Chapter 213: Sword Dragon
Everyone glanced sideways at Jin Seong-un as if he were insane, shocked by his attitude, as though he were simply going to subjugate a local Unorthodox Path thug.
It wasn’t a decision one could make so lightly.
Even among the heirs of the Five Great Clans and Nine Sects One Gang gathered here, there wasn’t a single person who could easily decide to strike at the Myriad Gold Manor.
Tang So-yeon approached and asked again.
“You’re going right now? As in, imdiately?”
With nothing but a sword in hand?
She looked at Jin Seong-un, Seo Yu-gyeom, and Seomun Ak in turn. Jin Seong-un and Seo Yu-gyeom were already known to be madn, but she had thought at least Seomun Ak would be more cautious.
Her expectations were sorely misplaced.
‘What’s wrong with his eyes?’
Seomun Ak’s eyes were half-crazed.
He was intoxicated with himself, proudly stepping forward when even the heirs of the Nine Sects One Gang and Five Great Clans hesitated.
Tang So-yeon recognized the phenonon exactly.
It was sothing often seen among orthodox martial artists around the age of fifteen—believing they were fated to rid the world of all evil.
Commonly known as the Hero Syndro, or the “Zhi Xue Disease (志學, Fifteen-Year Syndro).”
‘There’s no cure for that...’
Regardless, Seomun Ak snorted harshly and declared loudly enough for everyone to hear.
“Our Seomun Clan will participate. It will be a tough battle. But the Orthodox Faction does not only seek easy fights.”
Seomun Ak’s chivalrous proclamation made the Special Task Force mbers flinch slightly.
If they backed out here, it would look as if they were afraid of the Myriad Gold Manor and turning their backs on the ideals of the Orthodox Faction.
The most visibly shaken was White Cloud Sword, Hyeon-un.
‘That crazy bastard…’
He, too, was hesitant.
But thanks to Seomun Ak’s outburst, he, as the senior present and a figure of renown within the Orthodox Faction, could no longer retreat.
After glaring briefly at the smugly grinning Seomun Ak, Hyeon-un finally spoke.
“Seong-un, are you truly planning to go imdiately?”
“Yes. They’ve likely sensed our movents to so degree already. It’s best to move before they can prepare.”
Hyeon-un nodded for a while.
It made sense.
There was no more room for excuses. And he couldn't allow Jin Seong-un, who was to beco a disciple of Wudang Sect, to go alone into danger.
With a sigh-laced voice, Hyeon-un said,
“Then let’s go together. Like the Seomun brat said, that’s what the Orthodox Faction is.”
He glanced toward the Special Task Force mbers. Now that the decision was made, he intended to drag them all in with him.
The Special Task Force mbers subtly avoided his gaze.
Just then, Tang So-yeon resolutely said,
“Then I’ll go too. Our Tang Clan fears nothing.”
“This is taking a strange turn. I, Hwamyeong, second disciple of Mount Hua, shall join as well. The Mount Hua Sect knows no retreat.”
Even Hwamyeong stepped up.
As if planned, the two of them made sure to pull others into their water-ghost strategy.
The Special Task Force mbers grew even more troubled.
After a brief silence, Seung-ryong of Shaolin and Neung Sogae of the Beggars’ Union also declared their intent to join.
Shaolin and the Beggars’ Union were two sects that competed for the top in chivalry among the current Orthodox Faction.
Baek Sang of Wudang Sect had no choice. Since Hyeon-un decided to go, he could only follow.
Thus, the trio from Seong-un Inn, the Wudang Sect, the Tang Clan, Mount Hua Sect, Shaolin, and the Beggars’ Union were all in.
The rest of the martial artists seed to have chosen the cautious route in the end. After all, opposing the Myriad Gold Manor wasn’t a decision one could make lightly, even as an heir of a clan or sect.
No matter how shaful or burning their blood might be, it wasn’t a decision that could be made purely out of youthful zeal.
There was no reason to bla them, so Jin Seong-un simply gave a rough nod.
Just then, Sword Dragon, Moyong Hyeon, stood up abruptly.
Everyone’s eyes turned to him.
“You’re not thinking of going too, are you?”
Tang So-yeon asked in surprise.
If everyone went, she had assud Moyong Hyeon would be the one to stay behind.
He was a man of calculation, after all.
Moyong Hyeon stared intensely at Jin Seong-un.
