Chapter 44: The War of Righteousness and Evil

From the time records exist.

That is, from the time called history, three types of forces have existed in the Jianghu Murim, keeping each other in check.

Those who sought to achieve immortality by delving into the way of the afterlife and those who polished their martial arts to practice righteousness and goodness gathered under the banner of chivalry.

These are the ones who are now called the righteous faction in the current Murim and constitute the Murim Alliance.

There are those who are at the opposite pole.

Those who sought to become a Demonic Immortal by delving into the way of going against the heavens, and those who explored the root of evil inherent in the hearts of all humans.

So-called, those who pursue the way of the inhuman.

They gathered, believing that the demonic was the essence of humanity, and these are the forces called the Demonic Cult or the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

As is usually the case with all things in the world, the space between the two extremes was not an empty void.

Those who were situated in the gap between the righteous and the demonic were called the heretic.

Usually called the heretic faction, it is a group of people who pursue the way of the present world, with names like profit, efficiency, and desire.

In reality, since the righteous and the demonic are at opposite poles, a clear distinction can be said to be possible, but the righteous and the heretic sometimes found themselves at a strange junction.

There were many cases where a clear distinction was difficult.

It was because there were cases where profit and efficiency were in line with righteousness or goodness.

This would be the reason why a force that maintains an identity of being between the righteous and the heretic also exists.

Anyway…….

Those who defined themselves as the heretic faction also created a group that could rival the Nine Sects One Gang and the Murim Alliance for the preservation and safety of their own forces, and this was called the Eleven Heavens of the Heretic Way and the Heretic Alliance.

The headquarters of the Heretic Alliance, located in Changsha County, the capital of Hunan Province, south of the Yangtze River.

An unexpected guest had arrived there.

“Speak.”

The cool voice of the Heretic Alliance’s Lord, the Unrivaled Force Martial Emperor Wiji Han, echoed through the Alliance Lord’s Hall.

Befitting a being who reigned at the pinnacle of the huge organization that was the Heretic Alliance, the dignity contained in his voice was like a stern command.

In front of such Wiji Han, a figure with a unique silver-gray hair color bowed his head.

“I know that you are in need of a spiritual medicine of extreme Yin.”

Perhaps having thoroughly investigated Wiji Han’s character, the figure cut all the extra talk and went straight to the point.

However, it was somewhat insufficient to attract the attention of the Unrivaled Force Martial Emperor.

“Did I look so pathetic that I couldn’t obtain a single spiritual medicine?”

Even at the languid question of the absolute ruler, the silver-gray figure did not lose his composure.

“Wouldn’t a Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Snow Ginseng be different?”

“…….”

At the words ‘Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Snow Ginseng,’ the languor disappeared from the Unrivaled Force Martial Emperor’s face.

The figure’s words were not wrong.

Even as the supreme ruler of the heretic faction, he could not obtain a Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Snow Ginseng.

It is because it is not something that can be reached with power and wealth, but a realm of heaven’s blessings.

“Any ordinary spiritual medicine would be useless by now.”

The silver-gray figure, thinking he had seized the initiative, added a word.

“You know that much?”

“I happened to find out.”

“Interesting.”

As if an interesting matter had come up for the first time in a long while, a sense of life appeared on the Unrivaled Force Martial Emperor’s face.

However, it would not necessarily mean joy.

“Are you, threatening this seat?”

Jjeojeok.

“Keuk.”

The vitality of anger soon manifested a formidable momentum in the middle of the Alliance Lord’s Hall.

The floor of the Alliance Lord’s Hall was cracking due to the force pressing down on the silver-gray figure.

Although he let out a groan, the silver-gray figure, who was enduring it, was also proving that he himself was no ordinary person.

“……How dare I. I am proposing a deal.”

As soon as his words ended, Wiji Han’s ferocious energy disappeared as if washed away.

“A deal, you say……”

Although the anger was gone, the interest still remained.

It could be seen that the silver-gray figure’s gamble had succeeded.

“Speak.”

As the Unrivaled Force Martial Emperor Wiji Han’s permission was granted, the silver-gray figure laid out the information in detail.

The information that the delegation from the Northern Sea Ice Palace had entered the Central Plains and that they possessed that very Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Snow Ginseng.

