Chapter 181: A Strange Rumor
Two middle-aged swordsmen seated at a corner table inside a restaurant on the first floor.
“Hmm… You say they took a boat down the river?”
At the quiet question from One Long Sword Soul Eum Seon, confidant of the Sword Seal Sect Leader So Cheon-ak, the man in his thirties in the chair opposite nodded slightly and answered.
“Yes. Since it’s been confirmed that Hae Su-yeon took a boat at that time, it seems certain that Namgung Sang-rin also went south. Since she’s a woman of such eye-catching beauty, the information from that boatman seems beyond doubt.”
With brown skin and a slender body, he was Jan Dong, a first-rate swordsman belonging to Sword Seal Sect.
Though he was four years older than Eum Seon at forty-one, according to the sect rule that rank was determined solely by martial prowess, he held the position of the Tenth Squad Leader at the bottom of the executive ranks.
POUR.
Eum Seon muttered while filling his empty cup with liquor.
“So their destination is an orthodox martial sect in the Dongting Lake area.”
“Who knows. Perhaps…”
The moment the Tenth Squad Leader Jan Dong trailed off, Eum Seon immediately guessed the omitted content.
“Thunder Lightning Sect…?”
“Yes. If they’ve joined there, it would be difficult for our sect to readily make a move.”
Thunder Lightning Sect was the strongest orthodox martial sect in the Hunan region, with half of the waterside cities of the vast Dongting Lake, as wide as an ocean, belonging to its domain.
Furthermore.
Thunder Lightning Sect Leader Wei Ji-am, called Thunder Cloud Sword Duke, was a supreme powerhouse who vied for the top position among the Five Supreme Martial Experts of Hunan Province alongside Taoist Cheon Mu, the current Mount Heng Sect Leader, also known as White Cloud Sword Duke.
As he said, if the Namgung Sang-rin who had nowhere to go had headed to Thunder Lightning Sect, and if Hae Su-yeon, who was suspected of having fallen for him and paired up, was staying there… Even for the renowned Sword Seal Sect, it was no small burden.
The status of Thunder Cloud Sword Duke and White Cloud Sword Duke was exceptional.
In truth, the martial level of those two – the Two Dukes of Hunan – was unparalleled.
Though they were grouped together in the Five Supreme Martial Experts of Hunan rank, they were on a level that surpassed the other three by a considerable gap.
In other words, Thunder Lightning Sect Leader Wei Ji-am was a being a dimension above Blue Robe Sword Noble Do Yun, the Broken Mountain Sword Manor Master who had been defeated by So Cheon-ak in the past.
There was already precedent.
Wei Ji-am had faced and defeated Do Yun twice, five years ago and three years ago, and furthermore had recently elevated his fame even higher by defeating Tai Saber Kun Yuk Geum-gang, an unorthodox powerhouse ranked among the Six Extremes of Hubei, after a hard-fought match.
Although So Cheon-ak did possess the splendid alias of Severing Finger Sword Venerable, he wasn’t yet at the highest tier of the Six Extremes of Hubei.
Though he was still training now to someday take that position, it was quite difficult to ignore the enormous presence of Thunder Lightning Sect Leader Wei Ji-am, one of the Two Dukes of Hunan.
Eum Seon frowned and spoke inwardly.
‘Hmm, it’s troublesome. Since the highest tier within the Six Extremes of Hubei and the highest tier within the Five Supreme Martial Experts of Hunan Province have never fiercely clashed, I can’t gauge Thunder Lightning Sect Leader’s martial limits…’
Of course, he didn’t doubt the power of So Cheon-ak, the master he served, but if asked who could immediately gain an advantage against Wei Ji-am, it was a part difficult to readily answer.
That’s right.
What needed to be acknowledged should be acknowledged.
The considerable name value of great Thunder Lightning Sect and its Sect Leader.
At that moment, Jan Dong, who had been gauging the mood, carefully opened his mouth.
“Is the Sect Leader… Firm in his intention?”
It seemed he was worried about the case where if Hae Su-yeon was indeed confirmed to be staying at Thunder Lightning Sect and So Cheon-ak didn’t back down from his stubbornness, it might escalate into a major conflict.
Eum Seon recalled the previous conversation.
-Sect Leader, shall I investigate that woman’s whereabouts?
-Find her.
