Chapter 205 |
Eon Jeongmu frowned, his face splashed with liquor.
His shattered pride and shame at being caught in his own trap colored his expression.
“What kind of dark art…”
At that moment, Namgoong Woon burst into loud laughter.
“Dark art! My word, Brother Eon goes too far. Making such a fuss over receiving one penalty drink properly.”
With exaggerated laughter and clapping, Eon could say no more.
Namgoong Woon patted his back and said, “Shouldn’t real skills be shown at the Dragon Phoenix Gathering? Hmm? Brother Eon.”
Eon Jeongmu tried to say more but couldn’t move when his eyes met Namgoong Woon’s.
A chilling sensation gripped his heart.
“…You’re right, brother. This junior went too far.”
“Right, right. Hahaha. The romance of drinking should end as romance, shouldn’t it?”
“…”
Azure Dragon Sword Namgoong Woon.
Under the deep pressure he created, Eon finally nodded.
“I was rude to you, Hero. I’ll see you another time.”
Jin Cheonhee replied, “Let’s meet at the Dragon Phoenix Gathering.”
They exchanged respectful salutes and retreated with their tails between their legs.
Namgoong Woon, his earlier killing intent nowhere to be seen, gave a hearty laugh with a casual expression.
“There are always martial artists causing trouble wherever you go. I hope you weren’t uncomfortable.”
Watching this, Sama Hyeon grinned with his red lips.
[Those guys are quite interesting~]
[The Azure Dragon Sword is quite unpredictable.]
[Hahaha, no. That’s not why I find it interesting.]
[What do you mean?]
Sama Hyeon didn’t answer.
Instead, he just put some meat on Jin Cheonhee’s plate.
[Brother, eat lots~ This is the most delicious cut.]
[You eat it.]
[I’m fine. I’m fine, but I’m worried about your friendships. So eat plenty.]
Jin Cheonhee felt strange being shown concern by someone who had torn off people’s faces in the original story.
***
At night.
Jin Cheonhee returned to his lodgings.
He parted with Sama Hyeon after agreeing to meet again tomorrow.
Sama Hyeon seemed to have many thoughts about today’s events.
“I think I’ll try to get close to those two friends we met today~”
“What?”
He must mean Eon Jeongmu and Peng Cheonshik.
Sama Hyeon answered, “They seem stupid enough to use the Black Market a lot in the future~ At this rate, they’d be done for if they met a con artist like me, so wouldn’t it be better to be swindled by me if they’re going to be swindled anyway?”
His brother made crazy statements with calm rationality.
It seemed clear he wasn’t seeking his brother’s approval. There was no reason to stop him either.
It would be good if we could identify the Blood Immortal Sect spy in the process.
He felt certain that if anyone could do it, Sama Hyeon might.
But how much should he tell him?
For now, Jin Cheonhee parted ways with Sama Hyeon.
Returning to his lodgings, he found his master waiting with a tired expression.
“Did you enjoy yourself?”
“Well… various things happened. And here.”
He set down the snacks bought from the night market.
“I picked things I thought you’d like, but I’m not sure if they’ll suit your taste.”
“The aroma is good.”
I’m glad he seems to like them.
“Ah, and I met that younger brother I helped before.”
“You mean the Golden King’s disciple from the Hao Sect?”
Jin Cheonhee was slightly surprised at those words.
“So you knew after all.”
“Though your master seems to stay only in the Medical Pavilion, I hear things. Since you’d find out anyway, I saw no need to mention it specifically.”
It was obvious that besides Cheon Woo, no one else would meet his standards as Jin Cheonhee’s younger brother.
“Though his heart seems dark, it’s nothing compared to the Heavenly Killing Star. He’s a useful connection, so it’s not bad.”
Had his standards lowered because of Yeo Ha-ryoon? Or was it that anyone but Yeo Ha-ryoon would do?
Either way, it seemed he had recognized Sama Hyeon as Jin Cheonhee’s (temporary) sworn brother.
Massaging his temples, the master said, “By the way. The Alliance Leader has taken an interest in you, Cheonhee.”
“The Alliance Leader?”
The Alliance Leader.
The current Alliance Leader was from the Shandong Yue clan, known as the Founding King[1], one of the Two Kings.
This person even survived throughout Yeo Ha-ryoon’s growth into the Supreme Heavenly Demon, only to die in mutual destruction with a Blood Immortal Ten Thousand Army[2] executive during the battle with the Blood Immortal Sect.
While Alliance Leaders are often portrayed as hypocrites in many martial arts novels, according to the novel, this person was a man of great character.
He was described as the very embodiment of a righteous gentleman and great hero.
“The current Alliance Leader is certainly someone worthy of being called righteous. I too hold him in high regard.”
“If you say so, Master, he must truly be a good person.”
“He could be counted among the finest people in the martial world. However, he can be just as ruthless. An interesting person, you could say.”
“Ruthless?”
“It’s like us doctors. If ten patients needing immediate treatment came before you, and you could only save five, what criteria would you use to choose?”
