The Path of Stars

After the death of the revered monk, Shinseung, there was no discussion about who should become the next abbot of Shaolin Temple. The reason was simple: everyone unanimously pointed to one man, the monk Cheongwook, as the successor.

Cheongwook was not only the most skilled martial artist in the temple after Shinseung, but his greatest strengths lay beyond his martial prowess. When the head of the Wudang sect came rushing to Shaolin with urgent news, Cheongwook quickly pieced together the situation with remarkable clarity.

“Guangming and that scoundrel can’t be trusted, but the leaders of the Tang and Namgung families would never betray the martial world to side with the cult leader.” “Judging by their uneasy expressions and the distance they’ve traveled, it’s clear they were forced into this.” “What could have led to such a situation? Has there been a change in the cult leader’s intentions?” ”…No, the cult leader’s motives don’t matter. We must seize this opportunity to eliminate the threat. This is our last chance.”

Having made his decision, Cheongwook mapped out the route the cult leader and his entourage would take and estimated their current position. However, he didn’t set out alone to confront them. Cheongwook was not foolish enough to engage in a losing battle by himself.

He traveled through the night, using his skills to reach Wudang Mountain, where he informed the righteous sects of the situation. This led to the current gathering.

Cheongwook, Hwayeon Shinni, Samam Bul, Jang Il-nam, Hyungong, Namgung Jincheon, Cheonryeong Gye Honggyeon, and Yujin Gwang. Along with Tang Mujin and Namgung Guangming, who were reluctantly accompanying the cult leader, and the Guangming Eight.

Not only the core forces of the righteous sects but also those who opposed the cult gathered. Eleven of the most renowned martial artists in the world were present.

In addition to these famous figures, many others had gathered. Some monks who followed Cheongwook, martial artists who hadn’t yet left Wudang Mountain, and onlookers who joined while tracking Tang Mujin’s group.

These individuals knew they wouldn’t be much help in the fight, so they kept their distance to avoid interference. They were content to witness the end of the cult leader and his chief protector, and ultimately, the cult itself.

And it was Jang Il-nam who first drew blood.

“Running won’t save you.”

With those words, Jang Il-nam drove a sharp dagger into the back of the left hand of the chief protector, Eom So-ul.

The dagger pierced through, pinning his hand to the ground. A searing pain shot through Eom So-ul’s body, but he didn’t scream, thanks to the training he had received in his youth.

Despite the agony, Eom So-ul maintained his composure and reached out with his right hand to strike at Jang Il-nam.

Jang Il-nam leaped back, avoiding the attack. With Eom So-ul’s left hand pinned, Jang Il-nam could have easily ended him, but he chose to step back instead. He wasn’t in a hurry to finish the fight; revenge needed to be thorough, not rushed.

Eom So-ul gritted his teeth and pulled the dagger from his hand, letting it fall to the ground, stained with his blood. His temples throbbed with the intensity of the fight, and he glanced towards the cult leader, who was now awake and assessing the situation.

Eom So-ul rushed to the cult leader’s side.

“Master!” “Yes, come here.”

The cult leader wrapped an arm around Eom So-ul’s shoulder, his expression heavy. Eom So-ul revered the cult leader’s martial prowess but knew it wasn’t enough to overcome the eleven martial masters before them. He understood that the glorious future he had envisioned would not come to pass, and that their end was near. Yet, strangely, he felt a sense of peace.

Burying his face in the cult leader’s embrace, Eom So-ul took a deep breath, then stood proudly beside him, as a true protector should.

As soon as Tang Mujin and his companions awoke, they saw the righteous sects surrounding the area. How had they found this place? Could someone have deciphered their desperate plea for help?

’…Well, it’s for the best.’

The three quickly rose and joined the ranks of the righteous sects. This time, not even the cult leader’s words could stop them.

“Fools…”

Seeing Tang Mujin and Namgung approaching, Hyungong sighed deeply. Beside him, Cheonryeong Gye’s face broke into a foolish grin. Tang Mujin and Namgung couldn’t help but smile as well.

It was a reassurance born from countless shared experiences, a certainty that as long as they were together, they could face any challenge.

