Chapter 237
“So you’re telling me we have to prepare for a chat with the Twelve Joules now?”
After returning to Shadowless Gate, I told the Sword Demon about my search for Mangnyang. He listened and then replied, “Well, there’s no helping it…”
“Then let’s get ready for the meeting with the Twelve Joules.”
“Yes, sir.”
The Sword Demon seemed to have sold off all properties and assets belonging to Shadowless Gate in the meantime. Even though Shadowless Gate was a small elite group, it wielded tremendous influence. The wealth they had in Henan Province was more than that of ten average wealthy families combined. Once it was turned into gold bars, it filled up five boxes!
“Let the disciples stay in this building for a few days.”
He observed the small temple he had bought with the remaining funds. This temple had been ownerless and was just floating on the market, so it seemed like an easy purchase.
“Got it.”
The next day, I moved with the Sword Demon to Ijeong where Clan Leader Jeong Cheol-wook was located. When he saw us, Clan Leader Jeong’s face lit up with joy.
“Oh, so you’re the Sword Demon, the top martial artist of the Central Plains!”
I translated Jeong’s words to the Sword Demon, who respectfully returned the greeting.
“It’s an honor to meet you.”
“Let’s not stand around, let’s sit down and talk.”
A while later, we found ourselves seated at a banquet table, engaging in casual conversation. My role here was almost non-existent, primarily translating Jeong Cheol-wook’s words for the Sword Demon. After some talk about Shadowless Gate and the Sword Demon’s heroic tales, Jeong got to the main topic.
“I heard the Twelve Joules will arrive in Gaegyeong in ten days.”
This was the moment we had all been waiting for.
For a moment, the Sword Demon and I exchanged tense glances. The Sword Demon opened his mouth.
“That’s excellent news.”
“And on that day, all the leaders of the Twelve Joules will be present.”
“……”
“It’s a day when nothing must go wrong.”
Jeong Cheol-wook said this nonchalantly while pouring wine.
“So as the host of this meeting, I’d like to understand more about Shadowless Gate’s plans. I need to know how to approach the Twelve Joules.”
When I translated Jeong’s words, the Sword Demon pondered for a moment before responding.
“This is a very big secret, and it must not leak out. If you promise to remain tight-lipped until the meeting day, then I’ll share the details.”
“I promise.”
The Sword Demon shot me a quick glance and sent me a thought transmission of what he wanted to say. After considering it, I conveyed the thought to Jeong Cheol-wook.
[ I intend to trade top-secret information related to the White Lotus Sect. ]
“……!!”
Jeong Cheol-wook looked quite surprised. Wiping the sweat from his brow, he said, “That’s quite astonishing.”
“Now, can you believe me?”
“Of course, I should believe you. Even if I were the Twelve Joules, I would accept that offer.”
The drinking banquet on that day came to a natural end after a while. The Sword Demon and I walked out of the Jeong Clan’s estate and returned to our base in Henan using Ijeong. The Sword Demon sat on a rock near the valley and spoke to me.
“I suspected it, but it seems all the leaders of the Twelve Joules are coming.”
“Do you think they’ll try to flex their muscles?”
“Not that, but they probably want to put pressure on me,” the Sword Demon said, grinning bitterly.
“Those kinds of meetings usually end up being a headache.”
I could sense what he was thinking.
Having met the leaders of the Twelve Joules, I realized they were neither saints nor villains. They were merely leaders of large clans loyal to the logic of power. Naturally, they would seize the opportunity to showcase their strength against the Sword Demon, trying to establish superiority. That power struggle would likely create a grim atmosphere.
I told the Sword Demon, “Even among the Twelve Joules, most aren’t that strong. It shouldn’t be too difficult.”
“Haha, to hear you say that about the Twelve Joules, you’ve really grown.”
“Oh, well…”
“Just kidding. Honestly, it’s not about being intimidated, but I do worry about the potential for conflict.”
“We must avoid that at all costs.”
“I hope the Twelve Joules are reasonable people.”
The Sword Demon muttered as if lost in thought.
“Baek Woong, once this matter is settled, there will be much for us to do. I hope everything goes well.”
“Of course.”
The negotiations with the Twelve Joules must succeed. With no possibility of collaboration with the imperial family or the White Lotus Sect, Shadowless Gate had no choice but to secure the patronage of the Twelve Joules. If the negotiations with the Twelve Joules were to fail, there would be only one option left, and that would lead to a flow that I was far from keen on.
For the next ten days, I trained in sparring sessions with the Sword Demon as usual.
And then, the day of the decisive battle dawned.
Bam!
As we headed to the Jeong Clan in Gaegyeong, we observed servants bustling about from early morning. The Sword Demon and I settled down to wait, and soon enough, one by one, the leaders of the Twelve Joules began to arrive.
These were all figures I had encountered before. Of course, since that was during my past life, I was the only one aware of them, while they didn’t even know who I was.
‘Hmm, this is bitter irony.’
