Chapter 276: Those Who Came to the Mountain

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Cheol Ryu-heun, having let out a brief sigh, soon approached in front of Hae Su-yeon and picked up a strand of rope.

Then, moving both hands, he tied a knot after wrapping around her slender waist.

KKWAK-

When the rope pressed against her thin waist, Hae Su-yeon’s sensuous figure became even more prominent.

“This pressure – I kind of like it.”

“Shut up. Should I tie a knot on that mouth of yours too?”

Hae Su-yeon, with reddened cheeks, went even further.

“A gag too…? Kyat, as expected, your preferences are extraordinary. A humiliation play that induces and stimulates shame in front of everyone – it’s too intense, I’m embarrassed. But I’ll do my best to match you.”

“…”

Cheol Ryu-heun averted his gaze as if ignoring her.

What a troublesome woman.

Just don’t engage with her.

Immediately after, he commanded the White Peak Sword Sect members:

“Now, everyone line up in single file and tie your waists the same way as Su-yeon. Execute.”

Yeop Hwon, Hyeop Mu-geuk, Gal Jung-heon, Seop Pyo, Cui-ran, Namgung Sang-rin, and the three Guyang brothers, who had lined up behind her, were linked together like dried fish strung in a long line.

At that moment.

Cheol Ryu-heun turned his head and looked at someone.

The person who received his gaze.

It was the County Magistrate Ju Yu-gang, who had concealed his identity with a mask.

“Hurry and line up.”

When Cheol Ryu-heun spoke indifferently, Ju Yu-gang’s body flinched.

‘What, you want me to be tied up too? Why?’

As if reading that heart, Cheol Ryu-heun opened his mouth and spoke again.

“We’re moving while tied up. Because not everyone can ride the horse.”

At those words, not only Ju Yu-gang but all the White Peak Sword Sect members had bewildered looks.

What? We’re traveling like this? No, isn’t this too dangerous?

But Cheol Ryu-heun paid them no mind.

“Why be so flustered? Think positively. This is a chance to strengthen your abs, train your lightness arts through repeated jumping and landing, and shorten travel time. It’s practically killing three birds with one stone.”

Utterly aghast, Ju Yu-gang immediately executed thought transmission.

Cheol Ryu-heun ended his thought transmission and spoke aloud.

“What are you doing, errand boy? Move quickly. How slow can you be?”

Ju Yu-gang internally flared up and screamed.

‘Shut up! Who’s an errand boy!’

However, since there were many watching eyes, he had no choice but to go to the very end of the row and tie the rope around his own waist.

But that wasn’t the end.

“You too.”

Cheol Ryu-heun’s gaze turned to yet another person’s face.

It was Ximen Yue.

“Pardon?”

“Since you’ve proven your changed self, you should receive a reward.”

“…!”

Ximen Yue, having heard those words, wore a surprised expression.

Did reward mean a fortuitous encounter?

For improving martial arts…

Sure enough, Cheol Ryu-heun’s words continued.

“It’s about a method to completely awaken the potential of your body.”

Ximen Yue felt a thrilling shiver.

‘Light-Dark Harmonizing Secret Meridians…!’

What Cheol Ryu-heun just said meant some kind of way to newly refine that body.

Yes.

There was no reason to refuse.

Ximen Yue soon looked at his father Ximen Jwa.

“Father, it seems I must leave now.”

“Mm, go well.”

“I…”

“I know. What you’re trying to say. It’s not simply vacating your position… you intend to put down everything you have.”

“Yes, that’s right. So you heard from him.”

Having said that, Ximen Yue gazed fixedly at Nu-heum, the Third Squad Commander of the Swift Wind Squad, who was nearby.

“Young Master…”

Nu-heum recalled what he had said yesterday once more.

-I… am going to step down from my position after this fight ends. Perhaps today might be our last. I’ve already fulfilled my wish. I’m satisfied just with having worn the ceremonial robes.

“Have you made up your mind?”

