The Return of the Sword God

Chapter 174: Emerging Powerhouse. -01

“Still, it’s going to be a lot of work hauling all of this outside.”

After coming to his senses, Sunwoo Bang muttered with a slightly dazed expression.

It was certainly a spectacular sight, but when he actually thought about moving all of it, the sheer scale felt overwhelming.

“So you’re not going to do it?”

“Of course I will. Even if I end up sore all over, I’ll do it. At least I’m not doing it alone. The real problem is transportation.”

“I already contacted the Cheongnim Escort Agency. If we send the signal, they’ll come immediately.”

“As expected, you’re thorough.”

“It’s not like this is the first time we’ve done something like this.”

Ban Hojin grinned.

Practice made perfect, and he was the living proof of it.

At first, he had been clumsy and inexperienced, but now he was different.

“Isn’t the Cheongnim Escort Agency under Shaolin Temple?”

“That’s right. It originally started with lay disciples gathering together.”

“Then it’s trustworthy.”

“It’s also one of the top ten escort agencies in the Central Plains.”

“That’s impressive. There are countless escort agencies in the Central Plains.”

Seo Joun looked relieved.

Being affiliated with Shaolin Temple made it reliable.

There were also the Geum Family Estate and the Hao Sect, but in terms of credibility, the Cheongnim Escort Agency was far superior.

“It’s the most trustworthy option. We’ll have to carry everything out ourselves, though. It’ll take time for them to reach the valley.”

“That’s a relief. Good thing we arrived in the morning. If we’d gotten here late in the afternoon, we’d have had to work through the night.”

Seo Joun shuddered as if the mere thought was horrifying.

It wasn’t that they wouldn’t be able to see in the dark, but it would certainly be inconvenient in many ways.

Especially since they had to move cargo, daylight was far better than darkness.

“Even if we had to stay up all night, we would’ve done it. We’re dividing everything we obtained here equally into six shares.”

“Uh……”

“That’s a bit……”

Although this wasn’t the first time they’d heard it, everyone gave awkward smiles at Ban Hojin’s words.

They had all come together, but it was Ban Hojin who had captured the Thief Fiend.

So they believed it shouldn’t be divided equally.

They all felt it wasn’t fair.

“What’s with the shock? You’ve heard we always do it this way.”

“I’ve heard, but dividing it equally doesn’t seem right. Honestly, we barely did more than tag along.”

At Sama Uiseong’s words, everyone except Ban Hojin nodded.

They had come together, yes—but that didn’t mean the spoils should be identical.

Of course, they had each contributed in their own ways during the war against Ironblood Fortress.

But it was nowhere near enough to justify an equal share of this level of wealth.

“I don’t understand why you think that. Did I fight that war alone? Everyone fulfilled their roles where they stood—that’s why I could finish the battle safely. And why aren’t you considering labor costs here? Carrying all this is work too. Uiseong even dismantled the mechanism formation. You all deserve your share.”

“Uh……”

“So stop arguing and take it. This isn’t the first time. Uiseong, I can understand since it’s your first time, but you lot?”

“We have some shame, you know.”

“If we suffered equally, we divide equally.”

As the eldest, Sunwoo Bang had spoken on behalf of the group, but now he gave a bitter smile.

He could tell Ban Hojin would not withdraw his stance no matter what was said.

So he proposed a compromise.

“Then you stay out of it. We’ll divide it ourselves. If you help carry it out too, we won’t take anything.”

“That sounds good!”

“An excellent idea.”

Seo Joun and Murong Cheok responded immediately, clearly pleased with the compromise.

More precisely, they were trying to leave no room for further debate.

Just in case Ban Hojin refused, they struck first.

“Well, we do need someone outside keeping watch. It’s remote, but not so remote that no one could ever find it.”

“We also need someone to keep sending signals so the Cheongnim Escort Agency can locate us. Hyung-nim is perfect for that!”

“It feels like you’re steering this in that direction on purpose.”

Ban Hojin narrowed his eyes at Seo Joun, as though he could see straight through him.

Under that gaze, Seo Joun quietly averted his eyes.

“Let’s move. We need to finish before sunset. In the mountains, the sun sets quickly.”

Sunwoo Bang created the atmosphere to end the discussion.

He stepped forward, untied the cloth bundle he had brought, and began filling it with gold bars.

Since the gold bars were uniform in size, they were easy to stack and transport—so he chose them first.

“By the way, aren’t we opening the bedroom?”

“What would we even find in the Old Monster’s bedroom?”

“That’s true.”

“If you’re that curious, I’ll take a look.”

Ban Hojin headed toward the central stone door that was still closed.

While the others carried the goods, he planned to examine it.

It was a bedroom, so nothing particularly special was expected—but since they were here, there was no harm in checking.

“Wait. Just in case, I’ll inspect it first. Sometimes people install self-destruct mechanisms, the ‘if I go down, we all go down’ kind.”

“Gasp!”

At Sama Uiseong’s words, everyone except Ban Hojin jolted in alarm.

If the cave collapsed, their survival would not be guaranteed.

They had come quite deep inside. If there truly was a self-destruct mechanism, they would all be buried alive.

“That does happen. If they can’t keep it, they’d rather die together. Maybe the Thief Fiend hoped for that.”

“It also feels unsettling that the Martial Arts Library had no devices.”

“The poison was weak.”

“Right.”

Sama Uiseong nodded.

