Chapter 254

Unexpectedly…

Baek Li-jung was camping in the mountains with Baek Li-gwon.

Screech screech.

A hawk’s cry came from above. The hawk kept circling the same spot.

Baek Li-jung extended his hand and whistled.

The hawk immediately flew down and perched. The hawk’s sharp talons gripped Baek Li-jung’s arm tightly, but Baek Li-jung didn’t mind. He untied the message tube bound to the hawk’s leg and read the letter inside.

Baek Li-jung’s face hardened.

“How did that fellow break through Qingcheng Mountain’s encirclement? I thought he was just an insignificant insect, but he’s already reached the Four Light Dikes?”

Deep wrinkles formed on Baek Li-jung’s brow.

This was Baek Li-jung’s expression when deep in thought.

Baek Li-gwon fed firewood to the campfire while waiting for Baek Li-jung’s thoughts to end.

However, Baek Li-jung thought longer than expected.

Crack, crack. Snap. Snap.

Baek Li-jung awakened from his reverie only after all the joints of the hawk in his hand had been broken one by one, leaving nothing more to break.

“Hmm.”

Baek Li-jung threw the dead hawk into the campfire.

Baek Li-gwon couldn’t endure and finally spoke.

“Master, what’s the matter?”

Baek Li-jung remained silent for a while before speaking.

“The Jade Void Nine Lights Five Thunder Toad Art has emerged into the world.”

Baek Li-gwon was bewildered.

“What do you mean… I’ve never heard of a martial art called Jade Void Nine Lights Five Thunder Toad Art.”

Baek Li-jung didn’t answer and asked Baek Li-gwon instead.

“How much have you achieved with the Heavenly Blade Divine Sword?”

“I’ve entered the beginning of Seven Stars.”

Baek Li-gwon had done his utmost not to disappoint Baek Li-jung further. Thus he was finally able to break through the Six Stars barrier and reach Seven Stars.

However, Baek Li-jung spoke as if there was no need to think further.

“Return to the main house.”

Baek Li-gwon was so shocked he immediately knelt and prostrated himself.

“Master! No, Father! Please give me a chance to redeem myself!”

“It’s too late. This time there’s no opportunity for you to step forward. He killed Golden Fortune Merchant in Guizhou.”

“I’ll go to Guizhou!”

Baek Li-jung had deliberately brought him along to give Baek Li-gwon an opportunity.

The target was naturally Poison Dragon Jin Ja-gang at Qingcheng Mountain.

However, Jin Ja-gang had already broken through Qingcheng Mountain’s encirclement. And he had gone to the Guizhou branch while the main forces were away to massacre the entire branch!

“The current him is not the one you knew. The current him is extremely dangerous.”

Baek Li-gwon pleaded.

“I can do it! I will… I will cut off his head and definitely hang it on Yon Mae’s memorial altar!”

Baek Li-jung cut him off.

“Even if not now, there will be opportunities.”

“Father…”

Baek Li-jung wasn’t someone who promised to give opportunities. For him to mention a next opportunity was maximum consideration for Baek Li-gwon. It meant it was that dangerous.

Baek Li-jung smiled and gestured.

“Come here.”

Baek Li-jung patted Baek Li-gwon’s shoulder.

“When the time comes, you’ll have work to do. You don’t need to become a dog and get involved in dog fights. What you need to do now is polish yourself so you never repeat past mistakes.”

“But Yon Mae is in that fellow’s hands…”

Baek Li-jung patted his shoulder.

“Go back. Now, immediately.”

Baek Li-gwon bit his lower lip hard. Because it was Baek Li-gwon, Baek Li-jung spoke this much; if it were someone else, he wouldn’t have talked this long.

Baek Li-gwon cupped his fists in greeting and left immediately without a word. It was an expression of protest.

“Tsk.”

However, Baek Li-jung simply clicked his tongue lightly and turned off his concern for Baek Li-gwon. This wasn’t a situation where he could have detailed discussions.

This was Baek Li-jung’s shameful secret that he would have to quietly reveal someday.

However, he had just learned that Jin Ja-gang had touched that shameful secret.

And there was probably definitely Venerable Woo-am’s hint behind it.

Baek Li-jung gestured. The hawk burning in the campfire flew into Baek Li-jung’s hand.

Baek Li-jung brought the hawk to his mouth without even plucking the charred feathers.

