Chapter 347 |
Chapter 347
Truth
As all eyes focused, Mu-jin, who was seated next to So-cheon-ju, moved.
"Let's begin."
Mu-jin first removed the gag from So-cheon-ju's mouth and simultaneously inserted two fingers into his mouth.
"Mmph!"
The instant the gag was removed, So-cheon-ju's attempt to bite his tongue and commit suicide was thwarted.
So-cheon-ju, filled with rage, tried to bite down on Mu-jin's fingers, but it was a futile struggle.
No matter how hard he bit, it was impossible to break through Mu-jin's iron-like fingers with his teeth.
For a brief moment, Mu-jin observed So-cheon-ju biting his fingers like a feral dog.
Frowning, Mu-jin moved his idle left hand to grab So-cheon-ju's right pinky finger.
Crack!
The sound of the pinky finger's bone shattering filled the air, and So-cheon-ju's eyes turned red as he let out a scream.
"Argh!"
"Shut up, you bastard."
Mu-jin, who had slapped So-cheon-ju's cheek to silence him, glared at him while gripping his cheeks.
"Every time you try to commit suicide, I'll break another finger. After all your fingers are broken, I'll move on to your toes. And after that, I'll break every bone in your body one by one."
Meeting Mu-jin's eyes, So-cheon-ju, unwilling to submit, did not nod but also did not attempt suicide.
Mu-jin felt a strong urge to crush So-cheon-ju's head, thinking of the innocent children he had killed under the pretense of miraculous elixirs.
However, there was something more important to do than avenging the children right now.
Seeing that So-cheon-ju had given up on suicide, Mu-jin relaxed his grip on his cheeks slightly.
Still ready to prevent any suicide attempt, Mu-jin asked.
"What is the name of your organization?"
"...Shinchun."
So-cheon-ju responded with a puzzled expression.
It was clear from his expression that he did not understand why Mu-jin was asking such an obvious question, given that Mu-jin had already interfered with their plans several times and should know the organization's name.
nn
Mu-jin continued to ask obvious questions he already knew the answers to.
He inquired about the identities of the key masters within Shinchun, such as former Murim Alliance Leader Wi Ji-hak, Sa-doryeon Leader Hyeok Jin-gang, the Bright Left Envoy of the demon cult, Unhyangwon Leader in Sichuan, and the Three Lords in Shandong.
As their names came out one after another, the atmosphere in the conference hall changed strangely.
"Huh..."
"..."
The reason was Hwang-bo Ak and Namgung Chang-hwi.
These two families, who were not initially allied with Shaolin, had no knowledge of Shinchun's identity.
Mu-jin was deliberately asking about well-known information to persuade these two leaders.
Unlike usual, Mu-jin could interrogate leisurely due to So-cheon-ju's unique nature.
The martial artists Mu-jin had captured from Shinchun so far were all highly resistant to torture.
It was difficult to extract information without using the Simnyeong Pill, as they were already accustomed to torture.
But this one was different.
During the battle two days ago, Mu-jin realized this when So-cheon-ju fainted from mere broken limbs.
Unlike before, Mu-jin could proceed with the interrogation calmly without a time limit.
"When did Shinchun start to exist?"
"A little over a hundred years ago."
"Since then, have you been aiming to overthrow the imperial family?"
"..."
So-cheon-ju, unwilling to answer, remained silent.
"Argh!"
"Even if you don't answer, I'll break your bones."
Faced with relentless torture, So-cheon-ju, with bloodshot eyes, had no choice but to comply.
"Y-Yes."
"Then, how many generations has the current Cheon-ju been through?"
"T-The current Cheon-ju is the fifth generation."
Over a century, spanning six generations including So-cheon-ju, they had dreamt of overthrowing the imperial family. They were indeed a maddened group.
"Then, what are the real names of Cheon-ju and yourself?"
"..."
nn
As So-cheon-ju fell silent again, Mu-jin's hand moved towards his fingers.
Just before Mu-jin could break another finger, So-cheon-ju hastily opened his mouth.
"Cheon-ju's true name is Jo Shin-myeong, and mine is Jo Geon-yang."
Jo Shin-myeong and Jo Geon-yang.
Naturally, these names were unfamiliar.
Unexpectedly, Jegal Muhwan, who had been quietly listening to the interrogation, suddenly closed his fan with a surprised look on his face.
Realizing something, Jegal Muhwan composed himself and asked So-cheon-ju.
"Could it be that you are remnants of the former imperial family?"
"..."
"What do you mean by former imperial family, Commander?"
Curious, those in the conference hall asked, and Jegal Muhwan explained.
"The former imperial dynasty, Hwan-nara, fell a hundred and twelve years ago. The emperors of the previous imperial family bore the surname Jo."
Given that Shinchun was established a little over a hundred years ago and that the Cheon-ju family name is Jo, it was a plausible story.
Despite it being only a plausible theory, everyone soon wore expressions of near certainty.
Understandably so, as So-cheon-ju was failing to mask his expression and staring at Jegal Muhwan with a shocked look.
"...It seems you were avoiding the imperial family's attention not merely because of their power."
If it became known that the remnants of the former imperial family were plotting a rebellion, it was almost certain that the imperial family would launch a full-scale crackdown.
The moment it became clear that Shinchun's identity was indeed remnants of the former imperial family, a forgotten memory resurfaced in Mu-jin's mind.
It was some information about the former imperial family that he had heard from Ou-yang Pae in Nanzhao.
