Chapter 316 – Fist Demon’s Unyielding Spirit (1)

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Discord

Dam-ho and Geom Yul-cheon stood tall on the boat, gazing at the flowing scenery. Since neither of them were talkative people, the silence continued for quite some time.

After a considerable period had passed, it was Geom Yul-cheon who first spoke.

“The Wind Moon Emperor?”

“He died.”

“So it came to that after all? What he wanted?”

“……”

“It seems you found it.”

Geom Yul-cheon looked directly at Dam-ho.

It was a gaze seeking answers.

It was also Geom Yul-cheon who had rescued Dan Gong-wol and brought him this far. However, he was busy fighting the Ten Soldiers and didn’t witness Dan Gong-wol’s final moments.

Dam-ho thought Geom Yul-cheon deserved to hear the answer.

“That place was the foundation of the Heavenly Evil Cult.”

“So it was as I thought?”

Dam-ho told him everything he had heard from Dan Gong-wol.

The fact that the Four Divine Emperors had killed all the descendants of the Heavenly Evil Cult, the Double-Headed Winged Serpent drawn on the wall, and even the mysterious Plum Blossom Sword Master who had attacked him. He left out nothing.

Dam-ho spoke calmly, and Geom Yul-cheon listened silently.

Neither adding nor subtracting anything, the story told exactly as it was finally came to an end.

Geom Yul-cheon closed his eyes.

Countless thoughts flashed by like a revolving lantern. It was the Heavenly Evil Cult that he had been tracking for so many long years. They were like water mist. Clearly existing but impossible to grasp, disappearing without a trace when the morning sun rose.

So sometimes he thought he might be obsessing over an illusion that didn’t exist.

He had been drawing a picture. But the picture he drew had missing parts here and there. So it couldn’t become a complete picture and remained as meaningless scribbles. But Dam-ho’s story was filling in those missing parts.

However, there was still something to confirm.

“Did the Wind Moon Emperor definitely tell you to be careful of Lee Gwan?”

“Yes!”

“Iron Blood War God Lee Gwan, the forbidden book, the death squad… So that’s how it all connects?”

“……”

Dam-ho said nothing more. Instead, he looked at Geom Yul-cheon.

Geom Yul-cheon’s contemplation continued endlessly, and a great picture was being completed in his mind.

It was quite some time later when Geom Yul-cheon opened his eyes. His eyes were shining with conviction.

He looked at Dam-ho. Dam-ho had been silently watching Geom Yul-cheon for a long time. Dam-ho’s gaze was seeking an answer.

Geom Yul-cheon had a duty to answer him.

“Before being the absolute rulers of the old martial world, the Four Divine Emperors were old friends. They spent a very long time together and always traveled together. They had particularly strong chivalrous spirits and couldn’t just pass by injustice. Such people discovered the last sect of the Heavenly Evil Cult. Naturally, they couldn’t just ignore it. They were very rigid and had personalities that knew no compromise.”

“……”

“Eventually, they annihilated the last sect of the Heavenly Evil Cult. And many years passed. In that process, some people would have felt doubt about what they had done, while others would have felt regret. Wind Moon Emperor Dan would have been the former, and Iron Blood War God Lee Gwan would have been the latter.”

“So Lee Gwan broke the seal on the Heavenly Evil Cult’s forbidden book?”

“For now, that seems to be the best explanation.”

Dam-ho frowned slightly.

“I don’t know what the Heavenly Evil Cult’s forbidden book is, but it must be something tremendous enough to stimulate Lee Gwan’s hidden desires. Enough to make him stab his old friends in the back…”

“Then the Heavenly Evil Cult we know now is?”

“Do you remember Taiji Scholar Go Ju-wol, whom you killed at the Lotus Flower Tower?”

“……”

“He was a martial artist who participated in the death squad during the first Orthodox-Demon War.”

For a moment, Dam-ho’s eyebrows twitched. It was because a certain assumption came to mind. Seeing this, Geom Yul-cheon nodded.

“Your thought is correct. Those who led the death squad at that time were the Four Divine Emperors, especially Iron Blood War God Lee Gwan.”

“……”

“Doesn’t it coincide strangely? Lee Gwan stole the Heavenly Evil Cult’s forbidden book, and Go Ju-wol, who participated in the death squad he led, became a member of the Heavenly Evil Cult.”

“Then the Heavenly Evil Cult is?”

“Definitely the successor to the death squad.”

“Were there any Mount Hua martial artists among those who participated in the death squad?”

At Dam-ho’s question, Geom Yul-cheon fell into thought for a moment.

