Chapter 254: Chapter 254
A short while later, the party that finished their meal came out of the Plum Blossom Guest House and stood in a line.
Their expressions were full of satisfaction.
Because they had a delicious breakfast in a state where everyone was empty-stomached on a journey prepared from early morning, they could not help but feel good.
“I ate heartily for the first time in a while.”
“There was no meat and only vegetables, but it is my first time eating this deliciously.”
Everyone patted their stomachs and praised it.
When the food first came out, they were disappointed seeing the bowls with only vegetables, but after using their chopsticks a few times, they began to eat quickly.
An empty stomach was an empty stomach, but it was because the taste was quite excellent to be called a dish made only of vegetables.
As he heard the favorable reviews coming from here and there like that, there was a person who smiled stealthily.
‘No matter how delicious it is, I was worried because it was a dish made only of vegetables, but it was a needless concern.’
When Chief Steward Oh was relieved by the uniform favorable reviews.
“It was a good meal.”
“It was a delicious meal.”
Hyeon-do and Chu Gye-gwang approached and greeted him.
Chief Steward Oh, who faced the two, immediately bowed his head and held a smile around his mouth.
“I am glad it was to your liking.”
“But is it really okay? The amount is too much to just be treated.”
When Hyeon-do spoke while looking at the waiter and chef hurriedly moving to clear the plates, Chu Gye-gwang also agreed.
“Immortal Hyeon-do’s words are correct. We have enough money, so if you let us know the price, we will pay it even now.”
Chief Steward Oh, who saw Chu Gye-gwang trying to take out his coin pouch, hurriedly waved his hand.
“Oh my, no. This guest house would not even have been able to operate if it were not for the help of the Mount Hua Sect. But how could I receive money for merely having a meal.”
Chief Steward Oh spoke forcefully as if he would absolutely not yield.
“Hmm, hmm. Is that so?”
Hyeon-do’s lips twitched.
It was because he felt good due to Chief Steward Oh’s words that implicitly praised the Mount Hua Sect.
“I will not refuse the goodwill.”
At Hyeon-do’s words, Chief Steward Oh held a smile all over his face and looked at Chu Gye-gwang.
Chu Gye-gwang, who was making an expression as if he felt quite uncomfortable, also ended up nodding his head.
“Thank you.”
From old times, it was said that refusing goodwill was also not polite. Especially if it was the goodwill of the World Merchant Guild, which was trying to form a deep relationship with the Martial Alliance, it was even more so.
“Oh my, it is nothing much.”
Chief Steward Oh’s eyes, who spoke humbly while waving his hand, flashed momentarily.
‘To think I would see the Carefree Sword, Chu Gye-gwang.’
He had heard and known that name well.
Because he was a person counted on one hand for his chivalrous name in the current Martial Alliance, and especially one whose status was high among young martial artists.
‘He is a person who will take responsibility for the future of the Martial Alliance. If I can buy his favor with just this level of a meal, it is on the cheap side.’
Around the time the three finished their greetings like that.
“Are the preparations finished?”
Cheon-hwi came out while pushing aside the beaded curtain.
Hyeon-do moved his lips as he looked at Cheon-hwi, who was making a satisfied smile.
“Are your talks finished?”
“Mm, they finished well.”
Cheon-hwi answered and gently looked in the direction where Cheon Yang-gong, who was lost in thought, would be.
Until Cheon-hwi came out, he was lost in his thoughts with his arms crossed, without laying a single hand on the food placed in front of him.
‘Could he still be thinking about the oral formula?’
Cheon-hwi, who recalled him with wrinkles constantly formed on his forehead after hearing the two sentences of the oral formula, let out a smirk.
As expected, he promptly accepted the proposal.
Since he was told he would be taught the later oral formulas of the Nine Underworlds Demonic Flower Art, how could he refuse.
‘He will be quiet for a few years. Because he will suffer quite a bit trying to interpret that oral formula.’
That was not a prediction, but close to a certainty.
‘The Nine Underworlds Demonic Flower Art is not counted among the top as difficult to learn even among the Ten Strongest of the Demonic Path for nothing.’
The later oral formulas of the Nine Underworlds Demonic Flower Art were profound, and it was difficult to fathom their meaning.
In particular, the two sentences he had just taught were even more abstruse as they clearly pointed out the core the Nine Underworlds Demonic Flower Art possessed.
The Sacred Fire of the Demonic Path.
Because it contained the essence of the Nine Underworlds Demonic Flower Art, and the fruit reached at the end of defying the heavens.
In an instant, Cheon-hwi’s smile twisted.
The moment he came to understand the oral formula, it was clear that Cheon Yang-gong would die for his words in order to know the next oral formula.
Because the difference between only learning the first half and learning even a little bit of the second half was explicitly clear.
‘I caught him properly.’
It was all as aimed.
By teaching him the later oral formulas very little by little, he was slowly dropping Cheon Yang-gong into the swamp called the Nine Underworlds Demonic Flower Art.
So that he would fall deeply into it without even realizing it himself, and absolutely be unable to get out.
And the result appeared.
