Chapter 303: Each Person's Task

Read more at Nineheavens.org

Gal Jung-heon’s eyes wavered, creating ripples.

‘Nature Assimilation Realm…!’

He couldn’t help but be surprised.

Because Nature Assimilation Realm was cultivation at a higher realm beyond the Rejuvenation he himself had achieved.

Seop Pyo’s reaction was the same.

Not only were his eyes wavering, but even his beard was trembling.

‘The legendary realm that draws upon and uses the energy of great nature… my, we can achieve that!’

Mun Bin, Namgung Sang-rin, Hae Su-yeon and others also had astonished expressions.

Of course, the sect disciples belonging to the Mountain Martial Association including Gwak Woon-bi and Yeong Ho-woong, too.

“The Nature Assimilation Realm that Bodhidharma is said to have first reached…!”

“Wow… is it possible? Really?”

“S-surprising, but… it should be possible.”

“Right, since Sect Master Cheol said so himself.”

Amid such stirring, the Yaksha Unit members all had envious eyes.

At that moment, Gal Jung-heon pointed out a question.

“Sect Master, perhaps you faced a villain who achieved Nature Assimilation Realm?”

We must achieve more than what the enemy has achieved.

He had immediately grasped the hidden meaning of those words.

Cheol Ryu-heun, having nodded, replied briefly.

“Correct. Great Sword Tyrant Lord Danmok Cheon.”

“…!”

At the unexpected epithet and name, Gal Jung-heon and Seop Pyo’s expressions hardened.

“That fellow was in cahoots with the group of mysterious caped figures.”

Seop Pyo furrowed his brows and muttered softly.

“Hmm, to think he was still alive…”

“The reason I deliberately tested even you two’s strength is because there’s a special task to assign.”

At that, Gal Jung-heon asked with a curious expression.

“What is it?”

The apathetic reply that came back.

“Making a sea of blood.”

“Pardon?”

“Quite a lot happened in the past two days. I’ll tell you everything later. Including what you’ll be responsible for. Everyone gather close.”

At Cheol Ryu-heun’s direction, the personnel in the hall lined up in orderly fashion.

“I’ll announce the test results.”

Cheol Ryu-heun called out names while gazing at the faces of the young guests.

“Namgung Sang-rin, Hae Su-yeon, Cui Lan… and Seol Pan-gyo, Mae Yak-bang. You will soon head to the Shiwan Mountains with me.”

The named personnel answered in unison.

“Yes!”

Cheol Ryu-heun immediately looked at the Yaksha Unit.

“You go to Wuyang tomorrow.”

At the sudden words, Tae Sa-ja tilted his head.

“Pardon? Why there again…?”

“I’m planning to conduct special joint training with County Magistrate Ju’s permission.”

“Ah…!”

“I’ve already met with him and finished talking. Just bring yourselves. It’ll be very grueling, so you’d better prepare yourselves.”

“Understood.”

After Tae Sa-ja answered on their behalf, he carefully asked a question.

“Um… but Sect Master, after the special joint training is over… will we finally be active officially?”

“That’s right. If you meet the standards.”

“Oh…! My heart is already racing! I’ll do my absolute best like crazy!”

“Don’t get excited prematurely. The standard still doesn’t reach the sect’s elite fighting strength. It’s just set to match your level.”

“I’ll keep that in mind!”

“Well, even so, from the perspective of other martial sects, that goal is very high. Receive the details when you arrive at Wuyang.”

Having spoken thus, Cheol Ryu-heun’s gaze then shifted toward the executive staff.

“You watched well earlier, right?”

Elder Yeop Hwon, having nodded, received the words with a smile.

“Yes, it’s deeply engraved in my mind.”

While conducting the test, Cheol Ryu-heun had used only the White Peak Sword Technique of their sect.

Along with several newly created moves.

His intention was one.

Teaching.

That is, it was a demonstration for the executive staff to perfect their martial arts.

How to use the essence of White Peak Sword Technique to maximize power.

Soon.

SEUK.

Cheol Ryu-heun took out five pills from his pocket.

“Here, take these.”

Immediately after Yeop Hwon, Hyeop Mu-geuk, Guyang Cheon, Guyang Ji, and Guyang In took the pills one by one, Cheol Ryu-heun once again let out an indifferent voice.

