Ten Paths of the Master - Chapter 109

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 109. Was Dan Yeop Superior to Hyeol Je?
Five days prior.
Jang An City.
A certain place.
Hong Jin, the Dharma Master known as the Blood Maitreya, bowed respectfully at the foot of the pavilion stairs.
“The Dharma Master, Blood Maitreya Hong Jin, pays his respects to Your Highness.”
“You’ve come a long way. It must have been arduous.”
“Not at all. Compared to Your Highness’s tireless devotion to the cause of Cheonryeon, such effort is nothing to speak of.”
“What came of the matter in Hanamd Province?”
“The Master of the Gwangpung Guild, Seok Jehwan, declared that he has no interest in worldly affairs.”
“That greedy one refused to become king of the three southern provinces?”
“Indeed. He spoke only of strange notions—that compared to the bliss of the celestial realm, dominion over the three southern provinces is nothing at all.”
“It makes sense that Seok Jehwan’s lineage practices the Heavenly Way as a branch of Sinbi Zimen. Yet this is peculiar—he never spoke such words before.”
“I met discreetly with a follower called the Thousand Buddhas, who dwells within the Gwangpung Guild in Bongrae. He reports that Seok Jehwan and his left vice have been conducting themselves in unprecedented ways of late.”
The followers of Cheonryeon exist everywhere—from the imperial palace to the streets.
Naturally, they are scattered throughout the martial sects as well.
The follower Hong Jin had met in Bongrae was one such person.
“Unprecedented ways?”
“Yes. He has been slipping away from the Gwangpung Guild in secret, then returning.”
“Hmph! Seok Jehwan’s affliction has taken root.”
“Did he suffer from an underlying ailment?”
“He practices the bizarre martial arts of Sinbi Zimen.”
Hong Jin tilted his head—the old man had first said Seok Jehwan’s illness had taken root, then spoken of bizarre martial arts. The words seemed at odds.
“Then you mean it manifests like Demonic Obsession—as a pathological condition?”
The old man cut off Hong Jin’s fumbling words.
“When a water serpent cultivates for a thousand years, it ascends to become a true dragon and rises to heaven. Similarly, a human being who cultivates for a thousand years can also ascend. But with human lifespans being so fleeting, such a thing is impossible. To bridge that gulf of insufficient time, they consume the Inner Elixirs and Immortal Elixirs of Spirit Beasts.”
“I see…”
“The Inner Elixir of a Spirit Beast surpasses the Immortal Elixir. And surpassing even that is the Yuan Spirit of a human, which Sinbi Zimen calls the Life Elixir.”
“Surely you don’t mean…”
A person who has had their Yuan Spirit stolen becomes nothing more than a mummy.
Hong Jin’s throat constricted at the depravity of it all, and he swallowed hard.
He knew the Gwangpung Guild was an Evil Sect, but for Seok Jehwan to cultivate such an extreme technique—
By that measure, he ought to have been branded a public enemy of the martial world.
The old saying suddenly felt vivid: you may know the depths of the sea, but never the heart of man.
That Seok Jehwan, known for his magnanimous manner, harbored such a secret!
Seeing Hong Jin’s shock, the old man deftly shifted the conversation.
“Setting that aside—what of your meeting with Dan Yeop?”
Hong Jin set aside the matter of Seok Jehwan and spoke of his encounter with Dan Yeop.
“…He said that if he brought the head of Hyeol Je and made a hundred bows of apology, Cheonryeon might consider improving relations.”
“Hah! The young fool speaks recklessly indeed.”
“Beyond that, he harbors no particular grudge against Cheonryeon, so I deferred judgment pending Your Highness’s decision.”
The old man fell silent for a moment, then asked:
“What was your impression? Is Dan Yeop superior to Hyeol Je?”
“How could I compare Dan Yeop to Hyeol Je? Perhaps in fifty years—but at present, Dan Yeop cannot even follow in Hyeol Je’s shadow.”
“Fifty years is a long time to wait.”
“Regrettably, it is.”
“Make one final attempt to persuade him. If he still refuses to change his mind, guide him to enlightenment with your own hands.”
“Yes.”
***
The present.
Geomnam Province.
