Chapter 197
"Hmm... the enemy's strength is no joke."
The group, who had buried the sorcerers who had unfolded the blood formation and had set out on their way...
While moving their feet, So-ah looked up at the sky and muttered.
At that, Jeon Woo-chi also nodded as if he agreed.
"That's right. I expected them to be strong, but the Gansu cult branch can't be seen as the entire force of the White Lotus Cult, right? But if it's to that extent..."
Not only did he brilliantly (in fact, it was cruel) annihilate the sorcerers of the blood formation, but So-ah had also performed a great feat in Sichuan.
Hadn't he killed the vice-leader, the Rain and Heaven Demonic Sword, No Yeong-myeong, and had also defeated about 80 Ghost Demon Jiangshis?
But nevertheless, the reason So-ah and Jeon Woo-chi were complaining was because there was a good reason for it.
Because the true strength of the White Lotus Cult, which they had heard through the confession of the sorcerers, was judged to be too powerful.
"More than 10 battalions and pavilions... besides, the number of sealed demonic beasts is countless, and they say that the sorcerers who can handle those demonic beasts are a sea of people. It's embarrassing, so embarrassing."
When So-ah, who was always full of confidence, showed a sign of shrinking after hearing the opponent's strength, Jeon Woo-chi thought it was unexpected and asked with a questioning voice.
"What's wrong, Jin So-ah? Usually, you would have joked that those brats are nothing~."
"What are you talking about? You're slandering me as some crazy ruffian who can't tell his front from his back? I'm very rational, logical, and reasonable, you know?"
This is a bit...
...anyone would think he had crossed the line.
Even Wang So-yeong, who had been silent, sneered.
"Rational? Logical? Reasonable? Hahaha. You're not like that at all, you know? You're the complete opposite."
"You ungrateful brat. I, huh? I saved you from the Gwangpungsa, right? I went up that deep mountain with Lord Yeon of Manju-jang and broke the head of the Tae-yang-hwa-ri and got you the inner core, right? Is that all? Yes. The Snow Mountain Giant! How hard were the bodies of those demonic beast brats? I almost broke my fist while shooting the Storm of Heaven's Fury, you brat. And you're dissing me? Wow!"
So-ah, as if he was wronged, snorted and growled.
"Hahaha!"
Seeing that sight, Wang So-yeong could not hide her burst of laughter, and Jeon Woo-chi also had a faint smile on his lips.
Even So-ah himself, as if he found it funny, curled the corners of his lips.
Just then.
...still with a smile, Jeon Woo-chi patted So-ah's shoulder.
"So-ah."
"Yes, Brother Woo-chi."
"There's nothing to worry about."
"Huh?!"
"About the fact that their strength is great. It's not like we came without knowing, and even if they are great, there's nothing to worry about."
"Brother Woo-chi..."
"Because we're pretty strong too!"
Jeon Woo-chi's words were undoubtedly true.
Not only had they already caught the vice-leader, No Yeong-myeong, and a large number of Ghost Demon Jiangshis, but this subjugation force also included the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, the Eighteen Fortresses of the Green Forest, the Yangtze River Waterway Fortress, and furthermore, the North Sea Ice Palace, which was the best in the foreign world, in addition to the Orthodox Path.
Because a variety of, and many masters had gathered, to the point where it would not be an exaggeration to say that it was all the forces of the martial world...
'Our Brother Woo-chi, his skill has improved by leaps and bounds, and look at how relaxed he is? Haha.'
So-ah, looking at Jeon Woo-chi, felt a sense of nostalgia.
Just about two years ago, Jeon Woo-chi was a courageous and righteous person, but he was a person with a passive tendency who lacked confidence.
But the Jeon Woo-chi of now was different from before.
At some point, the clumsy and fat young Taoist, Gu-yang-seon, had disappeared without a trace, and now he had become a Taoist, Jeon Woo-chi, with a sturdy physique, a reliable face, and a magical power that was enough to surprise the world.
But...
...but still, you old man!
...to say something as cringeworthy as 'we're pretty strong too'?
And with that expression that makes me want to throw up?
"Ugh!"
So-ah pretended to vomit and ridiculed Jeon Woo-chi.
Of course.
"We're pretty strong too? Wow! How can you say that with a straight face...!"
