Chapter 426: Chapter 426

“Hey, a little while ago…”

“I heard. Blood Heaven… to Hunan, right?”

“I heard the Dan Family blocked that, it’s truly incredible.”

They should have raised a toast to victory.

Starting from Sichuan to Henan, shedding countless amounts of countercurrents and blood, the Orthodox-Demonic Alliance was finally able to enter the deepest part of Blood Heaven, and at the same time, they entered without shedding blood and achieved a perfect victory.

However, whether they were Orthodox or Demonic, no one was happy.

Having lost countless comrades and going through all that process, what was the reason they stood in this place holding their swords?

It was because of their will to definitely collect the price of blood.

Because of that, everyone felt a sense of emptiness.

They should have cut off the enemy general’s head and raised it to celebrate their victory, but the leader of Blood Heaven was nowhere to be seen, and even disappeared as a lonely ghost in the land of Hunan.

The Central Plains was in an uproar.

Not because the Orthodox-Demonic Alliance had reclaimed Henan.

It was because the members of Blood Heaven, who had deceived everyone’s eyes and disappeared, flocked to Hunan and spilled blood, but the Hunan Dan Family slaughtered them without even receiving anyone’s help.

From the perspective of the Orthodox-Demonic Alliance, who was preparing for a fierce battle with them in Henan, it was like a bolt out of the blue, and thanks to that, everyone’s attention was directed not at the Orthodox-Demonic Alliance but at the Hunan Dan Family.

Not a few people gave them a thumbs up.

Considering that the Orthodox and Demonic had allied but still been pushed back by Blood Heaven, it was safe to think that the power the Hunan Dan Family possessed truly surpassed the Orthodox-Demonic Alliance.

The First Family Under Heaven.

Everyone looked up at them and said such words.

Unlike the Namgung Family, which was called the leader of the Eight Great Families, it was the first time a family called the First Under Heaven had appeared.

Thus, many people could not take their eyes off the Hunan Dan Family.

“My, my…”

Namgung Cheon, sitting in the main pavilion where Blood Heaven once was with a mask on, clicked his tongue and shook his head. The entire Orthodox-Demonic Alliance was unsettled.

Although it was undeniable that they had won anyway, since it was a victory that everyone could not comprehend, the future looked dark concerning what those with strong pride would step forward and say.

“What are you thinking so much about something that already happened? How could we have known? That those bastards would run to Hunan.”

Jeok Mu-seong, who had approached at some point, adjusted his mask and said.

It was a situation that he also had not thought of.

Because they had deceived all the intelligence organizations, no one knew. Even the beggars who were said to be scattered all over the Central Plains couldn’t figure it out, and the Hao Clan also hadn’t expected it.

“Well, anyway, a win is a win, isn’t it?”

“Right, right. So don’t worry about it.”

Jeok Mu-seong waved his hand and looked out the window.

The very top of Blood Heaven’s main pavilion.

He captured the scenery visible from there in his eyes.

“Your revenge has flown away across the water…”

“Manor Lord Dan must have taken care of it, so I am not worrying about it, but…”

“Hehehe.”

Namgung Cheon shook his head.

The fact that Yueyang was safe meant that Dan Uhyon had stepped forward in the end. Although it was still unknown who the leader was, even if there was someone, they would never have survived.

Also, even Sa Do-hak was there.

Since it was a place where two mighty people stayed, he didn’t have any worries.

“Then, should we slowly head back?”

Namgung Cheon stood up from his seat.

His eyes, gripping his sword and looking at Jeok Mu-seong, were calm. He had stayed here for quite a while, seemingly shaking off the emotions remaining in his heart.

Jeok Mu-seong nodded his head.

“We should. Before this guy and that guy start talking. Since a few guys already seem to have noticed…”

“Hehehe.”

The two chuckled.

They had been together for a long time.

From Sichuan to here in Henan.

It was not a distance that could be called close, and that period was also quite long. There were those who faintly realized that these two were Namgung Cheon and Jeok Mu-seong.

