<Chapter 1: The Best in the World is Chubby>
[Prologue]
I realized it right away.
The sensation of the bed I was lying on was different.
While I was asleep, someone had moved me to a different place.
I thought so, but the problem was more serious than that.
The plump flesh was gone.
My inner power was also nowhere to be found.
My body… has completely changed.
The face reflected in the mirror is filled with melancholy.
At least the face isn’t too bad to look at, but what kind of body is this that feels so flabby?
Walking is indeed difficult.
It seems like I have been reincarnated.
There was a faint sound I heard when I woke up from sleep…
Whether it was a human voice, a melody, or just noise.
I’m not sure if it was a hallucination.
Although I got a young body as a gift in the joyless, idle old age, why did it have to be a body that feels like it’s dying?
Both the wrapping paper and the contents of the gift are a mess.
Was that day the problem?
The day when the Sword Saint requested a duel.
The words the Sword Saint raved about in madness that day…
Or…
Chapter 1: The Best in the World is Chubby
Hu Gong was in a good mood.
The dining table was filled with delicious dishes.
If there was a single joy in these idle days, it was mealtime.
Squeak, squeak.
As soon as he sat down, the chair screamed as if it was dying.
“Quiet, quiet.”
Hu Gong comforted the chair as if it were a baby.
It wasn’t the chair’s fault. Neither was the chair old.
It was because he was very chubby, his waist was like that of three average people combined, and he was so bulky that one could easily mistake what was the stomach and what was the buttocks.
Despite sitting at a four-person dining table, it felt like it was made for one person.
“Now, what should I try first?”
The chair calmed down. He picked up the chopsticks.
But soon a problem occurred.
Due to the cold voice of a woman coming from outside the door, Hu Gong had to stop with his chopsticks held in the air.
“Lord, it’s Jaegal Hye.”
“What is it?”
“There is something urgent I need to report.”
“I am busy, come back in two hours.”
A polite answer came from outside the door.
“Yes, understood.”
But the reality was different from the answer.
Opening the door and entering on her own accord, Jaegal Hye was a beautiful woman with a cold impression, adorned with long black hair flowing over her pale skin.
Hu Gong chuckled as he looked at the beautiful woman.
He didn’t even expect her to just back off.
It wasn’t the first or second time.
“Come here. Let’s eat together.”
“I’ll gain weight.”
Contrary to when she spoke from outside the door, Jaegal Hye’s expression and voice had changed.
She pretended to be reserved but appeared friendly, and somehow her cold expression was nowhere to be seen as a vibrant warmth encircled her face.
She brewed a cup of tea with her own hands and sat across from him.
“You know, a person is more charming when they’re plump.”
“Grandfather is indeed charming.”
“Oh, what a relief.”
“Hahaha!”
She was a chief military officer, possessing an outstanding intellect.
She was extremely taciturn and meticulous in handling tasks; due to her expressionless face always emitting a cold air, people called her “Ice Flower.”
However, to Hu Gong, who had known her since she was a baby, she was no different than a cute, tantrum-prone granddaughter.
Also, she was a bit annoying.
“When you smile like that…”
“You mean it looks silly?”
“You’ve become clever.”
“I came to deliver some remarkable news, but maybe I should just leave.”
“You say that, but you’ve never actually left.”
“Hehe…”
“I wonder why people call you an ice flower, really.”
Despite Hu Gong tutting, Jaegal Hye seemed extremely pleased with something, smiling brightly.
“There are two things. Good news and bad news.”
“Start with the good news.”
“I got a message that the Green Forest King successfully started cattle farming. They say that the meat quality in Woo Wang Mountain is top-notch.”
“Really?”
Hu Gong laughed heartily.
He had told the Green Forest King to stop doing useless things in the mountains and start raising cattle, and the fellow had finally seen the fruits of his labor.
As he laughed, his chin fat danced, and his cheeks rolled up, making it look like his eyes were closed.
Jaegal Hye stared intently at him, smiling brightly.
“Haha! The Green Forest King, he finally found his vocation.”
“It’s too early to be happy.”
“Ah, there was bad news. Ahem.”
