Chapter 297: Let's Make Some

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Ja-woo took a polite fist salute and bid farewell.

“It’s fortunate the crisis was averted. Then I shall take my leave now. Please have your conversations.”

Na Rae-hyang, standing with support from Jeung Ji-rim and Wang Su-ah, spoke with a pale complexion.

“Thank you. To even turn back your steps to provide such help…”

“Not at all. Hearing you say that makes me a bit embarrassed. Honestly, I worried my identity might be exposed and briefly hesitated. But hearing the successive loud sounds, something seemed amiss and I couldn’t just leave.”

Hearing those words, Na Rae-hyang slightly lowered her head.

“Thank you. I will definitely repay this kindness later.”

Ja-woo immediately waved his hand and said with a gentle smile.

“Would I be so presumptuous as to seek repayment? Please don’t worry about today’s matter and just take good care of your body first.”

He meant that her recovery of health alone would be sufficient for him.

Song San approached his side and spoke in a calm voice.

“I’m reminded anew that when the water upstream is clean, the water downstream is clean. That person taught his subordinates very well.”

“Haha. That’s not always so. Sometimes dirty water mixes into the downstream first. Anyway, we always try hard not to be stained by filthy things.”

“Indeed… you must have seen a lot staying there. It’s regrettable to just let you go like this.”

“Yes, I’m regretful too. But since I’ve finished my mission, I must return. I’ll gratefully accept just your sentiment.”

Ja-woo’s gaze then rested on Cheol Ryu-heun.

“Sect Master Cheol, allow me to properly introduce myself. I am called Ja-woo. Though this is our first meeting, I’ve long heard the rumors about you. At any rate, thank you for your great help. Ah, please feel free to speak informally to me.”

At that, Cheol Ryu-heun replied with a strange, meaningful smile.

“You’re similar.”

“Pardon?”

“To someone I know.”

“…?”

As Ja-woo tilted his head, Cheol Ryu-heun lightly waved his hand.

As if to say it was just something he said, so don’t mind it.

In truth, the person Cheol Ryu-heun had thought of while looking at him was County Magistrate Ju Yu-gang.

‘It seems to be the same internal power mental technique.’

The true energy of the internal power mental technique that Ju Yu-gang had mastered had an extremely secretive property.

Unless one was a master of upper tier like the Five Martial Extremes of Hunan or the Six Polar Stars of Hubei, even a rough understanding was nearly impossible.

Ja-woo before his eyes was the same.

The texture of energy flowing within his body was considerably similar.

Though it wasn’t comparable to Ju Yu-gang’s secrecy.

Anyway, through that point, something could be inferred.

The fact that Ja-woo was also a member of the organization to which Namgung Heon-rin and Jeon Kwae belonged.

Most likely.

Right at that moment, Bo Hwoe, having read the letter Ja-woo had brought, spoke softly.

“Go and convey to the Master. That I will do my utmost to hasten the timeline…”

“Yes, Elder. Due to today’s events, your burden must be even heavier… but I look forward to good news.”

Thus Ja-woo gave his final greeting and disappeared with nimble movement.

Cheol Ryu-heun pulled the reins and advanced with Divine Wind.

“The injured need care, so let’s go quickly.”

When he lightly waved one hand.

DUDONGSIL.

The body of the fainted Si Yu-min was drawn up by gentle energy and placed onto Divine Wind’s saddle.

It was a comfortable posture as if lying neatly on a bed.

It was outstanding skill of Grasping Objects in the Void.

Jeung Ji-rim, who was following behind while supporting Na Rae-hyang together with junior sister Wang Su-ah, admired.

‘Wow, his internal power cultivation is exceptional. Even right after fighting the enemy…’

She thought of the conversation she had with Na Rae-hyang previously.

-Cheol Ryu-heun, the direct disciple of former Sect Master White Gate Sword Gentleman. You haven’t heard the rumors about him yet, have you?

-Ah… no. I’ve only been home for a short time… but that he’s an even greater genius than Son Ja-ryong, I can’t understand.

-You’ll understand when you see him.

-Hmm… you’re not someone who would say such things carelessly, unnie…

-You’ll meet him too. Not long from now, since he said he’d come to where Master is.

Not long ago, Son Ja-ryong, the young Family Head of Zhejiang Son Family, one of the Seven Great Families, had stepped up to the top master tier of the region.

However.

Na Rae-hyang had said at that time, upon hearing that story, that it was admirable talent but not surprising.

The reason was Cheol Ryu-heun.

Honestly, she had been half-doubtful, but due to today’s events, she had keenly realized.

That Cheol Ryu-heun’s talent was not something that could be explained in any words…

Wang Su-ah, who had also been admiring, carefully asked.

