Mookhyang Spreads His Wings
As Mookhyang watched the Cheonrang Unit slaughter the guards of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, he reflected:
It seems I truly need a stronger faction. The sect leader once told me that while I might be capable of standing unmatched in the martial world, conquering it entirely would be beyond my reach. I never intended to rule over it, but the enemies I seek revenge against command vast sects. Since they are unlikely to face me in a one-on-one duel, I'll need to gather forces of my own. First, I'll draw in Han Jangpyeong, and then gradually absorb the five major factions of the Heavenly Demon Sect.
While immersed in these thoughts, Cheolgeukgwang knelt before him.
"All have been dealt with."
"Good. Let's head to the Flame King's Vanguard."
"Um…"
"What is it?"
"There are many injured among our main forces at General Ok's residence. Should we not gather them?"
"How many?"
"Nearly five hundred."
"Then send subordinates to gather them. Hmm… where should we establish a base?"
"There is the Black Dragon Gate about 90 kilometers away. Perhaps that could serve as a temporary headquarters?"
"Fine. Gather the injured and regroup there. Since there are so many wounded, you will oversee their command personally."
"As you command!"
"Does anyone know the location of the Flame King's Vanguard?"
"Yes."
Cheolgeukgwang turned and shouted, "Jincheol!"
A black-clad figure darted forward and knelt swiftly.
"Yes!"
Mookhyang addressed him, "Lead me to the Flame King's Vanguard."
"As you command!"
Mookhyang followed Jincheol, swiftly moving through the air, and gave instructions to Cheolgeukgwang.
"Meet me at the Black Dragon Gate. Ensure the place is secured before I arrive!"
"As you command!"
Not long after they began their journey, a group of black-clad individuals appeared ahead, running at full speed.
"Heh, coming to us saves us the trouble," Mookhyang remarked.
When Mookhyang and Jincheol paused, the black-clad figures began forming a perimeter around them, drawing their weapons. Watching this, Mookhyang let out a scoff.
"Flame King's Vanguard!"
There was no response, so he shouted again.
"Flame King's Vanguard! Have you forgotten who I am?"
A sinister voice came from behind the black-clad men blocking Mookhyang's path.
"Of course, I remember."
Mookhyang chuckled.
"Do you think using trivial tricks like Echo Transmission would hide your position from me? You have two choices. Follow me, or die a glorious death here as the sect leader's loyal dog."
Echo Transmission was an advanced technique that manipulated energy to bend sound, making words spoken in one direction appear to originate from another. The fact that Mookhyang identified it immediately left the opponent shocked.
"Gasp! Have you regained your memories?"
"Of course. Cheolgeukgwang has already chosen to join me. Now, it's your turn to decide."
"Where is Cheolgeukgwang?"
"He's gathering the injured at the general's residence. Honestly... even for the decaying state of the sect, losing 90% of the Cheonrang Unit's forces to take down one general's household is absurd. Hard to believe, isn't it?"
At this, the Flame King's Vanguard began to tremble. No matter how they considered it, such losses against a single general's household made no sense. Could it be that the true culprit was...
"Make your choice. Die now or follow me."
If Mookhyang were a master from the orthodox sects, the situation would be different. They, raised in the harsh and blood-soaked world, did not fear death. But Mookhyang's status as the vice leader of the Heavenly Demon Sect turned this into a matter of internal power struggles. In such cases, it was always better to align oneself with the stronger figure.
Most importantly, Mookhyang's reputation as the sect's greatest master was an undeniable truth. Once his mind was made up, the Flame King's Vanguard leaped forward. Surprisingly, despite the voice coming from elsewhere, he emerged from Mookhyang's right, knelt, and declared,
"I will follow you."
"Will you regret this later?"
"I will not. Never. Are you planning to take over the sect?"
"I must. I also have old scores to settle. However, I will not punish those beneath you. I know full well that your part in the assassination plot was not of your own will."
The black-clad figures who had surrounded Mookhyang and drawn their weapons now laid them down and knelt, crying out in unison:
"We pledge our loyalty to the vice leader!"
Mookhyang nodded approvingly and turned his gaze to the Flame King's Vanguard.
"Flame King's Vanguard!"
"Yes!"
"Lead everyone to General Ok's residence to assist Cheolgeukgwang."
"As you command!"
