Chapter 69: Right Now You Are Closer to Demonic Than You Think

The Way of the Heart Sword, of all things.

It was the realm of the Ultimate Martial Peak.

The power wielded by experts of the Transcendence Realm who played above the sky at the very peak of the Martial World.

Are you saying that moving a mere dice connects to such a realm of the ultimate peak of martial arts?

While I was rolling my eyes because I couldn’t understand, Master Bodhidharma’s words continued.

[It is not entirely incorrect that manifesting one’s intent is the entry to the Way of the Heart Sword.]

‘That wasn’t the answer I wanted, though…’

Since I had been expecting him to say it was a joke, Master Bodhidharma’s words did not sink in easily.

‘If I had reached such a brilliant realm, I would have just swept away everything in my path.’

Although I accepted to some extent that I was not ordinary, I knew well that it was merely a fertile ground of possibility.

I was well aware that my current position was one where I had to worry about my life even if just a single peak expert appeared.

[What do you think the Way of the Heart Sword refers to?]

“Uh…”

At Master Bodhidharma’s question, I was at a loss for an answer.

I knew it was an absolute realm.

But when I tried to explain the concept, I was tongue-tied.

To me, who did not answer, Master Bodhidharma continued speaking.

[Willpower is the driving force that leads the mind and thoughts. And when it takes shape, it can be called a mental image, the shape of the mind. Do you not understand what it means to manifest that into reality?]

‘Manifesting thoughts into reality…’

It seemed to have some similarities with the divine power of the Western Metal Deity that changed properties as I willed, but it also felt somewhat different.

[Die.]

“…?!”

[If intent is loaded into these words, what do you think will happen?]

At Master Bodhidharma’s next words, I held my breath.

I finally understood.

‘The Way of the Heart Sword. Making a sword with the mind, and stabbing with that sword.’

He said willpower was the driving force of the mind and thoughts.

If the mind and thoughts harbor killing intent and wield a sword that manifests in reality?

One dies.

[A realm that has surpassed the boundaries of high-level martial arts. After you exceed the realm of superhumans and reach the realm of post-humans, starting to escape humanity, the battles are not of physical concepts like points, lines, or planes. It would be easy if you think of the Heavenly Demon Kalpaless Hand. Is there such a thing in the Heavenly Demon Kalpaless Hand?]

There was none.

[Though in the first place, the martial art of the Heavenly Demon Kalpaless Hand itself can be called an upward compatibility that is several stages above that Way of the Heart Sword.]

As Master Bodhidharma’s explanation continued, my mind grew dazed.

Amidst the words that made me feel like I might lose my grip on my sanity at any moment, a cold scolding fell.

[Realize it! You have already set foot in that realm! Through the Heavenly Demon Kalpaless Hand!!]

“…!!”

The foundation of my martial arts was strictly orthodox cultivation. I had thought I took the martial arts of Shaolin and Wudang as my foundation.

That very foundation was shaken.

I could not deny it either. Because the moment I awakened the flow of power that I had previously thought of as Taoist magic, the Heavenly Demon Kalpaless Hand was the first to move.

[What you have achieved is not light. It seems you did not know what it meant to reach the Demonic and achieve the Demonic.]

It was a message to be carved deep into the heart.

[Right now, you are closer to the Demonic than you think. That is probably why Sanfeng created the Three Talents Unified Qi Art for you. With the meaning to harmonize them into one instead of being consumed by the Demonic.]

Master Bodhidharma’s words continued at length, but I listened to them with intense concentration. Because they were different from what I had felt and thought, they were words I needed to take to heart even more.

[Until the moment you achieve unification, the Clear Brightness Mind Method will protect you and the Heavy Earth Divine Art will hold your center so that you do not waver.]

***

Gwak Dae-pyeong retreated submissively.

The number on the dice I dropped on the ground was 3.

It was odd.

“No fun. Tch!”

Looking at me as if somewhat disappointed, Gwak Dae-pyeong turned around.

It was not a look of being intimidated by the mysterious expert who might be in the surroundings. If it had been an even number, he probably would have gone all the way.

If he were acting, he would have been highly successful even as a Beijing opera actor.

‘That’s why he is even more dangerous.’

A person who could make impulsive and dangerous choices without hesitation.

A person who chose pleasure over logic and reason.

A typical hedonist.

The type who, even if an ally today, could stab a knife into my flank at any moment.

‘I must avoid him.’

Keeping an untrustworthy opponent close is bound to lead to bloodshed eventually.

