Episode 85 – Gift
The First Elder of the Sado Clan went pale and collapsed onto the spot. The Sixth Elder, who could be called his closest confidant, was also flustered.
“S-Sado Hwan... defeated Gwak Riyeon?”
“That’s not quite it. It was a single exchange, and Sado Hwan also landed a blow but took severe internal injuries. It’s not something we should be overly worried about, is it?”
“Nonsense!”
The First Elder jabbed his finger as he spoke.
“Gwak Riyeon’s martial arts are real. I’ve seen them with my own eyes! With just a casual strike, his fist wind swept away a dozen Taoists whose fighting spirit matched that of tigers!”
“Are you referring to what happened fifteen years ago?”
“That’s right. Even back then, he had already reached the Transcendent Peak, and now he must be even stronger... Yet you’re telling me that Sado Hwan, who only recently entered the Transcendent Peak, dealt him a serious injury? It’d be more believable if a dog bit a tiger to death.”
Not all Transcendent Peak-level martial artists are the same.
Once one achieves Three Flowers Gather at the Summit and draws out inner qi, they are said to be at the Transcendent Peak. But just because the starting point is the same doesn’t mean everyone stands at the same level.
“Then what should we do, First Elder?”
“Gguuhh...”
After groaning in distress for a moment, the First Elder finally opened his mouth.
“Let’s try sending a message.”
The First Elder began writing a letter.
“Do not open the letter out of curiosity. The Chu Clan is a suspicious bunch.”
“Of course, sir.”
“Off you go, then.”
Thumping his chest as if to say ‘Leave it to me,’ the Sixth Elder received the letter.
“I’ll deliver the message and report back upon my return.”
The First Elder simply nodded in silence. As the Sixth Elder departed, the candle atop the table wavered dangerously in his wake.
***
There are days like this.
You open your eyes, and everything feels strangely peaceful. The sunlight pours in warmly, and the air is filled with a pleasant quiet. The kind of day where you’ve slept deeply and feel refreshed...
“Crap, I’m late!”
I frantically reached toward my bedside. I had to find my phone and check the time—what time is it...?
[What are you doing.]
“Ugh.”
[It’s already early oshi (11 a.m.–1 p.m.), so yes, you’re late. For a martial artist, this is the time when one would have finished a round of training already.]
At the voice that echoed in my head, I froze mid-motion in an awkward posture.
[To have my body in such a disgraceful position...]
Skybreaker Sword sighed. I sighed too, though for a different reason.
“Damn it.”
Honestly, I wish I had just overslept. Maybe I’d get chewed out by a boss, but a scolding won’t kill me.
If I really went back to my original world, I feel like I could do anything now. Even with a sword flying past my face, I don’t flinch anymore. With this kind of guts and nerve, wouldn’t I succeed at anything?
Maybe I should switch careers... to a stuntman?
I’m confident I could pull off any stunt. Even if someone fired a gun right in front of me, I wouldn’t flinch. Probably.
[So, what do you plan to do now?]
“I need to call another Clan Head meeting. Not the regular one, an emergency session.”
There were less than two weeks left until the Six Families Gathering. Once that began, I’d have to leave the clan for several days. Unlike the trip to the Iron Mountain Cheol Clan, I wouldn’t be coming and going—I’d have to enter an isolated island entirely.
‘If I hadn’t formed alliances with the Cheol Clan and Gwak Clan, I might’ve been in serious trouble.’
Entering a secluded island with no backing would’ve been far more dangerous.
[You intend to secure internal order in the Sado Clan?]
“Yeah. I’ve got the official seals from the Cheol and Gwak Clans. Even the Elder faction can’t say a thing now.”
[But what if you’re right, and the Elder faction is being backed by the Sun and Moon Chu Clan?]
“Then we just respond accordingly. It’s not like the Chu Clan is fully serious about anything right now anyway.”
[You’re saying... this mess isn’t serious to them?]
I nodded.
“Of course. You know what kind of people the Chu Clan are.”
They’re like a bunch of Sado Gwangs—around 0.7 Sado Gwang each. Since when has Sado Gwang ever acted without calculating several moves ahead?
“This is just a test. They’re gauging the new Clan Head of the Sado Clan. Is the rumor of Transcendent Peak true or false? How strong is his hold on the clan? That sort of thing.”
[And you’ve passed all their tests, have you?]
“Well, I was lucky.”
[Not just luck.]
Skybreaker Sword continued.
[That’s your skill.]
Whoa. What’s gotten into him, suddenly praising me?
[Even cunning is a form of skill.]
There it is. As expected, Skybreaker Sword wouldn’t just hand me compliments.
[Now that I’ve touched upon a level of enlightenment, even if only as a sword, I understand. A true martial artist begins with understanding themselves completely. Don’t write it off as luck. Your real ability lies in using that inexplicable information you always seem to have.]
Listening to Skybreaker Sword’s words, I realized he had a point. Most of the things I brushed off as ‘luck’ were actually situations I had prepared for in advance.
So what he’s really trying to say is, no matter how desperate the situation, stay clear-headed and do what you can. The answer is always inside you.
[So don’t get cocky and rely on luck.]
“Yes, yes, of course.”
I rang the small bell on the door. Because of the secrets I shared with Skybreaker Sword and the threat of possible assassination, I kept my attendants at a distance. When I needed something, I simply rang the bell.