While I was lost in thought, the Twelve Joules gathered around a large round table. They shot glances at the Sword Demon, clearly concerned about him.
There were three exceptions, however.
The Lord of North Sea Ice Palace, the Fighting Father, and the Master of the Zhu Yi Sect.
These three showed no concern at all, comfortably indulging in the delightful appetizers. I contemplated what they had in common before reaching a conclusion.
‘They’re all at the top among peak experts!’
And it was easy to grasp the reason for their indifference.
The truth was that they weren’t indifferent to the Sword Demon; rather, they were more concerned about him than the other eight leaders. They were merely trying to withdraw and minimize exposure of their immense might by not making direct eye contact. The stronger the individual, the more accurately they could gauge their opponent’s level.
In fact, the boundary of intent was swirling around them. Even the Sword Demon, sitting quietly, appeared wary of the fact that those three were the strongest.
As for the other eight leaders, they seemed unaware of just how powerful the Sword Demon really was. Among them, the head of the National Defense Alliance was throwing a somewhat disdainful gaze at the Sword Demon, and the leaders of the Flowing Water Gate and Haedong Milcheon were likewise dismissive.
Then, after about half a moment of awkward silence, we heard a loud voice from the servant.
“The Twelve Joules have arrived!”
All eyes fixed on the entrance. The figure walking in was none other than the Master of the Twelve Joules, the supreme being of the Eastern Martial World! As soon as I heard the sound, I shot my gaze to the door like a bolt of lightning.
‘Finally!’
In the past, the Master of the Twelve Joules had worn a mask, making it impossible to discern their appearance. But in such a grand meeting, there was no way they wouldn’t reveal themselves. I was excited at the thought of finally seeing the true visage of the Master of the Twelve Joules when suddenly—
“……”
“……”
“……”
My expectations were crushed.
The faces of the Twelve Joules were horrifically contorted. One can only imagine the embarrassment they felt in front of the Central Plains people.
The Fighting Father looked utterly baffled as he spoke, “Master of the Twelve Joules, what on earth are you wearing?”
And then—, wearing a fluffy puppy costume was the [Master of the Twelve Joules], who chuckled and replied.
“It’s the latest trend…!!”
“……”
I facepalmed in disbelief.
‘This is insane…’
Could the Master of the Twelve Joules wear a costume even at such an important gathering? It truly showed they had a consistent character. Once again, I was denied the chance to see the real appearance of the Master of the Twelve Joules. As I sighed in despair and took a swig of water, the Master of the Twelve Joules took their seat.
Once seated, the Master of the Twelve Joules suddenly addressed the Sword Demon in fluent Mandarin.
“Nice to meet you, Master of Shadowless Gate, Sword Demon. I am the Master of the Twelve Joules, Ha Eun-cheon.”
Hearing the introduction from Ha Eun-cheon, the Sword Demon returned the greeting.
“It’s a pleasure. I am the leader of Shadowless Gate, Sword Demon Seo Mun-dae-ryong.”
“I am Kim Jin-soo from the Flowing Water Gate!”
“Pleasure to meet you.”
“I am from the National Defense Alliance…”
That’s how it started, with each leader of the Twelve Joules rising one by one to greet the Sword Demon. All the leaders from the Twelve Joules had brought an interpreter, and since I was translating for the Sword Demon, there were no communication issues.
Once the greetings concluded, Ha Eun-cheon remarked, “I hear that you wish to join us, Master of Shadowless Gate. Everyone here understands that we gathered today to discuss this matter.”
A moment of silence followed. Then, among the seated leaders, Haedong Milcheon raised his hand. The Lord of Haedong Milcheon was known not only for being an outstanding sorcerer but also for governing a left-leaning martial sect.
“I object!”
Upon hearing that, the Master of the Twelve Joules waved his hands and said, “Let’s skip the long explanations and just take a vote. Those in favor, raise your hands; those against, put them down.”
Swish…
A moment later, the hands were counted.
The results: five in favor, six against. The supporting factions were the Fighting Father Sect, Master of the Zhu Yi Sect, Lord of the North Sea Ice Palace, Buddhism, and Flowing Water Gate, while the opposing factions accounted for the rest. By the principle of majority rule, this result clearly indicated rejection from the Twelve Joules.
However, the Sword Demon’s expression remained unfazed. It was as if he sensed that something else was about to unfold, keeping his composure. The Master of the Twelve Joules pondered for a moment before responding.
“First, let’s hear the opinions of those who opposed.”
At that moment, the leader of the National Defense Alliance, Yeom Myeong, raised his hand.
“Master of the Twelve Joules! Shadowless Gate is the pinnacle of the Heretical Sect among the martial forces in the Central Plains. We cannot let someone like that join the Twelve Joules.”
“That’s the most rational opinion so far. Any dissenters?”
Haedong Milcheon and the Master of the Wind Realm, who were next to Yeom Myeong, spoke one after the other.
“The sudden desire to join the Twelve Joules leaves me doubtful. Please clarify your reasons first.”
“I share the same sentiment. Your intentions are suspect.”
