Chapter 29
Reverse Karma Cult (2)
What the mage showed him on a single sheet of paper was a densely written mnemonic formula.
At first glance, it seemed to contain the doctrine the cult leader had just explained in his sermon, but it was unmistakably a martial arts formula.
This is no ordinary formula.
Thanks to the insight left behind by the Sword Emperor, who had reached the realm of Returning to the Origin in his previous life, Namgung Jun grasped its true value instantly. It was not something a mere follower of a newly founded religion should possess.
A cold light settled in his eyes as he read it.
But only for a moment.
Pretending to know nothing, he looked up at the mage with bright, curious eyes.
“It appears to be a martial arts formula.”
“It is both the hidden martial art and the doctrine of our cult. By mastering this formula, one can harvest the karma of others.”
“Harvest karma?”
Namgung Jun asked as though he did not understand, but the certainty growing in his heart only became stronger.
The way the mage and the commoners clasped hands.
The exhausted appearance of the commoners afterward.
The abundant food distributed to everyone.
The bizarre doctrine claiming that exchanging karma would lead one to paradise.
Every clue fit together and produced a single conclusion.
The Absorption Art.
The demonic path possessed many branches of absorption arts. The Sun and Moon Demonic Cult, for instance, had the Bright Aspiration Feeding Technique.
It was an absorption art that drew in a person's yang and yin energies through physical contact.
It was also the very first demonic art taught to members of the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult.
As soon as they entered the path of martial arts, the cultists used the Bright Aspiration Feeding Technique to fill their newly formed dantian with energy.
Rather than gathering the energy of nature through breathing techniques like ordinary martial artists, they stole and absorbed the energy of others.
Once the first reserves of energy are built through absorption, the dantian changes. It becomes far more efficient at absorption than at normal circulation and breathing techniques.
That was why the cultists were so obsessed with absorption.
They could still cultivate through ordinary methods, but the speed of progress lagged far behind what absorption provided.
As a result, they naturally place little value on life and feel no hesitation about draining others.
Gradually abandoning human morality for the sake of one's desires.
That was the hallmark of the demonic path.
Fiends who have forsaken the way of humanity.
For an instant, killing intent toward demonic practitioners surged within him.
Still, Namgung Jun calmly continued examining the formula.
To conceal its roots as a demonic art, the creator had stuffed it with unnecessarily profound and abstract passages.
Its absorption capabilities also seemed inferior to the original.
Even so, it was undoubtedly one branch of the Absorption Art.
Just as Namgung Jun was about to examine it more closely, the mage casually extended a hand and retrieved the paper.
“If you join our cult, you may learn this divine art. The standing of both you and the Hong Family Manor will naturally rise as well.”
Calling such a lowly demonic art a divine supreme technique was laughable, but Namgung Jun maintained a blank expression.
He had found clear evidence, yet it was not enough.
He needed something more conclusive.
If I want to dig deeper here...
Having made his decision, Namgung Jun shook his head.
He deliberately put on an uncertain expression.
“I cannot make a decision on the spot.”
The smile on the mage's face grew slightly stiff at the ambiguous answer.
Then Namgung Jun added,
“However, would it be possible to arrange lodging for me?”
“Lodging?”
“I would like to stay here for a while and learn more about the Reverse Karma Cult. This is not something I can decide all at once.”
Only then did the mage's face brighten.
“Very well. Entering a new martial path and embracing a new faith are matters of great importance.”
While Heo Il and Gong Junam investigated the Reverse Karma Cult in their own ways, Namgung Jun maintained steady contact with the mage.
Listening to explanations of the cult's teachings, he gradually extracted information regarding the Absorption Art.
“According to your teachings, Mage, it seems one's internal energy could be improved very easily.”
“Indeed. Someone of your caliber could likely earn the qualification of a mage within a year.”
Whenever the opportunity arose, the mage gently tried to persuade him.
However, he never revealed anything beyond a certain point.
As if everything beyond that required official initiation into the cult.
According to Senior Heo, the number of people entering the cult's main headquarters doesn't match the number leaving it.
If that was true, then some of the commoners who entered the headquarters were not coming back out.
Most likely they were being detained.
Or they had lost their lives.
And just like in Dongneung, there's a high chance that commoners from all across Anhui Province are being brought here.
He had to find out what had happened to them.
The mission had no time limit, but the lives of the commoners did.
The sooner he acted, the more people he could save.
I can't afford to drag this out any longer.
Namgung Jun spoke to the mage directly.
“Based on the teachings and formulas I've seen so far, it would be accurate to say that the martial art you showed me possesses the ability to absorb another person's qi.”
“You martial artists use the term qi, but by our cult's standards, the proper term is karma.”
Namgung Jun took a slow breath before replying to the wordplay.
“In the martial world, arts like this are called demonic arts. I do wish to join the Reverse Karma Cult, but I fear becoming a target of condemnation by the martial world if I do.”
He deliberately used the term demonic art.
Yet the mage merely smiled calmly.
As though he had encountered this situation many times before.
“It is merely a difference in perspective and application. The martial arts of our cult truly do save the common people.”
