Chapter 138: Pardon
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Chapter 138 – Pardon?
Namgung Heon-rin and Jeon Kwae looked even more bewildered when the unexpected person mentioned an unexpected name.
‘…!’
How on earth did someone they were seeing for the first time today immediately notice that there was a thread of connection between Ju Yu-gang and themselves?
But there was one thing they could sense intuitively.
He was different from that robed figure over there.
That’s right – he wasn’t an enemy.
Blocking the robed figure’s path and shattering his sword energy just now had proven that sufficiently.
Cheol Ryu-heun slightly furrowed his brow and said.
“Focus.”
At that, Namgung Heon-rin quickly fixed his expression.
“Ah… How did you know that?”
In the midst of not knowing what was what, he asked with respectful language observing courtesy.
Because openly mentioning Chief Magistrate Ju Yu-gang’s name suggested this must be someone of considerably high status.
Before Cheol Ryu-heun could reply, the robed figure began charging.
FLUTTER-
A form crossing the distance in one breath.
An iron sword intertwined with killing intent, fighting spirit, and even sword energy cut through the air, rushing at high speed.
CLANG- CRASH-!
The instant loud sounds burst out simultaneously.
FLUTTER FLUTTER-
The robed figure, sent flying backward rapidly, smashed through several dead trees in a row before soon burying himself in the ground over there with a THUD.
By the formidable sword power of Cheol Ryu-heun, who had somehow swung his long sword.
‘…!’
Seeing that, Namgung Heon-rin and Jeon Kwae widened their eyes greatly.
The robed figure’s strength was by no means weak, yet the simple single sword strike that had countered it was that powerful…
Moreover, his heavy peak power felt as if it had been instantly exploded without going through any operation process.
They even thought he might be close to Five Martial Paragon level of this region.
Cheol Ryu-heun turned his head again and spoke in an indifferent voice.
“The energy flowing in your bodies – it’s the same essence as Chief Magistrate Ju’s. That’s how I knew. Well, though we’ve never actually sparred.”
Namgung Heon-rin and Jeon Kwae looked even more surprised upon hearing those words.
It was transcendent energy sense.
Normally, Ju Yu-gang deliberately hid the energy in his body due to his original status while operating. But to perceive that without even having sparred once – from their perspective, it was quite shocking.
‘Ha, he discerned that our internal energy is from that school’s power without even having crossed swords?’
Namgung Heon-rin and Jeon Kwae were now certain.
This unidentified uninvited guest who had appeared suddenly was definitely a new rising master close to the top tier of this region.
Because the energy from Ju Yu-gang’s internal energy cultivation method had an extremely secretive nature, making it nearly impossible to grasp through simple energy sense alone unless one was counted among the top-ranked powerhouses of this region.
Therefore, they couldn’t help but think of him as being on a similar level.
Namgung Heon-rin quickly spoke up.
“Do you know each other well?”
“We recently joined hands and swept out the snake den of Wuyang.”
“…!”
Only then did Namgung Heon-rin realize this was related to what he had seen in Wuyang, and he asked again.
“May I ask your honored name…?”
“Cheol Ryu-heun. The new Sect Master of White Peak Sword Sect.”
Having answered briefly, Cheol Ryu-heun stepped forward and said.
“I’ll help.”
The fight wasn’t over yet.
Sure enough, the pitch-black robed figure could be seen picking himself up over there.
Having quickly steadied his breath, Namgung Heon-rin tried to follow.
“Just take care of your body. It’ll be over quickly anyway.”
Cheol Ryu-heun spoke bluntly without even looking back.
Then briefly added.
“Capturing him alive won’t work.”
“Pardon?”
“You’d better give up any thoughts of catching him to find something out.”
“What do you mean…”
“He’s a mute.”
At that moment, Namgung Heon-rin and Jeon Kwae’s expressions changed.
“…!”
Who would have thought he was mute?
No wonder he was so quiet.
Jeon Kwae muttered while tightly binding his wounded forearm.
“Heonrin, seems they sent a mute with the judgment that there would be absolutely no risk of leaking secrets.”