Though he wasn’t born at that time, Geom Yul-cheon had collected countless pieces of information while tracking the Heavenly Evil Cult. Even if he didn’t know everything, he knew about the major figures.

“From Mount Hua Sect, Jin Gung-ja and several other masters participated.”

“Jin Gung-ja?”

Dam-ho muttered quietly.

At that time, Mount Hua Sect’s greatest master was Cheon Gung-ja, and the sect leader was Il Gung-ja. And Cheon Gung-ja was also Master Hyeon-so’s master.

Jin Gung-ja would have been a master of the same generation as Cheon Gung-ja.

Dam-ho’s gaze deepened further. Geom Yul-cheon’s gaze was the same as his.

They were never people with poor minds. Rather, they had superior intellects compared to ordinary people. Above all, they shared a tenacity that never gave up.

Their conclusion was one.

For some reason unknown, the death squad that participated in the Orthodox-Demon War at that time betrayed by following Lee Gwan. And they established the Heavenly Evil Cult.

Geom Yul-cheon shook his head.

“The worst scenario.”

It was enough to make one sigh naturally.

He looked at Dam-ho. Dam-ho’s gaze had sunk deeper than ever.

The moment he saw his face, Geom Yul-cheon felt an unknown thrill.

‘Fist Demon.’

He already knew that Dam-ho was strong. So he thought he could certainly become his rival. Indeed, Dam-ho had such ability.

Half of the Demon Cult’s Seven Great Demons had died at his hands. Though it was a surprising achievement for the world, Geom Yul-cheon could have done that much too.

The Thunder Stream he had inherited had that level of destructive power. Indeed, he had displayed superior martial prowess against the Ten Soldiers, including Jeong Cheon-ak.

But facing Cheon Oh-gyeong, the inheritor of Sword Stream who could be called the leader among the Thirteen Branches, was a different dimension altogether.

Honestly, he couldn’t be confident of achieving victory against Cheon Oh-gyeong either. But the man before him had achieved victory against Cheon Oh-gyeong, the strongest martial artist.

Now he had to acknowledge it.

The man called Dam-ho was much more powerful than he had thought. Perhaps even more than himself…

Geom Yul-cheon’s gaze also deepened like Dam-ho’s.

‘He stands on the opposite side of this Geom Yul-cheon’s destiny. He is my companion and destined rival. Eventually, in the end, only he and I will stand at the edge of the martial world.’

Geom Yul-cheon unconsciously clenched his fist tightly. So tight that his nails dug into his palm until blood flowed. But he soon relaxed his fist.

Dam-ho was a disciple of the prestigious orthodox sect Mount Hua, while he was a disciple of the Demon Cult, the leader of the demonic path. When all grudges in the martial world were resolved, they would inevitably clash, but now was not the time to oppose him.

Geom Yul-cheon’s gaze became much gentler.

“I don’t know for what reason Lee Gwan is succeeding the Heavenly Evil Cult and fanning the flames of conflict between the demonic path and the martial world. But if we leave them alone like this, the martial world and the Divine Cult will surely destroy each other.”

“……”

“Dam-ho.”

“Speak!”

“I will formally propose to you. Let us cooperate temporarily.”

“Didn’t you say before that you would handle it alone?”

“I was arrogant. I’m sorry.”

Geom Yul-cheon apologized. But he wasn’t servile and remained dignified. Dam-ho stared at such Geom Yul-cheon.

‘One who has the qualification and power to navigate through turbulent times.’

The Geom Yul-cheon he saw was a hegemon.

Though they might inevitably clash someday, for now he needed his cooperation.

Dam-ho nodded.

“Thank you! Friend.”

Geom Yul-cheon extended his hand, and Dam-ho grasped it.

Fist Demon and Unyielding Spirit…

It was a historic moment when the men who would become legends of the martial world and demonic path first joined hands.

***

“Hureok!”

Namgung Chang suddenly kicked off his bed and sat up. His entire body was drenched in sweat.

“Military Advisor, what’s wrong?”

A guard martial artist who had been standing watch outside kicked open the door and rushed in. Then Namgung Chang waved his hand.

“It’s nothing. I just had a nightmare for a moment.”

“A nightmare?”

“My energy seems to be depleted lately. There’s nothing to worry about, so go back.”

“Yes!”

At Namgung Chang’s words, the guard martial artist bowed and withdrew. Right after he left, Namgung Chang threw open the window wide. Cold air rushed in and refreshed his lungs.

Only then did his mind clear up a bit.

Like most nightmares, he couldn’t even remember what kind of dream it was. But one thing was certain. In the dream, he was suffering tremendous pain with no end in sight. And the one causing him pain was a person he knew well.

