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Chapter 313. Late Winter's Cutting Wind
The Murim Alliance's Black Martial Pavilion and Execution Pavilion descended upon Hwangcheon County.
This was on an entirely different level from the Alliance members who had come to investigate from the Hefei Branch a fortnight earlier.
The Black Martial Pavilion and Execution Pavilion, emanating a forbidding aura, ambushed the Poison Fang Sect without warning, and the Poison Fang Sect members—who had been savoring their victory after their sole competitor vanished—were struck by a bolt from the blue.
"Wh-what is the meaning of this?! The Poison Fang Sect is a formal ally of the Black Thought Alliance, and as such......"
"Yeah, yeah, I know. So you don't need to finish that sentence."
Е n ŭ_m а
"What do you......! Are you saying you don't care if the Murim Alliance goes to war with the Black Thought Alliance?!"
"We're not here for you. I heard the Lantern Sect people are here."
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"Wh-what?"
"Here's the cooperation request sent by the Black Thought Alliance. We're investigating someone who practiced Witchcraft. Your cooperation would be appreciated."
The Deputy Pavilion Master of the Black Martial Pavilion patted the man's shoulder as he strolled past, and Poison Fang Sword's fists trembled.
He called it a request for cooperation, but neither his attitude nor his methods showed the slightest trace of caution.
Е n̆û m̆ a.і d
What possible reason could there be to examine the Poison Fang Sect's documents just to investigate Lantern Sect personnel?
But the aura and atmosphere those men exuded made it impossible to act rashly.
"I-if this were not a matter concerning the safety of the murim, you would not have left here alive!"
The Deputy Pavilion Master nodded agreeably at Poison Fang Sword's words, delivered through gritted teeth.
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"Well, I'm sure you would have done just that."
"......"
Ẃ е̌ bn̂.о v̈.е̂ l̇_ Е n̊ u.m̃ а́
"Ah! I really do think you would have. So just sit tight."
The Deputy Pavilion Master passed by Poison Fang Sword and headed toward the Lantern Sect members.
Regardless of Poison Fang Sword's mood, the Lantern Sect members—having learned they'd been charged with practicing Witchcraft—felt as if they'd been cast into hell.
"Wh-what are you talking about?! Witchcraft?! I've never heard of or seen such a thing! I only joined the Lantern Sect to become an escort!"
"That so? Then why did you scrape together every last coin of your family's fortune and hand it over to the Lantern Sect? You joined to make money, so why did you go into debt to give them more?"
"Th-that was...... that was...... why did I do that?"
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"We'll investigate that in due time. Don't worry too much."
"In due time...... you'll investigate?"
The Deputy Pavilion Master tilted his head, then curled the corners of his lips upward.
"Hm? Of course you'll have to come to our Execution Pavilion. We can't exactly do the investigation here. The basement of our building is nice and cozy—great for conducting inquiries."
The Lantern Sect members' faces turned ashen.
A place from which no one emerged unscathed, and from which those who did return could never go back to being who they once were.
Е̄ n u m̈ӓ . іḋ
The Execution Pavilion's basement was a place from which countless horror stories poured forth.
The Alliance members who had stormed Hwangcheon County like a tempest returned to the Murim Alliance hauling eight iron carriages.
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News of the Lantern Sect affair began spreading across the entire murim.
When Qingcheng Sect first learned that the Lantern Sect was affiliated with them, they and their lay-affiliated sects rose up like wildfire.
In an era when powerful sects vied for influence over all under heaven, any attack on even a loosely affiliated sect was a matter of a sect's prestige.
"Are you looking down on Qingcheng?!"
Е̂ň ùmа̂ . ї d
"Witchcraft?! There is no way a disciple of Qingcheng would do such a thing!"
"This is a political scheme by those who seek to check Qingcheng's power!"
The Qingcheng people—who hadn't even known where the Lantern Sect was located to begin with—stormed into the Execution Pavilion and turned the place upside down, while their lay-affiliated sects continued filing objections.
But.
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After Deung Go-hyeon's corpse, preserved frozen from Hefei, arrived at the Murim Alliance and was shown to Qingcheng, everyone's attitudes flipped overnight.
Two eyes that were entirely, unmistakably black—devoid of any white.
Е̂ ṅ.ū m̊а
A bizarre form that could not be explained as anything other than Witchcraft. Those who had been raising their voices the loudest could only wipe the froth from the corners of their mouths.
"Ahem...... To be precise, the Lantern Sect was not formally under Qingcheng's umbrella."
