Book 21 Chapter 19

Sabu, Intrusion into Cheonmu Academy

―A Fictional Idol

In the center of the main avenue leading from the main gate of Cheonmu Academy, a colossal statue stood tall, always looking down upon the budding martial artists. It was customary to offer a slight, respectful bow when passing this statue. This was to honor the person who had become a great pillar in the existence of the current martial world, and to encourage striving in their footsteps.

But today, an old man was gazing intently up at that statue. In his eyes was a profound skepticism and bewilderment. To evoke such emotions in this old man was truly a great achievement, and Cheonmu Academy had succeeded in that endeavor with just a single statue.

The old man was none other than the Old Sabu.

"Excuse me, could I ask you something?"

The Old Sabu stopped a passerby and asked. The unfortunate person who happened to fall into the Old Sabu's grasp was Mun Il-gi, a warrior who, despite possessing the respectable sobriquet of Hwasan Bicheon-eung, had yet to confess his feelings to Hong Ran, the Cheon-eum Seonja, and was suffering in silence.

"Yes, please speak."

Though it felt bothersome as he was in a hurry, Mun Il-gi stopped, offered a light bow to the statue, and replied.

"Whose statue is this, anyway?"

"Pardon?"

Mun Il-gi was the one who asked back.

He didn't ask, 'Is he senile?' because he was a person who knew the principles of respecting elders. That politeness saved his life.

"It's clearly written there…"

Not knowing who the other person was, polite language naturally came out. He spoke in a kind tone, as if willing to read it aloud if the other person couldn't read.

On the plaque he pointed to, four lines of text were inscribed in a grand and powerful script.

Founder of Cheonmu Academy

The Martial Way of Heaven

God of War

Taegeuk Shin-gun Hyeok Wol-rin

"I can read, you know."

Did the inscription somehow provoke him? The Old Sabu retorted gruffly, slightly furrowing his brows.

"Then what is it you want?"

Mun Il-gi became more convinced that the old man must be senile, if he wasn't illiterate.

"What I, this old man, am curious about is, who is this dignified person with a long beard like a celestial being, a masculine and gallant facial structure, and strong, sturdy arms holding a sword and a saber respectively? Where does he live and who is he?"

The statue's appearance was very dignified and masculine, as the old man described without pause. It was exactly the kind of appearance that would appear in a story.

"So, that person is the founder of Cheonmu Academy and the famous God of War, Hyeok Wol-rin…"

*Clack!*

Stars twinkled in Mun Il-gi's eyes. He couldn't even see what had flown or how it had come.

"Lies have their limits!"

A thunderous roar erupted from the Old Sabu.

"Have you ever seen this 'God of War' or whatever his name is, yourself?"

"I have not yet had such a magnificent encounter…"

Mun Il-gi was rendered speechless by the old man's unfathomable power.

'No, how can this be! What is this disgraceful behavior from someone like a warrior of Cheonmu Academy?'

Such doubts surfaced in a corner of his mind, but for some reason, he couldn't resist. All he could do was obediently answer the questions.

"When was this statue built?"

The Old Sabu pressed again, as if interrogating him.

"It's been about fifty years…"

Still, it seemed to have been meticulously maintained, given its smooth surface without any noticeable scratches. However, the issue at hand was unrelated to that.

"Were you present when this statue was erected?"

He was referring to the God of War, Hyeok Wol-rin.

"Ah, no. He had already been in seclusion for a long time by then…"

Mun Il-gi knew that much from hearsay.

"Then on what basis did the sculptor create this thing? Did they have a portrait?"

"No, I don't think so."

Mun Il-gi, flustered by the increasing pressure, replied.

"Oh, so you're saying they made it purely from imagination, without any basis?"

Sweat beaded on his forehead as he frantically tried to make excuses.

"Y-yes. But this is merely to honor his achievements…"

"Hmph, shut up. Honestly, it's enough to make a passing dog laugh. Did he ask you to do it himself? To erect such a clumsy statue that doesn't even resemble his nostrils?"

Pointing at the statue with his index finger, the Old Sabu berated him.

"Th-that's not it, of course…"

"Good heavens! To create it according to their own will without any basis, it's astonishing. Remove this utterly unpleasant object at once!"