...the bigger problem was that So-ah was not one to end with just one ridicule.
"You..."
"Huh? What's with that expression? For a 'pretty strong person', your expression looks too weak."
Only then could Jeon Woo-chi not help but blame himself for his carelessness.
'I'm f*cked, really... ah!'
This seems like a teasing material for at least three years.
'What kind of brat is that brat!'
Cool words, good words.
Good.
But such words also have to be said at the right time and place.
Especially, pretending to be cool in front of that crazy brat is a kind of suicide.
"Hey, people! Come out here! My brother said! He's pretty strong. Kekekeke."
So-ah shook his butt and shouted with all his might at the forest.
***
The subjugation force, which had decided to wait for So-ah and proceed together on the mountain road to the Gansu cult branch, took a break.
Most were busy taking care of their injured comrades, and some were chewing on the beef jerky they had brought as emergency food and were enjoying their leisure.
On the other hand, Baek In-hwa and the monks of the Heavenly Demon Sacred Hall, after finding a quiet place, sat in a cross-legged position and focused on recovering their magical power.
In the case of the monks, they had been injured by a curse while tracking the magical power to find the caster in the attack of the great demonic blood formation, and Baek In-hwa also had a great aftereffect due to having used his magical power excessively.
Because the Heavenly Dogs, which Baek In-hwa had summoned using the [top-grade talismans], had the characteristic of absorbing the sorcerer's magical power.
Therefore, Baek In-hwa's magical power was inevitably lost in a considerable amount.
But he did not reveal his condition to anyone and focused on recovering his magical power.
'There are still many demonic beasts sealed in the Gansu cult branch. I will have a lot to do... I can't falter here.'
Baek In-hwa's sense of mission was terribly thorough.
He had read the heavenly ki in Goryeo and had stepped on the land of a foreign country thousands of miles away to dig up the dark king star that had risen in the Central Plains.
Considering his old age, this trip to the Central Plains would be his last.
Because he had to erase the successors of the Blood Cult from the world on this occasion, he hardened his resolve and bit his lip.
'So-ah and Woo-chi... there should not be a wicked group like the Blood Cult in the world where the two children will roam. Even if I have to risk my death, I will surely annihilate them!'
It was a moment when his boiling fighting spirit reached the sky.
Just then.
'...!'
A familiar ki wave was detected by Baek In-hwa's sixth sense.
The ki wave he was feeling now was not something that a martial artist could emit.
It was the energy of a practitioner that could only be felt from a person who had trained his magical power for a long time.
'It's Woo-chi!'
Baek In-hwa instinctively realized that Jeon Woo-chi had arrived at a close distance.
And a little later...
...as expected, before his eyes.
...the faces of the welcome people unfolded.
***
"So-ah!"
"Scholar Jeon Woo-chi!"
"...!"
The moment they saw the carpet, a large number of people shouted at once.
"We're here! Hahaha!!"
So-ah, with a brightened face, responded with a bright smile to the crowd that was welcoming him, and Jeon Woo-chi also politely cupped his fists towards the leadership and the people of the Martial Alliance.
Especially.
"Kehkehkeh! Our younger brother! Have you come!"
"We were waiting, younger brother!"
The King of the Green Forest, Jang Beon-pal, and the King of the Waterway, Jang Beon-ha, welcomed So-ah the most.
While letting out a serious lion's roar to the point where one would wonder if it was necessary to shout so loudly.
"Brothers!!!"
So-ah also had a flower of laughter blooming as he saw his sworn brothers.
Moreover, when he saw that the soldiers, who at a glance seemed to be the people of the Green Forest and the Waterway Fortress, were about 1,000 in number, he was so moved that he felt like he wanted to give a big bow.
"Brother Beon-pal. Brother Beon-ha. You two... have come with so many people...?"
This was something that he could not help but be moved by.
Of course, So-ah had been grateful to his sworn brothers for many things until now.
But when they had readily taken the lead with so many martial artists at his request, he did not know what to do with their loyalty.
"Hohoho! Younger brother. As an older brother, I have to do this much."
"It's only natural!"
"Brothers!"
So-ah, as if he was overwhelmed with emotion, hugged his sworn brothers tightly.