Jin Seong-un did not avoid his gaze.
His expression, his eyes, his aura—it was clear to everyone that he was deeply conflicted.
After so ti passed...
“……”
Moyong Hyeon quietly sat back down.
Everyone nodded, as if to say, Of course.
Jin Seong-un also withdrew his gaze, unconcerned whether Moyong Hyeon joined or not.
“Let’s go.”
With that, Jin Seong-un’s group imdiately left the inn. Those left behind had to bear the humiliation in the suddenly awkward atmosphere.
The group headed straight for the Great Snow Mountain in the west.
That was where the Hao Sect Leader had said there were signs of movent from Hanma Heaven of the Demonic Cult.
Hyeon-un was talkative for no reason.
“They may be rich, but does the Myriad Gold Manor even know how to fight? Doesn’t matter. We’ll be fine.”
Although Hyeon-un was among the top swordsn of the Wudang Sect, it was clear he felt so pressure from the situation.
Jin Seong-un nodded and said,
“However, when I clashed with the third son of the Myriad Gold Manor at Yichang, he fought with Jin Baek-cheon, a forr master of the Northern Sea Ice Palace. There may be more such masters.”
“J-Jin Baek-cheon?”
Hyeon-un hesitated.
He knew the na well.
Forr Great Elder of the Ice Palace, a man who had reached the edge of the Peak Master Level.
“He used Formless Qi.”
“……”
Formless Qi—that was a mystery technique synonymous with the Manifestation Realm.
Hyeon-un closed his eyes tightly. So that old man from the Ice Palace had finally broken through the barrier of the Manifestation Realm.
“I-It’s fine. Masters like that aren’t common. Besides, I myself am on the cusp of the Manifestation Realm. There aren’t many in the world who can cross swords with .”
“There are rumors Hanma Heaven is tied to Martial Palace.”
Hyeon-un shut his eyes even tighter.
As adorable as Jin Seong-un was, he suddenly seed a bit annoying.
If even Hyeon-un felt like this, then the other later-generation prodigies were even worse off. Tang So-yeon and Hwamyeong trudged like cattle to the slaughter.
Hyeon-un continued,
“Is there anything else you’d like to say? It’s true that it’s burdenso if it’s the Demonic Cult. But they shouldn’t be able to move in large numbers either. They’d find it hard to avoid the eyes of the Murim Alliance. Unless Hanma Heaven himself shows up, there’s no reason for , an elder of the Wudang Sect, to be overwheld.”
“The Hao Sect Leader said this matter must be extrely important to Hanma Heaven. Apparently, that great technique is a long-cherished desire of Hanma Heaven…”
“You fool! Why are you only saying that now?!”
Hyeon-un exploded, unable to hold back.
That made it a truly dangerous situation.
Even if the possibility was slim, if Hanma Heaven himself had co in person, everyone here could die.
The Lords of the Seven Demon Heavens of the Demonic Cult were in no way inferior to the leaders of the Five Great Clans or the Nine Sects One Gang.
Jin Seong-un scratched his head and said,
“Should I just go alone, then?”
“……”
Hyeon-un stared at him silently.
It wasn’t a joke. His eyes genuinely said he’d go alone if needed.
Yes, this was who he had always been.
That was one of the reasons Hyeon-un found Jin Seong-un so endearing. This boy knew no fear. He also never assud others would naturally help him.
Letting out a deep sigh, Hyeon-un said,
“We’ve co this far; how could I let you go alone? But I must ask those behind us again. Knowing all this, do you still wish to co with us?”
Tang So-yeon, Hwamyeong, Seung-ryong of Shaolin, and Neung Sogae of the Beggars’ Union.
From Hyeon-un’s perspective, if a battle broke out, those young ones had a high chance of dying.
As a senior of the Orthodox Faction, he wondered if he shouldn’t send them back even now.
Then Seung-ryong of Shaolin grinned. His smile shone brighter than the sunlight reflecting off his bald head.
“Elder, monks of Shaolin fear committing sin more than death. Death may be a necessary process in the cycle of reincarnation, but accumulating karmic sin must be repaid over many lives. Turning a blind eye to the suffering of the common people is, in itself, a sin.”
Seung-ryong spoke of reincarnation and karma.
Shaolin monks were known for their detachnt. Not all lived up to this, of course, but Seung-ryong, who was being considered as the next Abbot, had already reached a state of having let go of all worldly attachnts.