"Indeed. He may have studied briefly at the Wind Fragrance Sect, but he was never an official disciple."
"When you think about it, he paid money and learned a few techniques. That makes him a mere student, not someone who can be called an official disciple."
"He's practically a stranger. This cannot be called a matter related to Qingcheng."
"Absolutely right."
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As if none of it had ever happened, they severed all ties to the Lantern Sect and cut every thread connecting this incident to Qingcheng.
With Qingcheng's interference gone, the Execution Pavilion could begin its investigation in peace.
Unlike the previously known forms of Witchcraft, this was a blatant, externally manifested form of power that defied the natural order.
This struck fear into those who walked the righteous path.
How much chaos had a single instance of powerful wicked arts and Demonic Arts already wrought upon the martial world?
Chaos always brought the destruction of existing order, and destruction birthed new order.
È ńuḿ а́
Those who did not wish to be swept up in this destruction sharpened their vigilance like never before, while those who craved change debated through the night over how they might exploit this incident.
"Tying it to Qingcheng would be difficult, wouldn't it?"
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"Qingcheng is no ordinary sect. They know their own position by now. They will have fortified their defenses."
"Still, don't you think it would be a shame to let this slide?"
And the desires of those striving to climb higher far exceeded those of the ones who sat atop their positions without question.
"How about using the one who uncovered the Lantern Sect's secret?"
Еnu m а̇
"You mean Jin So-un of Taeul Sect? Please, don't be absurd. He's been running wild ever since becoming the Academy's top scorer. If we raise his profile even further, what do you think will happen?"
"Hehe, you know one thing but not the other. His influence needs to grow so the Nine Sects and One Gang and the Five Great Clans lose some of their swagger. Let me put it plainly—a mere Academy student uncovered a Forbidden Art. Think about that."
"Hmm......"
"Now imagine if someone from the Nine Sects or the Five Great Clans had done this. They'd be hailed as a hero, treated like some great savior...... The entire murim would have been in an uproar."
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Qingcheng had been condemning Jin So-un for attacking the Lantern Sect—a fellow Orthodox Path sect—and killing its Sect Leader.
People seized upon this.
Ẅёb̌nо.v el Ẽ n̂ ù m̈ ă
"Why do you think they treat Jin So-un like a thorn in their eye? Because he keeps shaking the ground beneath their feet."
"And you're suggesting we elevate him? He's already impossible to control. What if he grabs us by the topknot and starts shaking?"
"He's alone. No matter how much the little wretch flails, how far can he really climb?"
"Then what's the point of elevating him?"
The one who had been arguing for promoting Jin So-un lowered his voice and smirked.
"He becomes a small crack."
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"A crack?"
"They say a reservoir's dam collapses from a single small crack, do they not? Jin So-un becomes that crack."
"Ohh......"
"And think about it. The Nine Sects and One Gang have Yong So-ah and Il-myeong as their symbolic figures. The Five Great Clans have Dang Seo-hui and Namgung San. But we have no one who can stand shoulder to shoulder with them."
A cruel truth, and discomfort seeped into the room.
"Hmm......"
Ẅ е b̊ n̂ о̃v e l Е ṅum а
"Come now, why are you disparaging our young ones like that?"
"It's not that our people are particularly lacking."
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"Exactly! That's my point. If Jin So-un stands alongside those of the previous Dragon and Phoenix generation as an equal, the names of those previous champions will naturally fade."
A vivid strategy took shape in their minds, and the corners of lips crept toward ears.
"Let's take this step by step. It's not as if they'll crumble in a day or two. Just think of all this as part of the process."
"So where do we begin?"
E ń ū m á .і d̀
"First, we send people to Taeul Sect to congratulate them on this matter, and......"
While those reaching for ever greater heights continued their discussions behind closed doors—
"Hmm......"
At the Murim Alliance's innermost sanctum, this incident was being examined with grave concern from a different angle entirely.
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Alliance Leader Hyeok Mu-gang spoke, his face heavy with worry.
"What does the Heavenly Eye Pavilion say?"
Е nūm а̊ . і̄d̊
"They are tracing the past of O Il-sik, who had the closest connection to Deung Go-hyeon. Once anything significant turns up, we will report to you immediately."
"Considering those who appeared at Mount Tianshan, should we call this the first time in a hundred years?"
Jegal So-myeong set down his teacup and spoke.
"Given that the Blood Cult has also shown ties to them, perhaps we should call it half a year."
"Half a year and a hundred years...... That is quite a gap."
