Chapter 226 : Chapter 226
Chapter 226. Mount Heng Sect (1)
The beggar replied to Jin Yuseong’s question.
“There is a sect called Geoncheongmun, based in northern Guangxi. It was originally a place that claimed to follow the Righteous Path, but it has recently been expanding its influence threateningly.”
“Do you mean to say they have expanded their influence beyond Guangxi all the way to Heavenly Sun Village?”
“That is correct, Great Hero. To be precise, we have detected movements indicating that they are continuously trying to expand their influence.”
It seemed that Heavenly Sun Village was also included in the scope of their ambitions.
With no more time to delay, Jin Yuseong and his companions quickly prepared to leave.
“We leave this place in your care!”
After leaving a final request with the nuns of Mount Emei, Jin Yuseong looked at his disciple.
It was ridiculous to leave him here again right after he had become his disciple.
However, it was also impossible for a boy who had not yet learned a single martial art technique to follow them.
Jin Yuseong decided to consider it a good thing.
“Get on my back.”
Running while carrying someone was, in its own way, a form of training.
And so, they traveled toward Hunan for several days with his companions, his new disciple Jang Gunsil, and a few beggars.
At a midway point, another beggar they encountered brought new information.
The place called Geoncheongmun had finally extended its evil grasp to Heavenly Sun Village.
However, before they could exploit the villagers of Heavenly Sun Village, the Mount Heng Sect had stepped in to stop them.
The problem was what happened after that.
“Currently, the sect leader and key experts of Geoncheongmun, which has greatly increased its power, are on the move to attack the Mount Heng Sect!”
***
At the entrance from Guangxi to Hunan.
A group of warriors dressed in uniform attire were dashing forward, employing their movement techniques.
A middle-aged man in the center of the group clicked his tongue with a displeased expression.
“Tsk. Those meddling Taoists are not to be trusted after all. They claimed to have no interest in the secular world, yet they dare to interfere so openly with our Geoncheongmun’s affairs.”
At the Geoncheongmun Leader’s words, a man next to him responded.
“Aren’t all those of the Taoist ilk like that? Hahaha.”
Despite using a movement technique, the man’s breathing was perfectly stable.
At this, the sect leader also smiled with satisfaction.
“Hehehe. Having Great Hero Yang with us is truly reassuring.”
It was thanks to the man called Great Hero Yang that the Geoncheongmun Leader had gained courage.
The courage to expand his influence on such a large scale.
At the Geoncheongmun Leader’s words, the man called Great Hero Yang smiled faintly and looked straight ahead.
‘Heavenly Sun Village.’
It was a small village. In fact, he had not been particularly interested in it before.
But recently, he had accidentally come across a strange rumor about that place.
It might be the Ghost Sword’s hometown.
And an old man connected to the Ghost Sword lived there.
‘The Cult Leader was already lamenting the Ghost Sword’s sudden disappearance.’
The corners of the man called Great Hero Yang’s mouth lifted.
‘If I capture the residents there in advance, I can use them as pawns to draw out the Ghost Sword.’
Draw out the Ghost Sword using hostages.
And then offer him to the Cult Leader.
It was an event that was joyful just to imagine.
Of course, rumors were rampant that the Ghost Sword’s realm had already reached the Heavenly Ladder Realm.
It would not be easy to capture the Ghost Sword alive with his skills alone.
But it was not a big problem.
‘Once I secure the hostages, I can just join forces with the Right Guardian Envoy in Sichuan and capture him then.’
He had already heard the news that the Left Guardian Envoy, Wi Mugyeol, had died in a joint attack by the Ghost Sword and his companions.
In the end, the problem would be those companions.
He believed that if he could draw out only the Ghost Sword through hostages, capturing him alive would be no trouble at all.
Unfortunately, news of the events in Sichuan had not yet reached him.
Unlike the Beggars’ Sect, the spies of the True Light Cult were not that numerous.
Not enough to immediately deliver news from all over the vast Central Plains to everyone.
***
A few days later, at an inn in Heavenly Sun Village.
After eating a light bowl of plain noodles with no meat, Mokheoja, the Sect Leader of the Mount Heng Sect, rose to his feet.
“I have eaten very well again today. Hahaha.”
