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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Cyno
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“How pitiful.”
“Quite pitiful, indeed.”
“Since when did you start agreeing with me so readily? The old you would’ve insisted humans are beautiful and virtuous creatures.”
“That belief hasn’t changed. The essence of humanity is good.”
“……? That doesn’t add up.”
“Those people aren’t humans. They’re martial artists—Wulinin. All they do all day is obsess over martial techniques to kill others. Their very way of thinking is stunted.”
“……It’s absurd hearing that from the man hailed as the greatest among them.”
“Hah, but it’s the truth.”
Byeokrak exchanged banter laced with mockery with Jin Wuyong while leisurely observing the Wulinin’s uproar.
Of course, it wasn’t a particularly pleasant sight. Far from it.
Unable to bear it any longer, he soon turned his gaze away from the martial artists and addressed Cheonjon (Heavenly Venerable One).
By now, Cheonjon had become a literal snowman.
“Cheonjon, we of the Taiyuan Jin Clan shall take our leave now. You’ve worked hard.”
Cheonjon’s lips, covered in white beard and snowflakes, twitched slightly.
“Mmm… T-take care…….”
“Of course. May you remain in peace as well. Okhwa, let’s go.”
“Huh? A-already?”
“Do we have any other business here?”
“N-no… Let’s go. Have you gathered all our belongings?”
“We’ll collect them on the way back to our quarters. We must escort the young lady first.”
“Understood. I’ll prepare immediately.”
As soon as the brief exchange ended, Okhwa dashed ahead like an arrow toward the Taiyuan Jin Clan’s quarters.
She seemed eager to handle everything before Byeokrak had to lift a finger.
Byeokrak let her go without stopping her.
It wasn’t that he enjoyed making her do the work, but if it eased even a fraction of her guilt, then so be it.
And so, as he trudged along the path Okhwa had taken, stepping out of the martial assembly grounds—
—What are your plans from here on out?
Suddenly, Jin Wuyong posed the question to Byeokrak.
Plans regarding what?
—Your future schedule. You must’ve at least sketched something out by now.
Plans… Well, I’ve got a rough idea.
—Let’s hear it. Judging from your memories, the future where you recuperate at Shaolin seems to have gone up in smoke. Didn’t you say something about dealing with your ex-wife and daughter?
I will. But first, I need to obtain the Yi Sheng Wan (Pill of Second Life).
Byeokrak answered as if describing a pre-drawn picture.
—Yi Sheng Wan? For Gayeong?
Yes. The young lady’s current state is no different from standing at the gates of the underworld. She’s practically already aboard the ferry—just not yet departed. I must secure the Yi Sheng Wan as soon as possible. Everything else comes after.
—I see. And how do you plan to obtain this Yi Sheng Wan?
I’ll have to visit the Hao Gate. Only someone at the level of the Hao Gate’s master would know the whereabouts of such a high-grade secret. I intend to make contact with them.
—Understood. That aside… Are you hiding anything from me?
Hiding? What could I possibly hide from you, Master?
—Well… Things buried in the subconscious, perhaps… Everyone has at least one secret.
How could I hide anything from someone who can freely browse my memories? Unless it’s something I’ve kept hidden without realizing because I saw no reason to speak of it.
—Hmm…….
Why do you ask? Is something the matter?
Byeokrak looked genuinely puzzled as he asked.
Jin Wuyong, who had been about to probe further about that thing he glimpsed in Byeokrak’s subconscious, found himself unable to continue upon seeing that expression.
After all, as Byeokrak said, even he—who shared his memories—had been completely unaware of it until now.
—Never mind. It’s just… It seems I’ve got some business of my own to attend to.
Business? You, who’s been idly lounging in my mind all this time?
—You little brat. So now I’ve decided to stop lazing around and get to work. Is a little encouragement too much to ask?
It just feels awkward.
—Tch, fine. Live well on your own. I’ll be reviewing your memories from the very beginning.
As he spoke, Jin Wuyong’s soul, which had been floating in the air, gradually dimmed and faded away.
My memories?
—Don’t mind it. I skimmed through them carelessly before… This time, I’ll comb through everything meticulously, even the times before the regression. It might take a while.
Why would you suddenly—… Tch.
As Jin Wuyong’s presence vanished entirely into his mind, Byeokrak inwardly clicked his tongue.
Truly, an obstinate old man.
“This is our first time meeting face-to-face, isn’t it?”
“Hmm? Didn’t we cross paths occasionally during the Great Blood War?”
“Back then, you were the strategist of the Wulin Alliance. Now, you’re the head of the Namgung Family. They say a person is defined by their position.”
“……I don’t like that remark.”
“My apologies if I’ve offended you.”
Namgung Bin bowed slightly, his heavy waist bending with practiced ease.
The man seated before him, receiving this apology, frowned with clear displeasure.
Regardless, Namgung Bin remained unfazed, his amiable smile unwavering.
Antagonizing this man would bring no benefit.
“I am a busy man. I cannot spare much time for idle chatter.”
“No need to worry. I’m not one for leisure either.”
