Chapter 199: Dao (道) and Thief (盜) (1)

‘Teleportation?’

I tilted my head slightly at the unfamiliar word, but soon realized it meant theft.

‘That bastard really won’t stop unless someone chops off his damn hand… No, before that—?’

Regardless of why that bastard was even here, there was something I had to check first.

“How did you get in here?”

I was sure we had closed the ‘gate’ after the Wudang bastards came in.

“Ah, well…”

So Cheon scratched the back of his head with a sheepish grin.

“It was pretty hard to find the entrance. So, I widened the gap using the Ten Thousand Forms of Taiji.”

“Ten Thousand Forms of Taiji…”

I frowned at that.

At best, that’s a technique worthy of a Master-level martial artist, an extraordinary art that narrowly avoids the clashes of peak-level experts.

I had no idea where that guy from the Hidden Shadow So Clan, whose techniques clearly leaned toward the Daoist school, even got his hands on such martial art.

“G-Give it back! That’s the treasure of our sect!”

Jeonmu screamed as he drew his sword in a frenzy.

I glanced sideways at So Cheon.

“You snatched it off that guy?”

“Yup. He was pretty clueless. I even scoped him out right in the open, and he didn’t notice a thing.”

“Y-You bastard?!”

Jeonmu’s face turned bright red.

I clicked my tongue at So Cheon’s silver tongue.

‘He’s got a real knack for provoking people.’

From swinging that Wudang’s Treasure Map in the middle of the fight to raising his voice loud enough to be clearly heard—it was all deliberate.

Then, a good idea popped into my head.

“Well, it’s the idiot’s fault for getting robbed.”

“H-How dare you!”

I gently waved the Wudang’s Treasure Map that So Cheon had handed me and said to him,

“Want it back? It’s not like there’s no way.”

“You wicked cult bastards! What filthy scheme are you up to this time?”

“You’re the ones who came here to annihilate the Dokgo Clan. Who are you calling wicked?”

My sneer made the expressions of the first-generation disciples flush slightly.

“Let’s raise the stakes of our bet. If you win, I’ll give this back.”

“What do you want?”

“I want the mantra that lets you control the power that’s been injected into your body.”

“W-What?!”

Jeonmu’s face hardened instantly, clearly not expecting me to ask for something like that.

“How dare you wager the sacred martial art of our sect on a bet?!”

“You can refuse. But then we’ll just keep this Wudang’s Treasure Map, won’t we?”

“……”

“Lose the Jade Heaven Silken Divine Sword, and then have this Wudang’s Treasure Map taken from you too… Think the Wudang Sect Leader will be pleased if you return empty-handed?”

Tremble—

Jeonmu’s lips quivered pale.

His face held not just anger, but fear and dread.

Eventually, he calmed himself and spoke.

“Fine. I accept the proposal.”

I raised one corner of my mouth.

“As expected of a Wudang disciple—bold and decisive.”

“I’ll just have to tear your limbs apart. That’s all.”

Jeonmu had gained confidence in victory from our earlier clash.

Once the sacred martial art of Wudang combined with that power, he believed there would be no equal.

He truly believed that.

Until the moment a jet-black stream of Qi Projection surged from my sword.

Patsutsu!

“Good. No going back now.”

“…U-Ultra Master Level?!”

Jeonmu couldn’t believe his eyes.

Just like during the fight with Demonic Sword Flower.

A kid barely in his early twenties was releasing Qi Projection straight away without any preparation.

And judging from the level of completeness and force—it was clear.

This opponent was even stronger than Demonic Sword Flower!

“W-What the hell is the Demonic Cult feeding its monsters…?”

“Getting flustered by a variable like this? Have you forgotten Myeonmyeonbujeol?”

In Wudang, Myeonmyeonbujeol referred not only to the unbroken flow of qi, but also to an unwavering, immovable heart.

At my words, Jeonmu snapped back to his senses, collected himself, and began to draw in power.

Crunch! Crack!

Watching my opponent regain his composure in an instant, I clicked my tongue faintly.

‘…Shouldn’t have warned him?’

If it were someone from our cult, a bit of prodding would’ve sent them into a blind rage.

Even corrupted, Wudang was still Wudang, it seemed.

“I’ll end this in a single strike!”

Jeonmu leapt into the air, and his sword drew a circular arc.

That arc took the shape of a comma-shaped jewel, a symbol of yin and yang, and began stirring up a powerful windstorm.

Realizing what that phenomenon signified, I couldn’t help but show surprise.

‘The Wisdom Sword!?’

Wudang Sect’s ultimate technique!

