A Modern Man Who Got Transmigrated Into the Murim World

Chapter 61

Jowei, who had been watching all of this, was extremely annoyed.

They say they were originally immortals, but they keep babbling nonsense that I can’t make heads or tails of, so now just hearing the word ‘immortal’ makes me want to vomit.

Moreover, the fact that Cheon Woo-ja, whom he thought was on his side, had actually been doubting him all along turned Jo Hwi’s insides even more upside down.

According to these guys, Daruma is not the great founder of Zen Buddhism but the worst being ever born to humanity, and that such a person has been reincarnated as himself?

What was even more infuriating was that even the esteemed figures of the spirit realm, who had always cared for and nurtured him, were swayed by Cheon Woo-ja’s words.

That means this Jo Hwi is under “reasonable suspicion”!

No, the reason I was able to interpret the relic of the deity differently and acquire it faster than you is because I am just like him, a ‘modern person’!

Does it really make you feel at ease to interpret it as some grand ‘divine will’ just because you can’t explain it with your common sense?

How is that any different from the countless uncivilized people of this era who, when they catch measles, ask ghosts to fetch water and heal them?

It’s really so primitive, so primitive.

‘God’ my ass!

If that guy were a real god, he would have controlled the human world solely with his pure will.

Do you not know God?

If you don’t like it, you can pour rain to destroy the Earth and split the Red Sea in half—you’re a god!

Wait a minute?

If it’s the same power I used to kill Hwiyeongjoneshin not long ago, I think I could do it too…

When his thoughts reached that point, Jo Hwi was truly on the verge of going crazy.

“Damn it!”

The increasingly furious Jo Hwi forcibly dispelled Cheon Woo-ja’s manifestation and reclaimed his own body.

It was an unintentional act, but it greatly surprised the lords of the spirit realm.

-How could this happen…!

The beings of the spirit realm are truly venerable.

Their souls, forged through long-standing karma, were that powerful.

Moreover, among those powerful individuals with such strong spiritual powers, Cheon Woo-ja is truly a standout.

What does it mean that such a celestial being’s power can be so easily and forcibly released?

-It’s a spiritual power that far surpasses us. This is…!

The Sword God was in shock.

You mean to say that you’ve acquired powers that surpass those of the masters?

In fact, martial power like internal energy became more tangible as one broke through levels, but spiritual power did not feel like any kind of substance to Jo Hwi.

Jowhee shifted his gaze towards the flickering darkness and muttered.

“Enough.” Hey, you dark-skinned fellow.

“Hmm…….”

Due to the changed temperament, the ghost recognized Jo Hwi at a glance.

After realizing that Jo Hwi was a reincarnator, he now seemed very cautious.

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“I can’t understand.” He wouldn’t have left you alone until now.

“Ah, I don’t know.” Quickly tell me how to get out of here. I’m a busy person. I have a lot to do.

“I have a favor to ask.”

“Request?”

They say that his power reached the heavens, earning the hatred of the deities and even a curse, and yet he asks me for a favor?

“My soul has been weary for a long time.” Now I really want to rest.

Jo Hwi flinched and glared with wide eyes.

“What?” “Are you kidding me? You want me to kill you?”

“If you were going to give up your life so easily, you wouldn’t have endured those harsh years.”

“Then?”

“I want to be there too.”

“That place?”

Jo Hwi tilted his head in confusion, and then, realizing the identity of the ‘place’ the other person mentioned, he shouted as if he were struggling.

“Is my head some kind of inn or something?”

“I will watch your every move as if I were a dead mouse.”

“Oh, you want to be a viewer?” “Are you going to at least send me some star balloons?”

Are they expecting me to become a BJ now?

The intention was too obvious.

Well, I didn’t want to admit it, but he was claiming that he saw the power of the divine seat in himself.

So, naturally, I want to find a clue to reach the divine seat while observing in the spirit world.

“No.” Absolutely not. I’m already losing my mind and on the verge of a mental breakdown, so no more residents are allowed.

“Hmm…….”

At that moment, the voice of the sword master echoed in his mind once again.

-It’s not a bad thing, is it? He is one of the six true gods who directly inherited the legacy from the Divine Seat. If your actions bring benefit, then it is indeed a gain, not a loss. Moreover, he is a being who has accumulated magical power for over a thousand years. His knowledge is far beyond the realm of humanity.

The demon god also agreed.

The ones who secretly control the Central Plains are not the Divine Faction, but the Tongcheonju… no, they would be called the Tongcheon Divine Gods. If you were to meet him, wouldn’t he be a great asset to you?

Jo Hwi let out a sigh.

“If the author intends to do that, they can just help me from now on; is there really a need to involve the spirit world?”

-What a fool! He is someone who roams the depths of the underworld, three thousand jang deep, to avoid the eyes of Sinjwa and Tongcheonjonshin. Do you still say such things after seeing the martial god being completely annihilated by the divine power of the divine seat as soon as he revealed his divine status?

Ah, damn!

It’s so logical that I can’t refute it, right?

“Ah, I don’t know.” You’re really going to stay quiet, right? My head is about to explode as it is, so don’t go in there and be all over the place. Got it?

