Chapter 174: The Dark Nest

A hall with countless roof tiles dyed in moonlight upon its head.

Two figures could be seen leaning against the railing of the long first-floor corridor.

They looked different from each other, but their attire was identical.

Blue robes woven from silk, fully embroidered with wind patterns.

It was the Ximen Family’s unique martial attire.

Moreover, the kind that signified high status.

The young man in his mid to late twenties standing on the left gazed vacantly at the night sky and opened his mouth.

“Troubled times…”

It was a murmur close to talking to himself.

With a strong impression like a hero, he was Ximen Ang, the first son of the current Ximen Family Head Whirlwind Sword Lord Ximen Jwa.

His martial alias was Gust Sword Knight, and befitting a rising master designated as the next Family Head, he had a dignified bearing.

The young man standing on the right was the second son Ximen Yu, two years younger than Ximen Ang who was twenty-eight this year.

His alias was Divine Wind Sword Talent, and just as the name suggested, he possessed swordsmanship as fast as the wind.

He, who possessed a distinguished presence no less than his older brother, quietly turned his head sideways and asked.

“Pardon?”

“Troubled times on a two-hundred-year cycle. Haven’t you heard? It’s been talked about a lot here and there lately.”

“Ah… Yes. I’ve heard it too, but, well… I just let it go in one ear and out the other.”

Along with those words, Ximen Yu casually asked.

“What do you think, brother?”

“When coincidences pile up, they become inevitability.”

When Ximen Ang spoke again as if muttering, Ximen Yu nodded slightly.

Well, that was true.

Starting from the Heavenly Demon’s era a thousand years ago, the martial world had been swept up in great bloodshed precisely on a roughly two-hundred-year cycle.

There had been five total times of troubled times.

And.

Roughly two hundred years had passed since Blood God Mu Wol – the protagonist of the Age of Blood God’s Reign, the era when the terrifying Blood Demon martial god had descended – ending the rise of Heavenly Demon Cult, the strongest demonic force beyond the borders.

When coincidences pile up, they become inevitability.

If those words were correct, then the time had come for the sixth troubled times to occur.

“Hearing you say that, I’m somehow scared.”

“I don’t believe it either. But… It can’t hurt to prepare for anything.”

“Could the reason Yue suddenly requested closed-door training be because of that? To temper his martial prowess in preparation for a chaotic world to come… Ah, is that too grandiose a packaging? Haha.”

Ximen Yue had recently entered the Divine Wind Hall, a special facility within the estate, accompanied by Swift Wind Unit Third Squad Captain Nu-heum for the purpose of closed-door training and had disappeared from sight.

Suddenly, Ximen Ang’s eyes deepened.

“According to Father’s words…”

-I am thirsty. Not a thirst for personal martial achievement, but a thirst for how I can contribute to our family’s future development. To properly assist eldest brother who will become the next Family Head, shouldn’t I start preparing now?

-You want to grow your capacity?

-Yes. Because I know well my abilities still… Cannot compare to eldest brother’s. If I am to be of help on the path eldest brother will walk going forward, closed-door training seems absolutely necessary.

“…He said that.”

“Oh, I hadn’t heard that. How admirable.”

“Who knows. I’m not sure.”

“…?”

“Brother, shall I speak honestly? I don’t trust that fellow.”

“Pardon? No, why…”

“That’s just the feeling I get. The older he gets, the more it seems like he’s secretly sharpening a blade hidden in his heart.”

At Ximen Ang’s meaningful words, Ximen Yu wore a flustered expression, then soon smiled awkwardly and waved his hand.

“Ha, ha… Brother, is this because of the sparring match a few years ago? That was just a simple accident…”

Ximen Ang and Ximen Yue had engaged in a private sparring match under Family Head Ximen Jwa’s orders about two years ago.

The result was a draw.

However, in the process, one small accident had occurred.

Toward the end, when they were consecutively exchanging moves, Ximen Yue had carelessly injected excessive force contrary to prior agreement, causing Ximen Ang to suffer internal injuries.

-AAHH! Brother! I’m sorry! I got too caught up in the swordplay…!

At that time, Ximen Yue had panicked and apologized repeatedly.

But.

