Chapter 227 – The Sand Castle is Swept Away by Strong Waves (2)

!

Cho Yeon-woon stepped forward.

"Master!"

"It's been a while."

A middle-aged man holding a large flag stood in front of the main gate of the Shouzhou branch.

With disheveled hair like a magpie's nest, tattered clothes that seemed to have been patched up a hundred times, and a large sword on his waist – there was nothing ordinary about this middle-aged man.

This was Jang Il-san, Cho Yeon-woon's master. The flag he was holding was called the Flag of Hundred Victories, the pride and symbol of the Hundred Battles Sect.

Wherever the Flag of Hundred Victories was, that was the Hundred Battles Sect.

The hundreds of martial artists lined up behind Jang Il-san were all elites of the Hundred Battles Sect. It was as if the entire Hundred Battles Sect had moved here.

They chattered freely as they looked at Cho Yeon-woon.

"It's been a while, Young Sect Leader."

"I heard you beat Nine Martial Dragons? We can't even call him Drunken Dragon anymore. Ah! The good times are gone."

"Still, Drunken Dragon suits our Young Sect Leader. He is really charming when his eyes are hazy from drinking."

"Bah! That's just like rotten fish eyes. Look closely. Don't his eyes look unfocused even now?"

The elites of the Hundred Battles Sect chattered noisily as they looked at Cho Yeon-woon.

Cho Yeon-woon's expression twisted at their rude behavior, which lacked even a speck of manners.

"Damn it! To think I have to see these unlucky faces again."

"Hahaha! Why? We're just happy to see you."

"Happy my ass."

Cho Yeon-woon spat on the ground. But her expression wasn't too displeased.

Jang Il-san smiled as he looked at Cho Yeon-woon.

"You must have had a hard time leading the disciples all this while."

"It wasn't that difficult. But did you bring all your forces here?"

"Of course. The fate of the martial world will be decided here."

"Well, welcome anyway."

"You've done well too."

Master and disciple looked at each other with passionate eyes.

Jang Il-san's whole body was overflowing with more vigor than ever before. He smelled the scent of battlefield here.

Jang Il-san turned to look at the disciples of the Hundred Battles Sect he had brought and said,

"This is our battlefield. We will fight here prepared to bury our bones. Are you all ready?"

"Of course, Sect Leader."

"We are prepared to die."

The disciples of the Hundred Battles Sect shouted loudly. They had shown a disorderly appearance just moments ago, but now they displayed a resolute attitude, completely different from before.

Cho Yeon-woon smiled slightly.

This was the true face of the Hundred Battles Sect. While they lived more freely than anyone else normally, they showed a wolf-like appearance baring their teeth in front of the Demonic cult, their mortal enemy.

Jang Il-san shouted,

"Good! We'll establish our base here. Everyone move!"

"Yes!"

The disciples of the Hundred Battles Sect moved in perfect unison with a resounding answer.

Jang Il-san threw the huge Flag of Hundred Victories he was holding to Cho Yeon-woon.

Thud!

A puzzled expression appeared on Cho Yeon-woon's face as he caught the Flag of Hundred Victories without thinking.

"Why this?"

"Do you expect me to carry it around at my age? You carry it from now on."

"Mas…ter!"

Cho Yeon-woon's eyes wavered at the unexpected words.

The Flag of Hundred Victories was the sacred object symbolizing the Hundred Battles Sect. Handing over the Flag of Hundred Victories meant that he trusted Cho Yeon-woon that much.

Jang Il-san clicked his tongue as he watched Cho Yeon-woon getting emotional.

"No need to be so moved. I can't carry this heavy thing forever, can I? My back hurts too much to hold it for long now."

"Master."

"Still, you did well defeating Nam Hak. I'm glad to see you finally pulling your weight."

With those words of praise, Jang Il-san turned around. He walked inside, leaving Cho Yeon-woon behind.

Left alone, Cho Yeon-woon looked at the Flag of Hundred Victories in her hand.

"I will definitely live up to this flag."

The Flag of Hundred Victories felt as heavy as ten thousand catties. It was the weight of the honor accumulated by the Hundred Battles Sect and the reverence placed on it by the righteous martial artists.

