Chapter 114: The Severed Connection

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Gwak Woon-bi firmly closed his trembling, flickering lips while emotions surged, and wiped his tears with his sleeve.

Why was it?

That Cheol Ryu-heun’s blunt words felt warm.

Let’s not cry.

Yes, on such a good day.

Let’s smile.

Yes, I should see Mother at home with a face like that.

I mustn’t shed useless tears when I get there.

Because then… Mother would feel even more pained.

Having collected himself, Gwak Woon-bi smiled brightly and said.

“I’m sorry, Sect Master. I couldn’t control my emotions for a moment… Then I’ll be off to fully enjoy what the feeling of returning home in glory is like! I’ll see you in fifteen days!”

Having bowed his head and paid his respects politely, he immediately ran quickly after the group of disciples heading to yonder.

‘No matter what anyone says, Sect Master Cheol hasn’t changed!’

Suddenly, memories came to mind.

The times when Cheol Ryu-heun would sometimes visit his room at night, tell various stories, pat his weary shoulders, and smile brightly for him.

All of that was before he became an unconscious vegetable.

But after regaining consciousness, his words and behavior had changed completely from before, and he had never once shown such a bright smile to the disciples including himself.

Yet through this incident, he newly realized that what was outwardly displayed wasn’t very important.

Cheol Ryu-heun had personally proven that.

Through deep consideration hidden behind an indifferent attitude…

What did it matter how his visible words and actions appeared?

If he had felt even briefly the same care from before becoming a vegetable, that was enough.

That was why he believed the person himself, the nature deep in his heart, hadn’t yet changed.

Well… If he learned that it was actually the reborn ego of the Divine Martial Sword, he would likely faint in shock.

Gwak Woon-bi put all his strength into each movement as he kicked off the training ground floor and advanced forward.

‘Mother, please wait just a little! I’ll come as fast as possible and deliver this amazing news to you!’

His heart was already at his hometown.

A more distinct smile formed at the corner of Gwak Woon-bi’s mouth as he drew his beloved mother’s face in his mind.

Meanwhile.

Guyang Cheon, Guyang Ji, and Guyang In blankly watched the disciples moving away toward the buildings and smacked their lips as if envious.

At that moment, Cheol Ryu-heun asked as if reading their minds.

“Why, should I send you too?”

Having been struck at the heart, the three Guyang brothers pretended to put on stern expressions and shook their heads slightly.

“No, Sect Master. I will remain in the sect and let my passion blaze through sword training.”

“Indeed, an instructor is merely one who proclaims effort to the fullest.”

“Who am I? Am I not a swordsman with perseverance tightly bound in my heart? Ha, being envious means losing.”

Everyone spoke like that, but their gazes felt entirely different.

Cheol Ryu-heun said expressionlessly without caring.

“It’s not time for you to rest. While everyone is away, you should rightfully become stronger.”

At that, Yeop Hwon and Hyeop Mu-geuk who had been standing to one side smiled gently and added their voices.

“Yes, Sect Master. Those are absolutely correct words.”

“That is precisely the duty that the sect’s executives should fulfill.”

Cheol Ryu-heun presented the next goal as if he had been waiting.

“Elder and Chief Supervisor, train so you can masterfully execute the three secret techniques of White Peak Sword Forms final chapter – Mountain Coming, Mountain Spirit, and Mountain Road.”

Then, looking at the three Guyang brothers.

“You three learn the essentials and profound uses of the three secret techniques. Setting other things aside, reach a level where you can deploy them smoothly first. There will be no separate teaching. You’ve already memorized all the formulas of the final chapter, so figure it out yourselves.”

Immediately after, when the executives answered ‘Yes!’ in unison, Cheol Ryu-heun stretched his body wide and continued speaking.

“It’s an assignment that must be completed before the vacation ends. Don’t forget. And I’m scheduled to go out this afternoon, so guard things well.”

Hyeop Mu-geuk asked as if surprised.

“Oh, you’re going out again?”