“Right. Originally the plan was probably to kill us… But if his own life is in danger instead, he’ll choose to suicide without hesitation.”
“Nine out of ten.”
Namgung Heon-rin nodded.
Despite having a chance to escape after recovering from that impact and getting up, staying like this to the end and revealing his killing intent made it certain he had already resolved to die.
At that moment, Cheol Ryu-heun, having stopped walking, asked indifferently.
“May I take action?”
Namgung Heon-rin made his decision.
“Yes.”
“Good.”
With those words.
FLIT-
Cheol Ryu-heun vanished.
Simultaneously.
CLANG- CRASH-!
The robed figure, enveloped in white haze, was sent flying sideways, smashing through several dead trees with a CRUNCH.
He had been overwhelmed by the tremendous force the moment he blocked Cheol Ryu-heun’s sword, which had somehow moved to his side.
The speed ignored the naked eye.
The instant the robed figure barely stopped his body.
PFFT-
The long sword, rushing in like a flash of light, pierced through his left side.
But.
The expression of the robed figure who had been impaled showed absolutely no change.
He was clearly feeling pain.
Judging from the thick veins bulging on his forehead.
“Interesting fellow. Did you also learn how to endure the pain of being stabbed by a sword?”
With those words, Cheol Ryu-heun flicked his right hand and the robed figure’s body was plucked from the long sword and slammed into the distant ground.
STAGGER STAGGER.
The robed figure rose rather precariously, then soon raised his power to maximum level.
RUMBLE…
The trembling dirt ground attested to the magnitude of that power.
But Cheol Ryu-heun was merely expressionless.
When the robed figure charged and thrust his sword tip, sword energy far larger than what they had seen before was projected.
But.
BOOM!
It was once again futilely annihilated before Cheol Ryu-heun’s quick thrusting sword attack.
‘…!’
The moment the robed figure’s gaze wavered slightly, Cheol Ryu-heun appeared before him.
Truly a wondrous movement.
CLASH- CRASH-!
The robed figure, spewing blood, was sent flying sideways.
He had barely blocked the long sword that had rushed bearing sword energy, but his internal energy pathways had been indiscriminately overturned by that terrifying power.
Following that.
CRASH!
With a fierce roar striking his ears, the robed figure’s body shot the other direction, scattering a long trail of fresh blood.
It wasn’t over.
BOOM-!
This time the robed figure’s body soared high above the forest, then soon crashed to the ground with a THUMP and rolled lifelessly.
Immediately after.
CRASH CRASH CRASH CRASH-!
From above, formless energy poured down fiercely like a waterfall, pressing the robed figure’s body down.
CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH- RUMBLE RUMBLE…!
Namgung Heon-rin and Jeon Kwae looked as if seized by tremors again.
“GAH, that’s…!”
“Soaring Through Air Controlling Energy!”
At the bottom of the dirt dug in like a huge pit, the robed figure lying flat finally revealed a pained expression and coughed up blood.
DRIP, DRIP DRIP.
Crimson blood soaking the ground.
With severe external and internal injuries making movement impossible.
Cheol Ryu-heun soon walked up to him.
“Strong loyalty. Even easily discarding your life.”
At that moment, the gaze of the robed figure, who had been trembling, sank deeply.
-If you judge your strength insufficient, remember my teachings and act with swift decision.
His master’s previous words.
Recalling that, the robed figure unhesitatingly crunched down on a small pellet he had cleverly wedged between his molars.
Cheol Ryu-heun heard that sound and muttered.
“Poison Pill, is it?”
Indeed, that pellet was one of the suicide tools containing a certain deadly poison.
The robed figure, rolling his eyes back white, foamed at the mouth and convulsed violently several times before finally ceasing all movement as if his breath had stopped.
Instant death.
By estimation, it was an extreme poison extracted from a rare poisonous substance.
Cheol Ryu-heun soon tore the robed figure’s hem, wiped the blood from his long sword, and gestured.
Namgung Heon-rin and Jeon Kwae, who had hurriedly approached, examined the corpse and exchanged quiet words.
“Hmm… As expected, there’s nothing on his person that could serve as evidence.”