When Nu-heum asked with a dark expression, Ximen Yue smiled warmly.

“Hoo. Of course. You’ve all worked hard. From now on, serve under the two elder brothers well. An appropriate reorganization will probably happen soon, but… my connection with the Third Squad ends here.”

Suddenly, a clear voice reached his ears.

“Says who?”

It was eldest brother Ximen Ang, the First Young Master.

“Elder Brother…”

“What reorganization? Your position will remain as it is.”

“Pardon? But…”

“I had a long talk with Father last night. And our intentions came together. To make you a candidate for the next Family Head.”

“…!”

“Hoo, it’s too early to be happy. I’m maintaining my candidate qualification too. So let’s compete with each other. There’s plenty of time before Father retires.”

Ximen Yue suddenly remembered what Ximen Ang had said before.

-Yue…

-Yes… Elder Brother…

-The one who gave birth to us is different. But… what does that matter? You and I both… have the same blood flowing in our veins.

Second Young Master Ximen Yu, beside him, also added.

“Yue, I sincerely support you. If you refuse to act cool, know that you’ll be hated by me. ‘That insolent bastard has gotten too full of himself,’ I’ll say. I haven’t even qualified as a candidate yet.”

At those joking words, Ximen Yue smiled gently.

“Hoo, then I have no choice. I don’t want to be hated by my petty-minded elder brother…”

“Oh my, you can make jokes like that too?”

“Alas, it wasn’t a joke…”

“You want to fight?”

The two soon burst into pleasant laughter together.

At that moment, a middle-aged woman quietly approached.

“Come back more grown. Both in martial arts and in character…”

It was Gye Su-bin, the second wife of Family Head Ximen Jwa and Ximen Yue’s birth mother.

“Yes… Mother. I’m so sorry for showing you such a disgraceful sight until now.”

“It’s alright. Don’t worry about it. This mother is also at fault. Since you’ve realized your wrongs, that’s enough.”

Je Bong-yeong, the birth mother of Ximen Ang and Ximen Yu who had also approached, spoke with a kind expression.

“My precious son, come back healthy.”

Though he wasn’t a son she had painfully given birth to, her words carried deep love from her heart.

Ximen Yue barely suppressed his welling emotions and greeted them.

“Then please take care, both of you. And Father… I am truly grateful.”

Ximen Jwa also seemed moved, as he responded with a nod instead of words.

Soon, Cheol Ryu-heun connected the rope with Divine Wind and commanded indifferently.

“Sit behind me.”

When he mounted the horse, Ximen Yue asked with unexpected eyes.

“Pardon? The rope is…”

Cheol Ryu-heun extended one hand to stroke Divine Wind’s mane and spoke.

“The beginning of our connection was this fellow. Back then, you wanted him, didn’t you? It’s a commemoration.”

He meant that since Ximen Yue couldn’t have the horse, he might as well ride it once.

Ximen Yue smiled wryly and quickly mounted the saddle.

Cheol Ryu-heun, gripping the reins, gave a nod toward the crowd gathered at the training grounds.

“Then see you again. I’ll contact you through the Beggar Sect.”

“Yes, travel safely. Sect Leader Cheol.”

At the moment Ximen Jwa bade farewell as the representative.

KKWANG-!

Divine Wind, having strongly emitted white energy currents, leapt into the void.

SHYUUUUUUUNG-

At that fearsome speed and wind pressure, Cheol Ryu-heun’s party screamed.

-EUAAAAAAA…!

* * *

Divine Wind’s rapid movement, crossing dozens of zhang in an instant.

KKUGUNG- KKWANG- SHYUUUNG-!

Amid the repeated jumping and landing, Ximen Yue was inwardly impressed.

‘Wow… this is amazing. Truly a rare spirit creature of the generation.’

Because even though he should have felt impact each time they landed hard on the ground, he couldn’t feel anything.

As if sitting on a chair without any shaking.

It was the same when they shot up high.

It was comfortable, as if riding in a carriage on a flat road.