“Fist Demon, have you now started appearing even in my dreams?”

Namgung Chang ground his teeth.

Now his heart was being torn to shreds beyond just trembling with rage.

If there was one blemish in his life that was running on a smooth highway, it was only Dam-ho. It seemed like he could only live if that person disappeared from the world.

“Definitely… I will definitely kill you with my own hands.”

Namgung Chang had to cool his anger in the cold wind.

It was quite some time later that he regained his composure.

“Phew!”

Just as he was about to turn around with a sigh, he suddenly heard the guard martial artist’s voice from outside.

“Military Advisor.”

“What is it?”

“The Alliance Leader is calling for you.”

“At this hour?”

“He asks you to come to the Alliance Leader’s quarters.”

“I understand. I’ll prepare myself, so wait a moment.”

“Understood.”

Namgung Chang hurriedly changed his clothes and went outside. Even as he walked, he wore a puzzled expression.

It was early dawn. There had never been a case when Alliance Leader Nam Cheon-san had summoned him at this hour.

‘What could it be?’

Nam Cheon-san usually found him very difficult to deal with.

Though he was a great martial artist called by the nickname Divine Spear, he had almost no foundation in the Martial Alliance. Therefore, despite holding the position of Alliance Leader, he had no choice but to be manipulated by Vice Alliance Leader Jo Ui-myeong, Military Advisor Namgung Chang, and the martial world’s renowned masters who controlled the leadership.

Nam Cheon-san extremely disliked meeting Jo Ui-myeong and Namgung Chang directly. Even if he was a puppet Alliance Leader, he wanted to maintain his pride.

Knowing Nam Cheon-san’s such tendencies, Namgung Chang’s curiosity could only grow.

After passing through several checkpoints, he finally arrived at the Alliance Leader’s quarters. Then a martial artist standing guard loudly shouted toward the inside.

“Alliance Leader, the Military Advisor has arrived.”

“Bring him in.”

“Yes!”

Namgung Chang opened the door and walked inside before the martial artist’s answer was even finished. It was truly an unhesitating appearance.

“Military Advisor, welcome.”

“Alliance Leader. What brings you to summon me at this hour?”

Namgung Chang spoke with a slight edge toward Nam Cheon-san who was welcoming him warmly. Namgung Chang’s mood was already disturbed because of the nightmare. Naturally, his voice had to become sharp.

But Nam Cheon-san smiled leisurely as if he was used to it.

The first year or two, life within the Martial Alliance had been difficult for him too. Though he seemed to receive extreme respect on the surface, in reality he was a powerless puppet Alliance Leader. But he endured and endured again for the greater good of the martial world. In the process, his mental suffering was so severe that he developed internal ailments, but now he had become somewhat accustomed to it, making endurance easier.

Also, through such endurance, quite a few followers had emerged within the alliance. Though he had no foundation within the alliance at first, now his foundation had grown considerably, allowing him to voice his opinions. That’s why he could freely summon the Military Advisor even at this early hour.

“I called you because I wanted to share good news with the Military Advisor.”

“Good news? What is that?”

“A venerable senior from the previous generation has come to help us.”

Perhaps because he was in a good mood, Nam Cheon-san’s voice was slightly elevated. Conversely, Namgung Chang’s mood dropped slightly.

If a senior from the previous generation was helping, it would increase the Alliance Leader’s power accordingly. For Namgung Chang and the leadership, this was not particularly welcome news. But since he couldn’t show it, Namgung Chang forced a smile.

“That’s wonderful. Who might that person be?”

“Rather than me telling you, it would be better to see for yourself.”

Nam Cheon-san smiled and pointed to one corner of the room. Then someone slowly walked out from the darkness.

It was an old man who appeared to be in his late sixties with a six-foot tall frame. Even in the subtle darkness, his pupils were shining like a fierce tiger. His dignified gait resembled a tiger, and tremendous presence was emanating from his entire body.

Namgung Chang felt slightly overwhelmed by the old man’s presence and made a bewildered expression. Seeing this, Nam Cheon-san smiled as if he had expected this.

“Greet him, Military Advisor. This is the great hero Jeok Gyeong-cheon, the Heavenly Sword King.”

“Heavenly… Sword King?”

Namgung Chang’s pupils shook.

It was a name that any martial artist living in the current era would have heard at least once.

Heavenly Sword King Jeok Gyeong-cheon.

One who lived in the same era as the Four Divine Emperors and was a member of the death squad during the first Orthodox-Demon War. However, he had mysteriously disappeared afterward, so everyone thought he was dead.

“Are… are you really Heavenly Sword King Jeok senior?”

Namgung Chang’s voice trembled as he spoke.