“That’s precisely what makes this pointless. Had you cut to the chase instead of that earlier remark, we’d have saved time.”
“…….”
“In half a ke (一刻, ~15 minutes), I must attend an audience with His Majesty the Emperor. After that, I have a private luncheon with the Chancellor. Even this meeting with you… Had you been merely the head of the Namgung Family, it would have been impossible.”
“This lowly one has overstepped.”
Individuals whose power rivaled entire factions—beings beyond mortal comprehension.
Even the Twelve Venerables, revered as the pinnacle of the Central Plains martial world, or the Seven Demon Lords of the Bright Divine Sect, hidden deep within the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains—all would bow their heads before these monsters.
No, not just bow—they would grovel in worship before these unfathomable sovereigns.
The world knew them as the Five Peerless Under Heaven (天下五絶).
Among them, the man before Namgung Bin was considered the most inscrutable.
Because, uniquely among the Five Peerless, he did not belong to the martial world.
The highest authority of the imperial court—the Official Sovereign (官尊).
A monster of legend who crushed the lawless martial artists under his heel and imposed upon them the concept of “national law.”
His achievements were as numerous as those of the Sword Saint, but if one were to name his greatest legacy—
It would undoubtedly be the revised “Inviolable Decree Between Court and Martial World” (官武不可侵).
Technically, such a decree had existed before.
Ever since the founding emperor established the nation with the martial artists’ aid, the court and the martial world had maintained an unspoken rule of non-interference.
But back then, the martial world still thrived with the “Unorthodox Factions,” and among them stood the “Path of the Apostate Heaven” (邪道天), an organization so vast it rivaled even the Wulin Alliance in infamy.
That was when the Official Sovereign made his move.
The incident began with the tragedy of a small, remote village.
A sect under the Path of the Apostate Heaven had razed a humble mountain hamlet to the ground—a warning to neighboring villages to pay tribute. Such atrocities were common among the apostate and dark sects of the time.
The problem?
The Official Sovereign’s elderly mother had been residing in that very village.
Though she had a few guards, they were no match for martial artists.
And so, the day’s carnage ignited the Official Sovereign’s wrath.
– Martial artists shall never harm civilians under any circumstances.
– Martial artists shall never possess firearms under any circumstances.
– Fights and killings within the martial world are permitted, but outside it, national law shall never be violated.
Not long after, the Official Sovereign used that incident as justification to proclaim a new Inviolable Decree, now enshrining these three edicts.
Of course, the martial artists, caught off guard by this thunderbolt from a clear sky, immediately rebelled—
– Those who refuse shall be executed by this Official Sovereign and the million-strong Imperial Forest Army.
Faced with this monstrous figure—backed not just by the Eastern and Western Depots and the Embroidered Uniform Guard, but even the Imperial Forest Army—they had no choice but to yield.
Even so, the inherently free-spirited apostate sects of the Path of the Apostate Heaven resisted to the end—
– The law of the land is sacred.
Their defiance earned them annihilation.
And not by the hands of other institutions—but by the Official Sovereign alone.
From then on, the Unorthodox Factions splintered into the Seventy-Two Bandits of the Green Woods and the Eighteen Waterway Strongholds of the Long River.
Later, this fragmentation paved the way for the emergence of the Dark Sovereign, the Black Fist King, who established the “Apostate Alliance,” a coalition of dark factions spanning the nation.
Of course, the new decree didn’t magically make martial artists righteous.
If anything, they colluded with corrupt officials, bribing their way out of taxes—
In the end, only the powerless commoners suffered even more.
For some reason, the Official Sovereign took no action against this.
“I’ve done some research on you.”
“The Official Sovereign’s investigation? I suppose my backside’s been thoroughly exposed.”
“Not your backside, but I’ve uncovered quite a bit about your second and third identities. The Eastern Depot worked hard on it.”
“……Pardon?”
The next words from the Official Sovereign’s mouth caught Namgung Bin slightly off guard.
“Leader of the martial world’s shadow faction—the Dark Heaven Society.”
“…….”
“And head of another shadow faction—the Black Dragon Society.”
“…My, you’ve dug up quite a lot.”
“And three years ago, you ousted the previous Hao Gate Master and took his place.”
“Oh my, that’s not something even the Eastern Depot should’ve been able to uncover…?”
“Do not underestimate the imperial court’s reach. Above all under heaven stands the imperial court.”
“Indeed. I nearly made a fool of myself by underestimating you.”
Pfft—
Namgung Bin let out a deflated laugh, clicking his tongue.
It was all an act.
“But you know what? I happen to know an amusing piece of information about you.”
“……?”
He should’ve stopped here. Venturing further into enemy territory was dangerous.
Yet, despite the risk, Namgung Bin pressed on.
He wanted to humble this man’s arrogance—even if just a little—to make him seem less like the master of all under heaven.
Or at least, he wanted to appear that way.
“Your elderly mother, who was killed by the Bloody Saber Sect in that mountain village.”
“Why bring up my mother?”
“You sent her there, didn’t you? Deliberately.”
“…….”
