Chapter 151: Chapter 151
Soheung Fort.
As one of the three great sects recently dominating Yan’an, it was quite a large sect with a number of disciples exceeding at least two hundred.
Furthermore, a few days ago, they had joined hands with Yan’an’s brothels before the other two sects, taking a step ahead, but…
That was not the case currently.
For some reason, Soheung Fort had remained silent since then.
“If only the Black Tiger Gang and the Ghost Seclusion Sect hadn’t interfered belatedly, we would have taken it easily, yet those bastards came all the way here…”
“Can’t we just fight? They are the ones who recklessly entered the land we occupied first and threw a fit.”
The gatekeeper martial artists guarding the entrance of Soheung Fort grumbled and poured out their complaints.
Just a few days ago when they joined hands with the Wind Moon Pavilion, it seemed as if Soheung Fort would soon have Yan’an in its grasp.
However, for some reason, the Lord of Soheung Fort no longer wanted to make a move.
Because of that, not only was the situation sluggish, but their morale, which had risen to the peak, had also been dampened to some extent.
“The Fort Lord must have his own thoughts.”
“Since he is a person who deliberates deeply.”
When the gatekeeper martial artists recalled the Lord of Soheung Fort and thought in the best possible direction.
Step, step…
They turned their heads at the sound of footsteps they heard.
There was a familiar face there.
“…The Young Sect Leader of the One Flower Sect?”
“Why did that bastard come here?”
“Puhaha, don’t tell me he came to take revenge…”
The expression of the gatekeeper martial artist, who was bursting into laughter and mocking, instantly stiffened and lost his words.
It was because the Daoist robes worn by the three people following him caught his eye.
Red plum blossoms engraved on the white Daoist robes.
In the world, there was only one place where one could wear such Daoist robes.
“…Mount Hua Sect?!”
“This is crazy!”
Around the time they were startled.
“Is this Soheung Fort?”
Cheon-hwi, who stood in front of the gatekeeper martial artists, looked down at them and asked in a low voice.
The gatekeeper martial artists looking at Cheon-hwi gulped and glanced at Ju Go Yul.
Ju Go Yul directly met eyes with them, whom he would have avoided in the past, and opened his mouth.
“Without answering the question right now, what are you staring at like that?”
When Ju Go Yul, who would have trembled while hiding behind in the past, spoke confidently.
‘That bastard!’
‘To have such a triumphant look!’
The gatekeeper martial artists ground their teeth.
Irritation surged at the sight of him acting arrogantly with the Daoists of the Mount Hua Sect backing him up.
When they glared as if they would kill Ju Go Yul with their gazes right away.
Step…
Cheon-hwi took a step forward.
In an instant, the distance narrowed completely, and Cheon-hwi stood right in front of their noses.
“Gasp!”
“…!”
Quite flustered, the two looked up at Cheon-hwi while sweating profusely.
“So is it Soheung Fort? Is it not?”
“T-that’s right.”
“Hmm, so this is Soheung Fort.”
In an instant, Cheon-hwi’s atmosphere completely changed.
At that, the gatekeeper martial artists swallowed hollow breaths and stepped back slightly.
“…F-For what reason has the Mount Hua Sect come… to find our sect?”
“Why do you think I came?”
Cheon-hwi harbored a sneer.
“I came to collect the penalty for messing with our sect’s secular branch.”
With those words, he kicked the gatekeeper martial artist.
Thwack!
With a dull thud, the gatekeeper martial artist flew backwards and crashed into the main gate behind him.
Crash!
The remaining gatekeeper martial artist turned his head.
The kicked gatekeeper martial artist was seen collapsed on the ground under the smashed debris, leaving a vivid footprint on his stomach.
‘A-A master…!’
When he broke out in a cold sweat.
“What is going on!”
“What’s all this commotion!”
People poured out from inside.
Their appearances were all incomparably fierce, and most of them had a scar on their faces, as if intentionally engraved.
Cheon-hwi, who was looking at them, opened his mouth.
“You two handle those bastards.”
This time, rather than stepping up himself, he intended to let the two of them build real combat experience.
