Chapter 388

Chapter 388 – Storms Come Without Warning (1)

Divine Beggar Divine Beggar no longer smiled or wore a good-natured expression. His eyes were serious, and his aura was as heavy as Mount Tai.

At his appearance befitting a grandmaster, Bang Jin-bo could only gulp down dry saliva. It was such a dramatic change that he could barely believe this was the same person who had been in front of him just moments ago.

Divine Beggar Divine Beggar spoke.

"Let's walk for a bit. I want to talk quietly."

"It's quiet here too!"

At Dam Ho's answer, Divine Beggar Divine Beggar frowned and looked at Bang Jin-bo.

Bang Jin-bo also had sense.

"I'll excuse myself."

"Stay here."

"Brother?"

"Just stay."

"Yes!"

At Dam Ho's words, Bang Jin-bo's bottom settled back on the ground.

Though Divine Beggar Divine Beggar was certainly a great person, Dam Ho's words carried more weight for Bang Jin-bo.

Dam Ho looked at Divine Beggar Divine Beggar.

"If you can't say it in front of this child, then you don't need to tell me either."

"Well… I suppose there's no choice."

Divine Beggar Divine Beggar made an awkward expression as he sat back down after having risen with effort.

'To think my authority wouldn't work this much. Damn!'

Divine Beggar Divine Beggar scratched his gray hair vigorously. Then dirt became embedded blackly under his fingernails.

He gave up trying to maintain a solemn expression. That only worked on those who were susceptible to it – it was useless against someone like Dam Ho who was immune to authority and dignity.

"Where are you going? From the direction, it looks like Anhui Province – is that right?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Can't you answer obediently even once? Really, you're being awfully stubborn."

"……"

"Alright, alright. Those eyes of yours… really going to stop my heart. I came looking for you to give you advice."

"Advice?"

"That's right! I would prefer if you didn't go to Anhui Province."

"Why?"

"Aren't you already guessing? Hell will unfold there."

"So what?"

"There's no need for you to jump into that hellish situation too. It would be better for you to prepare for the final battle with the Demon Cult at Shaolin Temple."

"……"

"I'm saying this all for your sake. Listen to the words of someone even a little older."

Divine Beggar Divine Beggar's voice was filled with regret.

Dam Ho stared directly at such Divine Beggar Divine Beggar. Divine Beggar Divine Beggar also didn't avoid his gaze.

"Why?"

"Didn't I say? Hell will unfold in Anhui Province."

"Why did you crawl out now?"

"What?"

"You've been in hiding for over several decades. So why did you crawl out now?"

"What does that mean?"

"Are you asking because you don't know?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about. I simply came out to protect the peace of the martial world."

"Really?"

Dam Ho's eyes sank even deeper.

For a moment, cracks appeared on Divine Beggar Divine Beggar's face. And Dam Ho didn't miss that change.

"Lee Gwan!"

"……"

"Where is he?"

"Sigh!"

Suddenly Divine Beggar Divine Beggar sighed and gulped down alcohol. Though liquor dripped down along his lips, he didn't care.

Divine Beggar Divine Beggar emptied a bottle of alcohol in an instant. Wiping his lips with his sleeve, he spoke.

"How much do you know?"

"Heavenly Evil Cult, Lee Gwan, suicide squad."

"You've found out quite a bit. But that's not everything."

"……"

"The affairs of the world are very complex and can never be explained by just one or two phenomena. The Heavenly Evil Cult is the same."

"So you are affiliated with the Heavenly Evil Cult."

"I might be, or I might not be."

"……"

"I told you, didn't I? It's very complex."

"Then explain."

"Sigh! How good it would be if I could speak so freely?"

Divine Beggar Divine Beggar let out a sigh. His sigh contained deep worry.

"Where is Lee Gwan?"

"I don't know!"

"Weren't you on the same side?"

"You still don't know about the Four Death Gods."

"……"

"Only Wind Moon Emperor Dan Gong-wol became somewhat known to the world, while many of their secrets remain hidden. Even those of us who were active in the same era know only an extremely small part about them. So I don't know much about him either. Moreover, his whereabouts are not fixed. Like a divine dragon hidden in clouds, it's difficult even to see his tail."