“A messenger arrived from the Hyeonam region. Looking at the route and the travel time of the Sword Saint, it seems like he will arrive at the alliance stronghold around noon tomorrow.”
“Already? Hmm, the Sword Saint is quite in a hurry.”
Hu Gong chuckled.
About a fortnight ago.
A letter had arrived at the Murim Alliance.
Unexpectedly, it was a non-military letter sent to him by the Sword Saint.
The Sword Saint was once called the greatest swordsman under the heavens.
His martial arts skills were truly astonishing, reaching the heavens, and enough to shake the earth and sky.
That Sword Saint disappeared suddenly ten years ago, becoming completely unreachable, making people think he had cut ties with the Jianghu completely, but he had suddenly requested a duel out of nowhere.
But Hu Gong had no intention of accommodating such a request.
It would be fine to leave quietly.
The Sword Saint would have been suitable as the next Murim Alliance leader.
He was a person of gentle nature, righteous, and humble.
In the ten years, he must have elevated his martial arts skills and would be able to handle unexpected situations well.
Though he felt uneasy with the hurried approach more than expected, would there be any serious issue?
“What will you do?”
“I have to run away.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
Jaegal Hye burst into laughter.
Conversely, Hu Gong became serious.
“Grandfather is serious. Facing the sword of the Sword Saint, it’s a hundred times better to abandon everything including the Murim Alliance leader title, and flee. With the Sword Saint’s noble character, he would be an excellent Murim Alliance leader, and once again be called the greatest in the world, the greatest swordsman. It would mean I have ruled sufficiently nearing thirty years.”
“Why not just duel? I really want to see you showcase your martial arts at least once.”
“To hold my funeral?”
“Then who sent those gems like the Demonic Blood Saint of the evil sect, the Phantom Emperor of the Phantom Valley, and the Demonic King of the west fortress to the afterlife?”
“Tsk tsk, that was just good luck.”
“So, you’re saying you sent them to the afterlife recklessly relying on luck?”
Jaegal Hye had a face that showed no amusement.
Hu Gong shrugged his shoulders.
“Exactly. Moreover, look at my body now. These days, even walking isn’t easy. I’m completely out of breath. Anyway, I am going to run away as far as possible tonight, so you handle the aftermath well.”
Jaegal Hye protruded her lips, seemingly disappointed.
“I have only seen you eating all the time since I was young.”
Five years ago, her father left this world. The Murim Alliance leader had always been by her father’s side.
Her father was the younger sworn brother of the Murim Alliance leader and, in a way, also his friend.
It was around that time that the Murim Alliance leader’s appetite increased dramatically.
Jaegal Hye made a sullen expression once again for no reason.
“Where will you go if you leave Murim Alliance?”
“Well… I might go to the Woo Wang Mountain pasture where Green Forest King is, or to the North Sea. The Mystic Yin Fairy of the North Sea told me that the North Sea smelt is really tasty and insisted I visit.”
“Wherever you go, I will join you in half a year.”
“Ah… What a hassle. Why do you have to be like this?”
“Oh, come on. The transition of power might take less than half a year.”
It wasn’t that she didn’t know. No, Jaegal Hye knew better than anyone. Her grandfather was always cheerful and radiant, brightening up his surroundings.
Following such a grandfather and touring various places in the world could arguably be the most anticipated event, at least for her.
It was then.
Hu Gong’s face hardened.
Jaegal Hye made a cute, sad face.
“…Do you really dislike it that much?”
“…”
“Uh… grandfather… sir?”
Jaegal Hye called out cautiously.
The atmosphere changed in a short span of time.
It wasn’t the usual vibe of her grandfather.
It wasn’t the grandfather who took even serious words as jokes and turned reprimands into playful words.
She had never seen him like this from her childhood till now.
“Quiet.”
Jaegal Hye’s eyes widened in surprise.
She could tell something went terribly wrong. She waited with a dark complexion.
At that moment, Hu Gong was listening to a distant voice.
At the entrance of Murim Alliance…
It was a voice coming from outside the mountain gate.
Though it was far away, to him, it was no different than a whisper beside him.
-Warrior guest, what’s the matter?
