Absolute Sword Sense

[Episode 102: Former leader Baek Hyang-muk's secret (2)]

I couldn't believe my ears when Baek Hyang-mook said those words.

-What does this mean?

That's what I want to say.

What on earth does this mean that Lee Jeong-gyeom is desperate to kill?

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 political faction, and even now, although he was overshadowed by my reputation, he was still a young Jisoo representing the Moorim Federation.

It made no sense for him to be so desperate.

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

He had a pure spirit, always spoke in a lazy manner, and seemed to be bothered by everything, but he was more upright than other political figures.

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

-You don't know that. Even if the political faction members find out that you are a blood demon, there will be an uproar, so there is no way you can pretend to be someone else.

It's completely different from that.

Of course, I have never met Lee Jeong-gyeom since I reached my current state, but I did open my golden eyes when I was blindfolded when I was taking the Sojongju exam of the Fengyeong Eight-Ryu Sect in Wushuangseong.

Among the superhumans, the assassin is one of the five most powerful in terms of strength.

At that time, I saw Lee Jeong-gyeom at a glance, but his skill level was at the peak level, no more or no less.

-really?

Isn’t it obvious?

Of course, at that time, I also may not have crossed the wall and did not understand it accurately, but if I had really crossed the wall and reached the realm of superhumans, I would have seen it all as light.

Moreover, the crucial thing that does not match is the timing of activities.

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

-what. That too. Isn’t he in his twenties?

I don't know the exact age either.

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

Assuming I was 25 because I hit it a lot, I was only 8 years old 17 years ago.

That a ten-year-old child suddenly appeared in Guizhou Castle one day, massacred about 200 villagers, cut off their heads, and built a tower?

Even when I think about the various events that have occurred since then, it makes no sense.

They even massacred the martial arts people of various factions, including Je Chang-mun.

“Are you asking me to believe that?”

“It’s true.”

“Regardless of the facts, it makes no sense. “It was 17 years ago when Jeolsim first appeared in Guizhou, and Lee Jeong-gyeom is in his twenties at most.”

“......That’s natural. “Because it was my greatest passion before that child.”

“Prior?”

What does this mean?

While I was puzzled, Baek Hyang-muk sat down on a large rock in the valley like a chair and said.

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

* * *

Same time.

The house of Cheongryongdang in Dangjujeon.

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

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

Lee Jeong-gyeom, who was frantically scribbling his brush to the point of wondering what on earth to do, rested his chin and looked at the paper that was a mess of ink.

But surprisingly, when you look at Seoji from above, the traces drawn with a brush look like scratches from swordsmanship.

It was also a jumbled mess rather than a simple scratch.

When Lee Jeong-gyeom saw this, he sighed and laughed as if he was satisfied.

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

“Head of the family. Do you have a moment?”

“iced coffee. “Let’s go.”

With his answer, Lee Jeong-gyeom folded the paper in half, turned off the lamp on the desk, and went outside the dormitory.

Before long, someone cautiously entered the room.

He was covering his face with a mask.

The masked person who entered like this began to slowly search the room.

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

‘There is none.'

I thought that he might have hidden ‘it' in his dorm, but it seems that wasn't the case.

‘Do I have to take them with me?'

As he thought so, the masked man's eyes narrowed.

After entering the room, I was concerned about something subtle that could be felt on the desk.

The masked person opened the book that was folded in half.

And when the masked man saw that, his pupils twitched slightly.

‘......Could it be that that confrontation was expressed in ink?'

If his eyes were not faulty, this frantic scribbling in ink was definitely a sign of herbivory.

The masked man couldn't help but be amazed.

‘It may have been barely visible to the naked eye, but did you feel the intention of the sword?'

It was surprising that a battle between such experts could be expressed by scrawling with a brush on just one page of bibliography.

I have seen many martial artists, but this is the first one like this.

He seems to have an eye that is superior to his own limitations.

‘Is this the ability to handle it?'

-Startle!

The masked person folded the paper.

Someone was approaching the room.

Considering his footsteps, presence, and stimulating energy, Lee Jeong-gyeom has returned.

‘Good.'

At this point, I thought I should subdue him and take him away.

Because you can't make a fuss in the royal palace.

The masked person jumped up to the ceiling and immersed himself in the shadows, trying to kill his presence as much as possible.

-Jump, jump, jump! Good!

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 person hiding in the shadows of the ceiling jumped down like lightning and overpowered his blood sword.

-Ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-tak!

Lee Jeong-gyeom, who was hit by an unexpected surprise attack, fainted.

‘If you don't have that, you're still a kid.'

The masked person who lifted him quietly left the room.

* * *

“It was around the time when the Great War was over and Murim was entering a period of peace. As you know, the incident occurred in Guizhou Province.”

