Chapter 277: The Right Path (4)

Elaine climbed the stairs, panting.

“Why are they so high? Why the hell did they build them like this?”

“For Murim warriors, this isn’t a difficult path.”

“So it’s basically like saying common folk shouldn’t come?”

Cheongun, who was waiting much farther up, nodded.

“Yes. Exactly.”

“Haa…”

Elaine grumbled.

“If I’d known, I would have brought all the company staff; now I’m the only one suffering. By the way, where is Lord Bernard?”

“Right behind you.”

“What?”

Elaine turned around and almost tumbled down the stairs in fright. Bernard grabbed her by the collar.

“When did you get behind me?”

“Just a moment ago.”

“I didn’t sense you at all…”

“I made no noise.”

“Well, make some from now on.”

“…”

Bernard didn’t reply and looked up.

“I’m sorry.”

“What?”

“I can sense the strong. And surely they can sense me as well.”

“I suppose so. If the Murim Alliance is the center of the Eastern Murim, then there will be a lot of strong people there…”

Still catching her breath, Elaine nodded.

“Then, if those strong Easterners try to intimidate us, you’ll have to step in.”

“They could be even stronger than me.”

“Bah, they’ll be about the same. You’re Bernard, aren’t you?”

Elaine trusted Bernard.

She had heard from the Briol court that when Jose Aratur, one of the Ten Greats, had stayed in Briol, he and Bernard had been evenly matched.

It was said they trained together every day, winning and losing alternately.

Even when a group of imperial assassins had broken into the royal palace not long ago, it was Bernard who went out and handled the situation.

That alone made it clear he was a warrior on the level of the Ten Greats.

Even in an era overflowing with experts, someone like Bernard could carve a path even in the East.

“All right, let’s keep going up.”

Cheongun clapped to lighten the mood.

Finally, thanks to the help of the two, Elaine managed to reach the top of the mountain where the Murim Alliance stood. Just building a staircase up here must have cost a fortune.

Elaine sighed when she saw the great pavilion rising before her.

“We finally made it…”

The characters “Murim Alliance” she had seen on the plaque at the stairway entrance were written here again in an even larger and more vigorous brushstroke.

“To think there’s so much flat land up here…”

“They carved it out by hand.”

“Seriously?”

Before Elaine and her group could do anything, people emerged from the Murim Alliance.

All wore black martial robes, with clear and sharp gazes.

“What’s going on?”

“Let me speak to them.”

Cheongun conversed with them.

“What do they say?”

“They’re the guardians of the Murim Alliance. They’ve been expecting us.”

“Us?”

“Yes.”

Elaine looked at Bernard.

If he had said earlier he could sense the presence of the strong, perhaps a similar expert had appeared, putting the Murim Alliance on guard as well.

But Cheongun said something else.

“They say they’ve been waiting for you. Or, to be precise, for the story from the West you bring.”

“What?”

“They say that when they saw a breaking star appear in the sky, they knew a visitor would come.”

“Reading fate or something like that?”

“Something like that. The Murim Alliance also has a department for that.”

It seemed that in the eastern continent, they had their own arts similar to magic.

In situations like this, one must not show weakness. Even if it was unexpected, you had to act as if you already knew, so the other side wouldn’t underestimate you.

Elaine smiled and told Cheongun,

“Then there’s no need to say more. Tell them I want to see him.”

“See who?”

“The leader of the Murim Alliance.”

“That…”

Cheongun hesitated. For him, the title of Murim Alliance Leader was not something to be mentioned lightly.

The current number one in Murim, the “Immortal of Combat” of Wudang, Jang Yeonghak.

He was not someone one could simply meet by asking. He was, quite literally, like the sky itself.

But soon Cheongun nodded with a serious look.

Although he had not spent much time in the West as a foreigner, he could feel that the world was in danger.

Someone needed to set it right.

Moreover, even though his sect had fallen, it had always been one that worked for good. He could not ignore this.

“I understand.”

Then he stepped forward again.

The men of the Murim Alliance who saw him speaking in the western tongue with the group looked at him curiously.

[You speak with the Westerners fluently. Do you know their language?]

[Yes. I learned it.]

[Impressive. That will make it easier to talk. The Master of the Sky Pavilion wishes to see you, so come in.]

[No.]

[No?]

[We have not come to see the Master of the Sky Pavilion.]

[Then who?]

[We have come to see the leader of the Murim Alliance.]

At this, the expressions of the two guardians hardened.

[You dare to mention him? How insolent.]

[It’s something very important.]

[Bringing some Western foreigners and suddenly asking to see the leader? If you’re from Murim, you should know how offensive that is—or perhaps you’re not from Murim.]

One of them looked him up and down with contempt.

[That the Master of the Sky Pavilion deigns to see you is already a privilege.]

[It’s a serious matter that affects not only the West, but also the safety of the Eastern Murim.]

[Ha! Does the West have a Demonic Cult or something?]

[Yes. Exactly that!]

[This man just spouts random nonsense.]

The Murim Alliance guardians shook their heads.

[Choose—see the Master of the Cheonwon Hall or leave.]

Seeing Cheongun in a bind, Elaine asked,

“Is there a problem?”

“They say it’s absolutely impossible to see the Murim Alliance Leader. Instead, they’ll allow us to see the Master of the Sky Pavilion.”

“And who is the Master of the Sky Pavilion?”

“He’s part of a department subordinate to the Murim Alliance. His role is to assist the Alliance Leader using various mystical arts.”