The Flame King's Vanguard and the Cheonrang Unit proceeded to General Ok's residence, where they gathered the injured and headed toward the Black Dragon Gate.
During their journey, Mookhyang learned that the devastating blow dealt to the Cheonrang Unit had been his doing. His surprise was evident.
"All of that… was me?"
"Do you not remember anything, vice leader?"
Mookhyang muttered with a dazed expression, "Damn it. The last thing I remember is being ambushed, and Guk dragged me underwater. That happened near Chongta, but this place is…"
Cheolgeukgwang carefully explained, "I don't know all the details, but after the ambush, you were saved by people from General Ok's residence. You lost your memory and worked under the Imperial Black Wind Brigade. Recently, you became involved in the assassination of General Ok.
"When the sect leader learned you had lost your memory and that your martial prowess had diminished, he ordered the vice leader of Neunbigye to eliminate you using the Cheonrang Unit and the Flame King's Vanguard. However, during the fight, you regained your memory and killed the vice leader of Neunbigye.
"And now, you've lost parts of your memory again. Perhaps it's the will of the heavens. With time, you'll likely recall everything once more."
Mookhyang let out a deep, low laugh.
"Hah. I don't care about those memories. What pride could I possibly find in being the dog of officials? It's nothing worth trying to recover.
"For now, I'll focus on consolidating my strength and forging a new history—a bloody history befitting a demon. The followers I've lost are gone, and there's no changing that. But make sure the injured recover fully. They'll bolster our forces when the time comes."
"As you command!"
The Black Dragon Gate, a faction of the unorthodox sects, boasted nearly 3,000 disciples, making it a considerable power. Mookhyang and his followers chose it as their new base, recognizing the need for a substantial refuge to support their own 3,000 subordinates. Despite its regional reputation, the Black Dragon Gate was no match for the elite forces of the Heavenly Demon Sect. After a brief skirmish, the Black Dragon Gate's leader, Ghalpa—known as the Black Hand Demon Feather—pledged his allegiance to Mookhyang.
But for Mookhyang, the real challenge began now. As a born warrior, he had dedicated his life to training, leaving him ill-prepared for the myriad responsibilities of leading a rebellious force. Food, clothing, and weapons did not fall from the sky, and maintaining a faction of thousands demanded vast resources. All of this eventually returned to Mookhyang in the form of endless paperwork.
The Cheonrang Unit and Flame King's Vanguard, composed of martial artists with unparalleled strength, had little knowledge of administration. Mookhyang reluctantly entrusted management to Ghalpa, but even at a glance, Ghalpa's capabilities in this area left much to be desired.
To address this dire situation, Mookhyang convened a meeting with Cheolgeukgwang, the Flame King's Vanguard, and Ghalpa.
"We need to bring in a management genius," Mookhyang declared.
"Agreed," Cheolgeukgwang replied. "Everyone here only knows how to wield swords. Nothing else."
Mookhyang nodded. "Now I understand why the sect leader has led the Heavenly Demon Sect to its peak. It's all thanks to Hyuk Moosang."
"Are you referring to Elder Hyuk Moosang, the Crimson Fan Killer?"
"Yes. I need someone with a sharp mind like his. If you know of anyone suitable, recommend them to me. I'll take responsibility for bringing them in."
"How about kidnapping Hyuk Moosang?" one of them suggested.
"That's a terrible idea," Mookhyang countered. "If he kills himself, we gain nothing. Besides, there's no guarantee he would cooperate even if we managed to abduct him."
"Does it matter if they lack martial arts skills?"
"No. I don't need someone strong—I need someone smart."
"In that case, I might know someone. But it would be difficult to recruit them," Cheolgeukgwang offered.
"Who?"
"There's a manor near Mount Jinryang called the Cheonryun Estate. Its owner is reputed to be quite talented."
"The estate owner? Is he a martial artist?"
"No, not a martial artist. He owns some land and engages in modest trade, but he's known for his sharp intellect."
"Hmm… he won't do," Mookhyang replied.
"Why not?"
"It's best to leave those who have no ties to the martial world alone. There's no need to drag pure-hearted individuals into the blood-soaked ways of our world. Do you know of anyone else—perhaps someone who managed finances for a failed organization?"
