Episode 179: Debt
The Gongdong Sect has a unique rule: the strongest becomes the leader.
In truth, this isn’t so different from other sects or clans, where the most powerful often rises to leadership. However, it’s not a formal rule elsewhere. Typically, the one with the greatest martial prowess naturally garners the most support and becomes the leader. Conversely, if someone can compensate for their lack of martial skill with character and reputation, they might still ascend to leadership.
But the Gongdong Sect is different. Just as the Kunlun Sect stands against the demonic forces from the west, the Gongdong Sect must confront the martial artists descending from the north. To subdue and reform these rogue martial artists, the sect requires a leader with overwhelming strength.
Thus, the rule emerged: the one with the greatest martial prowess leads the Gongdong Sect.
The current leader, Muryangja, had come to Hwangolgak upon hearing that a group was approaching from the north. To his surprise, he encountered a familiar face: Yookwanil, the Flashing Sword.
It had been a long time since Yookwanil turned his back on the sect and vanished. Muryangja’s last encounter with him was even further in the past. Time had added a layer of dishevelment to Yookwanil’s appearance, making it hard for others to recognize him. But Muryangja knew him instantly. A rival from a life-and-death duel is unforgettable, no matter how much they change.
Muryangja’s single eye softened as he spoke, “It’s been a while, Flashing Sword.”
Yookwanil offered no response, seemingly unable to comprehend the words. His eyes were bloodshot, and drool dripped from his mouth, a pitiful sight.
Muryangja murmured, “Has he lost his mind to the demonic influence?”
Drawing his sword, Muryangja fixed his left eye on Yookwanil. “Isn’t life amusing? Once, I was the rogue, and you were the righteous. Now, I’m the righteous one, and you’ve become the rogue.”
Back when the great war between the righteous and the rogue began, Muryangja was a rogue martial artist, while Yookwanil was a young leader tasked with continuing the legacy of the Jeomchang Sect after its leader’s death. They clashed on the battlefield, and Muryangja narrowly lost, paying the price with his right eye.
For a martial artist, losing an eye is a significant disadvantage, as the first step in a fight is to control the distance to one’s advantage. Muryangja was furious but not defeated. He believed he could win if they fought again.
Before he could face Yookwanil again, Muryangja encountered the Sword King, the head of the Jewonbaek family, and suffered a crushing defeat. Unlike his fight with Yookwanil, this loss didn’t anger him. Instead, he admired the Sword King.
Who wouldn’t admire a man who became the best in the world with third-rate skills, at best second-rate? To get closer to the Sword King, Muryangja abandoned his sect and rogue ways, eventually becoming a martial artist of the Gongdong Sect and rising to its leadership.
Reflecting on the past, Muryangja glanced at the woman standing behind him: Baek Hyang-a, the Sword King’s granddaughter, the sole survivor of the Jewonbaek family, and a prodigy who gained immense internal power after curing her blocked meridians.
‘To take the Sword King’s granddaughter as my disciple and stand before the man who took my eye… Life truly is fascinating.’
The memory of his lost right eye throbbed, reigniting long-buried anger and resentment. In high spirits, Muryangja executed the first form of the Demonic Sword Technique, offering his sword to Yookwanil.
“Let’s see how much you’ve improved.”
Before learning the Gongdong Sect’s martial arts, Muryangja had matched Yookwanil with his crude rogue techniques. But now, he had the Demonic Sword Technique and the Unified Energy Skill. There was no way he could lose.
The Gongdong Sect’s martial arts were not only advanced but perfectly suited to Muryangja. Techniques to subdue and kneel the demonic—wasn’t that the essence of his life?
Before the fight began in earnest, Muryangja sent a mental message to Baek Hyang-a, the Sword King’s only living relative and his beloved disciple.
But Baek Hyang-a didn’t respond. Muryangja turned to see her gaze fixed not on Yookwanil but on someone else.
‘Who is she looking at?’
To prevent Yookwanil from attacking, Muryangja stepped back and followed Baek Hyang-a’s gaze. There were five young men, one of whom caught his eye. He looked just like a young Yookwanil.
‘Is that Yookwanil’s son?’
