Chapter 289: He’s Back (3)

"He was... murdered by Jeolshim?"

I was at a loss for words the moment a completely unexpected name was mentioned.

Jeolshim, the Murderous Maniac.

Among all the villains, his name was the one that always echoed the loudest.

Countless men, women, and children had died by his hand, and he was such a horrific monster that even children would stop crying just by hearing his name.

He's been called by countless titles.

The Worst Butcher.

The Calamity That Brings Blood.

The God of Death.

There's one common thing people say when they speak of Jeolshim:

He is evil itself—at his very core.

–Why?

Wolak Sword Sama Chak killed in the name of vengeance and punishing the wicked.

Demon Fist Master Jang Munryang killed hundreds of civilians and martial artists after losing his mind due to inner demon invasion.

Evil-hearted Papa Cheol Suryeon preyed on young women to cure his inability to bear children.

Even the worst villains had patterns or motives in their actions.

But Jeolshim? His behavior has no clear motive or will at all.

–You mean, he has no purpose?

None whatsoever.

The only unique thing about him is that he treats murder as an art form.

–Art form?

One day, he appeared in a village in the northwest of Guizhou and killed every civilian there, stacking their severed heads into a tower.

On another day, in Shaanxi, he slaughtered hundreds and created a pond in the middle of the village filled with their blood.

–He's insane.

He's beyond insane.

After wiping out the sect known as Jechangmun, which was famous in Jiangsu, he plucked out their eyeballs, skewered them on sticks, and placed them on the main gate.

And these are just a few of his atrocities.

–He did all this and no one stopped him? Isn't that basically public enemy level?

Not just "level"—he is a public enemy.

The Yeon Empire put out a massive bounty for him. The righteous martial world issued a blank check bounty as well.

At one point, both the government and martial world cooperated for five years just to catch him.

–And they failed?

Yes.

None of those who tried to catch him survived.

Even trying to track him based on the traces he leaves is difficult.

Because he leaves his murders behind like art pieces, as if to put them on display.

–Ha.

Sodam Sword let out a sigh of disbelief and clicked his tongue.

But I was more shocked that such an incident had actually occurred.

'He really killed him…'

There was an incident before my regression.

That lunatic stormed into Wudang alone and killed Taiji Swordmaster Jongseon Jin-in, one of the Eight Great Masters.

The course of history has changed so much since then—I didn't think it would happen again.

But now, I could be sure of one thing:

'Was Jongseon Jin-in his true target all along?'

Otherwise, this wouldn't have happened despite such different circumstances.

His killing of Jongseon Jin-in seems like a fixed point in time.

'Damn it.'

Which means that Iljon likely got caught up in it and died too.

I needed to hear the full details before jumping to conclusions.

"How did something like this happen?"

In response to my question, Jo Sungwon answered.

"According to what the Martial Alliance reported, Jongseon Jin-in had been stationed on the border of Hunan and Guangxi to prepare for the selection of a new Martial Alliance leader. On his return trip, he was only accompanied by Wudang's sword guards—this is when it happened."

"On the way back? Then how did Iljon…?"

"It seems that Iljon led a small elite force from our sect to ambush the returning Taiji Swordmaster."

Ah.

So they struck at the perfect moment.

Honestly, I wouldn't have let that opportunity pass either.

"So Iljon was leading that unit."

"That's not all."

"What else?"

"The masked cult leader of the Blood Sect appeared too."

"…Baek Hyeyang!"

The only one who could act as the cult leader while wearing the demon mask in my place was Vice-Cult Leader Baek Hyeyang.

She could've just sent someone, but of course, that was just like her.

She probably stepped in herself to test her strength against one of the Eight Great Masters.

That might've helped push her skills to the next level, but considering the outcome we've heard… I'm not feeling optimistic.

"Did any of the other Zonseongs join in?"

"They mentioned a muscular man wearing black iron gauntlets and greaves—so likely, Fist-Blood Demon Hwang Gang of Ohyeolseong joined in too."

One superhuman, two supreme masters.

That was enough to kill Jongseon Jin-in.

"So what happened?"

"It seems that the Taiji Swordmaster and Wudang sword guards fought them. The guards were skilled martial artists and formed sword formations to hold their ground at first."

"But they couldn't have lasted long."

"No. Taiji Swordmaster began to lose ground after being attacked jointly by the Blood Cult Leader and Iljon. It was a dangerous situation."

"Of course."

Even a superhuman can't hold out forever when attacked by equally powerful enemies.

"If it dragged on, they would've surely lost."

"That's when… he showed up."

"…Jeolshim, the Murderous Maniac."

He appeared at a crucial moment.

Then how did the others react?