“…….”

“…….”

“Then why are you speaking informally?”

“Are you bragging about being over a thousand years old right now?” Who do you think you are?

“…….”

Thus, after a thousand years, Guiam finally extinguished his physical form in the world of the living, bringing an end to his life of desires and ambitions.

His life as a spirit being has newly unfolded for him.

However, at this point, the nobleman had no idea how great a curse it would be.

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***

Danriwoong, or rather Huyeongjonnshin, was the one who practically operated the Bigongilmaek.

The person known as Gu Yeon-cheon, referred to as Bi-gong (秘公), was actually just an agent of Hwi Yeong-jun Shin.

However, that absolute being, Danriwoong, was annihilated by an enigmatic entity, and this was enough to plunge Guyeoncheon into a state of panic.

It’s already been half a month since Gu Yeon-cheon declared his seclusion.

The confusing part was that Jo Hwi and his group were in the same situation.

“Still no news?”

In response to Baek Hwa-rin’s question after the change in the sky, Hong Ye shook her head softly.

“Not at all.” “Nowhere in the world does the Sword God exist.”

The dense information network of the underworld was truly spread across the world.

If Hongye speaks with such a tone of certainty, then without a doubt, Jo Hwi will not be anywhere to be found.

“At that time, they weren’t dead, were they?”

The day Jo Hwi disappeared.

After he disappeared, leaving only the words telling his comrades not to come out, it wasn’t long before the sound of thunder was heard repeatedly from the sky.

Jo Hwi’s colleagues never thought that the noise was caused by the battle until they heard the testimonies of the witnesses. They thought it was a natural disaster.

“The martial artist of the Absolute Realm doesn’t die so easily.”

Baek Hwa-rin smiled ominously.

“How could the Black Heaven Lotus have come into existence? The world’s wildest rumors would know.”

Mosangokju Danyongseong was the Palmuza of that time.

The one who killed him and unified the river was none other than Heukcheondaesal.

“How can something like Mosangokju compare to a minor deity?” The first person since the Three Gods to have the divine inscription engraved upon them is him. “Don’t doubt the judgment of the people of Hongye any longer.”

At that moment, Jo Hwi’s new model appeared like a lie through the dim shadows of the meeting room.

“Double bastard.” You used to call me a bitch every single day, and now you’re the real bitch? “When you used to follow me around calling me ‘oppa,’ and now you treat me like I’m dead?”

“Lord Jo Hwi!”

“Little Sword God!”

Unlike Hong Ye, who was extremely delighted, and Amheokgwi, Baek Hwa-rin was at a loss for what to do.

“Ah, no, that’s not it…”

“Forget it!” If you had come just one day later, I would have set up the ritual table for you. Wow, me!

As Baek Hwa-rin tightly closed her mouth and shrank back like a turtle, Jo Hwi clicked his tongue and looked at Hong Ye.

“How far has the work progressed?”

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“Not at all.” Everything was so confusing that I couldn’t get anything done.

“Confusion?” What’s the situation?

Then, Hongye slowly began to explain.

The sudden seclusion of Gu Yeon-cheon.

The sale of the Man Geum Jeon Jang has also been halted.

“Officials and merchants from all over have requested an audience with the Prince several times a day, but he has refused every time.” Even recently, the emperor’s cousin came to see him, but he refused.

Jo Hwi grinned.

“Kid, your mental state is completely gone.”

“Mental?”

“There’s such a thing.”

Occasionally, the minor deity used strange words.

Sensitive to information, Hongye had been carefully monitoring that aspect from early on.

Sometimes, the words he used somehow resembled the languages of the Western Regions.

“Right now, there probably isn’t much to eat.” Let’s retreat.

“Yes?”

“What?”

Above all, Baek Hwa-rin was showing a great deal of doubt on her face.

“Three months have already passed, right?” Didn’t you say that the Joga Association was dangerous? “But now you want to withdraw?”

“Do you think the world’s number one openness is just a joke?” It was said that Jeonseogu was receiving regular reports on the status of the meeting. And…….”

The following words of Jo Hwi left everyone dumbfounded.

“I killed Hyung-su.” “For the time being, the Joga Daesang Association is safe.”

“Bad omen?” Who are you talking about?

Jo Hwi was looking out the window at the place of the flying ship, Gu Yeoncheon, and grinning slyly.

“The real master who moves the secret organization is someone else.” That bastard can’t do anything on his own. He doesn’t have any real power either. Surely, it was their help that made it possible to conquer the underworld.”

“Yes…?”

An utterly bewildered expression on Hongye’s face.

The secretive organization that supposedly manages the realm behind the scenes, the very essence of mystery itself—are you saying there’s a separate organization that controls such a secretive group?

Truly a labyrinth within a labyrinth, it is indeed becoming more and more absurd.

“Y-you mean you personally killed such an incredible being?”

Jo Hwi answers curtly.

“Uh.” They’ll sort things out and clean up by themselves in due time. There will be plenty to eat then. “When the time comes, let’s come back.”

Hongye is still staring blankly at her stomach.

“This is how it is…”

How much I’ve struggled all this time just to deceive Bi-gong Gu Yeon-cheon!

