Absolute Sword Sense Chapter 317

< Episode 102 The Secret of the Former Leader Baek Hyang-muk (2) >

I doubted my ears when I heard Baek Hyang-muk's words.

-What does this mean?

That's what I want to say.

Lee Jeong-gyeom is determined to kill. What on earth does that mean?

Even if I tried not to be surprised, I couldn't help but be surprised.

'That can't be…..'

Even before his return, Lee Jeong-gyeom was a new hero symbolizing the Jeongpa faction, and even now, although his fame is inferior to mine, he is still a young and influential figure representing the Martial Arts Federation.

It made no sense for him to be so desperate.

I've met Lee Jeong-gyeom several times so far, but I didn't feel anything from him.

He had a pure spirit, always had a lazy way of speaking, and seemed to be annoyed by everything, but he was more upright than other politicians.

But it was absurd for him to be called the worst butcher.

-I don't know about that. Even if the people of the political faction found out that you were a blood demon, there would be chaos, so it's not like you couldn't fool them and say you're someone else.

It's completely different from that.

Of course, I have never met Lee Jeong-gyeom before, but when I was taking the test for the junior master of the Fengying Palryu sect in Musangseong, I had my eyes covered and he opened his golden eyes.

Among the superhumans, Sal-heung Jeol-sim is one of the top five strongest.

At that time, I saw Lee Jeong-gyeom briefly, but his level of internal energy was neither more nor less than the highest level.

-really?

Isn't that obvious?

Of course, at that time, I may not have gone over the wall, and I may not have understood it exactly, but if I had really gone over the wall and reached the realm of the superhuman, everything would have been seen as light.

Moreover, what is critically wrong is the timing of the activity.

He first appeared only about three years after the end of the Great War.

-Oh, that's true. Isn't he in his twenties?

I don't know my exact age either.

All I know is that he's in his early to mid twenties.

If we assume that he was twenty-five because he was hit so many times, then 17 years ago he was only eight years old.

A ten-year-old child suddenly appeared in Guizhou Province one day, massacred over two hundred villagers, and built a tower with their heads cut off?

Thinking back on the various events that occurred after that, it doesn't make sense.

They massacred martial artists from various sects and factions, including Jechangmun.

“Are you asking me to believe that?”

“It's true.”

“It doesn’t make sense, regardless of the facts. It’s been 17 years since Jeolsim first appeared in Guizhou Province, and Lee Jeonggyeom is only in his twenties.”

“…….That’s only natural. That’s what I was like before that child.”

“Before?”

What does this mean?

While wondering, Baek Hyang-muk sat down on a large rock in the valley like a chair and spoke.

“I think the story will get a little long.”

* * *

Same time.

The house of the Dangjujeon Cheongryongdang.

Inside the accommodation, Lee Jeong-gyeom was writing something with a brush.

No, to be exact, he was scribbling something that was neither writing nor drawing with a brush.

Lee Jeong-gyeom, who had been swinging his brush so frantically that he wondered what he was doing, rested his chin on his hand and looked at the book that was a mess with ink.

But surprisingly, when you look at the scribble from above, the marks drawn with a brush look like the marks of a swordsman.

It was not just a simple scar, but a jumbled mess.

Lee Jeong-gyeom smiled and seemed satisfied when he saw this.

While he was doing that, someone called him from outside.

“Your Majesty, do you have a moment?”

“Ah. I’m going out.”

Lee Jeong-gyeom folded the book in half with his answer, turned off the light on the desk, and went out of the dorm.

After a while, someone cautiously entered the room.

It was a person whose face was covered by a mask.

The masked man who came in like this slowly began to search the room.

The masked man, who had been searching for a while, let out an annoyed sigh.

'There isn't any.'

I thought maybe he had hidden 'it' in his quarters, but it seemed that wasn't the case.

'I guess I have no choice but to take her.'

As I was thinking like that, the masked man's eyes narrowed.

As I entered the room, I was bothered by something subtle on the desk.

The masked man unfolded the folded paper in half.

And the pupils of the masked man who saw it trembled slightly.

'……Could it be that the confrontation was expressed in silence?'

If his eyes were not deceiving him, this was definitely a sign of a herbivore, scribbling away in his mind.

The masked man couldn't help but be amazed.