"Th-that's not possible…"

It was an absurd demand. This statue was a symbol of Cheonmu Academy. They couldn't just remove it at the word of some unknown old man passing by.

"Are you refusing?"

"R-rather, it is beyond my authority…"

"Is that so? Is that what you're saying?"

The Old Sabu paused in thought for a moment, then looked back at Mun Il-gi. A sense of unease caused Hwasan Bicheon-eung to cower like a timid sparrow.

"It can't be helped. I wanted to make you rectify your own mistakes, but this time, I will exceptionally relieve you of some trouble!"

"……?"

*BOOM!*

A roar like three or four thunderclaps all at once echoed throughout the academy. It felt as if the sky was falling.

*FWOOSH!*

The statue, which had stood firmly in place for fifty years, finally found freedom and soared high into the sky. Small birds and the wind brushed past it. However, its newfound freedom was not to last long. After flying about ten yards, the statue plummeted to the bluestone floor, hit its head, bounced like a skipped stone on a lake for more than ten times, and then crashed directly into the main building in front.

It was a feat that could not be considered human ability.

*GASP!*

Mun Il-gi was so shocked that his jaw dropped.

An emergency alarm of the highest level, which would only sound in the event of an enemy surprise attack, reverberated through Cheonmu Academy.

The warriors, hastily arming themselves, rushed to the scene using their fastest Qinggong. Among them was the head of Cheonmu Academy, Cheol Kwon Ma Jin-ga. Ma Jin-ga, being nearby when the alarm sounded, was able to reach the scene quickly.

The perpetrator, showing no intention of escaping, remained standing there.

A encirclement was quickly formed. As he calmly observed the formation of the encirclement, the Old Sabu muttered.

"A bit late."

Instead of running, he seemed to have been waiting.

"Th-this is unbelievable!"

The warriors couldn't believe what they saw. The statue of the great hero they revered was embedded upside down in a building ten yards away.

'Who dared to commit such a daring act in the front yard of Cheonmu Academy!'

Something unimaginable had happened.

"You rascal! How dare you insult the God of War!"

A warrior shouted in indignant fury.

"Insult? Who insulted whom?"

The Old Sabu's gaze flickered towards that warrior.

"Gasp!"

What was this? The moment his eyes met the gaze of the unidentified old man, he couldn't even breathe properly.

"I asked. Who insulted whom?"

It was a low but powerful voice. The man, still struggling to breathe, gasped with a pale face.

'He's no ordinary master!'

Ma Jin-ga instinctively knew this to be true.

"Stop it."

Ma Jin-ga said in a low, forceful voice.

"Huh?"

The Old Sabu's gaze shifted from the man to Ma Jin-ga. The man, who could finally breathe more easily, collapsed onto the ground.

"Who are you?"

The Old Sabu asked.

"I am Ma Jin-ga, the albeit foolish head of this Cheonmu Academy. If you wouldn't mind, could you tell me your esteemed name?"

After looking Ma Jin-ga up and down, the Old Sabu retorted gruffly.

"You are not yet qualified."

It was an astonishing statement that plunged the surroundings into shock.

"H-how dare you!"

They were ready to attack and kill the rude old man at any moment. Ma Jin-ga stopped the warriors and instructed in a calm tone.

"Do not interfere carelessly!"

He felt an unknown, instinctive threat. Looking back on his past, it was a time to trust that instinct. The Old Sabu seemed to approve of this response.

"So, you are the person in charge here?"

"That is correct."

"Then you must know who made that statue over there?"

"Before I answer, I have one thing I wish to ask the deceased."

"Ask away."

"Why did the deceased insult the God of War?"

"Insult? Ha, what a turnaround. I don't know who insulted whom. Didn't you people insult 'that guy'?"

His voice was clearly offended. It must have been because their claims sounded utterly absurd.

'Th-that guy…'

It was an incredibly bothersome epithet. What kind of relationship allowed one to call the God of War of the world 'that guy'?

"There's no way we would insult the God of War! We respect him more than anyone else."

Ma Jin-ga protested.

"Then what is that unsightly statue over there?"

The Old Sabu questioned, pointing to the sole of the statue he had thrown.

"So, that is to honor his will…"

The Old Sabu snorted dismissively.

"To honor? Not to insult? Not even a statue worshiper would create such a statue. Of course not."

