Chapter 129: Meeting Again

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Shortly after.

TAP.

After emptying his plate, Cheol Ryu-heun set down his chopsticks and stood up.

At that moment, the dumpling shop owner approached with a beaming smile.

“Did you enjoy your meal?”

Cheol Ryu-heun nodded and took out some money.

CLINK-

A coin purse placed on the table.

Just by eyeballing it, there seemed to be about a hundred mun in coins.

‘Hm? What’s this?’

While the owner was bewildered, Cheol Ryu-heun strode toward the exit as if he had finished paying.

“Wait! W-wait… Customer, customer! Surely this isn’t the payment for the food? It’s too much…”

But Cheol Ryu-heun didn’t look back as he came out of the dumpling shop and mounted Divine Wind.

“Let’s go.”

“Customer, customer!”

The owner came rushing out clutching the coin purse, but Cheol Ryu-heun galloped off along the main road with Divine Wind.

CLOP-CLOP, CLOP-CLOP…

The sound of hooves quickly fading into the distance, leaving no time to stop him.

The owner, who had stood watching blankly, eventually muttered quietly.

“Ha, he must have money overflowing despite his clothes. Tsk, how enviable. Such a young person too…”

Meanwhile, Cheol Ryu-heun quietly stopped at the entrance of a downtown bustling district where taverns, inns, bookstores, herb shops and more were gathered.

‘That’s the place.’

Far ahead on the road bustling with crowds out to enjoy the evening, a building stood tall, brilliantly lit with all kinds of lanterns.

A high-class tavern.

Xiangdong was the old name of this city.

Also.

That great five-story tavern was one of the taverns representing the nightlife of the city of Xiangdong.

Cheol Ryu-heun, standing on the ground, soon lightly pulled Divine Wind’s reins and walked toward it.

If one has plenty of money, it’s only fitting to spend accordingly, and if one has broken through a new limit of martial arts… It’s also fitting to use that power accordingly.

Of course.

With that thought, Cheol Ryu-heun let out a quiet voice.

“Debts exist to be repaid.”

That fellow who’s rumored to practically live at that tavern – I wonder what expression he’ll make when he sees me.

* * *

At the same time.

Gong Wol was standing alone on the western watchtower outside Mount Heng Sect, lost in thought with the glow of sunset in his eyes.

‘I should tell him…’

Yesterday he had passed the promotion examination and obtained the dreamlike qualification of first-generation disciple.

But he felt somewhat ashamed.

While displaying form after form of the higher sword technique whose essence he had barely grasped, he got stuck on a part and was flustered – and at that moment, he received unexpected help.

It was Cheol Ryu-heun.

In other words, he had received unanimous approval because Cheol Ryu-heun had secretly transmitted to him the solution for that technique via sound transmission.

So he had intended to confess honestly to the Sect Leader today.

That while he was very grateful for being taken in as the youngest disciple, if in his conscience there was even a single point of shame, it would be right to revoke his qualification – and that he would gladly accept any disciplinary action…

At that moment.

Taoist Cheon Mu had somehow appeared and climbed up to the watchtower.

Gong Wol heard the presence and whirled around in surprise, then soon paid his respects with a heavy expression.

“Sect Leader… You’ve come.”

Taoist Cheon Mu made a gesture and spoke quietly.

“What are you worrying so deeply about? Is Sect Master Cheol’s teaching weighing on your mind?”

“…!”

“Don’t be surprised. Sect Master Cheol told me everything beforehand.”

“Ah… I see.”

“I suppose you’re thinking it wasn’t an achievement gained by your own power.”

Taoist As Cheon Mu came closer and stood, Gong Wol dropped his head with an even darker expression.

“I’m sorry. I should have told you earlier… My attachment and greed for being a first-generation disciple ended up making me a disgrace.”

“I understand.”

“I can’t guarantee whether there will be another opportunity like this… But I will work even harder so as not to bring shame to the sect.”

“Yes, that is how my youngest disciple should think.”

“Pardon…?”

“Hoho. What, did you think I would strip you of first-generation qualification?”

“W-well…”

“Sect Master Cheol said this. He gave you a Hundred-Year Snow Ginseng, but when he watched you at the promotion examination, you hadn’t consumed it.”