‘I can’t do it for them forever.’
Jeok-geom and Seol Ran’s eyes sparkled.
“Understood.”
“Yes.”
The two drew their swords.
Srrrng…
When the sharp blade of the White Lotus Sword was revealed outside, they narrowed their eyes.
“Those guys are…”
“Daoists of the Mount Hua Sect.”
“And…”
Everyone’s gaze was fixed on Ju Go Yul.
“Did that bastard call them here?”
When they were raising their killing intent.
Tap.
Cheon-hwi lightly kicked the ground.
Cheon-hwi, who glided high into the sky, passed them and entered the building.
“Catch that guy!”
At the same time as someone shouted.
Thud…
They stopped in that state.
That was not by their own will but by someone else’s.
At the momentum that suddenly suppressed them, their gazes headed towards the epicenter.
Jeok-geom and Seol Ran were there.
“Where are you trying to go?”
“Your opponents are us.”
The two, who let out low voices, then raised their swords and erupted their momentum.
“These bastards!”
“You’re completely crazy.”
“Do you dare to look down on us!”
Seeing the two blocking them, they tightly gripped their respective weapons and started their attack.
“I will take the left.”
“Understood.”
Seol Ran and Jeok-geom caught their breath.
Their eyes gradually became calm, and those rushing at them lingered in their pupils.
“Slow.”
“They are slow.”
Was it thanks to the test they experienced at the First Plum Blossom Gate?
The two simultaneously moved towards them, who appeared much slower.
Slaaash!
“…Those are Plum Blossom Swordsmen.”
Ju Go Yul blankly stared at the situation.
Jeok-geom and Seol Ran were completely toying with dozens of enemies.
Watching the martial artists flying away like autumn leaves falling in the autumn wind every time the two swung their swords, he unconsciously clutched his chest.
‘If only I had that power…’
If so, he would have solved it himself without the need to ask for help like this.
However, that was a delusion.
‘It’s all because I neglected my martial arts training.’
He bit his lip.
When his father nagged him to train, he played around every day.
Of course, there was a time when he also learned diligently.
However, the moment he saw a rising star who had learned the superior martial arts of another great sect, he let go of everything and just went around playing.
Because he felt that no matter how hard he trained his martial arts, he could not reach the tips of the toes of those who had learned superior martial arts.
But now, he shut his mouth.
What were the martial arts that the Plum Blossom Swordsmen in front of him were displaying right now?
A superior sword art?
It was not that at all.
They were the Profound Heaven Sword Art and the Six Harmonies Sword Art that he also knew well.
The footwork added to that was the same.
It was also the Seven Stars Footwork that he had learned.
Of course, the movements were different.
However, that was the result of how much one had trained the Seven Stars Footwork.
‘…Let’s learn it from the beginning again.’
When Ju Go Yul made a resolution while looking at Jeok-geom and Seol Ran.
“Is it there.”
Cheon-hwi kicked the room door with his foot.
Bang!
Then, the door shattered as it was, and the man inside frowned.
“Who are you?”
Instead of answering his question, Cheon-hwi met eyes with the man.
“Are you the Lord of Soheung Fort?”
“This young bastard has no manners… Gasp!”
The Lord of Soheung Fort, who was about to shout loudly, suddenly saw Cheon-hwi abruptly appear in front of him and was terrified as if he had seen a ghost.
“Just answer the question.”
The subtle momentum contained in his voice.
Following that, his gaze quickly checked even the Daoist robe Cheon-hwi was wearing.
‘Plum blossom…? Dammit!’
The Lord of Soheung Fort immediately confirmed that the person in front of him was not an ordinary figure.
‘I-If I attack, I will die!’
His sixth sense, which had kept him alive in Jianghu for a long time, was giving a major warning.
Telling him to unconditionally listen to his words!
He immediately rubbed his two hands together.
“H-Haha. I am indeed the Lord of Soheung Fort. Great Hero. For what matter have you come to visit Soheung Fort?”
Cheon-hwi found it ridiculous seeing the Lord of Soheung Fort suddenly bowing and smiling.
“Hmm? Weren’t you going to attack?”
