Chapter 819: You Must Live
Telling the same old complaints and saying someone else should come out meant: stop talking and get lost.
In a situation where he should have been furious, the Martial Emperor Divine Sword was lost in other thoughts.
The words that had flown in earlier and struck him were filling his heart.
―“If you truly did it for the martial world, then prove it.”
Had he really drawn the Demonic Cult in for the sake of the martial world?
He had asked himself that question for a long time, and after long deliberation had concluded that it was true.
But the Martial Emperor Divine Sword knew.
If that had truly been the case, he would not have agonized over it for so long in the first place.
Bringing in the Demonic Cult had been entirely a choice for himself.
He wanted to end that war with his own hands.
If he failed to end the war that had taken countless lives and was defeated instead?
History would record it like this.
‘With the death of the Martial Emperor Divine Sword, the war ended in defeat after producing countless sacrifices.’
He did not want the reputation he had built throughout his life to end like that.
He did not fear death.
But he feared defeat.
No matter what, he wanted to win the war and stand before the martial artists of the Righteous Faction and say this himself:
That he was sorry for not ending the war sooner.
But in the end, they had achieved victory.
Geom Woojin pressed him once more.
“Can you prove to Leader Jin that it was truly a choice made for the martial world?”
The Martial Emperor Divine Sword gave no reply.
At that moment, Jin Paecheon stepped forward.
“There is no need for you to prove it.”
Not only the Martial Emperor Divine Sword, but everyone’s gaze turned to Jin Paecheon.
Jin Paecheon first looked at Geom Woojin. With his eyes he conveyed, I’m sorry, but please leave this to me, and then he spoke again to the Martial Emperor Divine Sword.
“I know you tried in your own way, Alliance Leader. I believe in you.”
For a moment, the eyes of the Martial Emperor Divine Sword, who was borrowing Hwa Moogi’s body, trembled.
If the other party had said he could not trust him, he would have justified himself somehow.
But because he said he believed him, his heart instead grew heavier.
He had nothing to say.
At the very least, the Martial Emperor Divine Sword was not a villain who exploited the hearts of others.
How could Jin Paecheon not know?
The reason the Martial Emperor Divine Sword could not answer confidently.
The unspoken feelings behind it.
That was why he said he believed him.
If the man were truly evil, he would not have shown such a face.
He would have shamelessly insisted that it truly had been a choice for the martial world.
He would have loudly proclaimed he could prove it.
Everyone had their own life and their own reasons.
Some would understand them, while others would criticize them.
Even if others cornered him, Jin Paecheon did not want to do that.
He did not want to see the man he had once respected collapse in front of people.
“And the martial world of this era… I will protect it.”
That was Jin Paecheon’s sincere heart.
“Even knowing you are inside that body, I will still point my sword at the Heavenly Killing Star. I will swing my sword to kill him. For that, I apologize in advance.”
As the junior Alliance Leader and as a successor of the Righteous Faction, Jin Paecheon showed every courtesy he could.
Watching that scene, Geom Woojin realized something.
Compared to his own pressure, Jin Paecheon’s courtesy—his righteousness—was provoking the man even more.
Whether intentional or not, Jin Paecheon was carrying out Geom Woojin’s intention in the most perfect way.
He was shaking the Martial Emperor Divine Sword’s soul violently.
In the end, unable to say anything, the Martial Emperor Divine Sword withdrew back inside Hwa Moogi.
Hwa Moogi sat on the table and deliberately made a sour expression.
“You acted like a scholar, but you were spicy ginger.”
“What do you mean?”
“You shook the old man’s heart quite well.”
Hwa Moogi picked up the liquor bottle on the table and drank.
“With such a weak heart, how can he be an Alliance Leader? Someone in that position should be this vicious and ruthless.”
Hwa Moogi criticized Jin Paecheon. It looked as though he intended to shake Jin Paecheon just as Jin Paecheon had shaken the Martial Emperor Divine Sword.
But Jin Paecheon did not fall for the provocation.
“I sincerely believe in the Alliance Leader.”
At that, Hwa Moogi looked not at Jin Paecheon but at Geom Woojin.
“The current Martial Alliance Leader is this naïve, and yet you still haven’t destroyed the Righteous Faction?”
It was ridicule directed at both Geom Woojin and Jin Paecheon.
Of course, Geom Woojin was not shaken at all. Rather, he discovered one fact from Hwa Moogi’s reaction.
‘The Heavenly Killing Star is paying attention to the Martial Emperor Divine Sword.’
Which meant—
‘The Heavenly Killing Star and those souls are connected.’
Those souls were influencing the Heavenly Killing Star in some way.
His decision to shake the souls had been correct.
While drinking, Hwa Moogi said to everyone:
“I can’t understand people of the Righteous Faction. Why do you risk your lives over such useless things? Belief? What does it matter if you believe or not? You people live far too conscious of others.”
Jin Paecheon asked him,
“Then what do you believe in?”
“There’s only one thing I believe in. That everything happening today is nothing but inevitability.”
“Do you think you yourself are an inevitable existence?”
