Chapter 306 : Disguise (1)

Chapter 306: Disguise (1)

Mo Baek’s eyes widened with sudden surprise.

Mo Biyoung’s heart pounded at the transformation of the martial artist, who had always been cold and composed to a fault.

She felt some deep connection stir within her.

“Was your mother’s name Seo Yooseol?”

“How do you know that?”

Hearing the name of her mother, who had died young from chronic illness, left Mo Biyoung unable to hide her shock.

Mo Baek lowered the sword he had poised toward the Trading Company forces and exhaled a sentence like a sigh.

“Ah, how strange fate is. To meet my lost granddaughter like this, in such a place, and in such a way.”

Those words struck Mo Biyoung like a blow, and she took a step back.

“W-What nonsense is that?!”

Even as she denied it, the words her mother spoke before dying surfaced in her mind.

“Yeongah, I didn’t know your father was of the Demonic Path when I loved him and built a family with him. And your father, he was a martial artist who detested the Demonic Path and chose to live in seclusion. When I die, you won’t have the strength to live on your own, so seek out your family. Your grandfather is a man named Mo Baek, in Blood Demon Castle.”

By chance, Mo Biyoung had been taken in by Yong Biyang and lived in Heavenly Central Sect, forgetting both Blood Demon Castle and her mother’s words.

No—she had tried to forget.

The Heavenly Central Sect was a small sect, but its roots lay within the Orthodox Murim.

Living in such a place, she could never reveal that her origins lay in the Demonic Path. She had believed she'd never have to face her bloodline in this lifetime.

But fate had conspired to orchestrate this encounter in the guise of coincidence.

Mo Biyoung’s hollow voice sliced through the air.

“Are you Mo Baek?”

“Is that how you address your grandfather’s name?”

In the end, Mo Biyoung had come face to face with her bloodline, but it was a reunion she never wanted.

She adjusted her grip on her sword and spoke.

“Whether you’re my blood or not, you’re my enemy now. My roots lie in the Heavenly Central Sect.”

At that, Mo Baek gave a faint smile.

“It seems my son and daughter-in-law raised their daughter well. That’s what a martial artist should be. To think you’ve grown enough to cross blades with me.”

Pride tinged Mo Baek’s expression.

Then he glanced around from side to side.

He realized that people from the Sangkwan Clan, Mount Song Ak Clan, and Hongchangmun were all listening in on their conversation.

Mo Baek turned toward them.

“If I don’t kill them all, you’ll suffer for it.”

Mo Baek intended to slaughter everyone who had heard the exchange, for the sake of his granddaughter.

He believed it was the only way to protect her.

But Mo Biyoung stepped in his path.

“Now it’s clear why I must fight you.”

“You still don’t understand. The jealousy of the Orthodox sects is more venomous than any scheme of the Demonic Path. Their envy is crueler than any demonic leader.”

“Hmph. That’s just what those of the Demonic Path say to disparage the Orthodox sects.”

Mo Baek looked at Mo Biyoung with a pained gaze, then swept his eyes over the battlefield.

His subordinates had been reduced by more than half.

At this rate, annihilation was inevitable.

Moreover, the martial prowess of the Sect Leader of the Heavenly Central Sect was formidable, standing toe to toe with his superior, Zhao Qiansheng.

He could tip the battle if he intervened, but it would come at a heavy cost to his own forces.

Mo Baek struck at Yong Biyang and the Violent Dragon Twin Swords from the rear, forcing them to fall back and separate from Zhao Qiansheng.

“My lord, we must retreat.”

“What? Why?! I was just about to crush all of these bastards!”

Zhao Qiansheng was livid, his face flushed as red as a ripe persimmon.

“We might survive, but all of our subordinates will die.”

“That’s fine! As long as we two live, that’s enough.”

“This is the first and last request I make as your subordinate. I have my reasons. Please grant this request.”

As Mo Baek bowed his head and spoke, Zhao Qiansheng scowled.

