Myst, Might, Mayhem

Chapter 364 – Sword (3)

A being floating up from the cliff edge.

It was none other than Mok Gyeong-un.

Color returned to the face of Ye Song-ah, the granddaughter of the Holy Fire Priestess, who had been terrified by the strong pressure of Master Ou Cheonmu’s questioning.

The same was true for the third son, Ou Yeonwoo, who had inadvertently raised his head from his prostrate position.

He had thought Mok Gyeong-un had died from the blade user’s mutual destruction technique.

Yet he had survived from down there.

-Murmur murmur!

The surroundings stirred.

The sword disciples and guests of the Spiritual Sword Sanctuary had their eyes wide open in surprise.

The scene unfolding before them was undoubtedly,

“Fl-floating on air?”

It was the Aerial Void Path, considered the highest realm of body techniques along with walking on air.

Those gathered here were all martial artists by nature, so they couldn’t help but admire this sight.

‘Ha!’

Even Ji-oe, who was the most senior among the guests, was equally surprised.

More than the Aerial Void Path, he was amazed that the one who had been fighting to the death with the blade user as they fell off the cliff had actually survived.

This result spoke of only one thing.

‘To think that even such a monster was no match for him.’

It meant victory.

It was truly a complex feeling.

As a fellow swordsman, he felt pride that a martial artist wielding a sword had defeated the blade user who acted as if only the Way of the Blade was the truth, but where on earth did such a person come from?

Moreover, because this person had survived, the situation became even more uncontrollable.

-Shing! Shing!

Just looking at how many of the sword disciples were reaching for their sword hilts in amazement was enough to tell.

This was the same for the two experts from the Righteous Alliance, Jeong Myeong Sa-tae of the Hangshan Sect and Moyong Hak.

Knowing that this blade user who had returned alive from the cliff was in league with the Fire Faith Order woman, they had no choice but to draw their swords.

“Sa-tae, what should we do about this?”

When Moyong Hak asked quietly with a tense face, she replied with a serious expression.

“Let’s be prepared for now, patron Moyong. Now that he has come back to life, we don’t know how the situation will unfold.”

If one side was overwhelmingly dominant, the situation would inevitably calm down quickly one way or another.

But if both sides were evenly matched, it was different.

The situation would escalate again.

‘Amitabha. This is serious. The pinnacle of the current martial world, the Six Heavens, and an expert approaching that level… It might turn into another bloodbath.’

If they let their guard down even a little, another tragedy could occur from the aftermath.

Jeong Myeong Sa-tae believed they needed to prepare thoroughly before that happened.

‘Damn it!’

In this tense situation, the second son Ou Woong-seong couldn’t hide his dismay.

He had instigated the situation to his liking, thinking the guy had surely died.

But with his return, the situation had completely changed.

If that monster-like guy targeted him with malice, the only one who could protect him was his father, Master Ou Cheonmu.

At that moment, Mok Gyeong-un, who had floated up above the cliff, spoke.

“Did you ask whose sacred orb it was?”

A clear and confident voice, though it sounded polite.

Although it wasn’t a loud voice, everyone could hear it.

Moreover, strangely enough, upon hearing his voice, they felt their insides churning as if they had sustained internal injuries.

‘…His true energy is extraordinary.’

‘I thought he would have depleted quite a bit of true energy surviving from down there.’

‘He’s a monster.’

They couldn’t help but be more tense at the voice still overflowing with true energy.

Then Ou Cheonmu looked at Mok Gyeong-un and answered.

“That’s right.”

Ou Cheonmu also gradually revealed his energy, infusing his voice with true energy.

His voice also resonated throughout the surroundings.

As one called the pinnacle of the Central Plains martial world, and one of the more experienced among them, his internal energy was no less profound than that of an inner court expert from Shaolin’s Orthodox Sect.

‘As expected of Master Ou.’

‘Thanks to the true energy in the Master’s voice, my churning internal energy is settling down.’

‘He’s truly impressive.’

