Chapter 484: To Where One Belongs

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Suddenly, a scene flashed through Cheol Ryu-heun’s mind.

The Heaven Emperor Society Lord, and Sagong Woon.

It was the last moment when he was the Divine Martial Sword… The moment he met his death.

It still remained vivid in his memory.

The shock of that encounter, which took place on an empty forest path under a sky where fluffy clouds floated…

The moment the Heaven Emperor Society Lord, disguised as a wanderer, appeared, the sense of life in the surroundings completely vanished.

The fresh scenery of a March spring day remained the same, but the occasional whispers of nature abruptly stopped.

The chirping of birds, the sounds of insects, even the sound of wind rustling leaves…

It was the first time he’d experienced such a thing.

It was an atmosphere as if time had suddenly stopped.

Still, Sagong Woon showed his respects and spoke.

-Nice to meet you. I am Sagong Woon, the Sect Master of White Peak Sword Sect.

However, the Heaven Emperor Society Lord paid no attention to Sagong Woon.

-At last, I’ve found you.

Immediately after, the Heaven Emperor Society Lord abruptly drew an iron sword about four feet long and executed a sword strike loaded with terrifying internal power.

From the very beginning, they were no match at all.

However.

Sagong Woon was a gentleman of the Orthodox faction who held a sword.

Like a gallant knight who always encouraged justice and eschewed injustice, he stood against him with courage and spirit.

Since olden times, “Baek” (White) of White Peak Sword Sect signified the Orthodox faction’s value of great fairness and tranquility, while “Ak” (Peak) meant an indomitable spirit that defended justice with sword arts reminiscent of great mountains.

Sagong Woon was a man befitting that, so he did not flee.

Despite suffering internal injuries that shook the energy and blood of his heart meridian in just one exchange…

In the end, before that overwhelming power, Sagong Woon met his end along with the ruthlessly destroyed Divine Martial Sword.

-They said it was a divine sword unprecedented in history, but it’s nothing special.

Cheol Ryu-heun recalled the Heaven Emperor Society Lord’s arrogant words from that time and spoke inwardly as if consoling Sagong Woon’s spirit.

‘Setting aside my own affairs, how wronged you must have felt.’

It was truly a regrettable end.

In truth, Sagong Woon had been slaughtered by the Heaven Emperor Society Lord without knowing any of the circumstances.

If he had realized that the sword he had obtained was the Divine Martial Sword, wouldn’t his sense of injustice at least have been lessened?

Even if the result would have been no different…

Still, from White Peak Sword Sect’s standpoint, the death of Sect Master Sagong Woon Woon had worked out as a blessing in disguise.

Wasn’t it so?

Since Bai Chu himself, who had been the Divine Martial Sword, had reincarnated as the sect’s direct disciple Cheol Ryu-heun and was growing rapidly.

When Sagong Woon had died suddenly, everyone had been greatly dejected.

As they said, everyone had lived feeling as if the light had disappeared and only darkness remained.

It couldn’t be helped.

For White Peak Sword Sect, which had repeatedly declined since thirty years ago and fallen to a sect in name only, Sagong Woon had essentially been their last hope.

Why?

Because he was a famous swordsman produced through the sect’s sword arts after a long time.

Moreover, it wasn’t only his sword skills that were outstanding.

They often say, “True authority and strong leadership come from a leader’s setting an example and possessing moral integrity.”

He was exactly that.

He was the model of an Orthodox faction martial artist who combined talent in martial arts with diligent conduct and an honest, fair character.

No wonder he had earned the sobriquet White Gate Sword Gentleman.

In a word, he was a person of outstanding character free of greed.

Even when he had accidentally discovered the cave where the Divine Martial Sword was stored, he had displayed the spirit and character of a gentleman of integrity, cleanliness, and contentment in poverty.

At that time, he had only taken one sword placed on the platform; he didn’t try to find out more.

He was simply satisfied with obtaining an unusual sword.

If he had been a bit more greedy and meticulously investigated the interior of the cave, he would even have obtained the various spirit medicines that the previous generation’s hegemon, Ascending Heaven Sword Dragon, had arranged within the mechanism device…

-A treasured sword without an owner? I was just worrying about the lack of good swords in our sect, but luck was on my side.

Cheol Ryu-heun recalled the words he had heard Sagong Woon speak at that time and muttered inwardly.

‘White Peak Sword Sect has successfully revived. If just a little more time passes like this, we can establish ourselves as the strongest, greatest martial sect contending for the top spot in this generation. However…’

But that alone would not be enough to appease the wronged spirit of Sagong Woon, who had departed this world in frustration.

Indeed.

Only by killing and eliminating the Heaven Emperor Society Lord, who was quietly hidden somewhere and disturbing this land, would everything be concluded.

‘Wait for me. Your injustice… I will definitely resolve it.’

Gan Jiang’s spiritual divine energy and knowledge had been completely transferred to him.

He had gained a great opportunity.

That’s right.

A new opportunity that the Heaven Emperor Society Lord was completely unaware of…

No, perhaps it would be more correct to express it as a chance accompanied by a tremendous variable.

At that moment, Gan Jiang stepped back and Mo Ye approached.

