“A letter has arrived from the Heretic Path's Alliance.”

“Huh!?”

“A letter now?”

“Everyone, calm down.”

Cheon Yusin, who had received the letter from Gu Daepil, opened the letter and read its contents.

“Hoo.”

Cheon Yusin, who had read the contents of the letter, handed it to Dokgo Jeokmyeong.

Dokgo Jeokmyeong, who had also confirmed the contents of the letter, read the contents of the letter so that everyone could hear.

“They have sent a one-sided notification. The Heretic Path's Alliance has chosen Pyeongmu as the decisive battleground.”

“Pyeongmu… it’s far from the city, so there’s no need to think about civilian casualties, and since the flat land spreads wide, there’s no need to worry about ambushes. For a decisive battleground chosen by the Heretic Path's Alliance, it’s a decent place.”

As Zhuge Yeop had explained, Pyeongmu was not a place that the Heretic Path's Alliance would have chosen.

Nevertheless, the fact that they had chosen Pyeongmu meant.

“It must mean they are confident.”

“We are confident too. The reason the righteous martial world was hit hard in the beginning was because of the cunning surprise attack of the heretic path. If it had been a fair fight, the heretic path would never have been a match for the righteous path!”

Peng Sogeon shouted in excitement.

Even though he had already suffered damage close to annihilation, there was a reason why Peng Sogeon could be so confident.

It was because of the scale of the Martial Alliance that had gathered in Sichuan.

At the crisis of the martial world that had come after the Righteous-Demon War, the martial factions belonging to the righteous path had joined forces and had gathered.

The scale was only disappointing compared to the Righteous-Demon War, but it was a considerable scale.

“What do you think?”

Dokgo Jeokmyeong, Zhuge Goun, and Zhuge Yeop.

In fact, the three people with the most outstanding intellect in the current Martial Alliance looked at each other.

“We have to go anyway.”

As Zhuge Yeop said with his arms crossed, the rest nodded their heads as if in agreement.

“Whether we like it or not, we are in a position to follow the heretic path. If they gather in Pyeongmu, we also have to gather in Pyeongmu. And since the decisive battleground has been decided… we have to move as quickly as possible.”

“Isn’t there a possibility that they have already set up an ambush in Pyeongmu?”

“That is…”

Zhuge Yeop shifted his gaze from Gu Daepil.

“I will ask the master.”

Gu Daepil nodded his head as if he had been waiting.

“We will clear the way first.”

“It won’t be an easy path. Thank you.”

“This is also the role of the Beggars' Sect. Please fulfill your role as the temporary alliance leader.”

Cheon Yusin nodded his head, patted Gu Daepil’s shoulder, and then looked at the remaining leaders.

The scale of the tent had become even larger.

And the leaders of numerous martial factions and families had gathered.

The leaders, who had been around ten, had now grown to dozens.

Cheon Yusin said to them in a short and firm voice.

“The rest of you, prepare for war.”

***

“Please let me meet the abbot.”

“Even if you meet him, nothing will change.”

“At least the reason… please tell me the reason!”

A commotion broke out in the Shaolin Temple, which should have been quiet.

Even in the unfamiliar situation, the monks of the Shaolin Temple tried to ignore the monk who was causing the commotion and went on their way.

“Please… let me at least talk to him.”

“Didn’t I say you can’t!”

The Hundred Hands Golden Palm, Song Wu.

His position in the Shaolin Temple was by no means low.

But he was now in the lowest place in the Shaolin Temple.

He prostrated himself on the floor and begged and begged.

“Please let me see the abbot. If you don’t, I will not move a single step from here.”

Song Wu did not move from in front of the abbot’s room.

And after enduring like that, the tightly closed door of the abbot’s room opened.

A small build.

Deep-set eyes.

Although he had the appearance of an old man, a brilliant light came from his deep-set eyes.

He was the abbot of the Shaolin Temple, Seungryun.

Seungryun approached with slow steps and sat in front of Song Wu.

“Monk Song Wu.”

“Abbot…”

“Come in.”

At Seungryun’s gesture, Song Wu entered the abbot’s room with him.

A small altar and a bookshelf.

One cushion.

That was all.

Seungryun served the tea he had personally brewed to Song Wu, who had entered the simple abbot’s room.

Song Wu looked down at the green tea poured into the cup and carefully opened his mouth.

“There is something I would like to ask.”

“You must be curious about the reason why the Shaolin Temple is silent, right?”

