Chapter 182

Chapter 182: The Age of Dragons and Tigers (1)

"How are you feeling?"

"I feel wonderful."

To Geom-yul-cheon's question, Myeong-cheon answered thus.

Myeong-cheon wore a bright smile. At the sight of it, Geom-yul-cheon also broke into a wide grin.

Geom-yul-cheon reached out and vigorously ruffled Myeong-cheon's hair. His hair became disheveled, but Myeong-cheon did not let the smile leave his face.

Looking at this enormous man before him brought a peace to his heart that nothing else could. More than a decade ago, even in that hellish place, he had followed only this man before him. And it was thanks to that that he had escaped that hell.

"Thank you, Elder Brother."

"What is there to thank? A elder brother looks after his younger brother—that is all there is to it."

"But if it were not for you, Elder Brother, I would not have lived until now."

"Tch! Nonsense. Put such thoughts out of your mind and devote yourself fully to recovering. We were fortunate that fate smiled upon us and you were freed from the illness, but you are not yet fully healed."

"Yes!"

Myeong-cheon answered with vigor.

At that moment, the old man who had been tending to Myeong-cheon opened the door and entered. His eyes were red-rimmed as he gazed at Myeong-cheon.

"Young Master, you have truly recovered?"

"I have! I am fully recovered now. So do not worry, Ya-no."

"That is truly a relief. Truly…"

The old man called Ya-no could hold back no longer and tears fell from his eyes. At the sight, Geom-yul-cheon clicked his tongue.

"Tch!"

"My apologies, Young Master."

"It is fine! I have always known that Ya-no is a man of deep feeling."

"You have worked exceedingly hard."

"Worked hard? It was simply what needed to be done."

Geom-yul-cheon scratched his head with an awkward expression. Ya-no watched him with eyes full of respect.

He had first met Geom-yul-cheon some twenty years ago. At the time, Geom-yul-cheon was merely a boy of twelve or so.

At an age when ordinary children could barely distinguish right from wrong, he had been thrown into a hellish place. In that hell where even his own survival was not guaranteed, Geom-yul-cheon had protected those weaker than himself.

Myeong-cheon had been one of those children. He had been especially frail, the child most likely to perish.

Though burdened enough simply caring for himself, Geom-yul-cheon had shielded Myeong-cheon to the very end and escaped that hell. And today, he had finally cured Myeong-cheon completely.

Even his connection with the previous Divine Physician had ultimately been for the sake of healing Myeong-cheon. When the previous Divine Physician died, Geom-yul-cheon had extended the connection to his disciple, finally freeing Myeong-cheon from the grip of illness.

Throughout that process, the tenacity and far-sighted grand strategy that Geom-yul-cheon had displayed were enough to make even Ya-no, who had watched him for so long, shudder with awe.

'What on earth are his limits…'

Ya-no felt goosebumps rising across his entire body and shuddered.

He had watched Geom-yul-cheon for twenty years, yet he could not begin to fathom where his limits lay.

At that moment, Myeong-cheon spoke.

"From now on, I will share some of the burden that you carry, Elder Brother."

"There is much you must do henceforth."

"I know."

"You rascal!"

Geom-yul-cheon struck Myeong-cheon's shoulder a couple of times.

Myeong-cheon was what people commonly called a genius. He possessed a remarkably sharp mind and never forgot anything he had seen once.

Above all, his judgment of situations was swift, and his ability to predict the future was extraordinary. Thanks to this, it was impossible to count how many times he had averted crisis.

Myeong-cheon's greatest weakness had always been his frail body, ravaged by illness. Because of it, he had been unable to engage in proper activity. But now that he had shed that illness, he could finally begin his work in earnest.

It was then.

"Haha! I hear our youngest has recovered?"

A man threw open the door and strode in.

Strapped to his back was a black armor that gleamed like the tail feathers of a peacock—it was none other than Shin Mu-wol. At his appearance, Myeong-cheon's face brightened.

"Second Brother!"

"Oh? Look at that color in your face. You have truly recovered."

Shin Mu-wol pulled Myeong-cheon into a fierce embrace.

Myeong-cheon did not resist but simply closed his eyes as he rested in Shin Mu-wol's arms. Shin Mu-wol patted his back for a long while.

"You rascal, you need to put on some weight. Look at you—nothing but bones."

"I will eat more from now on and put on some flesh."

"Yes! That is what you should do."

Shin Mu-wol's eyes reddened slightly.

He held back his tears and looked at Geom-yul-cheon. Geom-yul-cheon gazed at him in silence. Shin Mu-wol bowed his head deeply.

"Elder Brother."

"Yes?"

"You have worked exceedingly hard."

"You have worked hard as well."

"At last, all of us are finally gathered. It has taken fifteen long years…"

"Yes! It has been a long time."