“Eating those will allow you to ascend to a new realm. But the achievement process will be painful. Like last time.”

Hyeop Mu-geuk, who had been examining the pill, asked.

“What is this elixir?”

“An elixir specialized for our sect’s internal power mental technique, you could say. It’s more precious than Bodhidharma’s Great Restoration Pills.”

“Pardon?”

“It has no name. Since it’s an elixir that hasn’t existed until now.”

“What! That means…”

“I personally combined rare medicinal ingredients and refined it. I made it by infusing internal power whenever I had time.”

At that, all five executive staff members let out exclamations.

“Therefore, it’s absolutely ineffective for anyone but you. Anyway, the results will be greater than expected.”

The executive staff including Yeop Hwon each cried out with expressions full of joy.

“Thank you, Sect Master!”

Following that, Cheol Ryu-heun looked at Ye Woon-rang nearby.

“You have separate work to do. That’s why I excluded you from the test entirely.”

“Ah, I see. But what kind of work?”

“Intensive training camp.”

“…?”

“At the mountain secret location where Ximen Yue is currently staying.”

“Pardon? That’s perplexing. I don’t know where that place is…”

“I’ll tell you later. Now, questions later.”

Having thus concluded, Cheol Ryu-heun now looked at the hundred-some disciples of the Mountain Martial Association and opened his mouth.

“Have you clearly seen the effects of the elixir you consumed a few days ago?”

At that question, Mountain Martial Association Master Gwak Woon-bi nodded.

“Yes, including myself, everyone has gained new power. Only mastering the ultimate moves remains.”

“You’ve understood the White Peak Protective Body Skill formulas?”

“Yes. A few people are struggling a bit, but… anyway, if everyone continues training like now, completion is just a matter of time.”

“Then that’s good. Since you’ve reached the recently set target level, I’ll bestow the blessing of pain. It’s now time to head toward the threshold of ultra-first-rate tier swordsman.”

Simultaneously, the expressions of the Mountain Martial Association members all changed.

Somewhat strange faces.

Half excitement, half fear.

It was natural.

Because they knew what the blessing of pain he spoke of was.

At that moment, Mun Bin carefully asked.

“Sect Master Cheol, what about me…?”

“Tsk, you’re too greedy. Shouldn’t the various elixirs stored in Dark Hall be sufficient for you?”

“That’s not it – I was trying to ask about accompanying you…”

Cheol Ryu-heun stared at him fixedly.

“Is that something you need to ask?”

“Pardon?”

“Did you forget? This sect and Dark Hall have a sworn alliance relationship.”

What he just said meant “where the needle goes, the thread follows; where the wind goes, the clouds go.”

Mun Bin, having seen through the meaning, immediately brightened.

“Ah… th-that’s right! An alliance of one mind and body transcending camps!”

“I was going to call you anyway. I have work for you to do.”

“Is that so? Whatever it is, just leave it to me! I’m already prepared to dedicate my life!”

“Don’t be dramatic.”

Cheol Ryu-heun, having spoken gruffly, turned his body and walked away.

“Mountain Martial Association and Yaksha Unit, resume training. The rest including the executive staff, follow me to the office.”

Thus as everyone moved in an orderly manner.

Namgung Sang-rin, who was quietly following behind Cheol Ryu-heun, thought of one person in his mind.

His only sibling in this world – it was Heon-rin’s face.

‘Are you… safe?’

-I’m already looking forward to the day I see my brother’s face again.

‘That fellow said such things to Sect Master Cheol when they met back then…’

Cheol Ryu-heun’s Sound Transmission he had heard earlier flashed through his mind.

-Are you worried about your younger sibling?

-Ah… yes. Haha. I suppose I was too obvious.

-Don’t worry. You’ll meet him soon.

-Pardon?

‘Could those words earlier mean Heon-rin is still staying in the Shiwan Mountains? Hmm… I’ll find out soon.’

His eyes grew heavy, and along with them his steps grew heavy.

His body was still here.

However.

His heart was already flying rapidly toward the Shiwan Mountains at land’s end.

* * *

Inside the cave, a space bright as midday.

