Chapter 354

Chapter 354 – A Single Small Pebble Creates Ripples Across the Entire Pond (1)
Yunnan Province was located in the southwestern highland region of the Central Plains. Having been separated from the Central Plains for a long time, this place had also built its own unique way of life, just like Sichuan Province.
In Yunnan Province lived many minority tribes who had firmly established their respective territories. Yunnan Province was a place where numerous tribes lived together as one.
The ruler of Yunnan Province was the famous Diancang Sect. The Diancang Sect boasted excellent martial arts and power worthy of being a member of the Nine Great Sects, to the extent that no one in Yunnan Province dared to challenge them. However, even the Diancang Sect could not dominate all of Yunnan Province as they pleased.
Because of this, the Diancang Sect became a unique form that represented but did not rule Yunnan Province. And the Diancang Sect was also sufficiently satisfied with its role as the spiritual pillar of Yunnan Province.
With circumstances being such, there were numerous places in Yunnan Province where the Diancang Sect's influence did not reach. Among them was Mount Ainao.
The peaks were so high they seemed to pierce the sky, and the valleys were so deep that their ends couldn't be seen, like hell's bottomless pit. The peaks covered with clouds and fog day and night throughout the seasons instilled a sense of intimidation in everyone.
With circumstances being such, people living in Yunnan Province called Mount Ainao a sacred mountain and avoided approaching it.
Today too, clouds and mist thickly enveloped the summit of Mount Ainao, making it look even more mystical. There was a man gazing at such Mount Ainao.
The man who emanated intense momentum as if a massive iron tower stood upright was precisely Geom Yul-cheon.
He stood with his arms crossed, gazing at Mount Ainao standing in the distance. His eyes were sunken deeper than ever before.
Geom Yul-cheon stood upright without the slightest movement, as if he had become a stone statue. Thus time only passed.
After quite some time, rustling sounds came from behind Geom Yul-cheon. Only then did Geom Yul-cheon turn around. Then a woman with her face half-covered by white gauze came into view.
"Yu-gyeong."
A thread of smile bloomed at Geom Yul-cheon's lips.
The woman was precisely Eum Yu-kyung.
Her appearance was enough to make a smile bloom on Geom Yul-cheon's face, which had been stern like a stone statue.
Eum Yu-kyung also approached Geom Yul-cheon with a smile.
"I'm back."
"You did well."
"What do you mean I did well? It's something I should naturally do."
Eum Yu-kyung shook her head. In her eyes looking up at Geom Yul-cheon, trust and firm belief were clearly revealed.
"How did it go?"
"As expected. The Diancang Sect knows nothing about the situation here."
"Really?"
"I confirmed it several times."
At Eum Yu-kyung's firm answer, Geom Yul-cheon nodded and looked toward Mount Ainao.
"Then we need to move."
"Yes!"
The two moved toward Mount Ainao.
There was only one reason they were heading to Mount Ainao. It was because the markers left by the Peacock Noble Sword Shin Mu-wol led to Mount Ainao.
Shin Mu-wol had secretly tracked the Demon Mother Dan Un-hyang from Sichuan Province. He left markers everywhere, and the two had followed those markers to come here.
The two moved secretly toward Mount Ainao.
If Shin Mu-wol's markers were true, there was a high probability that the Demon Mother was there. That meant a branch of the Demon Cult existed at Mount Ainao.
Now that the Demon Cult had established itself in Eyang, the branch seemed to have little meaning. However, there was something Geom Yul-cheon absolutely needed to confirm. To do so, he had to find out whether the branch existed or not.
The path to Mount Ainao was extremely treacherous. It was difficult to determine direction due to dense forests, and there were deep valleys and marshes everywhere, so the speed was inevitably slow.
If the two had not learned martial arts, it would have taken several days to reach Mount Ainao. They used lightness techniques to leap over obstacles and advance. Moving for half a day like this, they were able to arrive near Mount Ainao.
They thoroughly searched Mount Ainao following Shin Mu-wol's markers. Then they were able to discover a secretive building hidden in an unnamed valley.
The building existed in such a location that it could never be known from the outside. And Shin Mu-wol's markers also continued there.
"This must be it. The Demon Cult's Yunnan branch."
"It seems so."
Eum Yu-kyung nodded in agreement. However, doubt appeared on her face. The branch was strangely quiet.
"It's too quiet."
"I don't feel any presence at all."
"Did everyone leave?"
"Perhaps."
Geom Yul-cheon nodded.
That possibility wasn't impossible. The Demon Cult had never settled in one place for long until now. But they needed to check directly.
