Chapter 440
## Chapter 440. The Bird That Calls the Typhoon (5)
—
*Gulp.*
Gwak Sam-nam took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. The figures standing directly in front of him made his blood run cold: members of the Jeom-chang Sect. This was an entity that held a prestigious seat within the Nine Sects and One Gang, served as a cornerstone of the Righteous Path Society, and functioned as a primary pillar of the Murim Alliance.
Before he had ever picked up a blade, he had viewed such people simply as legendary figures existing far above him. But after training in the martial arts himself, he truly comprehended just how phenomenally powerful and out of reach they actually were. To begin with, it was an institution that required an exceptional pedigree and the successful completion of a brutal screening process just to set foot inside. Even after gaining entry, a person had to endure years of agonizing discipline and unwavering dedication to earn the status of a true disciple. They were a collective of genuine martial artists, completely unlike his own situation at the Tae-eul Sect, where he had practically stumbled into his discipleship in exchange for nothing more than a bowl of chicken soup. He had often wondered if he would ever catch a glimpse of such elite figures in his entire lifetime.
‘This is insane…….’
And yet, there they were, standing right before his eyes.
‘What on earth is happening right now…….’
The terrifying reality, however, was that these individuals had already unsheathed their blades and were radiating an intense, lethal aura. What were the chances that these legendary masters, encountered for the very first time in his life, would immediately draw their weapons upon meeting him? The sheer pressure made his knees wobble, and a wave of panic washed over him.
But an even more catastrophic issue loomed.
“Drawing your weapons? Your swords? Just because the exalted masters of the grand Jeom-chang Sect have pulled out their blades, are we supposed to drop to our knees and shake in terror? Is that it?”
His very own **Dae-sahyeong** was actively antagonistic, throwing blatant provocations right into the faces of these formidable warriors.
“Oh, I am absolutely terrified! Given that the swordsmen from Jeom-chang—the self-proclaimed greatest sword sect under heaven—have brandished their steel, I suppose the mountains are about to split open and the earth will shatter beneath us……. Wait, hold on a moment! I thought the title of the world’s number one sword sect belonged to Mount Hua.”
“…….”
“Tell me, isn’t Jeom-chang merely riding the coattails of Mount Hua and Wudang just to keep its spot in the Righteous Path Society?”
The insults were rapidly escalating in intensity, sounding incredibly reckless even to his own ally’s ears.
“Nonetheless, since this is a directive coming from a sect far more ‘illustrious’ than our humble Tae-eul Sect, we naturally have no choice but to obey with utmost devotion. Quite so. Do we have any other option besides handing over Jong Byeok-gi? Oh, I know! Perhaps we should just offer ourselves up as loyal servants to the Jeom-chang Sect from this day forward?”
By the end of his tirade, the words had devolved into pure, unadulterated mockery.
“…….”
Sam-nam felt a freezing sensation wash over his entire body. The icy, suppressed rage emanating from the silent Jeom-chang swordsmen seemed to slice through the air, and their billowing robes alongside the visible manifestation of their sword-qi made it look as though they might strike at any second.
As his pulse raced frantically, a sudden realization struck him.
‘Where have all the seniors gone?’
The elder authority figures of the Tae-eul Sect were completely missing from the scene. These visitors were high-ranking operatives from Jeom-chang. This was a situation of such gravity that the Sect Leader himself, or at the very least the various Hall Masters, should have arrived to manage it, yet not a single senior figure had appeared. It certainly wasn’t because they were oblivious to the confrontation. Just a brief moment ago, the Hall Master of Bu-saeng had cast a fleeting glance toward this courtyard before casually going about his business.
‘……What is the meaning of this?’
Puzzled by this bizarre absence, he shifted his gaze, only to notice an even more jarring detail.
‘Their blades…….’
