Chapter 174

Chapter 174: Chapter 8. Even the Fierce Wind Cannot Wash Away the Scent of Blood (3)

An unprecedented cold gripped the winter.

People said it was the worst in decades. Snow piled higher than a grown man, and temperatures plummeted mercilessly, causing people to freeze to death in droves.

Because of this, most people refrained from going outside and remained cooped up in their homes. The snow-covered streets were devoid of people.

Though most of the world's people restrained themselves from outdoor activities, one particular group was different.

Martial artists, or those called people of the Murim.

The previous winter, the Murim Alliance and the Demonic Cult had clashed throughout the Central Plains.

The greatest of these confrontations occurred in Baiyin, Gansu Province. Baiyin was a large county near Lanzhou, the capital of Gansu Province.

The Murim Alliance had established a branch in Baiyin, and it was this branch that the Demonic Cult warriors attacked.

At the time, the Baiyin branch had over four hundred martial artists, but they were ambushed by more than a thousand Demonic Cult warriors.

At first, the Demonic Cult was naturally superior. They held an overwhelming advantage in both numbers and quality.

Before the Demonic Cult's unstoppable offensive, the Baiyin branch faced annihilation. At that moment, a force came to their aid—the Tongtong Sect, also based in Gansu Province.

The Tongtong Sect sent five hundred elite warriors to assist the Baiyin branch. Only then could the Baiyin branch repel the Demonic Cult and breathe a sigh of relief.

But the Demonic Cult did not withdraw quietly. Having reorganized their forces, the Demonic Cult attacked the Baiyin branch again.

As fierce battle raged, casualties mounted rapidly. The Baiyin branch fell into crisis once more.

At this point, the Zhongnan Sect's reinforcements struck the Demonic Cult's rear as they attacked the Baiyin branch. The Demonic Cult, having suffered heavy losses, was forced to retreat.

Though they had managed to repel the Demic Cult, the damage suffered by the Murim Alliance, the Tongtong Sect, and the Zhongnan Sect was truly enormous. Over a thousand martial artists had been killed or wounded.

The war against the Demonic Cult in Baiyin sent shockwaves throughout the world. People trembled in fear, and Gansu Province's economy was paralyzed.

Beyond Baiyin, the Murim Alliance and the Demonic Cult clashed in many other places.

White snow was stained red with blood, and the moans of wounded martial artists echoed through the sky.

The people of the Murim knew. This was only the beginning.

The Demonic Cult's leadership, including Ten-Li Reaper So Cheonsan, had yet to reveal themselves. The moment they appeared would mark the true beginning of the war between the orthodox and demonic factions.

When that time came, the number of dead would be beyond counting.

Thus, the world entered an era of chaos.

The Murim Alliance and the martial world's sects were moving more busily than ever before to ensure their survival.

While everyone was busy, one sect took the opposite approach—the Namgung Family, one of the Five Great Families.

For some reason, the Namgung Family had locked its gates and recalled all of its warriors who had been stationed outside. They also maintained only a minimal presence in the Murim Alliance.

Rumor had it that the family had suffered great damage from a clash with the Fist Demon. The Namgung Family's secret organization, the Sword King Unit, had been annihilated, and even the patriarch Namgung Cheon had been severely injured. The measures were said to be unavoidable.

People were curious about the truth, but the Namgung Family kept its doors firmly shut and gave no answers.

People assumed the rumors were true.

Now, people focused their attention on the Fist Demon Dam Ho's movements. But the subject of the rumor, Dam Ho, had somehow vanished from the Murim without a trace.

Though Dam Ho didn't show himself, his name had already secured a place at the very top of the Murim.

People began to recognize Dam Ho as equal to, or even above, the grandmasters of the Nine Great Sects. Thus, Dam Ho was becoming a legend of the Murim.

Shouzhou was located in the northern part of Shanxi Province. Though smaller than Taiyuan, the provincial capital, it was well-developed with highways and waterways, making it a key city in Shanxi Province.

But despite its geographical importance, Shouzhou was extremely desolate. Located at the northern edge bordering Mongolia, and situated on barren land.

Because of these circumstances, Shouzhou had not been heavily populated. But last winter, the establishment of a Murim Alliance branch there changed everything.

The Murim Alliance had established a branch here, considering the importance of Shanxi Province, and invested vast amounts of resources and manpower.