Geommun Mountain.
Early evening.
Dharma Master Blood Maitreya Hong Jin stood halfway up the mountainside, gazing down.
In the gorge below, a band of martial artists had made camp for the night.
An investigative team from Jinbo Sangbang, departed from Jang An City.
He had been following them for six days now, all the way from Jang An City.
‘I’m weary of this shadowing game.’
It seemed he would need to bring matters to a close here on Geommun Mountain.
Then Hong Jin let out a long, piercing whistle toward the mountainside below.
Whiiiiii—!
At the base of the mountain.
The wanderers sitting before the campfire snapped their heads up.
A strange whistling sound suddenly cut through the night from somewhere high above, and every face went tense.
The escort guards from the merchant house moved between the men, shouting orders.
“Everyone stay alert where you are!”
“Don’t scatter!”
“No individual movement!”
Shin Woo hurried over to So Gangmu, the escort commander, with a question.
“What is that sound? Has a bandit gang appeared?”
“No bandits, sir—have no fear. The Sword Pavilion lies just beyond these peaks. What madman would attempt highway robbery so close to their territory?”
“Then what is that whistling?”
“It’s possible a master from the Sword Pavilion is passing through and offering a warning.”
“A warning to us?”
“Not to disturb the peace within their domain, it seems.”
“That would be preferable…….”
“Given the depth of that power, it must be one of their masters.”
So Gangmu could think of no other explanation.
“Then shouldn’t we extinguish the fires and retire early?”
“It’s possible—however unlikely—that this isn’t a Sword Pavilion master. Better to leave things as they are.”
Geommun Mountain, composed of seventy-two peaks, was almost a mountain range unto itself.
The mountain stretched for over two hundred fifty li—roughly one hundred kilometers—so this might not be the Sword Pavilion’s doing.
“Has such a thing happened before on Geommun Mountain?”
“This is my first time.”
“Strange business. Who would be whistling in the dead of night, and why?”
“We weren’t even aware anyone was on this mountain, so it couldn’t have been meant maliciously. Perhaps they were simply signaling a companion or a spirit beast in their care.”
Shin Woo, finding merit in this reasoning, nodded thoughtfully.
A full hour passed without incident.
The night mountain lay still, as if nothing had ever occurred.
The wanderers, their nerves still taut, gradually extinguished their campfires and lay down to sleep.
Once everyone had fallen asleep, Dan Yeop quietly rose from his place.
When the watchman approached, Dan Yeop clutched his stomach and spoke.
“I need to attend to something. I’ll be back shortly.”
The watchman waved him on dismissively and returned to his post.
***
Biryeo Peak of Geommun Mountain.
At the summit, bathed in moonlight, stood a monk wearing a conical straw hat.
It was Hong Jin, the Dharma Master of Cheonryeon.
Behind him, holding a steel staff, a figure descended lightly through the air.
“You’re late. I was waiting for you…….”
As Hong Jin turned to speak, his eyes widened in shock.
The person he’d been expecting wasn’t Dan Yeop, but rather an old man whose gaze burned with peculiar intensity.
“Who……are you?”
The old man’s presence was as immovable as Mount Tai, and Hong Jin found himself speaking in respectful tones unbidden.
“I am called Hwang Cheongang, Deputy Master of the Sword Pavilion. Who are you to cause such commotion within our domain?”
“This humble monk is called Hong Jin. I merely sent a signal to meet someone—I had no intention of disturbing your peace.”
Hong Jin answered honestly, unwilling to offend Hwang Cheongang.
Yet at the same time, he felt a flicker of indignation.
Daegeomp Peak, where the Sword Pavilion itself stood, lay a full ten li—roughly four kilometers—away from this spot.
‘Damn it. I’d heard the Sword Pavilion’s territory stretched a hundred li in every direction, but this is truly formidable.’
As Hong Jin grumbled inwardly, a figure approached as swiftly as the wind itself.
It was Dan Yeop.
Dan Yeop caught sight of the old man standing across from Hong Jin and faltered slightly.
Hwang Cheongang’s gaze turned to the youthful newcomer.
“Is this the one you came to meet, monk?”
At the old man’s somewhat cold words, Dan Yeop felt a rush of private relief.
