45 - Heavenly Demon of the Huashan Sect

Chapter 45 The road from Hamyang County to Nakcheon County was unusually narrow and winding. On this scarcely traveled path, a single carriage was racing forward without hesitation. Clip-clop― Clip-clop― As the sound of hooves echoed, a conversation took place inside the carriage, which was filled with urgency. "How long do you think it will take to get there?" In response to Hyun-do's impatient question, Ha Woo-jin estimated the distance and answered. "We should arrive in three days." "Three days? That's quicker than I expected." "It's all thanks to the head of the trading group. If not for his help, we might still be trying to acquire horses right now." Both Ha Woo-jin and Hyun-do turned their gazes simultaneously out of the carriage window. The sun, poking out from an unnamed mountain peak, was illuminating their journey. It was still early morning, testament to their exceptionally early departure. "I owe him my gratitude." Hyun-do smiled bitterly. The carriage they were currently in charge of transporting belonged to the Bi-Pung Trading Group. Despite the unfavorable circumstances facing the group, Go Gye-young had willingly lent them the carriage and horses, believing it would significantly aid their journey. Under normal circumstances, they would have adamantly refused such generosity, but given the dire situation, they accepted the offer. "I must express my thanks to him in the future." "I should do the same." As the two engaged in conversation— "Three days? Quite a distance, isn't it?" Sitting opposite them, Cheon-hwi looked towards the driver's seat with a somewhat deflated expression. There, a poor-looking beggar was holding the reins and driving the carriage. This was Jin-gae, an interior official of the Beggars' Sect. Originally, the plan was simply to gather information about Baek-Gwi-seong, but Jin-gae, having seen the carriage, volunteered to be the coachman. "The Beggars' Sect is the same as ever." Cheon-hwi could see through his intentions. Or rather, he understood the nature of the Beggars' Sect. "It must have piqued their curiosity." With the recent tension between the Jongnam Sect and the Hwasan Sect, this was a bait that could not be ignored. It was then. Swoosh― Jin-gae, who had been eavesdropping with perked ears, turned around slightly out of curiosity. "......!" Caught off guard by an unexpected eye contact, Jin-gae's eyes darted around in confusion before he awkwardly smiled. "Heh, heh-heh……." Cheon-hwi grinned widely. "You said you know a lot about Baek-Gwi-seong, right?" Jin-gae, feigning amazement, spoke out. "Oh! Of course, of course. In today's world, those who know as much as I do about Baek-Gwi-seong can be counted on one hand." Not for nothing was he a member of the Beggars' Sect; Jin-gae quickly grasped the intent of the question. "Is there any specific information you're looking for?" "I'm curious about Baek-Gwi-seong's military power." "What?" For a moment, Jin-gae looked flabbergasted, his face blank as if he'd misheard. Then, after a moment, his eyes widened. "Are you asking about Baek-Gwi-seong's military power?" "Yes." Jin-gae, who looked incredulous at Cheon-hwi's request, cast a glance at Hyun-do and Ha Woo-jin. Yet, the two of them remained silent, listening quietly, showing no reaction. ‘When they mentioned going to Nakcheon County, I thought something was fishy, but we're really heading to Baek-Gwi-seong?!’ Jin-gae swallowed hard in shock. ‘This is beyond what I can handle…….’ For the Hwasan Sect and Jongnam Sect to inquire about Baek-Gwi-seong's martial forces was no simple matter. His lips dried up. "Do you know or not?" A slightly brusque voice tapped on his ears, which had been frozen in place. Regaining his wits, Jin-gae looked at Cheon-hwi, who was watching him closely, and hurriedly nodded his head. "Y-Yes, I know." Taking a deep breath, Jin-gae asked. "……What exactly do you want to know? Are you asking about the martial artists associated with Baek-Gwi-seong? Or the battalions, perhaps the general military strength they have?" "All of it." Jin-gae took a moment to look up at the sky before responding to Cheon-hwi's comprehensive inquiry. "Alright, I understand." He took a deep breath to steady himself. "At Baek-Gwi-seong, beneath the lord Baek