“Then are you going to keep living as that guy’s wife?” “I’ll keep my promise, so don’t worry.”

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Revealing a bewildered question was the same for the Dark Demon.

“How do you plan to escape?” Countless ancient and renowned formations are spread around the manor. Moreover, the absolute masters of the Killing Veil are also guarding the manor without any gaps. They wouldn’t easily let their secret wives out, would they?

Juhwi clicked his tongue and took out a long rope he had brought from his pocket.

“How can they block the sky?”

“Hmm?”

Silently approaching, Jo Hwi begins to tie up the Dark Spirit.

“What, what is the meaning of this?”

“Don’t move.”

Thus, after tightly binding the dark spirit and tying a knot, Jo-hwi continued the rope and approached Hong-ye.

“Oh, no, could it be you?”

“Uh, no way, that’s right.”

“Ah!”

Thus, Jo Hwi, after binding Hong Ye, who had frozen with a bewildered expression, once again tied him up and approached Baek Hwa Rin, the Blood of the Sky.

“Oppa, are we really flying in the sky?”

“Actually, I don’t really want to take you.”

If he was a seasoned veteran who had navigated the underworld for his entire life, he would somehow survive by utilizing the myriad transformations of creation.

“Why, why are you doing this?” I really worked hard!

“That’s why I’m tying you up.”

Jo Hwi let out a small laugh, then levitated the iron sword into the air and soon mounted it.

“Small, small sword god!”

“Hey, excuse me!” Why didn’t you even ask the parties involved…?

However, their wishes did not reach Jo Hwi.

“Yay!”

“Screeeeam!”

“Ah, no, sir!” Aaaah!

Crash!

The roof of the lodge collapsed, and Jo Hwi and his companions were being shot up into the sky, entangled like sausages, over the cold night sky.

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Due to the sudden news of Jo Hwi’s return, all the colleagues gathered in one place for the first time in a while.

Jang Il-ryong was making a strange expression while flexing his chest muscles to hold off the Dark Demon.

Jo Hwi looked over his colleagues and said.

“Say hello.” “From now on, we’ll be working together.”

The Dark Spirit looked around with its usual curt voice.

“My nickname is Dark Demon, and I don’t have a separate name.” Just call me “Gwi-rang.”

Jang Il-ryong smiled ominously.

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“Salgi (Killer)? “Spy?”

If they were people of the martial world without a name or unable to reveal it themselves, they were only those raised as assassins or spies.

Jo Hwi glared at Jang Il-ryong like that.

“Just call me Deputy Kyu.” You joined the company after washing your hands, and now you’re going to question my background? You’re not exactly from a humble background either, are you?

Indeed, whether it’s a bandit blocking the road and robbing money or a sinister assassin, it’s all just a matter of comparing acorns. Comparison is meaningless.

Jang Il-ryong growled at Jo Hwi with a look of disbelief on his face.

“How can you compare the world of the forest bandits, filled with bold and chivalrous men, to mere despicable assassins!”

“Both of them are the same, holding a knife and taking people’s lives hostage.”

“No, brother!”

“What? So, are you going to do the bandit thing again?

“Th-that’s not it, but…”

“Are you saying you’re now a faction member?”

As Jang Il-ryong became a hapless victim, Jin Ga-hee, who had been cautiously observing the situation, carefully approached Baek Hwa-rin.

“Cheonbyeon… no, Baek unnie.”

“Yeah, little sibling.” How have you been?

“Your sister.”

Rather, the hierarchy among women is more clearly defined than among men.

Indeed, the last incident (?)It seemed that the hierarchy had been firmly established, as Jin Ga-hee was showing an endlessly polite demeanor towards Baek Hwa-rin.

Namgoong Jangho, who had been silently observing, approached Jo Hwi.

“This is not it.”

“What?”

Namgoong Jangho glanced at the Dark Demon.

“Even if everyone is in a position where they are receiving a salary from you, aren’t we your colleagues and close friends?” The recruitment of an assassin has crossed the line. I can never accept it.”

It was Namgung Jangho’s attitude that clearly showed how the people of the martial world perceived the assassin.

The warriors of the martial world never regarded assassins as true warriors.

Jo Hwi frowned.

“Well, if you think about it, the righteous sects also commit killings all the time, right?”

Namgoong Jangho revealed a deep-seated anger on his face. As if he absolutely could not concede this.

“Are you equating the punishment carried out by chivalry and justice with the act of killing someone for mere silver?”

Jo Hwi had an expression that said he couldn’t accept it.

“Ha, no matter how many embellishments you put on it, the essence is that both are the same act of murder.” Just because the severity of the crime differs, it doesn’t mean the fundamental act of murder disappears, right?

For Jo Hwi, who held modern notions, all murders were the same unless it was self-defense to protect oneself.

Even if one argues that they were drunk, had a mental illness, or that the murder was a just punishment, modern courts do not deny the crime of murder itself.

“Nonsensical sophistry!” How can the act of advisory guidance be compared to hiring a hitman?

