Chapter 65: The Right to Choose

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“Sect Master! What happened?”

“You’re bleeding from the corner of your mouth right now…!”

When Yeop Hwon and Hyeop Mu-geuk sprang to their feet and spoke with concern, Cheol Ryu-heun completely erased his expression and spoke as if it were nothing.

“I’m fine. It’s just a light internal injury.”

Hah… Is he really fine?

Why did he suddenly suffer an internal injury?

Just as the two wore puzzled expressions, Cheol Ryu-heun approached them and muttered indifferently.

“I circulated my vital energy rather intensely, so I’m a bit tired.”

Hyeop Mu-geuk repeatedly cast a worried glance.

“Sect Master, please perform energy circulation healing first.”

Cheol Ryu-heun’s disinterested reply followed.

“I’m already doing it.”

Sure enough, haze rose around his body and disappeared in the blink of an eye.

Having discovered that, Hyeop Mu-geuk and Yeop Hwon were inwardly amazed.

‘He really is remarkable.’

Just like energy circulation meditation, it seemed there was no need to assume a meditation posture like sitting cross-legged for energy circulation healing either.

“Done.”

When Cheol Ryu-heun wiped his mouth and spoke as if he was finished, Hyeop Mu-geuk’s eyes went wide.

“Huh? Already…!”

“I said it’s a light internal injury. A martial artist who wastes time on such a thing doesn’t deserve the name.”

“Ah…”

Hyeop Mu-geuk gave up on understanding with low admiration.

After all, from when he overcame being a vegetable, he had been showing off that he was an existence beyond the bounds of common sense.

Yeah, just accept it.

No matter how much he thought about it complicatedly, there was virtually nothing he could fathom with his own head anyway.

Yeop Hwon, standing beside him, thought much the same.

‘Anyway, it’s a relief it’s just a light internal injury. If his honored body were harmed ahead of tomorrow’s important battle, it would be quite troublesome.’

At that moment, Cheol Ryu-heun looked at Hyeop Mu-geuk’s face with a chin gesture.

“How’s your physical condition?”

“Compared to before, the sensations throughout my body have become sharp as if a knife has been honed. Furthermore, I felt that the circulation of vital energy has also become faster.”

Immediately after, Yeop Hwon also smiled and added.

“In my current physical state, I feel I should be able to adequately operate the profound energy circulation needed to master the three ultimate techniques.”

“Good, that’s good. Stage one is done.”

Simultaneously with Cheol Ryu-heun’s words, both their expressions changed.

‘Stage one?’

It was always like this.

Ominous premonitions in the head were bound to come true.

“Starting stage two.”

“…!”

The two flinched.

But Cheol Ryu-heun paid no heed and continued speaking.

“This time, among the body conditioning method postures, we’ll do hip raises, squat thrusts, squat jump spins, squat jumps, and arm-motion trunk supports, one hundred times each.”

Well, if there was anything fortunate about it.

The whole-body twists they hated worse than death were left out.

However… Those postures also boasted no easy level of difficulty, and it was five hundred times in total.

Relatively easy ones like jumping jacks, side stretches, and trunk extensions were all excluded.

Yeop Hwon and Hyeop Mu-geuk were on the verge of tears.

They had to go fight the enemy tomorrow, but before that, they’d end up collapsing from exhaustion first.

Cheol Ryu-heun shrugged lightly and said.

“What are you getting flustered about? Remember what I said at dawn? That you’ll feel the effects before the day is over. Look at the sky. It’s bright. There’s still a while before sunset.”

The two had no choice but to spread apart and loosen their whole-body muscles.

Seeing that there were stage distinctions, it appeared that the ultimate goal for today – maximizing the energy sense bestowed by the Seven Energy Alignment and Five Energy Alignment – would only be completed after finishing this training.

Soon, Cheol Ryu-heun let out meaningful words.

“All of this is the entry gate toward that realm – the senses of a superhuman.”

Hm? The senses of a superhuman? Entry gate?

Yeop Hwon and Hyeop Mu-geuk asked with curious expressions.

“Sect Master, what exactly does that mean?”

“Are you saying there’s room for our bodies to improve further later?”

Cheol Ryu-heun only said what he wanted to say, as if hearing with one ear and letting it out the other.

