Chapter 167: Rainy Day Victory 1

The demon generals of the vanguard led by Noknok Maya departed for Hanjung. Cheonryongsa stated he would follow shortly and remained behind for the moment.

Though more demon generals remained in the summer camp, Cheonryongsa deemed them insignificant.

Some were too old, while others had been injured in fights among the horsemen themselves, rendering them useless even as cripples.

Seated upon a golden throne, the Heavenly Dragon held his massive golden staff in his right hand as he addressed the Sixteen Yaksha Guardians, his protective warrior monks.

“I shall put an end to preaching to deaf ears.”

Cheonryong declared, gazing up at the heavens.

“Yaksas, send the unconnected beings of the lower realms to hell.”

This meant to kill the remaining ones.

‘Beings without karmic connection’ meant those who had never formed a bond with the Buddha, implying Cheonryong never considered them worthy of guidance. In essence, he had cleared the lower realms the moment the Noknokmaya group departed.

The Sixteen Yaksha Deities carried out the command as if it were only natural.

“Understood.”

Since the old bandits whose martial arts were still somewhat useful had already swarmed around Nokrokmaya, there was no master in the lower realm capable of blocking the combined attack of the Sixteen Yaksha Deities. Even as the slaughter unfolded, the Heavenly Dragon did not chant sutras. Instead, he stared intently at the spot where Nokrokmaya was gradually disappearing.

‘Noknokmaya, now let’s see what you’re really made of.’

Cheonryong intended to kill both Noknokmaya and all the other demon lords.

Of course, if Nok Nokmaya and Baek Moo-jin clashed first, that too would suit Cheonryong well.

And then the King of the Way, the King of Power, the King of Life…

These were figures who had either refused to join Bicheon or caused trouble. One attempt at recruitment was enough.

Cheonryong was a man who believed everyone should be beneath Bicheon.

That was precisely the meaning of Bicheon as Cheonryong understood it.

2.

Luo Luo Maya headed for Hanzhong. The Demon King of the North, the Moonlit Demon, and the Blood Demon of Wangsan followed closely behind, with the demon lords and villains who regarded Luo Luo Maya as their leader trailing after them. However, their total number was barely ten. This was partly because the Celestial Dragon hadn’t permitted a large force, and partly because he had insisted only the elite should go.

Fully aware of how the Celestial Dragon Sect would respond, Green Green Maya addressed the other demon lords while deploying his lightness skill.

“By now, our brothers in the lower realms must all be dead.”

“Huh?”

“What did you say?”

Mangsan Blood Demon gave a faint snort of derision. He, too, had vaguely anticipated it.

Noknokmaya said.

“We’ll meet the same fate.”

Moonlit Demon glanced behind him and shouted.

“Let’s flee! What’s going on? The bald-headed Heavenly Dragons are nowhere to be seen.”

At those words, Noknokmaya laughed.

“We’re heading to Hanjung.”

“Why?”

“Huh?”

At that moment, sensing someone’s presence, Gonoshinma let out a low growl.

“These bastards are ambushing every single road to Hanjung.”

“I suppose so.”

Noknokmaya nodded. Literally, the watchers had tailed them.

It felt like being hunted in a game. The masters of the Heavenly Dragon Sect were keeping their distance, maintaining intervals as they moved with lightness techniques, like guards watching over a dangerous criminal. Only then did the bandits realize their role was truly just bait.

Noknokmaya sneered.

“Watching us fight, the Cheonryongsa will step in. If they don’t, we’ll have to fight the entire Cheonryongsa. Heh heh heh… They want us and Baek Mujin to destroy each other.”

What a cruel world.

These nomads had lived cruelly themselves, yet the way the lowly treated them was truly heartless. Moreover, they had lied while using the words “lawlessness” and “guidance,” so the nomads’ anger was boiling over.

It felt like their later years had been toyed with.

But Nokroumaya seemed content just to see the world again after so long.

“Still, to be out in the world like this… it’s a welcome sight.”

His life was short anyway. Just stepping out and gazing upon the world felt like washing away the grime that had accumulated in his heart.

At the same time, a desire to truly live well surged within her. To do that, she had to make the most of this situation.

On the way to Hanjung, Noknokmaya kept thinking about Baekmujin.

‘Is Baek Moo-jin someone I can actually talk to… Even so, with the Demon King around, conversation would be difficult.’

Noknokmaya surveyed Gonosinma, Wolhaseokma, and Mangsan Hyeolgwi. Their martial arts were quite serviceable, but none were particularly clever.

The path to Hanjung was a dead end.

Even knowing it meant certain death, no other path was visible.

