There are moments in relationships that become turning points.
Usually, one only realizes it in hindsight, thinking, ‘Ah, that was the moment.’ But today, Jin Ha-gun could feel it with certainty.
A bridge was beginning to be built between him and his grandfather, one made not of sand, but of sturdy wood.
“I will trust the Young Cult Master fifth, not second.”
Since his grandfather had shown him the path he must take, he had to repay him in kind.
“I will trust first in the belief that we are right. Next, I will trust my grandfather. Then, I will trust my subordinates in the Demon Slaying Branch, and after that, the martial artists of the Martial Alliance who are silently carrying out their duties at this very moment. Only after I have trusted all of them will I trust the Young Cult Master.”
Jin Pae-cheon smiled with satisfaction.
His grandson, who had always seemed like a child, had grown so maturely.
“Let us return.”
“Yes, Grandfather.”
The two descended from the pavilion and began walking toward the entrance of the bamboo forest.
Jin Ha-gun asked cautiously.
The answer to this question would change the fate of many.
“What are you planning to do now?”
Instead of answering, Jin Pae-cheon asked for his grandson’s thoughts.
“What do you think?”
He wanted to use this opportunity to see how his grandson would handle such matters.
He felt that the time had come.
"As you saw earlier, the First Young Master has no intention of backing down. The force behind him will eventually try to sow discord between the Main Alliance and the Divine Sect again. Before that happens……."
He couldn't continue his sentence right away, as it was something that might make his grandfather uncomfortable.
"I believe we must meet with the Heavenly Wandering Hermit.”
They had to find out whether he was truly the one behind it all, or if he was being framed in someone’s scheme.
“And when we meet him?”
“If the Heavenly Wandering Hermit is the mastermind, he will know that he is under suspicion.”
After all, he had used the Mind Control Technique to make his own name come out of the White Dragon Division Lord’s mouth.
“If we don’t go and confirm things in this situation, he will think we suspect him.”
If the Hermit believed the Alliance Leader trusted him, he would expect him to come and tell him what had happened.
"Whether the Hermit is innocent or not, the fact remains that we must be the ones to go to him first. We must make the first move."
Jin Pae-cheon nodded silently, walking lost in thought.
In the meantime, the two arrived at the entrance.
As Jin Pae-cheon boarded the waiting carriage, he gave an unexpected order.
“You go and meet him.”
It meant he was entrusting the handling of this matter to his grandson.
Jin Ha-gun had a premonition.
This might be the final test to become the successor.
“Yes, I will.”
Things were completely different now than when he hadn't known his grandfather's true feelings.
He would be able to handle the matter objectively, without worrying about their relationship.
The carriage carrying Jin Pae-cheon departed.
As the carriage left with the Alliance Leader’s guards, the warriors of the Demon Slaying Branch gathered around the lone Jin Ha-gun.
Since they had been moving with Jin Ha-gun, they knew better than anyone that the current situation was unusual.
“We are going to the Martial Pavilion.”
Jin Ha-gun stood at the entrance of the Martial Pavilion and looked up at the sign.
Martial Pavilion.
It was a name given by the martial artists of Wuhan to honor the Heavenly Wandering Hermit, who had lived a life of non-possession his entire life.
Jin Ha-gun suddenly recalled that the same characters were used for ‘muso’ in ‘musobulwi,’ meaning all-powerful.
Whether the life he desired was one of non-possession or one of absolute power, he would find out soon enough.
A warrior from the Demon Slaying Branch knocked on the door, and Chief Steward Ju appeared from inside.
He recognized Jin Ha-gun and greeted him politely.
“Welcome, Branch Master.”
Chief Steward Ju had served the Heavenly Wandering Hermit for a long time, and despite his outstanding martial arts skills, he was in charge of running the Martial Pavilion.
He had dedicated his life to the Hermit out of respect.
Jin Ha-gun glanced behind him and asked.
“Is something the matter?”
The courtyard was visible behind Chief Steward Ju, and it was filled with dozens of martial artists.
Even at a glance, the atmosphere felt tense.
Chief Steward Ju then asked with a peculiar look in his eyes.
“Did you not come because you heard the news?”
He seemed to think that Jin Ha-gun had come already knowing what had happened.
Jin Ha-gun did not bother to deny it.
He didn't know what was going on, but he would find out once he went inside.
“Please, come in.”
Chief Steward Ju guided Jin Ha-gun inside.
The warriors of the Demon Slaying Branch followed behind him.
Those in the courtyard were all martial artists from the sects in Wuhan.
They recognized Jin Ha-gun and greeted him with a respectful cupped fist salute.
