Zhengzhou was in an uproar from the morning due to the ominous incident that had occurred yesterday.
The ghost incident that occurred in the busy district at midnight.
Witnesses unanimously identified the villain who slaughtered forty-some people as a ghost.
The reason was simple.
Appearing and disappearing mysteriously.
They said the unpredictable movements of the villain were like a ghost. Though there were many Murim people at the scene, not one of them had clearly witnessed the villain.
Movement Technique that appeared so mysteriously and disappeared so eerily was only possible in their imaginations. In a way, it was natural for them to say they'd seen a ghost.
Today was the day registration for the Heavenly Youth Martial Arts Tournament would begin, but with the occurrence of this murderous incident, not only the Murim Alliance but all of Zhengzhou was unsettled.
It's the curse of a ghost. Or, unreliable rumors spread rampantly that a great calamity star had appeared to kill people to obstruct the Heavenly Youth Martial Arts Tournament.
Therefore, Eul Ji-tae, the Group Leader of the Martial World Protection Corps in charge of Zhengzhou's security, began his day very busily from his first day returning to the Murim Alliance.
Even now, he'd been summoned to Cheontong Hall early in the morning and was reporting on that matter to Hyeoncheon Jinin.
"Is it the Star of Heavenly Calamity?"
The moment Hyeoncheon Jinin saw Eul Ji-tae, he asked straight to the point.
"I cannot be certain yet."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, Alliance Leader. No traces of Heavenly Calamity Energy could be found at the scene."
"Tsk tsk. It's the Full Star's Extreme Yin Star of Heavenly Calamity. The Heavenly Calamity Energy would have already been completely internalized within that Dantian. There's no way traces of Heavenly Calamity Energy would remain. What I'm talking about is the gruesomeness of that scene and such."
"That is... looking at that makes it even harder to see it as the Star of Heavenly Calamity. Because the one who appeared at the scene committed murder by thoroughly selecting victims."
"Committed murder by selecting? What do you mean?"
"Everyone who died at the scene were people wearing black clothes. Though we haven't yet accurately confirmed their identities, they appeared to be people of the same affiliation."
"Hmm."
Hyeoncheon Jinin stroked his long White beard while continuing to listen to Eul Ji-tae's report.
"If that person's Heavenly Calamity Energy had run wild, everyone there would have been unable to avoid the slaughter."
"That's right. If the Extreme Yin Heavenly Calamity Energy had exploded there, that entire area should have been completely devastated. Then does your statement mean yesterday's incident has absolutely no relation to the Extreme Yin Star of Heavenly Calamity?"
At Hyeoncheon Jinin's words, Eul Ji-tae pondered for a moment, then answered in an uncertain tone.
"That is... though I'm not sure either, perhaps I'm considering that it might indeed be the Extreme Yin Star of Heavenly Calamity's doing."
Hyeoncheon Jinin's white eyebrows rose slightly. It must be because he'd heard the answer 'I'm not sure,' which was rarely heard from Eul Ji-tae.
"Explain."
"Forty-three were slaughtered, yet not a single person at the scene properly saw the villain."
"However, isn't it unreasonable to conclude that the Chosen One of the Star of Heavenly Calamity appeared based on that alone?"
"That is so, but according to the witnesses' testimonies, they said the villain was a 'ghost.'"
"Ghost?"
"Yes, they definitely said so. And not just one or two people—most of the witnesses said the villain's identity was a ghost. Because of that, rumors that a ghost appeared in Zhengzhou are spreading rapidly right now."
"Explain in detail."
"...There's nothing particularly special to explain. According to the witnesses, the ghost appeared and disappeared, and just passed through walls and roofs freely."
"Appeared and disappeared... And passes through walls freely? Does that make sense?"
"Yes, so from what I saw, that is..."
"It must be the Strange Ability of the Extreme Yin Heavenly Calamity Energy, is that what you mean?"
While Eul Ji-tae paused his words for a moment, Hyeoncheon Jinin finished instead.
"Yes, Alliance Leader. That's correct."
"Hmm."
Hyeoncheon Jinin fell into thought while stroking his White beard again.
In the past, several Stars of Heavenly Calamity had descended upon the Martial World. However, most of them died before properly maturing. Because it was due to the characteristics of the Star of Heavenly Calamity. When they brazenly popped up in the sky saying 'I am born,' the wise ones of the Martial World could hardly remain idle.
However, there were certainly those who couldn't be found even when they tried to deal with them young, and they were the ones who occasionally appeared in the Martial World to become great calamity stars.
Among them, the Extreme Yin Star of Heavenly Calamity had appeared exactly twice in the world.
According to what was passed down, the Extreme Yin Star of Heavenly Calamity was quite different from other Stars of Heavenly Calamity.
Strange Ability.
Unlike other Stars of Heavenly Calamity, it was born possessing a unique ability.
The one who first transmitted this fact to later generations was none other than the Heavenly Demon.
In truth, the one who killed the first Extreme Yin Star of Heavenly Calamity was precisely the Heavenly Demon.
A thousand years ago, when the Martial World fell into a blood calamity due to the Extreme Yin Star of Heavenly Calamity, the Heavenly Demon appeared and slew the Extreme Yin Star of Heavenly Calamity, taking the world into his grasp.
