Chapter 197: That's Your Only Way Out

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The surprising statement brought great shock and deep silence.

“…!”

Black Silken Sword Sovereign Wei Ta-gong narrowed his eyes and murmured.

“What did you say?”

Along with that, not only Hungry Wolf Blade Demon Jinjo Jeok-je, Tai Saber Kun Yuk Geum-gang, and Jade Qilin Yeo Yong-jeo, but even Thunder Cloud Sword Duke were looking with eyes doubting their own ears.

What kind of talk was this? They can all come at once?

That was too much confidence.

It was an arrogant boast difficult to make even for the top of the Six Extremes of Hubei or Five Supreme Martial Experts of Hunan Province.

However.

Taoist White Cloud Sword Duke Cheon Mu, standing behind Cheol Ryu-heun, had a calm expression without any particular agitation.

Seeing that, Wei Ji-am tilted his head in puzzlement.

‘Hmm… Does he inwardly acknowledge his martial might?’

At that moment, Wei Ta-gong wore a smile.

“Ha.”

Mockery seeped through his upturned mouth corners.

Staring directly at Cheol Ryu-heun, he let out a cold voice.

“Cheol Ryu-heun. Words once spoken cannot be taken back. Don’t you know?”

At that, Cheol Ryu-heun countered expressionlessly.

“I don’t make promises I can’t keep.”

“Ohh…”

Wei Ta-gong’s eyes became even narrower.

His body grew hot.

Competitive spirit.

As if speaking to that heart surging strongly, his hand had somehow already moved near his sword hilt.

Soon Jinjo Jeok-je stepped forward a couple of paces and spoke.

“Palace Lord Wei. Shouldn’t I be the one to seize the opportunity first?”

Since Cheol Ryu-heun had set up the stage without caring about justification, he meant to yield to him who had a debt to repay immediately.

Wei Ta-gong nodded and withdrew his hand.

“Well… Among the people here, Sect Leader Jin Jo’s desire must be the greatest.”

Having gained understanding, Jinjo Jeok-je immediately drew his blade.

A blade sparkling in the sunlight.

A deadly drawing stance combined with formless sharp energy and fighting spirit.

The crowd had expressions crossing between anticipation and tension.

This was a battleground where regional conflicts, faction conflicts, and camp conflicts were complexly intertwined.

Therefore, everyone had their eyes wide open.

As if not wanting to miss even a moment of this rare spectacle.

Suddenly.

-Who gave permission to swing a blade?

A resounding voice echoed through the street.

Following that, one shout after another burst from several people.

“Ah!”

“He’s appeared!”

“Finally…!”

A figure walking out as if parting waves.

He overflowed with extraordinary majesty.

Just his arrogant and relaxed stride displayed a tremendous presence.

A man in his fifties wearing a gray robe embroidered with silver sword patterns and sporting a long beard… The person who appeared was none other than So Cheon-ak, Severing Finger Sword Venerable, the current Sect Leader of the Sword Seal Sect.

His appearance as he approached while scattering an eye light like a sword’s sharp edge was imposingly and domineeringly comparable to Thunder Cloud Sword Duke and Black Silken Sword Sovereign Wei Ta-gong.

The atmosphere grew even heavier.

With So Cheon-ak joining this gathering, the energy of the scene seemed to have shifted anew.

As if adding the finishing touch.

Taoist Cheon Mu, upon seeing him, spoke quietly.

“Same as ever.”

Wei Ji-am nodded slightly in agreement.

“Yes. His formless presence alone is matchless.”

Though Cheol Ryu-heun actually looked uncaring.

Before long, So Cheon-ak approached beside Jinjo Jeok-je and emitted eyes so cold they were chilling.

“Put that away.”

Words suddenly thrown like a command.

“What?”

Just as Jinjo Jeok-je twitched one eyebrow as if bristling, a sharp sound struck his ears.

SHUKAAK-!

Simultaneously.

KWACHAHANG-!

With a stinging metallic sound, Jinjo Jeok-je’s body retreated and stood.

SCREECH.

Scraping the floor as if sliding.

It was because of the single sword So Cheon-ak had swung.

Before the unexpected situation, everyone was aghast, while Jinjo Jeok-je, having retreated three or four paces, emitted a fierce eye light.

“GAL! What are you doing!”

So Cheon-ak responded with the same words.

“What are you doing, rather.”

His voice carried thick killing intent.

Jinjo Jeok-je flinched, and his expression hardened further.