The Wisdom Sword, drawn from the Heavenly Formula of Taiji, was truly among the finest in the world.

Even when compared to the transcendent secret arts of the Six Great Demonic Clans, it was not lacking in any way.

“Ooh! As expected of Senior Brother Jeonmu!”

“What a divine presence—truly the strongest among the first-generation disciples!”

The other first-generation disciples shouted in awe at Jeonmu’s display.

The immense energy gathered around the Taiji formed itself into a massive blade.

While many assumed the Wisdom Sword was a pinnacle of swordplay that countered other blades—

In truth, it was a one-hit kill technique that overwhelmed and destroyed with sheer destructive power, no matter what the opponent’s weapon was.

“Haaaah!”

–Taiji Wisdom Sword: Great River Heavenly Net

With momentum like a raging blue tide, Jeonmu’s sword flew straight for my head.

I brought forth the Ten Heavenly Record Demonic Sword, raising the stakes of this duel for the first time in a while.

‘Let’s see whether the sword of a True Sage or the sword of the Heavenly Demon prevails.’

Sensing from my stance that I was about to counterattack, Jeonmu burst into laughter.

“You fool! You dare pit strength against the Wisdom Sword of Taiji?!”

“……”

“The Wisdom Sword is a great river that devours all flows! Be consumed by your own power and die!”

I sneered at the overconfident Jeonmu.

“You dare speak of certain victory… with your level?”

A massive spiral vortex gathered around my sword.

There was no comma-shaped symbol, but the sight resembled when Jeonmu had first deployed the Taiji Wisdom Sword.

– Heavenly Branch Return Suppression

The river that sought to devour everything clashed with the typhoon.

And naturally, the victor was—

The black typhoon that swallowed the river whole and surged forward.

“…!?”

Jeonmu, for a brief moment, couldn’t accept that his Wisdom Sword had instead been devoured by his opponent.

But even if he couldn’t accept it, the outcome and the price were carved clearly and brutally into Jeonmu’s body.

“Graaaaah!”

The cost of putting everything into a single strike was that his entire body was shredded apart in return.

Thud!

Jeonmu, who had been floating in the air, fell helplessly and crashed into the ground.

“S-Senior Martial Brother Jeonmu!”

“Protect Senior Martial Brother!”

The first-generation disciples all simultaneously drew their swords and rushed toward Jeonmu.

“Phew!”

I withdrew my technique and lightly regulated my breathing.

‘I’ve thought this for a while, but this Ten Heavenly Record Demonic Sword… From the mantra alone, it feels like it carries traces of orthodox martial arts.’

So Cheon clapped his hands and praised my divine might.

“Whoa, our Myeong. Ridiculously strong, as expected.”

“…If you don’t want to get beaten later, start preparing an excuse for why you’re even here.”

“……”

So Cheon went silent right away.

Leaving him behind, I slowly walked toward them with my sword in hand.

Since I’d won the bet, it was time to collect the reward.

“Y-You demonic bastard!”

“How dare you lay a hand on Senior Martial Brother Jeonmu!”

“Hmph. Are you all planning to break the promise your sahyung made?”

Far from paying the price, the first-generation disciples lashed out with renewed hostility.

“There’s no need to keep a promise made with a lowly Demonic Cultist!”

“Jeonryu! Support Senior Martial Brother Jeonmu! We’re getting out of here!”

“…You guys call yourselves orthodox?”

Perhaps being rebuked by someone from the Demonic Cult was shameful—their cheeks flushed a little.

“We threw away our pride as an orthodox sect when we swore to restore our school.”

“Retreat!”

As soon as one of them carried Jeonmu on his back, the first-generation disciples all simultaneously dashed toward the outer wall using their light footwork.

I clicked my tongue at the sight of them and sneered.

“Idiots.”

Chchchchch!

The moment I finished speaking—

The once ordinary walls of the Dokgo Clan suddenly rose dozens of feet high, blocking the Wudang disciples’ escape.

“W-What the hell is this?!”

Seeing a spectacle that blatantly ignored the laws of physics, one of the quicker-witted among them shouted,

“It’s a formation!”

We hadn’t just been waiting idly after abducting the members of the Dokgo Clan.

I had secretly released Jegal Eun, who had been pretending to be subdued among the later-generation clan members, and had her install the Illusion Labyrinth Array throughout the entire estate.

Though simplified, without the key, it couldn’t be entered or exited easily—even I had to admit it was an impressive special formation unique to the Jegal Clan.

‘And that bastard tore through it with brute force…’

I glanced back at So Cheon, who was still yawning.

