Chapter 153: I Dont Like Them Either
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Chapter 153 – I Don’t Like Them Either
Cheol Ryu-heun stood leisurely and swept his gaze over the people around him, then soon let out an indifferent voice.
“What, I’m seeing you again.”
A fixed gaze, and the person whose eyes met his.
It was Bu Do-nam.
At that moment, Gal Jung-heon, who had been sitting on top of Divine Wind, tilted his head.
‘Hm? Do they know each other?’
Bu Do-nam flinched at that gaze and replied with an awkward expression.
“Ah… Yes… I-I see…”
It was reflexive politeness.
He couldn’t help it since he already had experience.
Soon.
SWISH, SWISH…
Several existing members of Green Wolf Camp barely gathered their wits and prepared to strike in a sneak attack.
They had barely squeezed out the courage in their hearts.
The moment each placed their hands on the weapons at their waists.
“GASP! Stop! D-don’t! Everyone halt!”
Bu Do-nam shouted in alarm.
Hey, the guy in front of you right now is that crazy bastard who blew away our entire camp! No, can’t you tell just by looking?
The cry contained in his wavering eyes.
As the group all paused their hands, one of them who was experienced quickly grasped the situation and said quietly.
“Hey… Listen to… Deputy Leader Bu.”
At that, everyone exchanged glances silently and nodded slightly.
‘Right, this isn’t a situation where we should act rashly.’
Everyone honestly felt it was fortunate.
From the moment Flying Hawk Sword Dal Tak, a senior of Green Wolf Camp, received some unknown swift strike and fainted, it was a situation where they couldn’t even muster the courage to face the opponent.
Placing their hands on their weapons as if squeezing out courage was merely because as subordinates, they felt pressured not to just stand by…
Cheol Ryu-heun spoke again with his hands behind his back.
“This was Green Forest Alliance territory.”
“Yes… That’s correct.”
Bu Do-nam nodded as he answered, then carefully posed a question.
“But… Surely you’re not going to take our possessions again…?”
“What, do you think I’m some thief?”
At Cheol Ryu-heun’s nonchalant retort, Bu Do-nam inwardly ground his teeth.
That’s exactly what you are!
No.
You’re worse than a thief – a robber, a bandit!
Hmm, well… I’m also a bandit belonging to Green Forest Alliance myself, but…
Anyway, a rogue above a rogue, so to speak.
That bastard was one of those.
He already knew well from experience.
From this riverbank to Green Wolf Camp at the mountain’s mid-section was quite a distance.
That meant it would be difficult to immediately summon the Camp Master and his men.
Therefore.
For now, avoiding a fight was the best course.
Phew.
Stay calm.
He still didn’t know the other’s intentions.
Let him figure that out first, then think again.
“Um, then what brings you here…?”
“Coincidence.”
“Pardon?”
“I said earlier. We were just passing through.”
“Ah…”
“That fellow is so strong that it became a mess.”
Bu Do-nam listened to those words and grumbled inside.
Right.
He’s strong, alright.
So strong it’s a problem, damn it… Since he made our precious camp into that state.
At that moment, Cheol Ryu-heun glanced at Dal Tak who had collapsed over there.
“When that guy wakes up later, tell him. I’m Cheol Ryu-heun, the new Sect Master of Hunan’s White Peak Sword Sect.”
“…!”
Bu Do-nam’s eyes went round with surprise.
An unexpected name.
Everyone in the Green Forest Alliance group looked bewildered.
‘Cheol Ryu-heun he says? The one who supposedly became a vegetable…?’
Half-believing, half-doubting reactions.
Somehow it didn’t seem like a lie, but it was hard to readily believe.
Numerous questions tangled complexly.
If the person before their eyes was Cheol Ryu-heun, the disciple of White Gate Sword Gentleman Sagong Woon, there was more than one or two questionable points.
Gal Jung-heon, who had been staying quiet, added in a dignified manner.
“It’s true. He is indeed Sect Master Cheol of the current White Peak Sword Sect.”
Bu Do-nam’s gaze wavered.
“…!”
Because before Gal Jung-heon’s serious expression and voice as he sat on the horse, his certainty that it wasn’t a lie grew a bit more.
He suddenly wondered.
Who was that person seated on the crazy horse?
