Chapter 154: Surprised
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Cheol Ryu-heun soon brought a chair from the corner and positioned himself at one side of the desk.
A nonchalant attitude as if it were his own home.
Seeing that, Ju Yu-gang shot an incredulous look, then adjusted his posture and casually asked.
“By the way… How do you know Heonrin? And how did you find out he has a connection with me?”
Namgung Heon-rin usually kept a tight lip, and he wouldn’t easily divulge stories related to himself, so those points were puzzling.
Cheol Ryu-heun, nonchalantly resting his chin on his hand, replied.
“Because I met him in person.”
Ju Yu-gang reacted with surprise.
“Met him? When?”
“Around yesterday afternoon.”
“……”
“I had some business in Zhanzhou and happened to run into him by chance. Well, it was quite an agreeable first meeting.”
Suddenly, Ju Yu-gang recalled something from before.
-A military background. With internal energy training too.
Words he had heard on the day Cheol Ryu-heun showed up like a ghost.
‘Right, so that’s why…’
At that time, Cheol Ryu-heun had discerned that fact at once without even showing any sign of heightening his energy sense.
Despite deliberately hiding the energy in his body.
Originally, the distinctive energy of the cultivation technique he had trained in had a very secretive nature that couldn’t be easily imitated by just anyone.
But Cheol Ryu-heun had readily seen through it.
To the point where he felt embarrassed about his confidence that he wouldn’t be easily detected unless facing a renowned powerhouse of the entire Hunan region…
Probably because of that, grasping the fact that Namgung Heon-rin’s energy, whose martial skills were below his own, had a nature in common with his wouldn’t have been very difficult.
‘I’m impressed anew. That outstanding sense of Cheol Ryu-heun’s…’
As Ju Yu-gang was inwardly admiring, Cheol Ryu-heun’s voice continued.
“Before meeting him, I’d only heard stories. That he had no interest in succeeding the family business, so he became a military officer.”
“Who told you that?”
“Sang-rin, his older brother.”
“Ah… I see. Wait, then are you and Sang-rin friends?”
“Friends with a blood clot, please.”
At Cheol Ryu-heun’s dry reply, Ju Yu-gang made another incredulous expression.
“……”
Calling Namgung Sang-rin a blood clot.
Hah, and how long has this brat lived?
Besides, Namgung Sang-rin is two years older in age.
‘Hah. He’s peculiar, peculiar indeed.’
Having let out a silent laugh inside, Ju Yu-gang slightly shook his head and opened his mouth again.
“If you’re not friends with each other, then I suppose you’ve visited his aunt’s household in Jingzhou?”
“It’s not that either, but explaining would be a bit bothersome… He’s currently staying at our Sect.”
“Hm? Sang-rin at White Peak Sword Sect…?”
“Yes. As a Guest Retainer.”
“…!”
“I promised to help with the restoration of Namgung Family.”
“Hmm… I’m hearing a lot of unexpected things today. Then has he completely left the Jingzhou Ban Family now?”
“He got tired of eating humble pie. Heonrin already heard about it.”
“Was Heonrin alone at the time?”
“A guy called Jeon Kwae, the same age, was with him.”
“Jeon Kwae…”
Ju Yu-gang quietly murmured that name as if reciting it and deepened his gaze.
-Heonrin, what brings you here?
-Haha, for a mission that came down from above, of course. What other reason could there be?
A conversation he’d had with Namgung Heon-rin during the Thousand Snake Group cleanup operation.
‘I didn’t think much of it at the time, but… If Jeon Kwae is currently moving with him, it wasn’t a simple individual mission. Those two with their exceptional tracking skills being dispatched means there must be something that must be obtained. Hmm… What could it be?’
Having thought so, Ju Yu-gang posed a question.
“Did you hear anything? Of course, there’s no way those two would reveal their mission contents, but.”
“I only heard they’re going to Shiwan Mountains.”
“Shiwan Mountains…?”
“I’ll explain briefly.”
Following those words, Cheol Ryu-heun briefly told him about what had happened when he met Namgung Heon-rin and Jeon Kwae.