“If the Enlightened Teacher gave everything to that fellow, the remaining complete incantation will also be in his hands. It’s actually good. But… Woo-am, you…”

Crunch, crunch.

As he chewed the half-burned, half-raw hawk, Baek Li-jung’s gaze became increasingly sharp.

“You keep touching what shouldn’t be touched. You really must die.”

Baek Li-jung’s eyes gradually filled with killing intent.

* * *

Baek Li-jung headed toward Qingcheng Mountain.

Thunder Brand Sword Ye Jin-gyeong, who had withdrawn after failing his first attempt, appeared before Baek Li-jung. Ye Jin-gyeong’s brow furrowed.

Ye Jin-gyeong and Baek Li-jung were in a competitive relationship. Baek Li-jung’s sudden appearance wasn’t welcome.

“What are you doing?”

Baek Li-jung glanced at Ye Jin-gyeong then quickly turned his head away. Then he continued on his path.

“If you want to follow, then follow.”

Strangely, Baek Li-jung wasn’t in his usual composed state but looked like a beggar. His hair was all disheveled, half wild, and his clothes were dirty as if he hadn’t changed them for days.

However, only his eyes were viciously alive.

Baek Li-jung walked past Ye Jin-gyeong and continued forward. White Tiger Earth Emperor Pavilion warriors blocked Baek Li-jung’s path.

“If you block my path one more time.”

Baek Li-jung spoke matter-of-factly.

“I’ll kill you all.”

Ye Jin-gyeong ground his teeth.

‘Damn!’

It wasn’t a lie. Baek Li-jung showed no killing intent at all. However, extreme killing intent toward someone could be felt.

Baek Li-jung’s appearance was evidence of this. Baek Li-jung was thinking of only one thing. He looked like this because he paid no attention to anything else.

This was Baek Li-jung focused solely on ‘killing’ someone.

So it wasn’t a lie. Whether White Tiger Earth Emperor Pavilion or anything else, if they blocked him, he would certainly cut them down before killing whoever he was targeting.

Ye Jin-gyeong bit his lip and raised his hand.

“Let him through!”

Naturally, he didn’t just let him pass. He gathered the Sword Hero Squad and warriors to immediately follow behind Baek Li-jung.

Mount Emei’s Divine Nun, who was drinking tea outside a village teahouse, made eye contact with Baek Li-jung. Divine Nun slightly bowed her head in greeting. Baek Li-jung ignored her and passed by. It was so natural that even seeing it, one couldn’t think he had deliberately ignored her.

Martial artists from the Tang family and nearby medium and small sects who had come to support wanted to exchange greetings with Baek Li-jung, but Baek Li-jung showed no openings.

They couldn’t approach Baek Li-jung because of his indescribable intimidating presence.

Baek Li-jung passed through the village and went to Qingcheng Mountain. From outside the mountain gate, various sects were surrounding Qingcheng Mountain in layers.

Baek Li-jung passed the mountain gate and continued climbing toward the Qingcheng sect’s Taoist temples.

Evil Sect members were guarding the narrow stairs above the mountain gate.

“What’s that?”

When Baek Li-jung in shabby clothes climbed the mountain gate alone, the Evil Sect members drew weapons and blocked him.

Even though he was alone, his atmosphere was quite ominous. Moreover, Martial Alliance martial artists could be seen waiting in the distance.

“What is he, alone? Huh?”

Remnant Wind Guest stepped forward. He swaggered forward with a huge axe slung over his shoulder.

“Are you a master? Hey, what’s your name? Do we look that ridiculous to you?”

Baek Li-jung came right up to Remnant Wind Guest’s face and stood. Remnant Wind Guest’s build was so large and tall that Baek Li-jung had to look up. However, Baek Li-jung didn’t even look at Remnant Wind Guest.

“Move aside.”

“Move aside? Where does this bastard…”

Remnant Wind Guest raised his palm and struck Baek Li-jung’s cheek and nape.

Smack! Thud!

Baek Li-jung’s beard swayed. His body swayed and a bright red mark remained on his nape. Remnant Wind Guest kicked Baek Li-jung’s stomach. If hit by Remnant Wind Guest’s thick foot and sent flying, Baek Li-jung might have rolled all the way down the stairs.