“No, Namgoong-hyung, you’re the one being unreasonable!” Look at it now. You’re cleverly omitting the word ‘murder’ and talking, aren’t you? “They’re trying to cover up the murder by calling it ‘an act of consensual guidance,’ but even Namgoong-hyung knows deep down that nothing can justify a murder!”

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“Cheers!”

“I’m going too!” I’ll go twice!

Perhaps feeling uncomfortable with the fact that his friends were quarreling because of him, Amheokgwi approached Namgoong Jangho and politely handed over the power.

“This ear.” “I have mastered the assassin’s martial arts, but I have never once committed an assassination.”

Namgoong Jangho faced him with a look of surprise.

“Is that really true?”

No, just a moment ago you were cursing like that, and now you’re giving the assassin a face-to-face pass?

As expected, for Namgoong Jangho, the right to refuse is like an unbearable fart.

Jo Hwi clicked his tongue at the sight.

“Tsk, tsk.” Rather, Gwirang-hyung is a man who has lived his life protecting others with that dangerous ‘assassin martial art.’ “Getting angry without even knowing what’s going on?”

“Really?” Hmm-hmm.”

As Namgoong Jangho awkwardly cleared his throat and stepped back, Peng Gak quietly approached.

“I have completed the entire contract period.”

“Um?”

Jo Hwi couldn’t help but be utterly shocked by the transformed appearance of Pang Gak.

The calluses on his massive fists surpassed even the former Jang Il-ryong.

Although his body had clearly shrunk compared to the past due to the many hardships endured in the countless tunnels, his body was as finely honed as steel.

He could easily be called the “God of Blades” rather than the “King of Blades!”

But had his contract already ended?

To think that the greatest miner of all time, who could shatter an entire vein of ore with a single punch, had to leave now.

Jo Hwi clicked his tongue in regret.

“Isn’t there any way we could extend the contract with better terms?”

“Just kill me already.”

During the day, he worked to the bone as a miner, and at night, he had to avoid the bloodthirsty madwoman who was obsessed with him. Every day felt like it was draining his very life force.

He had reached his limit. No, in fact, Pang Gak had been avoiding the Jo family and the Great Jo Trade Association for some time now.

“Alright. Go back to Pang Ga, then. But let’s not sever our ties completely.”

“We’ll be cleanly cutting ties from today.”

“Mm…”

This guy must have been really struggling.

Jo Hwi pulled out the Jo family’s seal from his robe to give him the “unlimited entry pass to the Hubin Hall,” which was Pang Gak’s wish, but Pang Gak waved his hand and declined, quickly packing his belongings and leaving for Pang Ga.

“Man, he’s really making me feel awkward. Was I really that bad?”

Jang Il-ryong subtly nodded.

“It’s not that. What’s the point of being so moral? Honestly, the things we made him do weren’t exactly things a human should be tasked with.”

“What? He trained martial arts on his own and earned money. What’s the problem?”

“Please, don’t say that to Big Brother Bing Shin.”

“……”

Suddenly, Jo Hwi became concerned about Han Seol-hyun, who was probably struggling.

“Where is Han So-jeo?”

“Don’t even get me started. My sister-in-law is so overwhelmed she barely has time to breathe. There are too many small Bingos scattered around. It might be better to build a big Bingo like Hubi to save on logistics costs, or else my sister-in-law is going to collapse!”

“Mm…”

It seemed that Jang Il-ryong’s point was valid.

At the beginning of their expansion into the western region, their finances hadn’t been so abundant, and they had to save on logistics costs for the ice. But now, their financial situation had improved significantly.

“Push forward with the stonemasons. Make it five times the size of Hubi.”

“Understood!”

It seemed that Jang Il-ryong had been waiting for this answer for a long time, as a smile spread across his face.

Jo Hwi then turned to Namgung Jang-ho.

“Namgung-hyung. What about Vice-President Je-gal? Have you heard anything?”

“Not yet. But something must have happened with the Meng.”

“He’ll handle it well.”

Jo Hwi trusted Je-gal Un, but above all, he trusted the leader Mu-hwang.

The Mu-hwang who had opened his heart to him was definitely a different person than before.

“By the way, who is that woman?”

Namgung Jang-ho pointed with his eyes to a woman crouching on the table, constantly glancing nervously at Jo Hwi and trembling—Chun-seon (Spring Fan).

“Hmm, according to Baek Hwa-rin… she’s a b*tch?”

“A b… what?”

“Never mind. Don’t worry about her. She’s about to be beaten to death by her husband.”

At that moment, Jang Il-ryong unloaded a long-awaited piece of information.

“By the way, Hyung, we’ve got a weird one who just came to Jo’s Great Trade Association.”

“Weird one?”

Jang Il-ryong nodded meaningfully.

“There’s someone who has been waiting for you to meet him for two months. I told him to come back later, but he just stood there for days in front of the Foreign City gate, waiting, no matter how much it rained. I ended up letting him into the guest hall because he wouldn’t leave…”

Jo Hwi raised an eyebrow.

“Can’t you deal with a peddler like that without reporting it to me, Director Jang? I’m disappointed.”

“He’s not a peddler. He’s a finely honed martial artist.”

“A martial artist from the Jianghu?”