A father lost to madness, followed by his son. Muryangja couldn’t fathom why the son followed his father, but seeing Yujingwang filled him with intense anger. The emotions from losing his right eye surged back, along with the regret of a higher realm he might have reached.
’…Should I kill them both?’
Killing the deranged Yookwanil wouldn’t be enough to vent his anger. But if he killed Yookwanil’s son too, it might just balance the scales.
However, Muryangja noticed Baek Hyang-a’s gaze was fixed on another man, not Yookwanil. Her expression was one of shock or confusion, not affection.
‘Who is he?’
Baek Hyang-a had spent most of her life within the walls of the Jewonbaek family and then the Gongdong Sect. Her acquaintances were largely within Muryangja’s circle. Yet, the man she was looking at was unknown to Muryangja.
‘A man I don’t know, but Hyang-a does. And that expression.’
Muryangja’s mind worked quickly.
Startled, Baek Hyang-a replied with a slightly awkward mental message.
Yes, Master.
Is that the disciple of the one you mentioned?
Yes, it seems so.
Good. I’ll kill him too.
He had already planned to eliminate Yookwanil and his son. To keep the story from spreading, all witnesses needed to be silenced. If he could also avenge his disciple, all the better.
Baek Hyang-a hesitated, unable to respond immediately. She hadn’t yet resolved her feelings towards the mysterious figure and Tang Mujin.
When her blocked meridians were forcibly cured, she harbored anger towards them. But over time, she realized their actions were more akin to kindness. The real oddity had been her own family.
Had everything ended there, she would have lived grateful to Tang Mujin. But then, her father, Baek Chuseo, died from poison, likely at the hands of the mysterious figure or Tang Mujin.
Even a flawed father was still her father, and their bond was unusually strong. Muryangja misinterpreted Baek Hyang-a’s complex emotions and hesitation.
My disciple, there’s no need to ponder. It’s about eradicating a heinous villain. Don’t hesitate.
A villain?
Who else but the disciple of one who killed countless innocent healers could be a villain?
With that, Muryangja approached Yookwanil, sword in hand.
Yookwanil growled like a beast, raising his sword.
In the next instant, a flash of steel aimed for Muryangja’s throat. The sword was so masterful it felt as if the man himself had become the blade. Muryangja barely parried it, his heart trembling with excitement.
‘Yes, since the great war, I haven’t faced an opponent like this.’
The dark desires of his rogue past crept up. He wanted to gouge out Yookwanil’s eyes, to decapitate him and show his son. Or perhaps, let Yookwanil witness his son’s death, if he could comprehend it.
‘No, there’s an even better way.’
He wanted Yookwanil to pierce his own son’s heart. It was a brilliant plan. Instead of worrying about Yookwanil’s son and his companions, it was better to draw them into the fight.
“Come, beast!”
Muryangja provoked Yookwanil with the Demonic Sword Technique from a safe distance. As Yookwanil’s fury peaked, Muryangja sprinted, leaping over Tang Mujin and his group.
As they arrived at the Gongdong Sect, Tang Mujin and his companions understood Yookwanil’s intentions. He wanted to show his son everything he had learned and then die without harming him. Heading south to the Gongdong Sect was likely to secure a strong ally for his son.
But contrary to expectations, Muryangja’s gaze towards Tang Mujin’s group was anything but ordinary.
Hyeongong asked Yujingwang, “Doesn’t it seem like he has some ulterior motive?”
“That can’t be.”
Yujin Kwang answered succinctly, but Hyun Gong’s prediction was spot on.
Muryangja had cleverly shifted the burden of the highly agitated Yoo Gwanil onto Tang Mujin and his group.
Yoo Gwanil’s attacks naturally veered away from Muryangja and targeted Tang Mujin’s party instead. Tang Mujin desperately swung his sword to fend off Yoo Gwanil’s initial strike.
Clang—
His hand went numb. Though he managed to block the attack by sheer luck, Tang Mujin doubted he could withstand many more of Yoo Gwanil’s blows.
Adding to his troubles was Muryangja, who stood nearby, grinning slyly.
Whatever grudge Muryangja held, his murderous intent seemed directed at both Yoo Gwanil and Tang Mujin’s group.
Namgoong Myung muttered, “Caught between two masters, aren’t we? How did we end up like this?”
