Chapter 49 – Departure

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read more at Nineheavens.org

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Chapter 49 – Departure

"Sect Master, he's the Vice Gang Leader of the Thousand Snake Gang."

At Yeop Hwon's words, Cheol Ryu-heun replied disinterestedly.

"Oh, is that so? I didn't know since he's in casual clothes."

At that, Du Cheong quickly put both hands together in front of his chest and introduced himself.

"Sect Master Cheol, allow me to greet you formally. I'm Du Cheong, the new Vice Gang Leader."

"Were you there too back then?"

At Cheol Ryu-heun's dry question, Du Cheong scratched the back of his head with a shrinking demeanor.

"Y-Yes. I was there at the unfortunate incident the other day as well. Of course, you probably don't remember…"

"Yeah, I don't remember. There were too many heads at the time."

"The new Gang Leader ordered me to take this opportunity to offer sincere apologies once again. We are truly sorry. Everyone is deeply reflecting on their mistakes."

"Whatever."

Before Cheol Ryu-heun's insincere attitude, Du Cheong mentally cursed him out.

'Gah, arrogant bastard! Was that a dog barking? Huh? Even so, when someone speaks, at least pretend to listen!'

Regardless, Cheol Ryu-heun maintained an uninterested expression throughout.

"Must be nice."

"Pardon?"

"You got the Vice Gang Leader position thanks to me."

His tone implied that someone without the ability had profited by accident.

"Ah, yes. Well… Ahaha… Hah… Hah… I-I suppose so."

Du Cheong put on an awkward smile while cursing again internally.

'Damn it, he's openly mocking me! That's right, enjoy your arrogance! You'll definitely die by our hands before long!'

Cheol Ryu-heun then pointed with his chin at the bundle the other was holding.

"Did you bring money?"

"Yes, here…"

Du Cheong quickly placed the bundle on the desk and spoke in a suggestive tone.

"Would a true man carelessly break a promise? First, we urgently liquidated ten large establishments our gang had managed to prepare about half the reparation. And we've also included several gifts, including a jade disc from the Western Regions. I hope you'll be pleased."

An attitude clearly showing he hoped to be looked upon favorably.

But Cheol Ryu-heun, with a dispassionate face showing no emotion, beckoned with one hand.

Meaning to come closer.

When Du Cheong approached the desk.

"Pick up the brush."

At Cheol Ryu-heun's command-like words, Du Cheong picked up the brush from the inkstone in confusion.

"Here, write on this paper. As I dictate."

"Pardon? Ah, yes."

"Idiots, don't get cocky."

"You want me to write… that?"

"Yeah."

At that, not only Du Cheong but even Yeop Hwon was puzzled.

What, why?

Cheol Ryu-heun completely ignored them and said.

"Just write it."

"Ah, understood."

Du Cheong, not understanding why, wrote one line of text exactly as he had said.

"Done."

With those words, Cheol Ryu-heun gestured for him to leave now.

Du Cheong, having put down the brush, carefully asked while reading the mood.

"Um… By the way, where is the sword?"

"There."

Cheol Ryu-heun suddenly pointed to one side with his finger.

A single sword could be seen leaning against the side of the desk.

The Liver and Intestines Sword.

In that instant, Du Cheong inwardly screamed in frustration.

'Not that one, damn! Who asked about your sword? I'm asking about the previous Gang Leader's divine weapon!'

Suppressing his anger, he spoke again.

"Sect Master Cheol, what I mean is, I was asking about the White Fang, which symbolizes the Gang Leader position of our gang."

Cheol Ryu-heun tilted his head.

"Why?"

As if asking why he would want such a thing.

Du Cheong's face showed dismay as he flinched.

"Huh? W-Well obviously… To get it back…"

"Says who?"

At Cheol Ryu-heun's casual reply, Du Cheong became even more dismayed.

"Didn't you promise last time?"

"Me?"

"Yes. You clearly said at that time that you would only hold the White Fang as collateral for the time being…"

"Yeah, I did."

"But then…?"

"It's collateral, just like I said. You have to bring the rest of the money before I'll give it to you."

"Th-That can't be…"

"Your memory is bad. Did I ever specify half the reparation as the return condition back then?"

"…!"

Du Cheong was speechless.

That's right.

At that time, Cheol Ryu-heun had only said he would hold it as collateral and hadn't clearly stated any other conditions.

"You misunderstood my words on your own – that's your fault."

