Chapter 3 – Snake Head

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read more at Nineheavens.org

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Chapter 3 – Snake Head

Cheol Ryu-heun asked with an indifferent expression.

"Why, does it sound like I've lost my mind?"

At that, Hyeop Mu-geuk looked flustered as he gauged the other's reaction.

"Well… that is… when you say Bone Replacement and Marrow Cleansing, do you mean it as some kind of metaphor, or…"

"I mean it literally – that I'm going to completely reconstruct my body."

"…"

Hyeop Mu-geuk wore a blank expression once again.

Ah, I see.

So that's truly what you meant.

He was bewildered.

He couldn't help it.

Was Bone Replacement and Marrow Cleansing someone's dog's name or something?

It was an enlightenment of the supreme level, qualitatively different from ordinary cultivation, so how on earth could one achieve it in just ten days…?

Even ten years, not ten days, would make it difficult to accomplish.

Perhaps if he had the innate talent of the renowned masters in their youth, but with Cheol Ryu-heun's aptitude – which he had continuously observed all this time – it was absolutely impossible.

'Goodness, what is happening to him? It's not like we have some legendary elixir in this sect that could work miracles right now.'

Deep furrows of worry appeared on Hyeop Mu-geuk's face as he muttered internally.

But Cheol Ryu-heun's attitude only escalated further.

"If you can't even achieve Bone Replacement and Marrow Cleansing once, you're not even a martial artist."

"…"

Hyeop Mu-geuk was momentarily speechless.

Oh, I see.

So I've never been a martial artist all this time.

And since I have almost no possibility of achieving Bone Replacement and Marrow Cleansing in the future, I'll never become a martial artist.

His eyes seemed to sigh as such.

'The poison pill must have had some kind of adverse effect. Otherwise…'

Narrowing his brow, Hyeop Mu-geuk was genuinely worried about Cheol Ryu-heun's mental state.

It was understandable that his speech and behavior were quite different from before.

He understood.

However.

To dismiss Bone Replacement and Marrow Cleansing – which was practically a heaven-sent fortuitous encounter – as something trivial could not possibly be considered normal.

But the stance of the Divine Martial Sword, who had reincarnated as Cheol Ryu-heun, was different.

In reality, over the past thousand years, he had seen countless owners who had perfectly achieved Bone Replacement and Marrow Cleansing.

Among them, some had achieved it not just once, but two or more times.

Having naturally come to know the essentials through all of that, Bone Replacement and Marrow Cleansing was his starting point and benchmark for martial arts, as well as the best path to grow into a supremely powerful being in a short time.

If he was aiming for the mysterious wanderer, achieving at least that much was only fitting.

At that moment, Hyeop Mu-geuk spoke respectfully.

"Young Sect Master, forgive me. Even if you were fortunate enough to accumulate internal energy unconsciously, frankly speaking, Bone Replacement and Marrow Cleansing is…"

"Skeptical?"

"…"

His silence contained affirmation.

Cheol Ryu-heun shrugged his shoulders and spoke again.

"Well, to Chief Supervisor Hyeop's ears, it would sound like nonsense."

"I think it would be best for you to rest and stabilize for a few days first."

"My head is perfectly fine."

"I-I didn't mean it that way…"

"I know you meant it that way."

"…"

Though Hyeop Mu-geuk showed an embarrassed look at having his thoughts exposed, Cheol Ryu-heun paid no attention and continued speaking.

"Yes, Bone Replacement and Marrow Cleansing is by no means an easy achievement. But what if there is a secret arrangement prepared?"

At those words, Hyeop Mu-geuk's eyes went wide.

"Pardon?"

"Actually, I know of a secret location that makes Bone Replacement and Marrow Cleansing possible."

"…!"

This was a development Hyeop Mu-geuk had never expected.

"I-Is that true?!"

"Of course."

Cheol Ryu-heun's eyes showed not the slightest waver as he gave his brief reply.

Hyeop Mu-geuk instinctively sensed it.

'He means it!'

Suddenly, the image of Sagong Woon seemed to overlap with him.

When alive, he too would always show that look in his eyes whenever he made statements full of conviction.

A thought suddenly flashed through his mind.

'Wait!'

His pupils gleaming, he quietly spoke.

"Could it be that the Sect Master taught you about it?"

At that, Cheol Ryu-heun replied indifferently.

