Chapter 248 – Friend…(2)

Deep in the valley below Mount Hua's Cloud Terrace Peak lay Compassion Cave. Compassion Cave was one of Mount Hua's secret locations, situated in the most treacherous area.

Compassion Cave, where the fourth-generation ancestor Sage Woon-hyeon had trained, contained a space so vast it was hard to believe it was underground. When the huge stone door operated by mechanisms was lowered, it completely isolated from the outside, so when Mount Hua Sect faced crisis, disciples would take refuge here to plan for the future.

That's why Myung-kyung and Han So-yu led some second-generation disciples and all third-generation disciples to take refuge in Compassion Cave.

"Senior Uncle!"

"Sob!"

Most of those who took refuge in Compassion Cave were third-generation disciples and below. They were mostly boys who hadn't come of age yet, just beginning to learn martial arts.

Though they were Mount Hua's future, they were still young trees that hadn't even properly sprouted. They didn't know what to do in the sudden crisis.

"Sigh!"

Han So-yu softly sighed watching the third-generation disciples. A few second-generation disciples were trying to comfort the crying children, but it wasn't enough.

That's when it happened.

"Who said you could cry? You are disciples of the prestigious Mount Hua. How can you cry at just this much when you should remain firm and unbroken in any crisis? Remember who you are."

Myung-kyung's stern voice echoed in Compassion Cave.

Even in the darkness, Myung-kyung's eyes shone brightly.

Among those present, except for Han So-yu, no one had higher rank than him. Moreover, he was the disciple of Sage Hyeon-geom, Mount Hua's greatest swordsman. Naturally his martial arts were also the strongest, so his words carried absolute authority.

The sobbing sounds from all around quieted down.

Han So-yu spoke softly to Myung-kyung.

"Well done, junior brother."

"No."

"I know your heart is also troubled. But we have no choice."

"Sigh!"

Myung-kyung let out a soft sigh.

In his heart, he too wanted to take up his sword and fight the demon cultists. But he couldn't. It was because of his master Sage Hyeon-geom's strict orders.

His assigned mission was to protect the young disciples who were Mount Hua's future. So he had to stay in Compassion Cave, suppressing his indignation.

Han So-yu patted Myung-kyung's shoulder and said:

"It will be alright, junior brother."

"Senior sister."

"We defeated the Demon Cult before. It will be the same this time. Don't worry."

Han So-yu tried to smile brightly. But she couldn't completely hide a certain stiffness.

She too had anxious feelings like Myung-kyung. But being the highest-ranked person here, she always had to show composure.

Rumble!

Slight vibrations were felt from the walls and floor.

***

"Everyone give it your all. Drive back the demon cultists. That's the only way to save Mount Hua."

Sage Hyeon-cheon shouted loudly encouraging his disciples.

His usually elegant appearance was completely gone, and with disheveled hair and blood stains all over his body, Sage Hyeon-cheon looked like an evil spirit.

Though usually showing dignity befitting Mount Hua Sect's leader more than anyone, at this moment his eyes were bloodshot as if about to shed tears of blood.

The Mount Hua Sect he had so carefully nurtured was crumbling. The elders of his Hyeon generation were falling while coughing blood, and the Kyung generation disciples were sprawled on the ground crying out in pain.

All these sights were like sharp daggers stabbing Sage Hyeon-cheon's heart.

"I'll never forgive you. You vicious ones!"

"Give me your head, fool!"

"Hyah!"

Two Demon Cult masters charged at Sage Hyeon-cheon.

At that moment, a sunset-colored haze rose from Sage Hyeon-cheon's hands.

Bang!

"Ugh!"

"Ahhh!"

When Sage Hyeon-cheon waved his hand, sunset-colored energy burst forth, and the charging Demon Cult masters flew away like bloody pulp.

"How dare you! How dare you!"

Sage Hyeon-cheon's shoulders shook.

What he had unleashed was the Violet Mist Energy based on the Violet Mist Divine Technique that only Mount Hua Sect's leader could learn.

