Chapter 485: Moving Again

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Before long, night passed and day gradually brightened.

As dawn broke, the chirping of birds echoed in succession, but Eul Sa-jeok still couldn’t escape from his dreams.

Then his expression suddenly crumpled.

“Ugh… Ugh…”

Perhaps he was having a nightmare, for groaning sounds like muttering leaked through his lips.

Then.

Twitch, tremble…

His body lying on the bed quietly convulsed.

The movements conveyed some kind of painfulness.

That was actually because of a scene in his dream.

In other words, it was a phenomenon of lingering thoughts originating from memory.

Eul Sa-jeok’s expression grew increasingly distorted.

And the series of thrashing intensified further.

“Gah… Hah…”

The substance of the nightmare was none other than his former senior apprentice brother.

Cheol Ryu-heun.

Eul Sa-jeok was dreaming about the time when he had awakened.

-Thwack… Crack… Crunch!

-Ugh, ugh ah… Ugh aaaah!

-Sagoong Woon in the netherworld would be heartbroken. To think he diligently taught someone like you as a disciple.

Though it was just a dream, the same question as at that time flashed through his mind.

What was with that manner of speech?

To call out the master’s name so casually, unlike before…

-I’ve secured the evidence.

The Cheol Ryu-heun in his dream, having said that, walked to the display case and picked something up.

A sculpture the size of a grown man’s head.

He brought it over, expressionlessly lowered his eyes, and spoke.

-Is Sagong Woon’s death also connected to you?

-Guh… Se-senior Brother… There’s some misunder… First… Calm… Down. Please. Ugh…

Eul Sa-jeok spoke in terror like that, but Cheol Ryu-heun pretended not to hear.

Soon after, the toad statue dropped and ruthlessly shattered both shinbones.

-Crunch… Crack… !

-Gyaaaaah…!

“…Aaaaaaah!”

Jolt!

The startled Eul Sa-jeok sat up.

Having opened his eyes, he then realized it was just a dream.

“Gasp, gasp, gasp…”

Cold sweat drenched his face and body as he breathed heavily.

“Damn, again…”

Eul Sa-jeok frowned deeply and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

For him, it was quite agonizing.

The memory he wanted to forget completely kept appearing in his dreams.

Just then.

Click…

The door to the inner chamber opened and a figure appeared.

A middle-aged man boasting a truly dignified bearing like a renowned hegemon of the Jianghu.

It was Pa Ga-wi, the Highest-Ranking Grand General of the Central Heaven Tower under the Heaven Emperor Society.

Seeing him, Eul Sa-jeok hurriedly paid his respects and spoke.

“Welcome.”

Thereupon, Pa Ga-wi gestured in response.

“That’s enough. Sit.”

“Yes.”

“It seems you had that nightmare about him again.”

“Hmm… That’s right. How embarrassing.”

“You don’t need to try to forcibly erase it. That nightmare will naturally disappear going forward.”

“Yes. Once it’s confirmed that Ryu-heun, that bastard… Is dead and gone, only then will this ailment of the heart be healed.”

Having replied in a low voice, Eul Sa-jeok recalled the last moment from that time.

-Take that away.

‘Take that away? You goddamn son of a bitch…! I’m not some piece of luggage, and you dare to spout such words?’

Just as he was inwardly grinding his teeth with eyes flashing.

“Indeed, you’ll heal soon. Hoho. Didn’t I tell you last night?”

Eul Sa-jeok answered with a smile in return.

“Ha… Yes, that’s right.”

While doing so, he briefly recalled the conversation he’d had with him the night before.

-News will arrive in as soon as three or four days.

-Pardon? News?

-The matter I mentioned yesterday. Your new position…

-Ah! Is the Heaven Emperor Society’s force attacking our sect right now?

-That’s right. White Peak Sword Sect will suffer clan extermination tonight. It’s probably on the verge of annihilation by now.

-Ohhh…!

-There are no variables in this matter. We just need to wait for the news.

-I’m truly delighted. A new sect master position…

-And don’t worry about Cheol Ryu-heun. He should already be dead by the strongest force of our Society.

-Ahahaha! I believe without a doubt!

-Focus only on honing the sword arts devised by our Society Lord. Then a path of flowers awaits before you…

-I shall engrave it in my heart.

Eul Sa-jeok believed without a doubt.

That the hateful Cheol Ryu-heun had been annihilated by the Heaven Emperor Society’s strongest force…

‘That’s right! There’s no way for that bastard to survive! Even if he miraculously survives, only despair awaits. Since White Peak Sword Sect must have already been annihilated. Foolish ones, in the end the final victor is me! From now on, I just need to live walking only the flower path! To do that… I must dedicate myself to martial training and earn the Heaven Emperor Society Lord’s trust!’

As if having read that mind, Pa Ga-wi asked.

“Are you eager to meet the Society Lord soon?”

“Hmm… Yes. It would be a lie to say otherwise.”

“When the time comes, the Society Lord will personally come to the Central Heaven Tower. So discard idle thoughts and dig only into sword arts.”

“Understood.”

“Get ready. After eating breakfast, you must go straight to the training chamber. When you get there, personnel who will help with the training process will be waiting.”

“Yes! I’ll train like crazy.”

“Good. I’m looking forward to it.”

Pa Ga-wi left those words and quietly disappeared beyond the door.

Immediately after.

Having sharpened his energy sense to check for presences, Eul Sa-jeok quickly took out the wooden case from under the bed.

‘Looking at his attitude, it seems he doesn’t know this is missing. This stone will certainly bring a new opportunity. If I become that much stronger… Becoming the Heaven Emperor Society Lord’s successor won’t just be an idle dream.’

* * *

A luxurious side pavilion within the grand-scale Central Heaven Tower.

