Chapter 151

The Story of a Man Who Had Nothing to Do

Each time the Thunder Wheels struck, Geumgeom Il-ya felt his protective aura shatter throughout his body. He might have endured one or two, perhaps even a dozen. But the Thunder Wheels raining down indiscriminately from his back and head with every movement were impossible to block.

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

Crackle! Crackle! Crackle!

Dozens of thunder wheels were sent flying by the force of tension. Amidst this chaos, it was impossible to swing the sword widely. For I was held fast by the whip of thunder energy unleashed by the Fist King.

The scent of rain mingled with dust and the acrid smell of burning.

Now, there was no choice.

As Geumgeom Il-ya released his sword, the blade that had been with him his entire life flew toward the King of Fists.

Then, drawing all his power into his body, Geumgeom Il-ya unleashed a burst of energy, instantly obliterating the thunder rings filling the area.

The moment he was freed from the relentless thunder energy…

His sword returned fiercely before his eyes.

Geumgeom Il-ya barely caught it with his bare hands.

Clang…!

Amidst the chaos, Geumgeom Il-ya soared into the air, re-gripping his sword. He had spotted Kwonwang, who had thrown his sword, charging toward him.

As if a whirlwind had erupted, Geumgeom Il-ya, caught in the air currents, soared high as if to pierce the clouds, stabilizing his stance.

The moment the sword returned to his hand, Geumgeom Il-ya felt a wave of relief.

Though he had lived long by the ways of the demonic arts, he felt that the ultimate path led back to being a swordsman. From the place where he soared high into the vast sky, Geumgeom Il-ya shouted with a voice filled with his inner strength.

“Kwonwang…!”

Let’s finish this.

I am still alive.

Show me the limit of your martial prowess.

How could such a single phrase hold all these emotions?

Danwooseong fully understood Geumgeom Il-ya’s heart at the cry of ‘King of Power’.

‘Let’s do it.’

He was a formidable opponent.

Whether Geumgeom Il-ya belonged to the righteous path, the dark path, or the black path no longer mattered.

He was a formidable warrior and swordsman worthy of respect.

How could he not answer that call?

Giving my all was the proper courtesy.

White lightning surged from Danwooseong’s hands, instantly enveloping his entire body.

As Geumgeom Il-ya plummeted, he poured his inner strength and life force into the sword he had drawn to its fullest, unleashing a torrent of sword energy.

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Kwon Wangdo launched his counterattack.

The explosive force of the energy he unleashed caused Dan Woosung’s entire body to tremble violently, then he thrust both hands straight toward Geumgeom Il-ya.

A pillar of white lightning erupted from Dan Woosung’s body.

The area was illuminated, and the pillar of lightning rose straight up vertically, as if connecting the earth and the heavens.

Then, as if tearing through sword energy, the piercing pillar of lightning swallowed Geumgeom Il-ya before soaring skyward.

Geumgeom Il-ya was enveloped in the thunderous energy, his entire body being torn apart.

When do thoughts cease?

‘Dying by the strong… regret.’

Even thoughts akin to last words were swept away by the whirlwind of the brain, severed, and the body of Geumgeom Il-ya vanished in midair.

The fleeting moment saw Jin Geom Il-ya’s flesh and the shattered fragments of his sword scatter like dust, mingling with the falling rain before swiftly returning to the myriad phenomena of the universe.

Krrr!

A thunderclap echoed from the distant sky.

Danwooseong stood gazing at the sky, rain pelting down upon him.

At least in the sky Danwooseong gazed upon, there was no sign of life whatsoever.

There was no need to sit in the lotus position anymore.

Danwooseong, kneeling briefly in preparation for the sudden appearance of an enemy, placed both hands on his knees and attempted the Samra Mansang Chukgi technique while regulating his breathing.

What was peculiar was that the speed at which his internal energy recovered was faster than during the two previous attempts.

Perhaps it was filling up quickly because he had emptied so much.

After recovering a fair amount of energy with the Samla Mansang Chukgi technique, Dan Wooseong stood up.

His next thought was a review of killing the Grand Master.

How much internal energy had he expended?

What level of martial prowess had he possessed?

He calmly recalled whether he had made any mistakes or if his response had been inadequate. He imagined once more the Heavenly Thunder Lotus Sutra he had forged in battle.

Somehow, he felt as if he had taken everything from Jin Geom Il-ya.

Dan Wuseong had no choice but to head straight for the Galaxy Merchant Guild as soon as the fight ended, since his original opponent, the Demon Horse Palace Lord, remained.