Hyungong pinched his nose.

“Did you lure the cult leader and his protector here?”

Under normal circumstances, Tang Mujin would have boasted about his cunning plan. But now, he couldn’t bring himself to say it.

He hesitated before replying.

“Well… it turned out that way.”

Tang Mujin glanced at the cult leader and his protector. They were surveying their surroundings with grim expressions, which only bolstered the confidence of the righteous sects.

Cheongwook’s voice rang out powerfully.

“Did you think you could escape alive, villains?”

The word “villains” echoed in Tang Mujin’s ears, resonating like a relentless drumbeat.

His mind was a whirl of conflicting thoughts. They had committed evil deeds, but did that make them inherently evil? Even if they regretted their actions, would they still be considered villains? Was their remorse genuine, or merely a result of their thwarted ambitions? Did it even matter?

Contrary to Tang Mujin’s expectations, the cult leader did not draw his sword. Instead, he bowed deeply.

“I, Yeonchu, apologize to you all.”

The unexpected words left everyone stunned, most of all Eom So-ul.

“Master!”

But the cult leader ignored him and continued.

“I, Yeonchu, will relinquish my position as cult leader. I will return to Mount Tian and never leave it again. I will accept any punishment you deem fit.”

A heavy silence followed.

After a few breaths, Namgung Jincheon spoke in a cold voice.

“How pathetic, cult leader.”

The cult leader replied.

“I was once a beggar, surviving on scraps. I have no pride to uphold.” “What do you hope to gain by groveling like this?” “Please, allow Eom So-ul and me to return to Mount Tian alive. I beg you.”

Just as the crowd was about to condemn the cult leader, he knelt down. It was a gesture similar to a bow, but unexpected from someone of his stature.

Martial artists were known to never kneel, even in the face of death. Yet here was the greatest of them all, humbling himself.

And it didn’t end there.

The cult leader bent forward, placing his hands on the ground, and bowed his head until it touched the earth with a resounding thud.

It wasn’t just once. He continued to bow, repeatedly.

Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud -

The silence was deafening. No one dared to step forward. None of the righteous sects had ever faced someone so humiliated.

How many times did he bow? Just as it seemed he might injure himself, Hyungong stepped forward.

“Cult leader, you shouldn’t do this.”

The cult leader stopped, but remained with his head bowed. Hyungong spoke again.

“You started this fight, didn’t you? You lit the fire with your own hands, didn’t you?”

Hyungong’s voice trembled with emotion. He recalled the day they buried the martial artist with a hole in his forehead, the day they laid him to rest.

Just as he couldn’t forgive the chief protector, Hyungong couldn’t forgive the cult leader.

The other martial artists felt the same. Who among them hadn’t lost a loved one in this conflict?

Finally, they saw the situation clearly. Could they really forget all their grievances just because he knelt and bowed?

No, they couldn’t. If grudges were so easily forgotten, martial artists wouldn’t fear them so much.

Only then did the cult leader lift his head and speak.

“Beheading me won’t bring you any benefit.”

Blood streamed down the cult leader’s forehead, painting his face a deep crimson. It was a chilling sight, yet some couldn’t help but think of Sang-gwal, the master of the Gongdong sect. Sang-gwal, who had once cut down his own family. Unwillingly thrust into the position of sect leader, he had been forced to stand between words and reality in the battle against the demonic cult. The cult leader’s current state was not so different from Sang-gwal’s back then.

Hyun-gong replied.

“There’s no benefit, true. But revenge isn’t about profit and loss.”

This was coming from Hyun-gong, who was known for his relentless calculations of gain and loss. Yet, his voice carried genuine conviction.

Even for someone like Hyun-gong, who divided the world into profit and loss, there were connections that transcended such calculations. His friends, Seol-hwa, and Yeong-bo Jin-in were such connections.

“I told you earlier. You set the fire. Fire doesn’t just burn until cold hands are warmed, or food is cooked, or snow bugs are dead. It burns as long as there’s something left to consume.”

Hyun-gong continued.

“The fire hasn’t gone out yet. Pick up your sword, like a true warrior.”

The cult leader let out a deep sigh.

And then, he picked up his sword.