Chapter 323: Gathering in One Place
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A vast field of reeds spread out on the field beside the long, winding river.
SAGRAKSAGRAK-
Each time the wind blew, the fluttering, swaying appearance evoked a yellow sea.
Though it was the relatively warmer south compared to the north, the scenery had a feeling of winter’s charm.
Amid the singing sound of countless reeds rubbing against each other.
BEOSEUREOK-BEOSEUREOK, BEOSEUREOK-BEOSEUREOK…
The sound of several people moving mixed in.
Sure enough, six people dressed in different clothes were walking while parting the reed field.
The identity of the moving group was none other than rising stars of Unorthodox origin.
The person at the front was Dark Hall’s Dark Sword Fragrance Mun Bin.
Behind him could be seen the figures of the Celestial Flower Tower’s White Dream Beauty, Broken Mountain Sword Manor’s Mountain Shattering Sword, Jackal Wolf Blade Sect’s Violent Wolf Blade, Heaven-Shaking Sword Palace’s Black Cloud Young Master Hwa-seong, and Giant Roc Saber Gate’s New Kun Saber Genius On-ga.
Thus, once everyone had parted the reed field and arrived at the low grassland by the river.
“You’ve finally arrived. We’ve been waiting.”
Someone’s clear voice knocked at their ears across the distance.
Mun Bin, Gongse Dan-yeong and others looked ahead.
Over there, young martial artists sitting gathered around a lit bonfire.
It was the group of White Peak Sword Sect guests.
Namgung Sang-rin, the owner of the earlier voice, waved his hand.
The group including Mun Bin hurried over and exchanged greetings.
It was a gathering ground where first meetings and old acquaintances were mixed.
After brief introductions of each other, Black Cloud Young Master Hwa-seong and New Kun Saber Genius On-ga couldn’t help but inwardly marvel.
‘Wow…’
The sound nearly escaped their mouths.
They were surprised by the intangible aura ingrained in the guests’ bodies.
Wouldn’t a well-forged famous sword’s force be like that?
There was no need to heighten their energy sensing.
Just being close, it felt as if a formidable intangible aura was sweeping over and striking their bodies.
Above all, the bearing of Namgung Sang-rin, Hae Su-yeon, and Cui Lan – whose reputations had sharply risen through recent exploits – came across impressively.
Hwa-seong glanced at Mun Bin’s face standing beside him and thought.
‘Everyone… is no less than Dark Sword Fragrance’s aura. No, perhaps even more…’
The aura of the other two was also admirably outstanding.
In particular, he noted Seol Pan-gyo, the famous talent of the Hunan region and the rising Orthodox master representing the Azure Heaven Sword Sect, bearing the epithet Azure Mark Sword.
‘The protagonist of highest praise who was said to become a future member of the Five Martial Paragons of Hunan. Indeed, his reputation is not undeserved. He is… not below me. Yes, I can tell even without crossing techniques.’
Probably his martial prowess had advanced through Cheol Ryu-heun’s arrangement.
Also, the atmosphere of Mae Yak-bang, called Jade Rope Swallow Lady, was the same.
One could glimpse the aspect of a newly rising female master.
Though their areas of activity differed, he had heard of her name and epithet.
However, she didn’t compare to Seol Pan-gyo’s reputation… yet the intangible aura Mae Yak-bang currently possessed was by no means lacking.
‘At a glance, she appears to be on par with Azure Mark Sword. As expected, it must be the effect of rapid growth after receiving Sect Leader Cheol’s teachings.’
On-ga beside him had the same thought as Hwa-seong.
‘Young Master Hwa also has an admiring expression. Anyway, there’s not a single person who looks weak here. If one carelessly showed off their strength in a place like this… hoot.’
On the other hand, he felt strangely excited.
Then again, for any man, it was a setting that couldn’t help but be so.
Starting with Hae Su-yeon and going to Gongse Dan-yeong, Mae Yak-bang, and Cui Lan… they were all beauties exuding various charms.
It felt as if a flower garden had sprung up in the reed field.
In the meantime, Mun Bin wore a faint smile and spoke.
“It was only a few days ago that I visited White Peak Sword Sect… yet your martial prowess level has risen already. What kind of fortune did Sect Leader Cheol give you?”
The voice was directed at Seol Pan-gyo.
At that moment, Mae Yak-bang answered in his place.
“It was a fortune of physical reconstruction. Both me and Young Master Seol.”
