Chapter 165 : Jin Baek-cheon

“You don’t know who he is?”Elder Byeok’s face showed surprise at his subordinate’s report.

He had tried to obtain information on the old man through the Hubei branch leader of the Beggars’ Union, but there had been no results. There was only one reason the Beggars’ Union’s information network would fail.

‘A demonic master, perhaps.’

A former master who had deliberately erased his existence. Usually, such people were those who had committed great sins and disappeared into the shadows of the world.

Just recalling the pressure he had felt when confronting that old man earlier made it certain that he was a master counted among the greatest of all eras.

After a moment’s thought, Elder Byeok rose from his seat. If all information had been erased, then he only had to directly ask the man who was traveling with the old master.

As Elder Byeok headed for the stairs of the Geumun Inn, the guards flinched and hesitantly approached him.

Having once blocked Jin Seong-un and been knocked out cold together, their behavior was especially cautious now.

“Sir Elder, the innkeeper has ordered that no one be let in.”

One of the guards mustered his courage and spoke.

Elder Byeok’s brows arched crookedly.

“So what?”

“……”

The guard swallowed hard.

Just as Elder Byeok climbed a couple of steps—

“Why are you bullying innocent fellows again?”

Elder Byeok’s stride halted instantly.

At the same time, all the Beggars’ Union members inside the inn jumped up and spoke in unison.

“We greet the Bangju!”

Elder Byeok turned his head toward the entrance. A small, wiry old man stood there, smiling faintly.

The Beggar King, Hong Myeong-gae.

Leader of the Dragon Head Division of the Beggars’ Union, and the one man even the woman known as Mad Rooster was wary of.

A flicker of color crossed Elder Byeok’s face.

Normally, he would have fled upon seeing the Dragon Head Division Leader. She was notorious for always committing small and large misdeeds, and every time she faced the Bangju, she was beaten for them.

And sure enough, the Beggar King approached while swinging something that looked like a lustrous emerald-green staff.

It was the manner of someone intending to beat first and ask later.

Elder Byeok hurriedly cried out.

“Elder! Do you perhaps know this old man?”

He pointed a finger. The beggar who was suddenly singled out hastily held up a facial sketch.

The Beggar King stared at it.

“You drew this?”

“Yes.”

“It’s a mess.”

It looked like a scribble drawn by an eight-year-old child.

Yet the Beggar King studied the sketch intently.

“Why are you looking for this man?”

“I ran into him earlier, and he felt ominous.”

“You ran into him?”

The Beggar King’s expression grew deadly serious.

Tension spread among the beggars. Their Bangju was one of the supreme figures of the martial world.

For such a master to wear that expression meant the situation was truly grave.

“This man is still alive?”

“You know who he is?”

The Beggar King stepped closer to the sketch and tapped a point with the Beggars’ Union’s sacred treasure, the Tagubong staff.

It was a small scar beneath the old man’s chin.

“This scar is the one and only blemish of Shinsalgwi. He’s the man that assassin failed to kill.”

“S–Shinsalgwi?”

No one present failed to recognize that name.

“The Vice Leader of Deathshroud failed to kill him?”

Elder Byeok’s eyes widened as he recalled a story from more than twenty years ago.

He had heard that the young assassin once called the next King of Slaughter had returned in rags from the North Sea.

His opponent had been Jin Baek-cheon, the Great Elder who had contended with the eldest son of the Ice Palace Lord.

Though defeated and vanished afterward, even back then he had already been known as standing at the cusp of the peak level.

“If it’s truly him, then by now he may have reached the Five Qi Returning to Origin.”

The Beggar King spoke those words.

The Five Qi Returning to Origin (Ogi Chowon) was a term referring to Huajing, the stage of Transformation.

In the martial world, those who reached Huajing were called the Twenty-Seven Stars of the World.

Among all orthodox, unorthodox, and demonic factions combined, only twenty-seven such people were known.

Every one of them alone could stand against great sects or prestigious clans.

The Dragon Head Division Leader before them was one such person, as was the Murim Alliance Leader, and also the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

“Damn it.”

Elder Byeok hurriedly rushed out of the Geumun Inn.

He went straight into the Seong-un Inn and looked around frantically.

“Seong-un!”

No answer came.

Only Seomun Ak and Jang Gwang were staring at him with blank expressions.

“Where’s Jin Seong-un?”

“I don’t know.”

Seomun Ak answered while holding his breath—partly because Elder Byeok was terrifying, but mostly because of the foul stench.

Elder Byeok’s face contorted at the reply.

“Then find him!”