“Ah…”
He recalled the basics of emergency medicine.
The master continued, “Let’s say they all have severe injuries, similar ages, and the same wounds.”
That would make it difficult to decide immediately.
“…”
A question with no right answer.
He pondered it because he often faced such situations himself.
Observing his disciple’s slightly furrowed brow, the master said, “The Alliance Leader saves people based on calculations. His calculation method is terribly rational according to his own standards.”
How much would the person he saves benefit the world later? Or how much would they help the Martial Righteous Alliance, which benefits the world?
Jin Cheonhee fell silent at his master’s continued words.
“Looking at it this way, it might seem he only considers profit, but in the end, what he prioritizes above all is justice. That can be considered his priority.”
Justice through absolute majority.
Is the Alliance Leader like an incarnation of utilitarianism?
Utilitarianism.
It seemed particularly similar to Jeremy Bentham’s quantitative utilitarianism from the 19th century.
Though a great hero, he was someone who always weighed options in pursuit of the greatest happiness for the greatest number.
Yet his foundation ultimately moved based on justice.
“He’s someone who would willingly get his hands bloody for the happiness of the martial world’s majority. A contradictory person. Cheonhee, does he appear good in your eyes?”
Utility.
Can human happiness be measured on scales?
Jin Cheonhee didn’t know much about philosophy, so he couldn’t say who should judge such things or how.
But at least it was true that this utilitarianism became the foundation for welfare thought.
“I’m not sure. In some ways I think he’s good… but at the same time, I think he needs to be a philosopher.”
As an extreme example, if sacrificing one innocent person could save a hundred people, what would one do?
He would choose the one without hesitation.
Is that good? But conversely, if protecting one person meant killing a hundred, could that truly be called good?
“Yes. That’s what contradiction is.”
Not debating with scholars on campus, but arguing utility in the middle of the Mountain of Swords Forest.
In the end, during chaotic times, he sacrificed himself without hesitation.
But did that sacrifice truly bring happiness to the majority?
One person, just one person ground up – there are too many swords in this vast land to change the martial world.
“In that sense, the Alliance Leader has flaws as a leader. Though he’s the Alliance Leader, he doesn’t trust the Martial Righteous Alliance. More precisely, he’s always wary of the selfish human nature hidden within the facade of the Righteous Faction.”
Jin Cheonhee gave a bitter smile at those words.
“It can’t be helped.”
“Indeed. And now he shows interest in the Blood Immortal Sect. The force that appeared at Wudang. The force that Three Seasons Tiger finally uncovered. And the force you fought as well.”
“…”
“Cheonhee, how much do you know about them?”
The master didn’t simply ask if he knew or not.
How much did he know?
That was Zhuge Rin’s conclusion.
Time to choose.
It would be difficult to tell everything.
It might sound like the words of a delusional fortune teller.
How much should he say, and how much should he hold back?
A brief moment. Yet deep contemplation passed through.
“I likely know not a small amount.”
“I see. I thought so. Your movements seemed like preparations for the future… Yes. What kind of people are the Blood Immortal Sect?”
Where should he begin?
“Master, do you believe in immortals?”
“Immortals?”
“Yes.”
“Who in the martial world wouldn’t believe in them? There are many records of those who comprehended the ultimate way ascending to the immortal realm, and with monsters and sorcery existing, denying immortals would be meaningless.”
The master fell into thought before adding one more thing.
“However, affirming them is equally meaningless. We cannot know what happens after becoming immortal. It’s like the afterlife.”
That too was true.
“Most immortals have no interest in worldly affairs.”
Comprehending the ultimate meaning of the Way.
Only a tiny minority of humans can do this.
Such beings would have no reason to influence the human realm for worldly money or fame.
If they had wanted to enjoy such things, they could have done so to their heart’s content.
The master asked, “You said ‘most,’ which suggests there are some who aren’t like that?”
“Correct. Some are interested. That’s the basic faith of the Blood Immortals.”
“I see some commonality with the Daoists, and with Wudang who were recently attacked.”
“Hahaha, you could say they share the same roots.”
As expected of the master. With just a few words, he had grasped the essence of the Blood Immortal Sect.
“It all begins at Mount Geomo When non-human beings cultivate to become immortals, they’re called beast cultivators. Most beast cultivators actually have no interest in human affairs either.”
“But a small number are interested?”
“Yes. The Way of humans and the Way of beasts are different. And some want to continue their own Beast Way, desiring human blood. For this, they influence the Blood Immortal Sect by offering methods of cultivation and secret arts that can lead to immortality without aging or death.”
“That seems to share some commonality with the Demonic Cult, so it’s natural they’d be confused with them.”
Jin Cheonhee nodded.
“Still, they can’t exert power directly. They can only lend some knowledge or power. And even that requires appropriate payment.”
“…”
The master took in every word Jin Cheonhee said.
What was his Profound Origin Heaven and Earth Divine Technique at its ultimate level, his genius intellect, seeing?
Though it was somewhat chilling, there was no point in stopping here.
Jin Cheonhee continued speaking.