Chapter 353: There Is
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The party who heard Cheol Ryu-heun’s words were slightly surprised.
‘Severed Meridian Disease…!’
Severed Meridian Disease, differently called Meridian Severing Disease or Meridian Severing Ailment, was a kind of rare illness like heavenly punishment.
And then everyone showed puzzled expressions.
How did he figure that out?
Shin So-sul had merely coughed up blood with a pained expression, that’s all.
Accurately diagnosing a hidden illness just from a single scene of coughing blood?
What nonsense.
Even if the ancient famous physician ‘Hua Tuo,’ recorded as the Divine Physician, came back to life, that was actually something in an impossible realm.
It was natural.
How could one accurately grasp a person’s bodily condition without even a simple pulse diagnosis process?
Yet Cheol Ryu-heun had just spoken as if certain it was Severed Meridian Disease.
At that moment, Gun Mu-ak in the rear spoke expressionlessly.
“You felt it too.”
When Cheol Ryu-heun nodded, Mun Bin to one side spoke up.
“I too felt a slight amount of foreign otherworldly energy.”
He wasn’t the only one.
The Namgung Sang-rin and Heon-rin brothers along with Hae Su-yeon, Cui Lan, Seol Pan-gyo, and Mae Yak-bang likewise detected the strange energy that had occurred within Shin So-sul’s body the moment he coughed blood.
Gwi Je-shin and Beop-yeol, who had been exceptional Unorthodox warriors originally but had made further progress through Cheol Ryu-heun’s arrangement, also did…
In the midst of that, Eun Yi-bi and Ya Baek-ji exchanged Sound Transmissions To Ear.
Meanwhile, Shin So-sul had a shocked reaction.
“How did you know that…?”
At that, Cheol Ryu-heun replied dryly.
“What you just showed was a power of a different nature from the otherworldly energy you originally possessed. That is, it was someone else’s otherworldly energy. That just now shook up your insides. Moreover, that flow was similar to what Severed Meridian Disease commonly has. If so, the answer comes out, doesn’t it? Artificial restriction.”
“…!”
“In other words, it means you’re a body that has been struck by an extremely wicked sorcery that induces symptoms unique to severed meridians. Due to that, you must have been futilely expelled by the traitor group. Well, I don’t know when that time was, though.”
Shin So-sul had a repeatedly surprised expression.
It was accurate.
To grasp a series of circumstances just by feeling the power of a different nature from his own otherworldly energy…
The reactions of the many people who had been listening quietly were not much different.
“Those fellows’ skills are considerable. To implant Severed Meridian Disease that you never even had from birth into your body like this.”
“How do you know that I never had Severed Meridian Disease from birth…?”
“I obtained the diary that Ascending Heaven Sword Dragon left behind while alive. There was some content related to you written in it. Back then, after being defeated by Ascending Heaven Sword Dragon, you received pulse diagnosis. Thanks to that, your internal injuries were healed too. Do you remember?”
“Ah…”
Shin So-sul let out a quiet sound as if understanding, then coughed up blood again.
“Keolleok!”
The blood dropping HUDUDUDUK! onto the ground.
It was a murky color.
Evidence that his body was deteriorating.
Byeok Woo-ham and Do Woo-pung, who supported Shin So-sul, spoke.
“Now, you must take care of your body first.”
“Please withdraw your sorcery quickly.”
“Understood…”
Shin So-sul, having answered feebly, immediately chanted an incantation.
Simultaneously, the Iron Armor and Two Earth Netherworld Spirit, Horse-Bodied Human-Faced Monster Consort, and Three-Headed Brilliant Tiger Martial Spirit transformed into mystical smoke and vanished.
SEUSEUSEUT, SEUSEUSEUT, SEUSEUSEUT……
Shin So-sul looked at Cheol Ryu-heun ahead.
“I… did not break that promise.”
That referred to the promise with Ascending Heaven Sword Dragon Ba Hun thirty-four years ago.
-From now on, do not research sorcery that becomes harmful any further. I am trying to give you an opportunity for reform. So I hope you do not betray this heart. If you quietly work hard like that, won’t there come a time when the Heretic Cult proves to Jianghu that it is not only an evil group? I believe so. No, I believe in people… Shin So-sul, I believe in you as a person.
Shin So-sul, his consciousness becoming hazy, recalled those words Ba Hun had spoken in the past.