"I-insult? How can you say that! Such words are an insult to us!"

Ma Jin-ga was brave.

"Then you say it is not?"

The Old Sabu retorted.

"Of course not."

At Ma Jin-ga's answer, the old man burst into laughter, clutching his sides.

"Heehee! Hahaha! Interesting, very interesting. Alright, I'll ask again. Who is this dignified person with a long beard like a celestial being, a masculine facial structure, and strong, sturdy arms holding a sword and a saber respectively?"

"So, naturally, the God of…"

As the Old Sabu's gaze bore down on him, Ma Jin-ga could no longer continue. He felt his whole body constrict, like a frog before a snake.

"Are you still spouting such nonsense? You! You've never met that guy, have you?! Even as the person in charge here!"

*Thwack!*

The Old Sabu's words pierced Ma Jin-ga's heart like daggers. In truth, he too had only heard rumors about the God of War and had never met him.

"Does no one here, among you, remember meeting that guy?"

The Old Sabu asked, looking around.

"There is exactly one person."

Ma Jin-ga replied after a moment of thought.

"And who is that?"

The old man asked with interest.

"He's arriving right about now."

In the direction his finger pointed, an old man was charging furiously, kicking up dust with a terrifying expression. The old man, drawing his sharp sword and running like a gale, was none other than…

"That person is Senior Swordmaster Gongson Il-chwi, the highest elder and advisor of Cheonmu Academy."

Ma Jin-ga introduced him briefly. However, Gongson Il-chwi at this moment was in no state for conversation.

"Move aside!"

Ignoring the gale, Gongson Il-chwi let out a thunderous roar. Flames of anger seemed to erupt from his eyes. He must have witnessed the statue's pathetic state. Even at over a hundred years old, he seemed as impatient as ever. If he could shed that impatience, he might have been on par with the Sword Saint, but he didn't seem to realize it.

"Hah!"

With a powerful shout, Gongson Il-chwi kicked off the ground. His body sliced through the air like a bird. It was a heroic movement that could not be attributed to a body over a hundred years old.

*Hap, hap, hap, hap!*

Leaping high into the air from over five yards away, the Swordmaster then took several more steps in the air, as if treading on solid ground.

"Whoa! That's the legendary Sky-walking Step (Heokong Dapbo)!"

The legendary realm, called the pinnacle of body technique, the ultimate state of walking on air as if it were the ground, the realm of Sky-walking Step! It was rare for the Swordmaster to display his martial arts like this, so exclamations of admiration naturally arose from the crowd.

"Oooooh! I've never seen it before!"

Sky-walking Step (Heokong Dapbo). Literally, the technique of walking by stepping on the air as if it were the ground!

If the entire martial world were compared to a vast sandy beach, those who reached the realm of Dengpyeong Dosu, walking on water, would not even be a handful. The legendary realm of Sky-walking Step was even more difficult to achieve, so for the past several decades, it had never been witnessed in the martial world. It was a realm that transcended technique. How could one not be moved when a mythical realm, only spoken of in whispers, unfolded before their eyes in real-time?

And it didn't end there.

"Hah! Ascension (Sangseung)!"

With a shout like the Chi-cheong Il-seong, Gongson Il-chwi's body disappeared into the air.

"Oooooooh!"

He leaped, treading on the air, and vanished into the sun. Blinding from the direct sunlight, people lost sight of him.

The Old Sabu, seemingly unconcerned by Gongson Il-chwi's actions, stood calmly with his hands behind his back.

"Supreme Sword Technique (Jijon Geombeop) Five Essences (O-ui)!"

A powerful voice once again erupted from within the sun.

"Supreme and Unmatched (Jijon Musang)!"

The sun's rays transformed into countless spears of light, pouring down upon the Old Sabu's body like a sudden downpour. The intention was to instantly skewer the Old Sabu, who still stood with his hands behind his back.

Although it was the same technique, the power was on a completely different level from the move Gongson Jeol-hwi had briefly shown.

"Everyone, step back! It's dangerous!"

Ma Jin-ga shouted urgently. It seemed the Swordmaster, excessively excited, had failed to control his power. If they remained standing there, they would surely be skewered too.

Ma Jin-ga and the warriors hastily retreated, as if a branding iron had been placed on their buttocks. However, the Old Sabu remained unmoved.

