Chapter 207
"...So that's what happened."
What kind of confidence did Brother Woo-chi have to make such a bold statement?
So-ah, who was more dumbfounded than curious.
But after hearing Jeon Woo-chi's detailed explanation, So-ah stared at him blankly with astonished eyes.
'Did he really gain enlightenment during the battle and his magical power increased that much?'
Such things did happen from time to time.
Because it was a common occurrence for martial artists to grow by leaps and bounds after a life-and-death duel...
Just then, Wi-ji Chan affirmed and gave credibility to Jeon Woo-chi's words.
"So-ah. What Jeon Woo-chi said is true. On the contrary, although Jeon Woo-chi is downplaying his own achievements, the person who made the greatest contribution to the subjugation of the Gansu cult branch is Jeon Woo-chi."
At that, So-ah tilted his head and asked.
"Brother Chan, you were dealing with the old man Blood Demon with me. How do you know?"
"I received reports from the monks of our cult and each battalion and chief. He showed a spell that was truly a match for a thousand."
With his words, Wi-ji Chan looked at Jeon Woo-chi with a pleased face.
"Ah... ha... haha. You praise me too much, Young Leader Wi-ji."
Jeon Woo-chi seemed to be embarrassed that Wi-ji Chan was gilding his face.
He blushed like a carrot and waved his hands with an embarrassed expression.
"You are too humble, Jeon Woo-chi. The monks of our cult are proud and rarely praise other sorcerers. Just by seeing them talk about your heroic deeds, I can tell. As befitting a person who has guided So-ah a lot, your skills are also great!"
At this point, it was the highest praise that Wi-ji Chan could give.
Jeon Woo-chi, not knowing what to do, seemed to be grateful and politely bowed.
"No. What have I done? The people who made the greatest contribution in this subjugation are the young leader and So-ah. If the two had not taken on the Blood Demon, the subjugation force would not have been able to achieve victory."
Jeon Woo-chi, on the contrary, gave the credit to Wi-ji Chan and So-ah.
At that, this time, Wi-ji Chan shook his head as if he was embarrassed.
'What are these brothers doing now? My goodness!'
So-ah, who was watching the two who were good at gilding each other's faces, let out a hollow laugh.
***
"You have all worked hard. I thank you once again for your hard work. We have subjugated the Gansu cult branch, and if we just wipe out the remnants that have coiled up in the Western Regions, the Blood Cult will be completely erased from the world. The remnants are insignificant, so the second subjugation is more than enough with the alliance of our cult and the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. Therefore, the deceased of the Green Forest, the Waterway, and the North Sea can stay at the main office and rest, or they can go back. After the work is finished, I promise to repay the kindness of the nobles with the honor of the Martial Alliance!"
After the subjugation of the Gansu cult branch, he dealt with the numerous tasks at hand one by one...
To bring the lull in the situation to a close, Abbess Hongryeon convened a meeting with the Martial Alliance, the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, and all the personnel who had participated in the subjugation.
The main point of today's Alliance Leader's meeting was simple.
First. Since the subjugation of Gansu, the true divine power of the White Lotus Cult, was over, the Western Regions, which were nothing more than remnants, were no big deal.
Second. Therefore, the power of the Martial Alliance and the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult alone was sufficient. The helpers could go back now.
Third. Since they had helped in the subjugation, after completely destroying the Blood Cult, they would be compensated in some way.
At a glance, it could be a disappointing word to those who had shared life and death together, but since the situation was what it was, Abbess Hongryeon chose a clear way of speaking that boldly omitted the additional parts other than the 'essence'.
Just then.
"Chun..."
The moment the Green Forest King, Jang Beon-pal, was about to open his mouth.
Abbess Hongryeon glared at him with eyes like the frost of a midwinter day.
'I almost made a slip of the tongue again... phew.'
Jang Beon-pal, who had almost called Abbess Hongryeon Chun-mae without knowing it, stroked his clanging chest and continued.
"Alliance Leader. How can you say such a thing? Our Green Forest Fortress and Waterway Fortress participated in the subjugation with the great cause of the peace of the martial world. As it is not over until it is over. We will be with the Martial Alliance until the end."
