Chapter 147: Gal Jung-heons Choice
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Chapter 147 – Gal Jung-heon’s Choice
-First Dragon Martial Gate Master Ba Hun
Seeing those words engraved on the surface of the Vermillion Dragon Medallion, Gal Jung-heon was once again certain.
It was genuine!
It was definitely the divine artifact that had been owned by Ascending Heaven Sword Dragon, whose whereabouts had been unclear since his sudden seclusion thirty years ago!
It was the one and only Sect Master’s command token of the former Dragon Martial Gate!
There was no doubt.
Because when he had faced Ba Hun, who had been the hegemon of this Central Plains martial world, intending to exchange blows with him, he had seen that famous object in person.
Moreover, wasn’t the Vermillion Jade itself, used to make the Vermillion Dragon Medallion, an extremely rare supreme treasure in the world?
Imitating such a distinctive color was completely impossible.
Because no other species of rare jade with color matching that Vermillion Jade had existed throughout all of history.
This was a fact that everyone in the world knew.
From ancient times, there had been a famous saying circulating beyond the borders.
-The Sect Master command token of Illusion Demon Cult is made from the rare Vermillion Jade in the world, making its value special.
In his youth, Gal Jung-heon had had several exchanges with Illusion Demon Cult, and one day by chance, he had seen the Sect Master’s command token with his own two eyes.
It was a perfect match.
The color of Illusion Demon Cult Master’s command token he had observed then and the color of Dragon Martial Gate Master’s command token he had seen later…
That’s why even now he had immediately discerned just from the distinctive color.
That regardless of the fact that the object in Cheol Ryu-heun’s hand was the Vermillion Dragon Medallion, the material used was definitely Vermillion Jade.
“You recognize it, I see.”
At Cheol Ryu-heun’s indifferent voice, the absent-minded gaze of the dazed Gal Jung-heon quickly regained focus.
“I heard that at the time, Ascending Heaven Sword Dragon suddenly secluded himself taking the Divine Martial Sword and Vermillion Dragon Medallion… Did you completely obtain his true transmission?”
Cheol Ryu-heun nodded as he replied.
“This is essentially a keepsake.”
“Hmm, I see.”
Gal Jung-heon nodded in return.
Right, anyway he understood everything, but… How did that fellow Cheol Ryu-heun, the new sect master of White Peak Sword Sect, know even the hidden history that no one was aware of? He couldn’t understand at all.
-The former Alliance Master of Nine Demon Alliance who achieved Rejuvenation
Though there was one thought that suddenly came to mind.
“Let me ask. Did Ascending Heaven Sword Dragon perhaps leave some kind of record about his life’s affairs?”
“A diary.”
Cheol Ryu-heun’s concise answer.
Well, since he had used this excuse on that crappy swordsman before, he might as well use it again.
Well, it wasn’t easy to say that he himself was the reincarnation of the Divine Martial Sword.
“Hoh… A diary… That’s truly unexpected.”
In Gal Jung-heon’s low muttering, a feeling of something complex seemed to be contained.
It was exactly thirty-three years ago.
The time when, as the Alliance Master of Nine Demon Alliance – one of the great powers representing the demonic martial world – he had competed against Ba Hun, the supreme master of this land…
That was a match conducted in utmost secrecy, unknown to anyone except the two parties involved.
The result was Gal Jung-heon’s defeat.
His original purpose had been to subdue Ba Hun alone and establish a foothold for advancing into the Central Plains martial world.
Because that was the most effective method to avoid large-scale battles with heavy casualties while reaping practical gains.
But.
The martial prowess of Ba Hun, the hegemon of that era, was transcendent beyond expectations.
Also.
The unfathomable divine power of the Divine Martial Sword, the foremost of the Ten Heavenly Weapons, in harmony with Ba Hun’s powerful martial arts, surpassed even the Demon-Devouring Sword.
When the fight ended.
Gal Jung-heon was in a very precarious state, placed at the crossroads of life and death because he had forcibly used the demonic energy contained in the Demon-Devouring Sword.
But Ba Hun had healed his body using the Divine Martial Sword’s divine power, and had even extended his hand as if seeking reconciliation between the two forces.
