Chapter 278: The Right Path (5)

[What are you talking about?! That’s a misunderstanding!]

[Do you think I wouldn’t notice?]

Cheongun fixed his gaze on the pavilion master.

[You give off the same scent as the monsters from the West. Very faint, but it’s there.]

[That’s an illusion!]

[Even if I’ve become a vagabond, I’m still a Taoist of the Blue School. Do you think you could fool me?]

Hearing the commotion in the garden, the Murim Alliance’s guardians soon appeared, surrounding Elaine’s group.

The Pavilion Master shouted authoritatively.

[They have threatened me! Throw them out immediately! Make sure they can never set foot in the Murim Alliance again! Drive them all out!]

In the urgency of the moment, Elaine tugged on Cheongun’s sleeve.

“What’s going on?”

“It seems the Pavilion Master is already corrupted. I can feel the energy of black magic.”

“What? Then…”

While they spoke, several guardians approached. Fighting inside the Murim Alliance would be suicide.

Looking back and forth between the approaching guardians and the Pavilion Master’s enraged face, Cheongun clenched his teeth.

In just a few seconds, countless thoughts passed through his mind.

He had left for the West disillusioned with Murim, yet in the end, he had returned.

Perhaps it was the call of some fate.

“Virtue is fulfilled by following the path.”

He murmured softly.

When the Pavilion Master insulted the Blue School, he had felt anger.

Though he thought he had abandoned his sect long ago, the name Blue School was still a part of him.

“Blue School eradicates evil entities and practices good.”

Even in an age when their sacrifice was mocked and that mockery had led them to ruin, the Blue School had never abandoned that duty.

He remembered the promise passed to him by Yuri Briol, prince of the Kingdom of Briol, and cast aside any lingering hesitation.

‘Cheongun, I don’t know your past, but I will never abandon them. If you don’t abandon me, I won’t abandon you either. Understood?’

Cheongun nodded.

His decision was made.

And before Bernard could step forward, he stopped him with a hand on his shoulder.

“Cheongun?”

“I’ll do it.”

Cheongun took a step forward and shouted.

[I, Cheongun, last disciple of the Blue School, demand the execution of the pact before the Murim Alliance!]

Activating Cheongmyeong Shimgong, he used the Blue School’s secret art he hadn’t even learned halfway.

Cheongun’s Scarlet Sword Technique.

A glow like the afterglow of sunset spread around him. It was irrefutable proof that he belonged to the Blue School.

Cheongun continued.

[As the last disciple of the Blue School, I declare that the sect withdraws from the Murim Alliance as of today. Compensation is the right arm of ten disciples, including the sect master, but since I am the only one left, I will pay the price alone.]

The guards halted in surprise, and the Pavilion Master’s eyes widened.

Cheongun’s voice rang powerfully around them.

[According to the pact, this provision must be executed directly by the Murim Alliance leader, so summon him now!]

***

Since the Murim Alliance’s founding, sects had been expelled, but none had ever declared withdrawal of their own accord.

This was due to the severity of the pact.

Any sect wishing to withdraw had to hand over the right arm of ten disciples, including the sect master, and this act had to be personally carried out by the Murim Alliance leader to demonstrate the authority of the oath.

That rule was one of the reasons the Murim Alliance had never lost power over so many years.

And now, for the first time in Murim history, the Blue School declared its withdrawal. It was no small matter.

Though in decline, the Blue School had been one of the principal orthodox sects.

For that reason, the current leader of Murim, Jang Yeonghak, considered the “sky” of contemporary Murim, appeared with a grave expression.

When he arrived at the central courtyard of the Murim Alliance pavilion, all warriors bowed their heads in respect.

His eyes settled on a man whose internal qi was especially pure.

Jang Yeonghak spoke.

[So you are the last disciple of the Blue School sect…]

[Excuse me?]

[What led you to such a decision…?]

[I… I’m not…]

Seeing the confusion, the Murim Alliance’s chief of protocol hurried to correct him.

[He’s a guardian of the Murim Alliance.]

[Ah, is that so?]

[He’s from the Kunlun sect, so perhaps that’s why he seems similar.]

[Then where is the disciple of the Blue School?]

[Over there.]