“Well, it’s nothing major. I’m going to reconnect the severed connection with our sect, and also go somewhere else and deal with some things that need dealing with.”

“…!”

The executives immediately sensed.

That something tremendous was hidden within the words thrown out in a casual tone.

It couldn’t be helped.

Honestly, if it were anyone else it would be one thing, but since it was Cheol Ryu-heun – who constantly shocked those around him with bizarre actions that defied common sense and expectations – saying such things, it was natural to feel they were significant.

“The severed connection with our sect…”

The moment Hyeop Mu-geuk muttered to himself as if curious, Cheol Ryu-heun’s question reached his ears.

“What’s the martial sect with the longest history and tradition in this entire region?”

“Pardon? That would be… Mount Heng Sect.”

Mount Heng Sect, located in Mount Heng of Hunan Province, was one of the Nine Great Sects symbolizing the orthodox martial world, and a prestigious Taoist school whose lineage had continued for over seven hundred years.

“Right, that place. Where our sect’s connection was severed.”

“Ah…!”

Hyeop Mu-geuk and the others including the executives finally understood Cheol Ryu-heun’s intent and let out quiet exclamations in unison.

That was right.

Originally, White Peak Sword Sect and Mount Heng Sect had active exchanges in the past.

From the era of the first Sect Master, White Peak Sword Ancestor Do Dae-dam, roughly one hundred years ago, they had even held large events like regular friendly sparring tournaments.

But as White Peak Sword Sect experienced internal strife due to factional conflicts and showed signs of decline, the visits naturally became sparse until eventually they didn’t even exchange news anymore.

Of course, Mount Heng Sect’s side also had no particular attachment.

Because the future of White Peak Sword Sect, where unity had disappeared and only division occurred, was plainly predictable.

However.

There had been exactly one exchange this year.

Specifically, a delegation led by the Mount Heng Sect Sect Leader had attended the funeral of previous Sect Master White Gate Sword Gentleman Sagong Woon.

Of course, that was merely a ceremony to pay basic respects, and the relationship between the two sects remained stagnant even afterward.

Yet Cheol Ryu-heun said he would reconnect that old severed connection.

Was his intention to use the overflowing money in the sect to restore relations to how they were before?

Being a Taoist sect by nature, it wouldn’t work just by bringing lots of wealth.

Perhaps… Was he planning to use some of the remaining elixirs as a gift for reconciliation?

Well, it couldn’t be a good answer either.

Throughout the orthodox and unorthodox martial worlds, Mount Heng Sect boasted a long history and tradition – looking inside, how many precious elixirs not publicly known would be stored there?

Even if they didn’t compare to the bundle of all the supreme-grade medicinal herbs that Cheol Ryu-heun had brought back.

It seemed difficult to win over a prestigious sect among prestigious sects that had its name among the Nine Great Sects with just material things.

There would probably need to be some decisive blow that could firmly establish justification.

Hyeop Mu-geuk thought about that part and spoke carefully.

“Sect Master. How about taking time to raise our sect’s reputation a bit more before pursuing relationship restoration? While Mount Heng Sect would certainly be helpful in many ways, if we go there now, couldn’t it appear like we’re clinging to them out of desperation on our side?”

“Clinging? Why?”

At Cheol Ryu-heun’s blunt response, Hyeop Mu-geuk scratched his head.

“Ah… Well, since you, Sect Master, are personally visiting to ask to reconnect the two sects’ relationship…”

“Rather, Mount Heng Sect will cling to me.”

Hyeop Mu-geuk and the executives looked at Cheol Ryu-heun’s face with bewildered expressions.

Hm? Mount Heng Sect will, rather…? What does that mean?

“I’m going to make a proposal, not a request. The choice is Mount Heng Sect’s. But obviously, they’ll say yes and grab my hand.”

Yeop Hwon asked quietly while tilting his head.

“Um, might you have thought of some clever plan?”

“It’s both a clever plan and an item.”

“…!”

“If I bring that, the Mount Heng Sect Leader will probably prostrate himself before me as if meeting an elder.”