As soon as he stepped out onto the street, he infused his voice with qi and shouted.

“Find the Guest Dragon! Elder, please help as well!”

At once, all the Beggars’ Union members loitering in the Geumun Inn began to move.

Elder Byeok pushed his movement arts to the limit.

He had to find them before it was too late. Thankfully, the Dragon Head Division Leader was here, so if they managed to locate him, something might be done.

But if they had already met?

Elder Byeok bit his lip.

No matter how strong Jin Seong-un was, he could never withstand someone who had reached, or even approached, the Transformation Realm. He would undoubtedly die.

‘Damn it, if something happens to that brat, the White Cloud Sword will kill me.’

He knew well that Baek Un-geom, Hyeon-un, treated Jin Seong-un almost like a grandson. Poison Lord of the Tang Clan and Master Artisan Shin Mok felt the same.

If Jin Seong-un died right under her nose due to her lack of precaution, those three would certainly hold her accountable.

Above all, the biggest problem was that she herself had grown fond of Jin Seong-un.

‘Just stay alive, stay alive!’

Boom! Elder Byeok shattered the ground beneath her feet and shot off like a bolt.

Facing the massive old man, Jin Seong-un and Seo Yu-gyeom wore unusually tense expressions.

If he knows the Heaven-Slaying Dagger, he’s no ordinary man. Be careful…

Seo Yu-gyeom’s warning reached Jin Seong-un through voice transmission—

At that instant, a powerful gust slammed into them, and Jin Seong-un was sent flying.

Claang—!

The old man’s punch had struck Jin Seong-un square in the abdomen.

Seo Yu-gyeom’s pupils trembled.

For a brief moment, he had completely lost sight of the old man’s movement.

“…Still spry, I see.”

Seo Yu-gyeom muttered as he wrapped his sword qi around the Heaven-Slaying Dagger. At the same time, a massive energy surged from behind him.

Jin Seong-un, who had been smashed into a wall of the dungeon, came charging forth again, his iron sword wreathed in crimson flames.

Jin Baek-cheon’s eyes gleamed with surprise.

‘Well, well. He survived that?’

It had been a long time since he encountered such a case.

Jin Baek-cheon let out a faint chuckle, as if he had stumbled upon an unexpectedly amusing situation.

Jin Seong-un swung his flame-wreathed iron sword.

The Fire Dragon Escape Sword (Hwayong Dungeom).

Its blazing fury lit up the dungeon.

Crash!

The old man blocked the strike with his forearm.

It was Jin Seong-un’s first time experiencing his sword strike stopped by defensive qi, but he paid it no mind and swung again.

Bang, bang, bang, bang—!

A chain of explosions resounded one after another.

Jin Seong-un kept pressing the old man, who seemed only desperate to block while continuously retreating.

Jin Seong-un abruptly increased the speed of his sword strikes, aiming to pierce the old man’s heart in one stroke.

He feinted, forcing the old man to extend his arm, and in that instant thrust his sword straight through the opening.

Craack—!

Instead of the feel of flesh, a hard sensation vibrated at the tip of his blade.

When the thick dust settled, the source became clear.

“Ice?”

A thick layer of ice had formed over the old man’s chest. Jin Seong-un’s sword strike had been stopped cold, unable to pierce through.

Then it happened.

Craackle—! With a strange sound, Jin Seong-un’s sword began to freeze white from the tip.

A sharp sense of danger stiffened the back of his neck.

“Dodge!”

Seo Yu-gyeom, being the type to listen to Jin Seong-un, instantly halted his charge and retreated.

But the old man was half a breath faster.

Claang—!

Centered on where the old man stepped, a blinding white explosion erupted. A chilling frost spread through the entire dungeon, biting into bone.

Abandoning his sword, Jin Seong-un thrust both hands forward, releasing his inner strength to counter.

The explosion finally subsided.

The entire dungeon was now frozen white, like a snowfield.

Jin Seong-un glanced briefly at his frozen fingertips, then summoned his qi to melt the ice.

His fingers had turned an eerie blue.

After clenching and opening his fist, he muttered,

“Ice Arts?”

Jin Baek-cheon burst into boisterous laughter.

There was deep amusement glinting in his eyes.

“It’s been decades since I’ve used Ice Arts, so I’m a bit rusty. But to think my opponents now would be mere youngsters.”

Most martial artists would have felt fear and astonishment at Jin Seong-un’s skills, since his power was abnormal for his age.

But Jin Baek-cheon felt joy. It was the sentiment only one overwhelmingly superior could afford.

Whoosh—!

