Chapter 96
“…Old man?”
Putting his bewilderment aside, So-ah asked the old man.
At that.
“I came chasing after demonic ki. I didn’t know you would be here.”
It seemed the old man was just as bewildered.
But it was time to put aside their mutual questions.
—Kuaaaak!
Because the seven Snow Mountain Giants were pushing their huge bodies forward with the roar of beasts.
So-ah moved his body back with the Swift Whale Step and then struck down the Snow Mountain Giant with the twin fists of the Heaven-Shattering Consecutive Cannon.
A crack appeared on the chest of the Snow Mountain Giant.
But surprisingly, wasn’t the giant’s chest starting to mend itself again?
‘It’s a demonic beast with amazing regenerative power!’
So-ah had caught the peerless demonic beast, the Ghost Demon Jiangshi, before, so he had looked down on the Snow Mountain Giant.
But that was a mistake.
Although the Snow Mountain Giant was slow and had no killing power against a martial artist who had learned a lightness skill, its steel-like stamina and excellent regenerative power were second to none.
‘This is why the masters of the Ice Palace came to catch it and went back empty-handed. Phew…’
It seemed that the hunt would turn into a long-term battle.
In that moment.
A powerful wave of ki was detected in his ki sense.
‘…This is?’
A different energy from pure yang internal energy.
But clearly, the power felt from that energy rushed over So-ah’s senses like a huge wave.
Gooooo…!
The source of the energy was the old man in white.
—Kuooo!
As if it felt pain from the mysterious ki that the old man had raised, the Snow Mountain Giant let out a strange sound.
A murderous roar that filled the entire Hae-wol Ice Mountain.
If an ordinary person had been here, their heart meridians would have burst…
Just then.
“Young master.”
The old man in white said to So-ah.
“Yes.”
“I will set fire to the body of that ice-type demonic beast, so take advantage of its weakened state and subdue it with your martial arts.”
The old man’s words were extremely absurd.
Not only was the Snow Mountain Giant’s whole body made of ice, but the terrible cold ki that enveloped its body was wrapped around it like a protective ki.
Moreover, how huge was its size?
To set fire to the body of the Snow Mountain Giant, which was no exaggeration to say that an ice cave was moving?
It seemed that there could be no greater absurdity than this.
But.
“^&%@#$%[email protected]#…!”
Just like when he had disappeared at the inn yesterday, a murmur that was impossible to understand flowed from the old man’s mouth.
At the same time.
Hwaaaaaak!
A sight that was unbelievable unfolded.
Wasn’t a black flame spreading on the body of the Snow Mountain Giant?
‘Gasp…!’
So-ah looked back and forth between the old man in white and the Snow Mountain Giant with astonished eyes.
‘I knew he wasn’t an ordinary person, but what an amazing special ability!’
He couldn’t help but be surprised.
‘Special ability’.
In other words, a special ability that looked into the heavenly ki and went against the order of nature with a spell, not martial arts.
He had experienced it before through Gu-yang Seon, and he had heard from his uncle that the Right Heavenly Demon Sword, No Yeong-myeong, was also a possessor of a great special ability.
But the admiration did not last long.
‘First, let’s beat it up.’
—Papapang!
So-ah’s body scattered afterimages and shot towards the giant like a fierce tiger.
Kuaaaang—
The giant’s cry was even fiercer.
But So-ah, who had approached the giant, curled up the corners of his mouth.
‘Because of the flames, the terrible cold ki that was enveloping the guy’s body has subsided.’
That’s right.
The reason why the Heaven-Shattering Consecutive Cannon had repeatedly ended in failure was because of the terrible cold ki and repulsive force that was wrapped around the giant’s whole body.
But on the body of the giant, where black flames had begun to soar due to the old man’s spell, no more cold ki was felt, and.
Kwareureureung!
So-ah’s fist strike, imbued with lightning gang ki, struck the giant’s chest.
Kuaaaaaak!
As the giant’s strange sound burst out violently.
Kwagagagang!
Like an iceberg collapsing, the giant’s body was crushed to pieces.
‘One down, done!’
So-ah, who had disposed of one giant with a single blow, did not rest and proceeded to the next action.
It was because the old man in white’s spell had also continued again.