[Hmm?]

In the direction the chief pointed, a man was standing. At first glance, his martial level didn’t seem particularly high.

His internal qi was pure, but not remarkable.

After a brief silence, Jang Yeonghak spoke.

[Are you a disciple of the Blue School?]

Cheongun stepped forward and gave a martial greeting.

[I am Cheongun, last disciple of the Blue School. Lord of the Pact, I gladly offer my arm so that you may grant my request.]

Jang Yeonghak remained still.

Now he understood the situation.

[So the withdrawal declaration was just a ploy so you could speak with me.]

[I regret to say that’s true.]

His robe fluttered in the wind.

Though from the Wudang sect and said to have a gentle nature, as leader of the Murim Alliance he never took matters lightly.

The Murim Alliance’s rules were Murim’s law.

They had to be respected above all. If they were taken lightly and used as a pretext for other aims, people would start to question his authority.

As Murim Alliance leader, he had to make clear the gravity of the matter.

[You have been reckless.]

Jang Yeonghak was not a soft man. He acted immediately.

The energy of his sword flew toward Cheongun.

Invisible and silent, so subtle and sharp that not even the warriors present noticed.

He expected the Blue School Taoist’s arm to be severed and for him to fall to the ground at once.

Then, he would leave without another word.

But just as he was about to turn away—

Bang!

A burst rang out.

A sound completely different from a bone breaking.

Jang Yeonghak stopped in his tracks.

[No…!]

[Where do you think you’re going?!]

[That insolent wretch!]

At the same time, the Murim Alliance warriors present voiced their outrage in unison.

Blocking the Murim Alliance Leader’s sword in the heart of his own territory was the same as defying him.

Even if the leader tried to kill, one was expected to accept it. Refusing meant staining the sect and its allies with blood.

The Murim Alliance, though it proclaimed righteousness, was still an organization of force.

[Hoh…]

The man who had blocked the strike didn’t show the slightest disturbance under the pressure in the air.

[This is getting interesting.]

When he spoke and smiled at the Murim Alliance, the place fell silent.

Since he had taken that position and become an absolute authority, no one had dared challenge him.

Not in strength, not in power, not in sect influence.

He was the pinnacle of Eastern Murim.

That’s why the situation felt so novel.

One could say it was because he came from the West and didn’t know him, but the fact was he had blocked his sword with genuine skill.

[In Murim, there are few who can block my sword…]

Cheongun, who had just realized he had almost lost an arm, spoke with a trembling voice.

[He… is also a master in the West.]

[I see. Could you tell that Westerner that his skill is quite good?]

[Yes.]

Cheongun translated the Murim Alliance Leader’s words to Bernard.

“He says your skill is quite good.”

“That’s the leader of the Murim Alliance?”

“Yes.”

“Then tell him exactly what I’m about to say.”

Bernard said something, and Cheongun was taken aback.

“B-but that…”

“Do it.”

“U-understood.”

After thinking it over, Cheongun finally conveyed Bernard’s words to the Murim Alliance Leader.

“He says that, if this were in the West, they would treat you as… as someone retired.”

In truth, he had said “as an old man,” but Cheongun softened the expression.

“What did you say?”

The Murim warriors present showed a clear intent to rush at the insolent Westerner and skewer him with their swords.

Cheongun shrugged nervously.

“He means no offense.”

“No offense, and yet he treats me like some retired old man…?”

“In the West, there are cultural differences.”

“Being a Westerner doesn’t mean you have no laws. Clearly you hold some resentment against me.”

Then Bernard placed a hand on Cheongun’s shoulder and whispered something else to him.

Cheongun shook his head, but Bernard kept insisting, so in the end, he had to relay his words again.

“He says that, in the West, there are many people stronger than the Murim Alliance Leader, and that’s why you should be humble. And that, if you doubt it, you should challenge him to a duel. He himself isn’t even among the top ten swordsmen in the West.”

In the East, where hierarchy was almost entirely determined by sect and martial level, no one dared speak with such insolence to the Murim Alliance Leader.

The smile vanished from Jang Yeonghak’s face.

“Ask him if he’s serious.”

“He says he is.”

“I see…”

He smiled, and the Murim Alliance guardians let their killing intent seep out.