He knew that the current executives of White Peak Sword Sect – the Chief Supervisor and three Training Masters – were in their thirties, but the man he saw there appeared to be roughly in his fifties.
That made him even more curious.
That assertive attitude of speaking on his behalf.
Cheol Ryu-heun opened his mouth as if reading that thought.
“He’s a Guest Retainer of our Sect. Well, a terrifying eating bug that leaves only human bones behind after devouring everything.”
At his words, Gal Jung-heon scowled.
UGH, what are you doing introducing me like that! No, are you trying to make me a public enemy of the martial world?
Meanwhile, the Green Forest Alliance group turned pale.
“ACK!”
“Eating people…”
“A-a cannibal…?”
Then everyone shook their heads ever so slightly.
‘Nah, it can’t be. He’s nominally a Guest Retainer of an orthodox martial sect, so surely…’
‘He probably means he eats very well, that’s all.’
Cheol Ryu-heun turned around and strode away as he spoke.
“I’ll be going now. Since I’ve seen your face, go tell the Alliance Master this message for me.”
“What message…?”
“As Sect Master, I plan to officially visit Green Forest Alliance soon, so let’s settle everything including the camp incident last time.”
Settle.
The meaning was somewhat ambiguous, so Bu Do-nam couldn’t grasp it.
“If the Alliance Master says he’s impatient and can’t wait, he can come visit our Sect first.”
At that moment, Bu Do-nam spoke meaningfully.
“Could you be planning to put forward the justification of the last incident and settle it with a one-on-one duel with the Alliance Master?”
White Peak Sword Sect, which had already hit rock bottom, had such weak power and strength that he wondered if Cheol Ryu-heun intended to rely on his own outstanding martial prowess to reach a settlement.
That would be most welcome.
If it was a one-on-one duel, Green Forest Alliance had a complete advantage.
No matter how outstanding Cheol Ryu-heun’s martial skills were, he couldn’t surpass the Alliance Master who held one of the Six Extremes of Hubei positions.
That was what Bu Do-nam expected.
However.
Cheol Ryu-heun paused his steps and shrugged as if asking what he was talking about.
“Is that how it looks?”
“……”
“Why would I fight?”
“…!”
“I just want to forge a new relationship.”
“A new relationship…?”
“Right, one where both sides benefit.”
Bu Do-nam was quite flustered at receiving an answer different from his guess.
He had certainly thought he’d hit the mark, but seeing that dry reaction only amplified his suspicions.
The only best method White Peak Sword Sect could take right now should be solely a one-on-one duel…
Both sides benefiting – what exactly did that mean?
It was incomprehensible what kind of brilliant plan he had that made him boast like that.
‘Hmm… Is he saying he won’t unconditionally treat our Alliance as an enemy just because we’re the opposite camp from orthodox factions?’
Cheol Ryu-heun had already mounted onto Divine Wind’s back and was holding the reins when Bu Do-nam quickly spoke up.
“Well then, please tell me just one more thing.”
“What.”
“Plum Blossom Seven Forms Sword – how do you know that?”
“Fortuitous encounter.”
“What?”
“I obtained various fortuitous encounters not long ago, and one of them is Mount Hua Sect’s supreme techniques. That’s what it means.”
“Th-that’s…!”
When Bu Do-nam widened his eyes in surprise, Gal Jung-heon laughed inwardly.
‘Ha, I’m very curious too. About those fortuitous encounters…’
At that moment, Cheol Ryu-heun expressionlessly gestured with his chin.
“Let me ask one thing too. Why did you go out of your way to establish a camp in another region?”
“Ah, that’s… It’s actually because of Sword Seal Sect.”
The moment Bu Do-nam finished speaking, a light that no one would notice passed through Cheol Ryu-heun’s eyes.
‘Sword Seal Sect? This is getting interesting.’
Gal Jung-heon also pricked up both ears and watched the other party intently when Sword Seal Sect was suddenly mentioned.
“Our Alliance placed a temporary base in the mountains bordering Jinyu about a year ago…”
Bu Do-nam then briefly explained about the friction between Green Forest Alliance and Sword Seal Sect over territorial boundaries.
Having learned the circumstances, Cheol Ryu-heun asked, pinpointing the core.
“Then Sword Seal Sect is planning to eventually eye the villages under your Alliance’s sphere of influence?”
