Chapter 102: Divine Thief and Chae Ok-hyeon
The Qinghai Iron Workshop was cleaned up in an instant.
The corpses of the Demonic Practitioners including Jo Jin-gwang, the documents the Master of Qinghai Iron Workshop had handed over to the Demonic Cult, and even the bodies of the children...
Sima Baek, watching the martial artists moving in perfect order, let out a small sigh.
A physician who had accompanied them was checking Guest Dragon’s condition, while the mother and daughter of Falling Flame Manor looked on with worried expressions.
Sima Baek stepped closer and asked.
“How is Guest Dragon?”
“Hmm…”
The physician, who had been checking Jin Seong-un’s pulse, looked rather grave. This made Sima Baek, One Sword Hall Master Do Won-hyeok, as well as Chae Ga-hee and Chae Seo-ryeong’s faces fill with concern.
When the physician did not readily speak, Chae Seo-ryeong urgently asked.
“Why, what is it?”
“…It’s because he is too fine. Right now, he is simply asleep.”
Sima Baek’s eyes widened.
“What?”
“Well, normally after such a fight and collapsing in the end, his Dantian should have been damaged. His meridians and muscles should also have been heavily injured. But he is far too intact. And also…”
The physician hesitated for a moment, then closed his mouth.
Since he belonged to the Murim Alliance, he had a deep understanding of the affairs of Murim.
To his surprise, even while asleep, Guest Dragon’s inner arts were circulating and replenishing. Moreover, that inner qi seemed to be naturally healing his body.
It was truly a mysterious matter. He could not even guess what kind of ultimate martial arts Jin Seong-un had cultivated.
But still—
‘I cannot be the one to speak of this.’
Guest Dragon was also a martial artist.
For him, a physician, to speak carelessly about another martial artist’s arts and condition would be discourteous.
The physician then gave an awkward smile.
“He is in excellent condition. There is practically nothing for me to do.”
Only then did relief appear on everyone’s faces.
A small room.
Jin Seong-un, lying on the bed, opened his eyes.
“…”
A strange ceiling.
He glanced around for a moment.
His head ached faintly.
He did not know whether this was the living world or the afterlife, nor how long he had been asleep.
Jin Seong-un sat up.
Perhaps because he made a noise, the door suddenly burst open with vigor, and Chae Seo-ryeong came in.
“You—you’re awake!”
Jin Seong-un stared at her and asked.
“Where is this place?”
“Falling Flame Manor. But… are you really alright?”
“Falling Flame Manor, you say.”
Jin Seong-un felt bewildered.
From Xining in Qinghai to Falling Flame Manor, the distance was not short.
Just how long had he been asleep?
Come to think of it, ever since he had started training in martial arts, he had never slept more than two hours a day.
There was no particular reason. He simply was not tired even with that little sleep.
But this time, since he had collapsed after exhausting all of his inner qi, it seemed all the fatigue built up in his body had poured out at once.
From now on, perhaps he should make sure to sleep properly, even if he did not feel tired.
As Jin Seong-un was nodding to himself, Chae Ga-hee, who had heard her daughter’s cry, entered.
“…It is truly fortunate you woke.”
Chae Ga-hee let out a breath of relief.
How could a man sleep for over fifteen days straight? They had called physicians from time to time to check on him, but the answer was always the same—that he was simply asleep and nothing was wrong.
Even so, considering the massacre at Qinghai Iron Workshop, it was hard to believe that the body of the man who had done it alone was unscathed.
“Are you truly fine? Just in case, check your condition slowly.”
Jin Seong-un lightly circulated his inner qi through a full cycle.
Not only was he fine, his state was rather excellent. After such long rest, it was only natural.
“I am perfectly well.”
“Hm…”
“Wow, you’re really sturdy.”
Chae Ga-hee and Chae Seo-ryeong each expressed their admiration in their own way.
Then Jin Seong-un asked.
“What became of Falling Flame?”
“It would be better for you to see it yourself.”
Chae Ga-hee then stepped outside, as if telling him to follow. From her manner, Jin Seong-un realized that Falling Flame had safely returned here.
.
.
.
The oldest smithy in Falling Flame Manor.
Unlike before, when it had been covered in dust, it had now been perfectly cleaned and looked neat.
And in one of the forges, a truly brilliant golden flame was burning fiercely.
It was a mysterious light that stirred the hearts of those who beheld it.
Looking at the Falling Flame, Jin Seong-un recalled the Divine Thief.
‘Master finally returned this flame to its rightful place.’
The one and only thing the Divine Thief had failed to steal in his life.
