Chapter 43: At the Ak Sword Family (3)
“The Blood Sect Leader left behind writing?”
Zhuge Hyeon was startled by Sima Iljung’s report.
“Yes. It seems the blood that had been scattered there formed letters.”
“What letters?”
“The words ‘Kill Heaven.’”
“Kill Heaven?”
Since the words had been left at the Alliance Leader’s residence, they were undoubtedly a warning directed at Ak Sogun.
“It appears to mean he intends to kill the Alliance Leader.”
Zhuge Hyeon nodded at Sima Iljung’s words.
“Who identified that blood as the Blood Heaven Technique, the Blood Sect Leader’s unique martial art?”
“It came from Commander Chung’s report. He said the Blood Heaven Technique appeared to have reached Great Mastery.”
“It reached Great Mastery?”
Zhuge Hyeon tilted his head.
“Commander Chung figured that out?”
As the Commander leading the Iron Sword Corps, Chung Yang’s martial arts had already reached the pinnacle. Even so, Zhuge Hyeon had never considered him a master with enough insight into martial arts to determine that the Blood Sect Leader’s unique martial art had reached Great Mastery.
“Did you happen to tell Commander Baek about this incident?”
“Yes.”
Only then did Zhuge Hyeon smile faintly.
“So that’s how it was.”
The only people capable of accurately discerning the exact level of the Blood Heaven Technique were Ak Sogun and Baek Socheon.
In truth, the one who had added the remark that the Blood Heaven Technique had reached Great Mastery was Hwang Ilbi.
Hwang Ilbi had expected that if he reported the exact level of attainment, Zhuge Hyeon would immediately realise that it had been Baek Socheon who had identified it. It was not because he disliked Chung Yang, but because he liked Baek Socheon more.
If Chung Yang later rebuked him over this, he intended to feign complete innocence, claiming he had merely reported the facts accurately without thinking much of it.
“Could this be the Blood Sect’s declaration of war?”
“We have to assume so.”
After all, it had been left not just anywhere, but at the Martial Alliance Leader’s own family estate. It was also a warning that, if they truly wished to kill, everyone there could have been slaughtered.
“If it’s true that the Blood Heaven Technique has reached Great Mastery…?”
If that was Baek Socheon’s opinion, then it was undoubtedly true.
Zhuge Hyeon’s gaze met that of the strategist standing before the Martial World Rankings.
The strategist was waiting for Zhuge Hyeon’s orders.
After pondering for a moment, Zhuge Hyeon nodded and held up two fingers.
The strategist immediately climbed the ladder and revised the Martial World Rankings.
Rank One: Ak Sogun, Martial Alliance Leader.
Rank Two: Myeolsaeng, Blood Sect Leader.
Rank Three: Yeomhwa Shin, Black Heaven Alliance Leader.
The Black Heaven Alliance Leader had been pushed down to third place. For ages, rumours had claimed that once the Blood Heaven Technique reached Great Mastery, its wielder became invincible.
Yet no one had ever experienced it firsthand. Aside from records dating back over three hundred years, no one who had recently mastered the Blood Heaven Technique had ever fought the Central Plains’ top masters.
Therefore, these rankings might not be entirely accurate.
Out of courtesy, Ak Sogun remained in first place. Yet perhaps the perfected Blood Heaven Technique could defeat the Martial Alliance Leader.
Or perhaps, making the old legends seem laughable, the Black Heaven Alliance Leader could tear the Blood Heaven Technique apart.
In the end, the martial arts of those three could only be regarded as being on nearly equal footing.
Whether someone ranked first or second was unimportant.
The real problem was that two of those three evenly matched individuals had joined hands.
After updating the rankings, the official also altered the entry at the very bottom concerning Baek Socheon. The words Ordinary Martial Artist of the Wencheng Branch were erased.
Rank Evaluation Deferred. Baek Socheon, Commander of the Hyuncheon Squad of the Martial Alliance.
Zhuge Hyeon stared at Baek Socheon’s name for a long time.
He could only hope that the quiet change at the very bottom, where no number had yet been assigned, would someday balance out the dramatic changes at the very top.
Rumours that Baek Socheon had returned and become the Commander of the newly established Hyuncheon Squad quietly spread through each organisation, first among the leadership, then to the leaders, and finally to the squad leaders.
Although no gag order had been issued this time, perhaps because of what had happened before, no one carelessly spoke about Baek Socheon.
No one came to congratulate the birth of the Hyuncheon Squad, nor did anyone dare to throw their weight around.
It had become a truly contradictory situation: it was the organisation attracting the most attention, yet no one visited it, leaving it strangely deserted.
There were, of course, exceptions.
No Woong, who had recently become the Third Squad Leader of the First Unit of the Iron Sword Corps, came to visit Baek Socheon along with three or four members of the Iron Sword Corps, paying no attention to what others thought.