'You could barely see it with the naked eye, but you felt the sword's initial intent?'

It was surprising that the battle between such great masters was depicted with just a single stroke of a brush on a single page of a book.

I've seen a lot of people who are incompetent, but this is the first time I've seen someone like this.

It seems like you have an eye that excels beyond your own limitations.

'Is this the ability to handle it?'

-Ouch!

The masked man folded his arms.

Someone was approaching the room.

Considering the footsteps, the sound, and the aura that stimulates the senses, Lee Jeong-gyeom is back.

'That's good.'

I thought I should subdue him and take him away this time.

Because you can't make a fuss in the main hall.

The masked man jumped up to the ceiling and disappeared into the shadows, making as little noise as possible.

-Thump thump! Squeak!

Lee Jeong-gyeom opened the door and came in.

Lee Jeong-gyeom closed the door and walked into the middle of the room.

At that moment, the masked man who had been hiding in the shadows of the ceiling jumped down like lightning and subdued his blood vessels.

-Tata tata tak!

Lee Jeong-gyeom was suddenly attacked and fainted.

'Without it, I'm still a child.'

The masked man who had lifted him up quietly left the room.

* * *

“It was around the time when the Jeongsa War ended and the martial arts world was entering a period of peace. As you know, the incident occurred in Gwiju Castle.”

This is the first incident in which the murderous intent was revealed.

He appeared in a village in the northwest of Guizhou Province, killed all the civilians, and built a tower with their heads.

After that, evil deeds that could not be accomplished with his words were committed in various places including Shaanxi Province.

“As it gradually grew bigger and more serious, we also decided to cooperate with the government’s request to suppress the incident.”

I know this.

The government and the martial arts alliance joined hands to search for Jeolsim's whereabouts for five years.

But I remember that in the end I couldn't find anything.

“I thought you didn’t catch it?”

Baek Hyang-muk shook her head at my words.

So you're saying you found the guy?

“One hot summer day in the third year of the search, Bon Maeng found traces of the bastard, and considering the danger during that time, Nobu took the lead himself.”

The number of victims so far has reached thousands.

Many masters came forward but were killed by the bastard, and because of that, he even earned the title of new villain.

That was the point at which the three great villains became the four great villains.

“A man who had never left a trace and never stayed anywhere for a long time was staying in a certain village for over two weeks. The old man led a force of thirty elite warriors and raided the place.”

They said there was no need to worry about civilians.

Because all those who were there were also killed by the hands of Zeal.

Thus began the battle to capture Jeolsim, known as the worst butcher in the history of martial arts.

“The fight lasted for almost half a day.”

Although she tried to fight actively, it was not an easy fight for Baek Hyang-muk either.

It was because of the most powerful weapon, the Yogeom Gyeopsalgeom.

The rumor that if you get cut by the fear sword even once, you will die because your bleeding will not stop was widely spread.

“It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that he used perfect swordsmanship among the Saphas since the Blood Demon. What made him even more difficult to deal with was the other ability of the Fear Sword.”

“Another ability?”

“Yes. It had a strange power that could disperse and send out black energies.”

ah!

Now that I think about it, I remember what Baek Hye-hyang said when she fought him.

[Not only was his swordsmanship ridiculous, but most of his attacks were like a flurry of energy flowing out of him. Even without his feet touching the ground.]

The Iljon Unit Leader also said the same thing to her.

At that time, I simply thought that his swordsmanship skills had reached the peak, but was it the ability of the fear sword?

If that were true, the fear sword would be very difficult to deal with.

“Eventually, everyone except Nobu was defeated, but the more they fought, the worse his condition became, and in the end, we were able to show him an opening and subdue him.”

"ah……"

Then isn't it different from what is known to the world?

The murderous intent was finally suppressed by Baek Hyang-muk's hands.

Baek Hyang-muk said with a sigh.

“…….After subduing the bastard, I should have gotten rid of the sword then or handed it over as the coffin requested. It’s too late to regret it, but it’s a regret that will last a lifetime.”

“You mean…?”

“While fighting that man, the old man’s greed blossomed. He was able to overpower the man, who was one level lower in strength than the old man, with only his swordsmanship and the ability to use the demon sword, for more than half a day.”