As resources and manpower flowed in, money circulated. As money circulated, merchants and courtesans followed. Thanks to this, Shouzhou was transformed into a city of pleasure virtually overnight.

Walking through the streets, one could frequently encounter martial artists, and in the red-lantern-lit pleasure quarters, courtesans seduced them.

The Murim Alliance's Shouzhou branch was located on the outskirts of the city. The walls were over ten feet high, and the perimeter spanned over a hundred feet, reminiscent of a small fortress.

At the main gate, over a dozen martial artists stood guard. Their eyes and bearing were anything but ordinary.

The battle at the Baiyin branch was known here as well. Because of this, the Shouzhou branch's vigilance was at its peak.

Alertness appeared on the warriors' faces.

A group of martial artists was approaching the Shouzhou branch from the distance. Tightly wrapped from head to toe in cloth to block the bitter wind, the arrival of the dozen or so warriors caused them to tense.

'Demonic Cult?'

The first thought that came to mind.

Hands instinctively tightened around weapons. The one at the very back prepared to blow an emergency signal horn.

The squad leader shouted at the unfamiliar warriors.

"Who goes there? Identify yourselves!"

The martial artists approaching the Shouzhou branch stopped. One of them lowered the cloth covering his face and spoke.

"We are martial artists from the Mount Hua Sect."

"Mount Hua Sect?"

"That's right! I am Un-gyeong, a First Generation Disciple of the Mount Hua Sect."

"Un-gyeong? Are you truly from the Mount Hua Sect?"

The squad leader's voice lowered slightly.

The Nine Great Sects, and among them, the position held by a First Generation Disciple of the Mount Hua Sect was by no means insignificant.

The squad leader had memorized the personnel records of the Nine Great Sects and Five Great Families, so he knew exactly what position Un-gyeong held within the Mount Hua Sect.

'The junior brother of Grand Senior Brother Mu-gyeong, and the mind of the Mount Hua Sect.'

Mu-gyeong would undoubtedly become the Mount Hua Sect's leader before long. At that time, Un-gyeong would certainly become an elder of the Mount Hua Sect.

It was a lofty status that the squad leader couldn't even dare to look up to.

Un-gyeong tossed a token symbolizing his identity as a Mount Hua Sect disciple to the squad leader.

'It's real.'

The squad leader gasped.

He returned the token respectfully and spoke.

"I have verified it. Taoist Un-gyeong. What brings you to Shouzhou without prior notice?"

"I was passing through Shanxi Province and thought to seek assistance."

"Assistance, you say?"

"I would like to go inside and speak with the Branch Master."

"Ah!"

The squad leader, who had been asking casually, flushed red.

The other party was clearly a person of lofty status, destined to become an elder of the Mount Hua Sect. Having verified his identity, keeping him standing outside was a grave discourtesy.

"I apologize. Please allow me to guide you."

"I appreciate it!"

Un-gyeong followed the squad leader into the Shouzhou branch. The Mount Hua Sect disciples followed behind.

Un-gyeong looked around the interior of the Shouzhou branch and nodded. He could see that the warriors he saw had the spark of life in their eyes.

The squad leader guided Un-gyeong and the Mount Hua Sect warriors to the guest reception hall.

"You may wait here."

"Thank you!"

"Then!"

The squad leader hurriedly ran outside, leaving only the Mount Hua Sect disciples in the reception hall.

"Phew!"

Only then did Un-gyeong let out a sigh.

As if his sigh were a signal, the Mount Hua Sect disciples removed the cloth that had been covering their mouths and noses.

"Whew!"

"This is truly dreadful. How can people live in a place like this?"

The disciples each voiced their complaints.

The bitter cold they had endured on the journey was unlike anything they had experienced even on Mount Hua, and the hardship was considerable.

While the Mount Hua Sect disciples were talking, the door opened and someone entered.

A beautiful woman with a slender figure. The woman, who appeared to be in her early twenties, caused Un-gyeong to look puzzled.

As far as he knew, the Shouzhou Branch Master was a middle-aged martial artist in his forties.

The woman bowed to Un-gyeong.

"Hae So-wol of the Hainan Sect greets the distinguished guest."

"Ah! It's Miss Hae. I am Un-gyeong of the Mount Hua Sect."

Un-gyeong returned the bow.

