Chapter 89

Chapter 89

Kang Chowon smiled brightly and kept humming to herself.

At this point, someone might have been unable to contain their curiosity and asked what was going on, but no one did.

There was no need to ask. Everyone here was barely able to restrain their excitement.

If anything, Kang Chowon was among those who controlled her excitement the best in this place.

Just then, Youngho yawned and asked Kang Chowon,

“Did you sleep well?”

“Yes! Restoring one’s condition before a sparring match is also a fundamental for a Martial Artist.”

“Is that so? Then you won’t even be able to sleep in the carriage. If you die of boredom, don’t blame me.”

When Kang Chowon pouted, Youngho let out a faint chuckle.

“Horyeung said he has something to tell you. Take your brother with you.”

“Really? What could it be?”

Tilting her head, Kang Chowon went to call Kang Hosan.

Youngho lightly loosened his neck with some stretches and said,

“If you’re all ready, let’s go.”

“Already?”

“Master  already set off. You know how fickle he is.”

“Ugh, then we have no choice.”

Jongpal quickly packed their belongings and called out to Sopyung,

“Sopyung! We have to depart!”

“Already?!”

Sopyung hurriedly gathered her snacks as she said,

“I just need to pack these!”

“If you need help, hurry.”

Jongpal and Sopyung swiftly bundled dumplings, sweet confections, taffy, and other foods that would stave off hunger and keep their mouths busy along the way.

“Let’s go, Sopyung.”

“Yes, Young Noble Master!”

“……Huh?”

The moment he opened the House Door, Youngho failed to hide his bewilderment.

“……Hyeokong.”

“Yes, Young Noble Master.”

Hyeokong, who had been waiting beside the carriage, approached Youngho.

“What is it?”

“No, why is the carriage so extravagant?”

At Youngho’s astonishment, Hyeokong gave an awkward smile.

“It seems the Alliance Lord put considerable thought into it.”

“He didn’t need to go this far….”

To be honest, it was burdensome. The carriage, almost comparable to that of the Alliance Lord’s own, was engraved with splendid flame patterns.

There was much else worthy of praise or admiration, but for now, he chose to hold his tongue.

With a slightly uncomfortable expression, Youngho boarded the carriage. Just as Hyeokong confirmed that Youngho had taken his seat and was about to close the carriage door—

“What’s this? Why are you closing the door?”

At Youngho’s question, Hyeokong’s hand paused.

“Now that you are a strong candidate for Alliance Lord, many would think it improper for you to ride in the same carriage as your Subordinates.”

Youngho’s face immediately twisted into a frown.

“Hyeokong.”

“Yes.”

“Does dignity put food on the table?”

“No, it does not.”

Sensing the strange direction the conversation was taking, Hyeokong was careful with his words and actions.

“I’ve seen fools die over something as stupid as pride in being a Martial Artist, but I’ve never seen anyone in the Unorthodox Faction survive by protecting their dignity.”

“……That was a slip of the tongue.”

“I know. Still, remember this. I decide when to care about others’ gazes.”

“Understood.”

“Sopyung, call Horyeung’s group.”

“Yes, Young Noble Master!”

At Youngho’s summons, Horyeung, Kang Hosan, and Kang Chowon hurried over, unable to hide their puzzlement.

“Why did you call us?”

“If I don’t have someone to talk to on the way, I get gloomy.”

“Oh my, I forgot that you don’t have any friends, Young Noble Master.”

“What did you just say, you bastard?”

“I said nothing.”

When Kang Hosan feigned innocence, Youngho glared at him before withdrawing his gaze.

“Just get in already. Once you’re in, we’re truly departing.”

“Yes!”

The once-empty carriage soon filled up a little.

“Depart, Hyeokong.”

“Yes.”

Youngho’s carriage crossed the Yangtze River and headed straight for the Dragon–Phoenix Gathering Grounds in Henan without encountering anyone along the way.

After half a month, Youngho’s group arrived in Henan and disembarked from the carriage.

“Perfect timing. I’m hungry. Let’s go eat.”