Hwaaaaaak!
The old man’s spell was truly mysterious.
Although one could set fire to objects with martial arts, the flames of such a Samadhi True Fire and the spell that the old man had cast were different from the color.
‘Black flames… strange.’
Even while raising a question, So-ah’s ruthless Ten-Second Invincible Arts were crushing the giants with the momentum of the rising sun.
Kwareureureureung!
—Kuaaaak!
Kwagagagang!
Kwajijijik!
In that way, a huge explosion and a loud roar echoed through every valley of the Hae-wol Ice Mountain…
‘The last one!’
The moment So-ah’s iron head exploded on the head of the remaining giant.
Kwaaaaaang!
The hunt, which had not been able to catch a single one for a shichen, came to an end with the help of the old man.
“Phew… I’m having another unique experience like this.”
Only after dealing with all the demonic beasts did So-ah catch his breath.
A low fatigue washed over him as he had poured out a considerable amount of internal energy.
But.
‘There’s still work to be done.’
So-ah glanced at the old man in white.
Papat—
He showed off his skill of quickly collecting the internal dans of the Snow Mountain Giants that had fallen to the ground with a sudden step that scattered a brilliant light.
***
“Hoho. What’s so important about that that you’re picking it up like a gold nugget?”
The old man in white laughed heartily as he watched So-ah sweep up the internal dans and put them carefully in his bosom.
‘That’s right! I have a conscience too, this isn’t right.’
So-ah, who was about to swallow all seven internal dans, gave up.
Even if the old man hadn’t been there, he would have somehow killed the Snow Mountain Giants, but since he had clearly received help, his conscience wouldn’t allow him to monopolize them.
“Haha. I’ll share with you too, old man. The old man’s special ability was a great help, but since I was the one who decisively wiped them out, how about two for the old man and five for me? This doesn’t seem so bad.”
For a moment, So-ah had finished his calculations.
First, he planned to give one internal dan each to the North Sea Ice Palace lord, Wang Bang-tae, and Wang So-yeong, and he also planned to gift them to his junior sister and junior brother, so he needed at least four internal dans.
‘First, let’s call for two, and if he asks for more, let’s compromise with three.’
But So-ah’s thorough calculation was nothing more than a futile abacus flick.
“Keke! Young master. It seems you have some misunderstanding. This old man has no desire for the internal dans, so you can have them all, young master.”
“Really, old man?”
“Of course.”
“Ah! But this isn’t right. There’s such a thing as business ethics, this is really…”
So-ah, who was happy to death inside, was just bantering.
As if he couldn’t hide his expression, the corners of his mouth were already slightly turned up.
“I cannot expect an increase in my abilities with such an internal dan.”
“But… you could make a lot of money just by selling them to a large pharmacy or a martial artist.”
“This old man is just an insignificant being, but I have no interest in selfish desires. So don’t mind it and take them.”
“Ah! Hahat. This is really embarrassing.”
Although it was a bit embarrassing, for So-ah, it was a matter of humming a tune.
‘But I can’t just take it and leave.’
But since his heart was uncomfortable, So-ah opened his mouth with the intention of treating the old man to a nice meal.
“Um… elder. Since this is also a connection, would you like to have a meal together? If you’re okay with it, I’d also like to treat you to a cup of rice wine.”
“As it happens, I was about to ask you.”
“Hahat, that’s great. Then let’s go, elder. I’ll serve you.”
“Thank you.”
The two, whose hearts had connected, left the commotion of a while ago behind and went down the mountain to find an inn with a classic feel.
***
“Really, are you saying you’re a Goryeo person, elder?”
“That’s right.”
“But you speak the Central Plains language very well. There’s no sense of incongruity at all.”
“That’s because this old man used to come and go to the Central Plains as if it were his own home in his youth.”
“Aha!”
It was a strange thing.
Also, So-ah had a feeling that this strange thing might not be just a coincidence.
As it happens, he was thinking of Gu-yang Seon because of the old man’s extraordinary ability, but to think that the old man, like Gu-yang Seon, was not a Central Plains person, but a Goryeo person!
‘He might be related to Brother Gu-yang.’
Just as he was having that thought, the old man began to list his history softly.
