“The children…”
“I’ve told them to stay in their quarters for now.”
“Good.”
Saying so, he patted Masok’s shoulder and went inside.
“In the midst of the chaos, I was unable to properly express my gratitude. Thank you for saving our family from a crisis that left us hanging by a thread.”
As Mujin cupped his fist in salute again, Jayul, who had been seated, stood up and returned the gesture.
“I only did what was natural. Such excessive courtesy is burdensome.”
To call it a natural act was an understatement, given the strained relationship between Mujin and the Kongtong Sect.
Frankly, they were on such terms that no one would have blamed them if they had simply ignored the family’s plight.
Mujin didn’t gloss over the situation, choosing instead to address it head-on.
“It would be only natural for you to harbor ill feelings toward me and my family after our conflicts at Shuangliu and Mount Song. I will never forget the righteousness you’ve shown by intervening despite that.”
Jayul smiled at Mujin’s straightforward words.
“Family Head Hwa, you are always so candid, no matter the situation. Let’s do this, then. As you well know, our Kongtong Sect owes the Yeomhwa Family a debt. We failed to help you when you were suffering from the Seven Wounds Energy. Would you consider this a small repayment of that debt?”
“Yes. From this day forward, I will let go of all lingering resentment.”
The crisp reply reminded Jayul of the Flame Emperor he had only heard about in rumors.
A true warrior, a man who had inherited the Flame Emperor’s famously open-hearted and direct nature.
That was the image of Mujin reflected in Jayul’s eyes.
He didn’t shrink before the name of a great sect like Kongtong, nor did he hesitate to draw his sword against anyone he deemed unjust.
Yet, when he received a kindness, he was a man who knew how to humble himself and express his gratitude.
Jayul himself knew better than anyone how difficult it was to bow one’s head to an adversary.
Hadn’t the process of persuading the elders to reconcile with the Yeomhwa Family after the incident on Mount Song been arduous?
But the young man before him did so without hesitation.
‘The rumors of his great heroic bearing are no exaggeration.’
At that thought, the smile on Jayul’s face deepened.
“Let’s sit and talk.”
“Yes.”
Once seated, Mujin was the first to speak.
“By the way, did you have other business in Xichang?”
It was his own way of asking why they had been in Xichang at such a coincidental time.
“Yes. We had business with the Yeomhwa Family.”
“So you were looking for our family after all. Was it because of what happened on Mount Song?”
Seeing Mujin ask so calmly, unlike at Shuangliu, Jayul shook his head.
“While that incident was the catalyst, we did not come to press the matter of Mount Song. Rather, we came to reflect on Kongtong’s mistakes and extend a hand of reconciliation to the Yeomhwa Family.”
Mujin stared at Jayul with surprised eyes at the unexpected words.
As far as he knew, the Nine Great Sects were not the type to reflect on their own mistakes. They were the kind who, regardless of the cause, would crush any conflict with force, and if that failed, they would gather their strength under all sorts of pretexts to attack.
That was Mujin’s perception of the Nine Great Sects.
So when one of them spoke of correcting their wrongs, he was at a loss for words.
“I have something to discuss openly with Family Head Hwa. The rest of you, leave us for a moment.”
-Yes!
At Jayul’s command, the disciples who had accompanied him replied and rose to their feet.
After they had left, Jayul sighed and began to speak.
“Haa. We buttoned the first button wrong. If we had dealt with the accident 17 years ago, something like today would never have happened… Turning our back on the Yeomhwa Family back then, out of concern for our own preservation, was the start of all our mistakes.”
At Jayul’s words, Mujin watched him in silence.
“This may sound like an excuse to you, Family Head Hwa, but at the time you had your accident… when you were harmed. There was much debate within our Kongtong Sect. Quite a few of my martial brothers argued that we should immediately go and treat the Seven Wounds Energy to heal you. But…”
“I have already let go of all past grudges. There is no need to bring it up.”
Jayul shook his head at Mujin’s words.
“If we do not cleanly reflect on our mistakes and correct them, the same thing will happen again.”
“…I see.”
Jayul lifted his teacup to wet his throat and continued.
“The reason we could not help you back then, Family Head Hwa… was because we were reluctant to part with our internal energy.”
“Internal energy?”