*Screeeeeech! Fwabababa-bak!*

The sun's spears fiercely pierced the earth. As dozens of sword energies tore through the ground, clouds of dust billowed up. The ferocity of the attack chilled the onlookers to the bone.

"Will they be able to find any bone fragments?"

"That would be difficult…"

"I agree!"

Everyone swallowed dryly, eagerly awaiting the scene that the coming wind would reveal after clearing the dust. As the wind blew, the dust cleared, and the scene was revealed.

"Kuhuk!"

"Huk!"

"Heh!"

People's jaws dropped, their eyeballs seemed to bulge halfway out, and some clutched their hair – a variety of reactions. The most astonished among them was the Swordmaster Gongson Il-chwi himself, who had descended to the ground.

"In-impossible!"

It was an unbelievable situation. The old man, who they thought would have been torn to shreds and scattered in all directions, stood perfectly intact as if nothing had happened. The only slight change was that his hands, which had been clasped behind his back, were now only one hand.

The hand that had been freed from his back was calmly holding the tip of the Swordmaster's sword. How could Gongson Il-chwi's heart not sink?

"Your temper is hasty, and your sword is even hastier."

It seemed he judged that correction was necessary.

"I will bestow upon you a lecture."

*Slap! Slap!*

With the sound of light impacts, Gongson Il-chwi's face whipped to the right and left.

Even though it was broad daylight, stars twinkled before his eyes. Was this a lingering effect from emerging from the sun?

'Wow, a round trip slap!'

The onlookers, witnessing a horrific scene they never imagined could happen in this world, held their breath.

Gongson Il-chwi staggered back, feeling the stinging pain on his flushed cheeks. He ended up next to Ma Jin-ga. Now, even he was confused about what was happening.

Then, Gongson Il-chwi lost the opportunity to protest the unreasonable insult he had suffered.

"Huh? You, you look familiar?"

The rage that had been simmering like volcanic lava, ready to explode, instantly cooled at those words.

'Such a foolish thing… This is a dream!'

Gongson Il-chwi screamed inwardly. Looking again, he recognized the face… and the pain in his cheek. It wasn't just a mere acquaintance. The face of the person who had effortlessly countered his ultimate technique with just one hand was a face he could never forget, no matter how much he tried.

"I've definitely seen you somewhere…"

The Old Sabu was rummaging through the depths of his fading memory. He wasn't one to remember trivial things, so it was hazy, but there was a sense of familiarity. It was a feeling that had left a rather unusual impression in his long life.

"It seems to be just a feeling."

Gongson Il-chwi said in a suddenly gentle tone, completely different from before.

'Please don't remember! Don't remember! Please don't remember!'

The Swordmaster cried out desperately in his mind, but it was of no use.

"Ah, that's right! You, you're that brat from back then!"

He still remembered the brat he had disciplined a hundred years ago.

'Brat?'

At that single word, everyone was astonished. 'Brat' was one of the least fitting expressions for someone called the Swordmaster. However, the Swordmaster said nothing. He was too busy despairing.

"Y-you are…"

As his nightmare materialized into reality, the Swordmaster experienced a sense of confusion and despair for the first time in a long while.

"Hmm. Did I see wrong?"

In the midst of dark despair, the Swordmaster found a sliver of hope. But the moment he met the old man's eyes, he immediately abandoned it. Those eyes seemed to say:

I'm already sure, but I'll see how you act.

Trying to deceive him would be in vain. The Swordmaster instinctively knew this.

"No. That's right."

At the Swordmaster's honest confession, the Old Sabu nodded.

"I thought so. What brings you here?"

He was indeed sure.

"This is Senior Swordmaster Gongson Il-chwi, the current advisor here."

It was Ma Jin-ga who answered instead. While he was shocked by the old man's arbitrary treatment of the Swordmaster, he quickly answered, noticing the Swordmaster's distress.

"Swordmaster? Kch, kchm, you carry a rather grand title."

His tone clearly indicated he was suppressing laughter.

"I-I'm ashamed."

Gongson Il-chwi stammered involuntarily.

"Do you know him?"

Ma Jin-ga, who was standing beside him, whispered and asked.

"We just… know each other. Don't ask for details!"

