Book 11 Chapter 5

The Thoughts of Chisahan

"Beware of…!"

Chisahan was lost in thought in his office, recalling an indelible image from the past.

"Who was it truly referring to?"

He still remembered that day. It was not long after the death of Gal Hyobong, grandson of Maseonma Paecheondo (覇天刀) Gal Jungyeok, which had thrown the underworld into an uproar. It was immediately after the leader of Heukcheonmeng, Gal Jungcheon, declared bloody revenge and one of the strongest forces in Heukcheonmeng, Cheolgakbimadae, left the alliance, only to return with the unbelievable news of their defeat before even reaching the gates of Cheonmu Academy.

Regarding the rout of Cheolgakbimadae, the leader of Cheolgakbimadae, Jilpungmokheun Gu Cheonhak, offered no excuses, admitting his devastating defeat. He then requested punishment. The strange thing was that he remained tight-lipped, refusing to say who he lost to, how, or why. Moreover, not a single member of Cheolgakbimadae opened their mouth about the incident, as if by prior agreement. Gal Jungcheon, who had been on the verge of stripping him of his leadership in a fit of rage, mitigated the punishment to three months of solitary confinement due to strong dissuasion from those around him.

When Chisahan heard the news, his curiosity was unbearable. Who could calmly pierce through the "Gas Spear Impact" of Cheolgakbimadae and turn Jilpungmokheun Gu Cheonhak's "Shadow Spear" into a mere reed? Unable to contain his curiosity, he decided to meet Gu Cheonhak in person.

Gu Cheonhak, who could have easily been referred to as the former leader of Cheolgakbimadae, was confined in a damp, moldy, solitary punishment cell.

"Open it!"

He had already gone through the proper procedures and received permission. Furthermore, the officer in charge had hinted that those who had met him before had also not received any information. Creak! The heavily locked iron door swung open with a harsh grinding sound, revealing a dense darkness.

Gu Cheonhak sat in a cross-legged position on a hard stone bed, his eyes quietly closed. His hair was disheveled, and his beard had grown wild, as he hadn't properly tended to them during his confinement. However, despite over two months of solitary confinement, his overwhelming aura remained. Rather, it seemed as if his sharpness had been honed even further in the darkness, like a keenly sharpened spear. Chisahan felt a shiver run down his spine.

Gu Cheonhak slowly opened his closed eyes and looked at Chisahan. At that moment, Chisahan flinched at the beast-like gaze. It was a powerful gaze that could not possibly belong to a defeated person. Instead, his body trembled with intense fighting spirit, an aura like that of a warrior facing a life-or-death battle. Judging by the recent marks etched on the surrounding walls, it seemed he had not neglected his training even in this darkness.

The solitary cell was quite spacious, so there were no obstacles to his training. And no one interfered with his practice; in fact, it was encouraged. What else could one do to pass the time in this boring darkness where even light was denied? Only to train his body and mind.

The only regret was that as a master of spear techniques, he was, as a prisoner, unable to possess a weapon.

"What brings the military advisor of Macheongak to this humble place?"

The two were acquainted.

"It seems like a long time since we last met, Great Leader Gu!"

Since their affiliations were different, it was difficult to determine their relative status or hierarchy. Therefore, they were both addressing each other with respect.

"Great Leader… That's a title I haven't heard in a while. Now, I am merely a prisoner."

"A prisoner! You are merely under confinement and will be released soon."

Chisahan offered perfunctory words of comfort.

"But the fact remains that I am a prisoner."

His words were tinged with a hint of self-deprecation. It would be futile to argue about it now. Chisahan wanted to change the subject for the sake of his purpose in coming here.

"What is that you are holding in your hand?"

It looked like chopsticks, but it wasn't mealtime, and it was a single chopstick, like a lonely swan. Gu Cheonhak held up the single chopstick.

"This?"

Chisahan nodded. He was curious as to why Gu Cheonhak was so possessive of a single chopstick.

"It is my spear."

Gu Cheonhak answered calmly.

"A spear?"

Gu Cheonhak nodded, but Chisahan could not comprehend his words.

"Isn't a spear a weapon with a shaft longer than nine feet and a sharp, pointed metal tip?"

Chisahan looked back and forth between Gu Cheonhak's face and the chopstick he called a spear, his expression bewildered.

"This is also a spear."

Gu Cheonhak spoke with emphasis, not backing down from his claim. Chisahan felt as if he were being treated like a fool.

"But why, this… chop… no, spear?"

He had to make a great effort to utter the word "spear."

