Chapter 226: He Has Arrived
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An old temple in the forest.
A group of people in black long-robe attire appeared at this place, which had been abandoned and left neglected for an unknowably long time without even a chief monk.
It was the Sun Demon Assembly, including their executive First Seat.
The number of people gathered in one place was roughly just over eighty.
That wasn’t the end.
A summons had been issued earlier under First Seat’s lead, so their numbers were continuously increasing.
When the count exceeded one hundred thirty people.
“First Seat.”
Together with a low voice, a man in his forties quietly entered the courtyard.
The outstanding air of his person was exceptional – he was precisely the Sun Demon Assembly Society Leader.
Over ten members he had taken with him also appeared behind.
“How did it go?”
When the Society Leader received the First Seat’s question, he hardened his expression.
“I apologise. It was a wasted trip. That village had been a place where no one had lived for a long time.”
“It was false information, you say.”
“Yes… So it seems.”
When the Society Leader answered with a hardened face again, First Seat’s eyes sank heavily.
‘Strange. I can’t shake the feeling that things are getting tangled.’
Having murmured inwardly, he looked at one person to the side and asked.
“What is the current number of personnel who’ve lost contact with us?”
“Twenty three in total. If we add the Vice Society Leader’s personnel who haven’t returned yet…”
But at that moment.
HWIHWIK-
One shadow rapidly leapt over the temple’s wall.
“FIRST SEAT! I have a report!”
A Sun Demon Assembly member’s urgent voice changed First Seat’s expression completely.
“What is it?”
“While doing reconnaissance around Baizhou, I heard a strange rumor!”
“Strange Rumor?”
“YES, it’s that… Recently, the Sect Leader of the White Peak Sword Sect, Cheol Ryu-heun, mentioned our cult’s name on the day of dueling!”
At that, everyone including the First Seat was shocked.
“…!”
The Sun Demon Assembly member briefly explained that rumor and then expressed concern.
“What should we do? Should we stop work for now and lay low?”
“KEUM, the premonition certainly isn’t good. The series of duel results is also shocking. Who knew White Peak Sword Sect’s Leader was that strong…”
“I couldn’t verify whether it was true or not. Since we can’t go around asking questions when people might see us…”
“Right. Naturally, we must restrain our movements. Cheol Ryu-heun, what on earth is he…”
The moment First Seat slightly furrowed his brow, one black figure entered the courtyard again.
It was the Sun Demon Assembly’s second-in-command, the Vice Society Leader.
The Society Leader, having examined his appearance, was shocked.
“NO WAY! What happened?”
He had discovered the wound on his side.
The Vice Society Leader swiftly approached and showed courtesy.
“I’m slightly hurt. Don’t worry too much.”
Then he immediately informed First Seat, the highest commander here, about last night’s events.
Everyone who heard it cast surprised looks.
“HEOH… Even Head-Severing Yama is serving as a Guest Retainer of White Peak Sword Sect? Truly unexpected. To think even such a giant of the assassin world has returned to activity…”
First Seat stroked his chin and murmured, then recalled in his mind the discussion about the mysterious official from before.
-How did it go?
-AH, yes. Because an unknown master unexpectedly appeared…
-Unknown Master?
-YES. From his appearance, his lightness technique was unusual, and he was also a person who wielded sword-controlling technique. This injury came from a blade he sent flying.
-Sword-Controlling technique… Then his internal power level must be quite high.
-WHEN I looked, he was in ordinary-looking plain clothes, but worried he might be a martial arts official who had come out on patrol disguised, I escaped. Having come to that deep mountain village carrying a sword felt somewhat unsettling…
-Right, there’s a possibility he’s an official. It’s within expectations anyway.
‘OOPS.’
First Seat intuited.
That the person presumed to be an official was also somehow connected to this matter.
It was like invisible gears meshing and turning, squeezing his body.
‘Could it be from Wuyang’s…?’
He had heard news that the newly appointed county magistrate there had executed a surprise operation to sweep away The Thousand Snake Gang and the Sword Seal Sect.
‘HM, could it be him?’
But soon he lightly shook his head.
Ridiculous.
A mere county magistrate, not even a high-ranking military official, what would he…
At that moment, the Society Leader carefully offered advice.
“First Seat. Since the movements of the Dragon Martial Gate successor we were looking for have been confirmed, it would be best to retreat for now.”
Following that, the Vice Society Leader also nodded in agreement.
