Elaine panted as she climbed the stairs.
“Why is it so high? Why would anyone build it like this?”
“For martial artists, it’s not such a difficult climb,” Cheongun replied.
“So, regular people aren’t supposed to come here?”
Cheongun, who had gone ahead and waited, nodded.
“Yes, that’s about right.”
Elaine grumbled.
“If I’d known, I would’ve brought the whole guild staff. I’m the only one suffering here. By the way, where’s Bernard?”
“He’s right behind you.”
“What?”
Elaine spun around and nearly tumbled down the stairs, but Bernard caught the collar of her jacket.
“When did you get behind me?”
“A little while ago.”
“I didn’t feel a thing…”
“That’s because I didn’t make a sound.”
“Next time, make some noise.”
Bernard didn’t respond. Instead, he looked upward.
“I can sense them.”
“Sense what?”
“The strong ones. And they’re probably sensing me, too.”
“Of course. Since the Martial Alliance is the heart of Eastern martial arts, it makes sense that powerful people gather here…”
Elaine nodded, catching her breath.
“So if some tough Eastern fighters try to intimidate me, Bernard, you have to step in.”
“They might be stronger than me.”
“Come on, they’re probably about equal. You’re Bernard, after all.”
Elaine trusted him completely.
She had heard from Briol’s palace attendants that Jose Aratur, one of the Ten Strongest, had been on par with Bernard when he stayed in Briol. They sparred daily, winning and losing evenly.
And when assassins from the empire invaded the royal palace recently, Bernard had taken charge and resolved the situation.
That was enough to prove he was among the top ten fighters.
Even in an era overflowing with skilled martial artists, Bernard’s strength would be recognized in the East.
“Alright, let’s keep moving.”
Cheongun clapped his hands to lighten the mood.
With their help, Elaine finally reached the mountain summit where the Martial Alliance was located. Just building the stairs this far must have cost a fortune.
Elaine sighed as she looked at the massive hall standing before them.
“We’ve finally arrived…”
The signboard they’d seen at the base read “Martial Alliance” in bold, powerful calligraphy.
“There’s such a wide plateau up here.”
“It was carved out of the mountain.”
“Really?”
Before Elaine and her group could say more, several people emerged from the Martial Alliance. They all wore black martial uniforms, their eyes sharp and alert.
“What’s going on?”
“I’ll talk to them,” Cheongun said, stepping forward.
“What are they saying?”
“They’re the Alliance’s guardians. They were waiting for us.”
“For us?”
Elaine glanced at Bernard.
Since he had mentioned sensing strong presences earlier, it seemed that the appearance of such a master had put the Martial Alliance on edge.
But Cheongun said something else.
“They said they were waiting for you, Elaine. More specifically, for the story you bring from the Western Regions.”
“What?”
“They knew a visitor would come because the Star of Heavenly Rupture appeared in the sky.”
“Reading the heavens, or something like that?”
“Something like it. The Martial Alliance has a department for that.”
It seemed the Eastern continent had its own kind of magic or divination.
Now was not the time to show weakness. Even if unexpected situations arose, they had to act as if they had anticipated everything, so no one would underestimate them.
Elaine smiled wryly and said to Cheongun,
“Then there’s no need for long talks. Tell them to bring out the Alliance Leader.”
“Huh?”
“The Martial Alliance Leader.”
“That’s…”
Cheongun’s eyes flickered.
To him, a native of the East, the title of Martial Alliance Leader was not something to be mentioned lightly.
The current top martial artist, the Fighting Immortal Jang Younghak, was revered as the best in the martial world.
He wasn’t someone you could just meet on a whim.
He was like a god.
Still, Cheongun nodded firmly.
Though he hadn’t spent much time in the Western Regions as a foreigner, he sensed the world was in crisis.
Someone had to set things right.
And above all, though his sect had fallen, it was a school that practiced good.
He couldn’t just turn a blind eye to this situation.
Cheongun nodded resolutely.
“Understood.”
He stepped forward again.
The Martial Alliance members watching Cheongun converse in the Western tongue exchanged strange looks.
[He speaks freely with Westerners? You know their language?]
Cheongun nodded and replied in Eastern.
[Yes. I learned it.]
[Impressive. That will make things easier. The Heavenly Origin Hall Leader wishes to see you. Please come inside.]
[No.]
[No?]
[We don’t want to meet the Heavenly Origin Hall Leader.]
[Then who?]
[We want to see the Martial Alliance Leader.]
At Cheongun’s words, the two guardians’ expressions darkened.
[How dare you mention him? That’s disrespectful.]
[It’s a matter of great importance.]
[Bringing foreigners from the West and suddenly demanding to see the Martial Alliance Leader? You should know better if you’re a martial artist. Or are you not one?]
They looked Cheongun up and down with disdain.
[You should know that even meeting the Heavenly Origin Hall Leader is a privilege for someone unknown to the sect.]
[This is truly important. The fate of not just the West but the Eastern martial world is at stake.]
[Ha! You say there’s a demonic cult in the West?]
[Yes. That’s exactly it!]
[This one talks too much.]
The guardians shook their heads in unison.
[It’s one or the other. See the Heavenly Origin Hall Leader, or leave!]
Cheongun looked troubled, and Elaine spoke up.
“What’s the problem?”
“They say the Martial Alliance Leader is absolutely off-limits. But they’ll let us see the Heavenly Origin Hall Leader.”
“Who’s that?”
“A subordinate office of the Martial Alliance. They assist the Leader using various mystical arts.”
“Fine by me.”
Elaine patted Cheongun on the shoulder.
“We can take it slow. If we convince the Heavenly Origin Hall Leader, he might arrange a meeting with the Martial Alliance Leader.”