He’d claimed he found a gap using a technique, but in truth, it was barely different from tearing through it with force.

If not for that innate compulsion to steal, he honestly had the talent to make even the Heavenly Demon Cult Leader cry tears of joy and name him heir…

‘But that one flaw is way too strong. Poor So Clan.’

Clicking my tongue again, I turned my eyes back to the front.

“Use Qi Projection and smash it open!”

“You think I’ll just sit here and let that happen?”

I casually gestured to the Black Heaven Corps.

Until now, they’d been like sacks of grain sitting uselessly in the background—but sensing this was their moment, they stepped forward.

“Kekeke, never thought I’d live to slice up Wudang bastards in my life!”

“Remember what the Military Advisor said! One or two limbs is fine, but make sure they’re still breathing!”

“This is your first mission as proud members of the Black Heaven Corps, so don’t mess it up, you bastards!”

It was the same situation as when Jeon Seok had gotten taken down by Baek Sang-ah.

The only difference this time was that their retreat path had been completely cut off.

‘If they had the resolve to fight to the death, they might have a chance…’

But a desperate final stand could only exist if the will to fight was there.

For those who had tried to flee only to be blocked, there was no such thing as a final stand.

“Attack!”

“Uwoooooh!”

With that, fifty first-rate martial artists charged toward the five dumbfounded Wudang first-generation disciples.

About an hour later.

Just as I expected, the fight ended with a whimper.

“Military Advisor, all targets have been subdued!”

“Well done.”

A large man, originally from the Green Forest and now assigned to the Black Heaven Corps, came up and reported to me.

“Bind them all and escort them back to the main cult. Since they have no intention of keeping their promise, we’ll just have to make them keep it by force.”

“As you command!”

Thrilled that they, with no background or family name, had taken down Wudang experts, the Black Faction martial artists of the Demonic Cult cheerfully hoisted the prisoners onto their backs.

“Alright, six first-generation disciples are captured… Sword Supreme Gwan Hyun, what will you do now?”

Would he continue the bloodshed, or would he call in reinforcements from outside?

That’s what I was pondering when—

“Hm?”

BOOOOOM!

One part of the Dokgo Clan’s wall exploded, and the formation that Jegal Eun had installed began to tremble violently.

‘This presence… no way?’

A clear, refreshing aura surged in—an unmistakable presence of an absolute master.

The power I felt from this aura was in no way inferior to that of Song Yangja of the Azure Star Sect, whom I had encountered in the Thunder Prison of Iron Steed Prison Cave.

At this point, there could be only one possible variable.

“An intruder!”

“Form ranks! Protect the Military Advisor!”

Surprisingly, the Black Faction warriors of the Demonic Cult didn’t panic—instead, they quickly and collectively moved to respond.

Their reaction was quite commendable, but…

“Fall back immediately, you idiots!”

“…Huh?”

The moment the subordinates blinked and looked back at me—

Flash!

A blue flash of sword light burst forward, and in an instant, the heads of over a dozen elite martial artists were severed!

“Uwaaagh?! W-What the hell?!”

I shouted at the ones frozen like statues.

“It’s a Flower Realm-level expert! You’re no match—fall back!”

In this situation, there could be only one Flower Realm-level expert appearing.

Taiji Sword Sovereign, Sword Supreme Gwan Hyun!

With a faint blue sword qi wrapped around him, a half-gray-haired middle-aged man stepped into the scene and glared straight at me.

“My, my. Seems our disciples have caused quite the disturbance.”

“……”

“I’ve seen your face before. You were called… Jin Myeong, was it?”

“…Sword Supreme Gwan Hyun.”

This was essentially checkmate. I had no true high-level allies nearby.

Yet, even in this situation, I couldn’t suppress the grin tugging at the corners of my lips.

Cheon Yura, the enemy of the Cult Leader.

Perhaps in this moment, I might be able to tie off the karma of a previous life.

Gwan Hyun spoke.

“I don’t know whether you’re aligned with the Daoist Lord or the Buddhist Sovereign, but you’d best give up the idea of walking away alive after touching disciples of our sect.”

It seemed he hadn’t witnessed me using demonic arts on Jeonmu earlier.

Gwan Hyun chuckled darkly.

“Today’s quite the fortunate day. I get to kill not just a Black Faction lackey, but also the disciple of the Dao Zun.”

By Black Faction lackey, he meant me.

But… who did he mean by Dao Zun’s disciple? Wait, huh?

“…Who did you just say?”

My gaze followed Gwan Hyun’s line of sight.

And at the end of that gaze—

So Cheon was turning his head away, drenched in cold sweat.

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