Not a single person from the Tae-eul Sect had reached for their weapon. The only reason Sam-nam hadn’t drawn his own sword was because his immediate **Sahyeong** had kept theirs sheathed. But why were his seniors remaining so completely passive?
“In any case, people who are only moderately ‘talented’ always seem to act like complete fools…… Ah, wait, I recall being explicitly ordered not to go around speaking the unvarnished truth all the time!”
The lack of action was entirely because the **Dae-sahyeong** had not made a move for his own blade. It was only at that moment that the reality of the situation clicked for him. The **Dae-sahyeong**, his fellow **Sahyeong**, and his **Sajeo** were not exhibiting a single shred of fear. The **Dae-sahyeong** was relentlessly piling on outrageous insults and mocking the Jeom-chang representatives without pause. **Sahyeong** Eun-ho was watching the spectacle unfold while rubbing his temples in sheer exhaustion. Meanwhile, **Sahyeong** Geum-pyo and Dong-ryong were systematically and calmly inspecting their own gear.
Just what kind of madness—
“Cease this at once.”
At that moment, **Sajeo** Sa-ryeon took a step forward to intervene.
“If an outsider were to witness this display, they would honestly believe that Jeom-chang commands the entire world…….”
“**Dae-sahyeong**, I commanded you to shut your mouth!!!”
“Understood!”
Having effectively silenced the lunatic…… or rather, the **Dae-sahyeong**, **Sajeo** Sa-ryeon stood resolutely, squaring her shoulders in front of these elite swordsmen who possessed at least a decade more experience than herself.
“Do you truly intend to blood those weapons today?”
“…….”
“If that is not your purpose, then return them to their scabbards. Should hostilities break out, the Tae-eul Sect will hold nothing back in response. Furthermore, considering the specific individuals currently residing within our walls as guests, you will find yourselves unable to sweep this matter under the rug as you usually do.”
The disciples of the Jeom-chang Sect offered no verbal reply, nor did they immediately sheathe their weapons. Even so, the aggressive fluttering of their martial attire subsided, and the sharp sword-qi that had enveloped their blades gradually dissipated. Acting as though they had finally encountered a reasonable individual worth engaging in dialogue, they re-stated their primary objective with cold precision.
“The only thing we require is the release of Jong Byeok-gi.”
“Ha! I am asking you if you stored him here like some sort of deposit, you miserable bastards!!”
“**Dae-sahyeong**!!!”
“Right, shutting up!”
The **Dae-sahyeong** offered a quick nod and took a deliberate step backward.
“…….”
Turning her attention back to the visibly bewildered Jeom-chang delegation, Sa-ryeon clarified the situation.
“The point my **Dae-sahyeong** is trying to make concerns basic protocol. Senior Jong is a member of your institution and possesses his own autonomy, meaning it is entirely appropriate for him to return to Jeom-chang. However.”
Sa-ryeon’s gaze hardened into an intense glare as she slowly looked over the gathered Jeom-chang martial artists.
“Did your group genuinely assume that the Tae-eul Sect would simply comply without issue after you displayed such an egregious lack of respect throughout this encounter?”
Hearing her words, the expressions of the Jeom-chang representatives twisted with irritation. Seizing the moment, the **Dae-sahyeong** interjected with absolute confidence.
“No, that’s not it. I simply told them to beat it because looking at their faces makes my stomach turn…….”
“**Dae-sahyeong**.”
Faced with the dangerous, low warning of his teeth-gritting **Sajeo** Sa-ryeon, the **Dae-sahyeong** quickly offered a cheerful thumbs-up and retreated once more.
“Grant us a brief moment. I shall go verify his status. **Dae-sahyeong**?”
“That fellow Jong Byeok-gi is currently resting to recover his strength. He only managed to regain consciousness today.”
With that, the **Dae-sahyeong** made a dismissive gesture with his hand, clearly annoyed by the whole ordeal.
“I will go find out if he is in any condition to travel, so step to the side and clear the pathway.”
“…….”
