Chapter 98 : Turning Point

Chapter 98: Turning Point

It was, in every sense, a shocking proposal for discipleship.

The other conditions that extremely favored Sewoon were already astonishing.

– “I will also teach you the true secret techniques and absolute arts of my sect.”

Especially, the part where he said he would bestow all of the Wudang Sect’s martial arts was the most extraordinary.

For if his words were true…

‘If what he said is genuine….’

This was no different from Sword Emperor Yoo Jinhak offering all of himself.

Among the five disciples of Sword Emperor throughout history, only one.

Only the first disciple ever had the chance to learn the Inaction and Yang Energy Divine Art of Sword Immortal Lü Dongbin.

From the second disciple, Jaegal Seoa, to the last, fifth disciple, Lee Hoseong, who was expelled, not a single one of them had been taught Wudang’s martial arts.

Because Yoo Jinhak sought to firmly establish that his successor would always be the first disciple.

It was to prevent internal succession conflicts within the Murim Alliance.

And yet, for him to make such a proposal to Sewoon under these circumstances meant—

‘He is giving me a chance at succession as well.’

If he could overcome only the competition against the first disciple.

It meant that Sewoon could inherit all the legacy of the Alliance Leader firmly established within the Murim Alliance.

With Sword Emperor’s martial arts, reputation, prestige, and backing—

It was enough to even aim for the seat of the next Murim Alliance Leader.

Even if Namgung Myeong split the Alliance in half, legitimacy still lay here, and the Murim Alliance was still the Murim Alliance.

But aside from all that, the greatest benefit for Sewoon was that he could receive instruction from the current World’s Number One.

Yoo Jinhak was a martial artist at the pinnacle of the Manifestation Realm’s ultimate state, a level Sewoon had never even reached in his past life.

‘And now, it even seems he has glimpsed the clue to the Life-and-Death Realm.’

The moment Sewoon encountered Yoo Jinhak, he had to focus all of his strength to suppress the rampaging Reverse Heaven Qi within his Upper Dantian.

The Reverse Heaven Qi, driven only by instinct to devour strong energy, recognized the Sword Emperor’s advance.

Perhaps it was because Yoo Jinhak had gained various insights and realizations through the situations Sewoon had created.

It seemed he truly had discovered the initial thread of the Life-and-Death Realm, the stage beyond the Manifestation Realm.

Beyond the Manifestation Realm lay the Realm of Life (生與境).

Beyond the Extreme Demon lay the Realm of Death Escape (死脫境).

Together, they were called the Life-and-Death Realm (生死境).

But in the martial world, no one knew what powers it truly held, other than its name.

Except for vague mentions in ancient texts, no information existed about it.

A realm yet untouched, unexplored by anyone.

If Sewoon could learn martial arts from Yoo Jinhak, who had uncovered hints of such a transcendent realm, his martial attainment could skyrocket in a short time.

No, perhaps he could even gain more than he aimed for.

If the Three Beast Scriptures inherited from the New Monk combined with the martial arts of the Sword Immortal, he might even create the first-ever new orthodox divine art in murim, reaching both the pinnacle of Buddhism and Daoism.

At this point, refusing Yoo Jinhak’s offer would seem impossible unless one were a madman.

And yet… why was it?

Upon hearing Yoo Jinhak’s proposal, what welled up in Sewoon’s chest was not expectation for the future but fear of the past.

At this moment, only one question remained in his mind.

‘…In my previous life, was the Blood Demon truly at the Life-and-Death Realm?’

As he rebuilt his martial attainments and realms steadily from the foundation this time around—

Things he could not see before now became clear.

The memory of the Blood Demon’s strength, when recalled, seemed as deep as a bottomless abyss and more ferocious and overwhelming than the Four Fiends, who were called gods of monsters.

‘It doesn’t even make sense that I pierced through his head back then.’

Even if he struck at the most precise moment, it should have been utterly impossible.

Why had he allowed himself to be struck?

And why did the Blood Demon say to him, “Let’s meet again”?

If his regression itself had been nothing but a game in that monster’s palm.

If that being stood on a realm far above the Life-and-Death Realm—

Then what should he do?

As his entire body was drenched in fear and dread—

‘What else is there? I must fight.’

Ssshh!

With that single phrase inside his head, the fog in his mind cleared away.

Before he realized it, the abilities of the Three Beast Scriptures and the Golden Bridle Qi were manifesting together.

Fear and dread were vanishing as if washed away.

‘If he is above the Life-and-Death Realm, then I simply must climb there as well.’

In the place of fear, only determination and resolve remained.

And this was not solely the result of the power left by the New Monk’s Three Beast Scriptures.

‘And this time, I am not fighting alone.’

For he now walked alongside those who staked their lives for him.

Without the realization handed to him in his fight against Baek Yacha Heo So-chang, he surely would have been consumed by today’s fear.

Thus, Sewoon’s answer converged into one.

“……Forgive me, Alliance Leader.”

“What? You refuse? Did I not tell you it was the strict command of the Alliance Leader!”

As if expecting this, Yoo Jinhak pressed harder, wielding the authority of the Murim Alliance Leader.

But in the next instant—

Sewoon spoke words Yoo Jinhak had never expected.

“Though it is an honor, taking as disciple one who is not a member of the Alliance will only spark further strife and trouble.”