“Yes. Even if it came from a child’s hand, the Seven Wounds Energy is still the Seven Wounds Energy. Once those seven different streams of energy are embedded in the body through penetrating force, a significant amount of internal energy is required to either burn it away or push it out. A Kongtong master with at least two and a half cycles of internal energy would have to be prepared to expend more than one cycle to burn it away.”
“…”
At the mention of one cycle, Mujin’s lips tightened.
To a martial artist, the internal energy accumulated in their dantian was more precious than blood.
It was not something that could be given up easily.
“Is it such a dangerous energy that it requires that much expenditure, even for those who cultivate the same type of energy?”
“Yes. Strictly speaking, if a Kongtong disciple were struck by the Seven Wounds Fist, it wouldn’t require such an expenditure. But for a disciple of another school, it is a different matter. The Seven Wounds Energy has a tyrannical nature, seeping into and destroying nearby organs. Once it has infiltrated another’s organs, extracting it or burning it away without causing harm is more difficult than one might think.”
“…I see.”
Jayul looked at Mujin with a shameful expression and continued.
“At that time, the only ones among our Kongtong disciples who had perfected two and a half cycles of internal energy were the Sect Leader and Senior Brother Jasa. The Sect Leader said he would take responsibility and step forward himself, but shamefully, we elders could not stand by and watch him expend his internal energy.”
“Any martial artist would have done the same.”
“And so… we ignored the Yeomhwa Family’s dozens of pleas for help. I apologize for the great suffering Kongtong’s choice—to abandon righteousness for self-preservation—has caused your family.”
Seeing Jayul bow his head as he finished speaking, Mujin also cupped his fist.
“Your words are a great comfort. Thank you.”
He meant it.
It was Jeongcheon’s sincere hope that the deceased Hwa Mujin might hear Jayul’s words now and find some small measure of solace.
“Our sect is truly fortunate to be able to look back on our past shame and correct it, even now. Had it not been for Family Head Hwa’s lesson of a single warning, it might have been too late.”
“I, who am much younger, was out of line.”
“Not at all! Senior Brother Jasa said it became an opportunity to deeply reflect on Kongtong’s path after he returned to Mount Kongtong. He had a great realization that if we fail to pass down the spirit of the Righteous Heart and the lesson of the Divine Demon’s mutual destruction, rather than immense power, the tragedies of the past will only repeat themselves.”
‘That stubborn old fool?’
Mujin found it hard to believe that the obstinate Taoist, whose shamelessness rivaled his own, had come to such an enlightenment.
“After Senior Brother Jasa returned, he changed the plaque of the Taegeom Pavilion. He took down the old plaque from before the 7th patriarch, which read ‘One Mind, One Sword,’ and hung a new one that reads ‘The Lesson of a Single Warning.’ Thanks to that, even I, who had been in seclusion since my defeat to you, was able to come out.”
At those words, Mujin tilted his head.
Mujin hadn’t even known that Jayul had been in seclusion.
“It’s embarrassing, but after my defeat at Shuangliu that day… no, after my techniques were dismantled, I foolishly thought that Kongtong would have no future unless I understood the principles behind it and corrected them.”
At the word “dismantled,” Mujin watched Jayul steadily with somber eyes.
Seeing that he didn’t deny it, Jayul continued.
“I was foolish. A single sword art was dismantled by the head of the Yeomhwa Family, who walks the same righteous path. Yet I thought it was some great catastrophe that had to be rectified and corrected. I suppose I too had begun to harbor hostility toward the Yeomhwa Family at some point. It is truly shameful that my first thought was to create discord with a fellow orthodox sect.”
Jayul was revealing all his shameful secrets, things he didn’t need to say.
Watching Jayul, Mujin could fully feel his sincerity.
How could he not understand that heart, which sought to shine a light on the rotten parts, cut them out, and start anew?
‘Is this the righteous path?’
Mujin closed his eyes, seeing a side of them he had never witnessed in his past life as the Divine Demon.
What if the Nine Great Sects had acted this way back then?
His beloved woman might not have returned, but her two younger siblings would still be alive.
And he would not have become the monster known as the Divine Demon.
After a moment, Mujin opened his eyes and spoke.
“The Kongtong Sect of the future will be different. I wish your sect blessings on its new path.”
“Thank you. Now that the old grudges seem to be cleared away… this is a token of our Kongtong Sect’s sincerity.”
Seeing him take out and offer a small wooden box, Mujin shook his head.