“Well, fine.”

Elaine patted Cheongun on the shoulder.

“We can take this one step at a time. If we convince the Master of the Sky Pavilion, he can take us to the Alliance Leader.”

“It’s not as easy as it sounds. The Alliance Leader is…”

“If it can’t be done, we’ll make it possible. We didn’t come here for a stroll. The fate of the continent… no, of the entire world is in our hands. We have to do everything we can.”

“The fate of the world…”

At her determined declaration, Cheongun closed his eyes and nodded.

“I understand.”

Cheongun then spoke in the eastern language.

[Understood. I will meet with the Master of the Sky Pavilion.]

***

The Master of the Sky Pavilion was an old man with a long beard. He was in the garden of the Murim Alliance’s main pavilion, gazing at a pond. Without even turning around, he spoke when Elaine’s group appeared.

[I have been expecting you.]

Cheongun stepped forward and gave a martial greeting.

[My name is Cheongun.]

[A good name.]

[Thank you.]

[So you’ve come because of the Breaking Star in the sky, haven’t you?]

[That’s right.]

Cheongun signaled to Elaine and Bernard to wait, then continued the conversation.

[As you well know, this situation not only endangers the West, but also the survival of the Murim Alliance. I ask for your help.]

[Hmm. Which sect do you belong to?]

[Excuse me?]

[Cheongun sounds like a Taoist name, but I sense the scent of a ronin from you.]

Cheongun hesitated a moment before answering with a serious expression.

[In the past, I was a disciple of the Blue School Sect.]

[Blue School, I see…]

The Master of the Sky Pavilion finally turned to look at him. His gaze moved from Cheongun to Elaine and Bernard, then back to him.

[I didn’t expect you to be a successor of the Blue School. How many remain?]

[I’m the last.]

[I don’t believe that. Wasn’t there also Hyeonseong?]

[He abandoned the Blue School.]

[He was the last Taoist in Murim who practiced Demon Expulsion…]

[He was nothing but a man who betrayed his duty. He’s no longer part of the Blue School.]

[A pity. Is he still alive?]

[I don’t know. But I didn’t come here to talk about my sect. I came for something more important. We must hunt a demon that has appeared in the West. The Heavenly Demon is there…]

The Master of the Sky Pavilion interrupted him.

[The Breaking Star seeks to destroy the sky, yes… But tell me, have you ever seen the sky break?]

[Excuse me?]

[Do not worry so much.]

The old man approached and patted him on the shoulder. From his eyes suddenly shone a pure light.

[The sky will not break and the world will return to its course. It’s like the change of seasons—when winter comes, it seems as if everything ends, but sooner or later spring returns and the sprouts emerge again. Be patient—the Breaking Star will fall on its own.]

Cheongun looked at him in astonishment.

[I called you here to tell you this.]

[Master of the Sky Pavilion…]

[Personally, I will help you. But the Murim Alliance will not move.]

[The Heavenly Demon is in the West!]

[That too is part of the natural flow. The star you follow will be the one to bring down the Breaking Star. Do not question it.]

[Master of the Sky Pavilion!]

At Cheongun’s raised voice, Elaine intervened.

“What’s he saying?”

“That we…”

Cheongun suddenly stopped, seized by a strange suspicion.

In the West, he had met the hero Yuri Briol and fought alongside him against evil forces. Although in the East there were heretical and demonic sects, the beings corrupted by black magic in the West were of an incomparable evil.

When he stayed silent, Elaine pressed him.

“We what?”

“One moment… one moment…”

Cheongun fell into thought.

The Blue School Sect had fallen, clinging to its purity and refusing to accept the corruption of the Murim world. Even Wudang, the most powerful Taoist sect today, was tainted compared to the Blue School.

Pure water always rejects even the smallest drop of ink.

[Master of the Sky Pavilion.]

[Hmm?]

[The Sky Pavilion deals with Qimendunjia and mystical arts, doesn’t it?]

The old man tilted his head.

[That’s right. We read the will of heaven, listen to the voice of the earth, and seek balance in Murim by means other than the sword.]

[Then you belong to the Deviated Path.]

[Eh?]

The old man frowned.

[It’s been a long time since anyone said that to my face. Very fitting for a successor of the Blue School. If that’s what you believe, I can do nothing, but it’s disrespectful.]

[One who sets foot on the Deviated Path will take two and three steps without fear.]

[What are you trying to say?]

[That I didn’t know the darkness of the West had extended its hand all the way to Murim. How much have they paid you?]

[What…!]

Suddenly, Cheongun was pushed back by an invisible pressure emanating from the old man.

[I wanted to treat you as a guest, but you insult me.]

[You’re angry because the truth was found out.]

[A mangy dog of a fallen sect dares…!]

Cheongun let out a laugh. Now that he knew the old man’s true face, he had no reason to hold back.

“Bernard.”

“My turn?”

Bernard stepped forward. The Master of the Sky Pavilion took out a fan and opened it; a mist arose and covered the entire garden.

But it didn’t last long. With a single slash from Bernard, the mist split apart and dissipated instantly.

The old man, who had been forming hand seals within the fog, opened his eyes in astonishment.

[You cut it with a single strike…?]

[In the West, there are also great warriors.]

[This man…]

The old man’s face paled as he focused on Bernard.

[A… a demon.]

[Exactly. In the West, they call him the ‘Sword Demon.’ And to take down rats like you, who have allied yourselves with demons from the West, nothing is better than a ghost from there.]