Chapter 182: The Predetermined Battle
“…!”
Everyone, including Eum Seon, wore expressions as if they had lost their words.
Silence created by shock.
Transparent ripples arose greatly in each of their eyes.
Their minds went blank.
It was hard to believe.
That the group who had gone to Pomi Village yesterday to ascertain the truth of the rumors regarding Cheol Ryu-heun had all returned as cold corpses…
Fine, let’s say the deaths of the others could happen.
But then.
The deaths of Fifth Commander Ga Gun of the Sword Patience Tenth Squad, plus Cho Baek, a member of the leadership’s Sword Seal Ten Unit Commanders, were truly shocking.
Yet an even more surprising fact lay in Cheol Ryu-heun’s martial prowess.
Eum Seon soon gripped the hand holding his sword hilt tightly and shouted inwardly.
‘Cheol Ryu-heun’s martial might is at a level where he can readily execute Void Grasping Technique!’
At that moment, So Cheon-ak’s gaze dropped.
To the floor right in front of him.
Coincidentally, Cho Baek’s corpse that had fallen at his feet.
It was a gruesome appearance.
Both kneecaps and even the head had been bent all the way back…
There were no sword wounds whatsoever.
That meant Cheol Ryu-heun had cut off his breath with bare-handed moves alone without even drawing his sword.
Soon.
PUHAAAK-!
With a dull sound, Cho Baek’s corpse was torn to pieces.
THUD…
The ground vibrated.
The startled gazes of the Sword Seal Sect members focused.
So Cheon-ak had trampled and burst Cho Baek’s body with a True Stomp loaded with heavy force.
As if the death of a subordinate or whatever wouldn’t shake his heart.
It was a sight that spoke to his cruel and ruthless nature.
Immediately after.
STEP, STEP, STEP…
So Cheon-ak walked a few steps forward and asked with a cold gaze.
“Do you know the Ghost Shadow Sword Technique as the rumors say?”
“Of course I do.”
Following his brief response, Cheol Ryu-heun surveyed the surroundings with a dignified attitude and spoke again.
“Only I know.”
At that, a cruel-feeling smile formed at the corner of So Cheon-ak’s mouth.
“Ha. Is that so?”
He intuitively knew it wasn’t empty words.
Therefore, his heart was set on definitely killing and eliminating him.
“How did you know… That I wanted the Ghost Shadow Sword Technique?”
“You sent them first, didn’t you? Those loose-lipped pieces of trash.”
Hearing Cheol Ryu-heun’s words, So Cheon-ak turned his mind.
It was true that for some reason he had deliberately spread the rumor about the Ghost Shadow Sword Technique, but this could be interpreted to mean he hadn’t known Sword Seal Sect would be the one to take that bait.
‘Good.’
He had suspected this might be something cooked up with knowledge of the secrets entangled with past affairs, but hearing his words organized his train of thought.
Originally, his goal was to completely sever the lineage of the Ghost Shadow Sword Technique, so if he just killed Cheol Ryu-heun, that long-standing problem would be solved.
‘It seems he came to protest because his sect’s disciple was threatened…’
The one who had taken the bait was rather Cheol Ryu-heun.
“Did you commit this deed in a fit of rage over today’s events?”
At So Cheon-ak’s meaningful question, Cheol Ryu-heun spoke expressionlessly.
“Well, fit of rage or whatever, as a Sect Leader I can’t just stand by. I came today as a greeting.”
“A final greeting before going to the underworld?”
The moment So Cheon-ak’s killing-intent-laden words ended, Eum Seon, standing behind him, sent a hand signal.
Simultaneously, dozens of subordinate swordsmen began to move, rushing to surround Divine wind’s sides.
Suddenly.
SHUAAAAA- SHUAAAAA-!
The moment two piercing sounds of wind-splitting burst out, long lines were engraved on the ground a little distance from where Divine wind was positioned.
KAKAKAKAKAK- PEPEPEPEPEONG!
The flinching group all halted their movements in unison and looked at the deep marks carved at their feet.
Hae Su-yeon and Namgung Sang-rin, having dismounted at some point, had executed powerful sword strikes to block the enemy’s approach.
“Everyone, do not cross that line.”
Namgung Sang-rin, gripping the Heaven Reliance Sword, warned in a firm tone.