-It’s an urgent message. The Hyeonam region was attacked. It was attacked by the Sword Saint. He extended his evil hands even to the civilians. Everyone was killed by the blade of the Sword Saint!
-What, what are you saying?
-This is not the time. Nearby Wudang and Shaolin members have come forward, but their fate is unknown. We must inform the Murim Alliance leader immediately!
‘Has he gone mad?’
Hu Gong’s eyes narrowed.
The Sword Saint was a sage of the righteous sect and a person who received respect from everyone.
His sword was a flying sword, a righteous sword, but now it had turned into a murderer, causing a bloodbath. Then, there was only one possibility.
‘Demonic possession!’ (Energy Deviation)
I need to ascertain the location first.
If he was rampaging wildly, it was unknown where he might have moved to.
Hu Gong condensed the inner power between his eyebrows and spread his sensation along with consciousness in an instant.
Paang!
A ripple occurred in the space, extending up to over five hundred zhang(3.58 meters). An enormous amount of information, including the breath, conversation, and inner power of thousands of people within that range, poured in.
Nothing.
Hu Gong amplified his qi.
His inner light began to shine brilliantly.
A consciousness much stronger than before extended out.
Paaang!
Though it was formless consciousness, when the qi exploded, Jaegal Hye took several steps back from the shock.
She felt as if something was penetrating her body, making her breathless and clutching her chest tightly.
The dining table had already been pushed away, and the dishes on it had fallen to the ground.
-Hahaha! The Baekpal Nahanjin of Shaolin, nice! I will destroy the formation and dye Shaolin with blood!
Hu Gong faintly caught the voice of the Sword Saint. They were still near Hyeonam Branch.
“Grandfather!”
Jaegal Hye shouted, being pushed back to the wall. Her eyes were filled with fear.
She had never seen her grandfather’s martial arts even once.
She had only heard about everyone being afraid of the lord, who was called the greatest under heaven. Even the fact that he could unleash lightness skills was doubtful, as he didn’t even usually walk fast.
But now, the lord’s momentum was truly earth-shattering.
The inner light was shining vividly, and the vital energy was flowing endlessly.
The lifted momentum caused his white hair to flutter, and his robes fluttered wildly due to the boiling energy.
“The Sword Saint has become a demon.”
“What?”
“We don’t have much time! You…”
Hu Gong burst into a new form.
What Jaegal Hye saw was just a flash.
The ceiling broke and crumbled down, and in between, the light transformed Hu Gong disappeared into the distance.
‘No, no way…’
Jaegal Hye nearly fell down.
The shock continued.
Almost simultaneously, three streaks of purple light exploded, creating a hole in the opposite wall.
They were three swords.
The swords, engulfed in purple flames, followed the path where the leader disappeared, leaving a trail of light as they vanished.
Stunned, Jaegal Hye swallowed her dry spit.
‘Grandfather…’
In front of the true face of the one called the greatest under the heavens, the greatest sword under the heavens, Jaegal Hye couldn’t think of anything.
“Everyone, stay calm. It’s the leader!”
“Since the leader has emerged, we wait for the leader’s command!”
As the streaks of light disappeared with a loud noise, the outside became noisy, and the executives of the Murim Alliance calmed it down.
Only then did Jaegal Hye regain her senses.
Messages from the lord were also being conveyed to her ears. Only after hearing all the messages did she rush out.
* * *
A purple glow streaked across the sky, leaving a trail of luminous afterglow.
By the time the people on the ground noticed the purple glow, it had already disappeared into the distance, leaving behind only belated exclamations and questions.
Racing like the light, Hu Gong arrived above the Hyeonam region in an instant, his eyes burning with anger.
Within the ruins of the temple, bodies were scattered all around.
The collapsed walls and the ground were stained with fresh pools of blood.
Some were dragging their injured bodies, searching for survivors among the debris.
Not long after leaving that place, Hu Gong encountered an even more brutal scene.
An entire village had turned into a sea of blood.
Nearly a hundred people of all ages and genders were torn apart to the point of being unrecognizable. He expanded his consciousness to scan the area, but there were no survivors.
Why, just why?