Anyone would have been greedy even if it weren't for him.

It is said that Baek Hyang-muk, who at first wanted to hand him over to the coffin together with the Geopsal Sword after disregarding his martial arts skills, soon changed his mind.

Greed, once born, cannot be easily quelled.

Convincing himself that this fearful sword would be more dangerous if it fell into the hands of the government, he held his breath on the spot.

“And I hid this fact from the coffin and the main office. I thought that since I had killed the greatest murderer, there would be no more problems, and I convinced myself that I could be this greedy.”

“I see.”

Up to this point, it's understandable.

Even I wouldn't have given up such a great sword.

At least, isn't that the case for all swordsmen?

“After I had disposed of that man’s body so earnestly, I was about to leave when I suddenly remembered what he had said before he died.”

“What did you leave behind?”

It was before Baek Hyang-muk killed that guy.

[Think of it as karma for the murders you committed.]

When he tried to cut off his head with a sword along with those words, the bastard is said to have said this.

[It doesn't matter. Because I found the best body ever that will never be again.]

Baek Hyang-muk, who had doubts about these words, is said to have looked around the village of the dead.

But surprisingly, he said he found the boy in an abandoned house not far away.

“For the old man’s sense of duty, it wouldn’t have been difficult to find a ten-year-old boy who hadn’t even learned martial arts at that distance. But I just happened to find him while wandering around.”

The boy was hiding, trying to silence Baek Hyang-muk and making no sound.

Even the minimum amount of energy that normal people would have was hidden.

It is said that at first he doubted whether he had learned martial arts.

“But that’s not it. That child was born in that village and never learned martial arts.”

“But I deceived you?”

“At first, I couldn’t understand it either. But after observing the child, I came to understand.”

“What are you talking about?”

“It is said that there are beings in this world who were born for martial arts.”

“For what?”

Baek Hyang-muk spoke with a trembling voice.

“No matter how many incompetent people the old man has seen so far, no matter how many geniuses he has called, or how many people with extremely outstanding bodies, they could not compare to that child.”

How innate must Baek Hyang-muk be that he can't hide his excitement just by thinking of something like this?

“That child is born with a natural ability to sense energy.”

It is said that Baek Hyang-muk sent energy through the pulse to check the boy's condition.

However, it is said that the energy that entered the boy's body went beyond his control.

Moreover, he said he was astonished to see the boy releasing it out of his body as if it had been his true nature from the beginning.

'…….That's ridiculous.'

I too couldn't help but be surprised.

Is it possible for someone who has not learned internal energy to control the energy of others?

It was only after I got over the wall that I was finally able to control my own energy.

If that were the case, it could be said to be an unprecedented talent.

“There was no need to worry. The old man decided to take the child in.”

At his words, I frowned and asked.

“Could that child be Lee Jeong-gyeom?”

"…….exactly."

I kept my mouth shut at Baek Hyang-muk's answer.

The child that was taken in on the day that Sal-heok Jeol-sim was killed was Lee Jeong-gyeom.

“The boy was originally the third son of a deceased farmer and was called Asam, but the old man took him in and named him that.”

Lee Jeong-gyeom.

It is said that there was a plum tree in the house where he was originally born.

So, it is said that he was given the name Jeonggyeom, which means "upright and humble," despite being a man of great talent and ability.

“After the old man who took the child in like this reported to the coffin that he had lost his mind, he headed to the gate.”

It was to get a talisman from the Taoist temple.

“Is it because of the sword?”

“That’s right. The sword spirit of the fear sword is strong, but the demonic energy is too strong.”

After the end of the Jeongsa War and having experience sealing the Blood Demon Sword, Baek Hyang-muk thought that he needed a talisman with Taoist power to suppress the demonic energy of the demon sword.

It was also because he had obtained the sword without telling the Martial Arts Federation, so if the magic spread and bewitched people, it could become a big problem.

“…….But then a problem arose.”

A Taoist master was possessed by the spirit of the fearful sword while attaching a talisman.

But that was where the problem started.

The Taoist master who was possessed by the fearful sword handed the sword over to none other than Lee Jeong-gyeom.

"under!"

Even without looking, it was obvious what would happen next.

