Chapter 273: Martial Talents of the One Hundred Thousand Great Mountains
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Chapter 273 – Martial Talents of the Shiwan Mountains
‘What… is… this… again…?’
Cheol Ryu-heun lost consciousness with that question as the last.
TUK.
His head, touching the ground, rolled limply to the side.
TTOGAKTOGAK.
Divine Wind, having raised his ears, approached his master Cheol Ryu-heun’s side.
Following that, he lowered his head.
SEUK.
Immediately after, both ears faced forward.
“PURUK.”
As if listening to the breath of his collapsed master.
Divine Wind, having briefly flared his nostrils, soon raised his head with a jerk.
Simultaneously.
SHYUSHYUSHYUSHU…
Pure white energy currents that poured from his entire body gently wrapped around Cheol Ryu-heun and lifted him.
Floating gently.
Thus, when the unconscious Cheol Ryu-heun’s body was placed on the saddle.
FLASH!
Divine Wind, having exploded white energy currents, leapt into the void.
KKWANG!
As if knowing where to go.
Thus, Divine Wind, wrapped in pure white light, took his master Cheol Ryu-heun and disappeared far into the distance.
* * *
The hour was entering into the third watch.
It was a deep night where even the moonlight seemed to be nodding off.
Under that sky, a group could be seen stealthily moving like stray cats while holding torches.
It was the party from the Righteous Sea Martial Gate, the orthodox prestigious faction of the Guangdong region.
This was the forest of the Shiwan Mountains.
Truly an endless jungle.
Of course.
Because the Shiwan Mountains was not a single peak but a mountain range.
It was called that name since ancient times because there were countless peaks too numerous to count.
Eventually, the man and woman leading at the front stopped walking.
“The traces suddenly disappeared.”
“Brother, what do we do now?”
They were the Danli Hyeok and Danli So siblings, the direct disciples of the sect who were commanding the personnel.
The people behind them who had also stopped walking.
At that moment, one swordsman squatted down and unfolded a map.
“Young Master, Young Lady. If we advance further from here… we’ll enter an even more dangerous place.”
At that, Danli Hyeok spoke with a heavy expression.
“It can’t be helped. It would be best to find a place to lie down and rest, and stay overnight.”
However, Danli So spoke as if expressing concern.
“Brother, how about we just go back? We need more personnel for the search anyway.”
“Having come this far, I’m not inclined to turn back. Let’s search a bit more for Father’s traces once day breaks.”
“That’s true, but…”
“Don’t worry too much. Father is a strong person.”
At that moment, the party’s expressions hardened.
FLINCH.
Because they had detected faint presences approaching this place.
They were human, not animal.
Moreover, multiple people.
Danli Hyeok, Danli So, and the Righteous Sea Martial Gate party each drew their swords in preparation for any eventuality.
SEUREU, SEUREUREUNG…
Immediately after.
Someone’s voice flowed from the distance.
“Calm yourselves.”
It was a voice that entered both ears clearly due to how quiet it was.
Soon, lights flickered among the densely packed trees.
SASASAK, SASAK, SASASAK-
A group of gray-clad swordsmen appeared in front, trampling the grass on the ground.
A total of twenty-eight.
All wore identical attire.
Stylish clothes with crow patterns embroidered on a gray background…
Danli Hyeok looked at the figure positioned at the front and had relieved eyes.
Indeed.
It was a familiar face.
Though not close.
The owner of the voice heard earlier was precisely him.
His name was Do Jwa-baek, twenty-five years old this year.
A sword prodigy called by the epithet Flash Blade Sword.
He was far too famous a figure in the Guangdong region.
No.
He wasn’t limited to one region.
His fame had already spread not only throughout Guangdong but also Guangxi, Guizhou, Hunan, Jiangxi, Fujian, and other places.
Such words circulated.
That Do Jwa-baek was definitely in the upper tier among the rising stars of the Jiangnan Unorthodox martial world.
That’s how outstanding his talent was.
The epithet Flash Blade Sword symbolized that he was a master of quick swordsmanship.
Moreover, so was his sect.
Crow Pattern Sword Hall, one of the leading unorthodox factions in the Guangdong region, was Do Jwa-baek’s sect.
