Chapter 180: The Signal

Below the colorfully autumn-tinted hillside.

Yeong Ho-woong was organizing his thoughts as he walked along the trail that led far toward the village.

‘It seems new developments occurred while I was on leave. From what I heard earlier…’

-It’s all here. The essence of the Ghost Shadow Sword Technique.

-I ask. How did you obtain that?

Recalling the brief exchange of words earlier, his suspicion solidified to a degree.

‘Right, it must be because of the Ghost Shadow Sword Technique.’

It seemed that like the case of Netherworld Sword Fork Jeo Gyeom, Sword Seal Sect Leader Severing Finger Sword Venerable So Cheon-ak had also approached with the goal of obtaining it.

‘Did he deliberately spread that rumor? As a lure? Well… If it’s the Sect Leader, he’s more than capable of doing such a thing. So those guys tried to capture me, a disciple of our sect, to verify the truth beforehand.’

Suddenly a faint smile formed and flowed at the corner of his mouth.

He was amazed anew.

By Cheol Ryu-heun’s skill.

He must have predicted everything from the start and appeared here.

The trust in his heart grew even larger.

Also.

The certainty that if he believed in and followed Cheol Ryu-heun, he could endure no matter what difficulties came in the future.

Soon the words Cheol Ryu-heun had spoken on the day he ordered the bonus vacation passed consecutively through his mind.

-Guard your money yourself, but make sure it doesn’t get taken by others. If anything like that happens… Don’t hesitate and report to me, understand?

-Remember, someone who suffers in silence when they have a strong Sect Leader isn’t being good – they’re being stupid. Like me before I changed.

-Stand tall. I’ll take care of all the aftermath. You only need to think about the development of your martial prowess. That’s why I’m giving freely.

‘After experiencing today’s events, those words touch my heart even more deeply. For us, the Sect Leader’s very existence is a fortuitous encounter of an age.’

He was already looking forward to it.

The training process after returning from vacation.

Cheol Ryu-heun’s proposed goals and aspirations were far-reaching.

The revival of the Mountain Martial Association, the elite swordsman group that had been highly active until the sect fell into decline.

Moreover, it wasn’t a simple re-establishment.

At that time, Cheol Ryu-heun had said he wanted the Mountain Martial Association’s fame and status to leap to become the current martial world’s greatest supreme-tier swordsman group.

‘I can do it. I will definitely accomplish it. Setting aside our dreams – even just to repay the grace of the current Sect Leader and the previous Sect Leader…’

Having thus recalled those goals, Yeong Ho-woong cast a purposeful gaze as if firming his resolve.

‘By the way…’

Who was the unfamiliar young man who had been collecting corpses nearby while he was talking with Cheol Ryu-heun earlier?

Though the distance had been somewhat far to see his appearance in detail, at a glance he had seemed like quite a fine young man.

Anyway, one thing was certain: various new developments were continuously occurring while he was away from White Peak Sword Sect.

Before long, Yeong Ho-woong left the trail and passed through the winding alley with his family to reach home.

But then.

The moment he entered the yard, his eyes grew wide.

‘Huh?’

Yeong Ho-bang and Yeong Ho-ok beside him were the same.

Because they had discovered a woman sitting on the old bench.

An absolute beauty who looked to be in her early twenties.

His breath caught.

She was beautiful.

How could a real person look like that…

A pair of jet-black eyes seemed to have starlight dwelling within, a smoothly raised nose bridge was like a sculpture crafted by a master artisan, and plump lips gave the feeling of tiny flower petals bunched together.

Her appearance – with cotton-white skin plus white clothing wrapping her curvaceous body, and silk-like hair pinned up high with a couple of hairpins – was enough to make her seem like a celestial maiden.

It was enchanting.

He felt as if he was facing the embodiment of every flowery phrase used to describe beauties – snow-white skin and flower-like face, beauty that topples nations, jade-like quality, peerless beauty.

A sweet voice flowed gently from between the red lips of the beauty who had risen to her feet.

“Hello. I’m Hae Su-yeon, a Guest Retainer of White Peak Sword Sect.”

Yeong Ho-woong, who had been out of his senses, quickly composed his expression.

“Ah…! So you’re the new… Yes… Nice to meet you, Miss Hae. I’m White Peak Sword Sect’s disciple Yeong Ho…”

“Yes, I already know from hearing.”