"That's right, Alliance Leader!"
When even the Waterway King, Jang Beon-ha, declared that he would be with them until the end, a flush of color appeared on the faces of the people of the Martial Alliance leadership.
'Our power alone would be sufficient... if they join us once again, won't it be a certain victory!'
That's right.
As a result of gathering all the information, the members of the White Lotus Cult who were currently staying at Potala Palace were nothing more than remnants.
Frankly, even if the allied forces did not step forward anymore, it was the leadership's judgment that the White Lotus Cult would be destroyed by the remaining forces of the Western Regions martial world before long.
Therefore, the fact that the Green Forest and Waterway sides would be with them until the end meant a 100% chance of victory, considering all the variables.
"Hoho! Alliance Leader... our North Sea will also be with you until the end. Our palace has not interfered in the affairs of the Central Plains until now, but the matter related to the Blood Cult can never be said to be someone else's business. So, Alliance Leader, please do not give our palace the order to leave."
The Lord of the North Sea Ice Palace, Wang Bang-tae, also declared before the crowd that he would be with them until the end.
"Palace Lord!"
"Palace Lord!!"
"Thank you for your brave decision."
The leadership of the alliance did not spare a bow to Wang Bang-tae with a brightened expression.
"Hohoho! It's all good. I will accept your will. Then let's all go back to the main office together and then wipe out the Western Regions and watch the complete destruction of the White Lotus Cult."
"Good!"
"Good!"
"We should do so!"
Afterwards, the subjugation force headed to the temporarily set up incense-burning place and finished all their work in Gansu by honoring the souls of the warriors who had died in this battle.
Grief and sadness.
Hope and joy crossed the hearts of the people.
***
So-ah, who had regained some of his strength, had a hard time with the visits of his friends that continued all day.
Especially, since Great Monk Gwangwon repeatedly asked about the Blood Demon's martial arts, he was at a loss.
Moreover, since Moyong Hwa and Moyong Su were catching the great disciple like a rat, asking why he had acted so rashly, So-ah soon felt tired and gave the order to dismiss the guests...
'Hmm... why isn't she coming?'
Even in the midst of his annoyance, So-ah was secretly waiting for the visit of one person.
In that moment.
Someone opened the door without permission, and,
'I was wondering why she wasn't coming!'
The person who entered the room was the person So-ah had been waiting for.
It was Wang So-yeong.
"Jin So-ah... how is your body?"
"As you can see, I'm fine."
"Fine, what! I heard that you're going to Qinghai with Jeon Woo-chi to get treatment as soon as the day breaks."
"Yes... I said I would because everyone was making a fuss, saying I was fine."
So-ah shrugged his shoulders and showed his composure.
Wang So-yeong approached him with a pathetic look and hit him on the head.
"You brat! You really decided to die, right? Huh? I heard that your blood vessels were seriously damaged. You'll die if you get that wrong, you brat!"
Although she spat out the words coldly, she could not hide her expression.
A deep shadow was cast on Wang So-yeong's face.
"So-yeong. Have you forgotten what kind of person I am? When I was beaten by the brats of the Gwangpungsa in the great desert, I pulled myself together and took revenge, right? What was I like even in the midst of vomiting from the endemic disease? I was the one who completed the mission I was entrusted with perfectly."
"That's true."
"I'm telling you, I'm fine. Even if it's not the Blood Demon, but the Blood Demon's grandfather, he can't kill me."
"Really... you can't be stopped, anyway, your confidence is the best in the world."
Wang So-yeong, knowing that So-ah was bluffing, smiled.
If it weren't for Jeon Woo-chi's spell, Shaolin's Great Return Pill, and the spiritual medicine of the North Sea at the crossroads of life and death, So-ah would still be hovering between life and death.
But Wang So-yeong thought that such a confident appearance was the most suitable for So-ah.
Just then.
"So-yeong..."
"What?"
"I'm really grateful to you, and I'm also sorry."
So-ah opened his mouth in an unusually serious tone.
"What... that's disgusting?"
"Hey! Just know that."
At Wang So-yeong's cynical reaction, So-ah was embarrassed and on the contrary, he shouted.
