#6

Chapter 2

The One Chosen by a Person (2)

“I’m talking about the clown show being put on by the bastards who’ve come to take that, Cheon Yu-ha brat. Thanks to them, the Cheon Estate is packed to the brim every single day.”

The Cheon estate’s—Manor house—was so crowded it no longer had a single room to spare. Aside from those who had secured guest status early on, the rest were renting rooms at nearby inns and commuting back and forth to Cheon Estate daily.

They all had the same purpose.

To get their hands on Cheon Yu-ha.

They were desperately trying to curry favor with both the head of the Cheon family and Yu-ha himself.

“There are even some reckless bastards who have attempted to kidnap Cheon Yu-ha.”

“Kidnap him?”

“Indeed. Though they failed.”

“W-wait… then wouldn’t they just earn his resentment? Aren’t they trying to bring the Star-Fated Prodigy to their side as an ally?”

“There is more than one way to make someone follow you, isn’t there? They likely intended to take him by force, then threaten and mold him to their own tastes. The groups from the Unorthodox Path and the Demonic Way have incredibly radical ways of thinking. If they didn’t, they wouldn’t be called ‘Unorthodox’ or ‘Demonic’ in the first place.”

“If they are both radical, what exactly is the difference between the Unorthodox Path and the Demonic Way?”

When Hyeong-un asked that, Gwi-hyeok was momentarily at a loss for words. To him, the answer was such a matter of common sense that he couldn’t think of how to explain it.

“Hmm. It’s a bit complicated to put into words…”

“Is it that complicated?”

“To summarize it simply… the Unorthodox are radical human scum.”

“And the Demonic Way?”

“They are garbage that has transcended even human scum.”

“…Ah, I see.”

It was a description that was somehow both easy and impossible to understand.

Gwi-hyeok continued.

“The crowds of the Unorthodox Path are likely the types you see often. You know those guys in the back alleys, carrying a blade in their robes and acting all high and mighty? Those sorts are the Unorthodox.”

“Ah, like the uncles at the pleasure houses or the gambling dens… those kinds of people?”

“More or less. Those of the Demonic Way are rare, but it’s best to go through life without ever seeing them.”

“Why is that?”

“Because usually, any commoner who realizes they are looking at members of the Demonic Way ends up dead.”

“….”

Hyeong-un gulped hard. They truly must be a group of the most heinous villains. Gwi-hyeok smiled, as if finding Hyeong-un’s reaction amusing.

“No need to fret. Now that you’re my disciple, you won’t have to fear scum like that.”

“Ah… yes”

“We’re just about there.”

Gwi-hyeok stopped in his tracks in front of the Cheon Clan Estate. He took hold of the door knocker and knocked; soon, a guard wearing a sword emerged and asked.

“What business brings you here?”

“I’ve come to see young master Cheon Yuha, the lord’s son.”

At that, the guard’s expression turned noticeably indifferent.

Which was only natural—people like that had been coming in droves. By now, the only guests staying within the Cheon Estate were figures with formidable reputations.

Despite his expression, the guard spoke in a fairly polite manner.

“I’m sorry, but the Cheon Family Estate currently has too many guests, and there are no vacant rooms available. Under normal circumstances, the Lord would have gladly received you as a guest, but the situation doesn’t allow it.”

“I have no intention of staying as a guest. I have simply come to see the boy. It seems there are many others here for the same reason, are there not?”

“That is true, but…”

“Then there is no reason I should be barred from seeing him either.”

“If you insist, could you please reveal your identity?”

Seeing that Gwi-hyeok had no intention of backing down, the guard asked for his credentials. It was a natural question; they couldn’t simply allow every bit of riffraff through the gates.

“I am Gwi-hyeok of the Cloud-Divination Sect.”

“And… by what title might you be known in the world?”

If one was famous in Jianghu, they were bound to have a moniker. Gwi-hyeok replied.

“I am known as the Roaring Thunder Fist. However, I doubt my name has reached this far. I hail from the city of Jinhae, you see.”

“Ah…”

As Gwi-hyeok spoke with such smooth confidence, the guard wore a troubled expression. He had never heard of the Cloud-Divinition Sect, nor of the name ‘Roaring Thunder Fist.’

However, he couldn’t just dismiss it, because Jinhae Province was a region that would take more than two months to reach on foot from here. Moreover, Gwi-hyeok’s attire was neat and his demeanor was dignified, so it didn’t seem like he was faking his identity.

“Could you please wait a moment? I’ll inform those inside.”

“Go ahead.”

As the guard went inside, Hyeong-un asked.

“Master… does that mean I’ll become a member of the Cloud-Divination Sect?”

“No.”

“What?”

Because Gwi-hyeok denied it as though it were the most obvious thing in the world, Hyeong-un’s eyes widened in shock.

If his master belonged to the Cloud-Divination Sect, wouldn’t it be natural for the disciple to belong there as well?

Gwi-hyeok gave a wide grin.

“The Cloud Divination Sect is simply a name this Master uses when he needs to disguise his identity.”

“d-disguise?”

“Yes. Because my true identity is not something that can be spoken of lightly. Well, to the outside world, you’ll be known as a disciple of the Cloud Divination Sect as well. Since that sect is a subordinate faction under my command and I’ve already registered our names, technically it’s not fraud.”

At those words, Hyeong-un became thoroughly confused. Just what was his master’s true identity that he had to use a disguise instead of revealing it proudly?

‘Is he a Castle Lord? Or perhaps even… royalty?’

He had heard that sometimes such high-ranking people hid their identities to travel incognito. Could Gwi-hyeok be one of those people?

Having worked at an inn since he was a child, Hyeong-un had encountered all sorts of people, giving him a fairly sharp eye for judging others. And judging by his own intuition, it was clear that Gwi-hyeok was someone of incredibly noble status.

