Chapter 634: It Seems a Great Evil Has Awakened

TL: FoodieMonster007

There are certain moments in a relationship that serve as turning points. Usually, a person only recognizes such a moment in hindsight, thinking back to it. Today, however, Jin Hagun could feel it with absolute certainty.

A bridge was being built between his grandfather and himself. This bridge was not made of sand, but of sturdy, reliable wood.

"I will trust the Young Cult Leader fifth, not second."

His grandfather had shown him the path he was meant to take, and he knew he must repay that kindness.

"First, I'll believe that we're right. Next, I'll believe in you, Grandfather. Then, I'll believe in my subordinates in the Demon Slaying Brigade. After that, I'll believe in the Murim Alliance martial artists who are silently doing their jobs even now. Only after believing in all of them will I believe in the Young Cult Leader."

Jin Paecheon smiled with satisfaction. His grandson, who had always seemed so immature, had grown so dependable in such a short amount of time.

"Let's head back now."

"Yes, Grandfather."

The two of them came down from the pavilion and started walking toward the entrance of the bamboo forest.

Jin Hagun asked a cautious question. The fates of many people would shift depending on the answer.

"What are you planning to do now?"

Instead of answering directly, Jin Paecheon asked for his grandson's own opinion.

"What are your thoughts?"

He wanted to use this as an opportunity to see how his grandson would manage such a situation. He felt the time had finally come.

"As you saw earlier, the First Young Lord has no intention of backing down. The mastermind will eventually try to create a rift between our Alliance and the Divine Cult again. Before that happens…"

He paused, unable to finish his sentence immediately. The words might make his grandfather uncomfortable.

"I believe we must meet with the Heaven's Edge Hermit."

They first needed to determine if he was truly the mastermind or if he was being framed by someone else's scheme.

"And what happens when we meet him?"

"If the Heaven's Edge Hermit is the mastermind, he'll know he's under suspicion."

After all, he had used the Brainwashing Art to make the White Dragon Commander speak his name.

"If we don't go and check on him in this situation, he'll think we suspect him."

He would expect the Chairman, if he trusted him, to come and explain what had occurred.

"Whether the Hermit is innocent or not, the fact that we must go to him first remains unchanged. We have to make the first move."

Jin Paecheon nodded silently, walking onward while lost in his thoughts.

In the meantime, the two of them arrived at the entrance.

As Jin Paecheon climbed into the waiting carriage, he gave an unexpected command.

"You go and meet him."

This meant he was entrusting the entire matter to his grandson.

Jin Hagun had a premonition. This might be the final test to become the successor.

"Yes, I will."

Things were completely different now that he understood his grandfather's true feelings. He could handle the matter objectively without worrying about their relationship.

The carriage carrying Jin Paecheon departed.

As the carriage left with the Chairman's bodyguard unit, the martial artists of the Demon Slaying Brigade gathered around Jin Hagun, who was now alone. Since they moved with Jin Hagun, they knew better than anyone how serious the current situation was.

"We're going to the Nothing Manor."

Jin Hagun stood at the entrance of the Nothing Manor and gazed up at the sign.

The Nothing Manor.

It was a name given by the martial artists of Wuhan to honor the Heaven's Edge Hermit, who had lived his entire life as Mu Soyu.

Jin Hagun suddenly remembered that the characters for 'Muso' in Mu Soyu were the same as those in the phrase for 'nothing is impossible'.

He would soon discover if the life he wanted was that of Mu Soyu, or a life that craved the power of 'nothing is impossible'.

When a martial artist from the Demon Slaying Brigade knocked on the door, Chamberlain Ju emerged from inside. He recognized Jin Hagun and offered a polite greeting.

"Welcome, Commander."

Chamberlain Ju was a man who had served the Heaven's Edge Hermit for a very long time. Despite his exceptional martial arts skill, he was responsible for managing the Nothing Manor's household. He had dedicated his life to the Hermit out of deep respect.

Jin Hagun glanced past him and asked a question.

"Is something the matter?"

Behind Chamberlain Ju, the courtyard was visible, filled with dozens of martial artists. He could feel an unusual atmosphere even from a distance.

At his question, Chamberlain Ju looked at him with a peculiar expression.

"Didn't you come because you heard the news?"

He seemed to assume that Jin Hagun was already aware of the situation.

Jin Hagun did not bother to deny it. He was unsure what was happening, but he assumed he would find out once he was inside.

"Well then, please come in."

Chamberlain Ju led Jin Hagun inside. The martial artists of the Demon Slaying Brigade followed close behind him.

The people in the courtyard were all martial artists from the various sects located in Wuhan.