This is the first time that a murderous spirit has been revealed.

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

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

“As the matter gradually grew and became more serious, our department eventually cooperated at the request of the government to suppress the incident.”

I know this.

The government and the martial arts league joined hands and searched for Jesim's whereabouts for five years.

But I remember not being able to find anything in the end.

“I take it you didn’t catch it?”

Baek Hyang-mook shook her head at my words.

So you found him?

“On a hot summer day in the third year since the search began, Bon Meng found traces of this guy, and considering the danger he faced, Nobu came forward himself.”

The number of casualties so far has reached thousands.

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

That was the point at which he went from being one of the three major evildoers to becoming one of the four major evildoers again.

“A guy who never left a trace and stayed somewhere for a long time stayed in a certain village for over 15 days. Nobu led about 30 elite masters and raided the place.”

They say there was no need to worry about civilians.

That's because all the people there were also killed by desperate hands.

Thus began the battle to catch Jeolsim, who was called the worst butcher in the history of the current martial arts world.

“The fight lasted almost half a day.”

Although he tried to fight actively, it was not an easy fight for Baek Hyang-mook.

It was because of the deadly sword, the sword and the sword of death.

The rumor was widely spread that if you were cut even once by a sword, the bleeding would not stop and you would die.

“He used a sword technique so perfect that it is no exaggeration to say that he is the best among the Safa people since the Blood Demon. “The reason it was more difficult to deal with was because of the other ability of the Dagger Sword.”

“Another ability?”

“exactly. “That sword had a strange power that could disperse and send away magical energies.”

ah!

Now that I thought about it, I remembered what Baek Hye-hyang said when she competed with him.

[Apart from his ridiculous swordsmanship skills, he used most of his attacks as if he were using a combination of fire and fire, and just drained all his energy. Even when your feet don't touch the ground.]

Iljon Yun-gang also said the same thing as her.

At that time, I simply thought that his swordsmanship had reached its peak, but was it the ability to kill with a deadly sword?

If that were true, it could be said that Coopslayer Sword was very difficult to deal with.

“In the end, everyone except Nobu was defeated, but the more he fought, the worse his condition became. In the end, we were able to find a loophole and succeed in subduing him.”

“Ah...”

Then, isn’t it different from what is known to the public?

The murderous desperation was finally subdued by the hand of Baek Hyang-muk.

Baek Hyang-mook sighed and said.

“......After subduing him, I should have gotten rid of that sword or handed it over as the official requested. “It’s too late to regret it, but it’s my regret.”

“You can’t believe that...”

“The old man became greedy while competing with that man. “The fact that a person whose strength was one level lower than that of Nobu overwhelmed him for more than half a day with only his swordsmanship skills and the power of the magic sword.”

Even if it weren't for him, everyone would have been greedy.

It is said that Baek Hyang-mook, who initially planned to hand him over to the coffin along with the Geopsalgeom after abolishing his martial arts skills, soon changed his mind.

Once greed arose, it could not be easily suppressed.

I endured despair on the spot, convincing myself that it would be more dangerous if this deadly sword fell into the hands of the king.

“And I hid this fact from the government and main office. “I thought there would be no more problems since I killed a rare killer anyway, and I convinced myself that I could be this greedy.”

“Right.”

Up to this point, I can fully understand.

Even if it were me, I wouldn't have given up such an amazing sword.

At least, isn’t that true of all swordsmen?

“I was so desperate to dispose of his body and was about to leave when I suddenly remembered what he said before he died.”

“Anything left?”

This was before Baek Hyang-mook killed him.

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

It is said that he said this when he tried to cut off his head with a sword.

[Does not matter. Because I have found the best body ever.]

Baek Hyang-mook, who had doubts about this statement, is said to have looked around the village of the dead.

But surprisingly, they said they found a boy in an abandoned house not far away.

“If Nobu’s feelings were anything to go by, it wouldn’t have been difficult to spot a ten-year-old boy who hadn’t even learned martial arts from that distance. “But I was wandering around and found it by chance.”

The boy was hiding in Baekhyangmuk, killing any sign of him.

They even hide the minimal amount of energy that normal people would have.

It is said that at first, there were doubts as to whether he had learned martial arts.

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

“But I tricked you?”

“Nobu couldn’t understand at first either. “But I realized it while looking at that child.”

“What do you mean?”

“There are beings in this world who were born for martial arts.”

“For nothing?”

Baek Hyang-muk spoke in a trembling voice.

“No one that the old man has ever seen, not even a genius or a person with an extremely outstanding body, could compare to that child.”

To what extent is Baek Hyang-muk so gifted that he can't hide his excitement just thinking about it like this?

“That child was born with energy sensitivity.”