Although the Namgung Family and the Hwangbo Family were trying to block those rumors as much as possible, they didn’t know how long that would last.

“It seems like you could just stay like this and be the Murim Alliance Leader again, what about you?”

“Hehe, what about you?”

“Well…”

Jeok Mu-seong closed his eyes gently and thought.

The time he lived as the king of the Demonic faction, earning the name of the Five Emperors.

Of course, those days couldn’t be called bad, but there was a loneliness that couldn’t even be compared to when he was at the Hunan Dan Family.

Also, he always had to be careful of the blade under his chin.

Such a life.

It was time to be tired of it now.

Jeok Mu-seong scratched his head roughly and opened his mouth.

“I will just carry dung buckets.”

“Hehehe.”

Namgung Cheon burst into a hearty laugh.

* * *

It was no exaggeration to say that Namgung So-hye, Ma Jang-gang, and Gwon Mu-jin were receiving all the attention.

There must be groups that didn’t look kindly upon them, but it was a situation where not only the Orthodox-Demonic Alliance but even the wandering warriors were now sending awe towards them.

Especially, Namgung So-hye’s reputation was truly incredible.

The ability she showed starting from the Sichuan battle was hard to see as a woman who had just stepped out from being a rising star, and words were even going around that even Dang Munhye and Shaolin’s Muho, who were once on the same line, would no longer be her match.

“Is she really the second coming of the Sword Emperor…?”

“Of course! She was at that level! The Sword Emperor, no, the birth of the Sword Empress!”

“No, she is not at that level of skill right now.”

“The Sword Emperor couldn’t do that at that age either, so there will be no doubt after ten years pass.”

People whispered and looked at Namgung So-hye.

The gazes directed at her, who was waiting for Namgung Cheon in light traveling attire, did not know how to die down.

Gwon Mu-jin and Ma Jang-gang also had their names mentioned, but because of the name of the Namgung Family, the fact that she was a woman, and even her skill that could put her in the ranks of the Top Hundred Masters, they did not reach Namgung So-hye.

Thus, the attention of many people was focused on the figures of the Hunan Dan Family.

“Sigh…”

Namgung So-hye searched for and entered a place where other people couldn’t see her. As the countless gazes pouring down until now suddenly disappeared, only then did her tension seem to release as she sat down.

“Hehe.”

“It seems to be hard for you.”

“Don’t laugh. Because it’s really serious.”

Namgung So-hye grabbed her head.

It was a good thing to receive everyone’s attention on oneself. It meant being that famous, and it was the same as saying one was having an impact.

But there were also embarrassing situations.

“I counted up to one hundred and twelve, are there more?”

“I don’t know!”

“I saw ten more.”

“You people really!”

Namgung So-hye glared at the two men with a sharp expression.

If she received this much attention, something was bound to happen.

With an appearance that was no exaggeration to call an absolute beauty, and an incredible background, suitors trying to obtain her were flocking in.

They were knocking on the door of the Namgung Family inside and out, and those who were rejected started coming to Namgung So-hye to directly bring up marriage proposals.

At first, it was the Hebei Paeng Family, as if it was natural.

Starting with that, they rushed in like a burst dam, so it was a very perplexing situation for Namgung So-hye.

“It’s not like I have some Peach Blossom Sal…”

“I think you do have Peach Blossom Sal, though? With this much, it’s enough to hear such a thing.”

Swish-!

A blade brushed right in front of Gwon Mu-jin’s nose. If he hadn’t stepped back half a step with his instantaneous senses, he would have almost seen blood.

Gwon Mu-jin lifted his hands in fright.

He saw Namgung So-hye’s sharp gaze.

“I-it’s a joke, a joke!”

“Keep it moderate. Because it’s really serious!”

“Ha… haha.”

Gwon Mu-jin laughed awkwardly while breaking into a cold sweat. At one time, he had the upper hand, but now the difference was considerable, and he felt like he couldn’t win even if they clashed.

“Miss Namgung!”

At that time, someone came running while calling Namgung So-hye.