"You want me to believe that?"

"Whether you believe it or not, what I say is true. I have no reason to force you to believe it."

Divine Beggar Divine Beggar's eyes looking at Dam Ho contained a mixture of complex emotions.

"If it were you, perhaps…"

"Perhaps?"

"No! The story has gone on too long. I should be going now."

Divine Beggar Divine Beggar suddenly stood up. Then he launched his body toward the void.

He writhed his body like a divine dragon and instantly disappeared into the darkness.

—Please reconsider going to Anhui Province. You should stay here.

Leaving only a single stream of secret voice transmission.

***

Woon Kyung polished his sword.

He sharpened and polished his sword every day. Though the time for martial arts training had decreased after unexpectedly becoming the sect leader of Mount Hua Sect, he never missed a single day of sword polishing.

Woon Kyung clearly understood his role. The sect leader was not one who fought at the front lines, but one who commanded the entire Mount Hua Sect.

Fighting at the front was the role of young disciples like Myeong-gyeong and Plum Blossom Swordsman. It didn't take very long for him to acknowledge and accept this fact.

He himself thought such tasks suited his nature, and indeed they did. He could lead Mount Hua Sect excellently because he had a more rational mind and broader thinking than anyone. However, that didn't mean his aspirations as a martial artist had completely disappeared.

He trained whenever he could. With the help of the Plum Blossom Divine Pill, his power had dramatically increased, giving him martial prowess incomparable to before. But he always thought it was insufficient.

"Sigh!"

It was when Woon Kyung put down his sword and sighed.

"What are you sighing about?"

Suddenly a misty voice was heard.

For a moment Woon Kyung thought he had heard an auditory hallucination.

The place where he was located was the upper palace at the peak of Lotus Peak. Outside, numerous disciples were standing guard, making it an absolutely restricted area that no outsider could approach.

Yet a strange voice was being heard in such a place.

Grip!

Woon Kyung firmly grasped the sword he had put down and opened his mouth.

"Who is it?"

It was a voice as cold as frost.

At that moment, someone appeared in his quarters like a phantom.

It was a middle-aged Taoist with an immortal-like bearing… A clean face was revealed. Clear features and mystical eyes, along with blue-tinged hair and beard, added to the mystery.

What was unusual was his right sleeve. The empty fluttering sleeve indicated that his arm had been severed.

Woon Kyung's eyebrows twitched.

The atmosphere felt from the Taoist was extraordinary. But as far as he could remember, no Taoist with such bearing existed anywhere in Mount Hua Sect.

Woon Kyung raised his sword and pointed it at the middle-aged Taoist.

"Who are you? How dare you intrude into Mount Hua's restricted area?"

"Hehe! I heard you had a calm personality, but you're completely different."

"Stop talking nonsense and reveal your identity first."

Woon Kyung's eyes flashed as sharp as blades. But his mind was very confused.

Though it was clearly a face he was seeing for the first time, strHeavenly Evily the atmosphere and aura didn't feel unfamiliar. Rather, they felt familiar.

At that moment, the middle-aged Taoist spoke.

"There's no need to be so wary. I am your master's younger brother."

"Master's younger brother?"

"That's right. I am called Jin Gung-ja. Have you ever heard my name?"

"Jin Gung-ja? Don't tell me, the Jin Gung-ja who participated in the suicide squad?"

"You do remember."

The middle-aged Taoist who revealed himself as Jin Gung-ja smiled faintly. Woon Kyung looked at Jin Gung-ja carefully.

When the suicide squad was organized, Woon Kyung hadn't even been born yet. He had no chance at all to meet masters like Cheon Gung-ja or Jin Gung-ja who had participated in the suicide squad. Therefore, even when the middle-aged Taoist in front of him revealed himself as Jin Gung-ja, he couldn't recognize him.

But he couldn't simply dismiss it as false either. The immortal energy felt from Jin Gung-ja was something that could only be acquired by dedicating oneself entirely to polishing Mount Hua Sect's martial arts.

In other words, the opponent had definitely learned Mount Hua Sect's martial arts. And for a very long time at that.

Woon Kyung frowned deeply.