-Yes.
-And…
-……
-When I learn where she is, I will personally go there.
-Understood.
-Ha, if she was bewitched by Namgung Sang-rin and latched onto him, it’s even more unforgivable. I already gave her the glorious opportunity to receive my seed, and she threw that away…
-But after catching her, what will…?
-Lock her up, violate her to my heart’s content, then kill her. I’ve waited long enough.
He soon cleared his thoughts and spoke.
“The Sect Leader’s decision is firm.”
“Hmm…”
When Jan Dong swallowed a short sound of contemplation, Eum Seon’s gaze deepened.
“Are you afraid?”
“Ah, that’s… Honestly, taking risks of a major conflict just for one woman is a bit…”
“Your mind is unsettled. Because of the death of your subordinates.”
He meant Vice Squad Leader Je Gon and others from the Tenth Squad who had recently died violent deaths.
“Yes… I want to find that killer quickly. Not inquiring about the whereabouts of some woman who was merely a passing Guest Retainer…”
“We will definitely find them. A third of the Sword Patience Tenth Squad’s total personnel, including the First Squad, are investigating in all directions.”
“I too am hoping it turns out that way.”
“From now on, absolutely do not doubt the Sect Leader’s choices. If you utter such words again, even I cannot let it go. I am that person’s shadow. Understood?”
“I apologize. I will keep it in mind.”
The moment Jan Dong flinched and hunched his neck while answering, Eum Seon’s mouth spoke again.
“Also… We should consider the opposite case too.”
“Pardon…?”
“Thunder Lightning Sect would also find it burdensome. Our sect’s presence.”
“Ah.”
“Neither side wants a major conflict, but… If a situation arises where we must inevitably swing swords, I will stand at the forefront without hesitation. So drain your cup and drain your worries.”
At that, Jan Dong drained the liquor before him in one gulp, then lit up his eyes as if firming his resolve anew.
“Yes. With the dependable Commander Eum backing the Sect Leader, I too will not harbor weak thoughts as befitting a sect executive.”
The “Commander” just mentioned was Eum Seon’s official title as the second-in-command.
Because he was the head who commanded the Cruel Sword Corps, the elite swordsman unit.
Jan Dong thought.
That even if Thunder Lightning Sect’s Advancing Lightning Sword Corps boasted the greatest fame in the Hunan region as an organization, they couldn’t dismiss the Sword Patience Corps’ fighting strength…
Eum Seon, having likewise drained his cup, rose to his feet.
“I’ll return, so you collect additional information.”
“Understood. Commander.”
Thus the two exited the restaurant and went their separate ways.
But then.
Eum Seon noticed the street atmosphere was noisy.
“Don’t exaggerate!”
“Hey, it’s real! I saw it! It was a horse fast as light!”
“That’s right, I saw it too. And the sound of its hooves was loud like thunder clapping. The ground was breaking apart too.”
“You guys aren’t in your right minds.”
“Ha… This is driving me crazy. I’m just saying what I saw.”
“Tch, just wait and see. There’ll be other people who saw it besides us.”
Eum Seon, having quietly passed by and heard those words, slightly raised the corner of his mouth.
‘Tsk. How absurd.’
He thought that the story related to Cheol Ryu-heun, who had no presence whatsoever until now, had probably been inflated in a similar manner.
* * *
Sword Seal Sect.
CLATTER, CREEAK-
Eum Seon, having opened the large main gate and entered, was crossing the training grounds when he came face to face with a man and stopped.
“Squad Commander, a strange rumor has been circulating since earlier.”
It was First Commander Ma Yeong-mu.
Eum Seon smirked and responded.
“The horse story?”
“Ah, yes. So you’ve heard.”
“Various people were chattering about it on my way.”
“Yes. It seems there are quite a few people who witnessed that horse passing through the city outskirts. They say it sprinted as if causing a small earthquake – shall we send people to separately…”
“That’s enough. Does it make sense that such a horse exists?”
Just as Eum Seon waved his hand dismissively.
“Squad commander! First Commander!”
Five or six swordsmen belonging to the First Squad appeared, flinging open the main gate, and came close.
“What’s going on?”
When Eum Seon asked with a puzzled expression, one squad member answered as representative.
“Right now a shocking rumor is spreading on every street in the area…!”
