Chapter 204: What Kind of Place Is This
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The conclusion of the fight brought silence.
CLICK-
Hyeop Mu-geuk sheathed his sword and his gaze turned toward Seol Pan-gyo standing to one side.
“Welcome, Young Master Seol. First, thank you for helping.”
At that, Seol Pan-gyo quickly waved his hands.
“N-not at all. Chief Supervisor Hyeop. What are you saying… I’m rather embarrassed because I didn’t really do anything. It was already an ending fight, after all.”
In fact, the two were acquainted.
About five or six years ago, when White Gate Sword Gentleman Sagong Woon visited the Azure Heaven Sword Sect and had a friendly duel with his father Seol Hu-yong, Hyeop Mu-geuk had accompanied him, so they had exchanged introductions.
Moreover, they had met a few more times in passing since then.
At that moment, Elder Yeop Hwon with a gentle expression posed a meaningful question.
“You came because there’s someone you must see?”
“Ah… Yes.”
Seol Pan-gyo nodded with an embarrassed expression.
Indeed, he was a sect elder.
A deep sense of experience was felt.
The heartfelt apology he had to convey upon meeting Cheol Ryu-heun – he had immediately discerned such intention.
Following that, Yeop Hwon wore a soft smile.
“HOHO. Are you requesting to become a Guest Retainer?”
An insight that intuits the essence, befitting a seventy-year-old veteran swordsman with rich life experience.
Seol Pan-gyo nodded again and was inwardly impressed.
‘I’m lacking. I am…’
What Yeop Hwon had discerned, Mun Bin had already discerned.
His remorse for his past life grew even greater.
Yes, it was good that he came here.
As Mun Bin said, if he could request to become a Guest Retainer and stay here, he would certainly learn much as a martial world person and as a human being.
But there was something else he realized on the way here.
That the target of his apology was not just Cheol Ryu-heun but all of White Peak Sword Sect.
“Great Disciple Seol Pan-gyo of the Azure Heaven Sword Sect formally offers his apology to you all.”
He knelt on the ground, placed his hands, and bowed his head.
A prostrating posture.
Something not easy for some.
Yet Seol Pan-gyo had no hesitation whatsoever.
He mustered the courage of confession to seek even a shred of forgiveness.
“You all likely know. How I tormented Sect Leader Cheol in the past… Yes, that’s right. I was a typical petty person. Unbecoming of my position as my sect’s great disciple – I was crude and narrow-minded, and also malicious and deceptive. I forgot my teachings and put arrogance and rudeness first. I was a worthless type who lorded over others by relying on power.”
Thus Seol Pan-gyo spoke words of reflection and self-awareness while briefly recalling his past words and actions.
In the quiet atmosphere, Seol Pan-gyo again spoke in a solemn voice.
“Thus… I tainted my father’s shining name. I didn’t know back then. The truth that arrows carelessly wounding others’ hearts will certainly return someday. If I hadn’t suffered chastising defeat at Sect Leader Cheol’s hands… I would still be appraising people based on background and reputation and indulging in discrimination and disdain.”
He laid bare his own faults nakedly.
However.
His gaze was unwavering.
Because he had long since steeled his heart to beg and beg again until everyone here opened their hearts.
“I’m sorry. I should have come sooner… But please don’t misconstrue at least this sincerity. From now on, I will remain here and wait until Sect Leader Cheol comes. Until then, I will not unbend my knees.”
Seol Pan-gyo stated his will with a resolute expression.
Suddenly.
Multiple people appeared in the training ground.
Cui Lan, the disciple of Seop Pyo who was recuperating, along with Tae Sa-ja and the Yaksha Squad, and the workers from the Qidiao Sword Family.
This morning, following Yeop Hwon and Hyeop Mu-geuk’s request, they had entered one building to wait until the fight ended.
Cui Lan soon looked around and marveled.
“WOW! You’re amazing!”
Soon, Hyeop Mu-geuk, standing in front, beckoned and spoke.
“Please stand. Young Master Seol.”
“No, Chief Supervisor-nim, if I withdraw the posture of repentance so easily after coming this far…”
“The mountain embraces all things. Trees, beasts, people. Since I understand your heart, that’s enough.”
Having bowed his head again deeply, Seol Pan-gyo’s apologetic heart grew even greater.
“However…”
“HA. Repay the debt to Sect Leader-nim. We’re fine.”
So saying, Hyeop Mu-geuk reached out and helped Seol Pan-gyo’s body stand.
“This is… I have no face. Then I’ll just impose myself until Sect Leader Cheol returns.”
Cui Lan, who had been listening quietly, spoke with a bright smile.
“Welcome. I’m called Cui Lan, a Guest Retainer of White Peak Sword Sect.”
“Yes, Young Lady Cui. Nice to meet you. Let me introduce myself properly again. I’m Seol Pan-gyo, great disciple of the Azure Heaven Sword Sect. By the way, what circumstances brought you here, Young Lady…?”
“Actually, My Master has ties with Sect Leader Cheol. That’s why we came together.”
At that, Seol Pan-gyo had a puzzled thought.
As if reading that thought, Yeop Hwon opened his mouth.
“Lan is actually the disciple of Head-Severing Yama Senior.”
Simultaneously, Seol Pan-gyo was aghast.
“HUK! WHAAAAT?”
His eyes widened greatly and he doubted his own ears.
‘H-Head-Severing Yama…?’
It was an alias that any martial world person would know.
Wasn’t that the most famous super-first-rate, super-peak level assassin in nearly one hundred years of martial history?
Hyeop Mu-geuk standing beside brought up an even more surprising story.
“Among our Guest Retainer, there’s also a descendant of the Dragon Martial Gate.”
Seol Pan-gyo was swept up in shock again.
“Dragon Martial Gate…!”
His head was dizzy.
The Dragon Martial Gate was a force that had been completely destroyed in a bloody battle with the Nine Demon Alliance of the Foreign Regions in the past.
The silent shock didn’t end.
Because of what Cui Lan said while shrugging her shoulders.
“HOHO. Young Master Seol. That’s not all. The former Nine Demon Alliance Leader is also a Guest Retainer of this sect.”
“Wh-what do you…!”
As Seol Pan-gyo was shocked again.
“HAAK, HAAK…”
Suddenly, someone’s strange breathing was heard.
It was Tae Sa-ja.
For some reason, he was currently exhaling rough breathing sounds while emitting red currents outside his body.
Yeop Hwon spoke while stroking his beard.
“Hm, don’t pay too much attention. He’s a bandit who inherited the martial arts of the Great Yaksha Demon Sword, and involuntarily shows that excited appearance when exposed to blood.”
Seol Pan-gyo felt his legs go weak.
Head-Severing Yama, Dragon Martial Gate descendant, former Nine Demon Alliance Leader, and even a bandit inheriting the true transmission of the Great Yaksha Demon Sword… My goodness, what kind of place is this?