At those words, Du Cheong clenched both fists tight.

'Shit! That bastard, playing with us to the very end!'

But what could he do?

Even if he considered it unfair, he couldn't take it back by force, so he had no choice but to meekly comply…

"If you want the sword back, bring the rest of the money too. That's all."

Cheol Ryu-heun concluded with those words and withdrew his gaze.

In the end, Du Cheong expressed reluctant courtesy before following Yeop Hwon out of White Peak Sword Sect.

"Take care."

Right after Yeop Hwon disappeared inside the main gate.

BAM!

Du Cheong kicked the ground irritably, his eyes blazing with the rage in his chest.

'That's right, now there's no going back… Best to report to the Gang Leader and hurry things along!'

Having screamed internally, he quickly climbed onto his horse's back and gripped the reins.

"Giddyap!"

* * *

"I've irritated their nerves and…"

Left alone in the office, Cheol Ryu-heun stretched fully and continued in a quiet voice.

"We can clean up in one sweep."

At that moment, Yeop Hwon opened the door and entered.

"Sect Master, he just left."

"The Thousand Snake Gang will try to bite us soon."

"Pardon?"

"That's generally how it goes. Groups who think good will is naturally their right."

"You're saying they'll attack our sect again?"

"Most likely."

Cheol Ryu-heun knew well.

That groups conditioned to unorthodox evil deeds, like the Thousand Snake Gang, were prone to learning errors.

He had seen it countless times over the long millennium.

Realizing and repenting their wrongs lasted only briefly when they got hit hard, but the moment they got a little breathing room, they would repeat their wicked behavior as if they'd forgotten everything.

"Do you think I let them go just to receive some petty coins?"

"You expected all this from the beginning. But they can't move easily, can they? Their fighting power is incomplete at the moment… Ah, could it be they're planning to pull in a bunch of martial artists from other powers?"

"That's right. Well, I don't know the exact scale or fighting strength though."

"Hmm, we should hurry and prepare too."

"Prepare, what?"

"…?"

"We'll just strike first."

"What? But our sect's members are still at an insufficient level to be counted as immediate fighting power."

"Why worry about that?"

"Th-Then…?"

"A small elite force will be enough."

"…"

"Bringing half the reparation was a ploy to put me at ease. So Elder, prepare to leave with the Chief Supervisor by today. I'll tell you the plan in my head later."

Only then did Yeop Hwon realize.

That the small elite meant himself, Cheol Ryu-heun, and Hyeop Mu-geuk – these three people.

Thump, thump.

His heart raced.

How long had it been since real combat?

His eyes changed as he opened his mouth with a resolute expression.

"Yes, Sect Master. If it's unavoidable, I'll prepare to die and show off my sword skills."

"You don't need to think about it that tragically."

"Ah… But still…"

"It's just an occasion to gauge one's personal martial level, nothing more and nothing less."

When Cheol Ryu-heun spoke as if it was no big deal, Yeop Hwon found himself smiling without realizing it.

Why was it?

His utterly casual, half-hearted words and actions somehow inspired trust.

"Now, go prepare."

Before Cheol Ryu-heun's light gesture, Yeop Hwon clasped his hands in salute and answered spiritedly.

"Yes, Sect Master!"

His steps as he went outside looked more resolute than ever before.

Immediately after.

Cheol Ryu-heun, sinking back into his chair, quietly gazed at the Liver and Intestines Sword beside him.

'Ideally, I'd like one strong guy at the Five Supreme Experts level to be among them. That way I can properly loosen up.'

In truth, he was also curious.

About this mysterious body that no one in martial world history had ever possessed – where exactly its limits lay…

* * *

Geum Ja-jeom quickly read the contents of the letter that had just arrived for him and drew a smile of satisfaction.

'Finally, a response…'

-Cutting to the chase and addressing only the key points. Your secret proposal has piqued my interest, so please set a meeting place and notify me. I will personally and actively persuade the representatives of various martial sects so that there will be no disruption to the future plan. I guarantee that White Peak Sword Sect will be annihilated without a trace. So please just keep your end of the bargain.

The name written at the very end of the paper.

Jeo Gyeom.

That was the name of the Dark Hall Master, known as the Netherworld Sword Fork.

Having confirmed the red seal symbolizing the sender's identity again, his mouth stretched nearly to his ears.

'Done – it's all over!'

