Chapter 175: A Sinister Disposition

Mount Zhongnan had been famous as a sacred mountain since ancient times.

Its scenery was that beautiful.

The majestic appearance of the great peak, the elegant curves of the ridges, the splendid harmony of trees and plants – as if copying a masterpiece by a peerless artist, not a single thing was less than a magnificent view.

A masterpiece crafted by great nature.

But still.

There had always been one martial sect that followed behind the mountain name of Mount Zhongnan.

Zhongnan Sect.

The fame and prestige of Mount Zhongnan hadn’t risen solely because of its beautiful scenery.

Because the prestigious orthodox Taoist martial sect Zhongnan Sect had been there for a long time, it had become one of the two great sacred mountains representing the Shaanxi region along with Mount Hua.

About three hundred years.

That was Zhongnan Sect’s history and tradition.

Although they weren’t included among the Nine Great Sects, at their past peak they had been so powerful as to rival that prestige.

But after a period of stagnation, they had gradually regressed, and now they maintained their lineage as a somewhat faded Taoist prestigious sect.

That’s what everyone knew, but…

No.

Inside Zhongnan Sect, which should have been filled with the fresh vital energy of Mount Zhongnan, only murky energy was abundant.

Because of the Sun Moon Demon Cult group that had seized it at some point.

“They’re waiting over there.”

When the follower who had locked the main gate pointed to a hall beyond the training grounds, Yeom Sang-ah and Yo Mong-ji immediately walked toward it.

“It’s a nice place. Wide and big.”

At Yeom Sang-ah’s quiet words, Yo Mong-ji smiled gently.

“Ha. Yes, forward bases like this are rare.”

“By the way, I wonder if that old man is still holding out?”

“Given that the gatekeeper said nothing more, it seems so. He won’t surrender easily. Being the Zhongnan Sect Leader, he has strong mental fortitude.”

“He’s persistent. I thought there’d be a change while we were away.”

The two, who had been quietly exchanging words, finally reached a huge hall and entered inside.

CREEAK-

When the lattice door opened, a great hall immediately came into view.

One person could be seen some distance ahead.

It was a figure dressed in black robes with large patterns depicting a golden sun and moon embroidered on both shoulders.

Yeom Sang-ah and Yo Mong-ji immediately went to the side of the person leaning back in a large chair and showed their propriety.

“Patriarch, we have returned.”

At that, the figure in the chair let out a solemn voice.

“Well done.”

It was Aryun-nan, the Sun Moon Demon Saint, Patriarch of Sun Moon Demon Cult.

A darkish face with sharp-looking eyes, nose, and mouth… And short hair and a height that seemed not yet fully grown.

He looked young.

No more than seventeen years old at most.

The reason Aryun-nan, ninety-five years old this year, had such a youthful appearance was precisely because he had achieved Rejuvenation twice.

However.

A formless presence transcending his outward appearance clearly spoke to his deep experience.

Just meeting his gaze made one’s chest feel heavy.

The majesty of a Absolute being.

It was an intense presence as if personally proving what a supreme master of the demonic martial world was like.

If it were an ordinary person, they would have lost strength in their legs and collapsed the moment they faced that face.

“Patriarch, first to report…”

“There’s no one else here. Speak comfortably.”

“Yes, Father.”

Though Yeom Sang-ah was an adopted daughter, she was nonetheless in a father-daughter relationship with Aryun-nan.

Yet they used different surnames.

There was a reason for that.

Because of the absolute cult rule passed down from ancient times – the Patriarch was essentially like a sole deity, so neither daughter nor anyone could have the same surname.

“Young Master Ximen…”

Having opened like that, Yeom Sang-ah explained the series of events in detail.

Of course, excluding the secret agreement she had made with Ximen Yue.

While listening to that explanation, Aryun-nan didn’t ask a single simple question and merely scattered a sharp gaze.

It was a habit.

One of carefully observing changes in the opponent’s glances, hand gestures, body language and such to determine if there was any falsehood mixed in.

However.

Yeom Sang-ah had learned early on.

How to speak to Aryun-nan, who wouldn’t readily trust even his daughter, in a way that avoided suspicion.

Of course, the one who had taught her that was none other than Yo Mong-ji, her personal attendant who had long also served as a surrogate mother.