Judging by what I know about him, it probably turned into a three-way fight.

But I was wrong.

"Jeolshim suddenly appeared and attacked everyone indiscriminately."

"Indiscriminately?"

–He really is insane.

Just like Sodam Sword said.

And we all know what happens next.

Even beasts stop fighting when a bigger threat appears.

"So then what?"

"His monstrous martial prowess was so overwhelming that both sides stopped fighting each other and joined forces to fight him."

As expected, Jeolshim was beyond the realm of superhumans.

If all of them had to team up to fight him and still called him a monster, then it all makes sense.

His martial arts have always been ranked in the top five among the Twelve Superhumans.

"…So then, did Iljon and the Taiji Swordmaster fall during that joint fight?"

"Well… we can only assume so."

"What do you mean?"

"Wudang's sword guards, unable to do much, returned to their base to call for reinforcements from the Martial Alliance."

Even though the sword guards were skilled, they were just ants among giants.

It was the right call.

"When they returned with reinforcements, the battle had already ended."

I asked with a trembling voice.

"…And the result?"

"In the ruins, they found shredded corpses, unrecognizable pieces scattered everywhere… and two swords stabbed into the ground—one was the Taiji Sword of Wudang, and the other belonged to Iljon."

"There's no chance it wasn't them…?"

"Each sword had a severed hand still holding onto its hilt."

At those words, I let out a bitter sigh.

To lose Iljon like this… it was unbelievable.

He was taken out by a walking calamity.

–Grit!

Biting my lip so hard that it bled, I barely managed to suppress my sorrow and anger and asked,

"Were there no traces of Baek Hye-hyang or Oh Hyeol-seong?"

I was worried about their safety.

"Seeing that Vice Leader Baek Hye-hyang's Blood Demon Sword, armor, and greaves weren't at the scene, it seems they fortunately survived."

It appeared her imitation Blood Demon Sword wasn't found at the site.

"...Are you sure?"

"The Murim Alliance mobilized thousands to search the area. They scoured hundreds of li around but found no trace. However, some bloodstains were discovered toward Guangxi Province…"

"So they were injured."

"That seems to be the case."

It was impossible they escaped that battle unscathed.

After all, it was none other than the Slayer Absolute Heart.

The one fortunate thing was that at the Guangxi border, there were thousands of our sect's garrisons established to watch the Murim Alliance.

Even someone as catastrophic as Absolute Heart wouldn't risk charging in there recklessly.

Especially since the two major powers had gathered near the site of the battle.

"But, my lord, that's not the real issue. The Murim Alliance now believes that our Blood Cult's leader is seriously injured, and they're leading a large force southward."

"...So they think this is more urgent than avenging Taeguk Swordmaster?"

It was absurd.

From their perspective, attacking our sect—where they believe power has been lost—makes more strategic sense than chasing a hard-to-track enemy like Absolute Heart.

"They've already reached Mount Heng in Hunan Province."

"Mount Heng?"

"It seems even Lady Yeong-yeong's sect, the Mount Heng Sect, has joined them."

"...Sigh."

A sigh escaped me.

"Is Yeong-yeong participating too?"

"Lady Yeong-yeong appears to have remained with the Murim Alliance."

"With the Murim Alliance?"

So they haven't deployed their entire force?

As I looked puzzled, Jo Sung-won explained.

"It seems the Murim Alliance has also split into two factions following the death of Grandmaster Jongseon."

"Split into two factions?"

"One faction that supported Grandmaster Jongseon insists that the Slayer Absolute Heart must be dealt with first before going after the Blood Cult."

"Then the force moving south now isn't the Alliance's full power."

"You could say it's about half."

Even half would still be stronger than our current forces.

They must believe that by rallying forces from various provinces, they can bring down our sect.

Now I understood the situation within the Murim Alliance.

"You said earlier the alliance has split again. Who is the current leader of the Murim Alliance?"

Seven months have passed, and with Taeguk Swordmaster Jongseon dead, the leadership would've likely gone to either Musangdo Jeongcheon or Yeolwang Paedo Jingeon.

Both were outsiders, but given the situation...

"It's Musangdo Jeongcheon."

As expected.

He had a slight edge in martial prowess over Yeolwang Paedo Jingeon.

Since both were outsiders, it was natural they'd choose the one with greater fame and strength.

"Then what happened to Yeolwang Paedo Jingeon?"

With his pride, he wouldn't stay in the alliance after losing the leadership bid.

But my prediction was wrong.

"No. He was appointed the new Vice Leader."

"He became Vice Leader?"

Unexpected.

He set aside his pride?

"Due to the heavy loss from Taeguk Swordmaster's death, many within the alliance persuaded him."