‘Ugh… please watch over me. I will keep that promise… to the end… so that our cult advances toward the light… and gains the world’s recognition… I will strive and strive again. Indeed…’
Following that, he also thought of what Cheol Ryu-heun had said earlier.
-Looking at you, it seems to be some kind of Severed Meridian Disease, I’ll completely cure it for you. After that, I’ll make you reborn as this era’s greatest master of sorcery.
‘The greatest master of sorcery… I don’t even wish for that. If I can just heal my body and prevent our cult from falling further…’
He had realized in the past through Ascending Heaven Sword Dragon Ba Hun.
The fact that if one engages in sorcery pursuing the Mountain Road, it will return as a great calamity someday…
At the time, if Ba Hun had made up his mind to completely destroy the Heretic Cult, its lineage would have already been cut off and forever disappeared into the backwaters of history.
Right at that moment.
CHEOK.
Cheol Ryu-heun, having approached directly in front of him, spoke in a changed tone.
“Please rest now. I’ll hear the detailed story tomorrow.”
TAT, TATAT, TAT-!
Thus Cheol Ryu-heun sealed his acupoints and put Shin So-sul to sleep.
“Did you hear his story?”
Byeok Woo-ham, who received Cheol Ryu-heun’s question, opened his mouth.
“Not all of it, but I heard a portion. He said seven years ago, he was greatly betrayed by a group that colluded with the Darkness-Craving Blood Clan…”
Do Woo-pung, who supported Shin So-sul alongside him, also added his voice.
“He said the rebellion was led by two disciples. Named Snake-Robed Hwa-rang and Snake-Robed Hwa-nong, a brother and sister pair. He said he took them as disciples about ten years ago. Because both had exceptional talents…”
“Their talent must indeed be exceptional. To the point of applying incantation restriction related to Severed Meridian Disease.”
Byeok Woo-ham and Do Woo-pung who had nodded spoke again.
“Yes, it was no ordinary restriction. Not content with inducing Severed Meridian Disease, they used their skills to make it impossible for him to leave the Shiwan Mountains… I suspect they secretly researched sorcery related to that. It could also be that they received help from the Darkness-Craving Blood Clan.”
“I don’t know if it was because they couldn’t bring themselves to kill someone who was their master, or because he was troublesome to deal with, but anyway, they seem to have imprisoned him in some kind of barrier-like trap, and in preparation for the off chance he survived and escaped, they used such strange sorcery. I didn’t ask further because he said he would tell the detailed contents after meeting Sect Master Cheol.”
“Hmm, understood. Are the other people over there?”
When Cheol Ryu-heun gestured toward a distant direction, Byeok Woo-ham’s expression sank heavily.
“Yes. The personnel who received rescue are waiting at the location Sect Master Cheol mentioned. But… there are quite a number who have been struck by venomous creatures.”
“It’s alright. Since I’m here now, please don’t worry any further.”
No sooner had Cheol Ryu-heun’s words ended than Do Woo-pung spoke with earnest eyes.
“Sect Master Cheol, is there perhaps no way to return to normal those who have been bitten by the Darkness-Craving Blood Clan? The truth is, my son unfortunately…”
His son, meaning Crow Pattern Sword Hall’s greatest talent Flash Blade Sword Do Jwa-baek.
Azure Mark Sword Seol Pan-gyo, a guest of White Peak Sword Sect, asked with a somewhat surprised expression.
“Pardon? Was he also drained of blood?”
Do Jwa-baek, who was the same age as himself, was a rising master whose name was known throughout not only the Guangdong region but also Guangxi, Guizhou, Hunan, Jiangxi, Fujian and other areas.
Some even evaluated that his talent was clearly in the upper tier among the future talents of the southern Unorthodox Jianghu.
So he couldn’t possibly not know.
Do Woo-pung, whose eyes met Seol Pan-gyo’s gaze, answered quietly.
“That’s right. While getting lost because of the formations spread here and there and becoming scattered… he became a slave of the Darkness-Craving Blood Clan. When I met my son again, I also came face to face with someone called Heuk Ma-yung. He was truly terrifying. If Shin So-sul hadn’t appeared and helped just in time, I wouldn’t have been able to knock him unconscious and extract him. Regrettably, I couldn’t save my younger brother, though… Even thinking about it again, it’s dizzying.”
Byeok Woo-ham beside him carefully spoke up.
