Chapter 60: Madness
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A three-story pavilion within the Dark Hall’s grounds.
As moonlight slanted in beneath the eaves and shone across the floor, a figure could be seen standing alone against the railing on the top floor.
It was Netherworld Sword Fork Jeo Gyeom, the Hall Master of this place who was renowned as a powerhouse second only to the Five Supreme Martial Experts of Hunan.
A cool autumn breeze swept past him, and his long robe fluttered and wailed.
It was nearly midnight.
Yet Jeo Gyeom didn’t seem inclined to go to bed.
He simply gazed endlessly up at stars that seemed sprinkled like gold dust across the pitch-black night sky.
Soon, a name leaked quietly from between his lips.
“Cheol Ryu-heun…”
Until recently accepting the Thousand Snake Gang’s proposal, he had been an existence he’d paid no attention to whatsoever.
A rather ordinary successor of White Peak Sword Sect, and after the death of the White Gate Sword Gentleman, a cripple who had become vegetative… But one day he suddenly recovered, and at his hands the famous swordsman of this region, White Snake Head Sword Gul Ma-hun, was pathetically killed?
It was truly strange.
What on earth had this brat, who hadn’t even had a proper alias until now, done to transform into such an outstanding expert?
He recalled part of the first letter Geum Ja-jeom had sent.
<Cheol Ryu-heun’s martial prowess was in a different league from ordinary people. Speed, power, subtlety – none of it was anything but remarkable. No exaggeration, Gang Leader Gul’s White Snake Secret Movement Sword looked like the petty tricks of a nameless swordsman. I wonder how many martial artists at his age can display such power. Anyway, as he’s an opponent I cannot possibly face with my martial power, I would have nothing more to wish for if Hall Master personally took action.>
Jeo Gyeom was curious.
What exactly was the level of Cheol Ryu-heun’s martial prowess, which he presumed somehow exceeded the late Sagong Woon’s…
He planned to lead his people there anyway, but that one alone he intended to subdue through one-on-one combat.
Competitive spirit? No, curiosity.
Just like a child seeing a new toy.
Overwhelmingly crushing and slaying Gul Ma-hun was an impressive feat, but that was a category of martial power he himself could also display.
‘Heh. No matter how outstanding that fellow is, he’s just some small star among those countless ones…’
It was an arrogant thought.
But.
Jeo Gyeom, the possessor of the fearsome alias Netherworld Sword Fork, was a powerhouse who had earned the right to think so.
None other than Thunder Cloud Sword Duke, one of the Five Supreme Martial Experts of Hunan, had publicly praised his martial prowess, after all.
‘Thunder Lightning Sect Master, just wait. Once I finish this matter… I’ll begin tempering myself with you as my target. And I will surely avenge my previous defeat.’
Dark blue veins rose on Jeo Gyeom’s forehead.
Clench.
As if the desire to kill Wei Ji-am was surging up.
At that moment, a faint presence was heard from behind.
Swish, swoosh…
Footsteps brushing across the floorboards.
Without even turning his head back, Jeo Gyeom let out a heavy voice.
“Can’t sleep?”
At that, a man in his twenties wearing a black long robe came and stood behind his back.
“No. I happened to see you standing here on my way to my quarters, so I came by.”
It was Mun Bin, the Dark Hall’s second-in-command and Jeo Gyeom’s sole disciple.
Twenty-six years old this year, he was a sword prodigy known by the alias Dark Sword Fragrance.
In truth, compared to other rising talents of the martial world, his martial arts initiation was somewhat late.
It had only been ten years since he was selected as Jeo Gyeom’s disciple.
However, his innate talent was exceptional, so his rate of progress was very fast, and from around age twenty he began to stand out prominently, earning that alias.
As of now, everyone assessed him thus.
Even if Netherworld Sword Fork were to someday step down from the Hall Master position, Dark Sword Fragrance’s existence meant the Dark Hall’s future remained bright.
That’s how promising a rising expert Dark Sword Fragrance Mun Bin was.
There was even talk that one of Jeo Gyeom’s great achievements was taking him as a disciple.
“Bin.”
“Yes, Master.”
“How old are you turning this year… Twenty-six?”