“Oh my! How could a lowly person like me attack the Great Hero?”
Cheon-hwi could not help but admire him.
He was the one who gave up the fastest among the people he had seen so far.
And he was declaring that he had no will to fight while lowering himself at the same time.
“You have good sense.”
“H-Haha. I have indeed heard such words often since the past.”
The Lord of Soheung Fort scratched his head and chuckled with a ‘hehe’.
“T-Then, for what matter did the Great Hero visit Soheung Fort…”
“To kill you.”
The Lord of Soheung Fort’s complexion turned completely pale.
“G-Great Hero! What would you do by killing this lowly person? Please just spare my life!”
“…Is what I intended, but I want to think about it for a moment.”
At Cheon-hwi’s words, he bowed his head.
“Oh my goodness! Thank you! Great Hero! To spare this humble person’s life…”
“I didn’t say I would spare you. I just said I would think about it for now.”
Cheon-hwi spoke indifferently and slumped into the chair placed next to him.
And he slightly raised his head and spoke.
“My neck hurts a bit trying to look up.”
“Oh my!”
The Lord of Soheung Fort quickly knelt down.
“This lowly person’s thoughts were truly lacking.”
“It did seem that way.”
‘This young bastard!’
The Lord of Soheung Fort burned with anger inside, but outwardly he harbored a smile on his face.
“H-Haha. Next time I will think a bit more before I act.”
“Will that be possible with that head of yours?”
“I will… try my best.”
‘I am much smarter than you! You bastard who tries to solve everything unconditionally with force!’
When he was inwardly cursing Cheon-hwi.
“I heard you messed with the One Flower Sect?”
“N-No!”
The Lord of Soheung Fort shook his head.
“How could we mess with the secular branch of the Great! Mount Hua Sect?”
“Then why is the One Flower Sect like that?”
“That was a deed done not by us but by the bastards of the Black Tiger Gang and the Ghost Seclusion Sect!”
“Are you sure?”
“I am sure!”
The Lord of Soheung Fort shouted with all his might.
“How can I believe that?”
“Unlike our Soheung Fort, the Black Tiger Gang and the Ghost Seclusion Sect have people backing them up. That is why they are unhesitating even when they mess with the secular branch of the Mount Hua Sect!”
The Lord of Soheung Fort confessed all the information he had obtained when he joined hands with the Wind Moon Pavilion.
“Hmm, they have a backer?”
“That’s right!”
“Where is it?”
“Even this lowly person doesn’t quite…”
At those words, the reliability shot up.
‘This makes things ambiguous.’
Cheon-hwi stroked his chin.
Originally, he had intended to completely exterminate the three sects. But the situation had changed.
If the two sects had a backer, it wouldn’t end just by exterminating them all, would it?
‘Even if I exterminate them, they will put forward another sect and cause a ruckus…’
While he was pondering for a moment, the restless Lord of Soheung Fort entered his field of vision.
At the same time, Cheon-hwi’s smile deepened.
“Don’t you want to get your hands on Yan’an?”
The Lord of Soheung Fort’s eyes widened.
“W-What do you mean?”
“Just answer the question.”
“Of course I want to get my hands on it!”
“Good. Because I am thinking of sweeping out both the Black Tiger Gang and the Ghost Seclusion Sect this time.”
The Lord of Soheung Fort’s eyes became round.
“Y-You mean the Black Tiger Gang and the Ghost Seclusion Sect?”
“Yeah.”
Cheon-hwi fixed his gaze on the Lord of Soheung Fort.
“You can handle the aftermath, right?”
“O-Of course! If you only give me the chance! I will handle it all!”
A smile hung on the Lord of Soheung Fort’s lips.
‘They say a crisis is an opportunity!’
Beaming with a wide smile, he bowed his head repeatedly, fearing that Cheon-hwi might reverse his decision.
“Thank you for giving me this opportunity!”
“Instead, don’t even think about messing with the One Flower Sect, and tell your disciples to leave their weapons behind when walking around. It’s not like they are trying to show off their weapons.”
“Understood!”