“Sect Master Cheol, the Gate Master Dan Li of Righteous Sea Martial Gate was also drained of blood by the Darkness-Craving Blood Clan. Currently, those who have been bitten are asleep as if unconscious due to the power of a talisman Shin So-sul gave them. According to old records, an ancient secret technique exists that can sever the subordinate connection with the Darkness-Craving Blood Clan, but do you perhaps know about that?”
“As you know, that essence has been lost for far too long.”
The moment the two people were inwardly disappointed, Cheol Ryu-heun continued.
“However, I have a method to restore them.”
“…!”
“Also, he too possesses some kind of solution. Of course, it would be a quite different method from mine.”
Cheol Ryu-heun’s gaze rested on Gun Mu-ak.
“I never said such a thing.”
“Don’t you know my intuition?”
“…”
“The Heavenly Demon Cult’s capabilities surpass the Darkness-Craving Blood Clan. That’s why a tremendously formidable demonic person like you has been born in this generation. Naturally, there’s no way a solution regarding that wouldn’t exist.”
“You’re right.”
“As expected, befitting a talent who is the second coming of the Heavenly Demon, I like your straightforwardness. Obviously, it would be a method using that sword’s power.”
“Indeed… This Demon God Sword possesses the mystical application of influencing soul energy. Do I need to explain further?”
“No, that’s enough. Now that I know it can help, that’s sufficient. Now, shall we move. Let’s continue the remaining conversation over there.”
When Cheol Ryu-heun stepped forward, Namgung Sang-rin and Hae Su-yeon asked together.
“By the way… what kind of place is it?”
“Could it be a place arranged by ancient people?”
“It is a mystical zone that the Martial Immortal created while obtaining enlightenment at this place long ago.”
At Cheol Ryu-heun’s indifferent answer, Namgung Sang-rin and Hae Su-yeon’s eyes went round.
“Pardon?”
“Ah! So that’s why…”
Everyone finally realized.
How he knew so well about this Ten Directions Ghost Road Lost Soul Formation.
“It’s a place of providential opportunity that will elevate my martial prowess level.”
Having said that, Cheol Ryu-heun muttered inwardly.
‘Also a place where I might obtain clues about some unknown dream.’
* * *
A strange being in long black clothes was visible in the dark forest.
A figure of nine cheok height with gray-white pupils and pale skin.
It was Blood-Holding Fighting Ghost Tae-pa, one of the Three Spirits and subordinates of Bat Demon Great King Heuk Ma-yung.
His entire body overflowed with fierce killing intent and Fighting spirit.
The reason was simple.
It was because competitive spirit toward Hegemon of Poison Paramount Meng Wang of Southern Embrace Poison Palace, whom he had just observed, had surged up.
‘Keut, if only it weren’t for the observation…’
While hiding and watching him, his hands had itched wanting to fight.
But the report about his appearance was the urgent priority, so he endured and endured again.
There was also another reason for that.
Meng Wang’s outstanding martial force, and Southern Embrace Poison Palace’s elite unit.
It was because he had heard the report from his subordinate that movement of a group presumed to be his subordinate personnel had been discovered within the Shiwan Mountains currently.
He had suppressed his competitive spirit because he would be in trouble if he picked a fight with him and time dragged on and he ended up being surrounded.
‘Had I known it would be like this, I should have brought elite troops too…’
At that moment, a large shadow suddenly appeared beside him.
A black-clothed man of eight cheok height in whom one couldn’t feel any human vitality.
It was Tae-ryak, a relative of Blood-Holding Fighting Ghost Tae-pa and a high-ranking master called Dense-Blood Ghost Shadow.
“Did you scout?”
“Yes.”
“How was it?”
“Groups dealing with the venomous creatures we deployed were confirmed in various places. It’s definitely Southern Embrace Poison Palace’s forces.”
“Hmm, a troublesome opponent has entered the mountain.”
“Having experienced him briefly earlier… he was truly tremendous.”
“I once heard before. That Elephant Skin Great Iron Bone is comparable to Conjoined Blood Iron Plate Body…”
“Did he come because he was also drawn by the Divine Martial Sword rumor?”
“We’ll have to find out. First, the report. After that, we’ll move upon receiving the Great King’s orders.”
“Understood.”
“Before leaving, release the venomous creatures from the nearby secret caves.”
“Pardon? B-but they can’t be controlled yet…”
“Keukuk, Meng Wang can’t be controlled either. So release equally uncontrollable creatures to give a grand welcoming greeting, then we’ll save some face.”
“Hmm… I receive the order. Then I’ll follow after opening the secret caves.”
Thus the two vanished into the darkness like the wind.