Chapter 144

Chapter 144

Before entering Shaolin, Youngho had spoken with the Murim Alliance Leader of Wudang.

“Should be around here….”

Wudang, perhaps anticipating this, promptly accepted the Lord of the Unorthodox Alliance’s demands and even sent reinforcements that hadn’t been mentioned.

The meeting place was an inn a short distance from the forest where the Sword Immortal had lived.

“It’s been a while coming here as well.”

At that moment, Kang Chowon began scanning the area around the inn. Youngho, not understanding why, looked at Kang Hosan.

Reading the confusion in Youngho’s eyes, Kang Hosan immediately explained.

“This inn is where Chowon once sparred with Tang Gunhyeon of the Tang Clan.”

“Ah….”

Now that he thought about it, that did happen.

“At the time, Tang Gunhyeon said he was going to provoke Namgung Cheon, right?”

“More precisely, he went to request a sparring match.”

“Same thing, in the end.”

It had been one of the moments when Kang Chowon’s prestige had risen.

“More importantly, I should get some dumplings. It’s a bit past the time, so I’m hungry.”

“Has it only been about one shijin since your last meal?”

Kang Hosan, now too familiar with this sort of situation, asked in a calm tone rather than a bewildered one.

“Does it matter? Wudang’s reinforcements are inside anyway, so it’s two birds with one stone.”

As Youngho released his presence, the disciples of Wudang inside began emerging.

‘Hmm?’

The atmosphere wasn’t as pleasant as he had expected.

‘They must be attached to him.’

Their grim expressions were surely born from concern for Hyeonu. It had been a long time since his disappearance, but more than that, Hyeonu, if described kindly, was someone who helped others; less kindly, he was a pushover. His tendency to meddle in others’ matters had drawn him into many incidents.

Though his time at Wudang was short, being the Sword Immortal’s disciple, his pure nature untainted by the secular world, and especially becoming the finest swordsman of Wudang had surely won him many admirers.

At that moment, a middle-aged man approached Youngho.

“First time meeting you, Sword Exalted. I am Wudang Elder Hyunbi.”

“Pleasure to meet you, True Person Hyunbi.”

As the other showed courtesy, Youngho reciprocated. Hyunbi also greeted the Shaolin elder beside him before speaking.

“I hope the search can be conducted as quickly as possible.”

His voice carried a sense of urgency. Clearly, this request was more directed at the Unorthodox Youngho than at Shaolin of the same Orthodox faction.

‘Looks like I won’t be getting dumplings.’

Hiding his disappointment, Youngho said with a nonchalant expression.

“Yes, let’s finish quickly. Follow me.”

Eager to get the task done, Youngho strode ahead.

Hyunbi, seeing Youngho walk without using Lightness Skill, felt a surge of emotion. But he quickly realized that Youngho was actually being considerate. Youngho was walking deliberately slowly to accommodate his followers, Shaolin, and Wudang.

The group, composed of at least Master-Level martial artists, reached the place where the Sword Immortal had lived without taking long.

Within one quarter-hour, Youngho arrived at the spot remembered from his memories and surveyed the surroundings.

“This is it.”

The location was in the heart of the forest.

“…This place?”

“Yes. This is where we encountered Hyeonu’s dojo.”

“…Then we should investigate the area first.”

“That’s right.”

Clink—!

“Hmm?”

Clink—!

From somewhere—or rather, directly in their minds—a clear bell rang. Not only Youngho heard it; the Asura Squad, Shaolin, and Wudang also became unsettled.

While Hyunbi and the Shaolin elder calmed their disciples, Youngho asked Horyeung.

“Where does it seem to be coming from?”

“It feels like it’s ringing directly in my mind, so I’m not sure.”

“Perhaps I should have brought Muyeon along.”

“I think leaving Muyeon behind was a good call. Something major seems about to happen.”

“Let’s send the messenger pigeon first.”

“Yes. Judging by the bell in your mind, inform the Master that it seems like a Heretical Art created by the Demonic Cult.”

“Understood.”

Heh heh heh.

Clink—!

At that moment, a mischievous laugh echoed as the bell rang in their minds. It didn’t cause a massive strike, but it was enough to be taken seriously.

Youngho frowned at the sensation reverberating in his mind and surveyed the area.

The allies, apparently not overly bothered, only expressed mild discomfort.

‘This has to be the Demonic Cult’s doing.’

Youngho was certain. Only the Demonic Cult would use such insidious Heretical Arts.

“Indeed, their toy has walked right into this place on its own.”

An old woman’s voice, carrying the weight of time, echoed in Youngho’s mind. None present dismissed her voice. It wasn’t mere hallucination; the piercing voice resonated unpleasantly in their minds.

“Well, I suppose I should honor that brat Pungwol’s request.”

Clink—!

The bell sounded so ominous it seemed unnatural, and simultaneously, the vision of everyone except Youngho blinked white.

Everyone present, save Youngho, was horrified.

“What is this!”

“Disciples, prepare the Eighteen Arhats Formation!”

The momentary confusion was quelled as Hyunbi and the Shaolin elder adeptly commanded their disciples to prepare for battle.

At some point, Youngho’s gaze swept over the endless mass of troops that had appeared before him.

“Could you at least explain?”

“Aren’t you flustered?”

“I’ve been through enough battles to handle this.”

“Boring, yet you still amuse me.”

At that moment, a Demonic Practitioner with a malevolent aura dragged a corpse forward and lifted it so Youngho could see.