Even if that guy was a monster comparable to the Six Heavens, his opponent was a true member of the Six Heavens.

He was the pinnacle recognized by all martial artists of the Central Plains.

With such a Master, the audience believed that no matter how strong that guy was, he could be subdued without incident.

Then Mok Gyeong-un continued his answer.

“What is your intention in asking whose sacred orb it is?”

“……”

It was just a question.

But with that one question, the audience fell silent once again.

This was because the meaning behind Mok Gyeong-un’s question was crystal clear.

-Gulp!

Everyone’s gaze turned to Master Ou Cheonmu.

How this situation would unfold depended on his answer.

If Master Ou Cheonmu stepped back here, the atmosphere could be eased more, but if that happened, the reputation and face of the Spiritual Sword Sanctuary, which had suffered numerous casualties from an outsiders’ fight, would be damaged.

This was the same for him as one of the Six Heavens.

It was then.

“The patriarch of the Namgoong family. The elites of the Namgoong family, and the guests here. Their deaths are related to the blade user who was fighting with you. That person’s goal was clearly that orb and you people. Yet do you think this master is wrong to ask for accountability?”

-Roar!

No sooner had he finished speaking than Master Ou Cheonmu’s energy rose fiercely.

He had instantly raised his power to the ten-star level.

At his words and the impressive aura he was revealing, the sword disciples of the Spiritual Sword Sanctuary and the guests cheered like soldiers with raised morale.

“Waaaaaah!!!”

‘Haah… Should I say this is fortunate!’

Ou Woong-seong, who had been watching tensely, inwardly sighed in relief.

If his father had shown a retreating stance here, even he, who had instigated this situation, would have been in a difficult position.

Ou Woong-seong’s gaze then turned to the third son Ou Yeonwoo and Ye Song-ah.

‘We must capture them.’

Father wouldn’t lose to that guy, but if we capture them, even that monster-like guy would have a weakness and become distracted.

But then Mok Gyeong-un walked through the air towards where Ou Cheonmu was and said,

“This is quite strange. If you’re going to assign blame like that, then if your sons hadn’t taken the sacred orb from them, wouldn’t none of this have happened?”

‘!?’

At that moment, the expressions of the second son Ou Woong-seong and Junior Master Ou Woong-hwang hardened.

Even Ou Woong-hwang, who had tried to help the third son Ou Yeonwoo and Ye Song-ah, hadn’t mentioned the fact that he had subdued them and taken the sacred orb, thinking it was to correct something wrong.

But now that Mok Gyeong-un had revealed this, it seemed like the most fundamental responsibility lay with them.

“What do you mean they took the sacred orb? What is this nonsense?”

Master Ou Cheonmu looked at Junior Master Ou Woong-hwang and asked.

At this, Ou Woong-hwang became flustered and didn’t know what to do.

“Master, that’s…”

His mind became complicated.

He had taken the sacred orb thinking that the youngest, Ou Yeonwoo, had fallen for the Fire Faith Order, a heretical sect that deceived the masses, so he still didn’t think it was greatly wrong.

However, when it came to tracing the responsibility for this tragic situation, there was no room for excuse.

But then,

“Master! When that brat Yeonwoo brought something like a Fire Faith Order orb to our sect and worshipped it, are you saying we brothers should have just watched? How can this be our responsibility? This is entirely the fault of Yeonwoo and those people who brought such a dangerous object to our sect.”

At Ou Woong-seong’s urgent cry, some of the stirring guests once again glared at Ou Yeonwoo and Ye Song-ah with resentful eyes.

That’s right, in the end, they are the problem.

If those Fire Faith Order members who deceive the masses hadn’t come to this Spiritual Sword Sanctuary, the sacred place of swordsmanship, this wouldn’t have happened in the first place.

Seeing this scene, someone clicked their tongue.

It was Ji-oe.

‘Blame… blame… blame… How did it come to this? Isn’t assigning blame ultimately just venting frustration about something that has already happened?’

