Chapter 148
"Huh?"
So-ah's questioning voice was frivolous.
Although Jeon Woo-chi had shown remarkable growth in his operation of the carpet on the way from the Valley of Ten Thousand Poisons to the main office,
To say that he could fly to the end of the sky or even use the Heavenly Will Brush?
'Brother Woo-chi is not a person who bluffs...'
Just then.
"Hoho! So-ah. Woo-chi is right. Although there are some clumsy aspects, he has recently been able to handle quite outstanding techniques after putting in all his effort. Besides, his magical power has also greatly increased as the effects of reading the Book of Heavenly Skills and the White Peak Pavilion have seeped into his body."
Baek In-hwa stepped forward to vouch for Jeon Woo-chi's skills.
"Wow... it's only been a few months. There's a limit to how fast a person can develop. Brother Woo-chi. Have you really improved that much? That's cheating!"
It was nothing short of surprising.
As So-ah said, there is a limit to human growth.
Of course, techniques and magical power are in the realm of abilities, so they are on a different track from martial arts.
Therefore, compared to martial arts, which grow gradually through arduous training and polishing, there are often cases of rapid progress.
But hadn't Jeon Woo-chi said just a few months ago that he would have to work for several more years to use the [Heavenly Will Brush]?
"So-ah... I don't think that's something for you to say."
"Huh?"
"You achieved the peak of your skills and changed your realm in just one evening in the Valley of Ten Thousand Poisons. If we're talking about what doesn't make sense, isn't your side much worse? You have no conscience, no conscience. Hehe."
That was certainly true.
It was not something for So-ah, who had broken through the gate of the Profound Realm at the age of twenty-two, a feat that would be more appropriately described as a legendary, no, just a fraudulent, monstrous, demonic talent, to say.
But.
"Aww! Brother Woo-chi. How much effort have I put in? I can boast that I have worked 100 times, no, 1000 times more than ordinary martial artists. Achieving the peak of my skills was a fateful opportunity, but that was also possible because my usual efforts supported it."
"I don't think so. From what I've seen, you're just talented."
"Ahem! This person. You're saying something that could get you in big trouble."
Even while bickering, So-ah filled Baek In-hwa's and Jeon Woo-chi's cups.
In that moment.
Baek In-hwa burst into a hollow laugh.
"Hoho! Woo-chi. That's also true, what So-ah said. The Ten-Second Invincible Arts cannot be mastered without bone-crushing effort. Also, humans have a period of great fortune. You know that too, don't you? But, for the most part, humans are not prepared to seize the great fortune that comes their way, so they end up missing it. But So-ah has trained his whole life and has perfectly seized the great fortune called the Ghost Valley Villa. You shouldn't dismiss someone else's efforts as talent."
"Yes, Master. I will keep that in mind."
At that.
"Kekeke."
Gulp—
So-ah took a drink, laughing as if to mock Jeon Woo-chi.
But his triumphant smile was premature.
"Hohoho! That goes for you too, So-ah."
Baek In-hwa's soft and gentle scolding was soon directed at So-ah.
"Pardon?"
"I'm saying you shouldn't look down on Woo-chi's efforts either. A good result is sometimes swayed by the element of luck. But, for the most part, it is based on that person's efforts. Woo-chi's rapid progress is the result of Woo-chi's efforts, who has devoted his heart and soul to his training."
Although Baek In-hwa's voice and expression were filled with benevolence as he said that, So-ah felt a pang of guilt, as they say, there is a bone in the words.
"Yes... Elder. I will keep that in mind."
"Kehkehkeh!"
Baek In-hwa patted the shoulders of the two.
In Baek In-hwa's eyes, both So-ah and Woo-chi seemed to be just endlessly young and cute.
"Now! In that sense, I will pour a drink for each of you. Please go to the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains and come back safely."
Drip, drip...
Thus, the three people, at this moment.
...put the night, the stars, and the moon.
...and people, liquor, and fate.
...and life into their cups.
***
"Eunuch Han!"