“YES, since we’ve almost accomplished our primary mission anyway. Regardless of how the process went…”
First Seat thought about something briefly, then quietly said.
“Alright. If we delay more, even the Beggar Sect will follow. We’ll wait for nightfall and then move again.”
At that, the Society Leader spoke as representative.
“Understood. What do you plan to do about Black Rope Wondrous Lady who’ll appear shortly?”
“We’ll handle her as planned. We’ll send a warning to the martial world through that wench’s corpse. Not to rashly follow us anymore.”
“Only that woman who knows nothing will become pitiful. She must have hit a wall like us… Thinking of it that way gives some comfort.”
The Society Leader raised the corners of his mouth with those words.
“Everyone hide except for a few. When Black Rope Wondrous Lady sets foot in the courtyard, that’s when we execute.”
“YES.”
Personnel who had answered in unison hid cleverly around the abandoned temple with coordinated movement.
After a short time passed.
SASAK, SASAK…
The sound of a skirt hem dragging on the ground was heard.
A woman in vest attire with hair coiled high and secured with a hairpin.
Black Rope Wondrous Lady Na Rae-hyang had finally appeared at the meeting place.
First Seat, standing with his back to the temple, sent a chin gesture.
“Come In.”
Na Rae-hyang stopped at an appropriate distance and spoke in a cold voice.
“Judging by your reaction, you already expected I’d come alone?”
“Roughly.”
First Seat, having nodded, casually asked.
“You handled things cleanly, I see.”
It was precisely a question about the life and death of Tang Mu-gae called Thousand-Man Foe Axe, One Sword Without Mercy Seup Yeo, Drunken Shadow Sword Seok Mo-pil and Dancing Saber Mandarin Duck Gyeon Mi
“A fight over money broke out. So I killed them all.”
“Thought so.”
“Did I pass the test?”
“Test?”
“YES. It was an intended fight from the start, wasn’t it? To see how sincere I am. Am I wrong?”
When Na Rae-hyang hit the mark thus, First Seat answered with a smile.
“HUHU. I won’t deny it. So then, how did matters go?”
“I worked my legs diligently. But it wasn’t easy to find him.”
Na Rae-hyang’s gaze turned to that side.
Near the stone wall.
A row of over ten black-robed figures standing like a folding screen.
“Don’t be too wary. They’re just subordinate personnel.”
No sooner had First Seat’s words ended than Na Rae-hyang wore a chilly smile.
“I Know. The main culprits of civilian massacres. Are they eating well?”
The expressions of everyone including the First Seat changed completely.
Because hostility was suddenly detected.
Na Rae-hyang continued speaking, paying no heed.
“With those dirty hands stained with pitiful people’s blood, they sure stuff food in their mouths.”
Soon, the First Seat wore a faint smile.
“HU. A girl who might fly anywhere unpredictably. No wonder you’re called one of Jiangxi’s Four Great Strange Women…”
“You’re laughing? I want to rip that mouth first.”
“TSK. That’s enough. Stop there. So… What is it you want to say? You regret choosing to join for money?”
“And if I do?”
“I See. Probably your heart soured because you couldn’t find Gam Tae. You need money, but there’s no progress…”
“I can’t listen anymore.”
Na Rae-hyang suddenly drew the black rope hidden in her sleeves and gripped it with both hands.
Fearsome fighting spirit and killing intent swept through the scene.
Following that.
DEUDEUDEU, DEUDEUDEU…
Having drawn up strong internal power, the ground vibrated.
First Seat, having sighed, threw out a meaningful question.
“HEOH. A change of heart?”
His expression maintained composure befitting high martial prowess.
Na Rae-hyang, twisting her lips, received his words coldly.
“Change of heart? From the start, I never had any intention of helping the likes of you. Want me to tell you something fun?”
“…”
“Your subordinates, they were about to commit civilian massacres again, so I sent them straight to the afterlife.”
“NO WAY…”
“You ask if I’m on White Peak Sword Sect’s side? That’s right. Damned Sun Moon Demon Cult bastards.”
In an instant, the personnel near the stone wall each emitted gazes filled with murderous intent.
On the other hand,
The First Seat still maintained a calm attitude.
“I See, is that it? But aren’t you overconfident in your martial prowess? Look around.”
Meaning, isn’t there something reaching your ki sensing?
Na Rae-hyang, having flashed her eyes, soon opened her mouth.
“Quite a lot are hiding.”
“Far more than you sense. Have you realized your mistake? Rashly baring your fangs because the visible numbers were few…”
“But, you couldn’t sense it, could you?”
