Myst, Might, Mayhem

Chapter 366 – Sword (5)

Master Ou Cheonmu’s right arm, still twitching as if sensation remained, spurting blood.

-Crack crack crack!

The ground where the right arm had fallen was split in several directions as if struck by a sharp sword.

His right arm, which had reached the realm of Oneness with the Sword and the Way of the Sword, Extreme of the Sword through long years of training, was like a sword itself.

This alone showed how high a realm he had reached in swordsmanship, but even more shocking was,

‘M-Master?’

‘Why did he do it himself?’

He had cut off his own right arm, which could be called the treasure of a craftsman and sword disciple.

At this sight, everyone was momentarily speechless.

Why on earth did he make such a choice?

He was the master of this Sword Valley, called the sacred place of swordsmanship, and the Spiritual Sword Sanctuary, as well as one of the Six Heavens, the pinnacle of the current martial world.

No matter how one thought about it, there was no reason for him to go this far.

Even if that monster-like person’s swordsmanship was beyond imagination, no one here thought Master Ou Cheonmu would be inferior to him.

“Ah… Urgh…”

The eyes of the second son Ou Woong-seong, whose tongue was caught by Mok Gyeong-un’s true energy, shook wildly.

He too was greatly shocked.

He had thought his father would surely fight for honor and pride.

Although he was a son, he wasn’t particularly favored compared to his older brother, the Junior Master, in martial arts, or his younger brother Yeonwoo in craftsmanship skills.

Therefore, he didn’t have high expectations of his father.

He thought it would be fortunate enough if he just wasn’t left to die.

But,

‘Wh… why?’

Why did he cut off his arm that he cherished so much?

Is a painful finger still a finger?

Enough to throw away his pride as a martial artist and his life as a craftsman?

Although he was narrow-minded and wayward compared to his brothers, at this moment, he couldn’t help but feel complicated emotions, welling up inside.

“Ugh.”

Seeing Ou Woong-seong shedding tears, people thought that Master Ou Cheonmu was indeed a father.

A father who could sacrifice anything for his son.

However,

“Ha!”

‘They’re mistaken.’

Ji-oe, who was watching this scene from afar, snorted.

Right now, they thought Master Ou Cheonmu had unhesitatingly sacrificed his precious arm to save his son.

But from his perspective, it wasn’t like that at all.

Humans tend to see only as much as they know.

In this place, excluding Master Ou Cheonmu, the only one who had reached the highest realm in both swordsmanship and martial arts, surpassing the wall, was himself.

At most, Jeong Myeong Sa-tae of the Hangshan Sect might vaguely guess as she was approaching the wall, but that sword engraved on the wall was truly in a league of its own.

He too had been momentarily gripped by a sense of defeat upon seeing the trace engraved on that cliff.

This was incomparable to the shock of seeing the Way of the Sword, Extreme of the Sword.

An unattainable, distant height.

‘That’s a real monster.’

A monster who had reached a realm that even Master Ou Cheonmu couldn’t attain.

To be honest, if Ou Cheonmu and that person were to fight, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say the outcome was somewhat predetermined.

Unless some special variable occurred, Master Ou Cheonmu’s victory would be difficult.

He knew this himself, which is why he cut off his own arm.

‘Cunning old man.’

Ji-oe had been here for a long time, so he knew well how cunning Ou Cheonmu, a figure respected by the world, was.

He was a man who, under the pretext of guiding later generations with his Way of the Sword, Extreme of the Sword, kept numerous swordsmen here and shared their insights to further develop himself.

He never takes actions that result in a loss for himself.

That’s why even when crafting swords, he received the recipient’s unique sword techniques in return.

Who else could make such a bold request?

‘If we clash, he loses everything.’

That’s why Ou Cheonmu made the extreme choice of cutting off his own arm.

In fact, those present still believed in Ou Cheonmu, so they didn’t realize, but he could see it.

If he didn’t show at least this much sincerity, who knows how the opponent might react.

‘He’s secured his justification.’

Given this, even that monster-like person would find it difficult to persist further.

He had even cut off his right arm for his son, so going beyond this would be crossing the line.

If there’s a minimum level of propriety, he should stop here.

Although Ou Cheonmu had lost an arm, thanks to the public perception that he sacrificed for his son, he wouldn’t lose his pride as a martial artist.