He was a leading candidate for the next Martial Alliance Leader, and the Demon Slaying Branch he led was comprised of the Martial Alliance's most elite warriors.
The Demon Slaying Branch formed a path between the men.
Jin Ha-gun and Chief Steward Ju walked the path created by the Demon Slaying Branch and went inside.
As he walked, Jin Ha-gun observed the martial artists in the courtyard.
They all looked tense with hardened expressions; something had definitely happened.
Chief Steward Ju led him to the great hall.
Inside were about a dozen people, and it was so quiet that not even a breath could be heard.
As Jin Ha-gun stepped inside, the people there turned their heads.
Jin Ha-gun knew all of their faces.
They were the leaders of the various sects in Wuhan.
They commanded anywhere from dozens to hundreds of disciples.
They silently offered a cupped fist salute to Jin Ha-gun.
Jin Ha-gun also greeted them quietly with a cupped fist.
There was a reason for this silent exchange.
In the middle of the room was a bed, and a doctor was treating someone.
An old man, lying on the bed and receiving treatment.
His skin was dark and rough, a testament to the long years he had spent wandering the outside world.
His old, shabby martial robes looked as if they had been with him for decades.
But no one who knew him would ever judge him by his appearance.
On the contrary, this simple and rough exterior made him shine.
The Heavenly Wandering Hermit, Hwa Yul-cheong.
He had spent his entire life wandering the Central Plains and doing good deeds.
If he saw someone pitiful, he would empty his pockets for them, and if he saw someone wronged, he would ensure their grudge was avenged.
The man, for whom even the words ‘great warrior’ were insufficient, was lying on the bed.
Until he arrived here, Jin Ha-gun had never dreamed he would see such a sight.
And he certainly never imagined this would be the reason.
Chief Steward Ju delivered the shocking news.
“The Elder was attacked by an assailant today.”
Jin Ha-gun’s expression hardened.
Of all times, the Heavenly Wandering Hermit was attacked now?
Jin Ha-gun’s gaze turned to his arm.
The doctor was treating his arm.
It was not a sword wound.
The raggedly torn injury was quite deep, too deep to be self-inflicted.
After carefully finishing the treatment, the doctor spoke cautiously to the people there.
“The torn and ripped wound will heal over time, but the problem is the poison.”
The Heavenly Wandering Hermit had been poisoned?
“If the antidote doesn’t work, there will be side effects.”
At the doctor’s words, a cold chill seemed to spread through the room.
It was the anger of those present.
Jin Ha-gun and the leaders moved a little away from the bed.
Since Hwa Yul-cheong was asleep, Jin Ha-gun had intended to go outside to talk, but they had no intention of leaving.
They showed their resolve to guard the place until Hwa Yul-cheong woke up.
“What on earth happened?”
At Jin Ha-gun's quiet question, a young martial artist who was standing a little way off spoke.
“The Elder was injured while saving me.”
He was Hyeok In, the Sect Master of the Clear Loft Sect, a small faction in Wuhan.
He had recently become the Sect Master after the previous one died in an accident.
“I heard the news that he had returned to Wuhan after a long time, so I sought his help. I wanted to ask him how to lead a sect. As I was seeing him off after listening to his precious words, we were attacked by a demonic practitioner.”
At the words ‘demonic practitioner,’ Jin Ha-gun’s heart sank.
It was a phrase that should not have been spoken, at least not in this place.
“Did you say a demonic practitioner?”
Hyeok In nodded, and as if to explain the reason, Chief Steward Ju brought something that had been placed under the bed and showed it to them.
"The Manor Lord was struck by this."
After confirming what it was, Jin Ha-gun’s expression hardened.
Surprisingly, it was the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect’s hidden weapon, the Piercing Spike.
The very thing that had drawn Geom Muyang to Wuhan had now appeared before Jin Ha-gun.
“What happened to the attacker?”
“He died at the Elder’s hands.”
A middle-aged martial artist standing nearby stepped forward.
He was Go Hyeong, the Sect Master of the One Sword Sect.
He was a man who had lost an arm fighting demonic practitioners in the past, and he was known to grind his teeth at the mere mention of the Demon Sect.
“As you know, that hidden weapon is one of the Demon Sect’s, designated by the Martial Alliance as a forbidden weapon. If it weren’t for such a vile and despicable weapon, how could the Elder have been harmed?”
A heavy silence flowed.
The other leaders neither agreed with his words nor denied them.
If it was truly the work of the Demon Sect, this matter would not end with a simple apology.
Just then, another person stepped forward.
He was Hwang Geun, the Sect Master of the Jade Pine Sect in Wuhan.
He deeply respected the Heavenly Wandering Hermit and followed him as a master.