The moment she heard the voice, Namgung So-hye, without even looking, frowned her beautiful eyebrows and raised her hand.

“I don’t need it. Because I have no intention of marrying or anything.”

“What do you mean? This monk has no intention of breaking his vows.”

Surprised by the words she heard, Namgung So-hye turned her head.

There stood Muho, looking blankly.

With her face flushed completely red, she bowed her head.

“I-I’m sorry… I just, without realizing it…”

“Haha, it is fine. Because this monk also knows what has been going on.”

Muho smiled.

Since Muho had also seen the countless men courting Namgung So-hye, he rather comforted her with a pitiful gaze.

“You are going through a lot.”

“I-I’m fine.”

“More importantly, the Gentleman Sword is looking for you. Let us hurry.”

“Ah, yes.”

Namgung So-hye nodded her head and moved, following behind Muho.

When she revealed herself again, all sorts of gazes flocked from here and there, but when Muho sent a fierce glare towards them, their spirits broke without them realizing it.

No matter how much Shaolin had fallen, its prestige had not died.

Even more, Muho was one of the masters who matched Namgung So-hye.

Since he was one of those who were talked about as the talents who would revive Shaolin in the future, just his gaze was enough to break the spirits of many.

“Thank you…”

“Hahaha, it is fine. No… if you feel thankful, you just need to listen to one request of this monk.”

“A request?”

“Yes, I will tell you a little later, so let us go for now.”

At the word request, the three made strange expressions. They wondered if the great Muho would have something to request from another person.

But as soon as they saw the figure of Namgung Cheon, they put those thoughts aside.

“Were you looking for me?”

“Hehe, yes. I am thinking of returning now. Get ready.”

The one who got the most excited at the word ‘returning’ was none other than Namgung So-hye.

Lifting her head abruptly, she headed towards her quarters with a very excited expression. And not even a quarter of an hour had passed before she returned hurriedly packed.

When the men, who originally didn’t have much luggage, arrived a little later, many people quickly noticed that the people of the Dan Family were leaving soon.

People fretting to strike up a conversation were seen everywhere.

However, Namgung Cheon and Jeok Mu-seong turned their backs without even giving them a glance.

At that moment.

“Please wait a moment!”

Muho’s voice grabbed Namgung Cheon’s ankles. He reversed the step he was about to take and turned his head.

“Yes, what is it?”

A benevolent voice was heard.

Looking straight into Muho’s eyes, Namgung Cheon seemed as if he had already guessed what kind of words would come out of his mouth.

Therefore, he also seemed to have the curiosity of what the very first words would be.

Did he realize all that?

Muho glanced at Namgung So-hye once, then knelt down in front of Namgung Cheon.

“Would it not be possible for this monk to go with you as well?”

His voice rang out loudly.

Everyone watching opened their eyes wide in surprise. They seemed unable to believe this situation where Muho, who was called the pride of Shaolin, was kneeling down and asking to be taken to the Hunan Dan Family.

This was the same for Namgung So-hye as well.

Was this what the request was about?

She looked at Namgung Cheon with a bewildered expression.

But Namgung Cheon’s answer was one.

That it was not a matter he could decide.

This was the same for Jeok Mu-seong as well.

“Would it not be possible to take him with you?”

At that time, another voice was heard.

Suddenly, people split in groups, and one monk with a haggard appearance was seen.

Seonjin.

The one who was once called the Fist Saint.

Now that appearance couldn’t be found, but the eyes of Buddha he always showed were still alive, looking straight at Namgung Cheon.

“You mean… the child of Shaolin?”

“Yes, the child’s vessel is too precious for the current Shaolin to embrace. It is fine just until Shaolin regains its former strength again. Would you not be able to teach this child many things?”

He was not trying to break his vows.

Also, he was not trying to abandon Muho.

For the sake of Shaolin.

For the sake of Shaolin, which he didn’t know how many years it would take just to rebuild right now, he was trying to send Muho out into a slightly bigger world.

Did he notice such an intention of Seonjin?

Namgung Cheon gently closed his eyes and sighed.

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