Chapter 171: Secret Heaven 1

There exists a peculiar place.

Very few people could enter or leave it, so most people wouldn’t even know such a place existed.

It was vast in every direction.

A single chair stood in the north.

It was so vast that merely standing there felt mentally oppressive. The ceiling depicted the night sky, and the surrounding walls were painted pure white, densely lined with weapons as if every martial weapon in the world had been gathered here.

What was even more shocking was that beneath the weapons lay various martial arts manuals.

But the strangest part was the floor.

Several curved lines marked the floor, and scattered along them were model weapons labeled with names like the Huoshan Sect or the Northern Heaven Alliance.

Swords were primarily placed where martial arts schools or alliances were represented, while large swords were clearly placed where staff-wielding styles were known. In this manner, broken weapons littered the floor, representing every corner of the Central Plains martial world.

The Hebei Pang Clan, the Zhuge Clan, the Murong Clan, the Gongtong Sect, the Hainan Sect, the Moshan Sect, the Wuying Sword Sect, and the Huangshan Sword Sect all had their weapons displayed broken.

Moreover, among them were marked the names of massive factions like the Azure Dragon Society and the Demon-Lord Alliance—forces unknown to the martial heroes of the era. Yet here, their banners, their names written upon them, fluttered in tatters.

The entire floor was a map of the Central Plains, and the flags and weapons represented the factions.

Where weapons lay broken, power had been lost.

Where banners were torn, those factions had been annihilated.

It was a wondrous place, as if the entire history of the martial world was recorded here, and it also served as proof that the demonic and black arts they had annihilated were truly numerous.

An old man with a hunched back entered the room.

As the old man pressed a mechanism on the wall… the central section of the wall began to split into small bricks and flip over in a row.

It was a magnificent sight.

Where they flipped like waves, a pure white surface like the wall itself was revealed. Soon, as all the bricks flipped over, the characters written on the floor were exposed.

Of course… it was the two characters: ‘Fallen Heaven’.

Bicheon called this place the Hall of Gazing.

The old man scanned the surroundings, checking if anything needed tidying, but it was a futile gesture. Everything was in its place, and nothing that shouldn’t be there existed. It was as if the entire place suffered from obsessive-compulsive disorder, pursuing perfection. He pulled out a white cloth treated with some substance from his robe and, as if testing for poison, casually waved it around while pacing.

Only after seeing the white cloth remained perfectly intact did the old man step back outside and say.

“The meeting is ready.”

A short while later, three men entered the vast space. As if their places were predetermined, they took their positions in the center and knelt on the bare floor.

They were the three sons of the Heavenly Lord.

The eldest son and administrator of the Black Path, Chen Ming.

Chen Yue, the second son and administrator of the White Path.

Chen Fei, the third son, known as the Sword Master of Execution.

They were in their forties, thirties, and twenties, respectively. The three sat in silence, waiting for their father, whose arrival was uncertain.

2.

The surname of the Bicheon family was Chen.

They were a martial family that had used swords and spears together for generations, but their fate changed after one of their members became the martial arts teacher to a famous general. There was an incident that caused them to not only sever ties with the military or the imperial court but to harbor hatred.

The general who had taught the Chen family martial arts had been politically framed, forced to bear a false accusation, and met his death. However, before that, the martial arts manuals he had obtained from the regions he had conquered had been passed down intact to the Chen family. The quantity was immense, and each manual represented the pinnacle of martial arts in the world.

This was precisely how the Jin family, who had severed ties with the world, emerged as a mysterious force dominating the martial world. The first Heavenly Demon had synthesized the martial arts bestowed by the general, becoming the Martial God.

The reason it was difficult to block the Flying Heaven Sect’s martial arts was simple.

They possessed more martial arts techniques that had long since disappeared from practical use than any other sect.

They even possessed the origins of the martial arts used by the martial artists of their time, further developing them through analysis and research.

