Chapter 165: Chapter 165
The gathered Alliance members stirred with commotion.
“Is that person the Heartless Wanderer? He doesn’t look as terrifying as the rumors say.”
Cheon Woo-jin mainly operated outside, and even when he was at the Alliance, he stayed cooped up in the Hidden Dragon Squad manor, so there were some who were seeing his face for the first time.
Rumors about Cheon Woo-jin were already widespread. Starting from rumors about all sorts of achievements and martial prowess, the story that always followed was that he was so terrifying it made one’s spine chill.
“Don’t even mention it. It doesn’t mean his appearance is scary.”
Those who had seen Cheon Woo-jin directly spared their words. Especially the Buddhist nuns of the Mount Emei Sect who were with him when he killed the Beast Palace Lord did not raise their voices all the more.
Amid everyone’s gazes gathering like that, there was one who looked at Cheon Woo-jin with the fiercest eyes.
It was Blood Tiger Lord, who had come to deliver the message at the request of the Third Young Master.
“You are the Heartless Wanderer who killed my sworn brother.”
“I’ve killed so many people that I don’t know who you’re talking about.”
Cheon Woo-jin shrugged his shoulders.
At that sight, Blood Tiger Lord’s thick sword-like eyebrows twitched. Yeo Hu-in, the Patriarch of the Yeo Clan, one of the Six Families of the Demonic Cult, and his sworn brother. He had died while carrying out a trivial mission.
It was a simple mission where he only had to lead demonic practitioners to the Mount Kunlun Sect, which had no particularly great masters, slaughter everyone, set fire to the place, and return.
The one who killed him was precisely the rising master called the Heartless Wanderer.
“The old man you killed at the Mount Kunlun Sect.”
“Ah.”
Cheon Woo-jin nodded his head offhandedly. In truth, he still did not remember, but it did not seem to be a particularly important issue.
“Heartless Wanderer, I have come to settle your karma. With your single neck, the deaths of thousands, tens of thousands can be prevented. As a martial artist of the Righteous Path, it would be a splendid death.”
Blood Tiger Lord snickered. The Martial Alliance was certainly strong. Even so, that ridiculous belief and justice held back their ankles. How could they fight the Divine Cult while carrying such a heavy burden shackled to their ankles?
Even right now, it was like that. If saving countless lives was possible through the death of one person, a martial artist of the Righteous Path would gladly do so.
“Not a bad proposal.”
“Yes, if one person can prevent the Righteous-Demonic War, it will become an achievement that remains forever in martial arts history.”
Cheon Woo-jin calmly nodded his head. The ordinary commoners he had seen in the Demonic Cult came to mind. Neither they nor the people of the Central Plains should suffer unnecessary death.
When Cheon Woo-jin answered like that, Chief Strategist Sima Hwi’s voice transmission was heard from behind.
– Stop with that unfunny joke right there. Do you really think they will cancel the war they intend to wage just because they take your neck? Rather, if you, a martial artist of the Realm Beyond the Heavens, are gone, the probability of war breaking out will only rise.
The Chief Strategist was annoyed by the Demonic Cult’s ridiculous scheme. In the end, weren’t they trying to induce division? Where in all the world would there be a martial artist who gave up their neck just because they were told to hand it over like that?
They were merely laying the groundwork in advance so that when war broke out and people began dying, voices of resentment toward Cheon Woo-jin would emerge from within the Righteous Path.
However, the Cheon Woo-jin he knew was an existence who always deviated from common sense. That was why, feeling an unnecessary worry, he added to the voice transmission.
– Yes, when that time comes, someone might raise a voice blaming you. It is not sound logic, but humans are emotional creatures. However, that is not your fault, but my fault for failing to prevent such a situation in advance. It is because the Chief Strategist was incompetent and failed to properly soothe the hearts of the martial artists.
Saying so, he looked at Cheon Woo-jin’s back.
During that time, he had suffered quite a bit because of that rascal, whose actions were unpredictable. However, just by Cheon Woo-jin standing like this, the masters of the Demonic Cult did not feel scary in the slightest.
That very back made the strategist’s heart feel so immensely reassured. For such an existence to disappear from the Alliance overnight? As a strategist, there would be no day worse than that.
“Very well. My masters did not teach me to be someone ignorant of the greater good.”
“What!”
The Chief Strategist was startled.
Regardless, Cheon Woo-jin tapped his own neck with his index finger and spoke to Blood Tiger Lord.
“Come and take it.”
“…”
Hundreds of gazes gathered in the venue turned toward Blood Tiger Lord.
However, Blood Tiger Lord showed no sign of moving.
Even though Cheon Woo-jin went so far as to put down the Crescent Moon Staff on the ground, his feet seemed to have no intention of stepping forward.
“Why, aren’t you coming?”
Blood Tiger Lord was quite flustered inwardly.
