Chapter 315

This was the secret story behind Yangtze River Sword Sect’s birth.

“I heard it was organized to become martial alliance leader.”

“Public rumors are always like that. Not completely wrong though. In the end, I did become martial alliance leader with that power.”

Taoist Haewol paused briefly before continuing.

“After that, since I didn’t know what kind of people were behind it all, I first sealed the demonic cult and then drove the unorthodox sects north. I used every method available to me. But despite all that, I couldn’t catch their tails. Instead, like wildfire, it spread and spread underwater. I was desperate and had no methods.”

Taoist Haewol briefly stopped emitting palm force. The ferry that had been going upstream against the fierce current stopped and began slowly being pushed backward again.

“But the disputes among minor sects I observed had similar points. Large interests unsuitable for minor sects were at stake, so the losers lost everything while survivors gained great benefits that helped expand their sects.”

“You’re saying all those incidents arose from conflicts of interest.”

“Right. The contamination that started in minor sects spread to mid-level sects. Righteousness disappeared and greater causes were being corrupted. If erosion continued from the bottom up like this, it would become uncontrollable later. Before the entire martial world withered from rotting beyond salvage, I had to make a decision.”

Jin Ja-gang finally understood.

What Taoist Haewol’s decision was.

Why the martial world had taken such a twisted shape.

“I needed to drag them to the surface before they were completely established. To do that, I decided to set up the situation they wanted.”

“That was the Martial Alliance’s operational policy based on mutual benefit. But…”

Jin Ja-gang said.

“I don’t think it looks successful.”

Taoist Haewol’s lips twisted. He smiled bitterly.

“As you said, I failed. I underestimated them too much. They had been working to contaminate the martial world’s greater cause for a very long time. They weren’t foolish enough to be easily caught just because I set up the stage. Instead, they pinned everything on me. Thanks to that, I became known as the worst martial alliance leader who made the martial world a mess.”

Taoist Haewol shot out palm force again to advance the ferry.

“Since you came up from Gubuk Village with the Marvelous Youth Squad kids, you know. That Northern Heaven is moving. Not long ago, the demonic cult also had significant problems. But here’s the thing. I received absolutely no official reports about those two incidents. Information coming to me has been deliberately blocked for a long time. From within the Martial Alliance.”

If Taoist Haewol’s words were true, it was a serious problem. The martial alliance leader had to understand situations through personal information networks rather than the alliance itself.

Taoist Haewol’s eyes gleamed.

“That’s why I was waiting for someone like you to appear. A new guy! An uncontaminated guy! Someone not tainted by the rotten greater cause I instigated! Someone who can call me ‘you’ even though I’m the martial alliance leader!”

Strength entered Jin Ja-gang’s eyes.

“That answer! I very much dislike it. Are there no such people in the martial world!”

“There are many people.”

Taoist Haewol smiled with a murderous expression.

“But none I can trust.”

“Isn’t there Yangtze River Sword Sect?”

“There was. But shall I tell you an interesting story? A few days ago, sects withdrew from Yangtze River Sword Sect. The Zhuge family, Murong family, Seokga Manor, and even Jiangdong’s Three Great Sword Sects.”

Even sects that had been Taoist Haewol’s strength for decades. Taoist Haewol’s limbs were being cut off one by one.

“To break through this situation, I made inquiries everywhere to recruit unknown talent. Among them, there was an interesting guy called Mang-ryo.”

Mang-ryo!

“He had sufficient talent, was intelligent, and wasn’t contaminated. But there was a problem. When I met him directly, his mind had already been consumed by someone else and he wasn’t normal.”

Jin Ja-gang’s eyes narrowed.

“Did he meet the conditions of a hero?”

Taoist Haewol said.

“It wasn’t time to debate whether he was a hero or not. I needed a monster that wasn’t contaminated and could exceed their imagination. But Mang-ryo was just a fake monster created by a monster. That’s why I found you. A real monster.”

Jin Ja-gang gritted his teeth.

Taoist Haewol spoke to such Jin Ja-gang.

“How about it? This was the reason I couldn’t step down from the martial alliance leader position and have been sitting here until now, and these were the stories you needed to know.”

Jin Ja-gang, who had been silent for a while, opened his mouth.

“People that even the martial alliance leader can’t find… I still find it hard to believe. So you’re hiding like this after claiming to be attacked?”

“If I hadn’t, my neck would have been cut next time.”

Taoist Haewol frowned and said.

“I’ve been collecting cases suspected of their activities for a very long time. Among them, there’s an incident that’s become frequent recently. The disappearance of rising talents who were learning their sects’ direct transmission internal energy methods.”

Direct transmission could mean orthodox lineage, but it also referred to unique internal energy methods learned by sect leaders. Usually passed down to head disciples, but sometimes learned by connected disciples.

“Recently, the same thing happened at Mount Hua and our Wudang. Among disciples who returned to secular life, there was one who uniquely learned the Crimson Yang Divine Secret Art, and that disciple disappeared. The internal energy method I learned is precisely the Crimson Yang Divine Secret Art.”

Jin Ja-gang suddenly recalled what he had said to Dan Ryeong-gyeong.