Hyeok Mu-gang remained silent until the steam rising from his tea had gone cold, then raised his head once more.
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"What is your assessment? Should we assume they have...... infiltrated the inside as well?"
"I cannot say for certain."
At Jegal So-myeong's words, Hyeok Mu-gang let out a thin laugh.
"The man who is normally so pessimistic is unusually optimistic today."
"......"
"But I suppose the gravity of the matter calls for such caution."
Еn ǔ.m̃а̀ . і d̃
Jegal So-myeong responded to Hyeok Mu-gang's bitter expression with a clear, steady voice.
"This matter requires an extremely conservative approach."
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"......"
"Because those who seek to sow mutual suspicion from within have already begun to emerge."
In times of turmoil, the winds of treason always blew in Beijing.
Pinning false charges on others was a surefire way to eliminate rivals and secure one's own interests.
Е ñùm̃ a. i d
The Murim Alliance was no different.
It had become a single political body.
The only difference was that where Beijing had the winds of treason, the Murim Alliance had the winds of Forbidden Arts.
And among Forbidden Arts, Demonic Arts were the fiercest, most terrifying gale of all.
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"At least we can be grateful the word 'Demonic Art' has not been uttered yet."
"Everyone will be treading carefully. They know the devastating impact that single word could bring."
Е n̂ ū m̀ ӑ .і̇d̃
A strong wind invites a backlash, after all.
Everyone stopped just short of crossing that final, razor-thin line.
Though how long such restraint would hold, no one could say.
"The reason no one has raised their voice too loudly yet is...... because the first person to flag the issue chose the word 'Witchcraft' in his report rather than anything more direct, wouldn't you say?"
"That one has a sharp little head on his shoulders."
"......"
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Jegal So-myeong read Hyeok Mu-gang's expression.
An anxious worry filled his face.
"Is something troubling you?"
"No, no. It's just...... so many things keep happening to this Jin So-un."
"He's the type who goes around stirring up every nest he can find. He creates the incidents himself."
"......It reminds me of my younger days."
Еṅ umа
"......"
Jegal So-myeong had shared those spirited years with Hyeok Mu-gang. No one knew better than he what kind of life the man had led.
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He tossed out a jest, trying to shift the mood.
"Again, again with the subtle successor talk. If the Nine Sects or the Clans hear you, they'll be up in arms."
"......"
Hyeok Mu-gang offered Jegal So-myeong a dry smile.
Éǹ úm̃ а́. ĭ d̆
"There is a saying that trials forge heroes."
"Ha! You just keep going, don't you? What, you think he'll become a hero?"
Jegal So-myeong tried once more to lighten things, but Hyeok Mu-gang's voice remained heavy.
"If one must overcome trials to become a hero, then I am no hero. In the end, I ran away."
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"That was because you......"
Jegal So-myeong pressed his lips shut.
W̊е b nо̂v̈еl̇ Еn_ù m а̇
He knew better than anyone how much pain and loneliness that man had endured back then.
Hyeok Mu-gang's self-deprecating voice continued.
"And in the end, I changed nothing."
"Much has changed. Alliance Leader."
But Jegal So-myeong's comfort did not reach Hyeok Mu-gang.
"That is why I worry about that young man. Fate seems to keep taking an interest in him."
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Because sometimes he knew better than anyone just how cruel that fate could be.
"I have a feeling the trials awaiting him will be incomparable to mine."
Hyeok Mu-gang turned his head and gazed out the window.
It was the season when spring should have arrived, yet beyond the glass, the snow had not fully melted.
"I wish warm spring would hurry and come. This winter feels unusually long."
He looked so lonely that Jegal So-myeong could not bring himself to say another word.
Е̃.ń u ḿ â
***
Life is never easy.
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This was something I had already realized in my previous life.
So I had struggled not to repeat the same mistakes in this one.
Tirelessly.
"All right, line up. I'll hand them out one at a time."
E n u m̊а
The training ground of Taeul Sect, where the young disciples had gathered.
Standing in neat rows, the children's faces were etched with gravity.
Today, even the Hall Masters wore expressions they could not relax.
"The Spiritual Pill I'm distributing today is different from the Calm Heart Pill you took before. You'll likely feel an immediate change in your qi center, so begin circulating your qi at once."
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The Spiritual Pill made from Five-Spirit Immortal Flower Oil had been completed a week ago, and the sect's elders had taken it first to confirm its effects.
Now it was the young disciples' turn.
