The Legend of the Northern Blade

"How did you know?" Jo Un-Kyung asked in a low, foreboding voice, a faint crimson glow flickering endlessly in his eyes like ripples on still water.

The air in the prison cell began to vibrate at his words.

Jin Mu-Won frowned at the ominous red gaze that appeared to cut right through him. "I went to Mount Darksword," he replied.

"As I expected." Jo Un-Kyung hardly looked surprised, but the malice in his face showed no sign of fading. "Well, this is troublesome."

"What do you mean?"

"The fact that I learned the Demonic Cross of Blood was supposed to be a secret."

"Did Uncle Jo not know about it?"

"He probably guessed."

"When did you start practicing it?"

"Secrets are meant to be kept. Did you think I'd just tell you everything?"

"Did you learn it back when you were in the Northern Army?"

"Tsk! I told you it's a secret."

CRACKLE!

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Suddenly, static crackled in the space between Jo Un-Kyung and Jin Mu-Won from their colliding auras, and they rocked back at the same time.

The air inside the cell throbbed and the iron bars vibrated with a low hum. Although there were thick bars between the two men, it mattered little to martial masters like them.

The red qi wrapped around Jo Un-Kyung's body slithered forward like snakes, trying to burrow into Jin Mu-Won's pores, but the instant it touched Jin Mu-Won's body, it dispersed.

"Not bad." Jo Un-Kyung smirked.

From this exchange, he could tell that Jin Mu-Won's martial arts prowess was extraordinary. His defense was hard as a fortress, solid as a mountain, yet his presence was faint and subtle, almost impossible to sense unless one tested him directly.

It seemed that Jin Mu-Won, who he was meeting for the first time in ten years, had grown from a mere sapling into a great tree.

"I'm glad I found you before you could grow any more. Still, don't you think you revealed yourself too hastily? That will be your downfall."

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The eyes of the entire jianghu were now focused on Jin Mu-Won, but that wasn't a good thing.

After all, letting every martial artist in the world see his skills was like standing naked under a winter sky. People would note the strengths and weaknesses of his martial arts and scrutinize every minor detail of his relationships.

Hidden enemies were frightening, but once your trump cards were revealed, you gave your enemies everything they needed to destroy you.

If Jin Mu-Won could take on a hundred first-class masters, they would send a hundred and ten. If he could defeat two hundred, they would send two hundred and ten.

Whether it was Heaven's Summit or the major powers in the jianghu, they both had the resources to do exactly that.

This was the main reason why Jo Un-Kyung kept the Demonic Cross of Blood a secret.

"I'm glad too," Jin Mu-Won suddenly said.

"About what?"

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"For confirming that you learned the Demonic Cross of Blood."

Jo Un-Kyung scoffed. There was no guilt or worry on his face. "Hmph! What does it matter? The Demonic Cross of Blood is just a method to gain power. What's wrong with a martial artist dreaming of becoming stronger?"

"Nothing. That's why I'm glad. I don't have to feel sorry toward you anymore."

Jin Mu-Won had felt a pang of guilt when he'd first saw Jo Un-Kyung trailing behind Yeon Cheon-Hwa. No matter the circumstances, it was he who had taken Jo Cheon-Woo's life. After confirming that Jo Un-Kyung was a demonic practitioner, though, he no longer felt any reservations.

All that was left was to clash with him with all his might.

Sensing Jin Mu-Won's thoughts, Snow Flower wailed ferociously, sending a numb sting through her master's hand as she released her cursed energy.

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In response, Jo Un-Kyung's aura ballooned like a rolling snowball.

Sparks crackled between them. They hadn't thrown a single punch or moved a step, yet a battle more ferocious than any other duel was taking place.

They gauged each other's strength, grasping their weaknesses. The moment they found an opening, they would move, and the iron bars between them would snap like twigs.

"Are you not finished yet?" Yeon Cheon-Hwa yelled impatiently from outside, disrupting the confrontation.

Jo Un-Kyung slowly reined in his aura and smiled. "It seems like now isn't the right time."

The evil air receded from his face, and he reverted to his plain and ordinary self.

Jin Mu-Won also calmed Snow Flower down.

Not yet. Be patient, Snow Flower.

Cutting through the bars and taking on Jo Un-Kyung wouldn't be hard, but that would ruin Ha Jin-Wol's plan.

For now, he had to wait.

I swear, I will avenge your tribe. Just hold on a little longer.

Snow Flower's wail quieted, though a deep ache throbbed in Jin Mu-Won's heart.

Turning to leave, Jo Un-Kyung said, "Let's meet again, brother."

"I won't see you out."

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Jin Mu-Won stared blankly at Jo Un-Kyung's receding figure.

So he's part of the darkness too, huh?