After savoring the Flag of Hundred Victories for a long time, Cho Yeon-woon walked into the Shouzhou branch.

Although it was early morning, many people were walking around the Shouzhou branch. Naturally, their gazes were directed at Cho Yeon-woon.

Among them was Dan Hwa-ran, the leader of the Secret Burial Faction.

Originally tasked with protecting Sage Hyeon-so, she was now in a state of limbo with no particular duties after Sage Hyeon-so left this place with Dam Ho.

"Senior Cho."

"Ah! Miss Dan."

"That thing in your hand, could it be the Hundred Battles…"

"Yes, it's the Flag of Hundred Victories."

"Then did Master Jang come?"

Dan Hwa-ran's eyes widened.

Cho Yeon-woon answered with a smirk,

"Yes! Master has come. He brought all the disciples of the Hundred Battles Sect."

"Ah!"

Dan Hwa-ran let out an exclamation without realizing it.

"Go quickly. Master will want to see Miss Dan too."

"Yes!"

Dan Hwa-ran ran off with an energetic answer. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she stopped and turned around.

"Senior Cho!"

"Hmm?"

"It suits you well."

"What does?"

"That flag, the Flag of Hundred Victories… It suits you well."

Dan Hwa-ran's face was completely flushed red. But she was too far away for Cho Yeon-woon to notice.

Dan Hwa-ran ran off quickly, and Cho Yeon-woon, left alone, smiled.

He didn't feel bad. No, he felt good.

"Hwa-ran."

Strength entered the hand holding the Flag of Hundred Victories.

Meanwhile, someone was watching this scene from afar. The woman with a curvy figure and a face covered by a veil was Eum Yu-gyeong.

"So that's the Flag of Hundred Victories."

A complex light appeared in Eum Yu-gyeong's eyes.

To the righteous martial artists, including the Murim Alliance, the Flag of Hundred Victories was a symbol of glory and victory, but to the martial artists of the Demonic Cult, it meant humiliation and defeat. Even now, most of the martial artists of the Demonic Cult were burning with anger towards the Flag of Hundred Victories.

Although she was said to have a neutral tendency, Eum Yu-gyeong was still a martial artist of the Demonic Cult. She too couldn't feel comfortable seeing the Flag of Hundred Victories.

"Huh!"

Eum Yu-gyeong let out a quiet sigh.

If it becomes known that the Flag of Hundred Victories is here, the Demonic Cult will rush in even more desperately.

"Before that, we must secure the sacred object."

The urgent task was to find the whereabouts of the Hyeondo Sect.

***

Bang Jin-bo came to see Dam Ho.

"Brother!"

His face was full of smiles. Ever since meeting Dam Ho again, he had always been grinning.

Although Hwang Gyeong-mun scolded him, asking if he liked Dam Ho that much, Bang Jin-bo didn't care. He was happy just being under the same sky as Dam Ho.

"What's the matter?"

"Nothing. Can I sit here?"

Bang Jin-bo pointed to the seat next to Dam Ho. Dam Ho nodded, gesturing for him to sit. Bang Jin-bo quickly sat down next to Dam Ho.

"Hehe!"

Laughter burst out naturally. Bang Jin-bo didn't try to hide his laughter. He always became honest in front of Dam Ho.

"How have you been?"

"I've been well. The Chief Strategist and sister have been taking good care of me."

Bang Jin-bo's eyes had deepened quite a bit during this time. Having thought a lot on his own, he had matured that much. Still, Bang Jin-bo always became a child in front of Dam Ho.

"I've also learned martial arts."

"Really?"

"Yes! It's called the Five Elements Gentleman Art… The Chief taught it to me."

Bang Jin-bo said proudly.

After learning the Five Elements Gentleman Art, he was gradually gaining confidence. That confidence was reflected in his expression.

Dam Ho looked at Bang Jin-bo.

Like a child waiting for praise, Bang Jin-bo was looking at Dam Ho with sparkling eyes.

Dam Ho reached out and patted Bang Jin-bo's head.

"Well done."

"Hehe!"

Bang Jin-bo laughed.

Dam Ho's hand was rough and coarse.