“That boy, Jeonggyeom, who was possessed by the spirit of the fearful sword, slaughtered all the Taoists he saw. Fortunately, the old man quickly discovered this and took the sword from the boy. However…..”

At that time, Baek Hyang-muk realized the seriousness of the situation for the first time.

It is said that Lee Jeong-gyeom, who did not learn martial arts, became a great master after being possessed by the spirit of the Gyeopsal Sword.

“It was then that the old man felt an inexplicable fear for the first time.”

Lee Jeong-gyeom, who was possessed by a demon, spoke as if he were determined to kill someone.

Even the swordsmanship that Sal-heung Jeol-sim had shown was fully displayed.

Fortunately, the body did not follow suit and the air power was significantly lacking, so I was able to subdue it quickly.

“I thought that was the end. But it was just the beginning.”

Lee Jeong-gyeom, whose sensitivity was completely different from others, was unable to easily escape the essence of the fear sword.

It was as if there were two personalities in one body, changing dozens of times a day.

Lee Jeong-gyeom himself did not remember it at all when he returned to his original state, but he aimed for the fear sword every time he changed, so Baek Hyang-muk made up her mind after thinking about it for several days.

“The old man decided to give up the fear sword.”

This was because I was convinced that the existence of Salheung Jeolsim originated from the spirit of the fearful sword.

Baek Hyang-muk, who had decided to give up the fear sword, said that he hid the sword so that it could not fall into anyone's hands.

“Have you ever thought about getting rid of it?”

“Oddly enough, when I took it to the blacksmith and tried to melt it down, the sword did not melt. It did not even break.”

For this reason, it is said that Baek Hyang-muk put the sword in an iron box covered with talismans and hid it in a remote area that even martial arts masters would have difficulty entering.

And the place Baek Hyang-muk headed to was none other than the Mudang faction.

“There are many mysterious martial arts in the Taoist Wudang sect. I remembered hearing that among them, there was a martial art called the Two-Eyed Divine Art that could control the mind and divide it in two.”

“Two hearts?”

So that strange divine power existed.

The world of martial arts seems truly vast.

“I believed that if he was a true man who had mastered the art of the Yangishing, he would drive out the evil spirit that had captured Jeonggyeom and set him right again. That is why I entrusted Jeonggyeom to him.”

iced coffee……

So that's why Lee Jeong-gyeom became a joint disciple.

I thought it was just to create a new hero for the party, but this is the first time I found out that there were such circumstances.

“Originally, I planned to bring the child back once I could overcome the evil spirit. However, the evil spirit of the Gyeopsal Sword was so severe that it was not easily resolved.”

Moreover, while he showed a frightening ability to learn other martial arts, he was completely unable to achieve great success in the Yangshin Art.

Because of this, Lee Jeong-gyeom had to periodically go to the Mudangpa to receive the true energy of the Yangui Shingong directly from the Jongseon Jinin.

As the years passed, Lee Jeong-gyeom was able to completely escape from the evil spirit.

The vicious and murderous personality no longer appears.

“After several years, I received some shocking news.”

“…….The feeling of emptiness has reappeared.”

“That’s right.”

There was a time when Jeolsim disappeared for about four years.

Now that I hear from Baek Hyang-muk, it seems like those periods vaguely overlap.

Baek Hyang-muk said, letting out a long breath.

“Just in case, the old man went to where the fear sword was hidden and confirmed that it was gone.”

So I asked.

“Does Lee Jeong-gyeom also know the location of the sword?”

“That child who is obsessed with the spirit world wants the fear sword, how can I tell him about it? Besides, at that time, Jeonggyeom had joined the dark movement of the shamanist faction.”

In the shamanist sect, there is a cave called Amundong (暗雲洞) where not a single ray of light enters.

The later indices of the shamanist faction enter there and practice eating and sleeping on the wall for 108 days, becoming accustomed to complete darkness.

“……That must have made someone else think they found the sword.”

“Your guess is correct.”

Baek Hyang-muk, who thought the situation was serious, mobilized the power of the martial arts federation, including Cheonrajimang, to capture this new master, but lost him every time.

They even seemed to slip away leisurely, as if they knew their movements.

“That made the old man anxious.”

“Will the newly emerged Jeolsim appear before you?”

"……exactly."

I snorted at those words.