But right at that moment,

“You’ve done something unnecessary.”

‘!?’

“One’s own mistake is simply one’s own mistake.”

“What are you…”

“I clearly said it. You’ve done something unnecessary.”

-Swish!

Mok Gyeong-un moved his hand.

Then the second son Ou Woong-seong’s tongue twisted and finally tore partially, causing blood to burst out.

-Splurt!

“Aaaagh!”

It was on the verge of being completely torn off.

At this sight, Ou Cheonmu finally couldn’t contain his anger and shouted,

“How dare you!”

“It’s not ‘How dare you’. I never told the Master to take responsibility as a parent. And one’s own mistake should rightfully be one’s own responsibility.”

“What?”

At Mok Gyeong-un’s firm words, Master Ou Cheonmu became not just angry, but dumbfounded.

As Ji-oe had predicted, he had realized through the trace on the cliff that even if he competed with Mok Gyeong-un, his chances of winning were low.

Therefore, he cut off his right arm, swallowing tears of blood, to gain the justification of sacrificing for his son.

‘This is a fight that must be avoided.’

There was too much to lose, so he had to avoid fighting even in this way.

Cutting off his right hand was a great sacrifice by anyone’s standards.

However, he had trained his left hand to some extent to pursue an even higher level of swordsmanship, so losing this wouldn’t be the worst-case scenario.

All of this had been somewhat calculated.

But,

‘Is this person really?’

Even after showing such submission by cutting off his own right arm, he still insists on taking that child’s tongue?

It was truly bewildering.

There was no longer any justification for endurance.

Rather, if he didn’t step forward in this situation, it wouldn’t be his honor, but his face that would hit rock bottom.

-Grip!

In an instant, Ou Cheonmu’s mind became complicated.

If he fought to maintain face, defeat was inevitable.

But if he didn’t step forward here, he would be branded a coward who didn’t lift a finger even as his son was being brutally treated.

It was truly a dilemma.

‘I was foolish…’

What he thought was an excellent move turned out to be a losing move.

Normally, in such a situation, one would stop out of propriety, but this person’s actions were the opposite of expectations.

Perhaps it would have been better to fight risking his life rather than cutting off his arm.

It was then.

-Swish!

At that moment, Mok Gyeong-un, who had been making a gesture of twisting, stopped and said,

“It seems I’ve become quite soft-hearted.”

“……”

A look of puzzlement flashed in Ou Cheonmu’s eyes.

He thought he would have to fight after all, but suddenly stopping like this, what was his intention?

Had he changed his mind after taking a hard line?

But then,

“The Master’s filial heart for his child is so touching, if I were to tear out his son’s tongue here as well, it wouldn’t look very good, would it?”

“…Then are you also backing down?”

“I suppose so. However, I don’t particularly like leaving loose ends.”

“Loose ends?”

Is he asking for a pledge not to seek revenge?

If that’s the case, he could certainly give it.

He hadn’t even thought about revenge in the first place.

He had surpassed wall after wall and reached the Way of the Sword, Extreme of the Sword over many years.

But this person was clearly much younger than himself.

How could he dream of catching up and seeking revenge in any lifetime?

‘…I have too much to lose.’

The more one has in hand, the more one thinks of consolidation rather than future troubles.

To this, Ou Cheonmu spoke in a cautious voice.

“It was an action to save my child, how can you blame this? If your anger has been appeased by this, this old man too wishes to make a clear end here.”

“It’s good that you’re magnanimous. But I tend to be quite cautious.”

Ou Cheonmu inwardly clicked his tongue.

What a difficult person.

How can someone who has reached such a high realm be so cautious?

Or is he meticulous?

To this, Ou Cheonmu exhaled softly and said,

“Then what do you want? If you want a promise, I can even leave it in writing.”

“In writing. Not bad. But something written on paper can always be torn up.”

“…Then what on earth do you want?”

“I have some sense of shame, so asking for your danjeon to be destroyed seems excessive… Since it’s come to this, how about receiving your remaining arm as well?”

‘!!!!!!’

At that moment, Ou Cheonmu’s expression twisted terribly.

He wondered what on earth he would demand, but he never imagined he would ask for his remaining arm as well.

-Murmur murmur!

The surroundings stirred.

Has this person truly gone mad?