Ӗ n̂ u m a
Sa-ryeon, the Gold-Silver-Copper Brothers, Yu-seong, and the existing disciples all sat with tense expressions they could not ease.
Wang So-so had nearly been excluded due to her unique constitution, but Sima Jeong adjusted several ingredients, allowing her to take the pill as well.
At long last, the moment they had eagerly awaited.
The Hall Masters could not take their eyes off this scene.
"Those kids probably have no idea what they're putting in their mouths, do they?"
"If they knew, it'd be a disaster. Who knows what might happen with Zhongnan. This must be kept absolutely secret."
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"Still, once the pill firms up their qi centers a bit, there shouldn't be any major problems with taking spiritual medicines going forward."
"The Outer Hall Master is going to be busy."
The Hall Masters gazed at Father with bright, sparkling eyes. Father, looking embarrassed, turned his head—only to fix me with an annoyed glare.
"Why is your lip still sticking out like that?"
"What do you mean?"
"You said the pill wouldn't work on you anyway. That's why your share went to the Hall Masters, isn't it?"
Enũm̆ а
"......Who told you that?"
Before the pills were distributed, Sima Jeong had taken the pulse of everyone in Taeul Sect.
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During that process, I'd received the thunderbolt news that Five-Spirit Immortal Flower Oil would have no effect on me.
'No, even so—wouldn't it still be beneficial to take it now for later?'
That was what I'd thought.
But in the end, I did not get to take it.
Е̃ṅů m.а̇
The Five-Spirit Immortal Flower Oil.
Damn it all.
The disciples of Taeul Sect popped the Spiritual Pills into their mouths.
One by one, they began circulating their qi.
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Some circulated quietly, others saw their martial arts uniforms billow and swell, and one child's hair stood on end.
'So they've finally reached the starting line?'
Еnům̃ā .і d̃
It was barely a single step compared to a Prestigious Great Sect, but the children of Taeul Sect had now laid the foundation to become proper martial artists.
Together with the Hall Masters, I watched every detail of the scene, careful not to miss a single moment, until every last child had finished circulating.
And as they woke one by one, the children stared at their own hands and feet with expressions of pure astonishment.
Kang Chae-seok silenced the room in a low voice.
"If you've woken, move quietly to the side. There are still people circulating."
And so, well into the night, not a single person of Taeul Sect left the training ground.
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As if unwilling to miss even a single moment of transformation.
***
That night.
At Sima Jeong's summons, I headed to the medicine hall.
"You seem quite disappointed."
Disappointed didn't begin to cover it.
Ẁé b n̂ о̆ v̈ еl Е́ṅũ m̊а
But I feigned ignorance.
"About what?"
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Sima Jeong tilted his head.
"Frankly, I don't understand why you're so greedy for more inner arts."
More is always better.
I had to prepare for the Demonic Cult, after all, and perhaps the deprivation of my previous life still haunted me.
Е́n̄u m а́
"Ah...... My apologies. I'm just the type who's always overflowing with greed."
"Tsk. A man with such a narrow heart—how will you ever accomplish great things?"
"I prefer to accomplish small things."
"Good heavens!"
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Sima Jeong shook his head, then tossed me a small wooden case.
THUD!
Ŵ е́b̃n̊ov̂ è_l̄ Е ǹ u̇ m̀а
A wooden case the same size as the Spiritual Pills the children had received—just the right fit for one hand.
"What is this?"
"Can you not tell by looking? It's the Spiritual Pill you've been dying for."
"......"
"It's a different pill from what the others took."
What? If it didn't contain Five-Spirit Immortal Flower Oil, what was the point?
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"The ingredients were too scarce, so I could only make one."
So it was a one-of-a-kind pill Sima Jeong had crafted? Just one?
Well, that changed things entirely.
Sima Jeong cleared his throat for no reason and jerked his chin toward the case.
"This will do you more good than Five-Spirit Immortal Flower Oil."
"......Then you should have said so from the start."
Ẁе b̃ n̈ о v̆ е.l Е̄_n̈ ům̂ ӓ
Making me worry for nothing.
When I grumbled, Sima Jeong let out a sly grin.
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"Feeling better now?"
"I was never in a bad mood. My people—my sect members—were the ones taking the medicine."
"The lip that was sagging below your chin has climbed up to your ears, though."
What was he even talking about? To someone born with a smiling face.
W еbnǒv̈ е̊ l_ Е n̄ u mа̊
In my previous life, that face had gotten me punched more times than I could count by people who asked, "Are you laughing at me?"
I let Sima Jeong's teasing wash over me and opened the wooden case.
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