“…That’s right.”

“The Shaolin Temple has used the martial arts we have accumulated for the peace of the martial world for generations. The monks of the Shaolin Temple, who should follow the path of Buddhism and forbid killing, have stained their hands with blood. So this time, I will ask.”

Seungryun’s voice was languid, but in it, the experience and integrity of an old monk could be felt.

“If the Shaolin Temple has to stain its hands with blood this time too… are we really Buddhist monks who walk the path of Buddhism?”

“But if this continues, a disaster incomparable to the Righteous-Demon War will come!”

“The Righteous-Demon War… I experienced the Righteous-Demon War when I was young. It was a series of fierce battles, and my hands were also stained with the blood of many demons. They were demons. But the Heretic Path's Alliance is not.”

At Seungryun’s completely unexpected answer, Song Wu was greatly flustered.

“Abbot! What… what do you mean by that!?”

“In the Righteous-Demon War, we fought against demons. We fought against those who had become demons by worshiping the Heavenly Demon and learning demonic arts. That’s why I could stain my hands with blood. But the Heretic Path's Alliance, although they are evil people… they are human.”

“You mean… the Heretic Path's Alliance, although they may be evil people, are human… so we cannot stop them with the power of the Shaolin Temple.”

“Yes. And can you find justice in the war that the righteous and heretic paths are waging this time? I don’t think so. It’s not a matter of right and wrong, but just a matter of who is closer to us. Monk Song Wu.”

“…”

“I think the power of the martial world has grown too much.”

Seungryun lifted the teapot and poured tea into the cup.

As he poured tea into the already filled cup, it overflowed, wet the altar, and flowed to the floor.

“The power of the martial world is going beyond the place where they should be. Thanks to that, they are trying to cross a line that should not be crossed.”

Only then did Song Wu understand Seungryun’s true intentions.

“Abbot… do you mean… you wish for the entire martial world to collapse?”

“It’s not that I wish for it. It’s just…”

Seungryun lifted the cup full of tea, poured it on the floor, and then placed the empty cup on the altar.

“I wish for a new beginning.”

“Monk! The Shaolin Temple and the righteous path have been together for hundreds of years! But now you wish for the martial world to start anew? Who decided that!? Even now, there are martial artists who are fighting, sacrificing themselves to protect the peace of the martial world. Are you saying that the Shaolin Temple will pretend not to see… their sacrifice?”

“The Shaolin Temple has never been on anyone’s side from the beginning.”

Seungryun said this and stretched out his hand.

Song Wu, who had realized that his fingertips were about to touch his own chest, spread his two hands.

The two monks’ hands, which were shining with a golden light, clashed fiercely.

“As expected of the Hundred Hands Golden Palm. But… I am the abbot of the Shaolin Temple.”

Seungryun, who had subdued Song Wu’s two hands with just one hand, touched his vital points with his two fingers.

Song Wu, whose vital points had been subdued in an instant, could not even open his mouth and his whole body stiffened.

“You will not understand me even until the end of your short human life. Because the things you are worried about will not happen.”

“…”

Song Wu glared at Seungryun with wide-open eyes.

At that, Seungryun slowly got up.

Soon, the door of the abbot’s room opened, and four monks came in and lifted Song Wu.

He, who had stiffened like a stone, was carried outside in a sitting position.

“Lock him in the repentance cave.”

“I understand.”

As Song Wu left, young novice monks came in and wiped and cleaned the abbot’s room.

Seungryun stroked the heads of the novice monks and muttered.

“The martial world is just a passing wind…”

His gaze was fixed on the golden-sealed letter placed under the altar.

“You cannot defy the heavens.”

***

“At this rate, we’ll starve to death first.”

Gu Yong looked at the food piled up in one place as if he were fed up.

They, who were currently trapped under the Tianzhu Peak of Wudang Mountain, were refusing the food that was delivered at a set time every day.

Since they were martial artists, they could endure without eating anything for a few days, but the problem was that they did not know when they could get out, so they did not know how much longer they had to starve.

“Foolish bastards… you won’t survive anyway, so what are you worried about.”

Dan Mugi looked at Gwak Myeong and Gu Yong, who were not even drinking water for fear of poison, as if they were pathetic.

Gwak Myeong sat cross-legged and was deep in thought.

‘This is Tianzhu Peak.’

He recalled the path they had come in his mind.

He had to walk a path of about thirty zhang to the center of Tianzhu Peak where the prison was.