And even the route they would pass through to head to the Murim Alliance.

As if waiting for this moment, neatly organized information flowed eloquently from the silver-gray figure’s mouth.

“The details are here.”

Not satisfied with that, he placed a letter with the detailed content in front of him.

It meant it was a meticulously prepared scheme.

As the Unrivaled Force Martial Emperor Wiji Han extended his hand, the letter flew like a butterfly and landed in his hand.

Although it was just a light piece of paper, it had crossed a distance of three jangs, so it was truly a formidable psychokinesis.

Not lacking for the position of the Heretic Alliance Lord, Wiji Han was a supreme master who handled intent.

“What is the deal?”

As Wiji Han showed curiosity, the silver-gray figure bowed his head as if in a salute and said.

“Please execute the Ice Palace delegation.”

At those words, Wiji Han’s brow moved.

It was a sign of displeasure.

“Do you intend to make this seat a madman who intervenes in other people’s family feuds?”

However, both Wiji Han himself and the silver-gray figure knew that Wiji Han was showing interest.

Breaking the brief silence, the Unrivaled Force Martial Emperor opened his mouth again.

“Alright. Since you said it was a deal, what will you give this seat?”

“The Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Snow Ginseng. And the Ice Palace will not hold the Heretic Alliance responsible for this matter at all.”

Wiji Han, who heard the answer, laughed in vain.

“In the end, you want this seat to become a robber.”

What came after the laughter was a terrible anger.

“Do you, take this seat for a fool?”

For a moment, a tense killing intent filled the Alliance Lord’s Hall again.

“You must save your son’s life, mustn’t you?”

At the silver-gray figure’s single sentence, silence and stillness once again filled the Alliance Lord’s Hall.

“Tsk.”

What broke the silence was not the dignity of the Alliance Lord, but the lament of a father.

“Withdraw.”

“Yes.”

As Wiji Han commanded with a somewhat weary voice, the silver-gray figure turned without any lingering attachment and left the Alliance Lord’s Hall.

It was because he knew that the deal had already been struck.

His face was filled with the characteristic satisfaction of one who had won a gamble.

“Hoo-”

The sigh of an old man filled the Alliance Lord’s Hall, where the dignity had disappeared.

“I will step forward.”

The person who stepped forward to relieve Wiji Han’s worries was the chief strategist of the Heretic Alliance, the Heavenly Brain Sima Yi.

If he, a man of wisdom comparable to the Murim Alliance’s Singija, were to step forward, this matter would be resolved cleanly without any noise.

But the Unrivaled Force Martial Emperor Wiji Han shook his head.

“This is my personal matter, so it is right for me to step forward myself.”

Saying so, Wiji Han’s figure disappeared from the Alliance Lord’s Hall in an instant.

Sima Yi’s eyes captured the sight of Wiji Han’s figure kicking the air and leaving the Heretic Alliance’s headquarters far behind.

Although it was an air-stepping technique that had reached a divine level, his heart was not at ease watching that sight.

“Hoo-”

Only the sigh of the Heretic Alliance’s chief strategist remained in the Alliance Lord’s Hall.

* * *

“Is this the right way?”

Bukgung Seol-a’s personal guard, Han Baek-rim, asked me.

A blunt impression and a blunt way of speaking, but I could tell he held a favorable view of me.

It was thanks to the discerning eye I had honed during my days in the Beggar’s Gang.

“We are going the right way, so do not worry.”

Although I had lied about being an emissary of the Murim Alliance, the part about being a guide was not a lie.

During my time as Myeong-gae, I had traveled the Jianghu until my feet were sweaty, and finding hidden places was my daily routine.

It was because I was confident that it would not be easy to find a person better than me when it comes to finding a way in the Central Plains.

But I also know well that this peace cannot last forever.

It would not be referring to the heinous incident that will come in the immediate future.

“Hey, let’s stop for a bit.”

It was because the people who cause the third most disputes in the Jianghu Murim had appeared in person.

They were the masters of the mountain passes, the Green Forest bandits.