“So, you learned the Blood Heavenly Sword?”

I was actually going to ask this anyway.

Baek Hyang-muk said as if she was embarrassed by my words.

“…….That was the only alternative. I thought about it for a long time, but the only way to counter the fearful sword that disperses true energy was through the secret method of the Blood Heavenly Sword, which allows one to condense true energy into the sword itself.”

"under!"

Now it has been revealed why Baek Hyang-muk learned the Blood Heavenly Sword.

It may be for this reason that he tried to make his own sword able to withstand the energy of the Blood Heavenly Sword.

It is impossible for someone like him, who is known as a great master, to handle the Blood Demon Sword.

'Hmm… But I think Baek Hye-hyang also said that she let most of the attacks escape.'

If it was as Baek Hyang-muk had thought, the blood sword containing the secret of the Blood Heavenly Sword would have worked.

Suddenly, that comes to mind.

At that moment, Baek Hyang-muk bit her lips and said.

“But the risk I took to learn the Bloodthirsty Sword has become meaningless.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I only found out the truth after he died.”

'ah!'

At those words, I immediately understood what Baek Hyang-muk meant by those words.

It was the death of the true man, the Taegeuk Sword Master Jongseon.

In fact, when Lee Jeong-gyeom said that he was determined to kill, I had the most doubts about it.

Why was it that even before the return, and even now, the murderous intent was targeting the life of the true man of the lineage?

-no way?

right.

He sought an opportunity to kill the true man, Jongseon, who was suppressing his personality that was possessed by the spirit of the sheep.

Until then, Baek Hyang-muk probably didn't even realize that the personality was still alive.

But since Jongseon Jinin was murdered, he must have been convinced.

The one who took the fear sword is none other than Lee Jeong-gyeom.

-Knock knock!

Baek Hyang-muk continued speaking, clenching her fist so hard that blood flowed out.

“The personality that had been possessed by the spirit was still alive, and it was waiting for its time to gather strength again.”

This is truly creepy.

He expressed it as a spirit, but it was clearly the spirit of resentment contained in the fearful sword.

It's scary that Baek has been holding back until now and waiting for an opportunity.

I said to Baek Hyang-muk.

“If that happens, isn’t Lee Jeong-gyeom in a very dangerous situation right now?”

The Jongseon Jinin who had suppressed the personality that was possessed by Baek with the Yangshinkong died.

Then, the personality's leadership might gradually change.

Baek Hyang-muk spoke to me in a bitter voice.

“That’s why I did business with them.”

“What were they trading for?”

“They must have noticed the child, just as the old man noticed. He said to the old man, ‘Do you know that your disciple is intent on murder?’”

The worst butcher, the most brutal murderer.

If the truth that his true identity is Lee Jeong-gyeom is revealed, the repercussions will be unbearable.

None other than the former leader Baek Hyang-muk, who was the symbol of the sect, and the joint disciple of Taegeuk Sword Master Jongseon Jinin.

“They made an offer to the old man. They said that if he would just hand over the Fear Sword, they could get rid of the personality that was possessed by the spirit.”

'no way…..'

At those words, I suddenly thought of the magic poison.

Could it be that he was trying to manipulate Lee Jeong-gyeom with that?

If he was strong enough to be possessed by Baek even though he was separated from the fear sword, there was no other way.

Since she didn't say it out loud, Baek Hyang-muk continued talking.

“But now the deal with them is over.”

“I could have not given up.”

“As you said, descendant of the Sword Master, for the sake of the honor of the old man and his child, can you not bring about a greater disaster to the martial arts world?”

But in the end, did you choose justice?

Looking at things like this, it seems like he also had a lot of conflict over right and wrong.

Baek Hyang-muk spoke to me in a weary voice.

“…….Now the only way is to kill that child. It is karma that the old man has called upon, but it is difficult to kill his disciple with the old man’s own hands.”

It seems like he's already made up his mind.

Although he didn't say it out loud, it was almost like he was asking me to kill his disciple.

If the possessed personality of the demon were to burst out, I think I would be the only one who could handle it.

She stared at him intently and raised the corners of her lips as she spoke.

“If you can help Lee Jeong-gyeom escape from the fortress safely, what can you do for me?”

'!?'

ⓒ Hanjungwolya