Chapter 142: Here in a Flash There in a Flash
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Chapter 142 – Here in a Flash, There in a Flash
Having withdrawn his gaze from the dark sky, Neung Po soon gathered the Black Forest Hall group’s corpses and carelessly threw them into the shabby house.
Then he revived the dying embers of a lamp fallen on one side of the floor and brought it to an old blanket.
Before long.
CRACKLE, CRACKLE, CRACKLE…
The red flames that rose fiercely, burning the blanket and floor, spread to the walls and ceiling, exhaling hot breath wildly.
Standing blankly amid the acrid smoke, Neung Po soon turned his back on the house engulfed in flames and carried the mother and daughter’s corpses on his back.
Some time passed.
The forest had sunk into pitch-black darkness, and the moon, mingled with the stars, shone even brighter.
A small hill where warm sunlight would fall well once day broke.
The widow of thirty-four who still had more life ahead of her and the fifteen-year-old girl were buried here side by side.
Neung Po gazed at the nameless grave he had made with his own hands, clasped both hands together as if in prayer, and spoke quietly.
“I hope you may rest in peace. Don’t worry about mentioning me… Go to heaven with your daughter and enjoy the life you couldn’t finish.”
He had surmised this the moment he saw the situation earlier.
The fact that Jang Min had ultimately revealed the secret.
He fully understood.
Because it must have been to protect her daughter who was like her life.
Anyone would do so.
For a parent, a child is like a heart they have taken out and placed outside themselves.
That’s why they can’t help but be more precious than anything else in the world.
An existence they would want to protect even at the cost of their own life – that is what a child is…
So rather, he felt sorry.
It was self-reproach.
His heart was heavy with regret for not tying up loose ends more thoroughly while he was helping.
Suddenly, Neung Po lowered his head and water gathered in his eyes.
‘I… am a worthless fool.’
Because facing the pitiful death of the mother and daughter naturally reminded him of his dead wife and child.
Something from over thirty years ago.
Yet it remained in his memory like a nightmare he could never forget as long as he lived.
What mattered most was that the reason his wife and child had died back then was because of himself.
His heart ached even more because that feeling back then was exactly like now.
That he couldn’t protect them to the end.
“Haah…”
Having let out a long sigh, Neung Po wiped his tears with his sleeve and then walked down the hill.
‘Merciless judgment – only that can appease the wronged souls of that mother and daughter.’
His gaze flickered sharply.
As the deep killing intent he had suppressed for a moment exploded through his eyes, the already quiet forest seemed to sink into an even deeper silence.
A lonely death that no one would know.
The only things comforting the wronged spirits of Jang Min and Hong Cheong who had departed for heaven were Neung Po disappearing into the darkness and the moonlight quietly illuminating his path.
* * *
The grounds of Dark Hall.
At the top floor railing of a splendid three-story pavilion, a man in his twenties draped in a black long robe stood leaning while gazing at the night sky.
The promising new rising master of the Hunan region’s unorthodox martial world – it was Dark Sword Fragrance Mun Bin, known as Dark Hall’s greatest prodigy.
Originally, this large three-story pavilion had been said the building that Netherworld Sword Fork Jeo Gyeom used as both his office and residence during his lifetime.
But now the owner had changed.
To Mun Bin, who had been elevated as the new Hall Master – the youngest in Dark Hall’s history – after lengthy discussions…
The matter related to Jeo Gyeom’s death had been fairly well settled.
Not long ago, upon arriving here, Mun Bin had gathered the leadership and explained in detail what had happened at that villa.
-If you want to raise your reputation, you can say you killed him while he went mad and rampaged.
At that time, Cheol Ryu-heun had said he didn’t care what was done, but Mun Bin didn’t add any falsehoods.
It was a courageous decision.
At first, he thought it would be good to embellish with some lies.
Because if he revealed that the man he had served as a master turned out to be the enemy who killed his family, it could create a great misunderstanding that he had secretly joined hands with White Peak Sword Sect regarding this matter’s outcome.
But.
