The Legend of the Northern Blade-Chapter 198: Where There is Light, There Must Be Shadow (2)

Chapter 198: Where There is Light, There Must Be Shadow (2)

No one in the jianghu could avoid making enemies. Everyone became entangled in grudges and favors that grew alongside their reputation. This was why the people of the jianghu never claimed to be unbeatable... except for one—The Undefeated Clan.

For centuries, the Undefeated Clan had built a reputation for being unbeatable, causing their enemies to abandon any thought of fighting them.

The Undefeated Ascetic, Moyong Yul-Cheon, ruled as the clan's current patriarch. He was one of the Nine Skies who controlled the jianghu and a recluse who rarely appeared in public. The last time he appeared was ten years ago when he brought an end to the Northern Army's long history.

The world knew Moyong Yul-Cheon to be well over seventy years old, yet the man sitting before Gwan Dae-Seung looked no older than thirty. Rather, he was a peerlessly handsome man in his late twenties, with a face that looked as if it were carved from jade.

Moyong Yul-Cheon wore a dragon robe, a garment that only the Emperor was permitted to wear. A black dragon coiled around the entire robe. It was rumored that the emperor had given him special permission to wear it. No one knew the truth, but people believed it.

Such was Moyong Yul-Cheon's stature, that of a great martial artist revered by all.

Moyong Yul-Cheon spread out a large sheet of rice paper before him, then forcefully plunged his brush onto the paper.

He made a single dot. After that, he put down the brush and gazed at the dot, showing no intention of painting further.

Gwan Dae-Seung watched with bated breath. He knew that his title as Administrator of Heaven's Summit meant nothing to this man.

Suddenly, Moyong Yul-Cheon frowned at the dot.

What meaning could a simple dot hold for him to stare at it like that? Gwan Dae-Seung thought. It was just a single round dot. Still, he couldn't dare guess its meaning.

After a long while, Moyong Yul-Cheon shook his head and muttered, "Phew... It's difficult, isn't it, Dae-Seung?"

Gwan Dae-Seung immediately apologized, "I'm sorry, Patriarch, but it appears that my insight is lacking. I don't know what you mean."

Moyong Yul-Cheon smiled gently. "Why are you aplogizing? It's my fault for asking something so unnecessary."

"What were you looking at so intently?"

"All of Creation."

"Pardon?"

Moyong Yul-Cheon chuckled playfully, "Huhu! It's a joke. I was just bored and tried something crazy for a moment."

Nevertheless, Gwan Dae-Seung couldn't take it as a joke.

Has my Liege reached a state where he can contain the principles of all of Creation in a single dot?

The world thought the Nine Skies ruled the jianghu, but Gwan Dae-Seung knew they were wrong. Moyong Yul-Cheon was the sky above the skies.

Ten years ago, he reached the stage of Rejuvenation. He cast off his old, cumbersome body and returned to how he looked in his twenties. This wasn't merely staving off aging, it was a literal body reformation.

An ordinary martial artist might have been satisfied, but Moyong Yul-Cheon was different. He focused only on advancing and perfecting his martial arts. In fact, he had emerged from seclusion only recently, after reaching a new realm. Since then, he had only painted and played musical instruments.

Still, no one in the Undefeated Clan found his eccentric behavior strange. They had blind faith in their patriarch, and Gwan Dae-Seung was no exception.

Moyong Yul-Cheon had recognized Gwan Dae-Seung's talent as a child and sent him to Heaven's Summit. He had also helped him rise through the ranks. Gwan Dae-Seung's own efforts were the biggest factor, of course, but he wouldn't have reached his current position so quickly without his master's help.

A faint smile touched Moyong Yul-Cheon's face as he looked at Gwan Dae-Seung. "You've been visiting the main house often lately. What is it?"

"Well..." Gwan Dae-Seung recounted the events at the manor and the annihilation of the Heavenly Hunters, neither adding nor omitting anything.

"So, you're saying someone is spying on us? Have you identified any promising leads?"

"There are a few possible suspects, but I can't be certain yet."

"Hmm!"

"For now, I plan to step up our surveillance efforts. To do so, I need your approval for a few things."

"Speak."

"First, we need replacements for the Heavenly Hunters."

"Will the Black Soul Corps suffice? Those kids are stronger and more reliable."

"Thank you."

"Anything else?"

"May we reawaken the Chaos Demon?"

Moyong Yul-Cheon's smile broadened. "So you've judged that the time is right?"

"Yes, the conditions are perfect."

"Huhu! Do as you wish."

"Thank you, Liege." Gwan Dae-Seung kowtowed, slamming his head on the floor so hard that it made a loud thud.

Moyong Yul-Cheon stood up and walked over to the window. A well-decorated artificial mountain and pond came into view. It was his favorite landscape. "Dae-Seung."

"Yes, my Liege?"

"How was that boy?"

"That boy?"

"The successor of the Northern Wall."

"Ah! You mean Jin Mu-Won."

"That's right. The Northern Wall was the only martial artist I ever felt wary of. Naturally, I can't help but be concerned about his successor."

Although Jin Kwan-Ho's martial prowess was far inferior to his, the man possessed something more than just power. His indomitable will and fighting spirit had left a deep impression.

"...He's strong."

"Oh! Is he that strong?"

"He's stronger than the Ten Great Elders, at least."

Moyong Yul-Cheon fell silent. He was truly shocked. "How impressive. To have that much power at such a young age! Even I wasn't that strong in my early twenties."

