Chapter 458

Chapter 458 – Troubled Times Create Heroes (2)

Jeok Gyeong-cheon was traveling south leaving Mount Song.

Having achieved his intended purpose at Mount Song, his steps were rather light. Behind Jeok Gyeong-cheon followed the usual stranger.

Covering his whole body with a large bamboo hat and blood cloak so his original appearance couldn't be recognized, whenever the stranger moved, extraordinary momentum emanated.

Jeok Gyeong-cheon suddenly looked at the stranger.

"Truly amazing."

Though he himself was a master who'd reached the absolute level, he couldn't compare to the stranger.

The stranger's martial prowess killing Shaolin Temple's elder Gwang-hae and Martial Alliance Leader Nam Cheon-san in an instant was truly worthy of being called foremost under heaven.

The stranger was literally a monster. Thinking control of such a monster lay with him made his heart reassured.

Then rustling sounds came from the bushes.

"Who is it?"

The moment Jeok Gyeong-cheon's eyes shone coldly.

"It's me."

Along with a low voice, a middle-aged beauty revealed herself. The moment he saw her, Jeok Gyeong-cheon brightened.

"You're safe. Bo-won."

The middle-aged beauty was precisely Heavenly Mountain Snow Flower So Bo-won. The previous generation Suicide Squad that led young Suicide Squad members attacking the Demon Cult's headquarters. At her appearance, Jeok Gyeong-cheon showed a bright smile. But So Bo-won didn't smile. Dark shadows fell on her face.

Jeok Gyeong-cheon asked.

"Why are you alone? What about the others?"

"Only I escaped."

Only then did Jeok Gyeong-cheon's expression harden somewhat.

"Jin-myeong and Ui-jin both died?"

"Probably."

"Mm!"

He unconsciously let out a groan.

They'd been companions always together after the first Righteous-Demon War. Now people to whom the word brothers suited more than companions. News they couldn't return together gave him sorrow too.

Jeok Gyeong-cheon tried to smile.

"They also died for the great cause, so it won't be too unfair."

"What great cause?"

"Bo-won!"

"Never mind them, we lost all the young talents who'd become the Central Plains' pillars. How is that a great cause? Am I foolish? Am I the only one who doesn't understand? Answer me."

So Bo-won's voice rose.

Resentment filled her eyes looking at Jeok Gyeong-cheon.

While accompanying to Yueyang, the Suicide Squad's young talents trusted her. The night they raided the Demon Cult's headquarters, she abandoned the young talents fleeing alone. She remembered their faces looking at her then.

Betrayal, resentment, and those expressions seeking answers appeared nightly unbearably.

"Answer me. Was leaving them to die like that truly for the great cause?"

"Do you dare oppose the Cult Leader's decision?"

"I just want to know. Whether I'm truly on the right path, whether everything I do is truly the great cause."

So Bo-won's voice became a dagger stabbing Jeok Gyeong-cheon's chest. But actually no wavering appeared on Jeok Gyeong-cheon's face.

"Don't doubt the path we go."

"But…"

"Stop! Saying more is disrespect toward him. Cross the line and even you won't be forgiven."

Jeok Gyeong-cheon glared at So Bo-won with frightening eyes. So Bo-won also glared back at Jeok Gyeong-cheon without backing down.

Sparks seemed to fly between them. But their confrontation broke because of the stranger's unexpected movement.

"Huuu!"

The stranger let out rough breathing glaring at one direction. Instantly shock appeared on Jeok Gyeong-cheon's face.

Human emotions and reason had been completely removed from the stranger. Therefore responding to external stimuli by his own will was impossible. At least that's what Jeok Gyeong-cheon knew.

Yet right now the stranger was reacting by his own will. Something invisible was clearly stimulating the stranger's sealed vigilance.

"What?"

Consequently Jeok Gyeong-cheon and So Bo-won's gazes went toward where the stranger looked.

At first they felt nothing. But shortly after, Jeok Gyeong-cheon's expression stiffened frighteningly.

Something was walking toward them pushing through bushes.

One step, another step, footsteps stimulated his ears. But the footsteps were strange.

Dull and dragging sounds came together.

