Chapter 150: Chapter 150
“Even the Cult Leader has died, they said. In the end, can no one go against the current of the waves…”
With those words as the end, the Ghost Demon Squad Leader’s breathing slowed.
The Crescent Moon Staff was slowly pulled out.
With blood gushing from his chest, the Ghost Demon Squad Leader, the focus in his eyes gradually fading, collapsed to the ground.
“…”
After a brief silence.
Finally, the Daoists, regardless of Zhongnan or Wudang, exhaled the breath they had been holding.
The process of Cheon Woo-jin killing the Ghost Demon Squad Leader was exceedingly quiet. Yet tension flowed to an extent incomparable to any flashy, fast-paced battle.
The young master called the new heavens, the Heartless Wanderer, had killed the greatest assassin of the previous generation.
It was a sight that symbolized a great deal. Just like the Ghost Demon Squad Leader’s final words, the back waves of the Yangtze River pushed forward the front waves. The era of those once called the greatest was gradually drawing to a close, and a new sun brimming with vitality began to rise.
Cheon Woo-jin somehow felt as though his masters were also symbols of a fading era, leaving a needlessly bitter taste in his mouth.
Amidst that, the front waves who suddenly approached, or rather the Wudang Sword Immortal and the Zhongnan Sect Leader, asked.
“What did you see in the killing formation?”
The killing formation deployed by the former foremost assassin in the world made the opponent’s heart waver by showing them what they feared most.
The Wudang Sword Immortal saw the decline of the Wudang Sect, and the Zhongnan Sect Leader saw plum blossom trees.
The two men suddenly became curious. What on earth did an expert who had reached an unfathomable level like the Heartless Wanderer see?
Cheon Woo-jin tilted his head for a moment.
“What do you mean, what did I see?”
“…”
The Wudang Sword Immortal put on a strange expression. If one was human, one was bound to have at least some trivial fear. He had expected that the Heartless Wanderer had shattered it in an instant with overwhelming internal energy or mental fortitude.
“Don’t tell me you saw nothing at all?”
“Yes.”
“Do you have nothing you fear?”
“Well. Fear, you say.”
Thinking for a moment, Cheon Woo-jin simply shrugged his shoulders since nothing came to mind at all. The only thing he feared was parting with his masters, but that was already in the past.
Among the things that would happen in the future, even mobilizing all of Cheon Woo-jin’s imagination, there was nothing he particularly feared.
At that, the Wudang Sword Immortal wore an expression as if looking at something that was not human. Fundamentally, as a Daoist cultivating the Dao, he had lived his entire life engaging in philosophical contemplation of life, death, and the essence of humanity. In the eyes of such a Wudang Sword Immortal, Cheon Woo-jin was wondrous, intriguing, and a little chilling.
While the Wudang Sword Immortal wore a serious expression.
The villagers, who tactfully realized that the situation was over, gathered one by one. They were deeply grateful for saving their lives and for rescuing their precious neighbors and families.
In particular, they asked the name of Cheon Woo-jin who had stepped forward first, bowed their heads, and some even brought money to give him.
Cheon Woo-jin was uncharacteristically flustered. He had experience being surrounded by hundreds of demonic cultists, but it was his first time being besieged by dozens of villagers flocking to express their thanks.
Suddenly, a peculiar old man caught Cheon Woo-jin’s eye.
As if his granddaughter had been among those held hostage by the assassins, he repeatedly expressed his gratitude, holding a rather worn hammer in one hand. Judging by the pattern of calluses on his hand, he seemed to be an old man whose trade was striking iron.
“Thank you, thank you truly. Had it not been for you, my granddaughter and I would have found it difficult to see tomorrow.”
Apparently, he had intended to enter the pavilion holding that hammer to rescue his granddaughter himself.
However, to say he was merely an ordinary blacksmith, the old man’s spirit was extraordinary.
Not to mention his sturdy frame. His neck and torso were as thick as giant trees, and his two pupils held a heaviness as if carrying the heaviest rock under heaven. His abundant white hair instead made him look like a formidable white tiger.