“How should I know?” Tang Mujin retorted.
“Is that all you can say? We need to figure it out!”
Namgoong Myung barely deflected another of Yoo Gwanil’s strikes, the blade grazing his cheek and leaving a thin line of blood.
Tang Mujin had his suspicions too. Somehow, the woman Muryangja had brought along was unmistakably Baek Hyang-a.
He wasn’t sure if Baek Hyang-a knew he had killed Baek Chuseo, but even without that, their relationship was fraught with tension.
‘But it doesn’t seem like Muryangja is targeting us because of that.’
If Muryangja wanted to avenge Baek Hyang-a, his focus should have been solely on Tang Mujin. Yet, Muryangja’s gaze was fixed on Yoo Jin Kwang.
‘I’m not sure if he’s specifically targeting Yoo, but it seems I’m not the main issue here.’
Muryangja didn’t seem eager to attack Tang Mujin’s group directly. Instead, he kept provoking Yoo Gwanil, nudging him to attack them.
Finally, Hong Geolgae couldn’t hold back his frustration and shouted, “Hey, elder! Why are you doing this to us?”
“What’s the problem?” Muryangja replied, feigning innocence.
“You’re deliberately provoking the Flash Sword to attack us!”
“That’s not it. Yoo Gwanil is a formidable opponent. It’s only natural to join forces to fend him off, isn’t it?”
Muryangja’s response was teasing, leaving Tang Mujin’s group exasperated but unable to further provoke him.
They were barely holding off Yoo Gwanil’s attacks, and if Muryangja joined in, they wouldn’t last a moment longer.
While Tang Mujin’s group desperately defended against Yoo Gwanil, one person was deep in thought.
Hyun Gong, as always, assessed the situation with cold logic.
‘For reasons unknown, Muryangja intends to kill us.’
‘If we’re lucky, we might subdue Yoo Gwanil. But if Muryangja joins in, we stand no chance.’
’…Survival should be our priority.’
Hyun Gong quickly made up his mind and sent a telepathic message to Muryangja.
Normally, Muryangja wouldn’t respond to such messages, but there was a peculiar warmth in Hyun Gong’s words. Muryangja replied instinctively.
As the specific question was posed, Hyun Gong’s mind raced. This was a test of quick thinking.
Both the Wudang and the Kongdong sects are Daoist. They’re not far apart geographically, so there must be some connection.
Hyun Gong racked his brain and recalled that Muryangja had visited the Wudang Sect about ten years ago.
Though he was too young to be involved in the discussions back then, he had heard about it secondhand.
Hyun Gong didn’t respond immediately, instead delving deeper into his memory for more details.
‘Who was with him back then? I think someone from the Mount Hua Sect was mentioned.’
Anyone accompanying Muryangja wouldn’t be insignificant. It was likely the head of the Mount Hua Sect.
‘Given the timing, it would be the previous head, not the current one.’
Hyun Gong remembered the name of the former head of the Mount Hua Sect.
About ten years ago, you visited the Wudang Sect with Elder Sunmuja. That’s when we met.
Is that so? Nice to meet you again.
It was a trivial connection. Muryangja was about to dismiss it, but Hyun Gong seized the opportunity.
I’ve always wanted to meet you again. My achievements are all thanks to you.
What do you mean by that?
As a child, I always lagged behind my peers. But you were the first to recognize my talent. I vividly remember you saying I would become a pillar of the Wudang Sect. Your words helped me overcome many hardships.
Of course, none of this was true.
But Hyun Gong knew two things about elders.
First, they often give encouraging words to juniors.
Second, they rarely remember the details of young martial artists with a significant skill gap.
Muryangja was no exception.
…Did I? It sounds familiar.
Indeed. Thanks to you, I’ve reached my current level. May I stand by your side?
Muryangja scrutinized Hyun Gong’s face, suspicious of a lie to escape danger.
But Hyun Gong’s expression was sincere, without a hint of deceit.
Meanwhile, Tang Mujin’s group’s defense was surprisingly solid, making it hard to predict when Yoo Gwanil might strike Yoo Jin Kwang’s heart.
Having the most defensive member of the Wudang Sect step aside would be advantageous.
