The Legend of the Northern Blade - Chapter 183: The Butterfly Effect (2)
Chapter 183: The Butterfly Effect (2)
Jin Mu-Won rose to his feet and turned to leave the audience stands.
Ha Jin-Wol, who had been engrossed in the fight between Myeong Ryu-San and Nam Mu-Seok, shot him a quizzical look. “Hey, are you really going to leave without seeing the result? It was just getting interesting.”
“Ryu-San will win.”
“How do you know that?”
“I just do.”
Ha Jin-Wol instantly understood. “I see. You’ve trained him that well, huh?”
“Are you still going to keep watching?”
“Watching people beat each other to a pulp is one of the world’s best entertainments. I’m also curious to see if the outcome is as you’ve predicted.”
“Then take your time and enjoy the show.”
“Okay!”
Jin Mu-Won left Ha Jin-Wol behind and went on his way.
He could feel the raw heat from the stages set up for the duels on the training ground and feel the cheers of the ecstatic onlookers and the cries and laughter of the martial artists on his skin. They were so engrossed in the fights that almost no one noticed him passing by. Some people were even swinging their arms and shouting as if they were the ones fighting on stage.
He suddenly had a frightening realization.
So this is how Heaven’s Summit draws in outsiders and expands its influence.
Any martial artist would be proud to become a member of Heaven’s Summit after receiving the cheers and admiration of such a large crowd. They would willingly risk their lives for its sake.
He glanced at the inner compound of Heaven’s Summit. Surrounded by high walls, the ares was not visible from the outside, and it occupied only a tenth of Heaven’s Summit’s total area. Nevertheless, that tiny fraction was the home of those responsible for planning and managing the entire organization.
Security around the inner compound was extremely tight. Martial artists stood guard not only at the main gate, but also along the walls, ensuring that not even an ant could infiltrate. Notably, the strongest experts were stationed at the main gate to serve as a powerful deterent to all intruders.
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CREAK!
Suddenly, the gate to the inner compound opened.
Jin Mu-Won’s eyes lit up. Hmm? Aren’t they…?
He recognized the people coming through the gate. The man with the massive dragon scale dao on his back was Yong Mu-Sung, and the one walking quietly beside him was Gwan Dae-Seung, the Chief Steward of Heaven’s Summit.
Yong Mu-Sung’s face flushed red as he glared at Gwan Dae-Seung, but the man paid him no mind and strode on calmly, walking past Yong Mu-Sung and disappearing from sight.
BOOM!
Yong Mu-Sung punched a large nearby rock so hard that it seemed as if it would shatter. Fresh blood flowed from his fist, but he barely seemed to feel the pain.
“Shit!” he cursed furiously.
He took several deep breaths to calm down, then raised his head.
Jin Mu-Won was looking at him.
Yong Mu-Sung shook his head as he walked over. “Tsk! You saw that?”
“I just happened to pass by.”
“Damn! I didn’t want anyone to see me like that.”
“Do you know the Chief Steward?”
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“Well, to some extent…” Yong Mu-Sung looked away, clearly not wanting to talk about it.
Seeing his attitude, Jin Mu-Won did not press the matter.
The two walked in silence for a while.
Suddenly, Yong Mu-Sung said, “In the history of the jianghu, I doubt anyone has ever built such a formidable reputation in such a short time as you.”
“……”
“Gaining fame in the jianghu means that you have killed many people. In other words, your fame is proportional to the amount of blood on your hands.”
Jin Mu-Won looked at Yong Mu-Sung silently. He could not understand why the mercernary was saying such things at this point.
Yong Mu-Sung continued, “You reek of blood. No, the smell of blood never leaves you. Lured by that smell, the beasts hiding in the darkness will come for you.”
“Beasts?”
“Be careful, especially of the Chief Steward.”
“The Chief Steward? Are you talking about Gwan Dae-Seung?”
“Yes, never forget my warning.
Leaving behind those ominous words, Yong Mu-Sung walked off in a different direction.
Jin Mu-Won quietly watched him disappear. Yong Mu-Sung’s words had left a profound impact on him.
“Gwan Dae-Seung, you say?”
He narrowed his eyes.
Jin Mu-Won entered the Green Flower Inn in Heaven’s Village. Perhaps because of the ongoing duel tournament in Heaven’s Summit, the inn was completely empty. As soon as he stepped inside, a waiter came rushing out.
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“Welcome!” the waiter exclaimed.
“Is the owner in?”
“Huh? The owner?” The waiter looked at Jin Mu-Won quizzically, as the owner was sitting at the counter in plain sight.
Jin Mu-Won smiled faintly. “Not him. I’m looking for the real owner.”
“What do you mean? That person is the owner of this inn.”
“The real owner is a man named Seo Mu-Sang, isn’t that right?”
“Who are you, Sir?
“My name is Jin Mu-Won.”