Of course, since the King of the Green Forest or the King of the Waterway were twice as big as So-ah, it was more like So-ah was being hugged.
***
'Busy, so busy!'
It was inevitable.
So-ah, who had shared his feelings with his sworn brothers for a while, exchanged greetings with the leadership, such as Abbess Hongryeon, Hong In-geol, Zhuge Hyuk, and Baek In-hwa, and discussed all the matters that had occurred during the march.
In that process, So-ah told them about meeting the sorcerers who were unfolding the blood formation with Jeon Woo-chi.
...and after turning them into half-cripples, he had buried them in the ground and had put honey on their bald heads.
Furthermore, he had conveyed all the information about the White Lotus Cult that he had obtained from them to the leadership, and only then could he meet his friends with Wi-ji Chan.
"Who is this? Isn't it Brother Jin, the hero of the world, who defeated the Rain and Heaven Demonic Sword, No Yeong-myeong, in one go?"
"Jin So-ah! His appearance has marked a turning point in the history of the martial world. A few years ago... the boy who was appointed as the chief instructor of the Baekmu Academy at a young age became the strongest master of the Orthodox Path in just a few years, and also became the hero of the entire martial world! Ah! His achievements will shine for a long time!"
Han Baek and the representative of the three foolish brothers, Eon Yeong-je, were joking, saying really foolish things.
But today, they really looked a bit foolish.
"Ah... you guys are still living like this? Even though you're now officials of the Martial Alliance, not cadets. I'm tired of it, so tired. When on earth will you get a grip?"
So-ah clicked his tongue as he looked at the two.
He had trained the fools who had been struggling in the academy and had made them useful.
What's the use of being strong in martial arts?
Their intelligence is lacking, their intelligence!
But still.
...but still, seeing these brats makes me feel better.
Thinking that he had really made such absurd brats into officials of the Martial Alliance, he wanted to give himself a prize.
"That's enough! You all know each other, right? Wang So-yeong of the North Sea Ice Palace. Say hello."
So-ah, leaving Han Baek and Eon Yeong-je behind, introduced Wang So-yeong to his friends.
Since So-ah's friends had already exchanged names with Wang So-yeong at the Martial Alliance headquarters, they only exchanged simple greetings.
In that moment.
"Young Hero Jin..."
...someone walked towards the group and suddenly uttered a heavy voice.
"Ah, you scared me! I thought the sorcerers I had buried in the ground had come out!"
It was none other than Master Gwangwon, and because of his bald head, So-ah had been startled, thinking that the sorcerers he had pulled out their hair and had buried in the ground with honey on them had come after him.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Ah... no, Master. It's something like that."
"Hmm-hmm! Young Hero Jin."
"Yes?!"
Somehow, Gwangwon's gaze seemed unusual.
So-ah, wondering what this iron-headed monk would say, watched with a curious look.
"Is it true that you fought a life-and-death duel with the Rain and Heaven Demonic Sword, No Yeong-myeong, and won?"
"Yes. It's true."
"I heard that his martial arts had reached the Profound Realm, and that his personal spells were also great... Young Hero Jin, how on earth did you defeat that person?"
Only then did So-ah grasp Master Gwangwon's intention.
'This fighting-spirit-filled bald monk. Wow! He's really going to come at me to beat me up someday.'
It was not just a thought.
Hadn't Master Gwangwon already threatened So-ah that he would definitely challenge him again someday?
But...
'How on earth did he become so strong? What... this is completely crazy?!'
At a glance, Master Gwangwon's martial arts seemed to have made a great progress that was incomparable to before.
Of course, it was something that So-ah, whose realm of the mind's eye had reached its peak, could detect.
Therefore,
"How did I defeat him, what do you mean how did I defeat him, you monk!"
"?"
"I just beat the shit out of him. Kekekek."
'My goodness...'
'Look at that spirit...'
'Yes. That's Brother Jin. Who can stop that?'
Although his friends clicked their tongues at So-ah's tyrannical one sentence, they soon regained their composure.
Why?
Because that was the true nature of So-ah.
"Young Hero Jin."
"Ah! What is it now, Master."
"After this is over."
"?"
"Let's have a match."
I didn't know this...
...that there was another brat like So-ah in the world…
(End of Chapter)