It could have been a deliberate setup—an obvious, crude trap to induce complacency before the final blow. It was worth checking.

“Alright. Let’s go in.”

“Yes.”

“We’ll keep moving things.”

Leaving the bedroom to the two of them, Sunwoo Bang led Seo Joun, Jeong Iryong, and Murong Cheok toward the vault.

There was an enormous quantity—they had to work diligently.

“As expected, there was one.”

“I knew it was too easy.”

Entering the bedroom with Sama Uiseong, Ban Hojin let out a wry smile.

As suspected, there really was something.

“I’ll dismantle it immediately.”

“It won’t collapse, right?”

“No. It’s not difficult. If it were more complex, it would’ve been troublesome—but this level is manageable. I can handle it.”

“Please.”

Though it was his first time dismantling someone else’s mechanism formation, Sama Uiseong worked with surprising skill.

Though tense, his hands showed no hesitation. Watching him, Ban Hojin unconsciously wore a satisfied smile.

He could truly feel that the Demonic Strategist had joined them.

He was already impressive—but with more experience, Sama Uiseong would become even more extraordinary.

“I’m done! We don’t have to worry about it exploding anymore.”

“Good work. Let’s move too.”

“Yes!”

Wiping the beads of sweat from his forehead with his sleeve, Sama Uiseong smiled brightly.

Having fulfilled his role, he looked refreshed.

At the hour when everyone had gone to bed, Seo Joun stood in front of Sama Uiseong’s door.

His friend had asked to talk privately.

Knock knock knock.

“Come in.”

“You answer before I even speak?”

“At this hour, the only one who’d come is you.”

“Hyung-nim sometimes drops by unannounced.”

“When he does, he deliberately makes his presence known. Sit.”

Sama Uiseong smiled faintly and gestured for him to sit.

He then poured tea he had prepared in advance.

Seo Joun could heat tea with his Inner Energy, but Sama Uiseong wasn’t at that level yet—he had to brew it carefully with effort.

“Hmm. This is good. But how is it that the same tea leaves taste different when you brew them?”

“There’s a reason tea ceremony exists. It’s not just sincerity—subtle differences in temperature, steeping time, and sensory control matter. You can’t replicate it just because someone tells you how.”

“I have a pretty good sense for things too.”

“Then find your own method. I only reached this level by doing it repeatedly. There’s no specific advice I can give.”

“That’s the most annoying thing to hear. ‘I just kept doing it and reached this level.’”

Seo Joun chuckled.

In any field, nothing was more important than talent—he knew that well.

After all, he himself had devoured most Rising Juniors through sheer talent alone.

So he accepted his friend’s words without resistance.

“You of all people wouldn’t not know. You’re talent incarnate.”

“Still nearly died, didn’t I? If it weren’t for Hyung-nim, I’d be wandering the brink of death. At eighteen, I’d have had a year and a half, maybe two at most.”

“It was heavenly fortune. For you—and for me. Honestly, I still can’t believe I’m here.”

“Me too.”

Seo Joun nodded.

Now, he no longer doubted Sama Uiseong’s abilities—but at first, he had.

Ban Hojin hadn’t even investigated him.

As if he had known all along, he accepted Sama Uiseong at first meeting without suspicion.

That still amazed Seo Joun.

Given Ban Hojin’s personality, it made no sense.

‘He’s more meticulous than anyone.’

But there were exceptions.

And Seo Joun knew Ban Hojin had his own clear standards—so he never pressed the matter.

There was no guarantee Ban Hojin would answer even if asked.

“You too?”

“Yes. You know Hyung-nim’s personality by now.”

“It doesn’t make sense. I was dumbfounded at first too. Thought I misheard. Now I’m somewhat known, but when I first came here, I was truly a nobody. He couldn’t even tell whether I was a fraud.”

“But it worked out in the end, didn’t it? Maybe Hyung-nim can see the future.”

“There does seem to be something like that. Like he sees things others can’t.”

Sama Uiseong stroked his chin.

Called the greatest genius in Shaolin Temple history, Ban Hojin was intelligent.

But he seemed to possess something beyond mere intelligence.

Something indescribable.

“Right. Sometimes I get chills. But why call me at this hour?”

“There’s something I wanted to ask.”

“Something you only want to ask me?”

Seo Joun wiggled his brows exaggeratedly, as if he could see right through him.

Sama Uiseong smirked.

“Yeah. You’re quick to notice.”

“I do have good instincts.”

“Only when it doesn’t matter.”

“What?!”

“You probably don’t realize.”

Sama Uiseong smiled meaningfully, as if refusing to elaborate further.

That pricked Seo Joun’s pride.

“If you’re going to say that, provide proof.”

“Would you understand even if I explained?”

“Are you picking a fight?”

“No. Back to the point—I wanted to know what you’re thinking. Are you planning to return to Seo Family Estate, or will you follow Hyung-nim to the end?”

“Hmm?”

Perhaps because it was unexpected, Seo Joun didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, he looked at Sama Uiseong with subtle eyes.

“There’s no hidden meaning. I’m just personally curious. You and Iryong-hyung are in different situations.”

“Why are you curious about that?”

Seo Joun countered.

He didn’t see why Sama Uiseong needed to ask.

“It seemed like you haven’t made up your mind yet. At least, that’s how it looked to me. I just wanted to know your thoughts. You need to clearly decide your path—only then can I establish my plans.”

“Plans? What plans?”