Jang Yeonghak nodded.

“It’s clear that among Westerners there is no courtesy. You’re like a wild beast. I will personally take your life.”

Cheongun’s face paled.

When he translated this, Bernard, instead of being frightened, smiled with satisfaction.

“Perfect.”

“Lord Bernard, what are you doing?”

“And you, Cheongun—why did you offer your arm?”

“Well…”

“As an Easterner, you offered your arm for this cause; it’s only fair I risk my life.”

“Huh?”

Bernard smiled.

No matter how strong he was, compared to the Murim Alliance Leader—the peak of the East—his level was lower.

Even so, he was willing to fight.

“Cheongun. I now understand why you left the East.”

“What?”

“Even if you’d offered your arm, this old man wouldn’t have listened to you.”

“That…”

Cheongun couldn’t deny it. Bernard was right. The nature of the Murim world was ruthless; even with a desperate gamble, the Alliance Leader would never have heeded the words of the weak.

“Since you might die, I’ll tell you something. Have you heard the name Moyongchan?”

“Huh?”

Cheongun nodded.

He had heard it from time to time in Briol—an Eastern warrior active in the West, famed for great strength, who had even spent quite some time in Briol’s royal palace.

But he hadn’t given it much thought; it wasn’t unusual for Eastern martial artists to be in the West.

However, what Bernard said next was shocking.

“That man is from the Blue School sect.”

Blue School.

“What?”

“I wasn’t sure, but when I saw the sword technique you used earlier, I confirmed you’re from the same school.”

“How do you know the Cheongun Jeokha Sword Technique?”

“Because I learned it directly from him.”

“Moyongchan is…”

Cheongun’s eyes widened.

“Could it be…?”

In a sect, all who entered abandoned their worldly names. Cheongun, being an orphan, used his title as his name, but most kept the one they’d had in the secular world.

If his uncle-master had abandoned the title Hyeonseong, then it was possible.

“Then, my uncle-master went all the way to the West to carry out a demon-hunting mission?”

“That’s right. That’s why, from the start, you had no right to offer your arm to leave the Murim Alliance. It was too reckless an attempt.”

“No way…”

“So wish me luck.”

Bernard drew his sword and stepped forward.

The warriors present held their breath, watching the Western swordsman and the Murim Alliance Leader face off.

It was an opportunity that might never come again in their lives.

Bernard swung his sword.

“For your information, I’ve dueled every year with someone far stronger than this old man. Compared to him, this one is almost adorable.”

This was Bernard, the man who had repeatedly challenged the monster Fiore Briol, even after taking a mortal wound to the abdomen.

Though his temperament had softened during his stay in Briol, he was still feared as “the Sword Demon.”

A killing aura began to radiate from his body, thick and dyed a deep blood-red.

Bernard smiled with a grimace.

“This will be fun. I’m glad I joined you on your journey to the East.”

Across from him, Jang Yeonghak also spoke.

“You’re a demon mad for the sword. But this is as far as you go. To revel in your own strength and take the wrong path—the only reward for that is death.”

***

Moyongchan stood up, holding his aching shoulder.

The sky was full of stars.

It had been a long time since he had read the heavens, but for some reason, his gaze lingered there.

The Star of Destruction, which disturbed the world, shone with a sinister light.

Suddenly, he remembered the story Yuri had told him about his disciple-nephew.

That he had become a ronin and traveled to the West seemed both sad and like a strange twist of fate.

“Cheongun…”

Now they said he had gone to the East. The Murim world Moyongchan remembered was not a place that would listen to someone like Cheongun.

Everything was ruled by the law of the strong; chivalry had long been reduced to a tool of the powerful.

But, strangely, he didn’t feel worried. Even though the Star of Destruction shone in the sky,

the star of the Blue School, which destroyed evil and practiced good, had not yet lost its light.

“Cheongun, I believe you’ll do well. The day we meet again, this unworthy uncle-master will ask your forgiveness.”

Moyongchan trusted his disciple-nephew and set aside all concern for the East.

Just as Cheongun’s mission was there, his own was on the battlefield.

It was time to return.

Gripping his sword, he murmured,

“One reaches the Dao by walking the path…”