"If you're really Master's younger brother Jin Gung-ja, show me proof."

"You're quite suspicious, child. It can't be helped."

Suddenly Jin Gung-ja drew up his power. Then the surrounding air changed. And the faint plum blossom fragrance felt in the air.

"Supreme Clarity Cultivation Method?"

"That's right. The Supreme Clarity Cultivation Method that only elders of the main sect and above can learn. You're not doubting the Supreme Clarity Cultivation Method, are you?"

"Not that. But…"

Woon Kyung shook his head. His face was full of confused light. Then Jin Gung-ja approached with a gentle smile.

"I am definitely Jin Gung-ja, your master's younger brother. I participated in the suicide squad following Senior Brother Cheon Gung-ja and made distinguished contributions to ending the first Righteous-Demon Great War."

Jin Gung-ja's voice was very gentle. Woon Kyung found himself listening to his voice without knowing it.

"I had circumstances that prevented me from returning to Mount Hua Sect until now. I'll tell you about that later, so don't doubt me. I am Jin Gung-ja, a member of the suicide squad and a martial artist who was an elder of Mount Hua Sect. That is, your master's younger brother."

"Are you really Master's younger brother?"

"That's right, Woon Kyung. You've had many hardships. I'm sorry I couldn't come find you sooner."

Jin Gung-ja walked toward Woon Kyung with big strides. For some reason, Woon Kyung just stared at such Jin Gung-ja blankly.

"The weight that Mount Hua Sect's leader must bear is never light. I want to share that burden on your shoulders from now on. Will you allow me to? Woon Kyung."

"I, I…"

"You don't need to think so difficultly. You don't need to worry either. If you just allow it, I will live the rest of my life for Mount Hua."

"……"

"I've really come a long, long way to get here. As you can see, I've suffered many injuries and need a place to rest. I want to rest this old body in Mount Hua, my hometown. Will you accept me?"

"If you're Master's younger brother, of course…"

"Thank you."

Jin Gung-ja's smile deepened. Conversely, Woon Kyung's pupils became hazy.

"My vital energy has been greatly damaged, so I'm wondering if there are any remaining Plum Blossom Divine Pills? Right now I desperately need the Plum Blossom Divine Pill. Could you give me a Plum Blossom Divine Pill?"

"The Plum Blossom Divine Pill is…"

That's when it happened. Suddenly a clear energy arose from within Woon Kyung's body and swept through his entire being. Then focus suddenly returned to Woon Kyung's previously hazy eyes.

"Where did you hear about that?"

"What do you mean?"

"The Plum Blossom Divine Pill."

"Why?"

"Besides Mount Hua Sect disciples, there's only one place that knows of the Plum Blossom Divine Pill's existence."

"……"

"Heavenly Evil Cult. You're a martial artist of the Heavenly Evil Cult."

Woon Kyung still clearly remembered. The incident when a strange person who revealed himself as Blood Spirit Messenger had tried to kidnap Jong Ri-yeon along with the Plum Blossom Divine Pill. Master Hyeon-so had told him that Blood Spirit Messenger belonged to the Heavenly Evil Cult.

Woon Kyung roared in anger.

"How dare you impersonate Master's younger brother Jin Gung-ja. Unforgivable."

For a moment Jin Gung-ja made a bitter smile.

"As expected, completely bewitching a child who is the leader of Mount Hua Sect with sorcery like Dream Soul Technique was too much."

Just moments ago, he had used a soul-stealing technique called Dream Soul Technique against Woon Kyung. It was literally a method to bewitch the opponent and make them listen to one's words.

Actually, using Dream Soul Technique against someone at the level of Mount Hua Sect's leader didn't make sense, but since Woon Kyung had been sect leader for a relatively short time and was young with insufficient cultivation, he thought it was worth trying once. And as he intended, Woon Kyung almost fell for it. If only he hadn't mentioned the Plum Blossom Divine Pill.

Woon Kyung drew his sword.

"Reveal your identity."

"He… That person is indeed Master's younger brother Jin Gung-ja."

At that moment, a familiar voice was heard from the entrance of the upper palace.

"Master's younger brother?"

Master Hyeon-so was standing at the entrance.