"Fufu! Wow, this burns so nicely," Ha Jin-Wol laughed heartily as he stared at the blazing bonfire.

He tossed two more pieces of firewood into the flame, stirring the flames even higher.

Tang Gi-Mun walked up to him. "Why the fire? It's warm out today."

"Fufu! I just have a lot of things to burn."

"Huh?" Tang Gi-Mun squinted at the fire, only to see bits of paper mixed with the wood. "What are you burning?"

"Just some odds and ends. Don't worry about it."

"Really?"

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Tang Gi-Mun looked unconvinced, but he didn't ask any more questions. Sitting down next to Ha Jin-Wol, he asked, "How much longer are you going to leave Mu-Won in that cold prison cell? Shouldn't you do something?"

"Fufu! Did Mu-Won ask you for help?"

"Of course not. I was just…"

"Frustrated? That's normal. Everything is a mess right now."

"Yes, you're right. There are wild dogs barking everywhere."

Tang Gi-Mun sighed. As Ha Jin-Wol said, there was an uproar going on in Heaven's Summit right now. Some people insisted on punishing Jin Mu-Won, others defended him, and still others stood on the sidelines, weighing their options.

All the problems that had been buried were rising to the surface at once.

Ha Jin-Wol giggled, "Fufu! Then we need a good stick."

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"A stick?"

"Don't we need one to beat up all the mad dogs?" Ha Jin-Wol playfully swung a burning piece of firewood.

Tang Gi-Mun shook his head in disbelief. Heaven's Summit was in turmoil over Jin Mu-Won, yet Jin Mu-Won and Ha Jin-Wol seemed strangely relaxed. He couldn't understand them, and it made him feel uneasy.

Just then, Myeong Ryu-San strolled through the manor gates with a lazy gait and a cocky swagger.

Ha Jin-Wol frowned. "You sure are roaming around a lot. Must be fun. Well? Was the honey1 sweet?"

"W-What honey…? I just went to get some fresh air."

"You're stammering, which makes it even more suspicious."

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"Hey! Can't I even go out as I please?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Ha Jin-Wol gave Myeong Ryu-San a knowing grin.

Feeling embarrassed, Myeong Ryu-San quickly turned to Tang Gi-Mun. "Isn't it time to take the poison?"

"I think so."

"Then let's go. I'm starving." Myeong Ryu-San grabbed Tang Gi-Mun's hand and tugged, but Tang Gi-Mun looked at him questioningly.

Ha Jin-Wol waved at Tang Gi-Mun as if telling him to go. "Fufu! What a mess. Growls over here, more growls over there."

He tossed more firewood into the flame. The flames blazed higher, casting deep shadows across his face.

…How long did he watch it?

"Hmm?" Ha Jin-Wol looked up to see a middle-aged man he didn't recognize staring down at him.

He blinked in surprise. He'd never seen this man before.

The middle-aged man blinked too, as though amused.

"You're finally here," Ha Jin-Wol said, smirking and straightening his posture.

The man snorted. "Hmph! What are you talking about?"

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"You're Cheong-In, right?"

"How did you know?"

"This is the Tang Clan estate. No one can enter without permission. If there's a new face here, who else could it be?"

"Keuk!"

The man was indeed Cheong-In, just as Ha Jin-Wol said. He had parted ways with them in Chengdu, and now he had reappeared in Wuhan.

"You've caused quite a stir."

"Quite? Ah, you must talking about Mu-Won's imprisonment. Fufu!"

"The Black Moon has been received many requests because of that."

"That's what I intended."

"I expected as much, but do you realize how dangerous things could get if this spirals out of control?"

"Of course I do. If we want to shake the world, we have to do at least this much, right?"

Cheong-In stared at Ha Jin-Wol as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing.

Just how grand is his plan?

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Back in Black Moon, Jin Mu-Won's imprisonment was a hot topic. Many tried to figure out his motives along with Ha Jin-Wol's. Some suspected that Jin Mu-Won wanted to strengthen his position in Heaven's Summit.

Cheong-In had scoffed at all that.

What nonsense. If they saw these two in person, they wouldn't say such things.

There were truths a person could only learn by meeting someone face to face, and experiences that taught lessons that no words could convey.

Jin Mu-Won and Ha Jin-Wol were such people. Those who had never met them might underestimate them, but Cheong-In, who had traveled with them, understood how they defied the norm.

Ha Jin-Wol grinned cryptically. "You came at the perfect time. I was just looking for someone to do my bidding."

"Hmph! Why would I do your bidding?"

"Fufu! Because what's about to happen will be more fun than anything you've ever experienced."

Ha Jin-Wol poked at the fire with a branch, scattering sparks around him and Cheong-In.

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1. Honey: As in prostitute.