.

.

.

Where Danwooseong had stood, the ground was deeply gouged in places, with rainwater pooled in the hollows.

A scene that looked like a full-scale war had just taken place.

An old warrior appeared late to the scene and slowly surveyed his surroundings. Though he had been quite far away, he had heard the sounds of rare masters clashing and had rushed over using lightness skills.

He had arrived after the fight had ended.

he was the sort of man who wouldn’t help anyone, even if the fight were still happening.

No matter how he looked around, he couldn’t find any bodies, so he couldn’t tell who had fought. However, he had seen several neatly severed trees along the way, so he was certain there had been at least one swordsman.

The old man who appeared was Cheongmok Maya.

Could it be Master Geum? Somehow, the opponent didn’t seem like a swordsman.

Above all, the surrounding situation was far too chaotic. It bore the marks of a swordsman facing off against someone possessing extreme yang energy, not a clash between two swordsmen.

Moreover, it wasn’t the clash of weapons they’d heard, but thunderclaps. And those thunderclaps were slightly different from those occurring naturally.

Cheongmok Maya stood motionless, then turned her head. The Demon Scholar was approaching with an expressionless face.

Cheongmok Maya asked in a flat tone.

“Master Junzi, were you nearby?”

“I was just listening from afar. It seems Master Geum is dead after all. A rare beam of light shot up from the ground to the sky. After that, the world fell silent again.”

“I see. Who was it? It doesn’t seem to be the Sword Master.”

The Demon Lord nodded.

“Probably to the Sword King.”

“Did the King of Quan have the skill for that?”

“One shouldn’t judge martial artists by their age. The thunder kept crashing. But it wasn’t lightning falling from the sky. Did you kill the top martial artist of Fujian?”

Cheng Moku Maya nodded.

“I did. Did you kill the fanatic?”

“Kwangshin isn’t at his residence, and no one has seen him. He’s probably at the Martial Arts Alliance. It wouldn’t be right to summon him.”

Cheng Moma pointed toward Gu Huashan as he spoke.

“Let’s talk while we walk.”

The two stood side by side, heading toward Guohua Mountain, when Qingmu Maya tilted his head.

“No matter how I think about it, I cannot understand why the Sword King killed Jin Jian Yila. He may have had an accomplice.”

The Demon Lord, hands behind his back, replied as he walked.

“He didn’t. Judging by the pillar of light, his martial prowess didn’t seem inferior even compared to the Three Gods.”

Cheongmok Maya was asking to confirm something she herself had anticipated just as well. Incidentally, Madogunja’s tone had changed from when he was at Manmagung. He was now speaking to her with condescension.

Cheongmok Maya pointed this out.

“Somehow, Master Junzi’s tone seems to have changed.”

The Demon Lord replied in a flat tone.

“After so long away from the world, I suppose I’ve reverted to my old ways. Now that I’m back in the world, I suppose I must adapt to it.”

Cheongmokmaya asked.

“What were you doing before entering the Ten Thousand Horses Palace?”

Cheongmokmaya seemed curious too. After all, only the three Mado Sansa had been reading books in the Manmagung before the Five Elements Mado. Since they hardly ever engaged in private conversation, it was impossible to know what kind of man the Mado Junja actually was.

It was a question asked without much expectation, but perhaps trying to adapt to the world, the Demon Lord answered thus:

“I did many things.”

“Like what?”

“The very first thing I did was teach children at the academy.”

“How surprising.”

I worked at inns and brothels too. Then I joined a martial arts academy and swept the courtyard. When the Black Sect attacked and slaughtered everyone, I fled. I joined a White Sect martial arts school. Years later, a master of the Demon Sect killed them all. Coincidentally, I was curious about the Demon Sect too, so I sought out a place called the Hunchun Sect and joined on my own. But the Hunchun Sect was also wiped out by the Martial Alliance a few years later. So I joined the Martial Alliance.”

Cheng Mu Maya raised his hand.

“Wait a moment… Why did you survive every massacre?”

“Why should I die?”

“When did you learn martial arts?”

“I mastered martial arts before I ever taught children.”

Cheong Mok Maya nodded with a bitter expression.

“I see. And after joining the Martial Alliance?”

“I just did ordinary things. Watched tournaments, carried out missions, fought against the Black Path. I was a branch chief, though it was a minor position. I left again around the time the Alliance Leader changed.”