The moment Pa Ga-wi arrived at its main gate, someone’s voice was heard.

“Geand General, a carrier pigeon has arrived from the external Investigation and Detection Unit.”

The one reporting was one of the upper-level executives of the Central Heaven Tower… The Eighth Great General.

Pa Ga-wi, with his hands clasped behind his back, asked calmly.

“What does it say?”

“I believe it would be best for you to read it yourself.”

So saying, the Eighth Great General held out a letter.

Pa Ga-wi’s expression changed as he checked the contents.

A subtly hardened expression.

Following that, a low, heavy voice flowed from between his lips.

“So we’ve finally reached their trail.”

Thereupon, the Eighth Great General beside him carefully responded.

“The authenticity is still uncertain, but I have a good feeling.”

“Yes, I feel the same.”

“They say the background and origins of the official who owns that sword showed no peculiarities or connections to the Grand Marshal. In any case, wouldn’t it be better to cleanly eliminate him this time around?”

“That’s a given… But we should be even more careful. Whether that sword is genuine or fake. For small carelessness can invite disaster.”

“You mean…”

The Eighth Great General, trailing off, seemed to have grasped something.

Soon, Pa Ga-wi’s eyes flashed as he spoke in a heavy voice once more.

“Send an urgent message to the Investigation and Detection Unit immediately. Tell them to wait until you arrive.”

“Ah…”

“Why? Do you think it’s ‘using a cow-slaughtering knife to kill a chicken’?”

“That’s right. It seems a bit excessive.”

“Foolish, tsk tsk.”

“…”

“Not long ago, the Lord sent the strongest force, the Black Tortoise Divine General, to the Shiwan Mountains. Would you call that ‘using a cow-slaughtering knife to kill a chicken’ as well? No. It was a decision that not only left no room for carelessness but also blocked even the slightest possibility of variables occurring. Why do you think the saying ‘tap the stone bridge before crossing’ was created?”

At those words, the Eighth Great General bowed his head with a flustered expression.

“Grand General, my thinking was short-sighted. I’m truly sorry.”

“This matter is the same. I’m trying to completely block any sudden dangers or variable elements in advance.”

“Yes. I understand properly now. I will go and handle it thoroughly and return.”

“Good, with you there will be no aftermath. Select a small number of trustworthy personnel and go.”

“Understood. It will take three days to arrive.”

“Very well, I await your follow-up report.”

The moment Pa Ga-wi’s words ended, the Eighth Great General answered “Yes!” And disappeared with ghost-like movements.

Immediately after.

Clunk… Creak…

Pa Ga-wi, having opened the main gate and entered the side pavilion, passed through the garden while letting out a small sound inwardly.

‘If I wait a little longer, I’ll know. Whether the sword held by the county magistrate of Wuyang is truly Ou Yezi’s Zhanlu Sword or not…’

* * *

Around mid-morning, as the sun began heading toward the middle of the sky.

Ximen Yue, Ye Woon-rang, Mun-bin, Gongse Dan-yeong, Song-san, Bo-hwoe, Na Rae-hyang, and others could not close their mouths in astonishment.

The reason was the number of Transcendent Revival Pills that Cheol Ryu-heun had created.

The pills piled high on one side of the floor easily exceeded several hundred just by rough estimate.

Ximen Yue kept clicking his tongue in amazement, recalling what Cheol Ryu-heun had said yesterday.

-To refine Transcendent Revival Pills, a Light-Dark Harmony Secret Vein like mine is needed…

-It’s fine. My body can also become a Light-Dark Harmony Secret Vein like yours.

-…!

-That’s not all. Whether Nine-Grade Martial Bones, or True Ink Heaven Meridians, or anything… My body can become whatever it needs to. I remember the expression on that bastard’s face when he was struck senseless after I showed the Diamond Indestructible Body. Anyway, it was something I could do from the start, just a bit late in changing my thinking. At least I realized it in the end… That’s what matters.

Looking at the result, he was once again amazed at Cheol Ryu-heun’s unfathomable abilities.

‘How remarkable. No, honestly, at this level… Wouldn’t it be appropriate to describe it as close to omnipotent?’

At that moment, Cheol Ryu-heun asked with an indifferent expression.

“Did you properly obtain the opportunity I taught you about?”

Thereupon, Ximen Yue quickly composed his expression and answered boldly with a bright smile.

“Of course! With this power… I believe it’s comparable to the Namgung young master or Miss Hae.”

“How presumptuous.”

“My apologies, haha. That’s my honest thought. But please rest assured, it’s not arrogance.”

“Well, test your limits after you return to the sect.”

Cheol Ryu-heun now looked at Ye Woon-rang.

“Have you also fully awakened?”

“Yes. Hahaha, can’t you see my expression is bright? It means it was successful.”

“Is that so? I can’t really tell. Whether it’s bright or dark. Maybe because you look too prematurely aged.”

At the same time, Ye Woon-rang inwardly bristled.

‘Damn, here we go again! It has nothing to do with looking old!’

Whether he did or didn’t, Cheol Ryu-heun confirmed the achievements of Mun-bin, Gongse Dan-yeong, Song-san, Bo-hwoe, Na Rae-hyang, and the others, then separately spoke to Ximen Yue and Ye Woon-rang.

“You two go immediately to the sect and wait. I’ll also finish a few remaining matters and head back right away. Above all, we need to sweep away the main enemy bases.”

Ximen Yue and Ye Woon-rang nodded and replied.

“Yes, understood. I will depart immediately with Senior Ye.”

“But… Which enemy base are you planning to strike?”

Cheol Ryu-heun, having mounted Divine Wind’s back, spoke languidly.

“Under the Heaven Emperor Society, the army of the Central Division.”