Namgung Jang-ho added to the conversation.

“I can’t easily guarantee the outcome of a match with him. He’s an extremely powerful master.”

“Namgung-hyung? Are you saying someone stronger than you?”

“Not stronger. Just formidable.”

After reaching the Hua realm, Namgung Se-ga had been absorbing the absolute martial techniques, and his progress was exceptional day by day.

For someone at the same Hua realm level, he could confidently claim to be on par with anyone, so if he couldn’t easily guarantee the outcome, that meant this person was no ordinary individual.

“Wait, if he’s that strong, he must be known in Jianghu, right? Who is he?”

Namgung Jang-ho shook his head.

“He’s not known in either the righteous or the demonic path. Do you think we’ve just been sitting idly, wiping our feet and sleeping?”

“Oh. No alias for such a master?”

Jo Hwi’s curiosity was piqued even more as he glanced at Jang Il-ryong.

“Where is he now?”

“He’s at the training hall. He’s usually there swinging his sword at this time.”

Jo Hwi muttered as he walked off.

***

“Crazy bastard. Acting like it’s his own home.”

The man’s swordsmanship, executed with one perfect strike after another, and his serious expression, reminded Jo Hwi of an artisan.

Although the movement was simply a light downward strike, the immense power contained within it was immediately apparent to Jo Hwi.

“Ho.”

There was no extraneous error in the man’s sword form.

Not a single wasted motion, a perfect vector.

The uniformity of his movement, the precision of his force, the exquisite balance in every aspect – Jo Hwi couldn’t help but marvel.

It was a flawless sword technique with not a single flaw.

A person capable of drawing the same sword path no matter how many times they wield it—whether it be a thousand times or ten thousand times.

The Sword God, revered as a master, called such a level of skill “the union of sword and soul.”

Jo Hwi had never encountered such swordsmanship from anyone below the highest level of martial mastery.

At that moment, Jo Hwi finally understood why Jang Il-ryong and Nam Gung-jang-ho had not hastily expelled the man.

A martial artist could never afford to treat such a person dismissively.

Jo Hwi didn’t want to disturb his practice and quietly sat down under a stone wall, continuing to watch the man in silence.

“Ho.”

The more Jo Hwi observed, the more his admiration grew.

The man’s sword was more than just a skill; it was a lesson in perseverance.

Just watching the single movement, Jo Hwi could feel the immense concentration and effort that went into it.

It was a swordsmanship so precise that even the Sword God would be in awe.

– Truly an astonishing junior. The very embodiment of unwavering will and the unity of mind and body. That is no mere training.

‘Not training, you say?’

– Indeed. If a person were like stone, he would be the one chiseling himself. I cannot comprehend it. Why is someone who wields such a sword still in the lower realms?

The Sword God had often praised martial artists’ techniques but had never shown approval for their disposition.

Jo Hwi, deep in thought as he watched the man, felt a strange mixture of admiration and reflection.

Merely swinging his sword had already earned the Sword God’s recognition.

However, that was not the only thing that fascinated Jo Hwi.

The real shock came when a powerful and overwhelming presence began to press down on his neck, as if an entire mountain range had suddenly shifted onto him.

The pressure was so intense that it felt as though any movement would cause his body to shatter, an infinite weight bearing down on him.

Jo Hwi’s entire body began to tremble, but he struggled to calm himself and quickly withdrew his sword.

Then, slowly, he turned to look behind him.

Standing there, casually sitting under the stone wall, was the man who had been practicing—a calm figure, almost like an unreachable enigma.

At that moment, the leader of the secret sword sect, Kang Bi-woo, felt an overwhelming sense of suffocation, as if the very air around him was being drained.

The man was not just a swordsman; he was the sword itself.

Kang Bi-woo found something deeply strange about the situation.

The man was fully realized as a sword, and yet there was no sharpness or energy—the usual “spirit of the sword”—that one would expect from someone of his caliber.

The spirit of the sword grows along with the swordsman. No matter the level, a true swordsman will inevitably release their sword’s energy through years of practice.

And yet, this man was different—he was the sword, but not in the way one would expect. The contradiction was so bizarre that Kang Bi-woo could not help but feel confused and disoriented.

Kang Bi-woo finished his training and found Jo Hwi still sitting there, staring at him.

With a sigh, Jo Hwi stood up, brushing off his clothes.

“You called me here for a reason?”

Finally realizing Jo Hwi’s identity, Kang Bi-woo’s eyes widened in surprise.

“You… are the Little Sword God?”

Jo Hwi chuckled.

“You’re asking me a question with another question. You have a bad habit.”

“No, that’s not what I meant…”

“What? The people in the martial world call me the Little Sword God. Let me ask again: why did you want to see me?”

At Jo Hwi’s probing, Kang Bi-woo sheathed his sword and looked at him seriously.

“I want to learn a technique from the Little Sword God.”

Jo Hwi froze in disbelief.

“You want me to teach you martial arts?”

“Yes.”

“Are you serious?”

This was outrageous!

Sword techniques are never taught to outsiders.

Not just sword techniques, but all martial arts sects strictly guard their teachings.