They leaped over the building's walls.
As expected, the inside of the building was completely empty. Only abandoned furniture existed everywhere, with no human shadows visible.
"They seem to have left in haste."
"It seems so."
Geom Yul-cheon agreed with Eum Yu-kyung's opinion.
Dust had not yet accumulated on the floor. That meant they hadn't left long ago.
"Was Brother Mu-wol discovered?"
"Who knows!"
Geom Yul-cheon trailed off.
No more markers left by Shin Mu-wol could be seen anywhere. It meant he either didn't have time to leave markers or was in trouble.
Geom Yul-cheon thought it was the former. It was because of his firm belief in Shin Mu-wol.
They thoroughly searched the building. But nowhere could any traces of where the Demon Cult martial artists had moved be found. They had truly erased their tracks completely.
"The clues have been cut off."
"What should we do?"
"Let's return to Yeok-mun first. By now Myeong-cheon and Ya-no should have arrived too. We'll wait for Mu-wol's contact there."
"Understood."
Eum Yu-kyung nodded.
For now, that method seemed best.
'With Myeong-cheon's excellent brain, he'll be able to find clues.'
Myeong-cheon, who escaped from the heavenly punishment three years ago, had truly bloomed his talents. That Geom Yul-cheon and Eum Yu-kyung could track the Celestial Death Cult with a small number of people was thanks to Myeong-cheon's abilities.
After leaving Sichuan Province, Geom Yul-cheon had sent a letter to Myeong-cheon to meet at Yeok-mun. It was to meet directly and convey information about the Celestial Death Cult obtained from Dam Ho, as well as analyze the Demon Cult's movements.
With Myeong-cheon's excellent brain, he would surely come up with some definite conclusion. Geom Yul-cheon believed so.
The two descended Mount Ainao and used lightness techniques to head toward Yeok-mun.
The path to Yeok-mun was not well-maintained and quite treacherous. However, both were masters of martial arts. For them using lightness techniques, difficult paths were no problem.
They were able to arrive near Yeok-mun in less than half a day.
"Ah!"
It was the moment a bright smile appeared on Eum Yu-kyung's face. Conversely, Geom Yul-cheon's face hardened like iron armor. He stopped his lightness technique and halted in place.
"Yul-cheon?"
Eum Yu-kyung looked at Geom Yul-cheon with a puzzled expression. However, Geom Yul-cheon's expression was so serious that she closed her mouth tightly as well.
Geom Yul-cheon slowly turned around and opened his mouth.
"Come out!"
"……"
"If you won't come out on your own, I'll make you come out."
Geom Yul-cheon suddenly threw a punch toward the empty air where nothing existed.
Crack!
Thunder sounded in broad daylight as the air in front of Geom Yul-cheon burst. Then someone's voice echoed.
"Huh! Was I discovered? You're quite something, young friend."
The seemingly empty air suddenly rippled like waves, then someone walked out.
It was a middle-aged man with an ordinary face and ordinary build. He was so ordinary that he could be commonly seen on the streets. However, the moment they saw him, both Geom Yul-cheon and Eum Yu-kyung felt eeriness.
The sense of incongruity as if looking at empty air where nothing existed aroused their vigilance.
Geom Yul-cheon looked at the middle-aged man with cold eyes.
"Have you been following us since Mount Ainao?"
"Your perception is quite remarkable. I thought I was being careful. I must be getting old."
The middle-aged man let out a sigh. Conversely, shock appeared on Eum Yu-kyung's face.
'He followed us from Mount Ainao and I didn't notice?'
It was impossible. No, it shouldn't have been possible.
Eum Yu-kyung's martial arts level could be said to already be positioned at the absolute peak of the martial world. Naturally, her sharpness of perception and sensitivity of nerves were also tremendous.
That she failed to detect someone following them from Mount Ainao was a serious problem. If he had attempted assassination, they might have been helplessly defeated.
"Who are you?"
"Well… who could I be?"
A fishy smile appeared at the middle-aged man's lips. At this, Eum Yu-kyung's expression hardened further.
Geom Yul-cheon stared piercingly at the middle-aged man.
He too wasn't certain that the middle-aged man had been following them since Mount Ainao. He had just probed with that thought.
He noticed the middle-aged man's existence at the midpoint between Mount Ainao and Yeok-mun. At that time he felt a faint presence, and he was certain of the middle-aged man's existence when they almost arrived at Yeok-mun.
