Chapter 576: Side Story 76

Chapter side_76

Tremble-!

Yuk Cheol-wan, the Cult Leader of the Heaven and Earth Cult, trembled as he held a book in his hand. What was before his eyes was undoubtedly what he had been looking for.

Furthermore, because it was written in his later years, the value of this book would be so great that it could not be converted into money.

However, Yuk Cheol-wan, who was holding the booklet, could not easily conceal his trembling.

-The one who drew his sword against the Martial God was So Guk-ja. He was surely someone who had mastered outstanding martial arts, making quite a name for himself in the Murim. The moment he drew his sword and tried to move a step…… he became a corpse.

-Once again, someone attacked the Martial God. A shadow suddenly popped out of the empty air, and then his body was cut in half, spilling blood and intestines as he plunged to the ground.

-I truly do not know how this guy kills people. There has to be something visible for us to find a way to counter it, but even if I stare until my eyes pop out, people only die, and his sword strikes are not even visible. A guy who takes a dump like a human cannot be seen as human when it comes to his swordplay.

As he turned page after page, strength entered Yuk Cheol-wan’s hand. Even though the booklet in his hand was gradually crumpling, he did not care in the least.

Eventually, in the end, it was torn completely from the middle section, so the contents could no longer be verified.

“What on earth is this-!”

His anger rose to the top of his head and he let out a shriek.

As the voice laden with internal energy echoed through the area, the people nearby covered their ears, lay flat on the ground, and bowed their heads.

“Since…… since it was sent by carrier pigeon, already…….”

“Which bastard on earth……!”

“They say the Vice Leader of the Mahyeong Unit sent it…… but he has already disappeared, and his traces cannot be found.”

Yuk Cheol-wan ground his teeth.

How long had he been waiting for this moment?

From the day he first accidentally obtained the opportunity of the Great Dharma King until now, this very moment was the day he had counted and counted down to.

Yet, what a ridiculous thing had happened.

This was not the content he had anticipated and searched for so desperately.

“What happened…… to the Mahyeong Unit……?”

“They say they were captured and imprisoned by the Demonic Cult.”

“Tch……!”

Yuk Cheol-wan tightly closed his eyes.

Feeling his plans fail one by one, an indescribable sense of emptiness and helplessness rushed over him all at once.

He slumped back in his chair and clutched his head.

How could such a thing happen?

Everything was perfect, and there were no variables to speak of. So why did things go wrong, and how did it end up like this!

Bang!

Yuk Cheol-wan swung his fist with all his might and smashed the table in front of him. As if clearly revealing his current anger, it was shattered into pieces beyond repair and scattered.

“However, Cult Leader…… there is a strange matter.”

“A strange matter?”

At that moment, the man who was reporting carefully opened his mouth. From his perspective of summarizing information and reporting it, there were things that bothered him.

Something too strange to be dismissed as mere coincidence.

“Do you remember the matter concerning Chu Jak-han last time?”

“Yes, how could I not remember that?”

“They say there was a certain party…… when Chu Jak-han was captured at Wudang at that time.”

“A party?”

Yuk Cheol-wan also remembered hearing about it.

Hadn’t Chu Jak-han instigated orthodox sect members to attack Wudang? Since the situation was as such, it was not strange even if there was a certain party.

But was there something off about it?

“Yes, Chu Jak-han caused trouble without the Cult Leader’s command…… but I believe the reason was to capture the spiritual beast called the White Tiger.”

“That is right…….”

Yuk Cheol-wan nodded as if he finally remembered.

Because there were so many other matters, he had completely forgotten about the White Tiger. Come to think of it, was she a girl who led the spiritual beast of the world?

“That party was discovered at Mount Tian, having gone from Wudang to Sichuan… and through Tibet once again.”

“……What?”

“Also, matching the route they traveled…… we found out that they were at Wudang, of course, and Sichuan during the incidents there…… and even Mount Tian at the exact same times.”

“……!?”