“You mean when Yu Zhenghong took over?”

“Yu Jeong-hong was a young division leader back then.”

“Hmm.”

After that, I did a lot of things. I was with the Pyo Bureau, and I was briefly with the Black Path. I spent quite a few years making weapons at the Iron Workshop. That got boring too. I met a lot of women. I must have spent ten years just meeting women. When there was nothing left to experience in the world, I found the Ten Thousand Horse Palace and joined. I was truly a man with nothing left to do.

“The former Palace Master?”

“That must have been it. Sometimes when I grew tired of reading books, I’d go back out into the martial world to see the sights, but nothing had changed. At least there were still many books I hadn’t read, so I’d take those back to the library and pass the time.”

“You didn’t read martial arts manuals?”

“I did read martial arts manuals, but mostly I read ancient texts.”

“Master Junzi, how old are you this year?”

“I’ve forgotten. I’m past the age to worry about such things.”

“Are you older than the young master?”

“That fellow has likely forgotten his age too.”

Only then did Qingmu Maya feel that Master Junzi’s condescension was only natural. Suddenly, Qingmu Maya found herself speechless. Having lived so quietly in the Ten Thousand Horses Palace, she had never felt any particular pressure from Master Junzi.

But now, the atmosphere was entirely different.

He felt as if he were heading toward Gu Huashan alongside an existence that defied time, the most formidable law of all.

As Cheongmokmaya remained silent…

This time, the Demon Lord asked the question.

“Who do you wish to fight now? Since Geumgeom Il-ya is dead, the Sword Master should still be intact, and the Fist King remains. Though I doubt the other Grandmasters are all still alive.”

Cheongmok Maya looked at Master Gunja and asked.

“Who would you like me to fight?”

At Cheongmokmaya’s question, Master Gunja gave a faint smile.

“Do as you please.”

A moment later, the two faded into the pitch-black Gu Huashan. Within that darkness, Qingmu Maya asked.

“Why did you stay so long in the Ten Thousand Horse Palace?”

In the darkness, the Demon Master replied.

It was a place where the pleasure of watching the scum of humanity was uniquely satisfying. There was also the pleasure of raising disciples. But whether it was this one or that one, they were all similarly soft-hearted. Even those who committed murder without a second thought—look inside them, and you’d find hearts so tender. Just listen to them a little, soothe them, and they’d faithfully serve as disciples. Though Wizhichan and his father were slightly different. Anyway, they were all trash. Weaklings swept up by their circumstances, heavily influenced by their various stories. I was always curious about people.”

Suddenly, Cheongmokmaya glanced around.

The figure of the Demon Lord was nowhere to be seen.

But the voice of the Demon Lord still echoed from somewhere within Gu Huashan.

“What are you looking for?”

“Where are you?”

“Am I not here with you? We are conversing.”

In that moment, Cheongmok Maya thought he might die here. This was no ordinary Grand Master. In fact, other Grand Masters had been killed by the Demon Lord.

Cheongmok Maya replied with a hesitant expression.

“Then I shall continue climbing the mountain.”

“Very well.”

Chongmok Maya couldn’t help but feel uneasy. Fortunately, the Demon Army General spoke first from somewhere.

“Anything else you wish to know?”

“Yes.”

“What is it?”

“What was the most fun thing you did?”

“The most interesting thing was the work that took a long time.”

“For example?”

“When I encountered a man of rare, unwavering resolve in the martial world, I would watch him for a long time. I’d give him opportunities, and sometimes even save his life. Very discreetly, so he wouldn’t notice. There were many such men in the White Path, especially. Most of them died, though.”

“What was your most successful case?”

The Dark Mage spoke from the shadows.

“The greatest work of my life was the clash between the Mad God and the Heavenly Demon. The Mad God was a man who defied fate. I thought he would die there.”

“You know the Mad God too?”

“What?”

“It seems he became the Mad God because of the Gentleman Master?”

“Well, I was always the one who caused it. It doesn’t really matter if you know. Fanatics are fanatics. Wasn’t he a splendid man who tore my own disciple to pieces? Anyway, creating a man with the epithet ‘God’ with my own hands was the most impressive thing. A demon god should have appeared in the Ten Thousand Horse Palace too.”

Suddenly, Cheongmok Maya belatedly realized his jaw was trembling. No matter how much he scanned his surroundings, the Demon-Wielding Gentleman was nowhere to be seen. The problem was that he couldn’t clearly pinpoint why his jaw had suddenly started shaking.