Chapter 149: A Shocking Fact
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Gal Jung-heon tilted his head.
What was that supposed to mean?
Cleaned up a snake den with someone from the Wuyang government office?
He wasn’t sure exactly what it was, but he suspected it might be related to some wicked group like Black Forest Hall.
‘Interesting. If it’s to the extent of cooperating jointly with a government office and nowhere else…’
Though young in age, his abilities seemed to be no ordinary thing.
However.
Having wandered around various places and seen much of the unjust reality, his distrust of government offices ran deep, so he was a bit worried.
‘Hmm, is it really okay to give it to them?’
Cheol Ryu-heun, walking in front, spoke without looking back.
“No need to worry. He’s an official far removed from selfish desires.”
As if he had read his thoughts.
Gal Jung-heon nodded with a somewhat embarrassed look.
“Ah… Yes. That’s fortunate. Indeed, since he’s someone trustworthy unlike typical corrupt officials, that’s why you said such things.”
At that, Cheol Ryu-heun thought of Namgung Heon-rin, the younger brother of Namgung Sang-rin, whom he had encountered this afternoon.
-I only trusted and helped you two because I know County Magistrate Ju’s character well. Give your thanks not to me but to County Magistrate Ju later. I won’t ask separately what this is about. Because everyone has their own circumstances.
When he had said that, Namgung Heon-rin had worn an expression of trust and relief.
Of course, Jeon Kwae who had accompanied him had reacted the same way.
Through that, he realized once again.
The fact that Ju Yu-gang’s character was exceptional…
A connection from his military days.
The energy residing within Namgung Heon-rin and Jeon Kwae’s bodies was definitely in line with Ju Yu-gang’s.
That meant they had a relationship of giving and receiving teachings, like the master-disciple bond in a sect.
The upper stream must be clean for the lower stream to be clean.
Also.
If you see one thing, you can know ten.
Namgung Heon-rin and Jeon Kwae were clearly people whose upright core and proper conduct had become ingrained in them, and Ju Yu-gang’s exceptional character had most likely had a great influence on that.
That was something he could readily grasp without digging deep, thanks to the experience accumulated over a long period of a thousand years.
-Since you are a righteous person who punished wicked groups together with Lord Ju, it’s proper for us to reveal our names. This large friend here is called Jeon Kwae, and I am Namgung Heon-rin.
Recalling Namgung Heon-rin’s words, Cheol Ryu-heun slightly nodded.
“Right, as you say, he’s someone who can be trusted.”
“Is he a military officer?”
“No, a County Magistrate. Currently.”
“Currently…?”
“It’s a case of a former military officer who became a civil official. That’s my guess.”
“A former military officer… What is his name?”
“Ju Yu-gang.”
“That’s a fine name.”
“He’s somewhat similar to you, actually.”
“Pardon?”
“He’s operating while hiding his true identity.”
“…!”
“He’s never said so himself. But I roughly figured it out after our first meeting.”
“It seems he has some secret circumstances.”
“Well, probably.”
Cheol Ryu-heun replied as if he wasn’t very interested, then arrived at the training ground along with Gal Jung-heon.
White bones strewn about as if filling one side of the training ground.
Looking at them quietly, it felt less like Black Forest Hall and more like a cemetery.
At that moment.
Cheol Ryu-heun, having stopped in the middle of the training ground, operated his internal energy and flicked his right hand.
Simultaneously.
CLATTER, CLICK, CLATTER CLATTER, CLICK…
The countless bones on the floor made sounds as they floated up into midair.
It was Void Grasping Technique.
When Cheol Ryu-heun moved his hand lightly again, the countless bones all clumped together at once.
Seeing that, Gal Jung-heon was inwardly astounded.
‘He’s even skilled at Void Grasping Technique.’
In an instant, the bones clumped together in midair turned to ashy powder with a BANG.
Then as Cheol Ryu-heun repeatedly swept his hand, a formless energy wind blew out violently.
WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH, WHOOSH WHOOSH- HISSSS, HISSSS…
The bone powder scattered far away in all directions by the fierce whirlwind.
“There are bloodstains on the floor but no dead bodies, so they won’t be able to even guess what happened.”
“Yes, this will leave the Sword Seal Sect side quite baffled later too.”
