Chapter 34
When Joy Ends, Sorrow Comes (興盡悲來) (1)
The worries of the Red Flower Lord (Jeokhwajon) deepened.
“Who on earth could do such a thing?”
Even the abbot of Shaolin or the sect leader of Wudang wouldn’t dare to unravel his Soul-Seizing Reincarnation Art (Jinryeong Hoehonsul)—yet someone had undone it so cleanly in such a short time.
“I must find out who it was. Absolutely.”
As if in response to his thoughts, an unexpected report arrived from elsewhere.
“Lord Jeokhwajon—! A transmission from Baekryeong No.1 of Sichuan.”
Flutter—
A small slip of paper floated through the air as if weightless, drifting toward Jeokhwajon.
Such was the truly impressive inner force of Airborne Object Control (Heogong Seobmul).
Jeokhwajon casually caught the message and read its contents.
Then,
“Sichuan’s operation failed too?!”
The masked white-clad fiend, who had pretended to flee, had returned to secretly observe Jin Jo-yeon.
“Hm?”
Jeokhwajon’s eyes widened as the report continued: how the binding sorcery had been undone, and how Jin Jo-yeon afterward showed no abnormalities whatsoever.
“Pulled out… the sorcery?!”
Impossible.
To pull out a sorcery?
“That’s nonsense! The Soul-Seizing Reincarnation Art is counted among the top three sorceries of our cult, and yet he uprooted it as if pulling out a weed?!”
But at the end of the report was news even more shocking:
A Huilyeong sorcerer, brushed only slightly by the tip of his sword, convulsed in agony and died on the spot.
No signs of poisoning were observed.
The sword was nothing but cheap iron—not a sacred Daoist or Buddhist artifact.
Thump.
Jeokhwajon’s heart sank violently before barely steadying itself again.
“C-could it be…?”
He knew only one being whose mere brush could kill a cult sorcerer.
“Surely not… Haedong■■?”
The existence so terrifying that he dared not even pronounce the full name.
That same being had destroyed the Blood Sect (Hyeolg-gyo), which had dominated the heretical factions for a century, thereby forcing the cult to retreat from the world.
“No… no! It cannot be him!”
Jeokhwajon shook his head inwardly.
Hadn’t that being perished along with the Blood Sect and the Demonic Sect more than a decade ago, locked in mutual destruction?
“Wait…!”
Jeokhwajon’s eyes flickered again.
The final image of Haedong■■ surfaced in his mind, twisting his thoughts further.
“Mutual destruction…?”
What if he hadn’t actually died?
Could he still be alive? Active once more?
“No, that cannot be. If it were truly him, Baekryeong wouldn’t have lived long enough to even send this message.”
That being wouldn’t need a sword. A single wave of his hand would have obliterated everything.
“Then… perhaps his descendant?”
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Jeokhwajon’s heart pounded rapidly.
“Yes. It must be his descendant.”
The thought struck him, and with it came certainty.
“This must be confirmed.”
At last, Jeokhwajon issued his command.
“Send word to Baekryeong. Tell him to observe—watch the one who slew the Huilyeong sorcerer from as far away as possible. Find out if he has any connection to Haedong■■, or if he uses his martial arts.”
“Yes, my lord!”
After a brief silence, Jeokhwajon added one more order.
“If he is judged to have no relation, then eliminate him as quickly as possible. Leave no future troubles.”
The fact that just a brush of his sword had killed a Huilyeong sorcerer weighed heavily on his mind. If he wasn’t the descendant of that terrifying figure, then it was all the more reason to cut the seed before it grew.
***
The journey to Sichuan was smooth.
Upon receiving Jin Jo-yeon’s transmission, the Jin Family Headquarters had urgently dispatched an armed escort.
From the moment they entered Sichuan, the prestige of the Jin family was palpable. Even the mid-tier sects and clans yielded the way without question.
Thus, after ten days, Kang Yong-un arrived at the Jin Family Headquarters on the outskirts of Chengdu alongside the Jin Family’s caravan.
“Hahaha. There it is, great hero.”
“Do you see the endless halls with the dark-blue tiled roofs? That estate is called Hyeonrim (駽林). Hahaha.”
Jang Won-pyeong and Jin Jo-yeon grinned like children, gazing at the Jin Headquarters.
“Hyeonrim, indeed—such a name suits it well.”
Kang Yong-un nodded in agreement.
Its sheer scale rivaled even the Martial Alliance itself.
Truly, the Jin Family Headquarters. No wonder it is always among the top ten trading houses—it is extraordinary even in size.
Soon, Kang Yong-un was shown into the Guest Hall.
“Honored sir, please rest here a while. I will report inside and then escort you to a separate residence.”
“This place is fine.”
Kang Yong-un had no desire for luxury; he only wanted to achieve his purpose.
“What are you saying?!”
But Jin Jo-yeon’s reaction was completely different.
She shook her head firmly, eyes wide as if she’d just heard sacrilege.
“You saved me, freed me from the curse, and awakened me to recover my family’s treasure. How could I possibly mistreat such a benefactor?”
“I only meant this place is good enough…”
“You will be led to a more comfortable residence shortly. And please, give me the letter, great hero. I shall personally present it to my grandfather.”
Before Kang Yong-un could answer, she had already hurried outside.
She had to deliver the letter, and also handle the aftermath of the caravan’s safe return.
“Ha… Forget the separate quarters. Just let me meet the former head of the Jin family quickly.”