“You seem unable to distinguish friend from foe… Sect Leader So.”

“Friend or foe? How ridiculous. There never was such a thing.”

With those words, So Cheon-ak gripped his sword at a slant.

It was a combative stance.

Indicating he wouldn’t refuse a clash of blades.

Jinjo Jeok-je was bewildered.

‘Crazy…!’

What was he trying to do?

Appearing suddenly and even showing killing intent toward him.

At that moment, Yuk Geum-gang from one side frowned and said.

“Sect Leader So, why are you being like this?”

At that, So Cheon-ak asked solemnly.

“Are you asking because you don’t know?”

At the arrogant tone, Yuk Geum-gang’s expression changed completely.

“You’re wagging your tongue carelessly. Do I look like your subordinate?”

But So Cheon-ak’s combative attitude was unchanged.

“Then why don’t you try shutting my mouth with that large blade on your back?”

“The more I watch…!”

Yuk Geum-gang, flaring up, gripped his signature weapon Giant Demon Blade, which symbolized the status of his alias Tai Saber Kun.

GRIP!

So Cheon-ak went even further and injected true energy into his blade.

HUM-

A lightly vibrating blade.

Haze spread around the sleekly extended sword body.

DRDRDR, DRDRDRDR…

As if speaking to his supreme internal power, the ground where So Cheon-ak stood with both feet generated a series of vibrations.

The crowd stirred again.

“What…”

“At this rate, the unorthodox masters are going to fight each other…?”

“Hmm, that So Cheon-ak is unrestrained. Befitting someone said to be among the upper ranks of the Six Polar Stars…”

At that moment, one figure let out a meaningful voice.

“Touching Cheol Ryu-heun first would be troublesome. Is that the meaning?”

At that, So Cheon-ak shifted his gaze.

The owner of the voice was none other than the Heaven-Shaking Sword Palace Lord Wei Ta-gong.

“You’re perceptive.”

Following his brief words, So Cheon-ak looked at Jinjo Jeok-je’s face again.

“Cheol Ryu-heun is my prey. I will not permit any act that scratches my glory of victory.”

Only then did Jinjo Jeok-je understand his intention.

‘TSK, so that was the meaning!’

It meant So Cheon-ak’s pride – that is, he wanted to show everyone him gaining the upper hand by exchanging moves with Cheol Ryu-heun in perfect condition.

So that no unnecessary excuses or pretexts would wantonly circulate when he was already certain of his victory.

Jinjo Jeok-je had no choice but to swallow his anger.

Immediately after.

CLANK-

Having sheathed his blade, he gazed at Cheol Ryu-heun in the distance.

“A good opportunity has flown away. I can only trust in next time…”

Cheol Ryu-heun immediately responded indifferently.

“What do you mean – I’ll face you tomorrow. After I defeat him.”

“…!”

The eyes of everyone including Jinjo Jeok-je sank in an instant like a dark abyss.

Soon Wei Ta-gong sent a cold smile.

“Ha. How absurd.”

Even if Cheol Ryu-heun won tomorrow, his internal power would be greatly consumed, so to face several other powerhouses with such a body was nonsensical.

Jade Qilin Yeo Yong-jeo also sneered.

“Childish bravado?”

To not only predict his own victory but even make a declaration that would be hard to live up to… Yes, that was just recklessness.

Long ago, the many martial world people here had acknowledged Severing Finger Sword Venerable So Cheon-ak’s martial prowess, so how lightly did he regard such a powerful existence to spout such drivel?

Suddenly.

FLUTTER FLUTTER-

Someone was falling from the void while fluttering their clothes.

THUD…!

A middle-aged giant who landed with a loud sound at close range to Cheol Ryu-heun.

Wearing a purple monk’s robe like a sinister monk, he was Gung Roe, Green Forest Martial Buddha, one of the Six Extremes of Hubei and the current Green Forest Alliance Leader.

Soon admiring shouts flowed out from here and there along the road.

“It’s the Green Forest Alliance Leader!”

“Wow! Green Forest Martial Buddha…!”

“My goodness… He’s like a bear! No, he looks even bigger!”

Then a shocking scene followed.

“Sect Leader Cheol. So you were here.”

When Gung Roe bowed respectfully at the waist, everyone was bewildered.

‘What? Why is he…?’

A subordinate serving a superior.

What met their eyes looked exactly like that.

Cheol Ryu-heun received that greeting as if it were natural and asked.

“Did you come first?”