Though countless people existed under heaven, only one martial artist had such unique footsteps. And Jeok Gyeong-cheon knew the footsteps' owner.

"Fist… Demon."

As if answering his call, Dam Ho appeared pushing through bushes. The moment Dam Ho appeared, the area's air sank heavily.

Just appearing, Dam Ho's presence frighteningly dominated the area. Therefore Gi San-wol's figure behind him wasn't even visible.

Confirming Dam Ho's appearance, Jeok Gyeong-cheon and So Bo-won's pupils shook almost simultaneously. Because they truly hadn't expected meeting Dam Ho here.

"How are you here?"

"…"

Instead of answering Jeok Gyeong-cheon's question, Dam Ho looked at the stranger.

"Keuheuheu!"

Instantly beast-like breathing flowed from the stranger's mouth.

Gi San-wol behind Dam Ho's eyes became even more chilling.

The owner of the familiar fragrance he'd felt was precisely the stranger. Whether the stranger was the sorcery's subject or subordinate, he didn't know, but connection was certain.

That moment Jeok Gyeong-cheon's lips curled up.

Though flustered confirming Dam Ho, now he rather thought it went well. Because it was the perfect opportunity to eliminate Dam Ho.

Normally confronting him would be reluctant, but right now the stranger existed by his side. Using the stranger, eliminating Dam Ho wasn't impossible.

"They say enemies meet on narrow bridges, exactly that situation."

Dam Ho stared at Jeok Gyeong-cheon.

Emotionless numb eyes made Jeok Gyeong-cheon choke.

"You! Seeing a martial world elder, you should quickly greet, where exactly did you sell your manners? A bastard without foundation."

The moment Jeok Gyeong-cheon deliberately spat harsh words to provoke Dam Ho.

Kwang!

Suddenly his vision whitened and intense wind pressure struck Jeok Gyeong-cheon. Unable to open his eyes from fierce wind. Pain felt like thousands upon thousands of needles simultaneously stabbing his face.

Instantly cold sweat flowed down his spine.

The stranger's back appeared before Jeok Gyeong-cheon. And beyond that Dam Ho appeared. Dam Ho's fist was just before hitting Jeok Gyeong-cheon's body. The one who'd blocked his fist instead was precisely the stranger.

Though secretly deploying protective energy force preparing for contingencies, without him, Dam Ho's strike would have certainly inflicted considerable wounds on Jeok Gyeong-cheon. Dam Ho's strike was that intense. The energy wave still stimulating his skin proved that fact.

Though knowing Dam Ho had a hasty temperament, not expecting him to rush recklessly like this, Jeok Gyeong-cheon had no choice but to be flustered.

The stranger's bamboo hat flew off from tremendous wind pressure revealing his face. The stranger had white cloth wound tightly around his entire face so his real appearance couldn't be recognized. But in the two eyes revealed between white cloth, violent energy flickered.

"Huuuu!"

Rough breathing flowing through the stranger's lips resembled a beast's cry coveting prey.

Black heat haze rose from the stranger's body. Like tangled thread, heat haze extending in all directions wriggled arbitrarily making viewers feel eerie emotions.

The stranger stoked hostility looking at Dam Ho as if meeting a mortal enemy.

"Kraaa!"

The instant Dam Ho's eyes narrowed, his strike flew. Dam Ho also didn't dodge, launching Shattering Star Strike.

Fist and fist clashed in midair.

Jjeeeeong!

Instantly the area's air burst out.

Not only Jeok Gyeong-cheon behind the stranger but even So Bo-won were swept by the explosion flying backward.

Troubled light appeared on Jeok Gyeong-cheon's face.

"Calm down."

He gave orders to the stranger but uselessly. The stranger rejected Jeok Gyeong-cheon's control rushing at Dam Ho madly.

Kwaaaaang!

Earth caved in from one stranger's fist strike.

Solid bedrock collapsed crumbling and broken fragments scattered everywhere. The stranger chased Dam Ho's form covered in dust.

Immediately spotting Dam Ho then launching his body, his appearance resembled a huge bear spotting prey. His madness throwing his whole body attacking overwhelmed viewers beyond making them sick.