Even though Master Ou had put aside his pride as one of the Six Heavens and made such concessions for his son, to ask him to cut off his remaining arm as well?

He had truly crossed the line.

At this,

“Master! This is not right!”

“We will help the Master too!”

“The second young master will understand the Master’s heart. You must not submit!”

“You don’t need to endure any longer!”

Cries of anger burst out from here and there.

At their boiling cries, strength entered Master Ou Cheonmu’s hand holding the sword in his left hand.

Not content with cutting off his son’s two arms, he asks for his remaining arm.

He had certainly crossed the line properly.

No more…

“It seems many are angry. But you should listen to the end of what I was saying.”

“To the end? Now that…”

“If the Master, with great spirit of sacrifice, cuts off his remaining left arm himself, I’ll reattach one of your son’s arms.”

“What?”

At these words from Mok Gyeong-un, everyone was dumbfounded.

How could he reattach an arm that had already been cut off?

To spout something that can’t be done even if a god came down, is he taking the Master and themselves for fools?

“Don’t you believe me?”

Mok Gyeong-un said with a slight smile.

They shouted,

“What nonsense are you talking! Master! This person is insulting you.”

“There’s no need to listen. Right now…”

But then,

-Slash!

At that moment, one of the swords floating with the Sword Control with Energy technique flew and cut off the arm of one of the Spiritual Sword Sanctuary’s sword disciples who was shouting.

“Aagh!”

-Clang!

At this sudden sword strike, everyone around drew their swords.

Was he really going to do this?

At that moment,

-Whoosh!

“Huk!”

As Mok Gyeong-un opened his hand and pulled, the sword disciple whose arm had been cut off was forcibly flown to the front of Mok Gyeong-un by his vast true energy.

Although he was a first-class expert, compared to Mok Gyeong-un’s realm, he was no better than a bug on the ground, so he couldn’t withstand the true energy.

-Swish!

“Are you truly going to see this through to the end?”

Master Ou Cheonmu aimed his sword held in his left hand at Mok Gyeong-un.

Mok Gyeong-un shrugged and said,

“Since you don’t believe me, I’m just trying to show you.”

“What do you…”

It was then.

-Float float!

The severed arm rose up and flew towards the sword disciple who was caught by the true energy.

In that state, Mok Gyeong-un lightly struck the acupoints on the severed part.

Then, as if the bleeding had been stopped, the blood somewhat ceased.

“It will hurt a bit.”

“Wh-what are you doing…”

-Thud!

At that moment, the floating severed arm attached to the severed part of the sword disciple’s arm.

In that state, Mok Gyeong-un held sword intent in his right hand and placed it on the severed part.

Then with his left hand,

-Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap!

‘Lim (臨)! Tu (鬪)! Jeon (前)! Jae (在)! Jin (陳)! Gae (皆)!’

He formed the abbreviated hand seals of the Nine Character Resurrection Technique.

As he formed the hand seals, red heat flowed from the tip of the sword intent in Mok Gyeong-un’s right hand.

“Huh?”

The sword disciple was startled and didn’t know what to do.

However, his body was forcibly bound by the true energy, so he couldn’t move at all.

Then Mok Gyeong-un moved the sword intent along the severed part.

In that state,

‘Eastern Blue Emperor Great General God, I invoke you. Central Yellow Emperor Great General God, I invoke you. Western White Emperor Great General God, I invoke you. Northern Black Emperor Great General God, I invoke you. Central Yellow Emperor Great General God, I invoke you.’

He chanted the incantation inwardly.

-Sizzle!

Along with this, smoke rose from the severed part where the sword intent passed.

The sword disciple screamed in pain that felt like burning.

“Aaaaargh!”

Seeing the sword disciple suffering like this, Master Ou Cheonmu finally stepped forward.

He was the only one who could face this person.

“Stop right now!”

-Whoosh!

Ou Cheonmu, who had kicked off the ground, narrowed the distance in an instant and aimed for Mok Gyeong-un’s brow.

Then Mok Gyeong-un, as if using the sword disciple as a shield, put him in the path.

‘This!’

Because of this, Ou Cheonmu had to change the trajectory of his sword.

-Slash!

Ou Cheonmu, who had brilliantly changed direction with a variation technique, created sword shadows in more than ten directions, forming a shape like fully bloomed flower buds closing in reverse.

Everyone couldn’t help but admire his splendid sword technique.