The Violet Mist Divine Technique was one of Mount Hua Sect's greatest arts along with the One Character Wisdom Sword. However, it was extremely difficult to master, and few among Mount Hua Sect's historical leaders had mastered it.

Sage Hyeon-cheon too had only reached 70% mastery of the Violet Mist Divine Technique, not full mastery. Being busy with various affairs as Mount Hua Sect's leader, he hadn't had time to focus on martial arts.

Still, he thought it didn't matter. Because Mount Hua Sect had an outstanding warrior like Sage Hyeon-geom. As long as Sage Hyeon-geom was there, he thought Mount Hua would always be safe. But now Sage Hyeon-geom was struggling against some old man.

Everything was at its worst. Even now, Mount Hua Sect disciples were falling while bleeding. In such a situation, there wasn't much Sage Hyeon-cheon could do.

"Hyeon-cheon, you fool! You're mine."

At that moment, someone approached Sage Hyeon-cheon emanating rough killing intent. The man at least two heads taller than others was Mad Demon Hall Master Hwang Yeol.

Over ten Mount Hua Sect disciples had already died by Hwang Yeol's hands. His entire body was stained red with the blood of those he had killed.

"You!"

"Being this weak, how can you maintain your sect's legacy? Fool."

"How dare you!"

"Hehe! Today Mount Hua Sect will be annihilated. I, Hwang Yeol, will make it so."

"Will you not shut that mouth? Hyah!"

Unable to endure Hwang Yeol's provocation, Sage Hyeon-cheon unleashed Violet Mist Energy. The sunset-colored energy rushed like a wave toward Hwang Yeol.

"Hah! Violet Mist Energy. A great technique indeed. But no matter how great a divine technique is, it's meaningless if not mastered."

Hwang Yeol's fist swung fiercely. At that moment, powerful fist energy erupted and clashed with the Violet Mist Energy.

Bang!

With the explosion, both their bodies jerked simultaneously.

Sage Hyeon-cheon's face turned pale white and blood appeared at his mouth. He had suffered internal injury from just one clash. Meanwhile, Hwang Yeol was unharmed.

"Hah! Heaven-Collapsing Blood Flower."

Hwang Yeol threw three consecutive punches. Three streams of energy shot toward Sage Hyeon-cheon's vital points.

Sage Hyeon-cheon too unleashed the ultimate move of the Violet Mist Divine Technique.

"Violet Shadow Red Sky."

His body was instantly wrapped in a membrane of red energy.

Rumble!

"Ugh!"

Sage Hyeon-cheon's body staggered from the massive pressure felt throughout his body. Hwang Yeol sneered at such an Sage Hyeon-cheon.

"The moment a warrior neglects martial arts, their life as a warrior is as good as over. Seems you've let go of martial arts while playing at being a prestigious sect leader, fool."

"N-nonsense."

"Hehe! Is it really nonsense?"

Hwang Yeol drew up even more internal energy. The pressure Sage Hyeon-cheon felt increased further.

Sage Hyeon-cheon's expression twisted.

Hwang Yeol's venomous words were subtly digging into his heart. While denying everything he had pursued his whole life.

Bang! Bang!

Hwang Yeol's fist energy continuously pounded Sage Hyeon-cheon's Violet Mist Energy. With each hit, Sage Hyeon-cheon's confidence crumbled bit by bit.

The situation was not turning out well.

Sage Hyeon-geom knew this fact too but couldn't move. Because of one warrior in front of him.

Cheon Oh-kyung was blocking his way with sword drawn.

Though they had clashed several times already, Cheon Oh-kyung stood without even his breathing becoming rough. Sage Hyeon-geom appeared equally calm, but that was just his outward appearance.

While he was held up by Cheon Oh-kyung, Mount Hua Sect was crumbling. Though Mount Hua Sect disciples were fighting hard, they were overwhelmed.

As Mount Hua Sect disciples' defense line broke, Demon Cult warriors penetrated to Mount Hua Sect's main locations. They destroyed halls and set fires.