"There is one person," Ghalpa said. "A man who used to work for the Heavenly Demon Gate. He was exiled after a power struggle. The Heavenly Demon Gate was a substantial unorthodox faction with 8,000 disciples, and this man held the position of Moonsang—a sort of administrative officer. His name is Seol Muji.
"He's also known as Ho, but he took the name Muji—'Ignorant'—because he lamented how much he still didn't know. The more he learned, the more he realized his ignorance."
"He sounds intriguing," Mookhyang mused.
"After his exile, he reportedly retreated to Mount Chilrya."
"Good. Let's go with him. While I'm away, take down the Black Dragon Gate's signboard. It reeks too much of orthodoxy. Put up a new sign with any suitable name you can think of."
"As you command!"
At this moment, Ghalpa hesitated before speaking.
"By the way… Vice Leader."
"What is it?"
"My information network uncovered something. It's not an issue now, but when your memories return…"
As the prelude dragged on, Mookhyang, visibly irritated, interrupted.
"Skip the introduction and get straight to the point!"
"There's a group from the Black Wind Brigade that clashed with the Flame King's Vanguard while attempting to rescue Ok Yeongjin. They've now been branded as rebels and are being pursued by the imperial forces. Perhaps it would be wise to assist them."
"And why should I help them?" Mookhyang asked flatly.
"It's possible that among them are individuals you were close to before. If your memory returns later, you might regret not aiding them."
"Fine. Where are they now?"
"They're reportedly near Wushan in Gansu Province, but their exact location is unclear. We lack a proper intelligence network, so we've pieced this together from various rumors. We'll only know for sure once we go there ourselves."
"Hm…"
Cheolgeukgwang stepped forward. "If you're planning to go, I'll prepare some subordinates to accompany you."
"No, that won't be necessary," Mookhyang replied. "Bringing a group could create unnecessary conflict with the authorities. I'll go alone. However, after visiting Mount Chilrya, I'll head there directly. Arrange for ten sharp-witted subordinates to escort the strategist. Cheolgeukgwang, make sure they're discreet."
"As you command!"
At this moment, Ghalpa handed Mookhyang a silk pouch, speaking earnestly.
"Vice Leader, with your martial prowess, you likely won't need this. However, since you'll be returning with many people, it could prove useful. If you go alone, just scatter this on the open field."
Mookhyang glanced at the writing on the pouch and nodded knowingly.
"Ah, so that's what this is. I'll make good use of it."
"Thank you, Vice Leader."
Acquiring an Outstanding Strategist
"Goddamn it, I never thought Mount Chillya would be this vast." Mookhyang, leading ten bodyguards, had been searching for four days. They had searched every corner of Mount Chillya, but no sign of Seolmujin could be found, as if he had either risen to the sky or sunk into the ground. What if I set the mountain on fire? Would he suffocate and come out...?
Eventually, in his frustration, such absurd thoughts crossed his mind. At that moment, one of his subordinates, who had gone to check the east, ran up and knelt before Mookhyang, shouting, "I found him."
"Really? Let's go!"
They arrived at a small shack... and as per Mookhyang's signal, his subordinates gathered from all directions. Once everyone had arrived, Mookhyang left them on the outskirts and approached the shack alone, softly calling out, "Is anyone here?"
"..."
"Is anyone here? I'm Mookhyang."
When there was no response, Mookhyang carefully approached and opened the door. There was no one inside. However, the air in the room clearly indicated that it wasn't abandoned. In addition, it seemed as though the owner had hurriedly left, as the belongings were mostly still there, with only a few scattered on the floor.
Someone was here until a short while ago. Did they leave for something? Or did they get scared and run away because of those subordinates emitting demonic energy...? Ugh, useless fools, tsk tsk.
Mookhyang glanced at his waiting subordinates with frustration, then shifted his thoughts. If they were scared, there's nothing I can do. I'll leave a letter and come back alone next time to search. It's good to be strong, but there's no one without demonic energy. That's why I made sure to place only those without demonic energy in the Four Guardians...
Despite the owner's absence, Mookhyang, disregarding the rudeness, used the writing materials in the room to leave a plausible letter before retreating. He knew that if he lingered nearby, the person they were after would surely be more cautious, so he decided to lead his subordinates down to the village.