The Heartless Wanderer did not release any momentum and was waiting while exposing all sorts of openings as they were. Even so, an inexplicable sense of unease was blocking his movements.
He was already well past the age to be afraid just because an opponent was strong. When the Cult Leader was alive, although he lacked the confidence to defeat him, at least he was someone who had never cowered before him.
Pondering, Blood Tiger Lord spoke to the elderly pair of a man and a woman standing on both sides.
“Go and claim his neck.”
They were extremely obese. In fact, their height and width were similar, making them look round. Even so, their steps heading toward Cheon Woo-jin were by no means heavy.
– Seeing Blood Tiger Lord order them around like limbs, they are surely the Twin Yin Yang Elders. The martial prowess of one person is no match for you, but if the two launch a joint attack, you must definitely be careful. By the way, you don’t really intend to die, right?
Out of anxiety, he even added the final words. Even so, no answer came back.
When the Twin Yin Yang Elders stood before Cheon Woo-jin.
While exchanging gazes for a moment, Blood Tiger Lord’s voice was heard from a distance.
“He is a martial artist who seeks to sacrifice his life for the greater good. Pluck it in an instant without pain.”
It seemed he intended to pluck the neck alive.
The moment the Twin Yin Yang Elders nodded their heads and rested their hands on Cheon Woo-jin’s shoulders.
Thud!
The heads of the two soared high into the sky. Their heavy bodies remained standing on the ground in that exact posture.
Soon, around the time the flying heads tumbled down to roll at Blood Tiger Lord’s feet.
Thump, thump!
The massive torsos of the Twin Yin Yang Elders also collapsed onto the ground, spreading a heavy sound.
Cheon Woo-jin looked at Blood Tiger Lord and spoke.
“This is my answer.”
“…”
“Take the necks of the two people here today, and if you truly want my neck, tell the Third Young Master to come in person. However, seeing you, Blood Tiger Lord, merely standing still even after losing your subordinates, I don’t know if that will have any meaning.”
Blood Tiger Lord’s eyes narrowed as he looked at Cheon Woo-jin.
In truth, today was supposed to be a day of unconditional success. If the Heartless Wanderer lost his mind and offered his neck, it was a massive success; even if he did not, driving a wedge into the Martial Alliance made it a small success.
Yet, what was this sense of defeat?
It was not grief over losing the Twin Yin Yang Elders. In the first place, those whose intelligence fell short of a five-year-old child were not of much use.
Blood Tiger Lord pondered for a moment before speaking.
“Will you truly not regret it?”
“Sending you back alive?”
“Even if the Righteous-Demonic War does not break out, aren’t the sins you committed against the Divine Cult already far too deep? No matter who becomes the Cult Leader, you will die. If it will happen anyway, sacrificing that paltry life for the common people is…”
Thwack!
In an instant, Blood Tiger Lord raised his arm and jerked his head to the side. A small hole was pierced in the raised arm.
One arm could not be used for the time being, but if he had not slowed the speed of the finger wind by sacrificing his arm, his head would have been pierced.
“…”
Blood Tiger Lord stared at the hole in his arm.
Pitch-black smoke was rising. Despite being a body tempered for decades, the bleeding showed no sign of stopping.
The energy contained in the finger wind was exceedingly fierce and unique.
‘Could it be the Dark Emperor’s energy?’
That the Heartless Wanderer was Black Elder’s disciple was already a self-evident fact.
Yet, if this was truly the Dark Emperor’s energy…
Why did a young master of the Divine Cult harbor energy so remarkably similar to this?
Blood Tiger Lord thought he must quickly return to the Divine Cult. Right now, the Righteous-Demonic War was not the problem. Perhaps something far bigger than expected was taking place within the Divine Cult.
“I understand your answer well. I shall take my leave now.”
Having said so, Blood Tiger Lord turned his body. Of course, he heightened his energy sense as sensitively as possible, guarding his rear.
When coming, he had ridden a carriage, but when leaving, he intended to return using lightness arts.
Looking at his retreating back, the Chief Strategist spoke in a low voice.
“You did well not to kill him. If we kill an envoy, something to regret might occur in the future.”
For example, if they were to negotiate for a prisoner exchange when war broke out, the Demonic Cult side could bring up the story of killing an envoy and steer the conversation to their advantage.
Only then did the Chief Strategist’s tension ease. He had been immensely worried because he did not know how Cheon Woo-jin would act, but it concluded better than expected.
It was then.
Tat-tat-tat-tat!
The sound of something running at tremendous speed was heard from behind. The Chief Strategist turned his head in surprise, and Cheon Woo-jin merely shifted his body sideways slightly to evade.
Soon, something brushed past between the two with a ferocious momentum. Because it was so fast, Cheon Woo-jin was the only person in this place who properly grasped that movement.
Blood Tiger Lord also felt something rushing toward him. Instinctively rallying his energy, he turned around.