Yuk Cheol-wan could not hide his astonishment.

That meant they had been involved in everything that happened from Wudang to Mount Tian. Perhaps even the disappearance of the Divine Maiden and Jin Tae-gong in Sichuan.

The thought occurred to him that perhaps they were the variable he had missed.

Unconsciously, he sprang up from his seat.

“Find out in detail…… what kind of people they are. Also, find where they are right now! You must find them even if you have to mobilize all our cultists!”

“I understand.”

Yuk Cheol-wan ground his teeth.

If all this had happened because of them, he could never leave them alone. Moreover, if they had intervened in the Demonic Cult’s affairs this time, they might possess another scripture.

If they had not only interfered with his work but even stolen the scripture, this was definitely a situation he could not sit by and watch.

* * *

“We are finally going back.”

“Hoho. Indeed. It has taken quite a long time.”

Dan Woo-hyun, who was driving the carriage toward the Central Plains again, engraved the scenery of Qinghai, which they had entered, into his mind. Soon they would leave Qinghai and enter Gansu, which meant the distance to Anhui, their final destination, was gradually shrinking.

Since the end was in sight, everyone’s expression was bright.

Dan So-mi was looking around with a bright face as always, and Namgung Cheon and Sa Do-hak took their time playing baduk inside the swaying carriage.

Jang Sam-tae sat leisurely on the driver’s seat, badgering Jin Tae-gong who was driving the carriage, while Namgung So-hye wiped her sword in a corner of the carriage and glanced at Geum Jiran from time to time.

For some reason, ever since they were at Mount Tian, Geum Jiran had been walking on eggshells and shrinking back as if possessed.

“Are you okay?”

“I-I am perfectly fine! Y-you do not need to worry, w-worry about this Divine Maiden…….”

“Porder?” (Wait, let’s make it “Pardon?”)

Namgung So-hye widened her eyes.

Calling herself the Divine Maiden was the same as before, but her tone was strangely low in self-esteem. The way she could not even look Namgung So-hye straight in the face while speaking was just like someone who could not raise their head before an emperor.

“Excuse me…… did something happen?”

“W-what do you mean by something happening! N-nothing happened to this Divine Maiden. T-there is nothing for the young miss to worry, worry about! Hohoho.”

At that sight, Namgung So-hye narrowed her eyes.

Although she had thought something was strange while coming all the way here, she had not been able to ask because she was busy taking care of Dan So-mi.

But looking at her state, she could guess.

Her narrowed gaze naturally drifted toward Namgung Cheon and Sa Do-hak.

“What…… did you do?”

“Hohoho. What are you talking about? Are you saying this grandfather of yours might have done something strange?”

“So you did do something.”

“Ahem!”

A long sigh escaped from Namgung So-hye’s mouth. Had he spent too much time with Sa Do-hak? Or was it just Namgung Cheon’s hidden nature?

Nagging someone so powerless who knew nothing.

Since the world-renowned Namgung Cheon had pressured her, she was bound to be intimidated.

“I do not know what my grandfather said to you, but do not mind it.”

Instantly, Jin Tae-gong and Geum Jiran flinched and trembled.

For his granddaughter, Namgung So-hye, speaking lightly would not really matter. But if it were anyone other than family, the situation would be different.

Who on earth.

Could help but be intimidated before the world-renowned Sword Emperor?

Even though he spoke with a smile, receiving the intangible pressure and overwhelming momentum like a great mountain head-on was something that could never be taken lightly.

From her and Jin Tae-gong’s perspective, just being intimidated, hanging their heads, and staring at the ground was the most comfortable thing they could do.

It was a situation that someone like Namgung So-hye would never understand in a lifetime.

‘Does this girl even know that?’

Geum Jiran glared at her as if looking at a hateful sister-in-law.

“By the way…… did you find out anything?”

At that, Dan Woo-hyun chuckled as he watched the situation.

If Namgung Cheon had targeted them, the reason was obvious.