Youngho looked at the body—its face skinned off, its martial robes soaked in blood—and spoke.

“…Hyeonu’s dojo?”

“What?!”

Hyunbi’s eyes widened as he examined the corpse. Seeing the Taiji symbol on the chest, he lost himself in fury, unable to pay attention to his disciples.

“You—filthy wretches who deserve to be chewed to pieces!!”

KRAAAAA-!

Explosive killing intent erupted from Hyunbi’s body as he drew his sword.

The noble Songmun high sword, wielded always to save commoners, now looked nothing more than a murderer’s blade in his hands.

Just as Hyunbi was about to rush forward to save Hyeonu’s body, Youngho grabbed his wrist firmly.

“Calm yourself.”

“Calm? You say calm now? My disciple…!”

Kuuuuh-!

Hyunbi instinctively dropped to his knees under the presence radiating from Youngho, as immense as Mount Tai.

“Ugh!”

“Then focus on what you were doing. If I were you, rather than recklessly rushing and dying, I’d pay attention to my disciples to survive here.”

Hyunbi’s mind chilled at Youngho’s cold words, as if icy water from the Northern Sea had been poured over his head.

But Youngho didn’t stop there. He growled like a tiger.

“If you’re incompetent and my subordinates get hurt, I’ll kill you first before they even get the chance.”

Only then did Hyunbi realize: this was a battlefield of life and death. Losing control would endanger his own comrades.

Youngho roughly pushed Hyunbi’s wrist aside and asked.

“So how were you able to appear before us?”

“We didn’t appear. You approached us.”

With that cryptic reply, Youngho smirked crookedly.

“A Wudang relic?”

“…!”

Hyunbi was startled, but Youngho remained unfazed.

“Wudang’s sacred relic can create special formations. One of my capable subordinates informed me, so that must be correct. But to enter a formation created by the relic, Hyeonu’s will must be required…?”

“Of course this unbeliever helped.”

Hyunbi refuted.

“Nonsense! You wretches must have used some despicable trick!”

Hearing such a classic Orthodox line after so long, Youngho couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Won’t you reveal yourself?”

“I’m a coward. I don’t have the courage to face someone strong enough to be their toy.”

Youngho frowned at the old woman’s mischievous, teasing voice.

“So how exactly did you manage it? I trust my judgment, and I don’t believe Hyeonu’s dojo collaborated with you.”

“You’re saying the Unorthodox Faction actually trusts the Orthodox?”

“No. You’re the ones who left Hyeonu’s dojo in that state. Unless Hyeonu is foolish, they wouldn’t help.”

“Heh heh heh, that’s true. Accurate. That brat resisted so fiercely that even tearing skin, plucking nails, and scraping bones couldn’t break him.”

Hyunbi shivered in rage imagining Hyeonu’s pain. Youngho glanced at him before continuing.

“So in the end, Hyeonu’s dojo did nothing?”

“They did act. But not of their own will.”

“Explain it clearly.”

“They used Heretical Arts.”

Ssshhh-!

At her words, the already cold atmosphere turned even more frigid.

Kang Chowon, awaiting Youngho’s command, adjusted her sword, concealing her killing intent. Kang Hosan and Horyeung reacted similarly.

Even if Wudang’s practitioners didn’t know, Hyeonu had been a good person. The death of a friendly Orthodox member angered them more than they expected.

Youngho felt his already icy tone sharpen further.

“What do you mean?”

“Simply put, they forcibly awakened Long-Nosed Taoist’s internal energy using Heretical Arts. Using another’s internal energy is more difficult than it seems. Hyeonu’s lifespan has probably been shortened.”

Hyunbi bit her lip, struggling to retain composure, and the disciples of Wudang did the same. Shaolin trembled at the Demonic Cult’s cruelty.

“Still, isn’t that fine?”

“Why?”

“Because in the end, it strengthened your sect’s forces. That’s an honor not easily attained, even in three lifetimes.”

Nonsense. Anyone not a Demonic Practitioner felt immense killing intent from the old woman.

As everyone bristled at her malice, Youngho asked a question.

“You said Hyeonu’s lifespan was shortened.”

“Yes. Want me to show you by how much?”

“No need. Wudang and Shaolin are nearly at the edge of sanity. No need to endure your tricks any longer.”

“Hmm? What do you mean?”

“Hyeonu’s dojo is still alive, right?”

“…!”

Shocked, Hyunbi instinctively looked to Youngho.

The reply nearly made her legs give way.

“Clever as always. Yes, he’s still alive.”

Youngho nodded as if he had expected it.

“That’s enough. You didn’t claim he was dead, so believing it would have been foolish.”

“Heh heh heh, correct. So, what now? We have the hostage.”

Screeech!

As soon as she finished, the Demonic Practitioner holding Hyeonu’s body had his neck cut. A sudden ambush.

Though shocked that Youngho could move so fast, he hadn’t taken a single step.

From the shadows, Black Shadow decapitated the Demonic Practitioner and caught Hyeonu before he even touched the ground, returning beside Youngho.

“Well done, Black Shadow.”

Youngho praised him while slowly drawing his sword from its sheath.

“We have secured the hostage….”

Youngho contorted his face into a grotesque expression. Strangely, everyone present felt that Youngho was smiling cruelly.

With a tone laced with lethal intent, he said.

“Shall we begin the fight now?”

The words, filled with killing intent, echoed quietly through the mountains.