And yet, through his disciple, he had finally accomplished it. The Divine Thief was indeed the greatest thief of all time.
Jin Seong-un asked.
“What of the wager?”
“…”
Chae Ga-hee looked at him in astonishment.
At a time like this, what importance did a wager hold?
But to Jin Seong-un, it was a serious matter.
“The wager.”
“It was Seo-ryeong who carried the flame back from the iron workshop. However…”
Chae Ga-hee and Chae Seo-ryeong had appeared together with Sima Baek.
After everything was settled, it was Chae Seo-ryeong who had placed the Falling Flame into a lantern and carried it here.
However, the winner of the wager was obvious to anyone.
“You won.”
By the time Jin Seong-un had annihilated everyone in Qinghai Iron Workshop, the Falling Flame was already as good as obtained.
Chae Ga-hee bowed deeply to him.
“…I am truly grateful.”
Her family’s long-cherished wish had been fulfilled.
And the promise of safely bringing back her daughter had also been kept.
To Falling Flame Manor, at least while she and her daughter lived, Jin Seong-un would forever be their greatest benefactor.
Then Jin Seong-un spoke, in his usual calm tone.
“It was nothing more than a wager.”
Still, he had fulfilled Divine Thief’s request.
He felt content and relieved. At the same time, he could not help but worry about how difficult the other Martial Gods’ requests might be.
Just then, Chae Ga-hee said.
“Would you not stay here in Shaanxi for a few more days? I would like to give you the first sword forged with that flame.”
“I do appreciate it, but…”
The Falling Flame Sword he had used was an excellent weapon.
To receive another sword of that caliber as a gift was a welcome offer.
But lingering here for several days was inconvenient.
“I need to return to my business. The renovations on the inn should be nearly complete by now. I cannot delay further.”
“…Business? Right now, Sima Baek, the Chief Strategist, and the Taoists of Kunlun are waiting for you at the Murim Alliance’s Shaanxi Branch.”
“Ah…”
An expression of obvious annoyance spread across his face.
Seeing this, Chae Ga-hee was dumbfounded.
Why did they wait in Shaanxi for him? Naturally, it was to bestow enormous rewards, while also offering him many favorable proposals.
The Seven Demon Heavens were to the Demonic Cult what the Five Great Clans were to orthodox Murim.
The only difference was that while the Five Great Clans had the Nine Sects One Gang to balance them, the Seven Demon Heavens were seven unrivaled families that upheld the entire Demonic Cult.
And Jin Seong-un had killed one of their Elders.
This was an accomplishment so great that even the mightiest master of the orthodox path might never achieve it in a lifetime.
“The Murim Alliance will surely reward you handsomely. They may even offer you things beyond imagination.”
“Is that so.”
As expected, he looked indifferent.
From the beginning, Jin Seong-un’s only joy and goal in life had been to run his inn smoothly.
He had already earned more than enough money. Even if he earned more, he had no idea what to do with it.
Neither fame nor power appealed to him.
After all, a famous innkeeper or a powerful innkeeper would be nothing short of laughable.
Jin Seong-un asked,
“What about the children?”
“…For the children who have already passed away, the Murim Alliance has decided to hold a transcendence ritual. Fortunately, all those who were still alive were rescued.”
“I see.”
Jin Seong-un nodded.
He felt bitter at heart when he thought about the horrifying deeds committed at the Qinghai Iron Workshop. That the victims had been children made it all the more unbearable.
Soon, Jin Seong-un returned to his room with the two. In one corner, his Dragon Armor and his original martial arts uniform were neatly folded.
Only then did he look at the clothes he was wearing. It was a comfortable set of sleepwear. His gaze naturally shifted to Chae Ga-hee and Chae Seo-ryeong.
“…It wasn’t us, but a male blacksmith who changed your clothes. Don’t look at us like that.”
“Ah, I see.”
Nodding, Jin Seong-un picked up the martial arts uniform set to the side, then looked back at the two.
The two women quickly coughed awkwardly and hurriedly left the room.
When Jin Seong-un came out dressed in his uniform, he spoke lightly.
“I’ll be going now.”
“J-just like that?”
Chae Seo-ryeong blinked.
Chae Ga-hee also looked secretly flustered.
But Jin Seong-un only nodded.
“I have business to attend to.”
“I really wanted to make you the best sword under Heaven…”
Chae Seo-ryeong said in a sulky tone.
It was not an empty boast.
There had been a time when Falling Flame Manor had truly been the greatest smithy under Heaven. Though its reputation as a swordsmith had weakened over time, now that they had reclaimed the Falling Flame, restoring its former glory was only a matter of time.
