Chapter 469: Night Falls Upon Them

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In the midst of Ye Woon-rang’s old face crumpling fiercely, Cheol Ryu-heun spoke with an indifferent face, feigning innocence.

“Ah, who did I think…… Looking closely, it’s un-rang. You Aged so fast I almost didn’t recognize you.”

At those words, Ye Woon-rang bristled again.

‘Keuk! Stop talking nonsense! What do you mean Aged so fast! Is it Because Elder Seop isn’t here that you’re making me the target for your old geezer teasing! What am I, some pheasant instead of a chicken!’

Then upon seeing the faces of Ximen Yue, Na Rae-hyang and others turning bright red while holding back laughter, his fury surged.

Wasn’t that basically saying they agreed with Cheol Ryu-heun’s words?

‘Those…… That’s even more annoying so just laugh out loud!’

Right then, Gongse Dan-yeong, meeting Ye Woon-rang for the first time, murmured with a shocked expression.

“My goodness, to think that person is Guest Retainer Ye…… It’s shocking. Could it be that another Soul has dwelt in the grandfather’s body……”

Hey, girl I’ve never seen before! I can hear you, hear you!

Having raged so inwardly, Ye Woon-rang trembled his whole body.

“Your cultivation is lacking. Getting worked up from a little teasing.”

“Ah…… Th-that’s not it……”

“Hmmm, then shall I call you grandfather from now on?”

At that moment, Ye Woon-rang felt like he was going mad.

‘Hah…… If only I had the strength, I’d want to beat you to death.’

He renewed his resolve again and again.

That he needed to become stronger if only to avoid becoming a target for teasing.

Soon Mun-bin and Gongse Dan-yeong exchanged simple greetings with the group here.

In the midst of that, Ximen Yue received a powerful impression.

The subject was Mun-bin.

The intangible aura saturated in his body deserved praise that even calling it world-class would be insufficient.

It was incomparable to when he had seen him at Ximen Family before……

Of course, Gongse Dan-yeong beside him also gave an exceptionally outstanding feeling.

But Mun-bin’s was on a completely different level.

Yes.

Truly befitting someone who ranks among the strongest within the Unorthodox faction.

Feeling that keenly, Ximen Yue inwardly acknowledged the opponent and murmured.

‘Even if I sparred with him here, I couldn’t guarantee victory. Hut. So I receive stimulation like this again.’

For his part, Mun-bin was also admiring such Ximen Yue.

He had subtly raised his sensory perception to get a read.

On the mysterious energy flowing in Ximen Yue’s current body… Neither orthodox energy nor demonic energy, but something else.

‘Just reading that power tells me. That he’s risen to an even higher place in the meantime…… As expected of someone befitting a rare genius, he’s remarkable.’

The two young men exchanged smiles.

Though neither spoke, it was a smile as if hearts met.

Soon Na Rae-hyang, standing to one side, opened her mouth.

“Sect Master Cheol, What about the outcome……?”

Thereupon Cheol Ryu-heun answered with a bored expression.

“Seeing us come in one piece, you should know.”

“Ah…… Right. It seems you achieved a Great victory.”

Just then, Ink Zither Aged Grandmother Song San and Deviant Eccentric Physician Bo Hwoe appeared.

“Ah, Sect Master Cheol, you’ve come!”

“So the matters there have finally been concluded!”

Cheol Ryu-heun nodded and briefly summarized the series of events within the Shiwan Mountains and the contents about the enemy’s true identity.

After hearing his story, Song-san, Bo-hwoe, Ye Woon-rang and others couldn’t hide the surprise in their eyes.

Everyone had heard today for the first time.

The name Heaven Emperor Society.

Seeing the group’s reaction, Cheol Ryu-heun again said.

“It was as expected. The mastermind who stole the venomous creature research data in the past has been confirmed to be the Heaven Emperor Society. I found that out by digging through Wang-ryu’s memories too.”

“As I thought…… So that day was also his doing?”

At Bo-hwoe’s quiet question, Cheol Ryu-heun shook his head.