His soft yet resolute voice, like the chanting of scriptures, brought calm to everyone’s hearts.
There was a reason people sought temples when troubled.
Moved by Seung-ryong’s words, Tang So-yeon, Hwamyeong, and Neung Sogae all nodded in agreent.
Though not monks, as martial artists of the Orthodox Faction, they feared the sha of retreat more than death.
Tang So-yeon and Hwamyeong, in particular, who counted Jin Seong-un, Seo Yu-gyeom, and Seomun Ak as close friends, felt even more strongly. For them, running away wouldn’t just be retreat—it would an abandoning their friends to death while choosing to live.
Just as the group had reaffird their resolve,
Jin Seong-un nodded and began walking again.
“Ah, I should send a letter on the way. There might be soone who could help.”
“…Do so. And send letters to the Seomun Clan, the Tang Clan, the Mount Hua Sect, Shaolin, and the Beggars’ Union as well. This is no trivial matter.”
Of course, by the ti the letters reached each faction, things might already be over.
In truth, he wanted to wait for reinforcents. But as Jin Seong-un had said earlier, this wasn’t a situation where they could afford to waste ti.
If the enemy realized their intentions, no one knew what counterasures they might take.
With a heavy sigh, Hyeon-un began walking again, now with firr steps.
The decision had been made.
There was no point in hesitating any further.
If even a young monk from Shaolin moved forward with such firm resolve, then an elder of Wudang must also show the depth of his cultivation.
So the group walked on with more composed hearts—except for Seomun Ak, whose heart burned hotter than ever.
As they continued, soone ca running from behind.
Everyone stopped and turned to look.
“Huh? Sword Dragon, young master?”
Everyone, not just Tang So-yeon, looked surprised. Sword Dragon, Moyong Hyeon, was rushing toward them, face flushed, breath ragged.
Once close enough, Moyong Hyeon placed his hands on his knees and caught his breath.
Everyone quietly waited for him to speak.
Then, straightening his back, he looked at them all and said,
“Lady Tang. Did you say the Sichuan Tang Clan knows no fear? And that the Mount Hua Sect doesn’t know how to run away?”
Tang So-yeon and Hwamyeong nodded.
It was what they had said when deciding to co along, to guilt others into joining.
Even as they said it, they hadn’t expected anyone to take the bait...
“Our Moyong Clan is the sa.”
Sword Dragon had taken the bait.
Then Moyong Hyeon looked at Hwamyeong.
“Didn’t you say to stop calling you Dragon Seizer?”
“I did. Because the title Five Dragons and Three Phoenixes now feels like an empty boast.”
It was because of Jin Seong-un.
Among the later-generation prodigies, the Five Dragons and Three Phoenixes were the most outstanding.
Hwamyeong had once taken pride in being part of that group, but after experiencing Cheon Oe Cheon, it all felt like the arrogance of frogs in a well.
Moyong Hyeon nodded and said,
“I too will abandon the alias Sword Dragon. Until I earn a new one, just call
by my na. Now, let’s go.”
And with that, Moyong Hyeon walked ahead.
Everyone stared at his back in disbelief.
Especially Seung-ryong and Neung Sogae, who knew Moyong Hyeon fairly well. This choice was incredibly unlike him.
The expression on Moyong Hyeon’s face as he walked ahead was clearly one of agony. He himself didn’t quite understand why he had rushed after them. More precisely, he couldn’t comprehend his own decision.
‘This incident will be the turning point for the Murim’s order. Obsolescence will happen in an instant.’
This choice wasn’t simply about attacking the Myriad Gold Manor or not. It was about whether to ride the wave of the new order—or be left behind.
Of course, surviving was a prerequisite.
But Moyong Hyeon believed Jin Seong-un wouldn’t die easily. It wasn’t a matter of logic.
It was the instinct of one who had once crossed swords with him.
In short, both his logic and instinct pointed in the sa direction.
“Did he catch Seomun young master’s Hero Syndro?”
“Either way, having one more person is good, isn’t it? Let’s just clap for him. But the Sword Dragon alias was kind of nice though. Should I take it?”
Tang So-yeon and Hwamyeong whispered among themselves.
Of course, Moyong Hyeon heard every word, but he did his best to ignore it.
Thus, the group pressed on without pause, soon reaching the foot of the Great Snow Mountain.
Reviews
All reviews (0)