Since they were troublemakers in the orthodox Murim, he must have tried to extract information to subjugate them. Since Dan Woo-hyun had also become interested in the Cult Leader who tried to target that ridiculous scripture, this question was long overdue.

“The Cult Leader’s name is Yuk Cheol-wan…… and he seems to have elders and ten guardians around him. Also those called the Four Heavenly Kings. Now, they must have become the Two Heavenly Kings.”

Groaning slightly, Namgung Cheon lightly spoke while looking at the baduk board. Since no one had known detailed information about the Heaven and Earth Cult until now, the words flowing from his mouth could be considered highly valuable information.

“Aren’t the Four Heavenly Kings just a bunch of fools? It did not seem like we need to pay them any mind.”

Hearing the conversation from outside, Jang Sam-tae snorted. From Chu Jak-han, whom he met first, to Jin Tae-gong, all of them were merely at the level of being slightly strong or a bit stronger, so he felt no fear of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Heaven and Earth Cult, who were widely feared in the Central Plains.

So sloppy, so sloppy.

Jang Sam-tae clicked his tongue.

“You should not think of the remaining two…… like me or Chu Jak-han.”

“What? Even so, they cannot be that different.”

Jin Tae-gong chuckled at Jang Sam-tae’s words.

Chu Jak-han was not someone specialized in combat.

Although he had no talent in martial arts, his charming appearance and intellect were the decisive reasons why he became one of the Four Heavenly Kings.

Also, Jin Tae-gong’s case was slightly different.

Although he started as a bodyguard protecting the Divine Maiden, he had decent skills and talent. However, his skills were not enough to rise to the position of the Four Heavenly Kings; Geum Jiran had stubbornly insisted that she could not accept her personal bodyguard being a mere guard, so he obtained the title.

Of course, he grew day by day and had now acquired skills that placed him among the best in the cult, but compared to the other two, it was a drop in the ocean.

“I heard that the remaining two of the Four Heavenly Kings are comparable to the Ten Venerables, hoho.”

“The Ten Venerables? That Ten Venerables?”

Jang Sam-tae shut his mouth in surprise at the term Ten Venerables. In addition, Sa Do-hak’s eyes sparkled with interest, because in this Murim where the Five Emperors had disappeared, the Ten Venerables referred to the strongest existing masters.

“No……. How can the skills of such mad cultists be comparable to the Ten Venerables?”

Jang Sam-tae spoke in a completely disbelieving voice.

In addition, considering Chu Jak-han and Jin Tae-gong, it was an incomprehensible situation, so he wondered if they were talking nonsense.

“This old man cannot believe it either…… but since it was not a situation where they would lie, it must be true. Hohoho.”

Namgung Cheon laughed heartily as he placed down a baduk stone. Even though he heard about the Ten Venerables, he did not care at all, as if he were listening to a story from another world.

“Well, they must be at least that strong to be called conspirators. It is even better if they are a bit stronger.”

“Hohoho. Do you think so too?”

“Of course! Conspirators are supposed to be stronger than those playing in the light!”

Sa Do-hak burst into a hearty laugh.

However, the interest that had dwelled in his eyes had already vanished.

Whether they were the One Hundred Great Masters or the Ten Venerables, the fact that they were strong remained unchanged, but to these three people, they were no different from newborn pups.

Just then, Namgung Cheon smirked and brought up a story he had not revealed until now.

“Ah, and. He claims to be…… the descendant of the Martial God himself.”

“……!?”

“Gasp!”

“Sigh…….”

At Namgung Cheon’s single sentence, everyone could not hide their shock.

Jang Sam-tae on the driver’s seat opened his eyes wide in surprise, and Sa Do-hak, who was about to place a baduk stone, flinched and froze his hand. In addition, Namgung So-hye pinched the bridge of her nose, sighed, and glanced at Dan Woo-hyun.

In an instant, a smile appeared on Dan Woo-hyun’s face, which had been utterly calm.

“How amusing.”

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