Chapter 432 : Reaching the Life and Death Realm (2)

Chapter 432: Reaching the Life and Death Realm (2)

In truth, Eungjo had only survived because I had just entered the Life and Death Realm.

Upon reaching that realm, a sense of emptiness overwhelmed me, and I no longer felt the need to pursue the fleeing Eungjo.

Even that felt like an utterly meaningless act.

This sense of emptiness was temporary, yet it was a feeling anyone could experience after surviving death.

Had I not comprehended the Life and Death Realm, Eungjo would not have returned alive.

In a way, Eungjo had survived thanks to my enlightenment.

As I stepped out to the riverside, the dragon’s energy receded back into my body.

And the transcendent clarity in my eyes gave way to the desire-filled gaze of a man.

I looked upon the scenery I had wrought and let out a sigh.

"Ah! I can’t simply say the dragon’s energy is a good thing."

I kept muttering to myself.

"Well, come to think of it, one can’t say a dragon possesses emotions like a human."

Viewing humanity from a non-human perspective while consumed by the dragon’s energy had been a bizarre experience.

Those emotions, which felt utterly inhuman, were impossible to describe.

Moreover, to feel indifferent about life and death in moments where I had to kill—it was, in some sense, an aspect that only absolute masters could possess.

If I hadn’t been like that, I might not have been able to kill them, and I could have ended up gravely injured.

“Hoo.”

Though I had entered the Life and Death Realm and approached True Qi, my heart felt inexplicably heavier.

‘Does becoming stronger as a human mean becoming more human? Or drifting further away from humanity?’

For the first time, I found myself seriously contemplating what it meant for a person to become stronger.

I composed myself and headed straight to the Heavenly Central Sect.

The worry about what might’ve happened was so great that I all but flew there.

But as I neared, seeing the Heavenly Central Sect still standing brought a sigh of relief.

Though traces of a fierce battle remained all around, watching the disciples clearing away the corpses made it clear that the Dabie Sect coalition had failed to gain the upper hand and had been repelled.

“Brother!”

Yong Kijoong came running as soon as I returned.

He had come to report the situation and seek my counsel.

“Father and I are in disagreement.”

“Why?”

“Father says there’s no need to launch a punitive expedition against the Dabie Sect coalition, while I insist we must punish them.”

The Heavenly Central Sect’s command unit had been desperately waiting for my return precisely because of this.

No matter what anyone said, I was the one who represented the Heavenly Central Sect.

I immediately summoned the command unit for a meeting.

“I’ve heard the situation. You all said you’d follow my decision, correct?”

Yong Biyang and Yong Kijoong nodded.

They were joined by Nan Myeonggwak, Jong Seok, Jong Munhye, Jeong Minji, Bukri Sehee, Mo Biyoung, and others at the table.

“Whatever decision you make, we will follow it.”

Yong Biyang backed my words with strength.

I opened my mouth.

“I intend to wipe out all the remnants who attacked our main house and give the sects that participated in this war a choice—either accept ten years of being sealed off or fight us. To do that, I’ll lead the main family’s elite and march forth.”

Given that I usually made efforts to minimize killing and even treated the wounded among enemies, my words came as a shock to everyone.

In truth, they had all agreed to follow my decision because they believed I wouldn’t make any reckless ones.

But as I took a hardline stance, contrary to their expectations, Yong Biyang looked startled.

“My son, this is akin to rekindling a war that is already ending.”

“I know. But if we end it here, we’ll only bleed more from now on. In Murim, strength is justice. That’s an undeniable truth. In such a world, if we were attacked and do nothing, then we have no reason to maintain a martial household in Murim. If we retreat like this, we’ll only give Sammacheon a pretext to strike at our main house. We must make our standing in Murim crystal clear. Even if someone does provoke us, they must know they will pay dearly. That is how peace is preserved.”

I voiced my intent with a relatively lengthy explanation.

And the command unit resonated deeply with it.

Through this battle, I aimed not only to assert the Heavenly Central Sect’s stature, but also to boost the morale of our disciples and let the entire Murim world know who we were.

The reason the Tang Clan was never lightly touched was because they demonstrated that any aggression would be met with relentless vengeance.

In a world where power was justice, displaying that power was absolutely essential.

“The reason small sects cannot take revenge is not due to lack of will, but lack of strength. If we don’t exact vengeance upon those who attacked us, we’ll only be proving that we are just another powerless minor sect.”

“But do we truly have the strength to impose our will in a fight against five sects? This isn’t defense—we’re going on the offensive. We must seriously consider this.”

Yong Biyang raised a valid concern, to which I responded.

“They lost most of their elite forces in this war. Meanwhile, we’ve suffered minimal damage. I believe our current strength, though we may not realize it, is enough to rival the Nine Great Sects.”

Yong Biyang spoke with cautious concern.

“That may just be self-indulgent. Let me ask The Greatest Sword Under Heaven, Master Jo. Do you believe our forces are truly on that level?”

He asked because if anyone’s judgment could be trusted, it was Jo Wonmook’s.

Jo Wonmook responded with a soft smile.

“In my opinion, excluding the hidden elders of the Nine Great Sects, your forces are indeed comparable. Of course, half that strength is thanks to me. Hahahaha!”

Jo Wonmook ended with a bout of self-praise and laughter.

It was meant to lighten the serious mood, but no one laughed.

Because there wasn’t a soul who could object to those words.