When Mokheoja spoke with a slight bow of his head, Elder Yang waved his hands in dismissal.
“Oh, not at all, Taoist master. Is there anything else you need?”
“Hahaha. The Way is simply to live as life flows, so how could one be greedy with food?”
“It’s because I feel apologetic. You Taoist masters are protecting us, and all this old man can offer in return is something like this.”
“What in the world is more important than eating and sleeping? Giving food is no different from bestowing the grace of saving a life.”
After finishing his conversation with Elder Yang, Mokheoja smiled gently and left the inn.
He walked gently, strolling through Heavenly Sun Village.
Perhaps because it was a small village, it exuded a somewhat peaceful atmosphere.
Come to think of it, this place was also originally where an underworld force had made its nest.
The Ghost Sword, who was only sixteen at the time, had punished them, and peace had come after that.
‘The secular world…’
He had begun to interfere in the secular world because of the Ghost Sword’s request.
It was a strange feeling.
Helping people was a more enjoyable task than he had thought.
“By the Primordial Lord of Heaven.”
Mokheoja smiled faintly and recited the Taoist salutation.
‘It seems I am in no position to scold Yeongcheon. Hahaha.’
He began to wonder if his cultivation was still lacking, even at his age.
Even as he had such thoughts, he did not feel bad.
Just then, a disciple of the Mount Heng Sect rushed to Mokheoja.
Sensing something, Mokheoja’s expression hardened slightly.
“Sect Leader! It is said that men bearing the flag of Geoncheongmun are approaching!”
“Let us go out to meet them, lest the residents come to harm.”
“I will relay the message!”
A short while later, near the path leading into Heavenly Sun Village.
The two forces took their positions as if confronting each other.
Mokheoja, standing at the forefront of the Mount Heng Sect Taoists, asked them.
“What brings you gentlemen, who should be in Guangxi, to this distant land?”
At this, the men of Geoncheongmun parted, and their leader stepped forward.
“Why, of course, it is to protect the sentient beings who are being tormented by wicked men.”
“Hmph. If that is the case, please return. The common people here are being protected by our Mount Heng Sect.”
“Hahahaha. What business do the Taoists, who claim to have no interest in the secular world, have protecting the common people?”
As if uninterested in the other’s answer, the Geoncheongmun Leader smiled slyly and answered his own question.
“Ah! Now I see, you seem to have a great deal of interest in the secular world? In that case, you must be the wicked ones who are tormenting the residents of Heavenly Sun Village.”
Mokheoja let out a faint sigh.
It was not because of the other’s absurd accusation.
Accusations in the secular world were not a very important issue.
“By the Primordial Lord of Heaven. It seems you have no intention of simply returning.”
“If we were going to just return, we would not have come all the way from Guangxi, would we?”
Either the Mount Heng Sect would retreat, or blood would be shed.
There were only two choices.
Before, he would have just retreated.
Because he did not want to get involved in the secular world.
Mokheoja’s gaze briefly turned backward.
He recalled the conversations he had with the residents during his few days in Heavenly Sun Village.
He turned his head again and looked at the Geoncheongmun Leader.
Had these people really come to take care of the residents of Heavenly Sun Village?
There was no way.
The common people here would suffer from immense exploitation.
And it did not end there.
‘If these people have truly learned a demonic art.’
It was obvious that someone among the common people would be treated as an elixir by those who had learned the demonic art.
Should he just pretend not to know and let it pass?
Having steeled his resolve, Mokheoja opened his mouth.
“It seems blood must be shed.”
“Hahahaha. To think that Taoists would speak of blood. Truly, a bunch of meddling fools! What are you all doing? Punish those heretical Taoist bastards at once!”
At the Geoncheongmun Leader’s shout, the warriors charged all at once.
“Disciples, retreat to the rear!”
Mokheoja also gave his command and charged straight ahead.
‘I will capture the sect leader.’
If he did that, he could end the fight with as little bloodshed as possible.
The sound of clashing steel and kiai erupted from all over.
CLANG!
“Hah!”
“Die!”
Trying his best to ignore the noise, Mokheoja swung his sword at the Geoncheongmun Leader.
CLANG!
Immediately after their swords clashed, Mokheoja’s brow furrowed.