The waiter’s eyes went wide. “Jin Mu-Won? You wouldn’t be Master Jin Mu-Won, the Northern Blade, would you?”
“I am.”
“Wow!” The waiter’s face lit up with excitement.
News about Jin Mu-Won had already spread beyond Heaven’s Summit and was circulating rapidly. Currently, he was the hottest topic in the jianghu, and many people were curious about him.
“Please wait a moment. I’ll bring the owner over right away.”
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“Thank you.”
Jin Mu-Won sat down at a window seat, and the waiter rushed inside. A moment later, he reappeared with a sharp-eyed man in his late thirties.
“My Liege?” Seo Mu-Sang muttered.
Jin Mu-Won smiled. “Mu-Sang hyung-nim.”
“What brings you to such a humble place, My Liege?” Seo Mu-Sang bowed and sat down in front of Jin Mu-Won.
Jin Mu-Won surveyed the inn. “So this is where you have been staying.”
“Since my job is to gather information from beyond these walls, it is convenient to be based in an inn.”
The Green Flower Inn was the headquarters of the Inquisition, and everyone who worked there was a part of it. Even the man at the counter, who was pretending to be the owner, was a spy.
“Is the work manageable?”
“My daily routine is straightforward, but I’ve learned a lot.”
“Oh?”
“You could say it’s a way of seeing the world. As I collect and classify a great deal of information, I have developed an eye for reading between the lines of worldly affairs.”
“I see.” Jin Mu-Won nodded. Compared to ten years ago, Seo Mu-Sang’s aura was much more profound. He rarely showed his emotions, and every word he spoke was deliberate. “Are there many secret organizations like the Inquisition in Heaven’s Summit?”
“Yes.There are more than even those within can imagine, and each is well-managed. Since each organization has different missions and areas of operation, we do not know who is who unless we happen to clash.”
“I see.”
As the Head Inquisitor, Seo Mu-Sang surely had access to more high-level information than others did. However, it seemed that even he did not know exactly how many secret organizations existed.
Just then, the waiter brought wine and side dishes to the table.
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“I asked the kitchen to prepare some simple side dishes, and this is twenty-year-old Shaoxing wine,” Seo Mu-Sang said.
The waiter placed the food on the table and bowed deeply. “Please enjoy. If you need anything, just call.”
“Thank you.”
The waiter blushed and retreated shyly.
Seo Mu-Sang chuckled softly. “He is a boy I raised. He may look naive, but he is quick-witted and has a sharp mind, so he is very useful.”
Over the past few years, he had not only collected information, but also dedicated himself to expanding the Inquisition. All of the martial artists and agents belonging to the Inquisition were people he had trained. Furthermore, the members’ identities were a closely guarded secret, even from the Secret Pavilion, the organization that oversaw the Inquisition.
“You’ve worked hard.”
“It’s nothing compared to what you’ve been through, My Liege. I will be satisfied if they can be of use to you in the future.”
Seo Mu-Sang’s eyes gleamed with pride. He had put tremendous effort into turning the Inquisition into an independent organization, and his efforts had not been in vain. Now, he could boast about having an information network second to none in Heaven’s Summit.
“Thank you, Hyung-nim.”
“I only did what I had to do. You needn’t thank me, My Liege.”
Jin Mu-Won smiled warmly. He could sense Seo Mu-Sang’s sincerity.
As the saying went, a man would give his life for someone who recognized his true worth. Since Seo Mu-Sang saw him as his liege and was truly loyal to him, in turn, he thought of Seo Mu-Sang as a real brother.
BANG!
Suddenly, someone threw open the inn door, and a group of martial artists rushed in. There were more than a dozen of them, and each exuded an extraordinary aura. At their head was someone Seo Mu-Sang knew well.
Seo Mu-Sang narrowed his eyes. “Director Wol?”
The Secret Pavilion Director Wol Seong-Cheo glared at Seo Mu-Sang with a chilling coldness in his eyes. “Head Inquisitor Seo Mu-Sang, step forward!”
“Sir?”
“Criminal Seo Mu-Sang, I said step forward!”
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“What do you mean, criminal?”
“Hmph! Did you think you could get away with providing me with false information?”
“False information? What are you talking about?”
“You knew Jin Mu-Won was alive the whole time, didn’t you? But you intentionally hid it from me.”
Wol Seong-Cheon was livid. He had recommended Seo Mu-Sang for Head Inquisitor, and yet the man had betrayed him.
SHUFFLE…
Jin Mu-Won rose from his seat, and only then did Wol Seong-Cheon notice him.
His eyes flashed with rage. His suspicion had been confirmed.
Seeing Jin Mu-Won approach, however, Wol Seong-Cheon flinched and took a step back.
He had already witnessed Jin Mu-Won’s martial prowess firsthand. Even the great Yeon Cheon-Hwa had fallen at his hands, throwing the Greatsword Fortress into a state of internal strife.
The corner of his eye twitched.
“Jin Mu-Won.”
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