The middle-aged man's tracking and stealth techniques were remarkable enough to fool even Geom Yul-cheon's senses. Geom Yul-cheon had never heard of someone possessing such stealth techniques in the current martial world.
Staring piercingly at the middle-aged man's face made him feel even more incongruous. He looked like a middle-aged man, but his eyes seemed very cunning. Only then did Geom Yul-cheon realize that the middle-aged man was much older than he appeared.
"Are you from the Celestial Death Cult?"
"Hmm!"
"Seems I'm right."
"Indeed, you're clever. I heard you've been tracking us for a long time."
The middle-aged man readily admitted it. The smile on his face deepened. Conversely, Geom Yul-cheon's eyes sank more heavily.
He guessed the middle-aged man might be a martial artist of the Celestial Death Cult precisely because of those cunning eyes.
Eyes full of experience couldn't be obtained at middle age. Only old martial artists who had experienced all kinds of hardships in the martial world could possess them.
The Celestial Death Cult he knew was a place created mainly by old martial artists who had participated in the suicide corps during the First Orthodox-Demon War. So he had guessed they might be them.
"Were you also a member of the suicide corps?"
"Hmm! Did you find out even that? Remarkable. That's right! I too was a member of the suicide corps."
The middle-aged man answered readily.
Geom Yul-cheon asked again.
"What is your honored name, senior?"
"Senior. It feels strange to hear such words from a Demon Cult martial artist. Well, since you asked, I'll answer. My name is Gwan Mu-oe. I wonder if you've heard of it."
"Gwan Mu-oe… Could you be the Gwan Mu-oe senior who was called the Void Spirit Guest?"
"Hehe! I didn't know anyone still remembered that nickname. That's right! I am the Void Spirit Guest Gwan Mu-oe."
Instantly, the pupils of both Geom Yul-cheon and Eum Yu-kyung shook.
Void Spirit Guest Gwan Mu-oe.
It was a name that almost no one remembered now, but it had been different in the past. Thirty years ago, there was no one who didn't know that name and nickname. At least among martial artists living in the martial world.
At that time, there existed the Five Great Martial Guests in the martial world.
Five martial artists who, though not as much as the Four Divine Emperors, still occupied firm positions in their respective domains. They were all recognized as supreme masters of the martial world and received respect from countless people.
Gwan Mu-oe was also one of them. Uniquely, he was of assassin origin and skilled in assassination and stealth techniques. He gained fame by assassinating numerous Demon Cult masters.
'My goodness! Gwan Mu-oe. Just how many masters of the previous generation are affiliated with the Celestial Death Cult?'
Eum Yu-kyung shuddered.
She felt chills throughout her body at the gradually revealed reality of the Celestial Death Cult. The power of the Celestial Death Cult they had been tracking was truly formidable, and there was no telling what other masters were affiliated.
"Why did someone like you, senior, enter the Celestial Death Cult?"
"I don't think I need to explain that reason to you."
"Then let me ask something else. Why have you been tracking us?"
"Then why have you been tracking the Celestial Death Cult?"
"……"
"It's the same reason. Because you're obstacles in our path, so we're trying to remove you. Actually, since the subject came up, our cult has suffered much damage because of you people."
"So you'll eliminate us?"
"Isn't that natural? Problems that could become issues must be eliminated at the root. Isn't that the way of the martial world?"
What Gwan Mu-oe was saying was clear.
Completely annihilating those who tracked them.
Gwan Mu-oe's gaze turned toward the inn.
"The ones you want to meet must be in there."
"You?"
Gwan Mu-oe smiled and flicked his fingers.
Rustle!
At that moment, sounds of something moving could be faintly heard nearby.
Geom Yul-cheon's complexion changed. The moment he heard the faint sounds, he recalled one fact.
The Void Spirit Killers.
Seven assassins who followed Gwan Mu-oe. He recalled the existence of subordinates who carried out killings on behalf of Gwan Mu-oe.
Geom Yul-cheon urgently said to Eum Yu-kyung:
"Go protect Myeong-cheon."
"Understood."
Eum Yu-kyung moved without a moment's hesitation. Toward where the Void Spirit Killers had gone, to the inn.
Gwan Mu-oe didn't stop such Eum Yu-kyung. Instead, his gaze was directed toward Geom Yul-cheon.
"I wonder if it's true that these days' juniors are fearsome."
He drew his sword.
"At least they're better than old monsters who hide their identities and make sinister plans."
Geom Yul-cheon's eyes sank even more heavily.
At that moment, Gwan Mu-oe moved without a sound. In response, Geom Yul-cheon deployed the Thunder Strike Technique.
Boom!