Leaving those parting words, he turned and walked away from the gathering first. Because Sa-ryeon and the Geum-Eun-Dong trio maintained their positions like a wall, nobody from the opposing side attempted to pursue him.
Sam-nam leaned closer to Dong-ryong, asking in a hushed, anxious tone.
“Dong-ryong…… is this really going to be fine?”
Dong-ryong, who was carefully maintaining the weapon typically wielded by the **Dae-sahyeong**, turned to him with a brilliant grin.
“He always tells us that when dealing with individuals who possess no manners, you must match them by being even more profoundly discourteous.”
Sam-nam’s eyes went wide upon hearing a piece of philosophy that would cause ancient scholars to faint from shock.
“Who said that? What sort of completely unhinged lunatic gives that kind of advice…….”
“The **Dae-sahyeong**.”
“What?”
“He insists that this is the solitary method to force people like them to actually pay attention.”
What kind of logic was that? What sort of premier senior disciple in the entire world went around teaching his juniors such reckless concepts……
“Take a look over there.”
Dong-ryong gestured toward the Jeom-chang delegation.
“Wow…….”
To his utter astonishment, the Jeom-chang martial artists had actually returned their weapons to their sheaths and had quietly moved over to clear one side of the walkway.
“See? I told you, the **Dae-sahyeong** is never wrong about these things.”
“…….”
Listening to that completely innocent, trusting voice, Sam-nam felt his mind grow even more utterly bewildered.
The air inside the medical facility was thick with the familiar, pungent scent of dried medicinal plants. Upon stepping across the threshold, I observed two medical assistants and three women trained in healing arts meticulously processing herbs and prepping acupuncture tools. Positioned right in the middle of the workspace, Sama-jeong was actively barking out orders to them.
“What is the current status of that patient?”
“You can effectively consider his career as a martial artist completely finished.”
“And what about his ability to function normally?”
“Ordinary day-to-day life is preserved. However, what future lies ahead in the Jianghu for a broken man stripped of every ounce of his inner force?”
“I suppose that’s true.”
A shattered constitution made it incredibly grueling to live even an ordinary existence. The profound misery awaiting someone who had spent his entire life occupying an elite position within the martial world was so stark it could practically be envisioned on canvas.
“Is it permissible for me to enter?”
“He should be lucid at the moment.”
Pushing the door open to enter the private quarters, a sudden draft of chilly air washed over me. Jong Byeok-gi was propped up on the mattress, gazing vacantly out at the exterior courtyard through a wide-open window frame.
“Why is a man with a completely broken body inviting a fever by leaving the window open?”
“…….”
Jong Byeok-gi shifted his eyes toward me for a fleeting second before returning his gaze to the outdoor scenery.
“Have the representatives from Jeom-chang arrived?”
The words left his mouth in a fragile, hollow whisper, completely devoid of vitality.
“Did you arrange for them to come beforehand?”
“No.”
He resembled a candle whose wax had been entirely spent. It seemed as though the tiny ember of his life force might flicker out at any given moment.
“While a person who is cleanly forgotten by the world can simply be overlooked, an individual who leaves a lingering stain can never be granted absolution.”
“Are you implying that this outcome is my divine retribution?”
“Jeom-chang presented me with a choice. I am the sole person who chose to throw it away; no one forced my hand.”
A sudden thought struck me. He had never stood a chance against me. He was fully aware of that reality, and I knew it just as well.
“From what I understood, you were enjoying a perfectly comfortable life out there, so why did you persist so stubbornly in pursuing this course of action?”
An action that, in the end, served as the definitive choice that shattered his own existence. What could have possibly possessed him to push himself to such an extreme point?
Jong Byeok-gi, unable to tear his gaze away from the bright beams of light filtering through the window frame, murmured under his breath.
“Because I am…… Jeom-chang.”
