Chapter 61 – Karma

Chapter 61 – Karma

The doubt did not last long.

In front of the main gate of the Martial Alliance.

At a glance, an extraordinary martial artist was standing there.

Three of them, at that.

“……!!”

Seomun Gang, who recognized them at a single glance, gaped in bewilderment. That was still a relatively good state. The Chief Steward's face was noticeably pale, and Min Eun-gyeol was already on the verge of fainting.

“So… what did you say you came for?”

The martial artist guarding the main gate asked those standing in front of him, doubting his own eyes and ears.

“I have come to pick up my son.”

The martial artist wearing a green robe and bearing a chilly impression spoke in a low voice.

“I said I came to find my disciple.”

Beside him, a man wearing silk clothes with his face covered by a cotton veil was holding a fan.

“I told you, I came to meet my friend?”

The man on the far right, wearing a red martial robe, said confidently with his arms crossed.

“Where is my son?”

“Where is my disciple?”

“Where is my friend?”

Although the terms they used to call the person they were looking for were all different, everyone in the Martial Alliance could tell.

‘We're fucked…’

And very thoroughly, at that.

****

The ten absolute masters who were counted among the best in the Jianghu.

The world called those who possessed power that no one dared to covet the Ten Venerables of the Martial World.

And now, the Hubei headquarters of the Martial Alliance.

Two of the Ten Venerables of the Martial World had gathered in one place. That was not all. Even Tang Hwa-seon, the Family Head of the Sichuan Tang Clan and the Ten Thousand Poisons Divine King, whose name alone made his enemies tremble in fear, was present.

It was a major event that would easily turn the Central Plains upside down.

“I did not expect the three of you to come here in person. I, Zhuge, am deeply honored to meet the heroes of the Jianghu.”

The head of the Martial Alliance, Alliance Leader Zhuge Yun, smiled gently and performed a cupped-fist salute.

Tang Hwa-seon, who sat on his right and also showed respect, said calmly.

“I hear my foolish son is causing trouble. It seems the Alliance Leader has a great misunderstanding for some reason, so I have personally paid a visit.”

Words with bones—it was clear there was a hidden thorn in his words.

For the person accused of impersonating the Tang Clan to be not a collateral martial artist, but a direct descendant of the Family Head.

Tang Hwa-seon's voice was like sharp thorns. Zhuge Yun bit his lip, realizing that he was in an extremely difficult situation.

“It is because I stepped away for a moment. I should be the one to apologize for causing you to make a long journey due to the delayed investigation.”

Alliance Leader Zhuge Yun said, bowing his head slightly.

“Ha, how cheeky. You took someone who was on my ship without saying a single word?”

The man leaning back with his legs crossed said.

“How could you think of it that way? We merely requested temporary cooperation because there was something to verify.”

The man with soft, sand-colored hair and an exotic appearance was the Chief Stronghold Leader of the Eighteen Waterway Forts of the Yangtze River, the Fist Demon. There was no known name for him other than his moniker, and he was the one who had unified the Yangtze River Waterway Forts ten years ago and risen to become their leader.

One of only two unorthodox figures belonging to the Ten Venerables of the Martial World. Even though he was the leader of the unorthodox faction, the domineering confidence with which he confidently strode into the Alliance Leader's office proved his martial prowess.

“If I had known Elder Fist Demon was waiting, I would have brought him along with us.”

At Zhuge Yun's shameless response, the Fist Demon, Tae Ju-ha, clicked his tongue in disbelief.

“……..”

Zhuge Yun shifted his gaze to the man sitting quietly across from him.

The man, whose face was half-covered by a cotton veil, lifted his teacup to appreciate the aroma, then set it down as if he didn't like it and raised his head.

Zhuge Yun felt a chilling thrum down his spine at the fact that he was looking at that man in person.

Flowing Cloud Sword.

A genius swordsman who suddenly appeared one day and defeated the Taibai Deity, who was called the Sword Sovereign. He had earned his name as the youngest of the Ten Venerables of the Martial World, but vanished from the world as if it were a dream.