He walked back to the bed, looked down at Hwa Yul-cheong, and said quietly.
“No matter who did it, I intend to spend the rest of my life finding the culprit.”
The other leaders also nodded and stood before the bed.
Every martial artist of the Righteous Path respected the Heavenly Wandering Hermit, but those gathered here in particular were people who would willingly lay down their lives for him.
If they moved, the martial world of Wuhan would move, and if Wuhan moved, the entire martial world would be shaken.
Jin Ha-gun silently looked at Hwa Yul-cheong.
‘Is this an act? Or was he really attacked?’
In the current situation, he couldn’t tell.
But one thing was certain.
Though he was unconscious and had not spoken a single word, he was igniting the passions of these many Righteous Path masters.
The Demon Sect tried to kill the Heavenly Wandering Hermit!
He could feel how great of an incident this was becoming.
For now, it was only these people, but once this news spread, the martial world would be turned upside down.
Hwang Geun turned to Jin Ha-gun and spoke.
“Branch Master Jin, I hope the Alliance will not let this matter rest.”
At that, the others also turned.
Everyone’s gaze was focused on Jin Ha-gun.
“The Martial Alliance must step in, cast a net far and wide, and ensure the culprit does not escape.”
“We must lodge an official protest with the Demon Sect.”
Their demands continued, but Jin Ha-gun held his tongue.
‘Is this what you wanted? Do you really plan to use them as a shield to get through this? Don’t touch me.
If you touch me, everyone will move.
Is this how you’re giving that warning?’
They stood arrayed before Hwa Yul-cheong.
This was not a wall built simply because a Righteous Path martial artist had been ambushed.
It was a wall of trust he had built over the past few decades, a wall of respect.
A wall built through decades of effort.
That was why it could not be easily torn down.
It was at that very moment.
A quiet voice was heard from behind them.
“That is enough.”
The hall fell silent at his words.
The voice came from the bed behind them.
As everyone turned in surprise, Hwa Yul-cheong was awake and sitting up in bed.
“Elder!”
“Manor Lord! You’re awake!”
“Thank goodness.”
Everyone rejoiced and gathered around him.
“Why is there such a commotion over nothing?”
As his dormant presence awakened, it overwhelmed everyone there.
His presence was not sharp or strong.
It was an exceedingly gentle presence.
But it was a softness that seemed impossible to break with any amount of strength.
Hwang Geun checked his condition first.
“Nothing? Elder, you were poisoned!”
But Hwa Yul-cheong replied as if it were no big deal.
“I’ve suppressed it with my inner energy, so I am fine.”
This time, the Sect Master of the One Sword Sect couldn’t hold back and shouted.
“It is the work of those Demon Sect bastards!”
“Nonsense! Just because he held a weapon of the Demon Sect, how can one conclude that it was the work of a demonic practitioner?”
His reaction was completely different from what Jin Ha-gun had expected.
“I am fine, so do not escalate the matter and all of you return home. If a fight breaks out with the Demon Sect over something uncertain, many innocent lives will be lost. So do not act rashly and watch your mouths.”
After sternly rebuking them, he looked for someone among the crowd.
The person he was looking for was the young Hyeok In, whom he had saved.
“Are you alright?”
When the man smiled at him, Hyeok In was greatly moved and offered a deep bow.
“I will never forget your grace for the rest of my life.”
“What good will it do to remember this old man? Just take good care of your people. You remember everything I told you, right?”
“Elder!”
Hyeok In bowed his head, tears falling.
Finally, Hwa Yul-cheong’s gaze turned to Jin Ha-gun.
When it was just the two of them, he would call him Ha-gun, but now he addressed him as the Demon Slaying Branch Master.
“Branch Master Jin.”
“Elder.”
The two men’s gazes met in mid-air.
Hwa Yul-cheong looked at Jin Ha-gun with his usual gentle and benevolent eyes.
Ever since he was a child, he was someone who had always smiled brightly at him without change.
Was this really the person behind the conspiracy?
That was why he was confused, and why he was even more suspicious.
Hwa Yul-cheong asked in a calm tone.
“What is happening in Wuhan?”
That is what I want to ask you.
What are you planning to do here in Wuhan?
Everyone waited for Jin Ha-gun’s answer.
They expected that the Demon Slaying Branch Master would know facts that they didn’t.
Whether it was the work of the Demon Sect or not, the attack on the Heavenly Wandering Hermit was a major incident.
“Nothing has been confirmed yet. However, in this once peaceful martial world…”
Jin Ha-gun stared at Hwa Yul-cheong and calmly added.
“It seems a great evil has awakened.”