“Correct.”
“Ten years have already passed.”
“That’s right. Since the day I received the grace of having my life saved by you, Master… Thanks to that, this lowly body is still alive.”
“Is it still valid?”
“Pardon?”
“Your past oath.”
“Of course. My life was already given to you at that time, Master.”
“Heh.”
Jeo Gyeom let out a brief laugh and asked quietly.
“Then… Even if I were to take your life right here and now, you wouldn’t refuse?”
“Pardon?”
Mun Bin, who had immediately asked back, stiffened slightly.
‘Blast! Has his bloodlust been triggered again!’
Sure enough.
Click.
Jeo Gyeom, having pivoted his body, radiated thick killing intent.
‘Urk!’
Mun Bin couldn’t help but shiver with goosebumps.
Currently, Jeo Gyeom was hearing some kind of auditory hallucination.
-Kill! Everything you see…! Kill!
Immediately after, his eyes changed.
Blue-green haze.
It felt as if will-o’-wisps were blazing.
-That fellow will someday come for your head! He must be killed!
It was auditory hallucination like a voice transmission.
A sound no one but Jeo Gyeom could hear.
“M-Master! Please calm yourself!”
Simultaneously with the flustered Mun Bin’s cry, Jeo Gyeom drew the iron sword at his waist.
CLANG-!
A crisp metallic sound.
Before he knew it, Mun Bin had drawn his sword and defended against the opponent’s blade that had flown at him.
Creak, cre-creak… Creak…
The blade made of black iron reflected the pure white moonlight and sparkled while producing an unpleasant friction sound.
Hunming Sword.
The renowned blade that had shared life and death with Jeo Gyeom for the past twenty years was displaying its sharp majesty.
“Gah, Master…!”
Mun Bin’s voice trembled slightly.
If his reaction had been just a little slower, his chest or arm – somewhere – would have been deeply slashed.
In contrast, the voice that flowed from Jeo Gyeom’s mouth was utterly calm.
“What’s this, are you breaking the oath you made yourself?”
“Th-That’s not it…”
Mun Bin’s expression twisted slightly as his words trailed off.
It was because the opponent’s true power transmitting through the clashing blades was too overwhelming.
Creak, cre-creak…
The will-o’-wisps in Jeo Gyeom’s eyes flickered and danced.
As if attesting to the bloodlust writhing in his chest.
TONG-!
The black iron blade exploded with transparent energy waves, and Mun Bin was quickly sent flying about ten paces back.
“Guh… Master, please…”
“Your intentions are quite suspicious.”
“…!”
“Why don’t you tell me honestly. Do you covet my position?”
“Th-That’s preposterous!”
“Ugh, you’ve forgotten all the grace of feeding and raising a pitiful fellow with nowhere to go.”
Jeo Gyeom, seized by auditory hallucinations, had already lost his reason.
Just then.
THUD!
The moment Mun Bin thrust his sword into the floorboards, he knelt on both knees and bowed his head.
“Master, if you order me to die, I will gladly obey! But if you take my life in this manner, what will happen afterward?”
“…”
“I guarantee that all our subordinates will be seized by fear of not knowing when they might die, and will no longer regard you as an object of respect but of terror, and will not offer sincere loyalty! Please do not betray my trust and theirs! This is advice I give prepared to die!”
At Mun Bin’s desperate appeal, Jeo Gyeom let out a small sound.
“Heh, advice, is it.”
“My oath remains unchanged. If you truly intend to cut me down… I will offer up this worthless life. Only please do not show such a side to others.”
Having said that, Mun Bin truly extended his neck as if prepared to die and closed his eyes.
Step, step.
Jeo Gyeom walked over and stood before him.
“So, you have no regrets?”
“Yes, if only I can confirm my heart to you through death…”
No sooner had Mun Bin’s words ended.
SHING-!
The Hunming Sword fell with a sharp sound, then stopped just above his nape.
Immediately after.
Swish…
The haze flickering in Jeo Gyeom’s eyes vanished.
Mun Bin finally felt the killing intent disappear and exhaled a sigh of relief internally.
CLICK-
Having sheathed the Hunming Sword, Jeo Gyeom spoke quietly.