Great Peace Palace burned first, followed by flames rising from True Warrior Palace where he had been hall master.

And…

"Even Spirit Treasure Palace."

Sage Hyeon-geom closed his eyes.

Spirit Treasure Palace housed many of Mount Hua Sect's symbolic Taoist scriptures and martial arts manuals. The burning of Spirit Treasure Palace meant no different from the disappearance of Mount Hua Sect's spirit and martial arts to be passed down to future generations.

Of course, the supreme martial arts would be transmitted through people, but with so many Mount Hua Sect masters having lost their lives, some martial arts would inevitably be lost.

When martial arts are cut off, it's no different from the martial legacy of Mount Hua Sect being severed.

‘Oh, Great Primordial Heavenly Lord, please protect Mount Hua Sect.'

Calling upon the Great Primordial Heavenly Lord whom he had never sought in life, Sage Hyeon-geom opened his eyes. In his eyes wavered wisdom and sunset colors.

Cheon Oh-kyung spoke while looking at such an Sage Hyeon-geom.

"Remarkable. Indeed Mount Hua's sky is high and vast."

"The same goes for me, Master. I truly didn't know the Demon Cult had such a master as you."

"Now that we know each other's skills, shall we bring this to an end?"

Cheon Oh-kyung raised his sword pointing at Sage Hyeon-geom.

Sage Hyeon-geom too nodded and raised his sword high.

The only thing he believed in was the One Character Wisdom Sword.

It was thanks to the One Character Wisdom Sword that he had been able to fight equally with Cheon Oh-kyung until now.

There were regrets.

'If only I had realized the One Character Wisdom Sword a bit earlier. If only I had met that child, Cheon Gyung, a bit earlier. No, if only I had embraced that child a bit more warmly. If only I had been a better senior brother to Hyeon-so…'

The regrets were endless. It meant he had many lingering attachments to the world. But Sage Hyeon-geom boldly cut off all those attachments.

He became one with the sword.

Not just simple unity of sword and body, but feeling the sword and even his spirit becoming the sword.

Whoosh!

The sword in his hands cried out.

Sage Hyeon-geom entrusted his body to the sword's cry.

Watching this sight, Cheon Oh-kyung's expression hardened.

He too was a warrior who had mastered the sword to the extreme. He couldn't help but know what Sage Hyeon-geom's appearance meant.

He gripped his sword tighter. Cheon Oh-kyung's sword too responded with a cry.

Sage Hyeon-geom's sword and Cheon Oh-kyung's sword cried out almost simultaneously.

Boom boom!

The cries of the two swords merged and resonated.

"Ugh!"

"M-my ears…"

Warriors nearby had their eardrums burst from the swords' resonance. They quickly covered their ears and retreated. They too instinctively felt something terrifying was about to happen.

At that moment, Sage Hyeon-geom drew his sword.

Swoosh!

His sword cut through the air, and the world split in two.

Cheon Oh-kyung gripped his sword and threw his body into it.

Crack!

Like a salmon swimming upstream against fierce currents, his sword fluttered. The fierce current that seemed about to sweep away everything split before his sword.

Stab!

A small sound rang out afterward. And everything disappeared.

The fierce rapids that had been raging so violently, the world that had seemed split in two. As if it had never happened, silence came to the world.

"…"

In the terrible stillness, the two looked at each other's faces.

A regretful light appeared in Cheon Oh-kyung's eyes.

"If your insight had been just a bit higher, I would have been the one to fall."

His sword was pierced through Sage Hyeon-geom's chest. Exactly where the heart was located.

Sage Hyeon-geom's extended sword had split in two and stopped in front of Cheon Oh-kyung's chest.

Gulp!

Sage Hyeon-geom vomited blood.

Vitality was gradually disappearing from his face. As his consciousness faded, Cheon Oh-kyung's regretful voice was heard.

"So this is the end of thousand-year Mount Hua. Who else could carry on Mount Hua's spirit?"

His muttering scattered in the wind.

At that moment, Sage Hyeon-geom smiled.

