NOVEL NEXT Chapter 875
Chapter 875: True Martial Home
“What?!”
I turned to look at Mangnyang, taken aback by the unexpected news, only to see him casually respond.
“There’s nothing to be surprised about. It’s simply the natural order of things.”
Natural order, huh?!
Jin So-cheong had been a steadfast ally and a significant force until now; this wasn’t something I could easily accept. My voice inevitably rose a bit in volume.
“No, please explain. Why are we trying to seal Jin So-cheong?”
Mangnyang opened his mouth as if to say something but changed his mind and spoke differently.
“It’s best if he is killed. That’s the right course of action.”
“What!!”
Kill Jin So-cheong?
Is it really necessary to go that far?
I was dumbfounded by Mangnyang’s overly extreme stance when Zhuge Sa said in a rather bitter tone.
“It’s frustrating. If that guy’s master had any smarts, maybe we wouldn’t all need to figure this out ourselves.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Just trust us this time. Once everything’s sorted out, we’ll explain. Can’t you just accept that?”
Zhuge Sa scratched his ear.
“Having an advisor means that we’re the ones thinking while you just sit back and do as you’re told.”
“… That doesn’t sound like a leader.”
Isn’t that what you’d call a servant?
As I voiced my discontent, Zhuge Sa retorted sharply.
“Fine, I’ll give you a clue to think about.”
Zhuge Sa continued with a pointed look.
“When forming this alliance, Zhuge Yulong and I might not know everything, but we agreed on one thing: We can’t trust Jin Cheon-hwi.”
“Doesn’t everyone know that? I know it all too well.”
“You idiot. A single phrase can imply dozens of meanings. I’ve given you all the clues, so stop bothering me.”
“……”
What does that even mean?
As I spiraled into confusion, Mangnyang interjected.
“Baek Woong. To clarify, we don’t want to imprison Jin So-cheong out of distrust. However, the more things develop, the more he’s likely to become a hindrance for us.”
“Really?”
“Absolutely. I can guarantee it on my name. Also, if sealing him is possible, we might not need to kill him.”
“Understood. Then let’s seal him. I’ll bring Jin So-cheong.”
I ultimately decided to abandon my thoughts. I was suspicious of Jin Cheon-hwi, but not of Jin So-cheong. Still, I couldn’t understand the correlation behind needing to imprison him. I trusted my advisors, so I had no choice but to follow their lead. I intended to apologize to Jin So-cheong later.
**Boom!**
I stealthily made my way to the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School to scout for Jin So-cheong’s whereabouts. However, I couldn’t sense his qi at all. Oddly perplexed, I grabbed a disciple from the Three Lines and quickly used the Soul Exchange Technique to interrogate him.
**Whoosh!**
“Answer all my questions truthfully.”
“Y-yes…”
“Where are Lee Kwang and Jin So-cheong?”
The dazed disciple slowly replied.
“Lee Kwang, your Honor, went to meet the Great Sword Gate Master… and Jin So-cheong left for martial arts training…”
“He left? Where to?”
“Even we don’t know that…”
“Do you think Yun Guang and Ji-pyeong know about it?”
“Those two… followed the Sect Leader, so I… can’t say…”
“Got it.”
I finished my interrogation and wiped the memory clean before sending him back. I felt bad for using the technique, but it likely wouldn’t affect his health or lifespan.
Knowing that Lee Kwang took the master and the experts Yun Guang and Ji-pyeong with him to find the Great Sword Gate Master indicated it was a significant issue. Normally, I would have given up and used the National Seal, but I had already given that to the Prophet as a fee. As I thought about what to do, I decided to take a chance and head to the Great Sword Gate.
**Boom!**
I scanned for qi from the rooftop of the Great Sword Gate. I couldn’t sense Lee Kwang, Yun Guang, or Ji-pyeong’s presence, but I felt a strong aura emanating from the Great Sword Gate Master. It seemed like he had already completed his business and left, and I needed to interrogate the master to learn more.
‘Should I prepare a mask?’
Like a ghost, I slipped silently into the room where the Great Sword Gate Master was resting.
After a moment, the master caught wind of my presence and, with a trembling voice, asked, “You’re quite the master of stealth… Who are you?”
I stepped out from the shadows.
“I am Baek Ho, the head of the Golden Eagle Guards. We have met before.”