If someone from another sect tries to learn or steal knowledge, it could lead to severe consequences, even becoming a target for the martial world’s justice.

Someone unaware of the martial world’s rules could only be one thing.

“Are you from the demonic sect?”

To his surprise, Kang Bi-woo nodded without hesitation.

“Yes, I come from the Evil Heaven Society.”

“The Evil Heaven Society?”

Jo Hwi couldn’t hide his shock.

The Evil Heaven Society, located on the border between Hunan and Guangxi, was the potential rival faction to the Jo Family’s faction.

Moreover, someone as skilled as Kang Bi-woo would likely be a high-ranking member.

The idea that a senior member of the Evil Heaven Society was openly requesting teachings in a righteous sect’s territory was beyond belief.

Jo Hwi was intrigued.

“What’s your rank in the Evil Heaven Society?”

“I am the leader of the Secret Evil Sword Division.”

Jo Hwi’s eyes widened even further.

“The Evil Sword Division?”

The Evil Sword Division was known to be one of the most elite groups within the Evil Heaven Society.

Comparable to the Celestial Dragon Guard of the Martial Alliance, it consisted of the best martial artists of the demonic faction!

And for Kang Bi-woo to be the leader of such an organization meant that he was not just any regular member but one of the highest-ranking officials in the Evil Heaven Society.

This reckless man had the audacity to approach Jo Hwi, who was a legendary swordsman of the righteous sect, and ask to be taught?

“Wait… so you’re clearly from the demonic sect?”

Jo Hwi was, after all, a disciple of the legendary Sword God of the righteous sect, and a sworn ally of the Martial Alliance. He now symbolized the very face of the righteous martial world.

But now, a member of the Evil Heaven Society wanted to learn from him?

“I don’t care about the distinction between righteous and demonic. As long as I can reach the ultimate level of swordsmanship, the title of leader of the Evil Sword Division is just a temporary label to me.”

“Ha, this guy’s got some guts. I could report this to the Evil Emperor and stir up some trouble. Do you think you can handle that?”

Kang Bi-woo smiled faintly.

“Do you think I came here without the approval of the Evil Emperor? Do whatever you want.”

“Ho…”

Did he just let his subordinate, who wanted to seek teachings from a representative sword master of the righteous sect, go?

The meaning behind that was simple.

This man was someone even the leader of the Sicheonhoe (a powerful criminal organization) could not control.

That meant their relationship wasn’t hierarchical but rather one bound by a deal or promise…

For a moment, Jo Hwi’s eyes gleamed ominously.

“You’re saying you’ll do anything to perfect the ultimate swordsmanship? Then you could become one of my subordinates, right?”

As if waiting for those words, Gang Biwoo responded.

“All the leaders of the factions are the same. It’s exactly as I heard from the leader ten years ago.”

With that, Gang Biwoo smiled faintly and continued with his deep voice.

“My only demand is this: I will not be disturbed in my martial arts training. Guarantee me unconditional seclusion. If you do, I will gladly become your subordinate.”

Jo Hwi froze in shock, his face filled with disbelief.

What kind of scoundrel was this? He wanted all the benefits of being an ally but refused to work?

But this man was young, no older than his thirties. If he was aiming for the peak of martial arts, there was no one in the Jianghu (martial world) with a better potential candidate.

His talent and aptitude could rival the likes of Hwasan So-ryong or Namgung Jang-ho, famous martial artists of the righteous sect.

Moreover, considering the weak traditions and martial art systems of the Sicheonhoe, this man might even surpass them in talent.

In that moment, Jo Hwi understood the dilemma faced by Sicheonhoe’s leader, Sa Hwang.

A true martial arts master with such potential would be an incredibly valuable asset, and despite his troublesome nature, he was someone Jo Hwi couldn’t let slip away.

He was a necessary evil, like a chicken rib!

“Is he trying to get rid of the troublesome faction and join me?” Jo Hwi thought to himself.

Of course, bringing a powerful martial artist into the Joga Daesangho (Righteous Faction) would be a huge advantage. After all, the Joga Daesangho was always weaker in terms of martial power compared to other factions, and that was something Jo Hwi had always felt was a thorn in his side.

But if Jo Hwi wasn’t clever, he might end up being the one controlled, with the subordinate dictating the terms.

But Jo Hwi wasn’t one to be outsmarted.

“The terms of the deal are lacking. Let’s just part ways here.”

Gang Biwoo wasn’t a man to give up easily.

“I’ve never received any remuneration from the faction. And I don’t plan to accept wages in the future. Just provide me with food, clothing, and shelter.”

“What, what did you say?”

The leader of the Sicheonhoe’s elite assassination squad—who had been known for his martial prowess—said he didn’t want any payment?

This changed everything.

Normally, recruiting someone who had reached the highest peak of martial arts would cost a great fortune. But this man was a solitary recluse—secluding himself!

That meant Jo Hwi could potentially recruit him into the Joga Daesangho with little more than a few provisions.

It seemed like an unbelievably great deal.

“Will you stand by your words?” Jo Hwi asked.

