ascended.”
“How skilled is your master’s martial art?”
“He’s not listed among the Eight Lords, but he’s at the Absolute Peak.”
“I knew it!”
Hwang An, seemingly having had a rough guess, nodded beside him.
“An Absolute Master, huh…”
In that case, no. Jang Woo-hyun had already met Chul Geuk-jin, the strongest figure among the unorthodox sects and an Absolute Peak level master, but he didn’t give off the feeling of being an immortal.
The ‘Immortals’ mentioned by the demon-possessed Kim Min-soo likely didn’t refer to someone like Jin Ha-un’s master or Chul Geuk-jin.
‘Were there only those four?’
Demonic Heaven Palace. Inner Kunlun. Valley of Blood. Forest of Hermits.
These were the factions mentioned in the records left behind by Kim Min-soo. Jang felt that only by meeting them could he grasp some kind of clue.
“Why are you suddenly asking about that? Can’t we know the reason too?”
“I was reading some stuff in the Martial Arts Repository of the Silver Flower Merchant Guild and just got curious.”
Unable to tell the truth, Jang Woo-hyun made a vague excuse.
“About what?”
“Well, if monsters exist, then maybe immortals do too, right?”
“I guess, considering what we encountered at the Demon Extermination Sect, it makes sense you’d think that way.”
“What exactly happened at the Demon Extermination Sect?”
“The Demon Extermination Sect? What happened there was…”
When Jin Ha-un asked, Hwang An excitedly began recounting everything that had happened at the Demon Extermination Sect, embellishing the details here and there.
Jang Woo-hyun half-listened to the story, deep in his own thoughts. Before long, he sensed that someone was approaching them.
“Who’s coming?”
Not long after he spoke, a young beggar could be seen running from the direction of Gyerim.
“Senior Brother!”
The beggar used light footwork as he approached and shouted loudly.
“It’s an emergency! Something terrible has happened!”
Panting heavily, the beggar landed in front of Hwang An and immediately started talking.
“He, Heaven-Dominating Sect! Heaven-Dominating Sect has...”
“What about Heaven-Dominating Sect? Are they waging a righteous-evil war?”
“No, they’ve moved!”
“Hey, what the hell does that even mean…?”
“*The Ten Blades have entered Guangxi!”
“What? Whoa, what?!”
“The Tiger Sword Escort Agency! It’s been destroyed!”
“What?! What the hell are you talking about! Is that real? It’s not just a rumor? Are you serious?”
Hwang An was so shocked his reaction lagged a beat each time.
“Yes, yes! It’s chaos right now. Absolute chaos! Last night, the Tiger Sword Escort Agency was destroyed by the Ten Blades.”
“Which of the Ten? Who exactly?”
“*Exploding Blade Kang Pyo-seong. Golden Axe Jeon An-chu. Those two. But Emotionless Sword Go Jin is with them as well.”
“W-wait! Okay, the two are part of the Ten Blades, so that makes sense. But why Go Jin? Why did that old man suddenly step in?”
“How would I know that?! Anyway, the three of them are together!”
The pace of the conversation was too fast for Hwang An to process.
Naturally, Jang Woo-hyun, who lacked deep knowledge of the Martial World, was even more confused.
“Explain it slowly so even I can understand.”
“Ah! Great Hero Jang! It’s an honor to meet you! I’m Yoo Chun-soo of the Beggars’ Sect.”
Despite his ragged breathing, Yoo Chun-soo’s eyes lit up as he introduced himself to Jang Woo-hyun.
“The Ten Blades, who had been silent due to the Tyrant, have started moving!”
Yoo Chun-soo passionately explained, but Jang Woo-hyun still didn’t understand a thing.
“Sigh…”
Hwang An sighed beside him and opened his mouth slowly.
“Brother Jang, you know the Ten Blades of Heaven-Dominating, right?”
“Yeah, I do.”
“What are they?”
“They’re ten people, right?”
Even Yoo Chun-soo, who had been respectful moments ago, gave him a ‘What the hell is wrong with this guy?’ look.
“Anything else?”
“Ten people from Heaven-Dominating Sect. Important people.”
“……”
Hwang An sighed even louder this time.
“Yeah, ten people. Not eight, not six—ten! Of course they’re important! Very important!”
