Chapter 374

Chapter 374
## Chapter 374. The Fluctuating Currents (6)

—

Hamyang, Shaanxi.

Within the dark-shrouded streets of Chang’an, ominous and violent sounds began to shatter the night.

*Thud—.*

“Guaaack.”

A agonizing shriek rang out as a figure collapsed to the earth. Though it was painfully evident that his life hung by a thread, his nearby ally could not summon the resolve to rush to his aid. A perilous adversary, from whom retreat seemed nigh impossible, already blocked his path.

*Clang, clang, clang!*

Deflecting the lethal trajectory of the incoming blade, he bellowed at the top of his lungs to rouse the rest of his comrades.

“An ambush! Stand ground and fight!”

Yet, no reinforcements materialized to back him up. It was highly probable that they had been intercepted by other assailants along the way and were utterly unable to break away. Realizing that victory was uncertain and running away was no longer an option, the man prepared to unleash the absolute zenith of his martial might.

As he channeled the full essence of the Blue Dragon Fluid Sea Fist (*Chang-ryong-yu-hae-gwon*), having achieved the absolute tenth level of mastery, the fluid yet chaotic nature of his strikes began to disrupt the precise sword path of his foe.

“You treacherous dog!!!”

His voluminous robes ballooned violently from the sudden surge of internal energy as he relentlessly pressured his opponent. The assailant, who had initially proven quite formidable, gradually began to yield ground. Seizing the opening, Gong-won-so, the esteemed patriarch of the Yuryong Sword-Fist Sect, capitalized on the shifting tides of battle and pressed his advantage to the absolute limit.

*Boom, boom, boom!*

With every heavy punch thrown, the sheer concussive force radiating from his armored gauntlets shredded the enemy’s fabric into tatters. The assassin attempted to thrust his blade through a narrow opening in the defense, but Gong-won-so deftly parried the steel while simultaneously executing a devastating counter.

*Bang, bang!*

The intricate and profound principles of the Blue Dragon Fluid Sea Fist, which blended seamless offense with impenetrable defense, proved their true worth in this critical juncture. Hurled backward by the impact, the masked figure tumbled across the earth twice before coughing up a dark splatter of blood.

*Ptui.*

“Show your face! Who sent you?”

“…….”

Clad entirely in obsidian martial attire, the figure offered nothing but a cold silence. From the very inception of this ambush, Gong-won-so had been vividly reminded of the descriptions his daughter had detailed in her correspondence. These were the very degenerates he longed to tear limb from limb—the ones who had hunted his daughter within the perilous borders of Muk-rim.

And yet, the flesh-and-blood enemies standing before him did not perfectly match the accounts in those letters. Rather than possessing eyes as hollow and devoid of vitality as the undead, the gazes peering through the slits of these masks occasionally wavered with palpable panic, and they failed to conceal their shock whenever their guard was breached.

Ultimately, their true identity mattered little at this moment. Regardless of whether they were the exact same perpetrators, trespassing over the walls of the Yuryong Sword-Fist Sect under the cover of midnight was an unpardonable capital offense.

*Bang, bang!*

As his thunderous fist strikes rained down, the assailant’s movements grew increasingly clumsy and uncoordinated. The fierce momentum they had displayed at the start had evaporated entirely, replaced by a visible hesitation weighing down the enemy’s sword. Sensing victory, Gong-won-so prepared to execute his definitive lethal technique to eliminate this threat swiftly and rush to the aid of his disciples.

However,

*Slash.*

The very arm that had been channeling the torrent of fist Qi suddenly severed from his torso, and a geyser of crimson erupted from his shoulder joint.

“!!!”

A desperate scream tore from his throat, brought on by the most excruciating agony he had ever experienced in all his years.

“Guaaack!”

He desperately attempted to strike his own acupoints to staunch the flow, but a hemorrhage of this severity from a completely severed limb could not be halted so easily.

“*Huff, huff, huff.*”

Briefly losing focus from the sheer shock, Gong-won-so managed to snap back to the reality of the battlefield and instinctively leapt backward two paces in terror. Strangely, the killing blow never came. It was a flawless opening where he had completely panicked, leaving himself utterly defenseless.

Yet,

‘Why did he stop…….’

Though the horrific exchange had occurred in the span of a single heartbeat, the attacker showed zero inclination to press the advantage. Furthermore, a sudden, chilling familiarity about the style of swordsmanship just used began to dawn on him.