Nevertheless, it was said that many people followed the Heavenly Demon at that time, regardless of whether they belonged to the Orthodox, Hall of Gathering Evil, or Demonic factions. The appearance of the Extreme Yin Star of Heavenly Calamity had given the Heavenly Demon justification for the Way of Domination. There must have been many who thought the merit of slaying the Extreme Yin Star of Heavenly Calamity was greater than his tyranny.
That was how terrifying the Extreme Yin Star of Heavenly Calamity was.
However, it's said that the Heavenly Demon who dealt with it said that the existence possessed a unique ability called Strange Ability. It was said that he nearly died countless times because of it.
That was how terrifying the Extreme Yin Star of Heavenly Calamity was.
Whether he didn't know precisely about the Strange Ability or deliberately didn't transmit it even though he knew wasn't known, and opinions were divided even among later historians.
What Eul Ji-tae was saying now was whether that 'mysteriously appearing and disappearing Movement Technique' might be the Strange Ability of the Extreme Yin Star of Heavenly Calamity.
Hyeoncheon Jinin mulled over the legend of the Heavenly Demon a bit longer, then soon shook his head and said.
"Hmm. But would it be merely that level of ability?"
"Pardon?"
"The Strange Ability, I mean. Although I do not wish to acknowledge it, the Heavenly Demon was the greatest master of the world a thousand years ago—perhaps the strongest individual in Martial World history."
"..."
"For someone like him to call it a Strange Ability… I wonder whether it would merely be a technique of that level, one not much different from an exceptional Movement Technique."
"However, according to the witnesses, it absolutely was not Movement Technique."
In Eul Ji-tae's thinking, if it was Movement Technique enough to be called a ghost, wouldn't that be sufficiently a Strange Ability?
On the other hand, Hyeoncheon Jinin was still doubtful.
"That may be so. As you say, it may be that the Extreme Yin Star of Heavenly Calamity has revealed itself."
"If you entrust it to me, I will thoroughly..."
"No, that will not be necessary. Registration for the Heavenly Youth Martial Arts Tournament begins today. You should focus on that task. Leave the investigation of yesterday's incident to the Secret Service Lord. Was not the investigation of the Extreme Yin Star of Heavenly Calamity originally meant to be entrusted to him?"
The Secret Service Lord that Hyeoncheon Jinin was referring to was precisely Soldier Eccentric.
As the Alliance Leader said, in Eul Ji-tae's thinking too, rather than himself, Soldier Eccentric, who was called Eight Skills Soldier Madman and had many talents, was suitable for this task.
However,
"Yes, Alliance Leader. I will do so. However, it seems he cannot start right away at this moment."
"Is there something?"
"It is because the Secret Service Lord will likely prioritize a promise he made to someone."
"Someone? Who is that person?"
"A person named Dong Guang-chuan who entered the Murim Alliance with me yesterday. The Secret Service Lord has probably gone to meet him right now."
"Dong Guang-chuan? Ah! That very person that the Secret Service Lord asked you to definitely bring, is it?"
"Yes."
"Hm. I am curious. Just what kind of youth is he that someone like the Secret Service Lord pays such attention to? How did he seem to you? Was he someone who could become a pillar of the Martial World?"
Eul Ji-tae thought about Dong Bong-soo for a moment, then opened his mouth.
"He was a taciturn person."
In truth, there wasn't much about him that remained in his memory. Among them, the most special thing was that he was very quiet.
"Even more than you?"
"Yes."
"And?"
After thinking a bit more, Eul Ji-tae continued his words carefully.
"He hasn't learned Internal Energy Arts."
"Is that so?"
Interest completely disappeared from Hyeoncheon Jinin's voice. The person the Murim Alliance needed now was someone strong—specifically, someone strong in martial arts. If one only learned External Energy Arts without Internal Energy Arts, that limit would be clear. Even if they learned martial arts, it was obvious that level would be insignificant.
1
If martial arts were weak, no matter how interesting a person, they had no choice but to be pushed out of interest.
"However, he is someone with good qualities."
"Hmm. Is that so? If you say so, then it must be so."
Though he said that, the name Dong Guang-chuan was already fading in Hyeoncheon Jinin's mind.
The person who still had utility value to him was not a talented youth with good qualities, but a 'strong hero' who was already made, like Jong Ji-hang. Because a pillar of the Martial World could never be achieved by being taciturn alone.
Still, thinking that if he was someone with a good head, there might be somewhere to use him, Hyeoncheon Jinin casually added a word.
"If that person wants, help him so he can work in a suitable position."
"Yes, Alliance Leader. Understood."
***
Clatter, clatter.
The sound of tableware and chopsticks colliding regularly echoed through the room.
While eating the breakfast the maid had brought, Dong Bong-soo reviewed the battle from last night. The continuation of daily life connecting yesterday's ending and today's beginning—that's what it was.
[Concealment Arts].
It was a more useful technique than he'd thought. Especially when [Footwork] or Inventory Arts were added to it, quite a good combination emerged.
Very well-suited to confusing enemies, one might say.
Disappearing, appearing, disappearing again, appearing again....
Now in the east, now in the west.
With the geographical advantage of the city at his back, he could run wild as he pleased. He could hide his body, albeit limitedly, on roofs, rafters, and even floors paved with flat stones. Of course, it didn't work on objects firmly connected with glue or such.
Anyway, yesterday's battle was enough to instill confidence in him.
That now, there wouldn't be many Murim people in the city who could catch him.