Hwa Moogi’s eyes shone arrogantly.
“That’s something you should believe. If today’s deaths are mere coincidence, wouldn’t that be too tragic for you?”
At that moment, someone cut in bluntly.
“It’s coincidence.”
The one who spoke was Baek Jagang.
“Whether we live today or die today—it’s all coincidence.”
He did not see life and death as inevitable.
If you were unlucky, you died. That was all.
“Countless people were born, and by coincidence, you became the Heavenly Killing Star. We also became Alliance Leaders through a series of coincidences. So don’t wrap yourself in something grand.”
At that moment Hwa Moogi’s eyes changed.
For the first time, he revealed an aura he had never shown before.
A sinister energy.
“You knew I was here, didn’t you?”
He was Joo Ga-shin, the Unorthodox Alliance Leader from three hundred years ago.
Hyeok Do-cheon had appeared because Geom Woojin provoked him.
The Martial Emperor Divine Sword had appeared because Jin Paecheon politely invited him.
But Joo Ga-shin had come out on his own.
“There’s the Demonic Cult Leader and the Martial Alliance Leader here, so of course you would be here as well.”
Baek Jagang had predicted that the Unorthodox Alliance Leader from three hundred years ago would be inside Hwa Moogi.
“Then why didn’t you look for me?”
“I didn’t want to see you.”
“Why?”
“We’re going to try to kill each other anyway. What’s the point of meeting? It would only feel uncomfortable.”
Joo Ga-shin did not become angry. Instead, he looked at Baek Jagang with interest.
“What is the Unorthodox Path like now?”
“It’s running fairly well.”
Joo Ga-shin’s gaze moved toward Geom Woojin and Jin Paecheon.
“The Righteous Faction always regarded us as opportunists who would join hands with the Demonic Cult at any time. And the Demonic Cult always ignored and despised us.”
His gaze returned to Baek Jagang.
“Between the Righteous Faction and the Demonic Cult, the ones covered in blood were always us.”
Joo Ga-shin had once dreamed of unifying the martial world.
He believed the war between the Heavenly Will Palace and the Martial Alliance was an opportunity granted to him by heaven.
But when he was sucked into the Secret Box, his dream was shattered.
Afterward, he had forgotten that dream for a long time.
Yet upon seeing Baek Jagang, he felt his dream coming back to life.
“That’s not something to blame others for, is it? We behaved that way ourselves.”
Baek Jagang’s attitude instead intrigued Joo Ga-shin even more.
So he became curious.
What kind of thoughts did this Unorthodox Alliance Leader, whom he met three hundred years later, hold?
“What is your Unorthodox Path?”
Baek Jagang answered casually.
“Unorthodox Path? I don’t have anything that grand. If someone joins under me, I make sure they eat well and live well. That’s it.”
After staring silently at Baek Jagang, Joo Ga-shin sent a Voice Transmission.
―You must live.
The unexpected message reached him.
―And achieve the dream of conquering the martial world that I failed to accomplish.
It was not meant to hide the conversation from Hwa Moogi or the other souls.
It was meant so Geom Woojin, Jin Paecheon, and the others here would not hear.
―I will let you live in today’s battle.
Baek Jagang replied through Voice Transmission.
―How?
―By persuading the Heavenly Killing Star.
Hearing that, Baek Jagang understood something.
These souls could communicate with the Heavenly Killing Star.
―Even if I survive here, how could I conquer the martial world?
Everyone realized Baek Jagang had begun conversing with Hwa Moogi through Voice Transmission, but they waited for the conversation to finish.
―Today the Demonic Cult Leader and the Martial Alliance Leader will die here. Afterward, the Demonic Cult’s main division and the Martial Alliance will also be annihilated. Then you simply occupy the power vacuum.
Now that the Twelve Zodiac Kings were all dead, someone had to effectively rule the martial world.
―What about the Heavenly Killing Star?
After a pause, Joo Ga-shin replied.
―You would have to serve him. You would stand in the position of one person below him, yet above ten thousand others.
Before making such an important decision, Baek Jagang continued asking questions.
―Has the Heavenly Killing Star learned all of your martial arts?
―Yes.
―And he possesses all your internal energy?
―Not only our internal energy but even our Innate Qi. He took it all. He is the being formed by all of us combined.
―Is such a thing possible?
They had been implanted into countless bodies since three hundred years ago.
But no matter how talented a body or mind was, none could endure their souls and power.
Most went insane within a few years.
But Hwa Moogi, who was born as the Heavenly Killing Star, was different.
He accepted their internal energy and souls and absorbed all their martial arts.
However, none of the attempts to secure his loyalty worked.
In the end, the Dark Palace Master sealed him.
―What is his weakness?
―Why do you ask that?
―He might try to kill me later as well.
―If you don’t betray him, that won’t happen.
―Does he have a weakness?
The answer did not come immediately.
Instinctively, Baek Jagang knew.
The Heavenly Killing Star definitely had some kind of weakness.
―Tell me the weakness, and I will accept your proposal.