"He doesn't seem like someone who would yield so easily."

"There are rumors that Baek Hyang-muk, the previous leader and known as the Infinite Sword, met him privately before leaving the alliance."

So even he was convinced by the former leader.

There must be more to this, but I couldn't deduce anything from the information I had.

Still, if he became Vice Leader, then one thing was clear.

"The faction insisting on tracking Absolute Heart—is that the Vice Leader's group?"

"Yes. Those who supported Taeguk Swordmaster have aligned with Vice Leader Yeolwang Paedo Jingeon, forming one of the two factions within the alliance."

In any case, the force moving south toward us is only half of the Murim Alliance.

And it's being led by the new leader, Musangdo Jeongcheon.

Fortunately, Yeong-yeong isn't part of this war effort, but if her sect, Mount Heng Sect, is harmed, I already know how she'll react.

"A full-scale war..."

Conflict with the Mount Heng Sect was inevitable now.

In this situation, preventing casualties was impossible.

What a dilemma.

"So, is the Vice Leader's faction currently tracking Absolute Heart?"

"That seems to be the case. But there's been little progress."

"That's good."

"Pardon?"

To the Murim Alliance and the Wudang Sect, Absolute Heart is a sworn enemy.

But I too could never forgive him for killing Iljon.

"If the Beggars' Union finds him, inform me first—not the Murim Alliance."

"...The information units of the Beggars' Union and the Murim Alliance have already started searching, but he's vanished without a trace. There's not even the smallest lead."

So he achieved his goal and disappeared.

Just like before.

Even before my regression, he vanished for eight years and suddenly reappeared to kill Taeguk Swordmaster—then disappeared again.

He didn't show himself again for years.

I wouldn't let him survive until then this time.

Not after harming my people.

He wouldn't breathe freely ever again.

"...My lord, your killing intent..."

"Ah."

I quickly suppressed the murderous aura I had let slip.

Being so close, Jo Sung-won must have felt overwhelmed.

—But how will you find that madman if no one else can? Even the Imperial Court and Murim Alliance failed. Do you have a clue?

'...None.'

—Not even anything from before the regression?

Nothing.

The Slayer Absolute Heart appeared in the martial world as if he fell from the sky.

Whether by design or nature, he made no personal connections. No one knew anything about him.

He killed nearly everyone who crossed his path...

Ah!

—What is it?

There's one thing.

—What is it?

The thing that even shocked Master Haehakcheon.

The identification token of Absolute Heart was in the possession of the Doctor of Ten Thousand Affairs (Mansashinui).

—Oh! That's right. Even that crazy old man was flustered when he saw it.

Exactly.

My master feared no one, not even Yeolwang Paedo Jingeon when he saw him up close.

But I still remember the look in his eyes when he saw Absolute Heart's token.

Back then, I was just surprised.

But now I realize—if the Doctor of Ten Thousand Affairs has his token, it means there's a connection between them.

"Jo Sung-won."

"Yes."

"Find the Doctor of Ten Thousand Affairs."

"Why him, all of a sudden?"

"...Just find him for now."

I considered telling him that the Doctor had Absolute Heart's token, but decided against it.

Since I'd be using personnel from the Beggars' Union, I had to prevent information leaks.

—But do you think the Doctor of Ten Thousand Affairs will talk? He seemed stubborn when we met.

True, the Doctor is a man of conviction.

He once told me he would never reveal any patient's personal information to others.

But there was one way to get him to talk.

—What is it?

My maternal grandfather holds the identification token of the Doctor's senior brother.

The Doctor once said he would do anything if that token could help him learn his brother's whereabouts.

Originally, my grandfather planned to use it to ask the Doctor for help to recover his energy center (danjeon), but when the Doctor disappeared, I instead taught him a technique to cultivate a secondary danjeon.

I should explain the situation to Grandfather and borrow the token.

"Then, my lord, what will you do? Shouldn't you return to the sect immediately?"

Of course.

The Murim Alliance is advancing south toward our sect.

"I need to return right away. Before that… any news about Shaolin?"

There was a reason I asked.

If news had spread about what happened at Shaolin, he would've learned of my survival—but he hadn't.

"Shaolin? They rarely interfere with worldly affairs."

As expected, what happened at Shaolin hadn't been publicized.

There were two possible reasons.

Either Shaolin was suppressing the news to save face, or I arrived here by sword flight faster than the carrier pigeons.

Either way, it didn't matter.

"Immediately inform the Murim Alliance headquarters and the southern forces of this information."

"What information?"

"That the Blood Cult's leader broke through Shaolin's 108 Arhat Formation."

"Wh-what?!"

Even before my words had finished, Jo Sung-won gasped in shock.