The way the old man addressed Hong Jin suggested they weren’t traveling together.
With that in mind, Dan Yeop made a subtle retreat.
“I am Dan Yeop, a Pokwae of Jang An County. I heard a suspicious whistling sound while performing official duties, so I came up to investigate.”
Presently, Dan Yeop drew a Constable Badge from his clothing and showed it to the old man.
Hwang Cheongang turned his head back to Hong Jin.
“Why did you deceive me?”
“I didn’t deceive you. I made no promise to meet, but it’s true I whistled to call him.”
Hwang Cheongang paused, lost in thought for a moment, then asked Hong Jin a question.
“Which school do you study under?”
Hong Jin hesitated, unable to answer at once.
Hwang Cheongang’s brow furrowed, and he suddenly bellowed.
“You wretch! Can’t you answer straight?”
Hong Jin’s eyes slowly filled with murderous intent as the curse struck him.
“Senior, I’m not a disciple of the Sword Pavilion. Isn’t cursing me a bit much?”
“Hmph! So the brat has his pride, does he? A treacherous creature who can’t even reveal his own sect to a vastly senior questioner.”
“Your words go too far!”
Dan Yeop’s lips itched to speak, but he held his tongue and merely watched.
Hwang Cheongang, an elder of the Sword Pavilion, seemed determined to fight, and continued his provocations.
“So? What will you do about it?”
“If you continue to oppress me, I’ll have no choice but to stand and fight!”
“Try it.”
In that instant, Hong Jin could bear it no longer and launched himself upward into the void.
Hong Jin vanished, and five phantom images hung suspended in the air.
Whoosh-whoosh-whoosh-whoosh!
The five phantom images each unfolded a sweep, a thrust, an upward strike, a downward chop, and a spinning strike, descending upon Hwang Cheongang.
Dan Yeop, astounded by this bizarre technique he had never heard of or seen before, forgot even to breathe.
Hwang Cheongang was no ordinary master either.
Drawing his blade, he thrust the sword’s tip through the empty air in one motion.
Zing-zing-zing-zing!
Dozens of sword shadows streamed from the blade’s point and met the five phantom images.
Shatter-shatter-shatter!
The five phantom images crumbled to dust under the sword shadows.
Just as it seemed the clash was over, Hong Jin appeared like a phantom and brought the Steel Staff down toward Hwang Cheongang’s head.
Facing the unexpected assault, Hwang Cheongang simply released his blade.
In that moment, the sword flew upward in a straight line toward the descending Steel Staff.
Screech!
Crack!
With a deafening explosion that tore at the eardrums, Hong Jin was sent hurtling backward.
Hwang Cheongang pointed at Hong Jin with Sword Finger Control.
The blade, which had remained suspended in the air after colliding with the Steel Staff, flew at Hong Jin once more.
It was a devastating Transcendent Sword Technique.
Hong Jin, already lightly wounded from the brief exchange, dared not meet it head-on and simply spun away, fleeing.
Hwang Cheongang did not pursue further and retrieved his blade.
Then he approached Dan Yeop, who stood with an awkward expression.
“Naeng Hansang owes me a debt, it seems.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“I am something like Naeng Hansang’s senior in training lineage. I am called Hwang Cheongang, Deputy Master of the Sword Pavilion, the Non-Sky Sword Hero.”
“Ah! Yes, you were Senior Naeng’s mentor. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“What is your connection to the monk who just fled?”
“I met him while investigating Cheonryeon. He called himself a Dharma Master of Cheonryeon. You could say we have a relationship like water and oil.”
“Since he’s from Soraeeum Sa, it’s best to be cautious.”
“Soraeeum Sa?”
“The five phantom images that appeared in the air just now are called the Arhat Demon Combat—a secret technique of Soraeeum Sa. They have many bizarre martial arts, so don’t let your guard down.”
“Ah, thank you for the warning.”
“Ahem! I’ve now repaid the debt that Naeng Hansang owed.”
With that, Hwang Cheongang threw himself down the distant valley before Dan Yeop could even respond, and vanished.
Dan Yeop, who had had his hands forced by another, descended the mountain with a light step.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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