He tilted his chin upward, staring directly into the intense illumination. Though the harsh light was undoubtedly causing him agonizing discomfort, making his eyes burn fiercely, he resolutely refused to look away.
“No matter how pleasant or secure it might be, a compromised life like that…… cannot be considered a true existence.”
A true existence. The trajectory of his life, as I recalled it from my previous incarnation, was recorded like distinct chapters of a disjointed text. The version of him etched into my mind was overbearing, sanctimonious, conceited, and fiercely manipulative. Jong Byeok-gi was a man who, alongside Hwa Jeong-san, had caused me endless grief, unable to mask his deep-seated feelings of inadequacy whenever he stood before Yong So-ah and Il-myeong. It was only natural that I harbored a deep-seated animosity toward a person of his character.
And yet, there was clearly an entirely different facet to his identity that had remained hidden from my view. Furthermore…… in this current timeline, it felt deeply unsettling to continuously uncover traits and details about him that had left no trace in my past memories.
“…….”
Even so, simply gaining this new insight did not mean I felt any desire to extend my sympathy to him.
“Do not speak as if you still hold the pride of a martial artist. The atrocities that you and the rest of Jeom-chang committed back in Yueyang can never be condoned by anyone walking the Orthodox path, regardless of the circumstances.”
Jong Byeok-gi shifted his neck to look straight at me.
“Your words are undeniable. Those actions were completely unbecoming of anyone who claims to champion the Righteous Path. By engaging in such villainy without a second thought, I have effectively stripped myself of the right to be called a member of the Orthodox faction.”
He maintained fixed eye contact with me.
“I am merely plagued by a single remorse. If only I had crossed paths with someone of your caliber a bit earlier in my journey, or if I had simply stopped measuring myself against Il-myeong, Yong So-ah, Hwa Jeong-san, and Dang Seo-hui, how different would my path have been? And—”
A hollow, sorrowful smirk played across his lips.
“I found myself wondering what it would have felt like if I had been blessed with a **Sahyeong** like you.”
“I have no idea what sort of delusional nonsense you are babbling about, but the mere concept of having Jong Byeok-gi as a **Saje** is utterly repulsive to imagine.”
Jong Byeok-gi merely offered another lifeless chuckle.
“The peers of our era are utterly ruined. Those of us who share the exact same generation as Yong So-ah are even more profoundly damaged. Because we view martial arts strictly through the lens of cutthroat rivalry, treating it merely as a tool for dominance and authority above all else, we have gradually drifted away from its true essence. Bit by bit, the moral anchor within us erodes, and by the time we finally wake up to reality…….”
A profound sense of hopelessness and total defeat began to cloud his eyes.
“Before we even realize what has happened, ‘monsters’ have completely hollowed out and inhabited our inner selves. In that exact manner…… I slowly transformed into a corrupted practitioner.”
Jong Byeok-gi let out a self-deprecating scoff.
“You don’t ever find yourself measuring your worth against Yong So-ah, do you?”
I chose to offer no reply. Whatever statement I chose to make would ultimately deviate from the absolute truth.
“The truth dawned on me while observing the Frontal Attack. I realized that a completely different avenue had existed all along. I wondered why such an alternative had never once entered my mind.”
Watching him drown in such pathetic self-pity only served to make his presence even more irritating to my eyes.
“So, do you intend to depart with them or stay put?”
“Why does that matter to you?”
“You are currently taking refuge under the roof of the Tae-eul Sect. The Tae-eul Sect is not some brainless institution that would willingly hand over a resident guest to face certain doom.”
“It is also an institution that isn’t afraid to bash in the skulls of any visitors who dare to disrespect it.”
Jong Byeok-gi chuckled softly, as if finding some hidden irony in the statement. He then painstakingly shifted his limbs across the bedding and forced himself onto his feet. Despite only a handful of days having passed, his frame appeared noticeably wasted and frail.
“There is no requirement for such protection. I must return to my people.”
“…….”