A top-secret piece of intelligence—one only accessible to the Hao Gate Master, known to but a handful in the world.
And now, it spilled from Namgung Bin’s lips.
“The taxes you collect from martial artists must be quite lucrative, no? Well, the Taoist horse-folk are one thing, but the Five Great Families must be swimming in money. Taxing them alone would net you more than some cities.”
Namgung Bin’s tone was mocking, taunting.
His fist clenched tightly under the table, ready to block any sudden strike.
But contrary to expectations, the Official Sovereign’s reaction was—
“Heh heh heh.”
Not a trace of anger—just a scoffing laugh.
“Hahaha.”
Namgung Bin laughed along, as if keeping tempo.
He could tell his gambit had landed.
“I could have your head right now.”
“Then you’d never learn why I came all this way.”
“Do I need to know?”
“There’s money involved. A lot of it.”
“Heh heh heh.”
“Hahaha.”
Outwardly, laughter and amicable atmosphere flowed between them.
But beneath the surface, the air was as fragile as thin ice.
The Official Sovereign and Namgung Bin were engaged in a fierce, invisible battle of wills.
Of course, as the one in the superior position, the Official Sovereign had the upper hand, forcing Namgung Bin to yield.
“Surely you wouldn’t turn down money?”
“You’ve studied me well before coming. But I am already exceedingly wealthy. Among the richest in this empire.”
“I have an offer that will satisfy even you.”
“Oh? And what might that be? Disappoint me, and the consequences will be… unpleasant.”
As the Official Sovereign posed the question boldly, Namgung Bin tossed out his bait.
“The entire commercial rights of Anhui.”
“……Oh.”
“And the military supply smuggling operations in Anhui.”
“…Tsk, that’s not something you should be meddling in…?”
“It’s shadow work. What does it matter? Profit is profit.”
“Heh heh heh, you… You truly understand me. I should commend you to my subordinates as an example.”
“Hahaha, you flatter me.”
This was the Official Sovereign—a man who’d sent his own mother to her death for money.
The commercial rights of Anhui, a massive province, plus military supply smuggling?
That was wealth surpassing even the largest merchant guilds.
Though he’d already amassed staggering riches, greed for money was insatiable.
“Then… What is it you want?”
“Nothing much. Just lock up one person for me. I’ve even prepared the justification.”
“Hmm……”
The Official Sovereign racked his brain, searching for clues in Namgung Bin’s words.
A person valuable enough to trade for Anhui’s commerce and military smuggling.
Someone whose handling required his direct intervention.
A target whose elimination wouldn’t raise eyebrows.
And someone who either opposed Namgung Bin or stood in his way.
The answer wasn’t hard to find.
“You want the Sword Saint.”
“Correct.”
“Do you believe I can subdue the Sword Saint?”
“……Not exactly.”
“I thought as much. I’ve seen the Sword Saint once before. Until we cross blades, I can’t be certain, but I don’t fancy my chances.”
The Official Sovereign tested him with the question.
Namgung Bin, in the weaker position, smiled warmly and replied.
“You have the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot.”
“They answer directly to His Majesty. I cannot wield them as I please.”
“Oh? Yet you used them to investigate me just fine. That inconsistency bothers me.”
“……Heh heh, this one’s got a sharp memory.”
“My only virtue.”
Namgung Bin’s voice remained smooth as ever—a deliberately crafted tone.
The Official Sovereign disliked it.
Namgung Bin’s lack of tension before one of the Five Peerless irked him.
“Tell me… Have you met the other Peerless besides me?”
“All but the Demon of Tian Shan. One of them is even my elder brother, no?”
“……I see. So you’ve been tempered.”
In truth, Namgung Bin had been suppressing rising fear since earlier.
Even for him, the Five Peerless were not opponents to be taken lightly.
But after the last time—when he’d shown panic and fear outright and had his ear torn off by the Slaughter Saint—he was determined to maintain a calm facade.
To avoid repeating the same mistake.
“However……”
But—
“You should not… underestimate me as you do the others.”
That was a misstep.
“I am no one’s lapdog.”
A misstep born of failing to fully grasp the Official Sovereign’s nature.
“Lest my dignity suffer, heh heh heh.”
“……Damn it.”
By the time he realized it was a misstep, he’d already crossed a river with no return.
Regret was like that.
No matter how early you felt it, it was always too late.
Crunch—
“Heh heh, how fortunate. Only one remains. Who took the other ear?”
“Damn it, damn it, damn it…!”
Even if that realization came in an instant—
“No need to fret too much. I’ll accept your proposal. See what happens when you let petty pride get in the way?”
“Guh……!”
The Official Sovereign’s fingers pinched the soft flesh, pulling slowly—
—as if savoring the reaction of a weaker being.
Riiip—
Before the grip that could shred rock like paper, mere flesh tore away effortlessly.
With each passing moment, Namgung Bin’s face twisted further in agony.
Unlike the Slaughter Saint’s clean strike, this was raw, brutal tearing—pain even Namgung Bin, trained in the Blood Art, couldn’t endure easily.
“Now it’s symmetrical. Much better.”
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