Chapter 59: We're Here Too
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Cheol Ryu-heun glanced at Hyeop Mu-geuk and Yeop Hwon beside him and formally introduced Seop Pyo.
“This is the Head-Severing Yama I mentioned.”
Upon hearing that alias, the two finally felt it become real.
Head-Severing Yama.
An assassin who had made killing for a living, yet an honorable knight who had upheld the principle of only punishing evildoers among martial world people.
Feelings were strange as this legendary killer and romantic swordsman of the previous martial world, a giant, appeared here after such a long time.
On the other hand, the sight of him showing respectful attitude toward Cheol Ryu-heun, his junior by far, as if serving an elder was quite puzzling.
It must be because of that cave said to contain ancient fortuitous encounters.
In other words, they wondered if he had obtained some token or divine artifact of a martial artist with tremendously high martial world seniority when he went there.
Previously, Cheol Ryu-heun had returned from the secret place and gathered the sect members to say this.
That his current martial knowledge had reached a level supreme enough to comprehend the essence of all martial arts techniques in the world…
That meant the ancient fortuitous encounters could have been multiple.
Not only related to martial arts, but if he had obtained items symbolizing the identity of famous old martial artists and his seniority had naturally increased, it was somewhat understandable.
There was even a possibility of there being many.
After all, Cheol Ryu-heun had never specified the ancient fortuitous encounter as being just one thing from the start.
That’s why Hyeop Mu-geuk and Yeop Hwon thought there was sufficient possibility.
Though they weren’t sure whether it was even possible for multiple mysterious fortuitous encounters to be arranged in one place.
As if having glimpsed the two’s minds.
Cheol Ryu-heun pinpointed that very point like a ghost.
“As you can see, my seniority is quite high – enough for Head-Severing Yama to speak respectfully. Don’t dig into it. It’s annoying.”
“Yes, Sect Master.”
Having answered in unison, Hyeop Mu-geuk and Yeop Hwon just took it as it was and greeted Seop Pyo with proper courtesy.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Hyeop Mu-geuk of White Peak Sword Sect. I’ve long heard of your lofty reputation. It’s an honor to meet you in person.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Yeop Hwon. Since you’re going out of your way to provide such great help to our sect, I can only be grateful.”
At that, Seop Pyo briefly exchanged a few words with the two, then looked at Cheol Ryu-heun and brought up the main topic.
“Sect Master Cheol, actually about half a shichen ago, I met face to face with the Hall Master of the Dark Hall in the neighboring city. That’s why I came straight here.”
The moment Hyeop Mu-geuk and Yeop Hwon heard that, they were startled.
‘Netherworld Sword Fork Jeo Gyeom!’
With an unexpected figure suddenly being mentioned, a premonition of something unusual invaded their minds.
Meanwhile, Cheol Ryu-heun seemed unconcerned.
“Oh, is that so?”
“While gathering information the other day, I heard rumors that he’s a martial artist second only to the Five Supreme Martial Experts of Hunan. Upon actually meeting him, it didn’t seem like an empty assessment. Honestly, the first impression was quite intense.”
No sooner had Seop Pyo finished speaking than Hyeop Mu-geuk posed a question.
“Has the Thousand Snake Gang pulled in even the Dark Hall Master for the purpose of striking our sect?”
Seop Pyo nodded instead of answering and began explaining the events of meeting Jeo Gyeom while disguised as a messenger.
When the not-so-long story ended.
By then, the expressions on Hyeop Mu-geuk and Yeop Hwon’s faces had hardened considerably.
It was a natural reaction.
The sudden involvement of the Dark Hall led by a giant of Hunan Province’s unorthodox martial world – confirming that fact repeatedly had brought on a sense of pressure.
A powerful enemy they had never faced before had appeared.
Wei Ji-am, the Thunder Cloud Sword Duke, who was Sect Master of the Thunder Lightning Sect and one of the Five Supreme Martial Experts of Hunan, had once left such words.
-Though Netherworld Sword Fork is a figure belonging to the unorthodox path, his swordsmanship truly deserves respect. For the enlightenment of martial arts doesn’t distinguish between orthodox and unorthodox, young and old. Therefore, if he continues to advance, before he reaches sixty he may be able to aim for an even higher position than now.
The assessment that Jeo Gyeom’s martial power was second only to the Five Supreme Martial Experts of Hunan was largely due to Thunder Lightning Sect Master Wei Ji-am’s remarks playing a decisive role.