From the beginning, this incident was no different from a man-made disaster that no one could have easily prevented.

But seeing these people trying to determine the root cause, instigated by a glib tongue taking advantage of the situation, he felt disillusioned.

So finally, Ji-oe said,

“So many have been sacrificed, yet you want to keep assigning blame to the very end and make this situation even bigger? I will remove myself from this matter.”

-Whoosh!

With those words, he used his lightness skill to distance himself from them.

Seeing this, some of the guests shouted at Ji-oe.

“How irresponsible!”

“Are you saying we should just let it go when so many fellow swordsmen who discussed the sword have died?”

“We’re disappointed, Brother Ji!”

“Disappointed? Hmph!”

Ignoring their criticism, Ji-oe shouted towards the Master.

“Master Ou! If you want to assign blame, this old Ji will say one thing. It’s impossible that someone like you, a peerless expert who has reached the realm of enlightened grandmaster, wouldn’t have sensed the danger here. Yet you didn’t come immediately because of your obsession with perfecting the sword. If you, the master of this sanctuary, had come just a little earlier, surely there would have been fewer casualties. Can we say this isn’t your fault?”

“……”

“If you truly want to make a wise choice, don’t be swayed by your second son’s instigation or saving face. To prevent greater harm, you should stop here.”

At his cry, which was like a needle piercing the heart, the hall fell silent.

Or should we say it became solemn?

Although they had been instigated by the second son Ou Woong-seong, they too had been thinking something similar to some extent.

If Master Ou Cheonmu, called the pinnacle of the current martial world, had come to the Sword Valley just a little earlier, there might have been fewer casualties.

However, no one could blame him for this.

No, they couldn’t muster the courage to do so.

Who would have the guts to assign blame to a peerless expert like him, when they had come here to gain insight into the sword from Ou Cheonmu?

As a result, many were at a loss for words out of shame.

Of course, not everyone was like this.

Moyong Hak, the investigator from the Righteous Alliance, said to Jeong Myeong Sa-tae of the Hangshan Sect in a frustrated tone,

“Why is Senior Ji-oe doing this? When we should be supporting Master Ou, doing this to undermine morale…”

“No. Senior Ji-oe’s words are correct.”

“What?”

“Amitabha. Now that the one who became the root cause is dead, assigning blame here will only escalate the situation further. To prevent greater sacrifices, we must stop here.”

“But Sa-tae, they are the Fire Faith Order…”

“Just because the Fire Faith Order is called a heretical sect doesn’t mean they can be held responsible for everything. As an assigned investigator, you must not lose impartiality for the sake of clarity.”

“……”

At her rebuke, Moyong Hak closed his mouth.

Though he still couldn’t accept it, Jeong Myeong Sa-tae was a wise Buddhist, wiser than anyone.

No matter how frustrating it was, he couldn’t disrespect her opinion.

And ultimately, the decision here rested with Master Ou Cheonmu, the master of this Spiritual Sword Sanctuary.

Everyone’s gaze, including Moyong Hak’s, turned to him.

How would he judge?

If he stops here, surely greater sacrifices can be prevented.

However, if he takes a step back, it will damage the reputation and face of the Spiritual Sword Sanctuary, which has suffered numerous internal casualties from outsiders’ fight.

In the end, no matter what he chose, there would be losses.

It was then.

-Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh!

The aura of Master Ou Cheonmu, who had raised his power enough to cause wind pressure all around, subsided.

At this, the expressions of everyone watching tensely became gloomy.

Is he ultimately taking a step back, risking even his face as one of the Six Heavens, to prevent greater sacrifices?

But right at that moment,

-Whoosh!

Suddenly, Master Ou Cheonmu flew towards the direction of the cliff edge.

Along with this, Ou Cheonmu, who had drawn his sword, swung his sword energy towards the cliff wall.

-Slash slash slash slash slash!

The sword energy flowing from the tip of his sword began to carve sword marks into the cliff.

But it wasn’t just simple sword marks.

‘Letters?’

‘Could it be?’