His sword-wielding wrist throbbed as if it would break.
The internal power contained in the Geoncheongmun Leader’s sword was that strong.
‘How…?’
The skill of the Geoncheongmun Leader known to the world was not at this level.
It was a situation that could not be explained unless he had recently consumed some elixir.
CLANG!
The more they exchanged blows, the more Mokheoja was pushed back.
“Hahaha! Did you think you could capture this sect leader by yourself?”
At the Geoncheongmun Leader’s ridicule, Mokheoja spoke as if vomiting blood.
“You must have dabbled in a demonic art!”
“Ha. Now that you’re losing in skill, you make such a ridiculous excuse!”
The Geoncheongmun Leader snorted and pushed Mokheoja back.
While barely parrying or dodging the Geoncheongmun Leader’s offensive, the scene of the battlefield came into Mokheoja’s view.
The Geoncheongmun, unlike those who claimed to be of the Righteous Path, were openly using killing techniques.
“Kill them!”
The Mount Heng Sect Taoists formed a formation and tried to subdue their opponents as much as possible.
Naturally, the casualties among the Mount Heng Sect Taoists began to pile up.
But the biggest problem was not their blatant killing techniques.
SLASH!
Among the warriors of Geoncheongmun, a formidable expert had mixed in.
Every time he swung his blade, a Mount Heng Sect Taoist fell.
SLASH!
“Keok…”
Sparks flew in Mokheoja’s eyes.
Just then, Yeongcheon, who had pierced the heart of a Geoncheongmun warrior, shouted.
“He has undoubtedly learned a demonic art! For the sake of protecting the sentient beings, we must not hold back!”
He alone fought, leading the battle with a sword art stained by the secular world.
“For a Taoist, your sword art is truly wicked.”
At that, the warrior who had been slaughtering the Taoists began to approach Yeongcheon.
Mokheoja, who had been watching the scene for a moment, had a shadow cast over him.
“Where do you think you’re looking!”
CLANG!
Mokheoja, who had barely blocked the Geoncheongmun Leader’s sword, gritted his teeth.
It was not just because of the internal injuries.
‘Is today truly the end of our Mount Heng?’
A dark cloud was descending upon the Mount Heng Sect.
It was something that had happened because they had stepped into the secular world.
‘No. No!’
Even if they had remained on Mount Heng, what would have changed?
After absorbing Heavenly Sun Village, would these people have remained quiet?
They would have surely expanded their influence to Mount Heng as well. It was something that would have happened eventually.
The date had just been moved up.
‘I should have listened to Yeongcheon.’
Just because you forcibly seclude yourself on a mountain does not mean your ties with the secular world are severed.
If you truly seek the Way, you must be able to find balance while interacting with the secular world.
All they had done until now was run away.
Perhaps now, they were paying the price.
His thoughts having reached that point, Mokheoja vomited blood and shouted.
“Yeongcheon! Take the disciples and flee at once! Elders, protect the disciples at all costs!”
Even if he had to pay the price, he had to save the disciples.
He could not let the will of Mount Heng be severed like this.
If one truly seeks the Way, if one feels nothing for things like ties or affection, then such thoughts should not even arise.
‘If my cultivation is lacking, then I will live as one with lacking cultivation!’
But Mokheoja’s shout was in vain.
“Hahaha. Did you think you could escape alive after daring to oppose this sect? If you flee to Mount Heng, we will chase you there and kill you all.”
The Geoncheongmun Leader ridiculed him and swung his sword.
The elders of the Mount Heng Sect also tried to protect the disciples, but they were only falling one by one.
Just then.
From behind the Geonchecheongmun warriors, a massive cloud of sand and dust began to swirl.
The first one to sense the strange phenomenon was the warrior who had been slaughtering the Mount Heng Sect Taoists.
The man the Geoncheongmun warriors called Great Hero Yang frowned and turned his head.
Through the gaps in the flying sand and dust, two figures came into view.
Soon after, a shout erupted from within the sand and dust.
“You filthy things, not even worth the dirt under a beggar’s toenails! Did you really think you would get away with this!?”
A shout filled with profound internal energy.
Soon after, two people who had approached at incredible speed launched themselves into the air and landed on the battlefield.
An old beggar and an old monk.