That meant the final showdown would have to be in Hanzhong…

As he raced forward, Green Lotus Maya alone sensed the elite forces of the Celestial Dragon Sect already closing in. He clicked his tongue in frustration.

‘We’re all dead.’

3.

About ten days after Noknokmaya left Cheonryongsa…

Baek Moo-jin dismissed the workers assisting with the construction and sat leisurely under the eaves with his companions, gazing at the sky for the first time in ages.

The reason for halting the construction was simple.

The reason was that the shaman, who had been gazing up at the sky with his blind eyes since yesterday, had prophesied that a heavy rain would pour down.

Sure enough, the clear sky from this morning gradually darkened, and the sound of distant thunder could be heard.

Months had passed since they had settled on the site and begun construction.

Well-proportioned buildings stood on the rectangular plot, and scattered throughout the center were training grounds where not only Baek Moo-jin, but also the Taoist King and the Martial King could teach their disciples. Hong Yugang was always busy managing the project, while Seo Munguk, rather than being at the construction site, was in the office Baek Moo-jin had provided. He was reviewing accounts, attempting to contact Bi Hong-ryeon to gather information on martial arts world trends, and discussing methods of communication and transaction. Lee Neung-so also appeared like the wind and departed as he pleased, so he wasn’t present here.

However, the rest of them were sitting under the eaves, taking a rare moment of rest after a long time.

Baek Moo-jin sat side by side with Jin So-hye, chatting leisurely, while the Duke of Dowang and the Duke of Gwon kept making various demands of Baek Moo-jin.

“Do you intend to keep agonizing over this alone? Why not create martial arts with us instead?”

Dowang spoke, and Kwunwang nodded in agreement.

“Discuss the sword techniques with Duke Do, and I’ll handle the basics of the footwork…”

Baek Moo-jin shook his head.

“Honorable elders… How can that be called consultation? It would be no different than stealing your martial arts techniques.”

Dawang clicked his tongue.

“Oh, come now. Can’t we just create new ones? Do you really think I can’t handle a sword?”

“Of course not. It would certainly be helpful. But I intend to take my time, not seek shortcuts. Your assistance, even just your advice, is deeply appreciated. Your occasional words have given me considerable insight.”

“No, someone who gains so much insight hasn’t been able to create a single basic sword technique in months…”

Baek Moo-jin chuckled awkwardly.

“Exactly. Using martial arts and creating them are entirely different fields, you see.”

Baek Moo-jin already knew this.

He understood that incorporating the martial arts of the Fist King and the Sword King would help him establish the foundation for the martial art he sought to create much faster.

But he had no desire to do so.

He wanted to create martial arts that sprang from within Baek Moo-jin himself—from his mind, his heart—not something shaped by someone else’s influence. Though Baek Moo-jin himself had become a master through the ice-based martial art, Baekhwa Shingong, he was determined to create something that would allow his descendants to become sufficiently strong without needing to use ice techniques. So, the path being arduous was only natural. In a way, it could be seen as the process of creating a divine skill rivaling Baekhwa Shingong itself.

There was no need to feel impatient.

He intended to refine Baek Moo-jin’s martial knowledge completely and bring it into being.

Baek Moo-jin was still young.

Even if it took ten years, he intended to walk the righteous path.

Baek Moo-jin smiled as he looked at Jin So-hye.

In fact, it was none other than Jin Sohye who understood Baek Moo-jin’s heart best. She too was a master who had grown strong through the ways of the dark arts since birth, by the hand of the Holy Palace Master. Jin Sohye could understand why Baek Moo-jin was so fixated on the righteous path. They both recognized that they weren’t just worrying about how the two of them would survive in this world, but were contemplating the righteous path for their descendants… for their children.

In any case, this was Baek Moo-jin’s ambition and aspiration.

It was both ambition and the first step toward becoming the Grand Patriarch of the Muhan Sect.

While gazing at the sky, the sound of thunder clapped in the distance. Then came the crackle of lightning, and soon, whoosh—a torrential downpour began to fall.

Then the Taoist King remarked.

“Looks like it’ll rain for days. This isn’t just a passing shower.”

Rain poured down, accompanied by thunder and lightning.

Amid the torrential downpour, Baek Moo-jin, who had been listening to Jin So-hye, suddenly fell silent. He stopped responding and fixed his gaze on the rain.

Then, the King of Tao, who had been conversing with the King of Gwon, also fell silent.

Jin Sohye and King Kwon, left without conversation partners, also frowned upon spotting a figure flickering in the rain.