The woman before him was one of the Nine Dragons, the most promising young talents of the Murim. He had heard she had been dispatched to Shanxi Province last year, but he hadn't expected her to still be here.

The previous summer, Hae So-wol had come to Shouzhou with a mission to locate the Demonic Cult's base. With her disciples, she had spent months wandering the northern part of Shanxi Province.

But she couldn't find the Demonic Cult's base anywhere. The disciples of Cho Yun-woon and Baek Jeon-mun, who had been searching the southern part of Shanxi Province, were in the same situation.

After months of fruitless searching, they were about to return to the Murim Alliance headquarters. But the situation changed when the Alliance decided to establish a branch here.

The Murim Alliance ordered Hae So-wol to remain in Shouzhou until the branch was stabilized. Thus, Hae So-wol was compelled to spend the winter here.

For Hae So-wol and the Hainan Sect disciples, who had lived their entire lives in the warm south, the harsh northern life was anything but easy. But with the Demonic Cult potentially launching surprise attacks at any time, she couldn't refuse on personal grounds.

That was the reason Hae So-wol was here.

"Where is the Branch Master? Why is Miss Hae here instead?"

"He is temporarily away, so I am covering his duties."

A brief, bitter smile flickered at the corners of Hae So-wol's mouth.

She had been idling away her time here for months now. But the Branch Master was not a particularly capable man, which was why they kept getting bogged down.

She wanted to live freely as a swordswoman, traveling the Murim. But the world of the Murim kept imposing great responsibilities upon her.

Having composed her expression, Hae So-wol asked.

"But what brings the Mount Hua Sect here without prior notice?"

"I came to seek assistance, shamelessly though it may be."

"If it's a request from the Mount Hua Sect, of course we must help."

"I wonder if anyone here knows of a place called Clear Stream Valley? We need to find it, but we're unfamiliar with the local terrain."

"Clear Stream Valley?"

Hae So-wol furrowed her brow.

It was a term she felt she had heard somewhere before.

After searching her memory for some time, Hae So-wol finally recalled where she had heard it.

'Buckyesan Mountain, Clear Stream Valley.'

Hae So-wol's eyes lit up.

Buckyesan Mountain was a fairly tall mountain on the outskirts of Shouzhou. She had heard that a small valley on its northern side was called Clear Stream Valley.

"You seem to know it."

"I've heard of it."

"That's good. Could you guide us there?"

"Guiding you wouldn't be difficult, but may I ask why you're looking for Clear Stream Valley?"

"Because there is someone we're looking for there."

"May I know who?"

"I cannot say just yet. We're not certain if that person is there. But if they are, you'll know once we arrive."

"I understand. I will guide you."

"Thank you, Miss Hae."

Un-gyeong bowed politely.

"Let's go at once."

Hae So-wol rose from her seat. With the Branch Master away, she had been confined to the branch against her will, and she was quite stifled.

The moment Hae So-wol stepped outside the branch, she deployed her movement technique. Un-gyeong and the Mount Hua Sect disciples also deployed their movement techniques and followed.

Clear Stream Valley was hidden in a very secluded location within Buckyesan Mountain. Without a guide, they would have wandered for days.

Hae So-wol and the Mount Hua Sect disciples ascended Clear Stream Valley.

Winter had not yet ended, and everything was desolate, but when spring came and flowers bloomed, it would surely be beautiful.

'Clear Stream Valley was like this?'

Even Hae So-wol marveled at the scenery of Clear Stream Valley.

A Mount Hua Sect disciple pointed at the sandy bank by the valley and exclaimed.

"There are signs of someone here!"

Human footprints were scattered across the sand.

"There are more here!"

Another disciple also found signs of people.

A gasp escaped Un-gyeong's mouth.

"Hm! Could he truly be here?"

That was when—

"Uncle! Over there…"

One of the disciples suddenly called out in a loud voice. Looking in the direction the disciple pointed, they saw a fairly wide clearing.

In the clearing, a dozen or so children were playing.

"Wahhh!"

The children's lively voices echoed through the valley. And at the center of the children, Un-gyeong saw a familiar face—an elderly man.

"Ma…Master?"

Un-gyeong's voice echoed loudly through the valley. The old man raised his head and looked at Un-gyeong.

His pupils trembled so violently that it was visible even from a distance.

"Un-gyeong?"

"Sage Hyeon-so."

The old man's Taoist name was Hyeon-so.