Jin Seong-un asked,
“How long would it take?”
Truthfully, he did covet a sword from Falling Flame Manor.
He had already broken so many swords that he had lost count. Ordinary iron swords shattered just by containing half the energy of the Fire Dragon Escape Sword.
“Hmm…”
Chae Seo-ryeong thought for a moment.
Ordinary swords could be made several a day. But now that they had reclaimed the Falling Flame, if they put their hearts into forging the greatest divine sword of the era, it would take much longer.
Even if they skipped meals, shortened their sleep, and took turns resting at different times…
“A-about a month?”
That was the shortest possible time, reflecting their utmost effort.
Even so, Jin Seong-un spoke firmly.
“I must return to business.”
“…”
A divine sword, crafted with all the devotion of the Mistress and Young Mistress of the greatest smithy under Heaven, was something all martial artists in the world would covet.
But Jin Seong-un was an innkeeper.
“An inn does not take rest days. Because of the renovations, it has already been closed for more than fifteen days, and it cannot be delayed any further. Just as martial artists train daily, I must do my business daily.”
Chae Seo-ryeong pouted.
But Chae Ga-hee looked deeply moved. After all, though she was a master artisan, she was also a sort of merchant running the Falling Flame Manor smithy.
“Then, once the sword is complete, Seo-ryeong, you can bring it to him.”
“Ah, that works!”
Chae Seo-ryeong’s face brightened instantly.
Jin Seong-un also nodded. Since they were so determined to gift him the sword, there was no reason to refuse. It was, in fact, a blessing.
“Then I shall treat you to a fine meal. Come to think of it, you visited Seong-un Inn twice, yet still have not tasted Chef Seo’s cooking.”
Chae Seo-ryeong coughed awkwardly.
One of those visits had been when she came to steal the signboard.
Just then—
Jin Seong-un spotted Chae Ok-hyeon walking into the courtyard. He bowed his head.
Chae Ok-hyeon then spoke to him.
“…Before you leave, may I have a word with you?”
“Of course.”
Jin Seong-un was curious as well.
She was, after all, an acquaintance of his master, the Divine Thief.
He had never imagined he would one day meet acquaintances of the Martial Gods.
.
.
.
The two of them walked together along the quiet, small lake behind Falling Flame Manor.
As Chae Ok-hyeon’s movements had seemed somewhat unsteady these past few days, Jin Seong-un offered his arm for her to hold as they walked.
Walking side by side, Chae Ok-hyeon spoke.
“For decades, I lived in repentance and regret.”
“…”
Her voice was heavy.
Jin Seong-un simply nodded and listened.
“But that doesn’t undo his death. Even in death, I will never be able to repay that sin. I… I deceived him. I provoked him deliberately. I used his heart.”
“…”
“I told myself it was for my clan. Later, I regretted it and wanted to cancel the wager. But none of that is an excuse.”
Chae Ok-hyeon knew this better than anyone. No matter what words or regrets she clung to, the fact remained that because of her, the Divine Thief had died.
Yet for some reason, Jin Seong-un felt that if it was his master, he had not simply been deceived by her or merely fallen for provocation.
Was it not his master’s own choice to go to Qinghai Iron Workshop? If there was a reason, it must have been to win the heart of a woman.
If a man risked his life for what he sought, that was no one’s fault.
Of course, it was only speculation, so Jin Seong-un could not voice it carelessly.
Chae Ok-hyeon continued.
“In the moment he died, he must have resented me. He must have regretted having ties with me. For he was not a man meant to die like that.”
“…”
“Thank you. For fulfilling my clan’s long-cherished wish. For saving Seo-ryeong. And for avenging him…”
As she spoke, Chae Ok-hyeon began to cry.
The woman who was over a hundred years old wept like a child, shedding thick tears. They were tears of regret, guilt, lingering attachment, gratitude, self-blame, and despair—all mixed together.
Jin Seong-un thought of the Divine Thief for a moment, then spoke. This was not mere speculation, but something he could say with certainty.
“The Divine Thief did not resent you.”
“…”
“That wouldn’t have been his style.”
Those had been the Divine Thief’s own words.
And in his eyes, there had indeed been not a trace of resentment or regret.
Only then did Jin Seong-un realize why his master had sent him to Falling Flame Manor under the guise of a wager.
It had never been merely about stealing the Falling Flame or exacting revenge on the iron workshop.
It had simply been to convey, at last, the words he had left unsaid decades ago, to Falling Flame Manor.
The two of them continued walking for a long time by the lakeside. It was the same lakeside where, in his lifetime, the Divine Thief had often walked with Chae Ok-hyeon.