Chapter 85

Chapter 85

Heavenly Mountain Demonic Sect.

At its center was the leader of the Demonic Sect and one of the Five Emperors, Heavenly Demon Emperor Sa Do-hak.

He sat on a grand throne and looked down, but his expression was completely joyful, like that of an innocent child.

"Right, so what happened?"

"The Wind Sword Sect entered Yueyang and took control of it."

"Oho, that far is just as you predicted, Strategist."

"It is only natural since we made them move that way."

Strategist Dongfang Gu let out a smirk.

Although the world considered the Zhuge Family's resourcefulness to be the best, the Demonic Sect's Strategist, Dongfang Gu, also possessed resourcefulness that was not inferior to the Zhuge Family's. If that were not the case, the Demonic Sect would have been toyed with by Zhuge Un long ago.

Moving the greedy Hu Ja-ryeong was very simple.

He wished to set foot in the place where the remains of the Three Heavens lay, but it was impossible, so it was extremely easy to instead spread stories about Lake Dongting to those who were chasing after another treasure of the Martial God.

At that time, since many sects and families were already trying to enter Yueyang, they dispatched a few experts of the Demonic Sect to secretly aid the Wind Sword Sect.

Why was it the Wind Sword Sect?

To Dongfang Gu, the Wind Sword Sect was the optimal choice.

A sect that was unknown, and one whose demise would not cause the Murim Alliance to take significant action.

Additionally, a sect whose current base of operations could also be moved to Yueyang.

After filtering and filtering like that, the place that remained was indeed the Wind Sword Sect. Thanks to that, they ended up being dragged along by the hand of the Demonic Sect against their will.

"Then they tried to take control of a manor."

"A manor?"

"Yes, they clashed with that place, and in the end…"

"Hahaha!"

Sa Do-hak already knew the general details from the letter. He knew that the Wind Sword Sect, which Dongfang Gu had manipulated, had crumbled, and that all of its disciples and everyone else had been captured and taken to Beijing.

What he had been curious about was the process.

However, the more he heard, the more amusing it was.

"The Gentleman Sword… The Gentleman Sword… Did that fellow really say such a thing?"

"Yes, as a result of our boys entering the prison and interrogating him right before they were escorted to Beijing, he reportedly identified himself as the Gentleman Sword."

"It is a title I am hearing for the first time."

At those words, Dongfang Gu smiled awkwardly.

It could only be a title heard for the first time. That was because it was a title used in puppet shows.

"It is the protagonist of a puppet show that children have recently taken a liking to. These days, troupes even put on plays about it."

"Oho? Was there such a play?"

"Yes, they say it is quite entertaining…"

"Hahaha! Then the expert in Hunan can be considered the protagonist of that play."

"It is merely self-proclaimed, Leader. You must not truly believe it."

"What does it matter? If he called himself the Gentleman Sword with his own mouth, then he is the Gentleman Sword. Right, is there nothing else besides that?"

"At the manor, there are three men, an old man, and a young girl."

"Only four? If so, the Gentleman Sword must be one of them."

"Yes, it is believed to be so."

"Amusing, truly amusing."

Dongfang Gu could not contain his joy as he looked at Sa Do-hak's laughing figure.

Having risen to the position of the Five Emperors and the Heavenly Demon, he was a being who had no choice but to look down upon everyone.

Had such a person ever shown interest in someone?

There was none.

Even if it were the Sword Emperor, it could not draw Sa Do-hak's interest. This was because he already felt that he himself was stronger than him.

Such a person was showing interest in someone.

Just by that, the atmosphere changed.

However, what Dongfang Gu truly had to report was something else.

"But this is a fact I found out after investigating…"

"Right, what else is there?"

Heavenly Demon Emperor Sa Do-hak suddenly stood up from his dragon throne. An excited expression was revealed on his face.

The way his face sparkled every time he heard stories about Hunan made him look just like a child listening to old stories and admiring heroes.

Dongfang Gu smirked.

