Uninvited Guest

“No matter the grudge, how could you target the lives of those who don’t even know martial arts?”

Bu Neungpa slammed his Soaring Sword into the ground with a clang and raised his voice.

“Not only Jeok-woo, but even the Black Butterfly Shadows once belonged to the Taiyi Divine Sect, did they not?”

Another, crying out in grief and indignation, was a disciple of the Eminent Mountain Sect. He said the Black Butterfly Shadows had made him an orphan overnight.

“They only dazzle with bizarre martial arts—how long must we endure such heretics with no legitimacy?”

One by one, the cries of those with grudges turned the hall into a pandemonium. Even those who had never met them belittled their martial arts as if they had fought them firsthand.

“But… could the Yeonban Escort Agency incident have been a misunderstanding?”

“What did you say?”

While Bu Neungpa was facing the crowd with a solemn expression, a faint voice came from somewhere. The sound was so small, yet his sharp ears could not miss it. He immediately picked out the speaker hidden among the people, dashed over, and grabbed him by the collar.

“What nonsense is this brat spouting?”

The one dangling in Bu Neungpa’s grip was none other than Yun-seon. Unable to believe that Jeok-woo had committed murder, he had spoken out in desperation.

Ju-un only realized the situation when Bu Neungpa was already before Yun-seon. She quickly reached out to grab him, but instead of saving him she was forced back over ten steps by Bu Neungpa’s sheer strength.

“Urgh…”

As Bu Neungpa tightened his grip, Yun-seon could no longer breathe. His consciousness dimmed, and the noise around him began to echo like a distant sound.

“Brother Bu, it’s just the reckless outburst of a child. Please let him go.”

Jo Yang rushed over and placed his right hand over Bu Neungpa’s. His face was gentle, but from his palm he released a fierce energy.

“Tch. For the Sect Head’s sake, I’ll let him go.”

Bu Neungpa replied loudly enough for all to hear and released Yun-seon’s collar. Only then did Jo Yang also withdraw his hand.

“Brother Bu, I am impressed by your generosity.”

As Jo Yang bowed and thanked him repeatedly, Bu Neungpa gave an awkward smile. Outwardly he waved his left hand in modesty, but behind his back his right hand couldn’t even move a finger. Jo Yang’s cold force had seeped into his joints, paralyzing them.

As Bu Neungpa staggered back to the Yellow Stone Sect’s seat, Jo Yang looked around the hall and, with his usual kindly smile, calmed the situation.

“Of course such thoughts may arise. We must examine matters with more caution.”

Jo Yang signaled to Yun-seon to sit down, then stepped back onto the martial stage.

“In truth, this is not the first time the Taiyi Divine Sect has committed atrocities.”

Jo Yang, calm but resolute, raised another matter.

“Two months ago, the trading guild Ilshimbang of Gyejeong also suffered a disaster. And this time, there is a witness. Someone who barely escaped that hell alive came to me not long ago.”

Jo Yang looked toward someone among the Emptiness Dhuta Sect disciples and nodded. Soon, an emaciated old man rose and staggered forward. Just the sight of him was pitiful.

“I am So Chung, gatekeeper of Ilshimbang.”

He first explained his identity and years of service at Ilshimbang. Several members of the Five Great Mountain Swords who knew him confirmed it.

“Then tell us, what happened that day?”

At Jo Yang’s question, the old man gazed at the ceiling as if recalling his memory. Just when the hall grew restless, his story began.

“It was the coldest day of the winter. I vividly remember pouring hot water to clear the ice from the snow piled in front of the main gate. It must have been around the time when night fell early and one by one the lights began to flicker on, when suddenly a scholar holding a fan came walking from that side.”

The old man’s eye muscles twitched violently, as if the man’s face had just resurfaced in his memory.

“You are safe here. Please continue.”

Jo Yang patted his back warmly. Perhaps strengthened by that, the old man’s eyes grew clearer as he slowly recalled the strange events of that day.

Since it was already dusk—and because scholars never frequented Ilshimbang—his appearance could only seem suspicious.

“Is this Ilshimbang, the trading guild run by Lord Yongho?”

The scholar bowed lightly and asked politely, yet his face wore a perpetual grin, which left the gatekeeper rather displeased.

“Sir, Ilshimbang is not a place you may just enter at will.”

“Ah, is that so?”

The scholar pouted, his voice dripping with disappointment.

‘Hmph, what a ridiculous fellow.’

The gatekeeper thought him rather pathetic. At that moment,

Swiish!

A sound cleaved the air, and an arrow thudded into the plaque hanging on Ilshimbang’s main gate.

“What in the—?”

Before the gatekeeper could grasp the situation, the plaque split in two and crashed down above his head.

“Aaagh!”

He cried out and squeezed his eyes shut. Yet long moments passed without his head being crushed—on the contrary, he felt his body lifting off the ground. Peeking one eye open, he found the scholar’s grinning face right before him.

“Y-you…”

Before the gatekeeper could finish his words, the scholar flung his body carelessly to the ground, then leapt lightly inside through the gate.

“N-no… no…”

The gatekeeper tried to shout to warn those inside, but shock had blocked his throat.

“Shh!”

This time a gaunt man appeared above him. His eyes were covered with black cloth, yet he moved without awkwardness, as if he could still see.

“Enter as slowly as you can.”

He raised his finger once more to trace a line across his lips, then followed the scholar inside.

‘Something terrible has happened.’