The Great Sword Gate Master was taken aback.
“Baek Ho!! How did you get here… and why aren’t you in your Golden Eagle attire?”
“It’s a secret mission.”
Indeed, I didn’t want to alarm the master by sneaking in as an intruder. The Great Sword Gate Master would certainly recognize the head of the Golden Eagle Guards since he often employed their top disciples.
Wearing the mask was also quite simple for me. It didn’t concern me what might happen to Baek Ho later since I had already formed an alliance with his superior, Zhuge Yulong. The Great Sword Gate Master didn’t suspect me, gazing at me in disbelief.
“Your martial arts couldn’t possibly be at that level. You barely reached the peak, so how could your power have increased severalfold?”
“Haha. That’s not your concern. I’m here on imperial orders, so answer carefully.”
“……”
“Not long ago, I heard that the former master of the Golden Eagle Guards, Jin Kwang, visited you. It seems his two disciples accompanied him; what did they discuss?”
The Great Sword Gate Master tightened his lips. An unyielding loyalty to his friend’s fate was apparent. I, acting as Baek Ho, gave a chilling smile.
“Can’t speak, huh? Then I’ll have to exercise my authority as the head of the Golden Eagle Guards to search your Great Sword Gate for evidence of treason.”
“Don’t go too far! Our Great Sword Gate has long been loyal to the Imperial Family as part of the Twin Gate Sect; we have no reason to be treated like this by the Golden Eagle Guards! If you attempt this, it won’t end well for you!”
“I wouldn’t want that either. But Jin Kwang is a dangerous individual, and I must uncover his whereabouts. How about this?”
“……?”
**Slash!**
“I swear I won’t use my specialty – only my sword. And I’ll defeat you within ten seconds.”
“What?!”
“Should I win under these conditions, you will tell me everything about his whereabouts and what you discussed.”
“How arrogant…”
The Great Sword Gate Master’s aura erupted as he revealed the killing intent of a peak master. It was so intense that I felt the space around us warp, and an eerie white crack appeared due to his dark intent. He shouted, displaying his wrath.
“How dare a hunting dog like you…!! I’ll kill you here!”
…Whoa, calm down, buddy!
At that moment, the infuriated Great Sword Gate Master unleashed a powerful attack towards me. Although I had previously defeated him, my guard was down. Suddenly realizing the enormous force of this strike, I hurriedly dodged, only to have a handful of my hair sliced off, as his attack blasted hundreds of fragments toward me.
Extreme Skill
**One Line Great Sword Dance**
The vision of the sword converged in the air, transforming into a single straight line that thrust toward my heart. This was the Great Sword Gate’s ultimate technique, One Line Great Sword Dance! I had once faced this skill under Han Baek-ryeong’s insistence, and back then, I had no choice but to evade rather than confront it head-on. This time, however, the situation was different.
‘Time to demonstrate my overwhelming skill.’
The Great Sword Gate Master was not the ideal opponent for the Soul Exchange Technique. So it was best to showcase my skills and shatter his morale. As the One Line Great Sword Dance advanced toward me, I gathered the principles of yin and yang into my essence and unleashed the Peerless Technique.
Was it just my imagination? Maybe because I gained the power of Amaterasu, my yang energy felt significantly stronger.
**Boom!**
The One Line Great Sword Dance vanished, finding no purchase against the might of the Peerless Technique. The moment the Great Sword Gate Master’s eyes widened in shock, I seized the opportunity, lightly flicking my sword against his neck, then chuckled.
“Ten seconds was overly generous. It didn’t even take three.”
“… Just now, that technique was…?”
“You should already know. No matter what ultimate technique you possess, it cannot reach me.”
“……”
“Honor your promise.”
**Clang!**
The Great Sword Gate Master felt a complete sense of loss as his sword slipped from his hand. For a master who had wielded swords all his life, losing his weapon signified a profound defeat. He sighed as if the heavens had abandoned him.
“… Jin Kwang came to me looking for his missing disciple, Jin So-cheong.”
“Missing? So Jin Kwang doesn’t know his whereabouts either?”
The Great Sword Gate Master answered, staring vacantly at the wall.