When the story ended, Ju Yu-gang stroked his lower jaw with a somewhat surprised look and moved his dark eyes.
‘Somehow this feels unusual. An enemy strong enough to give those two trouble…’
Shiwan Mountains, their final destination.
Naturally, one faction’s name came to mind.
Snake Sect.
A traditional faction of the unorthodox martial world famous for various sinister techniques.
‘It’s definitely connected to Snake Sect in some way. Anyway… Thanks to Cheol Ryu-heun helping them just in time, both of them avoided the crisis of injury. That’s fortunate. Both nearly disrupted their mission. But if such suspicious enemies appear again…’
At that moment, Cheol Ryu-heun, as if seeing through his thoughts, said.
“You must be worried. But those two punks won’t easily be done in for a while.”
“What do you mean?”
“They consumed Hundred-Year Snow Ginseng.”
“What…!”
“I gave it to them as a gift.”
“I-is that true?”
“Both of them just gained a new ten years’ worth of internal energy. And after a bit more time passes, they’ll be able to see additional effects from the medicine.”
“…!”
When Ju Yu-gang’s gaze wavered, Cheol Ryu-heun shrugged.
“You’re so surprised.”
“How can I not be surprised… How did you obtain those? Two of them, no less.”
“You talk a lot.”
“……”
“As long as they’re not stolen, it’s fine.”
At Cheol Ryu-heun’s indifferent reply, Ju Yu-gang soon burst into a chuckle and let out a quiet voice.
“Ha… You’re really someone whose depths can’t be fathomed. Your expression, your behavior, all of it.”
Of course.
Because I’m not a person but a sword that’s lived a thousand years.
“That’s enough. Open those.”
When Cheol Ryu-heun indicated the desk with his eyes, Ju Yu-gang extended his hand and undid the knots of the two bundles.
“These are…”
The contents were several booklets.
RUSTLE RUSTLE.
As Ju Yu-gang silently turned the pages, a strange light appeared across his face.
“Ho, secret ledgers. Transactions between Black Forest Hall and Sword Seal Sect…”
“Excellent evidence.”
“Why are you giving these to me? This isn’t our jurisdiction.”
“You’re asking the obvious.”
“……”
“I’d sooner trust a flying mutt in the sky than the government office there.”
“Ha. It’s fine that you trust me, but to handle another region’s affairs, I’d have to mobilize some kind of special connections, and the personal burden is also that much greater.”
“I know. But you have no intention of looking the other way, do you?”
“How do you know that?”
“Because I’ve once again confirmed your character of not abandoning righteousness.”
“……”
“The reward that should have gone to the official who contributed most to cleaning up Thousand Snake Group – you willingly yielded that. Just from that alone, I can tell. That you’ll handle this matter with a sense of responsibility as an official too. Even if it’s not your jurisdiction.”
“Hah, you sure talk well.”
“For reference, I plan to personally take care of the head of Sword Seal Sect soon.”
Simultaneously with Cheol Ryu-heun’s words, Ju Yu-gang’s expression changed.
“Take care of? No, you mean you’re going to fight him?”
“The board is already set.”
“…!”
“He’ll be the one making some pathetic move that costs him justification first. When that happens, there’s no way to avoid fighting.”
“Can you win?”
“Yesterday I defeated one of the Five Supreme Martial Experts of Hunan Province. That should answer your question.”
At that, transparent ripples spread in Ju Yu-gang’s eyes.
‘Truly remarkable! And he’s barely just come of age…’
Because of the death of Netherworld Sword Fork Jeo Gyeom, a master of Dark Hall, he had realized his martial prowess far exceeded expectations, but he never imagined he had even defeated one of the Five Supreme Martial Experts of Hunan Province.
“Who was the opponent?”
“Do Yun, the deputy master of Broken Mountain Sword Manor.”
“Ah, the one called Blue Wave Sword Arrow…”
Ju Yu-gang inwardly marveled again along with those words.
Too fast.
His growth rate.
At this rate, wouldn’t he soon surpass even the two powerhouses competing for the top of the Five Supreme Martial Experts of Hunan Province – namely Mount Heng Sect’s Sect Leader White Cloud Sword Duke Taoist Cheon Mu and Thunder Lightning Sect’s Sect Master Thunder Cloud Sword Duke?