At that, Wang So-yeong burst into laughter.
"Hehe. What is it, what is it? What are you grateful for and what are you sorry for?"
"That's enough, you brat."
"Ah, what is it! Tell me quickly!"
"I said that's enough!"
"Hey!"
What was he grateful for?
And what was he sorry for.
In the end, So-ah was silent.
Instead,
"So-yeong."
"Why?"
"After we subjugate all the brats of the Blood Cult, come and visit our family. How about seeing the Central Plains with me and getting some fresh air for about a year?"
In an instant, Wang So-yeong's heart began to pound.
"Come and visit the Moyong family?"
"Yes. What are you going to do stuck in the North Sea? Eat delicious food in Liaoning, learn martial arts from me. Experience the Central Plains."
At So-ah's words, Wang So-yeong was so happy that she felt like shouting.
How lonely she had been in the North Sea without a single friend...
The thought of staying at the Moyong family with So-ah and wandering around the Central Plains made her heart swell up.
But.
"Stop it! I don't know about other things, but if I'm going to learn martial arts from you, I'd rather be bored in the North Sea."
Wang So-yeong said something she didn't mean and hid her inner thoughts.
"Haha. You brat! You're happy. Anyway, I'm going to Qinghai, so I'll see you later."
Of course, since So-ah could see through Wang So-yeong's heart, he just smiled.
***
The next day...
"Then I will finish the treatment as soon as possible and return to the main office."
"Don't worry, everyone. I will assist So-ah with all my heart. Perhaps we will arrive at the main office first? Haha!"
So-ah and Jeon Woo-chi finished their preparations to head to Qinghai and Manchu Pharmacopoeia and bid farewell to all the members of the subjugation force.
The eyes of the people who were looking at the two were filled with complicated emotions.
It was understandable, as the people who had made the greatest contribution in this Gansu subjugation were So-ah, Jeon Woo-chi, and Wi-ji Chan.
The masters felt a sense of debt to So-ah and Jeon Woo-chi, who were leaving on a journey.
"So-ah. Have a good trip."
"Woo-chi-ya. Don't overdo it."
"You two, have a good trip!"
"Great Disciple. Get well soon! See you when you're fully recovered!"
"Brother Jin! See you later!"
"Amitabha... get well soon and teach this humble monk a thing or two."
After the farewells were over.
Jeon Woo-chi threw the carpet high into the sky.
Soon, the carpet that had spread out in the empty air, without going through any special spell, sank under the feet of So-ah and Jeon Woo-chi like a lie.
"Oh! Something seems to have changed."
As So-ah's eyes flashed at the sight of the carpet,
"Hey! Get on."
Jeon Woo-chi got on the carpet with a triumphant expression.
Soon...
...the carpet, carrying the two, burst into a loud roar and crossed the sky.
'...!'
The people, who saw the carpet that had disappeared without a trace in an instant like a flash of light, were so surprised that they could not say anything.
***
A few days later...
Qinghai—
"Wow! Really. What is this? Brother! No, brother! Have you achieved enlightenment by any chance? Are you not going to ascend to heaven?"
After finishing his flying art, So-ah, who was walking with Jeon Woo-chi, made a fuss.
Although he had ridden the carpet once or twice, in this journey, Jeon Woo-chi had performed his flying art at a speed that would turn the sky upside down.
But Jeon Woo-chi, as if he did not dislike the fuss, curled the corners of his lips and said.
"Well... ascension to heaven... I will do it, of course? Later?"
Somehow, Jeon Woo-chi's expression and voice were greasy.
Seeing him, So-ah felt a surge of annoyance.
"Again! Again! You can't get a grip when I praise you, brother? Should I just let you ascend to heaven right now?"
"What, you brat?"
"Kekekeke."
"Kekekek."
After a round of loud laughter, the two soon arrived in front of a huge mansion with a sign inscribed with a vigorous and powerful handwriting.
"Are you there! Chairman? It's me, So-ah."
Thus, So-ah and Jeon Woo-chi, who had performed the feat of reaching Qinghai in just a few days, boldly knocked on the door of the Manchu Pharmacopoeia.
(End of Chapter)