“That’s right. One day, Jin So-cheong just left a note saying he was leaving for martial arts training, and then he disappeared. Jin Kwang began using every connection he had to find Jin So-cheong and ultimately came to me. I promised him I would use my connections to help find Jin So-cheong, and Jin Kwang left three days ago.”
“Three days…”
I pondered for a moment before speaking to the Great Sword Gate Master.
“Do you have any hunches about where Jin So-cheong might be?”
“What do you plan to do once you find Jin So-cheong?”
Feeling a bit guilty toward the Great Sword Gate Master, I explained.
“I may have spoken harshly earlier, but I don’t intend to harm either Jin Kwang or Jin So-cheong. I’m just following orders from higher-ups to monitor their movements.”
“Do you think I’ll believe that?”
“It would be better for both of us if you did.”
“… Promise me you won’t harm them.”
“I promise. We only need to keep tabs on them.”
After my assurance, the Great Sword Gate Master hesitated and reluctantly spoke.
“I don’t know Jin So-cheong’s whereabouts, but Jin Kwang mentioned he was heading to Gansu. He said he would find Jin So-cheong there.”
“Gansu? Why there…?”
“He wanted to prepare for the worst-case scenario.”
“……?”
Worst-case scenario?
I finally realized what that situation could be from the Great Sword Gate Master’s words. Gansu was the only logical destination.
‘… I see!’
I thanked the Great Sword Gate Master.
“Thank you for your cooperation.”
**Boom!**
After breaking away from the Great Sword Gate Master, I quickly used the Golden Lamp technique to head for the Main Hall of the White Lotus Sect. Then, hiding my aura as much as possible in a way that would blend in with the gathering experts, I donned an appropriate mask to infiltrate the interior discreetly, using my qi sense to seek out Jin So-cheong’s aura.
‘Found it!’
There!
However, recognizing that my worst fears had become reality, I felt compelled to hesitate. The location I had detected for Jin So-cheong was indeed worrisome.
At that moment, he was facing off one-on-one with a gigantic tile.
As expected, this wasn’t just any opponent. It was not the Dharma Guardian; it was a being far more powerful.
I pretended to be one of the elder council experts and stayed quietly hidden, but I didn’t dare approach within twenty paces of them. Getting any closer would risk the master discovering my true identity.
‘Great, just great.’
Yes.
The inner sanctum of the Main Hall of the White Lotus Sect – precisely where the Master of the White Lotus Sect resided.
Jin So-cheong was currently standing face-to-face with the Master of the White Lotus Sect!
Faced with indecision, I moved forward despite the danger, getting within ten paces before straining to hear their conversation. The suspicious elder council members shot me looks, but I dismissed them under the guise of the Six Harmonies Assembly.
[That little brat is worrying about causing harm to the Sect Leader.]
[Hmph… not a chance. Stop worrying and return to your post.]
[I’m just saying I’m concerned.]
[You fool. Do as you wish.]
Fortunately, most of the elder council didn’t seem overly suspicious and looked upon me with loyalty. I perked up my ears to listen to their dialogue.
Jin So-cheong spoke.
“Master of the White Lotus Sect, thank you for preparing a place for me yesterday.”
[There is no need for thanks. This sect never casts aside those seeking help.]
The light in the Master’s eyes shimmered.
[However, Jin So-cheong, it seems what you desire is more than just a night’s rest. What brings you to seek us?]
“……”
After a moment, Jin So-cheong looked directly at the Master and said,
“I seek the ultimate in martial arts. Please teach me.”
The Master’s response was inarguably concise.
[You already possess the talent to surpass me. I can feel it. You are indeed a prodigy beyond compare…]
“Master.”
In the past, the Master had shown a positive response towards Jin So-cheong’s abilities, but his reaction now seemed entirely different. Perhaps the circumstances had changed? He felt a strong wariness toward Jin So-cheong.
[And I have no desire to raise a little tiger.]
“……”
[The prodigy of the Thunder God lineage… even Lee Cheong-un was difficult to manage; how could I handle you?]
Feeling the Master’s strong intent, Jin So-cheong’s expression hardened.
With a cold remark, the Master emitted killing intent.
[If you had focused on self-control and dedicated yourself to training, you would have alleviated potential issues for the White Lotus Sect. But your greed has led you to your doom, Jin So-cheong. Farewell.]
**Whoosh!**
In the next moment, the Master unleashed an attack filled with genuine murderous intent.