The Legend of the Northern Blade-Chapter 200: Where There is Light, There Must Be Shadow (4)

VWOOOOM!

Snow Flower let out a low, keening cry that Jin Mu-Won hadn't heard in ages. He tightened his grip on the sword, but the sound didn't stop.

He furrowed his brow as a deep foreboding feeling washed over him.

Suddenly, Seo Mu-Sang barged into the room, panic evident on his face. "My Liege!"

"What is it?"

"You need to see this." Seo Mu-Sang handed him a paper covered in tiny writing.

"What's this?"

"Information from the kids keeping watch over Heaven's Summit. I recognized something..."

A strange light flickered in Jin Mu-Won's eyes as he took the paper and read it. "Witch appears near Xiangyang in Hubei. Masters of the Zhongnan Sect annihilated?"

"Read the next line."

"Fifteen or sixteen years old, dark blue hair, pale skin, uses silver-white enhanced qi..." Jin Mu-Won's pupils trembled. The description matched someone he remembered. His heart hammered against his ribs, the frantic rhythm echoing in his ears. It was only a few lines, but he instinctively knew who it was. His blood burned, and his racing heart confirmed it. "Han-Seol."

"I thought so too," Seo Mu-Sang said. "Everything matches except her age."

"When did this arrive?"

"The news reached Heaven's Summit yesterday."

"A full day has passed."

Jin Mu-Won's face tensed with anxiety. He knew that Heaven's Summit never acted rashly, but always acted when necessary. If they labeled someone a witch, they would definitely take action. Since they received the information a day ago, they might already be on the move.

If that witch is really Han-Seol...

He rose to his feet, still clutching Snow Flower.

"Liege?"

"I must go."

"I'll go with you."

Seo Mu-Sang followed him. Jin Mu-Won nodded and stepped outside, where Ha Jin-Wol and Tang Gi-Mun were chatting.

Ha Jin-Wol noticed his unease right away. "What's wrong?"

"I need to go out for a bit."

"Out?"

"Well..."

BAM!

Before Jin Mu-Won could explain, the main gate of the manor burst open, and martial artists in black uniforms and red robes swarmed in.

Tang Gi-Mun shot to his feet with a roar, "Who are you people? Do you have any idea where you are?"

"We know perfectly well," a middle-aged man answered, following the group inside. "This is a manor managed by the Tang Clan."

"You?" Tang Gi-Mun's eyes wavered. He knew the man. He was Gwan Dae-Seung, the Chief Administrator of Heaven's Summit. "Administrator Gwan?"

Gwan Dae-Seung stood with his hands clasped behind his back. "Master Tang."

"What is this outrage? This manor belongs to the Tang Clan," Tang Gi-Mun demanded.

"I'm aware."

"You knew, and you still came in here? You'd better have a good explanation!"

"The matter was too urgent to do otherwise," Gwan Dae-Seung replied. "I'll apologize for this later."

"An urgent matter?"

"That's right. It's one that could shake the very foundations of Heaven's Summit." Gwan Dae-Seung shifted his gaze to Jin Mu-Won. "Isn't that right, Master Jin?"

"What are you talking about?"

"I mean that you have committed an act that shakes the foundations of Heaven's Summit."

"Me?" Jin Mu-Won's face darkened.

A familiar woman appeared from behind Gwan Dae-Seung.

Seomoon Hye-Ryung.

Her arrival meant the situation had turned grave.

"Master Jin," she said coldly.

"What is this about?"

"We have found evidence that you've been colluding with the Silent Night."

"Me? Weren't all those claims already proven false?"

"A different witness has come forward."

"A witness?" Jin Mu-Won's eyebrow twitched.

"Master Jin, the witness is someone who has watched everything from your side until now. That lends them credibility."

"Who is he?"

Instead of answering, Seomoon Hye-Ryung glanced behind her. A figure stepped forward hesitantly.

Tang Gi-Mun's eyes widened. "You're... Ryu-San? Why are you over there?"

The person standing with Seomoon Hye-Ryung was none other than Myeong Ryu-San. He couldn't answer, so he just chewed his lip.

Seomoon Hye-Ryung looked at him. "Go on. Tell them. Tell them what you saw."

"That's..."

"You told me he was colluding with the Silent Night."

Myeong Ryu-San's face flushed bright red.

Only then did Tang Gi-Mun realize what was happening. "Ryu-San, how could you...?"

He didn't know what trick Seomoon Hye-Ryung had used, but it was clear she had won Myeong Ryu-San over. Now it made sense why he'd been going out so often and returned late. He'd thought his disciple was just out for drinks, but he'd actually been meeting with the woman.

Tang Gi-Mun glared at Seomoon Hye-Ryung. "What did you do to bewitch him?"

"Bewitch him? That's a harsh accusation, Master Tang."

"If he's not bewitched, then why is he acting like this?"

"Master Myeong came to me after much deliberation. He did it for the greater good," Seomoon Hye-Ryung answered without batting an eyelid. She wasn't one to easily reveal her emotions, but she now openly displayed her steely resolve.