‘Thirty zhang in a straight line.’

Gwak Myeong got up from his seat and touched the door, which was emitting a cold air, with his hand.

“Gu Yong.”

“Yes, Great Master.”

“This is Tianzhu Peak. Although they have set up a device to bury Dan Mugi… it doesn’t change the fact that it’s the most sacred place in Wudang.”

“That’s… true, but.”

Gu Yong looked at Gwak Myeong with an ominous gaze.

The reason why he had refused even food and had avoided the poison.

And the fact that he had not fed Dan Mugi those foods meant.

“D-don’t tell me…”

While Gu Yong was stuttering, Ryang cackled.

“Are you really going to do that?”

Gwak Myeong, instead of answering, walked to Dan Mugi and asked him.

“Dan Mugi.”

“What.”

“Your tendons were cut, your eyes were pulled out, and even your dantian was lost.”

“Hehehe… yes. Is there anything more to say.”

“Nevertheless, you are alive.”

“Speak correctly. I couldn’t die… I’m not alive.”

“Why.”

“What?”

“I’m asking why you are alive.”

“Why are you curious about that?”

At Dan Mugi’s question, Gwak Myeong clenched his fist hard.

“Because only by knowing that… Can I get out of here.”

“What? Hahahaha!!”

Dan Mugi laughed out loud.

Because only then did Dan Mugi seem to understand what Gwak Myeong was trying to do.

“You were a completely crazy bastard. You.”

“So tell me. Is the reason you are alive simply because the Wudang Sect has kept you alive. Or… is it for revenge.”

Dan Mugi smiled coldly with his slightly open mouth.

“I have never forgotten the Blood Jade for a single moment. Although my tendons were cut and my dantian was broken… my power is still the same.”

“Are you sure?”

“Do you want to test it?”

Now that he had made up his mind, Gwak Myeong had no hesitation.

Gu Yong approached Gwak Myeong, who was drawing his sword, shaking his head.

“Think carefully! Something irreversible might happen!”

“Irreversible things are already happening.”

Gwak Myeong’s sword struck the iron chains that were binding Dan Mugi hard.

As befitting his title of the Wave-Breaking Sword, his powerful sword ki-imbued blade crushed the iron chains, and the stakes that were deeply embedded in his vital points were also pulled out.

For decades.

The sect master of the Ming Cult, who had been deprived of his freedom.

Dan Mugi took a deep breath at the freedom he had regained after a long time.

“Phew—!!”

Every time he breathed in and out, his body swelled up.

Soon, a black demonic ki wriggled and flowed out like smoke through his pores.

“Gwak Myeong.”

Dan Mugi faced Gwak Myeong with his empty eyes.

Even though he had no eyes, it felt as if his gaze could be felt.

“Tell me the plan.”

“You and I will join forces and open the door. There is no second chance. We have to open it in one go. For that, I need your power. If you deceive me.”

Gwak Myeong’s sword touched Dan Mugi’s neck.

“You will die at my hands.”

“Kilkilkil… don’t worry.”

A black energy resembling a snake wriggled and gathered in Dan Mugi’s two hands.

“The Daoists of Wudang have eyes but cannot see, and they have heads but cannot think.”

A smile formed on his lips.

“To think that they would equate demonic arts with their own martial arts.”

Although he had no tendons and no dantian, he had something else.

Dan Mugi pointed to his upper dantian and cackled.

“Do you know why those who learn demonic arts go mad? Because the demonic ki grows from the upper dantian, which is close to the head.”

Dan Mugi, who had stretched out his two hands forward, said.

“You said your name was Gu Yong. Come and help. Beggar. It’s hard to hold up my arms.”

“Phew…”

Gu Yong approached Dan Mugi and aimed his arms so that they would be towards the door.

“Wave-Breaking Sword. I have entrusted my life to you, so do not fail.”

Gwak Myeong gripped his sword and nodded his head.

“I will not fail.”

“To think that the day would come when I would bet my life on a disgusting righteous path bastard.”

“The same goes for me.”

“There is no signal. You… cut on your own.”

A palm force spewed from Dan Mugi’s two hands.

The force was so great that even Gu Yong was surprised, and he had to use all his strength to hold and support him so that Dan Mugi would not fly away.

And the moment the black wheel palm that had left Dan Mugi’s hands struck the iron door.

Gwak Myeong’s sword shone.

(End of Chapter)