"Good thing you're quick-witted."

"Ah…!"

"The place where Master happened to obtain a sword in the past – that's where the said arrangement exists."

"Heavens… I had no idea whatsoever."

"Well, it was kept strictly secret. In the entire sect, I'm the only one who knows this fact."

Hyeop Mu-geuk nodded repeatedly in admiration.

'Indeed… From the circumstances, the Sect Master must have firmly believed early on that he was the only talent who could lead White Peak Sword Sect in the future! Could it be that he possesses some great potential that we weren't aware of?'

Sagong Woon must have seen some potential for growth in Cheol Ryu-heun, and that was why he had left alone the secret arrangement despite knowing that Bone Replacement and Marrow Cleansing was possible there.

Yes, that must be it – nine out of ten.

If that were not the reason, he would have used it himself long ago.

With that conviction, Hyeop Mu-geuk expressed his curiosity.

"Young Sect Master, then was the sword that the Sect Master obtained in the past also no ordinary object from the beginning? Since it was originally situated in a place with such a special arrangement…"

"I don't know either."

At that, Hyeop Mu-geuk smacked his lips as if disappointed.

"It's a sword that was destroyed and is gone anyway, so forget about it."

Cheol Ryu-heun glossed over it appropriately as he had done before.

"Yes… By the way, where exactly is that place? It could be dangerous, so I'll escort you."

"I decline."

Having refused outright, Cheol Ryu-heun asked casually.

"Do you trust me?"

"Of course, Young Sect Master."

Hyeop Mu-geuk answered without a moment's hesitation.

"I also trust Chief Supervisor Hyeop absolutely. Just as Master did during his lifetime."

"Those are deeply moving words. That sentiment has already been proven by your revealing the secret."

"Good. If you truly trust me, don't ask any more about that place. I'll prove everything through results."

At the solemn bearing unbefitting a young man barely of age, Hyeop Mu-geuk felt his chest swell with pride for a moment.

'It feels as though he has grown a level.'

A stately atmosphere filled his entire being that could not be felt before he became a vegetative person.

"I promise. I will find and execute with my own hands the killer who harmed Master."

Cheol Ryu-heun's resolute voice.

Of course, what he just said was merely a cause he had outwardly declared from the position of White Peak Sword Sect's Young Sect Master.

In truth, the essence of his desire for revenge was not for Sagong Woon's sake, but to avenge the unexpected defeat he had suffered as the greatest Divine Martial Sword in history.

Well, whatever the case.

If he cut off the wanderer's head, both he and White Peak Sword Sect would have achieved their revenge.

Meanwhile, Hyeop Mu-geuk, completely unaware of the true circumstances, was moved by those words and responded emphatically.

"Yes, Young Sect Master! I will serve and assist you with all my heart from now on!"

"Well then, now go prepare something with all your heart."

"Pardon?"

"A meal."

"Ah."

"I feel like I'm dying of hunger, so hurry along."

"Yes, yes!"

With that, Hyeop Mu-geuk vanished hurriedly out the door.

* * *

"Ugh…"

A low groan seeped out from between his lips.

Eul Sa-jeok sat leaning his back against a wall in the dark storage room and quietly examined his body in the faint lamplight.

He truly felt pathetic.

His own appearance – bloodied and battered all over.

Looking at his pair of legs fixed with splints made him feel a cliff-like sense of despair.

'Damn it… What am I supposed to do now? Whew…'

Letting out a long breath, he faced the current situation and sank into deep contemplation.

He desperately wanted to escape outside right away.

But there was no suitable method.

Not only did he have severe fractures, but his entire body had stiffened like a stone statue, so what could he do?

All he could move freely right now was his head.

The reason his body was paralyzed like this was because his major pressure points had been sealed through an acupoint technique using internal energy.

Of course, if he left it like this, the points would naturally unseal over time, but the problem was that before that happened, someone would surely come and perform another energy acupoint sealing to paralyze his body again.

Naturally so.

There was no way they would leave a traitor of their sect unguarded like this.

Even if the points unsealed naturally, since he couldn't use his two legs anyway, he was no different from a mouse trapped in a jar.

Suddenly, a person's face flashed through his mind.

The direct disciple first recruited by Sect Master Sagong Woon and the Young Sect Master who had long been designated as the next Sect Master candidate… none other than Cheol Ryu-heun, his own senior brother.

