Chapter 148: A Righteous Sword Must Be a Righteous Sword
When the Seomun Clan was mentioned, one of the disciples of Mount Heng Sect furiously shouted.
“How can the renowned Seomun Clan behave with such arrogance? Even if it is the Seomun Clan, how dare they look down on Mount Heng Sect like this!”
He glared at Seomun Ak with eyes full of resentment, as if the prestigious Seomun Clan were persecuting the declining Mount Heng Sect.
At that, the eyes of Seo Yu-gyeom and Seomun Ak narrowed. Both of them, with calm expressions, scanned the surrounding atmosphere.
No matter how they looked, these were not the faces of people caught committing evil deeds.
Jin Seong-un’s words continued toward them.
“They are denying it. From the looks of it, a few, including the sect leader, might know, but the younger disciples seem unaware.”
Only now did it become clear why the young Mount Heng disciple had shouted in a frenzy.
Seo Yu-gyeom’s gaze turned toward the elderly masters. Their faces had gone pale, and they avoided eye contact, seemingly anxious.
Seo Yu-gyeom clicked his tongue and said,
“The Seomun Clan is really something.”
Meanwhile, Seomun Ak, observing the state of Mount Heng Sect, wore a bitter expression.
Few were standing properly.
Most of the Myeongsuks seemed to have internal injuries, their faces pale, and those lying on the floor had their limbs dangling lifelessly.
The only relief was that Jin Seong-un did not appear to have killed anyone yet.
‘After all, Mount Heng Sect was once a reputable faction of the Righteous Path…’
Though it had fallen into decline recently, how it came to such a state remained a mystery.
Seomun Ak, having taken in the scene of Mount Heng Sect for a long moment, finally spoke while looking at the sect leader.
“I am Seomun Ak, the second son of the Seomun Clan.”
The sect leader’s pupils trembled even more.
At the moment when the worst deeds had been committed, the last person they wanted to encounter—the prestigious Seomun Clan—stood before them.
Seomun Ak continued.
“I don’t know if everyone is aware, but I was the worst of the worst. Most people did not recognize me as a martial artist of the Seomun Clan, and even within the clan, such voices were often heard.”
Seo Yu-gyeom stared at Seomun Ak, a look that silently asked, What the hell is with this guy?
Ignoring that, Seomun Ak’s resolute voice continued.
“My temperament was like a rogue, and I had no confidence in winning against the later-generation prodigies of the Five Great Clans or the Nine Sects. So my motivation disappeared, and I simply lived recklessly.”
Everyone except Seo Yu-gyeom focused on Seomun Ak’s words. There was something sincere in what he was trying to convey.
“Day by day, I deteriorated. With no sense of achievement, I avoided training and only indulged in wine and women. I fell behind, deteriorated again, and repeated this vicious cycle. That is, until I met that guy.”
Seomun Ak raised his index finger to point at none other than Jin Seong-un.
All eyes turned toward Jin Seong-un, who looked utterly bewildered.
After a brief silence, Seomun Ak suddenly raised his fist high into the sky.
Being a massive figure, his fist was as large as a pot lid, clearly visible to all.
Suddenly, Seomun Ak tensed his face and began to tremble violently.
“……?”
Everyone was puzzled.
Ignoring Seo Yu-gyeom’s silent thought, Is he about to poop?, Seomun Ak tightened his fist even further.
Soon, a crimson qi began to swirl around his large fist.
Exclamations of awe broke out. For a man of Seomun Ak’s age to wield such qi was extraordinarily rare.
Of course, not a single Mount Heng disciple could match it.
“Huuhhh!”
As Seomun Ak’s face flushed like a ripe apple, the qi around his fist became increasingly distinct.
Its density was remarkable; one could almost imagine it becoming sword-strength (geanggang) with just a little more.
“Recently, I have grown stronger. Though rare, some have even called me a hero alongside that guy and this one.”
Seomun Ak’s tone carried weight. He was not speaking politely to the sect leader but directly addressing the practitioners of Mount Heng Sect, who were of the Righteous Path like him.
“I was merely standing trembling in fear of the food butcher, yet people thanked me. I saved a child captured by the Unorthodox Path and received genuine gratitude. From that moment, I became far stronger than before. Perhaps this is what a righteous sword truly is.”