“Nine out of ten. For our Alliance, it’s an uncomfortable nuisance. Of course, with the Alliance Master healthy, they can’t act recklessly, but…”
“Good, hearing that, it seems our Sect and Green Forest Alliance can get along well in the future.”
“Pardon?”
“I don’t like Sword Seal Sect either.”
“Oh, what do you mean… Don’t tell me a dispute has arisen between the two sects?”
“It’s about to.”
“…!”
“Starting today, spread a rumor for me. That I know all the secret formulas of Heaven’s Death Sword Ghost Eum Ryun’s true transmission, Ghost Shadow Sword Technique.”
At that, Bu Do-nam’s eyes widened once more.
‘Hah! He knows the Ghost Shadow Sword Technique formulas too?’
Probably those words weren’t a lie either.
“Give me that.”
When Cheol Ryu-heun extended his hand backward, Gal Jung-heon handed over the bundle.
“Just make sure it reaches the Sword Seal Sect Master’s ears. Here, this is prepayment.”
Cheol Ryu-heun threw something small with a WHOOSH.
Bu Do-nam caught it and tilted his head.
‘Hm? Wild ginseng?’
It looked similar, but… The fine roots and tip parts were snow-white, quite different from ordinary wild ginseng.
“No way!”
Weren’t those characteristics matching the Hundred-Year Snow Ginseng he had seen in a martial world elixir compendium during his days as a Mount Hua Sect disciple?
Nine out of ten.
It was definitely Hundred-Year Snow Ginseng, a top-tier elixir among ginseng-type medicines.
“If you don’t believe it, show it to the Alliance Master. You’ll know right away whether it’s genuine or not.”
Along with those words, Cheol Ryu-heun lightly kicked Divine Wind’s belly.
Simultaneously.
WHOOSH WHOOSH, WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH…
Divine Wind, wrapped in white current, kicked off the ground with a CRASH and crossed the flowing river, creating a huge spray of water.
SPLASH SPLASH SPLASH SPLASH, SPLASH SPLASH SPLASH SPLASH-!
The Green Wolf Camp group who saw that cried out in astonishment.
“UURGH!”
“Th-that…!”
The horse was treading on water as it moved.
Like a flash of light.
As if evoking the mastery of Skimming on Water, the supreme lightfoot technique.
Thus Divine Wind, carrying Cheol Ryu-heun and Gal Jung-heon on his back, fiercely crossed the great river and disappeared into the forest on the other side.
“……”
Bu Do-nam and the others, speechless, could only stare blankly across the river.
* * *
The government office of Wuyang.
County Magistrate Ju Yu-gang sat at his office desk and checked the contents of a document with a heavy expression.
‘A massacre…’
What he held in his hand was a cooperation request from another government office.
<Recently, a mysterious massacre occurred in a mountain village of fewer than ten households. No survivors, perpetrator’s purpose unclear. Currently understood to be fleeing using mountain paths not visible to the public eye. Request search of Wuyang government’s jurisdiction to prevent additional damage and block escape routes. Please refer to the enclosed scene report for more details.>
‘This is strange. How could such a thing happen in a small village… If it’s someone seeking fulfillment or pleasure through killing, that’s dangerous. Hmm, I should take this opportunity to conduct an inspection even to the far reaches of our jurisdiction.’
After checking the records in the scene report, Ju Yu-gang had a strong premonition that this incident might be some kind of silencing operation.
‘I must catch them. Without fail…’
Clenching his fist, he suddenly recalled what Ban Bu-bong had said.
-Haah… In this damn world… When will all the ugliness disappear?
It would never disappear.
All they could do was join forces and reduce them one by one…
At that moment, the window quietly opened.
SWOOSH-
Along with a faint sound of wind, a figure suddenly appeared inside.
Ju Yu-gang cast his gaze without even a hint of surprise and clicked his tongue.
“Tsk… They didn’t make windows to be used instead of doors.”
The identity of that figure was none other than Cheol Ryu-heun.
In an instant.
THUD-
Two bundles were placed on the desk.
“What’s this?”
“Delivery. Justification.”
“Again…?”
“You know Namgung Heon-rin, right? That guy said so. If there’s anything to do, I should just leave it all to you or order you. Like a subordinate.”
ACK, DON’T LIE!
That expressionless face of his makes it even more infuriating!