readsfreenovel Chapter 204 :
Chapter 204 :
“There are two ways—through Shaanxi or through Sichuan.”Jin Seong-un asked Seo Yu-gyeom, Seomun Ak, and Lee Seowon. He especially intended to give weight to Seo Yu-gyeom’s opinion when it came to the route.
Seomun Ak and Lee Seowon seemed indifferent either way, while Seo Yu-gyeom appeared deeply contemplative.
As Seo Yu-gyeom’s silence dragged on, Seomun Ak spoke up.
“Why not just stop by Sichuan on the way? It’s been a while—you can greet your sister.”
At that, Seo Yu-gyeom’s gaze turned cold.
He was reminded of the time in Hunan, when they had dealt with the Ilmok Trading Company, and Seomun Ak had looked at Hwa Yeon-seol with a strangely lecherous gaze.
Flustered, Seomun Ak quickly waved his hand and explained.
“No, not me—you. I meant you should greet your sister. Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Watch yourself.”
When Seo Yu-gyeom gave a low warning, Seomun Ak looked aggrieved.
The direction of travel seemed to be narrowing toward passing through Sichuan.
Jin Seong-un asked,
“Then, what about the Chief Steward?”
It was a question of whether he would join them.
Lee Seowon was someone directly connected to the Myriad Gold Manor. Moreover, reclaiming the manor was the central goal that defined his life.
The problem was his martial ability. Though he had trained, his skill was insufficient to properly fight.
If danger arose, it could put not just his own life, but also the lives of his friends, at risk.
Lee Seowon was not a sentimental man.
Assessing his own condition calmly, he replied,
“I’ll stay here and monitor information across the Murim, making decisions based on the situation. That’s the role of the Chief Steward and the Strategist.”
He wanted to personally witness the evil deeds of the Myriad Gold Manor—and if possible, its downfall.
However, he had no intention of endangering his friends out of selfish desire.
Jin Seong-un nodded.
“Let’s do that, then…”
He glanced out the window for a moment.
The sun was already beginning to dip below the horizon.
With the destination set, there was no reason to delay.
“Let’s depart as soon as preparations are complete. We’ll be stopping by Deyang anyway, so there shouldn’t be much to prepare.”
If anything was needed along the journey, they could purchase it in Deyang.
Seo Yu-gyeom, heading to see his sister for the first time in a while, moved with a light step. Seomun Ak, perhaps hoping to become a true martial hero by confronting the Demonic Path, took solemn strides.
Lee Seowon, whose lacking martial prowess meant he couldn’t go with them, walked with restrained frustration. Jin Seong-un, as always, walked calmly, without much thought.
Along with the decision to pass through Deyang, Jin Seong-un sent out a carrier pigeon with a specific request.
The pigeon circled as if it would remember Jin Seong-un’s face.
As Jin Seong-un looked up at it and lightly waved his hand, the pigeon shot into the sky like an arrow.
It really seemed to be capable of communication.
“How curious.”
Would that little creature ever feel worried?
With such thoughts, Jin Seong-un re-entered the inn.
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.
.
Before departing, Jin Seong-un visited the Martial God Realm.
He stood face-to-face with the Merchant King, both with their broadswords drawn.
Other Martial Gods, as if intrigued, observed them from a distance.
Even the Blood Demon, who normally showed little interest, focused on the Merchant King with an uncharacteristically serious expression.
The Merchant King said,
“This is a secret technique I completed by layering all of life’s realizations atop the Black Wolf Saber Art. Unfortunately, I’ve never fought using it while alive, but had I shown this technique, I think the evaluation of me might have been different.”
The assessments of the Merchant King by later generations fell into two categories.
One: the greatest scholar-swordsman of all time.
Two: one of the Ten Great Masters of the Martial World during his era.
Even those were honors beyond compare. However, the Merchant King privately believed he might have been one of the Three Great Masters.
Especially since the other Martial Gods here in the Martial God Realm all bore titles like “Greatest of All Time.”
“Are you ready?”
“Yes, Master.”
Jin Seong-un replied plainly.
The Merchant King nodded and exhaled a long, faint breath.
‘He seems like a different person.’
That was Jin Seong-un’s impression.
The more the Merchant King exhaled, the more his atmosphere transformed into something distinctly tyrannical.