However, making names as rising stars was the same for Danli Hyeok and Danli So.
The reputation of Righteous Sea Martial Gate, where they belonged, was of the highest tier within Guangdong’s orthodox martial world, and each of their martial reputations was high enough to be compared to Flash Blade Sword Do Jwa-baek.
As proof of that, Danli Hyeok at twenty-five and Danli So at twenty-three also possessed grand martial epithets.
Sea Waves Swordsman, and Ripples Sword Lady.
Both were called that because when they swung their swords, it seemed as if great waves arose.
Especially the senior disciple Sea Waves Swordsman Danli Hyeok was frequently compared to Azure Mark Sword Seol Pan-gyo, a martial talent from the region directly above, due to his exceptional martial prowess.
Of course, though younger sister Ripples Sword Lady Danli So’s aptitude was also outstanding, she was somewhat lacking in terms of immediate martial achievement.
Even so, she was still far higher than ordinary rising stars.
Do Jwa-baek soon opened his mouth to greet them.
“Seeing you here somehow makes me glad.”
A feeling as if the cold edge of a blue blade chillingly flashed.
It was the unique aura of one whose body was imbued with formidable quick swordsmanship.
Danli Hyeok, having met his gaze, paid appropriate respects while speaking.
“My feeling is similar. Perhaps because this is the somewhat gloomy Shiwan Mountains…”
“What brought you here?”
“Then why did you come?”
When Danli Hyeok asked softly in return, Do Jwa-baek laughed wryly.
“Why keep trying to feel out the situation? Fine, I’ll be honest first. I’m looking for someone.”
The eyes of the Righteous Sea Martial Gate party wavered slightly upon hearing those words.
Could it be for the same purpose as us…?
Sure enough, Do Jwa-baek continued speaking.
“To be precise, I’m tracking the whereabouts of one member of the executive level. He fled this way.”
“What, why would an executive…?”
Simultaneously with Danli Hyeok’s question, Do Jwa-baek answered briefly.
“Murder of a comrade.”
Danli Hyeok, Danli So, and the others were startled by the unexpected words.
“Murder?”
“What do you mean by that?”
To the questions of the two, Do Jwa-baek sighed.
“Huuu… An unfortunate incident occurred a short while ago. You’ve probably heard about it too. The family of the sect Leader of the Tiger Rock Gate, who normally maintained a close relationship with us, was murdered by an unidentified killer in the night.”
At that, Danli Hyeok’s complexion hardened further.
“You mean that was the doing of a Crow Pattern Sword Hall executive?”
“Correct. I’m revealing it since it’ll become known soon anyway.”
“Who is this executive…?”
“Do Woo-byeong.”
Do Woo-byeong was a core master of Crow Pattern Sword Hall, called by the epithet Crow Cry Sword.
“Th-then…!”
“Yes. He’s my uncle.”
“Hah…”
“Father – no… the Sect Leader immediately ordered expulsion and pursuit to kill. That’s why we came straight here without rest.”
“Hmm… I see. Have you found any traces?”
“Of course. However…”
Do Jwa-baek, having trailed off, briefly surveyed the surroundings and spoke.
“…The criminal’s traces were conveniently cut off here.”
He called him criminal instead of uncle, as if representing the fury in his heart.
Quick-witted Danli Hyeok read the other’s inner thoughts.
“Ah, we didn’t see anyone on our way here. We only detected the presence of mountain beasts.”
“Hoot, I thought so.”
Do Jwa-baek, having nodded, asked as if hitting the mark.
“You also came to find someone, didn’t you? But those traces disappeared here.”
“Actually… I’m searching for Father’s traces. But as you said, they were conveniently cut off here.”
Danli Hyeok’s father meant Danli-yeol, whose epithet was Brilliant Sea Sword Lion, the current Sect Leader of Righteous Sea Martial Gate and an ultra-first-rate tier swordsman.
Do Jwa-baek had an expression curious about the inside story.
Reading that, Danli Hyeok spoke again.
“Father came here this evening… leaving only a single letter.”
“What was written in it?”
“That there is a peerless artifact here in the Shiwan Mountains that can cure his illness…”
“An artifact to cure illness? This is the first I’m hearing of it.”