Indeed, all of this would become shrouded in mystery.
While the Black Forest Hall group had completely disappeared without a single bone fragment, only a few corpses of their swordsmen remained standing alone inside the pavilion…
“Black Forest Hall, which was ruined overnight at the hands of a mysterious enemy – just like Namgung Family – such rumors will spread.”
“Although the Namgung Family matter was something everyone felt sorry for since they were a renowned orthodox family that always performed good deeds, the extermination of Black Forest Hall would be something most would welcome, wouldn’t it? Ah… Speaking of the Namgung Family, have you perhaps met a young man named Sang-rin from there?”
At that, Cheol Ryu-heun asked back expressionlessly.
“How do you know about him?”
“He’s visited my shop before. I was so preoccupied with today’s events that I only just remembered.”
“He’s a new Guest Retainer of our Sect.”
“Hmm, I thought so… At the time he said he planned to go to White Peak Sword Sect for a fresh start. He said he was greatly indebted to someone he came to know by chance through some matter, and that person’s words saying to come anytime if he didn’t want to eat humble pie was why he chose it as his destination…”
“That’s right, I said that.”
“As I expected, you were that benefactor, Sect Master Cheol.”
-Hm? White Peak Sword Sect?
-Yes.
-Isn’t that a power that has already declined? I heard before that the sect master met an unfortunate end, and also that even new disciples haven’t come in a long time…
-Yes, I understand it may seem somewhat puzzling but… I have my own reason to believe. How should I put it – I felt a kind of expectation that’s hard to explain.
-Wait, has a new sect master been elevated at White Peak Sword Sect perhaps?
-Yes.
-I see. The person you mentioned who showed you kindness was the new sect master. Did you perhaps witness some ability that exceeded your expectations?
He hadn’t been able to hear the answer to that last question at the time… But after meeting Cheol Ryu-heun today, his curiosity was finally resolved.
“But how did you capture his heart?”
“What do you think he wants most?”
“That would be… The restoration of Namgung Family, wouldn’t it?”
Gal Jung-heon remembered what Namgung Sang-rin had said back then with eyes full of longing.
-As long as I am alive, this family will surely take a leap toward revival someday.
Cheol Ryu-heun answered expressionlessly.
“That’s exactly it.”
“Pardon?”
“What’s needed first and foremost to rebuild a fallen family – the restoration of the various lost sword techniques.”
“…!”
“My head doesn’t just contain the trivial key essence of the Ghost Shadow Sword Technique, you know.”
“No way… I-is that possible?”
“I’ve already written it all down.”
“Gasp…!”
While lights of astonishment swirled in Gal Jung-heon’s eyes, Cheol Ryu-heun continued speaking matter-of-factly.
“I know the key essence of every martial art supreme technique that exists in the world. Thanks to the fortuitous encounter granted by the heavens.”
“Th-that…”
“There are great benefits to becoming a Guest Retainer of our Sect. I’ll let you accomplish Rejuvenation one more time in the near future too. A younger appearance would be better, wouldn’t it?”
“……”
Gal Jung-heon was left speechless.
Was he serious?
Achieve Rejuvenation again?
His mind was confused, confused.
Since he was saying incredible things with a completely unbothered face, he couldn’t tell anymore whether to believe it or not.
Well… The only way to confirm immediately was to go to White Peak Sword Sect in person…
At that moment, Cheol Ryu-heun pursed his lips and let out a long whistle.
Immediately after.
CRASH!
A heavy sound of stamping the ground came from the forest beyond the wall, and soon something like hoofbeats echoed.
RUMBLE RUMBLE, RUMBLE RUMBLE-!
Gal Jung-heon’s expression stiffened.
What was this now?
In a flash.
SWOOSH-
A large shadow soared over the wall and dropped down onto the training ground floor, spanning the air.
THOOM… CRACK, CRACK, CRACK…!
Divine Wind, who had evolved to the level of a legendary spirit beast of the highest order, made a splendid entrance, exhaling pure white breath from his nose and mouth.
‘GASP!’
Transparent ripples spread in Gal Jung-heon’s dark eyes.
Was that really a horse?
Setting aside the bulging muscles that looked like stones, the amount of energy residing in its body was vast enough to easily surpass the level of ordinary internal energy masters…
Regardless of that, Cheol Ryu-heun only said what he wanted to say.