“Sect Master Cheol, but… how did you come to master Heavenly Demon Divine Art? Ah, I’m not trying to dig – I’m really just curious…”

Cheol Ryu-heun, who was in the lead, said indifferently and simply.

“Fortune. Nothing else.”

Then he glanced back at Song San and Bo Hwoe.

“Through that heaven-sent fortune, I also came to learn the location of the secret place where demonic power exists. Including how to enter, of course.”

The fact that the secret location was Bo Hwoe’s place of seclusion was something he had grasped through his owner Ba Hun during his Divine Martial Sword days.

It had been purely coincidental.

At that time, Ba Hun had visited the mountains intending to collect a thousand-year ginseng called Triple Layer King, and had happened to discover Bo Hwoe entering and exiting some kind of barrier formation.

However, he had just left it alone.

Since he had no way to enter and exit the powerful barrier formation anyway, and also because he had resolved to go into seclusion for transcendence.

Bo Hwoe, knowing nothing, clicked his tongue.

“My, truly surprising.”

Suddenly, Song San beside him gave a look and whispered.

“Goodness, this ill-mannered one. Is that the proper way to address someone of such stature?”

“Oops…”

Bo Hwoe flinched and scratched the back of his head with an embarrassed expression.

Cheol Ryu-heun himself was merely expressionless in response.

“Well, I don’t mind.”

“By the way, whatever happened to Sun Moon Demon Cult… happened?”

When Bo Hwoe quickly corrected his speech and asked, Cheol Ryu-heun answered with an unconcerned look.

“Ah, things happened the moment we arrived so I didn’t tell you. They were completely annihilated.”

Ximen Yue, who had been quiet, immediately added words.

“And the Sun Moon Demon Cult Leader became a departed soul by Sect Master Cheol’s martial power. It ended with an overwhelming victory for our side.”

Song San, Bo Hwoe and others who followed behind clicked their tongues repeatedly.

Amid that, Cheol Ryu-heun muttered inwardly.

‘I’ll eliminate them the same way. That group using gu poison too… the destination is already decided, only the execution stage remains.’

* * *

A figure sitting with his back against an old tree, face greatly scrunched while regulating his breathing.

“Huuu, huuu…”

It was Great Sword Tyrant Lord Danmok Cheon.

In front of him stood alone the fifty-ish man who had brought him here while injured.

He in brown martial attire had an intense impression like a wolf.

Even possessing a solemn intangible aura comparable to Danmok Cheon.

He was precisely one of the Thirteen Seats of the previous-era martial world.

Unorthodox Saber Master Yu Ma-jong.

An outstanding warrior who had competed with Danmok Cheon in the past for the top position of the Unorthodox faction.

“Here, eating this should make it more bearable.”

Yu Ma-jong handed over a small pill.

It was a precious medicine.

Danmok Cheon quickly consumed it and cast his gaze toward that direction.

“What happened to him?”

“Well, if he saw the signal, he should join us soon.”

At that moment, a faint presence was heard and then.

SASAT-

A figure wearing a dark cape appeared.

“You two are here.”

It was the Fourth Great General of Eastern Heaven Division, who had been performing missions like rear supply, support, and reconnaissance.

When he approached, Yu Ma-jong sank his gaze deeply and asked.

“Why are you alone? Where is he?”

“Ah, yes, the thing is…”

The Fourth Great General briefly read the mood before reporting.

“Division Commander Jil seems to have been killed in battle. So I inevitably pulled the personnel who were on standby. It was difficult to delay more time there…”

The Division Commander Jil just mentioned meant White Heaven Sword King Jil-ryang.

“You mean he never appeared?”

“That’s right. All of them…”

“His death can’t be helped. There’s someone else who can replace that position anyway, so it’s fine.”

Then he glanced at Danmok Cheon.

“Cheol Ryu-heun is a more outstanding martial artist than expected. To have martial power strong enough to beat you…”

No sooner had Yu Ma-jong’s words ended than Danmok Cheon gnashed his teeth.

“I must repay this humiliation!”

“I should have joined from the start and attacked together. No, if we had originally mobilized Detached Three Army Corps’s best from the beginning…”

Yu Ma-jong trailed off, then looked at the Fourth Great General of Eastern Heaven Division and said.

“You immediately send an urgent message to Central Heaven Tower. And when you return to the main unit, assemble dispatch personnel. No other permission is needed. I will take full responsibility…”

“But where to…?”

“The place Cheol Ryu-heun will head to next.”

“…!”

“I know where he’ll go. Because I’ve already thrown the bait.”

Then he sent a meaningful smile toward Danmok Cheon.

“Hoot. Soon we will have an opportunity to make up for today’s defeat.”

Had he grasped the hidden meaning of those words?

Danmok Cheon pulled up the corner of his lips and wore a creepy smile.

“Hm… ah yes, that place?”

“Yes. If we borrow that monster’s ability.”