If you know the types of medicinal herbs each sect traded, you can find the compatibility of that sect’s internal energy methods!

“Don’t tell me they’re after internal energy methods’ weaknesses…!”

Was that why Taoist Haewol expected his neck would be cut next time?

“Nothing unrelated happens in the martial world. Moving so openly means their plan is probably near the end.”

Taoist Haewol continued pushing the boat while speaking.

“Now, what would happen if this continues?”

If Northern Heaven resumed activities and the demonic cult rose up.

If the rotted martial world couldn’t stop it, and even the martial alliance leader who was the center died.

Needless to say, great chaos would come to the martial world.

“Those who would benefit most from that. Those are the ones I’m looking for. But they won’t appear until I die.”

“I understand.”

So Taoist Haewol had disguised his own attack and hidden before they could attack him in a fully prepared state.

That certainly disrupted their plans.

Jin Ja-gang suddenly asked.

“Then why… didn’t you stop it?”

“What do you mean?”

Jin Ja-gang glared at Taoist Haewol and asked.

“When the medicine sects were being massacred, why didn’t you stop it?”

“As I said, unlike what appeared externally, I was in a state with my limbs cut off. There wasn’t much I could do.”

“According to what you said, the righteousness created by each person in the martial world would become the greater cause. But if even the martial alliance leader doesn’t protect righteousness, who do you expect to protect righteousness?”

Taoist Haewol met Jin Ja-gang’s gaze and slowly nodded.

“You’re right. I realized that far too late. If I had maintained the proper path and operated the Martial Alliance according to fair laws, if I had slowly but surely maintained the proper path, at least in my generation they might not have been able to emerge. In the end, I too became contaminated.”

Taoist Haewol exhaled deeply. Then he showed a small smile.

“So now I’ll tell you what you need to do. Listen carefully.”

Jin Ja-gang replied coldly.

“Speak.”

Taoist Haewol raised his face toward Jin Ja-gang and said.

“Soon, the contaminated and rotten things will gather in one place. A great opportunity to cut them all out at once will come.”

Jin Ja-gang frowned and looked at Taoist Haewol.

A murderous smile played around Taoist Haewol’s lips.

“I plan to erase them all without hesitation when that time comes.”

Jin Ja-gang suddenly felt goosebumps on his spine.

He realized what Taoist Haewol was saying.

It wasn’t simply about removing a few rotten sprouts.

Hundreds? No, thousands? It could be even more.

“If I kill all those they’ve worked on and contaminated over decades, they’ll have no choice but to reveal themselves. Then I’ll kill them. If I miss that opportunity, I’ll never be able to catch them again.”

Jin Ja-gang asked back.

“You still haven’t told me what I need to do.”

“After I succeed in everything…”

Taoist Haewol waited briefly before saying.

“Kill me.”

Jin Ja-gang stared at Taoist Haewol.

That was truly an unexpected request.

“Is that the trade condition?”

Taoist Haewol said.

“As you said, I’m contaminated. A new era won’t come unless you kill me and move forward.”

“What if you fail to drive out that force?”

Taoist Haewol chuckled.

“Then you should run away without looking back. If I failed, do you think you’d succeed? Throw away revenge and everything, go into the mountains, pat your wife’s bottom and have some kids to live peacefully.”

Jin Ja-gang didn’t laugh.

“But if you commit mass slaughter, you’ll no longer be a respected alliance leader.”

“Call me whatever you want. Honor can go to the dogs. Instead, you’ll become a hero by killing the villain that is me. With many people’s support, your past will be forgotten, your revenge will gain legitimacy, and you’ll be able to live the life you want. For me, returning the martial world to its original state is the only remaining mission.”

Jin Ja-gang had many thoughts.

When he first began acting, his intention reached toward a greater cause, but he failed. Because of that, he was called the ringleader of the Martial Alliance that made the martial world a mess.

But even if he succeeded the second time, he would be forever recorded in martial world history as a mass murderer.

Was Taoist Haewol a hero or a villain?

Taoist Haewol spoke quietly. Though he murmured like talking to himself very softly, it clearly reached Jin Ja-gang’s ears through the fierce current.

“Don’t worry. Where wildfire passes, nothing seems to remain, but when the year changes and new spring comes, healthier and greener sprouts than ever will flourish.”

Jin Ja-gang slowly asked back.

“Whether I accept or not, it won’t end with me.”

“Of course. I’ll find and prepare thoroughly with others besides you. Even if you don’t accept, or even if you fail, my plan won’t change.”

Roooooar!

When Taoist Haewol didn’t emit palm force, the ferry was pushed backward and caught in a whirlpool of fierce rushing water, spinning in place for a long time.

Jin Ja-gang, who had been looking at Taoist Haewol all along, finally opened his mouth.

“Fine. I’ll kill you as you wish.”

Only then did Taoist Haewol show a comfortable smile.

But Jin Ja-gang suddenly spoke casually.

“But you know…”

“What?”

Jin Ja-gang looked at Taoist Haewol and said.

“For entrusting someone with cleaning up after the tremendous thing you’ve done, don’t you think just one movement technique is too cheap?”