Moreover, Bicheon’s martial arts emerged during an era when the boundaries between demonic arts and righteous arts were blurred, making its operation entirely distinct from that of a ‘martial sect’.

They were a hidden force within the martial world, yet in reality, they stood at the pinnacle of ‘martial studies,’ managing and dominating martial arts themselves.

Therefore, the sons of the Lord of the Abyss each wielded different martial arts. Even their father, the Lord of the Abyss himself, possessed different martial arts from his sons.

They could learn any martial art they desired, were supplied with elixirs from childhood to master those arts, and trained under countless masters in various martial arts at the Heavenly Lord’s command. If there were nobility in the martial world, it was them.

No, even the term ‘nobility’ fell short.

The Bicheon clan was the royal family of the martial world.

Yet, those aware of this truth were exceedingly rare.

Even those called ‘kings’ only had a vague understanding, and only the top ten masters of the era, the heads of the Five Great Families, or the leaders of the major sects knew some of the truth.

In that sense…

The administrators of the Black Path, the administrators of the White Path, and the arrogant title of Sword Master of Execution—they regarded these as positions as natural as breathing.

If there was a peerless martial artist in the world at that time, they looked down upon that peerless one.

When the era of Demon Arts Unification arrived… they killed those called Heavenly Demons or Grand Masters of Demon Arts. As for mysterious forces or shadowy factions, they were entities that could be cultivated for purpose and then discarded.

3.

The three sons of the Heavenly Lord did not engage in idle chatter.

They remained in silence, not making a single rustling sound.

Why on earth had they been summoned yet failed to appear?

They didn’t even entertain the thought of questioning it. They simply waited. That was how they had been raised, how they had been trained.

For he was their father, the leader of Bicheon, and their martial arts master.

Creak… With that sound, the stone door behind the only chair opened.

The leader of the Bicheon walked out.

He looked far younger than his actual age of ninety.

He bore the appearance of an old general lingering in the military, unable to forget the battlefield.

He seemed slightly bored, though.

Possessing martial arts prowess beyond human comprehension, age held a slightly different meaning for Bicheonju than it did for ordinary people.

Boredom and weariness were gnawing at his spirit.

He had nothing left to strive for, nothing left to desire, so it was only natural.

Bicheonju sat slumped in his chair, his right arm draped over the back, and spoke.

“Report first.”

“Yes.”

The eldest son, Jin-myeong, answered immediately and continued.

“We’ve dealt with the Madu under Cheonryongsa’s control. They attempted an escape, but Cheonryongju-ji pursued them. Interfered by Baek Moo-jin of the North Heaven Alliance, Cheonryongju-ji was killed.”

Jin-myeong’s report caused Jin-wol, the administrator of Baekdo, to flinch momentarily.

‘Baek Moo-jin interfered? He had absolutely no reason to do that.’

The Heavenly Lord showed no particular reaction, then looked at Jin-wol and said.

“Next.”

Jin-wol continued.

“The arrogance of Baekdo’s leadership has grown to the point of causing problems. Had they faced the Demon Lord, that arrogance would have been crushed before they even sought us out. The Demon Lord died at Baekmujin’s hands in Soryuhho before he could even leave the sect. Since then, Baekdo has been showing signs of trying to check Baekmujin.”

Bicheonju nodded again without much response, then looked at the youngest.

“Next.”

The Sword Master of Execution, Jin Bi, spoke.

“We killed Yang Biyun of the Xinchang Yang Clan, Namgung Jinwi of the Namgung Clan, the Eight Demons of the Eight Demons Society, the Valley Lord of the Heavenly Slaughter Demon Valley, and the Island Lord of the Island Beyond Heaven.”

He did not state the reasons for the killings, and after hearing the report, Bicheonju showed no curiosity either. The report ended there.

The Lord of the Heavens asked.

“Any other unusual matters I should know?”

The three answered simultaneously.

“None.”

“Are you certain?”

“Absolutely certain.”

Bicheonju said, looking at the second Jinwol.