Whoosh!
When he looked back, that something had already flown right up to his front and arrived. The opponent who had leapt up was soon pressing down firmly on Blood Tiger Lord’s shoulder with a rough hand. As though his entire body were wrapped by a venomous snake, his body stiffened rigid.
“…Y-You bastard!”
Recognizing the opponent’s identity, dismay washed over Blood Tiger Lord’s face. Of all the countless martial artists, it had to be this bastard!
The Blood Tiger was the king even among tigers. Yet even such a Blood Tiger, if careless, was brought down by a tiny venomous snake passing underfoot.
Sizzle!
The shoulder pressed down by the opponent’s palm was already overwhelmed by poison qi and melting away.
Before he was struck more severely, he had to quickly fling him away. There was nothing good about engaging in close combat with this bastard.
Thinking so, the moment he moved to pry off the hand pressing down on his shoulder, his spine turned chill in an instant as if touched by ice.
Thunk!
Following that, the cold sensation of metal was felt on his neck.
A large dagger was planted in his neck.
Blood surged out profusely, and when the dagger was pulled out again, it erupted like a waterfall from the gaping hole.
“Y-You bastard, how dare you to an envoy…”
“Drop dead.”
Without even listening to the end of his words, he kicked him in the stomach and knocked him down.
Blood Tiger Lord squirmed on the ground before soon breathing his last.
The man who killed him stared at the sight with indifferent eyes, then turned around.
Dark green, ferocious eyes swept over the Martial Alliance members.
“You bastards, when a comrade of the Martial Alliance is insulted right to his face, why doesn’t a single one of you step forward?”
That chilly voice and distinct gaze.
Even those who did not know his face could clearly recognize who was scolding them right now.
The one who could kill an expert on par with Blood Tiger Lord in a single blow, and possessed green eyes deeper than grass and trees, was only one person under heaven.
Poison King, Tang Myeong-hak.
He was the Sichuan Tang Clan itself.
The Poison King berated the Martial Alliance members in his characteristically spiteful voice.
“If you cannot even step forward before a fellow of this sort, you will utterly wet your pants before the Demonic Cult Leader.”
Chief Strategist Sima Hwi wailed internally. He had thought it fortunate that the Heartless Wanderer had not killed Blood Tiger Lord.
“…The Demonic Cult Leader is dead, Senior.”
“That bastard died? Why?”
Even while shedding tears by the bucketful in his heart, the Chief Strategist observed courtesies toward the Poison King.
“Senior Poison King, I offer my sincere congratulations on your full recovery.”
He courteously performed a fist-and-palm salute.
Then, the hundreds of Martial Alliance members gathered in the area also performed a fist-and-palm salute in unison. Such was the presence of a person called by the moniker of King in the Righteous Path martial world.”
Amid that respect and awe, the Poison King strode toward Cheon Woo-jin. The Poison King, who scrutinized his face and entire body as if looking at a lover, suddenly spoke.
“Yes, though faint, I remember. You are the rascal who killed my son.”
Instantly, the atmosphere of the venue sank.
Not only the Chief Strategist, but everyone grew tense.
The Poison King’s venomous and ferocious personality was already famous. The Chief Strategist sent a meaningful look to the martial artists of the Martial Alliance. It carried the meaning to quickly take the Heartless Wanderer away before anything happened.
In an atmosphere that was truly like thin ice.
The Poison King suddenly raised his hand. It was the hand that had melted Blood Tiger Lord’s shoulder without mercy.”
At that, everyone flinched. The one who had secretly received the Chief Strategist’s order even took a step forward.
However, contrary to their worries, the Poison King’s hand landed on Cheon Woo-jin’s shoulder more gently than ever.
“I am truly grateful. Were it not for you, I would have lost both my son and daughter, and I too would have lived as an idiot before meeting a lonely death.”
The subsequent action was even more astonishing.
Having said so, the Poison King widened the distance by two steps and offered a formal fist-and-palm salute toward Cheon Woo-jin. It was gratitude toward the benefactor who had saved his life and his daughter’s life.
No one could have ever expected, not even Chief Strategist Sima Hwi, that the Poison King would bow his head in gratitude to a martial artist far younger than himself.
Cheon Woo-jin also returned the salute and bowed his head. Since the greeting he had offered at the Tang Clan before was when the Poison King was half out of his mind, he was finally able to properly fulfill Master White Elder’s order.
“Cheon Woo-jin, disciple of the White Flower Sword Immortal. On behalf of my master, I pay my respects to the Flower Rain of Sichuan.”
“Flower Rain of Sichuan. To think he passed down that embarrassing nickname even to his disciple.”
A benevolent smile that could never match that venomous face was drawn across the Poison King’s countenance. His two eyes looking at Cheon Woo-jin were gentle, as though recalling someone he longed for.
“Yes, let us go see the Sword Slower Than a Turtle.”