Mo Baek had never once made a request like this before. And more than anything, it came from someone he considered like a brother—he couldn’t ignore it.

“If your reason is nonsense, I won’t spare even you!”

As Zhao Qiansheng whipped around, Mo Baek gave the order.

“Everyone, retreat!”

The warriors of the Homa Heavenly Corps swiftly withdrew from the battlefield.

The Violent Dragon Twin Swords cursed and gave chase.

“Where the hell do you think you’re going, you bastards?!”

But Yong Biyang intercepted them.

“Namwook! Jungwook! Come back!”

When he shouted their names, the Violent Dragon Twin Swords came to their senses.

“This isn’t the time for that. Tend to the wounded now. Can’t you see the injured warriors lying everywhere?”

Who worries about the wounded right after a fight?

Namwook muttered while treating an injured member of the Sangkwan Clan who had collapsed.

“He’s even more relentless than our Small Sect Leader…”

Though they grumbled, their hands moved fast.

As the battle ended, low groans from the wounded filled the battlefield.

Even Sect Leader Yong Biyang tended to the wounded, prompting warriors from other clans to focus on treating their comrades.

In the midst of this, Yong Biyang overheard the murmurings of the clan warriors.

“Did you hear? Turns out Lone Flower Among Dragons is the granddaughter of a Demonic Path master.”

“I heard that too. Gave me a real shock.”

“What happens now?”

“What do you mean? How can Lone Flower Among Dragons remain in the Heavenly Central Sect after this? She’s the granddaughter of someone from the Demonic Path.”

“Right? It’s a shame though.”

“Shame? She’s the granddaughter of the bastard who did this to us.”

“Come on, even if she’s the granddaughter of that demon, she was raised in the Heavenly Central Sect. You can’t compare her to the Demonic Path.”

Still, some people defended Lone Flower Among Dragons.

But most had lost comrades or kin to Mo Baek and his subordinates.

Their resentment, misdirected, now began to fester toward Mo Biyoung, quietly condemning her.

“Hmph. The blood of the Demonic Path doesn’t lie, does it? That filthy blood was bound to reveal itself.”

“Yeah, the way she wielded her sword—it was ruthless beyond measure.”

Most were now subtly joining in to denounce Mo Biyoung.

If this continued, Mo Biyoung would be deeply wounded—solely for being a descendant of the Demonic Path.

Yong Biyang stood up after bandaging a wounded man’s injury.

“From this moment on, anyone who dares spout nonsense about the Demonic Path or otherwise about her—I won’t let you be! You’ll have to face a duel to the death with me!”

At Yong Biyang’s piercing roar, the murmuring martial artists lowered their heads.

No one dared meet his gaze.

The killing intent emanating from Yong Biyang was fiercer than when he fought Zhao Qiansheng.

It was a side of him that had never been shown before.

Having broken through the Gate of Life and Death and reached the Time-Space Realm beneath the Upper World Realm, Yong Biyang was now a completely different person. No longer just the kind-hearted sect leader—he had become a resolute warrior befitting a sect leader.

In truth, that gentle facade had only ever existed because he lacked strength.

“If you were saved by us first, then at the very least, expressing gratitude is proper etiquette!”

At that, the heads of Mount Song Ak Clan and Hongchangmun stood and gave a forced bow in greeting.

Shangguan Byeokin also gave a bow in response to those words.

“Thank you for the grace of saving us from calamity.”

Yong Biyang stared at Shangguan Byeokin for a while, then returned the bow.

“Do not forget this debt.”

“Hm!”

Shangguan Byeokin's face twisted momentarily at the unexpected remark.

At that moment, Ha Yanggyo approached Yong Biyang.

“Yong Orabeoni.”

“Gyo Mae.”

“How many years has it been?”

“Twice has the land changed.”

“You’ve grown even more dashing, Orabeoni.”

“I’ve always been dashing.”