It is said that Baek Hyang-muk sent his true energy into the boy's veins to check his condition.

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

Moreover, he said he was astonished to see it being released outside the body as if it had been the boy's own secret energy from the beginning.

‘.......Nonsense.'

I too was surprised.

Is it possible for someone who has not learned Neigong 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 nothing to worry about. “Nobu has decided to have that child.”

I frowned at his words and asked.

“Could it be that that child is Lee Jeong-gyeom?”

“.......exactly.”

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

The child they took in on the day they killed the murderous Jeolsim was Lee Jeong-gyeom.

“The child was originally called Asam, the third son of a dead farmer, but the old man took the child in and gave him that name.”

Lee Jeong-gyeom.

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

So, they gave him a plum tree as his last name and gave him the name Jeonggyeom, meaning that although he had outstanding military talents, he should be upright and humble.

“After reporting that the old lady who took the child away had lost her soul in the coffin, she headed to the gate.”

It was to obtain an amulet from the Taoist Gate.

“Is it because of the sword?”

“exactly. Aside from the strong sword spirit of the Sword of Death, the spirit was too strong.”

Since he had the experience of obtaining and sealing the Blood Demon Sword after the Battle of Jeongsa, Baek Hyang-mook believed that an amulet imbued with the power of Taoism was necessary to suppress the demonic energy of the sword.

It was also because he had acquired the sword without telling the Murim Federation that it could be a big problem if the magic spread and possessed people.

“......But then a problem arose.”

A Taoist monk was bewitched by the evil spirit of the sword while attaching an amulet.

But that was the start of the problem.

A Daoist master who was possessed by the sword of death handed over the sword to none other than Lee Jeong-gyeom.

“under!”

Even if you didn't look, what happened next was obvious.

“Jeong-Gyeom, possessed by the spirit of the sword of death, slaughtered the monks in sight. Fortunately, Nobu found this quickly and took the sword from the child. But...”

At that time, Baek Hyang-mook realized the seriousness for the first time.

It is said that Lee Jeong-gyeom did not learn martial arts, but when he became obsessed with the power of the sword, he became a considerable expert.

“It was then that Nobu felt an unknown fear for the first time.”

Lee Jeong-gyeom, who was caught up in this temperament, spoke as if he was on the verge of murder.

He was even able to display the swordsmanship shown by his killer.

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

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

Lee Jeong-gyeom, whose sensitivity was completely different from that of others, was not able to easily escape from the formidable nature of the sword.

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

Lee Jeong-gyeom himself could not remember it at all when he returned to his original state, but every time he changed, he aimed for a scary sword, and Baek Hyang-mook made a decision after several days of thinking.

“Nobu has decided to give up the sword.”

This was because he was convinced that the existence of a murderous and deadly sword originated from the power of a sword that kills and kills.

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

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

“Strangely enough, I tried to melt it by taking it to a blacksmith shop, but the sword did not melt. “It doesn’t even break.”

For this reason, it is said that Baekhyang-muk placed the sword in an iron box with an amulet attached and hid it in a remote location where even martial arts experts could not easily enter.

And the destination Baek Hyang-muk was heading to was none other than the Shaman faction.

“There are many mysterious martial artists in the Taoist shaman sect. “It was because I remembered hearing that one of them, the martial art of Yang-ui Shin-gong, can control the mind and split it into two.”

“Two hearts?”

Such a strange magic existed.

The world of martial arts seems truly wide.

“I believed that if Jong-seon Jin-in, who had mastered Yang-ui’s new skills, would drive out Yo-seong, who had captured Jeong-gyeom, and put him right again. So, I entrusted Jeonggyeom to him.”

Ah...

That's why Lee Jeong-gyeom became a co-disciple.

I thought it was just to create a new hero for the political faction, but this was the first time I knew of such a situation.

“Originally, I had planned to bring the child back once I got over Yo-seong. However, the nature of the sword of death was so severe that it could not be easily resolved.”

Moreover, while he showed a frightening level of mastery of other martial arts, he was not at all successful in the martial arts of Yangui.

Because of this, Lee Jeong-gyeom had to periodically go to the shaman sect and receive direct infusion of the true energy of Yangui Shingong from Jongseon Jinin.

As the years passed like this, Lee Jeong-gyeom was completely free from Liaocheng.

The vicious and murderous personality no longer appears.

“After so many years, I received some embarrassing news.”

“.......Desperation has appeared again.”

“That’s right.”

There was a time when my passion disappeared for about four years.

Listening to Baek Hyang-mook now, it seems like those periods vaguely overlap.

Baek Hyang-mook let out a long breath and said.

“Just in case, Nobu went to the place where he hid the sword and confirmed that it was missing.”