But now, the Flowing Cloud Sword was in this place. In the exact same appearance as when he had vanished in his thirties, he with the sharp gaze had finally revealed himself to the Jianghu.

“I truly never imagined that Elder Flowing Cloud Sword, who had vanished for such a long time—as long as fifty years—would appear.”

He tried to speak calmly, but his voice trembled faintly.

Tang Hwa-seon, the Family Head of the Sichuan Tang Clan, Tae Ju-ha, the Fist Demon and Chief Stronghold Leader of the Waterway Forts, and even the Flowing Cloud Sword. There was only one reason they had come to the Martial Alliance.

“So, where is San-ho?”

To find San-ho.

At that fact, Zhuge Yun had to struggle to regain his composure. For those with names that dominated the Jianghu to run all the way here in a single breath for a single child without even a moniker. No one would have expected the connection between them.

Although it was true that he was in a difficult position as the Alliance Leader, it was difficult to control his pounding heart as a martial artist.

For he might be witnessing the starting point that would shift the entire landscape of the Jianghu.

“The person you are looking for will be brought to the reception room shortly, so do not worry.”

“Now speak. What on earth made you commit such an act?”

Do Yi-gyeom, who had been quiet all this time, asked sharply.

“…Originally, the Alliance's operations are confidential, but since I have already made a huge mistake, I cannot help but offer an explanation.”

Calming his trembling insides as best as he could, he said with a faint smile.

“Then I will speak honestly. However, the story I am about to tell you from now on must be kept strictly secret.”

“………”

Zhuge Yun opened his mouth after a brief silence.

“Not long ago, traces of the Demonic Cult were discovered near Gonghe by Qinghai Lake.”

“……!!!”

“…What?”

At the words flowing from his mouth, the eyes of the three were filled with shock.

Shatter!

A sharp sound rang out at the same time.

The teacup shattered in Do Yi-gyeom's hand, and blood was seeping out.

Yet, as if not caring about such a thing at all, Do Yi-gyeom met Zhuge Yun's eyes and spoke in an icy voice.

“Can you take responsibility for the words you have spoken?”

“How could I tell a lie in front of the three of you? You are the ones who know the wickedness of the Demonic Cult better than anyone in today's Jianghu. Of course, I never imagined that the three of you would be connected, but…”

Zhuge Yun said, slowly scanning the three of them.

“This must not be a coincidence either.”

“……”

The Demonic Cult.

Another name for the Heavenly Demonic Cult.

The Demonic Cult was truly a mad group.

It was not simply because describing their faith as fanatical was insufficient.

No matter how much they were hunted down and killed, defended against, and eradicated, they stubbornly refused to disappear.

Their goal was always one.

To create a one true god. They took that as their Heaven's Mandate.

Creating a god.

It was a truly laughable farce.

Yet, possessing an abnormal belief, they willingly gave up their lives, and their faith descended upon the Central Plains as a disaster. Although there were times in long history when they were not recorded, they had never vanished. How many had become their sacrifices?

“Yet it has already been fifty years since they disappeared.”

Do Yi-gyeom's voice trembled at the hard-to-believe reality.

“You too had vanished for fifty years, Elder, yet are you not standing before my eyes like this now?”

“……Ha……”

“What about you, Fist Demon? Do you believe my words are a lie?”

Zhuge Yun threw the question while looking at Tae Ju-ha.

Tae Ju-ha, who pondered for a moment, narrowed his brows and let out a low groan. Jang Dae-gwang.

“I have no reason to believe your words, but having seen things myself, I cannot deny it.”

It was then.

Tang Hwa-seon, who was watching the situation, asked in a low voice.

“What relation does that have to you dragging my son here?”

“After the traces of the Demonic Cult were discovered, the Alliance began to track them. And… strangely enough, we learned that a single child was at the center of those traces.”

Grit.