“Yes, that’s true.”

“Your son is truly a fine young man. I almost wanted him as my son-in-law.”

“He takes after me, that’s why he’s outstanding.”

At those words, Ha Yanggyo smiled.

As the two shared an affectionate conversation, Shangguan Byeokin abruptly turned his head and began giving orders to his subordinates, pretending to show no interest.

Once the conversation ended, the two simply gazed at each other, exchanging no further words.

They were once lovers who had parted, formed families with others, and now met again—there was nothing to say.

Or rather, there was too much to say, and none of it could come out all at once.

But pouring out all those words would only make their fate seem even more tragic, so they remained silent.

In truth, though there was much to say, their lips would not open.

Instead, their eyes spoke countless conversations. Ha Yanggyo was seized by the desire to forget everything and leap into Yong Biyang’s arms in that moment.

As Ha Yanggyo flinched and moved, Yong Biyang raised the hand holding his sword and spoke.

“The sword you gave me, Gyo Mae, I’ve kept it well.”

“So it’s finally come into your hands. A sword I tried so hard to give but could never pass on.”

“Holding this sword feels like clutching the memories of when I first met you twenty years ago. I couldn’t let it go.”

“I see.”

The emotions that had been buried for twenty years surged within her chest, but she couldn’t release them as they were.

Those emotions turned into blades, stabbing at her chest.

Without realizing it, she had to clench both hands tightly to hold herself back.

“You’re aging with such elegance.”

Though she had so much to say, all she could manage were such trivial words—her situation felt all the more sorrowful.

“You, too, Gyo Mae, are aging beautifully. Just as I imagined.”

Yong Biyang stepped back, fearing that if he kept talking, he might end up embracing her.

He believed that was the way to protect Ha Yanggyo.

Any more conversation would only provoke Shangguan Byeokin.

“We will return to the Shaolin Temple. I wish you happiness and good health.”

Yong Biyang offered a formal bow.

Ha Yanggyo, who had been quietly watching Yong Biyang hold his sword while bowing, lowered her head.

“May your journey be peaceful.”

Yong Biyang turned and walked away.

As she watched him like a widow turned to stone, Yong Biyang’s sound transmission reached her ears.

–Gyo Mae, take care. To me, you were the greatest woman.

At that sound transmission, Ha Yanggyo could no longer hold back and let a single tear fall.

He was the man she had loved, but could not be with.

Meeting that man again after twenty years stirred indescribable feelings.

And with that tear, it felt as though a burden in her chest had been lifted.

‘Farewell. The one I loved.’

Ha Yanggyo wiped her tears and turned away.

She once again wore the appearance of a virtuous wife.

The Violent Dragon Twin Swords followed Yong Biyang’s quickened pace, speaking with concern.

“Sect Leader, if we were attacked this severely, wouldn’t the Small Sect Leader also be in danger?”

“So?”

“I thought it might be better for us to join up with him.”

To Jungwook’s words, Yong Biyang replied calmly.

“Do you think that brat is weaker than us?”

“Of course not. Even if it were Zhao Qiansheng’s grandfather, he wouldn’t stand a chance against the Small Sect Leader.”

“Looks like you want to drink Golden Spring Clear Wine and go see Hwarin.”

“Hahaha, Sect Leader…”

He answered with an awkward smile, and Yong Biyang added,

“Fine. Let’s comfort ourselves with Golden Spring Clear Wine today.”

“Really?”

Even while journeying toward the Shaolin Temple, no matter the temptation, the Sect Leader had never touched alcohol.

For that same Sect Leader to suggest drinking of his own accord was unexpected.

The Violent Dragon Twin Swords marched forward as if the battle had never happened.

Though Yong Biyang spoke lightly, he glanced up at the sky, worried that his son might be endangered by an attack from Blood Demon Castle.

Ha Yanggyo’s face was drawn in the sky, soon followed by the face of Yong Hwarin.