“We have more than enough power to be confident. There’s no need to feel intimidated.”

At Yong Hwarin’s words, everyone wore expressions of renewed resolve.

After that, the Heavenly Central Sect began organizing their forces to punish the Dabie Sect coalition.

They were busy making preparations to depart in a few days.

At that time, Yong Hwarin tilted his head as he received the report on the Dabie Sect coalition.

“You’re saying the warriors of the Dabie Sect, Iron Response Sect, and Saryong Sect all returned to their own sects, but the warriors of Muhuomun and Songcheongmun haven’t been confirmed to return yet?”

He asked again after hearing the report, but the only answer was confirmation.

“Then where the hell did they go? The report said they deserted during the war and disappeared somewhere. You’re saying you don’t even know which direction?”

At those words, a warrior from the Bloodgreen Battalion, who was kneeling, opened his mouth.

“According to the last report left by the member who tracked them, it was mentioned they were headed toward Wonyang.”

“Wonyang?”

Yong Hwarin paused briefly, then stood up with a startled expression.

“Now I see—they must be going after Lady Hoi and Ahyoo.”

Wonyang was a region that essentially served as a pathway between the Southern Sky King’s Division and the Heavenly Central Sect.

“Go ahead with the expedition. By the time the advance party arrives at the Dabie Sect, I’ll meet up with you. And now, our main sect has enough strength to remain steady even in my absence. Move according to your judgment.”

After instructing his younger brother, Yong Kijoong, Yong Hwarin left the Heavenly Central Sect.

To avoid causing confusion before the expedition, Yong Hwarin decided to take only a small number of people with him.

“Please take me with you.”

When Jeong Minji, Mo Biyoung, and Bukri Sehee said they would follow him, Yong Hwarin sent the Ten Prodigies of the Heavenly Central Sect—whom he had originally planned to bring—back to Yong Kijoong.

The Ten Prodigies, who had been excited to travel with their Young Sect Leader for the first time in a while, looked disheartened, but since they were undertaking an important mission, they didn’t show it.

In contrast, Jeong Minji, Mo Biyoung, and Bukri Sehee were clearly pleased.

Because of all the eyes around them, they hadn’t been able to properly express their love to Yong Hwarin.

Leaving the clan behind meant they no longer had to worry about others’ gazes, and the fact they could show their affection freely brought them more joy than anything.

Aside from the three women, Yong Hwarin secretly had several former assassins of the Bloodgreen Battalion follow behind.

He then rode swiftly toward Wonyang with the three women.

It would take roughly three days to reach Wonyang.

‘I just hope nothing happens before then. Still, they should be able to hold out for a day or two. Most of the escorts are assassins from the Bloodgreen Battalion, and Namgung Yoo has already reached a high realm, so they won’t fall easily.’

The only real concern was Hoi Unkyung, who hadn’t learned martial arts.

‘Ahyoo will protect her well.’

Though he was anxious, he couldn’t show it outwardly.

Only by staying composed could he read the enemy’s intentions and respond accordingly.

When Yong Hwarin was worried, he spoke less.

It was obvious from how he hadn’t said a single word, despite the women following behind him.

Jeong Minji, sensing Yong Hwarin’s worry for the two women, warned Mo Biyoung and Bukri Sehee not to disturb him.

—Big Sister, you don’t think there will be more women for the Young Master, right? Right?

Bukri Sehee asked through telepathy, clearly uneasy.

She thought Yong Hwarin was going to rescue the two women because he loved them.

Jeong Minji couldn’t bring herself to answer and simply responded with an awkward smile.

Whether she knew Bukri Sehee’s feelings or not, Mo Biyoung spoke through telepathy.

—Sister Bukri, be content with simply being by the Young Master’s side. Remember, if you start wanting more, you could end up losing everything.

Bukri Sehee, who was surprisingly jealous despite her usual demeanor, shrank back at Mo Biyoung’s scolding tone.

Especially since the person she feared most was Mo Biyoung.

—Yes, Second Sister.

Seeing her two younger sisters like that, Jeong Minji smiled gently.

‘Thanks to Sister Mo, even if more women appear, the hierarchy will stay perfectly in line.’

Among everyone, Jeong Minji trusted Mo Biyoung the most.

Meanwhile, Yi Taegong Gwan Changgi had decided to quietly celebrate his birthday this year.

In previous years, the entire Heavenly Demon Sect had thrown grand banquets, but this time, they had canceled everything.

With the death of Third Taegong and the unstable state of the Heavenly Demon Sect, they didn’t want to attract any unnecessary gossip.

The Elder Masa sensed that Yi Taegong Gwan Changgi was still lost in thought and decided to take action.

‘I’ll help him make up his mind.’

Elder Masa knew well just how cunning Yi Taegong Gwan Changgi was.

Even Eum Sajeok feared Yi Taegong more than First Taegong.

Because Yi Taegong’s insight was so sharp, nothing escaped his eyes.

Elder Masa grabbed Early Spring, the painting, and went to find Yi Taegong.

Originally, Early Spring by Guo Xi had been meant as a gift for First Taegong.

But a better plan had come to mind.

“Second Master! Your disciple, Eum Sajeok, is here!”

“What is it, Sajeok, at this hour?”

Yi Taegong Gwan Changgi’s voice was noticeably softer than when he dealt with others like Yang Gwak.

“I brought a gift for your birthday, Master.”

“Hoho! Is that so?”