Jin Baek-cheon’s massive body vanished in an instant.

A moment later, his frost-laden fist slammed into Jin Seong-un’s chest.

Craash—!

Jin Seong-un was blown back again, shattering a wall.

A numbing chill seized his entire body, as though his organs were freezing solid.

Seo Yu-gyeom suddenly swung the Heaven-Slaying Dagger, his attack silent and without warning.

The Silent Slaughter Saber (Jeoksaldo), the assassination technique he had inherited from the Vice Leader. True to its name, it was a saber art meant to kill swiftly and quietly.

The dagger slashed upward toward Jin Baek-cheon’s face.

Clack.

Jin Baek-cheon blocked it effortlessly.

Any other master would only have noticed after being stabbed, but to Jin Baek-cheon, it was as transparent as a child’s trick.

Seo Yu-gyeom, his wrist caught, found himself staring at the scar on Jin Baek-cheon’s chin.

Had the slash landed, it would have carved a line identical to that scar.

Only then did Seo Yu-gyeom realize his identity.

The man who recognized the Heaven-Slaying Dagger at a glance bore the scar left by the Silent Slaughter Saber.

‘Jin Baek-cheon.’

The former Great Elder of the Northern Sea Ice Palace.

He recalled that his master, the Vice Leader, had said this man was his only failure.

It had been decades ago, so naturally he believed the man long dead.

Especially since Jin Baek-cheon had once vied for the Ice Palace Lord’s seat and lost; the victor surely would not have spared him.

Jin Baek-cheon gazed at Seo Yu-gyeom and the Heaven-Slaying Dagger, then asked in a flat tone,

“What relation do you have with Shinsalgwi?”

“You know my master?”

Seo Yu-gyeom feigned ignorance.

“Of course I do.”

“Come now, don’t joke. Most who knew my master are already dead and in the afterlife.”

He spoke provocatively, stalling for time until Jin Seong-un could rise again.

But Jin Baek-cheon, seeing through his ploy, only laughed heartily.

“When the chance comes, I’ll send your master to the afterlife as well. You can ask him then.”

Craash—!

Another wave of qi burst forth, and Seo Yu-gyeom was smashed into the wall beside Jin Seong-un.

Coughing up dark blood, Seo Yu-gyeom whispered faintly enough only Jin Seong-un could hear.

“Hey, get up. Or we’re both dead.”

“……”

No answer came.

Seo Yu-gyeom’s expression grew grim.

Could he have died?

He tried to push the thought away, but unease gnawed at him.

Jin Baek-cheon strode forward.

He looked down at the two helpless figures and said,

“A waste to kill you.”

“Then let’s make peace.”

“Too late. You’ve seen too much.”

“…Are you mocking me?”

At that moment, frost covered both of Jin Baek-cheon’s hands.

Schhk—!

Suddenly, a sword blade pierced through his chest.

Seo Yu-gyeom’s eyes widened.

Jin Baek-cheon glanced down at the blade sticking out of his chest, then let out a hollow laugh.

He gripped the sword that had stabbed him from behind and pulled it out.

Blood dripped heavily onto the ground.

Seeing this, Jin Seong-un clicked his tongue in regret.

“Tch, you dodged.”

He had intended to pierce the heart, but Jin Baek-cheon had twisted his body at the last instant.

Jin Baek-cheon kept chuckling.

“No matter how dulled my senses are…”

This entire situation was absurd to him.

He had never imagined a boy barely past twenty could attempt such a feat.

“Even if it’s just an imitation, how can someone your age wield Sword Levitation?”

Sword Levitation was a technique signifying the Transformation Realm.

Crude and imperfect though it was, this youngster had clearly glimpsed that realm.

Where had such a monster appeared from?

In that moment, Jin Baek-cheon resolved that regardless of Ha Joo-yeon’s request, the Guest Dragon had to die here.

He casually tossed aside the sword he had pulled out.

The iron sword hovered in midair, then rose, floating under his control.

Unlike Jin Seong-un’s imitation, this was the true Sword Levitation Technique.

Seo Yu-gyeom’s eyes shook at the sight.

Screeech—!

The frost-covered blade shot toward Jin Seong-un. Its speed surpassed arrows, and its might rivaled siege weapons.

‘No!’

Seo Yu-gyeom forced out all his remaining strength, thrusting out his hand. He knew it wasn’t enough to stop Sword Levitation, but he had to do something.

A chilling sensation tingled at his fingertips, and instinctively he drew his hand back.

At the same time, a sinister crimson aura spread across the frozen dungeon floor.