Wudang Sacred Scriptures

Finding the Forgotten Ox Butcher’s Shop on West Serene Street was not difficult.
West Serene Street was a district centered around the slaughterhouse, lined with butcher shops, each one hung with rows of bloody meat.
It seemed to warn: wander in too far, and you’d end up just like this meat.

Kwak Yeon stepped into the Forgotten Ox Butcher’s Shop without hesitation.
“I heard the name of this place from someone at the Hao Clan branch.”
—Thud!

The man butchering meat slammed his knife into the chopping board.
The thick cleaver sank halfway into the heavy wooden slab.
“Who are you, and from where?”

Kwak Yeon caught sight of the vivid red snake tattoo on the butcher’s forearm.
“A man named Cheol Ga-hyeong from the Hyeongsan Sect.”
After replying, Kwak Yeon hooked two fingers around the cleaver’s handle like a claw and yanked it free.

He was imitating the Hyeongsan Sect’s signature move, the Divine Hero Tiger Claw.
Chwi Dugae had warned him that these people were suspicious by nature and would surely have a way to verify if he truly belonged to the Hyeongsan Sect. He had also explained several of their martial techniques.
“If it’s you, you should be able to make it look convincing.”

Seeing Chwi Dugae’s thorough preparations, Kwak Yeon found himself genuinely impressed. When that man was sober, he had a truly formidable mind.
The butcher blinked at Kwak Yeon’s demonstration of martial skill, then jerked his chin toward a side door in the back.
“Go in and wait.”

Behind the side door was a long corridor. With no windows or openings, the hallway would be completely dark once the door shut.
The door closed behind him.
“Just walk straight ahead. If you get scared, feel free to turn around.”
They were clearly trying to intimidate him.

Their method made sense—instill a healthy dose of fear to keep people from backing out.
Or perhaps it was a trap to filter out the suspicious.
Naturally, it was a trick that would never work on Kwak Yeon.

At the end of the corridor was a steel door.
When he opened it, he entered a sealed chamber with stone walls on all sides.
Even the ceiling was solid stone—perfect for secret conversations or burying inconvenient truths.

Kwak Yeon sat in the chair set before the table in the center of the room.
He already knew how they would move.
They were surely busy verifying the background of “Cheol Ga-hyeong” from the Hyeongsan Sect. They’d likely informed Suhmyeon Horui as well.

But Kwak Yeon wasn’t worried. Thanks to Chwi Dugae’s meticulous groundwork.
“I spread rumors that Cheol So-hyeop of the Hyeongsan Sect passed through here recently. They say he’s been seen within a thirty-li radius. They won’t be able to verify anything with the actual sect, which is over two thousand li away.”
Kwak Yeon expected Suhmyeon Horui to show.

Opportunities to steal the signature technique of a prestigious sect like Hyeongsan did not come often.
His prediction proved correct.
After half a shichen, the steel door opened—and in stepped Suhmyeon Horui, his rat-like face unmistakable. Four enforcers followed behind him.

One of them was the butcher from earlier.
“So-hyeop Cheol, my apologies for making you wait so long.”
“I assumed there would be a procedure, so I don’t mind.”

“A true disciple of a prestigious sect. I was just scolding the underlings for wasting time. One cannot fabricate words and bearing. Ah, and these fellows here—no need to worry. They always attend these meetings.”
“They’re not from the Hao Clan, are they?”
“…?”

“You wouldn’t call subordinates your friends, would you?”
“As expected of a noble sect’s disciple—you’re not so easily fooled. Let’s just say there are a few people helping with our business. That’s all you need to know.”
Suhmyeon Horui’s tone was light, but there was a warning laced underneath.

“May I ask how your master is doing? I heard he suffered qi deviation not long ago.”
“Fortunately, my master only experienced a mild case and recovered with minimal damage. Still, I’m surprised. To know even the internal affairs of a sect two thousand li away…”
“Hao Clan ears are everywhere in the world. Ah, I’ve been rude. A precious guest, and I haven’t even offered you tea.”

At Suhmyeon Horui’s signal, the butcher quietly stepped out of the room.
“While the tea is being prepared, let’s talk business. I assume you know what price we expect in return. So—what level of epithet are you seeking?”
“Considering the Hyeongsan Sect’s standing in the martial world, I ought to aim for a spot among the upper leadership of the Hwayeong Assembly, don’t you think?”

“Heh. Then you’d need to bring down a criminal who’s disrupting an entire province. That’s a hard man to summon in a short time.”
“…”
“But don’t be too disappointed. As luck would have it, the very target you need may have just appeared.”

At that moment, the butcher returned, carrying a tea set.
“Please, have some tea before we continue.”
As he poured the tea and offered the cup, a smile curled at the edge of Suhmyeon Horui’s lips.

“You’re curious to know about this ‘target,’ aren’t you?”
“Of course.”
Without hesitation, Kwak Yeon accepted the teacup and drank.

Suemyeon Horui’s smile deepened, oily and slow.
“This one’s still only known among our informants, so you may not have heard of him. Or maybe you know him quite well. Life’s full of surprises, after all.”
“Now I’m even more curious.”

“We’ve decided to call him the Cave Demon.”
He smiled as if delivering a personal joke.
“He claims to have trained in martial arts under one of those so-called Cave Daoists.”

“…!”
“You’ll soon be shocked at just how formidable this ‘demon’ is.”
A cold smile hung on Suhmyeon Horui’s face.

“Then let’s hear it. How formidable is he?”
Watching Kwak Yeon’s composed demeanor, Suhmyeon Horui continued.
“In Geyang-hyeon, he annihilated the entire Black Death Division. In Shinya Prefecture, he assassinated the Master of Waryong Hall—Waryong Divine Sword—of the First Branch of the Jeong Family.”