The next morning, Mookhyang led his subordinates back up the mountain. He had them wait 50 steps (about 150 meters) from the shack before heading towards it. When he arrived, he saw a man working in a field with a pickaxe. The man appeared to be in his fifties, with graying beard and the weathered face showing the marks of time. His calm, clear eyes and slightly upturned nose gave him an unusually intellectual air for a farmer. Mookhyang waited silently until the man finished his work.
Finally, as the sound of the pickaxe stopped, the farmer glanced at Mookhyang and spoke.
"Would you care for some tea?"
"Yes."
The farmer went into the kitchen and personally prepared the tea. Mookhyang, not one to particularly enjoy tea, simply acted courteously enough to avoid any breach of etiquette as he drank. In this respect, his master Yoo Baek had taught him many things.
As Mookhyang quietly drank his tea, the farmer observed him and thought, I can't figure this out. From the way he drinks tea... he's definitely not a well-educated man. He acts like a natural brute, but looking at his appearance, it doesn't seem like he's learned any martial arts... And those dull eyes—he's certainly not someone walking the righteous path. The more I look, though, they're not just dull. They're clear, but so deep that they appear murky... What does that mean?
"How did you come to us, sir?"
"As you may already know from my letter, I am desperately in need of Seol Daein. I have many people under my care, and it's difficult to provide for them, let alone find someone who can effectively control them. I wonder if you would join me and let your great talents bloom alongside mine."
"Bloom together, you say? Do you mean unifying the martial world? Raising a great sect? I can't make heads or tails of it."
"What do you mean by that?"
"I know how to read faces. But from what I see, you don't seem to be involved with the bloody martial world… In fact, you don't seem like someone chasing the impossible dream of unifying the martial world..."
"First, I'm aiming to achieve a small dream. The rest can be thought about afterward."
"A small dream, you say?"
"It's a small personal revenge."
At this, Seol Daein burst into a hearty laugh.
"Hahaha, revenge? Is there anyone who would entrust their life to someone just to carry out a petty revenge for someone else?"
"Of course not. But it depends on the situation, doesn't it? My opponent is the Demon Sect... or perhaps, it's the entire martial world that I must fight. To defeat them, I need an overwhelming amount of power, and I lack the ability to lead such power effectively. Won't you lend me your strength?"
Seol Daein's expression froze.
"A small revenge, you say? It sounds more like something that could turn the world upside down. Do you really have the ability for that...?"
Mookhyang smiled slightly.
"I already possess 40% of the Demon Sect's known power. I'm also a part of the Demon Sect. I know the rules of the Heavenly Demon well, and I avoid battles I cannot win. Can't you trust me?"
As soon as Mookhyang finished speaking, Seol Daein was left in shock.
40% of the known power? That's not just a small sect; it's power that could stain the world with blood. What an incredible person. But he doesn't look like a demon at all. Just how much has he trained?
Seeing Seol Daein stunned into silence, Mookhyang spoke softly.
"Would you care for some tea?"
"Yes."
The farmer went into the kitchen and personally prepared the tea. Mookhyang, not one to particularly enjoy tea, simply acted courteously enough to avoid any breach of etiquette as he drank. In this respect, his master Yoo Baek had taught him many things.
As Mookhyang quietly drank his tea, the farmer observed him and thought, I can't figure this out. From the way he drinks tea... he's definitely not a well-educated man. He acts like a natural brute, but looking at his appearance, it doesn't seem like he's learned any martial arts... And those dull eyes—he's certainly not someone walking the righteous path. The more I look, though, they're not just dull. They're clear, but so deep that they appear murky... What does that mean?
"How did you come to us, sir?"
"As you may already know from my letter, I am desperately in need of Seol Daein. I have many people under my care, and it's difficult to provide for them, let alone find someone who can effectively control them. I wonder if you would join me and let your great talents bloom alongside mine."
"Bloom together, you say? Do you mean unifying the martial world? Raising a great sect? I can't make heads or tails of it."
"What do you mean by that?"
"I know how to read faces. But from what I see, you don't seem to be involved with the bloody martial world… In fact, you don't seem like someone chasing the impossible dream of unifying the martial world..."
"First, I'm aiming to achieve a small dream. The rest can be thought about afterward."
"A small dream, you say?"
"It's a small personal revenge."
At this, Seol Daein burst into a hearty laugh.