“Well, can’t help it. We’ll just have to go there and see…”
Meanwhile, Cheol Ryu-heun sheathed his long sword with a CLICK and looked at the iron sword gripped in the corpse’s hand.
Just an ordinary, commonly seen sword.
Perhaps that wanderer fellow had also used an ordinary iron sword like that at the time, which was why the thought came to mind.
Soon, Namgung Heon-rin clasped both hands before his chest and lightly bowed his head.
“Thank you.”
Jeon Kwae also took a stance of clasped-fist salute, expressing silent gratitude.
Cheol Ryu-heun adjusted his hair and spoke with an expressionless face.
“I know Chief Magistrate Ju’s character well, so I trusted you two and helped. Save your thanks not for me, but go give them to Chief Magistrate Ju later. I won’t separately ask what this matter is about. After all, everyone has their circumstances.”
At that, Namgung Heon-rin felt trust and relief.
‘He’s a reliable person.’
Someone who praised Ju Yu-gang’s character like that, and moreover handled this Thousand Snake Group matter together.
He knew better than anyone.
The fact that Ju Yu-gang wouldn’t readily join hands with others without some great conviction.
Furthermore, this person surely had parts he was curious about regarding this incident, yet he said he would let that go as well – which made him all the more likable.
But… Setting that aside, there was one great question he couldn’t shake off.
It was the first he’d heard of a new rising master possessing such tremendous power existing within White Peak Sword Sect, which had been declining until now.
Cheol Ryu-heun immediately read that inner thought and said.
“The eldest legitimate disciple of the sect who became a vegetable – that’s me.”
“…!”
Namgung Heon-rin’s eyes filled with surprise.
In truth, he hadn’t been greatly interested in White Peak Sword Sect, so he didn’t know the eldest legitimate disciple’s name. But he had already encountered the rumor a couple of times that someone had suddenly collapsed and become a vegetable during the funeral of the previous Sect Master, Hundred Patterns Sword Gentleman Sagong Woon.
Yet… He had no idea that person was the young man before him.
“You recovered?”
“Not long ago.”
“Ah… I, I see.”
“I obtained a heaven-sent opportunity and became strong. No need to hold any strange doubts.”
“An opportunity of fate… You must have really obtained something tremendous.”
Cheol Ryu-heun casually waved one hand as if it was nothing and turned around.
“Anyway, it seems finished, so I’ll be going now.”
“Ah, wait a moment… Sect Master Cheol, wouldn’t this be a good opportunity to formally introduce ourselves?”
“Why bother?”
At Cheol Ryu-heun’s lukewarm reaction with his back turned, Namgung Heon-rin continued as if he couldn’t just let him go.
“No. You’re a righteous person who eliminated evil scoundrels together with Sir Ju – it’s only proper that we give our names. The big fellow here is called Jeon Kwae, and I’m Namgung Heon-rin. We’re both twenty-one this year, the same age.”
Immediately after.
SWISH.
Cheol Ryu-heun turned back and stared straight at Namgung Heon-rin.
“Namgung Heon-rin?”
“Yes.”
“Sang-rin’s younger brother?”
“That’s right.”
“Hmm. I wondered what was triggering my senses earlier – it seems it was to see you.”
“I don’t understand what you mean…”
“Namgung Sang-rin is currently a Guest Retainer of my sect.”
At those words Cheol Ryu-heun tossed out, Namgung Heon-rin’s expression showed surprise.
“What? Why would my brother be a Guest Retainer at White Peak Sword Sect…?”
“Right. He said that with my help, he could rebuild your family more quickly. So he made his decision.”
“…!”
“I’ve already restored the Namgung Family’s lost sword arts, and roughly… I estimate with about a year of effort, rebuilding will be fully achievable.”
Namgung Heon-rin blinked his eyes with a dazed expression.
What, one year…?
Our family that already fell eleven years ago…?
At that moment, Cheol Ryu-heun’s indifferent voice struck his ears.
“Well, if you’re interested too, come to my sect later. I’ll raise you to the level of the strongest throughout your family’s history.”