Muryangja weighed the situation.
‘It doesn’t seem like a lie. Even if he’s clinging to me to save his life, it doesn’t matter. I’ll kill all witnesses anyway, so I can pretend to accept him and then finish him off at the end.’
Besides, a young one like him couldn’t possibly harm Muryangja with a surprise attack.
Muryangja concluded his calculations and nodded.
Hyun Gong deflected Yoo Gwanil’s sword one last time, then subtly retreated to the back of the formation. He quietly moved towards Muryangja.
Tang Mujin’s group, noticing Hyun Gong’s departure, sent telepathic messages in unison.
Tang Mujin’s voice was full of suspicion.
Namgoong Myung, having pieced together the situation, sent his message.
Hong Geolgae, unable to send a telepathic message, expressed his anger through exaggerated gestures.
Hyun Gong considered bluffing his way through but decided to send a message to Tang Mujin’s group. He didn’t want to hear more angry messages.
Over-explaining would only weaken his argument. Whether his excuse worked or not, Tang Mujin’s group stopped sending messages and watched him closely.
Hyun Gong had no real plan to turn the situation around.
But he maintained a calm demeanor as he approached Muryangja, assessing the battlefield.
The situation was clearly in Muryangja’s favor.
All he had to do was keep provoking Yoo Gwanil to attack Tang Mujin’s group.
Muryangja seemed to plan to intervene only after Yoo Gwanil had exhausted himself against Tang Mujin’s group.
He would then easily finish off the weakened Yoo Gwanil.
‘To create a variable, Tang Mujin’s group, the Flash Sword, and Muryangja must all be in a standoff.’
But Muryangja wasn’t foolish enough to allow such a situation. Hyun Gong involuntarily lowered his head, feeling a pang of guilt.
‘Sorry, my friends. But isn’t it better for at least one of us to survive?’
Hyun Gong’s mind told him he had made the right choice. Yet, a part of his heart felt uneasy.
After a long pause, Hyun Gong slowly raised his head.
He saw Tang Mujin’s group, now with more injuries. Tang Mujin met his gaze with a cold stare, his hand fiddling with something in his pocket.
Feeling a slight pressure, Hyun Gong pretended to survey the surroundings, as if seriously searching for an opportunity.
Then, his eyes landed on someone—Baek Hyang-a, Muryangja’s disciple.
Hyun Gong raised an eyebrow.
‘What exactly is the relationship between Muryangja and that young lady?’
It’s not unheard of for a Daoist to marry, so she could be Muryangja’s daughter.
Even if not, she was clearly someone Muryangja valued enough to bring to the northern lands.
At that moment, a peculiar thought crossed Hyun Gong’s mind. A plan that, if luck was on his side, might just turn the tables.
‘If she’s his daughter, that’s ideal. But at the very least, she’s probably his disciple.’
Of course, staying on Muryangja’s side was the safest bet for survival.
But if he could somehow twist the situation, there was a slim chance of achieving the best outcome.
Hyun Gong repeated to himself:
‘Muryangja is the setting sun. But Tang Mujin’s group is the rising sun. If I want to become the head of my sect, it’s better to have Tang Mujin’s group on my side.’
‘Once we get out of here, Yoo Jin Kwang will become the head of the Jeomchang Sect. If the scores of the heads of the Kongdong and Jeomchang sects are similar, then Tang Mujin, Namgoong Myung, and Hong Geolgae’s scores are a bonus.’
It might not be the right answer.
In fact, it felt like a move slightly off the mark. The odds of success were different.
But Hyun Gong deliberately chose not to think that far.
Human judgment is never perfect, so sometimes you have to leave a little room for fate.
“Please, let it be a small margin of error.”
Holding his breath and moving silently on the balls of his feet, Hyun-gong crept forward.
Fortunately, Muryangja was too engrossed in the fight to notice Hyun-gong’s approach.
Just as Tang Mujin and his group were gasping for air, Hyun-gong finally reached Baek Hyang-a’s back.
Pressing his sword against Baek Hyang-a’s pale neck, Hyun-gong shouted with authority.
“Muryangja! Enough of your cowardly tricks!”
Hyun-gong had decided to stage a righteous hostage situation.