Chapter 172: Scary

Everyone knew well.

That Cheol Ryu-heun was a person who always kept his spoken words.

The factions that had already closed their gates according to his will alone numbered several, including Mantis Martial Academy, White Mountain Gate, Thousand Snake Gang, and more.

Moreover, Brandished Sword Pavilion, Red leopard Hall, Shaking Martial Hall, Lone Moon Sword Sect, and Dark Hall had all lost their leaders.

Now it was Sword Seal Sect’s turn.

Although Sword Seal Sect Master Severing Finger Sword Venerable So Cheon-ak was a powerhouse included among the Six Extremes of Hubei, Cheol Ryu-heun would once again carry out his will of judgment through his peerless martial might.

Just as he had without a single exception until now.

Gal Jung-heon recalled what he had heard from Cheol Ryu-heun when they wiped out the Black Forest Hall gang.

-When that guy hears that I know the essence of the Ghost Shadow Sword Technique, nine times out of ten he’ll react immediately. Then after securing justification, we crush him head-on and it’s simply done.

Following that, having guessed his intent, he asked quietly.

“Securing justification?”

When Cheol Ryu-heun lightly nodded, Hyeop Mu-geuk seated beside him quickly spoke his understanding.

“Right, I see. The rumor you ordered to be spread through Green Forest Alliance should reach Sword Seal Sect Master’s ears around that time…”

“Exactly. I act in time with when he acts.”

Hae Su-yeon tilted her head after hearing Cheol Ryu-heun’s words.

“You mean you know where and how he’ll move?”

“Yeah.”

“Wow… That’s impressive. Then what should the two of us do when we get there? We shouldn’t become a burden.”

“You’ve obtained the butterfly and you’re making excuses.”

Hadn’t she earlier achieved complete mastery of even Enchanting Body Union Dream, which was the harmony of unification with the Enchanting Flower Sword, as the owner of a Heavenly Demon Incarnation?

She would be helpful if anything – there was no way she’d become a cumbersome burden.

Hae Su-yeon smiled brightly.

It seemed she had wanted to hear those words.

“Somehow I feel like I’ve been acknowledged by Sect Master Cheol, so I’m happy.”

“Take this opportunity to show off our Guest Retainer’s qualities. So we’re not looked down upon. That’s your role.”

“Yes! We should earn our keep.”

Hae Su-yeon spoke while ostentatiously shrugging her shoulders, then inconspicuously glanced at Gal Jung-heon sitting a bit away.

‘Besides Sect Master Cheol, I’m most curious about his skills.’

Hearing with the ears and seeing with the eyes are different.

There’s quite a difference.

That’s why she was even more curious.

On one hand.

It was surreal.

This situation where a renowned powerhouse from the demonic faction of foreign lands had joined an orthodox martial sect in the Hunan region.

Moreover, he had become even stronger since exchanging moves with Ascending Heaven Sword Dragon, the hegemon of the previous generation’s martial world.

Of course, in that process he had experienced a heartbreaking tragedy…

Anyway, with his status as the former Nine Demon Alliance Master and possessing the Demon-Devouring Sword, one of the Four Great Demonic Weapons, he was the Guest Retainer whose future exploits were most anticipated.

If Gal Jung-heon’s identity were announced going forward, a massive ripple would occur in the martial world.

Could White Peak Sword Sect handle that?

However, Cheol Ryu-heun had already told him.

-When a person who is practically the incarnation of Dragon Martial Gate’s founding patriarch personally declares he will accept you, other factions won’t be able to carelessly object.

That’s right.

The ripples that a person like Cheol Ryu-heun – who possessed all sorts of fortuitous encounters of the previous generation in one body, including the founding Dragon Martial Gate Master’s divine artifact the Vermillion Dragon Medallion – would cause were clearly far greater.

Hae Su-yeon thought.

That staying here, there would be no boring days.

Also.

That because of the remarkable existence of Cheol Ryu-heun, White Peak Sword Sect would eventually reach some unknown lofty heights.

‘Ha. I’m looking forward to it. In many ways.’

In an instant, Cheol Ryu-heun’s indifferent gaze turned toward Namgung Sang-rin.

“Have you eaten all the spiritual medicines I gave you earlier?”

“Yes, as you instructed… But no signs have appeared yet.”

Earlier, when Hae Su-yeon, having awakened new power, consumed Enchanting Essence Light and had her internal energy level additionally rise, Namgung Sang-rin had received a pouch containing several unknown spiritual medicines.