“……”

“If you had consumed it, you could have broken through that stuck part on your own with insufficient power, but you refused that easy path. That’s why Sect Master Cheol helped you. He said your mindset was admirable, that you somehow resembled how he was before becoming a vegetable.”

“Ah… I see…”

“The reason I scheduled the promotion examination and wanted to take you as my youngest disciple was because I was drawn to that character of yours. So don’t mind this incident. Hoho.”

Taoist When Cheon Mu gave a benevolent smile, Gong Wol spoke with emotion in his voice.

“Thank you! Sect Leader!”

“Sect Master Cheol’s personality has completely changed now, but his evaluation of you was probably meant to tell you not to lose your inherent character and keep developing it.”

Taoist Cheon Mu soon looked at the reddened sky and continued.

“Do you have a Taoist name in mind separately?”

“I don’t.”

“Good, I’ll give you a new Taoist name. Baek Lim. It means a person unstained like a white forest, protecting the lofty Taoist principles of our sect.”

“Baek Lim… I really like it. Sect Leader.”

“Hoho. From now on, formally address me as Master.”

“Yes, Master!”

Thus, second-generation disciple Gong Wol became Baek Lim – a first-generation disciple at the very bottom of Taoist Cheon Mu’s legitimate line.

‘And… Thank you. Sect Master Cheol.’

Baek Lim soon cautiously asked about something he had been curious about.

“Master, but how strong has Sect Master Cheol become? I heard he achieved Bone Replacement and Marrow Cleansing by going to the forbidden zone but…”

“Today was not his first opportunity. He already gained an opportunity before coming to our sect. An opportunity that could shake the entire history of the martial world.”

“…!”

Baek Lim looked extremely curious.

Taoist But Cheon Mu was sparing with his words.

“You’ll come to know when the time is right.”

“Mm… Yes. I won’t ask further.”

“Before long, you’ll hear news about White Peak Sword Sect. The ranking reorganization will begin right away…”

In an instant, Baek Lim’s eyes gleamed.

‘Ranking reorganization?’

It sounded somehow meaningful.

Taoist Cheon Mu soon stroked his long beard and turned his body.

‘Due to Sect Master Cheol’s existence, White Peak Sword Sect has gone from being a setting moon to a rising sun. Now the entire Hunan region will be stirring. Hoho.’

* * *

About a year ago, Cheol Ryu-heun had received an invitation to a gathering.

It was an event arranged for the rising talents of ten orthodox sword sects, including White Peak Sword Sect, to gather together, build fellowship, and compare their martial arts.

The person who played the role of leader at the gathering was Seol Pan-gyo, the senior disciple of Azure Heaven Sword Sect and one of the most outstanding talents in the region.

At the time, at twenty-four years old, he had already earned the alias Azure Mark Sword at eighteen and his swordsmanship was so outstanding that it was said he had few rivals among swordsmen his age.

Moreover, since his master was the Azure Heaven Sword Sect Master, one of the Five Supreme Martial Experts of Hunan Province, his name value was very high thanks to that prestige.

Like Dark Hall Master Jeo Gyeom, he was an emerging powerhouse far beyond the category of ordinary talents, with a reputation that he was on par with the Five Martial Paragons.

People lavished praise on Azure Mark Sword Seol Pan-gyo, saying he would become the next Five Martial Paragons.

Cheol Ryu-heun attended that gathering along with his junior martial brother Eul Sa-jeok.

He wasn’t particularly inclined to go.

Because he suspected the hidden intentions of Azure Mark Sword Seol Pan-gyo, who had organized the meeting, and the rising talents who followed him.

However, Sagong Woon had told him that even if he ended up being humiliated there, not to mind it and face it head-on.

So he steeled his heart and went.

The rising talents from the nine sects excluding White Peak Sword Sect numbered over thirty, and among them, there wasn’t a single talent weaker than Cheol Ryu-heun or Eul Sa-jeok.

As expected, inviting the White Peak Sword Sect side was merely for appearances.

Seol Pan-gyo had invited Cheol Ryu-heun and Eul Sa-jeok only to confirm his own high status and to show off a generous side of looking after even the rising talents of a fallen sect.

The disdain and tyranny of those with power toward the powerless… Nothing more, nothing less.

Indeed, once the gathering’s atmosphere ripened, Seol Pan-gyo’s clique openly played pranks and slighted Cheol Ryu-heun.