“My name is Baek In-hwa, and I am the head of a place called Udo-bang in Goryeo. Recently, as a result of divining the heavenly ki, I discovered that the Evil King Star was rising in the Central Plains. Regardless of the era, when the Evil King Star rises, a great change occurs in the world. I set foot in the Central Plains to investigate that matter.”
“The Evil King Star… since I have no knowledge of astrology, it’s the first time I’ve heard of it.”
“Hoho. I understand. The Evil King Star is not only an astrological sign that cannot be seen with the naked eye, but it is also not something that can be known simply by guessing the constellations. Perhaps, unless it is a person from the Zhuge family, who is the most proficient in the Central Plains in ki-men, formations, the five elements, and the eight trigrams, most would not know.”
The more he heard the old man’s words, the more So-ah could not help but feel a sense of awe.
Not only was the ability he had shown amazing, but his calm voice, which calmed one’s heart just by hearing it, and his sunken gaze like a calm lake, combined to give off an indescribable dignity and mysterious ki from his whole body.
In the midst of that, a memory suddenly came to So-ah’s mind.
“Elder. I’m sorry to interrupt, but did you just say Udo-bang?”
“That’s right. By any chance, have you heard of our sect? It’s been decades since we’ve been in seclusion, so you shouldn’t know.”
“I’ve heard of it! For sure! Because I know a disciple of Udo-bang!”
At So-ah’s words, the old man, Baek In-hwa, asked with wide eyes.
“A disciple of our sect? By any chance, did you meet U-chi?”
“U…chi?”
“It must have been about 10 years ago. My disciple, U-chi, decided to go to the Central Plains and left our sect. Although he was a lazy child who enjoyed alcohol, he had a talent for exorcism, and he was especially good at reading physiognomy. Although he left, I would like to see his face since I’m in the Central Plains. By any chance, do you know U-chi, young master?”
‘Just by hearing the description, it’s exactly Brother Gu-yang. But the name is different.’
So-ah, who had a strange thought, asked Baek In-hwa back.
“That… is your disciple’s name really U-chi? Not Gu-yang Seon?”
“I have never heard the name Gu-yang Seon.”
“The disciple of Udo-bang I know is a person with the name Gu-yang Seon. He’s about twenty-nine to thirty years old.”
“The age is right, but the name is wrong. The name of the disciple who went to the Central Plains is Jeon U-chi.”
“Hmm… then, elder. How about this?”
“…What?”
“Since you came to the Central Plains to investigate the heavenly ki, you don’t have a specific destination, right?”
“That’s right. But since the source of the world’s change will surely be the imperial palace or the martial world, I plan to travel around to first determine the situation of the martial world. Of course, I’ll also wipe out demonic beasts if I detect demonic ki in the middle.”
“Ah! Like when you caught the Snow Mountain Giant today?”
“That’s right.”
“Then how about you accompany me for a while?”
“…With you, young master?”
“Since I’m also a martial artist, and to confirm whether the disciple of the elder and the person I know are the same person.”
“Hmm… that seems like a good idea.”
“Although I stopped by the North Sea on business, since the work is settled, I’ll stop by my family’s residence and then head to the Martial Alliance. As it happens, a call will be coming soon for the election of the new Martial Alliance Leader, so let’s go together. If you want to determine the situation of the Jianghu, there’s no better place than the Martial Alliance.”
At So-ah’s words, Baek In-hwa readily nodded.
“Alright. I’ll do that.”
So-ah was also pleased.
Because he had many things he was curious about from the old man in front of him, the head of the Goryeo Udo-bang, Baek In-hwa.
It seemed that he could learn a lot through Baek In-hwa, who had martial arts, special abilities, and an unfathomable knowledge.
Of course.
“Elder!”
“Speak, young master.”
“By any chance, you don’t have the ability to carry a lot of things, or to run a thousand li overnight with a chest on your back, do you?”
“Although I don’t have such a spell, it’s not impossible if I put my mind to it. Because I can use the art of shrinking the earth.”
“That’s great, that’s really great. Hahaha.”
“By the way, why do you ask?”
“Um… would you help me with some work?”
Although it was a trap, he intended to get a little help from Baek In-hwa.
(End of Chapter)