Chapter 222: Getting Closer
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Around the second watch, a certain inner chamber where firelight flickered.
“HEUEUK…!”
Cui Lan, seated cross-legged on the floor, let out agonized moans.
Because the enormous amount of energy lodged within her body stirred, causing pain to surge.
It was the effect of consuming the various elixirs Cheol Ryu-heun had instructed that morning.
At that moment, an indifferent voice was heard.
“Endure it.”
It was Cheol Ryu-heun.
Having come to Cui Lan’s room about a quarter hour ago, he had ordered her to regulate her breathing and energy, then comfortably leaned back in a chair placed in the corner.
CLENCH.
Cui Lan bit down on her molars as if they would shatter, striving to keep her breathing regulation from wavering.
After a short time passed from then.
INHALE… EXHALE… INHALE… EXHALE…
Cui Lan’s breathing sounds quietly settled.
She had finally entered a state of no-self through breathing regulation.
Seeing that, Cheol Ryu-heun murmured inwardly.
‘HM. Not bad. To raise her concentration in such a short time…’
Advanced meditation study that had even forgotten severe pain.
That alone gave sufficient indication.
Of how excellent the talent Cui Lan possessed was.
Suddenly, Seop Pyo’s words floated through his mind.
-Teaching that child I took in late in life, I’ve been startled more than once or twice. Recently, she read part of the God-Slaying Sword Formula sword forms you secretly left at home, realized them on her own, and unfurled them smoothly for all to see. Lan is… Of the rare genius category. Above all, her comprehension is exceptional. Her learning speed is really fast. With such a good head and body to match, I believe she’ll become widely renowned in the future. Though she probably can’t compare to Sect Leader Cheol. So… I hope you’ll give that child your teachings. I have no other desires besides that.
‘The talent to independently decipher and even acquire the abstruse formulas of the God-Slaying Sword Formula… Yes, she’s worth cultivating.’
Cheol Ryu-heun smiled briefly and silently waited for the right moment.
How long had passed?
TWITCH.
Cui Lan’s body created a light tremor, and pure white heat haze rose from above her head.
The pain was still continuing, but having reached the realm of no-self, her expression was peaceful.
SEUK.
Cheol Ryu-heun, having risen, approached in front of her.
The time had finally come.
The start of pursuing palaces and piercing points.
Now, no one could perceive even if anyone touched her.
Cheol Ryu-heun, having rolled up his sleeves, was about to bestow the supreme life-saving technique that Martial Immortal Dongbang Ya, disciple of the Celestial Sword Sovereign Beom Gyu, had devised in the past.
That’s right.
The Eight Immortals Great Life-Saving Technique.
Which only he could perform.
Soon, both hands moved like a gentle breeze.
TAK, TATAK, TAK-
The wondrous application of Yin-Yang Circulation that organized the chaotic energy inside her body, disarrayed by aftereffects of pain-accompanied symptoms, was deployed.
Cui Lan, fallen into a state of no-self, had no reaction.
Following that, Cheol Ryu-heun arranged her pressure points with the White Immortal Life-Saving.
Simultaneously, the heat haze spraying from above Cui Lan’s head spread in a circle and rotated.
SEUSSEU-T… SEUSSEU-T…
It was a phenomenon proving that the pure vital energy he had amply infused using inner energy technique was spreading through her body and operating smoothly.
Before long, vast energy gathered in Cui Lan’s lower Dantian.
Following that, her energy sea point rapidly expanded.
Immediately after, the vast energy that had quickly risen through her rushing vessel settled in the center of her chest.
It was the crucial point of the middle Dantian.
This was the operation of the third form of Eight Immortals Great Life-Saving Technique, All Life Life-Saving.
Then he deployed Mysterious Silk Life-Saving to make the energy spread.
PAK, PAPAK-!
Even stronger tapping.
The fourth form, Encompassing Life-Saving, was deployed.
Cui Lan’s long eyelashes created trembling.
Has she finally felt it?
The thrill of sweet ecstasy that had arrived instead of terrible pain.
Cheol Ryu-heun’s hand techniques changed.
The rough tapping all over her body transformed into caressing as soft as feathers.
CHEUT, CHEUCHEUT…
The heat haze that had hovered above her head gathered together greatly and soared up.