'Don't be ridiculous. Mount Hua will absolutely not end like this. There is… someone else who will carry on Mount Hua's legacy… spirit.'

On Sage Hyeon-geom's blurring retina, one man's image formed.

The one who had given him the key to overcome the wall.

The man the world called Fist Demon.

That's why he could die smiling.

Cheon Oh-kyung couldn't see Sage Hyeon-geom's smiling face as he turned to descend the mountain.

With the situation reaching this point, Hae Mak could no longer treat it lightly.

“I’ll prohibit external patrols until the Sword Hero Squad returns. For the next four days, no one should step outside, and increase the outer guard to maximum!”

Hae Mak fell into thought.

“If it’s someone who uses poison…”

Only one name came to mind recently.

“Poison Dragon?”

Wasn’t Poison Dragon known to be at Qingcheng Mountain? And Qingcheng Mountain was understood to be completely surrounded by Mount Emei, the Tang family, and nearby Martial Alliance affiliated sects.

Of all times, there was someone targeting the Guizhou branch when its forces were weakened with the Sword Hero Squad deployed. It was as if announcing intent to rob an empty house.

Other warriors asked.

“What should we do with the corpses?”

“Put them in the back cave and seal the entrance so beasts can’t get to them. We’ll hold funerals after this matter ends.”

While two warriors covered their noses and mouths to move the corpse with a stretcher, other warriors strengthened security and entered twelve-hour emergency status.

* * *

In the cave, corpses killed by poison lay piled under straw mats.

When night fell, one of the straw mats rustled.

The mat was carefully removed and a corpse sat up. The swollen body had somehow completely subsided and was in perfect condition.

It was Jin Ja-gang.

Crack crack.

Jin Ja-gang loosened his stiffened body and stood up from the cold cave floor.

This was a natural cave in the cliff behind the branch’s mansion. The entrance was blocked with wooden boards to prevent beasts from entering.

Jin Ja-gang put internal energy into the Soul Seizing Thread on his wrist and separated it.

They don’t carefully examine corpses killed by the same method, especially corpses that died from poisoning. Jin Ja-gang had entered as the last corpse, and no one dared to search Jin Ja-gang’s swollen body.

Thanks to this, Jin Ja-gang still carried the Soul Seizing Thread and weapons on his person.

Jin Ja-gang used the Soul Seizing Thread to cleanly cut part of the wooden board. He came outside and covered it exactly as he had cut it, leaving no trace.

Outside, as expected, there were no sentries.

Most personnel were taking turns guarding the mansion’s perimeter facing outward throughout the twelve hours. They were on full alert watching for anyone attacking from outside.

Who would guard corpses in such circumstances?

Due to surveillance of the outside, the interior was relatively less guarded.

Jin Ja-gang could move around inside as easily as expected. And he already knew through the warriors’ words who he needed to find.

Jin Ja-gang picked up small stones from around and put them in his pocket as he moved.

* * *

The cliff had several caves, and these caves were connected to the mansions by paths, being used for various purposes. Among them was a large cave surrounded by five mansions in a formation-like arrangement, which was the prison.

A single sentry stood guard in front. Usually two stood guard, he had heard. However, they had reduced the number of inner sentries as much as possible for outer perimeter security.

Jin Ja-gang waited outside and, while the sentry turned aside briefly to relieve himself, casually entered the cave.

Prisoners trapped in various alcoves throughout the cave woke from sleep and glanced at Jin Ja-gang but said nothing.

Jin Ja-gang walked to the deepest part of the cave.

In an alcove with particularly thick iron bars, there was an old man.

The moment Jin Ja-gang saw him, or more precisely, the moment he saw not him but the inside of the alcove where he was confined, he knew this was the person he sought.

Grid lines were drawn on all the walls and floor with round dots marked on them.

These were clearly drawings of Go boards. Dozens of Go boards seemed to have been drawn by scratching with small stones or similar objects throughout the alcove.

However, after drawing Go boards and Go stones, they had been damaged by scratching over them again, making it impossible to tell what game records had been drawn.