“That’s enough. Rise.”
At that, Mun Bin carefully rose to his feet and slowly retrieved the sword thrust into the floorboards.
“Master…”
“I was merely testing you for a moment. It means nothing else.”
“Ah… Yes.”
Mun Bin, as he nodded, had his eyes darken.
If it were the Jeo Gyeom of before, he would have at least offered words of apology.
No… He wouldn’t have shown such sudden, threatening behavior in the first place.
He knew well why.
The divine weapon.
Originally, Jeo Gyeom had been a cold-blooded person, but ever since he’d happened to obtain a divine weapon a few months ago, his temperament had been gradually changing.
The divine weapon’s unknown power was causing him to cultivate the bloodlust in his heart.
Because of that, even his reason was shaking, and emotional behavior beyond common sense kept bursting out.
This wasn’t the first or second time something like this had happened.
It was just that today, the hypersensitive reaction induced by the divine weapon’s power seemed to have manifested more severely.
‘If he can’t control the divine weapon’s power, one day it will rampage without warning…’
In truth, if he hadn’t obtained the divine weapon, he would have completely ignored the Thousand Snake Gang’s proposal.
But Jeo Gyeom, thoroughly captivated by its power, had unilaterally accepted that matter without even consulting his executive staff.
He who had always considered the group’s interests first, after becoming absorbed in handling the divine weapon, now put personal greed first.
It was somewhat understandable.
After all, weren’t divine weapons at the very top tier of all weapons in the world?
Having luckily obtained one, how could someone who cultivated martial arts not be captivated?
But.
No matter how valuable a divine weapon was, if one couldn’t properly control the power dwelling within it, or worse, if one were instead dominated by that power, what use was it?
Jeo Gyeom was convinced that by strengthening his martial power through the Ghost Shadow Sword Technique, the true teachings of Heaven’s Death Sword Ghost Eum Ryun, he would be able to control the divine weapon at will.
For Mun Bin, the uncertainty of that outcome was deeply concerning.
At that moment, Jeo Gyeom turned his back again and headed for the railing.
“Make sure there are no problems with the meeting in two days.”
“Yes, Master.”
“After annihilating White Peak Sword Sect, I’ll subjugate the Thousand Snake Gang too. If they stubbornly refuse my will, I’ll slaughter them all.”
“…!”
“Why, is it uncomfortable?”
“No.”
“You just need to do as I tell you.”
“I will bear it in mind, Master.”
“Now go.”
“Yes, I’ll see you in the morning then.”
In the pupils of Mun Bin, who answered with clasped hands, a peculiar light swirled before quickly disappearing.
Jeo Gyeom, having turned his back, failed to see that look in his eyes.
Soon, Mun Bin came out of the pavilion and walked along the moonlit stone path while biting his lip firmly.
‘Hmph, that was dangerous. My true colors nearly showed… Yes, your mad behavior isn’t all bad. You’ll give me the opportunity to avenge my family.’
Meanwhile, Jeo Gyeom, leaning against the third-floor railing, wore a faint smile while stroking his beloved blade, the Hunming Sword.
“Hoho, if a dog one has raised carelessly bares its fangs… It should naturally be killed.”
An auditory hallucination reached his ears.
-Yes, kill! Leave none behind!
* * *
“Wake up.”
Simultaneously with the dry voice.
Flash.
Yeop Hwon and Hyeop Mu-geuk, who had been sleeping under straw mats, opened their eyes together and surveyed their surroundings.
Is it morning already… they thought, but it was still before dawn.
In the dim pre-dawn light, Cheol Ryu-heun’s voice tapped their ears again.
“What are you doing, get in position.”
Yeop Hwon and Hyeop Mu-geuk awkwardly rose and asked.
“Pardon?”
“What…?”
With his arms folded, Cheol Ryu-heun spoke bluntly.
“Whole-body twists.”
At that, both their faces went pale.
What? Whole-body twists at the crack of dawn? Why all of a sudden! We haven’t even woken up properly!
Cheol Ryu-heun paid no heed and gestured with his chin.
“Let’s do a light five hundred and call it done. Sound good?”
“…”
Just kill us instead. We’ll gladly die.