Chapter 234: The Genius and the Divine Martial Sword
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Chapter 234 – The Genius and the Divine Martial Sword Controlling Technique
Swift Wind Squad Third Squad Commander Nu-heum also intuited it.
That the master he served intended to target the Divine Martial Sword tonight.
He soon glanced sideways at Cheol Ryu-heun and smirked.
‘HUHU. That guy, he still doesn’t know. Young Master’s hidden power…’
Currently, unlike before, he showed no signs of detecting the energy dormant within Ximen Yue’s body.
If it were otherwise, he would have already made a move by now.
Sure enough, Cheol Ryu-heun spoke with an expressionless face.
“Anyway, I’m relieved. It seems there are no spies here. No matter how outstanding that fellow is, it would be difficult to hide and deceive my ki sense.”
Ximen Jwa nodded and smiled gently.
“Yes. As the Family Head, I’m also relieved.”
Ximen Yue and Nu-heum likewise felt relief.
Of course, it was a relief of a different nature from the others.
Cheol Ryu-heun stood up and made a request.
“Family Head Ximen. I’ll leave spreading the rumors to your household. The sooner the better.”
“Yes, Sect Leader Cheol.”
Ximen Yue managed his expression while inwardly mocking.
‘An overconfidence in your own abilities, leading to carelessness… Right, keep it up. Continue trusting our house like that.’
Everything was flowing smoothly.
However, one final condition remained for tonight’s Divine Martial Sword seizure plan.
Family Head Ximen Jwa’s order to depart.
Only then would free action be possible at night.
But there was nothing to worry about.
‘Within the expected range.’
The instant Ximen Yue thought so, Ximen Jwa gazed at his three sons.
“You will need to move personally. Spread the rumors quickly as Sect Leader Cheol requested.”
The eldest, Ximen Ang, answered on behalf of the brothers.
“Yes. Father. Shall we depart in an hour?”
“MM, do that. The deadline is three days.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. Please trust and leave it to us. We’ll each proceed with a Swift Wind Squad accompaniment.”
Meanwhile, Ximen Yue’s heart was pounding with excitement.
THUMP THUMP.
Done.
All conditions were met.
Indeed, it was within his expected range.
‘Now I just need to wait for nightfall and move.’
At that moment, Cheol Ryu-heun turned and exited through the door.
“Then I’ll come again when day breaks.”
* * *
“When all conditions seem to be met… if a variable arises, one naturally becomes flustered.”
A voice echoing inside the lit pavilion.
It was that of the Sun Moon Demon Cult Patriarch Sun Moon Demon Saint Aryun-nan.
He leaned back in his chair, gazed forward, and spoke again.
“What do you think?”
Then Yeom Sang-ah, standing in front, answered with proper decorum.
“Father’s intentions are what matters. I merely follow your will.”
Aryun-nan nodded approvingly and curved his lips upward.
“HUT. Indeed… My word is your path.”
Then he propped his chin and deeply sank his gaze.
“We break through head-on.”
Aryun-nan’s words meant he wouldn’t avoid a frontal war.
“Yes, Father.”
Yeom Sang-ah recalled a conversation she’d had with her handmaid Yo Mong-ji some time ago.
-HUHUT. Things are turning out quite interestingly.
-It’s unexpected. For Cheol Ryu-heun to emerge as a variable…
-The martial world’s latent potential is truly frightening.
-If he hears this story… How will he react?
-He’s strong. So he’ll keep moving forward without stopping. Smashing everything that blocks his path.
-A head-on confrontation… though it’s nothing new.
‘Our prediction was right.’
When Yeom Sang-ah thought so, Aryun-nan’s quiet voice continued.
“The emergence of a variable… is nothing surprising. Considering the latent potential of this martial world.”
“As Father says, unexpected new powerhouses always suddenly appear and make great names for themselves.”
“Right. Cheol Ryu-heun is one of them. But he probably never thought that this body would be a variable that offsets, no… is even greater than that. No matter how much that fellow has inherited the martial studies of the Sword Emperor, Evil Emperor, and Martial Immortal… he cannot surpass my power.”
