Chapter 186 : Return
Return
The news that the Demonic Cult Leader had appeared in Zhao clan of Changshan spread rapidly throughout the entire martial world.
It seemed even more credible because the young head of Zhao clan of Changshan himself was said to have entered the cult leader's formation along with the martial artists of the Heavenly Martial Hall.
They even claimed to have witnessed it directly.
He was the man who had already revealed himself at Shaolin's Mount Song.
By now, everyone knew the Divine Thief who had stolen Shaolin's ancient brazen bell had been none other than the Demonic Cult Leader himself.
There was a consensus that he had already reached the level of a peerless expert.
His masterful movement techniques, treading the high air as if it were the ground, and having dodged several attacks from Monk Mu Jung were well known, making such claims only natural.
And with those rumors, the name that had become just as widely known was Yu Jeong-un.
While everyone present stood frozen and looked up at him, he alone climbed the cliff and swung his sword at the man.
But that was not the end.
Not long before, he had killed the Blood Cult Leader, who had been another peerless expert in the martial world.
Stories of how he suddenly ascended to four-stripes because of that tremendous feat had long since spread.
So too the tale that he had received a pitch-black, jet-colored famed sword.
But this time, they said he had cut off the Demonic Cult Leader's arm.
The story was that he rescued the noble daughter of Zhao clan of Changshan from the leader's formation, sent his companions outside, and then faced the man alone.
It was, in other words, an unprecedented rumor.
Gossip-lovers who enjoyed such stories could not have kept still; the tale had spread as quickly as if it had sprouted wings.
"Does this mean you've succeeded in your mission?"
Zhao Gang, who was lying on his side, glanced at Jeong-un and asked.
They were resting and recovering at the Zhao clan of Changshan estate.
As before, they were being treated as more than just honored guests.
There were more than ten attendants waiting on them.
Anything they needed, they had only to speak the word, as the attendants stood outside waiting to serve.
The attention was enough to make them feel rather uncomfortable.
"I don't know. I imagine the General Affairs Department will judge on their own."
"Well, young hero Yu already has four stripes, so there's no need for him to accomplish more."
"We didn't take on this mission for merit."
"If Jo Gwang heard you say that, you know he'd glare at you with all his might."
Jeong-un smiled quietly.
Baek Il-gang was never the kind of man to be obsessed with accumulating achievements, either.
Thanks to his decisive character and natural talent, he'd swiftly reached two-stripes, never hesitating in the face of unorthodox villains.
Yet, in person, he'd shown little affinity for such things.
"Are you truly unhurt?"
Baek Il-gang asked quietly, watching him with a slightly doubtful look.
"Do you realize this is the third time you've asked me in just a few days?"
"That guy wasn't just some demonic human who reached the level of a peerless expert. He was the very leader of the Demonic Cult. And yet you say you fought him head-on and aren't hurt at all? Who'd believe that?"
Baek Il-gang looked at Jeong-un with an expression of disbelief.
He was right.
During this period of recovery at the estate, Jeong-un's routine had not changed a bit.
He continued to train as always, sitting cross-legged at set times to circulate energy.
It was hard to imagine he had just faced the cult leader head-on.
Some even said in the estate that he was feigning a lack of injuries to avoid causing trouble to others.
There were even rumors that his noble character was shining through as he tried not to inconvenience anyone.
"I honestly didn't even get the chance to exchange many blows with him. I only managed to sever his arm by ambushing him when he let his guard down at the beginning."
"... I bet throughout history, young hero Yu is the only one who could so casually talk about cutting off the Demonic Cult Leader's arm."
Baek Il-gang let out a sneer as he spoke, then leaned back and continued.
"Anyway, it's a relief that you really aren't hurt. Though, it's rather strange for someone like me to be worried for an unparalleled expert like Young Hero Yu."
"..."
Jeong-un knew why he was acting this way.