Sashin, there are the strategist known as Baek-Gwi-jomosa and four masters called the Four Houses. The strategist, Baek-Gwi-jomosa, doesn't practice martial arts, so I'll skip over that." Jin-gae carefully discerned which information was unnecessary after gauging Cheon-hwi's reaction. "The Four Houses are all masters of extreme martial arts who could serve as heads of a sect if they weren't with Baek-Gwi-seong." "Masters of extreme martial arts?" In a moment, three faces flashed through Cheon-hwi's mind. "Oh! So those guys were all part of the Four Houses." "Do you know who they are?" Jin-gae's eyes gleamed as he asked, but Cheon-hwi waved his hand as if to say not to ask further. "……Understood." Jin-gae spoke dismally. ‘There will be another chance.’ His curiosity about who exactly came to mind was still simmering, but he forcibly tamped it down and continued speaking. "The known members of the Four Houses are Su-cham-dok-geum, Eun-su-cham-sal, and Baek Sa-shin's disciple So-baek-gwi. The identity of the remaining member had been kept secret, but I've recently uncovered it." "You found it out?" "As expected from the Beggars' Sect. To discover a secret that has been hidden for decades." Hyun-do and Ha Woo-jin reacted with surprise. Both the Hwasan Sect and Jongnam Sect had also gathered information about Baek-Gwi-seong, but had yet to identify the final member. Yet, it was discovered now. Jin-gae nodded. "He is Pa-gyeom-gwi (Demon Sword Breaker)." "Pa-gyeom-gwi……!" "That ruthless villain is still alive!" Hyun-do and Ha Woo-jin were stunned. Watching their exaggerated reactions, Cheon-hwi, indifferent, asked. "Pa-gyeom-gwi? Who's that?" Startled, Jin-gae responded. "You don't know Pa-gyeom-gwi?" "I'm asking because I don't." "He poisoned the head of the legendary Bul-i-geom-mun Sword School and stole their martial art." Hyun-do suddenly interjected. Then, with a serious face, he murmured. "I had heard that Bul-i-geom-mun successfully avenged him……." "We assumed that as well. But not only is he alive, he's joined Baek-Gwi-seong." "Hmmm……." "If he's mastered the sword art he stole from Bul-i-geom-mun, things could get dangerous." While Hyun-do and Ha Woo-jin contemplated in grave silence— "Never mind him. What about the rest of their forces?" Cheon-hwi interrupted their musings. He wasn't concerned with Pa-gyeom-gwi or Bul-i-geom-mun's sword art. What mattered to him now was the strength of Baek-Gwi-seong's forces. Jin-gae glanced cautiously at Hyun-do and Ha Woo-jin, but under the pressing gaze of Cheon-hwi, he yielded and continued speaking. "The most famous military units of Baek-Gwi-seong are well-known as the Baek-Gwi Three Divisions: the Baek-Gwi Squad, the Gui-Cham Squad (Ghost-Cutting Squad), and the yet uncertain Sal-Hon Squad. In the martial world, they are collectively known this way." "What about other units apart from those three?" "There are seven additional divisions. They handle financial affairs, cleanup, and various other tasks at Baek-Gwi-seong. Though overshadowed by the fame of the Baek-Gwi Three Divisions, each of these units is said to be comparable in strength to the martial divisions of any sect." "What’s their total number?" "Approximately between five hundred to seven hundred." Cheon-hwi stroked his chin in response to Jin-gae's prompt answer. "Five hundred to seven hundred." "Most large sects have similar numbers. If Baek-Gwi-seong was exceptionally powerful compared to the other Six Sovereign Sects, it would have ascended to the top long ago, wouldn't it?" The information was practical and calculative. "You know quite a lot." "Being one of the Six Sovereign Sects, we have to pay special attention to Baek-Gwi-seong, don’t we?" Jin-gae shrugged his shoulders. It wasn’t just any sect, it was one of the Six Sovereign Sects. Even in the relatively peaceful times of the Nine States and Three Factions era, the cold war situation meant that information warfare was more intense than anything else, as war could break out unexpectedly. "And the possibility of hidden forces?" "Absolutely none." Jin-gae was adamant. "If there were additional hidden units, Baek Sashin wouldn’t have stayed quiet. The moment Baek-Gwi-seong was pushed to the bottom ranks of the Six Sovereign Sects, he would have waged war." Cheon-hwi smirked. He admired Baek Sashin's bold approach. 