"As expected, the Northern Army's potential is immense. To raise a martial artist like that in such a short time, even after having everything taken away...they are like weeds that grow back even after being stepped on and trampled again and again."

The smile vanished from Moyong Yul-Cheon's face. Gwan Dae-Seung held his breath and watched his master.

"If you leave a weed unattended, it will eventually ruin the entire mountain and garden. I don't want to see the mountain and garden that I spent so much time and effort creating get ruined."

"I understand what you mean." Gwan Dae-Seung bowed deeply, a slight tremor running through his shoulders. To him, Moyong Yul-Cheon was a god, and his words were law. A mere mortal couldn't defy the will of the divine.

"I hope I never hear the words 'the Northern Army' again. If necessary, ask Seomoon Hwa or Shim Mu-Wae for help. They won't be able to refuse if you say I gave the order."

"I understand."

Moyong Yul-Cheon reached his hand toward the sky beyond the window. He made a grasping motion, closing his outstretched palm.

He knew a human hand couldn't contain the sky. Still, the human desire to challenge the impossible was innate, and he was more faithful to that desire than anyone else.

sep

The revelation that a Silent Night martial artist had made it to the finals of the tournament shocked the jianghu beyond words. Humiliation spread through the Central Plains, enraging its inhabitants. The Demon Hunters' fury, in particular, knew no bounds.

People demanded that Silent Night be eradicated immediately, and many agreed.

Heaven's Summit was quickly engulfed by the clouds of war. Ordinary people, sensing the approaching conflict, were gripped by fear.

Amid this strange mix of fear and madness, one person shone particularly brightly: Dam Soo-Cheon, the Lone Star of the Azure Sky.

He was the hero who had instantly slain Jo Wol, who had driven even Shim Won-Yi into a crisis, thereby restoring the pride of the Central Plains. Seven years ago, he had made a name for himself with the Hundred Duels Trial. And now, he had stepped spectacularly onto the world stage. Crowds chanted his name, certain that he would become the savior of the Central Plains.

The top talents of the jianghu were previously known as the Seven Young Skies, but not anymore. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

The Northern Blade and the Lone Star.

This new term grouped Jin Mu-Won and Dam Soo-Cheon together. Rumor had it that they stood above the Seven Young Skies. Opinions were fiercely divided over who would win in a fight between the two. Some said the Northern Blade would win. Others insisted it would be the Lone Star. They speculated that the two would soon clash to determine who was superior.

In this tense atmosphere, comparing the Northern Blade and the Lone Star was the only comfort they had.

The events at Heaven's Summit were eventually broadcast to all corners of the world, and the Heaven's Summit Northern Army Branch was no exception.

Built on the site of the old Northern Army Fortress, which was reduced to ashes seven years ago, the branch was created to monitor the Silent Night in the northern Central Plains and suppress any initial stirrings.

Jang Cheon-Woo, the branch manager, shouldered the immense responsibility once carried by the Northern Army. Consequently, he was the most surprised by the news from Heaven's Summit.

"So, a successor of the Northern Army is still alive."

His branch stood on the site of the Northern Army's former fortress. He had to walk the same path of thorns they had walked, so the news struck him with extraordinary impact.

"The will of the heavens is truly unfathomable. To send a successor of the Northern Army out into the world again at this time..."

"Uwaaack!"

Suddenly, a loud scream erupted from outside.

Jang Cheon-Woo knew instantly that something was wrong. Grabbing his weapon, he ran outside.

Intruders were swarming over the high wall, setting fires and slaughtering everyone in their path. Caught by surprise, the martial artists of the Northern Army Branch fell without putting up much of a fight.

"Who are you bastards?" Jang roared, swinging a large dao and sending a sharp gust of wind at the intruders.

"Keuk!"

Three intruders screamed and collapsed after being sliced in two, but Jang Cheon-Woo's expression remained grim. There was only one group that would attack this place.

"As I thought, they're from the Silent Night."

Silent Night warriors appeared from all directions, proliferating like evil spirits in the darkness. Jang Cheon-Woo bit his lip firmly. They slaughtered the branch's martial artists like unstoppable demons. He did his best to fend them off, but it wasn't enough. He was incapable of taking on all of them by himself.

Suddenly, they retreated like an ebbing tide, leaving the branch members, who had barely survived, to exchange bewildered glances.

Jang Cheon-Woo was just as confused. They were gaining momentum, but they suddenly retreated? What in the...

TRULULULU!

The sound of a guqin resonated through the area. The martial artists were initially confused, but they soon began to grimace in pain.

"S-Sound Arts!"

"Kuaaack!"

Eardrums burst, and blood streamed from their ears. Those with strong inner qi tried to protect their vitals, but it was useless. The guqin's melody bypassed their eardrums and attacked their minds directly.

Overwhelmed by this formidable sound art, the martial artists of the Northern Army Branch writhed in agony as they died.

Jang Cheon-Woo was no exception. His coronary artery was severed, and his eardrums burst, pouring blood. His heart, which had been beating strongly just moments before, ruptured.

Keuk! If only the Northern Army were still intact...

That was his last thought.

Fifteen minutes after the melody starting playing, everyone was dead.

An old musician finally appeared, surrounded by his bodyguards. He was the Celestial Sound Demon Yoon Cheon-Hak, who had come to avenge his disciple, Geum Dan-Yeop.

The Silent Night's offensive against the Central Plains had begun, with Yoon Cheon-Hak as its vanguard.