Right at that moment.

“Are you wondering why I spared you just now?”

—!

Upon hearing the voice that drifted casually into his ears, Gong-won-so was struck with a paralysis of pure shock, unable to even form a sound. The cloaked adversary slowly peeled back his mask to expose a sneering, malicious grin, leaving Gong-won-so staring in absolute dread.

“……Seon-ja-chun, how can this be you!!!”

It was a countenance he could never have anticipated in his wildest nightmares. It defied all reason—they were martial brothers who had trained side-by-side as secular disciples of Jongnam. In their youth, they had traversed the Jianghu together under the shared moniker of the ‘Ghost Shadow Sword-Fist,’ and upon reaching maturity, they had founded neighboring martial sects and provided unwavering mutual support.

Even when the alarm bells of the ambush first sounded, his immediate instinct had been to find a way to warn Seon-ja-chun of the danger. As if to mock a lifetime of absolute loyalty, Seon-ja-chun let out a cold, mocking laugh.

“It truly is a pity, my old companion.”

“……How…… how could you commit such a betrayal!”

“What choice did I have? The boundaries of growth were beginning to choke me. Even within Jongnam, the elders are deeply conflicted over which of our institutions deserves their sole backing.”

“Even if that were true……!”

In the adjacent territories of Shanxi Province, the formidable Saheuk-ryeon had firmly established its dominion, causing the power of the unorthodox factions to surge exponentially. As the regular tributes dwindled by half and the aggressive expansion of rival groups created an atmosphere of pure survival, Gong-won-so himself had privately wrestled with the dark thought of absorbing a competitor.

But despite the harsh realities, he had never once entertained the notion of backstabbing a brother with whom he had shared blood, sweat, and tears for over three decades.

“Look at it from a pragmatic perspective. Who else understands our respective strengths and vulnerabilities better than the two of us? To my ambitions, you represented the single greatest obstacle, and to yours, I surely held the same position.”

“Heh……”

A hollow, despairing chuckle forced its way past Gong-won-so’s lips.

“……Though the world of martial arts is notorious for its cruelty, I never dreamed you would fall this low.”

“Let us be completely transparent. Did the very same thought never cross your mind?”

“…….”

There was absolutely no purpose in validating words that were merely meant to absolve a traitor’s conscience. Gong-won-so gathered every remaining drop of his internal energy, fixing a deadly gaze upon his former brother, Seon-ja-chun.

“Your calculations have failed you. Just as you pointed out, I am intimately aware of every flaw in your style.”

With that, he dropped into the opening form of the Blue Dragon Fluid Sea Fist.

“Tell me, did you happen to forget one minor detail? I have always been naturally dominant with my left hand.”

“Fufu. Is that so?”

“I will end your life right here, and then I will wipe your entire lineage from the face of the earth.”

The grin on Seon-ja-chun’s face twitched imperceptibly. The murderous aura radiating from Gong-won-so’s wounded frame was genuinely terrifying. However, a malicious smirk quickly returned to Seon-ja-chun’s lips.

“I highly doubt you will have the chance.”

*Step, step, step, step, step.*

More than a dozen dark-clothed assassins emerged from the shadows, forming an unbreakable perimeter around Gong-won-so.

“Because you are the sole survivor left standing.”

Seon-ja-chun let out a sickening laugh.

Curse it all.

Gong-won-so hissed a bitter imprecation under his breath. Wasting not another second, he ignited the absolute reservoir of his Innate Qi (*Sacheon-jigi*).

*Boom, boom, boom!*

A cataclysmic shockwave of raw internal force detonated outward from his position. A brief interlude passed.

Gong-won-so, who had remained standing upright like an unyielding monument amidst a sea of twelve fresh corpses, suddenly collapsed heavily onto his knees.

“Phew…… that stubborn fool, causing such a headache until his very last breath.”

Seon-ja-chun turned his back on the scene, dismissively shaking his head. Gong-won-so’s lifeless form, which had been staring daggers at him with blood-soaked eyes, finally slumped into the dirt. In those final fading moments.

Irony of ironies, his final thoughts did not pertain to his own impending demise, but rather flew to the image of his daughter residing a thousand *li* away.

‘……I wonder if she ever managed to purchase that fine outfit for the graduation ceremony?’