'What a straightforward character.' For some reason, it reminded him of his past self. "At most, there might be one or two more masters, if any." Hearing Jin-gae's continuous explanation, Cheon-hwi averted his gaze. He had expected more from Baek-Gwi-seong, but their forces fell short of his expectations. 'They're similar to the Hwasan Sect right now.' An uneasy silence filled the carriage. Hyun-do and Ha Woo-jin, who were previously engaging in the conversation, were now deep in thought after hearing about Baek-Gwi-seong’s forces. Jin-gae looked at them, surprised that neither of them had further questions, contrary to Cheon-hwi's inquisitiveness. 'I thought one of them would surely ask something.' He was brimming with curiosity. When he realized their identities from the ongoing conversation inside the carriage, Jin-gae had been so shocked it was hard to breathe. The number one sword of Hwasan and the Obsessed Sword Lord. They weren’t ordinary figures, but their true identities far exceeded his expectations. Yet, more startling than that was... 'Cheon-hwi, I must discern who this person truly is. He is no ordinary man.' The young Taoist before him. Though evidently a disciple of the Hwasan Sect, everything about his words and actions so far defied rational understanding. 'This young man seems to be leading both the conversation and all proceedings...' His hands, gripping the reins, were sweaty. Though his mind was still clouded with unanswered questions, his instincts told him this journey was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity given from the heavens. * * * As the sun set, darkness enveloped the surroundings. The pitch darkness forced the carriage, which had been relentlessly moving forward, to stop, and the four of them began preparing to camp. They could have pushed on, but the horses were exhausted, and the dark of night increased the risk of an accident if they mistakenly overturned. For future considerations, rest was imperative. The moment Jin-gae jumped off the carriage, he adeptly started a campfire. Although it was warm during the day, nighttime brought a chill. Crackle— Crackle— Just as the fire started to grow from the wood, 'Hmm?' Cheon-hwi narrowed his eyes. He sensed someone approaching from afar. Swish― Hyun-do was the next to sense it. Turning his head towards the direction of the vague presence, he peered through the darkness with his narrow eyes and spoke in a low voice. "Someone's coming this way." "…!" "…!" At his words, Ha Woo-jin and Jin-gae, who hadn’t sensed anything, flinched. “Well, well, an unexpected bunch of people.” A man emerged from the shadows. In the flickering light of the campfire, he presented a distinctive appearance. Wearing tattered martial robes and sporting a bushy beard, Yet, his face wore a smile, making him appear more relaxed rather than haggard. Detecting the vigilant looks from the three, the man approached in an unguarded manner. “Mind if I warm myself by the fire?” “…Come on over.” Hyun-do was the first to lower his guard. There was no malice or hostility emanating from the man. “Thank you kindly.” The man sat opposite Hyun-do. “Hahaha! The night has grown cold, and I was in need of a fire.” His hearty laugh naturally eased the wariness Ha Woo-jin and Jin-gae had. “But what a peculiar group you have here.” The man scanned each person seated around the campfire, his gaze filled with curiosity. It was easy to discern their identities: The cloud emblem on the bluish-white attire, The plum blossom emblem on the crimson attire, And the five knots swinging prominently from the filthy rags around the beggar’s waist. These were items any knowledgeable individual within the martial world would recognize. “Hwasan, Jongnam, and the Beggars’ Sect…” His gaze swept across Hyun-do, Ha Woo-jin, and Jin-gae before finally settling on Cheon-hwi. “……” He closed his mouth, tilting his head in puzzlement. Even Hyun-do had a faint presence that could be sensed, but from Cheon-hwi, there was nothing. As if he were a ghost. As questions sprouted in the man’s eyes, ‘Interesting.’ Cheon-hwi looked directly at the man and smiled. The unexpected, out-of-nowhere encounter amused him. ‘To think I’d find traces of the Sword Demon here in the central plains.’