When Hae Su-yeon spoke while giving a smiling look with her eyes, Yeong Ho-woong’s heart pounded wildly.

‘GASP! I-I’m going crazy!’

It was just a single eye smile, yet great excitement arose.

‘I’m getting dizzy! She’s harmful! She’s an existence harmful to the heart!’

Hae Su-yeon soon went close and exchanged a few greetings with Yeong Ho-bang and Yeong Ho-ok, then looked at Yeong Ho-woong and spoke.

“I came here accompanying Sect Leader Cheol, and seeing you’ve returned safely like this, it seems the matter over there was wrapped up well.”

“Aha…! I see. Yes. The Sect Leader handled it. But why are you here, Miss Hae…?”

“I had business in the village.”

“Pardon?”

“The village head of this village was also one of the culprits. He was a puppet of the Sword Seal Sect. Well, it’s alright now. I’ve already taken care of it.”

At Hae Su-yeon’s words, Yeong Ho-woong was startled.

“The village head…!”

Suddenly the words he had heard Cheol Ryu-heun say earlier flashed through his mind.

-You’ll know later.

‘Right, what he said earlier meant I would meet Miss Hae and hear the story.’

Sure enough, Hae Su-yeon briefly explained the details of the incident and added.

“I beguiled the village head and secured all the evidence. Including a confession he wrote himself. It’s bad news for the Sword Seal Sect.”

“Pardon? If you mean beguiling… Do you mean a honey-trap?”

“Well, yes, you could say that. Hoho.”

“…?”

“That’s my power, you see. Bewitching people at will. Especially with someone like the village head, there’s no need to use force separately, so it’s more convenient.”

GASP! Is she some kind of demon or what?

As Yeong Ho-woong wore a bewildered expression, Hae Su-yeon took her leave with words of farewell as if her business was finally done, then headed outside the house with the small bundle from the bench.

Soon after her figure disappeared.

“Wow… She’s really pretty.”

Yeong Ho-ok exclaimed in admiration.

With eyes as if she had discovered an object of admiration.

Then she looked at Yeong Ho-woong beside her and said.

“Brother, living there must be a feast for the eyes. The Sect Leader is extremely handsome, and that Guest Retainer unni is also a tremendous beauty…”

“Hmm. Well, it’s not entirely like that. There are also three people who look like goblins. Just looking at them makes your knees go weak.”

If only the Guyang three brothers knew that their ears should be burning.

“Oh my! Goblins – isn’t that too much of an exaggeration?”

“Exaggeration… Well, you have to see to understand.”

“Anyway brother, if I learn makeup and dress myself up nicely in the future, will I be able to become like that?”

When Yeong Ho-ok asked with sparkling eyes, Yeong Ho-woong scratched the back of his head for no reason.

“Uh, Ok-ah. In this brother’s opinion, it’s not something that can be achieved with makeup or clothes… You’d probably have to be reborn…”

“……”

“Was I… Too honest?”

“Hmph! I just wanted to hear something like ‘you have your own charm too’ from you, brother.”

“No… Ahem, ahem! What I mean is, you have a face meant for studying hard and succeeding – that kind of meaning. You don’t need to copy pretty people.”

“Brother… You’re hateful.”

“……”

“Hateful.”

“B-but lying would be even worse…”

“Mm, hateful.”

“……”

Yeong Ho-woong scratched the back of his head again in silence.

So this is why I can’t get a woman.

Maybe I should buy and read a love secrets book or something.

Even romance learned from books should have some use.

Yeah, it should… Right?

* * *

Taeheo Palace.

The oldest Taoist temple within the Mount Heng Sect, one of the Nine Great Sects, and also the dwelling place of the current Sect Leader.

Currently inside, two elderly Taoists were conversing while facing each other.

“What, all four of those outstanding sword talents…?”

Taoist Cheon Mu asked with a quite surprised expression, Cloud Sea Sword Elder nodded and answered.

“Yes, Sect Leader Senior Brother. Setting aside the other three, even the famous Azure Mark Sword received just one move and had his head shoved into the ceiling, they say.”

The topic now was precisely Cheol Ryu-heun’s exploits.

How he had subdued Moon Gleam Sword Wu Yong of Bright Moon Sword Sect, Iron Brush Young Master Wan Ryeom of the Six Righteousness Gate, Jade Robe Swallow Lady Mae Yak-bang of Soaring Swallow Sword Sect, and Azure Mark Sword Seol Pan-gyo of Azure Heaven Sword Sect all at the same time…

Taoist Cheon Mu stroked his beard and murmured.