Cheol Ryu-heun’s order had been simple and clear.

-Eat every last one. Then just wait.

Thus Namgung Sang-rin had consumed all the various spiritual medicines in the pouch and simply waited without even operating internal energy.

At first he had wondered if he would just see some effect from eating them, but by evening no special reaction had appeared.

So just as he was thinking something was strange, Cheol Ryu-heun had brought up the topic again.

“Is this… Normal?”

Namgung Sang-rin asked carefully, feeling needlessly worried.

“Earlier when I took your pulse, I secretly closed off some of your acupoints. That’s why the medicinal effects are blocked.”

“Oh, is that so…”

Namgung Sang-rin’s eyes wavered like ripples.

Setting aside the fact that he had forcibly closed some acupoints, the exquisite skill that had done so in a way he couldn’t even feel was shocking.

It was newly admirable skill.

“Don’t worry. It’s planned.”

“Ah…”

“If you wait a bit more, something big is coming.”

“Pardon? What do you mean by something big?”

“Come to my office later. Then through my hands, you’ll naturally realize it.”

“Ah! Yes, understood.”

Along with those words, Namgung Sang-rin wore a faint smile.

THUMP THUMP.

His heart raced.

While he didn’t know for certain, saying something big was coming must mean an equally tremendous enlightenment.

He had unexpectedly seen Hae Su-yeon’s rapid development and felt a bit of envy plus impatience, but hearing those words filled his chest anew with relief and desire for achievement.

That said, he absolutely needed to refrain from a weak attitude of entirely relying on Cheol Ryu-heun.

‘I’m really pathetic too. In accomplishing anything, what’s important is solely my own mindset. I mustn’t forget that.’

Namgung Sang-rin’s expression changed to one of determination for a moment.

An attitude of introspection.

Reading that, Cheol Ryu-heun laughed inwardly.

‘Ha. Since he knows to constantly look back at himself, his potential for development is limitless. A superhuman on par with the Sword Emperor – you have what it takes.’

At that moment, Namgung Sang-rin changed his expression and casually asked a question.

“By the way, how do you plan to handle the Green Forest Alliance matter? As I mentioned, that stronghold master is a special acquaintance…”

“That needs to be wrapped up too.”

“Ah, do you plan to visit Green Forest Alliance as well this time?”

“Yes. When I have a showdown with the Sword Seal Sect Master soon, I’ll need some assistance from Green Forest Alliance anyway.”

The moment Cheol Ryu-heun’s words ended, gazes poured in.

Three people who had been silent suddenly had desperate looks in their eyes.

It was the Guyang three brothers.

“What?”

At Cheol Ryu-heun’s nonchalant voice, Guyang Cheon carefully spoke up.

“Sect Master, don’t we… Have an opportunity?”

He was asking why they weren’t being taken outside.

Elder Yeop Hwon and Chief Supervisor Hyeop Mu-geuk had already accompanied Cheol Ryu-heun once, and Ye Woon-rang had also received a mission and traveled far.

“You want to go out with me?”

“Yes, Sect Master! Please give us just one chance. This swordsman of fluttering passion will become… A burden! No, I mean I’ll become a source of strength!”

“This swordsman of crying effort also wishes to accompany you!”

“I too, as a swordsman of binding grit, wish to be of small help!”

Cheol Ryu-heun frowned as if annoyed.

“Quiet, and when those frightening mugs of yours change to look like scholars someday, I’ll take you outside.”

Simultaneously, the Guyang three brothers’ faces grew even uglier.

What, that means he’ll never take us outside in our entire lives!

“That’s even scarier.”

At Cheol Ryu-heun’s words, Guyang Cheon, Guyang Ji, and Guyang In flinched and tried to make their faces look gentle.

Ye Woon-rang, seated to one side, spoke as if rubbing salt in the wound.

“Oh dear, how gruesome. Better to have an old face. What great wrong did you three commit in your past lives…”

At that moment, the dining hall door burst open and the workers, led by Tae Sa-ja, poured in.

“Enter! Everyone line up!”

When Tae Sa-ja shouted resoundingly, the personnel behind him quickly formed a neat two-row column.

With Qidiao Gon and others having joined, the workers now totaled fifteen.

Soon Tae Sa-ja’s gaze settled on the end of the line.

“Hey! New guy representative, what was your name again?”

“It is… Qidiao Gon.”

“Ah, right. Hmm, since everyone has the same surname it’s confusing, so I’ll just call you Qidiao One, and the rest will be Two, Three, Four. Understood?”