On the day Baek Socheon had been demoted to an ordinary martial artist, it had been No Woong who had threatened to go on a hunger strike. Those who came with him were all people who, during their days in the Iron Sword Corps, had owed Baek Socheon one favour or another.
Naturally, there were many more who were indebted to him, but these were the only ones bold enough to show their support openly without worrying about others’ opinions.
They caused quite a commotion, insisting they wanted to join the Hyuncheon Squad immediately before finally leaving.
Someone who wanted to come just as much as No Woong was Gain, the Deputy Commander of the White Dragon Branch. Upon hearing of Baek Socheon’s return, she had wanted to visit him before anyone else.
But in the end, she never came.
More than anyone, she knew that if she failed to keep her distance, she would be the one who ended up getting hurt.
Then, another person visited the Hyuncheon Squad that day.
Among everyone in the Martial Alliance, the one person who seemed least likely to come was Chung Yang, Commander of the Iron Sword Corps.
“Who are you?”
At Beon Saeng’s question, Chung Yang answered,
“I’m the Commander of the Iron Sword Corps.”
“Yes, sir!”
Beon Saeng instantly straightened his back, his voice snapping into military precision.
“Is Commander Baek here?”
“Yes, sir! He’s training in the rear Training Grounds right now. If you’ll wait in the office, I’ll go bring him.”
“Lead the way.”
“Yes, sir.”
Beon Saeng led him to Baek Socheon’s office on the top floor.
As he walked ahead, his heart pounded.
The leader of the organisation he had always dreamed of joining had come.
Although Baek Socheon had once served as Commander of the Iron Sword Corps himself, Baek Socheon had already become something different in his eyes.
But the man before him was the real Commander of the Iron Sword Corps.
The current Commander.
After climbing the stairs, he guided him all the way to Baek Socheon’s office.
Before Chung Yang entered, Beon Saeng cautiously said,
“It was always my dream to join the Iron Sword Corps.”
“Is that so? Then you shouldn’t be in a place like this.”
“Huh?”
“How can you possibly make it into the Iron Sword Corps while staying in a shabby, ragtag place like this?”
Having said only what he wanted to say, Chung Yang walked inside.
Beon Saeng pouted.
“What was that guy’s problem?”
It was the moment all his admiration for the Commander of the Iron Sword Corps shattered.
Still, considering Chung Yang’s resentment toward Baek Socheon, this was actually a remarkably restrained reaction.
At that same moment, Baek Socheon was training alone in the Training Grounds.
Today’s training differed from his usual routine.
At last, he had achieved his first real breakthrough.
He performed every movement of the Overturning Heaven Nine Fists, from the First Fist to the Third Fist, with absolute dedication.
Bang! Baaang!
The sound of exploding air echoed.
It felt as though wind had begun blowing where none had existed before.
The wind scattered the clouds, and within those drifting clouds were Baek Socheon’s punches and kicks.
No matter how overwhelming an opponent’s attack might be, the exquisite forms of the Overturning Heaven Nine Fists would redirect that force right back at them.
As the wind subsided, waves surged forth instead.
Like someone riding waves atop a floating log, Baek Socheon’s figure glided smoothly across the Training Grounds.
His footwork was swift and precise.
Magnificent, yet beautiful.
In that manner, all sixteen methods of evading an enemy’s attacks were perfectly reproduced.
Just as the waves seemed to settle, a whirlwind rose once more, followed by violent bolts of lightning crashing down.
As though declaring that he would no longer merely evade or endure attacks, Baek Socheon unleashed a powerful counterattack.
Papapapapang!
Who would ever believe such overwhelming power had been created without Internal Energy?
Space itself twisted and tore apart beneath Baek Socheon’s fists and kicks.
Thus, all twenty-nine techniques spanning the First through Third Fists of the Overturning Heaven Nine Fists were executed flawlessly.
“Hoo…”
After completing the forms, Baek Socheon steadied his breathing and straightened his posture.
“I’ve done it!”
It was the first time he had uttered those words since beginning to learn the Overturning Heaven Nine Fists.
He had finally made the first three fists completely his own.
The enlightenment he had gained from his conversation with Goe Yeo inside the Thunder Prison had allowed him to complete them much faster.
Up to the Third Fist, the art was not one that relied on Internal Energy. Instead, it borrowed the opponent’s strength while employing the profound principles of the Overturning Heaven Nine Fists. Even if he still possessed Internal Energy, the effects would have been exactly the same.
The greatest martial art of all time was now being performed by the greatest martial artist under the heavens.
But his joy soon turned into concern.
The moment he completely mastered the Third Fist, he became certain of one thing.
This martial art could not restore his dantian.
He had vaguely hoped that mastering the greatest martial art of all time might grant him some new enlightenment.
Yet after actually learning it, he had simply mastered it before any enlightenment could arise.
Both he and the martial art itself were already too complete for some great revelation to occur.