Ximen Ang had seen a change in expression on his opponent during that brief gap when he was receiving the final move – in what was called an instant, a moment too quick even for that.

It was a smile.

One that flickered past as fast as light.

Ximen Ang recalled that incident at that time again and spoke.

“I haven’t said this until now, but… I saw that fellow smiling at that moment.”

“Huh?”

“An illusion? It wasn’t.”

Although it was only once, the feeling that fleeting smile had brought was so chilling that it was still deeply imprinted in his mind.

“Brother, but still…”

When Ximen Yu showed an unbelieving look, Ximen Ang smirked and asked.

“Do you think I saw wrong?”

At that, Ximen Yu answered firmly.

“Yes, brother. Of course. That must have been an illusion. Although we serve different mothers, the youngest has lived his life more properly than anyone else until now. Don’t you know that well?”

“Right, that’s why I didn’t bring it up.”

“Goodness, don’t say such things elsewhere. They might actually see you as the bad person. Especially to Father… Do you understand?”

When Ximen Yu scolded him in an adult manner, Ximen Ang nodded and laughed again.

“Ha. Right. Understood.”

But the murmurings in his heart were different.

‘Well, it’s not just because of that sparring match. Three years ago, when that fellow went outside and lost contact for more than four months… He definitely experienced something. Actually, a strange sense of alienation that I can’t explain has arisen since then. Does Father know about that too?’

But it was difficult to speak aloud.

As Ximen Yu said, he might be seen as causing internal strife.

‘Let me keep quiet and wait more. Whether that fellow is really hiding sharp fangs or not…’

* * *

“Suspicious.”

“Agreed.”

“There’s something. No, he’s wandering alone in the forest at night without even a lantern.”

Three young beggars were crouched in some bushes, whispering to each other.

They were beggars belonging to the Beggar Sect.

Seeing as their belt knots, called Beggar Rank Knots, were only one each, they were definitely low-ranking sect members.

“He disappeared in that direction earlier… Let’s follow him.”

Just as one sect member said that, a strange thunderous voice rang out.

-No need. I’ve come to you.

The moment the three startled Beggar Sect members’ expressions hardened, chilling sounds of wind-piercing rang out in succession.

SHWEEEK- SHWEEEEK-!

Over ten straight-line hidden weapons pierced through the darkness and ruthlessly penetrated the three’s bodies.

“Kuh…”

With a short groan as the end, the three Beggar Sect members collapsed to the ground.

It was instant death.

SWISH.

A man in black robes quietly appeared like a ghost in the space beside them.

He was the one who had launched the ambush.

Immediately after, figures in identical attire appeared and formed a circular formation as if wrapping around the three corpses, standing by.

“This has become troublesome. It seems we were followed.”

When one of them spoke, a faint smile formed on the lips of the man who had thrown the hidden weapons earlier.

“Ha, what do you mean… If the Beggar Sect had seriously planned to follow us, there’s no way they would have sent mere One-Knot sect members.”

But then.

WHISH.

Not far away, a black-robed person wearing a pressed bamboo hat revealed himself.

It was the organizer of the meeting who had gathered Na Rae-hyang and others that day.

Simultaneously, the group all bent at the waist in unison, showing the propriety of addressing a superior.

“You’ve arrived. First Seat.”

At that, the black-robed person called First Seat lifted the brim of the bamboo hat.

“We must be careful of beggars. You never know who might be a Beggar Sect member.”

“Yes. We’re all keeping that in mind. As you can see, fortunately they are One-Knots, so they’re not the Beggar Sect’s elite.”

“Right. It would be good to hurry the matter a bit more.”

“Understood. First Seat. However, how did the matter you attended to go…?”

“Black Rope Wondrous Lady responded.”

“Oh, that’s good.”

“She was the only survivor of the brawl driven by greed for money. She’ll become a chess piece that moves for us now. I expect the personnel of that hall to have started moving, so in the future we can sacrifice Black Rope Wondrous Lady as the culprit of the civilian massacre.”

“Yes, of course… As a corpse, you mean.”

“Naturally.”

“When is the next meeting?”

“In a fortnight.”

“We’ll need to prepare a grave.”

“But don’t forget. The highest priority matter is finding Gam Tae, who will be the clue to the whereabouts of the Divine Martial Sword.”