-Young Sect Master Cheol, how pitiful. Being a legitimate successor in name, how is it you don’t even have a single fine sword? White Peak Sword Sect must really be in trouble. I’d like to help, but handing over money seems awkward… Oh, of course I could, but wouldn’t it look like coming to places like this to beg? Hoho.

-My, what is that outfit? I’ve never seen such old clothes. We don’t quite match. Ahahaha, I’m joking. Look at your face turning red.

-I happen to have brought some fabric as a commemorative gift for the gathering, so take it all when you leave. Well, we don’t particularly need it.

-Since you’re here, how about a sparring match with me? Ah, right, there’s a skill difference, so how about I don’t use one hand? Ahahat.

Thus, four famous talents including Azure Mark Sword Seol Pan-gyo took the lead in humiliating Cheol Ryu-heun.

It was a lonely place.

Swords hurt people’s bodies, but words hurt people’s hearts.

Sometimes that hurts more.

Among the thirty-some rising talents, no one tried to stop Seol Pan-gyo’s clique’s behavior.

Conformity, submission to the majority… It was human nature and habit.

Everyone just watched Seol Pan-gyo’s clique’s reactions and didn’t dare voice complaints.

Because if the will of the many gathers, the minority that opposes it gets ostracized.

The exclusion by those with power and their followers was frightening.

At that time, Eul Sa-jeok was busy bowing and flattering.

He behaved servily as if trying to somehow make connections through that gathering.

But Cheol Ryu-heun recalled his master’s great teachings in his mind and stood firm.

-They say all things in the world begin with planning, are achieved through effort, and are ruined by arrogance. You would all do well to keep that in mind. Do you know that saying? That humility is the virtue hardest to attain. However, I received that humility from my master and carved it into this heart – you should rather envy me. The words ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’… How could that apply only to wealth? If one’s heart is not rich, that too counts as a have-not.

Cheol Ryu-heun struck the bones of those who had looked down on him, likewise with words.

Seol Pan-gyo’s clique felt shame at receiving righteous words from someone they had looked down upon.

That day.

Seol Pan-gyo’s clique deliberately humiliated Cheol Ryu-heun through sparring.

They demanded forced consecutive sparring matches until they even broke his ribs, and at the end of the gathering, all four threw out insulting words.

-Young Sect Master Cheol, it must hurt a lot, right? Again, it wasn’t intentional. Anyway, the skill difference is too severe, so we won’t be able to associate with you from now on.

-Ugh, blood splashed on my expensive shoes. I didn’t know you’d get a nosebleed from just one hit. Young Sect Master Cheol. So are you going to spar with someone else too?

-Aren’t you taking the fabric? Huh? You don’t want it? Ha, if you don’t have ability, you should at least know to throw away your pride.

-Tch, the mood today is really… At least know when you belong and when you don’t, sheesh. You’re not a dog that comes running just because someone calls.

STEP-

Cheol Ryu-heun stopped in front of the tavern and chuckled internally.

‘Ha, humans who follow the majority… Starting today, I’ll become the majority. So that you all voluntarily bow your heads.’

Having tied Divine Wind to one side, he soon pushed aside the colorful bead curtain hanging at the tavern’s main entrance and stepped inside.

Immediately after.

The clamoring noise struck his ears.

Cheol Ryu-heun’s eyes soon rested on the most luxurious table in the center of the first floor space.

There.

He could see.

Azure Mark Sword Seol Pan-gyo.

The senior disciple of Azure Heaven Sword Sect that dominated this city of Xiangdong, and the arrogant fellow who had humiliated this body’s original owner in the past…

But.

The old saying goes that the day you happen to visit is market day – all four of that clique from back then were seated together.

Apparently today was the day they had arranged to meet.

Killing two birds with one stone – no, in this case, killing ‘four’ birds with one stone.

Since they were all conveniently together, he was spared the trouble of seeking them out separately.

Cheol Ryu-heun soon walked with an expressionless face to the empty chair at that luxurious table and sat down without preamble.

Simultaneously, the gazes of Seol Pan-gyo and his group focused on the other’s face.

“Oh?”

“Wait, you’re…”

“Young Sect Master Cheol…?”

The moment everyone showed surprised reactions at the unexpected, Cheol Ryu-heun picked up an empty cup, placed it down with a TAP in front of him, and spoke.

“Pour me a drink.”