“Why did Jinmyeong’s expression waver when he reported?”

“That was…”

Jin-wol’s face flushed red, and Bicheonju frowned as he asked.

“Why is your physical state like that?”

“I apologize. Baek Moo-jin is a figure of the White Path, so reports reach me as well. In my judgment, he has no reason to aid the escape of the Demon Path or to antagonize Cheonryongsa, so my expression wavered momentarily.”

Jin-wol reported to Bicheonju without a shred of falsehood what he had felt.

Bicheonju nodded and looked at Jinmyeong.

“So that’s how it is. What do you think?”

Jin Myeong replied with an expressionless face.

“The Second Brother’s words hold merit. However, the claim that he is a figure of the righteous path is only half true. The White Flower Demon Clan is the head family of the Demon Sect’s Left Lion branch. The White Flower Demon Clan was a family that opposed the Demon Sect’s leader. Therefore, they could have grudges with some demonic practitioners, and they likely weren’t on good terms with the Celestial Dragon Temple, which had been active as an anti-demon force. It’s possible the Celestial Dragon Temple head planned the affair, but since he’s dead, we couldn’t ascertain the details.”

The Heavenly Demon Lord nodded.

“I asked for a regional report after so long, and all you talk about is Baek Moo-jin.”

Jinming and Jinyue said nothing.

They had already conveyed what they needed to say.

The decision was now Bicheonju’s to make.

At that moment, Jin-wol, the administrator of Baekdo, was choosing his words carefully.

“I have something to say.”

As Bicheonju nodded, Jinwol continued.

“I fear my negligence may prevent me from managing the task you entrusted to me in peak physical condition, so I sought temporary recuperation…”

“Rest? Is it that bad?”

“I apologize.”

“Who will replace you?”

Jin-wol swallowed once before speaking.

“I recommend Baekmujin, the head of the Baekga Clan of Baekdo, as the new manager. If you grant permission, I will see to it that the matter is settled.”

Bicheonju tilted his head and said.

“The Sword Sect is…”

“We cannot reach him.”

“What about the Sword Sect?”

“He’s narrow-minded.”

As Bicheonju mentioned the contemporary masters of the White Path as if amused, Jinwol’s mouth followed with evaluations of the masters of the era. Sharp assessments were being made, both regarding martial prowess and character.

Bicheonju listened silently before asking.

“Why is Baek Moo-jin suitable? According to Jin Myeong-ui, his background is also from the Ma Clan… Killing the Demon Lord proves his martial prowess beyond doubt, but beyond that, he has no other notable achievements. Moreover, do you know what lies at the bottom of his heart? Is he one who bends to force, one who pursues honor, or one consumed by greed?”

When Jin-wol remained silent, Jin-myeong cautiously spoke up.

“I have something to say.”

Only after seeing his father nod did Jinmyeong continue.

“Baek Moo-jin is not one to serve under others. He already knows of our existence. He has had contact with Cheon Yu of the Twelve Heavenly Generals and Bi Sa. He understands his own position, possesses outstanding martial arts skills, and has never been defeated. He cannot be considered ignorant of the ways of the world. It won’t be too late for him to inherit Jin-wol’s position after experiencing defeat.”

Bicheonju replied.

“What does Jin-wol think?”

“His martial prowess requires no verification. The Demon Lord was never someone the White Path could handle. Only Jinbi or I could have killed him. To subject such a man to trials… There’s no need to force his submission. Though born into the Demon Sect, his disposition is actually more upright than most righteous cultivators of this era. Not only is he upright, but in Gansu, he’s already hailed as a great hero. He surpasses the leaders of the righteous factions in certain aspects. It’s wiser to approach him as nurturing talent.”

“Cultivating talent?”

Bicheonju replied with a laugh.

“Such things are unnecessary. The discussion of Bai Wuzhen ends here.”

The three sons answered simultaneously.

“Understood.”

“The reason I summoned you today is… to pass on the position of Bicheonju. Consider today’s conversation to be the culmination of my teachings.”