The words Cheol Ryu-heun spat out expressionlessly transformed into a silent shock that shook the executives’ minds.

What…?

Everyone cast blank gazes in surprise like that.

Cheol Ryu-heun suddenly pointed his finger toward the distant hill beyond White Peak Sword Sect’s grounds and said to the workers.

“Do you see that boulder over there?”

At that, Tae Sa-ja nodded lightly.

“Yes, Sect Master. It’s quite big, so I can see it clearly. It’s almost the size of our main gate. The roots must be quite deep…”

“It’s a harmful boulder. Everyone go and pull it out.”

Simultaneously with Cheol Ryu-heun’s words, all the workers including Tae Sa-ja inwardly screamed as if dumbfounded.

Crazy… Why is a boulder just sitting there harmful! Besides, you’re telling us to pull it out? In what century could we… You just want to torment us, don’t you!

“I’ll give you one shichen. If you observe the deadline, proper martial training begins immediately.”

As soon as Cheol Ryu-heun finished speaking, Tae Sa-ja started running toward yonder side of the training grounds while roaring a shout.

“You slave bastards, what are you doing! Hurry and grab the tools!”

“Yes!”

“Let’s just do it!”

“The opportunity has finally come!”

Thus, the workers disappeared in an instant with expressions full of enthusiasm.

Cheol Ryu-heun shrugged his shoulders and muttered.

“They just ran off without hearing that it was after lunch. Well, do as you please. Your stomachs will suffer though.”

* * *

Namgung Sang-rin was traveling along the road when lunchtime came, so he entered a restaurant in a village.

The moment he sat at a table and ordered food.

SWOOSH-

With a small sound, the curtain at the entrance parted and one figure walked inside.

A beauty in a white palace dress with a bright red sword.

Having followed behind Namgung Sang-rin since parting with the Green Forest Alliance group this morning, she had come all the way here.

The woman in white swept her hair back, briefly surveyed the interior, then went and sat at a window table.

Namgung Sang-rin glanced at her and found it strange.

‘What? Did our paths just happen to overlap coincidentally?’

Before long, when the ordered food came out, he hurriedly filled his stomach, paid, and left the restaurant.

A bit of time passed.

When a forest path appeared, Namgung Sang-rin deployed lightness arts using internal energy as he advanced.

Yet.

About two zhang behind him, one figure was similarly deploying nimble lightness arts and following.

Namgung Sang-rin turned his head slightly and frowned.

‘What the, why…!’

The figure visible behind was the woman in white.

Sensing something strange, Namgung Sang-rin slowed his speed and walked normally with large strides.

Intending to just let her pass ahead of him.

However.

The woman in white also stopped her lightness arts and switched to ordinary walking while maintaining an appropriate distance.

‘Ha.’

Having let out an internal wry laugh, Namgung Sang-rin immediately switched to lightness arts and dashed forward.

Not to be outdone, the woman in white also stepped out with agile light-body footwork so the gap wouldn’t widen further.

Before long.

STILL.

Namgung Sang-rin stopped in the middle of the dense forest path and turned his head back sharply, throwing out a clear voice.

“Lady, just how far do you plan to follow? Do you perhaps have some other business with me?”

The woman in white, who had also stopped following him before he knew it, responded shamelessly.

“Goodness, what are you talking about? Our paths just happened to overlap.”

“I’m not so sure – it seems entirely unlike that?”

“It’s exactly that.”

“Hmm… Alright. Then go on ahead. I’m thinking of resting for a bit in this shade…”

Simultaneously with Namgung Sang-rin’s words, the woman in white plunked down on a protruding boulder to one side.

“What a coincidence. I was thinking of resting for a bit too.”

“……”

“Why are you staring at me like that?”

“Phew, this won’t do. Lady, honestly speaking…”

“No, don’t. I don’t really want to receive something like a confession that you’ve fallen for me.”

Namgung Sang-rin unconsciously clenched both fists.

URK!

She’s a troublemaker – a troublemaker who’s only pretty has appeared!