'That bastard! After all the effort I put in for six months, now of all times…'

As if reflecting his state of mind, a thick vein bulged on his forehead.

But his anger was only momentary.

Falling into dejection once more, he pondered the question with a heavy expression.

'I simply cannot understand it.'

How on earth had Cheol Ryu-heun, who had been lying unconscious for a full six months, suddenly suppressed the poison pill's power and regained consciousness?

How had he accumulated energy, and when had he learned the technique of temporarily strengthening the muscles and meridians of his entire body using internal energy?

Additionally, his speech and behavior that seemed as if his personality had completely changed the moment he recovered was equally puzzling.

But at that moment.

Clunk-

With a heavy sound, the storage room door swung wide open, and bright light flooded into the dark interior.

Step, step.

The sound of footsteps crossing the threshold echoed softly.

Eul Sa-jeok struggled to raise his head.

"Who…?"

"Who do you think."

At the indifferent voice reaching his ears, Eul Sa-jeok was startled.

Close in front of him.

The figure standing there alone, casting a long shadow on the floor, was none other than Cheol Ryu-heun.

Eul Sa-jeok's face went pale as he hastily avoided his gaze.

'He came to interrogate me personally!'

Cheol Ryu-heun then approached right in front of him and spoke.

"Why, do I look like the Grim Reaper to you?"

Simultaneously, Eul Sa-jeok's facial muscles twitched.

He had hit the mark.

The Grim Reaper.

That was exactly right.

No… honestly, it felt even more frightening than the Grim Reaper.

Earlier, under Cheol Ryu-heun's merciless beating, not only had his nose bone been damaged, but his left ribs and both shin bones had been ruthlessly shattered – he had tasted excruciating pain.

"S-Senior Brother… Just hear me out first…"

"Shut your mouth."

"…!"

"It's not time for your tongue to wag yet."

With an extremely tense look, Eul Sa-jeok kept his lips tightly sealed as if they were locked shut.

Cheol Ryu-heun continued expressionlessly.

"When you've lived so long that counting the years becomes meaningless, you develop the discernment to see through a person's character."

At those words, Eul Sa-jeok was inwardly dumbfounded.

'Insane… We're the same age, so how long could he possibly have lived?'

Anyone listening would think he was well over a hundred years old.

Swish.

Cheol Ryu-heun's right foot gently rested on the splint wrapped around his opponent's left lower leg.

"Someone like you, blinded by greed and resorting to cunning tricks, will typically become cowardly when faced with crisis."

The moment those words ended.

Crack-!

The splint cracked and shattered, and the shin bone that had barely been fixed became misaligned again.

"Aaargh! Aaaaargh! Aaaaaargh!"

While Eul Sa-jeok screamed in agony, Cheol Ryu-heun spoke without any change in his expression.

"Next is the right one."

"Ugh, uhhhk… P-Please… Have mercy…!"

"I've already shown you mercy. I've kept you alive, haven't I?"

"…!"

"Look me straight in the eye."

At Cheol Ryu-heun's cold voice, Eul Sa-jeok looked at his face.

An emotionless, dry gaze.

The moment Eul Sa-jeok saw it, he was seized by fear.

'Gah, those eyes… He might just kill me without thinking twice…!'

Cheol Ryu-heun warned while maintaining his gaze.

"From now on, answer without trying to be clever. I won't say it twice."

"Y-Yes, yes!"

"The poison pill – who gave it to you?"

"Th-That was… I was blinded by greed and acted alone…"

Cheol Ryu-heun's foot stomped down on the opponent's right splint with a crash.

Screams rang out once again.

Eul Sa-jeok's facial muscles trembled uncontrollably from the pain.

'Ugh… Damn it… If I really die like this…'

Thus, from his terror-stricken mouth, the truth about the mastermind came spilling out.

"Th-Thousand Snake Gang! It's the Thousand Snake Gang! That gang leader… provided the poison pill!"

"White Snake Head Sword?"

"Yes! Th-That's right! It's him!"

Gul Ma-hun, the gang leader of the Thousand Snake Gang, known as White Snake Head Sword.

An unorthodox martial artist called the leader of the cunning snake horde and a renowned swordsman within Hunan Province.

At that moment, Cheol Ryu-heun muttered with a disappointed look.

"The mastermind is just a snake head?"