“……You brat of the Zhuge Family. You had better be extremely careful about what you say next.”

Do Yi-gyeom ground his teeth viciously.

A terrifyingly overwhelming momentum.

Zhuge Yun flinched unconsciously.

“Do you know of the flower called Borrowing Flowers to Offer to Buddha?”

At Zhuge Yun's question, which he struggled to maintain composure to ask, Tae Ju-ha replied.

“Is it not a legendary flower?”

“Yes. Borrowing Flowers to Offer to Buddha was a flower that the Demonic Cult sought in the past. However, because no one had seen it, it was known not to exist. Yet, last year, that flower was first discovered in Gonghe, and recently, traces were also found in Ghost Sword Valley.”

“……Oh.”

“And the four villains who killed those passing through the path of Ghost Sword Valley to thin out the crowds, and sacrificed the Woodcutter of Mount Nak, who was counted among the high masters, to the Borrowing Flowers to Offer to Buddha flower, have vanished.”

“……”

“However… when we actually went and investigated, they hadn't vanished; rather, they seemed to have already died. At the hands of a single martial artist, at that.”

Zhuge Yun shrugged his shoulders and continued speaking.

“The villagers of Sogu Village were so uncooperative that we had quite a hard time finding his whereabouts afterward, but… as we chased the faint traces, they led to the Waterway Forts this time. As you also know, Fist Demon, traces of demonic arts were revealed from the Stronghold Leader of Moon-Dominating Stronghold.”

“……!!”

“Synthesizing all these circumstances pointed to a single child, so I reached two conclusions. One is the appearance of an unprecedentedly strong rising star, and the other is…”

“……The Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult.”

The one who finished Zhuge Yun's sentence was none other than Do Yi-gyeom.

Murmuring with a grim expression, he closed his eyes tightly.

It was because the terrible past came to mind.

“That is correct. The one who is prepared to become the Heavenly Demon, called the Young Cult Leader.”

To think he would hear that name again.

Do Yi-gyeom trembled slightly at the memories that rushed in like a tidal wave.

It was a grueling past.

Fifty years ago. Back when the whole world seemed to shine.

However, it was also when the Demonic Cult, which had last vanished a hundred years ago, broke out once more.

At that time, having obtained information on the Demonic Cult, the Martial Alliance secretly formed a death squad. This was to prevent unnecessary unrest due to the severe aftermath of the past Orthodox-Demonic War.

Masters of both the orthodox and unorthodox factions gathered and left for Mount Tian.

Personal feelings were put aside.

In order to target them when they were not yet prepared.

“………”

All of his precious people lost their lives on that day.

Although his barely surviving life was deeply shameful, because there was no one left to miss those who had departed, he could not bring himself to give up in the end. Consequently, the genius swordsman Flowing Cloud Sword, who had received praise and admiration, vanished from the world along with them.

The same went for his only friend, with whom he had fought back-to-back on Mount Tian. Tang Mo-ran. After she, who was called the blessed martial genius of the Sichuan Tang Clan, disappeared, the Tang Clan also faltered greatly.

Although the war was prevented, the resulting glory, as well as the grief of losing loved ones, was entirely left to those who remained. It was an unrecorded past.

“You know it well too, Flowing Cloud Sword. What kind of bizarre acts they committed fifty years ago.”

He remembered everything.

A mountain of corpses and a sea of blood.

The hundreds of corpses piled up there.

They were all the bodies of young children.

Do Yi-gyeom lifted his teacup with a trembling hand. Gulping down the cold tea in a burning thirst, he thought of San-ho. His only disciple.

‘…The Demonic Cult. Is it cause and effect?’

“I apologize for committing a great discourtesy due to my speculation. However, although the misunderstanding regarding the child has been cleared up, my thoughts have not changed.”

Zhuge Yun said in an extremely firm voice.

“I believe their 'god-making' has begun again.”

“………”

“Who knows. This time… it might have already succeeded.”

A heavy silence settled in the Alliance Leader's office.