"I learned spear techniques, so shouldn't I wield a spear? However, since I don't have my cherished spear here, I must train with this."

The small wooden chopstick seemed to be his substitute for a spear.

"Is that possible?"

"Of course."

As he answered, Gu Cheonhak pointed to one of the walls. Following his fingertip, Chisahan pressed his face so close to the wall that his nose was nearly crushed, and stared with eyes wide enough to feel like they would split, before he could see it.

The wall was riddled with countless tiny holes, like an anthill. Counting them was impossible. Chisahan suddenly felt a chill. The person sitting cross-legged before him suddenly seemed frightening.

'Even in these poor conditions, this person's martial arts have not weakened; instead, they have grown stronger. I must not be complacent. If such a person becomes an obstacle to our great enterprise later, it will be exceedingly difficult, as is self-evident. Truly an astonishing person.'

A sense of caution towards Gu Cheonhak began to sprout in Chisahan's mind.

"Why are you training so desperately?"

Casual pastime could never account for this level of training. Chisahan could feel that Gu Cheonhak was training with extreme desperation.

"There is someone I must defeat with my own hands. I cannot yield them to anyone."

At that moment, a flash of energy erupted from Gu Cheonhak's eyes, and immense fighting spirit exploded from his body. Chisahan flinched at the fierce momentum.

'Then who is the one who defeated the powerful Cheolgakbimadae led by such a fearsome individual? The person Gu Cheonhak insists he must defeat must be that individual. Then, is that person a monster? I must find out their identity somehow.'

Chisahan's mind raced furiously. It was at that precise moment that he was about to speak again.

"Then, please leave now."

Chisahan was taken aback by the sudden dismissal.

"Wh-what are you saying? I haven't asked anything yet, Great Leader Gu."

This dismissal was an unexpected development.

"Aren't you here to ask about that day?"

His tone was tinged with bitterness.

"Yes!"

What other reason would he have for coming to such a moldy place! Chisahan nodded in agreement.

"Then I have nothing to say. My answer is the same as it has been until now."

It was a resolute exercise of his right to remain silent. It was clear at a glance that he was not someone who would easily break his resolve. Such a person was undoubtedly stubborn to the core. Therefore, a confrontational approach was not advisable. This type of person would rather break than bend.

Chisahan decided to try a flanking maneuver.

"Great Leader Gu, do you know that the Huashan Convention is approaching?"

"Of course."

"And you are well aware of how important that event is to our Heukcheonmeng, Macheongak, and the entire underworld, are you not?"

Gu Cheonhak nodded again in affirmation. He was perfectly rational. Anyone who didn't recognize its importance would be considered abnormal in the current martial world.

"Achoo!"

At that moment, someone on the shores of Poyang Lake, far away, sneezed. Their overly long black bangs tickled their nose.

Chisahan smiled faintly and continued,

"Then, with such a crucial event approaching, shouldn't we be aware of any variables? If people are caught off guard without any preparation, how bewildered will they be? And that bewilderment will never benefit our underworld. If it leads to our underworld being defeated by those from the righteous path… Of course, such a thing should not happen, but if we consider the possibility, it would be a truly terrifying nightmare to even contemplate."

He was subtly and indirectly implying that his current lack of preparedness could deal a serious blow to the entire underworld, and that it could be an act of treason, urging him to act accordingly. Chisahan looked at Gu Cheonhak's face again, but he couldn't tell if he had understood the hidden meaning of his words.

"If what I experienced was not a dream, then any preparation might be in vain."

His answer was firm. What could that man have experienced that he wanted to dismiss as a hallucination? Chisahan couldn't even guess. That made him even more uneasy. It meant the variable had a significant impact.

"There is only one thing I can tell you."

"What is it?"

Chisahan's ears perked up. He was clearly determined not to miss a single word.

"Beware of the boy with bangs so long they cover his eyes. Him…"

Flap flap!

'What does a boy with long bangs have to do with danger?'

Chisahan's thoughts, pondering Gu Cheonhak's cryptic last words, were abruptly cut short by the flapping of wings, signaling the arrival of a messenger hawk. Chisahan took the message from the pouch hanging from the hawk's leg, unfolded it, and immediately stood up.

"Did you receive a message?"

Cold, sharp eyes turned towards Chisahan.

"Yes! A message has just arrived from Sekketsu."

"The contents?"

"They say they have finally made contact with the deer. They will begin a covert pursuit from now on."

The Great Master nodded silently.

"And they have requested further instructions."

"Proceed with Operation Stage Two. Let's see his capabilities first."

"Understood!"