It was a fearsome hand that brought death to others, but Bang Jin-bo could feel a streak of warmth in it. He had missed that warmth so much.

"I'll take a look at your martial arts. Show me how you use the Five Elements Gentleman Art."

"Really?"

"Yes!"

"Okay!"

Bang Jin-bo answered energetically and sat cross-legged. Then he started using the Five Elements Gentleman Art.

It had only been a few months since he learned the Five Elements Gentleman Art. His achievement was truly minimal. But Bang Jin-bo used the Five Elements Gentleman Art with all his might.

A faint energy could be felt in his dantian.

'Move.'

Bang Jin-bo moved his qi with a wish.

The Five Elements Gentleman Art literally meant using the five energies of water, wood, fire, earth, and metal. It was important to harmonize the five energies well without leaning towards any one of the five energies.

Dam Ho silently watched Bang Jin-bo using the Five Elements Gentleman Art. He could feel a streak of energy moving.

That energy was too weak. But it was pure. It was a clear and clean energy, as pure as Bang Jin-bo's nature.

Dam Ho grabbed Bang Jin-bo's pulse point. Then the energy inside Bang Jin-bo could be felt more clearly.

'Hot energy. The fire energy is particularly strong.'

Perhaps it was natural.

Bang Jin-bo had been cooking in front of hot stoves since he was young. Without realizing it, he had become accustomed to fire and developed a constitution that easily accepted that energy.

Compared to the fire energy, the other energies were extremely weak. Especially the water energy, which was opposite to fire, was hardly felt.

Dam Ho concentrated his mind even more to feel Bang Jin-bo's power. He could clearly feel the fire energy leading the other energies and circling around the whole body.

Fire energy means ascension. It has a nature that constantly tries to go upwards. Because the fire energy was too strong, the other energies were also drawn to it and headed towards Bang Jin-bo's head. That's why Bang Jin-bo's face turned red as if blood had rushed to it.

"Fire is hot, so it's light and tries to occupy the top, but water is cold, so it's heavy and occupies the bottom. The mind is the same. Hot thoughts like fire go up, and yin and cold reason goes down."

The moment he heard Dam Ho's words, Bang Jin-bo's body trembled. Like rain falling in a drought, Dam Ho's words were precisely hitting the core that Bang Jin-bo had been so desperately seeking.

"The method of gathering water energy is simple. Bringing down cold reason, which will make trees bloom, and trees will root in the earth. Trees will ignite fire, and fire will melt metal, thus completing the cycle of circulation."

Dam Ho didn't know the Five Elements Gentleman Art. But when one martial art reaches its extreme, it's not difficult to penetrate the principles of other martial arts.

That was Dam Ho's current state.

As the Lone Wolf Flow reached its peak, the principles of other martial arts came into view. The Five Elements Gentleman Art was no exception.

Just by observing how Bang Jin-bo was using his qi, he accurately grasped and conveyed the core of the Five Elements Gentleman Art.

Bang Jin-bo's body trembled. Dam Ho's teaching had stirred him.

At that moment, Dam Ho injected his power into Bang Jin-bo's body.

This was a big risk even for Dam Ho. His power, built up with the Dark Soul Heart Technique, had such a destructive nature that it couldn't be carelessly injected into another person's body. That's why Dam Ho had been extremely reluctant to inject his internal energy into others.

But at this moment, he felt like it would be okay somehow. The subtleties of the Dark Soul Heart Technique hadn't particularly changed, but he was strangely full of confidence.

Dam Ho followed his feeling.

He stimulated Bang Jin-bo's Five Elements Gentleman Art with the Dark Soul Heart Technique. In front of the rough and destructive massive energy, the energy built up with the Five Elements Gentleman Art had no choice but to comply.

"Hmm!"

A groan escaped through Bang Jin-bo's lips.

It felt like a huge flame was circling around his whole body. Dam Ho's internal force dragged along the energy of the Five Elements Gentleman Art and burned the impurities accumulated in Bang Jin-bo's body.

The impurities and impure substances blocking the meridians crumbled, unable to withstand Dam Ho's formidable internal force.

Dam Ho was unstoppable.