“The horse that’s fast as light?”
“Pardon? Ah, I did hear that story too.”
“Then what is it?”
“It’s that… A rumor is spreading that White Peak Sword Sect Leader Cheol Ryu-heun will publicly compete for supremacy with the Sect Leader seven days from now.”
At the unexpected words, the expressions of Eum Seon and Ma Yeong-mu hardened.
“What?!”
“What kind of…!”
Even the personnel gathered in the training grounds wore expressions of great shock upon hearing those words.
At that moment, a heavy voice penetrated the ears of the assembled.
“How interesting.”
Simultaneously, the gazes of those present focused.
It was So Cheon-ak.
Having walked over, he asked quietly.
“Did you just hear this rumor?”
At that, the squad member spoke in a flustered manner.
“Th-that’s right. When it spread, I don’t know… But it’s definitely at some point today.”
At that, So Cheon-ak twisted his lips into a grin, and it felt like some flame fiercely rose in his eyes.
“Ha. So it was something that guy cooked up from the start.”
Eum Seon beside him showed a puzzled look.
“Then you mean the series of rumors were Cheol Ryu-heun’s plan?”
The moment So Cheon-ak nodded his head.
-BANG, KABANG…
Suddenly, from far beyond the main gate, a heavy sound echoed and made the air vibrate.
-DUDUDUDU,DUDUDUDUDU, DUDUDUDUDUDU…
Those gathered here heard that rapidly approaching sound and harbored the same question.
‘Huh? Horse hooves?’
Immediately after, the expressions of Eum Seon, Ma Yeong-mu and others changed.
‘Could it be…!’
The thought flashed through their minds – could a horse that moves as fast as light and makes thunderous sounds really exist?
At that moment.
BOOM!
An explosion-like roar burst out right behind the main gate, and a large shadow leaped high.
‘What!’
The instant everyone was startled in unison, that shadow descended fiercely toward the training grounds across the void.
HWIIIIIIK- KWAAAAANG-!
A rough gust with fierce wind pressure swirled throughout the place.
KWADEUK,KWADEUDEUDEUK… JJEOJEOJEOK, JJEOJEOJEOJEOK…
Centered on the point where the horse hooves had struck down, cracks resembling a giant spider web spread across the training ground floor.
As everyone’s clothes fluttered.
‘The horse executed a True Stomp…?’
The light of shock swirled greatly in the pupils of the onlookers.
Silence.
Cheol Ryu-heun, having thus appeared dramatically riding Divine wind, casually tossed an indifferent voice forward.
“Are you the Sword Seal Sect Leader?”
His voice shattered the stillness, and those in the area, startled by the sudden commotion, rushed to gather at the training grounds.
“What!”
“Who goes there!”
As noisy shouts burst out from here and there.
SWISH.
When So Cheon-ak quietly raised his left hand, silence once again settled over the training grounds.
At that moment, Eum Seon’s gaze, gripping his sword hilt, lingered on the back of Cheol Ryu-heun.
‘No way…!’
Pupils wrapped in ripples.
The reactions of others were no different.
They had seen the two people mounted behind the horse – namely Namgung Sang-rin and Hae Su-yeon.
Soon the area stirred.
“Ah…!”
“How can this be…”
“That guy is…”
Because they recognized that the clothes Cheol Ryu-heun wore were the unique martial attire symbolizing the position of White Peak Sword Sect Leader.
Only one person showed no sign of being shaken.
So Cheon-ak.
Meeting eyes, he coldly asked in return.
“And you are… Cheol Ryu-heun?”
“You know well.”
When Cheol Ryu-heun spoke curtly and moved his hand.
PAK-!
The dark large object that had been hanging from the back of Divine wind was drawn by Void Grasping Technique and shot rapidly forward.
BUUUUK-!
Eum Seon somehow blocked the path of that object and stood, slicing his sword vertically as a foul smell stabbed his nose.
“NO!”
“HURP!”
“URGH!”
Cries of shock shook the area.
What had spilled onto the floor as the huge black cloth was torn lengthwise was none other than the corpses of the Sword Seal Sect members including Unbearable Sword Cho Baek.
As a silent shockwave swept the training grounds.
Cheol Ryu-heun swept back his hair and gave an indifferent chin gesture.
“It’s trash you threw away, so clean it up yourself.”