His glaring eyes held equal parts determination and murderous intent. It was only natural for one to feel a surge of killing intent towards someone who dug up their hidden past. Ma Jin-ga, being no ordinary master, could sense the danger lurking beneath.

'If I ask any more, it'll be dangerous!'

It was a warning signal from his instincts. However, with a single word from the old man, Gongson Il-chwi's secret but desperate efforts to conceal the truth were in vain.

"Ah, back then, he was so arrogant I had to give him a little 'treatment'. He was a mere greenhorn back then, but now his beard is somewhat respectable?"

The Old Sabu remarked, glancing at Gongson Il-chwi's beard.

"Oh, elder!"

Gongson Il-chwi's face crumpled at the Old Sabu's thoughtless revelation. This would truly lead to murder…

The gathered crowd, feeling a chilling murderous aura that penetrated their bones, hunched their shoulders. His eyes, filled with red veins like capillaries, swept over the surroundings.

'If you dare to babble carelessly elsewhere! You'll die!'

Gongson Il-chwi's gaze as he looked around seemed to say that.

"I hear you've met that guy before?"

"You mean 'that guy'?"

"The very person written on that statue over there."

"Yes, I've seen him a few times before."

"Really? Then you remember his face. You should testify. Did that pretty boy look like this?"

'P-pretty boy?'

No matter how he thought about it, it didn't match the image of the valiant and peerless God of War, Hyeok Wol-rin, that they held.

"Th-that is…"

That's right. He had seen the God of War's true appearance and fought alongside him in several battles. At that time, Cheonmu Samseong had not yet earned the name 'Samseong,' and the four of them were called 'Sasinseong' (Four Star-like Youths).

However, due to 'some incident,' he couldn't participate in the final battle and ended up bedridden, forever losing the chance to be listed alongside the other three. The perpetrator of that incident was standing right before him. How could his heart not be troubled?

"Why is your answer so slow? Did you choke on boiled grub worms?"

The Old Sabu urged him to answer. It was subtle pressure.

"Ah, no. That is…"

The gaze of dozens of people focused on him was extremely burdensome to the Swordmaster.

*Stare, stare, stare!*

'Look somewhere else, there's so much to see in this vast world, it's not just this old body!'

But everyone was eagerly waiting for his lips to open, their eyes wide and ears pricked.

"Come on, answer. Does that guy really look like that?"

Depending on his answer, they could lose their justification. However, while they could conceal the truth, they couldn't create something out of nothing. And the person before his eyes was someone they couldn't deceive.

"No. He looked completely different."

Finally, the Swordmaster succumbed to the truth. His shoulders sagged listlessly as he spoke.

*Murmur, murmur, murmur!*

Unbelievable reactions erupted from all sides in a clamor.

"Then why did you allow such a ridiculous statue?"

The Old Sabu questioned again.

"Well, if we made it exactly as he looked, no one would believe it…"

The Swordmaster desperately tried to make an excuse, but it was in vain.

"So you allowed this boastful statue to be erected? Merely because you thought people wouldn't believe it?"

"Y-yes."

With a sigh, the Swordmaster replied.

"Then it is now clear who insulted whom."

The Old Sabu taunted, his gaze sweeping over the surroundings with an indifferent look.

"…"

The Swordmaster, Ma Jin-ga, and the warriors were all speechless.

He had originally intended to quietly finish his business and leave. But the moment he saw the statue and the name inscribed on it, his mood soured, and he felt quite annoyed.

"Without even trying to know what that person was like, you unilaterally projected your own image. Then where does he truly exist?"

To the Old Sabu's stern question, the onlookers fell silent.

"You must remember. Your actions were an act of obliterating the existence of the man called Hyeok Wol-rin! It would be better to melt down such a false idol and use it as a washbasin!"

"We are truly sorry."

"We are ashamed."

Ma Jin-ga and Gongson Il-chwi showed signs of deep repentance.

"I am not someone who likes to fuss over trivial matters. Understand? Please do not provoke me with trivialities, as it is bothersome."

The Old Sabu clicked his tongue with annoyance.

"Yes, elder!"

"On that note, it's fortunate. Since you seem to be the highest-ranking person here, let me ask you one thing."

"Please ask me anything."

Gongson Il-chwi replied respectfully. It was a demeanor no one in Cheonmu Academy had ever seen before.

