Chapter 397: The Greatest Guest Under Heaven (2)

“Isn’t that the Thousand Transformations Maze Formation?”

The Thousand Transformations Maze Formation (千換迷路陣) was a formation that concealed its paths by shifting a thousand times.

Jo Wonmook marveled as he saw it installed at the cave entrance.

“How do you know of that formation?”

Yong Hwarin smiled faintly.

“I happened to learn about it by chance.”

“By chance?”

“Yes.”

“My junior always says he learns things by chance, grows stronger by chance— I truly wish to know what that ‘chance’ of yours really means.”

After finishing his meditation, Jo Wonmook had once again taken on the dignified presence of the Greatest Sword Under Heaven he had displayed on Jungeuk Peak.

His energy surrounded his entire body like an immovable wall, or perhaps a towering mountain.

They stood upon a tree a hundred jang away from the cave, observing the surroundings.

“The fact that they still haven’t come out of the cave means they’re fighting to the death.”

“That must be it.”

“But once they discover each other’s true identities, they’ll stop fighting.”

“To prevent that, someone else will take my place.”

“The Third Young Master of the Heavenly Demon Sect?”

“That’s right.”

“Hahaha! Then they’ll never escape that death trap. That fellow didn’t seem ordinary, and it appears I wasn’t wrong— he’s quite the remarkable one.”

Yong Hwarin smiled at his words.

‘He’s more than remarkable— he surpasses me.’

“I truly wonder what kind of ending awaits them.”

Jo Wonmook’s eyes gleamed with curiosity as he gazed toward the cave entrance.

In truth, Yong Hwarin was more worried about Mo Biyoung than anyone else.

If something were to happen to Mo Baek, he would carry that guilt toward her forever.

Whether she understood his heart or not, Mo Biyoung gently held his hand.

Feeling her warmth, Yong Hwarin tightened his grip in return.

As the two quietly steadied their breathing, Jo Wonmook spoke up.

“The formation at the entrance is weakening. Someone inside is breaking it.”

Yong Hwarin smiled.

“No, I designed it so that the Heavenly Transformation Maze Formation would naturally weaken after about two hours.”

At that, Yu Maelim tilted her head slightly.

“Really? Why would you do that? You could’ve just sealed it completely— they’d all be dead by now.”

Yong Hwarin shook his head.

“That would be the lesser path. Once they step outside and recognize each other, they’ll harbor grudges. Their comrades will have died, and the hatred toward those responsible will run deep.”

Yu Maelim quickly understood his intent.

“Ah— so you intend for that hatred to fester and turn them against one another.”

Yong Hwarin nodded.

“In truth, the two factions won’t clash outright. But at the very least, they’ll never ally. The heirs who fought are all prideful by nature— that alone will weaken the Orthodox Murim greatly. If they don’t unite, Sam Machun will likely exclude the Heavenly Demon Sect altogether.”

“Wow!”

Yu Maelim was genuinely impressed. To devise such a complex web of outcomes from a single plan— Yong Hwarin’s mind was truly extraordinary.

“Young Master Yong, you’re truly incredible. I’m in awe.”

She found it terrifying how he could not only crush his enemies but also sow discord among them.

“If one of the heirs were to die, their factions might even go to war. That would be the ideal result… though there’s no way to predict it.”

Jo Wonmook, who had always seen the world through the lens of martial arts alone, could not help but be astonished.

To think that this young man before him possessed such insight— foresight sharp enough to glimpse the tides of the future itself.

‘I’d grown tired of life long ago… but watching this lad makes it all interesting again.’

In truth, the Three Externals of the Sword had created the Sword Debate to bring excitement back into their lives— for only by clashing blades could they feel truly alive.

‘But this… this is far more entertaining than a sword duel.’

Jo Wonmook grinned broadly at Yong Hwarin.

Yu Maelim was taken aback by the sight.

‘I’ve never seen the Great Hero look so amused before. Well, I suppose it’s no wonder— even my heart is racing watching this unfold.’

Yong Hwarin truly was a fascinating man to observe.

‘The Greatest Sword Under Heaven has always been a man who loses himself in whatever amuses him. That same nature made him stay as a guest in the Hundred Swords Sect for years— it was then he grew close to Master Guigok.’

A faint unease stirred within Yu Maelim. She had the sudden feeling that Jo Wonmook might soon leave her side.

“So, Brother So,”

The moment Jo Wonmook addressed Yong Hwarin so familiarly, Yu Maelim’s heart dropped.

Never before had she heard the Great Hero call anyone with such warmth.

“Yes?”

Yong Hwarin looked up, startled by the affectionate tone.

“Do you have something to say?”

A mischievous look flashed across Jo Wonmook’s face, making him wary.

“I hear the Heavenly Central Sect is recruiting guests these days?”

“That’s right. Our clan has been inviting guests to help our disciples refine their skills.”

“Is that so? Then I’d like to become a guest of the Heavenly Central Sect. What do you think, Brother So?”

“Eh?”

I was so startled that I almost fell off the tree.

With the four of us barely standing on the precarious branches, Jo Wonmook’s words dropped with the weight of a thousand catties.

“What kind of joke is that, Sir?”

I thought he was merely jesting and tried to brush it off with a laugh.