‘He’s wealthy, clearly used to commanding others… hmm. And yet, he doesn’t seem to look down on people for no reason.’

Hyeong-un’s curiosity was growing by the second. He agonized over it. What should I do? Should I just ask him?

But just then.

THOOM!

A heavy, massive noise reverberated from within the Cheon Family Estate. It sounded like a massive boulder had been dropped from the sky. The sound was so immense that it felt vivid, as if it had happened right before their eyes.

Startled, Hyeong-un asked.

“W-what was that?”

“Hmm. Sounds like something has happened inside. Let’s head in.”

“Huh? But the guard hasn’t come back yet…”

“If trouble has broken out inside, he won’t be coming back even if we wait.”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Gwi-hyeok stepped straight into the Cheon family estate. Hyeong-un hesitated for a second, but had no choice but to scurry after him.

By the time Gwi-hyeok and Hyeong-un arrived inside the courtyard, the scene had already descended into utter chaos.

A thick black fog blanketed the surroundings, and through the haze, countless figures could be seen locked in combat.

But the opponents they were fighting were strange—unnatural. While some were humans clad entirely in black, others were grotesque creatures that looked as if they were forged from condensed darkness. These creatures, with jagged and distorted human silhouettes, lunged at the people with glowing red eyes.

Startled, Hyeong-un cried out,

“Master! W-What are those monsters?!”

“Maryeong-gwi (Demonic Spirit-Wraiths). They are created by qi-sorcerers of the Demonic way who use Evil Spirit Arts to draw up the energy of the Demonic Realm and create them.”

“Evil Spirit Arts?”

“It is a form of Phantom illusion Art belonging to the Demonic Way—one that can only be wielded by those who have completely abandoned their humanity.”

As Gwi-hyeok explained, his eyes scanned the grounds. Though the Demonic sorcerers and the wraiths they commanded were in the midst of a fierce battle, the person Gwi-hyeok was looking for was nowhere to be seen.

“Strange. There’s no one here who possesses enough qi to pull something like this off.”

The technique deployed across the grounds was not cast by the Demonic sorcerers currently present. It was clearly the work of a single individual, yet no one with the immense internal energy required to maintain a spell of this scale was in sight.

Seokjun’s report came through.

— The mastermind behind the incident has already withdrawn from the scene. They’ve kidnapped Cheon Yu-ha.

— Kidnapped?

— Yes. Several people are currently in pursuit.

—To pull such a stunt in broad daylight… bold indeed.

The Demonic Way is a faction despised by all. The moment their presence is detected within a city’s walls, it isn’t just martial artists of Jianghu who mobilize—even the government troops will commit their full force to hunt them down and exterminate them.

Knowing full well what this entails, they still dared to pull off something like this in broad daylight… they must be exceptionally confident in their skills, overflowing with guts, or…

‘Or maybe they’re just insane—true to the Demonic Way.’

Demonic Cultivation or Evil Spirit Arts increase one’s power through methods that abandon human morality, and in the process, they often warp the human psyche as well. As a result, many madmen who could not be understood through common sense existed among the ranks of the Demonic Way.

‘But it will take time before the Government finds out about this situation. These people won’t report it themselves. And even if they did, it would be too late.’

Figures of the Murim loath to have public law enforcement intervene in their affairs. Consequently, they have a strong tendency to try and resolve even the most sinister incidents amongst themselves.

In that case, should I simply trust in the skills of those gathered at the Cheon Estate and watch from the sidelines?

“Master.”

Hyeong-un’s voice reached Gwi-hyeok while he was lost in thought. As Gwi-hyeok looked toward him, Hyeong-un asked.

“Aren’t you going to help them?”

“Hmm?”

“They’re fighting monsters and…”

Hyeong-un asked hesitantly. To him, the situation was clear: a group that looked like villains was attacking people with monsters, and others were desperately fighting back. Yet unlike when he had helped him, Gwi-hyeok showed no sign of stepping in. That struck Hyeong-un as genuinely strange.

Feeling Hyeong-un’s gaze, Gwi-hyeok flinched slightly.

In truth, he tended to be rather cold-hearted regarding disputes between martial artists. However, he wasn’t the type to ignore the Demonic Scum running amok either. He had simply been lost in thought, trying to grasp the situation and set his priorities.

But to Hyeong-un, that composure must have seemed deeply odd.

Under Hyeong-un’s innocent stare—filled with the unspoken question of ‘why aren’t you helping?’—something poked painfully at Gwi-hyeok’s chest. He felt a sudden pressure, as if he shouldn’t shatter the expectations of his newly accepted disciple.

“Of course I’ll help,”

Gwi-hyeok said, clearing his throat.

“But this looks like something they can handle on their own for now. I was merely waiting on some vital information.”

After saying that, Gwi-hyeok faked a light cough.

Hyeong-un then asked.

“What do you mean, ‘vital information’?”

“That brat Cheon Yu-ha has been kidnapped.”

“What? The one they call the Star-Fated Prodigy?”

“Yes. It seems this entire commotion was sparked during the process of snatching the kid. My subordinates are currently pinning down his location, so I’ll be moving shortly.”

Having made that quick excuse, Gwi-hyeok immediately contacted his subordinate, Seok-jun—who was on standby nearby via Sound Transmission.

—You’ve pinpointed the Cheon kid’s location by now, haven’t you?

—Yes.

Seok-jun relayed Cheon Yuha’s position to Gwi-hyeok. He then spoke out loud.

“He’s not far from here. Those from the Cheon Estate have set out, but their movements were spotted, and it seems several other groups are in pursuit as well.”

“Huh?”

“Why the look?”

{TL Note: Jinhae is also a fortress city like Hojang}