Chapter 11 – Guests

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read more at Nineheavens.org

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Chapter 11 – Guests

The White Peak Sword Sect disciples had finished their lunch and were resting, gathered in small groups under the eaves of the dining hall.

The morning group members each wore expressions of relief as they chatted about various things.

In contrast, the afternoon group members had dark expressions and weren't even having simple conversations.

They were trying to save even the strength for speaking in preparation for the living hell that would begin shortly.

Hyeop Mu-geuk looked at the afternoon group and encouraged them.

"Everyone cheer up. Isn't this the last day?"

Normally, training would be postponed during rainy weather, but today was an exception.

Earlier, Hyeop Mu-geuk had firmly stated his intention to proceed regardless.

Of course, there was a reason.

It was because he believed that Cheol Ryu-heun, who had assured Bone Replacement and Marrow Cleansing, surely couldn't have devised such a peculiar body tempering method without any thought.

'The Young Sect Master surely arranged for something to be gained through this grueling process. Hmm, speaking of which… when will he arrive?'

Just then.

Crash-!

A heavy sound like something colliding echoed from the northern gate, and even the vibration of part of the wall collapsing could be detected.

At the unexpected commotion, the disciples' expressions changed completely.

"What is it!"

"A-An attack…?"

As befitting the sect's Chief Supervisor, Hyeop Mu-geuk swiftly issued commands without any confusion.

"Everyone, grab your swords and follow me!"

Then he separately designated two young men with instructions.

"You go watch Eul Sa-jeok in the storage, and you hurry to the Elder!"

"Yes, Chief Supervisor!"

The moment the two answered in unison and hurriedly disappeared around the dining hall corner, all the disciples grabbed their swords and formed ranks.

Thus, about a hundred people led by Hyeop Mu-geuk began rushing northward.

* * *

The spacious garden on the north side of White Peak Sword Sect's grounds.

"Whoa, whoa."

When Cheol Ryu-heun, who had broken through the wall to enter, yanked the reins, the horse threw back its head and came to an abrupt stop while scraping the wet ground.

The connected cart was pulled forward, lifting up before dropping down with a thud.

Tae Sa-ja, who had been suffering from motion sickness all this time, finally stuck his neck out over the railing and began retching.

"Blegh, blegh… Bleegh…"

Cheol Ryu-heun dismounted from the horse and said bluntly while looking at him.

"How disgusting."

Tae Sa-ja exploded with rage internally while retching.

'Hey, you damned bastard! This is all because of you!'

Soon, Cheol Ryu-heun gazed at the gaping hole in the wall.

"Made it just in time."

Suddenly, countless splashing footsteps could be heard from behind, and the White Peak Sword Sect disciples came rushing breathlessly.

"Who… Oh? Young Sect Master!"

At Hyeop Mu-geuk's surprised cry, Cheol Ryu-heun turned his head and expressionlessly gestured.

"Save the greetings – just prepare to receive the guests."

At the abruptly thrown words, the bewildered disciples' gazes soon shifted toward the cart.

'Guests? Could it be those people?'

Currently, except for one person who was retching, everyone in the cart was unconscious as if dead.

Something was strange.

From their attire alone, they gave off a distinct ruffian vibe – no matter how you looked at it, they didn't seem like guests.

Soon, Cheol Ryu-heun shook his head slightly.

"Not them."

"Pardon?"

When Hyeop Mu-geuk asked with wide eyes, Cheol Ryu-heun replied as if it were no big deal.

"They're just workers."

While Hyeop Mu-geuk and the others were repeatedly bewildered, Tae Sa-ja flared up with narrowed eyes.

'What is this crazy bastard saying! Who said I was a worker!'

In that instant.

Whoosh-whoosh-whoosh, whoosh-whoosh-whoosh-!

A series of sharp wind sounds cut through the steady rain and reached the disciples' ears.

'Enemies?'

The startled Hyeop Mu-geuk reflexively placed his hand on his sword hilt.

At that moment, Cheol Ryu-heun spoke in an indifferent voice.

"There they are, the guests."

Sure enough, from beyond the collapsed wall, dark figures surged in like waves along with their presence.

Whoosh, swoosh, whoosh-!

Instantly, the disciples' pupils rippled with transparent waves.

It was because they immediately recognized the identity of the person wearing the rain hat at the front.

'The Thousand Snake Gang leader!'

Gul Ma-hun, who had barged into the garden, immediately stopped moving upon spotting a certain young man ahead.

