Ten Paths of the Master - Chapter 90

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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 90. You truly cannot accept this?
Two people found themselves locked in confrontation, neither of them having anticipated it.
If Neng Hanshang’s Qi Path were a single blade honed to sharpness, then Go Geomhaeng was a desolate wilderness.
Just as the two of them reached a fever pitch, Dan Yeop stepped between them.
“Gentlemen, perhaps we should both take a moment to compose ourselves.”
Cold water splashed into the fire at the last moment before explosion.
Neng Hanshang, his mood dampened, snorted with a cold laugh before turning his gaze to Dan Yeop.
“Dan the Vagabond Swordsman, we meet again. I see you’ve come to mediate, just as you did back at Jayungak, but this time matters won’t go as you wish.”
The truth was, he had already decided to some degree what Go Geomhaeng’s punishment should be.
A defector fled Geomgak and threw in his lot with Haowen, teaching them martial arts? That fact alone warranted his death.
Had they not known, it would’ve been overlooked, but now that the Cheondomoe had informed them, Geomgak’s honor left no room for leniency.
The severity of Gimun’s penalty would depend on how much martial knowledge had leaked out.
He had come with that settled in his mind, but now a variable had emerged.
“I didn’t come to mediate. I came for a three-way confrontation myself.”
“The person who should be here isn’t a vagabond swordsman—it should be the martial instruction director of Haowen.”
“My apologies for the late introduction. I am Dan Yeop, the martial instruction director of Haowen. The vagabond swordsman part is just temporary.”
…….
Neng Hanshang’s face took on an expression of incredulity as he studied Dan Yeop.
Of course, he had known Dan Yeop was no ordinary man.
Even knowing that Neng Hanshang was a master of Geomgak’s ways, Dan Yeop carried himself with bold daring and unrestrained confidence.
‘I’ve grown careless.’
That peculiar connection and the title of vagabond swordsman had clouded his vision, and he had failed to penetrate the truth of Dan Yeop’s nature despite recognizing his uncommonness.
The last trace of emotion lingering on Neng Hanshang’s face vanished.
“Were you toying with me all this while?”
Yet Dan Yeop did not so much as blink at the shift in Neng Hanshang’s demeanor.
“Why would you think that? I’ve given you everything you asked for. I settled the bill at Jayungak, arranged a meeting with Go Geomhaeng, and even came here in my capacity as Haowen’s instruction director. What more could you want?”
“But you concealed that you were Haowen’s instruction director.”
The tone of Neng Hanshang’s voice had shifted.
The slightest trace of goodwill he had held toward Dan Yeop had evaporated.
“You never asked.”
“That’s—”
For a moment, irritation flared in Neng Hanshang and he raised his voice, but that was all.
He knew that anything further would be nothing but sophistry.
A tense silence stretched between the two men.
From within that chill, Dan Yeop, the presiding figure of this gathering, opened his mouth.
“All you need to do is confirm whether Go Geomhaeng is teaching Geomgak’s martial arts to Haowen, is it not?”
“You’re asking me to believe that Go Geomhaeng learned Haowen’s methods and is teaching them to Gimun?”
“Yes.”
“People can say anything with words. Even rotten fish is still fish, the saying goes. Go Geomhaeng is Geomgak-born, yet you claim he merely learned Haowen’s martial arts? Nonsense. Utter nonsense.”
“If you see firsthand the Haowen martial arts that Go Geomhaeng has learned, you’ll be able to accept it. How? Would you like to see it?”
…….
Neng Hanshang could not fathom why Dan Yeop kept spouting such strange words before him.
Geomgak was supreme in the blade under heaven.
Not only he believed this—all under heaven acknowledged it.
Yet a master from Geomgak had learned Haowen’s martial arts?
It was the same as saying one had taught a running man how to crawl.
Dan Yeop, who had been glaring at him, answered coldly.
“I’ll humor your desire. But if you are not convinced, then Gimun will be bathed in blood this day.”
“Of course it should be so. Then, shall we step outside?”
Moments later, the three of them emerged into the courtyard where the annex stood.
Not a single ant was visible in the vicinity of the annex.
Dan Yeop spoke to Go Geomhaeng.