Seol Pan-gyo quietly nodded and recalled what Cheol Ryu-heun had said.
-You can’t accompany us to the Shiwan Mountains in that physical condition. Tonight, you will be reborn as true Orthodox martial talents. Though the process will be agonizingly painful.
As he said, it was so.
The expression “terrible pain” was insufficient.
It was a horrific experience like hell.
The words “please just kill me” rose up to the tip of his throat.
Then at the very end, his mind truly became hazy and he thought his breath was being cut off.
But he and Mae Yak-bang ultimately tasted achievement.
The reward for enduring the pain was thrilling.
Because as his body was reconstructed, his martial force including internal power level had rapidly risen.
Mun Bin also knew well what Mae Yak-bang’s words meant.
“Physical reconstruction… I see. Achieving Bone Replacement and Marrow Cleansing.”
At that, Seol Pan-gyo smiled in response.
“Hoo, correct.”
“At this point, shouldn’t you treat me to a meal? Since you became a guest of White Peak Sword Sect through my advice.”
“Hmm, your tune has changed? You said I didn’t need to be grateful to you. Shouldn’t you actually be the one treating me?”
“Me?”
Mun Bin asked back.
Seol Pan-gyo indicated Gongse Dan-yeong with a glance.
“Since you’ve met your heaven-ordained match.”
At those words, Mun Bin and Gongse Dan-yeong’s faces reddened.
At that moment, Hae Su-yeon let out a small sound and spoke.
“Ho ho. Isn’t that the same for Young Master Seol and Lady Mae? I can feel that you have each other in your hearts. Anyway, love is blossoming everywhere. Ah, how lovely.”
The flustered Seol Pan-gyo and Mae Yak-bang’s faces turned red like persimmons.
The other men, swept up in envy, said nothing.
On-ga, who had been reading the mood, casually asked.
“And Lady Hae…?”
“My, I have someone I like separately. Although he treats me indifferently. But since he’s not like that only to me, it’s fine.”
“Who might that be…?”
“Sect Leader Cheol. His appearance is my type to begin with.”
At that, On-ga despaired and put away his expectations.
Cheol Ryu-heun… a wall he absolutely couldn’t overcome.
Not to be outdone, Cui Lan on one side added.
“I like Sect Leader Cheol too.”
At those words, On-ga’s sigh deepened.
Alas, what good was a flower garden?
It was only good to look at; there was nothing he could have.
Meanwhile.
Namgung Sang-rin suddenly recalled one woman’s appearance.
Murong Seol.
She whom he had one-sidedly loved for a long time.
‘You’re… doing well, right?’
A fresh longing welled up.
But he soon shook his head slightly and gathered his heart.
‘What am I doing, really. It’s not the time to get lost in idle sentiments.’
At that moment, a faint presence suddenly prickling his energy sense.
Namgung Sang-rin’s gaze immediately went to the side.
‘Two of them.’
Others also felt it and cast their gazes in the same direction.
Looking at it, they weren’t enemies.
Before long.
BEOSEUREOK-BEOSEUREOK…
The sound of movement parting the reed field drew even closer.
They had probably seen the bonfire.
‘Their skill isn’t ordinary, is it?’
The moment everyone in the group thought so.
PASASAK-!
Two figures leaped out as if flying through the air.
Seeing that, Namgung Sang-rin was startled.
“Oh!”
How could this be?
He had only thought about it in his mind, but suddenly she had appeared.
The object of his affections, Murong Seol.
And she had even brought her younger sister Murong Song along.
The group recognized their identities as soon as they saw their attire.
“What…?”
“That’s the Murong Family’s clothes…”
“It’s Stone-Piercing Sword Lady and Embroidery-Piercing Sword Lady. Without a doubt.”
“Wait, why are the Murong sisters here…?”
“Could they be planning to accompany us?”
In the midst of that, Murong Seol approached with nimble lightness arts, then.
WARAK!
She immediately embraced Namgung Sang-rin.
Startled again, his voice stammered.
“W-wait…”
“I like you. I’ve liked you all along.”
She abruptly confessed her romantic feelings.
Simultaneously, whistles and cheers mingled.
Murong Song, who had somehow come to their side, shook her head side to side.
“Ugh, sister… how embarrassing. Things like that should be done where no one’s watching. Really, you’re impossible.”