-Why… Did you save me?
-Though the old enmity between the orthodox, unorthodox, and demonic paths runs deep, wouldn’t it be meaningful if we could break the chain of antagonism and confrontation in our generation?
-…!
-I stake my glorious martial reputation that I’ve built up and promise. As long as our Sect stands, I will ensure that no orthodox or unorthodox martial sect invades Nine Demon Alliance’s territory. So, if I could hear Alliance Master Gal’s corresponding response on this occasion, I would want for nothing more.
-You don’t consider me an enemy… Even though I came all the way here and swung my sword?
-This fight was enjoyable. Simply as one martial artist speaking. You were stronger than any master I had faced until now. But the moment either side starts a collective battle for blood-calling ambition, both sides will lose more than they gain.
-…
-Is it hard to answer immediately? Then return to the Alliance and think it over carefully. Haha, one-on-one sparring is always welcome.
-If I come to perfectly master the Demon-Devouring Sword’s power in the future… I will challenge you again. Not as the representative of our Alliance, but as one martial artist. Though I don’t know when that will be.
-Oh, that means…
-I promise, Sect Master Ba Hun. Our Alliance will devote itself even more to strengthening our foundation from now on. As someone whose life was saved… Giving at least that much of a definite answer seems to be the minimum duty.
-I trust you.
-This Gal Jung-heon keeps the words he speaks. Please trust me once.
-Hmm, as the victor of the sparring rather than as your life’s savior, may I make one more request?
-What is it?
-Try calling me Big Brother comfortably.
-Big… Brother…?
-Having one younger brother I know in the demonic martial world doesn’t seem bad either. After all, I’m older.
-Heh, how amusing.
-What, don’t feel like it?
-Well… Fine. If there ever comes a day when we meet again next time… Then I’ll call you Big Brother, setting aside my position.
“Try calling me Big Brother – was even that written in that diary?”
At Gal Jung-heon’s question as he recalled the past, Cheol Ryu-heun opened his mouth nonchalantly.
“That’s right. The process of the fight including the Demon-Devouring Sword’s characteristics was recorded in quite detail.”
“You accurately deduced my identity and the secret of achieving Rejuvenation just from that alone?”
“I’m quite smart. You see.”
Cheol Ryu-heun’s simple answer, Gal Jung-heon’s absurd expression.
“……”
“Now then, let’s hear your answer first.”
“About what?”
“About becoming a Guest Retainer of our Sect and living as a chivalrous warrior. Isn’t this a good opportunity for you to lighten the guilt in your heart even a little? I don’t know the detailed inside story yet, but you won’t need to live in hiding because you’re a master from the demonic martial world.”
“Hmm…”
For a moment, Gal Jung-heon’s expression became heavy.
Right, that was correct.
As Cheol Ryu-heun had said earlier, acting the chivalrous warrior like this with a demon’s identity was essentially a kind of ritual repenting for the past.
‘The alter ego of my old benefactor… Could this perhaps be a fateful encounter?’
Suddenly, a voice flashed through his mind.
-Since there is nothing more to learn from you, Master, please stay obediently confined here. I will now become the new Alliance Master, destroy Dragon Martial Gate, and plant the demonic banner on Central Plains soil. And thus… I will spread my might throughout the world forever!
The former disciple who had betrayed him and clashed with Dragon Martial Gate, ultimately dying in battle…
A brief silence flowed.
The eyes of Gal Jung-heon, whose expression had changed before long, held peculiar light.
‘Let’s go! Rather than hiding forever, shouldn’t I repay the debt owed to Dragon Martial Gate on that bastard’s behalf and wash away the sins! This power I possess will be of help!’
Having made up his mind, he faced the gaze of Cheol Ryu-heun standing before him and put force into his voice.
“Understood. I’ll accept. The Guest Retainer position of White Peak Sword Sect.”
“Good. I’m telling you in advance – you can’t leave without my permission.”
“Ha, as if. I have no such intention anyway. I only hope… That White Peak Sword Sect can withstand the external pressure well while I stay.”
“You don’t need to worry about that.”