They recognized Jin Hagun and greeted him politely with a clasped hands gesture. He was a strong candidate for the next Murim Alliance Lord, and the Demon Slaying Brigade he commanded was made up of the Alliance's most elite fighters.

The Demon Slaying Brigade formed a line among them, creating a path.

Jin Hagun and Chamberlain Ju walked through the path made by the Demon Slaying Brigade and went further inside. As Jin Hagun walked, he studied the martial artists in the courtyard. Their tense and rigid expressions made it clear that something had definitely happened.

The place Chamberlain Ju led him to was the main hall.

There were about a dozen people inside, and the room was so quiet that not even a single breath could be heard.

As Jin Hagun entered, the people inside turned their heads toward him.

They were all faces that Jin Hagun recognized.

The leaders of the various sects in Wuhan. These were men who led anywhere from dozens to hundreds of disciples. They silently offered a clasped hands greeting to Jin Hagun, showing their respect.

Jin Hagun also greeted them with only a quiet clasped hands gesture. There was a reason for this silent exchange.

In their midst was a bed, where a physician was attending to someone.

An old man was lying on the bed, receiving treatment.

His skin was dark and rough, as if to show he had wandered the outside world for a long time. His old, worn martial arts uniform looked as if it had been with him for decades.

However, no one who knew him would ever judge him by his appearance. In fact, this simple and rugged exterior was what made him shine.

The Heaven's Edge Hermit, Hwa Yulcheong.

He was a man who had spent his life roaming the Central Plains and doing good deeds. If he saw someone pitiful, he would empty his pockets for them. If he saw someone wronged, he would surely avenge them.

A man for whom even the word 'Master' felt insufficient, that Hwa Yulcheong was lying on the bed.

Until he arrived here, Jin Hagun had never imagined he would see such a sight.

Moreover, he certainly had not expected this to be the reason.

Chamberlain Ju delivered the shocking news.

"The Elder was attacked by an unknown assailant today."

Jin Hagun's expression hardened.

Of all the possible times, the Heaven's Edge Hermit was ambushed now?

Jin Hagun's gaze shifted to his arm.

The physician was treating his arm. It was not a sword wound. The gash was roughly torn and quite deep to have been self-inflicted.

After carefully finishing the treatment, the physician spoke cautiously to the people gathered there.

"The torn and ripped wound will heal with time, but the poison is the problem."

The Heaven's Edge Hermit was poisoned?

"If the antidote doesn't work, there will be side effects."

At the physician's words, a cold chill seemed to spread through the room. It was the anger of those present.

Jin Hagun and the sect leaders moved to a spot a little away from the bed.

Since Hwa Yulcheong was asleep, Jin Hagun planned to go outside to talk, but they had no intention of leaving. They showed their resolve to guard the place until Hwa Yulcheong woke up.

"What in the world happened?"

At Jin Hagun's low question, a young martial artist standing a short distance away spoke up.

"The Elder was injured while saving me."

He was Hyeok In, the Sect Leader of the Clear Justice Sect, a small sect in Wuhan. He had recently become the new Sect Leader after the previous one died in an accident.

"I heard he had returned to Wuhan after a long time, so I sought the Elder's help. I wanted to ask him how I should lead my sect. We were attacked by a demonic practitioner while I was seeing him off after hearing his valuable words."

At the phrase 'demonic practitioner', Jin Hagun's heart sank. It was a term that should not have been mentioned, at least not here.

"Did you just say a demonic practitioner?"

Hyeok In nodded. As if to explain, Chamberlain Ju brought something that was under the bed and showed it to them.

"The Chairman was struck by this."

Jin Hagun's expression stiffened as he recognized the object.

To his surprise, it was a Jin-gyeok, a hidden weapon of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. The very thing that had brought Geom Muyang to Wuhan had now appeared right before Jin Hagun.

"What happened to the ambusher?"

"He was killed by the Elder's hand."

A middle-aged martial artist standing nearby stepped forward.

He was Go Hyeong, the Sect Leader of the One Sword Sect. He was a man who had lost an arm fighting a demonic practitioner in the past and would grind his teeth at the mere mention of the Demonic Cult, even in his sleep.

"As you know, that hidden weapon is from the Demonic Cult, designated as a forbidden weapon by the Murim Alliance. If it weren't for such a vile and despicable weapon, how could the Elder have possibly been struck?"

A heavy silence filled the air.

The other sect leaders neither agreed with his words nor denied them.

If this was truly the work of the Demonic Cult, this incident would not be resolved with a simple apology.