However, Baek Li-jung didn’t budge. Remnant Wind Guest’s eyes widened. He had kicked a person but felt nothing, as if he had kicked something squishy like tofu or water.

“Th-this…!”

Only then did Baek Li-jung look up at Remnant Wind Guest. His expressionless face was even more chilling. Baek Li-jung muttered so quietly it was barely audible.

“This should be enough to die without regrets.”

Baek Li-jung’s hand pulled back then came forward.

A palm strike was applied between Remnant Wind Guest’s thick chest. Remnant Wind Guest bounced backward and blocked with his axe.

Rumble!

A sound like thunder rumbling came as tremendous force erupted from Baek Li-jung’s hand. Though the palm hadn’t even touched him, Remnant Wind Guest received a shock as if his body was swept up by tremendous wind.

“Ahhhhh!”

Crash!

All the stairs behind Remnant Wind Guest were crushed like clay. So what happened to Remnant Wind Guest’s body, which was directly receiving the palm force in front!

“Ugh, urgh. Urgh…!”

Remnant Wind Guest widened his eyes while blocking with his axe and let out moans. Blood gushed from his seven orifices including eyes and nose every time Remnant Wind Guest breathed.

His internal organs were destroyed.

Clatter.

His strength left him and he even dropped his axe.

From behind, Human Demon Gam Chung stopped patting his belly and shouted in surprise.

“Thunder Splitting Song Palm! It’s Indestructible Heavenly Sword!”

Remnant Wind Guest still gritted his teeth and tried to pick up his axe, but his arms and body wouldn’t move at all, only trembling. Baek Li-jung grabbed Remnant Wind Guest’s neck with one hand and threw him backward. Remnant Wind Guest rolled down the stairs with all his limbs bent, broken, and twisted. His neck had already broken from being thrown, so by the time he rolled down to the lower stairs, he had long been dead.

“Kyaaah! Remnant Wind Guest!”

Flower Snake Divine Woman screamed while holding a baby. Flower Snake Divine Woman’s voice was close to sound technique, so it wasn’t an ordinary scream. Baek Li-jung’s eyes squinted.

Waaah! Waaah!

Flower Snake Divine Woman tormented Baek Li-jung with Evil Lustful Sound in addition to baby crying sounds.

“Oh ho ho, you dirty gentleman there. How about this humble concubine wash your body clean?”

Since it was sound technique targeting only Baek Li-jung, the effect was maximized. Baek Li-jung’s face turned red and blue. Baek Li-jung frowned then picked up Remnant Wind Guest’s huge axe from the ground.

“My ears are itchy.”

Then he threw the axe at Flower Snake Divine Woman.

Whirr!

The axe spun while flying toward Flower Snake Divine Woman with a loud cutting sound. Flower Snake Divine Woman stopped her sound technique and tried to dodge using footwork.

Then Baek Li-jung pursed his lips and whistled.

Wheeee!

It wasn’t sound technique or anything else. It was a whistle blown purely with internal energy. However, at that moment both of Flower Snake Divine Woman’s eardrums burst.

Pop.

Flower Snake Divine Woman’s movement, which had been about to flee, stopped completely. The flying axe was getting bigger and bigger in Flower Snake Divine Woman’s pupils.

Gam Chung ran over and in his haste grabbed Flower Snake Divine Woman’s hair and leaped up.

Thud!

The axe embedded so deeply in the stairs that even the handle couldn’t be seen. And Flower Snake Divine Woman’s body fell sideways.

What Gam Chung held in his hand was only Flower Snake Divine Woman’s startled head.

“Damn bastard!”

Fear and sadness simultaneously crossed Gam Chung’s face.

Gam Chung glared at Baek Li-jung with killing intent.

However, Baek Li-jung didn’t even look and was only climbing over the crushed stairs to go up.

The Evil Sect members blocked Baek Li-jung’s path, prepared to die. Baek Li-jung showed no emotions like annoyance. He simply raised his hand as if to kill.

However, someone stepped forward to make the Evil Sect members move aside before Baek Li-jung could act.

“I’ll handle Indestructible Heavenly Sword.”

The Evil Sect members split left and right to open a path.

At the top of the stairs, Eight Flying Demon Hero Gu Ryun was waiting. Gu Ryun stood holding his shield and smiled.

“We finally meet. The Orthodox Path’s great hero, Indestructible Heavenly Sword Baek Li-jung.”