“It seems Neng Hanshang doubts Haowen’s technique forms. Would you show him the technique forms you learned from Haowen?”
“Very well.”
Go Geomhaeng stepped to the center and slowly drew his blade.
“What I am about to demonstrate is the Jincheonji Tao Technique.”
While blade and saber differ in their application, one can unfold saber methods with a blade as well.
Go Geomhaeng performed the Jincheonji Tao Technique with full power to dispel the misunderstanding.
First form, the Cheonroe Nakcham; second form, the Hoengso Sanjeol; third form, the Pungun Sanghwa…….
Beneath the moonlight, Go Geomhaeng’s blade dance unfolded graceful and beautiful.
Neng Hanshang watched with dispassionate eyes, but his mind churned beneath the surface.
‘Hah!’
Haowen’s martial arts, true to its blade method style, favored cuts over thrusts.
There was none of the breath-stealing drama unique to sword forms, yet the dizzying arcs alone sent shivers through the spine.
‘How could such an elevated blade method exist within Haowen….’
No wonder Go Geomhaeng had found it worth learning.
Yet it struck him as bizarre that Haowen, wielding such profound technique, remained despised throughout the martial world.
Go Geomhaeng concluded with three moves of the Pungun Sanghwa, then sheathed his blade.
A master of Neng Hanshang’s caliber would need only this much to understand.
The Jinbaekryu Tao Technique he kept in reserve for when combat truly erupted. Every true master had to guard at least one secret move.
Dan Yeop posed a question to Neng Hanshang.
“What do you make of it? Haowen’s technique forms are rather serviceable, wouldn’t you say?”
Neng Hanshang felt no particular urge to lie, so he nodded.
“I grant that Haowen’s blade method is exceptional. But that hardly absolves Go Geomhaeng of his crimes.”
Thereupon Go Geomhaeng spoke.
“What crime do I stand accused of?”
“Betraying your sect and fleeing is foremost among them. Second is that your blade method harbors the Secret Essence of Geomgak.”
“I admit I fled Geomgak, but I cannot accept the second charge. Though I was deeply influenced by Geomgak’s teachings, that does not mean my martial arts are wholly theirs. My blade is also steeped in the enlightenment I gained through years as a vagabond swordsman. Do not bind me with the mere fact of my Geomgak lineage alone.”
Neng Hanshang’s lips curled as though in mockery.
“Very well then—strip Geomgak from your blade. If you can still survive without it, I will believe your words.”
He had laid bare the truth: Geomgak’s martial arts and Go Geomhaeng were inseparable.
Go Geomhaeng understood the meaning beneath his words, and despair washed over him.
‘Ah! Neng Hanshang has no intention of letting me go.’
Go Geomhaeng, who had been sighing, opened his mouth.
“Your words ring true. The foundation of my martial arts is Geomgak, and I shall never escape that bond. Yet I implore you—clear me of the misunderstanding that I taught Geomgak’s arts to Gimun. Should you grant me that alone, I will gladly obey your will in all things, whatever you desire.”
Neng Hanshang turned his gaze toward Dan Yeop.
“Do you see? Even he has confessed to his crimes. Still you deny it?”
Dan Yeop did not refute him.
“If that is what the master says, then so it must be. Since the master also testified that he never taught martial arts to Gimun, Gimun and Geomgak bear no relation. Do you agree with my words?”
In that moment, Neng Hanshang’s mind raced.
So Go Geomhaeng never taught Geomgak’s arts to Gimun—that much was now clear.
Yet Gimun had brazenly accepted a defector from Geomgak as a martial instructor.
He could not overlook that, knowing what he knew.
After a pause, Neng Hanshang spoke as though bestowing mercy.
“But Gimun did receive a defector from Geomgak as their instructor. That too is an unforgivable crime. Therefore, I will hold Gimun accountable—by taking their Sect Leader’s head, and there the matter ends.”
At those words, Go Geomhaeng clenched his teeth and trembled.
It had been so long since he left Geomgak that he had forgotten his own position.
‘Ah! How foolish I have been.’
When Ha Soran had extended her offer to recruit him, something had clouded his eyes.
The thought that Ha Soran would die because of him was unbearable.
Meanwhile, Neng Hanshang studied the silent Dan Yeop intently.
