Chapter 36 — Ominous Movements
As soon as I returned to the surface, I pressed the metal mechanism hidden beneath the wall of the Abandoned Martial Hall.
With a soft click, the split floor panels slid back into place.
The path leading underground disappeared, and the Abandoned Martial Hall returned to its original appearance.
“Perfectly hidden.”
I had no intention of revealing the existence of the underground space to anyone.
‘Things in the sect are already… quite chaotic right now.’
It was true that the Kunlun Sect had quickly regained stability after Baek Cheong-woo’s death.
However, the representative of the Orthodox Alliance delegation had died within Kunlun’s territory.
And from a horrific poison, no less.
Although the conclusion was that it was due to his own carelessness,
Given the suspicious nature of the Orthodox Alliance, it was obvious they would keep a close eye on Kunlun for some time.
If news of the discovery of ‘Azure Cloud True Person’s secret underground space’ reached their ears in this situation?
‘It would only cause unnecessary commotion.’
The Kunlun Sect, which had barely settled down, could fall into chaos again.
And above all else…
— That darkness was a colossal evil that twisted the very principles of the world, a scale so vast it could not be measured.
The words engraved on the stone wall continued to linger in my mind.
The ‘existence that distorts the principles of heaven and earth’ that Azure Cloud True Person had spoken of.
I had a strong feeling that I should keep it secret until its true identity became clear.
That wasn’t the only reason.
— The next Flow you must seek is Hua (華)…
The ‘Flow’ containing the pinnacle of martial enlightenment left behind by Azure Cloud True Person.
I had only glimpsed a fragment of that Flow, yet my martial arts had already advanced to a new realm.
Such an incredible opportunity… and there wasn’t just one, but several.
‘If I can find all of those ‘Flows’…’
The result would be tremendous.
The absolute realm demonstrated by Azure Cloud True Person’s intent incarnation…
Formless Sword.
Perhaps I could even reach that realm.
There was no reason to share such vital information with others.
‘I need to become stronger. Only then will the path to revenge against Moyong Cheonhwi open.’
The final enemy I ultimately had to defeat—Moyong Cheonhwi.
The unrivaled expert under heaven, called the one and only supreme being in the world.
No, perhaps the strongest of all time.
To fight such a colossal enemy, I needed to become stronger.
I had to possess even greater power.
Only then could I complete my revenge.
‘I must obtain power that no one can challenge. Without fail.’
***
The next day, I woke up much earlier than usual, at dawn.
The first thing that came to mind the moment I opened my eyes was:
‘…The Flow I saw yesterday.’
That final, pinnacle strike left behind by Azure Cloud True Person.
The formless line that sliced through the air from his fingertip.
That final trace lingered in my mind like a quiet afterimage that refused to fade.
‘If it’s now… I might be able to see it a little deeper.’
I got up and left the Abandoned Martial Hall archive.
Normally, I would have sensed Jin Gwang-ung’s presence somewhere in the hall, but today there was none.
He must have gone out somewhere early in the morning.
Since he was always appearing and disappearing unpredictably, I didn’t think much of it.
‘Actually, this is perfect. I can train quietly.’
I headed straight to the training ground right next to the Abandoned Martial Hall archive.
It was a place once used by those who researched martial arts in the Abandoned Martial Hall.
“Huu.”
Upon arriving at the training ground, I closed my eyes for a moment and steadied my breathing.
Then I recalled the ‘Flow’ I had seen yesterday—or more precisely, the one imprinted in my body and mind.
My feet naturally moved forward.
***
Shhh…
It wasn’t a forced movement.
It flowed as naturally as water.
I instinctively knew.
My footwork was perfectly matching the ‘Flow’ of the footwork that the intent incarnation had demonstrated.
Following that natural current, I raised the sword in my hand.
‘Here… like this.’
The tip of the sword drew a thin line through the air.
Slowly, yet with a clear trajectory.
I then shifted my feet and twisted my wrist without breaking the flow of a single breath.
The sword tip smoothly continued to the next line, as if drawn by something.
Swish—
Ssssh—
Two faint, blurry lines appeared in the air, then a third, gradually forming a single Flow.
‘A sword path is forming.’
The lines of the Flow were still faint and thin,
But their trajectory closely resembled the final strike of Azure Cloud True Person that I had witnessed yesterday.
I steadied my breathing and tried to continue into the second strike.
However,
The strike did not connect.
Right as the next line was about to continue, a tiny crack appeared in a trivial place.
“…It broke.”
My footwork had shifted slightly, and that misalignment shattered the ‘Flow.’
The line extending from the sword tip immediately scattered and dispersed into the air.
The moment my concentration broke, my ‘Flow’ could no longer advance.
The flawless ‘Flow’ demonstrated by Azure Cloud True Person’s intent incarnation.
Reaching that Flow was still…
“…Far away.”
A wave of disappointment washed over me, but I quickly suppressed it.
‘That’s right. There’s no need to rush. This is enough for now.’
Only a single day had passed.
I still had plenty of time and opportunities ahead.
If I repeated it a little more, if I put in a little more effort,
It felt like I could fully connect that final strike that had remained just out of reach.
“One more time.”
I corrected my stance and took a step forward.