"It is a pity that Martial Sister is not here. If she were, we could have held a proper celebration."

Shin Mu-wol wore a regretful expression.

"She has gone to Shouzhou. And I too shall go to Shouzhou."

"Why Shouzhou?"

"Deng Cheon-so has gone there."

"Deng Cheon-so? You do not mean the Blood Sea Judge?"

"That is correct."

"Mad!"

A curse flew from Shin Mu-wol's lips. And Geom-yul-cheon understood his feelings.

"It is also possible that, depending on the situation, So Cheon-sang may head there as well."

"The Ten-Li Reaper? That murderous madman as well? Damn it! The Cult Leader has truly lost his mind."

Both Deng Cheon-so and So Cheon-sang were rumored to be the most ruthless killers within the Demonic Cult. Not a single person who had fallen into their hands had met a decent end.

More critically, both Deng Cheon-so and So Cheon-sang possessed martial arts that enabled mass slaughter. If they moved, it meant that a terrible massacre was about to unfold.

"The Cult Leader has made his decision. If things go awry, an irreversible catastrophe will occur."

"Damn it!"

"Mu-wol, your mission is the most important."

"I understand. But their trail is maddeningly elusive. They slip away like eels just when you think you have them."

"Hmm!"

"I cannot manage it alone."

"Myeong-cheon!"

At Shin Mu-wol's response, Geom-yul-cheon called Myeong-cheon.

"Yes! Elder Brother."

"The moment you have fully recovered, move together with Mu-wol. Find a way to ensnare them."

"As it happens, I already have a method in mind."

"Truly?"

Shin Mu-wol's face lit up.

Could this be what rain felt like after a long drought? Because he knew Myeong-cheon's abilities better than anyone, his delight was all the greater.

"I have been unable to earn my keep, so I must at least do this much."

"My, what a fine fellow you are!"

Shin Mu-wol embraced Myeong-cheon fiercely once more. Myeong-cheon's face flushed crimson.

"Ugh! Brother, I cannot breathe."

"Right! One must not stop breathing. In any case, thank you."

Ya-no watched the scene with a smile.

These people, firmly united around Geom-yul-cheon.

Twenty years ago, such a sight would have been utterly inconceivable. If someone had told him back then that they would one day be so tightly bound together, he would have been called a madman.

At that moment, Shin Mu-wol spoke.

"Oh, I heard you clashed with the Fist Demon."

"That is correct."

"How was he?"

Shin Mu-wol's eyes were filled with curiosity.

"Powerful."

"How powerful?"

"An opponent who demands everything one has."

"Is he that strong?"

A look of shock spread across Shin Mu-wol's face.

Geom-yul-cheon was the strongest person he knew. Not only in martial arts, but in temperament, in spirit, and as a man himself.

That was why Shin Mu-wol had acknowledged him and served him as Elder Brother. He could not accept anyone above Geom-yul-cheon.

He had known that Dam Ho was strong. He had surmised as much since the time his Martial Sister, Eum Yu-gyeong, had been inconvenienced. But that his Elder Brother, Geom-yul-cheon, would acknowledge him as an equal—that he truly had not expected.

"I do not know how he attained such strength within the Heaven Vault Jade, but he is powerful. Excluding the Four Messengers, the Cult Leader, and the Four Great Generals, there are not many who could face him head-on and emerge victorious."

"Mad!"

"Yes! A level of power that is truly mad."

Geom-yul-cheon suddenly glanced down at his hand.

The saber that had clashed with Dam Ho was shattered, and his gauntlet was torn nearly in half. It had been quite some time since he had sustained such wounds.

"Then what of the saber?"

"It is broken."

"Tch! That famous blade…"

"It was merely an object from beyond the heavens. There is no reason to be attached to it. I have no particular need for a saber."

"But…"

"He is a man worth that much."

At Geom-yul-cheon's reply, Shin Mu-wol let out a low murmur. In all his twenty-odd years of knowing Geom-yul-cheon, he had never once heard him praise anyone so highly.

'Had I known, I should have settled it then.'

A pang of regret suddenly washed over him.

Geom-yul-cheon, sensing Shin Mu-wol's thoughts, spoke.

"Stop worrying about Dam Ho. Focus your efforts on finding them."

"I understand."

"And Ya-no."

"At your service."

"Please assist Yu-gyeong."

"You mean for me to go to Shouzhou?"

"Yes. Once I have finished my affairs here, I too shall go to Shouzhou."

"I understand. Then I shall depart immediately."

"Hmm!"

Geom-yul-cheon nodded and gazed out the window.

Rumble!

A thunderstorm had erupted without warning. Lightning struck, and the windows rattled violently in the fierce wind.

'Dam Ho.'

Watching the storm, that man came suddenly to mind.

Dam Ho resembled a thunderstorm.

He crashed forward without restraint, never once retreating.

'If it is him…'