“Indeed, Father. He is merely a wind that blows strongly for a moment and passes.”
Yeom Sang-ah replied while inwardly mocking.
‘HMPH, I have no interest in who wins or loses the fight. Because in the end, the one who will laugh… will be me.’
At that moment, Aryun-nan wore a meaningful expression.
“Let me tell you an interesting story.”
“AH… What is it?”
“It’s about the Light-Dark Harmonizing Secret Meridians.”
Yeom Sang-ah tilted her head.
‘Light-Dark Harmonizing Secret Meridians?’
She was hearing this for the first time today.
“You wouldn’t know.”
“Yes. It seems to be a name for a body related to martial arts…”
“It’s content recorded in the first Patriarch’s secret book.”
“What kind of body is it?”
“As the name suggests, it’s a body with the power to bind light and dark as one. It has the wondrous applications of Yang Heart Divine Art latent from birth – that explanation might be easier to understand.”
As soon as the words ended, something suddenly flashed through Yeom Sang-ah’s mind.
‘COULD IT BE…!’
Aryun-nan soon adjusted his posture and smiled.
“HUT. It’s also time for you to know. Why did I make Yue the successor of Sun Moon Demon Arrival Technique…”
“Is the Ximen Young Master the possessor of Light-Dark Harmonizing Secret Meridians?”
“That’s right. The same body as the first Patriarch.”
“……!”
As Yeom Sang-ah’s eyes rippled like waves, Aryun-nan smiled again and continued.
“However, the first Patriarch could not explosively unleash the potential of the Light-Dark Harmonizing Secret Meridians to its maximum. But Yue’s case is different. Because his potential has fully blossomed through the fortune of Yang Heart Divine Art. As time passes… he will eventually surpass me.”
“That’s amazing. Then does he know as well? About his own body…?”
“No, he doesn’t.”
“……!”
“It’s only natural. If he trusted in his potential and harbored other intentions, trying to climb up recklessly, that would be troublesome… HUHU.”
“AH…”
“No matter how much you like him, I cannot allow that sight.”
“Yes, your words are wise.”
“He is a man who will lead this cult to the path of glory together with this body. So be sure to make him yours. Though it seems you’ve already captured his heart. HUT… Anyway, I’m teaching you this so you won’t feel left out with the great matter ahead. It’s a secret that even the First Seat and the Moon Right Envoy don’t know. I hope you will understand this father’s deep heart.”
“Feel left out, what do you mean… I will always stand on Father’s side. No matter what happens.”
“Just hearing those words makes me happy. It was worth raising you.”
“I’m the one who’s happy. For telling me everything honestly…”
When Yeom Sang-ah responded with a courteous attitude, Aryun-nan issued a command.
“When Yue sends word, tell him to head to White Peak Sword Sect. It’s been confirmed that Ye Woon-rang is staying there… We need to look into it properly. The existence of the Divine Martial Sword.”
“If the Divine Martial Sword isn’t there as Cheol Ryu-heun said…”
“Then we move according to the original plan. Yue seizes control of the Ximen Family, and this cult seizes control of the Mount Hua Sect, the core of the orthodox faction in the Shaanxi region. Using completely brainwashed Zhongnan Sect personnel. Since we must minimize our damages. HUHUHU.”
“Yes, Father. Should I notify the other two locations?”
“Yes. I will delegate it to you.”
“Understood.”
The instant Yeom Sang-ah clasped her hands before her chest.
KKIIK-
Along with a presence, the lattice door opened.
Then two people quietly entered.
SEUSEUK.
Immediately after, a man in his fifties clad in black robes paid his respects.
“Patriarch, a distinguished guest has visited.”
It was Moon Right Envoy, one of the two shadows serving Aryun-nan.
Yeom Sang-ah, having turned her head, cast a puzzled gaze.
‘HMM? A distinguished guest?’
An unfamiliar figure who appeared with the Moon Right Envoy.