"No, this is... what on earth!"
"What happened?"
The people all asked Eunuch Han with astonished faces.
Eunuch Han.
He was a person who enjoyed a power that could even make a flying bird fall, and there was no one who did not fear him as his own martial arts were also extremely strong.
Moreover, since he had the authority to privately use the Eastern Depot, the second major martial force of the imperial court, not only the high-ranking officials, but even most of the imperial family were in a situation where they had to watch his mood.
Such an Eunuch Han...
...wasn't he groaning while sitting in a specially made chair with wheels, with a splint on his left arm?
Moreover, the bones of his face were abnormally contorted, and the people who saw him could not help but frown.
The people were the high-ranking officials of the Three Departments, the Censorate, and the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, who were in charge of the country's finances, personnel, and ancestral rites.
Just then.
"My lords..."
Eunuch Han barely opened his mouth with a slurred pronunciation.
Because of his broken teeth, he had a specially made foreign object inserted into his gums, so it was difficult to pronounce perfectly.
"Where and how should I begin to tell this unjust story!"
But funnily enough, his hideous appearance added to the appeal of his acting.
"As you all know, the government and the martial world have been non-interfering with each other until now. But now, that implicit custom has been broken!"
Eunuch Han, with an unjust expression, even shed tears and complained to the officials.
Of course, it was incitement and a part of his scheme, but when he thought of So-ah's face, he was about to burst into tears.
"Eunuch Han. Don't get excited, just speak so that we can understand."
"Who on earth has put the eunuch in this state?"
"Did some foolish swordsmen really attack the eunuch of the imperial court?"
The officials soon showed a sign of being enraged.
To them, the people of the martial world were like an evil that could never be eliminated, so they had empathized with the injured Eunuch Han.
'Done. I can definitely recruit them!'
Eunuch Han rejoiced.
The reason he had invited them today was solely to incite them and frame So-ah as a traitor.
"My lords. Currently, a single thunderbolt is running rampant in the martial world. It is a brat named Jin So-ah of the Moyong family. That brat has dared to slaughter the elite of the Eastern Depot, who are in charge of the safety of the imperial court, and has put me in this state. What does this mean? Isn't this an act of insulting the court and the imperial court and directly going against the national law?"
"Eunuch Han..."
"That's right."
At Eunuch Han's passionate speech, the people nodded their heads and expressed their sympathy.
'Kekeke. Things are going smoothly!'
A sinister smile appeared on Eunuch Han's face.
He played his trump card.
"So, my lords."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"How about we take this opportunity to purge a large number of the unruly martial artists?"
"Purge... the martial artists?"
"Hah... if that were possible, I would have no other wish, but hasn't there been no such precedent so far?"
"There have been countless times when we have tried to deal with the vermin-like martial world guys. But in the end, it all came to nothing. I hate to admit it, but their power is enough to sway the country."
At that.
"Kekekeke."
Eunuch Han's grotesque, cunning laugh burst out.
"That's a story for when the martial world has achieved unity. But they are a tribe that can never unite. Not only are there the black, white, orthodox, and unorthodox paths, but even within them, they are in a state of conflict over their respective ambitions and vested interests. So, at the very least, we should be able to crush Jin So-ah and his family, who have insulted the imperial court."
"Eunuch Han..."
"Do you have a good plan?"
A strange light appeared in the eyes of the people.
"Jin So-ah. A master of the martial world who has plotted a rebellion. A disrespectful and dangerous person who may threaten the safety of the imperial court and His Majesty at any time. Wouldn't this much political rhetoric be enough?"
At Eunuch Han's words, a bright color spread across the faces of all the officials.
Of course.
'It's a dangerous idea, but it's quite strategic.'
'I'll have to pull the strings well. Eunuch Han. Your scheme is too dangerous.'
'If Eunuch Han has lost the Eastern Depot, he is also just a kite with a broken string. This is a chance to purge the martial world guys who are a thorn in my side, and at the same time, Eunuch Han, your life too... hehehe.'