When the explanation finally ended.

“Ha.”

Aryun-nan laughed briefly and relaxed his cold gaze.

He had probably put away the suspicion in his heart.

Yeom Sang-ah deliberately watched his mood and carefully asked.

“Father, what do you… Think?”

“I’m pleased.”

When Aryun-nan spoke quietly, Yeom Sang-ah’s round eyes sparkled.

“Ah, you mean…”

“Go ahead and seriously date each other from now on.”

“Thank you, Father.”

“Hoho. I’m the one who’s rather happy. If Yue is the one who has captured your heart, there can be no complaint. Where else could you find such a match?”

Yeom Sang-ah sneered inwardly.

‘I was right.’

Since Ximen Yue, who had learned the true transmission of the Sun Moon Demon Coming Technique, was essentially the sole heir, she had expected that if she said she would date him with the premise of marriage, the approval would be given readily.

At that moment.

Aryun-nan’s eyes deepened.

“I too have only now erased my last bit of suspicion.”

“Pardon? What do you mean…”

“You’re still naive. From the beginning, the mission related to Ghost Shadow Sword Technique was bait. To test that boy’s true loyalty.”

“…!”

Hearing the unexpected words, the flustered Yeom Sang-ah felt caught off guard.

‘How can this be! He suspected him until now?’

It was admirable.

That sinister disposition of his.

She had thought trust was solidified after he personally transmitted the Sun Moon Demon Coming Technique, but to think he hadn’t let go of the thread of distrust for several years…

He was not someone to be taken lightly.

At any time, if she let her guard down, a dagger would be thrust in.

As Yeom Sang-ah was inwardly surprised, Aryun-nan’s words continued.

“I have already crossed even the final wall, so something like the Ghost Shadow Sword Technique is of no help to me.”

“Ah… Yes, Father. I didn’t know that. You’re truly amazing.”

“Anyway, it’s a success. As you say, if Yue showed no untrustworthy aspects in the process of handling that matter… There will be no need to doubt his loyalty anymore.”

“I hope you’ll treat him better going forward. He’s someone I’ll spend my life with now.”

“Of course. But that Cheol Ryu-heun fellow seems somewhat suspicious.”

“That’s why I told him to use the Sword Seal Sect Leader. He’s also looking for the Ghost Shadow Sword Technique.”

“Ha. I’m very pleased.”

At Aryun-nan’s satisfied expression, Yeom Sang-ah again responded with a silent smile as if expressing thanks.

“Now we must focus on the whereabouts of the Divine Martial Sword. I have already reached the martial might I desired, but… If I could also obtain the Divine Martial Sword, it would be hard to find a match.”

Nodding, Yeom Sang-ah chimed in.

“Yes, Father. I believe you will definitely obtain it.”

“Separate from the Divine Martial Sword, the original plan proceeds as scheduled. Keep that in mind.”

At that, this time Yo Mong-ji responded.

“Yes, Sect Leader. But… If the First Seat determines the location of the Divine Martial Sword, who do you think would be suitable for the procurement mission?”

“That would naturally be.”

With those words, Aryun-nan looked at Yeom Sang-ah’s face.

“Yue.”

* * *

CLOP, CLOP, CLOP-

Mun Bin thought while riding his horse and racing through the forest path.

‘I… Didn’t know myself.’

Earlier, when he had received a pulse reading after making a pledge of loyalty with Cheol Ryu-heun, he heard shocking words.

-What’s this?

-Pardon? Why, Sect Master Cheol?

-Your body is already Perfect.

-…!

-You have True Ink Heaven Meridians.

-True Ink Heaven Meridians…?

-It means you have the same physique as the Ink Sword Emperor. Something that has appeared less than twenty times in the martial world.

-H-how…

-When the latent potential of True Ink Heaven Meridians awakens at the perfected level, the divine power of the Ink God Robe will also awaken at the perfected level alongside it.

-Ah! The scale energy and fire energy…

-Right. For now, after strengthening the meridians throughout your body, you just need to open the subtle and dormant meridians to complete it. The pain will be extreme though.

-Yes, I’ll do whatever it takes! Sect Leader Cheol! If only I can fully awaken this power!