Grinding his teeth, Hwang An continued the explanation. Clearly, he had explained it before, but Jang Woo-hyun hadn’t remembered a thing.
From Jang’s perspective, he felt somewhat wronged.
After all, those minor figures weren’t worth remembering. That’s why he hadn’t bothered.
“Brother, the Ten Blades of Heaven-Dominating are the ten people who claim to be successors to the Sect Leader of Heaven-Dominating Sect. Each of them commands their own faction.”
Trying to help, Jin Ha-un whispered from behind.
“Yeah, see? That’s what I meant. Ten people.”
The Ten Blades of Heaven-Dominating.
This term referred to the four disciples and six elite followers of Heaven-Dominating Sect Sect Leader Chul Geuk-jin.
All ten had reached the pinnacle of mastery, and each held power comparable to a mid-sized sect. They were both Heaven-Dominating Sect’s core force and individuals who could act as sect leaders themselves.
“The Sect Leader of Heaven-Dominating Sect never clearly designated a successor, so there have always been small internal scuffles and disputes. It’s natural, given that there are ten outstanding individuals. But for them to suddenly act now... Did the Sect Leader issue an order? All of a sudden?”
Up until now, they hadn’t projected their power externally and remained confined within the sect only because the Sect Leader had kept their power in check. But now, two of them had made a move.
“Uh... The Tyrant has gone into seclusion.”
“What? What? When? When did that happen?”
“It hasn’t been long.”
“You should’ve said that earlier!”
Thanks to Yoo Chun-soo’s timely response, Hwang An’s question was immediately resolved.
The Tyrant Chul Geuk-jin had entered seclusion, and with Exploding Blade and Golden Axe taking action, the suppression had disappeared.
Which meant—
‘The greatest unorthodox sect, Heaven-Dominating Sect, is on the move!’
Someone would surely fight within Heaven-Dominating Sect for control, but others would begin to exert their power outward. Just like now.
The beasts, whom the Tyrant had kept locked away, had been unleashed into the Central Plains.
This was a massive incident. Even One Sword, One Kill declaring war on the Asura Sword Sect paled in comparison.
After all, Heaven-Dominating Sect was the greatest unorthodox sect and the most dominant force south of the Yangtze River.
“Then why did Exploding Blade come over this way?”
“It's the *Conquering King Sect*.”
“Conquering King Sect? What the hell is that now?”
“It’s a new sect founded by Exploding Blade. From now on, he’s claiming Guangxi Province as his territory.”
“This crazy bastard… Then what about the Asura Sword Sect?”
“They’ll be pushed out. That’s why I told you—the Tiger Sword Escort Agency has been destroyed.”
“Ah…”
Only now did it occur to him, overwhelmed by all the chaos.
The Tiger Sword Escort Agency was not an active escort agency.
It was a front—just a name.
In reality, it was a branch of the Asura Sword Sect.
Smashing that meant the next target was obvious. Their aim was now the Asura Sword Sect.
“I'm not sure if I’m understanding this correctly…”
Jang Woo-hyun, who had been silently listening from the side, finally spoke up.
“…So basically, two of the Ten Blades of Heaven-Dominating formed a new sect, need territory, and so they’re attacking the Asura Sword Sect?”
“Yes. To put it simply, that’s exactly right.”
Once he realized his summary was correct, Jang Woo-hyun recalled something from the last time he met Chul Geuk-jin.
—Ah, and the matter with the Asura Sword Sect might be resolved in a different way.
He had definitely said that before they parted.
‘Was this what he meant? Did he foresee this to some degree… Wait, hold on.’
As he followed the thought, a different issue popped into his mind, and Jang Woo-hyun frowned.
“Wait, then… those bastards are going to steal my experience points!”
“Huh? Experience points? What are you talking about…”
“They’re trying to steal the last hit!”
When Jang Woo-hyun—who hardly ever got riled up—suddenly shouted, Hwang An was caught off guard.
“Brother Jang, what are you talking about…?”
“I set it all up, and now they’re barging in? These bastards… No. This isn’t the time for that. I need to go before they take it!”
“What do you mean ‘last hit’? Explain… Brother Jang!”
Before he could finish speaking, Jang Woo-hyun launched off the ground.
“Hyungnim!”
Startled by the sudden move, Jin Ha-un rushed after him, and Hwang An also activated his light footwork in a fluster.
