Chapter 481: Chapter 481

Gwon Mu-jin stood in front of a grave.

Next to him were Zhuge Yeon, Namgung So-hye, and Muho, who fell into silence as they burned incense to honor him.

It could be considered a long time or a short time.

Looking at the years spent with Ma Jang-gang, there were not that many memories.

However, the pride as a martial artist he had shown, and his willingness to sacrifice himself to protect someone, was something anyone would have to look up to.

“You foolish guy…….”

Gwon Mu-jin frowned.

It had already been several months ago.

However, at the time, they only thought about escaping that place, so they couldn’t even give him a proper funeral and just buried him.

Holding onto a regrettable heart, they were only now giving him a modest funeral, but anger surged within Gwon Mu-jin’s heart.

He was not someone who should have fallen to those guys.

Why hadn’t he trained a little harder?

Why couldn’t he have become a little stronger?

Such a sense of shame rushed in.

“I cannot undo what has happened, but…… I will not let anyone else die from now on.”

Gwon Mu-jin made a vow and poured his drink over the grave.

It was a liquor from the Hoyeon family that Ma Jang-gang usually liked, the best liquor to send him off as he departed.

However, the bitter feeling simply wouldn’t go away.

“By the way, will they be alright?”

“Are you talking about the elders?”

“Yes.”

At that moment, Namgung So-hye glanced to one side with a worried tone. Inside the cave where they were hiding, Sado Hak, Namgung Cheon, and Bi Cheon-ung had realized something and had been in meditation for several days already.

It seemed they had gained enlightenment, but seeing they showed no signs of waking up, needless worries persisted and wouldn’t disappear.

They let out short sighs.

“The elders will be fine. However, we are the problem.”

“The enemies…… were strong, right?”

Zhuge Yeon trembled as she recalled that time.

It was the first time in his life he had encountered such strong enemies. Even those called the Five Emperors could hardly handle them properly, so the fear from that time still hadn’t fully gone away.

They could have died.

Although death was always near for a martial artist, he didn’t want to be miserably killed without even being able to try fighting back.

Shouldn’t they at least try to resist?

With such thoughts, Zhuge Yeon clenched her fists.

“Should we at least train?”

“It’s a good idea, but it seems we don’t have the time for that right now.”

Gwon Mu-jin quickly turned his gaze.

The presence of a person was felt.

It was the sound of someone approaching. Those who realized it stared intently at one spot with tense expressions. The bushes slightly parted, and the presence drew closer, distinctively pounding against their ears.

Soon after, the moment the figure revealed itself.

Zhuge Yeon smiled brightly.

“Father!”

“Yes, you were indeed here.”

The one who appeared was Zhuge Un.

Approaching urgently, he wiped off his cold sweat and caught his breath.

Since quite a long time had passed since he set out alone to grasp the situation and he had not returned, they couldn’t help but be worried, yet Zhuge Un appeared in a much neater state than expected.

“I’m glad to see everyone looks safe.”

Zhuge Un let out a sigh of relief as he looked over them one by one. Seeing that they were going through severe hardships, he had needless worries, but looking at the unharmed kids gave him a sense of relief.

Nodding his head, he glanced at Ma Jang-gang’s grave and sighed once again as he urged them.

“Let’s go inside first.”

* * *

Having entered the cave, Zhuge Un looked around.

Namgung Cheon, Bi Cheon-ung, and Sado Hak were sitting in one place, staring at something. As if they had reached an enlightenment, they were sitting cross-legged and didn’t move an inch.

Perhaps because of that, the others moved to a different spot so as not to disturb them.

It was somewhat narrower than where the three people were, but it was still a decent cavern for several people to stay.

“So, did you gain anything since you returned?”

The first to speak was Jeok Mu-seong.

His expression was somehow full of dissatisfaction. They had seen the same thing along with the five people, but three had gained enlightenment and two had not, so it seemed he wasn’t completely pleased with that.

This was the same for Mu Cheonpung as well.

He looked at Zhuge Un with a sullen expression.

“First of all, nothing is known about the group that attacked us. I checked all kinds of information, but nothing came up.”

“Was there even a point in going out?”

“Haha, of course there was. Now, look at this.”

At the cynical voice, Zhuge Un let out a hearty laugh and took out a piece of paper from his embrace to unfold it. It was a complete map of the Central Plains, marked here and there with a brush.

“What is this?”

Mu Cheonpung sent a peculiar look, not knowing its meaning. Because no matter how much he thought about it, it didn’t seem to mark the locations of treasures.

“These are the locations we recently selected to hide.”

“Is it like a safe house?”

“Yes, exactly.”

There were countless locations inside Zhuge Un’s head. Gunja Island was also one of those places, but considering the distance and that it had already been revealed to people once, he knew they couldn’t hide there for long.

That was why he checked other locations.

“Unidentified people have already been confirmed in these places. They are hiding their bodies as if they are waiting for us.”

“Hmm…… So you’re saying they are eventually chasing us. It really feels like there is something more they want to get from us.”

Saying such words, Jeok Mu-seong glanced at Dan So-mi.