‘If he had gripped a sword instead of a hammer…’
At the very least, there would have been no one in the martial world who did not know this old man’s name.
It was when the Wudang Sword Immortal, perhaps also sensing this, was examining the old man closely. Suddenly, a Wudang martial artist approached and handed over the Crescent Moon Staff and Crane Feather Fan that Cheon Woo-jin had entrusted to them.
“Is that not the Crescent Moon Staff?”
The old man blurted out such words.
Cheon Woo-jin wore a rarely seen astonished expression.
“How did you know?”
“Is there a parent who fails to recognize their own child?”
Cheon Woo-jin looked back and forth between the Crescent Moon Staff and the old man.
Suddenly, he felt as if he could hear Master Black Elder’s voice.
– Woo-jin, there are many madmen in the world, but there are three who are exceptionally crazy. One is that bastard Dok-ra-su who is crazy about poison; another is that bastard White Flower Sword Immortal whose head went mad while pursuing worthless chivalry; and…
– It is not worth listening to. Woo-jin, close your ears.
– The last is that fellow called the White Night Craftsman who is crazy about iron. He is also the father of this Crescent Moon Staff.
It was a story he had heard when his two masters were bickering over which was superior, the Crane Feather Fan or the Crescent Moon Staff.
“Could Your Esteemed Craftsmanship’s moniker be the White Night Craftsman?”
“It is an empty reputation that I have long forgotten and lived without.”
Learning the old man’s identity, the Wudang Sword Immortal was startled out of his wits.
Who was the White Night Craftsman? Because he had vanished without a trace decades ago, he was a master among masters whom even the Wudang Sword Immortal had never met once and had only heard of through rumors.
In his entire life, he had not forged even ten swords, yet every single one was famous for being a treasured sword.
Currently, all of his treasured swords had disappeared and only two remained. One of them hung at the waist of Alliance Leader Bukli Cheon, while the other was preserved as the family heirloom of the renowned sword family, the Namgung Clan.
The Wudang Sword Immortal’s shock did not end there.
It was because of the words that followed from the villagers.
“The old man of the blacksmith shop was such an incredible person?”
“No wonder, no matter how much I used that pickaxe, it never wore down.”
“Come to think of it, when was the last time I sharpened my butcher knife…”
The Wudang Sword Immortal was appalled.
“No. You prepared chickens and tilled the soil with lumps of iron personally hammered by the White Night Craftsman…”
Had they sold just one hoe at an auction house frequented by martial artists, it would have been more than enough to purchase all the houses in this village.
Meanwhile, the White Night Craftsman’s words continued.
“In my later years, I hammered on only one fellow for decades. Since it was the first time in my life encountering such a stubborn and solid fellow, my own stubborn pride was stirred. That is none other than that fellow over there.”
What the White Night Craftsman pointed at was the Crescent Moon Staff.
Having obtained Ten-Thousand-Year Dark Iron, renowned as the hardest metal under heaven, it was the masterpiece of his life forged after pounding on it for over twenty years.
“How long was it after completing that fellow? As if ordained by heaven, a stubborn, pitch-black fellow who looked identical to that fellow appeared, so thinking its master had arrived, I readily handed it over. But why do you possess it?”
“That person is my master.”
The White Night Craftsman’s eyes turned round.
“That bastard was a figure of the Righteous Path?”
“It is not that, but I have two masters.”
“You have no ordinary backstory either.”
The White Night Craftsman had handed over the Crescent Moon Staff without even knowing the opponent was Black Elder. Originally, his temperament was like that. If someone was qualified in his eyes, even a neighborhood waiter could take his creation, and if not, he was a man who would refuse even if the Martial Alliance Leader or the Heavenly Demon Cult Leader came.
“Well, what would I do listening to another’s backstory? I am simply thankful. I am so thankful that I do not even know how to repay this sentiment. Because of all the things I achieved in my life, the most precious is neither any treasured sword nor the Crescent Moon Staff, but this child right here.”
