Chapter 52

Chapter 52

…

Murim Alliance.

Inside the Pavilion of Heavenly Luck, Murim Alliance Leader Namgung Cheon listened to the report with a serious expression.

Not only the figures of the Eight Great Families nearby, but also the high-ranking members of the Nine Great Sects and One Association were taking this matter seriously.

"Is it truly the truth?"

"Yes. It is said that a self-proclaimed fortune hunter has undoubtedly discovered the secret cave of the Martial God on Gunja Island. But there…"

"The corpses of the Three Heavens were there?"

"Yes…"

Groans leaked out here and there.

Three Heavens.

Among the martial artists holding swords, there was no one who did not know that name. Wudang's Sambong, Shaolin's Bodhidharma, and the Demonic Cult's Heavenly Demon, they were the three figures who had exerted the greatest influence on this Murim since their time.

Since the Three Heavens, no one had obtained a title with the character for 'Heaven' attached.

Just looking at the fact that even the current five heavens of Murim were named the Five Emperors, it showed that a title containing 'Heaven' held a special meaning for them.

Therefore, this matter was extraordinary.

The entire Central Plains would be shaken, and everyone would rise up. The orthodox, unorthodox, and even those beyond the borders.

Considering the weight that the name of the Three Heavens carried, it could not be considered empty words.

"Our Wudang Sect must go there."

Heo Gong, an elder of the Wudang Sect, closed his eyes tightly and breathed heavily.

Tae Gong-jin.

What was the weight that name carried?

If it was said that Zhang Sanfeng established Wudang, created Tai Chi Chuan, and walked the path of martial arts, then Tae Gong-jin was the existence that allowed Zhang Sanfeng to realize the principles of martial arts.

Zhang Sanfeng by chance obtained Tae Gong-jin's fortune, the Three Talents Sword Technique, realized the Taoist principles within it, and created the martial arts that could be called the foundation of the current Wudang Sect.

Tai Chi Sword Technique, Liangyi Sword Technique, Tai Chi Wisdom Sword, Great Clarity Sword Technique.

Mysterious Void Seven Stars Sword Technique, Five Elements Sword Formation, Ten Section Brocade, Cloud-Ascending Steps.

While there was no doubt that Zhang Sanfeng was the very person who established Wudang and created the foundation of martial arts, this was also the reason why the current Taoists of Wudang could not help but hold Tae Gong-jin in higher esteem.

Namgung Cheon stroked his long beard and let out a small sigh.

He had thought it would be like this from the moment the name Tae Gong-jin was mentioned.

In fact, it was best to stay out of such matters as much as possible, but if Wudang moved, the Murim Alliance could not sit still either.

The problem was…

"The Demonic Cult will move."

Cheon Mu-gwang.

The greatest genius to appear after the Heavenly Demon settled in the Heaven Mountains and established the Heavenly Demon Cult.

He established the structure of the current Demonic Cult, and he was also the one who killed the Blood Demon, who had opposed and expanded its power against the Mount Tian Demonic Cult for a long time.

Knowing that the remains of such a person had been discovered, the Demonic Cult would not sit idle either.

Groans were heard from all around.

At this rate, a war between the orthodox and demonic factions might break out.

"Considering the severity of the matter this time, I will dispatch two hundred experts of the Murim Alliance. Wudang will lead them to transport Tae Gong-jin's… that senior's body to Wudang, and I will also entrust you with the investigation of the interior of the Martial God's secret cave."

"Thank you, Alliance Leader."

Watching Heo Gong bow deeply, Namgung Cheon nodded. Since it was clear that they would move on their own if he did not do this, he had to make the first move as much as possible.

'The bodies of Tae Gong-jin and Cheon Mu-gwang can be recovered by the orthodox faction and the Demonic Cult. But Nam Ju-ryeon… Nam Ju-ryeon… who on earth… is he?'

Namgung Cheon groaned and bowed his head.

Nothing was properly known about Nam Ju-ryeon. Although he was called by the name of the Three Heavens, compared to the other two, not a single achievement of his existed.