Ximen Yue soon realized the reason.

‘White energy currents…’

It was thanks to the pure white haze that wrapped around his body.

In other words, the mysterious energy that Divine Wind was emitting perfectly blocked external influences such as wind pressure and vibrations.

Ximen Yue, who had been clicking his tongue in amazement, quietly smiled.

‘Hoo. Amazing. Both the person and the horse…’

Then he glanced behind and felt apologetic.

Because this white energy current only protected Cheol Ryu-heun and himself.

Currently, behind them was chaos.

Everyone had pained expressions from motion sickness.

Especially the Hook-Noses Guyang Cheon, Guyang Ji, and Guyang In.

“UUUK!”

“WUAEK!”

“KKUGEOK!”

Each was busy retching.

Ju Yu-gang, positioned right behind those three, distorted his face beneath his mask to the utmost.

‘This is so disgusting, seriously! Keuk… what can I do? Endure it, endure! Because from now on, I’ll never be entangled with that damned Sect Leader Cheol again!’

Ximen Yue turned his head back and asked while facing Cheol Ryu-heun’s back in front of him.

“Sect Leader Cheol… by the way, what is this method to completely awaken the potential of Light-Dark Harmonizing Secret Meridians…?”

“If you recall, what did I say that power is?”

“Ah, yes. Binding light and darkness into one… that is, the ability to unify righteous energy and demonic energy.”

“Then you understand well what’s needed, right?”

“Demonic energy… is it?”

“Correct. You must first have that dwell in your body. Not the wondrous function of crude cultivation like the Yang Heart Divine Art, but injecting pure demonic energy.”

“Ah, then where do I obtain that demonic energy?”

“From the Heavenly Demon’s secret location. There exists the demonic essence of the Heavenly Demon from when he was alive.”

Simultaneously with those words, Ximen Yue’s expression hardened.

“Such a thing…!”

What Cheol Ryu-heun had just said was somewhat shocking.

Because it meant infusing the demonic essence of the Heavenly Demon from when he was alive – the quintessence of demonic energy – into his own body.

‘Good heavens, is it possible?’

But soon he let out a faint smile.

‘Hoo. Right, nothing is impossible. If it’s Sect Leader Cheol.’

Thus, Ximen Yue’s heart pounded with a peculiar anticipation.

‘I will definitely accomplish it. Even if the process is painful.’

* * *

Several days later.

PAPAPAPA, PAPAPAPAPA-

Three people cutting through a forest dyed in the light of sunset like arrows.

The identity of those three was the Heavenly Demon Cult Grand Prelate Extreme Heaven Demon Emperor Gun Mu-ak, Demon Heaven Left Attendant Little-Face Bell Demoness Eun Yi-bi, and Demon Heaven Right Attendant Delusional Seductive Demoness Ya Baek-ji.

Having rapidly ran up the pathless ridge, they eventually arrived at a certain place and stopped abruptly.

It was a somewhat narrow flatland.

Roughly large enough for five or six carriages to barely park…

On its left rose a massive cliff, and on its right stretched a thousand-nook precipice descending steeply.

Also.

In front and behind, primeval forest left untended for long years blocked their view.

Ya Baek-ji, having surveyed the surroundings, asked.

“Is this the place?”

“Yes.”

Gun Mu-ak, having answered briefly, looked at the trees to the side.

“Shall we enter? To the Founder’s secret location.”

* * *

Around that time.

On the northwest side of the same mountain, the caped figure party – subordinates of the wanderer who had destroyed the Divine Martial Sword – appeared.

The number of personnel was a full thirty-some.

The figure standing at the very front gazed at the mountain peak beyond the forest and asked in a soft voice.

“The personnel we lost contact with… were investigating around that peak area?”

At that, one caped figure answered.

“Yes.”

“Let’s search carefully starting from here. Whether the gu poison exploded or not is the greatest concern.”

At that, the caped figures behind all answered in unison while bowing their heads.

“Yes! Ninth Great General.”