The sly and easygoing demeanor he had always carried faded, and the fierce spirit of one who had mastered the Black Path with a single broadsword began to emanate.
Jin Seong-un absorbed every one of the Merchant King’s movements without missing a single detail.
He twisted the edge of his back foot in preparation to move forward, lowered his posture to reduce resistance from the wind, and pulled the broadsword firmly close to his chest.
At the very moment when the Merchant King’s slightly lowered gaze locked onto Jin Seong-un—
FWAANG—!
The space between the Merchant King and Jin Seong-un vanished into nothing.
Jin Seong-un’s eyes widened.
The black tip of the broadsword stopped just an inch from the center of his forehead.
“Did you see it?”
“…No, sir.”
The Merchant King nodded.
Had the answer been “Yes” after just one attempt, he might have felt bitter.
Turning away with a satisfied expression, the Merchant King walked back to his original position with steady steps.
Then he repeated the same motion.
Twice, three times, four times…
As the repetitions continued, Jin Seong-un was able to see and sense increasingly more.
The principle behind the Merchant King’s finely controlled footwork, the technique of compressing the air between them in an instant and infusing that power into the broadsword.
The straight black tail left behind as he charged, and the way every ounce of his inner strength was focused into a single extreme point.
After ten total demonstrations—
Finally, Jin Seong-un said,
“I saw it.”
A wide grin spread across the Merchant King’s lips.
There had never been a formula or chant to this.
After all, this was a martial art of the Black Path, meant for real combat, imbued with the inexpressible realizations of life.
“Alright, then—show me.”
The Merchant King widened the distance and took a stance.
Jin Seong-un pointed his broadsword at his master.
Whew, immediately after a short exhale.
Jin Seong-un’s toes lightly tapped the ground.
Swish—!
The distance between the two closed in an instant.
For this fleeting moment, he could move faster than even the footwork of the Divine Thief.
He finally understood why even the Divine Thief was sometimes caught by the Merchant King.
The blade tip stopped just short of the Merchant King’s heart.
The Merchant King asked,
“What is the essence of this technique?”
“It is a slash.”
The Merchant King nodded with satisfaction.
There was nothing more to teach.
Unlike the sword, a saber was a weapon designed more for slashing than stabbing.
At a glance, it might appear to be a thrusting technique, but it was clearly different.
At the very instant the blade reached its final point—when all speed and qi converged into a single spot—
Though it was a subtle motion, the broadsword clearly did not thrust forward but sliced downward from above.
“You may not be able to cut everything—but you can cut anything. Do you understand what I mean?”
“I understand.”
This technique could not slice a person in half or cleave through something massive. At most, it could cut about an inch—barely that.
But Jin Seong-un and the Merchant King both knew.
Humans were so fragile that even an inch—or half an inch—cut in the right place could be fatal.
“What is the name of this secret technique?”
“There isn’t one.”
“…Is that okay?”
The Merchant King shrugged.
Well, he had learned martial arts by buying them with money. To him, martial arts weren’t some noble discipline or enlightened pursuit—they were simply ‘power’ to protect the things he held dear.
So the name didn’t matter to him at all.
With a gentle smile, the Merchant King said,
“If a good name comes to mind, you can name it. If I like it too, we’ll go with that.”
“Why not ask the other Masters to name it instead?”
They were all beings who had reached the pinnacle in their respective fields.
Jin Seong-un believed that the Martial Gods would come up with a better name than he could.
At that, the Merchant King furrowed his brow.
“There’s the immortal who flips the board when he’s about to lose, the woman who always smiles but is black-hearted inside, the madman who’s killed more people than anyone in history, and even a thief. Seong-un, you’re the best among them.”
The Immortal glared, the Noble Enchantress coughed awkwardly, the Blood Demon radiated killing intent, and the Divine Thief jumped in protest.
“What do you mean ‘even a thief’? Are you saying I’m worse than that madman?”
As always, the Merchant King ignored them all with ease.
He simply gave his cherished disciple a warm smile and said,
“Isn’t it meaningful for a disciple to name his master’s secret technique? Seong-un, return safely. Though I doubt anyone could harm you, a master’s heart is like that of a parent—it worries nonetheless.”
“I’ll return without harm.”
Jin Seong-un bowed his head.