Just then, another person stepped forward. He was Hwang Geun, the Sect Leader of the Blue Willow Sect in Wuhan. He was a man who deeply respected the Heaven's Edge Hermit, viewing him as a master and following him.

He walked back to the bed, looked down at Hwa Yulcheong, and said in a low voice.

"Regardless of who did this, I intend to spend the rest of my life finding the culprit."

The other sect leaders also nodded and stood before the bed.

While all orthodox sect martial artists respected the Heaven's Edge Hermit, the ones gathered here were followers who would willingly give their lives for him. If they moved, the Wuhan murim would move. If Wuhan moved, the entire murim would be set in motion.

Jin Hagun silently stared at Hwa Yulcheong.

Is this a setup? Or was he really attacked?

In the current situation, there was no way to know for sure.

However, one thing was certain.

He had not spoken a single word while unconscious, yet he was stirring the passions of these many masters from the orthodox sects.

The Demonic Cult tried to kill the Heaven's Edge Hermit!

He realized how huge of an incident this was becoming. For now, it was only these people, but once the news spread, the murim would be turned completely upside down.

Hwang Geun turned to Jin Hagun and spoke.

"Commander Jin, I hope the Alliance won't stand by and just watch this happen."

At that, the others also turned. Everyone's gaze was now focused on Jin Hagun.

"Have the Murim Alliance step in to surround the perimeter and ensure the culprit can't escape."

"We must lodge an official protest with the Demonic Cult."

The demands continued, but Jin Hagun remained silent.

Is this what you wanted? Are you really planning to use these people as a shield to get through this? 'Don't touch me. If you touch me, everyone will move.' Is this how you're giving that warning?

They stood lined up in front of Hwa Yulcheong.

This was not a wall built simply because an orthodox sect martial artist had been ambushed. It was a wall of trust and respect that he had constructed over several decades. It was a wall built with decades of effort. That was why it could not be carelessly torn down.

It was at that very moment. A low voice came from behind them.

"…That's enough."

At those words, the hall fell silent. The voice had come from the bed behind them.

Everyone turned in surprise to see Hwa Yulcheong awake and sitting up.

"Elder!"

"Chairman! You're awake!"

"What a relief."

Everyone rejoiced and crowded around him.

"Why are you all making such a fuss over nothing?"

As his dormant presence awakened, it overwhelmed everyone in the room. His presence was not sharp or powerful. It was an incredibly gentle presence.

However, it was a gentleness that seemed impossible to break with any amount of force.

Hwang Geun checked his condition first.

"What do you mean, it's nothing? Elder, you were poisoned!"

However, Hwa Yulcheong replied as if it were no big deal.

"I've suppressed it with my qi, so I'm fine."

This time, unable to restrain himself, the leader of the One Sword Sect shouted.

"It was the work of those bastards from the Demonic Cult!"

"Nonsense! How can you conclude it was a demonic practitioner just because he carried a hidden weapon of the Demonic Cult?"

He showed a completely different reaction than what Jin Hagun had expected.

"I'm fine, so don't needlessly escalate things and all of you go home. If a fight breaks out with the Demonic Cult over something uncertain, many innocent lives will be lost. So don't act rashly and watch your mouths."

After sternly scolding them, he looked for someone in the crowd. The person he sought was the young Hyeok In, the one he had saved.

"Are you alright?"

As he smiled at him, Hyeok In was deeply moved and gave a deep bow.

"I'll never forget the grace of you saving my life."

"What good will it do to remember this old man? Just take good care of your people. You remember everything I said, right?"

"Elder!"

Hyeok In bowed his head as tears fell.

Finally, Hwa Yulcheong's gaze turned to Jin Hagun. When they were alone, he would call him Hagun by name, but now he addressed him as the head of the Demon Slaying Brigade.

"Commander Jin."

"Elder."

The two men's gazes met in mid-air. Hwa Yulcheong looked at Jin Hagun with the same gentle and benevolent eyes as always.

He was the man who had always smiled brightly at him, unchanging from when he was a little boy until now.

Is this man really the one behind the conspiracy?

That was why he was confused, and that was why he was even more suspicious.

Hwa Yulcheong asked in a calm tone. "What is happening in Wuhan?"

That's what I want to ask. What are you planning to do here in Wuhan?

Everyone waited for Jin Hagun's answer. They expected that as the head of the Demon Slaying Brigade, he would know facts that they did not. Whether it was the work of the Demonic Cult or not, the ambush on the Heaven's Edge Hermit was a major incident.

"Nothing has been confirmed yet. However, in this once peaceful murim…" Jin Hagun stared at Hwa Yulcheong and calmly added. "It seems a great evil has awakened."