The White Night Craftsman gently embraced his granddaughter who had returned after being taken hostage.
While Cheon Woo-jin nodded casually, the Wudang Sword Immortal and the Zhongnan Sect Leader sent fierce glances his way.
‘Whether it is a sword or a staff, ask him for anything!’
‘Had I known this in advance, I would have entered the pavilion first!’
However, the words that came out of Cheon Woo-jin’s mouth were completely different from the two men’s expectations.
“Once they learn that the Ghost Demon Squad has been wiped out, the Demonic Cult might visit this village again. For now, please come with us to the Alliance.”
At that, the two Sect Leaders instantly wore ashamed expressions. As elders of the martial world, it was something they should have looked after first, but having been distracted by meeting the legendary artisan White Night Craftsman, they had failed to consider it.
The White Night Craftsman agreed with Cheon Woo-jin’s suggestion, and the villagers also nodded in gratitude for the consideration.
Whenever some said they would stay behind, asking how they could abandon and leave this place where they had lived all their lives, the White Night Craftsman’s cantankerous roar erupted, and eventually all the villagers headed for the Alliance.
– Thank you.
At the sudden voice transmission, Cheon Woo-jin turned his head.
Surprisingly, the Wudang Sword Immortal was smiling.
He too was merely calculating and stubborn. He was not a person who forgot the grace of saving his life and the lives of his disciples.
* * *
The Martial Alliance’s Sichuan Temporary Headquarters.
By the authority of the Alliance Leader, temporary lodgings were provided for the people who came from the village. Due to the martial artists swarming in at the news that the renowned White Night Craftsman had arrived, the Alliance Leader had even issued a restraining order.
Retribution had been dealt to the Demonic Cult.
That too, not a simple assassin organization, but completely wiping out assassins fostered for decades for the Demonic Cult by an assassin of the Realm Beyond the Heavens.
What remained was waiting for the Demonic Cult’s reaction.
Chief Strategist Sima Hwi maintained wartime readiness, widely spreading the Alliance’s intelligence network and taking measures so martial artists could deploy at any time.
Key figures, including the leadership of the Alliance, were made to stand by at this temporary headquarters, and naturally, Cheon Woo-jin, a martial artist of the Realm Beyond the Heavens, was also included among those on standby.
Having completed this series of processes, the first thing the Chief Strategist did was convene a Grand Council of the Martial Alliance.
.
.
.
“I intend to grant a small authority to the Hidden Dragon Squad Leader.”
When the Chief Strategist spoke thus, everyone gathered in the room wore expressions as if they had known it would happen.
The Grand Council, which was scarcely held even once a year, had been convened multiple times recently. Surprisingly, all of them were matters related to the Heartless Wanderer.
By now, they were used to it. Whenever the Grand Council was summoned, they gathered while thinking that the Chief Strategist would grant something to the Heartless Wanderer again.
Usually, the Grand Council was attended by elders drafted as representatives from the Nine Great Sects and One Clan and the Five Great Clans. However, given the nature of the situation, there were many places where family heads and sect leaders participated directly.
Shaolin was the same. Master Beop-jin, former Abbot of Shaolin and the greatest elder of the contemporary righteous martial world, asked.
“What kind of small authority?”
When he opened his mouth, others, including the Sword King and the Sword Immortal, did not dare even think of chiming in.
At Master Beop-jin’s inquiry, the Chief Strategist answered with rare tension.
“Not confined to missions handed down by the Military Strategy Department, I wish to grant authority to carry out missions according to the Squad Leader’s personal judgment. Of course, once a mission begins, the Alliance will provide follow-up support according to procedure.”
Though spoken calmly, ripples arose across the room.
What the Chief Strategist spoke of was autonomous authority. It was an authority only held by hall master ranks and above in the Alliance, a formidable power that, depending on circumstances, could freely deploy the Martial Alliance’s capital and martial artists.