Soon Murong Seol, having separated from Namgung Sang-rin’s embrace, spoke with a smile.
“What about your feelings…?”
It was a question tinged with shyness.
Namgung Sang-rin also responded with a gentle smile.
“It’s been long. For each of us to confirm our feelings… when it could be accomplished this easily.”
“Hmph, I don’t know. You fool.”
Murong Seol let out a cute grumble and lightly hit his chest, then turned to greet everyone.
“Everyone, nice to meet you. I’m Murong Seol. This is Murong Song, my younger sister.”
Thus conversation briefly passed among them.
“As expected, Sect Leader Cheol…”
Namgung Sang-rin, having learned the inside story, nodded.
Murong Seol, standing right beside him, spoke while casting a warm gaze.
“There’s much I want to talk about with you. Let’s do that separately later.”
Namgung Sang-rin nodded and whispered.
“Hoot, yes… right now my mind is completely scattered.”
Cui Lan, who had been silent, quietly muttered.
“Sister, should I also try throwing myself into Sect Leader Cheol’s arms later out of nowhere?”
Hae Su-yeon smirked and waved her slender jade hands side to side.
“Don’t bother – before you even get close, wouldn’t he fling you away with Void Grasping technique? Then he’d probably say with an emotionless expression, ‘Tsk, how bothersome.'”
Hearing that, Cui Lan immediately pictured that very scene.
“Ah… w-well… he’s certainly the type who could and would. But when might he appear? It’s already getting dusky.”
But at that moment.
Everyone flinched.
The expressions of everyone including Hae Su-yeon and Cui Lan hardened.
A chill suddenly assaulting.
Shiver.
That wasn’t the river wind.
It was a wind blowing along with thick darkness, perhaps.
That’s exactly how it felt.
Namgung Sang-rin soon warned the group.
“It’s a transcendent master. A very unfamiliar and frightening one…”
Hae Su-yeon agreed with those words.
“Yes! And quite close!”
Following that, Mun Bin also awakened the alarm in his heart.
“To only feel their presence now…”
As Hae Su-yeon said, it wasn’t a far distance.
Who could it be?
A person who gave such a fearsome feeling through presence alone.
At any rate, one thing was certain.
The owner of that presence… wasn’t Cheol Ryu-heun.
Tension expanding in an instant.
SEUREUNG, SEUREUREUNG-
Mun Bin, Namgung Sang-rin, Hae Su-yeon, Cui Lan and others all simultaneously assumed sword-drawing stances.
“Ten paces’ gap!”
“Without a sound, all of a sudden…”
“Everyone, on guard!”
At last, the owner of that presence made footsteps.
BASEURAK, BASEURAK…
In the midst of that, one strand of Sound Transmission was heard.
-Relax. I’m a companion.
It was most likely the owner of the presence.
Namgung Sang-rin, Hae Su-yeon and others wore puzzled expressions.
‘A companion?’
They hadn’t heard anything yet.
That a mysterious transcendent master emanating such terrifying intangible aura would be joining…
But at that moment.
SSEUT.
One figure quietly appeared near where the bonfire was burning.
In that instant, Namgung Sang-rin, Hae Su-yeon and others were seized by bizarre thrills.
And… they saw.
No.
They saw it.
The long, black sword hanging at the figure’s waist.
The sword hilt ornament reminiscent of a demon god’s face.
Everyone saw that sword and realized.
Who the unfamiliar figure was.
Someone’s soft murmur was heard.
“Heavenly Demon Cult… Grand Prelate…”
At those words, several people involuntarily flinched.
It was an astonishing situation.
To think the Heavenly Demon Cult’s Grand Prelate, Extreme Heaven Demon Emperor Gun Mu-ak, would appear here.
Just looking at the sword’s appearance, one could readily tell he was the Heavenly Demon Cult Grand Prelate.
That’s right.
If not him, there was no way to explain that intangible aura.
Namgung Sang-rin, meeting his gaze, asked.
“Heavenly Demon Cult’s Grand Prelate… is it?”
Gun Mu-ak, Extreme Heaven Demon Emperor, having nodded slightly, opened his mouth with an expressionless face.
“Yes. This Lord is indeed Gun Mu-ak, with the epitet Extreme Heaven Demon Emperor.”
His extremely low voice transformed into thunder.
A truly shocking auditory hallucination phenomenon.
The continuing voice brought even greater astonishment.
“From now on, I am… on the same side as all of you.”