Seeing Baek Jagang desperately trying to uncover it, Joo Ga-shin understood his true thoughts.
―You never intended to follow my words.
Baek Jagang’s small eyes disappeared into a smile.
―Beg for my life and serve under the Heavenly Killing Star? That sounds even more humiliating than being stuck between the Demonic Cult and the Righteous Faction.
After a brief pause, Baek Jagang asked,
―If it were you three hundred years ago, would you have accepted?
―I would have. And I would have waited for another opportunity.
Meaning he would have become the second-in-command and waited for a chance to kill Hwa Moogi.
―Is there something more important than life?
―That’s exactly why I’m refusing.
The reason for Baek Jagang’s refusal was something Joo Ga-shin had not expected.
―I think our side is going to win.
―!
Silence fell between them.
―I don’t like that man, but if he survives today at least the Unorthodox Alliance won’t collapse easily.
Receiving such a favorable evaluation, Baek Jagang returned the courtesy.
―You’re a waste as well. If you had been born in the right era, you might have achieved your dream.
Hwa Moogi laughed.
At a glance it looked as if Hwa Moogi had taken over from Joo Ga-shin and laughed, but that final laugh had been Joo Ga-shin’s.
Staring at Baek Jagang as though he knew the entire Voice Transmission conversation, Hwa Moogi said,
“You claim you’re caught between the Demonic Cult and the Righteous Faction, but the one with the greatest ambition here is you.”
Geom Woojin and Jin Paecheon looked at Baek Jagang.
But Baek Jagang did not bother explaining Joo Ga-shin’s proposal.
He did not worry that Geom Woojin or Jin Paecheon might misunderstand.
Rather, Geom Woojin felt trust from that attitude.
No matter what Hwa Moogi said, Baek Jagang showed not the slightest shame.
Instead, Baek Jagang revealed the important information to everyone.
“The souls can talk to each other. That man has learned all of their martial arts and possesses their internal energy and even Innate Qi. So you should think of this as fighting all of them combined.”
It had only been a vague guess until now.
At this moment, the most important information about this battle was revealed.
“He tried so hard to save you, yet you’re struggling to die first.”
Hwa Moogi was smiling, but his eyes were filled with intense killing intent.
Of course, Baek Jagang was not afraid at all.
Instead, he drove a wedge back at him.
“People of the unorthodox path are good at stabbing others in the back. So be careful of that person inside you. You never know when he might smash the back of your soul.”
As the cold, heavy atmosphere spread, Geom Woojin stepped forward.
“Since everyone has met who they needed to meet, shall we now test our strength?”
With Joo Ga-shin as the last, they had now seen all four people residing inside Hwa Moogi.
How these encounters would affect the battle against Hwa Moogi was unknown, but Geom Woojin believed the choice had been correct.
Hwa Moogi drew the Black Sword and rested it on his shoulder.
“Alright. Who will come first?”
Geom Woojin did not follow Hwa Moogi’s intention.
“We will fight however we find convenient. We might fight one-on-one and then rotate. Or we might all attack together. Each person will fight the way they want.”
Those words were not directed at Hwa Moogi.
They were for everyone present.
Once the fight began, fight without restraint.
Abandon face and honor.
Focus only on winning.
Both Alliance Leaders, the Fist Demon King, the Poison King, the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult, and the Sword King all understood Geom Woojin’s intention.
“Even if it isn’t me, the martial world will soon fall into the Demonic Cult’s hands.”
It sounded like praise for Geom Woojin’s judgment, but Hwa Moogi’s words carried strong provocation.
But the provocation did not work.
Jin Paecheon and Baek Jagang had already discussed that concern, and they had agreed to treat today’s battle separately.
Today was a fight for sons, grandchildren, and disciples.
The first person to step forward was Jin Paecheon.
“Give me the chance to strike first.”
Knowing that he had taken the most difficult step, Geom Woojin gladly respected his request.
“Very well.”
“Thank you.”
Jin Paecheon stepped forward.
Suggesting they go outside had little meaning.
Whether Maga Village itself would survive was already uncertain.
Standing before Hwa Moogi, Jin Paecheon’s aura changed.
A clear, jade-like presence wrapped around his body, and his eyes shone coldly.
Slowly, Jin Paecheon drew the Gentleman’s Sword.
With that perfect draw, the Gentleman’s Sword awakened.
Could the sound of a sword being drawn be so pure and beautiful?
The moment the Gentleman’s Sword fully left its scabbard, a cold brilliance split the air.
An invisible wave of energy spread in all directions.
Jiiing.
The Gentleman’s Sword began to hum softly.
The Greatest Gentleman’s Sword in All of History was singing in the hand of the greatest master of the Righteous Faction.
Its majestic aura seemed to declare:
‘This world is divided into two.’
‘The world before the Gentleman’s Sword is drawn…’
‘and the world after it is drawn.’
Jin Paecheon conveyed his heart to the Gentleman’s Sword.
‘Although you are held in my hand, this battle is for your master.’
So let us do our best, Gentleman’s Sword.