Normally, he wouldn’t be one to refuse a wooden box that clearly smelled of elixirs, but he felt he had already received more than enough.
Just as he was about to refuse, thinking that the debt had been more than repaid by them protecting his family, Jayul spoke.
“This is a token of our sincerity and a symbol of Kongtong’s remorse. It is the price for our repentance for turning away from a young life over mere internal energy, so you must accept it.”
Mujin met Jayul’s resolute gaze.
It revealed a firm determination to give it to him, no matter what.
-Fwoosh!
With the sound, the wooden box floated over, pushed by a profound internal force.
The wooden box stopped right in front of Mujin’s hands.
“It is a Three Yin Five Yang Pill.”
!!!
The Three Yin Five Yang Pill. It was the greatest elixir of the Kongtong Sect.
“You mean the Three Yin Five Yang Pill, of which only one can be refined every ten years?”
Jayul smiled and nodded.
“Normally, this elixir would go to the head disciple who will become the next Sect Leader, but this is the least we can do to ensure we do not repeat the mistakes of the past.”
“Can I really accept…”
“Yes. You must accept it.”
At the firm words, Mujin carefully placed the wooden box inside his robes.
“In that case, I will accept it with gratitude.”
“The cycle of internal energy we failed to offer in the past. I am relieved we can repay it in this way.”
Only then did Jayul’s expression show relief.
He felt as if all the guilt that had been weighing heavily on his heart had vanished, now that he had revealed all of Kongtong’s past shame with his own lips and corrected those mistakes.
“Hoo. This is why one must walk the righteous path. Not for others, but for oneself.”
“…Perhaps so.”
Having achieved all his goals for coming to Xichang, Jayul looked at Mujin with a much lighter expression and asked.
“May we impose upon your family for a while?”
Mujin was not ignorant of the reason behind Jayul’s words.
It was an offer to protect the family, considering its precarious situation.
But he had phrased it as “imposing” so as not to burden the Yeomhwa Family.
“Yes. You are welcome to stay as long as you are comfortable. In fact, I was about to ask you for a favor, as I plan to be away for a little while.”
At Mujin’s words about being away, Jayul’s eyes narrowed.
“Are you perhaps… heading to Guizhou?”
“…”
Mujin did not answer.
“I heard that a strike force composed of masters from the Eight Sects will be formed to deal with the Moon-Slaying Sword Sect. If you could just wait a little…”
“The Yeomhwa Family does not settle its grudges with borrowed hands.”
At Mujin’s firm words, Jayul looked into his eyes.
It was the same look as at Shuangliu.
Seeing that gaze, which would not yield an inch, he was convinced that nothing he could say would persuade him.
“Most of the Moon-Slaying Sword Sect’s elders may be dead, but… it is still a great sect.”
“I… and the Yeomhwa Family, do not choose our opponents. Once a sword is drawn, is there any other path for a warrior than to advance, whether to cut or be cut?”
They were tyrannical words.
And yet, for reasons he couldn’t explain, Taoist Jayul felt a deep resonance in his heart at Mujin’s words.
‘No other path…’
Staring at Mujin, Taoist Jayul realized.
‘It’s conviction. A conviction so firm it is immutable. A conviction so solid that not even the threat of death can break it. Can he truly harbor such a thing at his young age?’
The reason his heart resonated with every word.
The reason one forgot his age when facing him.
And the reason one could feel a heavy spirit from him that didn’t match his level of mastery.
It was hard to believe, but he harbored such a conviction in his heart.
He acted according to that conviction, so there was no hesitation in his words or deeds, and that uninhibited conduct was imbued with spirit.
At the age of twenty-three, Hwa Mujin held in his heart a conviction that one would expect only from an old master of the martial world, one who had honed and defended it for many long years.
Whether it aligned with the righteous path or not was not important.
“In that case… I advise you to take the elixir I gave you before you leave.”
“Yes. That was my intention.”
As Mujin nodded, Jayul, who was emptying his cup and refilling it with cool tea, spoke again.
“Ah, and… the disciples don’t seem to have noticed, but about the three masters of the Yeomhwa Family who are fighting on the brink of death…”
As Jayul trailed off, unable to finish his sentence, Mujin nodded.
“They are indeed from the demonic path, practitioners of demonic arts.”
“So I wasn’t mistaken.”