Jin Ja-gang stood in front of the iron bars.

The old man opened his eyes.

Though he appeared to be well over sixty, skin and bones wearing rags, despite being the middle of the night he sat in meditation posture with his back straight like a scholar.

The old man’s eyes were clearer than expected. Though his internal energy should certainly have been sealed being in prison, he appeared surprisingly vigorous.

The old man looked at Jin Ja-gang.

Since Jin Ja-gang said nothing, the old man also said nothing special.

Jin Ja-gang used the Soul Seizing Thread to cut through the lock on the iron bars.

“Soul Seizing Thread… it’s been a long time since I’ve seen such a thing.”

The old man spoke in a rough manner.

“But you’re a truly strange fellow. Why break the lock of a door that isn’t even locked?”

At the old man’s words, Jin Ja-gang paused. Checking the iron bars, they were unlocked. He could open the door and come out anytime he wanted.

“I see. My apologies.”

“Coming in the middle of the night without keys and cutting locks, you’re clearly not a normal fellow.”

Jin Ja-gang entered the prison cell.

The old man looked at Jin Ja-gang with interest.

“Several people have visited over the years, but you’re the first to give off such an atmosphere. Now, what brings you here today?”

Jin Ja-gang spoke quietly.

“Would you play a game of Go?”

“…”

The old man who had been looking at Jin Ja-gang briefly showed a flash of interest in his eyes.

Suddenly a prisoner from another alcove spoke to Jin Ja-gang.

“Young fool! How insolent! Do you know who that person is?”

Jin Ja-gang answered.

“I don’t know.”

The old man asked back.

“You don’t know? Yet you came looking for me?”

The prisoner from the other alcove threatened Jin Ja-gang again.

“You bastard, do you want to be torn limb from limb?”

The old man restrained the prisoner.

“You’re being noisy, so shut up.”

The prisoner immediately closed his mouth.

“Go… good. First, sit down.”

The old man pointed to the side. A Go board with only lines drawn and nothing placed was there.

Jin Ja-gang put down the small stones he had gathered by scratching on the ground. Then he also sat down.

“I couldn’t prepare a proper board. And I lack the skill to carve stones prettily.”

At the mention of a proper board, the old man’s eyes flashed with interest again.

“What luxury would a proper board be in prison? If it’s Go stones suitable for prison, I have them.”

The old man actually held out a handful of Go stones and placed them in front. But their colors were strange. One was yellowish and one was blackish.

Jin Ja-gang touched the Go stones the old man offered.

They weren’t Go stones but human bones. Human bones carved into Go stones!

The black stones probably got that color from being coated and hardened with blood.

However, the Go stones themselves were carved very smoothly.

Jin Ja-gang looked at the old man. The old man’s eyes gleamed with a strange light as he smiled.

“These are shinbones from fellows who came to me without fear saying they’d play Go. If they couldn’t play properly after that, I pulled out their shinbones on the spot to make these stones.”

“Must I stake my life on Go?”

The old man became serious.

“Who stakes their life on Go? One shinbone is sufficient.”

“So if I play Go poorly, I lose a shinbone.”

“No. They wanted to take what they needed from me without staking anything themselves, so isn’t it natural? I can’t stand seeing such behavior and can’t tolerate it. If you want to steal what someone spent their lifetime obtaining, you should at least stake your own shinbone.”

The old man held out stones and smiled.

“How about it? Will you also stake a shinbone and play a game?”

A chilling smile.

But Jin Ja-gang remained calm without change of expression. If he were frightened by this much, he wouldn’t have been able to enter here.

“That’s what I already proposed.”

“Bold fellow. Good. Then which stones will you take?”

Jin Ja-gang chose the Go stones made from hardened red blood.

The old man asked.

“Shall I go first?”

“No. I’ll go first, at the three-three point.”

Clack.

Jin Ja-gang placed the first stone.

The old man stared at Jin Ja-gang, then picked up his stone and placed it at the star point.

Clack.