“Because my identity belongs to Jeom-chang.”
Observing his resolve, a profound sense of alienation washed over me. This tendency to entirely merge one’s own identity with the legacy of their sect was definitely not a trait exclusive to Jong Byeok-gi. Was it truly possible to fundamentally restructure the Nine Sects and One Gang, the Five Great Families, and the overarching Murim Alliance when they were entirely populated by individuals who shared this exact mindset? Could the Jianghu ever truly be reformed?
Right at that moment.
“Allow me to pose a solitary inquiry.”
The broken man raised his eyes to meet mine.
“I am completely indisposed to indulge your curiosity, so pack your things and get out of here with Jeom-chang.”
“I will provide you with a piece of vital information in exchange for your answer.”
“…….”
“Your ultimate goal is to completely overturn the Murim Alliance, is it not?”
When I maintained a stoic silence, he pressed forward.
“You do not need to confirm it verbally for me to know. I am fully aware that you harbor an immense, treasonous animosity toward the Murim Alliance.”
“…….”
“However, haven’t you begun to realize within your own heart that it is a completely unattainable goal?”
“Not in the slightest.”
This wasn’t a question of personal preference or feasibility. This was a path that, if left unpursued, would inevitably terminate in a scenario where every single soul was wiped out. Consequently, I had absolutely no intention of backing down.
“Jin So-un.”
The gaze of Jong Byeok-gi, which had just been questioning the feasibility of dismantling the Murim Alliance, suddenly burned with an intense, unyielding gravity.
“If you truly wish to transform that impossible delusion into a tangible reality, you must align yourself closely with Yong So-ah.”
“……Have you completely lost your mind to a cultivation deviation?”
He was spouting absolute gibberish.
“Because within the bounds of the Jianghu, he is the solitary entity capable of rendering the impossible possible.”
Jong Byeok-gi extended a hand, gripping my shoulder tightly as he delivered a desperate warning.
“To state it in reverse terms, the moment you set yourself up as an adversary to Yong So-ah, you will find yourself utterly incapable of executing a single thing you desire.”
A distinct note of peculiarity struck me regarding his specific phrasing.
“Why do you isolate Yong So-ah?”
“What?”
“Moments ago, you distinctly grouped Il-myeong, Dang Seo-hui, and Hwa Jeong-san together. Yet now, you speak as though Yong So-ah is the sole figure that matters.”
“…….”
Jong Byeok-gi faltered for a second before letting out another dry, mirthless laugh.
“One piece of information. In exchange for a single answer from you.”
“I already made it clear that I have no interest in answering your queries.”
“I suppose that is the case.”
His posture suddenly collapsed, looking like a dying coal losing its final glow. Letting out a soft groan of irritation, I relented.
“What is your question?”
“Are you actually going to give me an answer?”
I reached up, firmly removing his fingers from my shoulder before speaking.
“We possess no bond of friendship, and that reality will remain unchanged moving forward. Keep your inquiry direct and uncomplicated.”
“From your unique perspective…….”
Jong Byeok-gi took a heavy breath.
“Is it possible for Jeom-chang…… to rise to the absolute summit among the Nine Sects and One Gang?”
The question left his lips in a quivering whisper. He resembled a desperate soul who had just thrown out the single most critical query of his entire existence, staring at me with bloodshot, unblinking eyes that begged for a shred of hope.
“For what reason are you asking for my input on this?”
“Because you consistently carry yourself as though the path of the future is fully known to you.”
“…….”
I couldn’t quite tell if this man was asking out of some genuine intuition or if he was simply grasping at straws.
“What say you? Is it an institution capable of achieving the absolute peak?”
I directed my final answer toward the man whose presence was rapidly losing its substance.
“Whether it will ever achieve the title of the absolute greatest is beyond my knowledge, but it appears destined to be an institution that endures until the absolute bitter end.”