"Where is that guy?"

The question popped out of the Old Sabu's mouth abruptly.

"Yes? Who are you referring to as 'that guy'?"

The question was too short for them to grasp its meaning.

"According to that fellow from Sunpung Sanbu-i, that guy has been holed up here for three years?"

It seemed the Old Sabu had also visited the home of the presumptuous Na Dae-i from Sunpung Sanbu-i.

"So, who are you referring to?"

"Ah, it's that fellow named Bi Ryu-yeon. He's a young man in his early twenties, who usually hides his eyes with his bangs. Have you seen him?"

The Old Sabu ruffled his own hair, demonstrating the hairstyle. Of course, they all knew without him having to do so.

"You've seen him, haven't you?"

Before the Swordmaster could answer, the Old Sabu retorted.

"Of-of course."

At those words, the Old Sabu's eyes lit up.

"Good. Things are looking up today."

While that was true for the Old Sabu, it was far from true for the Swordmaster and the entire Cheonmu Academy. If anything, it could be called the worst possible start to the day.

"So, where is that damn guy now?"

"Th-that, I don't know."

The Swordmaster replied respectfully. A hint of disappointment appeared on the Old Sabu's face.

"You really don't know?"

"Yes, no one has seen him recently. However, this person might know. After all, he is the highest responsible person here."

As he said this, the Swordmaster subtly pointed at Ma Jin-ga.

'Gasp!'

Ma Jin-ga inwardly recoiled. This was clearly a conspiracy to shift the burden onto him.

"Ho, the big fellow like a iron tower over there knows?"

The Old Sabu's gaze shifted to Ma Jin-ga.

"Probably so."

Ma Jin-ga glared at the Swordmaster with resentment, but Gongson Il-chwi quickly averted his gaze, as if fearing to be pierced by it. With the situation unfolding like this, Ma Jin-ga couldn't help but panic.

"Why are you so flustered? Could it be?"

The Old Sabu questioned with a sharp gaze. Ma Jin-ga scratched his head and confessed.

"Y-yes. In fact, I also have no idea where that child is these days. After the previous raid incident, he was placed under house arrest for a year, but that… unfortunately…"

"His whereabouts have become unknown?"

The Old Sabu retorted as if he could grasp his actions.

"Y-yes."

His intuition was like a ghost fortune teller's.

"Lost him again."

His tone was slightly disappointed. After painstakingly following the trail, the clue had run cold.

"B-but there is one place I suspect."

Ma Jin-ga, regaining his composure, quickly replied.

"Oh? And where is that?"

The old man's expression brightened slightly as he asked with joy.

"That place is…"

Ma Jin-ga hesitated for a moment. He worried whether to speak his guess, and if it would be a betrayal of his student.

"Uh, I'm sorry, but what is your relationship with that child, senior?"

"Ah, he's my disciple. One day, he ran off with the sect's treasure without a word. I intended to chase after him and give him a good scolding, but there were thirty bottles of Geomnamchun lined up at the door. Haha. I suddenly felt lazy. Several days passed after drinking them all. Even then, as I was about to leave, a pension notice arrived from Cheongryong Eun-jang. Well, I thought I'd leave it for when my livelihood was threatened, but then three more bottles of Geomnamchun were delivered. Eating and drinking like this, the monthly pension kept coming. Haha. And before I knew it, three years had passed."

'So now, with Cheongryong Eun-jang destroyed, he's finally decided to leave?'

It was an utterly absurd story.

"So, where do you think that guy is?"

Ma Jin-ga suddenly lost his energy and resigned himself to whatever happened.

"Perhaps… Machaenggak."

Ma Jin-ga said, emphasizing those three names.

"Machaenggak? I think I've heard that name before."

That was very recent.

'Ah, speaking of which, wasn't that the place those friends were going to?'

"Speaking of which, do you know a girl named Jin So-ryeong? And a brat named Yu Eun-seong, by any chance?"

At those words, Ma Jin-ga flinched.

'How does he know those two…'

"Yes, of course, I know them. They are accompanying the Cheonmu Academy delegation as leaders and have departed for Machaenggak. But why are you asking?"

"No, it's just that they came to mind. And you were supposed to send a dispatch from here to there, right? Via Jung-yang Pyoguk?"