-Well, nothing else seems necessary. Just succeed by implementing the great method of consuming various medicinal herbs.

-Then can I do it right away?

-No.

-Huh, then…?

-There’s a secret ground far away at the Three Immortals Mountain. I’ll draw you a map, so go there and achieve it.

-A secret ground?

-An underground space called Wickedness-Extreme Black Ground.

-What kind of place is that?

-You’ll know when you get there.

-Ah… Yes, understood. By the way, I don’t know how I came to have a body like this.

-Well, I don’t know either. It’s something heaven decided.

-Ah…

-Anyway, since I’ve received a pledge of loyalty from you, I’ll provide everything you need.

-Thank you!

-Well, it seems like you just need to push hard for one day there… If contact is cut off, I’ll assume you’re dead.

-……

-Don’t resent me for nothing.

Thus Mun Bin had left White Peak Sword Sect carrying a booklet containing Ink Sword Emperor’s true transmission, a bundle with various medicinal herbs, a map to Wickedness-Extreme Black Ground, and a scroll with instructions for implementing the great method.

Following that, the words he had exchanged with Cheol Ryu-heun before leaving came to mind.

-Considerable internal energy must have been loaded into those eight or nine exchanges.

-Pardon?

-That fellow’s swordwork.

-Ah… Are you talking about the person who was my master?

-Think carefully. Did that fellow really not know?

Mun Bin shifted his thoughts while gripping the reins.

‘At that time, I held out for about eight or nine exchanges using all my power, then was eventually pushed back and bounced out of the building.’

Jeo Gyeom had deployed continuous sword moves loaded with more than fifty or sixty percent of his internal energy, intending to kill him at that time.

‘Wait, then was it not luck!’

It had been such an urgent life-or-death situation that he had thought something beyond his full power had been manifested to allow him to hold out that long – but perhaps at that moment, part of his True Ink Heaven Meridians’ latent power had arisen on its own?

He searched his memory.

The situation when he had been hit by Jeo Gyeom’s final sword move and bounced outside.

-You killed my family and lied, didn’t you! Saying it was Wave Gang’s doing! Because of that, I took the life of the innocent Wave Gang Leader!

-So?

-WHAT!

-Wasn’t it thanks to that rage that you completed the rest of your martial arts? It was rather a great help.

‘AH, WAIT!’

Mun Bin’s eyes emitted light.

Because the meaning of Jeo Gyeom’s words at that time was newly striking his heart.

‘HA! That wasn’t just about the level of swordsmanship achievement – it meant unlocking the latent power of the True Ink Heaven Meridians! That it became the driving force for completing the rest of my martial arts!’

“It was rather a great help”… He only now understood the hidden meaning of those words.

That’s right.

Jeo Gyeom had known early on.

The fact that he possessed the True Ink Heaven Meridians.

That’s why he was more wary and watchful of everything, and because of that he had detected the signs of betrayal.

‘The achievements I made while enraged before the situation created by that enemy’s ugly lies… Were higher than I thought.’

He had unknowingly already crossed one level.

If he hadn’t met Cheol Ryu-heun, he probably would have known nothing.

‘It seems I have heaven’s luck!’

Mun Bin was about to wear a faint smile, then soon gripped the reins hard.

‘As soon as I finish Sect Master Cheol’s errand, let’s head to Wickedness-Extreme Black Ground at Three Immortals Mountain! He said it only takes a day to achieve enlightenment…’

Then he kicked the horse’s belly – TOK, TOK! – and shouted.

“HYAH!”

The pace grew faster.

The errand Cheol Ryu-heun had entrusted him with was precisely delivering the secret manual of the Ten Supreme Commanding Energy Flying Swords technique that Ju Yu-gang had wanted.

* * *

Cheol Ryu-heun came out to the training grounds and conveyed separate instructions to Elder Yeop Hwon and Chief Supervisor Hyeop Mu-geuk, then lightly leaped onto Divine wind’s back.

When Hae Su-yeon and Namgung Sang-rin, having jumped afterward, took their positions behind.

“Let’s go give them a beating.”

Simultaneously with Cheol Ryu-heun’s indifferent voice, Divine wind leaped high with a BOOM and jumped over the main gate’s roof.