Hae Su-yeon also added while brushing back her hair beside her ears.
“Oh my, did everyone not hear what Sect Leader Cheol said? He only came as a greeting today.”
At that moment, a voice was heard.
“Stand down.”
It was So Cheon-ak.
When all the swordsmen bowed their heads and fell back, the area once again sank into silence.
So Cheon-ak’s chilling gaze soon pierced across the distance into Hae Su-yeon’s beautiful face.
“What, have you become a Guest Retainer of White Peak Sword Sect?”
“Yes. As you can see.”
“You’re a brazen woman. Now I see – you latched onto Cheol Ryu-heun, not Namgung Sang-rin.”
Hae Su-yeon frowned and retorted sarcastically.
“My, how sweetly you speak.”
Cheol Ryu-heun’s indifferent voice was added on top of that.
“Well, it’s only natural that strong males are attractive.”
It was blatant provocation.
That you are inferior to me, so Hae Su-yeon didn’t choose you.
So Cheon-ak’s eyebrow twitched upward and he abruptly drew his sword.
SHING-
Fighting spirit and killing intent swirled wildly in a terrifying formless presence.
The flow of air changed.
It was heavy.
A feeling as if ten-thousand-geun boulders were falling onto one’s head without cease.
But Cheol Ryu-heun only maintained no response.
“It’s seven days from now. Our match.”
At that, So Cheon-ak revealed an even more belligerent disposition.
“What if I refuse?”
“That’s not my concern.”
“Ha, how insolent.”
The moment So Cheon-ak raised the corner of his mouth, Cheol Ryu-heun’s hand gripped the reins.
“The location is the great plain west of Wanju, the time is the first hour of the snake (around 9 AM). The rumor is already spreading, so martial world figures from all walks of life will gather. At that time, we’ll have a life-or-death contest. Any objections?”
Eum Seon immediately shouted.
“Shut up!”
Simultaneously, everyone, including the Sword Seal Sword Patience Squad Commander, swiftly moved to form an encircling formation.
“Enough.”
Having spoken briefly, So Cheon-ak sheathed the sword in his right hand.
CLANK-
It meant acceptance.
Following that, a cold voice flowed from between his lips.
“It would be better to sever your neck where everyone can see. No, starting with your fingers one by one.”
Cheol Ryu-heun, for his part, pretended not to hear and gave an eye signal to have Hae Su-yeon and Namgung Sang-rin mount Divine wind’s back.
Immediately after.
PUSHUUT-!
Having snorted and breathed out, Divine wind turned his body around and kicked off the training ground floor with a BOOM, then leaped clear over the main gate roof.
-Feel free to bring all your masters.
It was Cheol Ryu-heun’s thunderous voice.
DUDUDUDU, DUDUDUDUDU…
Soon the sound of horse hooves went far into the distance.
So Cheon-ak quietly gazed at the main gate, then wore a smile full of murderous intent and murmured.
“He’s an interesting fellow.”
Eum Seon, standing behind, approached closely to his side.
“Sect Leader, it seems he must have obtained a great fortuitous encounter. If not, that level of martial prowess makes no sense. To skillfully execute even Void Grasping Technique…”
“It’s somewhat surprising, but he’s someone who will end up kneeling to my sword anyway.”
With those words, So Cheon-ak issued an order to the assembled.
“From today, all of you spread word of this matter widely. Make many people gather. Only then will there be worth in wielding my sword.”
“Yes! Sect Leader.”
When the assembled answered in unison, So Cheon-ak turned and laughed.
‘Hoho. A stage has been prepared to showcase the might of the ultimate technique I newly completed. Through this fight, I will once again make this lord’s presence known to the world.’
* * *
As Divine wind raced at high speed after coming outside, Hae Su-yeon smiled serenely.
“It went as Sect Leader Cheol said.”
“Well, I provoked that arrogant guy’s pride, after all.”
“Hoho. That’s right. People that arrogant are rare.”
“Anyway, such a martial sect won’t last long.”
“Pardon?”
“He only knows himself. Unless he abandons the thought that only he himself is special and precious, the fall of himself and his sect is predetermined.”
“Ah… Yes. That’s true. He’s probably someone who won’t realize the true meaning of the word ‘we’ until the day he dies.”