"When the incident at Mount Changbai occurred, it is said that there was only a man named Dan Woo-hyun, who is called the current master of the manor, and his daughter. When the incident with the Black Dao Association broke out, there was one more man, but no matter how I look at it…"

"Puhahaha! I see, that was it! It was that fellow! The Gentleman Sword is also amusing, but the one this body was truly looking for was that fellow!"

"Yes, the speculation is likely correct. In addition, Zhuge Un does not seem to have noticed yet…"

"What else, what else is there?"

Dongfang Gu nodded. In fact, this was the most important part.

"Do you remember the previous incident with the Martial God and the Three Heavens?"

"Right, the matter of that fellow, the Nine Emperors, betraying and fleeing?"

"Yes, it is said that the man named Dan Woo-hyun had appeared there."

Finding out about this story was truly a coincidence.

Because he had only been looking for clues about the Nine Emperors, he did not see what was actually inside. By chance, he heard that the magistrate was there, and as he investigated that, he learned that the man named Dan Woo-hyun was also there.

Was it not all too exquisite?

"Oho… Is that so?"

"It means that the man named Dan Woo-hyun is suspicious."

"Hahahahaha!"

Sa Do-hak laughed like crazy.

It had truly been a long time since he had laughed like this.

The words that came out of Dongfang Gu's mouth were just that full of interesting and intriguing contents.

Vitality returned to the eyes of Sa Do-hak, who had just been waiting for the day to die.

Dongfang Gu was a man who never spoke falsehoods. He was also a man who would not speak of something unless he was certain.

Therefore, it was safe to assume that ninety percent of the words that came out of his mouth just now were true.

If so, in the end, the one who deceived those numerous orthodox and unorthodox experts and took the remains of the Three Heavens was the man named Dan Woo-hyun, meaning that the vanished Nine Emperors and the dead bodies were also his doing.

Sa Do-hak stood up abruptly from his seat.

"I shall go meet that fellow myself."

"…You cannot leave the cult vacant."

"For the time being, you and the Vice Leader take care of it. The Murim Alliance is also in disarray because of that idiot Murong Hyeok-mun, so nothing special will happen."

Dongfang Gu let out a deep sigh. If Sa Do-hak went this far, there was no way to stop him.

"Understood."

"However, keep an eye on the series of events happening recently."

Dongfang Gu bowed his head deeply.

The series of events Sa Do-hak spoke of referred to several martial artists being found dead, dried up like mummies.

They were discovered all over the Central Plains, and the dead did not differentiate between orthodox, unorthodox, or demonic.

At first, they began investigating, wondering if bastards like the Yin-Yang Twin Demons had appeared again, but looking at what was engraved on the corpses, it was not their method.

Since members of the Demonic Sect were also attacked, they naturally had to retaliate. Therefore, Dongfang Gu did not stop his pursuit and was still monitoring various parts of the Central Plains.

"Do not worry. If something happens, I will send a carrier falcon."

"Alright! Haha!"

Sa Do-hak moved while letting out a hearty laugh once again.

After dinner was over, Namgung Cheon sat Dan So-mi on his knees and chatted with her.

Whether he intended to coax Dan So-mi, who had not the slightest interest in the Murim, by any means, he was bringing up old stories.

"The history of this Central Plains is very long."

"How long?"

At Dan So-mi's question, Namgung Cheon swallowed a groan, saying, "Hmm."

When was it that many people began to call it the Murim?

Perhaps it was that chaotic period when Shaolin was established, Bodhidharma existed, the Three Heavens existed, and the Martial God existed.

He heard that at the time, even the concept of orthodox and unorthodox was not properly established, and it was a chaotic time when only those who revered martial arts wanted to show off their skills.

"It has been more than a thousand years."

"Wow…! Is it really that old? How many times must So-mi die and be reborn for it to be a thousand years?"

Dan So-mi counted, opening and closing her small fingers repeatedly.

However, since no one knew when a human life would begin and end, Dan Woo-hyun could not find the answer either.

