The Legend of the Northern Blade - Chapter 186: The Star of Justice Shines Once Again (2)
Chapter 186: The Star of Justice Shines Once Again (2)
In the end, Myeong Ryu-San had barely managed to defeat Nam Mu-Seok. His body was a wreck, but the victory filled him with courage. He now knew that his martial arts could work even against a master like Nam Mu-Seok.
And so, he continued fighting his way through the matches, winning every duel. Whenever he was injured, Tang Gi-Mun would treat him.
Nevertheless, the people’s interest in him was not as great as he had hoped. Although he had passed the preliminaries, the crowd was far more interested in the famous martial artists who had gotten a free pass to the main event.
After all, those young masters and mistresses were disciples of the great powers like the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Clans, and the true prodigies who would lead the next generation of the jianghu. They learned martial arts developed over centuries, along with traditions and histories to match.
Their greatest asset, however, was that they were nurtured through a systematic and efficient method.
First, the sects identified the talents of young children and decided which martial arts they would learn and from which master. Then, during each stage of training, the children were given miracle herbs, secret techniques, and proper guidance to help them reach higher levels of attainment. Furthermore, because they learned martial arts through the safest methods perfected over generations, there was no possibility of qi deviation or self-injury.
After all that preparation, only the best were recommended for the Demon Hunters selection. To the common folk and ragtag martial artists, they were literally the chosen ones from another world.
As such, it was no surprise that the crowd roared with excitement at their appearance.
“Damn it!” Myeong Ryu-San grumbled as he watched the seeded warriors ascend the stage.
Every time the announcer introduced a new young genius, the people let out a fiery roar, and the new arrivals accepted the cheers as if it were their natural due.
All of it rubbed him the wrong way. He had fought so hard to pass the preliminaries, yet everyone was focused on them instead of him.
Just you wait. I’ll defeat all of you and take a spot in the Demon Hunters for myself.
He re-kindled his fighting spirit and glared at his new opponents.
Meanwhile, Jin Mu-Won and Ha Jin-Wol blended in among the crowd.
“With this, Heaven’s Summit has killed two birds with one stone,” Jin Mu-Won remarked.
Ha Jin-Wol raised an eyebrow. “Two birds? Try three, or even ten. Not only did they solve a problem without lifting a finger, but they’ve also found people to shed blood for them. On top of that, they’ve gained the people’s attention and trust, building a powerful sense of unity around themselves. What business could be more profitable than this?”
“I see.”
“Heaven’s Summit has perfected the art of reigning over the jianghu. They have learned not just to rule through force, but to dominate the hearts of the people. That is what makes them so frightening.”
Ha Jin-Wol’s expression darkened. The giant monster known as Heaven’s Summit never stood still. It endlessly researched ways to dominate the jianghu, putting its findings into practice to maintain its control and brainwash people into accepting its iron rule as the natural order of things.
Sighing, he continued, “Because of this, the jianghu has stagnated, and the same group of people always rules it. Heaven’s Summit and its affiliated great sects have built a perfect environment for themselves alone and ruthlessly weeded out everyone else.”
He grit his teeth. When he thought about it, was there anything more unjust than this?
“To have no doubts is to have no hope. We now live in a world that has lost hope.”
“Still, didn’t Heaven’s Summit protect the Central Plains from the Silent Night?”
“The Silent Night? Right. The Silent Night…” Ha Jin-Wol trailed off, leaving his words hanging ominously.
Jin Mu-Won stared blankly at him, puzzled.
Letting out a small chuckle, Ha Jin-Wol changed the subject. “So, do you have any intention of participating? It would be quite a sight if you became the Commander of the Demon Hunters.”
“Would they let me participate?”
“Hell no. They would object with all their might.”
“Exactly.”
“Heheh!”
The two shared a wry smile.
“Why, are you interested in the Demon Hunters? Shall I recommend you?” an unexpected voice cut in.
Jin Mu-Won and Ha Jin-Wol turned their heads to see a dazzlingly beautiful woman.
Ha Jin-Wol smirked. “Well now, if it isn’t Miss Seomoon.”
Jin Mu-Won gave a slight nod in greeting. He did not have a very good impression of Seomoon Hye-Ryung, but he could not act like he didn’t know her when they had met before.
Seomoon Hye-Ryung fixed her gaze on Jin Mu-Won. “Are you interested in the Demon Hunters? With your current reputation, Master Jin, you could surely join. You should give it a try.”
“Are you being serious?”
“What do you think?”
“Thank you for your consideration, but I don’t think there’s a place for me up there.”
“Is that so? What a shame.” Seomoon Hye-Ryung sighed in disappointment,
Beside her, Chae Hwa-Yeong glared at Jin Mu-Won with eyes full of fighting spirit.
“I highly doubt you came all this way just to make such idle talk,” Ha Jin-Wol said. “Why are you here?”