“Yes.”

“Now hide the three corpses and collect anything that could be evidence. Black Rope Wondrous Lady will take the fall for all of this.”

Having quietly given the order, First Seat turned and departed.

‘Haha… It’s dark below the lamp. Oh foolish martial world. We have already made a nest in this land.’

* * *

The day broke and it became the first hour of noon (around 11 AM).

Dark Sword Fragrance Mun Bin, who had visited White Peak Sword Sect, stared at Cheol Ryu-heun across the table with a dazed expression.

“Is it all… True?”

“Yes. Well, I explained briefly since it’s a bother.”

“My goodness… Even the Nine Demon Alliance Master who was thought dead has come as a Guest Retainer of your sect…”

“I plan to announce it later. You should know in advance.”

“But if you do that, there will be quite a commotion…”

“I’ll handle it. Anyway, you should immediately entrust one matter to the Celestial Flower Tower Master. Thoroughly hide any facts related to me.”

“Ah… Yes. What is this matter?”

“Investigating the personal details of martial world wanderers.”

“…?”

“The standard is martial prowess. Focus on figures who can be called upper tier among first-rate ranks.”

“But why do you want to find out about that?”

“It’s just personal.”

“Hmm, understood. I’ll make the request. Is the scope of investigation all regions?”

“Of course.”

“Then it will take quite some time.”

“I don’t mind. And one more thing – the same for those whose activities seem suspicious.”

“Yes.”

“Good. You can go.”

When Cheol Ryu-heun gave a nonchalant hand gesture, Mun Bin glanced at his mood and took something out.

“There’s one thing I’d like to ask. This is…”

“I know. That’s the Ink God Robe.”

“Oh? You recognize it immediately.”

“I just know. It’s one of the Ten Heavenly Weapons that disappeared after Ghost Sword God used it. How did you obtain that?”

“Actually… The Celestial Flower Tower Master gave it to me as a gift.”

“Is that so? She must like you.”

“Pardon?”

“You said gift. Then it’s obvious.”

Hearing those words, Mun Bin’s heart fluttered slightly.

‘She likes… Me?’

At that moment, Cheol Ryu-heun spoke expressionlessly.

“I see you thought I would know how to awaken the divine power latent in the Ink God Robe.”

Mun Bin changed his expression and nodded.

“Yes… Am I wrong?”

“No, I know.”

“Ah!”

“But first, you need to build up your body. Body strengthening is essential to handle the Ink God Robe’s unique scale energy and fire energy. And achieving a supreme cultivation method must accompany it.”

“A supreme cultivation method, you say…?”

“The true transmission of the first owner.”

“…!”

Mun Bin’s eyes wavered greatly.

If it was the first owner of the Ink God Robe, that meant Ink Sword Emperor, a transcendent powerhouse of the unorthodox martial world from a thousand years ago.

One who had even faced the unrivaled absolute being the Heavenly Demon…

Though he had been defeated when a large hole was torn in the Ink God Robe, that tremendous fame was still passed down orally even now, across the long passage of time.

It was natural.

In truth, the very fact that he had survived after facing Heavenly Demon, the progenitor of the demonic faction, was a great martial achievement.

Cheol Ryu-heun’s following words presented yet another surprise.

“You wouldn’t know, but Ink Sword Emperor’s internal energy cultivation method is of the same vein as Dark Hall’s.”

“…!”

“I’ll teach you. In return, I’ll accept a pledge of loyalty as payment.”

Only then did Mun Bin intuit.

That today’s meeting would completely and newly change the fate of Dark Hall, including himself, going forward.

* * *

At a time when noon was approaching.

Yeom Sang-ah of the Sun Moon Demon Cult and her personal handmaiden Lewd Cruel Demon Servant Yo Mong-ji arrived before a martial sect located high in the mountains.

Three characters carved on a black signboard.

Zhongnan Sect.

A prestigious orthodox Taoist sect within Shaanxi region.

Before long.

CLATTER, CREEEAK-

The main gate opened to both sides, and the man who had come out to receive them was not a Zhongnan Sect disciple, but a follower of the Sun Moon Demon Cult.

“You’ve arrived. Young Lady.”