He changed direction after hearing his trusted subordinate’s advice that rather than fabricating lies, it would be better to speak frankly.
The choice was successful.
Of course, some heated debate couldn’t be avoided, but before Mun Bin’s sincere attitude, everyone ultimately empathized, and even the matter of elevating him as the new Hall Master was passed.
‘What a relief indeed. Actually, if someone had objected, I was worried about how to handle it…’
Mun Bin muttered to himself while continuing to gaze at the countless stars dotting the black sky.
Then.
SWISH.
He shifted his eyes toward the round full moon hanging in the sky.
‘If we are stars… He is like that large, bright moon.’
He meant Cheol Ryu-heun.
Recalling it again, only admiration came out at those martial achievements… There probably weren’t many masters in their twenties in this region who could display such power.
No, perhaps there were none at all.
At least from his own perspective, it was natural to think so.
Since he had never met or exchanged blows with a transcendent-level genius like Cheol Ryu-heun.
Suddenly, one man’s face came to mind.
Azure Mark Sword Seol Pan-gyo.
The senior disciple of Azure Heaven Sword Sect and a martial talent counted among the top across this entire Hunan region.
Before Cheol Ryu-heun appeared, he had been the greatest new-generation powerhouse.
‘Though he who once defeated me is also a genius of the sword path far beyond the scope of ordinary martial talents… He cannot compare to Sect Master Cheol.’
Mun Bin himself had actually started martial arts somewhat later than other rising talents of the martial world.
However, after being selected as Jeo Gyeom’s disciple ten years ago, he boasted tremendous development speed and quickly built up his personal reputation.
Reaching the present, he had even received praise close to accolades such as “Even if Jeo Gyeom retires from the Hall Master position in the future, with Mun Bin present, Dark Hall’s future is still bright.”
But.
What had made him work even harder during his martial training was Azure Mark Sword Seol Pan-gyo, who had been his opponent in a private sparring match five years ago.
The reason he had shown great prominence since passing the age of twenty was also because of that.
‘I want to test my martial prowess against Azure Mark Sword once more. To test how much my sword path has improved… I hear he’s already receiving praise that he’ll become one of the next generation’s Five Martial Paragons – defeating him would be impossible, but if I could reach an equal match, that would be more than I could ask for.’
At that moment, he heard footsteps climbing the stairs, and soon a figure approached and stood on the floor behind him.
“Hall Master.”
A swordsman in his forties bowing courteously with clasped fists.
With a sturdy build and one eye, he was Gwang Ryo, also known as Nine Springs Swordsman – famous as the strongest swordsman among Dark Hall’s leadership.
Mun Bin quickly turned his head and asked.
“Ah, how did it go?”
Gwang Ryo then lowered his clasped hands and stepped a few paces forward.
“A jointly drafted document arrived just now – the news is that everyone has decided to follow our Hall’s stance.”
“Ah… Really? Sword Flash Pavilion, Ashen Heart Sect, Lone Moon Sword Sect, Red Leopard Hall, and Shaking Martial Hall – all of them?”
At Mun Bin’s brightened question, Gwang Ryo answered with a faint smile.
“Yes, that’s right. They said they respect our Hall’s position that the cause of this incident originally lies with the heads of each faction who conspired with Thousand Snake Group, and also that White Peak Sword Sect Master’s group merely stood up righteously. So there shouldn’t be any further disputes.”
“Hmm, they all know how to tell right from wrong.”
“When our Hall was first to acknowledge fault and express the position that White Peak Sword Sect bears no responsibility, each of them reluctantly agreed.”
At that, Mun Bin spoke with a respectful expression.
“Thank you.”
“Oh, not at all! Hall Master! What are you saying…”
When Gwang Ryo waved both hands in a fluster, Mun Bin bowed his head and expressed his thanks again.
“If you hadn’t uncovered and secretly told me the ugly hidden history of the one I considered my master, I would still be living while revering that villain as if he were heaven.”
Indeed.