It seemed he had sensed the demonic energy that had naturally leaked from them during their life-and-death battle with the Moon-Slaying Sword Sect’s elders.
“They were once known as the Four Demons of Mount Jung.”
“The Four Demons of Mount Jung! So that’s who they are. No wonder… Is there a particular reason you brought them into your family?”
“A sword is just a sword. Is there good or evil in a blade? Whether it is righteous or heretical is decided by how that sword is wielded.”
“Ah!”
“They are naive men who know nothing but martial arts. Depending on their environment, they could become true demonic practitioners, but if guided well, they could just as easily become members of the orthodox path.”
“I hope… they can overcome this difficult moment and recover.”
“Thank you.”
“Then, may I ask one last thing? You don’t have to answer.”
“Are you perhaps… going to ask about the Seven Slaughtering Swords?”
When Mujin brought it up first, Taoist Jayul slowly nodded.
“If it’s about that, I will answer.”
As Mujin calmly explained, Jayul was completely unable to hide the emotions on his face.
He was left speechless as not just one, but eight different ways to dismantle his sect’s ultimate technique, the Seven Slaughtering Swords, flowed from Mujin’s lips.
“…That is all. Please do not ask how I know. I swear to the heavens that I am the only one in this world who knows these counters.”
“…Th-.. Yes… No… I understand…”
Jayul, unable to compose himself, seemed to be in considerable shock.
The Seven Slaughtering Swords was an ultimate technique he had practiced for decades to master.
Within Kongtong, his mastery of the Seven Slaughtering Swords was the highest.
The feeling of having such an ultimate technique completely dismantled was something only one who had experienced it could ever know.
“I know this is a great shock, but if you can overcome these counters, I can guarantee that the stances of the Seven Slaughtering Swords will become more refined and sharper.”
They were the words of a young martial artist, merely twenty-three years old, but Jayul could not dismiss them.
“That advice… I will take it to heart!”
Mujin nodded and looked at Jayul.
Having finished his conversation with him, Mujin immediately headed for his own quarters.
Masok followed behind him with a worried expression.
“I am about to begin important training. I must not be disturbed, so do not let anyone inside under any circumstances.”
Masok nodded at Mujin’s words.
“It could take several days. I’ll say it again, let no one in.”
“Yes! Should I call the warriors to stand guard?”
“No need. Everyone must be overwhelmed. Let them be.”
“Yes…”
Mujin went straight into his quarters and did not emerge for two days.
With the family in disarray and Mujin now shut away for training, Masok spent his time looking after Soyeon and Dojin.
The family, which had been growing and stabilizing daily since Mujin’s mind returned, was now severely shaken. Feeling anxious again, he acted as cheerfully as possible to prevent Mujin’s two younger siblings from being affected by the atmosphere.
When Mujin finally emerged from his quarters after two days, Masok began to set out a large meal of meat and other food he had been preparing.
Seeing Masok begin to set up the food in his room, Mujin, standing on the main hall’s wooden floor, shook his head.
“I have somewhere to go.”
“Right now? Without eating?”
“I’ll grab something on the way. If anyone asks, just say I stepped out for a bit. Don’t say anything else.”
“Where are you going?”
Watching Mujin’s back as he walked away with his sword, Masok ran out barefoot after him, his eyes filled with anxiety.
“Together…”
“It’s not a place for you.”
“Then at least the warriors…”
“They’ll be in the way.”
“Family Head! Family Head!”
Overcome with the fear that if he let Mujin go now, he might never see him again, Masok clung to the hem of his clothes.
“It’s fine. I’ll be back soon. Have I ever broken my word?”
“But…”
Mujin patted the shoulder of Masok, whose eyes were quickly turning red, and spoke.
“Take good care of Dojin and Soyeon… And Head Steward Do and the other three will definitely wake up. When they do… just tell them I stepped out on some business nearby.”
“Family Head……”
“I said it’s fine. Trust me. Unlike my grandfather, I won’t die away from home.”
Masok instinctively realized that he could not hold Mujin back.
“You must… come back quickly. The Young Lady and Young Master will be waiting anxiously…”
“I will. I’ll be back soon.”
With those final words, Mujin took a black horse from the stable, mounted it, slung his greatsword diagonally across his back, and began to ride.
As he left Xichang and galloped down the main road, his eyes held the murderous glint from his past life as the Divine Demon, when he had killed every day.