Suddenly, something stirred in his chest.
Curiosity and competitive spirit.
Characteristics that couldn’t be hidden as a martial artist.
In truth, Ju Yu-gang himself was confident he was at least equal to or above the top two of the Five Supreme Martial Experts of Hunan Province… Therefore, he wanted to experience for himself, through an exchange of blows, just how strong Cheol Ryu-heun’s power was.
But he couldn’t.
It wasn’t possible.
Having been demoted from the Central Court in the capital Luoyang, and with secret circumstances behind that, it was impossible.
‘Regretful, but what can I do.’
Cheol Ryu-heun, unfazed by his surprised reaction, continued in an indifferent voice.
“Anyway, Black Forest Hall was exterminated, and the truth about that is written separately on paper I put in there. You can read it later. And I’ll inform you of the details of this plan later through our Sect’s correspondence, so you prepare on your end.”
Ju Yu-gang, who had been listening quietly, let out a smirk.
“Ha… There’s no superior like you. No matter how unconventional I am about common etiquette, I’m still an official with the rank of County Magistrate – aren’t you treating me too informally?”
“I think it’s too late now to build walls and draw lines.”
“Right, as you say, it’s too late. Tsk. How did I end up…”
When Ju Yu-gang clicked his tongue deliberately, Cheol Ryu-heun rose and spoke.
“Since this is outside your jurisdiction, it’s only proper to give you some small compensation for that trouble.”
“Hm?”
“I won’t accept money, so if there’s anything you want related to martial arts, just say the word. I’ll get it all for you.”
“……”
“If you don’t want to, forget it.”
“Anything?”
“Yes, anything.”
Seeing Cheol Ryu-heun’s expressionless face, Ju Yu-gang suddenly felt like teasing him.
“You won’t change your tune after hearing it, will you?”
“Of course not. Well, except for absurd things like eternal life or reincarnation.”
“Ha, fine.”
Ju Yu-gang pulled up one corner of his mouth, then adjusted his posture and spoke again.
“I want sword technique essence.”
“What kind.”
“The true transmission of the lost Sword-Commanding Hegemon King.”
At that, Cheol Ryu-heun gazed quietly at his face.
Meeting that gaze, Ju Yu-gang was inwardly pleased.
‘Bwahahaha! The guy seems quite flustered! He’s trying to maintain that expressionless face but his heart must be greatly shaken! What possible means does he have to obtain the true transmission of someone who vanished long ago!’
The Sword-Commanding Hegemon King he had just mentioned referred to a transcendent powerhouse who had conquered the unorthodox martial world with his sword-commanding technique one hundred eighty years ago.
Soon, Cheol Ryu-heun murmured.
“The true transmission of Sword-Commanding Hegemon King.”
Ju Yu-gang crossed his arms in front of his chest and arrogantly raised his chin.
“The essence of Ten Supreme Commanding Energy Flying Swords.”
“……”
“Heehee. What, is it an unreasonable request? I clearly heard you say earlier that you wouldn’t change your tune after hearing…”
Cheol Ryu-heun’s nonchalant voice cut off his words.
“That’s all you want?”
“What?”
“I’ll send it to you later along with the correspondence.”
“Th-that’s…!”
“What?”
“No, you can really… Obtain it…?”
When Cheol Ryu-heun nodded, Ju Yu-gang’s gaze looked dazed.
Was he crazy?
No, by what means could he possibly obtain that?
It wasn’t like the Sword-Commanding Hegemon King’s true transmission Ten Supreme Commanding Energy Flying Swords was some antique sitting in a neighborhood shop…
At that moment, Cheol Ryu-heun raised a finger and lightly tapped his head.
“It’s all in here. Every single formula of Ten Supreme Commanding Energy Flying Swords.”
“…!”
While Ju Yu-gang’s eyes swirled with astonishment, Cheol Ryu-heun turned his body and spoke.
“Your wants are unexpectedly modest. There are plenty of sword techniques more powerful than that one.”