“Brother Jang! Brother Jang!”
No matter how much they called, he didn’t answer, and the distance between them only grew. Before long, Jang Woo-hyun was about to disappear over a distant hill, prompting Hwang An to shout out.
“Hey! Jang Woo-hyun! Do you even know where you’re going?!”
As if by magic, his rapidly retreating figure stopped.
Then he turned and came back.
“Oh right. I don’t actually know the way.”
Jang Woo-hyun gave an awkward smile, embarrassed.
He had gotten too excited over the thought of someone stealing his final blow.
* * *
The martial artist he most respected—the Sect Leader he had pledged to follow for life—had entered seclusion and told everyone to do as they pleased.
The moment Kang Pyo-seong heard those words, he shouted at the other Ten Blades, who had been growling and posturing at each other.
—I didn’t join Heaven-Dominating Sect just to be under punks like you. Fight among yourselves for all I care. I’m leaving.
He had no intention of serving under anyone but the Sect Leader.
There was a time when he thought if a capable disciple inherited everything, he would stay with Heaven-Dominating Sect to the end—but that thought vanished quickly.
The Sect Leader’s disciples, every one of them, fell short of his expectations.
They were praised as outstanding in the martial world, but only by people who didn’t know better. From his perspective, they weren’t worthy of being called the Tyrant Chul Geuk-jin’s disciples.
So he began gathering people to form a new sect.
One of the Ten Blades who was like a brother to him—Jeon An-chu—along with the followers who supported both of them. And most important of all: Go Jin.
Once the image in his mind was complete, Kang Pyo-seong left Heaven-Dominating Sect, founded the Conquering King Sect, and marched toward Guangxi Province.
A few days after destroying the Tiger Sword Escort Agency—
The Conquering King Sect was now approaching Nanning, where the Asura Sword Sect was located.
“This is too easy.”
“Don’t get complacent. Our opponent is the Asura Sword Sect—one of the Ten Demonic Paths. And this is just the beginning. Elder Go, what do you think?”
The gaze that had been on Jeon An-chu now turned to a thin old man standing off to the side.
His name was Go Jin. Nicknamed Emotionless Sword, he was no longer in his prime, but he had once been the second-in-command of Heaven-Dominating Sect.
Long ago, Kang Pyo-seong had saved Go Jin’s grandson, and in return, they agreed that he would grant one request someday—a sort of wish token.
Not long ago, Kang Pyo-seong visited Go Jin to cash in that favor. He asked him to help until the newly formed Conquering King Sect was firmly established.
Because of their past agreement, Go Jin accepted, and that’s how the three ended up together.
“I agree with you. We must not underestimate the strength of the Asura Sword Sect.”
“Still, we’re lucky. Thanks to One Sword, One Kill, their subordinate sects haven’t gotten involved.”
At the perfect time, another man had already begun fighting the Asura Sword Sect.
Jang Woo-hyun, One Sword, One Kill.
The man who made headlines by declaring war on the Asura Sword Sect all by himself.
Now that Heaven-Dominating Sect was moving, his spotlight might fade, but he was still a remarkable martial artist.
Because of him, Kang Pyo-seong was able to enter Guangxi Province with ease. With Jang Woo-hyun stirring up trouble against the Asura Sword Sect, their affiliated factions had stayed out of it.
If not for that fight, Kang’s forces would’ve had to clash with an alliance of minor sects at least once on the way here.
Kang’s group had powerful elites, but their overall numbers were small. So being swarmed by headcount-heavy factions was more dangerous. Even if they won the battle, without followers, the sect couldn’t be maintained.
“When we get the chance, we should show our appreciation, hyungnim.”
“Appreciation?”
“Either way, we did receive help. And I want to meet him at least once—to see what kind of person he is.”
At Jeon An-chu’s words, Kang Pyo-seong nodded. He also wanted to meet Jang Woo-hyun at least once.
“Yeah. Let’s think about that later—after we handle what’s in front of us.”
“Yes, sir.”
They were just about to wrap up the meeting after a few more discussions about future plans—
When a subordinate rushed in with unexpected news.
“One Sword, One Kill has arrived!”
The three who had left Heaven-Dominating Sect were going to meet Jang Woo-hyun much sooner than expected.