“Ha. How impressive. Azure Mark Sword is a rising powerhouse who is said to be nearly on par with the Five Supreme Martial Experts of Hunan.”

“Yes, it’s remarkable.”

“Hmm… What’s remarkable isn’t that Sect Leader Cheol won, but that he subdued them with merely one move each.”

Nodding in agreement at Taoist Cheon Mu words, Cloud Sea Sword Elder spoke again.

“That was only the beginning. He went to the neighboring city of Zhuxing and also broke Sword Forest Confucian Scholar, Brilliant Flash Sword, Yellow Sand Sword freak, and Silver Sword Scholar – all with just one move each.”

“…!”

“From then on, he traveled through several cities, rapidly gaining consecutive victories…”

Having trailed off, Cloud Sea Sword Elder spoke with meaningful eyes.

“…And finally made even a supreme master of the same rank as Sect Leader Senior Brother kneel.”

“A martial paragon level…”

“That’s right. The Broken Mountain Sword Manor Master is that very person.”

At that, Taoist Cheon Mu briefly showed a surprised face, then smiled silently.

‘Haha. So even Blue Robe Sword Noble Do Yun was defeated. Indeed…’

Although Blue Robe Sword Noble was the least among the Five Supreme Martial Experts of Hunan, his personal martial might was not a level that ordinary masters could carelessly look down upon.

“It wasn’t a long fight, I heard?”

“Yes. Apparently, the Broken Mountain Sword Manor Master executed the final four moves of the Broken Mountain Great Sword Style from the start. But he ended up skewered on Sect Master Cheol’s sword in defeat, and the location – Black Ox Hall – was reduced to ruins…”

“Hahaha.”

Taoist Cheon Mu let out a small exclamation.

Yes, he had thought this would happen someday.

Though it came a bit sooner than expected, it wasn’t particularly disconcerting.

Soon he spoke while stroking his chin as if murmuring.

“Sect Leader Cheol’s exploits are a kind of signal. The time has finally come.”

“What do you mean, Sect Leader Senior Brother?”

“On the day Sect Leader Cheol left then, I heard something separately.”

“…?”

“That a foreign demonic force has snuck in somewhere and is secretly moving.”

At the unexpected words, Cloud Sea Sword Elder’s eyes widened.

“The demonic force…!”

“Sect Leader Cheol has already prepared to resist the demonic force. And this humble Taoist… Promised to actively cooperate.”

“Then by ‘the time has come’…?”

“It means I will announce the list of disciples who will consume the ten roots of Hundred-Year Snow Ginseng I received from Sect Leader Cheol at that time.”

“Ah…! You had already thought it through.”

“Of course. And that child is included as well.”

Cloud Sea Sword Elder immediately understood who ‘that child’ meant.

It was Baek Lim, who had used the Taoist name Gong-wol as a second-generation disciple but had recently passed the promotion review and obtained first-generation disciple status.

“Sect Leader Senior Brother, are you planning to properly cultivate that child now?”

“Hmm, I must. Since the potential is excellent. As you well know, each of the Nine Great Sects is carefully raising a new dragon who will bear the responsibility for their sect’s future. This sect can’t fall behind either.”

Having heard Taoist Cheon Mu’s words and nodded, Cloud Sea Sword Elder carefully posed a question.

“Did you hear the identity of that demonic force?”

“Not yet. We agreed to contact later.”

“Hmm… This is somehow worrying.”

“Well, I’m rather worried for the enemy.”

“Pardon?”

The moment Cloud Sea Sword Elder showed a puzzled expression, Taoist Cheon Mu recalled a conversation in his mind.

One exchanged with Cheol Ryu-heun, who had visited here, on the last day…

-There’s something I’d like to show you – could you arrange a separate time later?

-Just the two of us, you mean?

-Yes.

-Very well. I’m quite curious what you’re going to show me.

-It’s related to my new power. To say it in advance, it could be called an ability that will shake the history of the martial world.

Taoist Cheon Mu, having smiled silently again, murmured inwardly.

‘Ha. That tremendous power that Sect Leader Cheol possesses… In terms of divine weapons, would it not be comparable to the Divine Martial Sword, the foremost of the Ten Heavenly Weapons?’