Such a shocking declaration—yet why did he sit there like a spectator watching a distant fire?
Unable to endure it any longer, Neng Hanshang asked.
“Do you have something else you wish to say?”
“No sir. An upstart like myself has received much instruction from Geomgak’s Neng today. I am genuinely grateful for that.”
“…….”
Neng Hanshang did not believe Dan Yeop would end it here.
And he was right.
Dan Yeop continued.
“For the same reason, as the martial pathway guide of Haowen, I too must hold Neng accountable for his crimes. You stole Haowen’s technique forms under the guise of investigation. The offense is grave, yet I intend only to take Neng’s head while holding Geomgak blameless. You see, I am fond of the saying ‘Eye for Eye, Tooth for Tooth’—it comes from a Western scripture, I believe. Do you have any objection to this?”
“…….”
Neng Hanshang regarded Dan Yeop with an odd expression.
When anger grew too fierce, it often crystallized into stillness.
That was his state now.
“You claim I stole Haowen’s techniques? Do you have proof?”
“You yourself are the proof.”
“Ha! I am? How so?”
“Demonstrate a single Dokmun blade form from Geomgak. You will have no choice but to admit it.”
“Nonsense.”
“It is simple work, yet still you refuse. You do not wish to confess to stealing Haowen’s arts, do you?”
“Madman. Give them an inch and they’ll take a mile!”
At last, Neng Hanshang’s mouth erupted with a string of profanities.
In truth, he had shown considerable restraint until now.
By his nature, he would have ended this in the inner chambers long ago—never would he have stepped into the courtyard at all.
He had come this far driven by the strange fortune of last night and curiosity about Dan Yeop.
But even that had its limits.
Just as he was about to draw the Ancient Sword, Dan Yeop spoke.
“Force cannot suppress truth.”
The words touched something in him, and Neng Hanshang released the hilt.
“I don’t know what trick you’re plotting, but I’ll indulge you as you wish. If you fail to submit after witnessing Geomgak’s blade method, I will wash Haowen in blood today.”
Neng Hanshang immediately unfolded the first two forms of the Mujin Geombeop, his school’s secret technique.
First form: Daylight Mountain’s End.
The dazzling sword light tore through the empty air with force enough to cleave a mountain.
Screeeee—!
Second form: Yellow River Enters the Sea.
Countless sword shadows bloomed from the Ancient Sword, crashing over the separate building like a tidal wave.
Tap-tap-tap-tap-tap—!
When Neng Hanshang finally withdrew his blade, the sword shadows that had filled the air vanished without trace.
As Neng Hanshang looked at Dan Yeop with confident eyes, Dan Yeop’s mouth opened.
“Dear me! You’ve borrowed quite well from our Jincheonji Tao Technique’s Secret Essence, haven’t you? In the first form, I distinctly felt the essence of Cheonroe Nakcham and Hoengso Sanjeol, and in the second, Pungun Sanghwa’s essence. Surely you won’t deny it?”
“Where would that…”
Neng Hanshang tried to rebut at once, but suddenly found himself unable to continue.
There was a saying called All Streams Return to Sea.
It meant that once you reached a certain pinnacle, everything became much the same.
All rivers may differ, but in the ocean there is no distinction.
Blade methods and Qi Paths were no exception.
Moreover, when he had observed Go Geomhaeng’s Qi Path just moments before, he had even gained a subtle insight.
Perhaps that insight had been reflected in the Mujin Geombeop.
As countless thoughts tangled together, Neng Hanshang could only blink.
Then Dan Yeop spoke in an even tone.
“Even if Go Geomhaeng’s origin was Geomgak, he has now entered a different path. Someone of your stature would have understood just from observing Go Geomhaeng’s Qi Path. Why are you so desperate to kill Go Geomhaeng? Is it because a defector from Geomgak has entered Haowen? Cannot Geomgak’s honor tolerate it?”
Struck by words that pierced the heart, Neng Hanshang let out a bitter laugh.
“You speak truly. The problem is a Geomgak defector entering Haowen. Tch! I wasted time producing plausible excuses. Now that you know, what will you do? Will you die here together with Go Geomhaeng? Or will you sever your bond with him and retreat to preserve your life?”

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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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