"Come to think of it, I heard that the biggest trigger for the rebellion against the former royal family was human sacrifices. Then, could it be that the martial arts that scoundrel is practicing are related to the human sacrifices carried out by the former royal family?"
"!!!"
Everyone looked back and forth between Mu-jin and So-cheon-ju with shocked expressions.
And once again, So-cheon-ju failed to control his expression.
Mu-jin, looking at the flustered So-cheon-ju as if he were trash, asked,
"Despicable bastards. What were those emperors thinking, devouring children to learn martial arts?"
So-cheon-ju, seemingly not understanding the question, asked back,
"They did it because they were emperors. The emperor is a divine being. As a demigod, he must be the most supreme existence."
"Then why didn't he practice martial arts alone? Why eat children?"
n
"I don't understand what you're saying. The emperor is the master of everyone living in the Central Plains. Do you seek permission from the objects or clothes you use?"
"……."
Not only Mu-jin, but everyone in the meeting hall was left speechless, staring at So-cheon-ju.
They were not overwhelmed by his logic; they were simply dumbfounded by the absurdity.
Particularly, Jegal Mu-hwan was glancing back and forth between Namgung Chang-hwi and So-cheon-ju.
'They're all the same.'
However, not noticing Jegal Mu-hwan's gaze, Namgung Chang-hwi, who had been silently observing the interrogation process, finally spoke up.
"To call yourself an emperor with such a verminous mindset."
"……."
This time, everyone looked back and forth between Namgung Chang-hwi and So-cheon-ju.
'……Is this self-loathing?'
While everyone was thinking that,
"Argh!!"
So-cheon-ju suddenly screamed.
Mu-jin had quietly shattered another one of So-cheon-ju's finger bones.
"Wh-why?"
Despite having answered all the questions, So-cheon-ju asked in a tone full of injustice as his finger was broken.
Mu-jin's response was simple.
"I just felt like breaking it."
So-cheon-ju glared at Mu-jin as if to kill him, but when Mu-jin reached for his remaining fingers, he eventually had to avert his gaze.
As So-cheon-ju seemed to calm down a bit, Mu-jin asked another question that had come to his mind.
"By the way, if the former royal family conducted extensive human sacrifices, the emperor's martial arts must have been beyond imagination. How did they lose to the rebels?"
The Shinchun people had secretly used kidnapped children with unique constitutions as sacrifices.
Despite that, So-cheon-ju had reached an extraordinary level, and the current Cheon-ju was likely even more advanced.
So, what level had the emperor of the former imperial dynasty, who conducted extensive human sacrifices, reached?
In response to Mu-jin's question, So-cheon-ju answered with a sense of pride,
"From what I've heard, the Hunwon Divine Elixir Technique was not yet completed at that time. The human sacrifices you mentioned were merely experiments to create the Hunwon Divine Elixir Technique."
The Hunwon Divine Elixir Technique.
n
A martial art aimed at creating a special Danjeon to obtain the power of the Yellow Emperor, one of the legendary Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, who was said to possess divine power.
This was the martial art that the last emperor of the former imperial dynasty had attempted to create and which So-cheon-ju had mastered.
And in response to Mu-jin's subsequent questions, So-cheon-ju explained further.
Experiments were conducted regardless of age or gender, and the emperor did not make the mistake of practicing the incomplete martial art.
Instead, they selected some of the kidnapped people to practice the experimental martial arts and absorbed others to check the progress and test the side effects.
Some died from Qi Deviation while using the flawed Celestial Blood Absorption Technique, while others died from having their energy drained by the same technique.
After using tens of thousands of civilians as test subjects, the Hunwon Divine Elixir Technique was completed, which eventually led to the rebellion.
"So, Shinchun is just the remnants who fled with the Hunwon Divine Elixir Technique."
Mu-jin muttered with a face full of disgust as he listened to the explanation.
Jegal Mu-hwan added to Mu-jin's conclusion,
"They likely fled with more than just the Hunwon Divine Elixir Technique."
When everyone looked at Jegal Mu-hwan with puzzled faces, he continued,
"I've always found it strange. Despite moving covertly, they had too many masters and possessed numerous divine weapons."
At Jegal Mu-hwan's words, Mu-jin nodded unknowingly.
"But now that I've heard the explanation, it makes some sense. To create the Hunwon Divine Elixir Technique, they must have conducted extensive research on numerous martial arts."
Finally, everyone in the meeting hall understood what Jegal Mu-hwan was implying.
To create the Hunwon Divine Elixir Technique, they must have gathered numerous martial arts manuals from across the martial world.
Some of these manuals were likely of a level that could be considered divine techniques, and several divine techniques might have emerged during the process of creating the Hunwon Divine Elixir Technique.
While such a feat would be impossible for a single sect, it was feasible for an "empire."
"Is it true?"
Mu-jin asked So-cheon-ju to confirm.
So-cheon-ju, with a rebellious look, tried to keep his mouth shut, but when Mu-jin threatened further torture, he answered with a face full of spite,
"Half of it is true."
"And the other half?"
"To create the Hunwon Divine Elixir Technique, we did gather numerous books from the martial world. Among them were martial arts manuals as you guessed, but there were also many books that were just 'records' of various martial arts and divine weapons. We mainly took those when we fled the royal palace. Taking physical items would have left traces."
"Unbelievable…"
Jegal Mu-hwan muttered in a tone of disbelief.
"The former royal family might be stronger than known. Some of the martial arts books used to create the Hunwon Divine Elixir Technique ended up in the hands of the current royal family."