He had secured the cooperation of Jeo Gyeom, the Netherworld Sword Fork, in exchange for the Ghost Shadow Sword Technique, the true teachings of Heaven's Death Sword Ghost Eum Ryun.

It honestly felt like gaining a massive army.

It couldn't be helped.

The Dark Hall was an unorthodox force boasting powerful influence and fighting strength enough to be counted among the top ten in the Hunan region, and its Master Jeo Gyeom was a powerhouse at a level rivaling the Five Supreme Martial Experts of this region.

Things were going smoother than expected.

He never imagined a response would come this quickly, but it seemed the Ghost Shadow Sword Technique had drawn more tremendous interest than anticipated.

'Now the only task remaining is to finalize the date to jointly attack White Peak Sword Sect through the meeting…'

Suddenly, Cheol Ryu-heun's face flashed through his mind.

-You're definitely born for the unorthodox path. Seeing how you shift blame onto the dead guy.

Throb, throb.

The left shoulder that had been stabbed back then suddenly ached as if on fire.

It wasn't fully healed yet, but thinking of that guy again made it feel even more sore.

'You, just wait. Soon you'll know. The feeling of being trampled by someone born for the unorthodox path…'

* * *

The disciples at White Peak Sword Sect's training ground were continuously channeling internal energy due to sword energy emission training.

Sweat pouring, breath panting.

They had fully memorized the essence.

But it wasn't coming as easily as they hoped.

Sword energy emission was a level of study one dimension above sword wind emission, so difficulty was natural.

The problem was the deadline.

Five days.

The three Guyang brothers, worried that they might be buried in the ground if they exceeded that date, continuously raised their voices.

"You need passion like a volcano! Step it up!"

"Only effort is the key that unlocks potential!"

"First is grit, second is grit, third is grit, just grit everything!"

Every disciple listening shouted internally.

Urgh, shut up! Even what could work won't work! Stop going on about passion, effort, and grit!

Just then.

"Attention."

The moment Cheol Ryu-heun, who had somehow climbed onto the platform, gave a short command, the Head Instructors and disciples all gathered before him in a rush.

As Hyeop Mu-geuk and Yeop Hwon appeared beside him.

"The Chief Supervisor, the Elder, and I will be away for a few days. So no fooling around – focus on training, understood?"

Everyone looked bewildered at the unexpected news.

"Sect Master, where are you suddenly going?"

Simultaneously with Guyang Cheon's question, Cheol Ryu-heun answered expressionlessly.

"To wipe out the Thousand Snake Gang."

"Pardon?"

In the instant Guyang Cheon and everyone else were startled, Tae Sa-ja came leading the horse Divine Wind to beside the platform.

"Sect Master, everything is ready."

At that, Cheol Ryu-heun gave a slight nod and added.

"The Thousand Snake Gang is hatching another scheme. So this time I'm going to move first and punish them."

Suddenly, murmuring filled the venue.

But Cheol Ryu-heun only said what he had to say.

"Quiet – you all just stay as usual."

The three Guyang brothers opened their mouths worriedly.

"Sect Master, the numbers seem insufficient."

"We'll accompany you too."

"Yes, wouldn't it be better to add one or two more to the force?"

Cheol Ryu-heun stared at the three of them and then spoke.

"I'm going to handle the Thousand Snake Gang side through a method that doesn't require lifting a finger. Using this."

He held out the White Fang Sword as he said this.

Everyone was deeply puzzled.

Huh? Wait, what is he going to do with that?

Cheol Ryu-heun quickly mounted Divine Wind's back and gestured.

"Get on."

Yeop Hwon and Hyeop Mu-geuk sat down behind him with agile movements.

Divine Wind didn't show any reaction, as if the weight was nothing.

Cheol Ryu-heun, holding the reins, casually glanced at everyone in the training ground.

"The Thousand Snake Gang will end up just like the Mantis Martial Academy that I destroyed."

No sooner had those words ended.

BAM!

Divine Wind kicked off the ground and vanished from sight in the blink of an eye, leaping over the main gate's roof.

Clatter-clatter-clatter-clatter-clatter-clatter…

The rapidly fading sound of hooves.

The Head Instructors and disciples stared blankly in that direction.

What? When did the Mantis Martial Academy even fall? Wait, is forcibly closing down other sects his hobby?

Soon, one disciple muttered as if in a daze.

"The Thousand Snake Gang is also somehow… totally screwed, I think…"

The rest nodded their heads in agreement.