“The work at that time was handled by another Four Divine Generals member. It was someone called White Tiger Divine General Yeol-gwal. In hindsight, it’s fortunate. If you had encountered him at that time, you couldn’t be alive like this.”

“Hmmm…… That’s probably not wrong. I too think so. Moreover, Sect Master Cheol has personally faced one of them……”

“Yes, now I know well the power of that group. Wang-ryu’s martial arts level was tremendous.”

Ximen Yue, who had been listening quietly, hurriedly asked.

“Exactly how much was it?”

“Excluding me, the level was difficult to handle.”

At those words, not only Ximen Yue but Na Rae-hyang, Si Yu-min and others were also greatly surprised.

In the midst of that, Song-san, having composed her expression, asked.

“Then even surpassing the one called the youngest Great Prelate in Heavenly Demon Cult history, the Extreme Heaven Demon Emperor……?”

“Yes.”

A brief silence.

Soon, Ximen Yue’s quiet question broke it.

“Even such a one couldn’t overcome the barrier called Sect Master Cheol. Since you’re already so supremely strong that you no longer need any opportunity……”

“Well, I still need opportunity. Just that opportunity arranged in the mortal world is meaningless. While facing that guy, I obtained one opportunity. Though I didn’t explain it separately earlier.”

At those words, everyone’s gazes rested on the Mo Ye Sword.

“Ah, are you referring to that new Sword you obtained?”

At Ximen Yue’s following question, Cheol Ryu-heun kept his words brief.

“There’s something like that. I’ll tell you separately later.”

Ximen Yue nodded and recalled words from before.

What Cheol Ryu-heun had uttered at Murong Family back then……

-I’ve only ever fought with the intent to kill. Never fought with the intent to die. In other words, I haven’t yet met an opponent who required that mindset. Even the Great Prelate I saw before wasn’t someone who required the intent to die. Well, of course I acknowledge he was a formidable opponent. But if true turbulent times begin, a terrifying opponent requiring the intent to die will appear. Nine out of ten. Since that’s the nature of turbulent times. Hence, I too cannot be satisfied with my current level.

Having recalled that, Ximen Yue wore a faint smile.

‘Hut. He said he couldn’t be satisfied…… It’s truly endless advancement. The opponent he’d have to fight with the intent to die… Who that is has now become clear. The head of the Heaven Emperor Society……’

Right then, Cheol Ryu-heun’s indifferent voice cleared away Ximen Yue’s thoughts.

“I plan to stay one night and make a large quantity of transcendent Pills. In the meantime, you all acquire opportunity and raise your martial arts level even higher.”

Having said so, Cheol Ryu-heun’s gaze moved to Song-san and Bo-hwoe.

“The same goes for you two.”

That wasn’t all… He also turned his gaze to Mun-bin and Gongse Dan-yeong.

“You two are no exception either.”

Thereupon the crowd wore puzzled expressions.

Ximen Yue, hastily composing his expression, posed a question.

“But to refine transcendent Pills, my Light-Dark Harmonizing Secret Meridians is needed……”

“It’s fine.”

Cheol Ryu-heun abruptly cut him off and pointed at himself.

“My body can also become a Light-Dark Harmonizing Secret Meridians like yours.”

At the unexpected words, everyone had blank faces.

Looks saying, what does that mean?

What Cheol Ryu-heun said next was even more shocking.

“That’s not all. Whether it’s Nine grades martial Bone, True silent Heavenly Vein, or whatever, my body can do it all. The face of that guy who was astonished When I showed him Diamond Indestructible Body comes to mind. At any rate, it was something I could do from the beginning, But the change in thinking came a bit late. Still, in the end I realized it, so that’s that.”

The crowd all looked at a loss for words.

Whether they did or not, Cheol Ryu-heun just kept saying what he wanted to say.

“Now, that’s enough. As you know, the scope of this secret area is very wide. The place you’ve been staying in is just a part of it. Do you understand What that means? It means there are about a dozen locations within here where previous generation Jianghu Experts’ opportunities are arranged. I’ll let you obtain all of them. Move with the mindset that this is just the beginning and get stronger as fast as possible. Because even bigger and more turbulent fights await us ahead.”