There was no way I could imagine Jo Wonmook serving as a guest of a single sect.

He was a martial artist who lacked nothing even as a sovereign of his own faction—

a supreme expert capable of seizing the rule of any region should he so wish.

For such a man to declare he would join as a guest of a small sect like ours—

it would have been stranger not to be shocked.

Even to me, who prided myself on open-mindedness, his words were far too extraordinary.

Yet the faint smile on Jo Wonmook’s face clearly showed he was not joking.

“Are you serious?”

“Why? Am I unqualified for the position?”

“Of course not! If you were to join us as a guest, it would be my greatest honor.”

“Wouldn’t it?”

“Indeed.”

“Then it’s settled. From now on, I shall be a guest of the Heavenly Central Sect.”

“Hahaha…”

Though joy welled up inside me, I couldn’t help but laugh in disbelief at the absurdity of welcoming one of the Three Externals of the Sword as a guest.

“Won’t you stay with the Hundred Swords Sect?”

Yu Maelim spoke with a sulky look, and only then did Mo Biyoung realize that what I said earlier had been true.

‘So Lady Yu truly loves Jo Wonmook… That expression—

it’s the look of a woman who’s just been heartbroken.’

“I’m tired of the Hundred Swords Sect. I’ve learned all I can from their medicine and arts.”

“Tch! Then I’ll also go to the Heavenly Central Sect as a guest!”

“Do as you please.”

When Jo Wonmook replied indifferently, Yu Maelim bit her lip in frustration.

And thus, the Heavenly Central Sect came to host an unprecedented master as its guest.

At that moment, the pile of rocks that had been set to maintain the formation at the cave entrance burst apart.

Kwaang!

A flood of people poured out from within.

First came the Heavenly Demon Sect warriors, followed immediately by the Blood Demon Castle martial artists.

Despite their exhaustion, they still raised their blades at one another, brimming with killing intent.

After fighting inside the cave for two full hours, their murderous aura had reached its peak.

The darkness still made it difficult to distinguish friend from foe, so they simply glared and aimed their weapons, unwilling to lower them.

Their appearances were wretched—

bodies drenched in blood, limbs broken and torn, hardly a single man left uninjured.

Of the Twelve Masters of the Absolute Peak Swords of the Heavenly Demon Sect, only two remained alive.

As for the Dark Heart Heaven Guard of Yang Gwak, only their leader survived—

a complete annihilation in all but name.

Ok Girin, Great Elder Han Domeong, Eum Sajeok, and Yang Gwak were relatively unscathed, but that was only thanks to the sacrifice of the Twelve Masters of the Absolute Peak Swords and the Dark Heart Heaven Guard.

One of Hua Yingwei’s men had even lost an arm— proof of how desperate their struggle must have been to protect Ok Girin.

Their opponents, the Blood Demon Castle warriors, had fared no better— practically wiped out.

Of the Homa Cheondan, only two remained, both grievously wounded and barely clinging to life.

Moonwoo had suffered severe injuries, supported by Jo Cheonsaeng, while Mo Baek was so drained he had to use his sword as a cane to stay upright.

Among the Three Kings Guard, First Rank was in the best condition, but even he had suffered deep internal injuries, unable to fight again soon.

Still, all the main figures had survived and emerged from the cave.

I felt slightly dissatisfied that I hadn’t been able to finish off the key figures,

but the fact that I’d wiped out each faction’s elite was enough consolation.

“If we attack now, we can kill them all,” said Jo Wonmook, looking down from the tree.

I shook my head lightly.

“Not yet.”

Jo Wonmook couldn’t fathom what I was planning, so he simply continued to observe in silence.

While inside the cave, the formation had suppressed both sides’ inner strength.

Now, stepping outside, they regained their full energy— and immediately recognized each other.

“What the—!”

The two factions froze mid-stance, shock flooding their faces.

“The Heavenly Demon Sect?!”

“My heavens! Why was the Blood Demon Castle here?!”

They stood in disbelief, staring blankly at one another for a long moment.

Then Ok Girin burst out furiously.

“Yong Hwarin completely toyed with us! He trapped us together in one cave and made us slaughter each other! To think we fought so desperately without realizing it!”

Moonwoo could only laugh bitterly.

They had set out to hunt Yong Hwarin— yet had fallen neatly into his trap instead.

Two of the Three Kings Guard sent by the Blood Demon Castle were dead,

and the remaining one gravely wounded.

Most of their subordinates were gone.

If there hadn’t been others watching him, Master of the Demonic Path (Masa) might have shed tears of sheer humiliation.

Still, he was relieved that he had secretly sent Hong Ahyul and Dong Oh away before entering the cave.

Ok Girin had agreed— after all, he feared that his own Junior Sister might attack him in vengeance for his previous attempt to violate her.

Of course, that too had been a scheme instigated by Masa to provoke him.

Moonwoo was the first to speak.

“To think we remained unaware until it came to this… Let’s admit that both sides share the blame.”

Ok Girin couldn’t respond— because he too felt utterly foolish.

“For now, let’s set aside who’s at fault. Yong Hwarin may attack again, so we should cooperate while we can.”

Thus, even after fighting so savagely in the cave, the two factions formed an alliance the moment they realized who their true enemy was.

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