At that, Dan Woo-hyun tilted his head and said.

"Haha, even assuming one lives for a hundred years, one would have to die and be born ten times."

"…That is too long."

"Now, anyway, it is certain that the history of this Murim began more than a thousand years ago. And it can be said that it was the Martial God, the Three Heavens, and Grandmaster Bodhidharma of Shaolin who opened the gates of this era of the Murim."

"Martial God…? Three Heavens?"

"The Three Heavens are figures who exerted great influence on the Murim. Even seeing how there is still no one who can attach the character for 'Heaven' to their title shows their greatness."

'Three Heavens? Three Heavens?' Dan So-mi tilted her head. She felt like she had heard it somewhere, but she could not remember well.

"Then, what about the Martial God?"

"The Martial God is a legendary existence of whom it is said that, even after a thousand years, no one has surpassed him."

"Wow! Is he that strong?"

"It was said that the heavens split at a single stroke of his sword, and Mount Tai crumbled at his kick. Also, although it is a legend, they said he survived completely fine even after facing tens of thousands of martial artists."

Dan So-mi's eyes sparkled.

Although it was a story of which it was unknown whether it was true or false, just listening to it had a strange charm that made the heart flutter.

"Amazing! How can there be such a person?"

That question was answered by Namgung Cheon, who was next to her.

"Haha, this old man thinks so too. If the eras were the same, I would want to ask him to accept me as a disciple."

"Isn't Grandpa the best among those people called martial artists? Sister So-hye said so every day…"

"Hahaha, that is true, but…"

Namgung Cheon replied awkwardly and sighed.

It is said that the Murim of that time was rugged beyond comparison to the present.

What would it feel like to stand tall with the world beneath one's feet in such a period?

At that moment, Dan Woo-hyun's voice was heard.

"He has no intention of accepting you, so do not talk nonsense."

"Huh? I did not say I wanted to become your disciple. This story is about the Martial God."

"The Martial God would not have accepted you either."

"You do not know that."

"I do know."

Namgung Cheon snorted, dumbfounded.

"But in my opinion, that person called the Martial God is also amazing, but Grandpa is even more amazing. Because the Martial God is not by So-mi's side right now, but Grandpa is by So-mi's side."

"Hahaha! I am truly grateful for that."

Namgung Cheon stroked Dan So-mi's head.

Although Dan So-mi sometimes said things that did not sound child-like, to the point where one wondered if she was a legendary figure who had undergone rejuvenation, she instinctively possessed a way with words that made the other person feel good.

"Then the best in the Murim where Grandpa resides is the Martial God, and next is the Three Heavens?"

"Hahaha, yes, that is right. Everyone thinks so."

Dan So-mi did not know who the Three Heavens were and who the Martial God was, but she nodded her head at Namgung Cheon's words, saying, "Mm-mm!"

"No, that is incorrect."

"What is incorrect?"

At that moment, Dan Woo-hyun let out a smirk as he swallowed a glass of alcohol. Then, he slowly looked at Namgung Cheon and twisted his expression slightly.

It was a gaze that looked as if he was remembering something and feeling angry. A momentum like a burning red flame lingered in his eyes.

"It is certain that the strongest was the Martial God, but he was not the best."

Namgung Cheon furrowed his brows.

If so, was there someone else?

Namgung Cheon thought briefly and soon recalled a person.

"The one who established the system of Shaolin…"

"It was not Bodhidharma either."

"Huh, then who on earth is it?"

Without even answering the question, Dan Woo-hyun drained his cup once more. As if he was putting force into his hand as he quickly lowered the cup, the cup turned into powder with a crackling sound.

Dan So-mi, who had been quietly listening to the story, Namgung Cheon, and even Jang Sam-tae and Gwon Mu-jin, who had been listening attentively from a slight distance, were all surprised.

And slowly, his mouth opened.

"The Blood Demon… He is the one who rose to the supreme position."

The powdered cup fluttered away on the wind.