Such he soon gazed at Song-san and Bo-hwi fixedly.

“He too is in the midst of preparing for turbulent times with a spirit of pure sacrifice, didn’t he say?”

The two nodded in place of an answer.

‘He’ referred to their mysterious collaborator, Master Gongsun.

“Hence…… I’m planning to soon meet face to face and talk with him. To join forces and defeat the public enemy called the Heaven Emperor Society.”

* * *

Around the time dusk lay thick on the sky.

Deep in the mountains near Baeju, the Southern Heaven Division’s forces had gathered.

Perhaps because every single one was armed with deadly killing intent.

Even the common sound of grass insects couldn’t be heard.

Only the faint sound of streams flowing somewhere lightly struck the ears.

While all sides were quiet, one man appeared like the wind at the front of the group.

A person in a rain cape with a bamboo hat pushed low.

Though he merely stood still, a stately intangible aura spread out like fierce waves.

It was the Southern Heaven Division’s leader, the Commander.

As if to prove it, all the members showed courteous respect.

Right then, one rain-caped man approached the Commander General’s side.

It was the Second Grand, the highest-ranking officer in the Southern Heaven Division.

“Commander, the assassination Squad going to Baeju is ready.”

He pulled out and unfolded a piece of paper.

It was a kind of sketch marking various private houses in Baeju’s town area.

The Commander, having quietly examined the drawing, soon let out a quiet voice.

“Nothing missing?”

“No. Just in case, I disguised the search team as passersby and had them verify it again. Don’t worry.”

“I see. So that Lee fellow’s information was accurate.”

‘That Lee fellow’ referred to Lee Ji-eon, the civil official of Bongyeong government office who had been killed by him.

He soon climbed onto a boulder on one side and shot out a heavy gaze.

Following that, a voice thickly steeped in murderous intent flowed from between his red lips.

“Probably by now, the bloody battle in the Shiwan Mountains has ended. Now it’s this Division’s turn. Tonight…… Completely erase White Peak Sword Sect from the world. Understood?”

In response, all members answered with wordless nods.

Immediately after, the Commander let out a small sound and commanded.

“Operation commencement is at midnight.”

* * *

Before long, it became midnight.

Under the bright moonlight, several hundred Southern Heaven Division forces crossed between the trees using covert lightness arts.

SAT, SASAT, SAT……

The separate assassination squad had already headed for Baeju earlier.

Soon, when the outline of White Peak Sword Sect appeared up ahead.

CHEOK.

The Commander, who had quietly stopped walking at the lead, sent a hand signal to the rear.

A pre-arranged sign signal.

According to that gesture, the forces split into two groups.

The plan was to leap over the walls on both sides of White Peak Sword Sect’s main gate and infiltrate rapidly.

They seemed to be somehow confident of a quick decisive battle.

Footsteps advancing again, quieter than ants.

By the time the Southern Heaven Division thus reached within arm’s reach of White Peak Sword Sect.

FLASH, FLASH, FLASH……

Suddenly, brilliant light spread from inside.

It was definitely a large quantity of torches.

Even without looking inside, they could tell.

The light that had spread quickly dispelled the thick darkness.

Was it just the torches spreading widely?

From beyond there, terrifying intangible force was being emitted.

It was like a tidal wave.

It was a wave of intangible energy terrifyingly powerful… Incomprehensible considering White Peak Sword Sect’s existing forces.

At that moment, the Commander was seized by an ominous premonition.

‘Could it be that they anticipated this Division’s ambush and prepared!’

Sure enough.

-Welcome.

A spine-chilling transmission of thought struck their ears beneath the night sky.

Immediately after.

PEOLLEOKPEOLLEOK…

With the sound of clothes fluttering, one person alighted as lightly as a feather onto the main gate’s roof.

At the same time, someone’s cry of shock burst out.

“The Blood Demon Cult Leader……!”