Water energy was generated against fire energy, wood energy sprouted, earth energy created a foundation. With the addition of metal energy, Bang Jin-bo's Five Elements Gentleman Art finally took on a solid form.

Only then did Dam Ho remove his hand from Bang Jin-bo's pulse point.

The beginning was difficult, but once Dam Ho opened the floodgates, the Five Elements Gentleman Art began to circulate positively.

Even Dam Ho couldn't know how far Bang Jin-bo's achievement would reach. But depending on his efforts, he could reach quite a high level.

When martial arts reach an ascending stage, it will be of great help on the path Bang Jin-bo wants to take.

'You go the path you want to go. Even if that path is thorny. I will do the same…'

His thoughts became clearer.

“Demonic things.”

Taoist Bok-cheon frowned.

“What Flower Snake Divine Woman carries around is a dead child. She carries around a wrapped dead child to bewitch people.”

The Qingcheng sect disciples were shocked.

“Oh my, what mean uncles. Mommy just came to see our baby’s godmother.”

“I told you to get lost…”

A chilling killing intent emanated from Taoist Bok-cheon.

Waaah! Waaah…!

The sound of a startled child crying. No matter how much the Qingcheng sect disciples examined Flower Snake Divine Woman, they couldn’t tell at all that she was using ventriloquism.

“Scram!”

When Taoist Bok-cheon shouted with internal energy, the child’s crying was drowned out and became inaudible.

Flower Snake Divine Woman glared at Taoist Bok-cheon as if he was being too much.

“So damn nitpicky, really.”

“This is not a place for things like you to enter and leave as you please, so get lost right now.”

Remnant Wind Guest spat.

“Kaak! Did the Primordial Heavenly Worthy say to choose people when attaining enlightenment?”

“How dare these evil things mention the Heavenly Worthy!”

Taoist Bok-cheon’s eyebrows rose even more fiercely.

Human Demon Gam Chung spoke while stroking his beard with narrow, slit-like eyes.

“Well, let’s leave it at this for today. We only came to give a light greeting. We’ll come again tomorrow.”

“Don’t come.”

“We’ll keep coming until we can confirm that Fairy Maiden is well.”

“The enchantress is very well. We’ll treat her poison and send her out soon.”

“There’s an old saying not to trust the words of people borrowing money at gambling houses and the words of Qingcheng sect Taoists. To just believe those words and turn back after coming such a long distance…”

Indeed, coming this far while Sichuan’s Three Rivers were watching with bright eyes would not have been an easy task for Evil Sect members.

“I acknowledge your sincerity in coming this far. But don’t come again. If you come next time, you die.”

Human Demon Gam Chung smiled with his narrow eyes.

“We’ll have to see about that. Tomorrow it won’t be just us three. We were just the closest so we came quickly…”

Taoist Bok-cheon felt something strange from their manner of speaking.

Dan Ryeong-gyeong was receiving protection here. She was completely cut off from the outside with no means of communication.

But how did they know to find this place!

Moreover, this wasn’t the end?

Remnant Wind Guest thumped his chest.

“We are all lives saved by Wishful Fairy Maiden. For Fairy Maiden’s sake, even our lives aren’t precious. And there are unexpectedly many such people, more than the Taoist thinks.”

“These things…”

But as if mocking Taoist Bok-cheon, the three people went down the mountain.

The Qingcheng sect disciples looked at Taoist Bok-cheon with worried faces.

“Master Uncle…”

Taoist Bok-cheon’s face was rigidly hardened.

The direction the martial world was moving seemed very suspicious.

Taoist Bok-cheon thought this might be related to Jin Ja-gang. Recently, he had even caused a major incident at the Tang family.

But as he had worried, just the day after Jin Ja-gang returned, such an incident occurred at the Qingcheng sect!

* * *

Dan Ryeong-gyeong was able to stay alone in a hermitage on the peak behind the compound with the Qingcheng sect’s help.

The hermitage was set up in a natural cave with minimal furnishings so she could focus solely on cultivation. They had even provided jars containing Fasting Pills and drinking water.

Dan Ryeong-gyeong sat in lotus position inside the hermitage, preparing for breathing exercises. Because the poison had penetrated so deeply into her qi and blood, it took a full day just to prepare for taking the antidote.