‘To know the oral formulas, he now has no choice but to return to the Divine Cult or hear them from me.’
However, he could not return to the Divine Cult.
Since there was only death if he went back.
If so, the only one he had to hang his neck on until the end would be him.
‘He would not even be able to dream of disobeying my words now.’
Meanwhile, Hyeon-do, who recalled Cheon Yang-gong who went up with Cheon-hwi, asked quietly.
“Did you come to this Plum Blossom Guest House to meet that person from earlier?”
“That is right.”
Cheon-hwi nodded his head.
It was exactly as he said.
The reason he went out of his way to come to the Plum Blossom Guest House was none other than to meet that Cheon Yang-gong.
The threat that might strike the Mount Hua Sect.
It was work to prepare for that.
After Cheon-hwi withdrew his gaze directed upwards, he met eyes with Hyeon-do and spoke.
“If by chance the Mount Hua Sect ends up in danger, that person will help.”
“If our sect falls into danger…?”
Hyeon-do, who tilted his head, soon spoke as if he had grasped Cheon-hwi’s intention.
“Hohoho, since you and I are leaving, you invited an expert in preparation for when our sect might fall into danger.”
“It is a little different, but roughly similar.”
Cheon-hwi answered while shrugging his shoulders.
He did not invite him separately, but technically speaking, it was not a wrong statement.
A smile spread across Hyeon-do’s mouth at Cheon-hwi’s answer.
“But could you tell me who he is? Looking at the energy he possesses, he seems to be a figure who has made quite a name for himself…”
His eyes deepened as he recalled Cheon Yang-gong.
He was hiding it, but even so, the energy leaking out little by little showed he was not an easy person.
Cheon-hwi fell into thought for a moment at Hyeon-do’s question.
‘He did make a name for himself just like he said, though.’
However, the problem was that reputation was not on the good side, but infamy.
‘Did they call him Mad Blood Demon?’
Cheon-hwi, who recalled the nickname that once pointed to Cheon Yang-gong, scratched the back of his head.
It was a bit iffy to reveal that nickname.
I will just roughly gloss over it.
“He is a person who has never been widely known in Jianghu, so there probably won’t be anyone who knows him either.”
It was not a lie.
Since he was active in Jianghu several decades ago, wouldn’t there be no one in the current Martial World who knew him.
“Hoo, is that so.”
It was a statement one could sufficiently find strange, but Hyeon-do did not doubt Cheon-hwi’s words at all.
How could he doubt Cheon-hwi’s words.
‘To say he has never been active in Jianghu, then he is a hidden eccentric, hoho, Cheon-hwi has built up many connections.’
Rather, he held a smile inwardly.
Even without that, he did not entirely lack a feeling of unease with Cheon-hwi and himself leaving, but if an expert of that level helped, he could rest assured.
Meanwhile, Chu Gye-gwang also paid attention to their conversation.
‘A hidden eccentric…’
His brow furrowed slightly.
They say there are many hidden eccentrics unknown to the world, but the old man’s energy from earlier was definitely not ordinary.
‘Is he really a figure unknown to Jianghu…’
His head spun rapidly.
The appearances of many people he had heard of and seen all this time quickly came to mind and disappeared, but there was no one who matched the old man.
After doing so for a moment.
‘It is useless to think about it right now.’
Chu Gye-gwang erased the thought he was having.
Although he was curious about that person’s identity, there was something he had to do before that right now.
‘…I should inform the Alliance later.’
He, who stealthily glanced at the guest house, soon turned his gaze and approached Cheon-hwi and Hyeon-do.
“Then since the meal is also finished, we will depart again now.”
* * *
Whether it was because he was the leader of the Chivalric Escort Unit, Chu Gye-gwang was quite thorough.
“I prepared them separately last night.”
As soon as they arrived in Hwayin County, he brought back several horses and one carriage.
Was that all.
Provisions bought who knows when were being neatly stacked in the carriage. When Cheon-hwi looked at that and made a satisfied expression.
Swish…
Chu Gye-gwang sat in the coachman’s seat.
If he just made up his mind, he could hire a coachman with money, but he did not do so.
That was because the figures he was taking right now were honored guests directly invited by the strategist.
How could he entrust it to a coachman.
He had to serve them comfortably and safely.
‘Because if I did not, an uproar would break out.’
He, who held back the sigh rising from inside, scanned Cheon-hwi, Hyeon-do, Ha Woo-jin, and Jong-hyeon as he moved his lips.
“Please get in the carriage.”
Soon when the four got in the carriage, Chu Gye-gwang pulled the reins greatly.
Neigh…
The carriage departed along with the sound of the horses.
The journey was peaceful without any particular incidents.
After repeating resting and advancing a few times, the sun was setting before they knew it, and darkness was coloring the world.
Neigh…
Chu Gye-gwang, who held the reins, looked at the wide clearing and spoke to his subordinates.
“Prepare to camp out.”
The members of the Chivalric Escort Unit swiftly got down from their horses and moved in perfect order.
The personnel divided in an instant.
Some drove the horses to one side and tied them, and some started gathering firewood.
Very skillful movements.