“Good. Kekeuk, this time I’ll definitely end it for sure.”

* * *

The hall in the valley within the secret location.

Na Rae-hyang and Si Yu-min, who had been injured, received treatment and then rested in separate spaces.

Cheol Ryu-heun and Ximen Yue, having entered another room, sat facing Song San and Bo Hwoe with a table between them.

Jeung Ji-rim and Wang Su-ah sat to one side and listened to the conversation.

First, Cheol Ryu-heun and Ximen Yue explained the series of events.

Song San, Bo Hwoe and others changed expressions from moment to moment as they listened to those two’s stories.

And upon hearing about the Murong Family incident that had occurred yesterday, they were greatly startled.

Cheol Ryu-heun finished his story and said it seemed like the enemy was trying to heighten a sense of crisis in the martial world.

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Following that, Song San and Bo Hwoe revealed a series of circumstances.

The rather long story only ended after about half a quarter-hour had passed.

To summarize the key points:

That Bo Hwoe had been framed as a public enemy of the martial world for using gu poison was because he had fallen into some kind of conspiracy.

The reason he had researched the forbidden gu poison in the past was simply for the purpose of developing a cure, and he had received secret support from Song San, with whom he normally had a close relationship.

Then one day, someone stole the research materials on gu poison and fled.

And not long after, an incident occurred where an Unorthodox martial sect was annihilated due to gu poison.

At that time, rumors spread.

That it was because of the gu poison Bo Hwoe had been secretly researching.

So he ultimately chose to go into seclusion and hide.

At that time, he had coincidentally discovered Heavenly Demon’s secret location.

One fortunate point was that no one knew Song San was connected.

The two had lived while secretly exchanging contact.

At that time, Song San encouraged the dejected Bo Hwoe and continued to support him materially and spiritually.

That if only he could somehow complete cures for various gu poisons, all the misunderstandings would be cleared.

But thirty years ago, mysterious enemies appeared and targeted Song San.

More precisely, they had ambushed her school, Zither-Striking Martial Gate.

Song San’s martial fame was high enough to be placed at the Thirteen Seats rank, but because it was sound arts that were tricky to learn, the sect’s personnel were few in number.

That is, their combat power was not on the strong side.

That period happened to be when she was considering retirement.

The enemy numbered only about fifty, but each was individually strong.

What was surprising was that they possessed gu poison in their bodies that rapidly raised their internal power level or exploded.

Thus Zither-Striking Martial Gate and the enemy mutually destroyed each other and disappeared.

No one survived except Song San.

Even that had been heaven’s fortune.

Because the gu poison in their bodies was incomplete, the enemy had self-destructed from side effects.

Song San turned her back on the world from that day and stayed in the secret location with Bo Hwoe.

Around that time, a figure called Master Gongsun made contact.

Having revealed his secret identity, he promised support for the research.

To resist the common enemy.

Thus the two had continued arduous efforts until now.

For the completion of a Transcendent Revival Pills to counter the gu poison that displayed bizarre wondrous functions.

“That Master seems to have an extraordinary identity.”

At Cheol Ryu-heun’s words, Song San replied politely.

“I’m sorry. I cannot reveal it carelessly. However… I can tell you one thing clearly. Master Gongsun is a righteous hero. Like Sect Master Cheol.”

Bo Hwoe, who had been sitting beside her, added his words, not to be outdone.

“Yes. That person is also preparing for troubled times with a spirit of pure sacrifice. So you may trust him.”

Song San, having taken a sip of tea, let her eyes sink deeply.

“Seeing the enemy who had a blank period after the Namgung Family annihilation appearing here and there like this, they must be planning to begin their activities in earnest.”

Cheol Ryu-heun, having nodded, asked with indifferent eyes.

“At any rate, the ultimate goal is the completion of the Transcendent Revival Pills, correct?”

At that, the two nodded to each other.

“That’s right. Even without staking one’s life like what the enemy created, to maximize internal power…”

“As you know, demonic arts have the property of rapid strengthening. How much more so for demonic power, the origin of all demons? Therefore, if the demonic energy lurking here is successfully neutralized and refined into pills, it seems a Transcendent Revival Pills with no side effects would be completed… but that’s truly not as easy as we thought.”

At that moment, suddenly.

CHEOK.

Cheol Ryu-heun placed his hand on the shoulder of Ximen Yue beside him.

“Please don’t worry. Because through this fellow’s power, the Transcendent Revival Pills can be made.”

Simultaneously, everyone’s gaze focused on Ximen Yue.

Everyone had bewildered eyes.

Cheol Ryu-heun’s bland voice continued.

“He’ll now become a chicken that endlessly lays eggs.”

At that, Ximen Yue’s expression turned pale white.

Wh-who’s a chicken!

Endlessly laying eggs – just hearing it gives me chills!