But suddenly Dan Ryeong-gyeong opened her eyes.

The hermitage that the Qingcheng sect had arranged to care for.

There was a human presence in front of this hermitage.

Dan Ryeong-gyeong spoke from inside the hermitage.

“You’ve come.”

Surprisingly, the sound of someone clearing their throat “ahem ahem” came from outside.

“Am I disturbing you?”

But for being a disturbance, it was exquisitely after all the dangerous periods had passed.

It was just before finishing the breathing exercises and taking the antidote. He already knew and had come.

“Please come in for a moment.”

“Excuse me.”

The one who entered the hermitage was none other than Venerable Woo-am.

Despite being sixty years old, he had smooth skin and even his beard was still half black.

Venerable Woo-am entered the hermitage with a red cloth tied over his eyes and leaning on a staff. Dan Ryeong-gyeong also stood up and properly greeted Venerable Woo-am with courtesy.

“I am very grateful that the Qingcheng sect has been so considerate of me.”

Venerable Woo-am smiled and answered.

“Could you think of it not as consideration from the sect called Qingcheng, but as consideration from an old friend and individual?”

“I didn’t expect you to come personally.”

Dan Ryeong-gyeong’s tone was calm and quiet.

“Heh heh.”

Venerable Woo-am laughed as if embarrassed.

“At this age, I’m still not shameless enough, so I came secretly on foot. It’s truly embarrassing.”

“You were always like that before, Venerable. Perhaps coming here was not a choice of your own will either.”

Venerable Woo-am scratched his head.

“Primordial Heavenly Worthy. You know well. If Taoist Bok-cheon hadn’t pushed my back, I probably wouldn’t have had the courage to come until you left.”

Pity swirled in Dan Ryeong-gyeong’s eyes as she looked at Venerable Woo-am.

“If I had known I’d see you, I would have dressed up a bit.”

“What does it matter when I can’t see anyway?”

“I’ve aged a lot too.”

“The you I remember is still the flower-like appearance of an eighteen-year-old maiden, so don’t even think of describing a wrinkled face with words. I’ll remember only that appearance until I ascend to immortality.”

For the highest elder of the Taoist sect Qingcheng, it was informal and friendly speech.

However, the atmosphere was somewhat awkward, with some disparity from the tone.

Venerable Woo-am asked to change the atmosphere.

“I heard the story. That you lost an arm. Is your body alright?”

“If I were alright, I wouldn’t be here.”

“I meant to ask if it doesn’t hurt.”

“It hurts, but perhaps this too is the result of predetermined fate.”

“To think you were harmed by Silent Dragon, the adopted son of Golden Sword Heavenly Blade.”

Venerable Woo-am let out a small sigh.

“At times like this, I think it’s truly fortunate that I can’t see.”

After pausing briefly, Venerable Woo-am said.

“Because I don’t have to see your painful appearance.”

Dan Ryeong-gyeong’s gaze darkened.

“You were always like that, Venerable. Though both darkness and light belong to the world, you tried not to see the darkness. Whether an arm is cut off or both legs are severed making one a cripple, all of that is me, my appearance.”

There were even some thorns in Dan Ryeong-gyeong’s words.

“It’s not that I dislike seeing darkness, I just dislike seeing you in pain. Because my heart hurts too much.”

“So you self-harmed to avoid seeing the world at all?”

Venerable Woo-am didn’t answer.

Dan Ryeong-gyeong pressed Venerable Woo-am with a fierce tone.

“What about the countless disciples of the Qingcheng sect who look up to you, and you self-harmed! Did you think I would like that? Did you think I would praise you?”

Venerable Woo-am answered gloomily.

“Everything you say is right. I’m actually someone unqualified to be the Qingcheng sect’s leader.”

“Why do you say such frustrating things again! That’s not what I mean!”

Silence flowed in the hermitage for a while.

Dan Ryeong-gyeong let out a long breath.

“I’m sorry for raising my voice. When I heard that you had self-harmed and lost both eyes, my heart also hurt very much. I didn’t know I had caused such great pain to you, Venerable.”