Jeok Gyeong-cheon tried controlling the stranger but uselessly. The stranger who'd faithfully follow orders given by spiritual command normally was somehow running wild madly beyond control.

Kwaaaaang!

A house-sized boulder in the stranger's path shattered completely. Centuries-old giant trees burst like struck by thunderbolts.

So Bo-won looked at Jeok Gyeong-cheon.

"Brother?"

"Control isn't working."

That moment, one word both simultaneously recalled.

Rampage.

The stranger going beyond control running wild arbitrarily.

Both their complexions turned deathly pale.

Decades ago they'd risen to the martial world's absolute master ranks. But even such two people couldn't say they were strong before the stranger. The stranger was that tremendous a person. If such a person rampaged, they absolutely couldn't handle it.

Then Gi San-wol approached the two.

"Seems problems arose with the sorcery."

"Who are you?"

"As expected, you don't remember? I vividly remember you both."

"What?"

At Gi San-wol's words, anger appeared on Jeok Gyeong-cheon's face. Because he thought Gi San-wol was mocking him.

"Get lost, no leisure to leisurely talk with the likes of you."

Swiiiik!

Jeok Gyeong-cheon suddenly swung his blade toward Gi San-wol.

Jeok Gyeong-cheon who'd already dominated an era with the alias Heavenly Blade King. Even simple-looking moves contained power from decades of martial contemplation. But his strike missed futilely. Gi San-wol dodged moving like a ghost. But that appearance made Jeok Gyeong-cheon angrier.

"You! Seems you've hidden a trick."

Swiiiiik!

His blade consecutively pressed Gi San-wol. But Gi San-wol dodged all those attacks moving like a ghost.

That appearance exploded Jeok Gyeong-cheon's anger.

"You!"

Jeok Gyeong-cheon forgot even paying attention to the stranger, repeatedly attacking Gi San-wol.

Watching that scene, So Bo-won quietly sighed.

She absolutely had no desire to interfere in Jeok Gyeong-cheon and Gi San-wol's fight. Not enough mental leisure for that, and belief in Jeok Gyeong-cheon wasn't like before either.

Losing numerous young talents at the Demon Cult headquarters, her mental strength had weakened considerably. Therefore she couldn't act decisively like before.

So Bo-won stared piercingly at Gi San-wol fighting against Jeok Gyeong-cheon. Only after watching long did So Bo-won remember Gi San-wol's face.

"That child. Who entered Avici Hell…"

She still remembered. The face of the young soul sorcerer who'd been forced into Avici Hell.

Thrown into Avici Hell without any hope like cattle dragged to slaughter. She'd secretly hoped he'd return safely, but even after years passed, the soul sorcerer didn't return.

More years passed and even from So Bo-won's memory the soul sorcerer was forgotten. Afterward she'd lived completely forgetting, yet today she saw that soul sorcerer again.

So Bo-won's pupils shook.

"Truly returned from Avici Hell?"

A major incident completely shaking her common sense. So she couldn't take her eyes off Gi San-wol.

Gi San-wol wasn't simply moving like a ghost. Occasionally when stepping on ground, footprints carved deeply.

Instantly So Bo-won couldn't suppress her shocked expression. Simply thinking carved because putting force in feet, suddenly light shot up from footprints.

"Formation? No, different."

Long ago she'd heard tales of supreme techniques completing formations with footwork in the martial world. But what Gi San-wol deployed looked different.

Countless patterns whose meaning couldn't be understood transformed into light swirling around Jeok Gyeong-cheon's body then soon disappeared. And Jeok Gyeong-cheon's movements stopped.

Like someone who'd lost his soul, Jeok Gyeong-cheon stared at empty space flinching.

So Bo-won approached Gi San-wol.

"What did you do?"

"Showed illusions."

"Illusions?"

"Yes! The illusions he hates seeing most."

"What kind of sorcery is that? Never heard such sorcery exists in the Heavenly Evil Cult."

"Not the Heavenly Evil Cult's sorcery. Purely my magic."

"Magic?"

The moment suspicion appeared on her face.

Kwajik!

Chilling bone-breaking sounds echoed through the battlefield.

Both their heads turned simultaneously toward where sounds came. That moment So Bo-won's eyes widened tearing.