Clearly, leaving Jeong-un alone while the others escaped the formation had continued to weigh on his mind, and he hadn't even been able to come back to help.
'If I think about it...'
Jeong-un looked at him for a moment, then smiled and finally answered,
"The only reason I managed to cut off his arm at all was thanks to Young hero Baek."
"...?"
Baek Il-gang gave him a puzzled look, so Jeong-un continued,
"Because Young hero Baek led the others outside, I was able to focus and fight him one on one. If even one person had remained, it would have been a far harder fight."
"... You mean, we'd have gotten in the way."
"That's not what I mean."
Jeong-un shook his head firmly.
"Our goal was to rescue Lady Zhao, wasn't it? Not to confront him. So it was the right decision for someone to lead the others outside."
"To call it 'leading' is a bit much. Even Young Hero Zhao Gang is a first-class expert himself."
"That's not a matter of martial arts attainment. You merely fulfilled your responsibility. Anyone else would have been so focused on their own survival they'd have tried to escape alone."
"... Now you're starting to gild my achievements too well."
Baek Il-gang turned his head slightly and muttered.
Apparently, he found Jeong-un's words embarrassing. It wasn't something you often saw from Baek Il-gang.
Jeong-un guessed why he'd made that decision.
'Maybe he remembered his younger sibling.'
Perhaps seeing Zhao Yeong-ryeong reminded him of the little sister he lost as a child.
They'd spent time together long ago, after all.
He'd always seemed rational and cold, but knowing these circumstances changed how Jeong-un saw him, making him seem a little different.
Before, he might have just thought Baek Il-gang's actions toward Zhao Yeong-ryeong were purely calculated.
Of course, that didn't mean there was any resentment about it, but it was undeniable that Baek Il-gang now felt different than before.
He could finally understand his demeanor.
Then Baek Il-gang spoke.
"What will you do now?"
"What do you mean?"
"Didn't he tell you to come to Xinjiang?"
"..."
That was right.
The Demonic Cult Leader had told Jeong-un to come to the Tian Mountains in Xinjiang—to the Ten-thousand Mountains as he called them.
Along with a leisurely invitation to come once he was ready.
"I'll go, of course."
Jeong-un answered briefly. No other answer came to mind.
The cult leader would be waiting with another trap, but he had no better plan.
'I have to see it through.'
They'd both understood the same thing in that confrontation: it would only end when one of them was dead.
With this, Baek Il-gang spoke with a somewhat resolute face.
"This time, I'm definitely going with you."
"Understood."
Jeong-un smiled and nodded. With those short words, he could feel Baek Il-gang's resolve.
Of course, regardless of Baek Il-gang's words, they would probably end up going together anyway.
'There's no way Heavenly Martial Hall will just sit by.'
That man was the head of traitors seeking to overturn the nation, while Jeong-un was a guard of the Heavenly Martial Hall under the Murim Alliance.
The Heavenly Martial Hall would never ignore the cultists.
Just as they exterminated the Blood Cult minions, they would surely strive to do the same here.
The Murim Alliance was a collective formed by the Nine Great Sects and One Union, the five great families, and a hundred renowned sects.
They would mobilize personnel as needed, but their limits lay in each group prioritizing its own interests.
That was why the Heavenly Martial Hall had been created—a special-force group conceived by Zhuge Cheon-woo.
Using the pretext that one could freely wield their swords for five years and build fame by their own hand, the Hall had become so well-regarded that now, not having a disciple accepted into it was considered a loss.
Zhuge Cheon-woo himself would not sit idle.
"When are you planning to return?"
"If you are ready, I'd like to leave as soon as tomorrow morning."
"Let's do so. I'll pack immediately."
"Yes."
Jeong-un nodded.
It was time to return.
* * *
When they announced they would leave the next day, sangsanjoga hurried to make preparations.
Though they knew the martial artists of Heavenly Martial Hall would naturally use the Murim Alliance's relay stations, they brought two large brown horses right up to the guest residence.