He then gave respectful bows to not only the Merchant King, but also to the Sword Immortal, Noble Enchantress, Divine Thief, and Blood Demon in turn.
The four who had just been glaring at the Merchant King now received the farewell with softened expressions, as if nothing had happened.
And so, Jin Seong-un departed from the Martial God Realm.
Having grasped the ultimate truth of the Black Wolf Saber Art—
That which the current Myriad Gold Manor desired most.
Jin Seong-un was the first to emerge in front of the inn. Soon after, Seo Yu-gyeom and Seomun Ak came out, having completed their preparations.
Lee Seowon handed each of them dried meat and water flasks as he said,
“Speaking not as the Chief Steward but as the Strategist—failure can raise the chances of future success, but death means eternal failure. Please, return safely.”
Seomun Ak blew out a rough breath.
The Demonic Path that might be lurking somewhere, the solemn encouragement from their Strategist, the dependable comrades beside him, the jerky and money pouch at his waist—
And finally, the strength overflowing in both fists, and chivalry.
“This is totally…”
Seomun Ak was about to say something, but instinctively glanced at Seo Yu-gyeom and frowned.
When did I start watching this guy’s reaction?
His eyes seemed to say exactly that.
Out of sheer defiance, Seomun Ak deliberately said with extra emphasis,
“It’s the gallant journey of true chivalrous warriors.”
“…”
A moment of silence followed.
Seo Yu-gyeom held back a smirk, Lee Seowon wore an expression as if he’d heard something he shouldn’t have,
And Jin Seong-un, as always, looked like he wasn’t thinking about anything at all.
Han Seong-chun, standing alongside Jang Gwang, looked at the three of them and spoke in a reassuring tone.
“While you heroes travel the martial world, I’ll take full responsibility for the inn. Don’t worry. After all, a hero’s path is more important.”
“No doubt about it. Working at an inn that hosts heroes—what an honor it is.”
As both Han Seong-chun and Jang Gwang referred to them as heroes, Seomun Ak’s face flushed red.
Seeing this, Seo Yu-gyeom’s eyes sparkled.
‘So he wasn’t shameless—he was just enduring it.’
He had always struggled because he thought Seomun Ak didn’t feel shame or embarrassment.
After all, one can’t reason with someone who spouts cringeworthy lines without a trace of shame.
But now he realized that Seomun Ak was indeed enduring the embarrassment in order to say those things about chivalry.
As a former assassin, Seo Yu-gyeom etched this weakness of Seomun Ak into his mind with a nod.
Thus, the innkeeper, chef, waiter, and their chivalrous guests exchanged brief farewells with those staying behind and began their journey.
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.
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A group watched this scene from afar.
Naturally, it was the Special Task Force, composed of successors from the Nine Sects One Gang and the Five Great Clans.
Though they had set out vowing to uncover the truth behind the Baek Li Clan, they had no information to work with.
Up to the point of arriving in Yichang, they had considered cooperating with Guest Dragon’s group, but Moyong Hyeon’s approach had no effect whatsoever on Jin Seong-un.
Everyone looked at Moyong Hyeon.
Their eyes seemed to say, You’re the one who made things awkward between us and Guest Dragon, so come up with a solution.
Feeling immense pressure, Moyong Hyeon finally spoke.
“Despite clearly knowing something, their refusal to cooperate with the Murim Alliance is suspicious. We must monitor them for now.”
So saying, Moyong Hyeon began walking in the direction Jin Seong-un’s group had gone.
Tang So-yeon suddenly spoke.
“So basically, you don’t know what else to do, so you’re just going to follow them.”
“…”
Moyong Hyeon flinched for a moment, but as momentum is everything in these matters, he kept walking without showing it.
None of the others had a better idea either, so they ended up following Moyong Hyeon.
Hwamyeong casually approached Tang So-yeon and said,
“Would you stop provoking Young Hero Sword Dragon like that? I’m worried he might fall into qi deviation at this rate.”
“You were the one who kept poking at him about that ‘Hidden Intention Technique’ or whatever.”
“Well, that was…”
Hwamyeong tried to explain but fell silent.
At this point, both Tang So-yeon and Hwamyeong had to admit it—Moyong Hyeon was just too much fun to tease.
Soon, the two used movement arts to naturally merge into the rear of the Special Task Force.