The mage stroked the sword at his side.
Within the cult's headquarters, only followers who had reached the rank of mage were permitted to carry weapons.
“If one learns our cult's martial arts and uses them to perform good deeds, who would criticize them? What matters is how they are used.”
Namgung Jun sat cross-legged and closed his eyes.
Even with his eyes shut, he could not conceal the expression of inner conflict on his face. The mage watched him with great interest.
After some time passed, Namgung Jun opened his eyes.
“What you say is true, Mage.”
“Young Master, you finally understand my words.”
“However, if not only I but the entire Hong Family Manor is to devote itself to the Reverse Karma Cult as you wish, there must be something convincing enough to persuade my father.”
“Hmm. So you wish to witness the effectiveness of our martial arts firsthand.”
Namgung Jun nodded.
After a brief moment of thought, the mage smiled gently.
“Then I shall personally show you the joy of salvation. Follow me.”
The mage headed toward the innermost hall of the cult's headquarters.
As he sensed Namgung Jun following behind him, a hidden sneer appeared on his face.
I've almost completely reeled him in.
Though Namgung Jun had not explicitly decided to join, the mage knew from experience.
He's already fallen for it. All he's doing now is searching for a justification to convince himself.
He had seen cases like this countless times.
People would read the formula, realize it was an Absorption Art, and hesitate.
Easy internal energy or entry into the demonic path.
The moment someone seriously weighed those two options, they were already halfway converted.
Martial artists could never easily abandon the prospect of internal energy.
If anything, they were obsessed with it.
And how could they not be?
No matter how much internal energy they possessed, martial artists always believed they needed more.
The reason the mage had brought Namgung Jun here was intentional from the beginning.
Once someone was already half-convinced, all that remained was to show them power gained before their very eyes.
After that, everything proceeded smoothly.
Just like now.
If I can bring this brat and the entire Hong Family Manor into the cult, I'll be allowed to learn even greater arts myself.
Suppressing his excitement, the mage spoke.
“Look. Everyone here is a demon. Their karma has accumulated greatly.”
“And what makes them demons?”
“They are those who openly denied our teachings and attempted to commit evil deeds.”
Namgung Jun slowly surveyed the surroundings.
From the outside, it appeared to be an ordinary hall.
Inside, however, it was a prison divided by countless iron bars.
A considerable number of people were confined within, regardless of age or gender.
Among them were even a few martial artists.
They seem to be people who questioned or expressed dissatisfaction with the Reverse Karma Cult for one reason or another.
He did not know their individual circumstances.
Yet judging by the situation, there was a high chance they had been wronged.
The sight of people whose eyes had lost all light, as though they had abandoned the will to live, made a burning anger rise within him.
Still, Namgung Jun showed nothing outwardly.
He spoke calmly.
“Then their karma should be harvested.”
“Precisely. Demons can never return to being ordinary people. Therefore, death itself is salvation.”
The mage discreetly observed Namgung Jun's reaction.
There was no hesitation in his eyes.
It seemed he had finally reached a decision.
“Haaah!”
As if he had been waiting for this very moment, the mage released his aura.
The internal energy he had accumulated through the Absorption Art burst forth and filled the entire hall.
It was not an amount of internal energy someone his age could normally possess.
Only disciples of major sects who consumed precious spiritual medicines regularly might achieve something similar.
The mage looked at Namgung Jun proudly.
“Watch closely. See how I grow stronger by granting salvation to demons.”
Just as the mage reached out toward the commoner before him—
“Mage. You said something earlier, didn't you?”
“What are you referring to?”
“You said it was a matter of perspective and application. That what matters is how martial arts are used.”
The mage wondered why this was suddenly being brought up, but nodded nonetheless.
“That is correct.”
“I feel exactly the same way.”
At some point, Namgung Jun's hand had already reached the mage's waist.
He had grasped the hilt of the sword hanging from the belt.
Even then, the mage had not properly registered his movement.
As the mage's eyes slowly widened—
“Your martial arts and your sword exist solely to steal and kill. They serve no one but yourself.”
The fierce, righteous aura of the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Art erupted from Namgung Jun's body, causing the mage's robes to flutter violently.
I've located the place. The best option would be to withdraw now and report everything.
But if he did that, the commoner before him would die.
Only one person, perhaps.
Yet Namgung Jun could not abandon even that one.
A heart that refused to look away.
That, too, was part of his chivalry.
It takes courage even to save something small. Therefore this, too, is chivalry.
Recalling Lee Seha's ideals of chivalry, Namgung Jun drew the sword without the slightest hesitation.
As a disciple, he intended to follow his master's example.
“Therefore, your martial arts are nothing but wickedness, and your sword is merely a piece of metal.”
A perfectly natural reverse-grip draw.
The blade sliced cleanly through the air as it flashed upward.
Slash!
Namgung Jun severed the mage's right arm—the arm that had been reaching toward the commoner.
It happened in an instant.
“GAAAAAH!”
As the mage stared in disbelief, Namgung Jun's clear eyes gleamed with icy sharpness.
“Only now has it finally been used for the proper purpose.”