"Hahaha, revenge? Is there anyone who would entrust their life to someone just to carry out a petty revenge for someone else?"
"Of course not. But it depends on the situation, doesn't it? My opponent is the Demon Sect... or perhaps, it's the entire martial world that I must fight. To defeat them, I need an overwhelming amount of power, and I lack the ability to lead such power effectively. Won't you lend me your strength?"
Seol Daein's expression froze.
"A small revenge, you say? It sounds more like something that could turn the world upside down. Do you really have the ability for that...?"
Mookhyang smiled slightly.
"I already possess 40% of the Demon Sect's known power. I'm also a part of the Demon Sect. I know the rules of the Heavenly Demon well, and I avoid battles I cannot win. Can't you trust me?"
As soon as Mookhyang finished speaking, Seol Daein was left in shock.
40% of the known power? That's not just a small sect; it's power that could stain the world with blood. What an incredible person. But he doesn't look like a demon at all. Just how much has he trained?
Seeing Seol Daein stunned into silence, Mookhyang spoke softly.
"If it's difficult for you to make a decision now, I'll return in a few days. Would a week be sufficient?"
There was no turning back now. The man before him was not someone to be dismissed lightly, and Seol Muji, too, had no plans to spend the rest of his life hiding away in seclusion. A strategist could only thrive when they found the right master. Seol Muji sensed that the man in front of him, the one in black, could be that master.
"There's no need to go that far. My skills aren't all that impressive, yet you would go as far as making three visits to my humble abode to ask for my help... There's no need for such things. I will serve you, my lord."
"Thank you."
"I have two children. Neither is foolish, and I wonder if you could take them in along with Seokha?"
"Fine. The more capable, the better. No matter how many there are, they'll never be a burden. Do as you wish."
"Then, please wait for a moment."
Seol Muji sent a signal and flew to the back mountains. To an ordinary person, his martial technique would have seemed quite impressive. It seems like his accomplishments in martial arts don't quite match up to his scholarly achievements. It's easy to say he's a jack-of-all-trades, but the reality is that someone who's well-versed in one thing is far more useful than someone who dabbles in many... It's incredibly hard to master even one thing in a lifetime... how could one expect to perfect dozens of skills?
After some time, Seol Muji returned with his two children. One was a frail young man, and the other was a woman whose appearance was neither striking nor dull. Both had only superficial knowledge of martial arts and were far from having grasped the true essence, but Mookhyang could immediately see how necessary they would be to him.
Seol Muji spoke to them.
"This is your lord. From now on, serve him with complete loyalty."
"Yes."
"This is Seol Min, and this is Seol Ryeong."
"There's an old saying: When the rabbit dies, the dog is cooked (referring to the fate of those who help others to achieve greatness but are discarded afterward). Looking through the history of the martial world, heroes often enjoy glory after achieving their goals, but those who helped them—advisors like myself—often meet a miserable end. I don't serve my lord because I entrust my life to him, but rather because I want to test my own abilities. I will use every skill I possess, and if I succeed, then even if death is all that remains, I will accept it willingly. With that in mind..."
Seol Muji pulled out a dagger from his sleeve and, with it, cut a few strands of hair from his own head and the heads of his children, placing them before Mookhyang.
"Someday, my lord may require our lives. This is the cycle of history. I have no intention of going against that, nor will I in the future. These are my lives, but should the time come after our mission is complete, you are free to take them. However, I do ask that you place as much trust in us as we are placing in you."
"Good. No matter how hungry I get, I don't intend to cook you up like a meal, but if that's your wish, I will accept it. Now, listen."
With Mookhyang's call, his subordinates, who had been waiting outside, rushed in as quickly as possible and kneeled, shouting, "Yes, my lord!"
"Until we arrive, if they even receive a scratch, I'll hold you responsible with your lives. Do your best to guard them!"
"Understood!"
"You will escort the strategist back. I have some business to attend to and will act separately."
"Understood!"
When Mookhyang suddenly referred to Seol Muji as a strategist, both Seol Muji and his children were taken aback. Considering how little Mookhyang knew about them, deciding on their roles so confidently was a clear sign of trust in them.
"My lord, where are you going?"
"Hm, it's nothing important. It's a bit embarrassing to say, but I'm just going to pick up some people I know... You'll understand once we get to the base. For now, take care on your journey."