Fortunately, since he withdrew on his own, I must avoid contact with him as much as possible in the future.

“Hmm.”

While I was mentally sorting out the situation, Elder Baek Pung-rip was also sipping his tea with a thoughtful face.

Drinking something hot seemed to soothe his stomach a bit, but it was clear that a part of his thoughts was not present here.

“Did Muae make a move… If he is a fellow worth moving for…”

[It seems he doesn’t think it was your doing under any circumstances.]

‘Haha…’

He seemed to be deducing that grandfather had secretly deployed an expert, worried about his grandson sent on an errand to the Unorthodox Faction’s territory.

Common sense dictated that was the correct judgment.

Assuredly, if it was grandfather’s connections, such an expert could very well exist.

The Way of the Heart Sword, of all things.

Even I thought it was an absurd level.

“Seeing that he doesn’t reveal himself, there is no need to pay him much mind. Then, let’s get to the main point.”

Although he pondered this way and that, he ultimately concluded to respect the decision, as the person seemed to have no intention of revealing their identity.

Speaking openly as if to be heard felt like he was telling the person to come out if they had a problem with it.

‘No way they would appear.’

I sipped the tea.

Deciding to ignore Baek Mu-ho, who kept nudging my side as if he didn’t understand the unfolding situation at all.

“I already knew that something bad was circulating in Gohyeon. However, fearing that publicizing it carelessly would cause major confusion, I was merely preparing behind the scenes in my own way.”

“I see.”

Elder Baek Pung-rip was a layman to medicine. And when he learned that a large-scale poison was being spread in Gohyeon, the place he would have suspected first was there.

Not moving hastily was a good decision.

Otherwise, Sichuan would have already become a battlefield.

Even if it wasn’t war, it was certain that it would have reached just before that point.

“You, who arrived in Gohyeon at just the right time, touched upon it and even resolved it. That means you know more than I do. Therefore, I want to ask. Do you think the hand of the Sichuan Tang Clan is involved in the poison spread in Gohyeon?”

As expected, the direction we were looking was the same.

This was certainly something I had also worried about. Therefore, I had expected such a question would come up.

‘Fortunately, I have someone who will give me the answer.’

There were only two people revered as medical sages in history: Bian Que and Hua Tuo. One of them was with me.

I just needed to hear the answer and speak it as is.

‘You may begin, Teacher Hua Tuo!’

[The Sichuan Tang Clan? I don’t know them. They weren’t around in my era either.]

“…”

‘…Damn it?’

Excuse me?

No, I mean. Pardon?

Is this what it feels like to have the back of one’s head stung?

[Why do you have a face as if you were smacked on the back of the head? Just because you are ignorant.]

Since he spoke like that, I had nothing to say again.

‘No, it’s not that his words don’t make sense…’

Thinking about it, the eras were indeed different.

‘Uh? If so, this is troublesome.’

Although I detoxified the poison itself based on the symptoms, I could no longer be sure if it was the Tang Clan’s method.

And Elder Baek Pung-rip, who wanted a clear answer, was demanding a reply from me.

What should I say to this?

‘Let’s think logically…’

In the territory of the Unorthodox Faction, poison is spreading centered around Unorthodox martial artists.

Looking only at this, it seemed as if a force hostile to the Unorthodox Faction was taking action.

‘But the poison didn’t spread only to Unorthodox martial artists. There were people among the civilians who also showed symptoms of poisoning.’

As I pointed out the parts that could be overlooked, the points were organized in their own way.

“If I had grasped the poison of the Sichuan Tang Clan and even knew the method to detoxify it, I would be buried in the ground before long. The cause of death would be poisoning.”

“Indeed, that’s what a secret transmission is like.”

The Sichuan Tang Clan was known as a closed group. It was said that even a daughter who knew the family’s secret transmission could not marry into another household, and if she wished to marry, they had to take in a son-in-law.

This meant they were extremely wary of anyone who knew the secret transmission leaving the clan.

“So you have no certainty.”

“Yes. I cannot answer clearly whether this poison belongs to the Tang Clan.”

‘I should establish a premise first. That way, it can serve as an excuse in case I am wrong.’

“However, to tell you my thoughts, I don’t think the Tang Clan had a hand in this. Considering the reputation of the Sichuan Tang Clan, the potency of the poison is weak.”

“Weak…”

“Because the poisoned people can even lead their daily lives. Although this kind of chronic poison can become scarier once the depth of poisoning exceeds a certain level, that period would have to be set quite long.”

If they had spread the poison with the intention of overturning the Unorthodox Faction, they probably wouldn’t have set a long-term plan in this manner.