“I’ve never made a promise I didn’t intend to keep. If you’re unwilling, I’ll go to Hwasan. Their top swordsmanship master, Jaha, will surely take me in…”

Jo Hwi rushed to stop him before he could leave.

“Hwasan? What’s so good about those old sages? They’re all slow and boring.”

Gang Biwoo smiled brightly, his gaze fixed on Jo Hwi.

“Where’s my lodging?”

Up until this point, Jo Hwi had no idea how badly he had miscalculated.

One could never expect good things to come from a free lunch.

—

While Jo Hwi was busy inspecting the supplies heading to the northern part of the country with his staff, Gang Biwoo suddenly appeared.

“All the martial schools of the Central Plains adhere to the principle of ‘gentle can overcome hard’ as an unchangeable truth. But doesn’t that directly contradict the teachings of the Nine Overlord Swords (Gupa Gyeom), who said that only by reaching the extreme of the Great Overlord Sword can one defeat softness with strength? What do you, the Small Sword God, think about that?”

Jo Hwi, busy with work, sighed.

“Can we talk about this later? I’m swamped right now.”

Gang Biwoo, unfazed, rummaged through his belongings and pulled out a contract from the Joga Daesangho.

“According to this contract, Jo, the employer, must teach me martial arts when requested. Have you forgotten?”

Jo Hwi exploded with frustration.

“Why now of all times?! Can’t you see I’m working?!”

“This is a clear breach of contract,” Gang Biwoo stated flatly. “I’m leaving.”

“Ah, damn it! Wait a second!”

Jo Hwi dusted himself off, adjusting his clothes and sighing deeply, then turned to face Gang Biwoo again.

“Say that again. What was that about?”

“About gentle overcoming hard…” Gang Biwoo began again.

This was the basic principle of swordsmanship: no matter how powerful your sword, you couldn’t cut through a waterfall unless you could match the flow with strength. However, Jo Hwi wasn’t interested in long explanations.

“So, you mean, if you can’t cut through flowing water, just destroy the entire waterfall with sheer power, right?” Jo Hwi responded dismissively.

“Hmm…” Gang Biwoo seemed to deeply consider Jo Hwi’s words, nodding thoughtfully.

For a moment, Jo Hwi thought this conversation was over, but Gang Biwoo returned just two hours later, appearing in Jo Hwi’s office, where he was drowning in paperwork.

Gang Biwoo asked, “Then, what about the illusionary sword? Can it possibly exist? You said the ultimate destructive sword would erase the very existence of its opponent, yet the Grandmaster of the Hwasan sect believes the illusionary sword is the best. Doesn’t that contradict your theory?”

Jo Hwi’s head spun as he tried to organize the numbers in his mind, only to be thrown off by Gang Biwoo’s relentless questioning.

“Ah…” Jo Hwi muttered in frustration. He had dealt with relentless questions from Namgung Jang-ho, but this was something else entirely.

He knew Gang Biwoo wouldn’t stop until all his questions were answered.

“Do we have to keep doing this during work hours?” Jo Hwi snapped.

Gang Biwoo simply rummaged through the contract again and without a word, Jo Hwi could feel his temper flaring.

“If you pull that out again, I might have to think of a solution myself.”

“I’ll leave,” Gang Biwoo responded indifferently.

Jo Hwi sighed, realizing just how much he had underestimated this situation.

“Seriously, this guy?”

“Guide me with the attitude of divine sincerity.”

“Wow…!”

Zhou Hui stared at Gang Biwu with a look of disbelief for a while, but Gang Biwu didn’t budge.

Eventually, Zhou Hui raised both hands and feet in surrender and sighed deeply once again.

“You’re just obsessed with sword speed, that’s the problem. All the swordsmen of the Central Plains are obsessed with extreme speed, it’s just another variation of the fast sword.”

Gang Biwu looked at him with an expression that said he didn’t quite understand.

“To pursue the ultimate illusion, isn’t speed in the sword necessary?” Zhou Hui asked.

“Ugh, think before you speak,” Zhou Hui sighed as Gang Biwu furrowed his brow and seemed about to argue, but Zhou Hui quickly cut him off.

“What does ‘illusion’ mean?” Zhou Hui asked.

“Change?” Gang Biwu answered.

“Then, does the illusionary change only refer to fast changes?” Zhou Hui asked.

“Wha-what do you mean?” Gang Biwu asked, clearly confused.

Zhou Hui clicked his tongue as he looked out the window.

“Tch. Even the change of seasons is an illusion, and the passing of time is an illusion too. If a valley is shattered by the overwhelming force of extreme power and hundreds of years pass, what happens to the river in that valley?”

“Hmm…” Gang Biwu muttered.

“Unless the climate changes, the river will continue to carve through the terrain, turning the valley into a waterfall over time. Let me ask again, can the extreme illusion not defeat extreme power?”

It was such a surprising idea!

Normally, when one thinks of illusions, they imagine a very fast sword speed.

But the idea that the ultimate illusion wasn’t in speed but rather in long periods of time was completely revolutionary!

The world’s phenomena.

The ultimate unity of the cosmos.

This idea was far more intense to Gang Biwu than his earlier realizations.

He immediately sat in a meditative pose and closed his eyes, deeply lost in contemplation.