The person who had uncovered Jeo Gyeom’s atrocities related to his family’s tragedy was none other than Gwang Ryo standing before him.
“That was something that had to be done as a matter of human duty.”
Mun Bin raised his head at those words and smiled gently.
“It’s no exaggeration to say it’s truly a blessing that a genuine person like you remains at our Hall. Though I have many lacking aspects as Hall Master… I ask for your support.”
“Goodness, rather it’s what I would like to say. As one of the executives, I will give my all so that I won’t disgrace our Hall as it makes its fresh start.”
Having answered thus, Gwang Ryo soon pointed with his hand toward a building visible beyond the railing.
“Also, please go there quickly.”
It was the guest hall located in the southeast of Dark Hall.
“What is it? Has a guest visited?”
“Yes, that’s right. Someone related to the matter you requested arrived about a quarter hour ago.”
The matter Mun Bin had requested was none other than Cheol Ryu-heun’s request.
-Once the internal cleanup is finished, consider it repaying the favor and try to recruit an information-gathering organization from the unorthodox side.
In other words, the person who had entered that guest hall was definitely the head of an information-gathering organization.
Mun Bin asked again.
“Which one is it?”
“Celestial Flower Tower.”
Celestial Flower Tower was a very famous information-gathering organization composed of over eighty percent women.
“Ah… I can’t believe Celestial Flower Tower responded this quickly… Understood. I’ll go right away.”
“Yes, Hall Master.”
Mun Bin straightened his clothes, then left the pavilion with Gwang Ryo and headed straight for the guest hall.
* * *
RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE, RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE-
A man and horse galloping fiercely along a quiet path by Hong Lake’s waterside – their identity was Cheol Ryu-heun and Divine Wind.
The speed was overwhelming.
Just this afternoon, he had been staying in Zhanzhou, the large city at the southernmost tip of the Hunan region, yet he had already arrived at this lakeside right at the border of the Hubei region…
It was Divine Wind’s advancement. Having consumed Sky Clear Stone Milk in addition to Thousand-Year Immortal Ginseng, his tremendous strength had risen sharply.
He hadn’t rested even once on the way here.
Yet Divine Wind, racing as fast as a flash of light, showed no signs of fatigue – rather, he seemed to be overflowing with energy.
Before long.
“Whoa.”
Cheol Ryu-heun pulled the reins to stop Divine Wind, then rummaged through the pouch hanging from the saddle and pulled out a ginseng.
CRUNCH, CRUNCH, CRUNCH-
While Divine Wind deliciously chewed and ate the ginseng, Cheol Ryu-heun’s gaze went toward the waterside city in the distance ahead.
‘Hmm, I’m getting hungry too. Anyway, I’ll find out once I go there.’
The only purpose for which he had ridden across the vast Hunan region land as if traversing it from end to end to come here to Hong Lake, located right beyond the northern border.
Recruiting a Guest Retainer who was also a cook.
Of course, the target was the mysterious wandering swordsman Neung Po, whom he had heard about from Ye Woon-rang.
-The dumplings he made at that time were simply the best in the world. It was truly the first time in my life I’d eaten dumplings with such incredible taste.
Recalling what Ye Woon-rang had said, Cheol Ryu-heun gripped the reins again and commanded briefly.
“If you’re done eating, let’s go.”
Thus, Divine Wind, carrying his master on his back, raced at high speed into a bustling street within the waterside city.
Befitting a scenic spot that everyone counted among the best, the street lined with all kinds of shops was teeming with crowds.
CLIP-CLOP, CLIP-CLOP…
As Divine Wind slowed his pace and proceeded, Cheol Ryu-heun asked for directions from a man who appeared to be a local.
“I heard a dumpling shop newly opened where the old Solitary Guest Inn used to be – do you happen to know where it is?”
The man pointed his finger toward a forest submerged in darkness far away.
“Ah, go over there. But at this hour, they’ve probably closed up shop…”
Before he finished speaking.
CRASH!
Divine Wind stamped the ground and split the crowd on the street in half as he vanished in the blink of an eye.