Despite having eaten all the dumplings Sopyung had made by himself, Youngho still acted as if it wasn’t enough. The group looked at him with weary expressions.

‘When it comes to eating, he’s truly number one under heaven.’

‘Number one under heaven? He’s number one in all ages.’

As the Dragon–Phoenix Gathering approached, the streets of Henan remained crowded with people.

There was only one difference—

“People are quiet.”

“They are, aren’t they?”

It was strange. It was understandable if the Common People feared Martial Artists, but even the Martial Artists themselves were maintaining silence.

No, more precisely—

Youngho narrowed his eyes sharply at the sight ahead.

“Why aren’t the Orthodox Sect and the Unorthodox Faction fighting?”

At Youngho’s muttering, Jongpal appeared as usual to explain,

“It seems the Murim Alliance Leader stirred up a commotion recently.”

“What kind of commotion?”

“They say he reprimanded all the Great Sects and the Mid-sized and Small Sects alike, claiming that the chivalry and righteousness of the Orthodox Sect were no longer upright.”

“The Murim Alliance Leader did that?”

“Yes. I heard that a Secular Sect affiliated with the Mount Hua Sect recently fought with a sect from the Unorthodox Faction and lost in terms of justification.”

“Who was actually at fault?”

“It seems the Secular Sect of Mount Hua Sect was in the wrong.”

“As expected.”

Knowing well the duplicity of the Orthodox Sect, Youngho let out a faint sneer and took a seat inside the Inn.

“Looks like you secured seats quickly this time.”

Youngho’s group occupied half of the Inn and placed their orders with the Inn Attendant.

Meanwhile, even as everyone ordered their food, Youngho remained silent.

Sensing something odd, Horyeung asked,

“Young Noble Master, is something troubling you?”

“It’s not something you need to worry about.”

“Pardon? What do you mean by that…?”

At that moment, an unpleasant aura brushed against Horyeung’s Sensory Perception of Qi. That presence gradually began drawing closer to where Youngho was seated.

As Horyeung’s hand moved to the Sword Hilt, Youngho slowly shook his head.

When Horyeung returned his hand to its place, a voice sounded right beside Youngho.

“Aren’t we acquainted?”

A faint smile touched Youngho’s lips.

“Acquainted, you say?”

For an instant, a terrifying aura surged from the man standing beside Youngho. Just as Horyeung was about to act—

The presence vanished so abruptly it almost felt like an illusion. Horyeung lowered the hand he had placed on the table.

Youngho looked at Cheon Muback standing beside him and said,

“Is this fate? Or ill fate?”

Cheon Muback’s eyes gleamed sharply as he replied,

“It’s ill fate.”

***

Sweat formed naturally in his palms. His stiff facial muscles refused to relax.

Staring at Han Yonghu with a face frozen like ice, Cheonung spoke in a slightly trembling voice.

“……What did you say?”

Han Yonghu nodded as if he understood.

“I said the Heavenly Demon is coming.”

Chill—!

At that instant, explosive Killing Intent burst from Cheonung’s body. The Pavilion trembled under the force of it. Only after taking a deep breath did Cheonung suppress the surging Killing Intent.

Fortunately, Han Yonghu had blocked Cheonung’s aura in advance. Otherwise, the Pavilion would have collapsed from that force alone.

“You’ve grown stronger.”

“That’s not the issue.”

Ignoring Han Yonghu’s calm praise, Cheonung said,

“Why is that bastard coming here?”

His eyes, now fully settled, no longer held even a trace of Killing Intent.

Cheonung was always like this. The mere mention of the Heavenly Demon’s name made him erupt with Killing Intent, yet when it came time to discuss countermeasures, he was coldly rational.

Faced with that chillingly refined Martial Presence, Han Yonghu unconsciously swallowed.

“I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?”

“That’s right. I couldn’t find any reason why the Heavenly Demon would come here. If there is one, perhaps it’s because of the Jinju Eon Clan you told me about.”

“You’re saying the Heavenly Demon would personally move just for those who toy with Jiangshi?”