Only then did the gatekeeper realize calamity had struck. His every instinct screamed to flee, but his son—helping the guild for months now—was still inside, so he could not.

“Guild Master!”

Stumbling, he forced his body to run as fast as he could, drenched in sweat from dread.

“G-Guild… Master…”

A grotesque sight spread before him. Lord Yongho, whom he had cried for, was pinned to the wall by an arrow through his throat, looking like a grim portrait. The twelve bodyguards who always protected him lay dead, struck in the forehead by iron bolts—their swords still sheathed, unable to draw even once.

The gatekeeper stood aghast, mouth agape, when a soft voice whispered by his ear.

“Be sure to relay what you saw today at Dhuta Mountain.”

The scholar chuckled at the gatekeeper’s expression, then vanished like the wind. The archer glanced back once, then disappeared from sight.

“Father!”

At that familiar voice, the gatekeeper came to his senses and saw his son running toward him. It seemed those doing chores inside had survived.

“The intruders who hurled me down and broke into Ilshimbang slaughtered the Guild Master and his entire family. Had I not feigned death, I could never have made it here alive.”

The gatekeeper darted glances at Jo Yang as he finished his tale. Much was embellished, but since no one else knew the details, it posed no problem.

“It was Wind Eye Yi Seomun and Boundary Lightning¹ Yu I-jeong of the Taiyi Divine Sect.”

Old Man Full Moon, Shin Yang-seon of the Eminent Mountain Sect, muttered in his hoarse voice. Though less known than Jeok-woo, the pair’s bizarre martial arts were infamous, and most disciples of the Five Great Mountain Swords guessed their identities at once.

Once again, a female disciple of the Zen Cloud Sword Sect sprang up and wailed.

“Those demonic bastards—let’s tear them all apart!”

Though coarse in speech, no one rebuked her. Everyone’s chest was filled with rage—especially the younger disciples of the Five Great Mountain Swords, whose boiling blood could scarcely be contained.

“You must calm yourselves.”

Jo Yang raised his hand high to quell the uproar, then spoke gently. Among Orthodox sects, there was none who did not respect him. All eyes turned to his lips.

“All this time our Five Great Mountain Swords have upheld propriety and righteousness. Though the Taiyi Divine Sect repeatedly committed heinous acts, we sought to reform them. Yet now we see that was a mistake.”

“Indeed.”

“Indeed.”

Voices across the hall joined as one. None disagreed that expelling the Taiyi Divine Sect from Gyeongguk was the true path of righteousness.

“Therefore, I intend to prepare for an all-out war against the Taiyi Divine Sect.”

As Jo Yang revealed his resolve, the sect leaders and elders of the Five Great Mountain Swords nodded vigorously. So Geum-jeong of the Zen Cloud Sword Sect could not contain her joy—she leapt up, offering cups of wine to those around her.

“From here, my sworn brother will handle the details.”

As Jo Yang bowed toward Bu Neungpa, the latter stepped forward once more. The disciples of the Five Great Mountain Swords cheered and clapped until Jo Yang disappeared among the elders.

“Brothers, though our Five Great Mountain Swords have long exchanged actively, we have never acted wholly as one. If we rush to subjugate the Demonic Cult, I fear we will fracture and scatter.”

For decades the Five Great Mountain Swords had held biennial martial tournaments to foster camaraderie. Yet with each sect’s unique character, misunderstandings often arose in the duels. Bu Neungpa’s concern was not his alone.

“In my opinion, we should elect a Martial Alliance Leader to unify commands.”

As Bu Neungpa looked toward the Yellow Stone Sect, the Old Man of Moon Mountain, Go Yu-saeng, stood as if awaiting the cue and proposed an alternative.

“Agreed. Since we are gathered, let us decide immediately.”

“Let’s do it.”

“Indeed.”

The boisterous Dragon Brothers of the Dragon Gate Sect each chirped their assent. Yet behind them, their sect leader Jo Sang-won sat scowling in silence.

“I know the most suitable person for this matter.”

A clear, refreshing voice rang out, turning all heads. It was So So-jeong, the deputy leader of the Zen Cloud Sword Sect, who had until now remained silent.

“I nominate Venerable Elder Jo Yang, Sect Leader of the Emptiness Dhuta Sect.”

At her words, most shouted and clapped. Jo Yang, startled at hearing his name, waved his hands in refusal, but the cheers only grew louder.

“No. I am by no means fit to shoulder such a great responsibility.”

At last Jo Yang stood, bowing deeply, and declined again and again.

“It would be better to choose someone more virtuous than my unworthy self.”

It was then.

“Then how about I do it?”

A deep, rough voice boomed through the hall. No one knew whence it came, and they only stared blankly at one another.

Shwik!

Again, a sound sliced the air, making everyone flinch.

Despite the distance, the arrow did not veer, striking squarely. It pierced the plaque inscribed with bold characters ‘五大山劍’ (Five Great Mountain Swords), embedding between the legs of the character 大, so from afar it looked like the character 太.

“Taiyi (太乙) Divine Sect?”

The first to come into their sight was the gaunt man with his eyes covered by black cloth. Beside him stood a young man in his twenties, a great dao slung over one shoulder, laughing boldly.

“Jeok-woo hyung-nim…”

Yun-seon’s heart pounded as if it would explode. He himself did not know if it was from joy or fear.

불속지객 (不速之客), Uninvited Guest:
A term referring to someone who arrives without being invited.