As if flying up piercing the sky.
It was the fifth form, Piercing Heaven Life-Saving.
An effect of the vital energy connecting to the lower, middle, and upper Dantians stimulating the crown of the head.
After some more time passed from then.
PAPAK, PAK, PAPAK… SEUK, SEUSEUK, SEUK…
Cheol Ryu-heun deployed Supreme Life-Saving and Reincarnation Life-Saving consecutively to finish the pursuing palaces and piercing points, then again seated himself comfortably in the corner chair.
“Let’s see what you’ve got.”
No sooner had his murmur ended.
FLASH!
Cui Lan’s body was covered in light and floated up.
Still in the cross-legged posture.
Before long, the heat haze above her head poured down hazily like powder.
Simultaneously, a faint sound was heard.
TOK, TOTOK, TOK…
The fine and latent vessels inside her body were being opened.
This was the result Cheol Ryu-heun had wanted.
However.
TEOLKEOK!
Cui Lan’s form shook greatly and emitted new radiance.
Five-colored brilliant energy flow generated from pressure points all over her body.
‘HOHO, already that…? As they say, she’s indeed a genius.’
A faint smile passed across Cheol Ryu-heun’s lips.
Myriad Poisons Impervious Body.
She had completed the legendary body said to be immune to all poisons in the world.
Not through a special constitution but through pure potential alone.
Though this flesh was also intended by Cheol Ryu-heun, the timing of achievement exceeded initial expectations.
‘Well, anyway, quickly realizing is good for me. An excellent immediate fighting force has been born.’
Suddenly, one person from the old days came to mind.
Slaughter Guanyin Pung Wu-hui, who had been famous as an extremely powerful female assassin over three hundred years ago…
A swordsman who was as merciful as Guanyin Bodhisattva to good people but as ruthless as Ah-bang Nacha to bad people.
She too had completed the Myriad Poisons Impervious Body in those days and made a great name.
If Outside Heaven God-Slayer Muyeon from the assassin path was recorded as the greatest assassin in history, then Slaughter Guanyin Pung Wu-hui was second in the assassin lineage.
However.
The mysterious phantasm art from her lifetime was still evaluated as the best ancient and modern.
Cheol Ryu-heun also agreed with that.
In the study of killing sword, Outside Heaven God-Slayer Muyeon was a step above, but in the study of movement, Slaughter Guanyin Pung Wu-hui was a step above.
‘Now I should give her wings. By transmitting Pung Wu-hui’s Body-Shifting Phantasm Art.’
Throughout the long martial world history, among assassins, Slaughter Guanyin Pung Wu-hui was the only one who had owned the Divine Martial Sword.
Therefore, he knew it too well.
The series of essentials.
Cheol Ryu-heun soon quietly moved his steps toward the door.
‘Shall I go write a new secret manual? If she absorbs the strengths of Muyeon and Pung Wu-hui and harmonizes them with her natural talent… A new legendary existence of the assassin path will be born.’
It was already vivid before his eyes.
The face of the shit swordsman, giddy with joy.
* * *
“Alliance Leader. What are you so happy about that you’re laughing?”
When Bu Do-nam, who had visited the inner chamber, tilted his head and asked, Alliance Chief Green Forest Martial Buddha Gung Roe laughed loudly again.
“KEOLKEOLKEOL, KEOLKEOLKEOLKEOL!”
“NO, don’t just laugh…”
“Just now… I had the final dream.”
“Pardon?”
“And I fully realized the true meaning of the final formula. Through that Great Patriarch’s words…”
Bu Do-nam, having heard those words, wore a blank expression before carefully asking.
“UM… So… The Shaolin Temple Patriarch appeared in your dream… And transmitted some teaching…?”
“Yes.”
When Gung Roe nodded, Bu Do-nam’s face contorted.
An expression full of disbelief.
“No, what do you mean…”
“Why, don’t you believe me? But this is a clear and plain fact, so don’t doubt it. KEOLKEOLKEOL. I’ll prove it before long. Against the Sun Moon Demon Cult.”
“HEOH… Since you say so, I can’t help but believe. What on earth is this fortuitous encounter Sect Leader Cheol gave you…”
“It’s the mysterious absolute art the Eighth Patriarch of Shaolin Temple left in this place, the Dream Heaven Bestowing Great Technique.”
