Chapter 240: Ready Posture

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Seol Hu-yong glanced at Cheol Ryu-heun standing beside him and clicked his tongue inwardly.

‘HEO, how can a young person’s disposition be like that…’

An expression as dry as if he contained not a single drop of emotion.

It had been the same on the day he had the spar with Severing Finger Sword Venerable So Cheon-ak, but he was a strange and mysterious person whose inner mood was impossible to gauge.

What he had done earlier was the same.

Through the crimson current emitted by his eyes, he had completely extinguished the demonic energy from Ximen Yue, displaying strangeness and mystery.

‘It was truly amazing. That’s something I won’t easily forget going forward.’

Seol Hu-yong himself had seen it then.

Ximen Yue spewing out pitch-black heat haze from his body and then shedding tears…

It had looked as if a mass of black filth seated deep inside that body was being entirely extracted.

At first, a chill had crept up his spine.

He had immediately felt viscerally why demonic energy was called a corrupt power.

But the demonic energy unique to the Sun Moon Demon Arrival Technique had been completely extinguished by some kind of ability that Cheol Ryu-heun displayed.

‘It feels all the more fortunate anew.’

What could be more frightening than an existence whose emotions couldn’t be read?

Right, if Cheol Ryu-heun had been an enemy, from the martial world’s perspective, he would have been even more threatening than the foreign demonic force, the Sun Moon Demon Cult.

So it felt fortunate.

Cheol Ryu-heun walked the righteous path like his master Sagong Woon.

Though his insides were unknowable…

Therefore, there was peace of mind.

On the other hand, he was trustworthy.

Separate from his indifferent attitude, he was a person who acted honestly in all matters.

He was clear in making and breaking ties, and absolutely left no aftermath.

The sense of trust that consistency brought.

That was it.

A faint smile crept across Seol Hu-yong’s lips.

‘HUT… You found your way well to a place with light, lad.’

One person’s face suddenly surfaced in his mind.

It was Azure Mark Sword Seol Pan-gyo.

He had heard about his son on the way here after meeting Cheol Ryu-heun.

-Pan-gyo is staying at our sect. He begged forgiveness with a repentant attitude and requested to be a Guest Retainer.

Seol Hu-yong had been moved hearing those words.

It seemed his only son had properly heeded his teachings…

The conversation when he met Mae Yak-bang suddenly came to mind.

-Is Young Master Seol…?

-I’m not sure. I don’t know either. What he’s doing, where.

-AH…

-He doesn’t seem to be here, but perhaps he went to White Peak Sword Sect… HEHOT. Someday news will come.

-Aren’t you worried?

-Of course, but trust is greater than worry.

-Pardon?

-Trust that he will repent of his wrongdoing and grow. If it’s that fellow, he’ll do well. That’s what I think. As his father.

-Yes, you’re right. If it’s Young Master Seol, surely…

Seol Hu-yong had said then.

That if the attitude he showed where everyone could see was something Seol Pan-gyo could also emulate, he couldn’t want for more, looking at Mae Yak-bang’s brave posture of revealing everything.

‘YES, in the end it turned out as I hoped. My trust wasn’t wrong. Now he’ll finally do his proper duty as an orthodox martial artist.’

-I’ll give you one year, so bump around here and there and realize what a true orthodox martial artist is.

It was worth the scolding.

He had warned that even if it’s his son, he wouldn’t tolerate disgracing the sect’s reputation, and if his mindset hadn’t changed after one year, he wouldn’t hesitate to excommunicate him… Seol Pan-gyo had finally realized that and taken his first step on the proper path.

‘Pan-gyo. May you never lose that mindset… and learn and learn more. Setting aside honing martial arts, you must first cultivate your character. That is in truth a lifelong discipline… Consider Sect Leader Cheol as your teacher. A teacher you can meet nowhere else…’

Seol Hu-yong murmured thus inwardly and glanced at Cheol Ryu-heun’s face once more.

‘I’m certain. He will become the protagonist of a new era.’

The chaotic age that comes in two-hundred-year cycles.

Large-scale bloody battles in which countless martial artists were sacrificed was the Blood God Dominion Era.

But before they knew it, it was raising its head little by little.

The ominous signs of an approaching chaotic era…

Just as people commonly spoke of the two-hundred-year cycle.

It was an unprecedented situation for the demonic force, the Sun Moon Demon Cult, to establish a forward base in this land.

Until now, outside of the Heavenly Demon Cult and Blood Demon Cult, no foreign force had displayed such bold activity.

It was no ordinary movement.

Therefore, it was thought to be a sign of chaos that would bring great bloodshed.

And it wasn’t just their activity.

The forces held within the cult were also at no ordinary level.

Especially this generation’s Sun Moon Demon Cult Patriarch Aryun-nan was an existence who had achieved not one but two Rejuvenation enlightenments.

It was a powerful demonic force that made people couldn’t help but feel an unprecedented sense of threat.

However.

Seol Hu-yong was certain.

That Cheol Ryu-heun, who had inherited the true transmissions of the Sword Emperor, Evil Emperor, Martial Immortal, and others, was the one and only person who would pacify the chaotic era.

Auspicious signs had already appeared alongside the ominous ones.

The state of White Peak Sword Sect, rallied around Cheol Ryu-heun, was such.

Who could have anticipated?

That so many ultra-first-class masters would gather at White Peak Sword Sect that was heading toward ruin…

Throughout history, wherever a chaotic era occurred, the owner of the Divine Martial Sword always existed at its center.

But now there was no owner of the Divine Martial Sword.

Yet there was Cheol Ryu-heun.

An unprecedented rising powerhouse who could readily aspire to the hegemon’s position even without possessing the Divine Martial Sword, the supreme divine weapon.