This statement reflected the literal historical fact of my past life. The Jeom-chang Sect that had marched alongside Jong Byeok-gi had managed to survive all the way through the campaign to the North Sea. *Hmm*, given that the present timeline has already drifted, will that future alter as well? Ultimately, whether it survives or perishes is of no concern to my own sect.
“Enduring until the absolute bitter end…….”
He murmured my words over and over to himself, a look of profound contentment washing over his features before he turned to exit the chamber. Positioned in front of the gathered Jeom-chang delegation, Jong Byeok-gi moved with the heavy, dragging stride of a condemned criminal, entirely hemmed in by their ranks. After covering a short distance, he paused to look back over his shoulder, offering me a respectful nod of farewell.
Eun-ho, catching sight of this unexpected gesture, asked in disbelief.
“Why on earth is that man showing deference to our **Dae-sahyeong**?”
“When an individual possesses a towering level of moral excellence, even his bitterest adversaries cannot help but offer their respect.”
Eun-ho stared at me blankly, looking as though he couldn’t believe the absolute nonsense I was peddling, before bursting out.
“……Stop making things up! You obviously laid a terrifying threat on him, didn’t you? Or did you strike a deal to pay him off with a fortune?”
“…….”
It was becoming increasingly clear that Eun-ho desperately required a profound awakening of his own.
When the following day arrived, a highly shocking piece of news reached my ears.
“Yong So-ah?”
Word had arrived that Yong So-ah had personally come to our grounds. What was more, he had arrived flanked by the entirety of the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering, with Il-myeong included in their ranks.
A localized confusion arose within my mind. The prior demonstration hadn’t been an exclusive affair for the Jeom-chang Sect. In reality, the contingent from Wudang vastly outnumbered the Jeom-chang personnel. It was merely the prominent involvement of Jong Byeok-gi that had given the false impression that Jeom-chang was spearheading the entire protest.
As I made my way toward the Tae-eul Hall, where the leadership of the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering was reportedly being hosted, I noticed that the junior disciples of our sect were already loitering around the perimeter, desperate to catch a fleeting glimpse of Yong So-ah’s entourage.
Right at the moment I reached the entrance of the Tae-eul Hall, the heavy doors swung open and Yong So-ah’s faction began to file out onto the grounds. Just as Hwa Jeong-san began to lift his arm to offer a familiar greeting as if we were old acquaintances, Yong So-ah stepped to the forefront, maintaining his signature, completely unreadable mask.
“Jin So-un.”
The exact instant he closed the distance between us, an intense, visceral alarm triggered within my consciousness—one that was impossible to overlook.
‘The odor of fresh blood?’
It wasn’t a literal scent detected by my nose. Rather, it was an instinctual perception forged through the brutal trials of my previous existence. A person who has waded through rivers of slaughter requires a massive amount of time to truly cleanse that phantom stench of death from their presence. What felt completely bizarre was that while his companions radiated absolutely nothing unusual, this lingering, suffocating aura clung exclusively to Yong So-ah.
I offered a casual, nonchalant reply.
“I highly doubt you made the journey here to offer your blessings for the revival celebration of the Tae-eul Sect…… So, did you come to pay your respects to the Alliance Leader instead?”
“No.”
He bridged the gap by taking another deliberate step toward me, his expression remaining entirely devoid of warmth.
“Jin So-un, my sole purpose here was to confront you.”
“Me?”
He stared down at me, his characteristically vacant, lifeless irises seeming to drill right through my form. And then—
“Do not dare to cross my path, Jin So-un.”
“What?”
An ominous, cryptic statement echoed clearly through the courtyard of the Tae-eul Hall.
“This is for your own personal safety, as well as the preservation of your lineage’s home.”
His delivery carried the weight of a solemn warning—
“Without fail.”
He whispered the final words, looking as though he were binding his own soul to an unyielding oath.
“Should you choose otherwise…… I will personally erase you from existence.”