It wasn’t until dusk that Gang Biwu stood up and stared at Zhou Hui, his face full of awe.

Of course, Zhou Hui, exhausted from the day’s work, didn’t even notice Gang Biwu’s intense gaze.

“You’re not a sword god,” Gang Biwu said.

Zhou Hui frowned.

“What do you mean by that?”

Gang Biwu smiled faintly.

“Just become a sword god from today.”

Zhou Hui’s response to Gang Biwu’s advice was, in truth, a careless reply because he was annoyed.

However, both the sword god and the devil god were left in a state of surprise.

Truly a shocking theory of swords! And in the modern world’s way of thinking, no less!

Once Gang Biwu left, the elders started pestering Zhou Hui again.

Eventually, Zhou Hui put down the papers and collapsed onto his desk.

“Sigh, what kind of knowledge is that? What’s so great about saying slow changes can be an illusion?”

This is no simple sword theory.

Human thought is not particularly flexible, and once an idea settles in one’s mind, it is very difficult to change it.

Thus, narrowing epistemological views is an incredibly difficult task for humans.

Zhou Hui, however, felt the force of the sword god’s influence in an entirely different dimension when he momentarily channeled the power of the divine seat.

From that point onward, even the sword god began to cling to him.

Then, what is your stance on the quiet movement in the sword way?

Quiet movement.

The sword god was asking about a key principle in Chinese martial arts, that there is movement in stillness, which is central to martial teachings originating from Shaolin.

Zhou Hui frowned, resting his chin in thought before speaking.

“Quiet movement is a contradiction.”

A contradiction? What kind of strange talk is this?

In martial arts, particularly from Shaolin, the core of their teachings has always been the idea of quiet movement, of stillness containing motion.

Thus, all Shaolin techniques begin with a half-palm motion.

“Physically and mechanically, it’s clearly a contradiction. How can you claim there’s motion in stillness when the words themselves don’t make sense?”

Then what is the meaning of absolute intention?

The sword god’s voice had a hint of anger now.

But Zhou Hui was still calm.

“Well, intention guidance is, strictly speaking, not about physical ability but mental power, right? Technically, you can’t apply quiet movement to intention. Once the intention manifests, the will continuously radiates outward, how could that be still?”

What, what did you say!

“No, that’s right, isn’t it? Just standing still doesn’t mean you’re actually still. Even the absolute intention is movement. In the end, the concept of quiet movement can’t exist.”

Ridiculous logic!

What blasphemy!

The devil god launched into a long speech.

To claim that the study of the mind and expanding one’s thoughts is motion, that’s one thing. But achieving a state of mind where one has no thoughts, that is stillness. Qi, essence, and spirit all communicate with the heavens, but the void is always unchanging, so how can that not be still?

Zhou Hui squinted in exasperation.

“Lord Heavenly Demon? No, Master Devil? Doesn’t the process of communicating with heaven and earth involve motion?”

What, what did you say!

This was a statement that upturned the principles of martial arts in the Central Plains.

Even the relatively free-thinking Heavenly Demon from the demonic sect couldn’t contain his frustration.

“Ugh, what’s the use of these three thousand years of wisdom? You’re no different from the old fogies. You’re just good at being a ‘deity’ by name, not by substance.”

What, what did you say?

Suddenly, Zhou Hui insulted the three ancient divine figures, calling them as stuck-up as any old men. This sparked an uproar among them.

Why, why is it always like this!

The sword god and devil god joined forces to attack Zhou Hui.

The universe and all things are impermanent, right? Even the vast and boundless universe constantly changes, so how can there be any absolute principles? This is why I don’t like martial artists!

That’s right. There are always many paths to truth, and we must never be rigid in our thinking.

Suddenly, a group of Confucian scholars and officials gathered and began to argue, joining in to insult the martial artists and daoists present.

There is no distinction on the path to truth, how dare you mock those who cultivate the heavenly path!

To say that martial artists’ spirits are less than that of a farmer’s toil, what kind of nonsense is that?

Zhou Hui’s face contorted in frustration, like a demon preparing to strike.

“Enough already! How many times is this? Can’t I have a single peaceful day? Is my mind some kind of playground? Just think about it from my perspective for once! Damn it, if I weren’t the descendant, I’d…”

Crossing the line?

You crazy bastard! Are you trying to give up your humanity now?

At that moment, a figure wearing a form-fitting dress that revealed the curves of her body entered Zhou Hui’s chamber.

Creeeak—

“Zhou family…?”

Without hesitation, Zhou Hui drew his sword and assumed a martial stance.

“Are all of you really so desperate to take me down?”

If he dealt with Gang Biwu, the elders would rush in; if he handled the elders, the bloodline successor from Tianbian would cause a ruckus!

Tomorrow, would Namu Gangho start pestering him for a sparring match?

And after that, would Jin Gahui, who was obsessed with Absolute Intention, come to stab him in the side with a small knife, licking her lips?

For him, the Zhou family was not a home—it was hell.

“AAAHHHH!”

Zhou Hui, shouting in frustration, jumped onto his sword and disappeared with a swoosh.