Chapter 276: Chapter 276

Elder Bang was looking around with a strange expression.

Since early morning, Zhuge Yeon and Namgung So-hye had been warming up and devoting themselves to training.

Watching them from a distance, he realized one fact.

‘Their level is different from when I saw them a few years ago.’

It was the case for Zhuge Yeon as well, but Namgung So-hye’s skills in particular had changed noticeably.

To the point that she had already surpassed the first-rate and reached the peak realm.

Although he already knew well that her talent was great, he could not hide his surprise at her growth, which was greater than expected.

Perhaps because Zhuge Yeon was also gritting his teeth to face Namgung So-hye, his skills had been improving by leaps and bounds recently.

Among the young generation, there would be only a few who could face her.

‘What on earth…’

He let out a hollow laugh.

Come to think of it, Namgung Cheon’s momentum had also changed a lot.

Elder Bang turned his head to look at the person he thought was the culprit of this entire situation.

He saw Dan Woo-hyun standing in front of the pond, feeding the carps he had caught.

Except for being tall and handsome, he was a man with no notable characteristics.

Even his martial arts were so high that one could not know unless they actually clashed with him, as not even a shred of momentum could be felt from him.

It meant he looked very ordinary on the outside.

A skill that subdued Elder Bang, who was called one of the Five Emperors of the World, in just a single move.

Furthermore, based on what he had observed over the past few days, even that Sa Do-hak seemed to yield to him, so he wondered if he was the practically strongest person under heaven.

‘For such a person to not even have his name known…’

No matter how many nameless hidden experts there were in the Central Plains, none of their movements or trends could escape the eyes of the Beggars’ Sect.

Because there was no place in the world without beggars.

‘But, no matter how much I investigate, nothing comes up…’

Yet, only Dan Woo-hyun had escaped the eyes of the Beggars’ Sect. No matter how much background check they did, nothing came out, which was only frustrating from Elder Bang’s perspective.

“Hey, move aside a bit!”

Just then, a sharp voice was heard.

Glancing to the side, he saw Jang Sam-tae holding a broom.

Without realizing it, Elder Bang flinched and stepped aside.

Then, Jang Sam-tae muttered as he slowly swept the yard.

“I know exactly what you are thinking. But do not mess with our manor lord. Lest trouble breaks out for nothing.”

“Ugh… Do you know? Who that man is?”

“Of course I know, very well indeed.”

Elder Bang’s eyes shone brightly.

The human Dan Woo-hyun, whom even Namgung Cheon, not to mention Sa Do-hak, had shook their heads at.

Because it was an opportunity to grasp his identity.

Elder Bang sneakily approached Jang Sam-tae.

“Right, tell me what you know.”

“For free?”

Jang Sam-tae rubbed his fingers together.

Elder Bang frowned at the obvious demand for money. To think there was a guy trying to rip off a beggar.

“If you don’t have any, then forget it.”

“I have it, I do. Here, will this do?”

Elder Bang hurriedly approached and took out two taels of silver. It was a sum like a thousand pieces of gold that he had earned by begging to use as travel expenses on his way here, and it was his entire fortune.

“Is this all?”

“Geez, my good man. This old man is a beggar. How could a beggar have money?”

“Hmph, that is true.”

As Jang Sam-tae nodded with an understanding look, Elder Bang closed the distance to him even further and asked.

“So, who is he? What kind of person is he?”

“Well, you see?”

“Yes!”

Jang Sam-tae glanced at Dan Woo-hyun. Seeing how he was completely focused on feeding the fish without paying any attention to this side, he smirked.

Then, he muttered toward Elder Bang.

“He is a mummy.”

“…What?”

“I mean, a thousand-year-old mummy, a mummy.”

Having finished speaking, Jang Sam-tae wore a comfortable expression. He looked relieved, as if he had finally unburdened a long-cherished secret.

Soon, as he was about to sweep the yard again and leave the spot, Elder Bang’s trembling hand grabbed Jang Sam-tae’s head.

“You… follow me for a second.”

* * *

Jang Sam-tae, who had been beaten until he wailed, knelt down while shedding tears.

Raising both of his hands high, he looked like a child receiving punishment.

People passing by glanced at him, but since it was nothing unusual, they did not pay any attention.

A gasp of astonishment erupted from among the three old men sitting in front of him.

“Is that true!?”

The one who shouted in surprise was none other than Elder Bang.

His face was filled with disbelief.

“Did he really kill Murong Hyeok-mun?”

“Indeed.”

“Sigh…”

While letting out a sigh of relief, Elder Bang could not hide his complicated inner feelings.

Although he could guess to some extent the reason why the Murong Family and the Namgung Family were at odds, he thought that given Namgung Cheon’s personality, he would not kill Murong Hyeok-mun.

Because there was an unbreakable bond between the two to that extent.

However, seeing Namgung Cheon nod his head, it did not seem to be a lie.

“The body?”

“Burned it.”

A sigh mixed with worry about whether to believe this or not came out of Elder Bang’s mouth.

‘How much time and money went into subduing Murong Hyeok-mun…’

Because he was no different from a disgrace to the orthodox Martial World, an enormous amount of money and time had been poured into subduing him.

This was the same for both the Martial Alliance and the Cheondo Association.

Under such circumstances, Murong Hyeok-mun was subdued without anyone knowing, and they could not even find the body, so it was already perplexing how to explain this.

“So, you may drop the matter of Hyeok-mun… his affair.”

“Sigh… I understand. I shall convey it as such.”

He looked very reluctant, but he nodded as if he had no choice.

In any case, the guy’s death would be helpful to the Martial Alliance, not harmful.

Elder Bang caught his breath and looked at Zhuge Un.