The instant Na Rae-hyang cut off his words.
SEUSEU-T.
Part of the space right beside her distorted transparently and one person appeared.
Simultaneously, one of the group near the stone wall shouted.
“Head-Severing Yama!”
The Sun Demon Assembly Vice Society Leader.
Something was held in the hand of Seop Pyo, who was approaching Na Rae-hyang’s side.
A cleanly severed head of some person.
It was precisely one of the Sun Demon Assembly members hiding nearby.
TUK- DEGURUERU…
Seop Pyo, having tossed the head to the ground, angled his sword in his right hand.
Even the First Seat finally showed wavering eyes.
‘HIS PRESENCE…’
He couldn’t sense it.
Anything at all.
Even now that he’d revealed himself.
‘The killer’s distinct air is completely absent. What is this…’
When he operated internal power to maximize his ki sensing, only then was the energy within the opponent’s body detected.
And even that was faint.
It was so hidden that anyone less than an ultra-first-rate master would find it hard to sense.
Seop Pyo, having advanced a few steps, pointed his sword forward.
“Is my power hard to sense? It must be. Since I recently achieved Return to Origin.”
At that, the expressions of First Seat and his group hardened.
Return to Origin.
That was a supreme enlightenment where a martial artist’s air becomes like an ordinary person’s, making the true form hard to discern just by looking.
Even if the opponent was an ultra-first-rate master, they could only sense it by operating their internal power to the maximum…
“Have you realized your mistake?”
It was Seop Pyo throwing back the words First Seat had said earlier.
At that moment.
PAT.
When First Seat raised his left hand, presences hiding everywhere revealed themselves all at once.
PEOLLEOKPEOLLEOK, PEOLLEOKPEOLLEOK-
Personnel dyeing the temple courtyard pitch black.
Eerie formless energy heavily weighed down the air of the scene.
Indeed.
The dark power inherent to demonic energy was being emitted.
“SO, you were confident because of Head-Severing Yama?”
First Seat, having spoken thus, opened his mouth again toward the personnel surrounding all directions.
“Kill and eliminate.”
At that moment, suddenly, his pupils wavered.
‘AGAIN…!’
Because he sensed yet another presence approaching this place.
It was stealthy and swift.
The movement of a supreme master.
The moment he was certain it was an expert of lightness technique.
PAHAAA-T-!
A large shadow soared like a bird over the dense forest beyond the stone wall, then.
KKUKKUNG…!
It dropped into the center of the courtyard and let out a heavy sound.
It was Cheol Ryu-heun mounted on Divine Wind’s back.
CHEOK-
Soon Cheol Ryu-heun, having set foot on the ground, spoke expressionlessly.
“Go over there for a while.”
At that, Divine Wind kicked the ground and soared, disappearing far into the high void.
First Seat and others immediately discerned who he was.
Just looking at the martial attire gave indication.
‘Cheol Ryu-heun is here…!’
Na Rae-hyang gazed at the back of Cheol Ryu-heun positioned not far ahead of her and inwardly admired.
‘MARVELOUS! How can a martial artist have such an air…’
It was completely different from the Return to Origin that Seop Pyo had achieved.
An empty and unfathomable air that completely ignored one’s ki sense.
It was doubtful whether he was even a martial artist.
It was the same for First Seat.
Unlike Seop Pyo’s case, nothing was detected in his ki sense no matter how much he concentrated.
At that moment.
CHYUHAAAK-!
On Cheol Ryu-heun’s left side, the bodies of four or five of the personnel in that direction were chopped in half horizontally.
His sword was already drawn and swung.
The Gan jiang Sword in his right hand proved it.
Suddenly, the eyes of First Seat and his group grew enormously wide.
‘EOEOK! TH-THAT IS…’
Shock and horror assailing the scene.
PIT, PIPIT- PIT-
Hook-shaped heat haze dancing out of Cheol Ryu-heun’s body played an eerie tune.
That’s right.
It was a heat haze symbolizing the essence of Sun Moon Demon Arrival Technique, the Sun Moon Demon Cult Cult Leader’s absolute art.
Cheol Ryu-heun, having fixed his gaze forward, spoke in an indifferent voice.
“I know too. The formulas of the miscellaneous study called Yang Heart Divine Technique.”
Immediately after, while injecting a large amount of energy into the Gan-jang Sword, he warned.
“If want to live, run away. That’s all you can do anyway.”