Flash― A flash of lightning briefly revealed the figure of a strange man clad in a shabby robe before it vanished. Amid the pouring rain, the demon horses led by Noknok Maya appeared, took their positions, and stood gazing at Baek Moo-jin’s group.

Feeling the prayers of those drenched in the rain, the Duke of Do murmured.

“Remarkable. That there are still those who dare challenge Lord Baek… Who could it be?”

The King of Power, arms crossed, replied.

“It’s not a challenge.”

“Then what?”

“They’ve come to die.”

“Not the Baekdo Sect. Still surprising. The remnants of the Demon Cult?”

At the Demon King’s words, Baek Moo-jin scanned the figures in the rain and replied.

“No. They’re all old river pirates.”

Baek Moo-jin tilted his head, scrutinizing the attire of the approaching crowd. Could their clothing really be so wildly mismatched? Scholars, beggars, strange figures, even outfits he’d never seen before… Their appearance made it impossible to believe they came from a single sect.

The King of the Way smiled and replied.

“Rogue martial artists… like us?”

At that moment, Luo Luoma’s voice pierced through the heavy rain, echoing in everyone’s ears.

“Murong Xiao, you’re still alive. Even after going blind.”

At those words, the Duke’s face twisted in anger.

People watched the Duke’s expression. It was peculiar. Not just anger, but a distinct mix of welcome. A strange expression.

Dowang asked Noknokmaya.

“……Noknokmaya, you were alive?”

“As you can see… Ah… I can’t see you.”

The King nodded and said.

“I can’t see you now… but I’m grateful you came all this way.”

The King of Tao abruptly stood up and slowly walked forward into the rain. Baek Moo-jin called out to him.

“Your Excellency, there are many of them.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

Baek Moo-jin looked around at the crowd gathering and said.

“They deserve to die, don’t they?”

“Of course… They are the enemies of our clan, vicious bandits. I’ve spent my entire life searching for them. How strange that they should come to me of their own accord.”

Baek Moo-jin stepped out into the rain… followed by Kwon Wang, Jin So-hye, Go Seon-woo, and Dang Gwi-sun.

Dowang spoke.

“They all deserve death… but spare that Nok Nokma… He’s the one who made this sword’s name Haemyeongdo. Let me be the one to kill him.”

The meaning behind the sword’s name, Haemyeong (Dispelling Darkness), was also that he was the one who had blinded the King of Tao.

Baek Moo-jin gazed at Noknokmaya, blurred in the rain. He was no easy opponent, but the King of Tao’s voice was so heavy, he had no choice.

“Very well.”

Dawang gripped Haemyeong-do in his hand, listening intently to the distinct sound of rain hitting the blade.

“Rain on a day like this.”

It was unfavorable weather for the King of the Way. He fought by distinguishing sounds. Moreover, the rain fell so heavily it drowned out surrounding noises. Yet, even within that chaos, he intended to distinguish the splatter of water and settle the match with Green Lotus Maya.

For Baek Moo-jin, on the other hand, it was a day that couldn’t be more perfect.

The fierce rain poured down as if heralding the frozen hell.

Unaware that Cheonryongsa Temple was still nearby, Baek Moo-jin and his group charged toward Noknokmaya and the other demon heads.

A flash of lightning split the sky, and before the thunder could roar, Haemyeongdo’s sword cut through the rain, striking Noknokmaya.

At that moment, Baek Moo-jin was acting strangely. He had momentarily abandoned his outnumbered allies and was closely observing the appearance of the demons brought by this Noknokmaya.

‘Where the hell did these bastards come from?’

Just then, someone approached from behind Baek Moo-jin, thrusting a bizarre weapon at him. Without even looking, Baek Moo-jin reached out and injected cold energy into it. He deliberately controlled his inner energy to prevent it from freezing instantly. The charging demonic beast hadn’t anticipated being captured in a single move. Yet, its entire body froze solid, and it began to scream so loudly it pierced through the sound of the rain.

“Kwaaaaaaaaah!”

Baek Moo-jin grabbed the screaming man by the head and whispered into his ear.

“Who sent you?”

The cold rising from his arm climbed up his shoulder, pausing briefly at his throat. Baek Moo-jin waited for Madu’s answer, his hand still on the skull.

With his life hanging by a thread, Madu could only blurt out whatever came to mind.

“Bi… Bi-cheon is watching.”

Baek Moo-jin nodded upon hearing that and replied briefly.

“Is that so?”

Baek Moo-jin tossed the frozen figure aside, and Madu, frozen stiff down to his eyes, nose, and mouth, flew through the rain for quite a while before disappearing somewhere.

Baek Moo-jin looked around and muttered.

“So the Rain Demon has arrived.”

Victory in the Rain 1 End