It was not a skill they had tried just once or twice.
Chu Gye-gwang watched his subordinates preparing to camp out, then turned his head back.
“I am truly sorry. We should have rested at an inn, but because we were rushing, we ended up camping out.”
He spoke as if he was apologetic.
Originally, it was right to move by making a plan to stay at an inn, but right now every moment was urgent.
To the extent that he had to forcibly advance even a very small amount of time.
“Hoho, it is fine.”
Hyeon-do spoke as if not to mind, and alighted lightly from the carriage.
“Is camping out not something familiar to people of Jianghu anyway?”
At the moment Chu Gye-gwang swept his chest at Hyeon-do’s smiling answer, the remaining three also got off the carriage.
“Oop.”
Cheon-hwi, who got off the carriage leisurely last, nodded his neck while looking at the surrounding scenery.
Before he knew it, the preparations for camping out were finished.
The bonfire lit with a fire striker was brightening the surroundings, and the Chivalric Escort Unit members were already preparing food.
Just in time, a Chivalric Escort Unit member with a nervous appearance approached him hesitantly.
“Umm, Little Taoist… it is your meal.”
The Chivalric Escort Unit member who brought piping hot porridge in a bowl was shining his eyes.
“I will eat well.”
Cheon-hwi took the bowl.
And he walked towards Hyeon-do, who had already taken a seat by one of the bonfires.
“Are you here?”
Cheon-hwi, who sat next to Hyeon-do, quietly began his meal.
And a short while later.
Thud.
Cheon-hwi put down the bowl that still had food left.
It doesn’t taste good.
He narrowed his brow and looked around. Excluding this seat where the Taoist figures sat, everyone was calmly swallowing thick porridge with beef jerky added.
“Tsk.”
Cheon-hwi smacked his lips.
The smell wafting from all directions stimulated his nose, but he was in a situation where he could not eat it.
‘Sigh. This is why it is good to travel with someone you know.’
Cheon-hwi looked at Hyeon-do, Ha Woo-jin, and Jong-hyeon, who were still eating.
The three were savoring the porridge that only had greens in it, as if they were satisfied with this meal.
‘Hmm, it cannot continue like this.’
Cheon-hwi jumped up from his seat at the smell that continued to tickle his nose.
“Hmm?!”
Hyeon-do became serious as if asking if something happened upon seeing Cheon-hwi suddenly get up.
“Why are you like that? Perhaps an enemy appear…”
“No.”
“Then why did you suddenly get up while having a meal?”
“Because I am full now.”
Cheon-hwi glanced at the half-remaining bowl, and lightly turned his body.
“I will go train for a moment and come back.”
As soon as Cheon-hwi finished speaking, he kicked off the ground and cut across the forest in one breath.
Tap.
Cheon-hwi, who instantly distanced himself from the party, executed the Dark Fragrance Drift and smiled.
“Shall I quickly go hunting.”
Cheon-hwi, who permeated into the darkness, dug through the forest in one breath and went hunting immediately.
And a short while later.
Crackle…
Cheon-hwi, who was roasting a rabbit, hummed as he sprinkled a bunch of salt he brought along.
“The smell is good.”
Cheon-hwi, who watched the meat cooking with a crackle, tore off a golden brown roasted part and put it in his mouth in one breath.
“Munch munch, ah. It would be the icing on the cake if I just had some liquor here, tsk. It is ambiguous to get some from anywhere…”
Since he gained one thing, he felt a sense of regret.
Cheon-hwi, who thought of liquor, chewed the meat in his mouth thoroughly until the end and swallowed it.
“I am a little full now.”
A little later, Cheon-hwi, who looked at the bones piled on the ground after eating to his satisfaction, put out the bonfire and moved his feet again.
The moment he soon returned to the clearing.
“Hmm?”
He witnessed a different sight.
The Chivalric Escort Unit members, who were busy eating until just before he went, were diligently swinging their weapons in the clearing.
“It is unexpected. They did not seem like they would train so diligently.”
At that time, Hyeon-do approached Cheon-hwi while smiling.
“Perhaps everyone received stimulation from your appearance of training as soon as you finished your meal, they immediately took out their weapons.”
“Stimulation?”
Cheon-hwi looked at the training Chivalric Escort Unit members as if it was absurd.
I just went to eat meat?
It was then.
“Older Brother!”
Jong-hyeon came running over.
Whether he had trained as well, Jong-hyeon, who was covered in sweat, looked up at Cheon-hwi.
“…Can you spar with me?”
“A spar?”
“Yes!”
Jong-hyeon’s eyes sparkled.
“I also learned a new sword art this time!”
At Jong-hyeon’s words, Cheon-hwi stroked his chin.
Oho, a new sword art?
He stealthily looked back.
Ha Woo-jin, who was sitting leisurely and meditating, held a soft smile.
『I ask of you to spar. He has trained diligently all this time to show you.』
Hmm, is that so? Shall I take a look at what sword art he learned?
Cheon-hwi, who heard Ha Woo-jin’s telepathy, stealthily looked at Jong-hyeon, then moved his lips.
“Alright.”