With the prowess of the Sichuan Tang Clan, they could just sweep them away. Moving in this manner is rather more troublesome.

“Furthermore, the damage of this poison to civilians is also substantial. I felt it while treating people, but this level is to the point of disregarding civilian casualties. As you know, causing this scale of harm to civilians in this manner…”

“Is something that would treat one as a public enemy.”

“Yes. If this was truly done by the Sichuan Tang Clan, it would not end simply with them stepping down from their position as one of the Five Great Clans.”

As I continued speaking, the organized thoughts became even clearer.

“Therefore, I do not believe the Sichuan Tang Clan is behind this matter. However…”

“Speak.”

“If rumors spread that poison is circulating in the Unorthodox Faction’s territory, someone will definitely wield their blade first without thinking of the consequences. That is also what Elder Baek is worried about.”

“Umm.”

Once a clash occurs, the cause of the incident and whether it is true or not lose meaning.

“My thoughts are like this. If there is a mastermind behind this, it would be those who would benefit the most in this situation. If the Orthodox and Unorthodox clash now, where would benefit the most?”

The deduction ran toward its end.

Although it was also the direction I guided it to some extent.

‘Master Heavenly Demon said so. That there are many problems inside the Demonic Cult. And that they are plotting bad things to resolve it.’

Looking at the situation in Sichuan now, it was highly suspicious. Considering the internal information of the Demonic Cult obtained through Master Heavenly Demon, it was close to certainty.

Elder Baek Pung-rip’s face stiffened.

“…The Demonic Cult.”

“Yes. I suspect them the most right now.”

The organization went better than expected.

As expected, unfolding it in actual words rather than just keeping it in my head helps in organizing thoughts.

Then, one more thought flashed through my head.

‘Huh? But if the Demonic Cult is behind this matter…’

My face also stiffened in tandem.

‘This means it might not be something happening only in Gohyeon, right?’

What if there was no one like Elder Baek Pung-rip to calm the situation over there?

It would be a catastrophe.

No matter how much I pondered, the situation only flowed toward the worst.

‘We need a force that can move broadly. At least a place of the Sichuan Tang Clan’s caliber.’

However, a place of the Sichuan Tang Clan’s caliber would not act lightly.

On top of that, asking them to lend their strength because we have to save the Unorthodox Faction to prevent a conflict?

It would be a relief if we didn’t just get showered with curses.

“I wish some good method would just drop right before my eyes…”

***

The three rising stars of the Qingcheng Sect, who entered the territory of a city dressed in ordinary martial robes, looked around and scanned everywhere.

“I thought the territory of the Unorthodox Faction would be like a demon’s den…”

“A place where people live is similar anywhere. Someone is the parent of some child, and someone is a child who breaks their parents’ hearts. It is no different just because it is the Unorthodox Faction. Ultimately, they are human. That is also why problems occur.”

To the words of Lee Cheong-ryeo, who was ignorant of the ways of the world, Elder Cheongpungja of the Qingcheng Sect gave an unbiased teaching.

It was a statement that revealed his inclination, and also the reason why he went out of his way to travel to the dangerous Unorthodox Faction’s territory.

Because it was a teaching to be taken to heart, Lee Cheong-ryeo nodded and focused on Cheongpungja’s words. Lee Do-cheon also listened in silence.

On the other hand, Sagong Pae, who had committed a misdeed, looked around with anxious eyes.

Cheongpungja clicked his tongue.

“Because your mind is not firm, your anxiety is revealed on the outside. Your training is lacking.”

“I-I am sorry…”

Understanding that it was a scolding directed at him, Sagong Pae lowered his head. However, his appearance did not show that he had washed away his anxiety.

Since the location was what it was, Cheongpungja set aside his expression of regret and turned his gaze toward the actively moving people.

“Now, where should I look for the child who is said to have inherited Hua Tuo’s legacy?”

Had it been the territory of the Orthodox Faction, they would have inquired through acquaintances or surrounding people, but this was the territory of the Unorthodox Faction where they had to hide their identity.

As it was difficult to move openly, finding someone was not easy.

“He is a divine physician, a divine physician. I’m telling you, with just a touch, you are healed in an instant.”

“Is that true? My father is also not in good health, I should bring him right away.”

“He is conducting treatments in a tent set up on one side of the government office, so go right away.”

Fortunately, it seemed it could be easily resolved this time.

Hearing the mention and praise of someone’s medical skills, Cheongpungja could easily gauge where they should go.