Only then did Venerable Woo-am regain a slight smile.

“Don’t worry about it. Though it was youthful rashness, my feelings toward you were always the same. But back then, I really couldn’t stand the sight of the world.”

“What a person you are, really…”

Dan Ryeong-gyeong sighed again.

“I see. You were always the same, Venerable. Whether in difficult or sad times, you always stayed by my side with a smile. So I think I didn’t appreciate your kindness and behaved very impertinently. I think I should apologize for that even now.”

Venerable Woo-am scratched his head again.

“It’s all in the past.”

“It’s you, Venerable, who can’t forget the affairs of youth and came to find me now.”

“Well…”

Venerable Woo-am thought for a moment, then said.

“Today some Evil Sect members came asking to see Ryeong-ryeong.”

Dan Ryeong-gyeong shook her head.

“Please don’t call me by that name.”

Ryeong-ryeong was Dan Ryeong-gyeong’s childhood name and pet name from her youth.

“I’m sorry.”

“I’ll leave. I can’t cause any more trouble for the Qingcheng sect.”

“I won’t allow it.”

“I wish to leave of my own will.”

“You’ve taken the antidote and opened all your body’s qi and blood to expel the poison. If you move now, it will become irreversible.”

“Whether I leave or die like this is my decision, so please don’t interfere anymore.”

“Thirty years ago I retreated at those words, but not now. And if you leave like this and die as a stranger, we too will be in a difficult position.”

“Are you trying to deceive me?”

Dan Ryeong-gyeong pierced sharply.

“Contrary to what you just said, if I leave and die, the Qingcheng sect won’t be misunderstood as having a relationship with me. If my friends keep coming to find me, the Qingcheng sect will become the subject of gossip.”

Venerable Woo-am let out an awkward laugh.

“Well now. Then and now, you’re still too smart for your own good.”

“But being intoxicated by my own cleverness, I lacked an eye for men and ended up in this state and condition.”

“Just like thirty years ago, you’re still like a beautiful orchid flower. Nothing has changed enough to call it ‘this state.'”

Dan Ryeong-gyeong couldn’t help but laugh.

“Someone who can’t even see says such things?”

“I told you. I always have only the flower-like appearance left in me.”

“People of the world will mock.”

Venerable Woo-am also continued with a laugh.

“That’s why I have to keep you here until you’re completely healed so they won’t mock. Hide you so tightly that no one can see. I am the leader of Qingcheng after all. It seems someone is thinking of using you to slander Qingcheng, but I want to show that it’s not so easy.”

Dan Ryeong-gyeong sighed.

“Yesterday, I saw Poison Dragon and the Tang family child sharing their hearts.”

“I heard too.”

“What do you think?”

“It’s a mess, what else. The Tang family was the mastermind behind annihilating the Medicine Sect, yet a descendant of the Medicine Sect formed affection with a Tang family child.”

“……”

“Ah, that wasn’t the answer you wanted? Heh heh.”

“I was just envious.”

“You were… envious?”

“If I too could have had such courage… if I had, wouldn’t things have been a little better? I thought about whether my life would have been happier than now if I had to go back to the past and make that choice again.”

“It’s not too late yet.”

Venerable Woo-am said.

“Past actions can’t be undone, but the heart can always be turned back.”

“I said the same thing to that child. But I myself couldn’t do it. If…”

Dan Ryeong-gyeong paused briefly, then said.

“If I said I would forgive him.”

At that moment, the smile disappeared from Venerable Woo-am’s face.

Dan Ryeong-gyeong asked again.

“Then could you forgive me, Venerable?”

Then a smile slowly appeared on Venerable Woo-am’s face.

“That talk doesn’t make sense. I’ve never thought I hated you or committed enough sin to need forgiveness. But even so, if you regret the past and say you’ll come back…”

Dan Ryeong-gyeong said.

“Answer well. Right now, senior brother is the leader of the Qingcheng sect. Many people won’t let senior brother do as he pleases.”

“Ryeong-ryeong.”

Venerable Woo-am answered with a gentle smile.

“I am tremendously strong. The strongest in the Qingcheng sect. Even if I were to quit being sect leader, what bastard would dare object to me?”