What was he saying?

Yoo Jinhak was bewildered.

He could not understand what Sewoon meant by “not a member of the Alliance.”

The Sichuan Tang Clan had already secured its place among the Seven Great Clans, and Tang Muyeol had even attained the seat of Elder. To claim he was not a member of the Alliance was absurd.

And yet, in that moment, Sewoon’s eyes gleamed with unwavering resolve.

“Alliance Leader, before long, I will withdraw from the Murim Alliance.”

He spoke shocking words.

What did he just say?

Ah, yes.

Tang Sewoon, the direct heir of the Sichuan Tang Clan, declared he would leave the Murim Alliance.

‘No, what is this!?’

For a moment, Yoo Jinhak’s mind froze. Then belatedly, he snapped to his senses.

Unable to hide his astonishment, he urgently questioned Sewoon again.

“What on earth are you saying?? Suddenly leaving the Alliance!”

“Exactly as I said, Alliance Leader.”

“Huh.”

Unlike the flustered Yoo Jinhak, Sewoon spoke in an utterly calm tone.

Yoo Jinhak was so stunned that he even let out a strangled breath.

He truly intended to leave the Murim Alliance.

Then what were all the plans he had just discussed with him for?

‘Ah.’

In that instant, a thought suddenly flashed through Yoo Jinhak’s mind.

He asked Sewoon.

“Could it be that you meant for Namgung Myeong to continue as a double agent even after leaving the Alliance? You refused to become my disciple because joining them would cause problems?”

No matter how he thought about it, Yoo Jinhak could not find any other reason for Sewoon to withdraw from the Alliance.

But Sewoon shook his head.

“No. They would abandon me the moment they formed a new coalition.”

“They would use me only to sow confusion among the Alliance elders, and once I left the Alliance I would be useless to them.”

“Then why on earth—?”

Meeting Yoo Jinhak’s incredulous gaze, Sewoon began to answer with grave sincerity.

“As you saw with your own eyes, the abyss rooted in the martial world was far too deep and vast.”

Images of the ruined migrant village and the blood-red sky from the day of the Kaifeng Blood Massacre surfaced in Yoo Jinhak’s mind.

“In that chaos, as I said before, Namgung Myeong’s faction will be an unstoppable tide, and the conflict between the Orthodox and Unorthodox will sharpen beyond control.”

Sewoon said firmly.

“This cannot continue.”

“With only half of the fractured Murim Alliance’s strength, we could never stand against that abyss. No — we could not face the demonic forces in the darkness.”

Yoo Jinhak could not open his mouth at Sewoon’s almost desperate voice.

Overwhelmed by the atmosphere, he could only listen to Sewoon.

“Alliance Leader, please hold the Alliance ever firmer. Meanwhile….”

Sewoon paused briefly, then spoke.

“My clan, the Sichuan Tang Clan, and I will briefly leave the White Path and return to the gray zone between Orthodoxy and Unorthodoxy.”

“And there is something I can do only from there.”

Yoo Jinhak’s eyes widened like oil lamps at the unexpected phrase.

The gray zone between Orthodoxy and Unorthodoxy.

Literally, it was the group of sects that stood between the orthodox and the unorthodox — a neutral, middle area.

All the sects of that gray zone claimed neutrality.

It sounded pleasant to hear.

But reality and the world’s treatment of them were completely different.

Rejected by both Orthodox and Unorthodox, they became prey for pillage by both sides.

The Sichuan Tang Clan had once been classified temporarily into that gray zone because of their vicious past deeds.

Yet they had worked ceaselessly for years to escape that label and had ultimately solidified their place among the Orthodox.

And now he was to abandon all that and return to the gray zone.

What could possibly be achieved only from the gray zone…?

Watching Yoo Jinhak’s face full of puzzlement and worry, Sewoon spoke with a small smile.

“With the new convictions you established today, the Murim Alliance will grow firmer and stronger. But that strength will function only in the manner of the Orthodox and the White Path.”

“You may be able to check and weaken Namgung Myeong, but you will not be able to utterly ruin and seize everything from them. That is not the righteous path you have walked all your life.”

“But it is all right. Your efforts will be sufficient for that. And in a world that will be thrown into chaos, your righteous way will be absolutely necessary. Please continue to walk that righteous path and protect everyone from within that danger.”

Ssssh.

A cold silence filled the space for a moment.

Sewoon looked at Yoo Jinhak with eyes like blazing fire and parted his lips.

“To kill the demonic, I will follow the chivalrous way, but I will not walk the White Path.”

When Yoo Jinhak heard that, it felt as if someone had struck his head with an iron hammer.

Only then did he grasp Sewoon’s plan that had been hinted at.

“You, no way!”

“If the Orthodox do not unite, we cannot defeat demonic forces. But the Unorthodox are not led by grand, free-spirited heroes — they are controlled by cunning underlings like Namgung Myeong.”

Ssssh!

Kurururu!

“I will walk only the way of hegemony (覇道). And—.”

Sewoon suddenly unleashed every ounce of his power except for the Reverse Heaven Qi he had kept hidden until now.

From Sewoon’s body, the Golden Bridle Qi, Divine Poison Qi, and Innate True Qi harmonized and spread in a dazzling, rapturous display under the power of the Three Beast Scriptures.

“I will seize the Demonic Alliance.”