-Slash slash slash slash slash!

What was being engraved on the cliff wall was none other than writing.

Sword (劍)

Way (道)

Sword (劍)

Extreme (極)

-Slash!

Master Ou Cheonmu, who had written the words in one breath without stopping, then kicked off the air and returned to where he was originally.

At his divine might, exclamations flowed from the mouths of all those present.

“Aaah!”

Everyone here was a sword disciple.

For them, who handled swords, the divine might that Master Ou Cheonmu had just shown and those words were awe-inspiring in themselves.

This was the same even for Ji-oe, who had been about to leave in disappointment at this situation.

Ji-oe couldn’t help but admire the writing engraved on the cliff.

‘Ou Cheonmu… I thought you were only immersed in sword crafting, but your Way of the Sword has deepened even further in the meantime.’

It was incomparable to what was engraved on the broken stele.

It was truly befitting of the number one swordsman, infinitely close to the extreme of the sword.

Then Master Ou Cheonmu looked at Mok Gyeong-un and spoke.

“Many sacrifices have already occurred. Assigning blame here is no longer meaningful.”

“Then what is this now?”

“Although this Master is taking a step back to prevent greater sacrifices, before being a craftsman, I too am a martial artist and sword disciple.”

“……”

“This Sword Valley is a place to discuss the sword. If you are also a sword disciple, try to surpass this Way of the Sword, Extreme of the Sword to leave this place.”

‘Ah!’

At these words from Master Ou Cheonmu, exclamations flowed here and there.

It was truly an excellent move.

As the leader of the Spiritual Sword Sanctuary, Ou Cheonmu had swallowed his pride and taken a step back to prevent greater sacrifices.

However, by proposing to discuss the sword rather than fighting with force, he had come up with an exquisite strategy to maintain his pride as a martial artist and sword disciple.

‘As expected!’

Ou Cheonmu was the one respected by all swordsmen of the Central Plains.

While competing might be influenced by various factors, when it came to discussing the sword alone, it was no exaggeration to say he was the best under heaven.

No matter how strong that guy was, it was impossible for him to surpass Master Ou Cheonmu in swordsmanship.

‘Amitabha. Indeed, an excellent move, Master Ou.’

Jeong Myeong Sa-tae of the Hangshan Sect also admired his excellent move.

With this, Master Ou had maintained his pride as one of the Six Heavens and prevented greater sacrifices, a splendid…

“Interesting. Is this all you propose to discuss about the sword?”

‘!?’

At that moment, everyone’s expressions changed terrifyingly at the words Mok Gyeong-un casually uttered.

What did this bastard just say?

Did he dare say ‘Is this all’ after seeing that sword skill of such a high level?

Wasn’t he truly arrogant?

To feel no enlightenment or awe after seeing the writing on the cliff meant he had no qualification to discuss the sword…

-Swish!

At that moment, Mok Gyeong-un walked on air towards the cliff.

Then he held his sword intent next to the Way of the Sword, Extreme of the Sword, and stretched out his hand forward.

Surely he wasn’t going to challenge that enlightenment directly?

It was a moment of bewilderment.

-Slash!

A sharp energy spread in all directions in an instant.

Then, an unbelievable thing happened before everyone’s eyes.

He didn’t swing his sword or make any strokes.

Yet,

劍 (Sword)

In the middle of the Sword Valley cliff, wasn’t the character for ‘Sword’ (劍) engraved in huge writing?

‘!!!!!!!!’

The eyes of all the sword disciples watching this shook wildly.

How could such a thing be possible?

He had written ‘Sword’ (劍) in a single stroke.

‘This can’t be…’

‘No. What is this?’

This was an incredible feat that even Master Ou Cheonmu, who had completed the Way of the Sword, Extreme of the Sword, couldn’t do.

Some sword disciples looked at him in confusion.

And then,

-Drip!

They saw Master Ou Cheonmu, his face wet with cold sweat, unable to take his eyes off the ‘Sword’ (劍) engraved on the cliff.