The old man asked Jin Ja-gang.

“But suddenly I’m thinking this. If you’re someone who snuck in, is it alright to be so leisurely?”

“It should be fine. Probably.”

“Dawn will break soon.”

“No one looks for dead people anyway.”

A prisoner from the back alcove, having listened to their conversation, interjected.

“Mok Ho! Don’t fall for his tricks. Something’s strange about this fellow.”

“You bastard, I told you to shut up!”

The old man suddenly became angry and shouted while throwing a Go stone outside the bars.

Whiz!

A short groan of “Ugh!” came from the dark area that couldn’t be seen well.

“I’ll let you off with one toe this time. Next time I’ll embed it in your only remaining left eyeball.”

“Sorry, sorry.”

That was definitely not the hand movement of someone who had lost their martial arts.

“Were you surprised?”

“No. I thought I had properly found who I was looking for.”

Mok Ho. That was a term referring to monks of the Yellow Sect.

“Then, let’s play.”

“Yes.”

The old man placed his next move at Jin Ja-gang’s urging.

It was exactly the same position Venerable Woo-am had taught Jin Ja-gang. Jin Ja-gang placed his next stone at the position Venerable Woo-am had played in response.

The old man’s eyebrows twitched.

Clack.

Clack.

The moves continued in silence.

Jin Ja-gang became Venerable Woo-am and placed stones as Venerable Woo-am had. The old man placed stones at the positions Venerable Woo-am had taught Jin Ja-gang.

The same game was continuing without an inch of error.

Clack.

The old man’s hand placing the stone trembled faintly.

The old man’s expression gradually hardened. Only after a long while did the old man speak.

“What’s your relationship with him?”

“I just learned Go recently.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Would he teach this Go game to just anyone passing by? Do you know what meaning is contained in this Go game?”

Jin Ja-gang didn’t answer and played his next move.

Clack.

“It’s the old man’s turn.”

“This bastard…”

The old man glared. He was definitely not a weak old man confined to prison. His killing intent was fierce, as if he would destroy Jin Ja-gang on the spot if he made one wrong move.

Stones continued to fill the Go board.

The old man’s fierce killing intent gradually intensified. However, now he said nothing and devoted himself only to Go.

Clack! Clack!

The pace of placing stones also quickened.

Jin Ja-gang continued placing stones as he had already memorized and re-memorized.

Eventually the Go board reached the end of the game record Venerable Woo-am had shown him.

Clack!

The old man who had played one move on his turn glared at Jin Ja-gang while breathing roughly as if greatly excited.

This was the last he remembered.

The very next move was the next move he had waited ten years for. For ten years he had thought and anticipated where Venerable Woo-am would place his next stone.

After ten years, he could finally continue the Go game through Jin Ja-gang as his proxy.

Now he could finally conclude the forty-year Go game.

“Now… play.”

The old man urged Jin Ja-gang.

Forty years, it was a great game he had waited forty years for. Though he had waited ten years for the next move, waiting for this brief moment was even more difficult for the old man.

The old man no longer saw Jin Ja-gang in front of him. What was before him was Venerable Woo-am.

The old man was elated that he could finally conclude the forty-year Go game.

Then Jin Ja-gang no longer picked up the Go stone made from human bone. Instead, he took out the Go stone made from red agate that he had carefully treasured. It was red agate personally carved by Venerable Woo-am. And he forcefully placed it at the position where Venerable Woo-am had played last.

Clack!

At that moment the old man’s expression completely changed. The old man suddenly looked at the Go board as if dazed.

After being silent for a while, the old man asked.

“Really… are you really sure that’s the place?”

Jin Ja-gang stood up and bowed to the old man.

“This is as far as I can convey. That was the last position he showed me. There is no more.”

“Do you know what kind of position that is?”

Jin Ja-gang didn’t know Go, so naturally he didn’t know.

“I don’t know.”

“Of course you wouldn’t!”

The old man made an indescribable messy expression and said.

“It’s Not Counting Defeat. You just played outside the Go board.”