Because they could not even know whether he was someone who walked the orthodox path, the unorthodox path, or the demonic path, he had no idea who else would try to intervene in this matter.

He clutched his throbbing head and steadied his breathing.

* * *

"It's… hot…"

"Don't you have any intention of bringing some water?"

"Why don't you bring it yourself?"

Crouching down in the clothing of an ordinary peasant woman weeding a field rather than her usual attire, Namgung So-hye wiped away her cold sweat and glared at Jang Sam-tae.

There was water just a few steps away, so his behavior of ordering someone else around did not sit well with her.

"Sigh, weeding a field on such a hot day is really killing me. I want to go play in a valley or something."

"They say the water of Lake Dongting is very good."

"It's deep there! You'll die if you fall in!"

"Try it out. See if you die or not. Who knows? Maybe you are a slightly unusual species and can breathe in water."

"Y-You wench!"

"Do you want to try?"

Jang Sam-tae jumped to his feet and glared at Namgung So-hye. He seemed about to take action if necessary, but soon cleared his throat and sat back down.

Because Namgung So-hye, who was clenching her fists, looked scary.

"Stop fighting and just weed the field."

"Mind your own business."

"You mind your own business!"

Gwon Mu-jin sweated cold sweat.

At first, when breaking the rocks, he moved with the thought of doing some training, so it was somewhat bearable.

But now that they had broken all the rocks and were weeding the field and sorting out pebbles, time dragged on tediously, and it was not fun at all.

Half-heartedly.

Gwon Mu-jin's state was like that.

While he let out a small sigh, Namgung So-hye's voice was heard.

"Just what does Young Master Dan plan to use this field for by cultivating it…"

Even while grumbling, Namgung So-hye busily moved her hands. Honestly, she had no desire to weed the field at all, but eating and playing was all one could do in this manor.

Since everyone in the manor was actually working to cultivate the field, Namgung So-hye could do nothing on her own.

So, out of boredom, she ended up helping out.

They said they would provide food for free, so of course she had to do it!

"It's obvious. It's cheaper to grow and eat it yourself than to buy and eat it outside."

"Would he really do this with that in mind?"

"Haha, he is fully capable of being that kind of person."

Even Gwon Mu-jin did not deny it and nodded his head.

Although he was a man who poured out silver and gold coins without sparing them for So-mi, he was extremely frugal when it came to spending money on other things.

"By the way, what on earth did that man do in the past?"

At Namgung So-hye's question, Jang Sam-tae and Gwon Mu-jin let out a short groan.

Come to think of it, while they knew very well what most of the people here used to do before, Dan Woo-hyun was an exception.

"His martial arts are extremely high… wouldn't he have earned his living by the sword?"

Jang Sam-tae muttered as if it were obvious.

But Gwon Mu-jin and Namgung So-hye shook their heads. He was an expert of that level. If he had led a life earning his living by the sword, it would have already reached the ears of one of the orthodox or demonic organizations.

However, seeing that no organization knew of his existence, it did not seem like he was someone who had lived a Murim life.

At that moment, So-mi, who had been quietly listening to the conversation, perked up her ears and smiled brightly.

"My dad was a carpenter."

"Wh-What?"

"…"

"I don't understand the meaning…"

It was truly impossible to understand.

Dan Woo-hyun was a carpenter?

Even a passing dog would laugh. That was how much he did not fit the description of a carpenter.

He was a man more suited to smashing things than building them.

"It's true! So-mi knows. Dad repaired this house too, and he made that storehouse over there. Most of the things inside the house are all Dad's creations!"

"N-No way…"

"Amazing."

Namgung So-hye's mouth fell wide open.

She had already seen the things So-mi mentioned inside the manor.

Not only was the storehouse too grand to be built by a single person's strength, but it was also indeed very sturdily made.

Dan Woo-hyun did that?

Namgung So-hye looked down at the hoe in her hand with a surprised expression.

Then, So-mi smiled brightly.