Having penned multiple letters strictly commanding her to spare no expense on the finest attire, Gong-won-so had secretly been anticipating the formal event immensely, despite all his outward grumbling.

‘What a profound pity…… I truly wished to behold it.’

He quietly drew his final breath, visualizing the radiant, joyful expression of his daughter—a sight he had never truly been permitted to witness in life. It was a tragedy that played out with mundane frequency whenever the shroud of night descended upon the Jianghu.

“Withdrawing from the graduation ceremony entirely?”

This marked the third instance already. A student of the prestigious Academy journeying back to their ancestral home with the long-awaited commencement ceremony practically within arm’s reach. Granted, failing to show up at the venue did not nullify the official recognition of one’s graduation.

Nevertheless, abandoning the capital on the eve of a milestone they had anticipated for their entire lives was a clear indication that a crisis of massive proportions had occurred.

“A third time?”

In response to my query, Jang-wu-jae gave a solemn nod of affirmation.

“Sigh……”

A heavy breath escaped my lips upon hearing the plight of Gong-yu-seon. Coming from a prominent Sword-Fist lineage connected to the Jongnam sect, she had harbored a lifelong aspiration to gain entry into the elite Blue Dragon Pavilion. However, because her academic and martial marks were merely average, she had been forced to set her sights on alternative halls.

Yet, unlike previous generations, the rush for the Blue Dragon Pavilion had plummeted dramatically this term due to the unprecedented antics of the Murim Academy students. Seizing the opportunity, she secured her admission and had been enjoying her final days with unmatched exuberance. And then, this devastating intelligence struck.

“And there were absolutely no clues left behind by the perpetrators?”

“None whatsoever.”

It was the third identical occurrence under the exact same parameters. Furthermore, it was happening exclusively to the clans and sects tied directly to the Academy’s student body. If one were to survey the wider Jianghu, a staggering number of sects were being utterly obliterated overnight without leaving a single trace. According to the latest intelligence, urgent appeals for the construction of defensive occult formations were swamping the Mosan Sect and the Zhuge Clan to such a degree that their master architects could scarcely find time to sleep.

“I understand the situation within the unorthodox Murim is even more severe?”

The great irony of the matter was that while the genuine Demon Cult had barely initiated its shadow movements, the fraudulent iterations of the Demon Cult were operating with unprecedented malice and activity. Should this widespread anarchy spiral out of control, an all-out civil war would inevitably ignite within the Murim Alliance, costing the Alliance a devastating toll in blood and resources.

Yet, not a soul seemed genuinely troubled by the macro-crisis. Blinded by their immediate ambition to backstab their closest neighbor and plunder their livelihoods, the factions of the Jianghu would remain utterly uncoordinated when the genuine threat arrived, leaving them to mount a desperate, fragmented defense.

“Representative Jin…… is your own sect secure from these developments?”

The Anhui Province, where my native Tae-eul Sect resided, was a hotbed of fierce rivalries and territorial disputes. Moreover, with our financial fortunes skyrocketing due to our alliance with the Daicheon Merchant Guild, the animosity directed toward the Tae-eul Sect had grown exponentially. We were prime targets to be swallowed up by this invisible war at any given moment.

Fixing my gaze on Jang-wu-jae, I offered a reassuring nod.

“For the time being, I have implemented stringent defenses.”

With Zhuge-cheon-gi’s advanced mechanical array fully operational and the formidable Baek-hae-gwang residing within our walls as an honored guest, short of an assault by the authentic Demon Cult, news of our faction’s annihilation by any counterfeit faction would never surface.

Jang-wu-jae let out a quiet murmur of deep respect, uttering, “As one would expect from you.”

“I comprehend now. You are referring to that specialized mechanical array you mentioned in passing previously.”

It appeared he possessed an excellent memory regarding the brief details I had shared during an earlier conversation. After pausing for a moment as if weighing a complex thought in his mind, Jang-wu-jae raised his eyes to meet mine.

“If it is not an imposition…… would it be possible to commission the installation of that same defense within our Yujang Sect?”

“Pardon?”

While it was true that the prestigious Wang Family Manor had followed the Tae-eul Sect’s example by implementing Zhuge-cheon-gi’s mechanical defense systems, the deep-seated cultural bias that ‘mechanical engineering is inherently inferior to traditional mystical formations’ remained firmly rooted in the minds of martial artists. To think he would actively seek out a mechanical system despite that bias.