At Bicheonju’s words, the three sons answered in unison. It was like ministers addressing a king… a farce was unfolding.

“That cannot be.”

“You are still in good health. How can you speak of retiring already?”

The eldest son, Jin-myeong, spoke last in a solemn tone.

“Father, please hold the position for just ten more years. I will strive tirelessly and learn as much as I can.”

To an outsider, this conversation would have been utterly absurd, but Bicheonju found nothing strange about it. He had said the exact same words to his own father. It was as if this were a longstanding tradition.

Bicheonju shook his head and said.

“It’s decided. Of course, I’ll keep an eye on things for a while after the handover. For now, youngest son.”

“Yes, Father.”

“Your position will be either a manager of the Black Path or a manager of the White Path.”

“I will obey your command.”

“Jinmyeong and Jinwol.”

“Yes, Father.”

“Yes, speak.”

Bicheonju spoke with an expressionless face.

“I will settle this through combat. The path to becoming the Lord of Bicheonju has always been one of fratricidal strife. Only by being able to slay even one’s own brothers can one avoid letting emotion cloud judgment in other matters.”

The expressions of the three sons grew cold.

This is how one becomes the Lord of the Underworld? Their father had never mentioned it, so this was news to all three sons.

How could brothers be expected to draw swords against each other?

Jin-wol cautiously replied.

“Father, I have no intention of becoming a Bicheonju. I am ill; please allow me to retire as is.”

The Lord of Bicheon responded with a sneer.

“The son of Bicheon has fallen ill. And you expect me to believe that? Extend your hand.”

Bicheonju extended his own hand while pointing at Jinwol’s arm.

Jin-wol dared not refuse and stepped forward, extending his arm. Bicheonju lightly grasped his son’s hand and fell deep in thought. Slowly, he examined Jin-wol’s face and eyes before speaking quietly.

“My youngest son.”

“Yes, Father.”

As Jinbi, the Sword Master of Execution, cautiously responded, Bicheonju continued.

“Bring me the head of that scoundrel, the head of the Sicheondangga.”

“Understood.”

“Before killing him, we must obtain the antidote for the Purple Withered Poison.”

“I shall do so.”

“It will be noisy, so handle it through assassination.”

“Yes.”

“Do not hold the others accountable.”

“Understood.”

Bicheonju stared at Jinwol with a cold gaze and said.

“Did you poison yourself to retire? Or did you know the martial contest was coming?”

Jin-wol bowed his head and answered.

“Father, I apologize. It was both.”

“How did you know?”

“When Grandfather was alive, he once hinted at it indirectly. I’ve suspected it ever since.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

Jin-wol felt a fresh wave of fear toward his father. There was simply no way to deceive him. Jin-wol wasn’t afraid of death. Precisely because he wasn’t afraid, he could speak his mind.

“Father, setting the method of the lowly to a martial contest that could become a family feud is not right…”

“It’s not a matter of right or wrong.”

Jin-wol retorted defiantly, as if he had given up on living.

“This is a matter of right and wrong. I will not fight my elder brother in any form. If you wish to kill me with a single sword strike, I will offer my neck.”

Jinbi, who had remained silent until now, spoke with a flushed face.

“Father, what if I challenge each of my brothers separately and record the time it takes for me to be defeated?”

Bicheonju sighed at the youngest’s suggestion. Yet he had no intention of forcing his stubborn, ailing second son into a duel. Securing the antidote and restoring the second son’s health was the immediate priority.

Bicheonju addressed Jinbi.

“On your way back from killing that Tang bastard, bring Baek Moo-jin with you. I’ll see if he’s fit to be the administrator of Baekdo and if he can be a worthy opponent for Jin-myeong and Jin-wol.”

Jinbi nodded.

“Understood.”

Jin-myeong remained expressionless, while Jin-wol closed her eyes, seemingly displeased with the order, unable to utter a word.

Secret Heaven 1 End