Qidiao Gon and the others were dumbfounded.

Leaving aside their perfectly good names to simply assign numbers like objects – wasn’t that too much!

“What, no answer? These punks, spacing out!”

When Tae Sa-ja glared and yelled, the four newest members reluctantly answered in unison.

“Yes! Boss!”

Tae Sa-ja nodded with satisfaction, then raised his chin rather arrogantly.

“Now, now, before eating, recite the service creed I taught you earlier! It’s the law and tradition of this Sect!”

At that, Qidiao Gon and the others shouted in unison the memorized content.

“One! We become the pillars of White Peak Sword Sect, taking charge of miscellaneous duties!”

“Two! With tool work like combat, we become the victors of the workplace…”

Yeop Hwon and the rest of the sect’s executives watched the sight with blank expressions.

Service creed? No, this Sect has no such thing!

Cheol Ryu-heun, manipulating his chopsticks, shook his head.

“That guy is scary too. They say the position makes the person.”

* * *

Green Forest Alliance Main Stronghold, which had made its massive nest below Zhuo Ta Peak, famous as the highest peak of Mount Apo.

Inside a brightly lit room, one person could be seen standing with an anxious demeanor.

Cold Plum Sword Bu Do-nam.

And.

On the opposite side, another person sat in a large chair covered in bear hide, his tiger eyes flashing.

A figure whose appearance suggested mid-fifties.

Wearing purple Buddhist robes reminiscent of an evil monk, he was truly an enormous giant.

Too big – way too big.

To the point that even a chair big enough for three or four adults to sit comfortably looked terribly cramped.

With bushy curly hair that looked like black thread randomly bunched together, a beard sticking out prickly like a hedgehog, and intense facial features as if drawn with a thick brush… He was none other than Gung Roe – a defrocked monk from Shaolin Temple and the very person who had created the current Green Forest Alliance.

In the martial world, he was commonly called Green Forest Martial Buddha, a powerhouse ranked among the Six Extremes of Hubei.

Gung Roe asked in a heavy voice toward Bu Do-nam standing before him, chin in hand.

“He said he’ll personally visit our Alliance?”

“Yes, Alliance Master. Also… He said it didn’t matter if our side went to White Peak Sword Sect first…”

“An interesting character has appeared.”

“When I asked if he intended to settle it with a one-on-one match with you, Alliance Master, I heard an unexpected answer.”

“What did he say?”

-Why would we fight?

-…!

-I merely wish to seek a new relationship.

-A new relationship…?

-Yes, where both sides profit.

After hearing Bu Do-nam’s words, Gung Roe tilted his head.

“What? Mutual profit? What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I wonder. And…”

Bu Do-nam related all of the subsequent conversation related to Sword Seal Sect, and after hearing everything, Gung Roe wore an expression of an even more complicated mind.

“Spread a rumor that he knows all the Ghost Shadow Sword Technique formulas… Ha, what’s he scheming?”

“I don’t know about other things, but his words that he also dislikes the Sword Seal Sect seemed genuine. Look at this.”

Bu Do-nam quickly took out the one root of Hundred-Year Snow Ginseng he had been carefully keeping in his clothes and showed it.

“Goodness, how can this be… It’s genuine! This is.”

“Ah, indeed… Seeing as he readily gave this precious spiritual medicine as compensation for spreading that rumor, his sincerity is definitely genuine.”

“Yes, it seems so.”

Gung Roe carefully examined the Hundred-Year Snow Ginseng in his hand, then gave a brief order.

“Execute it.”

“Pardon?”

“I mean immediately dispatch people to make sure the rumor reaches the Sword Seal Sect Master’s ears. Then let’s wait for his visit. What Cheol Ryu-heun truly wants…”

Having trailed off, Gung Roe’s eyes soon held a chilling light.

“If contrary to his spoken words he’s trying to pull some scheme against our Alliance, I will personally make White Peak Sword Sect submit with my own power.”

The moment a solemn formless presence wrapped around the space, Bu Do-nam felt as if his breath was choked.

‘UGH!’

Soon Gung Roe rose to his feet and walked toward the door, laughing.

“Hahaha, anyway, either way it should be fun. Well then, I’m off to enjoy myself at the village pleasure house for a bit.”

“Huh? You just came back when it was almost evening and you’re going again…?”

“Hey, hey, what do you mean again! Not you too? From the start, I became a defrocked monk because I couldn’t control my innate virility – how sad.”