The Chief Strategist swiftly scanned the atmosphere in the hall. His tact and observation skills were second to none. Merely from their reactions, he grasped at a glance who opposed and who agreed.
What was unexpected was that Shaolin’s Master Beop-jin, Namgung’s Sword Maiden, and Mount Emei’s Abbess Jin-myeol, whom he had expected to harbor goodwill toward Cheon Woo-jin, exuded an atmosphere of opposition.
Sure enough, Master Beop-jin’s words followed.
“Must it truly be so?”
“I know that Great Master looks upon the Hidden Dragon Squad Leader fondly. If I may ask, what is the reason for your opposition?”
The Chief Strategist considered that if he persuaded Master Beop-jin, it would be half a success. In any case, the weight his words carried differed from others.
“Apart from looking upon him fondly, is that child not still young? His martial arts may not fall short compared to anyone here, but he is merely a youth of twenty.”
“However, his martial arts are excessively high. In fact, the missions the Hidden Dragon Squad Leader is already pulling off are missions of hall master rank and beyond. Honestly, even I sometimes find it overwhelming to keep up with the Squad Leader’s actions.”
“Well. Those are merely pretexts, and I think it is actually the Alliance Leader’s greed.”
Master Beop-jin suddenly looked toward Alliance Leader Bukli Cheon.
Having kept his mouth shut deliberately knowing this would happen, the Alliance Leader showed a flustered expression.
“Is that not so? The greed of wishing that child to become a martial artist who represents and symbolizes the Righteous Path. The desire for him to shed things like ranks or authority as soon as possible and become a true Grandmaster. Because he is the disciple of the martial artist you respected most, it is probably so.”
“…Ahem.”
Bukli Cheon let out a dry cough pointlessly. Because every single word was correct, there were no words of excuse to offer.
Master Beop-jin’s words continued.
“How could my thoughts differ from yours? However, he is still a young child. As elders, we should strive to present him with an even slightly more righteous path. Even though it is a far more difficult task than simply throwing trust and freedom at him and hoping he walks the correct path on his own.”
It was merely a difference in perspective.
Bukli Cheon, the leader of the righteous martial world, viewed Cheon Woo-jin as a martial artist, while Master Beop-jin, who had contemplated humanity and life for nearly a hundred years, saw Cheon Woo-jin merely as a young man.
With Master Beop-jin showing a firmer attitude than expected, the Chief Strategist and the Alliance Leader were put in an awkward spot. Fortunately, the Sword Maiden and Mount Emei’s Abbess Jin-myeol showed no particular reaction, but if even one or two people added weight to Master Beop-jin’s words, the meeting would end right there.
It was at that moment.
The Wudang Sword Immortal raised his hand slightly.
The Chief Strategist instinctively knew that the situation he wanted to avoid most had arrived. If Shaolin and Wudang, known as the Mount Tai and Northern Dipper of the martial world, unified their opinions, there was no more room.
“Chief Strategist, though I regret saying this, I hold an opposing view regarding this agenda.”
“…Is that so.”
As expected.
The Chief Strategist replied in a voice mixed with a sigh.
However, the words that followed astonished everyone.
“How about bestowing the rank of Hall Master altogether?”
“…Pardon?”
“Or perhaps Elder?”
“…?”
“Since the Alliance Leader probably has no intention of retiring yet, creating a Vice Alliance Leader position to… Ah, of course, this is a joke.”
Everyone was half out of their minds.
The Wudang Sword Immortal, whom they thought would oppose more violently than anyone, was taking his side blatantly, or rather to a somewhat excessive degree.
Even the Zhongnan Sect Leader who had gone on the mission together was nodding his head vigorously in agreement.
Aware of Cheon Woo-jin’s martial prowess, the Sword Maiden and the Dragon Head Chief narrowed their eyes and looked at the Wudang Sword Immortal.
‘Did he get beaten by the Heartless Wanderer?’
‘The Heartless Wanderer has finally disciplined that fellow.’
Surprisingly, the two people had come up with the exact same thought.