“That’s easier said than done. The Martial Alliance Leader is…”
“If it’s impossible, we make it possible. We’re not here for sightseeing. The fate of the continent, the whole world, depends on us. We have to do whatever it takes.”
“The fate of the world…”
Moved by her determination, Cheongun closed his eyes and nodded.
“Yes. Understood.”
He spoke again in Eastern.
[Very well. We will see the Heavenly Origin Hall Leader.]
The Heavenly Origin Hall Leader was an old man with a long beard. He stood in the garden of the Martial Alliance’s main hall, gazing down at a pond. When Elaine’s group arrived, he didn’t turn around but spoke immediately.
“I’ve been waiting.”
Cheongun stepped forward and assumed a respectful stance.
“My name is Cheongun.”
“A fine name.”
“Thank you.”
“So, you came because of the Star of Heavenly Rupture in the sky?”
“Yes.”
Cheongun signaled Elaine and Bernard to wait, then continued.
“As you know, this situation threatens not only the West but the very survival of the Eastern martial world. We ask for your help.”
“Hmm. What sect are you from?”
“Pardon?”
“Cheongun sounds like a Taoist name, but you carry the scent of a wanderer.”
Cheongun hesitated briefly, then said with a firm expression,
“I was once a disciple of the Cheongseong Sect.”
“Cheongseong…”
The old man finally turned around.
His gaze shifted from Cheongun to Elaine and Bernard behind him, then back to Cheongun.
“I didn’t expect a descendant of Cheongseong. How many remain?”
“I am the last.”
“That can’t be. What about Hyunseong?”
“He abandoned Cheongseong.”
“He was the last Taoist of the martial world who practiced exorcism…”
“That’s just a fancy title. He’s a man who abandoned his duty. He’s no longer part of Cheongseong.”
“That’s unfortunate. Is he still alive?”
“I don’t know. But I didn’t come here to talk about sects. There’s a more important matter. We must capture the demon that appeared in the West. It involves the Heavenly Demon…”
The old man cut Cheongun off.
“The Star of Heavenly Rupture is literally trying to break the sky. But have you ever seen the sky break?”
“Pardon?”
“Don’t worry so much.”
The old man approached and patted Cheongun’s shoulder.
Suddenly, a clear, pure light radiated from his eyes.
“The sky will not break, and the world will find its natural order. It’s like the changing of seasons. When winter comes, it feels like everything ends, but spring always returns, and new sprouts grow from the earth. Don’t be so anxious. The Star of Heavenly Rupture will fall to the ground eventually. There’s no need to worry.”
Cheongun stared blankly at the old man.
“You called us here just to say that?”
“Heavenly Origin Hall Leader.”
“Personally, I will help you. But the Martial Alliance itself cannot intervene.”
“There is a Heavenly Demon in the West!”
“That too is part of the flow. The star you follow will ultimately bring down the Star of Heavenly Rupture. So don’t doubt yourself.”
“Heavenly Origin Hall Leader!”
Cheongun’s voice rose, and Elaine spoke from behind.
“What is he saying?”
“They’re telling us…”
Suddenly, Cheongun was seized by a strange premonition.
He had met a hero named Yuri Briol in the West and fought against an evil group.
They said there was a band of heretics and outsiders in the East, but the beings corrupted by black magic from the Western regions were far more wicked in comparison.
Cheongseong halted his horse and caught his breath. Irein asked again.
“What did you say to me?”
“Wait, just a moment…”
Cheongun fell into thought.
The Cheongseong faction had fallen.
It was the result of rejecting the natural order of the Eastern martial world and stubbornly clinging to purity.
Even the Mudang Sect, currently the strongest Taoist school in the martial world, was tainted compared to Cheongseong.
Pure water can detect even a single drop of ink.
[Master of the Cheonwon Sect.]
[Hmm?]
[The Cheonwon Sect is the division responsible for Qimen Dunjia and mystical arts, correct?]
Cheongun’s sudden question made the Cheonwon master frown.
“That’s right. We read the laws of heaven, listen to the voice of the earth, and seek balance in the martial world—not through swords, but through other means.”
“So, you’re a Left Daoist Sect.”
“Huh?”
The Cheonwon master furrowed his brows.
“It’s been a long time since someone spoke like that in front of me. You’re truly a descendant of Cheongseong. If that’s what you think, I can’t help it, but it’s rude.”
“Once someone sets foot on the Left Dao, they soon lose fear of stepping in again and again.”
“What are you trying to say?”
“You didn’t realize that the darkness of the West has reached into the martial world. What price did you pay for that?”
“What did you say?!”
In an instant, Cheongun was pushed back.
An unidentifiable pressure radiated from the Cheonwon master.
“I tried to treat you as a guest, but you insult me instead.”
“You must be angry because your dirty secrets were exposed.”
“How dare a miserable mutt from a fallen sect speak to me like that!”
Cheongun burst out laughing.
Now that he knew the Cheonwon master’s true nature, there was no reason to hesitate.
“Bernard.”
“My turn, then.”
Bernard stepped forward.
The Cheonwon master pulled a folding fan from his robe and opened it. Mist rose from all around, enveloping the entire garden.
But it didn’t last long.
Bernard swung his sword, slicing the mist in two, which quickly dissipated.
The Cheonwon master, who had been forming hand seals within the mist, wore a look of shock.
“To cut through that in a single strike…?”
“There are skilled warriors in the West as well.”
“Who exactly is this man…?”
The Cheonwon master’s face turned pale as he stared at Bernard.
“A g-ghost.”
“Yes. In the West, he’s called a Sword Ghost. When it comes to dealing with rat bastards like you who’ve allied with Western demons, a ghost from the West is just the right fit!”