It was to ask about the issue of the unorthodox path now.

However, as if reading the entire situation, a cold voice rang out before Elder Bang could even open his mouth.

“Do not bring the affairs of Martial World here.”

The three men’s heads turned naturally.

Standing there was Dan Woo-hyun, who had appeared at some unknown point.

“Ahem! I only wish to hear your opinion.”

“It seems the Martial Alliance doesn’t even have a brain to think.”

Elder Bang wore an expression of having his point hit home.

“No matter how this Martial World flows, we have no interest. So do not ask, nor should you plead.”

“Ahem! Come to think of it, isn’t this place also a Martial World family?”

The Hunan Dan Family was already so famous that there was no one in Yueyang who did not know of it.

Since not only rogue cultivators but even martial artists would be startled upon hearing the name of the Hunan Dan Family, it was already no different from a Martial World family.

Moreover, even such a rumor had been circulating recently.

The Number One Family of Hunan.

The Hunan Dan Family was rising so rapidly that it could not be hidden even if they wanted to.

Although the Martial Alliance and the Cheondo Association were not paying attention right now due to major incidents breaking out one after another, their eyes and ears might soon turn toward the Hunan Dan Family.

“Whether it is a family or a manor, I don’t care about such things. Do not bring useless problems and leave this place alone. Unless you really want to be completely turned upside down.”

The one who spoke this time was not Dan Woo-hyun, but Sa Do-hak.

The sincerity contained in those words was truly like a dagger.

As if to prove his sincerity, his dark red demonic energy spread in all directions.

“Ahem…”

Elder Bang groaned.

He had temporarily forgotten about Sa Do-hak’s existence.

The Sa Do-hak he knew was a demon who always wore killing intent and emitted demonic energy.

But since he behaved no differently from an ordinary old man here, he had unconsciously forgotten the past him.

‘Wolf King Ma Jang-gang, Zhuge Yeon and Namgung So-hye… Small Double Blades Gwon Mu-jin…’

A power that could chew up and swallow most small-to-medium sects just by stepping forward.

But the bigger problem was Zhuge Un’s brain, Sword Emperor Namgung Cheon, and Sa Do-hak who was called the Demonic Emperor, along with Dan Woo-hyun who was the focal point among them.

Since it was a force that neither the Martial Alliance nor the Cheondo Association could ever defeat even in a head-on clash, Elder Bang broke into a cold sweat and raised both hands.

“Alright, alright! I was wrong. I won’t bring Martial World affairs here. Will that do?”

“Hoho, I would only be grateful if you do so.”

Namgung Cheon chuckled and nodded. Just like Sa Do-hak, he did not seem to want to keep getting involved in Martial World.

‘What on earth is his identity…’

Even while putting on a forced smile, Elder Bang pondered over Dan Woo-hyun’s identity.

To gather such giants in one place was already absurd, yet he ruled over them and made them his allies.

Sa Do-hak’s and Namgung Cheon’s eyes were filled with trust toward Dan Woo-hyun.

Especially those two.

Elder Bang resolved to return quickly and investigate Dan Woo-hyun a bit more deeply.

* * *

Sitting alone in the training ground, Gwon Mu-jin wiped away his dripping sweat and caught his breath.

Although he pushed himself so harshly that if Namgung So-hye trained for two hours, he would train for over four, lately his body and mind seemed to act separately.

“Damn it…”

He grimaced and gnashed his teeth.

It would have been better if he didn’t know at all.

The death of Jeok Museong, who was called the supreme ruler of the Unorthodox Path, shook Gwon Mu-jin greatly.

Although he did not follow the Martial Emperor Castle now, his feelings toward Jeok Museong, whom he had admired since childhood, had not disappeared.

Because Gwon Mu-jin had always chased after his back.

‘Just which bastards…!’

He purposely did not look into the details.

Because he knew it was meaningless to find out now. Furthermore, since he had entrusted his life to Dan Woo-hyun, Jeok Museong’s death was nothing more than the passing of someone he had once admired.

Even so, what on earth was the reason why that matter would not leave his mind?

“They say the mind of the one holding the sword seeps into it.”

Startled by the voice he heard, Gwon Mu-jin turned his gaze.

He saw Dan Woo-hyun, who had been standing there since who knew when.

“My… Lord…”

“You seem perturbed.”

Dan Woo-hyun held a wooden sword in his hand and swung it. Although it was a light thrusting motion, goosebumps rose all over his body even at the faint sound of cutting the wind.

“Were you watching?”

“Only for a moment. But you looked quite complicated.”

“Distracting thoughts were mixed in.”

Dan Woo-hyun nodded slightly.

Since Dan Woo-hyun had already grasped that much and more, Gwon Mu-jin answered without a shred of a lie.

“Would you like to try a bout?”

Before he knew it, Dan Woo-hyun stood in the middle of the training ground. Even though he held a wooden sword rather than a real one, Gwon Mu-jin felt as if he was looking at an absolute, insurmountable wall.

He swallowed hard without realizing it.

An opportunity to swing a sword at none other than Dan Woo-hyun.

However, standing to face him was impossible unless one possessed extraordinary courage.

For even though he was not emitting any aura, Dan Woo-hyun’s fighting spirit naturally suppressed the opponent’s momentum and crushed their will.

Gwon Mu-jin’s hands trembled.

Yet he slowly gripped his sword with both hands.

His mind went blank, and his gaze fixed on Dan Woo-hyun before him.

The one who would lead him higher.

It was a golden opportunity to see how far his skills could reach against him.

“Please… guide me.”

“What guidance… If you do not want to die, come with the resolve to kill.”

At those words, Gwon Mu-jin gritted his teeth.

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