Just as I was about to resume the lost martial Flow—
Bang! Bang! Bang!
A rough knocking sound came from the main gate of the Abandoned Martial Hall, as if someone was pounding on it desperately.
“Lord Mujin! Are you there?! It’s urgent!”
A frantic shout shattered the quiet dawn silence.
***
‘Who could it be?’
The Abandoned Martial Hall was located deep in the mountains, far from the central area of the Kunlun Sect.
Due to its remote location and the nature of the hall, Kunlun disciples rarely visited this place.
Yet someone was looking for me at this early hour of dawn… and with such a desperate voice?
I immediately left the training ground and headed toward the main gate of the Abandoned Martial Hall.
When I opened the door, a young Taoist was standing there, breathing heavily.
His entire body was soaked in sweat, clearly indicating he had run here at full speed.
“Haa… haa… L-Lord Mujin…! Thank goodness you’re here…!”
He bowed deeply, panting as if he were about to collapse.
Since winning the Great Assembly of Elders, my status within the Kunlun Sect had risen higher than ever.
Moreover, as the direct disciple of First Generation Elder Jin Gwang-ung, very few people were of higher rank than me.
Anyone below the level of a hall master had no choice but to speak to me with respect.
I looked down at him for a moment and asked in a naturally authoritative tone,
“Catch your breath first. What’s going on? Why are you looking for me so urgently at dawn? You even dared to interrupt my training.”
The Taoist answered in a trembling voice, like a low-ranking disciple facing punishment.
“T-That is… An order has come to bring you back to the main sect immediately, Lord Mujin…!”
“Bring me back?”
I slightly furrowed my brows and asked again.
“Who? Who gave that order?”
Faced with my questioning, the Taoist immediately answered.
“It is the Sect Leader. He has urgently summoned you to the Sect Leader’s Hall!”
“The Sect Leader…?”
“Yes. He ordered you to return as quickly as possible.”
The Sect Leader was urgently summoning me at dawn?
I couldn’t sense what the reason might be.
But one thing was clear.
Something unusual was happening in Kunlun right now.
I asked no further questions.
If the Sect Leader was calling for me this urgently, it had to be something serious.
I took a short breath and spoke to the young Taoist.
“Understood. I’ll head to the Sect Leader’s Hall immediately.”
I immediately turned and activated the Void Step.
Cutting through the cold dawn wind, I raced forward.
The world, still shrouded in darkness before sunrise, only amplified the thick sense of foreboding.
…Something bad had happened.
An inexplicable anxiety spread from the bottom of my chest.
To shake off the feeling, I increased my speed even further.
***
I continuously used my movement technique, piercing through the cold dawn air.
After running for a while, I finally arrived at the Sect Leader’s Hall.
Four Taoists stood guard in front of the hall.
Unlike their usual relaxed demeanor, their faces were filled with visible tension.
As I approached,
“Lord Mujin, you’ve arrived!”
All four bowed almost simultaneously.
Their attitude toward me carried genuine respect and courtesy.
It was a reaction I could never have imagined back when I was treated as a mere laborer in the Abandoned Martial Hall.
“Please enter. The Sect Leader is already waiting for you inside.”
I gave a light nod.
The Taoists bowed once more.
They showed impeccable manners, as if greeting a First Generation Elder.
Feeling a quiet sense of satisfaction, I crossed the threshold of the Sect Leader’s Hall.
As I entered, the familiar scent of old wood greeted me.
However, a heavy silence unlike anything before enveloped the interior.
And—
‘…Jin Gwang-ung?’
Inside the hall, illuminated by lantern light, Jin Gwang-ung stood with his arms crossed.
‘So that’s where he was when I couldn’t sense him this morning.’
Jin Gwang-ung turned his head.
“Hmph, so you were called too. What the hell is going on that they’re dragging people around at this ungodly hour? I couldn’t even sleep properly.”
Though he grumbled, I didn’t miss the slight tension in his tightly pressed lips.
It was unlike him… he was clearly on edge.
It seemed he had also noticed that something serious was unfolding.
Just as I was about to reply to Jin Gwang-ung—
Creak.
The side door at the back of the Sect Leader’s Hall slowly opened.
Cheon Gwang-cheon, the Sect Leader, emerged between the flickering lantern lights.
The gentle smile he usually wore was nowhere to be seen.
A deep, dark shadow had settled on his face, as if something had weighed heavily on his mind all night.
With every step the Sect Leader took, the air inside the hall seemed to grow colder.
I bowed respectfully toward him.
“You’ve arrived. Both of you.”
Even those simple words carried a heavy tone.
Something was definitely wrong.
“What exactly is going on? Calling us at this hour of the morning.”
Jin Gwang-ung finally couldn’t hold back and spoke first.
“……”
Sect Leader Cheon Gwang-cheon did not answer immediately.
He simply looked back and forth between me and Jin Gwang-ung.
After a moment, a deep and heavy sigh escaped from the Sect Leader’s lips.
“Huu…”
The unknown anxiety only grew stronger.
And finally—
The Sect Leader’s voice came out with great difficulty.
“…It seems… movements from the Heavenly Demon Cult have been detected.”
The moment those words fell, the entire Sect Leader’s Hall froze in complete silence.
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