“Well now, that puts me in a difficult position.”
“And why is that, So-hyeop Cheol?”
“I’m in no position to take on someone like this ‘Cave Whatever.’”

Suemyeon Horui let out a short laugh.
“Ah, if you’re so unsuited for the job, no need to force yourself. We have another young master who’s quite eager. He’s already here—let me introduce you.”
“So that’s why you took your time. I assumed you were just verifying my background.”

“What need is there to waste time confirming your movements, when a few words would do?”
“And did I say anything wrong?”
“The story about your master suffering qi deviation was a rumor your sect spread. In truth, it was a stroke. For a master from a prestigious sect like Hyeongsan to suffer a stroke—that would be a real disgrace.”

“…”
“A proper disciple couldn’t possibly be unaware of his master’s condition, could he? Especially in a secretive setting like this—there’d be no reason to lie, knowing full well why the question was asked.”
“You’re more meticulous than I expected.”

“I’ve simply grown too used to being cautious.”
“So, you dragged things out even though you already knew?”
Kwak Yeon idly traced the rim of his teacup as he continued.

“That means you were waiting for the Mountain Bell Toxin to take effect.”
“There’s no need to make things more complicated than they have to be, is there? If you can catch a crawfish while dredging a ditch, all the better.”
At Suhmyeon Horui’s gesture, the butcher opened the steel door.

A young man with sharp eyes entered.
“This is So-hyeop Gu Yangheon of the Gu Clan. By tomorrow, he’ll be known as the Peerless Blade Hero who struck down the Cave Demon in a single blow.”
When Kwak Yeon let out a faint, unimpressed smile, Suhmyeon Horui turned to Gu Yangheon and added,

“So-hyeop Gu, this man has been poisoned with Mountain Bell Toxin. He can’t use his internal energy. But if that still makes you uneasy, I can have these friends here slice off both his arms.”
“This is the one they’re calling the Cave Demon?”
Most likely, it was the mismatch between the moniker “Cave Demon” and Kwak Yeon’s composed ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) face that prompted Gu Yangheon to ask.

“I recognized him at a glance from the portrait we obtained from a disciple of the Jeong Family. And even after that, I tested him through conversation. If you still doubt, you’re free to ask him yourself.”
Suhmyeon Horui looked at Kwak Yeon.
“We’ve come this far—surely you won’t refuse to cooperate?”

Kwak Yeon nodded without protest.
“Thanks to you, I’ve learned something new. I suppose I owe you at least this much in return.”
“And what new information would that be?”

“If not for this little chat of ours, I wouldn’t have known the Jeong Family had sketched my portrait and sent people after me.”
“…”
Kwak Yeon looked Gu Yangheon directly in the eye and said,

“I am Kwak Yeon, Lay Daoist of Three Spirits Palace on Mount Wudang.”
Gu Yangheon’s narrow eyes widened with a start.
“Wudang Sect…!”

“If you turn around and leave now, I won’t pursue you. But if you reject this chance, I won’t be able to help what happens next.”
At Kwak Yeon’s ironclad words, Suhmyeon Horui let out a cackling laugh.
“As expected of a Wudang Daoist—your words flow like spring water. But I wonder, can someone poisoned with the absolute form of Mountain Bell Toxin, the Dissolving Flower Powder, really pull off anything like that? So-hyeop Gu, will you still hesitate when he’s clearly stalling for time to purge the toxin?”

Gu Yangheon hesitated for a moment, then drew his sword.
“I have no choice.”
Kwak Yeon nodded.

“It’s fine. Go on and cut me down. That way I’ll feel a little less guilty.”
Thinking it was mockery, Gu Yangheon charged in and brought his sword down in a single, clean slash.
—Shhk!

The chair Kwak Yeon had been sitting on split cleanly in two.
But the man himself was gone—only the empty chair remained.
Had he slashed a ghost?

Gu Yangheon had no time to pursue the thought.
His torso was already severed at the waist.
Kwak Yeon had long since drawn up his internal energy to its peak. The instant Gu Yangheon charged, he twisted his body and launched the chair forward with the movement Demonic Path Disruption Stance.

They had been far too close. The movement so swift and fluid that it appeared only the chair was there—while Kwak Yeon vanished from sight.
Gu Yangheon never even saw the Cheonggang Sword trailing just behind the flying chair.
—Fsssh!

As a geyser of blood burst forth, Kwak Yeon hurled the Cheonggang Sword straight forward. At the same time, he leapt at the enforcers.
—Thwack! Bang!
Just as the Cheonggang Sword pierced Suhmyeon Horui’s clavicle and lodged into the stone wall, the enforcers were brutally flattened.

Kwak Yeon’s wrath-fueled Six Zhang Strikes had utterly pulverized their joints and bones.
He had no intention of granting them even a sliver of mercy—the same fleeting pain he’d given Gu Yangheon was far too good for them.
All he wanted was for them to feel, for as long as possible, the torment endured by the countless souls who had fallen for their vile tricks and died in disgrace.

Within moments, their bones shattered, the enforcers lay sprawled across the floor like discarded rags, moaning in agony.
Their limbs were twisted and bent at grotesque angles. Just looking at their contorted bodies was enough to make one feel their pain.
The enforcers desperately rolled their eyes to track Kwak Yeon—not with resentment or hatred.

Only with pleading, desperate eyes full of a single request:
Please, kill us.
“I’ve never felt so rewarded for studying medical texts as I do today. Because now I know exactly how to keep you alive for another half-day.”

At those words, all four enforcers simultaneously coughed up blood and foam.
—Grrk! Glrk! Grrk! Glrk!
They were begging him to end it.

But Kwak Yeon didn’t even look back.
And when he turned his back on them, their eyes sank into utter despair.