The child who was still staring at one spot with a blank expression. Since she couldn’t even speak properly and it hadn’t changed, she was still the biggest concern.

“Considering this, it wouldn’t be strange to say they are already sitting on top of our heads.”

“It seems so.”

This side didn’t even know who the opponent was.

But the opponent seemed to know them inside out.

“So, in this situation, do you really intend to leave this place?”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

Zhuge Un smiled and nodded his head.

Living as a fugitive meant they couldn’t stay in one place for long. He could already feel that people were secretly gathering towards Gunja Island, and even the residents staying nearby were realizing that there was something inside the cave.

It meant it wouldn’t be strange if they were discovered at any time.

Therefore, they had to leave.

Also for the sake of Dan So-mi’s safety.

“To where?”

“Henan.”

“What?!”

Jeok Mu-seong and Mu Cheonpung were equally startled.

How far was that distance?

No, it wasn’t a matter of distance.

Even if they hid in Henan, the enemies’ pursuit would continue, so that place might become a mess once again.

“If we can’t resolve this ourselves, we must seek help. I’ve already secretly left marks for the Namgung family and Heuk Woo as well.”

With the power the Hunan Dan family currently possessed, it was absolutely impossible to face them. However, breaking a single branch was distinctly different from breaking many.

Just as small strengths combined became a great power, he believed that if the Murim Alliance, the Demonic Cult, and the Evil Faction joined forces to fight them, it would be perfectly possible.

What made this plan shine even more was the five people.

Those who were called the Five Emperors of the World.

Weren’t three of them even gaining another enlightenment and trying to step up another level?

That alone would surely become a great power, and considering they couldn’t live in hiding forever, it was a choice they naturally had to make.

“But…… the opponent too…….”

“They will know.”

Zhuge Un listened to Namgung So-hye’s words and nodded his head seriously. If one person thought of it, it was a matter another person could also easily think of.

Therefore, setting out on the journey itself was a gamble.

They could easily end up with a few people dying.

“Even so, are you going to stay here and wait for the time to die?”

At Zhuge Un’s words, everyone swallowed a groan.

No one wanted to die.

Also, it was the collective opinion of the entire Hunan Dan family that Dan So-mi, at least, had to be saved no matter what.

If there was even a slight possibility, shouldn’t they take the gamble?

As if having made up her mind, Namgung So-hye nodded her head.

Clenching her fists, it seemed she had already firmly made her decision.

“Alright. Let’s move immediately once the grandfathers open their eyes.”

“So-hye…….”

Zhuge Yeon wore an anxious expression.

In fact, the one with the worst feeling was Namgung So-hye. The pressure of having to protect Dan So-mi, and the worry for Dan Woo-hyun who hadn’t even contacted them.

Since all those things were tormenting Namgung So-hye, she was definitely the most anxious and shaken person at present.

And yet she was thinking like that?

Namgung So-hye stared at Dan So-mi for a moment, then looked at Zhuge Yeon and smiled brightly.

“Don’t worry. We will definitely be fine.”

She also knew that it wasn’t a situation where she could make guarantees. Having already experienced the opponents’ strength once, she knew how terrifying they were.

However, she already knew something else too.

‘Young Master Dan…… has fought against people like that and won.’

That was undeniable.

Also, since Dan Woo-hyun was also human, she had a conviction that if Dan Woo-hyun had done it, Namgung So-hye or anyone else could also do it.

Didn’t Namgung Cheon also overcome that helplessness when he lost his arm, and grow even more to become stronger than when he was called the Sword Emperor?

Since a person would adapt, survive, and become stronger in any situation, there was a conviction that the people in this place were the same and would definitely succeed.

Having made up her mind, she nodded her head.

At that same time.

Saaaaak-!

Bizarre energies began to rage.

The momentum slowly surging from deep inside the cave was tremendous. A clear energy and a rough energy repeatedly tangled, clashed, pushed, and pulled each other.

An eerie energy even encompassed the whole thing.

Those who realized something hastily raised their heads and ran toward the place where the energy was felt.

Quickly, and more cautiously than ever.

Soon, the moment they arrived at the deepest part of the cave.

They saw it.

The momentum radiating from the bodies of the three people who were meditating.

Inside the cave where not a single breeze blew, it seemed as if a gust of wind was blowing from the power they were emitting, and that power was also stronger than anything they had felt so far.

That which fiercely swallowed the cave continued to dominate the surroundings, pressuring and crushing them, before slowly subsiding and gradually calming down.

Everyone swallowed their saliva as they watched that sight.

They didn’t know what on earth had happened, so they were even more puzzled and terrified.

Trembling, they swallowed their saliva.

At that same time, as if they had promised, the three people simultaneously flashed their eyes open.

The moment the blue energy lingered in their eyes and then disappeared, the energy that had been strongly felt even after subsiding a moment ago cleanly vanished.

The three people reined in everything, emitting no energy at all. Now, whether it was Jeok Mu-seong or Mu Cheonpung, even if they looked at them, they felt absolutely no presence at all.

Soon, Namgung Cheon, who was the first to open his eyes, began to laugh.

“Hahaha.”

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