He had underestimated both his own talent for martial arts and the depth of understanding he had accumulated over the years.
Mastering the greatest martial art of all time would certainly help him survive.
But it seemed unlikely to grant him the enlightenment needed to restore his dantian.
Especially now that even Myeolsaeng had appeared after perfecting the Blood Heaven Technique…
Baek Socheon pulled open his collar and looked down at his dantian.
An ugly scar, as though something had been torn out of him.
He missed it too.
The days when he could fight dozens of opponents one after another with overflowing Internal Energy without so much as a change in his breathing.
He was only human.
How could he not miss it?
“Perhaps… I should finally try that method?”
Baek Socheon’s eyes grew deep.
He had always acted within the bounds of reason…
But now he felt the time had come to embark on one reckless, insane gamble.
Just then, Beon Saeng hurried over to report,
“The Commander of the Iron Sword Corps has arrived.”
Chung Yang was waiting in Baek Socheon’s office.
The desk, the chairs, even the cabinet.
Everything was old and worn.
It felt more like the room of an ordinary subordinate.
It was completely different from his own lavishly decorated office.
“Hmph! Pretending to be modest.”
Had the office been luxurious, he would have scoffed, “Already wasting money?”
Had it been moderately decorated, he would have sneered, “You have no personality.”
Just then, the door opened and Baek Socheon entered.
“Welcome.”
Baek Socheon greeted him cheerfully, causing Chung Yang to inwardly panic.
“Hmph! Keep up the act all you want. I’m not falling for it.”
Chung Yang forced an awkward smile as he sat down.
“Would you like some tea?”
“No.”
“I’ll have a cup. After working up a sweat, I’m rather thirsty.”
Baek Socheon asked Beon Saeng to bring him some cold tea.
Looking at Baek Socheon’s sweat-soaked martial robe, Chung Yang asked,
“You still train in martial arts?”
The unspoken “With your condition?” hung behind the question.
In contrast, Baek Socheon’s reply was utterly sincere.
“I haven’t missed a single day. I train very hard.”
“I didn’t ask whether you trained hard.”
“Commander Chung.”
“What?”
“Do you still train in martial arts?”
For an instant, Chung Yang flinched.
He could not even remember the last time he had trained.
After reaching the peak of mastery, he had made no further progress.
No matter how hard he trained, nothing changed.
That had been four or five years ago.
Back then, he had realised this was the limit of his talent and gradually neglected his training.
The chaos of war had also left him little time to practise.
Baek Socheon suddenly said,
“You should keep training.”
“What, is the cat worried about the mouse?”
“The mouse is worried about the cat. So you’ll be able to catch me properly.”
Chung Yang glared at Baek Socheon.
He had met countless martial artists in his life.
He prided himself on understanding people and possessing political skill.
Yet Baek Socheon alone was difficult to deal with.
Above all, he simply could not figure out what kind of person he was.
Sometimes he seemed like an unbearably prickly bastard with a foul temper.
Other times, he was unexpectedly sincere and surprisingly considerate of others.
“What exactly are you?”
“Let’s save that answer for another time. Once I figure it out myself, I’ll tell you.”
“You really shouldn’t speak if you’re going to say things like that.”
Baek Socheon changed the subject and got to the point.
“So, what brings you here?”
“With the Blood Sect causing trouble, and the Black Heaven Alliance’s movements looking suspicious, I’ve decided to put the Main Division through special mechanism training this time. You know what I mean.”
“Of course.”
Among the Martial Alliance’s training methods was one that made use of elaborate mechanical devices.
“How about coming to serve as a guest instructor for one day?”
Baek Socheon chuckled.
The intention was obvious.
Chung Yang wanted him to make a fool of himself while serving as an instructor without any Internal Energy.
The Iron Sword Corps’ training was unimaginably harsh.
The special mechanism training, in particular, went beyond difficult and was genuinely dangerous.
“Why are you laughing?”
“Because I’m grateful that you still think of me.”
“What gratitude? Even if we don’t get along, this was once the organisation you led. If you come, everyone will be delighted.”
“Very well. Let’s do it.”
Baek Socheon readily accepted.
“Really?”
Chung Yang had prepared countless arguments in case Baek Socheon refused.
Everything from gentle persuasion to provoking his pride.
Yet he had agreed immediately?
“When is the training?”
“Tomorrow.”
“Very well.”
“Then I’ll be counting on you.”
Chung Yang left feeling pleased, yet strangely uneasy.
“He’s not the sort to agree this easily…”
After he departed, Beon Saeng came in.
“He didn’t even bring a flowerpot! Why did that guy come here?”
“It was the measles.”
“Huh?”
Seeing Beon Saeng’s confused expression, Baek Socheon smiled faintly and added,
“A bout of measles that had to be endured has finally passed.”
Sign up to join the discussion...
Already have an account? Log in
No comments yet. Be the first to discuss this chapter.