The horses seemed fit for the army's war horse battalions—outstanding, prized stock bred at Zhao clan of Changshan.
They attached travel bags to the horses stuffed with various elixirs, more silver coins than warranted for pocket money, and even silk.
Jeong-un, seeing this, tried to refuse with an awkward look, but Baek Il-gang stopped him.
"Is that necessary? It's not like we're beholden to them."
"Isn't it a debt, technically? Surely they expect something in return."
Baek Il-gang sneered.
"That's none of our business. Even if Young Hero Yu does nothing for them, there's nothing they can do about it."
"..."
Jeong-un started to argue but shut his mouth. Baek Il-gang seemed oddly amused.
With the attendants' guidance, they led their horses to the entrance of the estate.
Many in the estate bowed politely to them as they passed. The house guards ran over from a distance to give martial salutes.
'Perhaps it's an inherent trait of the house.'
Zhao clan of Changshan was known for sending many to the royal military, so even the house's atmosphere seemed similar.
The worship of the strong was typical in the martial world, but not all noble houses were like this.
Jeong-un had met many people from prestigious houses, but not all had treated him with such respect.
Then Baek Il-gang spoke from beside him,
"There they are."
As they neared the main gate, Zhao Gang and Zhao Yeong-ryeong could be seen waiting.
When they saw Jeong-un and Baek Il-gang approach, the two at the gate offered martial salutes first.
Jeong-un returned the gesture and spoke,
"Why are you standing here waiting for us?"
"How could I not see off guests as precious as benefactors? Of course, we must see you off."
"Benefactor—I'm not sure I deserve—"
Zhao Gang laughed heartily.
"You saved my sister, how is that not a favor? Father wanted to see you off himself, but I persuaded him otherwise. I told him it was better for us young people to say our farewells together."
"Then, please tell him we stayed here very comfortably thanks to you."
"I will."
Zhao Gang nodded with a big smile.
Meanwhile, Baek Il-gang and Zhao Yeong-ryeong's conversation nearby was quite amusing.
"You'll come again, won't you?"
"If I have time."
"When will that be?"
"..."
After exchanging a few more simple farewells, they resumed their steps.
Creak.
Only after passing through the massive main gate did they mount their horses.
It would have been improper to ride within the estate, so they had led the horses by hand until then.
Leaving everyone behind, they set off on their journey.
According to Zhao Gang, there would be no need to change horses at the relay station; these ones would carry them swiftly to their destination.
Once Zhao clan of Changshan's estate vanished from view, Jeong-un quietly spoke up.
"You seemed to suit each other well."
"What do you mean?"
Baek Il-gang turned his head with a perplexed look, but Jeong-un casually continued, staring ahead,
"I meant you and Lady Zhao. I saw you promising to meet again."
"... Are you teasing me?"
Baek Il-gang's eyes widened in return, though Jeong-un was clearly teasing.
"Why are you so surprised?"
"I didn't know you could joke like that."
Jeong-un only smiled quietly in response.
In truth, this may not be a situation for relaxing and joking around.
The Demonic Cult, which vanished fifty years ago, was stirring again, and something earth-shaking was about to occur in the martial world.
In every way, the situation was certainly not favorable.
'Well...'
Even so, Jeong-un's expression was not dark. He intended not to become overly grave too soon.
Unlike before, the task ahead was not uncertain.
Once he rejoined the Heavenly Martial Hall, he would make his own plans and prepare to confront his foe anew.
And he knew that confrontation was not far off.
That was all there was to it.
Looking at it that way, things weren't really so complicated. Nor did he wish them to be.
Jeong-un, finishing his thoughts, spoke again.
"How about a meal together as soon as we return? With the wine Young Hero Jo Gwang bought last time."
"... Yes, that sounds good."
Baek Il-gang gave him a strange look, then let out a sneer.
It was time to return.