It was an extremely natural informal speech.

Seeing that, the crowd gasped again in shock and murmured.

“What?”

“No, why is he…?”

Gung Roe, paying no mind to the surrounding reactions, answered courteously.

“Yes, I knew something like this would happen so I ran here first. The rest of the group will probably arrive around sunset.”

Earlier, before coming here, Cheol Ryu-heun had briefly stopped by the Green Forest Alliance and left Gal Jung-heon there.

There was a concern that if anyone among the powerhouses gathered in Wanju detected the demonic energy in advance, a major disturbance could occur before the duel even started, so he had instructed him to depart after some time along with Namgung Sang-rin and Hae Su-yeon.

“Sect Leader Cheol, but… Judging by the atmosphere, it seems someone’s already picked a fight.”

“The situation has already been mostly wrapped up.”

Simultaneously, Gung Roe whipped his head around and radiated a violent fierce energy that evoked a wild beast.

“As the Alliance Leader of this alliance, I take this opportunity to declare clearly! Everyone refrain from rash actions until tomorrow’s duel begins! Otherwise, you’ll receive the blade I swing in their place!”

At the unexpected attitude, not only Jinjo Jeok-je, Yuk Geum-gang, Yeo Yong-jeo and others, but even Wei Ji-am on the same side looked flustered.

‘Hm, what’s going on? Why is the Alliance Leader Gung toward Sect Leader Cheol…’

At that moment, Taoist Cheon Mu beside him murmured with a smile.

“Indeed, Sect Leader Cheol’s capabilities are unpredictable. To have even captured the Green Forest Alliance Leader’s heart…”

So Cheon-ak, having already sheathed his sword at some point, sharpened his eyes.

“Since when did you join hands with him?”

Gung Roe, who had twitched his thick eyebrow, showed his clenched fist.

“Him? Insolent fellow, what authority do you have to dare call him ‘him’?”

“How ridiculous. You must think yourself a loyal subject.”

“HAHAHA! Of course! If I’m called Sect Leader Cheol’s loyal subject, it would be the family’s glory! Tomorrow you’ll all understand why I’m acting like this.”

Not to be outdone, Wei Ta-gong asked meaningfully.

“What did you exchange?”

He had judged that there must be some deal behind this.

Gung Roe, having lifted the corner of his mouth in a grin, gestured with his chin and said.

“I received something you could never give me even if you died and came back to life.”

“What a spectacle. Ha.”

As Wei Ta-gong quietly let out a sneer, So Cheon-ak’s cold voice advanced across the street.

“Gung Roe… You will come to regret the choice of standing on that side.”

Gung Roe shrugged his shoulders and laughed heartily.

“HAHAHA, HAHAHA! Let’s see who regrets it.”

Cheol Ryu-heun, hands behind his back, opened his mouth expressionlessly.

“Well, this performance to liven things up is enough – let’s meet at the appointed place when dawn breaks.”

Then he glanced at Taoist Cheon Mu and Wei Ji-am.

“Let’s move elsewhere. To a quiet place with no one around. We have things to discuss.”

At that, Wei Ji-am wore a faint smile.

“Fine. I’m quite curious about many things, Sect Leader Cheol.”

Just as Cheol Ryu-heun’s group turned and took a step.

“You won’t run away scared, will you?”

Following So Cheon-ak’s question, Cheol Ryu-heun turned his head.

The tangled gazes of the two.

Cheol Ryu-heun soon rotated his form and let out a blunt voice.

“Run away? That’s your only way out.”

* * *

The villa Wei Ji-am had rented.

While the group who had gathered there was talking, two of them revealed surprised reactions and shouted.

“No, how can that…!”

“Sect Leader Cheol! Is it all true? That the former Nine Demon Alliance Master is here…!”

It was Taoist Cheon Mu and Wei Ji-am.

The moment Cheol Ryu-heun quietly nodded.

CLICK.

A series of presences were detected, and the lattice door opened left and right.

Following that, three people quietly entered.

The group’s identities were Namgung Sang-rin, Hae Su-yeon, and Gal Jung-heon – Guest Retainer of White Peak Sword Sect.

Cheol Ryu-heun, having nodded while meeting the eyes of the three, spoke.

“Now let’s really begin the conversation. For establishing a new order in the martial world.”

* * *

The next day.

The great plain west of Wanju was noisy from early morning as countless crowds gathered.

Meanwhile, famous powerhouses of the orthodox and unorthodox martial world appeared one by one.