“Same for me.”
“So, tell me more.”
“As you know, Father has had poor lungs since a year ago. But one night, after meeting someone, he would occasionally say he needed to visit the Shiwan Mountains sometime. Precisely… it was five days ago.”
“Hm, who did he meet?”
“He didn’t tell us.”
“Really? That’s strange.”
“And after meeting that person, he wouldn’t come outside the house during the day. Even showing some kind of anxiety symptoms. How to describe it – as if he disliked seeing light…”
At that moment, Do Jwa-baek’s expression suddenly changed.
“Wait!”
“What is it?”
“It’s the same symptom.”
“Hm?”
“The criminal we’re chasing… was also like that.”
“What…!”
“Could the two of them have met here? Considering the point where their traces are cut off as well.”
At that, Danli Hyeok, Danli So, and the others had an ominous premonition.
Something difficult to explain…
Suddenly.
SASASASAT, SASASASAT…
A series of presences could be faintly heard from beyond the darkness.
An extremely faint sound.
It sounded like grass being lightly brushed underfoot.
Simultaneously, the Righteous Sea Martial Gate and Crow Pattern Sword Hall parties assumed guarded defensive stances.
At that moment.
KEUREUREUREU, KEUREUREUREU…
A fierce-sounding low cry reached their ears.
An eerie power was also detected.
The kind that would make one’s heart boil if one stood still.
Do Jwa-baek, gazing into the darkness, circulated his internal power while muttering.
“I see, has the famous Ghost-Slaying Leopard of the Shiwan Mountains appeared?”
The name of the spotted leopard pack that was said to live only here.
In truth, they were violent beasts close to spirit creatures.
Since ancient times, it was said that the growling cries of the Ghost-Slaying Leopards of the Shiwan Mountains contained an eerie power that exerted a paralyzing effect.
However, that was for ordinary people – for martial masters above a certain level, they would only feel slight discomfort.
Even so, the Ghost-Slaying Leopards’ inherent strength was exceptional.
Like the muscle strength of an external martial art master who had mastered supreme body techniques.
Above all, their teeth and claws were like iron, and they also possessed poison that could put one in danger from even light wounds.
Carelessness was forbidden.
Danli Hyeok, having raised his sword, spoke in a calm voice.
“How about we just pass by? Without provoking them. They’re different from ordinary leopards. The pack alone seems to number close to a hundred.”
Do Jwa-baek, eyes flashing, immediately shook his head.
“No, it’s better to kill them all. So they won’t interfere with our work going forward.”
No sooner had those words ended.
PEOLLLEOK-
HWAAAK…
When Do Jwa-baek’s clothing fluttered, dense killing intent and fighting spirit rapidly extended in all directions.
Stimulated by that, the Ghost-Slaying Leopard pack in the darkness roared.
“KEUREURUK!”
“KEUREU, KEUREURUK!”
“KAHAAK…!”
And then came slowly closing in.
They couldn’t see them with their eyes yet, but could feel the movement.
Eventually.
PAPAK!
The Ghost-Slaying Leopard pack pierced through the darkness and charged.
Roughly a hundred beasts.
Each ran viciously with jaws wide open, baring their fangs.
SHYUKAAK!
When a streak of flash burst.
PUHAK, PUHAAK, PUHAK…!
In an instant, five Ghost-Slaying Leopards were mercilessly slaughtered.
It was Do Jwa-baek’s powerfully fierce sword technique.
Befitting the owner of the epithet Flash Blade Sword, it was exquisite quick swordsmanship.
Using that as the signal, a slaughter unfolded.
SHYUT, SHYUSHYUT- SSOANG, SSYAEAEK, SSYAEAEK-!
Amid the wildly dancing sounds of cutting through air, the Ghost-Slaying Leopard corpses increased.
TEOLPEODEOK, TEOLPEODEOK…
Around the party, a bloody smell pervaded.
Amid that, there were eyes watching them from beyond the darkness.
“…”
The owner of the gaze smiled.
Quietly.
Without a sound.
But Danli Hyeok, Danli So, Do Jwa-baek, and others, who were busy slaughtering Ghost-Slaying Leopards, didn’t perceive the owner of that gaze.