'…!'

When he, their leader, suddenly stopped, his subordinates also fell in line behind him.

Gul Ma-hun's eyes showed great disturbance.

'This can't be.'

It was hard to believe.

That Young Sect Master Cheol Ryu-heun, who had been a vegetative person until now, had awakened.

The poison pill he had given Eul Sa-jeok before, the so-called Scentless Soul-Sealing Pill, was nearly impossible to detoxify on one's own if taken periodically.

Even if a renowned physician came to treat him, figuring out the cause was no easy task.

And yet.

How on earth had Cheol Ryu-heun overcome the toxicity of the Scentless Soul-Sealing Pill and regained consciousness?

Questions upon questions circled through his mind.

While the Thousand Snake Gang members wore incomprehensible expressions, Cheol Ryu-heun frowned.

"Why did you come in through there when there's a perfectly good gate?"

At those words, Gul Ma-hun felt an ominous premonition.

The opponent's attitude of remaining perfectly composed without a flicker of expression was deeply suspicious.

'Could he have known we would come?'

If he hadn't foreseen this surprise attack, he couldn't possibly act so calmly like that.

Meanwhile, Hyeop Mu-geuk immediately grasped the situation and was inwardly amazed.

'Incredible. He really appeared here…! Could the Young Sect Master have already seen through everything!'

He never imagined that the words about Gul Ma-hun coming on his own would be realized in this manner.

The current intention of the Thousand Snake Gang was crystal clear.

Silencing.

Yes, an extermination operation.

They must have sensed that something had happened to Eul Sa-jeok and brought their elite forces here.

Befitting a faction of ill repute, they clearly intended to thoroughly disregard justification and crush them with force.

Not only were they emanating thick killing intent and fighting spirit, but they had even drawn their swords – there was nothing more to assess.

Cheol Ryu-heun cut straight to the point.

"You came to kill everyone. What's there to hesitate about?"

At that, one of Gul Ma-hun's eyebrows twitched up.

An excessive composure unbefitting someone facing a crisis.

A bluff?

No.

By his estimation, it seemed they had prepared some kind of countermeasure in anticipation of this attack.

'They have something to rely on. Nine out of ten.'

He had discussed things with Eul Sa-jeok before.

-If there's no contact for more than three or four days, I'll assume something happened to you and the plan was exposed, and I'll personally launch a surprise attack on White Peak Sword Sect. So you just faithfully carry out your assigned task. Understood?

He didn't know how Cheol Ryu-heun had recovered, but he had most likely secured testimony about it.

If that was the case, the only option the declining White Peak Sword Sect could immediately prepare was to seek cooperation from another martial school and borrow their fighting force.

However, here there were only about a hundred White Peak Sword Sect disciples including Hyeop Mu-geuk, and no other presence was detected whatsoever.

Besides, the strange group by the cart over there – except for one person – were all lying down as if asleep, so they didn't seem worth worrying about.

That made it all the more puzzling.

There was no noticeable supporting force, so why was Cheol Ryu-heun's demeanor so relaxed…

He had no choice but to find out for himself.

Gul Ma-hun added pressure to the five fingers gripping his sword hilt and his eyes flashed.

"Since things have come to this… blood must be seen by one side or the other."

His murderous gaze conveyed his purpose.

At that moment, Cheol Ryu-heun addressed the disciples gathered beside him.

"Stand by for now."

Then he walked forward step by step.

When Hyeop Mu-geuk tried to quickly follow.

"It's an order."

At Cheol Ryu-heun's resolute voice, Hyeop Mu-geuk had no choice but to halt.

Suddenly, a sound penetrated his ears.

<I'll handle this myself, so put away your needless worries.>

It was Cheol Ryu-heun.

He had used the Sound Transmission technique to secretly convey his words through internal energy.

Hyeop Mu-geuk was momentarily seized by a strange thrill.

'This can't be – the Young Sect Master is using Sound Transmission proficiently…!'

Before becoming a vegetative person, Cheol Ryu-heun originally didn't have the ability to perform Secret Sound Transmission.

Setting aside whether he had learned the technique, his basic internal energy level itself didn't reach that standard.

But now he had used the Sound Transmission technique secretly and precisely.

That meant his martial cultivation had advanced by leaps and bounds while he was staying somewhere.

'He achieved Bone Replacement and Marrow Cleansing!'

By then, Cheol Ryu-heun had stepped about ten paces forward and was pointing at Gul Ma-hun, who stood a jang's distance away, with a jerk of his chin.