They didn’t know whether the two had perhaps held a private sparring match, but in any case, such an assessment wouldn’t have come about for nothing.
With things reaching this point, it felt like White Snake Head Sword Gul Ma-hun, who had died at Cheol Ryu-heun’s sword, was merely the first hurdle.
Moreover, even Head-Severing Yama emphasized his presence as if to arouse vigilance, heightening the sense of crisis.
But.
Cheol Ryu-heun said nothing.
His face was unreadable as to whether he was uninterested or just pretending.
Reading the mood, Seop Pyo asked quietly.
“Sect Master Cheol, is there perhaps something that comes to mind regarding what I felt at that time?”
He was asking for Cheol Ryu-heun’s opinion about the strange energy and peculiar sound he had detected when facing Jeo Gyeom earlier.
“It’s obvious.”
At Cheol Ryu-heun’s curt reply, Seop Pyo widened his eyes.
“Pardon? You mean you have some certainty…?”
“Yes.”
In an instant, the gazes of Seop Pyo, Yeop Hwon, and Hyeop Mu-geuk concentrated on Cheol Ryu-heun’s mouth.
“A divine weapon.”
Before that indifferent voice that seemed to drive in a nail, the expressions of the three people focusing their gazes wavered.
‘…!’
It was a word they hadn’t thought of at all.
What Cheol Ryu-heun was saying meant that the true nature of that strange energy and peculiar sound was the power of a divine weapon that Jeo Gyeom possessed.
Soon, Seop Pyo wore an expression of incomprehension.
“A divine weapon… His sword is made of black iron. Why do you think so?”
Even though black iron, a type of meteoric iron, was a precious mineral, it was a stretch to readily include it in the category of divine weapons.
Hyeop Mu-geuk and Yeop Hwon also chimed in.
“Sect Master, if that sword really were a divine weapon, rumors would have spread in the world long ago.”
“Yes, that’s right. There have been dozens of martial artists who have exchanged blows with him until now…”
That was indeed the case.
Jeo Gyeom had been competing in sparring matches with various orthodox and unorthodox martial artists ever since he made a name for himself around age thirty.
However.
Whether the matches were a hundred exchanges or ten, not a single person who had crossed swords with him had ever stated that they felt a peculiar power like that of a divine weapon.
That’s why the three people were expressing doubt.
Cheol Ryu-heun brought up another unexpected thing.
“When did I say it was a sword?”
“…!”
“I guarantee it’s a divine weapon. Just not a sword.”
Eyes rippling like waves.
What? Not a sword? So you’re saying Jeo Gyeom separately possesses some kind of divine weapon that’s even more valuable than his sword made of black iron?
This was the first they’d heard of it.
If that were true, had he obtained it recently?
Again, Cheol Ryu-heun’s dry voice was heard.
“Most likely, it’s a divine weapon imbued with the divine power of the Nine Nethers.”
It was a statement that only deepened the three’s curiosity.
“The divine power of the Nine Nethers means…?”
The instant Seop Pyo’s words trailed off, Cheol Ryu-heun answered briefly.
“What else? Ghost energy.”
A quiet exclamation followed from Seop Pyo.
“Ah…!”
He seemed to have grasped it roughly.
Yeop Hwon and Hyeop Mu-geuk’s reactions were much the same.
Ghost energy – the so-called energy of wandering spirits roaming the Nine Heavens.
“Because you described it, I could infer it. If someone else had explained it like that, I would have been uncertain too.”
Hearing Cheol Ryu-heun’s words, Seop Pyo quietly nodded.
He understood what he meant.
Energy that could instantly make the chest of an ultra-first-rate assassin who had been controlling bloodlust and handling killing intent from a young age feel unpleasant was, in truth, rare in the world.
The energy of ghosts was a realm of power that could never be cultivated through ordinary martial training.
Unless one was an expert whose sixth sense had been honed to extreme sensitivity like Seop Pyo, it would be difficult to clearly detect the unpleasant stimulation in one’s chest.
For an ordinary martial artist, it would have ended at just a slight creepy feeling.
Anyway, if it was due to a divine weapon with ghost energy attributes, everything was explained.
Earlier, Jeo Gyeom had strongly implanted such an unpleasant feeling without even using internal energy.
‘Right, he definitely seems to possess some kind of divine weapon.’