Then Seomun Ak looked squarely at the sect leader and said,
“Sect Leader, we—or rather, the Guest Dragon here—will resolve this matter no matter what. We have always done so. Whether it is Mount Heng Sect, Namok Trading Company, or anyone else, it makes no difference.”
“…….”
Sect leader Hwang Seon-ja flinched.
In truth, the Jin Seong-un before him was a man who paid no heed to whether his opponent was the Murim Alliance, Myriad Gold Manor, or even the Demon Cult.
“What Seomun Ak says is that it is impossible for you and the elders to solely bear the sins of Mount Heng Sect. Soon, the misdeeds of Mount Heng Sect will be revealed to the world. Look at the expressions of those who will be called disciples of Mount Heng Sect in the decades to come.”
At this, Hwang Seon-ja, as well as elders Jin-ryeongja, Cheon-ryeongja, and Sin-ryeongja, turned their gaze to the young disciples of Mount Heng Sect.
At this point, even the Mount Heng practitioners seemed to have a premonition, watching them anxiously.
Seomun Ak continued.
“My words are clumsy, but… this is the last chance. We cannot fully atone for the sins committed, but at least we have one final opportunity to make amends before the younger disciples.”
Seomun Ak understood that if Mount Heng Sect continued to deny and resist, Jin Seong-un would eventually draw his sword.
And Seo Yu-gyeom, who assisted Jin Seong-un in everything, would ruthlessly wield the Heaven-Slaying Dagger.
Mount Heng Sect would be drenched in blood.
Seomun Ak hoped such a thing would not happen. After all, Mount Heng Sect was also a clan of the Righteous Path.
“A righteous sword must be a righteous sword to truly be strong. Mount Heng Sect may be another matter, but at least, that was my path.”
The vivid qi around Seomun Ak’s fist strongly reinforced his statement.
All eyes were fixed on his fist.
Seomun Ak was beginning to disperse his qi, but with all eyes staring intently at his fist, he could not bring himself to do so.
Amidst this, a line of voice transmission reached his ear.
Don’t act all high and mighty. You’re still weak.
You crazy fool. If it’s cool, just say it’s cool.
Usually, you’re more like a human, now at least you seem normal.
You’re still somewhere between a beast and a human. Closer to a beast.
In the solemn atmosphere, Seo Yu-gyeom and Seomun Ak exchanged insults through telepathy, suppressing their laughter. Any outburst would shatter the tension.
As both nostrils flared slightly, the solemn voice of sect leader Hwang Seon-ja rang out.
“Release Bang Man-bok, the head of the escort agency, and his son.”
Mount Heng disciples widened their eyes at the sect leader. Elder Sin-ryeongja, startled, repeated in disbelief,
“Sect Leader!”
Though Sin-ryeongja had opposed this entire matter, he now felt conflicted as the sect leader made a decision before outsiders.
Yet the sect leader was firm.
“What Seomun Ak, the second son of the Seomun Clan, has said is utterly correct. It is shameful even to attempt to refute it…”
Indeed, the sect leader’s face was deeply flushed. Clearly, the Seomun Clan was a prestigious house of the Righteous Path. Even the rogue had become such a steadfast and strong martial artist.
Unintentionally, Seomun Ak elevated the prestige of his clan.
Seeing this, Elder Sin-ryeongja could say no more and soon disappeared somewhere.
Some time passed.
When Elder Sin-ryeongja reappeared, beside him stood Bang Man-bok and a young man who looked exactly like him.
‘The three of them really do look identical.’
Jin Seong-un checked the faces of Bang Man-bok and Bang Cheon-gang and silently exhaled in relief.
Fortunately, they did not appear to have been overworked; neither emaciated nor injured.
The sect leader of Mount Heng Sect seemed indecisive. He had resolved to commit evil, yet in the end had not killed the two, even allowing them to be released like this.
He could not have confined them for life or provided meals, so what exactly had he intended?
While Jin Seong-un stared at the sect leader, Seo Yu-gyeom approached Bang Man-bok and Bang Cheon-gang, cutting the ropes binding their wrists with his dagger.
“Phew……”
Bang Man-bok let out a long sigh, his expression filled with complicated emotions.
After briefly surveying the hall, Bang Man-bok looked at Jin Seong-un, Seo Yu-gyeom, and Seomun Ak and spoke.