"Dad made that too."

Unbelievable words kept coming out one after another. How could she believe that a person with such martial arts skills was merely a carpenter?

Namgung So-hye held her throbbing head.

This was the same for Gwon Mu-jin.

If carpenters were this strong, then carpenters all over the Central Plains would have chewed up and swallowed the Murim people.

"Stop prying into other people's pasts."

"Young Master Dan? When did you get there…"

"A moment ago."

They had not sensed his presence at all.

How could they believe that such a man was a carpenter?

"Were you really a carpenter?"

"Haha, do I look like one?"

"Absolutely not."

The three of them shook their heads. No matter how they thought about it, a carpenter and Dan Woo-hyun could not be associated.

Knowing that he was a person who would not answer even if they asked, the three of them could only clutch their heads in curiosity.

"That aside, it has been noisy around Yueyang recently. Do you know what is going on?"

Twice a day.

Dan Woo-hyun took So-mi to the academy or brought her back. However, over the past fortnight, the number of martial artists was rapidly increasing.

It was a number that could not even be compared to when they escorted the Black Dao Society last time.

A feeling as if something had broken out.

Even the wind was fluctuating faintly.

"Well. I haven't been out since I got here, so…"

Namgung So-hye muttered with an awkward expression.

Living in this manor, she had become lazy.

Delicious food came out three times a day, and even the scenery was good, so she unconsciously slacked off.

Because she felt that, she was helping with the field work like this.

There was no way the three people holed up inside the manor would know what Dan Woo-hyun, who went to Yueyang twice a day, did not know.

"The number of martial artists has increased a lot."

"Isn't it because of that matter last time?"

Gwon Mu-jin's eyes shone with a fierce gaze. He showed a conviction that if there were those who caused harm to the manor, he would absolutely not let them go.

"No, it doesn't seem to be that kind of thing… It's as if they are waiting for something…"

Dan Woo-hyun let out a groan.

But he did not think deeply about it. The movement of martial artists was similar no matter where they went.

He guessed that maybe a martial arts tournament was being held around Lake Dongting, Yueyang, or Changsha.

If it were something more important than that, it was certain that Hong Won-chang would have noticed it and rushed here immediately.

"So-mi knows."

"Oh? What is it?"

Giggling, So-mi looked at Dan Woo-hyun with a small smile. Because her gaze felt very mischievous, Dan Woo-hyun chuckled despite himself.

"The academy is also in an uproar! They say they found something."

"Something? What is it?"

"Hehe! Try to guess!"

Dan Woo-hyun sweated cold sweat. He could not read a person's mind, so how could he guess?

But looking at her appearance, So-mi seemed to know something great.

Just as he was about to open his mouth with a smile for fun.

Flutter-!

A carrier pigeon flew in from somewhere.

It appeared suddenly and circled around as if looking for its owner, then landed on Namgung So-hye's shoulder.

A small carrier pigeon tube was attached to its leg.

Seeing that the tube was red, it seemed to be some kind of marker.

"Express…?"

Namgung So-hye looked at the message with trembling hands. A red tube was sent only when an emergency was declared in the Murim Alliance or a corresponding situation occurred.

It had come now, of all times.

Gulping down dry saliva, she reached out and took the message out of the carrier pigeon.

Unfolding the small piece of paper, she could not soften her stiff expression and was unable to say anything.

"What is the matter?"

In the end, Dan Woo-hyun asked.

Because he felt it was not an ordinary matter judging by her behavior.

Namgung So-hye's eyes wavered like waves, and then she looked at Dan Woo-hyun.

"I… I must go."

Namgung So-hye moved without saying a word. It proved that this matter was indeed extraordinary.

The eyes of Dan Woo-hyun, Gwon Mu-jin, and Jang Sam-tae followed Namgung So-hye as she quickly disappeared.

Soon, when her figure completely disappeared, Dan Woo-hyun, who had been silent for a while, muttered with a frown.

"Sam-tae."

"Yes?"

"Go find out… what is going on."

"Yes!"