In that place where countless luminous pearls were embedded in the ceiling and walls, a man was meditating in a cross-legged position.

It was Namgung Heon-rin, a military official belonging to the imperial Embroidered Guard.

Currently, he sat motionlessly with his eyes closed.

Perhaps he was conducting training based on energy circulation and breath regulation.

Not far to his side.

A young man with a sturdy build but a face as gentle as a child’s could be seen.

It was Jeon Kwae, Namgung Heon-rin’s colleague and Embroidered Guard military official.

Standing with his arms folded, he quietly recalled past events.

The time they fled from the hands of one with monstrous martial prowess…

-Huk, huk…!

-Just a little more…!

‘That guy… what on earth was he?’

He was a monster with a height approaching nine Cheok.

His abilities were also truly bizarre.

Above all, his fingernails freely grew longer and shorter.

Moreover, their sharpness and hardness were like swords.

It was the first time he’d seen such a martial art.

‘I was scared. Honestly…’

At that time he had thought he would die, but thanks to Cheol Ryu-heun’s arrangements, he had managed to save his life like this.

Through that, he had newly and greatly realized.

The preciousness and mystery of connections.

Suddenly.

FLASH!

Light was emitted from the crown of cross-legged Namgung Heon-rin’s head.

Luminous five-colored radiance.

It soon transformed into round rings that circled above his head.

CHEUSEUCHEUSU, CHEUSEUCHEUSU…

Blue of Wood, red of Fire, white of Metal, black of Water, yellow of Earth symbolizing the Five Elements… nine times out of ten, it was the achievement of Five Energies Returning to Origin.

‘Wow!’

Jeon Kwae admired inwardly.

It wasn’t just because of Five Energies Returning to Origin, but because he was amazed at Namgung Heon-rin’s enlightenment.

That was understandable.

Namgung Heon-rin had already achieved Five Energies Returning to Origin three times.

Yet he was achieving it again.

‘Amazing. Has that guy’s hidden talent also awakened?’

He thought of a conversation he had exchanged with Namgung Heon-rin before.

-What kind of person is your brother?

-Kind and cool. Good personality, thoughtful, full of affection… and his martial arts talent surpasses mine too.

-What? You’re not exactly a common martial talent yourself.

-Currently, I expect my martial prowess is probably higher. But his potential that can’t be seen with the eyes is much higher. That was already… confirmed when Father was still alive.

‘Indeed, Namgung Family… can’t ignore that bloodline. I’m suddenly curious. How much has his brother developed?’

Suddenly, Cheol Ryu-heun’s words flashed through his mind.

-I’ve already restored Namgung Family’s lost sword learning, and roughly… if you work hard for about a year, I believe you can capably rebuild it.

‘If he’s under that person, wouldn’t his martial fame have soared steeply by now? I really want to meet him someday.’

A bit of time passed from then.

SEUSUT, SEUSUT…

Along with a faint sound, the haze symbolizing Five Energies Returning to Origin vanished all at once.

Immediately after.

“Hoo.”

Namgung Heon-rin, having regulated his breath softly, opened his eyes.

Jeon Kwae hurried to his side.

“How was it – did your energy increase again?”

At that, Namgung Heon-rin smiled gently and nodded slightly.

“While harmonizing with the energy of various elixirs I’ve consumed, perhaps…”

“Perhaps, what?”

“Eighty to ninety years’ worth… seems to have increased.”

“What! Crazy…”

“Hoot, yes. Truly crazy indeed.”

“Is it a difference in talent? Goodness… someone came here and barely gained thirty years’ worth… though before that I did increase from the Hundred-Year Snow Ginseng… well, all of this is thanks to Sect Master Cheol. When we get out of here later, we must definitely visit him.”

Right at that moment.

JJEOK…

A sound as if something was cracking was heard.

Startled, Namgung Heon-rin and Jeon Kwae turned their gazes.

Where their eyes rested, there was a stone statue.

Precisely, it was the petrified corpse of a monster called Nuwa Yin Serpent.

Soon.

JJEOK…

The same sound was heard again.

Simultaneously, both their expressions hardened.

“That thing… isn’t waking up again, is it?”

“Come on… s-surely not…”