Although they were called Green Forest bandits, they did not belong to the Seventy-Two Fortresses of the Green Forest, one of the Eleven Heavens of the Heretic Way, so their appearance was extremely shabby.

In reality, it was a matter of course.

If they were Green Forest bandits who could properly gauge their opponent’s strength, they would not have blocked our way.

“Ahem.”

When traveling the Jianghu in a group, encountering Green Forest bandits is inevitable, but it is also true that facing them now, in my position as a self-proclaimed guide, is embarrassing.

There was no problem; it was because I had recognized that they were the kind of people who would tuck their tails between their legs if I just showed them some Sword Qi.

“You little brat, where do you think you’re clearing your throat when the adults are calling? Do you want to die?”

Hmm.

It seems it would be alright to teach them a little lesson.

“I will step forward.”

As I was about to step forward.

“Stay here. I will do it.”

Han Baek-rim stopped me.

What was etched on his face was displeasure.

If I were to guess the reason, it might be because the gazes of some of the Green Forest bandits were blatantly scanning Bukgung Seol-a.

Since her dignity was not something that could be hidden by a mere veil, it was inevitable.

In fact, the reason why the low-level Green Forest bandits, who usually don’t bother groups, blocked our way might have been because of her.

Reading his heart, I couldn’t bring myself to stop Han Baek-rim.

It was unfortunate for those Green Forest bandits.

“……Alright.”

“Thank you.”

As Han Baek-rim stepped forward alone.

“What is it? You brat, do you want to die…….”

Thud.

The Green Forest bandit who was about to threaten him left his unfinished words as his last.

It was because the ice crystal finger technique that Han Baek-rim had shot had instantly pierced the Green Forest bandit’s forehead.

I think it might be the Shadowless Finger, a supreme art of the Ice Palace that I had only heard about through rumors.

‘This is the martial art of the Ice Palace.’

It was a stealthy and deadly technique that even I would have been helpless against if I had not known about it and prepared for it beforehand.

I once again reminded myself that I should never let my guard down when facing a master of the State of Harmony or higher.

Sreung.

“Come at me.”

Han Baek-rim, who had made a grand opening, drew his sword, and on it, a cold Sword Qi like the cold wave of the Northern Sea was shimmering.

Only then did the Green Forest bandits grasp the situation.

“Boss, he’s a master.”

“Run for it.”

The Green Forest bandit leader ordered his subordinates without a moment’s hesitation.

As if their survival instinct was certain, even though one of them had died, they did not care about revenge and scattered in all directions.

But as if not wanting the situation to end, Han Baek-rim rushed towards the back of the one who seemed to be the leader.

Clang!

My sword blocked Han Baek-rim’s sword.

Seeing the considerable repulsive force, I could tell that he was a martial artist with expertise in the sword as well.

Another fact I could tell was that this time, Han Baek-rim had deliberately not withdrawn his attack and had clashed swords with me.

I guess it was because he was also curious about my strength.

“Why did you block me?”

It was a question as cold as his impression.

“Wouldn’t it be better to refrain from useless killing towards those who are running away?”

“Useless……”

After mumbling for a moment.

Charak.

Han Baek-rim sheathed his sword at his waist.

“If that is the culture of the Central Plains, I will respect it.”

In that short time, all the Green Forest bandits had hidden themselves, so only then did I also sheathe my sword.

But Han Baek-rim’s words were not over.

“In the Northern Sea, you can’t survive with such a soft mindset.”

Is it really only so in the Northern Sea?

Han Baek-rim’s gaze seemed to be asking me that.

“Doesn’t holding a sword mean that you will kill someone someday, and that you will be killed by someone someday?”

I agree, but it is also something I cannot agree with.

“Isn’t it because I held a sword and trained diligently that I can overcome a situation of death with my own strength?”

That was the purpose of my regression.

“Isn’t it because I held a sword and grew stronger that I can save those who are in danger of dying, and also choose not to engage in useless killing?”

That is why I am aiming for the strongest under the heavens.

But if values could be changed with just a few words of conversation, why would there be disputes in the world?

“Do you think death is far away?”

“…….

Han Baek-rim asked, and I did not answer.

I had no desire to argue uselessly with him, but I also knew myself that there was a reason why I couldn’t deny those words.

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