"Looking at it, you seem to have gathered the usable ones from the Thousand Snake Gang, but it was pointless."

Suddenly, a middle-aged swordsman from the opposing camp stepped forward and responded on Gul Ma-hun's behalf.

"If you heard everything from Eul Sa-jeok… I'm curious what preparations you made anticipating our arrival."

It was Vice Gang Leader Vicious Poison Snake Sword Geum Ja-jeom.

Right after, Cheol Ryu-heun shrugged his shoulders lightly.

"I didn't hear about any attack though?"

"What?"

"Don't be so surprised. When you've lived boringly long, you gain a certain degree of foresight."

Geum Ja-jeom looked dumbfounded.

He says he's lived boringly long.

What nonsense is this guy spouting when he's barely twenty years old?

Cheol Ryu-heun continued speaking without paying him any mind.

"Not knowing what countermeasures I've prepared must make you uneasy. But as you can see, this is everyone gathered here. There are no ambushes."

"What's the reason for revealing that so readily?"

At Geum Ja-jeom's question, Cheol Ryu-heun folded his arms and asked in return.

"Seeing blood is fine, but is there any need for a bunch of people to get tangled up and roll around?"

"What do you mean?"

"I'll make you a proposal that will perk up your ears."

Hearing Cheol Ryu-heun's words, Geum Ja-jeom turned his gaze back.

Making eye contact, Gul Ma-hun showed great interest as he gestured and spoke quietly.

"Let's hear it."

Cheol Ryu-heun immediately said without changing expression.

"How about settling this matter with a one-on-one duel?"

At that, the expressions of the Thousand Snake Gang members led by Gul Ma-hun changed completely.

A one-on-one duel – it was a proposal no one had expected.

Soon, a low laugh escaped from between Gul Ma-hun's lips.

"Ha, ha, haha… Hahaha! Hahahaha!"

Geum Ja-jeom also started laughing loudly along with him.

It was clearly mockery.

Conversely, the White Peak Sword Sect disciples turned pale.

'He… He's going to fight White Snake Head Sword? What is he planning to do?'

Cheol Ryu-heun spoke in a dry voice.

"Save the laughter for after you beat me."

In that instant, Gul Ma-hun lightly waved his left hand with a smile still on his face.

A hand signal.

Seeing that, Geum Ja-jeom charged while operating his internal energy and kicked off the rain-soaked ground.

Pak!

A distinctive lightness technique like a snake sliding forward.

In an instant, he reached Cheol Ryu-heun and thrust the sword in his right hand.

Shwaaak-!

A sharp piercing sound created by the nimble sword-drawing stance.

But then.

Clang!

The moment a harsh metallic sound burst out, Geum Ja-jeom's upper body bent sharply backward.

"Urk!"

Before anyone knew it, Cheol Ryu-heun had unfolded his arms, drawn the Gan Jiang, and swung it.

Moreover.

Shwing!

A swift counterattack followed.

Crash-!

Geum Ja-jeom, who had barely managed to block with his sword, was appalled at the prickling pain assaulting his wrist.

'Gah!'

Could Cheol Ryu-heun's sword power really be this formidable?

He couldn't believe it.

This was a situation that defied common sense.

The Gan Jiang surged toward his front in the blink of an eye.

Shwaa-shwing!

A sword momentum like a massive mountain range crashing forward all at once.

Geum Ja-jeom desperately raised his sword and concentrated his power.

Ka-clang- Boom!

A haze spreading circularly from the sword tips, and raindrops scattering like a whirlwind.

"Gaaaaah!"

Letting out a sharp scream, Geum Ja-jeom scraped the garden floor with both feet as he was violently pushed backward.

Footprints carved long into the ground, demonstrating the power of the sword momentum.

Grab!

Gul Ma-hun swiftly extended his left hand and caught Geum Ja-jeom's body as he reached him.

"Gugh…"

A thin stream of blood trickled down from the corner of his mouth.

A sign of internal injury.

A quiet shockwave swept through the area.

Before Cheol Ryu-heun's shocking martial prowess, both the Thousand Snake Gang members and White Peak Sword Sect disciples were left speechless.

At that moment.

Cheol Ryu-heun, holding the Gan Jiang at a slant, swept back his wet hair with his left hand.

"The underlings should stay out of this."

Then he looked at Gul Ma-hun with a grin.

"Try laughing again, snake head."