At Cheonung’s tone laced with ridicule, Han Yonghu nodded in full agreement.

After letting a sneer linger briefly on his lips, Cheonung’s expression turned serious.

“No. That bastard wouldn’t move just for a bunch of corpse-lovers.”

“That’s why I called you. I wondered if the Unorthodox Alliance had received any information.”

“You already know our intelligence network had a bit of trouble. We’ve been busy restoring it and couldn’t focus elsewhere.”

“You mean the Hao Sect.”

“That’s right.”

Silence lingered in the Guest Room.

“When do you estimate he’ll arrive?”

“He has already arrived.”

“Before me?”

“Yes.”

“Was the Heavenly Demon always that swift?”

“If he so desires, he can go anywhere.”

Cheonung’s complexion darkened further.

“How many troops did the Demonic Cult bring?”

“Only the Demon Spirit Unit and the Left Guardian.”

“If we strike the Demonic Cult first, what are the odds we win?”

“Nine in ten.”

“And the odds of killing the Heavenly Demon?”

“Your two Disciples who could have competed in the Dragon–Phoenix Gathering died, so he couldn’t have brought many Units, could he?”

“Just answer.”

“Less than one in ten. If he’s determined to flee, he could escape with most of the Demon Spirit Unit.”

“Then we may as well call it zero.”

The two men fell into heavy contemplation. The situation was not good. If they attacked the Demonic Cult now, they could win—provided the Demonic Cult chose to fight instead of fleeing.

They would not be able to kill the Heavenly Demon, but still.

However, if that happened…

“The losses would be enormous.”

At Cheonung’s words, Han Yonghu nodded gravely.

“Indeed. Even merely clashing with the Heavenly Demon, the shockwaves of Qi alone would kill most of the Martial Artists here.”

“Most of them are merely Junior Disciples as well….”

As for the Common People, that went without saying. Even the Killing Intent of a single Demon Spirit Unit member would be enough to kill them.

“I would prefer to let this pass quietly, but…”

Han Yonghu fixed Cheonung with deeply sunken eyes.

“If the Demonic Cult has come prepared to fight here…”

“There would be no way to stop it.”

Anxiety rose naturally. So uneasy was he that Han Yonghu kept shaking his leg.

“If only there were one more expert at our level…”

Unfortunately, reality had not produced another Martial Artist as powerful as Cheonung or Han Yonghu.

Yet Cheonung responded as though he had anticipated such words.

“The Unorthodox Alliance now has someone stronger than me.”

Han Yonghu shot to his feet and shouted,

“What?!”

“Sit. Let’s talk.”

Realizing he had made a spectacle of himself, Han Yonghu cleared his throat and sat back down.

“There’s someone stronger than you?”

“Yes.”

“That makes no sense. You are already stronger than me. This isn’t boasting, but aside from the Heavenly Demon and you, there exists no Martial Artist in the world who can defeat me.”

“That may have been true. But now there are three stronger than you.”

Hearing Cheonung’s firm conviction, Han Yonghu sensed something was terribly amiss.

“You mean that’s true?”

He simply could not believe it. Even he himself was evaluated as someone whose Martial Might had nearly reached the level of a god.

Cheonung was stronger still—yet someone even stronger than him existed?

It was difficult to believe, but…

Han Yonghu spoke calmly.

“Could it be that the First Young Master has surpassed you?”

“No.”

“Then has a hidden master joined the Unorthodox Alliance?”

“No, not that either.”

“Then who in the world is stronger than you? And when can he come here? The Heavenly Demon is the sort of man who could wreak havoc at any moment.”

Cheonung bared his white teeth in a wide grin. The mere sight of it sent chills down Han Yonghu’s spine.

“I don’t have only Jeonghyeon as my Disciple.”

After pondering the meaning of Cheonung’s words, Han Yonghu’s bloodshot eyes widened in disbelief.

“Don’t tell me—?!”

“That’s right.”

It was hard to believe. Even Cheonung himself had struggled to accept it.

With a chillingly grotesque smile, Cheonung said,

“Youngho. That bastard is now stronger than me.”