Bu Do-nam’s mind immediately recalled one dharma name.
Gwang-jong.
The Eighth Patriarch of Shaolin Temple and a figure who, despite being a Buddhist martial monk, was famous for hegemonic and destructive martial arts unbefitting that status.
Why else would he have been called by the alias Destruction Dharma Master back then?
Gung Roe, wearing a smile, continued speaking.
“Shall I put it simply? It’s a secret method of leaving a fragment of soul and heart-words to transmit to later generations. It was arranged so that by consuming one spiritual pill, one would experience that. That’s why the Eighth Patriarch appeared in my dream.”
“GOOD HEAVENS… I-IS that really possible?”
“It was.”
When Gung Roe nodded again, Bu Do-nam also clicked his tongue again.
‘My head is spinning. Sect Leader Cheol is some kind of fortuitous encounter wellspring?’
At that moment, Gung Roe sent a meaningful look.
“You would also know. That the martial arts the Eighth Patriarch devised in the old days were so fearsome that even demonic people from beyond the borders shuddered.”
“Yes. Isn’t it a famous tale? So in the end, it even became the first forbidden transmission in Shaolin Temple’s history…”
“Right. That has come into my hands. Since I’m an excommunicated disciple anyway, I have nothing to hesitate about. Also, Shaolin Temple’s side won’t be able to protest. Because this isn’t included in the main temple’s Buddhist martial arts.”
“Correct. Hmm, it’s killing two birds with one stone, then.”
“Indeed. From now on, I will fully exert the efficacy bestowed by the spiritual pill and raise the banners of Subduing Demons and Conquering Evil. To be of help to Sect Leader Cheol, who gave me such a great fortuitous encounter…”
Gung Roe, having flashed his eyes, then changed his expression.
“By the way, how did matters proceed?”
“AH, yes. I actually stopped by for that report.”
“Good, was anything spotted?”
“As Sect Leader Cheol predicted, tracks of those secretly inquiring about yesterday’s noon gathering have been discovered. Ten Ultimate Martial Saint of Wudang Sect, in cooperation with Beggar Sect local branch in this region, urgently investigated, and their route has been identified as the Shaanxi region.”
Hearing those words, thick veins bulged on Gung Roe’s forehead.
“Shaanxi Region. HUT. We’re gradually getting closer. To the dark and dirty shadow of demons.”
* * *
Deep in the darkly settled forest.
About ten people wearing pitch-black bamboo hats and long robes gathered in one place.
They were precisely the Sun Demon Assembly group belonging to the Sun Moon Demon Cult.
“Contact suddenly cut off?”
When First Seat asked in a puzzled tone, one member bowed his head and answered.
“Yes. They obtained new information yesterday and moved, but there’s still no contact.”
“Hm…”
“It seems things went awry. Shall we send someone again?”
“No. Leave them be. There’s no possibility they’d leak secrets anyway.”
“That’s true, but… It’s troubling. Someone is intentionally distorting information. These past few days, rumors related to Gam Tae have been strangely abundant…”
First Seat, having cut off his words with a gesture, asked while letting his eyes sink.
“Have the Society Leader and Vice Society Leader departed?”
“Yes. Around noon today, they left for different villages. To verify the information, the number of members who followed is roughly twenty.”
“Understood. Issue a summons immediately.”
“All the remaining personnel… You mean?”
First Seat, having slightly nodded, stroked his chin and instructed.
“Yes. From now on, I will personally command. If anyone appears to obstruct our work… Even if it means exposing myself, I must eliminate them.”
* * *
Several days later.
Under a night sky where countless stars twinkle, the Sun Demon Assembly leadership including the Vice Society Leader and subordinate personnel appeared in front of a certain house in the mountain village.
It was a deteriorated civilian house resembling an abandoned house.
The old village man standing in the yard flinched upon seeing the ten Sun Demon Assembly members who had suddenly appeared without a sound.
“EUT? WH-WHO are you?”
At that, the Vice Society Leader standing at the head of the group flashed his eyes sharply and sneered.
“HUT. Finally found you. You must be the one called Gam Tae.”
But at that moment.
A quiet voice flowed from the darkness to one side.
“Yes. You’ve found your way well. Prey.”