“I came to make a proposal.”
“A proposal?”
“Yes. A proposal.”
“Let’s hear it.”
“Leave Heaven’s Summit.”
“……” Ha Jin-Wol frowned.
Unfazed, Seomoon Hye-Ryung continued, “By restoring the honor of the Northern Army, Master Jin has achieved his objective. Be content with that and leave.”
“Leave?”
“If you cannot do that, then I would like you to just stay as you are. Do nothing, just like this.”
Ha Jin-Wol burst out laughing, “Have you lost your touch? Your proposal is clearly one-sided and unfair to us.”
“Is that so? I think I am showing the greatest possible goodwill right now.”
Ha Jin-Wol snorted. “Do nothing. Is that not the same as telling us to just live and breathe? How is that goodwill?”
“Sometimes, just living and breathing can be a luxury. You have to be alive to dream, after all.”
“Nonsense.”
“What do you think, Master Jin? Do you really think it is nonsense?” Seomoon Hye-Ryung directed her intense gaze to Jin Mu-Won, demanding an answer.
Instead of answering, however, Jin Mu-Won asked, “Why did you create the Azure Dragon Society?”
“To change the world…”
“If I told you to just live and breathe and do nothing with the Azure Dragon Society, would you listen?”
“That is different. The Azure Dragon Society has the power and the will to change the world, and above all, it has me. We aren’t as helpless as you are, Master Jin.”
Jin Mu-Won fell silent. Seomoon Hye-Ryung was brilliant, and the Azure Dragon Society that she led was powerful. Still, her words and the look in her eyes that insisted it had to be the Azure Dragon Society and nothing else sparked a feeling of rejection in him.
He wasn’t about to argue with her about that though. When conviction went too far, it became dogmatism, and one lost the ability to listen to the opinions of others. No matter what he said, she was unlikely to be receptive.
He regarded her silently for a while, then clasped his hands together. “I see. I wish the Azure Dragon Society all the best in their endeavors.”
“So that is how you want it, huh? Understood. I, too, will pray for your good fortune in battle, Master Jin. Farewell.”
Seomoon Hye-Ryung turned around sharply and left, Chae Hwa-Yeong trailing behind her.
Jin Mu-Won and Ha Jin-Wol silently watched them go.
When Seomoon Hye-Ryung had completely disappeared, Ha Jin-Wol groaned, “What on earth is that fox thinking?”
“She did not come here to give us advice at all, did she?”
“Advice? No, she is not the type to give advice. She would rather plot to eliminate someone.”
Ha Jin-Wol’s eyes turned cold. His intuition was whispering to him that something was happening in a place his eyes could not reach.
sep Chae Hwa-Yeong picked up the pace to keep up with Seomoon Hye-Ryung, looking conflicted. To her, Jin Mu-Won and Ha Jin-Wol’s rejection was a foregone conclusion. Therefore, she could not understand why Seomoon Hye-Ryung, who surely knew what she knew, would go out of her way to visit them.
“…Are you curious?” Seomoon Hye-Ryung asked.
“Pardon?”
“Are you curious why I went to see them?”
“Well…”
“It was to strengthen my resolve, because from now on, I too must use all of my strength.”
“Your resolve?”
Seomoon Hye-Ryung smiled. “You will know soon enough.”
Chae Hwa-Yeong felt a chill run down her spine. She had seen Seomoon Hye-Ryung smile countless times before, but right now, it felt completely different.
“From here on, I want to be alone,” Seomoon Hye-Ryung said.
“Unnie?”
“See you later.”
Seomoon Hye-Ryung strode forward without listening for Chae Hwa-Yeong’s reply. Though she could feel her friend’s gaze on her back, she never once looked back or stopped. She did not want Chae Hwa-Yeong to notice the strange heat shimmering in her eyes.
She entered the Wisdom Flower Pavilion, her residence. Inside the silent building, only a single candle flickered.
“WOOOOOAH!”
Suddenly, a massive cheer from countless people shouting in unison echoed thunderously through the pavilion.
It has begun.
She did not need to see to know that the main tournament to select the Demon Hunters had started. The era she had so longed for was finally beginning.
“This is your era, Soo-Cheon,” she whispered to herself, staring blankly into the dark room.
Immediately, the darkness shimmered, and a six-foot-tall man walked out. He was dressed in a black martial arts uniform, with tan skin, black hair that hung loosely to his shoulders, and a thick scar that cut diagonally across the middle of his face.
Seomoon Hye-Ryung’s eyes went wide. “Soo-Cheon? How…?”
“I had a feeling you needed me.”
“Have you finished your seclusion training?”
“Yes!”
This was the moment Dam Soo-Cheon, the legendary martial artist who had successfully completed the Hundred Duels Trial and then vanished seven years ago, revealed himself to the world once more.
Finally, the Lone Star of the Azure Sky emerged from the shadows and began to shine again.
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