It was so excellent that even the sword technique he displayed with his left hand, not his right, made people wonder why he had stepped back earlier.

But then,

-Thud!

Mok Gyeong-un thrust the sword disciple’s head into the center of the trajectory of the closing flower buds.

Ou Cheonmu’s eyes shook.

Although he had diligently trained his left hand as well, with his skill he could precisely avoid this and aim for Mok Gyeong-un, but if the trajectory deviated even a little, the sword disciple would die.

-Whoosh!

Finally, Ou Cheonmu gave up on unleashing his technique, created distance, and shouted,

“How can you be so cowardly…”

Ou Cheonmu’s eyes widened as he shouted.

This was because the sword disciple who had been suffering until just now had unknowingly moved his severed arm.

“Huh?”

The sword disciple who had unconsciously moved it now seemed to realize this, looking at his previously severed arm in surprise.

The pain had disappeared, and he could move his arm and fingers freely at will.

The sword disciple’s expression became one of disbelief.

“Th… this is…”

The other sword disciples and guests around also had the same reaction.

They had been wondering what on earth he was doing, but the sword disciple’s severed arm had really been reattached.

It was a sight unbelievable even after seeing it.

While everyone was amazed, Mok Gyeong-un said,

“I told you, didn’t I? That I could reattach a severed arm.”

“……”

“Did it sound like empty words?”

This was a healing technique called the Three Marvels Method.

Although there were several tricky conditions, if these were met, it was a miraculous technique that could even reattach a severed arm.

Among these conditions, the biggest restriction was that it required the subject’s primal energy.

In simple terms, it meant sacrificing part of one’s lifespan.

Naturally, the stronger the technique, the greater the restrictions had to be, but since it didn’t consume one’s own primal energy, it was a useful method.

“Now. What will you do? If you give your remaining arm, I’ll reattach your son’s arm. The choice is entirely up to you, Master.”

“……”

Master Ou Cheonmu was speechless at Mok Gyeong-un’s proposal.

As the greatest craftsman in the Central Plains and one of the Six Heavens, he could usually maintain the upper hand in any deal, no matter who came.

But not this time.

He had never encountered someone so cunning.

To say he would reattach his son’s severed arm if he gave up his remaining arm?

“Hurry and choose. Will it be your son’s arm or your own?”

-Grip!

Ou Cheonmu bit his lip hard.

He had never met someone so vicious.

From the start, there was no real choice in this proposal.

He would lose everything no matter what he chose.

If he cut off his arm, it would be as good as ending his life as a martial artist or craftsman, and if he didn’t cut it off, it would be like abandoning his son, and he would have to fight this person anyway.

If that happened, he would lose everything all the same.

-Drip!

A situation where he could choose nothing, caught between a rock and a hard place.

The Master’s forehead was now drenched in sweat, and his head throbbed as if it would split.

-Murmur murmur!

He couldn’t hear a thing as those around him clamored.

Ou Cheonmu’s dazed gaze eventually turned to Mok Gyeong-un.

-Shudder!

Ou Cheonmu’s expression froze when he saw Mok Gyeong-un’s face.

He was smiling as if all this was enjoyable, but that smile was full of malice.

The bastard was testing him, no, toying with him.

‘Evil spirit… This person is truly like an evil spirit.’

Now he understood.

From the beginning, the bastard was aware that he was trying to avoid fighting under the pretext of doing it for his son.

That’s why he induced this situation.

A situation where no matter what he chose, it would be the worst outcome.

-Tremble!

Realizing this, Ou Cheonmu felt, for the first time in his life, intense fear and terror towards another human being.

It wasn’t because he was a peerless sword master surpassing himself.

This person, like an evil spirit, thoroughly manipulated and subjugated even the hearts of others.

In the end, unable to choose anything, Ou Cheonmu,

-Thud!

Fell to his knees on the spot.

“Master!”

“Father!”

Everyone cried out in surprise at this sight.

But Ou Cheonmu no longer heard anyone else’s gaze or voice.

Suffering as if his head would explode between two paths filled only with the worst outcomes, he finally let go of everything as if attaining enlightenment.

-Thud!

Ou Cheonmu then bowed his head to the ground before Mok Gyeong-un and said,

“This old man begs for forgiveness like this. I will do anything you want, so please show mercy.”

‘!!!!!!!!!’