“Upon learning that Representative Jin chose to rely on a mechanical layout rather than a standard occult array for the Tae-eul Sect, the governing council of my own faction resolved to pursue the exact same course of action.”

“Oh?!”

In his past incarnation, Zhuge-cheon-gi had carried a profound, lingering sorrow to his grave over his failure to fully realize his mechanical defense theories. This presented the absolute premier stage to validate his lifelong work and prove his principles correct to the entire world. I practically leapt to my feet, overjoyed by the proposition.

“Most assuredly.”

I had already finalized the logistical framework to market and distribute these mechanical arrays through the commercial network of the Daicheon Merchant Guild, backed by the industrial power of the Wang Family Manor. Each time Zhuge-cheon-gi’s grand ambition manifested in reality, a river of gold would pour into the vaults of the Daicheon Merchant Guild. It was the quintessential win-win scenario. To put it plainly, the mere realization of his dream coming to fruition made me want to celebrate on the spot.

Once our arrangements regarding the mechanical system concluded, Jang-wu-jae inquired further.

“What sort of turnout is your sect planning for the upcoming graduation festivities?”

Noticing the faint, knowing grin tugging at his lips, it was evident that Jang-wu-jae was also harboring great expectations for the commencement.

“They will likely cause an absolute uproar trying to secure a spot to attend.”

In all honesty, leaving the sect grounds so lightly defended during these volatile times was technically reckless, but an incredibly vast contingent of our people intended to travel for the ceremony. Their rationale was that a historic milestone of this magnitude would likely never occur again in their lifetimes. At any rate, when it comes to orchestrating a grand spectacle, the people of our sect are unmatched in the martial world.

‘Be that as it may, things are about to get incredibly lively.’

Visualizing the members of the Tae-eul Sect letting loose and sharing genuine laughter for the first time in an age, I found myself growing genuinely eager for the graduation day to arrive.

“Hmph…… it appears all of my extensive logistics have been rendered entirely redundant.”

Wang-geum-san remarked, his face clouded with immense frustration. The sheer volume of gourmet provisions, transport carriages, and steeds he had assembled for the expedition to Wuhan resembled the vanguard of a continental merchant empire. Yet, on the precise dawn of their scheduled departure, the roster of travelers bound for Wuhan had shriveled to almost nothing.

“Quite so.”

Jin-tae-san, whose eyes were framed by dark circles heavy enough to rival a mountain bear’s, gave a helpless shake of his head.

“Even taking everything into account, I never envisioned it would turn out this severe.”

The entire crisis stemmed directly from the harsh pact forged between the eccentric senior expert Baek-hae-gwang and the governing elders of the Tae-eul Sect. Only those individuals who successfully fulfilled the brutal benchmarks established by Baek-hae-gwang prior to the hour of departure were permitted to step foot toward Wuhan. When the dust settled, the solitary martial artist to pass that harrowing trial was Hong-mun-gi.

“Well, they have no one to blame but their own lack of resolve.”

For some inexplicable reason, witnessing Hong-mun-gi deliver such an unfeeling verdict sent a bizarre shiver down Jin-tae-san’s spine.

“From the accounts I gathered, the testing parameters bordered on the completely sadistic……”

Hong-mun-gi turned a steady, unwavering gaze upon Jin-tae-san, his expression completely devoid of deception.

“Tae-san. Sovereignty and privilege have never been a luxury intended for the weak.”

“…….”

The dense, battle-hardened calluses of the hand resting firmly upon his shoulder communicated a silent, heavy gravity.

‘He has undergone a terrifying transformation.’

It wasn’t merely a shift in his core character, which common wisdom dictated became immutable once a practitioner crossed the threshold of forty years. His physical presentation had transitioned into something entirely foreign. The jovial, round-faced, and approachable demeanor he once possessed had completely vanished. In its stead stood a lean, sinewy, and razor-sharp figure. Above all else, the primary shift was the palpable, predatory battle aura that bled from his frame even during moments of total stillness.

‘……Just what kind of hellish conditioning has he been subjected to?’