“Operate your internal energy like you did with the whole-body twists in the morning. Begin.”

Thus, Yeop Hwon and Hyeop Mu-geuk assumed the basic position for hip raises while harboring their curiosity.

Snap, swish-

The two lay straight in push-up position and fixed their gazes forward while circulating their vital energy.

Then, with legs together and knees straight, they moved as if pulling both feet inside the prone body while raising their hips as high as possible, then returned to the basic position.

They had to repeat that series of postures countless times.

“One!”

“Two!”

Though it looked easy at first glance, once they passed a certain number of repetitions, from that moment on they would taste a living hell.

One consolation was… The fact that when this arduous training ended, they would reap great fruit.

“Eleven!”

“Twelve!”

Cheol Ryu-heun sat leaning against the tree, quietly watching them, then suddenly spoke gruffly.

“Not raising your hips higher? More, more, more. Knees straight. That’s it.”

* * *

In an inner chamber of a large pavilion in the center of the Dark Hall grounds, three middle-aged men were sitting around a table drinking tea.

Sip… Slurp…

In the heavy silence, only the sound of putting warm tea into their mouths tapped at their ears.

The three, each carrying a sword, were the master contingent representing the Brandished Sword Pavilion, one of the unorthodox powers in this Hunan region.

Among them, a middle-aged man with wolf-like sharp eyes and a gaunt face had an atmosphere that was somehow exceptional.

Brandished Sword Pavilion Master, Mok Geun-geum.

The renowned swordsman in Hunan Province called Fierce Blade due to his aggressive sword momentum that was like a beast baring its teeth – that was him.

To the right of Mok Geun-geum was the middle-aged man who was the pavilion’s second-in-command, Savage Blade Seong Pan, and to the left was the third-in-command Ferocious Blade Jang Yeol – both were also famous for their fierce sword skills.

People sometimes collectively called the three the Brandished Sword Three.

The reason Mok Geun-geum and the others had visited this place was because they had been summoned by Netherworld Sword Fork Jeo Gyeom regarding the secret meeting scheduled for tomorrow.

In fact, the Brandished Sword Pavilion and the Dark Hall had maintained close exchanges for over a decade and formed an almost alliance-like relationship.

So there was nothing new about such a meeting.

However.

Why had he suddenly asked them to come a day early when they were going to see each other tomorrow anyway?

For the Brandished Sword Three, that part was a bit strange.

Mok Geun-geum moistened his throat while muttering internally.

‘Hmm… Is there something to discuss separately about the Thousand Snake Gang matter? I’m somehow nervous.’

At that moment, the door opened left and right along with a faint presence.

Click.

The appearance of the Dark Hall’s owner, Jeo Gyeom.

Mok Geun-geum immediately greeted him with proper courtesy.

“You’ve arrived.”

Seong Pan and Jang Yeol also followed with clasped-hand salutes.

Having taken a seat at the table, Jeo Gyeom swept his stern gaze over the three, then got straight to the point without beating around the bush.

“The reason I’ve hastily arranged this meeting is… To discuss what comes after tomorrow’s secret meeting ends.”

At that, Mok Geun-geum tilted his head.

“Pardon? What might that be?”

Jeo Gyeom once again frankly revealed his intentions.

“After attacking White Peak Sword Sect, I intend to subjugate the Thousand Snake Gang as well.”

At those words, the expressions of Mok Geun-geum and company hardened.

‘…!’

It was something they hadn’t even thought of.

Moreover, it was unexpected that he would handle such a matter so directly.

Reading the room, Mok Geun-geum asked cautiously.

“Hall Master Jeo, so you’re saying you want our pavilion to cooperate afterward… Is that it?”

Jeo Gyeom nodded and spoke again.

“I don’t trust subordinates. Not even my disciple who has inherited the essence of my martial arts.”

“…!”

Mok Geun-geum unknowingly swallowed dryly.

‘He doesn’t trust even Dark Sword Fragrance? Why is he saying such things…’

The voice that followed from Jeo Gyeom brought a strange sense of fear.

“Such as I am, I have now chosen Pavilion Master Mok as a trustworthy partner. What do you think?”

Mok Geun-geum, goosebumps rising all over his body, finally grasped the meaning implied in the other’s words.