Gwan Dae-Seung stepped forward. "Even without him, there is plenty of evidence that Master Jin has been colluding with the Silent Night."

"I'd like to see this so-called evidence."

"You'll see it if you come with us. Come along while I'm asking nicely. I'll stake my name on your safety."

Jin Mu-Won's gaze turned cold, not because of Gwan Dae-Seung, but because of the martial artists in black and red surrounding them. They'd grated on his nerves from the start. He'd met men with a similar aura before.

They feel the same as the ones who pursued Cheong-In.

They carried the same scent as the Heavenly Hunters, a scent of death possessed only by those who have killed countless people, only this one was far denser.

If that's true, then Administrator Gwan is either the behind Un-Kyung-hyung or connected to him.

From their first meeting, Jin Mu-Won had sensed that something was off about Gwan Dae-Seung. Rumors in the jianghu claimed his martial arts weren't particularly strong, but he had sensed powerful inner qi hidden deep within him. Without his All-Encompassing Cognizance, he would have missed it because the qi was carefully concealed.

Jin Mu-Won bit his lip. So he was also part of the undercurrent.

Ha Jin-Wol stepped forward and looked at Myeong Ryu-San. "Ryu-San."

"Damn it! What do you want?"

"You must have been through a lot," Ha Jin-Wol said, but didn't blame him. He simply turned to Seomoon Hye-Ryung with a pitying look. "Is this really it? The best move you could come up with?"

"What do you mean?"

"Since Ryu-San never used to go out so frequently, I had my suspicions. I thought someone might be influencing him. Still, I hoped it wasn't you. This method is too petty for you."

Seomoon Hye-Ryung's face flushed. Ha Jin-Wol's words stung her like a dagger. As Jin Mu-Won's influence expanded, she'd contacted Myeong Ryu-San, easily seeing through his empty desires. She had fanned the flames of his ambition, promised him a reward, and issued a subtle threat when he hesitated. That was how she'd drawn him to her side.

She'd intended to use Myeong Ryu-San as a last resort, but everything changed last night. Her grandfather, Seomoon Hwa, had secretly summoned her and ordered her to cooperate fully with Gwan Dae-Seung. Once the order was given, she had no other choice.

Perhaps that was why she was unusually irritable.

"Don't try to change the subject. The whole truth will be revealed later," she snapped.

"I'm sure it will," Ha Jin-Wol sneered. "But by then, Mu-Won and I will have vanished from this world without a trace. Isn't that right?"

Gwan Dae-Seung's expression grew frosty. "It seems talking nicely won't work anymore. I will be escorting everyone here to Heaven's Summit."

"Watch your words, Administrator Gwan," Tang Gi-Mun interjected, unable to watch any longer. "This is the Tang Clan's manor. Are you saying you don't know that using force here is the same as disrespecting my clan?"

"I wasn't aware the Tang Clan had taken control of Heaven's Summit," Gwan Dae-Seung retorted, his words laced with subtle killing intent. "If you continue to be uncooperative, things won't go well for you either, Master Tang."

Anyone else would have been intimidated by the name of the Tang Clan, but not him. Although he found the Tang Clan unpleasant, he did not consider them a threat.

On the other hand, he and Seomoon Hye-Ryung judged Jin Mu-Won and his associates were a threat that had to be eliminated, no matter the cost. With the eyes of the jianghu focused on the Demon Hunters and the Silent Night, now was the perfect opportunity.

Ha Jin-Wol read the atmosphere and looked at Jin Mu-Won. As their eyes met, Jin Mu-Won quietly shook his head, signaling that words were no longer effective.

The martial artists in red robes approached, radiating sharp killing intent.

Jin Mu-Won took a step toward Gwan Dae-Seung.

Gwan Dae-Seung flinched. The young man had only closed the distance by a single step, yet it was enough to seal his fate. He was now within Jin Mu-Won's reach.

Noticing their master's dilemma, the martial artists in red robes hesitated.

Jin Mu-Won sent a telepathic message to Seo Mu-Sang. [Take the others and get out of here. Strategist Ha will know what to do.]

[But...]

[I will be fine.]

Jin Mu-Won smiled. The time for conversation had long passed. No matter what he said, Heaven's Summit wasn't interested in listening. Ultimately, they would achieve the outcome they desired, whatever it took.

SHING!

His sword shot out like lightning, aimed at Gwan Dae-Seung's throat. The attack was so swift that an ordinary martial artist wouldn't have been able to react, but the Chief Administrator was no ordinary martial artist.

"Keuk!" Gwan Dae-Seung groaned and swung his sleeve. Infused with inner qi, the sleeve hardened like a steel plate.

CLANG!

The moment Snow Flower clashed with the sleeve, however, Gwan Dae-Seung's body shook violently, and his face soured. The sheer force of the blow had shaken his insides terribly, but he would survive.

The martial artists in red robes moved. A dozen of them surrounded and protected Gwan Dae-Seung, while the rest attacked Jin Mu-Won all at once.

SWISH! SWOOSH!

Snow Flower cut through the air.

Thus, the curtain rose on the war between the Northern Blade and Heaven's Summit, which would later be called the Legend of the Northern Blade.