“……”
The Master of the Twelve Joules glanced at the Fighting Father, then said, “Now let’s hear from the supporters.”
The Fighting Father, being called out, spoke up with evident displeasure in his voice, “The Sword Demon is an incredible expert. I want to test my skills against him.”
“Is that all?”
“Well, what else should I say?”
“Fair enough.”
The Fighting Father’s attitude certainly seemed disrespectful toward the Master of the Twelve Joules, but no one objected. This was because the Fighting Father’s combat prowess was extremely high, and it was said that even the Master of the Twelve Joules had a hard time overcoming him when he ascended to the seat of power. Then the head of the Master of the Zhu Yi Sect chimed in.
“The strength of the martial forces in the Central Plains is growing at an alarming rate. It’s advisable to have as many allies as possible.”
The Lord of North Sea Ice Palace added, “I agree. Soon the chaos in the Arasa Empire will cease, and strong forces from the North will emerge. It wouldn’t hurt to strengthen our ties.”
Following this, other leaders from the supporting and opposing sides each made their cases.
“I support this. Because…”
“No, we should oppose it. This is…”
Although they each had differing views, there were some commonalities. The Master of the Twelve Joules, having heard everyone out calmly, suddenly looked at the Sword Demon and said, “Sword Demon Seo Mun-dae-ryong. As you can see, the Twelve Joules’ stance is rather disappointing. Do you have anything to say?”
This was a crucial moment.
Until that point, the Sword Demon had remained silent with his arms crossed, but now he stood up.
And he declared, “I hold three of the greatest secrets regarding the imperial family and the White Lotus Sect.”
“……!!”
At that moment, Ha Eun-cheon’s aura shifted dramatically. The expressions of the other leaders of the Twelve Joules were equally surprised, but the Master of the Twelve Joules, being the most fluent in Mandarin, reacted immediately before the others could even speak.
“What are those secrets?”
The Sword Demon paused for a moment before replying.
“In exchange for Shadowless Gate being accepted as a member of the Twelve Joules, I will present two pieces of information.”
“What about the other?”
“That one will be left to the discretion of the Master of the Twelve Joules.”
This was a hint to leave room for additional negotiations. Then, like he was waiting for this moment, the opposing Lord of Haedong Milcheon suddenly jumped up and shouted.
“How bold! Who do you think you are to set conditions?”
The Sword Demon seemed to have comprehended his insults vaguely. He simply chuckled and replied, “Hold your horses. I’m talking to the Master of the Twelve Joules.”
After hearing the Sword Demon’s words through the interpretation, the Lord of Haedong Milcheon’s face turned ashen.
“You brat!”
Suddenly, a spirit puppet was summoned from his fingertips, transforming into a gigantic crane which lunged at the Sword Demon. This crane, no matter how often it was damaged by sword qi or sword flames, would regenerate instantly, possessing terrifying speed and power, having utterly defeated me in my past tenth life.
Swish!
However, the Sword Demon’s Invincible Sword tore through the spirit puppet as if it were a mere joke.
“Ugh.”
The Lord of Haedong Milcheon collapsed, vomiting blood as his technique was obliterated, and as if on cue, the leaders of the Twelve Joules stood up in alarm. It seemed we were on the verge of a large-scale bloodbath between the Sword Demon and the Twelve Joules.
Just then.
“Sit down.”
Bam!
It was an instantaneous occurrence. With just a single word from the Master of the Twelve Joules, everyone froze in place, reflexively returning to their seats. Even the Sword Demon seemed to have complied unconsciously.
“……?!”
“Huh!!”
Everyone in the hall was aghast. They couldn’t figure out what had just transpired, but the atmosphere of conflict had dissipated entirely.
However, those with top-tier martial capabilities, including the Sword Demon, wore differing expressions.
“Hmm…”
“As expected…”
It seemed they had an inkling of what the Master of the Twelve Joules had done.
Having suppressed the atmosphere in mere moments, the Master of the Twelve Joules gazed intently at the Sword Demon, then posed a question.
“Sword Demon Seo Mun-dae-ryong, what is your relationship with that young man beside you?”
“He is my chief disciple and the protector of our sect.”
“I see.”
The Master of the Twelve Joules seemed to chew on his words, appearing to send out a thought transmission. When the Sword Demon flinched, the Master addressed everyone.
“From today onwards, Shadowless Gate will become a member of the Twelve Joules. Henceforth, we shall be known as the Thirteen Joules. Let us work well together moving forward.”
With that statement, the meeting ended as if it had been a lie. People began to vacate the premises with awkward expressions. Even the opposing leaders of the Twelve Joules couldn’t muster a word against the gravity of the Master’s presence.
And the only ones remaining in the meeting hall were the Sword Demon and me. I sent a thought transmission to the Sword Demon.
[ Sect Leader, what did the Master of the Twelve Joules say? ]
From what followed, I realized more hardships lay ahead.
[ He asked you to bring the Seven Luminaries to the Sacred Altar. ]