“Cheon-gang, offer your thanks to these esteemed guests. They are the Guest Dragon, Seo the Chef, and Seomun the Inn Waiter I mentioned.”
“…….”
Seomun Ak thought to himself that he should be promoted immediately.
‘Inn Waiter, my foot.’
Having already offered unsolicited advice to Mount Heng Sect as the second son of the Seomun Clan, he felt even more strongly about it.
But the atmosphere was not for arguing, so he remained silent.
Soon, Bang Man-bok and Bang Cheon-gang, who resembled each other perfectly, bowed deeply to the three.
“……Thank you, Heroes. I am Bang Cheon-gang, the second son of Red Cliff Escort Agency. I will never forget the kindness of you Heroes until the day I die.”
Jin Seong-un quietly observed Bang Cheon-gang.
As Bang Man-bok had said, he realized that Cheon-gang was indeed different from his elder brother Bang Cheon-woo.
His eyes, voice, demeanor, and disciplined posture—all perfectly reflected a well-raised son.
Jin Seong-un then spoke.
“Bang Cheon-woo, the young hero, also participated in this matter. Without his help, we would not have been able to rescue you two.”
“Wha-what did you say, Cheon-woo? Why?”
Bang Man-bok asked in astonishment.
Jin Seong-un smacked his lips, bemused. How unreliable must the rogue have been that his own son’s rescue of his father could come as such a shock?
“Leave the thanks for later……”
Jin Seong-un then turned to the practitioners of Mount Heng Sect.
The sect leader and elders seemed unable to meet the gaze of their disciples, bowing their heads.
In contrast, the disciples looked at their masters with eyes full of embarrassment, resentment, and even sympathy.
“Hmm.”
Jin Seong-un quietly noted the scene. It was somewhat different from what he had imagined upon arriving at Mount Heng Sect.
A line of voice transmission entered his mind, Seo Yu-gyeom’s advice.
Jin Seong-un lightly nodded and said.
“Even if we end what just happened here, it is clear that the two elders present intended to kill us.”
Jin Seong-un drew his sword and pointed at a location.
Cheon-ryeongja and Jin-ryeongja, who had ambushed them at Janggang.
At least, it was true that they had genuinely scattered lethal techniques. If Jin Seong-un, Seo Yu-gyeom, and Seomun Ak had been weaker, they would have died there.
The sect leader’s eyes twitched.
Now, with all schemes revealed, it was time to converse by the simple logic of martial arts.
In the Murim, if one draws a sword to kill, one must accept being killed in return.
Jin Seong-un pointed his sword at the kneeling Jin-ryeongja and Cheon-ryeongja.
“These two should be executed, correct?”
“…….”
The Mount Heng practitioners were greatly shaken.
Yet no one dared to beg for forgiveness.
Jin-ryeongja and Cheon-ryeongja had already closed their eyes, ready to accept death.
Jin Seong-un continued.
“However, if I do not kill them……”
“…….”
Seo Yu-gyeom’s advice came to mind. Since things had come this far, why not take the ‘slave soldiers’ here before dealing with the real masterminds?
Slave soldiers are a bit……
Then slave practitioners?
Jin Seong-un shook his head, then continued in a calm tone.
“Have we truly saved the lives of two Mount Heng elders?”
“Absolutely,”
Sect leader Hwang Seon-ja nodded repeatedly.
After all, the two elders had shared decades of life alongside the sect leader and had been fellow disciples since childhood.
Now that the matter was concluded, if their lives could be spared, what would they not do?
“With the Guest Dragon’s grace, if the lives of the two elders can be preserved, Mount Heng Sect will repay the favor, doing literally anything.”
“Of course, Bang Myeong-ho of Red Cliff Escort Agency, as well as those who orchestrated this matter, must also face consequences.”
Saying this, Jin Seong-un fixed his gaze on the sect leader. The meaning in his eyes was clear.
A choice had to be made.
Namok Trading Company, one of the Ten Great Trading Companies.
And Seong-un Inn, just an ordinary inn in Yichang.
Faced with such lopsided options, Hwang Seon-ja finally spoke with unwavering eyes.
“If you wish, Mount Heng Sect will strike directly at Namok Trading Company via this path.”