So I asked:

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

“That child who is in a rage wants a sword to kill, so how can I tell you that? Moreover, at that time, Jeong-gyeom had joined the shaman’s cancer movement.”

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

Later exponents of the shaman sect go there and train to become accustomed to complete darkness by eating and sleeping on Byeokgokdan for 108 days.

“...I guess that’s why they thought someone else had discovered the sword.”

“Your guess is correct.”

Baek Hyang-muk, who believed that the situation was serious, mobilized the power of the martial arts league, including Cheonnajimang, to catch this new Jeolsim, but he was missed every time.

They even seemed to be leisurely leaving, as if they knew their movements.

“That made Nobu nervous.”

“Will this newfound sincerity appear before you?”

“......exactly.”

I snorted at those words.

“So, you learned the art of Hyeolcheon Daeragong?”

Even so, I wanted to ask this.

Baek Hyang-mook spoke as if she was embarrassed by my words.

“......It was the only alternative. “I thought about it for a long time, but the only way to counter the sword that scatters the true energy was the technique of the Blood Heaven Daeragong, which can condense the true energy into the sword itself.”

“under!”

Now it has been revealed why Baek Hyang-muk learned the art of Hyeolcheon Daeragong.

It is probably for this reason that he tried to make his treasured sword able to withstand the energy of Blood Heaven Daeragong.

This is because he, who is synonymous with the devil, cannot handle the blood demon sword.

‘Hmm...but I think Baek Hye-hyang said she also let most of the attack go.'

Surely, if Baek Hyang-mook had thought about it, the blood sword containing the secrets of Hyeolcheon Great Ragong would have worked.

Suddenly, that comes to mind.

At that time, Baek Hyang-mook bit her lip and said.

“But it was pointless to take on this risk and learn the art of Hyeolcheon Daeragong.”

“What do you mean?”

“It was only after he died that I learned the truth.”

‘ah!'

At those words, I immediately realized what Baek Hyang-mook meant when she said this.

It was the death of Taegeuk swordsman Jongseon Jinin.

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

Why, both before the return and even now, did the murderous zeal aim for Jong-seon Jin-in's life?

-no way?

right.

He was looking for an opportunity to kill Jong-seon Jin-in, who was suppressing his personality that was obsessed with yeo-seong through Yang-yi's magic.

Until this time, Baek Hyang-mook probably didn't even notice that his personality was still alive.

But since Jong-seon and Jin-in were murdered, he must have been certain.

The person who took the sword of fear was none other than Lee Jeong-gyeom.

-Drop drip!

Baek Hyang-muk continued to speak, tightening his fists so much that blood flowed out.

“The personality that was possessed by nature was still alive, and it was waiting for its time, gaining strength again.”

This is truly creepy.

Although he described it as ‘Yoseong', it must have been ‘Baek (魄)', the resentment (恨) contained in the Sword of Death.

It's scary to think that Baek was so self-respected that he was waiting for an opportunity.

I said to Baek Hyang-muk.

“Then isn’t Lee Jeong-gyeom in a very dangerous state right now?”

Jin-in Jong-seon, who had overcome his personality that was obsessed with Baek through his Yang-yi skills, has died.

If so, the personality's leadership might gradually change.

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

“So we made a deal with them.”

“What did they deal with?”

“It seems like they also discovered the child, just as the old man noticed. He said it to the old man. “Do you know that your disciple is a murderer?”

He is called the worst butcher and has the utmost desire to kill.

If it is revealed that his identity is Lee Jeong-gyeom, the repercussions will be difficult to handle.

He is none other than a co-disciple of former leader Baek Hyang-muk, who was the symbol of the political faction, and Taegeuk swordsman Jongseon Jinin.

“They suggested it to Nobu. “They say that if they just get over the scary sword, they can get rid of the personality that is possessed by their nature.”

‘No way...'

When I heard those words, I suddenly thought of Hwanma Poison.

Could it be that he tried to control Lee Jeong-gyeom with that?

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

Because Baek Hyang-muk did not say this out loud, he continued talking.

“But now the deal with them is over.”

“I could have not given up.”

“As you said, the descendant of Geomseon, can’t you bring greater disaster to the martial arts world for the honor of the old man and his child?”

Still, did he choose justice in the end?

Looking at this, it seems like he also had a lot of conflicts between right and wrong.

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

“......The only way now is to kill that child. It is a job called by Nobu, but it would be difficult to kill his student with Nobu’s hands.”

It seems he has already made up his mind.

Although he didn't say it out loud, this was like asking me to kill my student.

It seems like he thought that even if Yo-seong's possessed personality came out, I would be the only one who could handle it.

I looked at him intently and raised the corners of my mouth and said.

“If you can get Lee Jeong-gyeom out of the castle safely, what can you do for me?”

‘!?'

? Hanzhongwolya