Seop Pyo was nearly certain as he also raised one small possibility.
“Sect Master Cheol, but isn’t demonic energy also similar to ghost energy? Of course, it’s highly unlikely that he’s a demonic being who has cultivated demonic arts.”
“They’re different.”
“However, as far as I know, demonic energy also delivers strong discomfort to opponents.”
“If you experience it, you’ll know. Demonic energy isn’t just that feeling.”
When Cheol Ryu-heun cut him off decisively, Seop Pyo, Hyeop Mu-geuk, and Yeop Hwon each tilted their heads.
What?
He shouldn’t have any experience exchanging blows with demonic beings…
Cheol Ryu-heun completely ignored them regardless.
“Even demonic beings well-versed in demonic arts find divine weapons imbued with demonic energy difficult to control. That fellow is merely emitting the ghost energy of a divine weapon that resonated with his bloodlust and killing intent.”
“He must have inadvertently released that power slightly after regarding me as a mere messenger. Indeed, seeing how I appeared frightened before his sword, he would have let his guard down.”
“Well, it could also be the opposite.”
“Pardon?”
“If he still can’t properly handle the divine weapon’s power.”
“Wait… That statement also makes sense.”
Simultaneously with Seop Pyo’s words, Hyeop Mu-geuk and Yeop Hwon brightened their eyes in agreement.
“Yes, perhaps that’s why he wants the Ghost Shadow Sword Technique that the Thousand Snake Gang possesses – to strengthen his martial prowess.”
“That’s right. It doesn’t seem like he simply covets it because it’s a martial art manual similar in nature to what he has.”
Seop Pyo speculated about what that divine weapon might be.
“The Dark Hall Master appeared before me carrying only one sword. There were no other weapons. Then doesn’t it have a high probability of being a defensive implement rather than an offensive weapon? For example, a form of armor that can be hidden beneath clothes…”
Yeop Hwon and Hyeop Mu-geuk also agreed with that opinion.
Yet Cheol Ryu-heun’s reaction was.
“Not my concern.”
Entirely disinterested.
Seop Pyo felt his curiosity newly aroused.
Was it his imagination that confidence could be glimpsed in that consistently expressionless attitude?
‘Hmm, what level has he reached after achieving Bone Replacement and Marrow Cleansing…’
The fact that he couldn’t accurately perceive the energy lurking inside Cheol Ryu-heun’s body was still a great mystery.
He wondered if he might be far stronger even than Jeo Gyeom, who had not only martial power second only to the Five Supreme Martial Experts but also some kind of divine weapon.
Anyway, he would be able to see Cheol Ryu-heun’s true power with his own eyes before long.
Just then.
Having stretched, Cheol Ryu-heun looked at Hyeop Mu-geuk and Yeop Hwon beside him.
“You two, don’t forget what I said yesterday.”
Immediately after, the two people’s eyes transformed.
As if newly steeling the fighting spirit and battle will in their hearts.
-It’s just an occasion to gauge one’s personal martial level, nothing more and nothing less.
Faint smiles formed at the mouths of the two who had recalled those words.
That’s right, you’re not the only ones.
We’re here too.
An outstanding candidate with the potential to challenge the lofty status of the Five Supreme Martial Experts of Hunan.
New Sect Master Cheol Ryu-heun, who had transformed into an expert in a short period as if reborn.
“I’m sleepy. Now hand over the report and be on your way.”
When Cheol Ryu-heun yawned and gestured, Seop Pyo handed over the paper with the information he’d obtained written on it, then stood up.
“Sect Master Cheol, if by any chance you face a great crisis, I will intervene and open an escape route for you. Of course I won’t wield a sword, but that much…”
“That won’t happen.”
“But…”
“Surveillance alone is enough. The rest is my share.”
“Hmm… Yes, understood. Then I’ll keep watch on the enemy’s movements and visit again around the hour of hai (9-11 PM) tomorrow.”
Just as Seop Pyo turned his back and took a step.
“Wait.”
Cheol Ryu-heun’s voice caught his ankle.
“What is it?”
“Here, this. You should pick up the coins on the floor.”
“…”
“Oh, too few?”
Then he tossed an entire coin pouch onto the floor.
“Go buy yourself plenty to eat.”
“…”
“And don’t steal other people’s dog food.”
Gah, I told you it’s not dog food! It just looks ugly because it got all mixed up! Dog-like… Want to see me really dance like a dog with my sword?