Cheol Ryu-heun spoke as if it were no big deal and arrogantly raised his chin.
“Your speech keeps being informal. Aren’t I now essentially a generation above you?”
“……”
“Tsk. Even setting that aside, you should treat me as an elder.”
“Should?”
“Well, I told you. There’s no martial artist in this era with higher seniority than me. That includes those of demonic origin too.”
In an instant, Gal Jung-heon recalled what he had said earlier.
-It easily goes back several hundred years.
It seemed he had obtained not just the fortuitous encounter left by Ascending Heaven Sword Dragon, who had reigned as the hegemon of the Central Plains martial world in a relatively recent era, but also the true transmission of a powerhouse from an even earlier generation.
He was curious.
A once-in-a-thousand-years fortuitous encounter was hard to obtain even once in a lifetime, so just how many times had this person obtained one…?
Somehow, he had a premonition it was at least two or more.
“Your curiosity about the true nature of my fortuitous encounter will naturally be resolved once you become a Guest Retainer of our Sect.”
Cheol Ryu-heun spoke as if explaining things one by one was bothersome, then whipped his head around to look behind.
“Shall we go catch some rats?”
A large building visible beyond the training ground.
Gal Jung-heon’s eyes created small ripples.
‘My, had someone else visited Black Forest Hall today?’
The moment he operated his superior internal energy and maximized his energy sense, he could finally detect a series of faint presences across the far distance.
Once again, Cheol Ryu-heun’s ability was impressive.
When had he sensed that secretive presence?
“I knew early on. That’s why I deliberately gave them time. To gather things up for me instead.”
No sooner had Cheol Ryu-heun finished speaking than he moved like a flash of light, racing far ahead.
THWACK!
Not to be outdone, Gal Jung-heon kicked off the ground and swiftly followed behind him.
* * *
A secret room inside a pavilion.
Five sword-bearing men in ordinary attire were moving stealthily toward the door.
The middle-aged swordsman at the front let out a low voice.
“Damn, of all days, this chaos happens on the day we came to collect… Did you leave anything behind?”
Immediately after, the two swordsmen holding bundles quietly answered.
“No, we’ve gathered all the secret ledgers.”
“Don’t worry too much. We checked two, three times.”
The middle-aged swordsman who seemed to be the leader spoke again.
“Now then, everyone suppress your presence tightly so we’re not detected… The unidentified demon bastard seems to still be on the training ground side, so let’s hurry and slip out. From now on, conversation is forbidden.”
At that, the remaining four swordsmen responded with nods instead of words.
Having come out of the secret room, the group crossed the first floor’s wooden floor of the pavilion and headed toward a window on the side.
CLICK.
The middle-aged swordsman carefully opened the window, and the moment he stuck his head in, he flinched in surprise and backed away.
‘ULP!’
Because he had seen a figure standing alone in the nearby courtyard outside.
The four subordinate swordsmen were also startled and hastily retreated along with him.
Suddenly.
CRASH- CRACKLE-!
With a loud explosion, the person broke through the window and wall entirely and positioned himself leisurely with a ten-pace gap.
It was Cheol Ryu-heun.
The middle-aged swordsman’s group harbored the same question as they looked at him.
‘What is this guy now?’
In an instant, the main gate on the other side was destroyed with a CRASH by formless energy, and Gal Jung-heon stepped inside.
“Where did you come from?”
The swordsman group shortly exchanged glances and drew their swords.
SHING, SHIIING, SHING-!
Following that, the middle-aged swordsman radiated killing intent and fighting spirit as he shouted as if in warning.
“We are from Sword Seal Sect! And I am Jae Gon, the deputy captain of the Sword Patience Tenth Squad! You surely know the alias of our Sect Master, Severing Finger Sword Venerable!”
Sword Seal Sect Master Severing Finger Sword Venerable So Cheon-ak.
An ultra-first-rate powerhouse possessing hegemonic, destructive swordsmanship, and one of the illustrious Six Extremes of Hubei.
At that moment, Cheol Ryu-heun said expressionlessly.
“Oh, that pervert who’s into fingers, I know him well. So what?”