He had initially wondered how drastically a master could genuinely alter under the direct tutelage of a powerhouse like Baek-hae-gwang, but this transcended mere improvement. It was no exaggeration to state he had been reforged into an entirely separate entity. Observe his behavior even now. Normally, he was a benevolent gentleman who would have bent over backward to implore Baek-hae-gwang to permit the various hall leaders to journey to Wuhan out of sheer comradery. Yet now, he merely cast a frosty, detached glance toward those very hall leaders—who were staring back with the hollow eyes of cattle destined for the chopping block—before stepping into his carriage.

“Sigh, is there truly not a single conventional soul left within this entire household?”

Hearing Jin-tae-san’s mournful sigh, Wang-geum-san let out a hearty laugh.

“Whatever is the reason for such a miserable expression? Your own flesh and blood is about to graduate at the absolute pinnacle as the valedictorian of the Murim Academy. By all rights, you should be bursting at the seams attempting to conceal your pride……”

“That absolute terror of a child is the root of my misery, that boy!! Just what sort of madness is he orchestrating out there that his dark infamy as a rising demon of the unorthodox factions swells with every passing sunrise?”

“Tsk, tsk. Are you still dwelling on those old worries?”

At Wang-geum-san’s dismissive tone, the veins along Jin-tae-san’s neck bulged with sudden heat.

“What do you mean by ‘still’! Do you truly perceive this as a trivial affair? His monstrous reputation expands at the exact same velocity as his heroic achievements!”

“That is entirely a matter of yesterday’s gossip. Our prospective son-in-law…… rather, So-un is set to accept his credentials as the top-ranking scholar of the generation. Who in their right mind would dare utter such slanderous nonsense about him being a dual scion of the unorthodox path or an enemy agent after today?”

Indeed, was the prominent rumor not circulating that the supreme Alliance Leader of the Murim Alliance would personally deliver the graduation scroll into his hands? Once that historic image was broadcast across the continent through the network of the public populace, no faction would possess the political leverage to brand Jin-so-un an unorthodox villain ever again.

“You would do well to cease this pointless fretting and retreat indoors to secure some proper rest. You must look respectable when you finally present yourself before So-un.”

Absorbing Wang-geum-san’s logical counsel, Jin-tae-san felt a massive weight lift from his chest as he boarded the passenger wagon.

Shanxi Province.
Saheuk-ryeon.

Mirroring the bustling activity at the gates of the Tae-eul Sect, a sprawling merchant caravan of immense proportions was conducting its final pre-departure inspections.

“Fufu, graduation. The mere concept brings a tear of nostalgia to my eye.”

Dam-ak slightly pinched the bridge of his nose at the sight of Cha-seok-du, who was posturing with immense bravado over the sheer magnitude of the traveling party.

“Alliance Leader. I must remind you that the youth in question is a registered member of the Murim Alliance.”

“Military Counselor Dam. Let us not split hairs over politics. I am the sole benefactor who secured that boy’s placement within the Academy to begin with. Tsk, to be completely candid, my true desire was to journey there in person to celebrate his commencement.”

As Cha-seok-du assumed a wistful, distant expression as though traveling down memory lane, Dam-ak immediately intervened to shut down the thought.

“You. Absolutely. Must. Never. Consider. Such. An. Action.”

“Ahem…… which is precisely why you shall journey as my proxy to orchestrate a celebration of unmatched grandeur. Ensure you do not bring shame upon the prestigious reputation of the Saheuk-ryeon.”

“Since it is a direct directive from leadership, I shall execute it to the letter, however……”

Cha-seok-du smirked knowingly as he observed Dam-ak, who trailed off with a deep furrow in his brow.

“Admit it, you are secretly relishing this assignment as well.”

“……I assure you I am not. I am merely calculating the immense geopolitical ramifications regarding the future balance of power between the Murim Alliance and the Saheuk-ryeon through the lens of this function……”

“Save your breath. Execute the strategy as you see fit. Just remember this single directive: the welcoming festivities must! Be carried out precisely according to the blueprint I have drawn up.”

“Alliance Leader, the parameters of this specific arrangement are……”

“It is non-negotiable.”

Dam-ak, recognizing the futility of further debate, let out a weary sigh.

“……As you command.”

In all honesty, that particular segment of the itinerary was the very one he was anticipating with the greatest fervor. With Dam-ak’s final nod of compliance, the massive convoy slowly rolled into motion. Cha-seok-du watched the retreating cloud of dust from the caravan, whispering softly to the empty air.

“……I wonder if this marks the final true graduation ceremony the world will see? I desperately hope it isn’t so.”