A dragon about to soar high into the sky, having attached the great wings called White Peak Sword Sect.

‘HUU. The Sun Moon Demon Cult Patriarch probably still doesn’t know. That the ground beneath his feet is gradually turning into a swamp difficult to escape from…’

While Seol Hu-yong murmured inwardly, the sobbing sounds in the grounds began to gradually subside.

Before long.

Ximen Yue, having left Ximen Jwa’s embrace, began walking.

TAP TAP TAP.

Where he headed was before Cheol Ryu-heun.

“Sect Leader Cheol, my thanks are late. I thank you sincerely. I will definitely pay the price for the wrongs I committed.”

“I’m not interested in that.”

“……”

“Get a good night’s sleep, and then point your blade again. Toward those Sun Moon Demon Cult bastards, not me.”

“AH…”

Ximen Yue, briefly wearing a surprised expression, answered firmly.

“YES! Sect Leader Cheol! I will cooperate in striking the Sun Moon Demon Cult. Though my martial arts have weakened with the demonic energy gone… My only thought is that I want to help somehow. First, to tell you one important thing…”

“No need. I already know.”

“Pardon?”

“The fact that the Sun Moon Demon Cult’s secret nest is the Zhongnan Sect.”

The complexions of everyone who heard Cheol Ryu-heun’s blunt voice hardened like stone.

‘Mount Zhongnan Sect, he says…!’

Meanwhile, Ximen Yue asked in a flustered tone.

“HO-HOW did you know that? I haven’t mentioned that yet…”

Then something flashed through his mind.

‘COULD IT BE…!’

The mysterious crimson eye light.

Could that power possibly read thoughts? Was that even possible?

Then another thought flashed through.

Yes, it might be possible…

Earlier, Cheol Ryu-heun had shown healing wounds.

It was truly a wondrous ability.

If he was someone who could handle such astonishing power, couldn’t he perhaps glimpse another’s thoughts as well?

Though he couldn’t imagine what kind of martial art that was.

Cheol Ryu-heun paid no heed and continued speaking.

“I only know parts. So I’d like to move elsewhere and hear. In detail, through your mouth.”

Then Ximen Yue spoke with a determined expression.

“YES. Understood. Everyone, let’s go to the main house. Now… I will tell everything I know.”

* * *

Around the same time.

Wuyang’s County Magistrate Ju Yu-gang sat at his desk holding a brush, in the middle of preparing some kind of document.

SEUK, SEUSEUK…

A short while later, having finished writing, the moment he set down the brush, one person appeared along with a presence.

It was his direct bodyguard martial artist, Dam Maeng-gi.

“You called?”

When he closed the door and approached the desk, Ju Yu-gang handed over the paper.

“When the day breaks, take this to the relevant department.”

Dam Maeng-gi, having received it, soon tilted his head.

“Isn’t this a vacation application?”

“That’s right. The period is about ten days.”

“Suddenly? Why…? AH, wait… Could it be that you’re planning to travel with Sect Leader Cheol soon?”

“That’s right. Starting now, I intend to begin action in earnest. Against the Sun Moon Demon Cult.”

“I will come along too. How could you go alone…”

“Denied.”

“Pardon? I’m supposed to be a bodyguard, aren’t I?”

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you beforehand, but this time only I will move. Your and Vice Captain Ban’s involvement ends here.”

“However…”

“Don’t worry too much. A life-or-death bloody battle is expected, but… I do have enough power to protect myself.”

“MMM, I refuse. I can’t just send you off like this. Don’t you remember the oath?”

“Oath? What are you talking about?”

“Though we could not be born in the same year, month, and day, we wish to die in the same year, month, and day…! It’s hurtful, Magistrate. That you would try to break that precious oath in the peach orchard…”

At that sound, Ju Yu-gang frowned sharply.

When did I ever make a sworn brotherhood oath with you! And I don’t particularly want to die together!

Regardless of that, Dam Maeng-gi kept on griping.

“Oh the sorrow! The taste of the peach I ate then seems to linger in my mouth even now… Yet the lord I serve bodily has already forgotten that taste…”

Right at that moment, a JJEOLGEUREOK! sound rang out.

A money pouch on the desk.

Ju Yu-gang made a gesture and spoke politely.

“A special bonus. The share for the successful civilian rescue operation before. So please close that mouth now.”

Simultaneously, Dam Maeng-gi promptly stowed it and greeted politely.

“Oh my, why give something like this… Yes, my lord. I wish you a safe trip. I won’t see you off from far.”

“……”

“HM? Why are you looking at me like that?”

“You’re leaving this late at night?”

“AH, That’s right. HAHA. Sorry about that. I was blinded by money for a moment… No, no. I momentarily lost my mind. By the way, should I bring some warm tea?”

“……”

“Oh Dear, oh dear. I’m sorry. You told me to close my mouth.”

When Dam Maeng-gi closed his lips tightly like a clam, Ju Yu-gang shook his head back and forth while letting out a deep sigh.

‘WHEW… that thing. Should I keep him around?’

Then soon straightening his expression, he spoke quietly.

“Come back later at dawn and take people to handle the aftermath.”

“Pardon?”

“The Yaksha Squad or whatever from White Peak Sword Sect arrived. At the mountain area on the outskirts over there. I already received a map. So just go straight there.”

“Why on earth did they…?”

When Dam Maeng-gi scratched his forehead in puzzlement, Ju Yu-gang lightly shrugged his shoulders.

“Apparently it’s a kind of training to gain real combat experience. Also to punish some bad people. According to Sect Leader Cheol, all of them go crazy when they see blood or something… TSK, it’s not my concern.”