“What do you think, looks strong doesn’t he? Thanks to that fellow, I stopped by Zhanzhou today and came all the way here in just about one shichen.”
“O-one shichen…!”
It was an utterly unbelievable statement.
Zhanzhou was a city at the southernmost tip of the Hunan region and this Hong Lake was at the border of the Hubei region, but he crossed that distance in merely about one shichen? Hah, did he learn some kind of Thousand Li Flight Technique?
Cheol Ryu-heun mounted the saddle and sent a chin gesture.
“Get on.”
“Are you leaving right away?”
“I’m going to stay overnight at your shop and leave in the morning. Because there’s still one last thing to confirm.”
“Yes, indeed I haven’t told you my full story yet. Then let me first go and gather my things, and then I’ll explain…”
“I’m not curious.”
“……”
“Hearing you ramble on would be annoying.”
“……”
“I just want to try eating the dumplings. To see how delicious they are.”
“Ah…”
“There’s someone else who will be curious about your story.”
“Pardon?”
“Ye Woon-rang.”
“Why him…?”
“He’s the disciple of Red Dragon Sword Captain Hong So.”
At the unexpected words, Gal Jung-heon was flabbergasted.
“What? H-how can that be… The Red Dragon Sword Captain… Are you saying he survived back then?”
“Yes.”
“Is he still alive?”
“No.”
“This is truly surprising. I also feel sorry… But a disciple, you say? Then that means he only received those teachings in his thirties at the earliest…”
“What do you mean, he’s only thirty-three now.”
“…?”
“Ye Woon-rang’s age, I said he’s thirty-three now.”
“Hah…”
Gal Jung-heon looked speechless once again.
It was shocking.
More than the fact that Red Dragon Sword Captain Hong So had miraculously survived… The fact that Ye Woon-rang’s face was in his thirties.
Seeing his reaction, Cheol Ryu-heun said nonchalantly.
“That guy’s face is to blame.”
* * *
‘Is someone gossiping about me?’
Ye Woon-rang was walking along a moonlit night road when he scratched one ear and slightly furrowed his brow.
Guyang Cheon, Guyang Ji, Guyang In.
Right, he suspected those three devil-faced fellows were babbling about his aged appearance again.
‘I’m almost there.’
Currently, Ye Woon-rang was heading toward White Peak Sword Sect with his bundle on his back.
He had arrived in Baizhou with the Red Cat Merchant Guild transport crew around evening when twilight was beginning to fall.
Originally, he had expected to arrive around tomorrow, but thanks to the Green Forest Alliance camp withdrawing, he was able to use a shortcut and the time was reduced.
‘Somehow it feels like it’s been a while.’
Ye Woon-rang suddenly glanced up at the sky dotted with countless twinkling stars and recalled one person’s face.
Gam Tae.
An old man who had been like an irreplaceable friend to his master, Red Dragon Sword Captain Hong So.
-If it’s our fate to meet again, wouldn’t our connection reach us somehow in the future? Hohoho.
‘Yes, elder. May we surely meet again someday…’
How far had he gone?
Finally, the antique main gate of White Peak Sword Sect appeared in Ye Woon-rang’s view.
KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK-
He knocked on the closed door and waited briefly, then sensed several presences.
CLUNK.
The moment the main gate opened with a sound, Ye Woon-rang asked with a bewildered expression.
“Huh? W-who are you?”
A woman in her twenties draped in white palace attire – it was Hae Su-yeon.
A face so beautiful it would take one’s breath away just looking at it.
The moment Ye Woon-rang’s face reddened upon seeing that beauty, the Guyang three brothers appeared and gave their greetings.
“You’ve finally arrived. Elder, whoops, I said that without thinking.”
“Still an unfortunate-looking face.”
“How come you seem even older since we last saw you? To the point that I who behold you feel like I’m aging too, my goodness.”
The instant Ye Woon-rang’s insides began to boil, Hae Su-yeon recognized who he was and said.
“Aha, so you’re that Guest Retainer. The one whose appearance is such that something went wrong during Rejuvenation achievement, causing the key essence and application to go in reverse instead…”
ACK, SHUT UP! Who was babbling such nonsense!