Kang Yong-un sighed into the vast, empty hall.
Half an hour later—
“Honored benefactor! Please follow me!”
A stunningly beautiful maidservant appeared, her voice lilting like a song.
Hmm. Why is her waist twisting so oddly when she walks?
Her gait was strange.
“Hehe, come this way, honored benefactor!”
And the more she went, the more exaggerated her movements became—turning back coquettishly with an odd laugh.
And why are her lips so red, as if she’s swallowed a rat?
Suspicious, to say the least.
“Ha…”
When they arrived, Kang Yong-un could only gape at the lavish residence prepared for him.
“This will be your quarters, benefactor. And I am your attendant maid, So-ok. Hehehong~!”
So-ok twisted her body again, peering up at him with coy eyes.
“…Haa.”
Whatever she was trying to pull, Kang Yong-un only sighed and nodded.
“Understood.”
Inside, there were no books or scrolls—only luxury, fit for an emperor’s bedroom.
Forget it. I’ll just cultivate while waiting.
He closed his eyes.
A glimmer flashed in So-ok’s eyes, but Kang Yong-un ignored it, beginning to train in the Supreme Purity Art (Jigeukgong).
Since I’ve fallen, I may as well rest. Better to train than sit idly by.
As he sank into meditation, his breathing deepened.
***
Evening fell, painting the sky red.
Deep within the Jin Family Headquarters, in the private quarters of former head Jin Yeong-hwi, the current head Jin Dae-un and third young master Jin Jo-yeon paid a visit.
“Hm. How fares he now?”
Sipping tea quietly, Jin Yeong-hwi asked casually.
“After a simple meal, he closed his eyes again, father.”
“Oh? A simple meal?”
“Yes.”
“Even though the table must have been laden with delicacies and rare wines?”
“Yes, father. They said he looked rather uninterested.”
“I see.”
Though his answer was brief, curiosity gleamed on Jin Yeong-hwi’s face.
“They also said he was entirely unmoved by So-ok’s charms, grandfather. And she is none other than a top courtesan from Yaweolhyang, the most famous brothel in Chengdu. Yet he didn’t even waver.”
Jin Jo-yeon’s voice was proud.
Jin Yeong-hwi watched her, a gentle smile curving his lips.
“It seems our Yeon is quite taken with this guest, Kang Yong-un.”
“He is pure and righteous, yet manly; mysterious in how he stripped away the curse; and upright in conduct. Though younger than me, I would gladly call him a friend, grandfather. Hahaha.”
Nod. Nod.
Jin Yeong-hwi nodded deeply.
“And he is respected even by the Black Lotus Sect.”
He held up the letter Kang Yong-un had brought—the same letter Jin Jo-yeon had received from him.
“See here. It bears the name of the Black Lotus Lord himself. Do you understand what that means, head?”
“It means that if even the Lord of the Black Lotus personally arranges a meeting for him, then Kang Yong-un must be an extraordinarily important figure, father.”
“Indeed. It isn’t from a branch lord or elder—it is from the Red Dragon King himself. He is a man with a promising future.”
As merchants, both Jin Yeong-hwi and Jin Dae-un instantly recognized Kang Yong-un’s value.
“Then there’s no need for further tests of his character. We must receive him with respect.”
“Of course, father.”
“Shall I go and escort him myself, grandfather?”
Thrilled that his benefactor was now fully acknowledged by both his grandfather and father, Jin Jo-yeon jumped to her feet.
“Go on, then.”
“I’ll be right back!”
She dashed out eagerly.
The moment she left, however, Jin Yeong-hwi’s face hardened.
“I refrained from speaking in front of Yeon, but head—we must prepare for calamity.”
“Calamity? What do you mean…?”
Jin Dae-un was startled.
Jin Yeong-hwi’s voice grew heavier.
“The Escort Chief reported that when Kang Yong-un removed the curse, he pulled something foul and luminous straight from Yeon’s head—before it dissolved like melting snow.”
“Yes, father. He said it was like a vile glowing mass that vanished in his hands…”
“That is precisely the problem. That vile light.”
A flicker of dread crossed Jin Yeong-hwi’s eyes.
Though not on the level of the Beggar Sect or Hao Clan, he was the head of one of the top merchant houses of the world, privy to vast information. He sensed what it meant.
“A bloodstorm will sweep across the martial world before long.”
“A bloodstorm?!”
Jin Dae-un paled.
“We must over-prepare the escorts. Twice the usual? No—at least triple.”
“Triple?”
“Yes. Expand the Escort Corps drastically. If that’s not enough, call upon our retired guest retainers, hire mercenaries, even wandering swordsmen.”
“Understood, father.”
Jin Dae-un’s voice was firm, taking the matter as seriously as his father.
But Jin Yeong-hwi wasn’t finished.
“Increase our liquid holdings. Keep promissory notes to a minimum. Conduct trade mostly in hard assets—certified drafts from safe banks, gold certificates, bullion.”
“Of course.”
He understood perfectly.
“Good. I leave the rest to you, head.”
“Rest assured, father.”
At last, relief softened Jin Yeong-hwi’s face.
“Grandfather!”
Just then, Jin Jo-yeon’s voice rang from outside.
“I’ve brought Hero Kang Yong-un!”
“Quickly, show him in!”
At his words, the door opened.
Kang Yong-un entered, a clear aura flowing naturally from him—the radiance of the Great Heavenly Divine Art (Daecheon Singong).