"Y-yes. You know well."

He knew it suspiciously well. Ma Jin-ga felt as if he were possessed by a ghost. He couldn't find any connection between Jin So-ryeong, Yu Eun-seong, Jung-yang Pyoguk, and this mysterious old man.

"Hmm, then a guide would not be necessary."

It seemed there would be no need to worry about a cheap and convenient way to travel. At that moment, Gongson Il-chwi felt greatly relieved. He instinctively realized that if the situation had been unfavorable, the role of guide would have fallen upon him. He was grateful to heaven for saving him from that terrible nightmare.

The old man had no more business here.

"Thank you, take care. And you too, brat."

He did not forget to bid farewell.

"No, wait a moment…"

But the old man had already vanished like the wind.

'Am I dreaming right now?'

How could such a terrible event occur if not for a midday daydream? For a long time afterward, the Swordmaster remained rooted to the spot, unable to move. In fact, he couldn't move even if he wanted to.

*THUD!*

The Swordmaster nearly collapsed to the ground but managed to hold himself up by driving his sword into the earth. Seeing his concerned disciples cautiously gathering around, he barked.

"No one touch my body!"

If anyone touched him, he would lose his ability to maintain his posture. Collapsing in front of so many disciples would not end with mere retirement.

'But is this monster the Old Sabu of that Bi Ryu-yeon fellow?'

If so, it was no ordinary matter.

"By the way, who is that old man, head?"

Mun Il-gi asked Ma Jin-ga cautiously, his face still bewildered.

"Well… frankly, that's what I'm most curious about."

He meant it sincerely. He prided himself on having a rather thick martial arts encyclopedia in his head, but the presumed old man wasn't in it.

"Judging by the conversation, it seems he knew the God of War very well…"

He tried to deduce.

"Probably so. Otherwise, he wouldn't have gotten so angry about the statue. That's an action only someone who knows the person well could take."

Upon hearing that, a person came to mind.

"Then, could it be the God of War Gal Jung-hyeok himself?"

Ma Jin-ga shook his head.

"I can definitively say it's not him. I've met him. And I'm sure the Swordmaster will confirm that."

Gongson Il-chwi also nodded. His sword was still stuck in the ground.

"It's not the God of War."

Ma Jin-ga replied reluctantly, receiving Mun Il-gi's gaze.

"No, if he's not the God of War, but knows him well and possesses such martial arts skills, is there such a master? Even if there were, why has his existence remained unknown for a hundred years?"

Thinking of it, another person came to mind. As his thoughts reached that point, the color drained from his face.

"Su-surely Cheon-geob…"

"Don't say any more!"

Ma Jin-ga quickly covered his mouth and shook his head.

"Don't say any more. No, you must not say it."

Whether true or false, the mere utterance could sow confusion. It was better to postpone hasty judgment until it could be carefully verified.

"What do you think, Swordmaster?"

It seemed the Swordmaster had met that mysterious old man before. Otherwise, it was unthinkable that the Swordmaster, who had cultivated an unwavering mind, would still be so flustered and bewildered.

"The possibility is not entirely… zero."

The Swordmaster replied reluctantly.

"Then we must dispatch a surveillance team."

"No objection. And another thing. That fellow named Bi Ryu-yeon, whom that old man is looking for, must also be thoroughly monitored. Though it's dreadful to even mention, if by any chance that old man's identity is 'him'…"

The Swordmaster paused for a moment. An unpleasant thought was tormenting his mind.

"Then that guy would be 'his' disciple."

That was equivalent to saying he was an enemy of the entire martial world.

"I know."

Ma Jin-ga replied in a somber tone.

"Issue orders to the special tracking unit 'Muyeong-gak'!"

Ma Jin-ga's command was swift and precise. Muyeong-gak was a special organization formed from the most outstanding members of the Shin-gyeon Dae, whose specialty was tracking and information gathering. Its current head was known as Muyeong-gaek, who had never revealed his identity to anyone before.

If Muyeong-gak couldn't track him, no one in Cheonmu Academy could do it in their stead.

"I wonder if the children are well. I hope they are safe."

The thought of such an unknown monster, who even treated the Swordmaster of the world like a child, heading there made Ma Jin-ga worried.

But at the moment, he was utterly powerless. There was nothing he could do.