He was a middle-aged man wearing a pitch-black leather cape.
It was a face she was seeing for the first time.
The clothing visible between the black leather cape was neat.
Judging by the introduction as a distinguished guest, he seemed to be of no ordinary status.
Yeom Sang-ah looked at the sword hanging at his left waist.
‘An ordinary-looking iron sword… Who is he?’
No one present in this place knew.
That the leather-caped man’s identity was a subordinate of the mysterious ronin who had destroyed the Divine Martial Sword…
As if demonstrating that, Aryun-nan greeted him.
“Welcome. I’ve been waiting since receiving your contact.”
Then the leather-caped man spoke, omitting formalities.
“It’s been a while, Patriarch.”
Yeom Sang-ah frowned at the somehow arrogant attitude.
When Aryun-nan conveyed this through Secret Sound Transmission, Yeom Sang-ah’s expression changed.
‘An envoy from his benefactor…? What does that mean?’
At that moment, another intimate transmitted voice struck her ears.
At this unexpected statement, Yeom Sang-ah was greatly surprised.
‘WHAT?’
She had never known until now.
That someone who helped Aryun-nan’s achievements existed.
Soon the leather-caped man spoke with a solemn expression.
“I’ve come to deliver the will of heaven.”
Aryun-nan smiled and commanded with a gesture.
“HUHU… Very well. I shall listen attentively. Now, both of you leave.”
* * *
Deep night.
In the mountains where the Ximen Family’s villa was located, one hundred swordsmen secretly gathered.
They were the personnel of the Swift Wind Squad’s Third Squad led by Ximen Yue.
Everyone concealed their identities with headbands and masks.
Also,
They were perfectly assimilated with the darkness shrouding this forest, dressed for night operations.
Soon.
SASAK.
One person appeared nearby wearing the same attire.
Extremely covert movements demonstrating outstanding lightness technique mastery.
It was Third Squad Commander Nu-heum.
“How does it look?”
At Ximen Yue’s quiet question, Nu-heum quickly whispered.
“The lights went out early, and nothing was visible except for the horse he rode in on.”
“HUT. Understood. I’ll send a separate signal, so everyone will maintain distance and watch the surroundings.”
When Ximen Yue gave that command, everyone answered with silent nods.
“Operation start.”
As soon as Nu-heum said those words, all one hundred disappeared like the wind.
Immediately after.
TAT!
Ximen Yue kicked off the ground and pierced through the darkness.
It was an extremely fast movement in a different class from the Swift Wind Squad members.
Even his skill in not revealing his presence was first-rate.
As befitting the owner of genius talent.
‘The beginning is a surprise attack.’
Before long, Ximen Yue arrived at the villa, leaped over the high wall, and landed in the garden.
“Try coming a bit faster. How tedious.”
An indifferent voice was transmitted across the distance.
FLINCH.
Ximen Yue’s gaze immediately turned forward.
‘……!’
He could be seen in the bright moonlight.
Cheol Ryu-heun, leisurely standing with his hands clasped behind his back…
Ximen Yue’s pupils created transparent ripples.
Too fast.
He hadn’t expected to be detected this quickly.
‘HU, as expected he’s impressive. Right, I didn’t think it would be easy. It’ll be quite a fun fight.’
Soon Cheol Ryu-heun drew his Gan jiang Sword expressionlessly and asked.
“Did you come for this sword?”
Ximen Yue drew his sword in response.
He said nothing.
Instead, he answered wordlessly with a terrifying intangible aura.
The spirit of Sword-Body Unity.
It was the majesty of one who had realized the ultimate mystery of the sword path.
Just by drawing the sword, the villa and surrounding forest seemed to sink heavily.
Yet Cheol Ryu-heun’s expression showed no change.
“You don’t need to cover your face. I already know everything.”
“……”
At that moment, Cheol Ryu-heun’s indifferent voice greatly shook Ximen Yue’s heart.
“Possessor of Light-Dark Harmonizing Secret Meridians, Celestial Wind Sword Youth Ximen Yue.”