The cult was full of eccentrics anyway, so no one complained about ‘Clan Head dignity’ or anything like that. Besides the Elder faction, my position within the clan was so dominant that no one dared object.
“Clan Head, did you call for me?”
The attendant appeared instantly. Even the attendants and maids here were masters in their own right. I didn’t know his name, but he was a bronze-skinned man in his mid-thirties.
“Summon an emergency Clan Head meeting. Inform them to gather at the main hall before the end of oshi.”
“Understood.”
With midday fast approaching, it was cutting it close, but martial artists tend to move faster than even modern Koreans, so it would be enough.
“Also, prepare a light meal.”
“Please, Clan Head. There is no need for requests—this is my duty. I would feel ashamed if you phrased it as a favor.”
Using the Poison Demon’s utensil, I checked each dish for poison. After finishing the meal, I headed for the main hall.
***
The atmosphere in the main hall was split.
The (newly-risen) Clan Head faction wore smug expressions, while the Elder faction looked thoroughly depressed.
‘What a joke...’
Even if the Elder faction had tried some scheme, I didn’t understand why the Clan Head faction was acting so proud. It’s not like they’d actually done anything.
It’s not like they’re close to me either.
My true right-hand—Saweol, or rather, Seong Hwayeon, vice-captain of the Black Shadow Corps—was probably somewhere around...
[Hanging atop the fifth pillar.]
She was hiding atop the fifth pillar. Although his mastery of Three Flowers Gather at the Summit was incomplete, and he now wielded a Skybreaker Sword perfected by Cheol Muguk, the sword’s sensing ability had grown sharp enough to detect even Transcendent Peak-level stealth.
At any rate, my real confidant is—
[Why she’s hanging upside down with arms crossed is beyond me. Is she imitating a Toei ninja? Or does she think she’s a bat?]
No, forget it. I’ll just consider myself to have no close aides.
Anyway, with all the elders gathered, I took my seat at the Clan Head’s chair. But one seat was noticeably empty.
“The Sixth Elder?”
“He hasn’t arrived yet.”
The First Elder replied in his place.
“He’s always been slow and sluggish, so he’s likely just running late.”
In truth, even in Return of the Murim, the Sixth Elder was practically a background character. Among the six elders, he had the weakest skills and least influence. The First Elder had merely given him the title to use him like a puppet.
Clicking my tongue once, I began to speak.
“Everyone likely knows why I’ve summoned this emergency meeting.”
I tossed a bundle onto the table. Inside were two scrolls, each stamped with impressively ornate seals, like pieces of art.
“These are the seals of the Iron Mountain Cheol Clan and the Nine Yin Gwak Clan.”
“Ooh, those are...!”
“Kuheum...?”
The reactions split sharply on either side of me. The Clan Head faction to my right beamed with excitement, while the Elder faction to my left looked like they’d swallowed manure.
“I obtained seals from two of the Six Demon Families. In addition, we will receive three treasure artifacts every month from the Cheol Clan and have first priority in acquiring their weapons. The Gwak Clan’s heir will also become my disciple.”
I swept my gaze across the Elder faction.
“Which Clan Head in Sado history ever achieved this?”
No one answered. Or rather, no one could.
The Sado Clan had only joined the Six Demon Families during Sado Muyeol’s time, but that wasn’t due to his own ability. It was all orchestrated by Sado Gwang from behind the scenes, and every elder-level figure here knew that.
“I make this declaration now. If you have any dissatisfaction with my leadership—if you cannot follow me—”
I raised my hand. Skybreaker Sword rose silently into the air.
“You have two choices. Leave the Sado Clan... or challenge me.”
I could see the elders gulping. The buildup until now had created enough pressure that even without effort, they were all feeling the intimidation.
“But if you follow me, you will enjoy a glory never before seen in this clan’s history.”
“Loyal—!”
Though they likely each had their own agendas, the elders answered in unison.
“Are there any matters to propose?”
Of course not. My authority had surged beyond challenge.
“Then today’s meeting is hereby—”
Just as I was about to declare the meeting adjourned—
Boom!
With a thunderous crash, the main hall’s door burst open.
“The Sixth Elder?”
It was the Sixth Elder who appeared.
But—
[Something’s wrong.]
“I can tell without you saying it.”
His hair was disheveled, and his eyes were clouded with a white haze. He looked like a madman. The fact that he’d even made it here in that condition was bizarre.
“Sado... Hwan...”
He staggered toward me like a drunk.
I didn’t feel a strong sense of danger.
“Sixth Elder! How dare you address the Clan Head so rudely!”
“What disgrace is this?!”
Others had already stepped forward. Besides, the Sixth Elder had only barely reached the Peak Realm. That might sound impressive, but for someone of elder rank, it was inadequate.
If needed, I could just summon Saweol. At this distance, she could dash over instantly, even without using Spatial Shift.
Despite the elders trying to stop him, the Sixth Elder didn’t halt his steps. Sensing something was wrong, several elders began placing their hands on their weapons.
“Sado... Hwan!”
Suddenly, his eyes rolled back—and he drew the sword at his waist.
Then, with a wide swing—
Puhk!
“Traitor... gift...”
He stabbed his own heart.
And with that, the Sixth Elder collapsed.