“Now, receive my power as well. After I give you everything here… I shall ascend to heaven together with him.”

Then she turned her head back and gazed at Gan Jiang.

He met her eyes, smiled gently, and spoke.

“Hoho. We’ve stayed far too long in a place where we shouldn’t stay.”

“Yes. But thanks to that… We were able to pass on this divine energy and knowledge to be used against such evil enemies.”

As soon as those words ended, Mo Ye stood right up close in front of Cheol Ryu-heun.

“Let’s begin.”

“Yes, Elder.”

The moment Cheol Ryu-heun answered, Mo Ye’s entire body emitted a mysterious radiant light.

Flash… Whoooosh… !

The light thus explosively released wrapped around Cheol Ryu-heun’s entire body and was gradually absorbed, just as Gan Jiang’s had been.

Rumble… Rumble rumble… Rumble…!

As the atmosphere vibrated due to the strange phenomenon of light.

Cho-hui’s gaze suddenly turned toward Huan Hou.

Looking at his face, she couldn’t help but recall the past again.

Days when each day was like hell…

-Are you trying to leave this place?

-Yes… Actually, I happened to overhear some talk going around the palace about a marriage arrangement. So I don’t want to create any more uncomfortable situations…

-What! Uncomfortable? What do you find uncomfortable! Are you saying I’m not to your liking! How can I possibly treat you any better! If I’ve done this much, you should at least appreciate this love!

But not everything related to Huan Hou was bad.

There had certainly been good times.

Suddenly, that memory circled in Cho-hui’s mind.

‘Yes, back then… He was a better person than anyone.’

A night when the moonlight was very beautiful.

Right after Cho-hui’s sword dance had ended, Huan Hou had protected her so that the palace staff couldn’t carelessly look down on her, a former courtesan.

-Everyone, open your ears wide and listen. The first person who requested that Cho-hui stay in the palace was my friend Bai Chu, and I specially permitted it by imperial decree. Furthermore, know that her status is by no means below that of civil and military officials. Even though she holds no official position…

And furthermore, he had worked harder than anyone to connect Cho-hui and Bai Chu’s love.

-What are you doing? Go and see him quickly. Flowers and bees should be together.

-Oh…

-It’s a night with beautiful moonlight. Now is your chance to confess. How long are you two going to keep pining for each other?

-Yes!

A smile spread across Cho-hui’s lips as she was immersed in memories.

Barely visible.

In an instant, Huan Hou’s Sound Transmission touched her ears.

Cho-hui shook her head silently in response.

Seeing that, Huan Hou executed lip-to-lip Sound Transmission again.

With that as the last, they exchanged no more words.

About half a Sicheon of time passed since then.

Hiss hiss hiss, hiss hiss hiss…

The light that had been covering Cheol Ryu-heun’s entire body was completely absorbed.

Mo Ye’s transmission was finally finished as well.

Cheol Ryu-heun, as before, opened his eyes and regulated his breathing, then felt the new power that had harmoniously merged with his existing divine energy.

At that moment.

-We shall take our leave now.

Huan Hou, having spoken in a voice like Sound Transmission, took out a small golden gourd bottle from his bosom.

It seemed to be one of the divine artifacts of the Heavenly Realm.

Gan Jiang and Mo Ye bid farewell side by side.

“Please… Achieve your goal. She and I shall now go up to where we rightfully belong.”

“I hope we meet again in that sky someday.”

Cheol Ryu-heun showed his respects and responded in a low voice.

“Yes. I look forward to the day we reunite. Though I don’t know when that will be…”

Then he immediately fixed his gaze on Huan Hou.

“Traitor, I think I’ll be seeing you again soon? Your mission isn’t over yet, anyway.”

For a moment, Huan Hou showed a peculiar smile, then soon responded in a voice like Sound Transmission.

-That timing depends on your achievements. Why don’t you hurry and also attain the remaining enlightenment that will increase your power?

Following that.

Swish… Swish…

Gan Jiang and Mo Ye transformed into hazy smoke and were gently drawn into the gourd bottle, disappearing.

Immediately after.

Swoosh swoosh swoosh swoosh swoosh swoosh… !

Dazzling beams of light poured down from the sky like a waterfall.

-Now do your work. I shall do mine… See you again.

Leaving those words, Huan Hou ascended in an instant along with the massive beam of light and vanished.

Silence descended once more.

The grassy field, as if nothing had ever happened, was steeped in moonlight and darkness.

Cho-hui, who had returned into Divine Wind’s body as Huan Hou disappeared, asked via Sound Transmission.

-What do you plan to do now?

Thereupon, Cheol Ryu-heun shrugged indifferently and spoke.

“Nothing has changed. We must strike the enemy base as originally planned. But before that… You’ll have to run around busily with me for a while.”

-Hoho… Yes, as much as you need.

* * *

Before he knew it, Eul Sa-jeok had fallen into a deep sleep.

However, from a small gap in the wooden case hidden under the bed, several strands of hazy light leaked out.

Hiss… Hisss…

It was the mysterious light emitted by the Spiritual Awakening Stone.

But Eul Sa-jeok, already deep in dreams, could not know this.