It was only one thing.

The free choice is yours, but if you reject this proposal, you cannot preserve your life.

Yes, that was what it meant.

Seong Pan and Jang Yeol also realized the other’s intentions and felt a tension as if their skin was expanding.

In truth, this was a situation where the answer was already decided.

Jeo Gyeom’s words were a threat disguised as a proposal.

If they refused his will here, the Brandished Sword Pavilion would clearly stand at the crossroads of survival and extinction.

They all knew well.

That the owner of the Dark Hall before them was someone who had nothing to gain by needlessly making an enemy…

Before the alias Netherworld Sword Fork, the aliases Fierce Blade, Savage Blade, and Ferocious Blade wielded no power.

Not only was there a large gap in individual martial power, but the power gap between the two forces was also not something that could be narrowed in a short time.

Mok Geun-geum’s wavering gaze.

‘Damn…’

Cold sweat trickled down from his armpits.

He felt as if the place he had thoughtlessly come to had become his grave.

Jeo Gyeom’s scheming was truly impressive.

He intended to crush even those closest to him with force and tame them like servants.

Using this alliance formation as a foundation to achieve his grand ambitions of hegemony harbored in his heart…

The ultimate goal was probably the reorganization of the power structure within Hunan Province centered on the Dark Hall.

The martial world is a world of the strong.

There was only one thing Mok Geun-geum could say.

“I will… Follow your will.”

A faint smile formed at the corner of Jeo Gyeom’s mouth as he nodded.

“Good. Now let us discuss that matter in earnest.”

* * *

An inner chamber of the Thousand Snake Gang.

New Gang Leader Geum Ja-jeom, seated at the square table, read the contents of the letter that had just arrived addressed to him and furrowed his brow.

“Tsk, how impatient.”

The sender of the letter was none other than Youyang’s Magistrate Ju Yu-gang.

At that moment, the door opened quietly and one person stepped in.

It was Vice Gang Leader Snake Heart Sword Du Cheong.

Geum Ja-jeom sent a gesture and spoke with displeasure.

“How much available funds do we have?”

“Ah, I’ll have to check again, but it shouldn’t be very much. Since we’ve already paid White Peak Sword Sect five hundred nyang in silver…”

Hearing Du Cheong’s answer, Geum Ja-jeom wrinkled his brow and let out a meaningful voice.

“Tomorrow, I need you to go to some trouble in my place.”

At that, Du Cheong made a confused face and asked.

“Are you telling me to go to the meeting place?”

“Not that. Magistrate Ju sent a letter saying he wants to visit our gang tomorrow.”

“Pardon? Of all times, tomorrow…”

“Originally I should receive him as the representative, but since we can’t just change the meeting date, you handle the conversation.”

“Hmm… Understood. Then I’ll make up something suitable about the Gang Leader’s absence.”

“Yes, I trust you with this.”

“Don’t worry too much. After satisfying him with wine and women, I’ll use bribes to definitely win him over to our side.”

“If he seems to want more money, tell him to wait just a little longer. Once we raid White Peak Sword Sect soon, the five hundred nyang in silver will naturally be recovered.”

“Yes, Gang Leader. Also… Since the former Gang Leader hasn’t been seen, strange rumors seem to be slowly spreading. For now, I’ve casually mentioned it’s because of illness, but after this meeting ends, I think we should move the alliance personnel as quickly as possible.”

Geum Ja-jeom nodded in agreement with Du Cheong’s words.

“Of course, it’ll all be wrapped up within ten days at most.”

* * *

“Ten days?”

At Ximen Yue’s quiet question while sitting on a rock in the forest, a young swordsman who was a Gale Squad member bowed his head and answered.

“Yes, according to what the locals say, it’s been about that long.”

Ximen Yue, chin propped on his hand, flashed his eyes.

‘He’s liquidated ten major businesses all at once and White Snake Head Sword has been secluded for about ten days? Could he be in closed-door training?’

Meanwhile.

Far from there, atop an old tree standing apart.

Cleverly hidden between the leaf-laden branches, a pair of pupils was watching Ximen Yue over there.

‘Who’s that now?’

The owner of those eyes concealing his presence was none other than Head-Severing Yama Seop Pyo.