The politicians, hiding their respective sinister inner thoughts, were pointing invisible swords at each other.
***
The Hundred Thousand Great Mountains.
It was not the name of a real mountain.
However, it was a name given because about three hundred years ago, when the power of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult was at its peak, the number of cult members was close to a hundred thousand.
But.
"So this is the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains!"
"In all my life, this is the first time I've seen such a rugged mountain. The Samryunbong Peak of Mount Da-ak, where I lived, also boasted a rugged mountain terrain that made even most herb gatherers tremble... compared to here, it's a drop in the bucket."
The Hundred Thousand Great Mountains.
So-ah and Jeon Woo-chi, who had climbed the 'Aheladaheze Mountain' located in the south-central part of Qinghai, felt the rugged mountain terrain and the spiritual mountain ki and shook their heads.
"Indeed. If I were a commoner, I would have collapsed on the way here."
"Oh! So you're saying you're not a commoner now? Wow... our Brother Woo-chi is alive!"
"What? Hahaha. You're still joking in a situation like this? You really have amazing stamina, so amazing."
Jeon Woo-chi, seeing So-ah who was playfully giving a thumbs-up, clicked his tongue as if he had given up.
But as they say, there is truth in jest, and So-ah had expressed his true feelings.
In fact, this journey was nothing short of a record-breaking forced march.
Although the matter was urgent, So-ah was curious about how much Jeon Woo-chi's abilities had improved, so he had performed his lightness skill much faster than usual and had not even taken a break.
Indeed, the current Jeon Woo-chi was incomparable to his former self.
His flying skill was not inferior to the lightness skill, and considering that the carpet flying skill was a technique, if they were to go on a super long-distance journey, So-ah might even be left behind.
"I'm not just saying it. I even feel envious when I see you, brother. I use all my strength to get this speed, but you're just sitting comfortably on a carpet and flying in the sky like a bird. Sigh!"
"Hahaha! If you're so jealous, why don't you become a Taoist too?"
"No thanks. When will I cultivate my magical power and learn the techniques? This life is already over."
It was when the two were exchanging jokes and relieving their fatigue.
Unidentified figures were caught by So-ah's hearing and ki sense.
[Brother Woo-chi. Someone is approaching.]
[It must be people from the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, right?]
[That's right. Who can roam the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains, the headquarters of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult?]
[Don't act rashly. We didn't come here to fight, but as negotiators of the Martial Alliance.]
[Am I some spoiled brat? I told you the young leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult is a close older brother!]
[I know, you punk!]
While the two were exchanging telepathic messages.
...the figures approached So-ah and Jeon Woo-chi even closer.
'What an amazing hiding and stealth technique. So much so that even a decent master would not be able to sense their presence.'
So-ah was inwardly impressed by their stealth technique.
Because even though they had come so close, he still could not even see their figures with his naked eye.
In the end.
"Ah-ah! You're from the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, right? Since we're going to face each other anyway, don't waste your mental energy unnecessarily and just come out. I can see everything~."
...he let out his voice, imbued with his internal energy.
Just then.
In an instant, seven masked men, clad in pitch-black martial arts uniforms from head to toe, revealed themselves in front of So-ah and Jeon Woo-chi.
"Who are you?"
"This is the sacred ground of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, and the entry of outsiders is prohibited..."
"If you do not reveal your identity, you will not be able to save your life!"
At that.
"Ah! I am a person dispatched from the Martial Alliance as a negotiator. I have climbed the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains to meet the young leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult."
With an uncharacteristic tone and a cupped-fist salute, So-ah revealed his identity and showed his courtesy.
But.
"A brat from the Orthodox Path dares to meet someone without any prior coordination?"
"Do you think the young leader is a person who has nothing to do?"
"You're a madman."
Somehow, the opponent's reaction was a bit uncomfortable.
So-ah's eyebrows drew into an eight.
'Hah! Why can't humans understand when I say it nicely? This is troublesome, so troublesome.'
(End of Chapter)