Following Hae Su-yeon’s words, Namgung Sang-rin also nodded.
“That’s right, Sect Leader Cheol. A martial sect cannot be led by one person’s power alone. Fundamentally, all the people of the sect are the protagonists…”
Having said that, Namgung Sang-rin soon smirked.
‘But there is an exception.’
That’s right, Cheol Ryu-heun was that.
He was raising White Peak Sword Sect by his power alone, wasn’t he?
At that moment, Cheol Ryu-heun’s indifferent voice was heard.
“Naturally, I’m the exception.”
“Haha. It’s as if you read my mind. I was just having that thought.”
At that, this time Cheol Ryu-heun smirked inwardly.
‘Ha. It can’t be helped, since I’m not human.’
A thousand years.
He had lived continuously for that long time.
Because of that, there was one thing he had definitely realized.
The power of truth.
Falsehood is eventually revealed.
Without fail.
Truth compels those who try to cover it up to pile on endless lies, and thereby gives birth to errors that don’t accord with reason.
The conclusion is always the same.
Falsehood loses and truth wins.
Like dark shadows that disappear in bright light.
So Cheon-ak was the same.
The truth that had been deeply hidden was revealed, and he fell into a swamp.
Now all that remained was judgment.
He should teach him.
How great the power of truth is, and how wretched the power of falsehood is.
At that moment, Hae Su-yeon asked.
“Where do we go now?”
Cheol Ryu-heun, having adjusted his grip on the reins, put aside his thoughts and spoke briefly.
“Green Forest Alliance.”
* * *
Ju Yu-gang, dressed in shabby gray clothes, was walking up a mountain path with few people, stepping with a nimble gait, and spoke quietly.
“This village is situated in quite a remote place too.”
There was one reason he had visited a mountain on the outskirts of Wuyang.
He was concerned about the mysterious massacre of a mountain village that had occurred recently and had personally come to patrol even the distant parts of his jurisdiction.
Of course, on the day he received the cooperation notice from another government office, he had already strengthened the search of the Wuyang area.
However, he felt more at ease running on his own two feet.
He considered that something a government official living on the nation’s salary ought to do, regardless of one’s rank.
As he quietly advanced, yesterday’s events suddenly came to mind.
The visit from Mun Bin, who had received Cheol Ryu-heun’s order.
-What is this…?
-It’s the essence of the lost true transmission of Sword-Commanding Hegemon King – Ten Supreme Commanding Energy Flying Swords technique. Sect Leader Cheol said that Magistrate Ju had requested it…
-I can’t believe this, I never thought I’d really get my hands on this!
-Haha, Yes. I was also surprised when I first learned it was Ten Supreme Commanding Energy Flying Swords technique
-My goodness… Remarkable. Just what is his ability…
Soon a faint smile formed at the corner of Ju Yu-gang’s mouth.
‘Ha. The expression “remarkable” alone isn’t enough. Anyway, this is the first time I’ve encountered a person who constantly stimulates interest and curiosity like Cheol Ryu-heun.’
-It’s all here. Every formula of Ten Supreme Commanding Energy Flying Swords technique.
Those were the words Cheol Ryu-heun had spoken while lightly tapping his own head at that time.
‘He said that even more powerful sword studies than Sword-Commanding Hegemon King’s true transmission abound…’
He was curious anew.
Just how much Cheol Ryu-heun knew.
<It’s Hundred-Year Snow Ginseng. Take one each. If you handle this matter well, I’ll prepare other spiritual medicines too. Shouldn’t even you achieve Bone Replacement and Marrow Cleansing at least once before turning forty?>
Recalling the contents of the note he had left at that time, Ju Yu-gang wondered if maybe he really would end up achieving Bone Replacement and Marrow Cleansing.
‘Haha, if that happens, should I serve him as a master?’
Having let out such a chuckle, Ju Yu-gang increased his pace even more.
Before long.
The entrance of the destination village at the far end of the uphill path came into view.
Right at that moment.
-GAAAHK!
Someone’s sharp scream echoed from a distance away.
‘…!’
The startled Ju Yu-gang immediately moved like a ray of light, operating massive amounts of internal energy through the yongcheon points on the soles of both feet.