The Lord of Soheung Fort nodded his head up and down so hard that his neck almost fell off.
To acquire Yan’an, that much was nothing.
At the time he was happily answering.
“And don’t collect money either.”
“Yes…?”
The Lord of Soheung Fort was flustered by the following words.
What kind of bolt from the blue was that!
“B-But Great Hero. We cannot operate Soheung Fort if we don’t collect money.”
“That is something you will have to figure out yourself. It’s not something I have to do.”
At Cheon-hwi’s irresponsible words, the Lord of Soheung Fort spoke with an expression that had lost its mind.
“G-Great Hero. Still, that is difficu…”
“You can’t? Then it can’t be helped.”
As Cheon-hwi was about to grasp his sword while speaking.
“…It won’t be difficult. Haha. Thinking about it carefully, I think it will be fully possible.”
The Lord of Soheung Fort let out an awkward laugh.
“Right?”
“O-Of course it is p-possible.”
“I thought it would be possible too.”
Cheon-hwi smiled and got up from his seat.
Looking at that sight, the Lord of Soheung Fort felt like shedding tears of blood.
‘This m-malicious bastard!’
However, that wasn’t the end of it.
“And if anything happens to the One Flower Sect, make absolutely sure to help them.”
“…Yes? We are an Unorthodox sect, though.”
“So what?”
When Cheon-hwi asked nonchalantly.
“H-Haha. I-I was just saying. Of course we must help!”
He replied with a liberated expression.
‘I should just quickly pack up Soheung Fort and run away…’
Around the time he, trembling at the maliciousness, came up with his last resort method.
“Oh right, don’t even think about running away.”
Cheon-hwi spoke coldly.
In an instant, the Lord of Soheung Fort, who thought his inner thoughts had been read, was terrified and waved his hands.
“R-Running away, no way! I’ve never even thought of it.”
“Ayy, I believe you too.”
“H-Haha! Thank you, Great Hero, for trusting this lowly person like this.”
“But truly, you never know what will happen in the world. Isn’t that right?”
At the meaningful words, a chill ran down the Lord of Soheung Fort’s back.
“W-What do you mean…”
Cheon-hwi twisted the corners of his lips.
“So just in case, I sprayed some Thousand Li Fragrance (Cheonrihyang) on you.”
Cheon-hwi took out a bottle and shook it.
‘It was an originally empty bottle, though…’
It was an empty bottle he picked up on his way here.
In other words, it was a bluff.
‘He will have no choice but to be fooled.’
If it was the Lord of Soheung Fort right now, he would firmly believe these words.
And as expected.
“…H-Haha. The Great Hero is truly…”
Cold sweat flowed down the Lord of Soheung Fort’s back.
‘Dammit! Where did he get that precious Thousand Li Fragrance to spray here!’
A shadow fell over his face.
Far from running away, he was completely hooked by the nose.
Cheon-hwi, who was looking at him feeling depressed, got up from the chair.
“Then I will be on my way now.”
“…Please go safely. Great Hero.”
Gritting his teeth, he bowed his head.
“Understood. Next time I’ll come to check.”
At the words that he would come next time, the Lord of Soheung Fort was startled and shouted vigorously.
“P-Please don’t worry!”
“Right.”
Soon after, as soon as Cheon-hwi disappeared.
“Uwaaaah!”
The Lord of Soheung Fort, who had lost everything, slumped to the ground and struck it with his two fists.
Even if it was unfair, it was too unfair.
Having lived as a ronin in Jianghu for decades, he established a sect with the money he gathered while risking his life, but what was this mess.
He had become completely penniless.
“That demon-like bastard took what I had gathered my entire life in a single moment…”
“What did you say?”
The Lord of Soheung Fort, who was letting out a lament, slightly raised his head at the voice he heard in his ear.
“Great Hero…?”
“A demon-like bastard? Is that me?”
“T-That is…”
“Well, well, I guess I’ll have to show you a demon.”
As Cheon-hwi approached while lightly loosening his hands, the Lord of Soheung Fort’s complexion turned pale.
“This is why I have to make them come to their senses once, so that the future will be comfortable.”
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